Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Sun, Mar 3, 2019 at 12:36 AM Subject: , do you promise me!? From:Date: Sun, Mar 3, 2019 at 12:36 AMSubject: , do you promise me!? , I want you to believe in my serious intentions. I really want you to trust me 100 percent. Because I don' t have anyone in your country who can help me. And I really need your help with the visa. I will take a very serious step. Believe it is not easy for me. But I decided to send you naked photos. LITTLE!!! I ' ll take a camera from a friend Vika, and I' ll do it myself, just for you. Because I don' t want my friends to know that I sent you naked photos. I ' m very embarrassed. But I also have conditions that you must promise and fulfill. 1 - Only you can see my naked photos. Only you! Promise! 2 - you must promise to send me money for a visa when I send you naked photos! you have to give a " PROMISE OF A TRUE GENTLEMAN" , because it is not an easy step for me. I' m afraid to send naked photos through the Internet !!! Do you promise? I promise you I will get a visa and come to you! 3 - Also, you will not be asked to send new or other naked photos, because it is very difficult. I wrote to you that I send you all the photos through a scanner in an Internet cafe. And I' m afraid that someone will see it. 4 - I will not show you my face in these photos, because as already written to you, it can be seen on the Internet cafe. I ' m afraid of condemnation here. I don' t want them to laugh at me. The main thing is that you can see my naked body. And you can appreciate it. I think you can still enjoy my naked body when I come to you. But I can' t come if I don' t pay my visa. if you agree with all my conditions, then in the next letter I will send you naked photos. Kseniya. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 9:49 PM Subject: , trast me! From:Date: Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 9:49 PMSubject: , trast me! , Here in this letter is my last proof of my attitude to you! You know my situation. And you know that I can get help only from you. Please, don' t use me! Help me, please!!! This is my last chance. Yesterday my friend Vika came to my home. And she made fantastically beautiful naked photo for you!!! Here you will see my naked body completely! BUT this will be my last naked photo. Don ' t ask for new one!!! I did everything so that you could trust me: 1) I already sent you copy of my passport. 2) I sent you a letter with your name. 3) I sent you very candid photos of my body. And you every time look for new reasons not to help me. ENOUGH!!! Now I will know for sure, do you want me or not?! If you deny me or look for a new reason, I will take it as a refusal to have a relationship with me! Then you just play with me! And you were not serious from the beginning. I already wrote to you that I must pay my visa very urgently. URGENTLY! And I need 20000 rubles for all documents. This is about 300 usa dollars or 280 euros. I already said that this is the cost of a visa, insurance, medical card and many other documents. I also wrote to you so that you wouldn' t worry about ticket. I can get it. I PROMISE! because I put my fur coat on sale. You can find all this in my previous letters. I wrote to you about it. Reread this carefully! Understand the main thing! I' m not asking you to give me $300. I ask you to borrow money. I will not be your dependent when I arrive. I will study and work. I will refund your money to you. And I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life for your help! Also I will do everything for you, everything you want, when I arrive. Kseniya. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Mon, Mar 11, 2019 at 12:52 PM Subject: Yes or No? From:Date: Mon, Mar 11, 2019 at 12:52 PMSubject: Yes or No? Understand, that the quantity of student' s visas to your country is limited. I asked you to send me money not to use you. I hurry you up because I am afraid to loose a chance to get visa. I am sure they will refuse me next time if I do not pay now. Please, don' t have any concerns about me. And if you are really serious, please, send me money. I want to ask you when you can send me money? I talked to people who give visas. And they agreed to wait. It took me much forces to make them agree. I tried to tell them to understand my situation and wait payment for visa more time. They have agreed to wait payment till March , 16th. It has taken a lot of difficulties to wait money such time. Please, tell me are you going to help me? Can you send me money during this time? Can you borrow some if you don' t have any? Answer me my main question - you will have time to send money till March , 16th. Yes or No? Kseniya. On Wed, Mar 13, 2019 at 2:59 AM Kseniya < info@cafeintercafe.com > wrote: , Well, I even don't know what to say. You were my hope. And I believed in you. Well, I understand everything. I will manage something. You know that I want to come there very much. And the most important for me was the meeting with you. And I don't know if I ever have a chance to see you. Everything seemed to be perfect and I thought that at last my dream would come true. You know my attitude to you, you know what I feel about you. I feel miserable. But I can't change anything here. You know that if I do not pay in time, I will just do not get my visa. Perhaps, you are indifferent to this. I was sure in you and really hoped you would help me. Tell me again will you be able to send me money for a certain period of time for me? Will you have enough time to do it? Can you promise me? You know that I can do it only till March, 16th. I have already written you this and I don' t know what else to tell you to make you do it. Just tell me yes or no. Will you send me money? I already told you that everything was ready. And that the only thing I have to do is to pay 300 for visa. And I will have it for sure. . It is a bit cool outside. And do you know what I would like to do now. To make a fireplace, take some good wine, a warm blanket, burn some candles and just sit there for hours with you. Feeling you are close to me, feel the warmth of your body, a strong man near me. Feel you breathing close to me. What do you think of this? Would you share my dream? After having some wine our imagination could get wild and we could find so many interesting things to do. Do you know what I would do to you.I would just tear your clothes into pieces. And would lick every part of your strong body Well, it is getting to exciting to write such things and I better stop as my face is getting read from these thoughts. And I am afraid that people around me would not understand me. They are looking at me already with a great interest. And what are your dreams my dear? And am I involved into them? Hope you think of me the same way I think of you. And tell me - yes or no. Will you send me money? I miss you a lot and need you so much. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 4:40 AM Subject: , sorry From:Date: Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 4:40 AMSubject: , sorry ! Forgive me that I don' t write to you for a long time. But the internet cafe didn' t work here. And I couldn' t use the computer to write letters to you. I hope did you not forget me? Do you want to communicate with me and also want to see me? if you remember, I told you that I will come to your country to live and learn. I think we would have a good friendship or relationship. Write to me if I' m still interested you and you remember me. I ' m waiting your answer. Kseniya. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Mon, Apr 1, 2019 at 9:51 PM Subject: , I have very good news!!! From:Date: Mon, Apr 1, 2019 at 9:51 PMSubject: , I have very good news!!! , I have very good news!!! You have to tell me the international airport close to you, that you have met me. You will not believe me. but I have just got an invitation for the interview. It means that very soon I will get my visa. The only thing I need to do now is to pass the interview and then I will just buy tickets, take my passport with the visa and will just leave for you. How do you like it? I think it is just great. I am a little bit nervous about the interview but I think everything will be just fine. Please, think of me during the interview and cross your fingers for us. As soon as I get my visa, I will be able to see you. What do you feel? I am just happy. I am flying. It is great. I still can't believe this happened. I am leaving for Moscow tomorrow. I don't know how much time it will take. As soon as I have all the information and the results, I will immediately let you know, Ok? I will do my best for a good result. I need to repeat again. I have to know the name of the airport where to go and where you will meet me. You have to meet me there by all means. Also I should take care of the tickets in advance if I get visa. Till soon. Kseniya. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 5:03 AM Subject: . airport? From:Date: Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 5:03 AMSubject: . airport? . Why haven' t you answered me? I asked you to write me the airport that is close to you. I haven' t left for Moscow yet. I was not able to buy the tickets there. But tomorrow I am going to leave that is why please, tell me the name of the airport. You didn' t write me the airport though I asked you about it in my previous letter. Don' t you want to see me? Or you have changed your mind and you don' t want me to come to you? Please, tell me the truth. I have to go to the Embassy and I am sure they will give me visa. I told you several times that I was going to get a student visa. I don' t know yet what University or college I am going to study in. I wanted to choose it together with you. I wanted it to be close to you. As I would like to be able to meet with you while I am there. I wrote you that I was going to live in a campus. And we would be able to meet daily. Or I even could live at your place. I am going to study and to work there. So we could share all the expenses and pay bills together. I have to know the airport and hope you will meet me. I want to know your thoughts on this. Even if you don' t want to hear me, please, tell me the truth. Just don' t keep silence. Kseniya. On Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 8:45 AM Kseniya < info@cafeintercafe.com > wrote: My dear ! How are you, my sweetheart? I am OK, just a little bit tired. I am already in Moscow and the city is so noisy. I don't really feel comfortable here. But well, I came here on purpose. So it is Ok. I have very good news for you. I've got my visa at last. So this is done now. I have my passport for going abroad with the visa inside. The only thing left is a ticket. I already know the airport I should go to. And I even went to the cash department of the airport to check about the ticket. They offered me the ticket on April, 21th. And the price is rather reasonable. It will cost $976. Unfortunately, there is a problem. I have only $600 and I still need $376. I really don't know what to do. I have to pay for it soon not to be sold to someone else. So I have to ask you if you can help me with this. Will you be able to send me $376? I told you that I sold my fur coat to pay for visa and ticket. But the money was not enough. I sold my fur tree for $900. I have spent $300 for all the papers with the visa. And $60 I spent for my trip to Moscow. That is why I ask you to help me and send me $376. As soon as I buy the ticket I will immediately leave for you. And in some days I will be in your arms already. Think on this. Dear, I really have no one to rely on and I have only you who could help me in this situation. You know I will give you the money back as soon as I will be able to work in your country. So this is no going to be a problem. I will give it back to you by all means. This is the only thing left now before we could be together. I really hope that you will help me and we will be together at last. I am sure you want it the same way I do. So, please, write me your thoughts on this and when you will be able to send the money. I can't stay here for long in Moscow and also the ticket could be sold to another person if I don't pay for it shortly. You can send money to my name (KSENIYA SIOTANOVA) by any office Western Union or MoneyGram and I will get it without any problems in Moscow. My sweetheart, I need you and I hope you too need me. I love you very much. And I miss you badly. Kseniya. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 9:25 AM Subject: From:Date: Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 9:25 AMSubject: !!! Yes, I understand that asked you for help though told you that had all the money for the trip. But please, understand my problem. I have has sold a fur coat. But this money is not enough for the ticket. I don't know where to take the money. I hope only for you. Nobody can help me here. I don't know anybody here in Moscow. I didn't know I had to buy a two way ticket. $976 is a cost for the ticket there and the return ticket. Your government asks to have a return ticket for the case my visa is inspired or I am not able to enter the University. They do it because they are afraid of the immigrants. When I checked the cost of the ticket they told me the cost only of the one ticket. Do you understand now why I don't have enough money for the ticket? I am still in Moscow. And I have spent lots of money already to stay here. Everything is very expensive here and my money is limited. Please, understand my worries and help me. I have already paid part of the money for ticket not to be sold to another person. I have left 300 dollars that is why I ask you to send me money. I ask you to send me only $376. 976 dollars is a very reasonable price. And if I don't pay the whole sum of the money for the ticket then I will loose all the money that I paid for my ticket to be reserved. The other problem is that my visa is given to me only for 2 months except of 3 months. I don't know why they did it. But that was the decision of your Embassy. And they even didn't explain me the reason. And I can't wait. That is why I should come as soon as possible and enter the University. If I have my visa for longer time then I could stay here for more time and try to save money. But I have no time. I ask you to help me but don't ask you for a present! I will come, enter the University and give you the money back. I will work and will be able to give you it back. I don't want you to think that I want to use you just to move to your country. I hope that you will understand me and will send me the money. There is only thing left before we meet. There is only little step left. So please, think and send me the money. It is only 376 dollars. I don't think it is much for the opportunity to be happy. I think we will be able to be happy with you. But you should do this so we could meet with you. . I tried to prove you that I am real several times already. I have sent you a list of paper with my your and my names. But why don't you want to believe me? I have sent you also the copy of my passport. Why don't you still believe me? I am going to try and prove again that I am real. I am going to attach you the copy of my visa. And I want you to understand that I have only serious intentions and I am really going to come to you. I don't play any games. I am going to get your money in Moscow with my passport ( I have sent it already in my previous letters ) and with my visa. If I am not real I would not be able to get the money! And I really want to come to you. Please, believe me and send me the money. . I hope that you want to see me and will send me the money. I already wrote to you that you could send the money to any office of Western Union or MoneyGram in Moscow. Please, send the money to my full name. I will be able to get the money without any problems. I made a copy of visa by scanner. But I can' t send my pictures now as I am in Moscow now. I have no here a camera. I don' t think it is a problem as soon I will come to you and you will be able to see me in real life but not at the pictures. Kseniya. P.S. My plan? I should arrive and enter the university till June, 1st. To me will submit only documents to any university enough. And my visa will prolong after that for 5 years. It will prolong for all term of study. I shall work. I shall work prior to the beginning of study. So I can pay my residing there and study. Now you understands my plan? In the first days I can live in campus. The university will give it free of charge. Therefore I can live in campus and meet you in your free time. !!!Yes, I understand that asked you for help though told you thathad all the money for the trip. But please, understand my problem.I have has sold a fur coat. But this money is not enough for theticket. I don't know where to take the money. I hope only for you.Nobody can help me here. I don't know anybody here in Moscow.I didn't know I had to buy a two way ticket. $976 is a cost forthe ticket there and the return ticket. Your government asks tohave a return ticket for the case my visa is inspired or I am notable to enter the University. They do it because they are afraidof the immigrants. When I checked the cost of the ticket they toldme the cost only of the one ticket. Do you understand now whyI don't have enough money for the ticket?I am still in Moscow. And I have spent lots of money already tostay here. Everything is very expensive here and my money islimited. Please, understand my worries and help me.I have already paid part of the money for ticket not to be soldto another person. I have left 300 dollars that is why I ask youto send me money. I ask you to send me only $376. 976 dollars isa very reasonable price. And if I don't pay the whole sum of themoney for the ticket then I will loose all the money that I paidfor my ticket to be reserved.The other problem is that my visa is given to me only for 2 monthsexcept of 3 months. I don't know why they did it. But that wasthe decision of your Embassy. And they even didn't explain me thereason. And I can't wait. That is why I should come as soon aspossible and enter the University. If I have my visa for longertime then I could stay here for more time and try to save money.But I have no time.I ask you to help me but don't ask you for a present! I will come,enter the University and give you the money back. I will work andwill be able to give you it back. I don't want you to think thatI want to use you just to move to your country.I hope that you will understand me and will send me the money.There is only thing left before we meet. There is only little stepleft. So please, think and send me the money. It is only 376dollars. I don't think it is much for the opportunity to be happy.I think we will be able to be happy with you. But you should dothis so we could meet with you. .I tried to prove you that I am real several times already.I have sent you a list of paper with my your and my names.But why don't you want to believe me? I have sent you also thecopy of my passport. Why don't you still believe me?I am going to try and prove again that I am real.I am going to attach you the copy of my visa. And I want you tounderstand that I have only serious intentions and I am reallygoing to come to you. I don't play any games. I am going toget your money in Moscow with my passport ( I have sent italready in my previous letters ) and with my visa. If I amnot real I would not be able to get the money!And I really want to come to you.Please, believe me and send me the money. .I hope that you want to see me and will send me the money.I already wrote to you that you could send the money to any officeof Western Union or MoneyGram in Moscow. Please, send themoney to my full name. I will be able to get the money withoutany problems.I made a copy of visa by scanner.But I can' t send my pictures now as I am in Moscow now.I have no here a camera.I don' t think it is a problem as soon I will come to you and youwill be able to see me in real life but not at the pictures.Kseniya.P.S.My plan? I should arrive and enter the university till June, 1st.To me will submit only documents to any university enough. And myvisa will prolong after that for 5 years. It will prolong for allterm of study. I shall work. I shall work prior to the beginningof study. So I can pay my residing there and study. Now youunderstands my plan? In the first days I can live in campus.The university will give it free of charge. Therefore I can livein campus and meet you in your free time. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 9:34 AM Subject: It's me again. From:Date: Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 9:34 AMSubject: It's me again. It's me again. I ' m just looking for the closest place to get the money, if you send it to my ticket. I found that there are several close MoneyGram here. I want to ask you to send money through MoneyGram. I came into the office MoneyGram, and they explained to me that you can send money to me without any problems. You do not need to specify a specific address MoneyGram here. You only need to specify my Full Name, and that you send money to Russia, to Moscow. And I have no problem get your money in one of the closest to me MoneyGram offices here in Moscow. I also learned that the service and payment MoneyGram cheaper than in the Western alliance. You will pay less money when using MoneyGram. Please look in your local MoneyGram, to send money to me. But if you can not find at MoneyGram, then you can send money via Western Union ( you also will only need to specify my full name, and that you send money to the city of Moscow, in Russian ). It is more far away from me to get the money, but I can get it via Western Union without any problems. I am waiting for your answer. Kseniya. P.S. You can send money here (moneygram or western union in Moscow): Name: SBERBANK Addreess: TURISTSKAYA ULITSA 19-1, MOSCOW, 123489, RUSSIA Or Name: URALSIB Addreess: SADOVAYA-CHERNOGRYAZSKAYA ULITSA 13-3, STROENIE 1, MOSCOW, 105064, RUSSIA Or Name: ROSBANK Addreess: BOLSHAYA POLYANKA STR. 28 KORPUS 1, MOSCOW, 119180, RUSSIA my full name: Kseniya Siotanova. Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Tue, Apr 9, 2019 at 3:07 AM Subject: , Trust me! From:Date: Tue, Apr 9, 2019 at 3:07 AMSubject: , Trust me! , I am so tired to be in Moscow. Everything is very expensive here. And I save money on everything. I do it for us. I want us to be together and to be happy. I want to come to you and that is why I am ready to overcome all the difficulties. But I need your help. There is only one step left a you to send me money. You even can't imagine what I have to do here to survive. I stay in a very cheap hotel as I have no money to live in a good room. I live in one place with people who have no place to stay in. I stayed even at the airport some times to save money but the police paid attention to me and I can't stay there any more. People are so cruel. No one can help me here. And you are my only hope. Do you understand now why I don't write to you often and don't call you. If I have a digital camera here I would show you the life here for you to see what kind of difficulties I have here. I know that happiness is not given so easily that is why I try to overcome all the difficulties on my way. That is why I ask you to send me money as soon as possible for the ticket. If you don't help me, then I will have to get back to my city. And I don't want this as I have spent so much forces and money already to get my visa. There is only one step left to be in your arms and I don't want to stop here. And this is a step you should do. Now everything depends on you. Please, try to understand me and send me money for the ticket. Kseniya. P.S. Trust me! If I deceived you what for I would ask you to send money to Moscow? I here in Moscow because has received the visa, and I wished to buy the ticket. I never deceived you. And if you will send money to Moscow I cannot receive it in other place!!! Why I could not write to you, what I have received the visa in the city, in Novosibirsk? I would not began to spend money and to go to Moscow. You writes insulting words, that I wish to deceive you. It not the truth! I never deceived you! Kseniya info@cafeintercafe.com > Date: Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 5:27 PM Subject: , hopeless situation. . From:Date: Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 5:27 PMSubject: , hopeless situation. . , I don't know what to do. I am in a hopeless situation. You haven't sent me money for the ticket. And perhaps, I've just did everything without any sense. You didn't appreciate my forces. It is very offensive. I have tears in my eyes. I have spent so much time and forces to do all the paperwork and to come to Moscow. I've got my visa. And when I needed just your help, you couldn't help me. I asked you for help as I thought we could be more than just pen pals. My main purpose is to create a family. I do love you. My visa is given only for 2 months, such a pity. And I don't think I will be ever able to get another visa as I am not going to use this one. I am still going to stay in Moscow for 3-4 days. I have no more money to stay here. You should send me money now or I will leave home. Bitter truth is better than a sweet lie! Please, tell me will you be able to send me money shortly? I woke up today with such a strange feeling.I saw you in my night dream. It was such a pleasure. I felt your touch, saw your eyes. I am going to tell you my dream now. I am sure you will like it the same way I do. There was a beautiful island with a white sand, blue water and lots of green trees. I was sitting near the water looking at the clear blue sky and suddenly saw a plane. When it landed I saw a wonderful man coming close to me. I was a little scared and surprised to see a man. I was naked with just a small towel on me. I was a little bit embarrassed. But decided to wait and not run away. That was you though I had not seen you before and didn't know you. You came and asked me if there were any people there except me on the island. I told you that I was the only one and there was a house where you can stay if were going to stay on the island for a while. You agreed and we went to see the place. In the evening we had dinner with champagne and talked a lot and I felt how I started to fall in love with you. This way we spent several days and then you had to leave back to your life and work. And you left and I stayed on the island alone. Two weeks passed. I missed you badly and often cried realizing that I would never see you again. One day I was lying on the sofa at home and suddenly heard someone knocking my door. I was surprised and when I opened the door I saw you. You looked at me attentively and the first think you told me was :"I love you, baby!" Then I woke up and had such a wonderful feeling. I dream to hear these words from you in real one day. So let me know what you think of this dream. I miss you badly. Kseniya. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... grandriver/iStock(ATLANTA) -- Three people are dead, including an alleged hostage taker, after a day-long standoff in Georgia. A pregnant woman and her teenage son were killed, according to Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. Two police officers were also injured in the incident, authorities said. The standoff, which began just before 11 a.m. in Henry County, a southeast suburb of Atlanta, crawled on for 15 hours before police entered the home and found three people dead inside, WSB reported. The two police officers were shot when they responded to the home Thursday morning. Both are in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital. One officer was shot in the hand and another was struck in the hip, police said. Authorities had been hopeful the suspect, who had taken a teenager hostage inside the home, would release him. The sister of the pregnant woman told WSB she had found her dead and called police, triggering the standoff. "We're hoping he was going release the 16-year-old. He said he would, and we're just standing by waiting," Henry County Police Capt. Joey Smith told WSB while the standoff continued Thursday night. Police believe the suspect shot himself. At about 11 p.m., police said the suspect was continuing to surrender and "refused to provide proof of the well-being of a female and 16 year old inside [the] residence." Authorities decided to fire several gas canisters into the home, at which point the suspect fired back at SWAT officers outside the home. No officers were injured in the evening's events, Smith said. Police entered the home at about 3:30 a.m. Friday, when they found the three bodies. Earlier in the evening, Smith had said they did not want to enter the home as long as communication with the suspect continued. "We do not want to make a dynamic entry into the home," Smith said at a press conference. "With communication with the individual, at least he's talking -- that's helpful. We're going to wait as long as we can." Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr thanked police officers for their service, saying on Twitter, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Henry County Police officers who were shot today while putting their lives on the line to keep our communities safe." Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is flying on Friday to eastern Libya to meet commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces a day earlier began an offensive to take control of the capital currently held by an internationally recognized government. Guterres will be also flying to Tobruk, another city in the east and home to Libyas parliament - also internationally recognized - which backs Haftar, he said on Twitter. My aim remains the same: avoid a military confrontation. I reiterate that there is no military solution for the Libyan crisis, only a political one, Guterres wrote on Twitter. Search Keywords: Short link: : TomsnReuters (), : Apple : () : BBS (Thu Apr 4 23:09:59 2019, ) Military : TomsnReuters (), : Military : : BBS (Thu Apr 4 22:00:14 2019, ) https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/04/04/feds-bust-900000-iphone-repair- return-scam-in-oregon Feds bust $900,000 iPhone repair & return scam in Oregon By William Gallagher Thursday, April 04, 2019, 05:09 am PT (08:09 am ET) Two engineering students in Oregon are accused of bringing thousands of counterfeit iPhones to Apple and having them replaced with real ones that they then shipped to China for sale. Apple's Bridgeport Village Store, Oregon. Some of the alleged fraud was perpetuated online but others involved visits to Oregon's three Apple Stores Apple's Bridgeport Village Store, Oregon. Some of the alleged fraud was perpetuated online but others involved visits to Oregon's three Apple Stores Students Yangyang Zhou and Quan Jiang, both Chinese nationals studying in Oregon, are accused of getting Apple to replace their counterfeit iPhones with real ones. Each iPhone was replaced under Apple's repair policies and the thousands of phones were then sent to China where they were sold. Apple reportedly estimates the cost of the fraud to be $895,800. Zhou made his first court appearance at the US District Court in Portland on Friday where federal investigators from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) claimed that he and Jiang had received multiple shipments of counterfeit iPhones from China. Boxes of fake iPhones found at suspects' homes. Source: US Attorney's Office via KION Boxes of fake iPhones found at suspects' homes. Source: US Attorney's Office via KION An Apple representative explained to the court how the fraud worked. "Submission of an iPhone that will not power on is critical to perpetuating iPhone warranty fraud," said the representative, "As the phone will not be able to be immediately examined or repaired by Apple technicians, triggering the Apple phone replacement process as part of its product warranty." According to court records as reported by The Oregonian newspaper, Apple received more than 3,000 warranty claims from Jiang and in 1,493 cases replaced his phone. Customs and Border Protection officials began investigating in April 2017 after having seized five or more shipments of phones. In December 2017, Homeland Security interviewed Jiang who admitted regularly receiving 20 to 30 "iPhones" from China. At the time of the alleged fraud, Zhou and Jiang were both living in Corvallis, Oregon, and were on student visas to study engineering. Jiang was studying at Linn Benton Community College and Zhou at Oregon State University. Apple reportedly sent Jiang a cease-and-desist letter in both June and July 2017 while CBP also wrote in April and October to tell him that counterfeit phones addressed to him had been seized. Jiang denies receiving any of these letters or being told that what he was doing was illegal. Jiang's defense lawyer has so far declined to comment but Zhou's told Portland's KOIN that his client is innocent. "Mr Zhou was not aware of any alleged counterfeiting," he said, " and we believe Mr Zhou will be vindicated." Apple has yet to comment publicly on this case but reportedly it has been working to combat similar fraud cases for at least the last six years. -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 98.] Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity Protesters waving banners and calling for radical change marched through Algiers for a seventh successive Friday as Algeria's intelligence chief was reported fired in a further sign of high-level turmoil following the resignation of the country's veteran president. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital to push for the removal of the entire political structure, built around the ruling party, army officers, businessmen, unions and veterans of a 1954-62 independence war against France. "We want to uproot the symbols of the system," said teacher Ahmed Badili. "We want radical change. No need for temporary solutions," said state bank employee Noureddine Dimi, 52. The intelligence chief, retired army general Athmane Tartag, was a close ally of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who quit on Tuesday under pressure from the army. The military said it was acting in the national interest following weeks of anti-government demonstrations. Tartag's departure was reported by the private Ennahar TV, who added that his powerful intelligence position, currently under the authority of the presidency, would return to the supervision of the defence ministry. No replacement for Tartag has been announced. The intelligence service was an important component of the military's powerful influence in national affairs and played a backroom role in politics as well as in the 1990s civil war. But in 2016 Bouteflika, removed it from the supervision of the defence ministry and placed it under the authority of the presidency to try to ease it out of the political sphere. Algeria is now in the hands of a caretaker government which will stay in office until elections in three months time. No clear successor to Bouteflika has emerged. In the weeks before Bouteflika's resignation, his inner circle was depleted by the resignation of several of his close allies from influential positions in politics and business. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. Appraisal and Construction Products; Lots of Events; Agency Changes Some New Yorkers like to think that theyre at the Center of the Universe. But, though larger Java, in terms of islands, in Indonesia, is home to 135 million inhabitants versus Manhattans 1.7 million. (And although Manhattan does have about 125,000 hotel rooms, it is less than Las Vegas 152,000 and Orlandos 150,000.) What about housing affordability? Even though some homes have become more affordable in the past year, based on income growth, home prices in more than 70 percent of the country are more than the average worker can afford. Brooklyn and Manhattan have a dubious distinction: The largest share of income to buy a home at 115 percent. Lender Products and Services Congratulations to Frank Novak whom ACT Appraisal has hired as its new Coordinator/Account Executive. Frank comes as a seasoned individual in the AMC arena. Before he officially started with ACT, he was already strengthening business through his relationships he has developed over the 10 years in the AMC field. Frank has already increased ACT order volume since coming on board late December. He has a "can do" attitude and his customer service skills are held in high regard in this industry. We are very excited at ACT Appraisal, and with Franks help 2019 is starting off on an incredible growth pattern. To contact Frank, call 888-377-8901 x-3004, or email him at frankn@actappraisal.com. There is a well-publicized dearth in affordable housing, particularly for low to moderate income homebuyers as well as potential homebuyers in rural markets. In response to this national housing shortage and as a premier underwriter of ALL government-backed loan products, Mid America Mortgage is excited to announce the formal roll-out of the One-Time Closing/Construction to Perm program for use with FHA, VA & USDA products, which allows for up to 96.5% LTV on FHA loans and 100% LTV on VA and USDA loans. In recognition of the added complexities surrounding construction lending, Mid America has partnered with National Capital Funding, Ltd., which is widely recognized by FHA, VA and USDA as the premier construction funds administrator in the U.S. This partnership ensures a smooth & seamless process for builder approvals/interactions and construction/draw administration, even for LOs who are new to the product. Contact your local Mid America AE today for more details: https://mamtpo.com/wholesale-account-executives. The mortgage industry is selling homes, not hamburgers and French fries. So, why does this industry deliver one of the lowest retention rates of any category, as fast food companies boast the most loyal customers out there? With the proliferation of technology in the mortgage servicing industry, its time we capture the lifetime loyalty of a customer. Great technology provides great data and insights so your customers can have an amazing experience and you can maximize your portfolio and your business. The key is to make sure you partner with a subservicer who can deliver on that. Take this Subservicer Health Check from TMS to determine where you and your subservicer stack up. Attention FinTech investors and investment bankers. A mature, profitable and well-adopted Mortgage technology firm is seeking to raise $10M+ for rapid expansion purposes across banking and mortgage verticals to enhance the sales and prospecting capabilities of mortgage loan officers. Serious and interested investors may inquire by contacting Anjelica Nixt for a confidential discussion. Mortgage Technology Document Management firms, Mortgage Insurance, Institutional or private sources of capital are encouraged. Events, Workshops, and Classes Sierra Pacific Mortgage is hosting a free webinar on Sierra Elite. This jumbo product is so hot, they are offering the webinar twice this month. Register for Tuesday, April 9 at 10:00 am PDT or Thursday, April 25 at 1:00 pm PDT. You will learn about some of the amazing features of this program and how it can help your next borrower purchase up to $3.0 million or one who needs a cash-out loan up to $2.0 million. This is the loan program for them, including self-employed borrowers. Register now. On Friday, May 31st and Saturday June 1st, 2019, 55 mortgage company owners, managers and executives will join Ron Vaimberg in LA for Recruiting and Leadership Mastery. This is the only event of its type for you as a leader solely focused on mastering recruiting and leadership skills. If you are looking to attend a premier event that is dedicated to dramatically enhancing your skills to attract top originator talent, then this is the only event in the industry for you. Sign-up here before April 25 and save $600 using special code Chrisman2. AIME is offering a Mortgage Expert Workshop in Ft. Lauderdale at the Diplomat Beach Resort on Wednesday, April 17 from 7:30am-530pm. Click here for the entire agenda and registration. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve, Farm Credit Administration, and National Credit Union Association will require the entities they supervise to accept certain types of private flood insurance policies and permit acceptance of others on July 1st. Register for the April 8th Buckley Webcast: New private flood insurance rules & recent flood litigation. Register for MBAs April 10th webinar UMBS and Your Business: Best Practices for Readiness. Hear an overview of the Single Security Initiative and how it affects the mortgage industry, including what you'll need to know to participate in the new marketplace. Upon completion, attendees will develop an understanding of how the Universal Mortgage Backed Securities (UMBS) impacts sellers, as well as the origination, servicing and the hedging process. In Colorado CoAMP is hosting a luncheon with Rob Chrisman on Friday, April 19th from 11:00-1:00. Registration deadline is April 12th with limited seating availability. Sponsorship opportunities should be addressed to Cathy Brogan at PRMG (303.333.7333). That MI Guy, Steve Richman, and Customer Education Leader, Mary Kay Scully, will present at the Regional Conference of MBAs on Wednesday, April 10 at the Harrahs Resort & Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ. Steve will walk through a presentation on the current rates environment, understanding today's consumers, creative ways to find them and how to establish profitable relationships with clients. Later Ms. Scully, the newly appointed Chairman of the MBA-NJ Womens Committee, will hold the first committee meeting to reveal 2019 events including Rise Against Hunger and recruit new committee members. To succeed in todays mortgage market, you need to constantly be adapting and learning. The National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America gives a fresh take on how to grow your mortgage operations in its power-packed CONNECT 19 conference, which offers professional development, training and networking. From the state of the industry to how to close the gender divide, NAMMBAs CONNECT 19 conquers important topics and starts a conversation around key issues. Register HERE to join other top companies at CONNECT 19 in Atlanta from April 24 through April 27. Check out NAMMBAs website for more information. Could your executive team benefit from few days of focused discussion with other lenders on a specific functional aspect of your business? Good news for you theres still time to sign up for one of STRATMOR Groups Workshops. STRATMOR is offering three of its popular workshops the week of May 5 at the Omni Mandalay in Dallas, Texas: the Consumer Direct Workshop, the CIO Workshopand the Operations Workshop. These lender-only workshops fill quickly and seating is limited, so register soon early bird pricing for all three sessions expires Tuesday, April 9. Fannie/Freddie/FHFA Chatter Yesterday the Senate confirmed Mark Calabria as the next FHFA Director. Of course he received the usual volley of congratulations from various industry organizations. The news was no surprise, but now what? With the recent Presidential Memorandum, we can expect negotiated capital retention and renewed efforts to end conservatorship, and a push to shrink the GSE footprints, probably starting with cutting back on cash-out refi, investor property, and second home exposures at the GSEs: Critics say theyre there to promote home ownership, not necessarily landlords or people using their homes as piggy banks. MI companies are watching closely but optimistic. Are you okay with increased loan level price adjustments for high balance conforming loans? I hope so. Calabria will probably use the FHFA Conservatorship Scorecard release in November or December to implement key policy changes, but as Compass Point Research & Tradings Isaac Boltansky points out, Director Calabria will be forced to navigate the ideological divide between Republican GSE orthodoxy and President Trumps growth agenda. FHFA Director Calabria will surely embrace policies intended to directionally reduce the role of the GSEs in the market, but our sense is that those changes will be tactical and measured as housing represents roughly 15% of GDP and economic growth remains paramount. Fannie Mae announced that Hugh Frater is its new CEO, setting the overall enterprise vision and strategic direction of the company. In addition to his role as CEO, Frater remains on the Board of Directors. Hugh previously served as Interim CEO. Congrats! Fannie Maes policy on eligibility for non-U.S. citizen borrowers is available as a PDF to use as a reference guide. Fannie Mae issued a reminder to Homeowners and Servicers of its Mortgage Assistance Options for areas affected by flooding in the Missouri River Basin. Under Fannie Maes guidelines for single-family mortgages, homeowners impacted by the Missouri River Basin flooding are eligible for payment forbearance of up to 12 months, during which time they will not incur late fees during this temporary payment break will not have delinquencies reported to the credit bureaus. Freddie Mac confirmed utilization of its disaster relief policies for borrowers who have been affected by the spring flooding in the Midwest. Freddie Mac's disaster relief options are available to borrowers whose homes or places of employment are located in presidentially-declared Major Disaster Areas where federal individual assistance programs are made available to affected individuals and households. Beginning in June 2019, Freddie Mac will draft - via ACH transaction - principal and interest payments and payoff proceeds directly from the Servicers designated P&I custodial account. To authorize Freddie Mac to draft these funds, Servicers must submit Form 1132A, Authorization for Automatic Transfer of Funds from a Principal and Interest Custodial Account Through ACH, to Freddie Mac. View the full correctly completed sample Form 1132A here for further clarification. Freddie Mac posted new and updated eMortgage resources which include updated FAQs that address common questions related to implementing eMortgages. Pre-recorded, self-paced webinars. Access to the Closepin database of closing agents that allows you to quickly locate agents who are ready to conduct your desired type of eClosing (hybrid eClosing, remote online eClosing). Capital Markets The 10-year spent most of yesterday fluctuating between 2.50% and 2.52% which made for a rather boring, low-volume session ahead of today's payrolls report for March. Hesitation in market movement was due primarily to that and back-and-forth reports discussing trade talks between the U.S. and China that continued in Washington. President Trump could possibly announce a summit date with President Xi. Speaking of Mr. Trump, he gave Mexico a one-year notice to curb flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across border, threatening implementation of tariffs on imported goods, namely cars. Separately, reports are that Trump is looking to name Herman Cain as Fed Governor. Global growth concerns simmered below the surface following a disappointing factory orders report out of Germany, yet a report showing the lowest level of initial claims in the U.S. in 50 years aided belief that the U.S. economy is still faring relatively well despite economic issues abroad. The UK House of Commons narrowly passed draft legislation that would force Prime Minister May to ask EU for an extension to avoid a no-deal Brexit on April 12, as she has been unable to forge a new alternate Brexit plan with Labour leader Corbyn. Today, weve received the March payrolls report (nonfarm payrolls +196k, unemployment rate 3.8%, hourly earnings +.1%). The only other market news of note will be February consumer credit and an appearance by Atlanta Fed President Bostic, both this afternoon. We begin today with agency MBS prices unchanged and the 10-year yielding 2.52%. Employment and Transitions Here we grow again! WesLend Financial is aggressively expanding its wholesale platform and is seeking highly motivated Sales Managers and AEs nationwide. As a mortgage banker licensed in 41 states with aggressive pricing and extensive product offerings that go beyond the basics and includes Co-ops, Non-QM and much more, top producers find a steady flow of revenues along with one of the most competitive comp plans in the industry. Our Sales Mangers and Account Executives experience little to no overlap and have full access to all operational personnel including our underwriters. If youre looking into expanding your book of business come to WesLend. You also will have access to hundreds of untapped brokers that we already have relationships with. But, its not just about full-service. Its about outstanding service and support. If you are ready do more than simply set goals and are ready to be a part of the next generation of leaders and exceed your goals, contact Darryl Skinner. Thrive Mortgage made a name for themselves in 2018 as the first lender in Texas to complete a 100% digital mortgage closing (including an eNote) using a Remote Online Notary. The I in Thrive stands for Innovate, according to Thrives CEO Roy Jones, a known visionary and forward-thinking leader. Our nationally-recognized technology allows for a complete digital transaction to enhance the client experience, something we are very passionate about! Clients, business partners, and mortgage consultants love the eClosing platform, developed in conjunction with Notarize. When youre in a room of 50 other lenders, and youre the only one to raise your hand indicating that you can complete a 100% digital mortgage, it lets you know that youre leading the charge regarding technological advancements, stated Michael Jones, Thrives CFO. Thrive is growing again in key markets. For more information, please reach out to info@thrivemortgage.com. Opus Capital Markets Consultants, LLC, (Opus CMC) leading provider of mortgage due diligence, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wipro Ltd. (NYSE: WIT), a leading global Information Technology, Consulting and Business Process Services company, is seeking an Operations Manager for an outbound call center in Atlanta, GA. The candidate must have extensive knowledge of mortgage processing and origination functions and hands on experience with a dialer-based outbound loan processing call center. He/she will have a minimum of 10 years industry experience with proven results for driving the team to meet business objectives, managing large data and retaining records for future analysis. Our industry continues to evolve and digitize, so given current market conditions, assisting our clients with methods to gain efficiencies through new tools while maintaining customer centricity is critical to our collective success. said Pete Butler, Executive Managing Director/Business Unit Head, Opus CMC. For more information contact Tony Veasey. MorVest Capital, LLC, announced the addition of Managing Director Larry Charbonneau. Larry Charbonneau is a well-respected industry veteran with a formidable reputation in M&A. He pioneered valuation of mortgage companies and has successfully advised on over 90 M&A transactions. Larry perfectly complements our existing executive team and we are truly excited for him to join the firm, said Mr. Fleig, CEO of MorVest. Deep dish pizza was invented in the Windy City in 1943 by Ike Sewell, founder of Unos Pizzeria. It became so popular that it spun into a huge national chain and inspired dozens upon dozens of other deep dish pizzerias in major cities across the world. So tuck a napkin into your collar, grab a fork and knife (youll need them), and celebrate. Unos is offering their deep dish deal all month long! You can get an individual deep dish pizza and a side house or caesar salad for $10 with the purchase of a a beverage. Coupon available to insiders club members- join here. UNO PIZZERIA & GRILL 126 North Main Street Dayton, OH 45402 937-910-8000 The new kid on the block, the Chicago based Giordanos Famous Stuffed Pizza has been serving its world-famous pizza since 1974, when founders and immigrants brothers Efren and Joseph Boglio introduced their mothers stuffed pizza recipe to Chicago. Their Beavercreek store is celebrating deep-dish day by offering $5 off if you order online, offering the code 541-780-670. That same code also works if youd like to ship a pizza a frozen pizza. Giordanos Pizza 2819 Centre Drive, Suite A Beavercreek, Ohio (937) 986-1180 BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse is offering a dine in special to celebrate. You can enjoy a Mini One-Topping Deep Dish Pizza, Mini Pizookie and Dr Pepper for just $9.95 on Friday April 5th from 11am 3pm 2715 Fairfield Commons Blvd, Beavercreek, OH 45431 (937) 956-0500 10563 Innovation Dr, Miamisburg, OH 45342 (937) 859-6000 The U.N. secretary-general said he is deeply concerned after meeting eastern commander Khalifa Haftar in Libya on Friday to try to avert renewed civil war as his forces advanced on Tripoli to challenge the internationally recognized government. The military thrust by Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA), which is allied to a parallel administration based in the east, has marked a dangerous escalation of a power struggle that has dragged on since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli, Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. The U.N. is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the U.N. is committed to supporting the Libyan people. Al-Arabiya TV said Haftar told Guterres that the operation would continue until terrorism is defeated. Tripoli is the ultimate prize for Haftars eastern parallel government. In 2014 he assembled former Gaddafi soldiers and in a three-year battle seized the main eastern city of Benghazi, then this year took the south with its oilfields. The escalation surprised the United Nations. Guterres had been in the capital this week to help organize a national reconciliation conference planned for later this month. But on Thursday LNA forces took Gharyan, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli after skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based, U.N.-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. They further moved north coming as close as 40 km to Tripoli by taking the village of Suq al-Khamis after some fighting, a resident and an eastern military source said. But they failed to take a checkpoint about 30 km west of the capital in a bid to close the coastal road to Tunisia. An LNA-allied militia withdrew overnight from so-called Gate 27, leaving it abandoned in the morning, a Reuters reporter said. In another setback, forces allied to Tripoli took 145 LNA fighters prisoner in Zawiya, west of Tripoli, a western commander, Mohamed Alhudair, told Reuters. An LNA source confirmed 128 had been captured. Sixty vehicles had also been seized, Alhudairi said. Meanwhile armed groups allied to the U.N.-backed Tripoli government moved more machinegun-mounted pickups from the coastal city of Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftars forces. Oil Producer Guterres, who spent Thursday night in the heavily fortified U.N. compound in a Tripoli suburb, flew to Benghazi and drove to Haftars base, witnesses said. He earlier went to Tobruk, another eastern city, to meet Aguila Saleh, president of the House of Representatives, which is also allied to Haftar. My aim remains the same: avoid a military confrontation. I reiterate that there is no military solution for the Libyan crisis, only a political one, Guterres earlier said on Twitter. On Thursday, Saleh welcomed the offensive. After the meeting with Guterres, his spokesman said they had discussed ways to end the crisis and the planned conference, without giving details. The offensive is a setback for the United Nations and Western countries which have been trying to mediate between Serraj and Haftar, who met in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss a power-sharing deal. The conference the United Nations is helping to organize is aimed at forging agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the prolonged instability in Libya, an oil producer and transit point for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara with the aim of reaching Europe. Germany called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council due to the military escalation. Russia said it was not helping Haftars forces and it supported a negotiated political settlement that ruled out any new bloodshed. Tunisia has tightened control on its border with Libya in response to the renewed conflict, the defense ministry said. Former colonial power Italy, which lies across the Mediterranean from Libya and has been a destination for migrants fleeing the chaos at home, was very worried by the turn of events, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said. We need to throw water on the fire, not petrol on the fire. I hope that people, acting out of economic or business self-interest, is not looking for a military solution, which would be devastating, Salvini said. Search Keywords: Short link: Regional 6,000 take shelter in relief camps as storm hits Tripura Agartala, Apr 5 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 4/5/2019 11:53:46 AM IST A 37-year-old woman was killed and over 6,000 people lost their homes as acres of farmland, trees and electric pillars were destroyed by storm in the past 72 hours in the state. Speaking with EastMojo on Thursday, an official from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said that among the eight districts of the state, West Tripuras Mohanpur and Jirania were the most affected during the incessant rainfall and thunderstorms. Meanwhile, relief camps were set up in Khowai and West Tripura districts. A total of 5,894 inmates [people from] different areas of West district, places like Mohanpur, Jirania and Mandwai were shifted to 48 relief camps set up in the district. 1,425 people rendered homeless in Khowai district were sheltered in 16 relief camps, the official said. He also said that Jamuna Debbarma, a 37-year-old from Katira Ranibazar village in Jirania sub-division of West Tripura, died during thunderstorm on April 1. Almost 7,000 houses throughout the state were damaged. Of which, 3,747 houses were partly damaged, 1,970 houses were severely damaged and another 1,482 houses were fully damaged, the report from SEOC stated. The minister for tribal welfare and forests Mevar Kumar Jamatia visited the storm-affected areas in Mohanpur in West Tripura district to take stock of the situation. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), state police department are on standby following the natural calamity that has left thousands homeless in state. Regional meteorological department director Dilip Saha also said that there is a possibility of more rainfall in next 24 hours in the state. Jirania Sub-divisional magistrate Subhasis Bandyopadhyay said that shelters are being provided for those along with the arrangement of foods and water for the people who have lost their home. By PTI NEW DELHI: The government has sold enemy shares worth around Rs 1,150 crore in IT major Wipro to Life Insurance Corporation and two other state-owned insurers. The Custodian of Enemy Property for India offloaded more than 4.43 crore shares of the company at a price of Rs 258.90 apiece, according to block deal data available with stock exchange BSE. Apart from Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), General Insurance Corporation and The New India Assurance Corporation have bought the shares. At the price of Rs 258.90 per share, the total value of the stocks sold amounts to nearly Rs 1,150 crore, as per the data that was available on the exchange on Thursday. The shares, belonging to Pakistani nationals, were seized by India under the Enemy Property Act passed in 1968. The proceeds would add to the government's disinvestment kitty. More than 3.86 crore enemy shares were purchased by LIC. Generally, enemy property refers to the assets left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan or China and are no longer citizens of India. The Custodian of Enemy Property for India is an entity of the central government which looks after enemy property and shares. Last November, the government approved a mechanism for sale of enemy shares in companies. The sale would help in monetisation of movable enemy property lying dormant for decades and the proceeds would be used for development and social welfare programmes, an official statement had said in November 2018. According to Enemy Property Act, 1968, "enemy property" refers to any property belonging to, held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm. "Sale proceeds are to be deposited as disinvestment proceeds in the government account maintained by the Ministry of Finance," the statement had said. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management has been authorised to sell the shares. The decision, taken by the Union Cabinet, will lead to monetisation of movable enemy property lying dormant for decades and the proceeds will be used for development and social welfare programmes, an official statement said. Anusha Ravi By Express News Service Refusing to let questions over his age, lingo and political maturity come in his way, BJPs surprise pick for Bangalore South, Tejasvi Surya, has decided to turn the criticisms into his USP. In an interview with Anusha Ravi, the 28-year-old spoke about his vision, local BJP leadership and allegations of harassment against him. Excerpts. As a millennial, how different is your campaign? It is an interesting blend of conventional style of politics with a millennial touch to it. We are meeting seers of mutts and addressing community gatherings. We are also having conversations in cafes, startups and college events. Our political lingo is far more millennial. Essentially, electoral politics is about connecting and resonating with the largest number of people. I am in an envious position because people of our age call me bro, elder women bless me since they have a son or daughter of the same age and even older voters look at me as their grandson. I am a family package now. Being a millennial political leader at this point in time is very helpful. How has Amit Shahs roadshow changed things for you within the party and outside? Him taking time off and starting his campaign for Karnataka from Bangalore South shows that he reposes so much faith in the people of this constituency. Bangalore South has been a strong BJP fortress and his campaign, beginning from here, is a sign of gratitude. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Was the roadshow successful in quelling the discomfort many state leaders perhaps had with your candidature? All senior leaders were backing me from the very first. I had the support and blessings of V Somanna, R Ashok and all the senior MLAs in the constituency. A roadshow of that scale wouldnt have been successful if senior leaders hadnt given their support. I think it was just a matter of perception that they werent blessing me and if Amit Shahs rally has changed it then it is good for those people who wanted to believe otherwise. WATCH | Karnataka BJP youth wing chief Tejasvi Surya on BJP IT cell, Unemployment and dissent on campus How do you view your opponent? I have personal regards for BK Hariprasad. I dont want to indulge in negative comments against him because I believe in ushering in a generational shift in politics where things can be based on your strengths rather than attacking the weaknesses of your opponent. We are a young and aspirational electorate in Bangalore South who want the Modi style of new India politics. How do the allegations of abuse levelled against you impact your electorate and campaign? The electorate knows that a sinister campaign was launched to defame me. The court prima facie agreed it was a malicious campaign with malafide political interest. I only wish my political opponents the best and hope that they can evolve to be better political leaders that young and new India is desperately for. Boeing's CEO Dennis Muilenburg apologized on Thursday for lives lost in deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, but said the plane manufacturer remains confident in the "fundamental safety" of the 737 MAX aircraft. Upcoming software updates to its automated control system will make it "among the safest airplanes ever to fly," Muilenburg said. The report from Ethiopia's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau spelled more bad news for Boeing, as it recommended that Boeing re-examine its Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). "We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents," Muilenburg said in the statement, adding that a software update is expected to be finished and certified in the coming weeks. The update intends to "eliminate the possibility of unintended MCAS activation and prevent an MCAS-related accident from ever happening again," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Ashwini M Sripad By Express News Service BENGALURU: This is no Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. It was BJP leader BS Yeddyurappas ode to the commode that turned a familys lives upside down. In 2018, just before the Assembly election, Yeddyurappa decided to spend a night with slum dwellers to gain first-hand experience of their problems and aspirations. He chose autodriver Munirathnas 22 by 12 feet tiny house at Lakshmanpuri slum in Gandhinagar. The house with asbestos sheet roofing has just one room, a small hall, a kitchen and a bathroom with an Indian style commode. The family didnt know then what was in store for them. Just before his stay, some of his party workers realised that Yeddyurappa wouldnt be comfortable using the Indian style squat toilet and decided to get a western one installed. Loo and behold! it was ready. The BJP foot the bill. After his stay, Yeddyurappa didnt contact them again and find out about their commode woes. The family is not amused. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Indrani, 64, who owns the house and stays with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, wondered what all that fuss about a toilet was. It was at our expense, she said. We are not used to the western commode. In fact, I fell and hurt myself. Then we decided to change it to our old style. We removed the western toilet and constructed a new Indian style one and had to spend Rs 15,000 from our pocket. When we asked our local leaders, they paid us only Rs 4,000, she said. And left a Rs 11,000 hole in their toilet! Like many slums in Bengaluru, Lakshmanpuri slum too has many issues including drinking water, frequent power cuts and bad roads. And toilet was never an issue for Munirathna. But it became one after the BJP leaders stay. Asked if Yeddyurappa approached them again, Indrani said they hadnt seen him after his stay with them. Not even after the elections. A senior BJP leader, when contacted, said they were not aware of this issue. If the family approaches the BJP office and explains to our leaders, payment can be done, he said. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI: IN a huge loss, a Cuban crocodile has died mysteriously at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, located about 45 km south of Chennai on the East Coast Road. The Cuban crocodile is a critically endangered species and the Madras Crocodile Bank is the only facility in all of Asia to preserve pure gene pool of this species. A few years ago, the crocodile bank sourced one male and four female Cuban crocodiles for revival. On the night of March 30, one young female crocodile, which had no medical history of illness, died. Though the exact cause is yet to be ascertained, conservationists suspect it could be due to the stress caused by loud music emanating from a newly built star hotel in neighbourhood. Internationally renowned herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, one of the early founders of the Madras Crocodile Bank, has expressed shock at the development. In a Facebook post that has gone viral, Whitaker said the death coincided with another roaring event at the Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa next door. Heavy bass music was being played in its lawn area and continued in spite of repeated requests to lower the volume. There is no doubt in my mind that the animal died as a result of stress caused by the vibrations, he said. The Cuban crocodile enclosure is around 50 ft from the wall which divides the hotel from us and the powerful hi-fidelity speakers had been placed right next to it. The animal had been healthy, had fed recently, and had no injuries or history of sickness. This is a critical breeding group of one of the most endangered animals in the world: 1 male and 4 (now 3) females. Extremely lucky that it wasnt the male who succumbed. We will now consider moving the group to another location, an expensive and difficult undertaking. As one of the founders of the Croc Bank, I am shattered by this loss. This is really too much!, he said. He told Express that the crocodile was about 12 years old and was matured enough for breeding. We were expecting breeding to happen any time. The hotel acted positively on our previous complaints and reduced the decibel levels, but the low frequency bass music is the real issue. There is no proof that sound killed the animal, but what else it would be. They were healthy animals. After the hotel came up, crocodiles social behaviour has changed. They began getting excited and started fighting causing a few injuries as well. The birds have completely deserted the campus. Earlier, we could spot at least 2,000 Egrets during nesting season. Sources said the Madras Crocodile Bank is planning to hold a press conference on April 20 to voice its concerns. A short paper on this whole issue of noise and its effects on animals is likely to be released. Officials said the Crocodile Bank has a well-defined veterinary care working hand in hand with the curatorial staff to ensure that all animals are healthy. Regular screening and treatment protocol is followed and all individual animals are Pit Tagged, a unique identification number that helps to keep track of medical histories. So there is no logical explanation to the death of Cuban crocodile. Similar concerns were raised in February as well. The decibel monitors in crocodile bank were regularly exceeding legal limits. But, after a dialogue, the hotel assured that they would comply with the legal regulations in terms of acceptable decibel limits and permitted timings. When contacted, Shibil Malik, General Manager of Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa, told Express: We at Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa are committed to safeguarding our environment and have always adhered to the laws of the land. We have been proactively working with the Madras Crocodile Bank on the concerns raised by them, post our last meeting in the month of February. We assure the authorities concerned of our fullest support. One of the Worlds most endangered crocodile species By PTI NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed AIIMS to set up an expert panel to examine the forensic and post mortem reports of a man, who died allegedly due to medical negligence while on honeymoon at a resort in the Maldives in 2016 so as to determine the cause of his death. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani issued the direction after it was informed by the Maharashtra government, which had carried out the forensic examination and post-mortem of the deceased, that the viscera samples were not traceable and only the reports and the tissue samples were available. The director of the concerned Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Maharashtra told the court that an enquiry was being carried out into the disappearance of the viscera samples which were available till January 2018. ALSO READ | Delhi High Court stays direction to Centre to prior inform foreigners, OCIs about denial of entry into India The bench, thereafter, directed FSL to handover all the forensic and post mortem reports as well as the tissue samples to the in-charge of the Sahar police station, which had been investigating the case of alleged medical negligence. The officer will transport those to Delhi and hand it over to the Registrar General of the high court on April 8. The Registrar General of the high court would then hand over the reports and tissue samples to the Director of AIIMS who has been asked to set up the expert panel to peruse all the material and "give a report on the cause of death" as well as any other opinion they may have, the bench said. The Maharashtra government was directed to continue the probe into the disappearance of the viscera samples and file a report before the next date of hearing on April 11. The directions came on the plea by the deceased's father, Chelakara Ramaswamy, who has contended that his son died due to the medical negligence of the doctor -- Dr Dorjee Khandu -- who treated him for food poisoning while he was staying at the resort at the Vilu Reef Island which is more than 100 km away from Male, capital of Maldives, and can be reached only by seaplanes. He has also alleged that the J J Hospital at Mumbai, where the post mortem was carried out, did not follow the procedure properly and gave a "sham report". He has further claimed that the Final Cause of Death Certificate, issued by J J Hospital was not in terms of the Maharashtra Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2000. Senior advocate N Hariharan, who has been appointed as an amicus curiae in the matter, told the court the doctor in Maldives was negligent as he had given certain medicines to Ramaswamy's son for stomach problems, which should never be given together. He said the doctor also did not take into account the man's medical history and did not take emergency measures when the patient's blood pressure began to rise. Ramaswamy, in his plea, has sought directions to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to instruct the Indian Embassy at Maldives to initiate criminal action against Khandu. His petition was dismissed by a single judge last year and subsequently he filed an appeal before the division bench of the high court. Pushkar Banakar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAPS) on Thursday released a report which urged the countries of the region to contribute $1 trillion annually to achieve Agenda 2030s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report, titled Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2019 - Ambitions Beyond Growth, also said that the countries had the fiscal space to implement the suggestion. Praising the regions economic growth, Nagesh Kumar, Head of Office, Sub-regional Office for South and South-West Asia, said that the Asia Pacific region had consistently been growing above the world average. Our region includes Turkey and Iran. The two countries have their share of political problems and yet the region has been the best performing economy in the world, he said. Speaking of the risks involved in achieving SDGs, Kumar said that trade wars would play a major role. There is a risk that 2.7 million jobs would be lost if the trade wars continue, he said, and added that there had been a labour reversal due to the technology advance. The report also calls for the region to keep a check on pollution as the two most polluting countries in the world are in the region. Due to the consumption of oil and coal in the region, there has been a worldwide rise of carbon emission by around 49 per cent, Kumar said. The survey says that some goals related to water and sanitation in the region can be reached without investment. According to the report, investments for achieving goals related to prosperity include investment on transport infrastructyure, information and technology, and on water and sanitaion. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: In a major catch, the Banjara Hills police on Thursday conducted raids on the residence of a businessman and found Rs 3.3 crore unaccounted cash in possession. Police suspect that the cash was kept at the businessmans residence for distribution to public during Lok Sabha elections. According to police, on a tip off, they conducted searches on the residence of one Anil Agarwal, located on Road No 10 in Banjara Hills. During the searches, the police found gunny bags in which cash in the denominaton of `2,000 and ` 500 bundles was found. Police seized the cash and questioned the businessman. He claimed that the cash belonged to his jewellery shop. Steena Das By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After several years of neglect, the government answered the pleas of the fishermen community regarding sea erosion at Valiyathura in response to the report by T'Puram Express on Tuesday. The youth at Valiyathura had decided to boycott the elections by casting their vote as None of the Above aka NOTA. Following the report, Shashi Tharoor, MP, spoke to the representatives of the community and offered his support to find a solution to the issue. On Tuesday, the representatives met MLA VS Sivakumar who took measures to make things normal. "On Wednesday Minister for Co-Operation Kadakampally Surendran promised to take immediate measures after discussing the issue with Minister of Fisheries J Mercykutty Amma and Minister of Finance Thomas Isaac," said Francis Albert, who represented the fishermen community for the issue. Citing the issue Sivakumar said, Sea erosion has resulted in major losses. The reduced availability of stones for creating breakwaters or coastal walls has delayed the process."The Valiyathura bridge is also in a pathetic condition. Sivakumar said some stones were deposited near the bridge six months ago to protect the same from collapse. A total of Rs 80 lakh was sanctioned a year ago to put stones near the coastal region. But nothing has been done to resolve the issue even after continuous pressure from our side. We hope to resolve the issue soon, he said. Along with the representatives from the fishermen community, Francis met the chief engineer, Irrigation and Administration Joshy KA with cover letters from the MLA and MP on Thursday. Citing the process of the project, Joshy said, A new estimate will be prepared for the project and the same will be submitted to the government. An amount of Rs 80 lakh was set aside for the project, but due to the lessened amount, the tender was rejected thrice. Therefore we are trying to get a quotation for the project. Joy David, a fisherman from Valiyathura said, A permanent solution must be taken in this regard. It must be completed as soon as possible." If everything goes as planned, the coast will be protected by stones before the incoming monsoon season. By PTI NEW DELHI: Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar is learnt to have told the Election Commission that he spoke against Congress's Nyay scheme as an economist and not as part of the policy body. In his reply to a show-cause notice submitted on Tuesday, Kumar is also learnt to have said that he can speak out his mind as an economist on important issues concerning policy and economy. He said that his remarks should not be construed as the stand of Niti Aayog. On March 27, the poll panel had sought Kumar's response on his remarks in which he had attacked Congress over minimum income guarantee promise. The EC had felt that since Kumar is a bureaucrat, his remarks were prima facie violative of the model code. As he was abroad he had sought time till April 5 to respond. But the EC gave him time till April 2. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Kumar had accused the Congress of promising the moon to win elections. He had also tweeted, "The proposed income guarantee scheme fails the economics test, fiscal discipline test and execution test." In another tweet, Kumar had claimed that "true to its past record of promising the moon to win elections, Congress President announces a scheme that will bust fiscal discipline, create strong incentives against work and which will never be implemented." Kumar is reported to made similar remarks in an interview also. At a press conference here on March 25, Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced that 20 per cent families belonging to the poorest category will be given Rs 72,000 each annually as minimum income if his party comes to power. By PTI MUMBAI: More than 600 theatre personalities, including Amol Palekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad and Usha Ganguli, have signed a letter asking people to "vote BJP and its allies" out of power, arguing that the idea of India and its constitution are under threat. The letter, which was issued Thursday evening in 12 languages on the Artist Unite India website, said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are the "most critical in the history" of the country. Among those who have signed the letter are Shanta Gokhale, Mahesh Elkunchwar, Mahesh Dattani, Arundhati Nag, Kirti Jain, Abhishek Majumdar, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Lillete Dubey, Mita Vashisth, M K Raina, Makarand Deshpande and Anurag Kashyap. "Today, the very idea of India is under threat. Today, song, dance, laughter is under threat. Today, our beloved Constitution is under threat," they said. The government has "suffocated" the institutions where argument, debate and dissent were nurtured, the letter stated. "A democracy must empower its weakest, its most marginalised. A democracy cannot function without questioning, debate, and a vibrant opposition. All this is being concertedly eroded by the current government." FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE "The BJP, which came to power five years ago with the promise of development, has given free rein to Hindutva goons to indulge in the politics of hate and violence," it added. In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the letter stated that he has destroyed the lives of many people through his government's policies and has failed on the promises he made. The letter does not refer to the prime minister by name. "He promised to bring back black money; instead, rogues have looted the country and run away. The wealth of the rich has grown astronomically, while the poor have become even poorer." The letter asked people to protect the "Constitution and our syncretic, secular ethos" and vote "bigotry, hatred, and apathy out of power". "We appeal to our fellow citizens to vote for love and compassion, for equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism," the letter read. "Vote to empower the weakest, protect liberty, protect the environment, and foster scientific thinking. Vote for secular democratic, inclusive India. Vote for the freedom to dream. Vote wisely," it added. Last week, a similar appeal was issued by celebrated indie filmmakers such as Anand Patwardhan, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan and Devashish Makhija, asking voters to "defeat fascism". Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Come election time, the political parties resort to different tactics to woo voters. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have pulled out a rabbit out of its hat to curry favour with the voting public. It has picked green over its trademark saffron in the Muslim-majority Kashmir. In a campaign blitz for its Srinagar candidate Khalid Jehangir, the BJP has published bulk advertisements where the predominant colour used is green as opposed to saffron. Green signifies the colour of Islam. In the Valley, green is also taken to represent separatist sentiment. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Khalid, a former journalist, is up against a political heavyweight in National Conference (NC) president and sitting MP Farooq Abdullah, Aga Mohsin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Irfan Ansari of the Peoples Conference (PC). The BJP published the green advertisements in many local dailies on Tuesday and also put up similar hoardings in Jehangirs support, setting the social media abuzz with comments galore on the saffron party going green in the Valley. In Kashmir, the colours are changing and how! Such are the political colours of elections. How saffron has been greened! Or is it the PDP has left an indelible mark on the BJP palette (sic), tweeted former PDP leader and finance minister Haseeb Drabu. Very interesting. Saffron presented as green in Kashmir. Who is deceiving whom, tweeted another netizen. Another said, Have you heard about while in Rome, do as Romans do. A third said, Look the hypocrisy of BJP. They are adopting green colour in Kashmir for attracting votes. However, defending the use of green, state BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi said, Even the Tricolour has green. Seeking to curry favour with voters In a campaign blitz for its Srinagar candidate Khalid Jehangir, the BJP has published bulk advertisements where the predominant colour used is green as opposed to saffron. Green signifies the colour of Islam and is also believed to represent separatist sentiment. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: With the first phase of Lok Sabha polls barely a week away, the Maoists yet again ambushed a team of security forces in Chhattisgarh, killing a jawan of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) while another sustained an injury in the exchange of fire close to the dense forested terrain of Sihawa in Dhamtari district, about 130 km south of Raipur, on Friday morning. Based on the inputs regarding the movement of the Maoists in the region, the security forces left on a search operation. As per the preliminary reports, the Maoists had laid a U-shaped ambush in an attempt to trap the troopers, resulting into an encounter. One CRPF jawan was killed. Details are awaited, the police said. The troopers belonged to 211th battalion of CRPF. On Thursday the rebels killed four BSF personnel at Mahla forest range in another strife-torn district of Kanker, north Bastar, about 200 km south of Raipur. Two BSF jawans were also injured in the gunfight and airlifted to Raipur. The deceased personnel in Dhamtari attack identified as Harish Chandra Pal, 44, hailed from Bhopal. The injured Sudhir Kumar has been evacuated from the spot and rushed to the hospital. His condition is stated to be stable. Additional forces have been rushed to the ambush site and search operation further intensified. Dhamtari is among the 14 districts in Chhattisgarh having the presence of outlawed CPI (Maoist). Painter, sculptor and cartoonist George Bahgory's museum is open on Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm presenting a large body of the artist' work When I heard the news that the legendary artist George Bahgory was opening a private museum I was thrilled though, having kept up with Bahgorys work through the years, I expected nothing new. I shouldve anticipated the pleasure it would give me to locate the artist at Andalusia Cafe, which occupies the ground floor of the huge colonial building on 26 July Street where the six-room apartment housing the museum is located. The museum itself provides not only a journey in time but also a showcase of painting genres, not to mention experimental sculptures. This, Bahgory said, having charmingly complained of growing old, is one of my greatest achievements. And the last one, it seems, he said in a practical manner. Its on the first floor, he protested when I suggested we should take the lift, just a few more steps. In the calm, tidy space full of huge paintings where we soon arrived I felt I had entered a different world. This museum means a lot to me. It is like a huge closet where Im storing almost everything I have painted throughout my career. A corridor connects all six rooms, with antique stools scattered around on the wood flooring and an enormous visitors book featuring the artists own sketches near the entrance. The Ministry of Culture ignored me, so I decided to establish my own museum. I encourage all artists to act similarly. It is a common enough tendency in Europe. This collection includes more than one hundred paintings. Some date back to the 1950s and 1960s. They were produced and stored in my atelier in Paris. But I thought it wise to transport them to Cairo, my home. I chose this place because it is at the heart of Downtown, where people whom I used to make portraits of have all lived. It is also very close to my own flat. George Bahgory Bahgory, now 85 years, started his career as a cartoonist at the popular Sabah Al-Kheir magazine in the late 50s, and even though his work was to move on he would never lost his humorous spirit. This is evident in such works as a small portrait of the late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser sticking his tongue out and waving provocatively. It belongs in a mosaic-like group of small portraits at the end of the corridor. I like to spend time in this room, because it has portraits of my friends and people I loved. They include such figures as vernacular poet Sayed Hegab, cartoonist and poet Salah Jahin and indeed Bahgorys own self-portrait. However funny the work, however, no caricatures are on display. It was just as start, says Bahgory, who hasnt made cartoons since 1975 although he continues to sketch from life compulsively. The museum includes plenty of these, and also volumes of autobiography he has published, sincere and open confessions in which he records a painful childhood rather out of character with his general demeanor. My mother died when I was three, and my father married another woman. She was so cruel. She used to insult and kick us out of our home. He was compensated by a funny aunt, a simple woman who cared for him: Shed take me out of our gloomy home to visit our relatives in Shubra and other popular places. It was only then that I learned to love people and places, he said, pointing to a huge portrait of said aunt. She looks very kind, in a black gown, with a light black tarha over her head, and a faint smile on her face. I painted it when I was in Paris. At that time, I wanted to bring all my Cairo memories to life. There are also two portraits of Bahgorys father. My father was a teacher. He taught English at private schools. I painted him several times. I still remember when he used to spend hours sitting in silence, checking and correcting sheets. He had poor eyesight and this is what prevented him from teaching in the amiri or government schools, which was much better at the time. I lived in Paris for 30 years. I enjoyed being in France, its my second country. But I was always truly alone there. Women are the common subject of his paintings and portraiture. As I lost my mother at a very young age, I was trying to find her in the faces of all the women Id ever met. I loved portraying women because of her, he explained. George Bahgory In addition to paintings depicting women in different positions and shapes, two portraits of Neitokres, his lifetime partner and wife and his nude muse are juxtaposed on one wall. One beguiling still life features wine bottles and glasses in different shapes and sizes. They look as if they are different people gathering in a public space. Some are happy, others sad, angry or drunk. The oil-on-canvas and wood collection was produced in Paris. The nudes are but infrequent. A huge painting depicts parents having fun with their children, all in the nude. I spent days at a nude beach south of Paris, and enjoyed sketching nudity, he smiled. A whole collection was published as a picture book a few years ago. Before I left Bahgory showed me one of the first copies of a beautifully printed picture book called The Jordanian Bahgory, published by Al-Rowaq Gallery in Jordan, which includes sketches by Bahgory produced during his journeys to Amman. The museum also features images of working-class people, exhibited at Al-Massar Gallery in 2014 as Nostalgic Dreams. I still love to sit in the cafes and enjoy the rhythm. Nasr Cafe, a place in Maarouf, near these offices and the museum both, looms large. Bahgory paints the cafe and its clientele with compassion. The Islamic neighbourhood of Al-Hussein and Khan Al-Khalili, too, is present. But, though Bahgory is Christian, there are no churches at all in the museum. Bahgory graduated from Cairos art college in 1955 and also earned a degree from the Paris Academy of Fine Arts in 1970. His work is influenced by Youssef Kamel, Bikar and Picasso, who appears in one portrait. Two still lifes mimic Picassos apple paintings. Kamel and Bikar were mentors of Bahgorys, but Picasso remained outside his life. I never meant to imitate Picasso, but I was greatly influenced by his art. I never met him, though. He used to live outside Paris, and I never planned a meeting as I should have. It was a mistake. He gives me another wan smile. George Bahgory's museum is open on Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm. George Bahgory * A version of this article appears in print in the 4 April 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Museum of me For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: By UNI NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday, found that Niti Ayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar's comment on Congress president Rahul Gandhi's announcement on the minimum income guarantee scheme had violated the model code of conduct, and conveyed its displeasure and directed him to desist from such actions in future. "The Commission has come to the conclusion that your above comments (on Congress' minimum income guarantee scheme) has violated the MCC norms. The Commission has, therefore, decided to convey its displeasure on your comments and expects that you should exercise caution in future." The Commission also said public servants should not only be impartial in their conduct, but also in their public utterances, which were found wanting in this case. "The spirit of model code of conduct requires all public servants to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process, and not to either engage in or appear to engage in any activity that disturbs or appears to disturb the level-playing field of conduct of elections or create doubt in the minds of the stakeholders about the integrity of the electoral process.", the Commission said. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Mr Kumar had commented and tweeted that Congress was promising the moon to voters to win elections. "The proposed income guarantee scheme fails the economics test, fiscal discipline test and execution test. True to its past record of promising the moon to win elections, Congress president announces a scheme that will bust fiscal discipline, create strong incentives against work and which will never be implemented." READ | Congress' income guarantee promise to burst fiscal discipline: NITI vice chairman Rajiv Kumar Opposition parties including the Congress had objected to this and demanded action from the poll body. On March 27, the Commission had sought Kumar's response on his remarks on Congress's minimum income guarantee scheme announcement. The Commission found that Kumar, as he is a bureaucrat, prima facie violates the poll conduct. In his reply, it is learned that Kumar claimed that he did not violate MCC as he had commented as an economist and not as part of Niti Ayog. However, the poll body has said Rajiv Kumar's reply was not found to be satisfactory. By PTI LUCKNOW: BSP president Mayawati Friday took strong exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing BSP and its ally SP of releasing terrorists and charged him with levelling "wild allegations". "BJP & PM Mr Modi are so fraught with their impending defeat in the polls that they do not know what false/wild allegations they are making. It is the BJP, not BSP, which is in the habit of freeing terrorist. Masood (Azhar) was also released by BJP govt, who is now proving a big headache," Mayawati said in a tweet, hours after Modi accused her party of being "kind" to alleged terrorists. "The governments of 'Bua' (Mayawati) and 'Babua' (Akhilesh Yadav) released terror accused and were kind to them," Modi alleged at a rally in Amroha ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election beginning April 11. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE "Some people" did not like the fact that terrorists were being given a reply in their own language," he said. "After the terrorist attack, should I have remained silent or attacked," he asked the gathering, referring to the February 14 terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. Mayawati, in her tweet, also made a mention of the Congress candidate from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, whom Modi had referred to in the other rally in Saharanpur while reminding people of his "boti-boti" remark in 2014. "Here those who talked of 'boti-boti' are close to 'Shahjade' (Rahul Gandhi) but we talk of security and honours of 'beti-beti'(daughters)." He said, "Congress policy is to honour 'tukde-tukde' gang. The party is saying to talk with those who patronise terrorists. Special power of security forces will be withdrawn. Congress want to put country at stake for votes, but people will thwart their designs." Polls will be held in Uttar Pradesh in all the seven phases until May 19. Results will be declared on May 23. RAMANADA SENGUPTA and Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Refuting claims of US magazine Foreign Policy, the Indian Air Force on Friday reiterated that an Indian MiG-21 indeed shot down an F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the Nowshera Sector in the last week of February. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicated that the PAF aircraft was an F-16, said Air Vice Marshal and Assistant Chief of Air Staff RGK Kapoor in a statement. Indian forces have confirmed sighting ejections at two different places on that day. The two sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km and 6-7 km inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. One was an IAF MiG-21 Bison and the other a PAF aircraft. The publication had quoted anonymous sources to claim that US personnel inspected PAFs F-16 fleet and found none of them was missing. READ HERE | Did you down our F-16? Pakistan asks India after US journal report exposes 'IAF lies' The article quoted two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation. India had raised its concern with Washington on the use of PAF F-16s in an offensive action. According to the IAF, after Indias air strike on the terrorist camp at Balakot on February 26, PAF attempted to strike back on February 27. ALSO READ | Pakistan now indicates F-16s might have been used to hit Indian aircraft post-Balakot action A large force of PAF F-16s, JF 17s and Mirage III and Mirage V were picked up by IAF radars. They were intercepted by IAF SU 30MKI, Mirage- 2000 and MiG-21 Bison fighter jets guided by ground radars and AWACS. Attempts by PAF to attack Indian targets were successfully thwarted. During the aerial engagement that followed, one MiG 21 Bison of the IAF shot down one F-16 in the Nowshera sector. Highly placed IAF sources said they have clinching electronic evidence that there were 11 PAF 16s and one of them was shot down. AWACS picked up the F-16 flying 8-10 km from our MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and it went off the radar picture in 8 to 10 seconds, which means once Abhinandan saw the PAF fighter, he locked it and shot it down with R-73 air-to-air missile before he went down. By AFP PILANI: One of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's signature policies has been protecting cows, but for Raghuvir Singh Meena -- a Hindu farmer struggling to protect his crop of chickpeas from roaming cattle -- it has gone too far. Farmers overwhelmingly supported Modi's nationalist party when he swept to power in 2014 but the strict measures on cows, which are sacred to Hindus, have caused major headaches for rural communities. "We have tried everything -- scarecrows and barbed wire -- but the stray animals never miss a chance to eat away our crop," Meena told AFP, looking askance at his lush fields in the Pilani district of Rajasthan in western India. "They (the government) are playing their politics, they don't care about poor farmers," he said ahead of elections beginning on April 11, when Modi will run for a second term. Even before Modi came to power, cow slaughter and the consumption of beef was banned in Rajasthan and many other states in officially secular India, which also has substantial Muslim and Christian populations. But laws are now applied more strictly and punishments have increased. In 2017 the government tried to ban the cattle trade for slaughter nationwide, only for it to be rejected by the Supreme Court. Critics say Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on a mission to impose "Hindutva", the hegemony of Hindus, on 1.25-billion-strong India. They also warn that the BJP has emboldened fringe Hindu vigilante groups to attack minority Muslims and low-caste Dalits with impunity for eating beef, slaughtering and trading in cattle. Incidents of mob lynchings have spiked, with 44 people -- including one in Rajasthan -- killed in cow-related attacks between May 2015 and December last year, says Human Rights Watch. The BJP says it opposes all violence, but even the fear of attack and tougher laws have badly disrupted the cattle trade. This has led to farmers abandoning old and infirm cows instead of selling them for slaughter, resulting in more bovines on the loose -- causing road accidents and wreaking havoc in rural areas, where 70 percent of Indians live. The number of strays was put at 5.2 million in a 2012 livestock census --- which is carried out every 10 years, just as for people -- but the numbers are believed to have shot up since. Wandering cattle, often eating plastic rubbish or ruminating at busy traffic intersections, have become a much more common sight in India's towns, villages and cities since Modi came to power. In 2015, the last year for which government figures are available, more than 550 people were killed in accidents involving stray cattle. 'No one dares' "Because of these cow protectors no one dares touch the cow now," said Sumer Singh Punia, a former village head in Churu district. "There are not enough cow shelters and the ones that are there they are so overcrowded that each day one animal dies," he told AFP. "We are Hindus, we don't want to hurt the cow but we can't afford to keep and feed so many strays when we are struggling ourselves to make ends meet." Voter unhappiness was already evident when the BJP lost state elections in the largely agricultural states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in December to the opposition Congress. The country's only dedicated "cow minister" in Rajasthan was also booted out. It was a major turnaround from 2014 when the country's 262 million farmers largely backed the BJP, which has promised to double farm income by 2022. Some villagers are now pooling money from their modest savings to herd the strays into makeshift shelters, at least through the harvest season. In December and January, exasperated farmers across the northern state of Uttar Pradesh locked up stray cattle at district schools to protect their crops, meaning lessons had to be held outside. Sandeep Kajla, head of the Gramya Bharat Jan Chetna Yatra, a social organisation based in Pilani, said political parties must include the issue of stray cows in their election manifesto. "One farmer can look after one animal. But here, cows are roaming around in hundreds," he said. Gurpreet Mahajan, a professor at the Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the BJP had been caught on the hoof by the fallout. "I don't think everyone has thought through how to deal with this particular symbol (of cow) and make it a reality," she said. By PTI AHMEDABAD: Father of a Dalit youth killed in police firing at Thangadh in Gujarat in 2012, has filed his nomination from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, where BJP chief Amit Shah is in the fray. Velji Rathod, father of Mehul Rathod, one of the three youths killed in police firing in Thangadh village in Surendranagar district, Friday said by contesting the election against Shah, he wants to send out a message that the BJP-led government has delayed justice to the victims' families. Rathod filed his nomination as an independent candidate on Thursday. Three Dalit youths - Pankaj Sumra, Prakash Parmar and Mehul Rathod - were killed on the intervening night of September 22 and 23, 2012, when police opened fire to control the clashing members of Dalit and OBC Bharwad communities. The state government had ordered a probe into the incident and a report had been submitted by the then principal secretary of social justice and empowerment department, Sanjay Prasad. However, the report has not been made public so far. "We have been fighting for the last six years to seek justice for my son and two other victims of police excesses, but till date the culprits have not been punished. No charge sheet has been filed against the accused police officers," Rathod said. He said his decision to contest election against Shah from Gandhinagar seat was a deliberate one. "I want to send out a message of how the government led by his (Shah's) party delayed justice to the families of the victims of the government excesses," Rathod said. "We had held a dharna in Gandhinagar and tried to press for our demand for justice, but the BJP government turned a deaf ear. I visited members of Dalit communities in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and sought their opinion whether I should contest the election. As most of them agreed, I jumped into the fray," he said. According to Rathod, Dalit leader and independent MLA Jignesh Mevani has extended his support to him and agreed to campaign for him. "I talked to Mevani, who said he is currently campaigning outside the state. But he has agreed to campaign for me when he comes back," he said. Despite demands from the opposition Congress, the government has so far not tabled the report in the state Assembly. Four police officials were accused of firing that led to the killing. However, the CID, which probed the case, had filed a 'C-summary' report, closing the case without any conclusion. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service NAGAON(ASSAM): Nearly a century before William Shakespeares works Richard III and Henry VI were written in early 1590s, a saint-reformer in India, Sankardeva, had produced a dance-drama Cihna Yatra, believed to be the worlds first drama written in the Indo-Aryan language. Sankardeva, revered as Gurujana, altered the cultural paradigm of Assam from his seat at Nagaon, which today is threatened by encroachment. As Assam braces for Parliamentary elections, Sankardeva is finding a mention during campaigns. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Indra Mohan Baruah, general secretary of the managing committee of Bardowa Thaan that Sankardeva founded at Batadrava, his birthplace in Nagaon district, says the Thaans, now called Satras (Vaishnavite places of worship), have become a major issue in this election. Large swathes of their land have been grabbed allegedly by Bangladeshi Muslims. In every rally in Nagaon and Kaliabor, the two Parliamentary constituencies in Central Assam, the BJP has been unleashing blistering attacks on the Congress for not recovering Satra land from the possession of the Bangladeshis. Around 15 years ago, two Muslim families started living on the (Bardowa) Satra land. Their numbers grew as others belonging to the community joined them. The BJP evicted them three years ago after forming the government in Assam. The government is now building a boundary wall and other infrastructure at a cost of `155 crore at Bardowa Satra, Baruah said. His colleague, Prasanta Bharali said, They (encroachers) were given land elsewhere by the then Congress government in 2008 but they did not move out. They had to be evicted. They said the migrants had grabbed land measuring 140 bighas of Bardowa Satra, seven bighas at Shantijan Beel, which is a Bardowa Satra property, 193 bighas belonging to Rampur Satra and 100 bighas each of Bali Satra and Kubaikota Satra. The last named, today, stands on a piece of land measuring just 1.5 cottahs. In Assam, one bigha is equivalent to one third of an acre, while five cottahs make one bigha. The land of Rampur Satra was encroached upon some 50 years ago. It is a huge village now with settlements of hundreds of people, Bharali said, adding, We are grateful to the BJP for recovering the land of Bardowa Satra. The land of Kubaikota Satra was encroached upon during the Assam Agitation (anti-immigrants movement) of early 1980s. The Satra was founded by Aai Kanaklata, who was a granddaughter-in-law of Sankardeva. It was founded in 1570s by Aai Kanaklata by clearing the forest. In 1636, during the Ahom rule, some Assamese families had migrated here from Upper Assam and the Satra authorities allowed them to live on its land. During Assam agitation, the Assamese settlers, except for one family, fled the area and never returned. Their land, which originally belonged to the Kubaikota Satra, was subsequently occupied by migrant Muslims, said Jugal Chandra Deva Goswami, who is the Satradhikar (head of a Satra) of Jakhalabandha Satra. Khalilur Rahman, a local of Kubaikota village, claimed that it was over 100 years ago that the Muslims started settling here.We learnt from our elders that the father of a centenarian, Shanu, had first settled down in the village, Rahman said. Kubaikota has all Muslim settlers, except the lone Assamese family of Krishna Kanta Saikia. Neighbouring Dhaniabhati, Amlakhi and Borbheti villages have 100 per cent Muslim settlements. Saikia said only four bighas of land of Kubaikota Satra was grabbed and the Muslims started living in the area before 1980s. A lot of Muslims, affected during the agitation, had migrated to the village in 1983, he said. When the Assamese families left the village, they had sold off their land to the Muslims at minimal prices. We stayed back as we owned a large plot of land. Some Muslim families had urged us not to leave, assuring us that they would protect us, 54-year-old Saikia said. Gunamoni, a youth from Batadrava, said it was the BJPs lie that huge chunks of Satra land in Nagaon had been encroached upon. Only six bighas of Bardowa Satra land was grabbed and it was retrieved by the state government, he said. However, a report of a committee, headed by former EC chief HS Brahma, says otherwise. It says the land of Satras across Central and Lower Assam had been encroached upon by Bangladeshi Muslims over a period of time. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed in a Delhi court that Christian Michel had named prominent Congress leaders like Mrs Gandhi and AP in connection with kickbacks in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case, Michel, an accused in the case, told the court on Friday that he had not named anyone. British national Michel, alleged middleman in the case, also accused the agency of acting as a weapon in the hands of the government. Michel further said that the government was using investigative agencies for political purpose by sensationalising the case and clandestinely leaking the charge sheet to media even before giving the charge sheet to the accused. On Thursday, the ED filed its fourth supplementary charge sheet in the case, alleging that Michel had named Mrs Gandhi and AP in connection with the deal during an investigation by ED. Michel made the allegations by filing an application seeking the courts intervention after the reports appeared that the ED, in its charge sheet, had named politicians of the previous UPA dispensation, defence personnel, bureaucrats and journalists as beneficiaries of the controversial defence deal. The application was filed before Special Judge Arvind Kumar, who issued a notice to the probe agency and sought its reply by Saturday, when he will take up the matter. Michel has not named anyone in his statement before the agency which is being leaked to the media. This is only to make the matter sensational and prejudice the case against my client, Michels counsel Aljo K Joseph said. The lawyer also questioned as to how the charge sheet was leaked to the media even before its cognisance was taken by the court. The plea said that trial by a judge and free and fair trial rights override media rights, and the court can temporarily curtail the freedom of the media to ensure that. The plea claimed that at the time of filing the charge sheet, the counsels for the accused had asked for copies of the same, but it was objected to by the ED on the ground that the court had not yet taken cognisance of the charge sheet. Terming EDs act contrary to law, Michel alleged selective portions of the charge sheet being published in the media make it clear that the ED was not interested in a fair trial in a court of law but in a trial by the media. By PTI PUNE: Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his party's manifesto was an expression of the people of India and ruled out burdening the middle class to fund the anti-poverty scheme Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay). The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty. Interacting with students here, Gandhi said he did not like making sweeping statements. "The manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where Rs 72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of poor people every year if the party is voted to power," he said. The Nyay minimum income guarantee scheme is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. The BJP, which has criticised the scheme, has sought to know how it will be funded. During the free-wheeling interaction, moderated by RJ Malishka and actor Subodh Bhave, Gandhi answered a number of questions, ranging from politics, his personal life and his bond with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Asked about Priyanka's twitter post calling him courageous, Gandhi replied, "I am persistent, I stand up for people who are weak." FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE He said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures. Gandhi described demonetisation as a "disastrous idea", which had a terrible impact on the economy. He said the exercise, announced in 2016, caused two per cent fall in GDP growth and led to loss of millions of jobs. He said erstwhile Planning Commission was a strategic institution, while its successor Niti Ayaog only talks about implementation and tactics. "We need institutions to strategically think what should be done at the national level. Implementation and tactics can be done by the states," he said, responding to a question on the Congress manifesto promise of scrapping Niti Ayaog, the think-tank set up by the Modi government. Gandhi said the Congress if voted to power, will focus on strengthening health care and education. On being asked who should take credit for the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said, "the (Indian) Air Force should take credit. It is important that people know they can't mess around with India." The Congress leader said he was against politicisation of the air strike. "I feel uncomfortable that the PM does that. But it is his choice," Gandhi said. Gandhi said he does not claim to have answers to all questions. "I want you to make me feel uncomfortable so that I go back and revisit the question and start looking for answers," he said. When Bhave, who has acted in biopics on Lokmanya Tilak and Bal Gandharv, said he wants to do a biopic on him and asked who should be the heroine, Gandhi quipped, "Unfortunately, I am wedded to my work." Asked about facing criticism on social media, Gandhi said, "Those who want to live in virtual reality, they are free to do so. But, one can't run away from reality. "In the end you have to face it. I live in reality. Violence doesn't benefit anyone. It gives only a false sense of confidence," he said. To a query, Gandhi said, "I love Modi. Genuinely I have no hatred or anger towards the man." By PTI KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (EC) on Friday night removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in a major shake-up in the police establishment of the state. The announcement comes days after BJP leaders had alleged that free and fair elections would not be possible in the state under these officers. Dr Rajesh Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Pollution Control Board, was made the new Kolkata top cop, while Natarajan Ramesh Babu, ADG and IGP, Operations, was named the Bidhannagar police commissioner, an ECI notification about the decisions said. The poll body also named Avannu Ravindranath, DC (Airport Division) of Bidhannagar, as the new superintendent of police (SP) of Birbhum and appointed Srihari Pandey, DC KAP, 3rd Battalion, as the SP of Diamond Harbour. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE The EC wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Malay Dey, directing an immediate implementation of the directives and seeking a compliance report in respect to the joining of the transferred officers within 24 hours. The commission also directed that the present incumbent officers being shifted should not be involved by the state government in any election-related duty. Both Sharma and Singh were present with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee when she started her dharna to protest a CBI action against the then Kolkata police commissioner in connection with its probe in the Saradha scam. Sharma had replaced Kumar in mid-February. Incidentally, after Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira was allegedly found carrying gold at the Kolkata airport, the BJP had lodged a complaint with the EC against Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh. The party had demanded that Singh be held "responsible" for the alleged police interference, if "prima facie any such incident happened". By PTI BEGUSARAI: Seven persons including a minor girl were killed and two others injured when a speeding truck rammed into a roadside hut in Bihars Begusarai district on Friday, police said. The driver of a wheat laden truck lost control over the vehicle and it rammed into a roadside hut near Koriya Nav Toliya on Begusarai-Rosera SH 55, the police said, adding that all the seven persons died on the spot. District Magistrate Rahul Kumar, SP Awkash Kumar and other officials rushed to the spot after getting information about the incident, which took place around 5 pm. The injured persons have been rushed to a hospital in Begusarai town, they said. Bihar: Seven persons dead in an accident after a truck ran over them in Koria area of Begusarai district, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/qNlB5EYZd2 ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 Angry local people blocked the SH 55 demanding payment of compensation to the next of the kins of those killed in the incident. The driver and the cleaner of the truck managed to escape from the spot after the incident, sources said. The District Magistrate Rahul Kumar gave away cheque for Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia amount to the next of those killed in the incident. The blockade was lifted following the distribution of cheque for ex-gratia payment. The Ministry of Health and Population has completed the second phase of a campaign aimed at eliminating intestinal parasites in school children aged 6-12 The Ministry of Health and Population, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Education, has launched the second phase of a national campaign to eliminate intestinal parasites (worms) in primary school children across the country. The national campaign is targeting 12.5 million children aged between 6-12. Parasitic infection remains a serious public health problem the world over, especially in developing countries, and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood and among high-risk groups in most parts of the world. Treatment includes two chewable tablets of Mebendazole 500mg to prevent infection from intestinal parasites. The medicine is safe and the most commonly used to treat intestinal worms in children, Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed said at a press conference, adding that the campaign aims to decrease the prevalence of intestinal parasites and prevent associated complications (diarrhoea, anaemia and malnutrition) that could ultimately affect the growth of school-aged children. Such parasites can be easily transmitted by contaminated hands. Intestinal parasites can also be easily transmitted either by eating unclean vegetables and fruits or those contaminated with parasitic eggs. More than 20 million tablets are being used in the campaign according to Alaa Eid, head of the ministrys Preventive Medicine Department. Ministry of Health and Population Spokesman Khaled Megahed noted that the campaign is part of the ministrys various health initiatives launched for school students as part of the presidents initiatives to safeguard the health of Egyptian children. Other campaigns have been held to detect obesity, anaemia and stunting among school students, Megahed said. He said the ministry, along with the Ministry of Education, is raising the awareness of students about personal hygiene as a means of avoiding parasite infections. Intestinal parasites among school students is around 31 per cent, Megahed said, adding that 64 per cent of boys were found to be infected while infection among girls was around 55 per cent. *A version of this article appears in print in the 4 April, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Wary of worms Search Keywords: Short link: Jyoti Punwani By What exactly did Prime Minister Narendra Modi mean when, in his election speech in Wardha, he taunted Congress president Rahul Gandhi for being afraid to face Hindus and running away to a seat where the majority is a minority? The PMs remarks made one uneasy. The immediate implication was that the majority community and the minorities stand in direct opposition to one another in this election. What else can one conclude from a statement that accuses a candidate of finding a minority-dominated constituency safe and a majority-dominated one risky? The BJP has never tired of declaring that the 133 crore population of India reposed its faith in the party in 2014. Its another matter that according to the Election Commission, the voting percentage in the 2014 general elections was less than 70 per cent, and only 31 per cent of voters chose the BJP. Even still, there is no evidence to show that those approximately 30 crore voters were all Hindus, nor has the BJP leadership ever claimed so. On the contrary, the partys 2014 slogan sabka saath sabka vikas tempted many a sceptical Muslim to put aside memories of Gujarat 2002 and vote for it, this writer has often heard them say. According to a Lokniti-CSDS study, the BJP got 9 per cent of the Muslim vote, whereas in 2009 it had got just 4 per cent. But in the Wardha speech which projected the majority and the minorities as separate entities, the BJP top leadership made it clear whose side it was on. Our culture which is more than 5,000 years old, which sees the world as one family, had been insulted, the prime minister said. Didnt you feel hurt when you heard the words Hindu terror, he asked the overflowing maidan. The countrys mainstream, the crores of Hindus who were thus tainted, would never forgive the Congress for this sin. What else was this but an assumption by the BJP leaders that their audience was all Hindu? Dont they even expect Muslims to attend their rallies? This writer has met Muslims who are with the BJP for a number of reasons. What would a Muslim attending his rally have felt? Those whom they called terrorists have now awakened, the prime minister declared. The Congress knows this, therefore it is running away, unable to face the Hindus. So, while Hinduswho according to the BJP leadership, constitute the mainstream, wouldnt forgive the Congress for its sin against them, the minorities of Wayanad would? Imagine what the average Muslim and Christianthe two minorities in Wayanadmust have felt hearing this. This projection by the top BJP leaders of themselves as Hindus who identify with the majority community should not surprise us. Its a myth that in 2014, the BJP presented the image of a moderate party committed only to development. That image was there, but the party leaderships Hindu identity was also very much there. An analysis by this writer of the election speeches of the current prime minister from October 2013 till the end of the campaign in May 2014 showed that he projected himself as a Hindu leader in a variety of ways. To cite a few: the praying at famous temples and invocation of local deities, places of worship and icons at all the campaign venues, but never of any Muslim place of worship or icon, not even in Ajmer or Shahjahanpur, where lie the graves of two famous Muslim freedom fighters, Ashfaqullah Khan and Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah; the crude references to those who traded in the pink flesh of animals and speaking disparagingly of the Pink Revolution (the term used to describe Indias leading place as a meat exporterwhich, incidentally, continues to remain the same even during the BJPs reign); the denigration of those who were brought to Assam from Bangladesh to steal our jobs and the sympathy for those who came fleeing religious persecution; and the constant attack on vote bank politics, which was used as a euphemism for Muslim voters. In Wardha too, it was alleged that the Congress had coined the term Hindu terror for the sake of vote bank politics. Throughout the 2014 campaign, the BJP leadership linked nationalism with Hinduism, echoing the theme of cultural nationalism popularised by L K Advani during the latters 1990 rath yatra and the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. By the end of the campaign, the BJP had built a solid Hindu vote bank for itself. Even after they attained power, the leaders of the BJP could not resist pitting the audience against Muslims, whether in the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, where they warned OBCs that their rivals were planning to snatch away the benefits of reservations from them and give them to another community, or in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, where they compared shamshan with kabrastan. At that time, the rule of the party at the Centre was certainly not under threat. So today, with general elections coming up, the party leaderships divisive rhetoric shouldnt surprise us. This is still early days. Hindutva has not replaced the real issues. As it had in 2014, it will go side by side with them. Jyoti Punwani Freelance journalist based in Mumbai Email: jyoti.punwani@gmail.com By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday evening transferred Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha to a non-election post and appointed the senior-most IAS officer in the government, LV Subramanyam (1983 batch) in his place. LV Subrahmanyam is currently serving as special chief secretary (sports and youth affairs). The ECI move comes just days after it summoned Punetha to seek an explanation for defying its orders transferring Intelligence DG AB Venkateswara Rao. Rao was transferred to the police headquarters and relieved of all poll-related duties on March 26 following complaints from the YSR Congress that he was acting in a biased manner favouring the ruling TDP. The SPs of Kadapa and Srikakulam too were shunted out along with him. The same night, Punetha issued a GO complying with the ECI orders, but the next afternoon, issued another GO cancelling the transfer of the intelligence DG, sparking a major controversy and inviting allegations that he did so at the behest of the government and on the advice of DGP RP Thakur. The State police chief had met Punetha just before the latter issued the controversial GO. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP objected to the ECI orders, claiming it had no jurisdiction to transfer an Intelligence DG "who has nothing to do with elections." Subsequently, the State government moved the High Court challenging the ECI order. But with the court refusing to interfere, Punetha was forced to scrap the controversial GO and transfer the intelligence DG. LV Subrahmanyam, the new chief secretary, is senior to Punetha by a year but wasn't made the chief secretary by the Naidu government despite his efficiency and honesty. Perhaps the reason for it was the case filed against him by the CBI in the multi-crore Emaar properties scam that emerged under the YS Rajasekhara Reddy regime. He was accused of helping Emaar get 535 acres of land at a throwaway price. However, in January last year, the high court acquitted him as it found no evidence of wrong-doing on his part. FOLLOW OUR ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Meanwhile, the fate of DGP RP Thakur remains unclear. He was summoned by the ECI on Thursday and was asked to stay back on Friday. As TNIE reported, the DGP was asked about his meeting with Punetha prior to the issuance of the controversial GO, his handling of YSRC leader YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case, and importantly, what made him advise the chief secretary to defy the poll body's directives. Sources told TNIE the DGP presented his version in front of the full EC board before returning to Vijayawada on Friday afternoon. There are speculations that if at all action is going to be taken against the DGP, the ECI would crack the whip in a couple of days. Anuja Susan Varghese By Express News Service KOCHI: At a time when our predominantly parochial and gender-biased society is gradually but surely maturing towards inclusivity and equality for LGBTQ individuals, Chinju Aswathi, a 25-year-old intersex, is all set to script history. Ashwathi Rajappan, or simply Chinju as he likes to be known, filed his nomination papers to contest for the Lok Sabha, from the Ernakulam Constituency, on Thursday. The first intersex candidate ever to contest elections in Kerala, Chinju, a resident of Angamaly, aims to reform societal acceptance of LGBTQ individuals and to implement the rights of his community, through positive and constructive activism. When it comes to society and its attitude towards his community, Chinju has a lot to say. ALSO READ | Have trust in voters: Ernakulam LDF candidate P Rajeev "While rights for the transgender and queer community are assured by the state, and the repressive Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has been struck down by the Supreme Court last year, there has not been much of improvement in the lives of people belonging to the community. The stigma still stays, like a shadow", says Chinju. "I will be contesting as an independent candidate, without the support of any party". Though he realises that he would be pitted against political big shots, he is positive about the outcome, whatever it may be. "I will continue with my fight and persistent attempts to reform our society," says Chinju. FOLLOW OUR ELECTIONS COVERAGE HERE Chinju, a Bsc Electronics graduate from IHRD College Thodupuzha and an MSc drop-out, credits his education for the resolve he developed to fight for his rights in society. "Many like me are struggling for a platform to speak up and make the world realize that we are also a part of society. Unfortunately, there are but few who are mature enough to listen. It is my education alone, which has empowered me to speak up confidently", he said. A fervent activist for the LGBTQ cause, Chinju was working with a queer community in Bangalore under a fellowship he received from The Solidarity Foundation. In medical terminology, intersex individuals are those born with any of several variations in sexual characteristics, including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals. ALSO READ | Solar scam accused Saritha S Nair to contest in Ernakulam LS seat "Born intersex, for a long 22 years, I lived the life of a woman and had my share of both good and bad experiences. When I came out of my shell, to acknowledge my sexuality and embrace my identity in 2016, my family members and dear ones accepted me for what I am. I draw my strength from their support and encouragement, and am eager to bring about a change in our society", said Chinju. Today, he actively works with 'Sahayatrika', an NGO for human rights. "If one is not part of the political power system, however great the intent, or exhaustive the efforts, one will fail to achieve progress and rights for the community", Chinju adds. The societal stigma associated with dual sexuality is so strongly deep-rooted, that fetal deaths continue unabated in our state, which boasts of highest educational standards in the country. "Doctors who assess that the child within the mother's womb has abnormalities, physical or intersex, have no qualms to suggest abortion. It is tragic that even now, in the progressive 21st century, so many such cases are occurring in our state. This has to stop - don't we also have a right to live?", asks Chinju. By Express News Service KALPETTA(WAYANAD): Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said he will absorb all the attacks by the CPM and will not speak against the Left parties during his campaign. He was responding to the Left parties attacks against him in view of his candidature in Wayanad. After filing nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Rahul told journalists in Kalpetta that he is contesting from seats in North and South to send a message. The CPM and the Congress have been locked in a fight in Kerala. This will go on. I understand that the CPM has to fight me. But, I am not going to say a word against them. I am here to send a message of unity that south India is important, and I fully understand that the CPM has to attack me, the AICC chief said. ALSO READ| Congress chief Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat There were two main issues faced by the country: lack of jobs and agrarian crisis, he added. Farmers are unaware of what the future holds for them. Youngsters are running from state to state in search of jobs and the Prime Minister has failed on both the fronts. he said: The country had faith in the Prime Minister when he said he would be the chowkidar. But, the chowkidar himself has given Anil Ambani Rs 30,000 crore of air force money, Gandhi alleged, in an attack against the NDA government over the Rafale deal. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE On his candidature from Wayanad, Gandhi said: I have come to Kerala to send a message that India is one. South, north, east, west or centre, all are one. There is an assault taking place across the country by the RSS and BJP. I just want to send a message and I will stand from South India and North India. ALSO READ| Lok Sabha polls 2019: Rahul Gandhi begins roadshow in Wayanad after filing nomination Timeline 11.05 am: The helicopter carrying Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi lands in SKMJ School Ground, Kalpetta. 11.10 am: Rahul and Priyanka move to District Collectorate in an open truck along with senior UDF leaders. 11.30 am: Rahul submits nomination papers before District Collector AR Ajayakumar. Noon: Roadshow from Kalpetta Bypass commences. 12.50 pm: Roadshow reaches helipad at SKMJ School ground. 1 pm: Rahul and Priyanka leave for Kozhikode via helicopter. Rahul, Priyanka lend helping hand to injured journalists KALPETTA: In a noble gesture, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lent a helping hand to three journalists who sustained minor injuries after they fell from one of the vehicles in their cavalcade during the roadshow. According to RS Gopan, a photographer with a vernacular daily, who was also injured, the injuries of the mediapersons were not serious and they were discharged after being administered first aid. The barricade placed on the vehicle broke when the vehicles reached near the helipad at SKMJ School, Kalpetta. The injured were being helped to the ambulance by Rahul and Priyanka, who accompanied him in the roadshow after filing his nominations. In the video, posted by former KSU president VS Joy, Rahul can be seen helping by holding the stretcher carrying the injured journalist to the ambulance, while Priyanka was holding the shoes of the reporter. The video went viral on online platforms later. Bijay Chaki By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Congress is facing a peculiar situation this time ahead of the General Elections with a number of candidates either resigning or expressing their unwillingness to contest with the party ticket, thereby raising serious questions over its attempt to return to power in Odisha after 19 years. BJP also faced a similar situation with two of its candidates joining the ruling BJD after getting ticket to contest Assembly elections. But the saffron party was compensated after a large number of disgruntled leaders from BJD, including some sitting and former MPs, joined BJP, strengthening the party apparatus in the State. However, desertion from Congress, which started before the announcement of elections, continues unabated. The grand old party, which started on a positive note in Odisha, now seems to be finding it difficult to field candidates with last minute resignations. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the party had to change its Lok Sabha and two Assembly candidates in Keonjhar on Thursday with hardly a few hours remaining for filing of nomination papers. The latest to resign from Congress was Bibhu Prasad Tarai, the partys candidate from Tirtol Assembly seat. Tarai joined BJP on Thursday. Hours after fielding Prithvi Ballav, son of former Chief Minister JB Patnaik, from Begunia Assembly seat, the party had to change its candidate because of his unwillingness to contest. Similarly, the party announced former MLA Yudhistir Samantray as its candidate from Pipili. But he declined to contest expressing his disappointment over the manner in which finalisation of his candidature was delayed. Samantray, who was MLA from Pipili from 1995 to 2000, alleged irregularities in selection of party candidates. Meanwhile, there has been large-scale resentment in several district units protesting selection of candidates for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats. Announcement of former president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Sarat Patnaik as the partys candidate from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat has sparked off a rebellion in the district unit of the party. Patnaik was a former MP from Balangir. Similarly, there has also been protest in Balangir district unit of the party. As many as 10 office-bearers of Congress in Balangir resigned on Wednesday in protest against selection of candidates. Before the announcement of elections, several senior party leaders and MLAs had resigned from Congress. Former working president of OPCC and Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das joined BJD and is contesting from the same Assembly seat on a ruling party ticket. Another Congress leader and MLA Jogesh Singh has also been fielded by BJD from Sundargarh Assembly constituency. Prakash Behera, who switched over to BJP, has been fielded from Salepur Assembly seat while Krushna Chandra Sagaria is the BSP candidate from Jeypore. Behera had won from Salepur on a Congress ticket in 2014 polls. Nominees changed hours before deadline Bhubaneswar: Hours before the deadline for filing of nomination papers came to an end on Thursday, Congress changed candidates of one Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats. The party replaced Fakir Mohan Nayak with Mohan Hembram as its candidate for Keonjhar Lok Sabha seat. Hembram was earlier announced as the partys candidate from the Telkoi Assembly seat. Prashant Dalai has now been given ticket for the Telkoi seat. Besides, the party also replaced Gopeswar Naik with Binod Naik as its nominee for Patana Assembly seat. Congress also announced Ajit Mangaraj, Swagatika Patnaik and Basant Kumar Maharana as its candidate for Pipili, Khurda and Khandapada Assembly seats respectively. While Swagatika replaced Dilip Srichandan in Khurda, Basant has come in for Binodini Mohanty, the candidate in 2014 polls. Mudita Girotra By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Dalai Lama on Thursday hinted that the Chinese would get to choose his successor, depending on how long he lived. He also said that his rebirth will not necessarily happen in the east-Asian country. Suppose I live for another 10-15 years, then the political situation in China will change. If I die next year, then of course the Chinese government (can) seriously show (that my) reincarnation must (be) born in China, the spiritual leader said, responding to a question asked by this newspaper during the launch of an educational programme by Emory University. My rebirth (is) not necessary. My belief is - as long as space remains, I remain. As long as human suffering remains, I remain. Dalai Lama always expresses (that) he has no wish to be born in heaven, his wish is to be in a place of suffering, to be able to help someone, he said. He further said that he was not seeking Tibets independence, but would prefer a mutually acceptable solution, taking inspiration from the European Union (EU). They (EU) think family interest (is) more important than individual interest... that is wonderful. Earlier, (there were) killings and violence. Had there been no reunion, violence would have lasted. I admire the European Union, he said. He further said that this spirit should spread to Latin America, Africa and other parts of the world. I am not seeking Tibets independence. I (would) prefer (that) Tibet remains in the Peoples Republic of China (but in) some kind of union, he explained. He said that in 1979, he tried to have a discourse with Beijing, but there was little progress in resolving the issue of Tibet as the communist government labelled him a splittist. In 1974, we decided to not seek independence and seek a mutually acceptable solution. And, in 1979, we established (a) direct contact with the Chinese government. So basically, our side is open, ...I am not (a) splittist but Chinese government considers me (one). So Chinese want me fighting for independence, he laughed. By PTI LONDON: An Irish international human rights lawyer who was caught on camera making abusive rants at Air India crew after she was refused alcohol on a flight from Mumbai to London has been jailed for six months in the UK. Simone Burns, was described as "drunk and obnoxious" during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court in London on Thursday, where it emerged that she also spat at a flight attendant during her foul-mouthed racist tirade after she was refused alcohol on the flight in November last year. READ | Irish woman verbally abuses Air India crew "The experience of a drunk and irrational person in the confines of an aircraft is frightening, not least on a long-haul flight, and poses a potential risk to safety," said Judge Nicholas Wood, as he sentenced the 50-year-old to six months in prison for being drunk on an aircraft and two months for assault, sentences to run concurrently. "You were drunk and obnoxious almost from the beginning to the end. You were abusive, contemptuous and confrontational and used appalling language," he said. #WATCH An Irish national on board Air India London-Mumbai flight verbally abuses the crew after she was refused more wine. The incident took place on November 10. (Note: Strong language) pic.twitter.com/bdZWico5Qq ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2018 Burns, born in Northern Ireland and living in Hove in England, was also ordered to pay 300 pounds compensation to the person she assaulted, with the judge saying that "spitting straight into a crew member's face at close range is a particularly insulting and upsetting act." The court heard how the lawyer drank three bottles of wine on the long-haul flight before calling the cabin crew "Indian money-grabbing c***s" as she was denied a fourth bottle of red wine for being too drunk. "I'm a f*****g international lawyer," she told attendants during her tirade before retreating to the toilets to try and smoke. She was given a series of warnings before being arrested on landing in London. A member of the Air India cabin crew described her conduct as unlike anything he had seen during his 34-year aviation career. The judge at Isleworth Crown Court said he was satisfied the offence was racially aggravated and the language Burns used would have been extremely upsetting for the airline staff. Noting Simone Burns' work with refugees around the world, Judge Wood added: "You are a woman, not just of good character but a positive and impeccable character - a righter of wrongs. What this has done, thanks to social media, (has meant) you have had death threats and been a hermit in your home. You are a person who has done good work throughout your life." Burns' defence lawyer suggested that her actions were due to a "mixture of altitude, the consumption of drink and anxiety" at the fact that she was likely to miss the funeral of an uncle. Mark Kimsey told the court that his client was "totally ashamed of her behaviour". "This is not a lady who has a drink problem. This is not a woman who has a drug problem. This is totally out of character," he said. By PTI COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government has released about 90 per cent of the military-acquired land belonging to the minority Tamil community held during the brutal civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said as he seeks re-election. At the end of the military conflict 10 years ago, some 84,675 acres of Tamil civilian land were under the military control and by the end of March 2019, some 71,178 acres of land have been released, Sirisena's office said in a statement on Thursday. ALSO READ | Sri Lanka Tamils demand foreign judges to probe war crimes Accordingly, 13,497 acres of land is in the custody of the security forces, of which 11,039 acres of land are state-owned, it said. Another 475 acres of land will be released in the near future, his office said, adding that the de-mining process to clear the land of mines was accelerated after President Sirisena assumed office in January, 2015. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had launched a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the country for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. During the war, the military acquired thousands of acres of land owned by the Tamils near key security establishments coming under increasing threats by the LTTE's suicide squads. For long, the Tamils and rights groups had been demanding the early release of the military-acquired land. ALSO READ | Old ones out: Lankan Tamils have new saviours Sirisena, who became President in 2015 by defeating former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, had promised to achieve national reconciliation with the Tamils who had supported him in the election. A task force was established in August last year by the President to expedite the development of the north and the east that suffered most during the conflict. The UN Human Rights Council last month reminded Sri Lanka to make progress on the 2015 resolution co-sponsored by Colombo. Sirisena, who is seeking re-election, has made his intentions clear to win the Northern and Eastern provinces by the perceived swift action on releasing the land. The elections must be held before early January next year. The Tamils have expressed concern over the delay in implementing other measures needed for reconciliation. The UN Human Rights Council has called for an international probe into the alleged war crimes during the military conflict with the LTTE. According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the 30-year-long separatist war which claimed at least 100,000 lives. By PTI WASHINGTON: A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are "missing" and all the fighter planes were "present and accounted for", according to a report in a prominent American magazine. The finding by the US on the ground in Pakistan "directly contradicts" India's claim that its air force shot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial dogfight on February 27. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. ALSO READ | Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down PAF F-16, aware of Pakistani pilot's identity: Sitharaman According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan invited the United States to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported on Thursday. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the magazine. The Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. "As details come out, it looks worse and worse for the Indians," MIT professor Vipin Narang told Foreign Policy magazine. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," he said. Generally, in such agreements, the US requires the receiving country to allow its officials to inspect the equipment regularly to ensure it is accounted for and protected, the news report said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the suicide bomber of JeM killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Friday said his country would not tolerate any violation of its territorial integrity and reserves the right to self-defence. Addressing the under training Pakistani Army officers at the Command and Staff College, Quetta, he said Pakistan was a peaceful and soverign country and sought good relations with all its neighbours, including India. Alvi alleged that India was using the Pulwama attack as a pretext to escalate tensions. He said Pakistan would not tolerate any violation of its territorial integrity and reserves the right to self-defence. "Pakistan armed forces are well prepared to give befitting response to any misadventure by India," he told the officers. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14 this year. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. "Pakistan is a peaceful and sovereign country, desirous of having good relations with all its neighbours, including India," he said. The President lauded the role and sacrifices of armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civil administration in addressing the challenges of lawlessness and terrorism. He stated that despite facing several challenges Pakistan is now heading in the right direction. Alvi said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the potential to change the fate of the region for the better. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). An exceptionally well-painted Ptolemaic-era tomb of a nobleman called Toutou and his wife, a musician, was discovered at Al-Dayabat archaeological site in Sohag governorate on Friday. The tomb was accidentally discovered when the Tourism and Antiquities Police arrested a gang who were carrying out illegal excavations in an area near the Al-Dayabat archaeological mound. 10 After the completion of investigations, the Ministry of Antiquities assigned a scientific archaeological mission, led by Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, to start excavations of the tomb. 20 Although it is a very small tomb from the Ptolemaic period, It is exceptionally painted with beautiful scenes, said Waziri. The tomb consists of two tiny rooms containing two limestone sarcophagi, as well as a very-well preserved mummy that has not been identified yet. 3 A number of mummified animals and birds were also found in the tomb, including falcons, eagles, cats, dogs and shrews. Waziri said that shrews can see very well at night, and ancient Egyptians believed they could cure blindness. 11 He said the mummified shrews are in good condition. 50 60 70 Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI LONDON: The UK government Friday announced the appointment of a new media freedom champion in prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to counter draconian laws that hinder journalists from going about their work. The wife of Hollywood star George Clooney takes over as the UK Foreign Secretary's Special Envoy on Media Freedom and Co-Chair of a High Level Panel of Legal Experts. "Violence against journalists has reached alarming levels globally and we cannot turn a blind eye," said UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt after a meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister and Amal at a G7 event in France. He said Amal's leading work on human rights means she was ideally placed to ensure this campaign has real impact for journalists and the free societies who depend on their work. "She will use her expertise to chair a panel comprising the world's best legal minds to develop and promote legal mechanisms to prevent and reverse media abuses," Hunt said. Amal, 41, said she was honoured to have been hand-picked for the new role. "Through my legal work defending journalists I have seen first-hand the ways in which reporters are being targeted and imprisoned in an effort to silence them and prevent a free media," said Amal, who takes on the role on a pro bono basis. "I welcome the UK Government's focus on this issue at a time when journalists are being killed and imprisoned at record levels all over the world and I look forward to working on new legal initiatives that can help to ensure a more effective international response," she said. At the G7 meeting, Hunt set out the next stages of the UK's campaign to defend free media around the world. The High Level Panel of Legal Experts will examine legal and policy initiatives that states can adopt to improve media freedom including by offering advice to governments who want to strengthen legal mechanisms to improve media freedom. They will support the repeal of outdated and draconian laws; encourage and support governments to help ensure existing laws and international obligations are enforced and promoting best practice and model legislation to protect a vibrant free press. "The media has a crucial role to play in holding the powerful to account. "There is no escaping the fact that draconian and outdated laws around the world are being used to restrict the ability of the media to report the truth," the UK minister said. The global campaign on media freedom aims to shine a spotlight on media abuses and reverse the trend of violence against journalists. The announcement this week comes ahead of the International Conference on Media Freedom to be held in the UK in July, co-hosted with the Canadian government. The conference will bring together leaders from around the world to share good practice on media freedom, and seek consensus behind the measures that can be taken to improve the protection of journalists. The other members of the Panel of Legal Experts, along with the full Terms of Reference for the panel, will be confirmed in the coming months. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Some early morning breaks in the overcast, otherwise cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 54F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Government is this year expected to issue community radio broadcasting licences to 10 private operators as part of its reform agenda to open the airwaves in the growing industry, with foreign players expected to share 20 percent of the market. The move, apart from creating a competitive environment for the broadcasting panorama, is in line with the countrys constitutional provisions for media variety. In an interview with StarFM on Wednesday evening, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said his ministry has budgeted $98 000 to support the initiative. In our plan this year, we have already budgeted $98 000, this money is for community radio stations, which we used to support, he said. Parliament has approved 10 community radio stations that will be issued this year. The money is there to support this. We are holding the money and it is losing value Mr Mangwana explained why it was necessary to speed up the alignment of the Broadcasting Services Act with the Constitution. He said the Act is one of the many pieces of legislation that is not in sync with the Constitution and there are a lot of things that needed to be put in place. One of the major ones being that since the Act came in place in 2001 technology has moved on, he said. There are things that have become obsolete. There are sections that are pretty much irrelevant and with the advent of this new technology it also means that we broadcast differently from the way we were broadcasting 18 years ago, when the Act came into place in 2001. Mr Mangwana said there was need to modernise the Act, which among other things to align it with treaties Zimbabwe is signatory to internationally and regionally. He said in the Broadcasting Service Amendment Bill, Government seeks to underscore the distinction between licensing online platforms and normal broadcasting services, which uses the frequency spectrum. When it comes to current interpretation that we have is that there should be a call out made by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), which is a regulator for people to come and apply for licences, any one of those licences, he said. Our interpretations could be different, but we need it to be very clear in the incoming Bill that only licences that require the use of the national resource, which is the frequency spectrum will need to have a public inquiry and would need the authority to call out for a particular genre. Mr Mangwana said Government has no problem when it comes to issuing licences that have no bearing on the frequency spectrum. Those ones should be applied for anytime, any day and they should be given anytime any day because they do not have any bearing on a depleting resource, he said. So, if we can issue 3 000, or 10 000 of those licences, by all means let us do so, they are depriving nobody of anything. So we need that distinction to be made. Still on the issue of call out, Mr Mangwana said there is need to define how many terms a year that BAZ should call out for people to come and apply for the frequency spectrum. So, we propose that three terms per year at known frequencies and known time. There should be a call out. At the moment we do not have that. We can actually go for three years if people are abusing their positions without BAZ calling out for such licences. Mr Mangwana said the current Act, provides that licences for community radio stations should only be granted to corporate bodies, yet they are called community radio licences. In the currency BSA we say that licences should only be granted to corporate bodies, but we are calling these community radio licences, how does a community and corporate converge so we want to amend that to say communities can own these (community radio stations) they dont have to be corporates they can be trusts and they should be able to own these and community radio stations. I think those are the key issues that stands out. THE Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, Erick Ruwona, has filed a $500 0000 lawsuit against a church warden who instituted a criminal case against him in September 2018 that resulted in the cleric being arrested and arraigned before the courts on theft charges. Along with four other senior church members who were implicated in the scam, the bishop was acquitted of all charges after the State failed to prove its case. Through his lawyers, Maunga and Maanda and Associates, the top cleric is now demanding damages from Joseph Mashingaidze on the basis that he reported the case to the police yet he fully knew that he had not committed the offence in question. The bishop insists that Mashingaidzes actions were only meant to harass, embarrass and publicly humiliate him in a greater scheme of church politics that were playing out in the diocese by portraying him as a corrupt senior cleric who would steal from the church and (therefore) not worthy to hold the very position in the church. Mashingaidze, who resides at Number 36 Makoni Road Westlea in Mutare, is employed as an administrator at Chipinge Town Council. Sometime in September 2018, the defendant (Mashingaidze) instituted a criminal case against the plaintiff in which he was charged of theft of property as defined in Section 113 (2) (d) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23. The property involved is an Isuzu KB200 truck owned by the church and stationed at St Agnes Parish in Chikanga. Following the report by the defendant, the plaintiff was arrested by members of the Anti-Corruption Commission working jointly with officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. The plaintiff was subsequently brought before the courts to answer charges of theft of trust property at the instance of the defendant and was acquitted at the close of the States case. At the time he instituted proceedings, the defendant knew very well that the plaintiff had not committed the offence in question but only meant to harass, embarrass and publicly humiliate the plaintiff. . . When trial commenced and the witnesses had been subjected to cross examination by defence counsel, it became apparent to him that the defendant was mistaken in his complaint. However, he persisted with the case even when it became clearer to him that the plaintiff was wrongly charged. He was made to unnecessarily incur direct expenses in engaging a lawyer to defend a case which was never and parted with $2000 in legal fees. The defendant hereby demands that the defendant pays him damages for malicious arrest and prosecution in the sum of $500 000 broken down as $200 000 for malicious arrest and prosecution, $150 000 for the injury to his dignity, $148 000 for defamation and $2 000 as legal fees, reads the summons. A Mutare-based businessman, Samuel Magada, who was jointed charged with the bishop and was also acquitted of the charges has also filed for damages against Mashingaidze. He is demanding $300 000. Magada said the prosecution instigated by Mashingaidze was malicious because he had no reasonable grounds or probable cause whatsoever to believe that the plaintiff had committed such an offence. ZANU-PF has said there is transparency in the handling of all donations that are being donated through the party for victims of Cyclone Idai. Speaking during the handover of one tonne of mealie meal and 48 blankets by a local businessman to the ruling party meant for cyclone victims, Politburo member Cde Tshinga Dube said it is the duty of the ruling party to promote transparency. The ruling party is also the custodian of the nation and because of that we have prepared a list of all donated items and which will be ferried by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). This is to guard against crooks who may want to steal some of the donations or channel them for their own benefit, he said. Cde Dube commended Mr Mngane Ncube, the managing director of Hawkflight Construction for the donation and urged other businesspeople to follow suit. As Zanu-PF we want to thank Mr Ncube for heeding the call by the His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, to donate towards cyclone victims. As Zimbabwe we are one and if one of us is affected it calls for our attention. We urge other business people to do the same as this is the greatest corporate responsibility one can offer, he said. Meanwhile, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Judith Ncube has urged foreign nationals resident in the city to also donate to Cyclone Idai victims. Speaking while receiving a donation from the Nigerian community in Bulawayo yesterday, Cde Ncube said: As Africans we are one, we express our gratitude and appreciate this donation as a government done by Nigerian community. She said Africans should maintain the spirit of caring and urged other foreign nationals in the city to donate to Idai survivors. The chairman of the Nigerian Community in Bulawayo, Mr Chidi Okafor said they bought food and clothes worth RTGS $ 10 000 for Cyclone Idai victims because it has always been their culture to help the needy. Plumtree Combined Residents Association (PCRADA) also donated RTGS $300 and 150 bags of clothes for the Cyclone Idai survivors in Chimanimani on Monday. PCRADA chairman, Mr Richard Khumalo said residents under Mangwe District in Plumtree donated. The 2019 budget had two blue books, up to now I dont know why there were two blue books, and then it had a budget statement. In the budget statement at page 33, the national debt was put at US$17 billion, but when we went to the fist blue book the national debt was put at US$9 billion, when we went to the second blue book the national debt was put at US$8 billion, you would really wonder what is going on. A gang of suspected robbers on Monday morning sneaked into Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Companys (ZCDC) operating areas in Chiadzwa and entered a pit with ore that had just been exposed. Police have since arrested two suspects. Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said investigations were still in progress to ascertain if anything was stolen. In the early morning hours of April 1 2019, there was an intrusion by a suspected gang of robbers into the operational areas of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, said Mr Mangwana. The suspected robbers entered the pit where ore had been exposed earlier in the day. Two suspects have since been arrested. A full exercise to establish whether there was any loss and if affirmed then its level is underway. The people caught will be transparently prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and their accomplices will be pursued until every one of them is fully accounted for. The unfortunate incident, he said, prompted three ministers and the national security leadership to convene an urgent meeting on how to curb future intrusions. Following this incident, three Government ministers as well as the command of the national security establishment held a meeting on Wednesday, 3rd of April 2019 at the ZCDC operations to review security measures so as to avoid a recurrence of similar incidents, he said. Mr Mangwana warned the public against committing such offences, saying those caught on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with accordingly. Government takes the security of national treasures and assets seriously and will do everything in its power to ensure that these are safeguarded and proceeds therefrom applied for national benefit, he said. MINES minister Winston Chitando allegedly orchestrated shady business dealings and presided over the misuse of a US$115,5 million loan at troubled coal-mining giant, Hwange Colliery Company Limited, an external forensic audit says. The forensic audit by Ralph Bomment Greenacre & Reynolds which also uncovers corporate governance failures, massive fraud and tax evasion at the partly state-owned company further implicates former Hwange managing director Thomas Makore and senior executives in financial irregularities. Hwange was last year placed under reconstruction after extended periods of mismanagement, corruption and plunder. The audit says Chitando, in cahoots with senior executives, systematically manipulated and creamed off the company between 2016 and 2017 when he was board chair. The rot picked up by the auditors spanned three years to 2018. The Independent last year wrote a series of articles about a vicious fight for the heart and soul of Hwange Colliery pitting the Muskwe led board and Chitando. In June last year, Chitando asked the board to step down to allow him to appoint new board members, but the board refused to do so after getting the solid backing of other shareholders. The board, which also suspended company directors Shepherd Manamike and Tawanda Marapira, who are implicated in the audit argued they could not leave in the middle of an audit. The two signed some of the corrupt deals. President Emmerson Mnangagwas name was last year dragged into the Hwange Colliery mess after it emerged that shadowy character Sherphered Tundiya had usurped the power of the board, and effectively took over control of the coal-miner using the head of states name. He forced the Hwange board to reinstate Marapira arguing his parents were Mnangagwas neighbours and also once summoned and intimidated Muskwe at State House. The auditors also accuse Chitando of presiding over the unprocedural hiring of contractors, influencing management to authorise irregular transactions and routinely single-handedly hiring senior staffers without following human resources requirements. Ralph Bomment Greenacre & Reynolds senior auditor, Terrence Muza, confirmed the audit which was sanctioned by the disbanded Hwange board chaired by Juliana Muskwe early last year. Muza, however, declined to give further details for professional reasons. We completed the audit and handed over to relevant authorities. The rest is up to them, he said. Hwange administrator Bekithemba Moyo also received the audit report on March 7. Moyo confirmed it this week, saying: We will implement the recommendations where appropriate. It will be difficult to discuss classified information with the press. Remember at this stage, whoever is implicated needs to be given a chance to respond. Chitando did not answer repeated calls from the Zimbabwe Independent. He also did not respond to WhatsApp and text messages seeking comment on the allegations. The audit questions how the company handled a US$115,5 million loan which government, the major shareholder, extended to Hwange during Chitandos chairmanship in 2016. This, auditors say, came during a period when Hwange was experiencing some improvement in revenue inflows, which attracted a standoff between the board and management. The foregoing standoff continued after the chairman was appointed Minister of Mines and Mining Development (Walter Chidhakwa). In August 2018, the board appointed Ralph Bomment Greenacre & Reynolds to perform a forensic investigation into the HCCL affairs and report to the board. After attempts to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to fire the board failed, the minister placed the company under administration on the grounds that the company had failed to repay a loan to the Government, among other issues of insolvency. The said loan was made by government to the board led by him before he was appointed Minister of Mines and Mining Development. So, the substance on the ground is that government gave the loan using its right hand and the left hand was managing the loan. Other shareholders were not involved in the board at all and had no influence whatsoever, in how the loan was to be applied, the audit says. The loan was utilised to clear old pressing obligations/issues. No meaningful amount was set aside for use in current production. From the foregoing, no reasonable or informed person could expect an insolvent company to get up and go in such a short period of time, more so, without injecting capital into production or into capacitation of income generating functions, necessary for sustainable operations. Chitando, who at the time was also doubling as Hwange chairman and executive chairman for Zvishavane-based platinum-mining company Mimosa, is further accused of cross-pollinating dealings between the two companies as he would from time to time ensure that firms doing business with Mimosa also got lucrative contracts with Hwange, creating a messy conflict of interest. The audit also raises the red flag over controversy surrounding Inductoserve Investments (Private) Limited (Inductoserve), a transport company, which irregularly got lucrative coal trucking contracts from the mine. Although the auditors could not locate Inductoserves directors for interviewing and questioning, their report implies Chitando may have had a vested in the trucking company. Inductoserve, the audit says, was initially Hwange mine doing business with Mimosa before Chitando introduced it to Hwange. However, the audit says the local Inductoserve did not explain and clarify its relationship with South Africas Inductoserve Logistics, which transports bulk goods such fuel, coal, grain, coils, engineering parts and mining equipment in that country and within the Sadc region, to do the job. It later appears from transactions and payments that the two companies were doing business together, although it is not clear how they are related to each other and the deal was structured. The local Inductoserves head offices were located in Gutu, Chitandos rural home district. It also had other offices in Newlands in Harare, a stones throw away from Mimosas offices where Chitando was based. What is relatively clear, though, is that the local Inductoserve was doing business with South Africas Inductoserve Logistics, which transports bulk goods such fuel, coal, grain, coils, engineering parts and mining equipment in the country and within the Sadc region. The 2016 to 2017 period, HCCL Chairman Mr Winston Chitando was a serving executive chairman of Mimosa, a mining company in Zimbabwe. Any risks of using confidential information or protected strategies or information protected by work product doctrine of Mimosa in HCCL, it would appear, rests with HCCL and Mr Winston Chitando if any (i.e use of unauthorised Mimosa tactics in HCCL including importation of suppliers identified by Mimosa into HCCL, for example Inductoserve (Private) Limited, a transport company). Companies and persons who had something to do or some link with persons who had something to do with Mimosa got lucrative contracts in HCCL, particularly in haulage and insurance, the audit says. It further notes that the shadowy state of Inductoserve and its arrangements raised the possibility that the deal was specially designed to conceal tax evasion and siphoning of funds. The companys trucks, the audit says, had Zimbabwean registration numbers, while relevant transactions and payments were locally through a local bank in Harare. The audit says the dodgy arrangements point to possible money laundering. Two Hwange directors, Shepherd Manamike (engineering) and Tawanda Marapira (finance director and administration), signed the contract with Inductoserve on behalf of the mining company without the involvement of South African exchange control authorities. This was in contravention of exchange control regulations, the audit says. Mr Manamike and Mr Marapira signed Inductoserve contract whose payments in the absence of Exchange Control of South Africa constitutes contravention of Exchange Control as proceeds due to a South Africa Inductoserve were retained in Zimbabwe at Standard Chartered Bank in Newlands. Contracting Inductoserve, a South African company, and making payments to that company into a Zimbabwean bank account give rise to money laundering questions, the audit says. So we have a South African company that is invoicing under Inductoserve (Private) Limited of 9042 Industrial Site, Zambezi, Gweru, whose VAT number is 10053013. There is also a company called Inductoserve whose registered office is Matsa Store P.O Box 119 Gutu, Zimbabwe, it adds. That company is used in the process of aiding a South African company Inductoserve to not pay proceeds from business conducted in Zimbabwe to its South African banks where the company is domiciled. Exchange control issues arose from the use by a Midrand-based company offering haulage services to HCCL, utilising a bank account at Standard Chartered Bank located at Newlands in Harare. HCCL should stop payments to Inductoserve for breaking VAT Law by using another companys Tax Clearance certificate to process payments due to a South African company until South Africa Revenue Services clears Inductorserve of South Africa about possible tax evasion. The proximity of the bank where proceeds are banked at Standard Chartered Bank at Newlands, Harare, to Mimosas offices also in the Newlands environs, creates uncertainty about the chairmans independence to Inductoserve. The fact that Inductoserve serves Mimosa as well, further compounds issues of independence. Further, this company called Inductoserve whose head office is in Gutu, Masvingo province at Matsa Store, there could be issues of co-mingling business of the South African Inductoserve with the Gutu company. The Inductoserve trucks that we saw at the mine are Zimbabwean-registered trucks, not South African, meaning possibly the South African company sub-contracts a Zimbabwean company or that the board was cheated that an independent South African Haulage company was hired yet it is a Gutu company doing the haulage work. Alternatively, there is a possibility that the South African Industroserve was presented to the board in a tender process just as a cover-up to mislead other board members/directors in awarding the tender to what essentially would be a Gutu company. The audit further points out given the intricate web of murky issues involved and a cloud of corruption hanging over the company, Moyo must stop making payments to Inductoserve immediately. HCCL should stop payments to Inductoserve for breaking VAT Law by using another companys Tax Clearance certificate to process payments due to a South African company until South Africa Revenue Services clears Inductorserve of South Africa about possible tax evasion, it says. I heard Mugabe has damaging files on all Zanu PF chefs and he told me to come get them so they want to prevent me from seeing him. This has become a contentious issue within Zanu PF and we hear they are increasing security at the Blue Roof mansion to make sure that I do not get in. Every day they add soldiers, said Chamisa. (Newser) Domestic cats recognize their own nameat least when their owner says ita new study has found. Whether the cats let their owners know that is another matter. Atsuko Saito, a University of Tokyo behavioral scientist, had already shown that cats recognize their owner's voice. In her new study, Scientific American reports, she found that cats had more pronounced responses when they heard their names rather than similar words or another cat's name. The study was published Thursday in Scientific Reports. Many cat owners have seen this, of course, but there had been no research documenting it until now. Saito says she thinks cats learn to recognize their names because they associate the word with reward or punishment. But they're unlikely to realize that word is their name, attached to them. "The recognition about their name is different from ours," Saito said. story continues below John Bradshaw, who studies human-animal interactions at the University of Bristol, told Scientific American that he's not convinced cats recognize their name when someone other than their owner says it. "I'd like to see more trials before I'd say that the evidence is compelling," said Bradshaw, who was not involved in Saito's research. Cats might be able to learn other words, she said, which means it might be possible to train cats to, say, retrieve objects. The Guardian reports the authors decided not to undertake that sort of experiment, saying, as any cat owner knows, "The training of cats to perform on command would require a lot of effort and time." (One cat's name is a political zinger.) (Newser) A humanitarian aid ship carrying 64 rescued migrants was stuck in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday as both Italy and Malta refused it safe harbor, leaving the migrants sleeping in cramped conditions on deck as a storm approached. The refusal sets the stage for another Mediterranean migrant standoff that can only be resolved if some European Union members agree to accept the asylum-seekers. Carlotta Weibl, spokeswoman for the German humanitarian organization Sea-Eye, said the ship was near the Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday. "We have no idea yet where we can disembark," Weibl told the AP. "Malta says we can't enter their waters and we are unlikely to get permission from Italy." story continues below Sea-Eye's ship, the Alan Kurdi, rescued the migrants Wednesday near Libya after Libyan authorities could not be reached. It did so as it was looking for another smuggling boat with 50 migrants that has been missing since Monday and for 40 other migrants missing at sea since last week. "The chances are low that they are alive," Weibl said. The 64 migrants picked up included a newborn baby and a child, the group said. But Weibl said that the ship is far too small for so many people and that people were sleeping outdoors on deck as it began to rain. Matteo Salvini, Italy's interior minister, said Wednesday that Italy would not accept the migrants and that since it was a German ship it should "go to Hamburg." Weibl said that suggestion was ridiculous. The German city of Hamburg is not even located on the Mediterranean Sea but on a river leading to the North Sea. "It's a journey of three to four weeks. We don't have food and water, so it's completely out of the question," she said. (Disaster has struck ships carrying migrants in the Mediterranean.) (Newser) A 10-year-old girl died after being shot along with her father in what may have started with a traffic dispute, Phoenix police said Thursday. Sgt. Vince Lewis said the shooting that killed Summerbell Brown occurred Wednesday night, the AP reports, when a man in a pickup truck who had been following the family's car fired several gunshots after they pulled into their driveway. The girl's mother, who was in the front passenger seat, and sister were not injured. The driver of the pickup then fled. Lewis said the fact that the pickup was closely following the victims' vehicle might indicate there'd been a traffic dispute. He said there was no immediate indication that the family and the shooter knew each other. "It's possible that this was a road rage that started earlier in the area prior to the victim's family arriving at home," Lewis told KTAR. story continues below The father, Dharquintium Brown, told KTVK that the shooting occurred after he got out of the car to confront the man who was following his car. While police initially described Brown as being critically wounded, Brown told the station he wasn't badly injured. The girl was immediately transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Brown, 37, called his daughter's death "heinous" when reached by telephone Thursday morning. He also said the family was working with police to come up with a composite sketch of the suspect, but declined to comment further. Police have since released footage from a nearby surveillance camera that shows the white pickup closely following the family's car around 5:45 p.m. The shooter was believed to be driving a white Ford F150 pickup with dark trim on the bottom. (A road rage clash in California left both drivers dead.) (Newser) President Trump has fired back at Barbara Bush's criticism of him in a new biography, saying he knows why she didn't like him. "I have heard that she was nasty to me, but she should be. Look what I did to her sons," he tells the Washington Times. In The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty, the former first lady blamed Trump's mockery of son Jeb Bush during the 2016 GOP primary campaign for her heart problems. "Look, she's the mother of somebody that I competed against," Trump says. "Most people thought he was going to win and he was quickly out." During the campaign, Trump mocked Jeb Bush as "low energy" and also strongly criticized George W. Bush. story continues below "I hit him very hard in South Carolina," Trump says of Jeb Bush. "Remember? He was supposed to win South Carolina and I won it in a landslide. I hit him so hard." In The Matriarch, author Susan Page wrote that Barbara Bush was horrified when Trump won the 2016 election, and had disliked him since the early '90s, when she wrote in her diary: "Trump now means greed, selfishness, and ugly. So sad." The Washington Post notes that the Bush sons have largely refrained from directly criticizing Trump, though George W. Bush, when discussing the presidency last week, said: "I understand a lot of people are concerned right now." (Read more Barbara Bush stories.) (Newser) Chicago says it is taking Jussie Smollett to court for refusing to cough up $130,000 to reimburse the city for the investigation of the hate crime he allegedly staged. The city sent the Empire actor a bill last week, saying taxpayers deserved to get the money back. The city threatened legal action under municipal ordinances if Smollett didn't pay by the seven-day deadline, which expired on Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The bill was for hundreds of hours of overtime police clocked up investigating the alleged Jan. 29 attack on the actor. Smollett was later accused of staging the attack and although prosecutors eventually dropped all 16 felony charges against him, they admitted that they believed the attack was a hoax. story continues below Smollett completed two days of community service and agreed to forfeit a $10,000 bond, but still maintained he was innocent. "The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the Law Department will pursue the full measure of damages allowed under the ordinance," Chicago Law Department spokesman Bill McCaffrey said in a statement Thursday night. "Once it is filed, the Law Department will send a courtesy copy of the complaint to Mr. Smolletts Los Angeles-based legal team." The AP notes that a lawsuit could lead to a long battle in civil court, which could result in a trial to determine whether Smollett staged the attack. (Read more Jussie Smollett stories.) (Newser) It was not an April Fools' joke Nealie Barker posted on Facebook April 1. "PLEASE SHARE WIDELY," the New Zealand mom wrote about a recent experience she and her family had while on vacation in Ireland. Sky News and the New Zealand Herald report that Barker and her family, including five children, were staying at an Airbnb in Cork on March 3 when her husband, Andrew, decided to sync his phone with the property's WiFi. As he went into his settings, Andrew noticed an unknown device on the network, and just for kicks, he connected to it. Then, the shocker: The family says Andrew's phone suddenly started streaming a live video feed of them. They poked around and found a camera hidden in a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. "It was just a really horrible feeling," Nealie Barker tells CNN, adding to the Irish Times: "It felt like a huge invasion of our privacy." story continues below The couple say they called Airbnb, which wasn't helpful, then the property's owner, who first denied the camera and then hung up on them. Per Stuff, the Barkers say he then called back and admitted to the camera, which was there to "protect his asset." The family notes they moved to different accommodations and contacted Airbnb, which vowed to conduct an investigation; weeks later, the company said it had found "no wrongdoing." The Barkers took to social media to spread their complaint, which is when Airbnb finally took action, offering the Barkers a full refund and removing the "bad actor" from their database. "Our original handling of this incident did not meet the high standards we set for ourselves, and we have apologized to the family," the company says in a statement. The Independent, meanwhile, calls hidden cameras in Airbnb properties a "recurring plague." (Read more Airbnb stories.) (Newser) It may be hard for Lara Kollab to find a job anytime soon. The 20-something doctor was fired in September by the Cleveland Clinic after the Canary Mission unearthed six years' worth of anti-Semitic tweetsincluding ones that called for violence against Jews, as well as one in which she said she'd give the wrong medicine to Jewsand now it seems a follow-up attempt at employment has gone south. Forward reports that in mid-March, Kern Medical in Bakersfield, Calif., yanked back a job offer it had extended to Kollab to work in its internal medical residency program. "Kern Medical notified Dr. Lara Kollab on March 15 ... that her position ... has been withdrawn effective immediately," the hospital said in a statement. The medical center didn't go into detail but noted that Kollab had "submitted information that was false, misleading, and incomplete to Kern Medical during the interview and match process." story continues below The Jewish Journal notes that Kern issued its statement the same day that the Lakewood Scoop posted a story about Kollab's hiring and asked, "What is Kern Medical thinking?" Kollab put out an apology in January, claiming that past visits to Israel and Palestinian territories had soured her on Israeli occupation, per the Times of Israel. "As a girl in my teens and early twenties, I had difficulty constructively expressing my intense feelings about what I witnessed in my ancestral land," she noted in her statement. "Like many young people lacking life experience, I expressed myself by making insensitive remarks and statements of passion devoid of thought." She added she's a different person today and that "I take my profession and the Hippocratic Oath seriously and would never intentionally cause harm to any patient seeking medical care." (Read more anti-Semitism stories.) (Newser) The person who claimed to be 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen, giving false hope to the long-missing Illinois child's family, is actually a 23-year-old man described by police as a "known schemer." Police in Newport, Ky., say the man found wandering in the city Wednesday has been identified as Brian Michael Rini from Medina, Ohio, WLWT reports. Rini, who has a long criminal record and a history of mental illness, was released from an Ohio prison around a month ago after serving 14 months for burglary and vandalism, reports CNN. In Newport, he claimed to be Timmothy, who disappeared in 2011 when he was 6 years old. Rini claimed to have escaped two kidnappers at a Red Roof Inn. story continues below Rini has not been charged, though brother Jonathon Rini tells News 19 he hopes he goes to prison, "or at least an institution." "I haven't spoken to him in years," he says. "Hes been doing stupid stuff as long as I can remember." Timmothy''s mother took her own life three days after taking the boy out of school on May 11, 2011. She left a note saying the boy was safe but would never be found. The hoax "is devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again," Timmothy's aunt, Kara Jacobs, tells ABC7. Timmothy's father, she says "is devastated once again." She expressed sympathy, however, for Rini. The family and police hope the hoax will at least bring fresh attention to the case. "We know that you are out there somewhere, Tim, and we will never stop looking for you," Jacobs says. (Read more missing child stories.) (Newser) Michael Cohen says he has information that could help House Democrats with their investigations of President Trumpbut he needs their help to stay out of prison. Attorneys for Trump's former lawyer, who is due to report to federal prison May 6, said in a letter to Democratic lawmakers Thursday that Cohen needs time to sort through a "substantial trove of new information, documents, recordings, and other evidence," the AP reports. "To date, Mr. Cohen has located several documents that we believe have significant value to the various congressional oversight and investigation committees," they wrote. The lawyers said Cohen recently gained access to files seized in a raid on his offices last year, Politico reports. story continues below The lawyers asked Democrats to tell federal prosecutors that Cohen's date to report for incarceration should be "substantially postponed while he is fully cooperating with prosecutors and Congress," the New York Times reports. They added that they hoped cooperation could lead to a "reduced term" for Cohen, who pleaded guilty last year to charges including lying to Congress about a Trump real estate deal in Russia. BuzzFeed reports that in a 12-page memo sent with the letter, Cohen's lawyers said Trump instructed him to lie to Congress about when project negotiations finished. According to the memo, Ivanka Trump was also aware that Cohen had given false testimony. (Read more Michael Cohen stories.) (Newser) "Emotional immaturity" has been cited by a New Jersey Supreme Court advisory panel as a factor in its recommendation that a family court judge be suspended without pay for three months and receive training in "appropriate courtroom demeanor." The ethics committee's main bone of contention with Superior Court Judge John Russo Jr., per NBC New York: comments he made to an alleged sexual assault victim in his courtroom that seemed to insinuate she could've tried harder to fend off an attack. The Washington Post cites the 45-page complaint that outlines what transpired during a 2016 hearing involving a woman who sought a restraining order against the father of her 5-year-old daughter. The woman claimed the accused had sexually assaulted her, and Russo went into a line of questioning that the panel now says was "discourteous" and "inappropriate." story continues below After asking the woman if she could think of ways to stop a sexual assault from happeningto which the woman offered suggestions like "tell them no" and to "try to get away"Russo then prompted, "Anything else? ... Block your body parts? ... Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?" The nine-member panel notes how "egregious" Russo's queries were, "given the potential for those questions to re-victimize the plaintiff." Russo, who denied the restraining order in the 2016 case, insists his queries were meant to "demonstrate the element of force or coercion used during the assault" and to "aid the plaintiff in recounting a traumatic event." NJ.com notes Russo has been on administrative leave since May 2017 from his Ocean County post, though he started working in a Burlington County civil court this year. A final hearing is set for July. (Read more judges stories.) (Newser) The last time Nirvana manager Danny Goldberg saw Kurt Cobain, the musician was "really stoned"as might be expected at an intervention. Seven or eight people had gathered to plead with the Nirvana frontman to enter treatment for heroin addiction. Cobain was "not happy, and feeling invaded," but "I was in a hurry to get home, and I let an impatience and brittleness get into my tone," Goldberg tells Yahoo. "You just go over in your head: 'Is there something I could've done?'" But "I think this was a mental illness that nobody knew how to cure." A week later, after a make-up phone call with Goldberg, Cobain committed suicide on April 5, 1994. "I'll never get over it," says Goldberg, who just released the memoir, Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain. Here's how others are marking the 25th anniversary of Cobain's death: story continues below Gay rights hero: At the Washington Post, Aaron Hamburger writes that Cobain's "'oh well, whatever, never mind' attitude about sexual identity changed the course of my life." He lists examples, including one buried in the liner notes of the album Incesticide. If any of you in any way hate homosexuals, people of different color, or women, please do this one favor for usleave us the f--- alone! Dont come to our shows and dont buy our records. Another on the In Utero album echoed the sentiment. Goldberg notes this came at a time when AIDS jokes and the term "fag" were common. At the Washington Post, Aaron Hamburger writes that Cobain's "'oh well, whatever, never mind' attitude about sexual identity changed the course of my life." He lists examples, including one buried in the liner notes of the album Incesticide. If any of you in any way hate homosexuals, people of different color, or women, please do this one favor for usleave us the f--- alone! Dont come to our shows and dont buy our records. Another on the In Utero album echoed the sentiment. Goldberg notes this came at a time when AIDS jokes and the term "fag" were common. Ahead of his time: Cobain was "often way ahead of the music industry curve" when it came to cultural issues, per UDiscoverMusic.com. The site reports he promoted women in music, and also addressed toxic masculinity and sexual assault through his songs. Cobain was "often way ahead of the music industry curve" when it came to cultural issues, per UDiscoverMusic.com. The site reports he promoted women in music, and also addressed toxic masculinity and sexual assault through his songs. A wallflower: A woman tells CNN of seeing Cobain backstage at a show two weeks after the release of 1991's Nevermind. She left "mesmerized" but sure Cobain "wasn't comfortable as the center of attention." A woman tells CNN of seeing Cobain backstage at a show two weeks after the release of 1991's Nevermind. She left "mesmerized" but sure Cobain "wasn't comfortable as the center of attention." The basics: More on Cobain is available via the New York Times, which compiles books, journal articles, and videos offering a "deeper" look at Cobain's story. (Read more Kurt Cobain stories.) (Newser) Outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, the media waitto see if Julian Assange leaves the building for the first time since August 2012. It wouldn't be by choice: WikiLeaks on Thursday tweeted the following: "BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within 'hours to days' using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest." It followed that up with a second tweet in which it claimed to have "secondary confirmation from another high level source within the Ecuadorian state." story continues below A senior Ecuadorian official counters that, telling the AP no such decision has been made; Ecuador's foreign ministry said in a statement that it would not comment on "rumors, theories or conjectures." Bloomberg offers plenty of background on the situation, reporting Assange entered the embassy in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where rape allegations had been made against him. Those charges have been dropped, but he's wanted in the UK for skipping bail, and the UK has said it will arrest him if and when he leaves the embassy. As for the reference to the "#INAPapers offshore scandal," WikiLeaks recently highlighted a website that connected Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno with alleged financial improprieties. (Moreno on Tuesday said Assange has "repeatedly violated" the terms of his asylum in the embassy.) (Newser) Theresa May wants to delay Brexit until June 30 to avoid a crash-out in one week's time, though a key European Union leader suggested a pause of up to a year. In a Friday letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, May seeks an extension until June 30 and agrees to make contingency plans to take part in European Parliament elections in late May if necessary, per the AP. Tusk urged the 27 remaining EU nations to offer the UK a flexible extension of up to a year to make sure the nation doesn't leave the bloc in a chaotic and costly way. Two anonymous EU officials said Tusk wants a one-year "flextention" and hopes to get it approved at next Wednesday's EU summit. Such a move would require the UK to take part in the May 23 to May 26 European elections, something which May has long argued would not be in either side's interest. story continues below Officials worry the legitimacy of European institutions could be jeopardized if the population of a member state is not involved in the process. But any extension of Brexit's current April 12 deadline will need unanimous approval from the 27 remaining EU nations. French President Emmanuel Macron has thus far seemed cautious about giving Britain more time, saying the EU cannot be held hostage by Britain's political deadlock. Britain's Parliament is now considering legislation designed to prevent a "no-deal" departure, which could lead to economic slowdown and a breakdown in food and medical supplies as border checks and tariffs are added overnight. Britain's upper House of Lords is set to resume debate on the measure Monday. It was endorsed earlier by the lower House of Commons by just one vote. (May seeks support from the opposition.) (Newser) San Francisco's mayor made a surprise appearance at a community meeting about a proposed homeless shelter, and the move seems to have only raised already hot tempers over the controversial project. Residents of the upscale Embarcadero neighborhood shouted down Mayor London Breed Wednesday, telling her to "go home," as she tried to address them, reports the San Francisco Examiner. I was born and raised here, I am home, responded Breed. If you dont want to hear me talk, then leave. In the end, however, she opted to stop speaking because of the constant interruptions but said she would stay to listen. My goal is not to put neighbor against neighbor and people against people," she said. "I am sorry this issue has divided this community." story continues below As the Guardian explains, the controversy is over the city's plan to build a "navigation center" where homeless people would live while being plugged into social services designed to get them back on track. Residents of the affluent neighborhood don't want it in Embarcadero, and they even created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a legal fight. That prompted shelter supporters to start a competing GoFundMe campaign, which is out-earning the rival. Residents say they were upset at the meeting in part because of rules forbidding public comments. Many left en masse in protest, and the mayor's appearance apparently didn't help. One resident says people felt they were being lectured, not engaged with. The next big date is April 23, when the Port Commission will decide whether to lease a lot to the city for the shelter, per the San Francisco Chronicle. (Read more San Francisco stories.) (Newser) If you or any family members stayed at a Motel 6 in the state of Washington between Feb. 1, 2015, and Sept. 17, 2017, you may want to check out the latest statement from the attorney general there. Per NPR, Bob Ferguson announced that Motel 6 will pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit filed by his state after the hotel chain infringed on the privacy of tens of thousands of guests by sharing information on those guests with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The attorney general's statement notes that over that two-year-plus time period, workers at seven Motel 6 locations gave up to ICE personal details on about 80,000 guests, without those visitors' consent. In addition to guest names, info offered to the agency included everything from driver's license and passport numbers to DOBs, license plate numbers, and what rooms guests were staying in. story continues below That release of info spurred ICE to investigate guests with Latino-sounding names, which led, in some cases, to loss of jobs and homes, and even to deportations, per the AG statement. One anecdote mentioned a Seattle dad who holed up in a Motel 6 room near SeaTac to wrap Christmas gifts for his kids. ICE agents detained him, then deported him; his wife had to go to the hotel room to pick up the Christmas gifts. "Motel 6's actions tore families apart and violated the privacy rights of tens of thousands of Washingtonians," Ferguson says. In addition to the $12 million payoutmore than $10 million of which will go toward restitution for affected Motel 6 guestsMotel 6 also has signed a contract that assures no more guest info will be handed over without a warrant or via other lawful means, and the chain will train workers on what to do if they're asked to give up such information. (Read more Motel 6 stories.) (Newser) A move unpredictable even for a president known for his unpredictability came down Thursday regarding President Trump's nomination for a new chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The president withdrew his pick of Ron Vitielloa longtime border official with more than three decades of law enforcement experience, and who's currently the acting head of ICEper a document given to Congress on Thursday and seen by NBC News. The withdrawal was confirmed by Trump himself Friday morning on the White House lawn. "We're going in a little different direction," Trump told reporters before he took off in Marine One to fly down to the US-Mexico border. "Ron is a good man, but we're going in a tougher direction. We want to go in a tougher direction." story continues below Sources tell CNN that the announcement was met with surprise by members of Congress, as well as by DHS. In fact, up until Friday morning, top ICE officials thought the document may have been a clerical mistake. Even though Vitiello had some baggagethe agency's union had accused him of everything from making false statements to retaliating against whistleblowers and exhibiting "KKK humor" onlinebut CNN notes he was still widely thought to be set for a confirmation. The New York Times notes Vitiello was originally supposed to accompany the president on his border visit Friday, but instead "was left behind." It's not yet clear if Trump has a new pick already on deck. (Read more President Trump stories.) (Newser) Some nurses in Illinois went way above and beyond on behalf of a worried father. KTVI reports that Darius Hinkle was rushing his 1-year-old daughter to a hospital in Centreville because she was choking on a penny. By the time he reached the hospital, he had multiple police cars following him. Hinkle admits he was speeding and driving without a license, and he found himself behind bars as a result. Now the happy ending, times two: His daughter is fine, and nurses at the hospital chipped in to pay his bond and free him from jail. (Read more uplifting news stories.) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here Carlos Tischler/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- A 63-year-old man died at a Miami hospital on Thursday just days after he was allegedly punched in the face by a Mexican celebrity during a road rage incident, officials said. The incident happened Sunday evening, according to the Miami Police Department. Pablo Lyle, a 32-year-old Mexican actor who was visiting Miami, was on his way to the Miami International Airport with his family when the car he was traveling in cut off another vehicle on the Dolphin Expressway. When the two vehicles came to a stop at a traffic light, the driver of the other vehicle, identified as Juan Ricardo Hernandez, got out and banged on the window of Lyle's car while shouting and swearing, a witness told police. Two other witnesses told police they saw Lyle punch Hernandez, who was knocked unconscious. Lyle then ran back to his vehicle and urged the driver to take off, a witness told police. Police said Hernandez suffered a fracture to the right side of his skull, which caused internal bleeding. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Lyle and the driver surrendered to police a couple hours later after dropping Lyle's family off at the Miami International Airport. In his sworn statement to police, Lyle admitted to punching Hernandez one time before the man dropped to the ground. Lyle told police that he feared for the safety of his family, including his son who was sitting in the backseat of their vehicle. Lyle told police that he believed Hernandez was going to strike first because the man put his hands up when Lyle confronted him. Lyle was arrested early Monday morning and later appeared in Miami-Dade County court. He faces one count of felony battery and was released after posting $5,000 bond. He was allowed to return to Mexico, according to court records. Hernandez died at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami on Thursday, a hospital spokesperson told ABC News. Police said they are now investigating the case as a homicide. Attorney information for Lyle was not available. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A 27-year-old Australian man was arrested in Tokyo yesterday, in relation to an incident that occurred in 2018 when a subway train at a rail yard in the cityas Bunkyo Ward was found covered in graffiti. According to police, the suspect, Paul Han, is believed to have trespassed into the Koishikawa Rail Yard at approximately 1 a.m. on 19 February last year with an as-yet-unknown individual, and spent 90 minutes scrawling large graffiti onto the sides of a Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line subway carriage. Metropolitan Police Department investigators identified Han as a suspect from evidence that included security camera footage. Han, who was in the country as a tourist at the time, left the country a week after the incident, but was apprehended by police upon re-entering Japan at Narita International Airport on 3 April this year. Upon his arrest, Han was found to be in possession of spray cans, paint markers, bolt cutters, a head torch, binoculars, and half-a-dozen GoPro cameras, leading police to believe that he was planning to spray more graffiti again in Japan. Investigators say they secured location data from a rental car used by Han in Japan, which recorded trips to neighbouring Kanagawa Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo. Police are currently investigating whether cases of graffiti in these areas might be connected to the suspect, and whether or not other foreign nationals were involved. There have been 25 cases of similar graffiti reported in the Tokyo metropolitan area since January 2017, suggesting Han may be responsible for multiple incidents over the past two years. He now faces charges of property damage, which comes with a maximum jail term of three years. Police say the suspect is denying any knowledge of the 2018 incident for which heas currently being charged. Carlos Ghosn, the former head of the Nissan-Renault automaking alliance, maintained his innocence in a video taken before his fourth arrest in Japan Thursday on new charges of misusing corporate money. "I'm appealing to the French government to defend me and to preserve my rights as a citizen trapped in an unbelievable chain of events abroad," Ghosn told French news channel LCI in an interview via video call partially released online Thursday. "I'm ready for a fight. I'm innocent. It's tough, you have to know that," he added. Thursday's arrest marks an escalation of the battle between the Brazilian-born Frenchman and Japanese prosecutors seeking to portray him as a rogue executive who turned Nissan Motor into his personal property. Ghosn, who has maintained his innocence since his first arrest last November, has turned again to the media to try to wrest control of the narrative. He was arrested a day after he wrote on his new Twitter account that he will "tell the truth about what is happening" at a news conference next week. Tokyo prosecutors, meanwhile, are turning up the pressure on the former executive. While his first three arrests were based on somewhat lighter allegations -- such as failing to report compensation in annual securities filings -- the arrest this time was over suspicion of diverting Nissan money to a bank account controlled by Ghosn and directly inflicting damage on the automaker. The breakthrough for prosecutors came when they succeeded in identifying the exact bank account used in the alleged scheme. They initially had difficulty gathering evidence on the Middle East transactions. But by going through email and accounting documentation provided by Nissan, they landed on an account controlled by a Lebanese company. "Lots of lies are being told, and those lies are being revealed one after another," Ghosn told LCI. "Not a single day, a single week, passes without new accusations. There are several people inside Nissan who are the cause of that," he said, suggesting a plot against him at the Japanese automaker. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told local news channel BFM on Thursday that Ghosn "should benefit from the presumption of innocence." Le Maire said his own role was to ensure the smooth governance of Renault, which is 15% owned by the French state. Ghosn recorded another video before his arrest, said Junichiro Hironaka, who leads the former auto executive's defense team. Hironaka did not say when that video would be released. Kyoto officials have issued warnings to tourists after a series of monkey attacks on visitors at popular sites. A female tourist in her 60s had her leg bitten by a monkey at the Chion-in temple in Kyoto on Wednesday. Police say the attack happened after a baby monkey was attracted to an umbrella the victim was holding. Then a larger monkey believed to be its parent bit the woman. Three tourists have reportedly suffered monkey bites recently at the same temple. On Thursday, a 10-year-old Swedish girl was bitten on the leg in a different part of the city. On March 22, an 89-year-old woman was also attacked by a monkey at the Otani Mausoleum, about 1 kilometer from Chion-in. Officials are handing out warning fliers in Japanese and other languages. They tell tourists not to approach wild monkeys to give food or take pictures. The president of a school that teaches the art of picking up women and two former students have been arrested on suspicion of rape, the seventh such case to emerge, police revealed on Thursday, reports Jiji Press In the early morning hours of March 2, 2018, the suspects a Taisuke Watanabe, 42, dentist Naoya Sawada, 26, and corporate executive Takemichi Goto, 49 a are alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman, aged in her 20s, at a residence in Osaka Cityas Chuo Ward after forcing her to consume large quantities of alcohol. Because the woman was rendered helpless by the alcohol, police accused the suspects of quasi-coerced intercourse. They were arrested on Wednesday. Watanabe, who is the president of Real Nampa Academy, has declined to comment on the allegations. Meanwhile, Goto denies the charges, telling police he has ano recollection [of the matter].a However, Sawada, who was a student at Kyushu University at the time, admits to the allegations. aI was invited by a lecturer [at the academy] to go on a expedition in Osaka,a the suspect was quoted by police. Among students at the academy, the residence used in the crime was known as aOsaka Housea in discussions about where to bring women, police said previously. Prior to the incident, the suspects met the woman at a club in Osaka City. They then forced her to consume alcohol in the clubas VIP room before taking her to the residence, police said. Persons connected to the academy, which has locations in Tokyo and Osaka, have previously been arrested in six other cases, four of which involved Watanabe. The Mainstream Energy Solution Limited (MESL), operator of Kainji and Jeba Hydro Power Plants says 150 Mega Watts (MW) are stranded in i... The Mainstream Energy Solution Limited (MESL), operator of Kainji and Jeba Hydro Power Plants says 150 Mega Watts (MW) are stranded in its two plants without being utilised by Distribution Companies (DISCOs). The Operation Supervisor in Kainji Plant, Mr Oladele Sunday disclosed this to newsmen after a facility-tour in one of the plants in Kainji. MESL was licenced as a power generating firm in 2011 and acquired Kainji and Jeba Hydro Power Plants through a concession agreement in November 2013. Oladele explained that out of 922 MW cumulative power generation capacity of the two power plants, only 750MW could be used while the remaining one was stranded. He said that Kainji Hydro Power Plant had 440MW of available capacity while the Jebba plant had 482MWs totalling 922MW. Frankly, we have between 150 and 200MW that stranded the reason is that the DISCOs lack the capacity to evacuate the energy we are generating. That is why we embraced this eligible customers regulation policy of the Federal Government and we currently have five of them that we are supplying power to and we are still discussing with few others that will key into it, he said. Mr Sunday Adeniyi, the operations manager in-charge of Kainji and Jebba plants also said his company had taken the cumulative power generation capacity from 582MW to 922MW. Adeniyi disclosed that both Kainji and Jebba hydropower plants supplied 30 per cent of the power generated in the country. Mr Siraj Abdullahi, the Executive Director of MESL said in spite that what was being generated was not used, the company was still expanding the units to supply power beyond the shores of this country. He said that plan was on the pipeline to increase power supply to Niger Republic and also to start supplying to Bukina Faso. We are working on other units in Kainji here like the 1G9 that will give us 80MW, IG7 of 100MW and 2G6 in Jebba which will give us 96MW. We have opened pits and we dont have to leave them idle, we want to put two turbines and when that is done, it will give 240MW he said. It was gathered that Kainji and Jebba Hydro Power Plants (HPP) has a total installed capacity of 1338.4MW. The two hydropower plants are cascaded 100km apart with Kainji dam situated on the upstream of Jebba. Kainji has installed capacity of 760MW while Jebba has 578.4MW. Barely a few days after the execution of Kudirat Afolabi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for drug-related offences, Saheed Ayinde Sobad... Barely a few days after the execution of Kudirat Afolabi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for drug-related offences, Saheed Ayinde Sobade, another Nigerian national, was allegedly nabbed on Thursday with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder in Jeddah. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on foreign affairs and diaspora, made this known while speaking at a programme on Arise Television on Friday. I have bad news for you. Just yesterday, in the midst of the cacophony of 20 to be killed, eight have been killed, another Nigerian was caught with cocaine in Jeddah, said Dabiri-Erewa. He was caught with 1,183 grams of cocaine powder. As he was arrested, the mission was informed and his name is Saheed Ayinde Sobade. On Thursday, the federal government had condemned the execution of Afolabi a widow and mother of two who was executed on April 1, saying that the Saudi authorities did not inform the Nigerian missions in Saudi Arabia of the arrest and prosecution of the deceased Nigerian. Dabiri-Arewa further stated that the Saudi authorities have never spared any country when it comes to drugs, adding that Nigeria only advocates for fair trial. She also called on Nigerians not to tribalise crime, no matter what. Its a sad commentary that at this point in our lives we are tribalising crime. Crime is crime. We should not debase the green passport. We should not allow a few bad eggs to spoil the bond. The Dubai thing was all over the places. We saw the faces released to the public; only the eyes were covered and also the names, said the presidential aide. Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), says assets of all public officials and senior poli... Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), says assets of all public officials and senior political office holders will soon be open to the public. NAN quoted Hamman-Tukur as saying this when he appeared before the house of representatives committee on financial crimes to defend the budget of his organisation on Thursday. He explained to the committee that it was part of the conditions for lifting the suspension of the NFIU by the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. With the lifting of the suspension, it is likely that all assets of all leaders, public officials and political office holders will be displayed, the director said. They want to see us work with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). They want us to work closely with the presidency, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). They want to see the assets of all public officials displayed publicly. But it will be good that the beneficiary owner data base will be domiciled with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and we will subscribe because CCB has assets declarations of all public officers. Hamman-Tukur said the EU raised concerns bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and corruption. Speaking on the 2018 budget performance, he said the NFIU had a total budget of N1.185 billion made up of N385,310 million as personnel cost, N600 million as overhead while N200 million was for capital cost. According to him, the capital release till date stands at N174,946 million out of the budgeted amount of N200.1 million. He added that utilisation percentage stood at about 12 per cent while the balance stood at N154,936 million. On the 2019 budget, the director revealed that a total of N8.244 billion had been proposed, made up of N1.154 billion for overhead cost, N4,124 billion as capital cost while N2,865 billion for personnel cost. An Ilorin Magistrates Court on Friday ordered that two herbalists be remanded in prison for allegedly being in possession of a coffin w... An Ilorin Magistrates Court on Friday ordered that two herbalists be remanded in prison for allegedly being in possession of a coffin wrapped with white cloth which contained dangerous charms prepared for money ritual. The police charged Adewole Bashiru and Owuoade Olabisi with eing in possession of criminal charms and Advance Fee Fraud. Magistrate Aminat Shittu who ordered that Bashiru and Olabisi be remanded in Okekura Prison Yard, Ilorin, adjourned the case until April 12 for further mention. The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Sanni Abdullahi informed the court that the accused persons were arrested with a Mazda car with registration number LND 451 CF with a coffin on Unity road, Ilorin. Abdullahi also said that the two calabashes were filled with black soap, cowries and other fetish charms were seized from the accused. He said that during interrogation, the accused persons confessed that they prepared the coffin for their customer, Wabi Amodu who paid N3.3 million. The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 97 and 217 of the Penal Code Law and Sections 3(1) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other related Offences 2006. After the charges were to them, they pleaded not guilty. A prosecution witness on Friday, told an FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja that Sen. Dino Melaye, damaged two police property when he force... A prosecution witness on Friday, told an FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja that Sen. Dino Melaye, damaged two police property when he forced his way out of the vehicles and attempted to escape. The police alleged that Melaye while being transported to Lokoia, broke the windshield of the vehicles with his elbow. The witness, ASP Dennis Agbi, member of the IGP Special Tactical Squad, made the allegation while testifying in the ongoing case of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage to police property, filed against Melaye. Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing trial on a six counts of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage to police property. The witness informed the court that while on duty on April 24, 2018, a white-coloured Toyota Hilux with Registration No. MKA 603 GY, was brought for him to record as exhibit. He further told the court that when he inspected the evidence, he discovered that the right headlight of the van and part of the vehicle bumper were damaged. Agbi told the court that he marked the Hilux as exhibit NO. CER/STS/11/2018A in his records. He said that the second vehicle was a white Hiace bus with front right side mirror broken, and the left side back window glass, broken. The witness told the court that the bumper CER/STS/11/2018B in his records. After the inspection of the vehicles by the judge, they were admitted and marked as exhibits by the court. The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Jovi Oghojafor, said that the Certified True Copy of the records of exhibit was not available to be tendered in court. He further requested for an adjournment, to enable him to bring it at the next adjourned day. Justice Silvanus Oriji adjourned the case until May 16, May 27 and May 28. NAN reports that Melaye was arraigned on July 25, 2018. Justice Oriji admitted him to bail in the sum of to N5 million and two sureties in like sum. The prosecution alleged that Melaye committed the offence on April 24. The police said the defendant, while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, held a substance in his hand and threatened to drink it to kill himself so that he would put the police officers in trouble. He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code. Ebonyi government has said it will take stiffer measures to deal with the protracted inter-communal and boundary clashes in Ohaukwu Loc... Ebonyi government has said it will take stiffer measures to deal with the protracted inter-communal and boundary clashes in Ohaukwu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. Deputy Gov. Kelechi Igwe said this on Thursday night when he visited Umuogodoakpu and Ukwuagba communities involved in protracted boundary disputes with the AgiIa people of Benue. He said that part of the measures would include the removal of political appointees from the area, should the clashes persist. Igwe said that the clashes between the communities in the council had made it difficult for the government to ascertain whether the attacks were coming from Agila or trouble makers in the affected communities. He said: It is the rat which dwells inside a house that informs the one in the bush of the presence of a fish in the house. Also, when the corpse of someone else is being conveyed, it will seem like a log of wood. People are playing politics and making economic gains from these clashes, shouting: Benue; Cross River people are approaching! They should realise that human lives are involved. The deputy governor directed the Chairman of the council, Chief Clement Odaa, to convene a meeting of all the political office holders from the area on Friday. The meeting should also involve presidents of all town unions in the council and I am expecting a report or resolutions from it on Saturday. The report should also contain the list of all appointees at the meeting and anyone who fails to attend will be seen as the problem of the people. I do not want to hear any gunshot from this council again and if it occurs, I will recommend to the governor to suspend all political appointees from this council. They will be replaced immediately with those who are capable of protecting the people, Igwe said. He opined that the number of political office holders from the area was capable of ensuring adequate protection for the people. He said that the present administration had visited the area several times since it assumed office in 2015 to commiserate with the people over the repeated clashes. He said: Ebonyi government is in touch with its Benue counterpart over the issue and it has shown concern and desire to permanently end the crisis. After one of the recent disturbances, the Benue deputy governor led a delegation to Ebonyi to commiserate with our people and even donated N2 million to assist the victims. In a brief remark, the council chairman thanked the deputy governor for the visit, saying that it had assured the people that the state government was concerned over their plight. The attack on the Ukwuagba community is unprecedented because the attackers crossed the disputed land and buffer zone to attack and destroy houses. We are restraining our people from carrying out reprisal attacks as directed by the government because we believe in its capacity to protect us, Odaa said. Also, Chief Eze Nweze, a community leader, called for the deployment of more security operatives to the area to forestall future attacks. Some commercial farmers in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Federal Government to assist farmers with credit facilitie... Some commercial farmers in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Federal Government to assist farmers with credit facilities to enable farmers to boost food production in the country. The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews with the newsmen on Friday, said adequate credit facilities would assist the government to achieve its policy on food sufficiency. Mr Zakari Sabo, a rice farmer in Gwagwalada, said the inability of farmers to access credit facilities was a setback to food production, adding that adequate funding would grow the countrys agricultural production. We farmers are facing preservation problems because we lose between 30 and 35 per cent of some of our farm produce arising from inadequate funds. When we go to banks for loans, they demand collateral that is not realistic from an ordinary farmer. There is a need for the government to provide farmers with some incentives like soft loans that will enable us to boost food production, he said. Sabo said that there were too many conditions for accessing credit facilities which were far from the reach of peasant farmers. Mr Simon Luka, a cassava farmer in Kwali, said additional financing through FADAMA programmes would assist farmer clusters in FCT with comparative advantage to increase food production and productivity. He, however, added that access to credit facilities by farmers would also provide market infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and facilitate storage and preservation techniques. The budget for agriculture is always low every year and is not enough to drive the countrys economy. Adequate credit facilities will also encourage people to venture into farming and be a lucrative business, he said. Alhaji Yunusa Alkali, an irrigation farmer in Kuje Area Council, called on the government to provide grants to agro-processors and crop producers to facilitate agricultural value-chain in the country. Mr Ibu, veteran Nigerian actor, has debunked a recent rumour which claimed he was down with a mysterious stroke. In a video publishe... Mr Ibu, veteran Nigerian actor, has debunked a recent rumour which claimed he was down with a mysterious stroke. In a video published on Instagram on Thursday night, the 56-year-old Nollyood actor, whose real name is John Okafor, can be seen with his wife as he insisted he was hale and hearty. Okafor also expressed disappointment over the wicked rumours, adding that he has handed the rumour peddlers to God. Oh God! People are saying that I have stroke, that I am down with stroke, why? How can you announce somebodys sickness and you have many, you dont even announce one, Mr Ibu said. I dont have any stroke, please. This is my wife, my humble wife. Well, we hand over everything to God. The internet was inundated with news earlier on Thursday that the comedian was hit by a mysterious stroke shortly after he returned from a recent trip to Owerri, Imo state capital. Emeka Rollas, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was also quoted to have confirmed the medical condition, and noted that the actor was recovering. I am aware that Mr Ibu is truly down with stroke, but he is fast recovering and need more of our prayers right now, he was quoted to have said. Mr Ibu has however debunked the rumour, saying he is not suffering from the rumoured illness. The actor had announced in 2018 that he was working on a movie project with Eddie Murphy, popular US comic-actor. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria now ranked amongst the leading democracies in Africa and in the Commonwealth 2... President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria now ranked amongst the leading democracies in Africa and in the Commonwealth 20 years after it began to experience the uninterrupted democratic culture. President Buhari was the visitor at the final day of the 50th Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Lagos, which also served as the convocation for the 2017/2018 academic session. The president was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Rasheed Yakubu. With the 2019 general elections that had come and gone, we as a nation have once again reiterated our choice of democracy as the system of government by which we hope to imbibe an all-round development. Our administration is committed to ensuring that the sacredness of that choice is preserved. With this policy enunciated and every programme instituted, we shall ensure that our democratic culture takes firmer roots and legacies further consolidated. Let me reiterate that my administration will not waver in its commitment to following due process, preserving the sanctity of the rule of law, battling grand corruption, securing the lives and property of our people and rehabilitating or upgrading our critical infrastructure. We will continue to be unrelenting in enthroning hard work, honesty and place the welfare of our citizens above everything else. We must all join hands to take Nigeria to the next level of progress, President Buhari said. According to him, his administration will continue to encourage Nigerian universities to build closer and better relationships with the industrial sector. He said this would help to bridge the gap between theories and practicality with a view to addressing some of the most required needs of the nation. He added that his administration believed in the imperative of sound educational system for national development. We recognise the place of our intellectuals to undertake cutting edge researches that will address the challenges of development and contribute to making lives better. We acknowledge that our advancement as a nation will be driven by a robust human resource base. It should, therefore, be our collective determination to do our best to guarantee a peaceful and stable future for Nigerians through education. We shall continue to interface with the unions of universities in our bid to ensure that we have a stable higher education sector that contributes to the nations global competitiveness, he said. While congratulating the graduating students, President Buhari charged them to make their impacts felt in matters of national development. As you make your ways into the world beyond this ivory tower, let me assure you of our administrations commitment to ensuring that the skills and knowledge you have acquired are put to use and be productively engaged. While many of you will be gainfully employed in the public and private sectors, some of you may choose to explore the entrepreneurial route by founding and co-founding small and medium scale businesses. In a special way, the knowledge and competencies you have developed in the course of acquiring Nigerias degrees, diplomas and certificates are to be applied to the noble course of national development, he said. Earlier, the Chancellor of the university and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-kanemi, said that the tertiary education sector in general and the university system, in particular, would enjoy renewed attention with the release of the graduands. Having said this, I must say that it is necessary for us to put in place, more support for policies, programmes and finances to keep the ivory towers at par with their counterparts globally. Many globally renowned feats by our faculties and students make a case for my appeal, he said. Giving a breakdown, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said that 5,405 postgraduate degrees consisting of 150 Ph.D holders, 4,771 Masters and 484 postgraduate diplomas would be awarded in various disciplines. It was gathered that four eminent personalities were conferred with Emeritus Professorship and honorary degrees in recognition of their roles in developing the country. The honorary doctorate awardees included: Mr Jim Ovia, businessman and founder, Zenith Bank Plc, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, and Dr Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries worldwide. In their acceptance speeches, Ovia emphasised the need for the private sector to join hands with the Federal Government in the funding of education in the country. He, however, called for the licensing of more private universities in order to enhance the academic standard of the country. Olukoya in his speech emphasised the need to encourage the development of the countrys youths on how to be self-reliant after school. He also said that there was a need for the Federal Government to institute a compulsory course in universities on life after school. Olukoya said the course should encompass integrity, hard work, honesty and relationship. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has resolved the 11 years trade disputes between the Agricultural and Allied Employees Union of Nigeri... The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has resolved the 11 years trade disputes between the Agricultural and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) and Agric and Allied Workers Union of Nigeria (AAWUN). Mr Najeem Yasin, Acting President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this at a conciliatory meeting on Friday in Abuja. Yasin said the meeting was called by the Congress to resolve a long-standing dispute in the Agricultural sector. The Conciliatory Committee was set up by the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba in line with the just concluded Delegates Conferences Resolution to find a lasting solution to the dispute. According to him, the parties informed the committee that the issues in dispute have been narrowed down to three items. These include the name of the union, composition of a transition team and a constitution for the union. The workable constitution will guide the union into and through a delegates conference that will be midwifed by the transition team within six months from the date of this agreement, he said. He said that the two parties have signed an agreement and have merged to be called Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAAE). He, however, said that both parties have agreed that a 33 members transition team be put in place for a period of six months to be headed by Mr Simon Anchaver as president and Mr Aitokhueli Sunday as General Secretary. He further said that the transition team members are eligible to contest election in the forthcoming Delegates Conference that would elect substantive officers to run the affairs of the union for four years in line with the unions agreed constitution. He also added that state transition committees are to be composed by the National Transition Committee for the 36 states and FCT on the basis of a 5.4 ration amongst the parties. He, therefore, maintained that all pending matters in court by parties are to be withdrawn forthwith. President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived city of Amman in Jordan, to participate in the Annual Middle East and North Africa Conference (Wo... President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived city of Amman in Jordan, to participate in the Annual Middle East and North Africa Conference (World Economic Forum). This was confirmed by the Government of Nigeria via its verified Twitter handle. According to a statement forwarded by Buharis Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, his principal is at the event on an invitation by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan. According to the statement, President Buhari will deliver an address at the opening of the plenary alongside King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and join world economic leaders in an informal gathering at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre. The Nigerian leader will also hold bilateral meetings with some world leaders on the sidelines of the Forum. President Buhari will depart Amman Sunday for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the ninth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting, April 8-10, 2019. Invited by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rachid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Nigerian President as Guest of Honour, will deliver the keynote address under the theme, Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization. The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has met with four governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in ... The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has met with four governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, This Day reports. It is believed that it is part of his ongoing consultations with stakeholders in the ruling party, over his interest to become the next Senate President. The Governors in attendance were: the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, who is also a senator-elect; Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and his Adamawa State counterpart, Mohammed Bindow. This is coming as two other ranking APC Senators, Mohammed Goje and Ali Ndume, who are also eyeing the position of Senate President, have commenced discussion on the possibility of working together. It is understood that Lawans meeting with the governors, was held on Tuesday night at the instance of the Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, who is a Senator-elect. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The announcement resolves questions about the direction of the world's largest online retailer that have abounded since the couple announced their divorce in January. MacKenzie Bezos will also relinquish all her interests in the Washington Post newspaper and rocket company Blue Origin, she said in a tweet on Thursday. MacKenzie Bezos, ex-wife of Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos, will give 75 percent of their stake in the company and all voting rights to the billionaire entrepreneur. Jeff Bezos, widely viewed as a management guru whose long-term focus has been essential to Amazon's meteoric stock rise, will retain company control. The settlement also suggests that Amazon will be spared the kind of boardroom battle that has plagued other companies whose owners are dealing with family rifts. "Happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75 percent of our Amazon stock," MacKenzie Bezos said in the tweet. Her remaining stake is worth about $36 billion at current market prices. The couple's total stake of $143 billion had made them the richest in the world. "Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness, and looking forward to next phase as co-parents and friends," MacKenzie Bezos wrote. Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- As he left for a high-profile trip to the southern border on Friday to highlight his efforts to stop illegal immigration, President Donald Trump said he is withdrawing his pick to lead the nation's immigration enforcement agency. We're going in a little different direction, the president told reporters on the White House South Lawn. We want to go in a tougher direction, Trump said about the sudden withdrawal of ICE director nominee Ron Vitiello. A source familiar with the matter said top White House adviser Stephen Miller, who's known for championing a hard-line on immigration, has been pushing Trump to pull the nomination because Miller thinks Vitiello and ICE weren't implementing the president's immigration agenda effectively. Vitiello planned to travel with the president to California on Friday but was pulled off the trip Thursday evening at Trump's direction, the source said. The unexpected move comes at the end of a week in which Trump repeatedly threatened to close the border but then backed down, claiming his threat has caused Mexico to stop thousands of migrants from trying to enter the U.S. ICE had no comment. Trump nominated Vitiello to be director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August 2018. Over the past year, ICE has come under increased scrutiny with some congressional Democrats calling to shut down the agency completely. ICE arrests dropped by more than 10 percent in the second half of last year. When that data was released last month, a senior ICE official said the agency was forced to redirect resources to handle migrants at the southern border. He has led the agency as acting director since late June. Vitiello began his career with the U.S. Border Patrol in 1985, eventually becoming Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection before his nomination to ICE acting director in June. The union representing ICE employees strongly opposed Vitiellos nomination, accusing him of making false testimony to congress. It was the first time the organization has formally condemned a presidential nomination. Never before have we seen so many warning signs with respect to a nominee prior to confirmation and we believe him to be unfit to serve as Director, the ICE union wrote in a letter to Senate leaders. We have no confidence in Mr. Vitiello or his ability to lead our agency In announcing the withdrawal of Vitiellos nomination, Trump also said he wants to end the whole asylum system and urged Congress to get rid of immigration judges. You can't have a court case every time somebody steps their foot on our ground, Trump told reporters on the White House south lawn. So very important that Congress acts. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Japanese prosecutors took Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn for questioning Thursday and then arrested him for the fourth time. It has been barely a month since he was released on bail ahead of his trial on financial misconduct charges. Japanese TV footage showed officials entering Ghosn's apartment in Tokyo, and a car later going to the prosecutors' office. He was first arrested in November on charges of under-reporting his compensation. He was re-arrested twice in December, including on breach of trust charges. The arrests prolong detentions without trial. Prosecutor: Separate Case Shin Kukimoto, deputy chief prosecutor at Tokyo District Prosecutors' Office, said Thursday that the allegations behind the fourth arrest are a new, separate case involving different motives and people. He said Ghosn had to be arrested because of flight risk and concerns that he might destroy evidence on the new allegations. Kukimoto said Ghosn's release on bail March 6 was for his earlier charges and does not cover the latest allegations of breach of trust involving different people and companies. He refused to identify three companies allegedly involved in suspect payments. The latest charge appears to be related to the investigation by Nissan Motor's French alliance partner Renault about payments in Oman to a major dealership, some of which is suspected of having been channeled for Ghosn's personal use. No solution appears to be in sight for 64 migrants rescued off the coast of Libya by a German humanitarian group's vessel. Weather is a concern, and the German group, Sea Eye, is struggling to find a safe port where the migrants can disembark. Sea Eye said it responded to the migrants' distress call Wednesday -- after Libyan authorities failed to do so -- and rescued 64 people from an overcrowded dinghy. Everyone on board is safe, Sea Eye said, but conditions for the migrants are far from optimal, as many are sleeping on deck and a storm is expected. It is unclear how soon they will be able to disembark. Sea Eye spokeswoman Carlotta Weibl said a request for a safe port was made to four countries. "Tunisia and Libya did not respond at all, and Italy and Malta said they are not responsible and we are not allowed to enter their territorial waters," Weibl said. The Foreign Ministry here is ignoring the plight of four North Koreans who were caught by Russian border guards on March 26 in an attempt to flee to South Korea, an activist alleged Thursday. Chun Ki-won of the Seoul-based Durihana Mission, who helped the North Koreans, said Thursday they are laborers who had been sent to work in Blagoveshchensk in Siberia and were arrested when they tried to enter Mongolia en route to South Korea. "We notified the Foreign Ministry of their plight on March 29 and sought assistance, but we have yet to receive a response," Chun said. "For two years, the defectors had been asking the South Korean government to help them come here, but when they finally decided to make the journey under their own steam they were arrested," he added. "It's become very difficult for defectors to get to South Korea since the current administration took office." The ministry denied it is sitting on its hands. "We are trying our best. We contacted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and are taking necessary measures," a ministry spokesman said. The ministry also claimed it "took necessary measures" in the case of three North Korean defectors who were arrested on the Vietnamese border earlier this week. It said the South Korean Embassy in Hanoi is "aware" of the incident and asked Vietnamese authorities not to send the defectors back to North Korea. "This is why they were deported to China and not sent back to the North," a ministry official said. But a former diplomat said, "If the government had tried harder, the defectors could have been allowed to enter Vietnam instead of being deported to China." After being inundated with questions from the media, the ministry offered to hold a press briefing on deep background without any officials being quoted, citing fears for the safety of the defectors. When that caused an uproar the ministry scrapped the plan. But there is speculation that it was trying to cover up its mistakes in dealing with the defectors, and zealously trying to prevent Cheong Wa Dae from being implicated in any awkwardness as it tries to engage North Korea in dialogue after the failed summit with the U.S. in February. The U.S. State Department in a recent report on human rights abuses pointed out that the Moon Jae-in administration attempted to quell North Korean defectors' vocal criticism of the North. The report said, "As the government engaged in talks with [North Korea], defector organizations reported coming under direct and indirect pressure from the government to reduce their criticism of North Korea." The Unification Ministry, meanwhile, recently stopped funding for civic groups aiding North Korean defectors and is preventing them from sending anti-communist leaflets to the North. The government is also dragging its heels over the establishment of a North Korea human rights foundation, while the position of envoy for international cooperation seeking to improve North Korea's human rights record has been vacant for more than a year. North Korea is building a new 3,000-ton submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles, a senior military spokesman here said Thursday. "A large quantity of components presumably needed to build a 3,000-ton sub, which the North has been developing, have turned up recently at a shipyard in Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province," the spokesman said. "We've also spotted a floating dock deployed off Sinpo, apparently for a missile test." Google Earth satellite imagery from March 2 shows piles of cylindrical components and materials presumed to be submarine bulkheads at the shipyard. None of them can be seen in satellite imagery from August last year. Pictures also show that the facilities are well-maintained there and the floating dock, which was previously moored at the pier, is now floating offshore. "This suggests that the North has kept building a new sub and testing a submarine-launched ballistic missile," he said. Construction seems to have been going on even as North Korea was in denuclearization talks with the U.S. Floods Continue To Inflict Damage In Iran As More Rains Expected 04/05/19 Source: Radio Farda Less precipitation in Iran's flood-hit parts in the past two days has enabled rescue workers to have access to some parts of Lorestan province, particularly in the cities of Pol-e Dokhtar and Mamoulan, where thousands of people are marooned. Meanwhile, Iran Meteorological Organization (IRMO) says a new wet front is going to hit Iran, save its southeastern parts, in the next 48 hours. Aftermath of floods in Pol-e Dokhtar, Lorestan province. APRIL 4, 2019 (see more photos by ISNA) At least 62 people have been killed in the past two weeks from flash-floods triggered by the worst rains in Iran in the last decades. Getting access to some parts of Lorestan became possible on Wednesday, April 3, while the city of Pol-e Dokhtar and its surrounding villages are under thick layers of mud. Images and footage circulated on social media show hard hit people living in severe conditions in Pol-e Dokhtar and its surrounding residential areas. The Governor of Pol-e Dokhtar, Ne'matollah Dastyari, said on Thursday, April 4, that a significant part of the town, with more than 27,000 population, is still without electricity, drinking water, and natural gas. "The roads leading to the city are damaged by the flood to the extent that it has slowed down relief efforts," Dastyari lamented. Aerial photo showing a bridge washed away by floods (see more photos by IRNA) Earlier, there were reports concerning the dismissal of Dastayari, but they were later denied by the Governor of Lorestan, Mousa Khademi. Meanwhile, official reports on the situation in the small city of Mamoulan are contradictory. In a TV interview on Thursday, the Friday Prayer Imam of Mamoulan, mid-ranking cleric Mohsen Mousavian expressed his gratitude for the procedure of relief operations and the presence of the army, as well as the members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps assisting the disaster-hit people of the city. However, hours earlier on Wednesday evening, he had lambasted slow-moving rescue efforts, insisting, "Residents of Mamoulan had not eaten anything in the past 72 hours while watching helicopters whirring and passing over their heads." In the meantime, an official of the Pol-e Dokhtar County, Habibollah Mousavi praised the role of the military and the Red Crescent helicopters in accelerating the relief procedure. According to the local education department officials in Plo-e Dokhtar, 55 schools have been totally demolished in the city. Rail in Khuzestan being washed away by flood. #_ pic.twitter.com/xSIj8HhwTy (@oldensan) April 4, 2019 Far to the south, in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, the cities of Hamidiyyeh, Abdolkhan, Sheiban, and Karoun were reported to be facing a new wave of floods. Other towns of Khuzestan are also struggling with floods, mud, and inundation. Furthermore, the Dez River overflowed on Thursday, inundating a part of Andimeshk to Ahvaz railway, bringing the traffic of the trains on the line to a halt. Ali Asghar Peyvandi, the head of Iran's Red Crescent, said he feared many villages in Khuzestan "will be inundated" as flood waters moved south towards the oil-rich province. "With the possibility of dams overflowing, we have made preparations to accommodate 100,000 people," he told state television. Khuzestan has an extensive range of dams, but officials said water was flowing into them at a fast rate. In some cases water levels were only 70cm lower than the dam crests, they reported. "Our dams are more than 95 percent full," Governor of the province, Gholamreza Shariati, told the monopolized state-run TV. Dez Dam in Khuzestan (photo by ISNA) In Ilam Province, western Iran, the relief operations are described as unsatisfactory. Lambasting authorities for ignoring preventive measures, Ilam Prosecutor-General, Afshar Khosravizad said, "The relief efforts, especially in the district of Mazhin, are so unsatisfactory that the area is on the verge of crisis", adding, "The aid reaching the area are minimal." Moreover, authorities in Chahar Mahal & Bakhtiari Province say more than 2,000 residences have been demolished by the flood in twelve towns and 185 villages. Meanwhile limited international assistance has started reaching Iran. The issue is if authorities can distribute both domestic and foreign aid. Charter plane with German humanitarian assistance for flood victims in Iran landing right now in Tehran! pic @drk_de: loading Berlin Airport pic.twitter.com/xQqi4k530T MichaelKlorBerchtold (@KlorBerchtold) April 4, 2019 Flood Relief Efforts by Iranian Red Crescent: Aligoudarz, Lorestan Mazhin, Khuzestan Pol-e Dokhtar, Lorestan On March 13th, the recently elected Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order establishing a moratorium on the death penalty in California, and hopefully soon more states will follow suit. The duty of government is to protect its people, and ensure that all of its citizens have equal rights not just in theory but in practice. While many were outraged that Newsom contradicted the will of the people in imposing his executive order, it is important for the government to ensure equal access to and protection under the law, even if it is against the will of the people. Like the Voting Rights Act, Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade and many other controversial but just decisions, legal action is sometimes required to guarantee that each and every person in our society is being treated as equal and with dignity in front of the law. There are many objections one could have to the death penalty. Appealing to an archaic and outdated system of morality within a democratic society where there is a separation of church and state is reprehensible. Morality is subjective, the God of Abraham is a petty and capricious character at best, and modeling any system intended to ensure justice and equality after his model is certainly doomed to fail. People once used the Curse of Ham to justify slavery; we should look upon a biblical justification of anything with the same level of disgust that we now do towards the example of Ham. It represents a cruel and unusual punishment. There lies a strong dystopian implication to the citizen, that the state gives itself the power to kill its citizens; and a logical conundrum therein, that the state uses killing as the remedy for killing. Separate from the ethical issues at hand is the fact that the death penalty is sentenced and carried out against racial minorities in disproportionate numbers. While only 12.1 percent of the U.S. population are African-American, 34.5 percent of the inmates executed since 1976 in the U.S. have been African-American, and the contrast to be extrapolated from that statistic is stark. In a country that has both a grotesque history racism, and a resolve to overcome these prejudices and exist equally, there is compelling evidence suggesting the death sentence is a vestige of a racist past that is used to reinforce racism on an institutional level. Another ethical implication, one also touched on by Newsom in his speech, is that it is an irreversible punishment that prevents the pursuit of justice in the case of a wrongfully convicted defendant. Since 1976, and increasing in frequency due to the improved capabilities of DNA testing as the years go on, 164 people have been exonerated and freed from death row in the US. In a just society, even one innocent conviction is far too many. While it may have been a useful or, at the very least fundamentally wrong but still socially acceptable practice in the past, the world is quickly moving away from the ignorance of our earlier eras. All but two of the industrialized countries in the world have abolished the death penalty; the exceptions being the United States and Japan. This is a sign of steady progress. Perhaps as a result of the gruesome tragedies the world learned of at the end of the Second World War, the victory of democratic alliances like the European Union and the push for greater respect for human rights and freedoms have greatly reduced the number of countries in the Western World that use the death penalty (public beheadings are common in Saudi Arabia). The death penalty is a barbaric, violent, hypocritical punishment borne from outdated biblical practices and the innate human desire for revenge. It, like all other things from the Old Testament, should be left where it belongs in the Old Testament. We have grown from simple-minded understandings of things, away from the mythical explanations for things beyond our grasp, and in doing so should not be afraid to abandon old and ignorant ways in favor of more mature, modern and humane practices. Banks have succeeded in converting domestic cards from magnetic stripes to EMV. The EMV technology has an enhanced security system which is the preferred bank card technology globally. EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa. Its the global standard for chip-based Debit and Credit Card transactions. Its a joint effort between Europay, MasterCard and Visa to ensure security and global acceptance. The EMV standard was introduced in reaction to card associated fraud globally. The technology has stood the test of time and countries across the world, including Ghana, are asking their financial institutions to ensure that their cards are EMV compliant. The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) is spearheading the EMV migration in Ghana. There are foreign branded cards, as well as domestic cards, which are also referred to as gh-link cards. The foreign branded cards in Ghana are mostly Visa and MasterCard and are already EMV compliant while a number of the gh-link card issuing banks have also completed the process and are also EMV compliant. Others are however at various stages of completion. GCB Bank, National Investment Bank, Republic Bank, as well as ARB Apex Bank, which serve Rural and Community banks, have successfully completed the process, making their cards EMV compliant. Bayport, Bond, Best Point and Service Integrity are savings and loans companies whose cards are also EMV compliant. The other banks, as well as savings and loans companies, are at various stages of completion to move their cards from magnetic strip to EMV. A number of banks, who currently do not issue domestic cards but serve as acquirers, are also EMV compliant. These are Ecobank, Standard Chartered Bank, Zenith Bank and Universal Merchant Bank. The rest are GHL Bank and Consolidated Bank Ghana. Archie Hesse, Chief Executive of GhIPSS, in an interview, urged the remaining banks and savings and loans companies to work assiduously to ensure that their cards are also EMV compliant within the shortest possible time. He explained that the conversion was important to guarantee the security of transactions undertaken with the cards by the customers. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Association of Ghana Industries says there appears to be misinterpretation of the 50 and 30 percent reduction in benchmark value of import as announced by the Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia. The AGIs comment comes on the heels of the town hall meeting addressed by the Chairman of the Economic Management Team, H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawuma. There was great excitement among many Ghanaians when the Vice President announced the 50 percent and 30 percent reduction in benchmark values on imports. To reduce the incidence of smuggling and enhance revenue, the benchmark or delivery values of imports have been reduced by 50 percent except for vehicles which will be reduced by 30 percent effective 4th April 2019, Dr Bawumia said. He added further This means, for example, if a container was previously assessed for duty at a value of $20,000, it will now be assessed from tomorrow at a value of $10,000. We expect that the higher volumes of at least 50 percent annually and increase custom revenue. But Chief Executive Officer of the Association, Seth Twum Akwaboah, told Kasapa 102.5 FM the reduction in the benchmark value is not equal to a reduction in duties as perceived by the public. I didnt hear the VEEP making a blanket statement that theyve reduced import duties. People are going round saying government has reduced import duties by 50% in the sense that if youre an importer and you go to the port today and the items youre bringing is worth hundred Thousand Ghana cedis and your duty rate is for example 10%, it means your duty will be Ten thousand so if youre clearing your goods today, it will be reduced by 50% and so youll be paying just Five thousand Ghana cedis instead of Ten thousand. Its not true! Thats not what the Vice President said. Its rather the benchmark value that theyve reduced by 50%. Lets ask ourselves what the benchmark value is. The benchmark value only comes into play when there is dispute over your value. If you import things and there is no dispute over the value youve declared[Transactional value], you pay the applicable duty on the Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis. And Im sure more than 90% of our imports are not part of the benchmark value, so the normal duty will be paid. And so if you go to the Port and expect that there will be reduction of 50% on your duty its a wrong expectation. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video History was made on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 as Global Media Alliance (GMA) Group launched Live Inside and Win the Ride (LIWTR) reality show to give away a brand-new Renault Duster SUV to the shows lucky winner. The concept of LIWTR competition by GMA Group, owners of YFM, Happy FM and e. TV Ghana, is to bring together five individuals from different backgrounds across the country to endure sitting together in a Renault Duster SUV. During that period, contestants are evicted till there is one person left. The last man standing wins the car. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch event held at the Accra Mall Food Court, Ernest Boateng, CEO of the Global Media Alliance Group, stated that the brain behind this exciting reality show was to bring strangers together in one car to coexist under stringent conditions, promote healthy competition and also to give one lucky contestant the rare opportunity of walking away with a brand-new Renault Duster SUV car. Five people from different backgrounds will be made to live in one car for as long as it takes. The Live Inside and Win the Ridereality show will teach contestants some basic survival tactics, test their endurance levels and also boost the tolerance levels, Mr. Boateng stated. He called on all persons who believe they have what it takes to win a Renault Duster SUV, to pick up forms and register to be part of this great initiative. We at GMA are looking forward to a more competitive reality show this year. We are expecting more people to sign up for this great reality show, he noted. Explaining the mechanics of the reality show, Ese Adjabeng, Project Manager for LIWTR Reality Show said People who want to take part in this competition can go on any of our three websites www.etvghana.com , www.yfmghana.com or www.happyghana.com - and lookout for the #WintheRide19 tab. This will open a form with an MTN mobile money number on it. You are expected to pay the registration fee of GHS 50.00, enter your transaction ID on the form, complete the forms and you will receive a confirmation message. After the registration, we will hold auditions in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi to screen the applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be made to go through medical screening to ensure that they fit before they enter the car, Ms. Adjabeng added. People can also visit our Happy FM and e. TV Ghana office at Asylum Down, YFM at Accra Mall, YFM Kumasi , YFM Takoradi or our GMA office at Dzorwulu and pick up a form with the MTN mobile money number on it, pay the registration fee of GHS 50.00 and write down the transaction ID on the form, complete the forms and submit them at any of our offices, she disclosed. The 2019 Live Inside and Win the Ride reality show is sponsored by Premium Motors (Distributors of Renault in Ghana), Accra Mall, Le Banzini Restaurant, Pizza Inn, Chicken Inn and Creamy Inn, Equator Mobile Phones Ghana Limited, Telefonika, Yah and The Mall Pharmacy. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Controller and Accountant General, Eugene Ofosuhene says his department has cleared off all ghost names that existed on public sector payroll. According to Mr. Ofosuhene Ghanas coffers for a long time has suffered alot; losing huge portions of its revenue as a result of waste and leakage through the existence of ghost public sector workers and the activities of some individuals who engineer the existence of the ghost workers. Mr. Ofosuhene was speaking in Bolgatanga when he paid a working visit to the Upper East Region. He had a meeting with some Finance and Account Officers in the various District and Municipal Assemblies in the Region to listen to their challenges at first hand and to commend them for their roles in clearing the ghost names off the public sector payroll. Mr. Ofosuhene hinted that the introduction of the Electronic Salary Payment Voucher system of paying public sector workers has contributed greatly to the exercise adding that the government agency intends to continue with the system to ensure that, the ghosts names do not reappear on the payroll. The Controller and Accountant General also mentioned the introduction of another system known as the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System, which is currently being used in the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies across the country, as a way of preventing leakage of revenue and other corrupt practices in the Public Sector. Staff of the Controller and Accountant Generals Department who attended the meeting pleaded with Mr. Ofosuhene to ensure that the issues with their promotions are addressed as quickly as possible since many of them have stayed in the same position for years without promotion. Bolgatanga Municipal Assemblys Finance Officer, Alhaji Sheriff Adam who spoke on behalf of the staff said he for example has stayed in the same rank for close to seven years, and thinks that is discouraging. We have been here with other public sector workers in other departments; some of them have had more than one promotion and we with the Controller and Accountant Generals Department are still where we are. This is not good and has to be addressed. Earlier, Mr. Ofosuhene called on the Upper East Regional Minister, Paulina Abayage, where she disclosed that some foreign investors from Australia and America have expressed interest in the Pwalugu Tomato Factory and the Zuarungu Meat Factory. If these factories are revamped, there will be more jobs available to absorb the many youth in the region. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students on 28th and 29th of March, 2019 embarked on an official working visit to the Central region. On Thursday, March 28, 2019, the union participated in the Press Conference organized by the UEW-SRC to better understand the position of the SRC so as to know how to engage the Ministry of Education, Administration of UEW and the media on how best we can put things together in bringing the students back to school for academic work to continue. The union by this release urge all students to keep calm and prepare for school as theres an ongoing negotiation with all stakeholders in bringing back the students to campus. On the 8th of April, academic work will continue. Again, we urge all students to exhibit the best of character and remain calm for academic progress. All grievances moving forward should be channeled to the appropriate authorities for a smooth academic work. The union monitored the UCC SRC elections on Thursday and proceeded to engage the newly elected leaders on Friday. The discussion was centered on the role of the UCC SRC/NUGS towards the national students agenda. It was an opportunity for the union to also engage the Private University Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) in their annual games which took place at the Cape Coast Stadium. NUGS is ever committed to making sure Information reaches the students body on the activities of the union. Signed Kobby Otchere Marfo Press and Information Secretary, NUGS [email protected] Tinkaro Asare Osei President, NUGS Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday held a lecture to give the state of the economy and to respond to some issues raised by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. Dr Bawumia during a Town Hall Meeting had said it is warped logic to say the fact that there has been a fall in the value of the cedi means Ghanas economic fundamentals are weak. According to him, the cedi is performing better than it did during the NDC administration. However, the NDC citing Bloomberg said the cedi is still depreciating. Bloombergs figures showed that the Ghana Cedi was GHS5.30 to 1$. Speaking in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, NDC Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said records prove the NDC did better than the NPP Beyond all these, we took time to explain things systematically. Record for record, NPP cannot come anywhere near the NDC. All these attempts to claim that they are the better managers of the economy, we have demonstrated that thats not the case. In our records; it doesnt mean we solved all the problems but compared to the NPPthey actually have nothing to talk about. Our record as presented at the lecture shows everything the NDC has done, he said. Responding to this on the same platform, Dr. Gideon Boako, spokesperson for Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia wondered why the opposition NDC is quoting Bloomberg when they can get a conclusive data from Bank of Ghana. "Why are you using Bloomberg data to say that the currency is the worst currency? The reference data for Ghana is the central bank. The central bank is our reference data point and I find it so ridiculous the people who have been in government before go to commercial platforms which has highly volatile data and which aggregates data to compute their rates that are inconclusivein Ghana, we dont use Bloomberg data," he indicated. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Audio Attachment: Kwame Pianim on Citi FM Renowned Economist, Kwame Pianim, courted controversy this week when he was reported to have said that addressing the challenges of the local currency, the cedi, needs more action than mere words. To him, addressing the fundamentals of the economy is what should grab the attention of all. His comments comes on the heels of the Vice Presidents touting of the Akufo-Addo administrations handling of the Ghanaian economy. At a maiden Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia used the Mahama administration as a yardstick to measure the NPPs performance. The data on the annual rate of depreciation of the cedi in recent years shows that the worst performance so far under the NPP government is the 8.4 percent depreciation we saw in 2018. That worst performance is better than the best performance under the previous government between 2012 and 2016, Dr Bawumia said. But Mr Pianim, who was speaking in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, said: "I am not going to contradict the Vice President. All that I am saying is that people don't eat words. They see the exchange rate reflect in their cost of living because prices will go up. Let's stop talking and focus on addressing the fundamentals....It doesn't matter which party is in power; we should stop political point scoring." Some say his remarks are a direct dig at the Vice-President, while others argue its in tacit support of Dr Bawumia's stance. But what do you think? Click on the audio above to listen to what Mr Pianim actually said to make your informed opinion. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Coordinator for 'one -district one-factory' programme, Gifty Ohene Konadu has disclosed that they have completed over 79 factories under the 'one district one factory' programme of the NPP government. She says there are more at various completion stages. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, she explained that those factories have been completed and have provided jobs for most unemployed Ghanaians in the country. She said it is very unfortunate that some people who have no idea about how they operate will seek to be doing politics with it and claim that the government has failed. "The NPP government is committed to the work we are doing under the one-district one-factory programme, so it will be out of place for the opposition to claim that nothing has been done under the one district one factory programme. More factories will be inaugurated soon," she added. In its 2016 manifesto, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised to establish a factory in each of the 216 districts to transform Ghanas economic fortunes, while creating employment for the youth. The One-District-One-Factory programme is aimed at establishing, at least, one factory or enterprise in each of the 216 districts of Ghana as a means of creating economic growth poles that would accelerate the development of those areas and create jobs for the teeming youth. Government released GH465 million for the commencement of the one-district-one-factory project. And making good his pledge, the President also cut the sod for the construction of the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Company Limited, the first factory to be established under the 'One-District, One-Factory' initiative. The initiative, otherwise known as district enterprises, is to establish medium-to-large-scale factories or industrial enterprises that have the potential to fundamentally affect the economy of the districts. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ON February 21, 2019, Second Lady, Samira Bawumia appeared fascinated as she witnessed First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo show love to President Nana Akufo-Addo publicly. Not only Mrs. Bawumia was amazed but wife of Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Alberta Ocquaye, was equally marveled seeing the President and his wife displaying what can best be described as true love in the open. The occasion was when the President visited Parliament to deliver his third State of the Nations Address. Mr. Akufo-Addos delivery on that day went absolutely well and on the romantic front, it was also perfect as his lovely and beautiful wife could not shy away from blowing kisses in the full glare of several beaming cameras from eager journalists. Mrs. Akufo-Addo fondly known as Becky blew kisses as her husband arrived for his delivery. The First Lady looked ready to kiss her husband publicly, but the shy looking Akufo-Addo quickly hesitated. That notwithstanding, many onlookers including Mrs. Bawumia, Deputy Chief of Staff, Abu Jinapor and wife of Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Alberta Ocquaye, were visibly amazed at the show of love from the First Lady towards her husband. Then came what appears to be a perfect opportunity on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, for the Bawumias to publicly display their love. The Vice President had led the Economic Management Team (EMT) to the Townhall Meeting of the Ministry of Information; dazzled the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the management of the Ghanaian economy. His interesting boot-for-chalewote comment took over the social media space initially then came what has been hailed as a truly romantic photo of the Veep and his beautiful Samira. The two held themselves tight, looking in each others face with smiles and much affection. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Photo Credit: Source Unknown/PPSG Following the return of Philippine Airlines to the Middle East after 15 years of absence with its inaugural flight between Manila and Abu Dhabi on October 1, many aviation experts have suggested that the airline will have a challenging time competing with the established carriers from the Gulf region. But a PAL executive was quick to dismiss the claims citing that Philippine Airlines is also a well established airline. "As you all know, PAL was established in 1941, so we ourselves are already an established airline and we're here to offer a product to customers at a value proposition, to be able to give them a product they deserve and at a price they are willing to bear," said Ismael Gozon, Senior Vice President for Airline Operations. "Obviously, there is always competition and that is always part of this business. But we embrace competition and that's something that we have to deal with as we move forward in this market." Gozon went on to say that Philippine Airlines doesn't just cater to Filipinos but to international passengers that transit through Manila citing the appeal of Abu Dhabi as a destination for all. "It's not surprising we staged our comeback here in Abu Dhabi. Your dynamic city is one of the most influential in the region, a center of commerce, petroleum industry, culture and arts, education in the Arab world," said Gozon. "It is a major destination that any airline would be proud to serve." He added that this is not the first time that Philippine Airlines had flown to Abu Dhabi recalling some twenty years ago when Philippine Airlines used Abu Dhabi as an important travel point in PAL's service between Manila and Europe as well as Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, when asked by reporters what competitive advantage Philippine Airlines had over its competitors from the Middle East, Gozon replied that the people of PAL are the advantage. "We are a truly Filipino carrier with hundreds of Filipino staff and crew that offer a truly Filipino product for every passenger," said Gozon. "Filipinos are in the service industry and we at PAL try to showcase that kind of service regardless of where we are. That's our showcase and advantage." Gozon's comments may not be enough to silence or convince sceptics and aviation critics. There are presently 475,000 Filipinos residing in Abu Dhabi with approximately sixty percent working as professionals. Philippine Airlines will continue its global expansion next month as PAL Express introduces its first long-haul route to Dubai. While it is clear that the service is intended to compete directly with Cebu Pacific, it remains unclear how the PAL Express long-haul experience will differ from its mainline counterpart. Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines is also preparing for its long anticipated return to Europe with direct flights to London beginning on November 4. PAL's expansion into Europe has come under heavy criticism from aviation experts citing that skies between Europe and Asia are even more crowded than those to the Middle East. But Philippine Airlines is banking on the fact that it will be the only carrier with a non-stop service from London to Manila and that it managed to attain highly-prized slots at London's Heathrow airport, one of the major gateways to Europe. Philippine Airlines will be the only carrier with a direct flight between Europe and the Philippines. Many were expecting Philippine Airlines to return to the less desirable Gatwick Airport but PAL executives sacrificed important connecting and transit traffic in exchange for slots at the more popular London gateway. Heathrow executives believe that Philippine Airlines made the right choice citing that many airlines have been unable to make long-haul flights from Gatwick work . "Airlines that have been unable to access slots at Heathrow have tried and failed to make long-haul flights from Gatwick work," said Colin Matthews, Chief Executive at Heathrow Airport. "There is no need for a crystal ball to test Gatwick's claims that it can provide long-haul flights when we have the hard evidence of 10 years of failure." He added that in the last five years alone, twenty long-haul airlines have withdrawn from Gatwick. Most recently, Garuda Indonesia shelved a plan to launch Gatwick-Jarkarta flights while Air China decided to suspend its Gatwick-Beijing flights. Listen to Casey Dreier and Brendan Curry, the Planetary Society's Chief of Washington Space Operations, discuss the 2024 lunar landing goal in this episode of the Space Policy Edition of Planetary Radio. But even if the money shows up, there are a number of reasons to be skeptical about the 2024 timeline. There are also a few reasons to be optimistic. And it is at this point that my Chief Advocate self and my Policy Adviser self part ways. My advocate self very much wants this to happen, but my skeptical policy self considers it unlikely. Reasons to be Skeptical The Timeline Five years is not a lot of time. When John F. Kennedy called for the nation to land a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth, his advisers recommended a timeline of before the decade is out in order to give NASA some additional slack and to shift a possible failure into the next Presidency (his second term would have ended in 1968). From his announcement in April of 1961, NASA had approximately 8 years to develop, test, and validate the necessary hardware and methods for getting astronauts onto the Moon and safely returning them home. They succeeded, but had the money and the political consensus that enabled them to do so. But they also had 3 more years than NASA does now. Granted NASA is much more capable now than in 1961, but many of the same deficiencies exist: there is no functional heavy-lift rocket, no functional spacecraft for deep space, and no lunar lander even under formulation. Humans haven't been beyond low Earth orbit in 47 years. NASA now has five years to change that. The Hardware Human-rated space hardware is extremely complex and is subject to significant oversight in terms of safety and reliability. The last time NASA successfully designed, tested, and flew human-rated space hardware in less than five years was during the Apollo program. Obviously, NASA has far more knowledge and experience for placing humans in space than it did in 1961, but it is primarily for operations in a low Earth orbit environment. Necessary hardware such as the SLS and Orion are still in the development and testing phase, not production, and a lunar lander project will have to ramp up from effectively zero. Even if NASA uses public-private partnerships to develop a lunar lander, all one needs to do is look at the commercial crew program to be reminded that this strategy provides no magic bullet for the timely development of crew-capable spacecraft. The availability of commercial rockets, however, is a notable difference compared to the early 1960s, though size and mass constraints will be a real issue as they primarily serve customers in low Earth orbit. The Falcon Heavy is currently not rated to fly important NASA payloads, and though rockets like SpaceX's Super Heavy and Blue Origin's New Glenn should exist in coming years, for now, they don't. The Money The year after Kennedy's speech to Congress, NASA's budget nearly doubled. In 1963 it doubled again. It eventually peaked in 1965 at roughly $42 billion in today's dollars, with the majority of funds supporting Project Apollo. Yet political support waned by the mid-1960s and effectively vanished by the end of the decade. NASA's budget tumbled as a result. The funding level was unsustainable. I have no idea how much it will cost to accelerate a lunar landing to 2024. No one does. NASA is working on it, and we will see how much they expect it to cost (or, more accurately, what they're allowed to ask for) when they submit a supplemental budget request next month. Whatever the increase, it must be sustained over the next five years (or longer to build up a permanent presence) for there to be any hope of success. Given the upcoming clashes on overall levels of government spending, particularly given the number of proposed cuts for issues important to the Democratic party and the return of the automatic budget cuts of the sequester this year, it will be a difficult slog to get a budget at allmuch less one that significantly increases NASA funding. The Politics The sudden interest in accelerating this program is itself a worrying sign for how long this attention will last. Could the president lose interest just as quickly? It's not impossible, particularly if the cost estimates turn out to be high. Fortunately, vice president Pence is a stabilizing force in the White House, which should help maintain focus. There is also the possibility that lavishing funds on NASA while proposing cuts to other agencies could create political hostility to the effort. I have also written about the political risks of tying a policy proposal tightly to a President because it can incite partisan opposition. Congressional Democrats, who now run the House of Representatives, have already expressed skepticism at the sudden change of pace, and it remains to be seen if significant opposition materializes from the opposing party, as it did against the Space Exploration Initiative under George H.W. Bush. There is also the fact that not so long ago NASA was shut down with the majority of its 18,000 employees furloughed without pay for five weeks. The immigration issue that drove that shutdown has not yet been resolved, and is likely to return again. NASA can only move so fast when it is subject to arbitrary closures, furloughs, and short-term budget extensions. Reasons to be optimistic The Politics Regardless of one's personal opinions of the current executive branch leadership, they demonstrate a real and ongoing interest in space issues. In the past, presidents have dropped into a NASA center, made soaring speeches about space, and then moved on. Vice President Pence, on the contrary, has shown ongoing interest in the space program. His March speech demonstrates that he is closely following NASA's progress and is willing to express his (and the president's) displeasure. This sort of public pressure is unprecedented in recent history and has the potential to push the workforce of NASA and its contractors to perform better. In addition, a Republican president has the ability to marshal his party in Congress to support domestic spending measures in a manner impossible for a Democratic president, by the very nature of their partisan alignment (or unalignment). If spending-averse members of Congress do not resist increased funding for NASA due to their alignment with their party's president, NASA is more likely to gain the additional resources necessary to enable this effort. The Commercial Sector If commercial rockets are the only way to get American astronauts to the Moon in the next five years, then commercial rockets it will be, said the vice president. Commercial rockets are indeed in the cards, and a new generation of launch vehicles are just around the corner. Competition between companies for fixed-price or milestone-based contracts for lunar landers, crew vehicles, or other related components could help speed up development, particularly if NASA steps back and lessens its direct oversight. This doesn't guarantee success by any means. Again, look at the struggles of Boeing and SpaceX for commercial crew. But it's a new factor at play. Is there a new way of doing business at the Moon? Maybe! One of the lunar lander concepts currently being explored by NASA is a 3-stage spacecraft that is partially reusable and can fit onto commercial rockets. Again this doesn't ensure success, but it presents new pathways to get there. KAMPALA Africa endured a deadly month in March 2019 from Ethiopia through to Beira in Mozambique, over to central Mali, to Ghanas highways and to the ever unyielding Somali capital, Mogadishu. Ethiopian Airlines ET302 crashes in Bishoftu March 10 was a normal day till the aviation world was jolted with news from Bishoftu where an Ethiopian Airlines jet had crashed. The Boeing 737 Max 8 ET302 was on its way to Nairobi from Addis Ababa when the incident happened claiming the lives of all on board 149 passengers and eight crew members. The accident has led to the global grounding of the now controversial Boeing jets as multi-level stakeholder probe process continues to roll on in Addis Ababa after flight recorder data was downloaded in France and returned for analysis. Over the period, the airline has had to defend itself especially from foreign media reports suggesting it had failed in some respects. Africans have generally stood on the side of the airlines against detractors. Cyclone Idai leaves trail of death, destruction Four days after the Ethiopian crash, global attention turned to southern Africa specifically to the Mozambican city of Beira. It had been hit on March 14 by a tropical cyclone named Idai. Cyclone Idai battered Beira so hard and bad, the Red Cross reported days after it hit that 90% of Beira had been damaged by the landfall. Mozambique was not alone. Eastern Zimbabwe suffered as did Malawi. The death toll continues to go up in the case of Mozambique with more calls for relief efforts. Flood waters continue to recede and with that bringing to the fore the extent of damage death and destruction as the media tagged it. Bouteflikas 20-year clout flicks The month is also one that long-serving Algerian president AbdulAziz Bouteflika will hope never happened at all. His political survival received its biggest test by far in his two decades at the helm. Starting off, dogged protests across the capital Algiers, forced him to rescind his decision to run for another term in office. He also cancelled the elections scheduled for April announcing that he will stay on till a new leader emerges. Not even his concession and promise to serve a brief term would appease protesters whose sole demand was for him to quit and the entire political system overhauled. The other big news was the army chiefs call that Bouteflika be declared unfit and by that ousted from office. The ruling FLN party and a major trade union body have backed that call. Protesters, however, remain adamant to what they say is a re-engineering by the military and political class to maintain the status quo by sacrificing aged and ailing Bouteflika. New dates for polls have yet to be announced. Political watchers say activists and Opposition are playing hardball with the government in order to not be taken surprise. Communal massacre in Mali Over in Mali, what started as the death of scores in the central part of the vast west African country rose as far as 150 plus victims. The army chief would subsequently lose his job as the president visited among other things have a firsthand account of what transpired and to promise security for citizens. AFCON 2019 roll call finalized Cameroon was stripped of the hosting rights of the AFCON in December 2018. CAF awarded it to Egypt in January at a time the qualifiers were yet to be completed. After the last round of fixtures played in the third weekend of March, the list is set with three first-timers making it Madagascar, Burundi, and Mauritania will make historic appearances in Egypt. The most represented continental bloc is West Africa whiles the least represented in Central Africa (Cameroon). The draw is scheduled to take place next month ahead of kick-off in June. Others top stories Rwanda Uganda diplomatic tiff slows down Burundi school girls arrested for defacing president in a textbook DR Congo Ebola passes 1,000 cases mark despite the robust response Kenya presidents social media handles deactivated after the security breach Sudanese defying state of emergency by protesting Related If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Welcome Guest! You Are Here: A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has mentioned names of several political leaders and three Indian journalists in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal supplementary chargesheet, said sources. The names of these leaders and journalists, are however, not as accused in the chargesheet filed before a city court. As per the chargesheet, British national and one of the middlemen of the scrapped deal, Christian Michel, had used important personalities in the field of media in order to influence the public opinion. Michel is in Tihar jail and he has been named in the chargesheet as an accused. The chargesheet mentions that Michel used media personalities as evident from trail of payment made to one Raju Santhanam. It mentioned that "as per Casana sheet, a payment of Euro 205860.40 was made to Ashwin Santhanam, son of Raju Santhanam in addition to booking an air ticket for him and his family for a total amount of Rs 26.50 lakh". Michel has accepted that he had made such payments and admitted to hiring services of Guy Douglas to influence the media and this fact is further corroborated by act of using influence on journalists "Manu Pubby and Shekhar Gupta to tone down the article in Indian Express", said sources. "Michel also deposed that Douglas was in touch with several journalists." The chrgesheet also mentions that Michel, Guido Haschke and his associate Carlo Gerosa -- all middlemen in the case -- made payment to defence officials, bureaucats and political leaders of ruling party. A total bribe of Euro 70 million allegedly exchanged hands in this case in two parts to Christian Miche and Agusta Westland's Guido Haschke. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Persistence Market Research delivers key insights on the global 4G (LTE) devices market in a new publication titled "Global Market Study on 4G (LTE) Devices: Single Brand Store Distribution Channel Segment Expected to Witness Significant Growth Between 2016 and 2024" In terms of value, the global 4G (LTE) devices market is projected to register a healthy CAGR of 13.1% during the forecast period owing to various factors, regarding which Persistence Market Research offers vital insights in detail. Drivers and trends impacting the market Consumers are increasingly becoming inclined towards technological advancements in networking solutions and are adopting devices that operate smoothly and with intelligent features. The features in devices such as low network latency rate, better battery backup, and screen resolution are attracting consumers to switch to 4G (LTE) devices thus fueling the demand for 4G (LTE) devices worldwide. Convenience, affordability, and attractive data packages offered by network operators in collaboration with device manufacturers are factors encouraging consumers to try 4G (LTE) devices. This, in turn, is increasing the penetration of 4G (LTE) devices globally. Device manufacturers at international and domestic levels are playing an important role in the global 4G (LTE) devices market by innovating in different ways. For instance, manufacturers are collaborating with network providers to provide a better service and make it more affordable for their customers. Government initiatives in some regions to encourage deployment of advanced network data consumption is impacting the global 4G (LTE) devices market positively. Traffic for online high-quality video content is increasing, making consumers opt for advanced network operating devices featuring high-speed data. Besides other factors, increasing data consumption per person per day is anticipated to drive revenue growth of the global 4G (LTE) devices market. Market forecast The global 4G (LTE) devices market is segmented on the basis of Device Type (Smartphones, Tablets); Pricing (Low, Low-Mid, Mid-High, Premium); Distribution Channel (Multi-brand Store [Organized, Independent], Single brand Store, Online); and Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa). Globally, the single brand store distribution channel segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period as compared to the multi-brand store and online distribution channel segments, which are expected to witness relatively flat growth rates over the forecast period. In terms of value, the low price range segment in the Asia Pacific 4G (LTE) devices market accounted for 37.6% share in 2015. The developing countries in this region showcase the huge potential for low-end 4G (LTE) smartphones and tablets due to the advancements in network infrastructure. Request For Sample : https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10466 This report covers trends driving each segment and offers analysis and insights into the potential of the global 4G (LTE) devices market in specific regions. The 4G (LTE) devices market in Asia Pacific and North America is expected to register high growth rates between 2016 and 2024. In terms of value, Asia Pacific is expected to create an incremental opportunity of US$ 315.0 Bn between 2016 and 2024. Europe has a relatively small but significant market share in the global 4G (LTE) devices market, as mobile device manufacturers in this region are relatively less prominent. The 4G (LTE) devices market in Asia Pacific is expected to gain substantial market share owing to a high demand from consumers based in countries such as China, Indonesia, and India. The 4G (LTE) devices market in Asia Pacific accounted for 35.9% market share in 2016 and is expected to gain 1,145 BPS to account for 47.4% market value share by 2024. The 4G (LTE) devices market in North America is expected to continue being the second largest market over the forecast period as there is maximum mobile device penetration in that region. Request For TOC : https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/10466 Competitive landscape The report profiles some of the leading players operating in the global 4G (LTE) devices market such as Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, ZTE Corporation, Huawei Technology Company Limited, Lenovo Group Limited, ASUSTeK Computer Inc., Xiaomi Inc., and LG Electronics Inc. Top market companies are focusing on increasing their offline presence by partnering with local retailers and are also making a swift strategic transition from 3G to 4G cellular data consumption. San Jose, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- A recently released report by XploreMR on automotive pumps market provides detailed and exhaustive insights into the automotive pumps market. It includes a thorough analysis of all the factors influencing the overall performance of automotive pumps market. Qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of the identified key factors are detailed in the report. In addition, the report on automotive pumps market assesses all the macroeconomic and industry specific facets impacting the market growth. A comprehensive opportunity assessment of the automotive pumps market has also been mentioned in the report. It further offers exhaustive insights into the competitive landscape pertaining to the automotive pumps market. Chapter 1 Global Outlook The report on automotive pumps market commences with a global outlook of the market which primarily focuses on global vehicle production and vehicle fleet size to understand their impact in the market performance. Chapter 2 Executive Summary In this chapter, the report offers brief yet affluent information about the automotive pumps market. It mainly includes all the key highlights of the automotive pumps market on the basis of facts and figures. Get Sample Copy Of Report @ https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/1177 Chapter 3 Global Automotive Pumps Market Overview A concrete definition of the automotive pumps market along with taxonomical insights of the market has been provided in this chapter. It further lists and assesses all the macroeconomic factors influencing the development of automotive pumps market. In addition, individual factors impacting the expansion of automotive pumps market have been analyzed in the chapter. It also offers a detailed analysis of the cost structure, pricing, supply chain, and raw material sourcing. Chapter 4 Global Automotive Pumps Market Analysis and Forecast, 2012-2026 This section provides a detailed automotive pumps market breakdown based on various segments. A historical analysis of each segment along with the forecast has been provided in the chapter. On the basis of pump type, the global automotive pumps market has been segmented into: Fuel Injection Fuel Supply Engine Oil Transmission Oil Coolant Steering Vacuum Windshield Washer Based on technology type, the global automotive pumps market has been segmented into: Electric Mechanical On the basis of vehicle type, the global automotive pumps market has been segmented into: Passenger Car HCV LCV Based on sales channel, the global automotive pumps market has been segmented into: OEM Aftermarket Chapter 5 Automotive Pumps Market In North America Size and Forecast, 2012-2026 The chapter begins with a brief introduction of the automotive pumps market prevalent in North America. The following sections of the report provide a historical analysis of the automotive pumps market in the region lined with a detailed forecast of the market performance in the North American countries. A market attractiveness analysis has also been provided in this chapter of the report. Chapter 6 Latin America Automotive Pumps Market Size and Forecast, 2012-2026 Under the chapter, an elaborate analysis of various key trends influencing automotive pumps market in different countries of Latin America has been provided. In addition, the chapter offers a historical analysis of the automotive pumps market along with an assessment of market performance in the region. Chapter 7 Europe Automotive Pumps Market Size and Forecast, 2012-2026 The chapter provides a complete forecast of the automotive pumps market present in Europe. An in-depth analysis of different important trends impacting the growth of automotive pumps market in Europe has been included in the chapter. In addition, the chapter covers a comprehensive historical analysis of the automotive pumps market in the region based on country, pump type, technology type, vehicle type, and sales channel. Chapter 8 Japan Automotive Pumps Market Size and Forecast, 2012-2026 An extensive analysis of the automotive pumps market present in Japan has been covered in this chapter. All the key factors influencing automotive pumps market performance in the region have been identified and analyzed in the chapter. A historical analysis along with an accurate forecast of the automotive tire market has been provided in the report. Chapter 9 APEJ Automotive Pumps Market Size and Forecast, 2012-2026 Under this chapter, a detailed assessment of the automotive pumps market in APEJ has been included. The chapter analyzes the automotive pumps market on the basis of country, pump type, technology type, vehicle type, and sales channel. Chapter 10 MEA Automotive Pumps Market Size and Forecast, 2012-2026 The chapter offers a comprehensive assessment of the automotive pumps market prevalent in MEA. A historical analysis of the market and a forecast of the automotive pumps market performance in the region has been covered in the chapter. Chapter 11 Global Automotive Pumps Market Company Profiles All the key players participating in the automotive pumps market are identified and included in the chapter. A detailed profile of each player sheds light on their product portfolios, market presence, notable business developments, global footprint, strategies, strengths, and weaknesses. Stakeholders and business professionals actively functioning in the automotive pumps market can leverage the information included in the chapter to streamline their strategies and earn maximum profitability. Get To Know Discount On This Report @ https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/check-discount/1177 Maharashtra, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Industrial Forecasts on Cajuput Oil Market: Cajuput Oil Market provides a detailed analysis of the industry for the estimation period of 2019 2025. 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Thanks for reading this article; you can also get separate chapter wise section or region wise report versions like North America, Europe or Asia. About Reports Monitor Reports Monitor is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics-driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- The market intelligence report on the Creatinine Assay Kits market forecasts its growth during the years 2018 to 2026. It examines the market size, share, demand, trends, gross revenue, total earnings and net value after a historical analysis of the data collected from the years 2018 to 2026 while taking 2017 as the base year. The study focuses on the driving factors, restrains and hurdles for the growth of the market. The researcher gives market insights relating to the upcoming areas in the business and the impact of technological innovations on the growth of the market. Request for Sample Copy of Creatinine Assay Kits Market Report@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/30247 It sheds light on the major companies that contribute significantly to the global sector. The report studies the presence of these companies in major geographical regions and their individual placement in the worldwide business. It helps in projecting the growth of Creatinine Assay Kits through the years and in predicting its expansion in the forecasted time span. The increase in the demand for the product is boosting the overall production to ensure a smooth functioning demand-supply chain. The research segments the market based on product type, applications and end-use. It profiles the key players of the business and their individual contribution to the global economy. The report focuses on significant investments, business ventures, mergers, acquisitions, collaborations along with the technological developments in the field. It also evaluates the upcoming and niche areas in the business. The researcher aims to offer expert insights related to the industry and the new opportunities available in the market. Scope Of The Report The study aims to provide a forecast of the growth of the Creatinine Assay Kits market by examining the market size, share, demand, trends, and gross revenue of the industry. Further, it provides a competitive analysis and SWOT analysis. The report segments the industry based on product type, application and end-use. It highlights the emerging trends as well as the novel technology that are visible in the market. The research offers a clear look at the trends observed in the market, the contributing factors, major stakeholders, key companies and prime areas that exhibit a potential for growth. Buy Creatinine Assay Kits Market Report @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/30247 In market segmentation by manufacturers, the report covers the following companies- Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Merck (Germany), Abbott Laboratories (US), Abcam (UK), Quidel (US), Enzo Life Sciences (US), Cayman Chemical (US), Crystal Chem (US), Cell Biolabs (US), Genway Biotech (US), BioAssay Systems (US), Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Japan), Tulip Diagnostics (India), BioVision (US), Arbor Assays (US) In market segmentation by product of Creatinine Assay Kits market, the report covers- - Jaffe's Kinetic Test - Creatinine-PAP - ELISA In market segmentation by applications of the Creatinine Assay Kits market, the report covers the following uses- - Blood - Serum - Urine - Saliva - Tissue Homogenate - Others The report on the Creatinine Assay Kits market employs both primary and secondary research to examine its import and export, demand and supply, consumption power, spending capacity and distribution channel worldwide. The report evaluates the market standing of key manufacturers and sheds light on the strategies they have adopted to stay competitive. The study also applies qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the annual and financial performance of the top vendors and insights from market leaders. Extensive coverage of the recent trends and developments including joint ventures, collaborations, investments, product launches and acquisitions and mergers constitute a substantial part of the research on the Creatinine Assay Kits market for the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What will be the growth rate of the Creatinine Assay Kits market for the forecast period, 2018 to 2026? What will be the market size and the share occupied by the prominent vendors by the estimated period? - What are challenges and threats faced by the prominent vendors operating in the Creatinine Assay Kits market? - Who are the prominent vendors and what has been their business strategy so far to maintain a competitive edge over their competitors? - What are the past, present and emerging trends likely to influence the growth rate of the Creatinine Assay Kits market for the forecast period, 2018 to 2026? - What are the opportunities prominent vendors can bank on to generate more profits during the estimated period? Read More @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/creatinine-assay-kits-market There are 14 chapters to cover the vital aspects of the Global Creatinine Assay Kits Market. The report is distributed over 14 Chapters to display the analysis of the global Creatinine Assay Kits shop market. Chapter 1 covers the Creatinine Assay Kits Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2 talks about the top manufacturers and analyses their sales, revenue and pricing decisions for the duration 2016 and 2017; Chapter 3 displays the competitive nature of the market by discussing the competition among the top manufacturers. It dissects the market using sales, revenue and market share data for 2016 and 2017; Chapter 4, shows the global market by regions and the proportionate size of each market region based on sales, revenue and market share of Creatinine Assay Kits, for the period 2012- 2017; Continue About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- The study dives deep into the profiles of top market players and their key financials. This comprehensive report is not only for business analysts and any existing and new entrant can use it when designing their business strategies. The research is one of its kind global analyses of aspects such as import and export status, supply chain management, profit and gross margin worldwide for the forecast period 2019 - 2026. Extensive coverage of statistics associated with recent events including acquisition and mergers and strengths and weaknesses of a company forms an important part of the study on the Dermocosmetic Product market. The major players covered in this report are Allergan plc, Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal S.A., Procter & Gamble Co., Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc., Unilever plc,, ZO Skin Health Inc., BSN medical, La prairie, Revive, AmorePacific, Shiseido, Bioelements, Glo Skin Beauty, PCA Skin Request free sample to get a list of companies@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/33241 Scope of the Report: The study is a professional probe into the revenue generated and capacity estimates for the Dermocosmetic Product market for the forecast period 2019 - 2026 empower the business owners to maintain a competitive edge over their rivals. The research further examines and provides data on the market by type, application and geography interspersed with illustrations and other graphical representations. The market analysis not only determines the attractiveness of the industry but also the evolving challenges and opportunities and their association with the weaknesses and strengths of prominent market leaders. Other factors taken into consideration when studying the industry include profitability, manufacturing capability, distribution channels and industry cost structure and major success factors. Market by Type - Skincare Products (Anti-aging, Acne treatment, Skin Whitening and, Hyperpigmentation, Dermal Fillers) - Hair Care Products (Hair Repair, Anti-dandruff, Anti-hair Fall, Scalp Repair) - Eye Care Products (Prescription Drops, Artificial Tears) - Injectable Botox Market by Application - Hospital Pharmacy - Retail Pharmacy - Online Sales Grow with the trend The Dermocosmetic Product helps product owners learn how certain trends will shape the growth of the Dermocosmetic Product industry over a long term. The study closely looks at the historical price pattern of various products and services and empowers entrepreneurs to form the right opinion about the future trends. Accordingly, business owners will be able to decide their course of action and make a wise decision. Knowing the trends influencing the industry performance Stakeholders, marketing executives and business owners planning to refer a market research report can use this study to design their offerings and understand how competitors attract their potential customers and manage their supply and distribution channels. When tracking the trends researchers have made a conscious effort to analyze and interpret the consumer behaviour. Besides, the research helps product owners to understand the changes in culture, target market as well as brands so they can draw the attention of the potential customers more effectively. Our trend analysts look for the crucial connection between consumer trends, behaviour and values, to provide context for the sectors, demographics and global themes that matter to you. Purchase full report through this link and get 15% free customization on the Dermocosmetic Product report@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/33241 Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers in these key regions: - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Southeast Asia - India We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions: North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & Africa Ask for discount on this report for better value @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/discount-enquiry-form/33241 The study objectives of this report are: 1. To analyze and study the global Dermocosmetic Product capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast (2019-2026); 2. Focuses on the key Dermocosmetic Product manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. 3. Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, analysis. 4. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. 5. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. 6. To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. 7. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. 8. To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market. 9. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. 10. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. Key Points From TOC 7 Global Dermocosmetic Product Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis 7.1 Allergan plc 7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors 7.1.2 Dermocosmetic Product Product Category, Application and Specification 7.1.2.1 Product A 7.1.2.2 Product B 7.1.3 Allergan plc Dermocosmetic Product Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019) 7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview 7.2 Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc. 7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors 7.2.2 Dermocosmetic Product Product Category, Application and Specification 7.2.2.1 Product A 7.2.2.2 Product B 7.2.3 Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc. Dermocosmetic Product Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2014-2019) 7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview Continue Browse the report description @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/dermocosmetic-product-market About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com News: www.marketexpertz.com/market-news omersukrugoksu/iStock(KIEV, Ukraine) -- Ukraines two remaining presidential candidates both underwent televised drug and alcohol tests on Friday, after a week of posturing by the two that has seen the countrys election take an unusual turn. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a comedian who swept ahead of incumbent President Petro Poroshenko in the elections first round, had made the tests one of his conditions for facing Poroshenko in a pre-election debate. Zelenskiy, who has no political experience and stars in a hit sit-com as a man who unexpectedly becomes president, won Sundays first round vote by 30 percent -- nearly double the amount received by Poroshenko. With three weeks to go now before a run-off on April 21, Zelenskiy this week released a viral video laying out his conditions for a debate with Poroshenko. Besides the drug tests, they included that it be held in Kievs 70,000 seat Olympic stadium. He gave Poroshenko 24 hours to respond. Poroshenko in a reply posted his own video, in which he agreed to the debate and mocked Zelenskiys demand that it be in a stadium with a macho shrug: If you want there to be a stadium, let there be a stadium. Poroshenko also agreed to the narcotics tests and on Friday the two visited separate clinics for the tests, which Zelenskiy had said were necessary to show neither was a drug addict or alcoholic. Poroshenko, 53, arrived with a crowd of journalists in tow at a clinic at the Olympic stadium, where Zelenskiy has demanded the debate be held. There, Ukrainian television channels showed the president rolling up his sleeves to allow a medic to take blood. He then gave a urine and hair samples. Afterwards, Poroshenko said that he believed such tests should be compulsory for presidential candidates, saying it was a matter of national security. He also took a jab at Zelenskiy for declining to take the test at the stadium with him. Im at the stadium today, Poroshenko told reporters. I came, but you didnt. No matter, I am sure that he will pick up the courage and come here and the debate will happen. Zelenskiy meanwhile went to a private lab. His testing was live-streamed on his campaign's Facebook page, which showed him arriving at the lab with a similar mob of journalists and sitting in a chair while a doctor took blood. I took a blood test. They pumped all sorts of blood out of me. But thank God, I have enough of it. Young blood, Zelenskiy, 41, told reporters afterwards. Poroshenkos results were announced rapidly by Volodymyr Yary, the chief doctor at a Kiev state hospital, who said that no psychotropic substance had been found. The release of Zelenskiy's results though became a gaffe. He initially posted a photograph on his Facebook page of a results sheet from the lab that showed no traces of various narcotics. But he removed that post after it was spotted that the document was dated to show the samples had been taken three days earlier. Zelenskiy then shared a Facebook post from the laboratory, Eurolab, apologizing to him and explaining the discrepancy was a mistake by a lab worker who had accidentally written the wrong date. He then re-posted a new results sheet with the updated date. There has been some speculation that Zelenskiy had set the unusual conditions not expecting Poroshenko -- who challenged him first -- would accept them. On Thursday, Zelenskiy threw in another strange curve-ball in a second viral video, proposing that the debate be moderated by Yulia Tymoshenko, a controversial former prime minister who placed third in the elections first round. Poroshenko on Thursday night responded by posting another video, telling Zelenskiy to stop setting conditions and to "be a man. Come to the debate." This weeks odd face-off via social media videos seemed to portend more of whats to come in an election where television had already blended with reality. In his campaign, Zelenskiy has deliberately blurred the distinction between himself and his TV character in his series Servant of the People, a schoolteacher who is catapulted into the presidency after a rant he makes against corrupt officials goes viral. Poroshenko faces an uphill struggle to beat Zelenskiy, whose outsider candidacy has played well among Ukrainians fed up with the countrys politics that are seen as deeply corrupt. A recent Gallup poll showed only 9 percent of Ukrainians have confidence in their government, the lowest in the world, while 91 percent believe corruption is widespread in government. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- Sensor is an object or a device made for a purpose to detect an occurrence of any event or change in the environmental condition and if found, provide a corresponding output. Broadly, Sensor is a transducer which intakes one kind of energy (mostly optical & electrical) to operate & gives different types of output. Today sensors are used in everyday life in every electronic product & with the advancement in technologies, the demand of instrumentation and automation has been increasing over the years and expected to grow further in the upcoming future with highest possible demand. One such product from this category is the distance measurement sensor. As the name itself defines that it is used in detecting or tracing the distance between two objects. In the present days, a sensor with high sensitivity is more preferred, the term sensitivity is used to find out the quality or the accuracy of the sensor. Currently, the distance measurement sensors are the combination of different technologies as ultrasonic, optical, capacitive, inductive and many more, selection of sensors are done as per the requirements which is usually based on the application, need for the accuracy, cost, size, distance of operation and life time. As for the short distance measurement application, proximity sensors are more suitable, LASER distance sensors are used for the application of long distance measurement purpose. The consistent increasing demand of distance measurement sensor market has continuously been increasing globally and expected to grow with CAGR in double digits & the same scenario might be seen for next six to seven years in global distance measurement sensor market. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9098 For last some years distance measurement sensors have been integrated in the automobile vehicle like Cars, trucks, buses in order to provide the information of the surrounding of the vehicle to the driver which increases the safety factor and hence it is coming out as a new trend for distance measurement sensor market. The key growth drivers of global distance measurement sensor market are increased adoption of distance measurement sensors in automation and robotics, need for advanced security solutions in the automobiles, drastic rising demand of distance measurement sensor in construction industries to trace the distance in various applications, increased demand in military application for target detection as in drone and aircrafts are some other drivers support the growth of this market. On the other hand high sensitivity towards environmental factors affects its accuracy, as the accuracy of ultrasonic sensors reduces in high noisy environment & accuracy of proximity sensor decreases in brighter environment. Segmentation of distance measurement sensor market is done on the basis of technology, operation type, applications & geography. Based on the technology, segmentation of distance measurement sensor is done as infra-red led, capacitive sensor, inductive sensor, ultrasonic, laser diode, photo electric, draw wire, image sensor & others. On the basis of operational type distance measurement sensor is segmented as time of flight, LASER triangulation, confocal chromatic imaging & photoelectric sensor. Further photoelectric sensor segments is sub segmented into retro-reflective, diffuse reflection sensing & through beam sensing, By application type distance measurement sensor is segmented into following segments such as; manufacturing, robotics, defense aerospace & intelligence, automatic identification, packaging, consumer electronics, automobiles and others. Geographically, distance measurement sensor is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among all the regions Asia Pacific is the highest contributor in term of revenue in global distance measurement sensor Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9098 The key players of global distance measurement sensor market are Honeywell International Inc., Eaton, Balluf Inc., Baumer & others. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Global EMS and ODM Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025 is latest research study released by HTF MI evaluating the market, highlighting opportunities, risk side analysis, and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The study provides information on market trends and development, drivers, capacities, technologies, and on the changing capital structure of the Global EMS and ODM Market. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Hon Hai, BYD Electronic, Flextronics, Jabil, Quanta, Compal, Wistron, Inventec, Pegatron, Celestica, Cal-Comp, Benchmark, Sanmina, Universal Scientific Industrial (USI), Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai), SIIX, Plexus, Shenzhen Kaifa Technology Co., Ltd., Venture, Zollner, UMC, SUMITRONICS, GBM, VTech, 3CEMS, Shenzhen Zowee Technology & PC Partner Group. This report focuses on the global EMS and ODM status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the EMS and ODM development in United States, Europe and China. EMS and ODM Market Overview: If you are involved in the EMS and ODM industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. It's vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Electronic Product, Medical Instruments, Automobile Industry, Communications Industry & Other, , EMS & ODM and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement. Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1737307-global-ems-and-odm-market-12 EMS and ODM Market: Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023 Research study is to define market sizes of various segments & countries in previous years and to forecast the values to the next 5-8 years. The report is designed to comprise each qualitative and quantitative elements of the industry facts including: market share, market size (value and volume 2012-17, and forecast to 2023) with admire to each of the areas and countries concerned inside the examination. Furthermore, the report additionally caters the detailed statistics about the vital elements which includes drivers & restraining factors which will define the future growth of the market. Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows: Historical year 2013-2017 Base year 2018 Forecast period** 2018 to 2023 [** unless otherwise stated] **Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players. The designated segments and sub-section of the market are explained below: The Study is segmented by following Product Type: , EMS & ODM Major applications/end-users industry are as follows: Electronic Product, Medical Instruments, Automobile Industry, Communications Industry & Other Some of the key Manufacturers Involved in the Market are Hon Hai, BYD Electronic, Flextronics, Jabil, Quanta, Compal, Wistron, Inventec, Pegatron, Celestica, Cal-Comp, Benchmark, Sanmina, Universal Scientific Industrial (USI), Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai), SIIX, Plexus, Shenzhen Kaifa Technology Co., Ltd., Venture, Zollner, UMC, SUMITRONICS, GBM, VTech, 3CEMS, Shenzhen Zowee Technology & PC Partner Group You can get free access to samples from the report here: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1737307-global-ems-and-odm-market-12 For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies. If opting for the Global version of EMS and ODM Market analysis is provided for major regions as follows: - North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) - Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) - Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) - South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) - Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa) Buy this research report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1737307 Key Answers Captured in Study are Which geography would have better demand for product/services? What are the strategies adopted by big players in the regional market? Which country would see the steep rise in CAGR & year-on-year (Y-O-Y) growth? What is the current & expected market size in next five years? What is the market feasibility for long term investment? What opportunity the country would offer for existing and new players in the EMS and ODM market? What is risk involved for suppliers in the geography? What factors would drive the demand for the product/service in near future? What is the impact analysis of various factors in the Global EMS and ODM market growth? What are the recent trends in the regional market and how successful they are? Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1737307-global-ems-and-odm-market-12 There are 15 Chapters to display the Global EMS and ODM market. Chapter 1, About Executive Summary to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global EMS and ODM market, Applications [Electronic Product, Medical Instruments, Automobile Industry, Communications Industry & Other], Market Segment by Regions United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India & Central & South America; Chapter 2, objective of the study. Chapter 3, to display Research methodology and techniques. Chapter 4 and 5, to show the Overall Market Analysis, segmentation analysis, characteristics; Chapter 6 and 7, to show the Market size, share and forecast; Five forces analysis (bargaining Power of buyers/suppliers), Threats to new entrants and market condition; Chapter 8 and 9, to show analysis by regional segmentation[United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India & Central & South America ], comparison, leading countries and opportunities; Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis Chapter 10, focus on identifying the key industry influencer's, overview of decision framework accumulated through Industry experts and strategic decision makers; Chapter 11 and 12, Market Trend Analysis, Drivers, Challenges by consumer behaviour, Marketing Channels and demand & supply. Chapter 13 and 14, describe about the vendor landscape (classification and Market Positioning) Chapter 15, deals with Global EMS and ODM Market sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia or Oceania [Australia and New Zealand]. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- The latest report on Avocado Oil Market by Infinium Global Research gives complete coverage of the Avocado Oil Market by variety (hass, pinkerton, gwen, lamb hass, bacon, zutano, fuerte and others), application (personal care products, cooking, medicinal products and others) in terms of key trends, market size, forecast and CAGR growth over the period of 2018 to 2024. In addition, the study covers deep dive into key product and applications trends in the regional markets of Avocado Oil such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America over the short run and long run. The report covers market changing aspects including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends expected to encourage the expansion of the Avocado Oil Market during the said period. The report also provides market attractiveness analysis, by geography, and market share analysis, by key players respectively. Some of the prominent participants in the Global Avocado Oil Market are Bella Vado, Olivado, Chosen Foods LLC, Avocado Global Pte Ltd, Avoolio Oil De Mexico, BIO Planete, Kevala, The Village Press, Tron Hermanos and La Tourangelle. The global avocado oil market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.00% over the forecast period of 2018-2024. Make an Inquiry for Purchasing this Premium Report @ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/enquiry/1820 Inclination towards Natural and Healthier Ingredients to Promote Growth in the Avocado Oil Market Rising awareness about healthy lifestyle and rich nutrient composition of avocado oil drives the growth of the avocado oil market. Some beneficial properties of avocado oils such as an optimum level of antioxidants and good fatty acids are the primary reasons for health experts to recommend its consumption. Moreover, inclination towards natural and healthier ingredients are boosting the growth of the avocado oil markets. However, Avocado oils are marginally expensive especially in developing countries that is expected to hinder the adoption of avocado products. Furthermore, mixing of flavored avocado oil with natural edible oils including almond oil, olive oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, and shea butter are further providing several growth opportunities for the key players in the avocado oil market over the years to come. North America to Dominate the Global Avocado Oil Market North America dominated the global avocado oil in terms of revenue followed by the Asia Pacific. Countries like the U.S, Canada, and the Dominican Republic are the highest consumer of the Avocado oil. The growth in the North American region is due to the increasing health benefits of avocado in the US. The growth in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to gain steady growth as the food processing companies establish their manufacturing base in these regions. For More Details Get FREE Sample Pages of this Research Report@ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/1820 Increasing Appetite in China Drives Chilean Avocado Exports In September 2018- Chilean avocado growers have found a rapidly expanding market in China as the consumers there develop an ever finer appetite for nutritional products. The committee said avocado exports to China began three years ago and have been booming. In the latest avocado season, which runs from July to April, 14,860 tons of avocados were sold to China, up from 3,970 tons in the 2015-16 season. The climate and soil in Chile's fertile central and northern valleys are favorable for growing avocados. The green vegetable-like fruit, known as palta in Chile, has been increasingly popular in recent years in many countries as a nutritional fruit. The efforts have paid off, helping Chile win the trust of Chinese consumers and making China one of Chile's top agricultural export destinations. Today, Chile is one of the top exporters of avocados to China and the United States, competing against Mexico and Peru. Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/food-beverage/global-avocado-oil-market New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- Now days with accelerating technological advancement, latest display technology-touch screen displays that are being used in smart phones, tablets and laptops, probably very soon going to be a mere history. The emerging display technology for electronic gadgets are coming as screen less display technology and going to replace present touch screen display and solve the problem at high level make life more comfortable and enhance user experience. The main principal of the screen less display is to transmit information without using projector or screen however, it can display information onto open space, human retina, and even to the human brain. Implementation of this technology in electronic gadgets will make these gadgets more light weight and portable. This concept of screen less display brought into the implementation stage in order to overcome the limitation of touch screen display as the limited size of the screen, and also for miniaturization of gadgets. This screen less display is expected to revolutionize global display market it is expected to grow with tremendous CAGR. The key trend responsible for the growth of global screen less display is the implementation and innovation of this technology is being done by almost all the major manufacturers of electronic smart gadgets. The key growth drivers of global screen less display market are; space constraints and portability issue of smart gadgets with touch screen display, whereas screen less technology gives relief with limitations related to bulkiness and heavy weight. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9110 Another drivers of global screen less display market are complete privacy provided by using retinal direct form of screen less display like HUMD or HMD device, also users find it more attractive alternative of touch screen display. On the other hand there are also some factors which are hindering the growth of global screen less display market, those restraints are it couldn't be fully commercialized market still needs some advancement to get launched in all applications and also it requires high investment for the development of screen less display. Segmentation of screen less display market is done on the basis of type, application, vertical & geography. On the basis of type, global screen less display market is segmented as retinal direct screen less display, visual image screen less display, and synaptic interface screen less display among which retinal direct screen less display is more popular than rest of the segments. On the basis of application, global screen less display is segmented as head mounted display (HMD), holographic display, and head-up display. On the basis of vertical, global screen less display market is segmented into consumer electronics, Commercial, automotive, medical, and aerospace and defense. Among which consumer electronics is expected to lead global market. Geographically, screen less display is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among all the regions North America is the highest contributor in term of revenue in global screen less display market is expected follow the same trend during forecast period as well. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9110 The key players of global screen less display market are Google Inc., Zebra imaging Inc., Avegant Corporation, Displair Inc., Holoxica Ltd., Microsoft Corporation, Microvision Inc., and others. Maharashtra, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Summary: Glycidyl Methacrylate Market The Global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market report encloses vital statistical data of sales and revenue based on leading segment such as type, regions, applications, technology, and elite players in the global Glycidyl Methacrylate industry. The report aims at historical (2013-2018) occurrences, talks about the present status of the industry and also provides valuable forecast information up to 2025. A comprehensive analysis of contemporary trends, demand spectrum, growth rate, and key region-wise Glycidyl Methacrylate market exploration has also been embodied in this report. There are speculations about Global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market to strongly dominate the global economy with a substantial growth rate in the coming years. Promptly developing industry infrastructure, increased product commercialization, and drifting demands of the Glycidyl Methacrylate are strengthening Glycidyl Methacrylate industry's footholds to become more influential and significantly contribute in international revenue generation. Look insights of Glycidyl Methacrylate market research report With 30 mins free consultation! @ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request_sample/80641 The Global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market studies based on the company profiles and regions as follows: Leading Vendors DowDuPont, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Evonik Industries, Estron Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemicals, Lianyungang Ningkang Chemical, Wuhan Sincere-Star Chemical Market Analysis by Types: Concentration > 97% Concentration Market Analysis by Applications: Market segmentation by Zone: North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, etc.) South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.) Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iran etc.) Africa (Egypt, South Africa, etc.) Furthermore, the report provides the core knowledge of the market by analyzing end user's consumption tendency, Glycidyl Methacrylate market driving factors, ever-changing market dynamics, and rising development patterns in the market. Besides, the report focuses on the leading contenders in the Glycidyl Methacrylate industry and delivers an all-inclusive analysis considering their market share, production capacity, value chain analysis, size, sales and distribution network, import/export activities, cost structure, and product specification. Due to the changes in world business policies, it is recommended to be always aware of the facts and data about this market. Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/report/80641/Glycidyl-Methacrylate-Market The objectives of the Market Research Explore report on the Global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market are: To study, analyze and forecast the Global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market by segmenting it based on types, application, inventions, time-based performance, and end user. The report by Market Research Explore analyzes various macro and microeconomic factors impacting the Global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market. To come up with insights into the major factors affecting the global Glycidyl Methacrylate Market around the world such as Its drivers, hurdles, opportunities, and challenges. To notify about the dominant players along with their strategies, products/services, research, and development plans. Conclusively, the report helps a reader to get an absolute understanding of the Glycidyl Methacrylate industry through details about the market projection, competitive scenario, industry environment, growth constraining factors, limitations, entry barriers, the provincial regulatory framework as well as upcoming market investment and opportunities, challenges and other growth promoting factors. This report will provide you a clear view of each and every fact of the market without a need to refer any other research report or a data source. Our report will provide you with all the facts about the past, present, and future of the concerned Market. For more information regarding Glycidyl Methacrylate market, Contact Us @ sales@reportsmonitor.com About Reports Monitor Reports Monitor is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics-driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. Prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis. Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- According to the new market research report "Ground Support Equipment Market by Type (Mobile Gse, Fixed Gse) , Power Source (Non-Electric, Electric, Hybrid), Application (Commercial, Military), Component (New, Replacement, Maintenance), RegionGlobal Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Ground Support Equipment Market is projected to grow from USD 7.5 billion in 2019 to USD 9.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.45% from 2019 to 2025. The growth of the market across the globe can be attributed to rising demand for electric ground support equipment, increasing warehouse operations at airports, and ongoing expansions of airports to cater to the rising global air passenger traffic. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=264041553 Based on type, the mobile GSE segment is projected to lead the ground support equipment market during the forecast period. Based on type, the ground support equipment market is projected to be led by the mobile segment from 2019 to 2025. Mobile GSE refer to equipment that can be moved around airports. They are not restricted to one installed location and can be used to service aircraft parked at gates that are not connected to airport terminals. Mobile GSE usually comprise cargo loading equipment and ramp service equipment. The rise in capacity expansions of existing airports has led to increased aircraft and cargo movements, which eventually have contributed to increased demand for mobile GSE. The commercial segment is projected to lead the ground support equipment market from 2019 to 2025. Based on application, the commercial segment is projected to lead the ground support equipment market during the forecast period. The commercial segment has been classified into passenger services, cargo services, and aircraft services. These services form a bulk of ground support activities required by aircraft. These services are also called as ramp services. The growth of the commercial segment of the market can be attributed to the rise in demand for electric ground support equipment due to the increased adoption of environment-friendly equipment at airports to carry out different operations. Browse in-depth TOC on "Ground Support Equipment Market" 127 Tables 44 Figures 197 Pages The North American and Asia Pacific regions are projected to be high growth potential markets for the ground support equipment during the forecast period. The ground support equipment market in the North American region is expected to witness substantial growth during the forecast period due to increased demand for ground support equipment from airports of these regions. Several states in the US have passed regulations to reduce emissions from airports completely. As such, airports in these countries are converting their ground support equipment to electric ground support equipment. States such as California and Seattle have already implemented these regulations and airports in these states have overcome the barriers associated with inadequate infrastructure and input power. The rapid growth of the ground support equipment market in the Asia Pacific region can be attributed to rise in the number of air passenger and freight movements, which lead to the requirement for the upgradation and expansion of airports. For instance, in December 2018, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced the construction of 216 new airports by 2035 to accommodate the growing number of air passengers. Request Sample pages of the Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=264041553 Major players in the ground support equipment market are JBT Corporation (US), Teleflex Lionel-Dupont (TLD) (France), Mallaghan (UK), Tug Technologies Corporation (Textron GSE) (US), Tronair (US), MULAG Fahrzeugwerk (Germany), Guangtai (China), Rheinmetall AG (Germany), ITW GSE (Denmark), and Cavotec (Switzerland). 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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Hepatitis Test Solution and Diagnosis Market: Overview: Hepatitis testing is conducted to determine the genotype of hepatitis triggering the ailment. The diagnosis also helps in determining the best suited treatment for the patient. Because different types of hepatitis viruses can cause similar symptoms, it is very important that a series of diagnostic test is run to identify the virus thus the true cause of the disease. View Report- https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/hepatitis-test-solution-diagnosis-market.html The global hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market is already a multi-billion dollar industry and is expected to remain strong between 2018 and 2026. Transparency Market Research (TMR) forecasts the market to exhibit growth at a steady pace through the course of the forecast period. The rising incidence of hepatitis diseases will create growth opportunities for the market in the coming years. Hepatitis Test Solution and Diagnosis Market: Trends and Opportunities The global hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market is expected to grow at a steady pace over the course of the report's forecast period. Factors such as the rising incidence of viral hepatitis and autoimmune diseases are likely fuel the demand for hepatitis test solutions and diagnosis. Furthermore, the rising healthcare spending is expected to create growth opportunities for the market globally. Request Brochure- https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=54960 Through the course of the forecast period, the demand from countries such as South Korea, China, India, Turkey, South Africa, and Brazil is likely to increase. Therefore, the rising prospects across emerging nations are likely to favor the expansion of the hepatitis test solutions and diagnosis market. According to TMR, the market will gain momentum in response to the increasing healthcare expenditure and investment, the rising disposable income of consumers, increasing medical tourism, and the presence of a large demography of undiagnosed population. Hepatitis Test Solution and Diagnosis Market: Regional Outlook According to the report, the global hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market is likely to witness considerable growth opportunities in North America. Driven by the rising uptake of advanced technologies and the presence of a sophisticated healthcare network, the hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market will exhibit growth at an impressive CAGR in the region. Furthermore, the rising demand from the U.S. and Canada is expected to foster impressive prospects for growth to the North America hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market. Request for TOC containing Tables and Figures: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=54960 Furthermore, in the coming years, Asia Pacific is likely to show impressive growth opportunities to the market players in the hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market. The rising investment towards modernizing the existing healthcare infrastructure will boost the market in Asia Pacific. In addition to this, the rising incidence of hepatitis infections, increasing willingness to spend towards advanced healthcare, and the increasing penetration of cutting-edge healthcare solutions will give impetus to the hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market in Asia Pacific. Hepatitis Test Solution and Diagnosis Market: Key Players Abbott Laboratories (US), Roche (Switzerland), bioMerieux (France), Bio-Rad (US), DiaSorin (Italy), Siemens (Germany), Danaher (US), QIAGEN (Netherlands), and Grifols (Spain) are some of the leading companies operating in the global hepatitis test solution and diagnosis market. The report offers a detailed analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the companies profiled. Furthermore, using industry-leading analytical tool the report calculates threats and opportunities prevalent for the global test solution and diagnosis market. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- Nickel Hydroxide, generally used in rechargeable battery electrodes, by oxidation to nickel(III) oxide-hydroxide. Nickel hydroxide is denoted by Ni(OH)2 and is an insoluble chemical compound having strong redox properties. The mineral form of nickel hydroxide, also known as theophrastite, was first discovered in northern Greece in 1980. Nickel Hydroxide is a translucent emerald-green crystal, formed naturally in thin sheet form near the boundaries of chlorite and idocrase crystals. Nickel hydroxide has a molecular weight of 92.71 g/mol, having a melting point of 230?C. Nickel hydroxide has two distinct pseudopolymorphs, namely ?- and ?-Ni(OH)2 forms. The ? structure is made up of Ni(OH)2 layers, having intercalated anions or water molecules between them. The ? type is a hexagonal closest-packed structure of OH- and Ni2+ ions, minus any kind of intercalated ions. Besides the ? and ? forms of nickel hydroxide, a number of ?-Ni(OH)2 have been described, which are made up of crystal structures having much bigger inter-sheet distances. The global nickel hydroxide market is projected to register a high growth in demand due to the increasing requirements of nickel hydroxide as electrodes in electrochemical batteries. The long battery life, utmost reliability, and superior performance of the nickel hydroxide based batteries, as compared to the other types of batteries are expected to fuel the growth of the global nickel hydroxide market. However, the toxicity concerns related to Ni2+ ions are poised to hinder the growth of the global nickel hydroxide market. Additionally, the rising prices of raw materials may hinder the growth of the global nickel hydroxide market over the forecast period. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9104 The global nickel hydroxide market is segmented on the basis of product type, end-use industry, and regions. On the basis of product type, the global nickel hydroxide market is segmented into: ? Ni(OH)2 ? Ni(OH)2 ? Ni(OH)2 On the basis of end-use industry, the global nickel hydroxide market is segmented into: Electrochemical batteries Food industry Agriculture industry Chemical industry, Others (pharmaceutical industry) The global nickel hydroxide market is anticipated to register a favourable growth for the forecast period, 2015-2025. On the basis of geographic regions, global nickel hydroxide market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among aforementioned regions, Asia Pacific and Latin America have been the fastest growing region during the forecast period 2015-2025. In Asia-Pacific, China dominates (driven by strong increases in electrochemical battery usage) the nickel hydroxide market. In past five years, the North America dominates the market, followed by Western Europe. The remaining regions are expected to grow at a steady rate over the forecast period. Major players in the global nickel hydroxide market are currently focused on enhancing the product portfolio and enhancing the service offering so as to attract more consumers. Furthermore, companies are currently turning their attention towards the emerging economies of Asia Pacific, MEA and Latin America, as these regions exhibit untapped opportunities. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9104 Some of the key players identified in the global nickel hydroxide market are Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., Norilsk Nickel, ALT Cobalt & Nickel, Shepherd, Kanssai Catalyst, Supraveni Chemicals, Nippy Chemicals, Jien Nickel, Vale, SMM, Glencore, BHP Billiton , ERAMET, First Quantum, Hard Creek, Henan Kelong, Jinchuan Group, Jiangmen Fangyuan, and The Shepherd Chemical Company, etc., among others. Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Biohazard bags are gaining persistent traction in applications related to collection, storage, and transportation of bio hazardous waste. Superlative strength coupled with excellent puncture resistance is foreseen to foster the popularity of biohazard bags. Moreover, extended durability remains one of the prominent reasons responsible for pushing adoption of biohazard bags. Manufacturers of Biohazard Bags Market their products available in red color along with check marks printed on the cover to facilitate easy identification. Anti-leakage properties with optimal performance remains highly valued amid the customer marketplace of biohazard bags. Request TOC of this Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1021 Manufacturers, with an objective of enhancing their bottom lines, are offering custom-based biohazard bags, both in terms of size and printing. Labelling of these bags with a tag called 'Biohazardous Waste' or with a biohazard symbol has been prevailing as a crucial practice among the manufacturers to retain customer confidence. Moreover, demand for biohazard bags that are impervious to moisture and highly disposable are gaining traction. Rising sentiments toward achieving environmental sustainability also remains one of the key factors influencing growth of biohazard bags. Moreover, rising number of hospitals, clinics, and pathology centers are also having major contribution toward generation of hazardous waste, thereby fuelling adoption of biohazard bags. Global Biohazard Bags Market: Introduction Biohazard waste, also called biomedical waste or infectious waste, is any waste having contagious materials or possibly contagious substances like microbiological, pathological, human bodily fluids and animal waste. Highly contagious sharp waste such as needles, glass pipettes, blades and others waste should be disposed. Biohazard bags are specially designed to accumulate or dispose of such substance from a crime or accident and take to a lab for analysis. These bags are quite helpful for industrial use to collect industrial biohazard materials. Biohazard bags prevent contamination of the samples. These biohazard bags are usually made of various materials such as polyethylene, polymers, HDPE and other materials. These biohazard bags are highly preferred in hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical industries and chemical industries to store the biohazard waste material in the biohazard bags for its further disposal. Global Biohazard Bags Market: Dynamics The major driving factor of the global biohazard bags market is the rapidly increasing number of hospitals and pathology centers across the globe, which fuels the growth of global biohazard bags market over the forecast period. Aging population along with stringent government regulations to use biohazard bags by the healthcare organizations for the safety of patients will help to push the global biohazard bags market towards significant growth across various developed and developing countries. Moreover, robust growth in pharmaceutical industry across the globe, owing to rising demand of medicines, will lead the global biohazard bags market to high growth. To know more about the Biohazard Bags Market, Visit- https://www.factmr.com/report/1021/biohazard-bags-market However, the availability of biohazard bags has increased with the rapidly growing e-commerce sales channel across the globe. This results in pushing the growth of global biohazard bags market over the forecast period. Furthermore, low labor cost in emerging countries including China, India, and Indonesia helps in the production of a large number of biohazard bags at lower prices, which fuels the growth of the global biohazard bags market. Stringent government regulation related to ban on the usage of plastics in various countries is a restraining factor in the global biohazard bags market, which will hinder the global biohazard bags market growth. Global Biohazard Bags Market: Regional Outlook Based on geographies, the global biohazard bags market is classified into six regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, APEJ (the Asia Pacific excluding Japan) and MEA (the Middle East and Africa). Among above-mentioned regions, North America accounts for a significantly high market share in the global biohazard bags market over the forecast period, followed by Europe. This is due to the stringent government regulations to use biohazard bags in hospitals and pathology centers for patient's safety as well as people's preference to use of these biohazard bags at homes to dispose of biohazard waste materials. Moreover, APEJ is anticipated to showcase a significantly high growth rate in global biohazard bags market, owing to growing health awareness among people across the region. Rapidly growing e-commerce industry and ease of product availability across developing countries such as China and India will be seen as an opportunity by prominent market players APEJ biohazard bags market. Japan is projected to capture high market share in global biohazard bags market due to increasing demand for eco-friendly biohazard bags among consumers across the region. Global Biohazard Bags Market: Prominent Market Players Few prominent players in the global biohazard bags market are Lithey Inc, BioMedical Waste Solutions, LLC. Global Packaging Solutions, Champion Plastics, Dana Poly Inc., Propper Manufacturing, International Plastics Inc., Tufpak, Inc., Medline Industries, Inc., Thomas Scientific, Super Plast Plastic Factory and other biohazard bags market players. The prominent players of the global biohazard bags market such as Thomas Scientific and Medline Industries, Inc., are focusing on expanding its sales channel footprint through e-commerce across emerging and developed countries to gain maximum market share in the global biohazard bags market. Compilation of authentic and first-hand intelligence, insights offered in the report are based on quantitative and qualitative assessment by leading industry experts, and inputs from opinion leaders & industry participants around the value chain. Growth determinants, macroeconomic indicators, and parent market trends have been scrutinized and delivered, coupled with the market attractiveness for each market segment encompassed. Qualitative impact of growth influencers on the market segments across regions has also been mapped by the report. Request Brochure of this Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1021 About FactMR FactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market insights 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 Us FactMR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Sellbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- IR camera market for products fitted with sapphire lens will grow at 10.7% CAGR from 2016 to 2023. The material presents high degree of durability and is scratch-resistant and robust in nature which will drive growth in the coming years. It can also withstand extreme conditions and temperature fluctuations, making it well-suited for use in numerous industry verticals. IR camera market is gaining a heavy momentum with rapid adoption of infrared cameras in automotive, radiometric, and mobile sectors. Technological innovations have contributed significantly towards reduction in the costs of IR cameras and this is expected to steer the industry growth map. Request for Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/397 Applications in the automobile sector is an untapped opportunity. Near-Infrared (NIR) centered systems improve night driving situations. With the advancements in driverless vehicles, the applicability of IR cameras in automobiles is expected to grow exponentially. Growing adoption of high-resolution devices in smartphones will lead to IR camera market growth. Infrared Bolometer Detectors (IBD) are thermal detectors which are aided by IR cameras. Arrays of these imagers are used in thermography, driver night vision, firefighting, surveillance and security. Cost driven price reduction of this technology will boost the IR camera market. The use of these devices for surveillance is highly regulated by various governments globally. The authority to carry out surveillance is necessary in public properties. The material segments of the IR camera market are sapphire, silicon, germanium and zinc selenide. The base material for germanium is non-hygroscopic which transmits good infrared rays this will be followed by the zinc selenide segment. Make an Inquiry for purchasing this Report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/397 Infrared (IR) Cameras further find applications across commercial, military & defense, and medical imaging sectors. Military & Defense application, which accounted for more than 35% of IR camera market share in 2015, is anticipated to play a major role in industry expansion over the coming years. IR camera market revenue in the commercial sector is projected to grow at a rate of 10% over the period from 2016 to 2023. Geographically, North America holds the largest share of the global infrared camera industry and is expected to dominate the market with target revenue slated to reach USD 2.5 billion by 2023. This land is booming due to presence of established industry players in majority. U.S. is the prominent country driving the regional landscape, which also led the global revenue generation in 2015. Factors such as growth in the industrial and commercial sectors will augment infrared camera market share in the coming years. Notable participants in IR camera market include Samsung Techwin, FLIR Systems, Seek Thermal, Axis Communications, Fluke, Raytheon Defense contractor company, and Testo AG. Market players are particularly focused on product innovation and advancements. Heavy investments in research have resulted in many positive outcomes, one of which includes the introduction of smartphones with thermal imaging ability, a truly revolutionary piece of hi-tech. Browse Complete Report Summary @ https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/IR-infrared-camera-market-report 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. Possibly the largest flotilla of C-47s and other DC-3 variants since the Second World War will cross the Atlantic in late May to take part in a reenactment of the first stage of the D-Day invasion. A total of 18 Daks will follow the historic Blue Spruce Route through Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland for the 75th anniversary of the most pivotal battle of the war. The 18 U.S.-based aircraft will be joined by 17 European aircraft for the flypast, which will include parachute jumps by reenactors using round canopies. Many of the aircraft took part in the original raid, including Thats All Brother, the plane that led the assault and was the first one over the beaches. The aircraft, which flew at Sun n Fun, was rescued from a scrap heap and refurbished by the Commemorative Air Force over the past three years. There will be plenty of opportunity for the public to get close to the historic aircraft, which have led varied and sometimes colorful lives since they were built more than 70 years ago. The U.S. contingent will gather in Oxford, Connecticut, May 13-17 for final preparations, which will include a formation flight around the Statue of Liberty. May 18 the plan, subject to the fickle North Atlantic weather, is to head to Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, using the original airfield that was the main North American staging base for Europe-bound aircraft during the war. Some will go to Greenland while longer-range models will go to Iceland the next day before heading to Prestwick, Scotland, and finally Duxford, England, where the D-Day event is being staged. After Normandy, many of the aircraft will take part in anniversary events marking the Berlin Airlift, and other European side trips are planned. Its expected most of the DC-3s will be back in the U.S. in time for AirVenture 2019 in Oshkosh. Harrisburg, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- GLOBAL NANOCOMPOSITES MARKET INSIGHTS, FORECAST TO 2025 This Report proposes compelling details of Nanocomposites market size, market share, contemporary trends, upcoming investment opportunities, and other primary segments. The Nanocomposites analysis centers over numerous vital elements that influences global Nanocomposites industry along with the international economy. Historic overview, present market status, and futuristic projections of Nanocomposites industry are discussed in this study report. The report presents the market competitive landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market. Top Companies in the Global Nanocomposites Market: - 3M (USA), Arkema (France), BASF (Germany), Cabot (USA), Dow (USA), DSM (USA), Elementis Specialties (USA), eSpin Technologies (USA), Evonik Industries (Germany), Foster (USA), Hybrid Plastics (USA), Inframat (USA), InMat (USA), Nanocor (USA), Nanocyl (Belgium), Nanophase Technologies (USA), Nyacol Nano Technologies (USA), Powdermet (USA), RTP (USA), Showa Denko (Japan), TNO (Netherlands), Unitika (Japan), Zyvex (USA), DuPont (USA) and Others. The Global Nanocomposites Market is expected to grow with a healthy CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025. Click the link to get a free Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01181057931/global-nanocomposites-market-insights-forecast-to-2025/inquiry?source=releasewire&Mode=18 GLOBAL NANOCOMPOSITES MARKET SEGMENT BY TYPE:- Carbon Nanotubes Metal Oxide Nanofiber Nanoclay Graphene Others GLOBAL NANOCOMPOSITES MARKET SEGMENT BY APPLICATIONS:- Packaging Automotive Electronics & Semiconductor Aerospace & Defense Coatings Energy Others MARKET SEGMENT BY REGIONS:- For comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the Global Nanocomposites Market is analysed across key geographies namely: United States, China, Europe, Japan, South-east Asia, India and others. Each of these regions is analyzed on basis of market findings across major countries in these regions for a macro-level understanding of the market. Avail Exclusive Discount on This Report: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01181057931/global-nanocomposites-market-insights-forecast-to-2025/discount?source=releasewire&mode=18 THERE ARE 15 CHAPTERS TO DEEPLY DISPLAY THE GLOBAL NANOCOMPOSITES MARKET. Chapter 1: to describe Nanocomposites Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2: to analyze the top manufacturers of Nanocomposites, with sales, revenue, and price of Nanocomposites, in 2017 and 2018; Chapter 3: to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2017 and 2018; Chapter 4: to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Nanocomposites, for each region, from 2014 to 2018; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions; Chapter 10 and 11: to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2014 to 2018; Chapter 12: Nanocomposites market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2025; Chapter 13, 14 and 15: to describe Nanocomposites sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix and Data source. The report has 150 tables and figures browse the report description and TOC: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/01181057931/global-nanocomposites-market-insights-forecast-to-2025?source=releasewire&Mode=18 INFLUENCE OF THE NANOCOMPOSITES MARKET REPORT: -Comprehensive assessment of all opportunities and risk in the Nanocomposites market. -Nanocomposites market recent innovations and major events. -Detailed study of business strategies for growth of the Nanocomposites market-leading players. -Conclusive study about the growth plot of Nanocomposites market for forthcoming years. -In-depth understanding of Nanocomposites market-particular drivers, constraints and major micro markets. -Favourable impression inside vital technological and market latest trends striking the Nanocomposites market. About MarketInsightsReports MarketInsightsReports provides syndicated market research on industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. MarketInsightsReports provides global and regional market intelligence coverage, a 360-degree market view which includes statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations. Contact US: Irfan Tamboli (Head of Sales) Market Insights Reports Phone: + 1704 266 3234 Mob: +91-750-707-8687 sales@marketinsightsreports.com irfan@marketinsightsreports.com New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Persistence Market Research (PMR) recently published a report titled "Predictive Maintenance Market for Manufacturing Industry Global Industry Analysis 2013-2017 and Market Forecast 2018-2026." The predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry has witnessed an upsurge in the past four years with the introduction of advanced technologies such as Big Data & analytics, machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. As a result of the increasing adoption of these advanced technologies, a transition from the on-premise deployment models to the cloud is witnessed in the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry. The global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry is expected to witness a double-digit growth rate during the forecast period. The predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry was valued at US$ 741.1 Mn in 2017, and is projected to grow significantly to reach US$ 4,746.6 Mn by 2026, which can be attributed to the high demand for efficient output & management in the manufacturing industry and for minimizing the costs associated with the maintenance of the assets/products/machines. In this report, PMR has segmented the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry on the basis of component type, deployment model, technology, and region. By component type, predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry is subsegmented into software and services. Services subsegment of the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry is further segmented into consulting, training, implementation & integration, and support. According to the PMR analysis of the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry, as the adoption of software increases, a corresponding increase in the demand for services is expected to be witnessed, especially during the latter half of the forecast period. During the initial phase of the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry, the consulting and implementation & integration segments are expected to witness higher demand. However, as time progresses, higher demand for the support and maintenance segment is expected in the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry. Based on deployment model, the predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry is subsegmented into on-premise and cloud. In 2017, the on-premise segment is expected to dominate the predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry. However, the cloud segment is expected to exhibit a higher double digit-growth rate during the forecast period in the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry owing to the increasing demand for adopting cloud technology across all the regions. The deployment of predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry simplifies the integration of advanced technologies with the software and, furthermore, assists in the global advent of Industry 4.0. Increasing awareness about the advantages associated with the deployment of predictive maintenance over cloud is another factor expected to fuel the growth of the segment in the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry, in terms of value, during the forecast period. Demand for Reduced Downtime & Low Maintenance Costs from Manufacturers Boosting Revenue Growth in the Predictive Maintenance Market for Manufacturing Industry Moreover, the predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry report also includes a qualitative analysis of the integration of machine learning, deep learning, and Big Data & analytics with predictive maintenance and an assessment of the opportunities in the future with an increase in the adoption of these solutions. At the global level, the maximum adoption of the aforementioned integrated solution is witnessed among the North American and European manufacturing companies. Request For Sample : https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10394 Furthermore, on the basis of geography, North America predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry is expected to dominate the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry due to the large presence of solution providers, availability of resources for offering advanced solutions, and maximum penetration of Industry 4.0 in the region. Moreover, the predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry has high potential in SEA & Others of APAC and China owing to the presence of numerous manufacturing companies in these regions and an increase in the adoption of advanced technologies to increase the efficiency associated with the same. Request For TOC : https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/10394 According to PMR analysis, initiatives undertaken by governments to enhance the efficiency of manufacturing plants/machines, transition from on-premise to cloud, increasing awareness among end-users, and high growth opportunities in developing countries are likely to boost the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry. Some of the market participants in the global predictive maintenance market for manufacturing industry report include IBM Corporation, Software AG, SAS Institute Inc., PTC Inc., Schneider Electric, Rockwell Automation, eMaint, Robert Bosch GmbH, SAP SE, and General Electric. Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- Labels and stickers play an essential role when a product requires identification with any symbol, word or idea. These labels and stickers can be kept unused for a long time without losing its adhesive. This is made possible with the use of release liners. Release liners are products made up of paper or plastic films that carry sticky substrate until its use. Paper release liners are made up of calendered paper combined with silicone to offer excellent strength. Paper release liners are compostable and recyclable and find useful applications nowadays due to rising environmental concern. Paper release liners can be used with different labelling technologies including adhesive applied, pressure sensitive labelling, in-mold and sleeving. Paper release liners are suitable for different substrates which make them a competitive edge over its plastic counterparts. Overall the outlook for the global paper release liners market is expected to be positive during the next decade. Paper Release Liners Market: Dynamics Tapes, pressure sensitive labels, and graphic arts among others are some global applications where the strength of release liner is essential for adhesive coating, converting and die-cutting. In case of labels, paper release liners are designed to perform in high-speed automated equipment. These factors are expected to fuel the growth of the global paper release liners market during the next decade. Usually, paper release liners are manufactured as single layered silicone liners and double layered silicone liners. Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-9088 In medical and hygiene markets, paper release liners are utilized for various useful applications including wound dressings, electrodes, transdermal patches, baby diapers and feminine care products. Besides, paper release liners are also used for warning labels, tire labels, barcode labels, stickers, adhesive bandages, interior design elements and indoor/outdoor notices among others. The adoption of innovative techniques for the packaging of food products is expected to push the demand for the paper release liners. Paper release liners offer recyclability and reduce carbon footprint coupled with rising consumer focus on reducing wastage. These factors are expected to propel the growth of the global paper release liners market during the forecast period. Paper Release Liners Market: Segmentation Globally, the Paper Release Liners market has been segmented on the basis of substrate, labelling technology, application, and region: On the basis of substrate, the global paper release liners market has been segmented as: Poly-coated Paper Silicone-coated Paper Glassine Clay-coated Paper Others On the basis of labelling technology, the global paper release liners market has been segmented as: In-mold Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Applied Sleeving On the basis of application, the global paper release liners market has been segmented as: Graphic Arts Medical & Hygiene Industrial Tapes Others Regional Outlook The paper release liners market is expected to be dominated by Asian region owing to the presence of a large number of manufacturers and vendor in the region. China is supposed to be the manufacturing hub of the world due to the high rate of production in the country. Apart from these countries such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to offer excellent business opportunities in the next few years. North America region, dominated by the U.S., which is home to some of the major manufacturers in the world, is expected to offer lucrative opportunities for the growth of paper release liners during the next decade. Similar trends are followed by Canada market also. In Europe, the countries such as Germany, France, the U.K. and Italy among other developed nations are supposed to witness average growth in the paper liners market. The government in these countries is imposing the ban on the use of plastic products, which act as a positive factor for the growth of paper release liners in the region. Paper release liners market is expected to witness positive growth prospects during the next decade. Request Report for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-9088 Paper Release Liners Market: Key Players Some of the leading players operating in the global paper release liners market are: Fox River Associates, LLC Loparex Mondi Group Avery Dennison Corporation 3M Gascogne Group UPM Rayven Inc. Loparex Holding B.V. Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- This study focuses on the production side and consumption side of Pure Cashmere, presents the global Pure Cashmere market size by manufacturers, regions, type and application, history breakdown data from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025. In terms of production side, this report researches the Pure Cashmere capacity, production, value, ex-factory price, growth rate, market share for major manufacturers, regions (or countries) and product type. In terms of consumption side, this report focuses on the consumption of Pure Cashmere by regions and application. The key regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central & South America, Middle East and Africa etc. Pure Cashmere is grown in the goat epidermis, covered in the root of the goat coarse hair, grow out in winter, to resist the cold, fall off when the spring coming, adapt to the climate naturally, belong to rare special animal fiber. Pure Cashmere industry has growth in Europe market. Currently, Europe market mainly imports pure cashmere from China and Mongolia. The main market players are Gobi, GOYO, Cashmere Holding, Erdos Group, Kingdeer, Viction Cashmere and Dongrong Group, etc. The Europe sales of Pure Cashmere will increase to 2309.95 MT in 2017 from 2349.13 MT in 2012. As for consumption, Italy and UK are the mainly consumption regions due to the bigger demand of downstream applications. In 2016, these two regions occupied 97.25% of the Europe consumption volume in total. Pure Cashmere has different grades, which include white cashmere, cyan cashmere, purple cashmere and others. And the price also differs from grade. With growing demand of pure cashmere, the sales of pure cashmere would increase in the following several years. Meanwhile, the manufacturers engaged in the industry are trying to produce pure cashmere with extraordinary properties.Pure cashmere is sourced from goat. Over 95% of the cashmere goats are distributed in dry areas, mainly in arid, semiarid and desert area of Tibet. Globally, China, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan have become the major cashmere producers and exporters. We tend to believe this industry is a rising industry, and the consumption increasing degree will show a smooth growth curve. And the price presents fluctuation according to the economy development status and international competition. Also, there is fluctuation in gross margin.The Pure Cashmere market was valued at xx Million US$ in 2017 and is projected to reach xx Million US$ by 2025, at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Pure Cashmere. Get your Sample Copy of Report @https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/720443/global-pure-cashmere-industry-research-report-growth-trends-and-competitive-analysis- This report includes the following manufacturers; we can also add the other companies as you want. Gobi GOYO Cashmere Holding Sor Cashmere Erdos Group Kingdeer Viction Cashmere Dongrong Group Ningxia St.Edenweiss International Enterprises Group Tianshan Wool Market Segment by Product Type White Cashmere Cyan Cashmere Purple Cashmere Others Market Segment by Application Cashmere Clothing Cashmere Accessory Cashmere Home Textiles Global Pure Cashmere Market by Region North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa. Get your Detail Copy of Report @https://www.qyresearch.com/index/detail/720443/global-pure-cashmere-industry-research-report-growth-trends-and-competitive-analysis-2018-2025 Benefits of Purchasing QY Research Report - Analyst Support: Get you query resolved from our expert analysts before and after purchasing the report - Customer's Satisfaction: Our expert team will assist with all your research needs and customize the report - Inimitable Expertise: Analysts will provide deep insights about the reports - Assured Quality: We focus on the quality and accuracy of the report Get Full Report for USD 5600 delivery time within 24 hours @https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/ae5cc0dd6c207368d42094919a975416,0,1,Global%20Pure%20Cashmere%20Industry%20Research%20Report,%20Growth%20Trends%20and%20Competitive%20Analysis%202018-2025 About QYResearch QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become the brand of quality assurance in consulting industry. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- Diphenyl oxide also known as DPO or diphenyl ether is a an organic compound with the chemical formula O(C6H5)2. Like other phenyl rings, diphenyl oxide is subject to various reactions like hydroxylation, halogenation, nitration, Friedel Crafts alkylation and sulfonation. Diphenyl oxide is a colorless sticky liquid with a pleasant odor. Diphenyl oxide may sink or float in water depending on its density. Freezing point of diphenyl oxide is approximately 81F. Diphenyl Oxide is easily reactive with oxidizing materials. Diphenyl Oxide can be used as a heat transfer medium when mixed with biphenyl. Such a mixture is used as heat transfer medium due to its high temperature range. Production of polyamide and polyimide also involves the use of diphenyl oxide when used in the production of phenoxathiin. Moreover, diphyenyl oxide is also used as a flame retardant in the production and manufacturing of reinforced plastics and paints. Diphenyl oxide is a key product used as a raw material in the manufacturing of various industrial products namely fragrances, chemical intermediates, flame retardants and heat transfer fluids. The global diphenyl oxide market can be segmented on the basis of raw materials, applications, and regions. On the basis of raw materials, the global diphenyl oxide market can be segmented into copper, potassium hydroxide, chlorobenzene, phenol, cupric sulfate, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. On account of applications, the global diphenyl oxide market can be segmented into production of heat transfer fluids, fragrance materials and flame retardants. On the basis of regions, the global diphenyl oxide market can be segmented into North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific excluding Japan and Japan. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9092 The global diphenyl market is mainly driven by the increasing use of perfumes in soaps and detergents. The high growth in solar power market is also driving the growth of the global diphenyl oxide market. Increasing use of diphenyl oxide in flavoring substances, perfume chemicals and heat transfer liquids are another major factors fuelling the growth of the global diphenyl oxide market. Moreover, low reactivity, low polarity, high solvency, pleasant odor, high thermal stability, high boiling point and high purity (around 99.99%) are some other factors driving the growth of the global diphenyl oxide market. Another major driver boosting the growth of the global diphenyl oxide market is the low prices of diphenyl oxide thus soap and detergent industries are deploying diphenyl oxide as the key fragrant. One of the key reasons catalyzing the decline in growth of the global diphenyl oxide market is its hazardous character. Inhalation of pure diphenyl oxide may cause nausea because of disagreeable odor of pure diphenyl oxide. Another challenge faced by the diphenyl oxide market is the high combustible character of diphenyl oxide which is forcing the consumers to switch to other products similar to diphenyl oxide. Raw material pricing fluctuations may act as another restraint in the growth of global diphenyl oxide market. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9092 Some of the major players involved in the manufacturing of diphenyl oxide are Solutia Inc., Eastman chemical company, Beijing Hua Yang Zhicheng Technology Co., Ltd., Eurolabs Limited, Leancare Ltd., Cambridge Isotope Laboratories Inc., 2A Pharma Chem USA, Capot Chemical Co. Ltd., ABCR GmbH & CO. KG and others. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/04/2019 -- The market intelligence report on the Smart Coatings market forecasts its growth during the years 2019 to 2026. It examines the market size, share, demand, trends, gross revenue, total earnings and net value after a historical analysis of the data collected from the years 2013 to 2017 while taking 2018 as the base year. The study focuses on the driving factors, restrains and hurdles for the growth of the market. The researcher gives market insights relating to the upcoming areas in the business and the impact of technological innovations on the growth of the market. The major players covered in this Smart Coatings market report are AkzoNobel (Netherlands), PPG Industries (US), Axalta Coatings Systems (US), The Sherwin-Williams Company (US), Jotun (Norway), RPM International (US), Hempel (Denmark), NEI Corporation (US), Others Free sample copy of Smart Coatings report available on demand@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/33252 It sheds light on the major companies that contribute significantly to the global sector. The report studies the presence of these companies in major geographical regions and their individual placement in the worldwide business. It helps in projecting the growth of Smart Coatings through the years and in predicting its expansion in the forecasted time span. The increase in the demand for the product is boosting the overall production to ensure a smooth functioning demand-supply chain. The research segments the market based on product type, applications and end-use. It profiles the key players of the business and their individual contribution to the global economy. The report focuses on significant investments, business ventures, mergers, acquisitions, collaborations along with the technological developments in the field. It also evaluates the upcoming and niche areas in the business. The researcher aims to offer expert insights related to the industry and the new opportunities available in the market. Scope of the report: The study aims to provide a forecast of the growth of the Smart Coatings market by examining the market size, share, demand, trends, and gross revenue of the industry. Further, it provides a competitive analysis and SWOT analysis. The report segments the industry based on product type, application and end-use. It highlights the emerging trends as well as the novel technology that are visible in the market. The research offers a clear look at the trends observed in the market, the contributing factors, major stakeholders, key companies and prime areas that exhibit a potential for growth. Market split by Type, can be divided into: - Single Layer - Multi-Layer Market split by Application, can be divided into: - Automotive & Transportation - Aerospace & Defense - Marine - Others Order Now (Customized report delivered as per your specific requirement)@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/33252 Geographically, this Smart Coatings market report studies the top producers and consumers in these key regions: - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Other Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa) We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions: North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & Africa In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Smart Coatings are as follows: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast Year 2019 to 2026 The report on the Smart Coatings market employs both primary and secondary research to examine its import and export, demand and supply, consumption power, spending capacity and distribution channel worldwide. The report evaluates the market standing of key manufacturers and sheds light on the strategies they have adopted to stay competitive. The study also applies qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the annual and financial performance of the top vendors and insights from market leaders. Extensive coverage of the recent trends and developments including joint ventures, collaborations, investments, product launches and acquisitions and mergers constitute a substantial part of the research on the Smart Coatings market for the forecast period from 2019 to 2026. Free sample copy of Smart Coatings report available on demand@ https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/33252 The study objectives of this report are: - What will be the growth rate of the Smart Coatings market for the forecast period, 2019 to 2026? What will be the market size and the share occupied by the prominent vendors by the estimated period? - What are challenges and threats faced by the prominent vendors operating in the Smart Coatings market? - Who are the prominent vendors and what has been their business strategy so far to maintain a competitive edge over their competitors? - What are the past, present and emerging trends likely to influence the growth rate of the Smart Coatings market for the forecast period, 2019 to 2026? - What are the opportunities prominent vendors can bank on to generate more profits during the estimated period? The report is distributed over 15 Chapters to display the analysis of the global Smart Coatings market. Chapter 1 covers the Smart Coatings Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2 talks about the top manufacturers and analyses their sales, revenue and pricing decisions for the duration 2016 and 2017; Chapter 3 displays the competitive nature of the market by discussing the competition among the top manufacturers. It dissects the market using sales, revenue and market share data for 2016 and 2017; Chapter 4, shows the global market by regions and the proportionate size of each market region based on sales, revenue and market share of Smart Coatings, for the period 2012- 2017; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, are dedicated to the analysis of the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions; Continued. Browse complete Smart Coatings report description And Full TOC @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/industry-overview/smart-coatings-market About MarketExpertz Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Market Expertz | Web: www.marketexpertz.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 E-mail: sales@marketexpertz.com News: www.marketexpertz.com/market-news New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2019 -- Study papers on Tea Tree Essential Oil market and regional forecast. Tea Tree Essential Oil market top players including are ATTIA, AOS, Health and Beauty Natural Oils, Kanta Group, Ausoil, Bontoux, The Australian Essential Oil, Paras Perfumers, Charkit Chemical Corporation, Albert Vieille, Augustus Oils, Azelis UK Life Sciences, Advanced Biotech. Download FREE Sample Brochure of Tea Tree Essential Oil Market @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/sample/24900 The recent report, Tea Tree Essential Oil market fundamentally discovers insights that enable stakeholders, business owners and field marketing executives to make effective investment decisions driven by facts rather than guesswork. The study aims at listening, analyzing and delivering actionable data on the competitive landscape to meet the unique requirements of the companies and individuals operating in the Tea Tree Essential Oil market for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025. To enable firms to understand the Tea Tree Essential Oil industry in various ways the report thoroughly assesses the share, size and growth rate of the business worldwide. The study explores what the future Tea Tree Essential Oil market will look like. Most importantly, the research familiarizes product owners with whom the immediate competitors are and what buyers expect and what are the effective business strategies adopted by prominent leaders. To help both established companies and new entrants not only see the disruption but also see opportunities. In-depth exploration of how the industry behaves, including assessment of government bodies, financial organization and other regulatory bodies. Beginning with a macroeconomic outlook, the study drills deep into the sub-categories of the industry and evaluation of the trends influencing the business. Purchase Tea Tree Essential Oil Market Research Report@ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/checkout/24900 Global Tea Tree Essential Oil Market Analysis by Application 1 Global Tea Tree Essential Oil Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2019) 2 Global Tea Tree Essential Oil Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2019) 3 Market Drivers and Opportunities 3.1 Potential Applications 3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries The extensive documentation of the Tea Tree Essential Oil industry gives access to all the factors expected to influence the growth prospect of the business worldwide. Nobel effort to capture the factors that impede the growth of the market is clearly visible in the report. These factors result in an effective and reliable branding and promotion and marketing plan. In addition, comprehensive coverage of recent advancements, product nearing development stage, project pipeline, and major industrial players offer all the confidence a business owner needs to design a business strategy that will drive company's success. Understanding what the audience is looking for in a report the researchers behind this attunes deliverables according to their needs such as product price, demand and supply status, end-use, profit and others. By operating in close alignment with the major vendors, the researchers have customized the literature based on universal perspective as well as comprehensive knowledge of the local business owners. The document further aims at addressing the different challenges and opportunities of carrying out business operations in North America and beyond. The Research Provides Answers to the Following Key Questions: - What is the size of occupied by the prominent leaders for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025? What will be the share and the growth rate of the Tea Tree Essential Oil Market during the forecast period? - Which companies are dominating the competitive landscape across different region and what strategies have they applied to gain a competitive edge? - What are the major factors responsible for the growth of the Tea Tree Essential Oil market across the different regions? - What are the challenges faced by the companies operating in the Tea Tree Essential Oil Market? - What are the future prospects for the Tea Tree Essential Oil Market industry in the coming years? - Which trends are likely to contribute to the development rate of the Tea Tree Essential Oil industry during the forecast period, 2019 to 2025? - What are the future prospects of the Tea Tree Essential Oil industry for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025? View Full Report With TOC @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/24900/tea-tree-essential-oil-market About Market Growth Insight Market Growth Insight is a one stop solution for market research reports in various business categories. We are serving 100+ clients with 10000+ diverse industry reports and our reports are developed to simplify strategic decision making, on the basis of comprehensive and in-depth significant information, established through wide ranging analysis and latest industry trends. Contact us : 502, Sai Radhe, Kenedy Road, Behind Hotel Sheraton Grand, Near Pune Station, Pune-411001, Maharashtra, India. sales@marketgrowthinsight.com + 91 8956 049 020 A new species of ancient whale ancestor has been identified from a fossilized skeleton found in Peru. Named Peregocetus pacificus, the four-legged whale lived approximately 43 million years ago (middle Eocene epoch). Its skeleton was discovered in marine sediments at Playa Media Luna on the southern coast of Peru. It was analyzed by Dr. Olivier Lambert of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and his colleagues from Italy, France and Peru. This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas, and the most complete outside India and Pakistan, Dr. Lambert said. Anatomical details of the skeleton allowed the paleontologists to infer that the animal was capable of maneuvering its large body (up to 4 m, or 13 feet, long, tail included), both on land and in the water. For instance, features of the caudal vertebrae (in the tail) are reminiscent of those of beavers and otters, suggesting a significant contribution of the tail during swimming. The presence of small hooves at the tip of the whales fingers and toes and its hip and limbs morphology all suggest that this whale could walk on land, Dr. Lambert and co-authors explained. On the other hand, anatomical features of the tail and feet, including long, likely webbed appendages, similar to an otter, indicate that it was a good swimmer too. The geological age of Peregocetus pacificus and its presence along the western coast of South America strongly support the hypothesis that early cetaceans reached the New World across the South Atlantic, from the western coast of Africa to South America. The whales would have been assisted in their travel by westward surface currents and by the fact that, at the time, the distance between the two continents was half what it is today, the researchers said. Only after having reached South America, the amphibious whales migrated northward, finally reaching North America. The research was published online this week in the journal Current Biology. _____ Olivier Lambert et al. An Amphibious Whale from the Middle Eocene of Peru Reveals Early South Pacific Dispersal of Quadrupedal Cetaceans. Current Biology, published online April 4, 2019; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.050 According to a preliminary accident report, the pilots of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX that crashed on March 10 were unable to manually counter significant nose-down trim before losing control of the airplane in a dive that reached 500 knots. The report, released by the Ethiopian government Thursday, confirms that the MAX 8s MCAS subsystem, a stall-protection add-on, rolled in nearly maximum nose-down trim in response to a faulty angle-of-attack sensor. But the report, which draws no final conclusions, is silent on whether the crew simply didnt know how to use mechanical manual trim or if trim input was inhibited because the airplane was flying at such high speed. The pilots retained takeoff/climb power throughout the accident sequence. Ethiopian Airlines said that following the crash of a Lion Air MAX 8 last October in Indonesia, the crew was briefed on Boeing-provided information on how to disable MCAS. And although some mainstream news organizations have reported that the Ethiopian pilots followed Boeings checklist, the report suggests they departed from it in one key detail: After initially disabling electric trim to isolate MCAS, they reengaged it later, allowing the malfunctioning system to trim the airplane nearly full nose-down. MCASManeuvering Characteristic Augmentation Systemwas added to the MAX series because the engines are heavier and mounted farther forward than on previous 737 models. As a result, in flight test, the airplane demonstrated a pitch-up tendency at high angles of attack and/or high load factors. To counter this, MCAS automatically adds nose-down trim at high angles of attack when the airplane is hand flown with the flaps up. Boeing has described it as a stall-protection system, but it also increases perceived pitch force before stall angle of attack is reached. MCAS is fed by a single AoA sensor and in both crashes, the sensor furnished inaccurate information to the flight computer. The Ethiopian report said that the left-side AoA indicated 74.5 degrees less than a minute after takeoff, while the right side indicated 15.3 degrees. This activated the left-side stick shaker and MCAS eventually responded by rolling in nose-down trim. It also gave the crew airspeed and altitude disagree alerts between the left and right side displays. Following Lion Air, Boeings guidance for this situationpublished in the Ethiopian preliminary reportcalled for several steps that combine its existing standard runaway trim with the MCASs peculiarities. Specifically, the checklist calls for disengaging the autopilot and autothrottles and, if the runaway continues, setting electric trim to the cutout position, disabling electric trim. Boeing said it should remain off for the remainder of the flight. The checklist advises to trim manually with the mechanical wheel and to anticipate trim requirements. Following Lion Air, Boeing also said that a significant out-of-trim condition caused by a runaway could first be corrected with electric trim before the cutouts are used. Flight data appears to show that the Ethiopian crew didnt do this. At 5:38:58, the captain, who was flying, called for the first officer to engage the autopilot, opposite of Boeings guidance. At that point, the crew had a left side stick shaker, some of the fault warnings and a master caution light Boeing listed, including airspeed and altitude disagree. Its unclear if this had any bearing on the accident scenario, since MCAS is disabled when the autopilot is engaged. (The autopilot disengaged 33 seconds later.) Shortly after the autopilot disengaged, the FDR showed that automatic nose-down trim activated for nine seconds, confirming that MCAS was reacting to and trying to resolve the erroneous AoA indication. The captain countered this with electric trim with his yoke thumb switch and later asked the first officer to trim up with him. The aircraft began a series of pitch and altitude excursions, but the power was never reduced below 94% N1, an unusually high power setting. After struggling against the automatic pitch trim and excursions for several seconds, at 5:40:35about two and half minutes after takeoffthe first officer called stab trim cutout twice. The captain concurred and the report indicates the cutouts were used. The 737s trim system is operated by an electric motor/jackscrew arrangement that trims by moving the entire horizontal stabilizer. In the event of a trim runaway, the cutout switches on the lower pedestal disable the electric motor. But the 737 still has manual mechanical trim wheels on either side of the pedestal that are accessible to both pilots. Six seconds later, the FDR showed that more automatic nose-down trim was commanded, indicating that MCAS was still sensing high AoA. However, the data showed the stabilizer didnt respond to this command, confirming that the cutout switches were engaged. MCAS can only move the stabilizer if electric trim is active. The report indicates that shortly after the cutouts were used, the trim gradually moved nose-down from 2.3 to 2.1 units. Its unclear why this happened, since electric trim was disabled. At this point, according to the report, both pilots were exerting pitch-up force on the control columns, after the captain asked the FO to assist him. At 5:41:46a little over four and a half minutes after takeoffthe captain asks the FO if the trim is functional. The FO replied that it wasnt and asked the captain if he could trim manually. Whats unclear is if the FO meant trim manually with his yoke-mounted electric trim switch or the 737s mechanical wheel. The training manual for the 737 MAX includes a warning that excessive airloads on the stabilizer could require the effort of both pilots to correct a mistrim condition. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to aerodynamically relieve airloads to allow manual trimming. Accellerate or decelrate towards the in-trim speed while attempting to trim manually, the training guidance says. The data indicates the stabilizer was never moved manually mechanically. However, 32 seconds before the crash, the FDR trace revealed two momentary manual electric trim inputs commanding nose-up from 2.1 to 2.3 units. This indicates that counter to Boeings guidance, the crew reengaged electric trim, allowing MCAS to once again regain control of the stabilizer. In five seconds, it moved the trim nose down from 2.3 to 1.0 unit, a value thats nearly maximum nose-down in the 737, according to sources AVweb contacted for this story. The aircraft reached 40 degrees pitch down before impacting at 500 knots, according to the FOs data. According to the report, power was never reduced from the takeoff/climb value. Ethiopian Airlines said that its pilots did follow the Boeing guidance and in a press statement, the airline said, We are very proud of our pilots compliances to follow the emergency procedures and high level of professional performances in such extremely difficult situations. For its part, Boeing continues work on a new software package for the 737 MAX, but its not known when it will be available. For the time being, more than 370 MAX series 737s remain grounded throughout the world. In a press statement, Boeing said, The preliminary report contains flight data recorder information indicating the airplane had an erroneous angle-of-attack sensor input that activated the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) function during the flight, as it had during the Lion Air 610 flight. To ensure unintended MCAS activation will not occur again, Boeing has developed and is planning to release a software update to MCAS and an associated comprehensive pilot training and supplementary education program for the 737 MAX. As previously announced, the update adds additional layers of protection and will prevent erroneous data from causing MCAS activation. Flight crews will always have the ability to override MCAS and manually control the airplane. Image: Top Choice Automobile Sales The passenger of a passing truck was killed when a Robinson R44 attempted to make an emergency landing on a road in Palm River, Florida, on Thursday afternoon. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, one of the helicopters rotor blades broke off after hitting a telephone pole and struck the truck, killing the passenger. The driver of the truck was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition and one of the two pilots onboard the helicopter was hospitalized for some heat exhaustion and some dehydration issues. The identities of those involved have not yet been released. The Sherriffs Office reported that the helicopter suffered catastrophic engine failure while it was being transported to Sarasota after having been in for service. No further details have been given on what kind of maintenance was performed. As shown in the video below, the pilot was able to autorotate the helicopter enough to make a hard landing. The accident occurred at 2:21 p.m. local time on 50th Street at Palm River Road. The NTSB is investigating. The company was formed with a joint investment by Guangzhou Haigang Business Travel Co. (a subsidiary of Guangzhou Port Group) and CCCC Urban Investment Holding Co. Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Homeport Operation & Management Co. has started to communicate with cruise lines this week, and is expecting to confirm bookings up to 2020. Two berths in first phase In 2015, CCCC Urban Investment Company and CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. won the bid for the Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Homeport project. The cruise port is located inside Nansha free trade zone. The first phase project includes one berth for ships up to 100,000gt and one for ships up to 225,000gt, plus a passenger terminal. The port is scheduled to open for trial operation in October and to begin official operation in November. . " -" . , , . , " ". , - ... The newbuildings are currently under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and deliveries are scheduled in 2019 and 2020. Two of the shuttle tankers will commence operations under Teekay Offshore Partners agreement with Equinor, while the other two will join the companys contract of affreightment shuttle tanker portfolio in the North Sea. The new facility is funded and guaranteed by both Canadian and Norwegian export credit agencies and commercial banks. We are grateful for the continued strong support we receive from our growing bank group, as represented by our new $414m debt facility, commented Ingvild Sther, president and ceo of Teekay Offshore Group. Teekay Offshore currently owns 60 offshore assets including FPSOs, FSOs, shuttle tankers, long distance towing and offshore installation vessels, and a unit for maintenance and safety. Press Release April 5, 2019 De Lima warns vs foreign-aided state surveillance Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed alarm over persistent reports of surveillance by state and foreign entities targeting individuals critical of the policies of the government, including Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. De Lima, a human rights and social justice champion, said it seems that the government has no qualms to resort to surveillance with the aid of foreign governments to freely spy on Filipinos, especially those who are critical of the administration. "I am alarmed at persistent talks about state surveillance with the aid of foreign governments obviously meant to silence the administration's critics. This government callously admitted it receives wiretapped communication from foreign countries," she said. Last month, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo admitted that the government has based its so-called "narco-list" from the wiretapped information from foreign governments monitoring drug syndicates operating in the country. He named Israel, America, Russia and China among those foreign countries that supplied wiretapped communication of politicians suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade either as financiers or protectors. After earning public criticisms for such admission, considering that wiretapping is prohibited under Philippine laws, Panelo recanted his claim and reasoned out that he "used the wrong word" in his earlier claim. Last March 19, a group of international lawyers who visited the country to investigate the continued spate of killings of lawyers had complained that they were being subjected to surveillance by state agents. Recently, Justice Carpio who has been vocal against the PHL-China loan agreement for the construction of Chico River Irrigation Project claimed he has reasons to believe that his email communications and phone conversations are being monitored by China. "A prominent Supreme Court associate justice who unfailingly asserts the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea, Justice Carpio is allegedly subjected to illegal surveillance by China," the former justice secretary pointed out. "This should be enough to remind us all that our safety and rights to privacy, let alone freedom of opinion and expression, are already at risk under this administration," she added. Carpio was part of the Philippine delegation to The Hague when the Philippines pressed its claims against China in the South China Sea, locally referred to as the West Philippine Sea. "Tuwing magkakaroon ng nakakabahalang isyu, lalo na kapag sangkot ang Tsina, 'di talaga nauubusan ng joke ang administrasyong Duterte. Puro palusot ang alam!" said the lady Senator from Bicol. According to De Lima, Mr. Duterte is betraying public trust by encouraging foreign states, if any, to spy on his own people. "The duty of the State is to protect its citizens and not to sell information to foreign entities," she said. She said she considers surveillance as "targeted state action by increasingly authoritarian regime that is meant to stifle dissent in the guise of fighting criminality." In September 2017, Duterte admitted he ordered the wiretapping of politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade, saying "they were all tapped." De Lima herself was not spared. In 2016, Duterte claimed to have received wiretapped conversation and automated teller machine records that allegedly revealed the Senator's purported connections on illegal drugs, a claim that remains unproven to date. De Lima calls such a claim a pure invention. De Lima, the first critic of the administration's war on drugs, remains detained at the PNP-Custodial Center in Cramp Crame, Quezon City due to bogus drug charges and manufactured evidence, borne out of Duterte's personal vendetta against her. Press Release April 5, 2019 De Lima writes 500th Dispatch, urges Paulo Duterte to show back tattoo After roughly two years and two months since she was unjustly detained on trumped-up drug charges, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has released her 500th Dispatch from Crame where she called on presidential son Paolo Duterte to show his tattoo on his back to disprove his reported involvement in the illegal drug trade. De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the present administration, said it should be easy for Duterte to show his back tattoo before the Filipino public if he is not hiding anything. "There's just one easy thing to do on the part of Paolo Duterte to put closure to this lingering issue about his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. Show his back. Does he have a tattoo or not? If so, what tattoo? Simple! Is that too much to ask? Aren't tattoos meant to be shown or displayed?" she asked. A video uploaded on Youtube last April 2 by "Ang Totoong Narco List" entitled "Ang Totoong Narco List- Episode 1" has been making the rounds online after it tagged Duterte as among the personalities involved in illegal drug operations. The video already has 140,000 views as of this writing. A certain "Bikoy," who introduced himself in the video as a former member of a large drug syndicate whose job was to record the group's transactions, alleged that Duterte was among the syndicate leaders who received kickbacks from the illegal drug trade. Bikoy said the dragon tattoo on Duterte's back can prove the latter's ties to a drug trafficking triad, adding that the code located at the upper portion of the dragon is similar to one of his supposed codenames in the Tara: ALPHA TIERRA-0029. Note that a syndicate leader with a code name "Polo Delta G01" and "Alpha Tierra-0029" - which Bikoy later on revealed to be Duterte - received P25 million and P20 million in four batches through the bank accounts named under CARPIOREYESWALDO and CARPIOWALDO. The supposed owner of Duterte's dummy accounts pointed at Department of Agriculture Secretary Waldo Carpio, the brother of Manases Carpio, who is married to Mr. Duterte's sister, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. If he has nothing to hide, the lady Senator from Bicol said Mr. Duterte should not let another opportunity to pass for him to prove that his conscience is clean by showing his back tattoo. "He had a chance to do that during the Senate hearing when challenged by Sen. Trillanes. He blew it. Here's another chance. If he has nothing to hide, Polong must go for it," he said. It may be recalled that during the Senate hearing on the P6.4-billion smuggling of 604 kilos of methamphetamine or shabu into the Philippines in 2017, Sen. Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV accused Mr. Duterte of being part of a triad, a syndicate involved in a number of criminal activities. Mr. Duterte may have already denied his involvement in the illegal drug trade in a recent interview claiming that certain "JS" whom he described as a smuggler of rice and sugar is wrongly accusing him, but the presidential son is yet to let the public see his tattoo. Even without access to any electronic gadget and communication device, De Lima continues to regularly write and issue dispatches not only on social, economic and political issues but also on her reflections about the political persecution in the hands of the Duterte administration, and even personal and family matters. By Diane Mar-Nicolle A team of researchers from Canada and the U.S. has found that a newly identified genetic variant can cause sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which may explain certain cases of sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI). The research was conducted at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of biomedical physiology and kinesiology professor Glen Tibbits, who is also an investigator at BC Childrens Hospital. SUDI is a devastating occurrence for parents and health-care practitioners, particularly when post-mortem analysis is unable to pinpoint the cause of death, Tibbits says. Thanks to post-mortem molecular genetic testing and innovative new technologies using induced pluripotent stem cells and genome editing, a significant number of SUDI cases can be attributed to SCA. The work stemmed from Sanam Shafaattalabs PhD research and included contributions from fellow SFU researchers Alison Li, Eric Lin, Laura Dewar and Charlie Stevens. The team also received assistance from researchers at BC Childrens Hospital Research Institute, UBC, the University of Calgary and Ohio State University to develop the experimental platform used to assess genetic variants that could potentially be causal in sudden cardiac death of infants. (SCDI). Using this platform, the team was able to introduce the TNNI1 R37C+/- variant into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and differentiate them into beating heart cells in the lab. Monitoring heart beat patterns under control conditions allowed the team to detect abnormal electrical activity or arrhythmias. Tibbits explains that in people without the genetic variant, as ones heart rate increases with exercise or stress, the period of electrical excitation shortens to accommodate the higher rates. However, in people with this genetic variant, the shortened period of electrical excitation does not occur. Instead, Tibbits says that the mutation disrupts neonatal cardiac physiology by altering how calcium in the heart cells is handled. This can then trigger-life threatening arrhythmias in newborns hearts, he adds. Tibbits cautions there is still work to be done before this discovery can be used to develop a treatment. However, we will now inform the cardiologists and genetic counsellors who will work with families, parents, and siblings of the deceased infants to identify carriers of this variant and to develop a strategy to reduce SUDI within that community, says Tibbits. The experimental platform developed by the team will also be useful in investigating other types of inherited arrhythmias induced by other genetic variants that might increase the risk for SCA. The study was funded by the Stem Cell Network of Canada and CIHR and was published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The government has secured its second-largest forestry planting partnership as part of its one billion tree programme. Te Uru Rakau the Ministry of Primary Industries forestry arm has agreed to joint venture with Kaipara-based Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust in the planting of 2,843 hectares of commercial forest on the Pouto Peninsula in coming years. The scale of the planting, expected to start this year, is second only to the 2.1 million trees the Crown will help plant on 3,195 ha of Ngati Hine land, also in Northland. That work was to have started last year and is expected to continue beyond 2020. The next largest project under the Crown partnership scheme covers 1,378 ha that the Accident Compensation Corporation is planting in Otaqo this year and the following two years, according to MPI data. Te Uru Rakau has so far signed up 21 partnerships as part of the one billion tree programme. The collectively cover 13,460 ha, more than half the 24,000 ha Forestry Minister Shane Jones says is the target. These agreements are seeing planting and silviculture jobs created that werent there before, he said in a statement. Theyre offering landowners, including Maori, the ability to diversify income and improve land productivity, and theyre creating real environmental and social benefits too." The partnership scheme has attracted more than 260 inquiries and planting of another 10,000 ha, across 35 properties, is currently under negotiation, he said. Jones was in Northland today where he and Economic Development Minister David Parker also announced an investment by the Provincial Growth Fund of up to $18.5 million to investigate, and potentially develop, community-scale water storage projects in Kaipara and the mid-North. Te Uri o Hau owns the 600 ha Rototuna Forest. It acquired the forest when Meridian Energy ended plans for a wind farm in the area and in 2017 granted cutting rights to China Forestry Group. Officials said that, after allowing for land preparation, 300-500 ha of the new forest on the peninsula may be planted this year. Also announced today was a Crown partnership with Tapuwae Inc. to plant to 800 hectares in the Tapuwae Forest in Hokianga. Between 100 and 200 ha of that planting is expected to get underway this year. That is the fourth-largest land area committed through partnerships. MPI estimates the 21 partnerships agreed to date will see almost 11.7 million trees planted. The Crowns investment, including land rent, forestry establishment, maintenance and harvest costs is estimated at $140.7 million. About 57,000 ha of exotics were planted in New Zealand last year. To reach the governments one billion trees by 2028 target which also includes natives that annual planting rate has to almost double and be sustained for a decade. In February, Jones said increased private sector planting could see 1.4 billion trees planted by 2028. To encourage that, the government has committed about $485 million from the Provincial Growth Fund, which it is using to complement existing Crown and council afforestation schemes. Jones said there has also been more than 700 inquiries for the $118 million made available in November for direct grants to farmers and landholders for exotic planting, retirement for native regeneration and native planting. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. 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Related News: 14th December 2021 Morning Report The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Share Purchase Plan Issue Price Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Announces Revised Crown Support Package New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success Stock exchange operator NZX has cut costs by almost 27 percent since the end of 2016 and estimates expenses will fall a further 5.5-8 percent this calendar year. People are our main investment and this reduction has been primarily driven by a fall in staff numbers following the disposal of our non-core businesses last year, chair James Miller told the annual shareholders meeting. NZXs operating margin continued to improve, rising 10.2 percent in 2018, and the exchange aims to improve that further this year. Our aspiration is to align with our peers for whom the regional stock exchange average is 52 percent, Miller said. The slide he was talking to showed NZXs margin at the end of 2018 was a little below 40 percent. As you can see, we still have work to do, he said. To provide shareholders with increased transparency and reassurance that costs are being effectively managed, the board today provides greater clarity that we expect NZXs 2019 expenses to be in the range of $37-38 million, down from $40.2 million in 2018. Miller also reaffirmed previous guidance that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation will be $28-31 million. He was answering trenchant criticism of NZXs performance as a company from a number of quarters, most notably from shareholder activist Mike Daniel. Representing a group of disgruntled shareholders, Daniel had threatened a board challenge at todays AGM unless NZX committed to significantly cut costs. In answering a question from Daniel near the end of the meeting, Miller referred to his forecast of expenses and said: We dont normally, give costs guidance. Last year, NZX rejected a number of proposals from Elevation Capitals Chris Swasbrook, including his appointment to the board, which NZX rejected. However, Miller congratulated Swasbrook at the meeting on his appointment to the Financial Markets Authoritys board. While the New Zealand Shareholders Association has been critical of the NZX in the past, it voted all its proxies, which taken together count it in the top 20 shareholders, in favour of all resolutions, including Millers re-election and the election of Elaine Campbell as a director. Daniel had asked NZX to identify the costs it incurs in relation to its regulatory functions. Chief financial officer Graham Law said the biggest cost is the staffing of its regulatory arm, currently at 22 full-time equivalents, but that regulatory requirements span the full business, including the clearing house and some costs are priced into services to customers. Some of the savings being achieved are from using the work done by NZXs external auditor, KPMG, both for the companys full audit and for the clearing houses operational audit requirement. Miller said Law, who joined NZX in November 2017 and was previously managing director and chief financial officer at AMP Capital New Zealand and head of finance at ACC, had been through NZXs expenses on a line-by-line basis to work out where costs could be cut. NZSA chief executive Michael Midgley said after the meeting that I was startled that a significant investor who is raising issues (Daniel) said he was not aware that the NZX had a regulatory function with an attached significant level of cost. Miller and chief executive Mark Peterson had emphasised the work NZX has done to encourage new listings in the first quarter of 2019, NZX gained six retail debt listings totalling $1.95 billion, up from three totalling $325 million in the first quarter last year. Peterson told the meeting that NZX needs to lift the number of traded securities, the number of market participants and investor connections which should flow through to secondary trading volumes. We need to do this quickly, efficiently and without affecting the markets daily operation. That is what our core markets strategy is all about, he said. It is also the reason NZX and the FMA formed the Capital Markets 2029 committee headed by Martin Stearne, a corporate consultant and former managing director of merchant bank FNZC. Our entire organisation now focuses on deepening customer relationships, adding value and delivering growth in their respective areas. Our reputation is transforming and we are beginning to be known for putting customers at the heart of what we do, Peterson said. Make no mistake we still have a way to go, but we are heading in the right direction. For example, new participants, particularly international firms, need to be sure that price discovery from trading activity is matched on screen. This has improved materially over the last two years with 2018 levels averaging 53.4 percent and reaching a record high of 57.2 percent in December. This is well up from 2017 levels, which averaged 41.9 percent, and we would like to see further growth over time. Midgley said NZX is making progress on growth. Theyve massively listed the debt listings, which is hugely positive. From little things, big things flow. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 14th December 2021 Morning Report The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Share Purchase Plan Issue Price Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Announces Revised Crown Support Package New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success The Supreme Court rejected an attempt by local food company Talley's Group to challenge the validity of accusations it didn't do enough to prevent an accident that paralysed one of its workers. Worksafe NZ charged Talley's for failing to ensure the safety of an employee who was paralysed in May 2015 when she was hit by a falling bulk bin knocked over by a forklift. Talley's pleaded not guilty, but also challenged the validity of the charge and the way Worksafe went about prosecuting it. The regulator's original charge was thrown out by Judge Joanna Maze in the Ashburton District Court, who found Worksafe's practices were unjustifiable and amounted to circumventing the limitation period set by legislators. While the High Court agreed the charges were defective, Justice John Faire didn't agree it was an abuse of process, saying that "while concerning, the prosecutorial behaviour was not as plainly abusive as Judge Maze concluded" and giving Worksafe the benefit of the doubt. The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court, saying Worksafe's flawed charging practice was not "so egregious as to undermine public confidence in the integrity of the judicial process" and, while the document was defective, it needn't be nullified. Justices Susan Glazebrook, Mark O'Regan and Ellen France today dismissed Talley's application to take its appeal to the country's highest court. Talley's claimed the Court of Appeal was wrong to rely on the summary of facts, and was wrong not to order a stay, given the lack of particularity in the charging documents. "The arguments Talleys wishes to raise to support the contention the approach taken has given rise to a miscarriage of justice were carefully evaluated by the Court of Appeal," the judges said. "Nothing raised by Talleys suggests that a miscarriage of justice arises from that evaluation." The judges said there wasn't a question of general or public importance and that they didn't see an apparent miscarriage of justice. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 14th December 2021 Morning Report The New Zealand Refining Company Limited (NZX: NZR) Share Purchase Plan Issue Price Air New Zealand Limited (NZX: AIR) Announces Revised Crown Support Package New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZX: NZO) Mahato PSC Update 13th December 2021 Morning Report Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Capital Return - Interim Court Orders Received 10th December 2021 Morning Report Ebos Group Limited (NZX: EBO) EBOS Announces Successful Placement Pacific Edge Limited (NZX: PEB) PEB Announces Agreement with Northern Health in Australia AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) AFT welcomes Australian Federal Court appeal success New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday distanced itself from the remarks of party leader Sam Pitroda that the middle class should bear part of the cost of the party's flagship Nyay scheme, and said the money will be generated by cutting down on wasteful government expenditure as also by mobilising additional resources. Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had already spoken about how resources will be generated for Nyay. "Congress does not subscribe to this (Pitroda's) view at all. At present, the Centre and states spend Rs 60 lakh crore in running the government. A lot of it is wasteful expenditure. It is time government tightens its purse strings a little bit not by cutting down the employees of their salaries but by not spending Rs 6,000 crore on advertisement of Prime Minister in the newspapers, not spending Rs 2,500 crore on his 89 foreign visits and there are many-many heads as such," he said. He was asked about the remarks of Sam Pitroda on funding of Nyay scheme. Surjewala said when Modi "travels now to address a rally for BJP, you pay for it". "Rs 31,000 is the payment for the entire aircraft that flies the Prime Minister. Please also give me an aircraft for Rs 31,000, I will also hire. Those rates have never been revised because of obvious reasons. The exchequer currently pays for a lot of such activities," he said. He said if government's expenditure is cut down by 5 per cent , additional resources can be generated. He said the size of India's economy is expected to grow to Rs 400 lakh crore under a Congress government. "We will be able to give to middle class more tax incentives. We propose to raise tax limit further. We propose to ensure whether it is the honest taxpayer -- the salaried people -- they get more incentives and tax benefits," Surjewala said. "So, while I respect his opinion but the person who drafted the manifesto answered it for you and he categorically said don't propose to impose any tax in lieu of Nyay," he said. Pitroda told a news channel that under a Congress government, the middle class will have more opportunities and more jobs and the taxes may go up a little bit. He also said middle class should not be selfish and have a "big heart". "How can you see poor people around you and feel that somebody is going to take a 10 paisa from you. That is not India. If you and I have to tighten our belt a little bit, there is nothing wrong with it. They are our cousins, they are our brothers, sisters, and nephews." Pitroda said in a tweet that he was pained by selective editing of his views. "I am pained by the selective editing of my views on funding the historic Nyay scheme. My friend and Manifesto Committee Chairman P. Chidambaram clearly stated the Congress Party's position that the middle class will not be burdened," he said. Nyay is a major promise in Congress manifesto that entails providing Rs 72,000 crore to the poorest 20 per cent people. "There is no doubt that an important engine of growth for much faster development of this country will have to come from the urban sector," Singh said in the inaugural session of a high-level roundtable on "Fiscal relations across levels of government". New Delhi: Finance Commission Chairman N.K. Singh on Thursday said that urban sector holds the key to double-digit growth of the country, even as he suggested cutting down government debt below 60 per cent from more than 70 per cent currently. Singh said deliberation was required to understand what could be done beyond putting in more resources to make a significant difference on the pace and the quality of urbanisation, so that the urban sector genuinely becomes an important engine of growth. "I have no doubt that this country has a quest to come as close as possible to the double-digit rate of growth. The urban sector really holds a great key for that," he said at the meeting jointly hosted by the Finance Commission, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Citing the amended Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, Singh said the Central government should take appropriate steps to bring down the government debt below 60 per cent of the GDP by 2024-25 from more than 70 per cent currently. The Central government debt is 48.9 per cent of the GDP for 2018-19 and is expected to be 47.3 per cent in 2019-20, as per the 2019-20 Budget. The outstanding liabilities of the state governments stood at 23.4 per cent of the states' GDP at end-March 2017, with a range of 46.3 per cent in Punjab and 15.1 per cent in Chhattisgarh. "These developments have posed an important and challenging task for the Commission to arrive at a roadmap for the Commission's award period from 2020 to 2025," he said.Singh also urged the research teams to find ways to make the third-tier self sufficient unlike in the past when they were critically dependent on the devolutions made to them by the state governments. He urged the immediate constitution of State Finance Commissions. Bihar School Education Board (BSEB) is expected to release the result dates of class 10 or matriculation examinations son April 6, 2019.Students may check their status at the official website, biharboard.online The bihar board had conducted the matriculation examinations (class X) in the month of February 2019. Since the class 12 exam results were declared on March 30, which was 42 days after the examination was over, there was a widespread talk class 10 results would also be declared in record time before April 1st week. Page Content From May 26 until May 29, Europeans elect a new European Parliament. Although the European Union (EU) might seem far away, the EU is important for Sint Maarten, the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary said on Thursday. With Brexit around the corner, these elections will prove to be very important for those territories associated with the EU. Every Dutch national living in Sint Maarten is eligible to vote but needs to register before April 11. In the lead up to the elections, the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary aims to organize an event on the European elections. Preparations, in collaboration with het Huis van Europa in The Hague are currently underway. In 2014, only 178 Dutch nationals living in St. Maarten registered to vote. Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite expresses hope that more Sint Maarteners will register this time around. Every vote counts. The people of Sint Maarten have the opportunity to vote and I hope they do register, as these elections will prove to be very important. Adults holding the Dutch nationality are eligible to vote, but they have to register with the municipality of The Hague before April 11. A registration form can be filled out at: https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/verkiezingen/kiezers-buiten-nederland/stemmen-voor-inwoners-van-sint-maarten-aruba-of-curacao.htmand can be sent in by email or post. Sint Maarten holds the status of OCT (Overseas Countries and Territories), as do the other Caribbean countries and special municipalities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. OCTs enjoy a special relationship with the EU. This means for example that Sint Maarten can benefit from special trade agreements and from funds from the European Development Fund (EDF). This amounts to around 1.5 million euro on a yearly basis. The upcoming European Parliamentary elections are very important for the OCTs. The United Kingdom will leave the EU, which means that twelve out of twenty-five OCTs, among which are Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands will no longer be part of the association with the EU. For the remaining OCTs, it is of crucial importance that the new members of European Parliament are aware of the position of the OCTs, and of their historical and special relationship with the EU. This will become even more relevant in the upcoming period, as the European Parliament will vote on regulations on financial support for the OCTs. PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite by Victor Ivan The system that prevails in Sri Lanka can be considered a corrupt and predatory one that allows powerful people to exploit the rest of the people and loot their properties at their whims and fancies, no matter how unreasonable it may seem. This corrupt system has devastatingly impacted not only the State and its institutional system; it has made its hideous influence on all sectors of economy and the domain of public services such as education, public health and travel. This situation has largely contributed to make the life of people a tragedy and making the country a miserable specimen of corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency. The extensive crisis that has overwhelmed Sri Lanka can be considered a situation which had developed gradually into its present height as a result of our not being able to resolve certain historical issues which ought to have been resolved at the time of regaining political independence. The independence gained can be considered more a gift received than an independence won after a struggle. This did not pave the way for building of the modern nation and producing matured leaders capable of steering the country in right direction. In this backdrop, ethnic, caste and religious differences play as major factors of internal conflicts. Ten years after independence, the country experienced ethnic conflicts and 20 years later, it took a violent form which had gradually developed in to an internal civil war which had protracted for nearly thirty years, turning Sri Lanka into a country of incessant bloodshed of mass scale. A large number of people lost their life while those who were able to survive have been rendered spiritually dead to a greater or lesser degree This anomaly which had originated during the uncivilised times of violent conflict has impacted not only on the society, but on the State and its institutional system as well. In this backdrop, plundering of public property had become a permanent feature of the State administration. The deterioration of the state and its associated system of institutions was accelerated with the state assuming the form of a bandit and a carnivorous entity. During the times of violent conflicts and the protracted internal war, there was no atmosphere conducive for State reformations. By the time the violent conflicts and the internal war had ended, the decay of the State had reached an appalling level that it was not possible to move even one step forward without making large-scale structural reformations in the State and the institutional system. But, the leader who won the internal civil war and the two leaders of the Yahapalana Government who came to power defeating the former had failed to address the issue. The decline of the State and the crisis associated with it can be considered an inevitable outcome of this situation. Thus, the breakdown of the entire system can be considered an outcome of not effecting reformations required for its survival. Now the system is not in a state in which it could be reformed; instead, it has reached a stage in which a complete breakdown of it cannot be avoided. A third option All political parties of Sri Lanka have failed to foresee the breakdown of the system in advance. Punarudaya can be considered the only movement which was able to foresee this eventuality. During its short history of a little more than two years, Punarudaya Movement, since its beginning, stressed to the people the deterioration of the system that had been taking place over a considerable time. Besides that, Punarudaya Movement can be described as an organisation which had emphasised the people of the necessity of turning this inevitable collapse of the system into an opportunity to recreate the State and society. In this sense, the Punarudaya Movement can be described as an active interest group that has focused its full attention on the impending collapse of the system and made a comprehensive study of the situation. It views this breakdown as a golden opportunity bequeathed by the history to recreate the system. It is an excellent chance the country has gained to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. The way the Punarudaya Movement perceives and analyses things that take place in Sri Lanka and the experiments it has conducted in the domains of social, political and public attitudes, ought to receive the attention of social scientists and the people of Sri Lanka as they could be useful in addressing the problem in a much broader context. As I am an activist of this movement, I would like to invite the reader to read what I write about Punarudaya Movement with a critical eye. At the outset of this movement, it was launched not in urban areas but in rural areas inhabited by Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people. One main object of the movement was to understand the real conditions of these difficult areas. Another object was to adopt a reciprocal approach of learning from them while educating and enlightening them on the problem. The third object was to identify the rural leaders who are active and are endowed with leadership potential. There were several popular rumours regarding the holding of meetings with village people. One was that the outsiders conducting discussions in villages, in addition to providing food for the participants, should pay them a sum of money and those fail to fulfil this condition cannot conduct discussions in villages. Another popular story was that there are politically influential people, and the villagers would not allow discussions to be held by outside people without their support. But, both these rumours were proved to be false. We carried only our knowledge and ideas to the village. All other facilities needed were arranged by the supporters in the village who organised and coordinated the discussions. They did not expect anything other than knowledge and ideas from us. On the other hand, we have not gone to any village seeking approval or support of politicians. We have been to hundreds of villages and so far not encountered any unpleasant situations. The village people are good listeners, when the issues pertain to their life are discussed. Also, they are very clever in expressing their views when an opportunity is given. They have a unique ability to express themselves clearly. They wont get angry except listening carefully with interest even when the popular beliefs, which they hold true, are being criticised. On average, the life of the people living in villages is extremely hard. The income they generate from agriculture is not at an optimum level. Even the large-scale development programs like Mahaweli have not contributed to make a discernible improvement in their life. They have not been able to make maximum use of their lands. There is no mechanism to guide them either. In addition, the damage caused to agriculture by natural disasters like floods and drought and wild animals like elephants, wild boar, monkeys, rilavus, porcupines, peacocks, and above all by ruthless market forces can be considered the other forces that had made their lives miserable. Almost all household items used by them have been purchased from loans obtained from finance companies and micro loans schemes. To pay for the loan instalments and interest, most of the debtors are compelled to cut down their expenses on food and clothing, the basic needs of life. Despite the large number of Government officials appointed for the agricultural sector, they have not been able to become a positive light in upgrading the life of these innocent people. An unforgettable experience The villagers, when convinced that something is true, strongly stand by it. To prove this, I wish to cite an unforgettable experience that I had to encounter. At the early beginnings of the Punarudaya Movement, arrangements had been made to hold a meeting at Kalawewa, in the compound of a house belonged to a deputy principal of a school. A meeting was held in the evening. A group of about 50 selected villagers including the deputy incumbent priest of the Vijithapura Rajamaha Vihara had come for the discussion. The purpose of the meeting was explained by me. I made a brief analysis, which took about 25 minutes, of the crisis of Sri Lanka, from its beginning since independence and its development up to now. I concluded my analysis of the problem with a request to the audience to express their views, if any, about my analysis. The first counter opinion was presented by the deputy incumbent priest of the Vijithapura Rajamaha Vihara. The venerable priest appeared to have perceived the Punaruda Movement as a Non-Governmental Organisation. He said that Sri Lanka would not approve of the ideas expressed here and also they were not appropriate for the country and asked the crowd to raise their hands if there was at least one person in the audience who would approve the views expressed by me. In an instant, the entire audience raised their hands. There were a few who had raised both hands. The venerable priest appeared to be flabbergasted. I too, was surprised to witness the reaction of the crowd. At the end, the venerable priest said that in a situation like this, in which everybody is in agreement with the views of the proponent of the meeting, he too will join the movement. Having said that, he excused himself and left the meeting for he had to go for another appointment elsewhere. Perhaps, there might have been several participants in the audience who had read my articles. But, if at least a small section of the people who had come for the discussion had approved of the views of the Buddhist priest, certainly, we would have had to bury the Punarudaya Movement at Vijithapura before returning to Colombo. But, at that crucial moment, all of them defended us unconditionally. Instead of defending the deputy chief incumbent of the temple of the area, they came forward to defend a few of us who came to their village from outside. We have adopted a policy of criticising certain popular beliefs of village people which are baseless and not correct, rather than maintaining a neutral stance on such beliefs. Particularly we criticised their passionate attachment to paddy cultivation. We had to emphasise them that the paddy cultivation is one important factor that had impacted on rural poverty. Also we were compelled to insist on the importance of freeing themselves from undue dependence on paddy cultivation and the need for going for alternate products. Eating rice for all three meals was an important topic which came under our criticism. We pointed out that eating rice for all three meals was a sure way to become a victim of diabetes and emphasised on the need for shifting their food habits and the importance of eating less rice and more protein foods, vegetables and fruits. We reminded them that the old farmers used to hunt wild animals that damaged their crops and consumed the meat which complemented their protein needs. In doing so, they were able to control the density of wild animals and safeguard their crops. We advised them of the importance of shifting to the old policy. Despite these issues being sensitive, they however, listened to our views patiently. They were not annoyed or angry over our criticisms on these issues. One important thing that came to light was that the political parties do not visit difficult rural areas except during election time; apparently they dont do anything for the villages. According to villagers, all politicians do their politics being in Colombo and conducting media discussions held with TV channels for their publicity, so they cannot be expected to have a proper understanding of the reality of the village life. Confidence on self-help To conduct an island-wide program and visiting difficult villages in remote corners of the country incur heavy expenses, in addition to maintaining an efficient and active organisational mechanism. Raising funds to meet expenses was a difficult problem that we encountered at the initial stage of its launch. A member of the Punarudaya Movement, as if he had foreseen this problem in advance, made an informal suggestion that we must seek the support of an international donor agency to procure funds required. We knew it was easy to get an international donor agency to sponsor a program of this nature. We were not against receiving international support for funds. But, the majority of our membership was of the view that a movement like Punarudaya should not be dependent upon international aid as it might invariably make it a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). The social perception on and recognition enjoyed by most of the NGOs in Sri Lanka is not positive. Apart from the NGO label, foreign aid may even be likely to corrupt a national movement like this. On the other hand, a mass social movement which finds difficult to meet its expenses locally cannot be considered one which is firmly rooted in the country. Having taken all these factors into consideration finally, it was decided to run the Punarudaya Movement as a program based on self-help rather than depending on foreign aid or black money. A famous critic of the Punarudaya Movement, commenting on this decision to run the program on self-help basis, had made a sarcastic remark stating that he would work full time for Punarudaya without a fee, if it could survive for three months. Not only three months, it has now completed successful two years and three months. During this period it had worked spending their own personal money, out of their pockets and voluntary support extended by various people who are associated with the Punarudaya Movement. I am proud to say that a new kind of culture of voluntary support has been created in which there are members and well-wishers ready to provide even their private vehicles for our use or taking us in their vehicles when we travel long distances for Punarudaya work. The contributions made for the movement by various people in diverse ways are immense. The philosophy Punarudaya is a pluralistic movement appearing for secular and democratic values. It considers the caste system in the Sinhalese and Tamil society as a menace and an evil system that makes divisions within ethnic groups and disparages human dignity and therefore it should be eradicated. The ethnic and religious divisions are perceived to be two destructive passions that disrupt national unity and create conflicts. It believes that Sri Lankan nation must be built within a framework which allows all citizens equal rights, asserts human dignity and safeguards ethnic and religious identity of all ethnic and religious groups. It also appears for the need of a program which is committed to look into the mistakes done since independence and to heal the wounds of victims and meting out justice for them so that a strong social atmosphere conducive to building the nation is created. It also appears for a complete social and political transformation and complete reorganisation of the economy. However, it does not believe that these changes and transformations could be achieved by contesting Presidential and General Elections and capturing political power under the existing system. Therefore, the Punarudaya Movement believes that it should not contest elections and seek elective office, but work as a strong interest group committed to achieving these changes. It also appears for a complete social and political transformation and complete reorganisation of the economy. However, it does not believe that these changes and transformations could be achieved by contesting Presidential and General Elections and capturing political power under the existing system. Therefore, it is of the view that the intended changes should be achieved before the elections are contested. The Punarudaya Movement does not believe that the corrupt and sadistic political system that exists in Sri Lanka is a strong or sustainable system. It is of the view that this system is on the verge of its collapse as a result of internal conflicts which had developed within itself. Re-creation of the entire system making use of the impending collapse as an opportunity can be considered the main political object of the Punarudaya movement. It does not consider the question of what should be the type of government suitable for the country - whether it should bad presidential system of government or a parliamentary system of government, as the main issue to be resolved in the sphere of the governance as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. Both the presidential system and parliamentary system in Sri Lanka are equally corrupt. Without changing the corrupt structures of both systems, mere selection of one corrupt system cannot be considered the best solution. The Punarudaya Movement does not consider the making of a constitution exclusively by the legislature as the best model of constitution making. A constitution is a social contract. In other words, it is an agreement entered into between the rulers and the ruled for a system of government and administration. A constitution adopted exclusively by the Parliament can be considered only as a unilateral contract formulated by the rulers themselves. The Punarudaya Movement does not accept the concept and the system of constitution called autochthony proposed by Naganada Kodithuwakku. It appears that he had adopted a conceptual term used to describe a system adopted in constitution making at an exclusive historic occasion to give a dignified look to the dictatorial constitution that he envisages to make. We dont come across a single example of the type of constitution that Nagananda advocates in the history of modern constitution making. The Punarudaya Movement appears for participatory constitution making which is the accepted model of constitution making in the 21st century. It is a model that can be used for a complete transformation of the entire system without confining it to a program of drafting a constitution only. Punarudaya Movement does not agree to a system of government that will restrict the sovereignty of the people into a narrow frame of exercising their vote at elections only. It appears for a system of government that grants them rights to submit proposals to the legislature, in addition to exercising their right to vote. This system was confined only to Switzerland until recently and is now being practiced as an important element in the systems of government in countries like some States in the USA, Italy, Germany and several other countries. By introducing such a system, it would be possible to reduce undue importance attached to politicians, overcome rampant corruption which had overwhelmed the state and above all build an active and powerful citizens force. There is no need of a violent revolution to make a complete transformation of the political system of Sri Lanka which is putrid and had reached the verge of imminent collapse. What it needs is a kind of revolution which will educate the people, build peoples networks, utilise the modern technology and mobilise the collective force of the people through peaceful and disciplined means. by Dr. Masahiro Matsumura In the turbulent world politics involving extensive international coverage, stable and humdrum Japan does not have much of a presence. Yet, Japan is the worlds largest creditor nation while continuously playing significant roles in trade, direct investment and economic assistance. Japan in the background has reinforced itself as a leading geo-economic power while having almost thoroughly eliminated its huge non-performing loans in the banking sector and other structural vulnerabilities over the so-called lost two decades consequent on its bubble burst in the early 1990s. Let us examine it by deploying the famous 5 Es of prof. Djawed Sangdel. Emphasizing Japans world-largest public debts that amount to nearly 240% of its GDP is misleading given that its public assets amount to nearly 200% and that the holding of the government bonds by the Bank of Japan, practically, a part of the government, amount to more than 80%. This is consistent with the good stability of a strong yen and very low long-term prime rates. On the other hand, the U.S. faces deepening structural vulnerabilities in stocks that have resulted from the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008 and the ensuing financial crisis, while experiencing a transitory booming in flows. Also, the E.U. remains mired not only in serious structural vulnerabilities but also in a persistent recession. Consequently, both the U.S. and the E.U. have a significantly less free hand in foreign economic policy, while keeping themselves busy to obtain or retain comparative gains through their strategic interaction, most notably in trade. With the quantitative tightening of the U.S., the E.U., and, finally, the Japanese central banks, BRICS and other major developing economies encounter increasing difficulties in financing for investment and growth, compounded by the shrinking of their U.S. and European export outlets. Particularly, the Chinese yuan is effectively pegged with the U.S. dollar, while Chinas money supply in yuan is in fact based on its dollar reserves. Consequently, China is sliding into a serious recession, aggravated by the intense trade war with the U.S. No wonder that, last October, China made an abrupt about-face on its persistent anti-Japan policy, and concluded the currency swap agreement with Japan that would surely furnish China with 3 trillion Japanese yen (or less than 270 billion U.S. dollars) in the event of an acute liquidity crisis. Looking closely at the recent Japan-China interaction, Japans quiet rise is more conspicuous. For several years prior to the official reconciliation of October 2018, the two countries appeared to geo-economically compete head-to-head, centered on aid and development according to Chinas One Belt One Road Strategy and Japans counter-strategy, or Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. China is undergoing serious setbacks because many recipient/investee states have cancelled, cut down or postponed China-sponsored development projects. These states have suffered Chinas debt trap, and many of the projects have turned out be financially, environmentally, and socially unsustainable. China is increasingly constrained to finance development projects due to the hardly discernible yet significant dwindling of its dollar reserves that is statistically covered up by its foreign borrowings. Certainly, China has succeeded in luring more than ninety developing and developed countries with its huge fabricated foreign reserves as show money to participate in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. But, the country has failed to secure the AIIB memberships of Japan and the United States, respectively the worlds largest credit nation and the key currency nation with most developed financial and bonds markets. Without sufficient funds and staffs, the AIIB cannot but co-finance projects with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to obtain a favorable credit rating necessary for financing though international financial markets. In contrast, Japan has demanded China to observe international standards in aid and development, and only agreed in October 2018 to selectively coordinate its policy with China only when the country meets these stringent conditions. There has been no major successful coordination case between the two to date. Given that many of traditional Japanese aid recipients are no longer low-income countries, the Japanese approach will necessarily focus more on high quality aid and development in terms of sustainability through the public-private sector cooperation. The approach will be superior to Chinas, at least over a medium to long run. Additionally, Japan plays a leading role to preserve the existing free and open international economic system. Against the tide of populism and protectionism, most notably U.S. President Donald Trumps America First, Japan successfully led the formation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership after the U.S. made an abrupt exit from an early TPP in the making, and concluded the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. In nutshell, Japans geo-economic power and influence will be outstanding, at least for a mid-term. Yet, the country is not free from serious risks and problems. For a short term, Japans rise will remain quiet and, perhaps, unnoticeable, especially because its geo-economic power and influence may be reduced by geo-political risks and crises, and because its vested bureaucratic interests hamper consolidation of its huge public debts and assets, which involves the great risk of a liquidity crisis. For a long term, Japan needs to find out a societal equation to cope with an unprecedented low birthrate and a high longevity rate. The world must stay tuned on humdrum Japan. Dr. Masahiro MATSUMURA is Professor of International Politics and National Security, Faculty of Law of the St. Andrews University (Momoyama Gakuin Daigaku) in Osaka, Japan. 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The restrictions -- already rolled out for polls in other countries such as Thailand and Indonesia -- will come into force when the government announces the election date in the coming days. "We're temporarily not allowing electoral ads purchased from outside Australia ahead of the election in May," Facebook's Australia and New Zealand policy director Mia Garlick said in a statement. "The restriction... will apply to ads we determine to be coming from foreign entities that are of an electoral nature, meaning they contain references to politicians, parties or election suppression. "We also won't allow foreign ads that include political slogans and party logos." Facebook said it has introduced restrictions on foreign electoral ads in countries including Nigeria, Ukraine, Thailand, Indonesia, and Ireland around its May 2018 referendum on abortion. For the European Parliamentary elections, it requires advertisers to be authorised in their country to run ads related to the vote. The world's biggest social network first began looking into its influence on elections after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election. Critics have accused the US firm of being too slow to act. AFP has a global fact-checking network that is dedicated to verifying and debunking disinformation spread online. Some of this content is flagged on Facebook, as part of a contract between AFP and the social media company. AFP's collaboration with Facebook has just been extended to Australia. grk/arb/jah/sls Facebook Japan probe blasts asteroid, seeking clues to life's origins Tokyo, April 5 (AFP) Apr 05, 2019 A Japanese probe on Friday launched an explosive device at an asteroid, aiming to blast a crater in the surface and scoop up material that could shed light on how the solar system evolved. The explosive mission is the riskiest yet attempted by the Japanese space agency's Hayabusa2 probe that aims to reveal more about the origins of life on Earth. Hayabusa2 successfully released the so-called "small carry-on impactor" -- a cone-shaped device capped with a copper bottom -- as scheduled, as the probe hovered just 500 metres (1,650 feet) above the asteroid Ryugu. The impactor was programmed to explode 40 minutes later, propelling the copper bottom towards Ryugu, where it should gouge a crater into the surface of the asteroid that spins 300 million kilometres from Earth. Hayabusa2 moved smartly away from the area to avoid being damaged by debris from the explosion or colliding with Ryugu while also releasing a camera to capture images of the event. Images from a different camera at the bottom of the probe showed the impactor was released at the right position and the right angle. Control Mission could not immediately confirm the detonation but assumes "the impactor certainly reached the surface," said Takashi Kubota, engineering researcher at the Japanese space agency (JAXA). Kubota said the probe's use of explosives and its "acrobatic" evasive manoeuvres were "unprecedented" and he hoped the mission would give scientists a rare peek inside an asteroid. Although the detonation was too small to move Ryugu off-orbit, JAXA scientist Makoto Yoshikawa said the ability to operate a probe to this level of precision marked "an important achievement in planetary defence" if Earth were threatened by an asteroid. It will take two weeks for the probe itself to return to its "home position" near Ryugu after the detonation and impact. The crater could be as large as 10 metres in diameter if the surface is sandy, or three metres across if it is rocky, according to JAXA scientists. - 'Dragon Palace' - NASA's Deep Impact project succeeded in creating an artificial crater on a comet in 2005, but only for observation purposes. The aim of blasting the crater on Ryugu is to throw up "fresh" material from under the asteroid's surface that could shed light on the early stages of the solar system. The asteroid is thought to contain relatively large amounts of organic matter and water from some 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system was born. In February, Hayabusa2 touched down briefly on Ryugu and fired a bullet into the surface to puff up dust for collection, before blasting back to its holding position. The Hayabusa2 mission, with a price tag of around 30 billion yen ($270 million), was launched in December 2014 and is scheduled to return to Earth with its samples in 2020. Photos of Ryugu -- which means "Dragon Palace" in Japanese and refers to a castle at the bottom of the ocean in an ancient Japanese tale -- show the asteroid has a rough surface full of boulders. Hayabusa2 observes the surface of the asteroid with its camera and sensing equipment but has also dispatched two tiny MINERVA-II rover robots as well as the French-German robot MASCOT to help surface observation. At about the size of a large fridge, Hayabusa2 is equipped with solar panels and is the successor to JAXA's first asteroid explorer, Hayabusa -- Japanese for falcon. That probe returned with dust samples from a smaller, potato-shaped asteroid in 2010, despite various setbacks during its epic seven-year odyssey and was hailed as a scientific triumph. India didn't shoot down Pakistani F-16: report New Delhi, April 5 (AFP) Apr 05, 2019 A US magazine cast serious doubt Friday on India's assertion that it shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during the two nuclear-armed countries' latest bust-up in February. Citing two unnamed senior US defense officials, Foreign Policy said that US personnel recently conducted a count of Pakistan's F-16s and found none missing. This contradicts a statement from India's Air Vice Marshal R.G.K Kapoor that India downed a Pakistani F-16 in a dogfight over Kashmir on February 27. Pakistan denied at the time that this was the case. Foreign Policy quoted one of the officials as saying that Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 fleet. Many agreements on the sale of US military hardware to third countries include clauses allowing US officials to regularly inspect the equipment. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, the official said. But now the count has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," the magazine quoted the official as saying. The Indian Air Force however said it had proof of shooting down the F16. "Radio communication of Pakistan Air Force ... confirms that one of the F-16s that attacked India on February 27 did not return to its base," local media quoted IAF sources as saying. Pakistani armed forces spokesman Asif Ghafoor tweeted that "truth always prevails". "Time for India to speak truth about false claims & actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan," he said in a re-tweet of the Foreign Policy article. There are no official figures from Pakistan on how many F-16s it has but reported estimates place the number between 70 and 80. In the dogfight Pakistan had also said it shot down two Indian planes, but India said that it lost only one aircraft. Initially Pakistan said it had captured two Indian pilots but the military later clarified it had just one pilot in custody, who was later released. - 'Terror camp' - The dogfight happened after Pakistani aircraft entered Indian airspace a day after Indian aircraft carried out an airstrike on what it said was a "terrorist training camp" in Pakistan. That in turn was in response to a suicide bombing on February 14 in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops and which was claimed by a militant group based in Pakistan. Doubt has also been cast over the success of India's airstrike, which Amit Shah, president of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has claimed killed 250. Pakistan denied that there was any damage or casualties. Independent reporting by multiple local and international outlets who visited the site also found no evidence of a major terrorist training camp -- or of any infrastructure damage at all. The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab said that open-source satellite imagery indicated "only impacts in the wooded area, with no damage being visible to the surrounding structures." But Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose standing has been bolstered by the raids ahead of elections beginning on April 11, has stuck to his guns, while hitting out at those questioning the success of the strike as unpatriotic. In the next raids, "opposition parties raising these questions can be tied under the jets... so that they can look at the targets," thundered junior foreign minister V.K Singh. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement In addition to the fact that limousine travel is very glamorous, it is also the most comfortable trip you can... 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. UK in Disarray Amid Brexit Chaos, Theresa May's Conservative Party Implodes The Conservative Party was once seen as Europe's best-oiled political machine. But Brexit and Theresa May have turned it into a smoldering wreck. Now, the party faces the dire prospect of EU elections. EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator The Political Ambitions of Michel Barnier One of the worst kept secrets in Brussels is that Michel Barnier's political star is rising. The EU's chief Brexit negotiator seems interested should higher office become available. Playing with Fire Talk of Shifting Kosovo's Borders Sparks Concern Twenty years after the end of NATO's intervention in the Balkans, the relationship between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo remains tense. Senior figures are talking about shifting Kosovar borders, setting a potentially dangerous precedent. by Sarath De Alwis Ardha is a Sanskrit word which means half. Post-modernist Sinhala writer and poet Shakthika Sathkumara wrote a short story captioned Ardha and posted it on his Facebook page. Now he is in remand custody charged for an offense under the ICCPR act. A creative artist relies on his mind to see, hear feel and smell. That is how writers, artists, composers create the beauties and the ugliness of the world. In medieval times creators of beauty, truth and human squalor were persecuted. In the new age of fake righteousness attempted by statute and proclamations we seem to be returning to our tribal roots. Our free press print and electronic did not report the incident. The incident has gone viral on the internet. The international news agency AFP has reported the Orwellian ordeal of Shakthika Sathkumara to the world. The story datelined Colombo 1 April is succinct. A Sri Lankan novelist has been arrested for writing about homosexuality in the Buddhist clergy and charged with violating international human rights law, officials said on Tuesday, outraging free speech advocates. Shakthika Sathkumara, 33, was arrested in the north-central town of Polgahawela on Monday and remanded in custody for nine days after monks complained about his writing. A group of monks complained that the reference to homosexual activities among the clergy insulted Buddhism, a police spokesman said. The police spokesman said the monks who complained refused to settle the matter out of court and insisted on Sathkumara being prosecuted. He was taken before a local magistrate who charged him with inciting religious hatred under the United Nations international human rights treaty, to which Sri Lanka is a signatory. The Polgahawela police have charged him for an offense under the ICCPR act which is non-bailable. On the face of it, the action of the police officer is an absolute travesty of the universal covenant on political and civil rights. The accused has written a short story. Some Buddhist monks have found the story line to be offensive. They have every right to express their opposition. But here is the rub. They have insisted the man be locked up. Now they have been appeased. The right to freedom of expression and access to such information falls squarely and precisely within the category of civil and political rights. It is the most fundamental empowering right, that facilitates the implementation of all other human rights such as the right to participation in political and public life. The ability to exercise this right of free expression of a writer or a poet is a key precondition for human progress. What is the grave offense committed by Shakthika Sathkumara in writing his short story Ardha? To begin with, I dont find it to be of great literary merit. On a scale of one to 10 I would give it a grudging four points. That said, it is indeed a commendable attempt at experimental postmodernist creative writing. Postmodernist writing is not banned in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has however, declared the Theravada Tripitaka as a national heritage. We are now appealing to make it a heritage of the planet and mankind. Now, that is a moot point that should be taken note of by the Defence Secretary who for long years was our national Olympian. One of the three pitaka is the Vinaya pitaka that deals with the sexuality of human beings in general and the ordained Sramana or monks specifically. What is postmodernist creative writing? It relies on parody, black humour, and is usually defiant of traditional literary conventions. In short, its existence is the quest for the permanent paradox. Postmodern stories are often intertextual. It moves on the relationship between several texts. Ardha is the story of a young university enrolled monk who after disrobing finds temporary shelter in the Boadima of a friend. The opening lines are bitingly abrupt. Halwelle Kassapa himi became Kasan Palihawadana not because he was enamoured with the lay life. He was not particularly fond of the monastic order either. Kasan Palihawadana is greeted by another robed university mate. Liberated, liberated, Kassa is finally liberated. I suppose you will not want to remain in the same hostel. Just as well. Now you dont have to wait till dusk to fetch groceries. Kasan moves into the hostel of lay friend Lloyd Aiya. Lloyd describes the sketch of a short story he intends to write. It is a rebellious twist to Siddharthas renunciation of worldly pleasures and sorrows. Kasan advises Lloyd that ours is an orthodox Theravada Buddhist society where such narratives would be frowned on. Apart from these two subtexts, the main protagonist Kasan is much troubled man. He has a fearsome, disquieting dream. Waking up from the Freudian dream he refreshes himself in the bathroom and creeps back under the mosquito net. Lloyd Aiya quietly slips into the room and his quiet murmurs reach Kasans half-awake ears. The pungent whiff of Lloyd Aiya reminds Kasan of his Loku Hamuduruwos body smell. How does the Vinaya Pitaka deal with homosexuality or hetero sexuality? The Vinaya Pitaka refers to several instances of homosexual, heterosexual and transsexual behaviour. The most pivotal instance is where it highlights the episode of the monk Wakkali who became a monk purely because he was physically attracted to how handsome Lord Buddha was. There is also an instance of a novice monk masturbating an older monk. The Buddha referred even to intercourse with animals because of a monk indulging in sex with a female monkey. The Vinaya rules on sexual behaviour of monks makes no reference to any specific sexual act. It forbids monks to insert their sex organs in to any bodily orifices which common sense would include the vaginal, anal and oral stimuli! In ancient India homosexuals were simply identified as the third nature trithya prakthi. Whether it is a deviant practice or not is not the issue in Shakthikas story. It is the realism embedded in the yarn that has upset the holy hornets nest. Henry Dubinsky, a past president of the local chapter of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and a member of its national board since 1985, was recently part of an AJC leadership delegation that had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in early March. Dubinsky, 77, is chairman of Waterway Gas & Wash. He also serves on the AJC Executive Committee, and has traveled extensively to Europe, Asia and the Middle East as part of AJCs outreach to nations around the world. His travels have taken him to such places as Bahrain at a time when that Arab nation had a Jewish ambassador to the United States. He recently shared the experiences of his March trip to Italy and the Vatican at a meeting of the AJC St. Louis board of directors. The Jewish Light caught up with Dubinsky for a follow-up interview while he was in Florida. What was the purpose of the AJC trip to the Vatican? ADVERTISEMENT The early part of the Rome-Vatican visit afforded AJC delegates the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Italian-Jewish community in Rome. What is the Jewish population of Italy? When you ask an Italian Jew population questions, they will usually say about 15,000 Jews in Rome and 25,000 throughout Italy. Those are the members of Jewish organizations who have registered with the government. Altogether, there may be as many as 40,000 Jews in Italy. Do Italian Jews have the same concerns about anti-Semitism as French Jews? Connect with your community every morning. The Italian Jews are concerned about anti-Semitism but do not feel under the same immediate threat as French Jews. How did the invitation to the Vatican come about? The AJC has had a long and cordial relationship with the Holy See. Rabbi David Rosen, leader of AJCs Interreligious Affairs Department, has personal ties to the Vatican and was part of the negotiating team that established diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican in the early l990s. During our visit, Rabbi Rosen spoke at an international conference on sustainability co-sponsored by the Vatican and the United Nations. What was the atmosphere and the tone of the audience with Pope Francis? He was very cordial and gracious, and volunteered to have a group picture with us. He spoke to us in Italian, but we were given an English translation and could follow what he was saying. John Shapiro, AJC national president, spoke for the AJC. Any other highlights of the trip you would like to share? We attended a very interesting theological debate at the Papal Gregorian University between Rabbi Rosen and Cardinal Kurt Koch, the Vatican liaison to non-Catholic Christians and to the Jews. Overall, the visit was both interesting and constructive. After 18 years in University City, Hillel Kieval and Deborah Katz moved in August to the Central West End. The couple, who both work at Washington University, liked the idea of having a condo more centrally located in the city, said Kieval, a Jewish Studies professor. But the move also meant they were further from their Modern Orthodox synagogue, Bais Abraham Congregation, and from grocery stores that stocked kosher meat. So Kieval was pleased to meet Rabbi Yossi Abenson, who along with his wife, Goldie, recently established a Chabad center in the Central West End. ADVERTISEMENT The Hasidic Jewish outreach organization aims to provide Shabbat meals, minyans for services, Jewish programming and access to kosher food. In short, the Abensons would like to strengthen the Jewish footprint in the city. Having them around is fun and convenient and it will make it a little less alienating to be in the Central West End, said Kieval, 68, who prefers not to drive on Shabbat but will remain a member of Bais Abraham. Rabbi Yosef Landa, director of Chabad of Greater St. Louis, said the organization decided to establish a center in the Central West End because an increasing number of Jews were returning to the city following the exodus to the suburbs over the second half of the last century. In addition to Chabad, a group of Jewish millennials last year opened a Jewish center, MaTovu, in a former synagogue in the Botanical Heights neighborhood of south St. Louis. Landas vision very much was in response to the growing population and life and community in the Central West End and the city, and we see that there is Jewish life there as well, as is evidenced by MaTovu, and he wants us to come in on the ground floor, said Abenson, 26. Connect with your community every morning. The rabbi is originally from Manchester, England and moved to St. Louis in October. He and his wife are hosting Shabbat meals and classes at their home near the intersection of Newstead and Boyle avenues. They hope to eventually open a separate center. A lot of what we do all day is meet people for coffee dates or at their houses, just to get a sense of what they are looking for, if they are interested in studying, if they want a mezuzah put up, if they want to put on tefillin. We are here to provide them with that Jewish experience, said Abenson. He has also been in contact with the Straubs grocery store in the neighborhood about supplying kosher sandwiches and raw meat and poultry. Abenson hopes they will start selling the items in the next few weeks and said he plans to set up a table inside the store to promote the offerings. Kieval currently has to either get his kosher meat from Kohns Kosher Deli, the Schnucks at Ladue Crossing or from an online distributor, so having an option just down the street is great, he said. The Chabad center also recently hosted a networking event for Jewish young professionals in the Cortex business district. Elisa Barrack, a speech therapist, moved to the Central West End almost two years ago after doing clinical training in the area. She became involved with JGrads, a Chabad program for local Jewish graduate students, and found a connection to other Jews that had been missing elsewhere, she said. I have always been really interested in Judaism and learning about it, and Chabad has given me the resources and friends to be connected with Judaism, said Barrack, 27, who grew up in Memphis and attended a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school. She has eaten Shabbat dinners at the Abensons home and said I always leave feeling like I learned something new and that spark of feeling a little bit more connected to my Judaism. Of their presence in the Central West End, she said, I think it will give young professionals a sense of community, and I think a lot of people are looking for that. For more information about Chabad of Central West End, email [email protected] or call 314-448-0927. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Saint Vincent Ferrer, who died on 5 April 1419, was a Spanish Catholic priest who played a significant role in the conversion of Jews to Catholicism during the early fifteenth century. He also participated in the management of a significant political crisis in 1410, when King Martin of Aragon died without a legitimate heir to the throne. Ferrer was part of a committee established to review possible heirs and select the next king: they chose the Castilian prince, Ferdinand de Antequera (Ferdinand I of Aragon). Born in Valencia in 1350, St Vincent Ferrer (Sant Vicent Ferrer in Valencian), patron saint of orphanages, was the fourth child of a nobleman called Guillem Ferrer. His birth is surrounded in mystery and legend claims that his mother experienced no pain while giving birth. It is also said that his father was told in a dream by a Dominican friar that his son would become famous throughout the world. Named after the patron saint of Valencia (St Vincent Martyr), Vincent began his classical studies at the age of eight and took up his study of theology and philosophy six years later. By the age of 19, he had entered the Dominican Order (known as the Black Friars in England), although he is said to have experienced temptations forcing him to leave in order to become a secular priest. Over the next three years, he studied the Sacred Scripture, which he committed to memory, and was ordained a Catholic priest in Barcelona in 1379. Eventually becoming a Master of Sacred Theology, he spent the next 20 years travelling through France, Italy, England, Ireland and Scotland in order to preach the Gospel. Historians claim that the priest could speak only Valencian, although it is suggested that he was blessed with the 'gift of tongues', a phenomenon which sees people speak in languages unknown to them. St Vincent Ferrer is described as a man of very distinct features who would fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, and who would offer charitable donations of money and food to the poor. Although he is portrayed as having a gentle manner, the Jewish Encyclopaedia claims Vincent used questionable methods in order to convert Jews to Catholicism - greatly contributing to anti-Semitism in Spain. However, many believe these allegations are unfounded. It is claimed that Vicent put down an uprising against Jews in Valencia and defused a persecution against them in Toledo. He also attended the Disputation of Tortosa ordered by Pope Benedict XIII in an effort to convert Jews during a debate among scholars of both faiths. Vincent died in Brittany on 5 April 1419. He was buried in Vannes Cathedral and was canonised by Pope Calixtus in 1455. His feast day is celebrated on 5 April. "We applaud your strength. You are an example for many and make us realise that people can carry on and do well in life, no matter what may happen to them. I am proud of you." With these words the founder and president of the Global Gift Foundation, Maria Bravo, handed over a symbolic cheque this week for the amount raised at a charity event in Dubai to help Sarah Almagro buy the prostheses she needs. The teenager had to have both hands and feet amputated after suffering from sepsis. Sarah's parents, Ismael and Silvia, were also at Marbella town hall to receive the donation and were visibly moved by the gesture. 'Not The Christmas Party' helps the cause Walking Football Spain hosted a 'Not The Christmas Party' on Thursday last week to raise funds to buy prosthetic limbs for Sarah Almagro at Our Bar in Calahonda, Mijas Costa. The event, which replaced the mini international tournment cancelled on 23 March, was enjoyed by members, spouses and friends, who ate, drank and danced the night away. The karaoke saw no shortage of volunteers who were happy to pay five euros to sing. The evening raised 200 euros which was added to the 250 euros from the collecting tin and donations. The group thanked Our Bar for the use of the premises and the buffet as well as Global Radio DJ Mark Peters. Like the rest of the money raised so far, these 50,000 euros will be paid into the account opened by the non-profit-making association 'Somos Tu Ola' to manage the donations. Maria Bravo praised the efforts made by Sarah and her parents to change the vaccination system and improve the ortho-prosthetic equipment available to amputees. "Sarah, you are a reflection of your parents, and that is because your parents are incredible," she said. Silvia Vallejo, Sarah's mother, thanked everyone who has been supporting her daughter in recent months. "We are so grateful for all this support, and to those who raise awareness of this case and of our wish to help others," she said. Their determination paid off, because two weeks ago Ismael and Silvia had a meeting at the Junta de Andalucia's Ministry of Health, with the general secretary, Faustino Blanco, and the director of the Health Promotion department, Aurora Limia. "They told us that they will start using the tetravalent vaccine, because the one they are using at present isn't scientifically proven to cover 100 per cent of cases," explained Ismael. He and his wife are also calling for the sepsis code, which is activated when a case is detected in hospital, to remain active until the moment the patient is discharged. Marbella's Social Rights councillor, Isabel Cintado, was also present at the event and described Sarah as an example of enthusiasm, fortitude and achievement. "We are sure that very soon you will be able to carry on with your projects where you were forced to leave off," she told her. The way Bianca Jagger looks at you makes you catch your breath. She comes through the door of one of the impressive rooms at the Comunidad de Madrid headquarters and everything is in harmony: the white sofas and tables match her immaculate suit of jacket, trousers, shirt and even white socks. Only her stick, which is black and white, breaks the purity. Walking slowly, with smooth movements, everything about her radiates elegance and calm. Until she looks at you; that takes your breath away. She looks at her notes and the questions she is going to be asked, reflects for a few moments and then fires off her answers. This defender of the rights of women, indigenous peoples, children and prisoners sentenced to death has been in Madrid to take part in the Santander WomenNOW summit, the event organised by SUR in Englishs media group, Vocento. An impressive array of well-known personalities participated, and Bianca Jagger hopes it will become a benchmark in promoting equality between men and women. What was it that you saw and experienced which led you to become such a strong defender of human rights? I was born in Nicaragua and spent my childhood and adolescence under the oppressive and brutal dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. That was the first experience that made me aware of what it was like to live under oppression. Then my mother separated from my father. She had no training in anything, but she found herself alone with three children and had to go to work, and I saw the discrimination she suffered: for being a woman, for being divorced and for having to work. That showed me at first hand what discrimination against women meant. That is where my commitment to human rights, and especially womens rights, came from. The fight for womens rights is much more visible now than when you started. What has changed? There have been advances. I was surprised to see how many women protested in Madrid on 8 March, but there is still a long way to go. When you look at the statistics from the World Economic Forum, for example, you realise how many years it will take to close the pay gap between men and women. Also when you look at the numbers of women in power. Today only 17 women are heads of state. It is very evident that there is a glass ceiling. The call for womens rights has become stronger. Is that also the case for the other causes you defend, like prisoners who have been given death sentences and indigenous peoples? At my foundation for the defence of human rights we defend all vulnerable groups: children, indigenous peoples, those sentenced to death and women, because women are still a vulnerable group. I also defend rights where there are war crimes, crimes against humanity. I have defended rights in countries like Myanmar, I was in Bosnia documenting the mass rapes of women during the war. I am also a European Union goodwill ambassador for the abolition of the death penalty. Are there any causes that you believe need defending especially urgently? I see how human rights are violated in my country by the murderous tyrant Daniel Ortega and how important it is to defend those. Right now defending Nicaragua is very urgent. Ortega has assassinated more than 500 people since April 2018, there are more than 3,000 injured, more than 600 political prisoners, over 70,000 refugees in Costa Rica, and hundreds of people have disappeared. He continues to abduct young people and anyone who opposes him. The press is being persecuted, more than 60 journalists have had to flee. They have committed crimes against humanity in my country. How do you see the world in which you live in terms of politics, education and the environment? Very much under threat, especially with regard to climate change. We have had the hottest February since they first began registering the temperatures. We have seen that the Paris Accord was not enough to stop the rising temperatures and maintain the increase around 1.5 degrees. They reached an agreement but it turned out to be cheating. Natural disasters, which are a direct consequence of climate change, are occurring everywhere. We have seen them in countries in Europe, in the USA. This isnt just a threat to poor countries. I dont believe enough is being done to prevent these disasters. Young people and children are more aware than adults, like those who have marched in different countries around the world following the example of Greta Thunberg, the girl who is an activist against climate change. We are letting them down, betraying the new generations, our children and grandchildren. Do you think it is necessary to defend those young people as well, these new generations who suffer from job insecurity which prevents them developing? Young people are suffering from that, just as women do. We live in a world with huge inequality where there is an enormous gap, and one which is increasing, between the richest and the poorest. It is unjust and has serious consequences. You grew up under one dictatorship and now you talk about another. Why do you think your country has spent decades without moving forward? It makes me so sad. I feel betrayed. WhenI was young, in 1979, I believed that revolution was going to be the democratic solution for Nicaragua, that it was going to bring justice, respect for human rights, that we were going to have free elections. Daniel Ortega is worse than Somoza and has dismantled all the legal institutions. He uses political prisoners as human negotiating tools. People have to realise that what Ortega has is a regime, and he does not represent the left. You wouldnt describe it as a left-wing tyranny? We are talking of criminals on the left and the right, but in this case this government and its policies are in fact neo-liberal. They favour the richest and the private sector. What is your opinion of human rights in Spain? Spain is a democratic country and it respects human rights, but I hope we will see a female prime minister and that women will stop the attempts to revoke the abortion law. An accusation of phone-tapping of Mijas councillors and the mayor revealed last week was strange enough. But the story took a stranger turn this week with the news that the technical auditor who first discovered the reported tapping while checking staff computers is now under police investigation over suspected fraud. Last week SUR reported that bugging had been "uncovered" by an independent external technician at the municipal-run broadcaster. Several councillors on the board were said to have been spied on in the "expert's" first conclusions presented to Mijas Comunicacion, and he had asked for more money to carry on the work However, despite some opposition parties insisting the internal inquiry should continue, Mayor of Mijas, Juan Carlos Maldonado, who is also chair of the board at the broadcaster, had his suspicions all was not right with the auditor. Suspected fraud When rumours of the bugging scandal emerged last week, the Treasury department cut off business for a day amid seemingly unfounded fears that the department had been hit by eavesdropping as well. With that news, the mayor lost patience with the internal inquiry at the television and radio station, and, after ordering the Treasury department back to work, reported the external auditor to the local Guardia Civil for apparent fraud. The technician who made the supposed bugging discovery has been named as Cesar Gil Mauriz. He told board members he was a "perito judicial", a form of authorised judicial investigative agent, and had carried on with his work in Mijas after the "bugging" discovery wearing an official identification jacket and an ID badge while promising to hand over full details of his finds in the following days. Speaking to SUR at the time, Maldonado said that the audit process "is in no way clear" and that, in his opinion, it had caused public unease, "based on nothing up to now". A lawyer acting for the mayor asked the technician to come up with proof at another board meeting of Mijas Comunicacion last Friday but none was forthcoming, nor had any proof of the technician's credentials been shown to members. The mayor continued earlier this week, "In among this storm whipped up in the media, some questions need answering: Is it really a judicial investigative expert who is carrying out this investigation? Does he have legal permission to carry out this work? Just like it says in the press, if he had taken on this role, has he told an investigating court? Is he technically qualified to carry out this work?" The auditor, Gil Mauriz, was interviewed by local Guardia Civil on Tuesday this week. On Wednesday the mayor appeared before the media to give advance details of the police reports and to reassure the municipality that the whole incidence appears to have been a false alarm. Previous arrests He said that Laura Delgado, the new station manager, had hired Gil Mauriz in good faith to carry out the audit of staff computers as she had just taken over. But it appears that the auditor has been involved in similar incidents at other companies recently in which he has been arrested, although the mayor didn't know the status of those investigations on Wednesday. Far from being a spy scandal as he claimed, it seems he found only some supposed illegal software on workers' computers and the report showed no evidence of anything else. She has first-hand knowledge of the Costa del Sol Hospital because she has worked there for years. In fact, until taking up her new post very recently, Luisa Lorenzo, who is qualified in Medicine and General Surgery, was the head of Healthcare Management. She has already drawn up a list of priorities, with a special focus on providing more space in a hospital which, she admits, is no longer big enough. The building is to be extended, but she is also trying to find interim solutions while the works are being carried out. How do you feel about your new position? I'm grateful to the head of the Andalusian Health Service and the regional Ministry of Health for placing their trust in me. I believe this will be a very difficult challenge, because there are some very important projects coming up, like the extension and the new HAR in Estepona, which I imagine we will also run. They are complicated, but I'm glad they are happening. Also, I am not tackling this on my own. Many people are supporting me and that makes me feel very proud, but it is also a great responsibility because I mustn't let them down. "We're going to do some minor works to create more space while the hospital is being extended" What have you done in these first few days? I have tried not to slow anything down, so that everything could continue as usual, but at the same time I need to understand what the most important problems are at the hospital. That's what I'm doing at present. What are the most important things right now? For me the most important of all is to unblock the extension. We have been waiting for it for ten years now. This hospital was designed for a certain size of population, but that has grown enormously. The hospital is at its physical limit. We are operating in the mornings and evenings, and holding consultations in the mornings and evenings, and we are still struggling to keep up. We have the shortest waiting lists in the whole of Andalucia, because the staff here are very committed, but it is absolutely essential to start to think about how we can expand our space. What is the situation regarding the concession for the works at the moment? Because it will cost more than 600,000 euros to reactivate the expansion project, I can't approve it on my own. It had to be approved by the board of administration, and that was done at a meeting last week. However, there is still another step to go, because the payment has to be handled by the Junta de Andalucia. Another important step is to examine the plans carefully, because the original project was designed a long time ago and in the meantime medicine has changed, the hospital has changed, and our needs are no longer the same. I'm going to sit down with the professionals here to draw up a sensible plan for the extension which best suits the needs of the hospital. The hospital may have the lowest waiting lists, but the emergency department appears to be pushed to the limit. "We take on more staff in the Emergencies department every year, but we do need more specialists in some areas" The number of people admitted to hospital is more or less similar all through the year, maybe slightly lower in the summer, but the emergency department is much busier in the summer because as well as the usual population we have so many visitors. Normally we analyse the situation in July and August and take on extra staff to work in Emergencies in the summer. It suffers from the same problem as the operating theatres and consultations, though: it lacks space. The emergency department is too small for the number of patients who need the service. What do you intend to do about that? We are considering minor changes which would give us more space. I want the expansion works to begin as soon as possible, but you have to bear in mind that they will take time and we can't carry on as we are for much longer. That's why we are analysing ways of creating more space in the interim period. Will that mean taking on more staff? We take on more staff in Emergencies every year, as I said. Some departments do need more doctors, for example Traumatology. I think we have as many patients in that department as they do at the Virgen de la Victoria hospital in Malaga, and they have many more traumatologists. So in some departments, yes, we need to employ more staff. The standard of work here has won the hospital numerous awards and certificates. What can be improved? I think there are always ways to improve and I have noticed some organisational aspects where there is room for improvement. You were pioneers in Spain with your sun protection campaign. Will that continue this year? Yes, the campaign began in 2009 with Magdalena de Troya, who still runs it. I think it has been very interesting because it has been supported by professionals, raised awareness among the public and the institutions and, very importantly, town halls, hospitals and health centres have also become involved. In his recent visit to the hospital, the Health delegate for Malaga province, Carlos Bautista, mentioned that the health agency may no longer be a public company and the hospital might be brought under the umbrella of the Andalusian Health Service. It has been suggested, and my opinion is a bit divided about that. I believe this hospital works in a different way to the Andalusian Health Service, but I also understand that in terms of regulation and staff mobility it could be interesting. You have to remember, for example, that a professional from here who wants to move into a health service job can't do so. I understand the idea behind integration, but I would like to be able to retain the same commitment and values and for those to be taken up by the health service, because I really do believe we do things differently here. In any case, the integration seems logical because within one public health system we can't have different models, and there are three different models. What other priorities have you set for yourself? I'm in the process of meeting staff from all departments to find out what they need and can now start some new initiatives. For example, a working group to analyse how we can continue to reduce waiting lists. I have also discussed ways of carrying out more operations every day. I'm looking at the possibility of extending telemedicine, as well. How would telemedicine benefit the Costa del Sol hospital? It would mean fewer patients had to travel to the hospital and it would relieve the pressure on us. I have already talked to several people about extending it, because we already do some teleconsultations in the Dermatology and Cardiology departments, so the idea is to expand the reach of virtual consultations. The president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, announced at a SUR forum on Monday that in its modification of the Andalusian planning law (LOUA), the new PP-Cs coalition government would give the owners of illegal homes a "second chance". "We can't have 300,000 illegal homes in Andalucia," he said, adding that 90 per cent of these homes would be "regularised" in the current term of office. He did not specify however what criteria would have to be met by owners to take advantage of this "second chance". Administrative procedures Moreno, who became president of the Junta of Andalucia in January, also announced that a tacit acceptance policy would be applied in the case of consultations made by local authorities regarding partial changes to their town planning regulations. In other words, if a town hall has heard nothing after 15 days it can assume that its application has the green light. Regional minister Elias Bendodo added this week that this "positive administrative silence" would also apply to applications for flood risk reports. This has been welcomed by property developers, whose projects are often delayed indefinitely due to slow bureaucratic procedures. However experts have pointed out that the tacit acceptance can only apply if the project is legal; high court sentences have previously ruled that the policy does not protect illegal construction works. Bendodo has stressed, however, that the regional Public Works ministry "considers itself capable" of giving a green or red light to an application within a period of 15 days. Inheritance tax Also during the forum in Malaga, Moreno announced that inheritance tax in Andalucia would be abolished from 9 April. He said that the measure, which was included in his party's election manifesto last year, would attract more wealthy investors to the region. The previous Socialist government abolished the tax for inheritance of up to a million euros. Now, however, 99 per cent of the tax payable on inheritance worth more than a million euros will no longer be applied. National Police have arrested the former head of the Colegio de Administraciones de Fincas for Malaga province and the Costa del Sol. The Colegio is the official association of professional management agents working for "comunidades" of apartment and house owners. Fernando Pastor is accused of syphoning off to his own bank account more than 100,000 euros from the owners of the La Alcaidesa development near Sotogrande. Investigators believe that Pastor had cashed blank cheques to pay off debts and for personal expenses. The inquiry was started in June last year when the president of the "comunidad" at La Alcaidesa reported to police "numerous transfers for high sums of money to the personal bank account of the person responsible for managing that community". Officers rapidly identified the ex-head of the Malaga association and discovered that Pastor, whose company is based in Marbella, had allegedly misused the bank accounts of the residents "comunidad" and made free use of the money. A search was carried out last week on Pastor's home and offices where 6,000 euros in cash was found. Investigators are now reviewing all the documents seized to see if there are any other offences, said sources. November resignation Fernando Pastor resigned his post as president of the provincial association of property agents last November after the Andalusian regional council of agents received reports from two "comunidades" of supposed mismanagement of funds. One was in La Alcaidesa, and the other, according to reports, was in Benalmadena. Lawyers for Pastor said last week that all the debts with the La Alcaidesa "comunidad" of owners had now been settled and no more money needed to be repaid. The judge has placed him under investigation for supposed improper management and misappropriation and he has been bailed. Pastor's lawyers added that he paid back all the money with interest in March last year, which the residents had agreed to. The lawyers also said that money found in the search was petty cash belonging to the estates managed as well as a property deposit for a client. Cruise company, Royal Caribbean, has chosen Malaga as the first stop for its new liner, Spectrum of the Seas, which will dock in the city's port on 16 April straight from German shipbuilders, Meyer Werft. The company is promoting this latest addition, which will be in the city during Holy Week, as the most technologically advanced yet in its fleet. In recent years Royal Caribbean has chosen Malaga as first port for new ships and last year it hosted Symphony of the Seas, the largest ever built for cruising. This time, the visiting ship has about half the capacity and is designed for the Asian market and for higher-spending customers. From Malaga it will go on to Barcelona to start a 51-day cruise to Shanghai, its new base port. British consulates in Spain published more information on their official website this week aimed at reassuring Britons who have had problems registering as resident of Spain ahead of Brexit. Many applicants have been unable to get appointments because of high demand for the so-called "green card" proof-of-residency document with Spanish authorities. Residency Up-to-date official Brexit information For up-to-date official Brexit information on residency for those in Spain, consult the following resources: -Official UK site (sign up also for email alerts) -UK Embassy Facebook page for daily comment -Spanish government site in English on residency plans (bottom of page) -Online residency appointments An update was added to the residency section of the Living in Spain website. Although it repeats the legal requirement for Britons to have a green registration card (or older A4 piece of paper) if they are in Spain for more than three months, it also helps put that requirement in perspective. If there is a deal In the consulate guidance, officials explain what will happen if Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement goes ahead. "If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, any UK national arriving in Spain before 31 December 2020 will be able to register as resident in Spain under the current rules and will have their right to residence in Spain protected for as long as they remain living here," the site says. And if there is no deal? The advice continues by explaining what alternative terms are on offer from the Spanish government if the UK leaves with a hard Brexit and no deal with the EU. "If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, any UK national residing in Spain before the date the UK leaves will be considered legally resident for a period of 21 months, irrespective of whether they currently hold a residency document." The information is reassuring for UK nationals who cannot get an online appointment to apply for a green card ahead of any Brexit date. It continues, "In some parts of Spain UK nationals are currently unable to register as a resident as appointments are not available. If you don't yet have a residence certificate, the advice [of the Spanish government] is to make sure you have proof you were living here before we leave the EU (eg. "padron" registration from your town hall), and to keep checking the online appointment system for new appointments." The Spanish authorities have also said they are working to make more appointments available. They have also published details of the likely process after Brexit which would involve registered British citizens automatically swapping their EU resident green cards (or green A4 paper) for a Tarjeta de Identificacion de Extranjeros, a TIE, over a grace period of several months. Otherwise, those with no green certificate would need to apply for a TIE. Barack Obama was in Seville on Wednesday where he was the keynote speaker at the World Travel & Tourism Council's global summit. The former US president expressed his satisfaction at finally being able to see the city after having to cancel his planned institutional visit in 2016 due to a terrorist attack in Dallas. His sightseeing tour, however, which included the Real Alcazar and tapas in the old town, was enjoyed behind a strict security barrier, impenetrable by photographers. Obama landed in Seville in the early hours of Wednesday morning and stayed at the city's most iconic hotel, the Alfonso XIII. There was great expectation among the around 2,000 delegates at the WTTC summit, as Obama took to the stage to speak of his own travels, using the theme as a base from which to approach climate change, populism, women's rights, migration and the future of today's youth, an issue particularly close to his heart since he left the White House in 2017. He spoke especially of his daughters Sasha and Malia and his wife Michelle, saying that his most memorable travels had been with his family. He probably didn't have much time left to enjoy travelling as a family, he said, as his daughters are now 20 and 17. The elder of the two, Malia, is perhaps responsible for the ex-president's acceptance of the invitation to speak in Seville: she had previously spent several months studying in Seville. His participation at the summit, which was attended by numerous tourism ministers from around the world, as well as business owners and another former president, Mexico's Felipe Calderon, was billed as a "Conversation" with Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta. Obama, who revealed he was writing his memoirs, also spoke of his trip as a young man to Kenya to meet his father's family. He expressed his concerns, however, that future generations might not have so many opportunities. If the oceans rise a few centimetres more, he said, "some of the most spectacular parts of the world we always want to visit might not survive". Meeting with Sanchez Obama with Pedro Sanchez in Seville. / AFP The issue of climate change was among others that came up in his later meeting with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez. According to sources at Moncloa, the pair also discussed their concerns about youth and employment and the situation of women as well as how building walls against immigration was not the path to follow. Up to 100,000 people from towns and villages in rural areas in inland Spain took to the streets of Madrid last Sunday. They were calling on the government and all political parties to take urgent action to stop the fall in the numbers living in places outside the big urban areas, where the population is declining leading to a reduction in services and, in some cases, whole villages becoming empty. Half of Spain's municipalities have a population of under 500, which means basic services like schools and bus links are disappearing, as younger people move to larger towns to find work and the population left behind grows older. The decline has been under way for many decades but now a group of 90 different residents and business organisations from across the 26 worst-affected provinces have decided to join forces to call for action. / EFE Among the most vociferous in the good-natured protest were whole families from Soria and Teruel, the least-populated provinces with only 10 inhabitants per square kilometre. At the head of the group named "Soria Now!", (Soria ya!), Sonia Martinez said, to the applause of those around her, "We want to be heard for once. We're really fed up. We've been completely forgotten about in terms of communication links, companies, work... and every day it's getting worse. All our young people have to leave because in Soria they've got no future. I think it's time we were listened to." The march, which ended with the reading out of a list of demands for Congress, was full of banners and placards, such as, "I want to live in my village," "If the countryside doesn't produce, the city doesn't eat," or "Lack of investment brings depopulation." Organisers asked for the marchers to be politically neutral, although representatives of all parties took part. In the forthcoming general election on 28 April, the smallest provinces have a disproportionate say in deciding which party governs, under the structure of the proportional representation system, especially in the Senate, and so all politicians were keen to court this rural vote. Some 53 per cent of Spain's surface area is home to only five per cent of the total population, mostly in central areas. Between 2009 and 2018 the total national population hardly changed, but the distribution got worse. The province of Zamora lost 12 per cent of its residents over the period; Cuenca 10 per cent; Teruel nine per cent; and Orense and Avila over eight per cent. As a comparison, Malaga and the Costa del Sol grew three per cent in the same period. The word 'perverse' is generally understood to mean having a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave badly, to deviate from what is good. However, less common is a surprising definition which changes that around: perverse can also be applied to someone characterised by determination or willfulness. In the mid-19th century, art tended towards the first definition, portraying the cursed beauty of the woman who leads to the destruction of the man. But by the 20th century there had been a rebellion and women were being portrayed as strong, seductive and independent. Perversity, the new exhibition at the Carmen Thyssen Museum which is sponsored by the Unicaja Foundation, looks at this evolution in female identity: from 'femme fatale' to the new woman. "I find it very interesting and relevant at the present time, when women are often in the news. This exhibition will have an effect," said Baroness Carmen Thyssen, president of the Palacio Villalon Foundation at the launch of the exhibition. Exhibition.Perversity. Femmes Fatales in Modern Art (18801950). What.71 works from institutions and collections in France, Switzerland, Germany and Spain. Where.Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga. When.Until 8 September. The strong red colour of the walls is a warning that this is an "intense" exhbition. The first picture is a woman in an attitude of waiting, sensual, with a see-through blouse and, of course, she is a red-head, the colour of danger. In 1880 Georges Clairin turned to the archetypes of provocative women to portray one who was in reality a transgression, the actress Sarah Bernhardt, actress and the first female entrepreneur in the world of theatre. The tour of the exhibition ends with a very different pose: in the 20th century, Delhy Tejero painted his friend in trousers, looking powerful, decided and brave. Perversity is a collection of almost 70 visions of woman through paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by artists such as Klimt, Modigliani, Van Dongen, Man Ray, Picasso, Dali, Gargallo, Zuloaga and Romero de Torres, among others. Institutions and collections from France, Switzerland, Germany and Spain have loaned their works for this exhibition. As the curator and artistic director of the museum, Lourdes Moreno, explained, these are a faithful reflection of society of the time. The way art portrayed women in the 19th century "showed a powerful and negative human sentiment: fear". The alarm caused in society by the incorporation of women into work in the industrial revolution and their demands regarding employment generated this reaction, which stemmed from literary, mythological and biblical tradition. Anglada-Camarasa paints a Salome without a face, only interested in her shape; Franz Von Stuck winds a serpent around a redheaded Eve who holds her breast as if it were the forbidden apple; and Rogelio de Egusquiza echoes a misogynistic philosophical trend in 'Kundry' (the cause of perdition in Wagner's 'Parsifal'), the tallest picture ever to have been displayed at the Thyssen Museum, at 2.4 metres. For many, like Picasso and Penagos, the myth of Carmen, the Spanish 'femme fatale' was an inspiration, whle others preferred the native tradition of the 'maja'. Zuloaga paints her in 'Desnudo del clavel', and Kees van Dongen reviews her in 'El chal espanol', a provocative work where he places the woman's naked pubis at the eye level of the spectator. The picture was expelled from the Exhibition in Paris in the autumn of 1913. Later, Van Dongen again showed signs of his disruptive character in 'Tango', where a naked woman dances with a man in a jacket with angel wings. Look out, though: he is wearing high-heeled shoes. The first part of the exhibition is titled 'Damned beauty', and the second is graph of the first part of the exhibition. It is followed by 'Queens of the abyss', encompassing the women of the night who survived during a time of exodus to the cities by offering their bodies in the suburbs and the 'maison close' (French brothels). The Australian-first Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) will bring together the best of Victorias aerospace research, design and manufacturing leaders to work with industry on the next generation of air mobility. Worlds largest STS transfer hub under development KA Petra, a Malaysian ship-to-ship (STS) transfer specialist, has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Hutchison Port Holdings to jointly develop the worlds largest STS transfer hub in the country. Under the terms of the HOA, KA Petra will have a 70% interest in the project, whilst Hutchison Ports will take a 30% stake. Based on preliminary studies, construction of the STS hub is estimated to cost $150 mill to $180 mill, and will be funded by a combination of internally generated funds and debt financing. Construction will be undertaken in phases with commencement within the next 12 months. Dato Shahrul Amirul, KA Petra executive chairman, said, We embarked on the STS hub idea two years ago, and through the grace and assistance from the Government of Malaysia, our partner Hutchison Ports, our engineering and technical partners, and our very own KA Petra team, we are now realising the STS hub dream. Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports, said, We are equally excited to be part of this significant project that will have such a positive impact on the marine sector in Malaysia, as well as in Southeast Asia. Given our global port network, we are confident of introducing the many benefits offered in this STS hub to our global shipping lines customers. This would be one of our valued propositions as a strategic partner with KA Petra in undertaking the development of the worlds largest STS hub in Malaysia, he said. According to Shahrul, the STS hub and the related businesses will create job opportunities that is expected to attract many highly skilled Malaysians who are currently working overseas to return to Malaysia to provide skills and training to the next generation of professionals in the maritime industry. Shahrul commented that the STS Hub will have the capacity to store over 9 mill tonnes of petroleum products, and with the IMO 2020 approaching, the hub will be well positioned to become a major trading area in the region. The hub will be located in the Johor Bahru Port waters spanning an area of 2,800 acres. It will consist of 31 berths, making it the largest in the world and will be the worlds first fully dedicated STS transfer facility. It will be fitted with a state-of-the-art dolphin mooring and berthing facilities, which will allow vessels to transfer liquid cargoes, such as crude oil, fuel oil, gas oil, LNG and other petroleum-based products. : 1 , . (). - . : , , ? : , , , 8 , . 1 , . , , , , , , . , , , , , , , . : , ? : , . . - - , , . , , . , , , - , , 5 , 120 . : . ? : . - , . , , , , , . , , , - - , . , 11 10 . , , , , , , , , . , . . , 4 , . - . , , , , , , , , , . , , . , . . : , ? : , , . , , . 1 2007 . , . Three accused of diverting Mozambique aid Maputo, April 5 (AFP) Apr 05, 2019 Three people have been arrested on suspicion of misappropriating humanitarian relief aid for victims of a deadly cyclone that last month killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands in Mozambique. "There are many complaints of diversion of donations," said Joaquim Tomo, the public prosecutions spokesman in the cyclone-hit Sofala province. "We are investigating on a case-by-case basis," he said. "We have three detainees who diverted 19 bags of rice, 19 bags of (maize) flour, 11 bags of soybeans, 100 kilogrammes of beans," he said adding many more arrests were expected. Aid agencies are feeding hundreds of thousands of people who were affected by cyclone Idai which hit the coast of central Mozambique on March 15 with hurricane-force winds and rains flooding the hinterland and drenching eastern Zimbabwe. In Mozambique, 598 people have been killed, and another 268 have died in Zimbabwe, according to the toll as of Wednesday. UN humanitarian agency OCHA on Friday said it had so far reached 550,000 people with food aid. "The United Nations and other humanitarian organisations that are in the country, the NGOs, have a very good track record of being able to reach out to the people they need," Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' deputy head Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, told reporters. "We know where it's going and where it's coming from, and we're distributing food to over 500,000 people," said Stampa. Mozambique's National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) director Augusta Maita expressed concern at reports of diversion of food aid, but pointed out that "so far we have not had any indication of the involvement" of workers of the organisation. Survivors, who have been placed in temporary crowded shelters, have been hit by a cholera outbreak which has killed five people so far and infected 2,424 others. Building blocks of DNA and RNA could have appeared together before life began on Earth La Jolla CA (SPX) Apr 03, 2019 Scientists for the first time have found strong evidence that RNA and DNA could have arisen from the same set of precursor molecules even before life evolved on Earth about four billion years ago. The discovery, published April 1 in Nature Chemistry, suggests that the first living things on Earth may have used both RNA and DNA, as all cell-based life forms do now. In contrast, the prevailing scientific view - the "RNA World" hypothesis - is that early life forms were based purely on RNA, and only ... read more We only know one planet, Earth, but there are countless stars outside our solar system Extraterrestrials, And that Telescope James The web It will help to explore with its powerful tools. This is one of the key tasks of this Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page After living all over the country, Jono Brymer has found the Downriver area to his liking. In what might seem to many as an unlikely place to start a European style eatery offering artisan foods, he recently announced that after almost three years in Trenton hes expanding to Wyandotte. After primarily selling at local markets, in the summer of 2016 Brymer and his wife, Chelsie, opened Promenade Artisan Foods in downtown Trenton. The couple said their goal was to serve fresh, quality food to the community they love. The restaurant specializes in artisan breads, pastries, coffee and cheeses. Theyre open for breakfast and lunch. When they open in Wyandotte theyll have a different name, but wont stray far from the French theme. Provence will be the name of the Wyandotte eatery, which is setting up shop at 3203 Biddle Ave., the former location of Biddle Blend, a popular coffeehouse that shut down in the fall of 2017. Prior to that, Axe N Ladder Deli had been located there. We have really fresh breakfast and lunch options, and great coffee, Brymer said. We will be doing espresso there, as well. Business has been great in Trenton. I love getting to know the people in the area. Brymer was born in Arkansas and also has lived in Kansas and other places, jokingly stating that he is from all over. He said his ministry was in music. As a traveling musician, he met his future wife in Nashville. She was there for school and I was there for music, Brymer said. We got married and planted our roots here. Chelsie Brymer wanted to move back to the Downriver area to be closer to her family, who reside in Gibraltar. The Brymers make their home in Trenton. Starting a restaurant with a French theme seemed like a natural choice for the couple. We both love food and business, Brymer said. Chelsies grandmother is French, and we love French food. We love fresh and healthy ingredients and strive for our menu to represent that. Offering fresh foods also means that some of the items they offer on their menu are seasonal. Brymer acknowledges that opening this type of restaurant especially as a first-time venture was a risk. We were not sure how it would do, but the response has been overwhelming, he said. We love getting to know the people and wanted to be involved in the community. Food is a great way to do that. Brymer added that he and his wife are equally excited that theyll soon also be a part of the Wyandotte community. We love the area and the people who come to our restaurant, he said. We are blessed to be a part of this community. Were excited for this (Wyandotte) location, hoping that we will continue to be the best part of peoples day. An opening date has not yet been set. Brymer said he expects the Wyandotte location to be open within the next few months. The Perspective Atlanta, Georgia April 5, 2019 T. Max Jlateh According to information reaching The Perspective, the George Weah Government has designed plans to murder its critics, starting with T. Max Jlateh, Henry Costa, Rodney Sieh and Philip Wisseh. President Weah considers his critics as enemies of the state. And as such, he has decided to liquidate the so-called enemies of the state. So, he has unleashed his ruthless thugs to prey on his perceived enemies. It can be recalled that during the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Weahs predecessor, critics as well as whistleblowers were brutally murdered under mysterious circumstances. In recent time, there has been a spate of killings in Liberia in the same fashion. There have been two mysterious killings linking to the missing 16 billion Liberian dollars and the 25 million United States dollars. One of the lone voices in the wilderness, Representative Adolph Lawrence, was killed just a few days ago. As if these killings were not bad enough, people within the inner circle of Weah have put together plans to kill his critics. Not too long ago, Archbishop Isaac Winker, gave the thugs his blessings, urging them to kill as many Weah critics there are. At the onset, President Weah made it clear that he was going to perpetuate Sirleafs legacy; and this is exactly what he is doing. To date, the Liberian Government has not found the killers of Harry Greaves and Cllr. Michael Allison, among others. Some observers see this carnage as the beginning. If the government is linked to the killing of Representative Lawrence, it is safe to say that nobody is beyond the reach of the alleged state-sponsored ruthlessness. Come to think of the emerging brutality, stories coming out of Liberia are very depressing. If it is not corruption with impunity, it is Mafia-style killing. Just a few days ago, Associate Justice Kabineh Janeh was unconstitutionally removed from the Supreme Court Bench through bribery of senators. Senator Prince Johnson, in collusion with President Weah, has put together a paycheck for Chief Justice Francis Korkpor to be a running-mate of President Weah in the next Presidential Election. Observers also see the removal of Associate Justice Janeh as not only a recipe for rigging the next elections, but also an indication that all the three branches of the Liberian Government are in President Weahs pocket. So, President Weah is virtually using the carrot and stick tactics to rule Liberia. People have branded the Weah Government as a Southeastern Government due to the Southeastern ancestry of President Weah. But the killing of Representative Lawrence and the targeting of these journalists, most of whom have Southeastern sounding names, lays bare the falsity of the perception that the Weah Government is a Southeastern Government. It must serve as a warning to some Southeasterners and to other Liberians with parochial mentality that we must judge leaders by their behaviors and not their ancestry or ethnicity. By Julia Anderson anderson14@grinnell.edu On March 25, Grinnell College alerted several students through email and U.S. mail that their personal information, including social security numbers, might have been compromised by a hack in the system that houses the Colleges admissions-related information. This notice follows the March 8 announcement sent as a special campus-wide memo that an unauthorized party had accessed the system. On the morning of March 7, prospective students for the incoming class of 2023 alerted the admissions office that they had received emails apparently sent through the official College admissions account. The emails were signed by Diane Evergreen, UDA International and stated that they had gained access to a database containing admissions information and that the prospective students could purchase access to their full admission files for the price of one Bitcoin, or around $3,890. The offer claimed that the purchase would provide access to the individuals comments by admissions officers, assigned ratings, interview report (if present), teacher recommendations and tentative decision of admission. Some applicants received another email shortly after as well, offering to reduce the price. We decided to lower the price to $60 dollars worth of Bitcoins. For this price you will get admissions comments and your interview report (if any), the email stated. The College quickly responded to the incident on its social media accounts the morning of March 7, urging anyone who had received the email not to respond to it. Upon learning of the situation, our information technology team shut down the intrusion within a matter of hours and confirmed the system was stable. We promptly began an investigation with the assistance of cybersecurity professionals, increased security protocols to prevent further unauthorized access to admission records, and reported the incident to the FBI, Joe Bagnoli, vice-president for enrollment and dean of admissions & financial aid, wrote in an email to The S&B. Two other private, liberal arts colleges, Hamilton College in New York and Oberlin College in Ohio, also reported attacks on their admission-related information as well, with the same offer to purchase admission files sent to applicants. Each college uses the software system Slate to manage admission information, and the original email sent to applicants declared Let this message serve proof that Slate has indeed been breached. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, however, Slate itself was not actually accessed by unauthorized users. Instead, it is likely that the unauthorized party reset a college staff members password to gain access to campus systems. Although the March 8 campus memo stated that there was no evidence that any financial information had been accessed by unauthorized sources, many students now worry about the risk of stolen identity. All students who received a notice letter after March 25 are confirmed as individuals whose personal information was included in the data system files accessed in the hack. In the notice letter, affected individuals were offered a complimentary two-year membership of Experian IdentityWorks Credit 3B. According to the notice, this product helps detect possible misuse of your personal information and provides you with identity protection services focused on immediate identification and resolution of identity theft. The letter also provided information on taking additional steps to avoid identity theft and fraud. These include placing a fraud alert and security freeze on your credit file and obtaining a free credit report. Under federal law, anyone can receive one free credit report yearly from each major nationwide credit reporting company: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion LLC. Some students feel that the Colleges response to the hack has not been nearly strong enough. I feel like the College, their response is lacking a lot. First of all, I mean, if they got our FAFSA then they couldve gotten our parents social security numbers, and thats something that the school hasnt even addressed, said Winnie Commers 22. And how much do these people really know? We have no idea, because all theyve told us is your info may have been hacked and its like, well youve got to tell us more! And I dont feel like what theyve given us is nearly enough. Following this incident, some questions and concerns have also been raised regarding its potential impact on enrollment for the class of 2023. However, admissions counselors do not believe this to be a pressing issue. We do not expect that the incident will impact enrollments. We have a large pool of qualified applicants for admission this year and believe enrollments will be stable in the fall. Nevertheless, we take this situation very seriously and sincerely regret the concern and inconvenience this may cause, Bagnoli wrote. For any individuals still concerned with how the compromised system may have affected their information, a confidential, toll-free call center has been established. Professionals familiar with the incident can be reached by calling 888-526-1229 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday through Friday. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Whats happening in the Iowa Legislature these days? The S&B compiled this legislative listing to keep you in the know. HJR 14 A proposed constitutional amendment that would have granted felons voting rights after they served their time was effectively defeated on Thursday after the Senate Judiciary Committee determined not to debate the measure. Republicans, who control both houses of the Legislature, had raised concerns over victim restitution payments and the ability of certain felons who have committed crimes such as rape or murder to vote. The resolution, supported by the Governor, had previously passed the House 95-2, with Representative Dave Maxwell in the majority. SF 523 A bill that would have increased the penalties for the accidental or intentional death of an unborn person did not make it out of committee in the House this week. The bill had previously passed the Senate, where Senator Tim Kapucian voted in favor. A controversial section of the bill defined an unborn person as fertilization to live birth, which critics argued could have had larger, negative implications for access to abortion. But supporters said that concern was overblown, because the bill was restricted to criminal actions. SJR 18 A resolution to amend the Iowa constitution to include explicit protections for gun owners passed earlier this year. It would add the language The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed to the constitution. To become law the resolution must pass again in 2021 or 2022 and then face a statewide referendum. The amendment had previously been set to go to a statewide referendum in 2020, but an administrative error from the Secretary of States office meant the legislature had to entirely restart the amendment process, and it will now be unable to go into effect until 2022 at the earliest. Both Representative Maxwell and Senator Kapucian voted in favor of the resolution. HF 692 An Iowa Senate committee submitted changes to a House bill that would dramatically change election law on Wednesday. The changes include closing polls at 8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. during general elections, requiring signature verification for mail-in ballots, and requiring that college students turn in a form before graduation to indicate if they intend to stay in Iowa or not. If they do not, they would be marked as inactive on the voter rolls. Critics argue these changes amount to voter suppression, while advocates argue they are necessary changes to ensure transparency and security in Iowa elections. By Jonathan Gomez gomezjon@grinnell.edu The Grinnell Fire Department recently purchased a brand-new ladder truck from Fire Safety USA in Rochester, MN. This new ladder truck will replace their previous one, which has been in service for the past 27 years well past the National Fire Protection Associations recommended lifespan of 20 years. According to Fire Chief Dan Sicard, The city has been saving money over the last 20-25 years, putting aside $325,000, and the college contributed $100,000 towards the purchase of the truck. The cost of the truck itself is $875,000. We [put] the down payment and the rest was bonded through the city which we will be paying off for the next 10 years. Sicard also addressed the multiple upgrades to the ladder truck that will not only make working conditions safer but also decrease the limitations to their services. The new ladder truck will have a maximum aerial reach of 100 feet as opposed to the previous 75 feet, which, Sicard said, is not necessarily the height that you have to reach in a building, but you have to have the reach, because youre often not going to park right next to the building and go straight up. Youre going to have to park a ways away and go at an angle. [With] the dorms and apartments that we have in town, our 75 foot aerial came up short in several places. The 100 feet [aerial] gives us a little better ability to reach the windows on the third floor and fourth floors in the areas that we might need it. As one can imagine, after 27 years of technological developments the new ladder truck is also equipped with some features that werent around in the early 90s, such as LED lighting. According to Sicard, Now in the middle of the night you get a fire call, everything is lit up well the ladder truck itself, up the ladder there is LED strip lighting the whole way. Our safety is increased greatly just because of all the lighting we got. Its pretty neat. Furthermore, Sicard expressed his gratitude for the new riding compartment for the firefighters, which is an enclosed cabin and much safer than when they were riding in the open-air compartment. Despite already making the purchase, a couple of tasks need to be completed prior to the big rig debut. Its still not quite in service yet. We have training coming from the manufacturer two weekends from now. Once weve had that, well get it out there in the public. Were debating whether or not we will have some type of ceremony, they call it a pushing-in ceremony where we simulate pushing the truck into the station, but we still havent decided, Sicard said. In addition, volunteers for the Grinnell Fire Department are still raising funds to reach the projected price of $75,000 for equipment slated to go on the new truck. Fortunately, annual auctions, dances and other fundraisers have helped to get the budget to only about $10,000 to $15,000 short of their goal. As for the old truck, Sicard said, The old truck itself is actually going to stay as a reserve piece of equipment. It has pump and a ladder, and we have a reserve pumper at the airport. The pump at the airport is no longer serviceable, so its going to move down to the airport. Sicard said he appreciates the communitys support, and stated, Theres a lot of towns our size that may not have a ladder truck, and we are also about 45 minutes away from the next ladder truck. So its a long ways away. This truck is obviously up for grabs for anyone in Poweshiek County if they need it. Looking forward to new projects that the Grinnell Fire Department are planning, Sicard said, We have two trucks that are looking pretty close to being within the realm in which they should start being replaced. We are going to be hosting the Iowa Fire Association Convention in both 2020 and 2021 and thats going to be our big fundraiser that we will hopefully be able to set aside money for one of those trucks. By Tommy ODonnell odonnel@grinnell.edu On Tuesday, the Iowa Valley Community College (IVVC) Bond Referendum failed to pass after narrowly missing the required 60% approval mark. The unofficial results state that the bond received 58.39% approval from voters, missing the required 60% approval rate by merely 62 votes. Overall, 3,814 ballots were cast, which included 1,496 who voted by absentee ballot or at satellite voting stations in March. The City of Grinnell saw a turnout of 452 voters, with 54.42% of them approving the bond referendum. In an open letter published on the day after the defeat, IVCC board chair Larry Johnson thanked everyone for their participation in the referendum and called for those who voted against the bond to articulate to our staff and to our Board the needs you see in your communities that can and should be addressed by Iowa Valley Community College District. Even with this defeat, Johnson pledged to continue providing quality education and improving the economic vitality of the IVCC. This district is positioned for continued economic vitality of the various constituencies within our district. We are committed to continue to assist in workforce development and training as well as providing quality education. IVCC requested a $32 million bond to make upgrades at a number of its campuses across the state, including the campus at Iowa Valley Grinnell. The money would have helped finance reconstruction projects to improve the safety and accessibility of its facilities, many of which have not been updated since the 1970s. This included a gunsmithing lab at the Grinnell campus, which planned to build a separate secure entrance to the lab and a larger polishing room. Gunsmithing students provide gun repair services for the public at a market rate. Although no ammunition is allowed on the campus, staff members or approved students are currently required to escort owners to and from the facility. If the bill had passed, a new entrance would have eliminated the need for gun owners to pass through any other parts of the building. Further proposed improvements to the Grinnell campus included new security camera and phone systems. The plans also included a $1 million upgrade of the IVCC computer system, which has not been replaced for more than a decade. The $32 million dollar bond would have been financed by a tax increase of 71 cents per $1000 of taxable valuation for ten years in the ten counties where IVCC campuses operate. This would have meant a homeowner with a property worth $100,000 a year would have paid $40.52 per year for ten years in order to finance these facility improvements. Even though this may seem like a steep increase, the overall tax levy rate for IVCC with the proposed bond would have been lower than the rates in 2017. Now, with the bond failing to be approved, taxpayers must only pay 81 cents per $1000. The Marshall County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, to canvass the results of the bond referendum. By Montserrat Castro-Gomez castromo@grinnell.edu Rachel Bass 19 recently received a Marshall Award, a prestigious scholarship that only four other Grinnellians have received before her. After taking into consideration the Watson Fellowship, the Churchill and the Marshall Awards, Bass decided that the Marshall suited her interests best. I like the flexibility and I liked the fact that it seemed like it created a cool cohort community of people who have different interests, she said. Bass, a mathematics and physics double major, will first use the award to study physics for one year at the University of Edinburgh. She chose this specific program for her physics master because she was attracted to its flexibility in terms of learning: she will learn physics theory and research techniques as well as computational skills. After her year in Edinburgh, she will spend a year at the mathematics education program at Kings College in London. Bass opted for these schools over Oxford and Cambridge because she has a special interest in getting a broader sense of the U.K. Bass said that the liberal arts education she has received from Grinnell College will benefit her in the future in terms of being able to think broadly about issues and to see the impacts of her research, as opposed to only having the technical skills for it. She also mentioned how she was looking forward to incorporating what she has learned in her courses outside of STEM, specifically her Gender, Womens, and Sexuality Studies courses. The research classes Ive taken here and the lab classes give me the technical preparation, but I think that some of my classes outside of STEM will help me a lot. Im excited to weave together my love of math but also these other classes Ive taken outside and see from that perspective, Bass said. A physics mentor for five semesters now, Bass is also excited about looking at education more critically from now on. The Marshall Award, which can be tailored to a particular program, will pay for Basss full tuition during the two years of her stay in the U.K. In addition, she will receive a stipend of around one thousand pounds per month, which will support her living expenses. I predict that I will work a couple hours over there just because I like to stay busy. But studies come first, Bass said. Bass feels very grateful and lucky to even have had the opportunity of an interview before she was awarded the Marshall. She believes that even if there have only been five recipients in Grinnell, people should not be discouraged from applying for the Marshall Award. I think more people should seriously consider themselves as potential candidates for these awards. Even if you dont get it, thinking really hard about what you want is useful for summer research applications or graduate applications. However, I think there is proof that people from small liberal arts colleges like Grinnell do get these scholarships, Bass said. In the future, Bass is interested in teaching physics and math at a collegiate level. She is especially interested in helping students who are interested in studying physics but might be intimidated by the mathematics component of it. Her teaching would focus on ways with which she can change that perspective. The whole reason I want to do this mathematics education masters is to learn the ways in which I can support physics learning for students for whom math is what scaring them away from physics, Bass said. After graduating from Grinnell College, Bass will be very excited to experience the differences between the United Kingdom, especially Edinburgh, and her hometown in Oregon. She is looking forward to living in a different place outside the United States and adapting to a different culture. Im ready to be challenged. Im looking forward to being challenged, not only in the course, but also living in a new place and not knowing a lot of the cultural cues, Bass said. By Ingrid Meulemans meulema@grinnell.edu Since its construction in 1912, the Ricker House has been an architectural staple of Grinnell. Standing apart from the other houses surrounding the College, the Ricker House stands on the corner of Broad Street as not only an ode to modern architecture, but also its surroundings. The brick, prairie-style home was designed and built by Chicago-based architects Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin. However, while the Ricker House is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in town, the project was not what initially drew the Griffins to Grinnell. In 1911, Walter Burley Griffin was commissioned to build a memorial fountain for Dr. Elbert Clark in Grinnells Central Park. While working on this project, he was approached by memorial committee-member Benjamin Ricker who asked the architect to build the Ricker family home. Together, Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin teamed up and created the Ricker House, which still stands today on the corner of Broad Street. The Ricker House, built in the traditional prairie style, is very much a product of its time. Drawing inspiration from architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, the Griffins wanted to create a comfortable home that reflected its surroundings. According to art history professor and architectural historian Fredo Rivera 06, the Prairie style was very popular with Chicago based architects and those that worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, like the Griffins. Describing the prairie style, Rivera said, There is this attention to the local landscape of the Midwest. A lot of the buildings tend to be very grounded, in some cases imbedded within the ground. They also tend to take on various design motifs, which is especially seen in the Ricker house. After their work in Grinnell, the Griffins moved to Australia after winning the commission to design Canberra, now the capital city of Australia. Meanwhile, the Rickers moved into their home, which then traveled through many generations and owners before ending up in the ownership of Grinnell College in 2000. During its years with the College, the residence was used as temporary guest house for visitors. In 2017, however, the College decided to sell the house, and it now belongs to a private owner. The Griffins other work, a memorial fountain and an urban plan for Grinnell, exist only in records and as models. While Rivera is well versed in the history and significance of the house, he has never been inside. Nate Crail 19, an anthropology major with a love of architecture, was happy to describe his visit to the local landmark. There are lots of similarities with the Ricker house and Frank Lloyd Wright houses, Crail said. Theres a huge focus on wood and brick and prairie style windows. You definitely feel grounded because the ceilings are low, and the house has a lot of earthy types of colors. The houses new owner, Ryan Ferguson, has been aware of the house since childhood. We were looking to move to Grinnell to be closer to family when the house went on the market, said Ferguson. We prefer the charm of older homes over newer homes, especially in the case of this house. For decades, my mom made my dad drive by this house whenever they were in Grinnell, starting in the 1990s, so we knew about the house (but never thought wed own it.) Since buying the Ricker House, Ferguson and his family have made the historic house into their home. My wife Carrie and I have a background in fixing up houses, so the projects and restoration of an older home didnt scare us away, he said. Like previous owner Betty Gough Babe Voertman 67, the Fergusons value undecorating. Undecorating, which has become a trend in interior design within the last decade, refers to the practice of restoring a historical home to its original glory instead remodeling it to fit modern styles and standards. Above all, the Fergusons said they understand, cherish and praise the houses historical significance. Were continuing on that trend and slowly returning things more to what they would have been originally. The art glass windows require the most work currently but theyre arguably the best asset of the house, along with the tiled exterior mosaics. All of the above designed by the talented Marion Mahony, Ferguson said. Thus, the Ricker House has remained an architectural cornerstone of the town community and a home for generations of Grinnellians with its quiet, earthy strength. Our youngest was born in the master bedroom of the Ricker House last August, Ferguson said. Were pretty sure shes the only child to have been born in the home. By Eva Hill hilleva@grinnell.edu The Board of Trustees winter meeting concluded on Feb. 9 of 2019, and on March 14, the College sent out a brief summary of the meeting via email to all enrolled students. One item on the summary, the lengthiest within the list of bullet-point items under the Information heading, is entitled Accreditation Update. This update describes the release of the Colleges 2019 accreditation review to the trustees and notes that the review flagged nature of learning assessment for additional attention from the school. Grinnell College is reviewed for accreditation every 10 years by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an agency headquartered in Chicago that reviews institutions in the North Central United States. The HLC reviews Grinnell on an open pathway model, which bases the review on five major criteria: mission, integrity, resources for teaching and learning, assessment and institutional planning. These five categories contain 21 core criteria, 20 of which Grinnell was evaluated to have met, with learning assessment the only component requiring attention, according to the HLC. Learning assessment falls within the assessment category, which evaluates whether the institution under review has assessment systems in place that are capable of telling the school whether it is achieving its goals. In their evaluation, the HLC determined that the College met the learning assessment criterion, but marked it as met with concerns. This means that the College will now begin finding ways to improve performance in that category, and in four years, the HLC will perform a reevaluation to see if the nature of learning assessment has improved suitably. According to Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Mike Latham, the HLCs comments regarding learning assessment focused on the process of direct assessment, the process by which an institution determines the extent to which its students are acquiring the expected skills for a given major. This kind of assessment, Latham said, has four parts. The first involves designing a set of learning goals for a given major, which define what the institution wants the students in that major to be able to do after completing their coursework. The second part involves a review of the curriculum to find places where those skills are being taught, and the third part consists of determining how to measure whether or not students are meeting learning goals for their major. For the fourth and final part, the institution evaluates how students are or are not meeting their learning goals, and then examines the reasons why that might be happening. If we find, perhaps, that there are some goals that [students] do really well on and others they arent as strong on, then we take that information, look back at our curriculum, and figure out what we need to improve or adjust, Latham said. Latham said that some departments at the College already have their own forms of direct assessment for example, certain departments have, in the past, collected papers from graduating students and evaluated them on a rubric to determine whether those students had achieved the expected set of skills and knowledge. However, this kind of assessment happens unevenly across all academic departments, resulting in the HLC marking the learning assessment criterion as met with concerns. Currently, an assessment committee composed of faculty members is working with the Deans Office and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment to improve direct assessment across the College. The committee will collaborate with each individual department to create a template for designing a direct assessment model appropriate for that department. The College may also bring in external specialists to assist in the process. By Julia Anderson anderson14@grinnell.edu Sunrise Movement, a national organization led by young adults and focused on taking political action to combat global climate change, now has a local chapter at Grinnell College. The organizations goals are framed around a three-part statement: our planet is threatened by climate change, viable solutions exist and a greedy few are preventing large-scale political change from occurring. In response, Sunrise Movement urges young people to organize in solidarity to focus on bringing political change. We are the majority. We will win, the organizations website declares. Hannah Dorf and Megan Gardner, both 20, became certified as Sunrise hub coordinators this semester. They attended a series of educational discussions online through the national organization in order to learn about the movements goals and how to properly lead one of its chapters. Last semester, I was abroad studying climate change in the arctic, so I was like climate change is my new thing, this is what Im going to do. So I have more of the climate science kind of side, and Hannah has more of the action, social aspect of it, said Gardner. In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report that described the likelihood of environmental crisis as early as 2040. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, 2040 may mark the onset of the most drastic effects of global climate change, including increased droughts, wildfires, food shortages and poverty. Due to the urgency of environmental destruction, Sunrise emphasizes the importance of young people engaging in activism now. Its super important for young people to band together on this one issue that will affect our future within the next 10 to 15 years and to show our congresspeople how much this matters to us and how important we think it is for our future. It feels gross planning for my future, knowing that it could not be there, Gardner said. Sunrise gained national recognition in November 2018 when 200 of its activists occupied Nancy Pelosis office in protest. This sit-in was one of Sunrises many efforts to promote the Green New Deal, one of the major focuses of the organization. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey introduced the Green New Deal resolution, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2030. The resolution focuses on transitioning to sustainable energy sources while simultaneously creating new jobs and acknowledging issues of social justice. Its a resolution, so its not necessarily a law, but its a promise to work towards these laws. So a promise to work towards green energy with the goal of complete green energy in the US by 2030, which is possible, said Dorf. It would be very expensive, and thats one of the things it doesnt mention is how much it would cost, but its the only big, national climate action promise thats out there. Its a big deal because it shows us that [Ocasio-Cortez] and Ed Markey are working for our future, Gardner said. The authors of the IPCC report estimated the cost of transforming the world economy to counteract the environmental damage already caused to be around $54 trillion. The cost of such an ambitious project is largely due to the need to completely restructure global energy sources. However, leaders of the Sunrise Movement acknowledge that the initial cost would ultimately pay off when sustainable energy sources are put in place. The Colleges Sunrise hub is still in its beginning stages, but the hub leaders are working on expanding the groups reach. They officially launched the group on February 14 and have held introductory meetings. The leaders hope to meet more regularly during the remaining part of the semester, on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the JRC. As for future goals, Dorf and Gardner highlight the 2020 election as a primary focus for Sunrise. As presidential candidates and other politicians visit Grinnell in the upcoming months, they hope to use Sunrise to promote climate change as a leading issue for the Democratic Party. This is a school that I feel like is full of people that want to be activists, because we are supposed to be committed to social change. I really hope that this can be an organization for people that are passionate to make social change. Because I feel like fighting for the environment is something that we all should be able to agree on. Im worried about the future, so I really want to be a part of fighting for it, Dorf said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. MBABANE Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Princess Sikhanyiso has appreciated the ministry and its stakeholders for taking up the challenge of working with someone from royalty. The minister articulated this during the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee meeting, which was held at Royal Swazi Convention Centre yesterday. The minister was being officially introduced to parastatals CEOs, the ministrys stakeholders and employees, who explained their line of work in their different departments. Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini was also part of the meeting. I love that the ICT Ministry has welcomed me with open arms. I know how difficult it would be to work with a member of the royal family, perhaps one who is considered reserved, maybe aloof; but I can imagine the difficulty that it is to work with us, the minister alluded. She further extended her appreciation to MP Macford Sibandze, who is the Chairperson of the ICT portfolio committee with his experience in government and the media, for understanding her beyond the political sphere. The minister added that they had known each other from the arts background of music which she had a passion for. She expressed her gratitude for the oversight role that Parliament played in ensuring that the budget debate went smoothly without any glitches. She said with the eloquent, articulate and meticulous chairperson, she had no doubt that it was the only way the budget would go. In addition, she acknowledged the media for attending and patiently waiting for the ministry while they prepared their presentation before the meeting. She highlighted that the ministrys mission which was to provide a conducive policy environment accessible to information, communication and technologys infrastructure and quality services in order to eradicate information poverty through innovation and leveraging best international practices and values of ICT. She added that the vision was also to be among world leaders in providing an enabling environment for ICT. She said this was established in Gazette No. 15 of 2009 of the Constitution of Eswatini. MBABANE The inclusion of the word cannabis in the Eswatini Cannabis Association could be one reason the entity has failed to be registered. When the Registrar of Companies under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Msebe Malinga, was engaged on the registration delays that the association cited during their launch at Mountain Inn on Monday, he said Trevor Shongwe, the associations Administrator, knew the reasons. Malinga said upon the submission of their documents, the Registrar of Companies Office raised its concerns with the association and asked them to come to his office to discuss them. He said he had seen Shongwe last Thursday and told him to come to his office on Friday but he never showed up. I talked to him on Monday, asked him to come see me on Tuesday. Again, he never showed up. So please ask Shongwe to tell you the truth of the matter, Malinga said in an interview. He said since he had told Shongwe that they needed to meet the same month they submitted their registration forms, Shongwe was free to come to his office as he was waiting for him to come. Foreign ministers from the G7 group of nations will discuss the threat of a resurgence in Libya\s civil war at a meeting in western France on Friday, as world powers scrambled to defuse a dangerous escalation in the oil producer\s power struggle. A military advance towards Tripoli and Libya\s U.N. backed government by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar has taken the United Nations by surprise, just as its secretary general was in the capital to plan a peace conference later this month. Shortly before the summit began, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the G7 was monitoring the situation with a great deal of concern. "Libya is likely to be at the heart of exchanges today and tomorrow. It will be looked at in detail, hopefully to allow us to move forward and avoid the situation getting worse," a senior French diplomat said. Concern over Libya\s stability is heightened by continuing political tensions around Europe over migration from north Africa, despite the fact that the numbers of new arrivals in Europe via the central Mediterranean have plummeted. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian welcomed his counterparts from the club of big rich nations under a dull gray sky in Brittany, for a meeting overshadowed by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo\s absence and Britain\s Brexit meltdown. French diplomats say Paris has scaled back its ambitions for France\s presidency of the club of big rich countries, after U.S. President Donald Trump threw last year\s summit in Canada into disarray, backing out of a joint communique and firing barbs at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The French diplomat sought to downplay Pompeo\s snub saying: "We\re working well with the Americans. Yes, we have differences on some subjects, but that isn\t holding back the quality of our dialogue." BREXIT LOOMS LARGE Workers at dawn had furiously scrubbed away at graffiti spray-painted onto buildings near the secure zone in Dinard that attacked capitalism and President Emmanuel Macron. The slogans screamed "Thieving banks", "Revolution" and "No to the G7", mirroring the anger vented across France in five months of anti-government "yellow vest" protests fueled by perceptions of a growing rich-poor divide and aloof politicians. The summit is expected to result in three joint statements on cyber security, sexual violence against women in armed conflict and trafficking in the Sahel region, and not too much wrangling over issues where there is less consensus such as Iran and Russia. Britain\s Hunt said he would use the summit to call on his European counterparts to support his government\s request for a short delay to Britain\s exit from the EU. British Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to Brussels on Friday asking for a delay of Brexit until up to June 30, while saying she aims to get Britain out of the EU earlier to avoid it participating in European elections. "What we are looking for is to avoid a long extension," Hunt said. "We are a democracy with a hung parliament, so its not easy." Hunt said the G7 was proof Britain would not play a diminished international role after Brexit. SOURCE: REUTERS Thousands of Palestinians thronged the perimeter fence between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Friday as the weekly, bloody demonstrations rolled into their second year. The protest, occurring just days before Israel\s April 9 vote, is the first since an Egyptian-brokered deal emerged to end the latest round of cross-border fighting between the enemies. Hamas officials say the agreement promises to ease tight Israeli restrictions on Gaza and provide much-needed economic incentives in exchange for the group keeping border protests peaceful. But demonstrations turned violent on Friday. Dozens approached the barrier, setting tires ablaze and hurling rocks and makeshift explosives at the fence. Israeli troops responded with tear gas and live bullets. Gaza\s health officials reported that 83 Palestinians were injured, one critically. It did not provide a breakdown of how the injuries were inflicted. There were signs earlier this week that the cease-fire had borne fruit, including Israel\s expansion of the Palestinian fishing zone to an extent that hadn\t been seen in years. It\s unclear how long the arrangements will last. Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, announced at Friday\s rally that the group "doesn\t trust" Israel and vowed to continue the weekly demonstrations. It\s sensitive timing for Israel, which holds its general election on Tuesday. Earlier Friday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the outcome of the Israeli election won\t impact Palestinians. He called the vote an internal "Zionist affair." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is locked in a heated race for re-election against a party of former army chiefs, which has criticized his failure to deter Gaza rockets. Otherwise, Israel\s long-running conflict with the Palestinians has been strikingly absent from political debate. Haniyeh added that differences between Israeli political parties are "very marginal" when it comes to policy toward Palestinians. Hamas launched the protests in March 2018 in an attempt to break the crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the territory. Close to 200 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in the demonstrations. SOURCE: AP You have reached a premium content area of TOL. To read this entire article please login if you are already a TOL subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Julphar, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the Middle East and Africa, has pledged its support to the Zimbabwean government to help boost the country's healthcare sector, days after a devastating tropical storm battered the country. The announcement was made during a visit by the UAE pharmaceutical company to the African nation as part of a UAE delegation last month. Accompanied by representatives from Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the delegation toured Harare and met with Zimbabwe president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as the country's Health and Childcare Minister, Obadiah Moyo. Meetings were also held with representatives from local pharmaceutical companies NatPharm and CAPs during which Julphar made a commitment to support the local pharmaceutical market and offered to supply medicines and support local production. The trip took place just a week after Cyclone Idai made landfall in southern Africa one of the most devastating storms to hit the continent in decades. Zimbabwe's health delivery system has faced challenges in the past two decades, largely due to an economic crisis, and the country is in need of critical health services and medicines. Dr Jacques Safarian, Julphar's Director Africa Region, said the company hoped to leverage its already strong presence in Africa by forging new relationships that added value and helped provide affordable healthcare solutions to families across Zimbabwe. "Zimbabwe's healthcare system in a critical state and is in need of urgent support, especially with the supply of medicines," said Dr Safarian. "As one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the region, we are already very active in Africa and we are well positioned to support the Zimbabwean government by providing access to lifesaving medicines at affordable prices. We see numerous opportunities in distribution and local production and hope to finalize agreements with NatPharm for importation and CAPs for local production very soon," he added. - TradeArabia News Service Thursday April 4th is International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Separate reports launched by IFAD and the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative show the scale and impact of rural poverty is alarmingly and endemically high. While a 2018 UN Global Report on Food Security suggest that the number of malnourished people is now more than 820 millionaround one person out of every nine. As we have become aware these figures have a human face and are too often found in post-crisis or fragile states; places such as Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, and Somalia. UNICEF estimates that 535 million children, nearly one in four, live in countries affected by conflict or disaster, often without medical care, quality education, proper nutrition or protection. Often adding to this topography of suffering in these and more than 50 other countries, are an innumerable number of landmines and explosive remnants of war that have made toxic the very soil needed for rural re-development. Meeting SDG 1 Clearly in places where hunger, conflict, and landmines coexist, meeting the Agenda for Sustainable Developments first goal of ending poverty in all its forms (SDG 1) and ensuring to leave no one behind by 2030 will be difficult. Recently we witnessed the severe impact of Cyclone Idai as it slammed into central Mozambique. Fortunately, thanks to the leadership of its government, and in partnership with UNDP and international donors, thousands of landmines were removed and the country was declared mine-free in 2015. As the difficult and slow recovery process now begins, I think back to when I led the UNDP mine action programme in Mozambique, never imagining the impact of our efforts on the future of the areaone that had just started to recover from its long civil war and was once again becoming a main artery to the sea for landlocked Malawi and Zimbabwe. The rural people of Tajikistan, eastern Ukraine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina also suffer the effects of landmines and high rural poverty rates in comparison to their compatriots in areas that dont have them; in effect they are experiencing different development pathways, despite living in the same countries. More than 20 years after Diana, Princess of Wales visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and brought global attention to the scourge of landmines and their impact on civilians, more than half a million people, 15 percent of the population, still suffer from their threats. The government says that most of those affected are rural, and that the urban populations have relatively safe lives in comparison with those who live in the country. The government also warned that economic vulnerability was a factor in influencing people to enter suspected hazardous areas, resulting in more than 1,700 casualties. Risking lives As conflict grinds on in eastern Ukraine, rural poverty is seen as a contributing factor in local farmers to risking life and injurytheyve been cut off from their land for more than five years. Given the poverty-induced displacement along the conflict zone people are entering areas suspected to contain landmines or other explosive remnants of war, such as cluster munitions, anti-vehicle mines, unexploded ordnances, and Improvised Explosive Devices to collect firewood or tend their properties to augment their tenuous existence. This led to 240 civilian deaths in 2017. Tajikistan is a mountainous country with a rural population heavily dependent on agriculture which produces its main exports of cotton and wheat. According to the government, around 70 percent of the population depends on agriculture and animal husbandry as a source of employment or income. The challenge is that only seven percent of the mountainous country is arable. The government estimates that half a million Tajiks, 10 percent of total population, are at risk of physical harm. The developmental harm is more difficult to ascertain, but clearly opportunities in the agriculture, hydro-electric, coal and gold mining and livestock industries are being lost. If we are to eradicate poverty and inequality by 2030, we will not only need new thinking and new tools, we will also need to chart our way through the resident legacies of the past. In many places afflicted by conflict, the tools required to navigate this journey will be mine detectors, prodders, shrub cutters and long trowels. New York As the world braces for the surprising twists and turns of the highly anticipated final season of HBOs Game of Thrones, which will air on April 14, the shows star and United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador Nikolaj Coster-Waldau had an unexpected revelation of his own. Coster-Waldau traveled to Rwanda in mid-March, where he was taken by surprise by what he saw. All I knew of Rwanda was that it was the scene of one of the worst tragedies in modern history: The genocide against the Tutsi people. Almost a million people killed, said Coster-Waldau, who visited the East African nation for the first time just weeks before the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi on April 7. I expected to find a country in despair, Coster-Waldau continued. I couldnt have been more wrong. Coster-Waldau traveled to Rwanda with colleagues from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to shine a spotlight on the progress the country has made over the past two-and-a-half decades. UNDP partners with the Rwandan government and its people through programs and initiatives focused on issues such as gender equality, poverty and climate change. From the moment I arrived in Kigali to the moment I left, I was constantly impressed by what I experienced, said Coster-Waldau. By how rapidly change can happen if there is connection between the people and the political will of the government. And how the power of forgiveness is much stronger than the power of hate. Rwanda is one of the most impressive stories of transformation not only in Africa, but anywhere in the world, said Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Rwanda Resident Representative. We are grateful to Nikolaj for shining a spotlight on Rwanda and showing the world how a lesser developed country can lift itself up largely through its own resources and initiatives. Following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandan government revised its constitution to remove all barriers to equal human rights and include the rights of women as full partners in nation-building. Today, the country holds a world record in female representation in parliament at 61 percent. In addition, 50 percent of cabinet positions in the Rwandan government are held by women. Coster-Waldau spoke with Rwandas Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Honorable Solina Nyirahabimana, who explained that Rwanda is not only implementing laws to ensure gender equality but is also building the structures necessary to promote women in every aspect of society. We need everyone in our society to be contributing towards the rebuilding of Rwanda. Not just 50 percent of society. And we need to include everyone in the opportunities. Nyirahabimana said. Its just common sense. Fighting inequality in all its forms and dimensions and creating a culture of inclusion is at the heart of Rwandas national healing and rebuilding process. This kind of inclusive thinking extends to the way in which Rwanda is tackling its fight against climate change, the effects of which take their biggest toll on poverty-stricken communities. Rwandas innovative approach addresses the issue of poverty and economic development while protecting the environment through the creation of so-called green villages. Coster-Waldau visited one such village, named Rweru, in the Bugesera district in the eastern part of the country. Established in 2015 with support from UNDP, the village was created to relocate people from two islands on Lake Rweru, where they lived without access to basic infrastructure like schools, hospitals, electricity or clean water, and were at high risk of landslides during the rainy season. Today, the Rweru green village is a safe haven for 144 families with 140 more houses nearly completed. The villagers have achieved energy and water self-sufficiency by generating biogas for cooking from consolidated human and livestock waste and harvesting rainwater for domestic use. Coming from Denmarkone of the worlds wealthiest countries that takes pride in being at the forefront of innovation and a green, sustainable futureit was refreshing for me to see that its possible to make the future better without it instantly being qualified by a price tag, said Coster-Waldau who was surprised to learn that Rwanda is ahead of many Western nations when it comes to climate action, having abandoned the use of plastic bags ten years ago and with plans underway to stop the use of single-use plastics. Coster-Waldau recognizes that there is still a lot more work to be done in Rwanda and more challenges to overcome, such as the countrys limited natural resources and a high rate of poverty. But Rwanda has shown a commitment towards positive change and, on their terms, has been willing to accept help from, among others, UNDP, which has partnered with the government and its people to help them in the transition process. (April 5, 2019) -- The third annual March for Science San Antonio will begin at UTSAs Downtown Campus on Saturday, April 6 at 9:30 a.m. The March route will take participants to the rally point at the steps of City Council Chambers at Main Plaza. This years march supports scientific research and education, while focusing on climate science and San Antonios first Climate Action and Adaption Plan (CAAP). UTSA has been a contributor to the plans development. Hatim Sharif, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his team calculated the climate projections for San Antonio. These projections helped CAAP decision-makers understand how San Antonios climate will change in the coming decades. The goals of the marches and rallies are to emphasize that science upholds the common good and to call for evidence-based policy in the public's best interest. In addition to the scientific guidance, a team led by John Murphy, dean of the UTSA College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, which included Lindsay Ratcliffe, lecturer in the Writing Core Program and Garrett Burleson, LEED Green Associate and Master of Architecture student, supported the policy process. This team assisted City of San Antonio staff by processing survey data, developing CAAP communications materials, engaging with the public at open houses and taking minutes at public meetings. UTSA did the science that made the CAAP policy recommendations possible, so it is fitting that the march begins at UTSA," said Ratcliffe, whose service efforts on the CAAP align with her doctoral work in climate change communication. Im proud to be marching for science with the UTSA community on April 6. March for Science SA is a local non-governmental organization providing support for science education, scientific university research, and STEM education. It advocates for science-based public policy. The event, formerly known as the Scientists' March on Washington, is an international series of rallies and usually held in April. The inaugural march was held on April 22, 2017 in Washington, D.C., and more than 600 other cities across the world with an estimated combined global attendance of over one million participants. The San Antonio march will provide science exhibits, booths, music, food trucks, kids activities, and much more. The rally speakers at the Main Plaza will include Mayor Ron Nirenberg, climate scientist Gunnar Schade, San Antonio District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval and high school student Matthew Su, the executive director of Ignition Green, Students for Climate Awareness. Marchers should arrive at the Bill Miller Plaza between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Parking is available in UTSA lots in Employee A, Employee B and Student unmarked commuter spaces. Those with parking passes can park according to their assigned passes. There are several ways to support the March for Science. Volunteers are needed to prepare for and to coordinate the events at Main Plaza and Bill Miller Plaza. Before the march, volunteers can help with making posters, phone banking and other outreach for the event. On the day of the march, people can set up and break down tables and chairs, guide guests around the event, assist with parking, coordinate volunteers, help clean up, and livestream/video record the event to share it with followers and friends. Wyoming Humanities Receives Excellence in Community Partnership Award from UW Shannon Smith is the executive director of Wyoming Humanities, which is the recipient of UWs 2019 Marvin Millgate Excellence in Community Partnership Award. For the past several years, Wyoming Humanities has partnered with the University of Wyoming to pursue shared goals and help build a shared commitment to supporting Wyoming communities. That statewide commitment has earned Wyoming Humanities UWs Marvin Millgate Excellence in Community Partnership Award. This award specifically honors organizations that partner with UW to enhance shared goals and help build our shared commitment to support the communities we serve, says Paul Flesher, the interim UW Office of Engagement and Outreach director, which sponsors the Millgate awards. This is UWs top award honoring excellence in community partnership. The Marvin Millgate Community Engagement Awards were established by President Laurie Nichols and Provost Kate Miller, in cooperation with UWs Engagement Task Force, to recognize collaborative teaching and research that extend beyond the UW campus. The selected honorees each receive $1,000, which may be used to fund additional engagement work by the recipients. With these awards, we acknowledge that community engagement is an integral component of UWs land-grant mission and honor those faculty, staff, students and partners whose collaborations involve the exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of reciprocity with the citizens and institutions of Wyoming, the nation and the world, Flesher says. Scott Henkel, UWs Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research (WIHR) director, who nominated Wyoming Humanities for the award, cites one example of the organizations commitment in bringing programs to the state. In response to the Wyoming Legislatures 2017 Indian Education for All Act, Wyoming Humanities raised money for projects to increase awareness about American Indian history and culture in Wyoming. The organizations Two Nations, One Reservation is in more than 125 libraries, schools, museums and other public sites around Wyoming. For nearly 10 years, UWs popular one-day lecture series -- Saturday University -- has counted on Wyoming Humanities as one of its longtime sponsors. In fact, the idea for Saturday University -- bringing three UW faculty members to a Wyoming community for a set of morning lectures and interaction with local residents -- actually originated with a former Wyoming Humanities board member. The program has grown from three presentations -- all in Jackson -- to 12 events per year in eight Wyoming communities. It was Wyoming Humanities who made it possible, event after event, says Flesher, who is the faculty director of Saturday University. Through their willingness to partner with the university, they made it possible for the university to partner with small organizations across Wyoming to bring them programs that their local communities wanted. UW Professor Jeff Lockwood, another nominator, praised Wyoming Humanities sponsorship of statewide projects, such as the unique Ucross Project that brought artists and scientists together to work on interdisciplinary projects; and the creative Locust: The Opera, created by UW faculty members. Wyoming Humanities Executive Director Shannon Smith and her staff had the intellectual leadership and creative capacity to foster the integration of art and science into public expressions of what it means to be human in a living, seething world, Lockwood says. Dana Robertson, the executive director of UWs Literacy Research Center and Clinic, received this years Marvin Millgate Engaged Faculty Award; Susan Jerke, a regional director of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network, received the Marvin Millgate Engaged Staff Award; and the Marvin Millgate Engaged Student Award was won by Annaliese Fitzsimmons, of Greybull. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Library Storytelling Session Story telling sessions for young children at the John Mackintosh Hall Library have started this week, to a great response. The initiative promoted on social media has proved popular with the first few sessions fully subscribed in the space of 24 hours. The scheme is being run on behalf of the Ministry of Culture by Gibraltar Cultural Services, through its Cultural Development Unit, with a group of volunteers delivering these sessions. The move is aimed at promoting reading and a love of books at an early age, and encouraging children to visit the Library. Although this is being organised on a trial basis, there are a variety of morning and afternoon sessions planned at different times and days, to try and cater for as many people as possible. The Library boasts a wide collection of books for children of different ages and abilities. Gibraltar Cultural Services have said it hopes the storytelling sessions are fun and interactive both for the little ones and their carers. For more information, please visit the John Mackintosh Hall Library facebook page. To book your place at any of the sessions, contact the Cultural Development Team on 20049161, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Royal Gibraltar Post Office Collective Agreement Government has announced that it has signed a collective agreement with Unite the Union in respect of the Postal Grades and Post Office employees at the Mail Centre and Parcel Stores. The lengthy negotiations on the collective agreement followed an extensive review of the mail centre and parcel stores headed by the Governments HR Department. The new agreement replaces the previous 2003 Collective Agreement and introduces further flexibility in working practices which will become more relevant as technology is increasingly used in providing mail related services. The Government team was led by Minister Albert Isola with the Director of Commerce Gareth Flower and Collin Yeo, Lyzanne Zammitt Olivero and Nadine Mena of the Human Resources Department and on the staff side were Victor Ochello and Kaylan Lucas from UNITE with the shop stewards from the RGPO. All parties have worked in a fruitful and constructive manner to conclude these negotiations. Minister Isola said We have some exciting plans for the future of the Mail Centre and Parcel stores which we will now turn our attention to, and I am grateful to all involved in getting us to this stage. We have had some difficult meetings but nonetheless continued to work to find solutions. I am particularly grateful to Lyzanne and Nadine for their relentless support. We must now address the services we offer at the Main Street post office. The Chief Minister who hosted the signing of the final agreements said I am delighted that we have been able to reach agreement in this important area, and I am particularly grateful to the staff at the RGPO mail centre who have been very patient with us as we have worked our way through the detail of these issues. My congratulations and thanks to Albert and his team and Victor and the Unite team for making this a reality. Governors Meadow First School holds Autism Awareness Week Governors Meadow First School this week held an Autism Awareness Week involving the whole school community. Headteacher, Mrs Ferro explained, the aim of GMFSs Autism Awareness Week was to build acceptance of everyones individual strengths, needs and differences and to celebrate these. Throughout the week, pupils across the school were involved in a number of interactive class activities. These were led by Mrs Montiel, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, and delivered by the teaching staff. Pupils learned how we can all be a friend to someone with Autism. In building connections, pupils explored how we are all different yet the same in how we can all enjoy playing games and learning new things. Mrs. Montiel stated, It is important for the children to look for everyones strengths whilst understanding that some of us may need a little more time to answer questions, understand routines and make friends. As a school community we all need to help each other by being kind and patient. The school entrance was beautifully decorated with pupils individual puzzle pieces. This is the international symbol for Autism. Deputy Headteacher, Mr Latin added, This shows how we are all individuals and part of one whole puzzle. The week culminated with a Stand out for Autism Day on Friday 5th April where pupils wore their brightly coloured T-shirts to school. This has been an excellent initiative where GMFS pupils have enjoyed and explored how we can all help and understand each other. Chief Minister Discusses Brexit Issues with Prime Minister This afternoon, the Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, took a call from the Prime Minister Theresa May. A spokesperson for the Govt said that the lengthy conversation that ensued was friendly and positive in both tone and substance. The departure of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar from the European Union was discussed, as well as the negotiation of the future relationship which Mrs May confirmed would cover the whole of the British family including Gibraltar. The discussion also included reference to the Prime Minister's written request today to the President of the European Council for a further extension of the Article 50 period and the effect on the UK and Gibraltar, particularly in relation to European Parliamentary Elections which may have to be held as a result. The Chief Minister was able to confirm that the Gibraltar Parliament had passed the necessary legislation to enable European elections to take place moments before he had taken the call from Mrs May. The Chief Minister was also able put across the views of Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar on matters relating to the extension of time being sought and the negotiation of the future relation between the UK and the EU and received assurances from the Prime Minister on her continued support for Gibraltar. The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon Dr Joseph Garcia MP, travel to London on Monday, with officials, to take part in a further JMC on Gibraltar's exit from the EU which will allow further opportunities for discussion of Gibraltar specific issues in this context. The Chief Minister said: "I was very pleased to be able to speak directly with the Prime Minister about the Gibraltar issues that concern us in respect of the developments we are seeing around the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. Mrs May was, as ever, wholly supportive of Gibraltar and understanding of the matters which is raised with her. She is a staunch and reliable friend of Gibraltar." If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Supply donation and pick up site set up at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page A woman of the Hui ethnic group works on an embroidery at a workshop in Haiyuan County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.[Photo/Xinhua] Limited market size and fierce competition led her to take her crafts to bigger markets outside her county In a small workshop in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Li Youxia turns threads of finely matched colors into blooming peonies on a piece of cloth. Li is a seamstress skilled in ethnic Hui embroidery. The art is rich in color with a delicate texture, and is characterized by the unique culture of Hui people. The 41-year-old seamstress will take her latest works to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt this month, hoping to attract orders for her embroidery overseas. "Kuwait will be my first stop, and I will probably get an order there," Li said. Last year, a Kuwaiti businessman had seen her embroidery and discussed doing business with her. The county - home to a large Hui population - is famous for Hui embroidery. Most local women can embroider, as part of their family tradition. Li watched her mother and grandmother weave threads on pillowcases and shoes when she was a little girl, and learned it by heart. "I went to work for a while, but I still stuck with embroidering," she said. "In 2006, I resigned and opened my own workshop." The beautiful embroidered flowers on cloth later translated into big business, and Li even launched her own company in 2010. "Local people in Haiyuan are quite fond of the embroidery, but the market was limited, and competition was fierce," she said. "So, I started thinking about taking my products to a bigger market in China." Li began attending exhibitions across the country, and many foreign business people showed particular interest in her works. It was during this period that Li's ambition turned from "going to other provinces" to "going overseas". In 2010, she went to Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt to see if there were any business prospects. Even though there were no deals struck, she saw huge potential. "People in these countries were quite interested in handmade Chinese souvenirs, but our products failed to meet their expectations due to strong cultural differences," Li said. Hence, she decided to transform her business by accepting tailor-made Hui embroidery. She also started building connections with foreign businesspeople at the China-Arab States Expo, which is held every two years in Yinchuan, the regional capital of Ningxia. As a start, she managed to establish connections with Malaysian and Indonesian customers. With the rising number of countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the market for Hui embroidery has also expanded. Over the years, Li has visited more than 10 countries in Southeast Asia and West Asia. The products Li makes include wallets, scarves, shoes and artwork. She also produces art collections for high-end consumers. Last year, she inked deals worth about 3 million yuan with a Malaysian businessman. "I started from scratch, and it was difficult," she said. "But the government supports the development of Hui embroidery, and I am also experienced, so I want to go further in the business." Li's company currently employs more than 30 seamstresses, including eight "intangible cultural heritage inheritors" at the city or county level. "We used to be 'little women' spending our days around woks, but now we are independent women making money from the work we love," she said. The monthly salary of each seamstress can reach 6,000 yuan ($894) - a handsome income in the poverty-stricken county. "They trust me and stick with me, and of course I want to help them make more money to live better lives," Li said. Officials in the county have also encouraged locals to jump on the bandwagon of the Hui embroidery business. In 2015, a startup training base was established in Haiyuan, helping women in poverty improve their skills in embroidery and paper-cutting, also a local tradition. Li Jinxing, a local official, said the base has turned out more than 4,200 professionals in embroidery and paper-cutting. "The embroidery and paper-cutting industries in 24 villages can create annual revenue of more than 16 million yuan," the official said. Li Youxia said that when production in her company is in full swing, she goes to seek skilled women from the training base for help. "I hope to boost the confidence of women in our county, while passing on our cultural heritage," she said. More than 58 percent of unmarried adult office workers in Taiwan have no plans to get married, and half of couples without children do not plan have them due to economic pressures and other reasons, according to a job website survey. Job website Yes123 conducted an online survey of 1,304 adult office workers aged 20 or above in March, and collected 888 questionnaires from enterprises. Unmarried respondents cited "low income levels," "difficulty to find the right person," "can't afford to buy a house,", "want to live a free life," and "insufficient saving" as the main reasons for not entering marriage. Demographic data showed about 135,400 couples got married in Taiwan last year, the lowest in nine years, while 181,600 new babies were born last year, the lowest in eight years. Demographic authorities estimate Taiwan will see negative population growth in 2022 and become a "super aging" society by 2026. Its work force could be halved in 2065 from the level of 2018. Yes123 found 38.7 percent of office workers said they had children. Half of workers without children said it was because their current incomes could not support such plans. Some said they were work-laden and too busy to look after children. Others said they were not satisfied with the education quality and institutions in Taiwan. Analyzing the survey results, Yang Tsung-pin, spokesman for Yes123, said low salaries, long work hours, high house prices and education environment were to blame for the low birth rate. To raise a child, a couple expects to have a decent monthly household income of 102,000 new Taiwan dollars (about $3,300) on average, or about 2.45 times the average regular salary level, according to survey. (Source: Xinhua Photo: stock.tuchong.com) Innovative childcare event helps practitioners boost young peoples wellbeing This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 5th, 2019 An innovative day aimed at helping childcare practitioners boost young peoples wellbeing has been held at Wrexham Glyndwr University. The conference was the fifth annual event to be put on by the university and The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities but in an inventive twist, this years event mixed both performance and discussion to examine ways that professionals working with young people can support them through creativity. Aimed at teachers, carers and support workers who work with young people particularly those with emotional, social and additional learning needs the event included three performances alongside groups designed to facilitate reflection among attendees. Among the performances was Whistle, a piece in which writer and performer Martin Figura discussed his mothers death at the hand of his father when he was nine years old, and Clap Happy a rhythmic adventure which involved the audience producing a sea of colour, sound and energy. The other performance was from Your Life Your Story, a charity which gives care experienced adults and care givers a voice. Among those who spoke was David Jackson, who has written a hard-hitting book about his experiences of the care system and who now works with Your Life Your Story helping develop the charity. He said: Our work is about listening to the voices of care experienced people and helping them to use creativity, in whatever manner they choose, to tell their story. His colleague and Your Life Your Story founder Amanda Knowles MBE added: Helping care experienced people, and caregivers, find their voice through storytelling is so important and were very pleased to have been asked to speak at the conference and share their stories. Students from Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys Foundation and BA (Hons) Therapeutic Child Care courses also took part in the day, and were able to meet and connect with industry professionals. Programme leader of the FdA/BA in Therapeutic Child Care, Dr Vivienne Dacre, said: This years conference saw some spellbinding performances, which in turn sparked some fascinating discussions. Allowing people the chance to speak through creative methods can give them the voice they need and this years conference helped to show some of the ways our industry can help. As with every time the conference comes the university, it was also a great chance for students on our Therapeutic Childcare course to meet with industry professionals, find out more about the latest developments, and discuss their future in childcare. Kevin Gallagher, managing director of Amberleigh Care, who supported the event, and Director of TCTC added; TCTC really values our working partnership with Wrexham Glyndwr University and how this enables us to offer this annual event. It has been a successful initiative that brings specialist practice support and focus to the North West region of the UK and helps reach a wide audience of practitioners. To find out more about the work of the charity TCTC please visit the therapeutic communities website and to more about Tour Life Your story can be found here. (Click for large) Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-04 19:29:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Injured people receive medical treatment at a local hospital after an attack in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of northern Baghlan province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2019. One civilian was killed and 23 civilians wounded in two separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Thursday, a local official said. (Xinhua/Sahel) JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 4 (Xinhua) -- One civilian was killed and 23 civilians wounded in two separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Thursday, a local official said. In one attack, one civilian was killed and 18 others wounded when an improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was detonated outside a health complex in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of northern Baghlan province roughly at 2:30 p.m. local time, provincial police spokesman Jawed Basharat told Xinhua. The wounded were shifted to a nearby city hospital where some of the wounded remained in critical condition. An hour earlier, five civilians including a child were wounded after a bomb went off beside a public bus in Jalalabad city, capital of eastern Nangarhar province, provincial government spokesman Attahullah Khogyani told Xinhua. The target of the blasts remained unknown and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet. The Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts as more than 3,800 civilians were killed and more than 7,180 others injured in conflict-related incidents in 2018 in the war-torn country, according to figures released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-04 23:48:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU), has hailed China's efforts in Africa's health sector, in particular its anti-malaria endeavors. Benjamin Djoudalbaye, head of Policy and Health Diplomacy at the Africa CDC, told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday that China has been in a range of interventions in terms of health in Africa, especially in the endeavors of holding back lethal diseases such as malaria on the continent. Reiterating that malaria is one of the leading deadly diseases in Africa, Djoudalbaye said the China-discovered artemisinin-based combination is "a very efficient" drug against malaria, which he said is now the common good of the world. The anti-malaria drug, which is now globally used, is a recommended drug by the World Health Organization (WHO) for malaria, Djoudalbaye said. Artemisinin is China's good contribution to the world, especially to Africa where malaria is the leading lethal disease, said the official. Ahead of TB, malaria is the leading cause of death on the African continent, especially for pregnant women and children under five, he said. "So, this combination is something that we applaud, because it is an effective medicine," he said, adding "It is now something (that) belongs to everybody... It is now the common good for everybody." China is bringing a lot of support to African countries, including in the health sector, within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), he said. As part of its support to Africa's health sector, China has its medical teams deployed in different countries of the continent, he said. Djoudalbaye noted that China, since its intervention against the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been by the side of African experts in terms of preparedness and response of Ebola outbreak. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-04 23:48:12|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ANKARA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Initial delivery of Russian made S-400 air defense system parts will start in June, as planned before, Turkish officials said on Thursday. "The first parts of the S-400 air defense system will arrive in June and the shipment will be completed in July," a Turkish official from the Ministry of Defense said on condition of anonymity. Elaborating on U.S. warnings that Turkey's procurement of S-400 missile defense system could affect the deal for F-35 fighter jets, the official said training for Turkish pilots in the U.S. and coordination between Ankara and Washington over the delivery of F-35 fighter jets process continues. "The training of our pilots continues in the U.S.. There is no such thing as stopping the training. Turkey is one of the partners of the F-35 program and fulfills its obligations in this regard," said the official. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned Turkey against purchasing the S-400 air defense system from Russia, despite Ankara's firm stance on the deal. "Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in the history of the world? Or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" he said. Pence's tough remarks came after Turkey insisted on Wednesday that the Russian deal was done, indicating serious friction between the two NATO allies. "The S-400 deal is a done deal and we will not step back from this," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday during his visit to the U.S. for a NATO meeting. In December 2017, Turkey finalized a deal with Russia over the purchase of the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. Meanwhile, Turkey plans to purchase 100 F-35 fighter jets from the United States, and its pilots are training on the weapons platform at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona of the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-04 23:58:42|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Photo taken on April 4, 2019 shows a scene of a cemetery for Chinese martyrs in Vietnam's northern province of Thai Nguyen. Here in a cemetery in Linh Son commune, Thai Nguyen city, Thai Nguyen province, about 80 km from downtown Hanoi, Vietnam, 139 Chinese martyrs lay resting in eternal peace. (Xinhua/Wang Di) THAI NGUYEN, Vietnam, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Here in a cemetery in Linh Son commune, Thai Nguyen city, Thai Nguyen province, about 80 km from downtown Hanoi, Vietnam, 139 Chinese martyrs lay resting in eternal peace. Their graves, built from dark red granite, lie on a windy hill, in the shade of pine trees. In front of the monument with red inscription reading, "Everlasting remembrance of martyrs", a group of around 50 people simultaneously bowed their heads in silence on Thursday morning. Dressed mostly in black and white, representatives of the Chinese embassy in Vietnam, Chinese enterprises, students and media workers, led by Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo, accompanied by representatives from the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, local officials and young volunteers, stepped upward in sequence. They offered incense at the memorial ceremony on the occasion of Tomb Sweeping Day, or Qingming Festival. In the latter part of the 20th century, upon the request of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vietnamese people, more than 320,000 Chinese troops joined Vietnamese people in their fight defending the country's independence, according to the embassy. After the war, more than 1,400 Chinese martyrs who fell down in the fighting were laid to rest in 40 cemeteries in 19 provinces across Vietnam. Nguyen Thi Van, 74, who has been a custodian at the cemetery for over 30 years, emotionally recalled, "I took over the work from my husband when he died in 1988. After so many years, still I cannot help crying with the martyrs' families whenever they make a visit. It's noble to die for others' happiness." Van said she always takes care of the tombs with gratitude. As she is now getting older and older, her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren help her with daily cleaning. "My family have been here for generations, my parents, I and then my children, who grow up playing around here. It's most likely that I will take over the work when my mother-in-law can no longer do it," Do Thi Hong, 36, the custodian's daughter-in-law, told Xinhua amid smoke of the burning incense. Local authorities always attach importance to taking care of Chinese martyrs' tombs. "Those fallen heroes sacrificed themselves here in Vietnam for our country's independence, for the world peace. Taking care of their tombs is a way we show our appreciation and respect for what they did," said Vu Xuan Hung, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Linh Son commune. Hung said the local authorities at commune, district and city levels usually organize visits to pay tribute to the fallen heroes. They offer incense, check the cleaning work and regularly plan upgrades at the cemetery on such occasions as Lunar New Year Festival and Vietnam's War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27). "They sacrificed their youth and their lives to build an immortal monument of friendship and solidarity between the two countries and the two peoples," Xiong Bo said, affirming that the heroes will never be forgotten. The China-Vietnam relationship has reached a new historic point and the two peoples will join hands to strengthen ties in a sustainable way, said Xiong. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 00:19:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The basic principle of special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) must be safeguarded, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday. "The principle fully reflects the inclusiveness of the multilateral trade system," MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a news conference. "Every member has the right to choose its own foreign economic and trade policies." The WTO agreements contain SDT provisions, which give developing countries special rights. For example, they can pledge less concession on tariffs than developed countries in trade negotiations. Commenting on the fact that some developing countries had agreed to waive their SDT rights in WTO negotiations, Gao said that China was the world's largest developing country and willing to assume the obligations compatible with its own level of development and capability. "We will join hands with other developing members in firmly safeguarding our basic rights," he said, adding that all WTO members should respect each other and make joint efforts in advancing WTO reform along the right path of multilateralism. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 03:00:28|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A Palestinian fisherman displays his catch at a seaport in Gaza, April 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Stringer) GAZA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Despite Israel's decision to ease its security restrictions imposed on fishermen off the Gaza Strip coast, Palestinian fisherman Mohammed Abu Hamada did not catch much fish during his 12-hour night fishing journey. "I could not catch more fish after the restrictions were relaxed because fishing in six miles is similar to fishing in 15 miles...fish live behind the 15-mile area," 42-year-old Abu Hamada ironically said as he harbored his old fishing boat at Gaza's sole fishing port. On Monday, Israel expanded the permitted fishing zone in Gaza from six to 15 nautical miles as part of a cease-fire agreement with Palestinian militant groups in the blockaded territory. Israel said the move aims at avoiding more deterioration in humanitarian conditions in the coastal enclave. Egypt and the United Nations brokered a cease-fire agreement last week to end hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions led by Hamas rulers of Gaza and to improve living conditions in Gaza by easing Israel's 12-year blockade. "Expanding the fishing zone for 15 miles is meaningless...I almost had the same catch I used to get when fishing in the six mile area," the man, who has been a fisherman for 20 years, told Xinhua. He complained that his catch of fish cannot cover the cost of fuel for the boat and wages of his four workers, urging for completely lifting the blockade imposed on fishermen so they could work freely and have a bountiful catch. "I was so optimistic and thought the boat will not be enough for the fish that will end up in my net, but my luck hit a brick a wall," the man, who regretted spending a cold winter night riding the waves in search for flocks of fish, sadly said. There are about 3,800 fishermen working on more than 700 boats in Gaza Strip, where 70,000 Palestinians are making a living out of fishing, according to official Palestinian records. Under the Oslo peace agreement, signed between Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993, Palestinian fishermen are allowed to fish in an area of 20 nautical miles (37 km). But Israeli Navy has reduced the fishing zone down to six miles, and sometimes to only three miles offshore, after Israel imposed a tight blockade on the enclave following Islamic Hamas movement's violent takeover of the seaside territory in 2007. Israel said it imposed the maritime blockade in order to staunch arms smuggling into the coastal enclave after Hamas seized Gaza. Head of fishery union in Gaza, Nizar Ayyash, said Israel decided to expand the allowed fishing area to six nautical miles in northern Gaza Strip, 12 miles in central Gaza Strip and 15 miles in southern Gaza Strip, up to the Egyptian maritime border. Ayyash downplayed the importance of the Israeli step, stressing that it cannot help revive the ailing fishing sector in Gaza as long as fishing activities will remain under Israel's security control. In addition to the naval restrictions, Israel army killed dozens of Palestinian fishermen and arrested hundreds in recent years. At Gaza city's fish market, sellers believe that the Israeli decision did not make a notable difference. "Nothing has changed despite the expansion of fishing area," fish seller Saed Bakr told Xinhua as he cleaned unskinned sea bass fillets for a customer. Bakr, who once was a fisherman and had his boat confiscated by Israeli naval forces, said customer turnout is high, "but people are only buying small cheap fish." Not far away from Bakr's small store, Khalid Karam, a worker from Gaza City, toured the market, but could not buy as the prices were high. "I came to the market to buy the fish and I expected to find large amounts of cheap fish after the Israeli decision, but prices are still high and the amounts are almost the same." A February report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics showed that unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip reached 52 percent in 2018 compared to 44 percent in 2017. A local Gaza-based committee resisting the 12-year Israeli blockade has warned in January that Israel's embargo has led to a severe humanitarian deterioration in all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip. It also said the per-day income in Gaza has reached two U.S. dollars, adding that 85 percent of the populations are living under the poverty line. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 03:05:37|Editor: ZX Video Player Close People try Chinese food at the stall of China at the Asian Gourmet Festival on the campus of the Lebanese University in Beirut, Lebanon, April 4, 2019. The Lebanese University held the Asian Gourmet Festival on Thursday to introduce students and youths in the country to the Asian culture. The one-day festival gathered 11 countries which displayed their traditional food, clothes and other products on the campus of the Lebanese University in the capital Beirut. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese University held the Asian Gourmet Festival on Thursday to introduce students and youths in the country to the Asian culture. The one-day festival gathered 11 countries which displayed their traditional food, clothes and other products on the campus of the Lebanese University in the capital Beirut. "It is important to introduce new cultures to our young students as it broadens their horizons and expand their knowledge about other countries," Fouad Ayoub, president of the Lebanese University, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the festival. "This rich festival reflects the depth of relations between Lebanon and Asian countries and the mutual trust that characterizes these ties," Ayoub said. The festival also included artistic and cultural performances by embassies of several Asian countries in Lebanon as well as a performance of the Lebanese traditional dance "Dabke" by the students of the Lebanese University . Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian said this event is a good opportunity for exchanging ideas, introducing the Asian culture, and promoting mutual understanding. The 11 countries that participated in the festival are Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 03:35:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NICOSIA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Cypriot government is introducing to parliament emergency legislation to face the impact of a no-deal Brexit as the British government and lawmakers seem unable to decide on how to leave the European Union (EU), a leading parliamentarian said on Thursday. Eleni Mavrou, the leader of the parliamentary interior affairs committee, said Cyprus has to make arrangements for the case the UK fails to reach an agreement with the EU for the modalities of the Brexit. She said a bill approved by the cabinet is to be submitted to parliament on Friday for approval by April 12, when the current grace period given to the UK to make a decision on the Brexit expires. "The bill enables people who live in Cyprus to have the right to stay on under the procedures currently in force, at least during a transition period. If along the way the EU makes other decisions, other arrangements would have to be made," Mavrou added. She also said that British citizens will not need a visa for a three-month stay in Cyprus. Britain is the main source of tourism for Cyprus, sending to the eastern Mediterranean island over one-third of the tourists, totaling around 4 million a year. There are also about 80,000 people with British or dual nationality living in Cyprus, most of them pensioners who made the island their retirement home. The measures provided by the legislation, which also guarantees that British citizens who are entitled to social benefits will continue to enjoy them in case of an unregulated Brexit, will be applied provided that the UK reciprocates as far as Cypriots living in Britain or within the areas of the British Bases in Cyprus are concerned. A survey by Standard & Poor's rating agency said Cyprus is fourth in line on a list of countries to be mostly affected by the Brexit. Mavrou said that parliament will decide on Friday whether to discuss the legislation as a matter of urgency or to postpone debate on it for next Friday, April 12 and pass it before the day is out. Action by the Cypriot parliament will depend on the outcome of discussions in London and Brussels on a possible extension of the Brexit grace period, according to Mavrou. "Time is pressing," said Mavrou, who will steer the discussion on the bill at the parliamentary interior committee. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 05:21:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Three civilians were killed and another was wounded Thursday in a car bomb explosion in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial source said. The incident took place when a booby-trapped car, apparently left by Islamic State (IS) militants, detonated on civilians collecting truffle in a desert area south of Rutba, some 300 km west the provincial capital Ramadi, Imad al-Dulaimi, mayor of Rutba, told Xinhua. He said the car was exploded immediately when the truffle collectors tried to open its doors, killing three of them and wounding another who was later transported to a hospital to receive treatment. The IS militants are still active in the vast Anbar desert that stretches to the border with neighboring countries of Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as many civilians have been either kidnapped or killed by the extremist group in recent months. In December 2017, Iraq declared full liberation from the IS after the security forces and the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units, backed by the anti-IS international coalition, recaptured all areas once seized by the extremist group. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas as safe havens, carrying out guerilla attacks from time to time against the security forces and civilians. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 05:26:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Unless national and international financial systems are revamped, the world's governments will fail to keep their promises toward the sustainable development goals in the 2030 Agenda, a UN report said Thursday. The 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report contain some "sobering messages," showing low wage growth, rising inequality and debt distress, and stagnating aid levels, said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed after its release. In 2015, a UN summit adopted the 2030 Agenda that comprises 17 sustainable development goals, including ending extreme poverty, preserving the environment and promoting economic growth. In his foreword to the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "The world cannot achieve the sustainable development goals without a fundamental shift in the international financial system that enables us to address urgent global threats and restore trust in international cooperation." According to the report, around 30 of the world's least developed and other vulnerable countries are either in or at high risk of debt distress. Tax revenues are insufficient, it said, and small and poor countries are not adequately included in international tax architecture reform efforts. While foreign direct investment flows to developing countries increased in 2018, they remain unevenly distributed, largely bypassing many least developed countries, said the deputy UN chief. In the meantime, the report contains some recommendations for ways to bring about a more sustainable global economy and financial system. The recommendations include a shift to long-term investment, and an inclusion of sustainability as a central risk factor; a revamp of the multilateral trading system; and addressing the concentration of markets into the hands of a small number of powerful companies, which are not limited by national borders. The report is the result of collaboration among 60 entities from the United Nations system and beyond, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Between April 15 and 18, the UN will discuss the findings of the report at the Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development, where UN member states agree on measures necessary to mobilize sustainable financing. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 05:31:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a press conference after meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar over the Brexit issue in Dublin, Ireland, April 4, 2019. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here on Thursday that her country will stand together with the other European Union (EU) member states and do everything they can to prevent a no-deal Brexit. (Xinhua) DUBLIN, April 4 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here on Thursday that her country will stand together with the other European Union (EU) member states and do everything they can to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Merkel made this remark at a press conference after meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Thursday afternoon. "We want to stand together as 27, until the very last hour. I can say this from the German side. We will do everything in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit," she told the press conference held at Farmleigh House, a state guest house of Ireland, which is located next to the scenic Phoenix Park in west Dublin. "We have to do this together with Britain," she said, adding "We do hope that the intensive discussions that are ongoing in London will lead to a situation by next Wednesday, when we have a special council meeting, where Prime Minister Theresa May will have something to table to us on the basis of which we can continue to talk." Merkel was referring to a summit meeting of the European Council scheduled on April 10, two days before the deadline EU gives to Britain for Brexit. Earlier, the EU said Britain must come up with a clear solution to break the current impasse of Brexit before April 12 or it could face a no-deal Brexit. Merkel's remarks were viewed by the media here as an important outcome of Thursday's meeting between the two leaders as well as another assurance from a heavyweight EU member state for Ireland. Ireland is most concerned about the possible return of a hard border between itself and Britain's Northern Ireland after Brexit. However, if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal, a hard border looks almost inevitable. Avoiding a hard border after Brexit is something that Ireland has been trying hard to achieve in the Brexit talks and needs firm support from other EU member states. Addressing a joint press conference with Merkel, Varadkar expressed his thanks for the strong solidarity Germany showed for Ireland. He said that Merkel has been a very strong ally to Ireland throughout the Brexit negotiations. He also noted that both Ireland and Germany want to have a close future relationship with Britain. Britain's leaving on April 12 is not an outcome anyone wants, he said, adding that patience is needed in dealing with Britain over the Brexit issue. "Matters continue to play out in London and I think we need to be patient and understanding of the predicament that they are in," he said. But he also warned that "There is very little time left and we have to prepare ourselves for all outcomes." According to the Irish government press office, Merkel's visit to Dublin is mainly to discuss with Varadkar over the latest developments of the Brexit issue. Local media quoted Merkel as saying before the meeting that she wanted to focus on solutions to the Irish border in a no-deal scenario during her meeting with the Irish prime minister. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 06:17:13|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ROME, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government has approved a so-called "growth decree" designed to kickstart the country's shrinking economy, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio announced late on Thursday. "This decree will have a positive impact on our growth, making it sustainable," Di Maio, who leads the populist Five Star Movement and who also serves as minister of labor and economic development, told reporters in televised comments. Among the measures Di Maio listed are protections for the "Made in Italy" brand to defend it against counterfeiting, tax breaks on industrial warehouses and investments in capital goods, and incentives for highly educated Italians who live abroad, the so-called "brain drain", to return home. The decree also contains a measure allowing the government to convert a bridge loan made to struggling carrier Alitalia into equity. "As I had promised, the government will be able to acquire shares in Alitalia," Di Maio said. The 73-page, 34-article growth decree also allocates 500 million euros to municipalities "for investments in energy efficiency and sustainable development," including the installation of renewable energy sources and renovating schools and other public buildings, and extends a state-guaranteed fund for first-time home-buyers that had been set up by the previous center-left government in 2013. Di Maio said the growth decree does not contain a controversial 1.5-billion-euro fund to reimburse up to 100,000 euros to small investors who lost money in banking crises in recent years. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will meet with small investors who claim they were defrauded by unscrupulous banking advisors on Monday, Di Maio said. Critics of the decree, a draft of which was circulated online, warned that Italy needs a far more ambitious package if it is to turn its stagnant economy around. In its latest report on the economy, Italy's Confindustria business lobby estimated zero percent growth for the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, calling on the government to "urgently make a change in the national economic policy". "Over the past six months, public debt has ballooned more than it ever has before," European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, a member of the opposition center-right Forza Italia party, told RAI News 24 public broadcaster. "We need a drastic cure to restart our economy." The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Monday that it sees Italian GDP "contracting by 0.2 percent in 2019" and that the government's budget, while it "rightly aims to help the poor" with generous welfare measures, will have a modest impact in terms of reducing social inequalities, while increasing the country's already bloated public debt. "Low productivity growth and wide social and regional inequalities are long-standing challenges which need to be tackled vigorously," the OECD said in a statement. "The public debt as a share of GDP remains high, at 134 percent, and a source of risks." Also on Thursday, Bloomberg business news agency reported that the Italian Treasury is set to slash its growth forecast for this year to just 0.1 percent -against a previous forecast of 1 percent growth - and to raise its projected budget deficit to 2.3 percent or 2.4 percent of GDP, compared with the previous forecast of 2.04 percent agreed on with the European Commission after laborious negotiations last year. Bloomberg cited two "senior officials with knowledge of the draft outlook" in the report. The draft, or the economic and finance document, goes to the cabinet for approval on April 10. This would appear to contradict the government, which has so far discounted all negative estimates of Italy's growth, promising that its policies - a mix of welfare, tax cuts and tax incentives - will be enough to stimulate the economy, which entered a recession in the last two quarters of 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 06:27:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HELSINKI, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The official environmental impact assessment process of the planned Helsinki-Tallinn railroad tunnel project began on Thursday with a citizens' meeting at Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. The 15-billion-euro project would connect the capital regions of Finland and Estonia. Environmental assessments (EA) will be carried out separately in both countries. Peter Vesterbacka, a Finnish entrepreneur who first floated the idea and then created the railroad project, was present at the civil event and repeated his conviction that trains would start running across the tunnel on Dec. 24, 2024. He assured that the permit process in Estonia would not take long. Representatives of the project gave one and a half years as feasible for the administrative process in Estonia. Vesterbacka announced earlier this winter that financial arrangements for the tunnel, which would cover more than 100 kilometers, had progressed. They would include one third as investment and 70 percent as a loan. While questions to Vesterbacka at the civil event mainly concerned the local impact on the Aalto University campus area, in the EA "environment" is defined in a wider sense including impact on society, economic life and transport besides the impact on wildlife and nature. In Finland, the assessment process is coordinated by the Uusimaa regional center for economic development, transport and the environment. Senior inspector Leena Eerola told the audience that in Espoo, anyone can file their concerns before May 24. In addition to the civil opinions, ministries and many regional stakeholders have been asked to submit statements. Eerola told Xinhua the assessment of the project is one of the largest they have handled. "But we have carried out the environmental impact assessment for the Baltic natural gas pipelines, Nordstream, for example," she reminded. The railroad is to connect the airports of Helsinki and Tallinn. Several routings are presented for the assessment. On the Finnish side there are three options, two via the city of Espoo and one via the Helsinki main railroad station. On the Estonian side, there are four alternative choices, mainly associated with the geological properties of the bedrock. Ultimate political decisions have not been taken either in Finland or Estonia about the tunnel project. Finland is to hold parliamentary election in mid-April, and a new government after the polls would possibly handle the matter. Addressing the civil event, representatives of the Finnish Poyry consulting company said the construction of the tunnel could take five to nine years, depending on how many "tunnel boring machines" would be working at the same time. Possible legal complaints could delay the project as well. For example, the zoning decisions and various permits for the construction could face complaints in courts either in Finland or Estonia. Finnish and Estonian economic zones cover the whole tunnel and no part runs in international waters outside Finnish or Estonian jurisdiction. The civil event was accompanied by exhibits of tunnel construction in all its aspects. International examples included pictures of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao connector, with its tunnels, bridges and artificial islands. The Helsinki-Tallinn route also envisages the building of artificial islands, one of which for housing. The islands are also a way to use the huge masses of soil that the two parallel tunnels, one for passengers and one for freight, 17 meters in diameter each, would replace. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 06:57:26|Editor: ZX Video Player Close TORONTO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for a third suspect involved in the kidnapping of a 22-year-old Chinese student in the Greater Toronto Area city of Markham last month, according to York Regional Police Thursday. The third suspect named Muzamil Addow, aged 28, is wanted on seven charges, including kidnapping, forcible confinement and assault with a weapon. Addow is the third suspect of four to be named by York Regional Police after surveillance cameras captured three masked men. So far, two suspects have been arrested. They are facing charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, and assault. On the evening of March 23, the Chinese student named Lu Wanzhen was kidnapped by masked and armed suspects in an underground parking garage of a condo building in Markham when he and his friend got out of their vehicle. Three armed suspects forced the student into a black minivan and fled from the underground parking garage. Police said that there are four suspects, including the vehicle driver in the abduction. Lu was found alive with minor injuries on March 27 on a rural road in Gravenhurst, Ontario, about 200 kilometers northeast of Markham. He knocked on the door of a house in the town and asked for help. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 07:42:34|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Guests record the start of the first Luxembourg-Chengdu freight train at a cargo train station in Dudelange, Luxembourg, April 4, 2019. A new railway line for freight trains between Luxembourg and Chengdu, a city in southwest China, was launched here on Thursday, with the first train loaded with 41 containers on its way to China. The 40-foot containers were filled with mechanical and electrical products, food and medical equipment as well as other imports from around Europe. The train is expected to reach the international railway station of Qingbaijiang in Chengdu in 15 days after passing through Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Freight trains are expected to travel the new route at least weekly once it is fully operational, representing the growing trading links and connectivity between China and Europe under the Belt and Road initiative. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) LUXEMBOURG, April 4 (Xinhua) -- A new railway line for freight trains between Luxembourg and the city of Chengdu in China was launched here on Thursday, with the first train loaded with 41 containers on its way to China. The 40-foot containers were filled with mechanical and electrical products, food and medical equipment as well as other imports from around Europe. The train is expected to reach the international railway station of Qingbaijiang in Chengdu in 15 days after passing through Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Freight trains are expected to travel the new route at least weekly once it is fully operational, representing the growing trading links and connectivity between China and Europe under the Belt and Road initiative. At the ceremony to mark the official launch of this new railway line, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Felix Braz said: "Luxembourg, with its geographic location anchored in the heart of Europe, is ideal to act as a logistic hub and provide rapid and reliable connections for Western Europe to the rest of the world." "With an industry focused on high quality and cutting edge technology, this new railway line is the perfect way to for us to enhance efficient logistics solutions in our trade with China," he added. Deputy Mayor of Chengdu Liu Xiaoliu, was present at the ceremony with Yin Li, governor of Sichuan Province, where Chengdu is the capital city. According to the deputy mayor, since the start of the first China-Europe freight train from Chengdu in 2013, over 3,000 trips have been successfully made, and in the process, new freight train connections have been established with more than 20 European cities. "This clearly shows that the Belt and Road Initiative has made a great contribution to the connection of trade and people, and in the process, Chengdu is increasingly opening up to the world," said Liu. Both China and Luxembourg have committed to improving direct train operations between the countries and bringing more high-quality "made in China" goods into Luxembourg. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 07:42:36|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Students hold placards during a demonstration against the provincial government's changes to education in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, April 4, 2019. Thousands of students across Canada's Ontario province walked out of their classrooms on Thursday in protest of the provincial government's changes to education, according to CTV. This Ontario province-wide walkout was organized by students on social media, with the hashtag #StudentsSayNo, to protest against the Ontario provincial government's education reforms, which include an increase in high school class sizes, the loss of 18,000 teaching jobs, e-learning courses, revamping the health and physical education curriculum and funding cuts. More than 700 schools signed up to take part in the mass protest organized by the student group, March for our Education. The protest action came weeks after Ontario's government announced its considerable and controversial education reforms. (Xinhua/Zou Zheng) TORONTO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of students across Canada's Ontario province walked out of their classrooms on Thursday in protest of the provincial government's changes to education, according to CTV. This Ontario province-wide walkout was organized by students on social media, with the hashtag #StudentsSayNo, to protest against the Ontario provincial government's education reforms, which include an increase in high school class sizes, the loss of 18,000 teaching jobs, e-learning courses, revamping the health and physical education curriculum and funding cuts. More than 700 schools signed up to take part in the mass protest organized by the student group, March for our Education. The protest action came weeks after Ontario's government announced its considerable and controversial education reforms. During question period at the Ontario legislature on Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford blamed the influence of teachers and unions for the mass protest. The premier claimed the walkout was driven by unions that are looking to secure better contracts for teachers ahead of their collective bargaining agreement expiring this summer. "This isn't about class size, I'll tell you. This is about the union bosses telling the teachers and the students what to do," Ford said. "It's absolutely shameful they're using our students for a bunch of pawns," Ford added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 09:18:29|Editor: ZX Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said on Thursday that the Chinese and U.S. negotiation teams have over the past two days conducted fruitful consultations and reached new consensus on such important issues as the text of the economic and trade agreement. Liu made the remarks while meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. During the meeting, Liu also said that the two sides, guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, will continue with the consultations to achieve more progress on issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 09:53:43|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close YANGON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Six insurgents of the Arakan Army (AA) have been killed with nine others injured in clashes with government forces in Buthidaung township, Myanmar's Rakhine state, said the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services late on Thursday. The clashes between the security forces and the 150-strong AA members took place near Wakoatchaung village on Wednesday where the AA was camping. The injured AA members were brought to a military hospital in Buthidaung for treatment and were being interrogated, the office release said. The government forces vowed to continue security operation to ensure that rule of law prevails in the area. On last Saturday, 13 construction workers working for Paletwa-Mizoram road project in Paletwa township of the state were kidnapped by 170-strong AA insurgents, leaving some vehicles destroyed at the work site. Of the 13 workers, five were released later and eight remained captive. Meanwhile, a two-month dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on five townships in the state by local authorities beginning Tuesday following attacks on government forces by insurgents which resulted in casualties and destruction of civilian houses. The five townships covered by the curfew are Yathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk U and Minpya. The curfew in Maungtaw and Buthidaung townships in the state has been in effect since 2016 until now. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 09:53:45|Editor: ZX Video Player Close NANCHANG, April 5 (Xinhua) -- What happens to your digital assets when you die? The question ignited hot discussion across China as life and death re-emerged as a topic on Tomb-Sweeping Day. The deposits on leading online payment platforms including Alipay and WeChat pay, as well as accounts of social media sites like QQ are among the digital assets that once concerned Yang Yang, a 29-year-old Beijing office worker, until she listed them in her will. "More and more young people are managing their money online rather than saving in banks. If I suddenly die, my grieving parents can be left without access to my online accounts," Yang said. Digital assets are becoming a more important part of a person's estate. Yang made her will at the China Will Registration Center in 2014. She listed her digital assets including three insurance policies and savings on Alipay and WeChat in the will, and named her parents as designated beneficiaries. Yang's parents did not understand. "They saw it unnecessary and ominous," she said. Talking about death is still a taboo in China as people fear that it might bring bad luck. However, a growing number of young people are breaking the taboo and even making arrangements for life after death. At various processing sites of China Will Registration Center, it takes about two hours to complete a set of procedures, including identity verification, writing wills, mental health assessment, fingerprint collection, face recognition, audio and video recording, and judicial review. Chen Kai, director of the management committee of the China Will Registration Center, said that although the majority of testators were elderly, the proportion of young people is gradually increasing, with the youngest testator being only 18 years old. According to a white paper released by the center in 2019, the average age of testators was 71.26 years in 2018, down from 77.43 years in 2013, based on analysis of more than 120,000 wills. He said a growing number of people had consulted them on how to deal with "digital assets," in addition to traditional real estate and bank deposits. "Online financial accounts and game accounts can be written into the will, as long as they are the testator's personal property," Chen said. Creating wealth inheritance plans in advance used to be taboo, but people's attitudes are changing, with increased belief that planning ahead can ensure family harmony and reduce litigation and disputes. Chen said only 12.4 percent of the population considered it necessary to make a will in 2013, which rose to 45.86 percent in 2018. "In the past, I often saw stone-faced people coming to make a will and sometimes crying, but now they chat, laugh and take photographs at the scene to mark the special day," Chen said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 10:13:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SEOUL, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government on Friday declared a state of national disaster over the massive blaze that engulfed five cities and counties along the northeastern coast. The fire broke out at about 7:17 p.m. Thursday (1017 GMT) on a roadside in Goseong, a northeastern border town some 210 km northeast of the capital Seoul, according to local media reports citing the firefighting authorities. Affected by strong wind, the flame rapidly spread to nearby mountainous regions including the Inje county and the cities of Sokcho, Donghae and Gangneung in Gangwon province. As of 7:30 a.m. local time Friday (2230 GMT Thursday), one has been confirmed dead and at least 11 were injured. About 250 hectares of forest were gutted by the fire, and some 125 houses were destroyed. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate overnight. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 10:23:55|Editor: ZX Video Player Close CHONGQING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- In front of the exhibition center of Chongqing Chang'an Automobile Co. Ltd., a vintage green car stays quiet. It is the first Jeep manufactured in China. Next to it proudly stands a brand-new car installed with auto-pilot system, which hit the market in March. "The same Jeep model was produced for five consecutive years since 1958," said He Jugang, with the car-making company based in Chongqing Municipality in southwest China. "But these days, things are completely different: if a car-maker fails to make several new models in a year, risks will mount." Chinese car-makers are feeling the pinch in the market. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufactures, in 2018, China's auto sales recorded the first ever annual negative growth. In the first two months of this year, auto sales also decreased compared with a year ago. Chang'an Automobile Co. Ltd., one of the major car-makers in the country, faces similar problems. To push the envelope, the company has made inroads in the smart car sector, hoping to give a boost to its development. "This car is equipped with the most advanced auto-pilot system in China, and the technology can even compete with our international peers," said Liang Fenghua, with Chang'an's smart car research institute, referring to the company's latest smart car model. Liang said that some customers were cautious before driving the advanced car models, but their suspicions were wiped out by the models' performance. Like Chang'an, many car-makers in China are stepping into the smart car sector, trying to snap up more shares in one of the world's biggest auto markets. In east China's Anhui Province, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. Ltd. (JAC Group), another domestic car-making giant, has teamed up with China's search engine Baidu to develop cars with auto-pilot systems. "We started working with Baidu in 2017, and we jointly developed car models with auto-pilot functions," said Wu Qiong, with JAC's smart car research institute. Baidu has worked with many Chinese car-makers in the sector. JAC's self-developed smart car networking system allows multi-media functions to be connected in cars, providing news and information. The system has been installed in car models already in mass production. JAC also focuses on smart buses. In late 2017, the company's subsidiary Anhui Ankai Automobile Co. Ltd. developed a self-driving bus. The bus models have been put to use on roads in a bonded area in the southern metropolis of Shenzhen, becoming the world's first self-driving buses to operate on public roads. "We may not be that competitive in gearboxes and vehicle control in traditional car making, but we definitely have an edge in smart car making," said He Jugang. Last month, China's leading car-maker BYD signed strategic cooperation agreements with Chinese tech firm Huawei in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The two companies agreed to conduct deep exchanges in areas such as smart car networking and smart driving. "China has one of the world's most abundant resources in application and in smart car networking, and we can do much more and much better in smart car making," He said. "We have accumulated experience, and we will invest more in research and development in this regard in the future." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 10:39:02|Editor: ZX Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a message delivered to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on Thursday that new substantial progress has been made on the text of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month. In the message conveyed by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at a meeting with Trump at the White House, Xi encouraged the two sides to keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible. Under the current situation, a healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, Xi told Trump. Xi also said he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means, and believes that the China-U.S. relations will make new and greater progress under their joint guidance. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 10:49:05|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SEOUL, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government on Friday declared a state of national disaster over the massive blaze that engulfed five cities and counties along the northeastern coast, leaving one dead and 11 wounded. The fire broke out at about 7:17 p.m. Thursday (1017 GMT) on a roadside in Goseong, a northeastern border town some 210 km northeast of the capital Seoul, according to local media reports citing firefighting authorities. Affected by strong wind, the flame rapidly spread to nearby mountainous regions including the Inje county and the cities of Sokcho, Donghae and Gangneung in Gangwon province. As of 7:30 a.m. Friday (2230 GMT Thursday), one has been confirmed dead and at least 11 injured. About 250 hectares of forest were gutted by the fire, and some 125 houses destroyed. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate overnight. South Korean President Moon Jae-in chaired a meeting of the national crisis management center overnight, ordering the use of all available resources to put out the blaze, but firefighters had difficulty due to the strong wind and the darkness. At daybreak, tens of helicopters were dispatched to extinguish the fire. The main blaze was reportedly put out early in the morning. Hundreds of firetrucks were mobilized from across the country, with around 10,000 personnel, including firefighters, civil servants, the military and police, gathered from across the nation for the firefighting and rescue operations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 10:54:07|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close LAGOS, April 4 (Xinhua) -- About 565 people might have been killed by the explosive remnants of the militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria's restive northeast region in 2018, according to a report by the United Nations anti-mine agency released on Thursday. Lionel Pechera, a program coordinator of the United Nations Mines Action Service (UNMAS), disclosed this at a campaign to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram. Pechera said the presence of explosive hazards was a barrier to accessing the majority of land for agricultural activities, which in turn increased food insecurity in the northeast area. Some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) areas were highly contaminated by explosives, indiscriminately injuring, maiming and killing civilians, said Pechera. The given figure was believed to represent only a portion of the actual number of incidents, he noted, saying that a large part of the territories in the country's northeast region was inaccessible. The mine awareness and assistance in mine action campaign has become imperative to protect lives and property as well as support the voluntary return of the IDPs to their homes, the UN official said. The long-term impact of the mine threats could jeopardize efforts of the Nigerian government and humanists to return the IDPs to their communities, he said, adding that there is a need to expand humanitarian mine action operations. Boko Haram's insurgency has killed more than 20,000 people since 2009 and left over 2.6 million people homeless. The extremist group, which is also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon, announced its allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 11:39:24|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Photo taken on April 1, 2019 shows a simulation of Haier's COSMOPlat displayed at Hanover Fair 2019 in Hanover, Germany. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) by Xinhua writer Zhang Yuan HANOVER, Germany, April 5 (Xinhua) -- As the world's largest industrial trade fair, the Hannover Messe presents the latest progress in industrial technologies. Under the theme of "Integrated Industry -- Industrial Intelligence," Hannover Messe 2019, which attracted 6,500 exhibitors from 75 countries and regions, concludes here Friday. Among the exhibitors, around 1,400 are Chinese, including renowned tech giants as well as less-known but dependable hardware suppliers, contributing both "brains" and "brawn" to the ongoing industrial evolvement. FUTURE WISDOM The use of 5G and artificial intelligence (AI), which are considered as key elements in the era of Industry 4.0, has been in the spotlight of the exhibition. Though some of the related technology are still experimental, a couple of concrete showcases have already been presented in real operations among several Chinese exhibitors. One of the net devices on display at Huawei booth, a little plain white box called LampSite, drew mass attention from global manufacturers as it is one of the few solutions for 5G indoor coverage. Not like making phone calls that humans can tolerate the bad signal or high latency, the data transfer in the industry should be quick and reliable with low latency, said An Xueli, an engineer at European Research Institute. "In industrial use, a minor interval (of signal) might put the whole production process on hold, and the loss could be huge," said An, adding that the newly-released LampSite has broken several technical bottlenecks, thus drawing more and more customers. So far, Huawei has established research cooperation with several European operators, including Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and Telefonica, according to a press release. Besides Huawei, China's home appliances giant Haier brought its latest AI application into the production scenario. A hemispheric device, installed with AI camera and sensors, can identify potential dangerous situations such as workers not wearing safety helmets, dropping or rising temperatures, or air conditioners becoming "unhealthy", and so on. "It has collected some sample scenarios, and will accumulate more samples from its users thus it get smarter and smarter after the constant learning process," said Shi Heng, technical director of Haier Institute of Industrial Intelligence. Shi added that the learning data will be shared on its industry cloud platform COSMOPlat and companies could use it and feed data back on it, generating a good cycle. The platform drew attention from Henning Kagermann, former chairman of the executive board and chief executive officer of SAP AG, a market leader in enterprise application software. Kagermann said nowadays some large enterprises have promoted the industrial platform while Haier's model placed focus on the interaction with users, which can be "competitive and has a comparative advantage." "I can see that China's industrial transformation is growing faster, and (that) enterprises know the outside world," said Kagermann. "They are offering solutions and bringing competition, which is a good thing." As a partner with many Chinese companies, the international automation company ABB is also impressed by China's AI research capability. ABB is now working with Chinese universities and has more than 2000 research and development (R&D) people localized in China, Ulrich Spiesshofer, chief executive officer of ABB Group told Xinhua. "I think China is a true power house of AI," said Spiesshofer. "The education is very strong, and the intellectual property that has been created is strong." PRESENT STRENGTH The Hanover Messe symbolizes the development of industry technology in its 72 years of history. The fair saw a display of cutting-edge technologies and visionary plans, and the gathering of manufacturers of industrial equipment and basic components. Some Chinese companies, less known to the genral public, have actually been long trusted suppliers of hardware. As some foreign traders put it, made-in-China devices and equipment are "the hard basis for future industry." In the global industry chain, China now plays a vital role in providing indispensable materials and parts, said Felix Rehwald, spokesman of a German wind power company Enercon. Chen Feinan, general manager of Zhejiang Chinc Electrics, said the company has been providing low-voltage electrical products, power transmission and distribution equipment, as well as automobile parts to many German enterprises, some of which are initiators of the concept of Industry 4.0. "We are also catching up with the latest trend with our partners, for example green energy solutions," said Chen. "On the first day of the trade fair (alone), over a hundred people, many of whom are potential customers, showed interest." Guangdong Jaten Robot & Automation has been providing transportation vehicles, or Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), the key component for smart logistics and for many global leading corporations, including Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, A.O. Smith, ZEISS, etc. The AGVs, mounted with AI unit, can locate certain materials and place them onto the designated areas. Some prototypes are able to carry components weighing up to 700 kg in the factory, while others can carry containers up to 10 tons, according to Liang Xiaoxi, marketing director of the company. "One vehicle can replace as many as three workers," said Liang. "We also received many orders with special designs that are suited for future needs." "The big companies might have many ideas of the future industry, and we're playing our part to consolidate them." said Liang. (Xinhua reporters Yan Feng, Ren Ke, Zhang Jiawei, Zhang Yirong, Shen Zhonghao, Li Meng, Li Jizhi, Shan Yuqi, Lian Zhen, Yu Yue also contributed to the story.) (Video reporters: Lian Zhen, Shen Zhonghao, Yu Yue; Video editor: Liu Ruoshi) Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 11:39:26|Editor: ZX Video Player Close CANBERRA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated that the government is open to helping terrorists' children return to their native home. Hoda Sharrouf, the 16-year-old daughter of Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf, recently begged for her and her siblings, 17-year-old Zaynab and eight-year-old Hamzeh, to be returned to Australia after the three were found in a Syrian refugee camp. Addressing the issue, Morrison on Friday said his government was working with the Red Cross to get the three children out of Syria. "I'm not going to put any Australian life at risk to extract people from these conflict zones," he told reporters. "But where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation particularly as innocent children, we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf." He said that if the children get into a position where they can return to Australia, the government "would follow the normal processes for issuing of travel documents." Khaled Sharrouf left the country in 2013 to fight for IS in Syria. He was joined by his wife, Tara Nettleton, and his five children later. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Nettleton died of medical complications in 2015. Of their children, only three have survived. Sharrouf was killed by an airstrike in 2017. Speaking to Fairfax Media on Friday, Hoda Sharrouf said that she and her siblings had forgiven their mother and father for dragging them into a war zone. "I want to see my brother grow up as a normal kid," she said. "I want to see my nieces with a happy life with good treatment. I want to see my sister give birth safely. "We're Australians too. Australia needs to do something about it. They need to step up," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 11:54:29|Editor: ZX Video Player Close SHANGHAI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China's reforms on natural gas industry have created tremendous opportunities for both Chinese and foreign companies, according to industry experts who are attending the 19th International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Shanghai during this week. "Many of the reforms in China around gas transportation, around import terminals along the coastal line and so forth, have been critical enablers in opening up Chinese market," Australian natural gas producer Woodside CEO Peter Coleman told Xinhua. China's efforts to fight against air pollution are also a catalyst for the development of natural gas industry in the country, said Coleman. The construction wave of LNG receiving terminals has created more opportunities for both buyers and sellers, according to Coleman, as sellers, such as Woodside, could seek more buyers, while Chinese buyers could have more options in securing their gas supply. China's efforts to promote natural gas are on the right direction, said Christophe Malet, managing director of Hanas LNG, a subsidiary of the Chinese private energy company Hanas Group. China is pushing forward the opening of natural gas infrastructure to private sector, which is bringing market opportunities for private companies, such as Hanas, Malet told Xinhua. Over the past few years, Hanas has been preparing for two LNG receiving terminals in China, one of which is expected to receive regulatory approval in the near future, Malet said. In addition, China's policies to steer the switch from coal to gas are helping the country's energy transition, Malet added. China's natural gas consumption totaled 280.3 billion cubic meters in 2018, a robust growth of 18.1 percent from a year ago, according to data from China's National Development and Reform Commission. Gas consumption in China is estimated to reach 326 billion cubic meters in 2020 and will reach 500 billion cubic meters in 2030, according to Chen Yu, director of the oil and gas marketing and trading office at the Sinopec Group. According to the three-year action plan on air pollution control released in 2018, China will boost the share of natural gas in its total primary energy consumption to 10 percent by 2020 from current less than 8 percent. "New consumption is driven by the policy of coal-to-gas conversion efforts, which mainly focuses on city gas, power generation and heating supply," said Chen. At present, China's urban and rural residential gas coverage is far less than 50 percent. The rising demand from China is also reshaping the global LNG market. As China's LNG imports are growing at a steady pace, the country is expected to have more pricing power in the regional market, said Zhang Yadong, chief risk officer at ENN Group, a Chinese private energy company. As the world's second largest LNG importer, China imported a total of 53.78 million tonnes of LNG in 2018, a sharp increase of 41 percent from a year ago. Industry observers widely expected that China will soon be the world's largest LNG importer. The LNG conference, first held in 1968, is a triennial event for the industry. This year marks the first time that the conference was held in China, the world's fastest growing LNG market. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 11:54:32|Editor: ZX Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 5 (Xinhua) -- A mathematics professor from Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW) has solved a 48-year multiplication puzzle which will give computers the ability to multiple large numbers much faster. Associate Professor David Harvey, from UNSW's School of Mathematics and Statistics, on Thursday published a method to multiply large numbers which proves an academic theorem first proposed in 1971 by German mathematicians, Arnold Schonhage and Volker Strassen. "They predicted that there should exist an algorithm that multiplies n-digit numbers using essentially n * log(n) basic operations," Harvey said. "Our paper gives the first known example of an algorithm that achieves this." Schonhage and Strassen developed a method needing fewer than n2 operations, but were unable to get it down to n * log(n). For a computer using a traditional long multiplication method, such as that taught in schools, it would take months to multiply two numbers with billions of digits -- using the Schonhage and Strassen algorithm it would take just 30 seconds. But for larger numbers again -- trillions or even gazillions -- the new method is vastly more efficient than even that of Schonhage and Strassen. Harvey said that his breakthrough could have far reaching applications in the advancement of mathematics such as in division and square roots or even calculating the digits of pi. "People have been hunting for such an algorithm for almost 50 years. It was not a forgone conclusion that someone would eventually be successful," he said. "It might have turned out that Schonhage and Strassen were wrong, and that no such algorithm is possible -- but now we know better." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 12:09:39|Editor: ZX Video Player Close YAOUNDE, April 4 (Xinhua) -- NGOs are exaggerating the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cameroon's two war-torn English-speaking regions in a bid "to make business," an official said on Thursday. "I read a public document recently published by an NGO saying that we have more than 400,000 internally displaced people in Cameroon. That is total misinformation and I can say it's fake news," Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji told a press conference here in the capital city. "It is unfortunate that some partners want to use the situation to make business. Inflating the number of IDPs presents another danger which can even jeopardize the sovereignty of the state," he added. Nji's statement came after Human Rights Watch, a U.S.-based NGO, reported that close to 500,000 people have been displaced internally in the two war-torn English-speaking regions. "Statistics from administrative authorities and serious NGOs working in collaboration with government show that there are about 152,000 internally displaced people in the northwest and southwest regions and about 6,000 internally displaced in the west, central and littoral regions," Nji said, adding that 75,000 IDPs have been assisted by the government. Armed separatists have been clashing with government forces in the two Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest since November 2017, seeking to secede from French-majority Cameroon and create a new nation called "Ambazonia." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 12:09:41|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China's official data showed that half of the production goods monitored by the government posted lower prices in late March compared with the previous 10 days. Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 25 goods saw their prices drop during March 21 to 30, while 15 posted higher prices and 10 saw their prices unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Prices of liquefied natural gas went down by 3.8 percent while that of live pigs stood unchanged. The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 1,700 wholesalers and distributors in 24 provincial-level regions. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 12:29:50|Editor: ZX Video Player Close MUMBAI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Lenders to India's beleaguered airline -- Jet Airways would invite bids for their stake on Saturday till April 9, a release issued by the State Bank of India on behalf of 26 lenders said, late Thursday. The lenders would also explore other options if the stake sale process does not result in an acceptable outcome, the release said. The struggling airline, saddled with a debt of over one billion U.S. dollars, prior to the debt restructuring proposal by the lenders, is currently operating 26 aircraft down from its fleet of 119 aircraft. The unavailability of aircraft following the monetary crunch has also forced the airline to cancel flights and delay salaries to its staff including pilots, along with suppliers and lessors. Under the debt resolution proposed by the lenders and approved by the airline in March, the lenders have taken a majority stake in the airline and were set to infuse 217 million U.S. dollars. As part of the deal, the then existing promoter Naresh Goyal's stake along with his wife was to be bought down to 25 percent from 51 percent earlier. However, after the late Thursday meeting, the State Bank of India released 21.7 million U.S. dollars as an emergency fund as there was no consensus among bankers to release the committed amount of 217 million U.S. dollars as per resolution plan. Meanwhile, following India's apex court striking down the country's Central Bank circular on implementing a restructuring scheme earlier this week, the lenders too await fresh guidelines to address the Jet Airways case. On Thursday, the Central Bank -- Reserve Bank of India, said it will take necessary steps, including issuance of a revised circular for expeditious and effective resolution of stressed assets. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 12:34:52|Editor: ZX Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a message delivered to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on Thursday that new substantial progress has been made on the text of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month. In the message conveyed by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at a meeting with Trump at the White House, Xi encouraged the two sides to keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible. Under the current situation, a healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, Xi told Trump. Xi also said he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means, and believes that the China-U.S. relations will make new and greater progress under their joint guidance. At the meeting, Liu said the Chinese and U.S. negotiation teams have over the past two days conducted fruitful consultations and reached new consensus on such important issues as the text of the economic and trade agreement. Liu also said that the two sides, guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, will continue with the consultations to achieve greater progress on issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible and push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade ties. Trump said that the U.S.-China bilateral relationship now sees a sound and robust development, and is at a high level in history. The U.S. president said that he is glad to see that huge progress has been achieved in the economic and trade negotiations, and that he hopes the two sides make further efforts and resolve the remaining issues in a bid to reach a comprehensive and historic agreement as soon as possible. It will not only benefit the two countries but also the whole world, he added. The U.S. president said he looks forward to meeting with Xi after the two sides reach the agreement, and to witnessing the great moment together with the Chinese leader. Trump also thanked Xi for China's decision to add fentanyl-related substances to a supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with non-medical use, saying it is of great significance for American people and the U.S.-China anti-drug cooperation. Liu is in the United States for the ninth round of high-level economic and trade consultations between the two nations. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Trump's senior advisor Jared Kushner attended the meeting. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 13:00:04|Editor: ZX Video Player Close SHIJIAZHUANG, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Villagers in northern China's Hebei Province have decided to bid farewell to a millennium-old ritual during this year's Tomb Sweeping Day for the good of the environment: burning joss paper. "I think it is a good thing that we stop burning joss paper. Although I did find it difficult at first, I know it is better not to burn joss paper when I thought of the smoke in the past," said Tang Lifen, a villager in Liulaoren Village, Fucheng County. Tomb Sweeping Day, which falls on April 5 this year, is a time for Chinese people to mourn the dead and worship their ancestors by visiting tombs and making offerings. Traditionally, the tributes involve burning incense and joss paper at the tombs. "Villagers compare with each other, and if you burnt fewer than others, you would be considered as not completing your filial duties. We also had to burn cardboard versions of refrigerators, televisions and ingots," Tang said. "When we stop burning joss paper, our financial burdens are lessened," Tang said. Instead of burning joss paper, this year, villagers held a memorial service and gathered together to recall the spiritual wealth that the elder generation has left for them. They also tied cards with what they wanted to say to their deceased family members on a century-old pear tree. "We tie these cards on the trees to remind us of the spiritual wealth that they have left for us," said Zuo Junxiu, a villager. "Burning joss paper causes fire and pollutes the air, so we are very sure that we should stop burning joss paper," said Liu Lianshan, the village's Party secretary. About one-third of the villages in the county are turning to greener ways to mourn their deceased family members this year. "We have decided to call on our villagers to stop burning ghost money and do what we can to protect the environment," said Chang Cuncai, Party secretary of Suliu village in the county. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 13:00:07|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wrapped up their two-day meeting here on Thursday, focusing their discussions on Russia and counter-terrorism. During Thursday's sessions, the foreign ministers agreed on a series of measures to counter Russia in the Black Sea region, including more support for Georgia and Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at a press conference. Such support could include training of maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises and sharing information, according to a NATO statement. Stoltenberg said that the alliance reiterated its demand for Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized last year near the Sea of Azov. On Nov. 25, Russia seized three Ukrainian warships near the Kerch Strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, accusing them of breaching the Russian border. Moscow called the incident a provocation, while Kiev denied any wrongdoing and Western countries denounced the "aggressive" actions of Russia. The Russian foreign ministry said that the allegations that Russia violated international law are "groundless and completely untrue," insisting that the detention of Ukrainian warships and their crews was carried out "in full compliance with the norms of international law, the constitution and the current legislation of the Russian Federation." The dim future of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a historic missile pact signed by Washington and Moscow decades ago, was another main issue at the meeting. Foreign ministers from the 29-nation alliance addressed Russia's "continuing violation of the INF Treaty," Stoltenberg said. "Time is running out. So NATO is preparing for a world without the INF Treaty," the NATO head added. In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko on Thursday rejected NATO's accusations. Grushko noted that Russia has taken "unprecedented transparency measures" to prove it has not violated the treaty, while NATO ignored Moscow's legitimate concerns regarding many years of violations of the treaty by the United States. Both the United States and Russia have announced their intention to quit the pact signed in 1987. During the meeting, the ministers also addressed NATO's role in the fight against terrorism, including the ongoing Afghanistan peace talks and the fight against the Islamic State (IS). Stoltenberg said that NATO will continue to work with local partners and train local forces. NATO held the ministerial-level meetings in Washington to mark the 70th anniversary of the military alliance, which was formally established on April 4, 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty. The anniversary gathering was overshadowed by internal rifts, including friction between the United States and Turkey over the latter's purchasing of S-400 air defense system from Russia, and Washington's pressing of other allies for more military spending. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 13:10:12|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CARACAS, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Both the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and far-right opposition groups on Thursday called on their supporters to gather for a show of strength this weekend here in the capital. "This Saturday, April 6, we are all going to gather from 9 a.m. (0430 GMT) at three key points in the capital," Dario Vivas, the PSUV's vice president of mobilizations and events, told state-run VTV by phone. Party supporters will then march to the presidential headquarters, Palacio de Miraflores, for a massive pro-government rally, he said. Venezuela's far-right opposition, which is being openly backed by the United States and its allies in Latin America, called for nationwide protests to mark the launch of "Operation Freedom," its latest push to oust the PSUV from power. "April 6, the start of Operation Freedom, the start of a definitive phase to end the usurpation, where we are all now agents of change," said opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself "interim president" in January. Guaido, president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, made the announcement at the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas. "This Saturday we turn up the pressure. The call is to protest peacefully, strategically and in an organized way in the streets, to reclaim our rights," Guaido said in a Twitter post. Both camps are locked in a power struggle that has intensified since President Nicolas Maduro was reelected in May last year in a vote that was largely boycotted by the opposition, which then refused to recognize the outcome. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 13:15:16|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh (4th R) meets with Wang Jiarui (5th L), chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, in Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, April 4, 2019. Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh held talks on Thursday with a delegation of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to enhance non-governmental exchanges and relations between the two countries. (Xinhua/Asigang) ULAN BATOR, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh held talks here on Thursday with a delegation of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to enhance non-governmental exchanges and relations between the two countries. Khurelsukh welcomed the visit headed by chairman of the foundation Wang Jiarui on the important occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Mongolia-China diplomatic ties. Khurelsukh, who paid an official visit to China in April, 2018, said he has reached important consensuses with Chinese leaders on bilateral ties during the trip. He called on both sides to strengthen non-governmental communication to make people feel closer with each other, and actively implement the consensuses of two countries' leaders. Khurelsukh, who is also chairman of the Mongolian People's Party, hoped the foundation would take the visit as a chance to establish contacts with Mongolian institutions and do more practical work to promote exchanges between his party and the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as the two countries. Under the leadership of the CPC with Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, at the core, the Chinese people have made remarkable achievements, the prime minister said, adding that the CPC's experience in governance is worth learning by Mongolia. Wang said that China highly values China-Mongolia ties and the consensuses reached by the two countries' leaders on exchanges and cooperation in various fields give a clear direction to the development of bilateral ties. The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is willing to work with people from all walks of life in Mongolia to push forward non-governmental exchanges, especially in such fields as medical treatment and public health, as well as cultural, sport and youth exchanges, so as to enhance the two peoples' mutual understanding and friendship. During the visit, the delegation held a series of social and cultural events with Mongolian medical institutions and a school to promote friendship. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 14:00:35|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HERAT, Afghanistan, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains and flooding have killed eight people in the western Herat and northern Baghlan provinces, officials said Friday. Jilani Farhad, the spokesman for Herat provincial government, said that five people lost their lives in flash floods that washed away several villages in Karakh district on Thursday night. According to the official, 17 more villagers are still missing following the floods and efforts are underway to find and rescue them if were alive. Similarly, the downpour and flash floods claimed the lives of three people and injured six others in Deh Salah district of the northern Baghlan province on Thursday night, district governor Faiz Mohammad Hamidi said Friday. Hundreds of houses and thousands of acres of farm lands were also washed away or badly damaged due to the floods in the said provinces, the officials said. More than 80 people have been killed, over 200 injured and more than 42,000 others displaced due to flooding in Afghanistan over the past nearly one month, according to the officials. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:01:12|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- With streamlined process and straightforward focus on major topics, the latest round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations serves as a clear indication that the talks have entered a crucial stage. In his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also head of the Chinese negotiation team, said the two sides have achieved new consensus regarding important issues like the text of the potential trade deal, and will keep working hard to conclude the trade negotiations as soon as possible. During the on-going talks, the two sides have engaged in intensive exchanges through all means of communication. At this important stage, the two sides need to value the hard-won accomplishments they have made so far and stand ready to make further efforts to push the talks going forward. Following the Xi-Trump summit in Argentina in December, negotiation teams of the two sides have shuttled back and forth between Washington and Beijing on rounds of high-level talks in four months. Under joint guidance of the two presidents, the two countries have delivered new substantial progress on key issues like the text of the economic and trade agreement. Like climbing a mountain, the closer one approaches the peak, the harder and more complex the challenges would be. For China and the United States, the remaining issues are all hard nuts to crack. Therefore, it requires both sides to better comprehend the long-term and complex nature of the consultations, and get fully prepared for a difficult mission. Meanwhile, for two nations to get along with each other, they need to maintain mutual respect and seek common grounds while reserving their differences. Over the past 40 years since the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic ties, the two countries, despite some twists and turns, have seen their relationship always moving forward, and their bilateral cooperation always outshining differences. Just as Chinese President Xi Jinping has indicated in his message to Trump delivered on Thursday, a healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership. Such a leadership should, as always, be the loadstar guiding bilateral negotiations to overcome all remaining conundrums so as to promote a healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade ties. As long as the two sides can keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, and stay committed to consultations on an equal basis, it is believed that they will find a solution to any difficult problem that is acceptable to both sides. It is fair to say that in order to explore new grounds of collaboration after 40 years, time has come for Beijing and Washington to adjust to the new realities, manage their differences properly, focus more on cooperation, and build a relationship featuring coordination, cooperation and stability. That should be a shared task for the two sides. As for China, it will always stick to its own path. In its endeavor to realize high-quality development, China will not pause on its journey of reform and opening up. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:16:19|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a message delivered to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on Thursday that new substantial progress has been made on the text of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month. In the message conveyed by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at a meeting with Trump at the White House, Xi encouraged the two sides to keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible. Under the current situation, a healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, Xi told Trump. Xi also said he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means, and believes that China-U.S. relations will make new and greater progress under their joint guidance. At the meeting, Liu said the Chinese and U.S. negotiation teams have over the past two days conducted fruitful consultations and reached new consensus on such important issues as the text of the economic and trade agreement. Liu also said that the two sides, guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, will continue with the consultations to achieve greater progress on issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible and push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade ties. Trump thanked Xi for his message and asked Liu to convey his warm greetings to the Chinese president, saying that the U.S.-China bilateral relationship now sees a sound and robust development, and is at a high level in history. The U.S. president said that he is glad to see that huge progress has been achieved in the economic and trade negotiations, and that he hopes the two sides make further efforts and resolve the remaining issues in a bid to reach a comprehensive and historic agreement as soon as possible. It will not only benefit the two countries but also the whole world, he added. The U.S. president said he looks forward to meeting with Xi after the two sides reach the agreement, and to witnessing the great moment together with the Chinese leader. Trump also thanked Xi for China's decision to add fentanyl-related substances to a supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with non-medical use, saying it is of great significance for American people and the U.S.-China anti-drug cooperation. Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, was invited to attend the ninth round of high-level economic and trade talks between the two nations in Washington. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Trump's senior advisor Jared Kushner attended the meeting. China and the United States concluded their eighth round of high-level economic and trade consultations in Beijing last week during which the two sides discussed the related text of the agreement and achieved new progress. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:21:23|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TAIYUAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The restoration project of an ancient Chinese town started this week under Sino-French joint financing, according to local tourism authorities. Qixian ancient town in north China's Shanxi Province received a 20-year loan of 70 million euros (78.6 million U.S. dollars) granted by French Development Agency last year, with another 139 million yuan (20.7 million U.S. dollars) from China. It is the first loan provided by the agency to support the restoration and development of cultural heritage in China. The fund will be used mainly to repair old buildings and renovate infrastructure. "We need the money because our buildings are on the brink of collapsing," said Yan Dianzheng, an official with the local tourism bureau, noting that the town was facing many challenges as some residents still burned coal for heating. Restorations are set to start in October and scheduled to be completed in six years, Yan said. He expressed the hope that Qixian would share France's experience and ideas in preserving ancient cities and towns. Yann Martres, an official with the agency's Beijing office, said it would be a model of cultural heritage protection with the exchange of experience and technology, and would strengthen the cooperation between France and China. Historical records show that the 0.3-hectare Qixian ancient town dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), with more luxurious architecture than surrounding towns. So far, more than 6,000 local residents are living in 1,000 old folk houses built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). When the restoration project finishes, the town is expected to apply for the status as a 5A tourist attraction, the top grade in China. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:21:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HAVANA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Maria Fernanda Espinosa on Thursday highlighted Cuba's role as a "key ally" in promoting multilateralism and world peace in a volatile international context. At a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, the high-ranking UN official thanked the island's leadership in and commitment to promoting a "democratic, fair and equal world order." Espinosa said her visit to the Caribbean nation seeks to further strengthen the links between the UN and Havana. "We are always pleased to know that Cuba is an essential and strategic ally to strengthen the multilateral system in complicated times, when world peace faces great challenges," said Espinosa. She also praised the "vital, constructive and dynamic role" of the island in the UN and supporting the work of the UNGA. "Cuba's leading role in the Non-Aligned Movement is well known, also in promoting diplomatic agendas for peace and Cuba is one of the main countries that fulfills the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," she said. Rodriguez reiterated Havana's commitment to the UNGA, the "most universal, representative and democratic" UN body. "We will continue participating in a constructive, flexible and active way in the work of the General Assembly under your leadership in an increasingly difficult and dangerous international situation," he said. He expressed the island's willingness to collaborate with the UN in promoting a "fair" international order based on multilateralism, cooperation and dialogue. Espinosa on Wednesday started a three-day visit to the island, where she will meet Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other government officials as well as leaders of social organizations. She will also tour historical sites in the capital and deliver a keynote speech on Friday to students and professors of Cuba's Institute of International Relations. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:26:32|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TAIYUAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Three companies from China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have established a joint venture in north China's Shanxi Province to produce de-dusting equipment. With a total investment of 20 million yuan (2.97 million U.S. dollars), the joint venture is funded by J-E Tech Co. Ltd. from the ROK and Chinese companies Yangquan Coal Industry Group Co. Ltd. and Beijing CECN Mediator Kane Environmental Protection Technology Co. Ltd. The joint venture will focus on manufacturing industrial dust collectors, drawing on the technological expertise from the ROK company, according to Zhai Hong, president of Yangquan. Yangquan will also cooperate with J-E Tech in areas like emission equipment upgrade and treatment of sewage and exhaust from diesel heavy-duty trucks, according to Zhai. Shanxi is a major energy base and its traditional mining, coking, steel, and coal chemical industries have caused severe pollution. Local authorities have taken tough measures to reduce emissions and improve air quality. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:46:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close MANILA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Philippine security forces clashed with Abu Sayyaf militants on Friday in southern Sulu province, killing at least seven and wounding 22 others, the military said. Among the dead were three soldiers and four Abu Sayyaf militants while those wounded were 13 soldiers and nine Abu Sayyaf militants, the military said. The military said fighting broke out at 6:50 a.m. local time on Friday in a remote village in Patikul town from Sulu province while the troops were on pursuit operation to track down Abu Sayyaf militants. Colonel Gerry Besana, the spokesman of Western Mindanao Command, said the initial fighting lasted 30 minutes. The military then provided artillery support and fired mortars towards the positions of the Abu Sayyaf group, he said. Besana said the military attacks and bombardment forced the militants to withdraw with inflicted members, prompting the military to deploy more forces to track down the fleeing militants. Pursuit operations continued, the military official added. Abu Sayyaf gained notice in the southern Philippines in the early 1990s, with demands for an Islamic state. It acquired worldwide notoriety with a series of kidnappings and beheadings, including foreigners. Philippine authorities referred to the Abu Sayyaf group as nothing more than a collection of bandits, whose main lair is in the Sulu province of the southern Philippines. The Philippine government has formed an entire army division to hunt down the militants blamed for a series of kidnapping and bombings in the southern region, including the Jan. 27 twin bombings in a church in Jolo city, Sulu province that killed 23 and injured more than 100. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:56:47|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is contributing to Egypt's development through massive infrastructure projects in various fields including construction, energy, transport, trade and industry. Current Chinese investments and projects in Egypt reflect tangible and fruitful cooperation under the BRI, first proposed by China in 2013, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond. In Egypt's new administrative capital, some 45 km east of Cairo, a skyscraper that is expected to be the tallest in Africa is being built by both Chinese and Egyptian hands. The 385-meter-high Iconic Tower will be part of the Central Business District under construction by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which is working round the clock for a timely delivery of the district in 2022, four years after the construction started. Visiting the construction site in late February, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly described the architectural project as "a miracle by all means." Also, a coalition of China's AVIC International and China Railway Group Limited is building a light rail transit to connect Egypt's new administrative capital with other surrounding new cities on the outskirts of Cairo. Egypt and China enjoy distinguished relations that have been elevated in recent years to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has paid at least five visits to China since he took office in mid-2014, and he is scheduled to visit Beijing later in April to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. In the field of energy, Chinese large corporations are also working on a number of mega projects in Egypt. China's renewable energy company TBEA Sunoasis has recently finished the construction of three solar power stations with an output of 186 megawatts as part of giant under-construction Benban Solar Energy Park in Egypt's southern province of Aswan. In Hamrawein region on the Red Sea coast, China's Dongfang Electric and Shanghai Electric firms are building a coal-fired power plant with a total generating capacity of 6,000 megawatts. The plant, which will be constructed in about six years, is expected to be the largest of its kind in the Middle East. China's Sinohydro has also finished the necessary studies to start soon the construction of a major pumped-storage hydropower plant in Mount Ataka in northeastern Suez province, with a capacity of 2,400 megawatts. "Sinohydro is a world leader in this field and the project in Mount Ataka will be the first in Egypt and the largest in Africa and the Middle East region," Ayman Hamza, spokesman of Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, told Xinhua. He added that Egypt also started cooperation with State Grid Corporation of China to construct about 1,210 km of high voltage transmission lines, besides cooperation with other Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE in the field of smart meters. "China is one of the world's advanced states in the field of energy. Egypt's coordination with China is at the highest level and the cooperation between the two sides is very effective and fruitful," Hamza said. "Egypt takes great interest in China's very important BRI and works earnestly on implementing it," he added. The BRI-based Sino-Egyptian cooperation is also reflected in the development of trade and industry in Egypt. China's industrial developer Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) is currently developing a total area of 7.23 square km in Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province. TEDA attracted many enterprises to the SCZone, including China's fiberglass giant manufacturer Jushi, which helped Egypt become one of the largest fiberglass producers and exporters in the world over the past couple of years. On Monday, several renowned Egyptian researchers and a Chinese senior diplomat gathered at a seminar in Cairo to discuss insights and visions on the BRI and its economic and strategic significance for participating states. "The BRI is different from other economic blocs as it links trade with development," said Mohamed Fayez Farahat, a political expert and head of the Asian Studies Program at Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. In the light of the BRI, trade exchanges between China and Egypt hit a record high of 13.87 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, with Egyptian exports to China reaching 1.8 billion dollars for the first time, according to Han Bing, minister counselor for economic affairs at the Chinese embassy in Cairo. "The BRI is based on the principles of joint consultation, common construction and shared interests," the Chinese diplomat said during the seminar. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 15:56:49|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HANOI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Police of Vietnam's northern Vinh Phuc province said Friday they have brought to light a drug trafficking ring, detaining two local men and confiscating nearly 20,000 pills of synthetic drug, the largest amount of ever seized in the locality. To Anh Duc, 32, from northern Dien Bien province and Ngo Hong Quan, 38, from central Nghe An province, were caught red-handed on Tuesday illegally trading the drug in Vinh Phuc's Tam Dao district. According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 16:06:52|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TAIPEI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 58 percent of unmarried adult office workers in Taiwan have no plans to get married, and half of couples without children do not plan have them due to economic pressures and other reasons, according to a job website survey. Job website Yes123 conducted an online survey of 1,304 adult office workers aged 20 or above in March, and collected 888 questionnaires from enterprises. Unmarried respondents cited "low income levels," "difficulty to find the right person," "can't afford to buy a house,", "want to live a free life," and "insufficient saving" as the main reasons for not entering marriage. Demographic data showed about 135,400 couples got married in Taiwan last year, the lowest in nine years, while 181,600 new babies were born last year, the lowest in eight years. Demographic authorities estimate Taiwan will see negative population growth in 2022 and become a "super aging" society by 2026. Its work force could be halved in 2065 from the level of 2018. Yes123 found 38.7 percent of office workers said they had children. Half of workers without children said it was because their current incomes could not support such plans. Some said they were work-laden and too busy to look after children. Others said they were not satisfied with the education quality and institutions in Taiwan. Analyzing the survey results, Yang Tsung-pin, spokesman for Yes123, said low salaries, long work hours, high house prices and education environment were to blame for the low birth rate. To raise a child, a couple expects to have a decent monthly household income of 102,000 new Taiwan dollars (about 3,300 U.S. dollars) on average, or about 2.45 times the average regular salary level, according to survey. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 16:11:56|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Yang Chenglin, Zhou Xiaozheng, Yang Shilong PEACHTREE CITY, the United States, April 5 (Xinhua) -- For SANY America, the U.S. subsidiary of China's heavy construction equipment manufacturer SANY Group, it sounds quite ambitious to grow from an 80-million to 1-billion-U.S.-dollar company in five years in a market that is "particularly mature" for excavators. "I mean it is ambitious. Don't get me wrong, but we should be able to do this. It's very doable," said Doug Friesen, CEO of SANY America, in a recent interview with Xinhua at his office in Peachtree City in the U.S. state of Georgia. PREMIUM EXCAVATORS As a veteran with years of experience in automotive industry and heavy construction equipment manufacturing, Friesen's confidence comes primarily from the superior durability and cost-effectiveness of SANY excavators. "The most important thing is that these machines are designed and engineered in China, and they're designed and engineered for a market that typically runs 24/7," Friesen said, adding that excavators are not "necessarily designed to take that kind of workload" in the United States. "So one of the first things that our customers experience here (is that) our products don't break down. They don't have the failures. That's a tremendous advantage," he said. Also, SANY's American customers are getting a premium product at a lower price, said Friesen. "People want SANY products ... because they're getting extreme value from their purchase," he said, adding that their products also include port equipment, cranes and wheel loaders. MAJOR HURDLE However, Friesen said, brand recognition now remains a major hurdle for SANY products in the U.S. market. "We're competing against product that's been here for a hundred years. When ... you introduce a new brand, by itself (it) is a task or hurdle to overcome," he said. "When it's a Chinese brand on top of that, it becomes harder at first." "Once you break into the market, the nice thing about the United States market is they don't care where it comes from as long as it's good product," he said. "Once they get connected with our brand and people know who we are, we will see an explosion of products being sold in the United Sates." SANY America has been doing quite well since it entered the U.S. excavator market in recent years, Friesen said. The senior industry executive, who assumed his current position in June 2017, designated the year of 2019 as "a year of promotion" for SANY America as he has set all the foundation work for the company's growth. "We are going to start a promotion campaign like we have not seen yet in NA (North America). The market will begin to know who SANY is," he said. Besides going to major trade shows, Friesen has planned to expand the company's network of dealers from 30 to 100. "It just takes some time in the beginning to let people know who we are and let them know that our products are as good as any (product) around the world, in fact, better," said Friesen. "We're a one-percent market player. We need to become a five-percent market player, and then move on to a seven-percent market player," he said. "When you're at the bottom, there is no place (to go) but up." MANUFACTURE WHEREVER YOU SELL SANY America will soon start building its brand excavators "completely from scratch" in the United States, said Friesen. The company started "semi knocked-down" (SKD), which means assembling partially pre-fabricated vehicles, in October last year, he said. "And in June of this year we will change that (SKD) to CKD (completely knocked-down), which means everything comes in as individual parts, and then we build that completely from scratch," he said. "In this globalization effort, there is a recognition that wherever you sell, you should manufacture," Friesen said. Sixteen SANY excavator models will eventually be brought to the United States, potentially serving the markets of North and South America, said the veteran business leader. "We're shooting for 6,000 units (of excavators) here ... and currently we're at about 1,000. Ultimately, we would like to produce all product lines in the United States," he said. The CEO added that there is a plan to expand the manufacturing site, which will lead to a significant growth in the number of local-hired hands. For its manufacturing team alone, SANY America planned to expand from 25 job posts to approximately 300 within five years, Friesen said. (Xinhua reporters in New York Zou Sa'ang, Wang Ying contributed to the story) Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 16:37:23|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close by Zhao Yan ANAPU, Brazil, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese-made power towers designed to leave a smaller footprint on the environment have been going up in Anapu, a town in northern Brazil's Para state. The 105-meter-high transmission towers, at least 25 meters higher on average than conventional towers, are part of the efforts by Chinese company State Grid Brazil Holding (SGBH) to safeguard local forests as it builds an ultra-high-voltage (UHV) power line in the region. According to Leandro Moraes, a Brazilian environmental engineer hired by State Grid to assess the project's environmental impact, a standard tower requires clearing a path of 114 meters wide, whereas the higher towers reduce the number to just 10 meters. Other towers along the power line will be taller still, reaching 130 meters in height in neighboring Tocantins state, for example. "This effort significantly increases the cost of the project, but it is worthy of protecting the Earth's green lung, the Amazon jungle," said Yang Guangliang, assistant manager of transmission lines at Xingu Rio Transmissora de Energia, S.A. (XRTE), an affiliate of SGBH. XRTE is in charge of laying 2,543 km of the line, which will transmit energy from the central Belo Monte hydroelectric plant in Para to Rio de Janeiro, on Brazil's southeast coast. The power line will be the second 800-kilowatt UHV line that State Grid builds in Brazil. The first, already in operation, transmits energy to two other southeastern states: Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. The 800 kw UHV line is a technological innovation developed by China to reduce the amount of power that is lost as electricity moves along the transmission line. The case in Brazil will be the longest such line in the world. A project of this magnitude is not an easy task. Just accessing the positions of the towers requires traveling over rugged roads or trails, often aboard all-terrain vehicles. The work is further complicated as great care goes into preserving local flora and fauna. Moraes works in a team of environmental consultants to ensure the project meets guidelines issued by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). The team might also recommend modifying the line's route to avoid disturbing an indigenous community in the area, in keeping with norms established by the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI). Moraes and his colleagues visited nearby local families to present the project, the different construction stages involved and the benefits of the power line. Once the project is completed, the team will continue to maintain contact with the locals for nearly two years to monitor conditions and perform the follow up actions as required. Para, where the line starts, is home to scattered communities of small Indian tribes. With that in mind, the company decided to modify the original route, which had been approved by the government, adding several kilometers to the line to buffer nearby villages. Li Junfeng, assistant director of environment at SGBH, said the company takes a comprehensive approach to environmental issues. "For us, environmental matters mean not just protection, but also sustainable development for the local residents. That's why we undertake social projects all long the line," said Li. In Tocantins, SGBH established a fruit juice plant in a poor community and took other steps that have made a difference in the lives of local residents. "In Para, we helped to build a poultry farm in a community, and donated modern medical equipment for the local hospitals in other small towns," Li said. The company has contributed significantly to conservation efforts over the years in Brazil. "We have studied 936 kinds of animals, saved 60 types of plants in danger of extinction, reforested more than 1,100 hectares by planting trees, and carried out archaeological work at 4,492 sites, discovering and protecting more than 710 ruins and caves," said Li. Soon, the power line project will supply homes and businesses in some of Brazil's key cities with clean energy. Meanwhile, it is spurring the regional economy by generating 16,000 jobs, developing Brazil's electric equipment industry, and building 1,970 km of highways and 350 bridges. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 16:57:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close WINDHOEK, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government will expedite the finalization of mechanisms and agreements between Namibia and Ghana to enhance mutually beneficial ties, an official said on Thursday. Engelbrecht Nawatiseb, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, said here that the Namibian cabinet directed government agencies to expedite 11 separate projects under the framework of Namibia-Ghana Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC). The cabinet directives followed discussions held during the 3rd session of the JPCC, which took place on Feb. 25 to 27 in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. During their discussions, the two sides signed a previously pending memorandum of understanding (MoU) as well as other agreements to further deepen cooperation. According to Nawatiseb, fields under the framework include trade, marine resources, environment and tourism, social welfare, sports, capacity building, health, among others. "The Ministry of Mines and Energy is directed to ensure the finalization and implementation of the harmonized draft MoU in the sphere of oil and gas covering exploration, development, production, refining, storage and marketing of petroleum product," Nawatiseb said. Other areas of cooperation to be cemented also include the finalization of the proposed MoU on development as well as the promotion of small and medium sized enterprises. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 17:23:00|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close A visitor takes photos of a Roman statue of Greek goddess Aphrodite, which is displayed for the first time at the exhibition "The Countless Aspects of Beauty" held by the National Archaeological Museum, in Athens, Greece, April 4, 2019. A marble statue of the Greek ancient goddess Aphrodite along with two scents from antiquity were unveiled at the National Archaeological Museum of Greece on Thursday to mark one-year anniversary of the temporary exhibition "The countless aspects of Beauty." (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Alexia Vlachou ATHENS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- A marble statue of the Greek ancient goddess Aphrodite along with two scents from antiquity were unveiled at the National Archaeological Museum of Greece on Thursday to mark one-year anniversary of the temporary exhibition "The countless aspects of Beauty." Since the opening of the exhibition in May 2018, more than 430,000 visitors from all around the world had passed through its doors and enjoyed artifacts from the Neolithic period to late antiquity illustrating the timeless desire of humans for the beautiful. A year after its huge success, the exhibition continues to be on the spotlight with the new additions. "Our visitors have the opportunity to admire this naked Aphrodite which comes in this space to smell two new scents from antiquity," Maria Lagogianni, director of the National Archaeological Museum, told Xinhua. After being restored, Aphrodite statue emerged from the storerooms of the Museum for the first time to light up the space and delight visitors with its charm. Once belonging to the Greek leading art dealer Alexandros Lolas, the statue entered the museum collections in 1988. It is a distant descendant of the first monumental female nude in classical sculpture, the Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles, a Greek renowned sculptor, as Lagogianni pointed out. The sculpture of the most renowned sculptor of the 4th century BC was destroyed. But many Roman copies survived his influential work of art. Its style is based on a Hellenistic version of the Aphrodite of Praxiteles, attributed to his son, Cephisodotus. The goddess which belongs to the Capitolian type is recognizable from the position of the arms. Standing after a bath and depicted totally naked, Aphrodite covers prudishly her breasts and genitals with her hands. According to the archaeologists, its case is unique as it depicts an artefact that is consisted of fragments from different periods of times. The head and the body were from the Roman times, while the rest of the body parts were subsequent restorations with different marbles later in an attempt to form a statue that resembled to the Cnidian Aphrodite of Praxiteteles. According to Lagogianni, it is a practice introduced during the Renaissance when the classical antiquity was rediscovered. Artists, sculptors and craftsmen of the Renaissance drew inspiration directly from works of antiquity and restored the destroyed pieces to decorate the houses and courtyards of patrons and collectors at that times. The most challenging part for the museum's team was the conservation of the unknown Aphrodite to monitor its previous condition by implementing new methods and technologies. They used ultraviolet lighting and digital microscopes to examine the materials and to classify the marbles. They also used radiography to inspect the internal metal structure conservators, according to the museum officials. After long cleaning and conservation works, Aphrodite has taken its place next to the other treasures of antiquities to reveal her beauty secrets, among which is the world of fragrance. The world of fragrance takes a distinct place in antiquity. Closely linked to the Greek ancient goddess Aphrodite, perfumes and scented oils are mentioned in ancient myths as an indispensable accessory for gods and mortals when preparing for special appearances. "Our cooperation with the National Archaeological Museum is our most proud moment as Greeks and scientists," Lena Korres, co-founder of Korres, the cosmetics brand which produced the scents, told Xinhua, adding that they created the two scents based on archeology researches to follow the production methods of ancient fragrances. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 17:48:13|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 350 companies representing 11 countries took part in the 26th edition of Horeca in Lebanon, an annual meeting of hospitality and food service industries. The four-day event, which kicked off on Tuesday, witnessed the participations from Lebanon and neighboring countries who came to meet and exchange expertise in the field. "The participators consider this forum a platform in the hospitality sector," the event organizer Joumana Dammous-Salame told Xinhua that they got support from ministries, associations, sponsors, syndicates and chambers for the event. "We participate in this exhibition on a yearly basis and we see Lebanese companies are well competing with foreign companies in quality, offers and packaging style," Edward Feghali, representative of EMF Lebanon, the coordination office for the Barry Callebaut Group, a world leading chocolate and cocoa related producer, told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:03:27|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Photo taken on April 4, 2019 shows the massive blaze in Goseong of Gangwon province of northeastern South Korea. An unprecedented fire engulfed the mountainous region along the northeastern coast of South Korea, killing one people and injuring dozens of others. As of 4 p.m. local time Friday (0700 GMT), one was confirmed dead, with 34 others wounded. Over 500 hectares of land were gutted by the blaze, while about 300 houses and buildings were devastated. (Xinhua/NEWSIS/Korean Forest Service) SEOUL, April 5 (Xinhua) -- An unprecedented fire engulfed the mountainous region along the northeastern coast of South Korea, killing one people and injuring dozens of others. As of 4 p.m. local time Friday (0700 GMT), one was confirmed dead, with 34 others wounded. Over 500 hectares of land were gutted by the blaze, while about 300 houses and buildings were devastated. The inferno started at about 7:17 p.m. Thursday (1017 GMT) with a spark coming down from a telephone pole on a roadside in Goseong, a northeastern border town some 160 km east of the capital Seoul, local TV footage showed. Fanned by strong gusts of wind, the flame rapidly spread to nearby mountainous regions, encroaching on the Inje county and the cities of Sokcho, Donghae and Gangneung in Gangwon province. As the blaze rapidly came closer to residential areas, as many as 4,000 people were ordered to evacuate overnight. The number was down later to 2,200 as about half of them came back home. Firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire because of the strong wind and the darkness, which made it impossible for firefighting helicopters to scramble in the mountainous region. Adding to the difficulty, Chung Eui-yong, top national security adviser for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, was stuck in the National Assembly to answer questions from opposition lawmakers during a steering committee session. During the session, the ruling Democratic Party asked the main opposition Liberty Korea Party to let Chung, a chief of the presidential office control tower tackling national disasters, go back to the Blue House to deal with the blaze, but the opposition party rejected it. In the end, Chung left the parliament over three hours after the fire broke out. President Moon chaired an emergency meeting of the national crisis management center overnight, instructing the relevant ministries and agencies to use all available resources to extinguish the fire and rescue people. To tackle what the government called an "unprecedented" fire, hundreds of firetrucks gathered in the affected areas from across the country overnight, along with thousands of firefighters, soldiers and policemen. At daybreak, more than 50 helicopters were dispatched to put out the fire. The main blazes in Goseong and Sokcho were extinguished early in the morning. More than 70 percent of the flames in the three other areas were reportedly removed Friday afternoon. Over 17,000 personnel were sent for the firefighting and rescue operations. President Moon visited a primary school in Goseong, where lots of locals took shelter after losing their homes with the fire, on Friday afternoon. Moon ordered the administration to consider designating the affected areas as special disaster zones to let sufferers receive government supports rapidly and directly. South Korea's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said it shared information on the blaze with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) through the channel of the inter-Korean liaison office in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong that opened last September for the round-the-clock communications. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:08:31|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Nils Usakovs reacts during a press briefing after his dismissal from the post of Riga mayor in Riga, capital of Latvia, April 5, 2019. Latvian Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Puce sacked Riga mayor Nils Usakovs on Friday, blaming him for a failure to prevent serious illegalities in the Latvian capital's municipal transport company. The mayor lost his job for not performing his office duties as prescribed by law and for several violations, according to the minister's decree published in the official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis. (Xinhua/Edijs Palens) RIGA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Latvian Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Puce sacked Riga mayor Nils Usakovs on Friday, blaming him for a failure to prevent serious illegalities in the Latvian capital's municipal transport company. The mayor lost his job for not performing his office duties as prescribed by law and for several violations, according to the minister's decree published in the official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis. In his decree, Puce accused Usakovs of numerous violations he allegedly committed as Riga mayor and holder of public transportation company Rigas Satiksme's shares on behalf of the city council. Speaking on public radio on Friday, the minister said Usakovs was dismissed because he did not prevent Rigas Satiksme managers from taking harmful decisions that led to grave financial and legal consequences for the company and the city. For instance, the Riga city council repeatedly increased Rigas Satiksme's capital and heavily subsidized the company. However, the money wasn't spent on current needs, which led to a loss of more than 28 million euros (about 31.47 million U.S. dollars), Puce said. Furthermore, the city council approved the company's reportedly corruptive procurement deals without proper examination, which also resulted in huge financial losses. Usakovs can appeal his sacking in court within 30 days. Usakovs said on Friday that he will lodge the appeal and prove the unlawfulness of his dismissal in court. "The court will show that the minister has violated the law by signing this decree," he said on public television, claiming political motives behind his removal. Olegs Burovs, Usakovs' deputy, will take over as acting Riga mayor. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:18:38|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, April 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 militants loyal to the Taliban outfit have been killed and 10 others wounded, following government forces counter-attack in Afghan western Badghis province, an official said Friday. The crackdown launched on Thursday night, when the Taliban insurgents attacked a security checkpoint in Ab Kamari district of the restive province, Jamshid Shahabi, the provincial governor's spokesman told Xinhua. Two security personnel have been injured in the fighting that is still going on, the official added. The security forces crackdown on militants took place amid Taliban massive offensive on the neighboring Bala Murghab district in the province. About 500 militants, according to local officials, have tightened the noose around Bala Murghab district to overrun the strategically important area to get closer to provincial capital Qala-e-Naw city. However, Shahabi asserted that more than 50 armed insurgents had been killed and injured in counter-offensive involving fighting aircrafts and artillery over the past two days in the beleaguered Bala Murghab district. Rejected the claim, a Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi in contact with media outlets has claimed that the militants launched multi-pronged offensive on Bala Murghab district Wednesday night and have overrun several checkpoints. Since warring sides in Afghanistan often exaggerate the casualties of opponents, it is difficult to verify the situation with independent sources. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:23:42|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Ala Al-Hashemi (front, R) introduces exhibits to visitors at an Iraqi exhibition in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, on April 4, 2019. Kuwait hosted an Iraqi exhibition on Thursday and Friday to strengthen relations between the two countries. (Xinhua/Asad) KUWAIT CITY, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait hosted an Iraqi exhibition on Thursday to strengthen relations between the two countries. Ala Al-Hashemi, Iraqi ambassador to Kuwait, told Xinhua that the two-day exhibition, entitled "Mesopotamia is a cultural heritage," was the first Iraqi exhibition since the Gulf War in 1991. The exhibition was opened in response to the directives of the Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to support Iraq, the ambassador added. He said that Kuwait plans to host an Iraqi cultural week, which the Iraqi Ministry of Culture is preparing to organize for the upcoming period. Al-Hashemi pointed out that cultural events support political relations and contribute to overcoming the past. "We build bridges between the two peoples and we seek to overcome instead of forgetting the invasion to reach a better stage in relations between the two countries," he said. The exhibition shed light on the ancient and modern aspects of the civilization of Mesopotamia through a collection owned by Kuwaiti collector Hassan Jassim Ashkanani, which included pictures of Iraq taken by Iraqi photographers. The exhibition attracted many visitors who are interested in seeing the original and documented reports by foreign travelers visiting Kuwait and Iraq during the period of 1861 to 1933, including British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley and British traveller and archaeologist Sir Austen Henry Layard. On the sidelines of the exhibition, Ashkanani, professor of archeology and anthropology at Kuwait University, told Xinhua that his participation in the exhibition was part of his cooperation with Kuwait University and the Iraqi Embassy. The exhibition aimed to display the rich cultural heritage of the land of Iraqi civilizations where Sumerian, Chaldean, and Babylonian were the first civilizations in the world, he said. Ashkanani collected more than 13,000 photographs of Iraqi sites in recent years during his visits to Iraq. "Our duty as specialists is to highlight the bright side of our land and our region. This is a message from us that sport, art, literature, and culture are cross-border and can resolve any dispute," he said. The relations between Kuwait and Iraq have been strengthened in recent years. In mid-February 2018, Kuwait hosted an international conference for the reconstruction of Iraq after the liberation of its territory from Islamic State. Iraqi President Barham Salih made his first visit to Kuwait during his Gulf tour after his election at the end of last year. Kuwaiti citizen Jassem Abbas expressed his happiness to see such exhibitions to be held, hoping to hold more on an annual basis and expand to books and movies. "It happened in many conflicts in the world. The two countries always get along after years of wars. We have now a good relationship with Iraq and we can witness that by the daily flights from Kuwait to Baghdad and Najaf in Iraq," he said. Hamed Abel, a Kuwaiti citizen, expressed his enthusiasm to attend the Iraqi art exhibitions in his country. "We are longing for such exhibitions to turn the page of the past. We are brothers and neighbors and these exhibitions promote the spirit of love and brotherhood between the two peoples," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:33:48|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close CHENGDU, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has risen to 7, after a van fell off the road Friday near Jinke Village in Junlian County of Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The van driver who was among the four injured died later in hospital, said a source from the publicity office of Junlian County. There were 10 people in the van with a seating capacity of nine people. They were relatives and friends. The accident happened at around 11 a.m. and rescuers were dispatched to the scene. Three injured people remained in hospital. Further investigation is underway. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:38:54|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TOKYO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will send a larger delegation than a year ago to hold economic talks with senior Chinese officials, a government representative said here Friday. The previous round of so-called high-level economic dialogue held last April saw a delegation comprising four members of Abe's cabinet. For the upcoming round of talks, Abe will send six members of his cabinet to Beijing, the government official said, as bilateral relations between the two neighbors have improved recently. Foreign Minister Taro Kono is set to head the delegation to Beijing, which will also comprise industry minister Hiroshige Seko, transport minister Keiichi Ishii, regulatory reform minister Satsuki Katayama, farm minister Takamori Yoshikawa and environment minister Yoshiaki Harada, the government official said. The upcoming high-level economic dialogue to be held between the two countries will be the fifth of its kind since such official talks began in 2007. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 18:49:08|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close RABAT, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The 44th annual meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) kicked off on Friday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. Organized under the theme "Transformation In A Changing World: The Road To Sustainable Development Goals," the two-day annual meeting will discuss four key pillars of the bank's five-year plan, namely public-private partnerships, science, technology and innovation, the global value chain and Islamic finance. In a message to the participants, the Moroccan King Mohammed VI commended "the pioneering role" played by the bank to promote economic and social development in Islamic countries. He said that despite the achievements made by Islamic countries in terms of structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors, there is still a great deal to do in order to modernize their economies and achieve sustainable development goals as well as social justice and territorial cohesion. In this respect, he called on the IDB Group to expand and strengthen its role, enhance its performance and develop programs to meet the growing demands of member countries as well as their peoples' aspirations. The aim is to help member countries to adapt to global economic changes by relying more strongly on their own capacities, by harnessing their assets and by making the most of their geo-political location, be it in Asia, Africa or the Euro-Mediterranean region, said the king. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 19:24:30|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close LUSAKA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- A Zambian expert on Friday called for political will by African leaders to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The AfCFTA agreement, signed on March 21, 2018 in Rwanda, has managed to garner the required number of ratifications for it to enter into force after Gambia ratified it on April 1, 2019. While commending the countries for attaining the mark of now having the agreement enforced, Francis Mangeni, Director of Trade and Customs at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said the onus was now on leaders to ensure the implementation of the agreement. "The real hard work now begins; that of implementation, on which Africa doesn't have a very proud record. Besides, there is quite a bit of unfinished work to be done," he said in a statement analyzing the current situation of the agreement and the way forward. He said clear political leadership and proactive engagement of peers at the highest level could dramatically achieve results, adding that the pan-Africanist energy and activism at the highest political level that has achieved the ratification of the agreement in just over a year should now be equally deployed to ensure due completion of all key outstanding matters. According to him, African countries should now work on completing rules of origin and tariff negotiations by, among other things producing tariff schedules and a mechanism for addressing non-tariff barriers. "Other areas to be completed, include operationalization of the Africa Trade Observatory, which has already been launched; and establishment of continental payment systems," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 19:29:36|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close HANOVER, Germany, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Hannover Messe, the world's largest industrial fair, concluded on Friday, with China becoming its top foreign visitor country this year. Nearly 40 percent of the fair's 215,000 attendees came from abroad, 7,200 of whom are from China, followed by the Netherlands, Italy and the U.S. It "underlines the international significance of Hanover Messe", said Jochen Kockler, head of the fair host Deutsche Messe. With a total of 6,500 exhibitors from 75 countries and regions, the fair has shown the latest development of technologies for industrial use, including 5G network, artificial intelligence, light-weighted manufacturing, among others. Over 1,400 Chinese exhibitors have attended the fair, the second most only after the host country Germany. Huawei, Haier and other Chinese manufacturers have presented their most advanced networking and artificial intelligence technologies to the world in the past days. "China has participated actively in the global and digital world. You have a huge market and demand, also many instruments making others interested. We have seen less boundary and more cooperation partners," Kockler told Xinhua. The fair will run between April 20 and April 24 next year, with Indonesia as the official partner country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 19:39:39|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen cancelled on Friday a plan to lease a Turkey's power ship due to technical issues and high cost, government spokesman Phay Siphan said. The prime minister announced the cancellation during a weekly cabinet meeting, he said. The spokesman said the cancellation was made because the 200-megawatt power ship could not reach Cambodia in early May when the country is in need of electricity due to high temperatures in dry season. "The ship is not able to deliver electricity to us on time when we are overcoming the power shortage," he told Xinhua. "Other reasons include disagreements in price and some conditions in the contract." Hun Sen revealed his plan to lease the Turkish power ship last month after the country lacked about 400-megawatt power during the ongoing dry season as hydropower plants could not produce electricity in full swing. He said power shortage will last until June when the rainy season comes. Siphan said the country has been seeking to purchase more electricity from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand to fill the current shortage. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 19:44:43|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close URUMQI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Ambassador to China Milan Bacevic and Albanian Ambassador Selim Belortaja said they expect more exchanges with Xinjiang after visiting Urumqi, the regional capital, and Turpan. The two ambassadors visited Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the invitation of the regional government from March 27 to 29. Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the regional government, gave the ambassadors a comprehensive briefing on Xinjiang's achievements in economic and social affairs, and its preventive measures to counter terrorism and extremism. He emphasized that the good situation Xinjiang has now was a result of effecive anti-terrorism measures. The ambassadors said the visit would help them better understand Xinjiang in an objective fashion. While congratulating the region on its achievements and commending China's efforts to safeguard its citizens' freedom of religion, the diplomats said they understood China's work on counter-terrorism and deradicalization. During their stay in Xinjiang, the ambassadors visited communities, farmers, and hi-tech enterprises, and talked with students at vocational education and training centers. The ambassadors said they looked forward to more exchanges and cooperation with Xinjiang in economy, trade, and people-to people exchanges. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 19:49:50|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The mission of the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul is coming to an end on Saturday, as the efforts to move to the new airport comes to the final stage on Friday. A giant logistical operation started early in the day and will last around 45 hours. A total of 10,000 pieces of equipment, weighing 47,000 tons in total, will be carried over to their new home by more than 700 trucks, with the involvement of 1,800 personnel, the Turkish Airlines said in a statement. The airlines described the operation as "the largest move in the history of global civil aviation." During the relocation, major highways and several linking roads are closed to traffic to ensure the security of the operation. All the scheduled flights at Ataturk Airport will end on Saturday at 2:00 a.m (2300 GMT) with the last flight to Singapore, according to the statement. There will be no commercial flights in between 2:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m on Saturday at both airports, until when the new Istanbul Airport will be operational, the statement noted. The first phase of Istanbul Airport was inaugurated on Oct. 29 last year. During its initial stage, the airport is expected to serve 90 million passengers annually. When the remaining phases are completed by 2028, it will be capable of serving 200 million passengers. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 19:49:55|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government approved on Friday a long-anticipated draft law on petroleum, said a government statement. The approval was made during a weekly cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said the statement. The draft bill consists of nine chapters with 72 articles, it said. "This draft law is aimed at promoting and developing the country's petroleum industry sustainably and effectively in order to contribute to socio-economic development for a long term," government spokesman Phay Siphan wrote on his Facebook page. He said the draft law was first initiated in 1996. After the government's approval, the draft bill needs to be adopted by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to the king for promulgation. The Southeast Asian country is expected to extract its first drop of oil from one of its offshore oilfields later this year, Mines and Energy Ministry Secretary of State Meng Saktheara said on Tuesday. Currently, Singapore-based oil and gas company KrisEnergy has been developing an oil rig, an oil platform, and other necessary infrastructure in the Apsara oilfield, located in Block A over the Khmer Basin in the Gulf of Thailand, he said. Block A, covering 3,083 square kilometers, is one of several oilfields found off Cambodian waters in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:05:06|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Six teachers had their names published on the website of the Ministry of Education for violating code of conduct for the profession. They were exposed for misconduct such as plagiarism, charging for extra classes after school, and accepting gifts and money from students' parents, according to a press release published earlier this week. The ministry asked teachers to adhere to the country's educational code of conduct, strictly follow the regulations and maintain integrity. It also ordered educational authorities across the country to enhance supervision over execution of code of conduct among teachers. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:05:09|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities arrested a total of 4,434 illicit drug suspects in 2,047 cases in the first quarter of 2019, said an Interior Ministry's anti-drug department report on Friday. Some 2,272 suspects were involved in drug trafficking and 2,162 were related to drug use, the report said, adding that 121 of them are foreigners in 10 nationalities. It said that 100 kilos of drugs including heroin, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills and ketamine were seized from the suspects during the January-March period this year. In the entirety of 2018, the Southeast Asian country nabbed 16,232 drug suspects in 8,018 cases, confiscating over 533 kilos of illicit drugs. Cambodia has no death sentence for illicit drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drug will be jailed for life. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:30:19|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Two police were injured as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Zhari district of Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Friday, provincial government spokesman Aziz Ahmad Azizi said. According to the official, a mine planted by Taliban militants on a road in Huzimadad area struck the vehicle of a senior local police officer, injuring him and his bodyguard on the spot on Friday afternoon. The official said investigation is underway. Taliban militants who are active in the area and largely relying on suicide and roadside bombing haven't commented. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:40:22|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Guests cut the ribbon at the 300th BYD electric bus offline ceremony in Lancaster, Los Angeles County, the United States, April 3, 2019. China's leading electric vehicle maker BYD held a ceremony on April 3 to celebrate its 300th bus at its Lancaster manufacturing plant in the U.S. state of California, marking a milestone for production. The 300th bus, a 35-foot BYD K9S model transit bus, is one of three built for the Capital Area Transit System of Baton Rouge, capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana, the company said in a release. BYD opened its North American headquarters in Los Angeles in October 2011. Since delivery of its first U.S. battery electric bus in 2014, BYD has provided buses for customers in more than 13 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. When BYD opened its Lancaster manufacturing plant in 2013, it had a handful of employees working on 10 buses in a 106,000-square-foot (9848-square-meter) building. In just six years, BYD has grown to become the largest battery electric bus manufacturer in North America, with more than 750 employees, helping the local community to decrease its unemployment rate from 24% in 2014 to 4% this year. From one bus model under production in 2013, BYD's product line has expanded to include 12 models, the most of any e-bus manufacturer in the market, according to the company. (Xinhua/Li Ying) By Julia Pierrepont III, Huang Heng LOS ANGELES, April 4 (Xinhua) -- China's leading electric vehicle maker BYD held a ceremony on Wednesday to mark the completion of the 300th electric bus at its Lancaster manufacturing plant in the U.S. state of California. "Do right one time, one team BYD." Hundreds of excited American workers were cheering, colorful balloons bobbed toward the sky, and a big blue ribbon fluttered in the breeze. "Three hundred electric buses is a significant milestone. And one million miles of emission-free transportation is pretty cool," said Frank Girardot, BYD's vice president of communications, referring to BYD's customer Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), which is expected to realize 1 million miles (1.6 million km) of zero-emission bus operations in early May. AVTA has ordered 85 electric buses from BYD, and 25 buses have been delivered up to now, according to the company. Local, state and international officials who attended the ceremony agreed that a concerted U.S.-China effort allowed BYD North America and the city of Lancaster to take the lead in the business of manufacturing zero-emission electric buses. "The U.S. and China working together ... This is a successful model that the rest of the country could use to achieve similar success," said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, in an interview with Xinhua. Michael D. Antonovich, former Los Angeles County supervisor and Metro board chairman, signed a contract with BYD's Senior Vice President Stella Li in 2013 for 25 all-electric buses from the company, as part of the County's 30-million-U.S.-dollar clean air bus technology pilot project. "There were some skeptics when BYD chose Lancaster as home to its operations. Now these same skeptics are true believers, as they watch this world-class company continue to literally change the world for the better," said the mayor. Since the delivery of its first U.S. battery electric bus in 2014, BYD has provided buses for customers in 13 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. Shi Yuanqiang, deputy Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, said "this actually is an example of how the two sides can work together to contribute to the common cause of better, green development." "BYD is a perfect combination of technology, engineering and innovation of China and the United States, which yields mutual benefits and win-win results," Shi said. When BYD opened its Lancaster manufacturing plant in 2013, it had a handful of employees working on 10 buses in a 106,000-square-foot (9,848-square-meter) building that once housed a motorhome manufacturing facility, according to the company. In just six years, BYD has grown to become the largest battery electric bus manufacturer in North America, with more than 750 employees. "This is just the beginning. We expect great things to happen in Lancaster," said Patrick Duan, vice president of operations for BYD North America. Duan is credited with playing an integral role in bringing BYD to the United States and has continued to foster the continued growth of BYD in Lancaster. He pointed out that BYD-manufactured battery electric trucks and forklifts are already in use in Los Angeles and Long Beach's ports and rail yards and that the company is doing demonstration runs with its electric garbage trucks in several cities, including Seattle, Palo Alto and Southern California. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger applauded AVTA for being the first fleet to go 100 percent electric in the nation. "This proves we can go green and it can be painless. The cost is not significant," she said. "It becomes a cost of savings when you have a cooperative partnership between the private sector and the government." She also praised BYD for setting a high standard for diversity hiring. "What I've found exciting is BYD employees are 85 percent minorities, veterans, a growing number of women and second-chance employees. BYD really stepped up to the plate." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:45:24|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close COLOMBO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's national air carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, on Friday said it had formulated a five-year strategic business plan to transform the island country into a strategic hub for air travel and air cargo in the Asia-Africa-Middle East region. The plan will be implemented this year and will be carried out till 2024. Vipula Gunatilleka, CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines said that it was important for the airline to have a sound strategy plan and a clear vision for it to become a financial viable entity. A key aspect of the Strategic Business Plan includes developing a route network to match customer demand and market opportunities, including new destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East and Australia. The airline will also focus on selecting a fleet that is cost effective and best matches the requirements of the route network, adopting best practices to improve productivity and growing online sales to reach a wider market in a more cost effective manner. Digital transformation and technology adoption to transform processes across the Airline have also been identified as top priorities. Sri Lankan Airlines has in recent years been facing high debts and has been searching for an international investor to run the carrier on a private public partnership. In 2017, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had said the airline had recorded a massive debt of 3.25 billion U.S. dollars and the government would take over part of its debts in order to seek for an international partner or investor. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:50:30|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close People walk to attend a memorial ceremony for the Chinese philosopher Confucius in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, April 5, 2019, on the occasion of China's traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day. More than 400 descendants of Confucius from across China and from the Republic of Korea (ROK) attended the event in the Confucius Cemetery, the world's largest family cemetery with over 100,000 tombs. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) was an educator and philosopher who founded Confucianism, a school of thought deeply influential in later generations. (Xinhua/Wang Nan) JINAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The descendants of Chinese philosopher Confucius on Friday held a memorial ceremony for their ancestor, with the entire process live broadcast by Chinese media. This was the first time video cameras of media outlets were allowed in the annual family ceremony held in the city of Qufu, east China's Shandong Province. Friday coincided with China's traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival. More than 400 descendants of Confucius from across China and from the Republic of Korea (ROK) attended the event in the Confucius Cemetery, the world's largest family cemetery with over 100,000 tombs. This year marks the 2,570th anniversary of Confucius' birth, which will be celebrated in autumn. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) was an educator and philosopher who founded Confucianism, a school of thought deeply influential in later generations. He was also believed to have set up the first private schools in China to enrol students from different social classes. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 20:55:32|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Namibian President Hage Geingob (R) meets with a Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by Bayinchaolu, member of the CPC Central Committee and the secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee, in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, April 4, 2019. (Xinhua) WINDHOEK, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob has met here with a Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by Bayinchaolu, member of the CPC Central Committee and the secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee. Namibian Vice President Nangolo Mbumba was also present at the meeting held on Thursday. Geingob spoke highly of the friendship between the two countries and expressed admiration at China's great achievements under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The president expressed his willingness to continue to support each other on the core interests and major concerns of the two countries, and jointly maintain the general situation of China-Africa friendship. Bayinchaolu expressed appreciation for Geingob's firm position on maintaining China-Africa friendship. He also gave an introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He expressed willingness to work with the Namibian side to actively implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state and the results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and to jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road. Bayinchaolu also met with Vice President of the SWAPO Party Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and held talks with Sophia Shaningwa, the SWAPO Party's Secretary General. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 21:05:39|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close COLOMBO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka commemorated its National Cinema Day on Friday after the government designated April 5 as the day in tribute to late veteran film director Lester James Peries, the government information department said. According to Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa, the government had issued a special notification stating that April 5 would now be celebrated as the National Cinema Day to remember the work of Peries. The National Film Corporation will show films directed by Peries over the next few days. International award winning director and film producer, Peries was considered the father of Sri Lankan cinema, having made award winning movies, short films and documentaries. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 21:05:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close MOSCOW, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin said Friday that it is essential any step taken by opposition forces in Libya does not lead to a resumption of bloodshed. "We also consider it necessary to continue all possible efforts to fully resolve the situation by peaceful, political means," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily briefing. He said the Kremlin is closely monitoring the development of the situation in Libya, but Moscow does not back any of the parties. Libya's eastern-based army commander Khalifa Haftar on Thursday launched a military operation to take over the capital Tripoli, where the United Nations-backed government is based. Haftar's army is allied with Libya's eastern-based government, as the North African country is politically divided between two governments in the east and west. Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 21:20:44|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 3, 2019 shows a mass grave for an estimated 50,000 Tutsi people at the Murambi Genocide Memorial in Nyamagabe district, southern Rwanda. Every year during the 100-day commemoration in line with the period of the genocide, members of churches in the area will go to the Murambi Genocide Memorial to pray for all victims in the genocide, said Celestin Hakizimana, bishop of Gikongoro Catholic Diocese. Under the instruction of Hakizimana, Gikongoro Cathedral's department for reconciliation and healing teaches genocide perpetrators to reintegrate with others and to ask forgiveness. Commemoration, reconciliation and healing have become part of the mission of the 56-year-old in the post-genocidal era, who saved people from the genocide in 1994. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) By Lyu Tianran and James Gashumba NYAMAGABE, Rwanda, April 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 100 students were attending a retreat at Gikongoro Cathedral in Nyamagabe district, southern Rwanda, ahead of the annual commemoration of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide starting from April 7. They were being told to embrace love and resist killing by a pastor in the church, near a memorial of seven pastors who were killed during the 100-day genocide. The Murambi Genocide Memorial, standing about 3 kilometers away from the church, provides the final resting place for an estimated 50,000 Tutsi people who were reported to be massacred in the same tragedy. Every year during the 100-day commemoration in line with the period of the genocide, members of churches in the area will go to the Murambi Genocide Memorial to pray for all victims in the genocide, said Celestin Hakizimana, bishop of Gikongoro Catholic Diocese. Apart from the period of the commemoration, they also pray for the victims on special occasions, said Hakizimana, who leads 15 churches in the area including Gikongoro Cathedral. Under the instruction of Hakizimana, Gikongoro Cathedral's department for reconciliation and healing teaches genocide perpetrators to reintegrate with others and to ask forgiveness. Commemoration, reconciliation and healing have become part of the mission of the 56-year-old in the post-genocidal era, who saved people from the genocide in 1994. About 1 million people mainly Tutsi were killed during the genocide. Saint Paul Church in Rwandan capital Kigali where Hakizimana resided at that time provided a safe haven to about 2,000 Tutsi people. On April 7, 1994, when the genocide started many Tutsi fleeing massacres sought safety at Saint Paul Church, Hakizimana recalled. "I was protecting people first as a priest. I understood that a priest must treat all people as one family without discrimination," he said. The then 30-year-old Hutu was asked to register people who were seeking refuge in the church at the beginning days of the genocide. Nearly a week later, he took charge of protecting the Tutsi people in the church until they were rescued by the Rwanda Patriotic Army, the armed wing of the current ruling party Rwanda Patriotic Front. During the period of the genocide, he and other priests and church guards thwarted militias' attempts to kill Tutsi people in the church. Whenever militias attempted to attack the church, he dressed in his robe, standing at the gate and negotiating with them. After receiving alcohol and rice, the militias would leave. "These were innocent people," he told the militias when being asked why the church was hosting "enemies" of Hutu people. The militias had wanted to kill him, but fortunately they did not recognize him after he took off the robe. "My parents didn't inculcate ethnic divisions among us, and several people who were seeking safety at the church were familiar faces since we had met in schools, including teachers and parents (of schoolmates)," he said. "There was no hatred among us, therefore I felt I could sacrifice to save them," he added. After the genocide, Hakizimana together with other priests took time to study about trauma and healing, and how ethnic divisions were sowed among Rwandans. During this year's commemoration, the winner of Protectors of Friendship Pact, awarded by the Rwandan government for his outstanding acts of courage and humanity showed during the genocide, will convene priests and instruct them to guide followers to be at peace and united. Ugandan and the Chinese community representatives mourn at a grave site during a memorial ceremony in Wakiso district, central Uganda, April 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) WAKISO, Uganda, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Ugandans and the Chinese community have remembered the Chinese construction workers who died during the building of the country's national stadium in 1996. Donned in dark colors, they laid wreaths on Thursday at the grave site in one of the corners of the imposing 42,000-seater National Stadium, in the central region district of Wakiso. Four Chinese workers were killed during the construction of the stadium at Namboole. Three of the workers were killed due to burning after a bus crashed at the site where they were working. The bus burned instantly leaving them dead. Another one died on a crane. "These four respected experts and technicians themselves are the embodiment of the lofty spirit of China-Uganda solidarity, China-Africa friendship, as well as internationalism," said Chen Huixin, Charge d'Affairs of the Chinese embassy. Chen said China and Uganda would continue to strengthen their bilateral relation to bring more benefits to the people of both countries. Chinese community representatives pay their respect at a grave site during a memorial ceremony in Wakiso district, central Uganda, April 4, 2019.(Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) Jamil Sewanyana, managing director of Uganda National Stadium hailed the service of the deceased experts. "These men left their home and country for Uganda. They left to serve their country in a foreign land. They left their country to support the people of Uganda," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 21:45:51|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close by Eric J. Lyman ROME, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 800 artifacts smuggled from China will finally set off for home this month after they were first noticed by an Italian gendarmerie unit 12 years ago, and they will be an exemplar of Italian authorities' achievements in the battle against artifacts smuggling. The group of Chinese artifacts was noticed by a unit of Carabinieri, or the national gendarmerie of Italy, focusing on protection of cultural heritage back in 2007, when a television auction program looking to sell items from a large trove of ancient Asian cultural and historical artifacts. "There was a tip that the items being offered for sale were illegally smuggled out of China," Lieutenant Colonel Valerio Marra, commander of the Carabinieri unit for Rome, told Xinhua. "So officials were sent in to investigate and they ended up seizing 796 artifacts." "It's impossible to put a precise value on these items since it is never easy to put a price tag on culture and history but I think it is safe to say that combined they would have a market value of many millions of euros," Marra said. Twelve years later, those items are set to be returned to China in a repatriation that, once complete, will be the biggest transfer of cultural and historical artifacts to China since Great Britain returned around 3,000 items in 1998. The path between the discovery of the illegal items near the city of Monza, just outside Milan, and their presentation to Chinese officials is long and complicated. The first task facing the Carabinieri unit, according to Marra, was to determine the true provenance of the objects, especially since the would-be seller reportedly claimed they were not taken from China. A team of archeologists, art historians, and other specialists determined the items were from a period spanning from the Neolithic age 5,500 years ago to the 17th-century Ming Dynasty. After that, it fell upon Italian courts to determine what should be done to them. A judge in Milan finally ruled that they should be returned recently. The case represents one of the most high-level successes for the Carabinieri unit, which has around 300 investigators across the country. The division is considered a source of pride in a country known for its own cultural and historical riches spanning from ancient times to the present. "Respecting international norms for the proper treatment of these kinds of items is one of the marks of a civilized culture," Giuliano Volpe, rector at the University of Foggia and president of the Superior Council for Cultural Heritage, said in an interview. "If an object was obtained illegally it must be returned to where it belongs." According to Marra, the Chinese artifacts originate from archeological digs and collections in four Chinese provinces: Guangdong, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Sichuan. The transfer of the items from Italy to China is expected to start this month. Once it's complete, China will display the items in Beijing next year as part of a wider plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Italy and China. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 22:01:00|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BERLIN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will only be contesting one election campaign in Germany before the European elections, CDU Secretary General Paul Ziemiak said on Friday. Merkel would appear alongside the CDU/CSU joint top candidate Manfred Weber (CSU) on May 24 in Munich, ahead of the European elections in Germany on May 26. Although Merkel would also make appearances with Weber on some of the dates in other EU member states, the incumbent chancellor would largely leave the stage to her successor as CDU chairwoman, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, within Germany. During the European election campaign, the CDU was going to focus on prosperity, security and peace, as highlighted on the party's posters presented by Ziemiak on Friday. The CDU wanted an EU with "secure borders to the outside world, open borders to the inside" Ziemiak emphasized. Neither populists nor "radicals who want to harm Europe, whether from the left or the right" would be a focus for the conservative party, said Ziemiak. Instead, the CDU wanted a "competition on the best ideas" for the future of Europe. Ziemiak put the cost of the CDU campaign for the European elections at about 10 million euros (11.2 million U.S. dollars), which was about as much as in previous years. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 22:21:18|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close GAZA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinians were wounded on Friday afternoon during clashes that broke out between demonstrators and Israeli soldiers near the fence of the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medical sources in Gaza said. The Israeli soldiers, stationed on the border, fired dozens of tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and live gunshots at dozens of Palestinians, who demonstrated close to the fence of the border, said the sources. Several demonstrators were injured, most of them were treated by paramedics in the field, and the others were taken by ambulances to the hospitals for medical treatment, the sources added. Friday's demonstrations were part of the weekly anti-Israel protests, better known as the "Great March of Return and Breaking the Israeli Siege," which started on March 30 last year. The High Commission of the Great March of Return had earlier called on the Palestinians to join the weekly protests on the border with Israel, where the marches entered its second year in-a-raw. Earlier on Friday, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political bureau chief said during Friday's sermon that "our people will not stop going to the Great march of return until lifting the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip." He pointed out that there is a positive movement in the talks of reaching a calm agreement, adding "our cause is not humanitarian, it is a matter of national liberation." Haniyeh concluded his speech saying that the unity is our strategic choice and the reconciliation is a legitimate duty for implementing all signed agreements besides forming a government including all Palestinian factions. Earlier this week, Israel eased the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it expanded the fishing area off the enclave's coast from six nautical miles to 15 miles as part of an Egyptian-brokered calm understanding reached with Israel. The Great March of Return and Breaking the Israeli Siege is calling on Israel to end or relax the 12-year blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip right after Hamas movement had violently seized control of the territory in 2007. Gaza Health Ministry officials had earlier said that 271 Palestinians were killed, including 57 children, and more than 30,000 injured by Israeli soldiers' gunfire since the march of return started on March 30 last year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 22:26:21|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close JINAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The descendants of Chinese philosopher Confucius on Friday held a memorial ceremony for their ancestor, with the entire process live broadcast by Chinese media. This was the first time video cameras of media outlets were allowed in the annual family ceremony held in the city of Qufu, east China's Shandong Province. Friday coincided with China's traditional Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival. More than 400 descendants of Confucius from across China and from the Republic of Korea (ROK) attended the event in the Confucius Cemetery, the world's largest family cemetery with over 100,000 tombs. "The annual ceremony demonstrates the unity of our Confucius descendants," Kung Tsui-chang, the 79th-generation descendant of Confucius in the main line of descent, said while welcoming his clan members. The ceremony started at 9:19 a.m. with the 400-plus attendants streaming into the forested cemetery in a long procession under the gaze of tourists and reporters. In front of Confucius' tomb, they performed a complex series of rituals that included offering incense and wine and bowing toward the sage's resting place. While many Chinese families stage similar ancestor-worshiping rituals during the Qingming Festival, the scale and complexity of the ceremony of Confucius descendants, which boast 4 million members across the world, are unparalleled. This year marks the 2,570th anniversary of Confucius' birth, which will be celebrated in autumn. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) was an educator and philosopher who founded Confucianism, a school of thought deeply influential in later generations. He was also believed to have set up the first private schools in China to enrol students from different social classes. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 22:36:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a working visit to Moscow next Monday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said on Friday. At the eighth meeting of the Russian-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council, the two presidents will discuss the implementation of joint energy projects and reconcile approaches on regional and international issues, it said in a statement. During the visit, a number of bilateral documents are expected to be signed, according to the Kremlin. Putin and Erdogan will also hold a joint meeting with businessmen of the two countries and take part in the opening ceremony of the Russia-Turkey cross-year of culture and tourism at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, it said. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Friday that Putin and Erdogan plan to discuss the situation in Syria, including in the context of the U.S. plan to withdraw part of its troops from that country. They are also expected to discuss the supply of a Russian S-400 air defense system to Turkey and the progress of the construction of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, he said. The Pentagon said Monday that it had halted deliveries of F-35 fighter jet parts and manuals to Turkey over the latter's purchase of the S-400 from Russia, the first batch of which is expected to reach Turkey in late 2019. On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his country will not step back from the deal to buy the S-400 from Russia. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 23:01:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The unprecedented floods across Iran over the past weeks have claimed the lives of at least 70 people, the chief of Iran Emergency Organization told official IRNA news agency on Friday. Also, a total of 791 people were injured in the incidents, Pir Hossein Kolivand was quoted as saying. The emergency operation teams have been sent to cities of Poldokhtar and Mamoulan in Lorestan province which have been affected the worst in the floods of western Iran, Kolivand said. Since there is no access through the roads to the cities due to the level of water and mud, the aids are delivered to the people by air, he said. Also, the medical operators are in the sites of the flood to help people prevent the contagious diseases, he added. Earlier, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (ILMO) announced that the provinces of Fars and Lorestan suffered high flood fatalities, with 21 and 14 death cases respectively. Hundreds of people have also been relocated as downpours and floods surrounded villages and cities in Iran. Dozens of villages have disappeared under the mud and sludge in the west of Iran. Since March 19, unprecedented floods have caused massive destruction to the agricultural sector, infrastructure and the residential areas. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 23:12:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MUKONO, Uganda, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has formed two committees to follow up commitments made during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in Beijing last September, a top government official here said on Friday. Uganda's Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said during a tour of the Chinese-owned Tian Tang Industrial Park in the central district of Mukono that the committees, one technical and the other supervisory, have started their work with the aim of identifying opportunities. The technical committee, according to Rugunda, will look at the trade and investment opportunities while the supervisory committee headed by former minister of finance Ezra Suruma will play an oversight role. Zhao Xiufen, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese embassy, said the embassy is working with Uganda government officials to harness the opportunities announced during the FOCAC summit. During the FOCAC summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced eight major initiatives to boost China-Africa cooperation. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 23:17:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MUKONO, Uganda, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda on Friday toured Tian Tang Industrial Park in the central region of the east African country. Rugunda said China is an old friend of Africa. He said China supports Africa in critical areas that will fast track the continent's economic development. He noted that the Chinese industrial parks established in Uganda will create jobs for the youths and also contribute to the economic development of the country. Crispus Kiyonga, Uganda's ambassador to China, said the government is exploring opportunities presented by Chinese government's move of encouraging Provinces to go out and invest in Africa. Zhao Xiufen, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese embassy, noted that Uganda ranks third in Africa as a destination of Chinese foreign direct investment. She said there are several Chinese industrial parks that have been established in Uganda. Paul Zhang, Chairman of Tian Tang Group, said over 2,000 youths are employed at the industrial park that hosts four factories that deal in steel, foam and wood. About 10,000 other people are employed through the supply chain of the factories. Some of the products are exported to neighboring Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and South Sudan. Experts advised Uganda to focus on the new wave of industrialization that is seeing factories move from China to Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 23:32:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BANGKOK, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is promoting Songkran 2019 festivities in emerging destinations and eight other provinces to showcase local traditions of the annual Thai water festival. TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said secondary destinations offer a different take on the uniqueness of time-honored Thai traditions in the water splashing festival, the most important feast of the year. "Thailand's emerging destinations and secondary cities have a unique charm that is often found in smaller towns around the world. Some traditions are maintained in these places that might have faded in larger more established destinations like Bangkok or Pattaya," said the governor. Activities will be held in three less-known provinces including Tak, Mukdahan and Ranong. Tak province is home to spectacular natural attractions including the largest and most beautiful waterfall in Thailand. The small town in the Lower North of Thailand also serves as a key crossroads for travellers between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and is a major westerly route into Myanmar, with cross-border access now possible due to relaxed restrictions. Mukdahan is one of the northeastern provinces of Thailand bordering the Mekong River, across which lies Savannakhet Province of Lao PDR. Ranong is Thailand's most northern province along the Andaman coast sharing a land border with Myanmar. Varied attractions and activities make it a great place for anyone wanting to experience one of Thailand's lesser-visited southern provinces. Dense forest and lush agricultural lands cover much of the province, and there are numerous islands off the coastline. Songkran, informally called "the Thailand water festival," is an annual event marking the start of the traditional Thai new year. The water festival is about cleaning, purification and having a fresh start. Houses are cleaned while Buddha statues are carried through the streets in a procession to be washed with flower-scented water. Elders are honored by respectfully pouring water over their hands. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 23:57:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Palamagamba Kabudi, on Friday described China as Tanzania's all weather friend. "Be it during hard times and during glorious times, China has steadfastly remained Tanzania's friend," said Kabudi at a commemoration event to salute the tragic loss of Chinese workers and technicians who died during the construction of the 1,860 km Tanzania-Zambia railway (TAZARA) line. The railway connects Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. He said the construction of TAZARA, which is also known as the Uhuru Railway, was a very difficult undertaking. "It was constructed at the time when western countries and the World Bank rebuffed the ideas, claiming that the project was economically not viable," said Tanzania's top diplomat. Kabudi said during that testing time, China accepted a joint request made by former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda to fund and construct the railway line. "At completion 89 million cubic meters of earth and rocks had been moved, 320 bridges, 22 tunnels and 225 culverts built. Indeed, the extent of heroism displayed by the Chinese engineers and workers is unmatched," he told his audience at the Chinese Experts Cemetery on the outskirts of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. He urged people to emulate the courage of the Chinese heroes. "As we pay tribute to them, let their story guide our hearts and minds towards constantly modernizing and expanding TAZARA." The minister called for the need to ensure that the construction they did with their blood will forever bloom in order to bequeath a bountiful future for generations to come. He said there was a bigger role for TAZARA to play in future, not only in social economic development, but also in terms of the relationship among the countries of Tanzania, Zambia and China, as well as in the relationship between Africa and China as a whole. Wang Ke, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, said during the construction of TAZARA, more than 50 Chinese experts, technicians and workers, died at their posts and were buried in Tanzania. "Among these martyrs, some sacrificed their lives because of accidents at the construction sites," said Wang, adding that upholding the TAZARA spirit of striving for success despite of great difficulties, China and Africa have managed to push forward their cooperation to bear abundant fruits. She said over the past 40 years, TAZARA has been playing an important role in economic and social development of Tanzania and Zambia. "The TAZARA spirit jointly fostered by the people of the three countries has been shining until today in China-Tanzania and China-Africa cooperative relations," said the Chinese envoy. Wang said since its completion in 1975, TAZARA has transported around 29 million tonnes of goods and some 49 million passengers, adding that the railway line has also become an important transport line connecting countries in East, Central and Southern Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 00:33:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JUBA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Friday said old planes spanning 20 years of service will no longer be involved in transporting people in a bid to minimize plane accidents. Michael Makuei Lueth, minister of information, told journalists, the government has come up with strong measures that will put planes and pilots under rigorous scrutiny by the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority in order to reduce the wave of plane accidents that have been occurring in the past. "Antonov planes flying in South Sudan will no longer transport people but only transport cargo. It is decided that all Antonov (planes) which are 20 years old or more should not carry people," said Makuei in Juba after the end of cabinet meeting. In early September of 2018, an Antonov plane crashed into Yirol Lake in the central region of South Sudan leaving 19 people dead. The government said it has completed the investigation report on that crash and added that the survivors will launch claims for compensation from the company that operated the ill-fated plane. "The Civil Aviation Authority should examine the status of all the planes and the pilots who are operating in South Sudan. It is worth mentioning that there are some planes which are not air worthy and some pilots who are not competent to fly but they are working here," said Makuei. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 00:48:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KUNMING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Wildlife authorities Friday used a blowpipe to sedate and capture a wild Asian elephant after it ran amok in a town in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The 20-year-old elephant Weizhayo, meaning victor in Dai language, was an underdog in a fight for mate and turned fractious after being expelled from the pack by the winning alpha, said the forestry and grassland administration of Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna. The 4-tonne animal then intruded into Meng'a Town in Menghai County six times between March 17 and April 4, tramping along crowded roads and damaging 16 motor vehicles and five buildings. After meetings with experts, the provincial forestry authority approved the request for an "arrest." The prefecture government then formulated a hunting plan and an emergency preplan, and set up an operation command. On Thursday, the elephant invaded Meng'a again and walked around a school and a sugarhouse, activating the hunting. On Friday morning, an anesthetist stalked on the target near the town government building and shot a 1.2-ml narcotic needle in its rear using a blow pipe. After about 12 minutes, Weizhayo fell heavily on the ground and was caged. It woke up about 35 minutes later with normal vital signs. Officials said the elephant has been sent to a wildlife rescue center safe and sound. During the mating season, competition between male elephants can lead to frequent fighting and imperil residents in the area. A wild Asian elephant came into the city of Pu'er last April and took a stroll for more than six hours before it was brought under control and kept in the Asian Elephants Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna. Wild Asian elephants are under A-level state protection in China. Thanks to improving environment, its population in the country has grown from 170 in the 1990s to about 300. Last month, an elephant habitat reconstruction project was launched in Yunnan to build a 51-hectare "dining area" for wild elephants to solve conflicts between the endangered animal and local residents. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 01:13:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul-Gheit called Friday on all Libyan parties to practice self-restraint and immediately de-escalate the military situation in the western areas of the country. In a statement, the AL chief also urged the Libyan parties to abide by the political path as the only solution to the Libyan crisis. Aboul-Gheit said he is deeply concerned over the latest developments in Libya and the renewal of the armed clashes, at a time when the international community is mustering up efforts to encourage the Libyans to engage in a political process sponsored by the United Nations. He also stressed that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis, "a matter that was reiterated during the 30th AL Summit that was held in Tunisia." The military escalation comes as the country prepares to hold a UN-sponsored national conference that is expected to bring together many Libyan parties with a view to end the political crisis in the country. Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 01:13:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, April 5 (Xinhua) -- At least six people, including a woman, were killed and 21 others injured on Friday in a head-on collision between a truck and a bus in Khuzdar district of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, an official said. Deputy Commissioner of Khuzdar Muhammad Ilyas Kibzai told media that an over speeding truck collided with a passenger bus coming from the opposite direction at the National Highway in Kaheer area of Khuzdar. Police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to a hospital in Khuzdar. The official said an emergency had been imposed in the Khuzdar hospital and the best available facilities of treatment were being provided to the injured. The death toll might further rise because several injured were in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the hospital, said the official. The ill-fated bus was heading towards the southern port city of Karachi from the southwest provincial capital of Quetta. The bus was shattered completely after the speedy truck shoved it from the highway. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 01:33:57|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Bounnhang Vorachith (C), general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos, visits the China-Laos Railway Exhibition Hall during his inspection of the China-Laos Railway Project, constructed by China Railway No.2 Engineering Group (CREC-2), in Vientiane, Laos, on April 5, 2019. Bounnhang Vorachith said on Friday that the China-Laos Railway, as the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative, will benefit the Lao people. (Xinhua/Zhang Jianhua) VIENTIANE, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos, said on Friday that the China-Laos Railway, as the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative, will benefit the Lao people. President Bounnhang who inspected the railway construction site was briefed by Ju Guojiang, chairman of the Laos-China Railway Co. Ltd, on the progress of the railway project. He said builders of both countries have been closely cooperating, conquering various difficulties, and the goal of offering transport service till December 2021 will be achieved on time. President Bounnhang and some high-ranking officials made an on-site inspection into the railway construction sites around capital Vientiane, and visited a beam fabrication yard of China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group (CREC-2). President Bounnhang said the Laos-China Railway construction has outstanding significance in promoting Laos' economic development, job creation, enhancing the people's livelihood, achieving Laos' strategic ambition of turning a land-locked country into a land-linked one, as well as in bringing the country to a new, and railway-driven development phase. The Lao president also highly appreciated the fact that after a dam-collapse flood flushing in southern Laos' Attapeau Province, the Laos-China Railway Co. Ltd proactively donated for the victims and participated in the rebuilding in the disaster-hit areas. The 414-km China-Laos Railway runs from Boten border gate in northern Laos to the capital Vientiane within an operating speed of 160 km per hour. The electrified railway was built since December 2016 with the full application of Chinese management standards and technical standards. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 01:39:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, April 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official slammed on Friday the remarks of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Gaza Strip and the continuation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman of the Palestinian Authority Presidency, said in an official statement that Netanyahu's remarks show that Israel "acts in accordance with a plan that would keep the internal Palestinian division going on." Rudeineh said that Netanyahu's remarks are "irresponsible," and accused Israel of having a strategy to establish a small state or entity in Gaza and make concessions on Jerusalem and its holy places. Netanyahu had earlier said that he won't let Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas return to Gaza and expressed satisfaction for having two isolated entities in Gaza and the West Bank and settlement construction will go on. Rudeineh said that "Netanyahu's remarks unveil the strategy of his government which is blindly backed by the U.S. administration and aims at dividing Palestine and dividing the Arab world." "We hold the United States fully responsible for the current tension in Palestine and the entire region and for backing this Israeli colonial policy," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 01:44:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi forces on Friday killed three Islamic State (IS) militants and destroyed their hideout in Iraq's central province of Salahudin, the Iraqi military said. Acting on intelligence reports, a joint force from the Iraqi army and Saraya al-Salam paramilitary force carried out an operation against an IS hideout near al-Tharthar lake west the city of Samaraa, some 120 km north the Iraqi capital Baghdad, a statement by Samaraa Operations Command said. It said the troops pounded the IS hideout with mortar rounds and killed three of them, while confiscating weapons, ammunition and other supplies found in the destroyed hideout. Saraya al-Salam is a militia affiliated with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and part of Hashd Shaabi. In December 2017, Iraq declared full liberation from the IS after the security forces and the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units, backed by the anti-IS international coalition, recaptured all areas once seized by the extremist group. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas as safe havens, carrying out guerrilla attacks from time to time against the security forces and civilians. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 02:14:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUDAPEST, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government will spend some 980 billion forints (3.43 billion U.S. dollars) by 2024 on the development of its road network, according to official sources here on Friday. "By 2024, the State will spend some 980 billion forints in five installments on the development of the Hungarian road network," the official Hungarian Journal announced here on Friday. In the relevant government decree, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on Finance Minister Mihaly Varga to supervise the management of the necessary sources of the ambitious project. The decree does not give details of the different projects at this moment, but the government has already announced the enlargement of the M1 motorway (linking Hungary with Austria) and parts of the M7 motorway (linking Budapest with the tourist center Balaton Lake). In addition, the Hungarian government wants all the major cities of neighboring countries to be reachable by cars and trucks. Part of the fund for the project will certainly come from the European Union, of which Hungary is a member since 2004. In the decree, Orban also called on Minister of Innovation and Technology, Laszlo Palkovics, to ensure the continued provision of EU funds for the implementation of the road program.(1 U.S. dollar = 285.96 Hungarian forints) For five years, Alicia Glen wielded an enormous amount of power as Mayor Bill de Blasios deputy mayor for housing and economic development. Glen, a former Goldman Sachs executive who was often accused of being too cozy with developers ("dying for a hamburger and bottle of Montrachet she confided to one developer and friend), oversaw the rollout of the mayors new ferry system, the ongoing crisis in the citys public housing authority, the botched deal with Amazon, and the administrations plan to build and preserve 300,000 units of affordable housing by 2026. In December, Glen announced her departure, and on Thursday morning de Blasio tapped Vicki Been to take her place. Been was de Blasios Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner from 2014 to 2017, and is currently an NYU law professor and the director of the Furman Center. At a press conference announcing her appointment, Been said that NYCHA is her chief concern. My top priority is getting NYCHA back on track. Making that path a path forward that puts it on a course that wontthat nobody can turn back from, Been told reporters. NYCHA is home to about 400,000 New Yorkers, and needs more than $30 billion in repairs and replacements over the next five years. The authority hasnt had a permanent leader since April of 2018Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia took over as interim chair from 81-year-old Stanley Brezenoff in February. Around 61,000 apartments in 21 different complexes, which is around a third of NYCHAs housing stock, are set to be managed by private developers, and the city also wants to develop some parcels of land to help pay for the improvements. The de Blasio administration recently agreed to a deal with the federal government that would impose a monitor to oversee the authority (but would provide no additional funding). The federal government, of course, starved NYCHA for resources for decades and the price of that neglect hit us in the face, it came due, Been said. In January, the de Blasio administration announced that they had created and preserved a total of 122,000 affordable units out of their goal of 300,000, but only 16 percent of those apartments were for homeless New Yorkers, or those making just 30 percent of the Area Median Income$21,930 for an individual or $28,178 for a family of three. Been said that tools to address the needs of these New Yorkers already existlike the Our Space subsidy open to developers who set aside homes for very poor New Yorkersbut that they needed to be streamlined and applied more rigorously. So its programs like that but every one of our programs we have taken a look to seecan we push more? Been said. Can we get more of those units at the lowest income levels? Can we bring in more seniors? How can we get more of those homes to the people that need them most, quicker? Still, the new deputy mayor insisted that her goal wasnt to start from scratch: Im not coming out with Housing Plan 3.0 so thats not what were talking about, were just talking about being more effective, being more efficient, and getting it done even faster because people are worried. Critics of de Blasios affordable housing strategyenticing developers to mix permanently affordable low and middle income apartments with market-rate units in re-zoned neighborhoodssay that its a kind of trickle-down plan that helps wealthier New Yorkers and displaces residents of gentrifying neighborhoods, who are often people of color. The new housing is almost entirely built for the luxury market, and has had the secondary effect of raising rents and land values in the existing housing stock, further displacing many long-time residents, Hunter College urban planning professor Tom Angotti wrote in a 2017 essay on the administrations strategy. Areas targeted for new development are disproportionately low-income communities of color, while areas protected by zoning are disproportionately white and middle-and upper-income. In a written response to Angottis essay, Been called his skepticism that building more housing overall would help alleviate the affordable housing crisis the housing worlds equivalent of climate change denial. Even building only affordable housing wouldnt solve the problemunless we keep others out, building more affordable housing will not address the demand for housing by those who want to move to New York, Been added. The majority of affordable housing built and preserved under de Blasio 52,641 units has been for New Yorkers making $36,550 to $58,480 for one person, which represents 51 percent to 80 percent of AMI. Tom Waters, a senior policy analyst at the Community Service Society, told Gothamist that setting aside 16 percent of affordable homes for homeless and very low income New Yorkers as part of an overall, market-driven scheme is pretty close to the limit of what you can do with that approach. I don't think the administration properly took credit for that. They have a lot to brag about there," Waters said. If you want to create housing for low income people, you have to do it on purpose, Waters added. I'm not a believer in the trickle-down method. Building a bunch of $2,000/month apartments is good for people who can afford $2000/month apartments. Additional reporting by Lydia McMullen-Laird. File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump introduces the U.S. candidate in election for the next president of the World Bank David Malpass at the White House in Washington, U.S., Feb. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/REUTERS) WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- David Malpass, undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department, was selected as president of the World Bank Group for a five-year term beginning on April 9, 2019, the World Bank Group said in a statement Friday. Malpass, 63, was chosen by U.S. President Donald Trump in early February as the U.S. candidate for the post, and has secured approval from the World Bank's board after a campaign without competition. The Board expressed its deep gratitude to Interim President Kristalina Georgieva for her dedication and leadership in recent months, the World Bank Group said in the statement. Former World Bank chief, Jim Yong Kim, abruptly announced his resignation in early January. Candidates picked by the United States, the World Bank's largest shareholder with 16 percent of its voting power, have all ended up assuming the leadership post since the institution's inception in 1944. This long-held tradition has put the credibility of the organization into question, given that emerging markets' and developing economies' total contributions to global economic growth have far outweighed those of the advanced economies in recent years. Malpass, who once criticized the World Bank, has raised concerns within the international development community over his skepticism about the role of the bank and multilateralism. In February, Malpass thanked the U.S. president for selecting him to lead "the world's premier development institution." Highlighting the 13-billion-U.S. dollar capital increase and other reforms that the World Bank shareholders endorsed in April 2018, Malpass said, "With shareholders and dedicated staff, there is a great opportunity now to implement these constructive reforms that will lead to faster growth and greater prosperity." Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 03:19:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Switzerland have agreed on Friday that the Swiss will represent Washington's interests in Venezuela, said the U.S. State Department. Switzerland will act "as a protecting power for U.S. interests in Venezuela," the department said in a statement. However, the statement noted that as the Swiss embassy in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, will not immediately be able to provide emergency services, Americans in the Latin American country should still go to U.S. embassy or consulate in another country for assistance. The State Department continued to urge remaining U.S. citizens to leave Venezuela immediately. The United States withdrew all its diplomats from the South American country weeks ago, referring the move as "temporary departure." The Trump administration recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's "interim president" on Jan. 23, days after incumbent President Nicholas Maduro was inaugurated for a second term. In response to Washington's support for Guaido, Maduro announced that he was severing "diplomatic and political" ties with the United States. The Trump administration recently has kept piling up pressure on Maduro. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 03:19:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Friday reported a spike of violence and displacement in March on the Niger-Nigerian border with attacks on civilians and military forces, which resulted in 88 civilian deaths. Jens Laerke, OCHA's deputy spokesperson, said at a UN briefing here that the jump in violence and displacement has occurred in the Diffa region in south-eastern Niger bordering Nigeria and Chad. "It saw a spike of violence and displacement last month with at least 21 attacks against civilians and military forces resulting in 88 civilian deaths," said Laerke. OCHA said the 88 civilian deaths last month alone compares to a total of 107 killed during the entire year 2018. The violence is related to increased activity of non-State armed groups in the Lake Chad Basin, principally Boko Haram. Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad basin. The group posed enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges in the basin, according to the United Nations. "The Humanitarian Country team in Niger is concerned about what appears to be a shift in the pattern of offenses by these armed groups to target some of the most vulnerable people in the region, including already displaced communities and refugees," said Laerke. The 21 attacks in March triggered a movement of nearly 18,500 people towards the urban center of Diffa and other significant settlements in the region which already hosts over 100,000 internally displaced persons and almost 120,000 refugees. The most populated hosting sites are Awaridi with nearly 8,000 displaced persons in the urban district of Diffa, and the location of Kindjandi with 2,500 displaced persons in the commune of Gueskerou. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 03:59:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Three visitors have died in separate incidents in just over a week while visiting the Grand Canyon in the United States. A man died on Wednesday after falling over the canyon rim east of Yavapai Geology Museum in the latest incident, said the Grand Canyon National Park Service (NPS) in a statement released on Thursday. Rangers located the body of a 67-year-old male approximately 400 feet below the rim. The park's helicopter and technical rescue team were able to recover the body, according to the statement. The man was reportedly from the western U.S. state of California by local media. An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the NPS and local medical examiner. The Grand Canyon NPS, in the statement, encouraged all visitors to have a safe visit by staying on designated trails and walkways, always keeping a safe distance from the edge of the rim and staying behind railings and fences at overlooks. The incident came only days after two tourist fatalities last week. NPS rangers and special agents with the NPS Investigative Services Branch responded to a call reporting a visitor fatality near the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park on March 26. The body of the person believed to be a foreign national was found in a wooded area near Grand Canyon Village, according to the NPS and U.S. media. In another incident, a Macao tourist died on March 28 after a fall while visiting the Grand Canyon. The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles contacted American police and confirmed the death of the Macao tourist. "The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles expressed deep regret over the death of the tourist and will provide necessary assistance in the aftermath," a spokesman of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles told Xinhua. The tourist, in his 50s, slipped and fell hundreds of feet into the Grand Canyon from a lookout while taking pictures near the rim at Eagle Point, a popular tourist destination, reported local media, some of which initially identified the tourist as a Hongkonger. The Eagle Point is a remote site best known for the Skywalk, a horse-shoe shaped glass bridge that juts out from the canyon wall. Signs at Eagle Point warn tourists not to get too close to the edge. About 12 deaths happen each year at the Grand Canyon, including from natural causes, medical problems, suicide, heat, drowning and traffic crashes. On average, two to three deaths per year are from falls over the rim, according to www.mygrandcanyonpark.com. The Grand Canyon in the western U.S. state of Arizona is famous for its steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, drawing nearly 6.4 million visitors last year. According to the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, more than 80,000 Chinese tourists visited Arizona in 2017. The Consulate General has warned Chinese citizens to be aware of security risks while traveling in the state, including traffic accidents, heat, draught and bush fire. And according to a report of the Arizona Office of Tourism, Arizona had 5.56 million international overnight visitors in 2018, and China is currently the sixth largest source country of tourists. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 04:05:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan police announced Friday the arrest of two Israeli men in the central city of Marrakech suspected of obtaining Moroccan identity documents illegally. Research and investigations revealed that the two suspects had obtained Moroccan IDs and passports using forged documents, the Moroccan police said in a statement. A residence permit issued by a Latin American country was also seized and its authenticity is being verified, the statement added. The suspects obtained the Moroccan IDs through the help of a criminal network that was dismantled last month in Casablanca, it noted. On March 23, Morocco announced that five Israelis had been arrested as part of an ongoing probe into the criminal network, which is led by a Moroccan of Jewish faith, and suspected of falsifying Moroccan IDs for the benefit of the Jewish citizens of non-Moroccan origin, the statement said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 04:10:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ATHENS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Greece's borders to any other country will not reopen, government ministers said on Friday in response to sit-in protests staged by hundreds of refugees and migrants in Athens and northern Greece. Some 500 people, among them families with children, have camped since Thursday afternoon outside the refugee reception facility of Diavata community, at the outskirts of Thessaloniki port city and about 60 kilometers from the Idomeni border crossing into North Macedonia. Protesters briefly clashed with policemen, who fired tear gas. Protesters demanded the reopening of the border to continue their journey to central Europe, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. A policeman was slightly injured and two protesters have been detained. Over 200 migrants and refugees started on Friday a sit-in protest on the tracks of the central railway station of Athens, demanding to be allowed to travel to northern Greece to also reach the borders. Train services have been suspended until further notice. The protests were launched after rumors circulating in social media among migrants and refugees who live in Greece that if they move en masse to the borders, the crossings will open, AMNA noted. Protesters should not risk the privileges they have and should not use their children as shields, because some traffickers have sold them false hopes, Minister of Citizen Protection Olga Gerovassili said in an interview with local News 24/7 radio station. She voiced confidence that gradually they will be persuaded to return to the facilities where they are housed, stressing that they will not be allowed to leave Diavata or the train station to northern Greece and the "borders are not opening to any other country". The refugees and migrants have fallen "victims of misinformation", Migration Policy Minister Dimitris Vitsas told AMNA. The ministry has made a joint appeal with the UN High Commission for Refugees that has issued an announcement in six languages, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other international organizations stating that all they have heard are lies, he said, underlining that the borders will remain firmly closed. As third country nationals that have applied for asylum, seeking international protection, protesters have their rights, but they also have obligations and one of the most basic obligations, which derive from the Geneva Convention and other international treaties, is that they must respect the laws of the state that has given them shelter, the Greek official said, expressing hope that the protests will end in coming hours. "They should realize that this attempt is leading nowhere and is undermining their own future," Miltiadis Klapas, General Secretary at the Ministry of Migration Policy told Xinhua, after his visit to the railway station to talk to protesters. "We can't stay longer in Greece. We came to the decision that we want to go to Thessaloniki and find a way how we can talk with the government of Athens. We are not here for fun or something else. We are running from problems from our countries," Abdulkarim, an Iraqi refugee, told Xinhua. Greece cannot provide adequate aid to all refugees and migrants, he said, asking that they be allowed to continue their journey to other European countries. More than one million people have reached Greece and travelled to central and northern Europe from early 2015 until the winter of 2016 when the Balkan route closed. Tens of thousands remained for months at a make shift camp set up next to the Idomeni border crossing in dire conditions, until late May 2016, when it was evacuated, and people were relocated to various facilities. Despite the dramatic drop in numbers of new arrivals to Greece after the spring of 2016, dozens of people on a daily basis keep risking their lives to reach Greece from Turkey, hoping for a better future in Europe away from war-stricken zones and extreme poverty. Almost 70,000 have been stranded in Greece since 2016, according to the Greek Migration Policy ministry. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 04:50:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Ahmad al-Mismari, spokesman of Libya's eastern-based army, said on Friday that five soldiers were killed in clashes with the forces of the Tripoli-based government, as the army is trying to take over the city. Military units lost five members on Thursday and Friday and is progressing toward the capital Tripoli, the spokesman told local TV channel Libya al-Hadath. "We have complete control over Tripoli international airport. We also took over Azizia and Swani (southern Tripoli towns). Therefore, we have complete control over southern Tripoli," al-Mismari said. "Tomorrow, another operation will be launched to progress to the entries of Tripoli. We are stationed 20 km south of Tripoli," the spokesman said. Al-Mismari said that a fighter jet attacked army forces in southern Libya on Friday, without causing any casualties. The army, led by Khalifa Haftar, on Thursday launched an operation to take over Tripoli where the UN-backed government is based. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who concluded a visit to Libya Friday, expressed deep concern over the military escalation in Tripoli. "I still hope it will be possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli," Guterres told reporters before departing from the eastern city of Benghazi. Haftar's army is allied with the eastern-based government, as the country is politically divided between western and eastern governments. Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos, ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 06:01:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The response to UN pleas to fund humanitarian aid for the millions of people affected by Cyclone Idai in southern Africa is serious lacking, a UN spokesman said on Friday. In the case of hard-hit Mozambique, only 21 percent of the 282 million U.S. dollars sought has been funded, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He cited information gathered from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), humanitarian partners and governments of the affected countries. The latest count of government-confirmed deaths is 598 in Mozambique with many more fatalities expected as accessibility is gained to sites. "In Mozambique, almost 530,000 people have been reached with dry food, and efforts are underway to accelerate the distribution of education supplies and the cleaning of schools previously used as accommodation centers," Dujarric said. The number of cholera cases in Mozambique, where it is endemic, has reached 1,740 with two deaths, OCHA said. A vaccination program was launched earlier in the week with 900,000 doses. "In Zimbabwe, humanitarian partners and the government (Friday) launched a revised flash appeal for Zimbabwe, seeking 60 million U.S. dollars to respond to the needs of 270,000 people affected by floods following the cyclone," Dujarric said. The Zimbabwe government reported 299 confirmed deaths, with 300 missing. Malawi's humanitarian response faces a gap of 26 million dollars to reach the 45.2 million dollars required for the response plan, Dujarric said. Assistance has been provided to approximately 200,000 people, prioritizing 87,000 displaced people in the hardest-hit areas with floods, he said. At least 60 people have died in Malawi, reports said, citing government figure. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-05 23:12:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Uncertainties will continue to plague businesses as the outcome of the EU-UK divorce has yet to crystallize before the next scheduled Brexit day on April 12, experts have warned, but some struck a more hopeful tone. 1 TLN POUNDS OF ASSETS ON MOVE Britain is now scheduled to leave the EU on April 12 after a delay from March 29 to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The bloc had earlier said that Britain can only win a further extension if a Brexit deal can be supported by its Parliament before April 12. Otherwise, the country will leave the EU with no deal on that day. But now the new departure date may be revoked again. British Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to the European Union on Friday proposing a further extension till June 30, while the EU is reportedly proposing a one-year extension. Any change will have to be agreed by the leaders of all EU members, whose next meeting will be on Wednesday. Abhinay Muthoo, professor of economics at the University of Warwick, told Xinhua: "The huge uncertainty caused by Brexit has adversely impacted on the UK economy, many businesses and people, from across the UK. It is difficult for them to plan for the future, or make the investment decisions in the current environment." "Our clients are still preparing for a no-deal Brexit, it is still an option they think likely to happen. ... So what we know now is we have contingency plans both in the UK and in the other 27 EU countries for the companies that trade between the UK and EU," said Aline Doussin, trade law expert at Hogan Lovells, an international law firm. According to the latest report by consultants EY, financial services companies are transferring assets worth around 1 trillion British pounds (1.3 trillion U.S. dollars) and relocating 7,000 jobs from London to other European cities. "Continued uncertainty will undoubtedly lead to more assets and people being transferred from the UK and not necessarily to the EU," said Omar Ali, UK financial services leader at EY. DOWNWARD RISKS Britain's economy has been sluggish since the Brexit referendum in 2016, with growth at 1.4 percent only in 2018, the weakest since 2012. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that even with a smooth Brexit, growth in the UK would slump to 0.8 percent in 2019 and uncertainty over Brexit would hit businesses and impact economic growth. IHS Markit research also showed unsatisfactory economic performance both in Britain and in the eurozone. The UK Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 48.9 in March, below the benchmark of 50 that indicated contraction of the largest economic sector. Meanwhile, for the eurozone, manufacturing PMI declined for an eighth month to 47.5 in March, its lowest reading since April 2013. Iain Begg, a professorial research fellow at the European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, told Xinhua: "With no clear path in sight to break the Brexit logjam, there is no easy answer to predicting the impact on the economies of the UK, the EU and the world at large." "If the outcome is a no-deal Brexit, it could mean a sharp shock for the UK and a shallow recession. For the EU, a no-deal Brexit would also have negative repercussions, while for the global economy it would be seen as a downside risk at a time when various other risks are already a cause for concern," Begg said. Aline Doussin predicted trade would be difficult between the UK and EU in case of a no-deal Brexit. "A no-deal Brexit would affect manufacturers of cars and planes, medicines and consumer goods, as well as financial services. The UK is fundamentally a services economy, and the impact of leaving the EU would be felt very strongly there," she said. Though customs authorities in the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have been preparing for a no-deal scenario, it remains unknown whether these legal measures will be necessary and sufficient to maintain frictionless trade, she said. CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM Despite predicting dire consequences for the UK crashing out of the EU, Iain Begg regarded a no-deal Brexit as "very unlikely" despite the imminent April 12 deadline. For Begg, the current situation means a further delay is more likely before some sort of deal is eventually reached by the House of Commons. He said the best news for the economy at all three levels -- the UK, EU and global -- would be if Britain reached a rapid conclusion in favor of either a softer Brexit or canceling Brexit altogether. Patrick Minford, a professor from Cardiff University who supports Brexit, told Xinhua it was time to dial down the Brexit hysteria. "The thing to remember is that, regardless of Brexit, the UK economy is in good shape, with public finances now close to zero borrowing and unemployment at its all-time low," he said. Minford believed that the Brexit negotiations will leave the status quo pretty undisturbed in the short term and pave the way for a new relationship with the EU in the long term. In a recent report on Brexit, the Liverpool Research Group in Macroeconomics said the UK can rapidly sign free trade agreements, especially with the U.S., to bring forward gains from Brexit. However, Aline Doussin noted the UK has yet to reach trade arrangements with large economies like Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the U.S. and China, despite replicating some EU trade deals it has benefited from as an EU member into bilateral ones. Britain has so far signed continuity agreements with Switzerland, Chile, Iceland, Norway, the Caribbean countries and others. These agreements will take effect immediately after a no-deal Brexit or when the transition period ends in case of a smooth Brexit to allow businesses to continue trading freely. The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Peter Estlin, also played down the impact of Brexit on the financial services industry in Britain. "Financial services in the UK employ 2.2 million people and we're talking about thousands of people, 7,000 maybe 10,000 people, being relocated. So it is a very, very small percentage," Estlin said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-06 04:15:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Theresa May's plea Friday to European Council President Donald Tusk to delay Britain's departure from the EU until June 30 came as talks between the ruling Conservative government and Labour opposition entered their third day. May's de facto Deputy Prime Minister David Lidington and Labour's shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, along with their negotiating teams, have yet to find a breakthrough to end a parliamentary impasse over a new deal with the EU. May's spokesman said at a Downing Street media briefing Friday that the talks could continue into the weekend. "It's an ongoing process; we're taking one discussion at a time. We continue to focus on trying to reach a joint outcome that we can put to the European Council," the spokesman said. May plans to spend the weekend at her Chequers country retreat with no plans at the moment to meet opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. LETTER TO TUSK In a letter, May has told Tusk she still hopes a Brexit solution can be found by May 23 to avoid Britain taking part in the European Parliament elections. But her plea has generated criticism, anger and mixed opinions across the political divide in Britain. The Labour Party accused May's government of failing to offer "real change or compromise" during the third round of talks to end the current Brexit deadlock. The Labour statement came at the end of the talks between May and Corbyn, which started on Wednesday. The previous two rounds of talks failed to result in a breakthrough, although the two sides agreed to continue discussions. "We urge the prime minister to come forward with genuine changes to her deal in an effort to find an alternative that can win support in Parliament and bring the country together," the Labour statement said. "GO NUCLEAR" Leave supporting Conservative MP and former minister Owen Paterson said his party should "go nuclear and push for a no-deal Brexit," adding that "Conservatives have nine days left to save themselves from political annihilation." Politician Steve Baker, deputy chair of the European Research Group (ERG) of pro-leave Conservative MPs, said: "If only the government would abandon pursuit of a customs union in all but name, this crisis would end." The campaign group People's Vote, which wants a second Brexit referendum, criticized May's decision to seek another extension. Veteran Labour politician and former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who supports the campaign, said in a statement: "The good news is that the prime minister has accepted there has to be an extension to the Brexit deadline. The bad news is that yet again she has chosen the worst option and done so for the worst reason, just to keep her failed strategy and her Brexit deal alive." Beckett added: May "is taking both the British people and EU leaders for fools because we all know this is just another time-buying, can-kicking effort to hold her bitterly divided party together." "CAN-KICKING AND CHAOS" Stephen Gethins, Europe spokesman for the Scottish Nationalist Party, said: "More than three years on from the EU referendum and the prime minister's approach is still dictated by can-kicking and chaos." Gethins said that with the British Parliament unable to reach a consensus it must now be the priority that the issue is brought back to the people in a fresh second EU referendum, with the option to remain on the ballot paper. The Green Party's only MP at Westminster, Caroline Lucas, commented: "The prime minister is at odds with reality. The EU rejected this proposal just weeks ago. We're now at the mercy of their decision. This is a national humiliation. Far from taking back control, we are now completely at the mercy of the EU27. "This letter also undermines ongoing talks with Labour by effectively ruling out a people's vote on the final deal. Both party leaders, and our EU partners, must recognize that we need more time to get out of this gridlock, and not force Parliament to make a decision in days which it's been impossible to get to in almost three years." DOMESTIC IMPACT Meanwhile, Brexit is having an impact on domestic politics. In a parliamentary by-election in South Wales, the result on Friday showed Labour's candidate Ruth Jones holding onto the House of Commons seat with a much reduced majority of less than 2,000 over the second-placed Conservative candidate. In the 2016 referendum, the people of the Newport West constituency voted Leave by a 56-44 margin. Jeremy Corbyn, speaking in Newport to celebrate Jones' election win, said: "Labour is putting forward an agenda, which is about maintaining our market relationship with Europe and, above all, defending our rights and regulations which are so important to underpin the basics of employment standards in this country. Those are things we are absolutely insisting on." May's letter to Tusk comes as an existing April 12 deadline for Britain's departure approaches, having already extended the original March 29 date when Britain should have either left the bloc or agreed a withdrawal deal with Brussels. Media reports in London said Tusk was likely to suggest what has been described as a 12-month "flextension" to Britain. It would allow Britain to leave at any point in the next year if a deal is agreed by Parliament. Unless the EU grants a second extension, Britain is scheduled to leave the bloc by next Friday -- unless a deal has been agreed. Britain's departure date was set in March, 2017 when it triggered an EU process known as Article 50. That started a two-year countdown to departure. Any extensions have to be agreed by all 27 member states of the EU. An 81-year-old woman was fatally struck by a shuttle bus driver in Lower Manhattan yesterday evening. According to police, Arlene Kalfus was pronounced dead outside her Battery Park City apartment at around 7 p.m. on Thursday, after she was hit by a bus driver traveling north on South End Avenue. The driver remained on the scene, and was not charged. The Broadsheet spoke to friends of the victim, who described her as a former social worker who enjoyed classical music, yoga and museum trips. "Arlene played Mahjongg most Tuesdays. She was a peacemaker when that was called for," recalled Maryanne Braverman, a member of the Battery Park City Seniors group alongside Kalfus. "She was kind and caring. The bus is operated by the Downtown Alliance, which manages the nearby Business Improvement District and runs a free shuttle service around the perimeter of Lower Manhattan. In a statement, the group called the fatal crash "an enormous tragedy." "Information is hard to come by right now and we are awaiting further information and details from the police department," the statement continued. "As we do so, our thoughts are with those who were close to Ms. Kalfus." A spokesperson for the Downtown Alliance told Gothamist that the driver remains employed, but could face discipline pending the results of the police investigation. Kalfus's death marks at least the 50th pedestrian or cyclist death on the streets of New York City in 2019 a more than 30 percent increase from this time last year. Pedestrian deaths nationwide are the highest they've been in three decades. Lexus va deveni marca pur electrica pana in 2035, la nivel global A fost o zi importanta pentru Toyota si Lexus. In cadrul unui eveniment, Akio Toyoda a vorbit despre strategia marcii Toyota in ceea ce priveste bateriile masinilor cu zero emisii. Tot aici, presedintele companiei nipone a dezvaluit nu mai putin de 15 concepte [citeste mai departe] For roughly the past year, seven of the nineteen seats on the New York State Parole Board have sat vacant. Tasked with overseeing about 12,000 parole hearings a year, commissioners are saddled with a heavy caseload, and may only speak to each candidate for a few minutes. Parole hearings are generally conducted by video and each panel is supposed to include three commissioners, who determine parole eligibility by majority vote. On Thursday afternoon, a few dozen people gathered in front of Governor Andrew Cuomos Midtown office to demand he immediately fill the vacant seats on the board with commissioners from rehabilitative professional backgrounds. At the rally, which was organized by the Release Aging People in Prisons (RAPP) Campaign alongside the Parole Preparation Project and other groups, speakers highlighted how significantly the composition of the parole board affects the lives of incarcerated people, as well as Cuomos newfound political freedom to appoint commissioners committed to parole reform. According to RAPP, the boards low staffing levels means that many prisoners have faced two-person panels and received split decisions, forcing them to plead their case again within a matter of weeks. I went to the Parole Board five times in seven months, said Lawrence Bartley, who was arrested at the age of 17 and became eligible for release 20 years later. If there were three people there, maybe it wouldnt have been a split decision. Ill let you decide, Bartley told the crowd. RAPP has also called for the dismissal of two current Board members, W. William Smith and Marc Coppolla, on the grounds they are unsuitable for office. In 2016 The New York Times characterized spots on the board as prime patronage gifts. Board members, who earn over $100,000 a year, have made donations to legislators, including Republican State Senator Patrick Callivan, according to the New York State Board of Elections. There are no more excuses, said David George, RAPPs associate director. We need a fully staffed parole board with commissioners who embrace the concept of change and transformation. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which oversees the board, did not immediately return a request for comment. The rally came just days after the Governor and the New York State Legislature finalized a $175 billion budget that incorporates a number of progressive criminal justice initiatives, including the elimination of cash bail for most nonviolent crimes and substantive changes to the states discovery and speedy trial laws. Democrats gained control of the State Senate in November, giving them full control over the state government and the opportunity to pursue legislative initiatives that had been stalled for years. Since the State Senate must approve the Governors appointments, the new composition of the chamber also gives Cuomo new leverage to appoint commissioners who come from restorative justice backgrounds, said George. In 2016, 70-year-old John Mackenzie died by suicide after being denied parole for the tenth time. During his 41 years in prison he had mentored several men and earned a number of certificates and degrees but was seen as unfit for release based on the nature of his crime. RAPP members and other advocates say they have secured a number of important wins in the years after Mackenzies death. In June 2017, when the Board was also facing vacancies, the governor appointed six new individuals from a relatively broader range of professional backgrounds. Several months later, in September, the Board published revised guidelines to the regulations that govern their practices, which require commissioners to focus more on the individuals rehabilitative efforts and current risk to public safety than their crime of conviction. Since 2017, some commissioners have had their terms expire, some have retired, and one has died. While significantly more prisoners were approved for release after Cuomos 2017 appointees became active and the new regulations were enacted, the racial disparity in rates of release actually widened. A data analysis provided by RAPP compared release rates from September through January of 2017 to rates during the same period in 2018, after the new members had been appointed and the new regulations were in place. Forty-three percent of white parole applicants were released from 2017 through 2018, compared to 35 percent of Black applicants. From 2016 to 2017, 27 percent of white applicants were granted parole, while just 22 percent of Black applicants were released. I think theres a misconception that because they have more minorities on the Parole Board, that theres no race, that racism no longer exists at the parole board, said RAPP Director Jose Saldana, referring to the six commissioners of color on the board. Saldana is an African-American man who was granted release by the parole board in January 2018 after being denied four times. If they still promote the same racist system, it doesnt matter what color they are, he said. A spokesperson for the governor told Gothamist that Governor Cuomo has filled vacancies on the Board of Parole at the same level and pace as previous governors have for the past several decades. The spokesperson noted that there is funding for 17 board members in the new budget, and that the governor continues to engage with the legislature on additional appointments, and added that the Governor has also supported additional reforms to the parole system. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-04 16:01:12|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Thai students of Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute attend a training session at the institute's simulation driving training base at Banphai Industrial and Community Education College in Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province, Thailan, April 3, 2019. A pair of Chinese and Thai vocational colleges on Wednesday jointly announced the establishment of Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute in northeastern Thailand to train high-speed railway technicians. The institute is set up at Banphai Industrial and Community Education College in Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province, with the support from Wuhan Railway Vocational College of Technology (WRC). (Xinhua/Yang Zhou) BAN PHAI, Thailand, April 4 (Xinhua) -- A pair of Chinese and Thai vocational colleges on Wednesday jointly announced the establishment of Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute in northeastern Thailand to train high-speed railway technicians. The institute is set up at Banphai Industrial and Community Education College in Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province, with the support from Wuhan Railway Vocational College of Technology (WRC). With the donation of WRC's partner Zhengzhou J&T Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., a simulation driving training base has been set up at Banphai Industrial and Community Education College for Thai students to practice. "The Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute would help to develop Thai high-speed railway technicians, make educational plans such as 1 plus 1 or 1 plus 2 which means Thai students would study in Thailand for a year and go to China for another year or two years of study," Cheng Shixing, president of WRC, told Xinhua. Cheng said the Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute would also include training of teachers and railway employees. WRC started Sino-Thailand cooperative education program of railway talents in August 2015. Up to now, WRC has cultivated 103 Thai students from 33 vocational and technical colleges in 20 Thai provinces, Cheng said. "They are the first batch of high-speed railway technicians China developed for Thailand and may also contribute to the construction of China-Thailand cooperative program of high speed railway," he said. On the other hand, Junyar Pabu, director of Banphai Industrial and Community Education College, confirmed the effective cooperation with WRC. "China has the most advanced high-speed railway technology while Thailand had no technology and no talents, as a result, we, assigned by the Office of the Vocational Education Commission of Thai ministry of education, reached out to the Chinese colleges and we got very positive responses from them," said Junyar. Junyar believed the establishment of Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute would help to develop more talents for Thai railway industry. A Chinese dean and a Thai dean of Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute have been appointed and they both expressed their willingness to promote China-Thailand educational cooperation on high-speed rail during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday. During the ceremony, Song Ruoyun, first secretary of Education Affairs of the Chinese Embassy to Thailand, said she expected the Lu Ban High-Speed Railway Institute to be a good example and provide the China-Thailand cooperative program of high speed railway with talents and technicians. She also praised the Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University and other Confucius Institutes for helping vocational colleges from both countries to cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative and Thailand 4.0 strategy. Liao Junyun, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Khon Kaen, Panthong Srakhupan, Vice Governor of Khon Kaen Province as well as other Chinese and Thai government officials, representatives from companies, teachers and students attended the inauguration ceremony. Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-04 19:39:20|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese-built Lower Sesan II Hydroelectric power station has high responsibility for social and environmental protection, a Cambodian environment official has said. Located in Stung Treng province's Sesan district in northeast Cambodia, the 400-megawatt dam began operations in December last year after almost five years of construction. The 781-million-U.S.-dollar project was a joint venture among China's Huaneng Hydrolancang International Energy, Cambodia's Royal Group and Vietnamese EVN International Joint Stock Company. Eng Phirong, director of Stung Treng Provincial Department of Environment, said the Lower Sesan II Hydropower Company has paid particular attention to environmental protection, complying with all requirements in the Environmental Impact Assessment paper. "My colleagues and I have visited the hydropower station regularly to inspect the management of solid and liquid wastes and we found that the company has managed them very well," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. For the liquid waste, the firm has a reservoir to store it for treatment before releasing it into the river, Phirong said. "We have also taken water samples at the hydropower station for a test at the Ministry of Environment's laboratory, and found that there is nothing changed, the quality of water is good," he said. "In sum, I can say that the company has paid high attention to environmental protection because the quality of water and air there is pretty good." Apart from keeping environmental protection in mind, the company is also helping preserve fish species at the hydropower station by building a fish pass. "The fish ladder is very important for fish to migrate across the hydropower station and it will help protect fish species from extinction," Phirong said. The director said he learned from fishermen that fish population there had remarkably increased since the fish way was created. "Currently, the hydropower station and its surrounding waters are a huge fish habitat in Stung Treng province," he said. Phirong said he was impressed by the company's "high responsibility to protect environment" and he praised the company for cooperating well with local authorities at all levels. "We appreciate their good cooperation with us in the past and we stand ready to continue our good cooperation in the future for the sustainability of our environment for the long run," he said, adding that "we want the company to support us in promoting the awareness of environmental protection in the local community." Phirong also suggested that, if possible, the company should set up a plant nursery in order to distribute tree seedlings to locals. The Lower Sesan II Hydroelectric power station is the kingdom's biggest dam so far. Commenting on the green electricity generated by the hydropower station, the director said the dam is vital to ensure energy security in Cambodia and to bring reliable and clean electricity to the local community. "Now, local residents have lived decently, they own farmland, they have cheap-priced electricity, and they have good roads, schools, health centers, and pagodas," he said. "Overall, their living conditions are far better than before." Donald Trump would no longer compete in the presidential election with former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, who became a worthy competitor from the Democratic Party in the 2016 elections A few days ago, presidential elections were held in Ukraine and, although their result has not been officially announced yet. At the same time, more than a year has left before the US presidential elections, but they promise to be no less interesting since the number of people wishing to compete with the country's current leader is growing every day and has already reached two dozen. Who are Donald Trumps rivals in the November 3, 2020 elections? Without Hillary Clinton and Michael Bloomberg The US electoral system is as old and very confused, so Americans begin to prepare for presidential elections, which are held in five stages, in no less than a year and a half. Most often, candidates are nominated from the two most popular political parties (Democratic and Republican) during the primaries. But the countdown of the electoral process begins with the adoption of a personal decision to run for elections. Fox News Donald Trump would no longer compete in the presidential election with former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, who became a worthy competitor from the Democratic Party in the 2016 elections. "I do not stand for office, but I will continue my work," she told the local press. This might be incomprehensible to the Ukrainians, but it is not surprising for the Americans. The last politician in US history who was successfully elected as a president after losing an election was Richard Nixon. He lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960 but won the election in 1968 and 1972. Clinton is far from the only one who has already refused to fight with him for the presidency. The same decision was made: Michael Bloomberg, ex-mayor of New York, billionaire; Sherrod Brown, Senator from Ohio; Andrew Gillum, ex-mayor of Tallahassee; Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential celebrities and social activists; Eric Holder, former US Attorney General; Jeff Merkley, US Senator from Oregon. Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris are in Nevertheless, the American presidential race promises to be extremely interesting, if only because the number of people wishing to take part in it grows with each passing day. According to the latest BBC data, 16 Democrats have already announced their plans to run for the elections, including the Vermont senator, a former presidential candidate in the 2016 elections, Bernie Sanders, and the rising star, California senator Kamala Harris. Seven of them are progressive Democrats, and another four are centrist Democrats. In addition, among those who expressed a desire to run for president, there is a large majority of women (six) and minorities representatives (seven). Bernie Sanders Open source A Vermont senator, a former presidential candidate in the 2016 elections then he lost the primaries of the Democratic Party to Hillary Clinton, but repeatedly said that he would come forward again, and he kept that promise. He calls himself a democratic socialist stands for universal health care and free higher education, which is why he enjoys great popularity. In 2020, he will be 79 years old, and if he wins, he will become the oldest president in US history. But many doubt that this is real because three years ago he pushed the Democratic Party to the left and amassed competitors in the person of former allies Elizabeth Warren and Tulsi Gabbard. They can steal a part of the electorate from him. Elizabeth Warren Open source Massachusetts senator, Wall Street critic, a favorite of the progressive left since she entered the political arena to promote tighter regulation of the financial sector after the 2008 crisis. In the upper house of Congress, she passionately interrogated the Wall Street executives and criticized income inequality. Her main problem is the expansion of the base of supporters. Tulsi Gabbard Open source A congresswoman from the state of Hawaii, a veteran of the war in Iraq, a representative of minorities (a native of American Samoa of Polynesian origin), the first in the history of Congresswoman professing Hinduism. She criticized the entry of American troops into Syria, calling it "an illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government." In January 2017, she even met with Bashar Assad, for which she was seriously criticized. She is a Democrat from the progressive camp, but inconsistent in her opinions first, she criticized "homosexual extremists" and then began to support same-sex marriage; opposed abortion, and then started supporting them. If the Democratic Party needs a young, charismatic politician, the 37-year-old Gabbard is quite suitable. Kamala Harris Open source The senator from California has every chance of becoming a new face of the Democratic Party; she is called a rising star of the corresponding political force. Enjoys the support of minorities, as she is the daughter of immigrants (her father came from Jamaica, mother migrated from India). In addition, she is the only black female senator who consistently supported congressional liberals. Her main disadvantage is the experience of the Attorney General of California. Harris did not succeed in reforming the states criminal system, which caused a storm of criticism. Amy Klobuchar Open source Senator from Minnesota, lawyer, a former prosecutor. She demonstrated cool professionalism at the hearing on the approval of the candidature of Brett Kavanaugh for the position of the Supreme Court judge; he was accused of sexual harassment. She positioned herself as a person capable of "resisting and not being nasty," but she herself was accused of insulting her subordinates. Experts believe that Klobuchars robust, rational political views can attract a majority of Democratic voters who are more interested in choice than ideological purity. Corey Booker Open source Senator from New Jersey, one of the best young political politicians, an expert in fundraising, supported by minorities and those who want to see new faces in politics. Booker knows how to work with donors on Wall Street, but this closeness to New York and big money arouses suspicion among Left Democrats. Julian Castro Open source Former Minister of Housing and Urban Development in the Barack Obama administration, former mayor of San Antonio, Texas. If he had run for president several years ago, he could have received a lot of support, but now his name is not widely known, unlike the other candidates. Of its main advantages is his Mexican origin and age (44 years), since Democrats are interested in the Latin American electorate and young voters. Kirsten Gillibrand Open source Senator from New York, an activist of #MeToo movement. Most likely, as a presidential candidate, he will be eliminated, because even before the start of the election campaign, he angered the Democrats by calling for the resignation of Senator Al Franken amid allegations of sexual harassment. She is also unpleasant for supporters of Hillary Clinton (her criticism of the behavior of Bill Clinton during the scandal with Monica Lewinsky). Pete Buttigieg Open source Mayor of South Bend (Indiana), a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, an open gay and millenial candidate. He was first elected mayor when he was not yet 30. He promises that his generation will be the first, "which in material terms will not live better than our parents if nothing changes." John Delaney Open source A former technology entrepreneur, a congressman from Maryland. He became the first among those who declared participation in the presidential campaign of 2020. He calls for interparty cooperation between Republicans and Democrats. Considering how divided they are now, the tactic is not the most successful one, but experts believe that if he uses his time wisely, he will be able to get some support from voters. Marianna Williamson Open source The author of the bestsellers, the head of a charitable organization, is proud of the fact that her books are read by TV presenter Oprah Winfrey. She has a chance to realize her plan to study more deeply the issues that the US faces as a nation if Oprah Winfrey herself does not go to the polls. Andrew Yang Open source The lawyer, a technology entrepreneur, ambassador for global entrepreneurship under President Obama. Enjoys the support of minorities due to his Taiwanese origin. He offered the US government to pay $ 1,000 each month to all Americans from 18 to 64 years old as basic unconditional income. This was supposed to be a safety cushion in the event of a reduction in the number of jobs due to automation. He is considered the candidate of one idea, and the success of his campaign depends on whether he can convince the Democrats of the correctness of this idea. John Hickenlooper Open source The former governor of Colorado, a moderate Democrat, he calls himself "an antidote against Trump." His main achievements are toughening control over the circulation of weapons, expanding health insurance, protecting gay rights, and protecting the environment. Jay Insley Open source Governor of Washington, an opponent of Trump's climate policy. As a congressman, he talked a lot about the problems of global warming and the environment. He expands health insurance in his state, increases the minimum wage, introduces paid sick leave. He is considered a strong candidate, the only difficulty is the expansion of the base of supporters. Beto O'Rourke Open source Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 16th Texas Constituency. Last year, he was a candidate for the United States Democratic Party for the post of the senator from the same state, but he lost to the current senator, Republican Ted Cruz. His knowledge of Spanish attracts Latin Americans, and his interest in skateboard, rock music and vigor attracts the youth. Wayne Messam Open source Mayor of Miramar in southern Florida, a former athlete, and entrepreneur. Enjoys the support of minorities since he is the son of Jamaican immigrants. Focused on the idea of the "American dream." Experts believe that of all the named candidates for the presidency of the state, Messam has the most miserable chances. Wild cards Some of the most-discussed US presidential candidates still do not reveal their plans. One of them is former US Vice President Joe Biden. He is an experienced politician, Trump's opponent. Biden has a rather respectable age of 76 years. He ran for president in 1998 and 2008 but did not submit his candidacy in 2016 due to the death of his son. If he went to the polls in 2020, he could instantly gain more support; he is supported by the white voters of the working and middle class. Some believe that the recent allegations of sexual harassment of a politician are related to the fact that Biden is considering taking part in the presidential race. In addition to Biden, the question of whether to run for president or not is still relevant for at least 16 people: Stacey Abrams, lawyer, and writer, who was a minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2011 2017; Bill De Blasio, New York Mayor; Howard Schultz, Starbucks head; Mitch Landrieu, ex-mayor of New Orleans; John Kerry, former Massachusetts senator; Tim Ryan, Ohio Congressman; Dwayne Johnson, wrestler, actor and film producer; Tim Kaine, Virginia Senator; Mark Cuban, billionaire; Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Governor; Mark Warner, ex-governor of Virginia; Steve Bullock, Montana Governor; Michael Bennett, Senator from Colorado; Eric Swalwell, California Congressman; Jason Kander, US Army veteran and former Secretary of State of Missouri; Seth Moulton, a congressman from Massachusetts. Of these, Schultz, Johnson, and Kuban are the most popular. They are called wild cards or jokers of the upcoming political race. Read the original text at 112.ua. For now, he is being questioned by the relevant units of the Joint Forces Another militant was taken prisoner in Joint Forces Operation zone, as the press office of JFO reported on Facebook. It was reported that at around 1 a.m. the enemy intelligence cell tried to circumvent the Ukrainian positions in Donetsk sector. Yet, the soldiers of the Joint Forces Operation have reacted in time and started a battle. Then, the illegal armed formations retreated and the Ukrainian military captured one hostile trooper. It was also reported that the detainee is the soldier of the 100th Detached Motorized Infantry Brigade Yuriy S. For now, he is being questioned by the relevant units of the Joint Forces. Earlier, it was reported that the representative of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan said that since the beginning of winter. 16 people died of natural causes and 20 deceased in combat actions. Related video: Open source The Russia-backed militants fired at the entry-exit checkpoint Mariinka in Donetsk region. As a result of the attack, one worker of Ukraines State Border Guard Service was wounded in Donbas combat zone. Oleg Slobodyan, the spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine stated this. One more shelling of Mariinka checkpoint happened. Approximately at 2:00 PM, the shift chief at the zero entry-exit checkpoint of Mariinka was wounded because of the shelling with the sniper rifle from the temporarily occupied territories. The health condition of the injured serviceman is satisfactory. He was provided with first medical aid and then hospitalized. The pass of persons and vehicles through the checkpoint Mariinka is temporarily suspended by the decision of the Joint Forces operation HQ, Slobodyan wrote on Facebook. According to the report, dozens of civilians, including children, were at the checkpoint during the attack. The enemy opened fire six times. Another militant was taken prisoner in Joint Forces Operation zone, as the press office of JFO reported on Facebook. It was reported that at around 1 a.m. the enemys intelligence cell tried to circumvent the Ukrainian positions in Donetsk sector. Yet, the soldiers of the Joint Forces Operation have reacted in time and started a battle. Then, the illegal armed formations retreated and the Ukrainian military captured militants. Lloyd Axworthy served as an official election monitor in Ukraine for the first round of that country's presidential election OTTAWA After serving as an official election monitor in Ukraine for the first round of that countrys presidential election, former Liberal foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy is warning Canadians will be vulnerable to Russian disinformation during the federal contest scheduled for this October. Theres some lessons to learn for Canadians. I think Ukraines on the front line, and theres a wake-up call that anybodys election, including ours in six months, could be altered, disrupted or problems could be created in terms of disinformation if youre not very watchful about it, he said in an interview with the National Post on Thursday. I cant predict what would happen here. I just know that were vulnerable. Axworthy, who served in the cabinets of Jean Chretien and Pierre Trudeau and currently chairs the World Refugee Council, led a group of more than a hundred Canadian election observers funded by Global Affairs Canada to meet with Ukrainian officials and report on the integrity of its proceedings this week. Even against the odds of Russian interference and the conflicts on the east side and so on, they did a very effective job and there werent a lot of disruptions, he said. There were small glitches but nothing affected the outcome. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan recently announced they were extending a training mission in Ukraine through 2022. About 200 Canadian troops are stationed in the countrys west assisting its military as conflict with Russia-backed separatists continues in eastern Ukraine. The federal budget released last month committed about $100 million to that cause over the next three years. Of 39 candidates for Ukrainian president, comedian Volodymyr Zelensky won 30 per cent of the vote over incumbent Petro Poroshenkos 16 per cent. The way the countrys voting system works, the two will face off again in a second run-off election later this month, which Axworthy said will likely be a target of attempted foreign interference. He said election observation missions are a tangible, relatively low-cost way that Canada can show its presence in the world. Because elections come around like streetcars, it is also something that the government can put more planning and energy towards anytime. There should be more of it. I think it should be clearly seen as one of the important ways that we can contribute to pushing back on the anti-democratic waves that are out there. And I think that it is a very good way for Canadians to feel theyre participating in these events, theyre not just watching from a doorstep, he said. I think were in a very important period, because clearly theres a lot of governments out there now which are tending towards more authoritarianism and more suppressing votes. And I think having more outside observers, that provides an antidote or a deterrent to that, because theyre going to be called on it. Freelands office told the Post last May that the minister had become personally seized with reversing a general decline in election observation missions. The Ukraine mission, Canadas first in several years, will be massive, costing $11 million and involving more than 500 observers. Other missions have not been announced. Documents obtained via an access-to-information request show officials inside GAC were confused, when answering the Posts questions about election observation, about who in the department was actually responsible for doling out such funding. Between 2013 and 2016, about 850 Canadians travelled to report on about 20 elections. From a high point of $8.2 million in funding in the 2014-15 financial year, only $700,000 had gone towards such programs in 2015-16. Axworthy said Canada could ramp up its participation not only in election observation but in diplomatic efforts writ large. He acknowledged that after cutbacks under the previous Conservative government, the current Liberals havent fleshed their foreign department back out, despite their famous claim that Canada is back. I think the government needs to put more investment in these sorts of things. I dont mean massive sums like they did on infrastructure. But we really have to maintain a very active and effective diplomatic network around the world, he said. Read the full article here. Pences rebuke raised the stakes of Turkeys insistence over buying Russian S-400s to deploy alongside NATOs most advanced stealth fighter jet. Pence reiterated that the United States would not deliver the F-35 warplanes to Turkey Open source Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans determination to purchase Russian anti-aircraft missile systems could cripple his countrys participation in the NATO alliance, Vice President Mike Pence warned Wednesday. Turkey must choose: Does it want to remain a critical partner of the most successful military alliance in the history of the world? Pence said at NATO Engages, an event hosted on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. Or, does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making reckless decisions that undermine that alliance? Pences rebuke raised the stakes of Turkeys insistence over buying Russian S-400s to deploy alongside NATOs most advanced stealth fighter jet. Pence reiterated that the United States would not deliver the F-35 warplanes to Turkey if Erdogan sticks with the S-400s, just hours after the top Turkish diplomat demanded the planes while downplaying the value of Trumps offer to sell alternative U.S.-made air defense systems. Turkey is part of this [program] and we have [been] introducing many parts of this F-35, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at the same forum. So this is not like U.S. is producing something and U.S. is selling to NATO allies, including Turkey. So, we are part of this program, so it shouldnt be that simple. Cavusoglu also denied Turkey is creating a rift within NATO. Turkey doesnt have to choose between Russia or any others, Cavusoglu said. And we dont see our relations with Russia as an alternative to our relations with others and nobody, neither West nor Russia, should or can ask us to choose between [them]. European countries have a heightened sense of the danger posed by Russia because of the violence in Ukraine since 2014, when the Kremlin annexed Crimea and sent unmarked special forces into the eastern part of the country. Cavusoglu suggested the conflict arose, in part, from Western demands that Ukraine spurn Russia. And, it happened with Ukraine, and look at what happened, he said at the event, which is being hosted by the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund, and the Munich Security Conference. The West asked Ukraine to choose only them and Russia did the same thing, vice versa, so Turkey cannot be put in the same situation and we need to balance our relations with everybody. Cavusoglus comments drew an immediate rebuke from a Ukrainian official at the event, which was structured as a question-and-answer session. You said that Russia is pulling my country to one side, NATO is pulling it to another side, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraines vice prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, told the Turkish official. Its our decision. We have decided to move to NATO. Cavusoglu expressed optimism President Trump would authorize the delivery of the jets, saying he had heard contradicting statements from different parts of the U.S. government. Pence replied with an unambiguous endorsement of the Pentagons decision this week to halt delivery of any equipment related to the F-35. The Pentagon made clear earlier this week and I repeat today: If Turkey completes its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system, Turkey risks expulsion from the joint F-35 program Pence said. Read the original text here. Madam Speaker, Mr Vice President, Honourable members of the United States Congress, Ladies and gentlemen. I am really truly honoured and grateful for the privilege of addressing you all today. And to represent the 29 members of the NATO Alliance. 70 years ago, tomorrow, NATOs founding treaty was signed in this great city. On that day, President Truman said, We hope to create a shield against aggression and the fear of aggression; a bulwark which will permit us to get on with the real business of government and society; the business of achieving a fuller and happier life for all our citizens. Our Alliance was created by people who had lived through two devastating world wars. They knew only too well the horror, the suffering, and the human and material cost of war. They were determined that this should never happen again. And they were also determined to stand up to the expansion of the Soviet Union. Which was taking control of its neighbours. Crushing democracies. And oppressing their people. So, they founded NATO. With a clear purpose. To preserve peace and to safeguard freedom. With an iron-clad commitment by all members of the Alliance to protect each other. They made a solemn promise. One for all and all for one. This commitment has served us well. Peace has been preserved. Freedom maintained. Yes, Allies have been involved in conflicts in different parts of the world. And Allies have suffered the pain of terrorist attacks. But no NATO Ally has been attacked by another country. The Cold War ended without a shot being fired in Europe. And we have experienced an unprecedented period of peace. So, the NATO alliance is not only the longest lasting alliance in history. It is the most successful alliance in history. Ever since the founding of our Alliance in 1949, every Congress, every American president, your men and women in uniform, and the people of the United States of America, have been staunch supporters of NATO. America has been the backbone of our Alliance. It has been fundamental to European security and for our freedom. We would not have the peaceful and prosperous Europe we see today without the sacrifice and commitment of the United States. For your enduring support, I thank you all today. So NATO has been good for Europe. And NATO has been good for the United States. The strength of a nation is not only measured by the size of its economy. Or the number of its soldiers. But also by the number of its friends. And through NATO, the United States has more friends and allies than any other power. This has made the United States stronger, safer, and more secure. Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice-President, Its good to have friends. Yesterday as I flew over the Atlantic, I looked out of my window at the ocean below. The great ocean that lies between our two continents. The Atlantic does not divide us. It unites us. It binds us together. And for Norwegians like me, the Atlantic Ocean defines who we are. Indeed, it was a Norseman, Leif Eriksen, who was the first European to reach American shores, almost a thousand years ago. A fact that more people would know if he had not left so quickly! And decided not to tell anyone about it! For adventurers like Leif Eriksen, the Atlantic Ocean was never a barrier. Rather, it was a great blue bridge to new lands and new possibilities. For millions of Europeans, it has been a bridge to freedom, sanctuary, and hope. So, we should not be surprised when we see differences between our countries. Today there are disagreements on issues such as trade, energy, climate change, and the Iran nuclear deal. These are serious issues and serious disagreements. But we should remember that weve had our disagreements before. The Suez Crisis in 1956. The French withdrawal from military cooperation in NATO in 1966. And the Iraq War in 2003, Which was strongly supported by some Allies. And equally strongly opposed by others. The strength of NATO is that despite our differences, we have always been able to unite around our core task. To defend each other. Protect each other. And to keep our people safe. We have overcome our disagreements in the past. And we must overcome our differences now. Because we will need our Alliance even more in the future. We face unprecedented challenges, challenges no one nation can face alone The global balance of power is shifting. The fight against terrorism is a generational fight. We have only just seen the beginning of the threats in cyber space. Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and big data could change the nature of conflict more fundamentally than the Industrial Revolution. And we will need to continue to deal with a more assertive Russia. In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea. The first time in Europe that one country had taken part of another by force since World War Two. We see a pattern of Russian behaviour. Including a massive military build-up from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and from the Black Sea to the Baltic. The use of a military-grade nerve agent in the United Kingdom. Support for Assads murderous regime in Syria. Consistent cyber-attacks on NATO Allies and partners, targeting everything from Parliaments to power grids. Sophisticated disinformation campaigns. And attempts to interfere in democracy itself. NATO has responded with the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence in decades. For the first time, we have combat-ready troops deployed in the east of our Alliance. We have increased the readiness of our forces. Tripled the size of the NATO Response Force. Modernized our command structure. Bolstered our cyber defences. And we have stepped up support for our close partners, Georgia and Ukraine, sovereign nations with the sovereign right to choose their own path. We do all of this not to provoke a conflict. But to prevent a conflict. And to preserve the peace. Not to fight, but to deter. Not to attack, but to defend. There is no contradiction between deterrence, defence and dialogue. We do not want to isolate Russia. We strive for a better relationship with Russia. But even without a better relationship, we still need to manage a difficult one. So, we need to talk. And we do talk. To reduce risks, to avoid incidents, accidents and miscalculations. We also need dialogue in order to work for arms control. My generation was shaped by the deployment of thousands of nuclear missiles in Europe in the 1980s. Missiles capable of destroying our cities and killing millions of people in moments. Thanks to the vision and leadership of President Reagan and Premier Gorbachov, the INF Treaty put an end to all these weapons. But today, they are back. Russia has deployed new missiles in Europe. They are mobile. Hard to detect. Nuclear capable. Cut the warning time to just minutes. And reduce the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. NATOs position is united and clear Russia is in violation of the INF Treaty. There are no new American missiles in Europe. But there are new Russian missiles. I continue to call on Russia to return to compliance with the INF Treaty. But so far Russia has taken no steps to do so. And time is running out. We do not want a new arms race. We do not want a new Cold War. But we must not be naive. An agreement that is only respected by one side will not keep us safe. So we must also prepare for a world without the INF Treaty. We will be measured and coordinated. We will not mirror what Russia is doing. NATO has no intention of deploying land-based nuclear missiles in Europe. But NATO will always take the necessary steps to provide credible and effective deterrence. Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice-President, The ultimate expression of burden sharing is that we stand together. Fight together. And, sometimes, die together. I have visited Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to all those American soldiers who have given their lives. Many of them in defence of Europe. Two World Wars and the Cold War made it clear how important America is to the security of Europe. And equally, that peace and stability in Europe is important to the United States. Our Alliance has not lasted for seventy years out of a sense of nostalgia. Or of sentiment. NATO lasts because it is in the national interest of each and every one of our nations. Together, we represent almost one billion people. We are half of the worlds economic might. And half of the worlds military might. When we stand together, we are stronger than any potential challenger economically, politically and militarily. We need this collective strength. Because we will face new threats. And we have seen so many times before how difficult it is to predict the future. We were not able to predict the fall of the Berlin Wall. The 9/11 attacks. Or the rise of ISIS. Or Russias illegal annexation of Crimea. Since we cannot foresee the future, we have to be prepared for the unforeseen. We need a strategy to deal with uncertainty. We have one. That strategy is NATO. A strong and agile NATO reduces risks. And enables us to deal with surprises when they happen. And they will happen. NATO is the most successful Alliance in history because we have always been able to change as the world changes. And because, despite our differences, we are united in our commitment to each other. NATO is an alliance of sovereign nations. United by democracy, liberty and the rule of law. By a persons right to live their life in the pursuit of happiness. Free from oppression. Values that lie at the heart of the United States. And at the heart of NATO. As President Eisenhower, NATOs first Supreme Allied Commander, said, We are concerned not only with the protection of territory but with the defence of a way of life. Europe and North America are not separated by the Atlantic Ocean. We are united by it. And just like the Atlantic, NATO unites our continents. Our nations. And our people. It has done so for 70 years. And today we must do everything in our power to maintain that unity for future generations. Because come what may, We are stronger and safer when we stand together. Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, It is good to have friends. Thank you. The inimitable artist T.C. Cannon has a retrospective at downtown Manhattan's National Museum of the American Indian opening this Saturday. The show is culled from roughly 80 pieces the late Cannon created across several mediums (including painting, poetry, music, and works on paper) and traces the trajectory of one of the most significant contemporary Native artists in the 20th century. Tommy Wayne Cannon, who had Caddo and Kiowa heritage, was born in 1946 and grew up in Oklahoma. In 1964 he attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, he found a mentor in Fritz Scholder, the famous painter who later became a prominent figure in the New American Indian Art movement. There, Cannon was exposed to varying styles of art, as well as philosophy and poetry, all of which he refined through his work. This socially, politically, and personally turbulent time of the 1960s, especially given his experience fighting in the Vietnam War in 1968, trickled into the images he crafted. Cannon was a visionary at the forefront of broadening and reshaping the boundaries of Native artistic narratives," said Kevin Gover, the director of the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian, and a citizen of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma in a press release. "The imagery he created was stunningly authentic and has influenced the work of many other artists, Native and non-Native alike. In the 1970s, Cannon spent time in New York City, a move that became game-changing for his career. At Cannon and Scholder's joint Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition, Two American Painters: Fritz Scholder and T.C. Cannon," the art dealer Jean Aberbach bought practically every single one of Cannon's works from the gallery. Until Cannon's death at 31 from a car accident, Aberbach represented the artist and exhibited his works at the Aberbach Gallery on Madison Avenue. "He really was a very curious kind of obsessed historian who had tons of diverse interests in all kinds of art, poetry and religion," says Karen Kramer, the exhibition's curator and curator of Native American and Oceanic Art and Culture at the Peabody Essex Museum, of Cannon. "I can imagine he would have been so delighted and kind of overwhelmed by all of the art around him in New York." Cannon's most visible workshis magnificent paintingsfrequently melded elements of Pop Art with emblems of Native life, often touching on identity, ownership, and assimilation. One standout piece from the show, a massive painting entitled Two Guns Arikara, features a man wearing Native and non-Native clothing alike, sporting a bright purple pompadour as he sits and looks at, and through, the viewer. "Images of Native people have been circulating since the invention of photography and non-Native people really have framed how Natives are understood," says Kramer. "And so for T.C. Cannon to take back the representation of Native people, and in this really bold way with these colors inspired by Matisse [and] Van Gogh but also inspired by his own cultural heritage is super powerful." T.C. Cannon: At the Edge of America will be on view at Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian, at 1 Bowling Green, from April 6th through September 16th. The German Chancellor stated that Germany would do anything to prevent Brexit without a deal The Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel expressed solidarity with the Irish Government during her visit to Dublin on Thursday and urged Great Britain to provide a sustainable plan to prevent a situation when Britain might be thrown out of the EU next week, as Guardian reported. Angela Merkel has pledged the European Unions support for averting a hard border on the island of Ireland despite concern this could undermine the single market in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the news agency reads. Answering the question of whether they can prevent the creation of a border with Ireland and protect the single market, Merkel said that the EU has to do that. We need to be patient and understanding of the predicament that they are in. But of course, any further extension must require and must have a credible and realistic way forward, the Chancellor said. She expressed hope that Theresa May can present a proposal till next Wednesday at a special session of the European Council. We want to stand together as 27. Until the very last hour I can say this from the German side we will do everything in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit, Merkel said. Answering a question what would happen next week if Britain does not ratify the agreement of Theresa May with the EU on Brexit, the Chancellor said that she can not answer such speculative questions, and the EU has to respect the debates in Westminster. Her visit came amid continued flux in Westminster where the House of Lords debated a bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit. It will remain with the Lords until Monday after squeaking through the House of Commons by one vote on Wednesday night. Despite the public expression of solidarity from the EUs powerhouse, Ireland is coming under mounting pressure from EU members to show how it will avoid a hard border while protecting the integrity of the single market, the news agency reads. EU officials stated that on the first day of Breit control over milk and other products of animal origin delivered from Northern Ireland should be imposed. The Irish authorities are concerned that dozens of thousands of enterprises which trade with Great Britain through ports in Dublin and Rosslare are not ready for no deal Brexit. If these are perishable goods they run the risk of losing that load because they will be turned away, Lynda Slattery, the Head of the revenue services Brexit unit, told RTE. An 18-year-old American, Quinn Lucas Schansman was on board of MH17 on his way to his parents for a family vacation The relatives of the American killed in 2014 when the Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down over Ukraine filed a lawsuit against American money transfer companies and two Russian banks. The family accuses the establishments of providing services to the group they blame for striking Flight MH17, as Reuters reported. MH17 was brought down over territory held by pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine as it flew from Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board. About two-thirds of the passengers were Dutch, the news agency reads. An 18-year-old American, Quinn Lucas Schansman was on board of MH17 on his way to his parents for a family vacation. We realize that we will never get our son back. But we are committed to shedding light on and holding accountable all who participated in his murder, his father Thomas Schansman said. Lucass family are suing Sberbank of Russia, VTB Bank, Western Union Co and Western Union Financial Services, MoneyGram International Inc and MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc for providing services to the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic. Defendants provision of material support to the DPR was a substantial factor in the DPRs ability to launch a missile from territory it controlled; an attack that killed Quinn and 297 other innocent victims, the lawsuit reads. According to the preliminary information, the shell belongs to the period of WWII 100-kilogram bomb revealed in Slovakia on the border with Ukraine Open source A bomb that weighs 100 kilograms was found in Slovakia on the border with Ukraine, as Slovak police reported. It is likely that the shell belongs to the period of WWII; it appears to be an air bomb. The law enforcers held a special operation and moved the bomb to a safe place for security purposes. Open source 100-kilogram bomb revealed in Slovakia on the border with Ukraine Open source 100-kilogram bomb revealed in Slovakia on the border with Ukraine The bomb was moved to a special vehicle of rescue service. The vehicle was accompanied by the police. There were also ambulances and fire-trucks. The bomb could not be detonated on the site, as all the shatters would fly over a long distance. The incumbent Ukrainian leader posted a video message, in which he once again called on his opponent to face him directly Petro Poroshenko, video message on April 5, screenshot YouTube/ScreenShot President of Ukraine and currently the presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko made another video message on his Facebook page. In it, he called on his opponent Volodymyr Zelensky to come to debates. 'Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, do not search for any reasons, do not lay any conditions. Do not shelter yourself behind somebody else's authority. It's ugly. Act like a man. Come to debates. Stadium it is. I'm waiting!', Poroshenko said in the message. On April 3, Zelensky posted a promo video, in which he called Poroshenko for the debates at NSC Olimpiysky stadium. He stated he'd give Poroshenko '24 hours to consider it'. The President admitted that the Law foresees different conditions of the debates but agreed to hold the debates at Olimpiysky arena. Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky offered Yuliya Tymoshenko to become a referee at the debates at Olimpiyskiy stadium Petro Poroshenko, video message on April 5, screenshot YouTube/ScreenShot The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko commented on the proposition of Volodymyr Zelensky to involve the leader of Fatherland political party Yuliya Tymoshenko as an arbiter in the debates, 112 Ukraine reported. Here is my position. Debates are not a show. I think that such neglect and thoughtless treatment is a disrespect to the politician Yuliya Tymoshenko who is on the third place in the rating; it is a disrespect of her electorate, and over 2 million citizens voted for Yuliya Volodymyrivna. One should respect voters, Poroshenko said. Besides, the President thanked those Ukrainians who voted for him on March 31. I also respect the voters of Yuliya Tymoshenko, I respect those, who voted for Volodymyr Zelensky they are not indifferent, they have expressed their point. I will do everything possible to convince them to vote for me. Yet, I consider such attitude undignified, the President added. Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky offered Yuliya Tymoshenko to become an arbiter at the debates at Olimpiyskiy stadium. Tymoshenko said that she would think about it. As it was reported, the leaders of the presidential run are taking tests before the debates; it was one the conditions of Volodymyr Zelensky. Petro Poroshenko took tests at the medical center of the state-run Olimpiyskiy stadium; Volodymyr Zelensky passed that at the medical diagnostic center Eurolab, owned by his supporter, pro-Russian entrepreneur Andriy Palchevsky. The research was conducted at four facilities in Kyiv, two private and two public ones The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko takes blood tests bfore debates with Zelensky Presidential Administration press office The rapid diagnostic test taken by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko showed no psychoactive substance, said the chief doctor of Kyiv City Clinical Hospital Sociotherapy. 112 Ukraine broadcasted it. With the permission of a person who took the test we used several methods to identify psychoactive substances in the body. Those were fast tests, and I can reveal the results no psychoactive substance was found, Volodymyr Yary said. According to him, within two days, there will be a possibility to conduct more profound examination with a use of mass-selective gas chromatograph. Two hours after the procedure, we will have the results, complete information about the presence of absence of alcohol in the blood. According to the preliminary information, this procedure might last for two weeks. But we will make every effort to make it shorter, Volodymyr Yary said. He noted that the research was conducted in four facilities of the city two private and two public ones. These are clinics Borys, Medicom, an ambulance hospital, and citys drug abuse treatment, Yary stressed. As it was reported, the leaders of the presidential run are taking tests before the debates; it was one the conditions of Volodymyr Zelensky. Petro Poroshenko took tests in the medical center of Olimpiyskiy stadium, Volodymyr Zelensky - in the medical diagnostic center Eurolab. The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko Presidential Administration press office President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko arrived in the lab of the NSC Olimpiysky arena. The head of the state passed the probe for drugs and alcohol, just like his opponent Volodymyr Zelensky. The latter passed the test at a different lab after 8 a.m., whilst Poroshenko arrived at NSC Olimpiysky after 9 a.m. The incumbent head of the state passed the probe, left the lab room and then spoke to the journalists. 'In spite of this strange form of making the offer, they invited me to come to Olimpiysky stadium. I'm at the stadium today. I gather, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych never showed up... 'I showed up and you weren't there' (a reference to Ukrainian folk song, - 112 International). I'm sure he will accumulate enough courage and come here today, and the debates will take place. All the more the law required that', the President said. Poroshenko also offered to hold the debates in three stages; the first one would be dedicated to the candidates' positions on the key authority of the Supreme Commander in the enhancement of security and defense program. The next stage, according to him, would concern the matters of foreign affairs. And the third stage would address the protection of constitutional rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian citizens, as Poroshenko put it. Watching a reading of new theatre work is often exciting. The simple read-through of David Irelandswas electric back in 2013s PicknMix festival. Outburst Festival showed off three works in development inlast November, and the Lyrics New Playwrights Showcase has been a highlight of the last couple of Belfast International Arts Festivals.Last night, the Lyric Theatre hosted a concert reading of Conor Mitchells. Seven performers backed by a fourteen-piece band brought to life this new work in an epic performance that wowed the audience and once more demonstrated the versatility, passion and talent of Mitchell.The impact of the fences going up in 1953 Berlin is seen through the eyes of Stanislav and Hanna, a photographer and his muse. Trapped in the east, they scrounge a living through pornography. Always under pressure from pimp Ruddy, they trick a talented actress, Margot, into posing for an American magazine photoshoot. Her manager Gerardt has his doubts, but she presses ahead, aware that its not legit. But her sudden enthusiasm for the work and invitation for a critic to inspect it throws everyones life, safety and future into doubt right at the point Stalin dies.Its a Soviet story told through American-styled music, a mashup of cultures and ideologies that mirrors post-war Berlin. Taking full advantage of the considerable brass section, it kicks off with a big band sound, witty lyrics, some simple props and confidently modulates key mid-phrase. Its big, its brash and its full on from the very start.Mezzo-soprano Ciara Mackey plays pin-up girl Hanna, using hand gestures, glances and hard stares to portray her shaky co-dependent relationship with Stanislav (Darren Franklin). Each has a difficult backstory that only emerges later in the show, with Franklin then able to demonstrate the emotional power of his voice.Zoe Rainey gives actress Margot huge confidence and smiling energy as she first steps up to the microphone to unwittingly enter into the grubby world of Stanislavs studio. Theres an exquisite three-handed number with Mackey and soprano Rebecca Caine, before the actress off-stage playwright husband throws a spanner in her career and job security.New modern musical theatre often fails the could you hum it? test with nothing singable as you walk back to the car after a show. Not so with Mitchell, whose The Young Pornographers throws out song after song that are playful, intelligent, quite humorous and melodic.leads on to the glorious, with Mitchell dancing along on his conductors podium.Full of secrets, deception, self-preservation and unexpected proposals, the gradual revelation and understanding of the plot isnt hindered by the concert-style performance which tells its story with brio and panache.Steven Pages arts critic Comrade Poliakov who is later found to be manipulating his artists gets his own song. The baritones lyrics are seeded with suitably review-like words like oeuvre, caprice and transfigured! A bit of Irish history is thrown in for good measure, requiring nimble fingerwork by Keith McAlister on piano. Sean Kearns (Ruddy) and Matthew Cavan (Gerardt) complete the able cast.For a new work, the detail and subject-matter knowledge packed into the lyrics, together with the dramatic score is impressive. The former state anthem of the USSR pops up at the end of each half of the show with an increasing complex set of harmonies beautifully woven around the familiar rousing melody.The feelings of being trapped, segregated by physical and political barriers, and manipulated as part of wider agendas, echo strongly around 2019 Northern Ireland and the UKs shambolic Brexit negotiations.Mitchell curates excellence in everything he does, and the cast, musicians and creatives for this concert reading are a medley of the very best talent he knows. The Lyric Theatre deserves credit for helping develop this musical through their New Writing Department, and giving it a public airing.What has Belfast done to deserve Conor Mitchell?! The intelligent plot, the lightness of touch, the richness of the lyrics, the blending of the powerful voices, and the oomph from the orchestra and band made this world premiere concert reading ofa real treat for those gathered last night in the Lyric Theatres main stage auditorium. A great piece of musical theatre that will hopefully now grow into a full production. Plants of Enchantment On April 1 the Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham signed House Bill 581, aka the Hemp Manufacturing Act, into law, setting in motion a regulatory groundwork for hemp production, manufacturing and research in New Mexico. Sponsored during the latest legislative session by Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, HB 581 will provide farmers and manufacturers with guidance and a comprehensive framework for complying with state and federal law during the development of products ranging from hemp fiber and textiles to hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and resulting compounds or supplements. A state Supreme Court ruling that was issued last year found that Lujan-Grishams gubernatorial predecessor, Susana Martinez, vetoed 10 bills improperly, including one that would have licensed farmers to grow hemp here in New Mexico. The New Mexican goes on to note that HB 581s path to becoming state law was cleared by the high courts ruling on Martinez executive misconduct along with the approval of hemp farming licenses by the board of regents at New Mexico State University. FDA Hypes CBD Outreach On Tuesday, April 2 outgoing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb issued an updated statement on the agencys position on CBD. Readers of Joshua Lees Baked Goods column for Weekly Alibi are already familiar with Gottliebs pending resignation and developments (or lack thereof) in the FDA position on CBD. In this latest statement, Gottlieb announced new steps in that process, including a public hearing slated for May 31, formation of an internal working group to explore CBD approval and regulation, publication of an updated agency FAQ page, and issuance of warning letters. The agency sent warnings to Advanced Spine and Pain LLC (d/b/a Relievus), Nutra Pure LLC and PotNetwork Holdings Inc. for marketing CBD products to vulnerable populations using unfounded, egregious claims about their products ability to limit, treat or cure cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases, opioid use disorder, and other serious diseases, without sufficient evidence and legally required FDA approval. The FDA specifically warned these companies to cease and desist making unsubstantiated claims about more than a dozen products that span a number of websites and social media services. As the calendar clicks over to April, we find ourselves deep in the weeds of midseason replacement time. Longtime Idiot Box viewers should know that any show a broadcast network is just now getting around to premiering cant possibly have the confidence of executives and programmers. If it did, it would have premiered back in October with the rest of the new season. April is barely a month away from summer TV season, and thats just a death slot for limited series and endless true crime spin-offs of 20/20. So what is NBC doing airing the pilot for Abbys, a show with an impressive lineup of industry talent, this time of year? Suspicion is warranted. Abbys is the work of creator Josh Malmuth, who served as producer on such hit sitcoms as New Girl and Superstore. Michael Schur and David Miner are also on board as executive producers. You might have seen their names on The Office, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place. So far, so good. Set in a working-class San Diego neighborhood, the series centers on Abby (Natalie Morales of criminally underrated superhero series The Middleman). Abby is a bisexual Latina ex-Marine sergeantwhich is commendable in terms of representation, but frankly very little of that ever actually comes up. It seems that Abby has spent years running an unlicensed neighborhood bar in the back yard of the home she rents. The show quickly establishes the situation in its sitcom by introducing dorky, jazz-loving engineer Bill (Franklin Nelson from The Millers and New Girl). Bill is the exact opposite of Abby. Naturally, hes her new landlord, having inherited the property from his elderly aunt. He balks at Abbys illegal establishment, of course; but after 15 minutes of snarky patter, hes totally on board as her new partner. The excuse is that Bills recently divorced and lonely. The sense of community that Abbys bar fostersamong a stereotyped selection of drunk suburbanites hiding from their nearby familiesappeals to him. Or something to that effect. Abbys doesnt try very hard to build storylines. Its a straight-up, old school three-camera sitcom with the standard setup/punchline joke structure. The one gimmick it offers is that its recorded live in front of a studio audienceoutdoors! (Its shot on the same studio backlot as Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives.) Meh. The cast, including the likes of Neil Flynn (Scrubs, The Middle) and Jessica Chaffin (Zoey 101, Man with a Plan), are all old hands at this sort of back-and-forth, insult-heavy banter. They goose the punchlines with conviction. But the lines are just so generic. (Big dude: I dont like confrontation. Bar back: But youre the bouncer! Big dude: I know, its messed up!) Meh. The show is obviously hoping to mine comic friction from the partnership between gruff Abby and uptight Bill. But Sam and Diane this aint. Abbys tries to wed old school sitcom structure with edgy content. (Did we mention the main character is bisexual?). The cast is gung ho, but the humor is just too mild to qualify as edgy or particularly funny. With its laugh tracks and its live studio audience, Abbys feels like a leftover 90s sitcom. Or something from CBS. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan Thursday evening to call for the Special Counsels Trump-Russia investigation to be released to the public in full. The demonstration came on the heels of reports suggesting Attorney General Bill Barrs brief summary of Robert Muellers nearly 400-page report painted a rosier picture for the president than what the totality of the probe unearthed. There is nothing that has happened in this country under this administration that makes us believe we should trust the word of anybody thats in that administration, period, recently elected Public Advocate Jumaane Williams told the crowd. All weve heard is deception. All we hear is moving things to the side. Dont look here, dont look at the man behind the curtain. Well, we want that curtain ripped open. We want to see whats behind it. If you are telling us that there is nothing in that report, release it now. For those who gathered at Times Square, where the crowd sang anti-Trump hymns, hoisted signs and chanted before making its way to Madison Square Park, Barrs summary should be viewed with suspicion and at best is a CliffsNotes version of the report, necessitating that the complete report from Mueller be released. That was watered-down, said Daisy Bradshaw, who works in the Garment industry, of the Barr summary, in an interview. I just want the truth. Ed Leung, who hoped the rally would create public pressure that would give congressional Democrats a spine, said Barrs synopsis amounted to a coverup. Attorney General Barrs synopsis, or whatever you call it, clearly was not sufficient and it was probably misleading, Barbara Goldberg, a retiree from Queens, told Gothamist. "And the American people have a right to know what Robert Mueller found out after investigating for two years. In addition to Barr being a Trump appointee who, before taking the job, wrote an unsolicited 19-page memo to the Justice Department opining that Muellers obstruction theory is fatally misconceived, Thursday nights protesters were given new reason to doubt the accuracy of Barrs synopsis. NBC News reported in the afternoon that Muellers investigation found stronger evidence that Trump sought to impede the investigation than Barr had indicated, and members of the campaign were manipulated by Russian intelligence, according to investigators. This came a day after the New York Times reported that members of Muellers team are frustrated with Barrs summary, and are telling associates that what the special counsel investigation unearthed was more troubling than what Barr wrote. These reports follow the immediate aftermath of a 22-month investigation, which drew to a close on March 22nd, when Mueller submitted the report to Barr. And on March 24th, Barr released his four-page summary of the report, which Barr said found no evidence of collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign. On the matter of obstruction, Barr noted that while Mueller did not exonerate the president, Mueller did not draw a conclusionone way or the otheras to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction. Barrs letter asserted that the decision on obstruction had been left up to him, and he and deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had concluded there was insufficient evidence. While several protesters told Gothamist that, while they doubted Barrs actions were aboveboard, seeing him as a Trump lackey, they admired Mueller, describing him as a man of integrity who did an honest and thorough job. Ken Kidd, a health-care advocate and member of Sing Out Louise the group leading the Trump opponents in prepared anti-Trump songs, distributed on leaflets said he trusted Mueller, who he labeled stand-up guy and by-the-book Republican. He has no reason to lie, said Kidd. I have absolutely no reason to doubt the veracity of Mr. Mueller, based on his long career of public service, rallier Susan Alevas told Gothamist. Its impeccable. Hes a straight arrow. He follows the law to the letter. He has given tremendous service to this country on the battlefield and government. Hes done nothing but act to the highest levels of ethics and integrity. Those gathered had hope the full report would shed light on Trumps wrongdoinga key reason why Trumps committed opponents were on Thursday clamoring to know what exactly he found. Without the report, we really dont have any means to invoke impeachment or the 22nd Amendment, said Jess Lurie, an event planner who was holding a sign that read All Purpose Pissed Off Protest Sign Fuck 45. We need our proof. Thats what we need. But not everyone was waiting to read the Mueller report before reaching their conclusions. Podcast Gaslit Nation co-host and writer Andrea Chalupa told the crowd, We already know that Trump is a tool of the Kremlin. Weve already seen it, Chalupa continued. We dont need Muellers report, [but] the fact that we dont have the Mueller report is a sign that authoritarianism is already here. She also claimed reporting in the mainstream media following the release of Barrs summary erred in what she said was unskeptical acceptance of Barrs exoneration of Trump. Do not trust the corporate media to protect you, she said. After more than an hour in a barricaded area on Broadway between 41st and 42nd Street, the crowdone of many Moveon.org-organized gatherings across the country to call for the Mueller reports releasemigrated south toward Madison Square Park, drawing cell phone cameras and mixed reactions from onlookers along the way. I think theyre uninformed. Theyre foolish, scoffed Brian from Dayton, Ohio, visiting New York City with his family. They dont even know what theyre upset about. Theyre just mad. Christina, a New York City teacher who was looking on as the rally made its way past her, said she was sympathetic to the rallys cause. I think its important, just because its public information that concerns all of us, she said. As a democracy, we have a right to know whats going on in our government. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy. Areas of patchy fog. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Turning the house purple The DCCC, chaired by Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), has teamed up with the Houses centrist Blue Dog caucus to recruit candidates for the 2018 elections, attempting to replicate the 2006 strategy of then-DCCC chair Rahm Emanuel. Democrats did win back the House in 2006 (arguably due as much to George W. Bushs historic unpopularity as to Emanuel), but the influx of conservative Democrats contributed to a watering down of the Affordable Care Act and Wall Street reform, a shift to austerity, and, eventually, legislative stalemate. That doesnt seem to bother the DCCC. The Committees recruits are heavily weighted toward military veterans and former national security officials. Elissa Slotkin, a DCCC-backed candidate in Michigans 8th District, worked for the CIA in Iraq under John Negroponte before moving to George W. Bushs National Security Council and then Barack Obamas State and Defense Departments. Slotkin was an architect of the failed surge strategy in Iraq and continues to claim it as a success. As recently as 2014, she praised Negropontewhose claim to fame is covering up the atrocities committed by Reagan-supported right-wing forces in Central America. The DCCCs candidates also skew toward the well-heeled and well-connected. An heir to a liquor fortune, a millionaire philanthropist, a furniture company heir and former State Department official, the former executive of a shoe company once accused of labor abuses: All appear on the DCCCs 2018 roster. Angie Craig, running in Minnesotas 2nd District, was an executive of a powerful medical technology company and spent her time there funneling money to mostly Republicans. In Nebraskas 2nd District, the DCCC lent a hand to Brad Ashforda former Republican who favors abortion restrictionsat the expense of his more progressive primary challenger Kara Eastman, who supports reproductive rights, Medicare for All and other progressive policies. Over in Virginias 2nd, the DCCC swung in early behind businesswoman Elaine Luria, a military veteran who twice voted for her Republican opponent, over Karen Mallard, a union member who supports a $15 minimum wage and universal healthcare. DCCC officials and alumni have also reportedly stepped in to nudge progressive candidates out of several House races. In Colorados 6th, a Democratic-leaning swing district where Republican Rep. Mike Coffman is considered vulnerable, party officials are reportedly trying to clear the field for DCCC-trained former Army Ranger Jason Crow. Levi Tillemann, a progressive candidate whose campaign is managed by a Sanders 2016 alum, says he was asked in January by Minority Whip Steny Hoyera former DCCC official and major fundraiserto exit the race because Democratic leaders had decided very early on to back Crow. In Pennsylvanias 7th District, the DCCC pressured out a progressive because they felt their pick would be a better fundraiser. In Californias 39th, it was to make way for a lottery-winning lifelong Republican who switched parties because he believes the Democrats are closer than the GOP to Reagan-era Republicanism. The DCCC appears reluctant to support progressives even when they present the only opportunity to flip a red seat. Last year, the Committee largely stayed away from the special election for Montanas at-large district, spending a mere $340,000 on populist Rob Quists surging campaign, compared to the millions it poured into centrist John Ossoffs bid for Georgias 6th district. In the April 2017 special election for Kansas ultraconservative 4th District after Mike Pompeo was tapped as Trumps CIA director, progressive James Thompson was frustrated that the DCCC put its resources to work only at the last minute. Thompson still came within seven points of flipping the district. Yet Thompson, whos running again this year, isnt featured on the DCCCs list of Red to Blue candidates to supportthose running in Republican-held districts ripe to turn. For all this electioneering, the DCCCs hit rate hasnt been stellar. In 2016, its preferred candidates lost 23 districts that Hillary Clinton won. A long tradition What explains the DCCCs allergy to progressives? Part of the story lies in its history. The 152-year-old organization has always been devoted to getting more Democrats elected, but its secondary mission has increasingly become the courting of wealth. As campaigns became more expensive with the advent of television, the DCCC began to alter its fundraising strategy from a single annual dinner to a year-round program with a full-time staff. In 1972, the Committee was used as a vehicle to funnel money to moderate Democrats from donors opposing or cool to George McGovern, as the Washington Post put it, but who didnt want the donations to appear on their financial reports. These included BankPac (the American Bankers Associations PAC) and the Mortgage Bankers PAC, among others. This week, the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) held itsin Geneva. The meeting documents released ahead of the Session included reports and analysis on Access to Copyright Protected Works by Persons with Disabilities; Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries; Copyright Practices and Challenges of Museums, Archives and Copyright; Practices and Challenges in Relation to Online Distance Education and Research Activities, etc. Revised Scoping Study on Access to Copyright Protected Works by Persons with Disabilities (the Report). The Report, prepared by Professors Caroline Ncube (University of Cape Town) and Blake Reid (University of Colorado), builds on the 2017 WIPO Study, which involved sending out questionnaires to WIPO Member States and gathering data based on the responses. This post presents an overview of and thoughts on the report concerning the(the Report). The Report, prepared by Professors(University of Cape Town) and(University of Colorado), builds on the, which involved sending out questionnaires to WIPO Member States and gathering data based on the responses. Here is an overview of the Report: Background Marrakesh Treaty to the discourse on access to copyright-protected works by persons with disabilities but goes beyond the Treaty. It takes a human rights based conception of disability by defining several distinct, broad categories of disability in order to recognize common needs of persons with disabilities. See page 12. The study identified the following categories of disabilities: aural (deaf or hard of hearing); visual (deafblind or otherwise blind and hard of hearing); cognitive (e.g. dyslexics, autistic persons etc.); physical (persons with physical or motor disabilities that prevent physical interaction with protected material); multiple (several disabilities including those specifically mentioned categories). The Report acknowledges the contribution of theto the discourse on access to copyright-protected works by persons with disabilities but goes beyond the Treaty. It takes a human rights based conception of disability by defining several distinct, broad categories of disability in order to recognize common needs of persons with disabilities. See page 12. The study identified the following categories of disabilities: aural (deaf or hard of hearing); visual (deafblind or otherwise blind and hard of hearing); cognitive (e.g. dyslexics, autistic persons etc.); physical (persons with physical or motor disabilities that prevent physical interaction with protected material); multiple (several disabilities including those specifically mentioned categories). In addition to identifying several categories of disabilities, the Report also considers that what would be an accessible format depends on the category of protected works and nature of disability. Key findings The Report presents the results from an independent research and analysis of the copyright statutes of each of the 191 WIPO Member States. In particular, it looks into the copyright national legal frameworks on the topic of access by people with disabilities to works that are protected by copyright and related rights. Here are some of the key findings from an African perspective: 91 countries have no exceptions that address access by people with disabilities to works that are protected by copyright and related rights. Of these 91 countries, 39 are African countries including Kenya and South Africa. See Table 1 in the Report. 28 countries have exceptions for all disabilities, as they do not specify the disabilities covered. Of these, only 2 (Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe) are African countries. 25 countries have exceptions for persons with aural disabilities. Of these, only 4 (Cabo Verde, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Uganda) are in Africa. Cabo Verde is the only African country that provides exceptions for persons with cognitive/mental disabilities. There are 22 countries that provide this exception in their national copyright statutes. Cote dIvoire is the only African country that provides an exception for persons with physical disabilities. There are 19 countries that offer this exception. Approaches to addressing access to copyright-protected materials by persons with disabilities differ across jurisdictions. While some countries (e.g. Australia and Armenia) have general provisions that do not expressly mention disability but are broadly worded as to include accessibility for persons with disabilities, others have specific provisions that spells out the relevant disabilities. Fair use provisions that indicate criteria for assessing fairness of use are considered as generally protective of persons with disabilities and their unique accessibility needs. Countries in this category include the US, Israel, Dominica, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, and Sri Lanka. There is no African country in this category. Similarly, fair dealing provisions such as those in Australia and Canada that enumerate the making of accessible formats in the exhaustive list of permitted uses are also considered appropriate for persons with disabilities. Some thoughts What does this Africa Correspondent think of all these? Addressing specific socio-economic problems: If as the Report rightly identifies, disabilities and accessibility issues affect developing countries (lots of African countries) more adversely, would it be advisable to make provisions to ensure that the exceptions continue to apply even when protected works are fixed ab initio in an accessible format? The fixation eligibility criterion is usually broad enough to include fixation in a format accessible for persons with disabilities. In these circumstances, it is important to couch the exceptions for persons with disabilities in a manner that a copy of a work already available in an accessible format can be made. Otherwise, it may be possible that authors and copyright owners who create and/or make available work in an accessible format may exploit such unique selling proposition. Such exploitation may involve prohibitive licensing costs that may limit the usefulness and accessibility of the work for persons with disabilities. Where the exceptions provided for the benefit of persons with disabilities are specific such as in the case of the EU Directive on the Marrakesh Treaty, it appears the exceptions apply specifically to permit making copies of works in an alternative form that may be accessible to persons with disabilities. See Articles 2(3) and 3. The question is: what of works that the author or copyright owner has already made in an accessible form? Can copies of such work be lawfully made in another (yet) accessible form under the exception? (i)If as the Report rightly identifies, disabilities and accessibility issues affect developing countries (lots of African countries) more adversely, would it be advisable to make provisions to ensure that the exceptions continue to apply even when protected works are fixedin an accessible format? The fixation eligibility criterion is usually broad enough to include fixation in a format accessible for persons with disabilities. In these circumstances, it is important to couch the exceptions for persons with disabilities in a manner that a copy of a work already available in an accessible format can be made. Otherwise, it may be possible that authors and copyright owners who create and/or make available work in an accessible format may exploit such unique selling proposition. Such exploitation may involve prohibitive licensing costs that may limit the usefulness and accessibility of the work for persons with disabilities. Where the exceptions provided for the benefit of persons with disabilities are specific such as in the case of the, it appears the exceptions apply specifically to permit making copies of works in an alternative form that may be accessible to persons with disabilities. See Articles 2(3) and 3. The question is: what of works that the author or copyright owner has already made in an accessible form? Can copies of such work be lawfully made in another (yet) accessible form under the exception? surprise at the extent to which copyright and other IP laws have, for so long, been able to remain relatively insulated from feminist critique. In a region such as Africa where issues of social inequality, power disparities, privilege and subordination may affect citizens disproportionately, it is expedient to closely scrutinise copyright laws for ways to address these issues. (ii) In retrospect, is copyright law blind (no pun intended) to some marginalised entities and constituencies? Isnt it surprising how disability-blind copyright laws started out in the first place? And while on the subject of marginalized entities, this Africa Correspondent can say that her surprise is not unique. Others have expressedat the extent to which copyright and other IP laws have, for so long, been able to remain relatively insulated from feminist critique. In a region such as Africa where issues of social inequality, power disparities, privilege and subordination may affect citizens disproportionately, it is expedient to closely scrutinise copyright laws for ways to address these issues. (iii) Still on marginalised constituencies, it is good to see methodology that goes through several iterations as researchers understand the problems better and ask the right questions for the right answers. In the present Report, it is admirable that the researchers built on the results from the 2017 study and conducted an analysis of the legal framework for the subject of accessibility. Ultimately, it is the law and its interpretation/construction that would determine the extent to which marginalised constituencies can lawfully operate. (iv) Persons with aural disabilities would benefit from accessible formats like subtitles for audio-visual works. It is noted that appropriate subtitles may include translations where the subtitles are not verbatim subtitles of the spoken word. African proverbs and expressions are not usually susceptible to literal translations. Also, subtitles need to be in languages that the persons with (aural) disabilities can read and understand. In the light of these, it would be right to presume that the person creating the subtitles (the captioner) has some work on his/her hands. As a result, fair dealing provisions that mandate attribution are a good way to recognise such skill and efforts. Hopefully, the captioner would command more remuneration from the person commissioning the subtitling as the captioners profile rises. In my dreams? The Report notes that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning may help mitigate the costs of captioning. See page 16. Does this put the livelihood of captioners at significant risks? (v) Content Context is king. The report epitomises this expression as it notes that exceptions and limitations for educational activities and libraries and archives, respectively do not, on their own, adequately serve persons with disabilities. See page 18 of the Report. Such exceptions and limitations rarely require the making of accessible formats. As such, they would need additional provisions for making an accessible format of a work in a manner that will enable it to be used in the applicable context. In other words, a format is not truly accessible if it is not accessible for the purpose and context for which it is made. debate on its Copyright Amendment Bill, its National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have had the opportunity to consider how the Bill could ratify Marrakesh Treaty in a way that suits the South African context. Nigeria has ratified the Treaty and key aspects of the Treaty are available in its Copyright Bill currently before the National Assembly. Commentators have always urged due care and consideration of national peculiarities in ratifying international treaties. (vi) With ingenuity, the Marrakesh Treaty can be construed or implemented broadly. Indeed, there is nothing that says Member States ratifying the Treaty cannot go beyond the call of duty to address disabilities and contexts peculiar to their individual environment. In the case of South Africas ongoingon its, its National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have had theto consider how the Bill could ratify Marrakesh Treaty in a way that suits the South African context. Nigeria has ratified the Treaty and key aspects of the Treaty are available in itscurrently before the National Assembly. Commentators have alwaysdue care and consideration of national peculiarities in ratifying international treaties. We await the report on the Session and outcomes of the deliberations and actions to follow in the international, regional and national copyright scenes. " " Minke whales are probably the source of all that deep-sea racket. Joanne-Weston/iStock/Thinkstock The Western Pacific Biotwang sounds like some funky accent, but it's actually the moniker of a newly discovered whale call. The source of the five-part, preternatural call, which ranges from a low moan to a screechy, metallic tone, has puzzled researchers since it was first recorded in 2014. Now, scientists believe minke whales are responsible for the sound. The twangy whale call is described in a paper recently published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Marine researchers from Cornell and Oregon State universities recorded the call via passive acoustic ocean gliders (autonomous vehicles that monitor underwater sounds) in the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean, a swath east of Guam and near the Mariana Trench. The call lasts 2.5 to 3.5 seconds and ranges in frequency from 38 to 8,000 hertz (cycles per second). Minke whales are likely producing the unique call, the researchers say in the paper, because it's reminiscent of the "Star Wars" sound made by dwarf minke whales in the Great Barrier Reef. Advertisement Minke whales are the smallest species of baleen whale, which snag their food by filtering krill and small fish from the water through baleen plates in their mouths. Baleen whales produce regionally specific sounds and mainly call during the winter, often in relation to mating. But the Western Pacific Biotwang was recorded regularly in the fall of 2014 and the spring of 2015, indicating it's not used for a specific purpose, such as breeding. The next task for the marine researchers is to find out how often the whales call during the summer versus the winter, and whether this call occurs in other locales. If it's widespread, the Western Pacific Biotwang may be in for a name change. Now That's Interesting Sounds at the lower end of the human hearing spectrum, around 50 hertz, are akin to a low rumbling. The whooshing of a cymbal is at the higher end, around 20,000 hertz. Most human speech falls within a few hundred hertz to roughly 8,000 hertz. YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that on April 5, as of 08:30, some roads are closed and difficult to pass in Armenia, reports Armenpress. Vardenyats Pass is closed for trucks and is difficult to pass for passenger vehicles. Sotk-Karvachar highway is difficult to pass. The ministry urges drivers to use snow tires. Stepantsminda-Lars highway is closed for all types of vehicles. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on April 5 at 15:00 on the situation in Libya, the United Kingdom Mission to the UN wrote on its Twitter page, TASS reports. The UK has called for the UN Security Council to meet in closed consultations on Libya at 3 pm tomorrow, Friday, it said. Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ghassan Salame will brief the UNSC members on the current situation. On April 4, Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops to launch an offensive on the capital, vowing to liberate it from all illegal armed groups. He noted that the Libyan National Army had heard the call of Tripolis people. Prime Minister of Tripolis Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj ordered all military units controlled by him to be on full combat alert, giving the green light to airstrikes in order to defend the civilian population and crucial facilities. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is currently in Tripoli, where he held meetings with representatives of the countrys authorities. He called on the conflicting sides to stop military escalation. YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan expressed a wish to host the Ethiopian delegation in Armenia, the MFA told Armenpress. The foreign minister gave an interview to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, stating that he wants to materialize the spirit of friendship in tangible projects. ARMENPRESS presents the full interview: - Welcome to Addis Ababa and thank you very much for your time, sir. - Thank you so much. It is immense pleasure for me to be in Addis Ababa. Yesterday and today I am on an official visit. I have been enjoying great hospitality from the people and the government and the leadership of Ethiopia and I'm very hopeful that this visit will be an important contribution to taking the relations between the two states, the two nations to a new level. Thank you. - That's very interesting. It is your first time to visit Addis Ababa and how did you find it? - I found a very warm welcome here and mutual understanding and mutual determination to attach new quality of relations between two peoples who have been knowing each other for so many centuries, who have so much in common, who have so much mutual respect, so much shared history and shared civilization. - Let's have your perception, what image imprinted in your memory about this country. What do you know about this country in history? - You know when we first announced about our plans to make this visit to Ethiopia... last year we were discussing in Armenia about the plans for the next year and it was declared that one of the important functions will be the visit to Ethiopia. I was so impressed by the reflections of the people in Armenia about Ethiopia. It immediately sparks this respect and memory and knowledge of the deep relations between the two peoples. Ethiopia is very well known in Armenia. Ethiopian people are very well known and deeply respected in Armenia. And that is not surprising because the two peoples have been building relations over centuries. We are bound by this heritage. We're bound to attach, as governments, new strong impetus to this but it is based on very fertile ground of mutual respect in Armenia. Whenever the Ethiopian people are in Armenia they will find that deep understanding deep knowledge and awareness of how much in common we have in so many fields. History is a very important thing. History and our memory is a very strong thing. Civilizationally, were very attached and that is a foundation of respect, foundation of friendship. And this is the spirit with which we came here in Addis Ababa today. -What did the government of Armenia and the people of Armenia know about Ethiopia? - Look when you look at history, it goes way back. The Armenian Apostolic church and the Ethiopian Church together with their Assyrians and the Coptic Church, we have been in unity for a very long time. We have chosen to build our relations on our spiritual ground throughout history. Armenians have been present in Ethiopia for many centuries. They have been contributors to the development and growth and the wealth of the people of Ethiopia. There are many names that you will find in the history of Ethiopia, Armenian names who have been participants, members of your society, members of your government who have been working towards building the foundations of the strength of the Ethiopian state. - Could you mention some of the names? - I know the names such as Hovhannes Dohmadjian, the chief architect Grigor Hovian, Minas Kherpikian, another chief architect. There is a chief surgeon Poghos Margarian in the 19th century. There is Tigran Hepeian, who was the chief jeweler in the state of Ethiopia. There is Mr. Nalbandian who is the author of the national anthem of Ethiopia. Mr. Sarkis Terzian who has been very instrumental in building the industry of Ethiopia and building the railway between Addis Ababa and Djibouti. - Armenians were refugees in Ethiopia. They were also so active in the business sector in this country and also don't mention the music of the choir. - Yes. That is really very important. The Ethiopian people have been very welcoming to my people and the Armenian people have been very dedicated to their newly-found home. They were members of the Ethiopian society. They are citizens of Ethiopia. They are contributors, participants of life in Ethiopia. Whereas at the same time, they were also very keen to sustain their national identity as Armenians. And that also speaks about the certain degree and spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness of the Ethiopian Society and the Armenian people have been beneficiaries of these. Contributors and beneficiaries. And here today we have not a big community but a very vibrant and very strong community, about hundred people. We enjoy the religious freedom. There is a St. George Armenian church in Addis Ababa. There is an Armenian school in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopians of Armenian descent have been very helpful to us in organizing this visit. They are bridge between Armenia and Ethiopia. I'm here with a delegation. In my delegation I have representatives of the business community the IT innovation and creative education sectors in our economy. And they are here with me and we are trying to build these relations, trying to build this cooperation with Ethiopia in the field of smart development and the Armenian community representatives are also engaged in this sector and they are representing a bridge. There already very interesting examples of cooperation between Armenia and Ethiopia. And the Ethiopian citizens of Armenian descent. They are also participants of this cooperation and that shows how rich were in our capacities of cooperation. -What is being active now between Armenia and Ethiopia? - I think we have a huge potential which has to be untapped. Today we have some elements like, for example, our experience of creative education through the Armath educational experience, educational method of encouraging creativity and talent, that has been adopted by Ethiopia. There are more things to come. There has been agreement between the institutions of Armenia and Ethiopia engaged in the field of innovation and creative education. We had an important memorandum to sign between such facilities in Armenia and Ethiopia yesterday. So in this field I see a huge potential to develop: in the IT sector, we have very interesting things to offer; in the field of e-government, e-commerce and so on; in the field of creative education and innovation; in the field of you know IT solutions. And there has been an great interest from our Ethiopian counterparts. And this is just one field in which we see great potential to develop. We intend to also strengthen our representation in Ethiopia which will be another important medium platform to expand these relations. We have a potential which has to be untapped. -That's fine. Let's get you back in history. What here to tell us about Nerses Nalbandian? - Well I think that this is just one example. Someone who is of Armenian origin but he's a dedicated citizen of Ethiopia. He made a contribution that made himself part of our conversation, part of this visit, part of interstate relations. That's a contribution. - Yeah. Now, your country Armenia is determined to strengthen its bilateral diplomatic relations with Ethiopia and has plan to open an embassy here in Addis Ababa. Where does this you go? How is the plan? - Well we have declared our intention and shared it with our friends in the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia. We will be working towards this and in the very near future we intend to materialize this plan. We have already discussed the various modalities with our colleagues in the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia and we will continue to build on this. - Do you know the exact time when it's going to be opened? - I would say that you know these matters require certain organizational and budgetary arrangements which we are already in the process of making. So the soonest possible dates are objective. - What are you going to take from Ethiopia and what do you think that Ethiopians can take from Armenia? - Look, as I'm saying, we have a great potential. When we look at the quality of the development in Ethiopia, it is very promising. The content of development is very promising and there are many parallels in the way, in which you see the nature of development. What the government of Ethiopia would want to put emphasis on? We have been following with great interest the developments in Ethiopia last year. Your Prime Minister is such a strong advocate of strong reform deliverable to the people. We have been through the same process. Armenia has gone through the Velvet Revolution in May of 2018, the peaceful Velvet Revolution of love and solidarity at the heart of which was exactly freeing the people's potential and strengthening democratic rule, rule of law, human rights and create equal opportunities for people in social and economic life so that people, the conduits of development, are free to generate wealth, are free to invest their talent, their capacity in wealth generation of their own and of the people and of the nation. So this is the concept and the capacity that I think is very much a strong ground to develop such relations between the two nations. Furthermore, Ethiopia is a very strong part of integration process and cooperation in the African continent. We are working in various integration processes in our part of the world. We are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, union of 200 million peoples market, a customs union for the free movement of goods and services. We are cooperating very closely with the European Union through the Comprehensive and enhanced partnership agreement. Those are the opportunities that our nations, by working together, may also use the potential in broader markets and broader integration areas. - That's nice. Let's come with the major ones. What are the major priorities between Armenia and Ethiopia? - We are very keen to strengthen and advance our political dialogue. Better and more intensive dialogue between the governments, the parliaments. We intend to strengthen also parliamentary cooperation. We are sure that in the field of economy there are many areas. But at the moment we're specifically focused on the I.T. sector, innovation and creative education sectors. And through that I'm sure we'll be opening avenues for more cooperation. We are sure that, given our historical background and commonalities and mutual respect, there is an enormous potential in developing cooperation and friendship in the fields of culture and education. I just found out that there are interesting ways of cooperation in the educational field. We have an international school in Armenia which is also welcoming and supporting students from Ethiopia. We have good potential for education in Armenia and we'll be very glad to expand these opportunities for Ethiopian students. I am sure that Armenian students would also find it interesting because your educational capacities are very interesting and very important. So those are the areas in which I think we have huge potential. - What were the major points you discussed senior officials of Ethiopian governments? - Well, these are exactly the points that we were going through. I have been very warmly welcomed by the president of Ethiopia, the Speaker of the parliament of Ethiopia and my good friend colleague the state Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Innovation and Technologies. We have been discussing exactly those points that we have been describing to you. The mutual recognition of very broad avenue we can walk together is the strong political will to take the relations to a new level. - How about the wings of hope in this country and in the Horn of Africa. This country is passing through the reform process. What can you tell us about it? - As I was saying the reforms and the developments in Ethiopia have been very impressive domestically. And this is an ongoing process. And the and enthusiasm with which these reforms are embraced and the political will and strength that your government is attaching to this are something to learn from especially on creating peace and security in the region. There was a huge step made by your government together with the government of neighboring Eritrea to find peace and that is a very inspiring example. We come from a region where there is an unresolved conflict and we, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are absolutely committed to a strictly peaceful resolution of the conflict and the political will is the most important driving force to find a political peaceful resolution to the conflict. Your example is a huge inspiration that the courage, the will, and determination can make that possible. So we command and congratulate the people in the government of Ethiopia for this very important step. -How do you see the economic side? Ethiopian government is willing to open up its sectors. For instance, the financial sector, telecom and partially to privatize the Ethiopian Airlines. What can you tell us about the willingness or the ambition that this government is making? - You know I think that is huge. That will untap the potential of economic growth because you know we judge from our own experience. Privatization of the Armenian economy has been taking place since the very beginning of the reestablishment of our independence. The importance of smart and responsible privatization and the attachment of rule of law to this was the consistent challenge that you have in this process. I'm talking from our own personal experience. But we also know that the private initiative the initiative of the people are very important conduits of growth. So combination of all this. We are absolutely confident that there is a good potential. Ethiopia has an enormous potential. We are very keen to work in these areas as well. Our banking and financial sector have gone through enormous transformation and for many years stand solid ground for the economic stability of the country, for the stable growth of the country. So the financial sector and the banking sector are very important. We would be very glad to discuss this further with our Ethiopian colleagues about the way we do it and to learn also about the way you do it in Africa. The same is about the privatization of other industries. You mentioned the airlines. We can see how huge the Ethiopian fleet is. And that is, of course, a strong capacity for the economy and for its growth. - Your final words about Ethiopian-Armenian relationship. - My final word would be I would want to welcome Ethiopian delegations in Armenia. The more the better; official, youth, educational, cultural, business. I want my people to come more to Ethiopia. I want to materialize this spirit of friendship in tangible projects. And I think both nations, both people, both governments are ready for that. I want to have this conversation take place again next year in which we can say we can take stock. And we can see that there was a good progress. So this is what I would like to see. YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Director of a major Armenian trading and exporting company SPAYKA Davit Ghazaryan has been arrested, State Revenue Committee President Davit Ananyan toldTert, an online newspaper. Ananyan said tax authorities have conducted inspections at Spayka, but did not elaborate further. The State Revenue Committee did not provide further details, noting a press release will be issued later. SPAYKA is an agricultural holding, producing and exporting fruits and vegetables abroad. It is also a freight forwarder. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany Andreas Vokuhle and the delegation led by him, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress. During the meeting President Sarkissian highly valued the role of Germany and its experts in implementation of reforms of the legislative field in Armenia. The officials highlighted the continuation of cooperation between Armenia and Germany not only in legal platform, but also in scientific, educational and economic sectors. They stated that there is a huge potential to expand the relations and deepen the cooperation between the two countries. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. A suspect is in custody after a 40-year-old man has been shot in Yerevans Malatia-Sebastia district Friday morning, police said. The victim has been hospitalized. The suspect is a 57-year-old man who authorities said fired a revolver. He has been detained in suspicion of attempted murder. Police are currently investigating. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan assures that there is no political pressure on them, reports Armenpress. I assure with 100% that there is no such thing. This is the first precondition for the effective activity of the Constitutional Court. Zero constraint from any phenomenon and any person, he told reporters, commenting on the question relating to avoiding pressures on them. Hrayr Tovmasyan added that a secret book exists for him, that is the Constitution. As for the candidates for members of the Court preferred by him, Tovmasyan said for him the important is that these persons meet all the demands of law. I am not the one who decides with whom to work, it is decided by the President, the government and the general council of judges. The Constitutional Court has no preferable candidate in this regard, he said. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. A court of appeals is currently hearing the complaint of former President Robert Kocharyan on a lower courts earlier decision to extend his pre-trial detention for another customary two-months period. The hearing was adjourned on April 4. The presiding judge is Ruzanna Barseghyan. Kocharyans jail term was extended on February 15 by a First Instance Court. Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again. At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities. Kocharyan is charged with overthrowing constitutional order during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead, including two security officers, during his final days as president. He vehemently denies wrongdoing. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Heavy metal planet fragment survives destruction from dead star Planetary fragment identified in a disc of debris circling a dead star 400 light years away Thought to be rich in heavy metals iron and nickel which helped it survive destruction of its planetary system Astronomers from University of Warwick detected the small body orbiting a white dwarf 'closer than we would expect to find anything still alive' Planetesimal orbits with a 'comet-like tail' of gas, creating a ring within the debris disc Offers a hint as to the future of our Solar System, 6 billion years from now A fragment of a planet that has survived the death of its star has been discovered by University of Warwick astronomers in a disc of debris formed from destroyed planets, which the star ultimately consumes. The iron and nickel rich planetesimal survived a system-wide cataclysm that followed the death of its host star, SDSS J122859.93+104032.9. Believed to have once been part of a larger planet, its survival is all the more astonishing as it orbits closer to its star than previously thought possible, going around it once every two hours. The discovery, reported in the journal Science, is the first time that scientists have used spectroscopy to discover a solid body in orbit around a white dwarf, using subtle variations in the emitted light to identify additional gas that the planetesimal is generating. Using the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma, the scientists studied a debris disc orbiting a white dwarf 410 light years away, formed by the disruption of rocky bodies composed of elements such as iron, magnesium, silicon, and oxygen - the four key building blocks of the Earth and most rocky bodies. Within that disc they discovered a ring of gas streaming from a solid body, like a comet's tail. This gas could either be generated by the body itself or by evaporating dust as it collides with small debris within the disc. The astronomers estimate that this body has to be at least a kilometre in size, but could be as large as a few hundred kilometres in diameter, comparable to the largest asteroids known in our Solar System. White dwarfs are the remains of stars like our sun that have burnt all their fuel and shed their outer layers, leaving behind a dense core which slowly cools over time. This particular star has shrunk so dramatically that the planetesimal orbits within its sun's original radius. Evidence suggests that it was once part of a larger body further out in its solar system and is likely to have been a planet torn apart as the star began its cooling process. Lead author Dr Christopher Manser, a Research Fellow in the Department of Physics, said: "The star would have originally been about two solar masses, but now the white dwarf is only 70% of the mass of our Sun. It is also very small - roughly the size of the Earth - and this makes the star, and in general all white dwarfs, extremely dense. "The white dwarf's gravity is so strong - about 100,000 times that of the Earth's - that a typical asteroid will be ripped apart by gravitational forces if it passes too close to the white dwarf." Professor Boris Gaensicke, co-author from the Department of Physics, adds: "The planetesimal we have discovered is deep into the gravitational well of the white dwarf, much closer to it than we would expect to find anything still alive. That is only possible because it must be very dense and/or very likely to have internal strength that holds it together, so we propose that it is composed largely of iron and nickel. "If it was pure iron it could survive where it lives now, but equally it could be a body that is rich in iron but with internal strength to hold it together, which is consistent with the planetesimal being a fairly massive fragment of a planet core. If correct, the original body was at least hundreds of kilometres in diameter because it is only at that point planets begin to differentiate - like oil on water - and have heavier elements sink to form a metallic core." The discovery offers a hint as to what planets may reside in other solar systems, and a glimpse into the future of our own. Dr Christopher Manser said: "As stars age they grow into red giants, which 'clean out' much of the inner part of their planetary system. In our Solar System, the Sun will expand up to where the Earth currently orbits, and will wipe out Earth, Mercury, and Venus. Mars and beyond will survive and will move further out. "The general consensus is that 5-6 billion years from now, our Solar System will be a white dwarf in place of the Sun, orbited by Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the outer planets, as well as asteroids and comets. Gravitational interactions are likely to happen in such remnants of planetary systems, meaning the bigger planets can easily nudge the smaller bodies onto an orbit that takes them close to the white dwarf, where they get shredded by its enormous gravity. "Learning about the masses of asteroids, or planetary fragments that can reach a white dwarf can tell us something about the planets that we know must be further out in this system, but we currently have no way to detect. "Our discovery is only the second solid planetesimal found in a tight orbit around a white dwarf, with the previous one found because debris passing in front of the star blocked some of its light - that is the "transit method'' widely used to discover exoplanets around Sun-like stars. To find such transits, the geometry under which we view them has to be very finely tuned, which means that each system observed for several hours mostly leads to nothing. The spectroscopic method we developed in this research can detect close-in planetesimals without the need for a specific alignment. We already know of several other systems with debris discs very similar to SDSS J122859.93+104032.9, which we will study next. We are confident that we will discover additional planetesimals orbiting white dwarfs, which will then allow us to learn more about their general properties." ### Dr Manser and Professor Gaensicke were supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the EU's research and innovation programme (grant agreement 320964). 'A planetesimal orbiting within the debris disc around a white dwarf star' published in Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aat5330 Notes to editors: Artist's impression available at the link below. This image is free for use if used in direct connection with this story but image copyright and credit must be University of Warwick/Mark Garlick: A planetary fragment orbits the star SDSS J122859.93+104032.9, leaving a tail of gas in its wake. Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick: https:/ / warwick. ac. uk/ services/ communications/ medialibrary/ images/ march2019/ disintegrating_planet. jpg For interviews and to request a copy of the paper contact: Peter Thorley Media Relations Manager (Warwick Medical School and Department of Physics) | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick Email: peter.thorley@warwick.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)24 761 50868 | Mob: +44 (0) 7824 540863 | The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. It offers four core grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between grantees' pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. To date, the ERC has funded some 9,000 top researchers at various stages of their careers, and over 50,000 postdocs, PhD students and other staff working in their research teams. The ERC strives to attract top researchers from anywhere in the world to come to Europe. Key global research funding bodies, in the United States, China, Japan, Brazil and other countries, have concluded special agreements to provide their researchers with opportunities to temporarily join ERC grantees' teams. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council. The ERC President is Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon. The overall ERC budget from 2014 to 2020 is more than 13 billion, as part of the Horizon 2020 programme, for which European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Carlos Moedas is responsible. This story has been published on: 2019-04-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Goat is the Posts resident expert on all things cabritoboth alive and the ones slow-cooking in a pot. Goat occasionally writes about the art of (and recipes for) cooking, um, goats. YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan got angry upon his arrival in Gyumri when he saw the poor condition of Tigran Mets Street while walking there. The PM asked Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan why the street, that is under construction, is in so poor condition which creates difficulty for movement. At one time, people complained that Gyumri is not being constructed, but now they complain that construction is being carried out, this means that something is wrong here. Most of the construction sites in Armenia have been turned into dump, Pashinyan said. He urged to solve the issue by convening a working consultation with the participation of architects and responsible officials of the street renovation project. Invite architects and all those who work and tell them that when construction is being carried out it doesnt mean that the life in the city should stop. Passability should be ensured, the PM said. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, 5 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 5 April, USD exchange rate up by 0.13 drams to 487.42 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.20 drams to 547.28 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.45 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.59 drams to 637.59 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 109.01 drams to 20108.13 drams. Silver price down by 1.19 drams to 236.4 drams. Platinum price up by 317.02 drams to 13821.75 drams. YERVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the parliamentary delegation of Italy on April 5 that visited Armenia on cognitive visit comprised of the members of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia. Welcoming the Italian colleagues in parliament, the Head of the legislative body highly assessed the centuries-old relations formed between the two peoples, which are based on the common historical, cultural and political values. Ararat Mirzoyan presented to the guests the developments recorded in recent period in Armenia, the parliamentary elections assessed free, fair and democratic by the international community, the agenda of the priorities of the legislative body formed as a result of the latter. The parliamentary extraordinary elections were considered as the last step for the revolutionary process, which began in the country for strengthening democracy, the President of the parliament said. He emphasized the active cooperation between the two countries legislative bodies with parliamentary government, the mutual visits, the exchange of experience and the role of the parliamentary diplomacy. Touching upon the foreign political agenda of Armenia, the Head of Parliament has underlined the importance that our country attaches to the integration with the European region. In this context he appreciated the ratification of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, expressing hope that after the visit the Italian colleagues would give new impetus to this process in their parliament. Ararat Mirzoyan drew the guests attention to the necessity of the Armenian Genocide recognition, noting that with condemnation of only such crimes is possible to prevent the crimes being committed against mankind. On behalf of the delegation expressing his gratitude to Ararat Mirzoyan the Member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies Maurizio Lupi has noted that for their Group representing all the factions of the parliament this visit is a good opportunity to directly get acquainted not only with the political processes in Armenia, but also the Christian Armenian peoples centuries-old historical and cultural heritage. According to him, in its turn this will greatly promote the further development of the traditional ties and will give new impetus to the Armenian-Italian cooperation. According to Maurizio Lupi, they observed the ongoing revolutionary processes in Armenia, as a result of which, the created new realities opened wide perspectives of development. He assured that the ratification of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide are the agenda items of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and their efforts will be consistent in this direction. YERVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. During his working visit to Shirak Province, accompanied by Defense Minister David Tonoyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Russian military base N102 in Gyumri on April 5. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, after inspecting servicemens living and working conditions, the Prime Minister visited the museum of the military base. In conclusion, he signed the Book of Honorary Guests and called at the local church which operates in the territory of the military base. Then Nikol Pashinyan went to the Gyumri city bus station, where he discussed with the city authorities and government representatives issues related to the future activities of the bus station, including its major overhaul and the possibility of turning it into a transportation hub. Nikol Pashinyan next visited Shirak airport, where he was briefed on the ongoing investment programs. An infrastructure modernization program was said to have been implemented at the airport. Owing to extra investment, a new arrival hall will be built and other logistical problems will be addressed during the year. The annual passenger traffic has already exceeded the mark of 200 thousand. Highlighting Shirak airports development program, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the steps aimed at improving infrastructures in Gyumri might help enhance the attractiveness of the city, revitalize the local economy and step up incoming tourism. In conclusion, the Premier visited the village of prefabricated temporary shelters near the Gyumri bus station, met with the locals and took note of their housing problems. The Head of Government called on several households and got acquainted with their living conditions. On the way back to Yerevan, the Prime Minister called at Maralik community and met with the local population. According to the Decree of the Prime Minister of Armenia dated December 20, 2018, in the urban and rural settlements of the Shirak region, the process of documenting non-core buildings was conducted. 3517 temporary houses were documented, of which 2858 - in Gyumri, 5 - in Artik, 654 - in 17 rural settlements. The working group established in accordance with the same decree of the Prime Minister will assess the volume of obligations for resettlement of people living in the disaster zone after the Spitak earthquake in non-core buildings - improving housing conditions, and eliminating non-core housing structures from the territories, developing proposals for legalizing city-compliant documentation buildings, as well as the process of calculating the necessary funds to solve the problem. The process will be completed by June 30 of this year. In the 104th settlement of the Gyumri bus station there are 164 houses. For generations her husband's family managed the iconic Baron Hotel in northern Syria, but after years of war the inn is empty and Rubina Mazloumian says she is too tired to carry on. The Baron Hotel was once the fanciest in Aleppo, Syria's second city, visited by a long list of celebrated names. But after four years of civil war in the former rebel stronghold, its suites and ballroom are empty, walls peeling -- and its long, red carpet is gone. The bar stools are vacant and its piano sits unplayed, collecting dust. All 48 rooms are closed, barring one. "I don't know what we're going to do with this place," said Mazloumian, the 65-year-old widow of the hotel's heir, and its current manager. "It can no longer receive guests or friends," said the hotel's only resident. "The only people that remain in the hotel are two employees, me and this dog," she added, gesturing to a small pet with a curly brown coat playing nearby. The hotel was founded in 1911 by the grandfather of Mazloumian's husband, Armen Mazloumian, who died in 2016. Carrying a set of keys, Mazloumian strolled through the entrance of the hotel and pointed towards a sweeping staircase. "We used to roll a red carpet on these stairs when we received prominent leaders like king Faisal I (of Iraq and Syria) and Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser," she said. - 'Raucous laughter' - She trudged up the stairs and stood in front of a closed wooden door. Room 203 is where famous novelist Agatha Christie stayed, she said. Inside the hotel, she wrote parts of "Murder on the Orient Express". Mazloumian said the Baron Hotel is a testament to decades of Syrian history. It is from here that king Faisal delivered a speech proclaiming Syrian independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The street housing it, formerly named after French general Henri Gouraud, was retitled "Baron Street" after French forces withdrew from the country in 1946. Nasser delivered a speech from one of its balconies in 1958, the year Egypt and Syria formed the ill-fated United Arab Republic. Other famous people also graced its rooms -- US billionaire David Rockefeller, France's wartime leader and later president Charles de Gaulle and American aviator Charles Lindbergh. On her tour of the building, Mazloumian paused beside a disused wooden piano. "It used to be a place full of raucous laughter, clinking glasses, and music -- classical and from all over," she said. "Historical events were written here." But "today, this place is slowly becoming a piece of history itself." The contemporary history of the Baron Hotel is less glamorous and tells of the fate of Aleppo, which lies largely in ruins almost two years after battles ended. - Wartime shelter - The establishment was forced to close down in 2012 when the city became a main front in the war between the Syrian government and rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The hotel was just a few metres (yards) from the front line. Like much of the surrounding city, its walls are scarred with bullet holes and the power rarely comes on. In 2014, when pitched battles in Aleppo sparked a wave of displacement, the hotel was taken over as a makeshift shelter. It was the second time it was a refuge for the displaced, after hosting hundreds of Armenians who fled their homes during the mass murder perpetrated by the Ottomans in 1915. The regime retook control of the city in late 2016, after a deadly offensive and a deal that saw tens of thousands forced to leave its once opposition-held east. But this time around, recovery is unlikely, said Mazloumian, lamenting the hotel's lost splendour. "Only three wine glasses and six coffee cups remain in the hotel today," she said, standing beside a polished bar, a few plates scattered on its countertop. "A lot of things have been stolen," she added. When asked whether she would sell the hotel, Mazloumian hesitated, then replied cautiously. "I'm an old woman," said the manager, who co-owns the hotel with other relatives abroad. "I don't have it in me to continue running this hotel," she added. "I think it's only natural for it to come under new hands." At Aleppo's legendary Baron Hotel, king Faisal I declared Syria's independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 The red carpet used to be rolled out on The Baron's staircase to welcome VIP guests, including Egypt's Arab nationalist president Gamal Abdel Nasser, who oversaw an ill-fated union with Syria during his stay in 1958 Rubina Mazloumian, co-owner and resident manager of The Baron Hotel, recalls better days when the hotel was fully booked with guests appreciative of its charm and history When fierce fighting between government troops and rebels gripped the heart of Aleppo between 2012 and 2016, The Baron was just metres (yards) from the front line and was taken over as a makeshift shelter An employee still cleans The Baron's famous bar, even after wartime looting left the hotel with just three wine glasses and six coffee cups One of the oldest hotels in Syria, The Baron, has sustained some war-related minor damage but is still standing A vast crowd of protesters pushing for reforms flooded the streets of Algiers Friday, while mass rallies were held across Algeria for the first time since ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned. Activists chanted slogans demanding key Bouteflika loyalists follow his lead and quit, after social media calls for "joyful demonstrations" to "peacefully bring down a dictatorial regime". No official figures were immediately available on the size of the rally, but it was at least as big as those held on previous Fridays leading up to Bouteflika's departure, said AFP journalists at the scene. Rallies took place in 41 of the country's 48 provinces, according to the official APS news agency which in a first published slogans highly hostile to those in power. Opponents of the old regime had called for a massive turnout, targeting a triumvirate they dub the "3B" -- Senate speaker Abdelkader Bensalah, head of the constitutional council Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. The veteran Bouteflika loyalists have been entrusted with overseeing the political transition after the president finally stepped down at the age of 82. Bouteflika resigned late on Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations triggered by his bid for a fifth term in office. After two decades in power, he had lost the backing of key supporters including armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah. - 'Mistakes made' - Bensalah, speaker of the upper house of parliament for 16 years, is to take the reins as interim president for three months until elections are organised. Belaiz, a minister for 16 years, was named by Bouteflika as head of the Constitutional Council which will regulate the elections. Before his appointment as prime minister, Bedoui had served as interior minister -- or "chief engineer of electoral fraud" according to the El Watan newspaper Opponents say all three are tarnished by their long years of service under Bouteflika and should follow his lead and resign. Meanwhile the country's intelligence services chief Athmane Tartag has been sacked and his duties handed to the defence ministry, the official APS news agency reported Friday. Informed sources confirmed the move to AFP that the CSS chief had been removed from office. Even hours before the rally started, several hundred demonstrators had gathered outside the main post office in central Algiers, which has been the epicentre of the protest movement. Some shouted "we will not forgive!" in reference to an open letter Bouteflika issued after his resignation, apologising to the Algerian people for "mistakes made". Said Wafi, a bank worker from the nearby city of Boumerdes, had arrived at 5:00 am in the hope of being "the first demonstrator against the system". "Bouteflika leaving means nothing if his men continue to run the country," the 42-year-old said. - 'Victory is partial' - One of the leading voices of the protest movement, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, has called for the demonstrations to continue "until they have all gone". "Our victory is partial," he said in a video posted online. "Algerians will not accept that symbols of the regime... lead the interim period and organise the next elections." But protestors expressed hope that the system would see real change. Zoubir Challal, who like many young unemployed Algerians had considered a dangerous Mediterranean crossing to seek a better life in Europe, carried a sign bearing the slogan: "For the first time, I don't want to leave you, my country." The huge rally in Algiers concluded early evening, with protesters dispersing peacefulyl as on previous Fridays. Demonstrators are calling for new transitional institutions to be set up to implement reforms and organise free elections. Hamza Meddeb, an independent analyst in Tunisia, said Algeria was entering "a very delicate phase, because the street and the institutions are at risk of diverging". The army's intentions are a key question, according to analysts. Despite abandoning his patron Bouteflika, who named him army chief in 2004, General Gaid Salah is still seen by protesters as a key defender of the "system". But protestors on Friday chanted: "The army and the people are brothers!" Said Zeroual, 75, said he hoped Algeria would regain "our freedom and our sovereignty". "I hope to live long enough to see democracy in my country," he said. A vast crowd of protesters pushing for reforms flooded the streets of Algiers on Friday Rallies took place in 41 of the country's 48 regions, according to the official APS news agency "Prosecutors and judges, show us that you are men, put them on trial, this mafia should pay for its crimes," reads a sign held by a protesters in Algiers Demonstrators are calling for new transitional institutions to be set up to implement reforms and organise free elections President Donald Trump on Thursday said the United States and China were a month from a potentially "epic" trade agreement. But, nine months into the two countries' trade war, the announcement was anti-climactic, as the White House had earlier stoked anticipation that Trump could announce a date for a summit to clinch a final deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Global markets had also rallied in recent days, roused by the hope that an end to the skirmish between the world's two top economies was at last at hand. "We will probably know over the next four weeks. It may take two weeks after that," Trump told reporters following a meeting with Beijing's trade envoy Liu He. "It's looking very good." The talks are due to continue for a third day on Friday. Trump had said as far back as February that a summit could occur within a month. Despite Trump's rosy gloss on the talks on Thursday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told reporters that major issues were left to be resolved. Both US and Chinese officials have projected cautious optimism for months, but the last mile is proving to be the hardest, with the two sides reportedly tussling over whether and when Washington should remove the punishing tariffs it imposed last year on Chinese goods. Trump in early 2018 launched a trade war with China, seeking to slash that country's soaring trade surplus with the United States, end alleged unfair trade practices such as the theft of American technology and China's massive state intervention in markets. Washington and Beijing since last year have imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, biting into their manufacturing sectors as the world economy slows. China has floated offers to make sizable purchases of US commodities and taken steps to show it will protect foreign intellectual property. But Democrats have warned of the temptation to accept a superficial deal that does not extract profound changes to the Chinese industrial policies American officials have long denounced. Trump reiterated Thursday however that, "if it's not a great deal, we're not doing it." Chinese state media later carried a report which said Xi has called for the talks to conclude as soon as possible. "I hope the two sides of the economic and trade teams will continue to resolve both sides' issues of concern in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, and finish negotiations on the China-US economic and trade agreement document as soon as possible," Xinhua quoted Liu as saying, as he conveyed a message from Xi to Trump. - A tariff compromise? - A final sticking point appears to be when and how Washington will agree to lift the steep tariffs it has placed on more than $250 billion in Chinese imports. Last month, Trump said the tariffs would stay in place for "a substantial period," although whether this would apply to both tranches of goods subjected to the new duties was unclear. US officials demand that any agreement have teeth and Lighthizer, the US trade representative, has said tariffs offer crucial leverage should Beijing backslide on its commitments. Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a former US trade official and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said lifting the tariffs too early could encourage criticism from Democrats that he had gone soft in the negotiations. "The White House response to this drama is to keep the tariffs and only to slowly lower the rate as the Chinese fulfill their commitments," Hufbauer told AFP. "The Chinese strategy is to have them get rid of it," he said. "My guess is that something in between will be in the compromise." Analysts say any agreement is likely to include banner announcements that China has agreed to increase purchases of American commodities like soybeans and fuel. This could perversely serve to give Chinese state enterprises a greater market role while making US exporters more reliant on the Chinese government's purchasing decisions -- both possibly contrary to US objectives and interests. William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former Commerce Department official for exports, pointed to Beijing's boycott of US soybean exports last year. American producers could struggle to fill major new orders announced by Beijing, he said. "The only way they can buy every bean is if we stop selling to everybody else and that puts us in an enormous position of vulnerability," he said. In early 2018, President Donald Trump launched a trade war with China, seeking to slash that country's soaring trade surplus with the US, end alleged unfair trade practices such as the theft of American technology and China's massive state intervention in markets Democrat Joe Biden, who signaled Friday he was on the cusp of announcing a presidential bid, brushed off allegations of inappropriate conduct with women by joking about hugging in his first public appearance since the accusations broke. The former vice president said he was "very close" to revealing his 2020 plans, and that he and his team were busy "putting everything together." But the will-he-or-won't-he campaign game by the 76-year-old, who is his party's frontrunner in opinion polls despite not officially joining the race, has been clouded by allegations about his behavior with women. Over the past week, Biden has been accused of inappropriately touching women or making them feel uncomfortable with his affection. That was "never my intention," he said at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference in Washington, as he sought, unsuccessfully, to defuse the turmoil. He added that while he "wouldn't be surprised" if more women came forward with similar claims, "I've had hundreds and hundreds of people contact me -- who I don't know -- and say the exact opposite." But while he sought to move past the controversy, the veteran politician made an awkward joke about the situation. After embracing union chief Lonnie Stephenson, Biden turned to the crowd and said "I just want you to know I had permission to hug Lonnie." The overwhelmingly male audience laughed. Further into his speech, he brought young children onstage and repeated a similar joke, before adding: "Everyone knows I like kids more than people." - No outright apology - Biden has said that in his constant effort to make "a human connection," he shakes hands, hugs voters, and sometimes grasps their shoulders in moments of compassion or good will. That behavior has sparked criticism from his own party and its increasingly diverse base, with some saying he is out of step with changing social norms. Biden addressed the concerns, saying he would likely adjust how he campaigns should he enter the race. But he stopped short of an outright apology to those who have found fault with his actions. "I'm sorry I didn't understand more," Biden told reporters. "I'm not sorry for any of my intentions. I'm not sorry for anything that I've ever done. I've never been disrespectful intentionally, to a man or a woman." After the remarks, two women who had recounted their uncomfortable encounters with Biden made clear they remained troubled. "To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have," tweeted Lucy Flores of Nevada. The former state legislator has accused Biden of smelling her hair and then kissing her head at a 2014 rally when she ran for lieutenant governor. Amy Lappos of Connecticut, who recounted this week that Biden rubbed noses with her, told The Washington Post that the candidate-in-waiting's joke "is a clear indication Biden doesn't get it and doesn't take the voice of the women who have come forward seriously." The fact Biden joked about consent from a child "adds a new level of creepy and gross," she added. - 'Threat to himself' - Biden released a video Wednesday in which he pledged to "be more mindful" about people's personal space going forward. President Donald Trump, who himself has faced accusations of sexual misconduct, was quick to mock Biden on Twitter, dismissing him as a potential challenger in 2020. "I don't see Joe Biden as a threat," Trump told reporters Friday. "I think he's only a threat to himself." Trump later posted what appeared to be a goading tweet just as the Democrat concluded his speech. "I've employed thousands of Electrical Workers. They will be voting for me!" Trump tweeted. In his address, Biden stressed his traditional themes of solidarity, union strength and his family's blue-collar roots. "This country was not built by Wall Street bankers and CEOs and hedge fund managers," Biden said. "It was built by the great American middle class," and the group that forged the country's middle class was "unions," he added. Biden's tactile politics are not the only concern raised by his decades of experience in public life. He faces renewed focus on how, as chairman of a Senate committee, he handled the 1991 hearings featuring Anita Hill, a former aide to then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, whom she accused of sexual harassment. Biden is also under scrutiny for supporting 1990s tough-on-crime legislation that helped create a mass incarceration crisis that disproportionately affected black Americans. Former US vice president Joe Biden says a decision on whether he will make another presidential run is coming soon Former vice president Joe Biden touted the important role of America's middle class in his speech at a International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference -- but also joked about allegations he has acted inappropriately with women US President Donald Trump has taunted Joe Biden, a potential 2020 challenger, over accusations made by multiple women against the former vice president One of Joe Biden's critics is former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and Nevada assemblywoman Lucy Flores (L), who says the former US vice president planted a "big, slow kiss" on the back of her head in 2014 Across much of Britain's former Asian colonies, many are greeting the UK's impending departure from the European Union with a mixture of bafflement, apathy, amusement -- and a touch of schadenfreude. Britain long justified imperial subjugation by arguing Rule Britannia brought order, stability and shared prosperity -- even after its retreat from colonialism birthed a host of troubled new nations still saddled with historical grievances and legacies to this day. Now Brits face a chaos and internal division of their own making, alongside potential isolation and years of economic hardship -- particularly if the UK crashes out with no deal on April 12. "I was born and brought up in this British colony called Hong Kong and used to think that the Brits were a very sensible people," remarked Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy lawmaker in the financial hub. "I've been watching Brexit process as a former colonial person and it's almost like a farce, it's sadly funny, sadly amusing. I'm baffled as to why and how things got to where they are now. To outsiders it's almost unthinkable," she told AFP. Mo, 62, came of age politically during a turbulent period for her birthplace sparked by Britain's colonial legacy -- the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Unlike Brexit, Hong Kongers had no say in their future and many were desperate to obtain British passports in case the handover unleashed chaos. Many youngsters, Mo said, are still looking for opportunities overseas given Beijing's increasingly authoritarian grip, but they may be less inclined to opt for Britain. "I think their first choices here are more likely Australia and Canada," she remarked. - 'Sinking ship' - In India, Sreeram Chaulia, dean of the Jindal School of International Affairs, said many regard Brexit as the latest chapter in what has been a "sharp decline in the place Britain commands as a great power". "They are not a gold standard to look up to," he said. "We get a feeling of a sinking ship and everybody wants to leave a sinking ship." India's economy is set to overtake the UK's later this year. "The UK will then become a middle power. It is like a reversal of scale," he noted. Students at Bangladesh's Dhaka University offered mixed views on what Brexit might mean. Syed Tahsin said he hoped the relationship between the two countries might be "more positive than ever before" given Britain has vowed to strengthen bridges with Commonwealth countries. But others fretted that the anti-immigrant sentiment which fuelled the leave vote would make Britain less welcoming to overseas visitors and the Bangladeshi community already there. "Brexit itself is a policy of white supremacists," lamented student Aishwarya Proma, adding she feared it will "just push more... immigrants (to) go back to their countries." While Brits and Europeans may have been engrossed by the unceasing weekly drama of Brexit, many further afield admitted that they were more preoccupied by local issues. "The Brexit issue and the wider conversations about democracy seem far removed from daily life in Sri Lanka, where we are all consumed with our own dysfunctional politics," Dharisha Bastians, chief editor of the Sunday Observer newspaper, told AFP. Nationalist Sri Lankan legislator Udaya Gammanpila regarded that disinterest as a good sign. "We are no longer preoccupied with British politics. We are slowly getting over our colonial mentality," he said. - 'Brexit yoga' - Given its cultural and linguistic links, Australians have followed the Brexit drama perhaps more closely than any other former colony. Nick Miller, Europe correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers, noted there was "immediate interest" from readers. "The sight of a country deliberately throwing away a close, mutually beneficial partnership, wilfully damaging its economy and influence on a point of cultural principle, was a surprise," he wrote. Though he noted Britain hardly had a monopoly on political dysfunction. "We've changed prime ministers six times in the past 11 years, only twice as the result of an election," he wrote. Others have opted for humour. A "Brexit Yoga" video by Australian comic Sammy J -- featuring postures such as "Rising Nationalism", "Instant Regret" and "Downward Facing Economy" -- went viral last month on Facebook racking up some 5.4 million views. Singaporean economics student Linus Yeo said he was keen to look for silver linings. "Feels like the perfect time to take a holiday in the UK," he told AFP. "The pound is probably going into freefall." Meanwhile Tanmay, a freelance cameraman in New Delhi, joked Brexiters could learn some patience from India. "I am not surprised Brexit is taking a long time," he said. "The British took ages to leave here too." Prince Charles bids Hong Kong farewell during the 1997 handover of the city to China Unlike Brexit, Hong Kongers had no say in their future and many were desperate to obtain British passports in case the handover unleashed chaos Bagmati, Lalbakaiya rivers raise flood alarm in Rautahat With monsoon only a couple of months away, people living in the immediate vicinity of Bagmati and Lalbakaiya rivers in Rautahat district are in fear of floods wreaking destruction in their settlements. The repair works of embankments on these rivers are yet to begin for lack of budget. It may look double Dutch to most Indians, but election campaign messages in Chinese characters are being used for the first time in the bustling metropolis of Kolkata. Slogans for local state chief minister Mamata Banerjee and against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose ruling party is trying to muscle in on West Bengal seats, have started appearing across the city's Chinatown. Chinese Hakka people first came to Kolkata more than two centuries ago, but India's biggest Chinatown has traditionally kept politics at arm's length. India's six week long election starts on Thursday and this time the Hindu national leader sees the eastern state as a key battleground in his bid for a second term. In response, Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party has led the offensive for Chinese votes with graffiti and slogans on local walls. Local Chinese youths have been helping the party spread its message, according to Swapan Samaddar, a city councillor whose district includes Chinatown. "Many Chinese youths are supporters and they are lending a hand," he said. One graffiti image shows Modi being blown away in a Banerjee storm, while another plays on the prime minister's description of himself as the national "watchman", saying in characters: "Watchman is a thief". "It's good to send the message of the ruling Trinamool Congress to the Chinese community in China Town. We are happy to see it," said Chen Khoi Kui, secretary of the Chinese Youth Club, a welfare organisation. "It?s a novel venture that draws the attention of voters." Despite the deep historical roots, the Chinese population has dwindled in recent decades to about 1,000 people. The district is still renowned for its Chinese restaurants which are popular in India even though rivalry with the giant neighbour is intense. "Many Chinese who have been living this city for a long time still prefer to speak in their own language amongst themselves," said Chen. Delivery men walk past a mural bearing Chinese characters in support of a Trinamool Congress candidate in Kolkata Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are battling to seize the capital Tripoli, is widely seen as a hawk hunting for greater power in violence-wracked Libya. White hair framing his stark black eyebrows, the 75-year-old former army officer presents himself as Libya's saviour in the face of a growing jihadist threat. But his opponents accuse of him of seeking to establish a new military dictatorship in the oil-rich North African country. A controversional but key player in Libya since it spiralled into chaos after the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, Haftar groups all of his opponents under two labels: "terrorists and mercenaries". His self-proclaimed Libyan National Army launched an offensive this week to take Tripoli, seat of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Sarraj. Haftar and his forces back a parallel administration in the east, and Sarraj has ordered GNA loyalist forces to prepare to "face all threats". Vowing to "cleanse" the country of jihadists, Haftar's forces pushed hardline militias out of the eastern city of Benghazi in 2017 after a deadly three-year battle dubbed "Operation Dignity". After being hospitalised in Paris for two weeks in early 2018, fuelling speculation about his health, Haftar returned to Benghazi to great fanfare in April. - Military might - To reaffirm his military clout, he quickly launched a successful operation to oust Islamist militias from the city of Derna, which had been the only part of eastern Libya out of his control. Capitalising on that success, his forces in January launched a new offensive into the oil-rich desert south, ostensibly aimed at wiping out "terrorists" and criminal groups. They quickly overran the region's largest city and a major oil field without a fight, before turning their sights on the capital this month. Originally from Cyrenaica in Libya's east, Haftar received military training in the Soviet Union before taking part in the 1969 coup which brought Kadhafi to power. He served in Kadhafi's armed forces but fell from grace when he was captured by troops from Chad during Libya's ill-fated 1978-1987 conflict with its southern neighbour. Tripoli denied Haftar was part of the Libyan army, and he languished in jail until Washington granted him political asylum. After more than two decades living in the United States, where he was rumoured to be working for the CIA, in 2011 he returned home to take part in the uprising against Kadhafi. Critics say Haftar owes his military success to undeclared foreign backers including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France and most recently Saudi Arabia. Three French troops were killed in a 2016 helicopter crash in Libya while on an intelligence gathering mission for Haftar's forces. The UN-backed government in Tripoli called their presence a "violation" of Libya's sovereignty. Khalifa Hafter presents himself as Libya's saviour in the face of a growing jihadist threat, but his opponents accuse of him of seeking to establish a new military dictatorship Nicaragua on Friday released 50 opposition prisoners held during nationwide protests against President Daniel Ortega, the interior ministry said, two days after the end of talks aimed at resolving a deadly year-long political crisis. The prisoners were released into house arrest, bringing to 250 the number of government opponents freed under a similar regime since February 27. Month-long talks between the government and the opposition Civic Alliance coalition broke up late Wednesday without agreement on political reform in the crisis-torn Central American country. Ortega, a 72-year-old former guerrilla leader, has refused to step down to facilitate early elections in 2019 -- a key opposition demand after more than 300 people died in months of deadly protests against his rule. Threatened by United States and European Union sanctions, the government on March 20 pledged to release all political prisoners within 90 days in an operation to be overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross. However, the organization said it was "not involved in the release of the 50 people announced today," according to spokesman Alberto Cabezas. On Thursday, the ICRC met with both sides in a bid to coordinate lists of opposition members held in prison. The opposition says more than 800 people were jailed during a brutal crackdown on protests against Ortega's rule which began last April. The government says 350 were detained. It said Friday's releases were a gesture of goodwill as part of its commitment to the peace process. Cabezas said the ICRC was still "not in a position to determine date or deadlines in which this process will take place." Friday's releases took prisoners and their families by surprise. "I was always hoping to leave but when the time came it took me by surprise," Roger Martinez, a 35-year-old psychologist, told AFP. Martinez, who served nine months of a four-and-a-half year sentence for manufacturing and trafficking in arms and explosives, said he was still unclear about the conditions of his release. Demonstrators protest against President Daniel Ortega's rule in Managua, Nicaragua on March 23 Doctors say VIP visits to hospitals are hampering treatment Health facilities in Bara and Parsa were flooded with people injured in Sundays windstorm that wreaked havoc in the two districts, killing 28 people. For doctors and health officials, it was tough managing the overwhelming number of patients, some of who were lying on the floor and corridors for lack of space. Thailand's Election Commission said Friday that scores of candidates who were tipped to secure elected seats in last month's contentious polls are under investigation and could be disqualified, in a move that could shift yet-to-be-released final results. The commission has come under fire for bungling ballot counts and delaying official results following the much-anticipated March 24 election, the first since a 2014 military coup. The election has pitted the junta-backed Palang Pracharat party against Pheu Thai, a popular anti-military faction linked to an exiled billionaire. Both have claimed the right to govern in the wake of polls with final tallies not expected for several weeks. An election commissioner said Friday the body will investigate "66 people who got the highest votes in the constituency system" who were hit with complaints. "Whether these 66 candidates would be disqualified would have to depend on our investigation," said commissioner Pakorn Mahannop. He added that investigation results "will affect the calculation" of final parliamentary seats. Commission officials did not say what parties the candidates belonged to but said 300 complaints had been filed. The vote is governed under a new military-scripted constitution that delegates 350 lower parliament seats to candidates who won their constituencies. Another 150 "party list" seats will be allocated based on popular vote. The 250 upper house seats are military-appointed, stacking the balance of power strongly in its favour. Thailand's Election Commission has been dogged with criticism since the poll over bungled vote counts, inconsistent tallies and more than 2.1 million invalidated ballots. Earlier this week it ordered a re-count in two polling stations and a new vote in six polling sites, citing conflicting numbers between voter turnout and ballots tabulated. The body had previously said a final tally would be announced by May 9, but Pakorn said Friday complete results may take even longer. Early numbers showed Pheu Thai, the party linked to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, securing the majority of the constituency seats, with 137. Junta-backed Palang Pracharat followed them with 97 seats, but they gained the highest in the popular vote -- which tips their prime minister candidate junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha to return as a civilian premier. Pheu Thai spokeswoman Ladawan Wongsriwong said her party doesn't know how many of their candidates are under investigation, but called for the commission "to give them fairness ... for the sake of constructive politics". A woman casts her ballot during Thai elections last month the first vote since a 2014 coup Goals from Roque Mesa and Pablo Sarabia lifted Sevilla back into European contention on Thursday with a crucial 2-0 win over Alaves. The Basque side moved up from seventh to sixth, displacing Alaves to go level on points with fifth-placed Valencia who downed Real Madrid 24 hours earlier. Mesa put Sevilla into a 41st minute lead with a perfectly weighted rising shot from the right that dipped over keeper Fernando Pacheco and into the far corner of the net. With Alaves struggling to make an impact the home side doubled their advantage when Sarabia's skimming shot flashed past the hapless Pacheco and into an empty net with 10 minutes remaining. For Sevilla this was a vital three points after Valencia had inflicted Zinedine Zidane's first defeat since returning as Real boss on Wednesday. Valencia's 2-1 home success moved them to within a point of La Liga's top four, on 46 points, only ahead now of Sevilla on goal difference. Pablo Sarabia celebrates Sevilla's second goal A 20-year-old man has admitted to the stabbing murder of his grandmother in Sydney. Ethan Harwood pleaded guilty during a NSW Supreme Court arraignment on Friday to murdering Pauline Farrugia in December 2017. He is expected to face a sentence hearing in May. Ethan Harwood pleaded guilty during a NSW Supreme Court arraignment on Friday to murdering Pauline Farrugia in December 2017. Hes pictured in court in 2017. Source: 7 News Harwood was extradited from Victoria just days after his 67-year-old grandmothers body was found at her South Penrith home. He had lived with Ms Farrugia for most of his life, NSW Police said at the time. Do you have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. Libyan forces under Khalifa Haftar battled their way to the south of Tripoli on Friday, prompting the UN Security Council and the G7 to demand a halt to the military advance on the capital. Haftar, commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive on Thursday to take the capital, held by a UN-backed unity government and an array of militias. The lightening assault was ordered as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Libya for a visit aimed at cementing a political deal on holding elections. After meeting with Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi, Guterres said he was leaving "Libya with a deep concern and a heavy heart" and voiced hope that a "bloody confrontation" could be avoided. Shortly afterwards, LNA forces clashed with a pro-government alliance less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the capital, a unity government source said. Haftar's press office confirmed there had been "violent fighting on the edge of Tripoli with armed militias". - Halt all movements - After a closed-door emergency meeting in New York, the Security Council called on Haftar's forces to halt their advance and warned that those responsible for re-igniting the conflict will be held responsible. The appeal for Haftar to halt his offensive was unanimously backed by the council, including Russia, which has supported the strongman. The council "called on LNA forces to halt all military movements" and "on all forces to de-escalate military activity," said German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, who holds the council presidency. UN envoy Ghassan Salame told the council that Haftar made clear to Guterres during the Benghazi meeting that he had no intention of halting his campaign, diplomats said. G7 foreign ministers meeting in the French resort town of Dinard urged an immediate halt to "all military activity and movements toward Tripoli", warning that civilians were in danger. LNA forces briefly took over the ruins of a destroyed airport but were driven out by fighters from the capital, government interior minister Fathi Bachagha told Libya's Al-Ahrar television station. "The fighting is currently taking place in the Gasr Ben Ghechir region" south of the airport, he said. LNA spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari said five fighters from his group had been killed in clashes over the past 24 hours, but insisted that it had made "an important step forward". Earlier in the day, LNA forces were pushed back from a key checkpoint less than 30 kilometres from the capital, checking their offensive. Pro-government militiamen from the coastal town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, retook the base after a "short exchange of fire", a source said on condition of anonymity. The head of the UN-backed unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, visited the checkpoint on Friday accompanied by military commanders. - Time has come - The Zawiya militia is one of dozens that have proliferated since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi and are variously aligned with Sarraj's government and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar. Most of the pro-Haftar fighters who briefly captured the checkpoint late on Thursday were rival militiamen from the town of Sabratha, further west along the Mediterranean coast. Haftar said "the time has come" to take Tripoli in an audio message released on Thursday, pledging to spare civilians and "state institutions". The United States and its allies issued a joint statement urging "all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions". Russia called for "all possible efforts to fully resolve the situation with peaceful political means". Analysts say the advance by Haftar's forces comes at a key moment as the UN bids to get elections back on track after an abortive effort last year. "The risk of a flare-up has increased," said Jalel Harchaoui, a researcher at Clingendael Institute in The Hague. "Capturing Tripoli... remains a possibility" for Haftar, with the support he receives from Saudi Arabia and its allies Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, he said. Militiamen pushed back forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar who had launched a lighning offensive on the capital Tripoli United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was leaving Libya with a "heavy heart" after meeting with strongman Khalifa Haftar Map of northern Libya The head of Libya's UN-backed unity government Fayez al-Sarraj meets commanders who helped retake a key checkpoint south of Tripoli An independent rights expert will visit WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadoran embassy in London to assess whether privacy violation claims involving him merit investigation, the UN rights office said Thursday. "The Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joe Cannataci, plans to meet WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on 25 April," the UN office said in a statement. The meeting will take place at the Ecuadoran embassy in London, where Assange has been living for more than six years, and would be facilitated by the Ecuadoran government, it said. The announcement came after Quito filed a formal complaint to Cannataci accusing WikiLeaks of spreading private information linked to President Lenin Moreno. Photos, videos and private conversations appeared on portals such as Twitter and Facebook. Moreno was also forced to deny allegations of corruption which surfaced on the website inapapers.org, with the president claiming he knew who was responsible for the accusations. An informed source said the special rapporteur would also investigate allegations made by Assange that his privacy had been violated during his time holed up in the embassy. "The UN expert said the meeting would help determine if there exists a prima facie case of violation of privacy that warrants further investigation," the UN statement said. In an interview broadcast by several Ecuadoran radio stations this week, Moreno said: "Assange has too often repeatedly violated the agreement we have with him and his legal team," without saying whether Ecuador would withdraw asylum. - 'Abstain from expelling Assange' - Another UN rights expert, Nils Melzer, meanwhile voiced alarm Friday at reports that Ecuador was preparing to expel Assange from its embassy, and said he planned to investigate the case. WikiLeaks tweeted Thursday that it had learned through a high-level Ecuadoran source that Assange would be expelled within "hours to days". "In my assessment, if Mr. Assange were to be expelled from the Embassy of Ecuador, he is likely to be arrested by British authorities and extradited to the United States," said Melzer, who is the UN Special Rapporteur on torture. "Such a response could expose him to a real risk of serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," he warned. "I therefore urge the government of Ecuador to abstain from expelling Mr. Assange from its embassy in London, or from otherwise ceasing or suspending his political asylum until such time as the full protection of his human rights can be guaranteed," he added. Assange sought refuge at the Ecuadoran embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced accusations of sexual assault that prosecutors in Stockholm have since abandoned. Assange has refused to leave the embassy to avoid extradition to the United States to face charges over his website publishing huge caches of hacked State Department and Pentagon files in 2010. The 47-year-old Australian denies the rape claims, and said he feared Sweden would pass him on to US authorities if he was extradited. The Swedish chief prosecutor dropped proceedings against him in 2017 because going ahead and serving notice of charges would necessitate Assange's presence in court. Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange display banners and placards as they gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where Assange has been living for more than six years and will meet with an independent rights expert WikiLeaks tweeted that it had learned through a high-level Ecuadoran source that Assange (pictured May 2017) would be expelled within "hours to days" WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to be kicked out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London in hours or days, the organisation says in a tweet. A high-level source within the Ecuadorian state has told WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within hours to days using the INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest, it wrote. The INA papers are a collection of documents leaked to an Ecuadorian lawmaker and which have implicated President Lenin Moreno in a corruption scandal. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to be kicked out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Source: AAP The WikiLeaks statement comes two days after Moreno accused Assange of repeatedly violating the terms of his asylum and said Quito was seeking an arrangement with Britain to allow him to leave the embassy. Ecuador also suspects that WikiLeaks is responsible for sharing private photographs of Moreno on social media recently. Assange has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden on allegations of rape. The Swedish judiciary has since dropped its investigation, but British authorities have said they will still arrest the Australian when he leaves the embassy because he violated his bail conditions by fleeing. Assange says he fears being extradited to the United States where he could face charges relating to the publication of hacked government documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. His relations with his embassy hosts have been deteriorating for the past year, with Ecuador last year cutting off his internet. The disturbing Google search a woman made before killing her family has been revealed as a court declared the deaths were a murder-suicide. Sarah Hart and her wife Jennifer died with their six adopted children when their car was driven off a cliff in Northern California in March last year. The crash occurred days after authorities opened an investigation into allegations the couple had been neglecting their children aged between 12 and 19. On Thursday, the deaths were ruled as a murder-suicide. The children and Ms Hart were found with high amounts of cough syrup Benadryl in their systems. California Highway Patrol investigator Jake Slates told the court Ms Hart had Googled suicide, drowning, Benadryl dosages and overdose methods throughout the drive to California before her wife drove the car off a cliff. They both decided that this was going to be the end, he said. That if they cant have their kids that nobody was going to have those kids. Members of the Hart family pictured at the annual celebration of The Goonies movie. Source: Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian via AP According to Oregon Live, the investigator told the court among the search terms were Can 500mgs of Benadryl kill a 120-pound (54kg) woman?, Is death by drowning relatively painless? and How long does it take to die from hypothermia?. He added the searches on the phone began as the family drove away from their home and Ms Hart deleted them later on. But forensics were able to uncover them. Mendocino County Sheriffs Department Lieutenant Shannon Barney said both Jennifer and Sarah succumbed to a lot of pressure. Just a lot of stuff going on in their lives, to the point where they made this conscious decision to end their lives this way and take their childrens lives, Lt Barney said. Jennifer Hart was also found to be intoxicated behind the wheel. with Associated Press Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. Do you have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. AUBURN A 71-year-old Auburn man will spend two years in prison for repeated sexual contact with a young girl. Between May 2013 and July 2017 John Stevens, of 83 Fitch Ave., engaged in two or more sexual act with a child. The girl was between the ages of 6 and 11. Stevens pleaded guilty to second-degree course of sexual conduct with a child, a class D felony, in January. Auburn man pleads guilty to repeated sexual contact with child AUBURN A 71-year-old Auburn man will likely spend two years behind bars for repeated sexua At the time of Stevens' plea, Judge Thomas Leone said he was uncomfortable with the plea-deal offer. In Cayuga County Court Thursday, Leone went ahead and imposed the agreed-upon sentence of two years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision because it was acceptable to the victim's family. Stevens will also have to register as a sex offender, pay a $50 registration fee, and a $1,000 supplemental victim fee. Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said these cases are difficult as requiring children to testify in trial can cause substantial problems. He said he was OK with the sentence since it wouldn't require the girl to testify. An order of protection was also put in place for the victim and witnesses. When the victim's mother received the order of protection from the court, Leone said "I'm sorry your family had to go through all this." "I am a Christian man," Stevens said before being sentenced. "I'm just real sorry. ... I'm sorry also to the family for putting them through this," he added, "It's never going to happen again." Also in court A Brutus man who was sentenced in 2015 for raping two children was designated a level-three sex offender in court Thursday. Andrew Laury, 40, of of 2565 Denman Road, is currently incarcerated at Midstate Correctional Facility, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, for his conviction of two separate counts of third-degree rape, class E felonies. His earliest release date is June 2. Laury was sentenced after admitting to engaging in sexual intercourse with two minors on two separate dates January 2013 and July 2014. The victims were both 15 at the time of the incidents. In court Thursday, Laury was designated as a level three sex offender the highest risk to reoffend. Jonis Strods, Laury's defense attorney, said Laury getting hit with points for both history of drug and alcohol abuse as well as unsatisfactory conduct while confined mostly drug related felt like "double-dipping." Leone and Budelman disagreed. Budelmann said Laury's numerous disciplinary sanctions while in prison make him a higher risk to reoffend, as does having issues with substance abuse. Keeping both points in his risk factor score is what tipped Laury from a level two to a level three sex offender. An Ira man charged with two sex crimes was sent to prison. Austin Bierce, 24, of 11698 Farnam Road, was sentenced for third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act, both class E felonies. The two offenses occurred in 2016 with two different victims. Budelmann said Bierce met both victims, each under the age of 17 at the time, at the same party. Originally, Bierce's defense attorney Simon Moody and Budelmann worked out a shock probation deal with six months in jail and 10 years post-release supervision. Then, Bierce fled the state for more than two years. Although Budelmann requested he be sentenced to two years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision, Bierce was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison plus three years post-release supervision. Moody said he had no prior criminal history, was working for his father's business and "he does have a bright future." "I'm ashamed of what I did, honestly," Bierce said, adding he regrets fleeing. In addition to his sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender and pay a $50 registration fee and a $1,000 supplemental victim fee. Orders of protection were put in place for both victims. An Auburn man was sentenced to prison after his request to withdraw his plea was denied. Allan Laury, 25, was sentenced to one to three years in prison for failing to report a change in address as a sex offender, a class D felony; and 1.5 to three years for fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony. His sentences will run concurrently. Laury's defense attorney, Thomas Turturo, requested on his behalf that his plea be revoked for him to have more time to consider the plea deal. Leone denied the request and moved forward with the agreed-upon sentence. A Moravia man was sentenced to prison for intending to make methamphetamine. Brendan Johnson, 28, of 23 E. Cayuga St., Apt. 3, was sentenced to two years in prison and two years post-release supervision for criminal possession of meth precursors, a class E felony. He was found in possession of lithium batteries, instant ice cold packs and Sudafed. Although not "totally sold" on a drug treatment sentence at the time of Johnson's plea, Leone executed his sentence with a drug treatment order which will allow Johnson to serve the majority of his sentence on parole supervision after in-patient drug treatment. He was also ordered to pay $300 in restitution. Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 7 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Engineers strike affect housing programme for quake victims in Ramechhap Technicians deployed to Ramechhap by the National Reconstruction Authority to oversee the post-earthquake reconstruction works are on a strike for the past one month. Their protest has affected the families awaiting the governments aid to build their homes. " " If youre looking at a used car with an original keypad-entry feature, its most likely a Ford, like this 2010 Ford Taurus. Mark Gail/The Washington Post via Getty Images Keyless-entry keypads, those strips of numbers usually found near driver's door handles, are available on certain new car models, as well as from aftermarket suppliers. If you're looking at a used car with an original keypad-entry feature, it's most likely a Ford (or a Lincoln or Mercury). Many Ford vehicles have come equipped with keyless entry keypads over the past couple of decades, although a few other manufacturers also offered the feature for short periods in the 1980s and 1990s. A code-based keyless-entry keypad is a convenient perk, much different from the more common remote-based keyless-entry systems that, when you think about it, really aren't keyless at all, since they require a key fob to be within a certain distance of the car to work. In contrast, the keypad doesn't require any sort of key or fob, just knowledge of the pass code. And if the pass code is lost, such as when the car is bought at auction or the seller's forgotten it, owners still have some options. For instance, the car still can be unlocked normally by using the traditional key. Advertisement But what if you want the freedom to accidentally, or on purpose, lock the keys in your new-to-you used car? A dealership technician can look up the original factory code or reset it using computer diagnostic tools. However, the dealership will probably charge you for this service, especially if you didn't buy the car there. (If you did buy the car at a dealership affiliated with its manufacturer, they should have either provided you with the code or reset it for you.) There is another method for retrieving and resetting codes on some Ford vehicles. The vehicle has to be new enough to have "intelligent" keys (the kind with feature-laden key fobs), and you have to have two of them in your possession (so let's hope the seller of your car handed over all the keys). Use your owner's manual to locate the "backup slot" in the car's center console, insert the first key, and push the engine start/stop button. Wait a few seconds, and push the button again. Remove the first key, insert the second key, and push the button a third time. The factory keypad code should flash on the car's information screen. That code can be used to re-enter the car and to erase the personal keypad code, if the previous owner set one. From there, follow the code-programming instructions in the owner's manual [source: Ford]. If your used car has an aftermarket system (usually installed on the door or near the windshield) and the previous owner didn't give you the code, you might be out of luck. Your best bet is to contact the system's manufacturer for help or possibly just remove it. SAN FRANCISCOThe Falcon Studios Group brand Club Inferno specializes in gay muscle men in extreme gay porn and hardcore fisting videosand the company has just released its latest feature, Deep Sentence & Anal Oracle. Award-winning fetish director Tom Moore oversees a cast of six kinky hunks, eager to get their holes busted. The newest Club Inferno feature is now available on DVD and digital download on the Falcon Studios Group Store. The locked up and mystical cast of Deep Sentence & Anal Oracle includes Drew Dixon, Dale Savage, Sherman Maus, Gunner, Joey Wagner, and Costas. Hardcore gay fans are invited to join the gaping studs of this fisting double feature Deep Sentence & Anal Oracletwo movies on one DVD. First, there's a hardcore prison fisting fest, and then a vision quest filled with true pleasure magic, deep fisting and busted holes. Fans can get locked up and have their fortunes told with award-winning director Tom Moore, where they'll find everything they need to fulfill all of their piggiest desires. In Deep Sentence, prison Warden Dale Savage pays a visit to inmate Drew Dixon to destroy the convicts smooth ass in his cell. Joey Wagner walks in on his cellmate Sherman Maus, while hes destroying fellow inmate Gunner's hole with his fist. Joey joins in, gets his fisting cherry popped, and double fists Sherman before sharing Sherman's load with Gunner. When Warden Dale ends up a prisoner, he gets thrown into Drew Dixon's cell, and Drew gets his revenge. When Costas pays a visit to Drew Dixon, the "Anal Oracle," Drew shows him his potential pleasure future by fist-fucking the horny hunk. The psychic hole-stretching culminates with Costas blowing a load on himself as Drew finishes his reading with his fist still inside. Gunner and Joey Wagner seek the advice of fortuneteller Sherman Maus, who suggests fisting as a way to bring them together. After both Gunner and Joey get stretched by Sherman, they take Sherman's advice and double fist him. Costas pays a final visit to Drew Dixon to finally complete his studies on the energy power of fisting. From intense, gritty prison fisting to finding a pleasure awakening through deep, penetrating and stretching fist play, Deep Sentence & Anal Oracle is the hardcore fisting double feature fans have been waiting for. This feature is two movies in one, noted director Tom Moore. "It's a gritty prison fisting fest and a mystical hole-stretching journey, and I know the fans will love them both." For DVD wholesale purchasing, contact John Gunderson ([email protected]). Contact Toby J Morris ([email protected]) for additional image assets, information and access to the Falcon Studios Group Media FTP. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.The pre-preliminary hearing for the multiple-felony case against adult performer Mercedes Carrera and husband Daemon Cins was pushed back a second time to May 2 in a Thursday morning review at the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. According to the court minutes, the proceeding before Judge Stephan G. Saleson saw the scheduled pre-preliminary hearing reset, with both defendants ordered to appear again at 8:30 a.m. May 2 in the same courtroom for said hearing. Both parties waived time for a preliminary hearingoriginally scheduled to take place February 20, then pushed to June 4until July 1. Carrera and Sins first appeared before Judge Saleson February 14 for the purpose of a pre-preliminary hearing, at which point it was rescheduled for yesterday, April 4. According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney website, a pre-preliminary is intended to determine "if both sides are ready to proceed on the Preliminary Hearing Date." At a preliminary hearing, the site says, "the prosecution presents evidence and testimony in an attempt to persuade a judge that there is sufficient evidence against the defendant for the case to be set for trial," and "[t]he defense has the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and to challenge prosecution evidence. ... If, at the conclusion of the Preliminary Hearing, the Judge determines there is sufficient cause for the defendant's case to be set for trial, the defendant is ordered 'held to answer' on some or all of the charges." Carrera and Sins remain in custody without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino County. Both have been represented thus far by public defenders and have pleaded not guilty to the respecitve nine felony charges they each face. CYBERSPACELast year, a high court in India ordered the government to start blocking online porn sites, as AVN.com reported, supposedly in response to a high school gang rape incident in which the perpetrators claimed that they viewed internet porn prior to committing the violent sexual assault. Without public fanfare, the largest internet service providers in the worlds second most populous country imposed blockages on, reportedly, hundreds of porn sites. But the ban on porn was apparently a slippery slope, as reports soon surfaced in the media of the blockages also being imposed on non-porn sites, such as the audio site SoundCloud, for reasons that were not explained. Now, reports have emerged claiming the online discussion forum Reddit, the 20th-most trafficked site on the internet, has been blocked by major Indian ISPs. According to a Wednesday report by the site Latestly, the messaging app Telegram and online video and audio site College Humor were also blocked. However, a report by the Indian newspaper The Tribune on Thursday said that the sites, when tested, were found to be accessible and operating normally. At the same time, the Asai-based social media app TikTok is now the target of a new ban, imposed by Indias Madras High Court. TikTok provides a platform for users to quickly create and share brief video content. But the court said that the app was encouraging pornography, according to a Business Insider reportbanning the app in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu immediately, and directing the national government of India to block downloads the app throughout the country of 1.3 billion people. The court order condemned TikTok for containing degrading culture and encouraging pornography besides containing explicit disturbing content and causing social stigma and medical health issue between teens. The court also said the app should be banned because it allowed children to interact online with strangers which cold expose them to sexual predators. The court also said that the future of the youngsters and mindset of the children are spoiled, by becoming addicted to TikTok, according to a report by the India legal site Bar and Bench. The TikTok app reportedly has about 500 million userswith 39 percent of those, or about 195 million, coming from India, according to Business Insider. Photo By Toutiao / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.Hustler Hollywood has gone back to its roots in a sense, with its new West Hollywood boutique on the Sunset Strip officially open for business. West Hollywood is our home. We could never imagine leaving such a strong, accepting and diverse communitymoving to another part of town wasnt an option. We look forward to staying on the Strip and being a part of WeHo for years to come, said Larry Flynt, founder of the iconic Hustler lifestyle brand. A grand opening celebration will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20; additional details TBA. The event will be free and open to the public. The store moved just a few doors down from the building it occupied for 21 years; it is now located at 8873 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Hustler Hollywood is a sophisticated lifestyle boutique that offers all the top pleasure product brands, lingerie and much more, including an extensive selection of high-quality toys, apparel, sportswear, accessories, jewelry, gifts and novelties, along with bath and body items. The store has knowledgeable staff who are trained to provide education and recommendations based on individual needs and who are dedicated to ensuring every customer feels welcome and comfortable while experiencing a high-end shopping environment. The store carries something for everyone. The first Hustler Hollywood opened in 1998 on the famed Sunset Strip in West Hollywood making this its 21st year in business. There are currently 28 locations throughout the U.S. For more information, visit HustlerHollywood.com. VEENDAM, The NetherlandsEDC Wholesale celebrates the Easter season with Luv Egg, a collection of 3 colorful vibrating eggs that can be controlled with a remote. Luv Egg is the newest house brand, designed by EDC Wholesale. We chose soft pastel tones for the three items, to separate them visually from the bright colored vibrators in the shop presentation. explained designer Melanie The package is transparent, in order to let the colors stand out. What you see is what you get. Luv Egg is a beautiful collection with high-end material and USB rechargeable items. No more hassle with batteries, but pure comfort by charging them for extra long fun. Luv Egg is perfect for partners who are looking for an exciting sex toy. The vibrating egg is wrapped in soft silicone, which is body-safe, feels comfortable on the skin and can be cleaned thoroughly. Luv Egg has a powerful motor with 12 vibration settings. The egg is waterproof, USB rechargeable and can be used in combination with water-based lubricant. The items are available in pastel tones of Blue, Green, and Pink, which fits perfectly in an Easter-themed presentation. Luv Egg is in stock and available for retailers to order now. For more, visit EDCWholesale.com. Gone with the wind: Crops worth millions destroyed in rainstorm Farmer Jakir Miya Thakurai of Bara had planted wheat on 8 katthas of land, the winter rains were good, and he was all set to reap a bumper harvest. Then last Sunday, a big wind came out of nowhere and blew away his dreams of making a tidy income this year. The rainstorm flattened Thakurais farm and home in Purainiya, Pheta rural municipality along with a wide swathe of the Tarai plains. CJ file photo Raleigh residents soon won't see Bird or Lime e-scooters zipping around town. Electric scooter companies, Bird and Lime, announced March 28 they were leaving Raleigh, citing city regulations as the driving force.In statements to WRAL news, the e-scooter companies said they will be leaving North Carolina's capital.Sam Reed, a spokesman for Bird, told WRAL.Todd O'Boyle, a spokesman for Lime, told the news outlet.Bird plans to end operations by April 30, while Lime hasn't set a departure date.The two companies failed to submit their proposals to work with the city by March 26, the deadline imposed by the Raleigh City Council. A city spokeswoman told thethat Bolt, Gotcha, Lyft, Spin and VeoRide submitted proposals to operate e-scooters in the city.E-scooters began appearing in the city last summer even though Bird and Lime hadn't consulted with Raleigh officials. Council members imposed a series of regulations including fees of $300 per e-scooter in addition to application and administrative fees. Companies had to offer between 50 and 500 e-scooters, provide monthly reports to the city, adopt diverse payment options for low-income riders, and deploy 20 percent of their e-scooters in city-designated "Communities of Concern."Initially Bird and Lime were going to stay in Raleigh and follow the rules, though Bird added a $2 transportation fee to their rides in response to the City Council rules.Jon Sanders, director of regulatory studies at the John Locke Foundation, called the regulations a de facto ban when they were first announced.Sanders wrote after the companies announced their departure. It's a simple principle, really:. Instead, each of us chooses with whom we will associate, and under what conditions.Almost all of us understand and accept this basic tenet of American democracy. We would be outraged if the federal government or a state government required us to join a political party, or forced us to become a member of a particular religion, or authorized those organizations to speak for us against our will. Government shouldn't have that power, and thankfully it doesn't-. Forced union representation is an affront to the freedom of individuals to choose how and with whom they wish to associate. As we enter the mid-21st century, government continues to mandate that its employees accept union representation, whether they want it or not.Joining a union, just like joining a political party or a religious group, should be an individual's free choice. Not joining a union, and not being ascribed its views, should befree choice, but it isn't. That's why I'm fighting to change the law.I am a professor of political science at St. Cloud State University, one of seven universities in the Minnesota State University System. Since joining the faculty in 1999, I have been forced to accept union representation and have continuously fought for reform.Many of my union colleagues believe that I'm anti-union. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have strong blue-collar roots, including a long history of union membership in my family. My father was a truck driver for 30 years-a Chicago Teamster no less. My grandfather spent his career in the auto industry; he belonged to the United Automobile Workers. My husband and three generations of his family were members of the steel workers' union. When I was growing up, most of my relatives belonged to a labor union.That was fine for them, but it's not fine for me.So, what's my objection? Again, it's pretty simple: I have the right to choose with whom I associate. That choice was taken from me and other public employees decades ago, for reasons that were questionable then and are unsupportable now. That's why I'm challenging Minnesota's authority to appoint a labor union to speak for me as my "exclusive representative."I have partnered with The Buckeye Institute to end the forced union representation of faculty members and public universities-and all other public employees-once and for all.The lawsuit has nothing to do with the merits of labor unions. I want the Supreme Court to recognize that public employees who aren't union members have the right to associate (or not) with whomever we choose, as well as the right to choose for ourselves who speaks for us.Last summer, the Supreme Court freed non-union public employees from paying compulsory union dues. In, the justices concluded that it was unconstitutional to force unwilling public employees to subsidize union collective bargaining activities. The day the decision came down, my labor union, the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO), finally released non-members from being forced to fund the union's speech. I celebrated that decision.Unfortunately, the State of Minnesota wouldn't let me go. State law mandates that the IFO serve as the "exclusive representative" of all faculty members in the Minnesota State System. That means the union continues to represent me, even though I decidedto join it as a member. So, while I don't have to pay the union, the law still regards it as my "representative."The result of this "representation" is a two-tiered system of faculty employment that rewards union employees and punishes non-union employees.For example, non-union faculty members are barred from serving onuniversity committees, including search, service, and governance committees. These committees make policy on everything from strategic planning and budgeting to curriculum. Even our Faculty Senate is union-only. These prohibitions severely curtail our participation in our careers, and in the life of our universities generally.Non-union faculty members also are prohibited from serving on System committees. We have no formal ability to interact with its administrators or participate in its planning or decision-making. Sadly, the System and the IFO define this exclusion broadly, banning non-union faculty members from serving on anything that even remotely resembles a committee, including "task forces" and "working groups."These prohibitions also mean that non-union faculty members are not eligible for the extra compensation that can accompany committee work. This compensation takes the form of additional salary or stipends or job duty reassignments.More significant, perhaps, is the fact that all faculty members in the System are contractually required to perform service to the university and community to obtain promotion and tenure. Union members use committee service to meet this requirement; non-union faculty members must seek out these opportunities on their own since they are barred from committee service.The sum total of this discrimination is that non-union faculty members are denied professional opportunities that their union counterparts take for granted-namely to make academic policies, form relationships with administrators, join professional networks, and gain the experience necessary for professional advancement within higher education.I don't blame the IFO for acting on behalf of its members; that's what unions do. I blame my employer-the State of Minnesota-for defending a law that compels me to accept the IFO as my representative, even when I don't want that, and anoints the IFO to be my voice, even though it negotiates employment terms that harm my career.My opposition to forced union representation is now entering its third decade. I've lost track of the number of system chancellors, general counsels, university presidents, and elected officials that I have reached out to in an effort to explain why the IFO should not speak for me.My disagreements with the IFO are wide in scope and fundamental in nature. I categorically reject the IFO's definition of "shared governance" because it's not shared with me. I disagree with all of the contractual provisions that the IFO and my employer have negotiated against my interests. I disagree with its professional priorities for faculty members and its treatment of non-union faculty members. I oppose its political positions and its candidate endorsements. I'm not even a member of the IFO-but Minnesota doesn't care. State law inextricably binds me to the union; my 20 years of objections do not matter.It's time for the State of Minnesota to end this unconstitutional charade. My rights of free association and free speech should not be subject to the System's preference for the, or to the inertia of the Minnesota legislature.I am grateful to The Buckeye Institute and its brilliant legal team for standing with me and making it possible to take this fight to the Supreme Court. We earnestly hope that the High Court will accept our pending petition and grant us full review.Regardless, we will continue to fight for the rights of non-union public employees in an effort to fulfill the Constitution's promise of free association and free speech for all. No exceptions! Last week, former Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Biden Courage Awards ceremony in preparation for his presidential campaign launch. There, in an attempt to forestall claims that as a white man, he simply isn't intersectional enough to compete in the Democratic primaries, he critiqued a central pillar of Western civilization as inherently racist.Biden fibbed.Biden's take was, as always, historically illiterate. The "rule of thumb" story has been circulating for years - and it has been repeatedly debunked. There was no "rule of thumb," as feminist scholar Christina Hoff Sommers points out.she writes,In actuality, the phrase originated in craftsmen so expert that they could perform tasks without precise measuring tools.More importantly, however, Biden's characterization of "English jurisprudential culture" as "white man's culture" is profoundly disturbing. English jurisprudential culture is rooted in the belief in the rule of law, due process of law, equal rights under law; English jurisprudential culture is responsible for preserving the natural rights we hold dear, rights which were imperfectly but increasingly extended over time to more and more human beings, particularly minorities. No less a leftist figure than Barack Obama explained just that in 2009, saying he sought a system at Guantanamo Bay thatProtection of individual rights - and in particular, minority rights - lies at the heart of English jurisprudence. Yet Biden boiled down those rights to racial privilege. And the attempt to reduce the fundamental principles of our civilization to a mask for racial hierarchical power is both false and frightening. It suggests that those principles ought to be undermined for purposes of disestablishing that supposed hierarchy. Get rid of English jurisprudential law, presumably, in order to fight racism.Ironically, reduction of Western civilization to racial supremacy isn't just a strategy of the intersectional left; it's a strategy of the despicable alt-right, which champions Western civilization as white civilization and then seeks to rip away the universalism of its principles from nonwhite people. Thus, the very term "Western civilization" is under assault by a variety of political forces seeking to tear out eternal truths and natural rights in the name of tribalism.But that's not what Western civilization is about at all. Western civilization was built on Judeo-Christian values and Greek reason, culminating in a perspective on natural rights that is preserved by institutions like English jurisprudence. It is thanks to those philosophical principles that free markets, free speech and free association have grown and flourished. Only if we re-enshrine those principles, rather than undermine them, will our prosperity and freedoms be preserved. Government doctors to halt out-patient care from today Doctors serving in state-run health facilities across the country have decided to stop providing their servicesexcept for emergency casesfrom Friday to pressure the government into correcting a provision of the employee adjustment bill that keeps them under the jurisdiction of the local level. Protesting doctors say they will not resume work unless their demands are met. In Case You Missed It: Here are the top five stories from Friday Take a quick look at some of the important news you may have missed from Friday. Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. As Republicans unveil plans for compulsory paid family leave, they would be well instructed to see how such policies have hurt womens employment prospects. In Europe, where paid leave is often compulsory, women face fewer prospects for advancement than in the United States. Veronique de Rugy, a senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, writes about the example of Denmark in The American Spectator. De Rugy, who took part in the first transatlantic Reclaiming the West conference in London in December 2016, writes: Denmark is often cited as an example of working-parent paradise. The government offers 52 weeks of paid leave and other generous family-friendly benefits. But even in paradise, theres no such thing as a free lunch. A January 2018 National Bureau of Economic Research paper by economists Henrik Kleven, Camille Landais, and Jakob Egholt Sogaard looks at what happened to the earnings of 470,000 Danish women who gave birth for the first time between 1985 and 2003. These researchers found that having children was a career bummer for women. For instance, they found that while mens and womens pay grew at roughly the same rates before they had kids, mothers saw their earnings rapidly reduced by nearly 30% on average, compared to the trajectory they were on before having kids. Men, on the other hand, saw their pay grow at the same rate before and after their children were born. Women may also become less likely to work, and if still employed, had earned lower wages and worked fewer hours. Put simply, employers know that government-mandated paid leave means a drain on their finances and productivity. Since women are far more likely to take family leave than men, employers have an incentive to discriminate against women. Sweden proposes to equalize outcomes by grounding down mens incomes, forcing them to take paternity leave. The same scheme has been proposed in the Wall Street Journal. The family is the fundamental unit of society, itself the first divinely ordained society in microcosm. St. John Chrysostom said a harmonious marriage produces great benefits, both to families and to states. For there is nothing which so welds our life together as the love of man and wife. Since no two families are identical, each must tend to its own needs, as befits its peculiar circumstances and necessities. For some, that means relying more heavily on womens income, which this policy artificially lowers. St. Chrysostom also warned, when the family suffers, great evils are hence produced to families and to states. (Photo credit: U.S. Air Force / Jerry Saslav.) Conventional wisdom believes three things: Women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); this is largely due to sexual discrimination; and the government must redress this imbalance. But multiple studies have discovered a much different reason behind the STEM gender gap. Most media and academic commentary accepts the theory of disparate impact: Any statistical inequality is ipso facto proof of discrimination. When activists call this one of the most important issues of our time, opinion-makers nod in agreement. The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution on the matter and, in the U.S., the federally funded National Science Foundation has spent $270 million since 2001 to increase the representation and advancement of women in STEM. Yet the government has hardly moved the needle on female participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The wrong STEM careers? To begin with, the STEM gap may more properly be described as an EM gap. Canadian women graduate with 59 percent of science and technology degrees; in the U.S., women earn the majority of biology degrees. Women make up only a distinct minority of engineering and mathematical graduates, and workers in computing jobs. But some unlikely nations have greater female participation in STEM than the West. Women account for nearly half of R&D jobs in Central Asia. They earn 41 percent of STEM degrees in Algeria more than in the United States and women make up the majority of researchers in Azerbaijan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia and Kuwait, according to the World Economic Forum. Expert studies come to the same conclusion: Women are underrepresented in STEM professions, because they would rather do something else and the West gives them the freedom to follow their dreams. STEM participation: an economic analysis Two economic terms explain the STEM gender gap: utility and comparative advantage. Utility means how much enjoyment something brings a person. Researchers for the Canadian government found boys expressing higher self-efficacy, more joy in science, and a broader interest in science than girls. This influences the selection of a career. Comparative advantage means a person should specialize in the work he or she can do most productively. But even if someone can do everything better than anyone else if that person has an absolute advantage that doesnt mean the person should try to do it all herself. Economic theory says that person should concentrate on the work that is most productive and trade with others. And that is exactly what is happening in STEM. It is undeniable that inequality affects STEM qualifications, but females far surpass males. High school girls get higher grades in math and science than boys and attain higher science scores on standardized tests in nations such as Finland. But they score even higher in reading, so they follow their comparative advantage. Boys also prefer to work in non-STEM fields, but they often lack the skills to do so. Researchers Ming-Te Wang, Jacquelynne S. Eccles, and Sarah Kenny followed 1,490 people for 15 years and found that mathematically capable individuals who also had high verbal skills were less likely to pursue STEM careers than those with only moderate verbal skills. However, the group with high math and high verbal ability included more females than males. Most men would be better served to focus on their comparative advantage in STEM fields, precisely as statistics show they do. But if thats the case, why do so many more women pursue STEM careers in areas like Central Asia? Prejudice is indeed at work, but not the way commentators believe. The truth about gender inequality and female participation in STEM David Geary, a professor of psychological sciences in the University of Missouri, probed the matter and found a paradox: countries with lower levels of gender equality had relatively more women among STEM graduates than did more gender equal countries. (Emphases in original.) Females fulfill a higher percentage of high-tech jobs in such countries, because these occupations are relatively high paying and thus provide the economic security that is less certain in countries that are low in gender equality. Simply put, people respond to economic incentives. When nations artificially constrict the labor market, women support themselves and their families by doing the best paying work that is available, even if it is not in their preferred occupation. The freedom and prosperity of the West gives women greater self-determination. In more liberal and wealthy countries, personal preferences are more strongly expressed, Geary told the World Economic Forum. University of Wisconsin gender-studies professor Janet Shibley Hyde agreed, In wealthy nations, [women] believe that they have the freedom to pursue those alternatives and not worry so much that they pay less. And economically free nations are more likely to be wealthy and to respect personal agency and other freedoms. However, Western governments now spend tax dollars to influence young women to study for careers in STEM and are likely doing those women no favors in the process. STEM: More harm than good? A salient, unanswered question is whether these governments are shepherding teenage girls into dead-end careers. Fifty-eight percent of those [of all sexes] with STEM degrees exit the field after 10 years, explained Brent Orrell of AEI. Likewise, a 2013 study by four female researchers found that half of all women in STEM fields had left their job within 12 years, more than twice as many as professional women in other fields. Orrell speculated that, while high-tech skills bring a wage premium at the beginning of the career, technology soon passes older workers by. This appears to be creating a career pathway in which a majority of STEM workers age-out of the industry in their late-30s or early-40s with decades of working life ahead, forcing them to find other employment, he wrote. Even during their job tenure, women are more likely than men to leave STEM jobs. Canadian women with STEM degrees are more likely to be unemployed than those with non-STEM degrees, according to Statistics Canada. Even in academia, female STEM college professors have lower job satisfaction than male STEM faculty. And unlike other fields, the percentage of women leaving STEM positions does not decrease the more time they spend on the job. An unintended consequence of government programs goading young women to enter STEM may well be more unhappy, or unemployed, women. Analyses rooted in disparate impact have it precisely backwards: Most people respond to the economic concepts of utility and comparative advantage, because they help them discern the proper use of the unique talent God has placed within every person. When politicians artificially restrict their opportunities, they deny individuals the right to express their personal, creative gifts impoverishing the workers and the consumers who would have benefited from their work. Embrace freedom of choice Women can, and do, make valuable contributions in every discipline. However, if women decide a STEM career is not the best use of their God-given talents, the government should not guide them into professions that will give them less enjoyment (utility). Women are best able to decide how to use their gifts by weighing potential salary, benefits, working conditions, job satisfaction, opportunity cost, and every other factor that goes into career choice. And they should be free to do so, even if their decisions displease the Wests (often male) political leaders. A free and virtuous society prizes the liberty it gives citizens to choose their own life and career paths, not how well their choices fulfill some central planners predetermined outcome. We need to reject simple-minded reasoning that tries to measure social value in money or body counts, wrote Mary L.G. Theroux, the senior vice president of the Independent Institute. A truly equitable society is one in which individuals are free to make their own choices. (Photo credit: Argonne National Laboratory. CC BY-SA 2.0.) Henry Lee III, besides being the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, may be best known for his masterful eulogy of George Washington. To the memory of the Man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, was Lees most memorable line about the first American president. In Light-Horse Harry Lee,(Regnery History, 434 pages, $29.99), historian Ryan Cole offers up a comprehensive portrait of the oft-forgotten Lee whose rapid rise as a brilliant military leader was overshadowed by scandal and poverty later in life. The moniker Light-Horse was for recognition of his horsemanship and heroic cavalry exploits during the American Revolutionary War. Lee grew up in one of Virginias most prominent families. He was ambitious, studious, and attracted to the warrior spirit and ethos. Washington would have been a frequent visitor in the Lee family home. However, like other Founding Fathers, Lees life and legacy would prove to be much more tragic and complicated than the virtuous model that Washington made of his life. Lee was a student at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) in the early 1770s, at a time when colonial furor at the Crown was already in full force. John Witherspoon, the schools president, would sign the Declaration of Independence a few years later. John Adams bragged about Lees graduating class, calling them all sons of Liberty. Cole is adept at capturing Lees bravado on the battlefield as a cavalry officer beginning with the outbreak of the war. Continually seeking honor and prestige, Lee harassed and created havoc for British patrols, an especially important mission in opening supply lines for Washingtons beleaguered army at Valley Forge in 1777. At one point, the British, growing frazzled by Lee, sent out a convoy of 130 men to capture him and the young officer found himself walled off and surrounded by the enemy in a house with eight others. Miraculously, they fought back and forced a retreat against overwhelming odds. Washington, impressed with Lees skills and bravado, offered him a coveted position as an aide-to-camp in his inner circle. It represented a major promotion and a chance to join a family that included [Alexander] Hamilton and other young warriors, writes Cole. Lee, seeking greater heroics and glory declined the plum offer and announced himself wedded to his sword. He believed that glory on the field of battle was his true destiny and a medal was commissioned in his name for a daring nighttime raid that captured the fort at Paulus Hook in New Jersey in 1779. Lee continued his success on the southern front and helped Nathaniel Greene pin down General Cornwallis at Yorktown, essentially ending the war on American terms. Complaining that he was not getting the proper praise and acclaim, Lee sulked about and soon left the Continental Army. His desire for more recognition, riches and prestige would ultimately result in a tragic and sad fate. Lee began to aggressively chase wild land speculation schemes that eventually buried him in mountains of debt he was unable to escape in life. In the short term, Lee settled down, married, and was a proponent of the new Constitution and became a congressman and governor of Virginia. He was known as an ardent federalist but was not afraid to buck that agenda when he felt it violated the law and spirit of the Constitution. Tragically, he defended the spirit of the Constitution by sticking up for a newspaper editors right to free speech against anti-federalist mobs. That earned him a bloody beating in Baltimore in 1812 that nearly left him dead. Disfigured and permanently ailing after the mob attack, Lee would never recover. He had already spent time in debtors prison before his final downfall at Baltimore. Lee became more desperate as his financial situation deteriorated. He traded and sold land he had already sold and embarrassingly did this to prominent figures, including years earlier to Washington. And while its not certain he was always acting maliciously; his reputation of being a swindler was added to one of recklessness. He could no longer make sense of his own land speculation schemes and was rebuffed by Hamilton and others for seeking inside information from government leaders on land contracts and monetary policy. It would get worse for Lee. The root of Lees downfall had been reckless optimism, wrote Cole. But when his financial dreams collapsed and he was backed into a corner, his scruples were gradually discarded in the desperate attempt to preserve his freedom and protect his family. Now, in this last act of his lifes story, he was little more than a scoundrel attempting to survive to see another day. One area where Cole really excels in his review is in the illuminating assessments of leaders like Washington. He notes that Washington, while less educated and scholarly than many Founders, had a deep level of emotional steadiness and virtue unmatched by his peers. Lee himself noted that nobody was more virtuous than Washington in the private arena of life. While Washington had a fondness for Lee, he later kept his distance when he saw the path of financial destruction that was awaiting the former officer in his army. Lee ended his life as a beggar and incorrigible swindler, living off the charity of others while wandering the Caribbean where he went to recover from his physical wounds after the Baltimore mob attack and to escape the never-ending line of creditors hunting him down. The American hero, crowned with a halo of fame, who had entered his life with prospects so fair, had ended it by swindling a kind old widow, notes Cole of Lees last days. Lee swindled his way back to America and died in 1818 at the estate of Gen. Nathaniel Greens daughter in southern Georgia, never making it back to his family. Lee never really knew his youngest son Robert Edward Lee, born in 1807. While they shared the gift of military prowess, they had enormous differences too. Lee abhorred debt and was more religious than his deist minded father. The son was a devout Episcopalian, praying and poring over the Bible daily, writes Cole. The sons piety has a profound impact on shaping his humility and vowed to spend more time with his children, while the fathers pride caused him to chase schemes in search of more wealth, power, and fame. But for all his faults, Light-Horse always remained loyal to the idea of the Union. In all local matters I shall be Virginian: in those of a general matter, I shall not forget I am an American, declared Lee. Ultimately, his son did not share that oath. Cole notes that at every point when there was a chance that could promote civil unrest or even war in America, Lee remained loyal to the idea of a united nation and strong Constitutional government. When Virginia reclaimed his body in 1913 and Light-Horse was laid to rest at Washington & Lee University, the American flag draped his coffin as he was interred next to his son, the former commander of the Confederate Army. Photo credit: Harry Lee by the artist William Edward West (1788-1857). Wikimedia commons. Home page photo credit: Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by the artist John Trumbull (1756-1843). Wikimedia Commons. I recently participated in a student seminar at a large state university. We were discussing readings by Adam Smith, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and others. One student appeared to have a fairly strong attachment to Marxist and socialist ideas. I found myself grateful to him because his participation vastly improved the conversation. At one point, he ventured a critique about the different amounts of money people receive as pay for their work. What one human being can do is not that different from what another human being can do, he said. It doesnt make sense that the reward for the work would be so different. When freshmen member of Congress Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently complained about the mismatch between the cost of an airport croissant and the minimum wageimplying that an hour of ones labor should be worth much more than the croissantI noticed the connection between the two sentiments. Both the student and Ocasio-Cortez value human work as though it is essentially undifferentiateda hallmark of Marxist-style thinking about economics. But anyone who has had to manage people or ever been responsible for delivering a good or service will tell you that the view of labor as fungible is totally wrong. Even if I confine my analysis to people who do very similar jobs, it wont be hard to establish the fact that contribution levels can differ dramatically. Why is that important? The answer is that it is absolutely critical to have the ability to pay high performers for their work. In simple pragmatic terms, high performers who receive the same pay as those who provide much less through their efforts (either because of slacking, lack of skill, attitude, etc.) will feel disheartened to see that their superior dedication, talent, and work ethic do not earn a premium. To go beyond pragmatism and to elevate the issue, we could simply say that it is unjust to pay the person who works hard and makes a powerful contribution the same as the person who misses several days, makes a half-hearted attempt, and only contributes enough to stay employed. Justice requires different pay for different contribution. It is interesting to note that, a few years ago, an employer received positive notices for elevating all of his employees to a higher salary of $70,000. The effect was basically to bring several lower paid employees up to the level of those who were better compensated. Rather than being an unqualified success, the reform brought dissension. Employees who had been better paid than co-workers felt they had earned their higher salaries. They were troubled to see resources employed and rewards granted with no relation to contribution. If we arbitrarily assign a value to human labor, we simply fail to take into account the power of incentives to motivate as well as the justice of paying workers according to their contribution. It makes little sense to dictate what work is worth through the political process. We also tend to see the minimum wage as lifting wages. I wonder if by setting a minimum wage we dont actually slow more organic wage growth that would otherwise occur by teaching employers and employees to think of a potential wage as being somehow suggestive of what is fair and right. It may be the case that wages would be higher and more dynamic in their growth without a legally mandated minimum acting as a kind of anchor for wages in particular sectors of the economy. The most just economy will be one in which workers are paid according to their contribution. In our best political traditions, we have focused on helping people make their best contribution through education and opportunity rather than by dictating particular results. With regard to that croissant, if there is an employee who can turn out more croissants than two of his colleagues in an hour, he deserves more and they deserve less, regardless of what the law mandates. A wise business owner or manager would observe that reality and respond to it. Image: Dimitri Rodriguez, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) (CC-BY 2.0) Sean Ryan, a Buffalo, New York Assemblyman, wants to control what you eat. Last week, the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport nixed plans to open a Chick-fil-A after Assemblyman Ryan took to Twitter to call out the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) for allowing this discriminatory corporation to open inside the taxpayer-funded public facility. It took just one-day for the NFTA to respond, saying that they would, in fact, scrap plans to bring Chick-fil-A to the airport. NFTA cited Chick-fil-As past funding of anti-LGBTQ groups, through the Chick-fil-A Foundation, as the main reason for the ban. The supposed anti-LGBTQ groups that the Chick-fil-A Foundation has supported, that Assemblyman Ryan and the NFTA are concerned about, include a $1.6 million dollar gift to Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a $150,000 gift to Salvation Army. Ryan took to Twitter, yet again, after the NFTA announced they would remove Chick-fil-A from the plans for the airport project: A publicly financed facility like the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is not the appropriate venue for a Chick-fil-A restaurantwere confident another vendor who better represents the values of the Western New York community will replace Chick-fil-A as a part of this project in the very near future. As I reflected on this story I became increasingly concerned. First, what are the values of the Western New York community and why does Assemblyman Ryan get to decide? Second, how far can this logic be taken? If would be Chick-fil-A customers need to use roads funded by the Buffalo taxpayer to get to the nearest Chick-fil-A in Cheektowaga, NY, could Assemblyman Ryan ban the use of roads for that purpose? One of the great assets of living in a competitive market economy is businesses that fail to serve their customers well, go out of business. If Chick-fil-A truly doesnt represent the values of Western New York, Assemblyman Ryan should have no concern about a Chick-fil-A opening in the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport it wouldnt last long. On November 29, 2018 the first Chick-fil-A in Western New York opened just 11 minutes from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Hundreds of people braved frigid temperatures in long lines for the fast food restaurants grand opening at 6:30am. Why? Because, apparently, Western New York loves Chick-fil-As delectable chicken sandwich. In fact, they might even love what Chick-fil-A stands for . Assemblyman Ryan, maybe its your values that dont represent those of the Western New York community. You cannot know for sure unless you let those in your district choose whether they want to eat at Chick-fil-A. Dont ban Chick-fil-A, let them compete for Western New York customers. Stop suppressing free speech in the name of tolerance. Stop telling the people of Western New York what theyre not allowed to eat! The ACLU and U.S. Commission on Civil Rights agree that Chick-fil-A has a good case for suing NFTA members in their official and personal capacities. Liberal Politics from the Heart of Bluegrass Country Nepal-India Franchise Investment Expo to kick off in Capital on May 15 The first Nepal-India Franchise Investment Expo and Conclave is scheduled to kick off in Capital on May 15. The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) is organising the expo in association with the Embassy of India to Nepal and Franchise India. Entertainment / Music by Staff reporter Celebrated Zimdancehall artist Wallace Chirumiko, popularly known as Winky D has been announced as the recipient of the inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi Zim-Based Musician of the Year Award at the ZororoPhumulani Zimbabwe Achievers Awards SA (ZAA SA) slated for the 6thApril 2019 in South Africa. Organisers of the event have also released the names of the people receiving the Honorary Academic Excellence Awards for the 2019 edition of the event.Winky D will be presented with the award at the awards ceremony on the 6thof April at the five star Hilton Hotel in Sandton in recognition of his impact around the world and diaspora community as a touring musical ambassador for the country, whilst the academic awards will be handed to Professor Willie Tafadzwa Chinyamurindi, Dr Tatenda Dalu, Professor Shadreck Chirikure and Dr Albert Chakona with Professor Tawana Kupe getting the prestigious Chairman's Honorary Award for their contributions in academic and leadership capacities.ZAA will be honouring the best of Zimbabwean diaspora from various fields and also pay tribute the late national hero and music icon, former ZAA Honorary Patron Dr Oliver Mtukudzi at the fifth edition of the annual gala."We are pleased to announce that Winky D will be the recipient of the inaugural OM ZimBased Musician Award because he has earned the recognition after so many years in the music industry. We will also honour the academic giants who have been flying the country's flag high in South Africa," said Rabson Shumba ZAA SA Advisory board member who spearheaded the Award ."ZimAchievers honours outstanding contributions in the diaspora and we will be recognizing and honouring various individuals and organizations together at the ZororoPhumulani ZAA SA. I would like to urge everyone and our diaspora community to come out in our numbers as we celebrate one another."The OM Zim-Based Musician Award is a new permanent category on the awards roll in celebration of the life and career of Dr Mtukudzi who was arguably the country's biggest musical and cultural export and also shared the stage many times with the Ninja President. The two musical icons famously collaborated on the smash hit sing Panorwadza Moyo in 2016 and it is significant that Winky D receives the award named in honour of the former ZAA SA Honorary Patron. Mtukudzi passed away in January after a long battle with diabetes, leaving behind a legacy of a glittering career milestones and timeless classics.Winky D has a career spanning over 15 years that features an impressive discography that touches on daily lives and social commentary which has seen him rise to being one of the most sought after bankable international artists in the country.The Chairman's Award will be conferred to Prof Tawana Kupe who last year became the first black Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria in over a century. . Professor Kupe has held various high ranking posts in the academic sector and is also a respected media commentator and judge of journalism awards.University of Venda Senior Lecturer Dr Tatenda Dalu is also in line to receive an Honorary Academic award for his work and research projects on environmental pollution and conservation within aquatic ecosystems. Dr Albert Chakona is a scientist at South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity whose research interest include ecology, historical biogeography and conservation will also get honoured.Shadreck Chirikure who is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in the Department of Archeology and Professor Willie Tafadzwa Chinyamurindi, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Management at the University of Fort Hare will complete the academic roll call.The ZAA awards have continued to grow since the inception of the South African edition in 2014 and has to date honoured various achievers in different sectors. The 2019 edition is sponsored by ZororoPhumulani, WorldRemit and BN Business Solutions. Tickets for the event on Saturday 6THApril at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg are available on www.zimachievers.com/sa/tickets News / National by Staff reporter Workers at a white-owned commercial ranch in Matabeleland South have accused the proprietors of unfair labour practices and unhealthy working conditions.According to letters between Drummond Ranch Estate lawyers, Majoko and Majoko Legal Practitioners and the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, representing the workers, the farm was reportedly providing unhealthy water to its staff and failing to provide protective clothing."The workers are complaining that they are drinking water which comes straight from the dam. Surely, the water is unsafe and unhealthy to drink. It exposes the lives of the workers and their families to danger," part of the letters signed by one V Mashingaidze on behalf of the federation, read.Also the federation, which is represented by the Horticulture, General Agriculture and Plantation Workers' Union of Zimbabwe, alleged workers at the farm did not enjoy holidays because they were forced to work with no extra pay."The employer must provide toilets to avoid dangers to the health of the workers. We heard that most of the toilets are full," the letter added.The matter, according to the letters, has dragged on since May 2018 and last month, the union requested that an inspection in loco be undertaken under the supervision of officials from the Labour ministry as well as the National Social Security Authority.In response to the allegation, Drummond, through their lawyers, accused the union of attempting to soil their image by raising the allegations."Our clients are well-established in business, have a reputation to protect and will do everything within the confines of the law to remain in business and protect their reputation and goodwill," part of the letter from Majoko and Majoko Legal Practitioners read.Drummond stated that on the water issue, management at the farm was also drinking from the same source without any consequences."We would have thought, with respect, that you would have afforded our client an opportunity to respond to the issues you raise and importantly, time to address those issues which need to be addressed and rectified," the lawyers stated. News / National by Staff reporter Former MDC-T spokesperson Linda Masarira who was fired by party president Thozokani Khupe has turned against her former boss.Masarira was on Wednesday shown the exit door by Khupe after she was pictured wearing Zanu-PF regalia at a rural function.The Khupe-led MDC was worried that Masarira's indiscretions will give traction to the view held by some that MDC-T is a mere appendage of Zanu-PF.In an interview with Zim Morning Post, Masarira said that Khupe and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa are similar in terms of disregard for constitutions.She said: "In terms of constitutionalism, the difference is the same. They [Chamisa and Khupe] both indicate left and turn right. We have a mammoth task to ensure constitutionalism at all levels in our country."Being expelled for tying a mere piece of Zanu-PF cloth is the highest level of mediocrity which I will not dwell upon as I have better things to focus on as national development issues for the prosperity and posterity of this nation."I am not going to join any political party rather its time to put my vision into action. I am a visionary with a vision for a united, tolerant and democratic Zimbabwe." News / National by Staff reporter Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga has called for unity of purpose saying it is everyone's role to assist Cyclone Idai victims.While addressing residents gathered outside Chipinge District Hospital where he had visited Cyclone Idai patients, Vice President Chiwenga saidnow is the time to work together as a nation.The Vice President also castigated those politicking on the back of the tragic event saying in times like these Zimbabweans should be united for a common, thus to help those affected by the cyclone."We have come here together as political parties to sympathise with those affected by the cyclone but some are taking this disastrous event to criticise, grandstand and politic at the expense of the victims. This is not the time for party politics," he said.The Vice President also cautioned against looting of relief goods saying the long arm of the law will surely catch up with those involved in this illegal practice."It is the highest level of cruelty and above all a criminal act to steal goods directed for victims," he said.Earlier on, Chiwenga visited other affected areas in Chimanimani where he reiterated government's commitment towards repairing damaged infrastructure in the province. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu Renowned businessman and politician Philip Chiyangwa has gifted one Monalisa Charity Mutindivari with a new Mazda car after she took him out for lunch.Posting on Facebook Chiyangwa said, "It's your lucky day today my good new friend Monalisa Charity Mutindivari unemoyo wakanaka dear thanks for taking me to lunch two weeks ago."You asked for a laptop to use at school, sorry I failed to fulfil my promise in time, receive this small new Mazda car from my heart."Chiyangwa told Mutindivari to contact him or his management to get his car.The businessman is known for his lavish lifestyle and philanthropic works.In 2017 revealed that he owns vast properties around Harare especially in Harare South, which assures his children of a billion dollar worth of inheritance. He is reported to have said he deals with real cash and does not go for any tender to beg for an opportunity to get money. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has revealed that the Party's Deputy National Chairperson Tendai Biti does not hold him in high esteem but thinks he is an unintelligent person.Speaking in an interview this week Mwonzora said, "I respect Tendai Biti was a senior to me at Goromonzi High School. We were at law school. In fact, Tendai Biti was my lawyer when I registered as a legal practitioner way back in 1992."We have worked well together. He is an intelligent ma, he doesn't think the same about me but that is his own opinion. The good thing about Tendai Biti and myself is that I understand him so I am never angry at him because I know him, I understand him. Whether he respects me in return is up to him."In March Biti said the party would not accept to be led by Mwonzora who is "a ruling party chosen half-wit.""We will reject any nincompoop given to us by Zanu PF. We already have a candidate in Chamisa. So, we will not tolerate that. Our duty is to protect the legacy of our dear leader Morgan Tsvangirai and we know with Chamisa we will be able to do that." Biti told journalists.Watch Mwonzora's video below: News / National by Staff reporter AS the battle for control in the MDC reach fever-pitch, the theatre of action has shifted from district congresses to next week's provincial elections.The Daily News can report that the recently-elected districts have started the process of nominating candidates for provincial positions.In Harare, for example, Glen Norah member of Parliament Wellington Chikombo, a staunch loyalist of MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, has been nominated by 23 out of the 29 districts to become the provincial chairperson.Incumbent Eric Murai who is believed to be aligned to MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, is still to be nominated.His hope for a nomination now lies with Mabvuku, Mt Pleasant, Highfield East, Glen View North, Budiriro and Hatfield, which are still to make their nominations.Chikombo said the gesture by the province was "humbling and emboldening as it shows that democracy in the party has matured and is deepening".For the position of vice chairperson, Mwonzora's ally in former Zengeza East MP Alexei Musundire was nominated by St Mary's district to contest for the position.Musundire who once served as chairperson of Chitungwiza Province before its merger with Harare, will battle it out with former ruling Zanu-PF Masvingo province political commissar Jeppy Jaboon and current Zengeza East lawmaker Goodrich Chimbaira.For the position of organising secretary, several districts have nominated former Harare provincial chairperson Paul Madzore and his Chitungwiza counterpart Rangarirai Mutingwende.Madzore told the Daily News yesterday that he was ready to organise the province.''I feel humbled by the trust the people have in me and I will not take these nominations for granted."I believe if I am eventually elected, I can bring in lots of experience in the mobilisation, recruitment and ideological orientation of the new cadres to ensure continued control of the province by the party," Madzore said.Although districts in Mashonaland East are still to conclude their congresses owing to logistical problems, incumbent chairperson Piniel Denga has been nominated by Mudzi North district."We failed to do all our districts on time but those that have finished have since begun to nominate their candidates. I have so far received one nomination from Mudzi North and there is also Mutodza who has also been nominated by one of the districts. So far so good for me," Denga said.In Mashonaland West province organising secretary Wilson Makanyaire and Ralph Magunje the incumbent chairperson are battling it out.The country's biggest opposition party is headed for its elective congress next month.It is the first elective congress since the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai in February last year after succumbing to cancer of the colon.Chamisa, who took over from Tsvangirai, is likely to be challenged by his deputy Elias Mudzuri and Mwonzora.Intense jostling for positions has thus escalated -amid reports of violence during the MDC's ongoing restructuring exercise at ward and district levels.This comes amid damaging allegations that some senior MDC officials are imposing dodgy structures in the party along factional lines, to further their interests.Chamisa is seen as the favourite for the top post, although some are tipping Mwonzora to cause an upset - just like he did in 2014.Then, Chamisa was defeated by Mwonzora for the secretary-general's post - even though at the time the latter was considered as a rank outsider in those elections.Chamisa then held the powerful post of MDC organising secretary, a position which was said to have given him the opportunity to revamp party structures in his favour - and which structures were expected to give him an overwhelming victory against Mwonzora who was the party spokesperson at the time. News / National by Staff reporter PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba has come out guns blazing, berating those criticising his boss for excessive foreign travel as dwelling on trivia.Charamba said Mnangagwa is not so much fond of flying but rather working around the clock to restore the country's lost glory.Mnangagwa has lately come under the spotlight for his penchant for travel in the lap of luxury at a time when his government is preaching "austerity for prosperity".Since he came to power through a soft coup in November 2017, Mnangagwa has travelled no less than 25 times.But unlike Mugabe, he charters luxurious planes that cost the taxpayer a fortune, yet results from the trips are yet to turn into reality for a nation that is seeking a new beginning.There was furore recently after Mnangagwa hired a private jet to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) only to cut short his trip to attend to the Cyclone Idai crisis.While Mnangagwa claimed that the trip to Abu Dhabi was paid for by his hosts, some within his party say there was a private funder.Critics say the so-called new dispensation has only picked up from where former president Robert Mugabe left but Charamba said Zimbabweans are dwelling on the trivial if they focus on the issue of planes instead of assessing the spin-offs from the foreign trips."There is so much ado about nothing, let us not focus on small issues; there was no taxpayers' money used in the plane to Abu Dhabi, secondly the taxpayers' money becomes government moneyWhen the president goes out of the country he will not be doing it for his family businesses, he is doing it for the nation, and he does not enjoy the flying," said Charamba.While addressing Zanu-PF officials at the party central committee session recently, Mnangagwa revealed that he did not pay for his trip to Abu Dhabi, the political capital of the UAE."They (his hosts UAE) looked after us well then we hear some saying we have hired a plane for that visit."Forget about that. They sent us their plane."In nearly 16 months, he has been to countries such as Russia, Rwanda, Belarus, Guinea, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Switzerland, Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Ethiopia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritania, Tanzania, Botswana, the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo and China, among others.His office has been chartering the Comlux Boeing 767-200ER (Boeing Business Jet or BBJ), which charges in the region of US$50 000 per hour in flight time.On average, the trips are about five hours per leg for his foreign trips on these large VIP jets.When he travelled to Eurasia recently, Mnangagwa chartered the Boeing 787 Dreamliner VIP jet from Deer Jet and Asian VIP Charter Company.Charter companies charge for flights on an hourly basis, based on what they call Total Time, which is basically the period during which an aeroplane flies with actual passengers other than just the crew.There are also Repositioning Legs, which is the flight time to and from pick up and or drop off airports without passengers.There are also Short Legs, which refer to time allotted by the individual operator for any given leg, as well as Taxi Time, which is the amount of time on the ground before each take off and after landing.In just basic flight time, Mnangagwa's trips have cost the taxpayer a whopping $6,68 million, without factoring in the operator's charges to ferry the president in Zimbabwe.This figure is for only 22 hours flight time to Europe round-trip at a rate of $74 000 per hour.Include his travel in Africa, and East Asia, his bill can easily hit jaw-dropping figures considering that Mnangagwa's other trips across the world constitute about 90 hours at $50 000 per hour. News / National by Staff reporter Former Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has been fined $20 by Harare Magistrate Hosea Mujaya for refusing to be subpoenaed in court.He is expected to appear as a state witness on the 15th of April.He is expected to testify in a case in which he allegedly received a $10 000 bribe from Wicknell Chivayo when he was Energy and Power Development Minister.Mavhaire also allegedly sat in meetings where deliberations about Intratek took place when he knew he was conflicted. Past agendas likely to dominate second Inter-State Council meet The second meeting of the Inter-State Council is slated to take place in the last week of April and much of the agendas will come inherited from the previous session. News / National by Staff reporter The opposition MDC has called its secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to order over his recent comments to the media in defiance of the party's position regarding its much anticipated May congress.Since the party announced the congress dates serious factional mudslinging ensued amid indications that party leader Nelson Chamisa will be contested by his deputy Elias Mudzuri and secretary-general Douglas MwonzoraIn a bid to contain the simmering tensions that have led to violence during the on-going restructuring exercise, the party agreed in principle that senior leaders, other than the MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume, would not speak to the press regarding the congress preparations.But Mwonzora has been all over the media in the last few weeks giving interviews on the congress developments including declaring his readiness to take over from Chamisa in a development that has miffed other party bigwigs. Sources in the MDC national standing committee said a stern warning was sent to Mwonzora for stubbornly defying the party position.The sources said the intransigent Mwonzora was given a warning during Wednesday's national standing committee meeting to comply with the directive; failure of which he will face disciplinary action after a peeved party vice president Welshman Ncube raised the issue.Mafume confirmed the development saying the party had re-stated its position regarding its media policy on congress issues."It is basic that all our leaders are ready to lead anytime but the fact is that it is not in our culture to canvass for leadership positions because it is the people who nominate leaders so it was felt that it is wrong for one to appear to be launching a campaign prematurely," Mafume said.Mwonzora's behaviour, Mafume added, prompted the party to task national chairperson Thabitha Khumalo to come up with a code of conduct template to guide the conduct of aspiring candidates."It was reaffirmed that any future violations will come with serious consequences because it was realised that some are even coming up with campaign posters even when they have not been nominated for any position," Mafume added.Before the start of the meeting of the party honchos, a standing committee member said, Chamisa and Mwonzora had met privately where the issue was discussed at length. "The president had also raised his concern with Mwonzora privately but the issue was raised again during the meeting by VP Ncube who appeared angered by the behaviour of our SG."He (Ncube) made it clear that he was peeved by Mwonzora's conduct especially what he said to the press that Tsvangirai was turning in his grave and that he declared himself ready to take over as president even before the floor has been opened for campaigns," the official said adding that on his part Mwonzora did not attempt to defend himself.Last week, Mwonzora told the Daily News's sister paper the Daily News on Sunday that he has the capacity to lead the country's biggest opposition political party if the structures nominate him to contest for that position at the MDC congress to run from May 24 to 26.It will be the first congress since the death of the MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai who died of colon cancer on February 14, last year. Tsvangirai's death saw one of his three deputies, Nelson Chamisa emerge as MDC leader, albeit under controversial circumstances.Going into the elective congress, Chamisa is touted as the front runner. But Mwonzora threw down the gauntlet during the interview, saying he has previously scored more wins than losses - a feat he said makes him more than suitable for any position within the party.Asked if he has what it takes to be the party's president, Mwonzora said: "I have been a leader in the MDC at various levels.Having started as the treasurer for Nyanga District, I was elevated to secretary for Local Government for Manicaland Province. In 2008, I was elected to represent Members of Parliament in the national council of the party. "In 2011, I was elected as the national spokesperson of the party at congress. In 2014, I was elected as the secretary-general of the party. I think I served well in my positions".He went on further to give a detailed account of how he joined politics as early as 1989, while he was still a law student.Mwonzora was instrumental in the formation of the National Constitutional Assembly, which fought for a new democratic people-driven Constitution.He also said among other major roles he was involved in the drafting of the current Constitution. "I therefore do not think that I lack capacity at all," Mwonzora said.Mwonzora is being accused of working with Zanu-PF to destroy the MDC from within but he has challenged his rivals to prove their allegations saying they only meant to frighten and dissuade him from contesting certain positions. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu A group of 7 citizens have been camped at the United States Embassy in Harare calling for the removal of the illegal sanctions the country imposed on Zimbabwe.The members who call themselves Broad Alliance Against Sanctions has been at the embassy since Friday last week and have vowed to stay put until the sanctions are removed.America recently renewed sanctions against Zimbabwe. News / National by newzimbabwe THE price of clear beer has gone up again, hardly a month after Delta Corporation Limited increased the asking price of the commodity by 100 percent following the company's decision to sell some of its products in US dollars.According to the new prices, a 375 ml green bottle now costs RTGS$2.50, up from RTGS$2 while a 750 ml brown bottle is now pegged at RTGS$5, up from RTGS$4.The price of a 750 ml brown bottle is now RTGS$4.50, up from RTGS$3.50 while a 375 ml of the same product now costs RTGS$ 2.50, up from RTGS$2.Some liquor outlet owners who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com said the latest price increment was only an adjustment necessitated by the depreciating RTGS currency against the greenback.In February this year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) pegged the value of US dollar to US$1: RTGS$2,5.The situation is different however on the thriving black market where US$1 now fetches RTGS$4,25.A snap survey in Bulawayo by NewZimbabwe.com revealed that most bottle stores and other liquor outlets now charge varying amounts depending on where they source for forex to procure their beers."We are now buying beer from Delta using a black market rate of RTGS$1 to US$4,25. In order for me to make profit, I am now selling a 750 ml bottle of green beers for RTGS$7."I am sourcing the forex from the black market where the rates are very low here in Bulawayo," said one bottle store owner of condition he was not named.In January this year, Delta was forced to withdraw a notice to sell its products in foreign currency after central bank assurances of forex allocations to continue running its operations.The central bank however failed to honour its pledges, resulting in the beverage manufacturing giant pricing some of its products in hard currency. Opinion / Columnist The violent disturbances that rocked Harare and other major cities in August 2018 and January 2019 saw an unprecedented numbers of youths participating. To ignore the reasons why these young people took heed to the calls for demonstrations would be at our own peril. From a national security perspective, this should be a cause for concern.In Zimbabwe we risk losing out on an entire generation due to sanctions induced economic comatose that has dented the future of the young boys and girls hence impoverishing them. This is the reason why calls are growing louder for the removal of these economic embargoes as the innocent are suffering. The kind of a future society in the making is disheartening as there will be perpetuation of a poverty cycle when these youths will not be able to fend for their own kids.But one should be wondering how this continued disgruntlement amongst our young generation can be a ticking time bomb. An idle mind is the devil's workshop, and if these youths are left unoccupied and wallowing in poverty, they become easy targets to manipulation by political players who want to push forward their agendas. Because they don't have an option at their disposal, they are forced into nefarious activities which most times end up in their incarceration.The unstable economic environment during this period of sanctions led to the proliferation of the informal sector and parallel (black) market which absorbed most young people as agents and dealers. Most youths, especially from those families who are not able to adequately provide, have been subjected to street vending, begging, illicit deals, alcohol abuse, and even machinery for violent protests. It becomes very easy for protest organisers to organise the youths who are already in town doing different businesses. That was witnessed in January.If young people are left with no alternative but unemployment and poverty, they are more likely to join a rebellion as an alternative way of generating an income. The rise of internal violence, like we witnessed in January, with the appearance of street gangs and other manifestations of juvenile violence is one of the most visible effects of poverty not in Zimbabwe alone but in most parts of Africa. I am sure following the violent demonstrations, there were insinuations that the youths who participated been promised some pennies.In times of social disturbances like violent protests, as witnessed on January 14, 2019, such youths were at the fore of burning tyres and putting barriers on major roads leading to cities. They were the arsenal to the violent protests and succeeded probably due to their age which never raised any suspicions.I am pretty sure that no-matter how loudly we cry about sanctions, America and her allies are not going to lift them until they see a regime change in Zimbabwe. Just this week, there was about US$5.5 million poured to our CSOs. What for? Your guess is as good as mine and not that lame reason of promoting democracy in Zimbabwe.Youths who are disgruntled with their government become societal malcontents who can be ready to confront the government in violent protests. Some rogue CSOs are on standby with the greenback to promote insurrection by paying youths to participate. If the youths, as future custodians of the country, fail to see any motivation to be patriotic, they become a national security threat as they are open to abuse by manipulative politicians.Poverty is a call to action, and until poverty amongst youths is handled and done away with, our young boys and girls will remain restive. Interesting the late great Mahatma Gandhi said poverty is the worst form of violence. The founder of Uber never drove a cab. The team behind Warby Parker didnt come from the world of eyewear design. The CEO of Netflix never made a movie. The story of disruption is largely one of entrepreneurs coming into an industry from the outside and leveraging the internet to eliminate middlemen, lower prices and raise profits. What happens when an insider tries the same thing? 10 Grove is the first truly direct-to-consumer bedding brand, says founder Rana Argenio. Courtesy of 10Grove Its the question Rana Argenio is hoping to answer with a new direct-to-consumer e-commerce luxury bedding startup, 10 Grove. Argenio comes from a family with a deep history in the industrytheyve been in luxury textiles for five generations; most recently operating a cut-and-sew manufacture in Texas with a focus on high-end bedding for the B2B market. Four years ago, Argenio left a job at Goldman Sachs to rejoin the family business. This year shes launching 10 Grove. Argenio is entering a crowded field. Parachute, Brooklinen and Boll & Branch have already launched e-commerce linen businesses, heavily backed by venture capital. Argenio is self-funding her endeavor. However, she has a few key distinctions from the existing players, the biggest one being a claim to true vertical integration. Unlike other disruptors, who cobble together a supply chain from third-party vendors across the globe, 10 Grove relies on a simple two-step process: Their fabric is made at a partner mill in Italy (Italian mills are known for their ability to weave finer yarns) and shipped to Argenios familys factory in Houston, wheres it cut, sewn and shipped. She says the simplicity of the process allows 10 Grove to cut out more middlemen, control quality, and deliver a superior product at a comparable price point to the Booklinens of the world. Were a quality focused company, as opposed to a lot of these other companies, which are more brand focused, she tells Business of Home. We believe in delivering the highest quality product to you at the most honest price. Argenio is also uniquely situated to offer another value proposition to consumers: education. Cotton quality, frankly, is confusing. For a time, marketing in the space was all about thread count, which led to an arms race between high-end linen companies, all trying to out-thread each other. As it turns out, its not as simple as thread count = quality. Nor is it as clear-cut as Egyptian cotton = good. Argenios history in the industry gives her a leg up when it comes to breaking it down for the average consumer. One of the better demarcators of the quality of cotton is staple length, broken down into short, long and extra long (longer is generally better). Argenio says 10 Groves linens have an average staple length of 33 millimetersa definitively long staple, though shy of the extra-long staple used in ultra-high-end luxury linens. However, her play is to cut through technical considerations and focus on consumer preference. To that end, 10 Grove offers a clever try-before-you-buy option: Customers can order a blind feel test for $10, allowing them to choose between two pillowcases. Bedding is this thing that every single one of us owns, says Argenio. However, no one really knows that much about it. In my own experience in the industry, people might have come in and said, I want a 1,000-thread-count sateen. But do you actually? Bedding is personal, its a truly tactile experience. You should go with what you like by feel. 10 Grove brings a smart value proposition to the market and a compelling product. So why dont all the high-end players in the space do this? Why dont Frette, Sferra and Matouk have their own 10 Groves? Olive bedding by 10 Grove Courtesy of 10Grove The answer gets to the heart of a risk Argenio is taking. Legacy companies have a deep investment in their brands and their existing relationships with business partners. If Matouk starts selling high-end bedding for disruptor prices, would anyone still pay for their ultra-high-end product? Its why Argenio doesnt explicitly call out the name of her familys company in 10 Grove marketingto protect its B2B business. Her familys company, Argenio points out, is a separate entity with a vast selection of products ranging from wools to cashmeres to linens, selling across multiple categories, largely direct to other businesses. 10 Grove takes a highly curated slice of that inventory and repackages it for a consumer audience. Still, the two are closely related (literally related, in fact) entities selling the same product for two different priceswhich carries a risk. It may well be one worth taking, especially if 10 Grove takes offsomeday Argenios family might end up working for her. By Ahmed Elumami and Ayman al-Warfalli TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Eastern Libyan troops commanded by Khalifa Haftar said on Friday they had advanced into the southern outskirts of the capital Tripoli in a dangerous thrust against the internationally recognized government. Fighting was going on near the former international airport, which Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) force controlled by nightfall, an LNA spokesman and residents said. The move by the LNA, which is allied to a parallel administration based in the east, escalated a power struggle that has splintered the nation since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It came as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres departed after meeting Haftar to try to avert civil war. "I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli," he said on Twitter. The U.N. Security Council was briefed behind closed doors on the latest developments on Friday and expressed deep concern in a statement read after the meeting by German U.N. Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, president of the council for April. "They (the council) called on LNA forces to halt all military movements. They also called on all forces to de-escalate and halt military activity. There can be no military solution to the conflict," Heusgen said. Haftar, 75, who casts himself as an opponent of Islamist extremism but is viewed by opponents as a new Gaddafi, was quoted by Al-Arabiya TV as telling Guterres the operation would continue until terrorism was defeated. The coastal capital Tripoli is the ultimate prize for Haftar's eastern parallel government. In 2014, he assembled former Gaddafi soldiers and in a three-year battle seized the main eastern city of Benghazi. This year, he took the south with its oilfields. As well as visiting Haftar in Benghazi, Guterres had been in Tripoli this week to help organize a national reconciliation conference planned for later this month. But that plan looked in jeopardy on Thursday as LNA forces took Gharyan, about 80 km (50 miles) south of the capital after skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based, U.N.-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. From there, Haftar's forces moved north, first taking the village of Suq al-Khamis, about 40 km (25 miles) from Tripoli, after some fighting, a resident and an eastern military source said. Then on Friday, the LNA said it took the areas of Qasr ben Ghashir and Wadi al-Rabie on the southern outskirts of the capital, seizing the former Tripoli International Airport, which has been abandoned since a 2014 battle. SETBACK TO MEDIATION PLAN The LNA was in control of the former airport, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said, rejecting a claim by the Tripoli interior minister, Fathi Bashagha, that his forces had retaken it. The LNA said it had lost five soldiers since Thursday. While the advance has looked fast, so far Haftar's force has mainly crossed sparsely populated areas after taking Gharyan, the last town in the mountains before the road descends to a coastal plain. In 2014 battles for Tripoli, it took advancing fighters weeks to reach the city center from the old airport as snipers bogged them down. Forces from Misrata, a city east of Tripoli, sent more reinforcements to defend Serraj, residents said. Major ministries are still 20 km away. Despite their gains, Haftar's forces failed to take a checkpoint about 30 km west of the capital in a bid to close the coastal road to Tunisia. An LNA-allied armed group withdrew overnight from so-called Gate 27, leaving it abandoned in the morning, a Reuters reporter said. And in another setback, forces allied to Tripoli took 145 LNA fighters prisoner in Zawiya, west of the capital, a western commander, Mohamed Alhudair, told Reuters. An LNA source confirmed 128 had been captured. Armed groups allied to the Tripoli government have moved more machinegun-mounted pickup trucks from the coastal city of Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftar's forces. The offensive is a setback for the United Nations and Western nations trying to mediate between Serraj, 59, who comes from a wealthy business family, and military veteran Haftar. They met in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss power-sharing. The United Nations wants to find agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the prolonged instability in Libya, an oil producer and transit point for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara with the aim of reaching Europe. Haftar enjoys the backing of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which see him as a bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily, according to U.N. reports. The UAE, however, joined Western countries in expressing its deep concern about the fighting. Russia said it was not helping Haftar's forces and it supported a negotiated political settlement that ruled out any new bloodshed. Tunisia has tightened control on its border with Libya in response to the renewed conflict, the defense ministry said. Former colonial power Italy, which lies across the Mediterranean and has been a destination for migrants, was very worried, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said. "We need to throw water on the fire, not petrol on the fire. I hope that people, acting out of economic or business self-interest, are not looking for a military solution, which would be devastating," Salvini said. (Additional reporting by Hesham Hajali in Cairo and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Daniel Wallis and James Dalgleish) Some of the world's top marine biologists are meeting in Moscow this week to try to save nearly 100 whales including 11 orcas and 87 belugas held captive since autumn in what critics have dubbed Russia's "whale jail." Since November, the cetaceans have been kept in small pens, which are often on the verge of freezing over, in a bay not far from Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific Coast. The whales were captured by several Russian companies intent on selling them to Chinese aquariums, a practice that until now has been perfectly legal in Russia. "These are conditions that the animals shouldn't be in. Their health is slowly deteriorating," said Grigory Tsidulko, a marine mammal expert who's been consulting with Greenpeace over the fate of the creatures. Russia24News The team arriving in Moscow on Thursday is headed up by Jean-Michel Cousteau, the 81-year-old son of the famous French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. The group, which includes international experts as well as some of Russia's top whale researchers, is expected to travel to Vladivostok over the weekend to survey the health of the whales and present options to Russian authorities for releasing them. A public outcry led by animal welfare activists in Russia and supported by Hollywood celebrities such as Canadian-born animal welfare campaigner Pamela Anderson, pushed the government of President Vladimir Putin to pronounce that the whales should be freed. If that happens, biologists say it could be the largest mass release of captive cetaceans ever. But many who've been following the saga of the "jailed" whales have their doubts it will. There's also a growing debate about whether the animals could survive. "It would be absolutely irresponsible if you just open the pens and let those whales swim away," said Tsidulko, noting that orcas are highly social creatures and maintain close family units in the wild. "They have never been in the places where they're being kept in captivity. Right now, there's not enough food for them where they're being held." Story continues Brisk trade Russian environmental groups have been pushing the Putin government for years to stop the trade in ocean mammals. The four companies that captured these animals were issued legal permits to keep the whales for "educational" reasons. They then quickly turned around and cut deals with Chinese marine parks, where an orca can sell for up to $5 million US each, according to several animal welfare groups that have investigated the practice. Greenpeace estimates a beluga can sell for up to $150,000 US. Marine parks have been rapidly expanding in China, with more than 60 already operating and dozens more in the planning stages. The environmental group the China Cetacean Alliance claims 491 marine mammals have already been put into captivity in the country. Statistics from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) suggest as many as 13 orcas caught in Russian waters were sold to China between 2013 and 2016. Reuters In April 2018, Russia passed a new law to close a loophole allowing the "educational" capture of belugas and orcas. Tsidulko said it's unclear how the new rules are being enforced, and whether companies will use other parts of Russia's fishery act to continue catching whales. Russia's fisheries department does not consider orcas or belugas to be endangered species. Distant homes Russian police intervened to stop the sale of the whales in the Vladivostok pens last month, claiming the companies didn't have the proper permits, leaving the animals in limbo. Many of the whales were captured near Sakhalin Island in the Sea of Okhotsk, which is more than 1,500 kilometres away from where the sea mammals are being kept now. Russian authorities have suggested the companies responsible may need to lift the whales onto barges and transport them back to the places where they were captured. However, the region won't be ice-free and thus easily accessible until the summer. There are also concerns that the youngest belugas, some of which were babies when they were caught, have become too accustomed to being fed by humans in the months they've been in captivity. Tsidulko said his fear is that some, perhaps even most, of the whales may be deemed "non-releasable," and end up being sold to clients in China. The video below shows some of the whales being held in captivity: All of this has led activists to wonder how many of the whales will ever live in the wild again. "At the moment, nobody has said these animals will be released, and nobody has said they no longer belong to the companies," said Tsidulko. Catching continues Later this month, the fisheries department will hold public hearings on setting a total allowable catch (TAC) of 10 orcas and 82 belugas for 2020. While some of the animals may be slaughtered and used for food by Indigenous communities, Tsidulko laments the fact that Russia "remains one of the few countries that sells live cetaceans for public displays and shows." "On the one side, we are saying that they are so intelligent and so much like humans. On the other hand, we're saying if someone wants to have a 20-minute show with a bucket of popcorn, then we can catch them and bring them for public pleasure. There's something really wrong with this." In Canada, a bill that would ban aquariums from having dolphins and whales in captivity, introduced in 2015, just passed through a House of Commons committee on Tuesday and must now go for a final debate and vote. Critics, including the owners of Marineland in southern Ontario, have said the bill will hurt science and legitimate research programs. The Vancouver Aquarium, which used to keep orcas and belugas for public performances, also initially strongly opposed the legislation. It has since phased out its captive cetacean program but continues to take in stranded and distressed whales and dolphins. People are furious after Miss Nepal judge tells contestant to look pretty before feeling pretty A video that showed a beauty pageant judge berating no makeup and glasses look has enraged Nepalis on Facebook and Twitter. By Brendan Pierson and Karen Freifeld NEW YORK, April 4 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities gathered information about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd through secret surveillance they plan to use in their case charging the Chinese telecom company with violating sanctions against Iran, prosecutors said Thursday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Solomon said at a hearing in federal court in Brooklyn the evidence, obtained under the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), would require classified handling. Information gathered under FISA is generally used in espionage cases. The government notified Huawei in a court filing Thursday of its intent to use the information, saying it was "obtained or derived from electronic surveillance and physical search," but gave no details. The United States has been pressuring other countries to drop Huawei from their cellular networks, worried its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. The company says the concerns are unfounded. Brian Frey, a former federal prosecutor who is not involved in the Huawei case, said FISA surveillance, which requires a warrant from a special court. Information gathered under FISA is generally used in cases involving espionage or terrorism. "The reason they typically would have gotten the surveillance through a FISA court is where we suspect someone may be spying on behalf of a foreign power," Frey said. The U.S. government has been concerned about espionage by Huawei for years, he added. In the Brooklyn case, Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, are accused of conspiring to defraud HSBC Holdings Plc and other banks by misrepresenting Huawei's relationship with Skycom Tech Co Ltd, a suspected front company that operated in Iran. Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Huawei has said Skycom was a local business partner, but prosecutors said in their indictment against Huawei and Meng that it was an unofficial subsidiary used to conceal Huaweis Iran business. Story continues U.S. authorities claim Huawei used Skycom to obtain embargoed U.S. goods, technology and services in Iran, and to move money via the international banking system. Meng was arrested in December in Canada after she was indicted, but the charges were not unsealed until January. She has said she is innocent of the charges and is fighting extradition. Last month, Reuters detailed how U.S. authorities secretly tracked Huawei's activities, including by collecting information copied from electronic devices carried by Chinese telecom executives traveling through airports. It is not clear whether the FISA surveillance discussed at Thursday's hearing included those activities. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson and Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The Australian man arrested over New Zealand's mosques shooting massacre will face a total of 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in court on Friday, police said. Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with one murder the day after the attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 and was remanded without a plea. Fifty people were killed and dozens wounded as they attended Friday prayers by a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic weapons. The gunman broadcast his attack live on Facebook. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the massacre, the worst mass shooting by a lone gunman in New Zealand, as a "terrorist attack" and some legal experts thought it could result in charges under New Zealand's terrorism laws. Tarrant is due to appear in Christchurch's High Court through a video link at 1000 local time (21000 GMT) on Friday. A High Court judge said in court minutes this week that the appearance would largely be procedural and that Tarrant would not be required to enter a plea to the charges he faced. "The principal purpose of the call on 5 April will be to ascertain the defendants position regarding legal representation and to receive information from the Crown regarding certain procedural steps and when it is envisaged those steps will be completed," said Judge Cameron Mander. Police said on Thursday that other charges are still under consideration. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and Tom Westbrook; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Michael Perry) The Duke of Cambridge will visit New Zealand next month [Photo: PA] Prince William will fly to New Zealand next month to honour the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings. The Duke of Cambridge will be representing his grandmother the Queen, with the visit coming at New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns request. The Prince visited Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury region in the wake of the devastating 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people. He and wife Kate returned for a two-day stay in 2014 with young Prince George. The visit will be another sign that this nation will always stand with those affected by the terror attacks, and the people of Christchurch, the Prime Minister said. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in New Zealand in 2014 [Photo: PA] Kensington Palace added: The Duke will meet with those affected by the attack and will pay tribute to the extraordinary compassion and solidarity that the people of New Zealand have displayed in recent weeks. After the mosque attacks which killed 50 people, William, Kate, Prince Harry and wife Meghan sent a message that ended in Kia kaha, meaning be strong in Maori. No person should ever have to fear attending a sacred place of worship, they said. READ MORE: How Britain fell in love with the Duchess of Cambridge This senseless attack is an affront to the people of Christchurch and New Zealand, and the broader Muslim community. It is a horrifying assault on a way of life that embodies decency, community, and friendship. Ardern has led efforts to support New Zealands small, tightly-knit Muslim community in the wake of the attack. As well as symbolic gestures such as donning a headscarf while comforting survivors, she has also moved to tighten gun laws and called for social media giants to do more to combat hate speech. She will attend a remembrance service on Friday which she has described as a chance for New Zealanders to again show their inclusive values. A Hebrew version of this article was published in Israel Hayom on March 29, 2019. Maj. Gen. (res.) Gershon Hacohen is a senior research fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. He served in the IDF for forty-two years. He commanded troops in battles with Egypt and Syria. He was formerly a corps commander and commander of the IDF Military Colleges. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,132..04 April '19..When a single rocket launched from Gaza into central Israel forces the Israeli PM to cancel an important slate of meetings in Washington and return post haste to Jerusalem, it is clear that the Strip has become a major strategic threat rather than a containable terror problem. Yet while public discourse on the latest conflagration revolved around the desirable IDF response to Hamass growing brazenness, with the customary recommendations ranging from dealing a harsh blow that would restore lost deterrence to a campaign to vanquish Hamas, it is worth taking a broader look at how the Gaza problem came to pass in the first place.The current tendency is to see the Gaza problem as originating in the refugee population that burgeoned there after the 1948 War of Independence. It would make more sense, though, to go back a few steps further and consider the citys millenarian geographic location as an intermediate station on the ancient highway between Asia and Africa, between Mesopotamia and Egypt.Without that main route as its wellspring, Gaza cannot go back to being what it was. Even after the 1906 drawing of the international border by Britain (which had controlled Egypt since 1882) and the Ottoman Empire, traffic through Gaza did not stop. It was the establishment of the State of Israel that blocked this ancient route, severed Egypt from the Arab east (mashriq), and turned Gaza into a cul-de-sac at the edge of Egyptian territory.The March 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty considerably exacerbated the Gaza problem. In a shrewd move, President Anwar Sadat shifted the Gaza problem exclusively to Israels purview. After the Israeli town of Yamit and neighboring villages had been razed and the Sinai in its entirety had been restored to Egyptian sovereignty all the way to the 1906 international border, Gaza could no longer develop westward into the potential open space between Rafah and El-Arish. The Strip was thus closed in the Egyptian direction and deposited on Israels doorstep as an urban pressure cooker on the verge of explosion.Sadat thus set in train the transformation of Gaza and the West Bank into a single entity and made Israel solely responsible for solving the Palestinian problem in the territories it held. As Ezer Weizmann, defense minister at the time of the Egyptian-Israeli peace negotiations, put it on the tenth anniversary of the peace treaty: I have a feeling that [PM Menachem] Begin is sitting at home not because of the commonly assumed reasons [i.e., 1982 Lebanon war] but because he has realized that with the signing of the 1978 Camp David Accords he put the future of Greater Israel in a delicate situation, if not in jeopardy.The 1993 Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority further marginalized Gaza in comparison to the governmental and economic center in Ramallah. Discussion of a strategic solution to the Gaza problem must, therefore, begin with the geographic background that spawned the Strips distress as a territory with no egress. Even if the IDF removes Hamas from power, Gazas plight will continue, and it will require a solution that cannot be found solely in the domain of Israels responsibility.Over the years, the issue of the objective of a ground operation in Gaza has become a complex dilemma. One can see how much things have changed simply by reading the IDFs definition of the offensives goal in its basic combat doctrine: An offensive seeks to impose a change in the existing political-strategic reality by applying the conquering states sovereignty to the conquered territory.Therein lies the basic unanswered question: Is it desirable for Israel to conquer Gaza and reimpose its rule, as in pre-Oslo days? If not, then Hamass military defeat requires an answer to the question of who should be given control of the Strip. Should Israel sacrifice its sons to serve Gaza on a silver platter to Mahmoud Abbas? It was, after all, Yasser Arafat, Abbass predecessor as PLO leader, who transformed Gaza into an ineradicable terrorist hotbed in flagrant violation of the Oslo Accords that he had signed.This kind of predicament is not unique to Israel. A few weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks, the US army responded by pounding Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Ever since then, along with NATO troops, US forces have been bogged down in a futile attempt to create a stable government in the country. The IDF undoubtedly has the capacity to defeat Hamas, but this could well turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory.It is ironic that those pushing for a victory in Gaza are the same people advocating total withdrawal from the West Bank, basing their readiness to assume the security risks of such a withdrawal on these four key premises:Territorial separation, including a massive evacuation of Jewish neighborhoods, will define the borders, reduce the points of friction, and foster stability.If stability is undermined to the point of an intolerable security threat, the IDF will launch a preemptive strike that will quash the threat from the prospective Palestinian state.The IDF, with its perennial superiority, will be able to eliminate such a security threat in a few days.A West Bank withdrawal and the end of the occupation will ensure widespread international support for Israeli military operations of that kind.The security situation since the 2005 unilateral disengagement from Gaza in general, and last years violence in particular (ranging from riots along the border fence, to incendiary balloons, to exchanges of fire between Israel and Hamas) underscores the hollowness of those assumptions and the existential threat attending their adoption.No less importantly, this has far-reaching implications for devising Israels Gaza strategy: namely, that the solution to the Strips problem will not come from Ramallah. The center of gravity for dealing with the Palestinian problem should instead be shifted from Ramallah to Gaza, with the aim of creating economic and infrastructure linkages between Gaza and its historic hinterland the Sinai Peninsula. Welcome to this Canadian Studies blog. Its an on-line, on-going open letter on subjects that interest me or seem important to Canada. I welcome comments and criticism, but not flames. Police reveals the names of individuals accused of leaking SEE question papers The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police on Thursday made public the names of six people, including two police personnel deployed to guard the question papers, who were allegedly involved in leaking the Secondary Education Examination question papers, forcing the authorities to cancel the national test. For all the relief among mass transit riders at having secured congestion pricing as a revenue stream, absent additional measures, repairs to New York Citys ailing subway system will remain underfunded. The measure is expected to bring in $15 billion over 10 years, while the MTAs Fast Forward Plan for repairs and upgrades will cost an estimated $40 billion over a decade. Aware of this shortfall, the state Legislature considered adding a tax to the state budget that would make the worlds most privileged denizens contribute a little bit to a city from which they profit handsomely: a pied-a-terre tax. The levy would have fallen on owners of homes worth $5 million or more in New York City that are not their primary residence and are not rented out to a full-time tenant. It would have been progressive, with gradually rising rates. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis, the pied-a-terre tax would have raised $471 million per year, half of which would have come from just 280 homes worth more than $25 million. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer found the tax would have raised $650 million. Under pressure from their generous benefactors in the real estate industry, Democratic legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo opted to instead tax a far broader range of actual New Yorkers and come up with less revenue, imposing a mansion tax surcharge on anyone buying a home in New York City for over $2 million and raising the real estate transfer tax on homes selling for more than $3 million. This is expected to raise only $365 million per year on average, and it is a much less consistent revenue stream than a tax assessed on a property every year because in years like 2009, when credit froze after the Great Recession, far fewer sales are made. But upgrading a 120-year-old transit system wont pay for itself, and every New Yorker sitting on a delayed subway train should know that some of the blame rests with the ultra-rich, luxury real estate developers and their lackeys in Albany. Wealthy out-of-towners are distorting New York Citys housing market and harming its neighborhoods. In just the last three years, the number of uninhabited investment properties increased by 20,000 in New York City. They now comprise 2.1 percent of all the citys housing. (This figure includes properties used for short-term rentals, like Airbnbs.) In a city with a vacancy rate that is half the national average, that is not a trivial share, especially in the neighborhoods where they are clustered, such as Manhattans Upper East Side. In neighborhoods where large numbers of apartments are being left empty for much of the year, skyscrapers can become ghost towers, mostly dark at night, with few actual residents on each floor, reported the real estate website Brick Underground last year. Last week, a West Village townhouse sold for $14 million for a buyer who intends to use the 6,000 square-foot property to house a collection of luxury cars. So the pied-a-terre tax would have killed three birds with one stone: raising revenue, revitalizing neighborhoods and reducing the obscene cost of housing. Then the real estate lobby got involved. As The New York Times reported, Developers hired well-connected lobbyists and presented legislators with printouts of economic analyses. They wrote opinion pieces and warned that the high-end market, already weakened, would collapse The abrupt rise and fall of the so-called pied-a-terre tax also illustrated the challenges in translating progressive rhetoric into policy, and the continuing influence of the traditional powers in Albany. Supposedly, Albany was swayed by the real estate industrys arguments. These claims were transmitted uncritically in right-leaning business journals such as The Wall Street Journal and Crains. But upon examination, they are extremely flimsy, or plainly nonsensical: -According to the Journal, the Real Estate Board of New York claimed, if wealthy foreigners stay away, it could cut into revenues of restaurants, retailers, and even taxis. Thats quite unlikely for a tax that would only apply to an estimated 5,000 homes in a city of 8.6 million especially since the tax would apply to people who live elsewhere. People who dont live in New York City obviously spend less of their money there than those who do. If the tax were passed, those property owners would have four options: just pay the tax and change nothing about their behavior, make New York City their primary residence and pay local and state income taxes, rent out their home to defray the taxs cost or sell. In many cases, the buyer would be an actual New York resident. If pied-a-terre owners did nothing, it would have no effect on restaurants, retailers and taxis, while renting out or selling would help local businesses by increasing the year-round population. If pied-a-terre owners rent or sell their apartment to someone who lives here, it would expand the supply of housing on the market. Given that New York City has a dire housing shortage, this would be another benefit. -Luxury developer William Zeckendorf wrote in Crains that New York would lose brokerage revenues and construction jobs resulting from constrained market growth. The notion that no one will build new luxury condo buildings if the pool of potential foreign buyers is slightly diminished is absurd. There is such an excess of demand to live in New York City that there will be plenty of incentive for developers to build, even if an apartment that would have gone for $10 million now goes for only $9 million. The proposed tax will have a negative impact on the luxury housing market, complained the fiscally conservative Citizens Budget Commission. The significant progressivity and top rate would reduce demand for high-end homes by nonresidents and depress property values. This argument is based on two questionable premises: that people who can afford a $5 million apartment they dont even live in will be scared off by $25,000 per year in taxes, and that it would be a bad thing if they were. The mega-rich are less price-sensitive than most people thats why theyre paying these enormous sums for apartments they dont even live in - and they can raise money for the taxes by renting out the apartment. But, lets assume that some out-of-towners were dissuaded from buying an apartment worth more than $5 million. Why is this is a problem? Because real estate in New York City isnt expensive enough? The CBC argued that this would lower the revenue generated by the tax, since it would be based on assessed value. If revenue projections fall short, other taxes like New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios proposal to raise income taxes on those earning over $1 million per year can be added onto it. Meanwhile, rich Russians, Chinese, Floridians and suburbanites who want to spend a few weeks per year in New York City would still be able to. If they couldn't live with paying the pied-a-terre tax or buying a home worth less than $5 million, they could stay in hotels, Airbnbs or short-term sublets. -Opponents said New York City lacked the resources to determine an owners residency. De Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson supported the proposal, so they obviously thought the city could implement it. Its not that complicated. The metric for whether someone is eligible for the pied-a-terre tax is where they declare their residence for the purpose of filing their income taxes. If that place isnt New York City, they arent a resident. Other cities, including Vancouver and Paris, have adopted pied-a-terre taxes. If these smaller cities can assess whether someone lives in their city or not, theres no reason New York City cant. -Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said a pied-a-terre tax could not be implemented because the system of valuing New York City co-ops and condos is broken. For once, pied-a-terre tax critics got their factual premise right: The city does not properly assess the values of co-ops and condos, badly underestimating the worth of the most expensive ones. But to therefore abandon taxing pieds-a-terre is an asinine response, using one greater injustice to justify continuing another. Why not simultaneously reform New York Citys property tax assessment system to introduce a modicum of fairness and raise more money from the owners of luxury apartments? -Like many opponents of the pied-a-terre tax, the CBC noted that nonresident owners pay property, sales, and other taxes. But they dont pay as much as New Yorkers because they dont pay income taxes in New York. They dont pay as much in sales taxes because sales taxes are regressive, taking a higher proportion of income from the less affluent, who spend a higher proportion of their income on necessities. So the super-rich are favored by sales taxes in general, and all the more so if they dont live in New York and spend an even smaller fraction of their income there. And they pay less in property taxes than they should, because of the dysfunctional local property tax system. Moreover, many of these apartments were built with huge tax abatements. The end result is that the total tax burden in New York City is very regressive, with households making less than $25,000 per year paying 10.3 percent of their income in state and local taxes, and households making more than $5 million per year paying 5.3 percent of their income in state and local taxes. In this context, the mansion tax is defensible in addition to a pied-a-terre tax, but not instead of it. I put mansion tax in quotes because many homes in New York City that go for more than $2 million are not mansions by any common sense definition. The pre-existing mansion tax, for sales over $1 million, hits many modest two-bedroom apartments in Manhattan and gentrifying portions of Brooklyn and Queens, as well as quite a few average-sized rowhouses in middle-class neighborhoods. The new additional taxes would have affected one-quarter of Manhattan sales last year. Many of those hit will include middle-class families who bought a brownstone on the Upper West Side or in Park Slope 40 years ago. These are longtime New Yorkers often civil servants, educators, nonprofit employees. Albany, apparently, cares more about oligarchs who dont even live here and the developers who profit from them. This deference to the narrow interests of the most privileged at the expense of everyone else is a good example of why Politico New York called the state budget a gut punch to the liberals who just elected Democrats to unified control of the state government. REBNY defends the real estate industry agenda, arguing that measures such as loosened zoning restrictions are in the public interest because the city needs market-rate housing and developers want to build it. But when the pied-a-terre tax, a proposal that would put more supply on the housing market for New Yorkers came up in Albany this year, they defeated it. And the result is a tax that will fall on a much larger number of real estate transactions. Thats why Gothamist observed that what was being billed as a victory for the citys real estate industry now seems like merely (another) win for the .01 percent. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Eight sentenced over Ozgur Gundem campaign An Istanbul court on April 3 sentenced seven guest editors who took part in a solidarity campaign with the now shuttered daily, Ozgur Gundem, the television and news website Medyascope reported. The court convicted Faruk Eren, Ertugrul Mavioglu, Celal Baslangc, Ihsan Caralan, Fehim Isk, Oncu Akgul, and Celalettin Can of making propaganda for a [terrorist] organization, and sentenced all but one of them to a suspended 15-month prison sentence. Can was also sentenced to 15 months in prison, but the court did not delay the sentence, according the report. He is free pending appeal. At the same hearing, the court convicted Huseyin Aykol, then chief editor of Ozgur Gundem, of the same charge and sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison, according to the report. He is free pending appeal. Journalists, politicians, and activists participated in the campaign in 2016 to raise awareness of the government oppression of the pro-Kurdish newspaper. Each participant acted as the symbolic chief editor for a day, attended a morning news meeting, and wrote a column for the next days edition. CPJ has previously documented how prosecutors have questioned all the participants in the campaign, and charged at least 38 with making propaganda for a [terrorist] organization. Three participants were jailed briefly in 2016; one served time from August to October in 2017 before being released on probation, and one still serves time since January 2019. Ozgur Gundem was shuttered by a government decree in October 2016. Mezopotamya News Agency reporter detained Police detained Ahmet Kanbal, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency in the southeastern city of Mardin on April 3 while he was covering a funeral, his employer reported. Kanbal was released after being questioned by a judge as part of an investigation in which the reporter is accused of violating military laws. He was later released, according to the report. Reward offered for damage to park Crittenden County Park Board is offering a reward for information leading to criminal charges against the person or persons who recently dam... Tornado Relief Fund started in Crittenden County A relief effort for families and individuals displaced by the severe storms that ripped through western Kentucky Friday night has begun in C... One man missing after mishap on Ohio A small boat capsized this morning near Birdsville on the Ohio River. One man was rescued, but another is still missing. Livingston County ... Spain Issues 1.5k Crypto Tax Warnings, Colombia to Regulate Exchanges? Spains Treasury department has issued almost 1.5 thousand citizens with warnings that they may have to pay tax on their cryptocurrency transactions. The Treasury has also warned cryptocurrency exchanges, private companies, banks and private brokers that they must declare any money they have made on cryptocurrency-related deals, per Rioja2. Source: iStock/masterSergeant The Treasury issued the following warning to individuals it has identified as having dealt in cryptocurriencies over the past financial year: According to data available to the tax authorities, you have carried out transactions using cryptocurrencies. We would like to remind you that profits generated in such operations constitute income subject to IRPF (Spanish Income Tax for freelancers). Per media outlet Cope, a total of 14,700 people have been sent Treasury crypto-warnings this week, including 470 Murcia residents. IRPF tax returns for FY2018 must be returned by June this year. Meanwhile, in Colombia, Mauricio Toro, the head of the Congressional Commission for Entrepreneurship has drafted a bill that if passed would impose regulations on the countrys budding cryptocurrency exchanges. Crypto-business has been booming in Colombia in 2019, with record-breaking crypto trading taking place across the entire Latin American region. However, it seems this has not gone unnoticed by Colombian financial authorities with Toro taking to Twitter to unveil the draft bill. Highlights of the draft bill include: The creation of a database of exchanges under the jurisdiction of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce will monitor and verify the exchanges on the database, as well as their credentials. Exchanges must operate security systems approved by the Ministry of Information Technologys and Communication. Exchanges must meet anti-money laundering and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) standards. Exchanges will not offer users interest for storing their cryptocurrencies on their platforms. Exchanges will not move customer funds without user agreement. Toro says the bill is subject to a consultation period that runs until April 8 after which it is likely to be brought before Congress. Political chaos Tensions currently engulfing Nepali politics could be a distraction created by the NCP to cover its shortcomings. Julian Assange could be expelled from the Ecuadorian embassy in London 'within hours to days' over the alleged publication of documents depicting the family of the country's president, Lenin Moreno, as corrupt,' according to Wikileaks.In a speech to the Ecuadorian Broadcasting Association on Tuesday, Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as 'photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance'.Moreno provided no evidence, but the speech reflected ongoing tension between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his hosts at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.Wikileaks this morning said in a tweet that 'a high level source within the Ecuadorian state' confirmed to them that the tensions will see Assange expelled from the country and therefore the embassy in London as a result of the documents known as the INA papers, which were leaked anonymously in February.The INA papers allege corruption involving President Moreno's brother, Wikileaks claims.Just hours after their first post, Wikileaks tweeted a second time about 11.45am AEDT, claiming a second Ecuadorian source had confirmed Assange could soon be expelled.Earlier, WikiLeaks called Moreno's statements this week 'completely bogus,' saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuador's legislature investigated the issue.'If President Moreno wants to illegally terminate a refugee publisher's asylum to cover up an offshore corruption scandal, history will not be kind,' WikiLeaks said in a statement.Assange's defense team also suggested on Twitter that Moreno was trying to use the scandal to pressure the WikiLeaks founder.With the Associated Press. Hopes for the construction of what would have been the world's biggest solar tower and molten salt storage plant near Port Augusta have been dashed after the company behind the project, the US-based SolarReserve, said it was unable to raise finance.The South Australia government made the announcement on Friday, ending a two year search by SolarReserve, which failed to find the funds despite a commitment of $110 million from the federal government, and a long-term power pricing agreement from the state government.The government said it had already extended the deadline for financial close from February 1, 2018, to May 31 this year, but had been told by SolarReserve that it would not be able to make this target.YesterdayI receivedresponsewhich confirmed howSolarReserveproposes to sellthe project to a third partywho may take the project or an alternative project forward at the site, said energy minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan, whose electorate includes Port Augusta and who has been a keen supporter of the project.The state government says it will now issue another tender for its electricity needs. Currently, it has a contract with Simec Zen Energy until 2020 - a contract signed to fill in the gap while the Aurora project was built - and it has an option to extend that contract if needed.The $750 million Aurora project would see a solar tower combined with molten salt storage, delivering 150MW of capacity and eight hours of storage - similar to the groundbreaking Crescent Dunes project in Nevada.In 2017, it beat out competing tenders - mostly from gas plants - to deliver electricity to the South Australia government at no more than $78/MWh.This was below the actual costs of the plant but it was reasoned that the storage would enable it to sell electricity at the peaks and deliver an average price at the tendered number.But despite having everything else in place - approvals, contractors, and off-takes, and even MOUs with mining groups such as Oz Minerals -it proved hard to convince financiers.A proposed addition of a 70MW solar PV last yearin an effort to reduce the cost of supply didn't convince potential lenders, who were also concerned about the performance of the Crescent Dunes facility, where a tank leak bedevilled operations, reduced output and caused some shut-downs.The South Australian Government has provided SolarReserve with every opportunityto deliver on the terms of the contract it signed with the former State Government, inAugust 2017, van Holst Pellekaan said in his statement.Both the current and former State Government modifiedand extendedthe terms of the contract toassistSolarReserve to meet its commitments under the Agreement. (A federal government spokesman confirmed that the funding - secured by former Senator Nick Xenophon - remained in the federal budget delivered this week).Since the electionin March 2018, the Government has worked hard to provide every reasonable assistance to the project,includingadditional time,finalisation of the project lease, approval ofidentifiedengineering, procurement and construction contractors, and introduction to potential financiers and investors, van Holst Pellekaan said.I have long been a supporter of developing solar thermal technology in the Upper Spencer Gulfand this has not changed, but unfortunately SolarReserve has confirmed that it cannot be the company to do this.Repower Port Augusta, a local lobby group that pushed for the closure of the Northern coal fired generator and supported the Aurora project, said they were devastated by the news, and wanted to know if the state and federal governments had done all they could to keep it going.Without immediate action from the South Australian and Federal Governments, the future of Port Augusta is at serious risk, said Gary Rowbottom, the chair of Repower Port Augusta and who worked at the former coal fired power station.The solar thermal power station is a lifeline to our community following the closure of the former coal-fired power station that we cannot afford to lose.For well over 5 years the Port Augusta community passionately advocated for governments to act and support a transition to solar thermal.Today, we've been let down and questions need to be answered by the State and Federal Government about how this has happened.It is yet another frustrating set-back for supporters of solar tower technology in Australia. Plans for such projects under former prime minister Kevin Rudd's Solar Flagships program launched nearly a decade ago came to nought in a much criticised tender, which sought to build grandiose projects without a pilot plant.Two winning tenders were abandoned, and a small pilot plant attached to the Liddell coal plant in Queensland was also not continued. Vast Solar has been operating a small pilot plant near Forbes,but is now looking for markets overseas.The only success has been a solar tower built at Sundrop Farms in South Australia,but this is mostly used for providing heat and desalinating water, and some electricity for the tomato crops.Overseas, however, plants are progressing. SolarReserve is building one plant in South Africa and has a contract for another, and had grand plans for more projects in Chile and the US.In Morocco, Sener has recently completed what is now the large solar tower plant (150MW) at the Noor facility,while a 100MW solar tower is undergoing commissioning in China.Still, solar thermal technology tails solar PV on costs, and although its storage capability adds great value to the technology, financing projects of such scale and cost is difficult.Ironically, RenewEconomy received an email a few days ago from energy expert Keith Lovegrove, who visited the 100MW, 10 hours storage Crescent Dunes facility a few weeks ago.It was running very well the day we were there. Achieving design point thermal output from the receiver of 565MW-thermal, with capacity to spare in the solar field, he wrote.This is good news, as the plant has suffered from some extended periods offline with commissioning problems that have included a tank leak. Not surprising for the first ever large commercial molten salt tower plant. No doubt there are still other bugs to be ironed out.SolarReserve has been approached for comment.Giles ParkinsonGiles Parkinson is founder and editor of Renew Economy, and is also the founder of One Step Off The Gridand founder/editor of The Driven. Giles has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. Quality inspectors book 136 firms for selling inferior food products The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control booked 136 firms across the country on the charge of selling substandard food items harmful to human health between mid-July and mid-March this fiscal year. Tamil Nadu: 18 Indian fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters April 05,2019 | Source: The Week Sri Lanka Navy has arrested at least 18 Indian fishermen and seized three dhows (vessel) for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters. The Navy arrested the fishermen in the seas 16 nautical miles west of Point Pedro during a Naval patrol. Eighteen Indian fishermen were arrested from Tamil Nadu for allegedly breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters, the Navy said. Three dhows used by them were also been taken into naval custody and brought to SLNS Uttara in Jaffna, Colombo Page reported. After a medical test, the fishermen will be handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for further investigation, the Navy Media Unit said. In January 2018, Sri Lanka increased by over 100 times the fine on foreign vessels to deter them from fishing in its waters, amid the dispute over the frequent entry of Indian fishing trawlers into the country's maritime territory. The main aim of the move is to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country's coastal belt. World News: WTO members discuss draft texts on fisheries subsidies caps and other approaches April 05,2019 | Source: WTO Members discussed a joint proposal from the United States and Australia to hold negotiations on member-specific caps on fisheries subsidies expressed in monetary terms and to require, for the larger players, commitments to reduce fisheries subsidies over time. Members also discussed the Philippines' draft text on subsidy caps, Australia's revised text on prohibiting subsidies for fishing that negatively affect overfished stocks, and India's draft text proposing to include fuel subsidies not specifically earmarked for certain industries in the scope of prohibitions. Like in previous meeting clusters, the discussions during the consultation sessions open to all members were structured around four areas - illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; fishing of overfished stocks; overfishing and overcapacity of fleets; and cross-cutting issues such as dispute settlement, notification requirements, and special and differential treatment for developing country members and least-developed countries. Members heard that more proposals were forthcoming. The chair of the Negotiating Group, Ambassador Roberto Zapata Barradas (Mexico), called on members to seek compromises at this stage of the negotiations. Noting that the US-Australia and Philippine proposals rely on submissions of information from members about their respective subsidy programmes as the basis for proposed caps, the chair also reminded members of their recommitment at the 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in 2017 to fulfill transparency obligations, which includes notifying subsidy programmes by 30 June this year. The next cluster of meetings will be held on 6-10 May. The Federal Court nine-member bench today struck down a provision under the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 (DDA) which allows the use of "double presumptions" to secure the conviction of an accused person charge for drug trafficking. In a landmark decision, the bench led by Chief Justice Richard Malanjum declared Section 37A of the DDA unconstitutional as it violated Article 5(1) read with Article 8(1) of the Federal Constitution. Article 5(1) states that no one shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty while Article 8 (1) states all persons were equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law. "We are of the view that Section 37A prima facie violates the presumption of innocence since it permits an accused to be convicted while a reasonable doubt may exist," said Malanjum. The mandatory death penalty would be imposed on an accused person found guilty for drug trafficking. Section 37A of the DDA was enacted in 2004 to allow the prosecution to rely on presumptions of "possession and knowledge of the drug" under Section 37 (d) and "trafficking" under 37 (da) of the DDA to secure convictions against drug traffickers. The section overruled the Federal Court decision in a 1998 case of Muhammed bin Hassan v Public Prosecutor which had held that the use of the two presumptions was unduly harsh and oppressive. The effect of section 37A on the operation of the two presumptions was that once the prosecution proves that an accused person had the custody and control of the drugs and the accused is presumed to have possession and knowledge of the drug. The "deemed possession" is then used to invoke a further presumption of trafficking the drugs. In his decision, Malanjum said section 37A constituted a substantial departure from the general rule, which could not be justified by and was disproportionate to the legislative objective it served. He said the application of what may be termed the "double presumptions" under the two subsections gave rise to a real risk that an accused may be convicted of drug trafficking in circumstances where a significant reasonable doubt remains. "In the light of the seriousness of the offence and the punishment it entails, we find that the unacceptably severe incursion into the right of the accused under Article 5(1) fails to satisfy the requirement of proportionality housed under Article 8(1)," he said. Death sentences for duo quashed Malanjum then quashed the convictions and death sentences of two female foreign nationals - Filipino Alma Nudo Atenza, 43, and Thai national Orathai Prommatat, 27 - who were found guilty for drug trafficking. The court substituted their respective convictions to one of possession and sentenced Atenza to 18 years jail and Prommatat to 15 years jail respectively for possession of the drugs. Atenza and Prommatat were ordered to serve the jail term from the date of their arrest respectively on Aug 19, 2014 and July 17, 2014. Atenza was charged with trafficking 2.5 kg of methamphetamine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Aug 19, 2014 while Orathai was accused of trafficking 693.4 grammes of cocaine in a room of the Arena Star Luxury hotel in Jalan Hang Lekiu in Kuala Lumpur on July 1, 2014. Both women were found guilty by the High Court and their respective appeals were dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2015 and 2016. The other judges were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak David Wong Dak Wah and Federal Court judges Ramly Ali, Balia Yusof Wahi, Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin, Rohana Yusuf, Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Nallini Pathmanathan. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Sri Lankan authorities have reportedly begun interviewing 47 candidates for 2 positions as hangmen, even as rights groups slammed the countrys move to bring back the death penalty after a decades-long moratorium. The island nation hasnt executed a criminal in 43 years, but President Maithripala Sirisena revealed last year that hangings would be brought back as part of a renewed war on drugs Sirisena is a noted admirer of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The country began advertising the grim career opportunity in newspapers in February. The ad called for applicants with excellent moral character and mental strength. In March, the state-run Daily News reported that 102 applications had been received for the 2 available positions. An American national was among the applicants, even though the ad said Sri Lankans only need apply. Now, AFP reports that the candidates have been whittled down to 47. But theres a catch with no executions having been carried out since 1976, the chosen candidates will need to be sent abroad so they can learn the ropes from seasoned hangmen, an official told AFP. Rights groups condemned the imminent restoration of the death penalty, saying that executions wont make a dent in drug-related crime and that they bring the risk of innocent people being killed. There is no evidence that implementing the death penalty will end drug-related crime. Executions are never a solution, said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia director at Amnesty International. Indeed, they may result in people being put to death following unfair trials. The death penalty is also a punishment that disproportionately affects people from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Patnaik said that torture and forced confessions are a routine occurrence in Sri Lankas justice system, meaning theres a high likelihood that convicts will be put to death following unfair trials. No criminal justice system is capable of deciding fairly who should live or who should die, he said. Human Rights Watch said the fact that Sirisenas push for the death penalty was inspired by Dutertes murderous drug war makes it all the more clear that the death penalty has no place under international law. President Sirisenas decision to restore the death penalty because he was inspired by the Philippines murderous drug war may be the worst possible justification and would violate international law, said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch noted several studies that found no evidence that the death penalty deters criminals, even for crimes like murder. The Sri Lankan government should publicly recommit to its moratorium on the use of the death penalty with a view to permanently abolishing the practice, Ganguly said. Executions, whether imposed by a judge or carried out unlawfully by the police, are not the way to address drug offences. On Sunday, Sirisena said a date had been set for the death penaltys comeback, although he didnt reveal the date, The Hindu reported. Nearly 1,300 people are on death row in Sri Lanka, according to Human Rights Watch, although the state-run Daily News put the figure at 400. The countrys Ministry of Justice has completed administrative procedures for the execution of 5 drug offenders, the Daily News reported. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Agence France-Presse, Staff, April 4, 2019 Amid global condemnation, the severe penalties came into effect on Wednesday and apply to Muslims, non-Muslims and foreigners even when not in the country but travelling on Brunei registered aircraft or vessels. Before the new legal regime commenced, homosexuality was illegal and punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment, but under the changes Brunei has become the first Asian country to make homosexuality punishable by death. Public flogging has been brought in as a punishment for abortion and amputation for theft, the United Nations said. 'Exercise normal safety precautions in Brunei' The Australian Government has condemned the laws described by the UN as "cruel and inhuman" and Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she had raised concerns directly with her counterpart in Brunei. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advises Australians to "exercise normal safety precautions in Brunei". "Under this code some offences can attract physical punishment while others attract executions," the DFAT travel advice summary said. Same-sex marriage is legal in Australia after a hard-fought campaign and a voluntary national postal survey. But elsewhere in the world gay people can struggle to simply stay out of jail. "Offences that attract the death penalty include blasphemy, sodomy, adultery, rape and murder." A DFAT spokesman said it had updated its travel advice and took safety concerns of all travellers "very seriously". On a standalone page for LGBTI travellers there is information specific to individual countries, including Brunei the spokesman said. The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) has called on Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack to ban Royal Brunei Airlines from landing in Australia. "Brunei [is] the only country with laws that allow for the execution of LGBT people to have landing rights in Australia," the group said in a statement. The VGLRL has also said the travel warning does not go far enough to protect the rights and lives of LGBT Australians. They are particularly concerned "that the penal code applies to all those who board a Brunei-registered aircraft even when in Australia". "This new penal code represents a serious and grave violation to the safety of LGBTQI Australians," VGLRL co-convener Dale Park said. "We need swift and strong action from the Government." Brunei defends laws amid boycott and petition An online petition to ban Royal Brunei Airlines from Australia has gathered 14,000 signatures. The move by the oil-rich sultanate has also been met with calls for boycotts of luxury hotels owned by Brunei. Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has lead the most recent Hollywood protest and said "every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery". The Brunei Investment Company owns 9 luxury hotels in the United States and Europe, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, The Dorchester in London, and the Plaza Athenee in Paris. Brunei's Government has defended the laws and said the Sharia penal code "aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race". Brunei was the first East Asian country to introduce Islamic criminal law in 2014 when it announced the first of three stages of legal changes that included fines or jail for offences such as pregnancy outside marriage or failing to pray on Friday. That move lead to a similar boycott from celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Jay Leno and British entrepreneur Richard Branson. In 2015, Christmas celebrations were banned and religious followers were warned the prohibition would be strictly enforced. Homosexuality is punishable by execution in several Muslim-majority countries, including death by stoning in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Mauritania. Brunei Joins 9 Other Countries In Adopting Death Penalty For Homosexuality While many western and other developed nations have adopted same-sex marriage legislation, there are some countries around the world that have yet to even legalize homosexual relationships. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, last week, the small southeast Asian nation of Brunei recently passed a rather violent law, which went into full effect earlier today, as noted by NPR. Those who are caught having gay sex will be subjected to death, which will be administered by public stoning. Brunei, which has an estimated population of approximately 420,000, is 2/3 Muslim, and Islam is the official religion of the nation. As a result, a handful of laws have recently been enacted, which conform to the more conservative principles of the religion. While the new measures have sparked controversy and condemnation around the globe, the current Sultan of Brunei expressed his approval, per a report by the BBC. I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah told Brunei citizens in a public address. The country has made a few other changes to its penal code. Any offenses of rape, sodomy, adultery, or robbery, and the insult or defamation of the Prophet Muhammad also carry the death penalty. While the punishment for gay sex is public stoning, lesbian sex carries a (relatively) lighter penalty of 40 lashes (caning) and/or up to 10 years in jail. Those who are caught stealing may have their limbs amputated, and attempting to persuade Muslim children under the age of 18 to follow another religion can carry a fine or jail time. While Bruneis laws against gay sex have come under fire, its worth noting that they arent the only country that enforces a death penalty for homosexual relations. As noted by The Washington Post, there are 9 other nations around the world that carry similar punishments. - Afghanistan: While the countrys penal code doesnt explicitly mention homosexual acts, Article 130 of Afghanistans Constitution does allow for recourse to be made to sharia law, which prohibits same-sex sexual activity in general. That being said, there have been no recorded cases of anyone being killed for having gay sex since the early 2000s. - Iran: Per sharia law, gay sex between men is punishable by death. - Mauritania: Despite official laws, there has been a moratorium on capital punishment for decades. : Despite official laws, there has been a moratorium on capital punishment for decades. - Nigeria: Several states within Nigeria have imposed a death penalty for gay sex. - Qatar: The law in Qatar applies only to those practicing Islam. - Saudi Arabia: Married men who commit sodomy, or a non-Muslim engaging in sodomy with someone who practices Islam, can be stoned to death. - Somalia: Similar to Nigeria, some states have adopted sharia law and by extension, a death penalty for gay sex. - Sudan: Those are convicted three times for sodomy can be put to death. - Yemen: For the last 25 years, married men who engage in gay sex can be stoned to death. Its worth mentioning that while The Washington Post lists the United Arab Emirates as a country that carries the death penalty for gay sex, it seems that legal experts within the country have not been able to come to a definitive conclusion. Lawyers in the country and other experts disagree on whether federal law prescribes the death penalty for consensual homosexual sex or only for rape, The Washington Post notes. In a recent Amnesty International report, the organization said it was not aware of any death sentences for homosexual acts. All sexual acts outside of marriage are banned. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde : abc.net.au, Staff, April 4, 2019inquisitr.com, Staff, April 4, 2019 FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA Rescind orders against free press: Nepal Media Society Nepal Media Society, an umbrella body of publishers and broadcasters, has taken serious exception to KP Sharma Oli governments series of actions that are aimed at squeezing the media. The Green New Deal is complicated and partially abstract and certainly not easy to understand for an idiot. It's aspirational too. Medicare-For-All isn't as complicated, but it's complicated too. You know what's not complicated? Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, a semi-livable wage. That;'s pretty straight forward. But it's something that infuriates conservatives almost as much as the Green New Deal and Medicare For All do. Conservatives have always opposed the minimum wage and always opposed raising the minimum wage. In the late 1800s anti sweatshop activism began gaining strength in Australian, the U.K. and the U.S., leading to calls for minimum wages. Massachusetts passed the first minimum wage legislation in the U.S. in 1912. A decade later there were 15 states with minimum wage laws. The very conservative Supreme Court kept striking them down, declaring them unconstitutional, because they interfered with the ability of employers to freely negotiate wage contracts with employees. And then came the bane of every conservative heart: the New Deal. The Supreme Court struck down the first national minimum wage in the '30s. After FDR was reelected in the biggest landslide in history in 1936 and started discussing putting more justices on the court, the conservatives on the court finally saw the light and ruled a minimum wage law constitutional. The federal minimum wage started at 25 cents an hour and by 1990 it had grown to $3.80. Today the federal minimum wage is $7.25, although only $2.13 for "tipped labor." Most of the states in the Old Confederacy-- particularly where Republicans have complete control-- don't have any minimum wage at all, of course-- Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee. Georgia's is $5.15. California, Washington and Massachusetts have the highest minimum wages among states-- $12.00 that will gradually rise, along with New York's and New Jersey's, to $15.00. Every passage in every jurisdiction and every increase has been fought by conservatives. That has usually broken down to meaning that nearly all Republicans oppose it and nearly all Democrats support it. But something's changing. Not in the Republican party; they're as opposed to workers' having the ability to live with any sense of dignity as they ever were. Unfortunately, the change comes among Democrats. Starting with Bill Clinton, the Democratic Party began catering more to corporate and financial interests and less to unions and workers. That ugly neoliberal trend has accelerated since Clinton's presidency and now we have immense power resting in the hands of the Blue Dogs and New Dems in Congress, perhaps enough to kill the super-popular calls for a $15 national minimum wage. Let me start by making sure you know who, very specifically, the New Dems are. Almost every Blue Dog is also a New Dem; the only 6 who aren't are Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Filemon Vela (TX), Sanford Bishop (GA), Mike Thompson (CA), Collin Peterson (MN) and Dan Lipinski (IL). This is, at least in the House, the Republican wing of the Democratic Party: Pete Aguilar (CA) Colin Allred (TX) Cindy Axne (IA) Ami Bera (CA) Don Beyer (VA) Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) Brendan Boyle (PA) Anthony Brindisi (NY) Anthony Brown (MD) Julia Brownley (CA) Cheri Bustos (IL) Salud Carbajal (CA) Tony Cardenas (CA) Andre Carson (IN) Ed Case (HI) Sean Casten (IL) Joaquin Castro (TX) Gil Cisneros (CA) Gerry Connolly (VA) Jim Cooper (TN) Lou Correa (CA) Jim Costa (CA) Angie Craig (MN) Charlie Crist (FL) Jason Crow (CO) Henry Cuellar (TX) Joe Cunningham (SC) Sharice Davids (KS) Susan Davis (CA) Madeleine Dean (PA) Suzan DelBene (WA), vice-chair Val Demings (FL) Eliot Engels (NY) Veronica Escobar (TX) Lizzie Fletcher (TX) Bill Foster (IL) Vicente Gonzalez (TX) Josh Gottheimer (NJ) Josh Harder (CA) Denny Heck (WA) Katie Hill (CA) Jim Himes (CT) Kendra Horn (OK) Steven Horsford (NV) Chrissy Houlahan (PA) Bill Keating (MA) Derek Kilmer (WA), chairman Ron Kind (WI) Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ) Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL) Ann Kuster (NH), vice-chair Rick Larsen (WA) Brenda Lawrence (MI) Al Lawson (FL) Susie Lee (NV) Elaine Luria (VA) Tom Malinowski (NJ) Sean Patrick Maloney (NY) Ben McAdams (UT) Lucy McBath (GA) Donald McEachin (VA) Gregory Meeks (NY) Seth Moulton (MA) Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL) Stephanie Murphy (FL) Donald Norcross (NJ) Tom O'Halleran (AZ) Chris Pappas (NH) Ed Perlmutter (CO) Scott Peters (CA), vice-chair Dean Phillips (MN) Mike Quigley (IL) Kathleen Rice (NY) Cedric Richmond (LA) Max Rose (NY) Harley Rouda (CA) Raul Ruiz (CA) Adam Schiff (CA) Brad Schneider (IL) Kurt Schrader (OR) Kim Schrier (WA) David Scott (GA) Terri Sewell (AL), vice-chair Mike Sherrill (NJ) Elissa Slotkin (MI) Adam Smith (WA) Darren Soto (FL) Abigail Spanberger (VA) Greg Stanton (AZ) Haley Stevens (MI) Tom Suozzi (NY) Norma Torres (CA) Xochitl Torres-Small (NM) Lori Trahan (MA) David Trone (MD) Juan Vargas (CA) Marc Veasey (TX) Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) Jennifer Wexton (VA) Susan Wild (PA) It's Wall Street financed, pro-corporate, anti-labor organization, but not every member is anti-worker-- or at least not every member can manifest anti-worker tendencies given the constituencies they represent. And these are the people, for the most part, who went whining to Pelosi and Bustos about being protected against primaries. Some aren't even members because of the ideology but because of the corruption, since the New Dems are the nexus of bribery in the House. Now, with all that in mind, let's consider how the New Dems are leading the opposition to the progressive plan to pass a $15 minimum wage bill, which the Democrats can certainly do and which Democratic and independent (and even Republican) voters very much want. The big campaign contributors who pay for the cushy careers of the New Dems don't want it. Take a look at this polling of registered voters. The majority of Americans want that raise of $15, which Bernie has already proposed in the Senate and has integrated into his presidential platform and campaign. A majority of both Democratic (73%) and independent voters (53%) support a $15 rate. Minimum wage increases are broadly popular across all demographic groups. The $15 proposal was supported by a majority of all age groups in the According to these pollsters 70% of Republican voters want a higher federal wage floor, with 36% supporting $15 per hour. Thirty percent of GOP respondents said they wanted to keep the amount the same, reduce it or eliminate it.Minimum wage increases are broadly popular across all demographic groups. The $15 proposal was supported by a majority of all age groups in the Hill-HarrisX poll . Now read this carefully, because it's going to help you understand what the New Dems are all about and who they really are and why it's foolish to help get them elected: Support for a higher minimum wage also is strong across the ideological spectrum. Seventy-seven percent of self-described "strong liberals" supported an increase to $15, as did 66 percent of respondents who said they lean liberal. Sixty percent of moderates backed the proposal as well. Among those who described themselves as strongly conservative or leaning conservative, support for increasing the wage to $15 did not reach majority levels; however, a majority wanted an increase to an amount above $7.25. Seventy-two percent of respondents who said they leaned conservative indicated they wanted an increase of some amount, as did 67 percent of strongly conservative respondents. Eva Putzova, who is running for Congress against an "ex"-Republican Blue Dog/New Dem, Tom O'Halleran, is the chair of the Flagstaff Living Wage Coalition. She reminded us that "Not a single ballot measure raising the minimum wage has ever failed-- not in a blue state or a red state. In Flagstaff, we raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour through a local initiative that was on the same ballot in 2016 as the increase of the Arizona's state minimum wage to $12 per hour. Raising the minimum wage is simply what people want. When the Raise the Wage Act passes (and I hope it will), it will be the first time in the history of this country that at least one chamber of Congress legislates the full minimum wage for tipped workers, most of whom are women and many are people of color and immigrants. The federal subminimum tipped wage has been frozen at an exploitative $2.13 since 1991 thanks to the power, money and influence of the "other NRA." Living mostly off tips forces tipped workers to tolerate sexual harassment and leads to economic instability for millions of families across the country. If Congress cares more about working families and women than short-term corporate interests, $15 per hour will be the new minimum wage floor. In the long run, even corporations benefit from stronger consumer purchasing power that comes with higher wages and more economic security." Politico yesterday, Sarah Ferris reported on the New Dem/Blue Dog push to kill the $15 minimum wage legislation, calling it a broadening Writing foryesterday, Sarah Ferris reported on the New Dem/Blue Dog push to kill the $15 minimum wage legislation, calling it a broadening rift between the partys progressive and moderate members , insisting on calling the conservatives from the Republican wing of the party, "moderates," the most admired political term among American voters and an implication that progressives are something other than moderate-- like extreme or radical. That's ALWAYS the Beltway media. Watch how Ferris subtly frames the news against progressives, even knowing that a majority of Americans want to $15 minimum wage. Progressive leaders in the House are attempting to stamp out a push by some red state Democrats to soften the partys $15-an-hour minimum wage proposal, which they see as a betrayal of last falls campaign promises. Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are now lobbying fellow Democrats to help extinguish a competing plan backed by more than a dozen moderates that would permit lower hourly wages in more rural areas. And theyre prepared to wield the power of the 96-member caucus to ensure their full $15-an-hour proposal reaches the floor. We want to pass a full $15 minimum wage bill. Not a regional bill. Were very clear about that, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) said in an interview. Being in Congress means leading, and we need to lead on minimum wage. Democratic leaders have publicly and privately committed to passing a universal $15-an-hour wage, a priority that they say helped deliver the House majority. But the idea is running into some resistance from moderates in red states like Georgia, Iowa and Alabama, who have balked at doubling the federal minimum wage over a five-year stretch because they fear it will cost jobs, and votes, back home. And with the $15-an-hour proposal still short on votes, some progressives fear that Democratic leaders will be forced to soften their signature bill to win over moderates, even though it will still go nowhere in the Senate. A group of Democrats, led by Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama, plan to introduce their own bill Thursday morning that would create a regional minimum wage-- based on local cost of living-- instead. Thirteen Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors as of Wednesday afternoon, but that number could grow, according to Sewells office. Sewell is a corrupt conservative who represents the 431st (out of 435) poorest district, in terms of median income. 64% of her constituents are African-Americans and the PVI is R+20. Do you think Blue America should tell her constituents with radio and TV ads that she's leading the fight against increasing the minimum wage to $15 on behalf of her corporate campaign donors? I suspect they wouldn't be all that pleased. A vice-chair of the New Dems, she's more loyal to them than to her own constituents. Just outrageous! Supporters include freshmen Democrats like Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia and Dean Phillips of Minnesota-- who is a small business owner who pays his own workers $15-an-hour but has said it is not a one-size-fits-all wage. Sewells bill would dramatically slow the wage hikes in hundreds of smaller cities from Cincinnati to St. Louis compared to metropolis areas like San Francisco and New York. But many other Democrats-- including House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott, the chief author of the $15-an-hour minimum wage bill-- detest the idea. Low income areas would be locked in to lower wages. We dont have differentiated payments for Social Security, the Virginia Democrat said in an interview. The introduction of Sewell's bill on Thursday will intensify a brewing clash between progressives and some moderates that has taken mostly behind the scenes. Tension erupted last month at a meeting of New Democrats Coalition, as Scott dismissed the idea of a regional bill-- in a roomful of moderates [not moderates-- conservatives], many of whom supported Sewell's bill-- as he sought to sell his own. Supporters of Scott's bill-- including virtually all CPC members, who got a private briefing from Scott on the bill in January-- have argued that the competing proposal is costing votes and stalling the partys hallmark $15-an-hour policy from reaching the floor. The regional minimum wage proposal is a clear attempt to water down the Raise the Wage Act, an aide to one progressive member said. Poverty wages shouldnt be acceptable anywhere in America. Progressive leaders are now stepping up the pressure on Democratic leaders to fend off changes to the $15-an-hour bill, possibly hinting at the first time the CPC decides to go to the mat to defend a progressive priority. So far in the majority, the CPC has mostly refrained from aggressive tactics to ensure their top agenda items make it to the floor. But some members and aides are eying the battle over the minimum wage bill as the first real test for Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her lieutenants to prove their commitment to a progressive agenda, even if it means cornering moderates on a difficult issue in their districts. "We're getting to get a vote on the $15-an-hour. I think there's just too much pressure that's going to build up on our caucus to do that. That was the commitment," Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) said in an interview. "We need to follow through on that." They argue that Sewell's bill would also raise wages, only more slowly. Cities like El Paso, Texas, and Topeka, Kansas would need to raise their wages to $8.10 next year, while wages would jump to at least $10.60 in sprawling cities like San Francisco, Washington and New York City. More than doubling the wage over five years is going to result in lost jobs, an aide to a member in favor of a regional wage bill said. A lot of people would prefer to have a $10 wage than no job. Scott and other critics of the idea are quick to point out the flaws of the bill, as well, such as a congressional district in New Hampshire that would have three different minimum wages. Critics have also pointed out that Sewell's bill would result in sharp spikes in the minimum wage in certain areas, like a $3 increase in Virginia next year alone. Some moderates have argued that Sewell's bill has interest from Republicans, unlike the Democrats' dream proposal, but long-time Democrats argue they need to send the message to their base. I think if it's not gonna go anywhere, I think weve got to make a statement. Were for living wage everywhere, said Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY), who is a cosponsor of Scott's bill. Marie Newman, a champion of a $15 minimum wage is working on a rematch with reactionary Blue Dog Dan Lipinski in a solid blue Chicagoland seat. She nearly beat him last time and his fellow Blue Dogs fear she will easily do so this cycle. This morning, she told us that "One of the things I am most proud of about my 2018 primary challenge to Dan Lipinski, is that we forced him to change his stance on $15/hr. He went from contending '$12 is enough', to signing on to the current $15/hr legislation in the last 6 weeks of the campaign. The district and I pushed him hard. It was worth it. I cannot stress how important this legislation is to our country. In an environment where 80% of the country is living paycheck to paycheck and we have an ever-escalating patchwork of jobs phenomenon (the situation where people must cobble 2-4 jobs together to make ends meet on a consistent basis), we need hardworking folks to be paid for their efforts. The dignity of work is our bedrock in the U.S. We must give hard work dignity. We must." Tom Guild lives in a red district based around Oklahoma City. His freshman Rep, Kendra Horn, is a big disappointment to Democrats nd many have been urging Tom to primary her. I suspect that her posture on the minimum wage legislation is going to be a key determinant for him. Early this morning, he told us that "Its easy for members of the U.S. Congress to pontificate on a $15 minimum wage. After all, each member of the U.S. House or Senate is guaranteed $285,000 in salary and benefits each year. They are guaranteed the same lofty compensation shortly after joining Congress, even if they are involuntarily retired from the House or Senate by voters who think they did a lousy job of representing them. For folks with a golden spoon in their mouths and a lucrative retirement to die for, its apparently easy to be hard. Phasing in a $15 minimum wage is the right thing to do. The longer we wait, we may need to phase in a much higher dollar amount. In Oklahoma, a relatively low cost of living state, $15 an hour would allow an individual to survive and to take an annual three day vacation-- to Tulsa! $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage. A person cant survive anywhere in the country on $7.25 without roommates, second or third jobs, or a patron saint helping them along the way. Its easy to be hard. Its apparently easy to be hard-- especially if you have a guaranteed $285,000 job at taxpayer expense. It sounds suspiciously like socialism to me. It is way beyond time to bring hard working Americans, many of them single parents with hungry mouths to feed, up to a level where they are not living in poverty while working full time. If not now, when? If not us, who will do the right thing to help our beloved neighbors?" If you know who Randy Bryce, you know that when it comes to working people, he knows what he;'s talking about. Last night, he told me that "Republicans view average citizens as 'money farms' instead of people. They all believe that they are destined to win the lottery and when they do-- youd best be ready to help them maintain their lavish lifestyle. We have a few Democrats who also dont seem to see things as the rest of us do. They view the .01% as benefactors who donate to their campaigns which allows them not to need a job that may require them getting their hands dirty. The same party that rails against socialism for people is fully complicit allowing corporations-- who they see as people-- to receive handouts. That doesnt make any sense to me especially considering that we have an existing tax code that allows for loopholes that dont require people to pay into the pot that their hands are continually taking things out of. When it comes to fair pay for a days work it shouldnt be too much to ask for one full time job to be enough to pay ones bills. A livable wage will keep people from needing government assistance but it wont keep corporations from grabbing every penny that they can. What will it take to start seeing the companies that get tax breaks but refuse to pay their employees a fair wage as a freeloader instead of the woman or man trying to feed their child? Raising the minimum wage isnt about getting wealthy. Its about dignity. Every time I hear a rich CEO state that 'hard work has gotten me where I am,' I follow with the question" 'whos hard work'?" Is this part of why Hillary Clinton lost Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, North Carolina...? Sewell and the New Dems are taking a position identical to the one that just about mandated that Hillary Clinton lose the 2016 election to... Trump. A number of cash-strapped retail chains in Vietnam have been losing out, unable to compete in an increasingly tough market. Shop&Go became the newest loser in Vietnams retail market Monday when it was bought out by conglomerate Vingroup for $1. The company reported an aggregated loss of almost VND205 billion ($8.81 million) by 2016, the latest year for which figures are available. VinCommerce, the retail arm of Vingroup, took over its 87 stores and its debts in the latest deal. Vietnams retail market has become increasingly crowded with both local and international players over the last five years. Although experts have said that the market has a lot of growth potential, many businesses have quit or scaling back expansion plans. Coffee giant Trung Nguyen has twice attempted and failed with its G7 Mart and G7-Ministop. Super market chain Saigon Co.op established its first retail store Co.op Smiles in 2016 with the hope of opening 500 such outlets a year, but two years later, the number is around 100. Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart previously said it wanted to have 1,000 stores by 2020, but it announced last year that it wont invest in new stores. The number of its stores stay at 151. Vietnamese food company Vissan said early last year that it has closed nearly 60 of 100 convenience stores. Nguyen Ngoc An, CEO of Vissan, said that the stores had failed to attract a large number of customers. A senior manager of the Family Mart said that they "could no longer pour more resources into the chain." Industry insiders say that retail chains fail to compete because they dont have deep pockets to bear the losses. Pham Viet Anh, a strategic business expert, said that cash flow is among the most important factors in the retail business. If a company cannot collect enough revenue before it has to pay suppliers, its working capital gets eroded. "A retail company can rely on its debts with providers in the short term, but in the longer term, it needs to find a way to be profitable. If not, growing losses will eventually bankrupt it," Anh said. Vietnams revenue from selling goods last year rose by 11.7 percent from 2017 to $142 billion, up 12.4 percent from 2017. Two steps back The government wants to keep journalists on a tight leash Vietnams seafood association has complained that a quality control circular is preventing 5,235 tons of fish from being cleared for export. According to the Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), a circular passed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), requiring exported fish to have their origin verified by "authorized fishing ports," took effect on January 1, 2019, this year. Under the circular, the government had to publish a list of all the authorized fishing ports, but so far, the ministry has only named, or effectively endorsed, 47 of 83 ports currently operating in the country. As a result, 5,235 tons of seafood at the "unauthorized" ports, purchased between May 2018 and March 2019, have not yet been cleared for export. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of MARD, said that the European Commission has requested that Vietnamese ports authorized to verify the origin of fish have certain quality control systems in place. Out of the 83 active fishing ports, which have a total output of 1.8 million tons a year, MARD has only deemed 47 ports to have systems that meet European standards, said Tien. "Assessment of whether ports meet these standards are undertaken by localities, after which they make a proposal to MARD to authorize the said port. Whether this process takes time or not depends on the locality," he said. Regarding the 5,235 tons of fish, Tien said that they should be recalled by enterprises and processed for other orders. In October 2017, the EU gave Vietnam a "yellow card" over illegal fishing, warning the country it could ban seafood exports unless Hanoi did more to tackle illegal fishing. According to MARD, European Commission inspectors will visit Vietnam in April to conduct a final check before the bloc decides whether to lift the yellow card. According to the Ministrys latest reports, seafood exports in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to $1.8 billion, a 0.5 percent increase over the same period last year. Fear? What fear? Hanoi teacher embraces HIV students as her own While stigma against the disease is still strong, one woman teaches children from a shelter and treats them like her own. "Arent you scared of death?" This is a question that Phung Thi Thuy Ha, 42, teacher of HIV students in suburban Hanoi, usually gets when people know about her job. With the fear of the incurable disease ingrained in peoples mind, many also fear and stigmatize children with HIV. The infected children live in a shelter. They got the HIV virus from their parents, but are unfortunately the subject of gossip and prejudice. Most of the students were abandoned or live away from their parents. But Ha, who has taught in Yen Bai B primary school for 13 years, thinks of them as her own children. "I am not scared of anything since the kids are normal students like every other student and come to school every day to listen to lessons." Yen Bai B primary school has three campuses, with a separate one for HIV-positive students. Currently there are 18 studying in grades one to five. When Ha started working in 2006, basic conditions were lacking. "In 2006 we did not have our own classroom," she recalls. So she had to go to the rehab center where her students lived to teach. Their classroom was in a storehouse or sometimes a reception room. Only a few years ago was the school rebuilt, and Ha was allocated a separate place to teach her students. The classroom where Ha currently teaches her students. Photo acquired by VnExpress Ingrained stigma Since her first day at the job, Ha had to deal with hurtful insults and prejudices from other people. When she and her students finally settled down in a separate room in the primary school, they faced fierce objection from the parents of other students. One time some of them even brought whips and sticks to chase Ha and her students into a corner just they were a flock of ducks. The parents asked her: "Who allowed you to teach them?" "Arent you afraid it will spread to our kids?" Ha also receives suspicious looks from her neighbors whenever she invites her students home. One neighbour told her: "Seeing those children have food in your house and play with your kids is scary." Has children are also objects of hateful comments due to her job and she struggles to hold back her tears when she talks about it. "Sometimes I feel very sad for my own kids, since they are also judged because of my job." Her daughter is sometimes nicknamed with the epithet "HIV" and bullied by classmates. Ha does face a slight risk of contracting HIV from her students. One time she washed an open wound in the class water bucket and only later found out it had just been used by a student with nosebleed. "I was actually scared since my wound was open, but I could not tell anyone. I secretly had a check-up at a hospital to make sure and told myself from then on to be more careful." Warmth of the family Has students made this birthday greeting for her, which says, "Thank you for teaching us to become good people." Photo acquired by VnExpress But despite all the risks and insults, Ha feels the urge to support and compensate for her students lack of love and compassion. Everyday in class she is like a friend and mother to her students. She is willing to listen to their concerns and tries to understand their worries. Ha has won the trust of all her students that after class they come to her to tell their secrets or share about the changes in their body, something every child is naturally curious about. She has gradually understood the childrens deepest desire: to have a family and love from their mother and father. Thus, she makes an effort to get her students feel the warmth of a family: hers. She often lets them visit her house and cook meals. Some help her wash the vegetables, some help with the cooking. "Sometimes they unconsciously call me: Mom, should we do this?" Ha smiles at the memory. "And they would giggle with each other and blush." The adoration heaped on gangsters by millions of Vietnamese youth point to a breakdown of moral values, experts say. Their language is vulgar. Their message is violent. Yet the purveyors are looked up to and adored. It does not take much effort these days to find videos of Vietnamese gangsters flaunting their lives and plans. One click on the Trending tab on Youtube, the worlds biggest video platform, users can easily see videos about gangsters who publicly threaten to beat their enemies, show off their tattoos, and use vulgar language. These videos attract millions of views and elicit thousands of comments. One of these so-called online thugs is Kha Banh, whose real name is Nguyen Ba Kha, who frequently uploads videos of himself carrying weapons to fight or burn vehicles. Kha was recently detained by the police to investigate his betting activities and use of drugs. His YouTube channel, which was taken down Wednesday, had two million subscribers and ranked 57th among the top subscribed channels in Vietnam, surpassing many well-known video channels with educational content. Before Kha, Duong Minh Tuyen, another cyber-thug, was a phenomenon on YouTube, making belligerent comments, threats and claims in colourful language. His channel had garnered over 500,000 subscribers and 40 million views before it was taken down on Thursday. These are just two among many such gangsters with widespread support with their thuggish content. Others include Ngan T with 172,000 subscribers and 24 million views or Khanh S with 69,300 subscribers and over 24 million views. Sociologists and psychologists are worried that such people and content are so popular among Vietnamese youth. The phenomenon has increased and spread widely, sociologist Ngo Van Huan of Ho Chi Minh Officers Academy told local media. He said it was seriously worrying that these online gangsters attract a huge following among the youth who treat them like idols, asking for photos and autographs. Photos circulated online show Nguyen Ba Kha surrounded by many young students and adults a few months ago near a high school in the north, asking for selfies. Similarly, when Duong Minh Tuyen was released after 32 months in jail for disturbing public order and destroying property, he was live streamed and received a lot of supportive comments on social media. Such support manifests in financial benefits. Kha was earning up to $20,000 per month from YouTube, he told the police. Duong Minh Tuyens channel fetched him from $5,000 to $79,800 per month, according Socialblade, a statistics website certified by YouTube. Such huge incomes not only sustain the activities of these people, but also trigger emulators like Giang Ho Song Ao (Gangster Living Online), Giang Ho Dat Cang (Gangster from Port City), Giang Ho Channel (Gangster Channel) Rebel attraction "Kha Banh is a symbol of contemporary young people who long for freedom and desire to express themselves. Young people like him because he is free to do what he likes...," Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), told VnExpress. Education expert Nguyen Thuy Anh also said that the problem was rooted in lack of social understanding. Hong said that the phenomenon of online gangsters and their followers was a sign of the failure of the nation education system to instill moral values. The messages from the school, family and society to young people are mechanical and are not inspiring them to follow positive values, Hong said. Young people are also tempted by the glamor of the gangsters lives. "The success of these online gangs these days is partly because of the way they boast about their wealth, which makes many people admire them," said sociologist Huan. The young no longer have faith in "standard values" and are attracted to "temporary rebellion," said Thuy Anh. Real consequences The phenomenon of glorifying gangsters is also reflected in real life. Violence in schools has become endemic, and in almost all cases that have come to light, there has been no intervention when someone gets beaten up by a gang. Instead, the violence is recorded and posted online. "I am worried when young people use wrongful actions to boast and become famous .... This will shake the foundation of moral values...," said Nguyen Phuong Linh, head of Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD). Young people first follow the gangsters out of curiosity, but in the long run they can shape the behavior of the youth, become their lifestyle, and build a set of values that are seriously deviant, Pham Manh Ha of the Vietnam Youth Academy said. It will form a society that prioritizes money, that does not highly regard morality and laws but only values strength, he added. For now, two prominent channels, that of Kha Banh and Duong Minh Tuyen, have been taken down. However, deleting some channels does not comprehensively solve the problem, with other similar content still widely available online and celebrated by a lot of young people, experts noted. Hong said she believed that the gangster trend will soon fade, but it revealed a problem in childrens education. "Children need more space to play, release energy and express themselves. The educational philosophy needs to change from just producing machines," she said. There also needs to be a comprehensive and effective remedy to prevent the trend on the Internet, according to experts. Dang Hoa Nam, head of Department of Child Affairs, felt there was a need to act against specific cases of spreading harmful information. He said the system should have sanctions in place to "deal with businesses and individuals who deliberately put up information that negatively affects young people and children." An engineer stands inside Vietnam's only nuclear reactor in Da Lat in the Central Highlands. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Truong Vietnam has improved its nuclear safety management capabilities under a three-year cooperation project with the EU. The project, which was carried out from May 2016 to April 2019, aimed to enhance the capability and effectiveness of the Vietnamese regulatory authority and its technical support unit in managing nuclear safety in accordance with international standards, officials said at a conference held in Hanoi Thursday to review the project. To achieve these goals, the project helped Vietnam develop a legal and regulatory framework on nuclear safety; develop a quality management system for the agency in managing nuclear facilities; enhance Vietnam's capability to independently assess and appraise safety records; build a human resource development plan and a sustainable training program for the agency; build Vietnam's nuclear inspection capacity; improve transparency and public information. Vietnam's experts and officials in nuclear safety have had the opportunity to attend conventions, get general and practical training at nuclear research facilities and management organizations in France, Germany, Belgium and Finland. Speaking at the conference, Vietnam's Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh said the project was implemented on schedule and met its initial objectives. The project has played an important part in the completion of a number of draft documents on nuclear safety, nuclear inspection and incident response. Vietnam's state management on nuclear and radiation safety has also built an integrated management system in accordance with advanced international standards and formulated a human resource development plan. "We can affirm that the project's achievements have contributed to enhancing the capability and effectiveness of Vietnam's nuclear regulatory agency," Anh said. Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, stressed that in recent times, the EU and Vietnam have cooperated not only in the nuclear sector but also in commerce, energy, investment and national security and defense. Through this project, the EU hopes to help Vietnam ensure that its nuclear regulatory agency is capable of managing nuclear safety with other countries in the region, Angelet said. Vietnam is running one nuclear reactor in Da Lat in the Central Highlands. The country's legislators scrapped nuclear power plans in November 2016 citing high costs. The Ton Duc Thang University is the only Vietnamese insitution in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2019. The HCMC-based university has made it to the list, published earlier this month, for achievements relating to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. It was in the 101-200 position with a score range of 64.6-75.6. It scored high in international collaboration, promotion of best practices and data publication. Other notable achievements included providing quality education, climate chance combat action, and making the city it is in and the human settlements more safe and sustainable. More than 560 universities from 80 countries and territories across six continents were assessed in the latest rankings. At the top are the University of Auckland (New Zealand), British Columbia and McMaster University (Canada); University of Manchester (U.K.), University of Hong Kong; and University of Helsinki (Finland). These are also among the top 100 best universities in the world in almost all prestigious rankings. Other universities in the 101-200 position included the University of Malaya (Malaysia), University of Massachusetts (U.S.), Osaka University and Hokkaido University (Japan), and KAIST (South Korea). Japan is the most-represented nation in the table with 41 institutions, followed by the U.S. with 31 and Russia with 30. Last December, Ton Duc Thang was also named by the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking among the 300 most sustainable universities in the world. It was ranked 182nd, while Tra Vinh University, another Vietnamese school in the southern province of the same name, was ranked 256th. Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, based in the U.K., is the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane. Photo by Shutterstock/Tonkin A Vietnamese man who overstayed in Singapore for over 10 years will get four cane strokes and five months in jail. Dang Nguyen Sinh Nhat, 38, pleaded guilty to illegally staying in Singapore for 10 years, seven months and 22 days at the State Court on Tuesday, Yahoo News Singapore reported. Nhat had been issued a Student Pass to study at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, but he failed to pay his school fees. Instead of leaving the island nation after his residence permit had expired in July 2008, he stayed on in Singapore, but it is not known what he did over the last 10 years. According to the indictment, Nhat came to Singapore to study dance at Nafa in mid-2006 and was issued with a Student Pass, which was valid until April 2009. He was also granted a Visit Pass for the same period as the Student Pass. However, his Student Pass was canceled by ICA at Nafas request on April 14 2008, as he was unable to cover his tuition fees. ICA then granted him another temporary residence permit at the schools request so that he could raise money to cover the tuition fees. The resident permit was extended several times, but Nhat still couldnt manage to pay his fees. When his residence status expired in early July 2008, he did not apply for extension of his stay and remained unlawfully in Singapore since. He surrendered himself to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on February 23 this year. Under the current law in Singapore, the punishment for illegal overstay in Singapore for more than 90 days is up to six months in jail and at least three strokes of the cane. The Vietnamese public has been riling as several cases of sexual crimes against children coming to light recently. Photo by Shutterstock/Photographee.eu Recent incidents prompt a Deputy PM and a top cop to push for comprehensive measures against sexual abuse of kids. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam made a wide range of instructions to various ministries on Wednesday, targeting more effective measures, preventive and punitive, to protect childrens rights in the country. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has been asked to make changes to and implement policies to better protect childrens rights, to deal properly with violations and to set up units to monitor and dealing with cases of abuse. The Ministry of Education and Training will have to monitor all kindergartens to look for and prevent violence against kids, Dam said. He said the Ministry of Health's job is research to evaluate the degree of psychological trauma inflicted on children by sexual abuse towards formulating suitable policies to protect them, as well as creating a foundation on which criminal cases can be prosecuted. To Lam, Minister of Public Security, said at another Wednesday meeting that the ministry needs to vigorously monitor and neutralize cases of violence and abuse of children, and ensure punishments that deter such crimes. "The Ministry of Public Security will cooperate with relevant institutions to continue researching, proposing changes or issuing new legal documents for strict punishment for sexual criminals against children," he said. Vietnamese public have been outraged by several cases of sexual molestation and assaults against children coming to light recently. On Monday night, a 61-year-old former prosecutor was caught apparently molesting a young girl in an elevator in Saigon, wrapping his arms around her neck and kissing her. He has said that he was merely petting her because she was cute. Camera footage of this interaction sparked widespread anger on social media, and some Facebook accounts were quick to identify him as Nguyen Huu Linh, a retired deputy chief prosecutor of Da Nang, Vietnam's third largest city. Police confirmed the identity soon later. "He's old yet he behaves badly and brings shame to his family, wife and children. I want a thorough investigation to charge him, we cannot pass crimes like this," commented VnExpress reader Hoa Vo Uu. "This is a much more serious case than usual. [The perpetrator] is supposed to be someone who knows the law and should be fully aware of the consequences of doing such a thing to a child," said an office worker in Cau Giay District, Hanoi. Last month, a primary school teacher in Hanoi was accused of touching several 5th graders in "inappropriate places." However, it was stated at a press conference later that there were no signs that the teacher had molested the students; that all he did was "pinch their ears and noses, touching their shoulders, butts and thighs." He has since been disciplined and demoted, but does not face any criminal charges. Official data on sexual harassment is not regularly published in Vietnam. But a 2014 survey of 2,000 Vietnamese women by the NGO ActionAid found 87 percent of women and girls experienced sexual harassment in public places. The number of children who are affected by the Venezuelan crisis and who will need humanitarian aid this year is expected to more than double to reach 1.1 million, up from nearly 500,000. The figure includes children uprooted from Venezuela, those who have returned and others in host and transit communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, said a UNICEF statement. The latest estimate highlighted expectations among aid agencies that the political crisis in Venezuela will worsen in the coming months, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation of children and families. UNICEF called on governments in the region to uphold the rights of children and ensure they have access to essential services. An internal U.N. report seen by AFP last week said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care. President Nicolas Maduro has blamed U.S. sanctions for Venezuela's economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault. Guaido is recognized by the United States and around 50 other governments. The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet next week at the request of the United States to discuss Venezuela's humanitarian crisis. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference at the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines. Photo by Reuters/Erik De Castro Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told China on Thursday to "lay off" an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea. He said he would deploy his soldiers there if Beijing touches it. Duterte's remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement made by the foreign affairs ministry calling the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing boats near Thitu island illegal. "I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pagasa because I have soldiers there. If you touch it, that's a different story. I will tell the soldiers 'prepare for suicide mission'," Duterte said in a speech, using the local name for Thitu. Duterte has repeatedly said he would not go to war with China because it would be suicide. The Philippines military has described the boats as a "suspected maritime militia". "Such actions, when not repudiated by the Chinese government, are deemed to have been adopted by it," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a rare rebuke of Beijing. Duterte, who has pursued warmer ties with China since taking office in 2016 in exchange for billions of dollars of pledged loans and investment, said he would not allow China to occupy Thitu island because it "belongs to us". The presence of the trawlers near Thitu island raises questions about their intent and role "in support of coercive objectives", the ministry said, days after the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest with China. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not refer directly to Manila's protest, but he said bilateral talks on the South China Sea held in the Philippines on Wednesday were "frank, friendly and constructive". Both sides reiterated that South China Sea issues should be resolved peacefully by parties directly involved, he said. The Philippines has monitored the Chinese boats from January to March this year, according to military data. "These are suspected maritime militia," Captain Jason Ramon, spokesman for the military's Western Command said this week. "There are times when they are just there without conducting fishing. At times, they are just stationary." The Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan have competing claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, a conduit for goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every year. Vietnam calls the waters the East Sea and has repeatedly asserted its sovereignty over the territory. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. "We call on concerned parties to desist from any action and activity that contravenes the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as these generate tension, mistrust and uncertainty, and threatens regional peace and stability," the Philippines ministry said. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured the Philippines it would come to its defence if it came under attack in the South China Sea. Pangolin scales that were seized from Customs and were taken by the National Parks Board are pictured in Singapore, April 4, 2019. Photo handed out via Reuters Singapore has seized 12.9 tons of pangolin scales found in a shipping container destined for Vietnam, the biggest seizure of its kind globally in five years. The scales of pangolin, the world's most poached animal, were found on Wednesday packed in 230 bags in the container along with 177 kg (390 lb) of elephant ivory. "The shipment was declared to contain frozen beef and was on the way from Nigeria to Vietnam," Singapore Customs and the National Parks Board said, estimating the total value of the animal parts at more than $38 million. Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are critically endangered. They are coveted for their meat -- considered a delicacy -- and scales used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat aliments from cancer to arthritis. Wednesday's seizure was the largest single haul of scales globally in five years and estimated to have come from 17,000 pangolins, the parks board said. About 100,000 pangolins are poached from the wild each year, with all eight species in Africa, and especially Asia, now under threat, according to conservation group WildAid. In February, Hong Kong customs uncovered a massive endangered species smuggling operation from Africa, seizing millions of dollars worth of pangolin scales and ivory tusks. 1. Yes. Patrol cars in the lot and armed officers inside would deter would-be criminals. 2. Yes. Police should announce their plans and be highly visible during store hours. 3. No. The citys police officers have other obligations. More private security is the answer. 4. No. Perhaps, but installing more surveillance cameras would be a better deterrent. 5. Unsure. More police might help, but it could also stretch KPDs resources too thin. Vote View Results After many meetings and debates, the Chicago delegation succeeded in working with the New York United Federation of Teachers, Local 2 (UFT) to push the AFT to take stronger stands on charter school accountability and school closings though many delegates from Chicago would have liked the language to have been even stronger. Generally speaking, the New York delegation represented organizing charters as the best model for handling their role in reshaping unions, despite the fact that according to many reports few charter schools in New York have been organized as is the case in Chicago. This logic is the same touted by the Progressive Caucus of the AFT. The few that have been organized are a part of the UFT local though they have separate contracts negotiated with the help of UFT. The Chicago delegation reflection the mindset that allowing new charters to continue to proliferate while attempting to organize existing charters is an end game in which public schools and the union lose. Jen Johnson, CTU, Local 1 in Substance Nicor Gas' record rate-hike request should be cut by at least $82.5 million, mainly because the company is seeking an excessive profit rate for its shareholders, according to testimony filed by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). "Nicor's rate-hike request is bloated and unfair, and our expert testimony proves it," CUB Executive Director David Kolata said Thursday. "Everybody wants Nicor to have the resources it needs to maintain quality service, but that doesn't mean the utility deserves a rate hike it doesn't need." CUB asked Nicor customers to visit its website, at CitizensUtilityBoard.org, to sign a petition to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) against the proposed increase. In November 2018, just months after the ICC granted the company a $93.5 million increase, Nicor filed for an additional $230 million rate hike. The request, which the ICC will rule on in the fall, is the largest by a gas utility CUB has ever seen in 35 years of consumer advocacy. Nicor is the gas utility for most of northern Illinois, outside Chicago. In 2018, its parent, Southern Company, made $2.2 billion in profits. CUB and the group Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers commissioned an expert analysis of Nicor's proposal. The testimony was written by Michael Gorman, of Brubaker & Associates, Inc., a Missouri-based consulting firm that specializes in utility regulation. Gorman uncovered several areas of concern, including: Return on Equity. Nicor is asking for an excessive "Return on Equity" (ROE) or profit rate for shareholders of 10.6 percent. Gorman instead recommended a more reasonable 9.2 percent ROE, which would reduce the rate hike by $38.1 million. Nicor's proposed profit rate for shareholders is "simply excessive and results in unjust and unreasonable prices to Nicor's retail customers," Gorman wrote. In the rate-setting process, ROE is the most important component of a utility's "rate of return," which is the rate at which the utility recovers the cost of financing physical assets, such as gas meters, pipes, and gas-storage fields. Capital Structure. A utility's "capital structure" basically how it finances infrastructure projects is another important component of rate of return, and Gorman had concerns there also. He found that Nicor overstated its costs in this area, and he recommended reducing the rate hike by another $12.3 million. Incentive Compensation. Gorman recommended reducing the amount that Nicor wanted to recover for employee bonuses, cutting the proposed increase by about $12.4 million. "Shareholders are the primary beneficiary of incentive compensation for financial performance, and therefore it is reasonable to ask them to recover these costs," he wrote. Other accounting recommendations, related to employment, pension and tax issues, amounted to nearly $20 million, leading consumer advocates to recommend reducing the rate hike by a total of at least $82.5 million. ICC staff and the Illinois Attorney General's office also are reviewing the case, and CUB hopes to support any additional reductions those parties uncover. According to CUB's initial review of the filing, Nicor's request would increase the residential monthly customer charge by about 29 percent, to more than $20 per month, and increase the per therm delivery charge by about 60 percent. If the rate hike is approved, Nicor has said the average residential customer will pay about $5.36 more per month. The hike would increase delivery rates, which take up about a third to a half of gas bills. That's what Nicor charges to cover the costs of delivering gas to customer homes, plus a profit. CUB warned that all customers even those with an alternative gas supplier would pay these higher Nicor delivery charges. So customers should beware of any sales representative who says they can avoid the rate hike by going with an unregulated supplier. All customers would pay these higher rates. CUB, Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog, is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2019. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, it has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit its award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org. The Manitoba government has approved the environmental licence necessary for the development of the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project (MMTP), which will supply clean energy, enhance reliability, and generate significant revenue, keeping hydro rates lower for Manitobans, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires announced on April 4. "Our government recognizes the advantage of harnessing our renewable resources as we collectively work to reduce our environmental footprint," Squires said. "Manitoba has always punched above its weight as a clean, green energy provider. This project will not only create jobs and generate revenue here at home, it will also have a significant impact on reducing global emissions." Construction of the 500-kilovolt power line is already underway in Minnesota and construction of the Manitoba portion is set to begin as soon as possible, with a target of June 2020 for completion, Squires noted. Once operational, the clean energy exported to Minnesota will displace 1.5 megatonnes of emissions per year, equivalent to about seven per cent of Manitoba's total annual emissions. The power line will also double Manitoba Hydro's import capability, improving reliability in power emergencies and lowering costs of purchased electricity during drought periods. The approval of the line followed a rigorous environmental assessment process that focused on the mitigation of significant impact along the transmission line. Prior to Manitoba approving the project, the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission held public hearings regarding the MMTP and recommended the project be licensed under The Environment Act with specific conditions to address public concerns. The National Energy Board has also reviewed the project and provided recommendations to the federal government that a certificate be issued for MMTP under The National Energy Board Act. Manitoba's Environment Act licence reflects the recommendations of the Clean Environment Commission and contains conditions requiring environmental protection during construction, preservation of cultural sites and protections for private lands, and environmental monitoring and reporting once construction is completed. Manitoba also completed a detailed Crown-Indigenous consultation process as part of the overall project review. The consultation process provided Indigenous communities with additional opportunity to become engaged and informed about the project and to share any comments, concerns and recommendations to protect Indigenous rights and environmental interests, the minister noted. Squires also called on the federal government to issue the required federal certificate, needed for construction to begin. "We call on Canada to issue this certificate immediately so as to avoid construction delays, which could cost Manitoba ratepayers millions of dollars in lost revenue and construction delay penalties." The California Independent System Operator (ISO) announced that Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), part of the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC), successfully began full participation in the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) today (4/3). "The Western EIM demonstrates the economic and environmental savings achieved when participants work collaboratively across the region," said ISO President and CEO Steve Berberich. "As one of the premiere community-owned utilities in the country, SMUD's participation will only strengthen the market and add to its efficiency and diversity." "SMUD sees significant financial, operational and resource value in participating in the Western EIM due to its broader regional scope and dispatch," said SMUD CEO Arlen Orchard. "The EIM's geographic diversity allows easier and more economical balancing and integration of intermittent renewable energy resources, helping SMUD meet its and California's aggressive renewable and carbon-reduction goals. SMUD is pleased to have forged this important partnership with the CAISO and the other EIM participants to further these goals." "BANC is excited to be the first publicly owned agency to become an EIM Entity in the Western EIM", said BANC General Manager Jim Shetler. "We found the CAISO staff to be extremely helpful in assisting us in what was a very smooth transition effort. BANC is currently evaluating future participation by its other members." A real-time wholesale power market, the Western EIM uses state-of-the-art technology to find and deliver low-cost energy to meet real-time energy demand across eight western states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona. Since launching in November 2014, the Western EIM has produced benefits of more than $564 million while reducing carbon emissions more than 324,000 metric tons by using excess renewable energy in place of fossil-fueled generation resources. SMUD, a member of BANC and a Participating Resource in the EIM, joins current EIM participants PacifiCorp of Portland, Ore. (2014), NV Energy of Nevada (2015), Arizona Public Service (2016), Puget Sound Energy of Washington (2016), Portland General Electric (2017), Idaho Power (2018) and Powerex, the marketing arm of BC Hydro (2018). Other entities scheduled to begin participation include Seattle City Light, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Arizona's Salt River Project in 2020; and pending regulatory approval, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Public Service Company of New Mexico in 2021; and Northwestern Energy of Butte, Montana in 2021. For more information, visit the Western EIM website at www.westerneim.com. About BANC BANC is the third largest balancing authority in California and the 16th largest within the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. BANC is a joint powers agency whose members include the Modesto Irrigation District, Redding Electric Utility, Roseville Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the City of Shasta Lake, and the Trinity Public Utilities District. BANC began operations in May 2011. BANC's footprint currently extends from the Oregon border to Modesto and from Sacramento to the Sierra and includes the Western Area Power Administration's transmission grid and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations' generation resources in California. BANC includes the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP), as well as the systems of its members. For more information, visit www.thebanc.org. About SMUD As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity for more than 70 years to Sacramento County (and small adjoining portions of Placer and Yolo Counties). SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies, and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. For more information, visit www.smud.org. GE Renewable Energy today (4/3) announced the launch of its newest Remote Operation Center (ROC) in Spain. The Barcelona ROC is capable of monitoring 2,000+ turbines, bringing the total number of units the company is monitoring to more than 15,000 Onshore and Offshore wind, Solar and Energy Storage assets around the world. The fourth Center of its kind for GE Renewable Energy, the Barcelona ROC will be a local hub for digital innovation, promoting further agile development and integration between all the company's ROCs around the world. With the latest addition, GE Renewable Energy will be able to maximize and improve remote operations activities across the global fleet that GE monitors by securely leveraging data analyzed at its ROCs in Schenectady, New York; Salzbergen, Germany; Bangalore, India; and now Barcelona, Spain. Currently monitoring fleets in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Greece; the new ROC will cover all existing turbine types and models, as well as future machines, including GE's largest onshore wind turbine in operation to date, the Cypress platform. Robin Goodman, General Manager for Onshore Wind Digital Services in Europe and SSA said, "our objective is to maximize the number of remote operations we can perform, in order to give our customers in South Europe a quicker response while minimizing the need to physically visit the sites and the associated costs. This translates to positive economic results based on a more efficient predictive maintenance approach." The Barcelona ROC will eventually also monitor the turbines being installed in Aragon for Forestalia's wind parks. Doing so will enable GE Renewable Energy to offer customers across Spain data-driven insights, expert recommendations, and advanced field services less than 300 miles away and in their local language.ge r About GE Renewable Energy GE Renewable Energy is a $15 billion business which combines one of the broadest portfolios in the renewable energy industry to provide end-to-end solutions for our customers demanding reliable and affordable green power. Combining onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, storage, utilityscale solar, and grid solutions as well as hybrid renewables and digital services offerings, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts of clean renewable energy and equipped more than 90 percent of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions. With nearly 40,000 employees present in more than 80 countries, GE Renewable Energy creates value for customers seeking to power the world with affordable, reliable and sustainable green electrons. "We are pleased that the highest court in Canada has put an end to the plaintiffs' lawyers' attempts to enforce their corrupt Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron's indirect subsidiary in Canada," said R. Hewitt Pate, vice president and general counsel, Chevron Corporation. "Canadian courts have rejected the plaintiffs' efforts to circumvent the determination by U.S. courts that the Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron was procured through bribery, fraud and other racketeering activity. Any further efforts by the plaintiffs' lawyers to continue this lawsuit in Canada would be an abuse of the country's legal system and a waste of its judicial resources." Because Chevron Corporation has never had any assets in Ecuador, the plaintiffs, led by adjudicated racketeer and suspended lawyer Steven Donziger, are attempting to enforce the Ecuadorian judgment in other jurisdictions. Donziger and his associates had sought to enforce the judgment against both Chevron Corporation, which has no assets in Canada, and Chevron Canada Limited, which was not a party to the Ecuadorian lawsuit. Today's decision confirms once and for all that the fraudsters cannot pursue Chevron Canada Limited's shares and assets. Last September, an international tribunal administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued an award in favor of Chevron and its indirect subsidiary, Texaco Petroleum Company, finding that the Republic of Ecuador violated its obligations under international treaties, investment agreements and international law. The tribunal in a unanimous ruling by a panel including an arbitrator chosen by the Republic of Ecuador held that a $9.5 billion judgment rendered against Chevron in Lago Agrio, Ecuador, in 2011 was procured through fraud, bribery and corruption and was based on claims that had been already settled and released by the Republic of Ecuador years earlier. The tribunal concluded that the fraudulent Ecuadorian judgment "violates international public policy" and "should not be recognised or enforced by the courts of other States." As a matter of international law, this award confirms Chevron is not obliged to comply with the Ecuadorian judgment. In 2011, the plaintiffs obtained a $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron in an Ecuadorian court, but in 2014, a U.S. federal court found that the Ecuadorian judgment was the product of fraud and racketeering activity, including extortion, money laundering, wire fraud, witness tampering, judicial bribery, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations and obstruction of justice. The court prohibited enforcement of the Ecuadorian judgment in the United States. That decision is now final after having been unanimously affirmed by a U.S. court of appeals and denied review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, Donziger was suspended from practicing law in New York State and Washington, DC as a result of his unlawful conduct in procuring the Ecuadorian judgment. The plaintiffs' other attempts to enforce the judgment in jurisdictions around the globe have also failed: In November 2017, Brazil's Superior Court of Justice unanimously rejected an attempt to enforce the Ecuadorian judgment in Brazil. Brazil's Deputy Prosecutor General stated the judgment was "issued in an irregular manner, especially under deplorable acts of corruption." This followed a ruling by a court in Argentina in October 2017, which also denied recognition of the Ecuadorian judgment. An Argentine appeals court upheld this decision in July 2018, citing a lack of jurisdiction. In December 2015, the Supreme Court of Gibraltar issued a judgment against Amazonia Recovery Ltd., a Gibraltar-based company set up by the plaintiffs' attorneys and investors to receive and distribute funds resulting from the Ecuadorian judgment, awarding Chevron $28 million in damages. The Court also issued a permanent injunction against Amazonia prohibiting the company from assisting or supporting the case against Chevron in any way. The court issued a similar ruling in May 2018 against directors of Amazonia, Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia, and Ecuadorian attorney Pablo Fajardo for their role in attempting to enforce the ruling, this time awarding $38 million in damages to Chevron. Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company's operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com. Siemens (www.Siemens.com) today (4/4) announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to support the government's objective of becoming a low middle-income country by 2025. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) addresses the country's energy and infrastructure sectors. Other key aspects of the agreement include financing concepts that will ensure the long-term sustainability of these infrastructure initiatives; and creating opportunities for local upskilling and job creation during construction and operation. Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation Plan serves as a catalyst towards realizing its national vision of accelerated and sustained economic growth in order to eradicate poverty and increase prosperity. "Siemens can make a significant contribution to Ethiopia's development. We will apply our vast experience and proven technologies as well as training and education capabilities to help shape the future of Ethiopia and its people. One of the starting projects affirming our strong commitment in the region is the East Africa Interconnector," said Joe Kaeser, CEO for Siemens AG. Siemens is currently helping to increase the reliability of energy supply through an interconnector being built between Kenya and Ethiopia. The roughly 1,000 kilometres-long transmission line will transmit environmentally friendly hydroelectricity from Ethiopia to Kenya. The project currently supports 200 direct jobs in Ethiopia alone and is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Africa. The primary goal of this agreement is to commit to a long-term partnership between Siemens and the people of Ethiopia to develop, fast track solutions that will enable government to stabilise and expand existing grid infrastructure, explore solutions for industrial parks and co-develop microgrid solutions for remote villages. Sabine Dall'Omo, Siemens CEO for Southern and Eastern Africa says, "This milestone agreement is another step in demonstrating our strong commitment to the people and government of Ethiopia. We are here today as we have been since 1927, to help achieve affordable and reliable power supply, create jobs, increase access to training and develop local skills alongside local partners." Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Siemens AG. About Siemens AG: Siemens AG (www.Siemens.com) (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. With its publicly listed subsidiary Siemens Healthineers AG, the company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment - such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems - and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2018, which ended on September 30, 2018, Siemens generated revenue of 83.0 billion and net income of 6.1 billion. At the end of September 2018, the company had around 379,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.Siemens.com. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is proud to announce that it has achieved the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Diamond designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA), placing NYPA in the top 5 percent of public power utilities nationwide. Being recognized by the RP3 program demonstrates a utility's commitment to its employees, customers and community, as well as its dedication to operating an efficient, safe and reliable power system. Over 2,000 public power utilities keep the lights on for homes and businesses in communities nationwide. NYPA joins more than 270 public power utilities that hold an RP3 designation, which indicates that a utility goes above and beyond in the areas of reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. It shows that a utility provides what customers want - reliable power, reasonable prices and good customer service. There are three possible levels of designation: Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Diamond designation signifies that a utility has met over 98 percent of the evaluation criteria. "Our goal in utility operations is to safely, effectively and efficiently operate and maintain NYPA's generation and transmission assets, and to ensure a reliable power supply that meets the future energy needs of New York State by investing in our assets," said Brad Van Auken, senior vice president of operations support services and chief engineer of utility operations. "To be recognized by APPA as being among the top of our peers shows that we're doing the right things in how we operate." The rigorous application process, which occurs every three years, gives a framework for utilities to review their operations and gain assistance from experts to foster best practices. The RP3 review panel is made up of 18 experts from across the industry, and evaluation criteria are based on sound business practices and industry-leading methods. The RP3 application asks questions in four disciplines: Reliability : Reliability goes deeper than day-to-day service, and includes collection and analysis of reliability data, mutual aid agreements, systemwide disaster management and emergency response plans, and cyber and physical security. Safety : A culture of safety means commitment from the top - all aspects of operations from power generation to line work require safety protocols. The delivery of safe and reliable electricity demands benchmarking safety metrics, focusing on frontline workers, implementing rigorous safety training, using safety manuals across the utility and establishing safe work practices. Workforce Development : Staff development involves a variety of forums, including webinars, workshops, conferences, college courses, in-house programs and opportunities to network with public power colleagues from across the nation. Employees should also be encouraged to expand their perspectives through membership in state, regional and national committees. System Improvement : Maintenance of system integrity and long-term planning are accomplished through asset management and system improvement. Utilities should participate in research and development programs and create procedures to maintain power system and financial health. "Achieving RP3 Diamond designation is no simple task. It's a great accomplishment that involved input from across the organization," explained Marzena Przybylowska, manager of operational performance and reporting at NYPA. "It validates that we are doing a good job as dictated by NYPA's mission statement. About APPA The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 14 years now. The Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The Association advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training and operations. About NYPA NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information, visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn. . Contact: NYPA Media Relations | 914-681-6770 | media.inquiries@nypa.gov Eduardo Balboa del Cid with a child in hospital. Eduardo Balboa del Cid is the stage name of a 29-year-old Spaniard committed to helping others. When he is not working as a police officer in the traffic unit at Madrids Atocha station, he spends his free time playing with children in the oncology ward. For kids that are in palliative care, he dresses up as Spider-Man. Question. How did you start working with children with cancer? Answer. Seven years ago I started visiting a foundation as a volunteer. I went four times a week. I discovered I was good at it, and started visiting these children in hospitals, creating closer ties. The parents kept my phone number and we formed a relationship that kept growing. Now I spend all my free time on this. Q. And how do they get in touch with you? A. I receive message from parents who have children in hospital. I also go when the children are in palliative care. I do home visits until the child passes away, I help them die without fear. Q. How many of those cases have you seen? How do you deal with it? A. At the moment, 37. Its a very hard job because being in contact with death is not something were prepared for. Society hides death and treats it like a taboo. At the beginning, it is very difficult. Seeing any person die is hard, let alone a child. Q. Has any case particular affected you? A. All cases stay with you. What is striking is that the children are always ready to go. An adult is more attached to life than a child. If the children no longer feel their parents own projected fear of seeing them go, they will die peacefully. There was this one case of an immigrant child whose parents were in an irregular legal status and were waiting to be deported from the country once their child died. This little five-year-old clung to life, he didnt want to die even when he was sedated, because he knew his parents would have to leave Spain. Eduardo Balboa del Cid. kike para Q. What do you feel when you are with the children? A. In those moments, Im a kid again its as if I am their older brother. Im always learning from them. It also depends on what they want. Sometimes they are tired and they dont want to do anything. Other days theyre like a force of nature, and just want to play PlayStation or paint. Q. Weve spoken about death, but there is also life. A. Of course. There are many children who recover and you see them later with their hair grown back and going to school. When I see them returning to the life of a child, its very beautiful. Its like having a little fish and letting it go into the sea. I keep in touch with all of them, and also with the parents of the children who have passed away. Q. How did the Spider-Man costume come about? A. I do it all over Spain. One day I was watching TV and a story come on about a father in the United States who dressed up as Spider-Man to surprise his son who was in palliative care. This is where the idea to buy the costume and wear it to visit children in oncology units in Spain came from. Q. Do you wear the costume a lot in Madrid? A. I wear it most often at the Nino Jesus Hospital and the 12 de Octubre Hospital. I do it fairly regularly. A parent will call me and Ill put it on. The parents deal with asking for permission and speaking with the doctors. Q. Is it difficult to put on a smile for a child who is about to die? A. I dont put on a smile, I have one. Everyone is used to the birth of a child, but not their death. No one prepares us to face death. Q. How do you balance this with your work as a policeman? A. They are two things that go hand in hand. In both jobs, I help others. In one, I do so professionally and in the other, altruistically. At the end of the day, I became a policeman to help people. Q. Would you like to have your own foundation? A. No, because I dont like things that tie me down. To have a foundation, you need to be politically correct and I am one of those people who always says what they think. What makes me happy is playing with children. A police officer with tattoos Eduardo Balboa del Cid's arms are covered with two different tattoos. On the right arm, there is a depiction of death as envisioned by film director Tim Burton. And on the left arm, rendered more colorfully, is a tattoo of a fight between superheroes and villains. "The babies are the ones who get the most excited when I show them [my tattoos] and when they touch them with their little hands," says del Cid. English version by Asia London Palomba. The three women in an ISIS camp in Syria. NATALIA SANCHA The prosecutors office at Spains High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, has asked the Interior Ministry for reports to determine whether to take action against three Spanish women who traveled to Syria in 2014 to join the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). Following the fall of Baghouz, the last ISIS stronghold, these women were taken to Al Hol, a holding camp on the border with Iraq, where EL PAIS located and interviewed them. All three said they want to go back to Spain with their children. One cannot remain static, one must take action Letter by Yolanda Martinez But they could be charged with being members of a terrorist group. Counter-terrorist sources said that two out of the three women have already named in earlier investigations at the High Court. Yolanda Martinez, Luna Fernandez and Lubna Miludi were recently interviewed inside Al Hol, a camp along the border with Iraq that holds an estimated 73,000 people who were once part of the social structure created by ISIS to build its caliphate. Of these, around 92% are the wives and children of jihadist fighters who either died or were taken prisoner. These three women told EL PAIS that they were tricked by their husbands into going to Syria, that we just want to get out of here, and that they cant condemn us for taking care of our homes and children in the Islamic State. A not-so-innocent role Yolanda Martinez, 34, was born in the upscale Madrid neighborhood of Salamanca and at age 22 she married Omar el Harchi, a Moroccan-born Spanish citizen. She converted to Islam, adopted radical views, moved to Morocco with her husband and children, and traveled to Syria in May 2014. The Al Hol camp in Syria. Natalia Sancha She told EL PAIS that her husband never fought for ISIS but worked instead at its courts, running errands. But a Supreme Court ruling from April 2017 handed down 75-year prison terms to nine members of the so-called Al Andalus Brigade, a Madrid-based group that recruited new members to send to Syria. Martinezs husband was part of the operational core of this group, which was active from early 2011 to June 2014, when the police broke it up. El Harchi was never tried because he left for Syria a month before the police raid. Investigators also found a goodbye letter signed by someone named Yolita stating that, in light of the Syrian conflict, one cannot remain static, one must take action. The judges said that there was enough evidence to prove that Yolita was Yolanda Martinez. On March 1, amid the last battles between the international coalition and ISIS, El Harchi and his family surrendered. His wife said he was sent to a prison guarded by Kurdish militias. Spanish police sources also suspect that he is being held in one of these prisons. Martinezs letter is now being used as evidence against her, and she could be charged with being a member of a terrorist organization, which entails prison terms of six to 12 years. The law also contemplates the possibility of reduced sentences in light of specific circumstances. On Thursday, the High Court sentenced a Spanish woman named Dolores Hidalgo who converted to Islam and tried to join her husband in Syria to five years in jail. The prosecution had asked for nine years. Luna Fernandez is the second Spanish woman already under investigation at the High Court. Her husband died and she is taking care of her four children (with another one on the way) and four other minors that she says were orphaned when their parents died in Baghouz, the last ISIS stronghold. There are no records of any prior investigation into the third Spanish woman at the ISIS camp in Syria, Lubna Miludi, who has one child. English version by Susana Urra. More information Spaniard who helped wife to die could be tried in gender-violence court The debate over the right to euthanasia has been reignited in Spain after a man was arrested on Thursday for helping his terminally ill wife bring an end to her life. On Wednesday, Angel Hernandez, aged 70, confessed to giving his partner, Maria Jose Carrasco, 61, a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, and spent a night in a prison cell at a police station in Madrid. He gave his statement to a court the following day and has since been released. Just before her death, the couple filmed a video to prove that it was Carrasco who had decided to end her life. The 61-year-old had spent the last three decades fighting multiple sclerosis and had reached the terminal stage of the illness. In the video, Hernandez asks his wife: Do you still want to kill yourself? She nods and replies: Yes, adding: The sooner the better. Hernandez then passes Carrasco, who had lost the movement in her hands, a cup of water and a straw to see whether she is capable of swallowing. Moments later he helps her swallow the lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital. Angel Hernandez speaks to reporters after being released on Thursday. CARLOS ROSILLO Hernandezs lawyer, Olatz Alberdi, says the goal of the video was to show his wifes suffering and abandonment. According to Alberdi, Hernandez turned himself over to the police directly afterwards. He always said he was not going to do it covertly, he wanted to shine a light on this issue, she explained. Upon leaving the court on Thursday, Hernandez told news agency Europa Press: I have declared everything I did for my wife and now I am under investigation and being held responsible for her death. The officials and police have been sympathetic to me, theyve treated me very well and they have agreed with me they said this to me outright. My wife had always asked me [to help her kill herself] and in the last four months, she asked constantly, he explained, calling on the media to focus on those who have this problem [...] Lots of people are in the same situation and we have to help them. I dont want to sleep, I want to die Maria Jose Carrasco had been a legal secretary and active woman who enjoyed playing the piano and painting. But she had to give up these activities as her physical condition deteriorated. Their house was fitted with handrails, and walls and doors were torn down to adapt to her decreased mobility. Jose Carrasco was first put in a wheelchair and then needed assisted lifting equipment. She was almost totally paralyzed and had trouble seeing and hearing. The couple asked for help on various occasions but were only offered sedatives, which she rejected: I dont want to sleep, I want to die, she said in October. The Madrid judge in charge of the case has released Hernandez without precautionary measures but he may be called to appear again in court during the legal investigation. According to the pro-euthanasia association The Right to a Dignified Death (DMD), Hernandez is the first person to have been arrested in Spain for helping a physically disabled person to end their life. He was detained by a homicide police unit in his home in the Moncloa-Aravaca area after calling emergency services. No euthanasia case has received this much media attention in Spain since 1988 when Ramon Sampedro, a quadriplegic from the north-western region of Galicia, ended his life with the help of a friend. Political repercussions The case has also burst onto the political stage, with the governing Socialist Party (PSOE) blaming the center-right Ciudadanos (Citizens) party and right-wing Popular Party (PP) for blocking legislation that aims to decriminalize euthanasia. They are the ones responsible for stopping a much-needed law that has the support of the majority of Spanish society from moving forward, said PSOE deputy Jesus Maria Fernandez. Although the bill, put forward by the PSOE, has the support of a parliamentary majority, it has been held up in the congressional standing committee, which is controlled by Ciudadanos and the PP. Ciudadanos has said it wants its law on palliative care to be approved before it gives the final green light to the bill. It doesnt make a lot of sense to talk about euthanasia without first talking about palliative care, said Ciudadanos secretary general Jose Manuel Villegas. The PP, meanwhile, has unequivocally stated that it is against euthanasia. The fight for a dignified death Ramon Sampedro, whose life story was told in the film The Sea Inside, raised awareness about the plight of people suffering from terminal illness or, in his case, those who have lost the use of all their limbs and torso, and have decided they want to end their life. After spending 25 years confined to his bed, during which time he campaigned for the right to a dignified death, Sampedro committed suicide in 1998 by taking cyanide. As he was unable to administer the poison himself, his friends and family came under police investigation. His life partner Ramona Maneiro was formally charged, but was later acquitted by the courts. Helping somebody to commit suicide is illegal in Spain, although in cases involving the terminally ill, judges are usually reluctant to pass sentence. Madeleine Z committed suicide at the age of 69 in 2007 after a lengthy disease of the central nervous system that was gradually leaving her paralyzed. She took an overdose of several drugs that doctors had recommended to her. Medically assisted suicide is only legal in Switzerland, and the Spanish police investigated the case, but decided not to bring charges against anybody involved. Pedro Martinez died in 2011 after being given terminal sedation. He had been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease which affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Faced with death from gradual asphyxiation, and in great pain, he was given painkillers that brought on his death. Terminal sedation is legal in Spain, and was formally requested by Jose Luis Sagues. Inmaculada Echevarria convinced her medical team to disconnect her from a life-support machine. Ending therapeutic care in this way, when requested by the patient, is legal in Spain, and has considerable support within the medical profession. Euthanasia. This consists of prescribing drugs to a patient suffering from a terminal illness with the aim of ending their life. This is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as in Australia, and in some states in the US. English version by Melissa Kitson. Joint Statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries LIVE International Court of Justice will deliver its decision on the request for provisional measures in the case of ARMENIA v AZERBAIJAN Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia OPEC Fund Partners Ameriabank to Address Problems and Help to Improve the Life of People in Armenia. T. Alnassar. Google Ad Generation A: Edition 14. Exclusive Chance to Begin Your Professional Career with Ameriabank Katna Armenian cheeses enter the market: the new project of Galaxy Group of Companies US$30m OPEC Fund loan to Ameriabank to promote sustainable energy and support small businesses in Armenia Black Friday at ucom: up to 70% discount for smart home devices, gadgets and smartphones 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Google Ad Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Joint Statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries LIVE International Court of Justice will deliver its decision on the request for provisional measures in the case of ARMENIA v AZERBAIJAN Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia OPEC Fund Partners Ameriabank to Address Problems and Help to Improve the Life of People in Armenia. T. Alnassar. Generation A: Edition 14. Exclusive Chance to Begin Your Professional Career with Ameriabank Katna Armenian cheeses enter the market: the new project of Galaxy Group of Companies US$30m OPEC Fund loan to Ameriabank to promote sustainable energy and support small businesses in Armenia Black Friday at ucom: up to 70% discount for smart home devices, gadgets and smartphones 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan Discussion on the topic IT infrastructure as the basis of the digital economy with the participation of the heads of telecommunication companies in Armenia Statement nn the ongoing Aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Armenia "We condemn any attempts at borderisation, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May" Joint statement The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan.ANTONY J. BLINKEN Statement of the MFA of Armenia Ookla has awarded Ucom with The fastest fixedline network in Armenia award UCOM keeps on supporting the 42 YEREVAN programming school Google Ad Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13 Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan has appealed to the World Bank with the request to additionally analyze the procurement procedure of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia to guarantee its transparency and real competition, the Ministry of Infrastructure said in a statement. "The World Bank representatives, in turn, reported that the bank experts are working on the strategy of reforming Ukrzaliznytsia, paying special attention to improving operational efficiency, quality of services, and minimizing and leveling the risks of market liberalization," the ministry said. The minister also noted the need for decisive action to reform the industry. "We can't wait for the new draft law on rail transport to be voted on by the parliament. This year we are launching private traction on the railway. We already have a good progress and experience on the regional railway in Lviv and want to extend this experience to the whole of Ukraine," he said. Omelyan also informed the World Bank representatives about a significant interest of potential investors in pilot projects on concession of stations. The candidate for the presidency of Ukraine, incumbent head of state Petro Poroshenko has called frivolous the appeal of his opponent Volodymyr Zelensky to leader of the Batkivschyna party Yulia Tymoshenko with the proposal to be a moderator of the candidates' debates in the second round of presidential elections, and also regarded it as disrespect to her and her voters. "Debates are not a show. I believe that such disparaging and frivolous treatment is disrespect for the politician, Yulia Tymoshenko, who took third place. And, by the way, disrespect for her voters, because more than 2.5 million citizens voted for Yulia Volodymyrivna," Poroshenko told journalists in Kyiv. Ukraine and NATO will carry out joint actions to strengthen the military presence in the Black Sea region, as well as monitor freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait, regardless of the opinion of the Russian Federation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said. "NATO will not ask Russia what we can do together and what we should do in the Black Sea. We will just do it. No one will ask and say what is possible and what is not ... No one will ask for in order to observe from the sea, from the air and space, to strengthen the military presence or exercises," Klimkin said in Kyiv on Friday. Klimkin said the NATO support would include a military presence, support for the coast guard and naval forces, as well as surveillance. The Ukrainian law on presidential elections does not require presidential candidates to have a "good" command of Ukrainian, but considers it an indispensable requirement for them to be able to speak the state language, Ukrainian Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy Chairman Yevhen Radchenko has said. "The law does not contain a requirement for candidates to have a 'good' command of Ukrainian. The Constitution envisages compulsory knowledge [of Ukrainian]," Radchenko told a briefing on Friday, responding to a question about how the level of presidential candidates' knowledge of the state language is tested. No law envisages any tests or other procedures to determine whether a presidential candidate has a 'proper' or 'good' command of the state language, he said. The documents that the candidates filed for their registration in the presidential election were in Ukrainian, which is the state language, and the CEC took that into account, Radchenko said. A new round of torrential rains are expected across nine Iranian provinces during the coming weekend while flood-hit areas in Iran, particularly Lorestan Province, have suffered heavy damages and losses during the past two weeks with the casualty toll reaching 67 and rising. The Iranian Meteorological Organization has predicted between 10 to 35 mm of rain in Kermanshah, Ilam, Khouzestan, Kohkiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Bushehr and north of Fars province, and as much as 30 to 50 mm in Khorasan and Semnan provinces during Saturday and Sunday. The new wave of rainfall will start Friday evening, April 5. In the meantime, EU has vowed to provide 1.2 million in emergency support to help flood victims in Iran. The European Commission announced an initial amount of 1.2 million in response to the devastating floods that have recently affected northern and south-western parts of Iran. The emergency funding will assist the most vulnerable communities, said the EC. Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli confirmed during a visit to the town of Pol Dokhtar in Lorestan province on Friday that Lorestan is the worst hit area in the floods that affected 28 of 31 Iranian provinces during the past two weeks. He said that most of the damages have been made to roads and bridges in this province. Assad Abdollahi, the local governor of the province's capital city Khorramabad said on Friday that floods have blocked access to 132 villages in the province, while 12 villages have no longer access to drinking water, and power cuts have affected 27 other villages. Meanwhile, 3,000 troops are dredging the streets in the mud-covered city of Khorramabad, said reports from the city. There have been a lot of criticism about late and insufficient relief efforts, and regarding the chaos in distribution of aid in flood-hit areas. Iranian state TV's presenters have been criticizing government officials for the chaos, while the officials have occasionally tried to defend their performance. Iranian Red Crescent Society Chief Ali Asghar Peyvandi complained about "irregularities and insecurity" as hinderance to fair distribution of aid, while Interior Minister Rahmani Fazli said that "the first stage involving confronting floods has been dealt with properly and now it is time to render services such as providing temporary housing and distributing food and medical supplies to the communities in the affected areas." Fazli's comment that the actual floods have been dealt with "properly" is a very controversial statement given widespread criticism of lack of preparedness by the government, wrong construction decisions in past years leading to flash floods and deftness to the disaster by senior officials in the first week of floods. Meanwhile, officials in Khuzstan province have warned citizens about fresh floods within the next hours in the town of Gourieh. However, the Crisis Management Chief in the province said flood water has still not reached the town, adding that that armed forces are prepared to prevent the flow of water into the town by controlled explosions in a nearby sugar cane irrigation canal. In Golestan province in the north, where floods started two weeks ago, fresh rainfalls have led to a 30 cm rise in the water level in the city of Aq Qala. The local governor in the area attributed new floods to the melting of snow on the highlands. There are conflicting unofficial reports on the casualty tolls, but the coroner's office put the toll at 67 people by Friday afternoon. Chief Coroner Ahmad Shojaee told Fars News Agency on Friday that the casualty toll includes 21 deaths in Fars province, 15 in Lorestan, 8 in Golestan, 6 in Mazandaran, 5 in Hamadan, 3 in northern Khorassan, 2 on the Rasht-Qazvin road, 2 in Kohkiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad, and one in Khouzestan, Kermanshah, Semnan, Qom and Khorasan Razavi each. At the same time, according to the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), water level in many Iranian lakes and wetlands has risen up to 100 percent. An infographic published by the official news agency IRNA indicates that the amount of water in Lake Urmia in the northwest has surpassed 3 billion cubic meters, and the water level in the lake has risen by 42 cm. This comes while Lake Urmia has been drying out during the past decade. Devastating floods across Iran have once again exposed the rift between President Hassan Rouhani and the powerful military elite of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The latest episode of mutual incriminations began with a clip circulated on social media showing the IRGC's Infantry Force Commander talking to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, IRGC Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri (Baqeri), on the phone. The footage shows the Infantry commander Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour reporting from an unknown spot near the flood-hit town of Pol-e Dokhtar, western Iran, explicitly criticizing the government. "People are so enraged that none of the government officials dares to visit the area," Pakpour reports to Bagheri, adding, "People are dissatisfied with the situation to the extent that they are on the verge of rioting." Furthermore, Gen. Pakpour says that all villages near Pol-e Dokhtar in Lorestan Province are suffering from a total power outage. Meanwhile, Gen. Pakpour proudly reports that, while the members of the Rouhani's Administration are hated in the region, the IRGC forces at the scene are welcomed and respected by the flood-hit people. Earlier, Rouhani had indirectly heckled IRGC for its "useless" so-called "controlled explosions" in the flood-hit city of Aqqala, Golestan Province, northern Iran, to divert the flood waters away from residential areas. In the process, the IRGC engineers demolished part of a railway line connecting Iran with the Republic of Turkmenistan. Without directly naming IRGC, Rouhani said that while flying over the scene, he clearly witnessed the uselessness of the explosions. "The only result of the explosions was diverting the flood water from one disaster area to another," Rouhani maintained. The explicit comments of IRGC commander Pakpour appear to be a direct response to Rouhani on the role of the military elite in relief efforts. Retaliating to Pakpour's report, the head of the government-run National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO) said that despite the belittling remarks of Pakpour, he had personally visited the city of Pol-e Dokhtar immediately after the government rescue staff succeeded in making a breakthrough, opening up a corridor to reach the flood-hit town. Rouhani's advisor in media affairs, Hessamoddin Ashena also joined the chorus to deplore Pakpour's comments as "scaring the people and exhilarating the enemy." In a tweet on April 2, Ashena lamented, "Perhaps one should not expect much from the caller (Pakpour), yet I am certain that the one at the other end of the line (Bagheri) is more competent than allowing such a phone conversation to be published." Floods have demolished tens of thousands of houses across Iran in more than two weeks, based on statements by government officials, media reports and images of the destruction. The Iranian Meteorological Organization (IRMO) has called on Iranians to avoid traveling to the western and southwestern parts of the country as floods are likely to run across nine provinces in the area. More rain is expected on Saturday and Sunday. A veteran lawmaker in Iran says President Hassan Rouhani's Administration has negotiated the Islamic Republic missile program with France. The official news website of Iranian Parliament (Majles) has quoted Javad Karimi Qoddousi (Ghoddusi), an outspoken conservative lawmaker, as having said that the Rouhani administration has negotiated with France over Iran's missile capabilities. Iranian authorities have repeatedly insisted that Tehran's missile program is "absolutely non-negotiable" and talking about it is prohibited. One of the reasons behind President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers was its weakness in tackling the problem of the Islamic Republic's missile program. Qoddousi, who is known for making controversial claims that are often refuted, also said that "a recording of the negotiations is available." Asked if President Hassan Rouhani's policies have reduced the threat of military action against Iran, Qoddousi said in the interview published on Thursday April 4 that "Rouhani's policies encourage more severe punishment." "This is what soft logic does," said Qoddousi without explaining the nature of what he called soft logic, adding "When Foreign Minister Zarif said that the United States can destroy Iran's defense system with just one bomb, he was in fact encouraging others to punish Iran, and now the administration is negotiating with the French," regarding the missile program. Tehran on January 28, categorically denied it was holding talks with France over its ballistic missile development after Paris said it was ready to impose more sanctions if European attempts to address the program in discussions with Tehran made no progress. Reacting to the Foreign Ministry's denial of his similar claims in the past, Qoddousi said: "I told Mr. Zarif that there is a recording of the negotiations," and the he quoted Zarif as having said: "All of the news you have broken out are true, but we do not negotiate, we talk." Qoddousi reiterated, "Mr. Zarif and I have a difference on keywords: Talks and negotiations." He also made other controversial comments accusing administration members of wrongdoings about the nuclear program and other matters, but although he was threatened with legal prosecution when his statements were proved wrong, every time he got away because of his alleged links with Khamenei's office. France has repeatedly called on Iran to stop its ballistic missile program, insisting that these missiles can carry nuclear warheads. France also says that Iran's missile program undermines the stability of the Middle East. Meanwhile, in another part of the interview, Qoddousi harshly attacked former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad naming him as "The man who created all the miseries of today," alleging that "Ahmadinejad betrayed voters by being influenced by liberals in his second term of office." Like most Iranian hardliners including Khamenei and his close aides, Qoddousi supported Ahmadinejad in his first term in office as President, but distanced himself from the ultraconservative figure toward the end of his second term. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaking to the press on April 4, following meetings with NATO counterparts in Washington, D.C., accused the Islamic Republic of organizing terror acts in Europe. Asked what challenges NATO and the U.S. are facing with the regime in Tehran, Pompeo said: "The list is long. I believe the threats the Islamic Republic of Iran presented to our country are many. We have asked the Islamic Republic of Iran simply to behave like a normal nation." Giving "concrete examples" of Iran's threat, Pompeo said: "Today there continues to be a concerted assassination campaign inside of Europe. Have you seen the European countries responses to this threat? This is real. This is not something that was made up." Blaming Iranian leaders for the threats, he said: "This is an effort by the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran which President Rouhani is permitting to take place. They are going to Europe and Killing people on European soil." Mr. Pompeo stressed: "This is unacceptable to allow something like that to happen in Western Europe. We are working with our partners all over Europe to make sure we all have the right information at the right time and the right place to reduce this risk and reduce this threat." He added: "But a second component of this is the deterrence effort which is an undertaking the United States is engaged in to reduce the capacity of the Islamic Republic of Iran to undertake precisely this kind of activity by sanctioning them in a way that forces them to have fewer resources so that they can create these risks around the world." Pompeo said U.S. and Europe will make sure that Iran's regional ambitions do not make NATO countries less secure. "There are European foreign terrorist fighters sitting today in Iraq and Syria. We now have to figure out a way to make sure that they do not return to the Jihadi battlefield." Speaking about Iran's role, he stressed: "The effort that Iran is engaged in in Syria make that problem fundamentally more difficult as do the Iranian Shiite militias that are not under the control of the Iraqi security forces. That malign activity by Iran makes Europe and NATO countries less secure," adding "We would collectively approach this problem in order to reduce the risks to NATO members," He said. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: The representatives of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys leadership visited the countrys Jojug Marjanli village, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The main purpose is to visit the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenias occupation during the anniversary of the April 2016 battles, meet with the soldiers and officers, as well as reviewed land improvement carried out in the village and the level of security ensured in the village. A delegation consisting of ambassadors and heads of structural departments of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, headed by Deputy Foreign Ministers Ramiz Hasanov and Nadir Huseynov visited the village. During the visit, a meeting with residents of the village was held with the participation of representatives of the Executive Power of Azerbaijans Jabrayil district. The delegation also visited the Jojug Marjanli mosque. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 21 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said April 5, Trend reports. The Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: Withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories for sure can build up absolutely different environment, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said answering the questions of Armenian journalists on board the plane, Trend reports April 5. Everybody thinks, but the results are different, he said. ...there are different stories as usual in any war. Everyone is building up his story: who is guilty, who is right and so on. But in general, I think that April 2016 is showing that unfortunately, peace is not coming. Thats what we always say that army must be returned to the barracks. This is the only way how we can proceed for the peaceful resolution. Whenever we are talking about peaceful resolution, we understand that the biggest trouble for the peaceful resolution is the military. The territories of my country are occupied by Armenian soldiers, he added. What is a citizen of Armenia doing, serving on the territory of Azerbaijan? The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: The delegation, consisting of senior officers of the Naval Forces of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, who are undergoing training at the staff courses of the Naval Academy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is on a visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on April 5. During the visit, the delegation headed by Rear Admiral Mushtaq Ahmed visited the naval base and the Military Academy of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, as well as held meetings in the corresponding state agencies and educational institutions. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: Azerbaijani MP, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Azay Guliyev will attend a meeting of the PACE Bureau, which will open in Copenhagen, Trend reports on April 5. The reports of the PACE committees and draft resolutions will be discussed at the meeting of the bureau. The reports of the election observation missions will also be heard. The activity of the OSCE PA special representatives will be discussed. The issue of extending the mandate of PACE Secretary General Roberto Montella for a second term will be discussed. Moreover, the Bureau will approve the agenda, topics and draft documents of the OSCE PA sessions, which will be held on July 4-8 in Luxembourg and October 4-6 in Morocco. Guliyev will take part in the exchange of views and put forward proposals on the issues on the agenda of the meeting. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Samir Ali - Trend: The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will soon make a decision on Azerbaijanis Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, taken hostage by Armenian military formations, lawyer of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Bar Association Anar Bagirov told Trend April 6. He said that the Armenian side appealed to the ECHR with a request to give a delay until March of this year. The Armenian side had to express its position before March, Bagirov added. The ECHR gave them a delay. It is already April. I can say with absolute certainty that the issue will be resolved in the shortest possible time. He noted that the ECHR should soon announce its decision. The case is nearing completion, he said. Im sure that our fair position will be taken into account in this case, the rights of Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov will be protected and a fair decision will be made. Bagirov noted that if the ECHR makes a decision, the Armenian side will have to implement this decision. During an operation in July 2014 in Shaplar village of Azerbaijani Kalbajar district occupied by Armenia, the Armenian special forces killed an Azerbaijani, Hasan Hasanov, and took hostage two other Azerbaijanis, Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. A "criminal case" was initiated against them. Afterwards, a "court" sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years in prison. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: A bill on standardization was again submitted to the Azerbaijani parliament for discussion, Trend reports. The bill was discussed at a meeting of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship. The bill consists of five sections and 26 articles. It establishes the goals and principles of standardization, the preparation, adoption and application of regulations, sources of financing activities in this area and other issues. Despite the fact that the bill was submitted for discussion in 2018, it was later postponed. The draft law is planned to be tabled in the second reading at the plenary session of the parliament. Details added (first version posted on 11:40) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: A new residential complex for 810 IDP families has been inaugurated in the territory of Kurdakhani settlement, Sabunchu district, Baku, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidential press-service. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony. Chairman of the State Committee for Refugee and IDP Affairs Rovshan Rzayev informed the president of the conducted work. The construction of the complex started in March 2018. The complex which occupies an area of 15 hectares includes 15 buildings. The new residential complex also houses all necessary infrastructure facilities, including a school, kindergarten, club and community center, medical point, recreation park and playgrounds for kids. Extensive landscaping work was carried out and green areas were laid out in the territory. This is the 103rd state-of-the-art residential complex built for internally displaced persons. President Aliyev viewed conditions created in the apartments of the newly-built complex. The building has 72 one-room, 360 two-room, 306 three-room, and 72 four-room apartments. The president then familiarized himself with the conditions created at the 280-seat kindergarten. The president also viewed conditions created at secondary school No 7 of Shusha district. All necessary conditions were created in the 560-seat school. The president then met with the IDPs and congratulated them on the opening of the new residential complex. Internally displaced person from Shusha Gunash Huseynova, principal of the secondary school No 7 of Shusha district Elchin Dadashov and deputy head of Shusha District Executive Authority Vusala Fataliyeva thanked President Aliyev for attention and care. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has held a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the high level of political dialogue and multi-directional cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, and some issues of mutual interest were discussed. Elmar Mammadyarov is on a visit to Russia to attend a meeting of the CIS Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Moscow. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: Uzbekistan joined the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor, Trend reports with reference to the press service of Kazakhstan Railway. "The flow of containerized cargo has increased, especially to Uzbekistan and through the Bolashak station to Iran, with the accession of Uzbekistan, the corridor becomes significantly shorter,", first deputy chairman of Kazakhstan Railways, Kanat Almagambetov said at a meeting of railway administrations of these five countries in Almaty. Kazakhstan Railway said that the volume of traffic along the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor in 2018 was 1,000 TEU (container in 20-foot equivalent). "For the development of transit cargo from China to our countries and in other directions, it is important to develop acceptable tariff and other conditions," said Almagambetov. During the negotiations, the importance of timely delivery of goods to increase transportation was noted. In this regard, special attention is paid to meeting the demand for fitting platforms. The parties pledged to jointly provide the full amount of shippers with rolling stock. At the meeting, issues of attracting additional goods to the Iran-China route, the organization of regular container services and the establishment of tariff conditions along the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor for 2019 for loaded containers were discussed. It is also reported that since April of this year, a regular feeder service is launched on the route Aktau - Alat. Following the meeting, the parties also agreed on integrated tariff rates. The total length of the route China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran is about 10,000 kilometers. The total travel time is about two weeks, which is twice as fast as by sea, which takes 25-30 days. The China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route is part of the North-South international transport corridor and the first logistics solution for speedy cargo delivery from the East China coast to the markets of the Persian Gulf. In Turkmenistan, based on the needs of suppliers and carriers, there are two routes from Serkhetyak: to Serakhs, to the southeastern border with Iran, or to Akyayl and from there to the north of Iran. The creation of this transport and transit corridor became possible after the construction of the international railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran. The road was opened in December 2014 with the participation of the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Details added (first version posted on 10:59) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend: Presentation of the website of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between the State and Business is underway in Baku, Trend reports April 5. At the presentation, Vusal Shikhaliyev, chief consultant of the Service of Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan on Economic Policy and Industry Issues, noted that by the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings was established in 2016 in Azerbaijan. Last year, the regulations of the commission were approved and, by decree of the Azerbaijani president, the Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to create a website for the implementation of the commissions missions, Shikhaliyev said. He added that the purpose of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings is to improve the business environment, Azerbaijans position in international ratings. Presenting the website, Shikhaliyev noted that it consists of four main platforms - an information panel, a platform for dialogue between the state and business, a benchmarking system and a management and coordination system. Information on the relevant working groups can be found on the commissions website. He added that about 60 percent of the members of the working groups represent private sector, and this shows that the reforms being implemented in Azerbaijan to support entrepreneurship are bearing fruit. In addition to Shikhaliyev, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov, Deputy Minister of Justice Azer Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Taxes Ilkin Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev and other officials are taking part in the presentation of the website. The event participants are discussing economic reforms in public procurement, reforms to improve the availability of courts, a new business registration system, an e-application system for connecting to energy supply, a dialogue between the state and business, the Green Corridor system and other issues. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: For the economic development of Irans northwestern Kordestan Province, product exports through the province's customs points should reach $2.5 billion this Iranian year (started March 21, 2019), said Hossein Firouzi, Deputy Governor of Kordestan Province, Trend reports referring to IRNA. According to Firouzi, goods worth $1 billion were exported to Iraq via Kordestan Provinces customs points and border markets last Iranian year (started March 21, 2018). Noting that the planned share of exports to Iraq for the province is $3 billion, the Deputy Governor said that all the effort needs to be made in order to reach this threshold. Firouzi added that the province is primarily aiming at developing export this year. "In addition to the Iraqi market, another priority is to further activate the border markets in order to establish exports to Syria," he said. Irans Kordestan Province has customs points operating in the counties of Sanandaj, Marivan and Baneh. Customs points such as Bashmaq in Marivan and Siranband in Baneh are international customs points and operate in the field of transit, import and export. Thus, products worth $12 million are transited through Bashmaq daily. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: World Bank states that, economic growth in Uzbekistan in 2018 accelerated reflecting the high growth in industry and construction, Trend reports with reference to the World Bank Financial Inclusion. WB also states that agricultural production was disappointing due to unfavorable weather and water shortages. Domestic demand remained robust in 2018 due to strong domestic investment growth (18.1 percent), supported by large increases in government lending to fund capital investments of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Annual inflation averaged 17.9 percent in 2018 mainly due to the effects of the 2017 exchange rate unification, wage increases, and the removal of administrative price controls. World Bank notes that import spending rose sharply in 2018 (up 25.8 percent year on year) due to large capital imports by SOEs. Export growth was weaker at 10.7 percent. A more competitive real exchange rate and removal of export controls helped textile and food exports, which grew by 41.4 and 25.3 percent, respectively. Car exports declined by 39.7 percent due to weaker demand and supply bottlenecks. Commodity exports of gas and metals grew by 65.8 percent and 27.6 percent, respectively. Gold exports, however, declined by 10.8 percent due to lower global prices in 2018. As a result, the current account moved from years of surplus to a deficit of 8.1 percent of GDP in 2018, financed by a drawdown in reserves and from external creditors. The real effective exchange rate depreciated by about 10 percent in 2018 due to the exchange rate unification in late 2017, and since then a depreciation of Uzbek soum against major currencies. In response to inflationary pressures, authorities raised the policy (refinancing) rate by 2 percentage points (from 14 to 16 percent) in September 2018. The effects of this increase were dampened by the increase in government-directed lending, which drove annual domestic credit growth of 50.8 percent in 2018. World Bank stresses that total government expenditure as a share of GDP, including directed lending, rose to 35.7 percent of GDP in 2018 (from 31.5 percent of GDP in 2017). Central government expenditures grew by 3.7 percent of GDP due to an expansion in public investment and reform-related social spending initiatives. A surge in extra-budgetary government lending to SOEs of 5.1 percent of GDP compounded this increase. In the Financial inclusions World Bank reports that a push to improve tax collection and administration in Uzbekistan helped to partially offset these expansions, leading to an overall fiscal deficit of 2.5 percent of GDP in 2018 (compared to a deficit of 2.1 percent of GDP in 2017). World Bank underlines that Uzbek banking sector remains well capitalized and stable. Large capital injections by the Uzbekistan Fund for Reconstruction and Development in 2017 and 2018 have helped banks remain well capitalized after the foreign exchange unification in late 2017, despite rapid credit growth in 2018. At end-2018 the capital adequacy ratio stood at about 16 percent. Non-performing loans were low at 1.3 percent of gross loans, mainly due to the recent restructuring of debts from energy SOEs to state-owned banks. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: Simplification of the dialogue between the public and private sectors should be regarded as another step towards improving investment environment in Azerbaijan, President of the National Confederation of Azerbaijani Entrepreneurs Mammad Musayev said, Trend reports April 5. He made the remarks at the presentation of the website of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between the State and Business in Baku. Musayev said that expectations from business development in Azerbaijan are justified by the support provided at the state level to entrepreneurship and the expansion of business opportunities in Azerbaijan. The reforms carried out in Azerbaijan are already yielding positive results in many areas of the economy, in increasing financial inclusiveness and transparency of business, he noted. One of the basic rules for doing business is transparency, so creating optimal conditions in this direction should be definitely hailed. Presentation of the website of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between the State and Business is underway in Baku. Vusal Shikhaliyev, chief consultant of the Service of Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan on Economic Policy and Industry Issues, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov, Deputy Minister of Justice Azer Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Taxes Ilkin Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev and other officials are taking part in the presentation of the website. The event participants are discussing economic reforms in public procurement, reforms to improve the availability of courts, a new business registration system, an e-application system for connecting to energy supply, a dialogue between the state and business, the Green Corridor system and other issues. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend: Today, reforms carried out in Azerbaijan have moved to a new level, Deputy Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Samir Valiyev said at the presentation of the Portal of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between State and Business in Baku, Trend reports. Valiyev noted that the signed decrees and orders are aimed at improving the business environment and the development of the economy as a whole. "One of these decrees is to simplify the connection to the power grid," he said. The deputy minister noted the importance of simplifying the connection to the power grid, adding that the power connection procedure was reduced from 24 to 20 days. "Ease and simplicity of connection were also ensured and contact between the citizen and the officials was minimized," Valiyev added. Presentation of the website of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between the State and Business was held in Baku on April 5. Vusal Shikhaliyev, chief consultant of the Service of Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan on Economic Policy and Industry Issues, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov, Deputy Minister of Justice Azer Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Taxes Ilkin Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev and other officials took part in the presentation of the website. The event participants discussed economic reforms in public procurement, reforms to improve the availability of courts, a new business registration system, an e-application system for connecting to energy supply, a dialogue between the state and business, the Green Corridor system and other issues. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend: Since February 2019, 307 Azerbaijani entrepreneurs have applied for permission to use the Green Corridor customs system, the Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Javad Gasimov said at the presentation of the Portal of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between State and Business in Baku, Trend reports. So far, 193 entrepreneurs have been granted permission to use the Green Corridor system, Gasimov said. The Green Corridor, launched on February 1, 2019, allows transporting goods through the border upon a brief declaration, which helps to speed up customs procedures and implement a more flexible and transparent customs control. Presentation of the website of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings and the Platform for Dialogue between the State and Business was held in Baku on April 5. Vusal Shikhaliyev, chief consultant of the Service of Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan on Economic Policy and Industry Issues, Deputy Minister of Economy Niyazi Safarov, Deputy Minister of Justice Azer Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Taxes Ilkin Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev and other officials took part in the presentation of the website. The event participants discussed economic reforms in public procurement, reforms to improve the availability of courts, a new business registration system, an e-application system for connecting to energy supply, a dialogue between the state and business, the Green Corridor system and other issues. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend: So far, the appeals of 57 entrepreneurs who suffered material damage due to the fire in the Diglas shopping center in Baku have been considered, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev said at a meeting with entrepreneurs of the burnt down shopping center, Trend reports. The minister noted that financial assistance worth 570,000 manats has already been paid to these entrepreneurs. Reception of documents for the provision of financial assistance started April 4, he said. In total, meetings were held with 441 entrepreneurs last week, he added. The minister noted that appeals from 93 businessmen were received April 4, while appeals from 90 entrepreneurs were received April 5. On March 26, a strong fire occurred in the Diglas shopping center in Baku. During the fire, four floors of the shopping center burnt down, each of which holding an area of 2,500 square meters, the attic 1,200 square meters and a three-storey basement with household goods, clothes and other products. In total, the fire covered an area of 16,500 square meters. On March 28, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in connection with the fire in the Diglas shopping center. During the meeting, the Azerbaijani president stressed that a commission will be set up to fully investigate the fire and prepare proposals, and at the same time, businessmen will be promptly provided with material assistance. During several days, meetings were held with more than 400 entrepreneurs, their problems were discussed individually and comprehensive information was collected on each case. Entrepreneurs got stores in other shopping centers, where they wont pay rent for five months. Also, these entrepreneurs will be able to take advantage of concessional loans from the Entrepreneurship Development Fund at a rate lower than the current one. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: The import of onions will be exempted from duties in Azerbaijan, and duties will be imposed on the export of cabbages, onions and potatoes, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev told reporters during a meeting with entrepreneurs of the burnt down Diglas shopping center in Baku, Trend reports. According to the minister, monitoring is conducted due to an increase in onion prices in Azerbaijan. Mustafayev added that an increase in prices for cabbages is being observed. "This issue worries us, and we are working on it, trying to find out the reason for the increase of prices," the minister said. By Benjamin Jumbe. Government has condemned closure of shopping arcades by some property owners without any notice or due regard to the livelihood of tenants operating in those premises. This follows a demonstration by traders at Qualicell Mall, Nabukeera Plaza, and Jamboree shopping mall after the landlords sealed off the premises. Addressing journalists at Media Centre, the state minister for Kampala Benny Namugwanya has said Landlords should stop locking up shops or even welding entrances without following lawful procedures. She further reveals that Government, through the Attorney Generals office is to negotiate a modality of opening up an escrow account, where all disputed or accruing rent for the period after February 2019, shall be paid and held therein until the final case is determined by courts of law. Related Stories.. Qualicel Traders stranded as ministers skip debate on disputed ownership Qualicel bus terminal traders want president to solve their issues Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: Representatives of Nyda-Resource production company of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, Russia, are on a working visit to the Papan district of the Namangan region of Uzbekistan, Trend reports via Uzbek media. Delegation from Yamal is taking part in business events organized by the Uzbek authorities to develop trade relations with this Arctic region. Cooperation began in January this year at the Green Week international exhibition in Berlin, where the export-oriented enterprise Nyda-Resource signed a number of agreements to cooperate with companies of the agro-industrial complex of Uzbekistan. The purpose of the trip to Uzbekistan is to participate in activities aimed at the implementation of joint projects for the production, import and export of food. The visit was organized by the Department of External Relations of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Southern Gas Corridor project, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will ensure Bosnia and Herzegovina's energy security, Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Dzindic told Trend. He pointed out that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not produce natural gas and fully meets its demand for natural gas with imports from one supplier, which is the Russian Federation. Bosnia and Herzegovinas joining the Southern Gas Corridor project alongside with its partners in the region, will enable the country to import gas from different source, thereby ensuring its energy security and expanding the domestic gas market, said Dzindic. Recalling the recent meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council held in February in Baku, the minister said that the meeting focused on the current state of the Southern Gas Corridor project and its possible further development. "Participation of representatives of financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and World Bank, and other energy companies gave a special significance to this event. During the meeting, they expressed interest in further realization of this project. Further development of the Southern Gas Corridor has a special significance also for Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of diversification of routes and sources of natural gas supply," said Dzindic. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. The launching ceremony of the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor was held in Baku on May 29, 2018, while opening ceremony of TANAP was held on June 12, 2018 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. The gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor - from the Sangachal terminal to the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline. Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were connected on the Turkish-Greek border. IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe (SEE) that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia. It will be connected with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. Total length of the pipeline is 511 kilometers. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Currently, no investment decision has been made on acquisition of Antipinsky Refinery and oil fields in Russia by Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, spokesperson for SOCAR Ibrahim Ahmadov told Trend. SOCAR regularly analyzes markets, considering existing investment opportunities. As for the Antipinsky Oil Refinery and fields in the Russian Federation, there is currently no investment decision on these projects, he said. Ahmadov noted that if SOCAR makes an investment decision on these or other projects in the Russian Federation in the future, the company will inform the public accordingly. According to Kommersant newspaper, it is assumed that SOCAR will fully acquire Antipinsky Oil Refinery JSC, which also owns the production assets of New Stream - Mogutovskoye, parts of the Gremyachevsky and Vorontsovskoye oil fields in the Orenburg region. The newspaper reports that SOCAR has "fundamentally agreed" on purchasing and will pay a "symbolic amount" for 100 percent of the assets, taking on their debt of $3 billion. According to the report, the transaction may be closed before the end of the year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Azerbaijani gas is crucial for Montenegros economic security, Dragica Sekulic, Montenegros Minister of Economy, told balkanist.net. Montenegros interest in SOCAR is focused around our activities in the field of gasification, and the implementation of Ionian-Adriatic Gas Projection (IAP). Those two investments, which are part of the Southern Gas Corridor, are crucial to Montenegros economic security, she said, Trend reports. Sekulic noted that Montenegros aim is to diversify as well as improve the security and reliability of the countrys energy supply. Montenegro will receive Azerbaijani gas via the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) that is expected to be connector to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. The launching ceremony of the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor was held in Baku on May 29, 2018, while opening ceremony of TANAP was held on June 12, 2018 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. The gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor - from the Sangachal terminal to the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline. Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were connected on the Turkish-Greek border. IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe (SEE) that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia. It will be connected with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. Total length of the pipeline is 511 kilometers. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: The Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Azerbaijan (KOBIA) and the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) signed a protocol of intent on April 4, Trend reports with reference to the bank. The document provides for the implementation of various activities to support SMEs. The IBA has become the first bank to sign a similar cooperation document with KOBIA. In accordance with the protocol, KOBIA and the IBA will implement joint activities and projects aimed at further expanding relations between the public and private sectors, the implementation of innovative initiatives, support and development of startups, micro, small and medium businesses, as well as education of entrepreneurs. This cooperation includes the participation of SMEs in exhibitions and exchange programs, support for womens, youth and family entrepreneurship, the organization of appropriate incentive campaigns for entrepreneurs, congresses and other similar events, informing SMEs. In addition, it is planned to implement various information and educational projects of regional importance for startups and business entities, as well as support innovative projects in the field of entrepreneurship. This will promote the application of information technologies, innovative solutions in the activities of SMEs. Supporting SMEs, along with our big corporate clients, and expanding their access to financial services is a priority for us, Chairman of the IBA Board o Abbas Ibrahimov said. We believe that the protocol of intent, signed with the KOBIA will make a great contribution to the implementation of projects that we intend to implement in this direction, he noted. This is while Orhan Mammadov, chairman of the KOBIA Board, noted that the agency is interested in developing such partnership relations to support SMEs. Joint projects and measures that will be implemented as part of cooperation with the IBA will be aimed at expanding access of SMEs to financial resources, as well as training entrepreneurs, he said. In the end, all of this will serve to strengthen the role of SMEs in the countrys economy. The letter of intent includes such initiatives as the creation of SME development centers in various districts of Azerbaijan, the creation of opportunities for entrepreneurs to take advantage of the training and innovation infrastructure of the IBA, and improving the financial literacy of entrepreneurs. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend: The Azerbaijan Tourism Board plans to open offices in four more countries, Deputy Director General of the Board Bahruz Asgarov said, Trend reports. While choosing these countries, the number of tourists arriving in Azerbaijan, the geographically close location of these markets to Azerbaijan, and the future potential will be taken into account, Asgarov said. The deputy director noted that the main purposes of the representative offices opened in December 2018 in Frankfurt, Dubai, Riyadh, Beijing, Mumbai and Moscow are to achieve greater popularization of Azerbaijan abroad, increase tourist flow and support the development of tourism in the country. A meeting with the staff of the tourist missions of Azerbaijan, operating in six countries, was scheduled to be held at the Baku Congress Center on April 5. Kyrgyzstans government hopes to bring the annual trade turnover with Russia to $2 bln, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev said at a Cabinet meeting in Bishkek on Friday, reports Trend citing to TASS Agency "The volume of trade with Russia reached $1.6 bln [in 2018], growing by $56 mln, while the volume of direct investment from Russia amounted $123 mln ensuring a 25-percent growth. These figures continue to be insufficient in terms of the existing potential for Kyrgyz-Russian cooperation, and our objective is to increase the volume of trade to $2bln," he said. According to the prime minister, there is every precondition for that. "To date, more than 700 joint ventures are working in the country, about 80% of goods are exported to Russia, they are also in demand in other Eurasian Economic Union member-countries," he said. Abylgaziev noted that Kyrgyzstan was cooperating most successfully with Russias Gazprom energy giant, which invested about 16 bln rubles ($245mln) in the development of the countrys gas transport infrastructure and gasified 30% of the country. "Recently, we held talks with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, and our task is to bring the level of gasification to 50%," he noted. The prime minister recalled that during the Russian presidents visit to Bishkek on March 28 the two countries signed a cooperation agreement in the oil and gas sector. "A roadmap for cooperation will be drafted to make sure that a strategic investor comes to that sphere. We will make a decision based on how it will contribute to our economy, what social programs will be implemented, how many jobs will be created and how many taxes will be received," he stressed. He also criticized the opponents of that agreement. "Those who are opposed to it understand nothing in economic issues or just do not want our oil and gas industry to develop. We will pursue the right policy that will promote the development of the national economy and meet the requirements of law," he assured. Speaker of Tajikistans lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament (Majlisi Oli), Shukurjon Zuhurov has left for Qatar for participation in the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), reports Trend citing to news.tj While in Doha, Shukurjon Zuhurov will hold a number of bilateral meetings with high-ranking Qatari state officials to discuss inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview. According to him, Zuhurov will also discuss with Qatari high-ranking officials issues related to attraction of investments in Tajikistans economy and employment of Tajik labor migrants in Qatar. Recall, Tajikistan and Qatar have signed a government-to-government agreement on regulation of recruitment of manpower from Tajikistan. The document was inked by Ms. Sumangul Taghoizoda, Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of Population of Tajikistan, and Mr. Yousef bin Mohamed al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs of Qatar, in Doha on February 3. The agreement, in particular, includes the procedures and regulations of workers recruitment, in addition to the formation of a joint committee of the two sides to be held annually, to facilitate the recruitment procedures between the two countries. The 140th Assembly of the IPU will take place in Doha from April 6-10 April 2019. All IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs, will meet on this occasion. Theme of the General Debate: Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law. Established by Frederic Passy (France) and William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom) in 1889, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is a global inter-parliamentary institution. It was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations. Initially, the organization was for individual parliamentarians, but has since transformed into an international organization of the parliaments of sovereign states. The national parliaments of 178 countries are members of the IPU, and 12 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members. The IPU has permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. A Francophonie Week will start in Tajikistan on April 8 and will last until April 14. The main objective of this event is in providing inter-culture exchange, exchange of information and rapprochement and mutual fertilization of French and Tajik cultures, reports Trend citing to asiaplus.tj The event dedicated to the French language, the Semaine de la Francophonie, along with the International Day of the Francophonie, is an international event held every year In Dushanbe, the activities will take place both at Bactria Cultural Center and in the main places of the cultural life of the city. As usual, the Francophonie Week program includes various performances, contests, screenings of movies of Francophonie countries and so forth. French is the common heritage of about fifty countries around the world, bringing together more than 220 million speakers worldwide. Francophone refers to all persons who use French as their mother tongue, spoken language, administrative language or chosen language. Established in 1998, the event is an opportunity for hundred countries to celebrate French language as well as their diversity. With over 2500 events listed each year, the Semaine de la Francophonie reflects the vitality of the French language and the dynamism of the French cultural network abroad. Initiated by Bactria Cultural Center, the Embassy of France in Dushanbe and the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, the Francophonie is being celebrated in Dushanbe this year again. French, which is the 9th most widely spoken language on the planet, is an official language in 32 countries. French, the only language other than English, which is spoken on all five continents. French is the 2d most studied language after English. French is the 2nd most widely spoken native language in the European Union and the 3rd most widely used language on the Web. The meeting of EU Kyrgyzstan Sub-Committee on Development took place for the second time in Bishkek on 4 April, reports Trend citing to akipress.com This is the annual meeting during which representatives of the European Union and the Kyrgyz Republic take stock of the on-going cooperation in several areas, in particular: education with the support to the education sector reform; rule of law, with the support to the judiciary reform and the electoral reform; Integrated rural development, with the support to the social protection reform, the development of agro value chains and tourism in Jalal-Abad; as well as upcoming support to integrated water resource management, the EU Delegation said. All the programmes are part of the EU's bilateral development cooperation in the framework of the Multi Annual Indicative Programme for the Kyrgyz Republic (2014-2020), with a total budget of 174 million Euros. The partners also discussed the additional grants which Kyrgyzstan is receiving from the Investment Facility for Central Asia (IFCA) for the needs in municipal infrastructure, for provision of drinking water, waste water and waste management in 12 cities. The recent decision on grants for new investments for drinking water in eight villages was appreciated by the Kyrgyz side. These grants allow the EBRD to provide loans to the Kyrgyz authorities and to implement the important priorities of the country. The Kyrgyz Republic is the largest beneficiary of IFCA grant funding in Central Asia with the amount of 129 million Euros. A new grant of 30 million Euros for support to digital transformation is under discussion. In addition, EU presented some of the new regional programmes for economic development and trade facilitation, which will soon be available for Kyrgyzstan. It was acknowledged that the EU priorities and programmes are fully aligned with the strategic priorities of the Kyrgyz government highlighted in the National Development Strategy for 2018-2040, National Development Programme for 2018-2022 and programme of the government "Unity, Trust, Creation". The sides also agreed on the mutual interest to deepen and widen the bilateral cooperation. In this regard the ongoing negotiations on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is a priority. The EU representatives also briefed the Kyrgyz side on the new EU Central Asia Strategy that will be adopted later this year and will set the strategic framework for the EU's future engagement with the region. Prior to the Subcommittee for Development, the representatives of the European Union had working meetings with the Minister of Education Gulmira Kudaiberdieva and the Minister of Finance Baktygul Jeenbaeva. EU confirmed its commitment to support the Kyrgyz authorities in their reform efforts to ensure sustainable political, economic and social development in the Kyrgyz Republic, for the benefit of its citizens. By Shamim Nateebwa. The lower Mulago hospital which is to be made a Specialized hospital will be operational in five months. This has been revealed by the hospital executive director Dr Baterana Byarugaba during a media tour with officials from the health ministry. Baterana says they are only waiting for shillings 36 billion to be released by government to complete the hospital which is only remaining with a few things to be fully complete. The hospital is currently 91% complete and upon completion, the hospital will provide specialized services including organ transplants among them; (kidney, cornea, liver, bone marrow, and stem cell) and neuro-spinal surgery among others. He however says the hospital will require 76 billion shillings as operational funds which also includes recruiting additional expatriates. In 2014, Lower Mulago Hospital which was part of the Mulago National Referral Hospital was converted into Mulago Specialized Hospital to offer specialized services. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 5 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Saudi Arabia may support the financing of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, Trend reports with reference to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh. Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Falih said that the company Saudi Aramco believes that gas reserves concentrated in Turkmenistan are among the biggest ones in the world. The company is studying the issue of supporting financing for the project of a giant pipeline from Turkmenistan, which will be connected to India through a number of countries, the minister added. Saudi Arabias support of gas exports from Turkmenistan to India is the biggest shift in world trade of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for India, the minister said. Al-Riyadh notes that Saudi Arabia as a whole promotes joint investments in the countries of the Caspian region in the sectors of petrochemistry, oil, gas, mining, renewable energy and others. Earlier it was reported that Saudi Aramco is considering the possibility of investing in the production of oil and gas in Turkmenistan. The King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in his letter to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov a year ago drew attention to the fact that the Saudi Fund for Development supported the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline. Construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI gas pipeline has been underway since December 2015, work has recently begun on the Afghan section. This year is scheduled to begin work in Pakistan. Construction of the Turkmen section of TAPI was launched in December 2015, while the Afghan section in February 2018. Pakistan plans to start the work on its pipeline section this year. The total length of the pipeline, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be 1,840 kilometers. The length of the Turkmen section will be 205 kilometers. Then, this pipeline will pass through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar (816 kilometers), through the cities of Quetta and Multan across Pakistani territory (819 kilometers), and reach the settlement of Fazilka in India. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: A briefing dedicated to signing of bilateral documents with the UN specialized agencies has been recently held in the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, the Turkmen embassy in Baku told Trend. The representatives of national and foreign mass media and press attaches of the embassies and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan participated in the briefing. The representatives of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Elena Panova, Acting UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Natia Natsvlishvili, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Shaheen Nilofer, as well as the UNFPA Representative in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic Giulia Valesse delivered speeches during the briefing. During the speeches, it was stressed that strategic partnership of Turkmenistan with the United Nations and its specialized organizations is a vital course of peace-loving external policy of the country. As it was stressed by the Turkmen president, the United Nations plays the main and decisive role in preserving the foundations of international order upon the principles of mutual respect, equality, as well as peaceful and political dialogue. The speakers also underlined that the origin of strategic partnership lays in the coincidence of long-term goals of Turkmenistan with the tasks of the UN, primarily in the context of establishing harmonious and stable interstate relations with the Central Asia, creating strong mechanisms for maintaining regional peace and security. The signing of bilateral documents among the Turkmen parliament, corresponding state bodies and specialized UN agencies testifies to Turkmenistans active participation in the reforms of international scope which contributes to the countrys consistent social and economic development. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 Trend: Being an active participant of international relations, Turkmenistan systematically improves the base of international and legal documents, the Turkmen embassy in Baku told Trend. Joining the main international and legal documents of the United Nations, including those in the sphere of human rights, Turkmenistan takes practical steps on the implementation of the clauses of these documents. In this direction, the cooperation with authoritative international organizations, primarily the United Nations and its structural agencies is the priority course of external policy of the country. The issues of maintaining the human rights and gender equality have been and will continue to be the important component of multilateral cooperation of Turkmenistan. Today, certain success was reached in Turkmenistan in ensuring gender equality within the Sustainable Development Goals formulated in the Agenda 2030. Along with men, women also hold high posts in the Parliament, Ministries of Health Protection and Medical Industry, Education and other organizations of state administration of Turkmenistan. The process of developing gender policy reflects the systematic work on improving the national legislation. Observing the assumed obligations, Turkmenistan has developed a strategy on promoting the gender equality. The consistent steps are taken in the country on the implementation of the generally accepted international and legal norms and guidelines in the national legislation related to the creation of equal opportunities for women. The documents and programs have been signed in the Turkmen Parliament today with international organizations to ensure the implementation of international obligations of Turkmenistan in the area of human rights and gender equality. The following documents were signed: -The Joint Work Plan for 2019 of the Project Assistance in implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of Turkmenistan for 2016-2020 between the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan and the Representative office of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan; -The Joint Work Plan for 2019 of the Project Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agriculture communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan between the Ministry of Agriculture and Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and the Representative office of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan; -The Joint Work Plan for 2019 of the Project Support to strengthening the system and mechanisms to promote gender equality between Mejlis (the Parliament) of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Population Fund in Turkmenistan; -The Joint Work Plan for 2019 of the Project Support to strengthening the system and mechanisms to promote gender equality between the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Population Fund in Turkmenistan; -The Program of Cooperation for 2016-2020 and the Rolling Work Plan 2019-2020 Partnerships for Child Rights between the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Television, Radio broadcasting and Cinematography, the Central Council of the Womens Union of Turkmenistan and the UNICEF Representative office in Turkmenistan. In the process of improving the base of international and legal documents of Turkmenistan, a special attention is paid to close cooperation with the UN and other international structures which contributes to the successful implementation of human rights and gender policy in the country. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 5 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The Turkmen Parliament hosted signing of documents to ensure that Turkmenistan fulfills international obligations in the field of human rights and gender equality, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. Following its commitments, Turkmenistan has developed a strategy to promote gender equality, the report said. The country is consistently taking steps to implement generally accepted international legal norms and regulations regarding the creation of equal opportunities for women in the national legislation. In particular, a joint work plan of the project Assisting the strengthening of the system and mechanisms for promoting gender equality for 2019 was signed in Ashgabat between the Turkmen Parliament and the representative office of the United Nations Population Fund in Turkmenistan. A joint work plan of the project Assisting the strengthening of the system and mechanisms for promoting gender equality for 2019 was also signed between the Institute of the State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan and the representative office of the United Nations Population Fund in Turkmenistan. Other relevant documents were also signed. Tehran, Iran, April.5 Trend: No plane has fallen in Iran's Isfahan province, Reza Jafarzadeh, head of public relations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization told Trend. His remarks came in response to reports about the crash of a plane in Isfahan. Jafarzadeh stressed that the news about the crash of a spraying plane in Golpayegan city in Isfahan province is just a media speculation. The Russian Federation Council announced that Iran, Russia and Turkey parliaments are to hold a joint meeting to address situation in Syria, Trend reports citing IRNA. The meeting is slated to be held in State Duma on April 10. Konstantin Kasachov, chairman of the Russian Duma's International affairs is to head the Russian delegation and Heshmatollah Falahat Pisheh, Head of the Iranian parliamentary Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy will head the Iranian delegation. The event seems to be held in line with Iran, Russia and Turkey cooperation in the framework of Astana to bring peace and security to Syria. The Astana talks, started in 2017, are an initiative of Iran, Russia and Turkey meant to sort out the eight years of war in Syria through trilateral negotiations. The trio have held 11 rounds of such negotiations so far that have led to important decisions about a peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict. Syria future after US withdrawal, establishing constitution committee, discussing the latest developments in northern Syria, ending humanitarian aids to Syrians were among the most important topics discussed during the 4th round of Sochi meeting between Iran, Russia and Turkey. Earlier, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says strong campaign against terrorism and stabilization of security in Syria are the joint objective of Iran, Turkey and Russia. He added the fourth summit was within framework of Astana process and the common goal of Iran, Russia and Turkey is stern campaign against terrorism, restoration of stability and security to Syria, compilation of new constitution and consolidation of a democratic government in the country, return of refugees and reconstruction of Syria. The unprecedented floods across Iran over the past weeks have claimed the lives of at least 70 people, the chief of Iran Emergency Organization told official IRNA news agency on Friday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. Also, a total of 791 people were injured in the incidents, Pir Hossein Kolivand was quoted as saying. The emergency operation teams have been sent to cities of Poldokhtar and Mamoulan in Lorestan province which have been affected the worst in the floods of western Iran, Kolivand said. Since there is no access through the roads to the cities due to the level of water and mud, the aids are delivered to the people by air, he said. Also, the medical operators are in the sites of the flood to help people prevent the contagious diseases, he added. Earlier, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (ILMO) announced that the provinces of Fars and Lorestan suffered high flood fatalities, with 21 and 14 death cases respectively. Hundreds of people have also been relocated as downpours and floods surrounded villages and cities in Iran. Dozens of villages have disappeared under the mud and sludge in the west of Iran. Since March 19, unprecedented floods have caused massive destruction to the agricultural sector, infrastructure and the residential areas. Kuwaits first humanitarian aid package for flood-stricken in Iran arrived at Imam Khomeini International Airport near Tehran late on Friday, Trend reported citing IRNA. The package includes strong water evacuation pumps, pharmaceuticals, foodstuff and other items. Kuwaiti governments aid packages are to continue in the upcoming weeks. The countrys Council of Ministers has assigned the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society to cooperate with Foreign Ministry to provide relief aid to the Iranian flood-stricken people in Iran. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Azer Ahmadbayli Trend: Continued supplies of Iraqi oil to global markets are crucial for the countrys post-war revival. In early February, Iraq and Jordan agreed to construction of an oil pipeline from the Iraqi Basra to Jordan with access to the Red sea. Why has Iraq decided to re-enter the project, which was planned to be implemented 6 or 7 years ago, but was postponed due to the dramatic events in Syria, and then in Iraq itself? Currently, oil is exported from Iraq via two routes: from the Kurdish Autonomy north to Turkey by the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, and from the port of Basra to the South via the Persian Gulf. For Baghdad, both routes have their weaknesses in terms of geopolitical risks. Oil pumping through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, which is controlled by the authorities of the Kurdish Autonomy, was suspended for almost a year after the Kurdish Regional Government held a referendum on independence in September 2017. The already complex relations between Baghdad and Erbil further soured. The Iraqi authorities rejected the referendum, in return commencing a military operation and establishing control over the oil-rich disputed province of Kirkuk. There are forces in Iraq beware of Kurdish separatism. The relations are aggravated by the unresolved issue of disputed territories. Both sides have been hesitant to address this painful issue for many years because of its extreme complexity, fearing of new turns of confrontation. In November 2018, Baghdad and Erbil agreed to resume oil exports through the pipeline. Both sides are making efforts, wherever possible, to come to an agreement on the rights to Iraqi oil, profits, budget allocations and other issues. However, despite the growth of trust, Baghdad and Erbil are more like two separate countries than a single state, and there are many factors in today's Iraq that could jeopardize the operation of this pipeline. The southern route from Basra through the Persian Gulf to the world ocean has its own risks. The Persian Gulf, strange as it might sound, is one of the safest places on earth, all thanks to hydrocarbons. From there, tankers with oil from all the Gulf countries, as well as LNG carriers from Qatar, go to the world markets. Oil supplies through the Hormuz Strait make a third of the global oil and oil products seaborne trade. No state would wish an emergency to occur there, but the confrontation between the US with its allies, and Iran, does not allow ignoring the possibility of clogging the Hormuz Bottleneck, which will most likely lead to a global energy crisis. Tehran recurrently makes statements about blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. The latest statement was made last summer in connection with Washington's statements on measures to zero the exports of Iranian oil. In response, Iran said that "we will make the enemy understand that the Strait of Hormuz will either be used by all, or by no one." For Iraq, the closure of the Strait would be bad news even if the crisis were to last a short time, as 80 percent of Iraq's oil is produced from Basra oil fields and most of its exports fall on seaborne trade. Construction of the pipeline to friendly Jordan with access to the Red sea should in large part mitigate the existing risks. However, this good initiative may also become a subject for debate. On April 2, the provincial Council of Basra sent an official letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq and the Supreme Independent Electoral Commission, demanding the establishment of autonomy. All this aims to take Basras administrative and financial benefits from the federal government, in accordance with the Constitution, Head of the Council Sabah Al-Bazoni said, according to Middle East Monitor. Thats not the first address of Basra residents. In 2015, the Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq agreed to hold a referendum to turn Basra into an autonomous region. At the time, head of the Iraqi government Nouri Al-Maliki refused to allow Basra to become an independent territory. While the oil-rich Basra contributes the most income among Iraqi provinces, its residents suffer a lot from mismanagement, bad sanitation, high unemployment etc. How will the Iraqi Government respond to these demands? Can this issue or its possible consequences affect the implementation of the new pipeline project? Euro zone finance ministers agreed on Friday to disburse nearly 1 billion euros as a grant to Greece as part of a post-bailout program of monitoring reforms, euro zone officials said, reports Trend citing to Reuters The money was conditional on Athens respecting its reform commitments, especially a law on banks recovery of debt that goes bad, which is to reduce the large burden of non-performing loans on Greek lenders balance sheets. The funds will boost Greeces already large cash buffers and could allow the country to borrow at more favorable rates. Greece exited its last bailout in August after eight years of financial support from euro zone creditors and the International Monetary Fund. It has already successfully tapped financial markets again. The grant is the first disbursement from a package of 4.8 billion euros that euro zone creditors have pledged to Greece until 2022 as part of the post-bailout program, which requires Athens to continue reforms. The money partly comes from profits made by euro zone central banks on their holdings of Greek bonds that will gradually mature over the coming years. By Benjamin Jumbe. The state minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan affairs Benny Namugwanya has called on parliament to fast track the Landlord and Tenants bill 2018. The bill currently before parliaments physical infrastructure committee aims at regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants among other objectives The ministers call follows recent disruption of business down town Kampala after some property owners fighting over some premises sealed the off the shops, which led to a demonstration by the affected traders. Namugwanya is however hopeful that once finalized, this piece of legislation will help in resolving such issues and ensure that trade is not disrupted A section of landlords earlier in the year protested the Bill arguing that the recommendation to have landlords dragged to court over annoying tenants was ambiguous in nature. Related Stories Cabinet approves landlord-tenants bill The Russian truck-maker Kamaz may organize assembly of trucks in Angola and Russian Railways may participate in upgrading the rail infrastructure in this country, according to pre-reads of the Kremlins press service for negotiations between Presidents of Russia and Angola, report Trend citing to TASS Agency "Production of railcars with participation of Uralvagonzavod, organizations of Kamaz trucks assembly and participation of RZD International [international arm of Russian Railways - TASS] in restoring and upgrading the railroad infrastructure are among looking-forward cooperation projects," the Kremlins press service says. Furthermore, "Angola is interested in engaging major business operators from Russia in mining iron ore and manganese in the Cuanza Norte Province and in developing offshore and onshore hydrocarbon resources," the press release says. Mining sphere is among the main areas of business ties between Russia and Angola, according to the press release. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet on April 8 to discuss the situation in Syria, including in the context of the US plans to partially pull out its forces from that country, Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov said on Friday, reports Trend citing to TASS Agency The Russian and Turkish presidents will also discuss the deliveries of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey, the pace of building the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, the Kremlin aide said. "The sides will discuss international issues, from which I would single out the situation in Syria," Ushakov said. "The talks will also focus on the US plans announced in the context of the partial pullout of American forces from Syria, and also other issues, including of regional nature," he said. As the Kremlin aide said, the Russian and Turkish leaders will also discuss the deliveries of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey. "The next issue is the implementation of a high-profile project, the contract on the deliveries of Russias most advanced S-400 systems to the Turkish armed forces. The presidents will discuss this theme as well." Putin and Erdogan will hold full-format negotiations at their meeting in Moscow on April 8, including a session of the Russia-Turkey High-Level Cooperation Council. The talks will begin in a narrow format and "it is not ruled out that some part of this talk will be held tete-a-tete, which will be done to discuss the most sensitive issues," the Kremlin aide said. After that, the leaders of both countries will participate in a plenary session of the Cooperation Council, which will be followed by their roundtable discussion with representatives of business, Ushakov said. The sides are also planning to sign some joint documents, the work on which is currently underway. After the business talks are over, the two presidents will hold a joint news conference. In the evening of April 8, Putin and Erdogan will take part in the ceremony of opening the Cross Year of Culture and Tourism of Russia and Turkey that will be held in the Bolshoi Theater. Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the official opening of a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in the Esipovo industrial park in the Moscow Region. Prior to the ceremony, he had inspected the new plants assembly line, reports Trend citing to TASS Agency The Kremlin press service reports that this line was installed based on the full flexible assembly system, using Industry 4.0 level technologies, which make it possible to arrange simultaneous production of several automobile platforms. The first car assembled in the plant will be an E-class sedan. Later, the plant will also assemble GLC-, GLE-and GLS-class SUVs. The plants construction began on June 20, 2017, in accordance with a special investment contract. This document guarantees a continual tax burden over the entire period of activity and includes a non-regression of conditions clause, which ensures the stability of the business. Mercedes-Benz RUS investments amount for 250 million euro. The plants planned capacity is 25,000 cars per year. In total, at full capacity, the plant will accommodate 1,000 jobs. Around 30% of the plants workers are locals living in the surrounding communities. Under the auspices of the Moscow Regions administration, training workshops have been organized at the Podmoskovie College. Students attending classes in these workshops took part in the plants opening ceremony. President Putin has long used a Mercedes automobile to get to and from work until recently he switched to a Russian-made Aurus car. Putin has personally driven Mercedes cars on a number of occasions. China's leader Xi Jinping has called for early conclusion of negotiations on text of China-US trade agreement, Trend reports citing Sputnik. On Friday, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He met with US President Donald Trump in Washington. The statement on the results of the talks between the two officials read on Friday that He had passed Xis oral message to Trump during their negotiations. According to the statement, as cited by the Xinhua news agency, Xi expressed hope that "the teams of the two countries on trade and economic issues will continue taking into account the concerns of both sides on the basis of mutual respect and will conclude the negotiations on the text of the agreement as soon as possible." Earlier, Trump said that Washington and Beijing have a global responsibility and that a US-China trade deal would be a "tremendous thing for the world." China and the United States have been engaged in a trade row since Trump announced in June that the United States would subject $50 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent tariffs in a bid to fix the US-Chinese trade deficit. The two countries have exchanged several rounds of trade tariffs. In December, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed upon a 90-day truce to allow room for a new trade agreement. The truce was set to end on March 1 but after the latest round of consultations, held on February 21-24, Trump agreed to postpone the introduction of new tariffs. An urgent UN Security Council meeting regarding the situation in Libya called on Friday at 15:00 (19:00 GMT), the United Kingdoms mission announced, Trend reports citing Sputnik. Earlier on Thursday, the Al-Arabiya broadcaster reported that the Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops to launch an offensive on Tripoli to liberate the city from terrorists. Haftar issued the order after the LNA took control over cities of Surman and Garyan, which previously were under the authority of the UN-supported interim Government of National Accord. Haftar reportedly called on the LNA forces to ensure the safety of foreigners in Tripoli and not to shoot at civilians. The UN Security Council is expected to convene for closed session consultations on Friday, the diplomatic source said. On Wednesday, the Government of National Accord declared a general military alert after Haftar-led eastern forces announced they were moving to western parts of the country.Libya has been embroiled in political crisis since National Transitional Council forces, supported by NATO, murdered the country's former head, Muammar Gaddafi. The country has been divided between the LNA-backed parliament, elected in 2014 and based in Tobruk in the east and the Government of National Accord, esta Three civilians were killed and another was wounded Thursday in a car bomb explosion in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial source said, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The incident took place when a booby-trapped car, apparently left by Islamic State (IS) militants, detonated on civilians collecting truffle in a desert area south of Rutba, some 300 km west the provincial capital Ramadi, Imad al-Dulaimi, mayor of Rutba, told Xinhua. He said the car was exploded immediately when the truffle collectors tried to open its doors, killing three of them and wounding another who was later transported to a hospital to receive treatment. The IS militants are still active in the vast Anbar desert that stretches to the border with neighboring countries of Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as many civilians have been either kidnapped or killed by the extremist group in recent months. In December 2017, Iraq declared full liberation from the IS after the security forces and the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units, backed by the anti-IS international coalition, recaptured all areas once seized by the extremist group. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas as safe havens, carrying out guerilla attacks from time to time against the security forces and civilians. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Removal of equipment from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to a new airport has started, Trend reports with reference to Turkish media April 5. The removal of the equipment is carried out on 707 trucks, and a number of roads are blocked in Istanbul for the efficiency of the work. Istanbul Ataturk Airport will close on April 6, and the last flight from the airport will take off at 02:00 (GMT +3), on April 6. The final work on dismantling and removal of equipment will be carried out on April 5. The process of dismantling and removal of equipment from Ataturk airport to the new Istanbul airport was earlier postponed until March 2019. The opening ceremony of the new airport took place in Istanbul on October 29, 2018, which was attended by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Mehmet Cahit Turhan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Eighty-four militants were killed as part of the operations conducted in March 2019 against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization, Trend reports referring to the Turkish Interior Ministry on April 5. Reportedly, the operations on elimination of terrorists were carried out in Turkey, as well as outside the country - in Iraq, as well as in northern Syria. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU. On January 20, 2018 Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. On Aug. 24, 2016 units of the Turkish Armed Forces launched the Operation Euphrates Shield against the "Islamic State", and with the support of the Syrian opposition liberated the border town of Jarablus in northern Syria, as well as Al-Bab. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: A recent statement by Binali Yildirim, ex-speaker of the Turkish parliament currently running for mayor of Istanbul, that "the municipal elections are not a matter of survival," has not held up in light of the current realities. This is evidenced by the decision of the ruling party to appeal the results of the recent municipal elections in Turkey something which clearly indicates that the municipal elections are, indeed, a matter of survival. The municipal elections held on March 31 of this year can be considered to be one of the more significant events in modern Turkish history. As it is known, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) landed a victory in the Turkish municipal elections overall, gaining 44.33 percent of the votes. However, according to preliminary data, the AKP lost to the Republican People's Party (CHP) in Istanbul and Ankara. Despite this, after the appeal of the election results in Istanbul, the Turkish Supreme Electoral Council did not issue a mandate for Ekrem Imamoglu, the candidate from CHP, to become the head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It is far from the first time that doubts have been raised about the results of municipal elections in Turkey; and due to the principles of democracy being upheld in the country, all parties have the right to request the election results to be recounted. Nevertheless, Robert Palladino, Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, called on the Turkish authorities to recognize the results of the municipal elections. Palladino said the US hopes that Turkey will recognize the legitimate results of the municipal elections, after the AKP appealed to the Supreme Electoral Council on the preliminary results of the election in Istanbul which was won by the opposition candidate. Considering the currently strained relations between Washington and Ankara, this statement was seen by Turkish political circles as yet another attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. Though all remains well after the municipal elections in the country, the tension between the AKP and the CHP is still growing. This may lead to serious consequences that will be felt within the country. It would be worth mentioning the events of May 28, 2013, when, under the pretext of the trees in central Istanbuls Gezi Park being cut down, the city became flooded with supporters of the CHP, anarchists, communists, socialists, liberals, feminists, and LGBT activists taking to the streets. Although the main goal of these groups was to isolate the then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the opposition did not put forward obvious political motives. It is not outside the realm of possibility that in case the Turkish Supreme Electoral Council decides to revise the election results in favor of the AKP in Istanbul, CHP activists will call for demonstrations, during which a number of opposition parties will also support them. --- Rufiz Hafizoglu, deputy editor-in-chief of Trend Follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, April 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey has the last word on the results of the municipal elections of the country, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said commenting on the results of the municipal elections in Istanbul, Trend reports via Turkish media The head of state noted that each political party has the right to appeal when it comes to the election results. The president added that the Justice and Developed Party (AKP), as a whole, won the elections in Turkey. Commenting on the statements of the representative of the US State Department regarding the municipal elections, Erdogan noted that Turkey is not the state, in whose internal affairs it is possible to interfere. Earlier, the representative of the US State Department Robert Palladino called on the Turkish authorities to recognize the results of the municipal elections. The US hopes that Turkey will recognize the legitimate results of the municipal elections after the AKP appealed to the Supreme Electoral Council on the preliminary results of the election of the mayor of Istanbul, which was won by the opposition candidate, Palladino said. The Justice and Development Party presented facts of falsification of 11,000 votes in Istanbul in favour of the candidate of the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) Ekrem Imamoglu. Earlier, Bayram Senocak, head of the Istanbul branch of the Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), stated that the ruling party has evidence of the election results in Istanbul being falsified in favour of candidate of the opposition Republican People's Party Ekrem Imamoglu. Sadi Guven, head of the YSK, said that the results of the municipal elections in Istanbul remain unchanged. As reported earlier, Imamoglu gained 4.159 million votes, while Yildirim got 4.131 million votes in Istanbul. The coalition of the ruling party and the Nationalist Movement Party gained 51.67 percent of votes in the municipal elections throughout the country. Following the elections, candidate of the Republican Peoples Party Mansur Yavas became mayor of Ankara. Thirteen political parties took part in the municipal elections held March 31. These included the Felicity Party (SP), the Independent Turkey Party (Bagmsz Turkiye Partisi), the Communist Party of Turkey (Turkiye Komunist Partisi), the Patriotic Party (Vatan Partisi), the Great Unity Party (Buyuk Birlik Partisi), Free Cause Party (Hur Dava Partisi), Republican Peoples Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi), Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalknma Partisi), Democratic Party (Demokrat Parti), Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetci Hareket Partisi), Iyi Party (IYI Parti), Peoples Democratic Party (Halklarn Demokratik Partisi) and Democratic Left Party (Demokratik Sol Parti). Municipal elections are held every 5 years in Turkey. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu By Betty Alobo. The Uganda Communications Commission has advised telecom operators, banks to partner in the fight against cyber-attacks in their respective sectors. The commissions Director Engineering and Communications Infrastructure, Irene Sewankambo while speaking to telecom managers said cyber attacks are an issue of national concern that need to be addressed urgently. Sewankambo adds that whereas there are people harnessing technology for development of their sectors,there are those who are taking advantage of the platform to commit atrocities, posing a national threat. A shooting has killed one person and injured another at a U.S. naval air station in Virginia on Friday, the station said on social media, Trend reports citing Xinhua. Naval Air Station Oceana "has experienced an active shooter incident. The shooter has been contained. The victim has been transported to the hospital," the base said on its Facebook page. According to a military official, the shooting took place at a base parking lot and stemmed from a domestic disturbance. The naval air station, located in Virginia Beach, is the East Coast home of the U.S. Navy's fighter-attack jet fleet. A fragment of a planet that has survived the death of its star has been discovered by University of Warwick astronomers in a disc of debris formed from destroyed planets, which the star ultimately consumes Planetary fragment identified in a disc of debris circling a dead star 400 light years away Thought to be rich in heavy metals iron and nickel which helped it survive destruction of its planetary system Astronomers from University of Warwick detected the small body orbiting a white dwarf 'closer than we would expect to find anything still alive' Planetesimal orbits with a 'comet-like tail' of gas, creating a ring within the debris disc Offers a hint as to the future of our Solar System, 6 billion years from now A fragment of a planet that has survived the death of its star has been discovered by University of Warwick astronomers in a disc of debris formed from destroyed planets, which the star ultimately consumes. The iron and nickel rich planetesimal survived a system-wide cataclysm that followed the death of its host star, SDSS J122859.93+104032.9. Believed to have once been part of a larger planet, its survival is all the more astonishing as it orbits closer to its star than previously thought possible, going around it once every two hours. The discovery, reported in the journal Science, is the first time that scientists have used spectroscopy to discover a solid body in orbit around a white dwarf, using subtle variations in the emitted light to identify additional gas that the planetesimal is generating. Using the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma, the scientists studied a debris disc orbiting a white dwarf 410 light years away, formed by the disruption of rocky bodies composed of elements such as iron, magnesium, silicon, and oxygen - the four key building blocks of the Earth and most rocky bodies. Within that disc they discovered a ring of gas streaming from a solid body, like a comet's tail. This gas could either be generated by the body itself or by evaporating dust as it collides with small debris within the disc. The astronomers estimate that this body has to be at least a kilometre in size, but could be as large as a few hundred kilometres in diameter, comparable to the largest asteroids known in our Solar System. White dwarfs are the remains of stars like our sun that have burnt all their fuel and shed their outer layers, leaving behind a dense core which slowly cools over time. This particular star has shrunk so dramatically that the planetesimal orbits within its sun's original radius. Evidence suggests that it was once part of a larger body further out in its solar system and is likely to have been a planet torn apart as the star began its cooling process. Lead author Dr Christopher Manser, a Research Fellow in the Department of Physics, said: "The star would have originally been about two solar masses, but now the white dwarf is only 70% of the mass of our Sun. It is also very small - roughly the size of the Earth - and this makes the star, and in general all white dwarfs, extremely dense. "The white dwarf's gravity is so strong - about 100,000 times that of the Earth's - that a typical asteroid will be ripped apart by gravitational forces if it passes too close to the white dwarf." Professor Boris Gaensicke, co-author from the Department of Physics, adds: "The planetesimal we have discovered is deep into the gravitational well of the white dwarf, much closer to it than we would expect to find anything still alive. That is only possible because it must be very dense and/or very likely to have internal strength that holds it together, so we propose that it is composed largely of iron and nickel. "If it was pure iron it could survive where it lives now, but equally it could be a body that is rich in iron but with internal strength to hold it together, which is consistent with the planetesimal being a fairly massive fragment of a planet core. If correct, the original body was at least hundreds of kilometres in diameter because it is only at that point planets begin to differentiate - like oil on water - and have heavier elements sink to form a metallic core." The discovery offers a hint as to what planets may reside in other solar systems, and a glimpse into the future of our own. Dr Christopher Manser said: "As stars age they grow into red giants, which 'clean out' much of the inner part of their planetary system. In our Solar System, the Sun will expand up to where the Earth currently orbits, and will wipe out Earth, Mercury, and Venus. Mars and beyond will survive and will move further out. "The general consensus is that 5-6 billion years from now, our Solar System will be a white dwarf in place of the Sun, orbited by Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the outer planets, as well as asteroids and comets. Gravitational interactions are likely to happen in such remnants of planetary systems, meaning the bigger planets can easily nudge the smaller bodies onto an orbit that takes them close to the white dwarf, where they get shredded by its enormous gravity. "Learning about the masses of asteroids, or planetary fragments that can reach a white dwarf can tell us something about the planets that we know must be further out in this system, but we currently have no way to detect. "Our discovery is only the second solid planetesimal found in a tight orbit around a white dwarf, with the previous one found because debris passing in front of the star blocked some of its light - that is the "transit method'' widely used to discover exoplanets around Sun-like stars. To find such transits, the geometry under which we view them has to be very finely tuned, which means that each system observed for several hours mostly leads to nothing. The spectroscopic method we developed in this research can detect close-in planetesimals without the need for a specific alignment. We already know of several other systems with debris discs very similar to SDSS J122859.93+104032.9, which we will study next. We are confident that we will discover additional planetesimals orbiting white dwarfs, which will then allow us to learn more about their general properties." ### Dr Manser and Professor Gaensicke were supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the EU's research and innovation programme (grant agreement 320964). 'A planetesimal orbiting within the debris disc around a white dwarf star' published in Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aat5330 Notes to editors: Artist's impression available at the link below. This image is free for use if used in direct connection with this story but image copyright and credit must be University of Warwick/Mark Garlick: A planetary fragment orbits the star SDSS J122859.93+104032.9, leaving a tail of gas in its wake. Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/march2019/disintegrating_planet.jpg For interviews and to request a copy of the paper contact: Peter Thorley Media Relations Manager (Warwick Medical School and Department of Physics) | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick Email: peter.thorley@warwick.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)24 761 50868 | Mob: +44 (0) 7824 540863 | The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premiere European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. It offers four core grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between grantees' pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. To date, the ERC has funded some 9,000 top researchers at various stages of their careers, and over 50,000 postdocs, PhD students and other staff working in their research teams. The ERC strives to attract top researchers from anywhere in the world to come to Europe. Key global research funding bodies, in the United States, China, Japan, Brazil and other countries, have concluded special agreements to provide their researchers with opportunities to temporarily join ERC grantees' teams. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council. The ERC President is Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon. The overall ERC budget from 2014 to 2020 is more than 13 billion, as part of the Horizon 2020 programme, for which European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Carlos Moedas is responsible. TWEET ME DISCLAIMER *COMMENTS, LINKS, AND CUT AND PASTE ARTICLES, ARE NOT ALL ENDORSED BY THE PUBLISHER. THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed. MORE DISCLAIMERS This is a commercial free blog. Money is nice, but being able to speak my mind is better. "Real talk: Daniel Rubin has a great little piece up wherein he chats with The Field Negro, the Philly-based blogger who sharply ponders all things black on a daily basis. (Seriously, if youve never checked in with TFN, you should: Its author, Wayne Bennett, is a fantastic read who can cut through bullshit like a hot knife through butter, which is a far grosser analogy than I wanted to make, but there you have it.)" ~Philebrity~ "One of the most precocious and hilarious Black political minds on the net. Ive been a long-time fan!" ~Asad Malik~ "..While most of what he writes is tongue-in-cheek, his space is a safe house for candid discussions about race, especially in the comments section, where people of all colors meet." ~~Daniel Rubin, "The Philadelphia Inquirer"~~ "To white people, Bennett's musings are like kitchen-table talk from a kitchen they may otherwise never set foot in. To African Americans, he is part of a growing army of black Internet amateurs who have taken up the work once reserved for ministers and professional activists: the work of setting a black agenda, shaping black opinion and calling attention to the state of the nation's racial affairs." ~~Richard Fausset, "L.A. Times"~~~ ~Erik Hare, "The Twin Cities Daily Planet"~ "That's why I love the blog " Field Negro " so much. Field, as he's known to his fans, has the sense of reality that it takes to call out the ( CowPuckey ) of blame beating by those who are in positions of power and their lackeys. Because of his handle and his unabashed way of writing about racial issues, Field is often cited as a "Black blogger." What he is, however, is a first-class detector of blame deflection and an excellent student of history. If you want to write about the past and future of repression there's really no other perspective to take - which is why everyone should read Field."~Erik Hare, "The Twin Cities Daily Planet"~ 411 On The Field field negro Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Raised in the house, but field certified. Jamaica is the land of my birth, but I consider myself a citizen of the world. I currently practice law in the city of "brotherly love". View my complete profile "Half a century after Little Rock, the Montgomery bus boycott and the tumultuous dawn of the modern civil rights era, the new face of the movement is Facebook, MySpace and some 150 black blogs united in an Internet alliance they call the AfroSpear. Older, familiar leaders such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, are under challenge by a younger generation of bloggers known by such provocative screen names as Field Negro, thefreeslave and African American Political Pundit. And many of the newest struggles are being waged online." ~Howard Witt-The Chicago Tribune~ "I had no idea, for example, of the extent of the African-American blogging world out there and its collective powers of dissemination.But now, after reading thousands of anguished, thoughtful comments posted on these blogs reflecting on issues of persistent racial discrimination in the nation's schools and courtrooms, what's clear to me is that there's a new, "virtual" civil rights movement out there on the Internet that can reach more people in a few hours than all the protest marches, sit-ins and boycotts of the 1950s and 60s put together." ~Chicago Tribune Reporter, Howard Witt~ IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO FLAUNT IT. Come visit my store on CafePress! Accenture plc ACN announced yesterday that it has inked a deal to acquire New York-based creative agency Droga5. More than 500 Droga5 employees will be absorbed into the fast-growing Accenture Interactive business. David Droga will continue as creative chairman with Sarah Thompson and Bill Scott staying as global CEO and U.K. CEO, respectively. Founded in 2006, Droga5 is known for campaigns for brands like Alphabets GOOGL Google, Under Armour UAA, Dine Brands Globals DIN IHOP, HBO and The New York Times. Although Accenture did not reveal the value of the transaction, it has reportedly bought a 49% stake in Droga5 that was previously owned by media holding company Endeavor. Accenture stated that Droga5 is the largest acquisition since its inception in 2009. Shares of the company have gained 25.7% year to date, outperforming the 21.7% rally of the industry it belongs to. Our Take We believe that the acquisition will enable Accenture to expand its advertising creative business, specifically around "experiential marketing," which encompasses custom events, executions and partnerships to help people become familiar with a brand. Accenture is strengthening its digital marketing capabilities through frequent acquisitions. Last year, Accenture Interactive made nine acquisitions (Kaplan, Kolle Rebbe, Adaptly, New Content, MXM, Mackevision, HO Communication, Rothco and Altima). Last month, it acquired digital marketing agency, Storm Digital and creative agency Hjaltelin Stahl. Accenture Interactives well-integrated platform enables CMOs to devise marketing strategies and derive higher ROI (return on investment). Considering the growing need for digital marketing, we expect Accentures continued investment in digital and marketing capabilities to keep it at par with fast-changing needs of todays CMOs. Currently, Accenture has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report DINE BRANDS GLOBAL, INC. (DIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Under Armour, Inc. (UAA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Accenture PLC (ACN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research MAYNARD, Mass., April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (AQB) (AquaBounty or the Company), a biotechnology company focused on enhancing productivity in the aquaculture market and a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (XON), today announced the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 2,554,590 shares of common stock of the Company at a price to the public of $2.25 per share. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters of the offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 383,188 additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. AquaBounty expects to receive aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5.75 million from the offering. The offering is expected to close on or about April 9, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions. H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering. National Securities Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Holdings Corporation (NHLD), is acting as co-manager for the offering. The Company currently expects to use the net proceeds of this offering to fully fund working capital costs associated with growing its first batches of fish at our Indiana and Rollo Bay farm sites and other general corporate purposes. A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the public offering of the shares of common stock described above was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and was declared effective on April 27, 2018. A preliminary prospectus supplement describing the terms of the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, 430 Park Avenue 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by calling (646) 975-6996 or by emailing placements@hcwco.com or at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. Story continues This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About AquaBounty AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. is a publicly traded aquaculture company focused on improving productivity and sustainability in commercial aquaculture. The Companys objective is the application of biotechnology to ensure the availability of high-quality seafood to meet global consumer demandaddressing critical production constraints in the most popular farmed species, including salmon, trout, and tilapia. The Companys AquAdvantage fish program is based upon a single, specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid growth in early development. With aquaculture facilities located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Indiana, USA, AquaBounty is raising its disease-free, antibiotic-free salmon in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems, offering a reduced carbon footprint and no risk of pollution of marine ecosystems as compared to traditional sea-cage farming. More information about AquaBounty is available at www.aquabounty.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties about AquaBounty, including but not limited to statements with respect to the completion and use of proceeds of the underwritten public offering of common stock and the extent of funding of working capital costs. AquaBounty may use words such as expect, anticipate, project, intend, plan, aim, believe, seek, estimate, can, focus, will, and may and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things, market and other conditions, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the underwritten public offering of common stock, AquaBountys business and financial condition, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by AquaBounty, see disclosures contained in AquaBountys public filings with the SEC, including the Risk Factors in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and prospectus for this offering. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included in this press release and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and AquaBounty undertakes no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information, except as required by law. Contact AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. Dave Conley, Director of Communications +1 613 294 3078 Binance Singapore The China-based crypto exchange giant Binance has announced that it will launch Binance Singapore this month, a fiat-to-crypto exchange with support for the Singaporean Dollar (SGD). Binance offered few details in the Twitter announcement except for the explicit confirmation that the exchange will be operational within a matter of weeks. This news has been in the making for several months. At an event in Singapore in September 2018, Binances founder and CEO, Zhao Changpeng, reportedly discussed potential plans for opening an exchange in the country, and he confirmed these plans via Medium the following month. This move continues a trend at Binance of expanding internationally across multiple continents. In 2018, for example, Binance sought expansion in Malta and South Korea. In January 2019, a British expansion allowed users all over the European Union to access the exchanges services. And this was not the only announcement that Binance made on April 3. The company tweeted that its upcoming decentralized exchange service, Binance DEX, is scheduled to have its mainnet launch this month as well. This service, as described in a company press release, is Binances attempt to create what Zhao called a decentralized exchange with a decentralized network of nodes, where you hold your own private keys and manage your own wallet. The feature runs using Binance Chain, a blockchain developed by the company and its community members. From what the developers have teased so far, Binance DEXs user interface is very similar to that of Binances existing exchanges. Finally, Binance also described some planned functionality updates to its wallet software. Binances Trust Wallet is going to include a staking feature, which involves the act of holding cryptocurrencies as part of the process of running blockchains that use [a] Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, giving users the ability to vote on changes in the blockchain and receive income for validating transactions. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. Ethiopian investigators cleared pilots of the doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight of any wrongdoing. Preliminary findings shift pressure to Boeing and its flight software. Ethiopia's transport minister said the "crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft." Pressure is mounting on Boeing BA after Ethiopian investigators said pilots flying Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 weren't responsible for the March 10 crash that killed 157 people, shifting blame to the flight-control system that's also suspected in an October crash of the same type of 737 Max jet. The Ethiopian plane, which crashed just six minutes after take off from Addis Ababa, followed a similar flight pattern as the Lion Air flight that went down in Indonesia's Java Sea and killed all 189 passengers and crew five months earlier. Pilots of both planes appear to have had trouble regaining control of the aircraft after an automated flight control system, called MCAS, pushed the nose of the jets down to keep them from stalling. "The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft," Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges told reporters at a news conference Thursday. Investigators found that pilots on the Ethiopian flight turned the anti-stall system off and back on again to try to regain control of the plane, casting doubt on Boeing BA and the Federal Aviation Administration 's assertions that the crash may have been avoided had pilots simply followed established safety procedures. Moges didn't specifically blame the MCAS software. However, she said it needed to be reviewed before the planes, which have been grounded since mid-March, are allowed to fly again. "Since repetitive uncommanded aircraft nose-down conditions are noticed ... it is recommend that the aircraft control system shall be reviewed by the manufacturer," Dagmawit said. She also suggested that the aviation authority ensures the jet's flight control system is reviewed by Boeing before the jets are allowed to fly again. Story continues Ethiopian investigators said they would publish their 30-page preliminary report by Friday. It's expected to take several months before they will issue a final report and announce the cause of the crash. The preliminary findings were based on flight data and cockpit voice records on the Boeing 737 Max. Boeing and the FAA both responded Thursday. The company said it's developed a software update to MCAS, which stands for Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, and established additional pilot training and education for the 737 Max. "As previously announced, the update adds additional layers of protection and will prevent erroneous data from causing MCAS activation. Flight crews will always have the ability to override MCAS and manually control the airplane," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement that the plane maker is taking a "comprehensive, disciplined approach" on fixing the software. "The history of our industry shows most accidents are caused by a chain of events. This again is the case here, and we know we can break one of those chain links in these two accidents," he said. "As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it." Boeing is currently under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, the Transportation Department's inspector general and Congress. The FAA formed an international task force with other aviation regulators to review Boeing's planned fixes for the plane. It said that its investigation is still in the early stages and that it would take "appropriate action" once more details become available. The statement did not specify whether the FAA would review the Max's flight control system, as recommended by Ethiopian investigators. Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement that the report clearly showed that the pilots were not at fault. "Despite their hard work and full compliance with the emergency procedures, it was very unfortunate that they could not recover the airplane from the persistence of nose diving," the airline said. Investigations into the two crashes are ongoing. Ethiopian officials said that a final report could take a year before release, and a final report on the Lion Air accident in Indonesia is expected in August. More From CNBC Saxo Bank published its Q2-2019 outlook yesterday. Our commodity section opened with this observation: Commodities have cast off the caution that defined the start of this year and powered to strong collective gains, led by energy and industrial metals. As we enter the second quarter the mood is still good, with crude oil riding atop a wave of price-supportive supply news, gold encouraged by a dovish Fed and copper pinning its hopes on a US-China trade detente. With a specific focus on crude oil we wrote: Several Opec producers, and Saudi Arabia in particular, need oil back above $80/barrel to meet their fiscal obligations and they are unlikely to be satisfied with Brent at $70/b. On that basis, we expect supply to be kept tight over the coming months, thereby supporting a potential extension towards $75/b before it eventually runs out of steam amid renewed concerns about the negative impact to global growth. Events and news during the past couple of weeks since writing the above have, if anything, been strengthening the current sentiment in the market. All in all, creating a very lonely environment for those looking for lower prices, not least President Trump who through Tweets, with his base and rising gasoline prices in mind, has been asking Opec to provide more barrels. Also considering his desire to further tighten the screws on Iran when the current waivers are due for extension or extinction in a months time. The combination of dramatic production cuts from Saudi Arabia, sanctions hitting Iran and Venezuela, signs of Chinese growth stabilising and a general strong risk appetite, continues to drive crude oil higher. Current developments show how Saudi Arabia has reasserted itself since the Khashoggi murder and doesnt want to be blindsided by US Iran waivers once again. With an Aramco bond sale coming up and with Saudi Arabia in need of +80 dollar/barrel to balance its books it is more than likely that the kingdom is prepared to support a continued recovery in the price of oil towards levels where demand growth may start to suffer. Story continues Charts highlighting the current sentiment. US crude oil production growth has stalled following the breakneck pace seen in 2018. The combination of adverse winter weather and the 44% price slump during Q4-18 is likely to have played its part. However, while the number of deployed rigs have dropped to a one-year low the EIA still expects production will continue to rise by 1.4m barrels/day in 2019 before slowing to 0.7m barrels/day in 2020. The latest Opec production survey carried out by Bloomberg found that the cartel continued to cut production during March. Since November, Opec has cut production by 2.8 million barrels/day to a four-year low of 30.4 million barrels/day. The bulk of the reduction has been due to a voluntary contribution from Saudi Arabia (1250k b/d) and involuntary reductions by sanctions-hit Iran (330k b/d) and Venezuela (340k b/d). These dramatic cuts, together with Russias contribution, have continued to tighten the oil market during the past few months. The backwardation between the December 2019 and December 2020 futures contracts has risen to the highest since October. This on a combination of speculative buying at the front of the curve combined with renewed producer hedging (selling) further out the curve. A counter-seasonal decline in US crude oil stocks has furthermore supported an outperformance against Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, with the prompt spread between the two falling back below $7/b. The latest leg up in the price of crude oil has been supported by signs of Chinas economy beginning to stabilize, a continued rally in global equities and the continuation of aggressive production cuts. However, with RSIs beginning to flash overbought, Brent crude oil has now reached a critical level just below $70/b where it may find some resistance. Apart from being a key psychological level it also represents the 200-day moving average ($69.70/b) and the low of the last years consolidation area between $70/b and $80/b. Next up will be Wednesdays Weekly Petroleum Status Report from the EIA. Surveys point towards a price-supportive drop in both crude oil and product stocks. Originally published on home.saxo by Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank Disclaimer This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: (Bloomberg) -- StoneCo, the financial technology company that has surged in 2019, fell on Friday after Citi downgraded the stock to neutral from buy, in part because of its recent advance. Shares of the Brazilian company -- which is backed by both Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway and Ant Financial, the Chinese financial services firm controlled by Jack Ma -- slid as much as 5.3 percent, though it subsequently pared that decline. The stock is on track for its fourth straight daily decline; however, this comes after a rally of nearly 100 percent thus far this year. The current valuation already prices in most of the positive fundamentals for the next quarters, limiting further short-term re-rating, analyst Felipe Salomao wrote to clients. He trimmed his adjusted earnings expectation for 2019, but raised his view for both 2020 and 2021. StoneCo continues to offset competitive pressure with growth towards smaller clients, he wrote. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Berkshire is the third-largest shareholder of StoneCo, owning nearly 9.8 percent of the outstanding shares. Ant Financial owns roughly 2.9 percent. The company went public in October and has trended higher. Last month, it spiked following strong fourth-quarter results, the latest indication of strong growth trends. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, adoption of e-commerce in Latin America can double by 2022, implying 21% compound annual growth. StoneCo continues to penetrate the market and gain market share via new offerings, analyst Julie Chariell wrote earlier this week. To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Vlastelica in New York at rvlastelica1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Catherine Larkin at clarkin4@bloomberg.net, Steven Fromm For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. DALLAS, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR) will hold a conference call and webcast on Friday, May 3rd, to discuss the company's first quarter 2019 financial results and other business matters. The teleconference will begin at 9:00 a.m. Central Time and will be hosted by Chad Crow, Chief Executive Officer, and Peter Jackson, Chief Financial Officer. A copy of the companys press release announcing its financial results will be made available after the market closes on Thursday, May 2nd, in the Investors section of the Builders FirstSource, Inc. website, at www.bldr.com . To participate in the teleconference, please dial into the call a few minutes before the start time: 800-263-0877 (U.S. and Canada) and 323-794-2094 (international), Conference ID: 1017206. A replay of the call will be available at 1:00 p.m. Central Time through May 18th. To access the replay, please dial 888-203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) and 719-457-0820 (international) and refer to pass code 1017206. The live webcast and archived replay can also be accessed on the companys website at www.bldr.com . About Builders FirstSource Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Builders FirstSource is the largest U.S. supplier of building products, prefabricated components, and value-added services to the professional market segment for new residential construction and repair and remodeling. We provide customers an integrated homebuilding solution, offering manufacturing, supply, delivery and installation of a full range of structural and related building products. We operate in 39 states with approximately 400 locations and have a market presence in 75 of the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, providing geographic diversity and balanced end market exposure. We service customers from strategically located distribution and manufacturing facilities (certain of which are co-located) that produce value-added products such as roof and floor trusses, wall panels, stairs, vinyl windows, custom millwork and pre-hung doors. Builders FirstSource also distributes dimensional lumber and lumber sheet goods, millwork, windows, interior and exterior doors, and other building products. For more information about Builders FirstSource, visit the Companys website at www.bldr.com. Story continues Contact: Binit Sanghvi Investor Relations Builders FirstSource, Inc. (214) 765-3804 Source: Builders FirstSource, Inc. A Canadian drug dealer has been ordered to forfeit $1.9 million in Bitcoin earned through criminal activities, according to the Toronto Star. It is believed this is Canadas largest forfeiture of Bitcoin. Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly has ordered the forfeiture of 281.41 Bitcoins to the Ministry of the Attorney General after hearing expert evidence earlier this year. The evidence details how Matthew Phan (30) used the Bitcoin to buy a gun and illegal narcotics on the dark web. Phan pleaded guilty in December of attempting to import a gun alongside possessing cocaine, PCP, and ketamine for the purpose of trafficking. During a forfeiture hearing in February, Crown Attorney Erin Pancer argued that given clear evidence Phan had used Bitcoin to A Canadian drug dealer has been ordered to forfeit $1.9 million in Bitcoin earned through criminal activities, according to the Toronto Star. It is believed this is Canadas largest forfeiture of Bitcoin. Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly has ordered the forfeiture of 281.41 Bitcoins to the Ministry of the Attorney General after hearing expert evidence earlier this year. The evidence details how Matthew Phan (30) used the Bitcoin to buy a gun and illegal narcotics on the dark web. Phan pleaded guilty in December of attempting to import a gun alongside possessing cocaine, PCP, and ketamine for the purpose of trafficking. During a forfeiture hearing in February, Crown Attorney Erin Pancer argued that given clear evidence Phan had used Bitcoin to finance his criminal activities, the Bitcoin should therefore be seized. Phan had attempted to appeal the forfeiture, arguing not all of the Bitcoin had been used for illegal purposes and that some of them were used to buy and sell gold. He also claimed he was selling the crypto itself on various exchange platforms. Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly has reportedly said there is no doubt that at some point Phan was trading crypto. However, she ruled: There is overwhelming evidence to suggest that Mr Phan was using the dark markets to purchase illegal items such as firearms and silencers. It is clear from the evidence found during searches, particularly of his condominium unit, that he was conducting large sales of illegal narcotics. The judge concluded that the crypto had been obtained through criminal activities and as a result ordered that they be forfeited. Interested in reading more crypto crime-related news? Discover how elite cops from Europe, Canada, and the US joined forces to crack down on dark web crooks. The post Canadian drug dealer ordered to forfeit $1.9 million in Bitcoin appeared first on Coin Rivet. 2018 wasnt easy for China, as the worlds second-largest economy was going through deleveraging in its debt-ridden economy and has been caught up in a trade dispute with the U.S. The GDP growth rate fell to its lowest level in 30 years, and its domestic stock market was the worst in a decade. Now analysts are seeing silver linings, as the Chinese government moves to implement fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to support the economy, and a trade deal with the U.S. is likely to be finalized in the coming weeks. China is set to be a key turnaround story this year after having been a drag on global growth since early 2018, analysts at BlackRock wrote in their Q2 2019 Global Investment Outlook. We are increasingly confident that Chinese growth is likely to reaccelerate from the second quarter onward, as the credit impulse (the year-on-year change in credit growth) turns positive and fiscal stimulus gains traction. Some economic indicators from the first quarter are already sending some positive signals. Chinas manufacturing PMI for March released on Monday came in much stronger than expected at 54.4, rising to the highest level since June 2018. Allan von Mehren, Chief Analyst at Danske Bank said the turn provides more evidence that the economy bottomed in the first quarter and a moderate recovery could be expected this year. Chinas stock market (SSE), which is dominated by retail investors with high volatility, already recovered 30% year-to-date, as sentiment turns positive. China PMI rebounds in the first quarter of 2019. (Danske Bank) The driver behind the improvement in the Chinese economy is likely to be easing across a range of fronts: credit easing, monetary easing, fiscal easing and easing in trade tensions, Mehren wrote in a note. Last month, China announced to cut company taxes and employer social insurance contributions by nearly 2 trillion yuan ($298 billion), in an effort to buoy private sectors and consumption. Analysts said a turnaround in the Chinese economy will underpin the global economy in its late cycle. But some worry that the stimulus could mean putting a stop to more long-term oriented structural reforms, including cracking down on shadow finance and deleveraging the economy. Story continues Kate Moore, chief equity strategist at BlackRock Investment Institute, said policy easing and structural reforms arent mutually exclusive, and the reform will still remain a key task for the government. The policymakers are very focused on longer-term growth and sustainable growth at that, Moore told Yahoo Finances The Ticker. They're not looking to accelerate the pace of growth, but rather stabilize what is actually a very high level for an economy of its size. Krystal Hu covers technology and China for Yahoo Finance. Write to her via krystalh@yahoofinance.com Read more: China builds the worlds longest high-speed rail as a rail stalls in the U.S. Apple cuts iPhone XR price for partner sellers in China Amazon eyes closed Sears stores for Whole Foods expansion Joint Solution Offers Unified Security Policy Enforcement and Enhanced Threat Detection Across Multiple Clusters and Multi-Cloud Deployments TEL AVIV, Israel, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alcide, a cloud-native security provider of the first Microservices Firewall, which secures microservices deployments with one policy engine for Dev, Sec and Ops, today announced a Fabric-Ready partnership with Fortinet (FTNT), a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions. The joint hybrid cloud security offering aims to provide enhanced threat detection and mitigation for complex enterprise environments across public and private clouds, and support network and security teams with their daily task of ensuring a smooth, secure and frictionless business continuity. The integrated hybrid cloud security solution was created on top of FortiOS - the Fortinet operating system that connects security devices together for effective and comprehensive security, while ensuring full control over all security and networking capabilities. It also leverages FortiGuard Labs threat intelligence with Alcides powerful high-resolution reputation hit detection capabilities, such as crypto-mining, command & control and many others. Integrated together, Fortinet blocks threats at the network perimeter, while Alcide leverages its patent pending microservices behavioral-based anomaly engine to detect east-west attacks across and within the different clusters. In addition, the Alcide platform automatically and selectively, by using FortiOS REST APIs, programs FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls to enforce a deeper security inspection for Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes (EKS), which results in an end-to-end security solution with a unified security policy enforcement across and with multiple Kubernetes clusters and hybrid-cloud deployments. Customers of the integrated solution benefit from the following: Unified threat hunting and management High resolution triage of anomalous microservices network activity Combining North-South threat intelligence reputation with deep East-West traffic inspection Continuous control and visibility We are excited to partner with Alcide to help customers apply consistent and broad security to their cloud-based application deployments. Leveraging the joint solution, customers can benefit from security tailored for their container and serverless environments working in concert with trusted and true network security for their cloud networks, said Lior Cohen, Senior Director, Product Marketing, Cloud Security at Fortinet. Story continues We are thrilled to collaborate with Fortinet, said Gadi Naor, co-founder and CTO, of Alcide, by leveraging industry-leading security portfolio and integrating with FortiGate NGFW and FortiGuard Labs threat intelligence, which enables customers to easily harness deep security controls on public and hybrid cloud deployments. Alcide will be presenting its hybrid cloud solution at Fortinets global user and partner conference Accelerate 19, from April 8-11, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida. About Alcide Alcide is a cloud-native security leader empowering DevSecOps teams to continuously secure and protect their growing multi-cluster Kubernetes deployments. By automatically discovering, managing and enforcing security policies across deployments, Alcides Microservices Firewall for K8s and Istio enables unified code-to-production enforcement of security policies spanning networks and workloads. This enables the smooth operation of business apps while protecting cloud deployments from malicious attacks. More at https://www.alcide.io/ PR Contact: Meredith Wilshere meredith@scratchmm.com 617-945-0708 Investors need to pay close attention to Anadarko Petroleum (APC) stock based on the movements in the options market lately. A legislation that would change the way oil and gas drilling permits are issued in Colorado is on its way to Governor Jared Polis. The Senate voted 19-16 to concur on the amendments made to SB19-181 in the House. The regulation was approved along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans voting in opposition. The push for the industrys overhaul gathered momentum after a deadly house explosion and fire in Firestone that killed two people and badly injured another in April 2017. The fatal event was traced to the seepage of an odorless gas from a line owned by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation APC. The Senate Bill 181 in a Nutshell The hotly debated and controversial measure, known as Senate Bill 181, is being referred to as the most sweeping oil and gas reforms the state has seen. It will lead to a comprehensive overhaul of Colorados oil and gas development regulations by expanding the authority of local government/communities over drilling sites. The bill also strives to address concerns about climate change, pollution and threat to wildlife from drilling operations to, while protecting the interests of unwilling mineral rights owners. Finally, the proposal aims to rewrite the mission of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission the state agency overseeing the energy industry from economic gain to public safety and environmental protection. Lets debate the pros and cons of the bills. Pro: Backers of the Bill Hail the Health and Safety Provisions Proponents of the measure and environmental groups in particular argue that the passage of the bill is a decisive step toward protecting the Colorado residents health and safety. Its goal is to ensure that state regulators take profit out of citizen welfare while maintaining the continued development of the local oil and gas industry. Moreover, the bill looks to strengthen local control and address the interests of landowners who refuse to lease their lands to an operator Story continues Con: Opponents of the Bill Fear Crippling Blow to the Industry People who are against the bill, along with industry officials, argue that the regulations, if signed into law, would have a devastating economic impact on the entire state. With the Colorado economy depending heavily on oil and gas industry for tax revenues, funds for infrastructure and welfare projects could be hit if local communities go slow on drilling permit approvals within their jurisdiction. They warn that the legislation could potentially lead to job losses and economic hardship. Bill Amended to Allay Apprehensions from Opposition Quarters Seeking to dispel apprehensions that the proposed bill could be misused by state and local bodies leading to outright drilling bans and decelerating industry growth, a number of amendments were added in the past few days. The concessions include a change in language, which aims to ensure that any new regulations/restrictions to be necessary and reasonable. While the revisions were seen by some as adding a degree of certainty, it was not enough to silence dissenters who remain firmly opposed to SB 181. Which Companies Will be Affected? While the bills passage into law is almost a given considering that Governor Jared Polis is a supporter of the measure himself, it is expected to take many months and public hearings before the rules implementing the law are written. But the Senate Bill 181, which comes after the energy industry defeated Proposition 112 an initiative that would have required new oil and gas wells to be drilled at least 2500 feet from most buildings is expected to be a real concern for the operators in Colorado. Oil and gas explorers who are exclusively focused on the states Denver-Julesburg (or, DJ) Basin including HighPoint Resources HPR, Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. BCEI, Extraction Oil & Gas Inc XOG and SRC Energy Inc. SRCI among others, could be in for some rough time. Biggies like Anadarko Petroleum, which has invested heavily in the prolific D-J Basin also stands exposed to an element of uncertainty. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company holds approximately 400,000 net acres in the DJ Basin. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, wouldn't you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. See Stocks Today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (BCEI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) : Free Stock Analysis Report HIGHPOINT RESOURCES CORP (HPR) : Free Stock Analysis Report EXTRACTION O&G (XOG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Synergy Resources Corporation (SRCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Tim Kelly and Naomi Tajitsu TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese prosecutors arrested Carlos Ghosn again on Thursday on suspicion the former Nissan boss had tried to enrich himself at the automaker's expense, in another dramatic twist that his lawyers said was an attempt to muzzle him. The arrest, which legal experts not connected to the case described as highly rare for someone already released on bail, marks the fourth time that prosecutors have arrested the once-feted executive, a scandal that has rocked the global auto industry and shined a harsh light on Japan's judicial system. Tokyo prosecutors said Ghosn had caused Nissan Motor Co $5 million in losses over a 2-1/2-year period to July 2018, in breach of his legal duties to the company and with the goal of personal gain. The Kyodo news agency reported that the losses involved the shifting of funds through a dealer in Oman to the account of a company Ghosn effectively owned. The agency did not cite any sources. Ghosn, who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenship, called on the French government for help. "I am innocent," Ghosn said in an interview aired on Thursday with French TV stations TF1 and LCI. "I call on the French government to defend me, and to defend my rights as a citizen." It was not clear where the interview was recorded. France's finance minister said Ghosn must have the presumption of innocence and was getting consular protection. His lead lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, said prosecutors wanted to silence Ghosn who on Wednesday tweeted plans to hold his first press conference on April 11. "The intent of the prosecutors is to pressure Ghosn, and to stop him from speaking freely," Hironaka said, adding that access to what they saw as additional evidence was also a likely motive behind the latest arrest. The additional charge would likely prolong Ghosn's trial, which is expected to begin later this year, Hironaka said, adding that loss of access to Ghosn's trial-related documents could put his client at a disadvantage in fighting his case. Prosecutors confiscated Ghosn's mobile phone, documents, notebooks and diaries, he said, along with Ghosn's wife's passport and mobile phone. Hironaka said he would release a video statement Ghosn had planned to deliver at the April 11 news conference, without saying when. An official for the Tokyo prosecutors' office told reporters on Thursday that authorities feared Ghosn would destroy evidence. The official declined to comment when asked about the confiscation of Ghosn's wife's possessions. FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT CHARGES More than a dozen officials from the prosecutor's office had visited Ghosn's residence early on Thursday and asked him to submit to questioning, broadcaster NHK said. By late morning, Japanese media said he had been taken back to the detention center where he spent 108 days after being first arrested in November. Nissan said it could not comment on judicial decisions. Ghosn faces charges of financial misconduct and aggravated breach of trust over allegedly failing to report around $82 million in salary and temporarily transferring personal financial losses onto Nissan's books during the financial crisis. Released on $9 million bail on March 6, the executive says he is the victim of a boardroom coup. Under Japanese law, prosecutors will be able to hold him for up to 22 days without charge. The fresh arrest opens up the possibility that he will be interrogated again without his lawyer present, as is the norm in Japan. Such procedures have focused much attention in the West on Japan's judicial system, which critics sometimes refer to as "hostage justice", because defendants who deny their charges are often not granted bail. "It's uncommon for someone to be re-arrested a month after being granted bail. In most cases, re-arrest would occur immediately following bail," said Nobuo Gohara, a lawyer who heads Gohara Compliance and Law Office, which is not involved in the Ghosn case. "Multiple arrests suggest that the prosecutor may be concerned about their chances of winning a guilty verdict." INTERNAL INVESTIGATION Nissan late last year expanded its internal investigation into possible financial misconduct related to its business in the Middle East, India and elsewhere. Sources told Reuters this week that French automaker and Nissan partner Renault SA had alerted French prosecutors after uncovering suspect payments to a Renault-Nissan business partner in Oman while Ghosn was chief executive. Evidence sent to French prosecutors showed that much of the cash was subsequently channeled to a Lebanese company controlled by Ghosn associates, the sources said. Ghosn's French lawyer has denied the allegations. Nissan had previously established its own regional subsidiary made questionable payments of more than $30 million to the Oman distributor, Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA). Ghosn's spokesman has said payments of $32 million made over nine years were rewards for the Oman firm being a top Nissan dealer. Such dealer incentives were not directed by Ghosn and the funds were not used to pay any personal debt, the spokesman said. Reuters has not been able to reach SBA for comment on the matter. (Additional reporting by Malcolm Foster, Ami Miyazaki, Maki Shiraki, Linda Sieg and Billy Mallard in Tokyo and Paris bureau; Writing by David Dolan and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Stephen Coates and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Dover Corporation DOV has completed the sale of Finder Pompe S.r.l ("Finder") to Gruppo Aturia S.p.A. Headquartered in Merate, Italy, Finder is part of the Pump Solutions Group (PSG) business within Dovers Fluids segment. Finder is one of the leading European companies in the design and manufacturing of engineered pumps, spare parts and systems for critical applications in the oil and gas market. Its key products are sold worldwide to major engineering companies and to end users of oil and gas, petrochemical, nuclear energy, desalination, power generation, chemical, pharmaceutical and food. In 2018, Finder generated revenues of around $30 million. Dovers PSG unit is a global leader in the manufacture of pumps, systems and related technologies. In 2013, PSG acquired Italy-based Finder for $145 million in a bid to strengthen the foothold of PSG business in the energy market and enhance its global footprint. Following the above-mentioned transaction, Dover will receive $24 million in cash and record a non-cash after-tax charge of about $40-$50 million due to the write-off of net carrying value of assets, which includes goodwill and foreign-exchange cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) held in equity. The transaction will be reflected in the first-quarter 2019 financials. However, the deal will have no impact on Dover's previously-provided adjusted EPS guidance for the ongoing year. The divesture is in line with Dovers strategy to reduce exposure in highly-cyclical upstream energy markets. It will also enable its PSG business to focus on hygienic pump technologies and positive displacement. Coming to the price performance, Dovers shares have lost around 1.7% over the past year, against the industrys growth of 4.4%. Dover has a long tradition of making successful acquisitions in diverse end markets. In January 2018, the company acquired Ettlinger Group, in a bid to boost its presence in the plastics and polymers processing equipment industry. Further, the buyout of Rosario Handel B.V. ("Rosario") a manufacturer of decorator and base coating machinery used in the production of beverage, food and aerosol cans will help serve the Food Equipment end market within the Refrigeration & Food Equipment segment. On Jan 25, 2019, Dover completed the acquisition of Belanger, which is expected to be accretive to the companys margins and adjusted earnings in 2019. Dover projects adjusted EPS at $5.65-$5.85 for the current year. The company anticipates full-year revenue growth of 2-3%, which comprises organic growth of 2-4% and a 1% impact from the Belanger acquisition. This is likely to be partly offset by an expected 2% unfavorable impact from foreign-currency exchange. Dovers first-quarter 2019 results will likely improve on robust bookings growth, solid order backlog, margin improvement and rightsizing programs. Through the year, impressive performance by the Engineered Systems and Fluids segments with strong organic growth, benefits from cost-containment actions, as well as footprint optimization projects and retail refrigeration will negate the impact of tepid demand in the Refrigeration & Food Equipment segment. Dover is progressing well with its efforts to simplify the portfolio and focus on markets with growth prospects. In sync with this, it successfully completed the spin-off of its upstream energy businesses Apergy last May. Following the spin-off, the company no longer owns the Energy segment and has three reportable segments. Thus, the divestment will enable Dover to focus on less volatile core platforms by delivering innovative equipment and components, specialty systems, consumable supplies, software and digital solutions, and support services. Story continues Dover Corporation Price and Consensus Dover Corporation Price and Consensus | Dover Corporation Quote Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Dover currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the Industrial Products sector are Mueller Industries, Inc MLI, Lawson Products, Inc. LAWS and Albany International Corp. AIN, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Mueller Industries has an expected earnings growth rate of 2.2% for 2019. The companys shares have rallied 19.2%, over the past year. Lawson Products has an outstanding projected earnings growth rate of 102.5% for the current year. The stock has appreciated 28.1% in a years time. Albany International has an estimated earnings growth rate of 44.7% for the ongoing year. The companys shares have gained 12.4%, in the past year. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dover Corporation (DOV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lawson Products, Inc. (LAWS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Albany International Corporation (AIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. (Recasts throughout, updates prices, adds strategist's quote) By Aaron Saldanha April 4 (Reuters) - Most Latin American stock markets and currencies rose on Thursday, with assets in Brazil gaining on hopes of smooth progress on pension reform, while their Mexican peers firmed on broadly positive political developments with the United States. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro met fellow politicians in a bid to build support to pass his government's proposal to reform the country's bloated pension system, seen by investors as crucial to trim Brazil's wide fiscal deficit. MSCI's index of Latin American stocks rose 1.2 percent. Each country's bourse gained at least as much as the regional benchmark, with the exception of Colombia's. Sao Paulo-traded stocks tacked on 1.9 percent, clocking broad-based gains in their best one-day performance in two weeks. The index more than made up ground lost in Wednesday's 0.9 percent slide. Rafael Bevilacqua, chief strategist at investment consultancy Levante, said the performance was a combination of a recovery from the previous session's losses and optimism around the government's attempt to articulate its reform proposal. Common shares and preferred shares of state-run oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) jumped 3.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. Brazil's mines and energy minister said he is optimistic there will be a deal by next week resolving the government's dispute with Petrobras over the offshore oil-producing zone known as the transfer of rights area. Petrobras is expected to receive a multibillion-dollar payment from the government to resolve a dispute over a 2010 deal granting the firm rights to extract oil in the area. Shares of miner Vale SA rose 0.7 percent, following part of a rise seen in Dalian-traded iron ore futures earlier in the global day. Brazil's real strengthened 0.4 percent, while yields on its local, 10-year bonds dipped to 8.93 percent. Mexican stocks rose 1.4 percent while the peso firmed 0.4 percent. Story continues U.S. President Donald Trump said a "lot of good things are happening in Mexico." Trump, however, threatened to apply tariffs at 25 percent on car imports from Mexico unless the country did more to stop drug trafficking. Chilean stocks gained 1.2 percent, matching the rise on Argentina's stocks benchmark, which partly recovered from Wednesday's 3.8 percent drubbing. Argentina's peso slid. Industrial output in February slid 8.5 percent, data showed, marking the tenth straight month of declines. Colombia's stocks were the exception to regional optimism on the day, dipping 0.1 percent, while the local peso weakened 0.2 percent. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 2056 GMT Stock indexes daily % Latest change MSCI Emerging Markets 1080.73 0.09 MSCI LatAm 2797.34 1.18 Brazil Bovespa 96313.06 1.93 Mexico IPC 43937.39 1.38 Chile IPSA 5283.70 1.16 Argentina MerVal 32142.47 1.19 Colombia IGBC 13040.09 -0.1 Currencies daily % change Latest Brazil real 3.8562 0.01 Mexico peso 19.1450 0.34 Chile peso 665.5 0.15 Colombia peso 3127.93 -0.22 Peru sol 3.296 -0.03 Argentina peso (interbank) 43.3900 -1.18 (Reporting by Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Stefani Inouye in Sao Paulo) Gary Haugen speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., in February. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) MIAMI The generational divide among white evangelicals over issues of race and social justice has given the group a more conservative reputation than is merited, but that will change in the coming decade, according to the head of an influential Christian aid group. Speaking with a group of journalists here this week, Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of the International Justice Mission (IJM), which mostly works outside the United States, also addressed questions about what insights he might have about injustice in America. Haugen avoided commenting directly on issues of racial injustice, or on the question of why white evangelical Christians have been stalwart supporters of President Trump, who rose to power by demonizing immigrants. But Haugen stood by his assertion years ago, before the rise of Trump, that there is a sea change among evangelicals as it relates to issues of injustice. However, he qualified that much of this change is not yet being seen among older white evangelicals. In particular, Haugen pinpointed the world of conservative philanthropy, which intersects closely with nonprofit and aid work. The tension, he intimated, is between a money sector in evangelicalism dominated by wealthy individuals who skew older and much more conservative in their politics, and an activist sector that is younger and far more progressive in its worldview. Among aid and reform groups like his, if you arent actually talking about justice, youre probably not credible, Haugen said at the Faith Angle Forum, a conference sponsored by the Ethics and Public Policy Center. [But] those folks do not hold the money and the power in that church community right now, he said. But in 15 years they will. I think you will see a different phenomenon. Haugen, 56, worked early in his career for Bishop Desmond Tutus National Initiative for Reconciliation in South Africa, then directed the United Nations investigation into the Rwandan genocide, and also investigated police abuse cases for the Justice Department in the 1990s during Bill Clintons presidency. He started IJM in 1997, and the group has grown now to have an endowment of around $50 million. Speaking at the same event, columnist Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, said Haugen was the kind of Christian who makes the term evangelical worth fighting for. Haugen followed up by saying he may not be willing to fight for the word evangelical himself. Story continues The term, he said, has come to represent a set of political beliefs rather than theological commitments. But speaking to journalists, Haugen argued that conservative Christians focus on the kind of international aid work his group does is not at odds with an emphasis on injustice in the United States. Its possible, he said, to care about fighting sex trafficking in Third-World countries without it distracting from the problem of mass incarceration or police brutality here in the U.S. Nonetheless, some younger Christians and people of color in the faith community are suspicious that the focus on international aid among white conservatives is a way to avoid more difficult issues of racial injustice at home. At a conference in Dallas last weekend focused on racial harmony, a leader from IJM was welcomed with thunderous applause, according to an account published Tuesday by DeeDee Roe, an African-American freelance writer from Dallas who attended. She spoke passionately about the work of IJM confronting perpetrators of police brutality in Kenya. The audience made tearful commitments to partner in her work, tears I knew did not extend to Black victims of police brutality in this nation, Roe wrote. Roe went on to describe her observations of a hostile reaction from some white attendees to a different speaker, Ekemini Uwan, a prominent author and speaker. Uwan criticized the idea of whiteness as rooted in plunder, theft, enslavement of Africans, and the genocide of Native Americans. Whiteness is a power structure. The thing for white women to do here is divest from whiteness, Uwan said, according to Roes account. She described seeing some white attendees walking out as Uwan spoke. Sparrow Conference, which organized the event, did not respond to Yahoo News request for comment. Haugen acknowledged that white evangelicals interest in international aid may not always translate into a commitment to fighting poverty and injustice in their own neighborhoods. How it actually works out in your community, the overwhelming problem is going to be what your fears are, he said. These lids always tend to get put back on because people get scared of things. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: NEW YORK, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ExlService Holdings, Inc. (EXL) (EXLS), a leading operations management and analytics company, will announce financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2019 on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 before the market opens, and will hold a conference call that morning at 8:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the Companys operating and financial results. The conference call will be available live via the internet by accessing the investor relations section of EXLs website at http://ir.exlservice.com / where the accompanying investor-friendly spreadsheet of historical operating and financial data can also be accessed. Please go to the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. To listen to the conference call via phone, please dial 1-(877) 303-6384 for US participants or 1-(224) 357-2191 for international participants and an operator will assist you. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the EXL website ( www.exlservice.com ). About ExlService Holdings, Inc. EXL (EXLS) is a leading operations management and analytics company that designs and enables agile, customer-centric operating models to help clients improve their revenue growth and profitability. Our delivery model provides market-leading business outcomes using EXLs proprietary Digital EXLerator Framework, cutting-edge analytics, digital transformation and domain expertise. At EXL, we look deeper to help companies improve global operations, enhance data-driven insights, increase customer satisfaction, and manage risk and compliance. EXL serves the insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, utilities, travel, transportation and logistics industries. Headquartered in New York, New York, EXL has more than 29,000 professionals in locations throughout the United States, Europe, Asia (primarily India and Philippines), South America, Australia and South Africa. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com . Contact: Steven N. Barlow Vice President, Investor Relations ExlService Holdings, Inc. 280 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 (212) 624-5913 ir@exlservice.com Danske Bank sign is seen at the bank's Estonian branch in Tallinn, Estonia March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The largest ever money laundering scandal in Europe is rippling through the region's banks. It began in the Baltics and has engulfed several Nordic lenders, notably Denmark's Danske and Sweden's Swedbank, who had large Baltic operations. Here are some facts about Europe's problems. HOW DID THE CURRENT SCANDAL EMERGE? The Baltics' proximity to Russia has traditionally made them vulnerable to illegal financial flows from their neighbour. U.S. investigators raised concerns about some of the region's banks early last year, prompting domestic and European watchdogs to investigate. WHICH BANKS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED SO FAR? The first to be hit was Latvia's ABLV, which was liquidated last year after U.S. accusations of money-laundering activities. The scandal spread to the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, Denmark's largest lender, which is now facing probes in several countries for handling 200 billion euros ($224 billion) in suspicious transactions of Russian money between 2007 and 2015. Sweden's Swedbank has recently been drawn into the scandal, after it was reported it handled some of the same payments that went through Danske, leading to the dismissal of its chief executive last week. COULD IT SPREAD TO BANKS BEYOND THE BALTICS AND NORDICS? Other lenders that helped process suspicious payments from the Baltics could also be in the frame. Deutsche Bank, which acted as a correspondent bank to Danske, is under investigation over its links to the money. IS THE PROBLEM LIMITED TO FLOWS FROM RUSSIA TO THE BALTICS? Money from Russia and former Soviet Union countries does not only go to the Baltics. Cyprus and Malta are among the EU states that are most welcoming of these flows, data show, with Pilatus Bank in Malta shut down last year following a U.S. probe on its owner and after allegations of suspicious transactions involving Azerbaijan's ruling elite. But the problem is not limited to Russian flows. EU-based criminal organisations, such as Italian mafias, launder most of their illegal proceeds in the largest EU states, estimates show. ING, the Netherlands' largest financial services provider, was forced by the Dutch regulator to pay a $915 million fine last year over money laundering. Its Italian business is also under investigation over similar allegations. Story continues HOW MUCH COULD THIS COST BANKS? A lot. EU banks payed over $16 billion in fines between 2012 and 2018 because of lax money-laundering checks, rating agency Moody's said in a report on Tuesday, with U.S. regulators levying more than 75 percent of those fines. Now the allegations have stepped up, so could the fines. WHO SUPERVISES THIS AND WHY DID SO MUCH MONEY GET LAUNDERED? Despite money-laundering being a cross-border crime, it is not tackled at EU level but almost exclusively by national authorities, who often lack the capabilities to counter it. In some cases domestic supervisors have shown little interest in acting, as reputational damages could hit national economies. Malta's financial supervisor has been found in breach of EU law over the Pilatus case, and the EU is investigating the Estonian regulator after the Danske scandal. Many banks do not report all suspicious transactions as their due-diligence units are often understaffed. Reports are not standardised, often producing irrelevant data and hampering cooperation among national supervisors. WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES IN DETECTING THESE FLOWS? EU rules to fight money laundering have been overhauled, but some loopholes have never been closed. They are also applied differently and EU states are often late in executing them. States, including Luxembourg and Germany, use loopholes in EU rules that allow them not to disclose fines on banks in breach of money-laundering rules. This vastly reduces the effectiveness of sanctions which are mostly feared by lenders for their reputational impact. In the latest reforms, EU legislators added stricter transparency requirements on companies' owners, but allowed them to remain hidden in some cases. Money-laundering is often conducted through shell firms whose owners are unknown. Data that could raise alarm bells, such as the share of non-resident deposits or oversized cross-border flows, are collected at national level, often without details of final beneficiaries. No-one checks them at EU level. The EU has also failed to agree an updated list of jurisdictions that pose money-laundering risks because of lax rules. This reduces banks' ability to spot dodgy payments. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Brussels; additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Per Reuters, Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM is contemplating the sale of its stake in some of the oil and gas fields in Nigeria, both onshore and offshore. The divestment is anticipated to generate around $3 billion. The sale will mark the companys exit from the former Soviet state after 25 years. ExxonMobil has reportedly held discussions with several Nigerian companies to determine their interest in the fields. The U.S. oil major is currently focused on increasing yield in the Permian and developing the huge oil discoveries offshore Guyana. The discussions are related to a number of onshore fields that the company has in joint ventures with Nigerian state oil firm NNPC. These include oil mining leases 66, 68, 70 and 104. In 2017, ExxonMobils share of oil production in those fields reached 120,000 barrels per day. Per sources, the company is set to open a data room to provide seismic and production details. Being one of the leading oil and gas producers in Nigeria, ExxonMobil has 106 operated platforms and its oil production reached 225,000 barrel per day in 2017. In 2019, ExxonMobil announced its plan to increase capital spending to $30 billion in 2019 and about $35 billion in 2020 compared with $26 billion in 2018. In February 2019, the company stated that it will ramp up divestitures to around $15 billion by 2021. The company intends to boost earnings and cash flows through 2025 on the back of asset sales. It now estimates cumulative cash flow from operations and asset sales over the period from 2019 to 2025 to be $24 billion higher than estimates provided during the analyst meeting a year ago. International companies including Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A) are seeking to lower holdings in the region due to militant violence and oil spills resulting from pipeline damages. Subsequently, the Nigerian government has encouraged efforts by domestic firms such as Oando, Seplat and privately held Aiteo to develop operations in the country over the last decade. ExxonMobil is also trying to divest assets in Equatorial Guinea and Chad, according to two sources. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Currently, ExxonMobil carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players in the energy space are Antero Resources Corporation AR, CrossAmerica Partners L.P. CAPL and SEACOR Holdings, Inc CKH. While Antero Resources and CrossAmerica Partners sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), SEACOR Holdings carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Antero Resources is an independent explorer, primarily engaged in the acquisition and development of natural gas, natural gas liquids as well as oil resources in the Appalachian Basin. The companys earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters. CrossAmerica Partners is involved in the wholesale distribution of motor fuels, comprising gasoline and diesel fuel. The partnership delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 452.2% in the last four quarters. SEACOR Holdings is a diversified holding company, mainly focused on domestic and international transportation, logistics as well as risk management consultancy. The bottom line for 2019 is expected to inch up 1.7% year over year. The company delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 20.5% in the trailing four quarters. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%. See Latest Stocks Today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CrossAmerica Partners LP (CAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report SEACOR Holdings, Inc. (CKH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Antero Resources Corporation (AR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research MONTERREY, Mexico, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA) (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSAUBD) is pleased to invite you to participate in its First Quarter 2019 Conference Call that will be held on: Monday, April 29, 2019 9:30 AM Eastern Time (8:30 AM Mexico City Time) Eduardo Padilla, Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA, will host the call and discuss FEMSAs First Quarter 2019 financial results, followed by a question and answer session. The quarterly results will be released on April 29 before market opens. To participate in the conference call please dial Toll Free US: (800) 289 0438 International: +1 323-794-2423 Conference ID: 2305270 The conference call will be webcast live through streaming audio. For details please visit http://ir.femsa.com If you are unable to participate live, the conference call replay will be available on http://ir.femsa.com/results.cfm FEMSA is a leading company that participates in the beverage industry through Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world by volume; and in the beer industry, through its ownership of the second largest equity stake in Heineken, one of the world's leading brewers with operations in over 70 countries. In the retail industry it participates through FEMSA Comercio, comprising a Proximity Division operating OXXO, a small-format store chain, a Health Division, which includes all drugstores and related operations, and a Fuel Division, which operates the OXXO GAS chain of retail service stations. Additionally, through its Strategic Businesses unit, it provides logistics, point-of-sale refrigeration solutions and plastics solutions to FEMSA's business units and third-party clients. Media Contact (52) 555-249-6843 comunicacion@femsa.com.mx www.femsa.com Investor Contact (52) 818-328-6167 investor@femsa.com.mx www.femsa.com/inversionista FILE PHOTO: Bikes by a bike rental service of Icelandic airline WOW air are seen in Reykjavik, Iceland, August 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle/File Photo By Stine Jacobsen and Tommy Lund (Reuters) - Iceland's WOW air became the latest budget airline casualty on Thursday, halting operations and cancelling all future flights after efforts to raise more funds failed. WOW, which focussed on low-cost travel across the Atlantic, advised stranded travellers to seek flights with other airlines. It flew a total of 3.5 million passengers last year. "This is probably the hardest thing I have ever done but the reality is that we have run out of time and have unfortunately not been able to secure the funding of the company," WOW CEO and founder Skuli Mogensen wrote in a letter to the company's 1,000 employees. "I will never be able to forgive myself for not taking action sooner," he added. WOW had earlier postponed flights on Thursday as it entered what it had hoped were the final stages of an equity raising with a group of investors. "My flight from Boston has been cancelled. Having a hard time getting through to anyone on the phone. Can you help me at all?" Twitter user Marc Solari wrote. WOW replied with an apology and offer of further assistance. WOW is the latest budget airline to collapse as the European airline sector grapples with over-capacity and high fuel costs. Recent failures include Britain's Flybmi, Nordic budget airline Primera Air and Cypriot counterpart Cobalt. "RESCUE FARES" Other airlines including, Icelandair, Easyjet and Norwegian stepped in offering discounted 'rescue fares' to stranded passengers, according to the Icelandic Transport Authority WOW has been pursuing different avenues to raise money over the past few months. It ended talks with rival Icelandair last Sunday while veteran low-cost airline investor Bill Franke also had cancelled a proposed investment through private equity fund Indigo Partners. Icelandair shares traded up 13 percent percent at 1215 GMT after the failure of a competitor. Founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Mogensen, WOW used smaller single-aisle planes to fly between Iceland and many destinations in the United States and Europe. Story continues Its website had advertised flights from London to cities such as New York and Boston for as little as 150 pounds, although the journey went via the Icelandic capital Reykjavik. Norwegian Air has a little over half of the market share in the fast-growing, low-cost, long-haul transatlantic market, while WOW controlled a quarter in 2018. There are fears of a knock-on effect on Iceland's important tourism industry. Around 30 percent of tourists visiting Iceland last year flew with WOW and the collapse could trigger a 16 percent drop in tourists this year, research from Icelandic bank Arion showed. (Reporting by Tommy Lund; editing by Darren Schuettler/Keith Weir) CHICAGO, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GATX Corporation (GATX) announced that it will report results for the 2019 first quarter prior to market open on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. GATX will hold a conference call to review the results later that morning. Investors may listen to the call via telephone or over the Internet as follows: Live Teleconference Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Time: 11:00 AM (Eastern Time) Domestic Dial-In: 1-800-667-5617 International Dial-In: 1-334-323-0509 Live Webcast: www.gatx.com To participate by phone, please dial in approximately 15 minutes prior to the start time and reference the GATX conference call. To listen via webcast, click the link on GATXs homepage, www.gatx.com. Replay Information Time: Starting at 2:00 PM (Eastern Time), April 24, 2019 Domestic Dial-In: 1-888-203-1112 International Dial-In: 1-719-457-0820 Access Code: 3700627 Web Access: The replay will also be available at www.gatx.com COMPANY DESCRIPTION GATX Corporation (GATX) strives to be recognized as the finest railcar leasing company in the world by our customers, our shareholders, our employees and the communities where we operate. As the leading global railcar lessor, GATX has been providing quality railcars and services to its customers for more than 120 years. GATX has been headquartered in Chicago, Illinois since its founding in 1898. For more information, please visit the Companys website at www.gatx.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer McManus Senior Director, Investor Relations GATX Corporation 312-621-6409 jennifer.mcmanus@gatx.com Investor, corporate, financial, historical financial, and news release information may be found at www.gatx.com. Glacier Bancorp GBCI has signed a stock-cash merger agreement with the bank holding company for Heritage Bank of Nevada Heritage Bancorp. Notably, Glacier expects the deal to be immediately accretive to earnings per share, excluding one-time transaction-related costs. The deal has been valued at $240.7 million and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019. Though the transaction has received unanimous approval from the boards of Glacier and Heritage, it is subject to necessary regulatory approval and other conditions of closing. Based in Reno-NV, Heritage had total assets of $829.7 million, gross loans of $595.6 million and total deposits of $720.5 million as of Dec 31, 2018. Also, with this buyout, Glacier will have access to Heritages seven banking offices located in Carson City, Gardnerville, Reno and Sparks. Per the terms of agreement, Glacier will pay four of each share of its common stock and $12 in cash for each share of Heritage. Randy Chesler, President and CEO at Glacier said, This is a rare opportunity to expand our presence into Northern Nevada, a fast-growing market with a diverse economy that is continually attracting substantial investment from large technology and growth companies. Opportunistic buyouts continue to be a key part of the companys growth strategy. Prior to this, in January 2019, Glacier announced plans to acquire FNB Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The First National Bank of Layton. Further, in 2018, the company had acquired two community banks Inter-Mountain Bancorp and Columbine Capital Corp. which together contributed to about 15% growth in asset size in 2018. Also, these buyouts expanded Glaciers reach in areas such as Montana and Mountain and Front Range communities of Colorado. Glaciers expansion into carefully selected markets bode well for the long term and is indicative of its strong financial position. The company has witnessed decent organic growth over the last few years and is well poised to benefit from the improving economic backdrop. Story continues Shares of Glacier have gained 7.4% over the past year against the industrys decline of 9%. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are Bank of Marin Bancorp BMRC, Bay Commercial Bank BCML and Midland States Bancorp MSBI. All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Bank of Marins Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 1.2% upward in the past 60 days. Also, its share price has increased 16.8% in the past year. Bay Commercial Banks current-year earnings estimates have been revised 3.3% upward over the past 60 days. Further, the companys shares have jumped 3% in the past 12 months. Midland States Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has remained stable over the past 60 days. Moreover, in the past year, its shares have gained 23.3%. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (MSBI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (GBCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bay Commercial Bank (BCML) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The Texas state constitution has a few interesting provisions. Heres one: Article 1, section 4, says no one can be subjected to a religious test in order to hold office, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being. Kind of seems like a religious test, frankly. Not enforceable, but still on the books. I also thought it was odd that Texas, of all places, has a right to bear arms provision (Art. 1, 23) thats narrower than the federal one. It only guarantees the right to bear arms in self-defense or defense of the state, and specifically gives the legislature power to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime! Apparently this is not a misprint. See, e.g., Masters v. State, 653 S.W.2d 944 (Tex. Ct. App. 1983) (holding neither federal nor state constitution guaranteed defendant the right to carry two swords in his belt just because he thought he might need them). And of course who can forget Article 8, section 1-k, EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS SUPPLYING WATER OR PROVIDING WASTEWATER SERVICES? Certainly not me. Most people dont know this was actually the Texas state motto until 1930, when they changed it to the totally boring Friendship, but now you do. Less interesting, most of the time, is Article 16, section 65, AUTOMATIC RESIGNATION ON BECOMING CANDIDATE FOR ANOTHER OFFICE. This applies to certain listed officers, such as clerks, district attorneys, judges, and the all-important Public Weighers, who weigh stuff. And it says this: If any of the officers named herein shall announce their candidacy, or shall in fact become a candidate, for any office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the United States other than the office then held, at any time when the unexpired term of the office then held shall exceed one year and 30 days, such announcement or such candidacy shall constitute an automatic resignation , and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled pursuant to law in the same manner as other vacancies for such office are filled. Emphasis added. KHOU News reports that a county judge in Houston was recently informed of this provision shortly after he announced on Facebook that he was planning to run for the state supreme court. By clicking post, it turned out, he had also automatically quit his current job. County judges in Texas serve four-year terms, and Bill McLeod had, lets see, three years and nine months left to serve at the time. His online announcement thus derobed him, instantly and without further ado. But, I hear you saying, dont you have a First Amendment right to run for office? And what about equal protection or the Dormant Commerce Clause? First, quit bringing up the Dormant Commerce Clause, would you please? Never the right answer. Second, those other provisions do apply. This law just doesnt violate them. We know this because the U.S. Supreme Court said so. Clements v. Fashing, 457 U.S. 957 (1982). Those plaintiffs hadnt resigned accidentally, they were just mad that they would have to resign if they wanted to run for another office. But candidacy isnt a fundamental right, the Court held, so the state only needs a rational basis for the law. And if Texas wants to impose nondiscriminatory waiting periods on officeholders, the Court held (5-4) that it can. So Bill McLeod is out of a job. Or is he? Well, he resigned, so his position is now vacant. Under Section 65, the vacancy thereby created shall be filled pursuant to law in the same manner as other vacancies for such office are filled. So, a special election? Apparently not. According to the report, the county commission is considering appointing McLeod as his own replacement, in the same way it would appoint somebody to serve out the term if he died or something. Arguably, though, this would defeat the whole purpose of section 65, which is to deter officeholders from campaigning by automatically kicking them out of their current office if they try it. Reappointing a guy who is clearly planning to do exactly that seems questionable. You could argue the local government should be able to waive the protection of section 65, but the section doesnt say that. Good news, though. The whole awkward situation can apparently be resolved very simplyby doing nothing at all. In 2014, a court held that a county attorney who resigned under section 65 could continue to serve, not by being reappointed, but by just not leaving. Bianchi v. State, 444 S.W.3d 231 (Tex. Ct. App. 2014). Section 17 of the same article, you see, requires Texas officeholders to keep doing their jobs until their successors have been chosen and duly qualified, so the office doesnt sit vacant. Bianchi announced he was running for another office, thus auto-resigning. But he didnt leave. Nor did the commissioners reappoint him. They just didnt do anything. The district attorney thought this was not cool, and filed a writ petition. The lower court agreed, and said Bianchi couldnt serve. But the Court of Appeal reversed. Because the commissioners apparently didnt object, that court held, there was no proof that Bianchi was holding his office unlawfully, and there was no successor yet. So he could just stay put. So as I understand it, the commissioners can do nothing, and Bill McLeod can just keep doing what hes doing, filling his own vacancy. In fact, Section 17 might technically require him to keep doing thateven though doing it is a violation of section 65. Its kind of like the religious-test provision, I guess. Its a thing, but its also not. The remaining question is whether anyone else has ever auto-resigned by mistake, and it looks like the answer is yes. A 2012 case involved a constable who quietly told about a dozen people he was running for sheriff, but hadnt actually made a public announcement. He wasnt exactly keeping it a secret, but he did tell, among other people, the editor of the local newspaper, who reported it. So I would call that a mistake. (Bloomberg) -- Google is scrapping an outside council set up to evaluate its artificial intelligence efforts after a dramatic outcry about the makeup of the panel. The Alphabet Inc. company introduced the group, called the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC), on March 26. Google asked the eight members to advise the company on knotty ethical questions on products such as facial-recognition software and algorithmic bias. Within a week, one person declined the invitation and another became the target of a pointed petition from Google staff as well as criticism from outside advocates. Its become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC cant function as we wanted, Google said Thursday in a statement. So were ending the council and going back to the drawing board. Well continue to be responsible in our work on the important issues that AI raises, and will find different ways of getting outside opinions on these topics. Vox earlier reported Googles decision to disband the council. The outside council was intended to help the tech giant implement its own AI ethical principles, guidelines that were put in place last year after an employee rebellion forced Google to retreat from a military cloud-computing contract. Hundreds of employees signed a petition circulating last week to remove Kay Coles James, president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, citing concerns about her positions on gay and transgender people. To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Bergen in San Francisco at mbergen10@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Rob Golum For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. * Lower prices come amid concerns of possible global recession * Asian coal & LNG prices crash: https://tmsnrt.rs/2CWo2Gw * European API coal futures also slump: https://tmsnrt.rs/2CZpqIj By Henning Gloystein SINGAPORE, April 5 (Reuters) - Australian thermal coal prices this week registered their biggest weekly fall since the financial market turmoil of a decade ago as demand plunged with the end of winter and amid worries over the strength of the global economy. Coal prices for prompt loading at Australia's Newcastle terminal have lost almost 20 percent since last Friday, dropping to $72 per tonne, their lowest since May 2017, and marking the steepest weekly decline since the global financial crisis of 2008/2009. Coal has slumped by 40 percent from a mid-2018 peak of more than $120 per tonne. This week's plunge comes just days after Australian miners and Japanese power utilities settled a fixed delivery price for April 2019 to March 2020 of $94.75 per tonne. "Many times in the past, we've seen Newcastle soften after the April-March negotiations have been finalised," said Pat Markey, managing director of Singapore-based commodity consultancy Sierra Vista Resources. Japan is the biggest buyer of Australian thermal coal. The contract to March 2020 was 14 percent lower than the price for a year-long deal for supplies through September this year. Traders said the slump comes amid a slowdown in industry activity in Asia, Europe and North America that has triggered fears of a global recession. The coal slump also follows a 60 percent crash in Asian prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) (LNG-AS), coal's most direct competitor as a power generation fuel. DEMAND FROM BIGGEST IMPORTERS FALLS Trade data on Refinitiv Eikon showed a sharp weekly fall in thermal coal imports from Australia's biggest buyers of China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. These countries' overall imports fell to 11.8 million tonnes from 16.1 million tonnes between weeks 12 and 13 of this year. Story continues In India, coal imports have slowed despite strong demand as domestic output rose from Coal India, the world's biggest coal miner. Coal India's fourth-quarter coal production last year rose 2.6 percent from a year earlier to 155.97 million tonnes, and output rose further in the first quarter of 2019 as the company re-opened previously closed mines. European coal demand has fallen with the end of the heating season but also as its biggest economy and coal user, Germany, teeters on the edge of a recession. European benchmark API2 2020 coal futures have lost almost a third in value since their 2018 peak, to a close of $72 per tonne on Thursday. Adding to the woes of Australian coal miners has been a sharp decline in Chinese imports as customs have been slow to clear Australian cargoes. Chinese imports of Australian thermal coal have fallen from 2 million tonnes in January, to around 1.3 million tonnes in March, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data. The slump comes partly because of high coal inventories in China, the world's biggest coal importer. Refinitiv coal analyst Vishal Thiruvedula estimated that stocks at the main Bohai seaports of Caofeidian, Qinhuangdao and Jingtang in Northern China have risen by over 2 million tonnes since this time last year, to 16.2 million tonnes in March. Given the end of the peak demand winter season and the onset of wet spring weather, these high stocks are unlikely to be drawn down soon, he said. Thiruvedula said an increase in Chinese hydro power production due to higher rainfall in the coming weeks would also result in "reduced coal burn for April to June". (Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Tom Hogue) Expanding its medical office building (MOB) portfolio, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated HR recently purchased four MOBs in three separate transactions. The company shelled $121 million for the acquisition. Notably, net proceeds amounting to $115.9 million from the companys recent equity offering was utilized to fund the acquisition. Transactions Details On Mar 28, Healthcare Realty acquired a multi-tenant MOB on Indiana University Healths Methodist Hospital campus in Indianapolis. The purchase price was $47 million. Further, the 143,499-square-foot building is now 100% leased. On the same day, the company acquired two multi-tenant MOBs on the campus of Inova Health Systems Fair Oaks Hospital, in the Washington, D.C. region, for an aggregate price of $46 million. The buildings, spanning 158,338 square feet of space, are 72.8% leased. Lastly, on Apr 2, it acquired a multi-tenant MOB, spanning 47,936 square feet, for $28 million. The property, adjacent to Piedmont Hospital in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, is 100% leased. The four properties were acquired at average capitalization rate of 5.3% and are currently 87.7% leased. The transaction enhances Healthcare Realtys foothold in three of its top markets. Further, it strengthens the companys relationships with three preeminent, high-grade health systems. As demand for MOBs continues to surge, Healthcare Realtys focus on this property type is a strategic fit. The heightening popularity of MOBs and outpatient facilities can be tied to the fact that these are considered the safest healthcare realties. This is because MOBs are less vulnerable to reimbursement and regulation changes, and have predictable revenue streams compared with other healthcare real estate assets with similar exposure. In fact, going by statistics, the U.S. hospital and outpatient care-center market is projected to grow from $1060 billion in 2016 to more than $1275 billion by 2020. While companies like While Healthcare Trust of America HTA and Physicians Realty Trust DOC have been benefiting from their existing MOB footprint, peers like HCP Inc. HCP and Ventas Inc. VTR are emphasizing on strategies to invest more in these healthcare assets. Story continues Shares of this Zacks #3 (Hold) Ranked company have outperformed its industry over the past six months, gaining 12.6% compared to the industrys growth of 11.4%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%. See Latest Stocks Today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. (HTA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (HR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Physicians Realty Trust (DOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ventas, Inc. (VTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report HCP, Inc. (HCP) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler urges Attorney General William Barr to "immediately" publicly release any summaries within special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report. Nadler bases his latest request on "troubling" reports that Mueller's team had prepared summaries of their findings from the nearly two-year Russia probe. Nadler also asked for "all communications between the special counsel's office and the Department [of Justice] regarding the report." House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., on Thursday urged Attorney General William Barr to "immediately" publicly release any summaries within special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report. Nadler, whose committee voted a day earlier to authorize a subpoena for an unredacted copy of the confidential report, based his latest request on "troubling" reports that Mueller's team had prepared summaries of their findings from the nearly two-year Russia probe. Those reported summaries were not used by Barr in his initial letters to lawmakers sharing information about the report a decision that has frustrated some members of the special counsel's team, who believe Barr may have inadequately described Mueller's findings, according to NBC News . "I write to you regarding troubling press reports relating to your handling of Special Counsel Mueller's report, and to urge that you immediately release to the public any 'summaries' contained in the report that may have been prepared by the Special Counsel," Nadler told Barr in a letter , revealed Thursday afternoon. Nadler also asked for "all communications between the special counsel's office and the Department [of Justice] regarding the report." Nadler cited earlier reports from The New York Times and The Washington Post , which referenced government officials and other people familiar with the investigators' frustrations. Story continues Democrats have questioned, and sometimes criticized, Barr's decision to prepare his own four-page summary of the principal conclusions from Mueller's nearly 400-page report, less than two days after that report had been delivered to the Justice Department on March 22. The report ended the special counsel's 22-month probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump himself. Barr's brief version said that Mueller did not find sufficient evidence to merit a charge of obstruction of justice against the president. Barr also said that the special counsel did not establish collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Trump and his supporters have celebrated the findings as interpreted by Barr, claiming vindication after more than a year of the president lambasting the probe a "witch hunt." Trump tore into the Times' report in a Thursday morning tweet, claiming without evidence that the newspaper used "no legitimate sources, which would be totally illegal, concerning the Mueller Report." @realDonaldTrump: The New York Times had no legitimate sources, which would be totally illegal, concerning the Mueller Report. In fact, they probably had no sources at all! They are a Fake News paper who have already been forced to apologize for their incorrect and very bad reporting on me! A Justice Department spokeswoman said in a statement: "Given the extraordinary public interest in the matter, the Attorney General decided to release the report's bottom-line findings and his conclusions immediately without attempting to summarize the report with the understanding that the report itself would be released after the redaction process." Republicans have slammed as "political theater" the Democrats' vote to authorize a subpoena for the "full and complete" Mueller report and its underlying evidence. But Nadler said in his letter that "Congress is entitled to the entire record" without redactions. "But we have a common obligation to share as much of that record with the public as we can," Nadler continued. "Additionally, if the Special Counsel's summaries fit the summary you provided on March 24, that would alleviate substantial concerns that the House Judiciary Committee may wish to discuss when you appear to testify. If there is significant daylight between his account and yours, the American people should know that too." More From CNBC Current Global Offers Multi-Disciplinary, Integrated Communications New York, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interpublic Group (IPG) announced today that it is merging two public relations brands in its portfolio, U.S.-based Current Marketing and global agency Creation. The newly combined agency, Current Global , specializes in consumer marketing, corporate, health and technology. Spanning 30 offices, Current Global launches with major operations across the U.S., U.K., Germany, Brazil, China and India. With more than 200 team members, the firm offers a comprehensive portfolio of PR and integrated communications services, with expertise in earned, social, digital and paid media, as well as strategic planning, analytics and content production. Current Global will be co-led by CEOs Virginia Devlin (Chicago) and George Coleman (London). Current Global is a powerful new mid-sized agency offer with considerable creative firepower, further strengthening our roster of public relations firms that includes Weber Shandwick, Golin, DeVries Global, Rogers & Cowan, Carmichael Lynch Relate and PMK/BNC, said Michael Roth, chairman and chief executive officer of Interpublic. Devlin underscored the new agencys proposition for client partners. This merger unites two highly successful agencies that share a common purpose to deliver innovative and impactful work that helps our clients own the moment, said Devlin, who has led Current Marketing since it launched in 2006. The collective diversity of our talent, expertise and creativity is inspiring, and we have the capability to address any kind of business or brand challenge anywhere our clients need us. The combined resources and intellectual brainpower at the agencys disposal will enable it to innovative faster, do more transformative work and deliver enhanced value for clients and employees alike. The synergy between Creation and Current was obvious from the moment we started collaborating, added Coleman, formerly president of Creation. Our culture, mindset and vision were simpatico, and together well be able to fast-track strategic investments in people, innovation and IP helping us bring new ideas and services to market. Both agencies have formidable track records, but the best is ahead of us. Story continues Creation initially launched as a multi-media production agency in the U.K. in 2011 and grew into a multi-disciplined communications agency in 2015 with an impressive portfolio of blue-chip clients around the world. Current boasts a successful track record of 13 years of growth in the U.S., establishing itself as a leading consumer marketing agency. Both have won significant industry recognition, including nine Cannes Lions, and have consistently outperformed the market in terms of growth. # # # About Interpublic Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include Acxiom, Craft, FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding), FutureBrand, Golin, Huge, Initiative, Jack Morton, MAGNA, McCann, Momentum, MRM//McCann, MullenLowe Group, Octagon, R/GA, UM and Weber Shandwick. Other leading brands include Avrett Free Ginsberg, Campbell Ewald, Carmichael Lynch, Deutsch, Hill Holliday, ID Media and The Martin Agency. For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com . About Current Global Current Global is a unit of IPGs (IPG) Constituency Management Group and its portfolio of public relations and communications firms. A midsized global agency with a full-service offering, our team of inquisitive, insightful and imaginative people mix scientific rigor with creativity to get to the very core of how communications can drive outcomes. Our heritage is a deep understanding of earned media, but were equally adept at developing integrated campaigns that encompass paid, owned and social, too. To find out how we help clients Own the Moment, visit www.currentglobal.com . # # # Contact Information Tom Cunningham (Press IPG) (212) 704-1326 Alexis Valenti (Press Current Global) (312) 929-0504 Jerry Leshne (Analysts, Investors) (212) 704-1439 DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's largest newspaper group, Independent News & Media, said on Thursday that it had received an approach in relation to a possible offer for the company. INM, which owns Ireland's highest selling daily and Sunday newspapers, said discussions were at a preliminary stage and advised shareholders not to take any action as there was no certainty that any offer will be made or what the terms may be. The group's shares rose 23 percent to 0.09 euros after the statement. The Irish Times reported earlier on Thursday that INM Chief Executive Officer, Michael Doorly, raised the prospect of a sale in meetings with the Dublin investment community this week. INM noted the recent press speculation in its statement. The Irish Times quoted sources as saying German media group Axel Springer had taken a look at INM in the past, while Norwegian group Schibsted has also been rumoured to have an interest. INM, which has a market capitalisation of just over 100 million euros, has struggled with flagging profits in recent years and is currently subject to a court-ordered investigation into corporate governance issues. Ireland's High Court approved an application by the state's corporate watchdog last September to appoint inspectors to investigate potentially unlawful conduct at the group, including allegations that journalists data might have been accessed for an "improper purpose." (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Jeff Bezos holds on to his title as the worlds richest man after his split from wife Mackenzie. As part of the divorce settlement, Bezos will retain all voting rights and 75 per cent of the couple's $143 billion stake in the world's biggest online retailer. The divorce deal could see MacKenzie become one of the richest women in modern history, with her four per cent stake in the company valued at $35 billion. The billionaire couple announced their divorce in January, confirming in an online statement that they still remain cherished friends. In April, the pair released separate statements announcing they had finished the process of dissolving their marriage. Shortly after their divorce was announced, it emerged that Mr Bezos was dating TV presenter Lauren Sanchez, although sources persist that the relationship did not start until their marriages had ended. Heres everything you need to know about the man behind one of the worlds biggest companies: What is Jeff Bezos' net worth? The couple made the announcement on Twitter (AFP/Getty Images) In July 2018, Bezos was worth $150 billion, making him the richest man on earth since at least 1982, when Forbes first began their billionaire list. His net worth then soared to $160 million in February 2019 after his company surpassed Microsoft to become Wall Streets most valuable company. Whilst his net worth is set to decrease post-divorce, based on current market prices Bezos stake in Amazon is worth an estimated $107.4 billion. This still makes Bezos the worlds richest man, surpassing Bill Gates whose net worth is an estimated $96.5 billion, according to Forbes. How did Jeff Bezos make his money? Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 when it began as an online bookshop before selling a variety of different products, and it ended-up taking on established retail giants such as Walmart. The company has since continued to diversify and grow, through acquisitions such as Whole Foods and services such as Amazon Web Services. Under Bezos, Amazon also launched the Kindle e-reader and revolutionized the way books are distributed and read. The company has also been a pioneer in cloud computing. Story continues At the end of 2015, the e-commerce company announced 304 million active member accounts. In 2018, Amazon's stock soared by 60% and had a market value of more than $890 billion. Bezos is the largest shareholder with a 16% stake in the company. He also personally owns the Washington Post and Blue Origin, a space exploration company. Who is his wife, Mackenzie Bezos? Jeff Bezos (L) and MacKenzie Bezos attend the March 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Getty Images) Novelist Mackenzie Bezos married Jeff in 1993 before they both quit their jobs and relocated to Seattle to found Amazon. Mackenzie, 48, grew up in San Francisco and attended Princeton University, before she met her husband when interviewing for a job at a New York hedge fund. She was one of the first Amazon employees, doing the accounting for the company in the first year, with Bezos saying last year that her support was instrumental in founding the company. He has said of his wife: "I think my wife is resourceful, smart, brainy and hot, but I had the good fortune of having seen her resume before I met her, so I knew exactly what her SATs were." The couple have four children and are the 25th largest landowners in the US. Last year, they launched the Bezos Day One Fund, offering a two billion dollar fund to help homeless families and build pre-schools in low-income neighbourhoods. Why are they divorcing? According to the Twitter statement, the couple decided to divorce after a long period of "living exploration" and "trial separation". Bezos wrote: "We want to make people aware of a development in our lives. "As our family and close friends know, after a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends. "We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again. "We've had such a great life together as a married couple, and we also see wonderful futures ahead, and projects, and as individuals pursuing ventures and adventures. Though the labels might be different, we remain a family, and we remain cherished friends." Who else is on the Forbes billionaire list? Slipping to second place is Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who last hit the $100 billion mark in 1982. Also in the top five is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg in at number 5 with a fortune of $71 billion and CEO of Louis Vuitton Bernard Arnault at number 4 with a fortune of $72 billion. A month has gone by since the last earnings report for John Wiley & Sons (JW.A). Shares have lost about 0.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is John Wiley & Sons due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. John Wiley's Q3 Earnings & Revenues Miss, Down Y/Y John Wiley & Sons released third-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein both the top and bottom-line decreased year over year and also fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third straight time. Continued softness in Publishing revenues and costs related to increased growth investments remained deterrents for the company in the quarter under review. John Wiley & Sons also reiterated its previously-issued drab earnings outlook for fiscal 2019. Such downsides were enough to mar investors confidence in the stock, which decreased more than 16% during the trading session on Mar 5. Q3 in Detail John Wiley & Sons adjusted earnings of 61 cents per share tumbled approximately 30% year over year and dropped 22% on a constant-currency (cc) basis. The bottom line also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents, which marked the companys third consecutive miss after seven straight quarterly beats. Revenues of $449.4 million dipped 1% year over year (up 1% on a cc basis) and also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $469 million. Results were hurt by persistent weakness at the Publishing division, while the Solutions segment continued with its robust show. Revenues in the Research segment also increased. Adjusted operating income came in at around $50 million compared with $67.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating income plunged 21% at cc. The downside can be primarily attributed to higher spending on marketing and enrollment services. Also, adjusted operating margin contracted 370 basis points to 11.1%. Segmental Details Research revenues increased 1% year over year, while it rose 5% at cc. Results were fueled by double-digit improvements in Open Access and Atypon Publishing Technology Services. Journal subscriptions declined 1% on a cc. The segments adjusted contribution to profit increased 8% at cc on account of higher revenues. Publishing revenues dropped 14% on a reported basis and 13% at cc due to dismal performance by Educational Publishing, STM and Professional Publishing. This was somewhat offset by growth in WileyPLUS as well as Test Preparation and Certification. Adjusted contribution to profit dipped 28% at cc due to soft revenues. At the Solutions segment, revenues increased 25%, which grew 26% at cc. The upside was backed by gains from the Learning House buyout as well as advancements in Professional Assessment, Corporate Learning and Education Services. However, the Solutions segment incurred a loss of $3.4 million due to high marketing expenses and the dilutive impacts from the acquisition of Learning House. Other Financial Update John Wiley & Sons generated $47.6 million of cash from operating activities in the nine months (ended on Jan 31, 2019). Further, the company used free cash flow (net of Product Development Spending) of $16.6 million. Capital expenditures (including Technology, Property, and Equipment and Product development spending) totaled $64 million. In fiscal 2019, capital expenditures are expected to decrease by $50 million compared with $150.7 million incurred in fiscal 2018. Management expects cash provided by operations to decline mid-teen digits from the year-ago level of $381.8 million. John Wiley & Sons raised its quarterly dividend to 33 cents in June, 2018. In the nine months, the company bought back shares worth roughly $35 million and paid $57million as dividends. Other Developments & Guidance The company has made significant progress during the quarter and is set to strengthen its partnership with Germanys DEAL. Further, management expects to gain from university partners, new research publishing ventures and focus on expanding in growth areas. The companys focus on enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs also bode well. For fiscal 2019, management reiterated its earnings and revenue guidance. Revenues are expected to be flat year over year at $1796.1 million. Furthermore, the company completed its acquisition of The Learning House on Nov 1, 2018, which is expected to contribute around $30 million to revenues and boost earnings by 15 cents. Adjusted earnings (at cc) are anticipated to decline mid-single digits from $3.43 in the previous fiscal. Story continues How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then? Fresh estimates followed an upward path over the past two months. The consensus estimate has shifted 9.78% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, John Wiley & Sons has a subpar Growth Score of D, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook John Wiley & Sons has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (JW.A) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research If you are looking for ways to lift your credit score, you may want to take notes from people who have top ratings. The average FICO credit score reached 704 last year, according to a report released by the scoring company in September, notching an all-time high. A credit score between 670 and 739 is generally considered good. But even as credit scores have been rising, many are burdened by mounting debt loads. In fact overall household debt levels are at a record high, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Student debt, in particular, is weighing heavily on younger Americans which may be affecting credit quality. While the average person does not have an exceptional credit score (between 800 and 850), there are a number of common financial patterns and habits among those who do. In order to find out what it takes to get that exceptional rating, online lending marketplace LendingTree looked at the credit reports of thousands of people with credit at that levels. Heres a look at what the study found: They pay bills on time Every single person with a credit score of 800 or more paid their bills on time that includes Americans across every age group. The average person in the U.S., on the other hand, has about six late payments in his or her credit history. Credit utilization While the average person with a credit score of 800 had more than $71,000 worth of credit available to her, average credit balances are $3,685 meaning these individuals use just 5 percent of available credit. According to LendingTree, credit bureaus tend to lower your score if your credit utilization ratio gets too high. Debt levels People with pristine credit scores had average mortgage debt of $126,306, and $22,000 worth of other debt including car loans. The average level of mortgage debt was highest among people belonging to Generation X at $165,095. Millennials in the 800 club carried the highest average levels of student loan debt, at $9,370. Story continues People with 800 credit scores also tended to have a mix of debt products, with an average of nine accounts open. Over the past two years, however, they only had two hard credit pulls which typically occurs when a landlord looks into credit or the person applies for a loan, for example. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP Credit histories Those with desirable credit scores tended to have long credit histories, with the average around 22 years. Even among millennials the average was 14.5 years. Having older active accounts earns higher credit ratings because it shows the individual can maintain a healthy relationship with a lender over time. Related Articles falcon-embed src="embed_1" U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was adamant on March 30 when he told a friendly Pepperdine University School of Law audience that he had no plans to retire from the court. News reports after the event reported that the 70-year-old Thomas said he was not retiring anytime soon, quashing rumors that he planned to do so during the term of President Donald Trump. But a video of the event posted for the first time on Thursday makes it clear it was not just a casual statement. During a conversation in front of the audience at a Beverly Hills hotel, incoming Pepperdine University president James Gash, who once interviewed to be a clerk for Thomas, hypothetically asked the justice who he would like to have speak at his retirement party in 20 years. But Im not retiring! Thomas said emphatically. Twenty years? Gash asked. No! Thomas replied. Thirty years? Again, Thomas said, No! Thomas was just as assertive during the rest of the conversation on topics ranging from how he hires his law clerks to the role religion plays in judicial decision-making, and Thomass own deep faith as a Catholic. Gash asked him about the statement made in 2017 by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, during the confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit: The dogma lives loudly within you, and that is a concern. Thomas quickly replied, I thought we got away from religious tests. He said he followed Justice Antonin Scalias admonition that personal views had no role to play in judging. But he said that religion plays a positive role in the sense that when he took his oath to follow the law, he made an oath to God as well. It enhances your view of the oath, Thomas said. Thomas added that the oath was a reminder that you are not God, a valuable thing to remember in Washington, which he said is a dangerous place. Inside the Supreme Court itself, he said, If you dont have faith or humility, your ego can expand quickly. It is a dangerous place. The justice, who told the audience that he ran away from the Catholic Church in 1968 but crawled back in 1993, said he starts his workdays by attending church. When you start the day on your knees, you approach your job differently, he said. Its hard to feel you are superior. Brittney Lane Kubisch, a Pepperdine Law graduate who clerked for Thomas in 2017 and 2018, also spoke at the event, stating that her year with the justice taught her to be a good person before a good lawyer. As for hiring his clerks, Thomas said he looks for hungry young people from modest circumstances with a lot of horsepower, joking that when one of his clerks said he worked 16 hours a day, he replied, Thats reasonable. He also looks, without hesitation, to potential clerks from colleges and universities other than Harvard or Yale. Thomas said all communications with clerks in his chambers are sent as emails to and from all of the clerks. We dont have any internal secrets or games. Just inside his chambers, Thomas said he hung up four coat hooks and a sign that said, Hang Egos Here. Story continues Read more: Justice Clarence Thomas Stirs Up a First Amendment Squabble Over Libel Law SCOTUS Issues Eleventh-Hour Stay in Execution of Texas Buddhist Inmate Clarence Thomas, in Dissent, Asserts Gun Rights Aren't 'Favored' at High Court Thomas and Gorsuch Call for Curbs on Federal Agency Power Justice Thomas Ventures Beyond Elite Schools to Fill Clerkship Posts Cannabis-focused Merida Capital Partners announced a number of developments, including the launch of its third fund, opening a new office in Canada and expanding its team with three new hires. Merida's third $200 million fund will focus on concentrated, high conviction investments in leading companies in the cannabis industry. The fund said it has more than $125 million under management. The Cannabis Capital Conference returns to Toronto April 17-18! In addition, as part of its international expansion, Merida has opened an office in Toronto that will work with its flagship office in New York and satellite offices in San Francisco and Bethesda, Maryland. Merida also expanded its management team to 19, by hiring Dr. Deb Kimless as Chief Scientific Officer, Matthew Bartlett as West Coast Operating Partner, and David Lubotta joined the fund in the partner role and will be overseeing the fund's operations from the new Toronto office. All new hires have extensive backgrounds in the cannabis industry. Merida Capital Management was founded in late 2016 and has deployed nearly $80 million across its first two funds. The fund invested in a number of companies that went public, such as GrowGeneration Corp (OTC: GRWG), Vireo Health International (OTC:VREOF) and KushCo Holdings Inc (OTC: KSHB). Related Links: CB2 Insights Acquires Cannabis Clinical Group Relaxed Clarity Vertical Companies Closes M Series A Financing Round See more from Benzinga 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. By Johan Ahlander, Esha Vaish and John O'Donnell STOCKHOLM/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Money laundering allegations involving Sweden and Denmark have shattered faith in the open Nordic business culture, prompting demands for tighter controls on the banks held responsible. Ranked among the least corrupt countries by anti-graft campaign group Transparency International, Sweden and Denmark have been rocked by investigations into Danske Bank and Swedbank, knocking billions off their value. Politicians, regulators and investors now want closer policing and more stringent penalties, unwinding a system where the state largely trusted banks to keep themselves in check. "Openness is key in our society. This is a system built on trust and that trust has decreased quite substantially," Swedish financial markets minister Per Bolund told Reuters. "It's not enough to fire one person," Bolund said of Swedbank's dismissal last week of Birgitte Bonnesen as chief executive, adding that an overhaul of its controls was needed, in a clear signal of future government action. "That has to go all the way from the top to the bottom." Sweden has yet to announce substantial reforms following the emergence of money laundering allegations against Swedbank which originated in Europe's Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia. Latvia, a former Soviet state with a large Russian-speaking minority, had modelled itself as a financial bridge for Russians moving money to Europe. Similar profitable activity took place in Estonia, but has now become a reputational liability. Danske Bank has been ejected from Estonia after admitting 200 billion euros ($225 billion) of suspicious money movements flowed through its branch there between 2007 and 2015. And it is also pulling out of neighbouring Baltic states. Danish academic Gert Svendsen, author of 'Trust', says the scandals risk undermining a central tenet of Nordic culture. "People become happier if you can do things based on trust. That explains why Swedes and Danes are quite happy," he said. Story continues WIDER WAVES The money laundering scandals, which have been growing week by week, are shaking politics as well as the boardroom. In Denmark, which was first to be hit by Danske Bank, the scandal bolstered support for a left-wing opposition bloc that some polls suggest could oust the right-wing coalition in elections expected by June. In response, the Danish government plans to create what one minister dubbed a "more aggressive financial regulator", doubling the officials fighting money laundering to 24, allowing it to fine banks for breaches or insert an observer on a board. "In the case of Danske Bank, we've seen how authorities send letters back and forth for seven or eight years before it was stopped," Danish business minister Rasmus Jarlov said, announcing the shift towards U.S.-style controls. Sweden may follow suit, with prime minister Stefan Lofven last week saying he could "strengthen legislation" following criticism that regulators have been too lax. Last year the management of Sweden's financial watchdog went against its own experts' recommendations that it should sanction several of the major bank for insufficient money-laundering controls, opting instead to send warning letters. The FSA also had to tighten rules requiring banks to set aside more funds for home loan losses after the central bank said it was being too generous. And Joacim Olsson, head of the Swedish Shareholders' Association has criticised it for being tough on smaller banks but softer on large ones. "We in Sweden as a whole, and other regulators, have done too little. That is the conclusion from Danske Bank," Swedish FSA head Erik Thedeen told reporters last month. Louise Brown of Transparency International said Sweden needed to reform, adding: "We need to upgrade both regulatory execution and corporate governance". REGULATORY RELATIONS The Danske Bank and Swedbank scandals have also raised questions about often close relationships between regulators and the banks the oversee. Former Danish FSA chairman Henrik Ramlau-Hansen, who had served as finance chief at Danske Bank for five years before joining the FSA in 2016, stepped down in May last year. Denmark now prohibits the chairman and deputy chairman to have worked at financial institutions for five years prior. Sweden's FSA boss Thedeen had in previous roles worked with Swedbank's board member Peter Norman, although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by either. The FSA has said that Thedeen earlier recused himself from the Swedbank investigation due to the conflict of interest, and that money laundering supervision, including the probe, were being handled by his deputy. For some, such closeness is inevitable. "Sweden is quite a small country," said Torbjorn Hallo, an economist at the Swedish Trade Union Confederation. "Most people know each other." And some investors say it is time for change. "We have had some concerns about the Nordic model ... for some time. Often boards lack industry experience, and are instead pulled from a local pool," the head of corporate governance at one London fund manager said, adding that the management often goes unchallenged as a result. ($1 = 0.8892 euros) (Additional reporting by Teis Jensen in Copenhagen and Simon Jessop in London; Writing by John O'Donnell; Editing by Alexander Smith) (Adds analyst comment, updates share prices) By Jonathan Stempel and Deena Beasley NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES, April 4 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG sued Amgen Inc on Thursday, accusing the U.S. biotechnology company of trying to wrongfully back out of agreements to jointly develop and market the migraine prevention drug Aimovig and keep the profits for itself. The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan comes as drugmakers move to build share in the large market for new treatments to prevent migraine headaches. Aimovig, which won U.S. and European approvals last year, belongs to a new class of medicines that also includes Eli Lilly and Co's Emgality and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's Ajovy. Novartis called Aimovig a "runaway success," used by about 210,000 patients in the United States and 20,000 elsewhere. Roughly 39 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. Global drug sales to treat migraines could total $8.7 billion by 2026, according to the GlobalData analytics firm. Amgen, in an emailed statement, said it is seeking to terminate the collaboration agreements with Novartis and obtain damages, but termination would not be effective until the litigation is resolved. In its complaint, Novartis said it has spent at least $870 million on Aimovig since it began collaborating in August 2015 with Amgen, which previously controlled rights to the drug. Novartis accused Amgen of trying to back out of their collaboration agreements based on the pretext that the Swiss company's Sandoz unit was working with Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc on a possible Aimovig rival. "The program about which Amgen has complained is being terminated," Novartis said, and the lack of a breach means Amgen's April 2 notice terminating the collaboration agreements should be deemed void. Novartis said that Sandoz this year amended its contract manufacturing agreement with Alder, agreeing to continue supplying Alder's drug only through 2023. Story continues "Amgen now wants to keep the Aimovig profits for itself and deprive Novartis Pharma of its contractual right to share in the product's success and recoup its significant investments," Novartis said. The lawsuit seeks to enforce the companies' collaboration agreements and declare Amgen's purported termination void. Alder said it is not a party to the pending litigation between Novartis and Amgen. "Sandoz is a separate entity who does contract manufacturing for many companies who would compete with an Amgen or whatever," Alder Chief Executive Robert Azelby told Reuters in a telephone interview. RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams said in a research note: "We see it as highly unlikely that Sandoz would breach its own agreement with Alder, and in such a case would owe Alder substantial compensation." Azelby said Alder intends to keep all U.S. marketing rights for eptinezumab migraine treatment, but is looking for a partner to sell it in other parts of the world. Novartis' U.S.-listed shares fell 0.8 percent to close at $94.22, while Amgen shares dropped 0.6 percent, closing at $192.33. Alder's shares fell 4.9 percent to close at $13.33. The case is Novartis Pharma AG v. Amgen Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 19-02993. (Reporting by Deena Beasley in Los Angeles, Jonathan Stempel in New York, and John Miller in Zurich; editing by Bill Berkrot and Dan Grebler) Rep. Tim Ryan will run for president in 2020. Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, has touted efforts to boost manufacturing and the auto industry in his district and could challenge Trump directly on those issues. Ryan, whose challenge to Nancy Pelosi from the center failed in 2016, will likely position himself as a moderate option in the field. Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat best known for trying to topple Nancy Pelosi as House Democratic leader, will run for president, he announced Thursday. The congressman, who has served since 2003, enters a crowded Democratic presidential field jockeying to take on President Donald Trump next year. More than a dozen Democrats have already declared their candidacy. Ryan, whose challenge to Pelosi from the center failed in 2016, will likely position himself as a moderate option in the field. The congressman represents a district with a large auto-industry presence. He will likely tout his efforts to boost manufacturing and working-class Americans in a challenge to Trump's outreach to blue-collar workers. "When our local GM factory was shutdown last Thanksgiving, I got a call from my daughter who was consoling her friend whose father was an auto worker and was just laid off. My daughter said to me, with tears in her voice, 'You have to do something,'" reads his campaign website launched Thursday . "That's why I am running for President. It's time to do something." He also cites issues such as health care, education and veterans' care on his campaign website. Ryan faces an uphill climb in a field that already contains six senators and two current and former governors and which could soon include a former vice president. Still, the 45-year-old congressman could see his background and experience in swing state Ohio as an asset, especially after Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, declined to run for president. Trump won the state comfortably in 2016, in part by pledging to renegotiate trade deals and boost the auto industry in the state. Ryan represents Lordstown, where General Motors shut down a manufacturing plant last month . The community will lose about 1,300 jobs, though about 417 of those will transfer to other GM plants. Story continues In November, Ryan said Trump "has been asleep at the switch and owes this community an explanation" for the facility closure. Trump has recently criticized GM and pushed the company to reopen the Lordstown plant . Every presidential election winner has carried Ohio since 1964. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. More From CNBC Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldnt want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value? One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Lets put Owens-Illinois, Inc. OI stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks: PE Ratio A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stocks current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole. On this front, Owens-Illinois has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 6.94, as you can see in the chart below: This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 18.06. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, Owens-Illinois current PE level puts it below its midpoint over the past five years. Further, the stocks PE also compares favorably with the Zacks Industrial Products sectors trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 17.33. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers. We should also point out that Owens-Illinois has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this years earnings) of just 6.48, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for Owens-Illinois stock in the near term too. Story continues P/S Ratio Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stocks price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings. Right now, Owens-Illinois has a P/S ratio of about 0.43. This is significantly lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 3.29 right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this is below the highs for this stock in particular over the past few years. If anything, OI is near the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued tradingat least compared to historical norms. Broad Value Outlook In aggregate, Owens-Illinois currently has a Value Score of A, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Owens-Illinois a solid choice for value investors, and some of its other key metrics make this pretty clear too. For example, the PEG ratio for Owens-Illinois is just 0.88, a level that is lower than the industry average of 0.98. The PEG ratio is a modified PE ratio that takes into account the stocks earnings growth rate. Additionally, the P/CF ratio for Owens-Illinois came in at 3.19, which is a bit lower than the industry average of 4.50. Clearly, Owens-Illinois is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles. What About the Stock Overall? Though Owens-Illinois might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of A. This gives OI a Zacks VGM score or its overarching fundamental grade of A. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >> ) Meanwhile, the companys recent earnings estimates have been disappointing. The current quarter has seen three estimates go lower in the past sixty days compared to no movement in the opposite direction, while the full year estimate has seen two down and one up in the same time period. This has had a negative impact on the consensus estimate though as the current quarter consensus estimate has declined by 20.9% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has decreased by 0.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below: Owens-Illinois, Inc. Price and Consensus Owens-Illinois, Inc. Price and Consensus | Owens-Illinois, Inc. Quote Despite the bearish analyst sentiments, the stock holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Thus, we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term. Bottom Line Owens-Illinois is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible line up of statistics on this front. A strong industry rank (among top 42% of more than 250 industries) further instils our confidence. However, a Zacks Rank #3 makes it hard to get too excited about this company overall. In fact, over the past two years, the Zacks Glass Products industry has clearly underperformed the market at large, as you can see below: So, value investors might want to wait for estimates and analyst sentiment to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Owens-Illinois, Inc. (OI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Adds context on international sales) By Mike Stone WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - The United States is considering expanding sales of Lockheed Martin Corp-made F-35 fighter jets to five new nations including Romania, Greece and Poland as European allies bulk up their defenses in the face of a strengthening Russia, a Pentagon official told Congress on Thursday. In written testimony submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives and seen by Reuters, Vice Admiral Mathias Winter - the head of the Pentagon's F-35 office - said that "future potential Foreign Military Sales customers include Singapore, Greece, Romania, Spain and Poland." News of the new customers coincides with U.S. tension with F-35 development partner Turkey over Ankara's plans to buy a Russian missile defense system. Foreign military sales like those of the F-35 are considered government-to-government deals where the Pentagon acts as an intermediary between the defense contractor and a foreign government. Other U.S. allies have been eyeing a purchase of the stealthy jet including Finland, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Winter's full written testimony, which will be made public as soon as Friday, said the United States would respond to all official requests for information about the jet. Last year, Belgium was the first new customer for the F-35 in years, choosing it over the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace its ageing F-16s in a 4 billion euro ($4.55 billion) deal. Under President Donald Trump the United States has rolled out a "Buy American" plan that relaxed restrictions on sales and encouraged U.S. officials to take a bigger role in increasing business overseas for the U.S. weapons industry. Lockheed, the jet's prime contractor, is developing and building three models of the new warplanes for the U.S. military and 10 other countries that have signed up to buy the jets: Britain, Australia, Italy, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Belgium. U.S. arms sales to foreign governments rose 13 percent to $192.3 billion in the year ending Sept. 30, the State Department said in November. Lockheed delivered 91 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies in calendar 2018. (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington Editing by James Dalgleish) Earnings estimates for Portland General Electric Company POR have moved up 2.95% and 4.71% to $2.44 and $2.56 per share for 2019 and 2020 on a year-over-year basis, respectively. Portland General Electric engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. Lets focus on the factors that make Portland General Electric an appropriate investment option at the moment. Price Movement In the past 12 months, Portland General Electrics shares have rallied 27.5% compared with the industrys rise of 11.1%. Earnings & Surprise History The company delivered fourth-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 55 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. The companys average four-quarter positive earnings surprise is 13.01%. Long-Term Growth & Dividend Yield The companys long-term (3 to 5 years) earnings growth is pegged at 4.10%. Currently, the company has a dividend yield of 2.81% compared with the Zacks S&P 500 Composites 1.94%. Debt/Capital The companys current debt to capital ratio is pegged at 46.50% compared with the industrys 50.55%. Renewable Energy Focus The company focuses on reducing carbon emission and has chosen renewable sources like solar, wind and water to generate cleaner energy. Portland General Electrics aims to lower GHG emissions by more than 80% by 2050. The company plans to invest $2,735 million over 2019-2023, which includes the plan to add 100 megawatt of wind generation at Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility. Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks Portland General Electric currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Some other top-ranked stocks from the same industry are IDACORP, Inc IDA, The Southern Company SO and Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. AQN, each holding a Zacks Rank of 2. IDACORP pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 9.60% in the last four quarters. The companys long-term earnings growth is pegged at 4% The Southern Company pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 7.85% in the last four quarters. The companys long-term earnings growth is pegged at 4.50%. Algonquin Power & Utilities delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 22.48% in the last four quarters. The companys long-term earnings growth is pegged at 10.40%. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year. See their latest picks free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Southern Company (The) (SO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Portland General Electric Company (POR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research * Magnit confirms it made an offer to buy Lenta on April 1 * Lenta says Magnit's proposal worth $3.65 per GDR * Mordashov has agreed to buy 42 pct of Lenta at $3.60/GDR * Lenta's GDRs up 1.3 pct in London to $3.58 (Writes through, adds new statement from Magnit, context) By Polina Devitt and Maria Kiselyova MOSCOW, April 5 (Reuters) - Russian grocery chain Magnit has made a $1.78 billion non-binding and indicative proposal to smaller competitor Lenta, topping a rival offer from Russian steel magnate Alexey Mordashov, Lenta said on Friday. The arrival of a second potential bidder for Lenta inflates competition for the third-largest grocery retailer in Russia amid a decline in the shares of many Russian food retailers over the past year. Magnit sent its proposal to Lenta on April 1, the same day U.S. private equity fund TPG and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) agreed to sell their 42 percent stake in Lenta to Mordashov. Lenta said on Friday it had received the proposal from Magnit to buy 100 percent of the company for $3.65 per global depository receipt (GDR). Mordashov, whose Severgroup boasts Russian steel producer Severstal at the heart of its empire, had agreed to buy the 42 percent stake, to be followed by a cash offer for all the group's outstanding shares, at $3.60 per GDR. Severgroup declined to comment. Its deal with TPG and the EBRD is binding and expected to be approved by Russia's anti-monopoly regulator by the end of May. Remaining shareholders are free to sell their shares to whoever they want and Mordashov could conceivably resell to Magnit. Lenta said on Friday its independent directors had asked Magnit to confirm it wanted to pursue a deal in light of Mordashov's offer and, if so, to provide details about timing and any conditions. Magnit has not yet provided those details, Lenta said. Magnit confirmed that it was exploring a possible acquisition of 100 percent of Lenta's business. It, however, said that it was Lenta that had not replied to its letter with details on the proposed deal structure and terms on April 1. Story continues "Magnit is looking forward to receiving a response from Lenta and will then consider how it intends to proceed," it said in a statement, adding that no assurances can be given that any transaction would take place. Lenta's London-listed GDRs were up 1.3 percent at $3.58 on Friday. Lenta, with a 3.2 percent share of the Russian retail market, could help to boost Magnit's market leadership, while for Mordashov it would add a physical chain to his Utkonos business, the largest online grocery retailer in Russia, an industry source told Reuters. Prosperity Capital Management, which owns about 7 percent in Lenta, a stake in Magnit and rival X5, believes the price offered by Mordashov undervalues Lenta, while a deal with Magnit could achieve substantial cost savings, Alexey Krivoshapko, a portfolio manager at Prosperity, said. He said he hopes Magnit will make a formal bid for Lenta. (Reporting by Polina Devitt and Maria Kiselyova; additional reporting by Olga Popova; Editing by Maria Kiselyova, Mark Potter and Kirsten Donovan) (Note: Print or Digital Use Allowed. Please credit Stateline, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts. For downloadable graphics, please visit www.pewtrusts.org/stateline) By Christine and Vestal April 4(Stateline) - After securing a hefty financial settlement from Purdue Pharma last month, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter is training the states legal armaments on a much bigger pharmaceutical player: Johnson & Johnson. The company already has become a popular target. Many of the more than 1,600 opioid lawsuits in state and federal courts name Johnson & Johnson, even though its analgesic products account for less than 1% of the U.S. opioid market. But Oklahoma might be charting new legal territory in its recent salvo against the multinational manufacturer of drugs, medical devices and popular brands of baby shampoo and baby powder. Hoping to unseal millions of pages of company documents, Oklahomas lawyers contend that Johnson & Johnson did more than push its own pills it also profited from the prescription opioid crisis through its ownership of a poppy producer in Australia (Tasmanian Alkaloids) and a U.S. importer of raw materials used to make opioids (Noramco). Johnson & Johnsons painkiller brands included Duragesic, Nucynta and Nucynta ER. The company sold its rights to Nucynta products in 2015. The public disclosure of Purdues sinister actions is a drop in the bucket compared to the evidence generated in this litigation, demonstrating precisely how J&Ja family companyacted as the kingpin behind this Public Health Emergency, Oklahomas attorneys wrote in a February court filing. With the Oklahoma legislature scheduled to end its session May 31, three days after the opioid trial is slated to begin at the courthouse in Norman, the states attorneys argue that the need to publicly disclose Johnson & Johnson documents is urgent. The Legislature most certainly deserves to be fully informed of the facts revealed in this litigation in order to continue its urgent efforts to fight this Public Health Emergency, according to the motion. Oklahoma District Judge Thad Balkman has not yet responded to the states motion to unseal the documents. Story continues Our Legislature, Governor, policymakers and doctors need to know the truth about how one particular company, J&J, inserted itself into our State and sought to influence every opioid-related decision the State made or consideredfrom scheduling to swallowing, attorneys for Oklahoma wrote. The documents also would be made available to the public. Among the questions Oklahoma wants answered is whether Johnson & Johnsons marketing targeted children, veterans or the elderly. The motion also asks whether the company blocked legislation and regulatory action aimed at limiting opioid availability, whether it partnered with Purdue, and whether it paid neutral third parties as part of its internal marketing plan. Hunter and the outside lawyers representing Oklahoma declined several interview requests. In its own filing, Johnson & Johnson which divested both Tasmanian Alkaloids and Noramco in 2016 argues that Oklahomas goal in seeking to unseal the documents is to batter Oklahomans with sensationalistic headlines and to poison potential jurors against its opioid unit, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, in advance of the May 28 trial. Janssen dismissed Oklahomas charge that the companys ownership of poppy fields made it a conspirator in the opioid epidemic. As a supplier, we did not have any role in the manufacturing, development, sales and marketing of other manufacturers finished products, Janssen said in a statement emailed by a spokesman to Stateline. The allegations made against our company are baseless and unsubstantiated. The company also noted that it complied fully with strict U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration controls in importing poppy straw and other raw materials used to produce opioid anesthesia and pain medicines. Legal experts said other states might follow Oklahomas lead, but that it will be difficult to prove that Johnson & Johnsons poppy fields made it a major contributor to the opioid epidemic. University of Kentucky law professor Richard Ausness called Oklahomas strategy over the top. The only way Oklahoma could win that case is to prove some kind of conspiracy. It looks more like they are trying to browbeat Johnson & Johnson into settling, Ausness said. I can see why J&J would be particularly susceptible to that kind of pressure because they sell consumer products and theyre considered a family company, he said. If theyre painted as a villain, thats obviously going to hurt them. Until recently, the state and federal opioid lawsuits across the country mostly targeted Purdue Pharma, the company that developed and profited from OxyContin. But last month, Purdue Pharmas president and chief executive, Craig Landau, told the Washington Post that the company might pursue a Chapter 11 bankruptcy claim, a maneuver that could halt litigation against it. Now, many of the plaintiffs in a consolidated national case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio the National Prescription Opiate Litigation also are suing the Sackler family, which owns the company. Recent court filings in New York and elsewhere contend that Sackler family members who are worth an estimated $14 billion were deeply involved in the business decisions that worsened the opioid epidemic. Those filings followed the release in January of a previously redacted complaint filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in a Superior Court case against Purdue. In addition to the $270 million Oklahoma got from Purdue, last months historic settlement included an additional $75 million commitment from the Sackler family. Of the total, $102.5 million will fund a new addiction treatment and research center at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. Another $12.5 million will go to Oklahoma cities, counties and tribes for the damage caused by the opioid epidemic, along with $60 million to reimburse the state for its litigation costs. With Purdue and the Sackler family out of the picture in the Oklahoma case, the state may be trying to increase Johnson & Johnsons liability by linking it to Purdue and other drugmakers in an alleged conspiracy, said Case Western Reserve University law professor Andrew Pollis. Whether Oklahoma can produce documents proving such a conspiracy remains to be seen. In the meantime, the optics are bad for Johnson & Johnson, Pollis said. If they have nothing to hide, why are they trying to hide it? https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/04/04/opioid-crisis-kingpin-is-oklahomas-new-target-in-lawsuit By Geoffrey Smith Investing.com -- Europes stock markets were lower after early trade on Thursday, weighed down by fresh signs of weakness from the regions largest economy and unimpressed by seemingly positive news both on Brexit and the U.S.-China trade war. The benchmark Euro Stoxx 600 was down 1.14 points, or 0.3% at 387.42, while Germanys Dax was down 0.3% and the FTSE 100 down 0.6% as the pound pushed higher after parliament again voted against a no-deal Brexit. The sharpest drop in German factory orders in two years in February including a 6% drop in export orders has underlined again how much the euro zone has to lose both by a hard Brexit and by a continued trade war between the U.S. and China. The figures are consistent with a further drop in manufacturing activity in Germany in March. However, the most interesting story out there this morning doesnt concern trade. The Financial Times has reported that Unicredit (MI:CRDI), Italys second-biggest bank, is preparing a bid for Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) as an alternative to the all-German union of Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn). Commerzbanks shares are up 2.7%, while Unicredits and Deutsche's were both down 2.1%. The Deutsche-Commerzbank plan, pushed mostly by the government in Berlin that wants to create a national champion, has quickly run into huge opposition from regulators, shareholders and labor unions. Neither banks management has appeared especially keen, either. By contrast, a foreign buyer for Commerzbank would have the advantage of not creating a bank so large that it captured the countrys regulators. The trouble is that that leaves Deutsche Bank, a bank that is already on global regulators radar screens, unable to earn its way in the world and big enough to cause severe problems with the financial system if it ever gets into trouble. Nobody wants to merge with that bank because you dont know what you buy, Stefan Mueller, CEO of the German shareholder advisory body DGWA, told Bloomberg earlier Thursday, pointing to unresolved issues regarding its connections to money-laundering by Scandinavian banks, and to its close and controversial relationship with Donald Trump before he became President. Story continues Related Articles Delta forecasts second-quarter profit above expectations Russian investigators call for U.S. investor to be let out of jail Tech in driver's seat as S&P 500 flirts with record Good day, The recent flooding in the Midwest devastated some farmers, but good Samaritans came to the rescue, and that included trucking interests. Dozens of trucks delivered rolls of hay on Tuesday in Platte County, Nebraska, and that has continued an effort that has gone on for the past two weeks across the Midwest. ""We are trying to help farmers up here; there are so many who need it (hay) because of the flood," Charles Earnest, a driver for S R Farms out of Wilsonville, Nebraska, told the Henry Herald newspaper. "All of this is donated the trucking and hay, just from different people around the (McCook) area. We are just out here trying to help out." Non-profit organization Farm Rescue has helped organize the Nebraska efforts, which is facing farm and ranch losses of up to $1 billion. "We have heard from some folks that nearly 50 to 100 percent of their hay has been ruined or taken with the raging waters," spokeswoman Talia Goes, told the Associated Press. "Also, many folks will battle damaged hay and pasture fields from the water and the debris." The hay efforts had their start in 2017 when Beyer Towing, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, teamed up with Farm Rescue to move 14 tractor-trailers of hay following flooding in North Dakota that year. The effort has continued and this year included volunteers on social media looking for hay and trucks to fulfill needs. Did you know? Xtra Lease plans to purchase more than 10,000 trailers in 2019, investing more than $300 million as it grows its trailer fleet to more than 85,000 units. Quotable: "This is a milestone for Covenant Solutions. In 2016 David Parker and Joey Hogan made a strategic decision to invest in the business. Since then we've grown 65 percent to over $100 million last year, and we have a great vision for this year and for growth after that." - Paul Newbourne, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Covenant Transport Solutions, at the opening of the company's new Chattanooga brokerage office. Story continues In other news: Sears, after years of closures, is opening stores again New locations will be fraction of the size of typical Sears and sell only hard goods such as tools and appliances. (WSJ) Tesla shares fall 10% after deliveries miss by a wide margin Tesla said on Wednesday that it produced 77,100 vehicles during Q1, delivering 63,000, consisting of 62,950 Model 3s and 14,150 older models. Analysts were expecting it to deliver about 76,000 cars. (CNBN) XPO Logistics to go the last mile XPO Logistics announces the launch of extensive last mile capabilities on its XPO Connect digital freight marketplace. (Seeking Alpha) CEVA Logistics expands service with China trucks The first CEVA Logistics truck from China to arrive in Europe happened recently, 16 days after it set out on its journey. (Handy Shipping Guide) Mideast air freight volume falling Air cargo demand in the Mideast is following global trends and dropping, reports the International Air Transport Association. (Zawya) Final Thoughts Xtra Lease announced plans to purchase more than 10,000 new trailers in 2019 as it seeks to capitalize on strong demand. This bodes well for the industry, although Xtra Lease, while saying the purchases would expand its trailer fleet to 85,000 units, did not say how many units would replace existing trailers or what that growth will be. Clearly, though, Xtra Lease anticipates demand, which is all anyone hauling freight needs to hear. Hammer down everyone! Image sourced from Pixabay Want more content like this? Click here to Subscribe Permalink See more from Benzinga 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. FILE PHOTO: Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn sits inside a car as he leaves his lawyer's office after being released on bail from Tokyo Detention House, in Tokyo, Japan, March 6, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo By Kenneth Maxwell and Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) - Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn promised to "tell the truth" at a news conference next week, taking to Twitter to announce his first briefing since being released on bail and hours after a report that prosecutors were preparing a fresh case against him. Ghosn, widely lauded for rescuing Nissan Motor Co from the brink of bankruptcy two decades ago, has experienced a dramatic fall from grace that shook the global auto industry and raised questions about the future of Nissan's alliance with France's Renault SA. He was arrested in Tokyo in November and faces charges of financial misconduct and aggravated breach of trust over allegedly failing to report around $82 million in salary and temporarily transferring personal financial losses onto Nissan's books during the financial crisis. Released on $9 million bail last month, Ghosn has denied the charges, calling them "meritless" and saying he was the victim of a boardroom coup. "I'm getting ready to tell the truth about what's happening. Press conference on Thursday, April 11," Ghosn tweeted from the @carlosghosn account on Twitter, which displayed the blue tick mark indicating it had been verified by the social media site. The account was created this month. It was the sole tweet, posted in Japanese and English. While Ghosn is under strict bail terms - including on internet usage - his lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters the tweet did not violate those terms. Hironaka also said there had been no requests from Tokyo prosecutors, after Japan's Yomiuri newspaper and other media outlets reported authorities were preparing a fresh case against Ghosn over payments the automaker made to a business partner in Oman. FRESH CHARGES? Prosecutors are in discussions with the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office and others and plan to make a decision soon on whether to prosecute Ghosn on further charges of aggravated breach of trust, the newspaper said, citing sources involved in the case. Story continues A spokesman for the Tokyo prosecutors office said he was not aware of any new investigation when contacted by Reuters. Ghosn's spokesman has previously said payments of $32 million made over nine years were rewards for the Oman firm being a top Nissan dealer. Such dealer incentives were not directed by Ghosn and the funds were not used to pay any personal debt, the spokesman said. Sources told Reuters earlier this week that Renault had alerted French prosecutors after uncovering suspect payments to a Renault-Nissan business partner in Oman while Ghosn was chief executive of the French automaker. Nissan had previously established its own regional subsidiary made questionable payments of more than $30 million to the Oman distributor, Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA). Evidence sent to French prosecutors late last week showed that much of the cash was subsequently channeled to a Lebanese company controlled by Ghosn associates, the sources said. Reuters has not been able to reach SBA for comment on the matter. (Additional reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, Kaori Kaneko, Sam Nussey and Kwiyeon Ha; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Mark Potter) The U.S. Equities Markets Are Flat In Early Trading The U.S. futures are indicating a flat to a slightly positive open on Thursday morning. The sentiment is buoyed by trade hopes and news President Trump would meet with Liu He later today. The meeting is a sign the talks are nearing their end. Economic adviser Larry Kudlow says the two sides have made significant progress on key issues. The movement comes after China offered substantial concessions and acknowledged U.S. complaints regarding intellectual property, forced technology transfers, and hacking. Rates on the 10-year treasury continue to advance after hitting a multi-year low. The rate is now above 2.50% and has increased the spread between the 3-month bill and the 10-year note. In economic news, the initial jobless claims fell more than expected and hit a new long-term low. The data underscores strength in the labor economy despite yesterdays weaker than expected ADP report. Traders will now turn their eyes to tomorrows NFP report. Important data within the report includes the unemployment rate, the participation rate, and hourly earnings. Tesla was among this mornings worst performers. The stock fell more than -10% after the company reported it missed 1st quarter deliveries by a substantial margin. The news points to a slow down in revenue and weaker than expected earnings for a company struggling on every front. Brexit, Italy, Downgrades, Oh My! In the EU Brexit drama, an expected downgrade from Italy, and a downgrade of a leading retailer have markets mixed. In Brexit news, the UK Parliament has voted to force May to ask for another delay to the deadline. The first delay, grudgingly given by the EU, is nearly over. Word out of Italy is that the government and central bank will be downgrading their growth estimates. The downgrade is expected to be 0.1% from 1.0% and is not good. Italy fought tooth and nail to pass a spending bill to boost economic growth and the effort appears to have failed. Story continues In stock news, shares of Casino Guichard fell another -4.0% in todays action. The company, a supermarket retailer, received its second downgrade in two days. Both Moodys and Morgan Stanley have downgraded the stock to a sell. Germanys Commerzbank jumped 3% on word it would receive a rival offer should its proposed merger with Deutsche Bank falls apart. The DAX is the only index to post gains in midday trading, about 0.40%, while the FTSE And CAC were both down -0.50% and -0.30% respectively. Asia Mixed, Traders Waiting, Japan Display Leads Asian markets were wildly mixed in Thursday trading. The Shanghai Composite advanced nearly 1.0% while the Australian ASX fell about -0.80%. The other major indices closed with small gains or losses all less than 0.20%. Todays trading was driven by news on trade but news that as yet does not indicate a deal is done. The good news is that China has admitted U.S. gripes are legitimate, a development that opens the doors to a mutual agreement. Japan Display was by far the best performer after word it would supply LED displays for Apples Watch. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: (Adds quotes, details) ANKARA, April 4 (Reuters) - Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems, which has raised tensions with Washington, is a "done deal" and cannot be cancelled, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. The United States and Turkey have been at loggerheads over Ankara's decision to purchase the S-400s, which are not compatible with NATO systems. Washington has warned that going forward with the deal could result in U.S. sanctions. Washington has urged Turkey to purchase Raytheon Co Patriot defence systems instead of the S-400s, but Ankara has said that, even though it would like to make such a deal, it would only be possible if the right terms were agreed upon. Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of a visit to the United States, Cavusoglu said Turkey would like to purchase the Patriot systems, but it would not back out of its deal with Russia. "We have told them I don't know how many months ago or years ago that it's a done deal, so we cannot cancel it," Cavusoglu said. He said Turkey had received a new offer for the Patriot systems from the United States, which included prices and delivery dates, but added that they would negotiate. However, Cavusoglu said the United States could not guarantee it would be able to sell the Patriot systems to Ankara due to an impasse in the U.S. Congress. "The real problem is this: even today, the United States cannot give guarantees about selling the Patriots to Turkey. Can they give them tomorrow? They cant guarantee it. Then who will meet my needs?" he said. On Wednesday, Cavusoglu said Turkey had proposed forming a working group with the U.S. administration to ensure that the S-400 poses no threat to U.S. or NATO military equipment. He added that both the administration and Turkey should explain to the Congress why Turkey bought the S-400s. Cavusoglu also said Turkey's relations with Russia were not an alternative to its alliances with NATO or its partnerships and ambitions with the European Union. "We made our choice a long time ago, and now we need to have good relations with everybody and we have to balance that," he said. "We don't have to choose between this and that, but we have already made out decision and became a NATO ally." (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; editing by John Stonestreet and Tom Brown) U.S. rail volumes fell again last week as rail service issues continue to plague the post-flooding Midwestern landscape. Total U.S. rail traffic dropped 4.6 percent to 509,958 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending March 30, according to the Association of American Railroads. Of that, carloads fell 8.9 percent to 241,906 units, while intermodal volume dipped 0.4 percent to 268,052 containers and trailers. Coal carloads last week generated the highest volume shipped last week, but they also saw the biggest decline. U.S. coal volumes totaled 60,984 carloads, down 26.3 percent from the same period in 2018. Carloads of nonmetallic minerals, the second highest volume shipped last week, were down 6.5 percent to 34,494 carloads. However, chemicals carloads rose 0.3 percent to 33,809 units. These commodities represented roughly 53 percent of total U.S. carload volume last week. Meanwhile, year-to-date volumes were also lower compared with the same period in 2018. Total U.S. carloads were down 3.1 percent at nearly 3.2 million units, while intermodal volumes were down 0.6 percent at nearly 3.5 million units. The decline in weekly U.S. rail traffic comes as the Midwest is still recovering from historic flooding. Rail carriers are also concerned about the cresting that could occur along the Mississippi River and other bodies of water. They are also monitoring the structural integrity of rail bridges and tracks in the region. "Some locations will require more extensive repair work, including bridge reconstruction, before restoration of service is possible," BNSF (NYSE: BRK) said in a March 26 customer notification letter. "We continue to utilize rerouting options where possible to move traffic through the area. Impacted customers tracing their freight may notice non-standard routings, locations and interchanges as well as extended transit times," BNSF said. Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) is rerouting traffic because of flooding conditions at Hannibal, Missouri, and so it is asking trains travelling between Decatur, Illinois, and Kansas City, Missouri, to divert to St. Louis. The company said there could be delays of 12 to 24 hours. Story continues Meanwhile, Union Pacific (NYSE: UNO) said it is rerouting customers who use the Columbus subdivision between Fremont and Grand Island, Nebraska, and portions of the Falls City subdivision between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Kansas City, Kansas. Repairs to its Lincoln subdivision between Valley and Lincoln, Nebraska, could begin this month. Even rail carriers whose networks aren't in the flood-affected areas are feeling the effects of service disruptions on their lines. Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) said it is accepting some re-routed traffic from other railroads because of flooding. Also, traffic that would normally flow from other networks onto the KSU network is slowed or stopped because of flooding, the railroad said. Image sourced from Pixabay Want more content like this? Click here to Subscribe Permalink See more from Benzinga 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jpownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips. Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. 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Purpose Fish and wildlife resources in Kentucky are public resources held in trust by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, for which Kentucky Fish and Wildlife serves as steward on behalf of the people. Each of us has opportunities to enjoy fish and wildlife in a variety of ways, and together we all share in the responsibility to conserve them, too. The fish and wildlife resources of Kentucky are incredibly diverse, including nearly 1,000 animal species; a few dozen of these species are classified as game (animals that are fished, hunted or trapped), whereas most are not. We call these Kentucky Wild species. Essential to conserving fish and wildlife is conserving and enhancing habitats - the cover, water, food and space required for their survival. Because the department owns only a small percentage of the land and water across Kentuckys 25-million acres, one key way it seeks to conserve habitats is through cooperative partnerships with other public and private owners of land and water. As a public agency, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife serves all Kentuckians and others who visit the Commonwealth. The department is funded through user fees instead of state taxes. Its revenues mainly come from: licenses and permits for fishing, hunting, boating and trapping; Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program grants derived from dedicated federal excise taxes on equipment used for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and boat motor fuels; motorboat registrations; and other user fees and related grants. A new and exciting source of funding is Kentucky Wild, a program that individuals can join and businesses can sponsor to increase conservation funding for the tremendous variety of fish and wildlife in the Commonwealth. Leadership Like other departments in state government, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is led by a Commissioner. The Commissioner ultimately oversees all aspects of the departments operations, from budget and personnel to regulations and programs. Directly assisting the Commissioner in the Commissioners office are the Deputy Commissioner, public information officer, legal counsel and administrative assistants. The Commissioner is hired by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission - a board of nine volunteer anglers and hunters who serve to represent sportspersons across the state primarily by recommending regulations and approving department research projects. To be eligible for appointment by the Commission, a prospective Commissioner must have, knowledge of and experience in the requirements for the protection, conservation and restoration of the wildlife resources of the state. The Commissioner serves for a defined employment contract term not to exceed four (4) years and shall be subject to an annual review by the Commission in closed, executive session; removal by the Commission for the same cause and in the same manner in which the Governor may remove a member of the Commission; and reappointment by the Commission. Organization Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, within the Governors Executive Branch of state government. Although the cabinet has been variously named by different gubernatorial administrations, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has functioned within the current cabinet structure and under the Executive Branch for decades. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is organized into seven (7) divisions. Together, they achieve different aspects of the departments mission. These divisions include Fisheries; Wildlife; Law Enforcement; Information and Education; Engineering, Infrastructure and Technology; Administrative Services; and Marketing. Divisions are led by directors, who oversees their divisions budgets, staff and programs. Kentucky Fish and Wildlifes staff numbers about 400 full-time and part-time employees. To most Kentuckians, its best-known staff are Conservation Officers (game wardens) - intensively trained members of our Law Enforcement Division. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has many other staff members who are also experts in their fields - ranging from wildlife and fisheries biologists, to communicators and educators, to engineers and administrative specialists. Numerous Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff are regionally, nationally and even internationally recognized for their achievements and contributions to fish and wildlife conservation. For economy and to meet seasonal needs, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also annually hires numerous interim employees to work nine (9) months or less; these seasonal employees serve in such roles as summer camp counselors; angler surveyors (creel clerks); and technicians assisting with seasonal wildlife, fisheries, engineering or other field work or research projects. Accountability & Transparency Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is accountable to the people and three branches of government in a variety of ways. One way is through hunter and angler representation on the Commission. Another is its organization within the Executive Branch; the department is accountable to Cabinet leadership and ultimately to the Governor. Yet another way the department is accountable to the people is through oversight by the Kentucky legislature. State agency budgets are reviewed and approved on a biennial basis by the legislature. Statutes conferring authority to the department are voted upon by both the Kentucky Senate and House, and must be signed into law by the Governor. In addition, regulations proposed by the Commission, and advanced by the Commissioner, are reviewed by legislative committees with jurisdiction over particular subject areas (for example, Administrative Regulation Review, House Natural Resources and Energy, and Senate Natural Resources and Energy). By statute, proposed regulations are subject to a public comment period before being reviewed by a legislative committee. Many department activities also are governed by federal statutes and regulations; these include topics such as regulation of migratory birds, interstate commerce involving fish and wildlife, and use of federal grants and state license and permit revenues. By statute, Kentucky Fish and Wildlifes operations are regularly audited. There is an annual statutory state audit on budgetary and spending practices, performed by Kentuckys Auditor of Public Accounts. Because the department receives federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program grants, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of the Interiors Office of Inspector General perform an extensive audit of the departments use of federal and state funds every five (5) years. The department is legally required to respond to audit findings and, where necessary, address any areas of apparent noncompliance with state or federal statutes, regulations or policies, or clarify matters in question. Like all state government entities, agency documents that do not contain confidential customer or personnel information are subject to open records requests. Many agency documents are stored on the agency website, fw.ky.gov, or are available upon request. Americas underground command post got a new landlord Friday when the 721st Mission Support Group was folded into the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base. The 721st was a unit given the sole job of maintaining Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and the 5-acre bunker that sits 2,000 feet beneath the summit of the mountain in southwestern Colorado Springs. But a Pentagon-driven reshuffle of Air Force units in search of efficiencies saw the 721st merged into the 21st Space Wing. The inactivation consolidates overhead and support functions while reusing the manpower savings found in command and staff sections, Col. Todd Moore, the wings commander said in a statement. The mountain complex was built at the height of the Cold War as a bunker that could survive an atomic attack while allowing leaders of the North American Aerospace Defense Command to continue leading efforts to defend American and Canadian air space from Soviet bombers. Maintaining the 52-year-old bunker has always been a challenge. Bored into Colorado granite, thousands of bolts keep tension on the rock so the tunnel system doesnt collapse; each bolt is carefully tightened on an annual basis. The mountain has faced natural disasters in recent years, too. In 2013, a rainstorm sent rock and mud sliding down the mountains face, blocking the main entrance to the underground complex. The Pentagon invested millions into flood controls at the site to prevent similar incidents. In 2006, as Cold War tensions eased, leaders transferred the day-to-day command operations for NORAD to the basement of a building on Peterson. The command kept its facility in the mountain on warm standby ready for instant activation if war worries loom. But the mountain actually got busier in the Cold Wars wake. While the need to survive an nuclear attack is less likely, terrorism fears have driven several Department of Defense agencies to put key functions underground. One growing role for the mountain complex is keeping computer data safe from electromagnetic pulse attacks or terror strikes. Moore says the realignment will ensure the mountain gets the same level of maintenance while cutting middle management. Those cost savings are being reused to boost other needs within the space wing at Peterson and Cheyenne Mountain, he said. The unit will better be able to win todays and tomorrows fight with the resulting manpower reinvestments, and be postured to take care of our warriors and their families by relieving stressed work centers at both locations, Moore said. National Guard crews will drop fire retardant on a 400-acre brush fire burning in two state wildlife areas in Bent County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife tweeted Friday afternoon. The slurry will hopefully aid the 42 firefighters from 15 agencies working to contain the blaze, which is running across cattail marsh, tamarisk, cottonwood and other river bottom brush in the John Martin Reservoir and Fort Lyon state wildlife areas. Seven homes have been evacuated, but none have been destroyed. No injuries have been reported. The blaze sparked Thursday night near the Bent County Correctional Facility, said county Emergency Manager Rick Stwalley. More evacuations are possible later Friday if gusty winds enter the area and push the flames toward other structures. "Where the evacuations are pinned depends on the winds," Stwalley said Friday morning. The area is under a red flag an indication of "critical fire weather conditions," according to the weather service until 7 p.m. Friday. An air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke also was issued for northern portions of the county, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment tweeted. Winds first started to pick up mid-afternoon Thursday. Just before 7 p.m., the weather service had recorded 16 mph winds with a 24 mph gust. Steady winds between 5 and 15 mph were reported overnight. Winds picked up again early Friday, rising to 21 mph with a 31 mph gust just before 4 a.m. Winds have stayed fairly slow between 3 and 15 mph since Friday morning. Just before 3 p.m., the weather service reported "calm" winds. Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 3 p.m. Saturday. Gov. Jared Polis should veto Senate Bill 181, which threatens to hurt Colorado's economy with excessive regulations of oil and gas production. Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465734 04-05-2019 09:36 AM Post: #1 Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! Advertisement @ NATO, US and all Russia haters. You're being DUPED! The Kremlins manipulation of global navigation systems is more extensive than previously understood. Quote: Researchers at a Washington-based think tank have noticed that a funny thing happens whenever Russian President Vladimir Putin gets close to a harbor: The GPS of the ships moored there go haywire, placing them many miles away on the runways of nearby airports. According to a new report by security experts with the group C4ADS, the phenomenon suggests that Putin travels with a mobile GPS spoofing device and, more broadly, that Russia is manipulating global navigation systems on a scale far greater than previously understood. Russia continues to act as a pioneer in this space, exposing its willingness to not only deploy these capabilities in protection of VIPs and strategically-important facilities, but also to leverage these techniques to promote its ventures at frontiers in Syria and Russias European borders, the report says. As part of the Kremlins attempt to undermine the Wests military advantage in precision weaponry, the Russian military has made massive investments in electronic warfare, significantly increasing its ability to jam enemy communications that make possible U.S. ideas of networked warfare. Smart weapons need smart people to tell them smart things. They need positioning coordinates. They need navigation systems, said Michael Kofman, a Russian military expert at CNA, a research organization. The pace of operations requires constant access to data in real time, and the Russian military believes that electronic warfare is part of the answer to U.S. dominance in precision weapons and airspace assault. Russia has pioneered these technologies in Ukraine and Syria, jamming radio, GPS, and radar signals. In Syria, U.S. commanders have complained of an aggressive electronic warfare environment, and the U.S. military is now making moves to upgrade its electronic warfare capabilities. The Russian emphasis on electronic warfare extends to Putins personal security detail, which has embraced GPS spoofing as a way to protect the Russian leader against drone attacks. But the use of that spoofing technology can also be tracked and provides an unprecedented look at the effectiveness and scale of Russian electronic warfare capabilities. Putins bodyguards are using what on its face is a counterintuitive approach to prevent assassination attempts by drone. The GPS spoofer that travels with Putin impersonates civilian GPS signals and provides the receiver with false coordinates for local airports. It chooses the coordinates of local airports because commercial drones typically come preprogrammed with safety mechanisms that make them automatically land or shut down when they enter the airspace of an airport. In theory, drones operating near Putin will shut down or automatically land when they come within range of the spoofer. Fear of assassination by drone is a realistic one: Last year, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro survived an attempt on his life that involved using drones to target him with explosives. But Russias use of spoofing technology is having some surprising side effects. In September 2016, Putin traveled to the Kerch Strait along with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to inspect progress on a $4 billion bridge to the Russian mainland and meet with workers. While the two Russian leaders were there, the automatic identification systems of nearby shipssystems that rely in part on GPSstarted reporting their locations as the Simferopol Airport about 125 miles away. Two years later, Putin returned to Kerch to lead a convoy of construction vehicles across the newly constructed bridge. Again, ships in the area reported strange location information, showing up at the Anapa Airport in mainland Russia. https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/03/rus...ect-putin/ @ NATO, US and all Russia haters. You're being DUPED! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465734 04-05-2019 10:05 AM Post: #2 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465734 04-05-2019 10:35 AM Post: #3 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! No comments? Do you feel like idiots? Maybe there's a reason. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 496308 04-05-2019 10:37 AM Post: #4 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! Lets destroy the planet... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 496308 04-05-2019 10:37 AM Post: #5 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! I want ten thousand heads just for this. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465734 04-05-2019 11:22 AM Post: #6 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 496332 04-05-2019 12:47 PM Post: #7 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! Russia is a pretend oponent frozen wastelands all opponents are fake bs LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465734 04-05-2019 12:54 PM Post: #8 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! LoP Guest Wrote: (04-05-2019 12:47 PM) Russia is a pretend oponent frozen wastelands all opponents are fake bs With such an electorate no wonder Trump is a president... With such an electorate no wonder Trump is a president... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 496264 04-05-2019 01:32 PM Post: #9 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! LoP Guest Wrote: (04-05-2019 10:35 AM) No comments? Do you feel like idiots? Maybe there's a reason. So they jam the local GPS transponders of ships/planes/trucks/trains....so what ? That technology has been around for years So they jam the local GPS transponders of ships/planes/trucks/trains....so what ?That technology has been around for years PopEye I Yam What I Yam User ID: 436592 04-05-2019 02:18 PM Posts: 12,712 Post: #10 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! State sponsored RF "jamming" has been going on since at least the first world war. The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who haven't got it. George Bernard Shaw LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 370139 04-05-2019 02:28 PM Post: #11 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! FAKE GPS Apps are Out there! Mock Location Much? It does not take a genius! Say you have a pack of 5 phones. 4 of the phones belong to employees. 1 is your phone. You can load a program that causes your phone to use tower location of other 4 phones. And rotate/ Isolate, those other 4 phone locations on towers near you. Its all out there, you Just Need the TECH Savvy to learn how to do it! IP Spoofing, Tower Spoofing, Gps Spoofing LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 370139 04-05-2019 02:49 PM Post: #12 RE: Russia Is Tricking GPS to Protect Putin! This Tech is so old there is FREE Open Source, all over the place! IP Spoofing, Tower Spoofing, Gps Spoofing Ya'll FOLKS need to Step into the MODERN World! It appears your stuck back in the 90's! Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread "Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." -- George Orwell, Politics and the English Language " " Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho" isn't really the typical psychopath, despite the movie's title psychopaths are often a lot less conspicuous. Lion's Gate/Hulton Archive/Moviepix/Getty Images From knife-wielding shower stabbers to chainsaw-brandishing mask wearers, psychopaths are usually pigeonholed as extreme characters. After all, it's pretty easy to spot a scary doll in overalls with a seriously scarred face, right? Chucky sightings aside, it's difficult to imagine that you've met a psychopath. Despite their depictions in mass media, psychopaths aren't necessarily violent or psychotic, raving for bloodletting in the streets. This can make them hard to spot, unless you know their character traits. Some of their defining characteristics include profound selfishness, a lack of emotion and little or no conscience, as well as the penchant to be more cunning and manipulative than the average person. Advertisement Now, you may be making a mental checklist of friends and acquaintances whose motives should be examined more carefully. But don't get too worried. As explained in the above episode of Stuff They Don't Want You to Know, psychopaths often spend years training themselves to appear as normal as the next person, so you've probably met a psychopath and didn't even realize it. Psychopaths make up about 1 percent of the global population, which makes the odds of meeting a psychopath seem exceedingly rare. Of the 7.4 billion people worldwide, about 74 million are psychopaths. But here's where it gets really crazy the odds of meeting a psychopath are much higher than you might think. Whether it was a co-worker, roommate, sibling or romantic partner, the person probably carefully hid his or her psychopathic behavior. Sometimes there is a greater concentration of psychopaths in certain population clusters. If you've ever been to jail or prison, you've probably met a psychopath. Robert Hare, author of the book Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us, estimates that about 20 percent of inmates fit the psychopath description and that psychopaths are responsible for more than 50 percent of violent crime. Psychopaths are also more numerous in the upper echelons of the corporate world, including investment banking and politics. And the military is aware of the advantages of the psychopathic brain on the battlefield, where natural killers can turn the tide of battle because they feel little or no remorse. Of course, not every soldier is a psychopath, and not every high-level executive, politician or banker is secretly unsettled. But your odds of having met a psychopath are greater if you work in these fields. Now Thats Interesting Whats the difference between a psychopath and sociopath? The distinction is negligible. But some psychologists posit that psychopaths are born with brain deficits, while many sociologists consider sociopaths products of their environment. " " Some mammals have specific times of year when they mate and reproduce. That's not the case for us primates, though. Wundervisuals/Getty Images Most animals have a mating season, and it's usually a time when food, sunlight and fertility are plentiful. But what about humans? We don't hibernate Netflix and chill doesn't count and those with access to modern economies don't have to wait for seasonal resources to put food on the table. "Humans don't have a true 'mating season' simply because sex is had throughout the year, rather than saving it for a specific time," says author and professional matchmaker Dominique Clark. "People want to be together and desire connection most. So they seek relationship, but not because doing so during this season will produce offspring that can survive the harshest winter, but simply because the desire for intimacy and sex have increased." Advertisement We're part of a biologically classified group known as continuous breeders, which means that we mate or breed year-round. Seasonal breeders, like bears or chipmunks, have changes in fertility and sexual activity depending on the time of year. The females of these species experience an estrous cycle only during certain times, which introduces physiological and behavioral changes that lead to increased sexual activity. If conception doesn't take place the endometrial lining in the uterus is reabsorbed. Most women of childbearing age ovulate regularly and menstruate to shed the uterine lining if an egg is not fertilized, and do not require physiological processes to prompt sexual activity. However, people still share some of the same behaviors seen in other primates even if we don't recognize the vestigial cues. "It is theorized that something that seems inadvertent, like a man at a bar pulling up his sleeve to make a nice watch visible to a female, is a way to indicate wealth and signal that he would be a good provider and mate," says Chrissy Case, an anthrozoologist at Florida's Beacon College. "While most other primates don't own a Rolex, they can indicate wealth and the ability to support offspring through other ways." The similarities in courtship patterns between humans and nonhuman primates stems from our shared social behavior ancestry, says Dr. Jacqueline Prime, founder of the environmental nonprofit Prime Earth and a wild gibbon researcher. We are social creatures that rely on group members for our survival and reproductive success," she says. "That means getting along with each other is of paramount importance. Touch and vocal communications help us solidify our bonds as individuals who get along with each other. Humans aren't really different from any other non-human primate on this, we just have different styles and ways of doing things. Even with plenty of evidence to the contrary, the concept of a mating season may still be in play for humans, although few people would recognize it as such. Among the nomadic Turkana in northwest Kenya, more than half of all births occur in spring, from March to June. It's a phenomenon experts attribute to the harsh environment, when an influx of food leads results in high conception rates. In addition to nutritional peaks, humans' hidden mating seasons may also be influenced by factors as varied as environmental and social factors. According to a study published in the Journal of Reproductive Rhythms, when the sun shines for about 12 hours a day and the temperature stays between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 21 degrees Celsius), women are more likely to ovulate, and men tend to produce more sperm. And findings published in the Journal of Human Reproduction showed that married, educated women aged 25 to 34 in the Czech Republic have strong seasonal ties to reproduction, with most giving birth in the spring. Meanwhile, women in the study who were younger than 19 or older than 35, unmarried and with low education levels, were more likely to give birth at no particular time of year. "Evolutionarily, sometimes we lose the full blown 'need' for something but retain it nonetheless," says Dr. Anjhula Mya Bais, a relationship expert who specializes in social psychology. "For example, some scientists argue the small pinky toe is on its way out. True, humans have evolved over time in order to give birth year around which is the 'highest' evolutionary purpose that sex would serve however a disproportionate amount of people are born in summer, indicating when most people mate. Our tendencies may not be as obvious as other primates, but they exist on closer inspection." Now That's Interesting If you think dinner and a movie is a complex dating ritual, try being a grasshopper. Male grasshoppers sing more than 400 songs, each with a different meaning, to potential females. " " German physicist Hedwig Kohn in her laboratory in 1912. Wikimedia Commons It's no secret that for centuries, women have faced innumerable obstacles pursuing careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. Many have faced challenges related not only to their gender, but also to their race, heritage, religion and more. And a few, like physicist Hedwig Kohn, have been afforded the opportunities and embodied enough resilience to triumph over those disadvantages. Born on April 5, 1887, in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocaw, Poland), Kohn paved a unique path for herself early on, auditing at a local university at the age of 20 a year before women were even allowed to officially enroll. In 1913, she earned a doctorate in physics and went on to become one of just three women certified to teach the subject at a German university before World War II. Advertisement But in 1933, the rising Nazi powers forced Kohn and her fellow Jewish colleagues Lise Meitner and Hertha Sponer out of their jobs. Kohn was able to support herself through research work for the next two years, and in 1935, she was able to take on a three-month project in the Licht-Kosmetisches Observatorium in Arosa, Switzerland. But the short-term endeavor didn't pan out into a permanent escape from the atrocities occurring throughout Eastern Europe. In November 1938, a two-day terror strike known as Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass" took place. Nazis in Germany murdered nearly 100 Jews, arrested 30,000 men and sent them to concentration camps, and destroyed Jewish homes and businesses. Kohn knew she had to get out but how? She lacked the global acclaim that might warrant an international work visa, and most American university jobs required job applicants to have recent teaching experience, a qualification Kohn lacked due to the Nazi-imposed ban. In the same month of Kristallnacht, a Princeton University physicist named Rudolf Ladenburg began pushing for Kohn's immigration. Ladenburg had directed Kohn's research in Breslau and had made a name for himself at Princeton. With the help of his initial insistence, the International Federation of University Women (IFUW) and the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning (SPSL) in London created a university position for Kohn in 1939. But just before she could flee, World War II officially broke out, and England revoked all visas for "enemy aliens." Refusing to give up hope, Kohn, Ladenburg and representatives from several international organizations exchanged more than 70 letters with institutions, eventually securing Kohn job offers at three U.S. schools. She was granted a visa to the U.S. via Sweden just before her only brother was deported and killed by the Nazis. Kohn eventually made it from Stockholm to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1940. She went on to spend nearly two decades teaching physics at both the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina and Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Though she retired in 1952, Kohn wasn't quite ready to call it quits on her career. She took on a research position at Duke University, studying flame spectroscopy, and according to the The Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, she "experienced a renaissance in the 1960s in the framework of combustion science and plasma physics." By the time of her death in 1964, Kohn had produced numerous scientific publications, written several book chapters, secured a patent, and made a lasting impact as an innovator within the STEM world and beyond. Now That's Interesting In 1952, the German government awarded Kohn a pension and the title of professor emerita. Advertisement Originally Published: Apr 5, 2019 As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ * "Most Popular Intellectual Property Law Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , December 2021. * "Most Popular Copyright Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , December 2021. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018. * IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014. * Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013. * Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011. 2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100. * Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010. * Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010. * Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010. * Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll. Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008. Welcome, Neighbor! Thank you for sharing my journey with me. It's a bumpy ride, but hopefully you'll find it worthwhile! To reach out to me, send me an e-mail at jamesbradfordpate@yahoo.com. Username: Password: or Register Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Harmful bug Never give up User ID: 496335 04-05-2019 01:05 PM Posts: 5,313 Post: #1 Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Advertisement It would be so boring! but I bet christians and muslims would love it! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 482748 04-05-2019 01:06 PM Post: #2 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Well the Abrahamic Space cults would fit nicely together, sure. But that is tantamount to a One World Religion, with the Pontif at the helm. No thanks. Not today Satan. spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 04-05-2019 01:10 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #3 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Quote: The human species has no races in the biological sense--all that exists is gradual variation in what people look like, with more distant populations appearing more different from one another than closer ones. "Biological race," in contrast to the social concept, is not one that applies to modern humans--even the question as to whether Neanderthals were a different race (i.e., subspecies) or a different species from our ancestors has not yet been definitively resolved. For this reason, only a few of my posts (1, 2, 3, 4) have dealt with biological issues related to race. Here is one more reason that the human species has no races--this time using logic, the powers of two, and the facts about human population growth. Exponential growththe green curve shows how continual doubling rapidly surpasses linear and cubic growth. Every person has two biological parents, four biological grandparents, eight biological great-grandparents, and so on. In 10 generations that makes 1024 ancestors, and thereafter, using computer jargon, we're dealing in thousands, or kilo-ancestors. 20 generations mean 1,048,576, and thereafter millions or mega-ancestors. 30 generations mean 1,073,741,824 and billions or giga-ancestors. 40 generations mean 1,099,511,627,776 and trillions or tera-ancestors. (People who are curious about the implications of mathematical studies of genealogy might enjoy an article by Steve Olson.) Before modern medicine and public health, people didn't live very long and reproduced when they were young. To be conservative, however, let's count 25 years per generation. 40 x 25 = 1,000, so that means that a thousand years ago, every human alive today has over a trillion ancestors. However, modern humans have been around for about 200,000 years, so it is easy to see that--adding another three zeros every ten generations, or 250 years--this accounting gives us more human ancestors than there are atoms in the universe. There is another problem, however--the facts go in the opposite direction from the math. While the calculation of ancestors gives us numbers that explode in magnitude the further back in time we go, the actual history of the human species has been just the opposite. That is, we are actually undergoing exponential growth in the size of the human population, so that the further back in time you go, the smaller the number of humans. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/loo...on-t-exist There is many hundreds of ethnicities on this planet and probably just as many if not more cultures, however there is only one race. spo snouou Vocem sine nomine audivit! User ID: 350320 04-05-2019 01:11 PM Posts: 67,593 Post: #4 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Quote: There are many reasons that there has been, for about a half-century, a consensus among specialists--biological anthropologists and evolutionary biologists--that biological races do not exist in the human species. The scientific consensus stems from overwhelming and convergent evidence from genetics and archaeology documenting the actual history of the human species. Anatomically modern humans originated in East Africa about 200,000 years ago, having diverged from earlier forms. Their initially small numbers grew over time, but were reduced to near extinction about 70,000 years ago, perhaps as the result of a global climatic catastrophe following the eruption of the Toba supervolcano in Indonesia. At that relatively recent date in human evolution, the great bulk of whatever genetic variability had developed by then was wiped out. While new research is constantly revising the dates for the first human migrations out of Africa, it does appear that it was not until after that catastrophe that the first humans left for Eurasia, taking with them much less genetic variability than the reduced amount then extant in Africa. Thus, African populations contain 200,000 years of human genetic variability, while Eurasians, with less variability to start with, have had less than a third of that time for it to increase. About 15,000 years ago during an ice age, much of the Earth's water was in the form of ice, leaving ocean levels substantially lower. As a result, there was a land bridge where the Bering Strait now separates Alaska from Siberia. A small number of humans crossed it into the New World. They brought with them a small proportion of the limited genetic variability that then existed in Eurasia. Thus, instead of the supposed existence of different races on different continents, we see that there are actually three regions of differing genetic variability. The great majority of human genetic variability is in Africa, where we have been evolving for 200,000 years. There is some genetic variability in Eurasia, where we have been evolving for less than 70,000 years. And there is relatively little genetic variability in indigenous populations of the New World, where we have been evolving for about 15,000 years. If the human species did have biological races, they would all be in Africa. It is easy to see biological variability in Africa--for example, the Mbuti pygmies are very short and the Masai are very tall. Despite these obvious differences, Americans classify them both as belonging to the same "race" because they have dark skins. This is an illustration of the way "race" is cultural classification masquerading as a biological one. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/loo...on-t-exist LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 481362 04-05-2019 01:16 PM Post: #5 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Johan Wrote: (04-05-2019 01:05 PM) It would be so boring! but I bet christians and muslims would love it! who would be the lackey/Patsy???? a group who is easily taken advantage of, especially by being cheated or blamed for something. who would be the lackey/Patsy????a group who is easily taken advantage of, especially by being cheated or blamed for something. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 495729 04-05-2019 01:16 PM Post: #6 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Two hu-man and man thegiftofnonthings Registered User User ID: 430513 04-05-2019 01:18 PM Posts: 3,345 Post: #7 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. magi -ning...those who are somewhat aware and wary of lennon song imagine, etc. I'm also sharing in hopes to help, some if not just one extra person today. Good day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTOQkeOtD0I She is absolutely correct, in that we all ...whether it be people, places or things have good and bad things. Notice the n.e.w.s. gets us ALWAYS to focus on the bad all the time, harder to see the good down the road...especially if you don't practice. Anyway you can look for the good in all things or the bad in all things or mix and match. I just want to be a better person myself that I can be in my growing experience and see mainly just the good. I've failed in past, am trying harder now. Because seeing the good and absorbing any bad stuff that may come my way; helps me to be a proactive person and not just a reactive person. Same can be said about an eye for an eye being a bad thing. World goes blind when it needs more sight. So trying not to react to bad when it comes my way more and serve what is good and getting better. You can do miracles and bring out the best in the worst. I'm convinced NOW of this. Again, good day! I'm slowly finding out that imagining isn't being grateful in the moment. It breeds something, not sure what, not good. I--ning...those who are somewhat aware and wary of lennon song imagine, etc. I'm also sharing in hopes to help, some if not just one extra person today. Good day.She is absolutely correct, in that we all ...whether it be people, places or things have good and bad things. Notice the n.e.w.s. gets us ALWAYS to focus on the bad all the time, harder to see the good down the road...especially if you don't practice. Anyway you can look for the good in all things or the bad in all things or mix and match. I just want to be a better person myself that I can be in my growing experience and see mainly just the good. I've failed in past, am trying harder now. Because seeing the good and absorbing any bad stuff that may come my way; helps me to be a proactive person and not just a reactive person. Same can be said about an eye for an eye being a bad thing. World goes blind when it needs more sight. So trying not to react to bad when it comes my way more and serve what is good and getting better. You can do miracles and bring out the best in the worst. I'm convinced NOW of this. Again, good day! Getting the gift of non-stuff, one week at a time. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 496298 04-05-2019 01:29 PM Post: #8 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. Johan Wrote: (04-05-2019 01:05 PM) It would be so boring! but I bet christians and muslims would love it! Imagine a world where every single human on the planet has the ability to think for themselves instead of being indoctrinated into evil mind control cults. That would be a wonderful world, yet most humans are too weak, and easily controlled and nothing will ever change unfortunately. Imagine a world where every single human on the planet has the ability to think for themselves instead of being indoctrinated into evil mind control cults.That would be a wonderful world, yet most humans are too weak, and easily controlled and nothing will ever change unfortunately. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 492461 04-05-2019 01:33 PM Post: #9 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. America is awesome, we have all religions and colors here. We are more accepting than any other country by far. Yet, we have people here that claim it is a racist/homophobic/younameit problem. They have no clue. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 496230 04-05-2019 02:08 PM Post: #10 RE: Imagine if there would be only one religion, one ethnicity on this planet. If boring is your canon, hey free canon. Boring being boring is a guilty pleasure. Blemish panic is best panic. Back to Forum Reply to This post Post New Thread - Ivan Dorschner recently made waves all over the internet due to his alleged scandal - Naked photos and an apparent 38-second video of the celebrity has been spreading online - As a response regarding these allegations, he posted a video of himself on his Instagram account PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Ivan Dorschner became the talk of the town recently due to an alleged scandal of him that's now going viral online. On April 2, rumors spread online that a video scandal of the 28-year-old celebrity will soon be uploaded all over the internet. According to some reports, he has a few naked photos that's now circulating online, as well as a short video clip of a faceless man whom netizens claim is Ivan Dorschner himself. Because of this issue, the former Pinoy Big Brother teen housemate has decided to answer the allegations being thrown at him once and for all. In his Instagram account, Ivan uploaded a response video to the alleged scandal of him that has been leaked online. At the start of the video, he said: Im just gonna confront the issue head on. Im not hiding. Watch the rest of his response here: PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. In a previous report by KAMI, Ivan Dorschner spoke up to Dee Alfonso's accusations of him claiming that he bashed Nadine Lustre during a party. Ivan Dorschner is a Filipino-American actor living in the Philippines. His career started to skyrocket when he decided to join Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash in 2010. As of the moment, he is part of ABS-CBN's rival network, GMA. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! PAY ATTENTION: 15 Fascinating Signs That Show You And Your Partner Are Meant For Each Other Bea Alonzo shares her scary experiences on the set of her new movie, "Eerie." Bea Alonzo describes the chilling moments she shared with her co-star, Charo Santos as they were filming their latest horror film, "Eerie." Check out all of our exciting videos on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph - An important scene was allegedly not aired in Gandang Gabi Vice last Sunday - This scene was said to be involving Vice Ganda and his rumored boyfriend Ion Perez - The alleged reasons were disclosed on social media PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Rumors have been circulating online about the real reason why comedian Vice Ganda allegedly did not want to air a scene in Gandang Gabi Vice that involved him and Ion Perez. KAMI learned that the said scene was believed to be the part where Ion already admitted to public his relationship with the Phenomenal Star. Some unaired videos leaked on social media and they showed the said gentleman expressing sweet words for the Kapamiya actor. According to a Youtube channel called Showbiz Ganap Global, Vice already received negative comments as soon as some photos of the alleged admission leaked in the online world. Some netizens also commented that Ion might just be using Vice for money and this allegedly affected the multi-awarded comedian. In fact, the actor expressed during his birthday pasabog in Its Showtime that his only wish is for people to support him when he is in love. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! Ang dami kong nababasa and di ko talaga maintindihan bakit yung iba, gusto lang nila yung bakla pag nagpapatawa. Pero pag yung bakla nagmamahal, hindi nila gusto, he quipped. Sana maging masaya tayo para sa isat-isa, he added. His statement, as well as the harsh comments he received from netizens, were allegedly the reasons why he decided not to air the admission scene in GGV. Here is the video: In a previous article by , the epic reaction of Vice after getting pranked by Bea Alonzo and Charo Santos went viral online. Vice Ganda is one of the most famous celebrities in the Philippines. He starred in some of the highest-grossing Filipino films such as Petrang Kabayo, Praybeyt Benjamin, and Fantastica. POPULAR: Read more news about Vice Ganda! PAY ATTENTION: The Meghan Effect: 10 Brands Whose Sales Skyrocketed In Recent Years Because Of Meghan Markle Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! What is the Tagalog of bag? Here, we have included one of the trickiest questions and interesting challenges! Do you enjoy watching street interviews and listening to different opinions? on HumanMeter! Source: Kami.com.ph - Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to declare a revolutionary war - Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said that if it happens, Vice President Leni Robredo will succeed Duterte - Robredo said that she is ready to become the countrys new president if ever it happens PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed As the current Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo noted that she is ready to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte if he declares a revolutionary government. KAMI learned that it is part of the Office of the Vice Presidents constitutional mandate to become the new president if the incumbent president declared a revolutionary government. Lahat naman ng kumakandidatong Pangalawang Pangulo dapat ready sa ganyang eventuality kasi yan naman yung mandato ng opisina, Robredo said, as reported by the Inquirer (author Patricia Ann Roxas). PAY ATTENTION: 15 Signs That Show Your Love Will Withstand Anything As reported by the GMA News (author Llanescas Panti), an election lawyer and Robredos legal counsel, Romulo Macalintal, explained that if Duterte declares a revolutionary government, then Robredo will be the leader of the duly constituted government. "Declaring a revolutionary government would mean that President Duterte becomes the leader of a revolutionary government while Robredo becomes the leader as president of a duly constituted government, he said. Macalintal added that such an act would test the loyalty of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on whether they would pledge their loyalty to Dutertes revolutionary government or Robredos constitutionally existing government. PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free? Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI news while saving your data! Rappler (author Pia Ranada) has reported earlier that President Duterte threatened to suspend the writ of habeas corpus and declare a revolutionary war as he slammed Sen. Franklin Drilon for saying that the administration should be careful of reviewing government contracts. POPULAR: Read more news about Vice President Leni Robredo! Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! What is the Tagalog of bag? We took to the streets to ask ordinary citizens some tricky and hilarious trivia questions. The answers we got are even more hilarious! Check out all of our exciting videos on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: Kami.com.ph ABS-CBN Corp. said a US Federal District Court in Florida has ordered 27 pirate site operators to each pay $1 million in damages to the local broadcasting company. ABS-CBN has scored several victories in US courts this year. The lawsuit, filed in December, covered over three dozen domain names, including dramaofw.ch, vidco.su, pinoyflixtv.com, pinoytvlovershd.com and tambayand.com. The sites in question are streaming portals that offer access to Filipino content in the US and abroad. These sites attract visitors from all over the world, including the United States, where they target people of Filipino origin. Elisha Lawrence, ABS-CBNs assistant vice president of Global Anti-Piracy, said defendants websites are operating in blatant disregard of the rights of ABS-CBN and willfully infringing ABS-CBNs intellectual property. She said the pirates will be stopped wherever they are in the world.ABS-CBNs most recent legal victory follows a pattern of similar verdicts in recent years. With the lawsuits, the company has managed to score dozens of millions of dollars in damages from a wide variety of streaming sites. As part of the judgment, any advertising revenue gained by these pirate websites must be handed over to ABS-CBN. The permanent injunction in the ruling also requires the domain name registrars and registries of the pirate sites to transfer the domain names to ABS-CBN. It is another great legal victory for ABS-CBN. This substantial award by the US federal court sends the strong message that the content owner has the legal right to protect its content from being given away for free by pirates, Lawrence added. 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30 (3) Mar 29 (4) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (4) Mar 26 (2) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (6) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (4) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (4) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (4) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (4) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (3) Feb 10 (4) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (4) Jan 25 (3) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (4) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (4) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (5) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (2) Dec 29 (2) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (2) Dec 11 (6) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (6) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (4) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (2) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (4) Nov 15 (6) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (2) Nov 06 (2) Nov 05 (2) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (2) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (2) Oct 24 (2) Oct 23 (2) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (2) Oct 16 (2) Oct 15 (2) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (4) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (6) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (7) Sep 26 (4) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (5) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (5) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (7) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (2) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (2) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (5) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (2) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (6) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (6) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (8) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (2) May 29 (2) May 28 (2) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (2) May 18 (3) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (3) May 10 (4) May 09 (4) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (2) May 05 (3) May 04 (4) May 03 (2) May 02 (3) May 01 (3) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (7) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (7) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (5) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (5) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (6) Mar 18 (6) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (5) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (4) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (9) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (3) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (2) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (4) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (2) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (2) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (2) Jan 04 (2) Jan 03 (2) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (2) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (2) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (2) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (2) Nov 22 (2) Nov 21 (2) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (2) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (2) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (2) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (2) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (2) Sep 29 (2) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (2) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (2) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (5) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (2) Aug 25 (2) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (2) Aug 12 (2) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (2) Aug 09 (2) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (2) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (2) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (2) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (2) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (2) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (2) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (2) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (2) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (2) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (2) Jul 03 (2) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (2) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (2) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (2) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (2) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (7) May 16 (2) May 15 (3) May 14 (4) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (3) May 08 (2) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (1) May 04 (2) May 03 (4) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (2) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (2) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 04 (2) Mar 02 (2) Feb 28 (1) Feb 24 (1) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (3) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (2) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (4) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (4) Oct 16 (3) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (5) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (3) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (5) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (6) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (5) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (4) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (4) May 23 (4) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (4) May 19 (3) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (1) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (4) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (3) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (4) Apr 16 (3) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (3) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (3) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (3) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (3) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (3) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (3) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (3) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (3) Mar 07 (3) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (3) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (3) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (4) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (5) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (2) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (2) Nov 05 (2) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (2) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (2) Oct 30 (6) Oct 29 (5) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (5) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (5) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (4) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (2) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (2) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (2) Oct 07 (2) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (3) Oct 04 (2) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (4) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (2) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (2) Sep 24 (1) Sep 23 (1) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 18 (1) Sep 17 (2) Sep 16 (1) Sep 15 (2) Sep 14 (2) Sep 13 (1) Sep 12 (1) Sep 11 (2) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (1) Sep 08 (1) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (1) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (2) Sep 03 (1) Sep 02 (1) Sep 01 (1) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (1) Aug 29 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 27 (1) Aug 26 (1) Aug 25 (1) Aug 24 (1) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 20 (2) Aug 19 (1) Aug 18 (1) Aug 17 (2) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 12 (1) Aug 09 (1) Aug 08 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 05 (1) Aug 04 (1) Jul 31 (1) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (5) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (4) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (4) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (6) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (6) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 (5) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (5) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (4) May 30 (4) May 29 (4) May 28 (5) May 27 (5) May 26 (5) May 25 (4) May 24 (5) May 23 (4) May 22 (4) May 21 (3) May 20 (6) May 19 (4) May 18 (4) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (3) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (3) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (3) May 06 (3) May 05 (3) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 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(2) Mar 21 (1) Mar 20 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (1) Mar 14 (2) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (1) Mar 04 (1) Mar 03 (2) Mar 02 (2) Mar 01 (2) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (1) Feb 26 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 23 (2) Feb 19 (2) Feb 13 (1) Feb 12 (1) Feb 02 (1) Jan 31 (1) Jan 22 (1) Jan 18 (1) Jan 16 (1) Jan 09 (1) Jan 01 (1) Dec 20 (2) Dec 15 (1) Dec 13 (1) Dec 11 (1) Nov 30 (1) Nov 27 (1) Nov 20 (1) Nov 11 (1) Nov 10 (1) Oct 23 (1) Oct 20 (1) Oct 01 (1) Sep 30 (1) Sep 29 (1) Sep 24 (2) Sep 15 (1) Sep 13 (1) Sep 12 (1) Sep 08 (1) Sep 02 (2) Aug 31 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 27 (2) Aug 24 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 20 (1) Aug 18 (3) Aug 16 (1) Aug 15 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 11 (1) Aug 08 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 03 (1) Jul 27 (1) Jul 26 (1) Jul 24 (1) Jul 22 (1) Jul 21 (1) Jul 19 (1) Jul 15 (1) Jul 14 (1) Jul 13 (3) Jul 10 (1) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (1) Jul 06 (1) Jul 03 (1) Jul 01 (1) Jun 28 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 20 (1) Jun 19 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 15 (1) Jun 14 (2) Jun 11 (1) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 06 (1) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (1) May 31 (3) May 30 (1) May 29 (1) May 28 (2) May 26 (1) May 25 (1) May 18 (1) May 17 (1) May 15 (1) May 09 (1) May 07 (2) May 02 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (2) Apr 23 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 19 (1) Apr 18 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 25 (1) Mar 22 (2) Mar 19 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (2) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) Independent senatorial candidate Jiggy Manicad lauded President Rodrigo Dutertes move to create an inter-agency task force that would drastically reduce hunger in the country by 2030, eight years after he steps down from the presidency. Manicad said the measure jived with his advocacy to ensure food security, particularly for underprivileged Filipinos. Hunger is the root cause of a lot of problems in our society. Why do people resort to theft, prostitution, and even drugs? Many times, its because of the desperation of not being able to put food on the table, Manicad said in a press statement. The neophyte candidate is at present campaigning to bring forward sweeping reforms and more investments in agriculture to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods for farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers. The task force, he said, would be instrumental for this objective. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on Tuesday that President Duterte approved the creation of the Zero Hunger Inter-Agency Task Force. According to Nograles, the move was in response to data showing that 2.4-million families suffered from moderate to extreme hunger in 2018. Around 13.7-million Filipino children are undernourished while about 20 percent of kids aged five and below are underweight.Nograles said that the first target would be to reduce current hunger levels by 25 percent in 2.5 years after the issuance of the Executive Order; 50 percent in five years; and 75 percent in 7.5 years. The IATF will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and heads from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Agriculture. For his part, Manicad maintained that the success of the task force would have a domino effect on everyday problems of Filipinos. We will prevent crime. We will help our children have more energy and focus when they go to school, he said. He added, The move is also very timely because the effects of climate change are already upon us. Food security and hunger should be on top of the nations agenda. Thursday, April 4, 2019 The House today passed a joint resolution under the War Powers Act calling for the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities in Yemen that haven't been authorized by Congress. The Senate previously passed the measure. The House's approval marks the first time that both chambers have approved a resolution under the WPA. President Trump says he'll veto it. Here's the text of the resolution. Here's a Congressional Research Service report on the history and uses of the WPA, updated just last month. Section 5(c) of the WPA (50 U.S.C. Sec. 1544(c)) says that "at any time that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs." Under the resolution passed today, Congress hereby directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen, except United States Armed Forces engaged in operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces, by not later than the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution . . . and unless and until a declaration of war or specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces has been enacted. For purposes of this resolution, in this section, the term "hostilities" includes in-flight refueling of non-United States aircraft conducting missions as part of the ongoing civil war in Yemen. That last bit is an acknowledgment that there's some dispute between Congress and the White House as to what constitutes "hostilities," and an effort to clarify. The CRS report talks a little about this starting on page 61. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/conlaw/2019/04/house-passes-wpa-ending-us-support-for-yemen-war-sends-to-white-house-for-likely-veto.html Friday, April 5, 2019 The DEMOCRATS have given us the weakest immigration laws anywhere in the World. Mexico has the strongest, & they make more than $100 Billion a year on the U.S. Therefore, CONGRESS MUST CHANGE OUR WEAK IMMIGRATION LAWS NOW, & Mexico must stop illegals from entering the U.S.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019 ....through their country and our Southern Border. Mexico has for many years made a fortune off of the U.S., far greater than Border Costs. If Mexico doesnt immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019 ....the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and talk. Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019 Last week, President Trump threatened to close the US/Mexico border, an extraordinary measure, claiming the existence of a migration "crisis" in the border region. Catlin Oprysko on Politico reports that President Trump yesterday backed off his threat to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border. Talking to reporters in the White House, Trump said that he would instead give Mexico a one-year warning to stop the flow of drugs into the United States and that he would first impose auto tariffs before closing the border. Several hours later, the president distanced himself further from his previous promises to shut it down. Before we close the border, well put the tariffs on the cars, he said while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. I dont think well ever have to close the border. The reversal comes after fellow Republicans, business groups and even some of his own aides warned him of dire economic consequences if Trump moved forward with his threat. KJ https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2019/04/trump-backs-off-threat-to-close-the-us-mexico-border.html Carlos Ghosn has been arrested for a fourth time in Japan on new charges of financial wrongdoing. He is the former chief of carmakers Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault. Government lawyers say Ghosn was arrested at his home in Tokyo Thursday. He is accused of sending $5 million dollars that was meant for a car dealer in Oman to a company he controlled. The 65-year-old former business leader was first arrested in November. At the time, he was charged with under-reporting his pay over nearly 10 years by $82 million. He was arrested twice in December on other charges, including transferring $16 million of his personal investment losses to the Japanese carmaker. If found guilty, he faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Ghosn released a statement Thursday denouncing his arrest as an attempt by people at Nissan to silence him. He said that, if tried fairly, he would be found innocent. Ghosn was released early last month after paying $9 million to ensure that he would appear for trial. He announced on Twitter Wednesday that he planned to tell the truth about the charges against him in a press conference planned for April 11. The businessman has spent about three months in jail waiting for his trial. The case has brought international attention to Japans justice system. Observers have criticized methods used by Japans government, and what some consider limited rights of people accused of crimes. Shin Kukimoto is deputy chief prosecutor at the Tokyo District Prosecutors office. He spoke to reporters about the case Thursday. Kukimoto said the new charges are different from those presented in January. At that time, government lawyers said Ghosn caused damage to Nissan to benefit himself and a business partner. In the latest charges, Kukimoto said, it was for his own personal benefit. The French government also is investigating Ghosns financial activities at Renault SA, Nissans industry partner. Ghosn was chairman and chief executive officer or, CEO of Renault until his arrest last year. Renault is Frances largest carmaker. The French government has been watching the case closely. Lawyer calls detention hostage justice Ghosns lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, strongly criticized the governments methods. Speaking about the renewed detention, he said, I feel this is hostage justice. He added that Ghosn had prepared a video statement if he is unable to leave detention by April 11. Nissan has held its own investigation into Ghosns activities. The company also faces some of the charges. Ghosn is widely credited for helping Nissan avoid financial failure and become one of the worlds most popular carmakers. Last year, he signed a contract to continue at the company until 2022. However, Ghosns high personal pay has been very unusual for a Japanese company official. It has raised suspicion in recent years. Ghosn became chairman and CEO of both Renault and Nissan in 2005. In 2016, he also became head of Mitsubishi Motors, another one of Japans large carmakers. Ghosn was born in Brazil and holds citizenship of both Brazil and France. Im Mario Ritter Jr. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted this story for VOA Learning English from VOA and AP reports. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story benefit v. to provide something useful or helpful or wanted by someone prosecutor - n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty The pilots of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 followed all of Boeings recommended steps when their plane began to nose dive shortly after takeoff. But they still could not stop the plane from crashing. Those are the early findings from a report released Thursday by the Ethiopian government. The Boeing 737 Max 8 jet crashed on March 10 just six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa. All 157 passengers and crew members died. The Ethiopian government said it based its report on flight data and cockpit voice recordings. The planes builder, Boeing, said it could not comment until it studies the full report. The companys 737 Max 8 jet has been criticized since a Lion Air flight crashed off the coast of Indonesia last October. That crash and the Ethiopian Airlines crash have several similarities, aviation experts say. At the center of the crash investigation is the planes flight-control system. Boeing and U.S. officials have said that pilots could regain control in emergencies if they followed a series of steps. Those steps include turning off a system designed to prevent the plane from crashing. This anti-stall system is known as MCAS. It was designed especially for the Max model. Ethiopian investigators did not name the MCAS system in their report. But they recommended that Boeing examine the aircraft flight control system related to the flight controllability. They also recommended that aviation officials confirm that issues have been fully addressed before permitting Max planes to fly again. Boeings 737 Max planes are currently not permitted to fly anywhere in the world. Boeing is working to fix the models anti-stall system. The change must be approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulators. The FAA said Monday that it expects Boeings final software improvements for 737 Max airliners in the coming weeks. The report did not say whether Ethiopian officials were seeking only those software improvements or whether they want a larger update to the Maxs flight controls. It is also not clear whether the Ethiopian pilots followed all of Boeings recommendations fully. The pilots followed Boeings instructions to disconnect the MCAS system. But for a still-unknown reason, the pilots then seemed to turn the system on again. That information comes from an official familiar with the investigation, who spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday. The official spoke on the condition of remaining unidentified because Ethiopias report had not yet been released. Boeings emergency instructions advise pilots to turn off the MCAS system and to continue flying manually for the rest of the flight. Ethiopian investigators did not talk about that issue at their press conference Thursday. They said the pilots had done what they were supposed to do. In a statement Thursday, Ethiopian Airlines said its pilots followed Boeing instructions. The Ethiopian officials did not say whether the MCAS system might have turned on again because of a broken sensor. One of the sensors, called Angle of Attack, did not work correctly in the Lion Air crash, which turned that planes MCAS system on again. David Hasse is an aviation expert and editor of the online publication airliners.de. He said it is important that the report found the Ethiopian pilots followed the correct steps provided by Boeing. That finding links the case more closely to the Lion Air crash. Hasse said, What is special about this case is that two crashes seem to have a very, very similar reason. This is something that is very rare in aviation. Hasse said he questions whether all Boeing 737 Max planes should have been grounded after the Lion Air crash. Im Jonathan Evans. The Associated Press reported on this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story nose-dive n. to drop suddenly with the front end pointing toward the ground cockpit n. are in an airplane where a pilot sits aviation n. related to flying vehicles such as airplanes and helicopters stall v. to stop flying suddenly because of a loss of lift regulators n. government officials who enforces laws and rules manually adv. operated by a person, not automatic sensor n. a device that senses heat, light, sound, force or other things electronically President Rodrigo Duterte has called on the countrys agricultural journalists to work together with the government in maintaining the momentum towards a brighter and greener future for every Filipino. The President made the call in a message to the Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc. on the occasion of its presentation of winners of the 2018 PAJ-San Miguel Corporation Binhi Awards for excellence in agricultural and environmental journalism and induction of its officers and directors at the Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City. Duterte recognized how PAJ, founded in 1976, had over the years been advocating for (sic) sustainable agriculture and countryside development through balanced reporting on agro-based industries. he PAJ members, according to Duterte, have raised public awareness, ensuring that our farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders in this sector are given a voice and are empowered to participate in the national discourse. Excellent journalism promotes nation-building through your stories, Duterte told the PAJ officers and members. Duterte congratulated the PAJ and the SMC for jointly holding the annual Binhi Awards contest in agricultural and environmental journalism. Let this milestone inspire you to remain steadfast in upholding the integrity of our natural and agricultural resources through informative news and insightful commentary, the President said. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol led the presentation of 30 awards together with PAJ President Alfredo Gabot, PAJ Vice President and Binhi Awards committee chairman Noel Reyes and PAJ past president Roman Floresca. Former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani, chairman of the Binhi Awards Board of Judges, also assisted in presenting the awards.The judges included Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monetary Board Member Bruce Tolentino, San Miguel Corp. assistant vice president Mary Jane Llanes Oconer, broadcaster and former party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones and Dr. Crispin Maslog. In a separate message, Pinol stressed: the importance of agricultural journalists not only as disseminators of new agricultural technologies to our farmers and fisherfolk but also as watchdogs on governance, initiators of policy debates and catalysts of change in the countryside. I am confident that through the Binhi Awards, the PAJ would continue to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with the Department of Agriculture in equipping our farmers and fisherfolk not only with enough knowledge and tools to do safe, sustainable and profitable agriculture but also with enough wisdom and inspiration to achieve holistic and inclusive rural and national progress, Pinol stressed. Others who congratulated the PAJ were Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Agrarian Reform Secretary John F. Casticiones, Ramon S. Ang, president and COO of San Miguel Corp., and Henry Lim Bon Liong, president of SL Agritech Co. During the event, the PAJ announced its rejoining the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and also presented Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award (posthumous) to the late journalist and professor Rodolfo Fernandez. Lifetime Achievement Awards were also presented to Dr. Anselmo Roque, Zac Sarian of Manila Bulletin and Agriculture Magazine, former Press Undersecretary and now Balita columnist Marcelo Lagmay and PAJ co-founder Joaquin Espino. Special awards were also conferred on Henry Lim Bon Liong of SL Agritech Corp. and PAJ past president Roman Floresca. Aside from Alfredo Gabot, officers inducted by Secretary Pinol were Fermin Diaz, VP for internal affairs; Noel Reyes, VP for external affairs; Ruby Lumongsod, secretary; Aileen Garcia, Asst. secretary; Inez Magbual, treasurer; Thelma Tolentino, auditor; Michael Alunan, PRO for print; Rolando Gonzalo, PRO for Broadcast; Rex Navarro, Johnny Goloyugo, Charisma Love Gado Gonzales, Melly Tenorio, Rogelio Matalang, and past president Roman Floresca, directors. A complaint has been filed with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Batangas against a farm owner and former labor attache by his female administrative staffer, who claims she was sexually abused and ridiculed publicly by her boss. Jeffrey Cortazar, who owns and operates Dream Farm Victories Corp., was charged on April 1 with alleged violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act by Mary Grace Florence Gamez, 30, a native of Lian, Batangas, official documents showed. Cortazar, 63, had served as a labor attache in Beirut, Lebanon during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The Manila Standard could not reach him for comment at press time despite requests coursed through his farm company and their social media accounts. Gamez, the complainant, said she started working as Cortazars staff in August 2018. Her work required her to accompany the respondent to the seminars of DV Boer Farm, handle corporate books and other bookkeeping tasks. However, weeks after Gamez started her work, she said Cortazar allegedly began making advances, professing his love for her, and telling her that the way she took care of his business made him fall in love with her. The complainant dismissed his advances and told Cortazar that she does not want to have a relationship with her employer. Gamez said when Cortazar celebrated his birthday in a resort in Matabungkay, the latter drank too much and asked her to bring him to his apartment in Barangay Quatro, Lian, Batangas. The complainant said she accompanied her boss to his apartment together with his driver. When they were inside the apartment, the respondent sent his driver outside and demanded Gamez give him a bath. The complainant refused, but Cortazar allegedly scolded her for giving malice to his request. She then acceded, but Gamez said the respondent took advantage of the situation and succeeded in having sex with her.She said Cortazar repeatedly professed his love for her and even told her that he will introduce her to his family as his girlfriend. Gamez said in the affidavit that she noticed Cortazar would hug and kiss his other female employees at the farm. She said sometime in October or November 2018, she accompanied Cortazar to a general assembly of subfarms, and they went to his townhouse in Malate, Manila, where she met his househelper. The complainant said Cortazar allegedly sexually abused the househelper while promising the latter a place in the board of directors of the farm. Gamez said she managed to get out of the house despite the respondents effort to stop her. Since she had no relatives in Manila, Gamez said she decided to meet her former boyfriend, who brought her to a nearby hotel where she spent the night alone. When she returned to Batangas, Cortazar accused her of cheating on him with her ex-boyfriend. He repeated this accusation whenever they were with other people to humiliate her, Gamez said. She said the respondent even cut her hair without her permission, prompting the woman to go to her mother. She said Cortazar followed her and reiterated the accusation before Gamezs mother. The complainant said Cortazar would repeat the accusation before the farm employees, her neighbors, friends, and relatives. She said the respondent sent his driver to fetch her so they could talk, but when she arrived at her employers house, Cortazar told her to undress and instructed the driver to record a video of them having sex. Gamez said she refused and struggled to get out of the house. Michael D. Gilbert (University of Virginia School of Law) has posted The Law and Economics of Entrenchment (Georgia Law Review, Forthcoming) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Should law respond readily to societys evolving views, or should it remain fixed? This is the question of entrenchment, meaning the insulation of law from change through supermajority rules and other mechanisms. Entrenchment stabilizes law but frustrates democratic majorities. Scholars have long studied this tension but made little progress in resolving it. This Essay considers the problem from the perspective of law and economics. Three arguments follow. First, majority rule can systematically harm society even when voters are rational (i.e., not passionate) and no intense minority is present. This is because of a collective action problem created by transition costs. Second, entrenchment is unnecessary when bargaining is easy but offers a second-best solution when bargaining is hard. This may explain why some laws are entrenched but not others. Third, the optimal degree of entrenchment depends on a distinction existing scholarship ignores: whether the transition costs associated with a change in law are variable or fixed. Given variable costs, the argument for entrenchment is even stronger than scholars realize. But given fixed costs, the argument weakens. To overcome fixed costs, outdated laws require major change, but entrenchment encourages only minor change. This mismatch relates to an age-old question: when, if ever, should judges update entrenched law through interpretation? In one circumstance, judges can beneficially update in a way that democracy cannot. And from the paper: Originalists and some others tend to support the demanding amendment rules in Article V, and they tend to oppose efforts by judges to sidestep those rules through interpretation.107 The analysis here provides some tools to assess this broad view. If the status quo the amendment rules protect is not too far from the ideal law (typically they present no evidence on this score), if transition costs are sufficiently high (same), and, critically, if those costs are mostly variable in character (a distinction they ignore), then their position is strongstronger than they know. Under these facts, the deep entrenchment of Article V not only freezes most of the Constitution in place, it encourages amendments to be incremental, which is optimal given those variable costs. If these conditions fail to hold, then their position weakens. If transition costs are mostly fixed, then Article V encourages harmful changes and discourages beneficial changes. Living constitutionalists and some others face the opposite criticism. Their calls for faster, grander legal change, whether through amendment or judicial interpretation, ring true when the status quo is far from todays ideal law, transition costs are low, and, critically, those costs are mostly fixed. They usually offer no evidence on these scores. If transition costs are mostly variable, then legal change should be small and their prescription reversed. In that case, deep entrenchmenteven as it protects an unpopular status quo, even as it promotes plodding legal changegets it exactly right. Highly recommended. Peter S. Menell (University of California, Berkeley - School of Law) has posted Patent Showdown at the N.D. Cal. Corral (Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property Law (Forthcoming)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Software patent cases often present dozens of claims requiring tremendous effort and years of costly litigation to reach a resolution. In a provocative essay, Judge William Alsup offers an innovative case management solution inspired by western frontier justice. As Judge Alsup warned attorneys in a recent case, tell your clients that the day of reckoning is close at hand. Modeled after the famous Shootout at the OK Corral, the Showdown at the N.D. Cal. Corral aims to streamline patent litigation by requiring the patentee to choose its best claim and the defendant to choose the weakest claim for an early summary judgment showdown. Judge Alsup emphasizes the potentially severe stakes: injunction city if the patentee prevails and big sanctions if the claims fail. This article assesses whether Judge Alsups patent case management invention works for its intended purposes. Based on a review of the two showdowns to date, it concludes that the showdown procedure has yielded mixed results. The procedure, however, raises serious fairness concerns that could well lead to a bigger showdown at the Federal Circuit Corral. Two new routes, including a direct flight from Muan, South Korea to Macau launching this month, are expected in the second quarter says Eric Fong, director of the Marketing Department of Macau International Airport Ltd (MIA). Fong, who spoke on the sidelines of a breakfast talk organized by the British Business Association of Macao, said that the airport was still eyeing carriers in order to open new destinations in Southeast Asia, without revealing the total number of new flights that will operate from the SAR this year. Fong also did not disclose the dates the two new routes will commence. Air Macau is set to increase the size of their fleet and plan to add more frequent flights to Japan and mainland China according to Fong, adding that China Eastern Airlines is planning to add Macau as a new destination. With Air Macaus 25-year concession agreement set to expire November 2020, the executive revealed that there are a number of airlines that are in initial talks with the airport, including budget airline AirAsia and Xiamen Airlines. Currently, we have several airlines that are interested [] but these are [still] initial talks and they just gave us some expectations. Whats more important is to follow the governments [requirements], Fong told the press. Commenting on the 26 berths currently at the local airport, 22 of which are used by Air Macau, Fong hinted that the airport would try to work with carriers to optimize parking once the local carrier ends its exclusive concession. Regarding the South Expansion Project of the Terminal Building, Fong reiterated that it would raise the maximum passenger capacity per year from 7.8 million to 10 million, adding three more loading bridges. Set to be completed by 2020, Fong did not provide details on acquiring approval of the master plan from the central government. That will be another issue because our airport also works for the Civil Aviation Authority. [.] We will fully support how they want to expand in the future, the marketing director said. Commenting on the airports interest in long-haul flights, Fong remarked, we have several destinations that we would like to consider [including] Australia and India. [We will also] see if there is any potential to do charter services. The executive also clarified that Turkish Airlines which was in negotiations with the airport to operate a commercial flight between Macau and Istanbul has postponed its plans of establishing connections between the cities. We are still working closely with Turkish Airlines. For this year, they will not consider it because they have another issue for 2020 [but] Macau is an opportunity, Fong said. Currently, there are a total of 28 airlines flying to 54 destinations from MIA, 18 of which are legacy airlines, while 10 are budget carriers. Legal veteran Paulo Taipa, who until the end of the last year was a long-standing advisor to Macaus Legislative Assembly (AL), has been hired to a new role in Portugals ministry for homeland security, the Times has learned. Taipa started in his new role as political and legal advisor to the Adjunct Secretary of State Isabel Oneto on Tuesday. Onetos authority is equivalent to a vice-minister, and her office is concerned with homeland security services, for example territorial matters and police and fire services. The appointment, which will shortly be published in Portugals Official Gazette, Diario da Republica, was confirmed yesterday by a Lisbon cabinet source. Taipa joined the Legislative Assembly in 2001, when Susana Chou was presiding over the first post-handover legislature. There he served in his advisory role for almost 17 years before he was dismissed suddenly and without reasonable cause by the decision of incumbent Legislative Assembly President Ho Iat Seng in August. Taipas colleague, Paulo Cardinal, who had served at the AL since 1992, was also removed from his post in the same notice issued by the Legislative Assemblys board. The two Portuguese advisors were notified via letter that their contracts would not be renewed and that their work at the Legislative Assembly would cease by Dec. 31, 2018. The letters did not state the reason for their terminations. Neither did AL board president Ho Iat Seng, who, asked several times about the decision, has refused to clarify why the veteran legal advisors were asked to move on. In a letter to legislators who demanded an explanation in November, Ho merely advised that the Assemblys advisory council remained well-staffed with consultant coordinators, counselors, technician counselors and other law personnel. Their dismissal will not have any negative influence on the work of the AL, Ho wrote in his reply to legislators, and therefore there he has nothing further to explain and there was no need [for the legislators] to be concerned about this issue. But concerned lawmakers were and speculation among the legal and political communities was rife for months after the contract terminations. Legislator Sulu Sou described the non-renewal of the legal advisors contracts as tantamount to a dismissal in disguise and, during the final days of the last legislative session, cited lawyer and former lawmaker Leonel Alves: Nobody can understand which [reason] of public interest is so relevant that does not allow the renewal of their contracts. Discretionary power should not be confused with arbitrary power. DB Chinas central bank had an odd warning yesterday: Please dont burn fake yuan notes. Today, millions of Chinese will celebrate Qingming Festival, the tomb-sweeping holiday, holding memorials for deceased relatives. Part of the tradition involves burning fake money and paper models of goods in the belief that ones ancestors will get to enjoy the real things in the afterlife. The imitation offerings span every conceivable luxury, from expensive cars to intricately designed mansions. The problem is that the knockoff yuan bills have come to look increasingly like real ones in recent years, worrying the Peoples Bank of China, which is revamping regulations to prevent vandalism of its bank notes and the use of their patterns for commercial or illicit purposes. Please be civil in memorials, and dont buy or use paper sacrifices printed with patterns of the renminbi, the PBOCs operation office said in a text messages to the public on Thursday, referring to the currency by its other name. The banks Shenzhen branch also warned last week that those caught illegally using patterns printed on the yuan can be fined up to USD7,451. Bloomberg Malaysias human rights commission has urged the government to reinvestigate the disappearances of a Christian pastor and a Muslim activist after a public inquiry concluded they were abducted by the police special branch for alleged proselytizing of Muslims. Amri Che Mat, who ran a charity group, disappeared after leaving his home on Nov. 24, 2016. Pastor Raymond Koh disappeared in central Selangor state on Feb. 13, 2017, while being investigated over alleged proselytization. The National Human Rights Commission concluded Wednesday after a two-year public investigation that direct and circumstantial evidence showed the men were victims of enforced disappearance by state agents involving the special branch. It said the men were targeted by religious authorities and police and had been abducted in similar ways: Their cars were blocked by several four-wheel drive vehicles before they were swiftly seized by men in black wearing ski masks. It said Amri was under the watch of Perlis religious authorities for allegedly spreading Shiite teachings. The government recognizes only the Sunni branch of Islam and prohibits all others including Shiites, the worlds second-largest Islamic group. The findings have stunned Malaysians and prompted calls by rights groups, lawmakers and a Christian organization for a new investigation to find the truth and punish the perpetrators. The inquiry cannot take action and can only make recommendations to the government. After the [commissions] damning conclusion, the government can no longer bury its head in the sand. An independent and impartial investigation into the special branchs involvement [] must be immediately undertaken in order to determine [Amri and Kohs] fate or whereabouts, said Sevan Doraisamy, executive director of rights group SUARAM. The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship said the government must reopen the investigation into the heinous injustice against the two men and that police cannot be allowed to violate the rule of law. In addition to Koh, Muslims- turned-Christian preachers Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth Hilmi disappeared mysteriously six days after Amri in 2016. The commission said it hopes to conduct a public inquiry into the Hilmis case too. These kidnapping have raised fears of religious vigilantism in the country, said lawmaker Charles Santiago, who described the commissions findings as chilling. Santiago and another lawmaker, Ram Karpal, called for the suspension of national police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun, who was head of the special branch at the time. Other civic organizations and a group of former civil servants demanded that the government set up an oversight body to ensure that police are accountable and to regain public trust. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters late Wednesday that the government will reinvestigate the disappearances if the rights commission has evidence to back up its findings, not just hearsay. He noted that the disappearances occurred under the previous long-ruling coalition that was defeated in last Mays election. Mah Weng Kwai, a retired judge who headed the inquiry, said Thursday that the government must prove that police were not involved. He said the inquiry was handicapped by police reluctance to cooperate, but that circumstantial evidence in both cases strongly pointed to police involvement, which he described as heinous and despicable. Mah said his three-member panel had done sufficient fact-finding to warrant a further government investigation. Mahathir has said that Fuzi, who is due for retirement soon, will be allowed to do so and that a new police chief could investigate him later. Fuzi has declined to comment. The former home minister in charge of police, Zahid Hamidi, denied ordering police to abduct the men. Former national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar denied that the special branch was involved .Eileen Ng, Kuala Lumpur, AP The Executive Council has completed discussions on the administrative regulation of establishing the government-owned Macau Urban Renovation Company, as announced yesterday during a press conference. The companys initial investment capital will be MOP100 million. The Macau SAR government owns 96 percent of shares in the company, while the Industrial and Commercial Development Fund and the Science and Technology Development Fund possess 3 percent and 1 percent of the company shares respectively. All of the companys resources will come from government finances and subsidies granted by public entities. The company will coordinate and promote activities related to urban renewal, and will be responsible for preventing the degradation and deterioration buildings in terms of hygiene, views and safety. Additionally, the company will also promote the development of renovated spaces for a creative city. Aside from the responsibilities mentioned, it is also proposed that the company will carry out other industrial and commercial activities related to urban renewal. It may sign cooperation agreements with public or private entities, as well as invest capital in other companies. Council spokesperson Leong Heng Teng said that the company and the Urban Renewal Committee will co-exist after the establishment of the company. As a business operator, Macau Urban Renovation Company will have its own secretary, board of directors and a supervisory board which will supervise the companys operations. The operation of the company should be overseen by its own supervisory board according to the companys rules, said Leong. According to Macaus laws, government-owned companies must publish an annual business report. Regarding government representatives at the company, Leong explained that the government will send representatives to the board of directors. They will not be regarded as civil servants. Regarding the exact date the company is to commence operation, the Executive Council spokesperson could not provide the details. However, he explained that the company could start operating once its charter is published. The charter will be announced by an executive order and it will come into effect the next day. It is said that the company will provide more flexibility for the government, in terms of commercial discussions. JZ At an Australia Post store in northern Sydney, there are almost no signs in English, the staff all speak Mandarin and anything bought there must be shipped to China. The outlet, where shelves are stacked with a2 Milk Co. infant formula, Blackmores Ltd. vitamin pills, lip balms and Manuka honey, is the latest effort to feed the insatiable demand in China for premium foreign-made goods. The so-called daigou trade, where people buy products overseas and ship them to the mainland for resale, is showing no signs of slowing down in Australia even after Chinas new e-commerce rules came into force on Jan. 1. Government-owned Australia Post opened its concept store in the suburb of Chatswood just under a year ago on and its success has already spurred a similar venture in downtown Sydney and two in Melbourne. All are located in areas with large Chinese-speaking populations, where private stores catering to the burgeoning daigou trade operate. For 35-year-old Cathy Wang, who spends an average of USD350 a week on products at the Australia Post shop, the attraction is milk powder and other calcium products. They are sold free of Australian goods and services tax, and the size of the packaging available in the store means Wangs regular shipments typically fall under the level attracting a Chinese import levy. I come every day, sending packages to friends, Wang said. Because Ive been here a short time Im not confident in English. If I go to a local pharmacist and want to know more about the product information, I wouldnt be able to understand their explanation. Wang, whos studying English at a language school in Sydney, said she doesnt take a cut from the sales, and her friends in China, especially those with kids, prefer buying milk powder from Australia. Thats a legacy of a major food scandal in China over a decade ago when contaminated infant formula killed at least six babies. Whats more, Wang says that when she cant make it to the store located in the building that was Chatswoods main post office for 60 years and still carries very similar signage and branding to conventional post offices she uses the social messaging app WeChat to message staff. They then help package and post her order, before billing her via QR code. The store may get even busier, after the Chinese government said Wednesday it will reduce the postal tax on food and medicines, effective from April 9. Australia Post says the stores are an example of finding new ways to give customers what they want while opening opportunities for Australian businesses wanting to connect with the growing Chinese market. Thuy Ong, Bloomberg Education will remain the top priority of the Makati City government under the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay. Binay made this assurance during the 2nd Commencement Exercises of the K to 12 Senior High School Program last Thursday at the Marquis Events Place, Bonifacio Global City where she was invited as guest speaker. Almost majority of my projects are for kids because my philosophy is, if you kids are happy, your parents are happy as well, said Binay. The city chief executive assured the more than 1,200 graduates from the seven public senior high schools that the city government would continue to improve the quality of education in the citys public schools, noting that they should be proud of being products of the citys public education system. We have levelled up with the standards of private schools and dispelled the connotation of substandard education attached to public schools, she said. Binay also exhorted the graduates to have a vision of what they want to become in the future and to make a plan on how to achieve it. You should learn to dream. You should learn to plan to get that dream, she told the graduates, who included 531 honor graduates. Saying that the graduates should already know what they want to be in the next five years, the mayor assured them that the city government, along with their parents, would help them reach their dreams. The mayor underscored her thrust of inclusive education by sharing her vision of all public schools in Makati, and not just Makati Science High School, showing excellent academic performance, particularly in Math and Science. She cited Project MILES (Mathematics Intensive Learning Enhancement for Students), which was launched in September last year, as an initiative of her administration to address the disparity between regular public schools and MakSci. Project MILES consists of programs designed to improve the Math competency of students in Makati public elementary and junior high schools, using Koobits, a Singaporean Math software popularly known as a top Math learning platform.Recently, Mayor Binay has announced plans to establish a school that befits a digital city, one that is fully equipped with fast and reliable wifi connection and modern computers to teach students the latest technology and develop them into globally competitive citizens. Through the Makati Public Wi-Fi Project, which now covers 13 out of 27 target barangays, free internet connection has been made available to students enrolled in the citys public schools. For school year 2018-2019, all students in public senior high schools in Makati were provided with free school supplies, uniforms and Air Binay rubber shoes under Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) of the city. For the first time, they were also treated to free educational trips under the Talent Optimization Programs for Students, as part of the city governments continuing efforts to develop globally competitive Makatizens. Last year, some 400 students from the citys public schools underwent the Senior High School Work Immersion Program, a program launched by the city in partnership with DepEd Makati. Under the program, the city deploys senior high school students to its different sections, departments, and project sites, where they are provided with training related to their course. According to DepEd Makati, Makati High School this year has the most number of senior high graduates with 363 graduates, of which 10 students graduated with high honors and 127 graduated with honors. It is followed by Fort Bonifacio High School with 202 graduates, including 39 with honors. Next is Makati Science High School which has 166 graduates, of which four graduated with high honors and 154 with honors. The remaining schools with senior high school program are Nemesio I. Yabut Senior High School with 142 graduates (four with high honors and 43 with honors); Pitogo SHS, 136 graduates (13 with high honors and 57 with honors); Benigno Aquino SHS, 129 (six with high honors and 44 with honors); and Maximo Estrella SHS, 82 graduates (five with high honors and 25 with honors). At present, senior high schools in the city offer various academic tracks, namely, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Accountancy, Business and Management, and Humanities and Social Science. Other tracks include Technical-Vocational-Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design. A Dutch lorry driver has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his part in the deaths of 58 Chinese illegal immigrants. They were found suffocated in the back of Perry Wackers lorry when it was searched at the ferry port in Dover last June after arriving from Belgium. Wacker, from Rotterdam, had closed the only air vent on the side of the container to avoid detection by immigration officials. At Maidstone Crown Court he was found guilty of 58 charges of manslaughter, as well as four counts of conspiracy to smuggle immigrants into the UK. Wackers co-accused, interpreter Ying Guo, was jailed for six years for conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants into Britain. The jury of nine women and three men convicted them unanimously after nearly 13 hours of deliberations following a six-week trial. The judge, Mr Justice Alan Moses, said that Wacker had treated the victims as cargo. People like you create a risk of greater prejudice against those people who quite legitimately come to this country seeking refuge as asylum seekers or whatever, he said. Only two of the 60 immigrants hidden in the back of the lorry survived the five-hour sea journey. Wacker claimed he thought he was bringing over tomatoes but fingerprint and DNA evidence linked him to the warehouse where the Chinese immigrants were held before they were locked into the container. After the conviction, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had ended in justice for the victims. CPS prosecutor Karen Wiseman said: The smuggling of humans has become as profitable as drugs. This trade hinges on the promise that at the end of the journey the illegal immigrants are heading for a better life. Tragically for these 58 victims, commercial gain took precedence over human life. Courtesy BBC News In context In May 2001 the leader of the international ring behind smuggling the Chinese into Britain was given a nine-year sentence by a Dutch court. Gursel Ozcan, a Turk, was cleared of manslaughter but found guilty of negligence. The same month, six members of a UK-based Snakehead or Chinese mafia gang were jailed for a total of almost 50 years for smuggling illegal immigrants into the UK and holding them for ransom. Police believe 10 Snakehead gangs control the trade in Britain. Many of the migrants, like the 58 dead Chinese at Dover, come from Fujian province in east China and are charged up to $30,000 for the journey. Macau, Hong Kong and Chinas Guangdong Province will stage for the first time a joint overseas promotion in Japan on the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said earlier this week. A symposium will be held on April 9 in Tokyo on the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, Lam told media ahead of an HKSAR Executive Council meeting. Lam said she will attend the symposium in Tokyo together with Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui and Macaus Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan. The outline development plan for the Greater Bay Area, released by the Chinese central government in February, states in its last chapter the need to broaden the participation of the public and various market entities in the development of the region, Lam noted, adding that Japan is a vast market which can render many professional services to the Greater Bay Area. According to the Chief Executives Office, Lam will depart for Tokyo on Sunday and will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono during the visit. Lam said she aims to explore how Japanese enterprises and research institutions can actively participate in the Greater Bay Areas development. DB/Xinhua Mack's Mets Blogspot - Mets News and Links, #Mets Twitter Feed, Mets Minor Leagues, and comments. Mobile Uses click down arrows for more pages The International Criminal Court has started examining the complaint of alleged crimes against humanity against President Rodrigo Duterte filed by the National Union of Peoples Lawyers. It appears that your communication relates to a situation already under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor, the court said in a letter to the NUPL dated April 4. Accordingly, your communication will be analyzed in this context, with the assistance of other related communications and other available information, the ICC added. Analysis will be carried out as expeditiously as possible but the meaningful analysis of the factors can take some time, the court told the local lawyers. Last Aug. 28, the NUPL represented activists and families of eight victims of the governments war against illegal drugs in filing a 50-page complaint to the ICC.The group called for Dutertes indictment for alleged thousands of extrajudicial killings, following the first complaint filed by lawyer Jude Sabio in April 2017. The ICC started its preliminary examination on Sabios complaint last February 2018. Duterte has been insisting the ICC has no jurisdiction over him. He argued that the Rome Statute is not enforceable in the Philippines because it was not published in a government publication or any newspaper of national circulation. The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed a graft complaint against the chief executive of Ecoglobal Inc. and former Environment Secretary Ma. Regina Lopez for lack of probable cause. In a ruling penned by Bonifacio G. Mandrilla, Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III, the Ombudsman found no probable cause for the complaint filed on March 16, 2017 by Viena P. Tanada against Lopez and Ecoglobal founder and CEO Jean-Philippe Albert Guy Henry. This was related to a sponsored trip taken by the former environment boss to Paris in October 2016, which Tanada said violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019. However, the decision noted that Lopezs trip to France could not qualify as receiving any gift within the meaning of the law under Section 2(c) of RA 3019. Mr. Henry and Ms. Lopez are known as environmentalists who have worked together in order to aid the countrys needs for renewable energy and waste management to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people, Ecoglobal said in a statement sent to the Manila Standard. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved the ruling on Jan. 22, 2018, documents showed. Lopez had been charged with graft and corruption before the Ombudsman for, Tanada alleged in her complaint, accepting gifts from the private company in exchange for a favor that secured for the firm a multimillion-peso government contract.Lopez was accused of graft for receiving an all-expense paid trip to Paris amounting to 38,380 or P2.05 million and for allegedly misusing her powers to speed the approval of Ecoglobals solar farm project in Zamboanga. Ecoglobal Inc. was granted a renewable energy service contract by the Energy department for a 30-megawatt solar farm after Lopez intervened on his behalf, said Tanada, who was business development officer at the firm. The contract would pave the way for a 300-mw solar farm that would also need permits from Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Ombudsman, however, noted that Lopez, as the supposed offender, did not directly or indirectly requested or received from the person any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit for himself or for another. Even if the principles laid down in other similar laws on the concept of unauthorized gift-giving were to be applied, the act complained of would still not qualify as a criminal violation, the decision noted. Four Abu Sayyaf Group members and three soldiers were killed, while 22 others were wounded in a clash in Patikul, Sulu, on Friday. Troops from the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were patrolling at around 6:50 a.m. when they encountered around 80 Abu Sayyaf members in Sitio Atol, Barangay Latih, Western Mindanao Command spokesman Colonel Gerry Besana said. The Abu Sayyaf encountered by the soldiers were under sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who allegedly masterminded the twin explosions at Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on January 27. At least 23 people were killed and over a hundred others were injured in that attack The same group was also behind the April 2 attack on teachers in Patikul, leaving two of the police escorts injured, Besana added. The 30-minute fierce firefight resulted to four killed and nine wounded on the enemy (Abu Sayyaf) side while the AFP troops suffered three killed-in-action and 13 others wounded, he said. Troops under the Joint Task Force Sulu were pursuing the remaining members of the group encountered by the government forces, Besana notedThe injured soldiers were airlifted via helicopter to a military hospital in Jolo, he said. Most of the wounded soldiers suffered slight injury due to shrapnel wounds and are now in stable condition, said Besana. Francisco Tuyay Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo said the encounter was a result of information provided by locals With the people of Sulu now on our side, our fighting soldiers are very much motivated to finish off the terrorists the soonest possible time. We will further intensify our campaign against the ASG in Sulu. We will continuously hunt them down wherever and whoever they are, he said. Francisco Tuyay The structure of PDE62 complex displaying PDE6 (purple), PDE6 (green cyan), and two molecules of PDE6 (red and yellow) subunits. Credit: UCI School of Medicine In a study published in Science Advances magazine, researchers from the University of California, Irvine have captured, for the first time, the full-length structure of the rod photoreceptor phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6), an enzyme that plays an indispensable role in human vision. PDEs are associated with various diseases and are targets of several widely used drugs and major targets for drug development. Unfortunately, many of these enzymes have similar structures, particularly their catalytic domains, where the chemical reaction takes place. Because of this, inhibitors that target one type of PDE can stop the reaction in multiple members of the PDE family, resulting in unwanted side effects. PDE5 inhibitors, for example, such as sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra), which are used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, can stop the reaction in PDE6 resulting in side effects affecting vision. "PDE5 inhibitors are associated with several visual side effects, including blurred vision, changes in color vision, extreme sensitivity to light, and in extreme cases, damage to the optic nerve that relays optical signals to the brain," said Sahil Gulati, Ph.D. "These side effects are caused by the binding of PDE5 inhibitors to PDE6 in the retina." Several cases of patients experiencing vision changes after using sildenafil citrate have been reported. Led by Gulati, researchers, including world renowned vision researcher Krzysztof Palczewski, Ph.D., director of the UCI Center for Translational Vision Research at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology at the UCI School of Medicine, and a team from the University of Basel in Switzerland, used single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the full-length PDE6 enzyme. They revealed fish-hook-like regions of the PDE6 structure that forms potential signal transduction routes from the regulatory domains of PDE6 to its catalytic domain. "The high-resolution images we were able to capture clearly underscore the immense hidden beauty of human vision and reveal several features of PDE6 that were previously unseen," said Gulati. "Included among them were some very promising regions of PDE6 that resemble fish-hooks. These regions are responsible for controlling PDE activity. By targeting the fish-hook-like region with a new class of PDE inhibitors, drug development companies may be able to eliminate unwanted side effects of certain PDE targeting drugs." Explore further Erectile dysfunction drugs could affect vision of genetically susceptible users More information: Sahil Gulati et al, Cryo-EM structure of phosphodiesterase 6 reveals insights into the allosteric regulation of type I phosphodiesterases, Science Advances (2019). Journal information: Science Advances Sahil Gulati et al, Cryo-EM structure of phosphodiesterase 6 reveals insights into the allosteric regulation of type I phosphodiesterases,(2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav4322 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Since the 1980s, the cochlear implant has helped bring hearing to hundreds of thousands of people, but a new international effort aims to develop a new type of implant that will produce a keener, more natural form of hearing. Scientists at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, fueled by a $9.7 million federal grant, are part of a global initiative that involves physicians, surgeons, engineers and neuroscientists. They will develop not only a device, but a form of surgery to place the implant in the auditory nerve, which communicates directly with the brain. "I will be helping to develop the electrode arrays," said Loren Rieth, a professor at the Feinstein and a leading researcher in the field of bioelectronic medicine, which will be key in developing a new form of implant to facilitate hearing. "We want to develop an electrode that goes directly into the auditory nerve. And we therefore hope to stimulate a smaller population of nerve fibers to produce a more natural form of hearing," Rieth said. The grant is from the National Institutes of Health's Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies, an initiative that goes by the acronym BRAIN. The grant will allow Rieth and his collaborators to develop the device and surgical approach, study the device's safety and effectiveness, and ultimately implant the devices in volunteers with hearing loss who are not able to use cochlear implants. Since the mid-1980s, the cochlear implant has been used to treat deafness via an electrode array that is placed in a bony spirala snail-shaped bonein the ear, called the cochlea, to stimulate the auditory nerve. And while the implant has revolutionized sound perception for people worldwide, it does not provide hearing at lower frequencies, Rieth said. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates a growing need for hearing assistance, especially among people who are profoundly deaf. The institute estimates more than 324,200 people worldwide have cochlear implants, about 96,000 of them are in the United States, including an estimated 38,000 children. The device under development will be what Rieth calls "a quantum leap" over the cochlear implant because of its capacity to communicate directly with the brain. In recent years, the Feinstein Institute has been studying and developing numerous bioelectronic implants to effectively treat a range of medical conditions, most resulting from inflammatory processes, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers, led by bioelectronic medicine pioneer Dr. Kevin Tracey, the Feinstein's president and chief executive, have worked on numerous other developments in the field as well, including a device that controls postpartum hemorrhaging. Rieth, who came to the Feinstein Institute two years ago from the University of Utah, worked on the electronic architecture of the Utah Electrode Array, an infinitesimal implanta brain-computerthat can send and receive brain impulses. Research projects involving the Utah Array have focused on pain modulation and a bionic eye. Now, Reith and his Feinstein team, who are collaborating with an international group of scientists, hope to produce a tiny device within five years that will achieve sound resolution that covers a wide range of frequencies. "I'm excited by the opportunity to apply the nerve stimulation approaches of bioelectronic medicine to hearing restoration, focusing on the hearing nerve that travels from the cochlea to the brain," Reith said. The research effort is being led by scientists at the University of Minnesota and will include those from six other institutions, including the University of Utah and Hannover Medical School in Hannover, Germany. Clinical testing on volunteers initially will be performed in Germany, Rieth said. "The study brings together eight institutions from the United States and Europe to advance new devices for hearing loss," said Tracey, who also noted that collaboration across fields of expertise and institutions is critical to the success of bioelectronic medicine. Explore further Light based cochlear implant restores hearing in gerbils 2019 Newsday Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Blood pressure and stroke risk increase steadily with increasing alcohol intake, and previous claims that 1-2 alcoholic drinks a day might protect against stroke are dismissed by new evidence from a genetic study involving 160,000 adults. Studies of East Asian genes that strongly affect how much alcohol people choose to drink show that alcohol itself directly increases blood pressure and the chances of having a stroke, according to a new study published in The Lancet. It was known that stroke rates were increased by heavy drinking, but it wasn't known whether they were increased or decreased by moderate drinking. Although people who have one or two alcoholic drinks a day had previously been observed to have a slightly lower risk of stroke and heart attack than non-drinkers, it was not known whether this was because moderate drinking was slightly protective, or whether it was because non-drinkers had other underlying health problems (eg, being former drinkers who had stopped because of illness). At least for stroke, the genetic evidence now refutes the claim that moderate drinking is protective. In East Asian populations, there are common genetic variants that greatly reduce alcohol tolerability, because they cause an extremely unpleasant flushing reaction after drinking alcohol. Although these genetic variants greatly reduce the amount people drink, they are unrelated to other lifestyle factors such as smoking. Therefore, they can be used to study the causal effects of alcohol intake. As the genetic factors that strongly affect drinking patterns are allocated randomly at conception and persist lifelong, this study is the genetic equivalent of a large randomised trial, and can therefore sort out cause-and-effect relationships reliablya method called "Mendelian randomisation." Lead author Dr. Iona Millwood, from the Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit at the University of Oxford, UK, says: "Using genetics is a novel way to assess the health effects of alcohol, and to sort out whether moderate drinking really is protective, or whether it's slightly harmful. Our genetic analyses have helped us understand the cause-and-effect relationships." Researchers from Oxford University, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences led a large collaborative study of over 500,000 men and women in China who were asked about their alcohol intake and followed for ten years. In over 160,000 of these adults the researchers measured two genetic variants (rs671 and rs1229984) that substantially reduce alcohol intake. Among men, these genetic variants caused a 50-fold difference in average alcohol intake, from near zero to about four units (drinks) per day. The genetic variants that decreased alcohol intake also decreased blood pressure and stroke risk. From this evidence, the authors conclude that alcohol increases the risk of having a stroke by about one-third (35%) for every four additional drinks per day (280 g of alcohol a week), with no protective effects of light or moderate drinking. Professor Zhengming Chen, co-author from the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, says: "There are no protective effects of moderate alcohol intake against stroke. Even moderate alcohol consumption increases the chances of having a stroke. The findings for heart attack were less clear-cut, so we plan to collect more evidence." Of the men with genetic measurements, about 10,000 had a stroke and 2,000 had a heart attack during about ten years of follow-up, so more information is needed on heart attacks. Few women in China drink alcohol (less than 2% of women in the study drank in most weeks, and when they did drink they consumed less than men), and the genetic variants that cause alcohol intolerance had little effect on blood pressure or stroke risk. Women in this study therefore provide a useful control group, which helps confirm that the effects of these genetic variants on stroke risk in men were caused by drinking alcohol, not by some other mechanism. The authors highlight that it would be impossible to do such a study in Western populations, where almost nobody has the relevant genetic variants. However, these findings about the effects of alcohol in Asia should be applicable worldwide. Because the study was conducted in China, the alcohol consumed was mainly spirits, but they expect the findings to apply to alcohol in other drinks. In China, more years of life are lost to stroke than to any other disease. This study estimates that, among Chinese men, alcohol is a cause of 8% of all strokes from a blood clot in the brain and 16% of all strokes from bleeding into the brain. Co-author Professor Liming Li, from Peking University, says: "Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. This large collaborative study has shown that stroke rates are increased by alcohol. This should help inform personal choices and public health strategies." Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Tai-Hing Lam and Dr. Au Yeung, from the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, call for a WHO Framework Convention for Alcohol Control (FCAC), similar to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): "Alcohol control is complex and stronger policies are required. The alcohol industry is thriving and should be regulated in a similar way to the tobacco industry." Explore further Moderate alcohol consumption linked with high blood pressure More information: Iona Y Millwood et al, Conventional and genetic evidence on alcohol and vascular disease aetiology: a prospective study of 500 000 men and women in China, The Lancet (2019). Journal information: The Lancet Iona Y Millwood et al, Conventional and genetic evidence on alcohol and vascular disease aetiology: a prospective study of 500 000 men and women in China,(2019). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31772-0 Credit: pixabay An international team led by Munich-based researchers has found a genetic score that reliably predicts which youths will have depression, the severity of the depression and the age of onset. Furthermore, an additive effect was seen in the youths who had experienced childhood abuse. According to the World Health Organization, depression is now the leading cause of disability, globally affecting over 300 million people. Depression occurs through the interplay between biological, psychological and social factors. Although depression can happen at any age, it often first emerges during adolescence. Identifying the risk factors for depression before clinically interfering symptoms arise is crucial for effective and targeted prevention strategies. A study now published by a team from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry and the LMU Medical Center in collaboration with researchers from Emory University, Atlanta, USA, University of Coimbra, Portugal and University of Helsinki, Finland, brings us a step closer to being able to prevent depression in youths.The team investigated whether the genetic scores from adult studies can also be applied to predict if children and adolescents will have depression, the severity of depression and the age of onset of the disease. Researchers used a relatively new method of calculating the genetic risk of depression. Traditional genetic studies focus on one genetic difference at a time and how it associates with risk of disease. In this study, information from many genetic variants associated with depression identified in a sample of over 460,000 adults was used to create a score of the aggregated genetic risk for depression, or a so-called polygenic risk score. Individually, these variants have little impact on risk, but when taken together they can reveal hidden disease risk thus generating a much clearer picture. The method has already been successfully used to look at the genetic risk for many common diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. First author of the study, Thorhildur Halldorsdottir from MPI explains what she did in more detail: "The score is first calculated from genetic data gathered in the past year from a huge number of adults with depression. This score was then applied to see if it could predict depression and symptoms of depression in smaller cohorts of children and adolescents." In another aspect of the study, she investigated the impact of an environmental factor, childhood abuse, which has been found to predict depression. Halldorsdottir adds: "We also looked to see how a history of childhood abuse affected the risk. We found that both the polygenic risk score and exposure to childhood abuse were informative in identifying youth at risk for depression." Max Planck director and head of the department carrying out this research, Elisabeth Binder summarizes: "This is the first study to show that the polygenic risk score calculated from adults with depression can be used to identify those children at risk of developing depression before any clinical symptoms have emerged." Effective psychological and pharmacological interventions for depression are already well known. A combined approach of these interventions has been found to be most effective. Unfortunately, these interventions are not feasible within the realms of public health, in part due to lack of resources. Director and Chair of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the LMU University Hospital and co-investigator of the study, Gerd Schulte-Korne adds: "In the future, by applying the findings of studies like this one, it would be possible to target youth at the greatest risk for depression, i.e., those with a high polygenic risk score and/or history of childhood abuse, for these effective interventions." Binder concludes: "There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to perfect the early identification of youth at risk for depression. However, knowing which children are more likely to go on to develop depression would give us the opportunity to implement effective prevention strategies and reduce the huge burden of depression." Explore further New knowledge could help predict and prevent depression More information: Thorhildur Halldorsdottir et al. Polygenic Risk: Predicting Depression Outcomes in Clinical and Epidemiological Cohorts of Youths, American Journal of Psychiatry (2019). Journal information: American Journal of Psychiatry Thorhildur Halldorsdottir et al. Polygenic Risk: Predicting Depression Outcomes in Clinical and Epidemiological Cohorts of Youths,(2019). DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18091014 Credit: Rice University A Rice University chemist's research conducted years ago to protect people from radiation poisoning due to nuclear fallout may now offer a glimmer of hope to patients with pancreatic cancer. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University have published a study on the novel use of amifostine, an approved intravenous drug used to protect healthy tissue in patients undergoing radiation therapy. The results of new research led by MD Anderson radiation oncologist Dr. Cullen Taniguchi appear in an open-access paper in Nature's Scientific Reports and are detailed in a report on MD Anderson's Cancer Frontline blog. Until now, if doctors used levels of radiation sufficient to destroy most tumors in the head of the pancreas, the radiation would also destroy the duodenum, which is the first stage of the small intestines. But data from decade-old research by Rice University chemist James Tour suggested there might be another way. Tour, working at the time on a federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grant, was looking for a nanoparticle-enabled method to curtail radiation poisoning in people exposed to nuclear fallout. Tests on an animal control group given amifostine orally proved far more interesting. "Amifostine was developed at Walter Reed Medical Center in the 1970s and was identified as a radio protectant," Tour said. "It is used intravenously to this day to protect patients." Working with Kathryn Mason, a now-retired faculty member at MD Anderson, Tour and his Rice group were testing antioxidant nanoparticles known as PEG-HCCs for their ability to quench the effects of radiation. "They helped a little bit, but nothing like the control," he said. Federal funding stopped at the end of the George W. Bush administration in 2008, he said. Dr. Cullen Taniguchi. Credit: Rice University "We had all this data, but not enough money to translate it," Tour said. "And that was it," But Mason remembered. A few years later, she recommended that Taniguchi, a new recruit to MD Anderson, view the old data and visit Tour. Taniguchi, a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson and leader of the new study, immediately saw the potential for treating pancreatic cancer. "Intravenous amifostine can cause severe nausea and hypotension, greatly limiting its use for patients," Taniguchi said. "An effective oral version with less harmful side effects would allow us to extend this protection to more patients." "When you get a tumor in the head of the pancreas, you can't do surgery, because the pancreas wraps around a huge artery," Tour said. "You can't do radiation because if you blast the tumor with the levels you'd need to kill it, you'd destroy the duodenum that connects the stomach to the small intestine." The duodenum contains groups of stem cells in a structure called a crypt. The crypts produce epithelial cells to replace those worn away by food that passes through the intestine. "These crypts are the first thing to go when they're exposed to radiation," Tour said. "When they're gone, bacteria on the food causes gastrointestinal syndrome." As it happens, amifostine taken orally is broken down by the enzymes in the duodenum. When the drug passes through the duodenum and jejunum, the alkaline environment there translates it into another drug, radio-protective WR-1065, precisely where it's needed most. Ideally, a patient who takes amifostine a short time before radiation could better withstand a high-enough dose needed to eradicate the tumor, Tour said. Even though amifostine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Tour warned that using it as part of a new strategy to treat pancreatic cancer is likely years away. "This is not yet an approved treatment," Tour said. "That won't come until after the clinical trials are done." Explore further Nanoparticle shows promise in reducing radiation side effects More information: Jessica M. Molkentine et al. Enteral Activation of WR-2721 Mediates Radioprotection and Improved Survival from Lethal Fractionated Radiation, Scientific Reports (2019). Journal information: Scientific Reports Jessica M. Molkentine et al. Enteral Activation of WR-2721 Mediates Radioprotection and Improved Survival from Lethal Fractionated Radiation,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37147-9 Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, the Helen M. Shearer Term Professor of Nutrition at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Credit: Eric Sucar, Univ. of Penn. Communications Breastfeeding is an accepted practice for millions of women worldwide and strongly endorse by the World Health Organization. To provide appropriate counseling about human milk and breastfeeding, it is important to understand cultural beliefs and customs related to the practice. Understanding Orthodox Jewish customs regarding breastfeeding is especially important for health care providers because the Orthodox population in the United States is growing. Orthodox women get married younger and have twice as many children as non-Orthodox Jews. Some of these families are at higher risk for conceiving infants with genetic disorders, who may require special care and continued hospitalization after the mother has been discharged. In a new article published in The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, nurse researchers examine Orthodox Jewish practices related to the provision of human milk and breastfeeding for a sick newborn. The article guides nurses in providing culturally competent lactation education, and evidence based guidance to meet the individual needs of each Orthodox Jewish infant and family. It is critical for the family to have conversations with their Rabbi ideally before delivery or at time of birth to determine needs for saving colostrum and milk, as well as, milk expression during Shabbat or religious holidays. "Personalized, culturally and religiously tailored care, education, and counseling can ensure that Orthodox mothers are able to meet their personal breastfeeding goals even if their infant requires hospitalization at birth," says Diane L. Spatz, Ph.D., RN-BC, FAAN, the Helen M. Shearer Term Professor of Nutrition at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), one of the article's co-authors. Explore further Special series examines the use of pasteurized donor human milk for vulnerable infants More information: Breastfeeding Guidance for Orthodox Jewish Families When Newborns Require Special Care and Continued Hospitalization, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 2019. This photomicrograph reveals Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria using acid-fast Ziehl-Neelsen stain; Magnified 1000 X. The acid-fast stains depend on the ability of mycobacteria to retain dye when treated with mineral acid or an acid-alcohol solution such as the Ziehl-Neelsen, or the Kinyoun stains that are carbolfuchsin methods specific for M. tuberculosis. Credit: public domain This week, publication of a special issue on tuberculosis (TB) begins in PLOS Medicine, advised by guest editors Richard Chaisson of Johns Hopkins University, Claudia Denkinger of the University of Heidelberg, and Mark Hatherill of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Institute. An estimated 10 million people developed tuberculosis (TB) and 1.6 million died of TB globally in 2017, making it the number one cause of death from a single infectious agent. Last year the United Nations held a High Level Meeting on TB, where heads of state pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030. The Special Issue opens with publication of two original research articles: In the first article, Radojka M. Savic, of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues, develop a model for estimating the distribution of TB drugs in patients' lung lesions. They used data on 329 plasma- and 1,362 tissue-specific drug concentrations from 9 distinct lung lesion types obtained from 15 patients (10 men, 5 women) undergoing lung resection surgery, to develop and evaluate a site-of-action mechanistic pharmacokinetic model for 7 major TB drugs (rifampin [RIF], isoniazid [INH], linezolid [LZD], moxifloxacin [MFX], clofazimine[CFZ], pyrazinamide [PZA], and kanamycin [KAN]). The researchers found that patients receiving standard doses of RIF and INH, who are at the lower range of exposure distribution, spent substantial periods (>12 h/d) below effective concentrations in hard-to-treat lesions, such as caseous lesions and cavities. Standard doses of INH (300 mg) and KAN (1,000 mg) did not reach therapeutic thresholds in most lesions for a majority of the patient population. The investigators also found that the majority of TB drugs showed poor penetration into the cavitary lesions, leading to inadequate drug levels at the site of disease and increased risk of developing drug resistance. The authors note that this was a small group of patients from a unique population of TB patients who failed treatment and underwent lung resection surgery. Still, the authors note that the finding that TB drugs do not penetrate equally in different tissues suggests that a patient-focused approach to optimize drug regimen to the disease extent, lesion type, and individual drug-susceptibility profiles may eventually be useful to guide selection of tailored drug regimens with improved outcomes. They provide a web-based tool to further explore this model and results at http:// saviclab.org/tb-lesion/. In the second article, Ankur Gupta-Wright, of London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and colleagues develop a clinical risk score for identifying HIV-positive patients diagnosed with TB with an increased chance of dying within 2 months. The risk score includes 6 factors that can be measured upon hospital admission, including a urine TB diagnostic test to detect the protein lipoarabinomannan [LAM], age, sex, previous experience on antiretroviral treatment, anaemia, and ability to walk unaided. The score was derived in a cohort of 315 patients from the STAMP TB screening trial in Malawi and South Africa, and externally validated in 644 patients from 2 other studies done in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya. For patients identified by the score as high-risk, the odds of dying within 2 months were about 5 times greater (odds ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 2.2-9.5) compared to patients classified as low-risk in the validation cohort. The authors note that this risk score depends on access to urine LAM testing, does not measure all potential predictors of mortality (e.g., TB drug resistance), and further validation in larger and diverse cohorts is necessary. However, this risk score may be able to identify patients who could benefit from enhanced clinical care, follow-up, and/or adjunctive interventions. In addition to the research articles this week, the Special Issue includes a blog on Speaking of Medicine featuring the stories of six survivors of TB, discussing their experiences with different aspects of the TB care cascade, and how it led them to advocate at a local and global level to improve TB care. The Special Issue will continue with further research and discussion articles appearing over the next several weeks. Explore further Contrast-enhanced MRI provides useful findings in discordant core biopsy management More information: Natasha Strydom et al. Tuberculosis drugs' distribution and emergence of resistance in patient's lung lesions: A mechanistic model and tool for regimen and dose optimization, PLOS Medicine (2019). Journal information: PLoS Medicine Natasha Strydom et al. Tuberculosis drugs' distribution and emergence of resistance in patient's lung lesions: A mechanistic model and tool for regimen and dose optimization,(2019). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002773 A standardized interdisciplinary clinical pathway to identify and manage frailty in older patients has reduced the rate of one of the most debilitating complications for older patientsdeliriumand kept patients from returning to the hospital within 30 days of treatment for traumatic injury. The pathway is being adapted for other surgical services as trauma surgeons from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, focus attention on the specific needs of elderly surgical patients. A study describing the pathway and its effects on outcomes appears as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication. As the U.S. population continues to age, increasing numbers of elderly patients will have a need for trauma surgery. By 2050, 40 percent of all trauma patients will be over age 65.1 While the elderly are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality after trauma, age itself is not the sole reason for poor outcomes.2 Frailty is a major contributor. Frail patients are more likely to have complications and loss of function after hospital care and require readmission for repeat trauma than more robust patients.3 As many as 50 percent of older trauma patients are frail, and 78 percent are functionally impaired.4 Interdisciplinary inpatient care protocols involving consultation with geriatricians have improved outcomes for elderly hospitalized patients.5 However, there is a nationwide shortage of geriatricians.6 "It's just not feasible to have a geriatrician available for consultation all the time. We needed to become better equipped to provide dedicated geriatric-focused care on our own. So we put some processes in place to screen elderly trauma patients for frailty and stratify and direct our resources to provide the best possible care for them," said Zara Cooper, MD, FACS, an associate professor of surgery, Harvard Medical School, and corresponding author of the study. Since Brigham and Women's Hospital's trauma surgery service hired a geriatrician to consult on the care of elderly injury victims in 2014, it documented fewer complications, mortalities, readmissions and extended hospital stays.7 However, the surgeons noticed gaps in care when the geriatrician was not available and lack of overall uniformity in the way recommendations from the geriatric team were instituted. The pathway for frail elderly trauma patients was created in 2016 to standardize processes of care a geriatrician would typically recommend: early ambulation, bowel and pain regimens, non-pharmacological delirium prevention, nutrition, physical therapy, and geriatric assessments. Surgeons at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed the Frailty Identification and Care Pathway over a six-month period with input from geriatrics, nursing, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, social work, and care coordinators. The pathway makes use of the five-item FRAIL scale to identify vulnerable elderly trauma patients, a standardized set of orders for geriatric-focused care and consultations, family meetings, and fall prevention education.7 In the present study, researchers compared outcomes for frail elderly trauma patients before and six months after implementation of the pathway. In addition to overall mortality, the investigators analyzed whether the pathway could prevent or quickly recognize and treat delirium (one of the most common causes of increased hospital length of stay), transfer to a nursing facility, and mortality within six months of hospital care. In addition, the investigators tabulated the 30-day hospital readmission rate, which serves as an indicator of quality hospital care and effective use of resources. Researchers reviewed the care of 125 patients who were treated before the pathway was implemented and 144 after it was in place for six months and found lower rates of delirium, in-hospital mortality, and readmission. Patients who were managed according to the pathway had a 9 percent less risk for delirium, 3 percent reduced risk for mortality, and 7 percent lower risk for readmission. Interdisciplinary protocols represent a shift in perspective for trauma surgeons. "Trauma centers are primarily focused on hemorrhage and complications that are typical for young patients. The elderly, especially frail elderly, have very different needs. Innovative models for geriatric trauma patients are emerging in parts of the country that have a significant proportion of older adults," Dr. Cooper said. The pathway at Brigham and Women's Hospital is fairly straightforward and makes use of resources that are readily available in other trauma centers and surgical services. The standardized approach is being expanded for pre- and post-operative elective operations for frail elderly patients. "We have to adapt the protocol here and there, but the basic framework relies on getting patients mobile and managing medications, nutrition, and communication with families," Dr. Cooper said. "This is the type of care that matters to patients and should be universal." Explore further Geriatric consultation with trauma surgeons improves outcomes for elderly accident victims More information: Elizabeth A. Bryant et al. Frailty Identification and Care Pathway: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Care for Older Trauma Patients, Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2019). Elizabeth A. Bryant et al. Frailty Identification and Care Pathway: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Care for Older Trauma Patients,(2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.02.052 1. Banks S and Lewis M. Trauma in the Elderly: Considerations for Anesthetic Management. Anesthesiology Clin. 2013; 31: 127-139. 2. Joseph B, Pandit V, Zangbar B, Kulvatunyou N, et al. Superiority of frailty over age in predicting outcomes among geriatric trauma patients: a prospective analysis. JAMA Surg. 2014; 149: 766-72. Malmstrom TK, Miller DK, Morley JE. A comparison of four frailty models. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62:721-6. 3. Joseph B, Orouji Jokar T, Hassan A, Azim A, Mohler MJ, et al. Redefining the association between old age and poor outcomes after trauma: the frailty syndrome. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017; 82: 575-581. 4. Maxwell CA. Screening hospitalized injured older adults for cognitive impairment and pre-injury functional impairment. Applied Nursing Research. 2013; 26: 146-150. 5. Eamer, G.J., Taheri, A.A., Chen, S.S., Daviduck, Q., Chambers, T., Shi, X., & Khadaroo, R.G. (2018). Comprehensive geriatric assessment for older people admitted to a surgical service. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 1, CD012485. 6. Olufajo OA, Tulebaev S, Javedan H, Gates J, et al. Integrating Geriatric Consults into Routine Care of Older Trauma Patients: One-Year Experience of a Level I Trauma Center. J Am Coll Surg. 2016;222: 1029-35. 7. Gleason LJ, Benton EA, Alvarez-Nebreda ML, Weaver MJ, Harris MB, Javedan H. FRAIL Questionnaire Screening Tool and Short-Term Outcomes in Geriatric Fracture Patients. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017 Dec 1;18(12):1082-1086. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.07.005. Epub 2017 Aug 31. Morley JE, Malmstrom TK, Miller DK. A simple frailty questionnaire (FRAIL) predicts outcomes in middle-aged African Americans. J Nutr Health Aging. 2012; 16: 601-608. Journal information: Journal of the American College of Surgeons President Rodrigo Duterte favors government prosecutors as part of their safety and protection amid the killings that targeted members of the National Prosecution Service. Im ready for any suggestion. Options all are on the table. What do you want? Gun? I will allow it, Duterte said in his speech during the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa City. President Duterte, a government prosecutor-turned politician in 1986, recalled that he himself could not go around without a gun as he was handling cases against alleged scalawags in the police and military. In my time, you ask those in my age, I carried a gun. I cannot go out without a gun. I was not comfortable without it. Like I was nude and naked, he said. He directed the leadership of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines to work with the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and other relevant agencies to come up with solutions on how to better protect the prosecutors and their families.Nonetheless, Duterte assured there would be speedy investigation of cases involving killings of prosecutors. As a former prosecutor, I understand the very important role that you play in the administration of justice, which unfortunately involves antagonizing lawless elements, hardened criminals and their powerful backers, he stressed. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in May last year that state prosecutors should start carrying guns for self-defense. Guevarra also wants bullet-proof vests and vehicles for the prosecutors, but admitted it cannot be done easily due to lack of budget. Assembling backpacks of food for students to take home in Flint, Mich. Credit: Kathleen Payton/Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, CC BY-SA One in 6 American children faces hunger and 3 out of 4 teachers report regularly seeing hungry kids in their classrooms. In response, school meals make up a large fraction of federal food assistance. The National School Lunch Program is the second-largest federal food assistance program, serving 30.4 million children. It is complemented by the School Breakfast Program, the Afterschool Snack Service and the Summer Food Service Program. Though these programs are essential, they are not enough. On a local scale, organizations such as food banks assist food-insecure children and families, but their work within schools is typically limited. In my roles as a researcher of food in schools and as a food bank board member, I often see opportunities for more collaboration between schools and communities to help fill the gaps in feeding kids whose families face economic hardship. Local efforts are limited In some communities, food banks and K-12 schools already work together as partners. One way this occurs is through backpack programs that give students easily prepared foods, like boxed macaroni and cheese and canned beans, for the weekend. Backpack programs, such as those in Northeast Michigan and Arlington, Virginia, are highly local. Often these initiatives exist because someone, such as a high school teacher I collaborated with on a study, Melissa Washburn, sees a need and reaches out to local food banks for support. Washburn, a health teacher at a public high school in Lansing, Michigan, partnered with a nearby food bank to initiate a backpack program that delivered shelf-stable items. Wanting to improve the quality of the food in the packs, Washburn secured grants from a local nonprofit and the schools' alumni association to include locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Food pantries located in schools are another source of support for hungry students and their families. These efforts also often depend on one or a handful of dedicated people who see a need and amass volunteers for the task. Local efforts are important and should be the norm rather than the exception. School-based food pantries and weekend backpack programs should be a routine feature at all public schools. Bringing in the village While school food pantries and backpack programs are important, we need to welcome more ideas to the table to feed children in schools. Because funding for public education is limited and teachers are overextended, the village needs to help support these endeavors. There are countless models for marshaling communities to feed students. Service organizations, faith-based groups and local clubs can step in to help. Food banks, in particular, are in excellent positions to foster connections between schools and these groups. For example, a network of churches in Junction City, Oregon, works with the food bank to supply items, such as peanut butter, for backpack programs in local schools. Partnerships between businesses and nonprofits, such as the Cereal for Youth program in Lane County, Oregon, are another model. This program brings three local businesses together with the food bank to provide free high-quality granola to kids 18 years and under in schools or afterschool programs. Another important initiative is lobbying for better federal or state school food assistance. In Oregon, nonprofits, food banks and other organizations have formed the Hunger-Free Schools Coalition to encourage state legislators to make Oregon the first state to provide universal free school meals. Food can also provide a gateway to building community in and around schools. For example, our food bank nutrition educator teaches family cooking classes at a local elementary school. Free evening or weekend meals for school communities with food provided by food banks and partners are another possibility. Schools are places where food assistance can have great impact on vulnerable members of society. Community organizations, businesses and food assistance agencies all have roles to play in this effort. Explore further Deprivation skews school children's food habits This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis getting in to human airways. Credit: Shutterstock A new strain of Bordetella pertussis the bacterium that causes whooping cough has become resistant to antibiotic treatment and may also be resistant to the vaccine used in China. A UNSW Sydney academic says the growing threat of it spreading to Australia should be taken seriously. A joint study led by Ph.D. student Zheng Xu, between UNSW Sydney and Xi'an Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, China examined 167 pertussis samples from China. They found that 98% of pertussis bacteria isolated were resistant to erythromycin, the main antibiotic used to treat whooping cough. The study also found that the new strain has a mutation in one of the vaccine antigen genes, which may help the bacteria evade the two-component acellular vaccine used in China. In the paper published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, co-author Professor Ruiting Lan, of UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, said the pertussis strains appear to be adapting to the acellular vaccine used in China, as well as developing resistance to the antibiotic most commonly used to treat the disease. "This has rendered the antibiotic ineffective for treatment and prophylaxis," Professor Lan said. "Our findings suggest that treatment with erythromycin and prevention with vaccination with the acellular vaccine used may be less effective in China. We hope that therapies and prevention strategies will adapt to these findings to reduce the public health burden of pertussis." Professor Lan said that looking ahead, the Chinese pertussis strain needed to be watched closely from within and outside China. He stressed that the potential threat of the new variant spreading globally was real. "But exactly how high the threat is, we don't know at this stage," Professor Lan said. "In Australia we use azithromycin, which is the same type but a newer drug than erythromycin, but the Chinese variants have also shown resistance to this antibiotic. The treatment and prophylaxis have an important role in curtailing the spread of pertussis, so if the strains are resistant to and not curtailed by the antibiotic used, there is definitely a potential to cause an epidemic in Australia." "We really need to find out how competitive the Chinese strains are in Australia with a different vaccine the one used in Australia has one more antigen component. And we also need to understand the organism better." "We want to know how likely it is that these strains spread globally, and how we can curtail the spread of such strains. And further ahead, we need to design more effective vaccines to control these new variants," he says. Professor Lan stressed the need to maintain our own high vaccination coverage to prevent this new strain from gaining a foothold. Explore further Whooping cough bacterium evolves in Australia More information: Zheng Xu et al. Genomic epidemiology of erythromycin-resistant Bordetella pertussis in China, Emerging Microbes & Infections (2019). Zheng Xu et al. Genomic epidemiology of erythromycin-resistant Bordetella pertussis in China,(2019). DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1587315 Newsletter Subscribe now to get updates from armenian media & videos... President Rodrigo Duterte drew flak Friday for suggesting he would declare a revolutionary government and throw his critics in jail if they push him to the wall. However, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Friday her father cannot suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus as he planned to do. If you go by it legally, the President cannot... only the Congress can do that under the Constitution, the mayor like her father a lawyer by profession told reporters in Cagayan de Oro City. If the President has announcements about that, I have yet to read on what basis [he would suspend the writ], she added. Speaking before the 31st annual convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Thursday, the President was clearly irked by the advice of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon that the administration should tread carefully or risk being sued, after Duterte had ordered a review of all government contracts. F*** you, how dare you say that to me, Mr. Drilon? the President said. I have enough problems with criminality, drugs, rebellion and all but if you pushed me to the wall, I will declare the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and I will arrest all of you. You are with the rebels, the criminals and the drug addicts. Then, you burden me? I will declare a revolutionary war until the end of my term, Duterte said. Reacting to the threat, Vice President Leni Robredo said Friday the President would be violating the Constitution and abandoning his post as Chief Executive if he declares a revolutionary government. She described the Presidents comments as irresponsible. Holding public office calls for officials to be prudent with their pronouncements, and not to resort to tantrums in the face of criticisms, Robredo said. Robredos lawyer and opposition Senate bet Romulo Macalintal said that declaring a revolutionary government would be tantamount to Duterte abandoning his post, paving the way for Robredo to become President. To declare a revolutionary government would mean that the President becomes its leader, while Robredo becomes the leader as president of a duly constituted government, he said. The senatorial candidate said a revolutionary government would divide the allegiance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He also said that while the President may declare a revolutionary government, it was up to the people whether to accept it or not. Under a democratic system, sovereignty lies with the people, and not with the President alone, he said. Two of the Presidents allies in the Senate said he was unlikely to declare a revolutionary government. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the President was just frustrated. Im sure he will have a better outlook once his programs against criminality become more successful. Suspension of the writ has proper constitutional safeguards while a revolutionary war is a metaphor, he said. Senator Panfilo Lacson said the President will not do it because he is too smart and intelligent to know he cannot do it. But opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros described the Presidents outburst as alarming and shameful.Senator Francis Pangilinan, also with the opposition, said instead of threatening his critics with arrest, Duterte should arrest the big-time drug lords and his Customs appointees who have allegedly repeatedly brought in tons of shabu worth billions of pesos. With the arrest of these big-time drug lords, he would have proven his drug war is for real and his critics will be silenced. His critics silenced not by threats of arrests but by his sterling performance in going after these syndicates, he said. In the middle of Chinas massive, illegal and deep incursion into Philippine territory, Duterte would rather pick on his own people than confront the countrys real invader, Hontiveros said. Instead of standing up to Chinas aggression, she said the President threatens his own people with warrantless arrests and war. She added what should be suspended are not the peoples civil liberties but the onerous contracts entered into by Duterte with the Chinese government. Those who should be arrested are not our countrymen and women but foreign encroachers who illegally occupy our territories, threaten our small fisherfolk, smuggle illegal drugs and rob our workers of their jobs, she said. On Thursday, Duterte slammed Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for advising the government to exercise caution in implementing the Presidents directive to review all contracts and loan agreements including those with China. In the House, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said it was the Presidents prerogative to suggest a revolutionary government, while Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said it wasnt a good idea. We are one of the oldest democratic governments in the world and so far under this democratic government, our country is rapidly developing, Pimentel said. If we become a revolutionary government, we will be returning back to the dark days of martial law where we became stagnant in development. I hope the President will study thoroughly whether this is a wise decision because that will have severe repercussions. Former congresswoman and Akbayan Party-list chairperson-emeritus Etta Rosales on Friday pooh-poohed President Dutertes threat to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. Criticism is part and parcel of a democratic society. The Constitution protects the freedom of speech of everyone, including those who are criticizing the Duterte governments surrender to China, the failed drug war, and the rampant corruption, Rosales said in a statement. She said the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended only in time of war or under a dictatorship. The President should know that employing tactics from the Marcos playbook does not end well, she added. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, said the President was only expressing his frustration over the endless criticism for actions made in the best interest of the public. What I know, though, is that he is getting exasperated about endless roadblocks to his attempts to protect the peoples interests, Guevarra said. As a lawyer, the President knows the scope and limitations of his constitutional powers and he will act in accordance therewith, Guevarra added. Earlier, National Union of Peoples Lawyers president Edre Olalia called the threat an authoritarian reaction of a leader intolerant of dissenting or divergent opinions. Olalia said, there is absolutely no legal, constitutional, and factual basis to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. There is no other appropriate peoples reaction but to fight and we must fight against brute despotism clothed in legal garb, he said. GLORIAS LEGACY. House Speaker Gloria Arroyo (inset) talks about her legacy and becoming a local government consultant during her 72nd birthday party in Lubao, Pampanga on Friday after a Mass at the San Agustin Church, wishing her legacy will be remembered by historians as having the focus around her restoring fiscal stability after the storms of financial crises abroad. Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday said her legacy to the Philippines was financial stability that enabled the country to weather various financial crises that threatened it after she stepped down from the presidency in 2010.At the same time, Arroyo thanked the people who stuck with her through thick and thin in her roller coaster life-political career. Celebrating her 72nd birthday anniversary Friday, Arroyo wished for the good of the Filipino as she talked about her legacy that she hoped history would remember her for. Arroyo, while her legacy may not be as dramatic as those of other world leaders, said she would like to be remembered as the President who brought fiscal stability to her country after a global crisis that dramatically reduced the poverty rate. I like to think that my legacy will center around restoring our countrys fiscal stability after the storms on financial crisis here and abroad. The restoration of fiscal stability was the platform for my program that built more and better infrastructures, and that reduced our poverty from 39 percent when I assumed the presidency, to 26 percent when I left the presidency, Arroyo said, speaking after the 8 a.m. Mass celebrated in her honor at the San Agustin Church in her hometown Lubao in Pampanga. When asked what was her birthday wish, she said it is the good of the Filipino people always. Arroyo also repeated her earlier statement that she would concentrate on writing her memoirs after she steps down as speaker on June 30, 2019.But she declared she planned to be the consultant of the Pampanga provincial government so she could continue helping her home province. Pampanga Governor [Lilia] Pineda asked me to tell you that I will serve as consultant of the province after I have stepped down from the speakership, Arroyo said. Arroyo was joined by her family, husband lawyer Mike Arroyo, children, former Reps. Mikey and Dato and their children, several members of the House of Representatives, Pineda, local officials of Pampanga as well as friends and families. Before the Mass, Arroyo joined the opening of the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Pradera Verde in Lubao at 6 a.m. with Pineda. Several ambassadors also personally greeted her as they called on her in her house in Lubao. They were Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki of the State of Qatar, Daniel Robert Pruce of the United Kingdom and Songkane Luangmuninthone of Laos. READ: Gloria plays host to Hugpong bets ARM THEM. President Rodrigo Duterte, speaking before the 31st Annual Convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Thursday, directs the Leagues leadership to work with authorities to come up with solutions on how to better protect the prosecutors and their families. Presidential Photo President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China touches it amid rising tensions over the key waterway.has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijings expansive claims to the seaa point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it. But as the military warned this week that hundreds of, Duterte spoke out late Thursday. I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there, Duterte said in speech to prosecutors. If you touch it, thats another story. Then I will tell my soldiers prepare for suicide missions, he added. He also said he would park five Navy ships in the area and tell the Chinese that they were well within the countrys exclusive economic zone. Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process. His words came after hisChina, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all staked claims to various islands and reefs as well as waterways in the sea, with rich petroleum reserves thought to sit deep beneath the waters. In a major victory for Manila, an international maritime tribunal ruled early in Dutertes presidency in 2016 that Chinas claims to the area have no legal basis. However, he has largely set aside that ruling and backed off on their once tense territorial dispute over the sea. He has been criticized at home for takingand getting little of the billions of dollars in investment promised by Chinese President Xi Jinping. For its part, Beijing has played down the rising tension over Pag-asa, saying on Thursday that both sides had exchanged views frankly, amicably and constructively on the issue. The United States, long-time Philippine ally and former colonial master, has moved to oppose any Chinese expansion in the sea. For the first time, the US said in March that it would come to Manilas aid in case of an armed attack in the South China Sea. The US navy has also forcefully asserted its right to freedom of navigation in the area, repeatedly sailing close to the man-made islands and drawing Chinese protests. In his campaign speech,. Im trying to tell China: That Pag-asa [Island] is ours. We have been there since 1974. If thats yours, why didnt you drive us away? So, let us be friends but do not touch Pag-asa Island and the rest. Otherwise things would be different, Duterte said. In interviews after the speech, however, the President returned to his normal rhetoric, saying war with China would be suicide, and that Beijing could launch a missile that could hit Manila in seven minutes. I am sure that it has something to do with the greater game of geopolitics and it is not directed to us. And I assure you that if they kill or arrest people there who are Filipinos, then that would be the time that we will have to decide on what to do, he added. The countrys military earlier said about 275 ships have swarmed the vicinity of Pag-asa Island from January to March this year.Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua claimed the Chinese ships were fishing vessels and were unarmed. However, theSenator Panfilo Lacson said Friday he will join President Duterte if he decides to visit Pag-asa Island, which is surrounded by Chinese vessels. I volunteer to join him in my capacity as an elected senator of the republic and as a freedom-loving Filipino, Lacson said. In a Twitter post, Lacson said that Pag-asa is part of the Philippines as he quoted lines from the Philippine national anthem stating that Filipinos would not allow any invaders and will die fighting for the country. He said China should not be allowed to encircle, much less occupy Pag-asa Island. Duterte said Thursday that he would not allow China to seize Pag-asa Island even as he maintained that the country must not go to war with the Chinese. During the 2016 presidential campaign, then Davao City Mayor Duterte said if China will refuse to honor the decision of the Arbitral Court, he would personally go to the disputed territory to jet ski to the disputed areas and plant the Philippine flag. Months after he won the elections, Duterte said the jet ski reference was only a hyperbole to drive home the point that he would uphold the Philippines claims in the South China Sea. You cannot expect me to ride [on a jet ski], I dont even know how to swim, he said in an interview with Al Jazeera in October 2016. If it overturns, you lose a president. In the House, Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza welcomed the rebuke issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and appealed to the Chinese government to stop their purported fishing operations in Philippine territory. We are appealing to the Chinese leadership to refrain from any action that may deprive our Filipino fishermen from earning their living and benefiting from our natural resources. Pag-asa Island, as part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), is included in the official demarcation of Philippine territory as defined by no less than the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The mere presence of Chinese vessels in the area should have required Philippine permission. But for them to shoo away Filipino fishermen in an area clearly defined as within our territory is a violation of Philippine sovereignty, he said. In an interview on radio dzMM, the director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Laws of the Seas Jay Batongbacal said the Philippines should seek help from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. READ: China only wants to befriend PH READ: Ex-PH execs hit out at Chinese actions READ: Pinoy fishers urged: Avoid Scarborough We have to unify within the region and come up with a single ASEAN position against Chinas fishing fleet because we are not the only country receiving this kind of treatment, he said in Filipino. Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life! Four out of 10 Filipinos do not believe Chinas intentions for the Philippines are good for them, according to a Social Weather Stations survey released Friday. The survey, conducted from December 16 to 19 last year, found 44 percent of Filipino adults disagreed with the statement: Most of what the Chinese government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for the Filipinos. There is a net agreement score of a moderately weak -12 (23 percent agree, 35 percent disagree) among those who were undecided about their trust in China, and the very weak -40 (19 percent agree, 60 percent disagree) among those with little trust in China, according to SWS. Only 27 percent agreed with the statement while 29 percent were undecided, equivalent to a net agreement score of -17, moderately weak, SWS said. Of the 44 percent who disagreed, 22 percent strongly disagree while the other half somewhat disagree. Recently, concerns have been raised about Manila securing loans from Beijing due to the two nations long-standing dispute in the South China Sea. The Philippines and China have long figured in a maritime dispute as Beijing refuses to recognize an international arbitral courts ruling that invalidated the latters sweeping 9-dash line claim over the South China Sea. Reports of Chinese personnel harassing Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, the countrys exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, have also made headlines several times. But relations between Manila and Beijing have considerably improved under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte who has chosen to forge closer ties with Asias largest economy, setting aside Manilas maritime dispute with Beijing. Philippine authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over Chinas activities in the disputed waters, particularly its rampant militarization efforts in recent years, which Beijing has denied. In a speech on Thursday, Duterte warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China touches it amid rising tensions over the key waterway.Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijings expansive claims to the sea -- a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it. But as the Philippine military warned this week that hundreds of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels had swarmed the Manila-held Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, Duterte spoke out, saying I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there. Duterte said in speech to prosecutors. Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process. His words came after his Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling the Chinese ships presence an illegal violation of Philippine sovereignty. In its survey, SWS noted that the number of Filipinos who strongly disagreed that what the Chinese government wanted to happen in the Philippines was good for Filipinos had increased over the past 25 years. The figure has increased by 17 points to 22 percent in 2018 from the 5 percent who strongly disagreed in 1993, SWS said. The polling firm added that the December 2018 survey also measured public trust in China as a country. The survey found a negative net agreement that most of what the Chinese government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for Filipinos among those who distrust China. SWS said there was a net agreement score of a neutral +8 (39 percent agree, 31 percent disagree) among those with much trust in China. Shopify and uAfrica will host the 2019 Connect eCommerce Summit in Johannesburg on 16 July 2019 and in Cape Town on 18 July 2019. South Africas eCommerce market is still in its infancy compared to countries like China and the US, but with 31.18 million active Internet users it holds great potential. To help local entrepreneurs take advantage of the eCommerce opportunities in the country, Shopify and uAfrica joined forces to bring their Connect events to South Africa. The 2019 Connect eCommerce Summit will give delegates the knowledge and skills to establish, grow, and improve an online store. uAfrica marketing coordinator Danika Uhlmann said it provides a platform where experienced online merchants and newcomers can connect, network, and learn from each other. She added that the event not only focuses on general eCommerce topics, but also delves deeper into the everyday problems faced by online businesses in South Africa. Success stories and personal experiences will be shared, along with hints, tips, and tricks from seasoned eCommerce veterans, she said. Speakers at the event include uAfrica MD and Bidorbuy founder Andy Higgins, serial entrepreneur Warrick Kernes, and Shopifys head of international growth. For more information about the event, visit the 2019 Connect eCommerce Summit website. South Koreas launch this week of national fifth-generation wireless services is about more than just bragging rights. By beating the U.S. and China to the punch, it provides a major selling point for Samsung Electronics Co. against Apple Inc. in premium smartphones and Huawei Technologies Co. in the market for mobile network gear. It provides a chance for South Korean companies to show off their know-how and lay the groundwork to set standards and capture sales in a global 5G services market expected to grow to $123 billion by 2025. Being the first means a lot because it means were the first to lay the entire 5G infrastructure, having overcome lots of technological difficulties through collaboration between telecom, phone and gear companies, said Yang Maeng-seog, a vice president at SK Telecom Co., South Koreas biggest carrier. 5G provides a chance for South Korea to take a leap again. SK Telecom starts its 5G service and Samsung begins selling a 5G-capable phone on Friday, marking the worlds first full commercial roll-out. The kickoff coincides with a technology race between the U.S. and China over next-generation technology, a point underscored by the Trump administrations voicing of concerns about Huawei and its gear. While South Korea is the first with 5G across the country, Verizon Communications Inc. started services in Minneapolis and Chicago overnight. The U.S. carrier lacks actual 5G phones and can only offer the high-speed services to customers with a Motorola Z3 handset who pay $50 extra for a snap-on module. Officials from carriers such as Deutsche Telekom AG and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. have visited South Korea to check out 5G tests, Yang said. The fact that the country is much smaller than the U.S. or China makes it a cost-effective test-bed for national networks, he said. Commercializing 5G also gives Asias fourth-largest economy the opportunity to build around the technology, which promises speeds dozens of times faster than earlier generations. That includes the development of autonomous driving and the Internet of Things. We are ready for December, everything ... The sepia-toned photos of the Napa Valleys past grow faded and dog-eared with the passing of time, but those days remain as colorful and vivid as ever in the memories of Thelma Hermes and Ramona Decker. The two sisters are the oldest surviving members of one of Pope Valleys pioneer families, the Haugs. The days of living off the land and attending one-room schoolhouses are gone now, but thanks to Hermes, who turned 100 on Wednesday, and Decker, who turns 92 on Saturday, they are far from forgotten. During an interview at Deckers St. Helena home, the sisters shared some of those memories. The visits from their grandmother Silvia Samuels, whod come west on a covered wagon. The smokehouse where their father Adolph cured ham, bacon and sausage. Carrying buckets of eggs from the chicken nests, where they would find the occasional rattlesnake. The sight of their brother Chester working on the ranch even after hed been left disabled by a World War II combat injury. Wed come home from school and Mama would have fresh hot bread with homemade butter, Hermes said. Then shed sprinkle it with sugar. Ive always remembered that. The familys 148-acre ranch was established in 1873 by German immigrants Gotthilf and Dora Haug. Gotthilf had come to the U.S. in 1855 and worked in a Tuolomne County gold mine before moving to Pope Valley. The ranch produced cows, chickens, sheep, hogs, turkeys, prunes, walnuts, almonds, peaches, pears, potatoes and, for a while, grapes. Gotthilf established his winery Pope Valleys first, Decker said in 1878. His oldest son Adolph rebuilt it in 1938. Adolph married Ethel Samuels, the daughter of another Pope Valley pioneer family. They had 11 children: Verna, Violet, Adolph Jr. (Bud), Irene, Carl, Chester, Hilda, Thelma, Mildred, Donald and Ramona. There were a lot of chores to do around the ranch, but there were enough kids in the family that we made our own fun, Hermes said. Neighbor kids would come over to play games, and in the summers they would swim in the dammed-up creek that ran through the property. The children attended the one-room Olive School at the bottom of Ink Grade Road. After eighth grade, Hermes stayed at the school for what were called post-graduate classes in shorthand, typing and bookkeeping. By the time Decker graduated from eighth grade, she was able to catch a bus to attend St. Helena High School, where she graduated in 1945. Decker had to learn to drive at the age of 13 because her older brothers had either left home or been drafted to serve in World War II and her father had never learned to drive. Hed tried, but only once. My oldest brother tried to teach him, Decker said. I can still hear Papa tell the story hed say I drove down to the lower gate and said whooooa! and the darn car didnt stop. So that ended my driving. The sisters went on to marry, raise their own children, and lead their own lives outside Pope Valley. Decker worked for the St. Helena Unified School District, while Hermes worked for the St. Helena Cemetery and spent 39 years volunteering at the Courtesy Desk at St. Helena Hospital, which honored her with a lifetime achievement award. Hermes also traveled extensively throughout the country and as far away as Canada and the Panama Canal. Both became deacons in the First Presbyterian Church of St. Helena. Yet they would all return to the ranch when something needed to be done. One of the advantages of having such a sprawling family is that theres always someone close at hand with the skills necessary to do plumbing or electrical work, pump a septic tank, or do some heavy lifting. We all stepped up and helped, at least until we all got older, Decker said. The time eventually came when the family couldnt take care of the ranch anymore, so they sold it in 1999 to local ceramist Richard Carter, who still lets them visit whenever they want. The stream where they used to swim and the redwood groves where they used to play now set the perfect backdrop for Haug family reunions no small affairs given that Hermes alone has two daughters, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren with a third on the way. The last remaining Haug brother, Donald, died in 2018 at the age of 94, but the constellation of grandkids, cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws remain close, avoiding the squabbles and grudges that often cause rifts in large families. The sisters say their hardscrabble but happy upbringing left them with an unbreakable bond. We took care of one another, Decker said. There was never any bitterness or unhappiness. Everybody helped everybody else. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On March 30, Appellation St. Helenas 10th annual bASH at Culinary Institute of America at Greystone brought approximately 300 attendees together for a night of delicious wine, innovative food, and warm conversation. I was thrilled by the level of enthusiasm at the event, from new and returning guests, from the competitive culinary teams and wineries, and from the new panel of professional critics as well. There event was high energy, fun and full of delicious moments, said Lesley Russell, president of Appellation St. Helena. Russell said the guest list included attendees from 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as 46 cities in California. The food and wine pairing competition involved 32 teams and was held in Greystones historic barrel room. Student teams and winery hosts presented in front of enormous wine barrels, while professional teams of chefs from restaurants, wineries, and supermarkets and vintners presented in the middle of the floor. As participants walked in the door, they were handed a large empty wineglass and told to start wherever they liked. Guests mingled by standing around small tables to eat talk, discussing their favorites and the quality of the students work. The crowd included CIA student parents, wine enthusiasts, local winery chefs, community members, and vintners, all eager to enjoy the wide variety of vintages and observe the students in action. I believe bASH is a great activity for networking and showcasing what the school is doing for students. Its an amazing opportunity, said Luis Tellez Rodriguez, a second-year culinary arts student at CIA. Lars Kronmark, head student chef instructor at the CIA and producer of bASH, said this years event went better than ever. We had freshmen and seniors competing side by side (as well as) many other levels of students. This year we even had pastry students involved. The range (of dishes) was larger than before, said Kronmark. Tianna Nesby, first-year culinary arts student at the CIA, said, bASH challenged us to create an hors doeuvre that would complement and enhance the flavor of Salvestrins Sauvignon Blanc. The wine had a fruity undertone, so we included fruits and citrus. Our team originally wanted to do a Vietnamese spring roll. However, we removed the rice paper and left the insides to keep the dish light on the palate. Nesbys team won first place for Critics Choice student division category. MaryLee Johnson, proprietor of Calafia Cellars, said it was easy for her to choose Calafias 2016 2016 estate-grown La Reina for bASH. This is the only wine we make from St. Helena grapes, so it was the only one that was eligible. Its a very full-bodied wine with the flavors of black fruit, nutmeg, and chocolate. We told the students to be as adventurous as they wanted, which they certainly were. They included rhubarb and watermelon rind in the dish. Ive never had those with this wine before, said Johnson. Vicki Glass, brand ambassador and international sales director for Vineyard 29, said her first step was inviting the student chefs to the winery to learn about the wine. We had the student chefs do a full tour to learn how we make the wines and taste through them. We sat and talked about the different aspects of each wine and what goes well with it. Ultimately we chose Vineyard 29s Cabernet Franc 2014 for bASH. Its one of our most complex wines, a true expression of Cabernet Franc that pairs beautifully with a multitude of dishes. Its got just the right amount of herbaceous notes, a beautiful balance of acidity and tannins, and an elegant mouthfeel, said Glass. Glass said bASH guests had a treat because the Cabernet Franc is a low production wine. It is usually only available at the winery. The Cab Franc comes from a single vineyard thats on a tiny slope in front of our winery. We have only about 1,000 bottles of this particular vintage left, said Glass. Cab Sauv is the star Cabernet Sauvignon was the star of the event. Notable entries included Napa Valleys AXR V 2016 Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon, HALL Wines 2014 Coeur Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pellet Estates 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pellet Vineyard. Other wines also made an appearance, including Charles Krug Winerys 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Trincheros 2013 Central Park West Vineyard Petit Verdot, and Praeger Winery and PortWorks 2005 Colheita (tawny), an aged tawny port made with grapes from a single vintage. Food pairings included sweet and savory offerings, leaning heavily toward beef, lamb, and rabbit. Entries included crocchette di baccala, a crispy salt cod fritter with caviar, preserved lemon aioli, and chives, a duck liver habanero bonbon topped with dark chocolate, and vanilla bread pudding with Colheita caramel sauce and candied pecans. Elements of French, Asian, and Latin American cuisine were present in some dishes, such as the bouef (beef) bourguignon, Korean barbecue short ribs, and mole negro (a black Mexican chocolate sauce) with cherry and chicken skewers. This was the first year that celebrity judges came to the event. Professional critics Leslie Sbrocco, Susie Heller, Virginie Boone, Christopher Sawyer, and Soleil Ho came early, tasting in a conference room in private. Their wine bottles were cloaked in paper bags. The majority of the attendees also acted as judges, slipping poker chips into the boxes of their top three choices. The room frequently erupted in cheers as student chefs earned chips. At the end of the night, the crowd gathered around a central podium to hear the winners announced. The prizes were Le Creuset cookware and Salute Sante grapeseed oil, which helped sponsor the competition. Pauline Pastor, a first-year baking and pastry student at CIA, said her team had been working more than a month to prepare their entry. Our dish (was) a Manchego goat cheese and cheddar cheesecake with a Marcona almond and pistachio crumble and an elderberry gastrique, (which is) caramelized sugar deglazed with vinegar, finished with oak and applewood smoke. The vinegar in the gastrique is made from our partner wine, Crocker & Starrs 2016 Casali Malbec Blend. We developed the concept for a sweet and savory balanced cheesecake early on. This allowed us to make the vinegar a month ahead, said Pastor. Members of the Appellation St. Helena Board were pleased with the turnout and level of excitement. This is a major event for ASH. The whole purpose of the event is to promote St. Helena. I think the venue has gotten better every year, said Jack Pagendarm, owner of Korte Ranch Vineyards and member of the ASH Board. Kathy Pagendarm, also a member of the ASH Board, worked as a volunteer with Jack to count the chips in the voting boxes. Kathy said the enthusiasm of the student chefs was wonderful to see. Attendees from across the U.S. Attendees came from across the U.S. and beyond. This visit was Luke and Kristen Dyes first time at CIA at Greystone. We came from Knoxville, Tennessee, where I am a server at a prime steakhouse. We were originally supposed to go to CIA at Greystones restaurant. When I saw bASH was happening, I switched our reservation, said Kristen Dye. Luke Dye said, The amount of people is a little overwhelming, but pairing food with wine is a form of art. I feel like Im on Chopped, but everyones nicer. Kristen Dye said the experience will help her become a better server. The event taught her more about how to pair food and wine. Mike and Barbara Pearl traveled from Walnut Creek to attend bASH. The couple also came to visit Barbaras sister and brother-in-law. We are both Cabernet-type wine lovers. This is our fourth year at bASH. We come to the event and then visit the wineries we like afterwards, said Mike Pearl. Barbara Pearl said she and Mike find new favorites every year. Its also wonderful seeing the CIA students talk about their passion, said Barbara Pearl. Lisa Massey traveled from Roseville to support her son, first-year CIA culinary arts student Jacob Hershberger. Im here to learn a little bit about the culture in Napa also. I think the students get a wonderful opportunity to build close relationships and network at the CIA at Greystone. Theyre in the trenches together, working hard and building a strong foundation to base their future culinary careers on. Not many people are afforded the ability to train in a world-class institute like the CIA. I think the students know this and appreciate their opportunities, said Massey. Massey, who works in an emergency room, was impressed with the level of organization for the event. I can see everyone put a lot of time planning this, said Massey. As the event closed, Russell congratulated the winners and participants. ASH offers two $500 scholarships to St. Helena High School students each year who are entering college to study viticulture and enology and $1,000 each year toward CIA student scholarships. When attendees began to walk out the door, student participants gathered around their friends to talk about the evening. Hugs, hugs all around. Thats awesome, said Devin Pittinger, a second-year culinary arts student at CIA, hugging members of one of the winning teams. SACRAMENTO -- In the first significant challenge to California's open cannabis market, 24 cities that restrict pot sales sued Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration Thursday, arguing that by allowing home deliveries in their city limits, the state is violating 2016's Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. The lawsuit, which was filed in Fresno County Superior Court against the California Bureau of Cannabis Control and its chief, Lori Ajax, comes in response to a regulation adopted by the agency in January that permits state-licensed firms to deliver cannabis in cities that have banned pot shops. Officials from cities with prohibitions on pot sales objected to the rules, voicing concerns that home deliveries of cannabis would lead to robberies of cash-laden vans and an influx of illegal sellers blending in with licensed delivery fleets. To avoid opposition from city leaders and police chiefs, backers of Proposition 64 offered assurances in 2016 that the measure would preserve local control of pot sales. The lawsuit notes that the measure's introduction said that it "safeguards local control, allowing local governments to regulate marijuana-related activities..." The cities behind the suit contend that the bureau lacks legal authority to allow deliveries in conflict with local ordinances because Proposition 64 and a law signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown guarantee local governments veto power over pot sales in their jurisdictions. "We don't want deliveries in our city because of the concern over criminal activity," said Walter Allen III, a city councilman in Covina and retired police officer. "The problem we have is the state has taken it upon itself to bypass Proposition 64 and supersede our local ordinances, and we are really upset about that." Plaintiffs including the cities of Covina, Downey, Riverside and Beverly Hills are among the 80% of California's 482 municipalities that have banned stores selling cannabis for recreational purposes. Other cities that have joined the lawsuit allow retail stores but want to ensure that only businesses they have screened and licensed are able to make home deliveries within their city limits. Beverly Hills bans cannabis stores, while limiting deliveries to medical marijuana provided to patients. But the state rule means recreational cannabis can also be delivered, said Mayor John Mirisch, who called the state's interpretation of Proposition 64 a "bait and switch." Riverside Mayor Pro Tem Mike Soubirous said his city should be able to regulate when deliveries are made and who makes the deliveries, but said he believes the state rule has rendered him powerless to make those decisions. "The council should be able to run interference for the residents and protect their quality of life," said Soubirous, a former lieutenant commander in the California Highway Patrol. The lawsuit could jeopardize ongoing state efforts to expand cannabis sales as delivery services compete with retail storefronts in California over a legal market estimated last year to be valued at nearly $1 billion. Proposition 64 provided for state licensing of marijuana growers and sellers, allowing purchase and possession of up to 28.5 grams of cannabis by adults 21 and older for recreational use. With supporters of legalization arguing home delivery is important to providing safe access to the legalized drug, the state cannabis bureau said its regulation is in keeping with the intent of the ballot measure as long as deliveries are handled by state-licensed firms. The lawsuit asks the court to rule that the state regulation is invalid "because it is inconsistent with the statutory authority of local jurisdictions to regulate or prohibit the delivery of commercial marijuana to a physical address within their boundaries." The cities behind the lawsuit said they are not opposed to deliveries in cities where they are welcomed. In approving home delivery in all cities, Ajax cited a provision of a law approved by the Legislature that says: "A local jurisdiction shall not prevent delivery of cannabis or cannabis products on public roads" by a state licensee. Police chiefs warn of increased crime if California allows pot deliveries statewide >> The lawsuit, which also includes Santa Cruz County as a plaintiff, argues that provision does not allow deliveries to the doorsteps of private homes, citing a memo from the Legislative Analyst's Office. "Driving through a local jurisdiction on a public road, as the Legislative Analyst noted, is not the same as conducting a recreational marijuana transaction in the doorway of someone's house," the lawsuit says. The cities' legal challenge notes that the official voter information guide for Proposition 64 said the initiative would create a governing system that allows local governments to regulate marijuana-related activities. A 2016 report on the initiative by the Legislative Analyst's Office also told voters that the ballot measure allowed cities and counties to completely ban pot businesses. "The promise to the voters and to the cities and counties who went neutral on Prop. 64 was that they would be able to decide what types of commercial cannabis would be available within their community," said Douglas L. White, an attorney for the cities. "And we now have a state agency effectively undermining and breaking that promise that was made." The lawsuit is supported by the League of California Cities, which said in a statement that the home-delivery rule "undermines the voters' intent." A representative for Ajax said the bureau chief declined to comment. Khurshid Khoja, vice chairman of the National Cannabis Industry Assn., said the cities are "overreaching" with a lawsuit. "They're trying to redefine the constitutional rights of individual adult consumers to engage in activity that is customary, traditional and incidental to being in a residential zone," said Khoja, a Sacramento attorney who represents licensed cannabis retailers. "They are couching this power grab as a reasonable restriction on commercial businesses, but they can't ban all deliveries without affecting individual rights now guaranteed under Prop. 64." Those that stand to benefit from the state rules allowing home deliveries include 311 state-licensed delivery firms, as well as companies such as Weedmaps, which help consumers find and evaluate delivery businesses. Eaze, an online platform that arranges deliveries, has a database of 450,000 cannabis consumers. Licensed retail firms working with Eaze have made deliveries to just under half of all cities in California since Jan. 1, 2018, said Elizabeth Ashford, a spokeswoman for the company. "There's a clear appetite for legal cannabis in jurisdictions that won't zone businesses," Ashford said. "But make no mistake, without access to legal delivery in these places, these consumers will turn to the illegal market." There are still more storefront sellers in California -- 915 have been licensed so far -- than firms that hold delivery licenses. Assemblyman Ken Cooley (R-Rancho Cordova) has introduced legislation that would clarify that cities have veto power over home deliveries. "[The home delivery rule] is contrary to the language of Proposition 64. It's a unilateral act in violation of law," said Cooley, a former mayor of the city of Rancho Cordova near Sacramento. City officials, he said "are the ones who are most attuned to what will add to the community's quality of life." Downey Mayor Rick Rodriguez said residents in his city are concerned that pot businesses will be a magnet for crime. "We don't want marijuana in our city. Our residents are clear about that," he said. "This skirts that original agreement in Prop. 64. We feel lied to. It's a broken promise." Chris Cammarata has never been to Monaco or met its prince but thanks to his artwork, hes about to have his own brush with royalty. Cammarata, a Napa artist, was selected to paint two portraits of Grace Kelly for an April art show in Monaco. The event is dedicated to Kellys Hollywood years. Kelly, an American actress, married Prince Ranier III of Monaco in 1956. Cammaratas two paintings, along with 48 others, will be on display at the Prince of Monaco auto museum, located in the principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean coastline. The show, presented under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, and other sponsors, will pay tribute on the 90th anniversary of the birth of Princess Grace, with an event combining art with classic American cinema of the 1950s and 1960s. Cammarata connected with the Monaco art show via St. Helena art gallery Caldwell Snyder. The artist submitted six concept drawings through the gallery before he got the news hed been selected for the project. Its pretty amazing, Cammarata said during an interview this week. Im honored to have been chosen, especially in the company of the other artists, some of whom he considers his idols. Four days a week Cammarata works in logistics for Williams-Sonoma in Richmond. The other three days hes able to work on his art, which can be found in several other galleries and locations in Napa Valley. Around two months ago, he received an elaborate invitation to the event. It said please RSVP by April 2. I did within two seconds, he said with a laugh. Cammarata said he and his fiance Lori Sax are on cloud nine about the art show and trip. Were going to meet royalty, he said. Who does that? This is insane. He and Sax have to pay their own way to Monaco, but the proceeds from the purchase of his paintings for the show will help cover those costs. His original work sells for $1,000 to $5,000, said the artist. On top of the exhibit, this will be his first time to visit Europe, let alone Monaco, said Cammarata. And its to become part of a royal art show, he said in amazement. Its crazy. Hell attend a star studded opening on April 18 in Monaco where Cammarata will meet the other artists. Produced by Stephane Bolongare and Adriana Karembeu, the event includes the 50 artworks, a memorabilia book, interactive video opportunities with visiting celebrities such as Patrick Duffy and Linda Evans, music performances and a cocktail reception. The exhibit, which runs from April 19-30, is meant to evoke flashbacks to 1950s Hollywood, said a news release. It turns out theres a bit of kismet to Cammaratas story. Back in the 1980s, Princess Graces daughter Princess Stephanie was often featured in media and tabloids. Cammarata, 58, said he was always quite taken with the princess. So much so that he named his second daughter Stephanie. In an unexpected and surprising twist, I painted the mother of the woman I named my daughter after, he said. Cammarata said if he gets the chance to talk to Prince Albert personally, hes not sure what hed say or ask him. I hope I remember my name in that moment, he joked. Locals who are interested in meeting Cammarata or seeing his work dont have to go all the way to Monaco. Hell have a booth at the Yountville, Art, Sip, and Stroll on April 27, just a week after the Monaco trip. I image I will also have some great stories to share with folks, he said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A structure and four trucks were destroyed after a Thursday night fire at a Cal Fire maintenance facility outside St. Helena, Cal Fire said. No injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $2 million for the building and the equipment, a Cal Fire spokesperson said Friday. The fire occurred shortly before 9 p.m. at a Cal Fire maintenance facility for operations in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Colusa, Solano and Yolo Counties, Cal Fire said. The facility was staffed at the time, Cal Fire reported. Forty-four people worked to fight the flames, which ultimately claimed the structure and four trucks, and damaged four more trucks. A portion of Highway 29 was temporarily closed. The Angwin Volunteer Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post that one of its vehicles were among those destroyed by the fire. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PG&E's newly-appointed chief executive officer leaves his old job with a mixed record on renewable energy, a potentially costly entanglement from an environmental spill in Tennessee, and a singular distinction: He's been the highest-paid federal government employee in the country. As the head of the government-owned Tennessee Valley Authority, PG&E's new leader Bill Johnson made $8.1 million in total compensation last year, according to public documents. The Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee said that's more than any other federal employee, anywhere. Johnson was named CEO late Wednesday as the utility, struggling in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, faces enormous pressure from California regulators and elected officials to improve its safety record. PG&E estimates that it could have to pay $30 billion to cover liabilities from the October 2017 wildfires and last November's Camp Fire, the worst fire in California's history. He is wrapping up his tenure in Tennessee this week and takes over at PG&E in late April. In a prepared statement accompanying PG&E's announcement, Johnson, 65, pledged a "steadfast commitment to providing safe and reliable power." PG&E said the Tennessee Valley Authority "achieved the best safety records in its 85-year history" during Johnson's six years as CEO of the TVA, which was founded during the New Deal to deliver electricity to parts of the Southeast. He was unavailable for comment Wednesday. PG&E wouldn't disclose Thursday how much Johnson will earn, other than to say it will be made public later and will be subject to approval of the bankruptcy judge. The utility added that it sets executive pay in line with other companies in its industry, and that more than half of Johnson's incentive pay "will be directly tied to safety performances and metrics." Executives receive a combination of base salary and incentive pay. Former CEO Geisha Williams, who resigned just before PG&E filed for bankruptcy in January, made $8.6 million in 2017, the last year for which compensation records are available. She also was eligible for a $2.6 million severance package. PG&E has been led by an interim CEO, John Simon, since Williams left. Johnson and the reformulated PG&E board of directors -- appointed under a deal brokered by three hedge funds that own a combined 10 percent PG&E stock -- have already received a lukewarm welcome from some California officials. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the new board has too many "Wall Street interests." The TVA has been dogged by serious problems stemming from the cleanup of a major coal-ash spill in Kingston, Tenn., in 2008. Jacobs Engineering Group, the contractor TVA hired to clean the mess, is being sued by workers over serious health problems that reportedly killed at least 40 employees. The TVA isn't being sued, but disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission in January that it "could be contractually obligated to reimburse Jacobs for some amounts" of the financial damages. Maggie Shober of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, an advocacy group based in Tennessee, said the TVA isn't blameless for the cleanup problems. "The buck stops there; they have to be held responsible for who they hire," she said. In a statement released a month ago, the TVA said it "put the safety of its workers and contractors first" in the coal spill cleanup. Jim Hopson, a spokesman for the TVA, said the cleanup was mostly completed before Johnson joined the TVA in early 2013. PG&E declined to comment on the coal cleanup. Shober also faulted Johnson's commitment to solar power and other forms of renewable energy -- a potentially delicate issue in light of California's pledge to wean itself off fossil fuels in the coming years. According to Shober, the TVA during Johnson's tenure has lagged other utilities in the Southeast in shifting to renewables. The TVA generated 13 percent of its power last year from hydro and solar energy, plus another 40 percent from nuclear. One third of PG&E's power is 33 percent renewable, but clean-energy advocates are worried that the utility will use the bankruptcy case to opt out of some of its purchase contracts with solar providers. PG&E has filed a court action demanding the authority to sever some of those contracts, noting that much of its solar power is being delivered at "above-market rates." With California law requiring utilities to be 60 percent renewable by 2030, "that's going to really require procuring unprecedented amounts of renewable energy, solar and wind," said Adam Browning at Vote Solar, an Oakland advocacy group. "We deserve leadership that is both enthusiastic about the goal and has a track record of being able to deliver on it," Browning said. "(Johnson's) resume is heavy on coal and gas." The TVA gets 26 percent of its electricity from coal, although that's down from 58 percent in 2007. And the agency made waves in February by agreeing to close a coal plant in Kentucky in 2020, rejecting pleas from President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. Shober, however, the TVA is closing the coal plant because it doesn't make economic sense to keep it going. "It wasn't a decision Bill Johnson was making because he wants to reduce emissions," she said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In 1996, California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Twenty years later, voters approved Proposition 64, legalizing adult recreational cannabis use. This burgeoning industry finds itself growing month by month, in red and blue counties alike, but one reality remains: the federal government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug. This means that the thousands of cannabis-related companies that do business in California cant open an account with any existing bank or credit union. Theyre instead forced to do business in cash, presenting tremendous safety risk to their business and their employees. Think about it: cannabis businesses make tens of thousands of dollars each week. They cant put it in a bank account, so where do they turn? One business owner Ive talked with stores over $1 million in a tractor trailer with 24-hour surveillance. Others find short-term, and illegal, ways to get bank accounts, undergoing tremendous risk. Storing so much cash comes at great peril for employees. In early 2018, an employee of an Oakland-based distributor who collects cash from dispensaries in San Diego County was beaten and robbed of about $9,000. And when it comes time to fulfill their tax obligations, cannabis businesses arrive at government offices with bags of cash. Standard oversight and accounting practices become nearly impossible when most transactions are completed in cash. As policymakers, we have a duty to further the will of the voters while protecting the public safety of our constituents. That is why I introduced Senate Bill 51 with California Treasurer Fiona Ma. The bill would allow private banks or credit unions to apply for a limited purpose state charter so they can provide depository services to licensed cannabis businesses. Last year, Ma and I introduced SB 930, which sought the same objective. The proposal received enthusiastic support from people who work in the cannabis industry because it would have helped get some cash off the streets. While SB 930 moved through the legislative process, people were looking into other solutions. Former Treasurer John Chiang convened a feasibility study to look into opening a state-run cannabis bank, but that was abandoned when it was deemed too risky. The federal government has given glimmers of hope it will help states address this issue, but we cant wait for Congress to proceed in fits and starts. Under SB 51, banks or credit unions could issue checks to account holders to be used to: - To pay rent Pay California vendors for goods and services Pay state and local taxes and fees Purchase state and local bonds. In crafting this bill, we made an effort to prevent any interaction with federal entities or systems. Banks and credit unions would be required to have private insurance, and they would exist in their own closed loop networks. It has required creative thinking to figure out how to enter this uncharted territory, but several things are clear: everyone agrees on the urgency of this public safety issue, and acknowledge the profound potential of this emerging industry. We know that this solution doesnt completely solve the cannabis industrys cash problem . But with lives on the line, this is just one small step in the right direction to get some of this money off the streets and into bank accounts. Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg is a Democrat who represents the Senate District 18 in the San Fernando Valley. He wrote this commentary for CALmatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias Capitol works and why it matters. ParisA dissident writer dubbed the Chinese Solzhenitsyn said Friday that his homeland is a threat for the whole world. Liao Yiwu, who was jailed for writing a poem called Massacre about the Tiananmen Square protests, told AFP that it would be better for mankind if the economic superpower splits up. My dream is that China splits up into 10 or so countries. Because China, as it is today, is a threat for the whole world, he said as his latest book, Balls of Opium, was published in France. The book, which has been banned in China, recounts the stories of dozens of victims of the Tiananmen massacre when troops killed thousands of pro-democracy protesters in Beijing in 1989. The massacre, which is also known as the June Fourth Incident, is a major taboo in China. Liao, who has been living in exile in Berlin since 2011, said, Returning to China is not a big concern for me. I would like to go back to my native Sichuanwhen its independent. Then I would be delighted to return. Liao, a poet, and musician who also reported on the lives of the Chinese poor, was tortured in prison, according to human rights groups, and harassed by the police on his release. He told AFP that he was very pessimistic about his country under the increasing authoritarian rule of President Xi Jinping. Thirty years ago we thought we might develop towards democracy. Today it is all about making money. Every one of the Western countries which criticised China after the (Tiananmen) massacre fight with each other now to do business with the executioners even as they continue to arrest and kill people, Liao added. He poured scorn on the fact that Xi Jinpings daughter studied at Harvard along with the children of other Communist Party leaders. Even the leaders mistresses are getting grants to study at the US university, he claimed. Those who have scruples are marginalised while those who make money without criticising the party can do what they want, said the 60-year-old. But Liao insisted that Tiananmen is the major turning point in recent Chinese history.For me, as for all Chinese people, it was a cataclysmic moment, he said. You cannot mention the massacre in China, its taboo. My struggle is to make the truth of what happened known to as many people as I can. The writer said that three decades on we still dont know the exact number of victims. Human rights groups believe that between 2,600 and 3,000 people died after 200,000 soldiers were brought in to encircle the Chinese capital. British diplomatic cables declassified in 2017 put initial estimates of the death toll at around 10,000. The Mothers of Tiananmen group have published 202 names but we know there was a lot more than that, Liao added. As for the young man standing in front of a tank, who became a symbol of the peaceful protest, we still dont know his name or his fate, he added. The name Wang Weilin given to him by Western journalists was invented. We know nothing about him even though he is the symbol of the millions of people who opposed the tyranny of June 4, the writer said. Liaos book Testimonials about his time in prison has been compared to the Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyns The Gulag Archipelago, and was praised by Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who died in 2017 after spending years in prison. Territorial issues are deeply sensitive in China and any suggestions that the country could be broken up are likely to stoke outrage. Last year hotel chain Marriott was strongly criticised by Chinese authorities for listing Taiwan -- along with Tibet and Hong Kong -- as separate countries, all regions which Beijing claims under its authority. In May, US clothing retailer Gap apologised to China over a T-shirt with a map showing the mainland but omitting Taiwan -- self-ruled since 1949 -- which Beijing considers a rebel province awaiting reunification. Over the weekend, as President Donald Trump was enjoying his 25th visit to Mar-a-Lago since his inauguration, a woman was arrested by the Secret Service after bluffing her way into the reception area of the resort. At the time she was detained, she was carrying multiple Republic of China passports, four cellphones, a laptop, an external hard drive and a USB thumb drive that, according to the criminal complaint, "contained malicious malware." That's redundant; "malware" is a contraction of "malicious software." For obvious reasons, the arrest set off alarm bells. Mar-a-Lago has long been seen as vulnerable, since Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a brief foreign-policy meeting from the middle of the club dining room in 2017. ProPublica and Gizmodo conducted a probe of the club's security and determined that it would be fairly easy to access its WiFi network. And Mar-a-Lago itself is responsible for limiting access from visitors to the facility at large, as the Secret Service was quick to note in a statement. The only time a visitor list for the facility has been released, after a court fight, it included only 22 people - all of whom were accompanying Abe. The arrest raises one very specific question, though: What damage, exactly, could a USB drive do at the resort? It's important to note at the front end that it's not clear what type of malware was on the woman's USB drive. She may have been legitimately trying to attend an event at the facility (though she claimed only to be trying to visit the pool) and had with her materials that she might normally carry - including a drive that unbeknown to her was infected. So let's consider the question in the abstract. To do so, we spoke by phone with Israel Barak, chief information security officer for the security firm Cybereason. There are distinct advantages and drawbacks to using a USB drive to try to access a network. The most significant drawback, of course, is that it requires physical access to a USB port. The advantage? Once you've plugged the device in, any number of possibilities open up. One scenario offered by Barak involved placing a USB drive on a network - but not an Internet-connected computer. "A malicious tool that was injected into the target's environment will report back or provide telemetry that will be saved back to the USB drive," he said, "that will be carried out by an individual to a place where it can be transmitted to the operator and then commands will be downloaded to the USB drive, and some further actions can be taken by tool." In other words, the USB drive could spy on how to hack into the network, allowing hackers to gain more information about how to attack the network more broadly. That was hardly the only example. "You can use the USB drive to download data from the target's environment," Barak added. "You would sometimes use it to avoid transmitting large quantities of data over the network, which might seem abnormal to a network operator." And, he said, "a USB drive may not be just a USB drive. It may have a form factor of a USB drive but quite honestly any type of device can be connected via USB to a machine. It can be a WiFi antenna or a [radio frequency] antenna. It can be a device that executes or that also hides the malicious code that scans the network. It can be a full-blown computer that is inside that thing that looks like a USB drive." In other words, there's not a lot you can't do. So what? So a hacker gets, what, the ability to change a user's reservation? Well, it's more complicated than that. In 2017, hackers took over a hotel's door-lock system, locking out everyone in the hotel until a ransom of $1,800 was paid. At Mar-a-Lago, the attendance of various VIPs adds another problematic level. Hackers, Barak pointed out, could access the "visitors list or the guest list or the reservation system." That would allow them to potentially know when VIPs - such as Cabinet officials, who often join Trump at the facility - were arriving and the rooms in which they'd be staying, information that would obviously be of use to foreign intelligence officers. Mar-a-Lago would be a very target rich environment, Trump's attendance notwithstanding. "I think it represents - especially the amount of connected devices - represent a unique challenge that often the security staff will not find at the same level of magnitude in other industries," Barak said. That's a common problem with places that see a lot of guest turnover, such as hotels and casinos. But it's also a function of the hotels wanting to offer resources and amenities for visitors. He cited the example of a casino where the network was compromised because hackers identified an unprotected network access point: an Internet-connected fish tank. "There's nothing that can be done to fully prevent a determined hacker from gaining access to a network," Barak said. "You need to assume," he later added, "[an] assumption of breach mind-set: The perimeter's going to get breached. So you put in place systems, processes and people that can detect when something like this happens and have the capability to remove it from the environment before it impacts one of those critical assets." Filtering data coming into the network from the Internet or email - or a USB drive - was the perimeter. But once a hacker moves past the perimeter, it's incumbent on the facility to discover them quickly and root them out. That means a lot of real-time monitoring, either by the facility itself or by an off-site firm that tracks network activity. (Remember Barak's point about storing large data sets on a USB drive? It's specifically to avoid that monitoring.) There are still a number of questions about the events at Mar-a-Lago this weekend that remain unanswered. If it was a clumsy attempt to access the hotel's network, it thankfully failed. But one of Barak's central points was that a successful intrusion attempt by a determined hacker was all but inevitable. We're left to hope that Mar-a-Lago's "IT security hygiene," as he put it, is good enough to protect a facility that Trump likes to call the "winter White House." Philip Bump is a correspondent for The Washington Post based in New York. Before joining The Post in 2014, he led politics coverage for the Atlantic Wire. Stoltenberg declares NATO neutrality towards Armenia and Azerbaijan Aliyev and European Council head speak on normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia Putin, Macron discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, results of trilateral meeting in Sochi Armenia justice minister attending conference with counterparts of CoE member states in Venice Armenia's Pashinyan meets with European Council President in Brussels NEWS.am daily digest: 14.12.21 Armenia Central Bank head on coronavirus vaccinations Georgia to build road leading to border with Azerbaijan Armenia Central Bank chief presents forecasts for economic growth in 2021 and 2022 Armenia Parliament Speaker receives Kazakhstan Ambassador Azerbaijan opens new military unit on border with Armenia TNI: Can Armenia and Azerbaijan settle differences at Eastern Partnership Summit? Armenia Central Bank: National currency increasing in value Armenia ex-FM on Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Brussels Central Bank chief: 12-month normal inflation in Armenia has increased to 8.4% Meeting of Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev is taking place in Brussels Dollar drops considerably in Armenia Ruling force MP: Establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey is in Armenia's state interests Armenia ex-foreign minister: Current objective of Co-Chairs of Minsk Group is to prove their viability Armenia PM arrives in Brussels, to hold meetings with Charles Michel, Ilham Aliyev and European counterparts Lawyer: Opposition Armenia Bloc member detained Armenia ruling party MP fails to answer question about price to pay for normalization of ties with Turkey Bloomberg: Turkey attempting to normalize Armenia relations to please Biden Armenia Prosecutor General's Office files cassation appeal under case of Robert Kocharyan and other ex-officials Turkey companies begin taking over Azerbaijan-occupied territories of Artsakh Armenia ruling power MP questions role of former commander of Russia peacekeepers in Artsakh in releasing of captives Opposition MP: Armenia still on Turkey-Azerbaijan agenda Armenian advocate: Decision is rendered to detain NGO head and member of 'Armenia' Alliance Armenia President, EU ambassador confer on regional security Fellow soldier arrested for killing Armenia serviceman, wounding 2 others Armenia high tech minister, Estonia envoy discuss several opportunities for cooperation Man, 42, kills his mother, 77, in Armenias Kapan 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Karabakh Armenia Central Bank raises refinancing rate by 0.5 percentage point Armenia parliament majority to reserve right to elect deputy chair of one of committees Armenia ex-President Kocharyan, former deputy PM now MP Gevorgyan case court hearing rescheduled again Armenia NGO head detained 161 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Pilgrims, Artsakh residents visit Amaras Monastery, with Russia peacekeepers assistance MFA spokesman: Armenia also will appoint special representative for dialogue with Turkey Armenia PM heads for Brussels on working visit Newspaper: Armenia authorities develop mechanisms to suppress, recruit Newspaper: Armenia PM Pashinyan wants to become President with absolute power Armenia famous singer turns herself in to police Ex-deputy PM Avinyan: Armenian National Airlines CJSC is registered Australia and South Korea sign $680,000,000-dollar defense deal US, North Korea, South Korea and China agree to end Korean War Turkish FM: Armenia and Turkey will designate special envoys to discuss normalization of relations Why did the police summon Armenia ex-MP Ruben Hakobyan? Yerevan Municipality spokesperson: Director of city's bus operating company resigns Lukashenko thanks Erdogan for Turkey's principled stance on Belarus Russian and Iranian FMs discuss JCPOA situation NATO Secretary General to meet with Aliyev Turkish man arrested for throwing Erdogan's portrait on the ground Tractor that remained in Karabakh's Amaras after Azerbaijani shootings removed through Russian mediation Georgia MFA is discontent with showing of Georgian national flag at '3+3' regional format meeting in Moscow Armenia PM's Chief of Staff, France Ambassador discuss strengthening of trade-economic relations Iran, Turkmenistan stress measures to strengthen transit ties Iran's and Saudi Arabia's representatives hold security meeting in Amman NEWS.am daily digest: 13.12.21 Armenia Constitutional Court president receives France Ambassador 55-year-old Yerevan pedestrian run over by 21-year-old with moped, hospitalized Armenia education, science, culture and sport minister has new deputy Armenia Prosecutor General attending Conference of States Parties to UN Convention against Corruption Armenia President receives head of Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs in Palestine Joining up for Green Future: British Embassy and HSBC Bank Armenia promoting sustainability in Armenia (PHOTOS) Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition demand for parliament speakers resignation is attempt to collect dividends Armenian Zartonk political party issues statement on apprehension of 3 members Dollar falls after long rise in Armenia Charles Michel to hold trilateral meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan Presidents in Brussels on Dec. 14 Opposition 'Armenia' faction MP: Armenian parliamentary speaker elections were unlawful Tovmasyan Foundation: Christmas fair is held Ruling party MP: Armenian POWs' issue is an exclusively speculative one for opposition 'Armenia' Faction Armenia Armavir Province deputy governor sacked Armenia Parliament Speaker receives German MFA official Matthias Luttenberg Armenia representative at ECHR considers International Court of Justice decision on December 7 a victory Armenia Supreme Judicial Council examining issue of subjecting Yerevan judge to disciplinary liability Ambassador to Armenia on Russia peacekeepers indefinite presence in Artsakh: Life will show 'With Honor' Faction MP: We will definitely vote in favor of draft for Armenia Parliament Speaker's resignation Armenia ex-police chief Vladimir Gasparyan's health condition is stable Armenia PM attends reopening of high school in Vagharshapat Armenia representative at ECHR: Work on captives return from Azerbaijan continues Armenia opposition MP: It is necessary to urgently solve issue of opening of aid station in Shurnukh Opposition 'Armenia' Faction MP: Parliamentary speaker is making statements that pose danger to foreign policy Russia envoy to Armenia: 3+3 format should have positive impact on relations between regional countries Armenia ambassador presents her letter of credence to Cuba President Armenia parliament opposition plans to nominate candidate for new speaker of legislature Biden announces natural disaster in Kentucky Armenia President, France ambassador discuss agenda of bilateral relations Russia diplomat: Armenia is one of important countries in New Generation program Armenia official, France envoy outline priority domains of economic cooperation between 2 countries in 2022 Iran puts 20 US citizens on sanctions list for human rights violations Armenia PM visiting Etchmiadzin, police carrying out intensified service Yerevan holding New Generation 2021 forum 66 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Russia military doctors provide medical assistance to Karabakh remote village residents World gold prices rising moderately International Studies expert: Armenia authorities refuse any anti-Turkish process Yerevan public transport bus drivers staging protest World oil prices going up The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, will be expelled from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London within a few hours or days, Time reported. According to the source, WikiLeaks tweeted referring to the person who said the planned expulsion is a response to the organizations recent tweet linking to a website that alleged money laundering and corruption during Ecuadorian President Lenin Morenos time as United Nations special envoy for the disabled in Geneva. The founder of WikiLeaks has been at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012. He sought asylum in the diplomatic mission in order to avoid extradition to Sweden. In this country, Assange was accused of rape, as well as harassment and coercion into sexual acts. The founder of WikiLeaks also feared deportation to the United States, where he faces up to 35 years in prison or the death penalty for publishing secret Department of State documents. ChristchurchThe man accused of shooting dead 50 Muslim worshipers in a Christchurch mosque sat impassively Friday as a New Zealand judge ordered him to undergo tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial for murder. The survivors and relatives of those killed in the March 15 attacks packed into a Christchurch courtroom as the alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant appeared via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland. The 28-year-old Australian faces 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges over the shootings at two mosques, which shocked the world and rattled normally peaceful New Zealand. High Court judge Cameron Mander ruled during the brief hearing that Tarrant would be examined by two health assessors to determine whether he is fit to stand trial or insane. The suspecta self-avowed white supremacistsat motionless throughout the hearing, listening intently to proceedings. He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on June 14. About 50 people were in the courts public gallery to catch a glimpse of the man charged with the deadliest massacre in modern New Zealand history. While the public gallery could see Tarrant on screen, the position of the camera in court ensured his view from prison was restricted to the judge and lawyers. For most, Tarrants appearance on screen was the first chance to see the face of the man accused of gunning down their loved ones in cold blood. Yama Nabi, whose 71-year-old father was killed, went to bear witness on behalf of his heartbroken family. I just wanted to see his face... its not going to bring the loved ones back. I was like [hes a] coward, he told reporters outside the court. Survivor Tofazzal Alam lay down in the Linwood mosque to avoid being shot during the attack and never saw the gunman up close. I wanted to see him because he killed so many of my friends. He looks crazy and it was very upsetting, he said after the hearing.Im very upset to see him. He killed 50 people and he doesnt look like hes bothered. I didnt see any emotion on his face. Ahead of the shooting, Tarrant posted a rambling manifesto on social media in which he identified himself by name and described himself as a white supremacist out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. He live-streamed himself as he opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque. Tarrant was initially charged with one murder count as a holding measure when he made his first court appearance a day after the killings. However, the charges were updated Friday to include the names of all 50 who were killed in the attack and 39 others who were wounded. Tarrant had sacked a court-appointed lawyer after the initial court appearance, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a right-wing propaganda platform. However, two Auckland lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, appeared in court Friday on his behalf. Judge Mander barred media from filming or photographing proceedings and reiterated an existing ruling that Tarrants face must be pixillated in images taken during his previous court appearance. He also ordered the names of the 39 attempted murder victims to be suppressed, saying identifying them could hinder their recovery, and ruled a summary of the prosecutions allegations would not be made public as it contained sensitive information. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called the mosque killings a well-planned terrorist attack and taken immediate steps to tighten the countrys gun laws. The government has also said it will review laws dealing with hate speech and called for social media giants to do more to combat online extremism. The latest update from health authorities earlier this week said 24 people remained in hospital after the attacks, four of them critical, including a four-year-old girl. The pro-Western president of Montenegro, who has defied Russia to steer his small country into NATO, has warned that the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is crucial for the bloc to protect itself from growing Russian and Chinese political and economic influence in the region. This is what President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic told Associated Press. According to him, Britains chaotic divorce from the EU and other crises in the bloc seem to have diminished the unions enthusiasm to accept new members, but that Europe must not hand over the strategic region to other global players. But the question is not whether Russia, China or a third country have their interests in the Balkans. The question is why Europe is handing over that region to anyone else, Djukanovic said. I believe this is primarily Europes interest, he stated. After joining NATO in 2017, Montenegro is the next in line to join the EU, with 2025 slated as the earliest possible date for entry. Serbia too could join by 2025, while Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia have not yet reached that level of pre-entry negotiations. Armenian parliament will discuss compensations to citizens affected by March 1, 2008 tragic events, said Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament Lena Nazaryan on Friday. According to her, the document is of great socio-political importance. People who suffered during these events have been deprived of attention from the state for years and faced with serious social and psychological problems, Nazaryan said. She noted that the amount, procedure and conditions for receiving compensation will be determined by the Armenian Governments decision The draft law received a unanimous positive conclusion of the relevant parliamentary commission. During the confrontation, the power - the opposition on March 1, 2008, 8 demonstrators and 2 employees of the Internal Troops were killed. On March 1, 2008, the then authorities used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown Yerevan. Eight demonstrators and two servicemen of the internal troops were killed in the clashes. But no one has yet been brought to account for these deaths. The National Security Service of Armenia has instituted a criminal case on the alleged misuse by one of the close relatives of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. This is what Head of the Department of Public Relations of the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Republic of Armenia Arevik Khachatryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am on 5 April. The press center of the National Security Service told Armenian News-NEWS.am that it would provide information later. Last evening, Nikol Pashinyan posted a Facebook status, stating that a criminal case has been instituted in relation to a case of alleged misuse by one of his close relatives. There is no doubt that the case will be fully investigated and the guilty will be subjected to liability provided for by law. This is new Armenia, and any close relative of the Prime Minister cant be above the law or be privileged, Pashinyan stated, without going into details on who the close relative was. With the government either defending, justifying or simply doing nothing about Chinas aggressive actions, the countrys giant neighbor has become even bolder to pursue its creeping invasion of the disputed territories in the South China Sea. After occupying, reclaiming and building virtual military bases with airstrips, radar equipment and other installations on several disputed islands in the last few years, the Chinese recently built an alleged maritime rescue center on the Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross Reef), which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group that the Philippines rightfully claims sovereignty over. Instead of lodging a protest, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo ironically says we should be thankful for the Chinese facility because it would help Filipino fishermen in distress. Recently, US Indo-Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Philip Davidson reported that the China Coast Guard continues to harass and intimidate Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal). Based on this and the complaints of Filipino fishermen, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jin-ping for crimes against humanity for the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen. But President Rodrigo Duterte and Presidential Spokesman Salvador ignored the complaint, saying ICC had no jurisdiction and it was a futile exercise, and reassuring their Chinese friends that relations with China would continue to be warm despite the complaint. And just last week, the countrys Western Command reported that a flotilla of Chinese vessels, described in news reports as Chinese militia, has been swarming around Pag-asa Island, which is very close to Palawan and is, in fact, officially considered part of the provinces Kalayaan town and home to a small Philippine military contingent and to about 100 Filipino residents, mostly fishermen. On the previous Chinese transgressions in the disputed islands, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano claimed the DFA had filed dozens, 50 or even 100 protests with China, but never released a single copy of the supposed protests. How can Cayetano produce a copy when it was obvious he was lying and couldnt even remember if dozens or 100 protests had been filed? On the latest report that hundreds of Chinese vessels are swarmed around Pag-asa Island, Foreign Affairs Secretary Toedoro Locsin also claimed to have filed a salvo of diplomatic notes with the Chinese government, but when pressed to present a copy, Locsin, who has taken on his boss penchant for colorful language, merely said: You have my word for it, and that is all you get. Manigas na kayo na nagda-doubt pa! (Drop dead, you doubters.) Panelo later thumbed down the request to make the protest public and urged the people to just take the word of the public officials, which unfortunately is not easy to do considering the track record of this administration on transparency. Take for example the case of the Operation Tokhang reports. The Philippine National Police and the Office of the Solicitor General Jose Calida has been asked to present the official reports on the illegal drug operations for a long time now. Calida first promised to present the report to the Supreme Court but reneged on the offer citing national security. The high tribunal had to order Calida and PNP last Tuesday to submit to the court the police reports on the killings of more than 4,000 people in Dutertes brutal war on drugs. But back to China. Before Locsin claimed that he had sent a salvo of diplomatic notes to China, Panelo said the government would ask politely why the Chinese vessels were in the area of Pag-asa Island. On the same breath, he downplayed the presence of the Chinese militia, first claiming that there were only 275 ships and not 600 as claimed by the military, and then saying that the Chinese were perhaps merely watching the area. But based on how the Chinese slowly, but gradually took over the disputed islets in the South China Sea, it is not farfetched to suspect that the Chinese are eyeing the island, which is not just an islet or reef, but a big and inhabitable island.Their presence seems to send a clear signal to the Philippine military, which is in the process of repairing military installations there, to back off. This is a straightforward intimidation tacticto interrupt Filipino maritime traffic in very close proximity to Thitu (Pag-asa Island), said Alexander Neill, Shangri-la Dialogue Senior Fellow for Asia Pacific security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Neill said Chinas aggressive action on Pag-asa is because of the inability of Filipino forces to react to probing tactics by Chinese vessels, and on the political front by President Duterte who has warmed to China and is prepared to dismiss the threat by China to Philippines territory. He said the maritime militia serves as eyes and ears for the Peoples Liberation Army. It is also a warning that China has the potential to take the islands with little difficulty, should they choose to, he added. Another report that should be a cause for Filipinos is the sudden appearance of a Chinese-manned dredging ship near the coastal town of Lobo in Batangas. Apparently, the ship had no prior authority to sail into the Batangas coast, but its appearance revealed a plan by a private company to dredge sand from the Lobo river to build a runway of the Hongkong International Airport, according to the Inquirer. But one wonders if the sand is not going to be used to reclaim more islands in the South China Sea. Lulutuin tayo sa sarili nating mantika, as they say in Pilipino. The dredging ships appearance also stresses the impunity with which the Chinese, including private companies, are violating Philippine laws and sovereignty obviously because of the way the Duterte administration are coddling up to the Chinese. Chinese companies have been found to be bringing in illegal Chinese workers to the detriment of Filipino workers but the government merely shrugged it off. In the wake of all these continuing aggressive actions by the Chinese in the South China Sea, the Philippine government continues to reassure Beijing that everythings okay and that our relations with China continue to be warm. In a campaign rally in Malabon on Tuesday, Duterte said China just wants to become a friend of the Philippines, as he downplayed Chinese aggressions in the South China Sea. Even Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was very friendly with China during her presidency, chimed in last week during a forum in that developing countries like the Philippines should look to China as partner, not a threat. All these developments make us wonder why it appears that this administration is so beholden to China. If we look at Dutertes key supporters in the presidential campaignthe Marcos family and Arroyoit should not surprise us that they, too, are known friends of China during their reign. Just wondering. [email protected] Microsoft officially announced Windows 10 May 2019 Update. It will be available in late May, Hothardware reported. Microsoft drew attention to one innovation - greater control over such functional updates. Now the users will receive an alert of update readiness, will be able to choose whether to install it, or pause for up to 35 days. The May update also includes a new light theme, notification centers improvements and Sandbox (Windows Sandbox), support for the so-called Japanese Kaomoji emoticons, separate search using the Cortana voice assistant. Azerbaijan is inclined to see a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but it will continue to increase its military potential, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev declared, reports Interfax-Azerbaijan. We are trying to settle the conflict through a political, diplomatic and peaceful path, but alongside that, we are increasing our military potential. From now on, we will take all the necessary steps in this direction, Aliyev declared. Azerbaijan is carrying out all the necessary activites in this direction. Its obvious that military and economic potential is making our country strong. From now on, we will continue to lead our consistent policy in this direction, he added. Aliyev stated that the military clashes with Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone in 2016 showed that Azerbaijan can restore its territorial integrity through the military. Our main goal is to settle the conflict, Azerbaijans president said. YEREVAN.- Speaker of Armenian National Assembly (NA) Ararat Mirzoyan received on Friday the parliamentary representation delegation of Italy that visited Armenia on cognitive visit comprised of the members of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the PArliament reported. Welcoming the Italian colleagues in parliament, the Head of the legislative body has evaluated the centuries-old relations formed between the two peoples, which are based on the common historical, cultural and political values. Ararat Mirzoyan presented to the guests the developments recorded in the recent period in Armenia, the parliamentary elections assessed free, fair and democratic by the international community, the agenda of the priorities of the legislative body formed as a result of the latter. The parliamentary extraordinary elections were considered as the last step for the revolutionary process, which began in the country for strengthening democracy, the NA President said. He emphasized the active cooperation between the two countries legislative bodies with parliamentary government, the mutual visits, the exchange of experience and the role of parliamentary diplomacy. Touching upon the foreign political agenda of Armenia, the Head of Parliament has underlined the importance that our country attaches to the integration with the European region. In this context he appreciated the ratification of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, expressing hope that after the visit the Italian colleagues would give new impetus to this process in their parliament. Ararat Mirzoyan has drawn the guests attention to the necessity of the Armenian Genocide recognition, noting that with condemnation of only such crimes is possible to prevent the crimes being committed against mankind. On behalf of the delegation expressing his gratitude to Ararat Mirzoyan the Member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies Maurizio Lupi has noted that for their Group representing all the factions of the parliament this visit is a good opportunity to directly get acquainted not only with the political processes in Armenia, but also the Christian Armenian peoples centuries-old historical and cultural heritage. According to him, in its turn, this will greatly promote the further development of the traditional ties and will give new impetus to the Armenian-Italian cooperation. According to Maurizio Lupi, they observed the ongoing revolutionary processes in Armenia, as a result of which, the created new realities opened wide perspectives of development. He has assured that the ratification of the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide are the agenda items of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and their efforts will be consistent in this direction. At the meeting, the representatives of all factions of the Italian Parliament expressed their viewpoints. The Computer and Information Technologies Enterprises Association () and Jurisdiction Armenia Foundation launched IT-SUMMIT 2019 in Yerevan. As reported the news service of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia, according to Armenian News-NEWS.am, Armenia is hosting representatives of over 150 IT companies, including leaders, specialists and officials of state institutions. In his welcoming remarks, Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan touched upon the state policy that Armenia is leading to enhance the high technologies sector in Armenia, attached importance to the process of establishing a ministry of high technology industry and emphasized that Armenia is developing a new policy on the high technologies sector with a new ecosystem and digitization agenda for development. In his speech, Deputy Minister Gegham Vardanyan presented Armenias potential in the IT sector and the opportunities for development and highlighted the fact that there is a need for a coordinated approach in order to rapidly achieve progress in the sector. According to Executive Director of the Association Nikolay Komleyev, Armenia is one of the countries that has managed to keep its IT specialists, which is an extremely major precondition for building cooperation. The second IT-SUMMIT will provide the IT specialists of the two countries with the opportunity to become familiar with various types of projects during one event. Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Georgia, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan is leaving his post upon his desire. This is what he declared as he was introducing the newly appointed vicar of the General Prelacy of Samtskhe-Javakhk and Tsalka. I would like to officially announce that I will be returning to Armenia and continuing my spiritual service in Etchmiadzin. I would like to express gratitude and say that this is officially my last visit to Samtskhe-Javakhk, and the Georgian-Armenian Diocese will have a new leader soon, Primate of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan declared. The diocesan leader considered the appointment of the vicar of Samtskhe-Javakhk one of the major episodes of the work he has carried out over the past 17 years, and he evaluated his spiritual service at the Georgian-Armenian Diocese as fruitful. On 5 April, the subsequent session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS CMFA) was held in Moscow, and the Armenian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan, as reported the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Armenian News-NEWS.am. Current issues related to the partnership of the ministries of foreign affairs of CIS countries, particularly the strengthening of cooperation in the fight against the growing threats and challenges facing security and stability were discussed during the meeting. The participants of the session approved the draft Declaration of the leaders of CIS countries on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the launch of WWII which affirms the loyalty of CIS countries to the norms and principles of international law, highlights the universal and intergovernmental nature of the United Nations Organization established in 1945 (end of WWII), the unique responsibility of the United Nations for maintenance of peace and the prevention of new global conflicts. The draft agreement on coordination of interstate relations of CIS countries in the field of Fundamental Research and several other documents were approved. The Council of Ministers also considered the document on the creation of a baseline organization for preparation of personnel in the fight against crimes committed through the use of information technologies. The next session of the Council will be held on 10 October in Ashgabat. SIU to give honorary degree to Thanu Kulachol, president emeritus of Bangkok University by Hannah Erickson CARBONDALE, Ill. President emeritus of Bangkok University and former senator of Thailand Thanu Kulachol will receive an honorary degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale on May 11 during the commencement ceremony. An international leader in education, Kulachol earned his Ph.D. in higher education from SIU in 1977, before returning to serve at Thailands oldest and largest private university, Bangkok University. In addition to his educational work, Kulachol also served on the Thai Senate and is currently on the boards of TPC Power Holding Public Co. and Thai Polycons PCL. President and senator Named president of Bangkok University in 1988, Kulachol spent 19 years building the 4,000-student college into a leading creative university in Thailand with international linkages and nearly 30,000 current students and over 200,000 graduates to date. Twice during his time as president, BU asked Kulachol to delay his retirement, giving him ample time to expand the international partnerships to include over 43 countries, along with establishing the International College Building Bangkok University Gallery and Surat Library. He received invitations twice to take part in the United Nations Secretary Generals Global Colloquium of University Presidents, sharing in the international discussion on higher education issues. Secretary General Kofi Annan handpicked twenty university presidents, with Kulachol and Bangkok University representing one of the five Asian countries chosen. While Kulachol was still serving as president in 1996, the Royal Command of His Majesty the King appointed him to the senate where he worked for four years to strengthen private education in Thailand. Long time connection with SIU Dating back to his early years as a student, Kulachols passion has always revolved around education. After graduating with his bachelors degree from BU, he earned another degree from Farleigh Dickinson University before coming to SIU, where he completed his Ph.D. program in two years. Kulachol said his time at SIU prepared him for his illustrious career of service. All my life, I have always been involved and connected with education, Kulachol said. When I joined SIU, I had opportunities to experience first-hand very effective university administration, management of learning and teaching and network-building, among other things. It was here at SIU where I learned and adapted what I had learned to Bangkok University, making it now a leading university in Thailand. During his time as President, Kulachol also built a partnership with SIU, bringing many Thai students to Carbondale to study. In 2000, he was the first non-American to receive the SIU Distinguished Alumni Award. He served as editor of the academic publication Executive Journal, and editorial review board member of the Journal of Organizational Dynamics. Honorary Doctorate of Education Leadership To recognize his exceptional work as an international leader in higher education, Kulachol will receive an honorary doctor of education leadership during the commencement ceremony on May 11 at the SIU Arena. His wife Nongyao, his daughter Dear, his son-in-law Clint Rice and his two grandchildren, Tara and CJ, will join him in Carbondale for the event. It is such a great honor and privilege to be recognized by SIU, which is one of the best universities in the United States, Kulachol said. Kulachol previously received two additional honorary degrees from Ohio University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Commencement is May 11 Commencement is divided into three ceremonies. Kulachol will receive an honorary doctor of education leadership degree at the 1:30 p.m. commencement celebration. 9 a.m. ceremony College of Agricultural Sciences. College of Liberal Arts. College of Science. School of Medicine. 1:30 p.m. ceremony College of Business. College of Education and Human Services. 5:30 p.m. ceremony College of Applied Sciences and Arts. College of Engineering. College of Mass Communication and Media Arts. For more information on the 2019 commencement, go to commencement.siu.edu. Morton-Kenney lecture to examine worldwide increase in civil wars and impact on the United States by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. An expert on international security whose emphasis is on political violence and civil wars will discuss the recent surge in civil wars worldwide and its impact on the United States next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Barbara F. Walter, a political science professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego, will present The Age of Civil Wars at 7 p.m. on April 11 in the SIU School of Law Auditorium. The lecture is part of the Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture Series, presented by the Department of Political Science and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Admission is free and the lecture is open to the public. Walters research is on the behavior of rebel groups in civil wars, including inter-rebel group fighting, alliances and the strategic use of propaganda and extremism. Walter, along with Erica Chenoweth, is co-founder of an award-winning blog Political Violence @ a Glance that began in 2012. Media Advisory Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the lecture. To arrange for interviews or for more information on the event, contact J. Tobin Grant, chair, Department of Political Science, 618/453-3167 or grant@siu.edu. Dramatic rise in civil wars in the last two decades J. Tobin Grant, political science degree program chair, said the world is entering a new age of civil wars. After a decline in the 1990s, the number of active civil wars has tripled since 2003. Walter will discuss reasons for the increase and what the United States can do about it, Grant said. The rise in civil wars comes at a time when almost all other types of violence are declining, he said. Civil wars on the other side of the world impact the lives of people living in the United States, Grant said. When civil wars happen, they lead to other tragedies, from terrorism to public health crises, he said. Walter will meet with students while on campus Throughout her visit, Walter will meet with students from the political science department, Grant said. This is a unique opportunity for students to interact with a world-leading expert from another university, he said. Walter has received various grants and fellowships A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Walter received her doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago and did post-doctoral work at Harvard Universitys Olin Institute for Strategic Studies and at the War and Peace Institute at Columbia University. She has earned numerous research grants and fellowships from organizations including the Smith Richardson Foundation, the National Science Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Guggenheim Foundation. In addition to her many research articles, Walters books include Reputation and Civil War: Why Separatist Conflicts Are So Violent and Committing to Peace: The Successful Settlement of Civil Wars, named in 2002 as one of Choice Magazines Best Academic Books of 2002. She is on several editorial boards including American Political Science Review; Journal of Conflict Resolution and International Studies Quarterly. Walter is a frequent guest on CNN, CNN International, BBC, Politico and NBC and has written articles for some of the nations leading newspapers. She has given policy briefings and talks before groups including: United States Senate. U.S. Department of Defense. U.S. Central Command. U.S. Department of State. RAND. The Council on Foreign Relations. Lecture series honors two former SIU political science professors Walter is the 45th lecturer in the series, which occurs in the spring and fall of each year. John T. Shaw, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute director, said the series brings remarkable speakers to campus twice a year. The roster of speakers who have been part of this lecture series is strikingly impressive. Professor Walter will fit seamlessly into this great tradition, he said. The late Jerome Mileur, originally from Murphysboro, was a professor emeritus in political science at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and retired in 2004 after a 37-year teaching career there. Mileur established the series in 1995 in honor of two of his political science professors Ward Morton and David Kenney who inspired him as a student. Mileur, who died in September 2017, earned his bachelors degree in speech communication in 1955, and a doctorate in government in 1971, both from SIU Carbondale. TECC Day 2019 to focus on technology creativity, security and accessibility by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. A workshop at Southern Illinois University Carbondale next week will provide information on technology security, design and operations. Tech Dawgs, a registered student organization within the School of Information Systems and Applied Technologies (ISAT) is hosting TECC Day 2019: Tech Exploration for the Carbondale Community. The workshop is from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 13 in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts Building. The workshops will be in the CLC lab, Room C112 and ASA 111. The inaugural event will feature speakers and workshops on various technology topics to provide a fun, educational and inclusive experience, said Belle S. Woodward, associate professor in ISAT and faculty adviser. Pre-register now for free The event is free and open to the public. While not required, pre-registration is recommended for breakfast considerations. The workshops and guest speakers will focus on three primary areas: creativity, accessibility and security. The guest speakers and their topics are: 9:30 a.m. Matt Nicklin, Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, Marion, Online Privacy and Security. 11 a.m. Joseph Gollner, senior director, Automation Tooling & Cloud at Elavon, Inc., The Networked Experience. Nicklin is a cybersecurity specialist with 20 years of experience in information technology and operational technology. He specializes in industrial control system cybersecurity. He earned a bachelors degree in Information Systems Technologies from SIU Carbondale and a masters degree in Cybersecurity Technology from the University of Maryland University College. An opportunity for community involvement Jessica Peck, Tech Dawgs vice president, said the event is an opportunity for students to be involved with serving their community. The interaction helps students professional and educational development and allows them to improve their interpersonal skills, gain self-confidence and increase a desire to improve the community. Although we know this is only the beginning, we are all excited to see this event grow in the future and hope to inspire years of students ahead of us who also wish to make an impact in the community around them, Peck said. For more information on the event, contact information systems technologies students Kimberly Oest at kimberly.oest@siu.edu, Peck at jpeck@siu.edu, or the Tech Dawgs RSO at techdawgs@siu.edu. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! When Mohawk Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MHK) released its most recent earnings update (31 December 2018), I compared it against two factor: its historical earnings track record, and the performance of its industry peers on average. Understanding how Mohawk Industries performed requires a benchmark rather than trying to assess a standalone number at one point in time. Below is a quick commentary on how I see MHK has performed. View our latest analysis for Mohawk Industries Did MHK perform worse than its track record and industry? MHK's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2018) of US$858m has declined by -12% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 18%, indicating the rate at which MHK is growing has slowed down. Why is this? Well, lets take a look at whats going on with margins and whether the whole industry is experiencing the hit as well. NYSE:MHK Income Statement, April 5th 2019 In terms of returns from investment, Mohawk Industries has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 12% instead. However, its return on assets (ROA) of 6.8% exceeds the US Consumer Durables industry of 6.8%, indicating Mohawk Industries has used its assets more efficiently. Though, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Mohawk Industriess debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 16% to 12%. What does this mean? Though Mohawk Industries's past data is helpful, it is only one aspect of my investment thesis. Companies that are profitable, but have volatile earnings, can have many factors affecting its business. I suggest you continue to research Mohawk Industries to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for MHKs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for MHKs outlook. Financial Health: Are MHKs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2018. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Jack Vandeleuv, 23, talks to Fox News host Todd Piro on Thursday. (Photo: Fox News) Jack Vandeleuvs Thursday night went like this: He went to a diner in Riverside, Missouri, ordered himself a vegetarian omelet and served up arguably the most clear-eyed defense of the Green New Deal yet broadcast on Fox News. In a series of rapid-fire responses, the 23-year-old library worker from Kansas succinctly laid out the scope of the climate crisis. When Fox News Todd Piro pressed him repeatedly on the cost of a Green New Deal a favorite Republican talking point Vandeleuvs sober, confident replies seemed to catch the host off guard. A researcher with Media Matters for America tweeted the clip that went viral Thursday night. It drew praise from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the Green New Deals lead proponent in the House, who called Vandeleuv an MVP. Fox's Todd Piro seems genuinely confused by a diner guest supporting higher taxes to fund the Green New Deal and fight climate change. pic.twitter.com/aX38cGpwMO Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) April 4, 2019 How did we pay for World War II? Vandeleuv asked. At the end of the day when something is this important our economy is going to suffer if we dont pay for it. Piro, incredulous, asked if he agreed with the sentiment that this is as big a deal as the deadliest war in history. A little over 400,000 Americans died in World War II, Vandeleuv said, then cited a World Health Organization estimate of the number of people killed globally from warming-linked extreme weather, drought and disease: Climate change is killing 150,000 people per year, at least. Piro again returned to the cost: Lets talk about the money, because thats a huge part of this. How are we going to pay for it? During World War II, for one thing, the government just pushed some of the cash up front and raised some taxes on some folks, Vandeleuv said. But at the end of the day, it stimulated the economy so much everyone benefited. Story continues To review, Piro asked once more, you are in favor of raising taxes in order to support the Green New Deal? If thats the optimal solutions economists sort out, Ill go with that, Vandeleuv said. In his first interview since the clip aired, Vandeleuv told HuffPost hes surprised by his sudden viral fame. A friend had tipped him off earlier that day, telling him a Fox News producer was camped out at the diner looking for subjects to interview ahead of a town-hall broadcast with billionaire Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, who is considering a centrist run for the Democratic presidential nomination. The short answer is, I didnt really prepare for it, he said. I just walked into that diner not knowing what to expect at all. The last few months have been a formative moment for the recent college graduates climate politics. He understood the threat of climate change since he was a kid and first watched Al Gores 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth. But the ceaseless spate of historic natural disasters from the back-to-back hurricanes of 2017 to last years deadly wildfires made the phenomenon realer than before. Then the United Nations report in October, warning that the world must halve global emissions over the next decade or face catastrophic warming, set a harrowing deadline. The emergence for the Green New Deal gave Vandeleuv hope that something could be done. The movement stormed into mainstream politics in November when Sunrise Movement protesters staged sit-ins in then-incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office, demanding Democrats make the Green New Deal a top priority in the next Congress. Moved to action, Vandeleuv joined Kansas Citys upstart Sunrise Movement chapter. I was really inspired by that, he said. Like, Wow, I can actually participate in this in my community. Sunrise Movement activists protest the Green New Deal. (Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images) Hes now helping to organize a town-hall meeting next month in Kansas City to educate voters about the promise of a Green New Deal. He said its fair to ask about the cost of a Green New Deal. But, on Fox News, it seems to be an obsession, he said. Republicans on the channel frequently claim the Green New Deal would cost $93 trillion a completely bogus number, as Politico reported. In reality, its impossible to put a price tag on the Green New Deal because its not yet policy. The only existing legislation on the Green New Deal is a joint resolution Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) released in February outlining the core tenets of what future bills should include. The resolution is a statement of purpose, not a policy itself. Its a question of proportionality, Vandeleuv said. If it was one-sixth of the coverage or one-seventh of the coverage, it would be OK. But if you turn on Fox News it seems like the majority of the time its Whats it gonna cost? Whats it gonna cost? Guessing the questions would be loaded and asked in bad faith, he weighed whether it was appropriate to appear on the channel at all. What I come back to over and over again is that when it comes to climate change, there is very real value in talking about it all the time, he said. Its something that has slipped peoples minds for years and years. Even if youre a Fox News viewer and sympathize with the Fox News viewpoint, I want you to talk about it. That approach appears to be working for him. After the segment, the man sitting to his right at the diner, a self-declared very conservative voter, not on board with the Green New Deal or climate spent about 20 minutes talking to Vandeleuv. If anything resonated with him, it was the analogy to World War II, Vandeleuv said. He remembers there was a great problem in America. The government stepped in and funded this great, massive military to fight the Nazis. People understand the broader strokes of history, he added. Focusing on that can be very helpful. Related Coverage Green New Deal Resolution Fails In Senate As Most Democrats Vote 'Present' Republican Efforts To Counter Green New Deal Show How Far Climate Debate Has Shifted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Defiantly Promises A Green New Deal Congress Cant Refuse Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. A Bumpier Ride? Researchers in Britain have found that climate change could cause increased turbulence for transatlantic flights by between 10 and 40 percent by 2050. (ALEXANDER KLEIN/AFP/GettyImages) Not A Drop To Drink A 2012 study from the U.S. Forest Service found that without "major adaptation efforts," parts of the U.S. are likely to see "substantial future water shortages." Climate change, especially for the Southwest U.S., can both increase water demand and decrease water supply. A Mighty Wind The dramatic and rapid loss of sea ice in recent years has consequences beyond the Arctic. Scientists have found the melting shifts the position of the Jet Stream, bringing cold Arctic air further south and increasing the odds of intense snow storms and extreme spring weather. Worsening Allergies The spring 2013 allergy season could be one of the worst ever, thanks to climate change. Experts say that increased precipitation, along with an early spring, late-ending fall and higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide may bring more pollen from plants and increased mold and fungal growth. Wine To Go? Along with other agricultural impacts, climate change may have a dramatic effect on the world's most famous winemaking regions in coming decades. Areas suitable for grape cultivation may shrink, and temperature changes may impact the signature taste of wines from certain regions. Home Sweet Home Thanks to climate change, low-lying island nations may have to evacuate, and sooner than previously expected. Melting of the Greenland and west Antarctic ice sheets has been underestimated, scientists say, and populations in countries like the Maldives, Kiribati, Tuvalu and others may need to move within a decade. Trouble On The Ice Warmer winters in northern latitudes could mean fewer days for outdoor hockey. An online project called RinkWatch aims to collect data on the condition of outdoor winter ice rinks in Canada and the northern U.S. and educate people on the impacts of climate change. A Damper On Your Raw Bar? Experts speculate that warming oceans may have played a part in a strain of herpes that has killed Pacific oysters in Europe in recent years. The Color-Changing Bears As Arctic ice melts and polar bears see more of their habitat disappear, the animals could lose their famous white coats. Researchers have already witnessed polar bears hybridizing with their brown cousins, but note that it would take thousands of years from them to adapt themselves out of existence. Less Time On The Chair Lift Climate change means warmer winters in northern latitudes and a shorter ski season. By 2039, more than half of the Northeast's ski resorts will not be able to maintain a 100-day season, according to the New York Times. Ski areas will be less likely to receive regular snowfall, and warmer daily low temperatures mean fewer opportunities for snowmaking. A Cold Cup Of Coffee Climate change may dramatically shrink the area suitable for coffee cultivation by the end of the century and cause the extinction of Arabica coffee plants in the wild. Starbucks has already declared that "Addressing climate change is a priority." This article originally appeared on HuffPost. A boss' coercive words can pressure employees to ignore red flags and keep working under bad conditions. (Photo: sorbetto via Getty Images) Manipulative, bad bosses use many different communication strategies, but the intent behind a lot of their tactics is the same: to get you to prioritize the company above your own best interest. You may be receiving these messages from your boss, who is trying to get you to keep your head down and work longer and harder than is healthy for you. Dont be fooled. 1. Work is your family. Using the intimate language of family is one common message bad employers say to ensure commitment to their cause. If your boss is like your loving family, then you are less likely to speak up against any unethical business practices or bad decisions the company makes. This is the personal message that Billy McFarland, co-founder of the infamous Fyre Festival, gave his employees when he tried to keep them working after his fraudulent practices were exposed, according to the Netflix documentary about his downfall. As one of his employees said while recounting the conversation, Were not a family. You wont even tell me anything! Youve completely violated all the trust that we had in the product, in the company, in the brand and in you. In a good family, your membership and rights are not conditional, but in a business, they can be. 2. I need you to be available at any time. Advances in technology mean that we can work from anywhere, but the downside of this is that some bosses think you can always be working. A 2017 study from the Academy of Management found that workers spent on average eight extra hours a week handling work emails after hours. You have the right to spend free time away from the reach of your employer. France has formalized this belief into legislation. Under their right to disconnect law, companies with more than 50 employees have to ensure hours when staff can ignore business emails. Being on call 24/7 is not good for your health. One study of 315 employees found that those who had to use technology to work at home around nighttime had worse sleep quantity, quality and consistency. Story continues And working longer does not even produce better work for companies. If you find yourself working longer than 50 hours a week to meet the demands of your boss, this overtime is probably not going to produce better work. In his five-year survey of 5,000 managers and employees, management professor Morten Hansen found that performance starts to plateau at 50 hours and sharply falls after 65 hours a week. 3. Everything is fine. One of the worst bosses is the boss who is not there. They may be physically present, but they are psychologically absent from their duties as a leader. They offer vague praise, but no tangible feedback for you to learn from. They say the company is doing fine, even when layoffs, pivots and budgets in the red say the opposite. The researchers behind one 2010 study said a laissez-faire leader may avoid decision making, show little concern for goal attainment and seldom involve themselves with their subordinates, even when this is necessary. In their analysis, it was the most common type of incompetent leadership employees experience. This hands-off leadership becomes manipulative when you need feedback and guidance about your future at the company. Instead, youre given the unsatisfying answer of everything is fine to keep you working even though you have questions that need to be addressed. 4. Thats not my problem. Thats not my problem is a demoralizing phrase to hear because it tells you that your boss does not care about helping you, said Randy Conley, a vice president of client services and trust practice leader at the Ken Blanchard Companies. This behavior silences the employee and discourages them from bringing further problems or issues to the boss attention, which results in a drag in performance and efficiency because problems chronically remain unsolved, he said. It also discourages employees from engaging in whistleblower behavior, which opens the door to unethical and illegal behavior in the organization. 5. This is how weve always done it. This language comes from a boss who only enforces the rules, and does not have the power or desire to shape them. When your boss says this, they are signaling they are going to mindlessly follow the status quo. Thinking that the old way of doing things is the right way to keep doing things is a trap that even well-intentioned leaders make when assuming new roles. In the onboarding book The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins, which aims to help leaders in career transitions, Watkins said that these bosses fail to see that success in the new role requires you to stop doing some things and to embrace new competencies. When your boss tells you that this is how things usually go, they are signaling that they are not open to new ideas and that they do not want you to offer a challenging response. Conley said that leaders often resort to this response as a way to subtly manipulate employees to go with the flow and not make waves. 6. Dont you agree? Dont you agree? is a phrase that leaders can tack on to the end of a remark to seemingly invite discussion, while actually ensuring discussion does not happen. By virtue of their position and title, leaders have more power in the boss/employee relationship, Conley said. Saying Dont you agree? automatically puts the employee in an uncomfortable position of either choosing to agree with the boss even if they dont, or confronting the boss in disagreement. It is possible for a boss to request feedback without signaling personal alliances. Conley suggests that a nonmanipulative way to do it is to ask, What do you think? That opens the door to the employee sharing their true thoughts and feelings in a safe and open environment, Conley said. The long-term impact of a manipulative boss A manipulative boss can get you to adopt their mindset and stay at a bad job far longer than you should. To get away from your boss influence, you can raise the issue to human resources, you can offset their bad behavior by remembering your values, or you can do what half of 7,272 Americans did in a Gallup study to escape their manager: They quit. Related Coverage This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Hate Your Job A 'Tough Boss' Can Be Good. Here's How To Know When They're Really Just A Bully. 4 Ways Elizabeth Holmes Manipulated Her Theranos Employees This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. In Guinea, the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) will support electrification projects in the capital city Conakry, and develop off grid in more remote areas. The World Bank and AFD have lent $50 million and $56 million respectively to the West African nation to rehabilitate and extend the electricity transmission network. The MoU was signed on Tuesday in Conakry, between Mamadi Camara, the Guinean Minister of Economy and Finance, and representatives of the World Bank and AFD. According to the agreement, the first phase of the project will be the rehabilitation and extension of the electricity grid in Conakry and surrounding cities, including Coyah, Dubreka, Maneah, Forecariah and Kindia. The two entities have earlier supported the country with financing of $25 million for the energy sector recovery plan and $75 million in support of the Guinea-Mali interconnection. The new agreement supports the implementation of the National Program for Improving Access to Low-cost Electricity from 2016 to 2020, which aims to double the rate of access to electricity from 18.1% to 36% during that period. The Conakry Power Grid Rehabilitation and Extension Project has also received funding from the African Development Fund (ADF), while the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has injected $11 million in the project. Note: This story was produced by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit news organization that seeks to hold public officials accountable and empower citizens in their communities. BROOKHAVEN, Miss. More than six decades after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregated schools unconstitutional, one Mississippi school district has largely segregated classrooms some all-black, some majority white. That continuing segregation in the 2,800-student Brookhaven School District, a 65% black district in southwest Mississippi, is made possible by an informal parental request policy that allows parents to ask for specific teachers for their elementary-aged children. And it's a policy being used by both white families and black families in Brookhaven. Proponents defend the parental request policy, saying it allows parents to place their children with better teachers or with friends. They also say the practice is better for the school district as a whole, as it helps keep white families in the district and keeps the district more racially diverse. Patricia Williams McGill-Tillman remembers taking advantage of the parental request policy when her grandson was a second grader. The 76-year-old black owner of Williams Mortuary pulled the child out of one white teachers classroom because of a personal conflict with the student not a racial issue and the school placed him in another white teachers room that same day. It was an easy process, she said. I just talked to the principal. Majority white classrooms and virtually all black classrooms are the norm at Mamie Martin Elementary School in Brookhaven, a situation also seen at Brookhaven Elementary School and Lipsey Middle School. McGill-Tillman said she was not at all surprised to see all-black and majority white classrooms in Brookhaven schools. What I see here, from a brief observation, is most of the classrooms overpopulated with black students are taught by black teachers. That, then, is probably because of the preference of black parents were talking about requests, and Im feeling black parents are making requests that these children be placed under the instruction of black teachers, McGill-Tillman said. Story continues More: Runaway-slave games. Sanitized textbooks. Schools do a terrible job teaching about slavery More: Kansas housewife stood up to segregation injustice More: Linda Brown of Brown v. Board of Education dies; symbolized struggle against segregation Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting News of Brookhaven's parental request policy failed to shock Lori Bezahler, president of the Hazen Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes youth leadership and public education, because were seeing school choice, which ostensibly offers greater access to education, being used a lot of places as a cover, she said. And that cover in some schools is based on race. Unfortunately, Im not surprised, said Bezahler, but I am depressed, grieved and frustrated. School segregation on the rise across US This comes at a time when many of the nations public schools have begun to segregate again. Since 2001, the number of highly segregated public schools in the U.S. has more than doubled. A 2016 study by the Government Accountability Office concluded that poor, African American and Hispanic students have been increasingly isolated from their affluent, white peers in these schools. The proportion of schools segregated by race and class climbed from 9% in 2001 to 16% in 2014. Unfortunately, there is segregation in schools based on disproportional opportunities afforded students, said Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, dean of American Universitys School of Education. Impoverished schools see far fewer math, science and college prep courses, according to the study. Gifted programs and classes in many schools are disproportionately white because of well-documented biased identification process, Holcomb-McCoy said. The opposite is true for lower-tiered or special education classes, which tend to be overly male and males of color. FILE - This May 8, 1964 file photo shows Linda Brown Smith standing in front of the Sumner School in Topeka, Kansas. The refusal of the public school to admit Brown in 1951, then nine years old, because she is black, led to the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the "separate but equal" clause and mandated that schools nationwide must be desegregated. Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. Many inequities in education still exist for black students and for Hispanics, a population that has grown exponentially since the 1954 ruling. (AP Photo, File) U.S. Department of Justice files obtained by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting show that Brookhaven administrators for several years have routinely maintained all-black classrooms while grouping the majority of white students together under a handful of teachers. The reports, filed each fall as required by the districts ongoing 1970 federal integration order, show no all-white classrooms. But all-black classrooms, or classrooms with black-to-white ratios far above the schools racial makeup, are common each year at Mamie Martin Elementary School, Brookhaven Elementary School and Lipsey Middle School, which cover kindergarten through sixth grade. Justice: Segregated classrooms violate the 14th Amendment The Justice Department previously has argued that clustering white students into select classrooms, thereby creating all-black classes at the same grade level, segregates students in violation of the 14th Amendment. The government has taken action against two of Brookhavens neighboring districts for similar practices. In 2010, a federal judge ordered the Walthall County School District to use software to assign students to teachers to avoid the creation of all-black classrooms after the Justice Department found administrators grouped a disproportionate numbers of white students into some classrooms. The district declined to fight the finding. The federal government ruled against McComb schools for a similar practice in 2008, requiring the district to annually submit homeroom enrollment by race for two elementary schools, student and faculty votes for homecoming queen and a copy of the high school yearbook. The Justice Department has not ruled on homerooms in Brookhaven schools, but the district remains under an ongoing 1970 federal integration order that requires it to submit annually the size and racial makeup of all homeroom classes, along with other demographic data. The district has remained under the order since the federal government forced integration and has not attempted to free itself from federal oversight, even as other districts in Mississippi have successfully challenged the orders in recent years. The Brookhaven School District is under a long-standing federal desegregation order, but many of its elementary classrooms are segregated by race, which some residents attribute to the district's parental choice policy. During the 2017-2018 school year, Brookhaven Elementary Schools student body was 70 percent black, yet three classrooms were majority white and three classrooms virtually all black. There are no all-black classrooms this year after the policy came to light. This year, Brookhaven Elementary School has no all-black classrooms after former principal Shelley Riley brought the parental request policy to light. But public-school supporters in Brookhaven fear the end of the policy could lead to an exodus of white families from the public schools. In the Mississippi Delta, Cleveland School District officials used a similar argument of preserving public schools to explain having one predominantly black high school and another racially mixed. Much like Brookhavens parent request policy, the 65% black, 32% white Cleveland district allowed students to pick which neighborhood school they wanted to attend. Many black students chose predominantly black East Side High. Two years ago, a Justice Department settlement put all high school students under one roof Cleveland Central High. The 2017-2018 school year reflects a decline in white enrollment. The district was 71% black. Education experts have long held that dividing students along racial lines negatively impacts their ability to learn. The U.S. Supreme Court took the same stance when striking down segregation in its 1954 ruling on Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, with Chief Justice Earl Warren writing that separate but equal is inherently unequal. The Hillsboro City Board of Education is shown in session, April 9, 1956 as it decided not to oppose further a U.S. Court of Appeals decision which directed immediate racial integration of elementary schools. The appeals court decision reversed a previous decision of U.S. District Judge John H. Druffel, Cincinnati. The board tonight also decided to again refer the case to Judge Druffel, who is awaiting a writ of the appeals court decision. From left to right: City Solicitor James O. Hapner, Wilfred Paul, school superintendent Paul L. Upp; Elmer Hedges, Dr. William Lukens, board president; Charles Harsha, and John H. Brown. (AP Photo/Harvey Eugene Smith) The uptick in racial segregation in public schools is not limited to Mississippi or the South. A lawsuit filed in May 2018 in New Jersey calls for the statewide desegregation of that states public schools. The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of civil rights groups and students, is the fifth in the nation to take its legal challenge in state vs. federal court, relying on a state constitution. The others were in Connecticut, Minnesota and New York, where two lawsuits were filed. Despite a history of legal efforts since 1881 that banned segregated schooling, New Jersey is the sixth most segregated state in the U.S. for black students and seventh for Latinos, according to the University of California Los Angeles Civil Rights Project. The plaintiffs are not seeking a specific remedy but endorsing such strategies as inter-district transfers and creating magnet schools, which worked to achieve racial diversity in Montclair, New Jersey, following a 1966 lawsuit against the district. That diversity remains today. Unlike Brookhaven, however, the issue in New Jersey and other states where such lawsuits have been filed in state courts pertains to entire schools being segregated, not classrooms within a school. I am concerned the Brookhaven school board allows this practice to continue Queen Hawkins, a retired black teacher, remembers the policy from her teaching days in the district. She said she raised concerns with her supervisors, but never received a satisfactory answer. I am concerned the Brookhaven school board allows this practice to continue, she said. It is amazing these reports are sent to the Justice Department, and no one questions the information. Superintendent Ray Carlock has defended the practice, adding, We do whats best for the child, not necessarily whats best for the parent. While majority-black classrooms are taught by black and white teachers, the data reveals majority-white classrooms are almost always taught by white teachers. In the five years of data examined for this story, the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting could identify just two black teachers who taught majority-white classrooms. It seems totally unfair to segregate black students or white students, McGill-Tillman said. How do you assess the quality of instruction when you group students like that? I dont see it as culturally and socially a good experience from the standpoint of getting along. ... From a standpoint of Americans living together and working together, it has to start in the elementary schools. Corey Wiggins, executive director of NAACP Mississippi, said the learning experience for both black and white students must be fair. You want to make sure all children have access to education that will put them in the best position to succeed in life, he said. What we dont want to do is be in a situation where we are furthering or expanding inequities that are determined, or predetermined, on race. Arguments that Brookhavens parental choice policy keeps white families in school are misguided, he said. The question should be about, How do we create an education system for children that provides them with the tools and resources they need? he said. If this conversation does not focus on educating children, we are doing a disservice to the children. Brookhaven Alderwoman-at-Large Karen Sullivan, a former Brookhaven teacher, said she never sought specific teachers when her four children, now grown, were in school. They all had extraordinary educational experiences in the Brookhaven School District, said Sullivan, who is white. I feel that meeting new students and having teachers they may not have had otherwise if I had chosen their teachers was exceptionally valuable. If parents would allow themselves to trust the system, I believe they would be just as happy with their childs education. Is this still about separate but equal? More than a dozen requests for interviews with school officials, elected leaders and retired teachers were turned down. All seven members of the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen and all five members of the school board were mailed, emailed and hand-delivered copies of the Justice Department reports and a series of questions, but Sullivan was the only official to respond. The Mississippi Department of Education said it does not regulate classroom balance according to race, leaving the decision up to the districts. Asked about the segregated classrooms, Kelly Laco, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, replied, The United States is carefully monitoring the school districts compliance with its obligations under the (desegregation) order. Brookhaven resident Curtis Oliver, 60, who is black, questioned why the parental request policy still exists. Oliver, CEO of Faces of Recovery Mississippi, graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1976, just six years after the district was integrated. When you have classes that are 22-0, he said, somebody should want to know why. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 63 years after landmark Brown v. Board case, segregated classrooms persist The Independent Scientists say they finally have an explanation for a mystifying, bright blue light that came from deep in space. Three years ago, astronomers were stunned to see a bright blue flash that came out of the spiral arm of a distant galaxy, some 200 million light-years away. It looked like a supernova, but it was even brighter and faster than those already extreme events. Scientists found that it consisted not only of the bright flash of light, but also pulsing and powerful X-rays, with hundreds of millions of such pulses being traced back to the same object. Twitter Facebook Amazon cant block its shareholders from a vote on the companys controversial facial recognition technology. In a letter to the e-commerce behemoth this week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) struck down an appeal from Amazon to block voting on proposals related to sales of Rekognition to government entities. The SEC says that Amazon must allow its shareholders to vote on these proposals. The two proposals would speak to the concerns of shareholders, activists, and civil rights groups over the companys facial recognition tool. The first proposal would stop Amazon from selling its Rekognition technology to governments unless the board approved of the sales. The second proposal would require an audit into the technology in order to research Rekognitions effects on privacy and civil rights. Read more... More about Amazon, Civil Rights, Facial Recognition, Shareholders, and Rekognition Washington (AFP) - David Malpass, a senior US Treasury official and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, was unanimously chosen Friday as the next president of the World Bank. The 63-year-old has been a strident critic of global financial institutions, calling their lending practices "corrupt" and ineffective, and complaining they are overly generous to China. Malpass -- who has softened his message since being tapped to lead the World Bank -- begins his five-year term on Tuesday, replacing former President Jim Yong Kim, whose surprise departure came not even halfway through his second term. The announcement came as expected just prior to next week's joint spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF. The bank said in a statement that Malpass' selection by the board of directors followed an "open, transparent" nomination process in which citizens of all membership countries were potentially eligible. But since the bank's creation following World War II, all of its presidents have been American men, following an unwritten rule that also ensures European leadership at the top of its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund. The US Treasury official in charge of international affairs, Malpass had been the lone candidate for the World Bank job and his nomination by Trump earlier this year sparked outrage among critics, who saw it as an affront to the global anti-poverty lender's very mission. Malpass now emphasizes he is committed to the bank's mission of eliminating extreme poverty, however, and that reforms enacted last year as part of a $13 billion capital increase addressed many of his criticisms. In an open letter to bank staff on Friday, Malpass said the bank's mission was "more urgent than ever," adding that he had "listened carefully" in recent meetings with staff, board members and other stake holders. - An open process? - In recent years, emerging market countries have challenged the unwritten arrangement on World Bank and IMF leadership, demanding a more open, merit-based selection process. Story continues The bank has been at pains to stress that it has heard such criticisms and now allows a more open process. But the few non-American candidates in recent years have received little support from major bank shareholders. Many, including former Treasury officials from both political parties, have sharply criticized Malpass and his qualifications. They pointed to his failure to foresee the 2008 global financial crisis during his time at the now-defunct investment bank Bear Stearns and his opposition, which later proved unjustified, to post-crisis Federal Reserve policies. Malpass previously also held a senior role in the US State Department for Latin American affairs. In a statement, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and advisor who has spearheaded a bank campaign for women entrepreneurs, both congratulated Malpass, citing what they called a commitment to poverty reduction in his career. Mnuchin called Malpass "an ideal fit" to lead the bank while Trump said she believed he would be "an extraordinary leader." Richard Drew/AP It was around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the fifth day of the trial of Anna Sorokin, and the alleged Soho Grifteraccused of scamming friends, luxury hotels, and banks out of over $275,000was M.I.A. from New York State Supreme Court. Last week, GQs Rachel Tashjian reported that Sorokinbetter known as Anna Delveyhad hired stylist Anastasia Walker to dress her for court appearances. Delvey isn't alone in being a public figure dressing for the dock right now: Felicity Huffman (channeling suburban drab rather than Hollywood star) and Lori Loughlin (fabulous coat, autograph signing) were both in court this week, charged in the college admissions-fraud scandal, showcasing divergent courtroom styles. Though Walker, a former editor at Glamour, has dressed the likes of Courtney Love and G-Eazy, outfitting Delvey, her most infamous client, has proved to be a challenge. On this fifth day, Judge Diane Kiesel was impatient. Sorokin had not received her outfit for the day, and would not enter the courtroom in the standard, court-issued black pants and white shirt. Another clothing issue? Judge Kiesel asked. She noted that Sorokin pulled the same stunt on Friday, refusing to show up because her outfit for the day was dirty. (Sorokin also claimed to feel ill.) Sorokins lawyer Todd Spodek became the human embodiment of a shrug emoji, stammering and trying to explain that Sorokins designer threads had not been delivered to Rikers Island, her home of over a year. But the lawyer insisted it was not his job to ferry outfits. I cant go to Rikers every day, Spodek said. Either the clothes go to Rikers, or she shows up here in black and white, Kiesel said. This is the last day were playing with clothes. An assistant ran in with a pillow-sized paper bag full of options which court officers would bring to Sorokin. Like all bags brought to court, the bundle would have to go through a scanner to make sure it did not contain any dangerous items. Story continues Go in the bag and pick an outfit for your client, and the [rest of the clothes] go to Rikers, Judge Kiesel told Spodek. Thats it. She punctuated her order with a sip from an iced coffee. As the court waited for Sorokin to change, Spodek apologized to a court officer, insisting that dressing his client is outside my role as a lawyer. Minutes later, Sorokin sent the ensemblea white button-up, plaid pencil skirt, and black jacketback to her attorney. Its not acceptable, a male officer explained to Spodek. She said that? the lawyer asked, wondering if the officer meant that he found the clothes inappropriate. She said that. I dont wear it, the officer chuckled. According to experts, courtroom stylists are not newtheyre called lawyers. Attorneys have always been conscious of image things, lawyer and legal analyst Elura Nanos told The Daily Beast. Telling an alleged offender what to wear is just as common as prepping them for testimony, or hiring a body language consultant to soften their image for a jury. Weve always been advising clients on what to wear, Nanos explained. Stylists are taking that to the next level. Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred is known for her ubiquitous press conferences, where her frequently famous clients sit with camera-ready (and often cry-proof) hair and makeup. But in an email, Allred told The Daily Beast that she does not dress or style clients for court appearances. I simply suggest that they wear business dress and that they do not wear low cut dresses, Allred wrote. The lawyer did not know of any stylists who specifically offer services to defendants. Considering the fact that the average incarcerated person has an annual income of just $19,185 before entering prison, it makes sense that most navigating the legal system have more to worry about than who will provide their Miu Miu. (Before Court Clothesgate, Sorokin had worn the Italian label to trial.) Whether the client or the lawyer hires a stylist, either way the client is paying for that service, Nanos said. Thats an important point to make, because most criminal defendants, even in very newsworthy cases, are poor. Most are not going to be in a position to pay for a stylist, even if it would help them. The jury is still out on whether or not Sorokin is herself in a position to foot Walkers bill. The former assistant fashion editor at Glamour told Elles Rose Mintuaglio that she took the gig as a favor to her close friend Neff Davis, who befriended Sorokin while working as a concierge at the luxury hotel 11 Howard. Davis served as a main source for Jessica Presslers viral New York magazine feature on the case, which was acquired by Netflix for a Shonda Rhimes-helmed series. A movie based on a Vanity Fair article written by Rachel DeLoache Williamsa photo editor whom Sorokin swindled out of $65,000 during a trip to Moroccois also in the works. Last June, Variety reported that both Margot Robbie and Jennifer Lawrence expressed interest in the film project. Meanwhile, Sorokin has been making calls to various talent and producers regarding whom she would like to play her. Presumably, those calls were made from Rikers. Though Sorokin may be a fake heiress, she certainly has the command of a real one in court. She watches the proceedings often with pursed lips, and makes no effort to hide when she disagrees with what a witness is saying. Her behavior isnt exactly distracting, but she did complain loudly enough about her arresting officers testimony that the cop stopped talking for a moment to shoot Sorokin a look. While Walker copped to getting paid for her services, she declined to go into detail on where the check was coming from and how much it cost. Anna is very lucky to have a team and people that support her, Walker told Elle. There are so many people that dont. Sorokins lawyer, Todd Spodek, explained his decision to hire Walker to GQ: It is imperative that Anna dress appropriately for trial. Annas style was a driving force in her business, and life, and it is a part of who she is. I want the jury to see that side of her. It might be a side Spodek would be smart to keep hidden. In opening arguments, the lawyer quoted Frank Sinatras My Way, describing his client as an ambitious outsider. Anna had to kick the door down to get her chance at life. Just like Sinatra had to do it his way, Anna had to do it her way, he said. The rather witchy black choker Sorokin wore to her trial along with said Miu Miu black minidress does not necessarily communicate a starry-eyed innocent. Courtroom fashion is very important when you have a defense where your case rests on some version of, This person could not have committed this crime because its not in their nature to commit this crime, Nanos explained. I dont know if [Walker] is really helping, given what Im seeing [on Anna Sorokin], civil rights attorney Lisa Bloom said. You dont need a stylist, you just need a lawyer to tell you what is and what is not appropriate. Bloom represented Blac Chyna in 2017 when the model served her ex Rob Kardashian with a restraining order, alleging domestic violence and revenge porn. Despite the seriousness of the occasion, it was the conservative pantsuit Chyna wore to the L.A. courthouse that drew the internets attention. According to Bloom, who usually recommends clients wear darker colors to communicate seriousness, the bright ensemble was all Chynas idea. She said, Lets wear all white, Bloom said. I dont know if she even knew it was the color of suffragettes, its just a nice color. She wore all white and looked great. Though Chyna wanted Bloom to dress similarly in solidarity, the lawyer could not pull together an ivory ensemble in one night. I had a blue and white dress, Bloom remembered. It was the best I could do on short notice. Since getting a pro bono fashion consultation with Chyna, Bloom added more white pieces to her closet. Its clean, fresh, and nice. I would have never thought of that, she said. Clean, fresh, and nice sounds like a good way to win over a juryso long as the outfit is delivered on time. On Wednesday, as Sorokins antics kept the court in limbo for more than an hour, one reporter whispered a teeny whine, I dont want to write about her clothes anymore. When Sorokin finally did emerge, she wore a white shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and black trousers. Perhaps in an attempt at style, she was wearing her now ubiquitous choker. The sliver of a black necklace poked out from her business casual collar. Call the whole aesthetic waiter going through a goth phase chic. During a break from court, Spodek told The Daily Beast he thought his client looked very nice. After a lecture from Judge Kiesel about punctuality, Sorokin put her head in her hands and began to cry. She pushed up her black-rimmed Celine glasses to wipe away tears while Spodek consoled her. Judge Kiesel told Sorokin, This is not a fashion show. But, as photographers strained to get a picture of Sorokins mini-meltdown, for a moment it most surely was. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here CINCINNATI The aunt and grandmother of Timmothy Pitzen, the Illinois boy missing for nearly eight years, spoke Thursday after learning a person claiming to be the missing boy was not a DNA match. Side by side, his grandmother, Alana Anderson, and his aunt, Kara Jacobs thanked people for prayers, support and well wishes and talked about how difficult the past 24 hours have been. At one point, Jacobs put her arm around Anderson. Timmothy's grandmother said she had spent the last 24 hours on tenterhooks. Its been awful. Weve been alternately hopeful and frightened. Its just been exhausting. I feel so sorry for the young many whos obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was someone else," she said. His aunt said it was devastating to learn the person in Newport was not Timmothy. "It's like living that day all over again. Timmothy's father is devastated once again," Jacobs said. Its kind of back to ground zero for us. You know, kind of reliving everything that did happen and renewing the loss one more time," his grandmother said. I was very close to Tim. He spent a lot of time here. The last morning I had him he crawled in bed with me and told me I was the best grandma in the whole wide world. Hes a wonderful little boy, and I hope he has the strength and personality to do whatever he needs to do to find us," she said. More: FBI: Person found by police isn't Timmothy Pitzen. He's actually a 23-year-old ex-convict. More: Timmothy Pitzen is still gone. What we hope to learn today about the Brian Rini hoax "My prayer has always been that when he was old enough he would find us if we couldnt find him." Timmothy Pitzen is shown here in an undated photo. Jacobs thanked all law enforcement for their work over the years in trying to find Timmothy. Unfortunately, this child is not our beloved Timmothy. We know that you are out there somewhere, Tim. And we will never stop looking for you, praying for you and loving you," Jacobs said. Story continues We hope that everyone will join us in praying for the young man who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen. There are far too many lost children in desperate need of help. "We hope our tragedy will help to shed some light on the horrific problems of suicide and missing children in our country. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Devastated': Timmothy Pitzen's family relives loss again, determined to keep looking for him HONOLULU Kevin Starks is living a classic Hawaii story. The California native became an educator through Teach for America in Oklahoma, then shipped off to the Aloha State. He now teaches eighth grade science and spends the rest of his time surfing, playing volleyball and enjoying the natural splendor of the islands. Theres just one problem: Teaching in paradise has become too expensive. Im 31 years old, living with two roommates in a dump place, Starks said. I have almost no savings. I want to stay and get a home, but its looking more and more like thats not possible. Jennifer Howe teaches an english grammar class at Roosevelt High School. Teaching in Paradise As the housing prices rise in popular locales, teachers salaries lag. Hawaii has always been one of Americas most expensive places to work and live and visit, for that matter. But for the states public school teachers, many of whom came from the mainland with visions of working amid year-round sunshine, the lack of affordable housing remains one of the top turnoffs. Start the day smarter: Get USA TODAY's Daily Briefing in your inbox Soaring rental prices are causing many teachers to cram in with their parents, if they live nearby, even as they consider starting families of their own. Or they elect to move to the mainland to teach, where they can afford to buy a house. The result: A chronic teacher shortage predominantly felt in Hawaii's lowest-income schools. Some educators are skeptical anything can fix the problem and retain the island's teachers. There are bills in the works here for teacher housing and for teacher tax credits, and not one of them has a funding source, said Corey Rosenlee, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. It's not just Hawaii: No matter where they work, teachers feel disrespect Eye-popping home and apartment prices The median sale price of a single-family home in Honolulu reached a record high of $812,000 in September 2018, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors. The median price of a condo peaked last year at $435,000. Roosevelt High School sits at the base of the Tantalus mountains. Teaching in Paradise As the housing prices rise in popular locales, teachers salaries lag. Theyre finding it harder to live in the school districts where they teach. In some locales, such as Hawaii, they dont have a choice of living elsewhere: The islands need teachers, and they cant exactly commute. And Hawaii teachers have lower take-home pay than teachers in any other state. So districts are getting creative. Some have become the landlords of housing units for teachers. Rental prices, by extension, continue to soar. Consider this: A young teacher in Hawaii with a salary in the bottom 25% of educators would earn about $3,330 monthly. But it would take 70% of that monthly pay to afford the median rent in Hawaii, according to salary, rent and housing data provided to USA TODAY by Zillow. Story continues And thats before reducing any part of that salary to account for income taxes. Sound impossible? Thats because most of the time, it is. USA TODAY did find one young teacher who is living alone, but she only is able to do so because her parents own her one-bedroom condo in Waikiki. They only charge her the $800 monthly maintenance fees for the unit instead of the $1,500 to $1,700 per month a regular tenant would pay in rent. Krysten Irion, who is in her fourth year of teaching, earns $56,805 in annual gross pay as a science teacher at Jarrett Middle School in Honolulu. She takes home about $1,200 per paycheck after taxes and benefits contributions. She can only afford to do the job she loves because her parents help her out, she said. I honestly would be living at home otherwise, said Irion, 28, who grew up in Hawaii and earned her bachelor's and master's degree in California. Almost all my friends are living at home, despite what career they're in, Irion said. Its not just the cost of housing. Groceries are also really expensive. Grapes arent 88 cents here; theyre $3.99 per pound. Healthy salaries don't help much Starting teacher salaries in Hawaii are actually higher than in many states. First-year educators with a bachelors degree and a teacher certificate currently earn $48,400. Someone with a bachelor's degree but no teacher credentials (teachers can work on temporary permits if they are working toward certification) would start around $36,000 to $37,000. A master's degree can boost a teacher's pay by around $4,000, and experienced teachers can also get a $5,000 bump by earning their national board certification. Working in schools or regions that are considered hard-to-staff can also earn teachers an annual bonus of several thousand dollars. But factor in the cost of housing here, and the pay that teachers actually take home is much, much less. Honolulu teacher Jennifer Howe, right, and her husband, Cyrus Howe, tidy up their bedroom. The Howes pay $1625/mo in rent for roughly 600 sq. feet in a quiet neighborhood just ten minutes walking distance from Jennifer's work. "There's no way I could afford the apartment I live in without my husband," said Jenny Howe, 28, an English teacher at Roosevelt High School in Honolulu. Howe grew up south of Seattle and moved to Hawaii nine years ago. She and her husband taught English in Thailand for a while, then they both moved in with his parents in Hawaii so she could pursue a teaching degree and he could attend graduate school. Now that her husband is employed full-time and works from home, their combined incomes allow them to live in a $1,625 per month, one-bedroom, 600 square-foot apartment within walking distance of Howe's school. Both their desks are in the living room, and there's no dinner table. Howe still has more than 70 monthly student loan payments in her future. But she and her husband are looking at buying a condo. Prices for two-bedroom units are between $400,000 and $600,000. "People have said, 'This could be your starter place,' but it just seems so impossible," said Howe. Tired of renting, too? 5 tips to make homebuying more affordable Losing 1,200 teachers per year One unfailingly sunny afternoon in February, Rosenlee, the teachers union president, was inching away from the office. In typical island congestion, he was making three miles of progress in 20 minutes. He works in downtown Honolulu. He was heading to his home on the cheaper, leeward coast of Oahu, Hawaii's most populous island. My daughter in middle school over the past two years has had four long-term substitute teachers, said Rosenlee, who lives in Ewa Beach. The vast majority of people want to pay our teachers better, but because everyone is struggling to make ends meet, funding becomes difficult. About 1,200 teachers in Hawaii resign every year, leaving the education department scrambling to fill positions in the statewide school district. The percentage of resigning teachers who noted leaving Hawaii as their primary reason climbed to 52% in the most recent state staffing report, up from 48% in previous years. Students mingle in a courtyard before the start of the school day at Roosevelt High School. To be sure, there's a shortage of other essential workers in Hawaii as well, such as doctors and nurses and child psychiatrists. Housing costs aren't the only factor. Many professionals from the mainland feel isolated or grow weary of being so far from home. For teachers who do stay in the state, salaries at the upper end of the pay scale are $80,000 and above. Plus, they can eventually retire with a state pension though teachers now contribute 8% of their gross monthly salary to the retirement system. Some say Hawaii should aim to reduce teacher turnover by better developing homegrown talent. Cynthia Covell, the Department of Education's head of human resources, said that's important, but there aren't enough locals going into the profession to meet the state's needs. "We cannot get all of our teachers from Hawaii," she said. "A good 50% to 60% of teachers come from mainland recruiting." The department has ramped up its mainland recruitment efforts in the past two years. As of early 2019, representatives were planning visits to seven cities to touch every region in the lower 48 states. Teachers-only apartments: New solutions on the mainland The lack of affordable housing is, of course, driving away teachers in high-cost cities on the mainland, too. Ground zero is Silicon Valley, where the tech industry has driven up the cost of housing beyond what most teachers can afford. At least three different districts in the San Francisco Bay Area are considering or moving ahead with plans to build affordable housing for teachers. A staff survey in the Palo Alto School District revealed employees were spending anywhere from 75 minutes to more than four hours commuting from more affordable areas. In other states, rural districts that have struggled to keep staff because of their remote locations are pursuing similar solutions. In Vail, Arizona, a small town outside Tucson, the district is building tiny homes on district land that its teachers can rent, rather than commuting in from the city. In New Mexico, one small, rural district has reduced staff turnover by offering subsidized rent. For teachers in Thoreau, that means paying as little as $475 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment, utilities included. Some urban districts have also supported housing for middle-income workers as a way to retain teachers. In Baltimore, two renovated factories-turned-apartment complexes give full-time teachers a discount of up to $300 on rent. And a free service called Teacher Props connects educators with roommates and matches them with row-home landlords who want good tenants. Plenty of ideas, but Hawaii's teachers expect little change In Hawaii, lawmakers are considering several efforts to help with teacher housing. So far, there are few indications any of them will move forward. Hawaii Gov. David Iges budget request included a proposal to build condos on government land. Middle-income residents such as teachers could buy the condos, which would be more affordable because the state would continue to own the land. "We know that teacher retention and recruitment is a huge challenge," said Ige, a Democrat, in an interview. "We're looking at ways we can take on that challenge collectively." Another bill would provide housing vouchers to full-time teachers who teach in hard-to-staff schools and whose incomes don't exceed 80 percent of the areas median income. The department of education, teachers union and the Democratic Party of Hawaii support the proposal. But the states Housing Finance and Development Corporation believes the program would be too difficult and expensive to administer. Hawaii lawmakers, almost all of whom are Democrats, have not shown a great appetite for raising new money for schools or for raising teacher salaries to address the rising cost of living. Unlike most states, Hawaii does not pay for schools with property taxes. Money for schools comes instead from income taxes. Last year, a ballot question to change that was invalidated by the Hawaii Supreme Court, which ruled the question was misleading to voters. Most Hawaii teachers seem resigned to the fact that nothing will change anytime soon. Starks, the teacher from California, works at a low-performing middle school in Honolulu. He said its common for at least 10 teachers per year to leave his school. They only have a staff of about 35. Teachers from the mainland arrive every year, he said, but many cant see a future for themselves on the island after a few years. Youre going to live in a junk place for sure, and youre going to pay more rent than youve ever paid in your life, and thats just kind of how it works here, Starks said. Theres no way I can raise a family where Im living now. Education coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Living with 2 roommates in a dump': Hawaii is too expensive to be paradise for teachers * Victims' relatives think disaster could have been avoided * Families followed preliminary report release closely * Boeing offers condolences and software fix * U.S. planemaker faces questions, legal action By Jason Neely and Duncan Miriri ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia/NAKURU, Kenya April 5 (Reuters) - M ourning families of Ethiopian Airlines passengers who died in last month's crash are asking awkward and angry questions of U.S. planemaker Boeing after closely following a preliminary report into the disaster. Though Ethiopian investigators' remit was not to find blame, they implicitly pointed at Boeing by recommending it fix a faulty system and saying pilots followed pre-established procedures, before the 737 MAX crashed killing all 157 on board. Konjit Shafi, who lost her 31-year-old brother Sintayehu, listened to the Ethiopian transport minister's press conference live on Thursday and wondered why lessons were not learned from a similar MAX disaster in Indonesia last October. "Boeing - they knew the problem already," she said, referring to an automatic anti-stall system in the MAX model that tipped the jets down in both cases due to faulty sensors. "If they could have announced the problem to the airlines first, the accident may not have happened," she told Reuters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Boeing has expressed condolences and promised a software fix. It will also have awkward questions of its own - over whether the Ethiopian crew correctly followed guidance not to restore power to the anti-stall system following sensor damage, and why the plane was also at unusually high thrust. For Konjit, the report's release on Thursday brought back her last words with her brother, who called after takeoff to say hello as the family lived in the flight path. "He asked me to go outside and see the plane because he was just above our home," she said, sitting in a dimly lit front room in front of a portrait from Sintayehu's university graduation and a row of burned candles. Story continues "I called him again and asked how the network was working and he answered 'I don't know, it's just working until now' and then 'good bye'. I think it's at that time that the accident happened." Flight 302 had taken off late, at 8:38 a.m., and contact was lost six minutes later. It crashed into a dusty plain under still blue skies with such force that much of the wreckage was buried in the dry earth. "PROFITS BEFORE LIVES"? Among those on board were three generations of one Kenyan family - grandmother Anne Wangui Karanja, her daughter and her three young grandchildren. In the back yard of the family home in the central Kenyan town of Nakuru, bunches of white roses were wilting on a newly-built stone memorial, emblazoned with photos, dates of birth and words of remembrance. "From the report, we gather that the manufacturer is the problem," said Quindos Karanja, who lost his mother, sister, nieces and nephew. "My anger comes in because they (Boeing) were putting profits before lives." The family read the crash report online as soon as it was published, and have followed news coverage with the aid of a stream of lawyers arriving at their home. "It is good that the CEO of Boeing came out and owned up, but all we want, before these planes go back into the skies, is that they make sure everything is taken care of," Karanja said. "We don't want to have such a tragedy because it is very painful," he said. Boeing has not admitted liability, but its boss Dennis Muilenburg said on Thursday the company was working to eliminate the risk of "erroneous activation" of the so-called MCAS anti-stall system via a software update and pilot training. The 737 MAX fleet has been grounded worldwide as a precaution. If culpability is found, it could open the world's biggest planemaker to a slew of lawsuits. Relatives of an American woman killed in the crash, Samya Stumo, filed the first lawsuit on behalf of a U.S. victim in Chicago. The complaint targeted Boeing and Rosemount Aerospace Inc, the manufacturer of the sensor at the heart of the inquiry. Stumo is the niece of consumer activist Ralph Nader, who has called for a boycott of the 737 MAX. "We as passengers need to demand that planes be safe so that noone else dies," said her mother Nadia Milleron. "Profits should not come before safety, and we are making this effort here to help prevent a third crash." (Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Democratic presidential candidate Beto ORourke compared President Trumps rhetoric to that of Nazi Germany Thursday, citing in particular Trumps controversial comments about illegal immigrants. At a campaign stop in Sioux City, Iowa, the former representative from the border town of El Paso, Texas was harshly critical of the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals, but as animals and an infestation. Now, I might expect someone to describe another human being as an infestation in the Third Reich, ORourke remarked to a crowd of students at Morningside College. I would not expect it in the United States of America. Later Thursday, ORourke doubled down on his comments, telling reporters, I compared the rhetoric that the president has employed to rhetoric that you might have heard during the Third Reich. Trump has called some illegal immigrants including members of the brutal El Salvadoran gang MS-13 animals and accused Democrats of wanting illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13. Describing immigrants, who have a track record of committing violent crimes at a lower rate than native-born Americans, as rapists and criminals. Seeking to ban all Muslims, all people of one religion, ORourke said. What other country on the face of the planet does that kind of thing? Or in our human history or in the history of the Western world? Putting kids in cages? Saying that neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists are very fine people? You draw your own conclusions, but this is not something that I expected to hear a president of the United States of America ever say, he added. More from National Review Former vice president Joe Biden on Friday addressed the recent accusations of women who say he invaded their personal space, first joking about the allegations onstage during an address to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers before apologizing and admitting that he will change how he campaigns in light of the claims. I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie, Biden said after embracing the IBEW president on stage. He went on to repeat the joke moments later while placing his arm around a boy who was standing beside him onstage. He gave me permission to touch him, Biden said. Following his speech, Biden spoke to reporters and apologized for failing to comprehend how his actions might affect women while stipulating that it was never his intention to make anyone uncomfortable. I am sorry I didnt understand more, Biden said when asked about the recent allegations. I am not sorry for any of my intentions. I am not sorry for anything that I have ever done Ive never been disrespectful, intentionally, to a man or a woman. Thats not the reputation Ive had since I was in high school, for Gods sake. While he hasnt officially announced his entry into the crowded 2020 Democratic primary field, Biden all but admitted he will be entering the race soon and said the allegations will change the way he campaigns. Im going to have to change how I campaign, he told reporters. Im told by the lawyers Ive gotta be careful what I say so I dont start the clock ticking and change my status, he later added, referencing the financial disclosures and other requirements that must be met once a candidate officially announces. The remarks come one week after Lucy Flores, a former Nevada state assemblywoman, accused Biden of approaching her from behind, smelling her hair, and kissing her on the neck without her consent during a 2014 campaign event. Amy Lappos, a former congressional aide, then told the Hartford Courant that Biden pulled her face toward his and rubbed his nose against hers during a fundraiser in 2009. More from National Review French oil giant, Total has started production on the Kaombo Sul floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, offshore Angola, the company said in a press release on Tuesday. Located on Block 32, 260 km off the coast of Luanda, Kaombo Sul is expected to add 115,000 bopd and bring the overall production capacity to 230,000 bopd, equivalent to 15 per cent of the countrys production, Total Said. The launching of Kaombo Sul comes eight months after the start-up of the Kaombo Norte, which forms part of the Kaombe project that consists of six fields. Leveraging the experience of the Kaombo Norte, Kaombo Sul started up in the best possible conditions. This second FPSO stands out as an excellent example of standardization to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Its start-up will contribute to the Groups cash flow and production growth in 2019 and beyond, said President of Exploration and Production at Total, Arnaud Breuillac, in a statement. Launched in 2014, the Kaombo project represents 90 percent of Angola exports. Located on the Atlantic coast in the southern part of Africa, the Republic of Angola is the second largest oil producer in the Continent. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50 per cent of the nations gross domestic product. In mid-March, Bitwise Asset Management issued a damning report on Bitcoin (BTC) trading figures. The San Francisco-based index fund provider declared that up 95 percent of Bitcoin trading volume as seen on CoinMarketCap (CMC) was due to so-called wash trading. Wash trading is a type of market manipulation where sell and buy orders are simultaneously placed on the same asset to create false and misleading trading activity in the market. Wash trading is illegal in regulated exchange platforms. 95 percent of BTC trading volume is fake As part of its Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) application to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bitwise submitted a proposed rule change that included a report on the Bitcoin trading market. According to the report, 95 percent of the recorded BTC trading volume is due to wash trading by bots. So, where CMC figures would show about $11 billion in daily BTC trading volume, the actual figure less wash trading would be about $470 million. For Bitwise, the problem comes from the fact that CMC and other similar platforms use fake data from obscure cryptocurrency exchange platforms. The revelations from the Bitwise report on wash trading echo the findings of previous reports released by the Blockchain Transparency Institute (BTI) and Tie a trading analytics platform. As reported by Cointelegraph, data from 97 exchanges show that 87 percent of cryptocurrency exchange volume was potentially false, according to Tie. These revelations caused considerable debate among stakeholders in the industry. Critics of platforms like CMC were quick to point out the flaws in CMCs metrics. Others also ignited the price manipulation debate and the impact of the overwhelming level of wash trading on BTC price discovery. Is CMC to blame? CMC is a cryptocurrency market data provider and is among the top-500 visited websites in the world. Trading volume figures on a platform as popular as CMC arguably play a major role in shaping market trading. Thus, there is a palpable concern about the effect of such inflated trading volumes on the market in general. Story continues The data provided by CMC comes directly from exchanges listed on the websites. Some of these platforms domiciled in loosely regulated spheres are reportedly wont to inflate their trading figures to attain a higher position on the CMC ranking of exchange platforms by 24-hour trading volumes. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Changpeng Zhao (aka CZ), CEO of Binance one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the market says that CMC isnt solely to blame. According to Zhao: Its not so much CoinMarketCaps fault. Everyone tries to blame them, but CMC is a very simple reporting mechanism where every exchange reports their own data to it and they just show it. While CZ appears sympathetic toward CMC, others believe the platform is to blame. Ryan Selkis of Messari, another cryptocurrency market data provider, declared via his Twitter handle that CMCs data is mostly wrong, and this includes market cap, circulating supply and, of course, trading volumes. Selkis pointed to the supply readings for XLM and XRP as examples of false and misleading data on the CMC platform. For these two cryptocurrencies in particular, the significant treasuries held by institutions with strong affiliations to the tokens help to inflate their market capitalization values, thus earning higher rankings on CMC. This incorrect data paints an exaggerated picture of the global cryptocurrency market that obscures the real size of the market. Given the sheer proportion of wash trading by bots, the effect of such a reality on the fidelity of the market becomes the next logical inquiry. Infographic Effect of wash trading on price market manipulation? The fear of price manipulation is never far from Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market as a whole. Back in 2018, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) began investigating claims of market manipulation in the market. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) also initiated a separate investigation into the manipulation of BTC and Ethereum (ETH) via wash trading and spoofing. So, then is the ongoing high volume of wash trading significantly impacting the prices of cryptocurrencies? Commenting on the issue in an email, Joe DiPasquale, CEO of BitBull Capital a cryptocurrency hedge fund opined: If 95% of CMCs BTC trading volume is fake, as per the report, it means market activity is being manipulated and the current price is not reflecting true market sentiment. However, as more reputable exchanges enter the space, this effect should diminish, since most of the real trading is already taking place on well-known exchanges. Mati Greenspan, a senior market analyst at eToro, made the same conclusion in a recent market analysis article, saying on his blog: The key here is that all this wash trading thats been discovered hasnt actually affected the price of bitcoin itself in any meaningful way. In fact, if we focus only on the real 10 exchanges, we can see that this market is much more robust than previously perceived. According to Greenspans analysis and the Bitwise report, most of the market liquidity comes from 10 exchanges, even though there are hundreds of such platforms. Nine out of these 10 platforms are regulated, and the price of BTC displayed among them is fairly consistent. So, if wash trading isnt having a significant impact on price, why then is the practice this widespread? The answer probably lies in the attempts by these much smaller platforms to gain a larger share of the trading market. By inflating their figures, they can rise up the CMC rankings. Such a situation gives them the opportunity to attract more users and charge higher listing fees. How to Identify Fake Trading Volume Some industry commentators have laid down numerous methodologies that could be used to identify fake trading volumes. Cointelegraph spoke with Joshua Frank, co-founder of Tie, who said comparing website viewership and trading volume was one of the easiest ways of identifying suspicious trading volumes. According to Frank, the firms research showed a major distinction between those two metrics for reputable platforms and lesser known exchanges. Many of the exchanges suspected of wash trading routinely show figures like $400,000 in trading volume per view. Meanwhile, on well-known platforms, the figures are closer to $500-$600. Frank also went on to state that the company decided to make the data available to the public via Google Sheets. The Tie co-founder said more experienced traders can also examine the trading history and order book of exchanges to spot suspicious trading data. Since most exchange platforms are centralized, it is possible for them to inflate their figures by trading the same cryptocurrencies between a pair of bot accounts repeatedly. This gives rise to false high-volume figures that create the appearance of high liquidity. Solving the Problem of Fake Trading Volume In the wake of revelation from Bitwise, several stakeholders have proposed solutions to the fake trading volume problem. For CMC, the first step would be to improve the way it presents market data to users. In an email to Cointelegraph, the company noted: In an open ecosystem like the one we are in; we believe that the best policy one that we follow closely is to over-provide on data and let users make their own informed choices about what to do with that data. Already, Messari has taken steps to display extra information that offers up more insight into the reliability of trading volume figures. The platform included a new column on its website called the Real 10 Volume. This new metric displays the 24-hour trading volume obtained from the 10 cryptocurrency exchanges found not to be involved in wash trading by the Bitwise report. The platform also announced that it would collaborate with these reputable exchanges to further improve the quality of its market data. Messaris approach with the Real 10 Volume seems to tie in with CMCs sentiments about over-providing data. It is then left up to the trader to use the different metrics available as gauges for determining what is real and what is fake. Carylyne Chan, the global marketing chief at CMC, made similar remarks in an interview with Bloomberg, saying: For instance, if an exchange with low traffic has $300M volume and just 5 BTC in its wallet, users will be able to draw their own conclusions without the need for us to make arbitrary judgment calls on what is good or bad. For CZ, there is a need for greater transparency in the industry to eliminate such problems. The Binance chief also believes that CMC can use its considerable influence to encourage ethical behavior among listed exchange platforms. Being a top-500 website on the Alexa rankings, most exchange platforms depend on CMC for referral traffic. CZ states that CMC can impose fines and suspend the listing of platforms that engage in unethical practices. Whether that and more scrutiny will be enough to curb the practice remains to be seen. Related Articles: Zachary Baumel, a US-born Israeli soldier, was missing since a 1982 tank battle - REUTERS The body of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon War was found by the Russian and Syrian armies, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said yesterday. But Syrian state news agency SANA said Damascus had no details on the discovery of the corpse. Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel had been listed as missing along with two other Israeli soldiers after a deadly battle with Syrian forces in a Lebanese village, and the return of his remains will bring to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis. Russia said it handed over the remains to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who is visiting Putin five days before he is to seek a fifth term in office in a difficult election. Mr Netanyahu, 69, is running in the April 9 vote despite facing potential corruption charges and experts say he hopes the Moscow visit will increase his chances of success on election day. Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Putin five days before he is to seek a fifth term in office in a difficult election Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images "Our military together with Syrian partners found the place of his burial," Mr Putin said of Baumel. "We are very happy that he will be able to receive the right military honours in his homeland." Mr Netanyahu said Mr Baumel would be laid to rest at a ceremony in Israel later Thursday. "Zachary's friends and family will take part," he said, adding that his family had been "very touched". "His father is no longer alive, unfortunately," he added. "His mother is around 100 years old. Zachary also has a sister." Neither Russia nor Israel have given details on how or where the remains were found. Mr Putin said only that Syria - with which Israel has technically been at war - participated in the operation. Boeing has reportedly revealed its troubled 737 MAX jets are suffering from an additional software problem that regulators say must be fixed before the planes can be cleared to fly again. As investigators in Ethiopia said a preliminary examination suggested the Boeing jet that crashed last month with the deaths of 157 passengers and crew was struck by excessive speed and was forced downwards by a wrongly-triggered automation system, new problems emerged for the airline back home in Seattle. The Washington Post said a review by Boeing of the stall prevention system suspected of being behind the Ethiopian Airlines and a crash last year in Indonesia, had detected an additional software problem. It said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had ordered the problem be addressed before the plane would be cleared for flying. It said the company termed the problem relatively minor and was not related to the anti-stall system. However, it is another headache for company, struggling to respond to the global grounding of the jet with which it intended to compete with rival, Airbus. Boeings CEO has apologised for the deaths and vowed to get to the bottom of what caused the incidents. We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents. I cannot remember a more heart-wrenching time in my career with this great company. chief executive Dennis Muilenburg wrote. He said the release of the preliminary report in Ethiopia showed it was apparent that in both the crash in Africa, and Indonesia, the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information. The history of our industry shows most accidents are caused by a chain of events. This again is the case here, and we know we can break one of those chain links in these two accidents, he wrote. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it. Story continues Boeing did not immediately respond to enquiries about the report of a new software problem. The FAA also did not respond to questions. In response to the preliminary findings by investigators in Ethiopia, the FAA said in a statement: The investigation by Ethiopian authorities remains ongoing, with the participation of the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. We continue to work towards a full understanding of all aspects of this accident. As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action. The probe in Ethiopia found that pilot Yared Getachew, cried pull up three times before the plane crashed into a field six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on March 10. The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft, transport minister Dagmawit Moges told a news conference, according to Reuters. The preliminary report into the crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia suggested pilots also lost control after grappling with the MCAS software. A total of 189 passengers and crew lost their lives in that crash last October. New York (AFP) - Boeing announced Friday it would cut the production schedule of its 737 aircraft line following the two recent crashes that have seen the 737 MAX grounded worldwide. The aerospace giant plans to trim production to 42 planes per month, down from 52 per month, starting in mid-April. Boeing shares fell after the disclosure, which was released just after the closing bell. Boeing also announced it was establishing an advisory panel to review its company-wide policies for designing and developing planes. Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg described the production cut as temporary and said it would not affect current employment levels for the 737 and related programs. "We are coordinating closely with our customers as we work through plans to mitigate the impact of this adjustment," Muilenburg said in a statement. "We will also work directly with our suppliers on their production plans to minimize operational disruption and financial impact of the production rate change." Boeing has continued to manufacture 737s since the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash killed 157 people, the second deadly crash in five months. However, Boeing has been unable to make deliveries of the planes to customers, a key stoppage that will dent revenues. Boeing is scheduled to report first-quarter results on April 24. The new advisory panel will be led by retired US Navy Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, former vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. "The committee will confirm the effectiveness of our policies and processes for assuring the highest level of safety on the 737-MAX program, as well as our other airplane programs, and recommend improvements to our policies and procedures," Muilenburg said. "Safety is our responsibility and we own it." Shares of Boeing fell 1.6 percent to $385.70 in after-hours trading. An acknowledgment by Boeing's CEO that a new maneuvering system in the company's 737-Max airplanes contributed to two fatal crashes could leave Boeing exposed to billions of dollars in legal liabilities, experts say. Still, CEO Dennis Muilenburg's statement may be an effort to show that Boeing remains in control of the situation, protecting its reputation and minimizing future losses by ensuring airlines, flyers and investors keep faith in the company. Muilenburg on Thursday apologized and said that a preliminary report blames a system embedded in the planes for playing a role in the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 on Oct. 29 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10. He said an initial report makes it "apparent that in both flights" a maneuvering system "activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information." The crashes killed nearly 350 people and triggered the worldwide grounding of 737-Max planes until Boeing can deliver a fix. "We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents," Muilenburg said in a statement. "These tragedies continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and minds." The apology: Boeing CEO accepts blame for two plane crashes Similarities between crashes: Ethiopian official notes similarity between catastrophic Boeing plane crashes Stanford Law Professor Robert Rabin, an expert on torts who has tracked the matter, said it's too early to tell precisely how Muilenburg's statement will affect Boeing's liability. But "based on what we have up to now and what the CEO said in his statement, it does seem that theres a very strong case of liability," Rabin said. "It seems clear that there was a defect in the operation of the sensors to begin with." Carl Tobias, a corporate legal liability expert and law professor at the University of Richmond, said there are still significant questions regarding the circumstances of the suspected Boeing defect. "But I do think theres exposure and potentially substantial exposure," he said. Story continues Jim Corridore, a stock analyst at CFRA Research who tracks Boeing, said Muilenburg "definitely stopped short of admitting full liability" for the crashes. He pointed to the CEO's comment that Boeing would provide "associated training and additional educational materials that pilots want in the wake of these accidents" to prevent another accident like this "from ever happening again." "The statement about additional pilot training that seems to be a little bit of a loophole for them in terms of being able to claim just in lawsuits, mind you, that they are not directly responsible," Corridore said. "I would hate to see them go that route. I think the best move for PR and to move forward is to just take the full brunt of the losses and move forward." Corridore said that the crash liability could add up to anywhere from $1 billion to several billion dollars for Boeing but that it's an isolated incident that's "not going to cripple them." He maintained his recommendation for investors to buy Boeing stock. Boeing's stock has rebounded since late March and closed at $391.93 Friday. Boeing shares are 10.1% above the pre-October crash level and 27% above their price at the start of 2018. "Obviously there's going to be severe liability related to lawsuits for the victims and their families, but as long as there's no malicious intent, if there's no situation where they knew something and they didn't act on it" the liabilities are manageable, Corridore said. Muilenburg's statement may have been designed to mitigate the public relations blow to Boeing's reputation because the company wants to show customers that it's in control of the situation, Stanford's Rabin said. "Its not going to threaten Boeing's solvency," he said. "The bigger financial threat to Boeing is if they lose future business or some of the contracts that are already outstanding." On Oct. 29, the day of the Lion Air crash, Boeing stock fell 7.8% but then investors appeared to largely shrug off the accident. They rose the following week before generally declining through December 24 and then rebounding strongly, broadly tracking the Standard & Poors 500 index during a volatile period. However, after the Ethiopian Airlines crash March 10, Boeing shares fell 14.2% over the next two weeks even as the broad market trended higher. Although the crashes happened overseas, passengers filing wrongful death suits likely can file suits against Boeing in U.S. courts, legal experts said. The family of 24-year-old victim Samya Stumo, an American citizen who was killed on the Ethiopian AIrlines flight on March 10 while taking a trip for work, has already filed a lawsuit. Rabin said that settlements are common in these types of cases so that victims and the targeted corporation can avoid a long period of uncertainty and costly legal tangling. In addition to lawsuits from passengers, airline customers could pursue cases against Boeing to recover their economic damages. For example, Southwest Airlines recently disclosed that it lost about $150 million in revenue during the first quarter due to the groundings and other one-time issues. Southwest estimated that the grounding forced it to cancel 2,800 flights during the period ended March 31. The company has 34 of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, the most of any American airline. Contributing: Paul Davidson Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boeing faces liabilities as CEO Dennis Muilenburg acknowledges 'apparent' 737 Max problem Boeing said that it will slow the production of its 737 Max jetliner as it works on the software update that it says will prevent the "erroneous activation'' of the maneuvering system that is being blamed for two crashes that killed nearly 350 people. In the wake of the jets being grounded worldwide following the crash of Ethiopian Flight 302 last month, Boeing will cut 737 Max production to 42 from 52 jets per month beginning in mid-April, the aviation company said. But there will be no layoffs as a result of the reduced schedule. The announcement follows CEO Dennis Muilenburg's acknowledgment Thursday that faulty sensor reading into the system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS, appears to be the cause of the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight that killed 157 on March 10. The accident was similar to the crash of a Lion Air flight in October in Indonesia that killed all 189, apparently due to the same cause. A preliminary report issued Thursday said the crew of the Ethiopian jet performed all procedures recommended by Boeing but could not gain control of the doomed aircraft. MCAS is meant to keep the plane from pitching up, an issue due to heavier engines on the model that are placed farther forward than in previous versions. But the false readings from an angle-of-attack sensor kept pushing down the plane's nose in both crashes even as pilots fought to keep the jet in the air, resulting in the crashes. "We have the responsibility to eliminate this risk, and we know how to do it,'' the company said in a statement Friday. "As part of this effort, we're making progress on the 737 Max software update that will prevent accidents like these from ever happening again.'' Boeing also announced it is creating a special board committee to review airplane design and development. Related: Boeing faces liabilities as CEO Dennis Muilenburg acknowledges 'apparent' 737 Max problem Story continues 'We own it': Boeing CEO accepts blame for two plane crashes, apologizes to families of victims Though a chain of events led to the accidents, Boeing said in its statement Friday that a common chain link was the activation of MCAS. The 737 Max, the most recent iteration of Boeing's 737 jet that dates to the 1960s, is considered critical to the company. As of February, Boeing said it had 4,636 Max jets on order. If the production slowdown is short-lived, Boeing could make up ground financially later in the year, says Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with the Teal Group. Meanwhile, he doubts that "airlines will feel much of an impact ... They will continue to lease aircraft instead.'' But travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt thinks the future for Boeing and the airlines who were buying the MAX may be more ominous. "Besides fixing the 737 MAXs software problems, and getting the fix certified by the FAA and other safety authorities, Boeing has to assure airlines that have ordered the 737 MAX that it is still a good aircraft,'' he says, noting that those carriers may lose revenue if they have to substitute smaller less fuel-efficient jets for the MAX planes. "But Boeings biggest challenge... is regaining the confidence of the traveling public and the general public,'' Harteveldt says. "For perhaps the first time in its history, Boeings name is now stained.'' Boeing shares closed at $391.93, down $3.93. In after-hours after news of the production cut, they slipped another $8.98, or 2.3%, to $382.85. Contributing: Chris Woodyard This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boeing to slow production of 737 Max as it continues working on software fix Gaborone (Botswana) (AFP) - The party that has ruled Botswana since independence more than half a century ago faces a historic challenge Friday when it meets to select its candidate for presidential elections in October. For the first time in the history of one of Africa's most stable democracies, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) will see a genuine fight for the top job. President Mokgweetsi Masisi is squaring off against an ex-foreign minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, who is backed by Masisi's predecessor and rival, Ian Khama. Whoever wins is widely expected to become president after nationwide elections in a country where the opposition is largely fragmented. About a thousand party delegates are attending a two-day meeting in the small rural Kalahari Desert town of Kang, 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Gaborone. BDP congresses have traditionally been rubber stamps for the incumbent's bid for re-election. "This time around, it's a new experience," Leonard Sesa, University of Botswana political science lecturer, told AFP. Venson-Moitoi's unprecedented challenge against a sitting president could upset the stability of the party and even lead to a split, analysts suggest. The 57-year-old BDP has ruled Botswana uninterrupted since independence in 1966, presiding over diamond-driven prosperity that stands out in a continent where poverty and turbulence are rife. - Rivalry - Masisi and former president Ian Khama have fallen out publicly, with Masisi reversing some of the policies introduced by his predecessor. The ex-president has thrown his weight behind Venson-Moitoi, who was fired from cabinet in December after she announced she would throw her name in for nomination. The rift between Masisi and his predecessor was laid bare last month when Khama accused his protege of betrayal. Khama had last year picked his then-vice president Masisi to succeed him after serving the maximum 10 years in office. Story continues But Masisi has moved to break with the past and establish his own authority since his inauguration a year ago. In an interview with the SABC public broadcaster in neighbouring South Africa, Khama said he regretted picking Masisi to follow him. "He had a nature, a character which I just felt very close to and part of. What I'm seeing now is a totally different person than the one I knew," Khama said. "Regrettably and very unfortunately... I have come to realise that maybe I had misjudged (him) and now we have a situation where there is a bit of a standoff between himself and myself." - 'Healthy for democracy' - Analysts believe Khama may be getting uncomfortable amid speculation the Masisi government is set to arrest several of Khama's confidantes -- including one on tax evasion charges and another on accusations of corruption. "He fought for Masisi to become president, so he feels betrayed, let down and he believes he can only be safe if Masisi is no longer president and if Venson-Motoi becomes president," said lawyer and political commentator Anthony Ndulamo Morima. Morima suggests "there may have been some promises or undertakings that were made and which Masisi didn't possibly live up to". "The former president feels betrayed and unprotected, feels exposed, feels vulnerable," said Mosima. The tensions of a genuine competition for the top job may ruffle feathers in the party, but many commentators say such a development is good. "Such a contest is healthy for our democracy," said Morima. When the U.S., Canada and 10 western European nations came together in 1949 to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, they had a clear goal. Keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down, said Lord Hastings Lionel Ismay, NATOs first Secretary General. The military alliance was intended to rebuild Europe from the rubble of World War II and to act as a buffer against Soviet aggression. But the collapse of the Soviet Union made NATOs purpose less clear. In fact, in 1990, as the Cold War drew to a close, President Mikhail Gorbachev proposed the Soviet Union join NATO. At the time, Gorbachev was negotiating German reunification with the then U.S. Secretary of State James Baker. You say that NATO is not directed against us, he said, referring to the rival Warsaw Pact, an alliance between the Soviet Union and Communist countries in Eastern Europe, that it is simply a security structure that is adapting to new realities. Therefore, we propose to join NATO. Baker reportedly dismissed the proposal as a dream but it has been floated several times since. Giving Russia membership would have required NATO, which turned 70 on Thursday, to fundamentally redefine itself. Nevertheless, in the three decades since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has had to find a new raison detre. As NATO foreign ministers met in Washington to mark the anniversary, they faced questions about its future. Heres what to know about the relationship between Russia and NATO. After the Cold War, what happened between Russia and NATO? In 1991 Boris Yeltsin, the first president of the new Russian state, wrote to NATO, reiterating Gorbachevs proposal. He echoed calls made by former Warsaw Pact countries like Hungary to join the Western alliance, and called NATO membership a long-term political aim of Russia. Story continues After the collapse of the Soviet Union though, NATO began to redefine its purpose. Vesko Garcevic, a former Montenegro ambassador to NATO, says the new mission became to ensure the democratization of newly post-communist republics, which the alliance considered crucial to guaranteeing a stable Europe. After joining NATO, most of the countries then became E.U. members. It was no longer not just about security. It was also political. Thats why the alliance has survived for so many years, he says. In 1994, Russia officially signed up to the NATO Partnership for Peace, a program aimed at building trust between NATO and other European and former Soviet countries. President Bill Clinton described it in January 1994 as a track that will lead to NATO membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin told filmmaker Oliver Stone in a 2017 interview that he discussed the option with Clinton during the American presidents visit to Moscow in 2000. And when then-Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Putin in the early 2000s, he says he got the impression Russia was pro-Western and open to joining the transatlantic alliance. Since the end of the Cold War, 13 countries have joined NATO; the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), and Montenegro (2017). Russian President Vladimir Putin talks during a press conference after the NATO-Russia Council meeting at the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, on April 4, 2008. | Natalia Kolesnikov - AFP/Getty Images So why isnt Russia a member of NATO? Despite Russia signaling its interest to join NATO, there has since been a lot of tension between them. Once Russia can show it is upholding democracy and human rights, NATO can seriously consider its membership,says Anders Rasmussen, the former Danish Prime Minister who served as NATO Secretary General from 2009 to 2014. In the meantime, he adds we tried to build strong cooperation with Moscow. He cites the 2002 Russia-NATO council, a development of the 1997 Act, which serves as a mechanism for cooperation, consensus building and joint-decision making. We do share common interests. We cooperated on counter terrorism in Afghanistan, counter narcotics and counter piracy, says Rasmussen. But Russia has repeatedly made a request that NATO has rejected: to refuse to accept new members in its backyard (or neighboring countries), says Rasmussen. It wasnt for the West or Moscow to decide whether those countries should join NATO. Each and every country has the right to decide its alliance and affiliation, says the former NATO ambassador Garcevic. By 1999, when it became clear that NATO and Russia had irreconcilable views over the future of the post-Soviet republics, the alliance turned into a security challenge for the Kremlin, according to Garcevic. It was a critical turning point,he says, noting that Russia started to become more anti-Western. As the years went on, nostalgia for the Soviet Union became more apparent. In 2005, Putin famously said the breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century. Eventually, actions rather than words made it clear that Russia saw NATO as an adversary. In April 2008, NATO promised membership to Georgia and Ukraine at the Bucharest summit, but a membership plan was not offered. In August 2008, Russia launched a five day invasion of Georgia on the pretext of defending the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Eight hundred people were killed. South Ossetia and Abkhazia later declared their independence; Russia is one of the few countries in the world to recognize this. We sent the wrong signal from Bucharest, says Rasmussen, who believes an action plan for Georgias membership could have deterred the invasion. Putin interpreted our actions as a lack of resolve and a lack of will to act if he tested that resolve. Putin continued to test it. In 2014, he sent Russian troops to annex Crimea from Ukraine and sparked the ongoing conflict in the countrys east that has killed more than 13,000 people. Former Kremlin adviser Sergei Karaganov tells TIME that history could have looked different. Not allowing Russia to join NATO was one of the worst mistakes in political history, says Karaganov. It automatically put Russia and the West on a collision course, eventually sacrificing Ukraine. How does Russia feel about NATO today? Tensions skyrocketed between NATO and Russia after the 2014 annexation. Now, countries bordering Russia, including the Baltics, are really fearful, Karaganov says. If they had not joined NATO and stayed neutral they would have been much more comfortable. Since 2014, Russia and NATOs relations have reverted back to their Cold War hostility. But today the threat Russia poses is much more complex, says Rasmussen, the ex-NATO Secretary General. The security environment has transformed from a predictable, bipolar confrontation to a multilayered, non-transparent picture of threats and challenges. In his view, Russia has become a geopolitical spoiler that seeks to undermine trust, confidence and stability in democratic society. Russias war games and regular military exercises have struck fear in its neighbors, including Poland and the Baltics. Even countries that are geographically far from Russia, such as the Balkans, fear Russias subtler methods of destabilization including disinformation and cyber warfare. Today, there is no way Moscow could join NATO, says Rasmussen, nor does Russia have any interest in joining an alliance that it perceives as a threat. In Putins address to the Russian Parliament shortly after the Crimea annexation, he said Russia was humiliated by NATOs expansion eastward after the fall of Communism. They lied to us many times, made decisions behind our backs. The Russian president has repeatedly warned NATO against forging closer ties with Ukraine and Georgia, saying it was irresponsible and would have consequences for the alliance, which he did not specify. In theory, NATOs door remains open to any European country that meets membership requirements. However, former Montenegro ambassador to NATO, Garcevic believes the reality is constrained by fear over a resurgent Russian threat. I cant see further NATO enlargement happening in the near future. European countries are very cautious about Russias reaction. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General at the Munich Security Conference in Bavaria, Munchen on 15 February 2019 | Picture Alliance - Picture Alliance via Getty Images Is NATO still effective in 2019? Rasmussen insists that NATO has never been more needed. And NATO members have shown some strategic unity in countering the Russian threat. Since 2014, the alliance has said readiness has been at the top of its agenda, which has led to security reinforcements of some 4,000 additional troops on its eastern flank. Gustav Gressel, a Senior Policy Adviser at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said these measures amount to reassurance, not deterrence. NATO members have unanimously refused to recognise the annexation of Crimea, and all have maintained economic sanctions despite regular criticism over the measures by Austria, Italy, Hungary and other member states. But sanctions alone do not reflect a united strategy on dealing with Russia, Gressel said. NATO has not really risen to the Russian challenge, others agree. We havent done enough, Rasmussen says. Only a few NATO nations dared to militarily support the Ukrainian armed forces. Those that have, including the U.S., Canada, Poland, Slovakia, the Baltics and the U.K. have done so on a voluntary basis, and not as part of a NATO initiative. Hungary has blocked greater institutional relations between NATO and Ukraine. After Russia annexed Crimea, Rasmussen says he was surprised at how some of the bigger European countries, including Germany and France were very careful not to admit what was happening. Since NATO can only act with a consensus from all its members, the alliance ultimately could not take action. Rasmussen believes Germanys hesitation was connected to a historical gratitude for Russia accepting its reunification in 1990, while France thinks Russias interests should be respected because it is a big country. In the U.K., he considers there is a more realistic attitude about the Kremlins geopolitical ambitions. The U.S. and Europe need to take firm stance because the only language Putin understands is the language of power, says Rasmussen. But for the first time in NATOs history, a U.S. president has questioned the validity of the security alliance. Donald Trump has questioned Washingtons commitment to NATO, calling it obsolete and has suggested the alliance is a bad bargain for the U.S. It is extremely dangerous when democratic leaders send doubtful messages about their resolve, says Rasmussen. It leaves behind a vacuum that will be filled by the bad guys. Putin, Assad, Kim Jong-un will have more room to maneuver. Rasmussen and Garcevic are confident NATO will continue to exist because its task to protect democracy and human rights is eternal. Collective security has never been more important, they say. But the alliances existence has also perhaps never been more threatened by a lack of unity among political leaders. NATOs ability to protects its members is as much about political strength sending the right signal as military capability. By Alistair Smout and Gabriela Baczynska LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Friday that talks with the government on a last-ditch Brexit deal had made no progress, as EU leaders said Prime Minister Theresa May had not convinced them that they should let Britain delay its departure next week. May wrote to Brussels asking European Union leaders to postpone Britain's exit from next Friday until June 30. But they have insisted that she must first show a viable plan to secure agreement on her divorce deal in the deadlocked parliament. Labour, which she turned to reluctantly after failing three times to get her deal passed, said the government "has not offered real change or compromise" in three days of talks. "We urge the prime minister to come forward with genuine changes to her deal," a statement said. Labour Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said his party wanted the talks to go on, and a spokesman for May's office said the government had "made serious proposals" in the talks and wanted them to continue over the weekend "in order to deliver a deal that is acceptable to both sides". May badly needs evidence of a viable divorce strategy to persuade the other 27 EU leaders at a summit next Wednesday to grant a delay, preferably on her preferred departure date. Any extension would require unanimous approval from the other EU countries, all weary of Britain's Brexit indecision, and could come with conditions. "If we are not able to understand the reason why the UK is asking for an extension, we cannot give a positive answer," said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. German Justice Minister Katarina Barley tweeted: "This playing for time must end." Deep divisions in May's Conservative Party and government, and in Labour, have led to a marathon of votes in parliament, in which scenarios ranging from abandoning the EU with no transition period to cancelling Brexit have all been defeated. Last Friday, May did the unthinkable by asking Labour to negotiate with her on a deal that might work for both - although some in Labour said she was luring the party into sharing responsibility for her failure. LETTER TO BRUSSELS Hoping this would satisfy EU leaders, May wrote to EU summit chair Donald Tusk proposing a delay until June 30 at the latest, accepting that Britain might have to hold European Parliament elections on May 23, which she had hoped to avoid. "The government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May, 2019, and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible," the letter said. So far, there has been little appetite in Brussels for an extension that could create another cliff edge in three months. May asked two weeks ago for a delay until June 30, only to be turned down. Tusk is planning to propose an extension of a year, which could also be shortened if Britain ratifies the withdrawal agreement, senior EU officials said. "The only reasonable way out would be a long but flexible extension. I would call it a 'flextension'," one official said. "It seems to be a good scenario for both sides, as it gives the UK all the necessary flexibility, while avoiding the need to meet every few weeks to further discuss Brexit extensions." But Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said May's letter raised questions, adding: "We hope for more clarity from London before next Wednesday." And France, which wants the EU to move on to other business including reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, indicated it was not ready to accept any delay without a clear plan. "If we are not able to understand the reason why the UK is asking for an extension, we cannot give a positive answer," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters in Bucharest. Graphic: - https://tmsnrt.rs/2CI8MwU SECOND REFERENDUM? Sterling fell against the U.S. dollar immediately after Labour's comments and stood 0.5 percent down on the day. With time running out, it was not clear how Britain would avoid the abrupt "no-deal" departure that business leaders in Britain and also neighboring Ireland say would cause huge disruption. Germany, as one of those with most to lose from a sudden dislocation of trade, has been one of those most tolerant of Britain's turmoil. Justice Minister Barley tweeted that "there can only be an extension with a clear direction", but also proposed a potential way out by adding: "This includes the question of a second referendum." The idea of asking Britons - who voted by 52 percent to 48 to leave the EU three years ago - to confirm or reject any divorce deal has been gaining ground in Britain. Yet May herself and many lawmakers in both main parties are strongly opposed, saying it would betray voters and undermine democracy, especially if it offered an option to stay in the EU. Both main parties made commitments after the referendum to deliver Brexit, but they never settled on a plan for how to leave or what future relationship to seek. May long insisted that her plan - quitting all EU institutions, with a 21-month standstill period to negotiate a bespoke free trade deal - was the only viable one. But it still split her cabinet and infuriated the most eurosceptic of her Conservatives. Labour wants closer ties than May has sought, including a customs union, which she has so far ruled out. Many Labour members of parliament insist that any agreement must be put to a second public vote. (Reporting By Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Francesco Guarascio, Alistair Smout, Michael Holden, Steve Addison and David Milliken; Writing by Peter Graff and Kevin Liffey; Editing by Andrew Heavens) President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, April 4, made the highly anticipated 2019 State of the Nation address his second of his final term in office. The SOTNKe2019 address, a constitutional requirement, was largely disappointing for a lot of Kenyans who were expecting more from the president amid the current state of affairs, especially regarding runaway corruption and the lack of convictions in the perceived war on graft. That being said, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has provided another alternative to President Uhurus underwhelming address. The former student leader, who has obviously set his sights on leading the country in the future, outlined three issues he would prioritize in his State of the Nation address as President Babu Owino. The three priority areas include Corruption, Youth Unemployment, and Universal Healthcare. Babus sentiments on the issues resonated with a large section of youths on social media. Read President Babu Owinos SOTNKe2019 address below. ********************************************************** THESE WOULD BE MY PRIORITIES IF I WERE MAKING THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS H. E Uhuru Kenyatta is today set to fulfill his constitutional mandate of addressing a joint session of Parliament on the State of the Nation. This tradition has been in existence since independence and is viewed as an opportunity for the President to bring the country up to speed on his latest plans. If I were President and I were making the state of the nation address, my priority areas would be as follows: 1. CORRUPTION H. E the President formally declared war on corruption in his state of the nation address three years ago. However, since then Kenyans have not seen a single conviction related to corruption. There is increasing frustration among Kenyans that we are being treated to more of public relations than meaningful action. If I were President, I would use the occasion today to dismiss all members of my cabinet associated with corruption. I would not wait for the courts to do what I can do myself. 2. YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT Everywhere I go in Kenya, I meet young people seeking employment opportunities. A lot of our youth are jobless and unable to care for their families. The issue of youth unemployment has reached national disaster proportions and needs to be faced as such. Kenyans are worried that even the few basic jobs that could have been done by our youth have been conceded to foreigners who insist on using their own people for government contracts awarded to them. The time has come to embrace our own. The time has come to restrict the proportion of opportunities given to foreigners. If I were President, I would use today to announce the restriction of 90% of government contracts for local suppliers and contractors to ensure Kenyan youth benefit most from the Kenyan government. 3. UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE The one thing President Kibaki is remembered for is bringing free education to families that could not afford to send their children to school. H. E Kenyatta has the opportunity of being remembered as the President who brought universal healthcare to Kenyans. If I were President, this would be the one item I prioritize in my budget and plans; to ensure all Kenyans are able to access quality medical care whenever they need to and in all parts of the country. Kenya is hurting and Kenyans are unhappy. As leaders, we need to dig deeper to find out the struggles of our people and serve them at their point of need. I believe that my three priority areas outlined above are the issues Kenyans are worried most about. And if we fix them, we fix Kenya! God bless our President, God bless Kenya! Comrade Babu Owino, MP, Embakasi East and Leader, Youth For Africa. Thursday, April 4, 2019. London (AFP) - Britain's Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has been propelled into an unprecedented position of power over Brexit but needs to walk a tightrope in dealing with the government his party despises, analysts said. Unable to get the EU divorce deal through parliament with the votes of her own Conservatives and their right-wing allies, this week Prime Minister Theresa May dramatically changed course and turned to veteran socialist Corbyn. But by jumping into bed with May, Corbyn risks being seen as the enabler of a Conservative Brexit -- anathema to many of his supporters. Put simply, the bind for Labour is that it has many Remain-backing MPs representing Leave-supporting provincial seats and is led by a lifelong eurosceptic elected by pro-EU metropolitan types. Labour's Brexit policy thus far has been one of constructive ambiguity, trying to retain its Leave-voting heartlands while not alienating their Corbynist, Remain-voting new party members. By accepting the invitation to seek common ground with political enemy May, it could be decision time for Corbyn -- something which risks alienating supporters either way. "Participation and then walking away is his best option," said Steven Fielding, a professor of political history at the University of Nottingham. "If they come to an agreement, that's quite dangerous for him. He cannot have his cake and eat it," he told AFP. - Splitting the Conservatives - Corbyn is no fan of the European Union, seeing its free-market fundamentals as a roadblock to a socialist society. The 69-year-old swept to the Labour leadership in 2015 on the back of thousands of new, young party members enthused by his undiluted leftist outlook. The challenge for him is to retain that support base whilst upholding Labour's pledge to respect the verdict of the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU. He and May had preliminary talks on Wednesday and their negotiating teams were back in a third day of urgent discussions on Friday. Labour thus far wants a much softer form of Brexit than May. Story continues Britain is also now seeking an extension to its EU membership from April 12 to June 30. EU officials are saying the deadline may have to be much longer -- up to a year -- but could be shortened. Unlike Corbyn, May has nothing to lose: she will step down after seeing Brexit through. "Corbyn will try to get as much kudos from the negotiations... paint himself as a national figure and potential prime minister," Fielding said. "His participation has already caused May all kinds of grief," he said, referring to the outrage the talks have triggered among right-wing Conservative Brexiteers opposed to the prime minister's divorce deal they see as too soft already. "He might have already further engineered Conservative divisions, which are helpful. By participating in these talks, he might hope to have gained something -- and then walk away." - Premiership prize - The vast majority of Remain-backing Labour MPs want a second Brexit referendum, seeing this as a legitimate route towards keeping Britain in the EU. However, Corbyn is not warm to the idea and parliament's lower House of Commons, as a whole, is against it. "It's been very difficult for Jeremy Corbyn but now he is really in a position where he will have to make some big decisions very quickly," said Paul Breen, a senior lecturer at the University of Westminster. "Corbyn is trying to argue for some kind of sensible compromise." Anand Menon, a European politics professor at King's College London university, said May and Corbyn did have some common interests. "Neither of them wants a referendum. Neither of them wants a long delay, and neither of them are particularly keen on holding European Parliament elections" -- something that must happen if Britain stays in the EU beyond May 22. Meanwhile Alastair Campbell, who was centre-left Labour prime minister Tony Blair's communications chief and is now a key figure in the campaign for another referendum, said May had made Corbyn the most powerful opposition leader of modern times but urged him not to "play her game and help her carry a disastrous Brexit over the line." Pressing Corbyn to demand a second vote, he wrote in The Daily Telegraph newspaper: "The Labour leader should make the most of it. It might just make him prime minister." Good morning Among the young entrepreneurs at this weeks Fortune Brainstorm Health was Diesel Peltz, who has started a company called Twentyas in Whats Your Twenty? It is an anti-tech tech platform. The Twenty app discourages the kind of virtual sharing that characterizes most social networks, and instead facilitates meetings in person. It puts the social back into social network. Peltz provided a reminder of why we do these events. As journalists, we at Fortune believe in the power of the written word. And in our journalism, we chronicle the power of digital technology. But there is something that happens in physical, face-to-face encounters that trumps it all. Connections get made. Ideas take root. The abstract becomes real. Our goal at each event is not only to present compelling stories on stage, but to create a community off stage, and to enable the kind of serendipitous interactions that can spark business success. Weve got a diverse lineup of gatherings this year, and I encourage CEO Daily readers who are able to find one that works for them. You can learn more and request an invitation here. Or send me an email. Most Powerful Women International, London, June 3-4 Fortune CEO Initiative, New York, June 10-11 Brainstorm Finance, Montauk, June 19-20 Brainstorm Tech, Aspen, July 15-17 Fortune Global Sustainability Forum, Yunnan, China, September 5-6 Most Powerful Women International, Toronto, September 16-17 Brainstorm AI, Boston, September 23-24 Most Powerful Women Summit, Washington, D.C., October 21-23 Fortune Global Technology Forum, Guangzhou, China, TBD Fortune Global Forum, Paris, November 18-19 MPW Next Gen Summit, Laguna Niguel, California, December 10-11 More news below. And check out Jamie Dimons thoughts on public policyparticularly the need for overhauling education and trainingin his annual shareholders letter here. He may not be running for president, but he is sounding like someone who ought to. Alan Murray @alansmurray alan.murray@fortune.com A hospital has come up with an innovative way to ease young patients who are anxious before surgery: giving them miniature cars to drive to the operating room! Staff at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California, recently scored a miniature pink Volkswagen Beetle and a black Mercedes for their young patients heading into surgery and now they can see the kids stress and anxiety disappear when the children get behind the wheels. These sweet rides take our smallest patients to the operating room, the hospital says in a statement to PEOPLE. The goal is to reduce anxiety and stress, and make the experience less scary for everyone involved. The idea was thought of by pre-op nurse Kimberly Martinez, who did research and found the cars have a lasting impact on young patients. So far, the unique approach has been a success, the hospital explains. When the children find out they can go into the operating room riding in a cool little car, they light up, and in most cases, their fears melt away, the hospital says. In addition, when parents see their children put at ease, it puts them at ease as well. A child, who is not a patient, testing out one of the cars While the hospital purchased the black Mercedes car, the pink Beetle was donated by an employee and her family. The one-seater cars are both equipped with a stereo and a collection of preloaded music and an MP3 player, which the kids can operate themselves or by remote control. RELATED: Justin Timberlake Responds to Viral Video from Childrens Hospital by Showing Up for a Visit Not only that, but the cars have doors that open, working headlights and back-up and dashboard lights. These moments of happiness before something as serious as surgery can be invaluable. It can be traumatizing for a young patient to be peeled away from their parents as they head into surgery, the hospital adds. This truly helps everyone involved. By Valerie Volcovici and David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The state of California filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to force two federal agencies to provide data they used to justify rolling back landmark Obama-era vehicle emission standards, accusing the Trump administration of "willfully withholding" information. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request seeking data and analysis backing their proposal to freeze federal vehicle emission standards at 2020 levels through 2026. In addition to weaker fuel efficiency standards, the Trump administration proposal would strip California of the ability to impose stricter rules, which a dozen other states have adopted. In 2011, California had agreed to harmonize its emissions with the Obama administration's vehicle emissions requirements through 2025. "This lawsuit will break down their silence and secrecy," said Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board. "The public has a right to see all the facts and analysis used to support a rollback that increases oil consumption, hurts consumers, and pumps more air pollution and hundreds of million tons of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere. The two federal agencies did not immediately comment. The Obama-era rules called for a fleetwide fuel efficiency average of 46.7 miles per gallon by 2026, compared with 37 mpg under the Trump administration's preferred option. The lawsuit is the latest escalation in the feud between California and the Trump administration over vehicle emission standards. In February, the White House ended negotiations with California over the plans to freeze fuel rules and pressured automakers to back their efforts. California and 19 other states demanded the Trump administration abandon its proposal. States sued last year over the EPA's decision to revisit its January 2017 determination the 2025 rules were feasible. Story continues Automakers like General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp oppose a freeze but want requirements reduced to account for changes in oil prices and consumer demand. The EPA is on track to release final emissions rules by "spring or early summer," Administrator Andrew Wheeler told reporters on Thursday. Wheeler hopes California will not sue EPA once it releases final requirements, but if it does he suggested California do it quickly "to ensure regulatory certainty." Deputy NHTSA Administrator Heidi King said on Friday that dramatically higher fuel efficiency rules can "hinder safety" by raising the price of new, safer vehicles. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler) Ottawa (AFP) - Canada's Supreme Court on Thursday declined to hear an appeal from a group of Ecuadoran villagers seeking compensation from the Canadian subsidiary of US energy giant Chevron over oil pollution in the Amazon jungle. The indigenous villagers from central Ecuador want the company to pay for pollution of native lands between 1964 and 1992 by Texaco, a US oil subsidiary the firm bought in 2001. The decision, for which the court did not offer a reason, puts an end to the group's attempt to sue Chevron Canada Limited for $9.5 billion in compensation. The original ruling dates back to 2011 and was twice upheld on appeal in Ecuador. But, as the company has no assets in Ecuador, the plaintiffs turned to courts in several other countries -- including the US, Canada, Brazil and Argentina -- to try and enforce the ruling. An Ontario appeals court had previously ruled in 2017 that the firm's Canadian subsidiary was a legally distinct from its US parent company and its assets could not be seized. The Supreme Court's decision also comes after an appeals court in The Hague cancelled a September ruling in Ecuador that Chevron pay $9.5 billion in damages. In a statement, Chevron celebrated the decision -- claiming the ruling in Ecuador was "procured through bribery, fraud and other racketeering activity." Rally to stop climate change outside the Ontario Legislative Building at Queens Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 11, 2019. (Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images) A report released this week by Environment and Climate Change Canada reveals some startling truths about the countrys future. Titled Canadas Changing Climate Report, the document forecasts grim and catastrophic changes to the landscape of the country, as a direct result of environmental changes. The most startling takeaway from the document is that Canada is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world. And while the future isnt written in stone, the actions we take immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will influence whether temperatures will go up by either two degrees or six degrees. Other disturbing findings from the report include: More bouts of hot, intense temperatures, as a result of warming climate. Warming oceans around Canada, which result in acidic water. Northern Canada is warming three times faster than the global average. More heavy rainfall across the country, but a decrease during the summer months. Really bad or catastrophic Keith Stewart, Senior Energy Strategist with Greenpeace Canada, describes the two potential future environmental outcomes in the country as either really bad or catastrophic. Canada will continue to warm, regardless of whether we cut back greenhouse gas emissions or not, it just depends at what rate. We have to take our foot off the accelerator before we hit a brick wall, he tells Yahoo Canada. Maybe having a better airbag is a good thing but do you want to hit the wall at 20 kilometres an hour or 120? While the projections of the report focus on mid-century or end of century, Dr. Megan Kirchmeier-Young, a research scientist with Environment Climate Change Canada, says we cant expect extreme weather that leads to forest fires and flooding to suddenly go away. Well continue to have heavy rainfalls that will lead to flooding and longer growing seasons, she says. This impacts on the heating and cooling days - how long well need to run our heaters or air conditioning. Story continues An overhead view showing homes in a flooded Montreal suburb of Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada May 11, 2017. (Photo by REUTERS/Christinne Muschi) Boiling down warming Canadas high rate of warming boils down to two reasons: land areas warm faster, and an increased warming in all of the arctic and northern high latitudes. Kirchmeier-Young explains that this is because of the melting of snow and ice. If you take a bright surface like white snow or sea ice, it reflects a lot of sunlight back, she explains. And without that, youre replacing it with darker land or water surface and so thats absorbing more of the incoming radiation, and that will warm the surface more, and increase the warming and lead to further reduction in snow and sea ice. While Canada is warming faster than the rest of the world, circumpolar countries like Russia, Sweden and Finland are also seeing warming at a similar rate. Brace for extreme weather Stewart explains that specific regions will experience different weather extremes within the next 50 years. He predicts extended periods of drought for the Prairies, while the Boreal forest region will see more forest fires as a result of tinder-dry conditions. The coastal areas of the east coast will get hit with more hurricanes and continue to rise in water levels, which will lead to more flooding. What were going to see with this is stronger heatwaves and drought, which damage crops, he says. There will be more forest fires, which we saw in B.C. last year. Those will become much more frequent. The extreme weather changes also have real potential to affect wildlife. Stewart says that the types of changes described in the report are changes that have happened before, pre-civilization, over the course of 50,000 years. Forests can move, ecosystems can slowly shift, he says. But when you pack these changes into the course of 50 years...were not the Lord of the Rings movie where the forest gets up and goes somewhere else. The forest burns because its no longer in the right climate zone that its designed. He says the amount of species that become extinct, and the damage done to our landscape, will depend on how big and fast the changes are, which comes down to us. People are going to lose their homes to storms, wildfires and flooding, he says. Businesses are going to be disrupted. Its just a question of how many and how soon. Thats what we have control over. We also have to make investments to protect from flooding and wildfires. A polar bear walks along the shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba August 23, 2010. Researchers have issued warnings in recent years that climate change is hurting northern Manitoba's polar bear population. (Photo by REUTERS/Chris Wattie) The report finds that if the country goes the way of a low emissions scenario, temperatures will stabilize. If it continues on the high emissions route, the results will be grim. It all comes down to the changes we make as humans. One of the key findings of the report is that Canada has warmed and thats largely due to human emissions, says Kirchmeier-Young. Along with that, how much we continue to warm depends on how much we continue to emit. A crypto exchange is launching a stablecoin pegged to teh Canadian dollar. | Source: Shutterstock By CCN.com: Canadian cryptocurrency exchange Coinsquare has announced plans to launch a CAD-pegged stablecoin. To be known as the eCAD, the stablecoin will be exchanged for the Canadian dollar on a 1:1 basis. The eCAD is expected to breathe life into Canadas crypto markets and beyond according to Coinsquares CEO, Cole Diamond: The launch of eCAD will create the first transparent, affordable, and secure way of transferring value in Canada and beyond, without the risk of instability in the traditional cryptocurrency market. What Reserves? Pitfalls for eCAD to Avoid Coinsquare has claimed that for every one eCAD created, one Canadian dollar (CAD) will be held in reserve. Though it is too early to tell whether this will be greeted with cynicism, Coinsquare can learn from the mistakes other stablecoins have made. Specifically, Coinsquare should strive to build confidence in its stablecoin by exercising transparency from the earliest opportunity. Lack of transparency is an issue that has dogged the largest stablecoin by market cap, Tether (USDT), to its detriment. Just last month Tether finally admitted that the USDT is not 100 percent backed by actual dollar reserves, according to Forbes. This was spotted in the fine print on its website. Initially, it said that Every tether is always backed 1-to-1 by traditional currency held in our serves. Read the full story on CCN.com. Photo Illustration The Daily Beast/NYPD Five days after a New York City teacher went missing, police believe they have found her body burned beyond recognition inside a storage facility in Staten Island, a senior NYPD official told The Daily Beast on Thursday. Jeanine Cammarata, a 37-year-old mother of three, was last seen around 9 p.m. Saturday leaving her boyfriends house to pick up two of her children from her estranged husband, Michael Cammarata. The first-grade teacher was reported missing on Tuesday after she failed to show up to Staten Islands P.S. 29, her part-time job at a Dollar Tree, and a Monday court hearing in her divorce case against Michael Cammarata, authorities said. After a multi-county search, police arrived at the Extra Space Store in Village Greens, Staten Island, on Thursday morning and found a body charred beyond visual confirmation. A senior law-enforcement official said that its very likely the body belongs to Jeanine Cammarata. The investigation is ongoing but we can confirm we received a body relating to this case this morning, a Medical Examiners Office spokesperson told The Daily Beast, adding that since the body is hard to identity, the official determination on its identity may take several weeks. Usually in hard cases, we need dental records for 100 percent accuracy. Police are now investigating whether Cammarata was murdered, and her estranged husband is considered the primary suspect, NYPD Assistant Chief William Aubry said in a press conference Thursday. Michael Cammarata, 42, was taken into police custody on Tuesday night and charged with felony counts of stalking and assault after he admitted to striking Jeanine the day before she disappeared, a law-enforcement source said. Surveillance video obtained by police shows Michael Cammarata leaving his Far Rockaway, Queens, apartment with a bag Saturday evening, according to WLNY. A short time later, video at the Staten Island storage facility shows a man entering with appears to be the same bag, police said. Story continues With the discovery of these human remains, the investigation has taken a turn into a murder investigation, Aubry said. We are working with the Staten Island district attorney to establish probable cause and to charge him with murder. The Staten Island District Attorneys office did not respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment, and the father-of-two has not been charged in relation to his wifes disappearance. Police, however, said they have recovered his 2016 Gray Chrysler Town and Country and that he remained in police custody on Thursday. Jeanine Cammaratas attorney, Eric Gansberg, confirmed that Jeanine had served divorce papers to her estranged husband in February. The couple has been separated for about two years, he said. I believe he probably beat her, because she was afraid of him. She was so terrified of him, Gansberg said, adding that the pair were in an ongoing child custody battle for their 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. Cammaratas third child is from her first husband. The Cammaratas had a tumultuous relationship and ultimately split over infidelity in the marriage, the senior NYPD official told The Daily Beast. Gansburg said the decision to live apart came after several prior domestic incident reports and the couple had a visitation agreement that allowed the 37-year-old mother to visit her children in Queens, where her husband, who had primary custody, had relocated. Her husband started to get dictatorial about when she could see the children and she wanted to take action, Gansberg said. After her boyfriend reported her missing on Tuesday, investigators interviewed Michael Cammarata [who] admitted he was with Jeanine on Sunday, the senior law-enforcement official said. Cammarata admitted to having sex with her and later to striking her, the official said. The next morning, there was a suspicious message that one of Jeanines friend received from [Jeanines] Facebook messenger stating that she needed a break from everything, the official said. This is very out of the norm for Jeanine to send a message like this because she never uses that social media app. It was not immediately known whether Michael Cammarata has an attorney. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Newly elected Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed Wednesday to investigate why the Cook County states attorneys office dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett despite the compelling evidence that suggests he staged a hate crime against himself to further his own career. The states attorneys office here which made the decision unilaterally to drop the charges has to give a much more fulsome explanation, Lightfoot said Wednesday on MSNBC. We cannot create the perception that if youre rich or famous or both that you got one set of justice and for everybody else, its something much harsher. That wont do, and we need to make sure that we have a criminal justice system that has integrity. The states attorneys office has to provide more information about the rationale for the decision to drop the charges. Cook County States Attorney Kimberly Foxx last month dropped all 17 charges that were brought against Smollett in February after police determined hed hired two friends to stage a racist, homophobic, politically motivated attack against him. Foxxs office, in explaining the decision, cited Smolletts record of community service and the fact that no one was physically harmed in the commission of the alleged crime. Smollett was indicted on obstruction of justice charges by a grand jury after two brothers, one of whom worked on Empire with him, confessed to helping him stage the attack for pay. Their confessions were bolstered by surveillance video of the two men buying the items used in the attack, as well as the recovery of a check they say Smollett gave them in exchange for their services. I saw . . . a very compelling case, with videotapes, witness statements, and other information that looked like he had staged a hoax, Lightfoot said of the existing evidence. And if that happens, hes got to be held accountable. Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel lashed out at Foxxs office after the charges were dropped, calling the decision a whitewash of justice that furthered the perception that the rich and famous are immune from prosecution. Story continues While Smollett did surrender his $10,000 bond as part of the agreement that led to his charges being dropped, he has refused to pay the $130,000 bill presented to him by the Chicago Department of Law for the police-overtime hours expended in investigating his case. The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police has called for a federal investigation into Foxxs handling of the case, citing her documented attempts to convince police superintendent Eddie Johnson to hand over the investigation to the FBI at the behest of one of Smolletts relatives. More from National Review Days after he defended a supposed Sh96 million confidential budget allocation, Nairobi governor Mike Sonko now wants the money to be diverted elsewhere. Sonko, who was put on the spot by an oversight committee, explained that the money was for emergencies. This money is there for emergency. Like recently we had the Toi Market fire, part of that money went to the traders whose structures were completely razed by the fire. Everything I spent I spend it at capacity as the Governor of Nairobi and I can account for it with receipts. Why should I make that budget confidential. That is misleading. Whoever is trying to implicate me in those funny cases, that is nonsense of the highest order, Sonko said on Monday. On Thursday, however, Sonko said the Ksh.96million confidential budget allocation will be used to upgrade health facilities in the county. I want to say that although the Ksh.96million confidential budget had been allocated for operational expenses in my office, I wont utilise the funds. I now want the funds to be used to upgrade our health facilities across Nairobi, said Sonko in a statement sent to newsrooms. He termed the move as a major boost for the health sector since his office does not require the money. Chicago (AFP) - Chicago officials said Thursday they will sue US television actor Jussie Smollett because he refused to repay costs associated with investigating the alleged hate crime hoax he is accused of orchestrating. The black, openly gay actor has denied accusations that he hired two acquaintances to stage a racist and homophobic attack in order to gain publicity. He faced 16 felony counts, which prosecutors dropped in a surprise court hearing late last month -- allowing Smollett to walk free after forfeiting $10,000 in bond and performing two days of community service -- but without admitting guilt. The case's resolution, which prosecutors said was similar to thousands of other low-level offenses handled in Chicago courts, caused widespread outrage and led President Donald Trump to declare federal investigators would look into the case. City officials had sent a letter to Smollett's attorneys demanding he repay the $130,000 cost of police overtime for the investigation by Thursday or face new legal action. Bill McCaffrey from Chicago's Law Department said the actor "refused to reimburse" the money and that officials were "drafting a civil complaint." "The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the Law Department will pursue the full measure of damages allowed," McCaffrey said in a statement. Smollett's initial report of being attacked in the middle of the night in late January generated nationwide shock and outpouring of sympathy. The subsequent allegations that he lied led city officials to accuse the 36-year-old of tarnishing Chicago's reputation for personal gain. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina's former top insurance regulator said Friday he never performed favors for a big-money donor and he relied on staff experts when his agency approved changes benefiting the businessman now charged with trying to bribe the state's current insurance commissioner. Wayne Goodwin, now the state Democratic Party chairman, said in his first interview since federal indictments were unsealed this week that he always trusted financial experts on his staff and acted within the law. The state's GOP chairman is among those facing charges, and other Republicans and Democrats are facing questions about donations from mega-donor Greg Lindberg. Goodwin hasn't been accused of wrongdoing. But his Republican successor said in an interview this week that under the Democrat, Lindberg insurance companies were allowed to move far more money out of claim-paying reserves than was the previous norm. Goodwin argues his potential political rival is simply attempting to tie him to the scandal. During Goodwin's eight-year tenure ending in early 2017, the state Insurance Department sharply raised the amount of money Lindberg's insurers could move out of claim-paying reserves into other companies under his corporate umbrella. Some of the life-insurance assets were invested in higher-paying, higher-risk loans to non-insurance companies in which Lindberg holds a stake, a spokesman said in a statement last month. "Anything that would have been done would have either been done by a subject-matter expert or would have been raised briefly to my attention and I said, 'What do you think? Is this appropriate? Is this your recommendation?' I really don't recall any of the details," Goodwin said. North Carolina, unlike some states, lacks hard limits on insurers investing assets with related companies. One guideline that state insurance regulators often apply is limiting invested assets in affiliated companies to 10%. Story continues Mike Causey, the Republican who defeated Goodwin in 2016, said his predecessor let the investment cap for Lindberg's companies rise to 40%. "There were some exceptions made here and it was different than what they had done with other companies," he said. Lindberg has shifted at least $2 billion accumulated from insurance-policy premiums into other businesses in the network of companies he controls, the Wall Street Journal reported in February. Lindberg's net worth was about $1.7 billion at the end of 2017, a spokesman said in a statement last month. "I would like to have known that," Goodwin said. "That certainly would have been a major red flag to me and it appears from what I'm reading that there are things that have happened or are happening that not even the subject-matter experts expected." Goodwin said he has been given no indication that he is a target of federal investigators. Lindberg's Global Bankers Insurance Group sought and received "the explicit approval of his affiliate investment strategy" from Goodwin's agency when he moved his insurance operations to North Carolina about five years ago, company spokesman Scott Lindlaw said in an email. "Significant discussions took place between Mr. Lindberg, his then-management team and NCDOI staff prior to their agreement to permit Mr. Lindberg to pursue this investment strategy. Mr. Lindberg's investment strategy was approved in advance by the NCDOI," Lindlaw wrote in an email. After Causey took over in 2017, the agency expressed concern about the size of the related-company investments and Lindberg's North Carolina-based insurance companies have downsized them with the goal of cutting to 10% of assets, Lindlaw said. Lindberg, his associates John D. Gray and John V. Palermo Jr., and state Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes were accused in federal indictments unsealed this week of trying to bribe Causey to give Lindberg's insurers easier oversight. Lindberg's demands allegedly included replacing a deputy responsible for examining Global Bankers' accounts. In return, Causey could get up to $2 million in reelection campaign help, the indictment said. Lindberg has contributed more than $7 million since 2016 to state and federal candidates and committees, significantly favoring Republican causes. At their first meeting in November 2017, Lindberg asked Causey to call insurance commissioners in other states to vouch for Lindberg in his effort to close deals in their states. Causey refused to say in the interview whether he made those calls to help Lindberg. Causey hasn't been accused of wrongdoing. Goodwin, who didn't rule out challenging Causey, said the Republican's criticisms of him are an attempt to tie him to the scandal. "I did not take any action in my official capacity in exchange for any campaign contributions or anything like that. I am outraged and shocked to learn what the Republicans have done," Goodwin said. Lindberg and his wife contributed almost $20,000 to Goodwin's unsuccessful 2016 campaign. Lindberg also contributed $450,000 to an independent group that bought campaign ads supporting Goodwin, including $100,000 nearly a year after Goodwin's loss, according to state campaign finance records. The committee's treasurer was alleged bribery co-conspirator Palermo. The committee shut down in May. Goodwin has also been paid for consulting work on behalf of Global Bankers and Eli Global, Lindberg's broader conglomerate of insurance and other companies. Meanwhile, U.S. Reps. Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry and Ted Budd, who received Lindberg contributions, said they're giving the money to charities, their spokesmen said Friday. Rep. Mark Walker's spokesman did not respond to how the congressman is treating Lindberg's donations. ___ Follow Emery P. Dalesio on Twitter at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/emery%20dalesio . Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Attractive stocks have exceptional fundamentals. In the case of Net Gaming Europe AB (publ) (STO:NETG), there's is a company with a a great history of performance, trading at a discount. In the following section, I expand a bit more on these key aspects. For those interested in understanding where the figures come from and want to see the analysis, read the full report on Net Gaming Europe here. Undervalued with proven track record NETG delivered a triple-digit bottom-line expansion over the past couple of years, with its most recent earnings level surpassing its average level over the last five years. Not only did NETG outperformed its past performance, its growth also surpassed the Hospitality industry expansion, which generated a 15% earnings growth. This is an notable feat for the company. NETG is currently trading below its true value, which means the market is undervaluing the company's expected cash flow going forward. This mispricing gives investors the opportunity to buy into the stock at a cheap price compared to the value they will be receiving, should analysts' consensus forecast growth be correct. Compared to the rest of the hospitality industry, NETG is also trading below its peers, relative to earnings generated. This supports the theory that NETG is potentially underpriced. OM:NETG Income Statement, April 5th 2019 Next Steps: For Net Gaming Europe, there are three pertinent aspects you should look at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for NETGs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for NETGs outlook. Financial Health: Are NETGs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other Attractive Alternatives : Are there other well-rounded stocks you could be holding instead of NETG? Explore our interactive list of stocks with large potential to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats have asked the Internal Revenue Service to hand over President Donald Trumps tax returns but theres no guarantee they will make them public. While Democrats have demanded the immediate public release of special counsel Robert Muellers report on his investigation into Trump and his 2016 campaign, they say Trumps tax returns might contain information worth keeping confidential. We will honor the presidents privacy, review them carefully with experts before making any decision on whether they should be released to the Congress and the public, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Thursday on MSNBC. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) asked the IRS this week for six years worth of Trumps personal and business tax returns. The tax code gives the chair the power to ask for any Americans tax information, and it says the treasury secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request. Nevertheless, Trump and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin have suggested they wont do so, meaning Neal would have to go to federal court to compel the release of the returns. Nobody knows how long such a case would take. In the meantime, Republicans say Democrats are abusing their power and invading Trumps privacy. Weaponizing our nations tax code by targeting political foes sets a dangerous precedent and weakens Americans privacy rights, said Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the top Republican on Ways and Means. Trump is an unusually private president the first in four decades not to have voluntarily released at least one year of his tax returns, which can show how much money people made, how they made it and how much tax they paid. And hes the first modern president not to divest from his businesses upon assuming office, which presents a conflict of interest because anyone seeking to influence his administration can put money directly into his pocket. Tax documents could offer clues as to whos paying Trump. Story continues This week Trump has repeated his 2016 campaign excuse for not releasing his taxes, saying that he cant because hes under audit. Its a weird excuse because audits dont prohibit individuals from sharing their returns and because the IRS automatically audits the president every year, which never stopped past presidents from releasing their returns. Neal said in his request that Congress needs to know more about the scope of the presidential audits. A committee aide said lawmakers didnt even know whether the mandatory IRS audit encompassed Trumps personal and business returns. In 1924 Congress gave itself the power to obtain tax records as a check on corruption in the executive branch of government, partly because thenTreasury Secretary Andrew Mellon still operated his private businesses. Before 1924, the president could release private tax info, but Congress couldnt demand it. Congress added confidentiality protections to private tax information in 1976 after the Nixon administration was caught plotting to use the IRS to harass his perceived enemies. The penalties for unlawful disclosure include up to five years in prison. Its because of the confidentiality provisions that Republicans say Democrats are invading Trumps privacy and that Democrats say they will tread carefully. But the law already specifies that they must, since it says info from Treasury shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session, meaning not during a public hearing. The committee has to vote to make the tax documents public something Republicans did in 2014 when they were investigating allegations that the IRS mistreated conservative groups seeking nonprofit tax-exempt status. Using the same law theyre now saying Democrats are abusing, Republicans obtained and released the private tax information of 51 organizations. Ken Kies, a Republican and former chief tax counsel for the Ways and Means Committee, testified in February that while the law clearly gives Congress the power to get tax returns, its power to disclose the documents is much less clear. He said Republicans broke the law in 2014. I would not have advised them to do that, he said. The laws text doesnt specify that returns can be made public just that they can be submitted to the full House or Senate. But the law doesnt say that either chamber needs to be in a closed executive session, which means the statutes authors intended for the documents to become public at that point, according to George Yin, a tax professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. Among Democrats, Doggett and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) have been the most vocal about the need to get Trumps returns. But theyve also stressed that they wont be careless about disclosure. Pascrell wrote in the Yale Journal of Regulation last year that the committee would use the utmost caution before releasing Trumps tax returns. We will weigh the public good against his personal interest in keeping them hidden, he wrote. It is a powerful responsibility, and one none of us take lightly. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Arno Schuetze FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank favor a straightforward merger over more complex ways to structure a deal, three people close to the matter said. In their base case scenario, a transaction would be organized as a share offer from Deutsche Bank for Commerzbank, they said. That structure is preferred to the creation of a new holding company, which is viewed as too difficult to execute. "The holding structure is dead," one of the people said, referring to setting up a holding company that would buy Deutsche and Commerzbank in return for shares of the new bank. Sources said last year that Deutsche Bank was examining creating a holding company structure amid speculation at the time that it could merge with Commerzbank. Last month the two banks confirmed they were in talks about a merger. A preliminary decision on whether they want to go forward is expected within days. The people cautioned that no decision has yet been taken on a potential deal structure and there is still no certainty that a deal will be struck at all. Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank declined to comment. Regulators in the United States, Britain and Switzerland tend to favor the bank holding company structure, in part because it can help with the winding down of a troubled bank. There has been a push since the financial crash to make banks easier to break up, lowering the risk that the problems of a troubled investment bank, for instance, could affect ordinary savers. About 90 percent of U.S. banks, including Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, operate as holding companies, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. But converting to a holding company structure can be costly. In Deutsche and Commerzbank's case, defining the relative value of the two banks for a holding structure would be more complicated than simply negotiating a price for a simple takeover, the sources said. As part of a deal, Deutsche Bank will be asked by the European Central Bank to raise fresh funds to plug capital holes resulting from asset revaluations and expected restructuring costs, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said earlier this week. Story continues Issues around regulatory capital - and how to make use of the fact that Commerzbank trades well below book level, which can be used to boost such capital - are a talking point between the two banks. Other issues focus on synergies, job cuts as well as legal and tax issues, people familiar with the matter have said. (Reporting by Arno Schuetze; additional reporting by Kathrin Jones and Tom Sims; Editing by Susan Fenton and Louise Heavens) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Some stocks are best avoided. We don't wish catastrophic capital loss on anyone. For example, we sympathize with anyone who was caught holding China Creative Global Holdings Limited (HKG:1678) during the five years that saw its share price drop a whopping 89%. There was little comfort for shareholders in the last week as the price declined a further 3.2%. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness. See our latest analysis for China Creative Global Holdings China Creative Global Holdings isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. In the last five years China Creative Global Holdings saw its revenue shrink by 41% per year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. So it's not altogether surprising to see the share price down 36% per year in the same time period. We don't think this is a particularly promising picture. Ironically, that behavior could create an opportunity for the contrarian investor - but only if there are good reasons to predict a brighter future. Depicted in the graphic below, you'll see revenue and earnings over time. If you want more detail, you can click on the chart itself. SEHK:1678 Income Statement, April 5th 2019 Balance sheet strength is crucual. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 0.2% in the twelve months, China Creative Global Holdings shareholders did even worse, losing 6.2%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, longer term shareholders are suffering worse, given the loss of 35% doled out over the last five years. We'd need to see some sustained improvements in the key metrics before we could muster much enthusiasm. Shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Paris (AFP) - Planet-warming carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere -- at its highest level in three million years -- is poised to lock in dramatic temperature and sea level rises over a timescale of centuries, scientists warned this week. The last time that CO2 hit 400 parts per million (ppm) Greenland was ice free and trees grew at the edge of Antarctica. It was long thought that today's greenhouse gas levels were no greater than those 800,000 years ago, during a period of cyclical planetary warming and cooling that would have likely continued but for manmade emissions. But analyses of ice cores and ocean sediments in the coldest place on Earth have now revealed that 400 ppm was last surpassed three million years ago during the Late Pliocene, when temperatures were several degrees Celsius higher, and oceans at least 15 metres deeper. At the same time, state-of-the-art climate modelling by experts at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) have correlated directly with the CO2 levels found in these Antarctic samples. "The Late Pliocene is relatively close to us in terms of CO2 levels," Matteo Willeit, PIK member and lead study author, told AFP. "Our models suggest that there were no glacial cycles -- there were no big ice sheets in the northern hemisphere. CO2 was too high and the climate was too warm to allow big ice sheets to grow." Nations in 2015 struck the landmark Paris deal on climate change, promising to curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit temperature rises to "well below" 2 Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). Yet 2017 saw emissions levels unsurpassed in human history, and climate experts warn that time has all but run out to drastically slash fossil fuel use and avert runaway global warming. - Seas 15-20 metres higher - Scientists gathered this week in London for a conference on the Pliocene epoch, and highlighted the lessons to be learned today embedded in its ancient ice and sediment samples. Story continues "The headline news is that temperatures were 3-4 degrees higher globally than they are today, and sea levels were 15-20 metres (50-65 feet) higher," Martin Siegert, professor of geoscience at Imperial College London, told reporters. With just 1C of warming so far, Earth is already dealing with floods, droughts and superstorms made worse by rising seas. Siegert said that 400 ppm didn't mean that the severity of Pliocene sea-level rises was imminent. But unless humans figure a way to suck CO2 out of the air on a massive scale, severe impacts are inevitable, sooner or later. "There's a lag," he explained. "If you turn on the oven at home and set it to 200C, it doesn't reach that (level) immediately. It's the same for climate." Siegert said glaciologists, based on current CO2 concentrations, expect between 50 centimetres and one metre of sea-level rise this century. "It would be difficult for it to be much more than that because it takes time to melt," he added. "But it doesn't stop at 2100 -- it keeps going." - Rocketing pace of CO2 - In October, the UN concluded that greenhouse gas emissions must decline by about half within 12 years to preserve a chance of capping global warming at 1.5C, the level needed to avoid severe climate impacts. But despite these and earlier warnings, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use, construction, aviation and agribusiness continue to rise, and are currently on track to heat up the planet 4C by century's end. Even without additional carbon pollution, the outlook remains bleak. "If we stay at 400 ppm, we stay on the course to a Pliocene-like climate," said Tina van De Flierdt, a professor of isotope geochemistry at Imperial. She warned that under similar conditions to the present day, the Pliocene saw the disappearance of the Greenland ice sheet -- which today holds enough frozen water to raise sea levels by some seven metres worldwide. "The West Antarctica ice sheet holds about 5 metres -- that was probably gone," she added. As is happening today, Earth's poles warmed far quicker than the rest of the planet during the Pliocene, earlier research has shown, including a study in Nature Climate Change. During earlier periods, Earth has seen sustained concentrations of carbon dioxide was even higher than 400 ppm, but it took millions of years for those increases to occur. Manmade greenhouse gas emissions, on the other hand, have boosted CO2 levels by more than 40 percent in a little over 150 years. - 'A crazy experiment' - At 412 ppm and rising, experts said temperature rises of 3-4C are likely now locked in. So what happened to Earth the last time CO2 was so prevalent? It was captured in the trees, plants, animals and minerals alive at the time and buried underground when they died. "And what we've been doing for the last 150 years is digging it all up and putting it back into the atmosphere," said Siegert. "It's like a crazy experiment: 'Let's take that CO2 that took 100 million years to be sequestrated and put it back -- instantly, on a geological timescale -- in the atmosphere and see what happens'". Media personality Johnson Mwakazi says his lowest moment in life was when WTV (Wholesome TV) had to close up shop after three years of operation. The former Citizen TV news presenter was the CEO of WTV after he had quit the Royal Media Services owned channel. I started a TV station and after three years it didnt work out. I remember there were families depending on it as their source of daily bread, and to call them and tell them we are closing down and that we would be releasing some of them was the lowest moment in my entire life. Mwakazi adds; Sometimes I meet them, Im glad some have jobs, but when I look back, if only I had the option, I would have given them. I would have wanted to have more people employed there. The golden-voiced journalist and voice-over artiste now runs his company, Royal Voice. Nowadays, I tell myself that maybe this is where I will feed more people and generations to come, says Mwakazi. In a radio interview, Mwakazi also opened up his battle with pornography addiction back in the day. He said he was introduced to the vice by a friend. I realized how influence can work. It wrecked my life but I thank this pastor who came and introduced me to faith, and I realised there is something bigger. I wish someone would have told me before, he said. He said every time he watched porn, he felt some guilt. That guilt is part of the change because it does not just stop by saying I am stopping. It does not work like that, but you have to pick yourself up. Mwakazi called on parents not to wait until their children are introduced to vices like drugs by strangers. Be open to these issues and really speak about your stand. The family of a boy who vanished at the age of six in 2011 had their hopes dashed last night when it emerged a teenager, who claimed to be the missing child, was not telling the truth. The youth claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen, whose disappearance from Aurora, Illinois, became a high-profile case. But the FBI said DNA tests showed he was not. An FBI spokesman said: "DNA results have been returned indicating the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen. A local investigation continues into this person's true identity." He added: "To be clear, law enforcement has not, and will not, forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today." According to a police report, the teenage boy said he had been held captive by two bodybuilder-type men for years and escaped from a hotel where they were staying, running across a bridge as he fled. The boy, wearing a red hooded top and green jacket, was found standing next to a road junction in Sharonville, a suburb of Cincinnati, 300 miles from Aurora, Illinois. Witnesses said he had bruises on his face and seemed very scared and agitated. Police were called and he identified himself as Timmothy Pitzen. A missing poster for Timmothy Pitzen Credit: AFP There have been several reported sightings of Timmothy, who would now be 14, over the years. Police and his family had treated this latest development with caution. Before the results of the DNA test, Alana Anderson, his grandmother, said: Im praying its him and hes OK. There have been so many tips and sightings and whatnot, and you try not to panic or be overly excited. Every day you hope, and every day you worry. We never forgot, never stopped thinking about him every day, stayed in touch with the police. It just went cold, and I just prayed that when he was old enough that he would remember us and contact us. Timmothy vanished in May 2011 after his mother picked him up at school and took him on a three-day road trip, which included going to a zoo and a water park. Story continues Amy Fry-Pitzen, 43, then took her own life at a hotel, leaving a note saying that her son was safe but would never be found. The mother wrote: Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him. You will never find him. Relatives said she had battled depression and was having problems with her fourth marriage when she took her own life. No trace of the boy, including the Spider-Man backpack he had with him when last seen, was ever found. Timmothy with his mother The boy claiming to be Timmothy told police the two men holding him had driven a white Ford SUV with Wisconsin licence plates and a dent on the back bumper, and were staying at a budget Red Roof Inn hotel when he escaped. The police report said: Timmothy described the two kidnappers as two male, whites, bodybuilder type build. One had black curly hair, Mountain Dew shirt and jeans and has a spider web tattoo on his neck. The other was short in stature and had a snake tattoo on his arms. Police said the boy was taken to hospital but did not give any details of his condition. The FBI and local police forces searched hotels, including Red Roof Inns, for the men. The long search for Timmothy has included police releasing computer-generated images of what he would look like at ages nine and 13. Among the unconfirmed sightings was one in 2014 when a woman in Rockton, Illinois contacted police after seeing a boy who looked like Timmothy at her garage sale. Sign up for your essential, twice-daily briefing from The Telegraph with our free Front Page newsletter. CINCINNATI In a stunning development, the FBI announced Thursday that the person claiming to be Timmothy Pitzen, missing since 2011, is actually Brian Michael Rini, 23, of Medina, Ohio. Who is Rini? Why did he identify himself as Pitzen? What happens next? Here's what we know, and don't know. Who is Brian Michael Rini? Very little is known about him at this point. We do know that he was found in the 740 block of Columbia Street in Newport, Kentucky, on Wednesday, where he told police he was held captive for seven years by two men. He gave Pitzen's name and date of birth to police. Fox19 reported that the side of his face was "bad" and he looked like he'd been "jumped." It's unclear what part of the story, if anything, is true. Who is Timmothy Pitzen: Boy who disappeared nearly 8 years ago from the Chicago area? Related: Teen found by police says he is Timmothy Pitzen, Illinois child who disappeared 7 years ago Listen to audio: Police respond to report of teen who says he's Timmothy Pitzen Why did he say he was Timmothy Pitzen? Neither the FBI or Newport Police released information about his motive. Will Brian Rini face criminal charges? Law enforcement officials haven't said whether Rini will face any charges. What does Pitzen's family say? "It's devastating," said Karla Jacobs, Pitzen's aunt, during a press conference Thursday afternoon. "It's like reliving that day all over again." Who is Timmothy Pitzen? Timmothy, originally from Aurora, Illinois, was last seen at a water park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, on May 12, 2011, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Timmothy was last known to be in the company of his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, who was later found dead in Rockford, Illinois, after taking her own life. A note left behind stated Timmothy would never be found, but that he was safe and being cared for by a loved one, according to CBS Chicago. Story continues What happens next? Cincinnati.com reporters are gathering information from law enforcement and other sources. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What we know: DNA tests confirm the person found in Newport is not Timmothy Pitzen Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! A large part of investment returns can be generated by dividend-paying stock given their role in compounding returns over time. Historically, Lam Soon (Hong Kong) Limited (HKG:411) has been paying a dividend to shareholders. Today it yields 2.6%. Let's dig deeper into whether Lam Soon (Hong Kong) should have a place in your portfolio. See our latest analysis for Lam Soon (Hong Kong) 5 questions I ask before picking a dividend stock If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics: Is it the top 25% annual dividend yield payer? Has it consistently paid a stable dividend without missing a payment or drastically cutting payout? Has it increased its dividend per share amount over the past? Is is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will it be able to continue to payout at the current rate in the future? SEHK:411 Historical Dividend Yield, April 5th 2019 Does Lam Soon (Hong Kong) pass our checks? The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for the stock is 28%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. Furthermore, analysts have not forecasted a dividends per share for the future, which makes it hard to determine the yield shareholders should expect, and whether the current payout is sustainable, moving forward. When considering the sustainability of dividends, it is also worth checking the cash flow of a company. Companies with strong cash flow can sustain a higher payout ratio, while companies with weaker cash flow generally cannot. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock you're eyeing out is reliable in its payments. In the case of 411 it has increased its DPS from HK$0.15 to HK$0.40 in the past 10 years. It has also been paying out dividend consistently during this time, as you'd expect for a company increasing its dividend levels. These are all positive signs of a great, reliable dividend stock. Story continues Compared to its peers, Lam Soon (Hong Kong) has a yield of 2.6%, which is high for Food stocks but still below the market's top dividend payers. Next Steps: Taking into account the dividend metrics, Lam Soon (Hong Kong) ticks most of the boxes as a strong dividend investment, putting it in my list of top dividend payers. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I recommend taking sufficient time to understand its core business and determine whether the company and its investment properties suit your overall goals. There are three important aspects you should look at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 411s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 411s outlook. Valuation: What is 411 worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether 411 is currently mispriced by the market. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Dubrovnik (Croatia) (AFP) - Shepherding tourists through the arches and towers of Croatia's medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, Ivan Vukovic spends half his time leading tours of a capital that doesn't exist: the fictional King's Landing from "Game of Thrones". The two cities now rival each other for fame after Dubrovnik -- already a tourist and cruise ship magnet -- became a set in 2011 for the cult HBO series, whose final season starts on April 14. Doubling as King's Landing, the capital of Westeros' Seven Kingdoms, "can be a blessing and it can be a curse" for Dubrovnik, said 38-year-old guide Vukovic. While the "Game of Thrones" stardom has been a boon for his business, it is also bringing a new inundation of visitors to a city already struggling with overcrowding. "It's an amazing thing because it brings us so many people, but now we don't know what to do with those people," said the guide, describing bottlenecks that choke the city's limestone streets in peak summer season. More than half of his tours include landmarks from King's Landing, while the others focus on the genuine history of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO site that dates back to the 7th century and features a maze of churches, palaces and fountains perched above the shimmering Adriatic. Locals no longer bat an eyelid when tourists gather along the old town's baroque Jesuit Staircase to shout "Shame! Shame! Shame!" -- a sight fans recognise as a reenactment of the GoT scene when Queen Cersei is forced to publicly walk naked down the steps after confessing to adultery. - 'Overtourism' - Sitting in the terrace of his pizzeria at the foot of the stairs, owner Niko Grljevic says he doesn't mind the GoT fans, though he would prefer guides urged tourists to refrain from stripping down for an even more authentic rendering of the walk of shame. "We cannot spit in the plate we eat from," says Grljevic. Story continues The bar next to his place offers a "Mojito of Shame" cocktail, while souvenir shops on the main street offer a "Game of Thrones" bottle opener for 40 euros ($45), T-shirts for 34 euros and mugs for 20 euros. Grljevic is a native of the city's old town and one of its last holdouts, with most locals renting out their apartments to tourists or selling them for up to 10,000 euros per square metre. From a population of 5,000 in the early 1990s, the number of residents is down to around "700 of us," he says. After Dubrovnik's debut in season two, the HBO show attracted more than 244,000 tourists -- who spent some 126 million euros -- to Dubrovnik between 2012 and 2015, according to the Zagreb-based Institute of Economics. That, plus the normal influx, raised concerns of an "overtourism" crisis last year, when more than 1.2 million people descended on a city that is home to 42,000 locals. Authorities say they are regulating the timing of cruise ships and have set up cameras in the city to monitor crowd flow. - #KingsLanding - But locals are worried about how to strike the right balance. Gordan Prislic, a 70-year-old pensioner, admits "Game of Thrones" has had some positive effects in boosting the city's popularity but that overcrowding remains a serious concern. "Even the pigeons... have no place to land" in summer, he says, adding: "I'm afraid that tourism will destroy our ancient town." Tour guide Vukovic also remarks on how the old city has been turned into a shopping mall for tourists, whose Instagram posts often feature #KingsLanding as the second hashtag after Dubrovnik. He starts his walks by encouraging people to drink the water from a medieval fountain. "It's the only free thing here," he quips. The guide used to wear a "Dubrovnik is much more than King's Landing" T-shirt but now fears it might alienate some fans and earn him bad reviews online. "For young people, movies and social media became more important than history," he said. By Tom Sims and John O'Donnell FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will ask Deutsche Bank to raise fresh funds before it gives the go-ahead for a merger with a state-backed rival, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. The official said that Deutsche would be required to have the buffer, which has yet to be calculated, to cope should it experience setbacks while integrating Commerzbank if a deal is agreed. The demand could complicate a bid to create Europe's third-largest bank from Germany's top two lenders, Deutsche and Commerzbank, who have struggled to recover since the financial crisis. Government officials, led by Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, have pushed for a merger to create a national banking champion and end questions over the banks' future. While Deutsche has argued the case that little or no capital may be needed, regulators, worried about the group's U.S. investment bank and the potential fallout of it failing a stress test there in September, are putting their foot down. The ECB and Commerzbank declined to comment. Deutsche Bank declined repeated requests for comment on Thursday. On Friday, a spokesman said that there was "no basis" for the assumption that the ECB would ask it to raise fresh funds. On the stress tests, the spokesman said Deutsche had invested heavily in data and model capabilities and would continue to do so. "We believe we have made significant progress," he said. With much left to be negotiated in any deal, the size of a capital hole remains unclear but is expected to run into billions of euros. A merged entity could need up to 10 billion euros ($11.22 billion) of fresh capital because of restructuring costs and the fact that losses on investments could be triggered by a tie-up. Deutsche Bank's exploratory merger talks with Commerzbank come after prodding by Germany's finance ministry, which is worried about Deutsche's future. Story continues A deal would see Berlin become a shareholder in the combined group. Germany currently holds a 15 percent stake in Commerzbank after a bailout during the financial crisis. The banks announced on March 17 that they were in talks to merge and a preliminary decision on whether they want to go forward with a merger is expected within days. Deutsche Bank came under increased pressure on Thursday to move forward on a tie-up with Commerzbank after Italy's UniCredit was named as a potential alternative bidder for the German lender. UniCredit could explore a merger with Commerzbank if talks with Deutsche fall through, two people with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. A potential merger between Deutsche and Commerzbank has met stiff resistance from labor unions fearing jobs cuts, and from some major investors. Lawmakers are also warning Germany's finance minister they will block any attempt to invest public money in a merged Deutsche and Commerzbank. (Reporting by John O'Donnell, Hans Seidenstuecker, Tom Sims, and Arno Schuetze; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Louise Heavens) Paris (AFP) - The most expensive, most watched, most pirated and most award-festooned fictional television series in history... As "Game of Thrones" starts its eighth and final season on April 14, AFP looks back on its record-breaking run. - Massive ratings - First broadcast in 2011 on the US cable channel HBO, "Game of Thrones" -- or GoT to its fans -- was not an overnight phenomenon. But its audiences have never stopped growing and by 2014 it had overtaken HBO's flagship hit, "The Sopranos". By its seventh season in 2017, viewing figures were stratospheric. Its final episode set an all-time US record for premium cable TV with 16.5 million people watching live or streaming on the day of transmission and 15 million more tuning in later. Viewing records also tumbled in many of the 186 countries in which it was shown, with Britain's Sky Atlantic and OCS in France showing episodes in the middle of the night in sync with their US premieres. But the figures become truly mind-boggling when illegal downloading is taken into account, with more than one billion people watching pirated copies of the seventh season. - Colossal budgets - The eighth run-out for "Game of Thrones" is reportedly the most expensive season of TV ever shot, with a budget of $15 million (13 million euros) per episode, taking the overall season cost to $90 million. Although much of this has gone on lavish locations and special effects, the final two episodes will be one hour 20 minutes long -- almost the length of Hollywood movies. HBO knows there is little danger of them not getting their money back, with the franchise so far earning them more than $1 billion, according to the New York Times. The massive investment has also brought the series a record-breaking trove of 47 Emmy Awards from 128 nominations. - Top secret - After the leak of four episodes of season five before it was broadcast, the producers massively overhauled their security. Story continues To throw hackers and pirates off the scent, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have shot several versions of the final episode, a tactic already used for "The Sopranos" and "Breaking Bad". Actress Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, admitted that even she had been fooled into believing a red herring version of the denouement. To make sure no one was snooping, the producers took measures to stop drones overflying their shoots. - Game of Tourists - The series has also been a boon for tourism, particularly in Northern Ireland, where much of the series was shot, with fans flooding in to visit locations in the region which had previously been best known for its violent sectarian past. Iceland and the Spanish cities of Girona in the Catalan north and Osuna near Seville have seen their visitor numbers rocket from special "Game of Thrones" tours. But the Croatian coastal city of Dubrovnik, the setting for King's Landing, discovered you can have too much of a good thing. It has had to put limits on the number of visitors it can receive in its picturesque medieval centre. - Dothraki baby names - Dogs, goldfish and lots of babies have also been named after characters from the series, with Arya -- together with its alternative spelling Aria -- entering the top 20 most popular names for girls in Britain last year. Khaleesi, the honorary title in the imaginary Dothraki language given to Daenerys Targaryen, has also become popular, with 466 little girls in the US and 77 in France named after the queen of dragons last year. The series has been something of a mixed blessing for pets too. Peter Dinklage, who plays "the Imp" Tyrion Lannister, had to appeal to fans to stop buying Siberian husky dogs who look similar to the dire wolves in the show. Animal rights campaigners had complained that the number of huskies abandoned in Britain has risen seven-fold since the show started. - Presidential fans - While he was still in the White House, Barack Obama admitted to being a big fan of the series. He even asked HBO to bend their strict rules to allow him a sneak preview of the sixth season. His successor in the Oval Office Donald Trump has made wide use of the "Winter is coming" motto of the House of Stark. Much to the irritation of the channel and several of its actors, the US president has adapted the line several times in his tweets, including about Iran -- "sanctions are coming" -- and his border wall with Mexico: "The wall is coming." The president, however, does not appear to have learned the lesson of the "Game of Thrones" wall, which has proved utterly ineffective against illegal immigration of Wildlings and zombie White Walkers. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Climate activists delivered a court summons Friday to oil company Shell in a court case aimed at forcing it to do more to rein in carbon emissions. Friends of the Earth Netherlands, one of the groups involved, said it wants a court in The Hague to order Shell to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and to zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Climate Accord. "Shell's directors still do not want to say goodbye to oil and gas," said the group's director, Donald Pols. "They would pull the world into the abyss. The judge can prevent this from happening." The summons, more than 250 pages long and backed up by boxes of supporting documents, was wheeled into the headquarters on a trolley as a couple of hundred activists looked on. The move comes a year after the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth sent a letter to Shell's CEO Ben van Beurden accusing the company of "breaching its legal duty of care" by causing climate damage across the globe. In a statement, Shell outlined renewable energy projects it is involved in in the Netherlands and said that it agrees climate change action is necessary and that the company is "committed to playing our part." "We welcome constructive efforts to work together to find solutions to the challenge of climate change, but we do not believe the courtroom is the right venue to address the global climate challenge," the company said. The Shell case, which has more than 17,000 claimants, follows a groundbreaking ruling by a Hague court in 2015 that ordered the Dutch government to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by 2020 from benchmark 1990 levels. The new case is not seeking compensation; it focuses instead on pushing Shell to take more action to rein in emissions. Roger Cox, a lawyer who initially represented environmental group Urgenda and is now leading the civil action against Shell, said the two cases are similar because they are based in part on a duty of care enshrined in Dutch law. "And more specifically the duty to not create dangerous situations for others if these dangerous situations can reasonably be prevented," he said. "So what we in fact are stating is that Shell is contributing to dangerous climate change because its emissions are not in line with what is needed." By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - BMW, and Volkswagen face possible hefty fines after EU antitrust regulators on Friday charged them and whistleblower Daimler with colluding to block the rollout of clean emissions technology. In the latest pollution scandal to hit the auto industry, the European Commission said it had sent statements of objections to the German carmakers setting out the charges, nearly two years after carrying out dawn raids at their premises. It said the collusion occurred between 2006 to 2014 and took place during technical meetings held by the "circle of five", namely BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen Group's VW, Audi and Porsche. "Daimler, VW and BMW may have broken EU competition rules. As a result, European consumers may have been denied the opportunity to buy cars with the best available technology," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. BMW said it would contest the allegations "with all legal means if necessary". It also said it was probable the Commission would issue a "significant fine" and it would set aside a provision of likely more than 1 billion euros, hurting first-quarter earnings. The EU focused on selective catalytic reduction systems, which reduce nitrogen oxides from diesel car emissions, and "Otto" particulate filters that reduce particulate matter emissions from petrol cars. EU enforcers said their case was not related to other investigations into the use of illegal defeat devices to cheat emissions tests and possible violations of environmental laws. EU fines could go as high as 10 percent of a company's global turnover. Volkswagen shares were down 0.8 percent in late session trading, Daimler was 0.6 percent lower, while BMW was up 0.8 percent in a flat European auto index. Bas Eickhout, a European Parliament lawmaker from the Green Party, said the carmakers' actions put a brake on innovation. Story continues The Commission did not say why the companies might have wanted to block emissions cleaning technology, but new systems can often add to costs for both manufacturers and consumers. Daimler, which alerted the regulator to the collusion, reiterated it did not expect to be fined as a result of its information. Volkswagen said it would examine the EU accusations before making further comment. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by Thomas Seythal in Berlin and Tom Sims in Frankfurt; Editing by Mark Potter and John Stonestreet) Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti has recused himself from the case against Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal. This is after Lenolkulals lawyer, Paul Nyamodi, requested the Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate to withdraw from the matter, citing his views on corruption during an interview with a local daily. Nyamodi had argued that Magistrate Ogoti was not fit to hear this matter due to his personal views about corruption in the said interview. In this article are strong views by a magistrate who is charged with the responsibility of hearing this case. Reading the article there can be no clearer demonstration of a court that has already pre-judged and made up its mind. Where will the accused person run if the person pointing a finger at them is the court? Your honor you are in breach of the judicial code of conduct, said Nyamodi. The Magistrate also came under fire Tuesday after he slapped Samburu Governor with a cash bail of Ksh.100 million or Ksh.150 million bond. While recusing himself, magistrate Ogoti said that he had no other interest other than to administer justice. He added; Let the parties not fear that I will be biased in any way. Im just the head of the anti-corruption case and there are other people who can handle the matter. Ogoti deferred the case to magistrate Lawrence Mugambi. Meanwhile, 13 more Samburu county officials were Thursday charged with abuse of office, illegal acquisition of public property, conflict of interest & conspiracy to defraud the county Sh84 million in fuel fraud. They are expected to take plea today, April 5, before Magistrate Mugambi. (Reuters) - European Council President Donald Tusk is proposing to make an offer of a 12-month "flexible" extension to the UK's Brexit date, the BBC reported on Friday, citing a senior European Union source. The plan would let UK leave sooner if the British parliament ratifies a deal but will need to be agreed by EU leaders next week at a summit, the BBC said. After her EU withdrawal deal was rejected three times by lawmakers, British Prime Minister Theresa May invited opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for talks in parliament to try to plot a way out of the crisis. May said earlier this week she would seek a delay that is "as short as possible" to the current Brexit date of April 12. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told BBC that if the talks between UK's Conservative and Labour parties fail, the delay is "likely to be a long one". (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) Pitzen went missing in 2011, just before his mother killed herself A man who falsely claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen, a boy who mysteriously disappeared in 2011, has been arrested and charged with lying to federal agents. Brian Rini, 23, told police in Kentucky that he was Timmothy, whose disappearance caused a nationwide search, and claimed he had been held captive for years before managing to escaped on Wednesday. DNA tests later proved he was lying. The FBI said the results identified the man as Rini, a convicted criminal from Ohio, who has falsely portrayed himself as a juvenile sex trafficking victim twice before. Confronted with the DNA results, Rini finally confirmed his true identity and said he had come up with the hoax after watching a documentary about the missing child. Timmothy vanished in May 2011 from Aurora, Illinois, after his mother picked him up at school and took him on a three-day road trip, which included going to a zoo and a water park. Brian Rini, 23, claimed to be Timmothy, who would now be 14 Credit: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / AP Amy Fry-Pitzen, 43, then took her own life at a hotel, leaving a note saying that her six-year-old son was safe but would never be found. No trace of the boy was ever found. Timmothy's family had been cautiously hopeful that he had finally been found but compared the hoax to "reliving that day all over again". Its been awful. Weve been on tenterhooks. Weve been alternatively hopeful and frightened. Its just been exhausting, said Alana Anderson, Timmothys grandmother. She added the family "have no idea why" someone had impersonated her grandson. Rini was found Wednesday in Newport, Kentucky, "wandering the street and looking confused and in need of assistance," according to a court filing by FBI agent Mary Braun. After identifying himself as Timmothy and claimed that he had escaped from a hotel where he had been forced to have sex with men against his will, the document said. However an FBI investigation found that Rini has twice before portrayed himself as a juvenile sex trafficking victim, and in each case was later identified after being fingerprinted. Story continues He was released from prison on probation less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism. He appeared in federal court Friday where he was charged with making false statements to federal agents. In a statement, the FBI said: "Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today". New York (AFP) - The family of an American teenager killed aboard the MH17 flight launched a court case Thursday against Russian banks and US money transfer companies for helping to finance pro-Moscow separatists accused of shooting it down over Ukraine. In a complaint filed in US federal court, the family of Quinn Lucas Schansman -- the only US citizen aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur -- takes aim at Russia's Sberbank and VTB Bank, which have offices in the US, and the Western Union and MoneyGram transfer companies. It accuses them of allowing large amounts of money to be sent to separatists in the Donetsk People's Republic, mainly from Russian diaspora sympathizers residing in the US and elsewhere, allowing them to acquire heavy weapons and to control the eastern part of Ukraine, from which the missile that downed the aircraft was fired. The 63-page complaint, which seeks unspecified damages, is based on a 1992 US anti-terrorism law that allows American victims of terrorism to sue those who provide material support to terrorism. Among the family's lawyers is a former deputy US ambassador to the UN, David Pressman. "The men who launched the missile may never be hauled before a court to answer for their crimes, but all of those who participated in arming them and supporting them must be," Pressman said in a statement. "Today, businesses and banks that allowed greed to reign supreme by providing -- day in and day out -- a reliable way for these terrorists to raise money from supporters around the world will be forced to answer for their actions," he said. A Netherlands-led probe concluded in May 2018 that the plane was struck by a Buk surface-to-air missile controlled by Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade, based in the city of Kursk. Australia and the Netherlands blamed Russia for the disaster, which killed all 298 people aboard, but Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility for the destruction of the plane The two plane crashes - one in Indonesia, the other in Ethiopia - that led to the worldwide grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes displayed similarities that linked them right away. On Thursday, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg assumed responsibility for the flight-control problems that contributed to the accidents, saying, We own it. Heres a look at the commonality and differences between the crashes: Likely cause At the time Lion Air Flight 610 plummeted into the Java Sea off Indonesia on Oct. 29, killing all 189 aboard, hardly anybody had heard of MCAS, the aircrafts new anti-stall system. That included the pilots, whom Boeing had failed to notify with the reasoning that the revamped model flew much like the old 737. Some of the evidence about that tragedy and the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10 pointed to erroneous readings from a single angle of attack sensor that activated MCAS and repeatedly pitched the planes nose down as major factors, and Muilenburg acknowledged as much. While aviation experts often point out crashes are not caused by a single reason, the problems with MCAS and the pilots lack of familiarity with the system certainly stand out. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment, Muilenburg said. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk. Flight pattern The link between the two catastrophes was not established merely because both involved the same airplane model. The Federal Aviation Administration, which was days behind its counterparts elsewhere in calling for the MAX jets to be grounded, based its decision on satellite tracking that showed the flights followed a similar path. In both cases, the pilots struggled to control the aircraft shortly after takeoff, as the jets experienced drastic changes in airspeed and altitude before lurching down. The Ethiopian Airlines flight was in the air for six minutes; the Lion Air flight for 12. Story continues Weather was not considered a factor in either crash. Desperate last moments Data from the cockpit voice recorder has shed light on how the pilots reacted in both situations, and it appears they were overwhelmed by the MCAS malfunction. MCAS was a foreign concept when the Lion Air flight took off from Jakarta, and according to media reports, as the tension mounted and control of the plane remained elusive, Indian-born pilot Bhavye Suneja flipped through a technical manual trying to find a solution. His Indonesian first officer, known by the single name Harvino, prayed for a miracle. The Ethiopian flight lasted half as long and ran into trouble almost from the first minute, with the aircraft barely 500 feet in the air. The Wall Street Journal reported an exchange between captain Yared Getachew and co-pilot Ahmed Nur Mohammed as one tells the other, Pitch up! Pitch up! Shortly afterward, the radio went dead and the planed plummeted onto a field outside the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, killing all 157 aboard. Maintenance Ethiopian is known as one of the top airlines in Africa, with a strong safety record and a fleet featuring mostly newer aircraft. No maintenance issues had been reported on its MAX 8 plane and there was no reason to fear any mishaps when Flight 302 took off for a two-hour trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Apology: Boeing CEO accepts blame for two plane crashes, apologizes to families of victims: 'We own it' Duly prepared?: Are pilots outside the U.S. getting the training needed to fly jets, including Boeing 737 Max 8? Indonesias Lion Air does not enjoy the same sterling reputation, given its history of safety lapses. Data-reading problems were reported in the four flights before the disaster, including one the previous day when the plane jerked so violently that some passengers vomited. Thats believed to be the same flight in which an off-duty pilot traveling on the jump seat recognized the malfunction, overrode the automated system and controlled the plane. Pilot experience and training Some U.S. pilots who have flown the 737 series but not the MAX have wondered aloud why the aviators on both flights didnt manually stop the trim wheel, a piece of equipment in the cockpit console that controls the horizontal stabilizer on the planes tail. Pilots for airlines elsewhere in the world train under a different system that requires fewer flight hours than their American counterparts, and Nur had only 200 hours of experience, an unthinkably low total for a first officer on a 737 for a U.S. airline. But Getachew was highly experienced with more than 8,000 hours, and both Suneja and Harvino had more than 5,000 hours. A bigger factor might have been training on a MAX simulator, which Ethiopian officials said both Getachew and Nur had. Its not known whether Suneja and Harvino did, but it appears unlikely considering the simulators scarcity. At a news conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges said Getachew and Nur did everything by the book as they attempted to keep the plane from nosediving. The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but were not able to control the aircraft, Moges said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fatal flights: What we know about Boeing MAX 8 crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia Fifth Third Bancorps FITB decision to buy MB Financial has brought to the fore plans to slash about 500 jobs in Chicago area and close some branches. The bank primarily aims to remove back office and administrative positions that are being duplicated on account of the merger. Per an article by Chicago Tribune, the bank has informed the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that it will to begin layoffs in May. Most of the reduction will be done in Rosemont with about two dozen in MB Financials previous headquarters. Further, 47 branches in the Chicago area will be shut down as an outcome of the deal. Though the company has not disclosed which branches are to be closed, it is targeting those that are in close vicinity to each other. Most of the cuts will take place in the next four months, and Fifth Third is offering severance benefits and outplacement services to employees who are losing their jobs. The acquisition of MB Financial was announced in May 2018, and is expected to deliver significant financial benefits to the company. The merged entity is expected to record an internal rate of return of about 18.5% and be accretive to Fifth Thirds operating EPS in the first year. Moreover, accretion of about 7% is projected in the second year on realization of full cost savings. Fifth Thirds efforts to expand geographically and bolster operations bode well for its financials. Further, it remains focused on strategic investments through North Star initiatives, which are expected to result in revenue growth, expense savings and drive efficiency. The stock has gained around 7.5% over the past three months, underperforming 8.5% growth of the industry. Currently, Fifth Third carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Other Stocks to Consider Some other stocks in the same space worth considering are City Holding Company CHCO, BancorpSouth Bank BXS and Carolina Financial Corporation CARO. All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2. Story continues City Holdings Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised nearly 1% upward in the past 60 days. Also, its share price has increased 11.9% in the past three months. BancorpSouths current-year earnings estimates have been revised slightly upward over the past 60 days. Further, the companys shares have jumped 8% in the past three months. Carolina Financials Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 3.9% upward over the past 60 days. Moreover, in the past three months, its shares have gained 13.8%. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%. See Latest Stocks Today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Carolina Financial Corporation (CARO) : Free Stock Analysis Report City Holding Company (CHCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report BancorpSouth Bank (BXS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Kenneth Li and Ju-min Park NEW YORK/SEOUL (Reuters) - When it comes to who triumphed in the multi-billion dollar global race to launch the world's first 5G next generation wireless network, the winner is clear ... depending on who you ask. Early Wednesday in South Korea, Reuters published a story quoting South Korean officials declaring victory over the United States and China as the site of the world's first commercial launch of a fifth generation telecoms network. They made their assertion on the basis that the new network connected to an actual 5G phone. U.S. carriers disputed South Korea's claims to be first. After the piece was published, AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc intensified their angry rejections of South Korea's boast in post-publication communications sent to Reuters on Wednesday. AT&T said it was the victor because it announced on Dec. 18 that it planned to launch its 5G network in 12 U.S. cities that month. However, its network is available only to consumers using a mobile hotspot device, not on 5G phones. Verizon, for its part, countered that it had come first. Hours after the Reuters report, it said it had already launched its 5G network and that it would be available on a new Motorola phone - though only in Chicago and Minneapolis. "We stand by our story," a Reuters spokeswoman said. The intensity with which company representatives disputed each other's claims underscores the high stakes in the battle for supremacy over an industry that is expected to spend $275 billion over seven years in the United States alone, according to Accenture estimates. The winner is seen playing a central role in helping to generate some $12.3 trillion in annual revenue across a broad range of industries by 2035, according to IHS Markit. The technology, which can provide data speeds at least 20 times faster than 4G, will also underpin the great advances of the next era, from self-driving cars and augmented reality to smart cities and artificial intelligence. "Being first is important in our industry and we want that recognition," an AT&T spokesman said, adding that the company spent $130 billion over the last five years to upgrade its network. Some experts point out that the jockeying will mean little to consumers. "The reason you're getting that reaction is this is a battle of marketing vaporware rather than real network evolution," said Craig Moffett, telecoms and communications analyst at MoffettNathanson. "They're tripping over themselves to claim they have a 5G network," he said. "But we're years away from it having any impact on user experiences." Bragging rights aside, being first is a matter of national pride. So excited was U.S. President Donald Trump about dominating the telecoms future, he invented a technology that does not yet exist - 6G - in a Feb. 21 tweet. "I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind," he tweeted. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. RACE TO LAUNCH South Korea's carriers had announced plans to launch their 5G networks by Friday. But by 5 p.m. local time Wednesday word began to spread that Verizon was planning a surprise debut of its own 5G network as early as Thursday, a full week ahead of its original intended schedule, an official at South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT told Reuters. To snatch victory from the jaws of Verizon, the South Korean carriers raced against the clock and agreed to collectively light up the country's 5G networks just six hours after finding out about Verizon's plans, said the official, who declined to be named. South Korean carriers including SK Telecom and KT Corp flipped the switch at 11pm local time (1400 GMT/1000 EST), nearly an hour ahead of when Verizon confirmed it had launched in the two markets in the United States at 10:55am EST (1455 GMT). "It is a pretty big deal for every mobile carrier who can be called the world's first," the Ministry of Science official said. On why Verizon accelerated its launch plan by a week, a Verizon spokesman said its network was ready. "Our customers were enthusiastic and ready to use 5G," the spokesman added. (Reporting by Kenneth Li in New York and Ju-Min Park in Seoul; additional reporting by Angela Moon in New York; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of FIT Hon Teng Limited (HKG:6088). Over the last twelve months FIT Hon Teng has recorded a ROE of 12%. Another way to think of that is that for every HK$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn HK$0.12. See our latest analysis for FIT Hon Teng How Do I Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit Shareholders' Equity Or for FIT Hon Teng: 12% = US$234m US$1.9b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company. What Does ROE Signify? ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does FIT Hon Teng Have A Good Return On Equity? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, FIT Hon Teng has a higher ROE than the average (9.8%) in the Electronic industry. SEHK:6088 Past Revenue and Net Income, April 4th 2019 That's clearly a positive. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. For example, I often check if insiders have been buying shares . Story continues How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Combining FIT Hon Teng's Debt And Its 12% Return On Equity Although FIT Hon Teng does use debt, its debt to equity ratio of 0.51 is still low. Its very respectable ROE, combined with only modest debt, suggests the business is in good shape. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities. In Summary Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company. Of course FIT Hon Teng may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have high ROE and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Richard Lough and John Irish DINARD, France (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from the G7 group of rich nations implicitly warned eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on Friday against an advance toward the capital Tripoli as they scrambled to defuse a dangerous escalation in the north African oil producer's power struggle. A military advance toward Tripoli and Libya's U.N.-backed government by Haftar has taken the United Nations and Western powers by surprise, just as its secretary general was in the capital to plan a peace conference this month. The news intruded on an annual meeting bringing together the top diplomats from Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and the United States, who had been negotiating on norms to tackle cyber interference in democracies and sexual violence in Africa. "We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the Libyan conflict," the ministers said in a statement sent amid talks in western France. "We strongly oppose any military action in Libya. Any Libyan actor or faction that precipitates further civil conflict are harming innocent people and standing in the way of the peace that Libyans deserve," the statement said, without naming Haftar directly. The ministers said they backed U.N. efforts just hours after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres departed Libya following a meeting with Haftar to try to avert civil war. Concern over Libya's stability is heightened by continuing political tensions around Europe over migration from north Africa, despite the fact that the numbers of new arrivals in Europe via the central Mediterranean have plummeted. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had earlier welcomed his counterparts from the club of big, rich nations under a dull gray sky in Brittany, for a meeting already overshadowed by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's absence and Britain's Brexit meltdown. French diplomats say Paris has scaled back its ambitions for France's presidency of the club of major industrialized countries after U.S. President Donald Trump threw last year's summit in Canada into disarray, backing out of a joint communique and firing barbs at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A French diplomat sought to downplay Pompeo's snub saying: "We're working well with the Americans. Yes, we have differences on some subjects, but that isn't holding back the quality of our dialogue." The ministers had aimed to agree on Friday on a code of conduct to tackle cyber interference in their democracies, but had turned their focus to Libya instead, diplomats said. BREXIT LOOMS LARGE Workers at dawn had furiously scrubbed away at graffiti spray-painted onto buildings near the secure zone in Dinard that attacked capitalism and President Emmanuel Macron. The slogans screamed "Thieving banks", "Revolution" and "No to the G7", mirroring the anger vented across France in five months of anti-government "yellow vest" protests fueled by perceptions of a growing rich-poor divide and aloof politicians. The summit is expected to result in three joint statements on cyber security, sexual violence against women in armed conflict and trafficking in the Sahel region, and not too much wrangling over issues where there is less consensus such as Iran and Russia. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he would use the summit to call on his European counterparts to support his government's request for a short delay to Britain's exit from the European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to Brussels on Friday asking for a delay of Brexit until up to June 30, while saying she aims to get Britain out of the EU earlier to avoid it participating in European elections. "What we are looking for is to avoid a long extension," Hunt said. "We are a democracy with a hung parliament, so its not easy." Hunt said the G7 was proof Britain would not play a diminished international role after Brexit. (Reporting by Marine Pennetier and Julie Carriat; additional reporting by William James in London, Editing by Peter Graff, William Maclean and James Dalgleish) President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, on Thursday said that one of his most memorable trip abroad was when he visited Kenya in his mid 20s. The former US President with roots in Kenya, who met First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at the 19th World Travel and Tourism Global Summit in Seville, Spain, spoke as he interacted with delegates drawn from across the world. He said he made the trip to Kenya because he wanted to understand his heritage, the place where his father was born and also to meet members of his extended family. President Obama acknowledged the presence of the Kenyan First Lady and expressed his gratitude saying he was pleased to see her representing Kenya at the summit. When asked about how travel has shaped his world view, Obama said travel helps to remind people of their heritage and the diversity of the human race. Travel also reminds us what we are, what we share and what we have in common, said the former US President. He gave a narration, saying that if you see a child playing and laughing in Kenya, and travel to Hawaii you will experience a similar thing repeated but by a child from a different background. This is the commonality we are talking about, Obama said. He expressed his interest in the young generation saying the youth are more adaptable to different cultures and environment without many reservations. Young people are more tolerant and not afraid of the unfamiliar or change, the former US President said. First Lady Margaret Kenyatta expressed her delight at having to once again meet the former US Head of State whom she hosted at State House, Nairobi twice in the past both as a sitting President and after his retirement. -PSCU BUCHAREST (Reuters) - France is not specifically targeting U.S. internet giants with a planned tax on digital service companies, its finance minister said in an interview, pushing back against pressure from Washington to drop the levy. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged France in a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday not to approve the digital services tax, saying it would hurt U.S. technology firms. "France is not leading a crusade against the United States. The United States are an ally and a friend of France. France is leading a crusade against tax injustice - it's not the same thing," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told Reuters. Speaking in Bucharest where he was attending a meeting with EU counterparts, he added that France was far from alone in Europe in its support for creating minimum taxation of digital service companies, with Austria, Britain, Spain and Italy also pressing ahead with own plans The emergence of internet giants such as Google, Facebook and Amazon has pushed international tax rules to the limit because they are able to book profits in low-tax countries rather than where the customer is located. The U.S. Treasury's top international tax official, Chip Harter, said last month in Paris that such taxes were potentially "discriminatory" and said Washington was looking into whether it could retaliate under WTO rules and trade treaties. Washington has said that it is better to pursue broader international tax reform at the Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD). France also firmly supports work at the OECD to update decades-old international tax rules to take better account of the digital era and has promised to drop the French tax when there is a global deal. "I call on our American friends and partners to step up work at the OECD so that we can reach as quickly as possibly - in 2020 I hope - an international solution," Le Maire said. The OECD aims to have a outline for an international deal by mid year, which will all countries to work out the technical details in time for a global accord to be signed in 2020. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Hugh Lawson) One in five Russians say they would like to leave Russia for good if they could, a new Gallup poll shows, a sign that Russia is moving dangerously close to a full-blown demographic crisis. The poll released Thursday shows that Germany is the most desired destination for potential migrants, with 12 % picking the U.S. The poll, conducted last year among 2,000 Russian, follows data showing a declining population in Russia for the first time in a decade in 2018. During his 2012 presidential campaign, Putin was already warning that nagging demographic losses could turn Russia into the "empty space." Since 2014, the percentage of working-age Russians who say they would like to move has at least tripled, jumping from 14% to 44% among 15 to 29-year-olds, from 7% to 22% among those between the ages of 30 and 45 and from 3% to 9% among those aged 46 to 60, Gallup says. A big migration would deal a heavy blow to the future of Russia's already strained pension system, which the government tried to address in 2018 by raising the retirement age for men from 60 to 65 and for women from 55 to 63. President Vladimir Putin watered down his proposal, however, setting the retirement age for women at 60, following a sharp backlash, including street protests around the country in September. The desire to leave Russia can be found among all educational backgrounds and skill levels, not just among the better educated, the U.S. polling firm found. Gallup found a desire to leave Russia permanently among 20% of Russians with primary education or less, 19% from among those with mid-level education and 24% among those with college degrees or higher. The alarming trend favoring emigration slowed for a couple of years beginning in 2014, driven by a swell of Russian pride over the hosting of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games and Putin's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. But that uptick was short-lived, with the desire to leave once again tracking Putin's falling popularity and an economy hit by Western sanctions. Gallup notes a similar relationship between leadership approval and desire to migrate in the U.S., where a record 16% said they would like to move in 2017-2018. The difference between the two cases, Gallup says, is that the U.S. population is growing, albeit slowly. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gallup poll finds 1 in 5 Russians would like to permanently leave Russia Technology has long infused health care with inspiration and hope. The trend held true on Wednesday when a trio of forward-thinking industry leaders shared their thoughts on the future of medicine at Fortunes fourth-annual Brainstorm Health conference in San Diego. But their discussion was also about walletsspecifically, in what technologies these investors are putting their money. Legendary Silicon Valley investor Beth Seidenberg of Westlake Village BioPartners made news at the conference, revealing that cell therapy startup Tmunity has brought a product into human clinical trials that has knocked out multiple cancer genes. You read a lot about gene editing and CRISPR-Cas9 as a tool to knock-in or knock-out specific genes, said the 14-year Kleiner Perkins veteran. Theres a big question as to when is that ready for humans. Im here to tell you its already in humans. The reveal came during a back-and-forth when the moderator, Fortune executive editor Adam Lashinsky, asked participants to weigh in on the impact of Amazon in health care. The e-commerce giant is a hot topic even at a conference focused on medical technology, since its entrance into the pharma space with its acquisition of PillPack and foray into nonprofit healthcare, along with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan through Haven. Everyone wants to know what Amazon is doing, said panelist Cheri Mowrey of Morgan Stanley. We wish we had a crystal ball. But as the investment banks head of health care services, Mowrey has watched as Amazon has made lots of hires in health care, describing them as little pods of people within Amazon who are focused on specific programsvery secretive pods of people. A good example of this is PillPack, which has allowed the company to get comfortable with the federal regulatory and HIPAA framework. She expects Amazons next move will be to start monetizing medical devices. Story continues But big moneyand cureslie in newer FDA-approved products that are coming available, says Amit Sinha of Goldman Sachs. Theres been real value creation in fueling continued interest for treatments and modalities. Focusing on biotechnology investment at Goldman, Sinha considers the future of health care belongs to both big and small players. If you look at the field of immuno-oncology, the biggest players today are large pharmaceutical companies, and part of that is because the funding required to fully develop and tap the full potential of some of these therapies required hundreds of millions of dollars. But breakthroughs like Tmunitys are also impossible to ignore. Additionally, Sinha thinks cell therapy, and its ability to do more with immune system-linked combination therapy, offers enormous potential. Said the banker: That field alone is going to be the basis for some very important drugs over the next decade. For more coverage of Fortunes Brainstorm Health conference, click here. For news delivered daily to your inbox, subscribe to Fortunes Brainstorm Health Daily newsletter. San Francisco (AFP) - Google on Thursday confirmed that it has disbanded a recently assembled artificial intelligence ethics advisory panel in the face of controversy over its membership. The end of the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) came just days after a group of Google employees launched a public campaign against having the president of conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation among its members. Another member of the board had already resigned, and the inclusion of a drone company executive had rekindled concerns about potential military uses of artificial intelligence, according to Vox news website, which first reported on the council being disbanded. "It's become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC can't function as we wanted," Google told AFP. "So we're ending the council and going back to the drawing board." Google added that it would seek alternative ways to gather outside input regarding responsible use of artificial intelligence. - Keeping AI unbiased - A petition published online called on Google to cull the Heritage Foundation's Kay Coles James from the council formed a week ago, due to her history of being "vocally anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant." "In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of 'ethics' values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people and immigrants," read a statement posted on Medium by a group identifying itself as Googlers Against Transphobia. Positions expressed by James contradict Google's stated values and, if infused into artificial intelligence, could build discrimination into super-smart machines, according to the post. The group said that reasoning for James being added to the panel has been given as an effort to have a diversity of thought. As of late Thursday, the online petition showed more than 2,300 signatures from academics, Google employees and others, including technology industry peers. Story continues The controversy comes as the world grapples with balancing potential benefits of artificial intelligence with risks it could be used against people or even, if given a mind of its own, turn on its creators. Google chief Sundar Pichai said in an interview published late last year that tech companies building AI should factor in ethics early in the process to make certain artificial intelligence with "agency of its own" doesn't hurt people. The California-based internet giant is a leader in the development of AI, competing in the smart software race with firms such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, IBM and Microsoft. Last year, Google published a set of internal AI principles, the first being that AI should be socially beneficial. Google vowed not to design or deploy AI for use in weapons, surveillance outside of international norms or in technology aimed at violating human rights. The company noted that it would continue to work with the military or governments in areas such as cybersecurity, training, recruitment, health care and search-and-rescue. AI is already used to recognize people in photos, filter unwanted content from online platforms and enable cars to drive themselves. By Lefteris Papadimas and Alexandros Avramidis ATHENS/DIAVATA, Greece (Reuters) - Greek police fired tear gas on Friday to disperse migrants who had gathered in a field near the country's border with Northern Macedonia in the hope of making their way illegally up through the Balkans toward northern Europe. Hundreds have made their way to the field in the village of Diavata since Thursday, galvanized by reports on social media of plans for an organized movement to cross Greece's northwest border with Albania in early April. Separately, migrants holed up in Turkey were heading toward that country's border with Greece following false rumors that Ankara had opened its border gate. Turkish authorities have detained nearly 1,200 migrants there, Turkish media reported. By Friday morning migrants had set up more than 100 tents in the field at Diavata. A crowd trying to make its way towards the Greek border scuffled with police who responded with tear gas. TV footage showed shrubs burning nearby. "It's a lie that the borders will open," Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas told Greek state television, urging migrants to return to their accommodation centers. In Athens, a group of about 50 migrants squatted on the tracks of the capital's main railway station shouting "Germany!" and "Open the borders." Several more were at the station under heavy police presence. Services from the station were suspended. "We want to go to Thessaloniki and then to the borders," said Amin Omar, a 27-year-old Iraqi Kurd sitting on the tracks. "We don't know if they are open." BALKAN ROUTE BLOCKED The situation revived memories of the 2015 migrant crisis, when more than one million people, mostly fleeing conflicts and poverty in the Middle East and beyond, traveled via Turkey, Greece and the Balkans toward wealthy western Europe. Turkey drastically curtailed that exodus in 2016 under a deal with the EU. Soon after, Balkan countries shut their borders, blocking a main passage way to northern Europe and stranding tens of thousands in Greece. Miltiadis Klapas, a Greek migration ministry official, said the latest movement toward the border was "the result of completely unfounded information that there will be a mass gathering on the borders and that they will open". "The borders are closed because of initiatives by other countries," he said. Turkish police have detained 496 people in Edirne, the province bordering EU member states Greece and Bulgaria, after migrants flocked there in the hope of crossing the border, state-owned Anadolu news agency said. The migrants, mostly Afghan, Iranian or Pakistani, referred to themselves as the "Convoy of Hope", it said. Some 700 migrants were also caught in the neighboring province of Tekirdag after police were positioned on the highway in the direction of Edirne, Demiroren News Agency said. Authorities were not immediately available to confirm the reports. Reuters Television footage shot on Wednesday showed Turkish policemen in plain clothes chasing migrants around train tracks and putting them on to buses. Another group, who were sent back to Turkey after illegally crossing into Greece, anxiously waited to be sent to a repatriation center. (Additional reporting by Angeliki Koutantou in Athens, Yesim Dikmen and Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul; Writing by Karolina Tagaris; Editing by Gareth Jones) DUBAI (Reuters) - Three Gulf Arab states and Egypt said they will not attend a global meeting of parliamentarians due to be held in Doha from Saturday because Qatar has not changed the kind of behavior which made them sever ties two years ago. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member Egypt cut diplomatic, transport and trade ties with Qatar in 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and their regional foe Iran - something Doha denies. The quartet plans to boycott an Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) annual meeting in Doha April from 6-10, they said in a statement carried on UAE state news agency WAM late on Thursday. The IPU is a global organization of national parliaments that promotes democracy. They will not attend because Qatar "has not responded to the just demands of the four countries and has continued its supportive policy for extremism, terrorism and interference in the affairs of the countries of the region," it said. Gas-rich Qatar says the boycott is aimed at undermining its sovereignty. It has started charting a course away from its Gulf neighbors, including forging new trade partnerships, strengthening ties with Turkey and quitting OPEC. Those moves have deepened expectations that the dispute will not be resolved quickly, unnerving the United States, the main Western ally of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council which sees the rift as a threat to efforts to contain Iran. The United States, which has military bases in both Qatar and some of the countries lined up against it, is trying to mediate the feud. (Reporting by Sylvia Westall, Editing by William Maclean) Can eating vegetables and exercising become as commonplace as brushing teeth and washing hair? Speaking at Fortunes Brainstorm Health conference Wednesday in San Diego, Kathy Fish, head of R&D at Procter and Gamble, the corporate giant behind brands like Pantene, Gillette, Oral B, and Crest, thinks so. Just like remembering to floss, increasing compliance rates for a healthier life has a lot to do with routine, she said. Only 10 people eat the fruits and vegetables they should, just 20% exercise as recommended, and only 50% of patients take their drugs as prescribed, Fish said. In contrast, 75% of Americans comply with an oral care regime, brushing twice daily. Rather than simply focus on long-term outcomes, she suggests the health care sector stress short-term gains as an effective strategy to change behavior. Its worked for the personal care products industry, which has achieved consumer commitment by highlighting the acute, short-term benefits (fresh breath and white teeth for example) as much as the long-term ones (keeping your teeth when youre 60). Technology can also be an effective force, she said. For example, young women have traditionally been disinterested in skin care products, but thats changing with the help of artificial intelligence. P&G now uses A.I to show customers their skin age versus their real age, and pinpoint which products can help, Fish said. Marketing through storytellingparticularly for reducing stigma around certain conditionsis also important, Fish said. This has helped P&G to draw consumers to personal care products they need but have been too embarrassed to buy. Thats the case with women with incontinence, particularly after childbirth or weight gain. However, only one in nine were wearing disposable underwear and pantyliners to manage the condition, including those sold by P&G, the largest advertiser in the world. The company needed to connect with these people, Fish said. They redesigned products to make them less bulky and more attractive, and created ads to tell the stories of real women who suffer from incontinence. Now, Fish says, one in six such women with the condition use the products, including P&Gs. For more coverage of Fortunes Brainstorm Health conference, click here. For news delivered daily to your inbox, subscribe to Fortunes Brainstorm Health Daily newsletter. Last month, New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker stood together to blame the 2017 federal tax cuts for the flight of high earners and middle-class families from their states. But just days before, Cuomo admitted he knows something Pritzker seemingly doesnt: Theyre leaving to escape painful progressive state income taxes. Cuomo said New York took a $2.3 billion hit in income-tax revenues. He panned any new tax on millionaires. But that message isnt getting through to Illinois, where Pritzker wants to mirror the failed tax structure in New York by replacing Illinoiss constitutionally protected flat tax with a progressive income tax. Such a move would be disastrous for Illinoiss economy, forcing middle-class families and high earners, as well as job creators, to leave at an even faster pace. And it wouldnt ultimately solve the states serious fiscal crises or even raise the $3.4 billion Pritzker promises. We ran the numbers at the Illinois Policy Institute, and on its face the plan is about $1 billion short of the governors goal. A dynamic estimate that accounts for how people would react to the tax paints a worse picture, leaving the plan about $2 billion shy of the promise. After delaying a Freedom of Information Act request for the governors tax-hike math, his office finally sent a brief response filled with overly optimistic assumptions. They got the number wrong for the past five years of Illinoiss economic growth. Then, starting too high, they failed to correct for the economic slowdown or recession most economists predict will hit by 2021. Perhaps Cuomo should tell Pritzker what happens when you shoot with a bent sight. Illinois lost more than 45,000 residents last year; only New York lost more. That is Illinoiss fifth consecutive year of worsening outmigration. Illinoiss change in population since 2014 is in raw terms worse than that of any state in the nation 157,000 people are just gone. Story continues The state with the biggest resident gain is Florida. Sunshine may make it more appealing than New York or Illinois, but its the no-state-income-tax climate thats the draw. More broadly, states with a progressive income tax are losing people to states with more-competitive tax climates. The trail of people, their incomes, and their businesses leaving high-tax states such as California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois for low-tax locales such as Texas, North Carolina, and Florida is now indisputable. Since North Carolina adopted a flat tax in 2013, its growth in gross domestic product has catapulted, from over 30 percent slower than average to over 30 percent faster. Illinois, on the other hand, hiked taxes in 2011, costing the states economy almost $56 billion. And in 2017 it raised taxes again by 32 percent, the largest permanent income-tax hike in the states history. Taxing the rich always encourages the rich to leave. And tax hikes never end simply with the highest earners; working families always end up paying more, too. Pritzker was trying to sell a tax hike he initially said would provide relief for 97 percent of taxpayers, but weeks later that cut changed to a pledge that 97 percent would not see an increase. Give it more time, and when the tax hike fails to bring in enough money, as it inevitably will, Pritzker will have to raise taxes on middle-class Illinoisans. The millionaires will be gone. So will the job creators. Pritzkers tax scheme would reduce employment by the equivalent of up to 30,000 full-time jobs. And its particularly bad timing, as workers can find jobs elsewhere in the countrys currently robust labor market; Illinois workers have shown little hesitation to leave for those opportunities. The progressive tax could cost the state up to 30,400 jobs and $11.2 billion in lost economic activity. It would drop the ranking of the Illinois business-tax climate to 48th in the nation, the Tax Foundation estimated. All that damage awaits after the rates Pritzker promised on March 7. His tax cut already changed to no tax hike, but what if Illinois amended its constitution without any rates attached? Might as well vote for open season on taxpayers. With more than $133 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and a continually unbalanced budget, Illinoiss government should restrain spending and create a climate that attracts high earners, hard workers, and job creators. Under such policy, the working class and poor would also be protected. For more than a decade, states that have streamlined their taxes and created a business-friendly climate have encouraged job growth and attracted new residents. Many of them are in the Midwest, where Illinois sits as a shrinking island in a sea of growing states. Pritzker wants to ignore history and hard facts to embrace a tax climate proven to fail. Against the backdrop of a booming national economy and thriving labor market, his fight looks all the more foolish. More from National Review The roundworm C. elegans is a well-established laboratory model system. While the worm is a fairly simple living system, it is complicated enough to serve as "a kind of sandbox" for testing out methods of automated inference, says Emory biophysicist Ilya Nemenman. Biophysicists have used an automated method to model a living system the dynamics of a worm perceiving and escaping pain. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) published the results, which worked with data from experiments on the C. elegans roundworm. Our method is one of the first to use machine-learning tools on experimental data to derive simple, interpretable equations of motion for a living system, says Ilya Nemenman, senior author of the paper and a professor of physics and biology at Emory University. We now have proof of principle that it can be done. The next step is to see if we can apply our method to a more complicated system. The model makes accurate predictions about the dynamics of the worm behavior, and these predictions are biologically interpretable and have been experimentally verified. Collaborators on the paper include first author Bryan Daniels, a theorist from Arizona State University, and co-author William Ryu, an experimentalist from the University of Toronto. The researchers used an algorithm, developed in 2015 by Daniels and Nemenman, that teaches a computer how to efficiently search for the laws that underlie natural dynamical systems, including complex biological ones. They dubbed the algorithm Sir Isaac, after one of the most famous scientists of all time Sir Isaac Newton. Their long-term goal is to develop the algorithm into a robot scientist, to automate and speed up the scientific method of forming quantitative hypotheses, then testing them by looking at data and experiments. While Newtons Three Laws of Motion can be used to predict dynamics for mechanical systems, the biophysicists want to develop similar predictive dynamical approaches that can be applied to living systems. Plains All American Pipelines (NYSE: PAA) has been on a mission. The oil pipeline master limited partnership (MLP) has been working hard over the past few years to shore up its financial profile so it can return even more cash to investors above its already generous 4.9%-yielding distribution. Those efforts have paid off as the company recently achieved its financial targets. That allowed the pipeline company to give its investors a 20% raise for 2019, boosting the yield to 5.9%. Meanwhile, the company expects that it will be able to continue giving investors a raise over the next few years. Further, it sees its financial foundation growing even stronger as it aims to retain more cash in the near term to fund expansion projects. That combination of financial strength and visible growth makes it an ideal option for income-seeking investors. A man in a suit counting cash. Image source: Getty Images. A rock-solid strategy In August of 2017, Plains All American unveiled plans to shore up its financial foundation, which had weakened considerably due to the impact of the oil market downturn that started in late 2014. One of the actions it took was to slash its payout -- its second cut in a year -- so it could retain more cash to fund expansion projects and pay down debt. The company aimed to reduce borrowings by $1.4 billion to lower its leverage ratio from an elevated 5.1 times to a more comfortable range of 3.5 to 4.0 times by early 2019. The company achieved its leverage target by ending last year at 3.4 times debt to EBITDA. Because of that, it was only a matter of time before the company boosted its dividend -- the last question remaining was by how much. While the company could have easily afforded a bigger raise, it opted for a 20% increase, which will consume about 57% of its cash flow, or a 1.76 times coverage ratio. That lines up well with leading MLP Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), which has targeted a similar payout ratio. It's also well above its long-term target of 1.3 times. Story continues There's more growth coming down the pipeline Plains All American opted to retain more cash flow so that it could further improve its balance sheet. The oil pipeline company is now targeting a leverage ratio between 3.0 and 3.5 times. That too lines up with the more conservative targets of pipeline companies these days as Enterprise Products Partners, for example, has reduced its leverage goal from 4.0 times to 3.5 times. Over the next couple of years, Plains All American plans to allocate its excess cash after paying its current distribution across the following four priorities in this order: Leverage reduction to achieve its lower targeted metrics. Disciplined capital investment in high-return expansion projects that should steadily grow cash flow. Distribution growth, with it aiming to increase its payout by around 5% annually over the next couple of years. A unit repurchase program, depending on market conditions. What's worth noting is that Plains All American has made further reducing leverage a priority as opposed to returning more cash to investors via a repurchase program. That differs from Enterprise Products Partners' approach, which saw that company initiating a $2 billion repurchase program earlier this year. That's due in part because Enterprise Products Partners already has the highest credit rating among MLPs. Plains All American hopes that by further reducing leverage, credit rating agencies will upgrade it to Enterprise's level. However, even after the company achieves that stronger financial profile, Plains All American expects "distributions and distribution growth to be our primary method of returning capital to investors," according to CFO Al Swanson, not a repurchase program. That suggests the company could reaccelerate distribution growth in the future since it aims to eventually pay out around 75% of its cash flow. A great income growth stock for the long term Plains All American Pipeline's turnaround plan has proven to be highly successful. Because of that, it's starting to return more money to investors via a big-time raise in 2019. While the company does expect more moderate increases over the next couple of years as it works toward having a top-tier balance sheet, growth appears poised to reaccelerate once it achieves that goal. That makes it an appealing option for income-seeking investors since it offers them low risk, a high yield, and high growth potential over the long term. More From The Motley Fool Matthew DiLallo owns shares of Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested nearly 300 people at a Texas tech company in one of the federal agencys largest raids in a decade. The mass arrest reflects a push by Donald Trumps administration to target companies employing people who federal authorities say are not allowed to be in the United States. About 200 law enforcement officials descended Wednesday on CVE Technology Group in Allen, a city about 15 miles northeast of Dallas. The technology repair company was employing people working in the US illegally, according to federal authorities, who did not release details on the approximately 280 people who were taken away on buses. Each will face deportation proceedings. In a statement, ICE said that it began auditing CVE employment documents after receiving tips that the business was knowingly hiring people not authorised to work in the country. Homeland Security Investigations, a division of ICE, began an audit in January of CVE records that confirmed hiring irregularities, according to the statement. Businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens create an unfair advantage over their competing businesses, ICE agent Katrina Berger said. In addition, they take jobs away from U.S. citizens and legal residents, and they create an atmosphere poised for exploiting their illegal workforce. But family members of CVE workers who were arrested say the raid was a heavy-handed tactic against people simply working to provide for their families. Valerie Trevino told the Dallas Morning News that her mother, Graciela Velazquez, moved from Mexico 25 years ago and has worked for the company for years. Ms Trevino said her mom does not have a criminal record. Its insane to just get people who are working to make a living, she said. Theyve done nothing wrong besides work. My moms worked her entire life here. So other than that, I mean what really is her crime? The Texas raid was the latest in a series of high-profile busts of businesses around the country as part of an immigration crackdown under Mr Trump. Story continues Critics say the raids break up hard-working families and make it even harder for businesses to find employees in a tight labour market. ICE frequently touts the raids as major operations to break up criminal enterprises, but rarely releases names of the immigrants arrested, making it difficult to see what comes of their cases. The Associated Press contributed to this report Washington (AFP) - The head UN nuclear inspector said Friday that his agency is asking Saudi Arabia to agree to safeguards on nuclear material that could arrive by the end of the year for its first atomic reactor. Satellite imagery recently emerged of the Argentine-built project on the outskirts of Riyadh, which comes amid controversy in Washington over President Donald Trump's approval of nuclear projects with the oil-rich kingdom. But Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there was nothing secret about the reactor and that Saudi Arabia informed the Vienna-based UN body about its plans in 2014. He said the IAEA has encouraged Saudi Arabia to put into force a comprehensive safeguards agreement, under which the agency ensures that nuclear material is not being diverted to weapons use. Saudi Arabia in 2005 signed with the IAEA a so-called small quantities protocol, which exempts countries from inspections if they have no or minimal nuclear programs. "We have proposed to Saudi Arabia to rescind and replace it by the full-fledged comprehensive safeguards agreement," Amano told reporters in Washington. "They didn't say no, they didn't say yes, and they are now giving thoughts. We are waiting," he said. "For now, they don't have the material, so there is no violation," he said. Amano said that Saudi Arabia may bring in nuclear material "by the end of the year," although he cautioned that nuclear projects frequently get delayed. - Start of larger nuclear program - Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, has announced plans to spend $80 billion to build 16 nuclear reactors over the coming two decades as it diversifies energy. The first project, being built by Argentina's state-backed nuclear company INVAP, is a so-called low power research reactor, or LPRR, that is generally used to train technicians. "Saudi Arabia has been dragging its feet for 30 years on getting meaningful agreements in place; but the LPRR means they MUST abide by international rules," said Robert Kelley, a US Energy Department veteran and former director of nuclear inspections at the IAEA. Story continues "Argentina is not going to supply the nuclear fuel if they don't," said Kelley, now a distinguished associate fellow at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. He said that the reactor, with its small size, was insignificant by itself but was "opening a can of worms," including the prospect of the Trump administration sharing sensitive technology without review. US Energy Secretary Rick Perry told a recent Senate hearing that his department had given the go-ahead for six applications by US companies to do nuclear work in Saudi Arabia. The approvals come even though Saudi Arabia has not sought a so-called Section 123 Agreement to guarantee the peaceful use of nuclear technology, which is required under US law before any transfer of sensitive material. - Rising concern over Saudis - Saudi Arabia has come under sharp criticism in the United States over the civilian death toll in its offensive in Yemen and for the murder and dismemberment of US-based dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi. "If you cannot trust a regime with a bone-saw, you should not trust them with nuclear weapons," Democratic Representative Brad Sherman told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a hearing last week. Pompeo, in an interview Friday with CBS, signaled that the United States would ensure that Saudi Arabia does not develop nuclear weapons. "We will not permit that to happen anywhere in the world. The president understands the threat of proliferation," he said. Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has warned that the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if its arch-rival Iran obtains one. The Trump administration has allied itself closely with both Saudi Arabia and Israel and withdrawn from an international accord with Iran under which Tehran drastically curbed its nuclear program. Amano, who met with Pompeo in Washington, reiterated that the IAEA has verified that Iran remains in compliance with the agreement, which is strongly backed by the Europeans. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! On the 01 May 2019, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) will be paying shareholders an upcoming dividend amount of US$0.51 per share. However, investors must have bought the company's stock before 09 April 2019 in order to qualify for the payment. That means you have only 3 days left! Is this future income stream a compelling catalyst for dividend investors to think about the stock as an investment today? Let's take a look at AT&T's most recent financial data to examine its dividend characteristics in more detail. See our latest analysis for AT&T What Is A Dividend Rock Star? It is a stock that pays a reliable and steady dividend over the past decade, at a rate that is competitive relative to the other dividend-paying companies on the market. More specifically: Its annual yield is among the top 25% of dividend payers It consistently pays out dividend without missing a payment or significantly cutting payout Its dividend per share amount has increased over the past It is able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings It has the ability to keep paying its dividends going forward High Yield And Dependable The company's dividend yield stands at 6.4%, which is high for Telecom stocks. But the real reason AT&T stands out is because it has a high chance of being able to continue to pay dividend at this level for years to come, something that is quite desirable if you are looking to create a portfolio that generates a steady stream of income. NYSE:T Historical Dividend Yield, April 5th 2019 If there is one thing that you want to be reliable in your life, it's dividend stocks and their constant income stream. T has increased its DPS from $1.64 to $2.04 in the past 10 years. During this period it has not missed a payment, as one would expect for a company increasing its dividend. This is an impressive feat, which makes T a true dividend rockstar. AT&T has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 70%, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. However, going forward, analysts expect T's payout to fall to 58% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of around 6.5%. Furthermore, EPS is also forecasted to fall to $2.65 in the upcoming year. The lower EPS on top of a lower payout ratio will lead to a fall in dividend payment moving forward. Story continues When thinking about whether a dividend is sustainable, another factor to consider is the cash flow. Cash flow is important because companies with strong cash flow can usually sustain higher payout ratios. Next Steps: AT&T's strong dividend attributes make it, without a doubt, a stock dividend investors should be considering for their portfolios. However, given this is purely a dividend analysis, I urge potential investors to try and get a good understanding of the underlying business and its fundamentals before deciding on an investment. There are three key aspects you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for Ts future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for Ts outlook. Valuation: What is T worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether T is currently mispriced by the market. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there strong dividend payers with better fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Kolkata (AFP) - It may look double Dutch to most Indians, but election campaign messages in Chinese characters are being used for the first time in the bustling metropolis of Kolkata. Slogans for local state chief minister Mamata Banerjee and against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose ruling party is trying to muscle in on West Bengal seats, have started appearing across the city's Chinatown. Chinese Hakka people first came to Kolkata more than two centuries ago, but India's biggest Chinatown has traditionally kept politics at arm's length. India's six week long election starts on Thursday and this time the Hindu national leader sees the eastern state as a key battleground in his bid for a second term. In response, Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party has led the offensive for Chinese votes with graffiti and slogans on local walls. Local Chinese youths have been helping the party spread its message, according to Swapan Samaddar, a city councillor whose district includes Chinatown. "Many Chinese youths are supporters and they are lending a hand," he said. One graffiti image shows Modi being blown away in a Banerjee storm, while another plays on the prime minister's description of himself as the national "watchman", saying in characters: "Watchman is a thief". "It's good to send the message of the ruling Trinamool Congress to the Chinese community in China Town. We are happy to see it," said Chen Khoi Kui, secretary of the Chinese Youth Club, a welfare organisation. "Its a novel venture that draws the attention of voters." Despite the deep historical roots, the Chinese population has dwindled in recent decades to about 1,000 people. The district is still renowned for its Chinese restaurants which are popular in India even though rivalry with the giant neighbour is intense. "Many Chinese who have been living this city for a long time still prefer to speak in their own language amongst themselves," said Chen. * Israeli parliamentary election on April 9 * Arab minority one fifth of Israel's population * Many discouraged by 2018 "nation-state" law * Arab legislators held 13 of 120 seats in previous Knesset By Rami Ayyub HAIFA, Israel, April 5 (Reuters) - Some of Israel's young Arab citizens are calling for a boycott of Tuesday's parliamentary election, dismayed by a recent law which they say reduces them to second-class citizens. The pro-boycott activists, many of whom identify as Palestinian, have tried in the past to persuade others among Israel's Arab minority not to vote. But this time, they say, they are tapping into anger over the 2018 law that declares only Jews have a right to self-determination in the "nation-state" of the Jewish people. Leaders of Israel's main Arab parties are pushing for their voters to turn out, fearing a boycott would weaken the 21-percent Arab minority's representation in parliament, and boost Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election chances. Ignoring the party leaders, dozens of activists from the "Popular Campaign to Boycott the Zionist Knesset Elections" have been handing out leaflets in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, which has a mixed Jewish and Arab population, and in smaller Arab towns and villages. "This is an attempt to boycott the body that actively tries to erase our Palestinian identity," said Joul Elias, a student from Haifa who turned up to distribute flyers in Wadi Nisnas, a majority Arab neighborhood in the city. Israel's Arab minority comprises mainly descendants of the Palestinians who remained in their communities or were internally displaced after the 1948 war that surrounded Israel's creation. According to figures released by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, there were 1.9 million Arabs in Israel's roughly 9 million population at the start of 2019. Most were Muslims, Christians or Druze. Jews made up 74.3 percent of the population. Story continues WAKE-UP CALL Despite holding Israeli citizenship, many Arabs say their communities, from the fertile Galilee in the north to the Negev desert in the south, face discrimination in areas such as health, education and housing. Netanyahu's ruling Likud party counters that its 15 billion shekel ($4.19 billion) investment plan for the Arab sector "is the largest such commitment in Israel's history," according to Eli Hazan, Likud's foreign affairs director. But Netanyahu rekindled Arab resentment in March when he wrote on Instagram that "Israel is not a state of all its citizens." It was a reference, he said, to the new law, and the country being the homeland of the Jewish people. Many in the Arab community saw the Instagram post as an echo of divisive comments he made in the 2015 election. Hours before the polls closed on election day that year, Netanyahu said that Arabs were flocking "in droves" to cast ballots. This was an attempt to prod any complacent right-wing supporters to get out and vote for him. "The nation-state law was like a wake-up call for many people, making them realize this country will never be a country for all its citizens," said Muhannad Abu Ghosh, 42, a pro-boycott activist from Haifa. But Ayman Odeh, an Arab legislator who heads the Hadash party, says that engagement is key to bringing about political changes that will benefit the Arab minority. "Our challenge, number one through five, is to increase the number of people who vote," he said. He said some Arabs would, as they have in the past, vote for non-Arab center- or left-wing parties, but that even those votes "play a significant role in fighting right-wing extremism in Israel." ARAB LEGISLATORS Arabs have served in Israel's parliament since the country's founding, but low turnout and other factors have typically left them under-represented in the 120-seat body. No Arab party has served in a governing coalition, meaning they have little say in shaping Israeli policies. In the 2015 election, Israel's four Arab-dominated political parties united to form a "Joint List" that won 13 seats - their biggest representation yet. But this time around they are divided, which is likely to further deter an already dismayed electorate from voting, say political analysts. Arab voter turnout is expected to be just 51 percent, down from 64 percent in 2015, according to a recent poll from the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at Tel Aviv University. The poll projects nationwide turnout of 70 percent. "The majority of Palestinians in Israel consider the Knesset election as a practical tool. If it helps them, they will go and vote," said As'ad Ghanem, a professor of political science at the University of Haifa. "This time, with the collapse of the Joint List and frustration with discriminatory practices, voter turnout will be low." Ahmad Tibi, a veteran Arab legislator whose Ta'al party has forged an alliance with Odeh, says Arab parties are likely to lose two Knesset seats in this election. But he doesn't see the nation state law or political division as a reason to boycott the vote. "You can be a critic, you can have reservations, you can be angry at Arab parties or Arab," Tibi said. "But to be nonchalant and to sit aside is not the solution." Still, the boycott movement's members, many of whom voted in previous elections, believe that grassroots activism is a more effective agent of change than voting. Rula Nasr-Mazzawi, 43, a former activist with the Arab party Balad, says she left the faction and joined the boycott out of frustration with Arab parties' divisions in the face of what she described as Israel's "racist policies." "The parties stopped working for the people. They are just clinging onto their own seats and their own power," she said. ($1 = 3.5830 shekels) (Additional reporting by Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Tokyo (AFP) - A Japanese probe on Friday launched an explosive device at an asteroid, aiming to blast a crater in the surface and scoop up material that could shed light on how the solar system evolved. The explosive mission is the riskiest yet attempted by the Japanese space agency's Hayabusa2 probe that aims to reveal more about the origins of life on Earth. Hayabusa2 successfully released as scheduled the so-called "small carry-on impactor" -- a cone-shaped device capped with a copper bottom -- as the probe hovered just 500 metres (1,650 feet) above the asteroid Ryugu. The impactor was programmed to explode 40 minutes later, propelling the copper bottom towards Ryugu, where it should gouge a crater into the surface of the asteroid that spins 300 million kilometres from Earth. Hayabusa2 moved smartly away from the area to avoid being damaged by debris from the explosion or colliding with Ryugu while also releasing a camera to capture images of the event. Images from a different camera at the bottom of the probe showed the impactor was released at the right position and angle. Yuichi Tsuda, Hayabusa2 project manager, told reporters that the Japanese space agency (JAXA) was able to confirm the impactor hit the surface of the asteroid based on an image captured by the camera released by the probe. "I think it's a success. We could not have asked for more," he said. Takashi Kubota, an engineering researcher, said the probe's use of explosives and its "acrobatic" evasive manoeuvres were "unprecedented" and he hoped the mission would give scientists a rare peek inside an asteroid. Although the detonation was too small to move Ryugu off-orbit, JAXA scientist Makoto Yoshikawa said the ability to operate a probe to this level of precision marked "an important achievement in planetary defence" if Earth were threatened by an asteroid. It will take two weeks for the probe itself to return to its "home position" near Ryugu after the detonation and impact. Story continues The crater could be as large as 10 metres in diameter if the surface is sandy, or three metres across if it is rocky, according to JAXA scientists. - 'Dragon Palace' - NASA's Deep Impact project succeeded in creating an artificial crater on a comet in 2005, but only for observation purposes. The aim of blasting the crater on Ryugu is to throw up "fresh" material from under the asteroid's surface that could shed light on the early stages of the solar system. The asteroid is thought to contain relatively large amounts of organic matter and water from some 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system was born. In February, Hayabusa2 touched down briefly on Ryugu and fired a bullet into the surface to puff up dust for collection, before blasting back to its holding position. The Hayabusa2 mission, with a price tag of around 30 billion yen ($270 million), was launched in December 2014 and is scheduled to return to Earth with its samples in 2020. Photos of Ryugu -- which means "Dragon Palace" in Japanese and refers to a castle at the bottom of the ocean in an ancient Japanese tale -- show the asteroid has a rough surface full of boulders. Hayabusa2 observes the surface of the asteroid with its camera and sensing equipment but has also dispatched two tiny MINERVA-II rover robots as well as the French-German robot MASCOT to help surface observation. At about the size of a large fridge, Hayabusa2 is equipped with solar panels and is the successor to JAXA's first asteroid explorer, Hayabusa -- Japanese for falcon. That probe returned with dust samples from a smaller, potato-shaped asteroid in 2010, despite various setbacks during its epic seven-year odyssey and was hailed as a scientific triumph. WASHINGTON At his first public event since a host of women have accused him of inappropriate touching, former Vice President Joe Biden cracked two jokes about the allegations, leading to a second round of criticism including from at least one of his accusers. Within the first minute of Biden's speech at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Friday, he told the crowd, "I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie," mentioning Lonnie Stephenson, the IBEW president, who just introduced him. The reference to the host allegations led to a burst of laughter in the room. "I don't know, man," said Biden, who is considering a 2020 bid for president. As Biden continued his speech, which revolved unions, resolving political divisions and President Donald Trump's politics, Biden again referenced the allegations. By the way, he gave me permission to touch him. Joe Biden twice jokes about having permission to hug or touch people during remarks at IBEW conference: https://t.co/x2OsoEmVTO pic.twitter.com/JKVvac9uCV ABC News (@ABC) April 5, 2019 More: Biden calls Trump a 'tragedy in two acts' who is 'locked in the past' More: Joe Biden vows to be 'more mindful' on same day as three more women make accusations Biden spotted several children in the room and invited four of them on stage. After introducing himself, Biden joked as he draped his arm around a boy that "he gave me permission to touch him." Throughout his 40-minute speech, Biden mentioned Trump by name. He said the president opposes the core values and beliefs of the nation in the way he treats people. What in the hell is happening?" Biden asked. "Our children are listening. At least seven women have come forward with allegations about the former vice president's touching and kissing, saying that his behavior made them feel uncomfortable. On Wednesday, Biden posted a video on his Twitter account where he apologized, promised to change and attempted to explain his close contact was about making a connection and not intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Story continues The string of accusations started when Lucy Flores, a former member of the Nevada Legislature, accused Biden of "demeaning and disrespectful" behavior when he kissed the back of her head. In a column for New York Magazine, Flores detailed a backstage encounter with Biden during an event in 2014 in Nevada where he spoke to help boost voter turnout for Democrats. "I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified," Flores wrote. "He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldnt process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused." Its clear @JoeBiden hasnt reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable. To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have. Lucy Flores (@LucyFlores) April 5, 2019 After Biden's jokes on Friday, Flores blasted Biden and said his comments degrade the issue of consent. "Its clear @JoeBiden hasnt reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable," she wrote on Twitter. "To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have." Others on social media piled one. "Do we really need any more proof that #JoeBiden is a misogynistic creep?" one woman posted on Twitter. "What happened to 'I will listen respectfully'? Mocking accusers and making light of the accusations doesn't seem like respectfully listening..." Speaking to reporters afterward, Biden was asked about his jokes about the allegations and his possible 2020 run. After joking about permission to touch or hug people, Joe Biden answered multiple questions over allegations of inappropriate behavior, saying he wouldn't be surprised if more women came forward, but speaking of the importance of obtaining consent "regardless of your intentions." pic.twitter.com/yCWkRiPrNN ABC News (@ABC) April 5, 2019 "It wasnt my intent to make light of anyones discomfort," Biden told reporters. "I realize its my responsibility to not invade the space of anyone who is uncomfortable in this regard." Biden said he hoped "it wasn't taken that way" and said he understands personal space and the need for personal consent. The allegations against Biden come amid #MeToo, a movement started nearly a decade ago that went viral in 2017 as women in Hollywood and across the country shared stories of sexual harassment and assault. Its led to the resignation or downfall of more than 100 entertainers, executives and politicians, including Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and Kevin Spacey. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., announced his resignation in 2017 after accusations of sexual misconduct. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., also stepped down, as well as Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who resigned amid reports he discussed with female staffers the possibility they could be surrogates for his and his wife's baby. President Donald Trump has repeatedly cracked jokes about the allegations circling Biden. On Thursday, he posted doctored footage of Biden's apology video where a second Biden was edited into the footage to show him fondling himself. "People got a kick out of it," Trump said Friday of the doctored video he'd tweeted. "Hes going through a situation. Youve got to sort of smile a little bit." More than a dozen women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct over the years, including eight women who accused him of forcibly kissing them. Trump denied the allegations. In an Access Hollywood tape that surfaced during the final weeks of the presidential campaign in 2016, Trump made lewd comments and bragged about groping women. The president said that was "locker-room banter." Contributing: Ledyard King and Maureen Groppe This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden jokes about touching allegations at first public event, leading to criticism NEW CITY, N.Y. A judge on Friday halted Rockland County's emergency declaration banning children who are unvaccinated against measles from schools, places of worship and other public areas. Acting state Supreme Court Judge Rolf Thorsen's injunction stated that the 166 cases cited by the county since the measles outbreak began last October did not rise to the level of an epidemic or constitute a disaster. Rockland County Executive Ed Day's reliance on executive law in issuing the emergency declaration "may have been misplaced," the decision stated. Thorsen agreed with the families who sued to the county over the state of emergency when they said their children would continue to miss school, and the parents would continue to incur monetary expenses as a result of the order. The families asserted that the children posed no threat to other children at a school where there had been no reported cases of the measles. Michael Sussman, attorney for several dozen parents whose unvaccinated children attend Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, said the decision showed the judge agreed with his contention that the emergency declaration "is an improper vehicle for an over-broad order of this sort." "We expect all schools in the county, where children who have religious exemptions and have been barred ... will be returned to school so they can continue their education," Sussman said late Friday afternoon. Although Thorsen's order is temporary, the fate of the state of emergency is unclear. The county has the option of filing papers in advance of an April 19 court appearance, but by then Day's 30-day state of emergency would be almost done. Day expressed disappointment in the ruling but maintained his belief that the order made a difference. "While todays ruling by Judge Thorsen did not go as we had expected I want to commend those here in Rockland who have used this State of Emergency as an opportunity to get vaccinated and have conversations with their friends and neighbors about vaccination," he said in a statement. "We sought to find a new way to fight back against a disease that was eradicated almost 20 years ago and refused to sit idly by while those in Rockland were put at risk." Story continues More: NY legislators move to end religious exemptions from vaccines County Executive Ed Day, right, and Commissioner of Health Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert give an update regarding the effects of the State of Emergency Declaration in New City on Friday, March 29, 2019. Drew worldwide attention Thorsen ruling followed Thursday afternoon's arguments in a pair of lawsuits brought by parents whose unvaccinated children have been affected by the state of emergency instituted March 26 by the county executive. The order was intended to put the brakes on a measles outbreak that had reached 167 cases since October when a traveler from Israel visited the county. Most of the cases have occurred in the insular Orthodox and Hasidic communities in the Monsey and Spring Valley area. In addition to prompting hundreds of people to get vaccinated, the state of emergency has drawn worldwide attention and has landed the county in the middle of debates over civil and religious rights connected with childhood vaccinations. Thorsen's decision agreed with Sussman's lawsuit filed Wednesday claiming the families had been irreparably harmed by the order barring their children from school and restricted their travel, activities and daily routines. The children all have religious exemptions to vaccinations, which are recognized by state education law but are prohibited under Day's state of emergency order. The parents, who are only identified by their initials, claimed Day overstepped his authority in using an emergency declaration meant for quelling a disaster or other one-time event and not an ongoing health emergency. It additionally states that the individual orders comprising the declaration can only be issued for five days without being renewed. "What's significant is the overreach involved, the indefensibility of it," Sussman said after Thursday's court hearing. More: There are nearly 400 reported cases of measles in the USA. What are states doing about it? Attorney Michael Sussman speaks outside the Rockland County Courthouse after a hearing on the Rockland County state of emergency because of measles April 4, 2019. Why no measles quarantine? Sussman reiterated his contention that the emergency order is simply a case of grandstanding by public officials. He added: "People's lives are being affected even though they are not in any way themselves carriers of the disease, they are not affected by the disease. But the people who are affected by the disease are not being quarantined even though they are a much smaller number. That's the way to proceed." But Rockland County Attorney Thomas Humbach, representing the county executive, told the judge: "To try to quarantine at this point, we would have to open a sanatorium." Humbach argued that Day had invoked the state of emergency legally and appropriately in response to a crisis that was likely much larger than the 166 reported cases indicated. "The number of cases that we know about is different than the number of cases that there are," Humbach said during Thursday's hearing. "There are estimates that the number cases that there are outnumber the cases that we know about by two to four thousand." Rockland County Attorney Thomas Humbach and attorney Patricia Finn outside the Rockland County Courthouse after a hearing on the Rockland County state of emergency because of measles April 4, 2019. The county attorney argued it was imperative to balance the liberties of some people with the need to stop spikes of a highly contagious virus he said were popping up across the county and not just in isolate areas. Without the ban, there's a risk it could spread among infants and the infirm with serious complications like encephalitis, Humbach warned. More: Measles outbreak: How Rockland County became ground zero then hit the 'third rails' with emergency declaration Measles: Outbreak vs. epidemic During Thursday's hearing, Thorsen asked Humbach: "Where does an outbreak end and an epidemic begin?" Humbach replied that the words are similarly used, and said the numbers of measles cases and destruction caused by them warranted the situation to be labeled an emergency. The judge also asked Humbach whether the county's order could have been more narrowly tailored instead of how widely it was applied. Humbach said the county had considered narrowing the ages and locations to schools and houses of worship but had decided otherwise. Afterward, he said "it is not the county executives job to cater to individuals. The county executive is responsible to the entire populace of the county and is using the powers granted to him by the law to take the course he deems fit to protect the population as a whole. ... In this case, the good of the many must outweigh the preferences of the few, or the one." Another lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of an unnamed Rockland County mother and her unvaccinated baby daughter, also targets the county for failing to quarantine people with measles. Attorney Patricia Finn speaks outside the Rockland County Courthouse after a hearing on the Rockland County state of emergency because of measles April 4, 2019. Vaccinations vs. religious freedom The lawsuit filed by lawyer Patricia Finn alleges Day's emergency order discriminates against people with religious exemptions to vaccinations and violates their religious freedom by keeping them from celebrating Easter or Passover in houses of worship. Finn is a Piermont attorney who represents clients who have been injured by childhood vaccines and specializes in cases involving religious and medical exemptions to vaccinations. "The pharmaceutical companies are dominating the media," Finn told the judge. "They're scaring people and the county executive is reacting to that." Finn argued before Thorsen against the safety and efficiency of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine itself. But Humbach said Finn's claims were "not science and medicine accepted by medical establishments." "In the balance between religion and science, the courts state that public health comes first," he said. Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert has continually promoted the safety and efficacy of the measles vaccine and reminded the public of the potential severity of the virus' complications. The health commissioner said last week that some 17,600 MMR vaccinations had been given since the beginning of the outbreak in October a number has increased by almost 700 since the state of emergency was declared. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Judge blocks NY county's emergency order barring unvaccinated kids from public areas Jennifer and Sarah Hart gave their six children as many as 19 doses each of Benadryl before driving their SUV over a steep cliff and into the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the night last year, a jury determined on Thursday. The children and their mothers all died in the crash in Californias Mendocino County. The verdict was the first confirmation that the married couple had planned the crash that killed their entire family. The case has generated much interest, in part because the two white mothers and their six adopted children had been portrayed on social media as a happy, multi-racial family. Devonte Hart, 15, who was black, gained national attention when he was photographed in tears while hugging a white police officer during a 2014 protest in Portland, Oregon. This June, 2014, file photo shows some of the Hart family at the annual celebration of "The Goonies" movie in Astoria, Ore. Authorities in Northern California will hold a coroner's inquest to determine the manner of death for eight members of the family, whose SUV plunged off a coastal cliff last year. Mendocino County sheriff's Capt. Greg Van Patten says that during the two-day inquest starting Wednesday, April 3, 2019, a jury will hear from officials and experts, and decide whether the deaths of Jen and Sarah Hart and their six adopted children were accidental, a murder-suicide or undetermined. The familys story began to unravel in March of last year, when they fled their Woodland, Washington, home after a visit from social workers investigating charges they were neglecting the children. A neighbor had filed a complaint with the state saying the children were being deprived of food as punishment. New details about their last days emerged this week at a special coroners jury in Willits, California. A coroners inquest is generally used in cases involving in-custody deaths or officer-involved shootings where public interest is high and the need for transparency critical, said Mendocino County sheriffs Capt. Gregory L. Van Patten. Mendocino County Sheriff-Coroner Tom Allman said, When six children and two adults die in one incident, we as a society need to know the facts of that case," The Willits News reported. In this March 27, 2018, file photo provided by the California Highway Patrol a helicopter hovers over steep coastal cliffs near Mendocino, Calif., where a vehicle, visible at lower right, plunged about 100 feet off a cliff along Highway 1, killing all passengers. Authorities had indicated they believed the crash was deliberate but wanted a jury to make official findings. Evidence included testimony that Sarah Hart had used her phone to search for information about drowning and hypothermia. California Highway Patrol investigator Jake Slates testified that the deleted searches had been recovered from her phone, The Oregonian reported. They included these questions: Story continues Can 500 mgs of Benadryl kill a 120-pound woman? Is death by drowning relatively painless? How long does it take to die from hypothermia while drowning in a car? The SUVs black box computer, recovered after the crash, showed that Jennifer Hart drove over the cliff at full throttle, The Oregonian reported. A witness who was camping by their vehicle says he heard their car rev up around 3 a.m. on March 26, 2018. Another crash: After Hart family drove off cliff in fatal crash, another car plunges into water in same region The jury decided the six children, 12 to 19, died due to their mothers intentional act. They also included Markis, 19; Hannah, 16; Jeremiah, 14; Abigail, 14; and Ciera, 12. The familys Garmin GPS was recovered several weeks after the crash. It showed that they had stopped at a Walmart in Washington state, where it is believed Jennifer Hart bought the generic version of Benadryl. Sarah Hart, who was not driving, had 42 doses of the generic, sleep-inducing drug in her system. The children also had high levels of the drug in their bodies, the autopsies found. The couple often gave their children Benadryl on long drives so they would sleep, authorities said in the hearing. Jennifer Hart had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and may have been drinking to build up her courage, Slates said. Sheriffs Lt. Shannon Barney said Thursday he believed the couple succumbed to pressure. This March 29, 2018, file photo shows ruts cut into the clifftop where the SUV of Jennifer and Sarah Hart that went off the cliff was hauled up and over by a tow truck off the Pacific Coast Highway near Westport, Calif. A California Highway Patrol investigator testified Thursday, April 4, 2019 that Sarah Hart searched whether death by drowning was relatively painless hours before her wife drove an SUV off a cliff, killing them and six adopted children in waters below. Just a lot of stuff going on in their lives, to the point where they made this conscious decision to end their lives this way and take their childrens lives, he said. They both decided that this was going to be the end, Slates said. That if they cant have their kids that nobody was going to have those kids. The bodies of siblings Markis, Jeremiah and Abigail were found the same day near the car. Weeks later, the body of Ciera Hart was pulled from the Pacific Ocean. Hannah Hart was eventually identified through a DNA match. The body of Devonte Hart has not been found. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jury: Hart mothers drugged, killed all six children by driving SUV over California cliff into Pacific Ocean Actor Jussie Smollett leaves after his court appearance at Leighton Courthouse on March 26, 2019 in Chicago. CHICAGO The city of Chicago will sue Empire actor Jussie Smollett to claw back more than $130,000 to cover overtime costs of investigating what authorities say was a staged racist, homophobic attack, the citys law department announced Thursday. The city of Chicago corporate counsel, Ed Siskel, sent Smollett a letter a week ago demanding the Empire actor pay up the overtime costs within seven days. The deadline expired Thursday evening without Smollett making a payment. Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019, Bill McCaffrey, a city legal department spokesman said in a statement. The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Once it is filed, the Law Department will send a courtesy copy of the complaint to Mr. Smolletts Los Angeles-based legal team. A spokeswoman for Smolletts legal team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Chicago Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into this report, Siskel says in the letter sent to the Smollett legal team. Over two dozen detectives and police officers participated in the investigation, ultimately spending weeks investigating the false claims, including a substantial number of overtime hours. Foxx resignation calls: Jussie Smollett fallout: Suburban Chicago police chiefs call on prosecutor Kim Foxx to resign Pay up: Jussie Smollett investigation cost $130,000 in OT. Rahm Emanuel says Chicago will make 'Empire' actor pay The Cook County States Attorneys office announced March 26 that it was dropping charges against Smollett, less than three weeks after he had been indicted for disorderly conduct for filing a police. As part of the deal, Smollett agreed to forfeit $10,000 that he put up in bond money to secure his release after his arrest. Smollett, who is black and gay, allegedly hired two brothers to stage an assault on him and make it look like a hate crime, police and prosecutors say. The actor told investigators that his attackers yelled homophobic and racist slurs at him as well as screamed This is MAGA country, a reference to President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign slogan. Story continues Police accrued hundreds of hours in overtime as they investigated the Jan. 29 alleged assault before they said they learned that the actor had paid the brothers men he knew from the Empire set to stage the attack. The citys legal department announced the intention to sue as Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx who has been under fire since her office announced it was dropping charges against Smollett faced calls to step down Thursday from suburban police chiefs and the Chicago police union. The heads of three suburban Chicago police chiefs associations, which represent dozens of chiefs throughout the area, said Thursday they took no confidence votes against Foxx this week. All three organizations voted for Foxx, who as Cook County States Attorney oversees prosecutions in the city of Chicago and inner ring suburbs, to resign. About 30 suburban police chiefs announced the association's call for Foxx to step down at a news conference organized by the union. Kevin Graham, the Chicagos Fraternal Order of Polices president, said that the Smollett case was the last straw in a long list of grievances that members of the citys 13,000 officer police force have had with how Foxx has carried out her duties since being elected in 2016. He cited officers frustration that Foxx was too frequently allowing suspects who allegedly assaulted police officers to be let go without being charged. This didnt start with Jussie Smollett, Graham said. This started when we wanted to try and make sure that when officers received a battery in the performance of their duties that the felony charges would be placed. And we continually had problems getting those charges approved. In a statement, Foxx dismissed the police chiefs call for her step down. I was elected by the people of Cook County to pursue community safety, prevent harm, and uphold the values of fairness and equal justice, Foxx said. Im proud of my record in doing that, and I plan to do so through the end of my term and, if the people so will it, into the future. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jussie Smollett case: City of Chicago to sue actor over alleged hoax attack Mick Jagger sent a heartfelt apology to Rolling Stones fans on Saturday after announcing that the band would have to postpone their North American tour as he undergoes medical treatment. While the band and Jaggers reps declined to specify his treatment, they assured fans that the 75-year-old rocker is expected to make a full recovery. On Tuesday, CNN reported that Jagger would undergo a valve replacement surgery. Billboard was first to report the success of the surgery, with sources telling the magazine that Jagger is recovering and in great health. On Friday, reps for the rocker told PEOPLE in a statement, Mick Jagger has successfully undergone treatment. He is doing very well and is expected to make a full recovery. RELATED: Mick Jagger Successfully Undergoes Heart Valve Replacement Surgery Following Rolling Stones Tour Postponement: Report Valve replacement surgery, especially aortic valve replacement, is common as people age, Dr. Jennifer Haythe, an assistant professor of medicine and co-director of the Womens Center for Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University Medical Center, and member of PEOPLEs Health Squad, says. More than 1 in 8 people aged 75 or older have moderate to severe aortic stenosis, requiring a valve replacement. Aortic stenosis occurs when one of the four valves in the heart, which control blood flow, calcifies. The valve can become stenotic, which means that it doesnt open and close well, Haythe explains. It becomes kind of stuck. And when that happens there can only be one solution because its a mechanical obstruction you need to replace the valve. Mick Jagger | Kim/Getty Thankfully, while an aortic valve replacement surgery used to mean a physically taxing open-heart procedure, a new, minimally invasive surgery called TAVR is now the recommended option. With TAVR, surgeons thread a catheter with the new valve from the leg up to the heart, which then crushes the old valve and moves into place, Haythe says. Story continues They studied it systematically, and basically all the data shows that TAVR is equal or superior to surgical aortic valve replacement. There are some exceptions, where you wont be able to use TAVR, but in most cases thats whats being done now for aortic valve replacement. This catheter-based surgery doesnt require a big incision in the chest, Haythe says. Both types of surgeries take around two to four hours, but TAVR helps patients heal up sooner. It makes recovery easier, and requires a shorter duration in the hospital, Haythe says. They dont need to be on a breathing tube for as long, and its much less taxing on the body. It makes a huge difference as far as pain and how quickly your lungs recover. RELATED VIDEO: Arnold Schwarzeneggers First Words After Open Heart Surgery: Im Back And patients should expect to fully recover, and even feel better with the newly repaired valve. The symptoms of aortic stenosis are usually shortness of breath, chest discomfort, so usually that goes away afterwards, she says. They also dont need to worry too much about another valve failing, unless they have another underlying issue like kidney disease or had another infection on one of the valves, Haythe says. But patients do need to keep the age of their new valve in mind. Depending on your age, you have to worry about the new valve degenerating, she says. Mechanical valves [from open-heart surgery] can last 15 to 25 years, which is why when someone is younger theyll put one in, but that requires lifelong blood thinner. The prosthetic valves and TAVR dont require being on a blood thinner, but we dont know how durable they are because weve only been studying them for the last eight years, but in general they last more like eight to 12 years, depending. And then you may need another one. MILAN (AP) The Latest on migrants and asylum-seekers in Europe (all times local): 5:05 p.m. France's interior minister says some aid groups operating in the Mediterranean Sea sometimes act like accomplices to human traffickers. Minister Christophe Castaner pointed at "a real collusion between smugglers and some NGOs," including through phone contacts to "facilitate the migrants' departure from Libyan coasts in appalling conditions." The comments at a G-7 meeting in Paris are similar to those of his Italian counterpart, Matteo Salvini, who reaffirmed his hard-line stance on immigration. Castaner, a member of French President Emmanuel Macron's pro-European government, said he has clear political differences with Salvini, the leader of Italy's anti-migrant League party, but stressed that both countries were now cooperating on migration issues. ___ 1:25 p.m. Germany says it has asked the European Commission to find a safe port for a German humanitarian group's boat carrying 64 rescued migrants. Berlin says it is willing to take some of them in but expects European partners to do so as well. The group, Sea-Eye, asked Berlin to use diplomatic channels to find a port for the migrants on the Alan Kurdi ship. Malta and Italy have refused to open ports to humanitarian rescue ships, saying their activities encourage smugglers. German Interior Ministry spokesman Stefan Ruwwe-Gloesenkamp said Berlin has asked the European Union's executive Commission to coordinate the search for a safe port. He said Germany trusts that "a large number of member states" will be prepared to take in migrants and Berlin is ready to do "its part." ___ 1:20 p.m. Protesting migrants in Greece have blocked Athens' main train station and disrupted rail services, apparently prompted by false reports on social media that restrictions on travel to northern Europe had been lifted. Police said about 300 protesters gathered Friday at Larissis Station near central Athens, with many sitting on the tracks in front of trains. Story continues Authorities did not immediately intervene to disperse the demonstrators, while officials from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, were trying to persuade them to leave voluntarily. The protest occurred a day after clashes broke out near a camp for refugees and migrants in northern Greece, after protesters tried to break through a police cordon and reach the border with North Macedonia, which has been fenced off and heavily policed for the past three years. ___ 11:40 a.m. The German humanitarian group Sea-Eye says it is asking Berlin to use diplomatic channels to find a safe port for the 64 migrants it rescued off Libya earlier this week. Sea-Watch spokesman Carlotta Weibl said Friday that the rescue boat Alan Kurdi remains in international waters off Lampedusa and will not approach Italy's southernmost island until it has permission. She said conditions on board were worsening and that a storm was approaching. She said a request has been made to the German foreign ministry to find a solution. Malta and Italy have refused to open ports to humanitarian rescue ships, saying their activities encourage smugglers to pack unseaworthy rubber dinghies with migrants looking for sanctuary in Europe. (Reuters) - Representatives of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido have asked a U.S. court to overturn a prior ruling allowing Canadian miner Crystallex to seize part of U.S. refiner Citgo, which is owned by state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela. Guaido heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly and in January invoked the country's constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing President Nicolas Maduro's 2018 re-election was a fraud. The United States and most Western countries have recognized him as the country's rightful leader. Last year, a judge ruled Crystallex could seize shares in Citgo and auction them in its bid to get paid on a $1.4 billion award tied to the 2008 nationalization of its gold mining operations by the now cash-strapped South American country. That conflicts with Guaido's efforts to preserve the country's assets abroad, especially Citgo, which is pledged as collateral to multiple creditors. His lawyers argued to an appeals court that a lower court's ruling in favor of Crystallex be reversed in light of the new political circumstances. "Such an auction would not just be unseemly; it would be dangerous, undermining U.S. foreign policy by impeding President Guaido's ability to complete the transition of the Republic to democracy," the attorneys with Washington law firm Arnold & Porter wrote in a brief dated April 3. Guaido named a board of directors to Citgo in February, a move he described as "protecting our assets." Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled Guaido's representatives could request a stay, and gave them until this week to present their arguments. Maduro, a socialist who says he is the victim of an attempted U.S.-led coup, has accused the opposition of trying to "steal" Citgo. In its March 20 ruling allowing Guaido's representatives to intervene in the case, the judge said Crystallex would have until April 10 to respond to its arguments. (Reporting by Luc Cohen; editing by Chris Reese) An aerial view shows military vehicles on a road in Libya, April 4, 2019, in this still image taken from video - REUTERS Libya was on the brink of all-out civil war on Thursday after the renegade general Khalifa Haftar defied the United Nations to order his forces to march on Tripoli and overthrow the countrys internationally recognised government. In an audio address to his self-styled Libyan National Army on Thursday evening, General Haftar ordered a "victorious march" on the capital to "shake the lands under the feet of the unjust bunch." "Tripoli, we hear your call," he said in the address. "Whoever raises the white flag is safe." Fayez al-Serraj, the prime minister of the Tripoli-based government of national accord, had earlier ordered forces mobilised and authorised airstrikes if necessary to halt any assault on the capital. The powerful group of militias who control the Western city of Misrata said they were ready to fight Gen Haftars forces and backed Mr Serraj. Gen Haftars attempt to end Libyas long-simmering internal conflict by force came just hours after Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, arrived in Tripoli for talks with Mr Serraj ahead of a national reconciliation conference planned for the middle of this month. Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops to "advance" on Tripoli on Thursday April 4 Credit: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP Mr Guterres called for de-escalation and reiterated his view that there is "no military solution" to the country's eight-year conflict. "There can be no national conference in these circumstances," he told reporters in the Libyan capital. Libya has been divided between rival armed groups since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The main centres of power are Mr Serrajs internationally-recognised government based in Tripoli and a rival administration run by Gen Haftar based in the eastern city of Benghazi. Gen Haftar has recently consolidated control over large swathes of the south of the country. He enjoys strong backing from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, who see him as a potential secular leader who could restore order to the war-torn country and defeat Islamist insurgents there. Story continues His critics see him as a would-be dictator in the mold of Gaddafi. Russia and some Western countries, notably France, have also lent Gen Haftar support while simultaneously continuing to recognise and support Mr Serrajs government in Tripoli. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the U.N. Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame speak during a news conference in Tripoli on Thursday Credit: REUTERS/ HANI AMARA Mr Serraj and Gen Haftar met in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss a power-sharing agreement and were expected to announce a deal paving the way to national elections at the Libyan National Conference organized by Ghassan Salame, the UN secretary generals special representative for Libya, on April 14-16. Skirmishes between the Gen Haftars forces and and troops loyal to Mr Serrajs government broke out on Wednesday evening after the LNA said it had sent units westwards. On Thursday morning, LNA units said they had taken full control of the town of Gharyan, about 50 miles south of the capital Tripoli. The account was disputed by some witnesses who said LNA troops had bypassed the town rather than enter it. The LNA released a video on Wednesday that showed pick-up trucks mounted with heavy machine guns massing on an unidentified road. But analysts said it was still unclear whether Gen Haftars forces would have the military capacity to seize western Libya by force. Although its troops saw intense fighting for control of the cities of Derna and Benghazi, most of the LNAs recent territorial gains in the south of the country have been achieved by cutting deals with local militia groups rather than fighting them. Western cities like Zintan and Misrata, which field formidable militias with heavy weapons, would be a different type of resistance entirely. And they will fight said Tim Eaton, a Libya expert at Chatham House. It is difficult to see Haftar rolling into a place like Tripoli unless he has cut deals already. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! There is a lot to be liked about Aggreko Plc (LON:AGK) as an income stock. It has paid dividends over the past 10 years. The company is currently worth UK2.1b, and now yields roughly 3.3%. Should it have a place in your portfolio? Let's take a look at Aggreko in more detail. See our latest analysis for Aggreko How I analyze a dividend stock If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics: Is their annual yield among the top 25% of dividend payers? Has it paid dividend every year without dramatically reducing payout in the past? Has it increased its dividend per share amount over the past? Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will it be able to continue to payout at the current rate in the future? LSE:AGK Historical Dividend Yield, April 5th 2019 How well does Aggreko fit our criteria? Aggreko has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 55%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. However, going forward, analysts expect AGK's payout to fall to 46% of its earnings. Assuming a constant share price, this equates to a dividend yield of around 3.4%. However, EPS should increase to 0.52, meaning that the lower payout ratio does not necessarily implicate a lower dividend payment. If you want to dive deeper into the sustainability of a certain payout ratio, you may wish to consider the cash flow of the business. Companies with strong cash flow can sustain a higher payout ratio, while companies with weaker cash flow generally cannot. If dividend is a key criteria in your investment consideration, then you need to make sure the dividend stock you're eyeing out is reliable in its payments. In the case of AGK it has increased its DPS from 0.11 to 0.27 in the past 10 years. During this period it has not missed a payment, as one would expect for a company increasing its dividend. These are all positive signs of a great, reliable dividend stock. Story continues Compared to its peers, Aggreko produces a yield of 3.3%, which is high for Commercial Services stocks but still below the market's top dividend payers. Next Steps: With these dividend metrics in mind, I definitely rank Aggreko as a strong income stock, and is worth further research for anyone who considers dividends an important part of their portfolio strategy. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I urge potential investors to try and get a good understanding of the underlying business and its fundamentals before deciding on an investment. I've put together three pertinent aspects you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AGKs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for AGKs outlook. Valuation: What is AGK worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether AGK is currently mispriced by the market. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Police Handout The 23-year-old Ohio man who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen, an Illinois boy who went missing in 2011, has been charged with lying to federal agents, authorities announced Friday. Brian Rini was arrested Thursday night after DNA evidence revealed he was not the missing 14-year-old. Prosecutors said Friday that Rini wanted to get away from his family and was inspired to pose as Pitzen, who was last seen in May 2011, after watching a rerun of a 20/20 episode on the case. He needs to be punished for this, Rinis brother, Jonathon Rini, told The Daily Beast on Friday. He has been doing stuff like this, stupid stuff, for as long as I can remember and I just hope he finally gets the help he needs. But he deserves to go to prison for this. The real Timmothy Pitzen went missing nearly eight years ago after his mother, Amy Fryer-Pitzen, picked him up at his elementary school for a road trip. Fryer-Pitzen was found dead by suicide days later, with a note saying her son was with people who would care for him and love him. You will never find him, the note added. On behalf of the United States, I want to offer my condolences to the family of Timmothy Pitzen, U.S. Attorney Ben Glassman said in a Friday press conference announcing the charges. I can only imagine the kind of pain that they have been through and that this episode has caused for them. Prosecutors allege that on Wednesday, police responded to a call that Rini was wandering the street, looking confused and in need of assistance. He repeatedly told investigators that he was Pitzen and just wanted to go home, authorities said. After correctly providing Pitzens birth datethough incorrectly spelling his nameRini gave the feds detailed information about how he had been abducted, suffered physical and sexual abuse, and escaped from a hotel room nearby. Rini allegedly claimed he had recently escaped from a hotel room in which two men had been holding him captive, the affidavit states, adding that Rini claimed he had been sexually and physically abused for years while in captivity and that he was having abdominal pain. The 23-year-old also said he was the victim of child trafficking. Story continues On Friday, FBI special agent Herb Stapleton said investigators first became skeptical of Rinis claims when he refused to provide fingerprints while getting treatment at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center. He did eventually provide a swab that the Hamilton County Coroners Office tested, allowing them to quickly determine he was not Pitzen. I think there were suspicions relatively quickly, Stapleton said, adding that the priority was to ensure that under any circumstances a victim is getting the care they need. When confronted with the preliminary DNA test results, Rini allegedly confessed that hed lied. Further investigation by the FBI found that Rini had allegedly portrayed himself as a juvenile sex trafficking victim on two prior occasions. In those instances, he was only identified once he was fingerprinted, the affidavit states. Braun revealed on Friday that Rini admitted to concocting the Pitzen story after watching a rerun episode about the missing boy on 20/20. He allegedly told authorities he wanted a father like James Pitzen. We confirmed that there was such a 20/20 episode, and in fact, a rerun had aired several weeks ago, Glassman said. If convicted, Rini could face up to eight years in federal prison, according to authorities. He is currently being held at Hamilton County jail without bond and is expected to appear at a detention hearing on Tuesday. It is not OK to make false claims to law enforcement in matters like this, Glassman said. It is not OK because it causes pain to the missing childs family. According to court documents, Rini was released from an Ohio jail on March 7 after he was sentenced to 18 months behind bars for trashing a $400,000 model home during a "tattoo party" with a bunch of friends. As part of his release from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Rini was ordered to serve three years of probation, which requires him to obtain a travel permit before leaving the state. He was receiving treatment last year, but then he stopped, his brother said. Then he got into more trouble but we never expected he could do this. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Before she became a member of the Royal Family, Meghan Markle had a successful acting career. She was best known for her role as paralegal Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits, which she starred in from 2011 to 2017. Before she married Prince Harry in May 2018, Meghan had a reported worth of $5 million, according to royal finances expert David McClure. Speaking to Yahoo UKs The Royal Box, he says: She was on a salary of about half a million dollars a year and that series ran for about six years, so quite a bit of money was accumulated from that. Meghan and Harry in Sydney on their royal tour last year [Photo: Getty] California-born Meghan announced she was giving up her acting career, following her engagement to Harry in November 2017. But what has happened to her wealth since marrying into the Royal Family? According to Mr McClure, the money she has goes into the general [royal] household needs. READ MORE: Who pays for Meghan and Harrys royal baby? The Prince of Wales funds his immediate family (the Sussexes and the Cambridges) and relies on the Duchy of Cornwall for the majority of his income. This is a private estate which owns and operates a vast amount of land and properties across the country, bringing in an annual surplus in excess of 20 million ($26.5 million) that goes to Charles and Camilla. Meghan starred in Suits for six years [Photo: Getty] Charles does pay income tax on the annual revenue and this is used to fund his familys public, charitable and private activities. Mr McClure also points out: It should also not be forgotten that Prince Harry isnt short of funds, he inherited from Diana about 7 million. Theres also a trust fund that he gets from the Queen Mother, that must be worth another few million pounds, so he could be worth another 10 million. Meghan and Harry moved into their new home Frogmore Cottage in Windsor this week, according to reports. They are just weeks away from welcoming their first child. In this file photo taken on October 01, 2018 The US and New Mexico flags fly before the upcoming mid-term elections in Albuquerque, New Mexico. New Mexico is the 15th state to join a compact system that aims to cast all its electoral votes for the winner of the national popular presidential vote, leaving the plan only 81 electoral votes shy of taking effect nationally. Delaware joined the pact last week and Colorado in February. A total of 15 states, commonwealths or jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia, have adopted the measure for a combined 189 electoral votes. The compact kicks in as soon as it is adopted by states possessing a combined 270 electoral votes, or a majority of the 538 electoral votes. The New Mexico bill was signed this week by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan who said she hopes her state will gain more influence in national elections with the elimination of the "archaic" electoral system. "Presidential candidates don't even bother to come into the state anymore because they really don't need to. They'll go after states that have a large number of delegate votes and exclude New Mexico," said state Sen. Carlos Cisneros, who co-sponsored the bill. "For us it is crucial that the election for president is predicated on popular vote rather than the traditional and historical way of doing that." The National Popular Vote project, which began in 2006, in effect renders the Electoral College moot, eliminating any chance that a candidate can win the presidency without winning the popular vote nationally. New Mexico joins California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington state in the compact. The bill has been introduced in various years in all 50 states, according to NPV. It has passed a total of 37 states' legislative chambers in 23 states, but not always with the approval of a state's other chamber. In Oregon, a bill in favor of the National Popular Vote moved closer to adoption when it was approved for a vote on the floor. If approved, it would add seven more electoral votes to the national tally. Story continues The push to change the electoral voting system was launched after Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000 but lost the election to Republican George W. Bush in the electoral votes. The advocacy group NPV that backs the plan was organized in 2006. In 2016, Trump won the presidential election with 306 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton's 232. But Clinton won the popular vote, picking up 48.5% to Trump's 46.4%. Cisneros introduced the bill last year, but the legislature took it up too late in the session to pass it. He said it also failed because some lawmakers viewed it as "anti-President Trump" and a move aimed at diminishing the prospects of Republican candidates, according to CNN. In Colorado, Republican state lawmakers argued the compact would induce candidates to bypass smaller, rural, often Republican-leaning states during their campaigns. They say Colorado, which voted overwhelmingly Democratic in the 2018 midterm elections, would be added to that flyover territory. Advocates said it would force the candidates to fight for votes in more states, including solidly red states like Texas and solidly blue states like California. The project counts politicians of both parties on its advisory board, including former senators Birch Bayh, D-Ind., Jake Garn, R-Utah; former member of congress, Tom Downey, D-N.Y., and Tom Campbell, R-Calif. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Mexico is latest state to join National Popular Vote compact to cast all electoral votes for popular winner in presidential elections Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday he would name a military officer to command the country's new National Guard, the central part of his plan to curb a spiral of violent crime. The announcement risks triggering backlash from opponents and human rights activists, who say the new force will permanently militarize the country. "The commander-in-chief of the National Guard must be a military officer," Lopez Obrador told a news conference. "We need someone from that institution, with experience, discipline, honesty and professionalism." He said he would announce his choice for the position, an active-duty officer, next week. Mexico has been using the army to fight crime since 2006, when the government sent troops into the streets to crack down on powerful drug cartels. But the so-called "drug war" has been accompanied by a wave of violence: nearly 250,000 murders, including a new record of more than 33,000 last year. Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist, vowed during his presidential campaign last year to remove the army from the streets. Once in office, though, he said Mexico's police forces did not have the capacity to fight crime without the military. He proposed the National Guard as a long-term solution. But it triggered an outcry from rights groups, which say that using the military for civilian police work has caused a surge in human rights abuses. Lopez Obrador agreed to water down the military component of his initial proposal, putting the new force under the security rather than the defense ministry and putting a five-year limit on the army's role in fighting crime. Those changes were enough to win the two-thirds majority he needed in Congress to pass a constitutional reform creating the National Guard. It will have an annual budget of around $1 billion and about 80,000 personnel by the end of this year. Lawmakers still have to pass legislation regulating how the new force will operate. Its members "will be trained in human rights and the moderate, regulated use of force," Lopez Obrador said. With the first quarter of the year now behind us, lets take a moment to remember just how rocky a start it was. The federal government entered the year with a whimper, as a shutdown paralyzed Washington over the politics of funding a southern border wall. Hundreds of thousands of civil servants had to work through two pay periods and the holidays without timely compensation. Still others were told to simply stay home because they dont conduct what the Office of Personnel Management considers emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. The ranks of these supposedly non-essential employees included financial experts in departments across the government. Furloughing the financial experts had a cascading effect which in turn delayed the collection of data needed to publish the Financial Report of the U.S. Government on time. The end result was a clear signal about the governments view of financial transparency and accountability: non-essential. This is just one example of poor financial decision-making in modern American politics a trend that shows no sign of slowing down. Many hoped that President Donald Trump would use his State of the Union Address in February to provide a public update on the countrys fiscal health over the last year. Instead, the annual budget deficit went unmentioned. The word financial appeared only once in his speech, in a reference to border security. The Treasury Department made headlines the very next week as the national debt passed a sobering new milestone. On February 11, the reported outstanding public debt crested the $22 trillion mark for the first time in U.S. history. (Of course, since it does not count all the governments unfunded liabilities, the national debt is itself a massive undercount.) Yet again, this seemingly critical financial event seems to have gone unnoticed by our government leaders, who have said and done little in response. Story continues Then last month it was announced that the annual budget deficit is up 77 percent compared with the same period last year. To no ones surprise, tax cuts combined with increased spending has produced larger funding gaps. The damage: $310 billion over just the last four months. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the 2019 deficit will rise to approximately $900 billion by the end of the fiscal year. The financial state of the U.S. government often feels like the great unreported story of our time. Think about the levels of press coverage devoted to analyzing earning statements from large companies like Apple and Facebook. Nothing like that exists about the national debt. Imagine how strange it would seem if Elon Musk held a shareholder meeting without mentioning anything about Teslas latest financials. Thats exactly what is happening with the federal government today. Lets hope someone in charge starts paying attention soon and begins providing citizens understandable, reliable and accurate financial information. Sheila Weinberg, CPA, is the founder and chief executive officer of Truth in Accounting, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chicago that researches government financial data and promotes transparency for a better-informed citizenry. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Motel 6 will pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit claiming the chain improperly provided guest lists to immigration authorities for two years, Washington state's attorney general announced Thursday. The lawsuit said Washington locations of the chain provided information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a warrant. As a part of the settlement, Motel 6 has committed to no longer hand over guest information at all U.S. locations, unless required by warrant, subpoena or law. "Many Motel 6 locations in Washington turned over the personal information of their guests to ICE on a daily basis without requiring a warrant," a release from Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office reads. "From 2015 to 2017, seven Washington locations shared the personal information of approximately 80,000 guests." The release says Motel 6 released customer information including names, drivers license numbers, passport and green card ID numbers, room numbers, birthdates and license plate numbers. ICE used the information to target guests with Latino-sounding names, Ferguson alleged. An attorney generals investigation found that Motel 6's practice led to the detainment of at least nine people in the state, the release says. In November, Motel 6 settled a separate lawsuit in Arizona. The company agreed to pay up to $7.6 million to guests who said their private information had been shared with immigration officials. "The safety and security of our guests, which includes protecting guest information, is our top priority, and we are pleased to be able to reach resolution in this matter," a statement from the company said. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Motel 6 will pay $12M to settle Washington lawsuit for sharing information on 80,000 guests to ICE Motel 6 will take a $12 million hit for allegedly sharing the personal information of about 80,000 guests with immigration officials without the knowledge or permission of those customers. The chain has settled a lawsuit brought by the state of Washington over the controversial policy of seven of its hotels in that state between 2015 and 2017. The company has also said it will stop the practice of handing over guest information without a subpoena or warrant, unless it believes someone is in imminent danger. Motel 6, as part of the agreement did not admit to wrongdoing, but the consent decree it signed included language reading Motel 6 seeks to take corporate responsibility for past actions that adversely affected some of its customers, compensate those individuals who were harmed, and protect guest information with the integrity it deserves. The suit was originally filed last January by Washington states attorney general. Motel 6 is controlled by private equity firm Blackstone Group, which bought the brand in 2012. Prior to Washingtons lawsuit, the chain reportedly followed the same practices in Arizona. A Sept. 13, 2017 report in the Phoenix New Times said ICE had arrested 20 people at Motel 6s there from February to August after getting tips from staff. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So before you buy or sell Berger Paints India Limited (NSE:BERGEPAINT), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. What Is Insider Buying? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.' View our latest analysis for Berger Paints India Berger Paints India Insider Transactions Over The Last Year There wasn't any very large single transaction over the last year, but we can still observe some trading. Deeksha Gujral ditched 10.70k shares over the year. The average price per share was 332. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! NSEI:BERGEPAINT Recent Insider Trading, April 5th 2019 If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does Berger Paints India Boast High Insider Ownership? For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Berger Paints India insiders own 2.5% of the company, currently worth about 8.0b based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Berger Paints India Tell Us? The fact that there have been no Berger Paints India insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. It's heartening that insiders own plenty of stock, but we'd like to see more insider buying, since the last year of Berger Paints India insider transactions don't fill us with confidence. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Berger Paints India, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. As a battle wages on between Congress and the Department of Justice over Robert Muellers report, investigators for the special counsel appear to be taking a stand. But what will it take in order for politicians and the public to see their findings? A new report describes simmering frustrations at the special counsels office after attorney general William Barr released a four-page summary of its findings, effectively concluding Donald Trump was cleared of any criminal misconduct. Those investigators have told associates Mr Barrs summary is far from comprehensive and that it undermined the damaging material against the president included in their report, according to the New York Times. It is one of the first reported times the special counsels investigators have spoken out about the handling of the investigation in its aftermath. As the House Judiciary Committee threatens to subpoena the full report from the Justice Department, it seems clear at least some factions of the Democratic Party will not be satisfied with a heavily-redacted report that lacks substantive detail about Mr Muellers investigation. The Independent spoke with several constitutional law experts to better understand what might come next in this potentially lengthy legal fight. Heres what they had to say: Does Congress have legal authority to subpoena the full Mueller report? As part of its oversight authority, Congress certainly has the right to request, and even subpoena, the entire report, said Steven Schwinn, an associate professor of law at the John Marshall Law School. That said, Justice has authority to determine that some portions of it should not be turned over, or should be turned over with protections. If Congress and Justice disagree, Congress can sue to enforce a subpoena, and the courts can work it out. Theres just one problem with that, however: courts dont typically like to get involved in these sort of disputes between the legislative and executive branches. Story continues Generally courts have expected Congress and the president to solve this the old-fashioned way, and I believe thats what will happen here, said Peter Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams School of Law. Based on what the courts have previously done, they have generally allowed the inter-branch process to take its course, so Id be surprised if the courts were inclined to second guess what the executive has provided as long as there is some good-faith attempts to provide Congress what they want. So how much of the Mueller report can or should be redacted? That question really depends on who you ask. Legally speaking, there are some caveats as to what the public cannot access from the special counsels findings. There are the two obvious restrictions that would certainly be an open invitation for a redactors magic marker: grand jury information which ordinarily is under seal then theres information classified due to sources and methods used by the intelligence community, which may reveal how counterintelligence operations are being conducted, said Ross Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University. The White House has also suggested components of the report may be subject to executive privilege, meaning they discuss private details of the presidencys internal processes and therefore could be withheld from the public potentially setting up a legal challenge. Say the courts are forced to get involved. What happens then? The courts can order Justice to turn over the redacted portions, or deny Congresss request for the redacted portions, or maintain some redactions but order release of others, Mr Schwinn said. The way the courts get involved, and how they make decisions about the material, will depend on the reasons why Justice is redacting. For example, the courts will judge an assertion of executive privilege differently than theyll judge an assertion of grand jury secrecy just because those are two different things, he added. Still, legal experts say its more likely than not that a resolution will be made between the branches. Id hope attorney general Barr would be forthcoming in providing the vast bulk of the report Im still inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, Mr Margulies said. It wouldnt surprise me if at least some people arent happy, but I hope Bar will release enough so it makes clear what Muellers thinking was and answers some questions raised from his summary, particularly the obstruction of justice issue. How do the House subpoenas play into all of this? Put simply, the subpoenas may be more of a scare tactic in order to get officials to comply with congressional demands. I would like to know the last person who was sent to jail for being held in contempt of Congress, Mr Baker quipped. The president can just invoke executive privilege a lot of these subpoenas will likely be contested based on executive privilege. Still, issuing subpoenas sets the legal framework for Congress to uphold its oversight responsibilities under unusual circumstances. Congress and the administration usually come to some kind of agreement before a court has to rule, Mr Schwinn said, describing an example in which the Justice Department makes a single copy of the report available in a secure room where lawmakers can read it one at a time without staff. But if it comes to negotiating something like this, expect the negotiations to be quite tough, he noted, adding: Democrats in Congress will want to be able to point to actual and publicly available text to support their public statements about the content of the report. Justice and Republicans, on the other hand, will want just the opposite, so that they can say that Democrats are making it up. Of course, nobody in Congress yet knows whats precisely in the report. So theyll be negotiating in the dark. Which I guess just make this all the more interesting! Is there a chance the Mueller report could be leaked? In spite of Mr Muellers team being extraordinarily silent throughout their investigation, it appears more likely now than ever that investigators will speak out if they believe the reports true findings are not outlined in what the Justice Department eventually provides Congress. It looks like somebody is leaking some information that cuts against attorney general Barrs summary of the Muller report, apparently because they think the summary doesnt do justice to the entire report, Mr Schwinn said. I suspect wed see more leaks like this and perhaps the entire report if AG Barr or someone else at Justice is either seriously misrepresenting the report, or redacting it in a disingenuous way. Mr Baker echoed those comments, saying he could see a leak happening very easily if what Mr Barr releases is a complete over distillation of the findings and in no sense reflects the complexity of the investigation. There are a lot of people on Muellers team who are extremely agitated by Barrs mini-rendition of the Mueller report, he said. Those would be the people with the strongest motive to release portions of it. YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's military said on Friday six Rohingya Muslims killed and nine wounded in an aerial attack in the western state of Rakhine this week were affiliated with an armed rebel group. The army-run Myawady newspaper said the villagers were "together with terrorists while the army was cracking down on the Arakan Army's terrorist activities" on Wednesday in the township of Buthidaung. Rakhine state came to global attention in 2017, when the Myanmar army drove about 730,000 ethnic Rohingya across the border into neighboring Bangladesh, following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. The United Nations has accused the army of 'genocidal intent' in cracking down on the Muslim minority. More recently, the military has been battling another armed group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population. The men were collecting bamboo near the Sai Din waterfall when an army helicopter attacked, three villagers and a regional lawmaker told Reuters on Thursday. "All of them were bamboo workers," said Soe Tun Oo, a fellow laborer. Arakan Army spokesman Khin Thu Kha denied the dead and wounded men were members of the armed group, saying the military had attacked indiscriminately. "They bombed everywhere, believing there were Arakan Army members in the jungle," he added. Ten people are being treated at the Buthidaung public hospital, Kyaw Min Tun, a hospital official, said on Friday. In a statement, the military said nine injured were taken to a military-run hospital for treatment. But a military spokesman, Tun Tun Nyi, declined to comment on the discrepancy between the accounts. In Geneva, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the organization was "deeply disturbed" by the escalating violence in Rakhine and condemned "what appear to be indiscriminate attacks and attacks directed at civilians". Ravina Shamdasani said there were "credible reports of the killing of civilians, burning of houses, arbitrary arrests, abductions, indiscriminate fire in civilian areas, and damage to cultural property". She cited sources on the ground as saying at least seven people were killed on Wednesday and that the attack was carried out in an area where thousands of Rohingya were taking shelter having fled earlier fighting. "As the international community is taking steps toward accountability for the crimes committed against civilians in previous years, the Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians - attacks which may constitute war crimes," she said. More than 20,000 people have been displaced by the violence across five townships in Rakhine state, she said, urging authorities to allow humanitarian relief for those affected. The United States embassy in Myanmar said this week it was "deeply concerned about the harm to civilians of the ongoing conflict in Rakhine and Chin States between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military." "We call on all parties to renew their efforts to end the fighting and work toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict." (Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Darren Schuettler) By Sharon Bernstein (Reuters) - When Cecile Eledge offered to carry a baby for her adult son and his husband, they thought she was kidding - and that her doctors in the family's Nebraska hometown would balk at a 61-year-old woman serving as a surrogate for a gay couple. But two weeks ago the entire family - along with proud doctors - beamed as Uma Louise Dougherty came into the world at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Grandmother and baby are both healthy - and Uma was delivered the old-fashioned way. The circumstances of Uma's birth are a testament to changing social mores as well as the dramatic advances in senior health made by modern medicine and healthy lifestyles. "I wanted to do it as a gift from a mother to her son," Cecile Eledge said. News of Uma's conception, delivery and birth made headlines across the globe. On social media, the family was inundated with messages - most of them positive but some extremely angry and negative, Matthew Eledge said. "People from all around the world have been reaching out," Matthew Eledge said. "They want to help in any way that they can." The family is trying to ignore the negative reactions - the people who wrongly think that Matthew had sex with his own mother to produce the baby, or who leave homophobic remarks. When they set out to start their family, Matthew Eledge and Elliott Dougherty were already aware of the toll that prejudice could take. In 2015, Matthew Eledge had lost his job as a teacher at a Catholic school after the pair announced they would be married. That led to concerns that they would be denied permission to adopt a baby in their conservative home state. So they decided to try in vitro fertilization with a donated egg and a surrogate to carry the fetus. To their delight, Dougherty's sister, Lea Yribe, offered to donate her eggs. The eggs were fertilized with sperm from Matthew Eledge, giving Uma genetic material from both sides of the family. Story continues The men jokingly told their IVF doctor that Matthew Eledge's mother had offered to be the surrogate - even though she was at that point 59 and had gone through menopause. "Matt would comically say, 'Well my mom keeps offering but we know that's not an option,' " Cecile Eledge said. But the doctors, Matthew Eledge said, just wanted to know if his mom was healthy - and if she still had her uterus. After testing to make sure that Cecile Eledge's body could tolerate the pregnancy, the embryo that would become Uma was implanted. Dr. Carl Smith, a specialist in maternal and fetal medicine at the medical center, said Cecile Eledge was healthy and fit, and looked years younger than her age. Among possible complications for older mothers are gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, and the team watched her health carefully, viewing the pregnancy as high-risk. Cecile Eledge took estrogen supplements for the first part of the pregnancy, Smith said, until the placenta holding Uma was able to make hormones of its own. The politics of helping a gay couple and the unusual choice of a grandmother for a surrogate did not deter the team, Smith said. "We never gave that a second thought," Smith said. "She was pregnant and the circumstances of how she got pregnant are between her and her family." (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by Frank McGurty and Sandra Maler) The deadliest biker shootout in U.S. history left nine dead and at least 20 injured almost four years ago in Waco, Texas. And now all charges tied to the shooting will be dropped. Pursuing charges in the violent clash between rival biker gangs "would only result in further waste of time, effort and resources," McLennan County District Attorney Barry Johnson said Tuesday in a statement. About 200 bikers had gathered outside a Twin Peaks restaurant on May 17, 2015, before the fracas broke out. Most were members of the Banditos or Cossack motorcycle gangs, Johnson said. After police intervened, 177 bikers were arrested with 155 of those charged with criminal activity. All but 24 of those cases were eventually dropped before Tuesday. More than 100 of those bikers would go on to file civil rights lawsuits, the Waco Tribune reported, and only one case of Bandidos leader Jacob Carrizal was ever prosecuted in court. It ended in a mistrial. According to KWTX-TV, McLennan County noted that costs tied to the Twin Peaks incident over the years totaled $1,317,835. All that led Johnson to decide to "end this nightmare," per the Tribune. More: Mistrial in Waco biker shootout trial left 154 suspects in limbo "In my opinion, had this action been taken in a timely manner, it would have, and should have, resulted in numerous convictions and prison sentences against many of those who participated in the Twin Peaks brawl," Johnson said. "Over the next three years the prior District Attorney failed to take that action, for reasons that I do not know to this day." Johnson, who took office in January, campaigned critically against former District Attorney Abel Reyna and his handling of the Twin Peaks shootout. Reyna disagreed with Johnson's decision announced Tuesday, taking issue with "several statements and accusations" of Johnson's in a statement, per the Associated Press. Paul Looney, a Houston attorney who represented six Twin Peaks defendants, told the Waco Tribune that that prosecutors tied up the bikers' lives for years in a flawed process. Story continues The decision that was announced today was inevitable, he told the newspaper. Follow Josh Hafner on Twitter: @joshhafner This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No convictions in Waco biker shootout that left 9 dead, 20 injured Just one to two drinks a day can increase risk of high blood pressure and stroke, a new study found, debunking the myth that moderate alcohol consumption could protect against those risks. Published Thursday in the British medical journal The Lancet, the massive genetic study of 160,000 adults adds to growing research that alcohol can have lasting health implications. Previous studies had suggested that moderate drinkers had a lower risk of stroke and heart attack compared to non-drinkers, the study authors said. However, it was unknown if that was because the moderate drinking itself decreased the risk or if it was because non-drinkers had other health problems, the authors said. Alcohol is killing more people: And younger. The biggest increases are among women For stroke, the research now refutes the claim that moderate drinking can be protective. "There are no protective effects of moderate alcohol intake against stroke. Even moderate alcohol consumption increases the chances of having a stroke," Zhengming Chen of University of Oxford, one of the study's co-authors, said in a statement. "The findings for heart attack were less clear-cut, so we plan to collect more evidence." Researchers conducted their study by looking at the group of Chinese adults, because of common genetic intolerance to alcohol in that population that stops many from drinking. Those intolerances aren't linked to other lifestyle factors, like smoking, so they can explain how drinking causes these health effects rather than just being associated with them, the authors said. Four drinks a day increased stroke risk by 35% and no protective effects were found for light to moderate drinking, according to the research. How many drinks a day? U.S. should lower alcohol recommendation because booze shortens our lives, study says "Using genetics is a novel way to assess the health effects of alcohol, and to sort out whether moderate drinking really is protective, or whether its slightly harmful. Our genetic analyses have helped us understand the cause-and-effect relationships," Iona Millwood of University of Oxford, the study's lead author, said in statement. Story continues Alcohol is a leading risk factor for death and disease worldwide, a 2018 study by The Lancet found. The study found it is associated with 2.8 million deaths each year and the seventh-leading risk factor for premature death and disability globally in 2016. From 2007 to 2017, the number of deaths attributable to alcohol increased 35 percent, according to an analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. The death rate rose 24 percent. Contributing: Jayne O'Donnell and Ashley May This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, moderate drinking can't protect against stroke. It actually increases risk, study says OSLO (Reuters) - Production at Norwegian aluminum maker Norsk Hydro was back to near normal after a cyber attack last month, the company said on Friday. The group halted some of its production on March 19 and switched other units to manual operation after hackers blocked its systems with ransomware. It has said it would not pay hackers to unlock its files, but has not said if it actually received any ransom demand. "In terms of production output, most operations are back to normal or near normal levels," it said. "The cyber attack has, however, caused delays to certain administrative processes, including systems for reporting, billing and invoicing." The company said it would take time to get IT operations fully back to normal after what it dubbed a sophisticated attack. It didn't give a timeframe for this. Despite the attack, Hydro's primary metals business and most other units were able to carry on production with workarounds and manual solutions, though output of its extrusion business, which makes components for carmakers, builders and other industries, was reduced by 50 percent. The unit's operations were close to normal, but still with many workarounds and local variations from plant to plant, the company said. Production in the three business units Extrusion Europe, Extrusion North America and Precision Tubing were running at an average output of around 90 percent, while Building Systems was at around 75 percent, it added. The company has given a preliminary estimate of the financial impact of the attack during the first week at between 300 million Norwegian crowns ($35 million) and 350 million. The company had a cyber risk insurance policy with AIG, but the potential compensation had a cap which the company has declined to disclose. Norsk Hydro shares were up 1.5 percent on Friday, lagging a 2.6 percent rise in Norway's benchmark stock index. (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by David Holmes) Oslo (AFP) - Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest at more than $1 trillion, will soon be able to invest in unlisted renewable energy infrastructure projects, such as wind farms and solar parks, the government said Friday. Currently 66.3 percent of the fund is invested in shares, 30.7 percent in bonds, and three percent in real estate. While the fund already owns stakes in listed companies in the renewable energy sector, Friday's announcement means it will now have more latitude to invest in infrastructure projects at an earlier stage, thereby allowing it to maximise its gains. "Allowing for unlisted renewable energy infrastructure is not a climate policy measure, but is a part of the investment strategy for the fund," Finance Minister Siv Jensen said in a statement. "These investments shall be subject to the same profitability and transparency requirements as the other investments of the fund," she added. Fuelled by the Norwegian state's oil revenues, the fund already has an envelope of a maximum 60 billion kroner ($7 billion) reserved for climate investments. That ceiling will now be doubled to 120 billion kroner. According to consulting firm McKinsey, the global renewable energy market is currently valued at $2.9 trillion, and is expected to rise to $4.2 trillion by 2030. Norway is the biggest oil and gas producer in Western Europe. The fund has in recent years gone increasingly green -- moves hailed by the environmental lobby though the changes are usually based on purely financial considerations. In March, Oslo announced it was selling off its stakes in oil and gas exploration and production companies to reduce its exposure to black gold. That decision could affect more than a hundred companies specialised in upstream operations, including Chesapeake of the US, China's CNOOC, Canada's Encana, France's Maurel and Britain's Tullow. But companies involved in downstream operations or which also invest in renewable energies, including all the oil majors, will be spared. Story continues The fund has already partially pulled out of the coal industry, both for environmental and financial reasons, but some companies had until now fallen through the cracks, such as Germany's RWE. On Friday, the Norwegian government said it was beefing up its criteria. "It's a decisive step for the health of the fund and the planet," said Tom Sanzillo, head of the IEEFA think tank. The fund will also be able to scrap its bonds in 10 emerging economies (Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Korea and Thailand). On Friday, the fund's value was almost 9.04 trillion kroner ($1.05 trillion). Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) called on fellow Democrats to pursue an agenda of reparations through a dramatic expansion of the welfare state during her remarks at Al Sharptons National Action Network Conference in New York on Friday. Describing the restructuring of the American economy articulated in her Green New Deal proposal, the freshman Democrat argued that, in addition to combating climate change, the plan would result in a massive redistribution of wealth administered by the federal government. That is the moral, political, and economic underpinning of making bold investments and dignified jobs, because that is the necessary plan to fix the pipes in Flint and clean the air in the South Bronx and create unionized energy jobs for transitioning workers in Appalachia and West Virginia, for single-payer health care and Medicare-for-all and tuition-free public colleges and universities to prepare our nation for the future, and for the end of mass incarceration, the war on drugs, examining and pursuing an agenda of reparations, and fixing the opioid crisis too, she said. The reference to reparations is reflective of the Democratic partys embrace of legislation, introduced by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas) in January, that would create a commission to explore how best to compensate the descendants of American slaves. The legislation, known as the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans Act, has already received the backing of a host of 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls, including Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former representative Beto ORourke of Texas, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. Speaking ahead of Ocasio-Cortez at the conference on Friday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who has previously dismissed the idea of direct cash payments to the descendants of slaves, said he would back Jackson Lees bill if hes elected in 2020. Story continues If the House and the Senate pass that bill, of course I would sign it. There needs to be a study. But I think what we need to do is to pay real attention to the most distressed communities in America, Sanders said. More from National Review While the U.S. is debating semi-automatic gun sales, in the U.K., combatting a crime wave means pulling ordinary kitchen knives off grocery store shelves. On Friday, the CEO of supermarket operator Co-operative Group said on an earnings call that the chainthe U.K.s sixth-largesthad stopped selling single kitchen knives a few weeks ago. Weve launched our safer colleague, safer community campaign to support colleague safety and help identify the causes of community crime. This has seen us remove kitchen knives from sale in our stores, Steve Murrells told reporters, according to Reuters. The Co-op is the latest in an expanding line of supermarkets that are responding to record numbers of fatal stabbings in England and Wales. There were almost 40,000 knife crimes committed in the year up until September 2018, up two-thirds over the last four years. Most involved knives being used for assault and robbery, but there were 285 knife-related homicidesthe most since 1946. Almost half of those killings were in London. The reason behind the current spike in knife-related homicides is the subject of an intense national debate in the U.K. The opposition Labour Party and some police chiefs have pinned much of the blame on the Conservative governments austerity policies, which have involved cuts in police funding. Prime Minister Theresa May has claimed there is no direct correlation with police numbers. There has also been something of a moral panic over a form of rap called drill music, which often features violent lyrics. Last month, Walmart-owned Asdathe U.K.s second-biggest supermarket chainsaid it would stop selling single kitchen knives by the end of April. Asda senior vice president Nick Jones said at the time that the chain had already tried to restrict knife sales, but felt there was more we could be doing to support those looking at how to bring this issue under control. Story continues Last year, 17 U.K. retailersincluding online stores such as Amazonagreed to conduct proof-of-age checks when customers buy knives or have them delivered, to check they are at least 18 years old. That age limit was imposed in the Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006. The retailers also agreed to ensure knives are displayed and packaged securely as appropriate to minimize risk. Tesco, the biggest supermarket chain in the country, stopped selling kitchen knives in its urban Express stores and online back in 2016. It is currently conducting a trial at one London store, keeping the knives in a locked cabinet to stop them being stolen. We continue to introduce new ways to strengthen how we sell knives responsibly, including exploring more stringent security measures in-store and working with our suppliers to increase security around knife packaging to prevent theft and ensure customers can still purchase products safely, a Tesco spokesperson said. Morrisons, another big supermarket chain, has stopped selling kitchen knives altogether at a number of its London stores. The private ownership of handguns has been largely banned in the U.K. since a 1996 school massacre in Dunblane, Scotland. In the year up to March 2018, there were just 29 homicides in England and Wales that involved firearms21 of which were known to involve unlicensed guns. Budapest (AFP) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban once again attacked key figures from the same centre-right group of European parties Friday as he launched his own campaign for May's key European parliament poll. He slammed current European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's record in office, saying: "The English are going, and the migrants are coming." Last month Fidesz was indefinitely suspended from the mainstream conservative European People's Party (EPP), the EU's biggest and most influential political grouping, over a billboard campaign by Budapest that attacked Juncker. After receiving criticism for the campaign, Orban apologised for insulting EPP partners and has also previously expressed support for the bloc's lead candidate for May's elections, Manfred Weber. Weber has recently criticised Fidesz and last week told German broadcaster ZDF that he "would not accept the post" of commission president if he had to depend on Fidesz votes. On Friday Orban took aim at Weber as well, saying that he had "offended Hungarians". "Its no wonder that more and more people are saying and writing: 'Out with him (Weber)'," Orban told party members at the event in Budapest. Orban went on to insist that "leaders who oppose immigration should be leading the EU institutions". Juncker's term in office, as well as that of EU Council President Donald Tusk, will end later on this year. He also hinted Fidesz may leave the EPP of its own accord after May's poll. "We will decide our own future," said Orban on Friday. "After the election we will see where the EPP moves, if it is to the left and liberal direction,... then we won't follow them," he added, to applause from the crowd. During the speech Orban also blasted "bureaucrats living in a Brussels bubble" whose aim he said was the creation of "United States of Europe". Story continues "The handling of migration must be removed from Brussels bureaucrats, and given back to national governments," he added. He also attacked migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos -- who also hails from the EPP -- saying his policies amount to "a total population replacement programme", echoing a far-right trope. The firebrand said "the existence of Christian civilisation is at stake" at the May 26 vote. The campaign which attracted criticism from within the EPP suggested that Juncker and liberal Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros were plotting to flood Europe with migrants. In recent weeks Orban has signalled a willingness to create a rival group in the European Parliament comprising allies to the right of the EPP. Last month he said Fidesz would first approach Poland's governing right-wing PiS party if it ever left the mainstream bloc. He has also heaped praise on Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's anti-immigrant League party. At the last elections in 2014 Fidesz won 12 out of Hungary's 21 mandates for the European assembly. Polls indicate the party is likely to increase its total by one or two seats. The United States is one of the only developed countries that doesnt explicitly forbid insider trading. Each case comes down to a matter of particulars. Preet Bharara, former US Attorney for New Yorks Southern District, recently announced what he calls the Bharara Task Force on Insider Trading an assembly of legal experts dedicated to reforming US legislation to protect investors. The idea is to clear out some of the grey space surrounding insider trading. Updates to the legal boundaries of insider trading The recent prosecution of Bassam Salman (Salman vs the United States) clarified decades of fuzzy edges around insider trading and redefined some of its legal boundaries. The Salman ruling determined, among other things, that the relationship between a tipper and a tippee matters. It can have an effect on the legality of the gifting of information. This detail has major implications in decentralised applications where people trade investment information anonymously. The Pareto Network, for example, is a financial research platform fundamentally based on such information exchanges. Members receive payment for the intel they disclose to other traders. This helps to make markets fairer by ensuring that well-connected traders dont have an unfair advantage over the everyday citizen, effectively achieving the underlying goal of Preet Bharara and SEC commissioner Jay Claytons task force. Based on the Salman ruling, since the information exchanged is between anonymous strangers (not friends or family), its legal whether theyre insiders or not. An intel platform where traders exchange tips openly and anonymously People see what they want to see in a tool like the Pareto Network, says Pareto co-founder Eric Lamison-White. He continued: We have computer enthusiasts that first think of hacking tools being posted on the network monetising the exploit by disclosure instead of actually hacking an organisation. We have partners at venture capital firms who first think of shareholder lists being disclosed on the platform. And we have traders who first think about insider trading being possible. Story continues The Pareto platform isnt specifically for legal insider trading. In fact, it isnt even marketed to securities traders, which is the only market where insider trading applies. However, some investors are taking advantage of the flexible way the blockchain-based exchange makes room for the flow of information. Keeping intel exchanges within the boundaries of the law Although most of our members trade in the FX and spot commodities market, says Lamison-White, we recognise that the system cannot distinguish asset classes difference and some forms of insider trading are illegal in the securities market. We have actively engaged in specialised legal counsel to ensure our platform is compliant with the law, particularly after Salman vs the United States, which made clear the role of the tippers fiduciary duties, and their relationship to the tippee. The Bharara Task Force aims for a public sector solution. However, the Pareto Network is a private sector solution with the same goal. It refuses to accept a rigged system. He explains: Members in the Pareto Network compete for access to the intel, and the competition creates a market value of the intel. The rules of the competition ensure that the average citizen has access to actionable intel alongside everyone else, including regulators, and not just the most well-connected. But if youre thinking about using Pareto to subvert securities laws, think again. He warns: We have a very sternly-worded user agreement that makes it clear that illegal activity is not acceptable. With prosecutors like Bharara going after investors who in some cases didnt even profit from their insider tipping, it would be a big risk not following best practices on decentralised, anonymous intel sharing networks. Policing content on a decentralised network Blockchain is a new technology and lacks formal regulation itself. This makes it unclear how content can be policed on a decentralised application like Pareto or if it removes the need for policing entirely. The Pareto Network uses blockchain for member access. The only thing the system knows about its members is their address on the blockchain. All intel that members disclose isnt even stored on the companys servers, but instead exists forever on another network of computers around the world. The member can be anonymous and the intel is uncensorable. The nature of this system is peer-to-peer. Traders and investors vet the information using the platform as they compete for priority access. Essentially, the network polices itself from within. This promotes a high standard of quality for the intel on the platform. It also leaves almost no room for manipulation of information thanks to the number of discriminating eyes on every piece of intel that comes in. The network simply ignores intel that is not profitable for members. That removes, Lamison-White argues, the need for external regulation. It also changes the face of what external regulation looks like. He states: Regulators can also be members and compete to further understand the flow of information in their respective markets, streamlining their whistleblower programmes with payments to tippers settling instantly on the blockchain. Wrapping it up With quality investment intel on offer and members rewarded in PARETO cryptocurrency for offering legal insider tips, the network is drawing both expert insiders and up-and-coming investors to the same pool. As the volume and diversity of traders grow, the platform becomes stronger and increasingly stable. And because the intel its members supply is recorded on tamper-proof blocks of information that have given blockchain its name, all that data is here to stay. The post Pareto Network co-founder talks about policing insider trading appeared first on Coin Rivet. Washington (AFP) - The United States on Friday announced sanctions on ships of Venezuela's state oil company and companies that link it to key ally Cuba, hoping to cut off vital lifelines for President Nicolas Maduro. Vice President Mike Pence unveiled the latest measures in Washington's bid to oust Maduro, a leftist firebrand who has nonetheless held on to power for more than two months, and vowed further pressure on Cuba -- a bugbear of the United States for a half-century. "Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people," Pence said in a speech at Rice University in Houston. "Those looking on should know this: All options are on the table. And Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America," he said. "The United States will continue to exert all diplomatic and economic pressure to bring about a peaceful transition to democracy," he said. The Treasury Department said it was designating 34 vessels of state oil company PDVSA as blocked property, meaning that the United States will prohibit all transactions with them. It also targeted a tanker that ships crude oil from Venezuela to Cuba, the Despina Andrianna, as well as two shipping companies that own or register the vessel. One is based in Liberia and the other in Greece, one of the sole Western nations that backs Maduro. Pence also hinted that President Donald Trump's administration will take further action against Cuba as it considers allowing exiles to sue over property seized by the communist authorities. "In the coming weeks, the United States will be taking even stronger action against Cuba. In this administration, I promise you, it will always be Que Viva Cuba Libre," he said, using the Spanish for "Long Live Free Cuba." The push on Cuba is a sharp change from the previous administration of Barack Obama, who said that the longtime US effort to isolate the island had failed and re-established diplomatic relations. Story continues A Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States estimated that Venezuela delivered 50,000 barrels a day to Cuba -- a critical amount for the island, which in turn provides security, intelligence and other services for Maduro. "By severely impacting the shipment of that oil and the ability to get that oil from Venezuela to Cuba, there is going to be a recalibration of that relationship. This is the first step in the pressure," the official said. But Maduro also still enjoys support from China, which has lent $60 billion over the past decade to Venezuela, and Russia, which has sent military experts to Caracas and says the United States is attempting a coup. The United States itself was a key market for Venezuelan oil through Citgo, a subsidiary of PDVSA, but Washington has forced the operator to place earnings in a blocked account. WASHINGTON (AP) Vice President Mike Pence warned Turkey on Wednesday that it could risk its membership in NATO if it goes ahead with plans to buy a Russian air defense system despite widespread U.S. and international opposition. Pence's escalating rhetoric came after Turkey insisted Wednesday that the Russian deal was done, signaling an apparent impasse between the two NATO allies. Speaking at a NATO 70th anniversary event, Pence said Turkey risks expulsion from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which could cripple Turkish manufacturers who are making parts for the aircraft. And he raised the possibility of much broader recriminations. "Turkey must choose," Pence said. "Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in the history of the world or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" Other U.S. officials have stopped short of threatening Turkey's underlying relationship with America or NATO, but there have been growing calls for swift action, including sanctions, against Ankara to stop the S-400 purchase. Turkey's foreign minister, however, appeared unmoved by the U.S. threats, saying that buying the Russian S-400 system "is a done deal. We will not step back from this." The U.S. has offered to sell Turkey the American-made Patriot missile defense system, but Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it could not be delivered in time. "We couldn't get it for 10 years," Cavusoglu said at the Atlantic Council on Wednesday morning. "That's why we had to buy from Russia. And we tried to buy from other allies as well. It didn't work. So it is an urgent need of Turkey. I mean, we need air defense systems urgently in Turkey." Cavusoglu also met Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, whose Democratic chairman and ranking Republican member said they "made clear our bipartisan opposition" to Turkey's plan to acquire the Russian missile system. Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said they cautioned Cavusoglu that deepening ties with Moscow "will risk sanctions and Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program." Story continues The U.S. and other NATO allies have repeatedly complained about the purchase of the S-400 system, saying it is not compatible with other allied systems and would represent a threat to the F-35. Officials have said that Turkey's acquisition of both U.S. and Russian systems could give Moscow access to sophisticated American technology and allow it to find ways to counter the F-35. Pence described the purchase as "deeply troubling" and said it "poses great danger to NATO, to the strength of the alliance." As a result, U.S. government leaders have repeatedly threatened to shut down Turkey's participation in the F-35 program if the Russian purchase goes through. On Monday, the Pentagon took its first retaliatory step and stopped delivery of F-35 fighter jet parts and manuals to Turkey. But so far, Turkish pilots continue to train on the aircraft at Luke Air Force Base, outside Phoenix, Arizona. And, Pentagon leaders insist there is still hope for some type of negotiated settlement. "We haven't given up on trying to work our way through this," said Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "We've made what we think is a very good offer for the Patriot to provide for the air defense capabilities of Turkey." He told reporters that the U.S. has made it clear to Turkey that the F-35 and the S-400 are incompatible systems, "but we're still working our way through that and hope we can come up with an arrangement." Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan also expressed optimism, saying he is confident that the Patriot system proposal will work out. Cavusoglu, however, said he believes Turkey can convince the U.S. that the S-400 will not be a risk or threat to NATO. "We made very clear that this system will not see any NATO system, including F-35s, as an enemy," he said, adding that Turkey has proposed setting up a technical working group that would make sure the S-400 did not pose a threat. ___ Associated Press writers Robert Burns and Matthew Lee contributed to this report. "Anything you can do I can do while bleeding," read one defiant poster at a recent women's march in Pakistan, while another demanded: "Keep your dick pics to yourself". Then came the backlash, including rape and death threats. The posters were just part of the colourful spectacle as tens of thousands of women took to the streets for the second annual Aurat (Women) march in major cities across Pakistan, marking International Women's Day on March 8. But this year the slogans caught the attention of the media, many of whom showcased them online, while a handful of the most provocative went viral -- igniting weeks of outrage, with shocked organisers reposting a slew of violent threats. The uproar has provoked a rare and at times acrimonious debate on women's rights and cultural values in a conservative Muslim country that has, until now, been largely unconcerned with the global #MeToo movement. Celebrities and television personalities have weighed in, and a retaliatory "Men's March" was even organised in Karachi, though reports suggest just two showed up. One Karachi cleric, offended by a poster that announced "My body, my choice", used twisted logic to claim that men, also, have agency over their bodies -- therefore they have a right to sex with whomever they want. "My body my choice ... your body your choice ... Then men's body men's choice ... They can climb onto anyone they want," he argues in a video which swiftly went viral, with tens of thousands of views. Many of the informal group of activists behind the march said they had expected a reaction, but were taken aback by its ferocity. "The level to which they took offence, to the point of giving death threats to people who were the organisers ... is too much," says Lubaina Rajbhoy, a graphic designer whose posters evoking Communist revolutions became emblematic of the march. The backlash against the slogans, Rajbhoy said, "shows a height of intolerance in our country, which again is one of the purposes of the march". Story continues - 'Equal rights for all' - Women have long fought for basic rights in Pakistan, where activists say men commit "pervasive and intractable" violence against them. Much of society lives under a patriarchal, outdated code of so-called "honour" that systemises the oppression of women who defy tradition by, for example, choosing their own husband or working outside the home. Hundreds of women are killed by men in Pakistan each year for "honour". As with women's movements elsewhere, the uproar was partly fuelled by fears "feminism" means hatred of men -- "which is not true at all", says organiser Leena Ghani. "We are asking for ... equal rights for all," she said. "To be honest, everyone is affected by patriarchy." But the signs also invoked what many saw as the encroachment of elitist and Western cultural values on a post-colonial, Islamic society. The slogan "Keep your dick pics to yourself" drew particular fire, with many angered more by the explicit language than by the spectre of sexual harassment it raised. Posters invoking menstruation provoked disgust in a country where sex education is almost non-existent and reproductive rights lacking. And signs promoting divorce and a woman's rights in marriage were perceived as an attack on Pakistan's social structure, in which traditional marriages play a central role. Ride-sharing app Careem caught part of the backlash when it released a lighthearted ad two weeks later showing a runaway bride, the caption reading: "If you want to run away from your wedding, book a Careem bike!" Critics filed a legal petition against the ad, calling it an "unethical promotional campaign". Television host Madiha Masood was among those publicly criticising the march, suggesting it was a project driven by foreign powers -- a common conspiracy theory in Pakistan. "I will not encourage my daughter to depict inappropriate hand gestures, hold a cigarette in her fingers and say, 'My time has come'. I'm very sorry, I wouldn't want such a daughter," she told AFP. Another high-profile critic was Pakistani feminist icon and poet Kishwar Naheed, who reportedly said she believes feminists should keep their culture and traditions in mind so as not to go astray like "jihadis" -- much to the surprise of many who had looked to her for inspiration. For the marchers, criticism of the posters is a distraction -- though the designer Rajbhoy noted the controversy is now being broadcast to women all over the country. "It's important for them to see that ... there is this group of women that are actually coming out of their homes and marching, and perhaps they wish to participate in it in the future." This week Pfizer PFE and Teva TEVA gained marketing approval from the European Commission for their new medicines. While Pfizer gained approval for its new lung cancer medicine, Vizimpro, Tevas CGRP injection, Ajovy was approved in EU. Meanwhile, Novartis NVS announced plans to acquire IFM Tre, a subsidiary of privately held IFM Therapeutics. The acquisition will give Novartis full rights to IFMs two NLRP3 inhibitors. Meanwhile, Novartis blockbuster psoriasis drug, Cosentyx was approved in China while Mercks MRK Keytruda was approved in the country for first-line lung cancer as a combination therapy. Recap of the Weeks Most Important Headlines Teva & Pfizers Medicines Get Approval in EU: Tevas CGRP injection, Ajovy was granted marketing approval by the European Commission for the prophylaxis of migraine in adult patients who experience at least four migraine days per month. Ajovy (fremanezumab), for prevention of chronic/episodic migraine, was approved in the United States in September last year and has been enjoying strong demand since launch. Pfizer also gained marketing approval in EU for its new lung cancer medicine, Vizimpro (dacomitinib) that was approved in the United States last September. Vizimpro (dacomitinib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is now approved in EU for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with EGFR activating mutations. Novartis New Immunology Acquisition: Novartis announced plans to acquire IFM Tre, a subsidiary of Boston-based IFM Therapeutics, for an upfront payment of $310 million upfront. In addition, IFM will also be eligible to earn up to $1.265 billion in milestone payments. The deal will give Novartis full rights to IFMs two NLRP3 inhibitors - one clinical and two preclinical. These medicines target the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key component of the innate immune system, thereby providing a novel approach to preventing chronic inflammation that results in serious disease. The deal complements Novartis existing pipeline of anti-inflammatory medicines. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019. Story continues Meanwhile, Novartis blockbuster psoriasis drug, Cosentyx was approved in China. Cosentyx, a first-in-class interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor, is the first biologic approved in China for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Novartis generic arm, Sandoz announced re-submission of its regulatory application to the FDA looking for approval of its biosimilar version of Amgens neutropenia drug, Neulasta. Novartis had earlier in June 2016 received a complete response letter from the FDA for the same. Neutropenia is one of the most serious side effects of chemotherapy. Novartis also notified of a dispute with Amgen relating to their collaboration agreement for the newly launched migraine medicine, Aimovig. Novartis said that Amgen issued a notice of termination of the agreement on Apr 2. Novartis strongly disputes the notice and has sued Amgen accusing the biotech of making an unjustifiable attempt to end the collaboration with Novartis. Mercks Keytruda Gets Approval in China for First-Line Lung Cancer: Merck announced that the Chinese regulatory authority has granted conditional approval to Keytruda in combination with Lillys Alimta (pemetrexed) and platinum chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. The approval was based on significant survival benefit demonstrated in a key late-stage lung cancer study, KEYNOTE-189. Notably, data from the KEYNOTE-189 study is already included in Keytrudas U.S. and EU label. FDA Grants AstraZeneca/Mercks Selumetinib Breakthrough Therapy Status: AstraZeneca AZN and Mercks MEK 1/2 inhibitor, selumetinib was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) related plexiform neurofibromas, an incurable genetic condition that affects newborns. Selumetinib is being evaluated in a phase II SPRINT study in pediatric patients with inoperable NF1-related PN, which formed the basis of the designation. Allergan Abicipar Shows Better Inflammation in AMD Study: Allergans AGN phase III MAPLE study evaluating a 12-week dose of its long-acting anti-VEGF candidate, abicipar pegol, demonstrated decreased intraocular inflammation in patients with age-related neovascular macular degeneration (nAMD). MAPLE used a modified manufacturing process to test an optimized 12-week formulation of abicipar in nAMD patients. Following the improved manufacturing process, it was observed that the incidence of intraocular inflammation (IOI) in the study was lower than previous phase III studies. In the MAPLE study, the reported incidence of IOI was 8.9%, which was less than around 15% observed in the previous studies, SEQUOIA and CEDAR. The companies plan to file a biologics license application (BLA) for abicipar in the first half of 2019. Pfizer/Sangmo Announce Promising Data on Gene Therapy Candidate: Pfizer and its partner, Sangamo Therapeutics announced encouraging interim data from a phase I/II study evaluating their gene therapy candidate, SB-525, for treating hemophilia A. Data from the study showed that patients treated with the highest dosage of SB-525 (3e13 vg/kg) achieved normal factor VIII levels. Dose dependent increase in factor VIII levels was observed in eight patients treated with SB-525 gene therapy across the four dosage cohorts. Excess levels of factor VIII increase blood clotting, which is a major symptom of haemophilia. Based on the data from the study, the Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC) recommended expansion of the 3e13 vg/kg cohort. Meanwhile, Pfizers breast cancer drug Ibrance in combination with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant gained FDAs approval for the treatment of men with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer. The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index declined 1% in the last five trading sessions. Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return Here is how the seven major stocks performed in the last five trading sessions: All the stocks were in the red in the last five trading sessions, except Pfizer, which rose 1.1%. AstraZeneca declined the most (5.7%). In the past six months, Merck has been the biggest gainer (14.5%) while Bristol-Myers BMY declined the most (25.8%). (See the last pharma stock roundup here: AZN Inks Cancer Deal, ABBV, NVS & Others Get Drug Approvals) What's Next in the Pharma World? Watch out for pipeline and regulatory updates next week. Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019 In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year? Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%. See Latest Stocks Today >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Allergan plc (AGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Wall Street kicks off the second quarter of 2019 on an upbeat mood instigated by easing trade tensions. Though the S&P 500 Index logged its biggest first-quarter gain since 1998, there was quite a tumult in the market in March mainly on recessionary jitters in the United States, acute fear of slowdown in the Euro zone and Brexit drama. This makes it easier for the global market to engage in a rally to start Q2 thanks to progress in trade talks, manufacturing revival in the United States and China and hopes of a soft Brexit. Against this backdrop, we highlight a few ETFs that are well-positioned at the current level and still have legs. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ETF Shares VIS It seems the industrial sector is coming back to life slowly. Reflecting decent U.S. economic growth, the Institute for Supply Managements Manufacturing PMI in the United States increased to 55.3 in March from Februarys 54.2. The reading also surpassed market expectations of 54.5 (read: U.S. Manufacturing Sector Grows in March: ETF & Stock Picks). Chinas all-important and long-ailing manufacturing sector is also showing signs of improvement. The Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.8 in March 2019 from 49.9 in the prior month, beating market expectations of 50.1 (read: What Led China ETFs Outperform in Q1 & Have More Room to Run). Along with the gradually improving global sentiments, a dovish Fed and receding trade tensions should push this already soaring Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) ETF higher. SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF XAR The first-quarter 2019 earnings growth is expected to turn negative, per Earnings Trends issued on Apr 3, 2019. This would mark the first earnings decline since the second quarter of 2016. Margin pressure has acted as a headwind as revenues continue to grow. Against this backdrop, very few sectors are projected to post positive earnings growth in Q1, among which Aerospace is expected to have the best growth rate of 4.5%. Also, President Donald Trump unveiled his third budget proposal for fiscal 2020, which begins on Oct 1, 2019. The record $4.75 trillion budget proposal seeks to bolster funding for defense and border walls. All these factors make XAR a good pick. The fund has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) (read: After a Lull, Will Defense-Related ETFs Surge Ahead?). Story continues Xtrackers MSCI China A Inclusion Equity ETF ASHX The underlying index of the fund the MSCI China A Inclusion Index is designed to track the progressive partial inclusion of A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index over time. Investors should note that MSCI is allowing investors greater access to the worlds second-largest stock market: China. MSCI is quadrupling the weighting of domestically traded Chinese stocks in its global indexes from 5% to 20% starting this May. Exposure will be raised in three phases 10% in May, 15% in August, and further to 20% in November (read: China A-Shares ETFs to Roar Higher on MSCI Move). MSCI moves along with a host of reformative measures by the Chinese government as well as less trade tensions should give this Zacks Rank #2 fund a boost (read: What Led China ETFs Outperform in Q1 & Have More Room to Run). iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF IWD The fund measures the performance of the large-capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market. The S&P 500 has just seen the best quarterly gain since 2009. After the astounding gains, thoughts of overvaluation concerns are justified. Also, global growth worries make it wise to hone in on value quotient when it comes to large-cap investing (the capitalization has considerable international exposure). Per an article published on seekingalpha, value stocks are now at the deepest discount to growth since 2000, ideally offering a good buying point. Alerian MLP ETF AMLP Oil prices have staged a rebound this year, coming off a steep sell-off late last year. This in turn resulted in a surge in related investments like MLP ETFs. The fund AMLP is up 15.8% this year, beating the S&P 500 and yielding as high as 7.88% currently. Along with the oil rally, a dovish Fed is also a beneficial factor for the space (read: MLP ETFs for Growth and Juicy Yields). Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR): ETF Research Reports ALPS Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP): ETF Research Reports Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS): ETF Research Reports iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD): ETF Research Reports Xtrackers MSCI China A Inclusion Equity ETF (ASHX): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Tripoli (AFP) - Libyan forces under Khalifa Haftar battled their way to the south of Tripoli on Friday, prompting the UN Security Council and the G7 to demand a halt to the military advance on the capital. Haftar, commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive on Thursday to take the capital, held by a UN-backed unity government and an array of militias. The lightening assault was ordered as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Libya for a visit aimed at cementing a political deal on holding elections. After meeting with Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi, Guterres said he was leaving "Libya with a deep concern and a heavy heart" and voiced hope that a "bloody confrontation" could be avoided. Shortly afterwards, LNA forces clashed with a pro-government alliance less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the capital, a unity government source said. Haftar's press office confirmed there had been "violent fighting on the edge of Tripoli with armed militias". - Halt all movements - After a closed-door emergency meeting in New York, the Security Council called on Haftar's forces to halt their advance and warned that those responsible for re-igniting the conflict will be held responsible. The appeal for Haftar to halt his offensive was unanimously backed by the council, including Russia, which has supported the strongman. The council "called on LNA forces to halt all military movements" and "on all forces to de-escalate military activity," said German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, who holds the council presidency. UN envoy Ghassan Salame told the council that Haftar made clear to Guterres during the Benghazi meeting that he had no intention of halting his campaign, diplomats said. G7 foreign ministers meeting in the French resort town of Dinard urged an immediate halt to "all military activity and movements toward Tripoli", warning that civilians were in danger. Story continues LNA forces briefly took over the ruins of a destroyed airport but were driven out by fighters from the capital, government interior minister Fathi Bachagha told Libya's Al-Ahrar television station. "The fighting is currently taking place in the Gasr Ben Ghechir region" south of the airport, he said. LNA spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari said five fighters from his group had been killed in clashes over the past 24 hours, but insisted that it had made "an important step forward". Earlier in the day, LNA forces were pushed back from a key checkpoint less than 30 kilometres from the capital, checking their offensive. Pro-government militiamen from the coastal town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, retook the base after a "short exchange of fire", a source said on condition of anonymity. The head of the UN-backed unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, visited the checkpoint on Friday accompanied by military commanders. - Time has come - The Zawiya militia is one of dozens that have proliferated since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi and are variously aligned with Sarraj's government and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar. Most of the pro-Haftar fighters who briefly captured the checkpoint late on Thursday were rival militiamen from the town of Sabratha, further west along the Mediterranean coast. Haftar said "the time has come" to take Tripoli in an audio message released on Thursday, pledging to spare civilians and "state institutions". The United States and its allies issued a joint statement urging "all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions". Russia called for "all possible efforts to fully resolve the situation with peaceful political means". Analysts say the advance by Haftar's forces comes at a key moment as the UN bids to get elections back on track after an abortive effort last year. "The risk of a flare-up has increased," said Jalel Harchaoui, a researcher at Clingendael Institute in The Hague. "Capturing Tripoli... remains a possibility" for Haftar, with the support he receives from Saudi Arabia and its allies Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, he said. Mandy, 35, Matt, 38, and their two sons, ages 3 and 1. | Matthew Kirschner Photography I was working in New York City in beauty public relations but was laid off in the spring of 2016. Our older son was almost 1 then, and we realized that we probably wouldnt be able to afford the kind of house we hoped for on the East Coast. Plus, we wanted another baby and knew being closer to family would help. Matts parents and his brother live here in St. Louis, and my mom is an easy-ish seven-hour drive to Omaha. Together we earn $168,000 per year, which breaks down to about $8,600 each month after taxes. Things are definitely cheaper in the Midwest. For example, in New Jersey we paid about $3,500 a month for our apartment and a parking space. Now we pay about $2,700 for our house and two cars. In New York, I was earning more than Matt. But my salary has decreased nearly $30K, which has been a blow to my egoand to our wallets. While the cost of our mortgage, cars, groceries, and day care is down, so is our total income. Day care costs about $2,500 a month, and it honestly feels like it might break us. But weve seen huge developmental benefits in our kids as a result of it, and we know the situation is only temporary. Our next-biggest expense is the mortgage, which is $2,100. After we moved, we needed a second car, so now we own one and lease the other. Together, the payments are $650 a month. We keep our incomes separate. We each have our own checking accountMatt pays the mortgage and I pay for day care and utilities, and we split credit-card bills evenly. We also each have a personal savings account that the other isnt allowed to touch. Finally, we have a joint savings that we used for the down payment on our house. We lived together when we were dating, so having separate accounts made sense, and after we were married, it seemed too complicated to combine finances. And really, there was no benefit to sharing money until we had a baby. Story continues We both have a 401(k) through our employers, although were definitely not contributing enough. Well probably start making larger contributions when the boys are going to school full-time. Matts freelance architecture photography business. In 2018, he didnt have as much time to devote to it, and took in about $3,000. But in 2017, he was much busier and made about $20,000. It can be hard, though, because these projects usually require him to travel over a weekend, and I really miss the extra set of hands when hes gone! Matthew Kirschner Photography Matt does all of our home repairs. We try to be smart about unnecessary expensesour DirecTV contract expired recently, so we went with an online streaming service. We also use Amazons Subscribe & Save option for toiletries, diapers, and wipes, and Chewy for dog food. One sticking point is that we split expenses down the middle even though our salaries arent equal. Matt makes more than I do, so sometimes well find ways to even things out on a month-to-month basis, like maybe hell pay all his usual bills plus a week of daycare. Were striving to find a longer-term solution that will work for us. Ive never carried a balance, but I hoped that Matts debt would be taken care of by the time we got married in 2011. He was able to pay it off in 2014, before we got serious about having a baby. When Matt made his final payment, I brought home a Mylar balloon in the shape of a zero, and we had a little celebration. Putting almost everything on a credit card that earns airline miles, and paying it off every month. Our family has flown round-trip to Denver, where my dad lives, and to Omaha, for a total of only $22 each time. Our points also covered a rental car on one of those trips. Every week we spend about $100 on eating out: $50 for lunch at work, and another $50 to go out as a family. We have most of our groceries deliveredIll happily pay the delivery fee just so I dont have to go to the storeand thats around $150 a week. Our boys are thriving in day care, but we cant wait to be done with that expense. | Matthew Kirschner Photography Instead of buying gifts for Matt and me, they generally give us cash. They also contributed to the down payment on our house, and my mom helped us buy our second car. Plus, the kids have their own college funds set up through both sets of grandparents. I feel like I dont have enough money to save after paying our big expenses. Prior to my pregnancies, I had a healthy personal savings account, but during both of my maternity leaves, it got drainedby the rent, and then by our mortgage and other bills. My first maternity leave was six months, and I received about $1,200 a month plus disability for six weeks. But during my second leave, I was transitioning from a freelance gig to a full-time salaried position at my current company, so I wasnt paid anything and wasnt eligible for disability pay. Im still annoyed that I had to take a financial hit for staying home with our babies. Paying for both of our boys college educations so they dont have to take out loans. We would love to be comfortable enough to go out to dinner or take a trip without really having to budget. And retiring on the early side sounds like a nice thing to do! When we moved into our house, the kitchen was functional, but ugly. We originally planned a small-scale makeover, but then decided to do it right. We spent close to $10K, and that money came from our monthly take-home pay as well as some savings from Matts photo business. Because we DIYed pretty much every aspect, we were able to space out the big projects and purchase materials when we could afford them. We finally finished in February! Im happy we went this route and didnt take out a home-improvement loan; Matt thinks hiring contractors would have doubled our total cost. It may not end up being our dream kitchen, but its much better organized now, and we built storage that fits our lifestyle. Its nice to feel like were making this house our own. The Expert Says: Cash-flowing their renovation instead of taking out a loan was a great decision. And cutting cable? Another smart move! says Jamila Souffrant, creator of the personal finance podcast and financial advice website JourneyToLaunch.com. While they may not be in the position to max out their retirement contributions, they should think about increasing their contributions by 1 or 2 percent. Because it comes out of their paychecks before taxes, it might not be as big a decrease to their take-home pay as they think. Since theyre looking for a simpler accounting system, they could try this: If Mandys salary makes up 40 percent of the total income and Matts makes up 60, they could each contribute to a single family checking account according to those percentages. This article originally appeared in Parents Magazine as 'Our Salary Story: The Kirschners.' Want to tell your story? Email us at money@parents.com. Reba McEntire found love when she least expected it. "I was not looking," the Grammy Award-winning country artist told People. "Not even interested." McEntire, who has been divorced twice, said that she's now seeing a retired oil geologist, Anthony "Skeeter" Lasuzzo and is in love. "Were totally in love absolutely," she told the outlet. "I wouldnt put up with somebody for two years if I wasnt in love with em!" McEntire, 64, met 70-year-old Lasuzzo while on a vacation tour of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in August 2017. He's a wildlife photographer and was able to show McEntire and her group great animal-sighting spots. He bought her dinner two nights later. Reba McEntire attends the Country Music Hall of Fame She visited him two months after that and he asked her out. "I was there almost a week and we spent every day together," she told People. In 2015, McEntire split from her husband and manager Narvel Blackstock after 26 years of marriage. Prior to that, she was married to Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987. McEntire's latest album, "Stronger Than the Truth," is out Friday. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reba McEntire is 'totally in love' with new beau, to her surprise NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pakistan's F-16 combat jets have all been accounted for, U.S.-based Foreign Policy magazine said, citing U.S. officials, contradicting an Indian air force assessment that it had shot down one of the jets in February. India and Pakistan engaged in an aerial battle over the disputed region of Kashmir a day after Indian jets crossed over into Pakistan to attack a suspected camp of anti-India militants. An Indian jet was brought down during the fight and its pilot captured when he ejected on the Pakistani side of the border. India said it, too, had shot down a Pakistani aircraft and the air force displayed pieces of a missile that it said had been fired by a Pakistani F-16 before it went down. Foreign Policy said in a report published on Thursday two U.S. defence officials with direct knowledge of the matter said U.S. personnel had done a count of Pakistan's F-16s and found none missing. The F-16s are made by Lockheed Martin and, under an end-user agreement, the United States required the host country to allow for regular inspections to ensure they were accounted for and protected, Foreign Policy said. Details of the India-Pakistan air engagement have not been fully provided by either side. If the U.S. report turns out to be true, it would be a further blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had said that India had taught Pakistan a lesson. "Truth always prevails," Pakistan's army spokesman said in a Tweet. "Time for India to speak truth about false claims & actual losses on their side." "CONFIRMED SIGHTING" The Indian Air Force reiterated on Friday that one of its MiG-21 planes had brought down an F-16 in the Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Two combat planes went down that day, one was an Indian and the other belonged to Pakistan air force (PAF) the IAF said in a statement. "The Indian Force have confirmed sighting ejections at two different places on that day. The two sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km," it said. "One was an IAF Mig 21 Bison and the other a PAF aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate that the PAF aircraft was an F-16," the air force said. Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, heading into a tight election next week, is campaigning on a platform of tough national security, especially with regard to arch foe Pakistan. New Delhi blames Pakistan for stoking a 30-year revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir but Islamabad denies any involvement. The success of Indian air strikes on a camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group in northwestern Pakistan has also been thrown into doubt after satellite images showed little sign of damage. High-resolution satellite images reviewed by Reuters last month showed that a religious school run by Jaish appeared to be still standing days after India said its warplanes had hit the Islamist group's training camp on the site and killed a large number of militants. Foreign Policy said Pakistan had invited U.S. officials to physically count the F-16 planes after the incident. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took U.S. personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, one of the officials was quoted as saying. The count had now been completed and all aircraft "were present and accounted for", the official was quoted as saying. India has separately asked the United States for its view on whether the use of the F-16s by Pakistan was a violation of the end-user agreement. (Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Additional reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Paul Tait, Nick Macfie and Alison Williams) Following is a summary of current world news briefs. Australia announces disability inquiry as election looms Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in one of the government's last moves before an imminent election, said on Friday a powerful public inquiry into the country's disability care would run for three years and address abuse, neglect and exploitation problems in the sector. The inquiry, known as a Royal Commission, will cost A$528 million ($375 million) and follows reports of poor treatment, as well as pressure from disability advocates after a similar inquiry was launched into the aged care sector. Brazil's Bolsonaro warms to old-style politics to push pension bill Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro appealed to leaders of five big centrist parties on Thursday to back his pension reform plan, resorting to the traditional political methods he had condemned during the election campaign. The government's deputy Senate whip, Senator Izalci Lucas, told Reuters that Bolsonaro had done well to form a cabinet without political interference. But parties will now get to share some 2,000 second-level federal jobs and have a say on public works that favor their member's districts. Court orders mental assessment for NZ massacre suspect, murder charges added Australian Brenton Tarrant appeared in a New Zealand court on Friday where the suspected white supremacist was charged with an additional 49 counts of murder following his arrest after mass shootings at two mosques last month that killed 50 worshippers and wounded dozens. The High Court judge overseeing the appearance also ordered Tarrant, who was not required to submit a plea, to undergo a mental assessment to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. Turkey says S-400 purchase from Russia a 'done deal,' cannot be canceled Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which has raised tensions with Washington, is a "done deal" and cannot be canceled, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. The United States and Turkey have been at loggerheads over Ankara's decision to purchase the S-400s, which are not compatible with NATO systems. Washington has warned that going forward with the deal could result in U.S. sanctions. Story continues Thousands flee wildfire in South Korea's eastern coast, one dead: Yonhap A wildfire in South Korea killed one person and forced more than 4,000 people to flee their homes, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. The fire broke out in eastern Gangwon Province on Thursday evening and spread to the seaside holiday city of Sokcho, burning about 385 hectares (950 acres) of land and 310 homes, warehouses and other buildings, Yonhap reported citing the government. See us if you can? GCHQ surveillance agency reveals London base A nondescript red brick building tucked away beside a pub near a park in central London was revealed on Friday to have been the base of one of the world's most sophisticated spy services - Britain's GCHQ eavesdropping agency. GCHQ, which gathers communications from around the world to identify and disrupt threats to Britain, only revealed the Palmer Street address, its London home for 66 years, after moving out. Merkel hopes May can find a way out Brexit maze by EU summit German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday she hoped discussions between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the opposition Labour Party could break the Brexit impasse by an April 10 emergency European Union summit. Brexit is now mired in doubt, nearly three years since the United Kingdom shocked the world by voting 52 percent to 48 to leave the bloc. Supporters fear betrayal and opponents are pushing for another referendum. Ethiopian crash report highlights sensors, software, leaves questions Faulty sensor readings and multiple automatic commands to push down the nose of a Boeing plane contributed to last month's fatal crash in Ethiopia, leaving the crew struggling to regain control, according to a preliminary accident report. The first substantial account of the last minutes of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on March 10 described how the captain three times called out: "Pull up" and was acknowledged by the first officer, but to no avail. Eastern Libyan commander orders forces to move on Tripoli Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops on Thursday to march to the capital Tripoli, taking his conflict with the internationally recognized government to a dangerous new level. Shortly after the announcement, his forces moved on the capital from several sides, an eastern official said, making it from the south as close as al-Heira and Gharyan, two mountainous areas some 80 km (49.7 miles) south of the capital despite its force getting attacked in an air strike. Trump laments military spending by U.S., China and Russia, floats deal idea President Donald Trump on Thursday lamented the amount of money that the United States, China and Russia spend on weapons production, including nuclear weapons, and suggested that such money could be better spent elsewhere. Trump, during a meeting with Chinese vice premier Liu He in the Oval Office, floated the idea of following up on a potential trade deal with China with a second phase deal that addressed the issue of military spending and arms production. By Richard Lough DINARD, France (Reuters) - International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney will help lead a British-Canadian push to defend journalists from attacks and restrictions around the world, ministers said on Friday. She was named co-chair of a legal panel that will draw up proposals to counter laws that hinder reporters. "Those with a pen in their hand should not feel a noose around their neck," the British-Lebanese barrister told an event on the issue at a G7 meeting of foreign ministers in France. More than 60 journalists were killed in 2018 according to Reporters Without Borders, more than half of them targeted deliberately, with the murder of Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi in particular drawing international condemnation. Britain's foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, told the event that democratic states needed to make it "an international taboo of the highest order" to murder, arrest or detain journalists for doing their jobs. Hunt, who appeared alongside his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland, also named Clooney as his special envoy on media freedom. "When journalists are not able to question those in authority, hold them to account, freely and with impunity then you start a slippery slope to the closed societies that none of us want to see growing in influence," he said. Last year, Clooney joined the legal team representing two Reuters journalists who were convicted under Myanmar's official secrets act and sentenced to seven years in prison. On Friday, she said only one in ten countries enjoyed a free press. The legal panel, she added, could propose reforms of national laws that run counter to international standards, such as blasphemy legislation, and encourage governments to give journalists more consular protection abroad. The proposals will not be legally binding. While Khashoggis death sparked global outrage, human rights groups criticized the meek response of many Western capitals, many of which cited the importance of trade relations for not adopting a tougher stance with Saudi Arabia. (Additional reporting by John Irish and by Rachel Cordery in London; Editing by John Irish and Andrew Heavens) Rocket startup Relativity Space has announced the first major customer to use its 3D-printed spacecraft for launching small satellites. Canadian satellite operator Telesat, which plans to loft 100 to 500 orbiting craft that would offer Internet service from space, will rely partly on Relativity launches starting in 2021, the companies said on Friday. Financial terms were not disclosed. While typical rockets, from those made by aerospace contractors like Boeing ba to more more established startups like SpaceX, can take more than a year to build and require 100,000 individual parts, Relativitys huge 3D-printers can build a craft in just two months with only 1,000 parts. That makes the rockets quick and cheaper to deployjust $10 million per launchand easier to customize. Relativity CEO Tim Ellis, an aerospace engineer by training, said the deal marked the first time a major satellite operator has selected one of the new, smaller launch players. Were reserving multiple launch slots in our (schedule) to support their constellation, Ellis tells Fortune, disclosing that the startup would set aside some of its planned rocket launches in future years to carry Telesat satellites. The companys Terran 1 rocket can carry just 1,250 kilograms per launch, a fraction of the weight of a traditional communications satellite, but powerful enough to carry several small satellites needed for Telesats Internet service. Some of the early funding for the company came from entrepreneur Mark Cuban, but it has since raised a total of $45 million of venture capital. Telesat is also relying on a more established launch company, Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, for some of its launches. In addition to working with launch companies who we know well, Telesat also wanted to include New Space companies whose technologies and manufacturing methods offer lower costs and greater flexibility for deploying our constellation, chief technical officer Dave Wendling said in a statement. The deal also brings together two players who are each in crowded and competitive markets. In addition to SpaceX and Blue Origin, Relativity competes with other startup rocket companies like Rocket Lab and SpaceForest. The Internet-from-space race is even more crowded, with Telesat facing planned projects from SpaceX, OneWeb and a number of small startups. On Thursday, Amazon amzn confirmed it was joining the race, with a plan to launch more than 3,000 satellites to offer global broadband service. Kotelny Island (Russia) (AFP) - Far above the Arctic Circle, a futuristic army complex equipped with a gym and year-round hot water serves the needs of Russia's Arctic troops. Moscow built the military base on the remote Kotelny Island -- part of the New Siberian Islands in the eastern Arctic -- in record time after realising the strategic and economic potential of its northern frontier. It is romantically named the Northern Clover and can house 250 troops, who sport a special white polar uniform. "The Northern Clover is the first permanent facility for the Russian armed forces where they can live autonomously," said Vladimir Pasechnik, the commander of the Northern Fleet's tactical unit, as he showed off the tightly-controlled facility to journalists this week. "Our water and food reserves can last a year," he said. From space, the building looks like a massive three-pronged star coloured in the red, white and blue of the Russian flag. It is meant to serve as an example for future garrisons in places with extreme temperatures. The site was once a Soviet military base, abandoned like many Arctic outposts in the early 1990s. But in 2014, President Vladimir Putin made the region a strategic priority for Moscow, sparking a construction boom. When the first men were deployed to the site, they were confronted by polar bears curious about their new neighbours, said Yevgeny Kaziyev, commander of the locally-deployed Bastion coastal defence battery. "Once we were settled, they retreated from the base and don't bother us," he said. - Polar ping-pong - During the construction phase, all material was airdropped to the island as the old landing strip could not accomodate cargo planes. The island's average annual temperatures are around -15 degrees Celsius, dropping below -50 in the winter. "Even though the conditions outside are difficult, we dress warmly and our equipment allows us to carry out all the necessary tasks," said the base's second in command Rinat Uformanov. Story continues Keen to attract volunteers, the Russian military advertises its modern facilities that include ping-pong and billiard tables, a sauna, a cafeteria and a gym with all kinds of training equipment. There is no internet or telephone but the soldiers have all the hot water they need, thanks to a snow-melting and heating system developed for Arctic units that stores up to 20,000 cubic metres of water for the winter period. While the Northern Clover is the first to be shown to foreign media, other installations have also appeared in the Arctic, including the Arctic Trefoil on the Franz-Joseph Land archipelago which houses 150 troops. - Unlocking ice routes - In 2017, the Russian military announced it had discovered 11 new islands and six new straits in the Arctic. The move followed Russian efforts to stake claim to the hydrocarbon-rich Arctic shelf, which has been contested and is currently under review in the United Nations. Russia is one of five Arctic nations staking their claims in the region, subject of next week's upcoming forum in Saint-Petersburg, a high-profile event Putin has hosted five times since 2010. Climate change has opened up hitherto ice-locked naval routes and Moscow has seized the economic opportunity, with Putin tasking the government with increasing cargo traffic through the Northern Sea Route to 80 million tonnes by 2024. The route can reduce travel time between Europe and Asia by 40 percent. It is being used commercially after a large container ship navigated it in 2018 to deliver frozen fish from the Russian Far East to Germany. Russian energy companies Novatek and Rosneft have said they are considering using the Northern Sea Route -- also known as the Northeast Passage -- to transport oil and gas to their markets. Environmentalists say this economic frenzy could devastate the region's delicate ecosystems, already on the brink of destruction from warming. Breaking up ice with icebreakers disturbs seal populations which polar bears rely on, for example. On Kotelny Island, commander Pasechnik said the military is doing its part for the environment, clearing the rusty remains of Soviet bases that have polluted the tundra. "Up until 1993, oil was delivered in metal barrels, and a lot of them have accumulated here, threatening the environment," he said. "The command decided to clean it up." By Crispian Balmer ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Friday he would host a major rally of European nationalist and far-right parties to promote a shared political vision ahead of May's EU parliamentary elections. Salvini leads the ruling League party and hopes to put together a bloc of like-minded, anti-immigration parties in the European parliament to challenge the traditionally predominant and mainstream center-left and center-right groups. However he has so far struggled to create a broad, sovereignist front in the 28-nation European Union, with a matrix of conflicting national interests hindering his progress. With time running out, he announced this week he would kick off his campaign for the May 26 vote in Milan on Monday with representatives of just three, relatively small far-right European parties. But speaking after talks with his longtime French ally Marine Le Pen, Salvini told reporters he planned a much more ambitious election rally next month. "We're preparing a major event for the Europe of the next 30 years in May in Italy, where we'll invite all the European movements that are alternatives to the rule of the Socialists and the European People's Party of recent years," Salvini said, referring to the EU's big leftist and conservative groups. "It will be the first time an event drawing together at least 15 or 20 European countries will take place in Italy," he told reporters in Paris. Salvini did not say what other parties had signed up to the initiative, which the League hopes to hold in Rome's ancient chariot-racing stadium Circus Maximus. DIVERGENCE European parties have created multiple, pan-national groups in the EU parliament, with the League a member of the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF), which includes Le Pen's National Rally and Austria's Freedom Party of Austria. Salvini wants to embrace other far-right or nationalist leaders whose parties are in different groups, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of Poland's ruling PiS party. Kaczynski met Salvini in January, but PiS, which is highly suspicious of the close ties Le Pen and Salvini have forged with Moscow, said on Friday it would not join the May rally. "We met (Salvini) a few weeks ago and we spelt out our conditions when it comes to the European parliament. We do not envisage any further contact until after the election," said Tomasz Poreba, PiS's EU ballot campaign chief. Making clear its preferences, PiS this week welcomed Salvini's old ally, the Brothers of Italy, into its EU group -- the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe. "We are the real sovereignists. They are populists," Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni told La Stampa newspaper on Thursday, referring to the League. "I don't think Salvini's project is very clear about what it wants with Europe." Salvini said the three groups that would be joining him on Monday were the anti-euro Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the conservative Finns Party and the Danish People's Party. AfD co-leader Joerg Meuthen told La Stampa newspaper on Friday that although he and Salvini had similar, anti-immigrant views, they had different positions on key economic questions, like the need to respect EU fiscal rules. "We cannot agree on everything. We will talk about it and find compromises," he was quoted as saying. (Additional reporting by Gavin Jones in Rome, Michel Rose and Simon Carraud in Paris and Pawel Florkiewicz in Warsaw, Editing by William Maclean) By Ju-min Park and Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Friday it was heading for its lowest quarterly profit in more than two years as a glut in memory chips, slowing panel sales and rising competition in smartphones hit margins. The South Korean tech giant said first-quarter operating profit likely slid 60 percent from a year earlier, missing market expectations and putting it on track for its weakest quarterly profit since late 2016. Shares in Samsung rose briefly before paring gains to trade flat following the guidance, as many investors are already looking ahead to an earnings recovery on the back an improvement in chip prices in the second half of the year. Samsung supplies memory chips and screens for its own smartphones and Apple Inc, and server chips for cloud companies such as Amazon. Its semiconductor business is the main profit driver. "In the second half, memory chip prices will have a soft landing, so falls will slow, and the release of new iPhones later seems like a good sign for Samsung's display and memory chips," said Kim Yang-jae, an analyst at KTB Investment and Securities. The world's biggest maker of smartphones and memory chips said in a filing January-March profit was likely 6.2 trillion won ($5.5 billion), missing the 6.8 trillion won estimate from analysts according to Refinitiv SmartEstimate. Revenue likely fell 14 percent from a year earlier to 52 trillion won. The firm will disclose detailed earnings in late April. Samsung shares were flat as of 0120 GMT, while the broader market up 0.2 percent. The firm earlier had warned the quarter could be disappointing due to falls in memory prices, and slowing demand for display panels used in Apple's iPhones. Samsung's premium Galaxy smartphones meanwhile are struggling to be profitable due to rising costs of innovation, competition from Chinese rivals and the reluctance of consumers to upgrade, analysts have said. Story continues HIT BOTTOM Samsung's share price has leapt more than 25 percent since sinking to a two-year low in early January as some investors bet on a recovery in chip demand. SK Hynix Inc, Micron Technology Inc and Samsung - which dominate the global market for dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips used in personal computers, smartphones and servers - recently have issued upbeat assessments of the prospects for a recovery in chip prices. Hopes were buoyed further when data showed the manufacturing sector in China, the world's biggest smartphone market, unexpectedly returned to growth for the first time in four months in March. Samsung is betting a new line-up of smartphones including a foldable handset and a 5G-enabled model will help boost its market share in China, which crashed with the advent of cheaper Chinese rivals like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. But its latest phones are expensive to make, weighing on profitability even as its sells faster than its predecessor, analysts say. "New smartphones coming out in the second half won't necessarily help its smartphone business, but will be a plus for Samsung's chip side as those phones require high density chip adoptions," said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at BNK Securities. (Reporting by Ju-min Park and Heekyong Yang; Editing by Stephen Coates) The market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has barely seen its surface scratched, with the most popular application being a crypto game that involves collecting and breeding digitally scarce cats. However, Samsung could soon be about to shock the market with the possible release of a wallet that includes tokens with a suite of new special features powered by Enjins ERC-1155 NFT standard. In a recently released video showing the current Korean version of the Blockchain Keystore for the mobile giants flagship smartphone the Galaxy S10, we can see a user demonstrate features including the ability to swap coins directly in the wallet through the supported exchanges (Changelly, Kyber, and Bancor) and also the Wallet Store that can hold game items and collectibles. The update which is yet to be released in North America and Europe shows that the team is working on releasing updates for Samsungs native blockchain wallet following its confirmed partnership with the Enjin team. Digital wallets today Today, we have not yet seen a standardised implementation of a digital wallet. People tend to use a digital wallet on their phones in two ways (similar to their physical wallets): they store credit cards to make payments and they collect things that may have redeemable value. Apart from the obvious use case for NFTs as part of a gaming platform (envisioned by Enjin), another use case that many may have overlooked is the ability to use NFTs for things like loyalty points and time-sensitive discounts that could be sent to a blockchain wallet at the same time someone is making a purchase via their mobile phone. Story continues While there is some mobile wallet-based functionality for brand loyalty available today, this mainly consists of just QR codes for a vendor to scan rather than any smart tokens being issued as part of a better incentivisation mechanism. Why now and not before? Unlike the most widely-tested non-fungible Ethereum standard ERC-721 (which requires a separate contract for each token), Enjins new innovation with ERC-1155 is far more efficient as it stores the common data in a central smart contract. From this benefit, you could look to optimise the amount of fees or Ethereum gas required to create and transfer tokens on a given smart contract platform. In December 2017, the Ethereum network slowed down as it struggled to handle the surging demand and transaction backlog from the CryptoKitties dApp. This spike in demand for platform power (based on the ERC-721 token standard) made the Ethereum gas price jump nearly 4,650% from 20 to 950 wei. With ERC-1155, we may now have an NFT standard able to actually scale to the demand generated by mass use cases such as brand loyalty schemes. By Nawaz Sulemanji April 5, 2019 Whatever Samsung and Enjin are working on seems to be kept tightly under wraps at the moment. The obvious direction would be blockchain gaming, but we may see that Samsung has plans to enter a much wider and untapped market and create a new standard of smart and non-fungible tokens on mobile wallets. The post Can the Samsung and Enjin partnership usher in a new mass market for non-fungible tokens? appeared first on Coin Rivet. Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said Friday that if he is elected president in 2020 he would sign legislation that would create a commission to explore the payment of reparations to African Americans. Following his remarks at Al Sharptons National Action Network Conference, Sanders was asked whether he would support a bill, introduced by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas), that would form a commission to study the institution of American slavery and devise a plan to compensate living descendants of slaves. If the House and the Senate pass that bill, of course I would sign it. There needs to be a study. But I think what we need to do is to pay real attention to the most distressed communities in America, Sanders said. The bill, which was dubbed H.R. 40 in a nod to the governments promised provision of 40 acres and a mule to newly freed slaves after the Civil War, has already received the backing of a host of 2020 Democratic hopefuls, including Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former representative Beto ORourke of Texas, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. In short, the Commission aims to study the impact of slavery and continuing discrimination against African-Americans, resulting directly and indirectly from slavery to segregation to the desegregation process and the present day, Jackson Lee said in a statement announcing the bills introduction in January. The commission would also make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long delayed process of atonement for slavery. Sanders has proven more hesitant to embrace reparations than many of his primary opponents and recently said direct payments to the descendants of slaves would not be the best way to help distressed communities. I think what we have got to do is pay attention to distressed communities black communities, Latino communities, and white communities. And as president, I pledge to do that, Sanders said in interview on ABCs The View. More from National Review DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia detained eight people, including two dual U.S.-Saudi citizens, in a new round of arrests in the kingdom targeting individuals supportive of womens rights and those with ties to jailed activists, a person with knowledge of the apprehensions said Friday. It marks the first sweep of arrests to target individuals perceived as critics of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. The arrests come despite global outcry over Khashoggis grisly killing by Saudi agents in an operation directed by former top aides to the crown prince. The arrested individuals, nearly all of whom were detained on Thursday, are not seen as front-line activists. They are writers and advocates who quietly supported greater social reforms and most had ties to the group of womens rights activists currently on trial. Those detained include a pregnant woman and seven men, among them two U.S.-Saudi nationals: Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, whose mother is prominent womens rights activist Aziza al-Yousef who was recently temporarily released from prison. Did Saudi Arabia hack Jeff Bezos?: Amazon CEO adviser says Saudis 'got private information' Weapons: Saudi Arabia buys the most weapons from the US government. See what other countries top list. Al-Haidar has a family home in Vienna, Virginia, and lives with his wife and child in Saudi Arabia. A third U.S.-Saudi national, Walid al-Fitaihi, remains imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since late 2017, when the crown prince detained more than 100 businessmen, princes and officials in a purported anti-corruption sweep. Al-Fitaihi, whose family alleges that hes been tortured in prison, worked as a physician in the Boston area before he returned in 2006 to his native Saudi Arabia, where he helped found a hospital built by his family. Nearly all of those detained Thursday were taken from their homes in the capital, Riyadh. One individual was arrested in the eastern city of Dammam, according to the person with knowledge of the arrests, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Story continues The individuals were not active politically on Twitter and were not widely quoted in foreign media. The group loosely had ties to one another, some as friends and others through intellectual circles, including with Saudi activists living abroad. Those arrested include: Khadijah al-Harbi, a feminist writer who is pregnant; her husband Thumar al-Marzouqi, also a writer; Mohammed al-Sadiq and Abdullah al-Dehailan, both writers; and Fahad Abalkhail, an activist who supported the right of women to drive. Khashoggi: Jamal Khashoggi's murder was a human rights violation by Saudi government, State Department says Pompeo: Secretary of state on the failed North Korea talks, Otto Warmbier and his own trip to Iowa Anas al-Mazroui, a lecturer at King Saud university was believed to have been detained last month. He was not known to be actively involved in human rights work and appears to have been detained shortly after he merely mentioned the names of some of the detained womens rights activists during a panel discussion about human rights at a book fair in Saudi Arabia. The person with knowledge of their arrests said the group is among 13 people placed under travel bans since February. Meanwhile, the siblings of Loujain al-Hathloul, a female activist detained since May, stated on Twitter this week that they are being pressured to remain silent about her arrest and her claims of torture. The siblings live outside Saudi Arabia, but their father who resides in Saudi Arabia was previously briefly detained after tweeting about his daughters imprisonment. Al-Hathloul and Aziza al-Yousef are among nearly a dozen women on trial for charges related to their activism, which included campaigning for the right to drive before the ban was lifted last year and calling for an end to guardianship laws that give men final say over a womans right to marry or travel abroad. Al-Yousef, a grandmother and former university professor, was released from prison last week along with two other women. Al-Hathloul and at least 10 other women activists remain imprisoned. The women some of whom have been held in solitary confinement for months have told the court they were abused during interrogations, including being waterboarded, caned, electrocuted, sexually assaulted and threatened with rape and death. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saudi Arabia arrests activists supporting women's rights, including 2 US citizens Weather Alert ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM CST WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 55 to 75 mph. * WHERE...Portions of east central, northeast and southeast Nebraska and southwest and west central Iowa. * WHEN...From 9 AM to 9 PM CST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive. && By Will Dunham (Reuters) - For decades, scientists have been perplexed by the marvelous preservation of bronze weapons associated with China's famed Terracotta Warriors, retaining shiny, almost pristine surfaces and sharp blades after being buried for more than two millennia. Research by an international team of scientists published on Thursday may solve the mystery while putting to rest an intriguing hypothesis: that ancient Chinese artisans employed an unexpectedly advanced preservation method using the metal chromium. The fine preservation of weapons including swords, lances and halberds was due to serendipity - factors such as the bronze's high tin content and favorable soil composition, the scientists decided after examining 464 bronze weapons and parts. Chromium found on the bronze surfaces, they determined, was simply contamination from chromium-rich lacquer applied by the artisans to the terracotta figures and weapons parts. Chromium played no role in their preservation. The Terracotta Army consists of thousands of life-sized ceramic warriors and horses alongside bronze chariots and weapons, part of the vast 3rd century BC mausoleum near the city of Xi'an for Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of a unified China. Found in 1974, it represents one of the 20th century's greatest archaeological discoveries. Scientific analyses almost four decades ago detected chromium on the surface of some of the weapons, spurring the hypothesis that the weapon-makers used a chromium-based treatment to prevent corrosion. Chromium-conversion coating, a technology discovered in the early 20th century, is used to treat metals to render them more corrosion resistant. It involves dipping metal in a solution containing chromium salts. A chromium oxide layer is deposited on the metal's surface, providing a barrier against rust. "The lacquer was applied to the Terracotta Army as a primer before they were painted with colors, and we think it's quite likely it was also applied to the now-decayed wooden parts such as handles and shafts," said University of Cambridge archaeological scientist Marcos Martinon-Torres, who led the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Story continues Ancient bronzes often have poor states of preservation, with porous, pitted surfaces showing green or dark colors. "In essence, we show that, yes, the Terracotta Army weapons generally show a very good state of preservation, but there is currently no indication that this is anything other than the result of chance," added Martinon-Torres, who participated in the research while at University College London and in collaboration with the Terracotta Army Museum. (Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by David Gregorio) Santiago (AFP) - A deadly disease affecting amphibians has descended into a global pandemic that has already wiped out 90 species, a prominent US biologist warned Thursday at the World Organisation for Animal Health Aquatic Conference in Santiago, Chile. Chytridiomycosis is caused by a fungus -- Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis -- that attacks the skin of frogs, toads and other amphibians. As the creatures use their skin to breathe and regulate their bodies' water levels, the damage caused by the disease eventually leads to heart failure and death. Jonathan Kolby, co-author of a study published in March on the fungus' devastating effects, lamented what he described as "the first global wild disease issue." "It's over 60 countries right now, and that's part of the problem," he said. Over the past five years, the highly contagious disease has already caused nearly 90 species to disappear, with over 500 impacted. The rapid global spread of the fungus is due to a lack of animal trade rules and airport surveillance, which allows wildlife to be imported without examination. "To solve it we have to focus on regulation," said Kolby, who worked on the study alongside around 40 other international experts. "Globalization is good for people but it has consequences to animals," he added. In the US alone, five million amphibians enter the country every year. Currently, the disease is most widespread in Latin America and Australia, with trade with Asia -- where the fungus originated -- blamed for the spread. Scientists also believe a genetic mutation of the fungus may have made it more dangerous. Amphibians play a major role in maintaining aquatic environmental quality. They also feed on mosquitoes, which carry human diseases such as malaria and the Zika virus. When the Securities and Exchange Commission this week issued guidelines for cryptocurrency companies that want to sell digital tokens, many in the industry praised the SEC for new regulatory clarity, but also privately seethed the agency had gone too far. This feels like an overt declaration of war on cryptocurrencies, said a senior lawyer who advises crypto firms. The guidance is terrible but people say we have to say nice things or theyll prosecute us. Everyone is afraid the SEC is full of thin-skinned bureaucrats, and now theyre so used to groveling. The lawyer, who is well known in Washington, DC, asked not to be named for fear of retaliation from the SEC. In an interview with Fortune, he claimed the SEC guidelines fail to acknowledge how crypto tokenswhich are nominally for buying online services but are also a vehicle for speculationare distinct from other assets. He added the SECs position will cause smaller companies to set up shop outside the U.S. The long-awaited guidelines arrived as the SEC continues to investigate companies that sold tokens to the public during the crypto boom of 2017, a period that saw a number of blatant frauds. The 13-page document explains how a 1946 Supreme Court decision, which set out a test for defining an investment contract, should apply to token offerings. The upshot is the vast majority of tokens put up for sale will likely be considered securities, which means they must be registered with the SEC before they can be offered to the publica process that can be slow and expensive. On the same day it issued the guidelines, the agency did, however, issue a letter that blessed one companys plans to offer unregistered tokens for membership in a club for hiring private jets. The SEC did so in part because the company, TurnKey Jet, had pledged that none of the token proceeds would be used to fund the building of the token network, and also that the tokens would not trade outside TurnKeys platform. Story continues In response, the law firm Cooley published a note that likened TurnKey Jets tokens to streetcar tokens, and observed (perhaps wryly) that the SEC had made clear neither were securities. According to critics, restrictions like the ones attached to TurnKey Jet negate the very reasons token projects are appealing in the first place. In the view of proponents, public token saleswhich are tracked on shared ledgers known as blockchainsprovide an inexpensive source of fund-raising, while the ability to exchange tokens on an external platform creates an important secondary market for tokens. Its a way to incentivize those who go first. Remember how Uber and Airbnb paid more to their first group of drivers and hosts, said the Washington, DC, lawyer. Other crypto attorneys on Twitter made a similar case: 6/ If the United States truly believes that we need to promote the use of blockchain technology, then we cannot treat tokens in a way that neuters their fundamental and most valuable quality ... Lewis Cohen (@NYcryptolawyer) April 3, 2019 13/ Because the no-action letter and the framework each contain "no-transferability" caveats, I don't immediately see how this advances the discussion or gives clarity to any entrepreneur who really needed it. Bummer. Marco Santori (@msantoriESQ) April 3, 2019 The new SEC guidelines also reaffirmed the agencys recent conclusion that two well-known early examples of blockchain and token offerings, Bitcoin and Ethereum, are not securities on the grounds that they are decentralized. This finding, however, may frustrate the leaders of newer blockchain projects who believe they face a wall of regulatory obstacles the earlier projects did not. Overseas options, looking to Congress While the SECs pronouncements this week may have ruffled the feathers of the crypto industry, they were hardly unexpected. Albert Lung, a securities lawyer with Morgan Lewis, said the agency has been telegraphing its intentions for months in a series of speeches by senior officials. Lung added that the new guidelines will nonetheless have a huge chilling effect, and will lead more crypto entrepreneurs to leave the U.S. and set up shop in places like Malta or Switzerland, where laws on token sales are far more permissive. He did not fault the SEC, though, saying the widespread fraud that has dogged token sales left the agency little choice. All of this puts U.S. cryptocurrency startups in a difficult position. Their hopes of conducting a token sale to fund their projects are all but dashed in light of the new guidelines while the more traditional optionregistering the securities and selling them in an Initial Public Offeringtypically costs several million dollars in legal and auditing fees. Lung says one alternative is a so-called Reg A plus offering, which describes a recent law that lets companies seeking to raise less than $50 million in public markets pursue a slimmed down IPO and registration process. He added that one of his clients is using this route for a token offering and that, while such filings are secret, he expects at least a dozen other startups are doing the same. Token sellers using the Reg A plus route will eventually gain traction, according to Lung, but in the meantime such applications face a long-wait at the SECa problem for startups given that crypto-related technology is evolving rapidly, and delays risk making their projects obsolete. Meanwhile, some are counting on Congress to intervene and help crypto companies face less burdensome demands from the SEC. A recent bipartisan bill, the Token Taxonomy Act, proposes, for instance, to carve out certain crypto offerings from the current definition of securities. In an email, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Oh), said, The market needs clarity. While the idea of guidance from the SEC is good, this guidance creates new questions. Effective guidance can only come from Congress. The bill is currently stalled but the Blockchain Alliance, a Washington D.C. trade group, told Fortune they are pushing to reintroduce it soon. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! The big shareholder groups in China Glass Holdings Limited (HKG:3300) have power over the company. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. We also tend to see lower insider ownership in companies that were previously publicly owned. With a market capitalization of HK$996m, China Glass Holdings is a small cap stock, so it might not be well known by many institutional investors. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about 3300. View our latest analysis for China Glass Holdings SEHK:3300 Ownership Summary, April 5th 2019 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About China Glass Holdings? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors own 7.0% of China Glass Holdings. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see China Glass Holdings's historic earnings and revenue, below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. SEHK:3300 Income Statement, April 5th 2019 We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in China Glass Holdings. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held. Insider Ownership Of China Glass Holdings Story continues While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in China Glass Holdings Limited. It has a market capitalization of just HK$996m, and insiders have HK$21m worth of shares, in their own names. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board, though I generally prefer to see bigger insider holdings. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public holds a 40% stake in 3300. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 21%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 30% of 3300 stock. We can't be certain, but this is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow for free . If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, backed by strong financial data. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. The Hague (AFP) - Climate marchers handed in a lawsuit to Shell's headquarters in the Netherlands on Friday aimed at forcing the oil giant to meet targets in the Paris accord. Dozens of chanting activists went to the Anglo-Dutch firm's base in The Hague, where they delivered a legal summons with a court date set for April 17. Shell greeted the protesters with coffee from an electric drinks van. It said that while it "shares concerns about the climate" it "believes in a solution outside the courtroom." "This is a unique case," Roger Cox, lawyer for Dutch climate group Milieudefensie, told AFP. "We are taking Shell to court because it's not keeping to the aims of the Paris climate agreements. This way we are trying to prevent huge damage." The environmental groups say some 17,200 people have registered as co-complainants in the case, which Cox said would be the first of its kind. Other groups involved in the case include ActionAid Netherlands, Both Ends, Fossielvrij NL, Greenpeace NL and Young Friends of the Earth NL. The protesters carried banners with slogans such as "We Shell overcome -- eventually" and red posters saying "Shell is as green as this poster." They also mounted a giant version of the summmons with the signatures of the thousands of plaintiffs at Shell's headquarters near the city centre. Shell Netherlands CEO Marjan van Loon addressed the protesters outside the building, saying that fighting climate change was a "team sport" , the company said in a Twitter post with a photo. "I would like to answer every finger, whether it is a index finger or a middle finger, with an outstretched hand," it quoted her as saying. - 'Expose Shell' - In a summary of the 250-page document handed over to Shell, the groups said that under Dutch law Shell was unlawfully endangering peoples' lives by not acting to prevent global warming. Story continues "Internal and external documents show that Shell has known about climate change at least since the 1950s and has been aware of its large-scale and serious consequences at least since 1986," it said. "Although Shell knew, it has not taken any serious steps to minimise its share in climate change," the document added. Cox said that unlike previous cases which sought financial compensation for the effects of climate change, this one involves asking the judge to order Shell to ensure its activities have zero percent carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Shell is responsible for 1.7 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions between 1988-2015, according to a peer-reviewed study of the 100 most polluting companies released two years ago. It is also among five oil and gas majors that have spent more than $1 billion on lobbying against climate legislation since the Paris deal. Shell's plans for tackling climate change are "not consistent with the Paris goals", said Harjeet Singh, who heads global climate activities at ActionAid. "We need to expose Shell on this and in fact what it has been doing all this while is hiding and distorting facts and lobbying against climate policy," Singh told AFP. Climate change is a pressing issue in the Netherlands, where at least a third of the country lies below sea level. The Dutch government was ordered by a court last year to slash greenhouse gases by at least 25 percent by 2020, following a legal challenge by another environmental group. Thousands of Dutch students have rallied in Amsterdam and The Hague in recent weeks, urging the government to take action, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte meeting the group's leaders. Sony chairman Kazuo Hirai, who led a major and successful overhaul at the Japanese electronics giant, announced Thursday he would be leaving the firm after 35 years. The company said that Hirai would retire as chairman but would continue to provide "counsel as requested by Sony's management team." The 58-year-old had already stepped down from the key chief executive role last April after spending the previous six years pulling the firm out of deep financial trouble. The company veteran was tapped in April 2012 to revive the once-iconic manufacturer of the Walkman, which was then suffering from huge losses largely tied to a hard-hit consumer electronics business. Hirai led an aggressive restructuring drive at Sony, cutting thousands of jobs while selling business units and assets. "I have decided to depart from Sony, which has been a part of my life for the past 35 years," said Hirai. He had handed over last year as CEO to Kenichiro Yoshida, whom he praised for his "strong leadership" that was to lead to an "even brighter future for Sony". Last month, Sony reported that its nine-month net profits had jumped 63 percent year-on-year, led by its games and music divisions. However, it lowered its annual sales forecast, citing slower-than-expected sales in a range of fields including the key semiconductor unit. In recent years, smartphone components and the top-selling PlayStation 4 games console have boosted its bottom line. During his tenure, Hirai repeatedly shrugged off pleas to abandon Sony's television unit, which he insisted was central to the firm's core business. He also tried to capture the youth market, notably with moves such as reviving the firm's robot dog "Aibo", to great fanfare. Most people welcome spending time in nature and green space. After all, taking a few moments in the outdoors offers a much-needed break from the chaos of everyday life. And it can also lend positive physiological benefits, including lower stress levels, fewer symptoms of depression, and even a lower mortality rate. Still, despite everything scientists know about the connection between nature and well-being, they still can't say with certainty how much time outdoors leads to improved mental and physical health. A new study, published Thursday in Frontiers in Psychology, attempted to answer that question by asking participants to spend time in a place that "brings a sense of contact with nature" for at least 10 minutes per outing, three times per week, over the course of eight weeks. The researchers found that participants who immersed themselves in a "nature experience" for at least 20 minutes per outing experienced a significant decrease in their levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The study's authors wrote that they envision ultimately developing a "nature prescription" or "nature pill" that health care providers can offer to their patients as a low-cost, preventive mental health treatment. (The "pill" is the time spent outside.) SEE ALSO: One overlooked way we can significantly improve our mental health: more nature This research is the first step toward that goal, says MaryCarol R. Hunter, the study's lead author and an associate professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. That's because the subject is tricky and expensive to study. Scientists don't yet know exactly which aspects of nature and green space whether they're trees, grass, water, or plants trigger the benefits of being outside. It's also difficult for them to design studies using the gold standard of a randomized clinical trial because neither scientists nor study participants are supposed to know which treatment or intervention the subject receives. In a study about exposure to nature, it's typically obvious to both the scientist and their subjects who's being sent to green spaces. Story continues So Hunter and her colleagues tried an "adaptive management" approach instead. They let their 36 participants freely decide where, when, and how long they spent time in nature, provided they obeyed certain ground rules. They couldn't use phones or internet-connected devices to browse social media or the internet, and they couldn't make calls or read during their designated time outside. Their nature experience also couldn't include aerobic exercise. The researchers were collecting saliva samples that, in addition to cortisol, measured the hormone amylase, which can be influenced by physical activity. "They could pick any place they wanted," says Hunter, "but when they went to the place they actually had to feel some resonance to nature, feel connected to it. You could go sit next to one tree and just be with the tree, that could do it for you. The same person might go to a city park free of the noise of traffic." Peter James, an assistant professor in the department of population medicine at Harvard Medical School who has studied the link between nature and well-being, says the study's approach highlights the trade-off of letting participants shape the intervention based on their own interests. While it makes the research more feasible, it becomes difficult to know whether they stayed outdoors longer because of a personal inclination, like because they were having a great time or some other factor unknown to the researchers. It's also then hard to know the characteristics of the participants' nature experience. "This is a consistent problem in the literature," says James. "What is a nature experience? Is it looking at trees, grass, going on a hike, walking in an urban park? It's one of the vexing problems in this area of research." Hunter says that people's changing perception of nature is at the heart of this challenge. Venturing into a wilderness area might feel relaxing and restorative for one person, but terrifying for someone else, who'd much rather decompress in an urban park. Doctors who want to prescribe a nature experience to their patients shouldn't focus on a standard experience but rather encourage them to go where they feel most connected to the outdoors, Hunter says. She also plans to release additional research based on the data collected in this study. In particular, Hunter wants to look at the self-reported information she gathered from participants about their mood, stress, and energy level to see if there's a correlation with the decrease in cortisol. While intriguing, there are limitations to broadly generalizing the findings. The small sample consisted mainly of white women, all healthy, with a mean age of 46, who responded to an ad seeking people interested in spending more time outdoors in green spaces. That group doesn't reflect the population at large. Some research, however, does suggest that exposure to nature and green spaces has strong health benefits for low-income populations. Hunter knows that 20 minutes in nature may be out of reach for many people. It might be difficult for them to reach green spaces or they can't commit to that much time. In her own personal experience with friends and family, Hunter has recommended just five minutes per outing to start. It's a number that seems manageable and can quickly turn into more time. "To be practical," says Hunter, "it has to be something they can just do easily." How to Stay Financially Safe While Traveling When Jamie Fox of Brooklyn, N.Y., traveled to Europe for the first time in 2005, her mom was a nervous wreck. To help alleviate her concerns, Fox promised to call her as soon as she landed at Heathrow Airport in London. When I landed I noted the pickpocket signs everywhere and chuckled to myself, Fox said. Im [originally] from Philadelphia, so I was pretty sure I could handle myself in London. After stopping at the first pay phone she saw, Fox put her wallet on top of it and called her mom. I must have turned around for a split second, and when I turned back, it wasnt there, she said. Luckily, Fox still had her passport on her, but she had little else. My license, my ATM and credit cards, any cash I had on me, gone, she said. Friends helped Fox out with cash, and the next day she went to the American embassy and called her mom again. She practically had a heart attack when her boss told her the American embassy was on the phone, Fox said. After getting over her shock, Foxs mom was able to access her bank account and wire her daughter money so she would be set for the rest of her trip. Preparing for travelespecially internationallyoften includes much more than figuring out what to pack. When it comes to staying financially safe while on vacation, there are many factors to consider. How much money and how to bring it (be it cash, cards, travelers checks or some combination of all of the above), along with how to safely store it are just the basics. How to prepare your finances for travel In order to make smart money decisions when it comes to travel, youll need to start before you even leave home. Some things you might want to consider before heading out the door include: Taking care of your bills Before determining what to do with money while youre traveling, take some time to ensure any bills at home will be covered while youre gone. I set up automatic payment of my bills so that I dont incur late fees while Im gone, said Lee Huffman, travel expert at BaldThoughts.com. Most of these bills arrive electronically, so I could manually pay them, but I'm usually so focused on learning about new cultures or chilling at the beach that I dont want to worry about them. Story continues Calling your credit card company Most banks have pretty solid identity theft safeguards in place these days, so if you dont warn yours that youll be spending money in a city or country far from your home, you could be in trouble. In fact, failing to do so could result in your cards being locked, said Barry Choi, a personal finance and travel expert. While youre dealing with your credit cards, it doesnt hurt to pack two different ones from two different institutions. When Joseph Pano of Western Australia was pick-pocketed while traveling in Rome, he found he had no access to money once he had reported his card stolen and his accounts at that institution were frozen. So now I always have two cards, and I leave one in the hotel room safe, he said. Having a plan for cash Its always a good idea to have at least a little bit of local currency before you head to a new country, though Christen Brandt, co-founder of the nonprofit Shes the First, suggests having more on hand for emergencies. I have a pretty good rate for pulling funds from the ATM internationally, and I used to rely on this for cash I needed while traveling, she said. But after a 2015 trip to Sierra Leone left her without access to a working ATM for days at a time she implemented a new travel rule: Order cash in advance or bring cash to exchange, always. To get the best exchange rate, Huffman suggests inquiring with your bank at home about buying the currency you need before traveling. Just keep in mind that it may take them a few days to get it, he said, so dont ask the day before your flight. You also shouldnt rely on exchanges at the airport, because their exchange rates are horrible and some charge excessive fees, he added. Scanning your important documents In case your wallet and/or passport is ever stolen, it will be important to have identification information available to help you obtain new copies or manage your accounts. I scan my ID, passport and credit card information and store them in secure online storage in case my wallet is ever stolen, Huffman said. This makes it easier to cancel those credit cards and get new IDs from the U.S. Consulate. Doing some research Doing a little bit of research before a trip can help in a myriad of ways. For example, learning how public transportation works can save you from spending a small fortune on cab rides while researching the best practices for safe traveling wherever you might be visiting can help you avoid any uncertainand potentially harmfulsituations, says Choi. How to stay safe while exploring If youve prepared properly for your trip, hopefully youll be ready to explore a new area safely, armed with an appropriate amount of money. Still, even the most prepared person needs to be cautious while out and about in unfamiliar territory. Some additional things to consider include: Avoiding theft As Fox found out quickly on her trip to London, even the savviest of travelers can be outsmarted by thieves. One possible solution to that particular problem is choosing travel-friendly outfits. I use clothing designed for travel, like Bluffworks, that have hidden and zippered compartments that make it more difficult for pickpockets to steal your valuables, Huffman said. He also suggests looking into easily transportable safes or lockable carrying cases to store your valuables when youre not in your hotel. Scattering your money Besides researching any dangerous areas for tourists to avoid and understanding what some of the common scams are in the area where youll be traveling, Choi suggests keeping your money in separate areas when youre out and about. Keep some money in your wallet and some in your bag, he suggested. And dont carry all of your money on you at once, either. The same thing applies to your credit cards, he added. Keep them separate, and keep one in your hotel room. Avoiding currency exchange markups The easiest way to avoid exchange markups is to use a credit card that doesnt charge foreign exchange fees, said Choi. If youre already in the country without a good credit card, though, Huffman suggests relying on no-fee ATM cards to withdraw cash or using local banks to exchange U.S. dollars for local currency. Generally speaking, if you can get cash somewhere with a markup of 2.5% or less, youre getting a great deal, Choi added. This would apply to banks and foreign exchange offices. Check out our detailed guide for exchanging currencies at the best rate. Planning ahead Huffman says he keeps all of the receipts from a trip in one zippered pocket of his backpack. This allows him to easily add up how much he spent during the trip and to verify that a vendor didnt overcharge once fees show up on his cards. How to unpack your finances After youve returned home from a triphopefully without any particularly alarming financial anecdotesthere are still a few things to do to make sure your finances are safe. Check your bank accounts Its a good idea to go over your bank accounts as soon as you arrive home to check for any inaccurate purchases. If youve kept your receipts, it should be easy to compare the purchases on your cards to what you actually bought. Also confirm that the hotel charges match up to your reservation amount, Huffman said. He recently compared a weekend hotel stay charge against the reservation to find that he was charged more than 60% higher upon checkout than what he originally booked for. Change your PIN Choi suggests playing it safe after a trip by changing the PIN on all of your credit and debit cards. By doing this, thieves wont be able to use your cards, even if they cloned them, he said. Traveling is a wonderful experience that broadens our horizons and teaches us new things, but when tourists encounter money problems on a trip, the entire vacation can turn sour very quickly. A little forethought beforehand, and some caution during, mean you can stay focused on your experiences, not your finances. Abdullah Doma/Getty ROMEThe orders in Libya are clear: Dont shoot civilians if they are waving a white flag. But whats not clear is whether Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftars rogue Libyan National Army will listen as it advances toward Tripoli, guns blazing. The militia army, which is known to have some ISIS fighters in its ranks, has taken the town of Gharyan, about 50 miles from Tripoli, and is moving west toward the Libyan capital. We hear your call, Tripoli, Haftar told his militiamen, according to propaganda tapes of a speech released on social media and reported by the Libya Observer. It is now the time for the great victory. March forward. In a long video meant to rally the troops, Haftar is heard saying, Today, you heroes, enter Tripoli conquerors with peace, using peace with those who raise no arms against you, and using war against those who do. The escalation comes after weeks of military buildup by Haftar, who controls much of eastern Libya from his base in Benghazi with the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. (In the recent past, France has supported him; in the distant past, he allegedly had ties to the CIA while living in Virginia). Haftars rule in parts of Libya is in direct defiance of a U.N.-backed government led by the countrys Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, which is supported by the United States, the European Union, Turkey and Qatar. The country has been in a civil war since the NATO-led defeat of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and has become a hotbed for people-smuggling of migrants into Europe by various militia groups. There are known ISIS strongholds in the area, although many were rooted out in 2018. As The Daily Beast reported, several pockets remain and continue to fight for control of the countrys considerable oil assets. Italy has considerable infrastructure investments in Libya thanks to former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was Gaddafis best friend in Europe. Italy is an official supporter of the U.N.-backed al-Sarraj, but the current leadership in Rome has tried to forge a truce between Haftar and the Tripoli government. Italy held a Libyan peace summit last November in Palermo that Haftar pulled out of at the last minute and Italys leaders have made deals on migration with Haftars militias who control the smuggling rings. Leaders from 20 countries participated, but no solution was agreed on. Story continues Haftars Libyan National Army posted on Facebook that attempts at diplomacy are over. Their intent is to move to the western region to cleanse it of the remaining terrorist groups. Al-Sarraj has responded with his own show of force, readying his own military to prepare airstrikes should Haftars troops get too close. He put his own troops in his stronghold of Misrata on alert, making sure they are ready to fight Haftars army and stop the cursed advance, according to a statement on Libyan news sources. We have issued instructions and declared a general alert to all military and security forces from military and army belonging to us to be prepared, al-Sarraj said, according to local news reports. The latest saber-rattling comes as U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres is in Tripoli to set the groundwork for what was supposed to be a peacebuilding conference on April 14, meant to pave the way for new elections in the troubled nation. Guterres tweeted, I am deeply concerned by the military movement taking place in Libya and the risk of confrontation. There is no military solution. Only intra-Libyan dialogue can solve Libyan problems. I call for calm and restraint as I prepare to meet the Libyan leaders in the country. The European Union, which has poured money into the U.N.-backed government to bolster the coast guard and pay off the smugglers to stem the flow of migrants to southern Europe, has done little to ensure democracy in the troubled nation. No one has wanted to get directly involved. On Thursday the EU called for calm as tensions brewed, clearly concerned that whatever happens next is as much its fault as its problem. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Are you working part-time but really want a full-time job? That shouldnt be a problem. The number of part-time workers who prefer full-time positions fell by an eye-popping 837,000 in February, the biggest monthly drop since January 1994. And the 4.3 million involuntary part-time workers that month was the lowest since April 2007. Friday's jobs report for March revealed that part of that decline was reversed, with the number of involuntary part-timers rising 189,000. Still, their total March number, 4.5 million, is 157,000 below the figure at the end of last year. That indicates the February number was likely exaggerated by the 35-day partial government shutdown in December and January, but still reflected a notable downward trend. Generally, a big drop in involuntary part-time workers is a sign of a healthy labor market and economy. It likely means most of those part-timers got full-time gigs, providing them higher incomes that they could spend on goods and services, as well as benefits, such as health insurance. Pricey condo: Hedge fund manager Ken Griffin buys $238 million condo in NYC, boosting prices Its no surprise the ranks of involuntary part-timers are thinning. The 3.8% unemployment rate is making it increasingly difficult for employers to find qualified workers. As a result, many are converting existing part-time employees to full-time status even if it means paying costly health insurance and other benefits. Another month of solid hiring is expected in August, Rather than hire another part-time worker, they can ask existing employees to pick it up, says Wells Fargo senior economist Sarah House. Becky Frankiewicz, president of staffing company ManpowerGroup North America, says, This year, weve seen an increase in the number of companies transferring workers to permanent contracts, especially in industries with acute talent shortages such as food services, construction and financial services. After the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2014, many businesses opted to replace full-time workers with part-timers to avoid health coverage requirements. Now, many firms are converting part-timers to full-time even though it means paying health benefits because turnover is so high and they need to attract and retain workers, says Adam Roston, CEO of BlueCrew an online staffing firm that serves the warehouse and hospitality industries. Story continues If youre asking them to work two shifts a week (with no benefits), theyre going to look for other work, he says. More: New scam aims to trick you into giving up your cell phone account information More: What are the 25 lowest paying jobs in the US? Women usually hold them Heres where the government shutdown figures in: The biggest part of the decline in involuntary part-timers in February came among Americans who said they worked part-time because of slack work or business conditions, such as a factory that cut the number of shifts. The number of those workers fell by 659,000 to 2.8 million. Another 1.35 million workers said they could only find part-time work, down 72,000 from January. Federal government workers who were furloughed should have told Labor Departments survey takers they were unemployed, House says. Instead, many who got part-time jobs likely reported they were working part-time because of slack conditions, she says. In January, the number of workers in that category increased by 560,000. The 659,000 drop in February suggests those furloughed employees were back on the job. A 117,000 rise in the those working part-time because of slack in March tempers the prior month's drop but the number of those workers is still about 3% down from a year ago. More: As pricey homes hit market, median list price for a house reaches record $300,000 This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stuck in a part-time job? There's lots of full-time jobs out there, if you want one By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy sailor shot and wounded a female member of the service during a domestic incident at a sprawling Virginia base on Friday before security officers fatally shot the suspect, officials said. The man shot the woman several times in a parking lot at Naval Air Station Oceana at around 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT), said Chad Vincelette, commanding officer of the naval air base. He described the incident as an "isolated domestic shooting." Neither was identified. "There clearly is some kind of relationship, but I don't know what it is," Jeff Hood, a Navy spokesman, told Reuters. Oceana, the main base for naval jet fighters on the U.S. East Coast, declared a lockdown shortly after 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) after a report of shots fired. It returned to normal operations nearly an hour later. The suspect, armed with a handgun, was spotted by base security officers, and shot and killed, Vincelette said. The motive for the shooting was unknown and under investigation. The base has a "no weapons policy," Vincelette said, that prohibits the carrying or possession of weapons. Officials often conduct random inspections for prohibited items. "How the sailor was able to get a weapon on base is part of the ongoing investigation," he said. The victim suffered nonlife-threatening wounds and was transported to Virginia Beach General Hospital, Vincelette said. A hospital representative declined to comment on her condition. About 10,500 active Navy personnel are stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. There are also about 10,000 family members and 4,500 civilian personnel at the base. (Reporting by Gina Cherelus and Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) Geneva (AFP) - Switzerland said Friday it had agreed to represent US interests in crisis-hit Venezuela, after Washington withdrew all its diplomatic personnel last month, though it said Caracas still needed to approve the arrangement. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and US Ambassador Edward McMullen signed the agreement in Bern Friday, the foreign ministry said in a statement. The move comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced in January that he was cutting off diplomatic relations with Washington after US President Donald Trump recognised opposition head Juan Guaido as the country's interim leader. The last US diplomatic staff were withdrawn from the country last month. Cassis had first discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton when he visited Washington in February, the statement said. The US government officially asked the Swiss foreign ministry to take over the so-called "protective power mandate" in Venezuela in mid-March, it added. "The mandate offers Switzerland the opportunity to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions between the two countries and thus to play a constructive role in regional stability," the statement said. The foreign ministry said it would likely mainly assure US consular services in Venezuela. Caracas "will now closely examine Switzerland's assumption of this mandate," it said, adding that it was ready to assume its new duties as soon as Venezuela gave its stamp of approval. Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela's acute economic problems, but Guaido says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault. The US, which has not ruled out military intervention to oust Maduro, is among some 50 countries that have recognised Guaido as Venezuela's leader. Switzerland, renowned for its neutrality, already represents the diplomatic interests of a range of countries in similarly difficult situations. The wealthy Alpine nation represents US interests in Iran. It also represents Russian interests in Georgia and vice-versa, Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia and vice-versa, and Iranian interests in Egypt. And until 2015, it represented US interests in Cuba and Cuban interests in the US. April 4 (Reuters) - A teen who told Kentucky police he was Timmothy Pitzen, an Illinois boy who went missing in 2011, is not the long-lost child, the FBI said on Thursday. Hopes were briefly raised that the teen, who said he had escaped kidnappers, was Timmothy, last seen after his mother pulled him out of school in Aurora, a far-west suburb of Chicago, and then committed suicide. But FBI officials in Kentucky and Ohio said DNA tests conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital showed that the teen is not Timmothy. "A local investigation continues into this person's true identity," Louisville FBI Agent Tim Beam said in a statement emailed to Reuters. "Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family," the statement added. "Unfortunately, that day will not be today." Pitzen went missing in May 2011 at the age of 6, after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of school and took him on a trip to a zoo and a water park. She committed suicide soon afterwards in a motel room, leaving a note that local media said made the boy's whereabouts a mystery. "Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him," she wrote in the note, according to reports by ABC7 Chicago. "You will never find him." On Wednesday a boy who said his name was Timmothy told police in Newport, Kentucky, that he had been held captive for seven years by two white men he described as "body-builder types," until he escaped and ran across a bridge from Ohio into Kentucky. (Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York and Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; editing by Scott Malone and Leslie Adler) Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Jiangxi Bank Co., Ltd.'s (HKG:1916) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Based on the last twelve months, Jiangxi Bank's P/E ratio is 10.72. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 9.3%. Check out our latest analysis for Jiangxi Bank How Do You Calculate Jiangxi Bank's P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Jiangxi Bank: P/E of 10.72 = CN5.46 (Note: this is the share price in the reporting currency, namely, CNY ) CN0.51 (Based on the year to December 2018.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings. Jiangxi Bank shrunk earnings per share by 17% over the last year. But it has grown its earnings per share by 3.6% per year over the last five years. How Does Jiangxi Bank's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that Jiangxi Bank has a higher P/E than the average (6.2) P/E for companies in the banks industry. Story continues SEHK:1916 Price Estimation Relative to Market, April 5th 2019 That means that the market expects Jiangxi Bank will outperform other companies in its industry. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling. Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future), by taking on debt (or spending its remaining cash). Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. Is Debt Impacting Jiangxi Bank's P/E? Jiangxi Bank has net cash of CN5.0b. That should lead to a higher P/E than if it did have debt, because its strong balance sheets gives it more options. The Verdict On Jiangxi Bank's P/E Ratio Jiangxi Bank has a P/E of 10.7. That's below the average in the HK market, which is 12.2. Falling earnings per share are likely to be keeping potential buyers away, the relatively strong balance sheet will allow the company time to invest in growth. If it achieves that, then there's real potential that the low P/E could eventually indicate undervaluation. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.' Although we don't have analyst forecasts, you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. But note: Jiangxi Bank may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the European Union to delay Brexit until June 30, setting up a battle with the bloc ahead of a key summit next week. May wants an extension to June 30 and aims to avoid holding European elections next month, which would be politically toxic at home. But the EUs view is that if there is an extension, it should be longer, given the deadlock in the U.K. France was quick to say it was premature to talk of an extension. The pound rose as much as 0.4% immediately after the letter was published, before paring gains. May cited talks with opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn aimed at breaking the Brexit impasse as a reason for further delay in her letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk. It is frustrating that we have not yet brought this process to a successful and orderly conclusion, May wrote. The U.K. government remains strongly committed to doing so. With her options dwindling, May is desperately seeking to get an agreement through Parliament, which has rejected it three times. Unable to convince her allies to back her own deal, shes turned to Corbyn for help. In her letter, May said the government would prepare for European parliament elections due to be held between May 23 and May 26 in case Parliament hasnt ratified the Brexit divorce deal in time, though she reiterated her reluctance for the U.K. to take part. May said shes trying to agree a timetable for legislation with the Labour Party which will allow it to pass through Parliament in time for the elections to be canceled. It is in the interests of neither the United Kingdom as a departing Member State, nor the European Union as a whole, that the United Kingdom holds elections to the European Parliament, May wrote. Compromise Needed May said her discussions with the opposition are focused on the future relationship with the EU, and not on reopening the Withdrawal agreement she negotiated with the bloc. Story continues If a consensus is going to be found, compromise will be needed on all sides, in the national interest, she wrote. Tusk was earlier said to favor offering the U.K. a one-year extension to its EU membership to help the prime minister, though some governments opposed such a long delay, officials said. Tusk wants the bloc to give London as long as possible to find a solution to the deadlock caused by members of Parliament failing to back the divorce deal the prime minister struck in November. The year-long extension would include an escape clause to allow the U.K. to leave the EU early when the deal is approved. The EUs remaining 27 leaders, who meet May in Brussels for a summit on Wednesday, have to agree on any offer unanimously and itll be up to them to forge a common position. France is leading a small group of countries opposing a long extension, but officials said they dont expect any leader to veto a delay outright. France said the year-long delay proposal was a clumsy trial balloon. The EU has previously said any long extension would be conditional on a clear plan for the way forward, or a political event such as another referendum or general election. But officials say Mays efforts to form a cross-party position with Corbyn, and pledge to hold votes in Parliament on the desired outcome, will probably be enough. Without an agreement at the EU summit, the U.K. would leave the bloc on April 12 if Parliament doesnt approve the deal before then crashing out into legal limbo that would snarl trade and freeze up markets. Thats a scenario Parliament is working to prevent, and May has said she wont lead the country out of the bloc without a deal unless lawmakers consent to it. Last week, British prime minister Theresa May failed for a third time to secure a majority in Parliament for her Brexit deal. Now she faces an ever-narrowing set of options. With the European Commission unwilling to make concessions that would satisfy her Democratic Unionist party (DUP) coalition partners and Brexiteers in her own party, and with those same parliamentarians equally dug in, she has now been forced to entreat the European Union for an indefinite and humiliating delay. Yet, as she must realize, delay by itself offers no hope of a fundamental change in the dynamics of the negotiation and, therefore, no realistic hope of resolving the political crisis now engulfing Britain. To date, debate about how to leave the EU among those in the British Conservative party has focused on whether to accept Prime Minister Mays current deal with the European Commission or to pursue a hard or no deal exit subject to fewer continuing EU regulations. In fact, there is a better option available than either the current deal or no deal. Paradoxically, however, Mrs. May will have to signal her willingness to leave without a deal to get a better deal indeed, one that can win the assent of Parliament, including Brexiteers and her DUP coalition partners. Specifically, heres what she can do: Rather than returning to negotiate with the European Commission, Prime Minister May should now bypass the commission altogether. Instead, she should make an eleventh-hour offer to the people of Europe through the EU Council of Ministers. She should propose, for a period of, say, three years, continued reciprocal residency for European Union citizens living in Britain and for British citizens living in the European Union. Most important, she should also offer the council continued free trade under the auspices of the World Trade Organization rather than the European Unions Luxembourg court. She can inform the council that if it refuses her offer, Britain will leave the EU without a deal and will immediately seek free-trade agreements with friendly non-EU countries, including the United States. Story continues Making such a proposal would begin to resolve the Brexit crisis for several reasons. First, by dealing directly with the EU Council of Ministers, the British government can negotiate with a less intransigent and more politically accountable arm of the European Union. The Council of Ministers is made up of representatives of the elected governments of the 28 EU member states, and consequently it tends to be more responsive to the concerns of the people from sending member states than the European Commission is. Legally, the Council of Ministers also has executive decision-making power. But because the unelected European Commission has the sole authority to propose legislation, in practice the council often merely rubber-stamps the recommendations of the unelected commission. The British government need not allow the commission to dictate terms in this situation, however. The sole interest of the European Commission is to advance the project of European political unification. The difficulties that May has encountered in negotiation reflect this overriding interest. Yet she has been forced to deal with the commission only because the council exercised its prerogative (under a clause in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union) to turn that negotiation over to the commission. Having found the commission unreasonable, May has every reason go back to the council and make the people of Europe an offer through this more accountable body. Second, making the council an offer of mutual residency and WTO-administered free trade would allow the British government to negotiate from a position of strength. Currently, nearly 3.5 million EU citizens live in the United Kingdom, while only about 1.2 million Britons live in EU countries. So securing mutual residency is significantly more important to EU countries than it is to the U.K. Similarly, EU exporters sell far more goods and services to Britain than the reverse. If the U.K. leaves the EU with no deal, EU exporters would have to pay an estimated 14 billion in tariffs to the U.K., while U.K. exporters would have to pay only 6 billion in tariffs to the EU. Whats more, if Britain leaves without a deal, under WTO rules the British government could subsidize U.K. exporters for their tariff expenditures from the revenue the government would receive from EU exporters. Clearly, again, the EU countries have far more to lose than the U.K. does in the event of a no-deal exit. Third, by offering a free-trade deal, the U.K. can at last begin to negotiate the correct issue. Up until now, Mays negotiation with the commission has focused entirely on the terms of the British divorce rather than on the future EUU.K. trading relationship. That has meant that the negotiation, and the current May deal, have mainly addressed the question of how much the U.K. would pay for the privilege of leaving (currently agreed at 39 billion) and the Irish-border question. Astonishingly, in more than two years of negotiating, the two sides have yet to establish even the basic contours of a future trade deal. Fourth, a free-trade agreement administered under WTO auspices would dissolve the thorny Irish-border problem. In order to prevent the reestablishment of a hard border, with customs checks, between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, May has had to accept continued U.K. compliance with a swath of EU trade, social-policy, and customs regulations. Yet a hard border is necessary only in the absence of a free-trade deal between the EU and the U.K. By making a free-trade proposal directly to the council, backed by a credible threat of leaving with no deal, May can solve the Irish-border issue in one bold stroke. Fifth, since such a deal would extricate the U.K. from the EU customs union, it also would allow the U.K. to make free-trade agreements with non-EU countries. Mays current deal, on the other hand, leaves the U.K. in the customs union for nearly two years and requires EU approval for the U.K. to withdraw permanently. Trading freely under the WTO would allow the U.K. to take advantage of, for example, the standing U.S. offer to fast-track a U.S.U.K. free-trade agreement as soon as the U.K. leaves the EU. Should the Council of Ministers accept a British free-trade offer, the U.K. could soon have free-trade deals with both the EU and the U.S. If the council rejects the British offer, the U.K. could still secure a free-trade deal with the United States, its largest trading partner. Further, as noted, the U.K. will have plenty of extra cash on hand to compensate its exporters for any increased tariff costs should the council reject its free-trade offer. In addition to the estimated 8 billion profit from new tariff revenues in the case of a no-deal exit, the U.K. would also save an estimated 1012 billion per year by not having to subsidize the EU (in addition to saving its 39 billion exit payment as pledged under Mays current divorce deal). In addition, the unencumbered access to the huge North American market would over time more than compensate U.K. businesses for any restricted access to the EU market. Leading British businessmen and a few pro-Brexit politicians have urged the British government to adopt just this kind of approach. Until now, the government has rejected these pleas on the grounds that the U.K. is a law-abiding nation. But the Luxembourg court itself recently ruled that Britain may leave the EU unilaterally in accord with its own constitutional requirements (under the first clause of Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union). Though some have quibbled about this citing various legal technicalities, the U.K. certainly does not need to negotiate the terms of its divorce through the European Commission as a precondition of establishing a trading arrangement with EU. Instead, the U.K. can simply inform the European Commission of its intent to leave and offer the Council of Ministers a free-trade and reciprocal-residency deal, which the council in turn may refuse but only to the detriment of its own people and businesses. The best time for the British government to make such an offer likely will be just after April 10, when the EU decides on whether to accept Mrs. Mays most recent request for an extension beyond the current April 12 deadline for Britain to accept the current deal or leave without one. If such an extension is granted by the EU, May will desperately need a new approach that changes the dynamics of the negotiation and promises a different outcome. Conversely, in the unlikely event that the U.K. does leave on April 12 without a deal, May will still need to make a free-trade and mutual-residency offer in order to protect exporters from tariffs and minimize dislocation for both U.K. and EU external residents. (Even so, the U.K. and EU have already concluded many micro-deals, covering licenses for lorries, financial derivatives, expedited border checks, visas, Irish electrical-power generation, air travel, and more.) This revised approach to the negotiation with the EU has one final advantage. Since it would not require the U.K. to negotiate a separate divorce deal, it would allow Britain to leave the EU immediately, thus ending the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit process. Indeed, the beauty of this strategy is that it eliminates the need for the U.K. to wait for an EU response. The U.K. can simply declare its intent to leave, make its offer to the Council of Ministers, and prepare to trade freely under WTO auspices. If the council decides to act in the interest of its own people, then no new tariffs will kick in. If the council fails to accept the offer, EU countries and exporters will suffer disproportionately for council intransigence. President Trump, who appreciates not only the art of the deal but also the importance of the U.S.U.K. alliance, can help this process along. He should privately encourage Prime Minister May to change course in negotiation. With Mrs. May now reduced to asking the British Labour-party leader for help, Mr. Trump should reject advice to stay in his own lane. He should reiterate his offer to fast track a U.S.U.K. free-trade deal on favorable terms to the U.K. in order to strengthen the British hand in future negotiations. He should let Mrs. May know that he opposes Britains continued membership in the EU customs union precisely because it would preclude a U.S.U.K. trade deal. He should emphasize that, in an increasingly dangerous world, the United States places paramount importance on strengthening the U.S.U.K. economic and strategic alliance and he should express his own desire to see Britain reclaim its place of leadership among sovereign nations. Prime Minister May, for her part, can disentangle Britain from this current morass, possibly saving her own premiership, if she pursues a new strategy predicated on the reality of British sovereignty and an appreciation of the strength of her nations negotiating position. More from National Review WASHINGTON A third federal judge on Friday ruled against the Trump administration's plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, concluding that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross illegally "manufactured" a false reason to add the controversial question and wrote a "misleading" memo to justify the move. U.S. District Judge George Hazel issued a 119-page decision in Maryland that supported rulings issued in January and March by federal judges in New York and California. All three judges were nominated by President Barack Obama. Hazel wrote that Ross repeatedly ignored the advice of researchers and career staff at the Census Bureau, who concluded that citizenship data could best be obtained through other means. "The Census Bureau repeatedly, consistently, and unanimously recommended against adding a citizenship question to the 2020 decennial census," Hazel said. To justify his decision, Ross pressured the Department of Justice for months to make a formal request for the citizenship question, which Hazel described as a "manufactured" reason. The judge said Ross then "failed to disclose the true basis for his decision" in public pronouncements and testimony before Congress. Hazel also declared the administration's action unconstitutional because it would "unreasonably" compromise the accuracy of the census, which is used to apportion congressional districts and distribute more than $900 billion in federal funds. An undercount of immigrant-heavy communities could cause states such as California, New York, Texas and Florida to lose representation and federal grant money. "Overwhelming evidence supports the Courts finding that a citizenship question will cause a differential decline in Census participation among non-citizen and Hispanic households," Hazel wrote. But Hazel said challengers did not prove that the question was racially motivated, which they had alleged was a civil rights violation. Story continues In March 2018, the Commerce Department announced the citizenship question would be added to the decennial census for the first time since 1950. A third federal judge ruled Friday against the Trump administration's plan to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 census. The Supreme Court takes up the issue later this month. A wide range of critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the states of California and New York, argued that adding the question was an attempt to intimidate non-citizens from participating in the census. That would lead to population undercounts in minority communities, costing them seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and billions of dollars in federal funding, they charged. In January, Judge Jess Furman in New York blocked the addition of the question, calling the secretary's contention that he made his decision based solely on a request from the Justice Department a "sham justification." In a 277-page ruling, Furman ruled that Ross made his decision for other reasons, then tried to conceal his motives. Last month, Judge Richard Seeborg in California struck down the same question, ruling that its inclusion in the 2020 census would lead to such drastic population undercounts that it "threatens the very foundation of our democratic system." After the New York ruling, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case during its April calendar. A decision is expected by the end of June, in time for the Census Bureau to begin printing the document. Hazel's ruling emboldened challengers who have been preparing for the high court showdown. "The federal courts are unanimous that when you look at the actual evidence in front of Secretary Ross, it indicates that this question is worse for the census," said Dale Ho of the American Civil Liberties Union, who will argue the case later this month. "There's no way that anyone can look at this record and rationally conclude that this question actually advanced the goal of having more accurate information about citizenship." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump administration plan for census citizenship question ruled against by third federal judge Donald Trump has scrapped his stated plan to close the border with Mexico, saying instead he would give the country a one-year warning and threatening tariffs on cars. Six days ago Trump said he would close the border this week, unless Mexico immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our southern border. But, speaking to reporters this afternoon, Trump backtracked on his border closure threat, which had been criticized by advisers and business leaders. Were going to give them a one-year warning, and if the drugs dont stop or largely stop, were going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, particularly cars, Trump said. And if that doesnt stop the drugs, we close the border. In his latest backtrack in recent days, Trump told reporters he would try the less drastic measure before resorting to his standing border-closure threat. Related: The US-Mexico border: two sides that are united by fear of Trumps closure Mexico understands that were going to close the border or Im going to tariff the cars. Ill do one or the other. And probably start off with the tariffs, Trump said. He added later: I dont think well ever have to close the border because the penalty of tariffs on cars coming into the United States from Mexico, at 25%, will be massive. It was the latest, seemingly sudden attempt at new leverage by a president struggling to solve what his administration has called a border crisis. And it was a dramatic departure for Trump, who last week tweeted that he would close the border or large swaths of it this week unless Mexico immediately halted ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States a seemingly impossible task. Trump said at the time that he was not kidding around, and his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said in a television interview on Sunday that it would take something dramatic for Trump not to close down the crossings. Since then, however, White House advisers, border city leaders and US economists have warned that such a move would have enormous economic consequences on both sides of the border, interrupting supply chains and boosting US consumer prices on everything from avocados to autos. Story continues Related: Mulvaney: only 'something dramatic' will stop Trump closing Mexico border Trump in recent days has also backtracked on his push for Republicans to again take on healthcare and surprised his own education secretary by reversing a plan to ax federal aid for the Special Olympics. Those actions have only added to longstanding concerns about whether Trumps words can be trusted. Trump, who has long said his unpredictability is one of his greatest negotiating assets, has also followed through with some of his most bombastic threats, including forcing the countrys longest-ever government shutdown over border funding. Trump had already appeared to be easing off his border threat earlier this week. Though he said on Tuesday all options remained on the table, he shifted his goal posts, calling on Congress to pass immigration legislation to avert a closure and praising the Mexican government for doing more to apprehend migrants traveling through the country from Central America though its unclear anything has changed. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexicos foreign relations secretary, said on Tuesday his government had not changed its policies. And on Thursday, Martha Barcena, Mexicos ambassador to the US, told the Associated Press the country was working to make its own border more orderly but migration will never be stopped. Jesus Seade, the Mexican undersecretary for North America, also brushed off the threat of new tariffs, saying officials were not concerned and noting the tariffs are not part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement that the countries have agreed to but not yet ratified. Related: Trump shutting Mexico border would 'cripple' El Paso, Republican mayor says As for concerns his actions might interfere with the trade deal he fought for, Trump said the border was more important to me than the USMCA. Trump has wide-ranging power to impose tariffs on national security grounds, which he has repeatedly used as leverage against other countries. But the USMCA was worded to protect Mexico against auto tariffs based on national security concerns, and trade lawyer Daniel D Ujczo said those provisions are already in effect under a side letter. In short, this is the exact scenario that the Mexican negotiating team predicted and secured protections from in the USMCA, he said. Mexico Trump-and-tweet-proofed its auto sector, and the White House would need to get very creative to impose auto tariffs on Mexico. Democrats and many other Trump opponents are thrilled that House Ways and Means Committee chairman Richard Neal has formally requested six years of Donald Trumps tax returns. At last, they argue, Trump will be forced to be transparent. At last well see the financial information that hes so diligently sought to hide ever since he launched his race for the White House. Isnt this good news? Shouldnt the nations chief executive be transparent about his income and business dealings? Perhaps. But should is a much different than must, and the lawyer and civil libertarian in me immediately wondered about the legal basis for the Democrats request. After all, Trump is still an American citizen and entitled to a degree of privacy, and there is no law requiring presidents to release their tax returns. So, on what grounds did the Democrats demand to see his taxes? Well, it turns out that federal privacy laws contain a rather wide loophole. Congress, which granted taxpayers relatively strong protections from disclosure to other entities, left for itself a nice little out: On mere written request from the chairman of House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, or the Joint Committee on Taxation, the secretary of the Treasury shall furnish the requesting committee with any return or return information specified in such request. Thats right. All they have to do is ask. They can have your return, my return, or any political enemys return. But dont worry, the law states that if the return or return information might identify the taxpayer, then it can be provided only when the committee is in closed executive session. And we all know that Congress never leaks, and would never dare use private information to launch ruinous politically motivated investigations. After all, theres nothing but good public servants up on Capitol Hill, right? As the saying goes, if this is the law, then the law is an a**. Story continues One of the many startling aspects of the Trump era is the extent to which intense political combat has illuminated the sheer number of ridiculous rules and statutes governing this country including rules and statutes that grant public officials truly vast amounts of discretion. For decades, the federal government has vacuumed up an immense amount of power, doled it out among the various branches of government, and then turned to the American people and said, Trust us. While the current controversy involves Congresss reservation of a right to take a peek at your life, many others involve its abdication of power to the president. Consider these recent examples . . . Why is the president able to unilaterally raise tariff rates and essentially tax the American people without congressional approval? After all, Article I Section 8 of the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to regulate Commerce with foreign nations. Well, as this Vox piece by Tara Golshan nicely explains, Congress has for decades relinquished authority to set tariff rates to the president, using multiple different justifications. Laws such as the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the Trade Act of 1974, and the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 collectively grant the president enormous discretion to act on his own. Why was the president able to unilaterally ban immigrants from multiple majority-Muslim countries? Because Congress gave the president the power to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate whenever he finds their entry detrimental to the interests of the United States. Relatedly, while there may exist statutes that regulate how a president uses his emergency powers, the National Emergencies Act essentially leaves the definition of an emergency to the presidents discretion. How does he define an emergency? He knows it when he sees it. And dont get me started on the bipartisan abdication of congressional authority to declare war. When Trump struck the Assad regime without congressional authorization, he was walking a trail blazed by many presidents before him. The judiciary shouldnt be given a pass on all of this, either. One of the prime reasons presidential contests have become so contentious is the Supreme Courts repeated willingness to improperly interfere in the democratic process, and gather for itself immense power well beyond the adjudication of enumerated constitutional rights and the coherent interpretation of specific constitutional provisions. The president not only controls a bloated executive branch, he appoints the members of the excessively powerful judicial branch. And now members of that branch have invented a new kind of power grab: the nationwide injunction, in which the reach of a mere federal trial-court judge can extend beyond the parties before him to the entire nation. When people ask me, how the Trump era is adjusting my political views, my answer is simple: Its making me more libertarian. Its making me more concerned about the fate of the Constitution. I trust the government less, Im more appalled at its sweeping assumptions of power, and I see more clearly what happens when its leaders possessed with unwavering self-righteousness believe that the ends justify the means. Now the Democratic war against Donald Trump has exposed yet another bad law. Congress can investigate your finances no matter who you are for any reason or no reason at all. The fact that Trump is the man currently under the microscope should in no way lessen our objection to such an atrocious policy. Bad laws dont become good just because theyre used to target people you happen to dislike. More from National Review Calexico (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump visited the Mexican border on Friday to deliver a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers: don't bother coming. "The system is full and we can't take you anymore... Our country is full," he said at a meeting with border patrol officers and other officials in Calexico, California. "So turn around, that's the way it is." Shortly after, Trump visited a section of recently refurbished border wall -- something he wants extended across far more of the US-Mexico frontier -- and said illegal immigrants had previously been "pouring" in. The California trip followed a retreat from earlier threats to close the border, which had sparked fears of serious economic damage. Nevertheless, Trump sees his campaign against a "crisis" on the border as key to his 2020 reelection bid, and his time in Calexico was meant to keep that message in the headlines. Numbers of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing violence in Central America have risen sharply, although there are enormous political divides on whether this constitutes the "national emergency" that Trump has declared. Around 200 protesters, accompanied by a giant inflatable balloon depicting Trump as a baby, were waiting for the president in Mexicali, the town on the Mexican side of the frontier. Waving US and Mexican flags, the protesters carried signs with messages such as "Stop separating families" and "If you build the wall, my generation will tear it down." On the US side, dozens of people lined the road that Trump's motorcade took, demonstrating support for his policies. "Build the wall," said one placard. Before leaving Washington earlier Friday, Trump said that his previous threats to shut down the border had been successful in persuading Mexican authorities to clamp down by stopping migrants on their journey north. "Mexico, I have to say, has been very, very good... over the last four days since I talked about shutting down the border," he said. Story continues - 'Stay calm' - Trump reiterated that actually closing the border is not currently in the cards, but said he will instead impose 25 percent tariffs on auto imports from Mexico if illegal migration and drug smuggling are not controlled. Trump also said he could still order the border closed later. "I may shut it down at some point but I'd rather do tariffs," he said. While sounding tough, Trump's surprise shift this week to tariffs from the previous threat to close the border is a major climb down. For days, the White House had been signaling that he was serious about the threat and there was even speculation that he might announce a closing during his Calexico trip. However, the idea caused alarm among economists and Congress, including in Trump's Republican Party. Mexico is the third-largest US trading partner and any hold-ups at border crossings would have an immediate impact on trade. The tariffs idea is also causing confusion. On Thursday, Trump indicated there would be a one-year deadline for Mexico to improve the situation before tariffs kicked in. However, it was not clear if he meant that both for the drug smuggling and migration, or whether he wanted the migration issue resolved immediately. On Friday, the timing was no clearer. But he seemed to suggest that he might seek to punish Mexico at any time he thought the southern neighbor was not doing enough. "We're going to shut (the border) down if we have to. We going to tariff the cars, Mexico, if we have to," he said. It was also unclear how such tariffs would fit into the countries' deeply intertwined trading relationship, which is governed by NAFTA, a free trade accord also including Canada that is due to be replaced by an updated version called the USMCA. Leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November after more than a year of negotiations. Trump said Friday that his tariffs would "supersede USMCA. It's a great deal, and it's very good for Mexico. But this will supersede USMCA." In Mexico City, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged investors to "stay calm." "Our relationship with the government of the United States is very good," he said. burs-sms/wd President Donald Trump knew he didn't like a 1997 immigration ruling, but apparently didn't realize that the namesake of the Flores court case was a 15-year-old girl, not a federal judge. "Judge Flores, whoever you may be, that decision is a disaster for our country," Trump said during his visit with border officials in Calexico, California, on Friday. Jenny Lisette Flores, who fled war-torn El Salvador in the 1980s, was the lead plaintiff in a legal challenge to the U.S. government's treatment of suspected illegal immigrants. The case, known as the Flores Settlement or more properly known as Flores v. Reno, established the treatment of immigrant families and children in federal custody. President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable on immigration and border security at the U.S. Border Patrol Calexico Station in Calexico, California, April 5, 2019. The case was settled in 1997. One of its central provisions was a ruling that the government cannot hold children in detention centers for more than 20 days. Trump views that stricture as effectively releasing illegal immigrants, though they are typically subject to future court appearances. Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump flubs the namesake of an immigration court case: She's a migrant, not a judge By Roberta Rampton CALEXICO, Calif. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday promised approximately 450 miles (725 km) of new "wall" along the southern U.S. border, after threatening to slap Mexico with an unspecified economic penalty to crack down on what he describes as a crisis of undocumented immigration and drug trafficking. Referring to a "colossal surge" of immigrants, Trump convened a discussion with immigration officials and local leaders in Calexico on the U.S.-Mexico border just north of the much larger city of Mexicali. Before touring a just completed 30-foot (9 meter) tall, 2.2 mile (3.5 km) barrier at Calexico, Trump said more U.S. military resources will be dispatched to the border. "Our country is full," Trump said in a warning to migrants. "Can't take you anymore. The Republican president's latest pronouncements, including a threat to impose auto tariffs on Mexico, are in response to a rising number of migrants, many of them families with children, traveling northward from Central America through Mexico and to the U.S. border. During Friday's discussion in Calexico, Trump was handed a diamond-shaped piece of steel slate - the material used to construct barriers along the border. Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that by the end of next year - just after the November 2020 presidential election - about 450 miles (725 km) of new barrier will be completed. Border officials have said they need 722 miles (1,162 km) of new or replacement barriers. Trump is counting on seizing funds from other federal accounts and shifting them for the construction, a move being challenged in federal court because Congress has not given approval. Democrats generally oppose Trump's wall proposal, suggesting instead other types of enhanced border security that they argue would be more effective and less costly. Hammering on a favorite theme, Trump earlier on Friday said he was considering imposing an unspecified economic penalty on Mexico unless it helps alleviate the United States' drug and immigrant flows. Although Trump has several times linked the issues of illegal immigration and drug smuggling as he tries to tighten border security, much of the drug trade is not carried out by migrants but by professional crime gangs that send narcotics to the United States in vehicles through official ports of entry. Praising Mexico for moving recently against drug traffickers, Trump said, "If they continue that, everything will be fine. If they don't we're going to tariff their cars at 25 percent." "Also, I'm looking at an economic penalty for all of the drugs that are coming in through the southern border and killing our people," Trump told reporters in Washington before departing for southern California. TRUMP THREATS Trump said the drug-related tariff would supplant provisions of a trade deal, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA, which has not been approved by Congress. In a Twitter post on Friday morning, Trump repeated a threat to close the border if Mexico "stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from..." "I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border. Over 100,00 Americans die each year, sooo many families destroyed!" the president tweeted. It was not immediately clear what other penalties he was considering. The White House did not respond to a request for elaboration. It also was unclear where Trump got the $500 billion figure. Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said the amount of drugs smuggled into the United States annually was probably in the range of $50-$60 billion. He emphasized that it was fueled by U.S. demand. "He's blaming Mexico for our drug problem," Vigil said, adding that his words could hurt bilateral cooperation in battling drug-trafficking. "The president should focus on reducing the demand and facilitating drug treatment centers here in the United States," he added. In recent days, Mexico has taken a more rigorous approach to interviewing and registering immigrants from Central America, Haiti and Cuba, according to officials. Previously, the Mexican government freely handed out humanitarian visas with the goal of allowing people to stay and work legally in Mexico. But it backed away from that policy after a surge in those requesting the documents and amid criticism from Washington. On Thursday, a Mexican federal police plane flew dozens of Haitians home. On Friday, the Migration Institute said on Twitter that 57 Cubans were sent back to Cuba by plane in the morning. More than 60 Cubans were flown home last week. Meanwhile, 20 states have filed a motion to block Trump's attempts to divert federal funds through an emergency declaration, New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said on Friday. The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday also filed a lawsuit challenging Trump's ability to seize the funds, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also a Democrat, said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Steve Holland, Frank Jack Daniel, Lizbeth Diaz and Dave Graham; Writing by Richard Cowan; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, Alistair Bell and Grant McCool) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday he is withdrawing his nomination to head a leading immigration agency because he wants to "go in a tougher direction." Trump nominated Ronald Vitiello to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August and the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a confirmation hearing for him next week. The White House abruptly pulled the nomination late Thursday. "Were going in a little different direction," Trump told reporters on Friday when asked about the withdrawal. "Were going in a tougher direction." The move comes as Trump, citing an increase in migrant families arriving from Central America, has sought to make immigration a main theme of next year's election. The president threatened to close the border with Mexico, and then backed off Thursday following an outcry from border state Republicans and business groups. Trump is traveling to Calexico, California, on Friday to speak with border officials and tour a section of border wall. Vitiello had been scheduled to travel with Trump, but is no longer going, the Associated Press reported. Vitiello, who is serving as acting ICE director, spent decades as a border patrol agent in Laredo, Texas, the White House said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the nation's interior. President Donald Trump This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump yanks nomination of Ronald Vitiello to head ICE to go 'in a tougher direction' Days after facing widespread ridicule and criticism for saying primetime cable news competitor Chris Hayes is what every man would be if feminists had absolute power, Fox News host Tucker Carlson wondered Thursday how America wound up being a country where feminists do science. During Thursday nights broadcast of Tucker Carlson Tonight, the conservative primetime star shared a clipfull of scary music and eerie effectsof Democratic politicians warning about the dangers of climate change, mockingly noting that its so bad theyre running out of adjectives. Carlson then highlighted a recent study that asks whether toxic masculinity is a driver behind climate change by arguing that when mens gender identity was threatened, they tried to reassert their masculinity through environmentally damaging choices. The report added that once this unconscious bias is revealed, it has the potential to help society shift our increasingly precarious relationship with the environment for the better. Or, the way Carlson sees it, if we want to save the environment we have to suppress men. The Fox News host turned not to a scientist or climate-change expert to dissect the studys conclusions, but conservative author and frequent guest Mark Steyn, who quipped that his insecurities about his masculinity are causing rising sea levels in the Maldives and that hes kind of on board with the studys thesis. How did we wind up with a country in which feminists do science? Carlson asked, apparently not the least bit fazed by the current ad boycott he is facing. I mean, isn't that sort of bound to get a study like this, right? Steyn replied that its almost impossible to tell if the study is legitimate or an ingenious parody. This caused him to go on a tangent about one of the studys experiments, which he claimed consisted of pantywaist Walmart gift cards causing men to buy very macho masculine things that melt the polar ice caps. Story continues This is the kind of social science that the higher-education institutions of America are spending a fortune investigating, Steyn sneered. After Carlson said he thought climate science was all about ice core samples and not Walmart gift cards, Steyn scornfully responded that climate science is a state of mind and that the big bucks are in surveys where you decide whats heating up the planet is men. Eventually, Steyn concluded by ranting about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) flatulent cows, claiming they will team up with a plague of locusts to wipe out toxic masculine men and save the planet. I wish there was a Latin term for government by unhappy crazy people because thats where we are, Carlson concluded. Read more at The Daily Beast. Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Thursday accused the US State Department of making false claims about rows during a meeting between the top US and Turkish diplomats, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he stood by the account. The NATO allies are at odds over issues including US support for a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara and Turkey's purchase of a Russian missile system over US objections. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held talks on Wednesday during the Turkish official's visit to Washington as part of 70th anniversary celebrations of the NATO alliance. The US State Department said Pompeo had warned Ankara of "potentially devastating consequences" if Turkey launches an offensive in Syria and urged the "swift resolution" of legal cases involving US citizens and US mission employees under investigation in Turkey. Pompeo also pressed Cavusoglu about Turkey's plans to buy the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, which Washington has warned could put Ankara at risk of US sanctions, the State Department said in a statement. But Cavusoglu questioned on the issue by reporters in Washington insisted "I was there... such language was never used, on Syria particularly they never mentioned such things about unilateral actions from Turkey." He backed up earlier comments by his foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the US readout "not only fails to reflect the content of the meeting, but also contains matters that were not even raised during said meeting". It was not clear what "matters" Aksoy was referring to in his statement and foreign ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. Aksoy said similar problems had arisen after previous talks, and urged statements to be prepared with "greater care". Pompeo, asked by reporters about the Turkish comments, insisted that the State Department account was accurate. Story continues "I've re-read the readout of our meeting. Spot on. Stand by every word of it," Pompeo said. Pompeo said he believed that Turkey "understands the American position quite clearly" but said he was hopeful of resolving issues. "There's great opportunities for the United States and Turkey to work closely together," he said. "I had a good, long conversation with the Turkish foreign minister yesterday and I am very confident we'll find a path forward." Ties have been frayed recently by Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, which US officials fear have technology that will allow Moscow to gather data from NATO aircraft. The US wants Turkey to instead opt to buy the US Patriot system. Washington responded earlier this week by suspending Turkey's participation in the F-35 fighter-jet programme, in which Turkey has invested over $1 billion. ASBURY PARK, N.J. After a twice-deported Honduran man was charged with the brutal strangulation murder of a Jersey City nanny, federal authorities have criticized New Jersey's "limited cooperation" on immigration issues. The federal rebuke came after the arrest of Jorge Rios, 33, who was charged in the death of Carolina Cano, 45, of Jersey City. Cano was found dead in a lake in Lincoln Park in Jersey City on March 24, according to Hudson County Prosecutor's Office. Rios, identified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as Jorge Alberto Rios-Doblado, was previously removed from the United States for immigration violations in 2003 and 2004, according to ICE. Rios was charged with felony murder, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault, according to the prosecutor's office. Largest immigration bust in a decade: ICE arrests 280 employees at Texas firm "ICE maintains that cooperation by local law enforcement is an indispensable component of promoting public safety," the Newark ICE office said in a statement. "ICE will seek taking custody of Rios-Doblado at the conclusion of his criminal proceedings, despite limited cooperation in the state. Immigration officials were referring to a November directive issued by New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal that barred state and local police from assisting federal immigration on authorities with "civil immigration law," with some exceptions. Grewal's directive stressed that his policy didn't stop officers from enforcing state law or pursuing crimes. More: ICE sets record for arrests of undocumented immigrants with no criminal record When asked about Rios, Grewal's office pointed to comments he made to the state assembly budget committee on Wednesday. Grewal explained the immigration directive was inspired by "overly zealous enforcement of immigration laws" by the federal government at sensitive places like schools, churches and courthouses, which Grewal said discouraged people from approaching the police to report crimes. Story continues "Our job as state law enforcement officers is to enforce the criminal laws of this state and that's all we told our law enforcement officers through that directive," Grewal told state lawmakers who questioned the state's immigration policy. "We dont enforce civil immigration deportation orders." An ICE spokesman said it's unknown when Rios returned to the United States and how he got here. Follow Andrew Ford on Twitter @AndrewFordNews. More: Texas flight attendant detained by ICE for weeks after airline's 'administrative error' This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Twice-deported man charged in murder, rape; ICE blasts NJ for 'limited cooperation' Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Every investor in China Water Industry Group Limited (HKG:1129) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. I quite like to see at least a little bit of insider ownership. As Charlie Munger said 'Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome.' With a market capitalization of HK$1.8b, China Water Industry Group is a small cap stock, so it might not be well known by many institutional investors. In the chart below below, we can see that institutions don't own many shares in the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about 1129. View our latest analysis for China Water Industry Group SEHK:1129 Ownership Summary, April 5th 2019 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About China Water Industry Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Institutions own less than 5% of China Water Industry Group. That indicates that the company is on the radar of some funds, but it isn't particularly popular with professional investors at the moment. So if the company itself can improve over time, we may well see more institutional buyers in the future. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most. SEHK:1129 Income Statement, April 5th 2019 China Water Industry Group is not owned by hedge funds. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held. Insider Ownership Of China Water Industry Group The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Story continues I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of China Water Industry Group Limited. Insiders have a HK$514m stake in this HK$1.8b business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, mostly retail investors, hold a substantial 64% stake in 1129, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. With this size of ownership, retail investors can collectively play a role in decisions that affect shareholder returns, such as dividend policies and the appointment of directors. They can also exercise the power to decline an acquisition or merger that may not improve profitability. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 5.0%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand China Water Industry Group better, we need to consider many other factors. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. Therefore, you may wish to see our free collection of interesting prospects boasting favorable financials. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! Every investor in Hebei Yichen Industrial Group Corporation Limited (HKG:1596) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. I generally like to see some degree of insider ownership, even if only a little. As Nassim Nicholas Taleb said, 'Dont tell me what you think, tell me what you have in your portfolio.' With a market capitalization of HK$3.6b, Hebei Yichen Industrial Group is a small cap stock, so it might not be well known by many institutional investors. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutions don't own many shares in the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholder can tell us about 1596. See our latest analysis for Hebei Yichen Industrial Group SEHK:1596 Ownership Summary, April 5th 2019 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Hebei Yichen Industrial Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Since institutions own under 5% of Hebei Yichen Industrial Group, many may not have spent much time considering the stock. But it's clear that some have; and they liked it enough to buy in. If the business gets stronger from here, we could see a situation where more institutions are keen to buy. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most. SEHK:1596 Income Statement, April 5th 2019 We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Hebei Yichen Industrial Group. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Hebei Yichen Industrial Group The definition of company insiders can be subjective, and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board; and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board, themselves. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. It seems that insiders own more than half the Hebei Yichen Industrial Group Corporation Limited stock. This gives them a lot of power. That means they own HK$2.5b worth of shares in the HK$3.6b company. That's quite meaningful. Most would argue this is a positive, showing strong alignment with shareholders. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public holds a 19% stake in 1596. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 8.4%, of the 1596 stock. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Hebei Yichen Industrial Group better, we need to consider many other factors. I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free free list of interesting companies. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. By Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned Turkey on Wednesday against buying a Russian S-400 anti-missile system, keeping up pressure on the NATO ally to abandon a purchase that Washington views as a threat to U.S. military equipment. "Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" Pence said in an address during a meeting of NATO ministers in Washington. The United States and Turkey remain at loggerheads over Ankara's plan to buy the air defense system from Russia, which Washington believes would compromise the security of its F-35 fighter jets, made by Lockheed Martin Corp. Turkey struck back promptly, with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay issuing his own admonition on Twitter: "The United States must choose. Does it want to remain Turkeys ally or risk our friendship by joining forces with terrorists to undermine its NATO allys defense against its enemies?" Washington has warned that proceeding with the deal could result in U.S. sanctions and the exclusion of Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program. The United States this week halted delivery to Turkey of equipment related to the stealthy aircraft. "Weve also made it clear that we will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries that threaten the cohesion of our alliance," Pence said. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey has proposed to the United States that they form a working group to determine that Russian S-400 missile defense systems do not pose a threat to U.S. or NATO military equipment. "It will not be integrated into the NATO system ... therefore we propose the United States to establish a technical working group to make sure that this system will not be a threat - neither to (U.S.) F-35s nor the NATO systems," Cavusoglu told a panel in Washington. Ankara says it needs the S-400s, to be delivered in July, to defend itself, as Turkey faces threats from Kurdish and Islamist militants at home and conflicts in neighboring Syria and Iraq. The United States hopes to find a way out of the dispute by convincing Turkey to purchase the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system, made by Raytheon. Turkey is also looking into a French-Italian system based on the SAMP-T missile systems. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed his concerns about the S-400 surface-to-air missile system with Cavusoglu in a meeting on Wednesday, the State Department said. The leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, who can block military sales to Turkey, also told him that the S-400 purchase could jeopardize Turkey's future in NATO and risked sanctions as well as Turkey's participation in the F-35 program. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in Washington for the 70th anniversary of the Western alliance and a meeting of its foreign ministers, told Reuters in an interview he had spoken several times with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan about the S-400 issue and had discussed it in a meeting with Trump on Tuesday. Asked about Turkey's working-group proposal, Stoltenberg said the S-400 issue had been considered many times at different NATO ministerial meetings. While it was not formally on the agenda in Washington, he expected it to be addressed. "I expect that on the margins of our foreign ministerial meeting here in Washington this week, the S-400 issue will be discussed again. Not at the formal agenda, but on the margins when we have the ministers sitting down and looking into whether theres a way to find a way to find a compromise," Stoltenberg said. In the meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Pompeo also called for the speedy resolution of cases involving detained U.S. citizens including Serkan Golge, the State Department said. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Additional reporting by Sarah Dadouch in Istanbul and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Grant McCool and James Dalgleish) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he will next week address a meeting of the UN Security Council on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The council will meet Wednesday at Washington's request amid growing alarm over the impact of a political standoff in Venezuela on families and children. Pence said the United States will urge world powers to reject President Nicolas Maduro and address the crisis from Venezuela's economic meltdown. "Next Wednesday, I will address the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Venezuela," Pence said in a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas. "The United States will urge the world to reject Maduro's failed regime, to stand with the Venezuelan people, and to help us bring the humanitarian crisis to an end." An internal UN report seen by AFP last week said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care. Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela's economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim leader, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault. Guaido is recognized by the United States and about 50 other governments. Pence on Friday announced sanctions on 34 vessels of Venezuela's state oil company and renewed the US threat of military action. "Those looking on should know this: All options are on the table. And Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America," Pence said. The United States in February asked the council to adopt a resolution demanding new presidential elections and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid, but that measure was vetoed by Russia and China. Russia has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Venezuela while China has stressed that there should be no international meddling in the South American country's affairs. Story continues Human Rights Watch and a group of US public health experts released a report Thursday detailing severe medicine and food shortages in Venezuela combined with the spread of disease resulting in a "complex humanitarian emergency." They called for a full-scale response from the United Nations to address the crisis. The Red Cross last week said it would begin distributing aid to Venezuela. United Is Switching Frequent Flyer Program to Demand Pricing United Airlines is changing the way it prices seats purchased with frequent flyer miles. On November 15, the carrier is switching to a system that prices award seats based on demand rather than specific tiers. The pricing strategy will allow United to slide award prices up when demand is high for a particular flight and ease off on costs when there are more seats available. Portions of this system already went into place last month when several frequent flyers noticed that award seats on some routes were pricing out at rates lower than normal. As of Friday, that shift is now formally part of a full-fledged effort to apply dynamic pricing across Uniteds entire awards calendar. The practice of dynamically pricing award seats as a function of demand is a stark contrast to the traditional system of award-tier booking where seats are priced into concise buckets available to consumers. With tiered pricing, for example, a traveler can expect to pay roughly 25,000 miles for a standard, domestic, round-trip, economy ticket irrespective of demand. Dynamic pricing, by contrast, takes the brackets off of a particular award seat and allows prices to float down when demand is low and up when inventory is tight. Among legacy carriers, that leaves only American Airlines with a tiered award seat model later this year. As dynamic pricing doesnt take advantage of a tiered pricing structure, United is also taking down its published award chart on November 15. Awards on partner carriers in the Star Alliance such as Lufthansa and Air Canada will remain on a tiered system for now, though Luc Bondar, head of MileagePlus, confirmed that the airline is also exploring the use of dynamic pricing on those fares. Up until this fall, MileagePlus will remain on its current tiered system with the addition of lower-priced awards (and without higher-priced seats) that some passengers have seen over the last few weeks. On November 15, United will open up the system to full dynamic pricing and take the pricing cap off of award bookings. Additionally, at that time the airline will take away the close-in booking fees that many MileagePlus members have complained about. Story continues United also wont be changing the number of seats that it makes available for award bookings with the shift to dynamic pricing. Were not making any changes to the underlying award fare structure, said Bondar. Put another way, the same number of seats available for awards on each flight will remain the same from November 14 to November 15 this year. One area that may grow, however, is the fare bucket for premium award seats for elite frequent flyers. We are very committed to finding ways to increase the availability of the IN [premium award] booking class domestically, said Bondar. Impact on The Airline vs. Consumers United characterizes dynamic pricing as a good value for todays loyalty customers. According to Bondar, consumers in Uniteds loyalty program have consistently asked for better price selection across the entire booking and travel experience, which includes flexible pricing on award seats when demand is low. Dynamic pricing can allow that; looking forward, the traditional 25,000 mile fare will certainly price higher every so often, the new model also allows for the occasional situation in which the round trip seat could cost 15,000 or 20,000 miles a significant discount from todays rates. Consumers may find the value mixed, considering each approach to selling award seats has pros and cons. Tiered pricing is more transparent and allows passengers to carefully budget for upcoming travel, with brackets around pricing fairly rigid. With a published award calendar, its also possible to figure out how much a cheap award seat should cost when one is potentially being charged a significantly higher rate than normal. Dynamic pricing cant offer that, but it can offer award seats that are typically less expensive than tiered seats at certain times of the year. For passengers who struggle to save up 25,000 or even 15,000 miles each year, that model can bring a lot of value. Lessons Learned from Delta Uniteds choice to move to a dynamic award pricing model echoes a similar decision that Delta made in 2015. And despite the stated benefits for frequent flyers, its also likely that the move is rooted in the pursuit of extracting better revenue out of its loyalty program. From the airlines perspective, dynamic pricing allows it to maximize revenue (i.e., charge more for award seats) when demand is high and fill up seats inexpensively when airplanes are empty. The rare occasion in which a passenger gets a bargain, tiered award seat on what would be an expensive revenue fare can also now be eliminated. Its not clear how passengers will react. When Delta originally launched dynamic pricing in 2015, many frequent flyers were up in arms about the lack of transparency around the potential cost of awards. But everyday passengers have generally been indifferent. Looking back, Matthew Stolen, a frequent flyer on Delta, shrugged off the change. While it was disappointing to see them move to dynamic pricing for their award flights, Delta continues to offer a superior hard and soft product compared to other US carriers. Additionally, Ive felt that by Deltas constant award flight sales helps to take the sting away a little bit more. The only passengers that may be irked are top-tier frequent flyers that are intimately familiar with award tiers and booking habits. Deltas move to dynamic pricing has definitely affected my booking habits, said Nick Farina, a high-level elite in Deltas loyalty program. While its possible to find good deals, the unpredictability makes the miles seem dramatically less valuable to me even if that isnt rational. Subscribe to Skift newsletters covering the business of travel, restaurants, and wellness. United Wins First Round in Expedia Dispute Over Fares A federal judge took into account a nearly decade-old tiff between American Airlines and Expedia in siding with United Airlines in its current contract dispute with the online travel agency. Judge P. Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York rejected an Expedia motion to grant a preliminary injunction against United, which sought to withhold publicly available airfares from Expedia after their contract expires on September 30. Expedia had argued that it would suffer irreparable harm if United ceased providing fares after that date because Expedias reputation would suffer as it would be unable to service customers who may have already booked flights for October 1 and later. Citing a declaration by Expedia.com Vice President and General Manager John Morrey, Judge Castel wrote: Expedias own Senior Vice President stated that when Expedia lost fare and availability information for American Airlines, it (i) lost monetary damages, and (ii) had growth in bookings decline for a limited time before growth resumed. This does not suggest an injury that would not be remedied by a monetary award. The judge stated that while third parties such as customers, banks, employers and loyalty programs might be harmed by Uniteds intended actions, These injuries to third parties do not demonstrate that Expedia itself will suffer irreparable harm. United issued a statement in response to the judges ruling. We welcome the ruling from the judge in favor of United which will minimize the risk of disrupting our customers travel plans and ensure we can effectively serve customers who need to make changes to their itineraries purchased through Expedia. Uniteds commitment to customer service includes providing our customers with a variety of ways to shop for and book flights. For travelers who like to comparison shop, were happy for them to use a meta search site like Kayak or online travel agencies to see for themselves that United routinely offers the best value for business and leisure travelers alike. In fact, more than 70 million United tickets were purchased last year through meta search sites, OTAs and travel agencies. Story continues Expedia Group spokeswoman Sarah Waffle Gavin said the online travel agency was disappointed the judges ruling in not issuing an injunction, but added we are glad to see that the court recognizes that Uniteds threatened actions would breach our contract. As United and Expedia maneuver over a potential new contract, there was another interesting angle in the judges ruling, which came down Friday. The question of who owns the customer when a booking occurs on Expedia United or the online travel agency is apparently a thorny issue in their negotiations. The judge wrote that United complained that Expedia has not transmitted customer contact information to United in an industry-standard manner as required by the Agreement. The airline said that 16 percent of 200 randomly chosen passenger name records sent to United were not transmitted in an industry-standard manner as required by the agreement. Expedia, according to the judge, said the issue had been resolved in August. Expedia had filed its complaint seeking a preliminary injunction against United in early February. United has clearly won the initial battle as each party seeks leverage in negotiating a new distribution agreement. Subscribe to Skift newsletters covering the business of travel, restaurants, and wellness. Chicago (AFP) - US authorities on Friday charged a 23-year-old man released from prison last month with falsely claiming to be a boy who has been missing for eight years. Brian Rini was charged with a single count of lying to federal authorities for allegedly claiming Wednesday that he was Timmothy Pitzen -- missing since 2011, when he was six years old. The claim briefly raised hopes that the child had finally been found. But authorities said a DNA test proved Rini's identity and only then did he allegedly admit he was lying. "He said he watched a story about Timmothy on ABC's 20/20," a criminal complaint filed in federal court by the Department of Justice said, referring to a television news program. "He stated that he wanted to get away from his own family. When questioned further, Rini stated that he wished he had a father like Timmothy's because if he went missing, his father would just keep drinking," the complaint said. Authorities said they were charging Rini because false reports harm families of missing children and needlessly divert police resources. "Law enforcement takes dishonest reports very seriously, and we caution that people making false claims can and will face criminal penalties," Herb Stapleton, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Cincinnati bureau, said in a statement. Rini is a known felon and had been released from an Ohio state prison last month. He was imprisoned for more than a year on burglary and vandalism convictions, according to the Ohio State Department of Corrections. Pitzen has not been seen since his mother Amy Fry-Pitzen mysteriously took him out of school early one day in 2011 in their hometown of Aurora, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. She drove around with him for several days and then checked into a motel, where she took her own life. She left a note saying Timmothy was "safe" but no trace of the boy has ever been found. "You'll never find him," she wrote. Dubai (AFP) - Saudi Arabia has arrested at least nine writers and academics, including two US citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of detained women activists whose trial has drawn global censure, campaigners said Friday. News of the arrests came the morning after US lawmakers voted to end military support for a Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, which has triggered what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It also marks the first major crackdown since the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October, which sparked unprecedented international scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record. Campaigners identified the US-Saudi dual nationals as writer and doctor Bader al-Ibrahim and Salah al-Haidar, the son of Aziza al-Yousef -- a high-profile activist who was temporarily released last week but remains on trial along with other women campaigners. The latest round up started on Thursday, a day after the 11 women -- some of whom accused interrogators of torture and sexual abuse in detention -- returned to court to face charges that include contact with foreign media, diplomats and human rights groups. London-based rights group ALQST identified eight arrested writers, bloggers and academics -- including a pregnant woman -- adding that the crackdown was linked to their support of female activists on trial. Another public intellectual, university lecturer Anas al-Mazrou, was detained last month after he expressed solidarity with the detained women during a panel discussion at the Riyadh book fair, it added. Prisoners of Conscience, a Saudi group that tracks political prisoners, put the number of people arrested at 10. A State Department official confirmed that two US citizens were arrested, but refused to give more details due to "privacy considerations". "When a US citizen is arrested abroad, the Department of State works to provide all appropriate consular assistance and seek access to the citizen without delay," the official said. Story continues "We have already engaged the Saudi government in this regard." Many of those arrested face travel bans, campaigners said. "Saudi authorities seem to be hell-bent on silencing anyone who dares to speak up or even voice their opinions privately and publicly," Amnesty International's Middle East campaigns director Samah Hadid told AFP. "This goes beyond just attacking activists and now seems to target different segments of society. This is a dangerous pattern." - Pressure to stay silent - "What is disturbing about new Saudi arrests is that waves of arrests keep moving from most-known to successively lesser knowns," Saudi-American activist Nora Abdulkarim said on Twitter. "Another confusing aspect is timing, leaves one asking: 'why now?'" Riyadh has faced pressure from major Western powers to release the women on trial, most of whom were detained last summer in a wide-ranging crackdown against activists just before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female motorists. Three of them -- activist Aziza al-Yousef, blogger Eman al-Nafjan and preacher Rokaya al-Mohareb -- were granted temporary release last week. Before their provisional release, the three freed women and their bail guarantors were made to sign a pledge that they will stay away from the media, according to multiple people with access to the trial. The siblings of one of the prominent detainees, activist Loujain al-Hathloul, this week said they were being pressured by people close to the Saudi state to stay silent over her treatment in detention. People close to the Saudi establishment have warned that public criticism by family members could prolong their detention. "A reminder: we are not going to stay silent," Loujain's sister Alia al-Hathloul tweeted on Friday. At an emotionally charged hearing last week, some women broke down as they accused interrogators of subjecting them to electric shocks, flogging and groping in detention, two people with access to the trial told AFP. A Saudi prosecutor roundly rejected the accusations in the latest court hearing on Wednesday, witnesses said, reiterating the government's stance. The next hearing in the trial, which foreign media and diplomats are barred from attending, is scheduled for April 17, activists say. The US envoy tasked with forging a peace deal with the Taliban met with officials in Pakistan on Friday, after telling leaders and various groups in Afghanistan they would be included in future talks. Zalmay Khalilzad was in Islamabad after spending five days in Afghanistan amid strains between Washington and President Ashraf Ghani's administration, which has complained bitterly of being sidelined in peace talks. "Intra-Afghan dialogue should be comprehensive and inclusive with representatives from the #Afghan government, women, young people, and civil society," Khalilzad said on Twitter at the start of his five-day visit. The Taliban has until now refused to meet with the Kabul government, accusing it of being a puppet regime. The diplomatic spat between Washington and Kabul came to a head last month when Afghanistan's national security advisor Hamdullah Mohib accused Khalilzad of a lack of "transparency", even suggesting the Afghan-born envoy wanted to be "viceroy" of his native country. Washington reacted furiously, with US officials reportedly refusing to attend meetings in which Mohib was present. The outspoken advisor visited eastern provinces when Khalilzad was in Kabul. Among those Khalilzad met with was a group of seven women from the Afghan Women Network. Under the Taliban's strict interpretation of Sharia law, women were stripped of all basic rights and were sometimes executed for alleged adultery. "Women should not be forgotten in the talks, and our rights should not be trampled," Robina Hamdard, an advocacy manager at the network, told AFP. "We want everything -- women's rights to education and social activities -- to be guaranteed during the talks ... We want a lasting peace, not a shaky peace." Khalilzad's schedule in Islamabad has not been announced, but he had already met with officials including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi early Friday, according to the foreign ministry. Story continues Pakistan says it supports an Afghan-led peace process and is helping to facilitate the talks. Washington and Kabul have long held Pakistan's shadowy intelligence services responsible for supporting and training the Taliban. Later on Friday, Pakistani premier Imran Khan said he had some "brotherly advice" for Afghanistan, saying that if Kabul wants upcoming presidential elections to be incorporated into the peace process, then it must form an interim government. "This is not interference, this is advice," he added during a speech in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. Elections in Afghanistan, originally slated for April 20, have been postponed until September to allow time for the peace talks. Ghani, who was elected in a fraud-tainted poll in 2014, is seeking a second term. Last month Khan reportedly made similar comments, provoking a furious reaction from Kabul and a Twitter row between the US ambassador to Afghanistan and his own human rights minister, who branded Washington's envoy a "little pygmy". After talks in February, Khalilzad announced a "draft framework" for a peace deal, though he warned major hurdles remain. A new round of talks between the Taliban and Afghan officials is expected later this month in Doha, with further US-Taliban negotiations possible after that. In another sign that sustainable investing is here to stay, Vanguard announced it would launch its first actively managed fund with a focus on environmental, social and (corporate) governance characteristics. See Also: Shareholders Shake Things Up This Proxy Season When it opens, in late May at the earliest, Vanguard Global ESG Select Stock will charge 0.55% in annual fees, half the average expense ratio of all ESG stock mutual funds. Two managers from Wellington Management, Mark Mandel and Yolanda Courtines, plan to hold roughly 40 stocks. They'll scout for profitable, smartly run companies in the U.S. and abroad that are also leaders in integrating ESG practices into their businesses. ESG qualities entail more than just being anti-gun or anti-tobacco. To earn the mantle, generally, companies must be mindful of their environmental impact; treat customers, suppliers and employees well; and be run by a diverse pool of managers who are aligned with shareholder interests. Fund investors don't have to sacrifice performance in support of their values. We looked at 28 large-company stock funds investing in U.S. and foreign firms, with ESG-focused strategies as defined by fund tracker Morningstar. On average, the funds' annualized returns outpaced the MSCI All Country World Index in five of the past six calendar years between 2013 and 2018. Vanguard isn't new to ESG investing. The Valley Forge, Pa.-based firm already has three index-based ESG funds: Vanguard FTSE Social Index (symbol VFTAX), Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX) and Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV). The introduction of another offering, this one actively managed, shows that Vanguard is "going whole-hog into the ESG marketplace," says Dan Wiener, editor of the Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors newsletter. Vanguard is following the money in a market that continues to grow. According to Morningstar, ESG funds and ETFs pulled in $5.5 billion in 2018, the third straight year of record net inflows (total money coming in, less money going out). Meanwhile, net flows into the U.S. fund universe overall hit a nine-year low. Story continues EDITOR'S PICKS Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors Two years ago, I said Americans should envy Brexit. History rarely affords legitimate and stable democratic governments the opportunity to hack away at decades of accumulated cruft in the law. But Brexit seemed to provide the opportunity of a lifetime for policy entrepreneurs. Nearly one-sixth of the laws on the United Kingdoms statute book come from Brussels. And so, theoretically at least, Brexit provided an opportunity to examine the regulatory books and decide which of these 12,000-plus regulations proved useful and would be copied back into the law by Parliament, and which could be altered and adjusted. An energetic administration could find scores or hundreds of protective regulations that may have been inserted at the behest of obscure or long-defunct interests in Continental countries, and create opportunities in the United Kingdoms economy. It was a chance to do a proper housecleaning without the bloody mess and costs of revolution. And its been wasted. Entirely. Utterly. It has been stymied because the two-year Article 50 process for Brexit, like all delayed implementations, allows political losers to find extraordinary means of resisting the outcome. It has been stymied because the Brexit cause itself was a divided house. Brexiteers who wanted full parliamentary sovereignty and trade across the Commonwealth or Anglosphere disagreed with Brexiteers who wanted something more like Norways arrangements, which include access to European markets, absent the full obligations imposed by the political European project. It has been stymied because Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election, hoping to crush a Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn and win a mandate over her fractious coalition, and she instead lost the Tory majority in Parliament. European negotiators successfully drove a wedge between her and the Northern Irish Unionists she needed to pass a withdrawal agreement. But most important, the Brexit opportunity is being wasted because the class of politicians, civil servants, and diplomatic personnel who would need to prize this opportunity, to let it fill them with renewed purpose and vigor for serving the public in a time of extraordinary change, simply arent interested in the project at all and not-so-secretly hope it goes away. Brexit had won the referendum, but there was no Brexit party to implement it. A democratic people, in the face of a unified establishment, had thrust an agenda on a parliament that is theoretically sovereign. Parliament has spit the bit. Story continues Theresa May herself campaigned for Remain. For reasons of party unity she tried to balance between Remainers and Leavers in her cabinet. The United Kingdoms trade representatives in non-EU countries will often be asked to talk about Brexit. Instead of thrilling to the opportunity they have to make their own jobs important, and make their mark on the life of their country, they roll their eyes as they explain their governments position. They talk about their own government the way a son or daughter talks about the senile ravings of an elderly relative who just embarrassed them. Brexit was an insurgent political cause, but there is no sense of insurgency in the Tory party or the government, no energy or drive to do the great thing with which it has been tasked. Even some of Brexits champions in the party seem as if they prefer to be for Brexit rather than responsible for Brexit. VIEW GALLERY: Brexit Demonstrations And it is that last thought which I take to be a testament to the European Unions worst feature. It doesnt just impose its will on national parliaments, in a fundamental way it infantilizes them. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. But Brexit has come, with all its risks and opportunities. And there is no man coming. Just a gaggle of schoolyard cliques, hissing and rolling their eyes, sending each other nastygrams on WhatsApp. Seriously, that seems to be the chief preoccupation of the United Kingdoms government: typing Tory gossip into a social-media app made for teens. The opportunities inherent in Brexit are being squandered. Faith in the United Kingdoms form of government may be next. More from National Review WASHINGTON (AP) A government watchdog said Friday it will review costly outside contracts to handle public relations for Medicare chief Seema Verma, whose agency oversees health insurance programs covering more than 100 million Americans. Responding to a request by congressional Democrats, the Health and Human Services inspector general's office said it will examine Verma's public relations contracts at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS. Democrats called Verma's contracts "a highly questionable use of taxpayer dollars" at the same time her agency had slashed the ad budget for the Affordable Care Act, hindering enrollment. "Instead of spending resources to improve health care for everyone in the country, Administrator Verma appears to have steered money to political allies in an effort to boost her reputation," said Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patty Murray, D.-Wash., in a letter requesting the probe. The lawmakers questioned why Verma would be using outside contractors to write her speeches and handle some media calls when her agency already has an extensive communications staff. The inspector general's office wrote back it had already begun its review. Inspector General Daniel Levinson said his agency will examine whether Verma complied with federal regulations and ethics requirements. A CMS spokesman said in statement that its parent agency Health and Human Services had asked the inspector general for an audit. CMS said it stopped work on the public relations contracts earlier this week. The spokesman said CMS would work with the inspector general's office. The outside contracts involve two Republican consultants and a longtime spokesman for Verma. They were first reported by Politico. The news site said the arrangements were subcontracts under a larger government contract with a major public relations firm. Story continues Verma, a former health care consultant who is a protege of Vice President Mike Pence, came to the Trump administration after designing Indiana's Medicaid expansion when Pence was governor of that state. As head of Medicare and Medicaid, she has pushed for work requirements for low-income "able-bodied" adults on Medicaid. That initiative was recently blocked by a federal judge, who questioned whether it complies with a core Medicaid mission defined by Congress, which is to provide medical assistance to the poor. Verma has also championed the use of technology to get Medicare beneficiaries more involved in their care. And she has overseen changes to private insurance plans under Medicare Advantage, providing insurers with more flexibility, but also allowing for new benefits for seniors, such as limited in-home help. Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Cordlife Group Limited's (SGX:P8A) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Cordlife Group has a P/E ratio of 28.8, based on the last twelve months. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying SGD28.8 for every SGD1 in prior year profit. Check out our latest analysis for Cordlife Group How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Cordlife Group: P/E of 28.8 = SGD0.42 SGD0.015 (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2018.) Is A High P/E Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each SGD1 of company earnings. That isn't necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios When earnings fall, the 'E' decreases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a low multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become higher in the future. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings. Cordlife Group increased earnings per share by a whopping 125% last year. Unfortunately, earnings per share are down 40% a year, over 5 years. How Does Cordlife Group's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (26.7) for companies in the healthcare industry is lower than Cordlife Group's P/E. SGX:P8A Price Estimation Relative to Market, April 4th 2019 That means that the market expects Cordlife Group will outperform other companies in its industry. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn't guaranteed. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares. Story continues Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof). How Does Cordlife Group's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? The extra options and safety that comes with Cordlife Group's S$43m net cash position means that it deserves a higher P/E than it would if it had a lot of net debt. The Verdict On Cordlife Group's P/E Ratio Cordlife Group has a P/E of 28.8. That's higher than the average in the SG market, which is 12.8. Its strong balance sheet gives the company plenty of resources for extra growth, and it has already proven it can grow. Therefore it seems reasonable that the market would have relatively high expectations of the company Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. Although we don't have analyst forecasts, shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Cordlife Group. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Illinois Tool Works (ITW), which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, could be a great candidate to consider. When looking at the last two reports, this equipment manufacturer for the transportation, power, food and construction industries has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 0.54%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the most recent quarter, Illinois Tool Works was expected to post earnings of $1.82 per share, but it reported $1.83 per share instead, representing a surprise of 0.55%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.89 per share, while it actually produced $1.90 per share, a surprise of 0.53%. Price and EPS Surprise With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Illinois Tool Works. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Story continues Illinois Tool Works currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.56%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on April 25, 2019. With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want to participate in a research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and earn a $60 gift card! China Suntien Green Energy Corporation Limited (HKG:956) is a company with exceptional fundamental characteristics. Upon building up an investment case for a stock, we should look at various aspects. In the case of 956, it is a well-regarded dividend-paying company with a an impressive track record of performance, trading at a great value. Below, I've touched on some key aspects you should know on a high level. For those interested in digger a bit deeper into my commentary, take a look at the report on China Suntien Green Energy here. Very undervalued with proven track record and pays a dividend Over the past year, 956 has grown its earnings by 35%, with its most recent figure exceeding its annual average over the past five years. Not only did 956 outperformed its past performance, its growth also exceeded the Oil and Gas industry expansion, which generated a 11% earnings growth. This is what investors like to see! 956 is currently trading below its true value, which means the market is undervaluing the company's expected cash flow going forward. This mispricing gives investors the opportunity to buy into the stock at a cheap price compared to the value they will be receiving, should analysts' consensus forecast growth be correct. Compared to the rest of the oil and gas industry, 956 is also trading below its peers, relative to earnings generated. This supports the theory that 956 is potentially underpriced. SEHK:956 Income Statement, April 4th 2019 956 is considered one of the top dividend payers in the market, and it has also been able to maintain it at a level in which net income is able to cover dividend payments. SEHK:956 Historical Dividend Yield, April 4th 2019 Next Steps: For China Suntien Green Energy, I've compiled three key factors you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 956s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 956s outlook. Financial Health: Are 956s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other Attractive Alternatives : Are there other well-rounded stocks you could be holding instead of 956? Explore our interactive list of stocks with large potential to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. Home | Showtime | Celebrities | Lady Donli Cash Kudi, Ego, OwoCash. #AddictedtoCash Lady Donli and The Cavemen bring to us the money-making anthem you never knew you needed Cash. Fueled by the hustle of life, rhythmic flows of highlife and the addiction to chasing the key to the beauties of the world, this song speaks our truth; were all addicted to cash, making it, spending it, losing it. As the first single off Lady Donlis anticipated debut studio album Enjoy Your Life set to drop in the summer Cash is just a teaser. This song sets your mood to the frequency of the album theme which is the appreciation of life and all it has to offer, and honestly, with all thats happening in the world right now, Enjoy Your Life is the message we all need to find that peace of mind. Her music breaks international barriers with over five headline shows around the world (The Living Room Tour Lagos, Lady Donli Live in Toronto, Lady Donli Live in Ottawa, Lady Donli Live in LA, Lady Donli Live in New York, Lady Donli and the Cavemen Lagos, The Wallflower Experience, Abuja), Radio Tours and over 40 online features and publications. Currently, she is enlisted as one of the Empawa Africa artists, receiving mentorship from the extraordinary Mr Eazi and his team of reputable music professionals. Donli promised to deliver something different to the world, and shes doing just that. Enjoy below. GET IT HERE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Celebrities Home | News | General | Defeat for PDP lawmaker-elect as court sacks her, orders INEC to present return certificate to contender - A PDP lawmaker-elect for the Gombe House of Assembly, Mrs Rabi Daniel, has been sacked by the Court of Appeal in Jos - The court asked INEC to present a return certificate instead, to Rambi Iyalah, who was said to have defeated Daniel at the PDP primary - Iyalah had previously approached a Federal High Court to declare him winner of the primary but his suit was dismissed - The judgment was however overturned by the appellate court which awarded judgment in favour of Iyalah and asked the police to investigate the officials who conducted the PDP primary The Court of Appeal sitting in Jos, Plateau, has sacked Mrs Rabi Daniel, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly member-elect for Billiri East constituency of Gombe state. The court further asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to present certificate of return to Rambi Iyalah as the duly elected member, NAN reports. READ ALSO: Amnesty International accuses SARS operatives of invading Lagos town, injuring many Legit.ng gathers that Daniel was said to have lost to Iyalah during the PDP primary which held on October 4, 2018. Iyalah was also reported to have defeated Daniel with 25 against 24 votes at the primary. Jacob Lawal, a legal practitioner and returning officer of the primary election, alongside Magaji Lafiaji, the chairman of the electoral committee for the state, later declared Daniel winner and the party asked her to fly its flag. Displeased by the outcome, Iyalah wrote a petition to the partys appeal committee, but said that his appeal fell on deaf ears. The alleged inability of the appeal committee to give fair hearing prompted Iyalah to approach a Federal High Court in Gombe in search of justice on January 9. Iyalah prayed the court to declare him winner of the primary election, owing to the fact that he won by one vote, but that the process was manipulated and he was allegedly rigged out. The court, without any counter affidavit from Daniel, the first respondent, dismissed the case for lack of merit, and upheld her election as the candidate of the PDP; compelling Iyalah to approach the appellate court. But delivering his judgment on Thursday, April 4 in Jos, Justice M.N. Oniyangi, dismissed the judgment earlier passed at the Federal High Court, saying the trial judge did not do justice to the matter. According to Oniyangi, available evidence presented before him by the appellant, indicates that he is the actual winner of the election but his mandate was stolen. Based on the foregoing, I wish to set aside the judgment of the trial judge and declare that Rambi Iyalah, the appellant, is the winner of the PDP primary held on October 4, 2018. The sum of N100 is awarded in favour of the appellant, he said Oniyangi also asked the commissioner of police in Gombe to arrest and investigate the duo of Lawal and Lafiaji for forcefully subverting the will of the people. Speaking to journalists after the judgment, Arome Okwoli, lead counsel to the appellant, said the judgment had further indicated that the will of the people would always stand and that the judiciary remained the last hope of the common man. According to Okwoli, the judgment is a lesson to political parties to desist from subverting the will of the people, adding that the era of impunity and recklessness was over and wish of the majority of people must be respected. By this judgment, the will of the people has been determined, affirmed; and internal democracy should respect the will of the people at all time. We are happy that at the end, justice has been served, he said. On his part, Iyalah, who dedicated the judgment to his teaming supporters, also described it as victory for democracy. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app In a similar development, Legit.ng previously reported that the Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday, April 4 sacked Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, the senator-elect for Delta North senatorial district. Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Ned Nwoko challenging the election of Nwaoboshi as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the October 2, 2018 primaries of the party which held in Delta, NAN reports. READ ALSO: NJC reaches conclusion on petitions against Onnoghen, . The court held that Nwaoboshi, a serving senator, was not the duly elected candidate of the PDP in the primary election. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! No lawmaker is in the House of Assembly for the people - on Legit TV: [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | 2019 election: Drama, confessions as Lagos lawmakers meet first time general polls, speak on Tinubu, Obasa - Returning Lagos lawmakers speak on the challenges they faced during the recent general elections in the state - The lawmakers commend Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa for helping to ensure victory for the APC in the state - Obasa wants the lawmakers to ensure Lagos favourably competes with many developed countries of the world Almost all the returning lawmakers at the Lagos state House of Assembly took turns on Thursday, April 4, to eulogise Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa for being the major forces behind their individual victories. Tinubu, a former governor of the state, is the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which won the governorship election as well as the 40 seats of the state Assembly. Many of the lawmakers who spoke on the floor of the House, urged Obasa not to relent, especially in the fight for the welfare of the lawmakers and the people of the state as a new session is set to begin. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda They affirmed that his leadership style in the last four years contributed to the victory of the party in the state and the return of the lawmakers. However, a mild drama ensued when Dipo Olorunrinu, the lone member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), confessed that he had been part of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Olorunrinu, who was defeated by a candidate of APC, Ali-Macaulay Mojisola, said even though he is a member of the PDP, his heart had often been with the ruling party. Legit.ng reports that Olorunrinu was elected with seven other colleagues on the platform of the PDP in 2015. However, while the others defected to the APC, he remained the only opposition member in the House. Some of the lawmakers who recounted the experience and challenges they faced during the elections, noted that it had never happened in their constituencies for legislators to return after one or two terms, but that the speaker made it happen. Moshood Oshun, a senior lawmaker in the House, recalled how Tinubu and the party moved for the direct primaries adding that this saved the party in Lagos. He thanked the speaker for his vision and how he led the battle on behalf of the lawmakers. The deputy majority leader of the House, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, and his colleague, Bisi Yusuff, while commending Obasa and the party leaders in the state, also thanked former governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, for his support. Gbolahan Yishawu said it was worth noting that this was the first time any lawmaker would be elected three consecutive times in his constituency. He thanked the people of his area for the confidence they have reposed in him. Olusola Sokunle, one of the seven lawmakers who defected from the PDP, recalled how the speaker's warm reception forced them to leave their former party for the APC. He said leaving the PDP was the best political choice he ever made as the result is his return to the House for a second term. Rotimi Olowo, another senior lawmaker, said Tinubu and the speaker were behind his return to the House. The lawmaker said he once had to remind the speaker that the latter was in the race as, according to him, Obasa left his own campaign on many occasions and fought for other members. Ibrahim Layode, a member from Badagry, told his colleagues and journalists including Legit.ng at the sitting how the crisis that happened during the primaries in his constituency almost resulted in a loss for him and how the speaker and some of his colleagues stood by him to ensure his emergence. Speaker Obasa, in his response, said thanking the residents for coming out to vote for them was not enough. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He urged them to show more appreciation by serving the residents and the state to the best of their abilities so as to make Lagos compete with some other countries. The speaker noted how wealthy the states of California and Atlanta in the US are. He added that Lagos can lead in terms of development in such a way that it would not rely on federal allocations in the future. He thanked outgoing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for playing his part just as he promised that the House would work closely with the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to make Lagos a better place. Legit.ng earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos state will present certificates of return to the 40 members-elect of the state House of Assembly on Friday, April 5. The INEC public relations officer, Femi Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Election not a do or die affair - Sanwoolu | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | If 5 foreigners were caught in robber scandal in Nigeria by Comrade Peter Esele (opinion) Editor's note: Comrade Peter Esele, a former president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, takes a look at the recent armed robbery incident in Dubai allegedly carried out by five Nigerians and how its effects on the rest of the people. Esele, in this piece, asks many questions as he analyses the response of Abike Dabiri, a presidential aide, to the incident. The recent report of five Nigerians arrested for armed robbery in Dubai and the response by the senior special assistant on foreign affairs and diaspora to the president has brought upon me the above caption. Indeed robbery and drug trafficking are despicable acts that deserve unequivocal condemnation. Time and time again we often wonder why people would persevere with perpetrating crimes abroad knowing the ultimate price of jail terms and even death in some cases. However, making haste to offer banal official statements ridden with diplomatic cliches and moral sentiments do not offer much by way of solutions. We know this does not help because the problem persists. Condemnation tempered with critical thinking that raises key questions for a productive national conversation might be the way to go. Between the presidential statement and the ethnic debate that polarised Nigerians on social media, where are the deeper questions we should be asking? How many countries disparage their citizens the way we do here? Let us flip the coin for a second. If five foreign nationals were caught in a robbery scandal in Nigeria, it is the laxity of our security agencies and judiciary that will frame the debate. The errant foreign citizens will be condemned by their governments in a roundabout, convoluted language that still preserves the dignity of what it means to be an American or British citizen. The denials and all out condemnations are, of course, reserved for dual-nationals quickly rejected. Mrs. Abike Dabiri- Erewa the presidents aide, should have known that her primary responsibility is to defend and support Nigeria and Nigerians in foreign countries come what may. Rebuke with diplomacy. That is the art of her office. Therefore, initiate a consular visit to these Nigerians to ensure their rights are protected. Investigate the broader context. Did the Dubai five enter the UAE with weapons from Nigeria? If no, how were the arms procured? How easy is it to buy weapons there? Were these Nigerians contracted by locals to carry out this raid? Could it be another attempt to humiliate Nigerians? On the other hand, could there be an emerging ring of Nigerian gangs resident in the UAE making it easy for those coming to travel light? This could open up deeper issues that might lead us to understanding what is actually going on beyond all Nigerians should be good ambassadors abroad. Where do such cliches leave us? Does it tell us how fair and equitable the UAE justice system is? How many Nigerians have been murdered in the past in the UAE? Was justice served? We must never forget this Nigerians are innocent until the court of law says no. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa herself has in the past admitted to the shoddy treatment and possible innocence of some Nigerians caught up in alleged heinous crimes abroad. It is the responsibility of our government to stand by any Nigerian anywhere as it is done in other climes. Recently a British national was accused of spying abroad. His government fought tooth and nail to get him home while also carrying out their own investigations and vigorous diplomatic engagements on his behalf. The point is, ride or die, when one too many nationals start falling through the loop, the value of what it means to be a British citizen will be diminished abroad both for the innocent and guilty. After all, if their government does not value them, why should any other? I am not justifying crimes. I am simply making the point that the Nigerian government should stand for its people abroad and conduct a critical analysis of the situation. They should act in accordance with laid down processes and rule of law. When you name, shame and humiliate the so-called guilty, you make it harder for others, even the innocent to be respected and treated with dignity abroad. The sad part is that as with everything Nigeria, the 'D5 saga' has been buried under ethnic debates in the media, particularly social media platforms. There is a bigger picture here we should be looking at and that is how it affects us all. What can be done to mitigate such incidents and equally ensure no Nigerian is maltreated anywhere in world? How do we also stop those with criminal intents from this perennial crises of national image defamation regardless of their tribe and creed? I am neither Igbo nor Yoruba. I am Nigerian and I care what happens to us all and this is why I have decided to cry rather than laugh at the fallout from this saga. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Twitter. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Unemployed graduates are too many in my ghetto | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Buhari'll not anoint anyone for National Assembly leadership - Rep. Bago warns party members - A federal lawmaker has warned that President Muhamumadu Buhari will not influence leadership positions at the 9th Assembly - Honourable Umar Bago said the APC is not guided by individual thought but on the party's constitution and principles - Bago also said that the North Central has been marginalised over leadership in the House of Representatives since 1999 A member of the House of Representatives, Umar Bago, has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not guided by individual thought but on the party's constitution and principles. Bago while speaking with journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday, April 3, on the issue of leadership at the 9th Assembly speaking said the constitution of the APC and that of Nigeria is clear on the issue of equity across boards. The lawmaker who is representing Chanchaga federal constituency, Niger state and contesting for the position of the speaker of the House of Representative at the 9th Assembly said the people of the state are clamouring for equity in leadership zoning formular. Stating that the North Central has been marginalised over leadership in the House of Representatives since 1999, Bago said irrespective of preference, leadership cannot be forced on the people. READ ALSO: Breaking: Court cancels APC's primary election in Delta Reacting to issues of zoning leadership position in the National Assembly by the APC, Bagos said: "First, who zoned what to what? That is number one. Then secondly, the party is not guided by individual's thought but by a constitution and then constitution of the party and that of the nation is clear on the issue of equity." The lawmaker said that despite being a core Buharist, would prefer the will of the people to prevail in an equitable environment. "So you don't call people who are clamouring on equity what is their own and let me remind you, I've been a TBO - The Buhari Organisation from inception, I came to the parliament under the platform of Change for Progressive Congress (CPC), so I am a core Buharist, and anything that will protect Buhari and Nigeria, I'm in there irrespective of party decision because I don't even see why the desperation," Bago said. "And let me tell you something, in leadership, there are two things you need to understand even if you have preference, you can tactically tackle that through zone to a zone and lobbying. You cannot force on people, so we are saying all these stories we are talking about at the end of the day it will end in an open secret balloting in the chamber, 360 of us will elect our leadership. So, we are not afraid to talk, and we cannot be tormented or cowed by any person, our position is very clear, we stand for equity, north central deserves as in any other place to be recognised in the sharing formula of this country," he said. He further noted that contrary to reports that the president has interest in influencing the outcome of leaders of both the upper and lower chamber, President Muhammadu Buhari wil never interfere with lawamkers' decision as to who takes what position. "I've been with Buhari from the TBO, Buhari that I know will not anoint anyone, he won't do that. Name dropping for the president will continue as it is with politics. "That thing he said and people took it for joke, I am for nobody and I am for everybody, is still the same way it is. He believes in equity. "What has taken president Buhari to where he is today is because he is an honest person. Take everything from him, but his integrity is unshaken," Bago added. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Niger state governor Sani Bello has assured that he would do everything within his power to ensure the position of speakership of House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly comes to the state. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Governor Bello represented by his deputy Ahmed Ketso, said it was not proper for the party to have neglected the North Central zone and Niger state in particular, who have contributed greatly to the success of the party in Nigeria. While addressing members-elect at Transcorp Hilton, at a meet and greet in Abuja threw his weight behind the lawmaker representing Chanchaga federal constituency of Niger state for the position. The governor said the Niger state government and people would work together to ensure Bago emerges as Speaker of the House. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Osun election: Withdraw all court cases against Adeleke or be ready for sanction - PDP goes tough, warns members Following the recent ruling of a court against the candidacy of Ademola Adeleke as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state, the party has vowed to sanction members with cases against him. The PDP warned the members to urgently withdraw all the cases they instituted against Adeleke in court or be ready for sanctions. Leadership reports that a statement by Prince Diran Odeyemi, the deputy national publicity secretary of PDP, on Thursday, said the party was not happy with the myriads of cases instituted against it by members. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda According to Odeyemi, any member of the PDP who has genuine interest in the party must not allow himself to be used by those who do not mean well for its progress. In his reaction, however, Akin Ogunbiyi, who was the runner during the Osun PDP gubernatorial primary, denied any link with the travail of Senator Adeleke. Speaking through Kunle Omolere, the director of strategy, Idera de Movement, Ogunbiyi said: It is on record that the only case instituted by Dr Ogunbiyi was that of Osun West senatorial ticket which was brazenly taken away from him after all reconciliations to the contrary. The case had long been decided and the rest is left to posterity. Pledging his loyalty to the PDP, Ogunbiyi but noted that there is nothing wrong with somebody approaching the court to seek justice when cheated. The pursuit of the mandate of the PDP at the tribunal and other courts is the priority of all party members, and to the benefits of Osun people who are counting on the PDP. Let it be clear that Dr Ogunbiyi is not doing and will not do anything to frustrate or undermine this shared vision. It should also be clearly understood as well that if anybody is alleged to have acted in contrary to the law, he/she is obliged to rationally defend him/herself in the court and not put blames on an innocent man, the statement said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that a high court sitting in Abuja recently nullified the nomination of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 2018, governorship election in Osun state. They prayed the court for an order to disqualify Adeleke from participating in the governorship election in the state on the grounds that he does not possess the requisite educational qualification. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Election not a do or die affair - Sanwoolu | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Breaking: Court nullifies APC flag-bearer Ogborus candidacy A Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Asaba on Thursday, April 4, nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s governorship primary election conducted in Delta state. The plaintiff Hon Victor Ochei, through his lawyer Ahmed Rahi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked the court to declare that the APC's gubernatorial primary election that held on Sunday, September 30, 2018, was illegal and unlawful on the ground that delegates unknown to the law were used for the exercise in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2018, Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court gave the ruling. Recall that the Emerhor faction of the Cyril Ogodo-led state executive had dragged the Ogboru/Omo-Agege faction of the Jones Erue-led Delta APC executive, Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the conduct of the wards, local government areas and state congresses. Among other prayers sought by the plaintiffs was a declaration that candidates that emerged from the primaries conducted by the Ogodo-led executive constitute the authentic list of candidates for the 2019 general election. Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the governorship candidate of the APC in Delta state, Great Ovedje Ogboru assured the people of the state that he will reclaim the party's stolen governorship mandate. Ogboru gave the assurance in his Abraka country home, Ethiope East local government area of the state, on Wednesday, April 3. It was also gathered that the APC candidate said the party had filed its petition to challenge alleged illegalities committed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the governorship election. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Legit.ng also previously gathered that the APC in Delta state called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the Delta state governorship election. The Delta state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who made the call Monday, March 11, accused the PDP of ballot snatching, over voting, vote buying and impunity during the election. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better Protect your vote to make it count - PDP Guber Candidate | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | After 20 years, Nigeria now ranks among leading democracies in Africa - Buhari - President Buhari has said that Nigeria now ranks among leading democracies in Africa - The president made this known on Thursday, April 4, at the 50th convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos - Buhari also noted that his administration would continue to encourage Nigerian universities to build closer and better relationships with the industrial sector President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria now ranked among the leading democracies in Africa and in the Commonwealth twenty years after it began to experience uninterrupted democratic culture. Legit.ng reports that President Buhari was the visitor at the final day of the 50th convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos, made this known on Thursday, April 4. The president was represented by the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Rasheed Yakubu. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda With the 2019 general elections that had come and gone, we as a nation have once again reiterated our choice of democracy as the system of government by which we hope to imbibe an all-round development. Our administration is committed to ensuring that the sacredness of that choice is preserved. With this policy enunciated and every programme instituted, we shall ensure that our democratic culture takes firmer roots and legacies further consolidated. Let me reiterate that my administration will not waver in its commitment to following due process, preserving the sanctity of the rule of law, battling grand corruption, securing the lives and property of our people and rehabilitating or upgrading our critical infrastructure. We will continue to be unrelenting in enthroning hard work, honesty and place the welfare of our citizens above everything else. We must all join hands to take Nigeria to the next level of progress, Buhari said. According to him, his administration would continue to encourage Nigerian universities to build closer and better relationships with the industrial sector. He said this would help to bridge the gap between theories and practicality with a view to addressing some of the most required needs of the nation. He added that his administration believed in the imperative of sound educational system for national development. We recognise the place of our intellectuals to undertake cutting edge researches that will address the challenges of development and contribute to making lives better. We acknowledge that our advancement as a nation will be driven by a robust human resource base. It should, therefore, be our collective determination to do our best to guarantee a peaceful and stable future for Nigerians through education. We shall continue to interface with the unions of universities in our bid to ensuring that we have a stable higher education sector that contributes to the nations global competiveness, he said. While congratulating the graduating students, President Buhari charged them to make their impacts felt in matters of national development. As you make your ways into the world beyond this ivory tower, let me assure you of our administrations commitment to ensuring that the skills and knowledge you have acquired are put to use and be productively engaged'', he said. Earlier, the chancellor of the university and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-kanemi, said that the tertiary education sector in general and the university system in particular would enjoy renewed attention with the release of the graduands. Having said this, I must say that it is necessary for us to put in place, more support for policies, programmes and finances to keep the ivory towers at par with their counterparts globally. Many globally renowned feats by our faculties and students make a case for my appeal'', he said. Giving a break down, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said that 5,405 postgraduate degrees consisting of 150 Ph.D holders, 4,771 Masters and 484 postgraduate diplomas would be awarded in various disciplines. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four eminent personalities were conferred with Emeritus Professorship and honorary degrees in recognition of their roles in developing the country. The honorary doctorate awardees included: Jim Ovia, businessman and founder, Zenith Bank Plc, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, and Dr Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries worldwide. READ ALSO: APC hires 4 SANs, others to challenge Bala Mohammed's victory in Bauchi Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the federal government would commence the sale of all the assets recovered in the course of the battle against corruption by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. INEC announces Buhari as 2019 election winner, Nigerians react | - on Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Before venturing into politics, engage in farming - Audu Ogbeh tells Nigerian youth - Minister Audu Ogbe advises Nigerians to engage in agriculture before seeking for political offices - Ogbeh urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities open to them to engage in farming - The minister asks youth eyeing politics to first show that they can feed the country through their engagement in agriculture Audu Ogbeh, Nigerias minister of agriculture and rural development, on Thursday, April 4, urged youth in the country to engage in farming before they make moves to seek for political positions. Minister Ogbeh reportedly said this in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between two companies, the Nigeria Agricultural Mechanisation and Equipment Leasing Company (NAMEL) and the MANTRAC Nigeria Limited. Premium Times reports that the two companies agreed to open up 500,000 hectares of unused land to boost food production in Nigeria. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Ogbeh, who reportedly spoke through Victor Mayomi, a director in the agriculture ministry, advised the youth in the country to take advantage of the partnership to secure land. I implore our youth to take advantage of this project. Youth should come into agriculture to take advantage of the project, bearing in mind the responsibility of feeding the nation will increasingly depend on them from now into the nearest future. The youth should not only be interested in taking over from politicians, let them go to the field and take it over first. And when they can feed us, we will be encouraged to entrust our destiny to them, he said. The minister noted that some of the burdens in the sector would no longer be government responsibility with arrangements like the one between the two companies. Legit.ng earlier reported that Audu Ogbeh recently accused importers of being the countrys biggest enemies as he says they are the greatest wreckers of the economy and effort at locally produced goods. Ogbeh said this in Abuja when he appeared before the National Assembly joint committee on agriculture to defend the ministrys budget. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The minister argued that international merchants including importers of products like toothpick, sugar, vegetables, and pencils had frustrated the governments efforts at ensuring the citizens bought made in Nigeria goods. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Unemployed graduates are too many in my ghetto | Legit TV [embedded content] CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | World | Africa | Joshua Nkomo's white soldier to address Lookout Masuku lecture Former ZIPRA intelligence officer and decorated liberation war hero Jeremy Brickhill is billed to give a guest speech at the Annual Lookout Masuku Lecturer Series organized by Ibhetshu lika Zulu and Habakkuk Trust. A message inviting delegates to the event said: Ibhetshu Likazulu in partnership with Habakkuk Trust invites Members of the public to the Annual Lookout Masuku memorial lecture on 5 April 2019 at the Small City Hall starting at 14:00hrs Theme: Peace and justice as the Foundation of Human Progress Guest speaker : Jeremy Brickhill Jeremy Brickhill served in Zimbabwe's liberation war as an officer in the military wing of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and has a broad range of experience in conflict and post-conflict processes in Africa. He led the Zimbabwe Advisory Team which supported Somaliland's successful heavy weapon disarmament exercise in 1992-4, supported IGAD's Special Envoy during the negotiation of the Sudanese Comprehesive Peace Agreement and was posted as an advisor to the African Union Mediation Team during the Abuja Peace Talks on Darfur. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa I have read some foolish things in my life but what Hopewell Chinono said in his recent article takes the biscuit! "Elections have done completely nothing democratic for Zimbabwe, except removing the national cohesion and destroying the country both economically and morally through toxic politics," he stated. "These elections have cost the country close to a billion American dollars in the past 20 years, and yet they have not brought any peace or development to Zimbabwe. "This country is now in a perpetual election mode and nothing meaningful gets done as all the major parties immediately switch to election language the day after the Presidential inauguration." After the usual rumbling on and on about nothing of note Chinono finally addressed the meat of the problem. "The central question to the Zimbabwean crisis is, why are politicians not willing to move and reform the political framework, something that President Emmerson Mnangagwa used as his clarion call during the election campaign season? "I have spoken to many senior ZANU-PF leaders both in government and at their party headquarters, and the common thread is that they are afraid that political reforms will expose them to an election defeat." In his own confused way Chinono has admitted that Zimbabwe is stuck in perpetual election mode because national elections are rigged. Zanu PF would not contemplate losing power and hence the reason the party has stubbornly refused to implement the democratic reforms and give up its carte blanche dictatorial powers. So to go back to Chinono's opening remark, "Elections have done completely nothing democratic for Zimbabwe"; it is Zanu PF leaders who have deliberately undermined the little democratic values contained in the Lancaster House Constitution to impose this de facto one-party dictatorship. "After the removal of Robert Mugabe, we thought that we would be standing on a positive political cusp, but we have regressed back into deeper toxic politics that has done nothing except breed corruption, incompetence and nepotism within the state and beyond," acknowledged Chinono. "President John Kufor asked me rhetorically in 2008, "why are your leaders not empathetic to their people's suffering?" "It is a question that our political elites on both sides of the political aisle should start asking themselves too." Chinono did not have the wit to answer the question and so passed the responsibility to the politicians. He is constantly hobnobbing with the political elite and yet, a decade on, is yet to ask even one politician this rhetorical but pertinent question. The reason why Zimbabwe's politicians are indifferent to the suffering and even deaths of the ordinary people is obvious; the leaders are not democratically accountable to the people. In a healthy and functional democracy those in public office service the public, the people. The politicians serve the people and are accountable to the people. If the people are not pleased with their politicians they are free to remove from office. This is not the case in one-party dictatorship like Zimbabwe where the politicians have eroded the people's freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life itself. In Zimbabwe the politicians are not the servants of the people but are the usurper holding the nation hostage, the blood sucking ticks the dog cannot get rid of. Since when has a tick ever shown any empathy for dog? The tick is concerned with the inconvenience of poor meal or worse still of having to find another host show the dog die! Zimbabwe's politicians are concerned about the worsening economic meltdown but only because they are being forced to scaled down on the number of palatial mansions, posh cars, trips in hired luxury jets, etc. Of course, it is the incompetence, corruption and insatiable greed of our politicians that is the root cause of the country's economic meltdown. And it is povo who have paid dearly for the misrule through loss of income, economic hardships and now with their very lives. To the filthy rich ruling elite, the country's growing army of desperately poor people is an inconvenience. Indeed, the ruling elite deeply resent that the poor have not dug themselves a hole where they can suffer and die out of sight! "If President Mnangagwa had implemented these political reforms last year, he would have seen a positive response from the international community that he is yearning to court, but now that he didn't implement the reforms, we have to work with what is before us," argued Chinono. "We have to work with what is before us!" The system is not working, for Pete sake! How can we continue to work with the system that has completely destroyed the nation's economy forcing of our people to live in abject poverty! "This article is my proposal for the way forward because both ZANUPF and the MDC have failed to govern this country, ZANUPF is in power but it undoubtedly lacks political legitimacy across the world," continued Chinono. "President Emmerson Mnangagwa must realize that his current dialogue with the 18 losing Presidential candidates is seen as a comical act that will hold NO political currency at all both home and abroad. "The real discussion with the MDCA should give birth to an agreement that will do away with elections for ten years and form a United Government of Zimbabwe." "This will allow for the required and pertinent reforms to take place because ZANUPF will not worry about losing elections and the MDCA will be on the table governing together with ZANUPF and implementing these reforms." This is no solution at all! Ordinary Zimbabweans may be bullied into accepting another Zanu PF/MDC GNU the international community will never accept it. It will be nothing but a rerun of the 2008 GNU that failed to implement even one meaningful reform in five years. Of course, no meaningful reforms will ever be implemented even after the new ten-year GNU because Zanu PF will still want to rule at the end of. Another ten years of this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship sends a shiver down my spine! Chinono has been forced to admit some home truths he and many other Zanu PF apologists and hardliners have stubbornly refused to swallow until now. And still he could not help but propose a solution designed to appease Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF junta. He only admitted to Zanu PF rigging last year's elections and thus being illegitimate after agonising over the issue. He did not have the guts to demand that Zanu PF must step down and is offering instead another GNU, just to keep the regime in power. The solution to Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis is for the country to dismantle the discredited Zanu PF dictatorship and replace it with a democratic system of government. The nation must appoint an interim administration tasked to implement the democratic reforms culminating in the holding of the nation's first free, fair and credible elections. Home | World | Africa | Government condemns police firing teargas at journalists The Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services says the government is investigating a case of police details that fired teargas at an office belonging to 263 Chat media house. On Thursday police reportedly fired teargas at the 263 Chat offices after the journalists filmed them chasing vendors in Harare. "Government has been made aware of an incident in Harare CBD which involves allegations of mistreatment of members of the Media made against the police. These allegations are now under investigation. Our constitution guarantees freedom of the Media and Govt respects the Constitution." The Ministry said in a statement. However, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has condemned the abuse of state funds which are used by police officers who spend time chasing vendors. "Why do we have to pay for so many municipal and police details who spend the day chasing vendors? The money for fuel, teargas canisters, etc is it not better used to provide services in hospitals, schools etc. Vendors are working for survival coz there are no jobs." Commenting on the matter Human Rights Lawyer Fadzayi Mahere said, "The journalists have a constitutional right under s61(1)(a) to freedom of the media which includes the right to seek and communicate information and the public has a constitutional right to receive that information. The police must be brought to book." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Home | World | Africa | Prophet's snakes sleep with his wife for survival A self-confessed prophet from Kuwadzana has been arrested after being found in possession of two live snakes in his bedroom. The snakes, black and green mambas were found stashed in pillow cases under a bed. Comrade Chinyanga's wife Jane Kutama, 28, discovered the two reptiles before making a police report. The 39-year-old Chinyanga was brought before Mbare Magistrate Kudzai Zihove-Mutero facing charges of engaging in practices commonly associated with witchcraft and assaulting or resisting a peace officer. Upon his arrest Chinyanga assaulted an arresting officer before he let the snakes escape, destroying the evidence. He told the court that had the snakes reached the police station, he would have died, thus letting them return to Malawi where he bought them was his only option. He awaits his sentence. The State, led by Lawrence Gangarahwe, had it that sometime in December last year and at house number 2328 Kuwadzana 4, Chinyanga brought a live black mamba which was stashed in his satchel before disclosing to his wife that he had removed it from a certain homestead where he had conducted a cleansing ceremony. He however, promised to burn the snake on the day. It is the State's case that after three days Chinyanga's wife saw the live snake in the same bag before questioning her husband on why he was still keeping the reptile in the house before he told her that he was keeping it for a purpose only known to him. He further told his wife that he had bought it in Malawi. According to the State, Chinyanga threatened his wife that if she disclosed the issue to anyone she would become insane for life. The State heard that Chinyanga told his wife that the snakes survived by having sexual intercourse with her and they were being fed on mealie-meal. It was further revealed that Chinyanga's wife discovered that there was another snake in a separate pillow case under the bed. She confronted him but he failed to give a clear explanation prompting her to make a police report on March 30, this year at around 5pm. He was arrested and it was proved that a police officer attended the scene and two snakes were found inside the two pillow cases tied together on their tails. They were stashed under the bed. Following the confiscation of the two pillows with the snakes, Chinyanga was escorted to ZRP Kuwadzana for further investigations. While on the way to the police station, Chinyanga hit the investigating officer who was holding the exhibit. He hit the police officer with his right elbow before he stumbled into the grass. While the officer was still lying down, Chinyanga further hit him on the forehead with a pillow case which had one of the snakes. During the scuffle, Chinyanga took away the pillow cases before tearing them letting the two snakes to escape. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Home | World | Africa | Zimbabwe lawyer wants money to be spent on justice not colonial wigs Buying lawyers' wigs from London is both costly and anachronistic, a leading Zimbabwean lawyer has told the BBC. Doug Coltart was reacting to news reported in the local media that Zimbabwe's legal authorities have ordered over $155,000-worth (119,000) of wigs for judges and barristers from a specialist shop in the UK. Mr Coltart told the BBC that the money spent on wigs could have been used to renovate the "dilapidated courts" instead. In addition, he does not support the practice of wearing wigs. "It harks back to the colonial era", he said. "Courts appear less accessible and more intimidating for ordinary people." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Home | World | Africa | No affirmative action for MDC female politicians The opposition MDC has ruled out reserving presidium posts for women at its party's elective congress set for next month. MDC vice president Morgan Komichi told Business Times that the party had not yet reached a decision of reserving one of the three vice presidential slots for women, meaning they will be an open contest for the posts. "There is no provision in our constitution that we should reserve any post for women in any senior position in the party, whether vice president, chairperson or secretary general. They are going to contest for the positions," Komichi said, adding: "It would be good if we can have that affirmative policy in the party, but the constitution is silent on it. Maybe we shall have to make constitutional changes to accommodate them." Among senior female MDC Alliance members who are eyeing the vice presidential posts are Lilian Timveos, Theresa Makone, Paurina Mpariwa, and Thabitha Khumalo. Women constitute the majority of the party support, and the highest position in the party held by a female currently is the chairperson's post, held by Thabitha Khumalo. Timveos confirmed she was interested in contesting for the vice president post. "I am one of the senior women leaders in the party and I will be contesting for the vice president position. "I am confident of winning the election," Timveos said. "I know I have the support of the women in the party whom I have been working with for a long time. "I also believe in the leadership of President Nelson Chamisa." Khumalo said she would have wanted one of the VP posts to be reserved for women so that they contest among themselves. "We are going for congress and I will be contesting as well, and if people nominate me for the vice president position, I will accept it. "The women in the party will be happy if one of us can become a vice president," she said. The MDC Alliance has three vice presidents Elias Mudzuri, Welshman Ncube and Komichi. The trio has indicated their interest in retaining the posts. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Pakistani waiter Rozi Khan had never heard of "Game of Thrones" -- or its hugely popular character Tyrion Lannister -- until his striking resemblance to the dwarf anti-hero got heads turning at home. The 25-year-old so resembles actor Peter Dinklage -- who has played the witty and wily nobleman since the hit series' first season in 2011 -- that he gets regularly stopped by strangers desperate for a picture. "I don't mind. A lot of my pictures have been taken, that's why I have become very famous everywhere," he said. Not only are Khan and Dinklage's faces strikingly similar, they are also the same height at around 135 centimetres (4 feet 5 inches). Photographs of the pair have unsurprisingly made their way onto social media showing the doppelgangers side-by-side. "Wherever I go, someone says to me: 'Sir, who is this man with you on Facebook?' I say that he is my friend. 'He looks like you'. I tell them he is my brother. It's not a bad thing," said Khan. The television series has won 47 Emmys -- more than any other fictional show in history -- along with a Golden Globe for Dinklage, 49, for best supporting actor in 2012. A much anticipated final series is set to premiere on April 14 in the US (April 15 in India). Khan works at a small Kashmiri restaurant down a narrow line in Rawalpindi, serving customers hearty dishes such as mutton and spinach curries. Owner Malik Aslam Pervez described him as a hard worker -- and also a drawcard for the eatery. "When he takes a day off or gets sick, people look for him and ask where did he go? They get upset. They love him. There is always a crowd here but it has boomed because of him," he said. Born in Mansehra in northern Pakistan, Khan says he would love to meet Dinklage, describing him as a friend and brother. "I love him very much, he is my friend... he is my height so I like him a lot," said Khan. For customers, seeing Tyrion Lannister in the flesh is also a thrill. "When I saw him, I'm happy, I feel that I met with Lannister in real [life]," said Zain Hadri, 20. "Game of Thrones" tells the story of noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne, all the while keeping one eye on the "White Walkers" leading hordes of the undead toward an invasion from the North. Side-by-side photgraphs of Pakistani waiter Rozi Khan and US actor Peter Dinklage have unsurprisingly made their way onto social media Khan says he would love to meet Dinklage, describing him as a friend and brother US actor Peter Dinklage arrives for the "Game of Thrones" eighth and final season premiere at Radio City Music Hall on April 3, 2019 in New York Not only are Khan and Dinklage's faces strikingly similar, they are also roughly the same height at around 135 cms (4 ft 5in) In Doing The Work, a three-part series from HG contributor Tiffany Lashai Curtis, three Black women who work in different industries tell us their stories. During Black Womens History Month, we hope this series uplifts and amplifies the work of Black women in spaces where they are underrepresented or rendered invisible. The sex and wellness industry has expanded in recent years as more and more conversations take place highlighting womens pleasure and undoing sex-negative messages. But as in other industries, the work of Black women in the realm of sex and wellness isnt always highlighted or celebrated. Historically, Black women have had a tumultuous relationship with sexual pleasure. As we continue to reclaim our bodies and our sexuality, we are still forced to navigate centuries-old stereotypes of either being hypersexualized deviants (the jezebel) or homely figures devoid of sex lives (the mammy). So when it comes to our sexual health and pleasure, the conversation extends beyond trying a new sex toy or exploring a kink. Its about healing and finding bodily autonomy as Black women and their bodies continue to be disproportionately subjected to violence and scrutiny. Thats why the work of Black woman sex educators, therapists, and wellness practitioners is so important, and Jimanekia Eborn is a Black woman sex educator, trauma specialist, and podcaster who is out here doing the work to help Black women and femmes achieve sexual liberation. One example of this is Eborns recent collaboration with The KinkKit, a sexual wellness and education company founded by Candice Smith, on a pleasure-positive healing kit for survivors of sexual assault. Mark Dektor For the first profile in this series, I spoke with Eborn about her work around pleasure and trauma, as well as the importance of Black women in the sex education and wellness space. Read our conversation below. HelloGiggles (HG): Youve been doing work around mental health for the last 10 years. What moved you to begin incorporating sex ed and sexual trauma support into your work? Story continues Jimanekia Eborn (JE): Funny you ask that. I actually started focusing on sexual trauma pretty early on. After I was assaulted during my third year of college and [my experience was] dismissed, the first thing I did was become a rape crisis counselor and open an online vintage clothing store. I am a Gemini with a Cancer Stelliumwhen I say that, it suddenly makes sense to folks. I was drawn to helping and supporting survivors, which for me just felt natural and easy. As for the combination of sex ed and trauma, working in the intensity of mental health was a lot. I wanted to work in a space that was ever evolving and never boring. I told my mom one day, I think I wanna work in sex. Her response was Oh, hell. I dont know about you,, but when I tell my momma stuff, it is official for me. When I started really exploring sexual education, I realized that not a lot of people were talking about trauma So many of us are connected to trauma and need to deal with the trauma to get to the pleasure aspect. So when I realized that most werent, I started to [explore that]. I found my niche in sex ed doing something that I truly loved and was really good at: supporting survivors. HG: How has your identity impacted your work in the sex education and wellness space? JE: I have many identities that I think have been helpful in many ways. Im queer and polyamorous. A lot of people in sex ed are as well, or just understand these identities, so that has been coolalthough there is only one [identity] that is visible. Being a Black woman is interesting in any space. I still feel like I have to fight and break doors down. Im constantly calling people out. As for being queer and polyamorous, those arent things you have to fight for as much in these particular spaces. But the more I evolve in the field, the more comfortable I am; Ive become louder when calling people out and holding them accountable. Mark Dektor HG: Whose voices do you think are centered the most in the sex education and wellness space? Whose stories need to be amplified? JE: I mean, any voice without melanin is centered. I will be honest; sex ed is no different from any other field. There are levels to this game, and at the top is white men, down to white women, then the rest of [us]. As long as I grew up hearing about sex ed, it was never from the voice or work of those who had melanin within their skin. I will say that within the last two years, things have been changing quickly and aggressively, and its somewhat beautiful. Sadly, the voices that need to be amplified are having to show up and show out to get their voices heardwhich are POC folks, trans folks, and folks with disabilities. But we are tired of being pushed to the side. So we are amplifying each other and calling others out. We are quick to back each other because other folks have not. HG: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. What are some ways that the sex and wellness industry can better support survivors of sexual assault, especially those who are people of color? JE: That is easy. The same thing that I tell anyone that asks how they can support survivors: Listen to them and ask them what they need! It is so exhausting constantly reminding people that they do not know better than the survivor. Ask them what they need versus telling them what they need. Listen to hear them, do not listen to respond. It is not helpful to either party. HG: How can sex ed curriculums do better at addressing topics like consent and sexual trauma? JE: I am still wrestling with the fear that people have about talking about consent and sexual trauma. Like, do they think if they do not talk about it, it will stop or go away? These are things that we are all affected by. We all have known someone that has had their consent [violated] or has had some sexual trauma. The only way that we can evolve to safer spaces is to actually talk about them. Be honest about what is going on in the world. I think we need to start talking to kids pretty young. If we give them the tools while theyre young, I believe it can help them to better navigate the world. Art by Zoie Loves HG: Your podcast Trauma Queen aims to normalize talking about assault and healing. Season 3 of Trauma Queen is specifically focused on the experiences of Black femmes. Why is it important that Black femmes be given the opportunity to tell their own experiences of surviving and healing from trauma of all kinds? JE: For me, Black femmes are everything. We carry the world on our shoulders and no one gives a damn about us. Honestly, Black femmes raise themselves, their kids, their partners, and other people, and other peoples damn kids. Yet we are constantly overlooked and thrown under the bus. I wanted to recognize different types of femmes as well; that was really important to me. Because there is no one way that a Black femme looks. I wanted someone to hear a story that resonated within them, that they could say, Chile, me too. I also really and truly believe that there is so much healing in storytelling, which is something that is very important and strong in Black culture in general. I also think this season was healthy for me to spend time emerged in the energy of Black femmes. I am so thankful. HG: Black women have historically never held autonomy over their own bodies or sexuality. How can pleasure positive experiences help us to collectively heal and reclaim our bodies? JE: Sadly, this is so real! There is something about being told that you matter. We as Black women do not get told that outside of from other women. And even then, there are some women who do not support others. That is a whole nother conversation. But having pleasure positive experiences strengthens us. And teaches and reminds us that we are so much more than what others have pushed upon us or attempted to force us to believe. There is strength in numbers; there is strength within beautiful and positive experiences. I have been and will continue to say, this is our year! This is not temporary; this is the START of the breakdown because as Black women, we are tired and taking what is already ours back. Mark Dektor HG: Why is having Black women as practitioners and experts in the sex education and wellness space essential? JE: Black women to me are traditionally natural healers. It is just embedded within us and passed down through us. We have a way of reading you down and also picking you up in the same breath. Making you feel seen and supported, knowing that we mean business. We are a force to be reckoned with and I honestly think it makes people nervous and keeps them on their toes. I believe that is why we are also held back, because we are truly walking beings of magic. Black women are also not just focused on themselves as some others may bewe are about uplifting and doing things together, unlike others. HG: Black women are chronically underrepresented, undervalued, and under-recognized across many industries. Whats one thing you want people to know about the work of Black women in the sex ed and wellness industry? JE: Whew chile, one thing? We have been doing this work in our own communities and homes for years. Why are you so afraid to share the space, and give us our roses now? GIVE US OUR ROSES WHEN WE ARE STILL HERE! See more entries in this series: How this cafe owner is creating space for Black women in the coffee business How this culture writers work celebrates Black women and challenges misogynoir in media Clashes with guards, violent factional quarrels and a new strain of ultra-extremism -- the Islamic State group's territorial "caliphate" may be defeated, but a camp in eastern Syria is emerging as a fresh jihadist powder keg. Dislodged in a final offensive by a Kurdish-led ground force and coalition air strikes, thousands of wives and children of IS fighters have flooded in from a string of Syrian villages south of the camp in recent months. Among the hordes of Syrians and Iraqis, some 9,000 foreigners are held in a fenced section of the encampment, under the watch of Kurdish forces. When they want to go to the camp's market or receive aid rations, these high-risk prisoners are escorted by armed guards. But tensions are rife among the foreigners themselves. "We don't have the same mentality -- they (the extremists) want to impose their vision of Islam," said Vanessa, who came to Syria from her native Guyana as a convert in 2013 with her husband and children. "They say that we are infidels," the gangly 36-year-old said, singling out the camp's Tunisians as especially "extreme". The semi-autonomous Kurdish administration that rules much of northeastern Syria is urging countries of origin to take back their citizens. The women and children need to be "re-educated and reintegrated by their home countries," said Kurdish official Abdel Karm Omar. Otherwise, he warned, they will become "the terrorists of the future". - 'These people scare me' - Under IS's so-called caliphate -- declared in 2014 over large swaths of Syria and neighbouring Iraq -- minors were systematically indoctrinated and even exposed to public executions. In a gesture of continued loyalty to IS, some children at the camp -- a few grinning, others staring coldly -- pointed their index finger to the sky in front of AFP reporters. One woman threatened to hit a cameraman, but others -- anxious to return home and declaring they regret joining IS -- were keen to talk. Some of the Tunisians and Russians interned at Al-Hol have adopted "very extreme beliefs", confided a Belgian woman who came to Syria in 2013. "These people scare me", she said. Even just "talking to the guards, or requesting to go to the market, can make us infidels" in their eyes, she added. Once someone is labelled a non-believer, these women decree it lawful to strip the person of their belongings, the Belgian said. "They can burn our tents and do whatever they want to us." But tensions are not limited to the foreigners' section. A few days ago, a confrontation escalated in the main area, populated by Iraqis and Syrians. Kurdish police were forced to intervene. Some of the residents "threw stones" at their fellow residents, a policeman told AFP, without giving his name. Nabil al-Hassan, who heads the camp's communications, insisted the "security situation is under control". But, he admitted, major logistical challenges give rise to "problems", including tensions over access to tents and aid. - 'It's not mine' - Heavily pregnant Lamia, 21, told AFP she is steadfast in her loyalty to the IS cause. "We remain with the (Islamic) State," said the former resident of Manbij, a northern Syrian town that was occupied by the jihadists until the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces prevailed. Lamia wants to go back to her hometown and has been at the camp for a month; her first husband was killed in combat, the second is in prison. Back at the entrance to the foreigners' area, several women including Algerians and Ukrainians gathered at the gate, insisting it was their turn to go to market. Blonde children and those from central Asia mingled in the dust. The women returned from the market hauling trolleys full of eggs, potatoes, nappies, and gas cylinders. Everything is meticulously searched by the guards, who are instructed to confiscate, log and store unusually valuable items and mobile phones. These "security measures" are needed to stop residents stealing from each other -- and from smuggling goods or cultivating contacts in the outside world -- Hassan said. Delving through a black handbag, the guards retrieved a phone and small piece of paper with a contact number scrawled on it. "It's not mine, it belongs to my friend," the Tunisian owner insisted. A little later, in another bag, the guards dug out a ring and a hefty gold chain, carefully hidden in a tiny plastic bag. The dismayed owner gripped the sentinel's hands in an attempt to prise back the items, to no avail. "She's not coming back inside. Take her to the cell," the guard said. The woman clung to the wire fence and wailed. Guards are instructed to confiscate unusually valuable items and mobile phones from those in the camp Tens of thousands of people are held in Al-Hol camp Everything from nappies to potatoes are on sale at the Al-Hol market Among the hordes of Syrians and Iraqis, some 9,000 foreigners are held in a fenced section of the encampment, under the watch of Kurdish forces The Daily News publishes death notices and obituaries on a daily basis for Norfolkans, area residents and former residents. Death notices, which include information about when and where a person died, funeral services, burial and visitation for the deceased and memorial information, are published free of charge. If families of the deceased desire to have an obituary printed, there is a fee charged for doing so. Because of that, families of the deceased can decide what information they want included in the obituary, as well as if they desire to have a photograph published along with it. The Daily News reserves the right to edit. Norfolk and area funeral homes have detailed information about placing an obituary in the Daily News. If individuals want to submit obituary information themselves, it can be emailed to funerals@norfolkdailynews.com or faxed to (402) 644-2080. People needing additional information about death notices and obituaries can call the Daily News at 371-1020 or (877) 371-1020 and ask for the newsroom. Tackling the real problems Reply Thread Link mte lol Reply Parent Thread Link MTE... we need the Natasha/ANTM gif. "You know people have war in their countries?" Reply Parent Thread Link We have bigger issues than people who are crying after realizing their veggie burger has vegetables instead of meat. My bitch ass ex always made issues about it and now that idiot is vegetarian all of a sudden because girls think it's hot. Reply Thread Link hahaahha what a dbag. dodged a bullet. Reply Parent Thread Link i think it's a dumb decision, but i also don't think changing the word on a box from saying "burger" to "disc" is going to impact whether or not someone wants to eat a plant based product, lol. still, it prob is being backed by the meat industry in some way. Reply Thread Link I think saying vegan [not usually vegan product] is already banned in Germany because its too confusing. I often see vegan slices instead of vegan cheese. Or vegan spread instead of cream cheese. Reply Thread Link I used to roll my eyes at stuff like that until I had tis stop eating wheat and didn't have time to look up every ingredient on everything at the the grocery store. Reply Parent Thread Link Sprouts grocery store labels every fruit and veggie as vegan in their ads and Im like.... what Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah and vegans now what is meant by the picture anyway and if it stops people who refuse to read properly from bitching at grocery store workers go for it I guess. Reply Parent Thread Link "spread" has long time been used in the US to describe non-dairy cream cheese and butter. Reply Parent Thread Link I kind of get it when it comes to vegan products that are styled after animal products like cheese and sausages because of the whole ethical thing but also...there are more important things going on in the world. Reply Parent Thread Link Veggie disc? What a stupid name. God forbid people accidentally eat something without meat. Reply Thread Link stupid. i hope it gets voted down. Reply Thread Link ngl it does confuse me when I see something like the Impossible Burger or Beyond Burger on a menu bc I'm like "wtf is that" but I don't have that issue with the actual words "veggie burger" bc it tells me right there what it is. Edited at 2019-04-05 04:15 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I've never been anywhere where that information isn't readily available either online or in person. Reply Parent Thread Link yes I hate when they have just veggie burger or black bean burger (which I love) on a menu but dont tell me if it has other stuff in it or specify the veggies. One of my fave food trucks always spelled it out for you but they moved away from my local farmers market :( Reply Parent Thread Link Oooh fucking eyeroll. Reply Thread Link governments be distracting people from the real issues Reply Thread Link can we just ban the word "veggie"? Reply Thread Link "Hi can I get one disc sandwich." Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link You sure can, adult customer! Because "veggies" are for young children who can't pronounce the word vegetables. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Have they never heard of the word 'patty'? lol Reply Thread Link Apparently not so they decided to make up their own ridiculous word for it. Reply Parent Thread Link Pretty sure the whole point is to make it sound unappealing. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol I read this post twice (thought I missed it) and kept thinking, erm...not patty? Hahaha Reply Parent Thread Link lol I guess patty is probably just an American term? idk. Reply Parent Thread Link MTE. There's *already* an alternative word for burger that has been used with an accompanying word to explain what it's made from. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link this is where I am Reply Parent Thread Link lol apparently not Reply Parent Thread Link yeah, I like how 'disc' was the best word they could think of. Reply Parent Thread Link If you were a lobbyist for the meat industry, wouldn't you suggest something people don't want to eat? Reply Parent Thread Link The word "patty" hasn't been adopted as a common word in non-english speaking countries. The word "burger" has. So the word "patty" doesn't really work. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Apparently, calling it a veggie burger is misleading to meat-eaters. How dense are meat eaters, or rather, how dense do politicians think meat eaters are, that they don't understand that qualifying the word burger with another word changes what it is? Chicken burger, turkey burger, veggie burger. Should they ban the word "hamburger" because they never actually contain ham!? Or cheese burger because American cheese-like slices aren't real cheese!? I'd argue that fast food "burgers" are probably more misleading just by nature since there's no way those products are 100% real meat. Edited at 2019-04-05 04:26 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link YES all of this Reply Parent Thread Link Would different types of meat burgers need to be classified by a different name as well? Like "burger" makes most people think of beef. What about turkey burgers or chicken burgers? Are those misleading? Reply Parent Thread Link Even though I know burgers are typically beef I've never thought about the fact that they're called hamburgers and they're not ham. I'm high af and your post is like blowing my mind right now with information I already had lol. Reply Parent Thread Link lmaoo I love this comment. Reply Parent Thread Link lmao they're so threatened Reply Thread Link Rosneft, Russias state-controlled oil company and the largest oil producer in the country, plans to develop an Arctic cluster of oil fields over the next five years. These plans by Rosneftled by a close ally of Vladimir Putins, Igor Sechinfit the Russian Presidents ambition to develop Arctic oil and gas resources and adjacent regions, as well as the so-called Northern Sea Routea shipping lane through Russian Arctic waters stretching from Europe to the Far East. Russias Arctic oil development has stalled in recent years due to the western sanctions that have had international majors, including ExxonMobil, pull out of some exploration projects in Russia. Now Rosneft is pledging increased efforts to fulfill Putins Arctic development ambitions, aiming to have first oil produced in the so-called Arctic cluster of fields by 2024 and to boost cargo traffic on the Northern Sea Route. For Rosneft, the Northern Sea Route, if connected to inland oil fields in Russias north, could provide another export avenue for its oil, especially to the markets in Asia. During a meeting between Putin and Sechin this week, Rosnefts boss told his boss that the oil giant is currently considering the possibility to create an Arctic cluster that will fully focus on bringing the cargo traffic in the Northern Sea Route to 80 million tonnes by 2024, as planned, as per the English translation of the meetings transcript provided by the Kremlin. Related: Supermajor Shell Looks To Revitalize The Rust Belt The development may include Rosnefts Vankor cluster, Suzun, Tagul, the Lodochnoye deposit, and a number of geological exploratory projects in South Taymyr. For example, we have the Yermak project there we have launched jointly with BP, as well as the promising Zapadno-Erginsky area, Sechin told Putin, noting that a second stage of development, if the resource potential is confirmed, could include reserves in East Taymyr in the Khatanga area. According to Sechin, Major Western and Southeast Asian investors have shown interest in the so-called Arctic cluster, which will certainly create conditions for an accelerated resource deployment as well as for a comprehensive development of related industries. The development of the Arctic oil resources, however, requires an investment-friendly environment that will be crucial to launching such projects, as well as regulatory terms and taxation that wont change during the projects lifetime, be it 30 or 50 years, Sechin told Putin. Stable regulatory environment will help attract additional investors, especially from outside Russia, according to Rosnefts boss. Another important point in Sechins report to the Russian President was that the Northern Sea Route needs to be economically viable if it were to achieve Putins ambition for developing the Arctic resources and regions. Given the availability of alternative logistical options, the Northern Sea Route should be as economically viable for the projects as alternative routes. In this regard, we formulate our proposals, submit them to the Government, and we will continue to do this work, Sechin told Putin. At the end of February this year, Russian business daily Kommersant reported, quoting sources, that Rosneft had decided to significantly contribute to raising the cargo traffic on the Northern Sea Route by redirecting oil from the new fields of the Vankor Cluster by building a 600-kilometer-long (373 miles) pipeline to the coast of Taymyr. Related: New Offensive Brings Libya To The Brink Of War Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak also spoke this week about the huge development potential of Russias Arctic projects. Russia is currently working on the timeframe for the development of the large Payakhskoye oil field, potentially using the Northern Sea Route, Novak said in a media interview this week published on the energy ministrys website. Arctic projects hold huge potential for the development of Russias energy sector, Novak said. It remains to be seen if Russias biggest companies can develop the Arctic on their own, if Russia can attract foreign investments in its ambitious projects, and if the Northern Sea Route can become a viable economically-competitive route for cargo traffic. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From OIlprice.com: Natural gas prices fell into record negative territory in the Permian basin, dragged down by booming oil production and a limited ability to move gas out of the region. Unlike in other places, such as the Marcellus and Utica shales, natural gas in West Texas is produced as a byproduct. This associated gas is essentially an afterthought, a surplus and almost irrelevant product that comes out of the ground due to the relentless pursuit of crude oil. Precisely because the natural gas is not the target is exactly why more gas continues to be produced regardless of what prices do. This dynamic helps explain how natural gas prices at the Waha hub in West Texas can fall to -$3.38/MMBtu yes, negative $3.38 as they did on Wednesday, which means that producers are paying others to take their gas. Javier Blas of Bloomberg News tweeted that prices may have reached as low as -$6/MMBtu. While there has been a critical bottleneck for oil a lack of pipelines from the Permian to the Gulf Coast led to steep discounts last year the constraint on gas is even more pronounced. Waha prices near El Paso have been low for months, but the most recent plunge has been exacerbated by equipment problems at two compressor stations in New Mexico, according to Reuters. Waha prices have been in negative territory since March 22. Reuters notes that the spread between Waha and Henry Hub which has been trading at around $2.70/MMBtu reached a record high of $6.14/MMBtu on April 3. The situation should clear up a bit when one of the compressors comes back online, expected on April 5. The other returned to service on March 31, Reuters reports. Seasonal lulls in heating demand are also weighing on gas prices. There are pipelines in the works, but the first projects wont be completed until later this year. We foresee the pricing issue directly tied to takeaway constraints lasting at least until October 2019, when Kinder Morgan's Gulf Coast Express pipeline is slated to start-up, Wood Mackenzie said in a commentary on April 3. Today, the bottleneck is so tight that even slight hiccups can cause massive price swings. Related: Shale Is In A Deep State Of Flux WoodMac said there are some gas pipelines from Texas to Mexico that are scheduled to come online in the second quarter, which could ease the bottleneck, while stronger domestic demand in the summer months may also help. A glut of gas may not affect oil operations because flaring regulations allow for enough wiggle room for producers to meet output targets, Barclays wrote in a note. Texas regulators issue permits that allow companies to flare gas for up to 180 days, and the Texas Railroad Commission rarely denies these, the investment bank noted. Beyond that, drillers can obtain extensions. The 180-day grace period could be long enough for companies to bide their time until new pipelines come online. With the Gulf Coast Express in-service target roughly six months away, new wells brought online today might not even need to go through this extension process, Barclays concluded. It may seem absurd to produce gas and then pay someone to take the gas off your hands, but Permian drillers continue anyway because they are really after the oil. The cost of offloading natural gas at a loss does not necessarily scramble the economics of drilling. Even with negative gas prices, the vast majority of Permian wells remain profitable to operate. Their economics are driven almost entirely by oil prices, not natural gas, Barclays said. With current operating margins of about $30/b, Permian gas prices would have to drop to -$20/MMBtu or so before the typical well would be shut in for economic reasons. It should be noted that while individual wells may be profitable, small and medium-sized shale companies are largely still posting losses. For instance, a Reuters analysis found that all but seven of 29 shale companies spent more than they earned last year. Ultimately, drillers will press forward on drilling in order to hit their oil production targets. That means that gas output could continue to climb, which means gas prices will likely remain depressed. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chevron Canada has emerged victorious from a bitter battle over a decades-old court case in which thousands of Ecuadorian residents collectively sued Chevron for alleged water and soil contamination. The Supreme Court refused on Thursday to hear a request to review a lower court decision, rendering a final verdict that dismissed all claims against Chevron Canada Limited, according to The Progress. While final in Canada, the case may not be final everywhere. In the case that just wont die, the lawsuit has imposed on various courts in various jurisdictions for decades, and the lawsuit may still find its way into other courts in other states. A US appeals court in 2016 blocked the enforcement of the $9.5 billion judgement handed down by an Ecuadorian court against Chevron. The US appeals court supported a lower court ruling in 2014 that found the case against Chevron, initiated in an Ecuadorean court, was the product of fraud and racketeering, complete with fraudulent evidence and bribery of the Ecuadorean judge. Undeterred by the two lower court rulings in the US, the case was submitted to the US Supreme court, which refused to hear the appeal. But the lawyers didnt stop there, wanting to take even more stabs at the lawsuit by trying the case in Canada, this time targeting Chevrons Canadian arm. It also tried its hand in Gibraltar, Brazil, and Argentina, also to no avail. Even the Hague has heard the case. It, too, ruled in Chevrons favor, saying that the fraudulent Ecuadorian judgement violates international public policy and should not be recognised or enforced by the courts of other States. The Hague ruling holds Ecuador liable for cost or damage to Chevron if the judgement were to be enforced anywhere in the world. Chevron has never even operated in Ecuador, but it purchased Texaco Petroleum in 2001, and TexPettogether with state-owned Petroecuador, operated there between 1964 and 1992. TexPet disentangled itself from Ecuador in 1992, returning its share in the projects to Petroecuador. Chevron says that TexPet spent millions remedying the area now under dispute, adding that it had been fully released from further liability in 1998 by Ecuador. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Brent Crude prices are expected to average $62.50 a barrel next year, down from $65 this year as slowing global economic growth could impact oil demand growth, Dmitry Marinchenko, senior director at Fitch Ratings, told Reuters in an interview published on Friday. Fitch sees Brent Crude prices falling further down in coming years, to average $57.50 a barrel by 2022. According to the ratings agency, global economic growth will slow down to 2.8 percent this year and next, compared to 3.2-percent growth for 2018. If the global growth slowdown becomes more pronounced, or even if recession materialises, then demand for oil could fall sharply, which is the main risk for global oil prices, Marinchenko told Reuters. Just before OPEC and allies decided in December to launch a new round of production cuts to rebalance the market and support oil prices, Fitch said that we believe that supply controls will support medium-term oil prices in the range of USD60-USD65 a barrel for Brent crude. In the longer term, we continue to expect prices to fall below USD60/bbl driven by the falls to marginal producers' full-cycle costs. At the beginning of December, Fitch expected Brent to average $62.50 a barrel in 2020 and $60 per barrel in 2021, reflecting the rating agencys expectations that OPEC and its Russia-led allies will manage output to keep average prices above USD60/bbl in the medium term, although its ability to secure prices above USD70/bbl may be limited by US pressure. Early on Friday, Brent Crude was just below the $70 markat $69.11, down by 0.42 percent on the day at 06:35 a.m. EDT. WTI Crude was down 0.21 percent at $61.97. OPEC and partners are meeting in June to review their pact, and according to Fitchs Marinchenko, the future of the agreement will largely depend on how much supply Venezuela and Iran will be providing to the market at the time. Quotas may need to be revised and readjusted, as oil production in Venezuela will continue to drop, Marinchenko told Reuters. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nigerias Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has said that he isnt aware of any plans of U.S. oil and gas supermajor ExxonMobil to exit upstream operations in OPECs African member. ExxonMobil is considering selling some of its stakes in onshore and offshore fields in Nigeria, and those stakes could potentially raise US$3 billion, Reuters reported earlier this week, citing banking and industry sources. Exxon has recently held talks with Nigerian companies to see if there is interest in its assets in Nigeria, some of Reuters sources said, as the U.S. supermajor is now predominantly focused on boosting production in the Permian and developing the huge oil discoveries offshore Guyana. Exxon is set to soon open in Nigeria the so-called data room with details about the oil and gas fields it plans to divest from, one source told Reuters. According to the sources, Exxon officials have recently discussed with Nigerian companies stakes in onshore oil fields, in which Exxon participates in joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The U.S. major, however, is also mulling over selling stakes in offshore oil fields. Exxon is one of Nigerias largest foreign oil operators and its production in 2017 stood at 225,000 bpd. Speaking to reporters at an oil industry event in Nigeria this week, Minister Kachikwu said, as carried by Nigerian outlet The Guardian: I am not aware of that. I have not been officially informed. You saw the chairman of ExxonMobil today talking about their long-term plan and he didnt mention that. Obviously, we will engage them, whether this is true or not, the minister added. I am connected enough to the ExxonMobil system worldwide and I havent seen anything like that. It will be a bit of surprise to me and I would not believe this until I am sure, The Guardian quoted Kachikwu as saying. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A New York District Judge ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission and Elon Musk to settle their differences regarding a tweet by the Tesla CEO out of court. Take a deep breath, put your reasonableness pants on, and work this out, Reuters quoted Judge Alison Nathan as saying during the hearing. SEC took Musk to court after he tweeted that Tesla will manufacture half a million cars this year. The tweet, however, was quickly followed by another one, clarifying that Meant to say annualized production rate at end of 2019 probably around 500k, ie 10k cars/week. Deliveries for year still estimated to be about 400k. The watchdog immediately turned to the court system, asking Judge Nathan to hold Elon Musk in contempt for violating a deal the regulator struck with the Tesla chief executive last year, which requires him to get the approval of the Tesla board of directors before tweeting anything that could be material to investors. In its filing to Judge Nathan, the regulator accused Musk of not asking the approval of Teslas board of directors for any tweets posted since the agreement was made. The watchdog said it had asked the Tesla board if the CEO had approached it for approving tweets, and the board responded in the negative. It is therefore stunning to learn that, at the time of filing of the instant motion, Musk had not sought pre-approval for a single one of the numerous tweets about Tesla he published in the months since the court-ordered pre-approval policy went into effect, the SEC said in the filing. Musk first drew the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission with his tweeting habits last summer when the Tesla CEO said on Twitter he was planning to take the company private and had already secured funding. It was this phrase, funding secured, that alerted the Securities and Exchange Commission, which launched a probe into this claim, prompting Musk to come forward with the revelation that he had for years been in talks with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund to take the company private. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... " " Why exactly did the age of the goddess wane? Abdul Kadir Audah/Photolibrary/Getty Images Once upon a time, goddesses reigned supreme, and ancient humans worshiped the primordial powers of Isis, Aphrodite, Inanna, Nuwa and others deities with great powers. But the age of the goddess waned. Masculine gods, formerly relegated to the roles of divine sons or lovers, rose to prominence, and the high goddesses fell to subservient roles in their respective pantheons. Advertisement What brought about the change? Some historians and anthropologists have looked to larger cultural shifts in the ancient world, such as the 10,000 B.C.E. agricultural revolution. After all, this was the end of the hunter-gatherer dynamic. A place became something you could own, slavery became profitable and male hunters took to conquest to regain their lost status. Other commentators have pointed to the growth of civilization itself. Anthropologist Sherry B. Ortner, for instance, has credited the tendency to align masculinity with culture and femininity with nature. As the former arises through the domination of the latter, the shift impacts femininity in general. But what if the change were more internal? What if the root cause for a shift from a more egalitarian, goddess-centered culture to one of patriarchy and misogyny stemmed from the acquisition of written language? That's the central argument in the 1998 book "The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image" by American surgeon, author and inventor Leonard Shlain (1937-2009). Joe McCormick and I explored the topic in a pair of Stuff to Blow Your Mind episodes and, while the hypothesis might not win you over, it will certainly make you rethink the power of literacy and patriarchy. One of the key questions Shlain poses is this: What if written language, especially alphabetic language, fosters a patriarchal outlook in the mind? "The alphabet," wrote Shlain, "through its emphasis on linearity and sequence, caused the left side of the brain of those who learned it to hypertrophy, resulting in a marked cerebral dominance of one lobe over the other. Metaphorically, the mind listed to one side, as one carrying an unevenly distributed load." Shlain's hypothesis builds off, in some ways, Robert K. Logan's alphabet effect hypothesis, which proposes that a communication medium is an active force in creating new social patterns and perceptual realities. This is also the central idea of Marshall McLuhan's famous expression "the medium is the message." But why exactly would written language lead to the abandonment of goddesses and the subjugation of women? In his book, Shlain argued that everyone, regardless of sex, is capable of feminine and masculine outlooks, but that these outlooks became more codified in male and female humans due to our particular evolution and hunter-gatherer past. Each outlook is also tied to a particular lobe of the human brain. Here's how they break down: Feminine outlook (right brain): holistic, simultaneous, synthetic and concrete worldview Masculine outlook (left brain): linear, sequential, reductionist and abstract worldview The idea is that since written language is inherently linear, sequential and reductionist, it fostered left brain dominance in ancient literate cultures. Even the Chinese writing system, which has no alphabet, depends on linearity and abstract logograms. In other words, written language fosters the mind-set of the hunter rather than the holistic nurturer. Shlain devotes the bulk of "The Alphabet Versus the Goddess" to discussing historical examples from around the world that support his hypothesis. But the oldest, that of ancient Sumer, presents the concept quite well. The Sumerians are the earliest known historical Mesopotamian civilization and boasted a polytheistic pantheon full of powerful goddesses, such as Nammu and Nisba. But then around 1700 B.C.E., the god Marduk rose to prominence, slaying the primordial goddess Tiamat in the process. This date coincides with the life of Hammurabi, who gave us the Code of Hammurabi. You might remember the Code of Hammurabi as being one of the world's oldest deciphered writings, but it's also notable for its vicious subjugation of women. One-fourth of the law related to the restriction of female rights. It prescribs brutal violence for crimes such as speaking out against one's husband or taking a second husband, which seems to have been an earlier practice. Shlain's hypothesis is radical and perhaps unprovable, but it forces us to think carefully about the power language holds over our cognitive faculties and question humanity's largely patriarchal history and belief systems. Why are so few goddesses revered among modern worshipers? Why is the fight for gender equality still happening in an age of unprecedented technology and knowledge? Pointing to media advancements in audio, video and photography, Shlain expressed his hope for a new golden age of right-hemispheric tolerance, caring and respect for nature. Just don't get impatient. It takes a while for a species to change its mind. Now That's Interesting You might wonder about Hinduism and its many powerful goddesses and feminine counterparts to masculine gods. Shlain notes in his research that not only is Hinduism the oldest of the world's top religions, but also that India was "one of the last major ancient cultures to adopt alphabetic writing." As such, the goddess lingers. " " Ever wonder what draws a person to their spouse? Is the old 'opposites attract' adage true, or could the newlyweds have more in common than they think? Maria Teijeiro/Thinkstock Opposites attract? Well, maybe not, when it comes to marriage. Numerous studies have shown that humans pick partners who resemble them in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, age, income, body type and a host of other factors [source: Dunham]. This propensity to choose an "identical" partner is known as assortative mating, and it proves that a love connection is much more than a matter of fate; it's the result of careful choices and evaluation, even if you're not necessarily aware that you're doing it. What's more, studies reveal that not only do people pick partners who share their personality and values, but these shared characteristics boost marital satisfaction for both partners [source: Luo and Klohnen]. Advertisement Just how far does that desire for a similar mate extend? A 2013 study conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that this similarity is more than skin-deep; in fact, it's in the genes. By studying 825 couples, researchers discovered that married couples have more similar gene profiles than random pairs of people [source: Domingue et al]. While the DNA similarities were statistically significant, the researchers found that genetics have only about one-third of the influence on mate selection in comparison to education. That means you're more likely to pick a husband or wife with a similar education level than you are to choose one with similar genes. This relationship between genes and marriage held true even after scientists accounted for things like race and geography, which could explain why couples share similar genetics. Of course, this research is fairly new and much more work needs to be done to determine the extent of marital genetic similarity. The study was also limited in that it focused on older, white, opposite-sex couples, so it could turn out that people of color or same-sex couples don't share this DNA bond. The link between marriage and genetics could potentially help explain why married couples seem to grow to look alike over the years. Sure, environment and lifestyle play a factor, but it could be that these couples would simply share some physical similarities whether they married or not thanks to the work of genetics. So how does Stoicism born on a porch in ancient Athens, now all over the internet fit into a world where reason, introspection and self-control seem as foreign to many as ... well, as Spock himself? Some, it's important to note, say that it doesn't fit at all. Stoicism had its critics, even in its heyday. Cicero, who lived from 106-43 B.C.E., believed that Stoic philosophy was too harsh and threatened the passion and emotion that is part of being human. Advertisement "What? A Stoic rouse enthusiasm?" Cicero wrote. "He is much more likely to extinguish any enthusiasm the student may have had to begin with" [source: How to Be a Stoic]. It's a shot that still stings Stoics today. Still, Stoicism remains popular with many who embrace the idea that God alone is in control of their lives, and that God and the universe are one, and that it's folly to let anything love, wealth, poverty, hate, envy, jealousy, that bad haircut get in the way of the pursuit of a virtuous, thoughtful life. It's better, modern Stoics reason, to strive to be the best, most virtuous person possible, to live a life honoring God and being kind to others, than to get caught up in all that doesn't matter. So, how do you get there? Philosopher Massimo Pigliucci wrote in the New York Times about his daily Stoic practices. First, he starts his day with meditation. "Stoic meditation consists in rehearsing the challenges of the day ahead, thinking about which of the four cardinal virtues (courage, equanimity, self-control and wisdom) one may be called on to employ and how," he said. Pigliucci also meditates on the sayings of a famous Stoic. Another exercise he does consists of visualizing some kind of misfortune happening to him (like losing his job) and seeing it as "'dispreferred indifferent,' meaning that it would be better if it didn't happen, but that it would nonetheless not affect one's worth and moral value." Throughout the rest of the day, Pigliucci tries to be mindful and recognize that every decision he makes has a moral dimension, whether it's how he treats colleagues or how he shops for food. In the evening, he does another mediation where he writes in his diary about his challenges of the day. Stoics may also practice their beliefs by joining others in a Meetup group. Here's a description from a Brooklyn Stoicism June 2017 meeting: "At this meetup, we will continue our year of Epictetus by continuing our reading of The Discourses, which are the most detailed surviving notes of Epictetus' teachings written by his student Arrian ... To prepare for this meetup, please read Discourses 3.21... While reading, note any comments or questions you may have for the group to bring up during the meetup." And if that piques your interest you may also wish to sign up for Stoic Camp. Wisdom from The Stoics Here are some sayings from famous Stoics to ponder [source: College of Stoic Philosophers]: On remembering who's in control: "Remember that you are an actor in a drama, of such a kind as the author pleases to make it. If short, of a short one; if long, of a long one. If it is his pleasure you should act a poor man, a cripple, a governor, or a private person, see that you act it naturally. For this is your business, to act well the character assigned you; to choose it is another's." Epictetus On not worrying about what you can't control:"To live a good life: We have the potential for it. If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference." Marcus Aurelius On the opinions of others: "If you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according what others think, you will never be rich." Seneca THREE in 10 health facilities in the Philippines were found to be lacking access to clean toilets, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).In its joint report with the United Nations THREE in 10 health facilities in the Philippines were found to be lacking access to clean toilets, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO). In its joint report with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the WHO noted that 23 percent of the health care facilities have unclean toilets, while four percent have no toilets at all. The WHO said such a predicament is simply unacceptable as it puts in peril the health of patients as well as healthcare workers in the facilities. Healthcare facilities wont be able to provide quality care to people if there is no safe water, toilet or hand washing facility, said WHO representative in the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler. He noted how the recent water shortage in Metro Manila would be the best example on the importance of clean water and toilets in healthcare facilities. This after five major hospitals, namely, the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City; National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City; and National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Childrens Medical Center, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center, all in Quezon City, were adversely affected by the lack of water supply. The recent water shortage in Metro Manila highlighted the need for long-term solutions to water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities, said Weiler. For its part, Unicef said newborn babies are put at greater risks if they are born in healthcare facilities without access to clean toilets. Unicef Ad Interim country representative Julia Rees said this is because infants, as well as their mothers, are prone to infections like sepsis. When a child is born in a birthing facility or hospital without sufficient access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, both the child and the mother are at risk of infection, said Rees. The WHO and Unicef then urged the Philippines to ensure that safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities are available and accessible to ensure health for all Filipinos. The international agencies said they are ready to assist the government in establishing standards for health care facilities, as well as strengthening the capacity of health workforce on water, sanitation, and hygiene assessment and planning for health care facilities. (HDT/SunStar Philippines) Algeria has shown reluctancy to support its southern neighbors in their joint efforts to counter terrorism through the G5 force, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a recent study. Algeria has shown itself willing to export security threats to Mali to secure its own territory and safeguard its oil and gas exploitation sites, said SIPRI. The study ascribes Algerias unwillingness to back G5 as initiative because it views such a collective security initiative as advancing the French agenda. Algeria has made last ditch to revive its own inchoate Joint Operational Staff Committee (Comite detat-major operationnel conjoint, CEMOC), a force that it has failed to mobilize since 2010, in part due to Algerias reluctance to give its Sahelian neighbors a reciprocal right of pursuit past its borders, SIPRI noted. The study also points to the chronic insecurity in the Sahel as a fallout of the Malian crisis has been complicated by development challenges and weak institutions in a region where terrorist groups took advantage of porous borders to advance their agenda, the Stockhom International Peace Research Institute said in a recent study. The study, entitled Pursuing Elusive Stability in the Sahel, said the attack last month on villagers in Mali highlights the numerous challenges to stability in the region posed by Sahel state incapacity to address natural hazards, food insecurity, extreme poverty (80 per cent live on less than 2 per day), a lack of educational opportunities and high youth unemployment. These development concerns add to the regions already precarious stability and, at times, compete with state-level security and economic issues, the research paper available on SIPRI website said. Despite the creation of the G5 in the name of collective security between five Sahel states, efforts to stabilize the region often rely on weak, corrupt or absent state institutions, whose derelictions incite a marketplace of alternative actors attempting to provide the missing links for populations, further delegitimizing central governments. A vast crowd of protesters pushing for reforms flooded the streets of Algiers Friday, while mass rallies were held across Algeria for the first time since ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned. Activists chanted slogans demanding key Bouteflika loyalists follow his lead and quit, after social media calls for "joyful demonstrations" to "peacefully bring down a dictatorial regime". No official figures were immediately available on the size of the rally, but it was at least as big as those held on previous Fridays leading up to Bouteflika's departure, said AFP journalists at the scene. Rallies took place in 41 of the country's 48 provinces, according to the official APS news agency which in a first published slogans highly hostile to those in power. Opponents of the old regime had called for a massive turnout, targeting a triumvirate they dub the "3B" -- Senate speaker Abdelkader Bensalah, head of the constitutional council Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. The veteran Bouteflika loyalists have been entrusted with overseeing the political transition after the president finally stepped down at the age of 82. Bouteflika resigned late on Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations triggered by his bid for a fifth term in office. After two decades in power, he had lost the backing of key supporters including armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah. - 'Mistakes made' - Bensalah, speaker of the upper house of parliament for 16 years, is to take the reins as interim president for three months until elections are organised. Belaiz, a minister for 16 years, was named by Bouteflika as head of the Constitutional Council which will regulate the elections. Before his appointment as prime minister, Bedoui had served as interior minister -- or "chief engineer of electoral fraud" according to the El Watan newspaper Opponents say all three are tarnished by their long years of service under Bouteflika and should follow his lead and resign. Meanwhile the country's intelligence services chief Athmane Tartag has been sacked and his duties handed to the defence ministry, the official APS news agency reported Friday. Informed sources confirmed the move to AFP that the CSS chief had been removed from office. Even hours before the rally started, several hundred demonstrators had gathered outside the main post office in central Algiers, which has been the epicentre of the protest movement. Some shouted "we will not forgive!" in reference to an open letter Bouteflika issued after his resignation, apologising to the Algerian people for "mistakes made". Said Wafi, a bank worker from the nearby city of Boumerdes, had arrived at 5:00 am in the hope of being "the first demonstrator against the system". "Bouteflika leaving means nothing if his men continue to run the country," the 42-year-old said. - 'Victory is partial' - One of the leading voices of the protest movement, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, has called for the demonstrations to continue "until they have all gone". "Our victory is partial," he said in a video posted online. "Algerians will not accept that symbols of the regime... lead the interim period and organise the next elections." But protestors expressed hope that the system would see real change. Zoubir Challal, who like many young unemployed Algerians had considered a dangerous Mediterranean crossing to seek a better life in Europe, carried a sign bearing the slogan: "For the first time, I don't want to leave you, my country." The huge rally in Algiers concluded early evening, with protesters dispersing peacefulyl as on previous Fridays. Demonstrators are calling for new transitional institutions to be set up to implement reforms and organise free elections. Hamza Meddeb, an independent analyst in Tunisia, said Algeria was entering "a very delicate phase, because the street and the institutions are at risk of diverging". The army's intentions are a key question, according to analysts. Despite abandoning his patron Bouteflika, who named him army chief in 2004, General Gaid Salah is still seen by protesters as a key defender of the "system". But protestors on Friday chanted: "The army and the people are brothers!" Said Zeroual, 75, said he hoped Algeria would regain "our freedom and our sovereignty". "I hope to live long enough to see democracy in my country," he said. THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has removed over 650,000 campaign materials all over Metro Manila.NCRPO Director Major General Guillermo Eleazar urged the candidates to also do their THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) warned the public, especially qualified worker-beneficiaries, against the modus of some unscrupulous groups and individuals who are falsely using the agencys livelihood and emergency employment program. In a statement, Dole Secretary Silvestre Bello III said some individuals and groups are asking for money, so residents can avail themselves of the Dole Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Program (Dileep). Please be advised that the Dole does not authorize any individual or group to collect or solicit money to avail of said Dileep assistance, said Bello. There are no membership and transaction fees in facilitating the processing of pre and post project implementation documents under the said program, he added. Bello advised the public not to deal with such individuals. We strongly condemn such practice, and recommend that the public not to respond to such solicitations, Bello said. He also urged those approached by unscrupulous individuals to report to the Dole such attempts. We urge the public to report any fraudulent incidents or any information on the unscrupulous individual or groups to the nearest Dole regional, provincial or field office, said Bello. To note, Dileep is a program that provides additional income and alternative employment to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers. It is being supervised by the Dole-Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns. (HDT/SunStar Philippines) Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn will remain in custody until at least April 14, a Japanese court ruled on Friday, as prosecutors quiz him over fresh allegations of financial misconduct. The Tokyo District Court said in a statement it had accepted a request from prosecutors to detain the 65-year-old auto tycoon for a further 10-day period that can subsequently be extended once more. The "full term of the detention is 14th" of April, the court said. Ghosn's lead lawyer Junichiro Hironaka appealed the decision, but the appeal was rejected by the court. Authorities are looking into new allegations that Ghosn transferred some $15 million in Nissan funds between late 2015 and mid-2018 to a dealership in Oman. They suspect around $5 million of these funds were siphoned off for Ghosn's use, including for the purchase of a luxury yacht and financing personal investments. Prosecutors say Ghosn "betrayed" his duty not to cause losses to Nissan "in order to benefit himself." Ghosn denies the allegations and says he is also innocent of the three formal charges he faces: two charges of deferring his salary and concealing that in official shareholders' documents, and a further charge of seeking to shift investment losses to the firm. Stephen Givens, an American attorney practising law in Japan since 1987, told AFP the latest allegations were the most serious yet. "If the facts are true... that is stealing from the company, that is embezzlement, that is terrible," said Givens, who is not connected with the Ghosn case. "If that's true, it is a serious charge. It differs very significantly from the previous charges that seem minor and technical. These are hurting Nissan or Nissan shareholders and benefiting Ghosn," Givens added. Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita, a former Tokyo prosecutor himself, hit back at growing criticism of the Japanese system, sometimes described as "hostage justice" due to long detention periods for suspects aimed at forcing a confession. "I understand that it is being handled appropriately in accordance with the stipulation of the code of criminal procedure. So the criticism is not warranted," Yamashita told journalists. - 'Worst enemy' - Ghosn launched a counter-attack in an interview with French channel TF1, recorded just before his dawn arrest on Wednesday. Describing himself as "a combative man and an innocent man", he vowed to "defend myself to the bitter end". And he voiced concern that he would not be given a fair hearing, with around 99 percent of trials in Japan resulting in a conviction. "I have doubts over the way the judgement will take place. If there is a fair ruling, I am very confident but if it is not fair, I am worried about what will happen," said Ghosn. His rearrest came just days after news that Renault, which Ghosn also once headed, had handed French prosecutors documents showing suspicious transfers worth million of euros authorised by the auto tycoon. At the end of the initial 10 days of questioning, prosecutors can request a further 10-day extension. After this, they must either press formal charges, release him without charge or rearrest him to probe further allegations. In his French TV interview, Ghosn lashed out at the conditions in the detention centre, saying he was deprived of his watch, forced to sleep with the light on and forbidden from contact with his loved ones. "I wouldn't wish what I have suffered on my worst enemy," he said. Ghosn spent 108 days in the detention centre in northern Tokyo before being dramatically released on bail of around $9 million on March 6, emerging from incarceration dressed in a workman's uniform and face mask in an apparent bid to avoid the media. He then lived in a court-appointed apartment in Tokyo without commenting on his situation despite huge international and Japanese media interest in his case that has shocked and surprised from the beginning. However, just as reports began to surface that he could be rearrested, Ghosn emerged on Twitter to announce plans to hold a news conference on April 11. With this now impossible, his lawyer Hironaka said Ghosn had pre-recorded a video but refused to give details of the contents or when it would be released. Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), Hyundais official distributor in the Philippines, made a big splash at this years Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) as the Korean car brand brought not one, but two new models to rock your world. Hyundais presentation, dubbed Hyundai Rockology became the brands launch pad for the unveiling of the Hyundai Kona Electric subcompact crossover and Hyundai Palisade midsize SUV. Wilbert Tan for CARMUDI PHILIPPINES Ambassador Han Dong-man, South Koreas ambassador to the Philippines, graced the event and provided the opening statement. Reiterating his goals to uphold a stable relationship between the two nations, Ambassador Han has high hopes for Hyundais venture in the Philippines. HARI is king, so I believe that Hyundai will be king of all vehicles in the Philippines. HARI also established a Dream Center in Laguna. HARI will continue to give pag-asa to the Philippines with this wonderful dream center, Ambassador Han said, referencing Hyundais training center for scholars in Calamba, Laguna that opened last year. Hyundai now accounts for more than eight percent of the market share in the Philippines. This year, I hope Hyundai will increase its market share up to 10 percent. Its a modest number, he added. After Ambassador Han, HARI President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Fe Perez-Agudo took to the stage. Welcome to Hyundai Rockology, a play on rock and technology, capturing the essence of the Hyundai brand. Always looking to do things differently. Always evolving to exceed our customers expectation. Like the music that challenged norms, gets you out of your comfort zone. You have fun, you get moving in a real party. And this party is all about you, Perez-Agudo told the audience. Wilbert Tan for CARMUDI PHILIPPINES Perez-Agudo then proceeded to unveil both cars. Introducing the 2019 Kona Electric, Perez- Agudo dubbed it as Hyundais first electric SUV. As the brother of the award-winning Kona, the electric version is filled with smart and environment-friendly technology, she said. Story continues Perez-Agudo described the next car, the Palisade, as an SUV that eschews a harmony of basic design elements that in terms of proportion, architecture, styling and technology, a synergy between form and function. She also expects the Palisade to set a new standard for SUVs. HARI has priced the Hyundai Kona Electric at PHP2.388 million and the Hyundai Palisade at PHP3.24 million. The post MIAS 2019: Hyundai Rockology Shows Off Hyundai Kona Electric, Hyundai Palisade appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. The British pound retreated Friday after London requested another extension in the long-running Brexit saga while global stocks rose modestly on US-China trade talk hopes and solid US jobs data. British Prime Minister Theresa May asked the European Union to delay Britain's departure until June 30, while the bloc itself suggested that it might be best to postpone the split for up to a year. As so often before, sheer uncertainty over Britain's future weighed on sterling but the currency's downside was limited by expectations that the exit from the EU will be softened by some kind of agreement with the bloc. "As far as most currency traders are concerned the chances of a no-deal remain remote -- but at the same time a satisfactory outcome anytime soon also seems highly unlikely," said XTB analyst David Cheetham. In stock market deals London gained solidly as the pound slid, while Paris and Frankfurt had only small gains to show for the day's trading. Wall Street stocks climbed after the Labor Department reported that the US added 196,000 net new positions last month, well above expectations, while the jobless rate held steady at 3.8 percent. Analysts viewed the report as highly favorable to stocks because it lessened fears of a profound economic slowdown. At the same time, wage inflation moderated, reducing the chances the Federal Reserve will shift to a more hawkish posture. "The jobs report was just perfect for equities," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. The S&P 500 closed the week with a gain of 2.1 percent, lifting its total advance in 2019 to 15.4 percent. - Lingering optimism on trade - Asian equity indices mostly rose in holiday-thinned trade on hopes that China and the United States will hammer out a trade deal after both sides sounded notes of optimism. With top negotiators from the world's top two economies huddled down in Washington for three days of talks, there has been a growing sense they are close to an agreement to end a stand-off that battered global equities last year. However, Trump himself stopped short of saying a deal was certain. "I don't want to predict a deal or not a deal, but we're very well along," the US president said Friday. "We have really negotiated probably the two hardest points." Among individual stocks, Tesla Motors advanced 2.7 percent, winning back some of Thursday's 8.2 percent drop following weak first-quarter auto deliveries. Tesla's advance came after a federal judge on Thursday directed the company's chief executive, Elon Musk, to meet with officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission after the agency asked the court to find Musk in contempt for allegedly flouting a settlement with the agency. Boeing fell 2.3 percent in after-hours trading after it announced it was cutting its production schedule of its 737 aircraft to 42 planes per month, down from 52 per month, starting in mid-April. The move comes as the global fleet of 737 MAX planes has been grounded following two deadly crashes. - Key figures around 2040 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 26,424.99 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.5 percent at 2,892.74 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 7,938.69 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,446.87 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.2 percent at 12,009.75 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.2 percent at 5,476.20 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,447.47 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 21,807.50 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: Closed for a public holiday Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a public holiday Oil - Brent Crude: UP 94 cents at 70.34 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 98 cents at $63.08 per barrel Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3035 from $1.3077 at 2100 GMT on Thursday Euro/pound: UP at 86.05 pence from 85.81 pence Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1216 from $1.1221 Dollar/yen: UP at 111.70 yen from 111.66 yen burs-jmb/dg By Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told China on Thursday to "lay off" an island occupied by Manila in the disputed South China Sea and said he would deploy his soldiers there if Beijing touches it. Duterte's remarks, which he said was not a warning but rather a word of advice to a friend, follow a statement made by the foreign affairs ministry calling the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing boats near Thitu island illegal. "I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pagasa because I have soldiers there. If you touch it, that's a different story. I will tell the soldiers 'prepare for suicide mission'," Duterte said in a speech, using the local name for Thitu. Duterte has repeatedly said he would not go to war with China because it would be suicide. The Philippines military has described the boats as a "suspected maritime militia". "Such actions, when not repudiated by the Chinese government, are deemed to have been adopted by it," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a rare rebuke of Beijing. Duterte, who has pursued warmer ties with China since taking office in 2016 in exchange for billions of dollars of pledged loans and investment, said he would not allow China to occupy Thitu island because it "belongs to us". The presence of the trawlers near Thitu island raises questions about their intent and role "in support of coercive objectives", the ministry said, days after the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest with China. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not refer directly to Manila's protest, but he said bilateral talks on the South China Sea held in the Philippines on Wednesday were "frank, friendly and constructive". Both sides reiterated that South China Sea issues should be resolved peacefully by parties directly involved, he said. The Philippines has monitored the Chinese boats from January to March this year, according to military data. Story continues "These are suspected maritime militia," Captain Jason Ramon, spokesman for the military's Western Command said this week. "There are times when they are just there without conducting fishing. At times, they are just stationary." The Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, a conduit for goods in excess of $3.4 trillion every year. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. "We call on concerned parties to desist from any action and activity that contravenes the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as these generate tension, mistrust and uncertainty, and threatens regional peace and stability," the Philippines ministry said. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured the Philippines it would come to its defence if it came under attack in the South China Sea. (Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Darren Schuettler and Alison Williams) Its difficult for farmers to pass on the additional costs from a carbon tax. Credit: Shutterstock When the Pan-Canadian Approach to Pricing Carbon Pollution was announced in October 2016, it was met with passionate responses, from supporters and those in opposition. Agricultural groups were quick to dismiss the announcement, condemning the federal government for imposing costs on their operations. Farmers in Western Canada were particularly incensed. After investing in zero-tillage practices that sequester massive amounts of carbon into the soil, they were still being forced to pay a tax. Understanding the likely effect of the tax is of course more nuanced. I've spent a significant amount of time on this issue, informing farmers and interest groups in the agricultural sector on what to expect with the new policy. How much will it cost? Amid the cacophony of complaint, common themes have emerged. The loudest complaints are understandably economic. Farmers produce a homogeneous product and sell into an international market. This is a perfect recipe for having zero control over the price to sell their output. This means that any additional costs incurred by farmers from a carbon tax, for example are difficult to pass on in the supply chain. To make matters worse, we're far from consensus on the extent of those additional costs, especially as the federal backstop (the policy that takes effect when provinces, including Saskatchewan, don't have their own plan) has only just been implemented. Farmers are exempt from most of the direct costs with the backstop policy, but indirect costs remain. The costs associated with the carbon-intensive transportation required to get the product to market will likely be the largest, followed by increases in heating expenses and, possibly, fertilizer. Both sides of the debate tend to bolster their arguments by pointing to British Columbia's experience with an agricultural carbon tax. When the tax was implemented in 2008, agricultural energy inputs such as diesel were not exempt. This naturally prompted concern about the sector's ability to remain competitive with international jurisdictions not subject to the tax a rational, justified concern. Later, economists Nicholas Rivers and Brandon Schaufele demonstrated that such concerns were likely overblown. Perhaps the study came too late, or perhaps the political power of the farm lobby was too strong to overcome, but in 2014, the sector was permanently exempted from the tax. Opposition to the tax has been fierce in the Prairie provinces. Credit: Shutterstock Diverging strategies on the Prairies The bulk of Canada's agricultural production occurs in the Prairie provinces where carbon tax opposition has been fierce. Saskatchewan is in the midst of a lawsuit challenging the authority of the federal government to impose such a tax, and several parties throughout the country have taken sides as intervenors in the case. Alberta, overruling the objections of its farm sector, imposed its own tax in advance of the federal announcement. In designing a custom tax policy, Alberta moved to protect its agricultural sector from the direct costs of the tax while still providing incentives to cut emissions. This level of flexibility has been removed in the latest iteration of the federal backstop, constraining provinces that have not yet adopted carbon pricing to a much narrower range of choices. Alberta's system is far from perfect, but does more than the federal policy to reduce agricultural emissions. Misplaced focus? Neither B.C.'s progressive system, the flexible system of Alberta, nor the default federal backstop tax the largest source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, agriculture accounted for 8.5 per cent of Canada's emissions, and of that, carbon dioxide only accounted for four per cent. Nitrous oxide (48 per cent) and methane (48 per cent) make up the rest. Both are potent greenhouse gases. Preventing the emission of one kilogram of nitrous oxide can be much less costly than preventing 300 kilograms of carbon dioxide. But a well-understood fact from environmental regulation suggests that an optimal policy induces change at the lowest possible cost. Taxpayers benefit more from greenhouse gas reductions that cost $15 per kilogram compared to those that cost $30. The current federal policy does not facilitate this lowest possible cost arrangement, nor was it designed to. The idea was for each province to construct a plan suited to its economy and energy generation sources, not to act as a one-size-fits-all for a country as diverse as Canada. For provinces with large agricultural sectors, the lowest-cost option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions may very well be in agriculture. But the political strength of the sector makes such policies difficult to envision. Can Canada reach its climate goals without incentivizing meaningful emissions reductions in agriculture? Perhaps in the first few years of the policy. But for the most cost-effective reductions, we need agriculture to play a role. Explore further Why the carbon tax will cost some Maritimes families more than others This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A comparison of an unpolarized parton distribution function using an ensemble from a phenomenological determination made from experiment (green) versus an ensemble from this teams calculation on Titan (blue) at momentum 1.4 Gigaelectron volts. Credit: Constantia Alexandrou, University of Cyprus At the turn of the 20th century, scientists discovered that atoms were composed of smaller particles. They found that inside each atom, negatively charged electrons orbit a nucleus made of positively charged protons and neutral particles called neutrons. This discovery led to research into atomic nuclei and subatomic particles. An understanding of these particles' structures provides crucial insights about the forces that hold matter together and enables researchers to apply this knowledge to other scientific problems. Although electrons have been relatively straightforward to study, protons and neutrons have proved more challenging. Protons are used in medical treatments, scattering experiments, and fusion energy, but nuclear scientists have struggled to precisely measure their underlying structureuntil now. In a recent paper, a team led by Constantia Alexandrou at the University of Cyprus modeled the location of one of the subatomic particles inside a proton, using only the basic theory of the strong interactions that hold matter together rather than assuming these particles would act as they had in experiments. The researchers employed the 27-petaflop Cray XK7 Titan supercomputer at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) and a method called lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The combination allowed them to map subatomic particles on a grid and calculate interactions with high accuracy and precision. "Being able to perform these calculations and precisely quantify the interactions among the particles in a proton is essential to gaining a better understanding of the proton and a better understanding of lattice QCD as a whole," Alexandrou said. "For example, if we find something new from these types of calculations that is not shown in experiment, we might need to reevaluate our theoretical concepts. That would be a significant finding, of course." Only a leadership-class system such as the OLCF's Titan is capable of executing such heavy QCD calculations in a practical amount of time, the team said. The OLCF is a US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "Titan was perfect for us because of its hybrid architecture," Alexandrou said. "We would not have managed to do this calculation without this kind of capability." The feat is significant because modeling the proton structure from lattice QCD will provide important information about how matter is held together at the subatomic scale. A deeper understanding of QCD could also allow researchers to explore the nature of the early universe or even point toward new physics beyond current understanding. A disappearing act During a high-energy particle collision, an electron smashes into a proton, shaking up the proton's fundamental components and then bouncing off. The proton is made up of three elementary particlescalled quarksas well as the gluon particles that act as carriers of the "strong force" that binds the quarks tightly together like a bag of marbles. The quarksor "partons," as they were originally termed in 1969 by physicist Richard Feynmanexchange momentum with the electron at the point of contact. When a quark gets "knocked out of the bag," something interesting happens. Rather than revealing itself to the observer, the quark is immediately paired with an antiquark created from the vacuum of space, rendering the particle colorless, meaning it cannot be observed. Scientists, however, can use lattice QCD calculations to find out where the parton may beand from where it may have come. Lattice QCD allows for quarks to be positioned on grid points and gluons to be positioned on the links between these points. By using Monte Carlo statistical sampling methods, advanced algorithms, and large computers, scientists can accurately sample the QCD vacuum, the state at which matter has the lowest amount of energy. Supercomputing is essential to lattice QCD because the larger the grid is and the closer together the grid points are, the more accurate the simulations can be. Using experimental data, scientists can deduce where a parton might be, but calculating its location from scratch proves more difficult because it requires massive high-performance computing resources. The team, in collaboration with researchers at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron-Zeuthen and Temple University, used lattice QCD and a method developed by Xiangdong Ji at the University of Maryland and Shanghai Jiao Tong University to identify the probable locations for a parton using only the underlying theoretical framework of the strong interactionsa capability that can help them understand more precisely what is inside a proton. "Studying the properties of protons is difficult because you cannot break them up and study them," Alexandrou said, explaining that the strong force binds quarks so tightly within a proton that scientists must study the interior interactions to gain new insights. "Any composite system in nature, up until now, we could break. But we can never, ever break the proton, so we have to study the particles inside it." Gaining momentum with supercomputing The complexity of the problem meant the researchers had to perform a number of steps to reach an answer. The first step was to accurately simulate the QCD vacuum. Using the SuperMUC computer in Germany, the group simulated the gluons, quarks, and antiquarks in a vacuum full of negative-energy particles known as the Dirac sea. The entire vacuum measured about 5 cubic femtometers (1 femtometer is 10-15 meters). For comparison, one femtometer is 300 billion times smaller than the width of a grain of salt. Next, Aurora Scapellato, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow at the University of Cyprus, performed calculations on Titan that showed what happens to a proton when an electron ejects energy to it. The problem is additionally complicated by the fact that the proton must have a large amount of momentum while it is being measured. The team used a code called QUDAor QCD on CUDA, a library for lattice QCD calculations on GPUsto perform thousands of measurements over a 2-year allocation through the Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment program. Ten years ago, the number of calculations using previous architectures would have been limited to around a hundred within the same time frame. "It's incredible how many more calculations we are able to do with Titan," Alexandrou said. "We need even more calculations before we can begin doing simulations that are more accurate than experiment. And the ultimate goal is to find out something we don't yet know." The team has been running simulations on bigger lattices and hopes to take the project to the next level with even more momentum. A larger amount of momentum will provide more accuracybut only if there is enough computation to properly control for errors. Performing these kinds of calculations could give scientists a comprehensive picture of the proton's structure and interactions. The method also has the potential to be applied to other particles. "Eventually, these calculations are going to be useful for guiding experimentalists," Alexandrou said. "If we have detailed information about the proton, we can tell experimentalists what to measure, what not to measure, where to look, and where not to look. And through this process, we may even discover something completely new." Explore further Physicists calculate proton's pressure distribution for first time More information: Constantia Alexandrou et al. Light-Cone Parton Distribution Functions from Lattice QCD, Physical Review Letters (2018). Journal information: Physical Review Letters Constantia Alexandrou et al. Light-Cone Parton Distribution Functions from Lattice QCD,(2018). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.112001 Green Analytical Chemistry. Credit: The Royal Society of Chemistry, Mihkel Koel, Mihkel Kaljurand Compared to the human eye, a spectrometer can be certainly regarded as a scientific instrument. Production and marketing of scientific equipment have now become a profitable industry. Some 100 to 150 years ago, chemists performed most solution analyses observationally. The colour of the solution and its intensity indicated the proportion of the substance in the solution. It took another 20 years to invent the first optical spectrometer. The chromatograph/mass spectrometer is a recent invention. Production and marketing of scientific equipment has now become a profitable industry. Today, a simpler spectrometer used only for laboratory measurements costs 10,000 to 15,000 euros, and it is updated almost every year. Equipment manufacturers entice researchers with new and more attractive models. But are constant upgrades justified? After all, the technology used for standard chemical measurements has often remained unchanged for decades, and the emergence of new instruments on the market does not necessarily mean a significant quality leap in measurement. Researcher Mihkel Koel of the School of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology says, "Being green chemists, we are battling to reduce the ecological footprint of chemical measurements. Measurement results of the same quality can often be obtained faster by e.g. a 500 euro cell phone. In the outdoor environment and in the circumstances requiring a rapid result, we can obtain a completely reliable result by using a free mobile application rather than expensive instruments." It is the fundamental principle of green chemistry to obtain measurement results quickly and as easily as possible by practising green and sustainable methods. Professor Emeritus of the School of Science Mihkel Kaljurand says that it is obvious that the industrial enterprises have no particular interest in providing less costly alternatives. "Why should they do that? It is easier and more profitable to go along with the increasing consumer frenzy and encourage consumerism when acquiring scientific equipment," Kaljurand says. It is usually claimed that a time-consuming analysis performed with expensive instrumentation is more convincing. According to the scientists, most basic chemical analyses could be carried out with simpler tools, especially in medical institutions and research centres, where the costs often exceed the actual needs. The ultimate goal of green analytical chemistry, however, is to develop chemical measurements to such a level that anyone can perform analysis that is of interest by using an inexpensive sensor integrated into a user's cell phone, for instance. Examples of technology allowing consumers to check the quality of food in a store can already be found in professional literature. Professor Miguel de la Guardia from the University of Valencia refers to this development as democratization of analytical chemistry. The chemists Koel and Kaljurand have been engaged in the research of green scientific equipment and chemical analysis since 2006. The topic was discussed in detail in the book "Green Analytical Chemistry," written by the scientists and published in 2010 by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The book was so popular that the publisher ordered a revised edition from the scientists, which reached readers in April 2019. In the revised edition, miniaturization and use of modern smart materials in today's chemical analysis are discussed. Explore further Unique technology for creating microdroplets More information: Green Analytical Chemistry. Green Analytical Chemistry. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/ebook/978-1-78801-486-1 Provided by Estonian Research Council Credit: Brown University A recent study of centuries-old French-Canadian genealogical data by a Brown University economist revealed evidence that supports his own 17-year-old theory that natural selection played a pivotal role in the emergence of economic growth and industrialization. Oded Galor, a professor of economics at Brown, and Marc Klemp, a visiting scholar in Brown's Population Studies and Training Center, together studied genealogical records from Quebec's Saint Lawrence Valley dating from 1608 to 1800. Focusing on changes in families' fecundity, or predisposition toward fertility, they found that in those centuries, those who were able to conceive a child shortly after marriagea measure of fecundityhad more surviving children. However, the study found, those who conceived months after marriagea measure of more moderate fecundityhad fewer children but a larger number of surviving descendants in future generations, giving them the evolutionary upper hand. The researchers also noted that the population they studied became increasingly less predisposed toward high fertility over the course of those two centuries. Galor says the study results, published on Monday, April 1, in Nature Ecology & Evolution, lend credence to what he and a colleague had surmised in a highly influential 2002 paperthat during the pre-industrial era, the natural selection of those who were genetically predisposed toward having fewer children was instrumental in spurring industrialization and sustained economic growth. "The data suggest that over time, nature selected individuals who had a predisposition to invest in their children," Galor said. "This contributed to the transition from an epoch of stagnation to an era of sustained economic growth." Before the Industrial Revolution began in North America in the mid-1700s, Galor explained, humanity lived in what he calls the Malthusian epoch. For thousands of years, humanity had a predisposition toward high fertility. Galor and Kemp's study shows that the pattern began to change in the pre-industrial era, when those with more moderate levels of fecundity began to gain an evolutionary advantage. By the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, their advantage had grown so large that the high-fecundity population became the minority, while those with moderate fecundity started to dominate the population. Galor argues that this change created ideal conditions for economic growth during the Industrial Revolution. As evolution began to favor families who were less fertile and thus had fewer children, those families had more resources to devote to each child. Children who came from these families became more educatedan important trait, he says, in an era that demanded greater cognitive ability and creativity for technological advances. The population gradually became more educated, creating a "positive feedback loop" between education and technology and generating sustained economic growth. "The fundamental building block in our hypothesis, that natural selection was critical for the emergence of economic growth, is now supported by the evidence," Galor said of the 2002 paper. "We show that although higher fecundity maximized the number of surviving children someone would have after one generation, moderate fecundityand therefore greater predisposition toward child qualitygenerated higher reproductive success in the long run and was selected by nature in the pre-industrial period." To reach their conclusion, the researchers chose to focus on an extensive genealogical record of nearly half a million individuals in a particular area of Quebec, where nearly every citizen's birth, marriage and death was recorded in Catholic parish registers between 1608 and 1800. Given the time period and the region's religious uniformity, the researchers could safely assume that for most, marriage signaled a deliberate attempt to conceive children. They ensured their findings weren't driven by stray exceptions in the datasetfor example, those who married much later in life or whose genetics predisposed them to infertility. The results of the analysisthat those who successfully conceived a few months after marriage, rather than immediately afterward, had more surviving descendants in the long termmirror preliminary results from another analysis Galor and Klemp conducted using records in Britain between 1541 and 1871. Galor says this suggests the phenomenon may have extended beyond Quebec and Britain, as he posited in 2002. "My hope," he said, "is that this study will spur further interest in exploring the role of evolutionary processes in economic development." More information: Oded Galor et al, Human genealogy reveals a selective advantage to moderate fecundity, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2019). Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Oded Galor et al, Human genealogy reveals a selective advantage to moderate fecundity,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0846-x The governments of France, Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom as well as the United Arab Emirates have expressed deep concern over fighting in Libya and urged all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, which are hindering prospects for UN political mediation. In a joint statement issued Thursday, the five countries said at this sensitive moment in Libyas transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos. We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict. Our governments oppose any military action in Libya and will hold accountable any Libyan faction that precipitates further civil conflict, added the statement. The five countries voiced their backing to UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salame as the UN seeks to break Libyas political deadlock, improve transitional governance, and chart a path toward credible and peaceful elections. They called on all Libyan actors to work constructively with SRSG Salame as the UN finalizes plans for the national conference planned for April 1416. The UN Security Council will hold this Friday a closed-door emergency meeting on the situation in Libya after Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops to launch an offensive on Tripoli, vowing to liberate it from all illegal armed groups. Prime Minister of Tripolis Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj ordered all military units controlled by him to be on full combat alert, giving the green light to airstrikes in order to defend the civilian population and crucial facilities. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the conflicting sides to stop all Contact military movements. He is planning to meet with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar on the situation in the country amid the armys offensive against the capital. To protect against toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents, researchers are creating textile coatings using water-stable metal-organic frameworks. Credit: North Carolina State University A new coating for textile fibers shows promise for efficiently capturing toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents under real-world conditions, including high humidity. The research could lead to improved masks and personal protective equipment for soldiers and others at risk of exposure. Researchers at North Carolina State University and the U.S. Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (CCDC CBC) developed functional textiles that neutralized a blistering agent simulant under conditions of 80 percent relative humidity. The new coating also captured ammonia gas, a commonly produced industrial chemical in the U.S. "For more than a century, we've had threats from chemical warfare agents, from chlorine and mustard gas in World War I to recent attacks against civilians in Syria," says Dennis T. Lee, a recent Ph.D. recipient at NC State and lead author of an article about the work. "We need to find ways to capture and chemically break down toxic gases for practical, better-performing protective equipment." Researchers worked with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) coatings that are synthesized over microfibers. There are two significant challenges. The first lies in creating MOFs that can remain stable in the presence of moisture while holding the hazardous compounds in a thin film, a process known as adsorption/absorption. The second is achieving a coating that's effective in degrading toxic chemicals. The team created a water-stable copper (Cu)-based MOF film. Instead of working with a powder source, researchers used a solid film deposited on the fiber, which captured three times more ammonia gas than the same MOF powder. Electron microscope images showed MOFs in crystal formations that grew out radially from the fiber a distinctive shape that hadn't been previously reported. The MOFs bonded strongly with the surface of the polypropylene fibers, resisting flaking when handled in the lab and when swept with a nylon brush. "This alignment formed a dense coating on the fibers, with better integration and adhesion to the surface, and improved adsorptive performance for hazardous gases," Lee says. The new MOF-coated composites have potential to be used as a base film in protective textiles, Lee says. The method would also be suitable for use in smart textiles that have multiple functions, such as sensors, he adds. Future plans call for testing the new materials with real chemical warfare agents, working with U.S. Army experts at the CCDC CBC. The article, "Water-Stable Chemical-Protective Textiles via Euhedral Surface-Oriented 2-D Cu-TCPP Metal-Organic Frameworks," is published in the journal Small. Explore further 'Nano-kebab' fabric breaks down chemical warfare agents More information: Dennis T. Lee et al. Water-Stable Chemical-Protective Textiles via Euhedral Surface-Oriented 2D Cu-TCPP Metal-Organic Frameworks, Small (2019). Journal information: Small Dennis T. Lee et al. Water-Stable Chemical-Protective Textiles via Euhedral Surface-Oriented 2D Cu-TCPP Metal-Organic Frameworks,(2019). DOI: 10.1002/smll.201805133 The world's biggest social network first began looking into its influence on elections after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election Facebook will block election advertising from outside Australia ahead of polls next month, in the wake of growing criticism of the social media giant's role in the spread of disinformation. The restrictionsalready rolled out for polls in other countries such as Thailand and Indonesiawill come into force when the government announces the election date in the coming days. "We're temporarily not allowing electoral ads purchased from outside Australia ahead of the election in May," Facebook's Australia and New Zealand policy director Mia Garlick said in a statement. "The restriction... will apply to ads we determine to be coming from foreign entities that are of an electoral nature, meaning they contain references to politicians, parties or election suppression. "We also won't allow foreign ads that include political slogans and party logos." Facebook said it has introduced restrictions on foreign electoral ads in countries including Nigeria, Ukraine, Thailand, Indonesia, and Ireland around its May 2018 referendum on abortion. For the European Parliamentary elections, it requires advertisers to be authorised in their country to run ads related to the vote. The world's biggest social network first began looking into its influence on elections after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election. Critics have accused the US firm of being too slow to act. AFP has a global fact-checking network that is dedicated to verifying and debunking disinformation spread online. Some of this content is flagged on Facebook, as part of a contract between AFP and the social media company. AFP's collaboration with Facebook has just been extended to Australia. Explore further Facebook prohibits foreign-funded ads for Indonesia election 2019 AFP France has been driving hard for a new so-called "GAFA tax"named after Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazonto ensure the global giants pay a fair share of taxes on their massive business operations in Europe France will stick to plans for a tax on digital giants such as Facebook and Apple, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday, despite angry opposition from Washington. Last month, France unveiled draft legislation to set a three percent tax on digital advertising, the sale of personal data and other revenue for any technology company that earns more than 750 million euros ($841 million) worldwide each year. The effort comes amid rising public outrage at the minimal tax paid by some of the world's richest firms which base operations in jurisdictions that charge low rates. "We are determined to implement a tax on the largest digital companies to bring more justice and efficiency to the international tax system," Le Maire said as he arrived in Bucharest for talks with his eurozone counterparts. "All states take their own free and sovereign decisions on tax matters," Le Maire added. France drafted the law after a European Union-wide effort it championed was scuttled by low-tax countries such as Ireland, where big technology firms have set up their EU headquarters. Other countries are considering following France's lead including Britain, Spain, Austria and Italy. US opposition Le Maire spoke just hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised his objections to the tax as he met French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Washington. Pompeo said the tax would hurt US companies "and the French citizens who use them," according to the State Department. The US has opened several fronts against the tax, announcing in March that Washington was considering a complaint to the World Trade Organisation that the levy was discriminatory. Big tech's lobby in Brussels also assailed the tax in an email to AFP. "Instead of adopting a discriminatory national digital tax, which conflicts with EU state aid rules and upsets trade relations, France should lead efforts for a more ambitious, global tax reform," the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) said. France's Le Maire insisted that Paris was also in favour of a global solution and would work closely with the US to draw up a tax reform at the OECD, the organisation of advanced economies, including China. This was the "better solution", Le Maire said, adding that he would hold talks with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin next month to accelerate this process. "I hope that by 2020 we can reach an agreement within the OECD," Le Maire said. Explore further France tries to set trend with internet tax bill 2019 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers from several institutions in the U.K. has found evidence that suggests some seabirds may benefit from the existence of human-built offshore structures. In their paper published in the journal Communications Biology, the group describes their study of foraging seabirds in a tidal channel near Northern Ireland and what they learned. As we look for ways to replace energy sources such as gasoline with renewables such as solar, wind and hydro, conservationists worry that we might be causing harm to the environment. Birds being killed by wind turbines or fried by solar farms are well-known examples. But building renewable structures offshore might actually be helping some wildlife, the researchers found. They conducted a study of a type of seabird as it foraged around a man-made structure jutting up from the seaa decommissioned tidal energy turbine just off the coast of Strangford Lough in a channel that empties into the Irish Sea. The study started with the knowledge that terns tend to forage for fish over parts of the sea where there is some bit of turbulencewater moving around objects is forced to move up in some scenarios, bringing fish with it, making them easy prey for terns. The researchers refer to such turbulence as a wake. To find out if man-made objects might provide the same benefits, the researchers used drones to watch terns forage around the abandoned tidal energy turbine, around a small island, and near a natural whirlpooleach forced seawater into a unique type of wake. The researchers report that they found the terns used all three sites as a hunting ground, but the man-made wake created by the tidal energy turbine was the clear favorite. They note that other studies have shown that wakes created by man-made objects are attractive to predators, but point out that theirs is the first example in which wildlife actually prefer them to natural sites. They suggest their findings indicate that adding more offshore structures is likely to have a larger impact on marine life than has been previously thought, and some of it can be positive. Explore further High flying birds at greater risk of collision with offshore wind turbines More information: Lilian Lieber et al. Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators, Communications Biology (2019). Lilian Lieber et al. Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0364-z 2019 Science X Network Chasm 1 in the Brunt Ice Shelf . Credit: Jan De Rydt Glaciology experts have issued evidence that a large section of the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica, which is home to the British Antarctic Survey's Halley Research Station, is about break off. The rifting started several years ago and is now approaching its final phase. In anticipation of the iceberg breaking away, the research station, which is currently unmanned, has been relocated to a safer location on the ice shelf, meaning there is no danger posed to personnel. The iceberg, measuring over 1,500 square kilometres - which is twice the size of New York City - is expected to break away from the Brunt Ice Shelf in as little as a few months, when two large cracks which have been growing over the past seven years meet. Now academics from Northumbria University, in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in collaboration with scientists from ENVEO, a remote sensing company in Austria, have submitted new research to the journal The Cryosphere, which shows that the break-off is part of the ice shelf's natural lifecycle, and that similar events may have occurred in the past. As Professor Hilmar Gudmundsson of Northumbria explains: "I have been carrying out research in this area for more than 15 years and have been monitoring the growth of the cracks since they first emerged in 2012. The edge of the Brunt Ice Shelf 2. Credit: Jan De Rydt, Northumbria University "Satellite images of the changes in the ice shelf have been shared online and there has been much speculation about the cause of this movement and the impact the iceberg will have when it breaks away. "However, what many people do not realise is that this is a natural process and something which has happened time and again. We recognise that climate change is a serious problem which is having an impact around the world, and particularly in the Antarctic. However, there is no indication from our research that this particular event is related to climate change. "We have been tracking the movement of the ice shelf for many years and our modelling indicates that this breakaway is entirely expected. That is why in 2014 we recommended that the Halley Research Station was moved to a new and safe location on the ice shelf. "Our field observations and modelling has meant that the station was safely relocated with no danger to the scientists using it and minimal disruption to the research taking place." The Halley VI Research Station. Credit: Jan De Rydt, Northumbria University The Brunt Ice Shelf is a large floating area of ice, around 150m to 250m thick, and is made up of freshwater ice which originally fell as snow further inland. The ice shelf rests on top of the Weddell Sea and flows off the mainland, moving outwards from the centre of Antarctica. As ice shelves are afloat, any icebergs that form as a result of fractures in the ice do not contribute to sea level rise. "Once the iceberg breaks away from the Brunt Ice Shelf it is likely to drift towards the west and slowly break up into smaller icebergs," explains Dr Jan De Rydt, also of Northumbria University. This isn't the first time a large piece of ice shelf has broken away in Antarctica. The Pine Island Ice Shelf in West Antarctica has seen several large sections break off in recent years, and the Larsen C Ice Shelf to the West of the Brunt Ice Shelf has lost a section more than 3,600 square miles due to calving when ice chunks break from the edge of a glacier in 2017. And there is historic evidence to show the Brunt Ice Shelf has seen similar large calving events in the past. As Professor Gudmundsson explains: "Maps drawn by Shackleton and Wordie during their expedition to the Brunt Ice Shelf in 1915 show that, at that time, the ice shelf was quite extended. However, by the time the Halley Research Station was established in the 1950s the reach of the ice shelf was much shorter, indicating that a large iceberg must have broken away at some point after 1915. This further backs up our research that this type of event is historically consistent and part of the natural cycle and movement of the ice shelf." Dr De Rydt and Professor Gudmundsson's paper, Calving cycle of the Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica, driven by changes in ice-shelf geometry, is currently undergoing peer review in the European Geosciences Union journal The Cryosphere. The paper is co-authored by Thomas Nagler and Jan Wuite of ENVEO (Environmental Earth Observation), in Innsbruck, Austria, who have worked closely with Professor Gudmundsson and Dr De Rydt during the research. ENVEO is a world-leader in processing satellite data for monitoring changes in the global snow and ice cover. The two teams have been collaborating together for several years on a number of projects, with scientists from ENVEO using satellite imagery to extract data about the changing speed of the ice shelf, which is then shared with researchers at Northumbria University for modelling and interpretation. Dr Jan Wuite of ENVEO said: "Thanks to the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites we can now continuously monitor the movement of the ice shelf and the propagation of the cracks in great detail and in near real-time. These observational data are very useful for improving existing ice flow models." Dr Thomas Nagler of ENVEO added: "This work is the result of the long-lasting partnership between the glaciologists from Northumbria University and remote sensing experts from ENVEO, that has already led to several previous publications on Brunt Ice Shelf." Explore further Sentinels monitor converging ice cracks More information: Jan De Rydt et al. Calving cycle of the Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica, driven by changes in ice-shelf geometry, The Cryosphere Discussions (2019). Jan De Rydt et al. Calving cycle of the Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica, driven by changes in ice-shelf geometry,(2019). DOI: 10.5194/tc-2019-46 Credit: CC0 Public Domain The Maryland General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday night to a bill that would make Maryland the first state in the country to ban polystyrene foam food containers and cups. The House of Delegates voted 100-37 to approve the legislation sponsored by Del. Brooke Lierman, a Baltimore Democrat. It was Lierman's third attempt to pass the bill. "After three years of hard work, I'm thrilled to see Maryland be a leader in the fight to end our reliance on single-use plastics that are polluting our state, country and world by passing a bill to prohibit foam food containers," Lierman said. "The health of the Chesapeake Bay, our waterways, our neighborhoods and our children's futures depends on our willingness to do the hard work of cleaning the mess that we inherited and created." The legislation had already passed the state Senate by a 31-13 vote. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Cheryl Kagan, a Montgomery County Democrat. The measure now advances to the desk of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who has not taken a position yet on whether he would sign the bill. The bill passed both chambers with more than enough votes to override a veto should the governor issue one. The legislation contains some exceptions. For example, foam products packaged outside Marylandsuch as cups containing ramen noodlescould still be sold. Also exempted are foam products used to package raw or butchered meat and foam products not used for food service. The ban would take effect July 1, 2020. County officials would be in charge of enforcing the ban, and could issue $250 fines. The measure is among the priorities of Democratic leaders of the General Assembly. Several local governments in Maryland, including Prince George's and Montgomery counties and most recently Anne Arundel County, have already banned foam products. Critics of the statewide legislation expressed concern that a ban would cause difficulty or increased expenses for farmers, small businesses and nonprofit organizations. They said alternatives to foam are more costly. At a hearing on the bill, Josh Young, a lobbyist for the American Chemistry Council, the industry's trade group, called the ban a "harsh action" and said Maryland would be the "only state to ban an entire class of safe and effective products." Supporters countered that foam products are not easily recyclable and don't break down in the environment, making them a particularly difficult form of litter to deal with. To emphasize that point, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore had celebrated House passage of the ban by announcing that Mr. Trash Wheel, the garbage and flotsam collector at the mouth of the Jones Falls in the Inner Harbor, has scooped more than 1 million bits of polystyrene since it was launched in 2014. Explore further Maryland gives OK to bill to protect bees from pesticides 2019 The Baltimore Sun Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In this Monday, March 11, 2019 file photo, rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines flight encountered problems with their new Boeing jetliner from nearly the moment they roared down the runway and took off. Ethiopian authorities issued a preliminary report Thursday, April 4, 2019, on the March 10 crash. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene, File) From nearly the moment they roared down the runway and took off in their new Boeing jetliner, the pilots of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 encountered problems with the plane. Almost immediately, a device called a stick shaker began vibrating the captain's control column, warning him that the plane might be about to stall and fall from the sky. For six minutes, the pilots were bombarded by alarms as they fought to fly the plane, at times pulling back in unison on their control columns in a desperate attempt to keep the huge jet aloft. Ethiopian authorities issued a preliminary report Thursday on the March 10 crash that killed 157 people. They found that a malfunctioning sensor sent faulty data to the Boeing 737 Max 8's anti-stall system and triggered a chain of events that ended in a crash so violent it reduced the plane to shards and pieces. The pilots' struggle, and the tragic ending, mirrored an Oct. 29 crash of a Lion Air Max 8 off the coast of Indonesia, which killed 189 people. The anti-stall system, called MCAS, automatically lowers the plane's nose under some circumstances to prevent an aerodynamic stall. Boeing acknowledged that a sensor in the Ethiopian Airlines jet malfunctioned, triggering MCAS when it was not needed. The company repeated that it is working on a software upgrade to fix the problem in its best-selling plane. "It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk," CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a video. "We own it, and we know how to do it." In this March 11, 2019, file photo, wreckage is piled at the crash scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight crash near Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines flight encountered problems with their new Boeing jetliner from nearly the moment they roared down the runway and took off. A preliminary report on Thursday, April 4, 2019, by Ethiopian investigators reveals a minute-by-minute narrative of the gripping and confusing scene in the cockpit. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene, File) Jim Hall, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the preliminary findings add urgency to re-examine the way that the Federal Aviation Administration uses employees of aircraft manufacturers to conduct safety-related tasks, including tests and inspectionsa decades-old policy that raises questions about the agency's independence and is now under review by the U.S. Justice Department, the Transportation Department's inspector general and congressional committees. "It is clear now that the process itself failed to produce a safe aircraft," Hall said. "The focus now is to see if there were steps that were skipped or tests that were not properly done." The 33-page preliminary report, which is subject to change in the coming months, is based on information from the plane's flight data and cockpit voice recorders, the so-called black boxes. It includes a minute-by-minute narrative of a gripping and confusing scene in the cockpit. Just one minute into Flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi in neighboring Kenya, the captain, Yared Getachew, reported that they were having flight-control problems. Then the anti-stall system kicked in and pushed the nose of the plane down for nine seconds. Instead of climbing, the plane descended slightly. Audible warnings"Don't Sink"sounded in the cockpit. The pilots fought to turn the nose of the plane up, and briefly they were able to resume climbing. But the automatic anti-stall system pushed the nose down again, triggering more squawks of "Don't Sink" from the plane's ground-proximity warning system. In tis Wednesday, March 13, 2019 file photo, a grieving relative who lost his wife in the crash is helped by a member of security forces and others at the scene where the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after takeoff on Sunday killing all 157 on board, near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia. Pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines flight encountered problems with their new Boeing jetliner from nearly the moment they roared down the runway and took off. Ethiopian authorities issued a preliminary report Thursday, April 4, 2019, on the March 10 crash. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene, File) Following a procedure that Boeing reiterated after the Lion Air crash, the Ethiopian pilots flipped two switches and disconnected the anti-stall system, then tried to regain control. They asked to return to the Addis Ababa airport, but were continuing to struggle getting the plane to gain altitude. Then they broke with Boeing procedure and returned power to controls including the anti-stall system, perhaps hoping to use power to adjust a tail surface that controls the pitch up or down of a plane, or maybe out of sheer desperation. One final time, the automated system kicked in, pushing the plane into a nose dive, according to the report. A half-minute later, the cockpit voice recording ended, the plane crashed, and all 157 people on board were killed. The plane's impact left a crater 10 meters deep. The Max is Boeing's newest version of its workhorse single-aisle jetliner, the 737, which dates to the 1960s. Fewer than 400 Max jets have been sent to airlines around the world, but Boeing has taken orders for 4,600 more. Boeing delivered this particular plane, tail number ET-AVJ, to Ethiopian Airlines in November. By the day of Flight 302, it had made nearly 400 flights and been in the air for 1,330 hoursstill very new by airline standards. In tis Saturday, March 23, 2019 file photo, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 sits grounded at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines flight encountered problems with their new Boeing jetliner from nearly the moment they roared down the runway and took off. A preliminary report on Thursday, April 4, 2019, by Ethiopian investigators reveals a minute-by-minute narrative of the gripping and confusing scene in the cockpit before the March 10 crash. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene, File) The pilots were young, too, and between them they had a scant 159 hours of flying time on the Max. The captain, Getachew, was just 29 but had accumulated more than 8,000 hours of flying since completing work at the airline's training academy in 2010. He had flown more than 1,400 hours on Boeing 737s but just 103 hours on the Max. That may not be surprising, given that Ethiopian Airlines had just five of the planes, including ET-AVJ. The co-pilot, Ahmed Nur Mohammod Nur, was only 25 and was granted a license to fly the 737 and the Max on Dec. 12 of last year. He had logged just 361 flight hoursnot enough to be hired as a pilot at a U.S. airline. Of those hours, 207 were on 737s, including 56 hours on Max jets. Thursday's preliminary report found that both pilots performed all the procedures recommended by Boeing on the March 10 flight but still could not control the jet. While Boeing continues to work on its software update, Max jets remain grounded worldwide. The CEO said the company is taking "a comprehensive, disciplined approach" to fixing the flight-control software. But some critics, including Hall, the former NTSB chairman, question why the work has taken so long. "Don't you think if Boeing knew what the fix was, we would have the fix by now?" he said. "They said after the Lion Air accident there was going to be a fix, yet there was a second accident with no fix. Now, in response to the worldwide reaction, the plane is grounded and there is still not a fix." Explore further Ethiopian Airlines says pilots got appropriate training 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Research published this week in Science Advances shows that it may be possible to create rocket fuel that is much cleaner and safer than the hypergolic fuels that are commonly used today. And still just as effective. The new fuels use simple chemical "triggers" to unlock the energy of one of the hottest new materials, a class of porous solids known as metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs. MOFs are made up of clusters of metal ions and an organic molecule called a linker. Satellites and space stations that remain in orbit for a considerable amount of time rely on hypergols, fuels that are so energetic they will immediately ignite in the presence of an oxidizer (since there is no oxygen to support combustion beyond the Earth's atmosphere). The hypergolic fuels that are currently mainly in use depend on hydrazine, a highly toxic and dangerously unstable chemical compound made up of a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. Hydrazine-based fuels are so carcinogenic that people who work with it need to get suited up as though they were preparing for space travel themselves. Despite precautions, around 12,000 tons of hydrazine fuels end up being released into the atmosphere every year by the aerospace industry. "This is a new, cleaner approach to making highly combustible fuels, that are not only significantly safer than those currently in use, but they also respond or combust very quickly, which is an essential quality in rocket fuel," says Tomislav Friscic. He is a professor in the Chemistry Department at McGill, and co-senior author on the paper along with former McGill researcher Robin D. Rogers. Research published this week in Science Advances shows that it may be possible to create rocket fuel that is much cleaner and safer than the hypergolic fuels that are commonly used today. And still just as effective. Credit: McGill University "Although we are still in the early stages of working with these materials in the lab, these results open up the possibility of developing a class of new, clean and highly tunable hypergolic fuels for the aerospace industry," says the first author, Hatem Titi, a post-doctoral fellow who works in Friscic's lab. Friscis is interested in commercializing this technology, and will work with McGill and Acsynam, an existing spin-off company from his laboratory, to make this happen. Explore further Greener fuels to propel rocket launches into space More information: "Hypergolic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) as next-generation solid fuels: Unlocking the latent energetic behavior of ZIFs" Science Advances (2019). advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/4/eaav9044 Journal information: Science Advances "Hypergolic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) as next-generation solid fuels: Unlocking the latent energetic behavior of ZIFs"(2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav9044 In this handout photo released by Whale Watching Russia on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2019, Captured marine mammals in a holding facility in Srednyaya Bay, dubbed as 'whale prisons', near the port of Nakhodka, Russian Far East. Russian officials say that nearly 100 illegally captured whales could be returned to the wild during the summer. Russian Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin says summer offers the most favorable conditions for release. (Whale Watching Russia via AP) Russian officials have invited a French ocean explorer to offer advice on how to safely release nearly 100 illegally captured whales, voicing hope that the animals could be let into the wild during summer. Jean-Michel Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society arrived Friday in Russia's Far East on a mission to inspect the mammals and help create conditions for them to be released. Cousteau, son of famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, has voiced concern about the animals' condition and offered his help to the Russian government. The whales' condition has drawn international concern, and President Vladimir Putin has ordered authorities to investigate the case and release the animals. Russian prosecutors have brought criminal charges against four companies keeping the whales. Whales are worth a fortune on the black market, and local environmental activists suspected that they were captured for sale to amusements parks in China. Russian law only allows for the capture of whales for "scientific" purposes. Regional Gov. Oleg Kozhemyako met with Cousteau in Vladivostok, voicing hope that his experience will help "get a full picture on how to allow the animals to readapt to living in the wild." Before flying to the Far East, Cousteau met with Russian Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin in Moscow on Thursday. Kobylkin said summer offers the most favorable conditions for releasing 97 belugas and orcas. In this handout photo released by Whale Watching Russia on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2019, Captured marine mammals in a holding facility in Srednyaya Bay, dubbed as 'whale prisons', near the port of Nakhodka, Russian Far East. Russian officials say that nearly 100 illegally captured whales could be returned to the wild during the summer. Russian Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin says summer offers the most favorable conditions for release. (Whale Watching Russia via AP) "We couldn't release the animals in the winter, it would have simply killed them," Kobylkin said. "We can and must do this work in the coming summer." He emphasized that Russia would like to rely on international expertise to ensure the safe release of the mammals. "We want to do it as openly as possible," Kobylkin added. In this handout photo released by Whale Watching Russia on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2019, Captured marine mammals in a holding facility in Srednyaya Bay, calling as 'whale prisons', near the port of Nakhodka, Russian Far East. Russian officials say that nearly 100 illegally captured whales could be returned to the wild during the summer. Russian Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin says summer offers the most favorable conditions for release. (Whale Watching Russia via AP) Russian scientists estimate that the rehabilitation effort will cost about 300 million rubles (about $4.6 million). Activists first raised the alarm late last fall when 101 belugas and orcas were captured and placed in a marine containment facility that environmentalists have dubbed a "whale prison" near the far eastern port of Nakhodka. Local prosecutors have said that several of the mammals have escaped, but environmentalists said four animals likely died because of cramped conditions and low temperatures. In this handout photo released by Whale Watching Russia on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2019, Captured marine mammals in a holding facility in Srednyaya Bay, dubbed as 'whale prisons', near the port of Nakhodka, Russian Far East. Russian officials say that nearly 100 illegally captured whales could be returned to the wild during the summer. Russian Natural Resources Minister Dmitry Kobylkin says summer offers the most favorable conditions for release. (Whale Watching Russia via AP) In this video grab provided by the RU-RTR Russian television, Jean-Michel Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society speaks to the media in Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday, April 4, 2019 Russian officials say that nearly 100 illegally captured whales could be returned to the wild during the summer. Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society arrived Friday, April 5, 2019 in Russia's Far East on a mission to inspect the mammals and help create conditions for them to be released. Cousteau, son of famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, has voiced concern about the animals' condition and offered his help to the Russian government. (RU-RTR Russian Television/via AP) Explore further Activists sound alarm over Russia's whale trade 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. A palisade trapdoor spider of the new species E. turrificus walks across the rainforest floor near Maleny, Queensland. Credit: Jeremy Wilson, Author provided Several new species of trapdoor spiders found in Queensland are finally described in an article published this month in Invertebrate Systematics. But each of the new species occurs in only its own single, isolated patch of rainforest in southeastern Queensland, and nowhere else. Because these species have such tiny natural distributions, they are especially vulnerable to extinction. Unique spider burrows These newly described spiders have been given the common name palisade trapdoor spiders because of the strange and unique burrows they construct. The entrance to the burrow projects out from the surrounding soil like a miniature turret. Not only that, but each of the four new palisade trapdoor spider species constructs its own unique type of burrow. One species, found in national parkland near Gympie and known scientifically as Euoplos crenatus, constructs a particularly elaborate burrow. The hinged door that covers the burrow entrance is adorned with several rounded lobes which project from the door's circumference. This marvel of natural architecture is constructed by the spider using silk and soil. No other spider species in the world constructs something similar. The remarkable palisade burrows constructed by two different species of palisade trapdoor spider. The burrow entrances project from the surrounding soil. Credit: Jeremy Wilson (left), Michael Rix (right) This species was originally discovered by local naturalists Kelvin and Amelia Nielsen in 1999, who then guided researchers back to the discovery location in 2016 to collect specimens so the species could be formally named. Another species, Euoplos thynnearum, constructs a burrow entrance with a thick lip within which the burrow door sits. It's found in the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, a 55-hectare patch of subtropical rainforest popular with visitors to the Sunshine Coast hinterland. This species is named after Elizabeth, Mabel and Mary Thynne, who originally donated the reserve land to the local council in 1941 to honour their mother Mary Thynne (nee Cairncross). Currently, this species is known to occur only within the reserve and in other rainforest patches in the immediate vicinity. The remarkable palisade burrows constructed by two different species of palisade trapdoor spider. The burrow entrances project from the surrounding soil. Credit: Jeremy Wilson (left), Michael Rix (right) Short-range species at risk Species that only only occur in a very small area, like these new palisade trapdoor spider species, are known as short-range endemic species. Although scientists are naming new species at a faster rate than ever before, estimates of the total number of species on Earth still suggest that most animal species have not been formally named. With so much work still to do, some scientists have chosen to prioritise work on particular types of animals that are especially vulnerable to extinction. In 2002, Mark Harvey, an arachnologist from the Western Australian Museum, proposed that scientists should prioritise the discovery and description of short-range endemic species. Burrow entrances of the new palisade trapdoor spider species Euoplos thynnearum. This species is largely restricted to a single rainforest patch, occurring within Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve near Maleny. Credit: Michael Rix He reasoned that the small ranges of these species make them inherently vulnerable to extinction, and that identifying, naming and studying them is the first step to protecting them. Staying local For trapdoor spiders, short-range endemism is the rule, not the exception. These spiders live their entire lives in a burrow. Juvenile spiders walk only short distances from their mother's burrow, before constructing a burrow of their own. Usually, these spiders will then remain in the same burrow for the remainder of their lives, enlarging it as they grow. The strange burrows of the trapdoor spider species Euoplos crenatus project out from between the roots and leaf-litter on the bank of a creek in a rainforest patch near Gympie, Queensland. Credit: Jeremy Wilson Adult male trapdoor spiders will also leave their burrow to breed, but will only travel relatively short distances. Over time, this extremely limited dispersal ability has led to the evolution of many different trapdoor spider species, each of which occurs in only a very small area. Since 2012, a research team, led by Queensland Museum researcher Michael Rix, has been trying to discover and name all species of spiny trapdoor spider - this group includes the palisade trapdoor spiders, as well as other strange trapdoor spider species such as the shield-backed trapdoor spiders of Western Australia. So far, this project has led to the description of more than 100 new species from throughout Australia, some of which are already classified as threatened by federal and state governments. The most iconic of these is Idiosoma nigrum (also a shield-backed trapdoor spider), which is a listed threatened species. Examples of different trapdoor spider species from eastern Australia. Top left, Arbanitis longipes; top right, Heteromigas sp.; bottom left, Cataxia sp.; bottom right, Namea sp. Credit: Jeremy Wilson The discovery of all these weird and wonderful spider species should remind us that Australia has some of the most remarkable invertebrate species in the world, and new species are waiting to be discovered in the national parks and reserves which occur around, and even within, our towns and citiesunder our noses. Next time you visit a national park, or drive past a patch of forest while commuting along Australia's east coast, think to yourself, what might be living in there? Do those species occur anywhere else? And above all, if we lose that forest remnant, what unique species might disappear along with it? A shield-backed trapdoor spider from Western Australia, showing the distinctive hardened disk on its abdomen which the spider uses to plug its burrow as a protection from predators. Credit: Mark Harvey Explore further Mid West fauna survey stumbles on remarkable construction of trapdoor spider This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. King Mohammed VI has urged the Islamic Development Bank to help its member countries to diversify their economies and stimulate the private sector, a growth engine and a source for the creation of wealth. In a message to the 44th annual meeting of IDB Group, convening in Marrakech (April 5-6), the Moroccan Sovereign said most IDB member countries have been facing real economic and social challenges due to a decline in global economic growth, heightened trade tensions, growing protectionist policies, volatile world commodity prices and increasing external and financial pressure on emerging markets. This situation requires Islamic countries to increase the pace of inclusive, sustainable growth, particularly capacity building for young people and the creation of jobs, stressed the Monarch in his message read out by royal advisor, Omar Kabbaj. Despite our nations achievements in terms of structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors, our countries still have a great deal to do in order to modernize their economies and achieve sustainable development goals as well as social justice and territorial cohesion, said the King. To achieve this goal, it is necessary, today more than ever, to expand and strengthen the role of the IDB Group, enhance its performance and develop programs to meet the growing demands of our countries as well as our peoples aspirations, underlined the Moroccan Sovereign. He urged the IDB Group to step up its efforts and muster all its resources and energies to respond positively to the need to upgrade member states development models. The Sovereign also called in this connection for collective action to strengthen solidarity among Islamic countries and ensure the transition to an economic model conducive to development at all levels. Given the magnitude of the challenges faced today, collective action is required to strengthen the foundations of inter-Islamic solidarity, transition to an economic model that allows for development across the board and give strong impetus to economic relations between Islamic countries. The aim is to serve our nations and contribute to economic development and to our peoples social advancement, he stressed. The IDBs top priorities should be human resource development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the creation of employment opportunities for young people, the harnessing of capacities to set up social welfare networks on a broad scale, the promotion of womens conditions and the reduction of poverty, vulnerability and regional inequalities, King Mohammed VI went on to say. He also called on the Islamic Development Bank Group to play a pioneering role in supporting member countries efforts to tackle climate change, enhance environmental safety, ensure optimal use of natural resources and contribute to the global commitment to provide concessionary financing in order to enable its member countries to achieve agreed objectives in this area. The Moroccan Monarch urged the IDB to grant a special attention to infrastructure rehabilitation projects and to development projects that contribute to inter-Islamic economic integration, particularly in Africa. These include energy and infrastructure projects to enhance electrical, land and sea connectivity, as well as farming projects that ensure food security. The royal message cites in this regard the Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline project as a model of South-South integration and structural cooperation, which can be funded by the IDB Group, especially as most of the African countries concerned by the project are members of the Bank. The 44th annual meeting of IDB will discuss the banks funding activities, assess its future challenges and look into the most effective means of enhancing cooperation between Islamic countries. Renee Seward and Nancy Koors work at the 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative Services Renee Seward's last name is pronounced see-word, though some might not realize that when reading her name. So it's fitting that this University of Cincinnati associate professor created an app that helps users with reading, pronunciation and recognizing letters. Appropriately, the tool is called See Word Reading. Seward turned her ideasparked from the desire to help one child who was struggling in schoolinto a bonafide business, thanks to UC's Venture Lab at the 1819 Innovation Hub, including funding and talent to support commercialization. The local business community is taking notice: Seward was a winner at the 2015 Cincinnati Innovates competition and the 2019 Cincinnati Business Courier's Innovation & Technology Awards. The See Word Reading app is currently being tested in schools from Cincinnati to Singapore. Though originally created to help children with dyslexia, the technology has broad potential, from young children learning the alphabet to future products that will meet the needs of adults for which English is a second language. Creating innovative solutions to real-world problems like this is a key component to Next Lives Here, UC's strategic direction. "The heart of the tool is to imbed images inside of the letterforms to help cue a person to what sound associates with those letterforms," says Seward, who is also the communication design coordinator in UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. When a child using the See Word app on a tablet comes across a letter they can't identify, they can touch the letter. The tool then guides them to trace the letter, then cycles through images associated with that letter. For example, the letter "P" could feature images of a peach, peppermint and pie within the letter. When the user sees and hears those pronunciation cues, they can better associate the "puh" sound with the letter "P." Seward first conceived the idea when she noticed her friend's son, who was diagnosed with dyslexia, complaining about the page layout of his tests. In reality, he was having trouble identifying the sounds associated with different letters. A graduate student in North Carolina at the time, Seward set out to develop an interactive tool that could help children with dyslexia and other at-risk youth learn to read, spell and pronounce words, building basic literacy skills. When Seward received her Master of Graphic Design degree in 2007 in North Carolina, she was invited to be a visiting professor at DAAP, where she had received her bachelor's degree in graphic design in 2002. Seward brought her idea for a literacy app with her back to UC and teamed up with Allison Breit-Smith, an associate professor in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, to create a testable tool. Together with then-UC colleagues special education professor Pam Williamson, educational psychologist Beth O'Brien and interactive design specialist Ben Meyer, they developed a prototype based on the principles Seward created in grad school. The team first tested the tool at Mount Washington School, which serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Cincinnati's public school system, as part of its after-school programming. The results were promising, but the numbers were small. Seward turned to UC's Venture Lab, the UC Office of Innovation's pre-accelerator program, to gain more education, funding and support. Housed in UC's 1819 Innovation Hub, the Venture Lab helps members of the university community turn their entrepreneurial ideas into viable businesses in a matter of weeks. At the end of the program, there's a graduation where members present their plans to a group of entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIR) from the Cincinnati startup business community. "The goal is that one or more want to jump into the CEO seat, help you think through the business model and help you use your funding to get it built and see if it can turn into a successful business so that it gets to market," Seward says. Seward was awarded $40,000 in initial State of Ohio and UC funding 2015 and partnered with EiR mentor Nancy Koors, who has worked at the executive level at a number of tech-related companies. She still works with Seward today, fine-tuning the business model and pricing while seeking potential partners. "She's been tremendous for me," Seward says of Koors, "showing me how to be a leader and the head of a company." The UC Venture Lab at 1819 has since facilitated $275,000 in additional State of Ohio and UC funding (via Ohio Third Frontier, a state development agency). Jason Heikenfeld, assistant vice president for commercialization at UC, says Seward has been a great model for how UC faculty, staff and students can bring their startup concepts to life. "Entrepreneurial success at UC happens when innovation, downright determination, and critical startup resources all collide," Heikenfeld says. "Renee brought the former two to the 1819 Venture Lab, where UC connected the latter, and when that happened, this opportunity absolutely caught fire." Today the See Word app is still being tested at Mount Washington, which Seward refers to as her "ride-or-die school." Instructors like preschool teacher Ebonne Torain appreciate how engaging the tool is. "I like that the See Word Reading app is interactive," she says. "It is more than just watching something on the screen. It requires they speak the sounds, trace letters and find the sound combinations in the stories. It forces them to pay attention to what is happening on the screen." Elsewhere, See Word is being tested in the local Princeton city schools, Cincinnati Preparatory Academy, the YMCA, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Beech Acres Parenting Center. But it's not just in the Cincinnati areachildren on the other side of the world are using the app in Singapore. Beth O'Brien from the original See Word team left UC in 2012 for the National Institute of Education in Singapore, but continued her work on the project. She introduced the app to Singapore's prime minister of education, who helped the team refine it so it would work for bilingual children there, making See Word an international effort. See Word Reading is now in a three-year pilot program in five elementary schools there. Seward continues to receive positive feedback on the app, with countless anecdotes from teachers describing how the tool is helping students meet their reading goals. Last year when Seward was introducing the tool to a Cincinnati-area school, she witnessed a kindergartner being admitted to school for the very first time, mid-year. He didn't know any of his letters, couldn't recognize his own name and had disciplinary issues. At the end of the school year when Seward returned to the school to interview teachers about using See Word, she discovered the student had been using the app to help meet his target. After a few months, there was an increase in the amount of letters and sounds he could identify and he quickly began to recognize his nameand the teacher attributed that to See Word. In fact, because so many students enjoy using it, Seward has been told, teachers often use it as an incentive to behave and complete other work. "The kids don't refer to it as See Word," a play on Seward's own name, "they call it 'Eyeballs,' because my logo looks like an eye," she says, laughing, "I love it. I should have named it 'Eyeballs!'" Looking ahead, she's working on new font technology that will aid in literacy and hopes to expand the app to include stories for all ages, so her tool can teach English to adults as well. Seward notes that one of the biggest inhibitors of employment is a lack of English literacy. "I want to make an impact on at-risk kids in the inner citythat's where my heart liesbut the idea that I can help anyone who doesn't have the access to learn to read is exciting," she says. Explore further iPad app shows promise in strengthening the reading skills of young children Mason searched for coronal rain in helmet streamers like the one that appears on the left side of this image, taken during the 1994 eclipse as viewed from South America. A smaller pseudostreamer appears on the western limb (right side of image). Named for their resemblance to a knight's pointy helmet, helmet streamers extend far into the sun's faint corona and are most readily seen when the light from the sun's bright surface is occluded. Credit: 1994 Upice observatory and Vojtech Rusin, 2007 Miloslav Druckmuller For five months in mid 2017, Emily Mason did the same thing every day. Arriving to her office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, she sat at her desk, opened up her computer, and stared at images of the Sunall day, every day. "I probably looked through three or five years' worth of data," Mason estimated. Then, in October 2017, she stopped. She realized she had been looking at the wrong thing all along. Mason, a graduate student at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was searching for coronal rain: giant globs of plasma, or electrified gas, that drip from the Sun's outer atmosphere back to its surface. But she expected to find it in helmet streamers, the million-mile tall magnetic loopsnamed for their resemblance to a knight's pointy helmetthat can be seen protruding from the Sun during a solar eclipse. Computer simulations predicted the coronal rain could be found there. Observations of the solar wind, the gas escaping from the Sun and out into space, hinted that the rain might be happening. And if she could just find it, the underlying rain-making physics would have major implications for the 70-year-old mystery of why the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, is so much hotter than its surface. But after nearly half a year of searching, Mason just couldn't find it. "It was a lot of looking," Mason said, "for something that never ultimately happened." The problem, it turned out, wasn't what she was looking for, but where. In a paper published today in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, Mason and her coauthors describe the first observations of coronal rain in a smaller, previously overlooked kind of magnetic loop on the Sun. After a long, winding search in the wrong direction, the findings forge a new link between the anomalous heating of the corona and the source of the slow solar windtwo of the biggest mysteries facing solar science today. How It Rains on the Sun Observed through the high-resolution telescopes mounted on NASA's SDO spacecraft, the Suna hot ball of plasma, teeming with magnetic field lines traced by giant, fiery loopsseems to have few physical similarities with Earth. But our home planet provides a few useful guides in parsing the Sun's chaotic tumult: among them, rain. On Earth, rain is just one part of the larger water cycle, an endless tug-of-war between the push of heat and pull of gravity. It begins when liquid water, pooled on the planet's surface in oceans, lakes, or streams, is heated by the Sun. Some of it evaporates and rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses into clouds. Eventually, those clouds become heavy enough that gravity's pull becomes irresistible and the water falls back to Earth as rain, before the process starts anew. On the Sun, Mason said, coronal rain works similarly, "but instead of 60-degree water you're dealing with a million-degree plasma." Plasma, an electrically-charged gas, doesn't pool like water, but instead traces the magnetic loops that emerge from the Sun's surface like a rollercoaster on tracks. At the loop's foot points, where it attaches to the Sun's surface, the plasma is superheated from a few thousand to over 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit. It then expands up the loop and gathers at its peak, far from the heat source. As the plasma cools, it condenses and gravity lures it down the loop's legs as coronal rain. Mason was looking for coronal rain in helmet streamers, but her motivation for looking there had more to do with this underlying heating and cooling cycle than the rain itself. Since at least the mid-1990s, scientists have known that helmet streamers are one source of the slow solar wind, a comparatively slow, dense stream of gas that escapes the Sun separately from its fast-moving counterpart. But measurements of the slow solar wind gas revealed that it had once been heated to an extreme degree before cooling and escaping the Sun. The cyclical process of heating and cooling behind coronal rain, if it was happening inside the helmet streamers, would be one piece of the puzzle. Coronal rain, like that shown in this movie from NASA's SDO in 2012, is sometimes observed after solar eruptions, when the intense heating associated with a solar flare abruptly cuts off after the eruption and the remaining plasma cools and falls back to the solar surface. Mason was searching for coronal rain not associated with eruptions, but instead caused by a cyclical process of heating and cooling similar to the water cycle on Earth. Credit: Credits: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory/Scientific Visualization Studio/Tom Bridgman, Lead Animator The other reason connects to the coronal heating problemthe mystery of how and why the Sun's outer atmosphere is some 300 times hotter than its surface. Strikingly, simulations have shown that coronal rain only forms when heat is applied to the very bottom of the loop. "If a loop has coronal rain on it, that means that the bottom 10% of it, or less, is where coronal heating is happening," said Mason. Raining loops provide a measuring rod, a cutoff point to determine where the corona gets heated. Starting their search in the largest loops they could findgiant helmet streamersseemed like a modest goal, and one that would maximize their chances of success. She had the best data for the job: Images taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, a spacecraft that has photographed the Sun every twelve seconds since its launch in 2010. But nearly half a year into the search, Mason still hadn't observed a single drop of rain in a helmet streamer. She had, however, noticed a slew of tiny magnetic structures, ones she wasn't familiar with. "They were really bright and they kept drawing my eye," said Mason. "When I finally took a look at them, sure enough they had tens of hours of rain at a time." At first, Mason was so focused on her helmet streamer quest that she made nothing of the observations. "She came to group meeting and said, 'I never found itI see it all the time in these other structures, but they're not helmet streamers,'" said Nicholeen Viall, a solar scientist at Goddard, and a coauthor of the paper. "And I said, 'Wait...hold on. Where do you see it? I don't think anybody's ever seen that before!'" A Measuring Rod for Heating These structures differed from helmet streamers in several ways. But the most striking thing about them was their size. "These loops were much smaller than what we were looking for," said Spiro Antiochos, who is also a solar physicist at Goddard and a coauthor of the paper. "So that tells you that the heating of the corona is much more localized than we were thinking." While the findings don't say exactly how the corona is heated, "they do push down the floor of where coronal heating could happen," said Mason. She had found raining loops that were some 30,000 miles high, a mere two percent the height of some of the helmet streamers she was originally looking for. And the rain condenses the region where the key coronal heating can be happening. "We still don't know exactly what's heating the corona, but we know it has to happen in this layer," said Mason. Mason's article analyzed three observations of Raining Null-Point Topologies, or RNTPs, a previously overlooked magnetic structure shown here in two wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light. The coronal rain observed in these comparatively small magnetic loops suggests that the corona may be heated within a far more restricted region than previously expected. Credit: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory/Emily Mason A New Source for the Slow Solar Wind But one part of the observations didn't jibe with previous theories. According to the current understanding, coronal rain only forms on closed loops, where the plasma can gather and cool without any means of escape. But as Mason sifted through the data, she found cases where rain was forming on open magnetic field lines. Anchored to the Sun at only one end, the other end of these open field lines fed out into space, and plasma there could escape into the solar wind. To explain the anomaly, Mason and the team developed an alternative explanationone that connected rain on these tiny magnetic structures to the origins of the slow solar wind. In the new explanation, the raining plasma begins its journey on a closed loop, but switchesthrough a process known as magnetic reconnectionto an open one. The phenomenon happens frequently on the Sun, when a closed loop bumps into an open field line and the system rewires itself. Suddenly, the superheated plasma on the closed loop finds itself on an open field line, like a train that has switched tracks. Some of that plasma will rapidly expand, cool down, and fall back to the Sun as coronal rain. But other parts of it will escapeforming, they suspect, one part of the slow solar wind. Mason is currently working on a computer simulation of the new explanation, but she also hopes that soon-to-come observational evidence may confirm it. Now that Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, is traveling closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before it, it can fly through bursts of slow solar wind that can be traced back to the Sunpotentially, to one of Mason's coronal rain events. After observing coronal rain on an open field line, the outgoing plasma, escaping to the solar wind, would normally be lost to posterity. But no longer. "Potentially we can make that connection with Parker Solar Probe and say, that was it," said Viall. Digging Through the Data As for finding coronal rain in helmet streamers? The search continues. The simulations are clear: the rain should be there. "Maybe it's so small you can't see it?" said Antiochos. "We really don't know." But then again, if Mason had found what she was looking for she might not have made the discoveryor have spent all that time learning the ins and outs of solar data. "It sounds like a slog, but honestly it's my favorite thing," said Mason. "I mean that's why we built something that takes that many images of the Sun: So we can look at them and figure it out." Explore further Parker Solar Probe and the birth of the solar wind The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) plans to build one million water tanks in Senegal, Niger and Burkina Faso to address the water deficit experienced by these Sahel nations. Water is becoming increasingly scarce in Sahel countries, which often already suffer from a structural shortage of water infrastructure. FAOs initiative will provide some 20,000 women with water. That is 10,000 women in Senegal, 5,000 in Niger and 5,000 in Burkina Faso. According to FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva, the main objective of the program is to promote and facilitate the establishment of rainwater harvesting and storage facilities for vulnerable communities. Thanks to this strategy of the UN agency, the inhabitants of the Sahel will be able to obtain drinking water, on the one hand, and have a solution to strengthen their family agricultural production and their resilience to climate change, on the other, da Silva explained. The One Million Tanks for the Sahel project will enable people to collect and store water during the rainy season (June to October) for use in the dry season (November to May). The program also plans to provide them with small to medium-scale training in good water management techniques. According to UNICEF estimations, 300,000 children under 5 die every year in the Sahel from malnutrition. The poor quality of water is aggravating the health condition of these populations. Gambias National Assembly has ratified the agreement that seeks to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Twenty-two signatures were the minimum threshold required to approve the deal among the 55 member states of the African Union. With Gambias ratification, the continents free trade agreement has drawn enough signatures to go into operation. The AfCFTA Agreement will enter into force thirty days after the required number of ratifications have been deposited with the AU. The AUs Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Albert Muchanga, led celebrations of the historic achievement, posting on his office Twitter account that the AfCFTA market is ready for launch of its operational phase in July this year. Once in place, the trade agreement will cover a market of 1.2 billion people and a combined gross domestic product of $2.5 trillionmaking it the worlds largest free-trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organization. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the deal could also enhance intra-African trade by 52.3% annually. Last year, Nigers President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is leading the AUs drive to bring the project to fruition after almost three decades of debate, said These 84,000 km of borders between our 55 countries are 84,000 km of obstacles to trade between us. April 5, 2019 in Software (E) [prMac.com] Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - DEVONtechnologies today releases DEVONthink 2.11.3 for Mac. The popular smart document and information manager receives support for MultiMarkdown 6 and better bookmark handling. Email import is faster and more compatible to Apple Mail on macOS Mojave, the overall performance has been enhanced, and some bugs have been fixed. The update for all three editions is free and recommended for all users. DEVONthink is DEVONtechnologies' document and information management solution for the Mac. It supports a large variety of file formats and stores them in a database enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI). Many document formats can be directly viewed and edited, PDFs annotated. DEVONnote is DEVONthink's little sibling with a reduced feature set targeted at users with notetaking-centric needs. Sophisticated organization tools, AI-based techniques that handle even the largest collections, and numerous integration options make DEVONthink the work environment of choice for researchers, lawyers, and educators. With its fast, reliable, and secure synchronization users keep their data available on all their Macs. DEVONthink To Go for iPad and iPhone completes the DEVONthink ecosystem. * Keep your data together in one place * Scan your paper, archive your email * Let artificial intelligence help you file your data * Sync your data to all your devices, fast and secure * Share your data with anyone, whether they use Mac or PC New in DEVONthink 2.11.3: Version 2.11.3 updates DEVONthink's support for the popular markup processor MultiMarkdown to version 6 with many syntax and parsing enhancements. It also adds the CriticMarkup syntax. Further, DEVONthink 2.11.3 improves zooming Markdown documents and formatted notes, adds automatic spelling correction to HTML-based documents, and detects WikiLinks based on names and aliases up to 70 times faster. The update creates new bookmarks defaulting to *https:* and improves the automatic naming of captured bookmarks. Email archiving is faster and more reliable, the Apple Mail plugin no longer requires full disk access on macOS Mojave, and email messages look better in their alternative representation, especially with narrow or wide windows. It's now also possible to choose custom encodings for email. On the sync side, DEVONthink 2.11.3 improves the reliability of Bonjour connections, handling of pending items, and the overall sync performance. Indexed files with the same modification date are no longer unnecessarily downloaded while importing and merging databases. Finally, other improvements in DEVONthink 2.11.3 include more reliable detection of column headers in imported CSV and TSV files, better truncating very long document names, and an improved German localization. A new menu command gives customers quick access to their customer account login on the recently relaunched DEVONtechnologies website. The updates for all editions of DEVONthink are free for existings users and highly recommended. System requirements: * OS X Mavericks or later Availability and Pricing: All editions can be downloaded from DEVONtechnologies online and be test-driven for free before they need to be licensed. DEVONthink Personal is also available in the App Store; DEVONthink can be purchased together DEVONagent for attractive combo prices on the DEVONtechnologies website. * DEVONthink Pro Office: US $149.95 * DEVONthink Pro: US $79.95 * DEVONthink Personal: US $49.95 (App Store: $49.99) More information: Customers find more information about our apps on the DEVONtechnologies website. Eric Boehnisch-Volkmann also posts news, opinions, previews, and public betas in his blog Devonian Times. DEVONtechnologies LLC creates end-user and server applications for the Mac and iOS platforms that enhance productivity, organization, and user experience with unique artificial intelligence technology. All applications are focused on both ease of use and satisfying the needs of even the most savvy users. The underlying DEVONtechnology is a flexible and versatile foundation that can be used for a large range of purposes from databases, data mining, and information retrieval to human-computer interfaces. DEVONtechnologies LLC was founded 2002 and incorporated 2004, and is today headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA. All Material and Software (C) Copyright 2019 DEVONtechnologies LLC. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh and macOS are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners. ### About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile The United States has revoked the entry visa of the international criminal courts chief prosecutor, her office has said on Thursday. Fatou Bensouda has been investigating allegations of war crimes by US forces and their allies in Afghanistan despite a warning issued by Washington last month to refuse or revoke visas to any ICC staff involved in such probes. A statement released by The Hague-based court said Fatou Bensouda would continue to pursue her duties for the court without fear or favor despite the ban. Bensoudas office said that under the Rome statute governing the ICC, which Washington has declined to join since it was set up in 2002, she had an independent and impartial mandate. In November 2017, Bensouda asked ICC judges for authorization to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan government forces and international forces including US troops. Established in 2002, the ICC acts only when countries within its jurisdiction are found to be unable or unwilling to seriously investigate war crimes, genocide or other serious atrocities. The African Union has called for the mass withdrawal of member states from the Court. South Africa and Burundi have already decided to withdraw, accusing the ICC of undermining their sovereignty and unfairly targeting Africans. The most vocal advocates for withdrawal portrayed the institution as an instrument of neocolonialism being used against Africa. However, many of the countries that have spoken against withdrawal see the Court as an extension of their commitment to greater accountability for gross violations of human rights and international crimes. Algerian security authorities have put under house arrest the two brothers of ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika as part of a clean-up of the regime that ruled the country for two decades, El Watan reports. Said Bouteflika and Abderrahim aka Nacer have seen their actions and movements restricted, according to the local media. The reports came following Bouteflikas resignation on Tuesday on the backdrop of street protests. Said, the media says could face justice over the alleged use of the presidential seal. The 61-year old man had been a close adviser of his brother and is suspected for being the mastermind of several decrees from the presidency after Bouteflika became unfit to rule the country following a stroke he suffered in 2013. Another media, MondAfrique confirmed Saids detention but made no mention of Nacer as opposed to El Watan. Alg24 debunked Nacers house arrest as it circulated pictures of the man at work at the ministry of professional training, where he holds the position of Secretary General. The media said it got the photos from a source in the ministry, but there are no details as to the date of the pictures, and whether they were taken before or after the alleged detention. Bouteflika in letter published by the state-run agency APS asked for forgiveness for any wrongdoings he may have committed during his rule. Still in the lead, for now. Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP/REX/Shutterstock Intelligencer staffers Benjamin Hart, Jonathan Chait, Margaret Hartmann, Ed Kilgore, Ezekiel Kweku, Eric Levitz, David Wallace-Wells, and Ben Williams discuss whether Joe Bidens popularity with Democratic voters is more than surface-deep. Ben H: I talked to a Biden fan last night who doesnt really care about the allegations of improper touching an attitude I think is probably broadly representative of his base. Because his supporters are so underrepresented online, its even tougher than usual to determine whether any of this is moving the needle. Margaret: Yeah. I was informed yesterday that Biden-bashing would not be permitted in my parents home. Ezekiel: The Biden Bunch unbowed. Jon: Those people dont make a living writing their takes, though, and cannot grasp how easy Trump makes our job. Ben H: It can be quite difficult to argue with the common hes the best candidate to beat Trump line, because Im not sure thats wrong. Ezekiel: What makes people so sure Biden is the best candidate to beat Trump? Ben H: I think the most common argument is that he could win a place like Michigan easily. He does perform best in head-to-head matchups against Trump right now. I dont necessarily share the view that hes ultimately the most electable candidate; just saying, I dont have a great rejoinder to the thesis at the moment. Ezekiel: I think his high ratings are pure Obama nostalgia, and I have my doubts that they would carry him through both a primary and a general election. Jon: I likewise suspect his campaign performance would bring him back to Earth. People forget all the gaffes. He has run before and lost very badly! But maybe the Obama connection would be a huge asset this time. Ben W: I agree. I feel like its better to nominate someone without a decades-long record to attack. Anti-Trump sentiment is going to rally behind any candidate. Margaret: Do we still care about gaffes, though? Didnt Trump say oranges instead of origins earlier this week? Ezekiel: Biden has to appeal to a different set of voters than Trump does. Ed: Biden is pretty slowly morphing into a 2020 version of Hillary Clinton, without her particular gender issue beginning as a unity candidate but becoming more controversial every day. Eventually, that will affect both his primary and his general-election numbers. Or maybe I just dont get his avuncular, Uncle Joe appeal. Ben H: I just wonder if that appeal, which, yes, is strongly tied to Obama nostalgia, is a little deeper and harder to uproot than we understand. Margaret: I think a lot of people feel the statute of limitations has run out on stuff Biden did decades ago, and theyre really attached to him as an Obama administration figure. Ben H: I also think theres a strong sense out there among older white Democrats that nominating a woman and/or a person of color would be a risky move. Ezekiel: Plenty of white guys to choose from. Margaret: Are there, though? Guys who have that combo of experienced, electable, and centrist? And arent 37? If Im a voter looking for that, Ive eliminated Beto, Sanders, Buttigieg whos left? (Im seriously asking I cant remember everyone in the field anymore.) Ed: Theres Tim Ryan, as of today. If Biden doesnt run, Terry McAuliffe and Bloomberg probably will. Ezekiel: Why do you need electable and centrist? Isnt the appeal of centrism, in this context, electability? Ed: Im not sure how to define electability anymore. Biden has led Trump pretty consistently in polls, in a way that no one else has. But Im guessing that wont last. Ezekiel: I very much dont understand the profile of a voter who (1) thinks a woman or person of color is a risky move and (2) likes Biden because he was in Obamas administration. Im not saying that these people dont exist, I just dont understand what exactly theyre thinking. Ed: Ill say this about his personal appeal: Everyone talks about the terrible legacy of the 1994 crime bill, and I agree with much of the criticism. But I also remember watching CSPAN, transfixed for hours (something I never did), as Biden made the case for it. There was a point at which he alluded to NRA president Charlton Hestons claim that the bill wouldnt actually provide as many cops as sponsors claimed, and Biden commented: I went home last night and my wife said, Joe, you said the bill had 100,000 cops, but MOSES said it didnt!, and went on in that vein for a while. It was great theater. So hes capable of that sort of thing. Eric: I think giving Trump another opportunity to attack his opponent as one of the out-of-touch elites who supported the Iraq War and is in bed with the finance industry isnt ideal. But they all have liabilities. Ben H: Its true that the big-business coziness hasnt stuck to him yet, and will likely be a potent line of attack. Ed: Ive heard no rumors of Obama vocally coming to his defense. Has anyone else? Ben H: No, and I seriously doubt he will. I dont think he wants Biden to win. Ed: Really? How could you know that? Eric: Who does he want to win? Ben H: Eric Swalwell, of course. Eric: Haha. Ben H: No, Ed, its just that he never seemed enthusiastic about Bidens potential candidacy in 2016. He easily could have boosted him, but he didnt. Eric: Seemed like he was into Deval Patrick, but since that didnt pan out, I havent seen similar rumors about him eyeing anyone else. Ben W: It is often pointed out by political reporters that Obama and his people conspicuously do nothing to push Biden. Ed: It is interesting, I guess. Bidens running more or less on his legacy. Harris is running on his strategy. Eric: And Beto is running as his pale imitation. Pun extremely intended. David: There were pretty pervasive rumors he was pushing Patrick only to signal to Joe not to run. He knew it wouldnt bite him because Patrick wasnt going to run, so it was a costless way of ignoring Joe. To be fair, though, he hasnt done much, at least publicly, to help anyone Ed: Theres all sorts of unnamed, implicit criticism of Obamas policies, his theory of change, etc. But nothing overt. If he feels no loyalty to Biden, and his advisors are all over the place (yeah, some are with Beto, but hardly all of them), then I guess theres no reason for him to intervene unless Bernie has a senior moment and attacks him for centrism. Wonder if anyone even wants an endorsement from either Clinton? Eric: Surely Biden would like Bill to vouch for the propriety of his conduct with women. Margaret: I think Obama unintentionally anointed Biden at the end of the term. He meant to just give him a nice send-off into retirement, but now the moonshot thing and his Medal of Freedom are the first things that come to my mind when I think of him. Ben H: Well see how long that afterglow lasts. 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Photo: Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images Ahead of former vice-president Joe Bidens expected 2020 presidential bid, women are speaking out about their personal interactions with him alleging he physically touched them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable. Last week, the Cut published an essay by Lucy Flores, a former Nevada lieutenant governor nominee, who wrote that Biden smelled her hair and kissed the back of her head at a campaign event in 2014. In the week since, six more women have come forward. Below, heres a running list of the allegations against Biden. Lucy Flores On March 29, in the aforementioned essay published on the Cut, former Nevada lieutenant governor nominee Lucy Flores alleged that Biden smelled her hair and gave her a big slow kiss on the back of her head at an event for her 2014 campaign. In that moment, she wrote, she felt embarrassed and shocked. I wanted nothing more than to get Biden away from me, she continued. In response to the essay, Biden claimed that he had no memory of having acted inappropriately, but added that if he was in the wrong, he would listen respectfully. Amy Lappos When Amy Lappos was a congressional aide for U.S. representative Jim Himes in 2009, she claims that Biden touched and rubbed his nose against hers during a political fundraiser. It wasnt sexual, but he did grab me by the head, she told Hartford Courant on April 1. He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth. After the incident, Lappos didnt file a formal complaint. He was the vice president, she told the Courant. I was a nobody. D.J. Hill D.J. Hill was one of two women to come forward with allegations in the New York Times, which referred to Bidens conduct as tactile politics in a report published on April 2. At a 2012 at a fundraising event in Minneapolis, Hill alleges that Biden rested his hand on her shoulder, and then started to move it down her back, which left her feeling very uncomfortable. Only he knows his intent, she told the Times, adding, If something makes you feel uncomfortable, you have to feel able to say it. Caitlyn Caruso In the same Times report, a woman named Caitlyn Caruso claimed that after sharing the story of her sexual assault at a University of Nevada event in 2016, Biden hugged her just a little bit too long and laid his hand on her thigh. It doesnt even really cross your mind that such a person would dare perpetuate harm like that, she told the Times. These are supposed to be people you can trust. Ally Coll On April 3, Ally Coll told the Washington Post that at a 2008 reception, Biden squeezed her shoulders, complimented her smile, and held her for a beat too long. A young Democratic staffer at the time, Coll said her initial reaction was to shrug it off. But she told the Post she now feels the alleged incident was inappropriate, adding, Theres been a lack of understanding about the way that power can turn something that might seem innocuous into something that can make somebody feel uncomfortable. Sofie Karasek In 2016, Sofie Karasek was photographed holding hands and touching foreheads with Biden at the Oscars, where she stood alongside 50 other sexual-assault survivors during Lady Gagas performance. It was a moment that soon went viral, and was described then by the Post as powerful. But in the Posts report published this week, Karasek says she believes that Biden violated her personal space. She also told the Post that she wasnt impressed with Bidens two-minute-long video response to the growing unwanted-touching allegations against him in which he never says hes sorry as he didnt take ownership in the way that he needs to. He emphasized that he wants to connect with people and, of course, thats important, she told the publication. But again, all of our interactions and friendships are a two-way street Too often it doesnt matter how the woman feels about it or they just assume that theyre fine with it. Vail Kohnert-Yount In the same Post report, Vail Kohnert-Yount alleged that when she was a White House intern in the spring of 2013, Biden put his hand on the back of [her] head and pressed his forehead to [her] forehead when he introduced himself, and that he called her a pretty girl. She was so shocked, she said, that it was hard to focus on what he was saying. Though she told the Post that she doesnt believe Bidens conduct constituted sexual misconduct, she described it as the kind of inappropriate behavior that makes many women feel uncomfortable and unequal in the workplace. This post will be updated if necessary. Cash is cumbersome, dirty and increasingly too tangible for our digital desires. And while weve already given it up to a fair extent for the credit and debit card--it still means we have to wait in lines, and thats so 1990s. In an effort to cut costs and avoid long lines in front of the cash register, a small-but-growing number of retailers have stopped accepting paper currency entirely. Over the past couple of years, some retail stores and restaurants in large cities have simply ceased cash operations. But the problem is that while it may be safer and more convenient to pay without cash, banning the use of cash could be discriminating against low-income individuals without credit or bank accounts because of the fees and minimum balance requirements. In fact, local and state governments are rather up in arms about the whole thing. Earlier this month, the Philadelphia City Council passed a bill making it the first major city to ban cashless payments. New Jersey. Now New York City, Washington, San Francisco and Chicago are now all weighing similar bills. "With a 26-percent poverty rate in Philadelphia, the mayor believes in equal opportunity for all,'' city spokesman Mike Dunn said in an emailed statement to USA Today. It is important to recognize the fact that not everyone has access to banks or lines of credit, the New York Times cited State Senator Nellie Pou, one of the sponsors of the bill in New Jersey, as saying. Related: Billion-Dollar Esports Niche Could Be In The 2024 Olympics Going cashless is inevitable, but much of the country isnt ready for that just yet. This was mostly expressed in Philadelphia where more than one-quarter (some 400,000 people) live below the poverty line, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts report from last year. With $19,700 a year for an adult with two children at home these families lack access to credit cards. For New Yorkers who dont want to wait in line anymore, its important to consider that despite some of our penchants for going fully digital, we are still largely a cash society. A Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation report from 2017 shows that 6.5 percent of the U.S. households were "unbanked"; in other words, households in which no individual has a checking or savings account. Another 18.7 percent of households were categorized as underbanked. And while those rates are declining all the time, they are still some large hurdles to a cashless society. Its also worth noting that cash was the most frequently used payment instrument in 2017, accounting for 30 percent of all payments. Credit and debit cards were used in 48 percent of consumer transactions in 2017, of which 27 percent went to debit and 21 percent to credit card payments, according to the Federal Reserve report from the fall. Still, financial institutions are using every weapon in their arsenal to fight against cash because their customers are the ones who want to go cashless. Visa has been offering $10,000 each to as many as 50 restaurants and food vendors to pay for their technology and marketing costs in return for a pledge to go cashless. Related: Gold Mining Stocks Are Soaring And e-commerce giant Amazon, for its part, came out in opposition to the New Jersey bill to ban cashless retail outlets. After all, it has five cashless and cashier-less pop-up stores and one bookstore there. Now its lobbying local governments who are considering their own ban on the Amazon automated stores. There are only a small number of Amazon Go stores in operation today, but the company was planning to open as many as 3,000 locations by 2021, according to Bloomberg. Now it might have jumped the gun as local and state governments worry about discrimination and poverty. By Fred Dunkley for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Education Reporter Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe. Photo: Lil Nas X via YouTube To say that the rise of Lil Nas X has been meteoric is an understatement. His hit song, Old Town Road, flew up the charts, hitting No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and No. 1 on the country charts before it was deemed not country) before he had even been signed to a record label. Radio stations, eager to play the song, ripped it from YouTube because it wasnt available through official channels. The YouTube copy, by the way, is set to a montage of footage from the video game Red Dead Redemption 2. The ascendance of Lil Nas X on the back of Old Town Road feels very DIY, a web-native breakout hit happening entirely outside of the record-label and radio-DJ gatekeeping systems. The musician, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, is by no means finished. After a bidding war, he signed to Colombia Records, and a remix of his hit song, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, was released last night. Lil Nas Xs understanding of pop culture and how it travels online is visible in various parts of this story. For instance, to facilitate his rise up the charts, he listed the song as country on iTunes and SoundCloud. He told Time that the track is a country trap genre-straddler. He was going to these spaces, gaining a little bit of traction on their country charts, and theres a way to manipulate the algorithm to push your track to the top, Danny Kang, the co-manager of viral country-music kid star Mason Ramsey, told Rolling Stone. Thats favorable versus trying to go to the rap format to compete with the most popular songs in the world. In addition to Xs careful planning, Old Town Road got a little lucky. It arrived during a moment in which black cowboy culture is having a bit of a resurgence, in the form of the Yeehaw Agenda. It benefited greatly from becoming a meme on TikTok, featured in clips where teens are transformed into cowboys, sometimes after drinking mystical yeehaw juice. It also got a boost being the soundtrack to a serendipitous love story in which two teens (one with more than a million TikTok followers) share a moment while passing each other on an escalator at the mall. The multi-video saga surely boosted the tracks prominence. An underreported part of Lil Nas Xs success, however, is his history operating a popular Twitter account. By trafficking in memes, viral threads, engagement bait, and Nicki Minaj stanning, Lil Nas X was able to create a six-digit follower base on Twitter, and it was that platform that served as a springboard for Old Town Road. Lil Nas X may seem like an overnight success, but his breakthrough is the product of a years-long, 21st-century marketing plan one which has been banned from Twitter for its reliance on spammy tactics and copying others. Music publications have seemingly been strong-armed into not mentioning Lil Nas Xs online past, his Twitter account, @nasmaraj, in particular. This article was updated to correct an error about Lil Nas Xs involvement in Nicki Minajs Barbz Fan Army, reads a post on Billboard that no longer mentions Nas Maraj. An update to a piece on Hot New Hip Hop states that Lil Nas Xs team has reached out to us to confirm that the Lil Nas X did not run a Nicki Minaj fanpage, despite Billboards initial reports. Its a curious denial, given how much Nas Maraj activity remains visible online, clearly connected to Lil Nas X, and how frequently fans mention his history in relation to Old Town Road. Isnt this an ex twitter barb? Go off @NasMaraj fffff, one user wrote on the popular stan forum ATRL. Nasmaraj is really gonna get a #1 before Onika, another said (Onika is Nicki Minajs full first name). lil nas x's success makes me so happy, like i can really say i been following him since he was a nicki stan and his @ was nasmaraj rico nasty saying kenny (@KENDUHLL) April 5, 2019 The Nas Maraj account is suspended now, but it is very easy to find traces of it online. Deprecated embedded tweets can be found on websites, and hundreds of individual posts are visible through the Internet Archives Wayback Machine and on poorly organized meme repositories like me.me. Some of Marajs tweets are often in support of Nicki Minaj her most loyal fans are known as Barbz, short for Barbies but they run the gamut of viral fluff optimized for social media. Some examples: In May of 2016, Maraj resurfaced a 2012 video of a bus monitor getting bullied, which had ignited a public firestorm at the time (at least 10,473 retweets). In March of 2017, Maraj posted a fake, but still viral, tweet about throwing a birthday party for his dog that nobody came to, gaining attention and followers in the process. The saga was chronicled by BuzzFeed. In late 2017, when net neutrality was in danger, Maraj posted a thread about the importance of the principle (at least 9,753 retweets). Nas Maraj was also well known for his scenario threads on Twitter, choose-your-own adventures based on the threaded tweet format. The threads were viral enough that YouTubers would play them for their vlogs and narrate the experience. Nas Marajs activity on Twitter is instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with tweetdecking: networks of popular accounts that coordinate retweeting and promoting each other, and rip off viral tweets from less prominent accounts. In other words, it is forced, gamed virality. On March 9, Twitter began purging some of the most popular tweetdecking accounts, citing new rules against spam. Among the casualties were notorious accounts like @Dory, @GirlPosts, and @MemeProvider. At the same time these accounts were suspended, so was @NasMaraj. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed that the account was suspended for violating spam policies, the same justification used to unseat other tweetdecking accounts. Omfgggggg nasmaraj got suspended Im crying whyyyyyyyy nooooooo Dr-Li (@SlayMeNickiMnaj) March 11, 2018 Idc about these big accs getting suspended but is @nasmaraj safe?? That's the real question pic.twitter.com/e03G7u67Wo SaltyMusicStan x2 (@SaltyMusicStan) March 11, 2018 Nasmaraj got suspended dang they really getting everybody outta here Choncuc (@thyxypher) March 12, 2018 By the following month, April 2018, Nas Maraj was back, this time posting under the account @nasmarai, a look-alike name swapping the j for an i. This trick is common among suspended users who create new accounts and want to regain followers or users hoping to impersonate someone else. Marai quickly got back to his old routine, posting content meant to go viral. Marai posted video of Terry Crews testifying to Congress about sexual assault (at least 83,857 retweets) and dreamed up a cast list for a hypothetical live-action movie based on the Danny Phantom cartoon series (at least 27,069 retweets). There are a few techniques that help paint an airtight argument that Nas Maraj and Lil Nas X are one and the same. One obvious tell is the Reddit user u/NasMaraj, whose activity is almost entirely devoted to promoting Lil Nas X tracks. My new song mixes trap and country. What do yall think? asks a thread in the r/hiphopheads subreddit posted by Nas Maraj. It features the Old Town Road video, just two days old at the time (and currently has 74 upvotes). Another thread asks for comments on Sonic Shit, a Lil Nas X track from his Nasarati EP that can also be found on his SoundCloud. If that werent definitive enough, u/nasmaraj directly identifies himself as Lil Nas X in a comment left in a thread in r/BlackPeopleTwitter, the subreddit devoted to funny posts from Black Twitter. Does this person know how vital they are to this subreddit? a user asks in a comment thread for a @LilNasX tweet. u/nasmaraj replies, I think people are getting tired of seeing my tweets honestly lmao. (There is an extremely remote possibility that u/nasmaraj is someone impersonating Lil Nas X, but the timestamps on Reddit posts asking for feedback predate the rappers fame.) In one particularly funny instance of self promotion, u/nasmaraj posted in the r/NameThatSong subreddit. He asked, Whats the name of the song that goes take my horse to the old town road? The avatar for u/nasmaraj at one point was also the same avatar used by @NasMarai, according to June 2018 Wayback Machine snapshot. In those same snapshots, @NasMarais Twitter bio features the same Gmail address currently linked in Lil Nas Xs Twitter bio and links to Lil Nas Xs SoundCloud. But the most bulletproof evidence that Nas Marai and Lil Nas X are one and the same comes courtesy of Twitter. One interesting thing about Twitter is how its URLs are structured. Take this one, for example: https:/twitter.com/NasMarai/status/1020070841424515072 The only thing that really matters in that URL is the string of digits at the end 1020070841424515072 which form the ID number for the tweet itself. I could write in https:/twitter.com/FAKEACCOUNT/status/1020070841424515072 and, if the tweet is still live, the URL will redirect to the current name of the account holder. Lets see what happens when we visit that old Nas Marai tweet. Ah. Here it is. i made a casting for a danny phantom movie what yall think pic.twitter.com/Dy07skQM3Y nope (@LilNasX) July 19, 2018 So thats incontrovertible proof that @LilNasX, the web-grown hip-hop wunderkind, was previously @NasMarai on Twitter. If you check out that tweet in the Wayback Machine, youll find yet another of the countless smoking guns: a reply from a different account (confusingly then-named @LILNASX) promoting his music on YouTube and SoundCloud. At some point, Lil Nas X swapped handles, transitioning his popular meme-posting account into one more suited to a hip-hop artist but still retaining the followers hed acquired through tweetdecking. Still, traces of the old habits remain. ? . nope (@LilNasX) April 26, 2018 From now on I will tweet in mla format in preparation for the new school year. Thank you all for reading this. nope (@LilNasX) July 31, 2018 Lil Nas Xs Twitter account has also faved multiple tweets probably referring to his old suspended account, @NasMaraj. So just to lay this all out as clearly as possible, here are the broad strokes: @NasMaraj was a popular Twitter account with a six-digit follower count that gained said following through artificial boosting engagement through aggressively producing viral threads and meme posts. It was suspended by Twitter at the same time as many other prominent accounts employing similar strategies, a network of tit-for-tat promotion known as tweetdecking, for the same reason. @LilNasX still hosts tweetdeck-style posts and used to be @NasMarai, an obvious replacement for @NasMaraj. The Reddit user u/nasmaraj posted Lil Nas X tracks before they had gained any traction online, and the user identified themselves as the same person running the Twitter account @LilNasX. @LilNasX is also the handle for the current account of the rapper Lil Nas X. Anyone reasonably fluent in the elaborate ecosystem of meme accounts on social media, and the politics of viral fame, can easily see that Lil Nas X was a part of that world. Still, he is apparently trying to bury that fact with his reps trying to scrub any mention of it in the press for reasons that are understandable. (Lil Nas X and his reps at Columbia Records did not respond to repeated requests for an interview or statement.) A feel-good story of ingenious platform disruption and merit-based achievement plays a lot better than using pay-for-play meme-propagation systems based on infringement and misrepresentation to build a following and then release a hip-hop track. Regardless of the quality of Old Town Road and its viral success on platforms like TikTok and its shrewd manipulation of streaming charts, its real launchpad is rooted in the mildly seedy, artificially inflated world of tweetdecking. It makes sense that one might want to sweep that aspect under the rug. Still, the internet has a long memory, especially for those who navigate it intent on harnessing attention and fame. Security experts at Rapid7 have discovered that over 2 million Apache HTTP servers are still affected by the CVE-2019-0211 critical privilege escalation flaw. An important privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2019-0211) affecting the Apache HTTP server could be exploited by users with the right to write and run scripts to gain root on Unix systems via scoreboard manipulation. The flaw was discovered by Charles Fol and impacts all Apache HTTP Server releases from 2.4.17 to 2.4.38. The it has been addressed with the release of Apache httpd 2.4.39 In Apache HTTP Server 2.4 releases 2.4.17 to 2.4.38, with MPM event, worker or prefork, code executing in less-privileged child processes or threads (including scripts executed by an in-process scripting interpreter) could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the parent process (usually root) by manipulating the scoreboard. Non-Unix systems are not affected. reads the changelog. The CVE-2019-0211 vulnerability poses severe risks when the web server is used for running shared hosting instances, in this scenario, users with limited permissions could exploit the flaw to get root privileges using scripts and run commands on vulnerable Apache web servers. Unfortunately, the vulnerability in Apache HTTP Server has been found and patched, but the sheer still impacts a large number of servers running older, unpatched versions. Hundreds of thousands of websites and servers could still be potentially exposed to cyber attacks exploiting the issue. According to an analysis conducted by Rapid7, more than 2,000,000 servers, many on public cloud platforms, are still running vulnerable versions of Apache. Most of the flawed systems are in the United States (~770,000), Germany (~224,000), and France (~111,000). We found roughly 2 million distinct systems vulnerable to CVE-2019-0211 in our most recent HTTP scans, with 50% of them residing in the usual suspects (big cloud-hosting providers). states the blog post published by Rapid7, Even if the CVE-2019-0211 is not a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability, it represents a serious threat to shared hosting providers that run multiple websites under the sale Apache process. Organizations should consider applying Apaches fix as soon as possible. And, if organizations host their website(s) in a shared hosting context impacted by this exposure, they should encourage their provider to patch as quickly as possible or consider moving to a different provider/platform . suggests Rapid7. At the time, Rapid7 Labs is not aware of any exploitation of this vulnerability Pierluigi Paganini Senators Kamala Harris and Rand Paul make the case for bail reforms | Main | "North Dakotas Norway Experiment: Can humane prisons work in America? A red state aims to find out." July 23, 2017 Reduced jail time in Tennessee for inmates who ... agree to vasectomy or birth control implant!?!?! This local story out of Tennessee is hard to believe, but it does not appear to be fake news. The story is headlined "White County Inmates Given Reduced Jail Time If They Get Vasectomy," and here are excerpts: Inmates in White County, Tennessee have been given credit for their jail time if they voluntarily agree to have a vasectomy or birth control implant, a popular new program that is being called unconstitutional by the ACLU. On May 15, 2017 General Sessions Judge Sam Benningfield signed a standing order that allows inmates to receive 30 days credit toward jail time if they undergo a birth control procedure. Women who volunteer to participate in the program are given a free Nexplanon implant in their arm, the implant helps prevent pregnancies for up to four years. Men who volunteer to participate are given a vasectomy, free of charge, by the Tennessee Department of Health. County officials said that since the program began a few months ago 32 women have gotten the Nexplananon implant and 38 men were waiting to have the vasectomy procedure performed. Judge Benningfield told NewsChannel 5 that he was trying to break a vicious cycle of repeat offenders who constantly come into his courtroom on drug related charges, subsequently cant afford child support and have trouble finding jobs. I hope to encourage them to take personal responsibility and give them a chance, when they do get out, to not to be burdened with children. This gives them a chance to get on their feet and make something of themselves, Judge Benningfield said in an interview. First elected in 1998, Judge Benningfield decided to implement the program after speaking with officials at the Tennessee Department of Health. I understand it wont be entirely successful but if you reach two or three people, maybe thats two or three kids not being born under the influence of drugs. I see it as a win, win, he added. Inmates in the White County jail were also given two days credit toward their jail sentence if they complete a State of Tennessee, Department of Health Neonatal Syndrome Education Program. The class aimed to educate those who are incarcerated about the dangers of having children while under the influence of drugs. Hopefully while theyre staying here we rehabilitate them so they never come back, the judge said. District Attorney Bryant Dunaway, who oversees prosecution of cases in White County is worried the program may be unethical and possibly illegal. Its concerning to me, my office doesnt support this order, Dunaway said.... On Wednesday, the ACLU released this statement on the program: "Offering a so-called 'choice' between jail time and coerced contraception or sterilization is unconstitutional. Such a choice violates the fundamental constitutional right to reproductive autonomy and bodily integrity by interfering with the intimate decision of whether and when to have a child, imposing an intrusive medical procedure on individuals who are not in a position to reject it. Judges play an important role in our community overseeing individuals childbearing capacity should not be part of that role." There are many thing so very remarkable about this story, but I am especially struck by how many jail inmates are willing to undergo a life-changing procedure simply to avoid 30 days in jail. Anyone who doubts the coercive pressures of even a short jail stay (say because of an inability to make bail) should be shown this story. July 23, 2017 at 04:43 AM | Permalink Comments Nothing that happens in the US "Justice" system surprises me anymore. I see you are now deporting the Irish - that should go down well too! http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40332646 Posted by: peter | Jul 23, 2017 6:26:22 AM Kinder than summary execution or Night & Fog Posted by: Docile/Kind Soul in OR | Jul 23, 2017 9:18:31 AM Its not fake news. Its typical nutty, rural Tennessee judges who want to save us. David Louis Raybin Raybin & Weissman P.C. Fifth Third Center / Suite 2120, 424 Church Street / Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Phone: 615-256-6666 Ext. 220 / Fax: 615-254-4254 E-Mail: DRAYBIN@NashvilleTnLaw.com / Website: www.NashvilleTnLaw.com Posted by: david raybin | Jul 23, 2017 10:25:39 AM "... struck by ho many jail inmates are willing to undergo a life-changing procedure simply to avoid 30 days in jail." Harvard Law grad has contempt for the judgement of inmates. He is not better nor even any smarter than they are. For example, let him survive in their neighborhood for a week. Many are making more money than he is, when not in prison. They may be losing tens of thousands of dollars in 30 days in prison. Many also have 10 kids already by different baby mothers. They have more energy, brains, and enterprise than credited. Appellate court judge elitists reversing this sentence should be run out of the state. The prevention of 10 more kids by these criminals has $millions of value to us all in prevented damages and tax costs. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 23, 2017 11:07:34 AM The prosecutor is freaking out about the future of his budget, if crime is prevented, and about his job. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 23, 2017 11:10:44 AM "I hope to encourage them to take personal responsibility and give them a chance, when they do get out, to not to be *burdened with children.* Why did I read that and then think, "actually, the judge means he doesn't want society to be burdened with what he sees as subhuman beings"? Oh, because David Behar that's why. Which once again proves Doug's axiom that as crazy as David is he's not the only nutcase around. Some of them are even judges and US Attorney General. Posted by: Daniel | Jul 23, 2017 12:11:54 PM This is all very Buck v. Bell, which if I recall correctly has never actually been overruled, despite being up there with Dred Scott, Plessy, Korematsu, Bowers, etc., as one of the worst all time SCOTUS decisions. This could be a great test case. Posted by: Anon | Jul 23, 2017 12:15:51 PM @David I have a question I would like to ask you. Do criminals with vasectomies taste better on the table than criminals who have not had vasectomies? I ask because eating the poor has a long and storied tradition in the West and I am curious as to whether there might be some underlying gastronomical motive on the judge's part. If he did it might make his modest proposal a wee bit more acceptable. Posted by: Daniel | Jul 23, 2017 12:16:10 PM @anon The obvious distinction is that Buck involved involuntary sterilization while in this case the sterilization are--at least nominally--voluntary. Whether the decisions are pragmatically voluntary is a different question and one that I think can easily enough be resolved under SCOTUS 4A precedent. (Hint: they are not.) Posted by: Daniel | Jul 23, 2017 12:21:50 PM Daniel. What an excellent question. I oppose all forms of cannibalism, especially of disease ridden meats. Calling people who dissent from your sicko, pro-criminal views, crazy brings up a professional responsibility question, in your case. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 23, 2017 12:33:24 PM @Daniel, I don't disagree with any of your comments. The interesting question here is how, not whether, the current SCOTUS would strike this down. Conservative Catholics are strongly opposed to eugenics (and birth control for that matter), and liberals obviously don't like state coercion in reproductive matters. But the legal reasoning would be interesting. @David Behar, "Three generations of [criminals] are enough." Posted by: Anon | Jul 23, 2017 1:48:00 PM Anon. OW Holmes has never ever been wrong. An article criticized his support of the felony murder rule. It contained an arithmetic error. When corrected, the data supported OW. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 23, 2017 1:54:01 PM I love the idea, it may help the addicts when they get out, but definitely helps society. I agree, trade 30 days in jail for a vasectomy. Ouch, hmm. Judge keep up the good work, need productive ideas like this. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Jul 23, 2017 5:45:51 PM The vasectomy is worth five years off in my book. The same should be offered for a tubal ligation. The implants can be removed if a need for more welfare pay is felt. Welfare benefits are worth $50000 a year, tax free. The feminist lawyer is paying by the spawn. The more spawn, the higher pay, according to the family destroying feminist lawyer. If a father stays in the house, the loss of income can be in the 6 figures in pre-tax amounts. Even if the prevented spawn were not be criminals, their cost to college would still be extremely high. As mentioned elsewhere, the crime spree of these spawn starts at three. The special education cost is 4 times the already bloated tuition of public school education. To recap, the offer will save money in 1) less crime; 2 less dependency cost; 3) less special education; 4) less damage and mayhem from their conduct on the street; 5) less damage to real estate prices and to the economy; 6) less foster care; 7) less medical care for mental and physical trauma care; 8) less disruption and terror in the streets for other poor people; 9) less money going to billionaire drug cartel owners. When we say, less, we are, of course, referring to less pay going to lawyers, government workers, social workers, foster parents, doctors, teachers and other tax sucking parasites. Thus, the outrage by these dirty traitors to our country. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 23, 2017 5:49:39 PM David Louis Raybin Raybin & Weissman P.C. I demand to know the fraction of your clients who are found, not guilty. I do not want to pay for an email service, which I can get for free. Are you just going to transport the plea offer of the prosecutor? At least 20% of your clients are innocent. If your track record of getting people found innocent is lower than that fraction, you are worthless. Posted by: David Behar | Jul 23, 2017 5:53:17 PM I am a criminal defense lawyer in Knoxville and agree that this is not fake news. This action by a small county sessions judge seems to be playing well with the law and order crowd. Those of us in the system understand it will not decrease drug use. It may have the opposite effect. Posted by: Doug Trant | Jul 24, 2017 11:07:56 AM @Anon, Buck v. Bell was never overturned, but it was severely limited at least when it comes to criminal justice matters where forcible sterilization for some charges and not others were found to violate Equal Protection. The case is Skinner v. Oklahoma. I think the strongest argument for striking down this is as follows: Consent to the procedure is invalid under these coercive conditions and, under Skinner, it violates the Equal Protection Clause unless it applies to every crime (white collar, violent, non-violent, etc.) and both male and female inmates. Alternatively, development in case law with Griswold, Roe, Lawrence, etc. have undermined the reasoning of Buck v. Bell and that case should be overturned. An inmate who wants to save 30 days but doesn't want to be sterilized would be the best to challenge this, although I suspect the individual would be released prior to any court ruling. Posted by: Erik M | Jul 24, 2017 11:27:29 AM True, Erik M, but some sort of TRO action, which moves relatively quickly, combined with the "capable of repetition yet evading review" argument on mootness might get a decision. Posted by: Mark M. | Jul 24, 2017 11:36:04 PM A little castration history from San Diego, CA. THE MOST CRITICAL OPTION Posted by: George | Jul 26, 2017 4:50:52 PM Post a comment Hasn't Prez Trump has already pardoned a turkey before this week's traditional ceremony? | Main | "Justice at Last for the Youngest Inmates?" I almost did not believe the story from earlier this year, blogged here, about a Tennessee judge giving 30 days credit off imposed jail time if an inmate were to voluntarily agree to have a vasectomy or birth control implant. But the tale was true, and this new Washington Post piece reports on the latest chapters of this remarkable local imprisonment tale: When Judge Sam Benningfield of White County, Tenn., offered to shave off jail time for inmates who volunteered for sterilization, a chorus of attorneys, advocates and public officials reacted with horror. Benningfield said his goal was to break a vicious cycle of repeat drug offenders with children. But many argued that the proposal, outlined in a May order, was nothing short of eugenics. Not to mention it seemed unconstitutional on its face. Civil rights lawyers brought legal actions and a local prosecutor told his staff to avoid the judges program at all costs. Now, after the wave of backlash and amid multiple lawsuits, state judicial regulators have formally reprimanded Benningfield for promising 30-day sentence reductions to inmates who agreed to receive vasectomies or birth control implants. In a letter filed Monday, the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct found that Benningfield violated rules regarding judicial independence, integrity and propriety. You have acknowledged that even though you were trying to accomplish a worthy goal in preventing the birth of substance addicted babies, the board wrote, you now realize that this order could unduly coerce inmates into undergoing a surgical procedure which would cause at least a temporary sterilization, and it was therefore improper.... The judicial boards letter says the program is no longer available to any inmate and that Benningfield ran afoul of rules requiring judges to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence. It noted that Benningfield didnt object to the reprimand. The letter also reprimanded Benningfield for threatening to end an unrelated house arrest program if a defense attorney refused to withdraw a valid objection regarding a clients probation.... Several inmates who were jailed when the orders were in effect sued the judge and White County Sheriff Oddie Shoupe, claiming their constitutional rights were violated. The judge and the sheriff have denied liability. Daniel Horwitz, who represents a group of male inmates, said the judicial board should have gone further than reprimanding Benningfield and instead should have recommended he be removed from the bench. A public reprimand is serious, but as far as Im concerned, nothing short of removal is acceptable, Horwitz told The Post.... Horwitz filed court papers in September on behalf of three male inmates, who called Benningfields program both illegal and profoundly coercive. Two of the plaintiffs declined the offer for vasectomies in exchange for a sentence reduction. Another plaintiff agreed to the procedure in hopes of being released in time to watch the birth of his first grandchild. He enrolled in the judges early release program but didnt receive the reduction. Dozens of their fellow inmates, male and female, agreed to undergo birth control procedures, which can be irreversible in some cases. Horwitzs lawsuit describes one female White County inmate who received a hormonal birth control implant and later tried to cut it out of her arm with a razor blade. She is not listed as a plaintiff.... District Attorney Bryant Dunaway, whose district includes White County and Benningfields court, was among those who criticized the sterilization program. Dunaway, who vowed during his election campaign to crack down on repeat offenders, told NewsChannel 5 in July that he had instructed his staff not to take part in Benningfields order in any way. Those decisions are personal in nature, he said, and I think thats just something that the court system should not encourage nor mandate. Split Sixth Circuit panel debates status of lawsuit over Tennessee judicial order that gave reduced jail time to inmates agreeing to sterilization | Main | Senator Klobuchar talking up "second step" criminal justice reforms with a focus on the clemency process April 5, 2019 In wake of gruesome DOJ report, Alabama Gov plans to build three large new prisons with taxpayer price tag of about a billion dollars As detailed in this new piece, headlined "Torture, rape, murder: Details from investigation into Alabamas prison crisis," a Justice Department report on Alabama's prisons released this week was truly brutal: Sexually assaulted Alabama prison inmates fear reporting abuse, knowing they will be punished for what prison officials say is deliberately creating a safety hazard. Family members of inmates are extorted by other inmates who threaten their imprisoned loved ones -- unless the family pays a prisoners drug debt. Understaffed prisons are overflowing with inmates who are armed with makeshift weapons and will kill officers over food and will kill fellow inmates for any number of reasons. Inmates are drugged, raped and tortured for days at a time, sometimes in retaliation for reporting sexual abuse. These are the findings of a federal investigation of Alabama prisons, released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice. The full report is available at this link, and it highlights just some of the many harms of trying to do prison systems "on the cheap." But, as this follow-up article highlights under the headline "Gov. Kay Ivey says new Alabama prisons part of fix for major crisis," the taxpayers in Alabama are probably going to now have to foot a big bill for a big prison population: In the wake of a blistering report from the U.S. Department of Justice, Gov. Kay Ivey is moving ahead with her plan to build three large mens prisons as a major part of her response to Alabamas chronically crowded and understaffed correctional system. The DOJ report released Wednesday acknowledged the incredibly poor physical shape of the states prisons but focused instead on the violence, sexual abuse, drug trade and extortion that led investigators to conclude that the prisons are so dangerous that there is reasonable cause to believe the state is in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The report said new prisons might solve some problems but said new facilities alone will not resolve the contributing factors to the overall unconstitutional conditions. Ivey said today she is committed to working with the DOJ to address the problems. The governor said she is proceeding with plans to build prisons, expected to cost about a billion dollars. Ivey said she expects a request for companies to make proposals to build the prisons will be released sometime this spring. Attorneys with two advocacy groups with a history of shedding light on abuses in Alabama prisons said the DOJ report demands that the state move with urgency to make the existing prisons safer. We have an emergency and we have to act immediately to protect the lives of the people who are incarcerated, Charlotte Morrison, senior attorney at the Equal Justice Initiative, said. So, the priority has to be a short-term plan to bring about immediate reform..... House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said today the DOJ report called for immediate action. McCutcheon said the House and Senate are putting together an emergency task force to address the issues raised in the report and help craft the states response. He said that work cannot be delayed.... Lisa Graybill, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the DOJ report makes it clear that Alabama cannot build its way out of the prison crisis. The SPLC represents inmates in the federal lawsuit over health care. DOJs letter makes clear that the simple but incredibly expensive solution of construction isnt going to address its problems, Graybill said.... Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, who has led prison and criminal justice reform initiatives in the Legislature, said prison construction is one of multiple components in a comprehensive solution. Ward said the Legislature could also consider sentencing reforms, including changing the penalties for some property crimes. Lawmakers passed a reform package in 2015 that has helped reduce the prison population, although it is still at 180 percent of capacity in the major prisons, the DOJ said. Ward called the DOJ report deeply humiliating and said the findings are at odds with Alabamas posture as a state steeped in Christian ideals. Ward said the nature of politics is at the root of the crisis. No one wants to fund prisons, Ward said. Theyd rather fund schools or stuff that gets them votes back home. Nobody gets a vote back home supporting whats going on in prisons. But as the complaint pointed out, youre treating people like you wouldnt treat dogs. And for a country of laws and obviously we have pushed up on the Eighth Amendment here. April 5, 2019 at 03:42 PM | Permalink Comments No Ward at 180% capacity you blew past the 8th going about 200 miles an hr....no pushing against it. Now the court needs to do something drastic. Order you to bring it down to no more than 110% and that every day you are above 110% the state will pay a 1,000,000 fine if it takes over 30 days fine doubles at 60 days it triples. At 90 days feds automatically take control. Posted by: Rodsmith | Apr 7, 2019 10:02:21 AM Post a comment "When 'Violent Offenders' Commit Nonviolent Crimes" | Main | In wake of gruesome DOJ report, Alabama Gov plans to build three large new prisons with taxpayer price tag of about a billion dollars April 5, 2019 Split Sixth Circuit panel debates status of lawsuit over Tennessee judicial order that gave reduced jail time to inmates agreeing to sterilization Regular readers may recall (but still may not believe) prior posts here and here a few years ago about the Tennessee judge who had a standing court order offering 30 days off a defendant's jail time for "voluntarily" agreeing to have a vasectomy or birth control implant. A lawsuit over this order in federal court made it to the Sixth Circuit and resulted in a split decision yesterday in Sullivan v. Benningfield, No. 18-5643 (6th Cir. April 4, 2019) (available here). Here is how the majority opinion gets started: In May 2017, Judge Sam Benningfield issued an order offering a 30-day sentencing credit to inmates in White County, Tennessee. There was one condition: to obtain the credit, inmates had to submit to sterilization. After public outcry about the sterilization-for-sentencing-credits program, Judge Benningfield issued a second order declaring that inmates could no longer enroll in the program, followed by a third order clarifying which of the inmates who initially enrolled could still receive the sentencing credit. Within months, the Tennessee Legislature passed Senate Bill 2133, which made it illegal for courts to make sentencing determinations based on a defendants willingness to consent to sterilization. Christopher Sullivan, Nathan Haskell, and William Gentry inmates who refused to submit to a vasectomy and were consequently denied the sentencing credit that was awarded to inmates who underwent sterilization challenged Judge Benningfields orders under the Equal Protection Clause, arguing that the orders subjected inmates to differential treatment on the basis of their procreative rights and their sex. The district court found that the claims were moot in light of the passage of Senate Bill 2133 and Judge Benningfields second and third orders. Because none of those subsequent developments in the law ended the differential treatment that plaintiffs challenge, we reverse and remand for consideration of plaintiffs claims on the merits. Here is the start of the dissenting opinion: None of the Plaintiffs suffered any injury in this case. Plaintiffs sentences were not increased; rather they served their sentences as originally ordered. Being offered contraceptive services, even being encouraged to accept free contraceptive services, is not an injury in fact for purposes of standing. Plaintiffs did not receive the vasectomies and their right to procreate has not been hindered in any way. Cf. Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297 (1980) (explaining that even when the government favors childbirth over abortion by subsidizing one decision over the other; such regulation does not impinge on the constitutional freedom to make those decisions because it imposed no restrictions on access to abortions); Maher v. Roe, 432 U.S. 464, 474 (1977) (The State may have made childbirth a more attractive alternative, thereby influencing the womans decision, but it has imposed no restriction on access to abortions that was not already there.). Plaintiffs also did not suffer any differential treatment. See Scarbrough v. Morgan Cty. Bd. of Educ., 470 F.3d 250, 260 (6th Cir. 2006) (The threshold element of an equal protection claim is disparate treatment....). Every inmate was received the same offer. The fact that two of the three Plaintiffs exercised their right to refuse the offer and preserve their right to procreate actually underscores the point. Cf. Corbitt v. New Jersey, 439 U.S. 212 (1978) (criminal defendants who refused plea deals to protect their right to trial by jury thereby facing a mandatory life sentence if convicted, rather than pleading guilty in return for a lesser sentence, were not denied equal protection because [a]ll ... defendants [were] given the same choice). For these reasons, I would affirm the district courts conclusion that the Plaintiffs lacked standing. I therefore respectfully dissent. Prior related post: April 5, 2019 at 12:13 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Yee Wee Tang appointed Singapore country head. (Photo: Grab) Grab announced on Friday (5 April) the appointment of Yee Wee Tang as country head of Grab Singapore to oversee the ride-hailing apps business strategy and operations in the city. Yee, who assumed the role on 1 April, succeeded Lim Kell Jay, who became the co-chief of staff in the CEO office, as well as head of GrabFood Singapore. Lim will help grow and position GrabFood as the top food delivery service player in Singapore by the first half of 2019, Grab said. Orders placed through GrabFood in Singapore have been growing at 25 per cent monthly on average, according to the company. Yee, who has been with Grab for four years, was previously country head for the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia. Before joining Grab, he was a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group and BP. Related stories: Grab plans to double Singapore headcount to 3,000 by end-2020 Grab Financial to offer consumer credit, expand lending services Grab launches service for passengers to ride with their pets Senator Joe Manchin celebrates his victory on November 6, 2018. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images One of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate is considering a run for governor. Politico reported on Friday that Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia may challenge his states Republican governor, Jim Justice, in 2020. I think about it every minute of every day. Now, thinking about it and doing it are two different things, he said. Ill make a decision this fall sometime. I dont think theres any hurry at all. The news that a gubernatorial race is even on Manchins mind will likely disturb other members of his party. Democrats face a difficult path to retaking the Senate in 2020, and Manchins seat is pivotal; thats the national partys stated rationale for its tolerance of his conservative voting record. West Virginia is just too right wing, and Manchin is the partys only hope. Governor Manchin means a new Republican senator. Thats probably true, but regardless of Manchins next move, sooner or later Democrats will have to confront their defeatism about West Virginia and other conservative states. Manchin previously served as the states governor, and as gubernatorial candidates go, hed probably prove a safer bet than his partys previous choice: Justice, who flipped to the GOP after taking office. (That maneuver did not earn him the loyalty of the state Republican Party. This week the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee passed a no-confidence resolution targeting Justice, who recently refused to sign a GOP bill that would have created some charter schools in the state.) Manchin also knows how to win a statewide race in a right-wing state, and theres no question that he would be preferable to Justice, or a Republican to Justices right. Though Manchin wouldnt move the state as far to the left as some would like, a Democratic governor who actually stays in the party could help block the GOPs legislative priorities in an increasingly far-right state. Nevertheless, the Democratic Partys chances in West Virginia dont look great. The state remains broadly supportive of President Donald Trump. Even if Manchin did manage to win in 2020, another Democrat whether theyre a progressive populist or a conservative Democrat in Manchins mold would likely run into trouble in the next Senate race. That gamble isnt one the party can afford right now, with Alabama senator Doug Joness seat in real jeopardy too. As Politico points out, Manchin defeated his Republican challenger in the 2018 midterms by just three points. But theres reason to think the state is changing perhaps not in time for a Manchin gubernatorial run to do anything but deliver a Senate seat into Republican hands, but down the road, if the Democratic Party actually treats the state as if its something other than a place where its electoral dreams go to wither. As conservative as West Virginia is, its not marching in place. Democratic candidates in the states three congressional districts far outperformed Hillary Clintons showing against Trump. Democrat Talley Sergent improved 14 points on Clinton in the states Second Congressional District; in its Third Congressional District, Democrat Richard Ojeda improved on Clinton by 20 points. Kendra Fershee, in the First Congressional District, outperformed Clinton by eight points. Although these results arent proof that a Democrat could successfully keep Manchins seat in party hands, they do provide some reason to think that the situation is not as hopeless as conventional wisdom dictates. The state can move, for the right candidate. Its up to the party to boost its recruitment efforts, not just for congressional candidates but for local races, too, to build up its backbench. National Democrats cant rely on Joe Manchin forever. If they want an alternative, theyll have to invest. The winter is an especially lean, difficult time for European airlines. Photo: Tim Boyle/Getty Images Icelands Wow Air just joined a growing list of European airlines that have gone bust in the last two years, which begs the question: What the heck is happening? Britains Flybmi and Germanys Germania both folded last month, following in the failed footsteps of Monarch Airlines, Primera, Air Berlin and Cobalt. Aviation experts say issues including over-capacity, tough competition, higher fuel costs and the introduction of new long-haul planes have contributed to the failure of various small carriers. Plus, the winter months are known to be lean in the industry as passengers simply dont take as many holidays. Airlines effectively burn cash over the winter season. Profit peaks in the summer, said Mark Simpson, an airline analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers.You tend to see, over the winter months, that this is when airlines go bust. Europe is known as a cut-throat market with large, efficient competitors including Ryanair (RY4C.IR, RYA.L) and EasyJet (EZJ.L), along with legacy airlines such as Air France-KLM (AF.PA), Lufthansa (LHA.DE) and British Airways owner IAG (IAG.L). Ultimately the main problem really is too much capacity in the industry, said Alex Irving, a transport researcher at the financial services firm, Bernstein. A recent spike in jet fuel costs in late 2018 also created pain in the industry. Small airlines like Wow Air are particularly vulnerable to spikes in jet fuel costs as they lack the required scale to negotiate discounts. If youre a small airline, you dont have the ability to hedge, said Simpson Competitive pressures The recent introduction of efficient, long-haul planes such as the A320neo from Airbus (AIR.PA) and the 737 Max from Boeing (BA) also contributed to Wow Airs demise, said Sandy Morris, an aviation analyst at Jefferies. Within a short time span, competitor Norwegian (NAS.OL) began offering non-stop transatlantic flights for a very competitive price, making it less desirable to have a cheap Wow Air flight with a stop-over in Iceland. Story continues Sometimes you get a new aircraft that comes along that allows others to introduce competition when previously there was none, he said. Flying from Europe to the US through Iceland was a jolly interesting, cheap way of doing it. Now you have these 737 Max and A320neo [planes] that can fly directly from Europe to the east coast of the USA. You dont need to stop in Iceland. Wow was trying to respond to this, but ultimately, the market isnt big enough to share. Morris also said Wow Airs business model was simply not up to scratch. You have to start with a sound business model, he said, noting that this is another big factor behind the demise of many small players. Commuters heading to work in Dublin, Ireland. Photo: Reuters Irelands leading think tank on Wednesday cut its standard forecast for Irish economic growth in 2019 to 3.8%, and warned that the countrys economy would grow by just 1.2% in the event of a disorderly no-deal Brexit. The new forecasts mean that the growth of Irelands economy is expected to be dented by nearly 75% if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. The think tank, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), had previously said that such a scenario would halve economic growth. The lower expected pace of growth in 2019 can be generally explained by a slowdown observed in the global and European economies since the end of last year, the ESRI said in a statement. It also said that it expected the Irish economy to grow by 3.2% in 2020 in a normal scenario, and by 2.4% if there is a no-deal Brexit. The think tank said that there were persistent uncertainties with respect to the form of the UKs withdrawal from the EU, and that its most severe predictions were reserved for what it called a disorderly no-deal situation. The results of the ESRIs analysis suggest that employment levels would be 3.4% lower than if the UK stayed within the bloc. A disorderly no-deal scenario would involve additional disruption to trade in the short-run compared to what it considers to be the standard impact of a no-deal situation, the think tank said. The new study estimates the impact of Brexit on the Irish economy by looking at the impact on trade. This was done by attempting to predict the impact of the UKs tariff and non-tariff measures, but also included the potentially positive impact of foreign direct investment diversion to Ireland from the UK. Ultimately, while the [foreign direct investment] effect is expected to have a positive effect on Ireland, the positive impact is outweighed by the negative trade effect, the ESRI said. SINGAPORE (Apr 5): Kwek Leng Beng, executive chairman of City Developments, has his own views on what could make Sentosa an exciting place for a property investor. In 2014, CDL formed Profit Participation Security (PPS1) from the securitisation of Quayside Collection at $1.5 billion, with partners Blackstone Group and CIMB Bank. The mixed-use Quayside Collection on Sentosa Island comprises a 240-room luxury hotel, retail space of 44,121 sq ft and 228 residential units with a net lettable area of 418,682 sq ft that CDL had been struggling to sell. According to the URA Draft Master Plan 2019, the Greater Southern Waterfront, which extends from Pasir Panjang to Marina East, will be transformed into a new major gateway and location for urban living along Singapores southern coast. Part of the plan involves redeveloping the site occupied by Keppel Club for housing. In the future, after the City Terminals and Pasir Panjang Terminal relocate to Tuas, about 1,000ha will be freed up for development, URA has said Together with other areas such as the Keppel Club site and Sentosa, the total area of the Greater Southern Waterfront will be about 2,000 ha. Part of the redevelopment is likely to start within the next five to 10 years. So how can investors play the Draft Master Plan 2019? For this and more, login here to read the full story which appears in Issue 875 (week of Apr 8) or click here to subscribe. Malaysias leading property marketplace, PropertyGuru, has today launched their PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval, taking forward its commitment to address loan rejection and home ownership issues in the country under its ongoing Own Your Home Programme. Home loan approvals remain a challenge for many home buyers, with rejection rates still high at nearly 60% by value last year, according to Bank Negara Malaysia. This comes despite 92% of Malaysians expressing their interest in purchasing properties, according to research by PropertyGuru. It also impacts developers and real estate agents across the board, with an estimated 43,219 residential units worth RM29 billion unsold nationwide as of Q3 2018. In the same quarter, four out of five of the countrys top developers (by capitalisation) posted lower year-on-year earnings. These ranged from marginal decreases to 93.17% declines. Lack of knowledge about loan eligibility among home buyers is often cited as a primary concern among banks and financial institutions when asked for prime reasons behind home loan rejections. Stepping in to address this gap, PropertyGuru has brought together key industry players, while drawing on its core expertise as an innovative property technology company, its proprietary data and localised property knowledge, to launch PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval. A powerful FinTech solution with benefits for property buyers, developers and agents alike, PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval enables Malaysians to improve their chances of securing a home loan, in line with the national housing agenda. It does this by delivering 99.9% accuracy with a Pre-Approval of their qualified home loan amount. It then instantly offers them a suite of home loan options from our bank partnerships. This entire process takes less than five minutes and best of all, its free, said Sheldon Fernandez, Country Manager, PropertyGuru Malaysia. Own Your Home with PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval Step by Step Process: Story continues hlpa-PropertyGuru Pre Approved_Digital Find out your qualified amount: On PropertyGuru Malaysia, home buyers will start their journey with PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval. It extracts the home buyers credit score and rating from Credit Bureau Malaysia to assess their credit history and financial health against benchmarks from multiple sources. These include Bank Negara Malaysias eCCRIS (e-Central Credit Reference Information System). Next, it calculates their accurate Debt Service Ratio (DSR) to deliver the loan amount the home buyer can be approved for by the banks. This is done with 99.9% accuracy and in less than 5 minutes. Be matched with homes you desire and can afford: PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval then matches the home buyers qualified loan amount to more than 450,000 properties on PropertyGuru catering for every budget and preference. This allows home buyers to choose from a range of homes they know they can afford. They can also see their chances of securing a home loan for properties they search for outside the recommended price range. Confidently apply for your home loan instantly: With the qualified loan amount for their shortlisted house, home buyers can instantly apply for a home loan with the PropertyGuru panel of bank partners. These include RHB Bank, Alliance Bank and Hong Leong Bank, who will offer preferential rates and services to all those who come with PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval. PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval is the first of its kind. It gives Malaysian home buyers the power to make a financially educated and confident home-buying decision without facing loan rejection and any adverse impact on their credit score as well, said Vivek Kumar, Director, Product (Consumer) Technology, PropertyGuru Group. Focusing on home buyers with PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval, PropertyGuru bank partners will fine-tune their service. It will also enable real estate agents and developers to better support prospective buyers. Alliance Bank is proud to partner with PropertyGuru on the launch of its Home Loan Pre-Approval platform. This fast, simple, and innovative platform helps Malaysians fulfil their aspirations of owning a home as it provides a realistic assessment of the intended home loan eligibility, said Edwin Lee Wee Gee, Head of Consumer Asset, Alliance Bank. PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval follows in the footsteps of PropertyGuru Mortgage Pre-Qualifier, launched in August last year as a tool to estimate mortgage amounts ahead of time for home buyers. PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval improves on this with an end-to-end ecosystem of complementary features that support home buyers throughout their home buying process. Bjorn Sprengers, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of FinTech, PropertyGuru Group shared, Theres actually quite some powerful technology under the hood of PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval. But its not the Fintech alone that does the trick. For the first time, key real estate industry players have come together to rethink the mortgage process across party lines. I firmly believe that such partnerships infused with innovation are the right path forward to truly solve one of the biggest roadblocks Malaysians face during their home-buying journey. The Own Your Home Programme is the PropertyGuru long-term commitment to: Help Malaysians better understand their unique home affordability challenges, and Provide innovative solutions that empower Malaysians to #BeatTheOdds and own a home. It does this by guiding Malaysians through the entire home-buying process, showing them what to expect stage-by-stage to better prepare themselves for property purchases. The launch of PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval is being held in conjunction with the PropertyGuru Own Your Home Weekend Fiesta. The fiesta is a first-of-its-kind event located at IPC Shopping Centre, Mutiara Damansara from 5 April to 7 April. It aims to guide consumers end-to-end through the Own Your Home journey, from loan eligibility to preferential rates from panel banks. The event seeks to engage over 3,500 registered participants, including first-time home buyers, potential owner-occupiers, working professionals and families of all ages. Its line-up includes a face-to-face PropertyGuru Home Loan Pre-Approval showcase and walkthrough. Visitors will also find fun activities such as a human claw machine, spin and win opportunities and prizes up to RM50,000, including a cash prize of RM10,000. For more information, please visit www.propertygurugroup.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/propertyguru The world's biggest smartphone and memory chip maker Samsung Electronics warned Friday of a more than 60 percent plunge in first-quarter operating profits in the face of weakening markets. Operating profits for January to March would be "approximately 6.2 trillion won", the firm said in a statement, down 60.4 percent on-year. Sales were about 52 trillion won, it said, marking a 14 percent drop. The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung Group, by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in the world's 11th-largest economy, and it is crucial to South Korea's economic health. It has enjoyed record profits in recent years despite a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief. But now the picture has changed, with chip prices falling as global supply increases and demand weakens. Samsung Electronics warned investors last week to expect weak operating profits, citing "unfavourable market conditions" for displays and memory chips. "Amid weak demand for memory business, a drop in price for signature products is expected," it said then. "The company will seek to improve cost competitiveness through effective resource management," it added, "while enhancing product quality in the short term". Samsung was also launching the 5G version of its top-end Galaxy S10 smartphone Friday -- the first such device available anywhere -- after South Korea this week won the global race to commercially launch the world's first nationwide 5G networks. But the company has to contend with increasingly tough competition in the smartphone market from Chinese rivals such as Huawei -- which in 2017 surpassed Apple to take second place -- offering quality devices at lower prices. Samsung supplies components to other manufacturers such as Apple as well as making its own devices. But market prices for liquid crystal displays have fallen 10 percent quarter-on-quarter, said Sanjeev Rana, an analyst at investment firm CLSA, while demand for smartphones in China -- the world's biggest market -- has been weak. Prices for NAND memory -- used in smartphones and other devices -- fell 20 percent in the first quarter, according to market tracker DRAMeXchange, which pointed the finger at consumers taking longer to replace their smartphones, and lower-than-expected sales for Apple's new devices. DRAM chips, used in computer servers, fell by similar levels, it added. Rival phone maker LG Electronics also predicted an operating profit for the first quarter Friday, forecasting it would drop 18.8 percent to 900 billion won. - Bendable smartphones - Samsung's earnings estimate was below analyst forecasts of 6.9 trillion won, according to Bloomberg News. It would represent the firm's lowest operating profit since the third quarter of 2016, and comes after it reported its first fall in quarterly profit for two years in January. Samsung shares closed down 0.2 percent. Markets have been buoyed in recent weeks by optimism over China-US trade talks and positive Chinese factory data. South Korean semiconductor exports also rose for the first time in six months in March, according to government figures. Samsung is also set to release the world's first bendable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold. CLSA's Rana predicted a "slight" rebound in the April to June period, saying: "This quarter is the bottom in terms of earnings." Samsung Electronics once had a 20 percent market share of China's smartphone market but has seen that tumble to less than one percent. Its reputation suffered a major blow after a damaging worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices over exploding batteries in 2016, which cost the firm billions of dollars and shattered its global brand image. It took another hit after the bribery conviction of Lee Jae-yong -- the son and heir of the group's ailing current chairman Lee Kun-hee. The 50-year-old scion was a key figure in the scandal that ousted former South Korean president Park Geun-hye following nationwide street protests, and was sentenced to five years in jail. But he was released in February last year after several of his convictions were quashed on appeal. Samsung withholds net profit and sector-by-sector business performance data until it releases its final earnings report, which is expected later this month. (Getty Images file photo) By Anthea Ong Mental health must be an ongoing national and whole-of-government priority with the recognition that quality of life in Singapore is defined not only by markers of economic growth and material achievements but also subjective wellbeing. My incredibly bright nephew is currently out of the school system at the promising age of 17 because of depression. For years, a cousin of mine has been on treatment for major depression and mild bipolar, which has affected his employment situation. Theres also the old uncle living in my block at Marine Crescent who was depressed from the death of his wife and started sleeping on the bench in the void deck at night. Just the other day, a young taxi driver shared with me about his 87-year-old grandfather jumping to his death his whole family was having their breakfast inside their flat when they heard a thud. Then theres my own close shave with depression over 12 years ago. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat spoke about Building a Strong, United Singapore in his Budget 2019 speech this goal can only be possible in a nation of people who are mentally resilient. Pressing challenge across age groups Poor mental health affects across age groups and segments in Singapore. The number of children aged five to nine calling the Samaritans Of Singapore has increased by more than five-fold in less than three years. My nephew is unfortunately not alone in his struggle among his peers. The number of young Singaporeans between the ages of 16 and 30 who had sought help from the Institute of Mental Healths (IMH) Community Health Assessment Team from 2015 to 2018 has almost tripled. My cousins mental health state isnt a rare statistic. Around 90 per cent of adults grappling with mental health issues have cited workplace stress as a primary cause. Yet an overwhelming 86.5 per cent of those employed did not seek help for mental health difficulties, according to a 2012 study by the IMH on mental disorders and work disability in Singapore. Story continues It is incumbent upon employers to do more for the mental health of their workers. My cousin is now with Hush TeaBar, a social enterprise which employs and empowers deaf persons and persons in recovery from mental health conditions. My elderly neighbour and the taxi drivers grandfather were also sadly not alone in their plight. One in five elderly persons in Singapore aged 75 and above has shown signs of depression. The number of elderly aged 60 and above who took their own lives was 129 in 2017, the highest since the Samaritans of Singapore started tracking suicide cases in 1991. Valuing mental health in the community The latest IMH study showed that one in seven persons in Singapore would experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, an increase from one in eight just 8 years ago. In comparison, one in nine people suffered from diabetes in Singapore in 2017 yet there has been far more attention given to this issue. We must normalise mental health and bring it out in the open. The government and the community have to learn to value strong mental health as a basic need, and reduce stigma and improve help-seeking and recovery. We have made much progress by moving away from a predominantly medical approach of the past the five-year Community Health Action Masterplan launched in 2017 is a step in the right direction. Primary care providers like polyclinics and general practitioners are being trained to support mental health services. A national campaign Beyond the Label was launched in 2018 to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues by the National Council of Social Service. This year Presidents Challenge has a focus on mental health. Yet mental health must not be the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and the social sector alone. All ministries should recognise their role in enhancing mental health in Singapore. Ministries should work in tandem in framing policies to address the burden of mental health in our society in areas such as intervention in education, reforms in employment practices, and community initiatives. Need to expand mental health education Despite the escalating challenges of mental health among our children and youth, programmes such as the Holistic Health Framework by the Health Promotion Board are still optional in schools. Peer support programmes in schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) are also optional. Mandating mental health education in schools and IHLs is the strongest signal that the authorities can send to normalise the topic of mental health. There should also be support structures for parents and families to equip them with emotional management and problem-solving skills to help children and youth cope better with stress. We should aim for the seamless integration of mental health education into the health education curriculum to give students a more holistic understanding of health and wellness. Peer support programmes should be introduced in all schools and IHLs to create a school culture of mental wellness. Students could be trained to be mental health first aiders. Revamp employment practices Mental disorders have significant consequences on the workforce in terms of lost work productivity in Singapore. Among employers in Singapore, 72 per cent of them say that work has been affected by mental health issues, yet only half of them have psychosocial support programmes in place. Singapores employment laws, including the Workplace Health & Safety Act, must be amended to also provide for psychosocial health and safety. In Australia, individuals who suffer from psychological injuries or mental disorders arising from stress in the workplace can seek compensation. Discriminatory employment practices need to be abolished to create a more inclusive workforce. Many employers, including the public service, still require declarations by candidates in the recruitment process on their history of illnesses, including mental health conditions. Existing employment schemes like the Special Employment Credit and the Open Door Programme which incentivise employers to hire, train and integrate people with disabilities should be expanded to include persons in recovery from mental health conditions. Nationwide campaign required Our social policies must place mental health as a priority for the underserved and vulnerable communities alongside measures to care for their basic needs. The Quality of Life Standards by NCSS is a great start but more should be done in designing solutions to tackle mental health issues. The community must come in too. I applaud the many efforts by voluntary welfare organisations, informal groups, and social enterprises to provide mental health and support services. A group of top business leaders and I came together to form the WorkWell Leaders Workgroup last year as a national ground-up effort to discuss inclusive practices for workplace wellbeing. The first-ever mental health insurance product was launched early this year by a commercial insurer, which augurs well for destigmatisation efforts and provides much-needed support for those with mental health conditions. Mental health disorders are on the rise in every country in the world and could cost the global economy up to US$16 trillion between 2010 and 2030, according to the Lancet Commission Report in 2018. No other health condition in humankind has been neglected as much as mental health has. said the report. To date, there has not been a similar report on the impact of mental health disorders on the economy, productivity, social cohesion, infrastructure and medical services available in Singapore. The way we look at mental health reminds me of climate change. Its invisible, and so it is pushed to the back of our minds. Yet like climate change, its our future that we are jeopardising most if we continue with a transactional approach in addressing the challenge. We should establish a national coordinating body involving various ministries for the purpose of working with stakeholders to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues. It can be done and it must be done because mental health is crucial to the core of a strong and united Singapore. Anthea Ong is a Nominated Member of Parliament, a social entrepreneur and founder of Hush TeaBar and A Good Space, and author of 50 Shades of Love. Other Singapore stories: Duo fined $2,000 each for coffee shop brawl with drunk man over prata order WhatsApp accounts of at least 90 people compromised by scammers this year: police $52m worth of pangolin scales seized in Singapore Rep. Matt Gaetz, who may be too weird for his home state of Florida. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is the current frontrunner for the role of being the most conspicuously pro-Trump member of Congress. Indeed, last year a GQ piece by Ben Schreckinger declared Gaetz the Trumpiest Congressman in Trumps Washington, and that was before he went nuts and published a nasty tweet the night before Michael Cohens congressional testimony, suggesting he would dime out the apostate lawyer to his wife for alleged infidelities. (He subsequently apologized after he faced sanctions from both the House Ethics Committee and the Florida Bar Association). But Gaetzs Trumpiness isnt just a matter of his fierce support for the 45th president. Hes also Trumpy in terms of his taste for weird and offensive arguments, as a columnist for Orlando Weekly observed last October: Over the past 24 hours, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida congressman took to Twitter to post an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, as well as discredit Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post journalist who many presume was murdered by the Saudi Arabian government One of Gaetzs aides once wrote a bill with help from a conspiracy theory subreddit devoted to white nationalism and Trump. But he also cant seem to stop himself from doing racist crap on a semi-regular basis. Gaetzs special guest for President Trumps State of the Union address just happened to be Chuck Johnson, a banned Twitter troll, accused Holocaust denier and vocal affiliate of the alt-right white nationalist movement. Gaetz also argued with Chris Hayes on MSNBC that Haiti is basically just sheet metal and garbage, when attempting to defend Trumps racist shithole countries comments. You get the drift. The man is a serious MAGA warrior, who has already been warning that Democrats are getting ready to steal the 2020 election from his noble leader. But this possibility, reported by The Hill, elevates Gaetz to a whole new level of zaniness: Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of President Trumps most devoted loyalists on Capitol Hill who represents the Florida Panhandle, has told GOP colleagues he is considering moving across the state line to run for the Senate in Alabama in 2020, several House lawmakers told The Hill Hes talking about running for Senate in Alabama. They have a one-day residency requirement there, said a GOP lawmaker who knows Gaetz well. POTUS [President of the United States] would probably endorse him. You can see how the president might be happy with such a faithful follower entering the race to oppose Democratic Senator Doug Jones. After all, Jones won the seat after Trumps choice in the 2017 special election, appointed incumbent Luther Strange, lost to Judge Roy Moore in a primary runoff. Moore may well run again in 2020, as could another far-right figure whos not on the best terms with Team Trump, north Alabama congressman Mo Brooks, who once called Trump a serial adulterer and notorious flip-flopper while promoting Ted Cruzs rival presidential candidacy. And the one candidate already in the field, establishment conservative congressman Bradley Byrne, called on Trump to withdraw from the presidential race in 2016 after the Access Hollywood tapes came out (though he later re-endorsed the mogul). A Senate GOP primary that included a carpetbagging Gaetz, plus the alleged mall creeper and confirmed theocrat Moore, along with Brooks (who recently compared Democrats and the media to Nazis, and once suggested people who didnt stay healthy didnt deserve health care), would represent perhaps the best possible scenario for Jones. Byrne might be tempted to get a little crazy, too, to avoid being out-Trumped by the field. And its possible Gaetz could be vulnerable on his right flank: In recently introducing his so-called Green Real Deal, sort of an energy lobbyists answer to the Green New Deal, Gaetz acknowledged the existence of climate change. That may be too much for Alabama Republicans. The funniest thing about the idea of Gaetz running is the idea that Alabama has to import a wild-ass politician to take on Doug Jones. As long as Roy Moore and Mo Brooks have anything to say about it, the Yellowhammer State can proudly match anyone for right-wing zeal, win or lose. ACDelco, one of the forerunners in the automotive aftermarket parts industry, has expressed confidence with its latest partner in the Philippines in taking on the the Japanese market with its wide array of offerings. During an interview at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), Rommel Ramos, area aftersales leader of GMI service operations, told CARMUDI PHILIPPINES that the latest partnership came about in August 2018. According to him, the partnership with Thunder Automotive started from a shortlist of three applicants. Thunder Automotive has a proven track record and has a firm grasp of the market. They have basically grew up with the brand, Ramos said. At the 2019 MIAS, ACDelco is participating under the banner of Thunder Automotive Parts, Inc.. As part of Thunder Automotives commitment to customer service, it will make ACDelco more readily available by expanding its network across the Philippines through regional distributorship. Thunder Automotive is widely famous for original dealer-only parts, and it is set on making ACDelcos top-of-the-line products readily available nationwide. With a range that includes over 90,000 products across 37 product lines, this ensures distributors access to a market that encompasses the majority of Philippine automotive consumers. It also offers a wide range of high grade oils and chemicals for optimal vehicle maintenance. In a nutshell, below are the products that AC Delco will be offering locally. ACDelco Oils & LubricantsACDelco highlights an innovative line of engine oils, including efficient and cost-effective mineral oil, semi-synthetic or 100 percent synthetic oil, and the flagship Dexos line, all of which are designed to keep engines in peak performance through optimal wear protection with the stringent ACDelco Process Controls and Quality Checks system. ACDelco BatteryWith heavy-duty Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) batteries, ACDelco guarantees customers safety, preventing explosion from sparks outside the battery. The use of lead calcium grids provide convenience and durability while successfully minimizing corrosion and water loss. This effectively requires zero maintenance within a 12-month shelf life without charging. Story continues ACDelco Chemicals and CleanersFrom brake oils, coolants, carburetor and fuel system cleaners, to transmission fluids, ACDelco offers a full range of car care system products designed to completely enhance vehicle maintenance both inside and out. Wiper BladesACDelcos brand of wiper blades are aerodynamically-engineered to clean whatever is thrown at your windshield. It features even pressure distribution, longer rubber life cycle with easy installation, streak-free cleaning, and optimal durability. Spark PlugsACDelcos historic tradition of excellence first began with the spark plug in 1908 which helped ignite the companys long-standing reputation for quality. ACDelco spark plugs offer unparalleled design that can be adapted to each consumers needs, whether it be an older vehicle or the platinum performance linefor the latest models. PartsACDelco also has an arsenal of GM Genuine Parts and ACDelco Original Equipment Parts engineered for Chevrolet, Cadillac and other non-GM car models. It offers an extensive range that includes over 90,000 parts across 37 product lines, with millions of vehicles around the world fitted with ACDelcos reliable air conditioning, filters, brakes, water pumps, struts, shocks , chassis, and more. Relatedly, Ramos said that they have set a PHP50 million target for Thunder Automotive, to which Ramos said is a doable target. We both share the same trust to our brands and we both believe that this can be done, he said. The post MIAS 2019: ACDelco Ready to Take Japanese Market with Thunder Automotive appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. Auto Nation Group celebrates its 15 years as the official importer and distributor of Jeep, Dodge, Chyrsler, and RAM vehicles by launching the all-new Jeep Compass at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) last April 4, 2019 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. We are proud to showcase the best of Jeep through our expanded line-up of SUVs in the Philippines. Our recent launch of the all-new generation Jeep Wrangler, and todays launch of the all-new Compass here at the MIAS show Auto Nation Groups solid commitment towards building a stronger presence for the Jeep brand in the Philippine market, said Vince Gavino, Sales and Marketing Head for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM brands. The All-New Jeep Compass: Meant for City Driving The all-new Jeep Compass showcases an unmatched combination of attributes that includes legendary and best-in-class 44 off-road capability, advanced fuel-efficient power trains, premium and authentic Jeep design, superior on-road driving dynamics, and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings. The Jeep Compass boasts a rigid foundation and features a premium, sculptural design aesthetic. The upper body structure and frame are engineered as a single unit for a stiff and more mass-efficient structure. It is designed and built with an extensive use of high-strength steel and liberal use of structural adhesives. Inside, the all-new Jeep Compass showcases a premium interior design highlighted by sculptural surface elements and precise technical detail. From the drivers cockpit and center console to the seats and multiple storage solutions throughout the cabin, the interior is thoughtfully designed with characteristic Jeep design cues and accented with a color and finish that complements a lifestyle of adventure. Its built for city driving, says Isaac Yao, Country Manager and Head of Business and Network Development for Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles Asia Pacific. With an all-new front-row system, aerodynamics..we got 2.4 liter engines. This makes it built for city driving in terms of congestion..so I say its actually an iconic 44. Story continues Planned for retail in August, the all-new Jeep Compass expands the brands SUV line-up in the Philippines. Variants, colors, and pricing will be revealed soon. Jeeps Legacy and Future Plans Jeeps legacy in the Philippines started when American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II and left hundreds of surplus Jeeps to be sold or given to Filipinos. One of these vehicles was the 1943 Willys Jeep. These Jeeps were stripped down, altered and decorated with vibrant colors and have evolved into what is commonly known today as the Philippine Jeepneys. After more than 70 years, the Jeep brand is an iconic American brand owned and managed by FCA. The company plans to bring more of their models in the coming years. For now, we only have brought in the Philippines most probably 40 percent of our range, so for the next 1-2 years we would like to bring a whole full range of Jeep products in the Philippines, which is really gonna be good, Yao added. The post MIAS 2019: Jeep PH Introduces All-New Jeep Compass appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China "touches" it amid rising tensions over the key waterway. Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijing's expansive claims to the sea -- a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it. But as the Philippine military warned this week that hundreds of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels had "swarmed" the Manila-held Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, the Philippine president spoke out late Thursday. "I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there," Duterte said in speech to prosecutors. "If you touch it, that's another story. Then I will tell my soldiers 'prepare for suicide missions'", he added. Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process. His words came after his Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling the Chinese ships' presence an "illegal" violation of Philippine sovereignty. China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all staked claims to various islands and reefs as well as waterways in the sea, with rich petroleum reserves thought to sit deep beneath the waters. In a major victory for Manila, an international maritime tribunal ruled early in Duterte's presidency in 2016 that China's claims to the area have no legal basis. However, he has largely set aside that ruling and backed off on their once tense territorial dispute over the sea. He has been criticised at home for taking too soft a stance on China and getting little of the billions of dollars in investment promised by Chinese President Xi Jinping. For its part, Beijing has downplayed the rising tension over Pag-asa, saying on Thursday that both sides had "exchanged views frankly, amicably and constructively" on the issue. The United States, long-time Philippines ally and former colonial master, has moved to oppose any Chinese expansion in the sea. For the first time, the US said in March that it would come to Manila's aid in case of an "armed attack" in the South China Sea. The US navy has also forcefully asserted its right to freedom of navigation in the area, repeatedly sailing close to the man-made islands and drawing Chinese protests. SwRI engineers develop novel techniques to trick object detection systems SAN ANTONIO -- April 4, 2019 -- New adversarial techniques developed by engineers at Southwest Research Institute can make objects "invisible" to image detection systems that use deep-learning algorithms. These techniques can also trick systems into thinking they see another object or can change the location of objects. The technique mitigates the risk for compromise in automated image processing systems. "Deep-learning neural networks are highly effective at many tasks," says Research Engineer Abe Garza of the SwRI Intelligent Systems Division. "However, deep learning was adopted so quickly that the security implications of these algorithms weren't fully considered." Deep-learning algorithms excel at using shapes and color to recognize the differences between humans and animals or cars and trucks, for example. These systems reliably detect objects under an array of conditions and, as such, are used in myriad applications and industries, often for safety-critical uses. The automotive industry uses deep-learning object detection systems on roadways for lane-assist, lane-departure and collision-avoidance technologies. These vehicles rely on cameras to detect potentially hazardous objects around them. While the image processing systems are vital for protecting lives and property, the algorithms can be deceived by parties intent on causing harm. Security researchers working in "adversarial learning" are finding and documenting vulnerabilities in deep- and other machine-learning algorithms. Using SwRI internal research funds, Garza and Senior Research Engineer David Chambers developed what look like futuristic, Bohemian-style patterns. When worn by a person or mounted on a vehicle, the patterns trick object detection cameras into thinking the objects aren't there, that they're something else or that they're in another location. Malicious parties could place these patterns near roadways, potentially creating chaos for vehicles equipped with object detectors. "These patterns cause the algorithms in the camera to either misclassify or mislocate objects, creating a vulnerability," said Garza. "We call these patterns 'perception invariant' adversarial examples because they don't need to cover the entire object or be parallel to the camera to trick the algorithm. The algorithms can misclassify the object as long as they sense some part of the pattern." While they might look like unique and colorful displays of art to the human eye, these patterns are designed in such a way that object-detection camera systems see them very specifically. A pattern disguised as an advertisement on the back of a stopped bus could make a collision-avoidance system think it sees a harmless shopping bag instead of the bus. If the vehicle's camera fails to detect the true object, it could continue moving forward and hit the bus, causing a potentially serious collision. "The first step to resolving these exploits is to test the deep-learning algorithms," said Garza. The team has created a framework capable of repeatedly testing these attacks against a variety of deep-learning detection programs, which will be extremely useful for testing solutions. SwRI researchers continue to evaluate how much, or how little, of the pattern is needed to misclassify or mislocate an object. Working with clients, this research will allow the team to test object detection systems and ultimately improve the security of deep-learning algorithms. ### To see how object detection cameras view the patterns, watch our video on YouTube at https:/ / youtu. be/ ylbVMMR4Eqg . For more information on adversarial techniques for deep learning and machine learning, visit https:/ / www. swri. org/ perception-technologies-dynamic-environments . This story has been published on: 2019-04-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. If Stacey Abrams gives a 2020 Georgia Senate race a pass, former Columbus mayor Teresa Tomlinson will step up. Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images; Screenshot via YouTube Its no secret that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer really wants Stacey Abrams to run against Republican incumbent David Perdue in Georgias 2020 Senate race. He has already met with her three times this year to urge her in that direction. Its a critical challenge finding a Democrat for that race; the Cook Political Report currently rates 13 of the 22 Republican seats up next year as all but invulnerable, and at least one Democratic incumbent, Doug Jones of Alabama, is not generally considered a good bet for reelection (and if West Virginias Joe Manchin decides to run for governor in 2020, that could be two Democratic seats in deep peril). With Democrats already down three seats in the Senate, theres a high risk that even if they eject Donald Trump from office, a new president would find Mitch McConnell sitting athwart her or his agenda like an evil toad. Without question, Abrams makes sense as a 2020 Senate candidate. In 2018 she did better than any Georgia Democratic gubernatorial or Senate candidate since 1998. In a presidential year where youth and minority turnout should be elevated, a candidate who has devoted much of her career to expanding the electorate is a natural. But a Senate bid would sidetrack Abrams from her longtime goal of becoming governor of her state. And her national fame (burnished by her solid performance in the crucible of a State of the Union address response) has led to the more alluring possibility of a 2020 presidential candidacy and/or the second spot on a national ticket headed up by one of the many candidates already in the field. Anyone in her position would be tempted by the national spotlight after backers of Joe Biden all but begged her to join him in an early preemptive dream ticket; her decision to repudiate that idea just made her look even more influential, and even powerful. So now Abrams, who recently released a new book that shes been promoting nationally, is taking her time making a 2020 decision, Politico reports: She initially intended to decide on a Senate run by the end of March, but that timeline has slipped as she has toured the country, which has allowed her to develop a national political network. She said she would decide as soon as possible but called it a self-imposed deadline and declined to give a specific date for announcing whether she would challenge first-term GOP Sen. David Perdue. Shes also suggested that if she gives the Senate race a pass, she might be able to wait until the fall to decide for or against a presidential run. Democrats have to have a backup plan for the Georgia Senate race if Abrams does demur. Fortunately for them they have a clear prospect in former Columbus mayor Teresa Tomlinson, whos preparing for a campaign while making it clear shell get out in a heartbeat if Abrams decides to run against Perdue, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson announced this morning that she has filed the paperwork to explore a 2020 challenge to U.S. Sen. David Perdue. Tomlinson said shes been standing down as she waits for Abrams to decide because, obviously, I support Stacey. But she also said that no one on her team has been paid for weeks, and that she doesnt want to violate Federal Election Commission regulations. Stacey deserves more time to consider this, particularly with her book tour being extended, and I needed to file for the exploratory committee. Tomlinson will not excite national progressives the way Abrams has, to be sure. But shes interesting. She served two terms as the white mayor of a majority-minority consolidated city-county jurisdiction whose population is about twice as large as Pete Buttigiegs South Bend. She gained some national attention after leading a successful fundraising drive to save her alma mater, Sweet Briar College (a womens college in central Virginia), from closure. Tomlinson self-identifies as a pragmatic progressive in the mold of former Sixth District Congressional candidate Jon Ossoff, which will leave some more rigorous progressives cold; but shes hardly pursuing the old center-right Blue Dog formula, either. Most of all, her patience about Abramss candidacy will earn her many friends in Georgia Democratic circles. Georgia Democrats have run women for the Senate in 2014 (Michelle Nunn) and governor in 2018, and have palpably moved to the left during the last decade without losing, and in some respects gaining, support. Demographic trends are making the state more open to progressives every day. Abrams is the ideal candidate to put Democrats over the top in a Senate race in 2020, particularly if an anti-Trump national tide combined with her own mastery of turnout tactics changes the dynamics. If for whatever reason she turns down that opportunity, Tomlinson will be ready to apply her own distinctive gifts to what will likely be a close race against Perdue, whose 46 percent approval rating and close relationship to Donald Trump do not inspire fear. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg begins a plenary meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NATO) Foreign Ministers' Session in Washington NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg begins a plenary meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NATO) Foreign Ministers' Session at the State Department in Washington, U.S., April 4, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts By Lesley Wroughton and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday called on NATO allies to adapt to confront emerging threats, including Russia's military interventions in places such as Venezuela, Chinese strategic competition and cyber threats. Pompeo issued the warning during a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization foreign ministers in Washington marking the transatlantic military alliance's 70th anniversary. "We must adapt our alliance to confront emerging threats ... whether that's Russian aggression, uncontrolled migration, cyber attacks, threats to energy security, Chinese strategic competition, including technology and 5G, and many other issues," Pompeo said. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Pompeo said NATO members had agreed Russian troops needed to withdraw from Venezuela, where they were deployed in support of President Nicolas Maduro, who is under pressure from a coalition of more than 50 countries, including the United States, to step down. Pompeo said Venezuela was raised during discussions on ways to respond to Moscow's increased foreign military activity in places such as the Black Sea, where Russia seized three Ukrainian naval vessels last November. Venezuela's deputy foreign minister, Ivan Gil, said on Thursday that Russian forces would stay in Venezuela as long as needed and did not rule out the possibility more could be added, Interfax news agency reported. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called on Moscow to release the Ukrainian vessels and their crews. He said the NATO allies had agreed on a package of measures to step up support for Ukraine and Georgia that included increased surveillance drills and "training of maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises, and sharing information." Ukraine and Georgia, which like Ukraine is a Russian neighbour and part of the former Soviet Union, are not NATO members. Story continues PATTERN OF MISBEHAVIOUR Stoltenberg said Russia's breach of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was part of a "pattern of destabilising behaviour." Washington has said it will withdraw from the treaty this summer unless Moscow ends its alleged violations of the pact, which rid Europe of land-based nuclear missiles. Stoltenberg said NATO's response would be "measured and coordinated" and "not mirror what Russia is doing." "We have no intention of deploying ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe," he said. Pompeo said NATO should also confront increased cyber warfare, including from China and Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies [HWT.UL], which is under scrutiny from Western intelligence agencies for its perceived ties to China's government and the possibility its equipment could be used for espionage. Washington has warned it will not partner with countries that adopt Huawei systems but has been at odds on the issue with the European Union, which has shunned U.S. calls to ban the company across the bloc. The bulk of NATO members are EU countries. Pompeo warned that neither NATO nor the United States would be able to fully share information with allies if there were Chinese systems in their security networks. "We have made clear that if the risks exceed the threshold for the United States, we simply won't be able to share that information any longer," he said. SHARING COSTS The United States has also been at odds with European countries over the failure of many of them to meet NATO defence spending guidelines of 2 percent of gross domestic product. U.S. President Donald Trump has called on NATO countries to pay even more than 2 percent of their GDP for defence and has singled out Germany for not doing enough. Stoltenberg said Germany was now making progress, but all allies needed to do more. "All NATO allies made a pledge to invest more in defence to improve burden sharing in our alliance, and I expect all allies, including Germany, of course, to make good on the pledge we made together," he said. "We didn't make this pledge to please the United States. We made it because we live in a more unpredictable and uncertain world." The meeting was overshadowed by tensions between the United States and Turkey over Ankara's plan to go ahead with the purchase of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia. Washington says Turkeys purchase of the system would compromise the security of F-35 fighter jets, which are built by Lockheed Martin Corp and use stealth technology. Vice President Mike Pence warned on Wednesday that Turkey could risk its membership in NATO if it went ahead with buying the S-400. The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the F-35 to Turkey over its S-400 plans. Pompeo said the United States was confident of a "path forward" to resolve the issue after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday, although Cavusoglu reiterated on Thursday that the purchase was a "done deal" that could not be cancelled. [nL8N21M5VC] (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and David Brunnstrom; editing by Jonathan Oatis and James Dalgleish) Pipes carrying water from Malaysia to Singapore along the Causeway. (FILE PHOTO: Reuters/Edgar Su) Singapores national water agency PUB has suspended treatment operations at its Johor River Waterworks (JRWW) on Thursday afternoon (4 April), due to high levels of ammonia pollution in the Malaysian states Sungai Sayong, one of the creeks that supplies raw water to Sungai Johor. In a media statement released on Thursday night, PUB said: The stoppage of treatment operations at JRWW disrupted its water supply to Singapore and some parts of Johor. Water supply in Singapore is not affected, as PUB has stepped up production at the desalination plants and local waterworks to meet demand. PUB is monitoring the raw water quality in Johor River closely and will resume abstraction and treatment of raw water when water quality is suitable. Pollution disrupted water supply to 17,000 households in Kulai According to Malaysian newspaper The Star, the ammonia pollution has disrupted water supply to about 17,000 households in the town of Kulai. Jimmy Puah, chairman of Johor International Trade, Investment and Utility Committee and assemblyman of Bukit Patu constituency, told The Star that a reservoir at a bio-composite centre next to an oil palm refinery in Sedenak had burst on Wednesday morning, causing the ammonia-contaminated water to flow into Sungai Sayong. He added that the authorities have taken the necessary action against the oil palm refinery by cancelling its raw water abstraction licence and serve a compound notice following the incident. Under the 1962 Water Agreement, Singapore can draw up to 250 million gallons (946 million litres) of water a day from the Johor River, and is obliged to provide Johor with treated water amounting to up to 2 per cent of the water imported. Other Singapore stories: Duo fined $2,000 each for coffee shop brawl with drunk man over prata order WhatsApp accounts of at least 90 people compromised by scammers this year: police $52m worth of pangolin scales seized in Singapore US President Donald Trump visited the Mexican border on Friday to deliver a message to would-be illegal immigrants and asylum seekers: don't bother coming. "The system is full and we can't take you anymore... Our country is full," he said at a meeting with border patrol officers and other officials in Calexico, California. "So turn around, that's the way it is." Shortly after, Trump visited a section of recently refurbished border wall -- something he wants extended across far more of the US-Mexico frontier -- and said illegal immigrants had previously been "pouring" in. The California trip followed a retreat from earlier threats to close the border, which had sparked fears of serious economic damage. Nevertheless, Trump sees his campaign against a "crisis" on the border as key to his 2020 reelection bid, and his time in Calexico was meant to keep that message in the headlines. Numbers of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing violence in Central America have risen sharply, although there are enormous political divides on whether this constitutes the "national emergency" that Trump has declared. Around 200 protesters, accompanied by a giant inflatable balloon depicting Trump as a baby, were waiting for the president in Mexicali, the town on the Mexican side of the frontier. Waving US and Mexican flags, the protesters carried signs with messages such as "Stop separating families" and "If you build the wall, my generation will tear it down." On the US side, dozens of people lined the road that Trump's motorcade took, demonstrating support for his policies. "Build the wall," said one placard. Before leaving Washington earlier Friday, Trump said that his previous threats to shut down the border had been successful in persuading Mexican authorities to clamp down by stopping migrants on their journey north. "Mexico, I have to say, has been very, very good... over the last four days since I talked about shutting down the border," he said. - 'Stay calm' - Trump reiterated that actually closing the border is not currently in the cards, but said he will instead impose 25 percent tariffs on auto imports from Mexico if illegal migration and drug smuggling are not controlled. Trump also said he could still order the border closed later. "I may shut it down at some point but I'd rather do tariffs," he said. While sounding tough, Trump's surprise shift this week to tariffs from the previous threat to close the border is a major climb down. For days, the White House had been signaling that he was serious about the threat and there was even speculation that he might announce a closing during his Calexico trip. However, the idea caused alarm among economists and Congress, including in Trump's Republican Party. Mexico is the third-largest US trading partner and any hold-ups at border crossings would have an immediate impact on trade. The tariffs idea is also causing confusion. On Thursday, Trump indicated there would be a one-year deadline for Mexico to improve the situation before tariffs kicked in. However, it was not clear if he meant that both for the drug smuggling and migration, or whether he wanted the migration issue resolved immediately. On Friday, the timing was no clearer. But he seemed to suggest that he might seek to punish Mexico at any time he thought the southern neighbor was not doing enough. "We're going to shut (the border) down if we have to. We going to tariff the cars, Mexico, if we have to," he said. It was also unclear how such tariffs would fit into the countries' deeply intertwined trading relationship, which is governed by NAFTA, a free trade accord also including Canada that is due to be replaced by an updated version called the USMCA. Leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November after more than a year of negotiations. Trump said Friday that his tariffs would "supersede USMCA. It's a great deal, and it's very good for Mexico. But this will supersede USMCA." In Mexico City, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged investors to "stay calm." "Our relationship with the government of the United States is very good," he said. burs-sms/wd Textile fibers made from nettles, lab-grown leather and expandable children's clothes are amongst the winning initiatives in this year's H&M Foundation's Global Change Award. The fashion retailer's non-profit division has selected five 'out-there' sustainable fashion concepts to share a 1 million grant for the 2019 edition of its annual competition, which challenges trailblazers to submit ideas geared towards the creation of a circular fashion industry. They will also have access to a one-year innovation accelerator program offered in partnership with Accenture and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, to help them develop their ideas. The five winners were selected by an expert panel from 6,640 entries submitted from 182 countries. This year, the H&M Foundation has teamed up with the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to offer consumers the chance to participate in the winning initiatives as supporters, backers, and testers. The grant has been divided up between the winners, with 300,000 going to circular.fashion, from Germany, for The Loop Scoop', a smart digital system that provides a circular fashion model allowing all clothes and materials to be reused and recycled multiple times. A further 250,000 will go to the Swiss outfit Dimpora, for its Sane Membrane' invention, comprising a biodegradable, mineral-based membrane that can be used to fabricate for outdoor clothing. The remaining three winners will be awarded 150,000 each. Nettles form the basis of the Sustainable Sting' concept by Green Nettle Textile, from Kenya, which sees the plant turned into sustainable fashion fibers, providing opportunities for local farmers at the same time. Petit Pli, from the UK, has come up with Clothes that Grow', a series of outfits that expand to fit growing children, while Le Qara, from Peru, has invented a vegan biodegradable leather grown in a lab. "The winners of the Global Change Award prove that it's possible to improve the environmental impact of the fashion industry," said Karl-Johan Persson, board member of H&M Foundation and CEO of H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB. "They are a true inspiration and great partners to any fashion company that wants to contribute to protecting the planet and our living conditions." For more information on the award and the winning entries, see globalchangeaward.com Robert Pattinson (Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Robert Pattinson has said that he was locked in a room with the script for the new Christopher Nolan movie before accepting one of the lead roles, as a precaution against leaks. Security is extremely tight on the new project, which has no name and no synopsis, but is being called a massive, innovative, action blockbuster and an event movie. Pattinson told USA Today: I got locked in a room to read the script I dont have it myself. Read more: Robert Pattinson and John David Washington join new Nolan movie Ive been a little wary of doing big movies for years and years, but theres just something about Chris Nolans stuff. He seems like the only director now who can do what is essentially a very personal, independent movie that has huge scale. I read the script and its unreal. Christopher Nolan (Credit: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) The only other information we have is that it will be shot in IMAX, but as Nolan has used IMAX cameras since The Dark Knight, thats not a huge surprise. Pattinson will be joined on the bill so far by Elizabeth Debicki, who recently starred in Steve McQueens remake of Widows, and BlacKkKlansman star John David Washington. Its due out in July, 2020. Read more: Robert Pattinson nearly punched director Nolan is notoriously secretive when it comes to his movie projects. Famously, he turned up unannounced at Michael Caines country house with the script for Batman Begins, and insisted on staying while Caine read it. One Sunday morning, he knocked at the door, and there was this man standing there, with a script in his hand. And he said, My names Chris Nolan. Ive got a script I want you to do, Caine told THR. I said, Whats it called? He said, Batman Begins. And I thought to myself, Youre going to be the bloody butler. I know it. So I said, What am I going to play, Chris? He said, The butler. And of course I read it and the butler is a foster father of Batman. Caine then asked if hed leave the script with him. He said, No. I want you to read it while Im still here. And thats the first thing I found out about Chris: he is the most secretive person on earth. I know him so well I had dinner sitting next to him, last night, for three hours. And I know nothing about his next project. The fuzzy "Despicable Me" creatures are to be given a home of their own at the Universal Studios theme park in Singapore, where Mario and his console friends will also set up within a Super Nintendo World. Minion Park and Super Nintendo World are due to open at the Universal Studios Singapore theme park by 2025, according to specialist outlet Theme Park Insider. The resort's Super Nintendo World is the third iteration of a concept already set for Universal parks in Osaka, Japan, in Hollywood, California, and in Orlando, Florida. In line with plans for the Japanese iteration, Super Nintendo World can be expected to take after elements of the gaming giant's Mario franchise, featuring rectangular grass-topped earthy structures, house-sized mushrooms, and buildings inspired by Princess Peach and Bowser's castle residences. [Super Nintendo World Japan concept trailer: youtu.be/yKCqJ8llKuA] Likewise, Minion Park will be modelled on a similar "Despicable Me" area already installed at the Osaka destination. [Minion Park Trailer, Universal Studios Japan: youtu.be/sW8fCoNvwi0] Super Nintendo World will join areas themed after "The Mummy," "Sesame Street," "Shrek," "Transformers," and "Battlestar Galactica," while Minion Park will be going up in place of an existing "Madagascar" zone. The refit is part of a $4.5bn SGD ($3.3bn USD) overhaul for Resorts World Sentosa, where the Universal Studios Singapore attraction is based. The overhaul will include a significant aquarium expansion, driverless transportation between Sentosa Island and Singapore, and two more hotels, as well as those extra attractions at the Universal theme park and slight expansions to existing casino space. Super Nintendo World is intended to open at Universal Studios Japan in time for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, while the Universal Studios Singapore's various new attractions are to be introduced on a year-by-year basis between 2020 and 2025. In a first of its kind, app-based cab aggregators Ola and Uber along with other vehicles may ferry polling staff on April 29 in Mumbai. The district administration of Mumbai has asked the regional transport office (RTO) about the possibility of hiring app-based cabs, in a recent meeting. "So far they hired black-and-yellow cabs through unions a day before the polling day and used them to ferry the polling booth staff", Hindustan Times quoted an RTO official as saying. Ola executives said that they haven't received any official information from RTO. However, as a responsible corporate citizen, they would be keen to provide cabs for the election duty. Meanwhile, Uber did not respond to the queries, the report added. Shivaji Jondhale, district collector of Mumbai suburban district, said that they are trying to tie up with Ola and Uber on a per-day basis. According to RTO officials, the district administrations in the city and suburbs have "registered a demand of about 20-25% more vehicles for the duty this time", as compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Reportedly, the list (of vehicles) includes taxis, tempos, trucks and buses. "Goods vehicles such as trucks and tempos will be used for ferrying voting machines and other material, while buses will be used for police and other security agencies", as per the report. This time around, the administration will also hire black and yellow cabs along with autorickshaws, in an attempt to provide pick up and drop facilities to differently-abled voters. According to reports, the district administration had hired 5,000 vehicles including nearly 1,200 buses. On the other hand, more than 3,000 black and yellow taxis were employed for the civic elections that were conducted in February 2017. (Edited by: Nehal Solanki) Also read: Flipkart tops best employers list; Ola slips to 19th rank: LinkedIn Also read: German army rebuked for 'disrespectful' Ford, VW ad The Supreme Court bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi on Friday said it would hear the contempt petition against former Ranbaxy owners Malvinder and Shivinder Singh on April 11. The court also said if the Singh brothers were found guilty, they would be sent to jail. Dissatisfied over the replies filed by former Ranbaxy promoters, the SC bench said, "You may be owning half of the world but there is no concrete plan as to how the arbitral amount would be realised. You said that somebody owed you Rs 6,000 crore. But this is neither here nor there." The SC on March 14 had asked Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh to submit a concrete plan for paying Rs 3,500 crore to Daiichi Sankyo as directed by a Singapore tribunal. The SC bench said it would now straightaway hear the contempt petition against the Singh brothers for non-payment of arbitral award amount to Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo and "send them to jail" if violation of its orders was established. The bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, has now fixed the contempt petition of the Japanese firms against the former Ranbaxy promoters for hearing on April 11. During the hearing the court asked the Singh brothers about their plans to repay the amount. "We want to secure the amount. How are you planning to do it?" reported Bar & Bench. The brothers said they were sceptical about the value of the operation companies as they would only fetch around Rs 900 crore if liquidated. Meanwhile, Shivinder sought permission from the SC to take over the group and promised to increase the company's net worth from Rs 900 crore to Rs 2,000 crore in two-three years. Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh had lost an appeal filed before a Singapore court in Daiichi Sankyo arbitration case in December 2018 where they had argued against the $500 million (Rs 3,500 crore) arbitration award against them. The High Court of Singapore had dismissed the plea to stay a Singapore tribunal arbitration award in favour of Japanese pharmaceutical major and reserved its verdict. Back in 2016, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre had ordered the Singh brothers to pay $500 million for concealing information about alleged suppression of facts at Ranbaxy Laboratories when its shares were sold to Daiichi Sankyo for $4.6 billion in 2008. The case involved some 20 Ranbaxy shareholders who had sold a controlling stake in the multi-national pharmaceutical company to Daiichi. Manoj Sharma with agency inputs ALSO READ:Singh brothers fight in the open; Malvinder says younger brother Shivinder physically assaulted him ALSO READ:The Baba, Singh Brothers and the Squandered Rs 225,00,00,00,000 Listen to Live at Politics and Prose: Get More Live at Politics and Prose Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to Live at Politics and Prose Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. On this episode of Live at Politics and Prose, Albert Woodfox discusses his book, Solitary, at Politics and Prose bookstore on March 25. You can watch a playlist of videos from other readings that have featured in this podcast feed. Email: books@politics-prose.com Twitter: @PoliticsProse Podcast production by Tom Warren. Whats the next best thing to a new episode of Succession? No, not a new episode of Billions. It turns out that the optimal way to get your Succession fix in these Succession-less times is by reading a three-part investigation in the New York Times Magazine. While the show isnt set to come back for Season 2 until later this year, this week the Times Magazine published thousands and thousands of words about the Murdoch family, one of the dynasties that seems to have inspired the shows Roy family. The shows creator has claimed that it isnt based on any one family, but the parallels are strong: Both the Murdochs and the Roys are headed up by foreign-born patriarchs who built global media empires, and in both families, the siblings of the next generation have jockeyed for years for control of the family business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times Magazine report is brimming with juicy new details about the Murdoch clan, including how they have helped destabilize democracies and even overthrow governments, and it should be read in full. Butmore importantly for HBOmany of these revelations could easily double as fodder for future episodes of Succession. Here, the bits that seem the most ripe to become prestige drama. The Neer-Do-Well Son Orders a Custom-Built, Dual-Purpose Yacht Lachlan had personally overseen the design of the 140-foot sloop named Sarissa after a long and especially dangerous spear used by the armies of ancient Macedonia ensuring that it would be suitable for family vacations while also remaining competitive in superyacht regattas. Writers room, take note: This sounds like just the kind of money-wasting project that Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) would take on with gusto. Advertisement Advertisement The Yacht Proves to Be a Dangerous Setting for a Fragile Octogenarian But it was not the easiest environment for an 86-year-old man to negotiate. Murdoch tripped on his way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Logan Roy (Brian Cox) had a heart attack on the show already, but theres something so profound about a rich man suffering a fall on his sons cursed superyacht that he may just have to endure another one. Advertisement Then, Just a Little Family Cover-Up The family prevented word from getting out on both occasions, but the incidents were concerning. The Roy siblings and Waystar-Roycos senior executives wouldnt hesitate to bury any kind of health-related scare. Didnt they already do this at least once? Advertisement The Stepmother Summons the Children Because Shes Afraid This Is the End [Murdochs fourth wife Jerry] Hall called his adult children in a panic, urging them to come to California prepared to make peace with their father. Advertisement Advertisement I think this also may have already happened on Succession too. The Patriarch Forces His Children to Compete for His Favor for Their Whole Lives but Also Wants Everyone to Get Along Murdoch tried to manage the tensions, arranging for group therapy with his children and their spouses with a counselor in London who specialized in working with dynastic families. This also kind of already happened on the show, except the therapy took place on a retreat to New Mexico, not in London. Time for a change of location? Advertisement Advertisement The Kids Try to Talk Dad Out of His Engagement [Lachlan] and James had tried to talk their father out of marrying Wendi over a 1999 dinner at the Manhattan restaurant Babbo she was the rare subject on which the two sons agreed and both of them had grown even less fond of her in the years that followed. And family members felt that she treated their father terribly, calling him old and stupid. Advertisement Advertisement It would have to be in flashback, but the Roy kids undoubtedly tried to talk their Dad out of marrying Marcia (Hiam Abbass) at some point. Possibly at Babbo. The Stepmom Is a Spy? James and at least one other company executive had heard from senior foreign officials that they believed she was a Chinese intelligence asset. Advertisement The Roy children speculate that Marcia, who is, like Wendi Deng, a third wife, is a secret agent for the country shes fromincidentally, the audience doesnt know where that is, and the Roys might not either, which only makes them more suspicious. Dad, You Cant Sell Our Childhood Home According to six people close to the family, James and Lachlan were upset to learn that their father had put the house on the market and had a $35 million offer on it from Leonardo DiCaprio. Advertisement Succession hasnt delved much into real estate squabbling yet, but its only a matter time. DiCaprio, of course, plays himself. Another Sibling Enters the Fray After a Major Scandal Has a Longtime Favorite Looking Weak Advertisement For his part, Murdoch blamed James for surrounding himself with feckless, sycophantic advisers who failed to neutralize the crisis when it still could have been contained. Elisabeth, having long been out of the succession [!] mix, reinserted herself, urging her father to fire James and replace him with her, four people familiar with the conversations told us. Advertisement On Succession, youd think it would be Shiv (Sarah Snook) who would do this to one of her brothers, but actually I can see this for Connor. The Dramatic Gesture of Showing Up in a Crucial Moment Looking Like a Million Bucks Lachlan used the opportunity to play the family savior in a time of crisis, calling his father from Bangkok en route to Britain from Australia to urge him not to do anything rash. He swept into the companys London offices looking tan, fit and rested, despite the daylong flight from Australia. His presence appeared to be an instant comfort to his father. Advertisement Roman showing up somewhere looking good as a way to play family savior and stick it to Kendall (Jeremy Strong)yes, this is plausible. No, wait, it would be Shiv. Dad Refuses to Relinquish Responsibilities and in Fact Starts Taking On More Rather than replace Ailes with a new executive, Murdoch moved into his office and took over the job himself, a short-term solution intended to reassure both shareholders and talent. He was soon back in the newsroom, attending meetings and visiting sets my retirement job, he called it and was having more fun than hed had in years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imagine Logan taking a bigger role in day-to-day operations at his companyand how much it would terrify Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen). Advertisement The Idiot Son Overdoes It With the Corporate Perks [James] bristled when Lachlan built a rock-climbing wall on an old soundstage on the studio lot and hired a private security guard to accompany him everywhere. Roman (Kieran Culkin) has talked about his time in Hollywood on the show. Whos to say he wouldnt give it another whirl, and then flame out again and decide to get into rock-climbing instead? And I can see the private security guard providing a great straight man for him. Think of the banter! A Long-Silent Wife of One of the Sons Chimes In With Some Pointed Criticism of the Family Business [James wife] Kathryn had historically kept her complaints about the network and the business inside the family, in accordance with the unofficial Murdoch code of conduct. But Fox opinion hosts embrace of nativism and white nationalism during Trumps rise had eroded her restraint. Her frustration with the family business occasionally broke through on her Twitter account. Advertisement One of the wives must decide to tweet. Maybe its Kendalls ex, Rava (Natalie Gold)? A B-plot. Advertisement The Children Strongly Dislike Dads Plan to Sell Off Half the Company and Dismantle the Empire Lachlans anger at his father boiled over during a dinner in Manhattan in the fall of 2017, three people who were familiar with the incident told us. If you take one more call on this deal, you will not have a son! he threatened. I will never talk to you again. (Representatives for Murdoch and Lachlan denied that he made these threats.) This dialogue can be directly copied and pasted into the script for Roman. Advertisement The Conference Photo Op Becomes a P.R. Stratagem Advertisement Lachlan generally avoids on-the-record interviews, but now that he was taking ownership of the family business, it seemed appropriate to make at least one public appearance. He chose the New York Times-sponsored DealBook conference about corporate leadership. Kendall strategically appears at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit. If Dads Gonna Pick My Brother, Thats It, Im Leaving Having spent almost his entire adult life trying to prove that he was worthy of running the Murdoch empire, James had finally broken with it. He struck out on his own at the end of 2018, setting up his own family office in a new building in Greenwich Village to manage his vastly expanded fortune and invest in technology start-ups. By now, he and his brother were barely on speaking terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kendall could try to strike out on his own, but it wouldnt last. One of the Siblings Thinks Hes Finally Found a Way Out of This Boondoggle James saw only one solution. He would sell his stock to Lachlan and his father, and maybe his sisters would join him. What was once a complex family dynasty would become a simple hereditary monarchy. Elisabeth and Prudence enthusiastically agreed. Murdoch, too, was excited about the idea, seeing it as an opportunity to rid the company of an in-house critic. He urged Lachlan to do it: The two of them, father and son, would own the company together. The documents were drawn up, but in late 2018, given the chance to have the company to himself, Lachlan balked. This would be great for one of those season finales where it looks like a huge, game-changing thing is going to happen, but instead nothing happens and everyone is just a little worse off than they started. Succession in a nutshell. This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here. DJ Terry Sherman had decided to go for a soulful, R&B vibe at the 1989 Black Party, with records like Diana Ross The Boss, Grace Jones Walking in the Rain, and Al Greens You Ought to Be With Me spinning on his turntables. Despite the break from hipper house music, the dance floor was packed, wall-to-wall, with many men sporting the leather look of the momentchaps, harnesses, vests, peaked capsand moving to the beat of Shermans set. His sound was nostalgic, even thenalmost like he was trying to hold onto something that was slipping away. It was, after all, the first Black Party held at large, as the marketing put it, because of the closure of the Saint, its legendary, longtime home, the previous year. Instead, the party was housed at the Red Zone, a newer but smaller venue in Hells Kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closing of the Saint marked the end of an era for many gay men. Its loss added some measure of volume to the void left by the ongoing AIDS epidemic, which had taken the lives of more than 89,000 Americans by the end of the decade. Even though the Black Party would continue at large for 30 more yearsmaking 2019s edition, the first to rove into New Yorks Bronx borough, an anniversary of sortsits shelf life at the time was unclear. There wouldnt have seemed to be a whole lot to celebrate for those arriving at the 89 edition that Saturday night in March (or, given the partys legendary 10-plus-hour run time, the Sunday morning following). The citys nightlife was fading, beloved friends were dying, and queer people were living through a harrowing epidemic. But it was for that very reason that the party proved invaluable for many who went that year. Advertisement Advertisement Bruce Mailman was the mind behind the Saint, and after opening its doors in September of 1980, his club quickly dominated the scene. It sported a 4,800-square-foot circular dance floor, about 500 speakers, and an aluminum framed dome overhead that famously projected the constellations. It was the closest to something supernatural and magical that Ive ever seen in brick and mortar, DJ Robbie Leslie told Red Bull Music Academy in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The club hosted the Black Party annually in March, starting in 81. From its inception, it allowed men to live their leather and kink fantasies on the dance floor and to indulge in more explicit acts on the balcony beyond the dome. The Black Party was dark and sexy and tribal and kind of menacing, Tom, an attendee who asked to use only his first name, tells me. He started going to the club in 1984 and went to his first Black Party the following year. Tom saw the Black Party as one flavor in a spectrum of flavors of this secret, gay male, hedonistic lifestyle that the Saint offered. The club hosted a series of parties, including the White Party and a Halloween party, but the black variant was a heavy leather flavor. I think a lot of people who were at the Black Party went there with an agenda of releasing their inhibitions, Tom says. But that, of course, was going to change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The history of the Black Party at the Saint runs parallel with that of the HIV/AIDS crisis. (A black party was held at Flamingo in 80, but the Black Party as we know it today began the same year as the first documented cases of HIV in New York, in 81.) Their histories are so intertwined that in the early days, HIV was sometimes nicknamed Saints disease because many of those who fell sick had danced at the club. Author Andrew Holleran told A&U magazine that he was even convinced back then that one could acquire the virus just by drinking from the clubs water fountain or from someones sweat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the epidemic became more pronounced, local governments began closing bathhouses, bars, and other venues where sex was going down. The Saint stayed open, but there was a decline in overt sexuality. The staff would break up any man-to-man contact that went beyond kissing or a hand job, and in 1986 they even changed the theme of the Black Party to Black Magic in an effort to make it less sexual. Rather than having a man shove a boa constrictors tail up his asswhich was one of the Black Partys most infamous live actsthey brought in fortune tellers, soothsayers, magicians, and the like. The relative chasteness didnt last long, though. The following year they went back to the original concept: THE RETURN OF THE BLACK PARTY, the 87 flyer read. It included a condom: BUT SAFER. Advertisement As more gay men died, it became difficult for Mailman to make a profit from the club. He wrote in a letter to the clubs members in February 1988, Although in our 8th year the party attendance is still extraordinary, regular attendance has fallen for complex social and economic reasons. It is, therefore, with great regret that I am writing to tell you that THE SAINT will close this Spring. Advertisement Advertisement The gay party scene after the Saint closed was not much of a party scene at all, Tom recalls. I think we were all sort of in mourning, almost, for what had been lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Red Zone, DJ Sherman played many other tracks, including the instrumental side of Supertramps Cannonball, Barry Whites Its Ecstasy When You Lie Next to Me, and Passengers Hot Leather. Charlie Carson, another Saint patron who had gone to the Black Party throughout the 80s, also remembers hearing Donna Summers new song, This Time I Know Its for Real, fresh that night. Advertisement In the opinion of those present, the move to the Red Zone was a step down for the party. The dance floor was no longer circular, and there wasnt a dome overhead. It was OK, Carson tells me over email, but I dont think anyone looks back at it and wishes the Red Zone was still operating. Tom adds: There was a qualitatively different experience that the space itself had on the inhabitants that could not be reproduced with corners and right angles and traditional, conventional architecture. Advertisement There was still no effective HIV treatment in 1989, so the uninhibited Saint days were long gone. Ora McCreary, who also had been going to the party throughout the 80s, recalls that there were curtains at one end of the Red Zone with a few people fooling around behind them, but that it was nothing like the bacchanal that it later became in the Roseland era and later. (The Black Party was held at the Roseland Ballroom for 24 years following its run at the Saint, and was there reputed for its raw sexuality.) Tom has no memory of the sex or sexual energy that night, but that made sense: I think by 1989, a lot of us were certainly not feeling particularly comfortable giving free expressions to sexual energy the way we had been just a few years earlier. According to Tom, some people within the LGBTQ community thought that continuing the Black Party throughout the epidemic was inappropriate, and associated it purely with unchecked and unhealthy sexual energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They would be glad to know were still dancing today. Charlie Carson Despite the judgment, having the Black Party go on the way it did offered hope to some in an otherwise hopeless era. It gave a sense of possibility that some sort of thing could endure, despite all the forces working against it, says Tom. And that people could still be brought together in this underground, tribal setting at a time when circumstances were pulling people apart and bringing them together in much more difficult settings instead. I understand the sentiment of people at the time because I lost dozens and dozens of friends, Carson says. I also can vouch that many of those same friends danced and danced and dancedand would be glad to know that were still dancing today. Advertisement The theme for this years event is Caligula, the Last Party, and theres a chance that the theme is apt. The Black Party hasnt had a permanent home since Roseland, nor has it made money in recent years. Stephen Pevner, the executive producer of the event, is also involved in a costly court case which, if its not dismissed, could jeopardize the future of the event. However, the father of all circuit parties has already endured many hardships and made it through periods bleaker than this. So with enough luck, passion, and persistence, there may yet be many more years of dancing at the Black Party, wherever it roams next. A young boy from Mizoram whose picture went viral on Facebook for trying to save a chick he accidentally ran over with his bicycle, has received an appreciation certificate from his school for his innocent gesture. Derek C Lalchhanhima (6 years), from the Sairang town of Mizoram has become an Internet sensation. A Facebook user with the username 'Sanga Says' had posted the picture of the boy in the hospital with a chicken in one hand and a few notes in the other. The post was captioned, "As per Reports: This young boy from Sairang, Mizoram, accidentally ran over his neighbour's chicken with his cycle. He took the chicken, ran to the nearby hospital and with all the money he had, asked for help. (I'm laughing and crying all at the same time)". The post soon went viral with over 90k shares and over a lakh likes. In another picture shared by the same user, the boy can be seen rewarded with a certificate and shawl of appreciation. The post read, "Derek C Lalchhanhima (age 6) is being honoured by his school and he is draped in a shawl which is a traditional way of honouring someone among Mizos. In Mizo tradition different types of shawls are usually presented to esteemed guests and in olden days, to pasal?ha (braves or warriors) who have accomplished great feats. The shawl that is draped on him looks like a modified version of the "Tawlhloh Puan", an honour given to those who have exemplified extraordinary courage". As per a report in the Indian Express, the Class I student, who studies at the St. Pio School can barely make sense of his overnight fame. "After the award, people are teasing him, saying, 'You have now become a celebrity'. He didn't even understand that and asked me, 'Mom, what is a celebrity?'" Derek's mother, Lalnunpuii, told the daily. "He did it out of the innocence of his heart. When he first came to us, we just laughed, never expecting it to become national news or that people will appreciate his action so much," she added. (Edited by: Nehal Solanki) Also read: WhatsApp makes group chats more secure, gives users more control Also read: Madras HC orders central govt to ban TikTok app How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Send your questions for Stoya and Rich to howtodoit@slate.com. Every Thursday night, Stoya and Rich will answer one bonus question in chat form. This week, going down. Dear How to Do It, I am a 29-year-old straight guy. Ive been sexually active since I was 18. Ive had a couple longer relationships, but Im still not ready to settle down, so Ive been dating casually and do pretty well for myself. But I am running into a problem Ive had since I first had sex, and it feels like its getting worse. I really, really hate going down on women. I just dont like to be that up close and personal with vaginaseven very clean vaginas. Something about staring the anatomy that close in the face just puts me off. Ive often pushed past my dislike of this with new partners because I want them to enjoy themselves too. In my two relationships, I eventually told the truth and we worked around it. I also love receiving oral sex and Im not sure Id be OK with a partner taking that off the table. But no matter how many women Im with, I still hate giving oral sex, and my aversion is only getting stronger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What can I do? This can be a literal boner killer at times, and I just dont want to keep doing it. I feel most women would not even want me to do it if I told them the truth about how much it grosses me out, and I wouldnt want a woman to give me a blow job if she hated it. Ive found myself avoiding it and using my fingers while kissing her neck, etc., and that has been OK, but one woman asked for oral recently and I didnt know how to tell her without sounding like a jerk, so I did it. When Ive searched this, Ive mostly seen how most guys love giving oral sex, or how Im afraid of vaginas (Im not), or even how I dont deserve to be with women if I dont want to pleasure them this way. I dont think I can ever make myself like it. Ive been trying for a decade. What do you think? Advertisement Advertisement Not Hungry Rich: I dont want to clown on this guy, but Stoya: I feel bad for him. It must be incredibly difficult to be a heterosexual man with an aversion to looking at vulvas up close, especially knowing that giving oral sex is probably the best way to help his partner orgasm. If oral wasnt so basically necessary for so many women to reach climax, Id tell the writer preferences are preferences and not to worry about it, but it is. Advertisement Rich: You take him at his word? You think nothing else is going on here, that this aversion doesnt bespeak any sort of unconscious issues with women and/or sex with them? Stoya: I do take him at his word. At least to start with. He should try closing his eyes, or turning the lights off before he removes his partners underwear. If hes tried both of those, or tries them and they dont work, then it might be time to question more deeply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rich: Yeah, I dont really understand how much he is actually trying. He says hes trying, but he also says he avoids it. I kind of feel like this is something where enough exposure would make him eventually give up and get used to it? Stoya: I think so, though he says hes had at least some exposure. Rich: I dont know, this idea is just so foreign to me. I like vaginas more than this guy does. Stoya: A small part of me wonders if something like OCD might be going on, but thats out of the scope of what we can determine here. Rich: Right, but I agree with your line of thinking. It seems theres a missing piece here. He doesnt like vaginas up close but cant put his finger on why really? Something about staring the anatomy that close in the face just puts me off. That vagueness there makes me suspicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stoya: Its as though he doesnt want to think about it too hard. Rich: I did do a little research. Stoya: Oooh, fancy. Rich: Broadly did a piece on this rare but not]ed occurrence. They talked to some therapists who suggested that it might stem from a sort of pleasure anxiety, like, If I cant make you come, I am a failure, so Id rather not try. Stoya: But our writer didnt report being uncomfortable giving digital stimulation. Rich: Thats a good point: Ive found myself avoiding it and using my fingers while kissing her neck, etc. Ive definitely encountered guys who dont like giving head, although all thats always presumably wrapped up in gay shame/masculinity ideas. Honestly, though, I cant say its bothered me that much, but Im just flexible like that. Advertisement Advertisement So what now? Do you think he should just will himself to get over it? Stoya: I think he needs to make some decisions for himself. Hell have a much harder time finding a partner who doesnt mind digital and penile stimulation only. And even then, he still might want to have a few vibrators laying around. But if hes fine with that, he may as well devote the energy hed otherwise expend exposing himself to vulvas to finding a partner who can be happy with what he has to offer. I cant imagine any version of sexual generosity allowing for I am really into you but keep your vagina away from my face. Rich: I do think he needs to be really upfront with this. Stoya: Oh, for sure. Rich: No Ill give you head to start with and then withhold it when youre used to it. Thats false advertising. Advertisement Stoya: If not on his dating profile, certainly before they have sex. Rich: Yes. And look, the world is vast and time is long and everyones so different that it is conceivable that yes, there is a man with no pathology, no animosity toward women, no self-loathing, no greater issues at all, who simply does not like vaginas up close the matter-of-factly mysterious way that some people just dont like chocolate. But I dont know, part of being a good lover is getting over yourself to please your partner. I think about the fetish stuff Ive participated in with zero interest because my partner loved it. You just do it sometimes? You get through it? I cant imagine any version of sexual generosity allowing for I am really into you and want to bond with you but keep your vagina away from my face. Advertisement Stoya: So what would this guy ask himself if he wanted to double-check whether hes afraid of or angry toward or ambivalent about vaginas? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rich: Thats a great question. Stoya: I suppose itd make more sense to talk about the need to sexually get off on stimulating ones partner. I think women (and men!) do sexual things for their partners pretty regularly that dont directly, immediately increase their own arousal. And sometimes we all ignore things that work against our arousal. Rich: So it has to be extreme distaste for it to be justifiable as opposed to selfish? Stoya: As long as theyre upfront about it, I think its totally OK for someone not to do whatever thing they hate doing. Even the extreme upfront-ness is only necessary because the particular act is so crucial to most women. Advertisement Rich: Also, he does have a pointI dont know if Id even want head from someone who hated giving. Stoya: Yeah its unpleasant to be on the receiving end of reluctant oral. Rich: Reluctant anything really. Im really empathetic about desireif its not coming at me, mine evaporates. Stoya: If he really wanted, he could do some self-exposure with close-up images of vulvas, lifelike stroker toys, maybe an incredibly close and understanding friend. But I dont know if the first two would cause the same revulsion. And friends that close dont come along very often. Advertisement Rich: Its true. Hes a special case really. If hes going to sort of rest on I hate putting my face near vaginas, hes just narrowing the dating pool, basically, like anyone with very intense special interests (or disinterests). Oh well, thats life. Advertisement Stoya: I do want to circle back to the introspection thing. I think its worth trying to get a better picture of exactly what puts him off, and what his feelings around that are. Advertisement Rich: Yes, it really does seem like theres some more work to do here. Stoya: Im imagining someone Im dating having a similar issue, and I feel like Id have an easier time with it if I had a cause and a specific line. Rich: Right, because then youd know it wasnt him being lazy or selfish. Stoya: Maybe a cause isnt there, but it seems worth looking for, and knowing at what point he becomes uncomfortable is pretty crucial to respecting that boundary. So its worth doing more thinking about in a couple of directions. The following article is a written adaptation of a recent episode of What Next, Slates new daily news podcast. Listen to What Next for free every day via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, Overcast, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. In Brooklyn, New York, theres this hotline parents can call if theyre looking for advice. Its called Akeres Habayis. Its a Yiddish phrase that roughly translates to housewife, or keystone of the home, and the advice on this phone line is geared toward Orthodox Jewish people. Advertisement Users of the service can click for information on all kinds of thingseverything from advice on potty training, child safety, and kidnapping to the truth about vaccines. You see, right now, revealing the truth about vaccines is important in this tight-knit community. New York is in the middle of one of the largest outbreaks of measles in decadesthere are at least 214 confirmed cases since last October. Back in 2013, there were about 60 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The epicenter of the ongoing outbreak is in Williamsburg31 cases were confirmed there in just the past week. Many of those infected are part of this sheltered Orthodox community, and the Akeres Habayis hotline has become a place for families to gather. Advertisement You can press certain buttons to ask a question, says Gwynne Hogan, a reporter for public radio station WNYC. In some cases, its a free-for-all. Anybody can answer it. She called the service, and what she found may surprise you. I heard this audio during a recent episode of What Next, the daily news podcast I host for Slate. Weve seen children who just dont talk as much anymore. They seem a little spaced out. That could be, I would say, the aluminum in the vaccines, one speaker said on the line. You can hear the full conversation by clicking the audio player below. In addition to hyping the danger of vaccines, Hogan says the people answering questions on the hotline are consistently downplaying the severity of measles. Advertisement Advertisement This outbreak is larger than what weve seen since the 1990s in New York City, and years before measles was declared eradicated from the United States, she says. Advertisement This is mostly happening in the Hasidic Orthodox Jewish community. Back in 2013, the community was also at the center of the outbreak. There are a couple of reasons for this, Hogan says. This is a very tight-knit community. And so even with a small percentage of unvaccinated children, theres just a lot more insularity, so its spreading. And to be clear, it appears that the outbreak began from travelers who in some cases were from Europe, several from those who went to Israel and caught the measles and brought it back. So its not just like one person brought it. And now were seeing this whole evolving situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her reporting, Hogan is trying to understand why this community has continually had trouble with measles. Which brought her to the Vaccine Safety Handbook. [Its] a project of PEACH, which stands for Parents Educating and Advocating for Childrens Health, she says. This pamphlet has been out for several years, but when the outbreak began last October, it was sent to some Orthodox homes and neighborhoods. The pamphlet just appeared in peoples mailboxes. In New York and New Jersey, it was passed between friends and family members and circulated through the community. Ive seen this pamphletit looks professional. It resembles something you might find in a doctors office. But it is different. Advertisement Advertisement Its full of all these big questions, like Why are autism rates going up? Hogan says. It posits all these questions, and then it says all this information about vaccinesit sort of puts vaccines in parallel to all these, every possible ailment. So it asks these questions and gives you this information about vaccines, sowing these kind of seeds of fear. Well, maybe its vaccines, you knowthe reader jumps to that conclusion. Advertisement In the pamphlet, one thing that stood out to me was a cartoon of a doctor with a needle telling a mother that vaccines are totally safe. And then in the next panel, the doctor drops the vaccine and it spills on the floor and he says to the nurse, Its biohazard. Call the EPA! Everything here we cant touch! It sets up this conflict and pushes the reader to ask, Is this vaccine good? Is what was in the vial safe? Knowing about the history of this community, the way information moves through it, I asked Hogan how public health officials have responded to this outbreak. They took drastic steps. Back in December, the city barred unvaccinated children from attending yeshivas in Brooklyn. And then, just in the past couple of weeks, weve seen even more steps in Rockland County, New York, which is another place where theres a significant Orthodox Jewish population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rockland County executive declared a state of emergency for a period of 30 days, which he could potentially extend, [and now] unvaccinated children are banned from public places, Hogan says. She continues: They say theyre not planning on enforcing this. To be clear, theyre banned from public indoor spaces. They can go to parks and they can be on the streets, but restaurants, malls, that kind of thing, theyre not allowed there. Theyre saying theyre not going to be patrolling, theyre not gonna have a list of immunization records, you dont have to have an ID card that says youve been vaccinated. But it seems that there could be enforcement retroactively. Advertisement If the measles spreads and an unvaccinated child was in a public place, then the parents could be held liable. These standards seem rigid. But Rockland County Executive Ed Day says this seems to be working. But Hogan has also talked to some families who say the new measures taken by local officials havent changed their minds. Rather, theyre enraged that the government is trying to control their families. But at least one woman seems to think this is making a difference. And shes doing something really different. Her name is Blima Marcus, and shes a member of the Orthodox Jewish Nurses Association. She argues that for women in this community, this is an emotional issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is coming at this from a totally different angle, Hogan says. Shes like, we need to acknowledge [peoples] fears, and then we need to debunk the anti-vaccination propaganda. What she and a group of Orthodox nurses have been doing for several months, theyve basically dissected the PEACH manual, line by line, and exposed its faults and fallacies. They already have back orders on this book. They have people in Orthodox communities all over the country who want copies of it. And they plan on sort of presenting this to show mothers, like, Your fears are validthis book is terrifying. And here is why these things that you read and learned from this book are not true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like there are two approaches here. The first is about rigidly banning people, and the second about engaging them deeply. While this could be a possible lesson for other anti-vaccine communities, Im also thinking about how the media is covering these measles outbreaks that have cropped up recently, and how that is impacting the conversation. My colleague Daniel Engber has been thinking about all this too. Hes a science columnist here at Slate. A couple of months ago, he wrote a story with the headline, Stop Talking About Measles. He argues that the national coverage of measles outbreaks has been somewhat out of hand. Advertisement The way its talked about, I think, introduces a lot of exaggeration and fear, and theres even a risk that it exaggerates the influence of the anti-vaxxers, which may be to their advantage, he says. Im not sure that covering this as a national catastrophe does more good than harm. Advertisement Engber has talked about this data point thats in almost every story about the measles: that back in the year 2000, the U.S. declared measles eliminated. But he says thats misleading. Some news reports use the word eradicated instead of eliminated, he says. I dont think the way those words are used has any technical meaning in media coverage, but when I hear them, I think, Oh, measles is completely gone, no one was getting measles. Thats actually not the case. Engber says that back in 2000, experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided that measles was no longer in regular circulation in the U.S. They knew that there would still be measles outbreaks imported from overseasin fact, all the measles outbreaks weve seen recently are imported from overseasbut it wasnt gonna sort of spontaneously pop up here anymore, he says. That still seems to be trueit is still eliminated in that sense, as best we can tell. But I think its interestingeven at the time, some people worried that using that language would create a false sense of security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I asked him: Whats the risk of this kind of media coverage? Because it is not great that kids arent getting vaccinated, even if its only happening in these small pools of people. Im not gonna argue that theres anything good about people getting measlesof course its terrible, he says. But if you look at vaccination numbers across the country, 91.5 percent of 3-year-olds have received their first MMR [measles, mumps, and rubella] vaccination in the U.S. Thats the same rate that you saw five years ago and 10 years ago, and I think 15 years ago. The rate is not changing. He continues: The national rate is incredibly stable. I mean, doing a lot of health reporting, its surprising to see something so stable. The norm for vaccination in the U.S. is very strong and unchanging. And so theres this media narrative that the anti-vaxxer menace is growing, is spreading through social media. Its just not borne out by the facts. You asked whats the danger. Well, I think the danger, when you start amplifying the message and reach of very fringe groups, is that youre perhaps eroding that norm. Thats one danger. Advertisement Advertisement Engber has also argued that anti-vaccine stories take up a lot of oxygen in the health and science spacethat the media spend a lot of time talking about anti-vaxxers. National headlines have touted that the number of unvaccinated kids has quadrupled in the United States in recent years. That sounds terrible, he says. [But] to be clear, its quadrupling from a very small number to something thats still a small number. But the CDC report at that time made it very clear that the source of that quadrupling was not anti-vaxxer propaganda, but social inequalityits kids who dont have health insurance, kids who dont have access to good health care, and the racial disparities in who is getting vaccinated in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Heres where I think we disagree. Engber says the problem of vaccination is a localized problem, its a problem in smaller communities, and so it doesnt necessarily warrant this larger national attention. But we wouldnt argue that a chemical spill in Arkansas isnt worth our attention because its local. Journalists would go there; wed cover it because its an important story that warrants a response. And I think the same thing is true with the measles. Advertisement Advertisement But Engber says that when we see these measles outbreaks, theres usually a local government response. Sometimes a statewide government response, [saying] OK, we need to wipe out the philosophical exemption [to getting vaccinated]. Thats what happened in California after the Disneyland outbreak some years ago. I mean, the United States as a whole still is very encouraging of vaccination, and thats why vaccination rates, national vaccination rates, have stayed the same at very high. Advertisement However, there are still ways for parents to get exemptions, ways that are easy in some states, and the government could close those loopholes. In Washington state, a recent measles outbreak prompted laws to be tightened. I wonder if that would have happened if the story didnt get attention. That question, Engber says, is the source of our disagreement. He says laws still would have been tightened, even without a spotlight from, say, USA Today. Whats relevant there is what people think in that county in Washington state and maybe Washington as a whole. I just dont think what you and I say in New York City matters to those local vaccination rules, he says. I have two objections to the coverage. One is factual, and one is tone. The factual part is, theres just no evidence that the anti-vaxxer movement is stronger today than it was 20 years ago. So as a journalist, as a science journalist, its just wrongthat kind of coverage that paints this as a growing menace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continues: I do have a problem with the tone. Its not that its fearmongeringI think in local communities, fearmongering is very effective. Thats why there have been 17,000 vaccinations in Rockland County. Thats why there was a 500 percent increase in Washington state around the area of that outbreak. Parents are scared and theyre getting vaccinated, and that is just a self-correction of this silliness of parents not getting vaccinated and not thinking its important. The tone problem, as far as I see it, is that theres this outrage around it. Since 91.5 percent of kids are vaccinated and that is unchanging, we can say that almost all parents are on the right side of this issue. But I mean people are really, really furious, and that bothers me cause I think it is just like a useless outrage at our fellow citizens. But when Engber published his story in Slate, arguing that news reporting on the measles outbreak has a spotty record, he says he got some feedback that disturbed him. When I wrote the piece, theres a paragraph in there where I say, Similar points could be made by anti-vaxxer propagandists. And to be clear, vaccinate your damn kids. I mean, theres a section in my piece that said that, he says. And yet still, I heard from anti-vaxxer activists who were very pleased by my piece. So thats upsetting to me because I couldnt have been more explicit in the piece about what I think of that movement. Thats something that I have had to reckon with since I published the piece. I thought I was being as clear as possible, but there are anti-vaxxer groups apparently who very much liked the piece that I wrote. On Friday, the Supreme Court refused to block the Trump administrations ban on bump stocks, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire in rapid succession like a machine gun. Only Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch publicly dissented from the courts decision, which means that bump stocks are now officially illegal in the entire United States. The perpetrator of the 2017 Las Vegas shootingthe worst in American history, in which 58 people were killed and 400 injured by gunfireemployed a bump stock. He used 13 rifles outfitted with bump stocks to fire 1,049 rounds in just 10 minutes. In November 2018, the Trump administration announced that it would issue a new regulation interpreting a federal machine gun ban to encompass bump stocks. The rule required owners of these devices to surrender or destroy them. No bump stocks would be grandfathered in, and anyone who continued to own the device after March 26, 2019, would be committing a federal felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gun rights groups quickly filed suit, alleging, among other things, that the federal statute prohibiting machine guns could not be plausibly read to cover bump stocks, as well. A federal district court ruled against the plaintiffs in February, and on Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed that decision by a 21 vote. The majority held that the federal machine gun ban is genuinely ambiguous, requiring courts to defer to executive branchs interpretation of the law. (This principle is known as Chevron deference.) The dispute revolves around a provision of the statute that mandates a weapon cannot fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. A bump stock harnesses a rifles recoil energy to make the trigger reengage repeatedly once the shooter has pulled the trigger once. If the plaintiffs are correct, then bump stocks do not fall under the federal statute, because the trigger itself reengages with each shot. If the government is correct, bump stocks can be banned, because the shooter need only pull the trigger once to fire multiple rounds. Applying Chevron deference, the D.C. Circuit found that the governments interpretation is perfectly reasonable and thus upheld the new rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs plan to appeal that decision, but with Fridays ruling, the Supreme Court declined to keep the ban on hold as they do soa likely indication that a majority of the court does not believe the rule is unlawful. There are two possible reasons why Thomas and Gorsuch may have dissented. First, there is a chance the two justices believe the rule violates the Second Amendment; both are gun rights extremists, and Thomas has written that any types of firearms commonly used for a lawful purpose may not be constitutionally outlawed. Before the new rule, Americans owned about 520,000 bump stocks, which were legal in most of the country. Perhaps these justices believe that bump stocks are commonly used for lawful purposes and therefore protected by the Second Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, Thomas and Gorsuch may be irritated that the D.C. Circuit upheld the rule by applying Chevron deference. Both justices publicly oppose this doctrine, which they recently decried as letting an interested party [an executive branch agency] dictate an inferior interpretation of the law that may be more the product of politics than a scrupulous reading of the statute. Thomas and Gorsuch would prefer that a court buckles down to its job of saying what the law is without deferring to the governments reading of an ambiguous measure. By deferring to the Trump administrations view of the federal machine gun ban, the D.C. Circuit surely rankled both justices. Regardless of the dissenters views, its apparent that there is little appetite by a majority of the court to protect a device that aided a recent, horrific, and notorious massacre. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh do not seem eager to use this case to bolster the Second Amendment or curtail Chevron deference. And so hundreds of thousands of gun owners will now need to dispose of their bump stocksor become federal criminals. This week, the House Judiciary Committee authorized a subpoena to require Attorney General William Barr to turn over special counsel Robert Muellers full report of his investigation. Congress deserves that report. Barrs summary of the report raised more questions than it answered, and both Congress and the American people should know what Mueller actually concluded as well as the findings that supported those conclusions. But the Judiciary Committees authorization of a subpoena marks just the beginning of Congress fight for this information, not the end. Indeed, as prior subpoena fights suggest, it could take a long time for Congress to obtain the report and the other information it seeks. Advertisement Fortunately, for both Congress and the American people, there are at least three things Congress can do to help ensure that it, and the American people, receive this information sooner rather than later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, sue expeditiously. In the two recent congressional subpoena fights that took place during the Bush and Obama administrations, the cases took a long time to make their way through the courts. But they took an especially long time even to get there. It took Congress roughly a year after it authorized subpoenas in one case, and roughly 10 months in the other, for Congress to file suit to enforce them. Why the delay? In both cases, the committees were presumably negotiating with the White House to see if there was some way to avoid going to court. After all, as the court hearing one of those cases explained, the optimal outcome of a dispute of this nature would involve the parties crafting their own solution without judicial intervention. Advertisement Advertisement But though an out-of-court resolution may be optimal in theory, that doesnt mean a court cant resolve this sort of dispute. As that same court noted, it is not the role of the courts to address who negotiated properly or fairly or whether any accommodation offered was substantial or merely superficial; the role of the court was to address the legal questions presented. That is why the court concluded that refusing to decide the case on the ground that the parties should work out their difficulties would have, by default (and improperly), designat[ed] the executive as the victor. Theres no reason why the fight to get information about the Mueller investigation should take years. In any event, here Congress has already done more than enough to demonstrate that it is trying to work with the White House, and it is the White House that is not acting in good faith. The day after Barr released his initial letter about the Mueller report, the chairs of six House committees formally requested the report and underlying materials. They also urged Barr to begin the process of consultation with [them] immediately if he believed applicable laws limit[ed] [his] ability to comply so that shared parameters for resolving those issues without delay could be established. Days later, those same committee chairs again made clear their desire to avoid resort[ing] to compulsory process and urged Barr to engage in an immediate consultation and to seek leave from the district court to produce [grand jury] materials to Congress. Barr hasnt demonstrated that he is doing all he can to comply with these reasonable requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrs actions mirror the actions of the White House that appointed him. Rather than engage in good faith with congressional oversight efforts, President Donald Trump has bemoaned [p]residential [h]arassment. Indeed, the White House has ignored more than a dozen letters from the chairs of House committees requesting documents. As Rep. Elijah Cummings, chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, put it, the White House is engaged in an unprecedented level of stonewalling, delay and obstruction. Advertisement Advertisement Even if Congress thought it could engage in more negotiating with the White House, it can continue to do that after it files suit. As a decision in one of those earlier cases made clear, parties negotiate and even resolve their disputes quite often notwithstanding the pendency of a court case. In short, Congress should not waste any time in initiating what could end up being a lengthy court process. Advertisement Advertisement The second thing the relevant committees should do is ask the court to expedite proceedings. Even after a party goes to court, the wheels of justice do not always move quickly. But Congress can ask the court to expedite proceedings. A provision of federal law expressly provides that the court shall expedite the consideration of any action if good cause therefor is shown. Good cause, it goes on to explain, is shown if a right under the Constitution of the United States would be maintained in a factual context that indicates that a request for expedited consideration has merit. Here, Congress is seeking to exercise its oversight authorityan authority that has deep roots in our political and legal tradition and is an essential component of our nations system of checks and balances. In particular, Congress is exercising that authority to determine whether the president was involved in foreign interference in the most recent presidential election or obstructed efforts to investigate that interferenceinformation that could be relevant to Congress impeachment authority. Given the importance of the issues at stakeand the many reasons why this litigation should be resolved well in advance of the next electionit wont be difficult to argue that good cause exists here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final thing these committees urgently need to do is pursue grand jury materials directly. As Ive written previously, Congress doesnt need Barr to hand over the underlying grand jury materials. For those, it can go straight to the district court judge who impaneled the Mueller grand jury, because that judgeChief Judge Beryl Howellhas authority to disclose those materials. Indeed, there is strong historical precedent for the idea that grand jury materials should be released when they would facilitate an ongoing congressional investigation into the president. And Congress can pursue this avenue for information at the same time that it sues to enforce its subpoenas. Such action may not get Congress everything, but it can get it quite a lot. In sum, theres no reason why the fight to get information about the Mueller investigation should take years. And indeed, given whats at stake here, theres every reason for Congress to do what it can to ensure that it doesnt. On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion in a case that doesnt involve special counsel Robert Mueller or his investigation, but could have important implications for Congress ability to obtain information about Muellers findings. At first blush, the D.C. Circuits ruling in McKeever v. Barr might seem like bad news for those who believe there should be greater transparency about what Mueller uncovered. But the decision actually reaffirms an important point: The district court judge who impaneled the grand jury that has been working with Mueller for the past two years can disclose some of the underlying materials that formed the basis for Muellers report to Congress. Advertisement Since Mueller completed his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Congress has sought access to the report and the information underlying Muellers conclusions, for good reason. But Attorney General William Barr has thus far refused to make it available, pointing in part to a federal rule that generally requires grand jury materials to be kept secret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The D.C. Circuits decision in McKeever is about when district court judges can disclose grand jury material. The majority held, over a dissent, that district court judges do not have inherent authority to release grand jury information. While the majority is wrong about that, and its decision should be reversed, all three judges who heard the case agreed that Congress can still obtain grand jury materials under some circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e)(3)(E) identifies five specific circumstances under which a district court may release grand jury materials. According to the two judges in the majority in McKeever, those grounds are exhaustive, and district courts have no additional inherent authority to disclose grand jury materials outside of the rule. Specifically, the majority pointed to language from the rules stating grand jury materials must be kept secret unless these rules provide otherwise as well as to the specificity of the exceptions themselves, as reasons why it believed the rules do not permit other bases for disclosures. Because the historian who sought grand jury materials in McKeever did not claim that his request for grand jury materials fell within one of the enumerated reasons for disclosure in Rule 6(e)(3)(E), the D.C. Circuit held that the district court could not release the materials. Advertisement The D.C. Circuits decision is wrongbut it does not mean that Congress cant obtain grand jury materials in the Mueller report. The courts decision is wrong for two reasons. First, the majority does not grapple with the long history permitting courts to disclose grand jury materials pursuant to their inherent authority overseeing grand juries. Prior to the adoption of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Supreme Court held that the decision of whether to release sealed grand jury materials rests in the sound discretion of the court and that disclosure is wholly proper where the ends of justice require it. The committee notes accompanying the first enactment of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure in 1944 noted that Rule 6 was intended to continue the traditional practice of secrecy on the party of members of the grand jury, except when the court permits a disclosure. Congress has never suggested that it intended the rules to usurp district courts inherent authority to release grand jury materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, the majoritys argument that the text of the rules eliminates district court judges inherent authority is unpersuasive. The language to which the court pointsthat grand jury materials must be kept secret unless these rules provide otherwiseappears in Rule 6(e)(2), which lists the persons who may not disclose grand jury matters, not Rule 6(e)(3), which lists the reasons that materials may be released. The list in Rule 6(e)(2) includes grand jurors themselves, attorneys for the government, and others. It notably does not include district court judges as persons who must abide by grand jury secrecy rules. This omission suggests that district court judges retain inherent authority to release materials that these other persons lack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not surprising that the rules might identify some specific exceptions for when a district court judge may release grand jury materials without wiping out the courts inherent authority to release materials on other bases. As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit explained in a recent decision addressing this same issue, it would be entirely reasonable for the rulemakers to furnish a list that contains frequently invoked reasons to disclose grand-jury materials, so that the court knows that no special hesitation is necessary in those circumstances, while leaving intact the courts inherent authority to release materials for other reasons. Second, the majoritys ruling in McKeever conflicts with the D.C. Circuits prior decision in Haldeman v. Sirica, which was decided by the full court sitting en banc. (McKeever was decided by a three-judge panel, which must, in theory, respect precedents decided en banc.) In Haldeman, the D.C. Circuit affirmed a district court decision to disclose grand jury materials regarding the Watergate investigation to the House Judiciary Committee, which was considering whether to impeach President Richard Nixon. The D.C. Circuit ruled that the district court judge, Judge John Sirica, ha[d] dealt at length with the grand-jury-disclosure question and that the D.C. Circuit was in general agreement with his handling of [the] matter. Judge Sirica, for his part, held that district courts have inherent authority to release grand jury materials, even if no Rule 6(e)(3) exception applied. Because the D.C. Circuit specifically endorsed this theory in Haldeman, Fridays panel decision improperly contravened a binding en banc decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The D.C. Circuits decision in McKeever is thus wrong and should be overturned by the full D.C. Circuit or by the Supreme Court. But even if it stands, it does not mean that Congress would be unable to obtain the grand jury materials associated with Muellers investigation. Just the opposite. Crucially, all three judges in McKeever agreed that district court judges can disclose grand jury materials to Congress under some circumstances. The dissenting judge rightly recognized that they can do it under their inherent authority. But even the majority concluded that its decision was consistent with Haldeman because, in its view, the disclosure in Haldeman was made pursuant to the Rule 6 exception that permits district court judges to release grand jury materials preliminarily to or in connection with a judicial proceeding. In effect, then, McKeever recognizes that, at the very least, a House committees impeachment investigation would fall within this exception and would provide a basis pursuant to the rules to release grand jury materials even if the court lacks inherent authority to release the materials. And under Haldeman, the purpose of the ongoing congressional investigation shouldnt matter. Thus, even if McKeever stands, Congress should be able to get grand jury materialseven portions of the Mueller report that count as grand jury materialsas part of its investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 election. And it should. Congress and the American people deserve to know more about what Muellers investigation uncovered, and these grand jury records could be a critical way to get that information. An advisory panel for New Jersey courts recommended a Superior Court judge be suspended without pay for asking a woman if she had tried to close her legs during her alleged rape, according to NJ.com. John Russo Jr., a family court judge in Ocean County, New Jersey, was questioning a woman who sought a restraining order against the father of her daughter after the man had allegedly forced her to have sex with him against her will, according to the complaint. Advertisement Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you? Russo asked the woman. She said she could try to tell the man no, fight him, or run away. Run away, get away, Russo said. Anything else? Thats all I know, the woman answered. Block your body parts? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yeah. Close your legs? Russo asked. Call the police? Did you do any of those things? The committee found in its investigation that Russo had continued to press her on the details of her alleged sexual assault. The panel said Russos actions in the case indicated an emotional immaturity wholly unbefitting the judicial office and recommended a suspension of three months. The state Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for July to make the final ruling. Advertisement Russo has argued that the report had factual errors and didnt accurately reflect his handling of the situation, which he said had less to do with casting doubt on the victim and more to do with demonstrat[ing] the element of force or coercion used during the assault, and aid[ing] the plaintiff in recounting a traumatic event. The panel also found that Russo had possibly violated the Code of Judicial Conduct in three other instances, including when he tried to use his position to rearrange a personal family court matter, according to NJ.com. A former law clerk is also suing Russo for discrimination and sexual harassment. So far, every major Democratic candidate for president has had to face down some serious issues about past actions that are being scrutinized in a new light. We may be too close to the cascading stories of Joe Bidens handsiness to properly assess whether the New York Times repeated use of the word crisis to describe Nuzzlegate is overblown, but I think overblown it may well be. Beto ORourke took donations from people who work in the oil business, which can be explained by the fact that as a U.S. representative from El Paso he was representing people from El Paso. Kamala Harris, while a prosecutor, seems to have been almost prosecutorial in her treatment of criminals, whom she often treated like they were criminals of some sort. And then theres Amy Klobuchar, who allegedly threw fits and office supplies at members of her staff. Peoplehey, you cant throw binders at them, you cant rub noses with them. Whats a Democratic politician to do? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then theres Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Recently, a supposed controversy involving Buttigieg bubbled up: It was revealed that in a speech he gave four years ago, he uttered the words all lives matter. But he also spoke at length about racism, diversity, and the relevance of those issues on policing. More importantly, the idea that all lives matter were fighting wordsan insensitive, trollish rebuke to Black Lives Matterwas not as fully in the air back then. Buttigieg says he didnt understand the implication then, in his 2015 State of the City address, and I believe him. Ill walk through a timeline of the phrases usage to explain why. Back in 2015, Jamelle Bouie wrote for Slate about then candidate Martin OMalley responding to Black Lives Matter protesters by saying, Black lives matter, white lives matter, all lives matter. OMalley, trying to appeal to a black audience, unwittingly stepped in it. Bouie explained it was as if someone were to respond to an annual breast cancer drive with Breast cancer matters. Prostate cancer matters. All cancer matters. It sounds like a dismissal, and thats how it was received. At the time Bouies explanation was necessary because many white peopleand evidently white politicianshad yet to realize that all lives matter had the qualities of rebuke or dismissal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OMalleys statement wasnt totally benign, because he did use the phrase in response to the criticism that black lives matter. A month earlier, speaking before the black congregants at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Missouri, Hillary Clinton also used the phrase all lives matter, summing up lessons she learned from her mother: I asked her, What kept you going? Her answer was very simple. Kindness along the way from someone who believed she mattered. All lives matter. Upon hearing these words the mostly black audience applauded. Advertisement Advertisement Note that Hillarys utterance, which did receive blowback online, wasnt seen as so tone-deaf as to prevent the famously cautious Hillary Clinton from saying it. It was more than three months earlier that Buttigieg said all lives matter as he addressed tension facing his police department. And he didnt say it in response to a question of whether black lives matter, which hes affirmed many times, including this week at the National Action Network Convention. The phrase was uttered at the end of Buttigieg spending close to 1,000 words speaking on issues of race, diversity, and policing. At one point in the 2015 State of the City address he said this: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no escaping the fact that the most grievous injustices experienced by minorities in American history were often served at the hands of police officers. And every police officer today, even the most forward-thinking among them, even police officers who are themselves African American, is forced to deal with the fact that even if they had nothing personally to do with those injustices, the uniform did. And so for all the good reasons that our men and women have to be proud of that uniform and the service and sacrifice it represents, it also remains the case that the uniform has a lot to overcome. Thats a pretty strong statement that I would think would please anyone with a commitment to criminal justice. And the three-word phrase that also appears in the speech is weak evidence of Pete Buttigiegs imperfection on this issue. I think wethe media, activists, people who earnestly want a president worthy of the titlein a quest to uproot a current president who deals in statements unmoored from their context, can do better than falling into those exact bad habits ourselves. Today in Brexit is a daily feature that will attempt to keep track of the chaotic mess playing out in the U.K. If youre just tuning in, heres a brief explainer on what youve been missing. Welcome to Brexit purgatory, which on Friday started to look like it might last even longer than previously thought possible. With the U.K. set to depart the EU in exactly one week and no agreement in Parliament on what the relationship between the two should look like after the breakup, Prime Minister Theresa May formally requested from Brussels another extension to the Brexit deadline, proposing a new drop dead date of June 30. Advertisement Today in Desperation: Will Brussels agree to the 11-week extension for the U.K. to try again to reach consensus on a deal? It looks increasingly like not. The British prime minister requested the very same June 30 extension the first time around, and the EU shot it down, opting for a shorter reprieve. It appears likely to say no again, but that doesnt mean there wont be an extension of some kind. European Council President Donald Tusk is pushing a full-year extension! Hes pitching it as a flextension, meaning that the U.K. would have the full year to come to some sort of decision but could pull out earlier if it got its act together. In this scenario, the U.K. is a harried student begging a teacher (the EU) for one more day after pulling an all-nighter to finish an essayand failing. And the teacher, after taking a look at the state of the paper, replies: How about you take a week. Trust me, youll need it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays Emergency: What now? EU and U.K. leaders are scheduled to meet for an emergency summit Wednesday that will almost certainly revolve around the terms of an extension, rather than the nature of Britains exit. It is not a certainty, however, that the EU will grant an extension at all. There are rumblings from within the European member states, the loudest coming from France, that granting another extension wont do anything other than kick the can down the roadyet again. Its a hard argument to counter considering the lethargic pace of the Brexit negotiations until a deadline focused the mind. Those deadlines havent yet produced any new results, but they have sufficiently motivated British parliamentarians to engage on the issue. Advertisement Todays Reminder This Is Still a Negosh: Its important to remember that Brexit is a negotiation, and rumblings from France, for instance, could be a bad cop routine, serving as a stick to keep the U.K. moving. The European Unions line has generally been that it would like the U.K. to stay as closely aligned with the bloc as possible, and as the deadline nears, British parliamentarians have been drifting toward a more centrist compromise that would see the country more closely aligned than even under Mays negotiated withdrawal. Would the EU want to halt this momentum just to prove a point about deadlines? Seems unlikely. Advertisement The brinkmanship of sticking to the current April 12 deadline or bust, without the ability to grant some sort of extension, might help keep British leaders on task. But it also makes very real the chance that the U.K. would be unable to come to an internal agreement about its future relationship with the EU and would leave the bloc with no deal at all. A no-deal Brexit, which would see the country revert to WTO trade rules, is favored by a sizable and vocal portion of the right wing of British politics. This non-negotiated style of Brexit, however, is seen as carrying substantial economic risks, as it would essentially rip the U.K. economy from the European economy in one weeks time, requiring new customs arrangements, trade deals, and on and on. The operating assumption is that the EU will do what it takes to avoid that scenario, even grant an extension that perhaps wasnt exactly earned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays Lame Duck: Complicating matters on Fridays extension request is the fact that European parliamentary elections are set to be held on May 23. That puts the U.K. in the potentially awkward position of going to the polls to elect representatives to a government they dont plan participating in, long-term. May has assured Brussels the country will go through the steps to hold the election, a move that has laid the groundwork for a longer extension. From the EUs point of view, having lame duck British MEPs isnt all that appealing for the obvious reason that they may have different long- and short-term interests on matters before the European Parliament. This may seem like a far-fetched threat of internal sabotage by British MEPs should Brexit negotiations stretch on through another session of parliament in Europe, but its one that right-wing pro-Brexit MP Jacob Rees-Mogg made explicitly on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible. We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macrons integrationist schemes. Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) April 5, 2019 Will that happen? Were not there yet. Rees-Mogg, like many other so-called Brexiteers, favors a hard Brexit, which is seen as more likely if no extension is granted. Days left until next deadline: Still 7! But watch this space. Listen to What Next: Get More What Next Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to What Next Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. Listen to What Next via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, Overcast, Google Play, or iHeart. This week, we learned something: A messy, no-deal Brexit is likely off the table. This means that Britons can look forward to a slightly less messy, negotiated Brexitprovided that government officials can agree on what that looks like. With Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in charge of negotiations, reaching that consensus will be tough. Guest: Anne McElvoy, senior editor at the Economist, head of Economist Radio, and host of the chat show The Economist Asks. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy. Washington now waits as Attorney General William Barr redacts special counsel Robert Muellers report about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and congressional Democrats maneuver to extract an unredacted copy, plus Muellers underlying evidence, from the Department of Justices grasp. Outside of a small circle of Justice Department officials who have read the nearly 400-page report, few can say for certain how consistent the whole report is with the four-page summary Barr released of its principal conclusions, how much important new information its pages contain, and how much of that information will eventually come to public lightall of which remain hotly contested subjects that evolve with nearly every breaking news report. Advertisement Despite the uncertainty, some familiar figures have stepped forward to offer their advice on how much faith we should put in the process unfolding within the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Barr, our attorney general, deserves the benefit of the doubt, former FBI Director James Comey counseled in an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday. Give him a chance to show us what he feels like he cant show us. I have to imagine that Mueller wrote the report with an eye toward it being public someday, so I cant imagine a lot needs to be cut out of it. But lets wait and see. The attorney general deserves that chance. Comeys comments echoed the views of his friend Benjamin Wittes, the Lawfare editor in chief, who published an article in the Atlantic on Monday entitled Bill Barr Has Promised Transparency. He Deserves the Chance to Deliver. Wittes argued that the categories of information Barr has proposed to withhold are reasonable and legitimate, if potentially abusable, and his stated time frame for producing a redacted document is sufficiently short, so the prudent course is to assume his good faith and allow him to make good. There will be plenty of time, Wittes wrote, to criticize his failures if and when they materialize. Advertisement Advertisement By Wednesday night, cracks were beginning to show in Barrs purported commitments to transparency. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post, soon followed by NBC, published stories reporting that some on Muellers staff had grown frustrated with Barrs limited disclosures, which they felt did not properly characterize the alarming and significant evidence they had gathered on the issue of obstruction. There was immediate displeasure from the team when they saw how the attorney general had characterized their work instead, one U.S. official said, according to the Washington Post. It was much more acute than Barr suggested, another person told the paper. These revelations are secondhand and anonymously sourced, but they may begin to answer how Barr rewards those who afford him the benefit of the doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barr has been implicated in high-level cover-ups before. Nevertheless, in Comeys and Wittes views, there is a larger principle at stake. By exhorting the American people to just lay off the attorney general for a few weeks, Comey and Wittes have the issue backward. The question is not what the country can do for Bill Barr in these difficult times; its what Bill Barr can do for the country. Its Barrs joband every public servants jobto maintain the publics confidence in the proper functioning of the government. That job extends to the point, if Barrs impartiality is compromised, of stepping aside from this particular investigation in favor of another Department of Justice official who can inspire the publics trust. Advertisement Advertisement Any attorney general overseeing an investigation of the president who appointed him faces a complicated task in maintaining public confidence that he is upholding the rule of law. When the chips are down, ordinarily fuzzy distinctions between the interests of the elected president and the interests of the American people may become stark dividing lines, and the people need a basis to trust that the attorney general will serve their interests over those of his political party or his patron in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Bill Barrs long record, unfortunately, affords little basis for trust. Barr has been implicated in high-level cover-ups before. In Barrs first stint as attorney general, he recommended that President George H.W. Bush grant full pardons to six former officials from the Reagan administration who were caught up in the Iran-Contra scandal, including Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. There were some people arguing just for Weinberger, Barr later recounted, and I said, No, in for a penny, in for a pound. Bushs pardons brought the long-running scandal to an end just as many observers believed it was about to reach the presidents doorstep. In response, independent counsel Lawrence Walsh bitterly remarked that the Iran-contra cover-up, which has continued for more than six years, has now been completed. Advertisement Advertisement Barr has both a body of writings that suggest he has prejudged matters under his purview as attorney general and significant conflicts of interest. In the spring of 2017, Barr penned an op-ed supporting the presidents firing of Comey. Comeys removal simply has no relevance to the integrity of the Russian investigation as it moves ahead, he wrote. In June 2017, Barr told the Hill that the obstruction investigation was asinine and warned that Mueller risked taking on the look of an entirely political operation to overthrow the president. That same month, Barr met with President Donald Trump about becoming the presidents personal defense lawyer for the Mueller investigation, before turning down the overture for that job. In late 2017, Barr wrote to the New York Times supporting the presidents call for further investigations of his past political opponent, Hillary Clinton. I have long believed that the predicate for investigating the uranium deal, as well as the foundation, is far stronger than any basis for investigating so-called collusion, he wrote to the New York Times Peter Baker, suggesting that the Uranium One conspiracy theory (which had by that time been repeatedly debunked) had more grounding than Muellers investigation (which had not). Before Trump nominated him to be attorney general, Barr also notoriously wrote an unsolicited 19-page advisory memo to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein criticizing the obstruction component of Muellers investigation as fatally misconceived. The memos criticisms proceeded from Barrs long-held and extreme absolutist view of executive power, and the memos reasoning has been skewered by an ideologically diverse group of legal observers, including Wittes. Advertisement Advertisement For any Department of Justice employee other than the attorney general, this record would have surely constituted, among other things, circumstances that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the facts to question [the] employees impartiality. A standing regulation and DOJ policy would generally result in such an employee not being able to participate in the special counsels investigation. However, that policy oversight mechanism does not apply to the attorney general, who has no supervisor within the Department of Justice and thus determines when his own recusal is required. Unlike prior occupants of the job of attorney general, including Jeff Sessions, Barr also steadfastly refused to say in advance that he would accept the recommendation of department ethics officials if they advised him to recuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrs close political relationship with Trump, his consideration of employment as Trumps personal defender in the Mueller investigation, his media statements on the investigation, and his unsolicited memo attacking the investigation all would cause a reasonable person to question his ability to impartially oversee that investigation andin deciding the obstruction question that Mueller left opento make perhaps its most consequential decision. Nevertheless, Barr did not step aside. He released a statement announcing his decision not to recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller investigation that cited the advice of unnamed ethics officials but declined to explain their reasoning. Advertisement Advertisement As many observers have acknowledged, Trumps sustained public outrage at his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, on account of his recusal early in the Russia investigation made it exceptionally difficult for any of Sessions successors to recuse themselves, no matter how warranted. Successfully navigating this difficulty, using his long experience in government and his stature among Republicans, would have been an avenue for Barr to earn and maintain the broader publics trust. Refusing both to recuse himself and to explain his reasons why recusal was not warranted, Barr chose to sidestep the difficulty; his decision served the presidents preferences, but it is difficult to see how it contributed to public trust in the oversight of the Mueller investigation. Advertisement Comey himself, not long ago, faced an attorney general whom he thought should have recused herself from an investigation, and he did not give her the benefit of the doubt. Shortly after Loretta Lynch met Bill Clinton on her plane on the tarmac of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport during the 2016 campaign, Comey decided to hold his historic press conference usurping the Justice Department and attempting to wrap up the Clinton email investigation. I remember [the tarmac meeting] being a factor, an important factor, in my decision to step away from the attorney general, Comey told congressional investigators. I was very concerned about the appearance of that interaction. Advertisement Advertisement Notably, the tarmac meeting with Hillary Clintons spouse and the other marks against Lynch that prompted Comeys press conference (i.e., her use of the term matter rather than investigation and a classified document Comey thought to be false) objectively pale in comparison to those against Barr (i.e., the 19-page memo, numerous media statements undermining the Mueller investigation, and a meeting with Donald Trump himself to discuss employment directly related to the Mueller investigation). The demerits that made Lynch, in Wittes description, a compromised figure in 2016 were matters of suspicion and the appearance of impropriety. Bill Barr in 2019, by contrast, really had written a legally questionable memo prejudging an element of the investigation and held a meeting about the investigation with the principal subject of the investigation. Its puzzling why, as FBI director, Comey would use the powers of his office to push aside Lynch while, as a private citizen, urging that a more compromised attorney general ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. Advertisement The grounds for redaction included in Barrs summary provide additional reasons to doubt his intentions. Barr makes no effort to situate the project hes undertaking to redact the results of an investigation into the president in terms of constitutional principle or precedent. As an example, Barr presented the potential existence of grand jury information in the Mueller report as a problem that can only be solved by identifying that information and removing it before it is transmitted to Congress. Wittes told his readers that Barrs take on this subject was simply correct and effectively insurmountable. In the short term, Wittes wrote, there is no way to give this material to Congress, let alone make it public; it would require substantial litigation to do so. Thats not true. In previous investigations of the president, special or independent prosecutors easily obtained judicial authorization to share grand jury material with Congress. For Ken Starr, it required a perfunctory ex parte proceeding, and for Leon Jaworski, it required one court hearing, in each case not substantial litigation. Barr left any discussion of seeking a courts permission out of his letter, and he failed to explain why he wasnt following the precedent of past investigations. (Barr also omitted discussion of whether he could provide the grand jury information to certain members of Congress without judicial authorization, as some legal experts have posited). The balance of the information Barr claims to be redactingclassified material, ongoing investigations, and derogatory information about third personsis routinely turned over from the executive branch to Congress on a confidential basis in other contexts. Indeed, even in the context of the Mueller investigation, the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee received all three categories of information from the Department of Justice during the last Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In summary, Barr has a record of helping another president cover up an uncomfortable investigation, has publicly announced views undermining the Mueller investigation, had direct interactions with the president concerning the Mueller investigation that present a clear conflict of interest, had considered whether recusing himself was conclusory and corrosive of trust in the Justice Department, and has handled the Mueller report in a misleading manner, which has been reportedly frustrating to the people who conducted the investigation. The American people need an attorney general in whom they can repose their trust, particularly when the presidents conduct is in question. Has Bill Barr earned that trust? If he hasnt, we really cant afford to give it to him for free. More From Just Security: The Golan Heights and the Perils of Defensive Annexation Beyond Sanctioning Elusive War Criminals, Prosecute the Profiteers India has denied a US report on the F-16 fighter jets and asserted that it shot down Pakistan's fighter jet on February 27 during aerial combat, a day after IAF carried out Balakot airstrikes. The Indian Air Force (IAF) said that "electronic signatures" indicate that it was an F-16 that went down. "During the aerial engagement that followed, one MiG 21 Bison of the IAF shot down one F-16," the IAF said in a statement after the American magazine 'Foreign Policy' reported that a US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of these jets are missing. The IAF also said that Pakistan intercepts available with Indian agencies show that two aircraft went down with two pilots on February 27. "One was Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The identity of the second pilot is not known as Pakistan has not revealed it," Air Vice Marshal RGV Kapoor said. "The Indian Forces have confirmed sighting ejections at two different places on February 27. The two sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km. One was an IAF MiG 21 Bison and other a PAF aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate PAF aircraft was an F-16," Kapoor added. The US magazine, in its report, said two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told it that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing, news agency PTI reported. Also Read: India to present proof of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet misuse to the US "After the IAF attack on the terrorists camp at Balakot on 26 Feb 2019, PAF attempted a riposte on 27 Feb 2019. A large force of PAF F-16s, JD 17s and Mirage III/V aircraft were picked up by IAF radars," the Air Vice Marshal said. He said the PAF aircrafts were intercepted by IAF's Su30-MKI, Mirage-2000 and MiG-21 Bison fighters guided by ground radars and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). "All attempts of the PAF to attack any targets were thwarted by the IAF," he added. The IAF on February 28 displayed the wreckage of an AIM-120C advanced medium range air-to-air (AMRAAM) missile, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. Pakistan, however, has denied that it lost any F-16 jet during the aerial combat. On February 26, the IAF carried out air strike in Pakistan's Balakot and blew up the biggest training camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Pakistan-based terror outfit which owned responsibility for the Pulwama attack on February 14. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy had been targeted in a suicide bombing on the Jammu-Srinagar highway killing over 40 personnel. Edited by Chitranjan Kumar Two college students in Oregon are accused of scamming their way into thousands of free iPhones, according to court documents reported by the Oregonian. Yangyang Zhou and Quan Jiang, Chinese engineering students in the U.S. on student visas, are accused of operating a scheme that cost Apple hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here, according to federal prosecutors, is how they did it: An associate in China shipped packages of 20 to 30 counterfeit iPhones to the men or to Jiangs friends and relatives, whom he paid to be able to use their addresses around Oregon. None of the phones could power on. Jiang and Zhou, his alleged accomplice, would collect the phones and either take the phones in person to Apple for repair or replacement or submit warranty claims using Apples online service support and ship the phones to Apple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apple technicians inspect phones when they are sent to them for repair to determine if the phones are real Apple products, according to the Oregonian. But because the phones Jiang sent to Apple would not turn on, Apple could often not examine them. They would go ahead and send a replacement phone. Jiang would then allegedly ship the real iPhones back to China, where his associates would sell them for a few hundred dollars apiece. They would wire Jiangs portion of the profits to his mother, who could then transfer the money to a bank account Jiang could access in the U.S. According to the court documents, Apple connected Jiang to 3,069 claims related to phones that would not turn on. It replaced 1,493 of those phones. (Zhou is accused of making more than 200 false warranty claims.) The company estimated that it lost nearly $900,000 from the scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Federal agents began investigating the case in April 2017 after U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized several shipments of apparently counterfeit iPhones. Apple says it sent Jiang cease-and-desist orders in June and July of 2017. Lawyers for Jiang and Zhou have argued that the two did not know they were participating in an illegal scheme and thought the phones shipped to them were genuine iPhones. Jiang, who was studying engineering at Linn Benton Community College, is accused of trafficking in counterfeit goods and wire fraud. Zhou, who recently completed his degree at Oregon State University, is accused of submitting false or misleading information on an export declaration. On Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren unveiled a new bill thatamong other ways of expanding criminal liability for what she describes as any corporate executive who negligently oversees a giant company causing severe harm to U.S. familiesproposes the possibility of jail time for execs of companies that fail to protect consumers from certain kinds of data breaches. For far too long, CEOs of giant corporations that break the law have been able to walk away, while consumers who are harmed are left picking up the pieces, Warren wrote in a press release introducing the legislation. Advertisement Under the bill, dubbed the Corporate Executive Accountability Act, leaders of companies can be punished with up to a year in jail if certain conditions are met. Specifically, the bill would open up the possibility of criminal prosecution for execs if their corporations annual revenue exceeds $1 billion and if their company commits crimes, repeatedly breaks the law, or is found liable for certain violations affecting the health, safety, finances or personal data of 1% of the U.S. population or 1% of the population of any state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What kinds of violations might pass that 1 percent threshold? The massive 2016 Wells Fargo fake-account scandal, which involved company employees fraudulently creating more than 2 million fake accounts in customers names and which Warren specifically called out as a motivation behind the bill, would certainly fit the criteria. So would the 2017 Equifax breach that exposed the personal information of more than 143 million American consumers. Another candidate for criminal liability under this formulation might be Mark Zuckerberg for his companys alleged negligence in allowing Cambridge Analytica to harvest the personal data of 87 million Facebook users. (The company is currently under investigation by the FTC for potential privacy violations related to how the platform had allowed data sharing with outside developers, which may have violated a 2011 consent decree with the agency). Advertisement Advertisement Warrens proposal reflects the populist movement calling for reining in corporations in this space. Then theres also, possibly, the Yahoo data breach (3 billion user accounts affected), the Marriott hack (500 million customers), and the Target breach (more than 60 million customers), to name a few. (In some of these cases, its unclear how many Americans versus worldwide users were affected, so its not definitive if they would meet the 1 percent mark given in the bill.) Advertisement Its important to note that, in its current writing, Warrens proposal wouldnt apply retroactively, so none of the breaches above would fall under its purview. The examples do, however, illustrate the magnitude of the types of violations the legislation would cover. The corporations involved must also be found to have violated a state or federal law, requiring a thorough investigation, a conviction, or a settlement before an executive could be prosecuted. Advertisement Warrens proposal comes at a time of heated public debate over the perception that big corporations like the ones mentioned above havent been held accountable for major breaches of consumers privacy and personal data. Many advocates believe that the federal government needs to crack down on these companieseither via heavier regulations, penalties, or punishmentsin order to rein them in. Advertisement Advertisement There are pros and cons to Warrens approach. On the one hand, threatening execs with jail time puts serious pressure on companies to invest in policies and corporate infrastructure to keep user data secure. But, some argue, such approaches go too far. As Josephine Wolff wrote in Future Tense last year regarding a different bill that also proposed prison sentences for not stopping certain types of data breaches, threatening such penalties assumes that executives are constantly lying about how good their data security is and they are not sufficiently fearful of the consequences of breaches to invest resources in better security. While that may be true at some companies, Wolff argues, most data breaches are simply a result of companies making terrible, uninformed decisions about cybersecurity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In any case, as Ars Technica explains, its unlikely that Warrens bill would become law, even if she were elected president in 2020. But her proposal does reflect the populist movement calling for reining in corporations in this space. In recent years, there have been multiple legislative proposals, investigations, and lawsuits seeking to address the security of our personal data. In 2018 alone, Sen. Ron Wyden introduced a much more stringent regulatory measurethe Consumer Data Protection Actwhich called for executives to face up to 20 years in prison for knowingly approving inaccurate certifications of their companies data security measures. The attorney general of Washington, D.C., sued Facebook for allowing Cambridge Analytica to access users data without their permission. And Warren herself proposed the Data Breach Prevention and Compensation Act, which would create an office of cybersecurity within the Federal Trade Commission that would regulate and impose penalties on consumer-reporting agencies. Her office also led an investigation into the Equifax breach, finding that the company was negligent in handling consumer data. Advertisement Advertisement The current ways were trying to hold people accountable for bad privacy and security practices are not working. Theyre not clear about what corporate obligations are, Michelle Richardson, director of the privacy and data project at the Center for Democracy & Technology, told me. (She said she couldnt speak to the feasibility of Warrens bill, Richardson said she does support more comprehensive federal privacy legislation that covers not just multimillion-dollar companies but all entities who handle personal data.) Advertisement Though Warrens latest bill may never become law, it may help keep both the anger and the momentum up for other action on data privacy and security. And consumers have good reason to keep up the rage. As Slates April Glaser has written, data breaches are pretty much impossible to clean up: Tracking down an individuals personal data after a major breach is incredibly difficult, and theres virtually no way to guarantee that someone in the depths of the internet is no longer in possession of that information, or predict what harm can come of it. The economic costs to both organizations and consumers can be high too. For example, one analysis estimated that the information stolen in a 2013 breach of Utahs Medicaid and Child Health Insurance Program would result in more than 120,000 cases of fraud, and that each incident would cost (on average) more than $3,300 in losses. The average cost of a data breach for U.S. organizations in 2018 was $225 per compromised record, according to a report from the Ponemon Institute. Warrens Corporate Executive Accountability Act will probably not be Congress answer for tackling the proliferation of data breaches and privacy violations weve witnessed in recent years. But she does seem to be betting that it can draw attention to her wider campaign to crack down on corporate misconduct. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now... Notable investments only flow from Switzerland to Slovakia, not vice versa. One Swiss company active in Slovakia is the technology company ABB. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled For Slovaks, Switzerland is a country full of beautiful mountains and valleys, big salaries, scientific discoveries, economic efficiency and excessively high prices. Although the mutual trade partnership is not essential, relations between them continue to improve. Trade between Slovakia and Switzerland has a positive trend, while mutual turnover has doubled since 2011. By now, the Slovak trade balance with Switzerland is similar to the Czech Republic, according to Slovak Ambassador to Switzerland Andrea Elschekova-Matisova. Hungary has about a 3.5 times less positive balance with Switzerland, and Poland even shows a negative balance. Austria, as a neighbouring country, with which Switzerland shares traditional trade ties and the German language, has a positive trade balance that is only 2.8 times higher than Slovakia, Andrea Elschekova-Matisova told The Slovak Spectator. In terms of investment, Switzerland is in the group of twenty essential investors in Slovakia. However, the opposite relationship is minimal. Mutual trade grows The latest statistics show that in 2017, Slovakia exported 1.19 billion and imported 573 million from Switzerland, which led to a positive balance of 621.8 million. Between January and October 2018, Switzerlands share of Slovak imports amounted to 56.4 million, or 0.74 percent of total imports, and exports to 1.02 billion, or 1.54 percent. This means Switzerland is Slovakias 11th most important trading partner, said Maros Stano, spokesman of the Economy Ministry. Firms mainly export to Switzerland machinery and mechanical tools, electrical equipment, vehicles and transport equipment, and plastic and metal products. Conversely, import commodities include chemical and pharmaceutical products, which traditionally account for 40 percent of Swiss imports, machinery and mechanical tools, vehicles and transport equipment. The southeast of Slovakia is the heaven of caves - and some piquant 19th-century gossip. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Listen to the podcast: https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/600319500&color=%23096f52&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true The Slovak Karst might be off most tourists radar, unless they are speleology enthusiasts visiting Slovakia for the sole purpose of seeing its numerous caves. In the Gemer region, surrounding the town of Roznava, every town has a cave. James Thomson has seen some of them, and in this episode of our podcast he gives some practical tips about visiting a Slovak cave. Once you make it to the southeast, do not skip the visit to some above-ground sights, notably the Betliar mansion and the Krasna Horka castle (closed for reconstruction since 2012, but about to be opened), and the Jasov monastery. Read also: Read also: Exploring Slovakias caverns and caves (Spectacular Slovakia - travel guide) Read more The Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. This programme is part of The Slovak Spectator subscription, and our readers receive it every Thursday morning as part of their subscription. More information: Print+audio: shop.spectator.sme.sk/newspaper Online+audio: www.sme.sk/predplatne-spectator The schedule for 'the Internets favourite harness racing handicapping show' North American Harness Update (NAHU), is set for Friday, April 5. Host Ray Cotolo will be joined by Mike Pribozie and Rod Allums Jr. to provide live coverage of the Pick 4 from The Raceway at Western Fair District and the Meadowlands Racetrack. Along with the Pick 4 coverage, the three will preview the Can-Am Pick 4, which has averaged $50,000 pools since launching three weeks ago. The three will also preview the fourth round of the George Morton Levy Series on Saturday, April 6 at Yonkers Raceway. The Hanover Hustler Russ Adams from Rosecroft Raceway will also come on to preview racing action from Rosecroft for Sunday, April 7 including their signature Pick 3. North American Harness Update airs Fridays from 9:00 - 11:00 pm (ET) on SRN One as well as on video livestream on Facebook Live, Periscope and YouTube, and can be accessed by archive via the YouTube page or from its website at nahupicks.com the day after it airs. (with files from North American Harness Update) Lok Sabha election 2019: Voting for phase 7 of the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 59 parliamentary constituencies spread across 7 states and one Union Territory on May 19. All parliamentary constituencies in Bihar (8), Jharkhand (3), Madhya Pradesh (8), Punjab (13), West Bengal (9), Chandigarh (1), Uttar Pradesh (13) and Himachal Pradesh (4) will go for polling in the seventh phase. Haryana's Faridabad constituency will witness re-polling on May 19 after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) polling agent was arrested for allegedly trying to influence voters at a booth. A video of the purported act had gone viral, prompting the Election Commission to order repoll. Also Read: General Election Polling 2019: How to vote, get polling booth details without voter ID card Over 10 crore voters to decide fate of 918 candidates in this phase of poll. And, around 1 lakh polling stations will be activated for smooth conduct of polls. Some of the key battles of the seventh phase polls are: Varanasi: All eyes will be on this constituency since this is PM Narendra Modi's home turf. He is being challenged by Congress' Ajay Rai and Mahagathbandhan's Shalini Yadav. Yadav is contesting on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket and has the backing of BSP and the RLD. Patna Sahib: Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha will be seen contesting against union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from here. Sinha had won this seat for the BJP in both 2009 and 2014. Sinha left the BJP after years of uneasy relationship with the party high command. In this election he is contesting on a Congress ticket. In 2014, Sinha had won with a margin of over 2.6 lakh votes. Chandigarh: BJP's Kirron Kher is seeking her re-election from this seat. In the 2014 general election, Kher defeated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Gul Panag and Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal. Bansal has represented this seat from 1999 to 2014. This time again Chandigarh will witness a triangular contest among Bansal from Coongress, Kher from BJP and Harmohan Dhawan from AAP. Gurdaspur: From the Gurdaspur seat, debutante Sunny Deol will take on Congress' Sunil Jakhar. Veteran actor Vinod Khanna had won this seat for the BJP in 2014. However, it was clinched by Congress' Sunil Jakhar in the by-election triggered by Khanna's demise in 2017 Lok Sabha Election 2019: Phase 2 voting on April 18; FAQs, polling on 95 seats The battle for a total of 543 seats had started with elections in 91 constituencies across 20 states on April 11. The final vote count will be done May 23 and seal the fate of Indian politics when it will be finally decided if the incumbent BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi secure another term in the office or the anti-incumbency factor swings the tide. We bring you the full schedule of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with polling dates, elections results, constituencies' details and voting FAQs. Lok Sabha election 2019: Tripura records maximum 81.8% voter turnout; faulty EVMs delay polling in Andhra While 22 states and Union Territories will see single-phase polling in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will see polling in all seven phases. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha will see elections in four phases, Assam and Chhattisgarh in three phases, and Karnataka, Manipur, Tripura and Rajasthan in two phases. Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2019 Live Updates: Phase 1 of polling for 91 seats starts; PM Modi urges people to vote The Election Commission recently announced that the total electorate registered is approximately 900 million, an increase of more than 84 million voters over the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Here's a ready reckoner on the voting dates in your state and constituency: Phase 1: April 11 Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 1 will be held in 91 parliamentary constituencies spread across 20 states and Union Territories on April 11. Apart from one constituency each in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim, here's a detailed list of places that will see voters queuing up on this date. Phase I Date of notification March 18 (Monday) Last date of filing nomination March 25 (Monday) Scrutiny of nominations March 26 (Tuesday) Polling date April 11 (Thursday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Phase 2: April 18 This phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in a total of 97 constituencies spread across 13 states. All parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu (39 seats) and Puducherry (one seat) will go for polling in the second phase. The others on the list are: Karnataka (14 constituencies), Maharashtra (10), Uttar Pradesh (8), Assam (5), Bihar (5), Odisha (5), Chhattisgarh (3), West Bengal (3), Jammu and Kashmir (2), and one constituency each from Manipur and Tripura. Phase II Date of notification March 19 (Tuesday) Last date of filing nomination March 26 (Tuesday) Scrutiny of nominations March 27 (Wednesday) Polling date April 18 (Thursday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Phase 3: April 23 Polling will be held in 115 seats spread across 14 states and Union Territories. All the seats in Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu will go for polling on April 23. The other states that will head for polling in this phase are: Karnataka (14 parliamentary constituencies), Maharashtra (14), Uttar Pradesh (10), Chhattisgarh (7), Odisha (6), West Bengal (5), Bihar (5), Assam (4) and Jammu and Kashmir (1). Phase III Date of notification March 28 (Thursday) Last date of filing nomination April 4 (Thursday) Scrutiny of nominations April 5 (Friday) Polling date April 23 (Tuesday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Phase 4: April 29 The Election Commission issued notification for phase four of Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday in which 71 seats across nine states will go to polls. While the process of filing nominations began Tuesday, the last date of filing papers is April 9. The scrutiny of papers will take place on April 10 and the last date of withdrawing from the electoral battle is April 12, the notification said. The states that will be voting in this phase are: Maharashtra (17 parliamentary constituencies), Rajasthan (13), Uttar Pradesh (13) and West Bengal (8), Madhya Pradesh (6), Odisha (6), Bihar (5), Jharkhand (3), and Jammu and Kashmir (1). Phase IV Date of notification April 2 (Tuesday) Last date of filing nomination April 9 (Tuesday) Scrutiny of nominations April 10 (Wednesday) Polling date April 29 (Monday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Phase 5: May 6 In this phase 51 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across seven states will go to vote: Uttar Pradesh (14 constituencies), Rajasthan (12), Madhya Pradesh (7), West Bengal (7), Bihar (5), Jharkhand (4) and Jammu and Kashmir (2). The Election Commission will issue a notification for this phase on April 10. The last date for filing nomination papers is April 18 and the scrutiny of papers will take place on April 20, India Today reported. Phase V Date of notification April 10 (Wednesday) Last date of filing nomination April 18 (Thursday) Scrutiny of nominations April 20 (Saturday) Polling date May 6 (Monday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Phase 6: May 12 The polling will be conducted in 59 parliamentary constituencies spread across seven states, namely Bihar (8 parliamentary constituencies), Haryana (10), Jharkhand (4), Madhya Pradesh (8), Uttar Pradesh (14), West Bengal (8) and Delhi-NCR (7). The last date for filing nomination papers is April 23 and the scrutiny of papers will take place on April 24. Phase VI Date of notification April 16 (Tuesday) Last date of filing nomination April 23 (Tuesday) Scrutiny of nominations April 24 (Wednesday) Polling date May 12 (Sunday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Phase 7: May 19 In the last phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, 59 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across eight states will vote: Bihar (8 parliamentary constituencies), Jharkhand (3), Madhya Pradesh (8), Punjab (13), West Bengal (9), Chandigarh (1), Uttar Pradesh (13) and Himachal Pradesh (4). The last date for filing nomination papers is April 29 and the scrutiny of papers will take place on April 30. Phase VII Date of notification April 22 (Monday) Last date of filing nomination April 29 (Monday) Scrutiny of nominations April 30 (Tuesday) Polling date May 19 (Sunday) Result May 23 (Thursday) Here's how to check your name on the voter's list, an FAQ: Step 1: Log on to the National Voter Services Portal's Electoral Search page (NVSP). Step 2: You can check your name on the voter's list by entering your details or by putting in your Electoral Photo ID Card (EPIC) number. In case you don't have Voter identity card Step 1: Log on to the NSVP Electoral Search page. Step 2: Click on search by details and put up your details, such as name, gender, age, Assembly Constituency, etc as mentioned on the page. Step 3: Based on your details, a result will pop up which will mean that your name is in the voter's list. In case, there is no pop-up, it means your name is probably missing on the voter's list. Are cell phones allowed inside the polling booth? As India votes for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 18, a pertinent piece of information that voters must be aware of is if cell phones are allowed inside the polling booths. It is quite natural that voters would carry their mobile phones to the voting centres. However, one must be prepared and keep in mind that cell phones are not allowed inside the polling booth. Voters are allowed to carry mobile phones but they won't be allowed to use their devices in the polling booth. Voters should ideally not use their cell phones in 100 m radius of the polling booths. Mobile phones must be kept in silent mode or switched off. According to a circular issued by the Election Commission, "... cellular phones, cordless phones, etc. not to be allowed except officers on duty in the 100 meters of a polling station... during polling, presiding officers and other staff shall keep their mobile switched off in the polling station. If required, they can talk from outside the polling booth..." Election Commission News Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra on April 15 reviewed poll arrangements in specific constituencies of West Bengal and Tripura going to polls in Phase 2 and 3 of ongoing General Elections to Lok Sabha 2019. The review through video conferencing was held with general observers, police observers and expenditure observers deployed in Phase 2 and Phase 3 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal namely the 3-Jalpaiguri, 4-Darjeeling, 5- Raiganj, 6- Balurghat, 7-Maldaha Uttar, 8-Maldaha Dakshin, 9-Jangipur and 11- Murshidabad in West Bengal and Phase 2 (final phase) of Tripura ie 2-Tripura East Parliamentary Constituency. Also Read: Lok Sabha elections 2019: Here's how to check your name on voter's list A recent rebellion by Bashar Talal al-Assad in Qardaha could point to a much bigger division between the Assad regime and their strongest national ally, the Alawites reports Al-Modon. Many see the rebellion of Bashar Talal al-Assad in Qardaha as just a new link in a chain of regime attempts to regain control over its closest supporters after being forced to give them a free hand. However this relatively specific rebellion is accompanied by three worsening factors, which could mean that the strength of the relationship between the Alawite sect and the narrow circle in the regime leadership will be subject to questions in the near future. The most important of these is the state of Alawite solidarity, which appeared solid over the first five years of the conflict, but which may become a candidate for some degree of decomposition and decline in a manner that makes its continuation in the medium term subject to doubts. This is not the first time the regimes closest sectarian base has been in a state of conflict. This is a repetition of a similar experience from the 1990s, but the difference this time is very clear in terms of both quantity and quality. The entry of the Iranian-Russian conflict onto the scene could produce various results this time, even if the Qardaha rebellion is finished through mediation or force. The Iranian-Russian dispute may not be the only new factor in comparison with the experience of the 1990s, when Bassel al-Assad, with support from his father, retook control over his uncles militias. There is another factor related to Alawite discontent, of which there have been frequent reports, regarding the regimes escalating alliance with a class of Sunni traders and religious figures. The Qardaha rebellion and the accompanying leaks of statements by Bashar Talal al-Assads, and the support for him from major Alawite families, confirms that most Alawites are not satisfied with their slice of the Syrian pie after the sacrifices they made for the Assad regimes survival. Today, the toll is completely different. The volume of human losses suffered by the Alawites is multiple times that of the past. Meanwhile the gains, in their estimation, are much less than what they deserve. The Assad regime has tried to satisfy its popular base, to the extent that observers have noted the Alawitization of some Syrian state institutions through the employment of relatives of those who have been killed. In addition, Alawite-heavy areas in Lattakia and Tartous have been allocated a great deal of government attention in terms of services and financial support, for example in the purchase of citrus yields. But despite all that, the Alawite base has not felt that it has obtained the equivalent of the human toll which was inflicted on itnot to mention the accumulation of a new legacy many times larger than in the 1980s of latent hostility with the Sunni majority. The militias have been a method of soothing them by allowing them to obtain more gains, even if it is in an illegal fashion. It also gives them an additional sense of security about the future. In contrast to the two new factors, the militia factor is old and repeating. But this time, it is much larger than in the 1990s. It seems that the chaotic militia situation today is more than the Assad regime is able to regain control over. The Iranian-Russian conflict further complicates this issue. While Russia is working to legitimize the militias and integrate them into state institutions after retraining them, Iran is supporting the militia situation, which serves its interests, and which accords with its traditional mentality of managing the fields in its foreign interventions. The two competing allies are fighting to win supporters in the Alawite base; a competition that became clear a few weeks ago with the the conflict that occurred in al-Ghab Plain area. This issue could extend into other Alawite fields on the coast this time, and it does not seem that Qardaha, Assads hometown, is immune. The Sunni danger has temporarily abatedwhile remaining in place in the medium and long termthe Alawites are divided about the gains and about the most appropriate ally: Iran or Russia? Their solidarity, which unites them, has become schizophrenic, at the same time as the regimes head and his inner circles are unable to regain exclusive power and influence over the Syrian coast, unlike in the 1990s, when Hafez al-Assad and his children were the only available choice to represent the Alawites and their leaders. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Brussels III conference was co-hosted by the UN and the EU and aimed to set out a vision for the future of Syria. More than 100 Syrian civil society organizations have published a joint statement expressing their position regarding the third Brussels conference on Syria held in Brussels from Mar. 12, 2019, to Mar. 14, 2019. As members of Syrian civil society, the statements signatories welcomed the overall outcomes of the conference and pointed out what they considered as deficiencies. Below is the statement as was signed by 110 civil society groups: The Third conference of the future of Syria and the region was held in Brussels from March 12 to March 14, 2019, co-chaired by the European Union and the United Nations. An official declaration of the combined chairs of the conference was issued describing the major subjects of the conference and its outcomes. As members of the Syrian civil society, the organizations listed below, we welcome the overall outcomes of the conference and in particular: The inclusion of representatives of Syrian civil society in the conference through the events and panels of the Days of Dialogue and the insistence of the declaration on the importance to work with and support the Syrian civil society; The reflection of many of the conclusions of these panels in the final declaration of the co-chairs of the conference; The pledging of 7.0 B USD for 2019, and 2.4 B USD in as multi-year pledges starting 2020 for Syria and the region; The reaffirmation of the declaration that a sustainable solution to the conflict in Syria can only be based on the Geneva Communique (2012) and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015), including, but not limited to, new constitution paving the way towards free and fair elections under UN supervision, including the diaspora; The importance signaled in the declaration of fighting terrorism while respecting all parties obligations under international law and the protection of civilians and while admitting that the lasting eradication of terrorism in Syria requires a genuine political settlement that addresses the root-causes of the conflict; The importance mentioned in the declaration of maintaining the ceasefire agreements, in particular the September 2018 memorandum of understanding between Russia and Turkey to establish a demilitarized zone in the northwest and calling for all parties involved to uphold their commitments and in particular prioritize the protection of the estimated three million civilians in Idlib; The reminder in the declaration of the need to release detainees and abductees and to clarify the fate of missing persons, clearly mentioning that the fate of the civil society activists in the areas that were taken by the forces of the Syrian regime or those controlled by armed opposition groups, raises grave concerns; The stressing out of the declaration on the issue of affordable access to civil documentation such as birth, marriage and death certificates or identity cards as a key protection concern in addition to the call for respect for housing, land and property rights in Syria; The full commitment mentioned in the declaration to continue promoting accountability and justice as an inherent part of any meaningful process of genuine and sustainable reconciliation in Syriaand the necessity to hold all those responsible for breaches of international law, including the use of chemical weapons and the blatant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law of which some may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable; The precision in the declaration that conditions inside Syria do not lend themselves to the promotion or facilitation of organized voluntary returns in conditions of safety and dignity in line with international law and therefore that more should to maintain effective protection of refugees, further improve their access to legal documentation and/or temporary residency, widen their possibilities for self-sufficiency and, while doing so, contribute to the economic development of their host countries; The note mentioned in the declaration to the importance of long-term support for children affected by the conflict, including psycho-social support and access to quality education; The insistence in the declaration that funding decisions shall be conflict-sensitive, be based on independent needs assessments, shall in no way benefit or assist parties who have allegedly committed war crimes or crimes against humanity and shall not condone, or indirectly entrench, social and demographic engineering; The reiteration included in the declaration that reconstruction and international support for its implementation will only be possible once a credible political solution, consistent with Security Council Resolution 2254 and the Geneva Communique, is firmly underway. A successful reconstruction process also requires minimal conditions for stability and inclusiveness, a democratic and inclusive government guaranteeing peoples safety and security, an agreed conflict-sensitive development strategy, reliable and legitimate interlocutors as well as guarantees in terms of funding accountability. None of these conditions, according to the declaration, are yet fulfilled in Syria. However, we find the declaration of the co-chairs of the conference fell short on the following points: 1. Directly and openly condemning the Syrian regime and its allies of targeting civilians in Syria, including the recent and current attacks on Idlib; 2. Directly and openly condemning all parties of the conflict responsible of the forced displacement actions that occurred in 2018; 3. Raise attention to the increasingly difficult situation of the Syrian refugees in all host countries (including in Europe) with increased irresponsible hate-inciting declarations by politicians in these countries against the Syrian refugees and inaccurate false-hope-building talks about the return of refugees without a clear and defined counter communication fact-based strategy, all leading to increased social tension and violence against the refugees; 4. Directly hold the Syrian regime accountable for the safety and security of the IDPs returning to their homes while the UN agencies based in Damascus are mainly focusing on their livelihood conditions, almost regardless of their protection; 5. Insisting more clearly on the mandatory role of the Syrian civil society and the Syrian local communities in the design, the implementation and the monitoring of the all funding going towards the Syrian people inside and outside of Syria. The role of free media in the monitoring is also crucial; 6. Clearly calling out and holding accountable all parties of the conflict and their sponsors for the protection and safety of Syrian civil activists and particularly humanitarian actors in all of Syria and in neighboring countries; 7. Put in place mechanisms of monitoring and reporting on the use of the pledged funds according to the principals and declarations of the declaration. The phasing-in of Early Recovery without defined agreed-upon strategies and monitoring mechanisms may constitute, in that regards, a real risk of breaching the rules that the declaration declared on reconstruction. We, as Syrian civil society organizations, will continue our commitment and action towards supporting our people inside and outside of Syria in its resilience and actions to reach its aspirations, to prepare and to participate in the future rebuilding of our country. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. On the second anniversary of the chemical weapons attack on Khan Sheikhoun, the Syrian National Coalition has called for justice and for the case to be sent to the International Criminal Court. The Syrian Coalition stressed the importance of holding accountable the Assad regime and all those responsible for war crimes in Syria, in order to prevent impunity on the second anniversary of the chemical weapons attack on Khan Sheikhoun. In a press release issued on Thursday, the Coalition renewed its calls to include the issue of crimes committed in Syria within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and to hold accountable all criminals and their accomplices. The Coalition also renewed its calls to activate Article 21 of UN Security Council Resolution 2018 to impose measures against the Assad regime under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The Coalition said that the reality on the ground confirms that the Assad regime insists on its policy of murder, displacement and escalation, which resulted in the deaths of at least 15 civilians and injured dozens more in the past 24 hours alone. Violent shelling hit rural Hama, Aleppo and Idleb, including the town of Khan Sheikhoun. The continued absence of any legal response to the crimes and violations taking place in Syria has consolidated the culture of impunity. It also makes the major players in the international community indirect partners, as they bear the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Coalition went on: This horrific chapter of the history of Syria and the region must be brought to an end through serious and responsible international action, which is committed to the protection of civilians, the implementation of international law and international resolutions, and accountability. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, has likened the situation in Venezuela, to what happened in Syria and accused the US of trying to destabilize the country writes The Syria Times. On Thursday, President Bashar al-Assad received Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and the accompanying delegation. Assad was briefed on the latest developments taking place in Venezuela by Minister Arreaza, as he expressed confidence that Venezuela will overcome the crisis that the country is currently facing and restore a state of stability soon enough. He pointed out that the policies adopted by some Western states, including the US, in terms of their blatant interference in the Latin states affairs and imposing an economic siege and sanctions have become an approach they adopt with all states that do not agree with their policies. The President said that what is going on in Venezuela is similar to what happened in Syria. They are aiming at imposing hegemony on states and controlling their independent decision, which undermines international law and contradicts the most important principles of the UN Charter, i.e. the respect of states sovereignty and right of self-determination. For his part, Arreaza thanked President Assad for his supportive stance of Venezuela and stressed that the tools and steps used by the enemies of Venezuela, are similar to those used to ignite the war in Syria, adding that what has happened to his country is just one episode in a series of continuous attempts by the US to control Venezuelas independent decision and the Venezuelan peoples resources. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. After logging a positive start in early trade, Sensex and Nifty pared gains on account of profit booking in afternoon session. However, bulls refused to be cowed down by bears on Dalal Street as Sensex closed 177 points or 0.46% higher at 38,862 level and Nifty rose 67 points to 11,665 level. Tata Steel (3.36%), Vedanta (2.38%) and Bajaj Finance (2.25%) were the top Sensex gainers. Top losers on the Sensex were SBI (1.46%), PowerGrid (1.36%) and Hero MotoCorp (0.78%). Here's a look at live updates for the Indian share market today. 3: 40 pm: Sensex closes 177 points or 0.46% higher at 38,862 level, Nifty rises 67 points to 11,665 level. 3:29 pm: Bulls refuse to be cowed down by bears as Sensex, Nifty surges log major gains in last 45 minutes of trade. Sensex rises over 200 points to 38,887 level. 3:15 pm: Gold prices rallied by Rs 100 to Rs 32,770 per 10 gram in the national capital on Friday due to increased buying by jewellers, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Silver too surged by Rs 200 to Rs 38,530 per kg on more offtake by industrial units and coin makers. 2:50 PM: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) stops fuel supply to Jet Airways for non-payment from Friday. Jet Airways stock trading 1.29% lower at 256.60 on BSE. 2:49 pm: Mortgage lender Muthoot Homefin Friday said it plans to raise up to Rs 300 crore through non-convertible debentures. The base size of the issue is Rs 150 crore, with an option to retain oversubscription up to a similar amount, the company said. The company is offering various bonds maturing in 2, 3.2, 5 and 7.5 years, with monthly, annual and cumulative payment options. The effective yield ranges from 9.25 to 10 percent per annum. 2:45 pm: Bank of India Friday said it will sell 25.05 per cent stake in its insurance JV Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co for at least Rs 1,106 crore. The bank has floated a request for proposal for sale of over 6.48 crore equity shares, or 25.05 per cent stake in its joint venture with Union Bank of India and Japan's Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. 2:30 pm: JSW Steel share price rises 2% to 294.85 after firm approves raising of long term funds through the issuance of non-convertible foreign currency/Rupee denominated senior unsecured fixed rate bonds up to $1 billion. 2:00 pm: Metal and IT stocks were fuelling gains on the benchmark indices. While BSE metal index rose 185 points to 11,661, IT index gained 185 points to 15,566. Cipla share price rises after firm receives EIR for Goa facility 1:45 pm: Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg has said the government is close to meeting fiscal deficit target of 3.4 per cent for 2018-19. The government in the interim Budget in February revised upward the fiscal deficit target to 3.4 per cent from 3.3 per cent of GDP estimated earlier for the financial year ended March 31. "We are very close to meeting (fiscal deficit)," Garg said when asked whether the government has met fiscal deficit target for 2018-19. 1:18 pm : Ahead of its initial public offer, Polycab India raised Rs 401 crore from 25 anchor investors, according to a release. The company manufactures and sells wires and cables as well as fast moving electrical goods. The initial share sale would open on Friday and close on April 9. 12: 50: Food company Britannia Industries on Thursday said it has raised Rs 500 crore through issuance of commercial paper. "The Company has issued Commercial Papers for an aggregate amount of Rs 500 Crores on April 4, 2019, with tenure upto 260 days," it said in a BSE filing. Britannia Industries owns brands like Good Day, Tiger, NutriChoice, Milk Bikis and Marie Gold. 12: 40 pm: Recouping early losses, shares of Jet Airways were trading marginally lower Friday morning as lenders prepare to invite bids for stake sale in the ailing airline. The scrip was down at Rs 259.15 after opening at Rs 264 on the BSE. Similar trend was witnessed on the NSE where the company's share price fell to Rs 258.85 apiece. It had opened at Rs 260.95 on the broader index. 12:35 pm: Stocks logging top turnover on BSE are Cipla (Rs 218.45 crore), ITC (Rs 59.44 crore) and Dewan Housing (Rs 159.70 crore). 12:15 pm: Tata Steel (2.16%), Bajaj Finance (1.80%) and Infosys (1.46%) are top Sensex gainers. 12: 00 pm: Top losers on BSE are Reliance Communications (4.97%), Shoppers Stop (3.63%) and Syndicate Bank (2.54%). 11: 45 am: 121 stocks hit their upper circuits compared to 124 falling to their lower circuits on BSE. 11: 30 am: 36 stocks hit their 52 week highs compared to 64 falling to their 52 week lows today on BSE. 11: 15 am: Market breadth was positive with 1289 stocks rising compared to 828 shares falling on BSE. 11:00 am: On BSE, Dewan Housing (8.27%) , PC Jeweller (8.47%) and Vodafone Idea (7.59%) were the top gainers. 10:45 am: Cipla share price trading 2.26% or 12 points higher at 533.90 after the company said it has received the establishment inspection report (EIR) for its Goa facility indicating closure of the inspection by USFDA. The US drug regulator carried the inspection at the Goa manufacturing facility from 21-28 January, 2019. 10:40 am: Godrej Properties share price trading over 4% or 37 points higher at 952 level. The stock continued to log gains in today's session as the company announced it would develop a large residential project in Bandra, Mumbai. 10:30 am: Tata Motors top Sensex loser, falls 1.12% to 203.80%. 10: 15 am: Of 3O Sensex stocks, 19 were trading in the green. 9: 55 am: Japan's Nikkei 225 index added 0.3% to 21,794.37 while the Kospi in South Korea was flat at 2,206.76. Shares fell 0.9% in New Zealand and the S&P ASX in Australia dropped 0.8% to 6,128.60. Overnight, Wall Street had another wobbly day of trading. Modest gains nudged the market's winning streak to a sixth straight day. Markets have been wobbly throughout the week as investors wait for the US government's jobs report on Friday and prepare for a new round of corporate earnings reports next week. 9: 40 am : YES Bank (1.42%), Infosys (1.28%) and IndusInd Bank (1.21%) were the top Sensex gainers. 9: 25 am : Top Sensex losers were Asian Paints (0.66%), Hero MotoCorp (0.66%) and Bharti Airtel (0.56%). 9: 21 am: On Monday, Sensex lost 192 points to 38,684 and Nifty fell 46 points to 11,598. 9: 20 am: the mid cap and small cap indices were trading 95 points and 79.67 points higher in early trade. 9:18 am : While Sensex rallied 150 points to 38,835 in early trade, Nifty climbed 48 points to 11,646. 9: 17 am: Market breadth was positive with 1124 stocks trading higher compared to 489 falling on the BSE. 9: 15 am: IT, capital goods and banking stocks lead the gains on BSE with their indices rising 150 points, 152 points, and 144 points, respectively. 9: 10 am: On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net of Rs 226 crore on Thursday, and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs1206 crore, provisional data available with BSE showed. The remains of Zachary Baumel, who was killed in 1982, were handed over by Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to Israeli President, Benjamin Netanyahu reports Alsouria Net. On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Moscow had delivered the remains of the Israeli soldier Zachary Baumel in cooperation with the Bashar al-Assad regime, who was lost during the Israeli war against Lebanon in 1982. The Russian Defense Ministry statement said: Russia delivered the remains of the Israeli tank brigade soldier Zachary Baumel, who had been missing for more than 37 years, to the Israelis. The remains of the Israeli soldiers were delivered by the Russian Defense Ministry to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, for him to be buried by his relatives in his mother country. Earlier today, Putin said that his country had found, with assistance from the Assad regime, the remains of the soldier and that it intended to return them to Israel to be buried. Putin added: We are very happy that they will be able to give him the necessary military honors at home and most importantly that his close relatives will be able to bring flowers to his grave. The Russian president gave Netanyahu details of the search process for the Israeli soldier, saying: As you know our soldiers in cooperation with Syrian partners found the place where he was buried. He said that the matter was not easy for the special forces units. This conflicts with stories from the occupation army on Wednesday that said the remains had been returned a few days ago. Netanyahu thanked the Russian president for the assistance in recovering the Israeli soldiers remains, saying at the outset of a meeting with Putin in Moscow: I thank you my friend, in my name and in the name of the Israeli people, for what you have done, and for the strong friendship, which is very important for our countries, and for the relations between us. I think that they express a very great common value bringing our people together, and I thank you on behalf of the Israeli people. Netanyahu said that he had asked Russia for help two years ago and added that the burial ceremony for Baumel would take place on Thursday evening in Israel in the presence of his family and friends. Baumel was commander of the 362nd Tank Brigade and was in the battle of al-Sultan Yaqoub against the Syrian army in the Bekaa plains in Lebanon near the Syrian border on Jun. 10 11, 1982. Two other soldiers, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, are still missing, and they are a part of the collective memory in Israel, which considers the return of its soldiers, whether dead or prisoner, a moral duty. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Foreign Minister Walid alMuallem has reiterated that nothing will change Syria's position regarding the occupied Golan and that they are ready to respond in any way writes SANA. Foreign Minister Walid alMuallem, stressed that Syrias claim to the occupied Syrian Golan is firm and cannot be changed by time, and that every inch of the occupied Syrian territories will be liberated, whether in the south or in the north, clarifying that the war against terrorism has not finished, as the country is facing now an economic war; he showed confidence that the Syrian people will overcome it. Muallem said in a press conference held on Thursday with his Venezuelan counterpart, Jorge Arreaza, that the US President Donald Trumps decision on the occupied Syrian Golan has a single effect as it only enhanced the isolation of the US. Syria will liberate the occupied Golan by all means and all choices are on the table, Muallem affirmed. He added that, Israel mustnt go farWe have will and determination and the war we have waged since 2011 is to protect Syrias sovereignty and independence and to liberate every inch of its territories. He added: The mistakes of Erdogans policies and his support for terrorism in Syria have been clear through the results of the latest Turkish elections. He noted that: The Turkish side delayed the implementation of the Sochi agreement on Idleb, and we are still waiting for the implementation of the agreement, yet patience has limits and we must liberate this land. The US administration lies about pulling out its troops, which are illegitimately deployed in Syria, and it isnt our duty to teach them to be honest, Muallem said. Regarding the situation in al-Jazira region, Muallem said that there are Arab tribes and a group of Kurdish Syrian citizens in the northeast of Syria, and we hope that they return to rationality and learn from the lessons from the past and trust nothing but the Syrian homeland. For his part, Minister Arreaza said, I agree with Minister Muallem that the US conspiracy is targeting both of our countries, adding that, The Venezuelan and the Syrian people are resisting the imperialism and the US conspiracies and they will triumph. He added that all the nations of the world should learn a lesson from Syria, which is achieving victories over terrorism. The US government speaks about a military intervention in Venezuela and it says that all options are on the table, but the question is: Why dialogue isnt among the options? Arreaza. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Samsung is launching its Galaxy-A line of smartphones quickly and swiftly to capture the markets in the developing countries including India. The company has already launched the Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 smartphones in India and the new Galaxy A20 will be the newest member of the family, priced at Rs 12,490. The Samsung Galaxy A20 is slotted between the Galaxy A10 and A30 and comes with a 6.4-inch HD+ (720x1560 pixels) Super AMOLED infinity V-display. As far as specifications are concerned, the phone is powered by the octa-core Exynos 7884 SoC, which has two high power cores clocked at 1.6GHz and six efficiency cores with a clock speed of 1.35GHz. The phone comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage option, which can be further expanded via a microSD card (up to 512GB). The Samsung Galaxy A20 runs on Android 9 Pie with the company's One UI on top. In terms of optics, Samsung Galaxy A20 comes with a dual rear camera setup with a 13 MP primary sensor and 5 MP secondary sensor. There is also a 5 MP selfie sensor with an f/2.0 lens. The Samsung Galaxy A20 has a huge 4,000 mAh battery that would easily last you a complete day. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and support for Samsung Pay. The smartphone also features a "3D Glasstic" build and measures at 158.4x74.7x7.8 mm. Samsung has said that it would start selling the Galaxy A20 in India from April 10 via Samsung Online Shop, Samsung Opera House, and other major online retailers. The phone was first launched in Russia last month. Edited By: Udit Verma Also Read: Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2019 with S-pen support, here're the details Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A40 gets certified by FCC, may launch soon Also Read: Samsung to launch for Galaxy A50, Galaxy A30, Galaxy A10 in India today: everything you need to know Credit: NASA "There are some things only humans can do in space. The rest can be left to robots." The NASA team is showcasing hw to put that simple observation into interesting practice with their development of Astrobees. Astrobee is "a compact one-foot-cube of a robot in development at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. This robot is designed to work autonomously without astronaut supervision, or to be remotely operated by mission controllers." All in all, from inventory checking to monitoring noise levels and more, the robotic bees are all set to be helpers, and they will serve as the crew's extra eyes and ears. Three Astrobee helpers will be joining the Space Station crewand two of the bees are scheduled for launch soon. They have been given cameras and sensors for navigating inside the space station and avoiding obstacles. The robots will be empowered by fans as well as their vision-based navigation. NASA has a visual presentation that gives you an idea of how the robotic bees were designed to perform. The fundamental idea is for them to do certain basic tasks so that the astronauts will be freed for spending more time for other tasks. Basic tasks such as? Tracking inventory and maintenance are some answers. Think about it; whether it is fully automated or being under remote control from land, it still can take on research, housekeeping, and monitoring duties "without wasting valuable astronaut time," said an Astrobee home page. (The robots can operate in either fully automated mode or under remote control by astronauts or researchers on Earth.) Credit: NASA Tracking inventory? Astrobee in cruising the ISS could be using its scanner to verify the location of items rather than astronauts doing this. Monitoring duties? Astrobee can monitor environmental conditions such as air quality or sound levels. The Astrobees were given a robotic arm that can be attached if the call for duty is for cargo handling or running experiments. Speaking of experiments, the Astrobee will be handy for research tasks and in and of itself presents an opportunity for researchthe study of human-robot interactions in space. "Learning how robots can best work with humans in close proximity will be key for exploring the Moon and other destinations," said NASA. Credit: NASA Credit: NASA Credit: NASA The robots were developed at the Ames Research Center in California. The researchers provided a mockup of the station's interior. They run on battery. Recharging is done automatically; they can dock at a power station. When an Astrobee's battery runs low, the robot will autonomously navigate and dock to the station to recharge. When and where will the robots join the crew? Reports said two of the three Astrobee robots are scheduled for their space launch to launch this month from a NASA facility in Virginia. Trevor Mogg in Digital Trends traced the origins of these robots. They were several years in development; in addition to those sensors and cameras, "A touchscreen, speaker, and microphone are also part of the package." Mogg also noted the earlier SPHERES, NASA's first-generation robotic assistant, and now Astrobees will take the stage. "The new arrivals will also get to meet CIMON, an artificial intelligence robot developed by Airbus and Germany's DLR space agency, and powered by IBM's Watson supercomputer." Explore further Robotic assistants on the International Space Station 2019 Science X Network Private sector employees will see their pension shoot up under Employees Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995, thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling. On April 1, the top court dismissed a special leave petition filed by Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) against a 2018 Kerala High Court order that had asked the retirement fund body to give pension to all retiring employees on the basis of their full salary, rather than capping the figure on which contribution is calculated at a maximum of Rs 15,000 per month. But while this is great news in terms of building a nest egg, EPF subscribers will have to forego a significant chunk of their provident fund balance if they choose to opt for higher pension, The Economic Times reported. Here's the math to help you understand: All employees in the organised sector currently contribute 12% of their salary (basic salary+dearness allowance) to the EPF. The employer makes a matching contribution, of which 8.33% goes to the EPS, till now subject to a salary cap of Rs 15,000. The scheme gives monthly pension based on the number of years put in by the employee multiplied by his last drawn salary and the total gets divided by 70. Also Read: EPFO update: Supreme Court ruling to significantly push up pension of private sector employees Let's assume a person who started working in 1986 with a monthly income of Rs 10,000. At a 10% annual salary increment, his salary would now be around Rs 2.32 lakh. If he retires today after 33 years on the job, if the Rs 15,000 ceiling was still in place he would have earned Rs 7,071 per month as pension. But with the Supreme Court doing away with this cap, the retiring employee will receive a pension of around Rs 1,09,489, which will be more than 1,400% higher. The catch, as mentioned above, is that to get this higher pension, your EPF corpus will take a hit. To avail of the new rule, you reportedly have to submit an application to the EFPO via your employer requesting the body to deduct a sum equal to 8.33% of your salary (basic+DA) towards the EPS together with the accrued interest there upon till date retrospectively and shift the pending dues from your PF corpus to the EPS. In the above example going by the historical salary caps which EPFO introduced time to time, the person would need to deposit roughly around Rs 20 lakh just to meet the contribution deficit. As you also have to pay the accumulated interest also on this amount so the final amount could be multiple times of Rs 20 lakh. A critical factor for this option to be exercised, a person must have that much of balance in his EPF account. The clarity is still missing, if this option can be exercised partially, in the case when one does not have sufficient balance. There is also no clarity if people will get the option to pay the deficit amount from their own pocket. Though it may look very attractive option for salaried class people on the face of it however after going into details things do not look that simple and easy. Also Read: From Modi TV to Modi app, here's how brand Modi plays in election Also Read: Rahul Gandhi owns commercial property worth Rs 8.75 crore, agri land worth Rs 1.32 crore, Rs 40,000 cash in hand 3 hours ago NATO chief applies for job as Norway's central bank governor COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that he has applied to be the next governor of Norway's central bank in an appointment that would last for six years if he gets the job. The current governor of Norges Bank, Oeystein Olsen, is retiring in early 2022 after holding the position since Jan. Read Article Just add "?q=" parameter after any URL following the targeted domain, Example Xiaomi browsers will display " Here's how attackers can spoof URLs on Mint or MI Browser:Just add "?q=" parameter after any URL following the targeted domain,Example https://t.co/WyxUCwg8OO Xiaomi browsers will display " https://t.co/oMypZM6lQW " in the URL while loading the content from phishing site. pic.twitter.com/Ex6u4cxNRY April 5, 2019 "The thing that struck me most was that only their overseas or, international versions were having this security bug and not their Chinese or, domestic versions. Was it done deliberately thus?" Arif told The Hacker News in an email. "Are Chinese device manufacturers intentionally making their OS, applications, and firmware vulnerable for their international users?" "The vulnerability impacts millions of users globally yet the bounty offered as such was, $99 (for Mi Browser) and another $99 (for Mint Browser)," the researcher said. "I would like to inform you that as of there is no official update regarding the issue. However, would request you to stay connected with the forum page for further details in this regards," the company said. Xiaomi Patches Browser Vulnerability Beware, if you are using a Xiaomi's Mi or Redmi smartphone, you should immediately update its built-inor theavailable on Google Play Store for non-Xiaomi Android devices.That's because both web browser apps created by Xiaomi are vulnerable to a critical vulnerability which has not yet been patched even after being privately reported to the company, a researcher told The Hacker News.The vulnerability, identified asand discovered by security researcher Arif Khan , is a browser address bar spoofing issue that originates because of a logical flaw in the browser's interface, allowing a malicious website to control URLs displayed in the address bar.According to the advisory, affected browsers are not properly handling the "q" query parameter in the URLs, thus fail to display the portion of an https URL before the ?q= substring in the address bar.Since the address bar of a web browser is the most reliable and essential security indicator, the flaw can be used to easily trick Xiaomi users into thinking they are visiting a trusted website when actually being served with a phishing or malicious content, as shown in the video demonstration below.The phishing attacks today are more sophisticated and increasingly more difficult to spot, and this URL spoofing vulnerability takes it to another level, allowing one to bypass basic indicators like URL and SSL, which are the first things a user checks to determine if a site is fake.The Hacker News has independently verified the vulnerability using a PoC the researcher shared with our team and can confirm it works on the latest versions of both web browsers(v10.5.6-g) and(v1.5.3)that are available at the time of writing.The researcher also confirmed The Hacker News that the issue only affects the international variants of both the web browsers, though the domestic versions, distributed with Xiaomi smartphones in China, do not contain this vulnerability.Another interesting though weird thing is that upon reporting the issue, Xiaomi rewarded the researcher with a bug bounty, but left the vulnerability unpatched.We also reached out to Xiaomi two days prior to publishing this report for additional comment and learn if the company has plans to release a patched version anytime soon, but the mobile vendor provided a weird response.This is the second recently-disclosed severe issue that researchers have identified in pre-installed apps on more than 150 million Android devices manufactured by Xiaomi.Just yesterday, The Hacker News published details of a report explaining how attackers could have turned a pre-installed security app on Xiaomi phones , called Guard Provider, into malware by exploiting multiple vulnerabilities in the app.Android users are highly advised to use modern web browsers that are not affected by this vulnerability, such as Chrome or Firefox.Besides this, if you are using Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer browser on your desktop, you should also avoid using them since both browsers also contain a critical vulnerability which has not yet been patched by the tech giant. Another spokesperson for Xiaomi today confirmed The Hacker News that the above-mentioned publicly disclosed vulnerability has now been patched in the latest version of both browser apps released late last week."The bug was a result of an additional functionality to improve user experience by hiding the URL and only displaying the search term," the spokesperson says."While this was intended to work only with specific URLs, it worked for some other URLs which followed a similar regular pattern. The issue has since been resolved and an update is being rolled out to all users.""It was reported through our bounty program, which encourages security experts to report vulnerabilities. Xiaomi values feedback from the security community, and are committed to constantly improve based on all feedback so as to build better and safer products." CONCORD, NH - Yesterday,New Hampshire residents showed up in force to demand Governor Chris Sununu protect the Affordable Care Act. Granite Staters called on Governor Sununu and the Attorney General join 21 other states which have filed litigation to protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against the Trump Administration's lawsuit to dismantle the ACA in the courts. Granite Staters also called on Governor Sununu to sign SB 4 and HB 233 to codify pre-existing condition and essential health benefit coverage into state law to protect Granite Staters should the ACA ever be repealed or overturned. Finally, they also asked Governor Sununu to join the federal delegation, led by senior Senator Jeanne Shaheen, to support federal legislation to protect the ACA. Senator Shaheen has introduced a resolution that would reverse the Department of Justices choice to side with US District Court Judge Reed OConnor ruling that deems health care protections enjoyed by millions of Americans and thousands of Granite Staters unconstitutional. State Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes called on Governor Sununu to protect Granite Staters care, Growing up my mom always told me actions speak louder than words. And when it comes to standing up for Granite Staters health care, Chris Sununu has been all talk, no action. Its time for the governor to stand up for the health care of Granite Staters. Stand up to the Trump Administrations ongoing assault on the Affordable Care ActIf he believes in Medicaid expansion, where has Governor Sununu been in intervening in the case to protect Medicaid expansion? Darlene Gildersleeve, a Hopkinton mom of three and small business owner, said, I beg Governor Sununu to please protect my family and other Granite State citizens by signing Senate Bill 4 and doing all that he can to defend and maintain the Affordable Care Act, including joining the multi-state lawsuit." Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress, said, It is incredible that the Trump Administration is resorting to political tactics in the courts to rip health care away from millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Granite Staters. There is no replacement plan. There is not contingency plan. There is no plan at all other than to go back to a system where people were regularly denied access health care because of pre-existing conditions, or where they could not afford the skyrocketing premiums as big insurance companies lined their pockets using our health care dollars. Amber MacQuarrie, a Manchester mother and small business owner, had a congenital cyst the size of her fist on her heart. Without Medicaid expansion she would have never been able to receive the care she needed or would have had to gone into massive debt. For me, personally, health care has been about opportunity. If it werent for Medicaid expansion. Im not sure where I would be today. But I know that, without Medicaid expansion and health care protections under the ACA, I would not have been able to run my business, feed my family, or create opportunity for my kids. Health care leaders urged the public to call Governor Sununu at (603) 271-2121 and ask him to protect our care. A full video of the press conference is available HERE. ### Granite State Progress is an advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress convenes the NH Health Care Coalition, a grassroots coalition of organizations and advocates working to defend and advance access to quality, affordable health care for every Granite Stater. Protect Our Care New Hampshire is leading the fight to protect health care for hundreds of thousands of Granite Starters, preserving and improving the Affordable Care Act and working with organizations and citizens to fight those who want to take away health care. On average, we spend 15 to 20 minutes on the loo each day, which comes in at a whole year of our lives sitting on the porcelain throne. Obviously, we all have a preference in doing our business at home... But what to do when you need to go? Many people have an aversion to public facilities, giving them a bad reputation. Sometimes, though, you just have to use the public toilets. In summer, when foot traffic is at its highest in Luxembourg City, public loos receive around 140,000 uses. But are they really as bad as their reputation suggests? Vidosava Kuzmic investigated the issue for RTL. If the situation arises and you're on the hunt for public toilets in Luxembourg, you shouldn't be hunting for long. There are 32 public facilities spread across the city, and roughly half of the facilities are free to use. But what sort of state are these toilets in? That is the key question and crucial to the endeavour of finding a clean toilet. One question in this quest is who exactly is involved in the maintenance of the city bathrooms. Kuzmicmet with Gilles Rob and Laurent Schwaller from the municipality, who explained that the maintenance and hygiene services are split. Not every public toilet in the city territory falls under their municipality - they own around 20 of the 32 bathrooms. The rest belong to parks, the rail network, or other institutions. Five years ago the city decided to make several bathrooms free to use, which was followed by numerous investments for the installation of new toilets. The city did not wish to reveal how much has been invested in toilets, but quality stands firmly in the foreground. Above everything, when constructing new facilities, there has been significant emphasis on accessibility, visibility, and comfort elements, such as baby changing facilities. The toilets beneath the Cercle Cite For some of us, the Cercle Cite toilets are the first port of call if you feel the call of nature. And there's a reason for this - the toilets are modern, well maintained, and extremely clean, given the number of people going in and out each day. The facilities by the lift to the St-Esprit-Plateau Whilst the first stop in this journey of exploring Luxembourg City's facilities passed with flying colours, the next was not as pleasant: the bathrooms in the Grund, right by the lift to the St-Esprit-Plateau. It is worth mentioning that it's naturally a case of luck, depending on how long it's been since the cleaners have visited, and the person who might have used the loo before you. For example, the last person to use this toilet in RTL's inspection was not very careful - to put it bluntly, it was a bit wet. Granted, we've all experienced worse, but the conclusion of the Grund toilets is that they are small, dark, old, but functional. The Petrusse playground loos The new generation of toilets, as mentioned above, can be found among others near the Petrusse, as part of the playground near the skate park. In theory, these are free to use, but the larger cabins, which are wheelchair accessible and have changing tables, cost 1 per use. Wheelchair users can of course use these for free with their Eurokey. By charging for these particular toilets and therefore limiting access, the city's authorities hope to keep these as clean as possible. These bathrooms have everything you could need, and are also extremely clean (if a little difficult to exit). Kuzmic's test included inspections of seven different public facilities, the ones named above as well as toilets located at Place Guillaume II, Place de la Constitution, the pirate ship playground, and at the Glacis car park. Overall, there were no unpleasant surprises. Some facilities remain old-fashioned, but are due for renovation soon. Luxembourg City can certainly be proud in terms of the number of available public bathrooms - geographically speaking, there is a toilet every 1.7 square kilometre in the city, compared to Berlin, which has one for every 3.3 square kilometres. What options do you have when you can't find a public toilet? But what can you do if you're stuck without a public toilet? Can you visit a restaurant or shop and use their facilities without making a purchase? Some of us have had to do this. Kuzmic tested two shops - a shoe shop and an accessory shop -and had absolutely no chance. After making enquiries, the shop assistants explained that there are either no toilets to use, or they just have staff-only bathrooms, with shop assistants unwilling to leave the shop floor to accompany customers to the bathroom. By contrast, restaurateurs couldn't have been more helpful. Both establishments were happy to allow Kuzmic to use their facilities without purchasing anything, citing it as a necessary part of customer service. From a legal point of view, do restaurants have to allow people to use their facilities even if they aren't customers? Lawwyer Joel Decker, who specialises in civil rights, explained that as a non-customer, there is no contract between you and the restaurateur, which means you have no legal right to use their facilities. A restaurateur could therefore extract a payment of 0.50 for example, in order to allow access. After all, a restaurant is a privately owned building where the owner may set the rules, so can therefore accept or deny requests without needing to provide justification. Overall though, we can draw a very positive conclusion from the city's toilet situation. No gruesome stalls in the public domain, and in emergencies you are likely to find helpful restaurants or cafes if you ask nicely. Because if you need to go, you need to go! The UN Security Council will meet Wednesday at Washington's request to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, diplomats said. US Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he will next week address a meeting of the UN Security Council on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The council will meet Wednesday at Washington's request amid growing alarm over the impact of a political standoff in Venezuela on families and children. Pence said the United States will urge world powers to reject President Nicolas Maduro and address the crisis from Venezuela's economic meltdown. "Next Wednesday, I will address the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Venezuela," Pence said in a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas. "The United States will urge the world to reject Maduro's failed regime, to stand with the Venezuelan people, and to help us bring the humanitarian crisis to an end." An internal UN report seen by AFP last week said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care. Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela's economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim leader, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault. Guaido is recognized by the United States and about 50 other governments. Pence on Friday announced sanctions on 34 vessels of Venezuela's state oil company and renewed the US threat of military action. "Those looking on should know this: All options are on the table. And Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America," Pence said. The United States in February asked the council to adopt a resolution demanding new presidential elections and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid, but that measure was vetoed by Russia and China. Russia has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Venezuela while China has stressed that there should be no international meddling in the South American country's affairs. Human Rights Watch and a group of US public health experts released a report Thursday detailing severe medicine and food shortages in Venezuela combined with the spread of disease resulting in a "complex humanitarian emergency." They called for a full-scale response from the United Nations to address the crisis. The Red Cross last week said it would begin distributing aid to Venezuela. This post is prompted by a number of things that have left me pondering how as Christians we are to bring about change in our churches. When we strongly b... 6 years ago Kathmandu, Nepal, April 5, 2019: The doctors serving in government-run health institutions have started a fresh round of protests against of the government protesting to the civil service adjustment act from Friday. The government doctors have begun to boycott heath service except of emergency services in all the state-run health institutions. With the protest, the people in general are compelled to return back to their home without health service from the state run hospitals. The agitating doctors have a demand that existing provision of the civil service adjustment act has to be corrected by putting them under the federal government. Domestic coffee prices in Vietnam bounced back on Thursday, tracking a recovery in London, after hitting their lowest level in three years earlier this week, while Indonesian premium expanded from last week. Farmers in Vietnams Central Highlands sold coffee at 31,600-32,500 ($1.36-$1.40) per kg on Thursday, down from a range of 32,000-33,100 dong last week. Prices fell to as low as 30,700 earlier this week. Prices in Vietnam are moving in tandem with London prices, which also hit a multi-year low on Tuesday, a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. May robusta coffee settled up $44, or 3.1 percent, at $1,457 per tonne on Wednesday. Traders said low prices have discouraged farmers from selling their beans and put a break on exports. Vietnams coffee exports in March fell 24 percent from a year earlier to 160,000 tonnes, government data released on Friday showed. Shipments in the first quarter fell 15.3 percent to 477,000 tonnes. Traders in Vietnam offered 5 percent black and broken grade 2 robusta at a $75 per tonne discount to the July contract, compared with a $30-$50 discount last week. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, premium expanded this week to compensate for the recent drop in the benchmark London prices. Premium for the grade 4 defect 80 robusta rose to $100-$110 to the May contract on Thursday from $70-$80 a week ago, a trader in Sumatras Lampung province said. Transaction remain light in volume as supplies from an ongoing mini harvest in some areas in southern Sumatra remain limited, the trader said. He said trade wont pick up significantly until next month. The main robusta harvest in Indonesia typically starts from mid-year. Indonesias exports of Sumatra robusta in March totalled 6,563 tonnes, up 53 percent from a year earlier but down 19 percent from February. Your browser does not support the audio element. On the night of April 2, Pham Thi Hue, a 23-year-old whose positive attitude and unwavering perseverance in her fight against cancer served as an inspiration to countless Vietnamese, passed away after a seven-year battle with the deadly disease. Hue, hailing from the northern province of Thai Binh, was known to the public as an inspirational amateur actress who refused to let being an end-stage cancer patient affect her optimistic attitude toward life. She used to say she would live a hundred years in a day as long as she remained alive and, despite her illness, she truly lived up to that motto. Despite being diagnosed with cancer at age 16, Hue graduated from high school and went on to earn an undergraduate degree at the Hanoi University of Agriculture, finishing her college career with top marks. Pham Thi Hue poses in her graduation gown at the end of 2018. Photo: Supplied Hue first became known to many throughout the country for playing Lien, also a cancer patient, in Memento Mori Remember That You Will Die, a theatrical performance starring amateur actors and actresses suffering deadly diseases similar to those dogging the characters they played in order to help the audience better understand the illness and the suffering of each patient. Two months ago, Hue and her mother traveled from their hometown to Hanoi to visit the National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation in the Vietnam-German Hospital so that Hue could register as a donor. In her meeting at the center, Hue asked the staff which organs she could donate while listening to them explain different options, but none of them fit her case, said Dang Hoang Giang, a social activist who directed the Momento Mori play. In the end, Hue found that she would only be able to donate her corneas, the only parts of her body that were not affected by chemotherapy. The only thing left to do was decide who would contact the transplant center when the time came. Solemnly, they wrote in her mothers name and phone number and were given an organ donor registration card with her photo printed on it. That was the last time the 23-year-old amateur actress saw Hanoi, the city in which she spent most of her youth. Pham Thi Hue takes a selfie with her fellow actors and actresses in the Momento Mori theatrical play. Photo: M. Vinh / Tuoi Tre Hue passed away at home on the night of April 2, ending a six-year, 11-month battle with cancer. However, her dream of using her body to help others was unable to be realized. Upon her death she was diagnosed with hepatitis B, preventing her from donating corneas. I will always remember Hue as a fighter, Nguyen Huu Hoang, director of the eye bank at Central Eye Hospital in Hanoi, said, adding that she truly spent her life living up to her motto of living a hundred years in a day." The pain brought by cancer is even scarier than death, but once I die I will not know pain, sadness, or happiness. I just want to live, Hue once told an audience in a sharing session after a play. As she neared the end, Hue began to struggle with simple tasks sitting, lying down, or moving but even then, she refused to let a smile flee from her face. In addition to Momento Mori, Hue participated in Hay nho, ban con song (Remember, You Are Still Alive), a documentary detailing her life. The documentary serves as a reminder that even though we may not be able to choose the circumstances of our lives, we do have a choice in how we face them. Hue decided that she would not let the fatal illness ruin the little time she had left and fully lived every second she had. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read whats in the news today. Politics -- Vietnamese law-making National Assembly chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held talks with President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani in Brussels on Thursday, during which she thanked the EP leader for his contributions to the strengthened partnership between Vietnam and the European Union. Society -- Japan is the largest market for Vietnamese guest workers, with the East Asian country receiving more than 7,100 job-seekers from Vietnam last month, according to the statistics from the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. -- Flooding and congestion were recorded in several parts of Hanoi as heavy rain swept through the capital city on Thursday morning. -- Vietnams Ministry of Health on Thursday sent an urgent dispatch, requesting the that the health department of the south-central province of Binh Dinh clarify the death after birth of a 5.1kg baby who was born on March 23. -- Downpour hit several parts of Ho Chi Minh City at around 5:30 am on Friday, but a meteorology expert told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that these were only unusual rains as the rainy season is yet to start in southern Vietnam. Business -- Vietnams shrimp exports to Japan rose 14.7 percent in February, showing signs of recovery after a 9.2-percent decrease in 2018. -- Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will introduce automatic check-in kiosks at Londons Heathrow Airport in the UK from April 8. Lifestyle -- Artists from Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will perform the Cinderella ballet with Japanese partners at the citys Opera House on April 13-14, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Education -- Professor Rohit Verma, Dean of External Relations with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, has been named provost of Vietnamese private VinUni University, Cornell and Vingroup, which owns the not-for-profit institution, announced on Thursday. Sports -- Vietnams national mens football team have climbed one spot since last month to hit the 98th place on the latest FIFA rankings. The Golden Stars previously achieved the end-of-year ranking of 98th in 1998 and 2003. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The house of a former high-ranking procuracy official in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang has been smeared with paints and dirty substances following his alleged molestation of a young girl. Family members of Nguyen Huu Linh, who retired as deputy head of the Da Nang Peoples Procuracy last year, woke up on Friday to see a large text reading child sex abuse painted on their houses metal fence gate, while dirty substances were scattered on the grounds. Linh, 61, is at the center of a nationwide outrage after he was identified as the man seen grabbing and kissing a young girl inside an apartment elevator in a video that went viral online earlier this week. His family has repainted the gate and reported the vandalism to local police. According to Le Cao, a member of the Da Nang Bar Association, Linh will be punished in accordance with the law if police gather sufficient evidence of his alleged molestation. But his family is not involved in the case, and causing material, physical and mental damage to them is not only inadvisable but also punishable by the law, the lawyer underlined. Offenders can be subject to an administrative fine or face criminal charges if the damaged asset is worth more than VND2 million [US$86]. The alleged molestation took place at the Galaxy 9 Apartment Complex in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, when Linh was alone in the elevator with the young girl, thought to be somewhere between five and seven years old. He was visiting a relative who lives at Galaxy 9 on the day of the incident. Police officers were able to identify Linh as the man in the CCTV footage, but not before he had already returned to Da Nang. Linh was in Ho Chi Minh City again on Wednesday following a police request to cooperate with an investigation into the incident. Phap Luat Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh City Law) newspaper, a media outlet under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice, reported on the same day that Linh had confirmed he was the man in the CCTV footage. Phap Luat quoted the ex-procuracy official as saying that he was just petting the young girl and refused to provide further information. The Ho Chi Minh City police department confirmed on Wednesday that officers are collecting statements from the victim, suspect, and relevant individuals and will make an announcement once a conclusion is reached. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Australian Crime Stories centres on an infamous murder case surrounding a male gigolo who claimed to be a vampire murder. For those with long memories, South Yarras Hotel Saville, where incidents took place was later transformed as The Block Skyhigh in 2015. In episode six, Australian Crime Stories explores the life and death of Melbourne prostitute Shane Chartres-Abbott and the ongoing debate surrounding his murder 13 years ago. On Sunday, April 7, at 9.30pm on Nine, Australian Crime Stories raises significant new doubts about the murder confession from a career criminal, and the direction of the police investigation. When Chartres-Abbott was accused of raping and mutilating a client, few doubted his guilt. To complete the lurid picture, the victim said Chartres-Abbott boasted that he was a 200-year-old vampire who needed blood to survive. Chartres-Abbott claimed he was framed and threatened to reveal a high-level sex ring involving judges, politicians and casino high-rollers as part of his defence. He was murdered on the way to give evidence in court. A career criminal confessed to the murder, sparking one of the most expensive investigations in Victorias history. It included allegations that police officers were involved in the hit. Investigative journalist, researcher and co-writer Adam Shand interrogates the accounts of the police, criminals and friends to present this story that goes to the heart of the ongoing controversy over the state of justice in Victoria. Australian Crime Stories is produced by The Full Box for the Nine Network. 9:30pm Sunday on Nine The city of Chicago is preparing to sue Jussie Smollett for $US130,000 in a civil suit to recoup the costs of its crime investigation. After 16 counts accusing him of faking a hate crime were dropped, the citys Department of Law gave him one week to pay a bill of $130,106.15. The deadline expired on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on Jan. 29, 2019, the city said. The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the Law Department will pursue the full measure of damages allowed under the ordinance. The dropping of charges caused an uproar in the US. While the States Attorneys Office said it stands by the police investigation, it deemed Smolletts case not serious enough to warrant jail time. Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout the high-profile case. FOX is yet to confirm if he will return to Empire after he was dropped from two episodes. The show is yet to be officially renewed for a sixth season. Source: Variety Actor Craig McLachlan will have his trial encompassing assault and sex offence charges heard in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and not in the County Court with a jury. If found guilty it will mean lesser penalties for the former Doctor Blake Mysteries star. McLachlan attended court today with partner Vanessa Scammell as he faces common law assault, attempted indecent assault and eight counts of indecent assault. Defence lawyer Stuart Littlemore QC said McLachlan would plead not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors today withdrew one of the indecent assault charges. Court documents claim his alleged offending took place between late-April and mid-July in 2014 in Melbourne. Prosecutors did not fight the application for summary jurisdiction, and said there would be 30 witnesses at the contested hearing. The actor has also been excused from attending court when his case returns in June. McLachlan has strenuously denied allegations raised through media reports, while producers December Media previously cleared him of any actions on the set of the ABC drama. A defamation case against ABC, Nine-owned newspapers and actress Christie Whelan Browne is currently on hold. Source: ABC, Yahoo Esteemed actress Sigrid Thornton was this week presented with the Chauvel Award at the Gold Coast Film Festival, for her significant contribution to the Australian screen industry. The event at Movie World paid tribute to her five decades of screen credits including The Man from Snowy River, The Lighthorsemen, Paradise/Guns of Paradise, Prisoner, SeaChange, All the Rivers Run, and, more recently, Wentworth. She has also been a board member for Film Victoria and is currently executive producer and lead actor on a reboot of SeaChange, which is now in pre-production for Nine. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said The Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to be a major supporter of the Gold Coast Film Festival and we congratulate the festival on cementing their reputation as a key event on the screen industry calendar through the Screen Industry Gala Awards. The Gold Coast Film Festival is one of 10 screen culture events we have supported in 2019 and we are delighted to see the festival continue to attract locals, tourists and screen industry professionals alike to enjoy their dynamic program and now to celebrate outstanding achievement in the screen industry through the awards. Cookies op Tweakers Tweakers maakt gebruik van cookies Tweakers is onderdeel van DPG Media en maakt gebruik van cookies, JavaScript en vergelijkbare technologie om je onder andere een optimale gebruikerservaring te bieden. 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Accepteer cookies ... Om deze pagina op Tweakers te kunnen bekijken, moet je cookies accepteren. Cookies accepteren Heb je al een account? Dan kun je hier inloggen! Kathmandu, Nepal, April 5, 2019: Ghode Jatra, an annual traditional festival of Nepal that used to mark popularly in Kathmandu valley, is being celebrated today. As per the mythology, the festival was begun to celebrate after the death of a demon named Tundi that used to live in and around the meadow, which is now at Tundikhel. There is a popular belief that as the demon used to unleash terror among the Kathmandu denizens, particularly children, the people begun to celebrate the festival by rejoicing with dance on his body by riding on horses after the death of demon. As Ghode Jatra simply translates to Horse Parade in Nepali. The Nepal Army used to mark by organizing horse racing in Tundikhel of Kathmandu in the presence of VVIPs. People Arent Willing to Go Very Far to Date This Is How Far We'd Go for Love ... If youre not having any luck in the dating game, you might need to try new tactics say, for instance, expanding your radius beyond whats convenient. Although dating apps have made it possible to find a partner who can live a continent away, it seems that most people still choose to stick close to home. According to a study in Sociological Science, theres a clear limit as to how far people are willing to travel for love. While you might think youre not getting many matches because of poor photo choices, it could potentially be because youre not willing to step outside your comfort zone literally. RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Long-Distance Relationships During their analysis of 15 million online dating messages from an unnamed dating site, researchers Mark Newman, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Bruch, Ph.D., found that we tend to self-organise ourselves into 19 regions when pursuing online relationships. Meaning, the New England region includes Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; the Pacific Northwest region includes Oregon, Washington, and areas of Idaho and Montana, and so on. It was a little surprising, at least to me, how perfectly the geographic regions follow accepted divisions of the country, Newman told Inverse. For instance, in many cases, they follow state boundaries. The voluntary subregions werent always by state or region as you might expect, and some are wider than others. If youre dating around in either Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, or Oklahoma (a fairly large area of the Midwest), youre more likely to communicate or date someone in this area as well not to mention, have far more options because of the geography covered. At this point, youre probably wondering why anyone would consider dating someone in Texas if, for example, they live in New York. Well, as it turns out, research points to it as being more than a total aversion to long distance dating that keeps people in their own state. According to the study, singles in some states often rarely opt to message people outside of their current location. Those in Northern California typically dont exchange messages with anyone outside of the state, nor do Texans, even if theyre close to a border state like Oklahoma. This, according to Newman, might indicate some sort of psychological barrier dating someone in a different state seems much farther than it actually is. RELATED: Secrets of Successful Long-Distance Relationships Theres no practical reason why they should do this, adds Newman. If you live near a state boundary, its quite possible that there are plenty of potential dating partners within easy travel distance in the next state over. But apparently there is little such interstate dating going on. This all seems to point at people severely limiting themselves when it comes to dating. The solution? Consider expanding your horizons outside of your state border. No harm, no foul. You Might Also Dig: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, left, and his Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer arrive at a hotel in Beijing, Thursday, March 28, 2019. Mnuchin and his Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer arrive to China's capital to hold a new round of high-level trade talks with China on March 28-29, start with a working dinner. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) When U.S. officials, led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, meet with their Chinese counterparts for the latest round of trade talks, enforcement mechanisms and the timeline for tariff rollbacks will be among the key sticking points. But, Alex Camara isnt waiting for a resolution. The CEO of Seattle-based electronics manufacturer Audio Control has already begun shifting the companys supply chain away from China, forced to make a business decision with the political uncertainty in Washington and Beijing clouding outlook. Weve started. We have plans in place, were working through that with two or three Chinese companies that supply product because we cant wait to suddenly find out, by the way the tariffs are now 25% or something, Camara said. Camara sources 70% of his components from U.S. suppliers. But when the Trump administration implemented a 10% tariff on $200 billion in Chinese goods last fall, Camaras costs jumped. Everything from resistors to the diodes he imported were all taxed, resulting in a $200,000 bill, for the small business so far. Thats a lot of money thats not being invested in our company, thats not being invested in growth, not invested in trying to improve efficiencies and employ more people as we grow in size, he said. Its not Chinese people that are paying tariffs. People need to realize that. The high costs have prompted Audio Tools to get creative with its sourcing strategy. Oftentimes, thats meant working with Chinese suppliers to find alternative countries to buy from to avoid the tariffs. The same factories Camara relied on in China are now shifting to countries like Thailand and Vietnam, a move thats expected to take at least six months and increase prices. A growing number of companies Sage Chandler, vice president for international trade for the Consumer Technology Association, says Camara represents many member companies that have simply accepted tariffs as a new way of doing business, taking control of their own supply chains instead of waiting for a political solution. The challenges are especially great for American companies with manufacturing hubs outside of the U.S. Story continues We have heard, on the very conservative side, that it takes at least two years to get an operations manufacturing up and running someplace else, but more like closer to five, Chandler said. Thats five years out of financial planning for something they already had. Theyre not getting anything new or better The diversified supply chains have made the shift particularly expensive and lengthy for tech companies. Apple, for example, sources parts from 43 different countries to assemble its iPhones. Late last year, its key assembler Hon Hai Precision, known as Foxconn, announced it would invest roughly $230 million combined in factories in India and Vietnam to expand its presence outside of China amid the trade spat. The global rethink of supply chains goes beyond the tech space. In a recent report published by McKinsey and Company, 33% of companies surveyed said uncertainty over trade policy was a top concern. Nearly half said their companies would shift their global footprint in response, and expected to invest more in local supply chains. Rising labor costs in China Nathan Resnick, founder of Sourcify, a manufacturing platform that connects entrepreneurs with overseas factories, says trade uncertainty has only accelerated a trend that began well before U.S.-China relations turned frosty. Rising labor costs in China have been a key driver for the shifts, especially among apparel makers. There are some areas in China that are still affordable, but if youre in, say, the Guandong Province, moving production to outside Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, labor costs can be as much as a third more affordable compared to a factory that is close to a very big city in China, he said. Resnick says Chinese factories used to source 90% of his clients. Today, that number has dropped to nearly 60%, with Vietnam and the Philippines among the biggest beneficiaries. And those numbers arent likely to reverse, regardless of what President Trump and Xi Jinping agree to, he said. Chandler says the broader shift out of China has raised another threat: the vacuum created by hollowed-out factories. Chandler says there are concerns that employees that are trained and well-versed in the manufacturing of some of these products could look to replicate the process and compete with some of her member companies. The China exit is seen as a bigger hit to the domestic economy there, with factory activity shrinking to a 3-year low in February. Exports slumped to the worst in a decade. But Chandler cautions that the China slump hasnt necessarily led to a significant bump for the U.S. Precious few companies have said that their solution to this is bringing jobs back to the United States, she said. In fact, weve seen several that say were leaving the United States. Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @AkikoFujita More from Akiko: Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. (Adds Indonesian trade ministry comment) By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, April 4 (Reuters) - European spirits makers say they are facing difficulties exporting drinks to Indonesia amid tension after Jakarta said it was unhappy with an EU decision that palm oil should not be considered a green fuel. SpiritsEurope, which represents major European spirits makers and national associations, said on Thursday it had learnt from members with business in Indonesia that they were suffering delays in securing approval to import EU products into the country. Indonesia regulates imports of alcohol through an annual import and distribution plan. Spirits makers were finding that non-EU products, such as tequila, were securing approval, but EU-origin products were not, an industry source said. Diageo, the world's largest spirits company, declined to comment. The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 28 EU countries, decided in March that palm oil cultivation in general results in excessive deforestation, setting the bloc on a collision course with major producers Malaysia and Indonesia. The EU plans to increase its use of renewable energy sources by 2030 and to take into account deforestation when it determines what can be labeled renewable. In Jakarta, a trade ministry official confirmed there were some delays in granting import licenses for spirits from Europe. But Karyanto Suprih, the ministry's secretary general, denied that it was in retaliation for the EU plan to phase out palm oil use in renewable fuels. "This is just about market preference. It seems like the market wants spirits from America," Suprih said on Friday. Indonesia, which has said it would file a World Trade Organization complaint against the EU over the palm oil issue, has threatened to quit the Paris climate accord and said it was examining relations with EU members. Malaysia's prime minister told Reuters last week that the EU was risking a trade war over palm oil. The European Commission said it was checking the situation on the ground and looking into possible additional measures applied to imports of alcohol from the EU. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe, Gayatri Suroyo in Jakarta Editing by Susan Fenton and Darren Schuettler) A huge crowd of protesters flooded the streets of Algiers on Friday, the first mass demonstrations since the resignation of ailing longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and a show of strength by those pushing demands for reform. The demonstrators are calling for the removal of what they see as an outdated and opaque political apparatus, built around the ruling party, army officers, businessmen, unions and veterans of a 1954-62 independence war against France."We want to uproot the symbols of the system," said teacher Ahmed Badili, as the crowds jammed downtown streets."We want radical change, not temporary solutions," said state bank employee Noureddine Dimi, 52.Algeria's ailing 82-year-old president quit late on Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations against his bid for a fifth term in office. He had lost the backing of key loyalists including army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah.For many people, Bouteflika has simply been the figurehead for an entire system that hasnt been working for a long time, said FRANCE 24s international affairs editor Nadia Massih.They see it as an elite that acts for itself, that is deeply corrupt and is not interested in the people, Massih added.Opponents of the old regime took to social media calling for a massive turnout on Friday, targeting a triumvirate they dub the "3Bs" Abdelakder Bensalah, Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui.Bensalah, speaker of the upper house of parliament for 16 years and a close Bouteflika ally, is to take the reins as interim president for three months until elections are organised.Belaiz, a minister for 16 years, was named by Bouteflika as head of the Constitutional Council which regulates elections.Bedoui, until his appointment as prime minister, had served as interior minister or, as the French-language El Watan newspaper put it on Thursday, "chief engineer of electoral fraud".Critics say all three have always been faithful Bouteflika servants, who should follow his lead and resign.Lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, one of the leading voices of the protest movement, urged Algerians to continue protesting "until they have all gone"."Our victory is partial," he said in a video posted online. "Algerians will not accept that symbols of the regime [...] lead the interim period and organise the next elections."All eyes on the armyProtesters are calling for transitional institutions to be set up to implement reforms and guarantee free elections.Hamza Meddeb, an independent analyst in Tunisia, said Algeria was entering "a very delicate phase, because the street and the institutions are at risk of diverging".Algerian newspapers have focused on the role of the military in the transition period, pondering the armys reaction in the event of continuing protests."Will the military institution put all its weight into imposing strict compliance with the constitution [] or push for another consensual political outcome?" asked French-language daily Le Soir d'Algerie."How to use the transition," read a headline in El Watan [see below], next to a drawing of General Gaid Salah, with a whistle in his mouth, leading protesters down a path dubbed "constitutional order".Despite abandoning Bouteflika, the army chief is still seen among protesters as one of the key members of the "system" after the president appointed him to the post in 2004.Liberte, another newspaper, said many Algerians saw Gaid Salah as having backed Bouteflika almost to the end, "even endorsing the option of a fifth term, and only breaking away after the street scuttled him."The paper added: "After the Bouteflika clan, it will be the turn of the armed forces chief to face the street.No clear successor to Bouteflika has yet emerged. Protesters have made it clear they will reject any candidate with ties to the old guard."We are determined to continue this battle. The people will have the last word," said 27-year-old student Farid Badini.(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS) A huge crowd of protesters flooded the streets of Algiers on Friday, the first mass demonstrations since the resignation of ailing longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and a show of strength by those pushing demands for reform. The demonstrators are calling for the removal of what they see as an outdated and opaque political apparatus, built around the ruling party, army officers, businessmen, unions and veterans of a 1954-62 independence war against France. "We want to uproot the symbols of the system," said teacher Ahmed Badili, as the crowds jammed downtown streets. "We want radical change, not temporary solutions," said state bank employee Noureddine Dimi, 52. Algeria's ailing 82-year-old president quit late on Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations against his bid for a fifth term in office. He had lost the backing of key loyalists including army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah. For many people, Bouteflika has simply been the figurehead for an entire system that hasnt been working for a long time, said FRANCE 24s international affairs editor Nadia Massih. They see it as an elite that acts for itself, that is deeply corrupt and is not interested in the people, Massih added. Opponents of the old regime took to social media calling for a massive turnout on Friday, targeting a triumvirate they dub the "3Bs" Abdelakder Bensalah, Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. Bensalah, speaker of the upper house of parliament for 16 years and a close Bouteflika ally, is to take the reins as interim president for three months until elections are organised. Belaiz, a minister for 16 years, was named by Bouteflika as head of the Constitutional Council which regulates elections. Bedoui, until his appointment as prime minister, had served as interior minister or, as the French-language El Watan newspaper put it on Thursday, "chief engineer of electoral fraud". Critics say all three have always been faithful Bouteflika servants, who should follow his lead and resign. Story continues Lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, one of the leading voices of the protest movement, urged Algerians to continue protesting "until they have all gone". "Our victory is partial," he said in a video posted online. "Algerians will not accept that symbols of the regime [...] lead the interim period and organise the next elections." All eyes on the army Protesters are calling for transitional institutions to be set up to implement reforms and guarantee free elections. Hamza Meddeb, an independent analyst in Tunisia, said Algeria was entering "a very delicate phase, because the street and the institutions are at risk of diverging". Algerian newspapers have focused on the role of the military in the transition period, pondering the armys reaction in the event of continuing protests. "Will the military institution put all its weight into imposing strict compliance with the constitution [] or push for another consensual political outcome?" asked French-language daily Le Soir d'Algerie. "How to use the transition," read a headline in El Watan [see below], next to a drawing of General Gaid Salah, with a whistle in his mouth, leading protesters down a path dubbed "constitutional order". Despite abandoning Bouteflika, the army chief is still seen among protesters as one of the key members of the "system" after the president appointed him to the post in 2004. Liberte, another newspaper, said many Algerians saw Gaid Salah as having backed Bouteflika almost to the end, "even endorsing the option of a fifth term, and only breaking away after the street scuttled him." The paper added: "After the Bouteflika clan, it will be the turn of the armed forces chief to face the street. No clear successor to Bouteflika has yet emerged. Protesters have made it clear they will reject any candidate with ties to the old guard. "We are determined to continue this battle. The people will have the last word," said 27-year-old student Farid Badini. (FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS) DUBLIN (Reuters) - The leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party on Friday said leaving the European Union was "chaotic" because of intransigence in Brussels and ineffectiveness in London. "The Prime Minister's latest plea to Brussels for an extension to Article 50 is unsurprising but unsatisfactory," the DUP leader Arlene Foster said in a statement. "It should not have been like this. Exiting the EU has become chaotic because of intransigence in Brussels and ineffectiveness in London." (Reporting by Graham Fahy; Editing by Hugh Lawson) By Ahmed Elumami and Ayman al-Warfalli TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - After years of sabre-rattling, eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops on Thursday to march on the capital Tripoli, escalating a conflict with the internationally recognised government. Seeking to encircle the capital his forces approached from south and west, seizing one town south of the city before stopping for the night some 60 km (37 miles) south of Tripoli, eastern officials said. The offensive marked a dramatic escalation of a power struggle that has dragged on in Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The capital is the ultimate prize for Haftar's eastern parallel government. In 2014 he assembled former Gaddafi soldiers and in a three-year battle seized the main eastern city of Benghazi, then this year took the south with its oilfields. The offensive surprised the United Nations, whose Secretary-General Antonio Guterres flew on Wednesday to Tripoli to help organise a reconciliation national conference. Asked about the offensive, Guterres said Libya needed a political, not a military, solution. His Libya envoy Ghassan Salame sat next to him stone-faced with folded arms. Guterres stayed in the fortified U.N. compound on Tripoli's outskirts for the night and plans to meet Haftar on Friday, a U.N. spokesman said. But there was no sign that the east was willing to stop a move that was announced by Haftar in a speech full of talk about victory. "To our army which is stationed at the outskirts of Tripoli. Today we complete our march," he said in an audio tape. Haftar, called "Mushir" by supporters, which means "field marshal" in Arabic, has built his name by fighting Islamists. But many of his opponents see him as a new Muammar. Since Gaddafi's downfall, the country has been divided between the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli and the parallel administration allied to Haftar. Armed groups from the coastal city of Misrata, who oppose Haftar, moved to Tripoli to defend it, residents said. Story continues The governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the United States said in a joint statement that they were deeply concerned about the fighting. The offensive stared with the capture of Gharyan, a city some 80 km south of Tripoli after brief skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. SETBACK The offensive is a setback for the United Nations and Western countries which have been trying to mediate between Serraj and Haftar, who met in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss a power-sharing deal. The conference the U.N. is helping to organize is aimed at forging agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the prolonged instability in Libya, an oil producer and a hub for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara in the hope of reaching Europe. Haftar enjoys the backing of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which see him as bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily, according to U.N. reports. Haftar has also fostered ties with Saudi Arabia where he was received by King Salman last week. No details have emerged, but analysts say the visit likely helped him boost ties with ultra-conservative Muslim Salafists, who are counted among his troops and follow Saudi preacher Rabae al-Madkhali. The Salafists are also based in the west of Libya including Tripoli, where a Salafist force controls the airport. It is allied to Serraj, but has changed sides before like other groups in the capital. Serraj has no full-time troops. The offensive followed the same pattern used by anti-Gaddafi rebels in 2011, with the main thrust at Tripoli coming from the south. Gharyan is strategic because it is the last town before a coastal plain, and a base for fighters to fall back to if a battle for the capital drags on. A group allied to Haftar also moved to take a checkpoint 27 km west of the capital, hoping to cut the coastal road to Tunisia, Tripoli's lifeline, residents said. Haftar's biggest opponent is Misrata, a western city home to strong forces which also have aircraft, analysts say. It is known for resisting old regime figures, including in 2011 when forces loyal to Gaddafi besieged it for three months. Evoking this spirit, members of Misrata armed groups said in video message they will they stop Haftar and his "zahaf", Arabic for crawl, a word used by Gaddafi for his popular marches. (Reporting by Ulf Laessing, Ahmed Elumami, Ayman al-Warfalli and Tom Miles; writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Richard Chang and Daniel Wallis) By Jason Neely ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Pilots of an Ethiopian Airlines jet wrestled with controls to stay aloft but plunged to the ground after restoring current to a computer system that was ordering the nose down because of faulty sensor data, a preliminary report showed on Thursday. The Boeing 737 MAX hit an airspeed as high as 500 knots (575 miles per hour), well above its operational limits, before cockpit data recordings stopped as the plane crashed on March 10 killing all 157 passengers and crew. "Most of the wreckage was found buried in the ground," said the report by Ethiopia's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The doomed flight crashed six minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa in clear conditions. Boeing's top-selling aircraft has been grounded worldwide since the March 10 disaster, which came just five months after a Lion Air 737 MAX crash in Indonesia that killed 189. An initial report into that accident also raised questions about the jet's software, as well as training and maintenance. Ethiopia urged Boeing to review its flight control technology and said pilots of the state carrier had carried out proper procedures in the first public findings on the crash. "The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft," Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges told a news conference, presenting the outlines of a preliminary report. Boeing Co, whose shares rose 2.4 percent on Thursday but were still below their level before the crash, said its software fix for its anti-stall system would give pilots the authority to always override the system if activated by faulty sensor data. Families of the victims, regulators and travellers around the world have been waiting for signs of whether the two crashes are linked, and the extent to which Boeing technology and the actions of the Ethiopian Airlines pilots played a role. Ethiopian investigators did not blame anyone for the crash, stressing the importance of international rules requiring civil probes to focus on recommendations for safer flight. A final report is due within a year. Story continues CONTROL SYSTEM But in a clear indication of where Ethiopian investigators are directing the attention of regulators, they cleared the pilots of using incorrect procedures and issued two safety recommendations focussed on the recently introduced aircraft. They suggested that Boeing review the controllability of the 737 MAX systems and that aviation authorities confirm any changes before allowing that model of plane back into the air. "Since repetitive uncommanded aircraft nose down conditions are noticed ... it is recommended that the aircraft control system shall be reviewed by the manufacturer," Dagmawit said. The nose-down commands were issued by Boeing's so-called MCAS software. The preliminary report into the Lion Air disaster suggested pilots lost control after grappling with MCAS, a new automated anti-stall feature that repeatedly lowered the nose of the aircraft based on faulty data from a sensor. The Federal Aviation Administration, which has come under fire over the way it decided to certify the plane and its MCAS software, cautioned the investigation had not yet concluded. "We continue to work towards a full understanding of all aspects of this accident. As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action," the U.S. agency said in a statement. FAULTY DATA Ethiopian Airlines said its crew had followed all the correct guidance to handle a difficult emergency. However, the report could spark a debate with Boeing about how crew members responded to problems triggered by faulty data from an airflow sensor, particularly over whether they steadied the plane before turning key software off. Questions on whether the pilots had levelled out the plane before disengaging MCAS and how many times MCAS activated were not answered in a news conference that lasted about 40 minutes. The New York Times quoted Dagmawit as saying pilots turned MCAS off and on, which is not the step recommended in published Boeing procedures telling crew to leave it off once disabled, though there is growing debate among safety experts about what unstable conditions may have prompted such an unusual step. Most accidents take months of analysis because of the need to trace backwards to find a root cause from tangled evidence. "There is a big difference between having the data and knowing the cause," a senior European investigator said. Officials denied reports of tensions between Ethiopian officials and U.S. and other foreign investigators accredited to the probe. "We don't have any reservations from different stakeholders who were engaged in the investigations," chief investigator Amdye Ayalew Fanta said. Following a previous Ethiopian Airlines accident off Beirut in 2010, Addis Ababa authorities rejected the conclusions of a Lebanese investigation citing pilot error and suggested the aircraft had exploded in a possible act of sabotage. Aviation safety analyst Paul Hayes said deeper investigation would delve into the role played by software and how pilots were able to respond, and said he hoped scars from the 2010 dispute would not get in the way of a comprehensive investigation. "Pilots shouldn't have to cope with such an emergency situation. We need to understand what are the factors that meant these two crews were overcome," said Hayes, safety director at UK-based consultancy Flight Ascend. "It is unusual for there to be a single cause," he added. Boeing said on Wednesday it had successfully tested an update of MCAS software designed to make it easier to handle. (Reporting by Jason Neely; Writing by Katharine Houreld and Tim Hepher; Additional reporting by Maggie Fick, Jamie Freed and David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Potter) FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of the Facebook logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Tom Westbrook SYDNEY (Reuters) - Social media giant Facebook Inc said on Friday it would strengthen measures to fight fake news in Australia and briefly block foreigners from buying political advertisements in the lead-up to a national election due in a few weeks. The move comes with the company - and its peers around the world - under growing pressure to rid their platforms of misinformation after Russia allegedly used Facebook to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In Australia, it is not clear which, if any, foreigners had sought to buy campaign ads, but the government warned in 2017 of Chinese interference attempts and said in February a foreign government had hacked parliament's computer network. Facebook's move also comes as its market power and social influence faces greater scrutiny, particularly in the wake of the mass shooting at a mosque in New Zealand which was broadcast live on one of the U.S. firm's platforms. Facebook said its new controls on Australian political advertising would take effect as soon as the vote was called, which is expected to happen in the next few days. Foreigners would be forbidden from buying advertising mentioning political parties, slogans and logos, Mia Garlick, Facebook's director of policy for Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement. To fight so-called fake news and misinformation, the U.S. firm would launch a fact-checking service in Australia in partnership with French news agency Agence France-Presse, she added. It would also remove fake accounts and make sensational stories less prominent in users' newsfeeds. Australia's major political parties, which between them are expected to spend millions of dollars buying Facebook ads during the campaign, had no comment on the company's announcement on Friday. GLOBAL PROBLEM Policing social media content has become a massive global problem, with no template for consistently preventing fake news online or eliminating it. Story continues Andrea Carson, a political scientist specialising in media and communications at La Trobe University in Melbourne, said Facebook faced tighter regulation in the future. "There's a climate for change," she said. Fierce internet disinformation battles have gripped countries such as Brazil and Malaysia ahead of elections. Authorities in Indonesia and the European Union, which are due to hold polls, have also warned of the threat of fake news, while in India, Facebook has ramped up efforts to block fake accounts. The market dominance of Facebook and of Alphabet Inc's Google has also drawn the attention of Australia's competition regulator, which is pushing for greater scrutiny of their power and influence, something the firms are resisting. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Stephen Coates) (Reuters) - More than 300 Boeing 737 MAX jets have been grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes in five months in Ethiopia and Indonesia killed nearly 350 people. Investigators looking to uncover the causes must answer one of the biggest questions: Was the plane's software to blame? WHAT WE KNOW - Boeing has stopped delivery of all new MAX jets. Its stock has fallen about 6 percent since the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10. - Boeing maintains its new, fuel-efficient jets are safe, but supported the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision to ground them. - The preliminary report into the Ethiopian disaster, published on April 4, showed a key sensor was wrecked, possibly by a bird strike. It began to feed faulty data into the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), designed to prevent stalls by pushing the nose of the plane lower. - Flying faster than recommended, the crew struggled with MCAS and turned it off. But the plane was still pointed down - making it hard to use manual controls. Data suggests they later turned MCAS-related systems back on - that would also reactivate the electric trim system to help push the plane higher. But with its power restored, a final MCAS nose-down command kicked in. Reactivating MCAS is contrary to advice issued by Boeing and regulators. The report did not address that. [nL8N21M5G9 - The preliminary report into October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia suggested pilots also lost control after grappling with the MCAS software. It also focused on airline maintenance and training. - Sources said on March 21 that Boeing would mandate on MAX jets a previously optional cockpit warning light, which might have warned of problems that possibly played a role in both crashes. - Boeing said on April 3 it had successfully tested an update of the MCAS system. - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on April 3 it was launching a new review of the 737 MAX. - Europe and Canada said on March 20 they would independently certify the safety of the jets, further complicating plans to get the aircraft back flying. - Indonesia's flag carrier Garuda said on March 22 it had sent a letter to Boeing asking to cancel an order for 49 MAX 8 aircraft, becoming the first airline to confirm plans to cancel an order after the crashes. WHAT'S NEXT? - A final report by Ethiopian authorities aided by air-safety experts from the United States and Europe is due to be published within a year. - Indonesia has advanced the planned release of its report on the Lion Air crash to between July and August, versus a previous schedule of between August and September. - U.S. lawmakers said on March 14 the 737 MAX could be grounded for weeks to upgrade software in every plane. Other countries may ground the planes even longer. - The U.S. Transportation Department's inspector general plans to audit the FAA's certification of the jet, an official with the office said on March 19. The office can recommend changes or improvements to how the FAA operates. - The U.S. Justice Department is also looking at the FAA's oversight of Boeing, a person familiar with the matter has said. The FAA has said it is "absolutely" confident in its vetting. - The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives transportation committee and another key Democrat asked the Transportation Department's inspector general to examine key decisions the FAA made in certifying the MAX jet. - Ethiopian Airlines said on March 16 that DNA testing of passengers' remains may take up to six months. (Compiled by Reuters bureaux) Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale is expected next week in Rabat. The visit to Morocco, April 10 11, will be preceded by visits to France and Belgium. In Rabat, the US official will address the Sahara issue with Moroccan senior officials, including Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Under-Secretary of State David Hale will also discuss bilateral relations with his Moroccan interlocutors in the framework of the Strategic Dialogue between the two Allied countries. David Hales trip to Morocco in April coincides with intense debates on the Sahara issue at the United Nations. Debates have already started on April 1 with a briefing on MINURSO, followed the next day (Tuesday, April 2) by the presentation to the Security Council of the new report of the UNSG Antonio Guterres. The report will be debated April 9 and 10 by the fifteen member countries of the Security Council. The vote on the new Sahara resolution that would renew the MINURSOs mandate, is scheduled for April 29 at UN headquarters in New York. As a reminder, the United States, which considers the Moroccan autonomy proposal for the Sahara serious and credible, has drafted the resolution on the Sahara. It was also at the US request that the duration of MINURSOs mandate had been reduced to only six months, instead of a year, with the aim of encouraging the protagonists in the conflict to find a realistic, political and feasible solution to the Sahara conflict. Meanwhile, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Horst Kohler is preparing for the third round table on the Sahara to meet soon, with the participation of the four parties directly concerned by this issue (Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario), in the hope of reaching a mutually acceptable solution. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said Friday that France is determined to put in place a digital services tax, despite US opposition. "We are determined to implement a tax on the largest digital companies to bring more justice and efficiency to the international tax system," Le Maire said as he arrived in Bucharest for talks with his eurozone counterparts.Last year France presented a bill that would set a three per cent tax on digital advertising and the the sale of personal data and other revenue from any technology company that earns more than 750 million euros a year worldwide. * Eye On France: A tax the world has been waiting for . . .?France's so-called Gafa tax (an acronym of the names of four tech giants, Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon) comes as it was unable to convince the European Union to implement taxation as a bloc. Tech companies currently avoid paying high taxes by registering in low-tax countries like Ireland.The US State department said Thursday that Pompeo had evoked the tax after speaking with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of a Nato ministerial meeting in Washington"Secretary Pompeo urged France not to approve a digital services tax, which would negatively impact large U.S. technology firms and the French citizens who use them," the State Department said in a statement.The French foreign ministry said in a statement that Le Drian had assured Pompeo that France's position on taxing tech firms had not changed, and he urged Pompeo to join in Frances efforts "with a view to accelerating the negotiations underway for an international digital tax at Oecd level, which would substitute national taxes.The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (Oecd) is working on a draft deal, which it says will be officially ready next year.Other European countries are considering implementing their own Gafa-style taxes, including Britain, Spain, Austria and Italy. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said Friday that France is determined to put in place a digital services tax, despite US opposition. "We are determined to implement a tax on the largest digital companies to bring more justice and efficiency to the international tax system," Le Maire said as he arrived in Bucharest for talks with his eurozone counterparts. Last year France presented a bill that would set a three per cent tax on digital advertising and the the sale of personal data and other revenue from any technology company that earns more than 750 million euros a year worldwide. France's so-called Gafa tax (an acronym of the names of four tech giants, Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon) comes as it was unable to convince the European Union to implement taxation as a bloc. Tech companies currently avoid paying high taxes by registering in low-tax countries like Ireland. The US State department said Thursday that Pompeo had evoked the tax after speaking with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of a Nato ministerial meeting in Washington "Secretary Pompeo urged France not to approve a digital services tax, which would negatively impact large U.S. technology firms and the French citizens who use them," the State Department said in a statement. The French foreign ministry said in a statement that Le Drian had assured Pompeo that France's position on taxing tech firms had not changed, and he urged Pompeo to join in Frances efforts "with a view to accelerating the negotiations underway for an international digital tax at Oecd level, which would substitute national taxes. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (Oecd) is working on a draft deal, which it says will be officially ready next year. Other European countries are considering implementing their own Gafa-style taxes, including Britain, Spain, Austria and Italy. The first police officers at a deadly crush in Cookstown acted in good faith, a chief constable said. Lauren Bullock, 17, Morgan Barnard, 17, and 16-year-old Connor Currie died near the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on St Patricks Night last month. Police arrived at the Greenvale Hotel grounds shortly after receiving a 999 report. Following their initial assessment they made attempts to establish more detail and information about what was happening and withdrew to await further support, police have disclosed. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable George Hamilton said the initial officers were brave but there are some questions to answer. I think that delay and the justification for it deserves some answers and some accountability. That is without prejudice to the officers, who it seems to me acted in good faith. The actions of four officers are being investigated by the independent Police Ombudsman, Mr Hamilton said. He said investigators had done a good job as he discussed the probe more generally. The organisation I am responsible for, as far as I am concerned, is competent in this matter. Story continues The investigation team and local police have done a good job, not to be self-congratulatory in such tragic circumstances. It is a human endeavour and sometimes judgments are not quite right. Mr Hamilton addressed his Policing Board scrutiny committee in Belfast. Greenvale hotel owner Michael McElhatton was arrested following the deaths (Liam McBurney/PA) The owner of the Greenvale, Michael McElhatton, identified himself as one of those arrested and later released on suspicion of manslaughter. He accused police of trying to blacken his name over swiftly dispelled drugs suspicions after officers searched his home and found unidentified powder. Mr Hamilton acknowledged the episode did not look good. He said: It is regrettable that it took the attention away from the investigation for a few days. For me, that distraction regarding the drugs arrest and de-arrest was exactly that. The officers who carried out the arrest did so on the basis of having the reasonable suspicion required. That was all done appropriately and we certainly would not have been putting out the identity of anyone arrested prior to charge in the courts. Police launch investigation following the deaths of 3 teens at St Patricks Day event in Cookstown. ACC Mark Hamilton said: "It is heart-breaking an event which should have been fun should end in such a terrible tragedy."https://t.co/4KBKoul03J PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) March 18, 2019 Police have identified hundreds of witnesses to the teenagers deaths. The area outside the hotel was packed with young people dropped off by buses just before the popular nightspot opened. Investigators said teenagers were trodden underfoot during the crush near the entrance to the disco. The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland said the area had become a valley of tears following the tragedies. Three back-to-back funerals were held in the Dungannon area and were attended by large numbers of mourners. Theresa May is desperately in negotiations so she can make a deal that is passed by MPs (REUTERS) Theresa May continues to seek Brexit breakthroughs by negotiating with Jeremy Corbyn and her ministers so she can forge an EU deal that will be passed in the House of Commons. Today, Friday April 5, Mrs May wrote to the European Council President Donald Tusk asking for an extension to Article 50 untill June 30. This date is the day before the new European Parliament will hold its first session so it will give the UK an extension without the need for British MEPs to take their seats in the parliament. If the Prime Minister is unsuccessful in making an agreement with the Labour Party, but there is progress, talks are likely to continue into the weekend. Leave voters want the Brexit they voted for and have been protesting about it. (REUTERS) On Monday, April 8, the House of Lords will consider the remaining stage of the EUs Withdrawal Bill. This bill was tabled by backbenchers and allows Parliament to set the length of any Brexit extension that Mrs May requests at the EU summit on April 10. If the House of Lords do pass the bill, known as the Cooper Bill, it would go for Royal Assent and any amendments would be considered by the House of Commons on Monday evening. Mrs May would then be able to outline her plans to the Commons and lay a Government motion regarding an extension of Article 50. Next Tuesday, April 9, MPs would vote on the length of any Brexit extension if the Cooper Bill is passed. Read More Parliament is having a collective breakdown over Brexit warns senior MP This is what people really think about the prospect of no deal If an agreement is reached between the Government and Labour, it could be debated and voted on by MPs and the Government may also bring forward various Brexit options for MPs to vote on. Next Wednesday, April 10, Mrs May will travel to Brussels and to be granted a further delay of article 50, she will have to set out what exactly this will achieve. All 27 EU states would have to agree on any extension. On Thursday April 11, if the Cooper Bill has been passed by the Lords, it would place new requirements on the PM. Story continues Theresa May is under time pressure to get her deal passed. (AP) It is also the final date for the UK to take steps to enable European Parliament elections to take place on May 23. Downing Street has warned that if the Cooper Bill is passed, it could create an accidental no-deal Brexit on Friday, April 12. European Parliament elections are scheduled for May 23 but it is not known yet if the UK will take part. Migrants blocked the main railway station in Athens in protests authorities said were triggered by false reports on social media that restrictions on travel to northern Europe had been lifted. The protest came as migrants also clashed with police in northern Greece for a second day. Migrants block the track in Athens (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) In Athens, police said about 300 protesters gathered at Larissis Station, many sitting on the tracks in front of trains. Authorities did not immediately intervene to disperse the demonstrators, while officials from the United Nations refugee agency were trying to persuade them to leave voluntarily. The protesters at Larissis Station (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) The clashes in northern Greece occurred outside an overcrowded migrant camp where police used tear gas and stun grenades to push back hundreds of protesters carrying their belongings and trying to walk to the border with North Macedonia, about 40 miles to the north. Several hundred migrants, many having spent the night outside the camp in tents or sleeping rough, were involved in the clashes in a cornfield where police set up several blockades with buses and lines of riot police. Clashes outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata (Giannis Papanikos/AP) Hashem Mojadam, a 36-year-old Iraqi asylum-seeker, spent the night in the field outside the refugee camp and said he hoped to join other migrants and walk to the border. Everyone is tense and no one really slept, he told the Associated Press. Were hoping to go to another country because there is nothing for us here and we need a safe place. Migration minister Dimitris Vitsas issued a plea to migrants to return to camps that are officially known as hospitality centres. Migrants flee the violence (Giannis Papanikos/AP) There was a false report being distributed that the border would be opened. We have informed the hospitality centres that is not the case, he told state-run ERT television. I am issuing a plea right now to these people that they should return to the centres. As refugees and as people they have rights but they also an obligation to respect and abide by the laws of the country that is providing them hospitality. Greeces border with North Macedonia has been fenced off and heavily policed for the past three years after the European Union cracked down on migration because more than a million asylum-seekers travelled to EU countries, most fleeing war-torn areas in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he was leaving Libya with a "heavy heart" and was deeply concerned, after he held a meeting with eastern commander Khalifa Haftar who has ordered his troops to march on the capital Tripoli. "I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli," Guterres tweeted. The military thrust by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which is allied to a parallel administration based in the east, marked a dangerous escalation of a power struggle that has dragged on since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.LNA forces on Thursday took Gharyan, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli after skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.But they failed to take a checkpoint about 30 km west of the capital in a bid to close the coastal road to Tunisia. An LNA-allied militia withdrew overnight from the so-called Checkpoint 27 in the Wershiffana region, leaving it abandoned in the morning, according to local media reports.Hours after Guterres and Haftar met, the LNA said it had taken control of Tripoli international airport, on the southern outskirts of the capital, according to a spokesman. Ahmed Mismari also told reporters his forces were in control of Tarhouna and Aziziya, Qasr ben Ghashir, Wadi al-Rabie and Suq al-Khamis near Tripoli.Meanwhile militias allied to the UN-backed Tripoli government moved more machine gun-mounted pickups from the coastal city of Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftar's forces.The frontline is now located in Suq al-Khamis, some 45 km south of Tripoli, since Eastern forces allied to military commander Khalifa Hafter took control of this village on Friday, a resident and an eastern military source said.Libyan forces allied to Tripoli have taken 145 troops prisoner from the Eastern forces, a commander said on Friday.Most of the pro-Haftar fighters who briefly captured the checkpoint late Thursday were rival militiamen from the town of Sabratha further west along the Mediterranean coast.They were captured in Zawiya west of Tripoli, said Mohamed Alhudairi, commander of the operations room for the western region. He told Reuters 60 vehicles had also been confiscated.An eastern military source confirmed that 128 men had been captured, without elaborating.UN surprised by escalationThe escalation surprised the UN, whose Secretary-General Guterres had been in Tripoli this week to help organise a national reconciliation national conference planned for later this month.Guterres, who spent Thursday night in the heavily fortified UN compound in a Tripoli suburb, was flying to Benghazi on Friday to meet Haftar.He will also go to Tobruk, another eastern city, to meet lawmakers of the House of Representatives, which is also allied to Haftar."My aim remains the same: avoid a military confrontation. I reiterate that there is no military solution for the Libyan crisis, only a political one," Guterres said on Twitter.Assembly President Aguila Saleh welcomed the offensive, a spokesman said.UN Security Council to hold emergency meetingGermany called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council due to the military escalation.In a statement sent amid talks in western France, G7 ministers urged an immediate halt to "all military activity and movements towards Tripoli" on Friday and implicitly warned Haftar against continuing his advance on the capital Tripoli."We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the Libyan conflict," the foreign ministers from France, Britain, Germany, United States, Italy, Japan and Canada said in the statement, adding that the military activity is hindering prospects for the UN-led political process, putting civilians in danger, and prolonging the suffering of the Libyan people.Russia said it was not helping Haftar's forces and it supported a negotiated political settlement that ruled out any new bloodshed."The situation should be resolved peacefully," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Former colonial power Italy, which lies across the Mediterranean from Libya, was very worried by the turn of events, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said."We need to throw water on the fire, not petrol on the fire. I hope that people, acting out of economic or business self-interest, is not looking for a military solution, which would be devastating," Salvini said.Saudi, UAE, Egyptian backing The UN and Western countries have been trying to mediate between Sarraj and Haftar, who met in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates (UAE), last month to discuss a power-sharing deal.Haftar enjoys the backing of Egypt and the UAE, which see him as a bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily, according to UN reports.Haftar held talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh late last month and his forces have reportedly received major arms deliveries from the UAE, including aircraft, despite a UN embargo.They already overran most of the remote oil fields and oasis cities of the desert south during an offensive earlier this year.The conference the UN is helping to organise is aimed at forging agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the prolonged instability in Libya, an oil producer and transit point for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara with the aim of reaching Europe.(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he was leaving Libya with a "heavy heart" and was deeply concerned, after he held a meeting with eastern commander Khalifa Haftar who has ordered his troops to march on the capital Tripoli. "I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli," Guterres tweeted. The military thrust by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which is allied to a parallel administration based in the east, marked a dangerous escalation of a power struggle that has dragged on since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. LNA forces on Thursday took Gharyan, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli after skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. But they failed to take a checkpoint about 30 km west of the capital in a bid to close the coastal road to Tunisia. An LNA-allied militia withdrew overnight from the so-called Checkpoint 27 in the Wershiffana region, leaving it abandoned in the morning, according to local media reports. Hours after Guterres and Haftar met, the LNA said it had taken control of Tripoli international airport, on the southern outskirts of the capital, according to a spokesman. Ahmed Mismari also told reporters his forces were in control of Tarhouna and Aziziya, Qasr ben Ghashir, Wadi al-Rabie and Suq al-Khamis near Tripoli. Meanwhile militias allied to the UN-backed Tripoli government moved more machine gun-mounted pickups from the coastal city of Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftar's forces. The frontline is now located in Suq al-Khamis, some 45 km south of Tripoli, since Eastern forces allied to military commander Khalifa Hafter took control of this village on Friday, a resident and an eastern military source said. Libyan forces allied to Tripoli have taken 145 troops prisoner from the Eastern forces, a commander said on Friday. Most of the pro-Haftar fighters who briefly captured the checkpoint late Thursday were rival militiamen from the town of Sabratha further west along the Mediterranean coast. Story continues They were captured in Zawiya west of Tripoli, said Mohamed Alhudairi, commander of the operations room for the western region. He told Reuters 60 vehicles had also been confiscated. An eastern military source confirmed that 128 men had been captured, without elaborating. UN surprised by escalation The escalation surprised the UN, whose Secretary-General Guterres had been in Tripoli this week to help organise a national reconciliation national conference planned for later this month. Guterres, who spent Thursday night in the heavily fortified UN compound in a Tripoli suburb, was flying to Benghazi on Friday to meet Haftar. He will also go to Tobruk, another eastern city, to meet lawmakers of the House of Representatives, which is also allied to Haftar. "My aim remains the same: avoid a military confrontation. I reiterate that there is no military solution for the Libyan crisis, only a political one," Guterres said on Twitter. Assembly President Aguila Saleh welcomed the offensive, a spokesman said. UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting Germany called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council due to the military escalation. In a statement sent amid talks in western France, G7 ministers urged an immediate halt to "all military activity and movements towards Tripoli" on Friday and implicitly warned Haftar against continuing his advance on the capital Tripoli. "We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the Libyan conflict," the foreign ministers from France, Britain, Germany, United States, Italy, Japan and Canada said in the statement, adding that the military activity is hindering prospects for the UN-led political process, putting civilians in danger, and prolonging the suffering of the Libyan people. Russia said it was not helping Haftar's forces and it supported a negotiated political settlement that ruled out any new bloodshed. "The situation should be resolved peacefully," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Former colonial power Italy, which lies across the Mediterranean from Libya, was very worried by the turn of events, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said. "We need to throw water on the fire, not petrol on the fire. I hope that people, acting out of economic or business self-interest, is not looking for a military solution, which would be devastating," Salvini said. Saudi, UAE, Egyptian backing The UN and Western countries have been trying to mediate between Sarraj and Haftar, who met in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates (UAE), last month to discuss a power-sharing deal. Haftar enjoys the backing of Egypt and the UAE, which see him as a bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily, according to UN reports. Haftar held talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh late last month and his forces have reportedly received major arms deliveries from the UAE, including aircraft, despite a UN embargo. They already overran most of the remote oil fields and oasis cities of the desert south during an offensive earlier this year. The conference the UN is helping to organise is aimed at forging agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the prolonged instability in Libya, an oil producer and transit point for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara with the aim of reaching Europe. (FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS) Packiam Ramanathan killed disabled Kanagusabi Ranahtam as he lay in his bed (Pictures: PA) A 73-year-old woman who beat her wheelchair-bound husband to death with a wooden pole after years of abuse has been jailed for two years and four months. Packiam Ramanatham hit 76-year-old Kanagusabi Ramanathan with the wooden stick as he lay in his bed, the Old Bailey heard. Ramanatham had admitted the manslaughter of her husband but it took a jury just half an hour to clear her of murder. During her trial the court heard that the couple had an arranged marriage in 1983 and fled Sri Lanka in the civil war. Ramanathan told how she had suffered years of bullying and abusive behaviour at the hands of her husband, who treated her like a slave and repeatedly accused her of having an affair with the fishmonger because he called her darling when he served her. Ramanathan was cleared of murder at the Old Bailey (Picture: PA) The court heard that paramedics found former shopkeeper Mr Ramanathan dead in his bedroom in Newham, east London, on September 21 last year after his told her neighbour she had hit him. A blood-stained wooden stick was found in a cupboard in the hall of the couples flat. Ramanathan told jurors: It was like I was in a trance. I hit him. I do not know. I did not know what I was doing. I could not feel this. I remember him saying, Dont hit me. I remember I hit him. I lost control at that time. I did not plan anything. Im not a person who would do such a thing. I dont know how I did it. For me I still feel like somebody else did it. READ MORE Parliament is having a collective breakdown over Brexit, warns senior MP Prosecutor Sally ONeill QC claimed there had been arguments about money and the defendant had become very angry when she found out her husband had written to Sri Lankan police accusing her brother of fraud and theft. But Stephen Kamlish QC, defending, suggested if Ramanathan had wanted to kill her diabetic husband she could have simply given him a bigger dose of insulin and no-one would have known. He said: She is frail, she is slight, she is getting on for anorexic weight. Its hard to beat someone to death with a stick when you are that size. Trofimov Leads the Way After Day 1 of PAPC Main Event; Crazy 100/100 PLO Cash Game Breaks Out April 05 2019 Yori Epskamp The first day of the four-day Patrik Antonius Poker Challenge Main Event has wrapped up after eight levels of 60 minutes each. A total of 135 players showed up for the only starting day of the 1,500 buy-in tournament and about half the field made it through to Day 2. Leading the way is Dragos Trofimov, who became the only player to spin his 30,000 starting stack up to over 200k. The Moldovan pro bagged 220,700 and distanced himself already from the pack, as nearest challenger Ville Jantunen will be back with 158,000. Kasper Mellanen (152,300), Hassan Sey (142,600), and Joris Ruijs (132,200) rounded out the top 5. Plenty of notables showed up, including Patrik Antonius' friends such as David "Chino" Rheem (91,300), Robert Mizrachi (83,200), and Noah Boeken (25,900). High-Stakes PLO Cash Stream Antonius himself was kept occupied by a wild 100/100 PLO cash game with a 200 big blind ante that was live streamed throughout the night. It was one of those rare games that will likely have tons of crazy hands spreading across poker twitter in the upcoming days. As could be expected with a game including catalysts such as Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, Sampo Ryynanen, and Joni Jouhkimanen, action was kicked into high gear soon enough with the alcohol flowing freely. At the time of writing, Dan "Jungleman" Cates is the big winner with a stack of over 150,000, coming off a 30K starting stack. On Friday, a 100/200 No Limit Hold'em cash game will be live streamed as well from the Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn. Dan "Jungleman" Cates was splashing around in the 100/100/200 PLO Cash during the PAPC Main Event. Registration Still Open at Start of PAPC Main Event Day 2 The second day of the Main Event will commence at noon local time, and players will have one more level of 60 minutes before late registration is closed. The total prize pool and payouts will be announced once registration closes. Friday will also feature a player's party as well as the official launch of the anticipated First Land of Poker (FLOP) app. The seat draw for the second day can be found here. Keep following along with PokerNews for more exciting action out of Tallinn as the Patrik Antonius Poker Challenge rolls on. The Barkers found a hidden camera in their Airbnb accommodation. Pic: Nealie Barker Airbnb has apologised to a family who discovered they were being livestreamed by a hidden camera at their accommodation in Ireland. The Barkers, from New Zealand, had been staying at a property in Cork, southwest Ireland, when they found a camera concealed in the living room. Mother-of-five Nealie Barker described the family's unexpected discovery as "very frightening". She wrote on Facebook: "We just found a camera hidden in a smoke alarm case in the private living room of a listing. We were travelling with children. "The host admitted to the concealed camera over the phone, only after presented with our irrefutable proof." Nealie Barker said the discovery of a hidden camera in their Airbnb was 'frightening'. Pic: Nealie Barker Her husband Andrew, an IT consultant, found the camera live feed after trying to connect his phone to the WiFi. Mrs Barker told Sky News: "We were all looking at ourselves on his phone, I had one of those horrible adrenaline rushes you get when you sense danger. "We looked at one another mortified as the realisation of the situation sunk in." She said the children became frightened after realising the host could see and maybe hear them. "We felt an immediate violation of our privacy in a private residence we had paid to occupy. "It was very frightening and the first time we've considered we could have potentially been in danger while travelling through the UK with our family." Airbnb promised the Barkers that a thorough investigation would take place. But after several weeks, the family received a message from the company saying they had exonerated the host and had "found no wrong-doing on his part". She also said Airbnb had reinstated the listing shortly after the incident. It was only when the family expressed their anger about the situation on social media that Airbnb offered them a refund and said they would reinvestigate the listing and host. A spokesman for Airbnb told Sky News: "The safety and privacy of our community - both online and offline - is our priority. Story continues "Airbnb policies strictly prohibit hidden cameras in listings and we take reports of any violations extremely seriously. "We have permanently removed this bad actor from our platform. Our original handling of this incident did not meet the high standards we set for ourselves, and we have apologised to the family and fully refunded their stay. "There have been more than 500 million guest arrivals in Airbnb listings to date and negative incidents are incredibly rare." The marriage of Princess Tessy and Prince Louis of Luxembourg officially came to an end on Thursday, as their divorce was finalised. Mr Justice McDonald pronounced a decree absolute at a hearing in the family division of the High Court in London on Thursday. It comes four months after Princess Tessy represented herself at the High Court, putting forward her case in an hour-long speech. Outside the court, she would not say why she hadnt employed lawyers in her battle over how the ex-couples fortune would be split. Princess-Tessy-Prince-Louis Princess Tessy and Prince Louis of Luxembourg's divorce has been finalised Prince Louis is the third son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and met Tessy director at a non-governmental organisation she founded called Professors Without Borders in 2004. The couple married in 2006 and share two children together Prince Gabriel, 13, and Prince Noah, 11. MORE: Princess Tessy represents herself in court Louis and Tessy were granted a 'quickie' divorce at the Central Family Court in London in February 2017. A judge granted them a decree nisi in just a matter of minutes. Tessy had filed for divorce the month before, citing Louis' "unreasonable behaviour" as grounds for their separation. Princess-Tessy Princess Tessy now lives in London with her two sons The palace confirmed their split in an official statement, after which Tessy released a separate statement, explaining that their "two precious boys" would remain the couple's priority. Tessy lives in London with her two sons, while Louis is based in Paris. STORY: Princess Tessy reveals heartbreaking miscarriage In February, Princess Tessy shared her support for one of the newest members of the British royal family, the Duchess of Sussex, saying she "doesnt deserve" the negative comments and press she has received since marrying Prince Harry. "No one deserves that. One should never assume. Either you know or be quite, it's not nice to talk badly about someone else just because one can, as he or she takes advantage of the anonymity of the web, Tessy tweeted. Stay kind!!! It's the new cool! She does not deserve that." Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity, royal and lifestyle news delivered directly to your inbox. Bob Mathews, a University of North Georgia alumnus and CEO of Colliers International, has accomplished great things during his 70 years, including being inducted into the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame and being named the Realtor of the Year from the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors in 2016. After he graduated from UNG in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in political science, Mathews served in the U.S. Army for six years as a military police officer and completed his master's degree in system management. From there, Mathews became an award-winning business leader and an esteemed member of his community. He is the president and CEO of Colliers International, an Atlanta-based global real estate services and investment management company that operates in 69 countries. Mathews attributes much of his leadership skills and business acumen to his experience and education at UNG. Mathews named the late Dr. John Owen, UNG's president from 1970-1992, as a major influence on his life. Mathews still holds him in the highest esteem, and models his leadership style on Owen's. "(Owen) had a big impact on a lot of people, and certainly on me," Mathews said. "His energy and style of leadership was quiet and strong. He was not an autocratic tyrant. He had a presence and a warm demeanor. He was an amazing person. He was a great leader." Bick Cardwell, chairman of Colliers International, said Mathews has a similar leadership style. "He has compassion and passion," Cardwell said. "Hes just been really caring with the employees. We call him the 'Little General' because he is very demonstrative and passionate, and that's appealing to all of the employees, from the partners down to the staff. He loves what he does. He is a wonderful role model and leader for all of us." Mathews said he often looks back to his earlier years for guidance and leadership techniques. For example, he said the military changed his perspective on the world because it gave him the opportunity to meet a variety of individuals with different ideologies. "I loved being in the Army. It was a great experience and a great learning laboratory for me," said Mathews, who finished his stint in the Army as a captain and the commander of the 526th Military Police Company in Fort Meade, Maryland. "You have to learn how to adapt to those folks with different experiences and different cultural norms and different ideas and learn how to be a part of that and embrace it." Mathews has been awarded for his military service. In 2016, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame during the 100th anniversary celebration of ROTC. It is an honor bestowed on ROTC graduates who exceed both in military and civilian areas. He also has been recognized for his business expertise. In 2009 he was presented with the Realtor of the Year Award from the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. In 2012 Mathews was awarded the Silver Phoenix Award by the same organization. Mathews also was named one of the most admired CEOs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2017. Cardwell said he was surprised Mathews had yet to receive the award. "A lot of good company leaders are in Atlanta, and he epitomizes what you want in a leader," Cardwell said. "He has the guts to do what needs to be done to make the company successful." Mathews also understands the importance of giving back. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Educational Foundation of the Atlanta Board of Realtors and volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Midtown Alliance. For his alma mater, Mathews is a past president of the UNG Alumni Association and is chairman of the UNG Real Estate Foundation. Though Mathews has achieved so much, he still gives the credit to those around him. "What I am most proud of is our team in Atlanta in the commercial real estate business," he said. "They are the foundations to the success of our business." Small Town Monsters is an American production company that just announced the premiere of their debut miniseries titled "On the Trail of Bigfoot." The six-episode series was filmed in 2018 in fourteen different states and features nearly two dozen interviews with researchers, historians, investigators, andmost importantlywitnesses who claim to have seen the legendary beast roaming the woods. Seth Breedlove served as the writer, director, and producer of the series and throughout the shoot he experienced strange incidents first-hand. As the three-hour series dives into the history of Bigfoot, viewers will be left wondering if the creatures of lore might actually be lurking in the dense forests of North America. Recently writer, director, and producer Seth Breedlove discussed this series and more via an exclusive interview. Movies, television, and Big Foot Meagan Meehan (MM): How did you start making movies and how did you come up with the concept for a TV series? Seth Breedlove (SB): In 2015 myself and some friends made this extremely low-budget documentary about a series of monster sightings in Minerva Ohio. The movie (Minerva Monster) went on to become sort of a local sensation with 1200 people attending the premiere and a festival in the town where it was set being thrown in its honor and all sorts of craziness. So, I took the money we made off that first movie, formed a production company called Small Town Monsters and started making more movies about similar cases spread out around the United States. We've now released seven films, a web-series and two, episodic miniseries. At some point during the process of making all these projects, I knew I wanted to branch into episodic storytelling, and I hit upon the idea of a series that would be investigating local legends but much more true-to-life than what you see in the most network, reality tv focused on the paranormal. Discuss this news on Eunomia So last year we produced the first season of "ON THE TRAIL OF..." Which was all about a lake monster called Champ, and then also last year I began working on shooting the Bigfoot season. It's basically one big, indie response to what is happening on the major networks these days. MM: What were the similarities and differences in making a movie versus making a television series? SB: The biggest thing was just the scope of the project. I was used to traveling to out-of-the-way places to shoot our films, but then you're typically just locked to that one location for the duration of filming. On the Trail of Bigfoot was shot in 14 different states over the course of 2018 and featured over 20 interviewees. So just the enormity of a project this huge and trying to wrangle all of the logistics of the travel and convincing people to talk to me about their experiences was way beyond anything I'd attempted before. Then, add to that the fact that I made the series alone as a sort of solo project. MM: Had you believed in Big Foot prior to taking on this project? SB: I'd always been fascinated by the subject, but in the five years I've been making these films I'd come to find myself growing increasingly skeptical about there being such a creature. MM: How did speaking to the people you interviewed change your perspective of the situation? SB: Well, I think just the breadth of personality types and how much dedication and patience that goes into looking for something that everyone else claims doesn't exist was eye-opening for me. Some of these people have spent years of their life in the forest just waiting for another glimpse of something that most academics scoff at. But, many of them are really rational, normal individuals with good jobs and families and they all have a very diverse selection of reasons for why they go out looking for Bigfoot. That was eye-opening to me because I think, typically, we picture a "Bigfooter" as a middle-aged, bearded dude in camo with nothing better to do on the weekend than look for Sasquatch. That's certainly one subset of people, but it isn't indicative of everyone I met during my time making this series. MM: What did you experience first-hand while you were filming deep in the woods? SB: Well, I shot in multiple locations that are considered "hot spots"; places with Bigfoot activity. But, until last June, I didn't experience much more than taking in some bizarre stories or hearing a few strange sounds in the woods. Then in June, while in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma myself and a friend (Adam Duggan) experienced a multitude of increasingly bewildering activity including strange eye-shine in a place with no light, wood knocks, rock throws and hearing what sounded like a Gibbon yelling at us from a mountainside at 2:30 am. We also captured some audio in Adams County, Ohio that was analyzed by an audio expert who claims the sounds we recorded don't come from any known animals. Favorite scenes and other projects MM: What has the process of finding distribution been like? SB: Small Town Monsters handles our own distribution, so we don't typically seek out companies to do it for us. We've been approached by a number of distributors, particularly since the project came out last week, that want to be involved, but thus far we've maintained our hold on the property. Currently, On the Trail of Bigfoot is one of the best-selling films on Amazon's new release charts. I tend to encourage indie filmmakers, particularly those working in the paranormal genre, to self-distribute. The audience for these subjects is massive, and if you work hard and promote it, you can find a large following. MM: Whats your favorite scene from the series and why did that scene stand out so much to you? SB: Actually, my favorite scene is probably the eye-shine sequence in episode 5. We actually managed to get video of the eyes that we witnessed watching us in Oklahoma, and I hadn't realized it until I was into the actual editing of the episode. It was a huge surprise, and very exciting, to get to see the eyes again and to be able to show that sequence to an audience. We did a premiere last weekend at a large theater in Canton, Ohio and when that scene came on, there were audible gasps around the room. MM: What other projects are you working on and might you be up to doing a second season of searching for Big Foot? SB: We're putting the finishing touches on our eighth film titled Terror in the Skies which is a look at the state of Illinois' long history of winged cryptid sightings; including the Chicago Mothman. Then we start filming our ninth film, MOMO: The Missouri Monster in May. That film is a loving homage to 1970s horror movies and simultaneously an investigative look at the Bigfoot sightings that took place in Louisiana, MO during 1972. As far as On the Trail of goes, we start filming the third season later this Spring; this time we go On the Trail of UFOs. 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You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). South Dakotans lack trust in state Legislature, poll finds South Dakotans are not as trusting of the state Legislature as they are of other government or legal institutions, according to a recent statewide poll. The localitys tourism sector raked in nearly VND 2.5 trillion (more than US$ 107.7 million) in the period, 65.8 percent more than in the same period last year.In March alone, Lao Cai served nearly 600,000 holiday-makers, up 36.8 percent compared to the previous month. Sa Pa, Bac Ha and Lao Cai city were the most attractive destinations.The number of visitors to Lao Cai is forecast to strongly increase in the coming months due to long holidays, festivals and cultural and tourism activities in the locality.The local tourism sector is working to mobilise more resources, improve the quality of tourism services and enhance the tourism business environment, aiming to make it more attractive to holiday-makers and investors. VNA Get a feel of the tropics and help the arts during the Albuquerque Museum Foundations spring fundraising event. Shaken, Not Stirred: Aloha Maui will be held on April 13 at the Albuquerque Museum. The fundraiser is in its ninth year. Ticketholders will receive two cocktails and be able to enjoy hors doeuvres, as well as a big buffet. Attendees enjoy premium cocktails and food, and music and dancing and interactive activities throughout the museum, said Elaine Richardson, director of special events for the Albuquerque Museum Foundation. (Guests will receive) special access to the museums permanent art gallery. We also have a sponsored trip that we are raffling to Maui, Hawaii, and its a trip for two and that really sets the tone for the theme for the event. Its a tropical Hawaiian-themed event this year. Its a 21-and-older event, but we encourage cocktail attire with an island flair. Local Polynesian dance schools will perform and provide mini lessons to eventgoers. Theres actually three amazing Polynesian dance schools here in Albuquerque, Richardson said. They have all volunteered their time to perform and also to give dance lessons, hula lessons, so they will be doing that for the first couple of hours of the event. We will have Desert Stars Polynesia, Ha`aheo O Hawai`i, and Ka La Kapu Polynesian dance schools, so all three will be performing, and they will also do lessons. They will also be helping to greet guests and passing out leis to everyone as they arrive. There are plenty of other activities throughout the evening. We have a scavenger hunt thats always a lot of fun at the event, Richardson said. And then we also have other activities where people create a piece of art and take it home with them. And so there will be drawings for winners of the scavenger hunt, and then we will draw the winning ticket for the trip to Maui. Following that raffle drawing, then it really turns into what we call a DJ dance club, and the music ramps up and people really dance the night away. Guests who are unable to attend the event can help the fundraising effort by donating and purchasing raffle tickets on the event website. Money raised from the sales of tickets to the event and raffle tickets goes to support educational programs at the Albuquerque Museum, including the school tours that are called Magic Bus, and other educational events that take place for children and families at the museum, according to Richardson. In business for over 50 years now, the Albuquerque Museum Foundations mission is to further the cultural and education programs of the Albuquerque Museum through broad public and private gifts, and volunteer support, Richardson said. As an independent nonprofit corporation, the foundations purpose is to encourage the development of the museum as the outstanding museum of its kind in the Southwest. Laura Green and Anna Moot-Levin are both children of health care providers. Thats partly what inspired the filmmakers to make a documentary on rural health care. We were shocked that there wasnt a film on rural health care, Green says. We felt very personally compelled to create this conversation. The duo spent months calling health care workers across the country. Eventually, they found their story in New Mexico. Their documentary, The Providers, will air at 9 p.m. Monday, April 8, on New Mexico PBS. It is airing under the Independent Lens series. The Providers follows three health care professionals in northern New Mexico at El Centro, a group of clinics that offer care to anyone who walks through the doors. Amid personal struggles that reflect those of their patients, the journeys of the providers unfold as they work to reach those who would otherwise be left out of the health care system. With intimate access, the film shows the transformative power of providers relationships with marginalized patients. We kind of talked to between 50 and 60 rural health practitioners, and wanted to represent the issue and personal stories, she says. We got on the phone with Matt Probst from El Centro. His passion and his vision were what drew us to him. Hes an in the trenches guy. He uses his position as a much bigger fight and hes the person that brought the story to life. The pair would travel from California to New Mexico about one week out of every six. We made several trips, and it added up to 120 shooting days, she says. The entire filming period was over 2 years. Finding Probst was a blessing for the filmmakers. The fact that Matt was from the community and came back to be a provider is huge, she says. As the national premiere approaches, Green hopes that it will start a conversation about the uphill battle rural health care faces. She is also looking forward to hearing reactions. Our goal is to get the film into classes in the rural communities, she says. We want to be able to get children interested in the health care field and then return to their community. SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART. On TV Independent Lens The Providers will premiere at 9 p.m. Monday, April 8. The documentary was filmed in New Mexico. Of all the post-World War II German estates in the world, she had to walk into his. Yep. Doesnt have the same ring to it, right? At times, the soapy melodrama The Aftermath feels like an inside-out take on Casablanca, only this romantic triangle involves a dashing, independent-minded German (Alexander Skarsgard) who refused to join the Nazi party, a noble British officer (Jason Clarke) who is more focused on his duties than his marriage, and the officers beautiful wife (Keira Knightley), who is finding it increasingly difficult to ignore the electricity whenever shes alone with the aforementioned dashing German fellow. Its a contrived, borderline ludicrous premise, and though this is a well-made, occasionally involving, film with solid performances from a first-rate cast, its impossible to take the leaps of faith the story asks of us. The Aftermath is set a few months after the end of World War II, with British forces occupying the bomb-riddled city of Hamburg, doing their best to ensure a peaceful transition while also keeping an eye out for pockets of Hitler loyalists plotting acts of terrorism. Jason Clarke is the British Col. Lewis Morgan, a well-respected career military man who has been assigned to Hamburg, a move that sickens his wife, Rachael (Keira Knightley), who has despised all Germans ever since her son was killed in a bombing of London. Lewis and Rachael are to live in a mansion occupied by Stephan (Alexander Skarsgard), a widower whose wife was killed in the war, and Stephans teenage daughter, Freda (Flora Thiemann), who hates the Allies as much as Rachael hates the Germans. The plan calls for Stephan and Freda to move out, but having seen the bleak living conditions for displaced German civilians, the good-hearted Col. Morgan invites Stephan and his daughter to live upstairs, while he and Rachael will occupy the main house. Stephan is grateful, but can never fully hide his resentment at being shuffled off to the attic while Brits drink his wine and bang on the piano his beloved wife once played. Rachael is incensed with her husband and grows even more furious when he has ato leave for Russia for a few days, leaving her alone with this man, this devastatingly handsome, brilliant, brooding, broken man, who understands Rachaels pain. From the moment Rachael and Stephan look into each others eyes while we roll our eyes, The Aftermath is a runaway train of cornball cliches. The Aftermath 2 stars RATED: R (for sexual content/nudity and violence, including some disturbing images) WHERE: Opens today WHEN: Century 14 Downtown, High Ridge SALT LAKE CITY The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday repealed rules that banned baptisms for children of gay parents and that labeled same-sex couples as sinners eligible for expulsion marking a reversal of policies condemned as jarring detours from a push by the faith to be more compassionate about LGBTQ issues. LGBTQ church members and groups that support them expressed relief about what they called an important step forward for the faith. However, they also said they were angry about the harm the 2015 policies had caused and the lack of an apology by church leaders. In a statement posted online, church leaders described the changes as very positive policies that should help affected families. The faiths highest leadership group, known as the First Presidency, made the decision after fervent, united prayer to understand the will of the Lord on these matters, the statement said. The faith widely known as the Mormon church said it is not changing its doctrinal opposition to gay marriage and still considers same-sex relationships to be a serious transgression. We want to reduce the hate and contention so common today, the statement said. The rules approved by global church leaders in 2015 had prohibited baptisms for children living with gay parents until the children turned 18 and disavowed same-sex relationships. With the change, children of gay parents can now be baptized as long as their parents approve the baptisms and acknowledge that the children will be taught church doctrine. People in same-sex relationships will no longer be considered apostates, a term the religion uses for people who teach inaccurate doctrine or publicly defy guidance from church leaders. Apostates can be kicked out of the religion. That label was widely condemned by LGBQT members and allies as being demeaning and hurtful to people who already struggle to find acceptance in the faith. It was a stigma. It was like wearing a Scarlet letter, said Nathan Kitchen, a gay Mormon father of five children from Gilbert, Arizona. You are cut off, you are a pariah. Kitchen said he cried when he heard the news about the new policies. Kitchen, also the president of an organization called Affirmation that supports LGBTQ church members, said the old policies had fueled painful custody battles as straight parents tried to ensure their children could be full members of the faith. Wendy Montgomery, an Arizona mother of a gay son, said shes pleased the rules have been changed but believes the harm caused by the previous policies cant be undone. The lifelong church member left the religion after the 2015 policy was instituted. It deeply wounded and traumatized every single LGBQT Mormon that I know, said Montgomery, a member of a mothers group called Mama Dragons that advocates for parents with LGTBQ members of the faith. The announcement came two days before Saturdays twice-yearly church conference in Salt Lake City. It was unclear if church leaders will speak more about the changes during speeches at the conference. Erika Munson, co-founder of the Mormons Building Bridges LGBTQ advocacy group, said theres a great feeling of being heard because the changes came after an outcry from church members. We saw the church correct a mistake in record time, Munson said. Usually these things take maybe 100 years or more. The move undoes the one major detour from a decade-long path by the faith toward more compassion on LGBTQ issues while sticking to doctrinal opposition of intimacy between people in same-sex relationships, said Patrick Mason, a religion professor at Claremont Graduate University in California who studies the faith. The policy seemed to harm the church image and touched a nerve with liberal members and conservative, orthodox members, he said. That policy always seemed out of step, Mason said. Membership growth in the religion has stagnated in recent years, and young members opposed the policies at much higher rates than older members, said Jana Riess, who surveyed members of the religion for her book, The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church. Faith leaders had previously explained that the 2015 rules were designed to protect children by not putting them in a potential tug-of-war between the beliefs of same-sex couples raising them and teachings and activities at church. Church President Russell M. Nelson, then a member of a governing body that helps the president lead the church, defended the policy in a 2016 speech in which he said a revelation received by then-President Thomas S. Monson and other leaders gave them spiritual confirmation that the rules were the right thing to do after many states legalized gay marriage. The speed at which church leaders and Nelson in particular changed course on the issue was rare and surprising, said Matthew Bowman, an associate professor of history at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, who studies the faith. It seems to indicate that ultimately they decided it was doing more harm than good, Bowman said. Detectives arrested a woman last month who they say killed another woman last spring at a southeast Albuquerque apartment. Latrice Thomas, 37, is charged with murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 27-year-old Hilarie Jordan Humbles on May 8, 2018. Thomas was caught in Santa Cruz, Calif., in late February and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center March 23. Police say Humbles was shot to death at Thomass East Central-area apartment the day she and another man helped Thomas move some stuff out. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, officers found Humbles body in a side yard at 308 Western Skies, near Central, on the morning of May 10. She had been dead a few days. Family had already reported her missing and a neighbor told police they heard gunfire and a woman screaming a few nights before. An autopsy found Humbles had been shot in the back. The day she disappeared, police say Humbles had been seen stealing makeup with Thomas and a man at a drug store in Rio Rancho. According to the complaint, the three then went to Thomass apartment to help her move stuff to a storage unit. Afterward, police say Thomas paid the man $40 for his help but refused to pay Humbles, starting an argument that ended when Thomas shot her. A confidential informant told police Thomas later talked about killing Humbles and asked if that would make her a serial killer. A detective traveled to California after Thomas was arrested Feb. 24 by local authorities and U.S. Marshals. Thomas told the detective she hadnt killed Humbles and had paid her and the other man $40 worth of methamphetamine for helping her move. SANTA FE A Santa Fe city employee died Wednesday afternoon after suffering electrical shock on the job. On Monday, 28-year-old Toby Williams was working on a project at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, replacing fluorescent light fixtures with LED ones, according to Tourism Santa Fe director Randy Randall. Randalls city department manages the convention center, where Williams worked as part of a two-person maintenance team. It was a project in process and thats when the accident occurred, he said. City spokesperson Kristine Mihelcic said Williams had been a mechanical structural apprentice since September 2018. Randall said it was his understanding that Williams was transported to a local hospital on Monday following the accident, but he later was transferred to a burn unit in Denver where he died from his injuries. Williams was working alone, which Randall said is not uncommon for the convention centers two-person maintenance crew. The crew members had different days off to ensure maintenance coverage, he said. He said there were employees from a local hotel, who had done some catering work at the convention center last weekend, were in the centers kitchen when Williams was injured. Randall said his city department is unsure why the electricity was still on when Williams was working on the light fixtures. He said the proper protocol was for power to be off. Definitely it should have been turned off and they have the proper testers to test and be sure that the power is turned off as well, he said. We dont know why. Mihelcic confirmed that New Mexicos Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, part of the state Environment Department, will work with the citys Risk Management and Safety division on the incident investigation. He was a great guy and we loved having him on our team, Randall said of Williams. Its just a tragic situation. In a statement sent to all city employees, Mayor Alan Webber said this tragedy touches us all and saddens us all. In the days and months ahead well be doing all we can to express our own feelings and embrace his family with love and caring, he went on to say. A statement from city manager Erik Litzenberg said counseling services will be available for employees over the next few days. We can trace an unbroken record of injustice back through generations, to our grandfathers and our grandmothers, our great-grandfathers and to those before them. We can trace them back to the time when a label was put on our people, legitimate victim. Other people learned that they could victimize us and nothing would happen because the laws, your laws, did not protect us. Rufus Prince (Ojibway, Long Plain), former Vice-President, Manitoba Indian Brotherhood, Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba, 1991 Overrepresentation of racialized people in media reports of HIV non-disclosure and in non-disclosure criminalization cases is a significant problem. It is a problem in the media because hyper-sensationalized reports of racialized peopleparticularly immigrant Black men are profoundly stigmatizing, as Mykhalovskiy et al. (2016) demonstrate in their longitudinal research from the Canadian context. Media overrepresentation also affirms, for the public, longstanding and harmful racist discourses about Black immigrant crime, Black mens virility, and the monsterization of Black mens sexuality (Persson & Newman, 2008; Walcott, 2010). The affirmation of these discourses serves to justify forms of systemic racist practices, including mass incarceration. Racist discourses in the media and legal spheres tie together with health discourses about HIV transmission, and more specifically, who is to blame for the spread of HIV/AIDS (Decena, 2008). As McClelland (2013) explains, HIV criminalization occurs at a medico-legal borderland, where health and law intersect, but are not in dialogue. In this essay, I draw attention to the limited engagement with critical race theory and Indigenous studies analyses in HIV criminalization literature. I suggest that such analyses provide significant insight into the particularities of HIV criminalization cases against racialized people in Canada. The disproportionate number of convictions of racialized people in HIV non-disclosure cases is a continuation of the broader historical and contemporary overrepresentation of racialized people in the criminal justice system (ACCHO, 2010, p. 11). I argue that we need to pay attention to what activists and scholars, particularly Indigenous and Black people, have thought and written about the overrepresentation of racialized bodies in the courts and prisons in order to be able to move forward with interventions that will benefit racialized people, not just white people. Racist discourses about hypersexuality and monsterization permeate our scientific legal interventions, such as U=U (undetectability=untransmittability), thereby limiting the interventions effectiveness for racialized people who are implicated in the criminal justice system. Clearly, we need to expand our analysis beyond the overrepresentation of racialized people. African, Caribbean, and Black people are not the only ones overrepresented in the Canadian criminal justice system. This is important to note because Indigenous people have been and are overrepresented as well. There is a long history in Canada of Indigenous people pushing back against Canadian law, and more specifically, against the institutional racism embedded within it. Since its inception, Canadas criminal justice system is plagued by and built upon systemic racism that targets Indigenous people. The 1991 Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba squarely locates racism and colonialism as causal factors in the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system. As Sherene Razack (2012) notes, the articulation of this causal link is an atypical position issued by a government inquiry. Yet, in this instance, the Inquiry does not stop its analysis at overrepresentation. The problem is larger and deeper than overrepresentation. The Inquiry highlights how and in what ways the justice system itself plays a role in enacting racism and supporting racist practices: the best evidence of systemic discrimination lies in the adverse impacts that the system has on Aboriginal people (Hamilton & Sinclair, 1991, Vol.1, Ch. 4). The Inquiry describes the different ways that the criminal justice system discriminates against Indigenous people: over-policing, over-incarcerating, and over-charging; disproportionate rates of convictions, bail denials, and pre-trial detentions; less time with lawyers; harsher sentencing; and pressures to plead guilty (ibid). This report provides vital signposts and evidence for scholars and advocates who work in legal reform with regard to how to examine and understand the impacts of racism in the context of HIV criminalization. These findings also show that there are problems in need of addressing that go deeper than the matter of overrepresentation. When we focus on overrepresentation of racialized people as the primary issue, we miss seeing the other impacts the Inquiry notes, as well as the root of the problem, which is racism. Razack (2012) points out that for the last 150 years in Canada, inquiries into the deaths of Indigenous people who were held in police custody or jailed found that the justice system was indifferent to and abandoned Indigenous people. Razack also argues that colonization continues to mark Indigenous bodies as bestial and as human waste [while] the white body [is] the maker of order, the modern subject of the settlers city (p. 910). The persistence of these practices demonstrates how colonialism and racism intersect in the Canadian criminal justice system, which serves to maintain a dominant and subordinate relationship between the colonial-settler state, Indigenous people and Black people: by marking Indigenous bodies as human waste and Black bodies as monstrous, and by marking white bodies as controlled and civil, the naturally superior race who is entrusted with creating the racial hierarchy and maintaining law and order. I argue that we urgently need to pay attention to and address the material and bodily consequences of such colonial and white supremacist relations. Rinaldo Walcott (2010) elaborates on the connections between the monstrous Black body and medico-legal spaces of power: Even when black people struggle to come into humanhood, we are often offered and perceived as a lesser kind of human, a different genre of the species. Our difference gets marked by skin, hair, lips and genitals; then by place; then by sex and sexuality; then by poverty and crime; then by disease and death. (p. 2) Place, disease, and law imprint on bodies in particular ways, marking some bodies as infectious and dangerous and others as deserving of protection. The medico-legal borderland is as much about the intersection between medicine and law as it is about racial hierarchies and white supremacy. According to Foucault (2003), practices that create and maintain human health, which are the goals of modern medicine, are deeply rooted in biopower, the power to proliferate life. Biopowers incisive tool for deciding whose lives are fostered, and whose are not, is racism. Similarly, the creation of order and rule is deeply entrenched in systems that uphold white supremacy by delineating which bodies are inherently criminal, and which ones are innately righteous. From Indigenous, Black, and anti-racist perspectives, Canadian law is not benevolent or fair. Ovide Mercredi (Cree), the former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, remarked: In law, with law, and through law, Canada has imposed a colonial system of government and justice upon our people without due regard to our treaty and Aboriginal rights. We respect law that is fair and just, but we cannot be faulted for denouncing those laws that degrade our humanity and rights as distinct peoples. (Hamilton & Sinclair, 1991: Ch. 1) As we see, Mercredis claim challenges white liberalism embedded within the Canadian justice system by undermining the assumed fairness and justice in Canadian law. His denouncement asks us to see the implications of the colonial project for peoples lives as inherently dehumanizing. Those of us interested in interrogating and alleviating the harms of HIV criminalization need to be aware of the historical and contemporary challenges of the criminal justice system, and not only how it impacts people currently living with HIV. If we widen our view and understand the historical and contemporary critiques outside of the field of HIV, we will be better prepared to address how racism and colonialism work specifically in HIV non-disclosure cases. When we begin by understanding the criminal justice system as an ongoing colonial project, many more forms of analysis of HIV criminalization come into focus. We can then act on the problem of overrepresentation of racialized people as a symptom rather than the problem. Works Cited African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario, Larcher, A. A., & Symington, A. (2010). Criminals and Victims? The Impact of the Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure on African, Caribbean and Black Communities in Ontario (pp. 128). Toronto: African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO). Decena, C. U. (2008). Profiles, Compulsory Disclosure and Ethical Sexual Citizenship in the Contemporary USA. Sexualities, 11(4), 397413. Foucault, M. (2003). Society must be defended: Lectures at the College de France 1975-1976 (A. I. Davidson, Ed., & D. Macey, Trans.). New York: Picador. (Original work published 1997). Hamilton, A., & Sinclair, M. (1991). Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba. Winnipeg: Government of Manitoba. McClelland, A. (2013, October 14). Research at the medico-legal borderland: Perspectives on HIV and criminal law. Mykhalovskiy, E., Hastings, C., Sanders, C., Hayman, M., & Bisaillon, L. (2016). Callous, Cold and Deliberately Duplicitous: Racialization, Immigration and the Representation of HIV Criminalization in Canadian Mainstream Newspapers. Toronto: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Centre for Social Research in HIV Prevention. Persson, A., & Newman, C. (2008). Making monsters: heterosexuality, crime and race in recent Western media coverage of HIV. Sociology of Health & Illness, 30(4), 632646. Razack, S. H. (2012). Memorializing Colonial Power: The Death of Frank Paul. Law & Social Inquiry, 37(4), 908932. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-4469.2012.01291.x Walcott, R. (2010). Note Towards What It Might Mean to Be Black in Canada. Presented at the ACCHO Symposium Criminals and Victims Race, Law and HIV Exposure, Toronto. December 1, 2010. Eli Manning, MSW, PhD, is Assistant Professor at Dalhousie Universitys School of Social Work in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia). Her work in HIV began in the mid-1990s where she advocated for and with people living with HIV/AIDS. Her academic work mirrors her social work career as she continues to work in areas of HIV/AIDS, health equity, and social justice. Her forthcoming book, The New War on AIDS: HIV Treatment Adherence and The Treatment as Prevention Empire, disrupts the seemingly neutral language of TasP by showing how adherence perpetuates colonialism, racism, and sexism. Share this: Share Email Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr LinkedIn [view academic citations] [hide academic citations] Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE After years of budget austerity, New Mexico is tapping an oil drilling boom to fuel a massive spending increase. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law Thursday a $7 billion budget plan that will boost state spending levels to an all-time high with most of the additional funding going to public schools and give the largest pay raises to state workers in more than a decade. It will also provide a big cash infusion for the states aging road system and allow for long-vacant jobs across state government to be filled. Our budget is thoroughly responsible and yet bold in ways that will significantly boost New Mexico families, Lujan Grisham said Thursday. As we begin the essential work of rebuilding our economy, education system and government, this budget provides a solid foundation, with healthy reserves, well-earned raises for diligent workers and sizable investments in our children, families and their quality of life. The first-term Democratic governor used her line-item veto authority more sparingly than her predecessor, former Gov. Susana Martinez, often did, though she did ax $42.5 million from the bill. Those vetoes struck a duplicate appropriation for the State Engineers Office and spending that would have been authorized in a separate public-private partnership bill that failed to pass the Legislature during the 60-day session that ended last month. Lujan Grisham also on Thursday signed a broad tax package passed by lawmakers during the sessions final hours that could provide tax relief to some state residents while increasing the tax burden on others including the highest-earning New Mexicans. The tax changes, which were opposed by most Republican legislators, are expected to generate an additional $71 million in state revenue during the coming fiscal year. As for the budget, its final version authorizes a state spending increase of $663 million or roughly 11 percent over current spending levels for the fiscal year that starts July 1. However, it also calls for 20 percent of state spending or about $1.4 billion to be set aside in cash reserves in case projected revenue levels do not materialize. Finance and Administration Secretary Olivia Padilla-Jackson, the governors top budget official, said that amount would be sufficient to cover the state in the event of a major economic downturn. She said that spending the cash infusion authorized by the budget bill will be a challenge but that state agencies are already preparing. The governor is adamant about getting that money out the door, Padilla-Jackson said. Oil boom New Mexico has an unprecedented budget surplus due to skyrocketing oil production levels in southeastern New Mexico the state produced nearly 246 million barrels of oil last year. The trend is expected to continue for at least the next several years, although state economists have warned about the historically volatile nature of oil and natural gas prices. Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the revenue windfall gave lawmakers the ability to target funding at state agencies with high vacancy rates. It was an opportunity we havent seen in many years to fund state government the way we did, Cisneros told the Journal. New Mexicos recent revenue surge the state is expected to take in more than $7.4 billion in the coming budget year has come after several dismal budget years at the Roundhouse. Just two years ago, lawmakers were forced to cut spending and take money from various state funds in response to a steep revenue downturn. We needed to recover from that and ensure solid footing into the future, Cisneros said. The spending bill also authorizes a big chunk of one-time spending from a projected $1.2 billion surplus for the current fiscal year. That includes up to $75 million for a state economic development closing fund thats intended to help lure out-of-state businesses to New Mexico and aid local businesses in expanding. New Mexico roads are also in line for a big cash infusion, as the budget authorizes $389 million in spending for highway repairs and construction. Several projects in the Albuquerque area are among those to get funding including $2 million for Rail Runner commuter rail improvements and $3 million for Paseo del Volcan. Pay hikes, schools Overall, roughly two-thirds of the additional spending will go toward New Mexicos public school system, after a landmark court ruling last summer found that the state was failing to meet its constitutional requirement to provide an adequate education to all students, especially Hispanics, Native Americans and English-language learners. The $446 million spending increase on education a 16 percent increase will be used to expand pre-kindergarten programs, funnel more money to districts with high populations of low-income students and provide pay raises for teachers and school administrators. Some Republicans have argued it will be difficult for the states 89 school districts to absorb the spike in funding. They have also warned about future budget cuts if oil production levels plummet. I want to make sure were not putting ourselves in the position in the future where were having to cut, take back or raise taxes, Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, said during a House floor debate on the budget bill in February. All state teachers and administrators will get a 6 percent salary increase, although some could receive even larger pay raises, because a separate education bill signed by Lujan Grisham increases the minimum pay level for starting educators to $41,000 annually. New Mexico judges, who are paid less than many of their counterparts in other states, will also get 6 percent raises, while rank-and-file state workers, higher education employees and legislative branch workers will get 4 percent raises. Such raises will still represent the largest across-the-board pay increases since 2007. More than 12 years after police say a woman was raped outside a northeast Albuquerque pool hall, her alleged attacker has been caught. And prosecutors say it is the oldest, punishable, case pulled from the rape kit backlog thus far. Erik Lea, 39, faces one count of criminal sexual penetration and kidnapping in the rape of a woman in June 2006. He was booked into the Santa Fe County Detention Center Wednesday. Second Judicial District Attorney spokesman Michael Patrick said Leas is the oldest case, of thousands, that they have filed charges in. Most of the cases, which date back to the 80s, have been closed without an arrest due to the statute of limitations expiring. However, Leas made the cut. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, police responded to an assault at the Billiards Palace, on Menaul and Wyoming NE, just after midnight on June 19, 2006. A woman told police she was at a pool tournament with her husband when she walked outside to take a nap in the car. A man got into the car and told her to not look at him before forcing her to drive behind the pool hall. Police say he forced her onto the cement and raped her, telling her dont turn around. Afterward the man asked for her address and threatened to kill her and her family if she told anyone. According to the complaint the woman called police and was given a sexual assault exam. DNA evidence was collected. At the time, police say they identified Lea as a suspect but the woman could not pick him out of a photo array because she tried not to look at him during the assault. It wasnt until February 2018 that police say they matched Leas DNA to the case. Detectives contacted the woman for a second interview, during which she became emotional and cried. The most difficult part of this experience for her has been all this coming up again, opening up and the thoughts again,' a detective wrote. Court records show that in 2008 Lea was charged with attempted criminal sexual penetration, aggravated battery, criminal sexual contact and kidnapping. Specific details for the case were not available but Lea was sentenced to 5 years of probation after he pled no contest to kidnapping and the other charges were dismissed. Patrick said Lea is one of nine people charged so far in connection with backlog cases. One of those suspects, 26-year-old Nicolas Williams, has been called a serial rapist by police and named in two recent rape cases. Prosecutors say they anticipate more rape charges being filed against him. Patrick said they have screened over 1600 of the more than 2000 backlog cases submitted. They have closed 900, without an arrest, for various reasons; the statue of limitations, lack of sufficient evidence or the victim or offender died. An Albuquerque judge on Thursday sentenced a 23-year-old to life plus 19 years in prison for what he said was one of the coldest cases hed ever presided over. In February, a jury convicted Angel Celis of first-degree murder and lesser charges in the January 2016 death of Abril Lozano. Prosecutors said Celis shot and killed Lozano at the Studio 6 Extended Stay on Osuna NE as he attempted to confront a man who he believed had taken his friends backpack. He is set for trial next month on charges that he fatally shot a second woman, Myisha Garcia, hours before killing Lozano. Celis lawyer asked the court to allow sentences for each count to run concurrently. She said he suffers from mental health issues and maintains his innocence. Although Celis was eligible for additional time, Judge Michael Martinez said he was taking Celis age into account as he opted against imposing the maximum sentence. Hes a young man, hes got problems, Martinez said. In New Mexico, a defendant who receives a life sentence is eligible for parole after 30 years. The remaining 19 years of Celis sentence could be cut in half for good behavior, because that time is tied to crimes that are not considered serious violent offenses. Carrying signs that read: Release the Report, What R U Afraid Of? and Orange Lies Matter, about 200 protesters gathered at Civic Plaza Thursday evening to demand that the full and complete report from special counsel Robert Mueller be released immediately. The protesters had marched from the Simms Building at 4th Street and Gold, where several members of New Mexicos congressional delegation have their offices. Among the marchers were representatives from those offices. Rayellen Smith, president of Indivisible Nob Hill, a progressive activist group and a main organizer of the protest, said the Albuquerque event was part of a National Day of Action, with marches and protests in communities across the country, all calling for the release of the Mueller report. Muellers investigation, which took nearly two years, was only recently completed. It is believed to have focused primarily on alleged collusion between Donald Trumps presidential campaign and Russian operatives, as well as allegations that President Trump and/or people working on the presidents behalf tried to obstruct the special counsels investigation. Mueller presented his nearly 400 page report to Attorney General William Barr, who released a four page summary. Heather Ferguson, executive director of Common Cause, New Mexico, said the organization was founded during the Watergate scandal of former President Richard Nixon. This is just a continuation of history, she said. Our job is to hold power accountable, and accountability is not going to happen without full transparency of the Mueller report. As the crowd chanted, Lock him up, lock him up, Ferguson said that even though AG Barr has said he will release the report redacted to protect national security the suspicion is that it will also be redacted to protect third parties, including the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner. Barr has said the document contains sensitive grand jury material. Greg Bloom, who heads Sen. Tom Udalls New Mexico Office, read a statement from the senator: We dont need to rely on the attorney generals characterization of the report. We must read the report ourselves, review the evidence on our own and come to our own conclusions. Udall also said the American people need to know if the presidents business interests conflict with the American peoples interests. The American people, need full disclosure of the presidents tax returns and financial dealings, and they need the full divestiture by the president of all potential financial conflicts. Brenda McKenna, a field representative for Congresswoman Deb Haaland, shared some of Haalands recent social media posts, including one in which she took Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to task for blocking a resolution to release the full Mueller report. We know who McConnell works for, Haaland said. The American people deserve to know the truth. The full report and all its findings should be made public, to ensure that government remains accountable to the people, she said. Jerry Geist has left us at age 84. He was well-known as a business and civic leader. Not many people also knew him as the leader of Albuquerques tricentennial celebrations in 2006, and its a story worth telling. The run-up to our 300th birthday was a time of remarkable creativity and cooperation, but it didnt start that way. Organizers grappled with the question of how a New Mexico city celebrates its history in ethnically charged times. Early on, they had what I call the Onate argument, which seems to be a prerequisite in history-related events here. In stormy meetings, accusation flew that this would be one more event to glorify the conquistadors and the infamous Don Juan de Onate, seen by Hispanic people as a colonizer but experienced by Indian people as a brutal oppressor. Don Juan had nothing to do with Albuquerques founding but came up anyway. For Indian people, the tricentennial was comparable to Columbus Day. Anglos, African-Americans and Asian-Americans were ambivalent; they didnt see it as their event. City councilors argued that the tricentennial was a poor use of city money. A friend in the high-tech industry asked, Why should we care about a bunch of dusty old conquistadors? It was not a promising beginning. When the tricentennial chair developed health problems and had to bow out, Mayor Martin Chavez asked Geist to take over. It was a good choice. The new jefe was a northern New Mexico native born in Raton, raised in Taos and Las Vegas and an Albuquerque resident of many years. Jerry insisted on inclusion. This would be a celebration of all cultures 72 and counting. It would showcase the range of creative genius. It would delve into history, warts and all. It would explore who we are. An executive committee handled overall planning and logistics. Task forces tackled big projects. The Tricentennial General Committee served as umbrella group for volunteers, sponsors, vendors, city employees and others. Meetings became forums to discuss current projects and hear proposals for new ones. One event sparked another; one idea fed others. All participated according to their own interests. Major events got media attention, but there were hundreds of smaller events. The New Mexico Postcard Club provided nearly 600 images for an exhibit. Two Scotsmen designed an official Albuquerque Tartan. The New Mexico Quilters Association created a tricentennial quilt. At an all-faiths tricentennial service, an African-American storyteller performed a Maya Angelou poem with the line, We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. The peak moment, for me, was the staging area of the tricentennial parade the last day. I walked along the street to photograph preparations, brushing tears from my eyes. Spanish re-enactors adjusted their costumes. Descendants of founding families gathered, bearing their crests. Little girls in flamenco costumes fidgeted as adults adjusted float decorations. Musicians of the Irish-American association rehearsed sitting on a tailgate, while nearby a youth mariachi band and Scottish bagpipers did the same. Filipinos tinkered with a float towed by a brightly painted Jeep-bus hybrid unique to their homeland. The Okinawa Association unfurled its banner. Bringing up the rear were people driving vintage military vehicles. It was, in fact, a celebration of all of us. Thanks for this and many other contributions, Jerry. You will be missed. Funeral services Memorial services are at 1 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 315 Coal SW. Reception will follow. Interment at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. CHICAGO So many Mexicos, so little time! I have no idea who created it, but theres a handy little chart of all the Mexicos rocketing across the internet. Its a humorous clapback at the recent folly in which an onscreen chyron on Fox News said that President Trump was cutting aid to 3 Mexican Countries. Some genius mocked up the graphic showing the Mexican flag labeled as Mexico and the flag of Peru labeled Mexico with Llamas, the flag of Brazil as Portuguese Mexico, the flag of Venezuela as Comunist (sic) Mexico and the flag of Bolivia as Mexico Without Sea. Identifying, in part, with my dads homeland of Irrelevant Mexico (Ecuador), my own reaction echoed that of countless non-Mexican Hispanics who rolled their eyes and/or belly-laughed at the Freudian slip of whoever wrote the chyron. They seemed to channel the lack of interest of countless white Americans when it comes to any non-Mexican country theyre confronted with. Its good to laugh at such stupidities, because otherwise youd have to cry and youd be right to. The lack of understanding most Americans have about our neighbors to the south is merely stunning under the best of circumstances and adds insult to injury under the worst. Even as many of us were enjoying the privilege of lightheartedly tweeting about whether were from Narrow Mexico (Chile) or Tiny White Mexico (Uruguay), several news outlets were circulating the story about the elderly white Anaheim, Calif., man who went on a racist rant against the owner of a restaurant, screaming Thats bull-! It says it in Mexican. Were not in Mexico, were in America. This is America. Not Spanish. The man, who also threatened to call immigration officials, was upset about wait for it a Mexican restaurants taco sign. Yes, in Southern California. Stories like these are in danger of becoming of the dog-bites-man variety: too commonplace to bother reporting on. To be sure, these sorts of misconceptions that if you look Mexican, you must be in the country illegally; that Spanish is the correct way to describe our neighbors to the south; and that Mexican is the accurate way to refer to the Spanish language have been around forever. But these misconceptions are getting multiplied and accelerated by the twin evils of social media and our presidents own histrionic and uninformed policies and declarations about Latin America. Theyre about as far from funny as you can get. Trump launched his campaign with the crack about Mexico not sending their best. Now, with his counterproductive plan to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras which most informed observers agree would only worsen the flow of economic refugees from those countries he is merely doubling down on his election-stump promises, the crown jewel of which was shutting down the southern border. Any effort to close the U.S.-Mexico border or cut off aid is doomed to failure. It is like stopping funding for cancer research on the theory that fewer cancers will occur, said Stephen Yale-Loehr, professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School, in a statement. We need more foreign aid, not less, to attack the root conditions of poverty and violence in Central America so fewer people in those countries will flee to the United States. But facts, reason and pragmatism seemingly have no place in Trumps administration, in his America or among his most ardent supporters. They appear to place a premium on how Trump makes them feel elevated, empowered and on the winning team after so many years of being ignored or mocked by liberal elites who turn a collective blind eye to their misfortunes. Its not good, nice or humane for people to have little to no regard for their fellow man outside the borders of their country. But it certainly is human nature flawed, selfish and, ultimately, as self-harming as it is self-interested. After all, students of Americas immigration history know that past crackdowns at the border have been largely to blame for exacerbating unlawful residency, because limiting the to-and-fro flows of migrant workers has the effect of incentivizing immigrants to put down roots in this country, even without papers. But just try telling that to anyone committed to the slogan Make America Great Again. You might as well try to explain that Ecuador is a South American country located on the equator and not some exotic faraway land with zero value to anyone in the United States. Email Estherjcepeda@washpost.com; Twitter: @estherjcepeda. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group. When historians look back to this era, they will wonder why we insisted on outsourcing our border control to a foreign country. President Donald Trumps threat to close the border with Mexico wasnt a sign of strength, but of frustration fading into desperation. He was reacting with understandable alarm at a spiraling migrant crisis on the border and is looking to Mexico to address it because we are unwilling to do it on our own not unable, unwilling. There were more than 100,000 apprehensions at the border in March, an increase from the 76,000 in February. The numbers for both months were the highest in 10 years. The total for the fiscal year could hit a million, a historic surge completely overwhelming our capabilities. We built our border facilities to hold single men, back when illegal migrants were largely adult males from Mexico, rather than family units from Central America. This means that they are ill-suited for the needs of women and children. Regardless, the sheer numbers are leading to authorities releasing migrants almost as soon as they are caught. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen warned Congress last week of the real-time dissolution of the immigration system. Its not that border control has been tried and failed; it hasnt been tried. Thanks to court decrees and congressional enactments, we dont permit ourselves to quickly return minors from Central American countries, or to detain them for any significant period of time. They get released, along with the adults accompanying them. The asylum process is broken. The initial so-called credible-fear interview to determine whether asylum-seekers get to the next step of the process approves almost all of them, even if they are unlikely ultimately to win asylum. In the meantime, they are waved into the country and probably never removed. The migrants coming in increasing numbers realize we are helpless to exclude them and, indeed, surrender to Border Patrol agents when they get here. Congress could fix all this in an afternoon with a few key changes in the law. Trump has a Nancy Pelosi problem much more than an Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador problem. But because Pelosi is unmovable, Trump has to try to work the Mexican president, known by his initials, AMLO. Mexico has done more to play ball with the U.S. under Trump than most people would have thought possible, yet all the migrants showing up at our border are still traveling through the country. Mexico doesnt make controlling these migrants a high priority because they will end up here, not there. The talk of shutting the border isnt aimed at the migrants, who largely dont come through ports of entry, but at forcing the Mexican government to do more. Maybe the mere threat of the resulting economic disruption will work. But if Trump had gone through with closing the border, the strategy would have had some of the same weaknesses as the government shutdown earlier this year. Where does it end? If Mexico doesnt act quickly, how long are we going to keep the border closed? The longer its closed, the more pain will be felt in the U.S. economy at a time when there are already signs of softness. What if Mexico initially buckles, then backslides? Will we shut down the border again, or threaten to? Even if this gambit had been guaranteed to succeed, its insane that a sovereign country of unparalleled power has tied its own hands such that it must try to bully and cajole a foreign nation to do immigration enforcement for it. In a more rational world, Congress would take seriously the spectacle of U.S. officials and humanitarian organizations scrambling to handle a flood of humanity showing up every day, and give them the legal authorities and resources to get the situation under control. That it wont is a dereliction of duty of the highest order. Email: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com>href=http://comments.low>comments.lowry@nationalreview.com. 2019 by King Features Syndicate. These kits represent an hour if not longer of someones life when they had the courage to go in and give these samples during one of the hardest times of their life. Then-State Auditor Tim Keller, on the backlog of untested rape kits After years of collecting rape kits in sexual assault cases, only to shove them into a drawer or pile them onto a shelf, Albuquerque is starting to finally mete out justice. Its about time. In 2016, then-State Auditor Tim Keller found New Mexicos backlog of untested rape kits was the worst in the nation with more than 5,000, or 254 untested kits for every 100,000 residents. Michigan was a distant second, with 153 for every 100,000 residents. The lions share 3,948, or 74 percent, of the DNA swabs that hadnt been analyzed and sent through the FBI database was collected in Albuquerque area sex-crime investigations. Some dated back to 1981. Then-Mayor Richard Berry set aside $200,000 to address the backlog. Keller said it would take millions and later described the citys response as sluggish. In 2017, Berry announced the city had won a federal grant of almost $2.5 million to test some of the rape kits but was waiting on the money. In 2018, now-Mayor Keller issued an executive order that the Albuquerque Police Department and the Albuquerque Sexual Assault Evidence Response Team would collaborate to get grant money and vendors to clear the backlog. The cost to process the remaining untested kits was an estimated $4 million. At the close of 2018, then-Gov. Susana Martinez announced the state forensic lab had cleared its backlog, and Keller reported Albuquerques had been cut in half, with hundreds of cases closed, many because the statute of limitations had expired. Fifteen were being prepared for possible indictment and one was headed to a grand jury. Keller said 20 percent of DNA samples in the Albuquerque kits matched a profile in the offender database. Yet more than 2,500 kits were still untested. Keller vowed to have the backlog cleared by the end of 2020. Since then, around 200 kits have been tested each month in 2019 (an accounting is posted at cabq.gov). And the wheels of justice are turning a bit more quickly. In January, a then-18-year-old man was indicted for allegedly raping an intoxicated 16-year-old girl in 2016. In March, the Bernalillo District Attorneys Office said it had closed 900 of the backlog cases, charged four people and has another 50 cases currently under investigation and being prepared for indictment. And just two weeks ago, a backlog kit was tested and the findings led to a third rape charge against a suspected serial rapist, this time for a 2015 case that involved rape at gunpoint. While many of the cases have run past the statute of limitations, it is essential to process these kits so law enforcement can continue to find patterns, connect dots and solve more recent cases. It is unfortunate that the length of time between when a rape was reported and the kit tested will make it hard to successfully prosecute some of these attackers. And that makes it all the more disappointing that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed lawmakers misguided expungement bill this week, as it means those who are charged based on the DNA evidence from the rape kits but are not convicted can have any official public reference to the crime erased. Unlike Kellers efforts to deliver justice to victims, expungement adds insult to injury and prevents them from getting at least the closure a public record of their attack provides. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. When a vacancy occurs on one of our courts, the New Mexico Judicial Nominating Commission interviews applicants and recommends a shortlist of candidates to the governor of New Mexico. The governor then appoints someone from this list to serve out the remaining term of the judge who resigned. Recently, I applied for a District Court vacancy in the Second Judicial District Bernalillo County. The commission included me on the shortlist of recommended candidates and the governor ultimately appointed me to the court. It was a bittersweet moment. The appointment meant that I would be leaving my judicial post at Metropolitan Court, where I had served for almost 16 years. On the other hand, moving to District Court meant new challenges and new experiences. So I packed up my robes and nameplate, said goodbye to my Metro Court family and walked across the street to District Court. The most common question I have been asked is what is the difference between Metro and District Court? The answer is a lot. And not much. There is a big difference between the two courts in terms of the cases that are heard and adjudicated in each. Metro Court adjudicates misdemeanor cases, as well as civil cases in which a maximum of $10,000 can be awarded. District Court adjudicates felony cases and generally there is no limit on the potential damages in a civil case. District Court has a family court division and a childrens court. Also, District Court has jurisdiction in matters involving real property and petitions for extraordinary relief, such as an injunction. But after that, I must say that the two courts are strikingly similar in many respects. Both courts assign bone-crushing, seemingly endless dockets to their judges. In Metropolitan Court, I served both in the Criminal and Civil Divisions. The number of cases assigned to me was, frankly, horrifying. I honestly believed early on that I would never be able to hear them all. I found a way, but it was not easy. One of my earliest memories was trying to wrap my mind around how to conduct six DWI trials in one day. I am not exaggerating. Guess what I discovered when I moved across the street to District Court? The dockets assigned to each of the judges seem just as staggering. Talk about deja vu! As before, I am sure I will figure out a way to hear all of the cases assigned to me. Failure is not an option. And apparently neither are vacations! Both courts are similar, too, in that each has an amazingly helpful and professional staff to assist the judges in the administration of their dockets. I cannot say enough about how the Metro Court staff made my difficult job doable. And I am very impressed at how helpful the District Court staff has been in helping my assistant and me settle into our new jobs and duties. My impression of both courts, as well, is that everyone understands the serious nature of the services we are providing to the public. We do, after all, ensure that the Constitution of the United States is upheld for all and that everyone enjoys the protections of the laws of New Mexico. Although there is a sense of cheerful collegiality, which I have observed in both courts, I also have sensed an undeniable seriousness in both Metro and District regarding our duties to the public. And the biggest similarity between District and Metro Courts? The backbone of each is its judges. Its judges bear the responsibility of making the judicial system work. Ultimately, it does not matter what roof I work under, either the Metro Court or District Court or any other court in New Mexico, for that matter. My judicial duties and responsibilities to the people I serve never change. That realization provides a sense of familiarity and continuity to me as I begin my new stint on the District Court. And that is a sense of deja vu I welcome. Judge Daniel Ramczyk is a judge of the Second Judicial District Court. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the judge individually and not those of the court. SANTA FE A lawyer representing the family of a man who was shot and killed by Santa Fe police in 2017 has asked the district attorney to file charges against the officers involved, in a strongly-worded letter that attacked the process used for reviewing the shooting. Anthony Benavidez, 24, was shot and killed by SFPD officers Jeramie Bisagna and Luke Wakefield at a Santa Fe apartment complex in July 2017, concluding a SWAT standoff with the mentally ill man. State Police took over the officer-involved shooting and sent its findings to Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Sernas office in January 2018. Serna later put it in the hands of a three-person panel of district attorneys from around the state to make a recommendation as to whether the officers should be charged. Last week the panel sent its report to Serna and recommended that charges not be filed. A spokesman for Serna originally told news media that Serna would follow the recommendation, but later said Serna would still review information from Benavidezs familys lawyer, Shannon Kennedy. Kennedy sent her letter to Serna Thursday. The 14-page document goes after New Mexico district attorneys in general, saying they have repeatedly skirted their accountability to both the public and to officers victims. Addressing Serna, she said using a panel of DAs in this case was simply another process by which you and other district attorneys, who are elected officials concerned with the next election like any other elected official, give yourselves cover, allowing you to avoid full weight of the politically fraught decision on whether to pursue criminal charges against an officer. The State Police investigative records for the Benavidez shooting have not been released publicly. So Kennedy relied on a December 2018 Santa Fe Reporter article that included statements Bisagna and Wakefield made to State Police. Kennedy said she verified that the statements were accurate and that she had to use only whats been published because shes constrained by a confidentiality agreement, according to her letter. Kennedy, who represented the Benavidez family in civil litigation that resulted in a $400,000 settlement payment from Santa Fe city government, writes that Bisagna imagined a silver revolver in Benavidezs hands, although the object was actually a knife. Kennedy also writes that Wakefield told State Police that he was wearing sunglasses that made it impossible to for him to see inside of Anthonys apartment or whether anything was in Anthonys hands. The panel comprised of district attorneys Raul Torres, Andrea Reeb and Richard Flores said in its letter that it used the State Police case file to review the case, but it doesnt specifically cite statements made by Bisagna and Wakefield. As profoundly troubling as it is that your office would attempt to withhold these statements from Anthonys family, it is stunning that the (New Mexico District Attorneys Association) failed to address the officers statements in its factual or legal analysis, Kennedy wrote. Kennedy claims the officers were not acting in self defense. Officer Bisagnas imagination dictated his actions, not an actual threat posed by Anthony, Kennedy wrote. And Officer Wakefield appears to have shot Anthony in the head because Officer Bisagna opened fire, not because he reasonably assessed the risk of deadly force from Anthony. Further, Anthony ran towards the window with a knife only after Officer Bisagna unreasonably opened fire on him. The DAs report says that Wakefield shot Benavidez, even though he could see that Benavidez had a kinife and not a gun as Benavidez rushed toward a window opening where the officers were positioned, because Bisagna was not shooting accurately while wielding a ballistic shield. The panel also cited in its legal analysis jury instructions from a criminal case against two Albuquerque Police Department officers who were charged after fatally shooting homeless camper James Boyd. Kennedy points out that the jury instructions in that high-profile case were brought about by the defense attorneys in that case and says they are not part of New Mexico case law. We are perplexed as to why a group of district attorneys would adopt whole cloth jury instructions introduced by criminal defense attorneys that resulted in a mistrial, Kennedy wrote. Why are district attorneys creating license for police officers to kill citizens by citing the thin non-persuasive authority of two jury instructions (which never should have been given and which resulted in a hung jury) that have never been upheld by any New Mexico appellate court? At least one member of New Mexicos U.S. House delegation has decided against running for retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Udalls seat. But another is still having active discussions about entering the race. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., announced this week that she would not challenge fellow Democrat U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan for the Senate seat next year. Sen. Udall is both a friend and a mentor, and his absence in the Senate will leave an enormous void for New Mexico to fill, Torres Small said in a release. I will not be running to replace Senator Udall. There is so much work to do for New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District, and I am honored and grateful everyday to get to do that work. U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, who represents the 1st Congressional District, is still considering entering the race, campaign spokesperson Martha McKenna told the Journal on Thursday. She said there is no timetable for a decision. So far, Lujan is the only announced candidate for Udalls seat. He is considered an early favorite and could have a fundraising edge as the fourth-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. House. He could also face New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, has said she was considering running for the seat. Her campaign spokesperson told the Journal that Toulouse Oliver would make her decision later this month. Valerie Plame of Santa Fe, a former member of the CIA who was controversially outed as a covert officer during the presidency of George W. Bush, said shes considering running for either Lujans House seat or the Senate position. The Democrats are favored to hold the Senate seat. Republicans have not won a Senate race since 2002. But Republicans say they see an opportunity to win the open seat. Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce told the Journal he was still considering running for the seat. The former congressman sought the seat in 2008, but lost to Udall in the general election that November. But Im really focused on identifying strong candidates for the Senate race and the other congressional races, Pearce said. Ive been talking to and interviewing potential candidates. And I think we will have some strong candidates. Among those weighing or announcing a run for Senate or a House seat: Republican Pat Lyons of Cuervo is mulling either a House or Senate seat run. Lyons has served two terms on both the state Public Regulation Commission and as state land commissioner. Albuquerque contractor Mick Rich, who ran for the U.S. Senate last year against Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich, has also expressed interest in running for Udalls seat. Republican Gavin Clarkson, who lost both the race for a House seat and a bid for secretary of state in 2018, is considering running for Udalls seat and another run in the 2nd Congressional District. Former state Rep. Yvette Herrell, who narrowly lost to Torres Small as the GOP nominee in November, announced in January she will run again for the 2nd Congressional seat in 2020. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde a first-term representative from District 40, and fellow Democrat Mark McDonald of Raton said they will be candidates to succeed Lujan in the 3rd Congressional District. Several others are also considering running for the seat. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Locked in a Moroccan prison in January 2018, Arthur Perrault told a U.S. State Department employee that he was unhappy and surprised that his transgressions from the 1980s and 1990s had resurfaced, noting that the Catholic Church had dealt with them years earlier. To Merrica Heaton, a State Department employee assigned then to Casablancas consular office, Perraults statement was admitting to sexual misconduct involving young boys, she told a jury in U.S. District Court in Santa Fe on Thursday. Heaton, who said she is a Catholic, added, This is a huge issue thats in the church. You cant un-hear that. At the time, Perrault, now 81, had been arrested and was being held by Moroccan authorities on an Interpol warrant, said Heaton, who testified by video from Missoula, Mont. As an American Citizens Services officer with the State Department, Heaton said, she met Perrault as part of her job to ensure the welfare of U.S. citizens being held in foreign custody. Perraults warrant stemmed from a sealed grand jury indictment issued in 2017 in Albuquerque, charging the former pastor of St. Bernadettes Parish with seven federal counts of sexual misconduct on federal property involving an 11-year-old altar boy from 1991 to 1992. His trial on the charges began Tuesday. He has pleaded not guilty. Perrault is charged with molesting only one boy in the federal case, but he has been accused of sexually molesting at least 38 boys during his 28 years in New Mexico. To show Perraults propensity to commit such crimes, prosecutors have called seven men to testify this week that they, too, were sexually molested by Perrault decades ago. As prosecutors continued presenting their case Thursday, the former altar boy who is the subject of the indictment took the witness stand for several hours. He told the jury he was the victim of an estimated 100 sexual acts perpetrated by Perrault, including hugging and kissing, and oral and anal sex at St. Bernadettes rectory, Kirtland Air Force Base, and Santa Fe National Cemetery, where he helped Perrault with funeral services and was molested after the mourners left. Yet, he testified, he was sad when, in the fall of 1992, Perrault announced at Masses that he was leaving the parish to attend a retreat. In fact, prosecutors say, Perrault fled the U.S., because allegations of abuse of other boys were about to become public. I was losing my best friend, the former altar boy recalled, adding that, as parting gifts, Perrault gave him a boombox and an old Nintendo system. After Perrault left, the former altar boy had a meeting with his mother and another priest at St. Bernadettes. Thats when, John Doe #1 testified, he first disclosed the secret he had shared with Perrault, telling them of the hugging, kissing and touching. John Doe #1 testified that, during the meeting his mother, a devout Catholic, became very angry and said I cannot speak ill of priests. The priest who attended accused the boy of stealing the boombox and Nintendo game, John Doe #1 testified. He threatened to call the police and said that Id be thrown into Springer (Boys School). I said Father Perrault had given the items to me, but he stated it was church property. The boy ultimately gave back the items, he testified. As to the boys admission that Perrault had hugged, kissed and touched him, he said the priest told him, It didnt happen. He indicated that it was not abuse . John Doe #1s mother, who has since died, had earlier told a television reporter investigating the sexual abuse allegations against Perrault that he would have never done that and that he was a great man. The former altar boy, now 38 and living in Michigan, was cleaning out his mothers dresser in 2014 and found a photo of Perrault, which started to bring back memories. The floodgates just opened up, he testified, adding that he told his then-wife, who suggested he get therapy. He ultimately filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Servants of the Paraclete, which ran a center for troubled priests in Jemez Springs and treated Perrault. He received an out-of-court settlement of $300,000 after paying attorneys fees. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal The statistic piqued the interest of Denali Tiller: An estimated one in 14 American children is growing up with a parent in prison. So the New Mexico filmmaker set out to tell the story of those kids and their parents. After four years of working on her documentary Tre Maison Dasan it is going to air on PBS as part of the Independent Lens series. It will be shown at 10 p.m. Saturday on New Mexico PBS Channel 5.1. I started the project when I met a woman who was formerly incarcerated and heard the story about her children, Tiller says. She started a program in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. I began the film about her and her story and the program. Then she met Tre, Maison and Dasan, who had parents who were locked up. And that is the story she wanted to tell. I realized that these are kids that are going through this right now, she says. We really bonded right away. I wanted them to have their own voice. Tre is a charismatic yet troubled 13-year-old who hides his emotions behind a mask of tough talk and hard edges. Maison is a funny, charming, hyperarticulate 11-year-old whose autism spectrum disorder presents itself through his ever-active mind and deep love for those around him. Dasan is a shy and sensitive 6-year-old full of curiosity and empathy. Although their parents are incarcerated for serious crimes, their strong and caring relationships with their children shatter stereotypes about those behind bars and remind us of the plight of the more than 1.7 million American children growing up with an incarcerated parent. As Tre, Maison and Dasan taught me about their worlds, I recognized that there was a need for a film that allowed children to speak for themselves, to elevate their voices in a way that fully represented their lives as they experience them, Tiller says. Through this participatory process, the audience is led through the ups and downs of life itself an experience that is both riveting and personal, hilarious and heartbreaking, and values the complexity and nuance of these boys different realities. To do this, Tiller found herself being flexible as a filmmaker. At times, the children wanted to take charge, and they filmed some footage. Other times, Tiller sat in the background and soaked up the stories. By the time production was over, Tiller had more than 350 hours of footage. It was a painstaking process to get the film down to the broadcast time of less than an hour. It was a collaborative process, she says. We were able to get the pivotal moments documented in the film. Creating art is something Tiller has always enjoyed. She was born and raised in Albuquerque and is a graduate of Albuquerque Academy. She left the Duke City to attend Rhode Island School of Design, and thats where the film started more than four years ago. I recently came back for the Santa Fe Film Festival, she said. I love being from New Mexico, and my whole family is really supportive of my work. Tiller says the documentary was inspired by American writing icon Audre Lordes quote, There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives. Maybe it starts with an issue and allowing people to show me, tell me and lead me through their stories, Tiller says. I was honored to be given the time to spend time with the boys and their families. On TV Albuquerque native Denali Tillers documentary Tre Maison Dasan will air at 10 p.m. Saturday, April 6, on New Mexico PBS Channel 5.1. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Testing by the New Mexico Environment Department detected little or no contamination in drinking water systems at or near Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis. The results were from samples taken in March out of the bases public water system, as well as results of Cannon-area sampling of drinking water systems in November soon after the Environment Department learned of the contamination by perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances, or PFAS. The department released the results Wednesday. The data represents 28 samples taken from 22 locations within public drinking water systems, Environment Department spokeswoman Maddy Hayden said. The New Mexico Environment Department and other state agencies will continue to use the best available science and data to determine a path forward that is protective of both public health and the environment. Results from both sampling events indicate that PFAS were not detectable in most of the drinking water systems that were tested, and no federal health advisory levels were exceeded. Low concentrations of some PFAS were detected in samples collected from Turquoise Estates drinking water system, but these were below EPA health advisory levels. The Environment Department and the state Attorney Generals Office filed suit against the Air Force last month, alleging violations of the states Hazardous Waste Act and that contamination at Cannon Air Force Base and Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo constitutes an imminent and substantial danger to communities on and off base. The suit claims public and private water sources have been contaminated with concentrations of PFAS. The Air Force has since filed a countercomplaint. PFAS are suspected carcinogens that were in fire-suppressant foam formerly used by the Air Force. Hayden said, We are still in the initial stages of both the complaint filed by the Air Force against NMED challenging the (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) Corrective Action Permit as well as the complaint NMED and the New Mexico Attorney General filed against the Air Force seeking a finding of imminent and substantial endangerment and order for injunctive relief. Mark Kinkade, a spokesman with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, said the Air Force couldnt comment on pending litigation, but he told the Journal last month that the Air Force responded aggressively to the contamination. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Wednesday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler told U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., that the EPA would technically and legally support the Environment Department in the enforcement of the PFAS contamination at Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases. The Air Force notified the state about the contamination at Cannon in 2018. In November, the Environment Department issued a notice of violation to the base after tests showed that dozens of private wells, including two that supply dairies, had PFAS levels three times the advisory level. The Environment Department will host a public meeting on April 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Dr. Jay Gurley Town Hall Room at Clovis Community College concerning the test results and other topics related to PFAS contamination on and around Cannon Air Force Base. The meeting will be held in cooperation with the New Mexico Departments of Health and Agriculture and the Attorney Generals Office. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Andrea Vallejos is slated to graduate from Albuquerque New Futures High School next summer. After that, she plans to attend college. She isnt sure what she will study, but she envisions becoming a probation officer. And she isnt sure where she wants to go, but she is eying the University of New Mexico. The 19-year-old always expected to wrestle with these issues during her senior year. But now her decisions seem to be more difficult than she anticipated, Vallejos told the Journal at a town hall for young parents and their children at UNM on Thursday. The town hall consensus: Young parents need support to continue with their education. Now a mother to 6-month-old Mykayla, Vallejos is contemplating her next steps so she can provide for her family. Most importantly now, because I have a daughter, I dont want to have to need, she said. But, she says, college wouldnt even be on the table if it werent for her high schools day care program and flexible scheduling, which are enabling her to graduate. Thursdays conference, partly funded through the state Public Education Department, was held to show young parents some of their available resources and options. And, PED Chief of Staff Daniel Manzano said, the department was also getting feedback on how to spend a federal grant to support expecting and parenting teens. Like Vallejo, Irene Berni knows first hand the challenges young parents face. She was 16 when she gave birth to her daughter. During her keynote speech at the conference, Berni recalled being terrified to tell her family that she was pregnant. Berni brought up raw details as she told about learning to be a parent and dealing with a toxic relationship with her daughters father. I couldnt help but ask, being a child myself, how was I going to raise one, she said. But ultimately Bernis message was one of encouragement: She graduated from UNM and went on to become a teacher. She emphasized the importance of support, too. I had so many resources, Berni said. If I had not utilized all the resources and accepted help along the way, my story would be completely different. For instance, she said, her Graduation Reality and Dual Role Skills, or GRADS, class, at Valencia High School in Los Lunas was indispensable. GRADS is offered at schools statewide and teaches teen parenting skills and lifestyle tools. It kicked off in 1989. Haylie Trujillo, 19, who wants to be a veterinary technician, echoed Berni. Trujillo credited the GRADS program at Century High School, also in Los Lunas, for her ability to balance learning and raising her 2-year-old son, Kayden. Thats the big difference, Trujillo said about the program. Secretary of Education Karen Trujillo has her own ties to GRADS. She was a teacher in the program at the Cobre Consolidated School District in Bayard for two years. In my teaching career, it was the most impactful thing I ever did in the classroom, the PED secretary said, tears making it hard to finish her sentence. Trujillo told the Journal that she hopes to expand the GRADS program into more schools. It is now available at 26 sites. According to the GRADS website, funding for the program comes from the state Legislature and is overseen in part by the PED. PHOENIX The White House has touted a two-mile stretch of fencing President Donald Trump is visiting Friday as the first section of his proposed border wall to be built. In reality, the newly fortified structure commemorated with a plaque bearing his name and those of top immigration and homeland security officials was a long-planned replacement for an old barrier. It is one of a handful of projects that total $1 billion to replace existing barriers and build new ones across the border. As Trump promotes his signature campaign promise as the solution to the recent surge of migrant families crossing the border, here are questions and answers about the various barriers along the border and those that are in the works. WHATS ALREADY THERE? The southern border is nearly 2,000 miles long and already has about 650 miles of different types of barriers, including short vehicle barricades and tall, steel fences that go up to 30 feet high. Most of the fencing was built during the administration of George W. Bush, and there have been updates and maintenance throughout other administrations. WHAT HAS TRUMP DONE? Trump has yet to complete any new mileage of fencing or other barriers anywhere on the border. His administration has only replaced existing fencing, including the section he is touring Friday. Construction for that small chunk of fencing cost about $18 million, began in February 2018 and was completed in October. Plans to replace that fence date back to 2009, during the beginning of former President Barack Obamas tenure. Contractors have been doing site and preparation work for 13 miles of barriers in the Rio Grande Valley that will be Trumps first new fencing. The administration said construction could begin as early as this week. The administration is also in the process of replacing 14 miles of fencing around San Diego. The wall is under construction, by the way, large sections. Were going to be meeting, I think on Friday, at a piece of the wall that weve completed, a big piece, a lot of its being built right now, he told reporters Thursday. Its moving along very nicely. But we need the wall. WHAT ABOUT THOSE PROTOTYPES? Early in his term, Trump called for prototypes of border walls that were built in the San Diego area at a cost of about $300,000 to $500,000 each. Eight prototypes went up, and Trump traveled to the border to inspect them last year. But they were demolished in February. The nearly $3 billion that Congress provided for barriers during the first half of Trumps term requires the money be spent on designs that were in place before May 2017, which meant the prototypes couldnt be used. The prototypes became a spectacle at various times since Trump took office, drawing tourists, protesters and artists who projected light shows on the walls from Mexico. WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY? Trump shut down the federal government for more than a month the longest shutdown in U.S. history and later declared a national emergency to free up billions of dollars to build his wall. Congress had voted to block the emergency declaration but Trump vetoed the measure. Several organizations brought lawsuits over the declaration, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats also planned on suing to prevent Trump from stealing money from federal programs and diverting the money to build a wall. But the national emergency money has not yet been spent in part because the government has to first spend existing border wall funding. A lawsuit could eventually derail the plan. Still, various plans for more border barriers are moving along. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security requested that the defense department build 57 miles of 18-foot fencing near Yuma, Arizona and El Paso, Texas, which have seen enormous increases in the number of border crossers, especially families. Prev 1 of 10 Next Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Neighbors said 5-year-old Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau had a smile that just wouldnt quit. She loved Tingley Beach and had once won a fishing contest there. Most kids have a favorite color, Sarah had three: pink, purple and blue. They also said her father, Brandon Reynolds, was very strict with the girl and had recently begun home-schooling her. They could hear everything through the walls. They heard her last cry for help Thursday night. Police say Reynolds, 36, beat his daughter to death because she refused to finish the homework he had assigned her. Sarah was pronounced dead at University of New Mexico Hospital on Friday morning. Reynolds is charged with child abuse resulting in death. He was booked into jail Friday evening. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, around 1 a.m. Albuquerque Fire Rescue was called to Reynolds apartment in the 1400 block of Amherst SE, near Gibson and Carlisle, for reports that the little girl was having a heart attack. When they arrived they found Sarah was unconscious and not breathing, and she did not have a pulse. Her father stood by emotionless. Then, firefighters noticed she had a large amount of bruising on her body and called the police to investigate. Reynolds initially told police a couple of different stories about what had happened, including that Sarah suddenly stopped breathing while drifting off to sleep, that she had come into the bedroom while he was smoking marijuana, and that she said she needed to use the bathroom and then began to spit up. But one of the neighbors had a different story to tell. She told police she overheard Reynolds yelling get up followed by sounds of someone or something being struck, as if with a shoe. Police say the bruising on the childs body stretched from her neck to her buttocks, much of which was consistent with the tread of a shoe. At the police station, Reynolds told detectives the little girl refused to do her homework around 8:30 p.m., which triggered him and thats when the discipline came in. Police say Reynolds told them he hit the girl with a green water shoe all over her body until she wasnt mobile. Once he realized she was lethargic he cradled her on the floor of the living room, a detective wrote in the complaint. Reynolds told police he didnt call rescue for hours, and instead had put ice on her bruised back. He also put her in bed and listened to her heartbeat. Hours later, after realizing Sarahs heartbeat was faint and her breathing shallow, Reynolds called 911 and attempted to render aid. In a news conference, Police Chief Michael Geier spoke about the investigation, calling the little girls death a heartbreaking tragedy. Our officers and detectives are working diligently at this time to bring justice to this little girl, Geier said. Troubled relationship Court records granting Reynolds full custody show he had a tumultuous relationship with the little girls mother, Chantel Smith. In a petition to establish parentage and determine custody, Smith, now 38, wrote that Brandon Reynolds has PTSD which causes him to not be able to handle or care for a child properly. He also has a history of abandoning the mother and that may follow through with the child. However, a court hearing officer decided Sarah should stay with Reynolds due to concerns about her mothers marijuana use. Since her birth, the child has been in the custody of the father since the child tested positive for THC at birth and contrary to instructions from the birth hospital, mother was observed breast feeding the child when she was positive for THC. He has been her primary caregiver and remains the sole legal and physical custodian of the child. Tripp Stelnicki, a spokesman for the states Children, Youth and Families Department, confirmed that investigators contacted the family about possible drug exposure after Sarah was born. CYFD investigated the potential of drug abuse by the parents, Stelnicki said. It was not substantiated and the case was closed at that point. He said since then the department hasnt had any further contact with Reynolds or his daughter. There were no other children in the household. Reynolds does not have a criminal history in New Mexico, according to online court records. Smith couldnt be reached by the Journal. Makeshift memorial By Friday afternoon, the police tape and investigators were gone. A little memorial had sprung at the gray concrete outside 1414 Amherst; some flowers, a candle, teddy bear and stuffed Ninja Turtle piled beside the door. Neighbors Evelyn and Karen say they never saw this coming. The sisters went back and forth talking about Sarah; her beautiful curly hair, big brown eyes. They provided a photograph that showed her smiling with her hair in big, poofy pigtails. We would celebrate our birthdays together, with a little cake and a little candle, Evelyn said with a smile. She was a Cancer like me. The sisters said they lived next to Reynolds for five years. They would see Sarah twice a month and she would play with Evelyns nephew from time to time when Reynolds would allow it. They said Sarahs father home-schooled the girl and was very strict with her. She never went anywhere, Evelyn said. He didnt believe in school because he didnt want her to grow up in this society. I dont disagree with that, but she didnt have no friends. The sisters say they also suspected abuse for a long time, though theres no record of them ever reporting the suspected abuse to police. You can hear everything through the walls, Karen said. On Thursday night, Karen said, she heard Reynolds yelling and Sarah crying. Sadly, she heard her last cry for help, Evelyn said. The walls arent too thick here. When Karen went outside, she saw an ambulance and asked if she could help but was sent away by rescue crews. You dont think stuff like this happens, and then it happens right next door, Karen said. You dont know how to react. The little girl you just saw a couple days ago, youre not going to see her again. WASHINGTON David Malpass, the Treasury official nominated by President Donald Trump to head the 189-nation World Bank, was elected to the job on Friday. Malpass was approved unanimously by the banks 25-member executive board. He will begin a five-year term next Tuesday succeeding Jim Yong Kim, an Obama administration pick who stepped down earlier this year, three years before his term was to end. Malpass was serving in the Trump administration as Treasurys under secretary of international affairs. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and a White House adviser, both praised the choice. I look forward to continuing our work to economically empower women globally and further the banks core mission of ending poverty, said Ivanka Trump, who had worked on those issues with Kim. Mnuchin praised Malpass for pushing reforms at the World Bank during his time at Treasury. Malpass has been a longtime critic of the World Bank and its sister lending organization, the International Monetary Fund. He has complained that the bank was lending too much money to China at the expense of poorer nations that do not have the same access to global capital markets as China. However, in his Treasury post, Malpass helped win support last year for a $13 billion funding increase for the bank. Malpass, 63, will be the 13th president of the World Bank. Americans have always headed the World Bank, while a European has always headed the IMF since both institutions were created in the mid-1940s. Critics have said this tradition was no longer valid in a new era with the growing clout of emerging economics such as China. However, no other country put forward a candidate to challenge Malpass. In a note to World Bank employees after his selection Friday, Malpass said that more than 700 million people remain in extreme poverty in the world. Too many people are not seeing an advance in their living standards, with the poorest nations facing the steepest challenges, he said. Faced with these challenges, our twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and achieving shared prosperity are more relevant than ever, Malpass said. The Bank Group is strong financially and well equipped with the tools and talent to achieve measurable successes. His candidacy was backed by a global lobbying effort led by Mnuchin, who promoted Malpass in discussions with foreign finance officials. The World Bank board had said last month that it would interview Malpass and expected to make its selection before the World Bank and IMF spring meetings that will be held in Washington next week. Mom, former teacher joins school board The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education opted to select Katherine Covey, the first of four interviewees, to fill the seat of recently resigned member Martha Janssen in District 3. RRPS had 10 applicants, but three were eliminated because they didnt reside in District 3, from which Janssen had moved. Covey was sworn in Saturday afternoon, as she was slated to be out of town and had to miss her first board meeting, which will be held Monday at 5:30. The board began the interview process last Monday afternoon, when three candidates in order, Covey (KO-vee); Kim Lanoy-Sandoval, a member of Rio Rancho High Schools first graduating class in 1999; and Cheryl Montoya gave a one-minute introduction of themselves, answered 10 questions posed by board members and concluded with a one-minute summary. On Tuesday, just Jeffery Morgan went through the process. Three of the intended seven candidates Lee Ann Caldwell, Scarlett Taylor and Carl Wilken withdrew their candidacy the day before they would have been interviewed. All four interviewees including Covey, who has two children at RRHS have students attending district schools. After Morgans interview, the other candidates returned to the board room, where the board members Ryan Parra, Catherine Cullen, Wynne Coleman and Ramon Montano discussed who they preferred for the seat, with Covey widely supported and Morgan a close second. This is very tough, Cullen admitted. Coleman agreed: (Theyre) all very qualified. Cullen moved for approval of Covey, Coleman seconded that motion and all four voted in favor of naming her to the board. Coveys term could last only through Dec. 31, unless she runs for the seat, along with Montano (District 2) and Parra (District 4), who have told the Observer they intended to run for re-election. Covey said she would take a wait-and-see attitude I am considering it and it was too early to make that decision. A single mother, she has lived in several states, going from Arizona to Utah, where she taught U.S. and world history, and then Idaho, where she served as a probation officer. She came to New Mexico five years ago to work for Justice Systems Inc., an Ontario Systems company, as a client services manager, choosing Rio Rancho as her residence after hearing favorable input about RRPS. Justice Systems, she said, creates court-management software, provides training, does trouble-shooting and helps with court processes. Because of my background in education, education has always been important to me, and (I wanted) to get more involved in the schools, she said, when asked why she became a candidate for the school board seat. I saw that opening, and it was a way to get involved and make an improvement, Covey said. I think our school board and district have done a great job. (I see the need for) additional resources for behavioral specialists and a program for peer-tutoring. She said she supported having armed security guards on campuses, which the board decided to do in recent months, and said shed been involved in a similar discussion as a probation officer. We were not armed, she said. I can see both sides. Ultimately, we ended up carrying weapons. Even though my term is going to be short, I am very excited to serve and jump in with both feet and hit the ground running, she said. I am committed to putting in my effort I am dedicated to working hard and serving our school district and community the best I can. Mayor picks 30-year resident for council City of Rio Rancho report Mayor Gregg Hull has selected longtime Rio Rancho resident Jeremy Lenentine to fill the District 2 city council seat vacancy. Per the city charter, Lenentines appointment requires governing body confirmation, which Hull will seek at its April 10 meeting. After much consideration, I have chosen to appoint Jeremy Lenentine to represent District 2, Hull said in a news release. I am convinced Jeremy will work hard to represent District 2. Jeremy was raised in Rio Rancho and has chosen to raise his family here as well. Jeremy is an active community member and will bring a fresh perspective to the governing body. Lenentine was one of six applicants. He is the outreach director at the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Rio Rancho. He attended Champion College in Arkansas and Hyles Anderson College in Indiana. Lenentine has lived in Rio Rancho for nearly 30 years. I want to thank all the applicants, Hull said. Because each applicant was passionate about serving Rio Rancho and District 2, the selection process was very difficult. If the governing body confirms Lenentines appointment, he will be sworn in and take office at the end of the meeting. He would serve a term through March 2020. As part of the regular municipal election in March 2020, the District 2 seat will be decided by voters, and the person elected will serve a two-year term. If the governing body does not accept Hulls appointment, the mayor will appoint another individual within 45 days, subject to governing body confirmation. The process continues until the governing body has confirmed an appointee of the mayor. The vacancy was created when Dawnn Robinson, re-elected in March 2018, resigned effective March 13 because her husband had obtained a job in Atlanta and the family was moving there. Actor/writer/director Emilio Estevez might have a thing about libraries. In one of his earliest and most popular movie roles, he played jock Andrew in John Hughes The Breakfast Club, in which he served detention in a high school library with other Brat Pack misfits. Estevez, who continued to appear onscreen in a series of high-profile movies throughout the remainder of the late 20thcentury and into the 21st, also had a passion for being behind the camera, beginning with his 1986 writer/director debut Wisdom and continuing with his Golden Globe-nominated feature Bobby. Estevez goes back to the library in The Public (Universal), his latest movie as actor, writer and director. Set in the downtown Cincinnati public library, during a particularly brutal winter, The Public features Estevez as Stuart, a kind-hearted head librarian, with a secret past. As is the case in many northern urban areas, public libraries have become makeshift shelters for the homeless population. Stuart is kind to the homeless people who wander the stacks, although he has little patience for one homeless womans constant anti-Semitic rants. Librarian Myra (Jena Malone) and Stuart, her supervisor, have a pleasantly antagonistic relationship. Shes an environmentalist who goes after him for driving to work instead of taking public trans. Myra wants a transfer to another area in the library and Stuart is the one who holds the key. He is also under the watchful eye of Anderson (Jeffrey Wright), his supervisor, especially since the library is being sued by a homeless man for violating his rights when he was asked by Stuart to evacuate because his body odor was wreaking havoc on other patrons. Prosecutor Davis (Christian Slater), who is also running for mayor, is handling the case, takes an instant dislike to Stuart. At home, Stuart encounters building manager Angela (Taylor Schilling) attempting to repair the radiator in his apartment. After some initial trepidation, they bond over their sobriety. Stuart reveals how books helped Stuart get sober and turn his life around. Not surprisingly, such intimate conversation leads to them having sex. Meanwhile, crisis negotiator Bill (Alec Baldwin) ask his police department superior for a leave of absence so that he and his ex-wife can focus more attention on finding their son Mike (Nik Pajic), a junkie who is living on the streets. Everything changes the next day at the library. With temperatures plummeting to dangerously low levels, homeless man Jackson (Michael Kenneth Williams) organizers a peaceful rebellion as the security staff prepares to close the library for the evening. With more than 100 homeless people refusing to leave, Stuart finds himself in the middle of a situation that requires all of his focus and energy to resolve. Soon Bill is called in to help work things out, just as a local news team, led by desperate-for-ratings newscaster Rebecca (Gabrielle Union) arrives on the scene. Like Bobby, The Public is a multi-character drama, in which all of the characters converge in one setting, leading to a massive, heart-tugging finale. Manipulative to the very last frame, The Public touches on hot button issues including the opioid epidemic, homelessness, and hate crimes, to mention a few, all couched in subtle religious messaging (Stuarts surname is Goodson). Nevertheless, The Public may not be a potboiler, but its a story worth telling. Rating: C+ The Trailer Via YouTube Check out SFGN's weekly movie column @ CHICO, Calif. - A Chico man registered as a sex offender was arrested on charges of contacting a minor. Deputies with the Butte County Sheriff's Office posed as a 13-year-old girl and began communicating with Ryan McClure, 25, through social media accounts. McClure sent sexually suggestive comments and was attempting to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl. He is currently on parole for similar charges and is registered as a sex offender. Deputies were able to track his GPS monitor take him into custody. McClure was arrested on charges of contact a minor to commit a felony and sending harmful matter to seduce a minor. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Butte County Sheriff's Office at (530) 538-7671. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Health officials are continuing to investigate a cluster of 20 measles cases in the North State. Since March 24, there have been 20 confirmed measles cases in Northern California including 13 in Butte County, three in Placer County, three in Shasta County, one in Tehama County, and one in Glenn County. The following locations have been identified as possible locations for public exposure to the measles in Tehama, Shasta, Placer and Butte Counties. According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, the number of measles cases in 2019 is the second largest amount in the last 9 years. CHICO, Calif. Five months ago the Camp Fire ripped across Paradise, Concow and Magalia. Last July the Carr Fire destroyed some one thousand Redding homes. Life as our region had known it; changed forever. As we move forward, Action News Now is committed to helping our community. Every Thursday night and Friday morning, our news team will take on the issues we all now face, in a new series, Our Future after the Fire. Morning Anchor Julia Yarbough explores some of the primary issues set forth in a Chico Chamber of Commerce report which are having short and long-term impacts to the business and residential community. Scott Brogden is like many in the area who lost everything to the Camp Fire. A professor at Chico State, the fire destroyed his Paradise home, taking with it thousands of dollars of tools, classic rebuilt cars, a full music recording studio, wood and tool shop. Despite the massive loss, Brogden says he is trying to stay positive. Since the fire, he has been living with his parents in their home and alternating between an adjacent RV. He says finding a new home in Chico is challenging, especially finding something that is financially comparable to what he lost. The Chico Chamber of Commerce surveyed the local business community a month after the fire to gauge the impacts to the workforce. 76 businesses responded, which represent more than 13-thousand employees. The results were compiled into the Camp Fire Special Report which indicated that short and long-term housing is the primary challenge facing the region. That is followed by public safety, roads and employee pensions. Jolene Francis, with the Chico Chamber of Commerce, says the local economy is reliant on the ability of businesses to staff properly. She says if businesses are losing workers or are unable to hire employees, the region runs the risk of losing the business to relocation. Francis also works with Enloe Medical Center and says the facility is concerned about the ability to attract, recruit and retain physicians if those individuals are unable to find suitable housing for themselves and their families. It is a concern also shared by California Assemblyman James Gallagher, representing District 3. He recently met with those in the local building and contracting industry to discuss options for both private and public solutions to the housing issue. He says he does fear that the region could lose employers if there is not a way to house what he describes as a critical workforce. Public safety was the next major concern expressed via the survey. For many who are in the Chico area, the region is experiencing an uptick in crime. During a recent Chico City Council Meeting, Police Chief Michael OBrien revealed pre and post Camp Fire crimes statistics. The Chief says data indicates there is an increase in property crime, traffic accidents and domestic violence as well as a pattern the Chief says concerns him: that in both 2017 and 2018 there was an increase in violent crime. For the community of Paradise as individuals begin to recover and rebuild moving forward comes with an equal measure of hope and fear. For Scott Brogden, he says he is not sure that he would return, despite having called Paradise his home for more than 40 years. He says he is worried about the safety of the water and wonders, what will be done to prevent this type of disaster from happening again. After the Florida Democrats lost the governors office and a Senate seat by some of the narrowest margins since the 2000 presidential election, the Florida Democratic Party looks to recruit an army of young people and register hundreds of thousands of new voters to put the state back into the blue column. The Florida Democratic Party is launching a final push to recruit college juniors to apply to the partys paid field organizer training program, Organizing Corps 2020, before the application deadline of April 8. The Democratic Party is committed to hiring students of color for the program with a goal of 60 percent of all hires coming from Hispanic, Caribbean, African American and LGBT communities. Corps members will be flown to Chicago for a week of training with national experts, and then will come back to Florida to take part in an 8-week program while receiving a $4,000 stipend. The program will focus on structured training in digital organizing, voter registration, and data analysis. The party plans to invest over a million dollars into the effort, with the goal of training more than 100 young people this summer and a second set of college students in the fall. The partys plan to recruit student organizers is just one piece of the larger plan, indicating Democrats are gearing up for 2020. The Florida Democratic Party also announced it will spend $2 million on voter registration, commit to registering 200,000 voters, and work with Andrew Gillum and partner organizations to increase voter registration by 1,000,000 voters in advance of 2020. In addition, the Florida Democratic Party has already started staffing up in data and field to prepare for 2020, announcing a dozen new senior hires in data and field to take back Florida and put a Democrat in the White House in 2020. The Florida Democrats believe they can win in Florida by creating a new electorate through voter registration and outreach. Juan Penalosa, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, and an advisory board member of the Organizing Corps 2020, called the organizing program crucial in turning Florida Blue in 2020. He explained that Florida Democrats saw record youth involvement and turnout in 2018, and the FDP Organizing Corps will help us build on youth outreach and engagement. It is a key component in expanding our base and ensure that Florida Democrats have a strong field program ready to support our presidential nominee on day one." Organizing Corps 2020 is a national program led by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Groups working on the project include the Human Rights Campaign, Victory Fund, Disability Action for America, Asian American Action Fund, and Pay Our Interns. The party wants to focus on students from communities of color, and the LGBT community, because these groups have been underrepresented among political campaign staff. The Florida program seeks to recruit college students who reside in or around Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. The national program will also have students working in Phoenix, AZ, Atlanta, GA, Detroit, MI, Charlotte, NC, Fayetteville, NC, Philadelphia, PA, and Milwaukee, Wi. Students interested in applying to the program can apply at OrganizingCorps2020.com. As Conde Nast combines its U.S. and international companies into a single global business, Jonathan Newhouse becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors of Conde Nast. Jonathan Newhouse has led Conde Nast International for nearly 30 years with an unparalleled record of success, said Steven Newhouse, Co-President of Advance. One of the most important people in the companys history, Jonathan is responsible for our remarkable global footprint. I am grateful to him for his contribution and glad he will continue to contribute to Advance as Chairman of the Board of Conde Nast and in other capacities. Im excited to lead the board of directors of Conde Nast as it enters the next stage of its evolution as a modern media company, said Jonathan Newhouse. I leave Conde Nast International as a thriving business within a powerful, global organization led by the accomplished Roger Lynch." While serving as Chairman of Conde Nast's Board of Directors, Jonathan will also serve as a representative of Advance on the board of directors of Turnitin, the world's leading company producing anti-plagiarism software, which Advance has agreed to acquire. He also serves on the board of directors of Vestiaire Collective, a Paris-based e-commerce business in which Advance is an investor. Jonathan has been the architect of Conde Nasts global expansion since taking the helm of Conde Nast International in 1990. As Chairman and Chief Executive, he led the transformation of the company from a regional magazine publisher based in Western Europe to a modern global media company encompassing 32 markets, more than 120 magazines and some 100 websites. He launched editions of Vogue in China, Russia, Japan, India, South Korea, Turkey, the Middle East, Poland, Holland, Greece, Ukraine and many other markets. Under his leadership, Conde Nast International vastly expanded its portfolio of brands and business activities. He grew the footprint of GQ, Vanity Fair Conde Nast Traveller, AD, Wired and Glamour from largely American businesses to global brands with magazines and websites the world over. The organization moved into digital, video, content creation, hospitality, events and education. In the last few years Jonathan has directed a profound acceleration of the organizations digital efforts, including the establishment of a Vogue editorial digital hub at Conde Nast International headquarters in London to provide content and support for Vogue's digital expansion around the globe. Starting in 2011 Jonathan has played a role at Conde Nast US as a member of its board of directors and beginning this year, the Conde Nast global board. Bharti Airtel and Singapore Telecommunication Ltd or Singtel are set to make a combined offer to buy Dish TV, according to CNBC-TV18. Singtel and Airtel are looking to acquire promoters 60 per cent stake in Dish TV for around Rs 6,150 crore. The deal price will be Rs 55 per share to trigger an open offer. Singtel had recently said that it would buy stock worth around $525 million of Bharti Airtel as part of the Indian telecom operators plan to raise $4.6 billion through shares and bonds. Singtel is Singapores largest telecom operator and owns about half of Airtels holding company Bharti Telecom. The consolidation in the Indian DTH space started last year, when Dish TV completed its merger with Videocon d2h. According to TRAI data, Dish TV combined with Videocon d2h leads with a 37 per cent market share, followed by Tata Sky with 27 per cent share and Airtel Digital TV with 24 per cent share. The public broadcaster, DD Free Dish, on the other hand, claims to have approximately 30 million subscribers as a public platform. WARC, the international authority on advertising and media effectiveness, has launched its WARC Prize for Asian Strategy 2019, a search for the best strategic ideas from Asias marketing industry. This case study competition showcases Asias smartest marketing thinking, highlighting breakthrough ideas from across the region. Now in its ninth year, the Prize remains free to enter and is open to clients and agencies in any marketing discipline. The winners of the top award-winning papers share a US$10,000 prize fund. Lucy Aitken, Managing Editor, Case Studies, WARC, said, The WARC Prize for Asian Strategy rewards strategic thinking that helps clients solve real-life problems and provides a base for future growth. We have an extremely high-calibre jury, including senior marketers from some of the worlds biggest brands as well as strategy experts, who will be selecting the best case studies forstrategic thinking that has driven business results in Asia. Freddie Covington, Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing and Cross Border, Asia Pacific, Visa, has been appointed Jury Chair. Named the most influential CMO for Excellence in Branding and Marketing at the World Brand Congress, Covington leads Visa marketing in more than 40 Asian markets and manages all aspects of Visas regional marketing efforts. She also sits on the Asia Pacific Executive Leadership team. Commenting on the importance of strategy, Freddie Covington said, In todays hyper-competitive world where consumers are making new blueprints for their lives,strategy has never been more at a premium for differentiation anddriving breakthrough ideas from across the region. Joining Covington is an eminent judging panel of client- and agency-side experts. The first to be named are: Ian Dolan Head of Strategy and Planning, PHD China Natalie Gruis Head of Strategy, International, TBWA Sharon Ho Managing Director, Digitas Siddhant Lahiri Head of Strategic Planning, Rediffusion Y&R Tuomas Peltoniemi EVP, Managing Director APAC, R/GA David Porter Vice President Media, Unilever AAR (Asia, Africa, Middle East, Turkey and Russia) Amrita Randhawa CEO, Mindshare Asia Pacific and Executive Chair, Mindshare Greater China Kawal Shoor Planner and Founding Partner, The Womb John Woodward Chief Strategy Officer, McCann Worldgroup Japan Kaori Yatsu Head of Planning, BBDO Japan More judges will be announced shortly. Entries can be submitted from now until July 10, 2019 deadline. The Grand Prix winner will receive $5,000 and five $1,000 prizes will be presented to the winners of the Special Awards recognising specific areas of excellence: The Category Disruptor Award for the best example of a brand that has successfully broken with category conventions. The Early Adopter Award for the best example of a brand using a new innovation or emerging tech or platform. The Customer Journey Award for the best example of a brand creating a compelling path to purchase. The Local Hero Award for the best example of a challenger Asian brand using a smart marketing strategy to take on bigger competitors. The Research Excellence Award for the best use of research in the development of strategic ideas. The winning case studies will be published in the Asian Strategy Report, which will include an analysis of the regions smartest thinking uncovering strategic trends and themes. The findings included in the report will be revealed at an event in Singapore later in the year. NOTE: Dan wrote this post in 2016. ### By Dan Olmsted If youve been wondering whats up with the suit filed by two whistleblowers against Merck for allegedly hiding the fact that the mumps vaccine doesnt work well, so have we. Now a timeline has emerged, although you might need a telescope to see its further reaches. An Amended Scheduling Order was released this month that extends deadlines even longer: dispositive motions to be filed by December 20, 2017 basically two years from now; motions involving class certification by May 3, 2018. That looks like the earliest a trial could start, and its not hard to see the whole thing going into 2019, if not a new decade entirely. This for an allegedly blatant fraud against taxpayers that occurred last decade in 1999! A key date appears to be October 31 of next year, when a status report from both sides is due on whether the parties would consent to alternative dispute resolution in other words, I believe, to settling out of court. Backed by a major California law firm that knows how to write powerful briefs and has a lot of material to work with, the whistleblowers Stephen A. Krahling and Joan A. Wlochowski havent budged. Attempts by Merck to get the suit thrown out on all kinds of grounds (such as, unbelievably, that the FDA knew about it and didnt care, so why should anyone else!) failed in federal court in Philadelphia. Discovery of documents must also be completed by that October date. Discovery the delivery of relevant material that might help make a case is exactly what private firms of all kinds dread, and one reason you see so many settlements where terms are not disclosed, nobody admits any wrongdoing and the whole thing goes away. The big firms pay millions to defend themselves, so whats a few more million out of billions in profits to buy someone off? Most people cant resist the temptation given that they could lose everything in court. Thats why getting to discovery in this lawsuit is the crux of the matter its so rare, and theres so much at stake. That includes billions in potential penalties for Merck if its found the firm defrauded the government, which pays hundreds of millions a year for the MMR the mumps, measles, and rubella shot. Merck has the only license to manufacture any of the MMR components in the United States, and in the worst outcome for Merck it could lose that lucrative monopoly entirely. There is no discovery allowed in the so-called vaccine court that has so far thwarted thousands of parents who claimed their childs autism was due to the MMR, the mercury in some vaccinations, or a combination of both. The judges who threw out all the cases ridiculed the families for having no evidence to that effect, a Catch-22 if ever there was one. So while it seems like bad news that this case is stretching so far into the future, the fact that it is still headed for daylight is kind of a miracle. If it makes it all the way, you have to wonder what a jury will make of some of the Merck documents already disclosed such as the one in which a Merck official told subordinates that their job was to show that the mumps vaccine met federal licensing standards, when it clearly did not. To bridge the gap, according to the suit: Merck set out to conduct testing of its mumps vaccine that would support its original efficacy finding. In performing this testing, Mercks objective was to report efficacy of 95 percent or higher regardless of the vaccines true efficacy. The only way Merck could accomplish this was through manipulating its testing procedures and falsifying the test results. Krahling and Wlochowski participated on the Merck team that conducted this testing and witnessed firsthand the fraud in which Merck engaged to reach its desired results. Merck internally referred to the testing as Protocol 007. Naming a secret project after a British spy with a license to kill might have seemed amusing inside Merck; perhaps not so much in an American courtroom. 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. Trot Insider has learned that driver Trevor Henry has been sidelined from driving after being hit by a car in Quebec. According to Henry's wife, Shannon, Trevor was crossing a street in Montreal on Wednesday (April 3) when he was struck by a right-turning car. As a result, Henry received a broken ankle that required surgery on Wednesday afternoon. Shannon flew into Montreal on Wednesday night and the couple is currently waiting to fly back to Ontario. Trevor told Trot Insider that he'll be sidelined for more than a month as he's been told by doctors to keep weight off the ankle for around six weeks. One of Canada's leading drivers, Henry has won 6,668 races and more than $57 million in purses over his career. As of press time, he was fourth in Canada for earnings in 2019 with $671,530 banked by his horses. BAGHDAD Although water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have been rising as torrential rains fill some of the largest dams in Iraq, the threat of drought persists. Turkey is now taking the necessary steps to fill its controversial Ilisu Dam, while Iran continues to cut off tributaries of the rivers flowing into Iraq. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a March 7 rally that the country will begin filling the reservoir of the dam on the Tigris River in June, despite warnings from the Iraqi government that the process will dry out large areas of the country. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, the water reservoirs contain 29 billion cubic meters, which is enough for the coming summer and winter. However, filling the Ilisu Dam will take two to three years and strategic reservoirs will be consumed, threatening Iraqs water security. Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities have no clear means of resolving the crisis with Turkey, although it has been going on for years, peaking last year. The Ilisu project on the Tigris in southeastern Turkey was launched in 2006. It is one of 22 dams Ankara aims to build on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The dam is 65 kilometers (45 miles) from the Iraqi border and stretches 1,820 meters (1.1 mile). The structure stands 135 meters (443 feet) high, is a couple of kilometers (more than a mile) wide and has a basin area of 300 square kilometers (127 square miles). Aoun Diab, an adviser at the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, told Al-Monitor, Filling the dam in June will not have much impact [this year] on Iraq due to the high water reservoirs thanks to heavy rain. But if the next year is dry, continuing to fill the dam will necessarily affect Iraq's water share from the Tigris River. Diab stressed that Iraq has reached an understanding with Ankara that Turkey won't fully cut off the water of the Tigris River while filling the dam and won't harm the waters of the Zab River, the largest tributary of the Tigris River from Turkey. He said this understanding is not yet an official agreement and will hinge on the nature of the countries' relationship. Iraqi parliament member Mohamed Amin revealed one potential solution to the water crisis with Turkey, telling Rudaw, There are joint projects with Turkey and ongoing cooperation on the filling of the dam. Turkey has also made a proposal to support international organizations to build three common dams with Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] to achieve more convergence. Amin said these proposed dams could help provide larger water reservoirs and solve a large part of the Ilisu Dam problem. However, Mansour al-Baiji, a member of the Iraqi parliament's Water Committee, ruled out the possibility of Ankara looking for solutions that serve Baghdad. Iraq is subject to a true water blockade and Turkey is using the water issue for political purposes. Iraq must take action to contain the crisis, which may extend for years to come," he told Al-Monitor. The UN and international organizations must intervene to solve this crisis. The common rivers are common property, and postponing filling the dam, or an abundance of rain, doesn't mean a drought won't occur, unless Iraq signs agreements to guarantee fixed water shares. On the other hand, Iraq has no agreement to regulate the passage of rivers except for the 1975 Algiers Agreement to share the Shatt al-Arab and Baghdad and Tehran dispute that arrangement. That agreement received little attention for years but made it back to the front burner after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited Iraq on March 11. Despite the fears of some experts and observers that the deal doesn't favor Iraq, some believe it will be binding on Iran to release the water of the Karun River, which flows into Shatt al-Arab. That would raise the water level and rid the coast of high salinity. However, Tehran which has stopped or reduced the flow levels of 42 tributaries emanating from Iran and pouring into the Iraqi territories, including Karun and Little Zab is unlikely to commit to releasing the water, especially as it is building new dams on those rivers. So far, it has built 109 dams, the last of which was the Kolsa on Little Zab. Iraqi parliament member Raad Aldalki told Al-Monitor, Drought will eventually hit Iraq hard because of the Iranian and Turkish dams, especially Ilisu and Kolsa. The Iraqi government needs to internationalize the crisis if neighboring countries refuse to cooperate with Baghdad and solve it. Aldalki noted that Iraq can't counter Iran's moves to change the course of the Karun River, which is much more dangerous than the crisis of dams. It seems that Iraq depends on rainy seasons to run its water affairs, temporarily, without relying on bilateral agreements with riparian countries such as Turkey, Jordan and Syria, and has no plans to build new dams and lakes to create larger reservoirs. The next drought won't be easy to deal with, especially as the upstream countries Turkey and Iran will be in a position to impose conditions in exchange for limited water releases. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with less than a week remaining in the highest stakes election of his career, took one of his few remaining precious campaign days to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and it appeared to pay off for both leaders. After he milked the March 25 celebration with President Donald Trump in the White House, Netanyahu is looking toward Putin, who is still venerated by many former Soviet Union citizens who moved to Israel, writes Ben Caspit. In this last-minute trip, Netanyahu is again trying to convey that no one can replace him in terms of international status. Netanyahus tete-a-tete with Putin, adds Caspit, his second one in less than two months and only five days before the elections, is also designed to harm a dangerous colleague of the prime minister, Avigdor Liberman. The former defense minister and Yisrael Beitenu head has been hovering around the Knesset threshold since the beginning of the campaign. Liberman will fight for every vote to earn a position to make the next prime ministers life miserable. Netanyahu is trying to use Putin to attract the votes of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who share a birthplace with Liberman and make up a major constituency for him and his party. For Netanyahu, the visit was a likely boost for his campaign, and not just in wooing immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Putin also presented Netanyahu with the remains of Zachary Baumel, who was killed in Lebanon in 1982. The return of Baumels body carries emotional weight with Israelis, and the credit goes to Bibi, who asked Putin to help with this case two years ago. Netanyahu, for his part, could not have been more effusive, telling Putin, Mr. President, we are wholeheartedly grateful to you for your personal friendship, for your position and for the position of Russia, which shares these values with Israel. Putin, in his remarks, said, As you may know, our military personnel and their Syrian partners helped find Zacharys remains. Putins giving credit to Bashar al-Assad may have been a stunner in Damascus and Tehran, and perhaps deliberately so. A source at the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that Syria has no clue about Baumels remains, and that the incident confirms cooperation between terrorist groups and Mossad. This column last month described the emerging complexity and maneuvering among Assad and his creditors, Iran and Russia. There are those in the Syrian military who prefer to curry favor with Moscow, and Putin could be showing that he can and will play that card. A senior Iranian official cautioned last month that Israel might have the potential to create friction between Tehran and Moscow, if not managed carefully. Israel attacked Syrian and Iranian-backed forces near Aleppo March 28, well outside of Israels usual zone of operations, signaling an expanded intent and potential for escalation. As Syria slowly moves into a post-war stage, writes Maxim Suchkov, Putin has outsourced the marshy process of political settlement, return of the refugees and reconstruction to agencies within Foreign and Defense ministries to personally focus on riskier yet more politically valuable assets: high-level mediation of the Israeli-Iranian and Turkish-Syrian conundrums. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Moscow on April 8. Putin may be looking to advance his idea for a working group on the gradual expulsion of foreign forces that had been discussed with Netanyahu when they met in February. But each party may see the outcome somewhat differently, adds Suchkov. The idea of a comprehensive working group bringing together the Russians, Israelis, Syrians and perhaps the Americans, Iranians and Turks seeks, in the words of Putin, 'to settle Syria after the ultimate suppression of all terrorist hotbeds and to have all foreign contingents depart Syria to fully restore its statehood and sovereignty.'" The emphasis on the expulsion of foreign forces merits comment, and may be another concern of Iran, as well as a potential opening to Washington. For the United States and Israel, foreign forces mean Iranian and Iranian-backed armed units and groups. We covered Putins emphasis on the departure of foreign fighters in May 2018, as a potential opening bid for engaging the United States at the cusp of diplomacy addressing the post-conflict stage in Syria. For Putin, it may also be part of a package to close the deal with Syria and Turkey on Idlib, where most of the jihadist terrorist and armed groups remain. Although the Astana format showed even most incogitable compositions of actors are not impossible, the modern reality suggests that all of the outside actors getting on board is unlikely and probably unproductive at this stage, concludes Suchkov. Until then, Moscow is likely to eye a separate working group for Israel, Syria and Iran and will continue to forge leverage and brainstorm incentives via bilateral dealings. Although Putin may have been set back by US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, as we wrote here last week, he appears to have regained his footing following Bibis visit. No doubt there are risks and uncertainties and limits to the Russian presidents influence and leverage in Tehran and Jerusalem. But whether in the form of a three-way shuttle diplomacy among Iran, Syria and Israel, or just between Israel and Syria, Putin has again repositioned himself as a go-to broker on the Israel-Syria border. With regard to the Turkish local elections, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost Ankara, Istanbul and all major cities except Bursa, Putin might have helped Erdogan duck a bigger defeat, writes Kadri Gursel. The Sochi deal the two leaders reached in September 2017 on Syrias rebel-held province of Idlib has long proven to be a failure, but a Russian-backed Syrian offensive on the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the region has thus far been deferred, which cannot be explained without factoring in Turkeys political calendar. The launch of an offensive prior to the March 31 polls and its potential side effects on Turkey could have led to larger electoral losses for Erdogans government. In light of these timing considerations, the likelihood of an offensive on Idlib has now increased, Gursel continues. At the same time, Ankara is likely to step up its pursuit of a military operation against the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units which Turkey sees as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party, a designated terrorist group in a bid to push Erdogan's election defeat out of focus. In a campaign speech a day before the elections, Erdogan said, The first thing after the elections will be to resolve the Syrian issue on the ground rather than at the [negotiating] table, if possible. This was not for nothing he was well aware he was up for a bad outcome from the polls. Less than a year ago, a Tunisian engineer with the initials K.S. traveled to the coastal town of Monastir for the weekend. While there, he began chatting with someone on Grindr, an online dating and hookup app for gay men. They met later that day at a cafe, where K.S.s date then suggested they move on to his house. After they arrived, K.S. said, two other men appeared, beat him and sexually assaulted him with a baton while shouting homophobic insults at him. Bleeding and terrified, K.S. went to a local hospital, but was refused medical treatment without a police order. At the police station, officers were more concerned about K.S.s sexual history than the fact that he had been gang raped. They ordered an anal exam. How they treated me was insane, K.S. would tell Human Rights Watch (HRW), which documented his story in a November 2018 report. How is it their business to intrude into my intimate parts and check whether I am used to sodomy? A few days after the attack, K.S. flew to Belgium, where he applied for asylum. Tunisia is one of 70 countries where homosexual activity is illegal. The history and dynamics of the legal aspects of Tunisias sodomy law is explored in Article 230: A History of the Criminalization of Homosexuality in Tunisia, a paper written by Ramy Khouili and Daniel Levine-Spound. Wahid Ferchichi, a Tunisian law professor with expertise in anti-LGBTQ legislation, explained to Khouili and Levine- Spound that Article 230 of the Tunisian penal code distinguishes between natural and unnatural sexual acts, a distinction that is applied to both heterosexual and homosexual relations. Non-vaginal intercourse specifically sodomy between adults is punishable by up to three years in prison. Shams, Tunisia's first LGBT organization, has recorded a steady increase in the number of people arrested under Article 230 in the past few years: 56 in 2016, 79 in 2017, and 127 in 2018. Tunisia remains one of the few countries to perform anal exams of the kind K.S. was forced to endure to find proof of homosexual behavior. This degrading and cruel procedure is considered a form of torture by the United Nations, which has called on the Tunisian government to end the practice. The Tunisian authorities have no business meddling in peoples private sexual practices, brutalizing and humiliating them under the guise of enforcing discriminatory laws, Amna Guellali, HRW's director in Tunisia, told The Guardian in November. The government, however, has made such meddling its business since 1913, when it officially incorporated discriminatory statutes into the countrys legal code. The question is why the government continues to enforce such archaic and inhumane laws. Khouili, a Tunisian doctor and researcher, and Levine-Spound, a student at Harvard Law School, delve into the murky origins of the law, which they point out has no clear analogue within pre-colonial Tunisian law. Previous Tunisian penal codes, such as the Qanun Al Jinayat Wal Ahkam Al Urfya issued in 1861 under the Husainid dynasty, include no reference to sodomy or homosexuality whatsoever, they wrote. Rather, Tunisias sodomy law is a relic of French colonization, similar to Britains legal control over appropriate sexual behavior in India. In an e-mail to Al-Monitor, Khouili and Levine-Spound remarked, Defenders of Article 230 will need to reckon with the fact that they are defending a law which was likely drafted by a small group of French bureaucrats over a century ago it has no clear precedent in Tunisian law. Though France long ago decriminalized sodomy in its own legal code, Orientalist conceptions along with obsessions and assumptions about Arab sexuality continued to very much inform Frances perception of North Africans. Dating back at least as far as the 16th century, a number of Europeans moved to Tunisia for the specific purpose of escaping the repression of the Catholic Church and living their sexual identities more freely, wrote Khouili and Levine-Spound in their paper. For French colonial authorities in Tunisia, it is possible that broader anxieties around indigenous sexuality, coupled with a 19th-century emphasis on social control, influenced the commissions decision to include a sodomy law in the Tunisian penal code. Tunisians who support Article 230 will often point to the countrys Islamic character to justify the statutes continued enforcement. Many people interpret the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, involving the prophet Lut in the Quran and Lot in the Old Testament, as proof that God finds homosexuality sinful and unnatural. As Khouili and Levine-Spound point out, however, Scholars have contested the notion that God punished the people for sodomy. They cite Olfa Youssef, a Tunisian scholar of Islamic law, who argues, The vile acts of the people of Lut were not limited to having sexual relations with men; they concerned other practices which threatened the security, and physical and moral integrity, of others. Over the past century, Tunisias political landscape has been dramatically transformed. In 1956, the country gained its independence, which was followed by two secular dictatorships. The 2011 revolution represented another shift and reshaping of the countrys character. There have been significant legal reforms around freedom of speech, political organization, womens rights and racism, and there has been some positive movement on queerness as well. Levine-Spound told Al-Monitor, The existence of four officially recognized LGBTQ organizations in Tunisia would have been unthinkable before 2011. That said, Article 230 remains unaltered as Tunisia makes progress in other social realms and critically examines religiously or colonially entrenched laws. It is a strange situation Article 230 is a colonial-era law that has not changed in over a century, Khouili and Levine-Spound told Al-Monitor. Yet it continues to destroy the lives of queer Tunisians today, five years after Tunisia's promulgation of the most progressive constitution in the region. The ruling Justice and Development Party's loss of big cities in Turkeys local elections comes with important economic repercussions for the party, known as the AKP. The loss has stymied patronage networks that have been highly instrumental in expanding the partys voter base, all amid an economic crisis. No wonder the AKP has refused to concede defeat in Istanbul the countrys economic powerhouse, which the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) won by a razor-thin margin and the capital, Ankara, forcing recounts for hundreds of ballot boxes since the March 31 vote. The oppositions takeover of Istanbul and Ankara would end the AKP and its predecessors' quarter century of dominion in both cities, marking the party's worst electoral setback since it came to power in 2002. The loss of Istanbul has had an added impact of shock since it is the city where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began his rise to power as mayor in 1994. In Sundays vote, the AKP suffered another debacle in the CHP stronghold of Izmir, the countrys third biggest city, and lost hold of Antalya, the center of Turkeys vital tourism industry, as well as of Adana and Mersin, both major economic hubs. Given the power balance between the central government and municipal administrations in Turkey, one may suggest that the oppositions takeover of local dominions is not of much significance. Since last year, Erdogan has ruled the country under an executive presidency system that concentrates power not only in the central government but in his own hands. The system has eaten into the powers and financial resources of local administrations, among others. Only 12% of Turkeys 4.3 million public employees work for local administrations, whose funding depends heavily on the central government. As much as 60% of their revenues are tax revenues transferred from the central government budget. While central budget revenues account for 31% of the gross domestic product (GDP), the share of local administration revenues is only 5%. In sum, local administrations enjoy relatively limited means in terms of resources and spending. Still, the loss of local administrations, especially in provinces representing the countrys main economic hubs, is akin to the AKP losing an arm. In 2017, Istanbul alone contributed 31% of Turkeys GDP, followed by Ankara with 9% and Izmir with 6%. Along with the tourism capital Antalya, which contributed more than 3%, those four regions account for nearly half of the GDP. The figure rises to about 60% with the addition of other commercial, agricultural and tourism centers such as Adana, Mersin, Aydin and Mugla, where CHP candidates won mayoral offices in provincial capitals. The CHP triumphed in 21 out of 81 provincial capitals, with those provinces accounting for 62% of the GDP and having some of the countrys highest incomes per capita. While Turkeys GDP per capita was some $10,000 in 2017, Istanbul boasted $18,000, Ankara $14,000 and Izmir about $12,000. In contrast, in provinces where the AKP retains its rule, the income per capita is well below the national average. Worst in terms of prosperity are the Kurdish-majority eastern and southeastern provinces, which contributed only 3% to the GDP and had a GDP per capita of some $5,000 in 2017. The pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) won eight provincial capitals in those regions. During its more than 16 years in power, the AKP has reaped the fruits of the synergy spawned by its simultaneous hold of the central government and local administrations in economic hubs. Local dominion has enabled the party to make use of lucrative urban rents, especially in Istanbul, a sprawling metropolis of 15 million people. Istanbul has been at the heart of the governments economic growth policy, which focused on stimulating construction and domestic demand, and, in its heyday, helped the AKP significantly expand its voter base. Therefore, the AKPs loss of big cities amounts to losing huge urban rents. During their 25 years of rule in Istanbul, the AKP and its main predecessor, the Welfare Party, used the citys urban rents without stint, giving rise to reckless construction that blighted the citys historical silhouette and damaged its cultural heritage. In the process, the AKP heavily favored business people from its own fold or close to the party, spawning significant capital accumulations. The construction-driven patronage machine will now weaken, providing less benefits to the party apparatus and curbing the means of financing cadres and supporters. Already grappling with an economic crisis, the AKP government would be deprived of an important buttress. This explains the partys zealous efforts to cling to Istanbul, though the recount of spoiled votes is unlikely to close the winning margin of some 20,000 votes possessed by the CHPs Ekrem Imamoglu. Well aware that the loss of Istanbul and other big cities would be a disaster, Erdogan had warned ahead of the polls that voters who refuse to support the AKP would see their local administrations deprived of the central governments financial support. Speculation is now rife that Erdogan might enact measures that would impede or effectively paralyze opposition mayors. This, however, appears a far-fetched scenario since the denial of funds and investment to urban centers generating the bulk of the GDP would hurt the economy itself and do nothing to reduce the countrys rampant unemployment, which, ultimately, would be blamed on the government and not local mayors. The outcome of the local elections gives Turkey a dual administration of sorts. On the local level, the CHP is on the rise, having won the countrys economic hubs despite overall support of 30%. On the central level, the AKP holds the government but is in decline, deprived of the synergy of local administrations it had long enjoyed. The most crucial element of this outlook is the crisis environment in which it emerges. In an alternative environment, the CHP would also have benefited from the external economies of growth, but the Turkish economy has been contracting since the second half of 2018, with lackluster prospects for 2019 and 2020 as well. Public investments are being put on hold and the central governments tax revenues are set to decline, meaning that the funds to be transferred to local administrations will also shrink. On top of it, the municipalities the CHP will take over are heavily indebted. In short, the new CHP mayors are on an uphill track. Still, by wrestling the local administrations of big cities from an authoritarian AKP that is hell-bent on not sharing power, the CHP has achieved a remarkable success that will give it a huge motivational boost in the democracy struggle. The local administrations of big cities with their wide-ranging authorities and responsibilities, from public transport and water and gas supply to construction permits and urban planning are an important position in this struggle. The main opposition now has a chance to use this position to build a model of the Turkey it envisions and to rally further popular support to challenge the central government. Severed body parts in fluffy textiles, flashing sentences from a paragraph of George Orwells dystopian novel 1984 that explains how you can scare people into submission, and glossy photos of a young man in 3D goggles running along the torrid landscape of a post-apocalyptic world greet the audiences at the maze-like exhibition space in the heart of Istanbul. Clearly, the emerging talents selected in the 2019 edition of the Mamut Art Project are mostly a grim bunch who are inspired by dystopian literature, regional strife and Ahmed Saadawis award-winning novel Frankenstein in Baghdad. Yes, some of the works are pessimistic, agreed Seren Ojalvo-Oner, director of the Mamut Art Project, as she tours the exhibition with a group of journalists. But there is also a lot of irony, a lot of experimentation with forms and strong undertexts, she told Al-Monitor. Since 2013, the Mamut Art Project has provided a platform for Turkeys emerging talents such as graffitist Nconen and performance artist Leman Sevda Daricioglu, among many others. While connecting the new generation of artists with galleries, collectors and the public, the five-day exhibition casts light on the inspirations, trends and concerns of Turkeys troubled young artists who are often squeezed between economic hardship and censorious state. Unsurprisingly, the works of the 50 artists displayed in the 7th edition mostly reflect the grim agenda of the country: immigration, alienated identity, destruction of the environment, sexual harassment and growing authoritarianism. But references to Turkeys volatile politics is implicit rather than head-on. Given that we are living at a time of elections and harsh political debates, it is noteworthy that none of the artists touch [politics] directly, Kultigin Kagan Akbulut, an art and culture columnist at online newspaper Duvar, told Al-Monitor. Some of the works, nevertheless, are strong in their defense of gay rights, refugees or cultural diversity. Multimedia artist Barbaros Kayans Moving Portraits, two-layered collages of the photos he has taken between the years 2016-2018, highlight the present surroundings and the uncertain future of Syrian refugees. The photos show the silhouettes of the refugees in the camps in Turkey, but the forms of their bodies are replaced with the destroyed landscape of their hometowns which they hope to return to. In one of them, a lone figure stands between white, washed-out tents; when you look at the second photograph placed within the form you see a destroyed house with a huge hole where the figure's heart should be. I wanted to tell the story of the refugees in a simple way, Kayan said in an email message to Al-Monitor. The message is clear that when the refugees return if they return at all it will be to a ravaged homeland. Just across, Hasan Mert Ozs two large photos and one short video point out that the future of the world at large may not be any brighter. Ozs video, called The Son of Noah, shows a young man wearing 3D goggles and torn underwear in a torrid landscape. The idea is the total destruction of nature and our inability to do anything, the artist told Artful Living in an interview before the exhibition. Oz says his next project, unsurprisingly, is a dystopia on Turkey. Imagine Turkey where all intellectuals are killed," he said in the same interview. Hasan Mert Oz's "Son of Noah" shows a post-apocalyptic world. (photo by Emir Uzun) Ekin Keser, a 26-year-old video artist and gay activist, challenges the teachers oath a statement that each teacher makes at graduation from teachers school. Instead of protecting the values of the Turkish republic, I pledge to protect diversity and respect for different systems of values, Keser, dressed in cap and gown, says in his video art called Teachers Oath. He completes the oath with the words, I swear on my honor and on my gay pride. Sex and social media are addressed by Yesim Uzunoz, who has compiled the Facebook messages she has received from strangers into three notebooks: yellow (neutral), pink (romantic) and red (aggressively sexual). The public can read through the messages, which range from lonely and desperate to offensive and misogynist. You are beautiful, begins one message and after a few more demands for conversation ends with, Youd have talked to me if I told you I was rich, wouldnt you, whore? Yesim Uzunoz's "Mesaj" highlights different messages, from lonely to aggressive, on social media. (photo by Emir Uzun) I have compiled these to cast a light on society how those messages are written in a tone that we would never use face-to-face, Uzunoz explained in the preview of the show. Many women on social media receive the same sort of messages; I think many people who glance through those will recognize the words, the implications. "We tried to give a selection of different formats, different outlooks and different subjects," said Tuba Kocakaya, the art director of the project. Hannah B. is nobodys beauty queen. A new promo for the upcoming season of The Bachelorette" sees its star Hannah Brown undergo a bit of a transformation to tease the May 13 premiere at on ABC. Dressed in a blue gown, crown and sash reading beauty queen, the Alabama native saunters through the woods to the tune of Graces cover of Lesley Gores You Dont Own Me. As she sheds the beauty queen clothing and roses grow behind her, the screen reads Think you know her? Think again." In March, ABC announced Brown will have the lead role on the upcoming 15th season of the popular reality dating series, and she punctuated the news with a Roll Tide! during the After the Final Rose segment during The Bachelor finale. Brown is the first Bachelorette from Alabama. The cat was slightly out of the bag heading into the finale, with Twitter users spotting Brown around Tuscaloosa, shooting in familiar spots like Bryant-Denny Stadium and the Bama Theatre with host Chris Harrison. Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Brown said in her Bachelor bio she was bred to be a proud member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. She also graduated from UA with a degree in communications. Blessed with a big personality, Brown delivered some of the The Bachelors more memorable moments this season, including an awkward toast with Colton and a ferocious call of the wild during a strategy session with another contestant. The Miss USA Alabama 2018 was clearly well-liked by the other women, including her fellow Bama native Hannah G., and the way she handled her week 7 breakup with Colton reflected the poise it will take to sift through 30 men on a full season as the lead. Brown follows in the footsteps of notable Bachelorettes like Becca Kufrin, Rachel Lindsay, JoJo Fletcher, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Andi Dorfman and others. Also notable for Brown is that she became lead after finishing seventh overall in The Bachelor competition, much earlier than past Bachelorette leads have finished on their respective Bachelor appearances. So its clear that she made a big impression on viewers and the ABC brass. Watch the latest promo above. Samford University has announced that Douglas A. Sweeney will be the new dean of Beeson Divinity School. Sweeney will become dean effective July 1, succeeding founding dean Timothy George, who is retiring in May. "I consider it a great honor and privilege to serve as the next dean of Beeson Divinity School, Sweeney said. I have long been an admirer of Dean Timothy George, and think that Beeson is the best-conceived and cultivated divinity school in all of North America. Sweeney previously served as distinguished professor and chair of church history and the history of Christian thought at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is a renowned scholar of American theologian Jonathan Edwards and was the founding director of the Jonathan Edwards Center. My approach to theological education meshes well with Beesons guiding confessional documents, academic culture and personal approach to teaching and mentoring students, Sweeney said. In fact, for me, moving to Beeson is like moving to a school that was designed to facilitate the kind of academic work, ecumenism and ministry I have done all my life. These are exciting times in which to serve the Lord together at Samford. Please pray with me that God will guide us firmly into the future." Sweeney has been on the staff at Trinity since 1997. He was the founding director of the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity from 2000-2012. He edited The Works of Jonathan Edwards. Before Trinity, he was a lecturer in church history and historical theology at Yale University. Dr. Sweeney brings together internationally renowned scholarship, academic administrative experience and a deep love and commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ, said Samford Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs J. Michael Hardin. In addition to exceptional academic credentials, Dr. Sweeney also possesses a humble spirit and a servants heart which make him uniquely qualified to lead Beeson Divinity School in its next chapter. Sweeney is the author of Edwards the Exegete: Biblical Interpretation and Anglo-Protestant Culture on the Edge of the Enlightenment, and was awarded a Henry Luce III Fellowship in Theology in 2014-15. He is the author and editor of more than 20 books published by Oxford University Press, Yale University Press, Eerdmans Publishing Company, Baker Academic and InterVarsity Press. Dr. Sweeney is an outstanding evangelical scholar, who is committed to excellence of the mind, spiritual depth and Christ-like passion, said Gary Fenton, retired pastor senior advancement officer at Samford. He is an excellent choice to build on the rich theological foundation that Dean Timothy George has provided for this school. I am so grateful for the schools past and excited for its future. Sweeney is an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, an evangelical Lutheran church affiliated with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, serving as both an elder and vice president. He is a longtime Sunday School and Bible teacher. Dr. Sweeney is a solid evangelical and theologically sound leader who is ready to tell the world why students interested in seminary should consider Beeson first, said search committee member Jennifer Davis Rash, president and editor-in-chief of The Alabama Baptist. Sweeney has degrees from Vanderbilt University (Ph.D., M.A.), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A.) and Wheaton College (B.A.). He and his wife, Wilma, have one adult son. Dr. Sweeney is ideally prepared to provide wise, visionary leadership for Beeson Divinity School. His commitment to the relevance and authority of Scripture, his strong record of scholarship, his devotion to equipping those called to ministry and his engaging, irenic spirit will serve himand Samfordwell in the years ahead, said President Andrew Westmoreland. We welcome him and his wife, Wilma, to Birmingham. George said he was pleased to welcome Sweeney as his successor. I am absolutely delighted at the choice of Dr. Doug Sweeney to be the next dean of Beeson Divinity School. He brings to this role superb scholarly credentials along with a deep love for Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures, the Lords church and Gods mission in the world, George said. The future of Beeson Divinity School is as bright as the promises of God, and I look forward to welcoming Dr. Sweeney as our friend, colleague and leader. Mobiistar onboarded 150 new retailers across Jaipur and conducted retailer engagement meets. Mobiistar currently has 250 retailers on board in Jaipur and aims to take that number to 500 by the end of the year. Mr. Hardeep Singh Johar, VP, Sales, North and East said, Retailers are the arms and legs of a brand on ground and we are thankful to them for their hard work. Jaipur is a very important market for us and our partners work tirelessly to take our brand name to greater heights for which we would like to showcase our commitment towards them by organising such meets regularly. Mobiistar has been in India for almost a year now and we credit the goodwill we have received to our retailers. They have successfully managed to create a preference for the brand and it is heartening to see our consumers enjoying our products. Mobiistar is investing heavily in India be it for manufacturing or employment. The brand is wholly committed to the country and is manufacturing its devices in a plant in Bawal, Haryana contributing to the governments Make in India initiative. The brand entered India in May 2018 and has launched 9 smartphones in the market since then. In the wake of a blistering report from the U.S. Department of Justice, Gov. Kay Ivey is moving ahead with her plan to build three large mens prisons as a major part of her response to Alabamas chronically crowded and understaffed correctional system. The DOJ report released Wednesday acknowledged the incredibly poor physical shape of the states prisons but focused instead on the violence, sexual abuse, drug trade and extortion that led investigators to conclude that the prisons are so dangerous that there is reasonable cause to believe the state is in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The report said new prisons might solve some problems but said new facilities alone will not resolve the contributing factors to the overall unconstitutional conditions. Ivey said today she is committed to working with the DOJ to address the problems. The governor said she is proceeding with plans to build prisons, expected to cost about a billion dollars. Ivey said she expects a request for companies to make proposals to build the prisons will be released sometime this spring. Attorneys with two advocacy groups with a history of shedding light on abuses in Alabama prisons said the DOJ report demands that the state move with urgency to make the existing prisons safer. We have an emergency and we have to act immediately to protect the lives of the people who are incarcerated, Charlotte Morrison, senior attorney at the Equal Justice Initiative, said. So, the priority has to be a short-term plan to bring about immediate reform. It was the EJI that sparked an investigation into Julia Tutwiler Prison that led to DOJ findings in 2014 that conditions at the womens prison were unconstitutional because of sexual abuse of inmates. The EJIs federal lawsuit over violence at St. Clair Correctional Facility in 2014 preceded the DOJ investigation that resulted in Wednesdays new findings about Alabamas prisons for men. Ivey and Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn have not said new prisons will fix all the systems problems. They have asked the Legislature for a $40 million budget increase next year, with much of that aimed at hiring 500 new correctional officers and increasing pay to help keep officers on the job. Overall, the ADOC has said it needs to add about 2,000 new officers. Ivey, who became governor in April 2017, has repeatedly said the state will fix the prisons. The DOJ report comes while the state is also embroiled in a federal lawsuit over health care for inmates. A federal judge ruled in 2017 that mental health care was horrendously inadequate. Ive said weve got a major crisis, Ivey said today. And were going to address the problem. The DOJ report gives the state 49 days to propose a plan. The report includes more than 40 short-term and long-term recommendations on understaffing and overcrowding, violence, contraband, sexual abuse, and facility conditions. Ivey said today new prisons would help with the chronic understaffing. Having new facilities goes a long way to the retention of staff, Ivey said. Its one thing to hire five hundred, a thousand new corrections officers but youve got to retain them. And so having safe, workable facilities goes a long way to the retention. The Ivey administration hired Hoar Program Management for $11.5 million to study needs and develop a request for proposals to build prisons. Ivey is considering a plan to engage private companies that would build the prisons and lease them to the state. Former Gov. Robert Bentley had proposed a bond issue to build prisons. The Legislature considered several versions of Bentleys plan but did not pass it. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said today the DOJ report called for immediate action. McCutcheon said the House and Senate are putting together an emergency task force to address the issues raised in the report and help craft the states response. He said that work cannot be delayed. What weve got to do is just make this a priority and move forward, McCutcheon said. Especially in cooperation with the Department of Justice. And theyre willing to sit down and work with us. So, now is the time we need to do it. McCutcheon said the task force would include legislators, officials from the executive and judicial branches and corrections professionals. McCutcheon said the goal is to develop a comprehensive response. Asked about prison construction, he said that needs to be in the mix because the physical shortcomings of the current facilities contribute to the dangerous conditions. I dont think we can talk about these issues without at least having that as part of our discussion, McCutcheon said. Lisa Graybill, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the DOJ report makes it clear that Alabama cannot build its way out of the prison crisis. The SPLC represents inmates in the federal lawsuit over health care. DOJs letter makes clear that the simple but incredibly expensive solution of construction isnt going to address its problems, Graybill said. Graybill said fixing the infrastructure problems at prisons is critical but questions the Ivey administrations plan. It calls for three prisons housing 3,000 or more inmates. Graybill said smaller facilities with more staff interaction with inmates should be considered if the state is going to build prisons. I think addressing the physical infrastructure and potentially constructing some new prisons would be things to consider, Graybill said. But theres been a real lack of transparency about exactly what these plans actually are. Theres been a real resistance to providing detailed information about where the new prisons will be. Exactly how are they going to be constructed? How many people will be in them? What prisons are going to close? At a press conference in February announcing the plan, the Ivey administration said those decisions about which existing prisons will close and where the new prisons will be built had not been made. The Ivey administration says fixing Alabamas current prisons is too costly and that closing the aging facilities and consolidating operations at regional prisons would save about $80 million a year, enough to cover the cost of building the new prisons. Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, who has led prison and criminal justice reform initiatives in the Legislature, said prison construction is one of multiple components in a comprehensive solution. Ward said the Legislature could also consider sentencing reforms, including changing the penalties for some property crimes. Lawmakers passed a reform package in 2015 that has helped reduce the prison population, although it is still at 180 percent of capacity in the major prisons, the DOJ said. Ward called the DOJ report deeply humiliating and said the findings are at odds with Alabamas posture as a state steeped in Christian ideals. Ward said the nature of politics is at the root of the crisis. No one wants to fund prisons, Ward said. Theyd rather fund schools or stuff that gets them votes back home. Nobody gets a vote back home supporting whats going on in prisons. But as the complaint pointed out, youre treating people like you wouldnt treat dogs. And for a country of laws and obviously we have pushed up on the Eighth Amendment here. Reports that Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz was considering crossing the state line into Alabama to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Doug Jones has people asking: Can you do that? Short answer: Yes. The U.S. Constitution sets only three requirements for Senate candidates: Be at least 30 years old; have U.S. citizenship for at least nine years; and be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen on the day of election. According to the Alabama Secretary of States Office, a U.S. senate candidate must only be a resident of the state for one day. The same one-day requirement is in place for U.S. House candidates. Gaetz, who represents the Florida Panhandle in Congress, could campaign in Alabama while representing Florida, as long as he is an inhabitant of the state for one day prior to the 2020 election. Courts have been liberal in their definitions of what qualifies someone as a resident, tossing out state efforts to impose additional restrictions. Residency requirements are stiffer for state offices in Alabama. Gubernatorial candidates must live in the state seven years in order to qualify; most other state offices require at least five years of residency. Public Service Commission candidates are only required to live in the state one day; State Senators and Representatives have three-year residency requirements. There is precedent for a Senate state move, most noticeably that of first Lady Hillary Clinton in 1998. Clinton and her husband, President Bill Clinton, purchased a home in New York in September 1999, qualifying her to run for Senate despite never having lived in the state. She went on to win the Senate race against Republican Congressman Rick Lazio. Aunt Sally Smith screamed with joy when she spoke with someone who understood her native language for the first time since she was kidnapped as child from her native Benin nearly 80 years earlier. The pair spoke about their shared country and culture, a village, and recalled rivers that flowed near where the two had once lived. They excitedly dipped in and out of Smiths native Bantu, a language spoken across sub-Saharan Africa. The conversation is believed to have taken place between Smith and a visiting African academic in Dallas County, Alabama, in 1936 when Smith was nearly 90-years-old. She was filled with joy, wrote a tearful Amelia Boynton Robinson, a prominent Civil Rights activist who observed the conversation when visiting the former slave, according to her 1979 memoir Bridge Across Jordan. It was an unexpectedly poetic and final connection to Smiths homeland before she died sometime in 1937. But the joy for Smith, also known as Redoshi in her native Bantu, was short lived. Smith retold the horrors of the perilous crossing from Africa, chained to a ship and the abuse she endured for the years she spent as a slave, and then the next 70 years as a black woman living in the South under Jim Crow. Redoshis story has come to prominence in recent weeks as newly discovered evidence, paired with existing documents, revealed she may have been the last surviving Trans-Atlantic African slave to have lived in the United States. Using books, letters, census data, and 80-year-old government film, an English professor has slowly pieced together some of Redoshis life before and after she came to Alabama aboard the slave ship Clotilda. No one will ever know about her I first became aware of Redoshis story in a 1928 letter from Zora Neale Hurston to her fellow African American writer Langston Hughes, said Newcastle Universitys Dr. Hannah Durkin, who first published her work on Redoshi in the Slavery and Abolition Journal in late March. However, Hurston did not name Redoshi in her letter. It wasnt until I stumbled across Redoshis name in Hurstons posthumously published book, Every Tongue Got to Confess, that I managed to identify her. I then trawled through census records until I found records of her and drew most of my other research from a newspaper interview, books, and a 1938 educational film. For generations historians believed that Cudjoe Lewis, also known as Kazoola, was the last African slave to have lived in the United States. He resided in Mobile County for the entirety of his life in America and is buried in Africatown, the first U.S. town to be continuously run by black people and the only one to be founded by Africans, notes Durkin in her research. This is Cudjo Lewis, known in his native land as Kazoola. He was the last survivor of the Clotilda incident. He lived in Africatown until 1935, when he died at age 94. (Courtesy of the Mobile Library) Kazoolas own story had been known for years in the small and picturesque confines of his reluctantly adopted home. Africatown, located north of Mobile, still operates as a functioning settlement with a school and local government. Hurston had first met Kazoola in 1927, interviewing him for an article that was published in The Journal of Negro History one year later the year she met Redoshi. A book about Kazoolas life and the SS Clotilda was later rejected by publishers. It wasnt until May 2018 that Hurstons work was eventually published, becoming a New York Times Bestseller as Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo. But Kazoolas story had already received a new lease of life when in early 2018 an AL.com reporter, using historical records and local accounts, found what was thought to be the wreck of the Clotilda buried in mud somewhere in the Mobile Delta. The ship is believed to have been set a light to hide any evidence that it had been used to transport slaves, something that had been outlawed since 1808. Slavery was completely banned in 1865. Archeologists ultimately determined that the wreckage was not the Clotilda. However, the discovery did unearth a new enthusiasm for the story of the 115 slaves who made the journey from the West Coast of Africa to Mobile back in 1860. Archaeologists have since discovered a new site they believe could be the final resting place of the ship. But that is yet to be seen. Hurston, who was a hugely influential African-American writer and anthropologist throughout the early 1900s, was aware of Redoshis significance but apparently had no plans to write about another former African slave after having her manuscript rejected. Durkin suggested that she wanted to instead use Redoshis experience for fiction or stage work. In her letter to Hughes she admitted that she had no plans to publish details of Redoshis life and wanted it to remain a secret. Oh! almost forgot," wrote Hurston. "Found another one of the original Africans, older than Cudjoe about 200 miles up state on the Tombig[b]ee river. She is most delightful, but no one will ever know about her but us. She is a better talker than Cudjoe. Her failure to acknowledge a second Trans-Atlantic survivor, and the only known woman to have survived, meant that Redoshis experience was largely lost to history. She remained anonymous, her life unknown, said Sylviane A. Diouf, a French historian with expertise in the African Diaspora. But Durkins efforts at piecing together Redoshis life now offers one of the most complete composite views of an African woman slave living in the United States. Overseers beat us for every little thing One of the first mainstream accounts to have mentioned Redoshi appears in a 1932 interview with a reporter from the Montgomery Advertiser. It was the first instance of evidence that brought Redoshi and Kazoolas stories together. They were from the same West African country and arrived in the United States on the Clotilda at the same time. Durkin also noted that Redoshi and Kazoola stayed in touch periodically throughout their lives. The Montgomery Advertiser article reveals that on arrival from Africa Redoshi was bought by Washington Smith, founder of the Bank of Selma and owner of the Bogue Chitto plantation in Dallas County. He also happened to be part of a group of men that sought to make Selma the capital of the new Confederate States of America. While one of the first published accounts of Redoshi, Durking contends that much of the writing was based in the writers romantic fantasies of the African continent. The author of the article described Redoshi as a dark, supple princess imbued with the love of life in the jungles and said that she had dreamt about being taken across water the night before she was kidnapped. His account was largely written in a positive narrative. But Durkins research says that this description of a happy life contrasts starkly with the unhappy accounts given elsewhere by her fellow Clotilda survivors. Redoshis conversation with Boynton Robinson four years later was vastly different. The civil rights activist wrote about the tears that stream down her face as the former slave spoke about her separation from her home and the brutality of life in the United States, first as a slave then as a so-called free woman living as a cotton farmer on a plantation in Dallas County, about 10 miles west of Selma. While speaking about the agony of being chained inside the SS Clotilda for many weeks, Redoshi described being beaten, whipped and witnessing killings at the hands of white men. The slave masters and overseers beat us for every little thing when we didnt understand American talk, said Redoshi in her conversation with Boynton Robinson. So horrific was the journey from Africa to Mobile, Redoshi believed that it took a year, as well as believing and hoping she would die on the journey. Upon arrival in Mobile, Redoshi told Boynton Robinson she was forced to eat grass before being sold to Smith. She was quickly married as a child bride to a fellow slave bought by Smith. However, the two did not share the same language or culture. He is known in historical writings as Uncle Billy, although its believed his real name was Yawith. He worked as a share cropper after the pair were freed. Census data from 1910 noted that the couple did not know which part of Africa they were from, further emphasizing how disconnected they had become from home. Census takers stamped Alabama as their birthplace instead. They raised a daughter together and, according to Durkin, had great-grandchildren. Some of whom went on to become teachers and ministers, according to Durkin. Exceptionally rare, tremendously inspiring While historical accounts painted a fragmented picture of Redoshis life, Durkin still had very little idea what she looked like. That changed when she came across a rare video of Redoshi recorded a year or two before her death by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tuskegee Institute, a leading black agricultural college. The video was released in 1938 and showed vivid images of a woman the narrator referred to as Aunt Sally Smith, which was the name she went by in most historical accounts of her life. For Durkin it was the moment the pieces of her research began to fall into place. Not only did that bring home who she was an individual, but it also gave me enough information to begin to tell her story, she said. While it now appears that Kazoola has been transplanted as the last African slave to have lived in the United States, Durkin said that their combined stories are both rare and incredibly important in understanding an important time in American and African history. Redoshi may have lived slightly longer than Kazoola, but all the Clotilda survivors were incredible men and women whose stories are exceptionally rare, but nevertheless tremendously inspiring, first-hand accounts of the transatlantic slave trade and its aftermath. Despite his request to be sentenced to death, Marc Stone was ordered today to spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his wife and young son over six years ago in Huntsville. Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate agreed with a jurys recommendation that Stone be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Earlier this year, Stone was convicted of capital murder in the February 2013 killings of his 32-year-old wife, Krista, and 7-year-old son Zachary. The jury voted unanimously to convict Stone but split 9-3 in favor of recommending a prison sentence. The only sentencing options for capital murder are execution or life without parole. At his sentencing hearing today, Stone told Pate that he wanted a death sentence, saying he was at peace with that preference. Stone appeared calm as he apologized for the murders. Im sorry, he told the judge. After the sentencing, defense attorney Larry Marsili said the judge made the right decision in ordering prison instead of execution. Although the judge made the final decision, she upheld the jurys recommendation for life without parole. In 2017, Alabama law changed to prevent judges from overriding jury votes on sentences in capital murder cases. For people who were charged with but not convicted of capital murder prior to the law changing, prosecutors say judges still can impose the death penalty, even if a jury votes for life without parole. Defense attorneys, on the other hand, say their clients are protected from judicial override just like any suspect charged after the new law was implemented. Pate ruled that because Stone was charged before the law changed, she still had the final say in sentencing. At trial, the defense didnt dispute that Stone killed his wife and son. He pursued an insanity defense, which the jury rejected. The killings happened at the Stone family home on Chicamauga Trail in southeast Huntsville. Prosecutors said Stone strangled his wife then strangled and drowned their son. In these kinds of cases, theres no winners, Marsili said after sentencing. Along with attorneys Brian Clark and Trey Woodfin, Marsili represented Stone. The defense argued for the prison sentence by presenting mitigating circumstances, which are factors that would mean the defendant should go to prison instead of being executed. Those factors in Stones case include his lack of prior criminal history, his diagnosed mental illness, age at the time of the offense (33), his prior service to society and the fact he spared the lives of his two other children, Marsili said. Prosecutors, on the other hand, proved two aggravating circumstances, which are factors that would mean a defendant could be sentenced to death. Those factors include: the murders were especially heinous, atrocious and cruel and Stone killed two or more people. Madison County Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann prosecuted the case with District Attorney Rob Broussard. Gann said hes thankful the case has finally come to a close. Its been over six years and there were times when we didnt know that we would even get to this point or even get to a trial," Gann said. "Its been a long haul on all the families involved. Its been a long haul on all the attorneys, so Im glad today is here. Updated at 11:56 a.m. with more information and quotes from attorneys. The Madison County Sheriffs Office is warning consumers about a website that charges people for information on applying for a pistol permit. Lt. Danny Shaw said citizens have reported to the department the site, concealedcarryservices.org, charges $17 for information on applying for a pistol permit. When you apply, they send you a response saying that just for you they have reduced the price to $10, Shaw said, adding that all information is available for free on the departments website. We do not advise you to pay for information that is available to you from your sheriffs office, Shaw said. Concealedcarryservices.org advertises that it can help guide people as they apply for a new license or replace or renew an existing one. The site does make clear that it is not an official resource endorsed by or affiliated with official sources but said it offers an added value service to provide all necessary information and documentation. Pistol permits are issued by the sheriff in the county where the applicant resides. You can find contact information for Alabama Sheriffs here. A state inmate set to be put to death next week was denied a stay of execution Friday by a Mobile federal judge. Christopher Price, 46, was sentenced to death by a jury for the 1991 robbery and killing of Bill Lynn in Fayette County. He has been held in the Holman Correctional Facility since 1993. Price sought a stay of execution, claiming the states lethal injection cocktail violates his constitutional rights against cruel and unusual punishment. The death row inmate had instead wanted to die by nitrogen hypoxia a method approved by the state last year and that denying him that method of death violates his 14th Amendment rights of equal protection. But U.S. District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose noted that Price did not elect to choose nitrogen hypoxia by June 30, 2018 the date required by state Legislation for death row inmates convicted before June 1, 2018. DuBose said Price would have difficulty proving that nitrogen gas is readily available since the state was yet to implement protocols for administering the gas as of the date of her ruling. The court has little evidence as to how nitrogen gas would be administered or how the State might ensure the safety of the execution team and witnesses, DuBose wrote in her opinion. Accordingly, the court cannot find, based on the current record, that execution by nitrogen hypoxia may be readily implemented by the state. State Attorney General Steve Marshall argued that Prices motion for a stay of execution was a meritless delay tactic. Price has pushed back against his execution before. In 2014, he sued the state to postpone his execution date, claiming lethal injection causes prolonged, excruciating and needless pain. Barring a successful appeal, Price is set to die 6 p.m. Thursday. A Tennessee journalist is now reporting from inside the Etowah County immigration holding cells once famously run by Alabamas Beach House Sheriff, as immigration advocates are calling for his release. Friday marks one year since Manuel Duran was arrested in Memphis and transferred into custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Hes been in the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden as an ICE detainee since mid-February. I have been detained a year and regrettably, due to the circumstances of detention, it has not been easy for me, said Duran, 43, in a statement he released this week through his Spanish-language news site, Memphis Noticias. On April 5, 2018, Duran was livestreaming a protest in Memphis about immigration enforcement when he and several others were arrested by Memphis police for charges including disorderly conduct and blocking the street. The local charges against Duran were dropped two days later, but the Shelby County, Tenn. sheriffs department turned him over to ICE. Hes been behind bars ever since. The manner for his arrest was particularly egregious, said his attorney, Gracie Willis, of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Hes represented by attorneys from SPLC and the Adelante Alabama Worker Center, which provides legal representation to immigrant workers. He was arrested by a local police officer while he was doing his job as a reporter, said Willis. That kind of arrest is concerning. And that ICE got custody of him so quickly. He was rushed through processing at the jail and rushed to detention. Originally from El Salvador, Duran was marked for deportation after missing an immigration court date in 2007. His fiancee, Melisa Valdez, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal this week that Duran has lost weight since coming to Etowah County. She said the food portions are so small that he has to supplement by buying items that are available at the jail commissary, mostly junk food. This week his attorneys petitioned federal court in Alabamas Northern District to ask for his immediate release from the Etowah County Jail. He is somebody who has incredibly strong ties to the community, said Willis. Hes been a journalist in Memphis for almost a decade and during that time hes impacted the lives of many people, not just reporting the news but staying engaged in the community. Beach House Sheriff The Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden is the jail formerly run by Alabamas Beach House Sheriff Todd Entrekin, who lost reelection after an AL.com investigation discovered he had taken more than $750,000 in inmate food money for personal use. Alabama law allows sheriffs to keep any unused money from funds allocated to feed jail inmates. But former jail kitchen workers told AL.com that the jails served spoiled food and meager portions to inmates to keep costs low. Etowah has a federal contract to house ICE detainees for about $45 per day, less than half the national average. Even though Entrekin left office at the end of last year, little has changed with regard to food at the jail, Durans attorney said. Long legal battle Duran began his career as a radio journalist in El Salvador. He fled after threats were made against him and came to America in 2006, according to his attorneys. Most recently, hes been reporting for the Spanish-language news website he founded, Memphis Noticias. In 2007, an immigration judge ordered Durans deportation after he failed to show up for an immigration court hearing. Duran claims he never received notice of the hearing and says hes eligible for asylum because of deteriorating conditions for journalists in El Salvador since 2007, according to court documents. Duran has said law enforcement unfairly targeted him because some of his reporting has been critical of local police in Tennessee and its treatment of immigrants. The 2018 protest event where he was arrested had been organized in opposition to the practice of police detaining suspected immigrants and turning them over to ICE officials the same chain of events that led to Durans detention. Recently, the Eleventh Circuit Court sent Durans case back to the Board of Immigration Appeals. According to his attorneys, this means he could face additional months or even years in detention while his asylum claims work their way through the legal system. This week Duran also filed a new federal lawsuit, which alleges Shelby County, Tenn. and the city of Memphis targeted Duran because of his unflattering coverage of them. The lawsuit claims the city police had no probable cause to arrest Duran at the protest and the Sheriffs department should not have turned him over to immigration officials. Durans attorneys said in court filings that he has no criminal history beyond traffic citations. Being detained has affected me psychologically, said Duran in a statement, because the process is so uncertain, and I dont know if I will get out soon or if it will take more time. I miss my work and I miss being able to help my community, as this gave me a lot of satisfaction. Toyota is going a little bigger than off-road with its newest development project. The company announced in March it is developing an off-world vehicle Japanese astronauts can use to explore the moon. The new vehicle design is for the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The rover will be about the size of two minibuses, have six wheels and be powered by Toyota fuel cell technology, the company said. It will be able to travel on the lunar surface for six weeks and allow astronauts to remove their space suits inside. How will astronauts get a rover this big to the surface? No worries. Toyota says the rover will land itself on the moon ahead of the astronauts then pilot itself to wherever humans touch down. So far, the rover is little more than a concept on paper, Toyota said this week, but development of a full-scale prototype is set to begin in 2022 and ready to deploy in 2029. Will the company do any rover development at its new automobile plant in the Rocket City of Huntsville, Ala.? Stay tuned. A major federal tornado research project based in Alabama would be stripped of funding, according to the budget President Trump submitted to Congress last month. VORTEX-SE, started in 2016 and brings together tornado researchers from across the country, would receive no money for 2020 if lawmakers accept the White House proposal. In the study, VORTEX is the acronym for Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt of Haleyville, the top Republican congressman on the House Appropriations Committee and long an advocate of the study, is already working to restore the money to the project. VORTEX-SE has been operating with an annual budget of about $5 million and is based in north Alabama at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. This research provides information which helps us understand how tornadoes form in the Southeast, and how to provide better warnings when they occur," Aderholt said in a statement to AL.com. "I have asked the Appropriations Committee to continue funding it in Fiscal Year 2020 and to expand it. Providing these additional resources could even help researchers deploy temperature sensing buoys in the Gulf of Mexico, as Gulf moisture is one of the important ingredients to tornado development in Alabama. The study is the largest research project studying the formation of tornadoes in the southeast, which features a far more rugged terrain than the plains of the Midwest where previous research projects have originated. The Deep South study found a home base at SWIRLL UAH's Severe Weather Institute and Radar & Lightning Laboratories that was founded in the aftermath of the historic 2011 tornado outbreak. VORTEX-SE has attracted weather experts to Huntsville during tornado season each spring since 2016 for the study. The SWIRLL building at UAH has been home to a Deep South tornado study that is facing elimination of funding. "VORTEX-SE is an effort to understand how environmental factors characteristic of the southeastern U.S. affect the formation, intensity, structure, and path of tornadoes in this region," the study's website said. "The experiment will also determine the best methods for communicating the forecast uncertainty related to these events to the public and evaluate public response. "The number of killer tornadoes in the Southeastern U.S. is disproportionately large when compared to the overall number of tornadoes throughout the country. Researchers believe this is caused by a series of physical and sociological factors, like tornadoes in rugged terrain at night, as well as tornadoes occurring before the perceived peak of tornado season, during a time of year when storms typically move quickly. Other variables include a lack of visibility of tornadoes, inadequate shelter, and larger population density increasing the vulnerability of residents in this area." Elimination of the VORTEX-SE study would not result in a loss of any jobs, according to the budget. Trumps budget also calls for a cut of more than $77 million for the National Weather Service. An argument outside a Blount County home Thursday night left one man dead. The Blount County Sheriffs Office responded just before 6 p.m. to a residence in the Highland Lake area, said Sheriff Mark Moon. Once on the scene, they found Daniel Stockley in the driveway outside of a vehicle, bleeding from a gunshot wound He was rushed to St. Vincents East and coded three times en route, Moon said. They were going to transfer him to UAB Hospitals Trauma Center in Birmingham but Stockley died. Moon said Stockley showed up at his mother and stepfathers home intoxicated and a dispute over money erupted. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have yet been filed. A former GOP candidate for the position of state auditor has been arrested on charges of computer tampering during his 2018 campaign, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Friday. Elliott Owen Lipinsky, 32, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on Wednesday. He has since been released. Lipinskys attorney, Paige Duncan, issued a press release Friday afternoon. It is unfortunate and surprising that the Government has chosen to prosecute Mr. Elliott Lipinsky. Elliott has spent his career faithfully serving the people of Alabama and has taken that service seriously. We look forward to the opportunity to clear his name of these charges. An indictment is merely the product of a process in which only one side of the story is told. Elliott has yet to tell his side of the story, Duncan stated. Marshall said Lipinsky was a candidate for the Republican nomination when he tried to illegally access records of his opponents in the primary. The Pike Road man was formerly a deputy district attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, assigned to Wilcox County. The Attorney Generals Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence against Lipinsky to a grand jury on March 29, which returned an indictment against him on the same day. He is charged three two counts of computer tampering for improperly using Alabamas Law Enforcement Tactical System (LETS) - a computers system operated by the state and one count of attempted computer tampering. All three charges are felony crimes. The computer tampering charges are for illegally viewing confidential information of Stanley Cooke, an opponent of Lipinksy in the auditors race, and of Keynesha Adams, also a former deputy district attorney for Wilcox county, Marshall said. The attempted computer tampering charge is for unsuccessfully trying to view confidential information of Jim Zeigler, another one of Lipinkskys opponents in the auditors race and the current state auditor. Computer tampering is a Class B felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Attempted computer tampering is a Class C felony punishable by one year and one day to 10 years in prison. Marshall said no additional information is being released. The Jefferson County Public Defender has resigned amid an ongoing investigation of a racially hostile environment. David Luker, who has held the office since September 2016, resigned Thursday afternoon while a state investigation was being conducted into claims that several assistant public defenders made against their boss and the office environment in January. Luker states in his resignation letter, which was submitted to the Alabama Office of Indigent Defense Services, Although I strongly deny and dispute the allegations of the complaint, I have recently recognized that the significant delay in the investigation of nearly three months now has created an environment that is not healthy for me or the Public Defenders Office." At this point, if I returned as the Director, I do not feel there is any way I could be effective as a leader or in the management of the office. I believe the environment has deteriorated to that point. On Jan.1, nine assistant Jefferson County public defenders submitted a letter to OIDS, which oversees the states public defenders systems. That letter claimed Luker made comments and remarks that undermine the effective representation of [the offices] clients while simultaneously creating a racially hostile work environment. The letter claimed Luker used racially hostile language... when talking about [the offices] clients" and "generally when expressing his displeasure. The investigation effectively ends with Lukers resignation. Luker, a well-known Birmingham-area criminal defense attorney before his appointment to the public defenders position, declined to comment further about the investigation or claims but said he will be returning to private practice. The letter from the nine assistant defenders also claimed Luker had sole power in hiring attorneys and staff in the office and that power allowed him to select those who have the same prejudices. The complaining attorneys did not report their problems to Luker for fear their claims would fall on deaf ears, the letter says. None of the nine attorneys who signed the letter would confirm their claims or signatures to AL.com. In his resignation letter, Luker states he has learned of other personnel issues in the office that have arisen while he was on leave, none of which involving him. The letter did not specify the nature of those problems. Luker writes he diligently tried to make the office the very best it could be, and wished both OIDS and the employees of the public defenders office well. There are 41 attorneys currently in the Jefferson County Public Defenders Office. A Lawrence County man was killed Thursday after the dump truck he was driving hit a utility pole near Cullman, according to Alabama State Troopers. Timothy Dennis Blasingame, 45, of Hillsboro, was driving a 2006 Sterling dump truck when the vehicle left the roadway on Alabama Highway 157 and struck a pole around 7 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Blasingame, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred eight miles northwest of Cullman. Redistricting can be a messy and emotional process, but the Baldwin County Public School System hopes their plan altering boundary lines in the Eastern Shore area can be done somewhat seamlessly. The school system in Alabamas fastest-growing county began to unveil its redistricting plan on Thursday during an informational meeting in Fairhope. We have spent hours and hours and days to try and come up with a plan as equitable as possible for this (Fairhope) feeder pattern and the for the future of Baldwin County, said Marty McRae, assistant superintendent of secondary education with Baldwin County schools. School officials, for about one hour, reviewed the plan before a large crowd at Fairhope Intermediate School, which will be transformed into a K-6 school for the 2020-2021 school year as part of a $5.7 million expansion project. The potential for families having to send their children to different schools can spark outcry. But during the public meeting, there were no emotional outbursts and very little criticism directed at the school system. Instead, attendees directed a host of questions at school officials who are pressing forward with a redistricting plan because of a combination of two factors: A massive influx of new residents and families into the states third-largest school system, and new school buildings that will be opened by August 2020. The Baldwin County School Board is expected to vote on the plan in late May. Weve put together a plan that is least intrusive on family and children, said Superintendent Eddie Tyler. But Im not going to tell you that its not going to affect parents and children. Fairhope plans The Fairhope meeting focused on the three elementary schools within Fairhope and its immediate surrounding areas. An informational meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hope Church in Daphne that will address the new attendance zones for elementary schools in Daphne and Spanish Fort. For Fairhope, the changes require students living within the newly-drawn districts to attend the school they are zoned to attend. There will be no grandfathering of students to a particular school within the area. Exceptions only include to two new and large subdivisions along Alabama State Route 181 Old Field and Dunmore. The two subdivisions are currently zoned for Fairhope schools. A map of the proposed redistricting changes for the elementary schools in Fairhope, Ala. The Baldwin County School System could vote on the new map, effective for the 2020-2021 school year, in May 2019. To view the full map, visit the Baldwin County School System's website at https://www.bcbe.org/fairhope2020. (photo supplied by the Baldwin County School System). Under the new proposal, a family with children currently in grades 5 to 10, can be grandfathered into the Fairhope feeder pattern. Younger siblings, in Pre-K to 4th grades, can also be grandfathered into the Fairhope schools. The deadline to be eligible is May 23, which means that anyone who moves into the subdivisions after that date, will automatically be enrolled into elementary schools in Daphne. The Old Field and Dunmore students, who are grandfathered into Fairhope, will not be transported to Fairhope on a Baldwin County school bus. We cannot double route, said McRae. We cannot run the kids from Daphne and run the kids to Fairhope. If you choose to have the grandfathered option, you will have to provide your own transportation for your children. According to school officials, the rationale behind the grandfathering involves allowing middle and high school students during the 2020-2021 school year to be grandfathered into the Fairhope schools: - Present 5th graders will be in the 7th grade when redistricting takes place in 2020. - Present 10th graders will be seniors when redistricting takes place in 2020. Old Field and Dunmore residents who do not meet the guidelines, will either attend Daphne East Elementary or the new $19.8 million Belforest Elementary School that will open in 2020. Old Field residents will go to Daphne East, while Dunmore residents will attend Belforest. The two subdivisions will be zoned for Daphne high school. Addressing growth Tyler and McRae said the changes were needed to address Baldwin Countys rapid population growth, especially along the Eastern Shore where booming cities hug the scenic Mobile Bay. Fairhope, which is Alabamas fastest-growing city, has seen its population jump 28 percent since the 2010 U.S. Census. Spanish Fort has grown by 26 percent, and Daphne has experienced 20 percent growth. Fairhope is not slowing down, said McRae. Not even close. Its growing tremendously. Tyler called the growth a good problem to have, and one that the countys public schools cannot avoid. The goal in 2020-2021 is for each school to have a capacity for around 1,200 students, but a school official says that the rezoning targets enrollments at each school around 800 students. All of this growth that will happen out here will bring a lot more kids here, said McRae. We are not looking to have a Band Aid for one or two years. We want to figure this out. The worst thing we want to do is come back here after two years and say, This isnt going to work. We have to rezone you (again). Baldwin County Schools have been scrambling to keep up with the construction needs after years of housing students in hundreds of portable trailers serving as makeshift, and unsecured, classrooms. The county, before approving a $60 million pay-as-you-go program in 2017, had not endorsed a school building program since 2009. A previous attempt to build new schools, through an increase in property taxes, failed to win voter support during a 2015 special election. The new school construction program, Tyler said, does not require the school system to seek bonding and will not require a property tax increase. Aside from Belforest in Daphne, Fairhope will see a change with a $5.7 million expansion to the Intermediate School adding 16 new classrooms and a new gymnasium, among other features. The school hasnt been renamed, although school officials refer to it as Fairhopes K-6 center. A 25-year-old Greensboro man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for a 2014 shooting that killed a 7-year-old boy. Hale County Circuit Judge Don McMillan sentenced JaPaul Williams in the killing of young DeCorrin Johnson. He also was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder for shooting at Lavares Jackson, now 39. Authorities said DeCorrin was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight that Saturday night. Hale County District Attorney Michael Jackson said JaPaul Williams and Lavares Jackson were fighting over a woman outside a trailer near Greensboro High School when they both pulled guns and began shooting at each other sometime around 8 p.m. DeCorrin Johnson DeCorrin was struck in the neck and taken to the hospital. He died while he was being airlifted to a Birmingham. Williams initially was charged with capital murder, but the jury in January convicted him of the reduced charge of murder. He has remained jailed since his arrest. Deanna Johnson, DeCorrins mother, said she misses her son everyday and is thankful for the sentences. Lavares Jackson also is charged with capital murder in DeCorrins death, and attempted murder for shooting at Williams. His trial date has not yet been set. This little boy had his life snuffed out by these gunslingers, the district attorney said. We are glad that the judge gave him the maximum sentence. Islamabad says its stance vindicated, as US magazine quotes US officials as verifying that no Pakistani F-16s shot down. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistans military has called on India to share the truth about an aerial dogfight at the height of tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours in February after a US magazine published a report refuting Indian claims that it had shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet. This is what Pakistan has been saying all along, the truth, said Pakistani military spokesperson Major-General Asif Ghafoor on Friday. Its time for India to come up with [the] truth about losses on their side including targeting of [a] second jet by Pakistan. Ghafoors statements came hours after the publication of a report in US-based Foreign Policy magazine that quoted two unnamed US defence officials as verifying that, following a count of Pakistans F-16 fighter jet fleet, there were no aircraft missing. There was no immediate official comment from India on the Foreign Policy report. Legitimate self-defence India claims that one of its MiG-21 fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 before itself being shot down on February 27. The pilot of that jet, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistan and returned to Indian custody two days later. Pakistan, however, has consistently denied that claim, saying none of its aircraft were shot down during the weeks of tensions between the two countries. It also claims to have shot a second Indian air force jet during the engagement, a claim India has denied. The F-16 aircraft are manufactured by US weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and have formed the backbone of Pakistans air force for decades. A large number of the F-16s were purchased by Pakistan under a US security aid programme, which imposes certain limits on how the aircraft can be used. Those restrictions do not apply to Pakistans entire fleet of F-16s, and Islamabad says all of its aircraft whether purchased outright or through US aid can be used in legitimate cases of self-defence, such as the engagement on February 27. Pakistan retains the right to use anything and everything in its legitimate self defence, said a Pakistani military statement on the aerial engagement released on Monday. At the time, Indian officials shared shrapnel from an AIM-20 advanced medium range air-to-air missile used during the engagement one that could not be fired from Pakistans other fighter aircraft as proof that F-16s were used in the dogfight. The Foreign Policy report comes at a sensitive time for the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has touted the recent escalation in military hostilities between the two countries as a victory for his national security stance. Sensitive time The recent India-Pakistan face-off is expected to boost Modis chances of re-election in the staggered general elections beginning on April 11. Tensions between the South Asian countries reached a fever pitch following a suicide attack on Indian security forces in the disputed territory of Kashmir that killed at least 40 Indian personnel in the town of Pulwama in mid-February. India blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) armed group for the attack, with an Indian general alleging that Pakistani intelligence services had controlled the attack. Pakistan denied the claim. On February 26, India launched air attacks on Pakistani territory near the northern town of Jaba, claiming it had destroyed a JeM training camp housing hundreds of fighters. An Al Jazeera visit to the site of the air raids a day later found evidence of the attacks having hit a forested hillside and causing light damage to a farmers home. While a JeM school was found near the site, there was no evidence of mass casualties, as India had claimed. Pakistan then claimed to have carried out a series of retaliatory air raids at sites adjacent to military targets in six locations of Indian-administered Kashmir, saying the attacks were intended to show resolve and not to cause any casualties or infrastructure damage. It was during the aftermath of the Pakistani air raids on February 27 that the aerial dogfight that saw Wing Commander Varthaman shot down, and the accompanying Indian claim of shooting down an F-16, took place. At the time, US officials told Al Jazeera the Pakistani military had invited US inspectors to visit Pakistani airbases to verify the number of F-16s in the fleet. All aircraft were present and accounted for, Foreign Policy quoted an unnamed US official as saying following those inspections. A second unnamed US official corroborated the claim to the magazine. US officials in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, offered no immediate comment on the Foreign Policy report. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim Sharia-compliant finance boosts financial inclusion in Ethiopia, but a fully-fledged Islamic bank has yet to take root. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Its afternoon in Addis Ababas bustling Bole Michael district, and businesswoman Hukun Aden Mohammed is doing a brisk trade. The 45-year-old, single mother of seven opened her modest cosmetics and snack shop in the heavily ethnic Somali neighbourhood two years ago. Business is so good, shes planning to grow and diversify. I plan to expand my business by opening up a shoe store, Mohammed told Al Jazeera. Inshallah (God willing) I also plan to open businesses in my home city, Jijiga in Somali regional state and across other parts of Ethiopia. Ten years ago, Mohammad, an observant Muslim, would have struggled to find funding that aligned with her religious beliefs. But Ethiopias measured embrace of Islamic banking is offering her and other entrepreneurial-minded Muslims a gateway to financial inclusion. She started her business with a loan from the Somali Microfinance Institution (SMFI), Ethiopias first provider of sharia-compliant microfinance services. I first received around 7,000 Ethiopian bir ($246) loan from SMFI and with my business successfully expanding, I have recently received a loan of around 75,000 Ethiopian Birr ($2,645), said Mohammed. Unlike conventional finance, sharia-compliant financial institutions do not charge interest on loans. Instead, they share in any potential profits or losses of the businesses they underwrite. A typical day in the Bole Michael neighbourhood of Addis Ababa [Michael Tewelde/Al Jazeera] They also refrain from lending to businesses that engage in or promote activities prohibited under Islamic law, such as gambling, or selling pork or alcohol, or selling services that promote immorality. The vast majority of SMFIs loans are structured as resale agreements known as Murabaha, where the bank purchases goods for its client and then sells the goods back to them at a slightly higher price than the original cost. The customer can then repay the loan in instalments. For Mohammad, Islamic banking services have transformed her financial life. The loans from Somali Microfinance Institution have already allowed me to support the needs of my children, pay for my accommodation and business rent, she said. With future loans from SMFI, I plan to buy house or land to expand my business and build a stable home for me and my family. Boosting financial inclusion While financial inclusion has improved in Ethiopia, it still lags behind the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. The percentage of adults in Ethiopia with a bank account increased from 22 percent in 2014, to 35 percent in 2017, according to the World Bank Global Findex database. In Kenya, by contrast, 82 percent of adults had a bank account in 2017. Part of that gap can be attributed to mobile money uptake, which is far greater in Kenya than Ethiopia. While the drivers of that difference are not fully understood, Islamic banking is helping to boost financial inclusion in Ethiopia by reaching communities which formerly felt excluded from the countrys banking sector. Though roughly a third of Ethiopias estimated 105 million citizens are believed to be Muslim, formal directives on Islamic law-compliant finance were only issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) in 2011 the same year SMFI opened its doors. SMFI has since served around 30,000 customers, mostly in rural communities in Ethiopias eastern Somali region. Islamic law-compliant microfinance institutions have also sprung up in Ethiopias Afar region. Inching towards a fully-fledged Islamic bank SMFI hopes to evolve from a microfinance institution into a fully-fledged Islamic bank a hurdle no Ethiopian financial institution has cleared yet. Regardless of whether we become a fully-fledged sharia-compliant bank in the future, we plan to expand our services to other parts of Ethiopia serving interested customers, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Ubah Hassan, senior saving and credit officer at SMI, told Al Jazeera. While most big banks in the country have a window where customers can access Islamic financial services, a dearth of expertise in Islamic law-compliant banking has hampered past attempts to form an Islamic bank. The proposed Islamic bank Zamzam stalled in 2012 when it failed to satisfy NBE directives on interest-free banking issued the year before. We didnt have experienced personnel in Ethiopia on sharia-based banking services and products in Ethiopia previously, Solomon Desta of NBE told Al Jazeera. Thats why we initially opted to start with interest-free window banking services. Ubah Hassan prepares to give 75,000 Birr ($2,645) in loans Hukum Aden Mohammed [Michael Tewelde/Al Jazeera] Abdillahi Farah, financial inclusion adviser at Mercy Corps Ethiopia which helped launch SMFI, said Islamic law-compliant windows in big banks do not go far enough for some customers. Sharia-compliant MFIs have attracted customers who have felt banks dont represent them even though they have window-based interest banking system as some suspect its a compromised banking practice, he told Al Jazeera. But Ethiopia may be inching closer to green-lighting an Islamic bank. Efforts to create a more hospitable climate for Islamic banks have been renewed since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Christian whose father is Muslim, came to power in April 2018. And many see greenlighting Islamic banks as part of a greater liberalisation drive to attract more foreign investment, including the NBE, which is preparing a study to assess the impact of allowing fully Islamic law-compliant financial institutions. Ethiopia is looking on how to comprehensively liberalise the financial sector, said Desta. Ethiopia is geographically close to Middle Eastern countries that have lots of money which can be easily mobilised to invest in the country. Ethiopia embarked upon a set of political reforms in early 2018 that were greeted with euphoric enthusiasm. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds new administration initiated political liberalisation, releasing political prisoners and inviting exiled opposition groups that had been designated terrorist organisations to return to Ethiopia. The countrys second attempt at democratisation has however also been accompanied by a surge in political violence (often along ethnic lines), resulting in among other things the displacement of nearly three million people. Notable among these are the almost 900,000 Gedeo people who had to flee from their homes in the Guji zone of Oromia state. Many observers have concluded that the main culprit behind the surge in violence is Ethiopias ethno-national federal arrangement, which grants bigger ethnic groups self-governance rights within their respective states. Ugandan academic Mahmoud Mamdani, for example, recently argued that ethnic federalism risked to push the country toward an interethnic conflict, while others have drawn parallels to the possibility of a Yugoslavia-like disintegration. Many of these arguments take for granted that Ethiopia has never been anything more than a de jure federation and overlook other more significant sources of ethnic tensions and conflicts. Unelected ethnic elites To date, federalism has only been nominally practised in Ethiopia. Since the constitution was established in 1995, the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has maintained power through autocratic means. Ethiopians in the nine regional states have never had the privilege of electing their own governors. These officials have instead most of the time been appointed through informal channels by the EPRDF leadership in Addis Ababa. In effect, the notion of self-rule which is the fundamental principle of ethno-national federalism has never been practised. What Ethiopias different ethno-national groups had attained was cultural autonomy and the opportunity to be governed by non-elected political elites from their own ethnic group. Until his death in 2012, Ethiopias strongman Meles Zenawi appointed and unseated the leadership in each regional state (including his native Tigray) at will. After his passing, this political elite, who had initially been appointed by the centre started becoming increasingly autonomous from the control of the federal government as well as its people. Ethiopia then entered a condition of decentralised autocracy, and elite competition for power over the central government mobilised along ethno-national lines. The failure of assimilationist nationalism Those that attribute recent conflicts to federalism have proposed that Ethiopia adopt a territorial form of federalism, while some Ethiopians hope that it will return to a unitary system. The Horn of Africas track-record of assimilationist nationalism, however, has been far from good. Ethiopias experiment with assimilationist nation-building in the 20th century led to the formation of a number of ethno-national insurgency groups. This resulted in a 17-year-long civil war and ended with regime change in 1991 and the secession of Eritrea in 1993. In Somalia, President Siad Barre pursued a similar nation-building project, which also resulted in state collapse and the unilateral declaration of independence by Somaliland in 1991. Sudans attempt to Arabise South Sudan likewise led to Africas longest civil war and state-partition in 2011. What all three cases illustrate is that the notion of unitary nationalism is not culturally neutral and that it can still privilege some groups over others. They also demonstrate that ethnic politics was not a product of the institutional accommodation of ethnic identity but rather the concealed inequality and injustice that accompanied assimilationist nation-building efforts. The problem in Ethiopia has historically not been limited to the excessive centralisation of power in the capital, but has also centred on the question of cultural marginalisation, assimilation and the thorny question of whose culture and most crucially whose language should constitute that of the state. A federal arrangement organised solely along territorial lines does not address this crucial problem and can therefore not constitute a solution to Ethiopias diversity management challenge. There are crucial alternative explanations for Ethiopias current predicament that are being overlooked. The first important factor is of course that the country is undergoing a transition that involves political liberalisation and the surge in violence is one of its unintended consequences. This is not unique to Ethiopia, as processes of political liberalisation after autocracy are often accompanied by both civil and international conflict. The nature of the ruling EPRDF is another crucial factor that is overlooked. Through its ethnic patronage structures, the coalition of four ethno-national parties has contributed more to ethnic tensions than the federal arrangement. While federalism has made ethnicity the organising principle of the state, it was the dominance of the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) that generated ethnic resentment and tensions. This was compounded by a general EPRDF practice of resorting to xenophobic and ultra-nationalist rhetoric to mobilise constituencies in their competition for power and resources. This is partly an outcome of the intellectual bankruptcy of the EPRDF parties and their incapacity to formulate political and economic programmes, which has left them with few options other than drawing the identity card. The legitimacy of federalism Ethnic federalism in Ethiopia enjoys wide support. While it is difficult to pinpoint numerically, patterns of political mobilisation and mass protests indicate that the majority of the people fall in this category. The regional states of Oromia, Tigray, Somalia and even Amhara historically the bedrock of the unitary nationalism are all dominated by ethnic nationalist ruling parties and ultra-nationalist opposition parties. We should therefore stop entertaining extreme, unrealistic and impractical scenarios about the undoing of the federation (either by a return to a territorial federation or transition to a confederation). Critics of ethno-national federalism need to appreciate the legitimacy of the demand to be governed by ones own language and develop ones culture in the public sphere. The shortcomings of the federal arrangement need to be rectified without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Ethiopians must differentiate the part of the arrangement that contributes to the core and legitimate demands for political decentralisation and a public space that accommodates cultural diversity from policies and practices that only serve to generate toxic xenophobic side-effects. These include but are not limited to practices such as issuing of ID cards, car-plates, and other symbolic measures that designate ethnicity. Such practices do not contribute anything to the legitimate purpose of self-rule and cultural equality, but only serve to solidify differences and serve those that seek to instrumentalise ethnicity for violent purposes. Fortunately, secession has today only a few advocates. The utility of article 39 of the constitution which allows for self-determination up to secession should however be reconsidered. Most of the regional states are home to sizable minorities and most regional borders are disputed. The idea of a peaceful and legal secession in Ethiopia is unrealistic. Article 39(4) not only does little to contribute to the core idea of institutionally and legally accommodating Ethiopias cultural diversity, but also serves as a source of instability by providing political elites with an effective scare tactic every time their interests in the federal government are not met. The current political composition of the federation with nine states, to some extent, reflects the top-down and autocratic constitution-making process in 1994-95. Groups like the Sidama which has a population of around four million and whose demand for regional statehood has been ignored for years must be accommodated. The hypocrisy of self-determination only for the powerful will in the long-term only undermine the constitutional arrangement. The practice of positive and negative discrimination of Ethiopians in each region based on their status as alien or indigenous to the locality should be addressed. This includes the extreme cases of negative discrimination such as forced displacements to more subtle instances of positive discrimination such as reserving leadership positions in public universities or demands that the mayor of cities like Addis Ababa must be from a particular ethnic group, regardless of democratic elections. This type of discrimination is not legitimised let alone dictated by the constitution. The constitution provides the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia with rights such as the right to a full measure of self-government to write and to develop its own language; to express, to develop and to promote its culture; and to preserve its history. The constitution does not provide the right to positive or negative discrimination of individuals based on ethnicity. This type of discrimination is rather historically rooted in EPRDFs party organisation, culture and practice. Challenging these discriminatory practices is best done by channelling criticism to the ruling party rather than the constitutional arrangement. Thus the only way out of the current situation in Ethiopia is to focus on implementing the constitution and dismantling the discriminatory and undemocratic structures and practices nearly two decades of EPRDF had put in place. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Since Russia launched its direct military intervention in Syria in September 2015, there has been much talk about its perceived resurgence in the Middle East. Some have argued that Russia is growing powerful and is putting up a challenge to US hegemony. Others have said, it is filling a vacuum that the US pivot out of the region has left behind. These perceptions are very much based on Russias vigorous diplomatic activity in recent years and its efforts to draw public attention to it. But while Moscows diplomatic corps has indeed been active in visiting the region and hosting Arab delegations, there are few results it is able to show for the amount of effort it has put in. This is because Russias influence in the region and, particularly, the Gulf has its natural limits that are difficult to overcome. A case in point is the Russian foreign ministers visit to the Gulf last month, which came on the heels of a similar tour by special White House adviser Jared Kushner, and just before Secretary of State Mike Pompeos trip to the region. The message was clear: Russia, too, has ambitions in the Middle East, just as the United States. Like their American counterparts, the Russian diplomats came to the Gulf with a big agenda and big hopes for a breakthrough on a number of major political, economic and military issues. At the top of that agenda was, of course, Russias main foreign policy asset in the Middle East: Syria. Believing in Russian capacity to shape the future of post-conflict Syria but still being in need of financial and diplomatic support for launching the process of political reconciliation and economic reconstruction, Lavrov sought to convince the Gulf monarchies to back two Russian initiatives. One, he tried to persuade them to agree to Damascus being readmitted to the Arab League, which would confer much-needed legitimacy to the Assad regime. Two, he hoped to secure Gulf economic assistance for the reconstruction of the war-torn country. In exchange, Russia could offer a guarantee that Gulf economic and political interests would be secured in post-war Syria. It seems, however, that Lavrov failed to achieve much progress on both of these offers. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar rejected the question of Damascus joining the Arab League and seemed reluctant to commit funds for reconstruction at this point. The only major achievement on the Syria file that Lavrov managed to come away with was his meeting with part of the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition based in Riyadh; he reportedly was satisfied with the outcomes of the constructive and fruitful meeting. One of the reasons why Russias big hopes for securing Gulf backing for its plans for Syria were disappointed is the fact that it continues to overestimate the current potential of its military investments in Syria to affect the international relations of the Middle East. The Syrian conflict has entered a new stage in which military leverage is less important than a political one. While the Russian dominance at the battlefield remains unchallenged, Russias ability to single-handedly lead the process of political reconciliation and reconstruction of Syria is under question. It is, by now, quite clear that it desperately needs the cooperation and help of other regional players. Apart from that, it is not yet clear what Russias guarantees to ensure the future presence of the Gulf states in Syria is worth. Gulf states are aware of all this and are not in a hurry to accept Moscows proposals. In the Gulf, Russia has also tried to present itself as a neutral and reliable broker, who can help mediate the now two-year-old crisis that pitted Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain against Qatar. To underscore its neutrality, the Russian delegation visited Saudi Arabia right after Qatar, demonstrating equal distance from the two camps and readiness to talk to both of them. The Russian initiative to reconcile Qatar with the so-called blockade countries revolved around the suggestion to resume the ministerial consultations of the Russia-GCC forum in Moscow, which were put on hold after the crisis broke out in June 2017. Eager to assume the role of a mediator, Lavrov even came up with a list of concessions that the two sides could make in order to overcome the current deadlock, according to some Arab diplomats we spoke to. However, his suggestions did not meet much enthusiasm. Currently, the region is full of would-be mediators from the US, EU and the Middle East itself and Russia, by far, is not the most influential among them. The conflict is too deep and too personal and mediation efforts limited to simple appeals for compromise would not resolve it. A breakthrough would only happen if severe pressure is applied something Moscow alone cannot do. As one Gulf diplomat told us recently: Russia has to have cards to play the mediation game and it does not [have any]. During his trip to the Gulf, Lavrov also tried to secure some Gulf investment in Russia. Over the past few years, announcements of a number of major arms deals and cooperation in the energy sector have made the headlines in international media, creating the perception that Moscow has been successful in cashing in on its growing influence in the Middle East. This perception, however, does not entirely reflect the reality on the ground. At the moment, Russias struggling economy and heavy industry have little to offer to Gulf countries, who do not perceive investment in Russian assets as safe and profitable. In recent years, the Kremlin tried hard to draw the Gulf monarchies attention to a number of ambitious investment projects. Yet, most of these attempts have failed or have not yet brought the desired results. GCC countries did agree to invest in several large projects in recent years, however, funds for the realisation of these projects are being allocated very slowly. Of the $10bn Saudi Arabia promised to invest in Russia in 2015, for example, only a quarter has been invested so far. Meanwhile, the UAE invested only $2bn of the $7bn they promised in 2013. In 2017, Russias trade turnover with the GCC reached $3.5bn, which is similar to Russias annual trade turnover with Bulgaria. Furthermore, the much-touted cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia within the so-called OPEC+ has also not been as successful it was envisaged. It has been plagued by a number of major problems including periodical lack of compliance on part of Russia to cut oil production, its repeated attempts to bargain for better conditions and the potential gradual decline in Russias oil production after 2020 (2022) as a result of the depletion of the old oil-fields and problems with the development and exploration of new ones. All of these cannot but concern and sometimes irritate the Saudis and other participants of the oil cartel from the Gulf. Russias declining oil production will eventually make it less of a factor on the global energy market and less attractive as an OPEC partner. Consequently, it is not a surprise that Lavrovs attempts to boost Russias economic cooperation with the Gulf were not crowned with success. The meeting of Russian-Kuwaiti joint committee on trade and economic cooperation held during the Russian foreign ministers visit to Kuwait was rather a polite gesture to please the Russian guest rather than a result of genuine Kuwaiti intention to find economic projects to work on with Moscow. Overall, despite all the media hype around his Gulf tour, Lavrov came back to Moscow almost empty-handed. The fact that Russian diplomacy is failing to produce many results can lead to one of two outcomes. Moscow will either try to identify the barriers to its foreign policy in the Gulf and try to overcome them, or it might decide that the region is too unreceptive, put its efforts to strengthen relations with it on hold. The first option is less likely as it would require a lot of effort and resources Russia currently does not have. Disengagement is indeed much more likely. Russian economists have already started talking about Middle Eastern fatigue within Russian business circles, pointing out the disappointing results of seeking Gulf investments. This, in turn, might affect how the Kremlin sees its political priorities in the Middle East. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Total number of Palestinians currently imprisoned by Israel stands at 5,700, including 48 women and 250 children. At least 6,000 Palestinian children have been detained by Israeli authorities since 2015, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Association. In a statement issued on Friday to mark Palestinian Childrens Day, the NGO said 98 percent of the children held had been subjected to psychological and/or physical abuse while in Israeli custody. The association said dozens of minors were detained by Israeli authorities after first being shot and wounded by Israeli troops. According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authoritys Committee for Prisoners Affairs, the total number of Palestinians currently imprisoned by Israel stands at 5,700, including 48 women and 250 children. Children living in occupied East Jerusalem are the most targeted, the Palestinian Prisoners Association said in its statement, with dozens facing arrests more than one time a month, particularly during periods of heightened tensions such as the Bab al-Rahma protests in March. 180227071826444 Minors arrested during night raids are transferred to interrogation and detention centres, where they suffer abuses, including being deprived of food or water for hours, according to the association. The childrens right to have one parent or guardian present during their interrogation is often neglected, the NGO said. Children are often forced to sign statements written in Hebrew a language they cannot read. The conditions have left released children suffering from nightmares, insomnia, decline in school achievement and reacting aggressively with their environment and society. In its statement, the association urged international human rights organisations, including the United Nations childrens agency, to take effective action against the violations committed against children who are detained by Israeli forces. Taliban fighters storm Afghan government compound in Badghis, kill at least 32 soldiers and policemen in 48 hours. Afghan officials say a massive Taliban siege of a government compound and army base in western Badghis province, now in its second day, has killed at least 12 more troops. Fridays fatalities bring the overall casualty toll for the assault in the district of Bala Murghab to at least 32. Many more have been wounded and the area is cut off. Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial council member, said that according to soldiers inside the base, roughly 2,000 Taliban fighters are involved in the attack. He said there are about 600 Afghan troops and members of the security forces inside and they are running out of ammunition, water and food. Abdul Waris Sherzad, a district chief, said the locals are disappointed that NATO forces and the Afghan government have not helped, an assertion the defence ministry disputes. Sherzad said in a statement on Thursday the Taliban had killed 36 members of the government forces and captured several security checkpoints in attacks that began on Wednesday night. More than 30 Taliban fighters were also killed, according to Jamshed Shahabi, spokesman for Badghis provincial governor. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said the group attacked from four directions, capturing five checkpoints. Afghanistans defence ministry, in a series of tweets, said its forces chose to tactically retreat from the checkpoints to prevent civilian casualties. The ministry said it called in multiple air attacks on Taliban positions and had airlifted reinforcements and supplies to Badghis. On Friday the defence ministry said Afghan forces had forced the Taliban to retreat from some checkpoints and that all key areas remained under its control. Recurring hotspot The district of Bala Murghab has been a recurring hotspot of fighting in the past two months, and officials have previously warned that it could fall to the Taliban without reinforcements. The armed group controls or contests nearly half of Afghanistan, the most since US-led forces removed it from power in 2001, according to the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. Fighting in Afghanistan has escalated before the usual spring season, as both sides seek to increase leverage in talks on a peace settlement. Fighting between armed groups has also intensified. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement on Thursday that attacks on Taliban positions by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) on March 23 resulted in 21,000 people being displaced in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The latest round of peace talks between US and Taliban officials wrapped up last month, with both sides citing progress. But despite the talks, the Taliban stages near-daily attacks on Afghan forces, inflicting staggering casualties. The armed group refuses to talk directly with the government in Kabul, considering it a US puppet. The Taliban says it is fighting to expel foreign troops, topple the Western-backed Afghan government and restore its version of Islamic law. Protesters rally for seventh straight week demanding the departure of allies of long-serving leader, who quit this week. Algerians have once again taken to the streets to demand an overhaul of the political system after their pro-democracy movement forced President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign earlier this week after 20 years in power. Tens of thousands of people massed in the capital, Algiers, and marched towards the central post office, a symbol of the peaceful widespread protests that began on February 22 in response to 82-year-old Bouteflikas bid to seek a fifth term in now-cancelled elections, earlier scheduled for April 18. Security was higher than usual, with roadblocks preventing buses of protesters from entering the city. One group of demonstrators from the Kabylie region east of Algiers walked 20km after its bus was stopped at a roadblock. It was the seventh straight Friday of protests against a leadership the demonstrators perceive as corrupt and repressive but the first since the ailing Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday under pressure from protesters and the powerful army. The demonstrators now want the departure of key allies of Bouteflika, including the men who head Algerias three branches of power: the prime minister, chief of the upper house of parliament and the president of the constitutional court. The people want them all to leave, protesters chanted. Some brandished signs calling for the exit of the three Bs- Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, Constitutional Council President Tayeb Belaiz, and upper house of parliament President Abdelkader Bensalah. On Wednesday, the Constitutional Council confirmed that the post of president was vacant, paving the way for a three-month transition period. Under Algerias constitution, that confirmation allows the country to organise elections within that 90-day transition period. The process foresees both houses of parliament convening and Bensalah being named an interim leader. Bensalah, however, does not have the support of Algerias opposition and thousands of protesters who led the anti-Bouteflika movement. Protesters carry a mock hangman with the faces of businessman Ali Haddad, former PM Ahmed Ouyahia and Said Bouteflika, the ex-presidents brother [Ramzi Boudina/Reuters] One of the leading voices of the protest movement, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, has called for the demonstrations to continue until they have all gone. Our victory is partial, he said in a video posted online. Algerians will not accept that symbols of the regime lead the interim period and organise the next elections. Peaceful protests were also held in the northeastern province of Annaba and in Bejaia in the north, according to local media reports. Intelligence chief leaves post Meanwhile, Algerian media reported that Athmane Tartag, the countrys director of the intelligence service, has left his post amid conflicting reports about whether he resigned or was dismissed. The local al-Khabar paper reported that the intelligence chief, also known as Bachir Tartag, handed in his resignation hours before Bouteflika stepped down. However, Algerias private Ennahar satellite channel reported that Tartag was sacked on Friday. The 69-year-old was appointed as the head of the intelligence service in 2015. Algerian news reports said the intelligence service, DSS, will now report to the defence ministry instead of the presidents office. George Joffe from the School of Oriental and African Studies told Al Jazeera that certain grudge scores are now being settled. The result is now Tartag is out of office, and that begins to remove some of the infrastructure of the Bouteflika regime, he said, speaking from London. Whether it implies a change in the institutions of the state of law that I doubt very much. This is seen as a move to sideline former President Bouteflikas allies as demanded by protesters. Athmane Tartag has been fired as the Algerian intelligence chief, according to local media reports. Tartag is a retired army general and was considered a close aide to former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The move may disappoint Algerias military if it was hoping that Bouteflikas resignation earlier this month would dampen enthusiasm for anti-government protests. Al Jazeeras Bernard Smith reports. The United Nations chief, Antonio Guterres, has ended a mission in Libya with heavy heart amid mounting fears of a full-blown war after renegade General Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops to launch a military assault on the countrys capital. Armed clashes took place on Friday near Tripoli as eastern forces loyal to Haftar continued their advance towards the city, which is controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and protected by an array of militias. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli, Guterres wrote on Twitter after meeting Haftar in his stronghold, the eastern city of Benghazi. The UN is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the UN is committed to supporting the Libyan people, Guterres said. According to Al-Arabiya TV, Haftar, told Guterres that his operation towards Tripoli will continue until terrorism has been defeated. The UN chief had travelled to Libya this week to help organise a national reconciliation conference planned for later this month and aimed at drawing a plan for delayed elections. But in a surprise move on Thursday, Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which is allied to a parallel administration based in the east, to advance towards the capital. I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli. The UN is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the UN is committed to supporting the Libyan people. Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 5, 2019 The UN Security Council on Friday called on Haftars forces to halt all military movements after holding an emergency closed-door meeting. Libya, which was plunged into chaos following NATO-backed removal of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, has for years been split between the GNA in Tripoli and a rival government in the east allied to Haftar. Haftars LNA troops on Thursday took the town of Gharyan, about 100km south of Tripoli, putting them closer than ever before to militias allied to the GNA. They further moved north coming as close as 40km to Tripoli by taking the village of Suq al-Khamis after some fighting, a resident and an eastern military source told Reuters news agency. Later on Friday, the LNA said they had taken control of the areas of Qasr ben Ghashir and Wadi al-Rabie on the southern outskirts of Tripoli, near the former Tripoli International Airport, closed since a city battle in 2014. There was no independent confirmation. Fathi Bashagha, the Tripoli interior minister, later told Ahrar TV his forces had retaken the old airport while there were clashes in the Qasr ben Ghashir area. Earlier on Friday, LNA forces failed to take a checkpoint about 30km west of the capital. They were pushed back by pro-GNA militiamen from the coastal town of Zawiya after a short exchange of fire, AFP news agency reported, citing an unnamed security source. Traffic was flowing normally past the so-called Gate 27, which lies astride the coastal road to Tunisia, on Friday morning, an AFP correspondent reported. In another setback, forces allied to the GNA took 145 LNA fighters prisoner in Zawiya and 60 vehicles were confiscated, a commander told Reuters. An LNA source confirmed 128 had been captured. Tripoli-allied forces took 145 troops allied to the eastern forces and confiscated dozens of vehicles in the town of Zawiya [Hani Amara/Reuters] This came after militias in western Libya vowed to confront Haftars attempt to seize Tripoli. Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from the capital, said that forces from Misrata are also believed to have joined Tripoli-allied troops to the south of the capital and are advancing southwest towards Gharyan. Also on Friday, a militia known as the Joint Tripoli Protection Force based in the area and smaller towns around the Libyan capital announced it would also deploy to repel Haftars offensive. There are reports of confrontations between Haftars forces and UN-backed government forces on the outskirts of Gharyan, Abdelwahed said. International powers urge de-escalation Several governments and organisations have urged de-escalation, including those known to be Haftars key backers such as France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The two countries, along with the UK, Italy and the United States, said in a joint statement on Friday that military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos. Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, said the bloc is deeply concerned by the military build-up that is underway in Libya and the escalatory rhetoric which seriously risks leading to an uncontrollable confrontation. Matteo Salvini, Italys interior minister, warned that the stability along the southern rim of the Mediterranean Sea was in danger, with Algeria also in turmoil following the uprising against its longtime ailing president. Russia, which has thrown its support behind Haftar in the past, distanced itself from the offensive. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, denied any support for Haftar and emphasised the need to avoid actions that would lead to the resumption of bloodshed. Maoists, who have called for a boycott of polls in Chhattisgarh, have killed five soldiers in two separate attacks. Raipur, Chhattisgarh Suspected Maoist rebels have killed five paramilitary personnel in two separate attacks in Indias state of Chhattisgarh days before the region votes in general elections. One soldier was killed on Friday in a gunfight in the forests of Salehghat in Dhamtari district, while four troops from the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed in Kanker district on Thursday. The attacks have raised security concerns before a scheduled election rally on Saturday by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Deputy Inspector General of Police Sundar Raj P told Al Jazeera that security forces started massive operation against the Maoists in the forests of Salehghat on Friday morning after getting a tip-off. There was heavy firing from both sides. One paramilitary soldier was killed in the incident, the officer said. The rise of Maoist influence 20111019124251679523 Bhupesh Baghel, who took over as the chief minister of the mineral-rich state four months ago, blamed the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for the rise of Maoist influence. Modis Hindu nationalist BJP ruled the state for 15 years. Tens of thousands of security forces have been deployed to defeat the Maoist rebels, who have waged a guerrilla war for decades against what they call expropriation of their resources. Maoist threat or left-wing extremism in central and eastern parts of India home to about 84 million indigenous people has decreased in recent years, according to government figures. Our government is trying to remove the distress of tribal areas of the state. Immediately after coming to power, we have returned the land of tribal [people] acquired by Tata for the industry, Baghel told Al Jazeera. The minimum support price of Tendu leaves has been hiked to Rs 4,000 [$57] from the old rate of Rs 2,500 [$36], he said. The chief minister said that his government has formed a committee under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge to look into the cases registered against tribal people. After undergoing so many welfare works for tribals, if Maoists are opting violence, then they are against the development of tribals, Baghel told Al Jazeera. Maoist rebels boycott the polls State police and paramilitary forces have intensified operations as the Maoist rebels have threatened to boycott the elections. Voting will be held in three phases in the state April 11, 18 and 23. In a statement sent to Al Jazeera, the spokesman for Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists, Vikalp, has urged voters to boycott the polls. On the whole Modis good days are for Ambani and Adani etc, the statement says referring to the countrys leading industrialists considered close to the prime minister. People are being misled by making excuses for development The solution of the problems of public is not the election, the struggle is the only way. So, we have given a slogan for election boycott, the statement said. Leaders in Europe have poured cold water on British Prime Minister Theresa Mays request for a 12-week Brexit extension, arguing it does not amount to a clear and credible plan for the UKs departure from the European Union. In separate statements on Friday, Dutch, German and French officials all called on May to clarify her plan to take the UK out of the bloc in advance of an EU summit set to take place on Wednesday, when her postponement proposal will be considered. The British prime minister earlier on Friday sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk asking Brussels to delay Brexit until June 30 in order to ensure an orderly exit. The UK is currently scheduled to leave the EU on April 12, with British legislators failure to agree on any scheme for exiting the 28-member bloc raising the possibility of a so-called no-deal departure something May and her EU counterparts are eager to avoid. Delay a tool, not a solution French President Emmanuel Macrons office suggested it was premature to consider a postponement in the absence of a clear plan from London. A delay is a tool, but not a solution in itself, a presidential source told the AFP news agency. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte meanwhile said Mays request raised many questions, adding a delay only makes sense if we understand the reason for it. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas echoed Ruttes concerns and said May must clarify her plan before the upcoming EU summit so European leaders could form an opinion on an extension and under what circumstances any postponement could take place. 181201182945771 All EU member states must give unanimous backing to any deadline extension, with officials already rejecting a request by May for an extension to the end of June at a summit last month, instead offering the April 12 deadline. Britain had initially agreed to an EU departure date of March 29 but amid successive failures to get her Brexit deal signed off by the UK Parliament, May has been under pressure to push the deadline back in order to avoid a no-deal exit. In the face of continued opposition to her plan, including from within her own Conservative Party and its government partner, the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the prime minister has turned to main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the hope of creating cross-party consensus on an exit strategy. Labour has called for any departure deal to ensure the protection of the exact same benefits as the UK currently has as a member of the EUs single market and customs union. Tusk to float flexible extension Amid the continued uncertainty, Tusk is considering proposing an offer of a 12-month flexible extension to the Brexit date, the BBC reported on Friday, citing a senior EU source. 190405063700126 Reacting to the report, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a longer delay to the UKs departure from the bloc might be favourable. None of us want no deal next week but we also want to avoid rolling extensions because that just adds to the uncertainty so perhaps a longer extension might make more sense, Varadkar told Irish national broadcaster RTE. A further delay to Brexit could result in the UK taking part in European Parliamentary elections, due to take place between May 23 and 26. May proposed in her letter that if MPs approve a divorce deal in time, the UK should be able to leave before the elections take place. The plan would let UK leave sooner if British parliament ratifies a deal agreed by EU leaders next week, BBC reports. European Council President Donald Tusk is proposing to make an offer of a 12-month flexible extension to the Brexit date, the BBC reported on Friday, citing a senior European Union source. The plan would let the United Kingdom leave sooner if the British parliament ratifies a deal but will need to be agreed to by EU leaders next week at a summit, according to Britains state broadcaster. Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May held talks with opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday to try and plot a way out of the crisis after her EU divorce deal was rejected three times by legislators, including from her Conservative party. 190403131647449 The two parties are set to continue talks on Friday. May said earlier this week she would seek a delay that is as short as possible to the current Brexit date of April 12. This requires for her and Corbyn to agree on a proposal for parliamentarians to vote on before April 10, when EU leaders are expected to consider extension requests at an emergency summit. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told BBC that if the talks between UKs Conservative and Labour parties fail, the delay is likely to be a long one. British parliamentarians narrowly approved on Wednesday a bill seeking to delay Brexit, as they attempt to avoid a no-deal exit from the EU. EU watches and waits European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said the UK will not get any short-term extensions for Brexit unless its parliament backs Mays deal. A no-deal at midnight on the 12th of April is now a very likely scenario, Juncker told the European Parliament on Wednesday. [The] UK will be affected more than the EU because there is no such thing as a managed or negotiated no-deal and there is no such thing as a no-deal transition, Juncker said. 190402133135476 Frances new European Affairs Minister Amelie de Montchalin said that, while May and Corbyns meeting was a positive step, it offered no guarantee of a way out of the crisis. Theresa Mays call yesterday evening for national unity is very positive, but we have no certainty on what will be the outcome, de Montchalin, who was appointed this week, told French politicians. There were mixed messages from other EU member states, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowing to fight till the last hour to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but others felt lukewarm about granting another extension. Irelands Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Ireland would support a delay to the UKs departure, but Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said there was currently no reason to agree to an extension. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Areas of patchy fog. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Minor clashes outside camp in northern Greece after false report about border opening circulated on social media. Police have used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse refugees and migrants during a second day of scuffles outside a camp in northern Greece. Since Thursday, hundreds of people stuck in Greece have arrived at a field next to the camp in Diavata, close to the second city of Thessaloniki, in the hope of travelling towards more prosperous countries in Northern Europe. The move was reportedly spurred by false posts on social media claiming that years-long movement restrictions had been lifted. Minor clashes erupted on Thursday and Friday when security forces prevented the refugees and migrants from breaking a police cordon and heading towards the border with North Macedonia, some 60km to the north. Security forces formed a shield wall and made sporadic use of tear gas and stun grenades to keep them from advancing. Hashem Mojadam, a 36-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker, spent the night in the field and said he hoped to join others and walk to the border. Everyone is tense and no one really slept, he told The Associated Press news agency. Were hoping to go to another country because there is nothing for us here and we need a safe place. It has been estimated that more than 70,000 refugees and migrants have been trapped in Greece since Balkan countries along the northward overland route to Western Europe sealed their borders in March 2016. Most have submitted requests for asylum, clogging an already overburdened application system and further exacerbating approval delays that can stretch into years. Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas issued a plea to migrants to return to their camps in other parts of the country, officially known as hospitality centres. There was a false report being distributed that the border would be opened. We have informed the hospitality centres that is not the case, Vitsas told state television. As refugees and as people they have rights but they also an obligation to respect and abide by the laws of the country that is providing them hospitality. 190403174556992 Separately, dozens of refugees and migrants gathered earlier on Friday on the main railway station of the capital, Athens, shouting Germany. They had bought tickets to Thessaloniki, intending to also travel to the Diavata camp before authorities realised the plan and halted the train. Some later set up tents on the platform and train services from the station were suspended. We want to go to Thessaloniki and then to the borders, Amin Omar, a 27-year-old Iraqi Kurd sitting on the tracks, told the Reuters news agency. We dont know if they are open. The station sit-in ended later on Friday. A senior migration ministry official said the events at the Larissis train station were intended as a message to the EU. Its a message that Europe must understand that this is a problem demanding a European solution, said Miltiadis Klapas, general secretary of the migration ministry, according to the AFP news agency. But it cannot be imposed like this, he added, referring to the sit-in. The incidents were reminiscent of the 2015 refugees crisis, when more than a million people attempted to reach Western Europe via Turkey, Greece and the Balkans. Separately, Turkish state media reported on Friday that hundreds of migrants were detained close to Turkeys borders with Europe on Thursday. Authorities held 406 migrants in Edrine province, bordering Greece and Bulgaria, while 200 people were arrested while trying to cross to Bulgaria irregularly, according to Anadolu Agency. Most of those arrested were Afghan, Pakistani Syrian and Iraqi nationals, it said. The bill includes a provision making it easier to take away guns from violence offenders if they are not a spouse. The United States House of Representatives voted on Thursday to reauthorise a 25-year-old law that helps victims of domestic and sexual violence, despite complaints by Republicans that Democrats were politicising the popular law by expanding gun control. The bill to reauthorise the Violence Against Women Act includes a provision making it easier to take away guns from violent offenders even if they are not a spouse or domestic partner. The amendment closes the so-called boyfriend loophole by barring those convicted of abusing, assaulting or stalking a current or former dating partner from buying or owning a firearm. Were closing dangerous loopholes in our laws that, right now, allow those whove been convicted of stalking or dating violence to obtain firearms, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. The National Rifle Association (NRA), a gun-rights lobbying organisation, opposed the House measure and urged Republicans to vote against it. Its a shame that some in the gun control community treat the severity of domestic violence so trivially that they are willing to use it as a tool to advance a political agenda, NRA spokeswoamn Jennifer Baker said in a statement to media earlier this week. The House approved the bill, 263-158, sending it to the Senate. Thirty-three Republicans joined with Democrats to support the bill. Congressman Collin Peterson was the only Democrat to oppose it. 170919112545906 On April 1, Republicans in the Senate attempted to advance a short-term extension of the law without the new gun ownership restriction. They added a renewal of the old Violence Against Women Act to a $13.45bn disaster aid spending bill. Democrats, seeking more aid for Puerto Rico, voted to delay the spending bill. Republican Senator Joni Ernst has said she would work with Democrats including Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee to try to find a compromise. The Violence Against Women Act allocates $1.6bn a year to investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women and provides for the Office on Violence Against Women within the US Justice Department. It first became law in 1994 with bipartisan support and was reauthorised in 2000, 2005 and 2013. It lapsed again in 2018, triggering jockeying between House and Senate leaders over its renewal. Its disappointing. This one has been a bipartisan bill, but they want to turn it into a partisan thing, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. Under current federal law, those convicted of domestic abuse can lose their guns if they are currently or formerly married to their victim, live with the victim, have a child together or are a victims parent or guardian. The proposed amendment would extend the provision to stalkers and current or former dating partners. If politicians are trying to save lives, Why would you not close a simple loophole that says if someone has been convicted of domestic violence or stalking that they not have access to a gun? asked Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. We cant deny the deadly connection Gun-control advocates praised the House action. My husband tried to kill me because he had easy access to a gun, Lisette Johnson, a survivor of a 2009 shooting who is now a gun safety activist, said in a statement issued by Everytown. If he hadnt had a gun, I dont believe he would have tried to kill me and then himself any other way. We cant deny the deadly connection between domestic violence and gun violence. 160123085651777 Robin Lloyd, managing director of a gun-control group founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, said up to half of all domestic violence victims are abused by a dating partner, rather than a spouse or live-in boyfriend. On average, 50 women are shot and killed every month in the US by their husbands, boyfriends or intimate partners, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group that supports the measure. Lloyd called the gun-control amendment truly a life-saving provision, adding that gaps in federal law allowing abusers and stalkers to obtain guns are a key driver of the staggering levels of lethal violence against women in the US. An estimated 4.5 million women have been threatened with a gun by an intimate partner, and nearly one million women alive today have been shot, or shot at, by an intimate partner, Lloyd said. With additional reporting by William Roberts in Washington, DC. Southeast Asian country signed the Rome Statute in March but still had to ratify it to become a member. Malaysia will not join the International Criminal Court (ICC), Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad has announced, raising further concerns that his 10-month administration is holding back on promised reforms after coming under pressure from the opposition. Malaysia signed the Rome Statute, the ICCs founding treaty, in March but still had to ratify it to formally become a member of the The Hague-based tribunal. Opposition parties objected to it on racial grounds that it could undermine privileges for Malays, as well as the immunity of nine Malay state rulers. The wealthy ruler of southern Johor state also recently accused the government of breaching the constitution by signing the treaty. 190309143611139 On Friday, Mahathir said the cabinet had decided not to ratify the Rome Statute as it has been manipulated by his opponents. He rejected allegations that the treaty will undermine Malaysias sovereignty and its royal families. This is not because we are against it but because of the political confusion about what it entails, caused by people with vested interest, a visibly upset Mahathir told reporters. I see this as a way to blacken my face because they know they cannot oust me easily, said the 93-year-old. Policy flip-flop The move is the latest policy u-turn by the government, which took office in May last year after an opposition alliance led by Mahathir defeated a ruling coalition that had governed Malaysia for 60 years by promising to tackle corruption, repeal rights-abusing laws and turn the country into one of Southeast Asias leading democracies. Late last year, the government backtracked on signing a key United Nations treaty against racial discrimination after opposition parties objected to the plan, claiming it would undermine the constitution and the rights of the majority Malays. 181208093049636 Mahathirs government still struggles with racial issues as many Muslim Malays, who account for two-thirds of the population, support the opposition. Traditional ethnic Malay rulers constitutionally head nine of Malaysias 13 states. They do not have executive power but are highly respected among Malay Muslims. Mahathir criticised efforts to engage Malaysias royal families in the discourse against the government. They claimed the law negates the rights of the Malays, the rights of the rulers. Its absolute nonsense, he said. We understand that this is a political move to get the rulers to back them up. Of course, some members of the royal family may be involved, but the whole idea is to get the royalty in Malaysia to go against the government. Officials say, Brian Michael Rini, who said he was missing Illinois boy Timmothy Pitzen, has made similar claims before. Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged a 23-year-old former convict with making false statements after he claimed to be Illinois teen Timmothy Pitzen, who went missing in 2011 after his mother committed suicide, a US lawyer said. Brian Michael Rini was charged with lying to federal agents after he appeared on Wednesday in Newport, Kentucky, outside Cincinnati and claimed he was 14-year-old Pitzen. Rini was found wandering the street and looking confused and in need of assistance, according to the six-page affidavit from FBI agent Mary Braun. After identifying himself as Pitzen, Rini complained of abdominal pain and was taken to the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Emergency Room, the affidavit said. He told federal agents he had escaped an eight-year ordeal at the hands of sex traffickers. Pitzen was last seen when he was six years old. Rini refused to be fingerprinted on Wednesday and Thursday but agreed to a DNA test which on Thursday identified him as Rini, according to Braun. Even after Rini was advised of his rights and warned against making false statements, he continued to insist he was Pitzen and that he had escaped from a hotel where he had been forced to have sex with men against his will, the affidavit said. Rini finally acknowledged his identity after being confronted with the DNA results and said he had watched a story about Pitzen on ABCs 20/20 news programme, and had wanted to get away from his family, according to Braun. 190111153737643 Law enforcement confronted him with the DNA results, and at that point the person immediately stated that he was not Timmothy Pitzen, and of course law enforcement knew by virtue of the DNA analysis that he was in fact Brian Rini, said US Attorney Benjamin Glassman briefing reporters. Rini appeared in federal court on Friday morning and is being held without bail until his detention hearing on Tuesday. He faces up to eight years in prison if found guilty, Glassman said. Rinis lawyer, Karen Savir, did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the charges against her client. Similar claims before Rini had twice before claimed to be a child sex trafficking victim, according to federal prosecutors. He was released from Ohios Belmont Correctional Institution on March 7 where he had been serving 14 months for burglary and vandalism, according to public records. False reports like this can be painful to the families of missing children and also divert law enforcement resources in order to investigate these untruthful claims, said Herb Stapleton, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Cincinnati. Pitzen was last seen in May 2011 with his mother, who pulled him out of school in Aurora, Illinois, a far-west suburb of Chicago, took him on a trip to a zoo and a water park, and then committed suicide in a motel room, leaving behind a cryptic note on her sons whereabouts. Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him, she wrote in the note, according to reports by ABC7 Chicago. You will never find him. In Pitzens hometown of Aurora, Illinois, police sergeant Bill Rowley said that over the years his department has received thousands of tips about the boy, including false sightings. This image released on April 4, 2019, by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, shows Timmothy Pitzen, left, and an Age Progression image of Pitzen at 13 [Handout/National Center for Missing & Exploited Children/AFP] Were always worried about copycats, especially something that has a big national attention like this, Rowley said. Pitzens family members said they were heartbroken at the latest twist. Its devastating. Its like reliving that day all over again, and Timmothys father is devastated once again, said his aunt Kara Jacobs. The boys grandmother Alana Anderson said, Its been awful. Weve been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. Its just been exhausting. She added, I feel so sorry for the young man whos obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else. With Mozambiques food basket region flooded following Cyclone Idai, the country struggles to feed its people. Tica, Mozambique With the aid of a long walking stick, Joao Anthonio waded through floodwaters to check on his maize field which was submerged after Cyclone Idai crashed into central Mozambique. After a few metres, he stopped and shook his head in disbelief at the calamity. He muttered a few words to himself as he walked back to the tarmac road to begin the drive to his tent at one of the makeshift camps for thousands uprooted from their homes by flooding in Sofala province. I was hoping the floodwaters would have receded so I can try and salvage a bit of my crops. The water level is still very high and I dont think the crops will survive, the 52-year-old farmer told Al Jazeera. Unfortunately, I cant do anything to release the water. My farm is my life. I hope I dont completely lose my source of livelihood, he said in a low tone as he fought back tears. Anthonio inherited the 12-hectare farmland 15 years ago from his late father. With a wife and four children to feed, he is not sure how he can continue to rely on external help to take care of his family for the next year. I have been farming for several years and donating food to poor families. Its so sad Im now living off handouts, Anthonio said. He is among thousands of farmers who have collectively lost about half a million hectares of farmlands to the floods. Food basket The central region is Mozambiques food basket. Its farm produce has played a vital role in cushioning the countrys food shortage. The government imports 100,000 tonnes of maize annually, according to the agriculture ministrys records. Most of the population in this region are subsistence farmers who rely on the crops they grow to survive. They cannot reap the crops which are due for harvest in April and May and will have to wait for the floodwaters to recede. There are few signs of government assistance in the affected communities, which lack basic amenities like clean water, roads and electricity despite their key role in feeding the country. The floods have further worsened conditions. Livestock, food storage spaces and grain stores were also washed away, while mud houses were destroyed and some households lost all their personal belongings. I left my home with only the clothes I had on. No one cared about anything else but to save the lives of family members, Kubano Tomas told Al Jazeera. Major emergency Cyclone Idai has left more than a million facing imminent food shortages. The UN estimates that 1.85 million people are in urgent need of emergency humanitarian assistance. This is a major emergency, World Food Programme (WFP) spokesman Gerald Bourke told Al Jazeera in Beira, the major hub for coordination of relief interventions. Humanitarian organisations use boats and helicopters to drop food for people stranded in inaccessible communities [Marco Frattini/WFP] So many people have gone without food and other essentials for two weeks now. We are in the emergency phase of just trying to keep people alive with food, Bourke said. The emergency phase we are looking at is basically three months. The WFP and other humanitarian organisations have been distributing rice, biscuits and cereals to communities they can reach by road while they use boats and helicopters to drop food for people stranded in inaccessible communities. We are looking to scale up to 1.2 million people within the next seven days and we are ultimately hoping to help 1.7 million who need emergency food assistance, Bourke said. Child malnutrition Mozambique has a child malnutrition rate of 42 percent most of them under five-years-old, according to official records. At least 598 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced after the cyclone made landfall, causing catastrophic flooding. Most of the survivors are in camps in the port city, Beira. Some of those displaced are school children who are being encouraged to go back to class with a meal programme. The World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian agency is behind the project and is also providing free meals for about 10,000 displaced people daily. We are developing intelligent targeted ways of reaching affected communities like hospitals, camps and schools within Beira city, WCK spokesman Sam Bloch told Al Jazeera. Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi recently vowed to provide 100,000 agricultural tools and 1,000 tonnes of seeds for short cycle crops to farmers. But the promise has yet to be fulfilled. Some farmers are not sure when the pledge will be redeemed. We are used to government promises which are not fulfilled. I wont be disappointed if we dont receive the seeds, Anthonio said. The Food and Agriculture Organisation and other humanitarian agencies have promised to assist the farmers with seeds which can be planted when the floodwaters recede, targeting an October, November harvest. Recent fighting between Myanmar military and Arakan Army in western state has displaced over 20,000 civilians, UN says. The UN human rights office has condemned the Myanmar military for again carrying out attacks against civilians, expressing deep concerns over an escalation of violence in the countrys restive Rakhine State. The western state was the epicentre of a brutal crackdown by Myanmars security forces in 2017 which forced about 730,000 Rohingya to flee into neighbouring Bangladesh. The UN has accused the army of genocidal intent in its campaign against the long-persecuted, majority-Muslim ethnic minority, which followed attacks by a Rohingya armed group on police posts in late August 2017. More recently, the military has been battling another armed group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population. 190327061055016 On Friday, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced concern about attacks on civilians by both sides. Ravina Shamdasani said that there were credible reports of the killing of civilians, burning of houses, arbitrary arrests, abductions, indiscriminate fire in civilian areas, and damage to cultural property. She cited sources on the ground as saying at least seven people were killed on Wednesday when two military helicopters flew over a village in south Buthidaung township and fired on civilians tending cows and paddy fields. Shamdasani said the attack was carried out in an area where thousands of Rohingya were taking shelter having fled earlier fighting. Overall, more than 20,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge in fighting across five townships in Rakhine State. We are deeply disturbed by the intensification of the conflict in Rakhine State in recent weeks, and condemn what appear to be indiscriminate attacks and attacks directed at civilians by the Myanmar military and armed fighters, she said, As the international community is taking steps towards accountability for the crimes committed against civilians in previous years, the Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians attacks which may constitute war crimes. Army statement Separately on Friday, the Myanmar army-run Myawady newspaper said the six Rohingya killed and nine wounded in Wednesdays aerial attack were together with terrorists while the army was cracking down on the Arakan Armys terrorist activities in Buthidaung township. 190319070726358 But Arakan Army spokesman Khin Thu Kha denied the dead and wounded men were members of the armed group, saying the military had attacked indiscriminately. They bombed everywhere, believing there were Arakan Army members in the jungle, he was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. Three villagers and a regional legislator also told Reuters on Thursday that the men were collecting bamboo near the Sai Din waterfall when an army helicopter attacked, All of them were bamboo workers, said Soe Tun Oo, a fellow labourer. In Geneva, the UN human rights office said the effect of the violence on civilians in northern Rakhine State has been exacerbated by the governments near-suspension of humanitarian access since January. It also urged the army and the Arakan Army to immediately cease hostilities and to restore access for humanitarian aid. Brenton Tarrant, who is accused of attacking two mosques in Christchurch, donated funds to Generation Identity. The man accused of attacking two mosques in New Zealand and shooting dead 50 worshippers donated more than 2,000 euros ($2,245) to the French far-right group Generation Identity (GI), according to reports in German and Austrian media. The reports say an official from Germanys Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) briefed members of the countrys Interior Affairs Committee on Wednesday that the suspect had made four transfers, totalling 2,200 euros ($2,469) between September 18 and 25, 2017. The information is said to come from the New Zealand government investigation into the attack. A spokesperson for GI France at first denied having received any money from the 28-year-old white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, who has been charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 counts of attempted murder for the March 15 attacks in Christchurch. On Thursday afternoon, the spokesperson told AFP news agency that they had found two donations totalling 1,000 euros ($1,122) from Tarrant, and had passed this information onto authorities. Last week, Austrias Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Tarrant had donated 1,500 euros ($1,684) to the Austrian branch of the far-right group. GI is a pan-European far-right group which advocates for the expulsion of Europes Muslims. Created in 2012 in France, it also has branches in Germany and Austria. 190327120423080 The links between GI and the alleged Christchurch attacker will bring further pressure on European governments to consider legal action against the movement. Earlier this week, the French government announced it will hold discussions on whether to proscribe the far-right group. GI was the subject of an Al Jazeera investigation, Generation Hate, broadcast last December. The two-part series used an undercover reporter to infiltrate the group. He witnessed violence and racist abuse by members at the GI branch in Lille, in northern France. Following the broadcast, Lille Mayor Martine Aubry expressed shock at the findings of the Al Jazeera investigation and called for the closure of GIs headquarters in the city. Charges have been filed against three far-right activists in connection with an assault filmed by the undercover reporter. The documentary shows Lille GI activist Remi Falize, wearing gloves reinforced with plastic, hitting a young woman four times on the head after she is heard using Arabic slang. Following the assault, Falize was filmed boasting about the attack and suggesting a racist motive. Girl or not, theyre just Arabs, he says. 181210064412132 The three men deny the charges and are due to appear in court on May 10. Growing calls for GIs dissolution GI has gained notoriety in France in recent years for its provocative stunts which seek to win the group media coverage. The group was launched in October 2012 with an occupation of a mosque under construction in the town of Poitiers. The activists unfurled a banner calling for a referendum on the construction of mosques. In the summer of 2017, GI activists chartered a boat in order to prevent migrants from crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Italy. In April 2018, French activists erected a fence along the Italian border on a snowy mountain pass to prevent migrants from entering France. Last Friday, GI activists occupied the roof of a government benefits office in the Parisian suburb of Bobigny. As a result of this illegal action, Frances Secretary to the Ministry of Health Christelle Dubos announced that she will soon be meeting with the countrys interior and justice ministers, with a view to dissolving this group. After spending several hours on the roof, 19 activists were arrested and will face charges of preventing the freedom to work. US authorities cancel Fatou Bensoudas visa in response to her inquiry into possible war crimes by US forces and allies. The United States has revoked the entry visa of Fatou Bensouda, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in response to her inquiry into possible war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan, her office said. We can confirm that the US authorities have revoked the prosecutors visa for entry into the US, Bensoudas office told Reuters news agency in an email. It said it understood the move should not affect Bensoudas travel to the US to meet her United Nations obligations. The Netherlands-based ICC is not a UN court, but Bensouda travels regularly to brief the UN Security Council on cases referred to The Hague by the UN body. Bensouda has been investigating alleged war crimes by all parties in the conflict in Afghanistan since November 2017, including the possible role of US personnel in relation to the detention of suspects. ICC judges are still reviewing materials and have not yet handed down a decision on whether to open a formal investigation in Afghanistan. A State Department spokesman said members of international organisations planning official travel to the UN could apply for diplomatic visas. We recommend that applicants apply as early as possible to maximize the chances of being found eligible, the spokesman said. The US is not a member of the ICC, along with other major powers including Russia and China. The office of the prosecutor said on Thursday that Bensouda would exercise her duties without fear or favour. Bensouda said in a meeting with reporters earlier this week that she and her office remain fully committed to their mandate. [We] will continue to honour our legal duty undeterred, Bensouda said on Tuesday. #ICC Prosecutor #FatouBensouda w/t African journalists: I, along with my Office, remain fully committed to our independent & impartial mandate under #RomeStatute & will continue to honour our legal duty, #undeterred #justicematters pic.twitter.com/WbPY3uMgfI Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) April 2, 2019 Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would revoke or deny visas to ICC personnel seeking to investigate possible war crimes by US forces or allies in Afghanistan. 190315191933901 The ICC is attacking Americas rule of law, Pompeo told reporters in March. Im announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel. We are determined to protect the American and allied military and civilian personnel from living in fear of unjust prosecution for actions taken to defend our great nation, he said. UN human rights experts called the reaction improper interference in the work of the worlds permanent war crimes court. It also drew criticism from within the European Union. At the time, the Hague-based court, the first global tribunal for war crimes, issued a statement saying it would continue to operate undeterred by the US action. The ICC is a court of last resort with 122 member states, including the entire EU. Established in 2002, it acts only when countries within its jurisdiction are found to be unable or unwilling to seriously investigate war crimes, genocide or other serious atrocities. Earlier this month, ICC President Chile Eboe-Osuji called on the US leadership to support the court and to join their closest allies and friends at the Rome Statute table. The ruling opens the door for more countries to cite national security to seek an exemption from global trade rules. Russia has won a dispute about national security at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a ruling that may lend support to global car tariffs that could be imposed by the United States. The WTO panel ruling on Friday the first ever on the right to a national security exemption from global trade rules awarded Russia a legal victory in the Ukrainian transit dispute. The panel also confirmed the WTOs right to assess national security claims, denting US arguments that national security was not subject to review by the global trade body. Any such claim should be objectively true and relating to weapons, war, fissionable materials or an emergency in international relations, it said. Kiev went to the Geneva-based trade body in 2016, complaining of a huge reduction in trade with Asia and the Caucasus region after Russian President Vladimir Putin banned road and rail transport from Ukraine unless the route also went through neighbouring Belarus. 180405172223812 Russia argued that the diversion was necessary to protect its national security following a conflict with Ukraine over the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The panel said there existed a situation in Russias relations with Ukraine that constitutes an emergency in international relations, which meant Russia had met the requirements for invoking national security. Russias Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin said the ruling, which can be appealed by either side within 60 days, had recognised Ukraines arguments to be unfounded and said the issue was of systemic importance for the WTO. WTO issues panel report regarding Russian restrictions on traffic in transit #TradeDisputes https://t.co/6fPk66woXh pic.twitter.com/JH5jNgse8k WTO (@wto) April 5, 2019 Fridays decisions could have ramifications for a number of WTO cases hinging on claims of national security threats, including US President Donald Trumps tariffs for steel, aluminium and potentially cars. Canada, the European Union and several other US trading partners have asked the WTO to determine if the tariffs are indeed necessary to protect the USs national security. 181204141931031 Invoking national security was taboo at the WTO for decades after it was founded in 1995, with diplomats referring to the issue as a Pandoras box, which could never be closed once it was opened and would undermine the discipline of the WTOs widely-accepted rules. The bodys General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade includes a clause allowing countries to take steps to protect their essential security interests. However, the WTO panel determined in Fridays ruling that the agency has the jurisdiction to rule in cases where national security concerns are invoked. In the past three years, however, Russia has cited national security in the dispute with Ukraine, Trump has used it to justify tariffs and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have cited it in a diplomatic spat with Qatar. Saudi Arabia has arrested at least seven people, including two dual US-Saudi citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of women activists whose trial has drawn Western condemnation, campaigners said on Friday. The 11 women on trial had campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdoms male guardianship system. Their case has intensified criticism of Riyadhs rights record, already in the spotlight after last years murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The US nationals are journalist Salah al-Haidar, whose mother Aziza al-Yousef is among those on trial, and Bader al-Ibrahim, a doctor and author of a book about Shia Muslim politics, London-based Saudi rights group ALQST said. 190313082226029 Those newly detained are not front-line activists but writers and social media bloggers previously engaged in public discourse on reforms the group said. They were detained late on Wednesday and Thursday, according to ALQST. Five other people close to the women have also been placed under a travel ban since February, they added. The Saudi government communications office and the US embassy in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A Riyadh court last week temporarily released three of the women on trial, including Yousef, raising hopes of more lenient handling after months of lobbying by Western governments. But the new detentions could signal that the authorities will resist international pressure and pursue harsh sentences. Khashoggis murder tarnished the reputation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who courted Western support for his efforts to modernise Saudi Arabia. US and Turkish intelligence agencies believe Prince Mohammed ordered the killing, which Saudi officials deny. Dozens of other activists, intellectuals and Muslim leaders have been arrested separately in the past two years in an apparent bid to stamp out the opposition. Torture allegations The women on trial were arrested last May and branded as traitors. At least one of them has been charged under the kingdoms cybercrime law and faces up to five years in prison. 190302191550541 Five men arrested at the same time are not on trial. Rights groups say two of them have been released, but the others status is unclear. Another US-Saudi national, Walid al-Fitaihi, has been imprisoned since 2017 under Riyadhs anti-corruption campaign. His son told US senators last month he had been tortured in detention, with the tactics including electric shocks and whipping. Some of the women activists have also alleged torture and sexual assault, which the authorities deny. The siblings of one woman, Loujain al-Hathloul, who have publicised her case in US media, say men describing themselves as close to the state had asked her parents to stop them from speaking out. We stayed silent for eight months. We thought that being silent would solve the issue, her brother Walid al-Hathloul told CNN on Thursday. We found out at the end of the day that this made the case even worse and thats why were speaking out now. At the end of the day we didnt have any options but to speak out. South Africans are frustrated with poverty, rising unemployment and poor service delivery. Things are slowly returning to normal in South Africas Alexandra township after large-scale protests against the government. But many are still frustrated with what they say is their leaders failure to deliver services. Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa reports from Johannesburg. Philippine president warns of possible military action if Beijing touches Thitu island in South China Sea. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned China to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if Beijing touches it amid rising tensions over the key waterway. Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijings expansive claims to the sea a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it. But as the Philippine military warned this week that hundreds of Chinese coastguard and fishing vessels had swarmed the Manila-held Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, the Philippine president spoke out late on Thursday. I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there, Duterte said in a speech to prosecutors. 181025025650453 If you touch it, thats another story. Then I will tell my soldiers prepare for suicide missions. Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process. His words came after his Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling the Chinese ships presence an illegal violation of Philippine sovereignty. Such actions, when not repudiated by the Chinese government, are deemed to have been adopted by it, it said in a rare rebuke of Beijing. The Philippines military described the boats as a suspected maritime militia. China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have all staked claims to various islands and reefs as well as waterways in the sea, with rich petroleum reserves thought to sit deep beneath the waters. In a major victory for Manila, an international maritime tribunal ruled early in Dutertes presidency in 2016 that Chinas claims to the area have no legal basis. However, he has largely set aside that ruling and backed off on their once tense territorial dispute over the sea. He has been criticised at home for taking too soft a stance on China and getting little of the billions of dollars in investment promised by Chinese President Xi Jinping. For its part, Beijing has downplayed the rising tension over Pag-asa, saying on Thursday that both sides had exchanged views frankly, amicably and constructively on the issue. At least one person dead and more than 4,000 forced to flee after fire broke out on Thursday night. Thousands of firefighters and soldiers are starting to contain wildfires in South Korea which has killed one person and forced more than 4,000 people to flee their homes. The fires broke out in eastern Gangwon Province on Thursday evening from a transformer spark near a resort, according to Choi Jin-ho, a fire captain at Gangwon Fire Headquarters. The fire then spread to the cities of Sokcho and Gangneung, burning about 525 hectares and around 198 homes, warehouses and other buildings by early Friday, the government said. About 2,263 people have been evacuated to gymnasiums and schools by early Friday, down from about 4,230 citizens earlier, and 52 schools were closed due to the fires. Sokcho in the eastern part of Korea, a large-scale forest fire is "the sea of fire". Near Pyeongchang, where last year's Winter Olympics was held. . . Moth https://t.co/D4zeKUyk4w pic.twitter.com/IuM3SDhq12 KpopCeleb (@kpopceleb) April 4, 2019 The fire in the Sokcho region has been contained, the government said, while about 50 percent of the fire in the Gangneung region has been contained. Around 872 fire trucks and 3,251 firefighters from all over the country are currently working to contain the wildfire, the National Fire Agency said. The Ministry of Defense said almost 16,500 soldiers, 32 military helicopters and 26 military firetrucks have been deployed as well, and there are plans to provide meals for 6,800 people. Videos posted to social media in South Korea showed tall flames rising from large areas of forest, the air filled with embers and debris as cars drove by the raging fire. News photos showed a burned-out bus, fire engulfing a hill, and residents evacuating apartment complexes and filing into gyms. The region is close to the border with North Korea. South Koreas Unification Ministry said Friday it plans to inform North Korea of details about the forest fires. Another Gangwon fire official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of office rules, said at least 11 people were being treated for injuries. China and the US are working to end a standoff that has shaken financial markets, darkened the world economic outlook. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States and China are rounding the turn in a lengthy negotiation over trade and predicted that something monumental and great for both countries could be announced in a matter of weeks. We are rounding the turn. Well see what happens, Trump said during an Oval Office appearance with both countries negotiating teams. We have a ways to go but not very far, he added. Vice Premier Liu He, Chinas top trade negotiator, agreed, telling Trump that because of your direct involvement, we do have great progress. China and the US are working to end a standoff that has shaken financial markets and darkened the outlook for the world economy. Washington wants sweeping changes to Chinas economic and trade policies, while Beijing wants Trump to lift expensive sanctions on Chinese goods. US and Chinese negotiators on Wednesday began their ninth round of talks to resolve the dispute over US allegations that Beijing is using predatory tactics, including cyber-theft, in a campaign to challenge US technological dominance. China has denied the allegations. 190403152401858 Trump has slapped tariffs on $250bn in Chinese products. In retaliation, China has targeted $110bn in US imports. The president said on Thursday that he would discuss the future of tariffs the US has imposed on China with Liu. The president also said he still wants to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. If we have a deal, then were going to have a summit, Trump said. Trump said he appreciated a beautiful letter he received from Xi, but he did not disclose its contents. Military spending Trump on Thursday lamented the amount of money that the US, China and Russia spend on weapons production, including nuclear weapons, and suggested that such money could be better spent elsewhere. Trump, during his meeting with Liu, floated the idea of following up on a potential trade deal with China with a second-phase deal that addressed the issue of military spending and arms production. 190404181648211 Asked by the president to weigh in on the suggestion, the vice premier said he thought it would be a good idea. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said there were still some major issues left to be resolved in the trade deal. Trump said the sticking points included tariffs and intellectual property theft, and the president said he would discuss tariffs with Liu. Meanwhile, in another shot at Mexico, Trump says he could impose an economic penalty to counter drug smuggling. As many as 20 US states have filed a motion to block President Donald Trumps method of funding a border wall by diverting federal funds through a national emergency declaration, the New York state attorney general has said. This wall is unnecessary, and an abuse of power that will take away resources that could be used to help Americans across our nation, New York Attorney General Letitia James said on Twitter on Friday. The states filed a lawsuit in February after Trump declared a national emergency to help build a border wall that was a signature of his 2016 campaign for president. The motion for a preliminary injunction to block Trumps effort that was filed late on Thursday formalised that request. Separately on Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House of Representatives will sue to block President Trumps transfer of money to pay for the wall. The Presidents action clearly violates the Appropriations Clause by stealing from appropriated funds, an action that was not authorized by constitutional or statutory authority, Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, said in a statement. She said a congressional legal advisory group voted to authorise the lawsuit. Trumps order would allow him to spend money on the wall that Congress appropriated for other purposes. Congress declined to fulfil his request for $5.7bn to help build the wall this year. In a stinging rebuke, the Democratic-controlled House passed legislation to terminate the emergency Trump declared at the US-Mexico border but Trump issued the first veto of his presidency in March to block that measure. The House will once again defend our Democracy and our Constitution, this time in the courts, Pelosi said in a statement. No one is above the law or the Constitution, not even the President. However, US Attorney General William Barr said the presidents emergency declaration was legal. Trump heads to border Meanwhile, on Friday, Trump headed to California in a renewed push to make border security a central campaign issue for his 2020 re-election. 190404170838280 Trump, talking to reporters as he left the White House, denied that he changed his mind about shutting down the border with Mexico, a threat he backed off on Thursday. Trump said he reversed course because he saw Mexico get tougher in stopping migrants from moving north. I never changed my mind at all, the president claimed, as he pushed Congress act. I may shut it down at some point. Though Trump, who has pulled a series of about-faces in recent days, walked away from this threat to close the border, he still intends to highlight conditions at the boundary with Mexico. He was heading to the Southern California town of Calexico to meet local law enforcement officials and to tour a section of recently rebuilt fencing. Trump took to Twitter earlier on Friday to claim that he could revive his threat to shut the border, a move that fellow Republicans warned would have a devastating economic effect. If for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesnt work, which it will, I will close the Border, Trump tweeted. 190403231543621 I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border. Over 100,00 Americans die each year, sooo many families destroyed! he added. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 70,000 people in the US died from drug overdose in 2017, which includes deaths by opioids and heroin. Although Trump has repeatedly linked the issues of immigration and drug smuggling as he tries to tighten border security, much of the drug trade is not carried out by migrants but by professional crime gangs. Most drugs that do come via Mexico enter through official ports of entry, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. Synthetic opioid fentanyl is shipped from China and Mexico, according to US officials. China recently announced it would begin regulating all fentanyl-related drugs as a class of controlled substances -a move US officials applauded. The southern border is nearly 3,200km long and already has over 1,000km of different types of barriers, including short vehicle barricades and tall, steel fences that go up to over nine metres. Most of the fencing was built during the administration of George W Bush, and there have been updates and maintenance throughout other administrations. Severe food and medicine shortages have led to a dramatic increase in disease, as well as infant and maternal mortality. The United Nations is being urged to offer a full-scale response to the collapse of Venezuelas healthcare system. A report by Johns Hopkins University and Human Rights Watch says a shortage of vaccines is leading to a rise in cases of preventable diseases. Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman reports from Caracas. A WikiLeaks Tweet quotes a high-level source saying Assange will be kicked out of the embassy he has been in since 2012. Ecuador is preparing to expel WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from its embassy in London within hours to days, according to a WikiLeaks Tweet. According to the tweet sent out on Thursday, the #INAPapers offshore scandal was being seen as a pretext to expel Assange. A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within hours to days using the INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest, the tweet read. BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretextand that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest.https://t.co/adnJph79wq WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 4, 2019 The INA papers are a collection of documents leaked to an Ecuadorian legislator which have implicated President Lenin Moreno in a corruption scandal. The WikiLeaks statement comes two days after Moreno accused Assange of repeatedly violating the terms of his asylum and said the government was seeking an arrangement with Britain to allow Assange to leave the embassy. In an interview broadcast by several Ecuadoran radio stations, President Moreno said: Assange has too often repeatedly violated the agreement we have with him and his legal team, without saying whether Ecuador would withdraw asylum. It is not that he cannot speak freely, it is not that he cannot express himself freely, but he cannot lie, let alone hack into accounts or intercept private telephone calls under the terms of his asylum agreement, said Moreno. Ecuador also suspects that WikiLeaks is responsible for sharing private photographs of Moreno on social media recently. Assange has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden on allegations of rape. The Swedish judiciary has since dropped its investigation, but British authorities have said they will still arrest the Australian when he leaves the embassy because he violated his bail conditions by fleeing. Assange says he fears being extradited to the United States where he could face charges relating to the publication of hacked government documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In October, Assange sued Ecuador for violating his fundamental rights by limiting his access to the outside world after his internet and mobile phone access were blocked back in March. Ecuador accused him of breaking a written commitment not to interfere in the countrys foreign policies. The World Banks executive board on Friday unanimously approved David Malpass, the US Treasury Departments top diplomat, as the banks next president. The bank said that Malpass, the Treasurys undersecretary for international affairs, will start his new role on Tuesday as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings get under way. Malpass, a former Bear Stearns and Co chief economist who advised US President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign, was the sole candidate for the job. Previous World Bank President Jim Yong Kim faced two challengers, from Nigeria and Colombia, in 2012 when he was first selected. This time around, bank board members had said there was little appetite for a challenge to a US candidate. In a note to World Bank employees after his selection, Malpass said that more than 700 million people remain in extreme poverty in the world. Too many people are not seeing an advance in their living standards, with the poorest nations facing the steepest challenges, he said. 190107163936322 Faced with these challenges, our twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and achieving shared prosperity are more relevant than ever, Malpass said. The Bank Group is strong financially and well equipped with the tools and talent to achieve measurable successes. In a phone interview with the Reuters news agency, Malpass said he would uphold the banks commitment to reducing poverty in the poorest countries and to fight climate change, and pursue goals stated in a $13bn capital increase last year. Critical of banks lending to China Since taking his job at the Treasury in 2017, Malpass had been particularly critical of the World Banks continued lending to China, which he says is no longer a developing country that depends on the banks loans because it can borrow on global capital markets. He has argued that the World Bank should be targeting more of its support for development projects to poorer nations. Those comments and Malpasss role in US-China trade negotiations caused some concern in the development community that he might try to use the banks influence to put pressure on China. But Malpass said he saw an evolution of the banks relationship with China towards one which recognises China as the worlds second-biggest economy and an important factor in global development. I expect there to be a strong relationship collaboration with China. We have a shared mission of poverty alleviation and reduction. Malpass said he did not participate in this weeks US-China trade talks and is winding down his role at the Treasury. He said he intends to make his first trip as World Bank president in late April to Africa, which has been a primary focus for the banks development efforts. Citing history -- or, as shall be seen, pseudohistory -- is one of the main ways Islams apologists try to ennoble the creed and its adherents. As a sort of counterbalance to purportedly noble Muslims, medieval Christians are regularly presented as the epitome of hypocrisy, barbarism, and greed. Commonly leading the pack are Vlad the Impaler, Ivan the Terrible, and Tomas Torquemada (all featured in the 2002 book, The Most Evil Men and Women in History). In reality, however, these three men -- and the culture they lived in -- were highly influenced by Islam; all three were surrounded by and fought against Muslims their entire lives. The historic figure of Vlad III (1430-1476) -- whom the fictional, bloodsucking character of Dracula is based on -- is portrayed in the West as a sadistic monster who loved nothing better than to impale his own people and drink their blood -- often while listening to monks sing hymns, no less. CNN even claims that the Islamic State learned its sadistic methods of torture and execution from Vlad. Reality tells a different story: the Romanian princes beastly little habit of impaling his enemies, as one historian characterizes it, was picked up from and almost exclusively used against the Turks and their agents. During his youth, Vlad was hostage to one of historys most depraved sultans -- Muhammad (or Mehmet) II, who also kept Vlads younger brother as a catamite. Vlad was first introduced to the art of impalement from this Ottoman sultan, who regularly employed it. Eventually, and as part of his strategy to break away from Muslim rule, Vlad resorted to impalement as a sort of tit for tat -- to show the Ottomans that he and his people could give as good as they got. Hence the irony: if Vlad is seen as a blood-drinking monster in the West, he is a national hero in Romania, for fighting and resisting Islam for so long. Then theres Tomas Torquemada (1420-1498), Catholic Spains grand inquisitor, and face of the much-demonized Spanish Inquisition. (As historian Thomas Madden explains, The Inquisition was not born out of desire to crush diversity or oppress people; it was rather an attempt to stop unjust executions. Yes, you read that correctly.) The popular view that Torquemada was an evil Christian fanatic who was determined to force Jews and Muslims to convert to Christianity, or else, is almost always presented in a vacuum. For starters, one of the primary reasons that prompted the Spanish crown to institute the Inquisition and appoint Torquemada in the first place is rarely acknowledged: the last bastion of Islam in Granada had been brought under Christian rule as the Reconquista came to a close; the half-million Muslim citizenry were given lenient terms, including the right to travel abroad and practice Islam freely. But they abused them, including by launching many hard-to-quell uprisings -- several involving the stoning, dismembering, beheading, impaling, and burning alive of Christians -- and regularly colluded with foreign, mostly Muslim, powers. When push came to shove, and to ward off suspicion, half-a-million Muslims feigned conversion to Christianity, regularly attended church, baptized their children, and learned all the ins-and-outs of Christian culture, while clandestinely working to subvert Spain, or at least Granada, back to Muslim rule. With the permission and license that their accursed sect accorded them, one frustrated Spaniard remarked in reference to the Islamic doctrine of taqiyya, they could feign any religion outwardly and without sinning, as long as they kept their hearts nevertheless devoted to their false impostor of a prophet. We saw so many of them who died while worshipping the Cross and speaking well of our Catholic Religion yet who were inwardly excellent Muslims (Sword and Scimitar, p.201-202). The Inquisition, spearheaded by Torquemada, became the only way to determine, not so much if they were good Catholics, but if they were clandestine and subversive Muslims. Moreover, just as neighboring Muslims had influenced Vlads penchant for impalement, so neighboring Muslims influenced Spains penchant for inquisitions and deportations. In the preceding centuries, Muslims -- particularly the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties -- tried countless Spanish converts to Islam by torture, deported them to African slavery, or killed them outright, in the belief that they were not true Muslims but fifth columnists aiding their Christian coreligionists of northern Spain. Finally, Ivan IV (the Terrible, 1530-1584) is another oft-cited example of a Medieval Christian -- a piously observant Orthodox one this time -- who was a bloodthirsty monster, the quintessential tyrant. Left unsaid is that some two centuries earlier, beginning around 1300, Russia had been under -- and heavily influenced by -- the yoke of Islamic Tatars, who brutally treated and enslaved the Russians in the name of jihad. Even after 1480, when the Russians formally overthrew the Tatar Yoke, and all throughout Ivans reign, the Crimean khanate launched numerous devastating slave raids into Russia; during Ivans rein alone, hundreds of thousands of Slavs were abducted and sold into Islamic slavery. Centuries of tyranny and brutality at the hands of the Islamicized Mongols and their Turkish agents rendered Russia a land where despotism came to be seen as normal and where human life was cheap, observes one historian. It is perhaps no coincidence that these things insinuated themselves into the Russian character -- including Ivans. Such is the rarely acknowledged backdrop of Ivan the Terrible, this Christian monster whose behavior -- like that of Vlad III, Torquemada, and many others -- is often presented in a vacuum and meant to be a commentary on the hypocrisy and barbarism supposedly innate to Medieval (that is, pious) Christians. (As a side note, and due to their long and intimate history with Islam, Eastern Europeans -- Russians, Romanians, Poles, Hungarians, etc. -- remain wary of Islam and resist Muslim immigration.) Not only did Islam influence the personal behavior of individual Europeans; it had a molding impact on entire cultures. For example, it is impossible to understand the brutality and fanaticism of the Spanish Conquistadors vis-a-vis the inhabitants of the Americas without tracing it back to Spains existential struggle with Islam, which necessitated the creation of a piously militant culture. Once Islam was gone, Spains holy warrior mentality -- forged as it was over nearly eight centuries of warfare -- could not simply disappear overnight and found new outlets under the old context of Christian versus infidel. None of the aforementioned is meant to exonerate the West from its own actions -- in the end, individuals are responsible for their actions -- but rather place them in context. After all, it is a staple for Middle East Studies, and by extension media and analysts of all sorts, to present Western influence -- from the crusades to colonialism -- as fundamentally responsible for the Islamic worlds modern-day problems. As such, surely exploring the question from a vice-versa standpoint is warranted. The very least takeaway from all this is that the pseudohistory of barbarous Christians and noble Muslims needs serious review. Note: See authors recent book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, for many more instances of Islams subtle -- and not so subtle -- impact on the West. American Thinker reviews of the book can be read here and here. From many on the left we hear the words "collective" "intersectionality," or hegemony as central vocabulary in socio-political-economic discourse. Words like liberty, individuality, freedom, free markets, responsibility, and personal autonomy are rarely used. Words like faith, family, and freedom which is the motto of the Family Research Council are depicted as not only passe but as dangerously right-wing. Persons like myself who appeal to that motto and wish to defend traditional marriage, the unborn, natural rights, liberty, freedom of religion (especially of Judeo-Christian values) and the family of man are depicted by the left as right-wing or deplorable. Although this writer is a rational centrist, I bear the title deplorable proudly. A recently retired former high school classmate of mine and so-called liberal who ended his career as Director of Pediatrics at a major New York City hospital wrote to a nationally known communist on our high school website that his son had married a young woman whose father was an evangelical Protestant. When he greeted his sons father-in-law, he gave him a copy of Noel Ignatievs book Race Traitor and a copy of Karl Marxs and Friedrich Engels Communist Manifesto. A great way to build bridges with your daughters new family, right? How would you have reacted to this gift? I would not have accepted the books. It might have seemed that after Eugene V. Debs, the Socialist Party candidate for president, lost four times at the beginning of the 20th century, that socialism was finally buried as non-viable in the U.S. context. But socialism became retooled, American-style, and emerged in a more acceptable form as the graduated income tax, the Federal Reserve, and the alphabet agencies of the New Deal. Now, this drivel from the past has re-emerged with Bernie Sanders and some stupid lady who just won a congressional seat in New York City and openly proclaims socialism. But the shallow pundits who critique them and interview them keep asking only about how they are going to pay for their vast Green New Deal, socialist program. Where will the money come from? they ask, and of course, since the money will come out of the pockets of all the people, the left becomes evasive. The interviewers and critics fail to address other more serious consequences of their outdated and self-serving vision. The main problem with their socialism (communism relabeled) is that it will weaken or even give the coup de grace to the family. Government will pretend it can take care of people and give sufficient womb to tomb nurturance, and can do what no family can do in terms of assuring security, purpose, and even love. Undoubtedly under any new federal takeover of day-to-day life there will be new love laws. Virtue signaling will become passe, and persons will be open to public contempt and fines if they do not participate in state-defined love signaling. These assumptions and promotions are gaining momentum among our obsessed, depressed, and possessed fellow citizens as they experience lovelessness to an extreme. What could be more important than being wanted, loved, taken care of, and sharing a close relationship with others in ones family, others who love and care about what happens to you, others who will share in your sufferings and rejoice with you in the good times? Wake up, my beloved countrymen! Family life is disintegrating before our very eyes. Less than 5% of children were born out of wedlock in 1960 and now, cutting across all ethnicities, it is near 40%. Daycare centers will never replace the intact family. Babysitters will never be a substitute for mom. We need someone there to establish the rules of social intercourse and encourage us and involve themselves with us and be there when we have a fever and are throwing up. We need special someones who will come to the school play to support us and our classmates even though we only have two lines or no lines. I was a gingerbread boy in 3rd grade with no lines in a performance of Hansel and Gretel, but my parents were there and were thrilled to be there. Let's stop pretending that the lefts agenda is only about or mainly about money, and start realizing that many in our culture are pushing against the family as the bedrock institution of all civilization. Marx believed that families are a "bourgeois institution" that is premised on the inequalities of the capitalist system. This teaching is disgusting and wretched, in the deepest sense. It must be persistently and openly repudiated. In the name of "helping people," the consequences of more and more government intrusion is more and more destruction of families as well as poverty. My grandparents were dirt poor in their home country and came to the USA at a time when there was no safety net, but they had a strong sense of family, strong commitment to family values -- yes, have your children in marriage, stay married, and do your best to take care of your families! We are on the brink of a family catastrophe in this country. Do you know how much I miss Phyllis Schlafly? Phyllis was not afraid to attack the Equal Rights Amendment and defeat it. This was not because she did not want women to get ahead, not because she wanted to keep women in the kitchen (she had a law degree and was a tremendously active careerist as well as a devoted mom). But she understood that the anti-male component of the feminist agenda was wrong. She knew that the pro-lesbian agenda of the women's movement was wrong and anti-family. She knew that liberation as in "women's lib" could not be built on denigrating men and ways of life that have existed for millennia. Freeing women from men, and freeing children from parental authority such as we see increasingly in schools, is a dangerous trend. Common Core asks 400 personal questions of students. This is encroaching on the privacy of children which privacy is part and parcel of family life. Schools were established in loco parentis (in place of the parents) but now increasingly operate as though they rule the children and that the parents are simply there to rubber stamp the school's practices. In NY State, minor females can be referred for an abortion without parental notification. My God, a 13-year-old girl can get an abortion without her mother or father knowing about it? Yet the same girl cannot get a learners permit to drive until she is 16. The message is that the state loves and cares for you more than your own parents. That idea is noxious to me. Health education teachers are teaching the birds and bees with demonstrations about how to put a condom on a cucumber. Non-marital fornication is thus being encouraged by our public educational systems. The greatest problem with Bernie, Alexandria, and the Green New Deal is not mainly that their programs cost too much, which they do, but that the radical growth of government further undermines and erodes the family. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has questioned the loyalties of Jewish American supporters of Israel. That inevitably raises a question about her own loyalties. You can certainly take the Muslim refugee out of Sharia-controlled Somalia, but can you take Somalia out of the refugee? In the wake of the 1991 Somali civil war, the Mogadishu-born Omar and her family fled the strife-torn country to neighboring Kenya where they languished for four years in a refugee camp near the border. She and her family finally were warmly embraced by America in 1995 when their application was approved, and the family moved to Minneapolis. Five years later at age 17, she became an American citizen. Finishing college at North Dakota State in political science and international studies, she eventually became involved in American politics culminating in her 2018 election to Congress at age 38. We call that living the American dream. Talk about opportunities in America for a Somali-born Muslim! Certainly, she should be overwhelmingly thankful to the majority white, traditionally Christian country that welcomed her and her Sunni Muslim family with open arms and ultimately enabled her to become Representative Omar. Well, not so fast. Maybe its just me, but I keep waiting to hear from Omar something along the lines of, I am so deeply grateful to America for taking me and my family in and saving us from a life of misery, poverty and danger. This is why I am totally committed to the core Constitutional values of America that have created such a wonderful and generous country giving me an opportunity I could not have dreamed of anywhere else in the world, particularly Somalia. Instead, listen to her blame white nationalism as Customs and Border Patrol agents, overwhelmed by massive illegal alien migration at the southern border, were forced to temporarily detain outdoors third world migrants anxious to get to America. This is abhorrent and inhumane, Omar ranted. Its without a doubt a reflection of what white nationalism is doing to our country. As a country, we have to acknowledge that this is how people are being treated here and decide that we are better and we must do better. Excuse me. But Im feeling a bit nauseous here. Her bitter animosity towards hee fellow Americans, particularly American Jews, is also quite obvious in her open support for CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations), the front group for the Muslim Brotherhood in America. Hamas is the militant Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood that broadcasts calls to murder Israelis including songs about putting on suicide belts and calls to scatter the enemies body parts, make the skulls fly in the sky. In 2009, CAIR was listed as an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the largest terrorist fundraising operation in the history of the United States, known as the Holy Land Foundation. CAIR was listed by the U.S. government as being among individuals/entities who are/were members of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhoods Palestine Committee and/or its organizations. CAIR tries to pass itself off as a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization and purports to speak for all Muslims. The real truth is CAIR speaks for Islamist supremacists those Muslims who believe sharia law should be enacted as a worldwide system of government. CAIR Co-founder Omar Ahmad is on record in 1998 saying Islam should dominate not just the U.S. but all countries. "If you choose to live here ... you have a responsibility to deliver the message of Islam," he said. Ahmad was paraphrased saying, "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Quran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth." Ahmad also said, "Everything we need to know is in the Quran. We don't need to look somewhere else." Any questions? You wont be surprised to learn that Omar gets Benjamins from CAIR. In 2018, the political action committee of CAIR in California donated the maximum of $5,000 to her campaign. Speaking at a recent CAIR fundraiser in California, Omar, once again displaying her ungracious if not cynical lack of gratitude to America, said that despite Muslims efforts to fit in in America, no matter how much we have tried to be the best neighbors, they still faced prejudice. As a result, she said, they had to raise hell. Make people uncomfortable. As uncomfortable as Americans felt after 9/11. 9/11? Has Omar ever denounced the terrorists and backers of 9/11 and expressed sympathy or remorse for over 3,000 people murdered by Islamic Jihadists? In Somalia, the government prohibits celebrations of Christian festivities. How does Omar feel about that? Does she feel that is intolerant? Should she denounce that? Her friend and fellow Muslim activist Linda Sarsour has called for jihad against President Donald Trump. I dont recall Omar speaking up to defend the president of the country that so willingly has provided her with a marvelous new life. How does Omar feel about the legal oppression of women under Sharia? Has Omar ever spoken out against Sharia endorsed female genital mutilation? Does Omar feel that the Quran gives her husband the right to hit her when he is displeased with her? The Quran not only encourages husbands to strike their disobedient wives, Sharia law recommends punishing other forms of rebelliousness and disobedience of women with death. How does she feel about the so-called honor killing of young women in Islamic societies? Would she condone that in America? It would be interesting to know Omars position on Rahaf al-Qunun, the Saudi teen granted asylum in Canada who says she has renounced Islam, which is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. The UN's refugee agency says it considers her to be a legitimate refugee. Does Omar agree with the UN Refugee Agency? Will she speak out in behalf of this endangered young Saudi woman? How does Omar feel about the case of Princess Latifa, seized by commandos on a yacht after seven years of planning her escape from the Gulf state she considered a gilded prison? The 32-year-old is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubais ruler and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. Will Omar speak up and demand she be freed? Or how about the daughters of Saudi King Abdullah? They say they are being held in captivity because they openly spoke in opposition to Saudi women being illegally detained and placed in mental wards. Reportedly, the king no longer considers them his daughters. Im waiting for Omar to openly demand their release in the name of womens rights. (But Im not holding my breath.) History shows that Muslims who follow Sharia law generally dont assimilate smoothly or well into non-Sharia societies with their own traditional forms of law. Apparently Omar has no intention of embracing her new country the way America embraced her. Her open disdain for the history, culture and values of her adopted country is readily apparent. So what is she? Grateful refugee or Trojan horse? Photo credit: Leopaltik 1242 Frank Hawkins is a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, Associated Press foreign correspondent, international businessman, senior newspaper company executive, founder and owner of several marketing companies, and published novelist. Looking back on the first 100 days of 2019, the years biggest story by far has been the astonishing implosion of the Democratic Party. From the defeat of their claims of collusion, to undermining their self-appointed authority on social justice, to turning into their caucus into a legislative laughingstock, Democrats have fallen apart at every turn to kickstart the year. The Democrats worst timeline began on January 30th when Virginia Governor Ralph Northam endorsed a bill to lift all restrictions on abortion in his state and remarked that, after delivery, a discussion could ensue between a mother and her physicians on whether or not to keep the newborn infant alive. Only two days later, a photo emerged of the infanticide-defending Governor wearing either blackface or KKK costume (we still dont know which one was him), which he was apparently proud enough to show off in his graduate school yearbook. The next day he tried to moonwalk his apology back while admitting he had worn blackface on another occasion as part of a Michael Jackson costume. Shortly afterward, accusations emerged of sexual assault against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. But before individuals had an opportunity to coalesce behind an alternate governor outside this scandal-tarnished ticket, it was revealed that the would-be heir to the throne, Attorney General Mark Herring, also wore blackface in college -- even though days earlier he had called for Northam to resign for (most likely) doing the same. All three remain in power today, perennially disgracing the Democratic Party. On February 10th, progressive icon Ilhan Omar made anti-Semitic remarks by suggesting that Jewish people control American policy with their money. She has also stated that pro-Israel Americans bear a dual loyalty and that Israel has hypnotized the world as regard to their evils, a comment strikingly similar to rhetoric from the classic anti-Jewish tract The Protocols of the Elders in Zion. In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laughably stated that Omar didnt grasp the full weight of her comments while offering watered-down rebukes short of an actual censure motion. February 20th saw the indictment of actor Jussie Smollett, who had allegedly been assaulted for being gay and black by two racists in MAGA hats. To those outside of an inept Chicago prosecutor and a small liberal fringe, this hate crime clearly was fabricated by Smollett to get attention. Reports indicate that the FBI is now investigating why the charges against him were dropped. Speaking of investigations, former FBI Director Robert Muellers long-awaited report on alleged Russian Collusion was finalized on March 22nd. Democrats and their media allies had promised for two years that it would show that President Trump was a Manchurian Candidate who was working hand-in-hand with Putin to steal a victory from Hillary Clinton -- after all, how else could a candidate like Clinton have possibly lost? Muellers report effectively exonerated the President. The Democrats have a bit of explaining to do here. But instead, they are doubling down on their fringe conspiracy theory that has already wasted $25 million of taxpayer money on a hoax investigation revealing no evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia. Looking ahead to 2020, the Democrats saw would-be candidate and personal favorite of Bill Maher Michael Avenatti arrested after trying to extort Nike for millions of dollars on March 25th. This, of course, followed his earlier arrest for domestic assault. So much for womens rights and fighting corruption. And who can forget the Democrats flagship piece of legislation, the Green New Deal? On March 26th, the Green New Deal failed in a vote on the Senate floor when not one single Democrat voted in favor of the resolution. As it turns out, instead of mounting the political courage to defend their ideas in Congress, they prefer to blow a lot of hot air. Democrats thought 2019 would be their year to lay the groundwork for taking out President Trump in the 2020 election. But in the first 100 days since they retook the House of Representatives, they have undermined their credibility every step of the way through their scandals and incompetence. If the past 100 days are indicative of Democrats ability to lead should they be given all levers of power, Americans should be wary of supporting them in 2020. Nathan Williamson is an activist who has worked with multiple conservative organizations. Democrats running for president in 2020 made the pilgrimage to New York city to attend Al Sharpton's National Action Network convention. Sharpton swears that the candidates don't have to "kiss my ring" because he doesn't wear one. Sharpton is right. He's actually more like a mob boss, with Democrats standing in line to pay tribute, as any good capo would. The convention is a mecca of identity politics, and candidates appeared to try to claim the mantle of "most radical." Daily Caller: The convention will "provide an opportunity to revisit the current state of the national civil rights movement in America," according to the organization's website. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who spoke Wednesday, used his podium time to take potshots at President Donald Trump and stressed the theme of division and fear-mongering. "We've got to make sure that we confront those who will use fear to hold onto that power as our president uses fear to hold on to that power, to make us angry, to keep us apart, to make us fearful of one another and even of ourselves," the 2020 Democratic contender said. Speakers also sought to temper the results of a booming American economy, which has seen record lows in black unemployment and quarterly growth due to the administration's tax cuts and regulation reforms. South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democrat, undermined the idea that a strong American economy is good for everybody Thursday. "The idea that a rising tide lifts all boats just isn't true," he said. Identity politics also proved to be a running theme at the convention. Abrams, who has not decided yet on whether she will be running for political office, stated in her Wednesday speech: "I believe in identity politics, and I believe identity politics are the only politics that win." Abrams, who lost the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race to GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, framed her defeat in terms of voter discrimination and civil rights. Perhaps the most colorful radical was businessman Andrew Yang, who has delusions of winning the nomination: Yang, also running in the Democratic 2020 field, touts himself as "the opposite of Donald Trump." He laid out his campaign platform Wednesday, which includes dispensing with private prisons and giving all Americans $1,000 per month. "I would legalize marijuana and then I would pardon everyone who's in jail for a nonviolent drug-related offense. I would pardon them on April 20, 2021 and I would high-five them on the way out of jail," Yang said. I'd love to see that. Would he high-five the gangbangers who were sent to jail for "nonviolent drug-related offenses" and continued their murderous ways after he released them? Most of the candidates who will speak support slavery reparations; Medicare for all; free college tuition; and, of course, the crown jewel of radicalism, the Green New Deal. Is it possible they really believe that the American voter is going to swallow this baloney? Can you say "Trump landslide"? 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe In its story about thousands of caravan migrants encountering a slow-walk for "humanitarian" visas of passage to the U.S. from Mexican officials, Reuters let out a doozy of a detail way down in its story about the matter: At the border town of Tapachula, near the southern tip of Mexico bordering Guatemala, another group included people from Sri Lanka, Congo and Haiti, a federal official said. Some migrants said Mexican officials had slowed down the process of awarding the visas or denied them outright without providing any explanation. A small group lashed out at border officials in Tapachula on Tuesday over the delays, throwing rocks and breaking windows of a local migration institute building. Lovely bunch, aren't they, with their demands for instant customer service from Mexican officials? They've obviously got a lot of money for plane flights to places like Mexico along with cartel smuggler fees, therefore they are accustomed to such service. In fact, they are convinced they are entitled to it, same as they get at the Hertz counter. When they don't, they resort to road ragestyle brick-throwing. What it suggests is that the caravans have gone global. They've been marketed in the press and by its NGO allies and by the Catholic Church as a Central America thing, but they're now attracting far more than Central Americans. The world was watching closely as President Trump dealt with the border debacle with the arrival of the first Central American caravan late last year and everyone could see that leftist judges and congresspeople defeating him every time, unable to keep the illegal migrants out. And with Europe cracking down on the big migrant waves and sending the boats back to Libya and elsewhere, the migrants with money have decided they'll come here through Mexico, too. They've concluded it's a can't-lose proposition. They represent a far bigger migrant market and cartel profit center than just the entire Central American bloc. So, instead of 1.5 million migrants from Central America expected to arrive here this year the number can swell enormously higher. These global migrants can see the loopholes that enabled people such as ungrateful Honduran "Lady Frijoles," recently charged with assault with a deadly weapon in Dallas, to come here scot-free. Asylum claims give any asker at least three free years of working in the U.S. as they await a judge's decision about their claims, meaning being sent back still yields three free years of working in America, and with instant customer service from U.S. officials, all at zero cost. Compare and contrast to what U.S. legal immigration takes ten years of waiting in line for service, thousands of dollars of costs, lots of lost paperwork from U.S. officials, and no free time working in America as they await claims. What's a migrant going to do? Europe's pulling up the drawbridge. America is letting everyone in for free. If leftist judges and U.S. congressional leftists thought that freebie for Central Americans was going to stay with Central American migrants alone, they had another thing coming. Plane flights are cheap and frequent now. Build an open border and they will come. Image credit: Ggia, via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The Russia Hoax attempted coup involved senior figures in the "intelligence community," the very people whom Chuck Schumer, in a moment of candor, warned Donald Trump before he was inaugurated as president about opposing, suggesting that a sinister cabal of officials actually runs the country. Speaking to Rachel Maddow, who became perhaps the most dedicated promoter of the hoax (for fun and ratings), he warned the incoming chief executive: "Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you," Schumer told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. Watch: "He's being really dumb to do this." -Senator Schumer on Trump taunting US intelligence agencies https://t.co/QbGSmx9Xvp Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) January 4, 2017 Even as obsessive Trump-hating promoters of the hoax like Adam Schiff and Jerrold Nadler continue to troll for evidence in the Mueller Report to use for impeachment, it is important to uncover the secret maneuvers that led to spying on the Trump campaign and the appointment of Mueller. David P. Goldman, who often writes under the pen name of Spengler, has an intriguing suggestion, at PJ Media, of the perfect person to run the campaign to hold the conspirators responsible for their treachery: General Michael Flynn. Read the whole thing, but here is some key information: President Trump should pardon Gen. Flynn right now and summon him back to Washington. Mueller forced Flynn to plead guilty to an invented charge of lying to FBI agents, even though the FBI agents who interviewed him about Russian contacts said that they thought he was telling the truth. Now that the Mueller investigation has come up with nothing, the frame-up of Gen. Flynn appears all the more heinous. The Deep State feared Mike Flynn, with good reason. Trump should reappoint him to a top job, and really terrify his opponents. The background context about why Flynn was targeted is fascinating and was previously unknown to me. It seems that people with very dirty hands had to take him (and Trump) out, and when Trump made him national security adviser: Flynn's Defense Intelligence Agency produced a now-notorious 2012 report warning that CIA backing for Sunni rebels fighting Assad would lead to the rise of a new Caliphate movement, namely ISIS. The Obama administration threw its support behind the "Arab Spring" rebellion in Syria, ignoring the fact that Islamist terrorists led the opposition to Assad. This was reported exhaustively in specialist media, for example, Brad Hoff's July 2016 essay in Foreign Policy Journal: Flynn humiliated the bungling CIA and exposed the incompetence and deception of the Obama administration, and got fired for it. General Flynn when he headed the DIA (offical photo). If the proper authorities turn over the CIA's rock and examine its underside, the result will be the exposure of an intelligence failure of galactic proportions. The CIA channeled Saudi money into al-Qaeda fronts in Syria and helped move a large part of the late Col. Qaddafi's massive arsenal to Syria. The jihadists backed by the CIA eventually formed a good deal of ISIS. Heads would roll at CIA. And when I say "proper authorities," I mean Gen. Flynn in his capacity as National Security Adviser, a job in which he lasted a month before the Deep State set him up and persuaded President Trump to fire him. One rock that needs to be turned over is the collaboration among intelligence agencies mentioned in the infamous Strzok-Page text messages. Remember that the FBI counter-intelligence operation where Peter Strzok was second-in-command was meeting with unnamed intelligence agencies with regard to the "insurance policy." The attempt by intelligence agencies to unseat a president they disagreed with over policy is about as serious as it gets when it comes to scandal. If properly uncovered and prosecuted, it has the potential to alter the course of American politics. That's a big if. It will require toughness and knowledgeable investigators. Fortunately, we have a president who believes in hitting back twice as hard. The headline on France 24, as translated, reads, "French political parties organize to counter French fake news." In reality, "party" would seem more accurate than "parties," since the truth squad in question has been organized by President Macron's La Republique en Marche (LREM). Five full-time employees and some "militant" volunteers will alert the media to anything that rubs the monitors the wrong way. French media being as skewed as American media, the reader who guesses that "ultraconservateurs et des nationalistes" are the ones to be monitored will be rewarded for his cynicism. What even the cynic might not anticipate, however, is that the LREM and, by extension, the media blame President Donald Trump and his former adviser, Steve Bannon, for the alleged fake news epidemic. Reports France 24, "This distortion of facts seems to have been borrowed directly from Donald Trump. The American president regularly spouts untruths to defend his ideas." According to France 24, Bannon "has made Europe his new playing field." He is said to be working with populist parties across Europe and even dared to appear at a gathering of the Rassemblement National, the new name for the party headed by Marine Le Pen. The fact that for the last two years France 24, along with the rest of the world's progressive news organizations, pushed the most epic "contre-verite" in recent journalism history has apparently not yet sobered up the French media. Image: Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons. Somebody wake up South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg so he can get woke. The openly gay candidate is running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, and he made the pilgrimage to one of the holiest shrines to identity politics: Al Sharpton's National Action Network convention. There, he let it be known how sorry he was that he said "all lives matter" in 2015. Why? Because "all lives matter" is racist code for "black lives don't matter" or something. CNN: Buttigieg spoke about his past comment after a speech at the National Action Network, a politically powerful organization founded by Rev. Al Sharpton. The phrase "all lives matter" has been used by critics of the Black Lives Matter movement to push back on the view that closer attention needs to be paid to the deaths of African American men and women at the hand of law enforcement. "At that time, I was talking about a lot of issues around racial reconciliation in our community . What I did not understand at that time, was that phrase, just early into mid-2015, was coming to be viewed as a sort of counter slogan to Black Lives Matter," Buttigieg said. "And so, this statement, that seems very anodyne and something that nobody could be against, actually wound up being used to devalue what the Black Lives Matter movement was telling us." He added: "That is the contribution of Black Lives Matter and it's a reason why, since learning about how that phrase was being used to push back on that activism, I've stopped using it in that context." I've got a novel idea. Maybe when most people use the phrase "all lives matter," they mean, like, you know, All Lives Fricking Matter. Sure, black lives matter. And blue lives matter. And Asian lives matter. And Latino lives matter. And...well, you get the picture. But Buttigieg committed the cardinal sin of participating in the "pushback" against black activists who inspired violence against the police, rioted in the streets, and hysterically exaggerated police shootings of young black men, accusing cops of wanting to murder black people. Buttigieg, we assume, is now woke and will no longer use the phrase "all lives matter" not because it isn't true, but because activists have deliberately chosen to redefine the phrase to suit their political agenda and delegitimize the opposition to their war against cops. A United Kingdom "Brexit" from the European Union without a negotiated divorce may hurt the British economy, but staying in the E.U. could surprisingly cause worse pain. The U.K.'s representative democracy has complicated the process of defining what the two-and-a-half-year-old national referendum vote to leave actually "means." With just seven days before crashing out without a transitional agreement, the 650 members of Parliament have not come to a negotiating consensus, because both staying in the E.U. and leaving risk inflicting serious pain on members' constituents. The 1991 collapse of communism across Central Europe and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union was hailed by former RAND Corporation policy analyst and Harvard Ph.D. Francis Fukuyama in his 1992 bestseller The End of History and the Last Man, as the march of history had reached its end with the emergence of liberal democracy as fully victorious over all other philosophies such as fascism, communism, and socialism. Fukuyama adopted nineteenth-century German philosopher Georg Hegel (17701831)'s "dialectical" process that logical steps are the driving force in a human history and will lead to a final political and economic structure. But instead of Karl Marx's claims that communism was the "end of history," Fukuyama argued that there were now no "contradictions in human life" that could not be resolved within the context of liberalism. With the fall of the Soviet Union, Europe was intoxicated with a triumphal unification wave demanding a single market with the "four freedoms" for movement of goods, services, people, and money. The 1993 "Maastricht Treaty" on the European Union began with 12 Western European states, including the U.K. But the British people expressed deep reservations about the pillar system extending E.U. jurisdiction over members regarding foreign policy, military, criminal justice, and judicial cooperation. Misgivings over treaty amendments that grew E.U. membership to 28 states with 343 million residents caused the U.K. not to join the "euro" common currency. The British were initially told they would have a modest E.U. "net contribution" payment each year. But the U.K. by 2017 was paying an $18-billion E.U. budget contribution and receiving only $5.5 billion of E.U. spending, for a net contribution of about $12.5 billion . Despite strong assurances that the four freedoms would provide fair and balanced trade among E.U. members, 2017 U.K. exports to the E.U. were $359 billion, and U.K. imports from the E.U. were $446 billion, for a trade deficit of $89 billion or 3.3 percent of U.K. GDP. The non-U.K. members of the E.U. want a negotiated deal that allows the British to officially Brexit but keeps the wildly lucrative U.K. transfer payments rolling in. They warn that a "No-Deal" Brexit represents an existential risk of a U.K. depositor bank run, due to the British banking system's 393-percent leverage of assets to GDP. Even if there is not a bank run, the Centre for European Reform estimated that a "No-Deal" will cost the British economy about 2.5 percent of GDP. But with years to prepare for Brexit, U.K. banks were mostly winners in the first quarter of 2019: Lloyds Banking Group up 24 percent; RBS up 23 percent; Bank of Georgia up 22 percent; Barclays up 9.1 percent; and Standard Chartered up 2 percent. The only losers were HSBC, down 4 percent, and Metro Bank, down 44 percent. Despite the constant media drumbeat that the U.K. faces impending doom, E.U. commissioner for financial services Valdis Dombrovskis warned on April 2 that it may be the banks in the 27 remaining E.U. states that face serious "No-Deal" existential risks. Dombrovskis told the E.U. Parliament that the E.U. banking regulators could not "mitigate all possible negative economic effects." He cautioned that in a hard Brexit, unplanned risks include invalidation of the indenture clauses for bonds issued by E.U. banks under English law: "There is going to be disruption. There may be effects on liquidity." Although Dombrovskis did not specify which E.U. member's banks are at greatest risk, Reuters reported on April 4 that the European Central Bank demanded that Germany's Deutsche Bank raise equity capital before being allowed to merge with Commerzbank. Some new info regarding Samsungs upcoming Galaxy A smartphone has just leaked, info regarding the Galaxy A80 / A90. Both the Galaxy A80 and A90 are mentioned here because were still unsure what the phone will be called, but were looking at a single device here, not two of them. Samsung had already announced several Galaxy A models this year including the Galaxy A30, A50, and A70, but the most powerful Galaxy A-branded device is yet to land, and if were going by sheer logic, its name will be the Galaxy A90, not the Galaxy A80 as some rumors are hinting. Samsung had introduced the Galaxy A30, A50, and A70 thus far, so its logical to assume that the A90 is coming next, not the A80. The company had scheduled a press conference for April 10 recently, clearly hinting that a Galaxy A-branded phone(s) is coming, and its quite possible that the Galaxy A90 will be announced during that event. Having said that, a Weibo (Chinese social network) user called Martian-V has shared the aforementioned info, and in his post, he spilled the beans on Galaxy A90 specifications. Advertisement According to the source, the Galaxy A90 will be fueled by the Snapdragon 7150 (SDM7150) 64-bit octa-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz, while the device will feature a 6.7-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) OLED display. The phone will include three cameras, 48-megapixel (f2.0 aperture), 8-megapixel (f/2.4 aperture), and a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor. Now, whats interesting is, that those three cameras will serve as both rear-facing and front-facing shooters. If youre out of the loop, this may sound really weird to you, and youre probably wondering how is it possible. Well, according to leaks, those three cameras will sit on the back of the device until you flip the switch to a selfie mode in the camera app, then all three cameras will first pop-up, and then rotate to become front-facing units. So, not only will the Galaxy A90 sport pop-up camera, but also rotating ones. The device itself is said to sport no notches or display holes, and the source claims that the device will support 25W fast charging as well. The phone will measure 165 x 76.5 x 9mm, and weigh 219 grams, if the sources info is accurate. A 3,700mAh battery was also mentioned by the source, and that is pretty much all the info that Martian-V shared. Advertisement If leaks are to be believed, the Galaxy A90 will be made out of metal and glass, just like its siblings. The phone will include all of its physical keys on the right, and a thin chin will be located below the display. Its display will feature rounded corners, and the device will almost certainly ship with Android 9 Pie out of the box. On top of Googles operating system, you will be able to find Samsungs very own One UI Android overlay, same as on other recent Galaxy-branded smartphones. That is more or less all the info that we have at the moment, but Samsung will probably share far more information about the device on April 10, when the phone is expected to become official. Google has lost Ian Goodfellow, a foremost expert in AI research and former member of the Google Brain team, to rival company Apple. Specifically, Cupertino poached Goodfellow to be the director of machine learning in the companys AI-focused Special Projects group. Apple has a number of AI ventures going, such as improvements to Siri and its own self-driving car unit, just to name a couple. Exactly what Goodfellow is up to isnt being disclosed right now, it would seem, but his background can give some hints. For starters, Goodfellow started his long and auspicious career as an intern at a now-shuttered robotics startup. This led him to his initial period at Google, during which he eventually ended up as part of the elusive Google Brain team. After that, he had a stint at OpenAI, an AI startup funded by a number of big names in tech. The nonprofit was founded in 2015 with the goal of using AI to benefit humanity and is still open today, but Goodfellow decided there were greener pastures back at Google. At that point, he became a research scientist with the company, moved into a senior role, and finally, just recently, went over to Apple. Speaking on his achievements, the crown jewel is definitely his implementation of the concept of generative adversarial networks, an AI concept that essentially revolves around using neural networks in contest to compare data and look for favorable outcomes and how to reach them. GANs, as theyre referred to in the industry, are used in a wide variety of machine learning applications due to their scalability and the relatively small amount of human-guided training that they need to begin learning and growing independently. Advertisement Considering all of that, one can only assume that Apple is looking to develop and implement AI products that employ different methods of machine learning. After all, if youre going to use GANs in an AI product, its quite helpful to have the guy who designed the concept on board. The company may well be looking at doing something else entirely, though, given Goodfellows qualifications as an AI researcher. Apple may even be looking to develop its very own AI convention with his help, though thats a bit of a stretch. Since theres no telling just what Apples up to with Goodfellow on board, theres no way to predict its impact. One thing that is quite possible and quite obvious, though, is the potential for lawsuits. Its not unheard of by any means for companies to poach top talent from rivals, only to be slapped with trade secret theft lawsuits when those former rival employees put their skills and knowledge to work in their new role. The fact that he was once part of the secretive Google Brain project adds more fuel to that particular fire. The one aspect of Goodfellows knowledge base thats likely safe is GANs; the centerpiece of Goodfellows achievements actually has a basis in research dating well into the 1990s, though his interpretation and implementation, along with the name generative adversarial network, all happened during his time with Google. That means while that work has a high chance of being safe due to its derivative nature, some aspects of it, or at least some methods of implementing it into commercial products, are probably tied to Google in some way. Lenovo-owned Motorola is seemingly planning on releasing a direct successor to the Moto P30 Play launched in China last year, with several leaked 3D renders (both video and images) depicting the sequel having been recently shared by tech blog CompareRaja via OnLeaks. The source claims that the so-called Moto P40 Play will fit in the entry-level market segment which wouldnt be all that surprising given the predecessors price range, but was unable to reveal many details aside from some dimensions and components. Reportedly the Moto P40 Play will feature a 5.6-inch display which would be 0.3-inch smaller than the predecessors, and as revealed by the 3D renders the panel should have a much narrower drop-shaped notch at the top. Advertisement But the smartphones bezels dont seem to have been trimmed down too much so theres the question of whether the notch adds any value. The Moto P40 Plays top and bottom bezels seem thick enough to accommodate a front-facing camera on their own, so the inclusion of a notch in this particular case seems rather questionable and might be the result of following the market trend rather than being an actual solution to an engineering problem. As for the back of the phone, the device seems to sport a dual camera setup coupled with an LED flash positioned in the upper-left corner, as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner in the middle. One of the cameras will have a 13-megapixel resolution but other details are missing so its unclear what the second module is capable of. The two cameras have separate housings which look to be flush with the back panel in these renders, but the source claims that the cameras add roughly 0.2mm to the phones girth for a total of 9.2mm. Otherwise, the device is 147.7mm tall and 71.5mm wide and looks similar to some of the Moto sketches that leaked last month from the front, but the back panel doesnt match any of those patented designs. Advertisement Its worth reminding that the Moto P30 Play introduced last year was released under this moniker only in the Far East, whereas in other market regions the smartphone launched as the Moto One. The sequel could follow a similar launch pattern meaning that it should be known as the Moto P40 Play only in certain markets, but calling it the Moto One 2 in others might not be too appealing. The previous model was introduced in China running ZUI 4 while in other markets the device ran Android 8.1 Oreo and was sold as an Android One device promising timely firmware updates and improved software support. The sequel could follow a similar strategy except the OS version should be bumped to Android 9 Pie. The Moto P30 Play was originally launched in October so the sequel might still be many months away, assuming that the OEM will follow a yearly launch schedule. So far there are no concrete details regarding the smartphones availability and Motorola should have numerous other smartphones in the works for release this year. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Moto P40 Play is likely a part of a series much like the P30 was last year and could be accompanied on the market by the Moto P40 Note featuring a larger display and upgraded internal components, and possibly a standard Moto P40. Two new leaks claim to confirm the name and display aspect ratio of an upcoming mid-range smartphone from Samsung, the Galaxy A80. Dutch-language website Mobielkopen uncovered a promo page from Samsung Cine Club website, a site targeted toward Latin American consumers, which reveals that Samsung will unveil a smartphone named the Galaxy A80. This handset will have a model number SM-A805F, and the mention of the device on Samsungs Latin American promotional website suggests that the smartphone will be available in the region once the handset maker launches the product. Until recently, it was not clear if Samsung will name its upcoming mid-tier smartphone either as the Galaxy A80 or the Galaxy A90, although this promotional page seems to show that the South Korean device manufacturer may have settled with the Galaxy A80 branding. The same online publication also managed to uncover a recent benchmark result that corroborates with earlier reports which claim that the Galaxy A80 will feature a 20:9 aspect ratio display. While the HTML5test reports the resolution of the handset as 412 by 915 pixels, the smartphones display will more likely have a size of 6.7-inches and an actual resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels. Like other smartphones that Samsung launched recently, the Galaxy A80 will ship with Android 9 Pie pre-installed, although One UI, the tech giants proprietary skin will run on top of Googles operating system. Background: A recent leak provided extensive details about the specifications of the Galaxy A80. According to a rumor circulating on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo, the Galaxy A80 will feature the Snapdragon 7150 processor from Qualcomm, and this SoC features an octa-core CPU clocked at up to 2.2 GHz. There is little information available about the chipset, although a Github repository that references the Snapdragon 7150 suggests that the processor supports QHD+ displays, which means that the SoC has more than enough graphical processing power to support the screen of the Galaxy A80. Advertisement Recent rumors also suggest that the handset will have a 3,700mAh battery and that it will support fast charging of up to 25 watts. Furthermore, reports claim that the device will have a metal and glass build. However, the key selling point of the Galaxy A80 will be its camera setup that functions as both front-facing and rear shooters. This camera setup features three imaging modules. The main sensor has a resolution of 48-megapixels and an aperture of f/2.0, while the second imaging module has a resolution of 8-megapixels and an aperture of f/2.4. Meanwhile, the third sensor of the handset is a Time-of-Flight module. This camera setup is placed in a sliding mechanism, and the shooters will rotate to the front or back depending on the needs of the user. An advantage of incorporating this camera setup is the consistency in the quality of images taken by the Galaxy A80. Impact: More information about the handset may become available in Samsungs upcoming launch date scheduled on April 10. While it is more likely that the device will be called the Galaxy A80, there is still a possibility that Samsung may unveil two smartphones instead, with the second smartphone called the Galaxy A90. Sprint and T-Mobile have a new argument for consideration in their bid to merge, positing that the US simply wont be able to keep up with China on 5G without the merger. On its face, the information shared by the duo makes a strong argument that the $26 billion deal could keep the nation in the fight. The associated infographics and data shared via Sprint could just as easily point to how far behind the country might be. The graphics begin by showcasing the relatively low existence of unencumbered mid-band spectrum in the US compared to the top, state-sponsored carriers in China. The argument seems to be that only a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile would allow for a similar level of competition in 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 4.5 GHz spectrum for 5G. Summarily, only Sprint and T-Mobile with a combined 130Mhz of low-and mid-band spectrum could compete with the 133Mhz average spectrum available to Chinese operators. Advertisement The second graphic put forward highlights an apparent 50-percent lead in terms of network density held by China and posits that the Sprint merger with T-Mobile would enable rapid expansion to close the gap. Finally, the two mobile carriers pull the information together into a single infographic in addition to restating claims that the merger would result in approximately $40 billion in joint CapEx compared to Chinas expected $50 billion over the next three years. More directly, the companies claim the total impact of the merger would couple that efficiency and scaling improvement with a $500 billion economic impact and the creation of three million jobs. Why this argument and why now? Advertisement To begin with, analysts and even the US government have already made clear arguments about how US carriers focus on millimeter wave bands could ultimately put it behind in the race to global 5G dominance. So it isnt necessarily surprising that Sprint and T-Mobile are focusing on a combination of that spectrum with mid-band spectrum. Earlier this week, doctors in China were also able to conduct their first-ever deep brain surgery on a patient who was over 1.8-thousand miles away from his patient thanks to 5G too. So recent advances in the use of 5G in China may also play a key role in determining the two companies approach to arguing for a merger. As China continues to put the low-latency nature of next-gen networking through its paces, companies such as AT&T and Verizon are only now beginning to roll out commercial wireless 5G and only to very limited portions of select cities. Only minor expansions are planned over the course of the next year and both Sprint and T-mobile are expected to follow similar patterns. Advertisement The latter two companies round out their latest argument by pointing out the importance of 5G to the generation of the worlds next Google, Apple, Amazon, and Uber. Perhaps more pertinent to the reason for a new tact, however, is the fact that changes in party dynamics in Washington are cooling enthusiasm about the proposed merger as well. T-Mobile and Sprint seemed to be well on the way to gaining approval last year and are already in the latter stages of gaining approval but lawmakers are beginning to balk at the idea from both sides of the aisle. Previous promises notwithstanding Advertisement Prior to the new call for approval from Sprint and T-Mobile, the two companies have repeatedly promised an increase in the number of jobs available, better customer service and network coverage, and improvements in competitiveness. That doesnt necessarily change with the new arguments from the pair of carriers but it does put a more direct focus on the current fears spreading among various governing agencies and bodies. Namely, it shines a spotlight on concerns that the US will not be able to keep up or lead in the race for 5G a technology with a reach well-beyond simply reducing latency, increasing speed, and improving throughput for mobile users. Next-generation networks are expected to drive advancement across the entire spectrum of technology from self-driving vehicles to government and public infrastructure. A new wave of technology is predicted to follow too, leading to what is effectively a new era of technological growth. 5G is commonly viewed as a required area of growth for any nation that wants to remain a world leader or key player on the world stage. Advertisement All that remains to be seen is whether or not the argument is enough to reaffirm or regain vital support for the two companies merger. Posted on: April 4, 2019 3:14 PM As the UK Parliament makes headlines across the world for its debates on Brexit the UKs withdrawal from the European Union, we republish this feature by Bernadette Kehoe, first published in the September 2017 edition of Anglican World magazine, which highlights the work of Church of England bishops in the upper chamber the House of Lords. Two statues of the bishops who are known to have been present when the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 look down as sentinels from a great height, over the upper chamber of the United Kingdoms parliament, the House of Lords. The stone mitres are a reminder that the unelected upper house was formed by a coming together of religious leaders and landed gentry, known respectively, as the Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal. These days the Lords Spiritual comprise 26 bishops of the Church of England. They read prayers before daily business and contribute to the scrutiny of proposed legislation that has been approved by the lower house, the House of Commons. Anglican World accompanied the Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, on a day when he was taking part in a debate on the recent Queens Speech, which sets out the governments forthcoming legislative programme. Inside the robing room, Bishop Christopher prepares for his session in the chamber; amid the pomp and splendour of the House of Lords, with its magnificent architecture, stained glass, splendid art and sumptuous furnishing, I wonder how all this fits with a Bishops ministry as a shepherd to his flock? Bishop Christopher explains that he sees this aspect of his ministry as an important way of contributing to British public life. Bishops also speak in relation to their links with overseas churches. Bishop Christopher has spoken in the chamber on the Holy Land and Zimbabwe; he makes annual visits to the dioceses of Manicaland, Matabeleland, Central Zimbabwe and Masvingo which are linked with the Diocese of Southwark and its cathedral. On the day of the Queens Speech debate, which opens a new session of parliament, he doesnt shirk difficult issues addressing the recent calamity and terror in Manchester and London which left scores dead and dozens injured. Bishop Christophers cathedral was at the epicentre of the London Bridge attack and was closed temporarily in the aftermath. Talking of the values that underpin British society, he welcomed but asked questions about a recently announced government Commission for Countering Extremism which will defend pluralistic values across all our communities. I think, my Lords, one needs to be clearer in defining what is meant by pluralistic values. If, my Lords, we mean a framework that encourages those with differing beliefs and views to live in harmony and mutual respect, that is something which bishops will support. If it means everything is relative and there are no core common values or that absolute values are discouraged, then I think we have gone too far. The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, speaking in the House of Lords in March 2019. Bishop Christopher said he understood the desire for a review of counter-terrorism but felt the emphasis may be in the wrong place and he argued that the answer to recent outrages was diligence, the resources to deliver such vigilance and a society resilient enough to face down the threat of hatred. He also commented on the deadly tower block fire in London and noted that there had been recent significant reductions in the funding of fire and emergency planning services as well as police numbers: My Lords, these services upon which our well-being and upon which our very lives depend, often operate to the limits of their capacity. We must take responsibility to ensure that they are not pushed beyond the limits of capacity. A few minutes later, as we left the chamber, Bishop Christophers speech attracted a favourable reaction on Twitter from the former Leader of the opposition Labour party in the House of Lords. This prompts me to ask Bishop Christopher how difficult it is to not take political sides? It is not difficult at all, he replies. I have 33 years experience as a parish priest and in cathedral ministry, as an archdeacon and a bishop. I have related and ministered to an enormous range of people of goodwill who entertain a considerable variety of opinions. I have no desire to exhibit a partisan approach but I am passionate for justice and the flourishing of all the children of God. Previous speeches indicate his concern over the plight of child refugees in Calais and of Palestinian children. So has being able to speak out in this political context made a difference? It makes a difference because a Church of England bishop is part of the establishment, perhaps, although I do not care for that term and also part of an international body which operates relationally. We are listened to both because our fellow peers, including Ministers believe we understand them, but also because we have experience from our local diocesan contexts spread across the country as well as through our links overseas of what is happening at a very local level and more globally. The wider Church enables that to happen, as well as being a great blessing to me personally. I ask Bishop Christopher what aspects of being a Lord Spiritual he has found most surprising and also frustrating: Surprising would be too strong a word, but the readiness of other peers to hear what the Church has to say and to seek advice outside the chamber. Frustrating: having a limited amount of time to develop a line of argument. Secular voices argue strongly that the Lords Spiritual are anachronistic but Bishop Christopher says history cant be ignored: The Archbishop of Canterbury has said it is a great privilege to have a voice and a seat in the second chamber as a bishop; we should make our presence felt and engage seriously for as long as we remain a welcome presence. Secularism is fairly strong in this country, but the majority of the population still identify themselves as Christian. Other faith groups welcome our presence in the Lords. It may seem unusual to have an assembly with designated members from an established church: our absence would not exclude a Christian world-view, but our being there does guarantee it. We are here because Parliament was not founded in, for example, 1970. It is the collective wisdom of many generations that allows us to sit where we do. But I am very mindful that members of the House of Commons get there by election and the predominance of the elected house should not be challenged. Reform of the House of Lords has been discussed by successive British governments for more than a century. The most recent proposals, in 2012, called for a mostly elected chamber and also outlined a reduction in the number of bishops who would be allowed to sit in the Lords. But the legislation was never introduced. Whilst secularists argue that religious leaders have no place in a modern legislature, the Church of Englands official line is to give a robust defence of the Lords Spiritual: Bishops provide an important independent voice and spiritual insight to the work of the Upper House and, while they make no claims to direct representation, they seek to be a voice for all people of faith, not just Christians. . . "Bishops seek to walk the way of Christ in the precincts of Parliament and will deal with other members of the Lords on that basis, not least in private conversation and with parliamentary staff likewise. They remain a distinct and particular witness in one of the oldest legislatures in the world. Posted on: April 5, 2019 2:58 PM The Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, Mouneer Anis, has announced the appointment of the first female canon in the Diocese. Mrs Alexandra Wakid will be licensed as the first female Lay Canon at All Saints Cathedral in Cairo, next Friday (12 April) in honour of her many years of dedicated service to the Diocese, Bishop Mouneer said. Her late husband, Mr Ibrahim Abee Wakid, was the first Egyptian Lay Reader ever to be licensed within the Diocese. He also later served as a Lay Canon. Mrs Wakid grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, and graduated from the University of St Andrews. She moved to London to work as a research economist with an inter-governmental organisation before moving to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) the UK governments diplomatic ministry a year later. She served as a British diplomat in a number of postings, including Sofia, Paris, The Hague and Cairo. Her connection to Cairo and to All Saints Cathedral goes back 28 years, Bishop Mouneer said. Alexandra left her official career work when she married Abee Wakid in 1994. They were married in All Saints Cathedral. For the past ten years, Alexandra has served as Bishop Mouneers Consultant for International Relations, and, in that capacity, has been at the forefront of negotiations with the FCO for the return of church property in Algiers, which had been held by the FCO for 21 years. On 27 February this year, an agreement was signed restoring the property to the diocese, with a financial settlement. Bishop Mouneer asked for prayers for the new Lay Canon as she prepares for next weeks licensing service. Posted on: April 5, 2019 2:32 PM Malaysias human rights commission, Suhakam, has ruled that Pastor Raymond Koh and a Muslim social activist, Amri Che Mat, were the victims of state sponsored enforced disappearances. After a year-long inquiry, Suhakam reported on Wednesday (3 April) that the two were taken by Special Branch the polices intelligence unit. Church leaders in Malaysia are now calling on the government to Immediately take steps to clarify and separate the jurisdictions of the religious authorities and the Royal Malaysia Police. In a statement in response to Suhakams report, the Council of Churches of Malaysia, which includes three Anglican dioceses of the Church of the Province of South East Asia, and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Malaysia, also called for the immediate launch of an independent and impartial investigation into the Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat cases, free of conflict of interest. They also called for the families to the two men to be provided with remedies, especially their right to know the truth about the fate and whereabouts of these two men. Raymond Koh, who had been accused of proselytising to Muslims, disappeared on 13 February 2017 in Selangor. Mr Amri, who practices Shia Islam, which is banned in Sunni-majority Malaysia, disappeared on 24 November 2016 in Perlis. The report said that the two mens religious activities was the reason for their disappearance. Eye witness accounts in both cases, say that the men were kidnapped as they travelled in cars which were boxed in by three other vehicles. A gold coloured Toyota Vios, owned by Special Branch officer Saiful Bahari, who has himself since gone missing, was at the scene of both attacks. Pastor Koh and Mr Amri are just two of a number of people who have disappeared in Malaysia in recent years. The synod of the Anglican diocese of West Malaysia joined many other Christian groups in calling for Pastor Kohs release. The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) is thankful to Suhakam for conducting this inquiry with integrity, impartiality, transparency and courage, CCMs General Secretary, Dr Hermen Shastri, said. Suhakam had to take this up in the absence of an impartial and serious investigation, which the Malaysian police should have conducted as part of their statutory duty to uphold law and order in this country. This Suhakam investigation and inquiry process has been a vindication of the need for human rights to be placed at the forefront of all law and order matters in Malaysia. Going forward, we urge the Malaysian government to pay heed to the recommendations made by Suhakam today. In addition to calling for an immediate and impartial investigation and the provision of remedies to the families, the CCM also highlighted and called for Suhakams recommendation of immediate steps to clarify and separate the jurisdictions of the religious authorities and the Royal Malaysia Police and the respect the freedom of religion as a fundamental human right. They also highlighted and called for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The Pakatan Government in its General Election Manisfesto 2018 had promised that the country will uphold the rule of law, and that all citizens will be treated equal before the law, Dr Shastri said. We call upon the Prime Minister to deliver on this promise and bring closure to this matter so that the families affected will find the justice they have been seeking for many years. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 48F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 39F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. The testimony given by Ferran Lopez, second-in-command of the Mossos under Josep Lluis Trapero at the time of the October 2017 referendum, was itself somewhat paradoxical. The PP government appointed Lopez as head of the Mossos when it brought in direct rule by triggering article 155 of the Constitution and dismissing Trapero. Therefore, Lopez is testifying as someone who was seen as trustworthy by the PPs Minister of the Interior at the time, Juan Ignacio Zoido. So what happened? Lopez espoused the exact same narrative as Trapero, in declaring that the Catalan police, the Mossos dEsquadra, did not provide any support for the referendum. He was even able to give further details, since from a particular date Lopez reported directly to Spains Colonel Diego Perez de los Cobos. Lopez's testimony was very revealing as to what happened during the period in question. He declared that the had Mossos prepared an operation for the referendum which nobody queried, and they were banking on the support of Spains National Police and the Civil Guard. However, at 8am on the morning of the 1 October, they found themselves alone, since the other security forces decided to act on their own without consulting the Catalan police. One could easily conclude that the Mossos had fallen into a trap, and that De los Cobos had never had the slightest intention of carrying out a joint operation. On the contrary, he wished to take advantage of 1 October to point the finger at the Catalan police while simultaneously discrediting and delegitimizing it in the eyes of a part of the Catalan public. Only a few months earlier, following the 17 August attacks on the Ramblas in Barcelona, Catalan society was the proudest it had ever been of its police force. Ferran Lopez also gave details of the meeting which the high command of the Mossos held with President Puigdemont, Vice President Junqueras and Interior Minister Forn to warn them not to go ahead with the vote as it might result in unrest on the streets due to the presence of 15,000 police. According to the former head of the Mossos, Puigdemont responded that if a confrontation were to take place between the voters and the police, he would declare independence. The prosecutor might attempt to use Lopezs words to claim that the Catalan government was planning a rebellion based on violence by the voters, but this would be a highly distorted version of the events. If anything, because Puigdemont did not declare independence on 1 October, despite the police violence. The most important aspect of the statement is that it contradicts in almost every regard the version of events given by the police and Spains Interior Ministry in terms of the Mossos actions during the time in question. Furthermore, they have managed to contradict themselves, since if the Mossos were supposedly party to a rebellion, it would make no sense for the Spanish government to appoint a member of its high command as its leader after imposing direct rule. If Ferran Lopez agreed with all his superiors decisions, as he declared yesterday, and Trapero is being prosecuted for rebellion, why is Lopez not also sat in the dock? Quite simply because even set-ups have a limit. The works for sale arent unimportant. Theyre by Montreal native and Group of Seven member A.Y. Jackson. They will be included in Heffel Fine Art Auction Houses upcoming auctions, beginning in May. A founding member of the Group of Seven, A.Y. Jackson is one of Canadas most celebrated and important artists, the auction house said in a statement. ArtForum Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh Housefull 4 is all set to hit theatres this Diwali. Mumbai: Sajid Nadiadwala's Housefull franchise shares a unique connection with the much loved Hollywood series of James Bond as both the movie series are shot in London. Like every James Bond film terminates in an entertaining action sequence in the capital of UK, Housefull has also showcased fondness for the metropolitan city of London. The most famous secret agent has London as an exquisite location even after the decades of the story surrounding the city. Even Sajid Nadiadwalas Housefull franchise which stars Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh have a strong London connection. Not only this, right from Housefull to its second and third instalment and now Housefull 4 has a London setting. Sajid Nadiadwala loves the city personally and professionally. The producer who has previously gone holidaying to the city loved milieu and ambience. The beautiful outdoors not only simply stands out but also bring glitz and glamour on screen. The filmmaker has always treated the audience with the captivating natural beauty with Housefull series. Revisiting London for Housefull 4, Sajid Nadiadwala says, London has always held a special place in my heart. Also, when it comes to the Housefull franchise then London is an inseparable element. There is certain vibe around the city that augurs so well with the stage and setting that Housefull demands. Just like the James Bond series, Housefull which has always been a big ticket film is worth watching in theatres for its majestic grandeur and whole canvas. The Franchise happens to be the costliest amongst Sajid Nadiadwalas many productions. In Addition, Sajid Nadiadwala said Housefull means a house full of masti, mazaa, vibrancy and energy, something that London stands for as well. Audiences have traditionally loved what the city and its people have to offer on screen in the film and we are taking that forward with Housefull 4 too. Just like the masterpieces Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan have been known amongst many other Bond heroes and has been London based. Similarly, Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh Housefull 4 have found its heart in London. The film is all set to hit theatres this Diwali. Meanwhile, Nawaz is also working in Motichoor Chaknachoor opposite Athiya Shetty. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has a bunch of films lined up to shoot even as he is already busy working on his next set of films. Seen earlier this year in Sanjay Rauts Thackeray as well as Ritesh Batras Photograph, Nawaz will begin filming for Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farookis No Lands Man. Besides acting in it, Nawaz will also co-produce the film. The English-language film revolves around a tragic, strange and at times funny journey of a South Asian man whose journey takes layered and complicated shape when he meets an Australian girl in the United States. Meanwhile, Nawaz is also working in Motichoor Chaknachoor opposite Athiya Shetty. He has also signed up to do a two-hero-one-heroine project called Dusty to meet Rusty, which is helmed by Glen Barretto. The film is about a girl who goes on a road trip from Mumbai to Dharamshala in search of her childhood sweetheart but finds love on her way. The film is part of a three-film deal that Nawaz has with Woodpecker Movies. He is also starring in Bole Chudiyaan with Mouni Roy that is being directed by his brother Shamas, says a trade source. Bole Chudiyan will go on floors next month and will be wrapped by the end of June. If all these films release this year, Nawaz would have six releases in 2019. Sanskriti Media Director Robbie Grewal, who made something called Aloo Chaat (2009) and Samay: When Time Strikes (2003), is special too. The film, pretty much like my detailed synopsis, devotes itself to the minutiae of the daily life of the worlds saddest spy in the dullest way possible. Rating: Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff, Sikander Kher, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Raghubir Yadav, Anil George, Alka Amin Director: Robbie Grewal It takes very special kinds of powers and some frozen facial muscles to walk through the entirety of a film with just one expression morose. John Abraham has that ability and uniqueness, and he flaunts it to the hilt in Romeo Akbar Walter, or RAW, which is less a film and more a slow, dead crawl to the end credits. Do not underestimate the power of RAW to sap you of all interest in life. It made me walk past a new chole-bhature stall outside the cinema hall without blinking, or a drop of saliva forming. Director Robbie Grewal, who made something called Aloo Chaat (2009) and Samay: When Time Strikes (2003), is special too. Never has a film been made on spies and spying that has had to drag its feet throughout, that too while India is in pursuit of thwarting Pakistans evil designs on what was, in 1971, East Pakistan. RAW opens in Karachi, specifically in the ISIs detention centre, where Akbar (John Abraham) is being relieved of his nails, one by one, by one rather sharp and natty Colonel Khan (Sikander Kher). The back story of how and why Akbar got here is then shared with us, in all its banal, mundane detail. There sat, in Delhis RAW headquarters, its head, Shrikant Rai (Jackie Shroff). He spotted Romeo, a bank employee, who was so adept at shape shifting and pretending to be another, that Rai decided to put him through a test at the Indian National Bank where he worked and nurtured soft-soft feelings for a colleague, played with a permanent pout by Mouli Roy. Romeo passes the test with flying colours, is summoned and, told, Beta, desh seva is the best and asked to join the secret service specifically for Mission Thwart. India being on the verge of a war with Pakistan, as we have been backing Mukti Bahini, the Independence-seeking collective of military and civilians, we need to know what Pakistan is planning. And Romeo must feed the eager Indian intelligence network and sarkar to help create the liberated state of Bangladesh. And so Romeo Ali is trained and sent off to embed himself in the organisation run by Isaq Afridi (Anil George), Pakistans main arms supplier and a man very close to the Army chief. As Romeo goes to work in a hotel in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, posing as Akbar Malik, he uses his melancholic guile to ingratiate himself to Isaq. This despite the fact that he misses his mommy dear (Alka Amin) like hell. Isaq takes notice, likes and hires Akbar in his Karachi office. Meanwhile, some rather boring politics is being played in Delhi. And there is some equally boring powerplay in Pakistan between two groups in the Army. Pakistan it seems is infested by double agents, and theres just one mole they have managed to place in India. But some in the ISI are rather sharp, like Col. Khan, and he starts taking an interest in Akbar. Soon, the screen is repeatedly reminding us of the number of hours left for Badlipur bombing. And as the seconds needle tick-tocks in your head, on screen the all-important people in Pakistan and India are playing pin-the-map and drawing circles with pencils around this area and that. A rather long-winded chase ensues during which the very special Mr Abraham manages to keep that same worried-sad expression. Romeo Akbar Walter is suffused with ardent desh bhakti sentiment, but its not offensive. Its not overtly jingoistic. Its bigger offence is that it is really, really dull. And boring. And slow. It also has some very silly, dumb things for a spy film. For example, a double agent under ISI surveillance is making out with an employee of the Indian high commission in the open before taking it to the bedroom. The film, pretty much like my detailed synopsis, devotes itself to the minutiae of the daily life of the worlds saddest spy in the dullest way possible. So much so that you can actually finish your daily jog around the cinema hall, with some step aerobics thrown in, keeping the film simply on audio. When you return with your cup of coffee, not much progress would have been made, either by Mr Abraham or India. Only Sikander Kher will catch your attention and youll wonder, like me, this boy is so good. Why dont we see more of him? Why? Why? Romeo Akbar Walters story is decent, and very similar to the much sharper, well-made and acted Raazi. But here a thriller has been given art house treatment when it really needed some tension, kinetic action and suspense. Clearly, many thoughts dwell in John Abrahams pretty head. But somehow his face and eyes have the ability to appear absolutely blank, as if not a single fleeting idea or thought has ever ventured anywhere near him. John Abraham of the famously pert butt encase in the tightest of yellow lycra chaddies allows just a fleeing smile on perhaps two or three occasions and one half-smile to tell us, oh-ho, Im so cool, see, double crossing these Pakistani dudes. Then he relapses into melancholic worry. John Abraham usually does action well. Not here. Here he screams nicely, once. Bus, before sinking into that same morose expression. RAW here is an acronym for both, the organisation his character serves, the various avatars he assumes, and its a play on Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Manmohan Desais brilliant ode to Indias diversity and secular heritage. How smart! Sadly, all of RAWs smartness begins and ends with its title. The round, bindi-like birthmark on the shoulder of the sexy siren on screen is all too familial. The set up complete, the film moves to the second act in each of these stories. Rating: Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Samantha Akkineni, Gayathrie, Ramya Krishnan, Mysskin, Bagawathi Perumal, Ashwanth Ashokkumar Director: Thiagarajan Kumararaja We hear a married womans voice. Shes on the phone with her lover, asking him to come over for a quickie. But he is sounding preoccupied. When she asks why, he says that hes worried about some gangsters he borrowed money from and hasnt returned. But her husband is away at an acting class, and she is in the mood for love. So, come over, she says, Ill make you feel better A bed creaks with the rhythmic thrusts of making out and this sound, with a naughty smile, pulls us into Super Deluxe, just as it did in writer-director Thiagarajan Kumararajas brilliant Aaranya Kaandam (2011). Apart from that, and the genius of Kumararajas storytelling, theres nothing connecting the two films. Super Deluxe is a synthesised composite of four episodic stories that seem separate but are either joined at the hip or barge into the other with wily coincidence. A group of four college-going boys go to great lengths to first secure quietude in a house, steal snacks, buy a DVD and then sit down to watch a Mallu porn film. But just as the DVD begins to play, one of the boys, Soori (Naveen), looses his shit. The round, bindi-like birthmark on the shoulder of the sexy siren on screen is all too familial. As Soori feels his entire being spinning in the moral tornado raging inside him, he screams whore and just seconds before he dashes off to fix the problem, he smashes the flat screen TV. Meanwhile, a house elsewhere is buzzing with people, activity and chatter. Manikam (Vijay Sethuspathi), father of one and husband of Jyothi (Gayathrie), who had left his family seven-and-a-half years ago, is scheduled to return. The house is in half celebration, half bitch mode. Jyothi is both eager and depressed. Theres much banter and griping amongst the older women in the house. But Jyothi and Manikams little son, Rasukutty (Ashwanth Ashokkumar), is singular in his focus on the moment his dad will walk into his life. Almost in a nervous, excited trance-like state, hes preparing for his dads arrival with devotional fervour, and the first thing he wants to do is take him to his school to shut up all those who have been calling him a test tube baby. Somewhere else, in a blue room where a slightly broken, solemn statue of Jesus stands with its head wilting, devotees have gathered and are eagerly waiting for Arputham (Mysskin), the tsunami survivor with a healing touch. The set up complete, the film moves to the second act in each of these stories. A body sits crouched in Vaembus (Samantha Akkineni) refrigerator, and she flinches when Mugilan (Fahadh Faasil) reaches for the milk packet to make tea for guests sitting just a few feet away. The broken TV set, meanwhile, has spiralled into a crisis of gargantuan proportions. The father, owner of the TV, will skin all the boys alive if it is not replaced, and a screwdriver the enraged one was carrying to settle his angst has pieced another. The search for money to buy a TV lands them in the living room of the local don, Idi Amin Manikam arrives and all but little Rasukutty are stunned into an aghast silence. A cop is following and filming a couple lugging around a bulging mattress. Just as these stories, skulking in their own crazy zone with their own set of characters, begin to slowly gravitate towards each other, the film begins to, bit by bit, strip all shades and layers of masculinity that moustachioed, flexed men who so love projecting. Super Deluxe presents, then lovingly creates and frames the most masculine of archetypes on one side, and on the other are women, seeming rendered powerless by morality, gender, sexuality, and virtue. And then, slowly, it shows what they all are really made of. The delusional tsunami god so firmly believes in his own healing powers that hes willing to risk his sons life. The woman shunned by the men in her life for being immoral is desperately trying to save the raging boy who was running to lunge at her. The actor is asked to express his rage by pretending to be drunk and we sit, alongside Vaembu, watching as his insecure innards full of complexes ooze out as tears and snort. The dad who had strutted back home with a glowing rejection of maleness and an embrace of all thats feminine, encounters a cop, sub inspector Berlin (Bagavathi Perumal), and is shown his place. But later, in a rather dramatic scene, he leaves with a curse that haunts The more toxic the masculinity, the more the film strips it down to show us what idiotic, helpless, wailing, pathetic mess of tears and contorted facial muscles these men are without the women. Super Deluxes pulpy, circular screenplay by Mysskin, Nalan Kumarasamy, Neelan K. Sekar and Thiagarajan Kumararaja is original, unique and sharp. It begins to coil in the second act, and just as each story is teetering at the brink of a tragedy, a disaster, a crime, it delivers its sting. Somewhere towards the end, Super Deluxe takes a detour for an extra-terrestrial encounter. This inter-species tete-a-tete, complete with a Star Wars joke, is a bit vague, halts the narrative and should have been chopped on the editing table. But it didnt bother me too much because theres a cocky coolness to Super Deluxes whimsy. Anything can happen here, especially accidents good ones, bad ones and, most definitely, the bizarre ones. At times what happens is so stunning and yet the perfect ending that we sit smiling, almost communicating with the shocked characters on screen, saying, Hain!!??? WTF happened?? Super Deluxe has a measured pace of its own, and is as much about its spiralling characters as it is about spaces, frames. Scenes are first framed with spaces blue-green, red, orange walls, lovely tiled floors, staircases in which people enter. In one particular scene, when Manikam is running around looking for his son, I felt like bowing to the cinematography of P.S. Vinod, Nirav Shah, and editing by Sathyaraj Natarajan. The fear and claustrophobia this scene evokes is deeply disturbing. Super Deluxe moves around a lot, and only two characters have the power to root it little Rasukutty, and his dad, Manikam. While some credit for this must go to the director and the writing, but mostly the accolades belong to Ashwanth Ashokkumar and Vijay Sethupathi. They are both so incredibly good that in a line up of pitch-perfect actors, all delivering memorable performances especially Fahadh Faasil, Samantha Akkineni and Bagawathi Perumal they stand out as warm pools of endless love. Dont miss it. It really is super deluxe! Congress agenda is to restrict free journalism, says Jaitley. New Delhi: Continuing its attack on the Congress' 2019 election manifesto, the BJP on Thursday said that the suggestions in the poll document regarding strengthning the media will only end up demolishing the otherwise current structure of independent media in the country and reminded the Opposition party that it was its stalwart and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had revoked the Press Council Act and abolished the Press Council by an Ordinance. Union finance minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that the suggestions in the Congress manifesto will regulate and restrict free journalism and otherwise multiplicity of Indian media, which is "anachronic." The ruling BJP had termed the Congress manifesto, which was released earlier this week, as "liberal towards terrorists, criminals and insurgents." In a blogpost, Mr Jaitley wrote that the promise of a legislation to curb monopolies and to bar cross media holdings of the different segments of the media to restrict the ownership of media by group doing other business, will be nothing but the "culmination of both the anti-media and the 'large is evil' conventional ideology of the Congress." A convergence of both left and dictatorial attitudes," wrote the senior leader. Taking an apparent dig at senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who was the chairman of the manifesto committee, Union minister Arun Jaitley said the "gentleman who drafted the manifesto is the same who had drafted the ill-fated Defamation Bill, 1988," which provided for enhanced punishment for defamation and while in the Opposition now "he wants to decriminalise defamation." "Ultimately, the enormity of the size of Indian media balances things out. Why is then a parliamentary legislation required? Such a parliamentary legislation is ill advised," said Mr Jaitley. To a poll promise in the document of a law to maintain the freedom of internet and not arbitrarily shut it down, Mr Jaitley said such a power is generally exercised only when operations against terrorism and insurgency are in progress. They have to be exercised instantaneously." "Restricting such power during anti-insurgency operations or where caste or communal violence is on, will hinder national interest. In some situations of either insurgent violence or massive social tensions, frenzies can be created on the social media. The mischief makers want to achieve that. The Congress wants the power of the security forces in this regard to be regulated," wrote the Union minister. The Dalai Lama also said that he admired the spirit of the European Union. New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday said that people from Tibet have been seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue with China since 1974, but Beijing considers him a splittist though he isnt one. The Tibetan spiritual leader also said that the Tibetans are open to such a solution, while reiterating that he was not seeking Tibets independence from China. He said he preferred Tibet remaining with China, with some kind of a reunion. The Tibetan spiritual leader said that both sides can mutually benefit from each other by harnessing their old links. While China can help Tibet economically, Tibet can offer its knowledge to China, he said. The Dalai Lama also said that he admired the spirit of the European Union. France and Germany were arch-enemies during World War II. But after the war, common interests were put above individual interests. The creation of the EU was wonderful, he said. The Dalai Lama also praised New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for taking a compassionate approach in dealing with the aftermath of the recent terror attack in her country and said that the 21st century should be the century of peace and non-violence. He said that New Zealand serves as a living example for others, as to how to respond with calmness and compassion in the wake of such incidents. New Zealand is one example where a countrys leader tried to deal with a very sad situation through compassion, he said when asked about the incidents of violence stemming from hatred in the last few years in many countries. She (the New Zealand PM) tried to tackle the problem through non-violence, compassion, and respect for others. So, there are methods (to deal with violence). Although what happened was a very sad incident, there was no further increase in violence, the Dalai Lama told reporters. At least 50 people were killed and several others wounded in a hate-filled terror attack by a shooter, targeting two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch in March. The attack sparked global outrage, drawing condemnation from leaders and institutions around the world. After the attack, Ms Arderns humane approach in consoling a grieving nation and dealing with its aftermath, including meeting the Muslim community members, was widely praised. We saw so much violence in the 20th century, two world wars, and so we must deal with our problems now with dialogues and non-violent measures. Through peace we can achieve it, he added. This effectively had meant then that the talks that were supposed to take place on April 2 at Wagah in Pakistan between the two sides stood scrapped. India had told Pakistan that it awaits its response on the Indian concerns following which the next date for talks on the Kartarpur corridor could be decided. New Delhi: With Pakistan yet to respond to Indias concerns over Khalistani propaganda, which had scuttled the next round of talks on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor that were to take place on April 2 at Wagah in Pakistani Punjab, foreign policy watchers feel the next round of talks between the two countries on the matter may now take place only after the general elections in India under the next government. It may be recalled that in order to take forward the infrastructural development for the corridor in an expeditious manner, India had nevertheless proposed to hold another meeting of technical experts in mid-April to resolve outstanding issues at the zero point agreed to during the previous meeting in March. Significantly on Thursday, the MEA (ministry of external affairs) confirmed that there had been no response by Pakistan so far over the Indian concerns, which were conveyed to that country on March 29. Meanwhile, New Delhi is moving at a breakneck speed to construct the corridor on its territory (Indian Punjab) by September, ahead of the visit of the Indian Sikh pilgrims to the historic Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara near the border in Pakistani Punjab in November this year. On March 29, government sources had said that India had called in Pakistani deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah and conveyed to him the concerns over the appointment of known pro-Khalistan people like (Pakistani Sikh) Gopal Singh Chawla and others on a committee on the Kartarpur pilgrimage and sought to know the role that they would be playing. India had told Pakistan that it awaits its response on the Indian concerns following which the next date for talks on the Kartarpur corridor could be decided. This effectively had meant then that the talks that were supposed to take place on April 2 at Wagah in Pakistan between the two sides stood scrapped. Meanwhile, India is understood to be continuing its global diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Pakistan-based terrorist, JeM chief Masood Azhar, is designated as a global terrorist by the UN. China has so far been blocking this. In early hours of Feb 25, IAF struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistans Balakote in retribution of Feb 14 Pulwama terror attack. When at 3.40 am I was told that the operation was over and our forces had returned safely, I did not sleep, I browsed the internet to see if there was any reaction anywhere in the world, PM Narendra Modi told a television channel. (Photo: File | Youtube) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained awake till the early hours the night the Indian Air Force carried out the Balakote strikes to avenge the murder of more than 40 jawans in Pulwama terror attack. The Prime Minister told ABP News that he stayed awake on the early morning of February 25 and browsed the Net to see how the world would react after India bombed the terrorist-training camp in Balakote. When at 3.40 am I was told that the operation was over and our forces had returned safely, I did not sleep, I browsed the internet to see if there was any reaction anywhere in the world, PM Narendra Modi told the television channel. He revealed officers updated him every minute. Even if there is a major accident in India, I keep following it up. How can I sleep if I know the operation is going to happen? he said in the interview. He added that it was only around 5.30 am that a Pakistani official tweeted about the operation. After that I called all the officials concerned for a meeting, around 7 am, the PM said. On the Opposition leaders asking for proof of the Balakot strike, the Prime Minister said: The biggest proof is the tweet by the Pakistan official, we did not publicise the operation, they did. In the early hours of Feb 25, IAF struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistans Balakote in retribution of Feb 14 Pulwama terror attack. More than 40 jawans were killed in the attack in Pulwama. Soon after the strike, at 5.36 am, spokesperson of Pakistani Armed Forces Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted about the operation. The problem is that Pakistan cannot complain about Balakot operation beyond a point, because they will then have to admit that IAF struck a terrorist camp, PM Modi added. On being asked on the future of India, Pakistan diplomatic relations, PM Modi said: For that, they will have to stop exporting terror. Giving a case of Indias relations with China, the PM said that we had differences and disputes with them as well. However, we talk about bilateral issues, do business. The last few years havent been kind to Architects in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The once-booming construction sector was brought to a near-standstill by the global economic downturn. The profession of Architecture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has long been sidelined by policy makers, and local Architects have long fought an uphill battle to have the profession regulated as it is done in the rest of the world. Now, Architecture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines - which requires considerable education and work ethic, and has traditionally served a wide range of functions - is in trouble. How did a noble profession purportedly licensed to "protect the health, safety, and welfare of the publicfall so far? Architects from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Institutes of Architect (SVGIA) lobbied and struggled for decades to get the profession regulated, until finally, on the 18th day of October, 2011, the SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ARCHITECTS ACT was passed in the House of Assembly. To date seven years after - even with strong lobbying from the SVGIA and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Architects Council (SVGAC), the Act has not been implemented. The passing of the Act was a clear indication that as a developing nation, we were moving in the right direction with interest in the well being of our citizenry. So then, why is the Act not implemented yet? The general purpose of the Act is to provide for the registration of architects, to regulate the practice of architects and the practice of architecture in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The proper regulatory framework is already in place The SVGIA, the passing of the Act, and the formation of SVGAC but for whatever reason, the implementation of the Act seems not to be of interest to policy makers. It seems to have been tucked away on the back shelves of bureaucracy. The Act will help to address one of the major issues facing the profession -the free flow of foreign Architects to St. Vincent and the Grenadines without proper licence to work/practice as an architect in our country. The local Architects in SVG can argue that this non-implementation of the Architects Act 2011 is unfair and unprogressive. It seems that one good step was taken in passing the Act making it law and binding in SVG but now the true purpose of the Act is being suffocated from bureaucratic negligence and indifference. Why should our local Architects who have chosen a career that has the wellbeing of the public at its core, be subjected to such unfair treatment? Why should our local Architects have to unfairly compete with foreign unlicensed architects to make a living? Why should our recent architecture graduates have to go and work in a different field just because our profession is not regulated and provides no security? IT IS UNFAIR! How can we as a country boast of sustainable development, when a profession as noble and significant as Architecture is being sidelined? This unfair treatment will stifle the profession and ultimately dissuade upcoming generations not to study architecture. The final outcome can only be disastrous - our dependence on foreign architects in the future if the status quo is kept. It is high time that the policy makers understand that the health safety and welfare of the public is highly hinged on the implementation of the SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ARCHITECTS ACT. After seven years, there should be nothing preventing the implementation of the Act. Secretary SVGIA New Delhi said the interpretation made of the facts of the case, as portrayed in the (OHCHR) statement, are misleading and incorrect. The experts expressed their serious concerns with the Indian legal and administrative processes for refugee status determination, said the statement. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: India on Thursday rejected a statement issued by the UNs office of the high commissioner human rights (OHCHR) from Geneva that had cited UN human rights experts condemning the repatriation of a few Rohingyas to Myanmar earlier this year. New Delhi said the interpretation made of the facts of the case, as portrayed in the (OHCHR) statement, are misleading and incorrect. India added that it would continue to take action as per the law of the land and the orders of the Indian judiciary to detect, detain and dep-ort illegal immigrants. In a statement from Geneva earlier on Tues-day, the UN OHCHR said, UN human rights experts condemned India's decision to deport three more Rohingya to Myanmar and urged the authorities to stop such forced deportations. The experts expressed their serious concerns with the Indian legal and administrative processes for refugee status determination, said the statement. Rahul Gandhi said he has got courage to be what he is today from accepting the truth and works on the basis of truth. Pune: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday interacted with a group of students in Pune where he said that his courage comes from accepting who he is and subsequently working on that realisation. From truth comes humility, from humility comes courage. I dont like to make excuses and am persistent. I stand up for people who are weak, like farmers, said Rahul Gandhi. When asked about the educated youth being underemployed and underpaid, Rahul Gandhi stated the link between university education and businesses is needed. 27,000 jobs are being lost every 24 hours in India because we do not respect a persons capability, he added. The Congress chief promised to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament, Assemblies for women if his party was voted to power. The Opposition party has said if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to 20 per cent of poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people. Gandhi termed the move as 'surgical strike' on poverty. "Money won't be taken from the middle class and income tax won't be raised," Gandhi said, when asked how funds would be generated for the Nyuntam Aay Yojna (Nyay) scheme. Interacting with students here, the Congress chief said all calculations have been done to fund the scheme. He said the Congress manifesto was prepared after taking inputs from all sections of society, including farmers and the poor. Attacking the Modi-led BJP government, Rahul said demonetisation was a disastrous idea. It had a terrible effect on the economy as millions of jobs were lost and the economy was jammed shut. "We want to give access to young entrepreneurs to the banking system and loans. We will do away with permissions for three years for businesses, which is part of our manifesto. Twenty two lakh government jobs are vacant. We will increase expenditure on education and health," he added. Talking about the airstrike by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Rahul said, "IAF should get credit for the recent air strikes. I am against the politicisation of the air strikes, I feel uncomfortable when the PM politicises these issues." Rahul Gandhi pointed out that all politicians need to be asked uncomfortable questions. "We dont appreciate questions in our system. I have the guts to answer your questions even if some questions might make me uncomfortable. We have to move from memorisation-centric system to a question-centric system." While signing off from the event, Rahul said he loved Narendra Modi and had no anger or hatred towards him. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. A complaint was filed with the Election Commission on Thursday against the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader. Mumbai: Under fire for his casteist remarks against the Brahmin community, Congress-NCPs alliance partner Raju Shetti on Friday issued an apology. Speaking at a rally in Hatkanangale on Wednesday, Mr Shetti had purportedly said that while farmers children joined the Army and fought for the country, those of "the Deshpandes and Kulkarnis" (denoting Brahmins) shunned the Army but preached to others about patriotism. A complaint was filed with the Election Commission on Thursday against the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader by one Ankit Kane of the Brahmin Jagruti Seva Sangh. Speaking at Kolhapur on Friday, Mr Shetti said that he did not intend to hurt the sentiments of any community, adding that he was speaking about giving justice to the martyrs kin. Claiming that he did not have a casteist mindset, Mr Shetti said, As I come from Kolhapur, which is the karmabhoomi of Shahu Maharaj, and started my public life with Shetkari Sanghatana founder Sharad Joshi, casteist thought cannot even touch my mind. I offer my apology to the people who were hurt by my statement, he added. Mr Shetti is contesting from Hatkanangale in in western Maharashtra. According to the court transcript, the judge asked the woman, 'do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you?' The transcript showed that the judge continued to press the woman on her efforts to prevent the alleged assault, asking specific details on the steps she took. (Photo: AP) New Jersey: A New Jersey Supreme Court judge could be suspended for three months without pay for asking an alleged sexual assault survivor if she tried closing her legs to prevent the attack, reported The Washington Post. This week, the panel released a 45-page recommendation in the case of John Russo Jr, a family court judge in New Jerseys Ocean County. The investigation, which included interviews with the judge and nearly two dozen individuals, determined that the judge (John Russo Jr) may have violated the Code of Judicial Conduct numerous times in the recent years. The case came into the light during his questioning of a woman seeking a restraining order against the father of her 5-year-old daughter in 2016. She told the judge the man had sexually assaulted her. According to the court transcript, the judge asked the woman, do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you?" The woman responded by saying that she could to physically harm her assailant in addition to saying "no" and attempting to flee. Judge continued his questioning and asked: Run away, get away. Anything else?" Woman responded: "I - that's all I know." Judge: Block your body parts?" to which woman responded yes. Persistent with his questioning, judge asked: Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?" The transcript showed that the judge continued to press the woman on her efforts to prevent the alleged assault, asking specific details on the steps she took. Ultimately, the judge denied the womans request of the restraining order. The committee found the actions of the judge discourteous, inappropriate and "egregious given the potential for those questions to re-victimize the plaintiff, who sought redress from the court under palpably difficult circumstances." It also said the line of questioning by the judge was not necessary in determining whether a restringing order should be issued. The judge justified himself by saying that his questioning was necessary to "demonstrate the element of force or coercion used during the assault. He also denied it was a suggestion that one could prevent an attack using these methods. Instead, he wanted to aid the plaintiff in recounting a traumatic event." But Russos offences didnt end there. In another conversation with his staff, Russo spoke about the case and asked, What did you think of that? Did you hear the sex stuff? The committee mentioned that his comments were "infantile and grossly inappropriate. The committee's recommendation also described three other instances in which Russo allegedly violated rules of conduct. The nine-member committee was split on its recommendation. Five members of the panel advised he be suspended without pay for three months, and four recommended a longer, six-month sentence. The committee said, "Given the severity of this misconduct and its effect on the overall atmosphere in [Russo's] courtroom, we believe a suspension of six months, without pay, is more appropriate and conveys most directly the Judiciary's intolerance for such behaviour." Russo was placed on administrative leave in 2017, according to the Associated Press. He will have a chance to respond to the panel's recommendation before the matter is decided in July. MVMT Founder Jake Kassans Tips for Professional Success How MVMTs Cofounder Went From College Dropout to Multimillionaire It seems Jake Kassan always had the entrepreneurial itch. As a kid in elementary school he sold lollipops to classmates during recess. And as he grew, so too did his aspirations: Lollipops turned into music festival apparel and soon he was generating $10,000 a week in high school, no less. RELATED: Business Lessons from an Entrepreneur Those maverick skills, however, didnt seem to fit in with the traditional college path. I took a short break and tried to do the college thing, but I was not content with the direction my life was heading in, Kassan tells AskMen. I wasnt learning the tools I needed for success outside of the classroom, so while dropping out [of Santa Barbara City College] may have been a bold move to take, I felt a deep desire to act on the many ideas I had turning in my brain. Jake Kassan From $300K to $100 Million What happened next is the kind of story dreams are made of. Kassan teamed up with his friend Kramer LaPlante (who was a semester away from getting his degree at University of California Santa Barbara when he left to work with Kassan) to launch MVMT watches. Ive always enjoyed watches and the instant sense of confidence they evoke when worn, Kassan shares. Unfortunately, I often found myself unable to afford most of the watches I liked and was left uninspired by the ones I could. My partner Kramer and I had a eureka moment, recognizing the underserved market we belonged to, years before the rest of the industry did. In mid 2013, the two started their business with $300,000 they raised through two Indiegogo crowdfunding campaigns. Three years later, they were at about $60 million in sales, and in 2018, Movado Group acquired the 100 percent privately owned brand for $100 million. While Kassan found success relatively quickly, theres no such thing as an overnight success. In fact, in the immediate aftermath of dropping out of college, he had no idea what his future had in store. He worked graveyard shifts and holidays as a valet, trying to make ends meet, and MVMT almost folded before it even had a chance to start. MVMT Our first crowdfunding campaign was rejected more than once, says Kassan. The anxiety weighed heavy on us as we were forced to re-strategize and seek out a new platform to launch. We had maxed out our credit cards to manufacture our first run of samples. In the end, it ended up being for the best. Having our backs pushed against the wall forced us to innovate, hustle, and hack our way to raising over $300,000 on Indiegogo. Keywords? Hustle and innovate. More Than Just a Brand We see MVMT as much more than just a watch and accessory brand, says Kassan. Our goal from day one was always to inspire our audience through the products we sold and the content we shared. This leads to the key point of difference. When the brand launched, it focused on direct-to-consumer sales, which might seem obvious today (as it continues to become more popular in the business world), but back in 2013 success was defined by wholesale accounts. Jake Kassan Choosing to stick with a direct to consumer business model for much of our history proved crucial to our success and ability to build a brand, says Kassan. Although we always wanted to be highly visible online and offline, investing our energy internally allowed us to engage with our audience directly, while also establishing our own voice. Now as an established business, we can tackle wholesale more strategically and ensure our image is protected internationally. RELATED: Entrepreneur Characteristics The Inspiration So how does Kassans professional and personal experience translate into something actionable for you? He breaks it down: 1. Find Inspiration in Other Peoples Success Whether youre looking to start a business or advance your career in your current position, Kassan recommends looking to others for inspiration and ideas. Look for ways to create your own opportunity and learn from the success of others, says Kassan. I would constantly daydream about what I could do to be fulfilled in life. I often found myself writing down the names of people whose cars I would valet. I would look up what they did for a living and try to look for similarities on how they became successful. Paying special attention to their career paths, schools where they got their degrees from, etc. I was just looking for a common link, and more importantly, I wanted to be reassured success was possible. 2. Dont Wait for Perfection Whether youre pitching your business plan to the bank for a loan or a project at work, dont get hung up on perfection, just get working. Get started now! You dont need to be a perfectionist, Kassan adds. Its more important to get your idea out into the world, then improve upon and grow your idea from there. You dont need to start a movement from day one. 3. Find a Great Partner(s) Having trusted allies by your side as you navigate a new path can be incredibly helpful. The ability to collaborate and tackle issues alongside a trusted partner made all the difference in comparison to solo ventures weve each had in the past, says Kassan. Kramer and my core competencies complemented each other and allowed us to take ownership of different parts of the business. 4. Dont Forget to Network From setting up coffee dates to attending conferences, it never hurts to meet new people in and outside your area of expertise, and strike up a conversation. I have yet to meet one successful person who hasnt benefited from networking, Kassan shares. Networking forces you to step out of your comfort zone and continuously exposes you to new ideas. Being in Los Angeles specifically has been very helpful for our business. While launching and running a successful business or achieving a coveted position might seem like an uphill climb, Kassan is proof that with determination and creativity, your dreams can start to look more like reality. You Might Also Dig: Well into dissecting the whale separating the blubber from the flesh. "Due respect to Ms. Mitchell, but we ordinary folk in Bequia couldnt be happier now that we ketch a whale. This was among the sentiments shared with THE VINCENTIAN by an associate on Bequia, during a conversation last Tuesday, five or so days after a female humpback whale was harpooned not more than a mile or so off that Grenadines island. The catch, made by Captain Bruce Ollivierre and crew aboard the well-known whale boat Perseverance, was said to be some 45 feet in length. Residents of Bequia, our associate said, had been waiting since 2016 for this whale, that year being the last time a catch was made. It was understandable, therefore, when people of all ages and endeavours rushed to the whaling quay to simply look on as the experts dissected the whale, or to participate in the actual process. Whatever, the usual laidback routine on any Thursday afternoon on Bequia was thrown into a tailspin, and business came to a temporary halt. Last week Thursdays catch comes on the heels of the recent media launch of the effort of two Barrouallie men to kick start a whale watching component to the tourism product here. The men, who were exposed to the pastime on a tour to Patagonia, Argentina, were supported in this tour and in setting up their businesses by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Preservation Fund, whose Co-ordinator is well-known environmentalist and anti-whaling personality Louise Mitchell-Joseph. Mitchell-Joseph is reported as saying she was "saddened by the recent catch. In accordance with a decision of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), of which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a member, this country is allowed to catch a maximum of four whales per annum, which our associate said has not been "done for quite some time now. Whaling in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is classified by the IWC as an aboriginal, cultural and historical practice and not a commercial undertaking. And while there are those who support her position, there seemed to be an overwhelming support for whaling among the resident population of Bequia, especially those native to the island.That taken, it would be safe to conclude, said our associate, that "Ms. Mitchell and the government are on a collision course, saved only by a whale between them. This new enhanced offering will make EY one of the leading professional services organizations for global legal advisory services and legal operations services, including legal function advisory, managed services and technology, said Mark Weinberger, EY Global Chairman and CEO. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019, subject to the satisfaction of various closing conditions. Law Council welcomes federal court appointments The Law Council of Australia as welcomed the appointment of two new judges to the Federal Court of Australia. With the incoming increased caseload, the addition of Mr Stewart Anderson QC and Ms Wendy Abraham QC is extremely timely says President of the Law Council, Arthur Moses SC. These appointments come at an important time following the Governments announcement of its proposal to expand the Federal Courts jurisdiction to include corporate crime. They will also assist the court to manage an anticipated increase in cases following enforcement action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, he said. He said that Nexus is about attracting innovators and creators. Thats what drew me to Nexus and as a commercial project manager, thats what I am looking for, he said. Nexus said that Granger has extensive experience in developing IT companies, advising and launching tech start-ups, acting in M&A transactions, and supporting fintech-sector clients. Marcus McCarthy, Nexus founder, said Grangers commercial experience, business acumen, and fintech-industry insights equip him with a broader view compared to traditional M&A lawyers. Stuarts experience in raising capital, getting projects off the ground, getting them to market and leading them step-by-step through the process to commercial success will be invaluable not only to our clients but as a Group Manager for Nexus, where he will play a key role in the commercial development of our group, McCarthy said. Nexus is part of a broader eco-system, offering a multidisciplinary team approach with access and connectivity to a wider group of collaborative experts both in and outside law to ensure that we service our clients needs fully. We are now able to anticipate the broad range of support a client needs to achieve their goals, he said. Stuarts appointment is a strategic part of that approach. Granger said that Nexus is keen to add legal professionals who are looking for more than the traditional in a law firm. Denny, recognised as one of the best property lawyers in the country, had been with K&L Gates and its predecessor firms for more than 31 years. Maxwell had been a senior associate since 2003 at Flower and Hart Lawyers, which merged with legacy Middletons before its K&L Gates combination at the start of 2013. Draper has been as senior associate at the firm 2009. Gaggin has been with the global firm for nearly four years, starting as a paralegal. Piper Alderman said that the team specialises in giving advice on residential strata title, commercial and mixed used developments, aged care, receiver and mortgagee sales, joint-venture agreements, title structures, development and fund-through agreements, put and call options, staged developments, and real estate dispute resolution. Denny shared why he was excited to join Piper Alderman. The firm has a reputation for exceptional client service which is something we also aspire to provide. Piper Aldermans national offering is also what we aimed to achieve when legacy firm Flower & Hart merged with Middletons, he said. In addition, and importantly, the firm provides long-term career opportunities for my team. We have been together now for in excess of 10 years and I am delighted that we can move into this new chapter of our careers with the overwhelming support of our clients. Tony Britten-Jones, who is Piper Aldermans national head of real estate in addition to being its national managing partner, said that the firm is delighted that the team chose Piper Alderman as their new home. "Our strong focus on enhancing our firm's LinkedIn presence, and the presence of our people on LinkedIn, has allowed us to greatly increase our reach and engagement," said Annette Kimmitt, MinterEllison Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner. "More staff than ever are using LinkedIn, and it has become a platform to create valuable connections." Mary Lyras, MinterEllison's Chief Talent Officer, added that the firm has an absolute focus on creating an engaging workplace for all its people. "And one which enables each individual to thrive and accelerate their career in a way that enables them to balance work commitments with the priorities in their lives," she said. Five offices join Ince Gordon Dadds entity Five Ince & Co offices have joined the UK-listed entity Ince Gordon Dadds. Gordon Dadds acquired the UK business of Ince in a deal which completed in January this year after a full merger of the international operations were scaled back with most international offices remaining separate but operating in a network arrangement with the UK firm. Special theyre not, but the mid-size SUVs are limited to 100 and 120 examples of the breed, respectively. How do these models stack up against each other in terms of powertrain options?First things first, the S-Limited reintroduces the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 to Australia. Packing 347 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, the engine is connected to an eight-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Towing capacity? Make that 7,716 pounds (3,500 kilograms), thank you!Surprisingly enough, the S-Overland with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 has an identical tow rating. The turbo diesel churns out 247 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, and as expected, this is the model that will be manufactured in greater numbers.Turning our attention back to the S-Limited, the SRT hood and Granite Crystal details complement the black grille, body-colored wheel arches, silver S badging, and 20-inch wheels. Hop inside, and youre treated to Liquid Titanium motifs, leather upholstery for the seats that Jeep calls Heritage for some reason or another, and a panoramic sunroof.The S-Overland? Well, not much differs from the S-Limited as far as the exterior is concerned save for the design of the hood. Over in the cabin, the Nappa leather and perforated suede inserts are the highlights. Black wood, brightwork on the pedals, and a premium audio system from Harman Kardon are the finishing touches.As were waiting for Jeep to come up with an all-new Grand Cherokee, its important to remember how old the current generation is. Dating back to the 2004 New York Auto Show, the WK entered production in July 2004 for the 2005 model year. Thats almost 15 years now, and no, the WK2 doesnt differ too much from the original. Speaking of which, the WK was developed at a time when Daimler Chrysler was still a thing. The good news is that the driver and the occupants of the car, a Nissan Altima , received only minor injuries in the crash. Also good news is that Swift wasnt at home when the accident took place and neither was anyone else, TMZ reports.The police report notes that a pursuit started at about 1 oclock in the morning, in the nearby town of Hopkinton, when a patrol car noticed the Nissan was traveling without license plates. The driver refused to pull over when summoned and a chase ensued, reaching top speeds of 65 mph.Nearing Swifts mansion, the driver failed to properly negotiate a curve, losing control of the car, which hit the outside wall. It was then propelled into the front gate, where it came to a full stop. Police say the car was doing 35 mph when it crashed. The driver tried to make an escape on foot but was apprehended some hours later.He was identified as 18-year-old Shykeim Edwin Lewis from Hartford, Connecticut, and hes being held on a $10,000 bond, facing several charges including reckless driving, felony receiving stolen goods, obstructing an officer and driving on a suspended or denied license.The other 3 occupants of the car, also underage, received minor injuries for which they were treated at a hospital. They were not charged for their involvement in the crash.Not one of the occupants of the car probably had any idea that the house they crashed into belonged to Swift. The musician, on her part, is choosing to see the funny side of the incident, tweeting in response to a headline about the crash that Nothing good starts in a getaway car *shrug. Leon Bigger Bigs Samuel has taken to the picket line once again, this time doing so at the opening of the refurbished Levi Latham Health Complex in Mesopotamia on Tuesday. "For a lot of people, they thought the issue had died down, but for me it was always a burning issue, Samuel said. The issue, according to Samuel, is that for some time now, he had been saying that the original road that farmers used to access their lands to the north of his had been washed away, leaving the affected farmers with no choice but to pass through his property. On Friday 1st March this year, he was arrested and detained at the Georgetown Police Station after he refused to allow a government surveyor to conduct a survey of his property. He said that he did not mind offering the farmers temporary access, but that he did not want any (permanent) public access road through his property. "I just want the government to leave me and my property alone, and make amends with me to get back my businesses, he said, adding that the protest was his reaction to the government. "I am willing to do what I can within the law to keep the issue alive, he told THE VINCENTIAN. He is no stranger to protest. Back in 2012, he staged protest action against the government whom he blamed for shutting down his business in 2011. He picketed at the opening day of the Reparations Conference in 2012 at the Victoria Park, and had a run-in with the law in 2014 when he took to protesting outside the office of the Attorney General in Kingstown, resulting in him receiving four charges, including blocking traffic. Samuel appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on March 25, to answer to charges of obstructing a Senior Surveyor and his assistant from carrying out their duty. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge in his first court appearance, March 4. The matter has been adjourned sine die or no definite date. Meanwhile, on the matter of access road, Transport and Works Minister Julian Francis did acknowledge governments intention to resolve the issue with Samuel, and that it was Samuel who was resisting the efforts made by government. He told THE VINCENTIAN that he had resorted to staging the one- man protest at the event because, he said, he has been fighting the government for some time now on issues surrounding lands he owned in Rabacca.But Samuel said that he has been trying to explain to the government that the original road ought to be fixed.Samuel countered with a Facebook posting of a letter he had sent to government inviting dialogue on the matter, to which he said, he is yet to receive a reply. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Rain and wind. Morning high of 53F with temps falling to near 40. Winds WSW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Hand flying is a major safety focus in the drive to reduce loss-of-control accidents and CFIs are being urged to sharpen their own stick and rudder skills and pass that on to their students. Society of Aviation and Flight Educators spokesman discussed a new initiative with AVwebs Russ Niles at Sun n Fun 2019. The quick rise of Chicago mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, and Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 race, shows remarkable progress by gay and lesbian politicians, with their sexual orientation getting less play than other historic qualities. Driving the news: Both Lightfoot and Buttigieg have talked comfortably about LGBT issues and their own same-sex marriages, AP's David Crary writes. "The real news is not that openly gay candidates are successful, but that being openly gay has become irrelevant," said Richard Socarides, a former Clinton White House adviser on gay issues. This continues progress from last year's midterms, when LGBTQ candidates scored a raft of wins, including two governorships and first-ever legislative seats in Indiana, Kansas and Nebraska. Background: It was only in 1998 that Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay person to gain a seat in the House of Representatives, the AP reports. There are now eight LGBT members of the House, and two in the Senate Baldwin and Arizona's Kyrsten Sinema, whose bisexuality never became an issue in her closely contested election campaign last year. Lightfoot's victory on Tuesday, along with Satya Rhodes-Conway's win in Madison, Wisc., brings the number of LGBT mayors to 37, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund. In Colorado, Jared Polis was inaugurated in January as the nation's first openly gay governor. 1 fun thing: Buttigieg's husband, Chasten, has amassed 182,000 Twitter followers with cheerful, wry commentary about their relationship and their dogs. Beijing's construction ambitions in Latin America, a region that American leaders have seen as off-limits to other powers since the 19th century, is stirring alarm in Washington, the AP reports from Panama City. The big picture: China's focus in Central America includes Panama, where the canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans makes it one of the world's busiest trade arteries, and strategically important both to Washington and Beijing. The other side: China has launched a charm offensive, wooing Panamanian politicians, professionals and journalists. China is the canal's second-biggest user after the U.S. Why it matters: The U.S., Japan, Russia and India fret that Beijing's Belt and Road building initiative is yielding economic and strategic influence at their expense. Go deeper: Competitors worry that China is using Belt and Road for political gain Sen. Rand Paul on Thursday blocked a resolution calling for special counsel Robert Mueller's report to be released to Congress and the public. The big picture: This is the 5th time that Republicans led by Paul and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have blocked the resolution, which passed unanimously in the House last month. Paul has argued in favor of an amendment calling for the release of communications between Obama-era intelligence officials that he says could shed light on potential "misuse of power" leading up to the launch of the Trump-Russia investigation. The Senate resolution comes on the heels of reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post that members of Mueller's team are dissatisfied with Barr's summary of the "principal conclusions" of the special counsel's findings. on the heels of reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post that members of Mueller's team are dissatisfied with Barr's summary of the "principal conclusions" of the special counsel's findings. The House Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, has authorized a subpoena compelling Attorney General William Barr to turn over the "full and unredacted" Mueller report. Barr has said he would provide a redacted version of the report to Congress by mid-April. If he does not comply with the subpoena, it could set up a lengthy court fight. Go deeper: Justice Department defend's Barr's summary of Mueller report Washington has this week been toasting NATO, which turns 70 today. Congress greeted NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg with bursts of bipartisan applause, and foreign ministers from the 29 member countries gathered today to reaffirm their mutual support. The big picture: As former Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis writes in TIME: Perhaps NATOs greatest accomplishment is not even its unblemished record of deterring attack against its members but rather the fact that no alliance nation has ever attacked another. Stavridis notes that there is no other place on earth where the U.S. could find such a significant number of like-minded nations" with which to ally. Stoltenberg put it more simply: It is good to have friends. In recent years, NATO has in some ways been rejuvenated by Russian aggression. Members are committing more troops in Eastern Europe and modernizing command structures. Support for the alliance generally remains high in Europe and in the U.S. The flipside: Despite the united front this week in D.C., there are growing schisms. Some, like trade wars or the Iran nuclear deal, are political. Others, like creeping authoritarianism and doubts over collective defense, feel more existential. Meanwhile, the alliances role as the U.S. looks away from Europe and toward a rising China is still to be determined. Thats particularly true under a U.S. president who thinks America is being ripped off. Expand chart Reproduced from GZERO Media chart via Brookings; Chart: Axios Visuals Vice President Pence nearly spoiled the birthday party yesterday, targeting Germany and Turkey with some of the Trump administration's most stinging criticisms of NATO allies so far. Pence said several countries were falling short on defense spending, "Germany chief among them." He scolded: "It is simply unacceptable for Europes largest economy to ignore the threat of Russian aggression and continue neglecting its self-defense." Pence then turned to Turkeys decision to buy an advanced S-400 missile defense system from Russia. "Turkey must choose, he warned. "Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" Between the lines: Pences remarks didnt go over well with the audience of security experts and diplomats, but they contained uncomfortable truths. Germanys long-standing reluctance to play a leading role on defense has been compounded by delicate coalition politics. The Social Democrats, junior partners to Chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democrats, want to shift funds away from defense and onto domestic priorities. If that means picking a fight with Trump, all the better hes enormously unpopular in Germany. German statements on defense spending this week have been tinged with doublespeak. The key claim is that, True solidarity is measured in terms of commitment, not euros. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meanwhile, is intent to show Turkeys defenses dont run through Washington, let alone Brussels. Speaking before Pence at the same conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the purchase of the Russian system, which the Pentagon says could endanger NATO infrastructure, is a "done deal. We are not choosing between Russia and any other allies, Cavusoglu added. Thats a pretty remarkable statement at a NATO conference. The bottom line: NATOs birthday could have been far worse. Both Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warm words for the alliance. All was quiet on the Trump Twitter front. A 30th member, North Macedonia, is anxious to join. Overall, NATO looks pretty good for its age. Worth noting: As Axios Jonathan Swan has pointed out, Pence is a central force in the Trump administrations foreign policy and in many cases Venezuela, China, Iran drives hardline positions. He occasionally sets the pace on these issues, even if he does it while praising the wisdom and strength of his boss. A slew of new updates, features and projects unveiled by Snap Inc. Thursday capture the Santa Monica-based "camera company" in mid-evolution, from a chat platform to a broker of value-added services modeled on China's tech giants. Why it matters: Snap has faced investor skepticism that its media model of youth-oriented ephemeral photo and video sharing can support an ad business on the scale of Google's or Facebook's. The announcements at the first-ever Snapchat Partner Summit show that Snap intends both to keep growing its ad revenue while building revenue-generating services that users can access across apps and activities to increase engagement with Snap's products. The details: Snap announced it will launch the Snap Audience Network, which will allow other companies to run "Snap ads" inside their own apps. Snap will allow advertisers to sell ads through its technology, while keeping a cut of the ad revenue. This is a big deal because it would enable Snap to dramatically expand its ad revenue to compete with the likes of Google and Facebook, which have their own ad networks. because it would enable Snap to dramatically expand its ad revenue to compete with the likes of Google and Facebook, which have their own ad networks. Yes, but: It's not set to launch for several months, and details of the ad targeting's workings were scant, as Recode's Kurt Wagner notes. Snap also announced major updates for developers and its camera, and rolled out a new gaming platform as well as a slate of original shows. Camera updates: Snap said it is updating its augmented reality (AR) studio, called the Lens Studio, to include more capabilities for users to create AR videos. It also introduced new camera search capabilities for users to search for items that they point at with their Snapchat camera. (Snapchat added camera search for Amazon products last year.) Snap said it is updating its augmented reality (AR) studio, called the Lens Studio, to include more capabilities for users to create AR videos. It also introduced new camera search capabilities for users to search for items that they point at with their Snapchat camera. (Snapchat added camera search for Amazon products last year.) Snap Kit (developer platform) updates: Snapchat announced new capabilities and partnerships within its Snap Kit, including the ability for Snapchat users to create "Stories" (strings of pictures and videos) that can be sent to other apps, like Tinder. Snapchat announced new capabilities and partnerships within its Snap Kit, including the ability for Snapchat users to create "Stories" (strings of pictures and videos) that can be sent to other apps, like Tinder. It is also making it possible for users to use Snapchat "Bitmojis" (cartoon avatars) in other apps, like Fitbit. And it's allowing outside developers from popular apps, like Netflix and VSCO, to design and build custom Snap filters and links that can be shared from their own apps into Snapchat for users to send to their friends. Originals and content: As Axios previously reported, Snapchat debuted a new slate of original programming and announced the renewal of several shows. It said it would launch a new daily afternoon news show with Buzzfeed. Snap Games: Snapchat introduced a brand new gaming platform called "Snap Games" that, beginning Thursday, will allow users to play real-time, multiplayer games with their friends. Snapchat announced a slew of new original and third-party games from big gaming developers like Game Closure, PikPok, Spry Fox, Zeptolab, and Zynga. It said it is launching a new ad experience in games so all that "our (developer) partners can see monetization from day one." Sources say the company is hopeful that gaming could provide Snapchat with an opportunity to take a cut of in-game purchases in the future. Be smart: Tencent, one of China's biggest gaming companies, purchased a 10% stake in the company in 2017, which sources say have helped guide Snapchat's foray into gaming. The big picture: The event comes just days after Apple announced a suite of new software services, including a new gaming platform, and after Google unveiled its new cloud gaming service, Stadia. The bottom line: Tech giants are rushing to create better software to increase user engagement with their software and to make money off of things like payments, advertising and storage. By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade The next meeting of the Kazakh-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held in Baku in the second half of this year, Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan Beybit Isabaev said in interview with Azertag. Emphasizing the important role of the commission in the development of trade relations and the implementation of agreements at the interstate and intergovernmental level, he noted that at the 14th meeting of the commission, the Road Map for 2018-2020 was adopted for the first time in the history of bilateral economic relations in December 2017 in Baku which, first of all, provides for the implementation of the tasks identified by the leaders of the two countries and the expansion of bilateral export-import potential as a whole. Within the framework of the next 15th meeting of the commission, which was held in Nur-Sultan in October last year, the parties reviewed the implementation of the Road Map, adopted in 2017, and also developed measures necessary to expand the range of products exported to the markets of the two countries . In addition, following the meeting of the commission, such areas as transit, transport, energy, agriculture, railway engineering and tourism were identified as priority areas for further mutually beneficial cooperation, he said. Further, the Ambassador also added that the parties paid close attention to establishing direct contacts between the business communities, which is another effective mechanism for strengthening bilateral trade relations. For these purposes, with the support of the embassy, in May 2018, a Kazakh-Azerbaijani business forum was held in Baku. Following the results of the business forum between KazakhExport and the Export and Investment Promotion Foundation - AZPROMO, a cooperation agreement was signed, and B2B meetings of entrepreneurs of the two countries were held. The forum became a useful platform for establishing business contacts, expanding mutual trade in goods and services, and creating favourable conditions for long-term development and diversification of trade, Beybit Isabaev stated. Speaking about the work completed within two years, the ambassador also noted that during the visit of first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to Baku, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC and Azerbaijan Railways CJSC signed an agreement that provided for the supply of 40 freight locomotive of Kazakh production. To date, 4 electric locomotives have already been transferred to Azerbaijan, the rest will be sent in stages according to schedule. As Beibit Isabaev stressed, during the visit to Baku, first President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Ilham Aliyev identified the need to resume the former supply of Kazakh grain to Azerbaijan. In order to fulfill this order, a relevant working group is working between the authorized bodies of our countries, within the framework of which practical mechanisms are being developed to increase the export of Kazakhstani grain. As a result, we already have certain positive indicators in this matter. Thus, according to the results of 2018, over 288,000 tons of Kazakhstan grain was delivered to Azerbaijan against 76,500 tons in 2017. Along with the growth of grain exports, there is an increase in the supply of Kazakhstan rice by 3.5 times, lentils - 4 times in the amount of 7,200 tons and 3,100 tons, respectively, said the ambassador. The Ambassador also spoke about cooperation in the field of energy and energy supply to foreign markets. To this end, interdepartmental working groups have been established. Last September, their first meetings were held, the deputy ministers of energy of the two countries discussed the transportation of Kazakh oil and oil products in transit through Azerbaijan and the supply of Kazakh oil products to Azerbaijan, as well as supplies and transit of Kazakh liquefied natural gas through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan. We exert every effort to implement the agreements reached at a high level, and we are optimistic about the prospects for the development of bilateral trade and economic relations, Beybit Isabaev said. At the end of 2018, the bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounted to $ 220.54 million and increased by 62.6 percent compared with 2017, he said. Beibit Isabaev added that Kazakhstans exports grew by 61.8 percent, reaching $174.14 million, showing an increase of 35.6 percent. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Shalet Javed had left home after a fight with a brother. A lady admitted to selling it to a human trafficker. Wilson Chowdhry, Christian activist: "At least 700 Christian girls are in the same situation". Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A 15-year-old Christian girl has been kidnapped, sold and given in marriage to a Muslim man after being forcibly converted. The young woman is called Shalet Javed and comes from a very poor family in Pakistan. Her story came to light thanks to the British Pakistani Christian Association (Bpca), which follows the case and is helping the family get their daughter back home. Wilson Chowdhry, president of the association, denounces: "It is the umpteenth shameful case of kidnapping, rape and forced marriage to be put on the list". The story of the 15 year old Shalet dates back to March 25th. She lives in the village of Dhandra, in the district of Faisalabad. After a fight with one of her siblings, she left her home and sought refuge from a family friend, Ms. Goshi, 36, who she regards as an aunt, living in Salam Pura. In the evening, when her mother Tasleem (35 years old) returned home and did not find her daughter, she launched searches. Goshi denies ever having met the young woman, but faced with Tasleem's insistence that she would report everything to the police, she admits that the girl is in the company of another lady named Rukhsana (42). The family tried in vain for three days to file a complaint, but found only the wall of silence by the police, which instead of starting the investigation, suggested that Shalet ran away from home with someone. After three days, the agents arrested Ms. Rukhsana who confessesed that she sold the young Christian to a 28-year-old Muslim man, Rafel, known to the authorities for trafficking in women. The following week, the family received a letter containing the wedding certificate (Nikkah) of the daughter with a Muslim named Zafar Iqbal. The agents arrested Rukhsana and Rafel, but then released them on bail. Wilson Chowdhry disputes the attitude of "the police who did not immediately register the complaint. This is the poor demonstration of corruption in the Pakistan police force. What is even worse is that the only two people involved in the case of sexual violence have been released on bail ". In Pakistan the phenomenon of kidnappings and forced conversions is a plague that afflicts the country. Civil society has recently protested over the abduction of two Hindu sisters, but the cases persist and do not seem to be diminishing. According to Chowdhry, "about 700 Christian girls are trapped in this barbaric tradition, desired by Muslim men who are attracted to younger women. They know it's against the law, but they go unpunished thanks to Sharia . Some "rogue imams - he adds - promise a special place in paradise for those who carry out forced conversions in this way". Shalet's parents are desperate and don't know how to bring the young woman home. The father of the family does not work because of a bone marrow injury, and the other six brothers and sisters help as much as they can. Mother Tasleem torments herself: "My daughter will be terrified and worried. Her innocence is being lost because of a cruel man. My heart is broken, but I continue to trust God. Only He can give me back my child." (Photo credit: British Pakistani Christian Association) Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, CARICOM Lead on Aviation and Maritime matters, gave a very strong hint that LIATcould pull out entirely from Trinidad and Tobago. (Photo Credit: gis.bb) In response to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who hinted that LIAT could drop Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) from its schedule of routes as the airline seeks to restructure amid financial burdens, T&Ts Finance Minister Colm Imbert has assured that, should that happen, T&T state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) will "pick up the slack. Gonsalves, who is also the CARICOM Lead among Heads of Government for Transport (Maritime and Aviation), made the comment during a recent interview with WE FM in St Vincent and the Grenadines. He referenced T&T (38%) and St. Lucia (46%) as low load factor routes for LIAT, and said if Lucia and T&T do not engage in the proposed minimum revenue guarantee currently before CARICOM Heads, "it might be more effective to drop the routes instead of having the shareholder least not for now. But Imbert, in a press conference last Saturday, all but guaranteed that Caribbean Airlines had enough capacity and "if there is a problem and LIAT finds itself unable to afford to fly to Trinidad, then Caribbean Airlines will pick up the slack. He pointed to his government getting "out of LIAT a long time ago, and stated categorically, "we have no plan at this point in time to get back in LIAT, the Trinidad Guardian reported him as saying. LIAT currently services T&T with 53 outgoing flights a week to Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda. The cash-strapped airline, it was disclosed, needed an urgent injection of US$5,.4 million to keep it operational, and the principal shareholder governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, proposed a minimum revenue guarantee for consideration. So far, only Grenada has given any hint of responding positively to the proposal. St. Lucia has made it clear that it was not interested in investing in LIAT as it was structured. Meanwhile, in keeping with a promise to rationalize its scheduled service, the financially strapped regional airline last week Thursday, March 28, announced that, for operational reasons not detailed, it was cancelling the following flights: LI 374 from Barbados to St Lucia; LI 375 from St Lucia to Barbados; LI 337 from Barbados to Grenada; LI 338 from Grenada to Barbados; LI 769 from Barbados to St Vincent and LI 770 from St Vincent to Barbados. (Source: Trinidad Guardian, KYSS FM St. Kitts) Affected passengers, the airline said, will be moved to other flights at no charge. By Trend The Azerbaijani Ateshgah Insurance company has offered to switch to the index-based agricultural insurance model, deputy director of the Ganja branch of the insurance company Orkhan Gurbanov said, Trend reports referring to the company. Gurbanov made the remarks at the scientific-practical conference "Application of agricultural insurance in Azerbaijan: problems and opportunities" in Baku on April 4. He stressed that nontraditional index-based insurance becomes more popular in the world practice of agrarian insurance. Payments on the index-based insurance model are made on the damages caused to the sown areas only in case of exceeding a certain limiting parameter, Gurbanov added. "An indicator of this parameter may be the precipitation during a certain period or the temperature limit, he said. As opposed to the traditional agricultural insurance model, administrative costs for index insurance are relatively lower. Applying such a model would be more appropriate. We can use the knowledge of other developing countries that apply the programs of individual or about 20 different types of index-based insurance." Turkey applies the TARSIM agricultural insurance model, through which the state renders support to all farmers and farms in the form of a certain amount of insurance payments and farmers pay for additional coverage themselves. The bill on the promotion of agricultural insurance in Azerbaijan was prepared in the second half of 2018 and is being considered by the parliament. Presently, the state financing of agricultural insurance premiums is regulated upon the law On Aid and Development of Agriculture in Azerbaijan. Besides wheat, the list of agricultural crops insured through the state budget includes barley, corn, sunflower, potatoes, sugar beets, etc. A bill on the promotion of agricultural insurance has been developed in Azerbaijan. The International Finance Corporation assisted the countrys government to develop legislation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway contributes to the success of the mission Resolute Support mission, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a meeting of the foreign ministers of Alliance member countries, which was held in Washington on April 3-4. The meeting was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of NATO. In his statement to the press, the Secretary General stressed that Azerbaijan is a close partner of the Alliance and works closely with NATO to restore international peace and security. Stoltenberg also said that Azerbaijan, under the leadership of NATO introduces military and multimodal transit support within the framework of the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. The official opening ceremony of the BTK railway was held in Baku Oct. 30 last year. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. The railways peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At an initial stage, this figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The fact that Azerbaijan significantly improved its position in the World Banks Doing Business-2019 ranking is a good indicator of the accelerated pace of development of the national economy, the President of the Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev said, Trend reports. Abdullayev noted that Azerbaijan has made a qualitative leap, rising in the overall rating by 32 positions and taking 25th place among 190 countries of the world. "At the same time, Azerbaijan occupies a leading position among these countries in some aspects. For example, our country [Azerbaijan] is among the top ten countries in which it is easiest to start a business, which indicates that Azerbaijan has created a favorable investment climate, which was accompanied by a corresponding contractual base. To date, bilateral cooperation agreements have been signed with many countries, in particular, on investments and their attraction," Abdullayev said. The head of AZPROMO said there are no restrictions on currency exchange, as well as technology transfer from foreign investors. "Due to its strategic location, Azerbaijan, which is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, has a good opportunity for the development of railway lines. Again, this is also facilitated by the country's infrastructure and the availability of North-South, East-West transport links passing through our country [Azerbaijan] to China and to Poland, up to Finland. Another indicator of the successful development of the national economy is the creation of industrial parks with access to investment incentives," Abdullayev said. He further noted that agriculture, industry, engineering are those areas, the development of which, as part of the strategic road maps of Azerbaijan, get great attention and is provided the necessary support at the state level. He noted that AZPROMO's mission is to support the development of the non-oil sector in general, and in particular to export and attract foreign investment into the country. AZPROMO purposefully uses appropriate mechanisms to attract foreign investment in the country, he said. We are ready to advise our Russian partners in the framework of B2B meetings and actively cooperate in a bilateral format. Baku hosted a meeting of Azerbaijani and Russian entrepreneurs. The event was attended by Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council Samad Gurbanov, Acting President of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev, and Chief Director of the Russian Export Center Andrey Slepnev. The Russian delegation consisted of representatives of more than 60 Russian companies operating in various sectors of the economy, including agriculture, ICT, automotive engineering, chemical industry and other sectors. According to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee, Azerbaijans trade with Russia amounted to $2.55 billion in 2018, including the export of Azerbaijani products worth $665.74 million to Russia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Azerbaijan exported next locally produced aluminum profiles to Denmark on April 3. Exports were implemented on the basis of the order received by Sumgait Technologies Park (STP), one of the representatives of Made in Azerbaijan brand, Report informs. This is the second batch of aluminum profiles exported by Azerbaijan to Denmark. The first order was made in November 2018 to supply 100 tons of aluminum profiles. Being satisfied with the product, the Danish side decided to make a permanent order. STP plans to sell aluminum profiles several times to Denmark in 2019. The exported aluminum profiles are manufactured by the most up-to-date equipment using the best quality raw materials. The product will be used in construction of industrial and civil facilities in Denmark. STP is one of the largest industrial products in the region. Commissioned on December 22, 2009, STP is a pioneer in the creation of technology parks in the region and is a complex of giant factories specializing in various manufacturing areas. In 2017, it received a status of a resident of Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park. STP enterprise manufactures electric power and mechanical engineering products based on modern technologies, in particular, it has launched production of a wide range of different types of cables, transformers, high-voltage equipment, hydraulic turbines, water pumps, electric motors, pipes, technical gases. The aluminum plant at the Sumgait Technology Park, produces hot and cold rolled profiles, window frames, aluminum busbars, and other aluminum products in accordance with clients' orders since 2014. At the plant, together with the production of aluminum profiles, there are such areas as smelting and billet aluminum, copper smelting, etc. The productivity of furnaces is 30,000 tons a year, the design power of dry paint production is 240 tons per month. Ganja-based local raw materials are used mainly in the production of products. STP, a unique project in the region, fully meets the needs of the domestic market and is capable of exporting enough products to the foreign market. At present, there are 13 plants and more than 30 production sites equipped with the latest technological equipment manufactured in Europe and Japan, where 2000 people employed. Sumgait Technologies Park, successfully exhibiting successful sales strategies in international markets, has exported many products to countries such as Germany, England, Denmark, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Technopark's targets are to increase sales operations in Asia and Europe, and include prospective markets such as Africa and the Middle East. Recently, STP has signed a memorandum of understanding with Weir Group, a UK-based mining and oil and gas industry specialist. Cooperating with Weir Group will enable STP to join larger projects, particularly in the oil and gas sector. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Russian exports to Azerbaijan increased by 12.5 percent to $ 1.7 billion in 2018, while the trade turnover between the countries grew by 13.8 percent and reached $ 2.4 billion, AZERTAC reports referring to the Russia Export Center (REC). Azerbaijan is a modern, dynamically developing country that attracts Russian companies to implement joint economic projects. More than 750 joint ventures operate in the Azerbaijani market, including about 300 with 100 percent of Russian capital and over 450 in a joint venture format, head of the REC Andrey Slepnev told TASS. He noted that active work is underway to diversify the economy and develop joint ventures. One of the results was the creation of the GAZ car assembly plant in Azerbaijan. In February of this year, the foundation stone of the new production of commercial vehicles and special equipment was laid. We have created an effective platform for communication between Russian and Azerbaijani companies. In 2018, the REC supported Russian exports to Azerbaijan totaling about $ 284 million, stressed Slepnev. REC is a state institution supporting non-resource exports, providing Russian exporters with a wide range of financial and non-financial support measures. The mission of the REC is to support and develop non-resource exports through participation in public policy and the creation of a single effective development institution. REC office has been working in Baku since December 2017. It is an additional powerful tool for increasing trade between two countries, giving a new impetus to bring potentially interested exporters of Russian non-oil products to the Azerbaijani market. The mission of the representative office is to assist Russian exporters and Azerbaijani buyers of Russian products in the selection of relevant partners, participation in exhibitions and business missions, assistance in the implementation of financial and non-financial support for joint projects, as well as in third country markets, assistance in removing barriers for joint projects and etc. According to the agency, Russian exports to Azerbaijan in 2018 were mainly formed by the following product groups: food products and agricultural raw materials - $ 422.1 million, machinery, equipment and vehicles- $ 381.6 million, metals and products from them - $ 315 , 9 million, wood and pulp-paper products - $ 238.1 million, as well as chemical products, rubber - $ 198 million. At the same time, Russia imported foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials worth $ 526.1 million, mineral products for $ 103.6 million, textiles, products from it, shoes - $ 35.9 million and etc. Azerbaijan is one of the main economic partners of Russia among the CIS countries and Russia remains one of Azerbaijans main foreign trade partners. Interregional cooperation plays an important role in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani trade and economic relations and the increase in trade turnover. Russia ranks first in terms of export of non-oil products from Azerbaijan. So far, the value of investments by Russian companies in Azerbaijan amounted to $4.4 billion, and the value of Azerbaijani investments in Russia stood at $1.2 billion. Russia is a strategic partner of Azerbaijan. The legal framework between the countries includes over 180 documents, including about 50 in the economic sphere. Recently, Azerbaijan-Russia business forum was held in Baku . --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade IsraeliAzerbaijani bilateral strategic and economic relations have been expanding since the very early 1990s. The strategic relationship included cooperation in trade and security matters, cultural and educational exchanges. Relations entered a new phase during the visit of then the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Baku in August 1997. Touching upon security, Israel has been developing close ties with Azerbaijan in military sphere and helped a lot to modernize the Armed Forces. Israel plays role of an important ally in supplying Azerbaijani army with most modern weapons. Azerbaijan was among the top three countries in the list of Israeli arms importers in 2017. Economic cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan also has been growing significantly. As Azerbaijan deregulated its industries and liberalized economy in early 1990s, Israeli companies penetrated Azerbaijani market. Many companies have invested in service industry. Economic sphere, particularly in such non-oil sectors as agriculture, pharmaceuticals and IT have a great potential to develop. Agriculture in Israel is a highly developed industry, while the country is listed among world leaders in advanced agricultural technologies, regardless the fact that the geography of the country is not naturally favourable for agriculture. Moreover, several regional tours were made by the Israeli envoy to Azerbaijan to deepen economic cooperation in the spheres of economy, agriculture and tourism in March 2017. After this Azerbaijan and Israel agreed to abolish double taxation between countries in April 2017. Tourism is one of the areas where Azerbaijan and Israel successfully develop cooperation. The number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from Israel is growing, and all tourists visiting Azerbaijan return home with the best impressions. Israir Airlines & Tourism Ltd., an Israeli airline based at Sde Dov Airport (SDV) in Tel Aviv, is carrying out flights to Baku three times a week, as part of tourist packages. The direct flight is of great significance in terms of mutual increase in tourism turnover. Nowadays, Israel is interested in importing certain products from Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Israel Chamber of Commerce Alex Kaplun said at an event dedicated to the activities of the Chamber. He noted that work is underway to import Azerbaijani wines to Israel. Some wines are already imported and negotiations are underway to import Ganja and Absheron wines. In addition, Israel wants to import hazelnuts and honey from Azerbaijan. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover with Israel amounted to $ 1.3 billion in 2018. Almost all trade turnover accounted for the export of Azerbaijani products to Israel. While the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Israel amounted to $ 671.6 million in 2017, about $32.7 million of this amount accounted for the import of Israeli products. It is noteworthy that partnership between the two nations is based not only on political, economic and energy cooperation, but also on shared cultural values, due to a fact that a large Jewish community lives in Azerbaijan. Todays friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are built on centuries of Jewish-Azerbaijani coexistence. Estimated 9,000 Jews in the country are "fully part" of Azerbaijani society. In 2016, a branch of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre (BIMC) has been opened in Israel aimed at increasing the international community's awareness of Azerbaijan's and Israel's history and culture. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Azerbaijan (KOBIA) and the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) signed a protocol of intent on April 4, Trend reports with reference to the bank. The document provides for the implementation of various activities to support SMEs. The IBA has become the first bank to sign a similar cooperation document with KOBIA. In accordance with the protocol, KOBIA and the IBA will implement joint activities and projects aimed at further expanding relations between the public and private sectors, the implementation of innovative initiatives, support and development of startups, micro, small and medium businesses, as well as education of entrepreneurs. This cooperation includes the participation of SMEs in exhibitions and exchange programs, support for womens, youth and family entrepreneurship, the organization of appropriate incentive campaigns for entrepreneurs, congresses and other similar events, informing SMEs. In addition, it is planned to implement various information and educational projects of regional importance for startups and business entities, as well as support innovative projects in the field of entrepreneurship. This will promote the application of information technologies, innovative solutions in the activities of SMEs. Supporting SMEs, along with our big corporate clients, and expanding their access to financial services is a priority for us, Chairman of the IBA Board o Abbas Ibrahimov said. We believe that the protocol of intent, signed with the KOBIA will make a great contribution to the implementation of projects that we intend to implement in this direction, he noted. This is while Orhan Mammadov, chairman of the KOBIA Board, noted that the agency is interested in developing such partnership relations to support SMEs. Joint projects and measures that will be implemented as part of cooperation with the IBA will be aimed at expanding access of SMEs to financial resources, as well as training entrepreneurs, he said. In the end, all of this will serve to strengthen the role of SMEs in the countrys economy. The letter of intent includes such initiatives as the creation of SME development centers in various districts of Azerbaijan, the creation of opportunities for entrepreneurs to take advantage of the training and innovation infrastructure of the IBA, and improving the financial literacy of entrepreneurs. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Russian artist Natalia Shevchenko has presented her works in Baku. The exhibition opened at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts on April 3, Trend Life reported. The exhibition in Baku features portraits of Maya Plisetskaya, Yuri Grigorovich, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Sergey Rakhmaninov, Sergey Dyagilev, Peter Tchaikovsky, Fyodor Shalyapin, Boris Eifman. The exhibition is held with the support of the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan. Addressing the event, the rector of Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, Omar Eldarov, and Vice-Rector Fuad Salayev stressed the uniqueness and the beauty of the portraits. The secret of Shevchenko's creativity lies in the themes she chooses, the Russian ballet, defining her artistic tasks, as well as creating images of famous personalities. Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the Russia in Azerbaijan Sergei Stepanov noted that the winner of international competitions Natalia Shevchenko is one of the brightest representatives of contemporary fine arts of Russia. Her paintings were acquired by 32 museums in Russia and abroad. Sergei Stepanov stressed that exhibition in Baku contributes to the further development of cultural bridges between Azerbaijan and Russia. In conclusion, Natalia Shevchenko expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome, noting the beauty of Baku and the hospitality of Azerbaijani people. Natalia Shevchenko works under the creative pseudonym Natan. She is the winner of the fourth and the fifth International Competition of Artists in Astana. Natan's passion for music and ballet began in her childhood, when she attended the Mariinsky Theater, drawing inspiration from artists and retaining bright impressions and absolute love for the world of painting. Therefore, the choice of the ballet theme in the artist's work is not accidental. Natan's style expresses the influence of color and texture through movement in her compositional work with dance and music. She describes this expanded style as "Moment Art", presenting to the viewer an instant impression of creative movement. The artist brilliantly conveys complex plastic movements, improvising and using fragmentary compositions, angles in motion, achieving the effect of ballet dynamics. The exhibition will last until April 24. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan gave Armenia one more chance for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani MP Hikmet Babaoglu told Trend April 4. Babaoglu reminded about the meeting by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held in Vienna March 29, some points of which attracted particular attention. First of all, an end was put to the political speculation of Armenia regarding the format of the talks, Babaoglu said. After an almost a years pause, the talks on the essence of the issue started. Both parties called the negotiations constructive, the foreign policy structures of the parties were instructed to continue the negotiations. This can actually be regarded as the restoration of negotiations in the traditional 3+2 format. Another important factor was that the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs reflected the creation of an atmosphere for advancing the peace process, the importance of taking concrete result-oriented steps to resolve the conflict, he added. Approval of the talks by the UN secretary general, who spoke immediately after the talks with a special appeal, can be regarded as support of the UN for peace negotiations. The Azerbaijani MP said that another innovation is that the parties exchanged views on supporting the negotiation process by humanitarian actions. This step is aimed at achieving trusting environment, which is often stated by the co-chairs, he noted. The issue of trust may become topical after a certain stage of negotiations, and the Azerbaijani the side isnt against this. Summarizing all this, the conclusion is as follows: Azerbaijan managed to bring the invader Armenia to the negotiating table, didnt back off from its position, strengthened its support received at the international level, and gave Armenia another chance for the peaceful settlement of the problem. We will see how Yerevan will use this chance by the steps Armenia will take. Azerbaijan has never ruled out that it may resort to other means for restoring its territorial integrity. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The main results of the April battles were the defeat of the Armenian army, the solidarity shown by the Azerbaijani people, the rising spirit of patriotism and the combat experience of the Azerbaijani army, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said in an interview with AzTV channel, Trend reports on April 4. The minister said that during the April battles, only 20 percent of the Azerbaijani armed forces fought against the entire Armenian army. The Armenians are unable to cope with Azerbaijan economically, politically and in terms of building an army, he said. Therefore, they resort to other methods, namely, use traitors, spread lies and slander. "But it is also useless, Hasanov added. It is not the beginning of the 1990s now. During that period, taking advantage of the disorder in the country, the Armenians occupied our lands. Azerbaijan has changed since the 1990s. Presently, there are strong statehood, strong president, strong economy, army." The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Left: Penny Bowens, Communications Associate, UNDP Sub-regional Office for Barbados and the OECS, explained the process that informed the approach to creating educational /awareness-building material for use in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Right: Adrian Wright co-writer of the song emphasized his attention to ensuring accuracy of the lyrics. The UN Development Programmes Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (JCCCP) officially launched a song on March 28, aimed at educating members of the public on the issue of climate change. The song, titled Climate Action, was written by Adrian Wright and Damion McTair, and performed by Wright and Danielle Veira. Penny Bowens, Communications Associate, UNDP Sub-regional Office for Barbados and the OECS, explained that when JCCCP was launched in eight Caribbean countries back in 2016, a knowledge and attitudes study was conducted. And in that study, Vincentians were asked what they knew about climate change, in an effort to better understanding the attitudes, behaviour and practices of people as it related to climate change. Using data from that study, a communications strategy was developed, Bowens said. "And we have been directed by the research, she added. The feedback provided by Vincentians, showed that they preferred to be informed using creative methods, and that they wanted to see people and scenery with which they were familiar. The accompanying video to the song depicted this. Wright explained that the song took about one month to put together. He said that he had to do some research, and that while he wanted to make the song catchy and simple, he had to ensure that the material was accurate. Nyasha Hamilton of the Sustainable Development Unit within the Ministry of Finance said that the song went through a series of tests and reviews before its launch. She said that it had to be checked to make sure that the information contained was in fact correct. It was also played for a pool of individuals of various ages, and it was received well, Hamilton said. But while it was anticipated that most radio stations would include the song in their playlist, Hamilton said that the song would become the official song for the climate change campaign, and will be played at events where the issue is the focus. By Trend The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will soon make a decision on Azerbaijanis Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, taken hostage by Armenian military formations, lawyer of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Bar Association Anar Bagirov told Trend April 6. He said that the Armenian side appealed to the ECHR with a request to give a delay until March of this year. The Armenian side had to express its position before March, Bagirov added. The ECHR gave them a delay. It is already April. I can say with absolute certainty that the issue will be resolved in the shortest possible time. He noted that the ECHR should soon announce its decision. The case is nearing completion, he said. Im sure that our fair position will be taken into account in this case, the rights of Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov will be protected and a fair decision will be made. Bagirov noted that if the ECHR makes a decision, the Armenian side will have to implement this decision. During an operation in July 2014 in Shaplar village of Azerbaijani Kalbajar district occupied by Armenia, the Armenian special forces killed an Azerbaijani, Hasan Hasanov, and took hostage two other Azerbaijanis, Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. A "criminal case" was initiated against them. Afterwards, a "court" sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years in prison. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order regarding measures to strengthen material-technical base of the Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee. Under the presidential Order, 500,000 manats allocated to the National Paralympic Committee for the strengthening of the Committees material-technical base in order to further develop Paralympic movement in Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order providing funding for the construction of GanjaDashkasan (27km)GushchuChovdarChaykand highway in Dashkasan. Under the presidential Order, the Azerbaijan Highway State Agency is allocated 8.5 million manats for the construction of the road connecting 6 residential areas with a total population of 3,000 people. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani MP, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Azay Guliyev will attend a meeting of the PACE Bureau, which will open in Copenhagen, Trend reports on April 5. The reports of the PACE committees and draft resolutions will be discussed at the meeting of the bureau. The reports of the election observation missions will also be heard. The activity of the OSCE PA special representatives will be discussed. The issue of extending the mandate of PACE Secretary General Roberto Montella for a second term will be discussed. Moreover, the Bureau will approve the agenda, topics and draft documents of the OSCE PA sessions, which will be held on July 4-8 in Luxembourg and October 4-6 in Morocco. Guliyev will take part in the exchange of views and put forward proposals on the issues on the agenda of the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The delegation, consisting of senior officers of the Naval Forces of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, who are undergoing training at the staff courses of the Naval Academy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is on a visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on April 5. During the visit, the delegation headed by Rear Admiral Mushtaq Ahmed visited the naval base and the Military Academy of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, as well as held meetings in the corresponding state agencies and educational institutions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A bill on standardization was again submitted to the Azerbaijani parliament for discussion, Trend reports. The bill was discussed at a meeting of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship. The bill consists of five sections and 26 articles. It establishes the goals and principles of standardization, the preparation, adoption and application of regulations, sources of financing activities in this area and other issues. Despite the fact that the bill was submitted for discussion in 2018, it was later postponed. The draft law is planned to be tabled in the second reading at the plenary session of the parliament. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani Famil Sadigov has been appointed deputy chairman of the board of Gazprom PJSC, responsible for financial and economic issues, Gazprom said, Trend reports referring to TASS. Sadigov served as deputy chairman of the board of Gazprombank in 2009-2019. Previously, he served as deputy head of the Federal Treasury, as well as Russian deputy minister for taxes and fees. Earlier, Andrey Kruglov was responsible for financial and economic issues in Gazprom. He was dismissed due to appointment to public service. Earlier it was reported that deputy chairmen of board of Gazprom Alexander Medvedev and Valery Golubev also left the company in connection with retirement (Medvedev is 63 years old, Golubev is 66 years old). For the same reason, Sergey Prozorov was also dismissed from the post of board member and head of department #333. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova The closer the date of transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Southern Gas Corridor, the more attention is paid to this energy project. Azerbaijani gas is crucial for Montenegros economic security, Dragica Sekulic, Montenegros Minister of Economy, told balkanist.net. Montenegros interest in SOCAR is focused around our activities in the field of gasification, and the implementation of Ionian-Adriatic Gas Projection (IAP). Those two investments, which are part of the Southern Gas Corridor, are crucial to Montenegros economic security, she said, Trend reports. Sekulic noted that Montenegros aim is to diversify as well as improve the security and reliability of the countrys energy supply. Montenegro will receive Azerbaijani gas through the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) that is expected to be connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor. IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe (SEE) that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia. The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. In 2013, a mutual memorandum of understanding on construction of Trans-Adriatic and Ion-Adriatic gas lines were signed among Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a memorandum of understanding on South Gas Corridor and South-East European Corridor projects were signed among Azerbaijan, Albania, Croatia and Montenegro. The Southern Gas Corridor, $ 40 billion worth project, envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey and Europe through the pipeline, which will be operated within the second stage of the Shah Deniz gas condensate field project in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. Gas produced within Shah Deniz Stage 2 will be transported from the Caspian Sea to Europe, through Italy, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and the seabed of the Adriatic Sea. The Southern Gas Corridor consists of four projects: Shah Deniz 2, Expansion of South Caucasus Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum), the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Perhaps this is one of the most ambitious projects in the world of oil and gas industry, as well as a complex target that involves a large number of different stakeholders - including seven governments and 11 companies. On May 29, Baku hosted the launch of the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor project, and on June 12, the opening ceremony of the TANAP took place in the Turkish province of Eskisehir. Thus, the first gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor - from the Sangachal terminal to the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline. Montenegro eyes to further expand cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector. Montenegro is interested in joint participation with Azerbaijan in renewable energy projects, particularly on the use of solar energy. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov As part of the expected major event, Pakistan and Iran are likely to finalize the draft Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the two-day talks on April 22-23, which will be held in Islamabad. Technical groups of both sides will discuss crucial interaction and, most likely, will approve the draft free trade agreement, reports The News International. According to a high-ranking official in the Pakistan Ministry of Commerce, both sides worked a lot on the draft Free Trade Agreement, and now they are inclined to give a green light to it. Currently, the trade activities between both neighboring countries is conducted in accordance with the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which was signed in 2006 and entered into force in 2007. In 2008-2009 fiscal year, the trade between the two countries increased by almost $1.32 billion, but after the sanctions of the U.S. and UN enetred into force, the volume decreased dramatically to almost $318 million, of which imports from Iran totalled $280 million and exports from Pakistan - only $35 million. Pakistans exports dropped to $ 35 million in 2018 from $ 350 million in 20182019. The reintroduction of strict U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration is the main reason for the low level of trade relations. The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) no longer works. However, imports from Iran are about $ 280 million. Iran, which is the nearest neighboring country, has $ 18 billion in a trade with India, even with U.S. sanctions. Sources also said that Pakistani banks are still embarrassed to conduct operations with Iranian banks. The lack of banking channels is the only serious obstacle to the expansion of trade. However, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Central Bank of Iran are also negotiating payment terms through banking channels. Diplomatic relations between Iran and Pakistan were established in August 1947. Iran became the first country in the world to recognize the sovereign status of Pakistan. Both countries are members of the Islamic G8, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and observers in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Iran and Pakistan are close neighbors enjoying the similarity of views on most regional and international issues. Today, Iran and Pakistan are well aware that solving economic problems, strengthening the security of the two countries is possible only with close cooperation. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Ankara is negotiating with Washington regarding the supply of Turkey on the F-35 program, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media, citing military sources. Trainings of Turkish pilots are also continuing under the F-35 program. Military sources also report that Turkey will receive the first Russian S-400 air defense system in July of this year. Earlier the Pentagon confirmed halting the delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey due to Ankaras plans on acquiring Russias S-400 missile defense system. Pending an unequivocal Turkish decision to forgo delivery of the S-400, deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey's F-35 operational capability have been suspended while our dialogue on this important matter continues with Turkey, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a Defense Department spokesman, said in a statement. The Pentagon also said that they had taken steps to prevent the supply chain during the creation of the F-35 from stopping because of the withdrawal of Turkey from the program to create the newest aircraft. Initial reports of negotiations between Russia and Turkey on the supply of S-400 surfaced in November 2016. The signing of a contract was confirmed by the Russian side on September 12, 2017. Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that the S-400 air defense systems will be deployed from October 2019. The supply of the S-400 air defense systems to Ankara cost $2.5 billion, head of the Rostec state corporation Sergey Chemezov said in December 2017. Turkey is the first country, a NATO member, which will receive the S-400 air defense systems from Russia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Students in the Evesham Methodist School library, one of 11 libraries made possible through the efforts of Hands Across the Sea. Hands Across the Sea, an American-based NGO dedicated to the advancement of child literacy in the Eastern Caribbean, has sent 18,872 new amazing library books to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and opened eleven new school libraries across the country, during the 2018-2019 school year. The schools referred are: Bequia SDA Primary School, Bequia SDA Secondary School, Biabou Methodist Primary School, Evesham Methodist School, Kingstown Preparatory School, Lowmans Leeward Anglican School, Marriaqua Government School, New Grounds Primary School, North Union Secondary School, Richland Park SDA Primary School, and Westwood Methodist School. The initiatives major sponsors include the Mustique Charitable Foundation, the Whitehead Foundation, the Ladera Foundation, Scotiabank Community Program, Palm Island Resort & Spa, and the John and Margaret Sagan Foundation. In addition, Hands Across the Sea supplied targeted reading books for school libraries at Colonaire Primary School, C.W. Prescod Primary School, Mary Hutchinson Primary School, Questelles Government School, South Rivers Methodist Primary School, and Stephanie Browne Primary School. A special thank you "Hands Across the Sea wishes to thank our valued partners in child literacy the individual and corporate donors who funded new books and supported the work of our Hands Literacy Links, and the companies who rebuilt library spaces to help turn them into vibrant centers of discovery and learning, said Harriet Linskey, Co-Founder of the organization. "We also want to commend the efforts of Enna Bullock and Yvette Pompey, our two Hands Literacy Links for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The tireless support of school staff by these programme officers has resulted in more children than ever becoming engaged with books, reading, and their school library. Together the St. Vincent Literacy Links have trained over 200 children as Student Librarians. Primary schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have also received Hands Across the Seas groundbreaking 179-page Teachers Resource Guide to the Library (Grades K-3), the just-revised Hands Library Manual for Primary Schools, and the updated Hands Student Librarian Handbook. All resources are free and downloadable from the Hands website (www.handsacrossthesea.net). Since the organizations founding in 2007, Hands Across the Sea has assisted 92 schools and reading programmes, sent 99,160 asked-for books, and given 21,500 Vincentian children access to top-quality, appropriate books and literacy support materials. Harriet Linskey, Co-Founder of the organization, said that "Hands Across the Sea wishes to thank "our valued partners in child literacy the individual and corporate donors who funded new books and supported the work of our Hands Literacy Links, and the companies who rebuilt library spaces to help turn them into vibrant centers of discovery and learning. Special recognition was given to Enna Bullock and Yvette Pompey, the two Hands Literacy Links for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the schools staff. Together the St. Vincent Literacy Links have trained over 200 children as Student Librarians. (Contributed) In addition, Remedial Reading Toolkits were provided to eight St. Vincent secondary schools: Adelphi Secondary, Bequia Community High, Emmanuel High, Georgetown Secondary, Intermediate High, Mountain View Adventist Academy, and St. Clair Dacon Secondary, all funded by the Mustique Charitable Foundation, and Buccament Bay Secondary School, funded by Scotiabank Community Programme.The organization works in Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. To date, Hands Across the Sea has served 352 schools with over 464,000 books, reaching 103,700 children. By Trend Uzbekistan joined the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor, Trend reports with reference to the press service of Kazakhstan Railway. "The flow of containerized cargo has increased, especially to Uzbekistan and through the Bolashak station to Iran, with the accession of Uzbekistan, the corridor becomes significantly shorter,", first deputy chairman of Kazakhstan Railways, Kanat Almagambetov said at a meeting of railway administrations of these five countries in Almaty. Kazakhstan Railway said that the volume of traffic along the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor in 2018 was 1,000 TEU (container in 20-foot equivalent). "For the development of transit cargo from China to our countries and in other directions, it is important to develop acceptable tariff and other conditions," said Almagambetov. During the negotiations, the importance of timely delivery of goods to increase transportation was noted. In this regard, special attention is paid to meeting the demand for fitting platforms. The parties pledged to jointly provide the full amount of shippers with rolling stock. At the meeting, issues of attracting additional goods to the Iran-China route, the organization of regular container services and the establishment of tariff conditions along the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor for 2019 for loaded containers were discussed. It is also reported that since April of this year, a regular feeder service is launched on the route Aktau - Alat. Following the meeting, the parties also agreed on integrated tariff rates. The total length of the route China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran is about 10,000 kilometers. The total travel time is about two weeks, which is twice as fast as by sea, which takes 25-30 days. The China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route is part of the North-South international transport corridor and the first logistics solution for speedy cargo delivery from the East China coast to the markets of the Persian Gulf. In Turkmenistan, based on the needs of suppliers and carriers, there are two routes from Serkhetyak: to Serakhs, to the southeastern border with Iran, or to Akyayl and from there to the north of Iran. The creation of this transport and transit corridor became possible after the construction of the international railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran. The road was opened in December 2014 with the participation of the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Saudi Arabia may support the financing of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, Trend reports with reference to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh. Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Falih said that the company Saudi Aramco believes that gas reserves concentrated in Turkmenistan are among the biggest ones in the world. The company is studying the issue of supporting financing for the project of a giant pipeline from Turkmenistan, which will be connected to India through a number of countries, the minister added. Saudi Arabias support of gas exports from Turkmenistan to India is the biggest shift in world trade of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for India, the minister said. Al-Riyadh notes that Saudi Arabia as a whole promotes joint investments in the countries of the Caspian region in the sectors of petrochemistry, oil, gas, mining, renewable energy and others. Earlier it was reported that Saudi Aramco is considering the possibility of investing in the production of oil and gas in Turkmenistan. The King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in his letter to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov a year ago drew attention to the fact that the Saudi Fund for Development supported the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline. Construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI gas pipeline has been underway since December 2015, work has recently begun on the Afghan section. This year is scheduled to begin work in Pakistan. Construction of the Turkmen section of TAPI was launched in December 2015, while the Afghan section in February 2018. Pakistan plans to start the work on its pipeline section this year. The total length of the pipeline, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be 1,840 kilometers. The length of the Turkmen section will be 205 kilometers. Then, this pipeline will pass through the Afghan cities of Herat and Kandahar (816 kilometers), through the cities of Quetta and Multan across Pakistani territory (819 kilometers), and reach the settlement of Fazilka in India. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Tajikistan, taking into account the prospects for its economic development, geographical and geopolitical location, pays attention to the further development and deepening of a wide range of mutually beneficial cooperation with Uzbekistan. A meeting of the Tajik-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in Termez, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan reports. Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov chaired the meeting. During the meeting, the sides reviewed topical issues of bilateral cooperation, the tasks set by the top leadership of the two countries to strengthen and develop multifaceted cooperation, the information department of the Foreign Ministry of Tajikistan reports. The parties confirmed their mutual interest in enhancing and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors of the economy, in particular, trade and economic, investment, energy, transport and communications, cultural and humanitarian areas, agriculture and water management, tourism, etc. The sides reached an agreement on the adoption of further concerted measures to ensure the growth of commodity turnover, work on the creation of joint ventures for the production of light industry goods and in the agro-industrial complex, as well as the continuation and deepening of joint work in the hydropower sector. Following the meeting, the Protocol of the Intergovernmental Commission was signed. The visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Tashkent, where the second consultative meeting of the heads of Central Asian states will take place, is scheduled for April 12. Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were established on October 20, 1992. The Tajik-Uzbek bilateral trade in January-February 2019 increased by 3 percent compared with the same period last year (by $987,000) and amounted to $29.87 million. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are counting on an increase in trade turnover to $ 500 million by 2020. Having come to power in December 2016, the current head of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev firmly stated that he intends to improve relations with neighbors. In November 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan announced "deep changes in the Tajik-Uzbek relations". Since the beginning of 2018, more than 10 checkpoints have opened on the border of the two countries. Uzbekistan has restored the Galab-Amuzang railway line. Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Dushanbe with an official visit on March 9-10, 2018. In two days, the President of Tajikistan and the head of Uzbekistan signed over 27 documents. In particular, the parties determined the deadlines for demining the Tajik-Uzbek border, abolished visas and agreed to fully restore air traffic. It is planned to open air communication between Dushanbe and the Uzbek cities of Bukhara and Samarkand in 2019, where a large number of ethnic Tajiks live. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Iran is characterized by such vital areas as joint decision of the legal status of the Caspian Sea, regional cooperation, issues of ensuring a short and profitable route for Kazakhstan goods to the World Ocean, as well as trade and economic ties. Based on the bill ratifying the interim agreement on the creation of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran, Tehran promoted imports from Kazakhstan. The vice-premier of the national economy of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin said that in accordance with the agreement, the Iranian side has reduced import customs duties by 864 goods, Kazinform reports. He added, it is planned to reduce customs duties on beef and mutton from 26 percent to 5-10 percent, for legumes from 55 to 5-10 percent, for vegetable oil from 20 to 10 percent. Kazakh industrial goods such as rails and steel products will enter the Iranian market with reduced customs duties from 5 to 4 percent and from 20 to 15 percent, respectively. The share of these goods in the structure of Kazakhstan's imports to Iran is more than 50 percent. Zhumangarin noted the agreement will enter into force 60 days after the completion of the ratification procedures and will be valid for three years, IRNA reported. He further said that the volume of mutual trade between Kazakhstan and Iran reached $ 516.3 million in 2018, adding that it includes $426.7 million (82.6 percent) of Kazakhstan's exports to Iran, and $89.5 million of imports from Iran. The Vice-Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Gulmira Isaeva reported on a Memorandum concluded in January between Kazakhstan, Russia and Iran on the supply of wheat and its products to Iran. She noted, despite the fact that Iran itself fully satisfies its wheat needs in the amount of about 12 million tons, there are large processing capacities in the republic - 24 million tons of grain products. Isaeva added that Iranian business expressed interest in supplying Russian and Kazakh wheat for capacity utilization and joint re-export to third countries. The minister stressed that Irans regional neighbors provide up to 70 percent of world wheat consumption. Thus, for the EAEU countries, opportunities are open for the transit of grain products through Iranian territory and the use of swap mechanisms. It means the supply of products to the northern border of Iran, and the sale of Iranian products from the southern border for third countries under external contracts. Isaeva also said that Kazakhstan is ready to increase supplies of wheat to Iran from 500,000tons in 2019 to a million tons in 2020. Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Iran were established on January 29, 1992. Kazakhstans exports to Iran accounted for more than 82 percent of trade turnover - $ 207.2 million in January-May 2018. This figure is 36 percent higher than in the same period of 2017. Kazakhstan supplied barley, wheat, rolled iron, meat, sunflower seeds and rapeseed to Iran. As for imports from Iran, the figure exceeded $ 44 million. The growth was 76 percent compared with January-May 2017. Kazakhstan imported pistachios, dates, apples, plastics, tableware and meat processing equipment from Iran. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Central Asia is considered an integral part of the global transport and communication system. Uzbekistan has made a great contribution to the modernization and opening of new international roads in this region. Uzbekistan joined the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor, the press service of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy reported. Representatives of the railway administrations of Kazakhstan, China, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan met in Almaty to mull further development of freight traffic along the common international transport corridor on April 4. The parties agreed on the participation of the Uzbek side in container transportation along this route, as well as complex tariff rates. The agreement was enshrined in the protocol. According to the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy press service, the volume of traffic along the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor totaled 1,000 twenty-foot equivalents (TEU) in 2018. TEU is a conventional unit of measure for the capacity of cargo vehicles. As the first deputy chairman of the board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Kanat Almagambetov noted, the flow of containerized cargo increased, especially to Uzbekistan and through the Bolashak station to Iran. With the connection of Uzbekistan, the corridor becomes much shorter. During the negotiations, the sides emphasized the importance of timely delivery of goods to increase transportation. In this regard, special attention is paid to meeting the demand for fitting platforms. The parties pledged to jointly provide the full amount of shippers with rolling stock. In addition, the meeting discussed issues of attracting additional goods to the Iran-China route, organizing regular container services and establishing tariff conditions along the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran corridor for 2019 for loaded containers. From April 2019, a regular feeder service is launched on the route Aktau - Alyat. The total length of the route China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran is about 10,000 kilometers. The total travel time is about two weeks, which is twice as fast as by sea, which takes 25-30 days. The China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route is part of the North-South international transport corridor and the first logistics solution for speedy cargo delivery from the East China coast to the markets of the Persian Gulf. In Turkmenistan, based on the needs of suppliers and carriers, there are two routes from Serkhetyaki: to Serakhs, to the southeastern border with Iran, or to Akyaili from there to the north of Iran. The creation of this transport and transit corridor became possible after the construction of the international railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran. The heads of state of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran opened the road in December 2014. Joint-stock companyO'zbekiston temir yo'llari was formed on November 7, 1994, on the basis of the former Central Asian railroad located in the territory of Uzbekistan. Today, the total developed length of the main roads of the company makes about 3,645 kilometers. More than 54,700 people work in the company. Annual goods turnover of the company makes about 90 percent of total goods turnover of all means of transport. Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Iran were established on May 10, 1992. In January-September 2018, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Iran reached $228.5 million, of which $135.8 million accounted for exports from Uzbekistan, $92.7 million for imports from Iran. Uzbekistan exports to Iran cotton, non-ferrous metals, metallurgy products, petroleum and petroleum products, automobiles and vehicles, electronics, as well as products of the chemical industry, etc. Iran, in turn, exports to Uzbekistan agricultural products, vegetable and animal fats, foodstuffs, textile and shoe products, chemical products, coffee, tea, pharmaceuticals, etc. Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and China were established on January 2, 1992. The trade turnover between the two countries totalled $ 6.43 billion in 2018. Of this amount, $ 2.869 billion is Uzbek exports, as many as $ 3.559 billion is imports. China received $ 2.1 billion due to an increase in construction in Uzbekistan. With this money, Uzbekistan has acquired special construction equipment from China. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Centre was constructed to cater to challenged persons, and easy of movement of patients note the ramp. The refurbished Levi Latham Health Centre, which was officially opened on Tuesday, is regarded as the most substantial development in health care for the people of Marriaqua and surrounding areas. The EC$7million facility surpasses its predecessor and offers a range of services, marking a huge development in the delivery of health care in the community. It boasts a new delivery/maternity section (the former had only one bed); a dedicated Accident and Emergency Unit (new to the facility); a nurse monitoring station and an improved waiting area with the capacity to hold up to 50 people. The facility was upgraded to include male, female and pediatric wards and an isolation wing. New and improved health services will be offered, including access to medical specialists in areas not previously made available, including ophthalmology, urology, radiology, nutrition services and physio-therapy. Parliamentary Representative for the constituency, St Clair Jimmy Prince said that he for one, understood the importance of health services being made available to communities such as Marriaqua. He explained that there were three stages in the history of the clinic at Mesopotamia. The first was when the clinic was housed in the police station staffed with one nurse, an itinerant doctor and an individual who doubled as dispenser and dentist. Residents, he recalled, had to look for bottles in which to place their medication. The second stage came under the then area representative Levi Latham, and at a time when, according to Prince, there were strong community leaders and a self-help attitude among the residents. And now, the third stage: "The facility is a modern one and is very important to the constituency. Luis Maia, the Representative of the European Union (EU), the source of funding for the project, said that the facility was expected to serve over 15,000 residents. He went on further to say that the modernization of the health sector is a huge task which involved interventions in many interconnecting pillars. He lauded the government for taking the initiative for developing the health facilities, and noted that the residents in the community now had access to improved health care. Health Minister, Luke Browne, echoed the sentiments of the UN representative, adding that, in accordance with the funding agreement, an ambulance was purchased for the facility. The complex was the second such facility to be open within the last two weeks, the other being the Smart Hospital at Chateaubelair. What came to be known as the Levi Latham Clinic was constructed with the assistance of the community.The Health/Medical Staff Quarters at Union Island and the Polyclinic at Buccament are expected to be open soon. Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves and H.E. Ambassador Calvin Ho exchanged signed copies of the loan agreement. If things go according to plan, a 250-room hotel would be constructed at Mt. Wynne and in full operation. Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves was in a joyous mood last Tuesday April 2 at Cabinet Room, as he exchanged papers of an agreement with Ambassador Calvin Ho, confirming a loan of US $50M from Exim bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the construction of the hotel. Aspects of the Mt. Wynne hotel development designed by the Mexican founded firm Ten Arquitectos, were presented at last Tuesdays short ceremony. The Vincentian Finance Minister was pleased with the concept which he said, blends into the natural environment. "We have gone as far as we can without money, he admitted, and added that "we can accelerate the process of construction. The hotel will be managed by a Brand with whom discussions are ongoing. Another 93-room hotel, known as the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, is also earmarked for construction at Diamond. According to Gonsalves, the Diamond Hotel will be a four-storey facility which will have a lower construction cost than the one at Mt. Wynne. The Finance Minister justified the governments entry into the hotel sector as adding to the "critical mass of rooms to attract more frequent flights. He is optimistic that, with the hotel rooms occupied, there will be opportunities for employment for hundreds of persons. He also pointed to "economic activity with benefits to farmers, fisher folk, cultural artistes, with prospects moreso for the residents of Layou and Barrouallie, as far as the My Wymnne project was concerned. Gonsalves praised the Taiwanese for being "steadfast in friendship and this countrys support in their quest for recognition on world bodies. Ambassador Ho assured that Taiwan was pleased to be involved in funding the Mt. Wynne project. Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves also weighed in on the ceremony and saved his contribution as icing on the cake. He noted that the loan terms were "favourable, referenced the "grace period and projected that the hotel should be able to pay for itself "before the end of the grace period. "You cant increase wealth unless you borrow, the Prime Minister asserted. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Windy at times with rain likely. High 49F. NW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 39F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. When on March 25, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne was reported in a WINN (St. Kitts and Nevis) posting by Ken Richards, that all LIAT pilots are on board with the plan to restructure the regional airline to make it a more viable entity financially, he (Browne) must have known that he was bordering on prophecy, if not speculation, rather than describing the plain truth. For, if we follow the time line of events surrounding the airline, on Tuesday 26, it was reported that the pilots of the cash-strapped regional airline had rejected a call from the principal shareholder governments and LIAT management, to take a salary cut, as the Antigua-based airline seeks to reverse its financial situation. President of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIAPA), Carl Burke, said then, his members were very reluctant to accept the call for a salary cut at this time. What PM Browne must have been hinting at with optimism, was another meeting of stakeholders scheduled for that Tuesday/Wednesday. At that meeting, according to Burke in a statement to Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) last Friday, his Association agreed to a less than 10 per cent salary cut in a bid to keep the airline in the air. Burke told CMC that, while he was not at liberty to disclose the exact amount the pilots had agreed to, pending Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados receiving the necessary communication, he was nonetheless indicating that it was not the 10 per cent that had been requested. He said during a meeting with LIAT a request had been made for the 10 per cent pay cut across the board, and that the pilots "wrote to them and said we did not have the confidence in LIATs management to take us out (of this). With respect to a profit- sharing element in which pilots and other employees could share in the future profits, and which will mitigate hopefully against any loss that they would have had in terms of the salaries and wages, Burke, in what was seen as reference to this offer, was reported as saying, " we were very cautious about making an investment in the company at this time. Burke said that the straw that broke the deadlock might have been the pilots acceptance of a guarantee from Prime Minister Mottley, who committed to ensure that there was "accountability and it would not be business as usual. It was revealed at the thirtieth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held at Frigate Bay, St Kitts and Nevis, 26-27, February 2019, that LIAT needed an immediate injection of US$5.4 million in cash to keep it "flying. When no other CARICOM partners took the bait, the four principal shareholder governments of LIAT Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados , Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grtenadines - agreed to foot the bill, with the expectation, according to PM Browne, that other territories could be convinced to come on board in the foreseeable future. To date, only Grenada has given any encouraging indication of a preparedness to invest in the fledging airline. Andy Quashie may well be into his 60s a senior citizen - before he completes his sentence. Andy Quashie is into the seventh day of a prison term of 28 years and six months for a murder which Justice Brian Cottle considers to be "brutal. During a sentencing hearing at the Criminal Assizes Friday, March 29, Justice Cottle sentenced the 33-year-old Layou man to 35 years in prison for the daylight murder of Layou resident Joseph Evans Tuffy Lynch, 36, who was gunned down in that community in full view of several persons September 1, 2012. He was shot multiple time in an area known as Cashville, around midday. Cottle used 30 years as the starting point, and went up by five years, i.e. 35 years , taking the aggravating factors into account. "When I look at this case, I see no mitigating factors, he contended. The Judge, however, deducted the six years five months and 24 days Quashie spent on remand, leaving 28 years and six months for him to be incarcerated. Quashie also received a prison term of seven and a half years for possession of a firearm with intent to aid in the commission of an offence, but that will run concurrently to the other sentence. A 12-member jury had found Quashie guilty on both counts February 12 this year, but sentencing was postponed. Connell said that he was not justifying killing a man over the word pussy, but certain actions in this society triggers reactions. The lawyer suggested a starting point of 15 years, and assured , "Andy Quashie is one that I am certain can return to society after serving his time. In recounting aspects of the evidence, before handing down the sentences, Justice Cottle said, "The deceased walked by and referred to the accused as a pussy. This upset the accused and friends, and they left, went home and returned with their firearms. He noted that Lynch was on his way home when Quashie and others ran through a shortcut and shot him. Lynch fell to the ground, and while he was lying there, Quashie walked up to him and shot him again, in full view of several persons. "This is a brutal murder carried out in broad daylight, Cottle lamented. He highlighted that there was premeditation, and two armed men. The Judge pointed out that Quashie was convicted following a full trial, and had previous convictions of a violent nature, including one in which he pointed a gun at another person. Initially, Quashie was charged jointly with Layou residents Adolphus Foye and Billy Adams, but the charges against them were withdrawn, and they were made state witnesses. Adams was shot and killed at Layou July 27 last year. In mitigation, Quashies lawyer Grant Connell pointed out that there was an element of provocation, noting that Lynch had referred to Quashie as a "pussy.He noted that two other men were charged in connection with the crime, but the case against them was discontinued and they became state witnesses.Connell said the general spirit of the Social Inquiry Report seemed to paint Quashie as a person with a friendly character and not a trouble maker, and the prison authorities described him as a quiet person.Joel King, a Layou resident, has been charged with Adams murder, and will stand trial in the High Court. Provided by Fisker Inc. Electric car manufacturer Fisker has appointed a new head of manufacturing as it eyes a home for the production of its latest model-- including Texas. Don Jackson, who served in a key role at Volkswagen of America and as a senior vice president for Toyota's Texas operations, will "spearhead manufacturing strategy and site selection" as Fisker prepares to launch its all-electric luxury SUV. Some 100 people showed up at the Port Neches City Hall on Thursday, many ready to give their opinion on whether Mardi Gras should relocate there from Port Arthur. About a dozen opponents pressed the City Council with concerns over such things as parking, a possible parade route and how alcohol would be handled. Some said they had attended past Mardi Gras events in Port Arthur and others were informed by their experience with Riverfest. Riverfest is an event that takes place in Port Neches in early May with boat racing, carnival rides, food and other events. Im not opposed to Mardi Gras by any means, but I dont want it in my neighborhood, Robyn Brown told the City Council. We already have Riverfest. I dont want Mardi Gras and then three months later Riverfest again. Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas organizers propose moving the event to Port Neches after about a decade of declining attendance and revenue in Port Arthur. Organizers say Port Neches is a more central location and would give the festival a needed boost to continue its tradition as a major fundraiser for more than a dozen local nonprofits. However, former City Councilman Ronald White said 80 to 90 percent of people he saw on social media wouldnt support bringing Mardi Gras to Port Neches. He said city residents deserve better than to be taken over by the Mardi Gras activity. Organizers didnt have much specific information to quiet concerns like these from residents. Laura Childress, president of the organization, pledged to work with the city on such issues as securing the necessary number of police officers, determining where the parade could go and orchestrating the carnival. This is the discussion, she said, this is where it starts. Later, she added, Were not here to force our way in. Childress said Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas hopes to have about 15,000 people at the festival each year. She said the event would cover its own security costs and would require vendors to designate Port Neches as the recipient of all sales taxes generated. Event chairman Tim Romero noted that the organization donated land to Port Arthur for a park and helped fund the construction of a pavilion. He pledged to continue that tradition of giving back at its next location. He also said the people who organize the parade, volunteers who operate the kids zones, concert organizers and others involved feel aspects of Port Neches Riverfront Park make for the perfect location for Mardi Gras. Despite the lack of specifics, several Mardi Gras participants attended the meeting and spoke in favor of moving the celebration. Jan Walker, who lives in Groves and went to Port Neches-Groves High School, said she joined a krewe because of an article she read in a newspaper and felt a gut punch when she heard about the dire state of Mardi Gras in Port Arthur. She said she hopes Port Neches will be the next home for the event. No one has anything to fear from Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas and everything to gain, she said. We want to be an asset to this community if given the chance. Members of the City Council had numerous questions for the events organizers. They asked for more details about security, parking and parade routes. They werent ready to shut down discussion Thursday night. City Manager Andre Wimer said the council will put the item on the agenda for discussion at its next meeting, April 18. In the interim, Mardi Gras organizers will work with city staff to get more specifics about the event and work to address residents and council members concerns. We do want to continue the conversation, he said. What I envision is next time it will be a discussion item again. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain By Azernews By Mirsaid Ibrahimzade IsraeliAzerbaijani bilateral strategic and economic relations have been expanding since the very early 1990s. The strategic relationship included cooperation in trade and security matters, cultural and educational exchanges. Relations entered a new phase during the visit of then the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Baku in August 1997. Touching upon security, Israel has been developing close ties with Azerbaijan in military sphere and helped a lot to modernize the Armed Forces. Israel plays role of an important ally in supplying Azerbaijani army with most modern weapons. Azerbaijan was among the top three countries in the list of Israeli arms importers in 2017. Economic cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan also has been growing significantly. As Azerbaijan deregulated its industries and liberalized economy in early 1990s, Israeli companies penetrated Azerbaijani market. Many companies have invested in service industry. Economic sphere, particularly in such non-oil sectors as agriculture, pharmaceuticals and IT have a great potential to develop. Agriculture in Israel is a highly developed industry, while the country is listed among world leaders in advanced agricultural technologies, regardless the fact that the geography of the country is not naturally favourable for agriculture. Moreover, several regional tours were made by the Israeli envoy to Azerbaijan to deepen economic cooperation in the spheres of economy, agriculture and tourism in March 2017. After this Azerbaijan and Israel agreed to abolish double taxation between countries in April 2017. Tourism is one of the areas where Azerbaijan and Israel successfully develop cooperation. The number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from Israel is growing, and all tourists visiting Azerbaijan return home with the best impressions. Israir Airlines & Tourism Ltd., an Israeli airline based at Sde Dov Airport (SDV) in Tel Aviv, is carrying out flights to Baku three times a week, as part of tourist packages. The direct flight is of great significance in terms of mutual increase in tourism turnover. Nowadays, Israel is interested in importing certain products from Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Israel Chamber of Commerce Alex Kaplun said at an event dedicated to the activities of the Chamber. He noted that work is underway to import Azerbaijani wines to Israel. Some wines are already imported and negotiations are underway to import Ganja and Absheron wines. In addition, Israel wants to import hazelnuts and honey from Azerbaijan. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover with Israel amounted to $ 1.3 billion in 2018. Almost all trade turnover accounted for the export of Azerbaijani products to Israel. While the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Israel amounted to $ 671.6 million in 2017, about $32.7 million of this amount accounted for the import of Israeli products. It is noteworthy that partnership between the two nations is based not only on political, economic and energy cooperation, but also on shared cultural values, due to a fact that a large Jewish community lives in Azerbaijan. Todays friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are built on centuries of Jewish-Azerbaijani coexistence. Estimated 9,000 Jews in the country are "fully part" of Azerbaijani society. In 2016, a branch of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre (BIMC) has been opened in Israel aimed at increasing the international community's awareness of Azerbaijan's and Israel's history and culture. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Russian artist Natalia Shevchenko has presented her works in Baku. The exhibition opened at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts on April 3, Trend Life reported. The exhibition in Baku features portraits of Maya Plisetskaya, Yuri Grigorovich, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Sergey Rakhmaninov, Sergey Dyagilev, Peter Tchaikovsky, Fyodor Shalyapin, Boris Eifman. The exhibition is held with the support of the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan. Addressing the event, the rector of Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, Omar Eldarov, and Vice-Rector Fuad Salayev stressed the uniqueness and the beauty of the portraits. The secret of Shevchenko's creativity lies in the themes she chooses, the Russian ballet, defining her artistic tasks, as well as creating images of famous personalities. Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the Russia in Azerbaijan Sergei Stepanov noted that the winner of international competitions Natalia Shevchenko is one of the brightest representatives of contemporary fine arts of Russia. Her paintings were acquired by 32 museums in Russia and abroad. Sergei Stepanov stressed that exhibition in Baku contributes to the further development of cultural bridges between Azerbaijan and Russia. In conclusion, Natalia Shevchenko expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome, noting the beauty of Baku and the hospitality of Azerbaijani people. Natalia Shevchenko works under the creative pseudonym Natan. She is the winner of the fourth and the fifth International Competition of Artists in Astana. Natan's passion for music and ballet began in her childhood, when she attended the Mariinsky Theater, drawing inspiration from artists and retaining bright impressions and absolute love for the world of painting. Therefore, the choice of the ballet theme in the artist's work is not accidental. Natan's style expresses the influence of color and texture through movement in her compositional work with dance and music. She describes this expanded style as "Moment Art", presenting to the viewer an instant impression of creative movement. The artist brilliantly conveys complex plastic movements, improvising and using fragmentary compositions, angles in motion, achieving the effect of ballet dynamics. The exhibition will last until April 24. A federal court this week sided with an inmate who sued the Texas prison system to get a cotton blanket after repeatedly telling officials he was allergic to the standard-issue bedding, which he alleged is made of "recycled waste" that caused him to have open sores. For 10 years, Calvin Weaver has been asking prison staff for a cotton blanket. But officials refused, so last year the Harris County man took them to court, representing himself from inside the Terrell Unit in Rosharon. The prison system responded with a motion to dismiss, but on Friday, moU.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt ruled that the suit can continue. Even though Weaver won't be entitled to money from the defendants in their official capacities, Hoyt wrote, he could get injunctive relief: a new blanket. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas prison system bans spiritual advisers from death chamber "These defendants' argument that replacing Weaver's blanket is beyond their power because they are not Medical Doctors is disingenuous," Hoyt wrote. "It appears from the complaint that each of these defendants is in a position of authority and could, presumably, order that Weaver receive another blanket, or that he receive a medical evaluation." The problem that sparked the legal wrangling dates back to 2001, when prison medical staff diagnosed Weaver with a wool allergy, according to court papers. At the time, they gave him a medical pass that allowed him to get a cotton blanket. But then in 2009, the pass wasn't renewed when all the blankets systemwide - both the standard-issue wool ones and the cotton alternative for allergy sufferers - were replaced with non-wool blankets made from what Weaver described as a "blend of recycled waste." Prison officials on Thursday clarified that there is no waste in the blankets, which are made by inmates and contain 60 percent recycled natural fibers and 40 percent cotton blend. But the non-wool blend allegedly made Weaver itch, break out into open sores and lose sleep. For nine years, Weaver asked for another blanket, complaining repeatedly to officials all the way up to the agency executive director. He filed grievances, noting that he knew of at least 10 to 15 other prisoners at his unit who'd gotten cotton blankets. Officials and medical staff "ignored his complaints," the federal judge wrote in his recent ruling. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Dallas death row prisoner files appeal over trial attorneys racist ideology So in 2018, Weaver sued, demanding that the prison system give him a new blanket, do a toxicology study on the blended fiber blanket, and give him money for pain and suffering. The Texas prison system argued that they shouldn't be the target of the suit because the complaint was medical, so they couldn't provide the requested relief. The judge took a dim view of that claim. Though the court removed two of the defendants a warden and a doctor from the case, the judge decided he could continue his suit against the agency executive director and two employees who allegedly ignored his requests. He's not eligible for compensation from the defendants in their official capacities, but could get money damages from them in their individual capacities. Weaver, who has since been moved to the Pack Unit, does not have an attorney, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not offer comment on the case. Update: This story has been edited to clarify that Weaver could be entitled to compensation for damages from the defendants in their individual capacities. Roach infestations were uncovered in four Houston restaurants last week during health inspections from March 25 to March 31, according to health reports. Three of those restaurants were forced to temporarily close because of the roaches, according to health reports. It's unclear whether the fourth restaurant, which faced the highest penalties out of all other restaurants last week, had to close. GUEST EDITORIAL: Are we selling our kids' future with each truckload of crude oil that travels outside our community every day? We, as a community, have welcomed the petrochemical industry to our community. In January, I participated in a video for the Martin Luther King Jr. brunch, where several of us acknowledged the importance of having the petrochemical industry within our community for so many years, and applauded its contributions given to us. The existence of the petrochemical industry has afforded many families to have comfortable lifestyles, and thousands of us have had parents who were employed by the industry which helped to finance our education. For the most part, we have determined that the benefits of the jobs that this industry provides has outweighed the dangers to our health and environment. One of our neighbors, Motiva Enterprises owned by Saudi Aramco Oil, has made several recent public announcements. On January 22, Motiva donated $650,000 to the Port Arthur ISD to assist with Hurricane Harvey destruction. We thank them and appreciate the contribution. On April 3rd, the local news announced that Motiva was in negotiation to purchase two buildings in downtown Port Arthur. I applaud them for the investment in our community. Just prior to the news report, on April 2nd, the Beaumont Enterprise published an article entitled, "Rare glimpse into Saudi Aramco shows $111 billion new net profit for 2018." The article stated this new profit places Aramco ahead of some of the world's most profitable firms. Moody's said the oil giant's revenue hit $355.9 billion last year and that it produced 10.3 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2018. Motiva has made great financial accomplishments and set an aggressive visionary plan for the company's continued growth and success. However, I feel that Motiva has breached the social contract that companies like Motiva made with this community so long ago. My job as Superintendent of PAISD is to set an aggressive visionary plan for the District, its employees, patrons and not least of all, its over 8,000 students. I have sat and talked with some of the leaders of our community who remember how the chemical industry felt that it was their responsibility to make sure the public-school system had everything it needed to ensure success for its students. Before the record profits seen by Motiva/Saudi Aramco, money was not an object to the petrochemical industry in our community. Today, I do not feel the major companies in our community feel the same as their previous leaders and CEOs. Motiva/Saudi Aramco, while experiencing record profits and formulating plans to expand the facility located in our community to the largest refinery in this nation, has chosen to withhold taxes due to the school district. This is a school district that has recently been affected by one of the most devastating hurricanes of this century. A school district that was already struggling to keep its head above water, while restoring buildings and normalcy after Harvey. Motiva has a legal right to access an obscure law which allows property owners to fight appraisal values if they can show that comparable properties are appraised at lower values. This law created an, I hope, unintended loophole for the owners of large industrial and commercial properties. In essence, it gives an opportunity for large businesses not to pay their fair share of taxes. In 2017, each homeowner paid about 2.66% of the value of their homestead in yearly taxes. In 2017, Motiva/Saudi Aramco paid only .8% of the value of its refinery as taxes, now they are seeking to pay even less on its values for 2018. In the past, the Port Arthur Independent School District has been forced to repay over $30 million dollars due to this law. Presently, we are awaiting the outcome of the latest lawsuit filed by Motiva/Saudi Aramco, the largest chemical plant in North America. Currently Motiva has chosen to withhold 58% of the taxes it owes for the 2018 year. I am not unappreciative of the assistance that Motiva and the other chemical companies have given to the school district. However, our celebration of the donation we recently received was almost immediately diminished by learning that our district has been negatively impacted by about $24 million dollars, in just one year. Motiva/Saudi Aramco's decision to withhold this money jeopardizes the district's promise to its citizens not to raise taxes. The question to which I have been unable to receive an answer is, "Why have the companies in our community, which happen to be some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, chosen to utilize a law that would negatively affect the education of children who are already struggling?" Let me be clear in saying I do not totally blame the companies that take advantage of the law; I also blame the legislators that allowed the law to pass and year after year do nothing to change the law. If the school system that is responsible for the education of more than 8,000 children, 85% of whom are recipients of free and reduced lunch, do not have the funds to properly educate the children in this community, in which these multi-billion-dollar industries operate, it will crumble! I ask concerned citizens and parents to help me ask the question of this company. We should understand why a company that earned $111 billion dollars in net profit in one year is trying to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Now, I want you to understand that our budgets are set, and someone will have to pay for the education of our children. That someone will be the CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR!! It pains me to think that if I were not the Superintendent of the Port Arthur Independent School District that I may not care about how the lack of tax payments affects our school system. The school district entered into a 10-year Chapter 313 tax incentive agreement for Motiva. In 2018, the Chapter 313 agreement expired, which required Motiva to pay PAISD taxes in full. The other entities such as the Port, Navigation, county, and Drainage District are not as affected by the lawsuit due to the abatement/tax incentive given to Motiva is still in effect. Once again, I want to be clear when I say that I am happy that we are surrounded by the petrochemical industry and I am excited about the possibility of what the expansions of these refineries hold for the city of Port Arthur, but please allow me to pose the question, "If we have these billion dollar companies surrounding us, why does our city look like a war zone?" Do you not find it disturbing that everyone in other cities and countries are profiting from the expansions, while Port Arthur bears the environmental and health costs, alone? I was driving down Lake Arthur Drive and came across an apartment complex under construction. I wondered if those apartments will house the thousands of contractors who will come from other communities to help build the expansions? Hotels, contractors, and people we have never seen before are all making a profit from the expansions, but we as a school district cannot even get the taxes from the companies that are "OUR GOOD NEIGHBORS!!!" Ask yourselves, "Why do you think companies choose not to pay their fair taxes in the city of Port Arthur?" "Why do we have to always accept what is offered to us even when we know the "morsels" we receive are just to keep us quiet?" Yes, the companies are cordial and ask our community what we think, and we respond with what we feel they want to hear. But don't you think it is time to step up to the plate and ask Motiva/Saudi Aramco, "Why are you prospering so much and so fast and I stand in the same poor condition year after year?" By no means am I asking for a handout. I just want what is due to our district and our community because it is fair. The opportunity to speak on behalf of our school district and city may never come again. Citizens of Port Arthur must wake up and stand for something. Stand for your children and their future. Stand for the future of Port Arthur, you may never have the opportunity again! Reach out on social media and direct communication to Motiva/Saudi Aramco, our county and city officials and ask, "WHY?" By Trend The representatives of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys leadership visited the countrys Jojug Marjanli village, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The main purpose is to visit the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenias occupation during the anniversary of the April 2016 battles, meet with the soldiers and officers, as well as reviewed land improvement carried out in the village and the level of security ensured in the village. A delegation consisting of ambassadors and heads of structural departments of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, headed by Deputy Foreign Ministers Ramiz Hasanov and Nadir Huseynov visited the village. During the visit, a meeting with residents of the village was held with the participation of representatives of the Executive Power of Azerbaijans Jabrayil region. The delegation also visited the Jojug Marjanli mosque. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. One clear benefit of this legislative session over the 2017 version is the lack of a so-called bathroom bill, a needless distraction that could bring economic boycotts to Texas. Regrettably, the state Senate is going down that same road with a similar bill, and the House should refuse to go along, just as it did in 2017 with the bathroom bill. At issue this time is Senate Bill 17, which would ostensibly protect licensed professionals such as doctors and accountants from disciplinary action from state boards when they act on sincerely held religious beliefs in their places of business. Unfortunately, that means being allowed to discriminate against gay or transsexual people, or people of another religion, in ways that are otherwise prohibited by state and federal laws. Keep in mind that just as with the infamous bathroom bill, this is not a problem in Texas that needs fixing. Yet some lawmakers still feel compelled to provide a solution anyway. Texans have and should have broad freedom to associate with whoever they want and to like or dislike something. Thats a basic part of freedom. Yet that doesnt mean that employers should be able to refuse to hire someone of another religion or serve LGBT people in a restaurant. Those individuals have rights that must be respected. Years ago, black people couldnt stay at certain hotels or enter certain stores. Texas and America should never go back to anything like that. A coalition of major businesses like Amazon, Google and Apple have already come out against this bill, as have chambers of commerce and visitors bureaus. This is not the way corporate America operates these days, and thats a good thing. Smart businesses dont want to wall themselves off from any employees they need or customers they seek. When Amazon was looking for a new headquarters location last year, a bill like this could have automatically disqualified major cities like Houston or Austin. Many organizations will not hold conventions in states that have discriminatory laws like this. The new House speaker, Dennis Bonnen, is a conservative Republican, as was his predecessor Joe Straus, even though neither is far-right. Texas Republicans lost 12 House seats in November, trimming their margin to 83-67, mostly because of pushback against GOP hardliners. If this bill comes to the House, it should die a quiet death so Texas can go on about its business. Our economy is doing well, but Texas still needs all the jobs and tax revenues we can create. Four ASC administrative leaders discuss how they are solving their biggest staffing challenge: recruitment and retention. Peter Graf. Business Manager for the Center for Pain Control and Wyomissing Surgical Services (Reading, Pa.): Competing with the local hospital for quality employees at a competitive salary is our biggest staffing challenge. It is difficult finding the right staff when the job descriptions differ from our ASC compared to the local hospitals, yet we have to offer similar compensation packages. We are a currently a single-specialty ASC and offer other benefits such as no night calls and no weekends. It is our hope that the other advantages will be taken into consideration by prospective applicants. Lara Herndon. Regional Director of Operations for Prime MSO (Glendale, Calif.): Retaining staff has been difficult for us as a company. We have expended a lot of time, energy and resources training staff, i.e., AORN's Peri-op 101, only to have them leave us after their one-year commitment expires. Many of the nursing staff members leave for acute care facilities that are unionized and offer a far larger base salary that we can as independent ASCs. Melissa Rice. Administrator of Hyde Park Same Day Surgicenter and Illinois Anesthesia Specialists (Chicago): Our biggest challenge is finding candidates to come to the center. Location is key and for us we are not in an ideal area. We have resorted to using agency nurses. We definitely have a family atmosphere at the center. We spend more time together than with our families so keeping things light and communication open and flowing has helped. Patrick Garman. Executive Administrator of Spartan Health Surgicenter (Monongahela, Pa.): Spartan's biggest staffing challenge has been finding the qualified clinical staff member who is willing to be compensated what a typical ASC can pay versus what that same clinician will be compensated for comparable work at a hospital. Recruiting and retaining solid part-time/per diem nurses and operating room techs, weaving them into the schedule so that it benefits the ASC is a challenge. These part-time/PRN clinicians enable an ASC to reap considerable profits due to flexibility, mobility and expense savings. A Cleveland-based University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital employee emailed a message to a group of patients, inadvertently allowing the recipients to see each other's email addresses, according to a news release emailed to Becker's Hospital Review. The private health information exposed in the Feb. 28 incident includes email addresses and health information related to medical condition. "While the email message itself did not contain any specific health information about any patient, the nature of the message implied all recipients receiving the message shared the same medical condition," UH said in the news release. The employee, who has not been identified, sent an email to an estimated 840 patients, or their parents or guardians, regarding a new billing policy, according to The Plain Dealer. The employee placed all the individuals' email addresses in the "To" field when sending the email, which allowed the message recipients to see one another's email addresses. UH launched an internal investigation on the same day the incident occurred. The health system said it is not aware of any identity theft or harm to patients caused by the employee's unauthorized disclosure of patient PHI, and it has sent letters to notify all individuals who may have been affected. The health system has educated the employee on proper procedure when communicating with patients electronically as well as information regarding patient privacy and HIPAA, according to the news release. "UH takes the protection of patient health information very seriously," the health system said. "UH continually evaluates and strengthens its health information practices to enhance the security and privacy of its patients' information, including the ongoing training, education and counseling of its workforce regarding patient privacy matters." The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes or affirmations occurred in the last week: 1. Fitch affirms 'AA-' rating for Beacon Health System Fitch Ratings affirmed its "AA-" revenue bond ratings for South Bend, Ind.-based Beacon Health System and also assigned an "AA-" issuer default rating. 2. Moody's revises Ingalls Health System outlook to negative Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Baa2" rating for Harvey, Ill.-based Ingalls Health System. 3. Moody's assigns 'A2' rating to Henry Ford Health System Moody's Investors Service has assigned an "A2" rating to Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System's proposed revenue bonds and upgraded existing bonds from "A3" to "A2," affecting $845 million of existing debt. 4. S&P revises Swedish Covenant Health outlook to negative S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook for Chicago-based Swedish Covenant Health from stable to negative. 5. Moody's upgrades Mary Washington Healthcare rating to 'A3' Moody's Investors Service has upgraded its rating for Fredericksburg, Va.-based Mary Washington Healthcare from "Baa1" to "A3." 6. Fitch affirms 'AA-' IDR for MemorialCare Fitch Ratings has affirmed its "AA-" issuer default and revenue bond ratings for Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare. 7. Fitch affirms 'A-' rating for Marshfield Clinic Health System Fitch Ratings has assigned an "A-" issuer default rating to Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System. 8. Fitch assigns 'AA' issuer default rating to North Mississippi Health Services Fitch Ratings assigned an "AA" issuer default rating to Tupelo-based North Mississippi Health Services. Ventura (Calif.) County Medical Center managers are looking at employee layoffs to offset a projected $18.8 million loss for this fiscal year, according to the VC Star. The medical center, a fully-integrated, comprehensive system featuring Ventura, Santa Paula (Calif.) Hospital and outpatient clinics, also is considering renegotiating insurance and supply deals and increasing efficiency of county clinics to cut costs. "At this point, we are looking at all options," Bill Foley, director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency, told the VC Star. Mr. Foley made a budget presentation to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors last month and said he would return to the board with more details. The medical center's projected $18.8 million loss is partially due to fewer hospital patients and a delay in getting a purchasing contract to reduce supply costs, he told the board. Officials are working on a financial improvement plan, and a newly hired CFO, as well as another administrator, will be helping with that effort, Mr. Foley told the VC Star. Read the full report here. More articles on healthcare finance: Medical specialties with the largest share of out-of-network bills for in-network hospital admissions 6 recent RCM tips North Carolina lawmakers introduce surprise-billing legislation Retail giant Walmart is upping its efforts to hand-pick which physicians are most likely to reduce healthcare spending on employees, according to The Wall Street Journal. Five things to know: 1. Large companies like Walmart are examining data from public records and their own health plans, and tapping consultants, to compare individual physician costs. 2. The top physicians Walmart chooses sport the best results at the most competitive costs. The company excludes or shies away from others with poor performance metrics. 3. More than 5,000 Walmart health plan members have visited hand-selected physicians. The company's health plan covers travel and medical costs to pair employees with these top physicians for procedures like surgery and cancer care. 4. Lisa Woods, senior director of U.S. healthcare at Walmart, told WSJ that the results from choosing top physicians have made the strategy vital. While health plans have narrowed provider networks for their plans, the selection has largely focused on hospitals and physician groups rather than specific physicians. 5. The efforts are paying off for retailers: Walmart, Lowe's and McKesson Corp. saved about $19.4 million in 2017 when their employees saw specific spine and joint surgeons picked by the employers, according to the Harvard Business Review. More articles on healthcare finance: Arkansas hospital operator ousted over 'real and present danger' to assets Dueling healthcare policy proposals spark $40B stock sell-off Kansas hospital struggles to regain Medicare contract due to two-night rule The Trump administration is forcing Chinese firm iCarbonX to divest its majority stake in U.S.-owned health startup PatientsLikeMe, CNBC reports. The forced sale comes after a review of the deal by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a group that reviews and enables the federal government to block foreign takeovers of American companies and foreign investments. This is the first time the Committee on Foreign Investment has homed in on such a small deal, according to CNBC. The committee likely targeted the company due to the sensitive nature of the data it collects on its users. Some in the startup world, however, are concerned the move could stunt future capital. Chinese investments in the U.S. have declined from $46 billion in 2016 to $4.8 billion in 2018, according to the report. Cambridge, Mass.-based PatientsLikeMe is an online tool that allows patients to connect with other people who have similar medical conditions. It raised $100 million when it sold a majority stake to iCarbonX in 2017. The Chinese firm has also been able to offer the startup key artificial intelligence technology. PatientsLikeMe is still seeking a buyer and has been in talks with a few U.S.-based companies, according to the report. Read more here. More articles on health IT: Amazon's Alexa is now HIPAA-compliant & 12 other health IT notes Blockchain to emerge in healthcare in 5 to 10 years Department of Homeland Security reissues cyber warning on medical devices After reporting a dip in net earnings for the first quarter, Walgreens plans to invest $300 million in digital health to make up for the losses, according to Digital Commerce 360. The drugstores net earnings dropped to $1.156 billion from $1.349 billion in the same quarter of 2018. Walgreens CEO Stefano Pessina told analysts that to make up for its worst quarterly results since 2014, it plans to cut annual expenses by $1.5 billion to make room for digital health. We will be putting $300 million to boost the partnerships and boost our capabilities on digitalization of the company," Walgreens CFO James Keho told analysts. Walgreens teamed up with Microsoft in January to design digital health corners for its stores. The partnership with Microsoft is a clear acceleration of the digitalization of our company, along with recruiting internally a lot of [people] particularly a chief digital officer, Walgreens COO Alex Goulary said. In the next several years, Walgreens will invest over $1 billion to grow its retail business anchored in digital health. We have the right investments, $300 million a year, which it adds up to $1 billion of investments behind partnerships and digital, Mr. Kehoe said. Were investing to make sure especially that the U.S. business has the ammunition required to create that omnichannel experience in both pharmacy and in retail. Walgreen is not the only drugstore to make a push into digital health. In February, CVS said it would spend $325 million to $350 million on digital health. More articles on health IT: Amazon's Alexa is now HIPAA-compliant & 12 other health IT notes Blockchain to emerge in healthcare in 5 to 10 years Department of Homeland Security reissues cyber warning on medical devices Detroit Medical Center tapped Susan Hallinan, RN, to serve as administrative director of behavioral health at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Three points: 1. Ms. Hallinan most recently served as director of nursing at Harbor Oaks Hospital in New Baltimore, Mich., a behavioral health facility. 2. She also has prior experience as director of quality at Premier Hospice of Michigan in Troy. 3. Ms. Hallinan holds a master's degree in nursing education and nursing science from Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, Mich. Researchers at Boston-based Harvard University created a website that rewards patients for choosing hospitals with the lowest-priced tests and procedures. But not all patients are supporting the idea, according to local news station WBUR. Website SmartShopper lists hospitals and their prices for various services. Hospitals with green rewards buttons learn shoppers anywhere from $25 to $500 cash back depending on the procedures they select. One patient, Mary Hurley, was using the site to shop for a mammogram. When she searched for hospitals in Milton, Mass., she was prompted with a list of 14 hospitals ranked by price. Two hospitals on the list would give her cash back. If she visited Steward Norwood Hospital she would earn $50, but if she visited Beth Israel Deaconess Milton she would receive $25, according to the report. Familiar with Beth Israel, Ms. Hurley was not sold on visiting Norwood Hospital, even though it offered more cash back. Any incentive may not have been enough for Ms. Hurley, who has generous insurance and can visit top cancer hospitals or Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital and pay a $25 copay. Harvard only pays SmartShopper when employees use the website. Currently, about 250,000 Massachusetts residents have access to SmartShopper through their health plans, according to WBUR. By Trend The Turkmen Parliament hosted signing of documents to ensure that Turkmenistan fulfills international obligations in the field of human rights and gender equality, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry. Following its commitments, Turkmenistan has developed a strategy to promote gender equality, the report said. The country is consistently taking steps to implement generally accepted international legal norms and regulations regarding the creation of equal opportunities for women in the national legislation. In particular, a joint work plan of the project Assisting the strengthening of the system and mechanisms for promoting gender equality for 2019 was signed in Ashgabat between the Turkmen Parliament and the representative office of the United Nations Population Fund in Turkmenistan. A joint work plan of the project Assisting the strengthening of the system and mechanisms for promoting gender equality for 2019 was also signed between the Institute of the State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan and the representative office of the United Nations Population Fund in Turkmenistan. Other relevant documents were also signed. An outside review found that top officials at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City repeatedly violated financial conflict of interest policies, which created a culture where profits appeared to take priority over research and patient care, according to a joint article published by The New York Times and ProPublica. In the last few months, Memorial Sloan Kettering has worked to contain the fallout from intensifying scrutiny over several potential conflicts of interest, including its executives' financial ties to drug and healthcare companies. In one instance, one of its top researchers and former CMO Jose Baselga, MD, PhD, failed to disclose significant financial ties to the drug industry and other healthcare companies in more than 100 research articles. A partnership with an artificial intelligence startup, founded by three insiders at the cancer center, also came under fire. The outside review, conducted by law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, found that in multiple instances top officials violated or skirted their own policies. In addition, the firm found that when hospital leaders had ties to outside companies, those potential conflicts of interest were not critically examined and were instead discussed ad hoc. Researchers were often unaware that senior executives had financial stakes in the outcomes of their studies, the review found. Memorial Sloan Kettering executives were debriefed on the outside review at a staff meeting this week. After acknowledging flaws in its oversight of potential conflict of interest violations, the leadership team announced it would undertake an extensive overhaul of policies. The outside review is just one of the several steps taken by the cancer center in the wake of reports that surfaced last year that several top executives and board members had profited from relationships with pharmaceutical companies. The former director of outreach programs at Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami, Fla., was sentenced to 15 months in prison April 3 for her role in a $1 billion healthcare fraud scheme. Four things to know: 1. The judge handed down the sentence just over two months after Odette Barcha pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the federal government and paying and receiving healthcare kickbacks. 2. Ms. Barcha was one of three defendants charged in an indictment unsealedin July 2016. She allegedly had physicians at Larkin Community Hospital discharge patients to skilled nursing homes and other facilities owned by Philip Esformes, who allegedly paid kickbacks for those admissions. 3. Prosecutors allege Mr. Esformes, who operated a network of more than 30 skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Florida, admitted Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to the facilities even if they did not qualify for skilled nursing home care or for placement in an assisted living facility. Once admitted, the patients received medically unnecessary care that was billed to Medicare and Medicaid. 4. The seven-week trial of Mr. Esformes wrapped up March 29, according to the Miami Herald. On April 5, a federal jury found Mr. Esformes guilty of various counts, including paying and receiving kickbacks, bribery, money laundering and obstruction of justice, according to Law360. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: 5 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements 5 updates on legal challenges against Trump's health policies Former hospital exec sues Tenet, claims retaliation for reporting unnecessary surgeries When a Pennsylvania woman required a partial foot amputation to stop a sepsis infection from spreading, she found the surgeon required an upfront payment and the woman's "skimpy" health plan denied coverage for the procedure, according to The Inquirer. Stephanie Sena's insurance plan, which she thought was a real health plan, actually was an accident and sickness hospital indemnity plan. The plan paid a set amount for specific services, and the amputation surgery was not on the list. Under the ACA, health insurers can't discriminate against members based on preexisting conditions. However, skimpier health plans like short-term policies, while cheaper, don't have to comply with many of the ACA's consumer protection rules like covering preexisting conditions and basic health services. The plans have expanded under the Trump administration and brought with them familiar stories of patients being denied coverage. Ms. Sena purchased her plan through a website called Health Insurance Innovations. She used an independent broker to purchase the short-term plan, and was under the impression she had more comprehensive coverage. But the health plan paid nothing on her most recent hospitalization for sepsis. The emergency room visit charge was $15,508; an ambulance transfer, $3,533; and $3,512 for the amputation surgery. Ms. Sena found a way to pay the upfront payment for the amputation procedure. Following The Inquirer's investigation, Ms. Sena received a $1,725 refund from the health plan for seven months of premiums. Still, she faces $19,000 in medical debt since enrolling in the plan, according to the report. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb will step down from his position April 5. Below are four things to know about the departing FDA chief: 1. His time as a physician. Dr. Gottlieb trained at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He completed his residency in internal medicine. He practiced medicine as an attending physician at Stamford (Conn.) Hospital, according to the Los Angeles Times. 2. His time as a patient. He is a cancer survivor, successfully winning the fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma. His experience as a cancer patient prompted Dr. Gottlieb to become a cancer policy adviser for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, according to the Los Angeles Times. 3. His time as FDA commissioner. Dr. Gottlieb was sworn in as the 23rd commissioner of the FDA on May 11, 2017. He quickly became known for cracking down on the e-cigarettes industry and trying to get a handle on the opioid crisis. 4. His next steps. Dr. Gottlieb will head back to the American Enterprise Institute to tackle the rising cost of prescription drugs. The 46-year-old plans to spend about a half-dozen days a month as a resident fellow at the conservative think tank. Before becoming FDA commissioner, Dr. Gottlieb wrote op-eds for the institute. An artists impression of the proposed glass tower extension to Clarence Chambers in Belfast Newry businessman Brian McConville's bid to redevelop the listed Clarence Chambers building in the centre of Belfast into a modern office development has won the approval of planning officials. The plan involves the partial demolition of the rear of the early 19th century building next to City Hall, and construction of a seven-storey glass extension, as well as the addition of a new bar and restaurant. The development also includes an extensive refurbishment programme within the listed building and a new roof terrace. A report recommending that the project go ahead will go before Belfast City Council's planning committee on Tuesday. Mr McConville, who heads the Newry based MJM Group, bought the building in recent years under the guise of MJM Pearl Ltd. The same company acquired the nearby Pearl Assurance House at 1-3 Donegall Square East in late 2015. Last month, MJM submitted a planning application to refurbish and extend the building to create a restaurant and cafe space across basement. The plans include four floors of offices, topped by an apartment. Two weeks ago a new Belfast hospitality group, Clover, announced it would open a new bar and restaurant in the underground level of 18 Donegall Square East, a space previously occupied by the Basement Bar. Margot, which is due to open in mid-April, involves local hospitality figures Mark Beirne, Paul Langsford, Jim Conlon and Andrew Maxwell. It is unclear how the new venture will be impacted by MJM Pearl's planned major redevelopment of 18-19 Donegall Square East. MJM's plans prompted representations from Belfast Civic Trust and Ulster Bank, with both citing concerns. Belfast Civic Trust claimed the design was "inappropriate to the locale", calling for a more traditional building material to be utilised rather than the glass proposed. Ulster Bank, which has its Northern Ireland headquarters next door, cited concern over the potential loss of light. However, the council's conservation officer's analysis concluded: "The extension would be sympathetic to the scale, style and proportions of modern extensions within the area. "The visual prominence and historic fabric of the existing listed buildings would be fully retained and preserved." Shares in Belfast Telegraph publisher Independent News & Media (INM) rose by 30.5% yesterday after it announced an approach from a potential buyer. The company, which also publishes Sunday Life, told the stock market it had "received an approach in relation to a possible offer for the company". "Discussions are at a preliminary stage and there is no certainty that any offer will be made, or as to the terms of any such offer," the company said. It did not name the interested party and would not comment further. INM is the largest private media group on the island of Ireland. It publishes belfastelegraph.co.uk and nijobfinder.co.uk, and in the Republic the Irish Independent, Herald and Sunday Independent. Last week it reported profit before tax of 24.1m (20.7m) for 2018, ahead of market expectations but down 15.4% on the prior year. INM's total revenue last year was 191m (163.8m), down 2.1% on the prior year. The business had a cash pile of 81.7m (70m) at the end of December. German group Axel Springer and Norwegian company Schibsted have previously been mentioned as potential buyers of INM, as has Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns the Times and Sunday Times titles and Northern Ireland radio station U105. Axel Springer, whose titles include Die Welt, Bild and Business Insider, said it did not "comment on market rumours", but reports suggest the firm is not interested in a bid for INM. Schibsted also refused to be drawn on the news, saying: "In general, we never comment on rumours and speculation about acquisitions, regardless of whether they are true or not." News Corp subsidiary News UK said it "does not comment on speculation". INM's biggest shareholder is Digicel chairman Denis O'Brien, who owns 29.9% of the company. Financier Dermot Desmond is the second biggest, owning 15% via his vehicle International Investment & Underwriting. Last week INM chief executive Michael Doorly said speculation that INM could be a target for takeover by a larger European business was prompted by the company's low share price. He said there was no indication major shareholders in the business were minded to sell. INM is moving towards introducing a paid model for some online content, potentially from the end of this year, with revenue from newspaper circulation and total online and print advertising falling last year. Shares in Belfast Telegraph publisher Independent News & Media (INM) rose by 30.5% yesterday after it announced an approach from a potential buyer. The company, which also publishes Sunday Life, told the stock market that it had "received an approach in relation to a possible offer for the company". "Discussions are at a preliminary stage and there is no certainty that any offer will be made, or as to the terms of any such offer," the company said. It did not name the interested party and would not comment further. INM is the largest private media group on the island of Ireland. It also publishes belfastelegraph.co.uk and nijobfinder.co.uk, and in the Republic, the Irish Independent, Herald, and Sunday Independent. Last week it reported profit before tax of 24.1m for 2018, ahead of market expectations but down 15.4pc on the prior year. INM's total revenues last year were 191m, down 2.1% on the prior year. The business had a cash pile of 81.7m at the end of December. German group Axel Springer and Norwegian company Schibsted have previously been speculated about as potential buyers of INM, as has Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns the 'Times Ireland edition' and 'Sunday Times' titles. News Corp also owns Northern Ireland radio station U105. Axel Springer, whose titles include 'Die Welt', 'Bild' and 'Business Insider' said: "We in general don't comment on market rumours". It's understood not to be interested in a move for INM. Schibsted said: "In general, we never comment on rumours and speculations about acquisitions, regardless of whether they are true or not." A spokeswoman for News Corp subsidiary News UK said it "does not comment on speculation". INM's biggest shareholder is Digicel chairman Denis O'Brien, who owns 29.9% of INM. Financier Dermot Desmond is the second biggest - he owns 15% via his vehicle International Investment & Underwriting (IIU). Last week INM chief executive Michael Doorly said speculation that INM itself could be a target for takeover by a larger European media business was prompted by the company's low share price. He said there was no indication major shareholders in the company were minded to sell. INM is moving towards introducing a paid model for some online content, potentially from the end of this year, with revenue from newspaper circulation and total online and print advertising falling last year. The new director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), Francesco La Camera, received the UAEs Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi today for a high-level meeting at the Irene headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Dr Al Zeyoudi was accompanied by the UAEs Permanent Representative to Irena, Dr Nawal Al-Hosany. Marking La Cameras first day in office, Dr Al Zeyoudi took the opportunity to welcome La Camera to the UAE and congratulated him on his appointment as the head of the 160-member strong agency. Dr Al Zeyoudi offered the UAEs full and unwavering support for Irena and its global mandate - to support countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. With renewables increasingly recognised as a solution to several global challenges including climate change and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, La Camera and Dr Al Zeyoudi discussed ways to strengthen existing efforts and new opportunities to advance the deployment of renewable energy both nationally and globally. La Camera commended the UAEs efforts and achievements in the context of sustainable development and acknowledged the countrys strong ambition and the vision of its leadership. By 2050, the UAE plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent, improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent and generate 44 per cent of its power from renewable energy. Irena is the global intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. - TradeArabia News Service Shoppers queue up outside the reopened Zara store in Donegall Place, Belfast For a lot of fashion-conscious people in Northern Ireland there is only one Zara - but for seven months there was none. Now, however, the popular clothing store has reopened, a sure sign that Belfast is moving forward after a blaze at the nearby Primark store last August that devastated the local economy and forced 14 businesses to close. Up to 30 people waited patiently in line outside Zara's Donegall Place shop yesterday to see what the Spanish fashion chain had to offer them this spring by way of on-trend clothes, shoes and accessories. Near the front of the queue, ahead of pram-pushing young mums and self-confessed 'super shoppers', was blogger Tristan McGavigan (22), a Co Donegal native who lives in Belfast and calls himself a Zara mega-fan. "Zara is my favourite shop - nowhere compares to Zara," the Ulster University student said, as the doors opened at 9.30am. "My wardrobe is empty. I'm going to allow myself to spend 100 today. I intend to try on loads so I'm giving myself a good hour. How I've missed Zara!" Demi-Louise Graham (25), a beautician from Belfast, said she was hoping to buy outfits for her 10-month-old son, Chester. "I'm very excited, especially for Chester," she said. "No-one does clothes as nice as Zara. They're reasonably priced and durable. I'm hoping to get Chester's Easter outfit at least." Student Claudia McClelland (23), from Lisburn, said she'd "really missed being able to walk into the store for a browse before lectures". "The Primark fire has been a disaster for Belfast although the walkway has helped encourage a lot more foot traffic since Christmas," she said, adding: "I've got my eye on a couple of items but I'll need to wait until pay day." Belfast homemaker Jinshu He (36) said: "I've been buying Zara clothes online since the Belfast store closed so it's great to see that the store has reopened." Student Eilis McNamee (23), from Belfast, said Zara was "one of my favourite shops". She added: "I can't wait to get my hands on some of the beautiful Paisley designs I've spotted." Samantha Lamph (53), a homemaker who lives in Belfast, said she'd nipped down after hearing that it was reopening. "I was worried that Zara wasn't coming back after the fire so I'm delighted because I used to shop here two or three times a week. I've really missed it. Zara's great for daywear and evening wear. It's very versatile," she said. East Belfast civil servant Helen McKenna (32) admitted that she'd spent "a couple of hundred pounds" in less than an hour in the three-storey house of fashion. "I've mostly bought summer clothes for my two-year-old daughter Maiya," she said. "I've been shopping online but I've missed the shopping experience which I hardly ever get now that I'm a mum!" Glamorous Glengormley grandmother Liz Stitt (70), a retired visual merchandiser, said she was "delighted" with the "beautiful" brown suedette jacket she'd bought for 30. "I used to always come here with my granddaughters, Poppy (21) and Tilly (16), who live in England, so I can't wait to tell them the good news about the store reopening," she said. "It's great to see it back and even better to see Belfast getting back to normal." Meanwhile, just down the street, workers were busy outside Primark, which is also gearing up to open its second Belfast store on April 16. An extension at the rear of Bank Buildings opened in November. Tesco is also due to reopen its Metro store on Royal Avenue at the end of April. The safety cordon in place since the Primark fire is expected to be reduced further in June to allow buses to flow freely again. This week we said goodbye to Maggie Doyle, who has spent the past 35 years as a senior producer and editor with BBC Northern Ireland. I always found her to be pleasant, helpful and a great source of encouragement. Mind you, no-one took any liberties with her. I always felt the personable Maggie had two voices - one a light, airy tone and the other a more subdued, rather deeper voice, which she only used when pointing out the errors of their ways to someone like me. The manner in which she guided me in my career has made me forever grateful to her. She was very professional, knowledgeable and diligent, but she was also warm and affectionate. It was a great honour for me to make a presentation to her at a farewell party held in her honour. Veteran broadcaster John Bennett presented a special This Is Your Life in honour of Maggie and this certainly proved a big hit with all the gang who were present. Jo, Mary, Gillian and the rest, just like me, had come to appreciate Maggie's attributes and her enormous contribution to BBC NI. I have always regarded it as a privilege to have come under Maggie's wing and she will now go into a well-deserved retirement, along with her husband, Linley Hamilton, who is one of the best-known musicians in Northern Ireland. I understand that the couple will be moving into a new home in midsummer and I wish them every health and happiness for the future. Beneath a big top perched on Wanstead Flats in east London, a heaving mass of Nigerian, Ethiopian, Malian, Lebanese and South African musicians roll on and off stage. Africa Express, a pan-continental group including African and British artists, are playing to a crowd of mainly east Londoners on a cold Friday night. It's a defiant display of multiculturalism on March 29 - the day Britain was meant to leave the European Union - organised by Damon Albarn as a two-finger salute to the orchestrators of Brexit. Albarn, now 51, wears many hats: observational, poetical frontman of Blur, the brains behind the virtual rock band Gorillaz and the frontman of his so-called supergroup The Good, The Bad and The Queen. Tonight he fills almost all these roles as Blur make a surprise three-song appearance after The Good, The Bad and The Queen take to the stage. "We're in a period now where everything is make-believe," he tells the crowd. "It's like Danny Dyer said. It's all a great mad riddle." Not since Blur's seminal album Parklife has Albarn turned his eye to the British condition with such raw focus. Angered and saddened by Brexit, he explored the British condition, or "Anglo-Saxistentialist" as he calls it, in a record entitled Merrie Land, released late last year. Alongside former bassist for The Clash Paul Simonon, The Verve's Simon Tong and acclaimed Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, he might have created the first great Brexit record. It's five days earlier when I sit down with Albarn and Simonon as the band begin rehearsals in Acton, west London. Albarn starts to discuss the record, but it's hard to escape the shadow of Brexit. "My biggest problem with the referendum was that it very clearly gave licence to some rather unpleasant views being publicly aired and tolerated in a way they weren't beforehand," Albarn says. "We see that everywhere - it's not just this country." "It's self-imposed division," Simonon (63) adds. "But there was also an element that was simmering, that people were dissatisfied with the way things are." Albarn, wearing an orange beanie hat, loose jacket, turned up corduroy trousers, and trainers, is quick to rubbish claims Merrie Land is precisely about Brexit. "This record wasn't just about Brexit. It's an exploration of Englishness at the moment," he says. "You have to leave names out of it. Naming and shaming is not really for music." When Albarn began to explore Englishness as the frontman of Blur, the debate was less charged. This changed with Britain's 2016 decision to leave the EU and the fierce public debates that preceded that vote. Unsurprisingly, Albarn backs a second referendum and is no fan of Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or Nigel Farage. "They talk about the voice of the people, or the will of the people, but clearly things have changed," he says. "I don't know what the big issue is, other than utter fear that they are going to lose. "If you've got fear of losing it, then what the f*** are you talking about? You know that you are not in the majority anymore. "On every level, every avenue they go, it ends in a cul-de-sac, which is where I imagine a lot of people who voted Brexit live." While Merrie Land explores British concepts, Albarn hopes it is not seen by his "European cousins" as niche, examining only the minutiae of Britain's quirks. "It's a European record as well," he insists. "Everyone in Europe is clearly sick to death of our idiocy here. They're very, very aware of it. "Some of these songs, I would imagine, resonate abroad." The seed of the album was planted during a week of studio sessions between Albarn and Allen, the famed Nigerian drummer lauded for his work with Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti. It grew, unexpectedly, into a project exploring Britain's heart of darkness. Written between 2017 and 2018, Albarn took "pilgrimages", as Simonon describes them, to places such as Banbury, Southend and St Albans. "They were day trips with sandwiches," explains Albarn. "Very English." These fed into his reluctant farewell letter to Europe, manifesting in a magical realism that joins the dots between a Dorset bogeyman called the Horned Ooser, Britain's cathedrals and its now-dilapidated seaside resorts. The band hooks Albarn to the Brexit live wire, but it also offers him relief from the in-the-spotlight acclaim of Gorillaz. When The Good, The Bad and The Queen tour the UK in April, they will play in Norwich, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield and London. But there will be no stadiums. Albarn is keen to keep the project small. "When I'm doing Gorillaz, it's such a different reaction. It's a global one," he explains. "You put anything out and within 24 hours it's like eight million people have watched it, or even more. It's a very different dynamic to this. "It's a strange change of gear. I went literally from playing a stadium in Mexico City to rehearsals. "But I love that because when you are playing very big places, as Paul knows, it is a very different communication." When the word 'supergroup' is mentioned, Simonon looks repulsed. "A supergroup - it's so silly," he says, rolling the word around his mouth. "That existed in the 70s, but now it's really as simple as people working together. I don't think I'm in that category of super anything." Albarn chips in: "Supergroups are supposed to play stadiums and we're definitely not a stadium band by any stretch of the imagination." While Albarn knows Merrie Land is unlikely to stop the machinations of Parliament and the slow onset of political paralysis, what he also knows it can offer is a stark warning. "This record, it's an emotional reaction to all of that. It's not offering any answers," he says. "It's definitely part of a bigger warning that should be erected everywhere." The Good, The Bad and The Queen tour the UK from April 12. Merrie Land is out now DUP leader Arlene Foster has hit out at Prime Minister Theresa May's "disorganised and slapdash" approach to Brexit negotiations. Mrs Foster was speaking after Mrs May wrote to the European Union to request a further Brexit delay until June 30 in an attempt to find a solution. A previous request for a June 30 extension was rejected by the EU because of the need for the UK to take part in upcoming European elections. In her letter the PM indicated that the UK would be willing to field candidates in the European Parliamentary elections on May 23 if an agreement cannot be reached by then. If a deal is reached the UK would then seek to leave the EU before the June deadline. As it stands the UK will leave the EU without a deal on April 12, though if MPs can agree on a plan, a further extension could be granted until May 22. Read More Mrs Foster said that the latest extension request from the PM "is unsurprising but unsatisfactory". Expand Close PA Graphics Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp PA Graphics "Exiting the EU has become chaotic because of intransigence in Brussels and ineffectiveness in London," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said. "The United Kingdom fighting European elections almost three years after a clear majority voted to leave the EU sums up the disorganised and slapdash approach taken to negotiations by the Prime Minister. "We want a sensible deal which protects the Union and respects the referendum result but it was foolish strategically in the negotiations to limit the UKs leverage by removing no deal from the table." The DUP leader also criticised the PM's negotiations with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as she seeks to break the Brexit deadlock. "The Prime Minister should not waste any extension by subcontracting the UKs future to Jeremy Corbyn," Mrs Foster said. "This time should be used to get a better deal which works for every part of the United Kingdom so the entire nation can leave the European Union together. It is understood that European Council President Donald Tusk will propose a 12-month extension to Brexit, with the option of cutting it short if an agreement is reached. However French President Emmanuel Macron's office released a statement on Friday saying that it was "premature" to consider another delay. Mrs May is set to travel to Brussels next Wednesday for an EU summit, ahead of the UK's tentative departure date of April 12. An eyewitness to the Ballymurphy massacre described seeing soldiers throwing the body of a woman into an Army vehicle in an unceremonious and disrespectful way. The comments were made at the inquest investigating the deaths of 10 people killed in disputed circumstances in west Belfast in 1971. Agnes Keenan (82) gave evidence yesterday on events she witnessed on the evening of August 9, 1971. That day four people were killed - Joan Connolly, Daniel Teggart, Joseph Murphy and Noel Phillips. Mrs Keenan, then in her 30s, had been at her family home on the Springfield Road near to waste ground where the shootings took place. Looking from the back window of the house, she claimed to have seen soldiers throwing the body of Mrs Connolly "like a sack of potatoes" into the back of an Army Jeep. The court heard an extract from an interview with Mrs Keenan. She said: "They just threw her in. They always said the dead deserve respect. That will stay with me until the day I die." She added she saw what may have been the bodies of two men in the back of the vehicle. Earlier that evening Mrs Keenan had left the house when a crowd - that included Mrs Connolly - gathered on the street outside. She said the 44-year-old mother-of-eight had seemed "agitated" and had been waving a stick, but did not think it could have been mistaken for a weapon. Mrs Keenan said the crowd dispersed when soldiers arrived from the nearby Henry Taggart base. At this point she went indoors with her sister Margaret and sister-in-law Phyllis. The family later heard gunshots hitting the gable wall of the house. By the time Mrs Keenan managed to look out the window she said she saw two soldiers lifting Mrs Connolly by an arm and a leg and throwing her head-first into the vehicle. Speaking in court, she said: "It's hateful. They just threw her in. It's rotten to say, I'd like another way to say it. "They just quickly bundled her up and left." Earlier the inquest heard evidence from a former paratrooper who remained anonymous and spoke to the inquest from behind a screen. Identified only by the cypher M1374, he said that he saw a lieutenant carrying the body of a woman over his shoulder into a medical room. Two other men were also brought in, but he could only be sure one of them was alive at the time. Around dusk on August 9, the soldier had been in the Henry Taggart Hall. He said he heard the crack of high-powered rifle shots overhead, followed by a thump in the direction of the Vere Foster school, which was also being used by the Army. The soldier said he and others pushed gym benches up against the wall to see out, but he could not see where the shots were coming from. He then took up position outside behind sandbags, but said he did not see any soldiers fire their weapons. At a later point the paratrooper saw an armoured vehicle leave the base with his lieutenant on board. When the vehicle returned he saw the lieutenant carry the woman over his shoulders inside to a medical room. Another man was brought in by stretcher to the medical room. The soldier was then told to guard a third casualty in the hall. He said the man was groaning in pain, but did not think he was seriously hurt. When he helped to carry him into the medical room, however, he noticed the stretcher was covered in blood. He then noticed the body of Mrs Connolly who had been shot in the face. The second casualty was on the bed covered with a sheet but he could not tell if he was alive. As M1374 left he made eye contact with the lieutenant. A barrister for the Connolly family asked if this communication signalled "Oh my God, we've shot a woman... we need to get our story straight". He denied this was the case. The inquest continues. Birmingham jury mulling verdicts The jury hearing inquests into the deaths of the 21 people killed in the 1974 IRA Birmingham pub bombings will resume their deliberations today. The 11 members of the panel have sat through almost six weeks of evidence and have been tasked with completing a questionnaire, listing their narrative findings. Two massive explosions caused what one witness described as pure carnage, ripping apart the packed Tavern in the Town and Mulberry Bush pubs on the night of November 21, killing 21 people and injuring 220 others. A third bomb planted at Barclays Bank in Hagley Road, a mile away, failed to go off. Before sending the jury out, coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC directed jurors to find that the victims were unlawfully killed. Evidence has included testimony from a convicted ex-IRA bomber, the police on duty that night, rescuers, and survivors. There was a dramatic twist towards the end of evidence at the hearings when a former IRA member named four of the men he claimed were involved in the bombings . The man, identified in court only as Witness O, said he had been authorised to give those names by the current head of the IRA in Dublin. Loughinisland film-makers Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey at the Amnesty Media Awards in London A hard-hitting BBCNI investigation into the paedophile priest Malachy Finnegan has won a prestigious award from Amnesty International. The Spotlight programme into the disgraced clergyman, who died in 2002, received the regional media accolade at the charity's Media Awards 2019 held in London. Buried Secrets, which aired last year, examined a litany of child abuse allegations, understood to have taken place at St Colman's College in Newry where Finnegan taught, and later in the parish of Clonduff in Co Down. The programme, presented by Mandy McAuley, also interviewed survivors of the clergyman's abuse. Spotlight fought off competition from its BBC Scotland counterparts behind Disclosure: Dead in Police Custody, as well as award-winning Scottish-based investigative web journalism platform, The Ferret for its investigation into homelessness. Belfast journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, currently facing prosecution after being arrested in connection with a documentary exposing police collusion in the Loughinisland massacre of 1994, also received recognition at Wednesday's ceremony. The pair, who were arrested over the alleged theft of confidential material connected to the police investigation into Loughinisland from the Police Ombudsman, gave a speech about their experiences. The event, which was held in the Bafta venue and hosted by Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, also saw The Guardian take home Amnesty's Impact Award for its Windrush Scandal campaign. Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, said: "Without a free press, it's extremely difficult to expose wrong-doing and hold leaders to account. But even here in the UK we're seeing it being threatened - especially with the sinister arrest of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey in Northern Ireland last year. "That's why our awards are about congratulating the achievements of the media and championing its role in creating a fairer, more open world." A seven-year-old child told his teacher he would "stab her pregnant belly" in a shocking example of violence in Northern Ireland's classrooms. The case emerged as a teachers' union revealed it is to work with the PSNI to address a rise in violent incidents in schools. The Ulster Teachers' Union (UTU) said the problem must be tackled before there is a "real tragedy". Read More Officials said staff are encountering "obscene" levels of violence on a daily basis. A recent survey by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) revealed one in five school staff here is assaulted weekly. Separate figures from the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) show four and five-year-olds are among a rising number of pupils receiving suspensions. An ETI report published last November showed that in the 2016/17 academic year, 4,084 pupils were suspended. Of these, 286 were of primary school age and 74 were in P1 or P2. Children as young as five are being risk-assessed as teachers fear their challenging behaviour could endanger other pupils, officials claim. The growing problem of school violence is one of the issues set to dominate a UTU conference in Newcastle, Co Down, today. Ahead of the event, Jacquie White, UTU's deputy general secretary, described how teachers had suffered horrendous abuse and threats in the classroom. "One teacher was told by a seven-year-old that he would 'stab her pregnant belly' because he didn't want to do literacy," she said. "In another incident a senior teacher of 30 years' experience was pinned to a wall studded with coat hooks by a P7 boy simply because he got in his way. "In another instance a pregnant teacher with two physically and verbally abusive children in her P2 class was told there was no funding for extra help - she would just have to hold the boys' hands at all times to ensure they were behaving. "She had 28 other children in the class, of whom 10 had individual education plans because of their special educational needs. "So these are the realities behind the headlines when the public sees teachers asking for help and highlighting their growing fears about violence in the classroom." The ICTU survey, published last month, set out the school violence epidemic in stark terms. It said one in five school staff here is assaulted once a week. One in three education workers experiences physical abuse annually and 83% have been verbally abused in the classroom. Ms White said the UTU will work with police to reduce teacher assaults. She added: "We welcome the invite by the PSNI to work with them to halt the obscene levels of violence which teachers encounter daily. It must stop before there is a real tragedy. "A shock report by ICTU recently highlighted the issue yet again and we support their tireless efforts in this area, but why is teaching the only profession where an almost acceptable level of violence seems to be tolerated? "Everyone coming to the gates of any school should be aware that violence against staff will not be tolerated and, where it arises, the police will be involved - even if this means a sign like those in GPs' surgeries, pharmacies, and Post Offices, for instance. "The incidences we encounter in our profession are horrifying and in any other setting would trigger an immediate response, yet teachers are expected to take it as part of their job, regardless of the impact it has on their mental and physical well-being." Ms White said some parents were unaware of the extent of violence in the classroom now. She added: "I think people sometimes hear about the abuse of teachers but relate it to their own experiences a generation or two ago when a bit of cheek or bad attitude was as far as it usually went. "What's happening in the classroom today is on an entirely different level and teachers feel they are being increasingly scapegoated and isolated. "They are expected to embrace the well-intentioned 'inclusion' policy of educating all children together, including those with special educational and behavioural needs, yet they're not being given the funding or training to support this. "Often they're even afraid to complain in case they are blamed. What kind of unhealthy management cultivates this kind of victim culture?" The PSNI said: "Abuse of any kind whether physical, verbal or online is unacceptable and police officers are committed to investigating offences, supporting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice. "We are mindful of the impact that abuse can have on family and work life. "We would therefore encourage any member of teaching and teaching support staff who has been subjected to abuse to report it to police. "We would also welcome the opportunity to work with the education sector to try and prevent incidences of abuse." A dissident republican party has been slammed for refusing to condemn violence after it forced a youth club to axe an event involving the PSNI. DUP MP Gregory Campbell said Saoradh, which denies being the political wing of the New IRA, is only the latest example of a group that "point-blank refuses" to oppose dissident violence. "They are thugs and bullies," he said. "When asked to justify it they can't, so they just refuse to condemn it. All that does is fracture community relations." It comes after The Long Tower Youth and Community Centre in Londonderry cancelled a conference in the Guildhall on Wednesday because Saoradh had warned it would protest because of police involvement. Organisers said they were left with no choice but to cancel the event after Saoradh refused to engage in dialogue. Yesterday Saoradh's Paddy Gallagher said he saw "no point" in condemning violence and murder as he defended the group's opposition to "British Crown forces" addressing young people in Derry. While he denied party links with any other groups, including violent dissidents, he repeatedly said he understood republican violence when asked about the tactics of the New IRA, which planted a car bomb outside Bishop Street Courthouse in January. When asked on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show about a group of teenagers who walked past the vehicle just minutes before it exploded, he replied: "What about them?" Only after being pressed a number of times on the issue did Mr Gallagher describe all deaths in "occupied Ireland" as "regrettable". He then went on to claim that the vast majority of nationalists have little to no confidence in the PSNI. hen asked how much support they have in his party, he replied: "That remains to be seen." Mr Campbell said he hoped the rhetoric would push ordinary people away from the organisation. "Even Sinn Fein, which never used to, couches its words in the condemnation of violence," he said. "There isn't a popular mandate for any other viewpoint." Mr Campbell criticised the group for its agenda of seeking "to stop Catholics joining the police", and for its double standards. "They want it both ways. They want to stop Catholics joining and then they want to condemn the PSNI for not being representative," he said. Sinn Fein MLA Karen Mullan described Saoradh's refusal to engage with the youth club as "typical of their failure to rationalise or defend their actions". "They should withdraw the threat to protest and allow the youth club to get on with the positive work they are doing," she added. Yesterday Chief Constable George Hamilton branded Saoradh's ability to exercise enough influence to stop the event as "disgraceful". "This was not some sort of cosy tea and biscuits event," he said. "This was hard-edged young people, who had their concerns about policing, coming to challenge their local police about how they conducted themselves." Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said he believed Saoradh's attempt to intimidate young people out of engaging with police was a "mark of desperation" as he told a Policing Board meeting there were no "no go" areas for the PSNI. Last night the chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland also condemned the group for preventing a genuine attempt to hold a forum where young people could engage with police about certain tactics "designed to restrict and counter life-threatening terrorist actions" in Derry. "It is a real pity the organisers called off the meeting in the face of such bully-boy tactics, but I fully understand the reasons for the decision," Mark Lindsay added. "People want normality, free from thugs and gangsters who masquerade under a flag of convenience." He said the community did not deserve to have its voices silenced by the actions of "a few who cannot bear to think" that the PSNI was making progress. Policing Board chair Anne Connolly said there was no excuse for the threat against the youth club which prevented people freely engaging with police. Ebrahim K Kanoo, the sole distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Bahrain, has organised the first Toyota and Lexus National Skills Contest for its employees. The contest a highly competitive activity for employees to demonstrate their talent, technical knowledge and practical expertise in their respective professional fields, said a statement from the company. The contest was held at the newly established Ebrahim K Kanoo Training Centre in Tubli and saw contestants from all Toyota and Lexus service centres across Bahrain take part in five categories: general technician; service advisor; estimator; paint and body categories, it said. Ebrahim K Kanoo director of operations Ebrahim M Kanoo, said: We are fully committed to provide our customers with the best aftersales service and experience possible. In line with Toyotas global Kaizen philosophy, this competition nurtures the sense of continuous improvement to find the most efficient solutions to any task as well as a chance for our fully dedicated staff to stand out, he added. Ebrahim K Kanoo senior general manager of service Michael Goode, said: This contest is an investment in the skills of our team, it helps ensure they have a high level of professional knowledge and the abilities required to remain at the forefront of industry standards. It has also been proven to support high customer satisfaction levels thanks to less downtime and increased efficiency for all our customers and business partners, he added. The winners received cash prizes, trophies and certificates while the overall winner will have the opportunity to attend The Annual Assembly of Toyota International Customer Service Champions Society in Japan later this year, it stated. TradeArabia News Service The "drugs" arrest and swift de-arrest of a man "did not look good" for police investigating the deaths of three teenagers in a crush outside his Cookstown hotel, the Chief Constable has admitted. Speaking at a Policing Board meeting in Belfast yesterday, George Hamilton said it had been "a distraction" to the investigation. But he maintained his officers investigating the St Patrick's night tragedy at the Greenvale Hotel "have done a good job". Read More Lauren Bullock (17), Morgan Barnard (17) and 16-year-old Connor Currie died in the crush at the door of the premises last month. In the aftermath hotel owner Michael McElhatton (52) was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply. After forensic testing of the substance, however, he was de-arrested. Mr McElhatton issued a statement accusing police of blackening his name and causing upset for many people who were already distressed. Police later said white powder found in a clear plastic bag during a search of Mr McElhatton's home was an "innocent substance". Mr Hamilton maintained police were correct in not to say sorry at the time despite heavy criticism. "The arrest was entirely lawful. The threshold for arrest had been met and on that basis there was nothing to apologise for," he maintained. "What is regrettable is that it took attention away. It was a distraction from the grief that those families were suffering, the loss of those three young people. "Perhaps we communicated too early, and I have no difficulty in accepting that. "This was officers acting in good faith. Having seen the items, the officers were perfectly entitled to form a reasonable suspicion that this was class A drugs. "As soon as we fast-tracked the analysis, as soon as we discovered that it wasn't actually class A drugs, the person was de-arrested for that offence. "In many ways it was a technical release, because they were already in custody for manslaughter suspicion anyway. "That was all done appropriately and we certainly would not have been putting out the identity of anyone arrested prior to charge in the courts." Mr Hamilton told the meeting he was proud of the way his officers had handled a very difficult, high pressure investigation into the deaths of the three young people, having so far identified more than 800 witnesses. The PSNI faced criticism after the first officers to arrive at the scene withdrew over safety concerns. Mr Hamilton referred that matter to the Police Ombudsman. "I think officers responded in good faith in very difficult circumstances, large numbers, lots of uncertainty, chaos. These officers were brave, but I do think that when we objectively look at the time of arrival, the withdrawal and the details of all that, then there are questions to answer," he said. "Those officers will answer them because they will hold themselves accountable and they're open to being held accountable. The referral to the Police Ombudsman was one about confidence. "The investigation team and local police have done a good job, not to be self-congratulatory in such tragic circumstances. "Beyond that initial response we've had dozens of officers engaged in all sorts of investigative activity, support for the families. We're proud of the efforts that they're making." He said four officers had initially turned up at the hotel "where there were lots of people and more arriving". "It was uncertain, chaotic. In some instances alcohol had been consumed. They had to make an assessment about their own safety and their own ability to actually do some good," he said. "Sometimes when police intervene, and I'm not saying this was the case in Cookstown, but sometimes the presence of officers and their intervention, if too early, too robust or over-zealous, can make the problem worse. "All the indications we have is that these officers turned up, they're faced with several hundred people in the vicinity and they made a judgment to hold back. "They have support several minutes away and after assessing the scenario they call for assistance and there was a delay. "That's all factual and I'm happy to convey that. "The investigation into who did what and when will all have the benefit of a Police Ombudsman investigation, and I have every confidence in that." DUP MP Gavin Robinson has asked Sinn Fein leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill whether they support the Birmingham pub bombers being brought before the courts. In response, Sinn Fein pressed for mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the Troubles to be implemented by the Government. On Friday, an inquest jury found that a botched IRA warning call prior to the bombings caused of contributed to the deaths of the 21 people killed in the 1974 atrocity. Read More A further 220 were injured in the two blasts at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs. Following an almost six-week inquest, an 11-member jury found that an inadequate IRA warning cost the police vital minutes in evacuating the area. The families of the victims have now called on the West Midlands Police to bring those responsible to justice. DUP MP Gavin Robinson called on the Sinn Fein leadership to "explain their position on justice for the families". This was a heinous act of terrorism on innocent people. My heartfelt sympathies are extended to the families and I trust this inquest has brought some truth for them. 21 people died and over 200 were injured by those who planned and planted the bombs," he said. "Whilst Michelle ONeill has met the Birmingham families, the Sinn Fein leadership should explain their position on justice for the families. Do Michelle ONeill and Mary Lou McDonald condemn the Birmingham bombers and do they support the bombers being brought to justice? In response, a Sinn Fein spokesperson said: "Sinn Fein has met with the Birmingham families and extended our sympathies to those killed and injured. "All victims of the conflict and their relatives are entitled to access to the truth about what happened to their loved ones. "Mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the conflict were agreed in the Stormont House Agreement in 2014 by the two governments and the political parties. "Six months have now passed since the end of the public consultation on those mechanisms so the British government should stop delaying their implementation and set up the legacy structures." West Midlands Police Chief Constable described the pursuit of any suspects in connection with the bombings as "a very active investigation". Asked if, as was suggested in the inquest, the Good Friday Agreement had blocked any realistic prospect of bringing the killers to justice, he said it would not "prevent" that process. "This is simply about the evidence. The criminal investigation will take the direction it is going to take," he said. "We will bring people to justice within our ability to do that. I don't see anything in terms of any political arrangement that prevents us carrying out that enquiry." DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has said that people did not vote for a "halfway house" on Brexit and his party will work to have the referendum result implemented. He was speaking yesterday after appearing to indicate on Wednesday that the DUP was open to the idea of a temporary customs union. TUV leader Jim Allister said no unionist could do that because accepting the Prime Minister's deal with a customs union bolt-on meant signing up to the backstop. Read More In a statement yesterday, Sir Jeffrey urged the Prime Minister to press the EU for changes to the withdrawal agreement rather than try and reach a deal with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. "The referendum result must be respected and implemented. People voted to leave the EU. To do otherwise would be a betrayal of democracy," he said. "While the Prime Minister and the Government may consider other options as halfway houses or staging posts, that is not the Brexit people voted for. "We will work in Parliament for the referendum result to be properly respected." "Rather than subcontract our negotiations to Jeremy Corbyn, the Prime Minister should urge her counterparts across the European Union to recognise the Brady amendment and work towards a sensible deal which Parliament can rally behind." On Wednesday, Sir Jeffrey told the BBC: "We would have preferred a form of Brexit that enables the UK to negotiate new trade agreements with other countries. "That's part of the reason for Brexit, and maybe a customs union might be a temporary staging post towards that objective. "We will wait to see what the Prime Minister brings before Parliament. "But we are clear - we want a Brexit that delivers for all of the United Kingdom and that keeps the United Kingdom together. That is our objective." The DUP MP yesterday denied that he had changed his position overnight or that he had backed a temporary customs union. "I merely suggested that the Commons may end up supporting a customs union, perhaps as a staging post, but that does not infer that we would support such an option. Indeed, I made clear this is not our preferred option," he tweeted. TUV leader Jim Allister said: "Now is not a time for muddled thinking on a customs union, but for absolute clarity. "Any unionist foolishly suggesting what is misleadingly referred to as a 'temporary customs union' has clearly forgotten that the backstop locks Northern Ireland - alone within the UK - into the EU customs union. From such there is no escape without Brussels' consent. "To accept the withdrawal agreement with a customs union bolt-on is to accept the backstop. That is critical. "The effect of locking Northern Ireland through the backstop into the customs union of a territory different from that of the nation of which we are a part is constitutionally devastating. "It would leave us alone subject to European Union tariffs and a customs code over which we would have no say, leaving us excluded from any trade deals negotiated by the UK. "This is not some trifling semantic but goes to the heart of the integrity of the UK. "Thus, it is not something any unionist should be contemplating." Meanwhile, DUP MP Sammy Wilson accused the Government of appearing to plan for a Brexit U-turn after Chancellor Philip Hammond suggested a second referendum would be a "credible proposition". He told the House of Commons: "Are we beginning to see yet the start of another U-turn by a government which has abandoned all of its promises to go forward with a no-deal, to have no border down the Irish Sea and to ensure we leave the EU on 29 March?" The family of Seamus Ludlow are aiming to raise awareness of his murder as they continue to demand justice (PA) The family of a man shot dead in 1976 say they have been failed by the Irish Government and the Gardai. Seamus Ludlow, 47, a forestry worker, was killed on his way home from a local pub in Dundalk, Co Louth. His family have long maintained Mr Ludlow was an innocent victim of a loyalist death squad comprising a Red Hand Commando and two members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who travelled from the north into the Republic of Ireland to commit the murder. The family of Seamus Ludlow, who was shot dead in 1976, are demanding a full public inquiry into his death. They say the Irish government are frustrating efforts to win justice for Seamus. pic.twitter.com/ee1nCkWBzB aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) April 5, 2019 They are now demanding a full public inquiry into his death after they won permission from the High Court in Dublin to challenge the decision not to prosecute members of the British Armed Forces and loyalist paramilitaries identified as suspects. The family have commissioned an information leaflet to be handed out around Co Louth and South Armagh to raise awareness of the case among the public and garner support for their campaign. They claim the Irish Government are frustrating efforts to win justice for Mr Ludlow, and say the Gardai were passed the suspects names but put them in a drawer and closed it. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) told the Garda in 1979 the names of four loyalists it suspected of being involved in Mr Ludlows killing but the information was not pursued at the time. In 1998, four named suspects were arrested and questioned by the RUC and two of the men allegedly made confessions about their involvement in the murder. The family also believe Gardai were complicit in spreading false rumours that Mr Ludlow was killed for being an IRA informant, and that documents about the case, two bullets and items of the victims clothing have been lost by state agencies. Attending the launch of the Justice for Seamus Ludlow leaflet in the Tain Theatre in Dundalk. pic.twitter.com/dUaRQySSx0 Cllr Antoin Watters (@cllrawatters) April 5, 2019 An Oireachtas committee in Dublin recommended more than 10 years ago that two commissions of investigation be held into the murder and subsequent events, after an official judge-led report damned the original botched Garda probe. Neither of the recommendations have been implemented by the Government. Gavin Booth, a solicitor for the family, said the case is strong that there have been failings on behalf of the state on both sides of the border. He said: Its very rare a family can litigate in both states, but given what has happened to Seamus there is cases that exist in both north and south. There is a political failure here to deal with the past in the north, and this spreads into the south, unfortunately families have been left without proper disclosure of details. Hopefully we find out what happened to Seamus, what the background is, what role the British Army played, what role state agents played. Theres also failings within the Gardai, we want to know what role they did fully play. The Oireachtas report said that the Gardai did fail, when people brought the case from Dundalk to Dublin, they were told to forget about it and leave it, why did this happen? Who made those decisions? The family of Seamus Ludlow are seeking truth and justice for Seamus who was killed 43 years ago. Today they publish a new leaflet outlining the case. pic.twitter.com/JTAC8U097y Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) April 5, 2019 Mr Ludlows nephew Michael Donegan said the family will not stop in their quest for justice. He said: From day one it was always clear theres a whole lot wrong with the murder of Seamus Ludlow, and theres a whole lot going on under the surface that we dont know. Im afraid it becomes all too obvious, all this hostility towards our family is based on a need to protect some dark secrets. Theyre trying to keep us in the dark, poor Seamus did not deserve the end he got, but the impugning of his name basically made him the architect of his own death, that is shameful. The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: The murder of Seamus Ludlow was a brutal and despicable act of random violence perpetrated against an innocent man. It is a matter of sincere regret that nobody has been held accountable for his murder. It is acknowledged that there were serious failings in the investigation at the time. The family are currently engaged in litigation against the State regarding the establishment of a Commission of Investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time. An ex-apprentice solicitor who admitted subjecting his now former girlfriend to a series of violent assaults over a six-month period was told yesterday to prepare himself for a lengthy period of imprisonment. Judge Philip Babington made the comment at the Crown Court in Londonderry during a plea and sentencing hearing for Kevin McDaid (32), who is from Derry but has been living at a bail address at Hillview in Buncrana, Co Donegal. McDaid pleaded guilty to 13 charges relating to his violent conduct against his former girlfriend. He committed the offences on various dates between May and November of 2017. Following yesterday's hearing, the defendant was remanded in custody. He will be sentenced next Thursday. Members of the victim's family were in court when a prosecution barrister outlined the series of violent assaults committed by McDaid. The barrister said on one occasion, during what was described as a toxic and alcohol-fuelled relationship, the defendant grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and spat in her face. On another occasion, after McDaid and his victim attended a Christening, they had another heated argument during which he pulled her off a sofa by the hair and then punched and kicked her. During separate assaults, McDaid hit her on the head with a mobile phone, struck her on the legs with a length of wire and stamped on her chest. Following another assault, He locked his victim in the bathroom for up to half an hour and only released her after she shouted out of their bathroom window for help. After another assault, the victim ran onto the street, with the defendant running after her while shouting, "I am going to f****** kill you". A neighbour came to the victim's assistance and said to McDaid, "Have some respect, this is a girl". McDaid then punched him on the nose. The prosecution barrister said McDaid had a record that included indecent behaviour, disorderly behaviour and assault. "This offending represents a catalogue of assaults, some obviously more serious than others," he added. "It is clear they cross the custody threshold and that they have had a serious effect on the complainant. "In accordance with her victim impact report, she is still suffering the effects to this day." Defence barrister Michael McAleer said at the outset the defendant wished to apologise to his victim. "Irrespective of what this court does to him, and he is aware of the likely outcome, he has lost his career, which was at an advanced stage of study, to become a solicitor," he said. "He lost his job as a direct result of his court appearances and he will now not be admitted to the roll of solicitors. "It was a toxic relationship and it is unfortunate that one or other of the parties did not realise that at an early stage." Judge Babington said he would not accept any suggestion that the victim was a contributory party to the violence. "In my court, there is no excuse for a man to lift his hand to a woman. In every relationship there are difficulties at times, but I do not accept casting some of the responsibilities on to the complainant", he said. Mr McAleer said McDaid accepted he was at fault. A Co Tyrone paramedic who was attacked inside an ambulance has recalled the terrifying moment she was used as a "punchbag" by a male patient. Anne Marie Fitzgerald, who has worked for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) for more than 20 years, was forced to take leave after the attack last week. The mother-of-two is one of 47 paramedics to be physically assaulted so far this year. She was attacked in the back of an ambulance shortly after it arrived at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen during the early hours of last Wednesday morning. The male patient had been transported to the hospital from a house in the area. Anne Marie (50), who had been on duty since the previous day, was first punched in the mouth before the man began striking her repeatedly. "He lunged at me and punched me once in the mouth. I then fell back," she said. As Anne Marie attempted to shield herself with her arms, the patient then punched her on the back of her head and stomach before colleagues came to her aid. "It happened really quickly. A colleague opened the back of the ambulance and then I managed to climb over a stretcher to get away," she explained. It took four people, including a police officer, to restrain the violent patient. Anne Marie was left with bumps to her head, a swollen lip and bruising to an eye. The emotional impact of the attack, however, will take much longer to heal, she told the Belfast Telegraph yesterday. "Never had I been physically assaulted like that before. I've been working in the ambulance service 20-plus years," she said. "Emotions can be high, I can take that, but there was no warning, no verbal aggression. There wasn't a build-up. The light went on, he looked at me and I just thought, 'Here we go'. "He was much bigger than I was and it happened so quickly. "I never anticipated being in that position. It has put me in a place that I hate being in. "I just feel vulnerable, overwhelmed and in shock. "We try our best. We're not there to be used as a punchbag, verbally or physically. "Afterwards I just kept saying, 'I'm fine, I'm fine'." Anne Marie, who works in the Western Area out of the Omagh Ambulance Station, said she had yet to formally report the assault to police because it was still sinking in. "I haven't spoken to anybody yet - it's just too raw. I'm still on sick leave, trying to cope with what happened," she added. The health service worker, who is also a Sinn Fein councillor for Mid-Tyrone on the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, said the attack also left her husband, Kevin, and two daughters, Aoife (20) and Clodagh (18), deeply upset. "When I first told my husband he was alarmed, upset and angry, and my daughters were stunned," she stressed. Despite the attack, Anne Marie said she loves her profession, which she entered in the mid-90s after working as a staff nurse in the former Tyrone County Hospital. "I can take the verbal abuse (as part of the job)," she added. "The raised emotions can be hard to take, but I can see where people's emotions are coming from." Ambulance service statistics show that last year 432 assaults against ambulance personnel were recorded, 156 of which were physical. Overall, there have been 130 assaults, including verbal, on paramedics so far in 2019. In 46 cases it was a physical attack. Anne Marie has now joined that list, but she is not the only person in her station to have been subjected to an attack. "A few colleagues have been assaulted before," she said. "One colleague was pulled to the ground and had her hair pulled by a person who also punched her and attempted to bite her. "But it isn't just paramedics. It's casualty staff, care assistants, porters, social workers. It's getting to be scary stuff." Anne Marie's attack, first reported by the Ulster Herald, has been condemned by the NIAS. Chief executive Michael Bloomfield said the case should result in tougher action against those who perpetrate violence against people working for the emergency services. Describing the assault as unacceptable, he said attacks were occurring "too frequently" and had a knock-on effect on staffing levels and cover. He explained: "This could have potentially tragic consequences for those who may have need of our service." Mr Bloomfield stressed that paramedics such as Anne Marie deserved better. "We will continue to support them through measures available to us, including immediate management and peer support, which will continue for as long as necessary," he added. Anne Marie said she spoke out about the attack to highlight the worrying trend. "It's horrible, it's vile... I want to see a zero-tolerance approach. I want to see the courts come down harder," she added. The family of the last person to be killed by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday appear set to receive at least 258,000 in damages. The recommended pay-out for the shooting of father-of-six Bernard "Barney" McGuigan in Derry was disclosed during proceedings at the High Court. But a possible appeal is also being considered against a ruling that an extra 15,000 should be awarded for injury to the 41-year-old victim's feelings. Thirteen people were shot dead when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in January 1972. A fourteenth victim died later from his wounds. Civil actions were brought by victims and their families after a major tribunal established the innocence of all those killed and wounded. The Saville Inquiry's findings in 2010 prompted the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, to publicly apologise for the actions of the soldiers. He described the Bloody Sunday killings as "unjustified and unjustifiable". With liability accepted, proceedings are centred on the level of damages to be paid out. More than 1.8m has already been paid out in settlements and awards made in 16 other claims. Mr McGuigan, a painter and decorator, was shot at the Rossville Flats area as he went to the aid of 31-year-old Patrick Doherty, another of those shot dead on the day. Expand Close Bernard "Barney" McGuigan was killed on Bloody Sunday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bernard "Barney" McGuigan was killed on Bloody Sunday He had been waving a white handkerchief when hit by a bullet to the head, killing him instantly. Counsel for the McGuigan family, Brian Fee QC, contended that aggravated damages should also be awarded due to the circumstances surrounding his killing. "This man emerged from a position of shelter to try and help others, and must have been terrified as he did so," he said. David Ringland QC, representing the Ministry of Defence (MoD), argued that aggravated damages are not recoverable because death was instantaneous. Ruling on the dispute, Mr Justice McAlinden backed the plaintiff. "The wrongful actions of the servants or agents of the defendant on the day in question would have filled the deceased with fear and dread, coupled with a strong sense of indignation and hurt at being the innocent victim of a blatant, unprovoked and unjust attack by members of the army," he said. He also held that the behaviour of the soldiers responsible for the shootings was "imbued with a degree of malevolence and flagrancy which was truly exceptional". Based on Mr McGuigan being killed instantly, the judge decided his estate is entitled to 15,000 aggravated damages. At a further hearing on Thursday he was told the MoD is considering whether to appeal that award, and that counsel has provided advice. Any challenge could impact on similar claims for aggravated damages in outstanding cases brought by the Doherty family and others, the court heard. It then emerged that an overall settlement of 273,000 has been advanced in the McGuigan case - made up of 258,000 plus the 15,000 awarded. "That's the recommended figure," Mr Ringland said. Noting the agreement reached between counsel, Mr Justice McAlinden said a formal decree can be made once final authorisation is obtained. Outside court a lawyer for the Doherty family expressed disappointment at both having their case adjourned and the potential appeal to the aggravated damages award to the McGuigan family. Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane Solicitors claimed: "It is a trivial amount in the context of the MoD's limitless budget, and their general approach to this litigation is far removed from the efficient manner with which it undertook to approach these proceedings in 2011." The PSNI has revealed a dissident republican group is targeting car recovery firms working for it. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said that two firms were targeted in arson attacks by the 'New IRA' in recent weeks and others remain under threat. Read More He told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that several vehicles had been damaged in the attacks and called the threats "vile and reprehensible". Mr Todd said that the firms were working with police to recover abandoned vehicles. "Faceless individuals threatening people's livelihoods and threatening services provided to the community, and without any explanation of what their basis for doing so or what authority they have to do so," he told the Nolan Show. "In any civilised society, I think it's vile and reprehensible. The sooner people come forward and acknowledge their mistake, apologise and withdraw that threat the better." The Assistant Chief Constable described the 'New IRA' as "small but dangerous". "They try to exert their influence by fear, by shooting young people in alleys, by forcing people from their homes and by issuing threats against legitimate business people delivering services to the benefit of communities," he said. Mr Todd said that police were continuing to work to combat the threat posed by dissident republicans. "It's our job as a police service to stand between people like that and law abiding citizens. "We target these individuals on a daily basis, you will see throughout any given week people being arrested, charged with offences and put before the courts across a range of violent dissident republican activity. "There's a significant amount of resources put towards it on a day and daily basis, 24/7 and we'll continue to do so." DUP Mid Ulster MLA and Policing Board member Keith Buchanan urged the Sinn Fein leadership to issue a clear statement that there should be no no-go areas for the police or their contractors. "These republican terrorists want nothing more than to drag Northern Ireland back to the dark days. They will not succeed. They are faceless cowards who do nothing but bring chaos and destruction to communities," he said. "It will take collective and strong leadership from all parties, not least Sinn Fein to stand together in condemnation of these latest actions. "Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle ONeill should give leadership and condemn those who are trying to create no-go areas for the police. The police should be free to go everywhere in Northern Ireland. The European national tourist boards of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France are hosting an exclusive networking event in Dubai in April ahead of the Middle Easts leading tourism fair Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to raise awareness before the onset of the busy summer season. In a combined effort, Atout Frances travel trade workshop Marhaba will kick off their two-day event on April 24, while the national tourist boards of Germany, Switzerland and Austria will take over on April 26 and host the Heart of Europe Travel Summit in the beautiful settings of the Sofitel, The Palm, Dubai. More than 40 tourism suppliers from France and 80 from Germany, Switzerland and Austria ranging from local tourist boards, hotels, destination management companies, airports, shopping facilities, transport companies as well as medical clinics are looking forward to developing the knowledge on the destinations and provide travel trade from the GCC with the opportunity to source products to enhance their holiday offerings for the summer season and beyond. The four tourism boards expect the attendance of over 100 buyers from the GCC region. Highlighting the importance of the travel trade industry in the Gulf region, Sigrid de Mazieres, director for the Gulf countries at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), an affiliate of the German National Tourist Board, said: We are excited to collaborate with our European neighbouring countries, and to facilitate business relations between our touristic partners and the local travel trade through this new innovative platform." Commenting on this exclusive networking-event, Robert Groblacher, director Middle East & South East Asia, Austrian National Tourist Office, said: Our four countries are amongst the most visited and most popular premium destinations by travellers from the GCC in Europe. We are very proud to join forces and thus provide a perfect networking opportunity for the top touristic players from our countries and the GCC region The travel trade workshops will include pre-scheduled B2B appointments, cutting-edge presentations and extensive social programmes to experience the destinations hospitality and networking opportunities with participating decision makers. Switzerland Tourism is happy to welcome the most successful GCC tour operators and travel agents on the Heart of Europe Travel Summit. The summit is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the beauty of Switzerland and its neighbours to the GCC travel-trade. The event enables dedicated buyers and suppliers to meet in a very convenient way and nice setting in Sofitel the Palm, Dubai and its straightforward approach will guarantee a great return on investment, said Matthias Albrecht, director GCC, Switzerland Tourism. For travel trade interested in selling the respective European countries, the event is the perfect opportunity to strengthen ties and discover the latest product offerings from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. By working together and investing in this workshop, the tourist boards showcase their support of the GCC travel trade, and reflect the value of the industry for their tourism business. We believe that one of many challenges facing the travel trade industry today is to keep abreast of the growing and changing needs of travellers from the region. This joint and unprecedented event is a direct response to assist the travel trade in selling our countries, explained Karim Mekachera, regional director of Atout France Middle East. The GCC is one of the Top 15 source markets for Germany and Austria and the third largest non-European source market, after China and US. For Switzerland, the GCC market is the fifth biggest foreign market and the first market in daily expenditure spending with approx. - CHF450 ($452.9) daily per person. MENA accounted for 2.5 million visitors in France, of which 60 per cent were GCC travellers, in 2018. In addition, the tourist boards of Germany, Switzerland and Austria will be participating with dedicated stands at the trade fair ATM to further boost tourism growth from the Gulf region. - TradeArabia News Service Police confirmed the man died in hospital as a result of his injuries A man in his 70s has died in hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a crash in Co Antrim earlier this week. The single-vehicle crash happened on the Garryduff Road in Ballymoney at around 5.30pm on Tuesday. PSNI Inspector David Anderson appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dash-cam footage to contact police on 101, quoting reference 945 02/04/19. Police fired a plastic bullet and stun gun at a vulnerable female armed with a knife in her north Belfast house earlier this week, it can be revealed Police fired a plastic bullet and stun gun at a vulnerable female armed with a knife in her north Belfast house earlier this week, it can be revealed. The PSNI said it fired the weapons in a bid to prevent the woman from harming herself. The incident happened in Blackdam Close in Ligoniel during the early hours of Monday morning. A PSNI spokesperson said: "Specially trained officers responded and an AEP and Taser stun gun were deployed to prevent the female from harming herself. "She was safely detained and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of common assault and possession of a class B controlled drug. "She has since been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service." An eyewitness claimed the PSNI fired into the house. It is not known if the woman suffered any injuries. An AEP is an attenuating energy projectile, a "less lethal" plastic baton round than the older forms of the plastic or rubber bullet. They are more usually used for crowd control in riot situations. As is normal procedure when a PSNI weapon is discharged, the office of the Police Ombudsman has been informed. The Ombudsman confirmed they had received a complaint. "In the early hours of Monday morning, police informed us about the discharge of an AEP and the use of Taser during an incident in the Ligoniel area of Belfast," a spokesperson said. "We have since received a public complaint, and have now commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the incident." Members of the public are to have their say on a review of Northern Ireland's urgent and emergency care system. The Department of Health has also called a summit to tackle the pressures on emergency departments and find a new regional model of care for the province. The public consultation will be launched later this year. The summit and public consultation are key stages in the review of urgent and emergency care announced by the Department last November. As well as A&E care, it will consider GP out of hours provision and minor injuries units. The review is led by Dr John Maxwell, emergency department consultant at the Royal Victoria and Mater Hospitals, with the summit planned for June. In October 2016, then Health Minister Michelle O'Neill unveiled the Bengoa Report, a 10-year action plan on health care transformation in Northern Ireland. It identified urgent and emergency care as one of the specialties "in most need of reform". The summit will bring together clinicians, patient voices and representatives from organisations across the Health and Social Care (HSC) system. Dr Maxwell says the level of pressure usually experienced in winter at Northern Ireland's emergency departments is now lasting throughout the year. He added: "Many people who currently attend emergency departments do not have life-threatening emergency care needs, and could be dealt with more effectively in different settings, but there is currently nowhere else for them to turn. "We need fundamental reform - including developing alternative routes to treatment, care and admission for our older citizens." Department of Health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly added: "It is very clear we need a new model of care. "Unless we make changes, we will increasingly be unable to cope with the changing levels of need in our community." Dr Anne Carson, BMA NI consultants committee chair, said: "As we know, pressure on our emergency departments increases every year and this puts doctors under immense stress, and is very upsetting for patients who attend." The DUP's Gregory Campbell has accused Sinn Fein of "shamelessly exploiting" border communities after Mary Lou McDonald said the return of a hard border would be like "putting the Berlin Wall back up". The Sinn Fein leader made the comment following a phone call with the Prime Minister yesterday discussing Brexit. Read More Ms McDonald said she had "quite a detailed conversation" with Theresa May yesterday. "We've put it to the Prime Minister that at the beginning of this Brexit debacle commitments were given to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts to prevent any hardening of the border and to ensure the protection of citizens' rights. "She didn't give us any assurances as to how this would be achieved in the absence of any agreement. "I think it's important we understand that Irish prosperity, in addition to being linked to the single market, is also linked to the all-island economy. It's not just about the economy and trade, its not a technical dilemma - it's a political question and the idea of reinstating the border on the island of Ireland is almost like suggesting we rebuild the Berlin Wall. But DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the comparison was "scandalous and careless exploitation of genuine fears amongst good border communities". "The only people building walls at the border have been Sinn Fein amateur dramatics activists with fake checkpoints and trench coats," he added. "Jean-Claude Juncker, Michel Barnier, Angela Merkel and Leo Varadkar have recognised that even in a no-deal exit, there will be no one building a hard border. "The Sinn Fein leadership is shamelessly exploiting border communities for their own electoral advantage and making claims which bear no relation to the facts. Mary Lou McDonald should withdraw her claim that the border post-Brexit will be akin to the Berlin Wall." A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: "Sinn Fein will take no lectures from Gregory Campbell, whose party are driving our economy over a cliff edge and threatening our peace agreements. "They continue to ignore the views of businesses, farmers and the majority of people in the North who voted to remain within the EU. "The DUP are happy to accept a border in the Irish Sea when it comes to rights enjoyed by citizens in Britain, as they continue their disgraceful denial of language rights, marriage rights, women's rights and the right to a coroner's inquest. "The only way to avoid a crash-out Brexit and a hard border in Ireland is through the withdrawal agreement and the backstop contained within it." Three males were ordered to stand trial accused of the murder of Londonderry man Karol Kelly on Friday. The 35-year-old was stabbed to death following an assault at a house party in Grafton Street in the Rosemount area of the city on March 4 last year. Michael Dunlop (18), of Fern Park in the Galliagh area of the city, appeared first in the dock of Belfast Crown Court separate from his two co-accused. Defence counsel Fiona Doherty QC told Mr Justice Colton that the teenager was being arraigned separately from the other defendants in the case "for a number of reasons''. He pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Kelly and also denied subjecting the father-of-five to grievous bodily harm with intent. Dunlop further pleaded not guilty to a third charge of "doing an act to pervert the course of justice'' by disposing of knives. Brothers Gary Anderson (22) and Sean Anderson (20), whose addresses are given on court papers as c/o of Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre, later appeared at the same court for their arraignment hearing. Both denied a charge of murdering Mr Kelly. All three defendants were remanded back into custody to await the start of their trial in September this year. The jury trial is expected to last up to three weeks. Leona Morrow-McKittrick, from the Waterside in Derry, with her husband Mark The heartbroken husband of a Londonderry woman who died after a highly unusual reaction to an antibiotic given to treat sepsis has said her death was a nightmare that his family will never get over. Giving evidence at an inquest at Coleraine Court into his wife Leona's death, Mark McKittrick told Coroner Joe McCrisken that the couple's three children, Kayleigh (20), Caden (13) and six-year-old Harry, had been left devastated. The inquest found that Leona Morrow-McKittrick (38), from the Waterside, died on November 17, 2017, from sepsis of an unknown source and from an adverse reaction to a drug called teicoplanin, an antibiotic which is administered to people with an allergy to penicillin. During the inquest it emerged that teicoplanin is used in the Western Health Trust around 12,000 times a month, but Mrs Morrow-McKittrick had the only known allergic reaction. Mr McKittrick said he was devastated to discover six months after his wife's death that the reaction to the drug had been a factor in the tragedy because he had initially been told she died from sepsis. The inquest heard that Mrs Morrow-McKittrick was taken to Altnagelvin Area Hospital on November 16, 2017, with abdominal tenderness and a spiking temperature. She was admitted from A&E to the gynaecology ward, where staff suspected she had an infection, possibly from an operation to remove her womb performed nine days earlier at Belfast City Hospital. Despite some improvement in her condition on the morning of November 17, she began to deteriorate, which led medics to suspect she had developed sepsis. As part of the agreed treatment for sepsis, she was prescribed an antibiotic used for people who are allergic to penicillin, but within minutes her condition deteriorated rapidly to the point that she could not be saved. Mr McKittrick told the inquest he received a telephone call from Altnagelvin on the evening of November 17 asking him to get to the hospital. When he arrived on the ward and saw a number of people working on his wife, he was left "very concerned and in a state of shock". Mr McKittrick can still recall little of what happened until the moment he was told at 10pm that his wife had passed away. He said it was later that month he was told his wife had died from sepsis, and two months later that he was informed for the first time about "suspected anaphylactic shock". The coroner said there was no way the staff at Altnagelvin could have known she would suffer the adverse reaction. They were correct to administer the drug to her and had followed best practice in her treatment, but despite their efforts she could not be saved, he added. Paying tribute to his wife, Mr McKittrick told the Belfast Telegraph: "Leona was everything to me and to our children. "It has been so tough without her. Mentally, it has been a nightmare and we will never get over this. "You never really know what you have until it is gone. Our lives have been devastated since Leona died and will never be the same without her. "I am a lot more knowledgeable at the end of this inquest and I am grateful to the coroner for that. "This was never about blame - it was about getting answers. But as the coroner said, there are things we will never get the answers to." SDLP councillor Mairia Cahill has been railroaded into withdrawing from the upcoming local council elections due to concerns around her personal safety. Ms Cahill said that she had been told that she must make her home address public if she wants to retain her seat on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. She said that she had taken the difficult decision to withdraw "through no fault of my own". Ms Cahill was co-opted onto the council by the SDLP in 2018. All candidates for the upcoming local government elections are required to make their address public as one of the requirements for getting on the ballot paper. This is not the case for Assembly and Parliamentary elections. Ms Cahill said that publishing her address "could put my young daughter and I at severe risk in the future. That is something I cannot do." It effectively stops people with safety or security concerns from running for local government. Mairia Cahill She said that while it had been an "easy decision to make" it was a "bitter pill to swallow". The Head of the Electoral Office Virginia McVea told the Nolan Show that she had written to the Northern Ireland Office and the Head of the Electoral Commission highlighting the issue that they may "wish to consider for legislative change". Expand Close Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland Virginia McVea. PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland Virginia McVea. Ms Cahill said that the DUP's Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had been in contact with her to assure her he would raise the issue with the Secretary of State and ensure it was changed for future elections. A UK Government spokesperson said they are "sympathetic to the concerns raised". "This requirement has been in place since 1962 and it would require legislation to change the law," they added. "This is not possible ahead of the local elections deadline on Monday. We will urgently review this issue going forward." Ms Cahill said that she only learned she would be prohibited from standing this week. "I went to sign my nomination forms on Wednesday night and realised it was asking for a home address, I rang Virginia McVea and she said 'this is it' basically, her hands were tied," she explained. "She told me there were at least two other cases were people were reluctant to stand because they would have to disclose their home address. It effectively stops people with safety or security concerns from running for local government. "It's going to be very difficult for the candidate who replaces me, we've already spent money and my posters have been up for three weeks, we were confident enough of retaining the seat, we've worked hard on it over the last 10 months and now I can't run." Ms Cahill said that there was no hope of a u-turn and that she was "devastated" she would be unable to continue her work on the council. "I got a lovely message today from a group in a predominantly loyalist area who I had helped get sporting facilities, they said they were sad to see me standing down and hoped to continue our relationship," she said. "There is an example of positive work that has been done on the council that now is going to go by the way side, that was something I made a point of doing, I went to the Black Preceptory parade, I went to Remembrance Day events, I really wanted to reach out across the community. "There's lots of good work that could be continued, someone else will pick it up, but it's just devastating that those relationships have been built up and now you're barred from running." We are unwilling to put Mairia or her family at risk. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that the situation was a "total disgrace" and that the law "should protect victims of harassment not punish them". Former Labour Senator Ms Cahill came to public attention in 2010 after she made allegations she had been raped by an IRA member when she was a teenager in 1997. She waived her right to anonymity to speak out. She further claimed that the IRA conducted its own inquiry into her account, subjecting her to interrogation and forcing her to confront her alleged attacker. The man she accused of rape was later acquitted of criminal charges in court after Ms Cahill withdrew her evidence. The EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier arrives to meet business stakeholders and cross-border groups at the Guildhall in Derry (Niall Carson/PA) EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will visit Dublin on Monday for talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar. It is seen as a sign of solidarity for Ireland ahead of an emergency EU summit in Brussels next week. It comes after the British Prime Minister wrote to European Council president Donald Tusk requesting a Brexit delay, with an option to leave earlier if she can get a leave deal through Parliament. The aim is to take stock of developments in London as well as the ongoing planning for a possible no-deal scenarioTaoiseach spokesman A spokesman for the Taoiseach confirmed on Friday that Mr Barnier and his team would travel to the Irish capital. The aim is to take stock of developments in London as well as the ongoing planning for a possible no-deal scenario, the spokesman said. Mr Barnier will also meet with Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Finance Minister Paschal Donohue. The visit comes within days of Mr Varadkar holding bilateral meetings with French and German leaders. Mr Coveney said it was not surprising that Mr Barnier would visit Dublin before the summit. What he will want to do first of all is show solidarity with Ireland, Mr Coveney told RTE News. But also I think hell want a detailed conversation in terms of Irelands perspective on the most recent ask from the Prime Minister for an extension of time. He added: Ireland is of course willing to give the process more time, but we like many other EU member states will want to see a plan to go with that to show that there is a proposed way of finding a majority support in Westminster for a way forward. Asked about Irelands position on Mrs Mays June 30 request versus a possible flexible one-year extension, Mr Coveney said: Were open to either in truth. As long as there is a credible plan in order to get a deal across the line, then I think European leaders will look at an extension positively, he said. But they will need to see a credible plan to go with the ask. A monkey that was seized during a Garda raid in Dublin on Friday Two men and a woman have been arrested in connection with the seizure of firearms, ammunition and drugs in Dublin. Gardai carried out the searches at premises on Ratoath Road, Finglas earlier this morning. During the search, gardai discovered one Machine Pistol, one Sub- Machine Gun, one .357 calibre Revolver, 300 Rounds of assorted 9mm and .357 ammunition and 227 Rounds of 12 gauge Shotgun Cartridges. Cannabis worth 29,500 and cocaine with a street value of 97,300 were seized, as well as a quantity of clothing with a value of 3,000. It is understood that a caged monkey was also seized, which has since been handed over to the DSCPA. The monkey is now being taken care of by the DSPCA. Two men, one in his 30 and one in his 40s were arrested at the scene are detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at Finglas Garda Station. A woman in her 30s is detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, also at Finglas Garda Station. Help India! TCN News The AMU Students Union is organizing a convention on the same under the theme title The Citizenry Test : National Register of Citizen and the Citizenship Amendment Bill,2016 with the aim to educate and expose the students to the multiple aspects of this issue. Support TwoCircles The national register subsumes the name of all Indian citizens. Only at once instance has an NRC been ever prepared, in 1951. The 1951 NRC was updated from last 2014 for Assam which had a long standing foreigner problem, to weed out illegal immigrants and deter further influx. But since the draft publication many genuine Indian names were excluded showing sheer negligence of the NRC authority. It is notoriously noteworthy that the list excludes the names of the family members of ex-President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. t is a fact that the lakhs of illegal immigrants have to be deported as per the NRC and the Assam Accord of 1985. Hence the government proposed a bill to safeguard these immigrants who are mostly minorities from Indias neighbouring countries with the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which however seems to be communal in nature, which is against the very spirit of our democracy. The Convention will be the very first of its sort in the University boasting an exquisite palette of eminent experts like Prof Faizan Mustafa, who is a renowned jurist and the current Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR, Hyderabad. He is also the ex-Dean of AMUs Law Department. Senior Advocate at the Guwahati High Court, Hafiz Rashid Choudhury will also be taking a panel. Other experts of the issue who have surveyed actively like Syed Azharuddin, human rights lawyer Aman Wadud, and K M Baharul Islam who is a public policy expert. The approaching elections make it mandatory for understanding the political standpoints of the current government regarding the NRC hence all students are expected to gather and participate in this convention. The convention in on 6th April at 11.30 am at Kennedy Auditorium. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she was moved by the stories of people living in Irish border communities who were affected by the Troubles. Ms Merkel met with a panel of 15 people from Protestant and Catholic communities, both unionists and nationalists, from both sides of the border. Speaking in Dublin, she said: "Today was a very important experience for me. I come from a country that for many, many years was divided by a wall. "I lived behind the Iron Curtain, so I know only too well what it means once borders vanish." She added that "everything needs to be done" to ensure an open border continues. "After all, a heavy death toll has been taken here throughout the Troubles," she said. "What I have heard here will encourage me to explore ways and means to ensure this peaceful co-existence continues." Read More Representatives from Irish border communities who met with the German Chancellor said they were impressed by her knowledge on the issue. Ms Merkel travelled to Dublin to meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Farmleigh House to discuss Brexit and show solidarity with Ireland amid withdrawal negotiations. The border issue has remained a point of contention during the Brexit impasse because an open border on the island of Ireland is a key component of the Good Friday Agreement. Peter Sheridan, chief executive of Co-operation Ireland and a former assistant chief constable with the PSNI, who mediated the meeting, said Ms Merkel reflected on her own life growing up in East Germany. "She understood the personal messages that people gave her," Mr Sheridan added. "I think anyone who was there couldn't help but be impressed by her. She understood the passion of people and the very personal stories people shared with her this afternoon. "She reflected her own understanding and her own background and what it was like to be behind a wall. "You also couldn't help but be impressed about the range of people around that table today who were there speaking about their own personal experiences. "I have no doubt that the Chancellor went away well informed about the impact and the people part of this, not just the technical part of it - we're trying to put people in the middle of all this." Patricia MacBride, a magistrate in Londonderry and a former Victims Commissioner, said everyone who met with Ms Merkel was confident she took their words on board. "It was clear from the meeting today that the Chancellor has a very thorough understanding of the issues Irish citizens face living in the North," she added. "(She understood) the issue around denial of rights and issues around citizenship for people living in Northern Ireland and the border counties. "She understands the challenges a hard border would bring to this island. "I am certain she will take those messages into the meeting next week with the EU27 and what she heard today will be strongly reflected." The group also included peace workers from Derry and Belfast who lost close family members in bomb attacks, a unionist farmer and haulier from Inishowen in Donegal, a businessman from Co Monaghan and a GP from Donegal who now lives in Derry. Despite the desire to retain an open border, a leading European Union official said yesterday he could not rule out the prospect of customs points being built on this island. Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said "a hard Brexit is increasingly possible". Asked whether border posts would be needed between the Republic and Northern Ireland, he said the aim was to ensure that checks were done "away from the border, if at all possible". Senior officials were also briefing that checks on animals and food produce, including milk, will have to take place. The potential for a 'milk lake' has even been raised as farmers who currently sell dairy products will no longer be able to send their produce across the border. The EU will not accept creamery tanks containing "mixed EU and third-country milk". Supporters of Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) Supporters of Julian Assange have gathered outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after fears were raised that the WikiLeaks founder was about to be expelled. The anti-secrecy organisation said its sources in Ecuador had revealed Mr Assange could be removed from the building within hours to days. It is understood the source was regarded as credible by WikiLeaks. Ecuadors foreign ministry released a statement saying it doesnt comment on rumours, theories or conjectures that dont have any documented backing, but a senior Ecuadorian official said no decision had been made. Supporters arrived at the embassy throughout Friday morning, holding up posters and signs calling for Mr Assange to be allowed to leave without fear of being arrested. WikiLeaks believes Mr Assange will be extradited to the United States if he leaves the building. Expand Close Ciaron OReilly, a supporter of Julian Assange, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciaron OReilly, a supporter of Julian Assange, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) An Ecuador official said President Lenin Moreno was angered by the apparent hacking of his personal communications. On Tuesday, Mr Moreno blamed WikiLeaks for recent allegations of offshore corruption that appeared in local media outlets and the publication of family photos to social media. Mr Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance. He provided no evidence, and WikiLeaks has denied any involvement. WikiLeaks in a statement called Mr Morenos charges completely bogus, saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuadors legislature investigated the issue. Expand Close A poster van outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, following reports that the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is to be evicted. PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A poster van outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, following reports that the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is to be evicted. A van arrived at the London Embassy bearing a billboard in support of Mr Assange, and parked in a space reserved for diplomats. The man who arranged the board and gave his name as Fethi said: Im here to support Julian Assange. We just wonder if the police will take him away. Fethi, who briefly went into the embassy before he was escorted out by officials, said he does not believe Mr Assange will be expelled. Were going to be staying here until we see whats going on, he said. Expand Close The poster shows Julian Assange gagged by an American flag (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The poster shows Julian Assange gagged by an American flag (John Stillwell/PA) A picture on the billboard showed Mr Assange gagged by an American flag with the message #FreeSpeech. A member of staff inside the six-storey building declined to comment. Mr Assange has been living inside the embassy for almost seven years. A statement from Mr Assanges legal team said: Expelling Julian Assange would be illegal, violate international refugee law and be an attack on the UN which has repeatedly called for Assange to be able to walk free. It will be a sad day for democracy if the UK and Ecuadorean governments are willing to act as accomplices to the Trump administrations determination to prosecute a publisher for publishing truthful information. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We do not comment on speculation. This is a matter for the government of Ecuador. Julian Assange is in the embassy of his own choice and has always been free to leave. A supporter of Julian Assange, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London (John Stillwell/PA) Julian Assange is a free man who can leave the Ecuadorian Embassy in London whenever he wants, the foreign secretary has said, after fears were raised he was about to be expelled. WikiLeaks said its sources in Ecuador had revealed Mr Assange could be removed from the building within hours to days. It is understood the source was regarded as credible by the anti-secrecy organisation. Ecuadors foreign ministry released a statement saying it doesnt comment on rumours, theories or conjectures that dont have any documented backing, but a senior Ecuadorian official said no decision had been made. Jeremy Hunt said: Julian Assange is a free man, he can leave that embassy whenever he wants to, so we want the situation resolved as quickly as possible. Asked how likely that was, the foreign secretary said it is up to him, adding: Well, hes a free man, he can decide what he wants to do. Expand Close Ciaron OReilly, a supporter of Julian Assange, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciaron OReilly, a supporter of Julian Assange, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) Supporters arrived at the embassy throughout Friday morning, holding up posters and signs calling for Mr Assange to be allowed to leave without fear of being arrested. WikiLeaks believes Mr Assange will be extradited to the United States if he leaves the building. An Ecuador official said President Lenin Moreno was angered by the apparent hacking of his personal communications. On Tuesday, Mr Moreno blamed WikiLeaks for recent allegations of offshore corruption that appeared in local media outlets and the publication of family photos to social media. Mr Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance. He provided no evidence, and WikiLeaks has denied any involvement. WikiLeaks in a statement called Mr Morenos charges completely bogus, saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuadors legislature investigated the issue. Expand Close A poster van outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, following reports that the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is to be evicted (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A poster van outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, following reports that the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is to be evicted (John Stillwell/PA) A van arrived at the London Embassy bearing a billboard in support of Mr Assange, and parked in a space reserved for diplomats. The man who arranged the board and gave his name as Fethi said: Im here to support Julian Assange. We just wonder if the police will take him away. Fethi, who briefly went into the embassy before he was escorted out by officials, said he does not believe Mr Assange will be expelled. Were going to be staying here until we see whats going on, he said. Expand Close The poster shows Julian Assange gagged by an American flag (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The poster shows Julian Assange gagged by an American flag (John Stillwell/PA) A picture on the billboard showed Mr Assange gagged by an American flag with the message #FreeSpeech. A member of staff inside the six-storey building declined to comment. Mr Assange has been living inside the embassy for almost seven years. A statement from Mr Assanges legal team said: Expelling Julian Assange would be illegal, violate international refugee law and be an attack on the UN which has repeatedly called for Assange to be able to walk free. It will be a sad day for democracy if the UK and Ecuadorean governments are willing to act as accomplices to the Trump administrations determination to prosecute a publisher for publishing truthful information. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We do not comment on speculation. This is a matter for the Government of Ecuador. Julian Assange is in the embassy of his own choice and has always been free to leave. A Belfast-born lawyer who spat at a flight attendant during a racist foul-mouthed tirade - in which she claimed cabin crew would be shot by the IRA - has been jailed for six months. Simone Burns, who is known as Simone O'Broin, ranted abuse after she was refused alcohol on a nine-hour business class flight. Judge Nicholas Wood, sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court, told Burns: "The experience of a drunk and irrational person in the confines of an aircraft is frightening, not least on a long-haul flight and poses a potential risk to safety." Burns (50) was initially served three bottles of red wine but declared "I'm a f****** international lawyer" when she was denied more on an Air India flight from Mumbai to London on November 11 2018. Read More She also called staff "Indian money-grabbing c****" and smoked a cigarette in the toilets during the tirade which was condemned by a member of the cabin staff as unlike anything he had seen during his 30-year aviation career. The judge noted that "such offences are often committed by people of impeccable character". Although the aircraft was not at risk by Burns's behaviour, the judge said "for the luckless and unfortunate passengers and crew there is no escape at 30,000ft". He added that "spitting straight into a crew member's face at close range is a particularly insulting and upsetting act". Burns, of First Avenue, Hove, sat quietly in the dock as she was sentenced to six months for being drunk on an aircraft and two months for assault. The sentences are to be served concurrently after she previously pleaded guilty to the charges. *Waring extrememly offensive language in the post below The lawyer, who has worked with refugees around the world, unleashed a barrage of abuse in a prolonged rant which also saw her spit and grab the arm of the steward, the court heard. Burns was also ordered to pay 300 compensation to the crew member who was assaulted. The nine-hour flight took off at 4.10am as Burns sat in business class with 17 other passengers. After breakfast was served Burns was asking for alcohol and being "very obnoxious", the court heard. She was served with three 25cl bottles of red wine an hour into the flight. She had also complained that her TV was not positioned correctly. She had gone to the galley and demanded drinks when she stood back and spat into the crew member's face. Burns also grabbed the report the crew member was writing and continued with her abusive behaviour, the court heard. The court was told that this crew member later said: "In the 34 years I have worked for Air India this is the first time I have been treated like this by a woman. I felt abused." The judge said he was satisfied the offence was racially aggravated and that the Air India passengers must have been "extremely upset" by Burns's behaviour and the language she used. The judge told Burns: "The fact remains that you were drunk and obnoxious almost from the beginning to the end. You were abusive, contemptuous and confrontational and used appalling language." He added: "You are a woman, not just of good character but a positive and impeccable character - a righter of wrongs. What this has done, thanks to social media, (has meant) you have had death threats and been a hermit in your home. You are a person who has done good work throughout your life." Prosecutor Caroline Paul told the court that one of the crew members who dealt with Burns later described her as being "continually abusive in the nine-hour flight and in his 30 years as a flight pursor he had never witnessed such behaviour". The court heard that Burns was swearing and shouting. She was shouting that she was a 'f****** international lawyer' and telling them to 'f*** off'. She also shouted: "You f****** arses, you f****** Indian money-grabbing c****." Burns also tried to smoke a cigarette in the toilets at least three times. She was successful at least once because she later stank of cigarette smoke, the court heard. She was given a verbal warning and was then arrested after the flight touched down. Burns was also given a written warning on the flight but it made no difference to her abusive behaviour, the court heard. Mark Kimsey, defending, suggested that her actions were due to a "mixture of altitude, the consumption of drink and anxiety" at the fact that she was likely to miss the funeral of an uncle. He said she is "totally ashamed of her behaviour", adding: "This is not a lady who has a drink problem. This is not a woman who has a drug problem. This is totally out of character." Burns was diagnosed with facial skin cancer in 2000 and has had multiple biopsies and surgeries to what is "an active problem", according to Mr Kimsey. He added she is waiting to get a prosthetic nose. Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Supporters of Julian Assange have gathered outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after fears were raised that the WikiLeaks founder was about to be expelled. Mr Assange came under intense scrutiny after the whistle-blowing website began releasing hundreds of thousands classified US diplomatic cables. Here is a timeline of the key dates in his case. 2010 August: An arrest warrant is issued for Mr Assange for two separate allegations one of rape and one of molestation after he visits Sweden for a speaking trip. He is questioned by police in Stockholm and denies the allegations. November: Stockholm District Court approves a request to detain the WikiLeaks founder for questioning on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. An international arrest warrant is issued by Swedish police through Interpol. December: Mr Assange presents himself to London police and appears at an extradition hearing where he is remanded in custody. At a later hearing, he is granted conditional bail but is kept behind bars after Swedish authorities challenge the decision. Mr Assange is granted conditional bail at the High Court in London after his supporters pay 240,000 in cash and sureties. 2011 February: District Judge Howard Riddle rules that Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden and denies this would breach his human rights. Mr Assange vows to fight the decision. November: Mr Assange loses a High Court appeal against the decision to extradite him. Expand Close A poster van outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A poster van outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London (John Stillwell/PA) 2012 May: The UK Supreme Court upholds the High Court decision in the case, ruling that extradition is lawful and can go ahead. The Supreme Court later rejects a move by Mr Assange to reopen his appeal against his extradition, saying it is without merit. June 19: Mr Assange enters the Ecuadorian embassy in London, requesting political asylum. A day later, Scotland Yard confirms he will be subject to arrest for breaching his bail conditions. August 16: Mr Assange is granted political asylum by Ecuador. August 19: Mr Assange makes his first public appearance in two months on the Ecuadorian embassys balcony and calls for the US government to renounce its witch-hunt against WikiLeaks. November: Ecuadors ambassador to the UK, Ana Alban, says Mr Assange is suffering a chronic lung condition after spending months inside a one-room office at the embassy. The Ecuadorian government later plays down the health fears and says Mr Assange does not have an urgent medical condition. December: Mr Assange marks the six-month anniversary inside the embassy by making a rare public appearance on balcony to say the door is open for talks to break the deadlock over his campaign to avoid extradition to Sweden. 2013 June: Mr Assange tells a group of journalists he will not leave the embassy even if sex charges against him are dropped, because he fears moves are already under way to extradite him to the United States. Expand Close Julian Assange speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy (Lauren Hurley/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Julian Assange speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy (Lauren Hurley/PA) 2014 July: Mr Assange loses a legal bid to have an arrest warrant issued in Sweden against him cancelled. A judge in Stockholm decided to uphold the warrant against him for alleged sexual offences against two women. August: Mr Assange tells a press conference he will be leaving the embassy soon following speculation that he is seeking hospital treatment for heart and lung problems. He later brushes off reports that he is about to give up his fight against extradition to Sweden. November: Mr Assange loses a legal move in a Swedish appeal court aimed at revoking his arrest warrant. December: Mr Assange appears on the embassys balcony to greet Noam Chomsky, the US philosopher and activist. Hollywood actor John Cusack also visits the WikiLeaks founder later in the month. Expand Close Julian Assange with American linguist, philosopher and writer Noam Chomsky (Yui Mok/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Julian Assange with American linguist, philosopher and writer Noam Chomsky (Yui Mok/PA) 2015 March: Swedish prosecutors ask to question Mr Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. June: Mr Assange claims the Swedish prosecutor has cancelled an appointment to interview him at the embassy. August 13: Swedish prosecutors drop investigations into some of the sex allegations against Mr Assange due to time restrictions. The investigation into suspected rape remains active. August 16: Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire said Ecuadors decision to harbour Mr Assange in its embassy had prevented the proper course of justice. He said the UK continued to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden, where he remained suspected of a sexual offence. October 12: Metropolitan Police end their 24-hour guard outside the Ecuadorian Embassy. It breaks a three-year police operation which is estimated to have cost more than 12 million. 2016 February 5: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says Mr Assange is being arbitrarily detained in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and calls on authorities to end his deprivation of liberty. The report is branded frankly ridiculous by then foreign secretary Philip Hammond a response which Mr Assange described as insulting. February 9: Swedish prosecutors say they are working on a renewed request to interview Mr Assange at the embassy. February 22: Lawyers for Mr Assange submit papers to a Swedish court, asking for his arrest warrant to be overturned. March 24: The Government formally asks a UN Working Group to review its finding that Mr Assange was subject to arbitrary detention, saying the opinion was deeply flawed. March 25: A Swedish court refuses to drop an arrest warrant against Mr Assange. June 20: Ecuador reveals it has received a formal request from the Swedish authorities to interview Mr Assange. August 9: Mr Assange files an appeal at Swedens Court of Appeal of Svea, arguing the country must comply with the UN working groups findings that his deprivation of liberty was unlawful. August 11: Ecuador announces that Mr Assange will be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in the embassy in London. September 16: Swedens Court of Appeal rejects a bid by Mr Assange to have his sex assault warrant dropped, saying no new information has emerged. November 14: Mr Assange is questioned over the sex allegation at the Ecuadorian Embassy in the presence of Swedens assistant prosecutor Ingrid Isgren and police inspector Cecilia Redell. The interview spans two days. November 30: The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rejects a request by the UK Government to review the case of Mr Assange. 2017 January 17: Barack Obamas decision to free whistleblower Chelsea Manning prompts speculation Mr Assange will end his self-imposed exile. WikiLeaks tweeted prior to the decision: If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ (Department of Justice) case. January 19: Mr Assange tells a press conference that he stands by his offer to go to the US, provided his rights are respected. Expand Close Dame Vivienne Westwood arrives at the Embassy of Ecuador (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dame Vivienne Westwood arrives at the Embassy of Ecuador (Jonathan Brady/PA) March 9: Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage is spotted leaving the embassy where Mr Assange is being held. April 21: Americas attorney general Jeff Sessions says Mr Assanges arrest is a priority for the United States. May 19: An investigation into a sex allegation against Mr Assange is suddenly dropped by Swedens Director of Public Prosecution. June 16: Mr Assange calls off a pre-planned speech from the embassy balcony to mark the fifth anniversary of his arrival there, following news of an imminent meeting with British authorities. 2018 January 11: The UK Foreign Office turns down a request from the Ecuadorian government to grant Mr Assange diplomatic status. Ecuador confirms it has granted citizenship to Mr Assange in December after he made a request in September. January 26: Lawyers for Mr Assange tell a court the UK arrest warrant against him has lost its purpose and its function. February 6: Westminster Magistrates Court says that the UK arrest warrant is still valid. Mr Assange vows to continue his legal fight. He later claims a package containing a threat and white substance was sent to him at the Ecuadorian Embassy. February 7: Visits to Mr Assange from Pamela Anderson and Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel are reported. February 13: Westminster Magistrates Court upholds the warrant for the arrest of Mr Assange for skipping bail, in a judgment by Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot. She urges him to show the courage to appear in court. March 28: The Ecuadorian Embassy suspends Mr Assanges internet access. The Ecuador Government says: The measure was adopted due to Assange not complying with a written promise which he made with the government in late 2017, by which he was obliged not to send messages which entailed interference in relation to other states. Supporters, including actress Pamela Anderson, musician Brian Eno, fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood and former Greek minister Yanis Varoufaki, urge Ecuador to reverse the ban. June 7: Mr Assange receives a visit from officials from the Australian High Commission. June 19: Vigils in several countries mark six years since Mr Assange entered the Ecuadorian Embassy. July 30: Dame Vivienne Westwood designs a new T-shirt in support of the WikiLeaks founder, with a slogan which reads: I fought the law. August 9: The United States Senate committee asks to interview Mr Assange as part of their investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. September 27: Mr Assange steps down as editor of WikiLeaks. October 19: Mr Assange reveals he is to launch legal action against the government of Ecuador, accusing it of violating his fundamental rights and freedoms. November 16: The US Department of Justice inadvertently names Mr Assange in a court document which suggests the WikiLeaks founder may have been charged in secret. December 20: Mr Assanges father calls for the end to his sons torment, following a visit to the embassy. BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest.https://t.co/adnJph79wq WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 4, 2019 2019 January 10: A legal defence fund is launched for Mr Assange amid fears that the WikiLeaks founder is under increasingly serious threat. The Courage Foundation, which offers legal support for whistleblowers and journalists, said Mr Assange had become isolated inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, with severe restrictions on his communications and visitors. January 23: Lawyers for Mr Assange say they are taking action aimed at making President Donald Trumps administration reveal charges secretly filed against the WikiLeaks founder. April 5: WikiLeaks tweets that a high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told them Mr Assange will be expelled from the embassy within hours or days. A senior Ecuadorian official says no decision has been made to remove him from the London building. Using smartphones and other screens has little impact on the wellbeing of teenagers even before they go to sleep, according to a study. Despite the common belief that screen time could damage young peoples mental health, researchers at Oxford University have found little evidence to support these fears, using data from more than 17,000 teenagers. Implementing best practice statistical and methodological techniques we found little evidence for substantial negative associations between digital-screen engagement and adolescent wellbeing, said Amy Orben, researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute. We found little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent wellbeing, even if the use of digital technology occurs directly before bedtimeProfessor Andrew Przybylski, Oxford Internet Institute Time-use diaries and self-reported measures were used in the study from almost 12,000 adolescents in the UK, just over 4,500 from Ireland, and 790 in the US. Results suggest that the total amount of time spent on screens per a day had a limited impact on teenagers mental health, regardless of it being a weekend or a weekday. It also notes that digital screen usage two hours, one hour or even 30 minutes before sleeping presented no clear associations with a drop in wellbeing among teenagers. Expand Close (Kirsty OConnor/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Kirsty OConnor/PA) While psychological science can be a powerful tool for understanding the link between screen use and adolescent wellbeing, it still routinely fails to supply stakeholders and the public with high-quality, transparent and objective investigations into growing concerns about digital technologies, said Professor Andrew Przybylski, director of research at the Oxford Internet Institute and co-author on the study, published in the Psychological Science journal. Analysing three different datasets, which include improved measurements of screen time, we found little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent wellbeing, even if the use of digital technology occurs directly before bedtime. However, a leading psychiatrist has warned that although the study is well-conducted with a large data set, the conclusions can only be limited. The study looks at how long children spend looking at screens but not at what harmful content they might see, said Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chair of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. We know that screen time is not the main driver of mental illness, but dangerous online content can have an enormous impact on young people and their mental health. As a frontline clinician, I regularly see young people who have deliberately hurt themselves after discussing self-harm techniques on social media. Urgent research is needed to explore the complex relationship between online content and young people, with particular attention given to the most vulnerable. The findings come as the Government prepares to release its white paper on online harms on Monday, which could make social media bosses personally accountable for harmful content published on their platforms. Ministers will legislate for a new duty of care to be policed by an independent regulator, according to the proposals leaked to the Guardian. The watchdog will have powers to impose substantial fines for breaches by companies and hold executives personally liable, the newspaper reported. The mother of a man stabbed to death at an 18th birthday party has said we need to get knives off our streets, after two people were convicted over the killing of her son. Jayne White spoke out after two teenagers were convicted at Liverpool Crown Court over the killing of Eddie ORourke, 18, in his home town of Runcorn, Cheshire, on September 7. A long-running feud, centred on a girl, between Mr ORourke and Joe Ward, 18, escalated when the pair saw each other at the British Legion Club in Halton Village, said Cheshire Police. Ward later collected a 12-inch bladed knife in the club doorway from a 15-year-old boy before he got into a fight with Mr ORourke outside and stabbed him once in the stomach. Expand Close CCTV of the 15-year-old offender handing Joe Ward the weapon in the doorway of the Royal British Legion (Cheshire Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CCTV of the 15-year-old offender handing Joe Ward the weapon in the doorway of the Royal British Legion (Cheshire Police/PA) Mr ORourke later died in hospital. Both offenders fled the scene but were arrested the following day. It emerged Ward had previously threatened in messages to cut his victim, while the 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, bought a machete on the internet in the week of the fatal stabbing. Ward claimed he acted in self-defence and the 15-year-old argued he did not know the knife would be used to harm someone when he handed it over to his older friend, said police. Jurors found Ward, of Lockfield, Runcorn, guilty of murder and the 15-year-old guilty of manslaughter. Two teenagers have today been convicted of killing 18-year-old man Eddie ORourke outside a club in Runcorn. Joe Ward (pictured), 18, has been found guilty of murder and a 15-year-old boy has been convicted of manslaughter. Click the link for more details.https://t.co/xi5brEA0W5 pic.twitter.com/9NPPJvWNBu Runcorn Police (@PoliceRuncorn) April 5, 2019 Both defendants will be also be sentenced at a later date for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Following the verdicts, Ms White said: There will never be words to describe the impact Eddies death has had on my family. I am a mother without her son and his three sisters and two brothers are without their older brother. We need to get knives off our streets. My kids and I intend to do whatever we can to support the police and our community in this regard. We need a combined approach against the impact of knife crime and we all need to take responsibility. We as parents need to make sure that we know what our children are doing and what they are carrying around with them. There is never a positive outcome to knife crime, which can have life-changing consequences for everyone involved. Expand Close The knife that was used to kill Eddie ORourke (Cheshire Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The knife that was used to kill Eddie ORourke (Cheshire Police/PA) Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: The police cannot beat knife crime without the help of the local community and we urge anyone with information about people who may be carrying knives to come forward and speak to us or pass this information on to Crimestoppers. Damion Lloyd of Mersey Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service said: This was meant to be a party to mark a young persons coming of age. Instead, these two defendants used it as opportunity to kill another young person that they had some sort of a grudge against. Eddie ORourke was going out with Joe Wards ex-girlfriend and that appears to have been the key reason why the victim was killed. What a shocking explanation for the loss of a young life. Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accused Theresa May of setting up potentially another cliff-edge with her latest Brexit delay request to the EU. The Prime Minister has written to European Council president Donald Tusk asking him to extend the UKs deadline for leaving the EU until June 30, with the option to leave earlier if her Withdrawal Agreement is ratified. Currently, UK is due to leave the EU at the end of next week unless a deal can be reached after the Commons rejected the Prime Ministers Withdrawal Agreement for the third time. EU sources said Mr Tusk is recommending a longer postponement of one year, with a break clause in the case of earlier ratification, in a so-called flextension deal. PM @Theresa_May has today written to @eucopresident Donald Tusk on the Article 50 process.https://t.co/un39wMzYqL UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 5, 2019 Speaking to BBC Scotland, Ms Sturgeon accused Mrs May of yet more short-termism and the setting up, potentially, of another cliff edge. Ms Sturgeon told the broadcaster: The sensible thing to do, in my view, and it seems as if this might be the EUs view as well, is to have a longer extension to allow time for this issue to go back to the people in another referendum rather than continue to have these short-term cliff edges. The first priority, of course, must be to avoid a no-deal exit at the end of next week but beyond that give some time and space now for some sensible ways forward to be found. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: The EU has been clear that we must have a clear purpose for any extension. Its time for the Prime Minister to admit that the best way to make this mess go away is a Peoples Vote, giving the people the chance to have their say on her catastrophic handling of Brexit. University in Scotland graduate Katrena Wilkie is urging past and present staff and students to share their stories about the institution (Andrew OBrien/Open University in Scotland/PA) The Open University is urging former and current students and staff in Scotland to share stories of how the institution has affected their lives as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Anyone with a story to tell is being asked to share why the Open University (OU) matters to them on social media using the hashtag #OU50Scot. Stories and memories will be collated to form part of an exhibition that will visit various events across Scotland throughout the year. They will also be displayed on the OU in Scotland website. More than 200,000 Scots have studied with the OU since it received its Royal Charter in 1969. Whether youre a current student, graduate, past or present member of staff, or a friend or supporter of the OU, you can help us celebrate our 50th anniversary by sharing what the OU means to you by tweeting with the hashtag #OU50Scot. More info at https://t.co/Dfshg2NkNL pic.twitter.com/wrQU0fnwG0 OU in Scotland (@OUScotland) April 5, 2019 Susan Stewart, director of the OU in Scotland, said: The Open University is all about people, our students learning and progressing supported by our wonderful staff and building their confidence and changing jobs and careers, often while working and looking after children. Some left school without qualifications, more than a fifth have a disability, and they live in every part of Scotland. Theres no such thing as a typical OU student but what they all have in common is that they have very busy lives and still find the time to study and achieve their goals. Our students are incredible and their stories are inspiring, so we want to hear as many of those stories as possible. I really hope that people will choose to take part in this campaign. My graduation photo tells a story, of my journey from a fake with no self-belief to a determined, capable, proud individual who has the right, no questions asked, to be in that photoGraduate Katrena Wilkie The OU currently has 16,500 students spread throughout Scotland. Almost three-quarters of them are in full or part-time work, while almost a fifth do not have standard university entrance qualifications. OU graduate Katrena Wilkie from Ellon in Aberdeenshire is urging people to share their stories. She said: The OU didnt just give me knowledge, it gave me belief in myself. For me, my graduation photo tells a story, of my journey from a fake with no self-belief to a determined, capable, proud individual who has the right, no questions asked, to be in that photo. Id love to see people post their stories about the impact the OU has had on their lives and maybe give others the self-belief to start transforming their lives with the OU, too. Kazakhstan has cleared the way to beginning annual deliveries of up to 2 million tons of oil to Uzbekistan. The final formality for this to happen was completed on April 2, when Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed off on a two-year-old bilateral agreement. Eurasia Net reports in its article Kazakhstan to send 2 million tons of oil to Uzbekistan that Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev signaled that the export of oil presaged broader energy cooperation. The implementation of this agreement will enable the delivery of crude oil to Uzbekistan for processing at oil refining plants and [ensure] the uninterrupted supply of gas to southern Kazakhstan from Uzbekistan in the fall-autumn period, Bozumbayev said. Bozumbayev has previously been quoted as saying that Kazakhstan could eventually ramp up oil supplies to Uzbekistan to 5 million tons. These amounts are a considerable increase on the 260,000 tons that Kazakhstan supplied to Uzbekistan in 2018. That will, however, require considerable investment into expanding pipeline capacity. Oil currently travels from Kazakhstan through the Keniyak-Kumkol pipeline, which runs from the northwest of the country to the south, not far from the city of Shymkent. It is then loaded onto railcars for the rest of the way. The agreement ratified by Tokayev envisions Uzbekistan completing the construction of oil-transportation and oil-refining infrastructure in a timely manner so as to cope with the planned volume of oil imports from Kazakhstan. Bozumbayev said in February that building an oil pipeline capable of carrying 5 million tons to the Uzbek border would entail investments of around $133.5 million. That would in turn push up the cost of oil sold to Uzbekistan, he said. While Kazakhstan has dithered for decades over the construction of a new oil refinery, Uzbekistan has shown more initiative. In August, it was reported that a new refinery able to process 5 million tons of crude oil is to be built in the Jizzakh region. The project is a joint undertaking between state-owned Uzbekneftegaz and a subsidiary of Gazprom called Gas Project Development Central Asia. David Challen arrives at the Old Bailey for the bail application hearing of his mother, Georgina Sally Challen, after her murder conviction for killing her husband was quashed (Jonathan Brady/PA) The family of a woman who killed her husband in a hammer attack said they were overjoyed as she prepared to walk free from prison after almost a decade behind bars. Georgina Challen, known as Sally, said she killed 61-year-old Richard Challen in August 2010 after years of being controlled and humiliated by him. She was jailed for life for the murder of the former car dealer following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in 2011. Expand Close Richard Challen died in 2010 (Surrey Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Richard Challen died in 2010 (Surrey Police/PA) But her conviction was quashed and a new trial ordered at the Court of Appeal in London in February, in light of new evidence. Challen, 65, of Claygate, Surrey, who has been held at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey, appeared at the Old Bailey by video-link on Friday. She wiped away tears as Mr Justice Edis granted her conditional bail ahead of her retrial in July. Expand Close Georgina Challen, known as Sally, was granted bail (Surrey Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Georgina Challen, known as Sally, was granted bail (Surrey Police/PA) Challens sons, David and James Challen, smiled and expressed relief that their mother would soon be freed. Speaking outside court, David Challen said: Today we are overjoyed that bail has been granted for our mother and she will be now released back to us. Our mother now rejoins our family. Asked what it will be like when she walks out of prison on Saturday, he said: Its a massive moment. He added: Its a happy day for us, we get to see her again. Expand Close David Challen speaks to reporters outside the Old Bailey after his mother, Georgina Sally Challen was granted bail ahead of her retrial (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Challen speaks to reporters outside the Old Bailey after his mother, Georgina Sally Challen was granted bail ahead of her retrial (Jonathan Brady/PA) Mr Challen added that the family are looking forward to being together again after so long. The defendants brother, Chris Jenney, said: The family are all supporting Sally. We have done from day one. Our strengths built and will build even further. This is a fantastic day for us. Earlier, Challen, wearing a black blouse, spoke to confirm her identity from custody. She pleaded not guilty to murdering her husband on August 14 2010 but guilty to his manslaughter. Expand Close David Challen, the son of Georgina Sally Challen (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Challen, the son of Georgina Sally Challen (Jonathan Brady/PA) The judge granted Challen conditional bail following an application by defence lawyer Clare Wade QC. He said the defendant should be released from custody on Saturday from 12 noon. The judge confirmed the trial would be transferred to the Old Bailey as he set a timetable for the case. Wowowowowow is this real?! It is!!! Our mums first words to me: I cant believe this is happening. Its happening mum!#FreeSallyChallen #CoerciveControl David Challen (@David_Challen) April 5, 2019 Prosecutor Joel Smith pointed out the size of the public gallery in Court One, saying it was a better venue given the attention this matter has attracted. Mr Justice Edis set a further hearing for June 7, and a trial on July 1 if necessary. David Challen later posted on Twitter that his mothers first words to him after being granted bail were: I cant believe this is happening. Theresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk on Friday requesting a further delay to Brexit. She says the UK will begin to prepare for the European Parliament Elections. Theresa May is asking for an extension up to the end of June with an option to end earlier if the Government manages to get a deal through parliament before that. It's thought the EU will agree for a request for up to a year. Read More "The Government's policy has always been and remains to leave the European Union in an orderly way, and without undue delay," Theresa May wrote. "The House of Commons has not thus far approved the deal that would enable this, nor - despite considerable efforts by both Members of Parliament and by the Government - has it yet found a majority in favour of any other proposal. The House has, however, continued to express its opposition to leaving the European Union without a deal. The Government agrees that leaving with a deal is the best outcome." She said the current impasse could not go on. Over the past two days her party has met with Labour in a bid to find an agreement and has invited all parties to work with her. However, she insisted the withdrawal agreement must be approved. "In the UK it is creating uncertainty and doing damage to faith in politics, while the European Union has a legitimate desire to move on to decisions about its own future. That is why the Government has decided to take further action to seek a consensus across the House of Commons on the right way forward," she continued. "If a consensus is going to be found, compromise will be needed on all sides, in the national interest." "If the talks do not lead to a single unified approach soon, the Government would instead look to establish a consensus on a small number of clear options on the future relationship that could be put to the House in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue. The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same. "These steps demonstrate that the Government is determined to bring this process to a resolution quickly." Read More Theresa May said that, while it was not in the interests of the UK or the EU, there should be elections to the European Parliament next month if the deadlock is not broken. "However, the United Kingdom accepts the European Council's view that if the United Kingdom were still a Member State of the European Union on 23 May 2019, it would be under a legal obligation to hold the elections. The Government is therefore undertaking the lawful and responsible preparations for this contingency, including by making the Order that sets the date of the poll." She added: "It is frustrating that we have not yet brought this process to a successful and orderly conclusion. The United Kingdom Government remains strongly committed to doing so, and will continue to act as a constructive and responsible Member State of the European Union in accordance with the duty of sincere cooperation throughout this unique period. I would be grateful for the opportunity to update our colleagues on the position at our meeting on Wednesday." David Challen, the son of Georgina Challen, has been supporting his mother (Jonathan Brady/PA) A woman who killed her husband in a hammer attack will launch a bid to be released on bail after her murder conviction was quashed. Georgina Challen, known as Sally, says she killed 61-year-old Richard Challen in August 2010 after 40 years of being controlled and humiliated by him. She was jailed for life for the murder of the former car dealer following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in 2011. Expand Close Richard Challen, who was killed by his wife Georgina Challen, known as Sally (Surrey Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Richard Challen, who was killed by his wife Georgina Challen, known as Sally (Surrey Police/PA) But her conviction was quashed and a retrial ordered at the Court of Appeal in London in February, in light of new evidence which was not available at the time of her first trial. During a two-day hearing, the court heard evidence relating to Challens state of mind at the time of the killing and the issue of coercive control. Expand Close Georgina Challen, known as Sally, is facing a murder retrial (Surrey Police/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Georgina Challen, known as Sally, is facing a murder retrial (Surrey Police/PA) Challen, 65, of Claygate, Surrey, who has been held at HMP Bronzefield, is due to appear at the Old Bailey by video link for her lawyers to make an application for bail on Friday. During the hearing in Court One, Mr Justice Edis is expected to set a timetable for the case, including a plea hearing. The Guildford Crown Court case could be transferred to the Old Bailey to be heard by a High Court judge. Challen, a former Police Federation worker, has been supported by her sons David and James Challen. Donald Trump says he will skip the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner again and hold a rally instead. The president said he will hold one of his signature political rallies as counter-programming to the glitzy April 27 dinner, skipping the event for the third year in a row. The dinner is so boring and so negative that were going to hold a very positive rally instead, he said. Expand Close Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One (Evan Vucci/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One (Evan Vucci/AP) Presidents and first ladies have traditionally attended the event, a fundraiser for college scholarships where politicians, journalists and celebrities mix. A number of reporting awards also are distributed at the dinner. Trump has not attended since he took office, but had suggested he might appear this year after organisers scrapped the usual format featuring a comedian and instead invited Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow to speak. Association president Olivier Knox said in a statement: Were looking forward to an enjoyable evening of celebrating the First Amendment and great journalists past, present and future. #WHCA President Olivier Knox on President Trumps decision not to attend the associations annual dinner April 27. Were looking forward to an enjoyable evening of celebrating the First Amendment and great journalists past, present, and future." @OKnox WHCA (@whca) April 5, 2019 Mr Trump, who has long had an adversarial relationship with the news media, also held rallies on the same night as the dinner in 2017 and 2018. Throughout his presidency he has criticised the fake news media and dishonest reporters, singling out specific journalists and news outlets. He said his team has yet to settle on a location for his April 27 rally, but stressed: Itll be a big one. The association decided to shift to a featured speaker instead of a comic after a sharply anti-Trump performance last year by comedian Michelle Wolf that some thought was too pointed against White House press secretary Sarah Sanders and other White House staff. Mr Chernow, a biographer of presidents and statesmen including George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, is expected to speak about the importance of the First Amendment. Like many of his fellow historians, he strongly opposed Mr Trumps candidacy in 2016 and labelled him a demagogue. While Mr Trump has not attended the dinner as president, he has gone in the past. He was famously mocked by Barack Obama at the 2011 dinner. A satirical election poster for the Same Old Same Old Party, created by the Imagine festival First one goes up, then another, mysteriously appearing like toadstools in the night. Before you know it, every blinking lamp post and telegraph pole is stacked high with enormous pictures of local politicians. God knows it's grim enough sitting in congested traffic in the mornings, without being continually menaced by the super-sized mushes of election candidates, gazing down on you with manic eyes and big fake grins. Yesterday morning, on a lovely spring day, I woke up, threw back the curtains, and was immediately confronted with the gigantic bearded face of an Ulster Unionist wannabe councillor, peering in at me from a lamp post across the street. It can only be a matter of time before he's joined by a gaggle of Duppers, Shinners and assorted others, all sullying the view. Allowing political parties to plaster their posters all over the highways and byways is a really bizarre way to do democracy. They look monstrously ugly - the posters, I mean, not the politicians, but let's admit that nobody appears at their best when their face is magnified to five times its natural size. We have strict laws against fly-posting and littering, but a special dispensation prevails during election season which temporarily allows this weird form of officially sanctioned street vandalism. But why is it allowed? What possible function does it serve? Seriously, does anybody decide to vote for a politician because they have seen their grinning mug on a lamp post and thought, 'Oh yes, I'll go for her, she looks like a nice, decent person'? Conversely, does anyone think, 'Hell, no, I'm not voting for him, he looks like a bin-lid'? Of course not. Those of us who can still bring ourselves to vote, given the calamitous state of local politics and the largely uninspiring array of council candidates, won't make our choice in the voting booth based on a politician's phizzog. The scramble to lash these pointless things to telegraph poles is really about staking out territory - our number one cultural obsession in Northern Ireland. Who's taking up most space, who's biggest and brightest, who's at the top of the pile. Which is why the fake election posters created by the Imagine festival, showing a sleazy politician from the Same Old Same Old Party, urging people to 'Vote for me or someone just like me' in order to keep out 'themmuns', were refreshing. Some people got sniffy about the spoof campaign because they thought it was anti-democratic, but I believe that local democracy can only be boosted when a kick like this is applied to its corpulent, complacent rear. Otherwise we will just spin in the same old circles for another few centuries. Other places seem to manage to hold their elections with more dignity than we are capable of achieving. In some European countries, posters are limited to specific areas, with allocated space for each candidate. Here, we have a mad thrash to plaster political propaganda on every available surface. It's embarrassing. And it's driven by a ridiculous form of teenage Fomo - the fear of missing out. No party wants to be the one to say no to election posters because they don't want to exclude themselves from the highly coveted lamp post space, like a distraught adolescent who's been left out of her mates' selfies. We are not entirely alone in this matter: come election time in the South, you can barely move for the plague of political posters. A Green Party senator, Grace O'Sullivan, has called for them to be banned because of the significant amount of plastic waste that they generate, which usually can't be recycled. She also correctly points out that they can cause danger to cyclists, pedestrians and the visually impaired. Still, they have their uses. During the last Assembly election campaign, a friend of mine, who enjoys the odd practical joke, stole a poster of the former DUP politician Jonathan Bell from a traffic island. Then she took it home and hid it in her teenage son's bed, so that when he pulled the covers back, the former Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment was grinning up at him from the pillow. The memory of her son's reaction reduces her to helpless tears of laughter. My friend still has that poster, which, following the RHI scandal, is probably a collector's item by now. I'm sure she'd be willing to lend it to Arlene Foster's husband, should he wish to try a similar joke on his wife. But otherwise, it really does belong in the bin - like all the rest of them. Dark clouds gathered over Farmleigh House and the heavens opened while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and German Chancellor Angela Merkel talked inside. Perhaps it was a metaphor as Europe's most powerful leader visited the capital of one of the smallest EU member states which is caught up in the swirling tempest that is Brexit. Either way, the large contingent of German and international media were treated to some very Irish weather. They got drenched as they waited outside for a Press conference with people from border communities who had just met Mrs Merkel. Perhaps it was thought the images of picturesque Farmleigh and its rolling grounds would play well on German TV and might attract a few tourists. For whatever reason, the decision was taken to persevere with the outdoor questions and answers session. Reporters sheltered under coats while someone from the Taoiseach office handed out some umbrellas. It was a struggle to hear the representatives of border communities over the noise of the downpour, which intensified as the Press conference continued. They can't have been too thrilled about the circumstances of their encounter with the media either, but they did have a serious message. There were people who lost loved ones in the Troubles among the 15-strong contingent that met Mrs Merkel as well as representatives of farming and business who fear the impact of Brexit. Peter Sheridan, a former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, said they shared their "personal lived experiences" of the border with the German leader. It was a bid to ensure the potential human impact of the UK leaving the EU will be taken into account as the Brexit process enters its most crucial phase yet. She met Protestants and Catholics, unionists and nationalists and appeared to understand only too well what they were saying. Mrs Merkel did, after all, grow up in Cold War-era East Germany complete with the Berlin Wall, which finally tumbled in 1989. Mr Sheridan said: "I think her own background living on one side of a wall, she understood the very personal stories we shared with her." The Chancellor's later remarks suggested the message sunk in. She said that she lived behind the Iron Curtain for 34 years and knows what it means "once borders vanish, once walls fall". She spoke of the need to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement. Asked if it's possible to protect the EU single market while ruling out a return to a border in Ireland said: "We will simply have to be able to do this." Mr Varadkar will meet Mrs Merkel again at next week's EU summit, two days before the next deadline for the UK's departure. If there's no plan to avoid a crash-out Brexit by then, Ireland will be hoping Mrs Merkel brings an umbrella to help weather the storm. The Guildhall in Londonderry which was the venue for the event and (right) republicans taking part in the Saoradh Easter commemoration march in the city When Strabane native Michael Barr, a member of the so-called 'New IRA', was shot dead in a Dublin bar in 2016 by associates of a criminal gang linked to the INLA, activists from dissident republican group Saoradh said the blame lay squarely with "the southern state and its proxies" for trying to "draw republicanism, at a time when it is strong and resurgent, into a counter-revolutionary trap". Well, of course they did. Heaven forbid that these towering intellectual geniuses should take responsibility for a sordid situation which they themselves had helped create. The mixture of self-importance and paranoia in that statement was on display again this week as Saoradh bullied members of a youth group in Derry out of taking part in a conference at the city's Guildhall because it would have involved members of the PSNI. Having no arguments worth the name, dissident republicans' only recourse is to silence those who would tackle problems through dialogue, rather than brute force. Read More It's not even as if the event, in which Long Tower Youth and Community Centre was due to participate, was a recruitment drive by the PSNI. It was simply a public meeting at which young people would be able to express their views on various issues around policing. As such, it would have been bizarre for the police not to be there. How else are communities traditionally hostile to authority meant to make their voices heard directly? On second thoughts, Saoradh, don't answer that. The criminal extremists that they support have already provided ample demonstrations of their preferred methods. The graveyards are a testament to it. What's worrying is that this incident may just be the tip of the iceberg. A statement on the group's website on Tuesday insists it acted after being "contacted by a number of concerned parents" and that "in recent months, Saoradh have contacted multiple schools and youth centres in regards to the involvement of British Crown Forces". How many other people have been strong-armed into pulling out of legitimate community events because these thugs are throwing their weight around? This tactic of protesting at venues in the hope that events are either cancelled altogether, or that individual participants pull out, is becoming increasingly common. And it's not only apologists for terrorism who engage in the tactic. Pampered university students regularly use it to "no platform" speakers whose opinions they don't like. In Northern Ireland, though, protest always comes with an added undercurrent of menace, which is what makes this latest incident so sinister. As such, it was refreshing to see Sinn Fein take such a robust stance on the controversy, condemning Saoradh and standing four-square alongside the youth club in question. It's impossible not to wonder whether party leader Mary Lou McDonald's recent comments about the PSNI having "zero credibility" have muddied that message, but those arguments are for another time. Right now, Sinn Fein is saying what's needed. Sadly, the same cannot be said for others in the nationalist community who seem to have taken a step back from this issue, as if it has nothing to do with them. Silence is not an option when people are being intimidated. Where has the SDLP been while all this was going on? The party has still not issued a statement on the matter, despite finding time in recent days to issue Press releases urging the Secretary of State to reform licensing laws. With local elections on the horizon, ignoring such a huge story seems bizarre, especially when the party leader comes from the city. There's not a single mention of what happened - even on the Derry SDLP Facebook page. Where, for that matter, are all those "civic nationalists" who last year co-signed a letter to the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, appealing for him to "defend the rights of Irish citizens" in Northern Ireland? The right to attend meetings at the Guildhall without intimidation is at least as important as a desire to retain EU citizenship. Indeed, some might argue that rights to free speech and free association underpin all other liberties. The 1,000 worthies from the worlds of business, law, culture, sport and the wider community who put their names to that letter last November rarely seem to speak out consistently about the problems faced on a day-to-day basis by ordinary Catholics living under the malign surveillance of sectarian militants. As for the Catholic Church, long gone are the days when priests and bishops engaged with real-life issues. With their moral authority weakened by child abuse scandals, there's rarely a peep any more from the hierarchy. The message to the faithful is: you're on your own. That's the only way that "multiple schools and youth centres" in Derry could have been what's politely described as "contacted" by Saoradh without it making a ripple before now. Everyone stays silent, because they don't want to be next. Vulnerable schools and youth clubs can be forgiven for that. But nationalist community leaders have no excuse for not breaking cover to speak out about it. This collective washing of the hands is actually copper-fastened by the criticism of Saoradh for refusing to negotiate with the youth club before issuing its fatwa. It gives Saoradh a legitimacy which they do not deserve and have not earned. The problem is not that they refused to negotiate, but that this would ever have been considered a desirable outcome in the first place. Treating them as legitimate representatives of the community can only lead to further protests. Put it this way: it's no wonder that a spokesman for Saoradh said they had a "keen desire" to negotiate. Each time they're indulged, they become more emboldened. Of course, there's another empty chair in this conversation and that's the one belonging to Secretary of State Karen Bradley. This week, in finally ruling out a "no-deal" Brexit, the British Government effectively confirmed that it has no intention of imposing direct rule on Northern Ireland, despite repeated threats to do so if the DUP and Sinn Fein are unable to agree terms for a return of devolved government. That has serious implications for the talks process, not least that there is now literally nothing that the Northern Ireland Office can do to force the hand of recalcitrant parties. Far worse is that this repeated abdication of responsibility has created a political vacuum. When there are no grown-ups left in the room, is it any wonder that activists are making merry mischief in the space that's left? Who's to stop them, after all? Nationalists at community level need to stand up to dissidents, but the Government has ultimate responsibility to ensure people are safe to go about their business without Saoradh, or anyone else, harassing them. Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo gestures after drawing the top ballot position for the April 17 presidential election, while challenger Prabowo Subianto (left) drew the second spot at the General Election Commission office in Jakarta, Sept. 21, 2018. A man whom police identified as a former campaign volunteer for Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto went on trial Thursday for allegedly spreading a hoax about electoral fraud involving millions of pre-marked ballots. Bagus Bawana Putra was arrested in January after reports circulated on social media that seven containers stuffed with ballots cast for incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo had been found at Jakartas Tanjung Priok port. He is charged with spreading false information to cause public unease and could face up to 10 years in prison, if convicted. Jokowi will face Prabowo, a former army general, in the April 17 election, a repeat of the 2014 vote narrowly won by Jokowi. The defendant did not confirm the veracity of the information and instead spread the news on the supposed existence of seven containers in Tanjung Priok containing 70 million ballots already cast for No. 1 candidate (Jokowi), and posted it on social media, the indictment against him read. The rumored ballots would represent more than one-third of the 194 million Indonesians who are registered to vote, according to figures from the General Election Commission (KPU). Prosecutors allege that Bagus disseminated the information on social media via Twitter and WhatsApp groups, adding that his action could cause public unease, divide the nation, and disrupt public order. Bagus, who wore a black cap and a white shirt under a red vest, told the court he had been framed and claimed he did not fabricate the rumor. It was a high-ranking government official whom I have known for a long time who set me up, Bagus said without elaborating. The KPU filed a police report after the rumor circulated on social media, saying it had the potential to delegitimize the election. A spokesman for the Prabowo campaign, Andre Rosiade, said Bagus was not part of the candidates campaign team and was not registered with the election commission. Bagus is the second person to be tried in the case. On March 13, a man identified as Jarwoto went on trial in Brebes regency in Central Java province on a similar charge tied to spreading the same information. His case has not been decided and other suspects are awaiting similar trials, according to prosecutors. KPU denies new allegation Meanwhile, KPU on Thursday denied allegations made in an online video that its computer system had been rigged in favor of Jokowi. KPU commissioner Hasyim Asyari said its system was safe. All counting is done manually, so its not possible for the computer system to be rigged for the victory of presidential candidate number 01, Hasyim said, referring to the spot on the ballot paper designated for Jokowi and running mate Maruf Amin. Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) member Mochammad Afifuddin said efforts to counter false news on social media were difficult. Official accounts usually post positive things. Fake news usually comes from anonymous accounts, he told BenarNews. We are working with the Ministry of Communication and Information to take down accounts that spread hate speech and hoaxes, he said. Birth dates questioned As the vote nears, the Prabowo campaign has alleged that 17.5 million registered voters shared the same three birth dates, calling that statistically impossible. Campaign spokesman Hasjim Djojohadikusumo, a businessman and Prabowos brother, said the campaign would take legal action unless the issue was addressed. KPU commissioner Viryan Aziz explained that the three dates were used to register Indonesians who did not know when they were born. Jokowis campaign, meanwhile, accused the opposition of trying to delegitimize the vote should he win re-election. Elsewhere, senior opposition politician Amien Rais threatened to start a people power movement unless the election commission solved the alleged irregularities. If the electoral roll is filled with ghost voters and evidence of systematic fraud is found, I will mobilize the masses to gather at the National Monument (Monas) and start people power, he said this week, referring to a landmark in central Jakarta. Police officers stand guard after a suspected militants wife allegedly detonated a bomb as officers surrounded his house in Sibologa city in North Sumatra province, March, 13, 2019. Indonesias anti-terrorism police shot dead a suspected Islamic militant after he allegedly attacked using a machete as the officers were about to arrest him on suspicion of involvement with a banned terrorist network, a spokesman said Friday. Members of polices Densus 88 unit were trying to apprehend the suspect in Bandung Barat regency on Thursday when he lunged at the officers with a knife, causing injuries to their legs and abdomens, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said. He pretended to surrender, but caught the officers off guard and attacked them," Dedi told BenarNews. We were forced to neutralize him. A witness, Amir Sutisman, told reporters that the suspect, identified by police by his initials SHS, was outside his house when officers came to arrest him. I heard the cry of Allahu akbar [God is great] several times, and SHS was carrying a knife," Amir was quoted as saying by the local news website AyoBandung.com. The local neighborhood chief, Dedi Kusnadi, told reporters that he had been suspicious of SHS after he was often visited by mysterious guests at night. JAD member Dedi said the slain suspect was known to be a member of the local branch of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) led by a man called Arip, who was arrested the previous day in nearby Karawang regency. JAD is an Indonesian militant network affiliated to the Islamic State group. Police said on Thursday that Arip was believed to be involved in a number of terrorist attacks in Central and East Java, including a suicide bombing at the Surakarta police headquarters on May 5, 2016. Last week, police arrested Wisnu Putra, alias Sahid, a subordinate of Arip, on suspicion of planning a robbery to raise funds for planned attacks in the provinces of West Java and East Java. The group is composed of six to eight members, Dedi said, adding that police were still looking for other suspects. Police said JAD was responsible for the series of attacks in May 2018, when two families, including children as young as 9, carried out suicide bombings on three churches and a police station in Surabaya, killing themselves and 15 bystanders. The next night, three members of a family died when their bomb exploded during a police raid on a Surabaya apartment, bringing the death toll to 28. Last month, a woman killed herself and her child during a siege of her house in Sibolga in North Sumatra province. Officers identified the woman as the wife of a suspected JAD militant named Husain (alias Abu Hamzah), who was arrested earlier for allegedly plotting to attack police targets. On March 4, Romania, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan held a ministerial meeting in Bucharestthe first such quadripartite gathering for these governments. Jamestown Thompson Foundation reports in its article New CaspianBlack Sea Transit Corridor Boosts Geostrategic Importance of South Caucasus that during this meeting of their foreign ministers, the parties issued a joint statement reaffirming mutual respect for each others sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of their internationally recognized borders (Mfa.gov.az, March 3). Additionally, a number of other important issues were raised in Bucharest, including a discussion on establishing a multimodal corridor for the transport of goods between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins, a project officially named the Caspian SeaBlack Sea International Transport Corridor (ITC-CSBS). The newly proposed route will connect to the Trans-Caspian and Lapis Lazuli corridors, already under development (see EDM, November 27, 2017; November 30, 2017), which link Afghanistan with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Reportedly, Romania and Turkmenistan were the main initiators of the ITC-CSBS project, as these countries are keen to create trans-border passage for maritime, river, road and rail freight traveling between Central and Northern Europe and the South Caucasus and Central Asia (Ports Europe, March 6, 2019). In October 2018, working groups from Turkmenistan and Romania held an official meeting in Ashgabat in order to approve the main route for this transit. Perhaps most interestingly, the negotiations also included officials from the European Union, thus underlining the strategic importance of this project for the West (Trend, July 24, 2018). Goods traveling via the ITC-CSBS will be transported via ferry from the Turkmenistani port of Turkmenbashi to Azerbaijan; from there, it will be moved onto rail cars and carried by train to Batumi or Poti (Georgia), before again boarding ships, to cross the Black Sea to Romania (the port of Constanta). For now, it is unclear what other countries might be interested in this new transit route for their trade. But India and China seem like the most likely partners. Importantly, last months adopted quadripartite statement on the ITC-CSBS contains four technical annexes regarding maritime navigation, road transport, railway transport as well as customs proceduresthus pointing to the seriousness of the participating countries in moving forward with this project (Ports Europe, March 6). A broad confluence of national interests have brought the four project participants together to back the CaspianBlack Sea corridor. For instance, Turkmenistan is looking to this and other trans-regional transit corridors as outlets to reach potential new markets for its goods, in particular liquefied natural gas (LNG). The export of LNG to Europe via the port of Constanta, in Romania, would bring Turkmenistan important benefits, particularly as it seeks to diversify its end customers and export routes (see EDM, February 25). That said, the transport of LNG by ferry and rail, across the two seas, will significantly increase its cost to European consumers (Ports Europe, March 6). In turn, Romania is keen to turn its Black Sea port of Constanta into a key hub for the shipment of goods from Asia to the EU as well as for European exports to the wider Black Sea and Caspian basin. Additionally, some experts claim that the new route could be used for the transportation of cargo by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The route will link Romaniaa NATO member countrywith Afghanistan, where North Atlantic Alliance forces remain actively engaged. As such, the potential strategic importance of the ITC-CSBS for Romania and other transit countriesincluding Georgia, which also has troops stationed in Afghanistanbecomes quite clear (Vestnik Kavkaza, October 28, 2018). Azerbaijani authorities also expressed enthusiasm in signing last months four-party agreement on the new transit route. Notably, thanks to the development of this corridor, Romania will become a new gateway to the EU market for Baku. The outcome of the Caspian SeaBlack Sea International Transport Route [] can contribute to further promotion of cooperation among our countries and other interested parties in the field of transport, transit and logistics, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov declared during the inauguration ceremony (Trend, March 4). Azerbaijan has long been pushing for multiple trans-border projects to enhance the regions transit potential by promoting various EastWest, NorthSouth and SouthWest transport corridors (see EDM, April 18, 2016). And as such, the country is becoming an important transit hub in its own right, not only for global powers like China and Western countries but also for other regional players like Uzbekistan. Indeed, Uzbekistan has itself been seeking greater access to the Black Sea and beyondincluding Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa and Europevia the South Caucasus (see EDM, October 16, 2017). The CaspianBlack Sea transit route promises to ensure smooth and secure access to import and export markets for all participating countries, in particular for Turkmenistan. In this regard, Azerbaijan and Georgia have positioned themselves as reliable and important partners in delivering goods from Asia to Europe via their territory. Therefore, the importance of the South Caucasus region can be expected to continue to grow, inviting more such trans-regional projects in the future. Malaysian kidnap victim Jari Abdullah receives treatment after he was allegedly shot and wounded by his captors during a rescue operation launched by Philippine security forces in southern Sulu province, April 4, 2019. Islamic State-linked militants shot and wounded a Malaysian hostage as Filipino security forces rescued him in the southern Philippines on Thursday, almost four months after the man and two Indonesians were seized at sea off eastern Malaysia, military officials said. After his rescue Malaysian fisherman Jari Abdullah was being treated at a hospital in Zamboanga city, 1,334 km (833 miles) south of Manila, but the fate of the two Indonesians was not known, authorities said. The kidnap victim tried to escape from his captors during the firefight but was shot by the Abu Sayyaf, Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the militarys Southern Command, told BenarNews. Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants snatched Jarin and the Indonesians from their fishing boat off Pegasus Reef, located in waters off Sabah state in nearby Malaysian Borneo, on Dec. 6, 2018, authorities said. Besana said members of the Philippine Marines recovered Abdullah at around 4:30 p.m. after a brief firefight with his captors on Simisa Island, part of a chain of islands in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Besana said the marines found Jari lying near the withdrawal route taken by his captors. He was airlifted to a military facility in Jolo, the provincial capital of Sulu, before he was transferred to a hospital in Zamboanga city, about 215 km (134 miles) away, officials said. Authorities did not provide information on the extent of Jaris injuries. We have not spoken with the victim who is now undergoing [treatment] at the hospital, Besana said. Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo Jr, the army commander in Sulu, said there were no casualties on the government side during Thursdays rescue operation. It was not immediately clear if the militants suffered casualties. The ASGs act of shooting the hapless kidnapped victim is indicative of their hopelessness and of being desperate as they are now surrounded by our pursuing troops, Pabayo said. The AFP in Sulu is now more motivated to hunt down these terrorists, he said, using the acronym for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The ASG, the smallest but most brutal of several militant groups in the southern Philippines, is believed to be holding local and foreign hostages in the volatile south. Apart from abductions, it captured headlines during the past decade for its alleged involvement in bombings and beheadings in the southern Philippines. Over the past three years, ASG militants decapitated two Canadians and a German they had seized separately, military officials said. One of ASGs leaders, Isnilon Hapilon, became the acknowledged leader of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia and led a siege of the southern city of Marawi in May 2017. That siege led to a five-month battle with government forces that left 1,200 people dead, most of them militants, including Hapilon. ASG factions have been blamed for a car bombing in Basilan island that killed 11 people last year. In January, defense officials also linked the groups leader in Jolo to a bomb that killed 23 people and wounded dozens at a local Catholic church. Jeoffrey Maitem in Manila, Mark Navales in Cotabato City, Philippines, and Zam Yusa in Sabah, Malaysia, contributed to this report. Philippine security forces stand guard next to an Armored Personnel Carrier in the southern province of Sulu province, as they prepare to launch an operation against the Abu Sayyaf group, Sept. 5, 2016. Filipino Marines retrieved two Indonesian captives from Islamic State-linked militants Friday, but one later died from his wounds after he was shot during a rescue operation in the southern Philippines, officials said. At least three gunmen, identified as members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, were also killed during the clash that took place on Simisa Island, part of a chain of islands in southern Sulu province, the military said. Elsewhere in the same province, three elite Scout Ranger troops and four Abu Sayyaf militants were killed Friday in combat operations against a huge band of gunmen, the military said, adding that 13 soldiers and 14 gunmen were wounded. Just before sundown, we received an initial report that, unfortunately, one of the two Indonesian captives did not survive, Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman for the militarys Western Mindanao Command, told BenarNews. They shot the victims as they escaped during the encounter. But the Indonesian foreign ministry said the Indonesian who died was apparently wounded during a crossfire. He was in the position of being surrounded by soldiers and militant groups. He panicked and fled and jumped when he moved from one location to another, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, a director at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BenarNews. Besana did not identify which of the two Indonesian captives Heri Ardiansyah, 19, and Hariadin, 45 was killed. Iqbal also did not identify the Indonesian who died, saying he was still coordinating with Philippine authorities. A third captive, Malaysian Jari Abdullah, was recovered Thursday although he was also shot by the Abu Sayyaf gunmen as they fled advancing security forces, according to the military. The three men were reported as missing Dec. 6 in the Pegasus Reef area in eastern Sabah waters off Malaysian Borneo, after their boat was discovered with its engine running. An investigation showed that the trio was seized by seven gunmen who allegedly sped toward the direction of Sulu, sources said. We will continue the pursuit operations, Besana said, adding that the Indonesian Embassy in Manila had been informed of the incident. Authorities believe the two Indonesians were the same men shown in a video of two hostages released by Abu Sayyaf on social media in February this year. The video showed two men kneeling before their captors who were threatening to behead their hostages. The kidnapping took place although the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia had launched trilateral sea and air patrols, starting in 2016, to combat piracy and maritime abductions in their common seaways. The second gunbattle took place as troops caught up with about 50 Abu Sayyaf gunmen led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the likely new regional leader of Islamic State (IS) after the death of Isnilon Hapilon in October 2017, officials said. Hapilon and other militants from Southeast Asia and the Middle East were among the 1,200 people killed in a five-month battle with government forces in Marawi, the countrys only predominantly Muslim city. The military demolished the militants with near-daily aerial bombings, leading to the formerly Muslim trading hubs devastation. The Abu Sayyaf, founded in the early 1990s, is notorious for kidnappings, bombings and beheadings in southern Philippines. The group has been designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. Since their defeat in Marawi, IS-linked militants have been blamed for other recent deadly attacks, including a January bomb attack at a church on remote Jolo island in the south that left 23 people dead and more than 100 wounded. Jeoffrey Maitem and Mark Navales in Cotabato City, Froilan Gallardo in Cagayan de Oro and Richel V. Umel in Iligan City and Tia Asmara in Jakarta contributed to this report. Moro Islamic Liberation Front members celebrate the signing of a peace agreement during a rally in the town of Sultan Kudarat on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, March 27, 2014. Updated at 8:45 a.m. ET on 2019-04-05 Philippine security forces killed four Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members during an exchange of gunfire in the southern Philippines on Thursday, officials said in confirming the first violent incident since the government handed autonomous rule to the former rebel group barely two months ago. Eight policemen were also wounded in the violence in Madamba town, Lanao del Sur province, officials said. A firefight erupted at around 1 a.m. when police attempted to serve arrest warrants against four men who were believed to be MILF members, officials said. Philippine authorities described it as a "misencounter." Our targets resisted so a heavy firefight ensued, Col. Madzgani Mukaram, the provincial police chief, told reporters. MILF, once the countrys largest Muslim insurgent force, technically ceased to be a rebel group after signing a 2014 peace pact with Manila, in a deal that led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Mukaram said a band of MILF fighters attacked the security forces with grenades and automatic rifle-fire. Eight police officers were wounded, one went missing and a police vehicle was destroyed, he said. MILF spokesman Von Al Haq confirmed that the encounter took place and that the four slain men were indeed MILF fighters. An investigation has already begun to determine the circumstances of the violence, while MILF fighters on the ground had been ordered to return to their barracks, he said. We are trying to find out if a coordination was made prior to the operation, Al Haq said. Military officials have ordered the deployment of troops to the area to defuse the tension, as well as try to locate the missing policeman, authorities told BenarNews. The MILF effectively controls BARMM, a zone made up of at least five southern provinces. The MILF will oversee self-rule in the region until local voters elect their own parliament by 2022. The law aims to give the impoverished Philippine south an expanded autonomous area, offering self-determination to the nations four million Muslims by empowering them to elect their own parliament. MILF leaders have said that the job wont be easy, with many militant groups on the fringes still fighting the government, including those who had survived a five-month battle in Marawi city, a siege that killed 1,200 people, most of them militants. In the last 10 years, before it signed the peace deal with the government, MILF has been involved in several huge encounters with troops. In 2015, MILF forces killed 44 police commandos during a botched raid in the southern town of Mamasapan, a rebel-controlled area. The violence was described as a deadly misencounter that occurred while the policemen were on a mission to kill Malaysian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan). The mission led to Marwans death, but the policemen were engaged by a large group of MILF forces, which thought that they were under attack. MILF officials later said that there was no coordination prior to the raid, in violation of the earlier agreement. Seventeen MILF rebels also died in the clash, according to the group. CLARIFICATION: This version removes an earlier reference to the deadly incident as a friendly fire incident. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is deepening his regimes relations with Russia just as South Koreaengages in a charm offensive with the Trump administration five weeks after U.S.-North Korean denuclearization talks broke down. Washington Times reports in its article North Korea cozies up to Russia after failed Trump-Kim summit that a visit by Russias interior minister to Pyongyang this week has sparked concern among U.S. officials that Mr. Kim is cultivating a powerful backer in Moscow should tensions rise with Washington, all while Seoulis seen to be scrambling to keep nuclear diplomacy alive between Washington and North Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in will push Seouls position as a diplomatic go-between when he sees President Trump at the White House next week, just days after trips to Washington by South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. With all sides still measuring the fallout from late Februarys failed Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi, Mr. Moon has been seeking to tamp down any speculation of conflict in Washington-Seoul relations, said one person familiar with the visit. There have been reports of U.S.-South Korea alliance problems, of a difference of policy toward North Korea because South Korea is trying to accelerate inter-Korean cooperation while the U.S. is trying to maintain strong sanctions against Pyongyang, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. But both governments are now trying to show theyre on the same page and the visits by Ministers Kang and Jeong showed that last week. Mr. Moon is planning his visit as frustration mounts in Washington over North Koreas actions in the wake of the Hanoi summit, which was cut short after Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim failed to strike a far-reaching deal to end the Norths nuclear and missile programs. Mr. Trump said he had to walk away because Mr. Kim was demanding sweeping sanctions relief in exchange for only a limited commitment to destroy part of the Norths nuclear arsenal, a characterization Pyongyang has challenged. While there have been reports of renewed North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear activity, Pyongyanghas not launched any rockets or tested any bombs since Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim held a summit in Singapore last June. But U.S. officials say they remain concerned about activity at the Norths Tongchang-ri rocket launch site. South Korean officials say they share such concern. Mr. Jeong told reporters after a meeting with acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan on Monday that Seoul is working closely with Washington to monitor Tongchang-ri, a site Pyongyang previously vowed to destroy. But Mr. Jeong was circumspect about the Norths intentions behind restoring the launch site. At this point in time, it is difficult to judge whether it is intended to bolster [the Norths] bargaining power or to prepare for a missile launch, he said, according to the Souths Yonhap News Agency. Seeking options With the Trump administration refusing to ease crippling international economic sanctions on the North, the Kim regime is eager to show it has options ahead of any further talks with Washington. The Tongchang-ri activity and the ramped-up contact with Russia are both part of the strategy, said Patrick M. Cronin, a top Asia-Pacific Security fellow at the Hudson Institute. It makes a lot of sense for Kim, whos trying to strengthen his balance-of-power game, Mr. Cronin said last week. Hes looking for leverage. Kims been hinting for months that hell make a visit to Moscow or Vladivostok for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Cronin said. This would be to show Washington he has the support of a Russia, a U.N. Security Council member, a big nuclear neighbor of North Korea and a big economic partner. Mr. Kim may also want to show he is not heavily reliant on China, which is widely considered to be Pyongyangs closest economic partner and which U.S. officials have struggled to gain support for upholding sanctions again North Korea. The Tass news agency in Moscow reported Tuesday that Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived a day earlier in Pyongyang as part of a planned exchange that would involve officials from the Russian and North Korean law enforcement agencies. The visit follows up on an invitation presented in December by a North Korean delegation that visited Moscow, the agency said. The outreach comes at a sensitive moment in wider peace diplomacy that has been playing out between South Korea and North Korea, which has proceeded on its own track alongside Mr. Trumps summit diplomacy. April 27 will mark one year since the signing of the Panmunjom Declaration to culminate a summit between Mr. Moon and Mr. Kim. The two leaders met on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone, which has divided North and South since the 1950s war on the divided peninsula. The declaration featured pledges of cooperation and peace, as well as a broad commitment to pursue denuclearization, and was widely seen to have paved the way for the first Trump-Kim summit in Singapore last June. Losing influence Mr. Kim has since shown little measurable progress toward abandoning his nuclear weapons. With the more recent failure of the Hanoi summit, some say the Moon government is increasingly wary of losing its influence. Mr. Moons visit next week will be an attempt to revive U.S.-North Korean negotiations, according to former CIA Korea Deputy Division Chief Bruce Klingner, a fellow at The Heritage Foundation. President Trumps decision to walk away from a bad deal in Hanoi undermined South Koreas plans for further improving relations with Pyongyang. Recently, the North has been dismissing Seouls efforts at mediation, Mr. Klingner said in an analysis. Moon will likely seek to encourage Trump to eschew Washingtons recent firmer policy and lower the bar for North Korean required actions, and advocate for Trump to offer some sanctions relief in return for North Korean steps toward denuclearization. Mr. Cronin added, President Moon is going to be lobbying Trump to accept a small deal with North Korea because the South Koreans mistakenly believe that the administration turned down a small deal in Hanoi when what really happened is that President Trump turned down a bad deal. Moon desperately needs to sustain the peace process peace and the denuclearization process because the one-year anniversary of Panmunjom is coming and then were going to get to the one-year anniversary of the Singapore summit, he said. The South Koreans know that will be a break point at which theyre going to lose support for institutionalizing the peace process. Thats why Moon is coming here. Mr. Moon has expressed concern over how the North Koreans might react to his visit to the White House. According to the Reuters news agency, he told his Cabinet that his Washington visit will focus on restarting U.S.-North Korean talks, advancing a peace process and creating a virtuous cycle of improving relations with North Korea. Ms. Kang pushed a similar message on meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington last week. Whats most important at this stage after the Hanoi summit, she said, is to restart negotiations between North Korea and the United States. For Immediate Release, April 5, 2019 Contact: Sophia Ressler, (206) 399-4004, sressler@biologicaldiversity.org Washington Wolf Population Rose Slightly in 2018, Despite Destruction of Two Packs Stronger Rules Limiting Wolf Killing Needed for Further Recovery OLYMPIA, Wash. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife this week said the states wolf population has grown slightly to a minimum of 126 wolves, with 27 packs and 15 breeding pairs. The news comes despite state wildlife managers killing several wolves at the end of 2018 and virtually wiping out two entire packs in northeast Washington. Its exciting to share my home state with more wolves, but we need better rules to stop Washington officials from killing so many of them, said Sophia Ressler, a Seattle-based staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. These important, majestic animals still need strong state and federal protections to fully recover in Washington. The science shows that nonlethal methods are more effective than killing at resolving conflicts between livestock and wolves. But the state ordered the killing of the Togo and Old Profanity Territory packs in late summer and fall. The kill operations left behind only one adult animal and young pups incapable of hunting wild prey. In September wildlife officials killed the father wolf of the Togo pack, leaving his mate to fend for their two pups. In October the fish and wildlife department killed the breeding female and a five-month-old pup from the Old Profanity Territory pack. The department issued another kill order for members of the Smackout pack in Stevens County and gunned down a large male in November. Since 2012 state officials have killed 22 wolves, 18 of which were killed to appease the same livestock owner. Wolf recovery in Washington is still a work in progress, Ressler said. Killing wolves is hindering the advancements weve made. The science shows we dont need to kill wolves to protect livestock. Washington needs to stop the unnecessary slaughter and instead work toward full wolf recovery. Background Washingtons wolves were driven to extinction in the early 1900s by a government-sponsored eradication program on behalf of the livestock industry. The animals began to return from neighboring Idaho and British Columbia in the early 2000s. Their population has grown to 27 confirmed packs as of the end of 2018. Wolves are currently federally protected in the western two-thirds of Washington and protected everywhere in the state under state law. A bill recently introduced in the state legislature aims to make it even easier for the state fish and wildlife department to kill more wolves and avoid accountability for spending taxpayer funds. In March the Trump administration proposed to strip endangered species protection from gray wolves across the lower 48 states. That would give Washington wildlife managers full control over the protection of wolves, despite their previous indiscriminate killing of the animals. Collaboration part of National Biopharma Mission Syngene International Ltd., a leading global contract research organization, has announced the opening of its Centre for Advanced Protein Studies (CAPS) by the Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The Centre has been set up in collaboration with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) at Syngenes campus in Bengaluru and will host a state-of-the-art GLP accredited analytical laboratory. Regulatory approval of complex biological molecules involves extensive and advanced analytics including assessment of physiochemical characteristics, efficacy, immunogenicity (antidrug antibody), contamination, strength and more. All these tests need to be performed in a GLP compliant analytical facility. Availability of appropriate certified facilities at affordable costs is a challenge that the start-ups, SMEs/MMEs and the academia in India, have to often face. CAPS will help address this challenge and will be a big boost in advancing biopharma research and product development in India. Spread across an area of 2000 sq. ft, the Centre will run under the Innovate in India program of the National Biopharma Mission, Department of Biotechnology, announced by the Government of India. Speaking on the occasion, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Managing Director, Syngene International Ltd. said, I am extremely excited to see this partnership between Syngene and BIRAC. In the last few years, Indias biotechnology sector has seen tremendous action. India has immense scientific and entrepreneurial talent available in the country which gives it strong potential to emerge as the R&D hub for the global biotechnology industry. The CAPS facility will provide the right ecosystem for this talent to pursue their research objectives. Jonathan Hunt, Chief Executive Officer, Syngene International Ltd., said, It is indeed an honour for Syngene to collaborate with BIRAC in setting up the CAPS facility. As Indias largest scientific services provider, this collaboration will help Syngene play an active role in the development of India's biotechnology industry as well as nurture the innovative spirit within the industry. Apart from providing the necessary infrastructure support at affordable cost, CAPS will also focus on advancing technical skill development to global standards, by conducting various trainings and workshops involving eminent subject experts. National Biopharma Mission is an industry-academia collaborative mission of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and World Bank for accelerating early development of biopharmaceuticals and is being implemented by BIRAC. BIOs Innovator in Biotechnology award recognizes Members of Congress who have been collaborative partners, advocates, and champions of the biotechnology and life sciences industries. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was recognized by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) for her leadership as an Innovator in Biotechnology. Congresswoman Dingell received the award in conjunction with BIO Legislative Day Fly-In. BIOs Innovator in Biotechnology award recognizes Members of Congress who have been collaborative partners, advocates, and champions of the biotechnology and life sciences industries. The life sciences industry in Michigan provides jobs for over 40,000 people. Congresswoman Dingell has been an invaluable advocate for the biotechnology community both in Michigans 12th District and the nation at large, said Stephen Rapundalo, PhD and President & CEO of the Michigan Bioscience Industry Association - MichBio. On behalf of the Michigan life science industry, we thank her for outstanding leadership and dedication to supporting the innovative capacity and job-creating potential of American life science companies. Congresswoman Dingell has been a stalwart advocate for sound public policies that advance the jobs creating potential of Americas biotechnology industry as we address the most pressing medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental challenges facing our nation and the world, said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. Her commitment to support the needs of Americas innovative life science companies allows them to focus on what matters delivering life-saving and life-enhancing products. More than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from over 40 states, representing hundreds of thousands of American workers, will participate in hundreds of meetings with Members of the House and Senate during the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In. Participants will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry, including drug development, discovery and delivery reforms, targeting abuses of the U.S. patent system while protecting innovation, providing adequate reimbursement for vital therapies under Medicare, FDA funding, trade, tax policy, Farm Bill Implementation, protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard and capital formation issues relevant to biotechnology companies. Spoilt for choice and digitally-empowered, today's customers want exactly what they want, when they want it and the way they want it. Nathalie Schooling, CX specialist and CEO of nlighten Play the name game - when communicating with your customers, use their names. This is Business Communication 101 and may be stating the obvious, but youd be surprised at how many businesses still do not go this extra little mile to win their customers trust. - when communicating with your customers, use their names. This is Business Communication 101 and may be stating the obvious, but youd be surprised at how many businesses still do not go this extra little mile to win their customers trust. The customer journey and all-important personae - The potential for personalisation presents itself at many stages along the customer journey with your organisation. This includes the channels, platforms and devices you use to communicate with customers, as well as what days of the week or time of day consumers tend to engage with you. - The potential for personalisation presents itself at many stages along the customer journey with your organisation. This includes the channels, platforms and devices you use to communicate with customers, as well as what days of the week or time of day consumers tend to engage with you. Getting to know your customer - personalising services or products means tailoring messages to individual customers based on their behaviour and has been one of the biggest marketing trends in the last two years. However, to personalise effectively, you need to spend time getting to know your customers. - personalising services or products means tailoring messages to individual customers based on their behaviour and has been one of the biggest marketing trends in the last two years. However, to personalise effectively, you need to spend time getting to know your customers. Involve your team - An organisations most valuable asset is its human capital and, when personalising, it is important to get the input of your teams, especially customer-facing employees. Invite them to brainstorm ideas on ways in which you can offer your customers a more personalised experience. - An organisations most valuable asset is its human capital and, when personalising, it is important to get the input of your teams, especially customer-facing employees. Invite them to brainstorm ideas on ways in which you can offer your customers a more personalised experience. Measuring and tracking - It is important to ensure that you measure and track the impact of a more personalised approach. First you will need to identify what it is you want to measure and track, then establish a baseline against which to measure future performance and do so meaningfully. Its all personal. They put far more weight on free recommendations from their social media networks than they do on expensive brand messages. The vast majority wont bother to complain if they are unhappy with your product or service; and they have little to no reason to give any business a second chance. After all, they can click away from you in a split second and find your competitors the next instant.According to Nathalie Schooling, CX specialist and CEO of nlighten, a client experience company, research shows that 70% of buying experiences are based on how customers feel they are being treated. Its personal, and emotional.Schooling highlights the importance of customer retention when acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than keeping a current one.Loyal, repeat customers are not something thats nice to have, points out Schooling. When you consider that a 2% rise in customer retention can make the same impact on profits as cutting costs by 10%, then its clear that CX is a major driver of business growth and sustainability.The millennial generation, with its insistence on personal attention and cautious, well-informed spending is now the largest customer segment of our times. Across the board, the economic landscape is tough, and more and more consumers are highly selective about how and where they spend their money. Tech innovations are changing customers expectations from wanting responsiveness to their demands, to assuming the business will be able to accurately predict what they want when they want it.Todays customers have undeniably raised the bar, not just for one-time sales service, but at every touchpoint during their entire experience with your brands and your business. Studies show that we remember negative events with greater clarity and accuracy, and they re-trigger our emotional responses more than our positive recollections.According to Right Now Technologies, 87% of all consumers will not go back to an organisation after a bad experience. So, one shoddy engagement with your brand, website or employee carries far more weight than what has made them feel good on their customer journey with your business so far. This facet of human psychology is why business owners have their work cut out to properly manage CX, and ensure client satisfaction.From our research, development and testing of various CX models, what we know for sure is that client satisfaction and sales need to be linked. Formulating, executing and then, measuring your end-to-end CX strategy is arguably, the great business challenge of our time, says Schooling.Like all great challenges, it is both daunting and incredibly exciting. This is the opportunity for businesses to really purposefully engage with their customers. This demands a new and deeper than ever understanding of who your customers are and what matters to them most. It means getting your entire team on board to put your customers at the very heart and soul of your business. It means getting a handle on your data and investing in new generation tech that enables you to unlock instant insights about your customers and keep monitoring their satisfaction.Latest tech developments are moving customer service forward and enabling the design of end-to-end customer-centric experiences. According to Schooling, in 2017, 63% of marketers were prioritising technological investments to improve CX. This percentage will continue to grow as more business leaders come to appreciate the value in digital advancements.Schooling also prioritises multi-faceted research to empower business owners to inform the CX design and strategy that can truly put the customer at the centre of their companies.You cant get personal with someone you dont know well, she points out.You cant make them feel good in their engagement with you if you dont understand what makes them feel good, or whats important to them. Investing in research is critical to accurately mapping the CX journey.However, Schooling doesnt see research as a mere starting point. She advocates ongoing measurements and metrics, so that you stay in tune with the rapidly changing market forces in the interests of continuous improvement of CX.What going through the process of mapping the CX journey does for the business is highlight how everyones work ultimately impacts on customer satisfaction. This is the bedrock for training your entire team to deliver the behind-the-scenes or customer-facing services that are necessary for a customers seamless experience with your brand or business.Getting CX is right is not a one-stop, top-down affair. It is complex and multi-faceted, but dont let that put you off. Weve got the tech available to draw insights, meaning and understanding out of the biggest data. With a sound process, deep-rooted expertise and appropriate investments in research, design, training and ongoing monitoring and evaluation businesses can rise to the challenge of delivering high quality CX. This is going to be the difference between the winners and the losers of the near future.At a snapshot, here are Schoolings 5 fundamentals of getting customer service right: While most analyses of the expanding Russian presence in the Middle East focus on the countrys role as patron and protector to Bashar Assad in Syria, another relationship between Russia and the Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar is quietly becoming the conduit for a growing slate of trade and investment ties, with significant implications for the region and beyond. Jerusalem Post reports in its article RUSSIA AND QATAR: THE MIDDLE EASTS NEWEST PRAGMATIC FRIENDSHIP? that breaking with the typical course of Kremlin foreign policy, economic interests are overcoming geopolitical divides to drive Doha and Moscow together. In another inversion of the usual trend, Qatar is setting the pace with its investments in Russia. A complicated history The two countries have a historically turbulent relationship. Russian servicemen were allegedly behind the 2004 assassination in Qatar of Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, the former acting president of the breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Relations were officially downgraded in 2011 following an attack on Russian Ambassador Vladimir Titorenko at Doha International Airport. Things began to improve, however, after Qatars new Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani took power in 2013. Two official Moscow visits by the emir in 2016 and 2018, as well as regular telephone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, have helped foster a far warmer climate between the two countries. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov visited Qatar on March 4, ignoring the ongoing blockade led by Saudi Arabia by flying directly from Doha on to Riyadh. Qatar and Russia are still major competitors in the global gas market, and have serious differences over Assads Syrian regime. However, the leaderships of both countries are characterized by a resolutely pragmatic worldview, which ultimately brings them together. Indeed, their improving relations have been driven by a shared sense of their own interests, and a view of politics as a continuation of business as usual. Regional players This can be clearly seen in their attitudes to the Middle Easts thorniest geopolitical questions. Dohas desire to cement bilateral ties is strongly linked to Russias rise as a regional power. For its part, Moscow is angling to position itself as an impartial broker in the region and is keen to maintain stable relations with all local players. Russia has largely abstained from picking sides during the Gulf Cooperation Councils blockade of Qatar, even if certain officials have expressed a willingness to increase food supplies. This pragmatic handling of Middle Eastern affairs fits well with Qatars own approach. Doha remains a member of the GCC, and despite being ostracized, it hopes to resolve the blockade and restore relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). At the same time, it wants to enjoy working relations with Iran and Turkey, particularly in light of their support for the emirate in the early days of the blockade. None of these factors have made it any less opposed to Tehrans and Ankaras actions in Syria. Business ties At a broader level, Qatar sees Russia as more than a new player in the neighborhood. In fact, Doha has long seen the Russian market as an undervalued destination with strong long-term growth potential. Even in the middle of the most acute disputes over Syria, Qatar has nurtured its business ties with Russia. The Qatar Investment Authority, the countrys sovereign wealth fund, acquired a $500 million stake in the Russian state-owned VTB Bank in 2013; last year, the fund emerged as a major shareholder in energy giant Rosneft after the collapse of a $9 billion deal to sell a stake to Chinas troubled CEFC Energy Co. While the blockade initially disrupted Qatars investment outlooks, QIA has weathered the initial pressure and is once again keen to boost its overseas portfolio. While the United States is QIAs main target at present, Qatar continues to see investment in Russia as a means to acquire both political and economic dividends. Although the Russian economy remains weak and uncompetitive, sectors such as retail, mining and infrastructure offer stable and appealing returns. These same sectors just happen to also be of substantial importance to the domestic political agenda of the Russian leadership. Outside of these strategic sections of the economy, Qatari interests also control 25% of the operator of St. Petersburgs Pulkova Airport, and hold a similar stake in Moscows Vnukovo Airport. Long-term investments Taken all together, QIAs various investments in the country are valued at more than $2.5 billion. If Al-Attiyahs statements offer any indication, that number will soon grow. The irony of this state of affairs should not be lost on global energy markets. Whereas the United States is vocally counting on Qatari gas to compete with Russian gas in the European market, the Qataris themselves are one of the foremost investors in the Russian energy sector. Even if the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar were to be lifted tomorrow, the underlying tensions between the GCC and Doha will endure and will mean that the emirate will continue to bolster relations with other actors. Russia, as it happens, stands foremost among them. Let's have a look at the latest Acumen Media social media news roundup.The recent surge of xenophobic attacks meant that #Xenophobia took the top spot with electioneering politicians capitalising on it. Meanwhile, the ANC top six took their turn to testify in the Bosasa case at the State Capture Inquiry.Still shedding no light, Eskom remains in the spotlight and, this week, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan tried to assure South Africans that the energy producer would not exceed stage one load shedding. Many South Africans used social media to share their views on Pieter Myburgh's book about ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule or, as he's being referred to now, Mr 10 Percent.Jessie Duarte was compared to US President Donald Trump as she ranted at ENCA journalists. Johannesburgers shared how they were affected by the Alex Total Shutdown. The VBS Mutual Bank made the news as more evidence linking Floyd Shivambu and the EFF to the money emerged.Other stories making news included more on the upcoming general elections, the anniversary of Winnie Mandela's death and Gauteng Education MEC addressing abuse allegations at the Carltonville Creche. Today the North Atlantic Alliance marks its 70th anniversary. Right now NATO includes 29 states, but there are quite a few contradictions between the allies, and the alliances center of gravity has shifted from Germany and France to Poland and Eastern Europe in recent years. The participants of the Moscow-Washington-Tallinn video conference titled "70 years of NATO: results and plans" tried to answer the questions of what is the strength and weakness of NATO today, what further actions to expect from the alliance, what role Poland and Eastern Europe will play at the new stage, what Russia can do to counteract new challenges posed by NATO. The director of the Russian-Polish Cooperation Institute, Dmitri Bunevich, said that after 1991, Eastern Europeans consciously accepted the concept of Euro-Atlantism proposed by Washington, in which European integration and integration into NATO are considered two parallel and complementary processes, according to which, there is a single West, led by the United States. "The concept of Euro-Atlanticism is completely artificial, because it implies the existence of a single transatlantic West led by the United States. After the failure of negotiations to create a free trade zone between the United States and the European Union, when the EU managed to show that these agreements, which would fix the U.S. dominance, are not acceptable for it, the transatlantic split has intensified. We saw its first signs in 2003, when the Iraq campaign began, which was opposed by France and Germany, and the Eastern European countries proved themselves to be more Atlanticists than the U.S. Their military units participated in the operation against Iraq, secret CIA prisons were located in some Eastern European countries, where unacceptable methods of inquiry - tortures - were used, which would be impossible in France," Dmitry Bunevich recalled. In his opinion, 2003 was the first stage of the transatlantic split, which has deepened in recent years: "The more active the French-German core of the EU says that Europe needs to have its own voice, that European integration should be not wider, but deeper, that Europe should pursue a coordinated, responsible and independent security policy in the field of international relations, the more voices are heard in Europe, particularly in Germany and in France, about the need to normalize the dialogue with Russia, to build the Nord Stream 2, the more actively the U.S. plays on the Eastern European field, the more actively they use that part of the Eastern European elites, which due to certain historical events has a serious Russophobic component in its understanding of international relations, its place in history and Europe. The more Western Europe makes efforts to consolidate the European Union, the louder the voices about the need to find a compromise for the normalization of relations with Russia, the more actively the U.S. acts in Eastern Europe - a region that is ready to play up to Washington. So, an anti-Iranian summit was recently held in Warsaw. It couldn't be held in some other place. The final statement was signed only by the United States and Poland. The Baltic states are ready to provide their territory for the deployment of weapons. I think, construction of the base in Poland will be started. Under these conditions, the interests of Western Europeans and Russia largely coincide," Bunevich said. The vice-president of the Russian Council on International Affairs, vice president of the Center for Political Studies, Lieutenant-General Yevgeny Buzhinsky, who is convinced that there is no split in NATO, since the United States occupies leading positions in the alliance, does not agree with Bunevich. In military terms, the general doesnt care about either the three NATO battalions in the Baltic States or the rapid deployment force: Three battalions are not such a big force to defend the Baltic States, and the use of rapid deployment force requires a political decision at the NATO Council. Former NATO supreme allied commander for Europe, General Philip Breedlove tried to get the right to use a rapid deployment force, but received only the right to put on red-alert the part of rapid deployment force in places of permanent encampment. That is the whistle is pulled, there goes the whistle and...all are waiting with their rifles." The real danger for Russia, according to Buzhinsky, is the actions of the United States, which is creating the reinforcement infrastructure: "Recently, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. moved 1500 troops, a battalion, to the territory of Poland. Until 1989, the U.S. conducted Reforger maneuvers, deployed an armored division using military transport aircraft, partly civil aviation, naval vessels, civilian ships, Now they are moving towards resuming the Reforger reinforcement exercise. We need to beware of it. This reminds of preparations for carrying out force actions. If you read all the doctrines, especially of the current administration, it is clear that they are ready for war with Russia. But somewhere in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, not in the territory of the United States. This is the reason for our leadership's statements that we will fire missiles not against the places from where rockets are sent to us, but against the decision-making places. It is absolutely clear what it means." Biopolymer Injection For Diabetes: An Alternative To Insulin Injections Diabetes oi-Amritha K Every year, the month of November is observed as the Diabetes Awareness Month - celebrated globally to raise awareness about both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The theme of World Diabetes Day and diabetes awareness month 2019 is 'Family and Diabetes'. Diabetes Awareness Month 2019 also aims to focus on the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. On this awareness month, let us take a look at what biopolymer injections are and how it may become an alternative to insulin injections. The prevalence of diabetes is rising with each day. According to the WHO report on diabetes, the global prevalence of the disease has hiked from 4.7 per cent (1980) to 8.5 per cent (2014). As per the statistics of 2016, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes [1] . An individual suffers from diabetes when their blood glucose or blood sugar levels are too high. A person suffers from type 1 diabetes when their body does not make insulin, and a person suffers from type 2 diabetes when the body fails to use the proper amount of insulin [2] . There are various treatment methods that have been developed for treating the condition, which help manage the signs and symptoms. The most common and effective method of diabetes treatment is insulin. It is available in the form of insulin shots (needle and syringe), pens, pumps, inhaler, injection port and jet injector. Insulin help keep the glucose levels at a normal level, thereby helping the individual lead a normal life [3] . However, the constant need to maintain the glucose level can sometimes be difficult, due to one's lifestyle demands. Taking weekly or daily insulin shots pose the risk of missing out as well. According to recent research on the effectiveness and easiness of diabetes medications, researchers have developed biopolymer injections that may offer weeks of glucose control [4] , [5] . In the current article, the possible effectiveness of biopolymer injections over the insulin injections will be looked into. What Are Biopolymer Injections? Biopolymers are polymers which are produced from natural sources that are chemically developed from a biological material or biosynthesized by living organisms [6] . Basically, it is a biodegradable chemical compound and some of the examples are proteins, carbohydrates, DNA, RNA, lipids, nucleic acids, peptides and polysaccharides such as glycogen, starch and cellulose. Biopolymers are of four types and they are starch-based biopolymers, sugar-based biopolymers, biopolymers based on synthetic materials and cellulose-based biopolymers [7] . Polypeptides are chains of amino acids, a type of biopolymer which has become a breakthrough in the diabetes scene. Researchers at Duke University have developed a heat-sensitive polypeptide that is able to fuse with glucagon-like peptide-1 molecules (GLP1) which is asserted to be an effective answer for diabetes care [8] . The injections are said to be increasingly effective than the usual insulin injections and do not require the need to be used on a continuous basis like the insulin injections [9] . Biopolymer Injections For Long-lasting Diabetes Treatment Even in the midst of various treatment options, patients with diabetes are still faced with the struggle of maintaining their blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are met with a heightened level of risk that can lead to serious complications. If any individual fails to get their dose of diabetes medication, it can result in elevated levels of blood sugar or glucose [10] . This in term can lead to blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, and amputation of lower limbs. The lack of proper management of diabetes has resulted in the biomedical engineers from Duke University in Durham, NC developing the biopolymer injections. Although effective, the insulin injections are often required two times a day due to the GLP1 molecule having a short half-life. It disappears from the body quickly [11] , [12] . But, the biopolymer developed by the researchers immediately respond to the body heat upon being injected and slowly dissolves to release insulin into the body. The twice- or even once-a-month biopolymer shots are asserted to have the ability to replace the daily or weekly-once insulin shot required to control the type 2 diabetes. The long-lasting injection is developed from combining a familiar diabetes-control molecule, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) with an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). Upon coming in contact with the body heat, the combination of GLP1-ELP develops a biodegradable gel-like 'depot' which releases the medication for managing the glucose levels. Scientists at the university quoted that the biopolymer injection can "enhance therapeutic outcomes by eliminating peak-and-valley pharmacokinetics and improving overall safety and tolerability." And also, has the potential to improve the pharmacological performance of protein therapeutics and peptides apart from GLP1 [13] . The 2014 study was conducted on rhesus monkeys and mice, in which the monkeys showed an increased glucose control. In accordance with this, the scientists asserted that the medication would have more control in humans as we have slower metabolisms than mice or monkeys. It focused on shifting the design of biopolymers' delivery at the molecular level, so as to maximise the duration of the drug's delivery from a single injection [14] . The study revealed that the biopolymer injections lasted three times longer than the other medications used in diabetes treatment. It lasted for a period of 14 days in comparison to the 2 to 3 days (insulin injection), without any fluctuations in between. With more studies focusing on improving the impact of biopolymer injections, people suffering from diabetes can reduce the burden of constant injections and avoid the occurrence of hypoglycaemia or weight gain [13] . On A Final Note... Studies are currently being conducted to understand the impact of the biopolymer injections on a diabetic patient's immune system. Apart from being a long-term cure for diabetes, the biopolymer is applicable for long-acting pain medication due to its controlled release properties [15] . With almost half of patients with type 2 diabetes failing to manage their condition due to the difficulty caused by the treatments that require meal-specific doses, the biopolymer injections can emerge as an effective and efficient solution. Because, the findings offer an exciting new path towards delivering a variety of sustained, long-acting pain medications for diabetes. View Article References [1] World Health Organization. (2016). Global report on diabetes. [2] Atlas, D. (2015). International diabetes federation.IDF Diabetes Atlas, 7th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation.' [3] American Diabetes Association. (2017). 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes.Diabetes care,40(Supplement 1), S11-S24. [4] Heerspink, H. J., Perkins, B. A., Fitchett, D. H., Husain, M., & Cherney, D. Z. (2016). Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: cardiovascular and kidney effects, potential mechanisms, and clinical applications.Circulation,134(10), 752-772. [5] Castle, J. R., & Jacobs, P. G. (2016). Nonadjunctive use of continuous glucose monitoring for diabetes treatment decisions.Journal of diabetes science and technology,10(5), 1169-1173. [6] Reis, C. P., Veiga, F. J., Ribeiro, A. J., Neufeld, R. J., & Damge, C. (2008). Nanoparticulate biopolymers deliver insulin orally eliciting pharmacological response.Journal of pharmaceutical sciences,97(12), 5290-5305. [7] Pope, E. J., Braun, K., & Peterson, C. M. (1997). Bioartificial organs I: silica gel encapsulated pancreatic islets for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology,8(1-3), 635-639. [8] Naito, Y., Akagiri, S., Uchiyama, K., Kokura, S., Yoshida, N., Hasegawa, G., ... & Yoshikawa, T. (2005). Reduction of diabetes-induced renal oxidative stress by a cantaloupe melon extract/gliadin biopolymers, oxykine, in mice.Biofactors,23(2), 85-95. [9] Sakurai, H., Katoh, A., & Yoshikawa, Y. (2006). Chemistry and biochemistry of insulin-mimetic vanadium and zinc complexes. Trial for treatment of diabetes mellitus.Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan,79(11), 1645-1664. [10] Lim, H. P., Tey, B. T., & Chan, E. S. (2014). Particle designs for the stabilization and controlled-delivery of protein drugs by biopolymers: a case study on insulin.Journal of controlled release,186, 11-21. [11] Paddock, C. (2017, 5 Jun). Type 2 diabetes: New biopolymer injection may offer weeks of glucose control. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317769.php [12] Medical Palstic News. (2017, 6 Jun). Biopolymer developed to reduce insulin injections for diabetics [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.medicalplasticsnews.com/news/biopoly/ [13] GEN News. (2017, 6 Jun). Month-Long Diabetes Control Possible with New Injection [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/month-long-diabetes-control-possible-with-new-injection/ [14] Toich, L. (2017, 20 Jun). Biopolymer Could Result in Long-Lasting Diabetes Treatment. The American Journal Of Pharmacy Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.ajpb.com/news/biopolymer-could-result-in-longlasting-diabetes-treatment [15] Haridy, R. (2017,6 Jun). Injectable polymer could cut insulin injections to one per month [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://newatlas.com/diabetes-monthly-injection-insulin-biopolymer/49903/ Can compulsory vaccination of children be introduced in Russia? What patients will qualify for pain relief? And why is diabetes growing younger? Member of the Council of the Federation Committee on Social Policy, Honored Doctor of Russia Tatyana Kusayko discussed this and other issues with Vestnik Kavkaza. - On April 1, the additional measles vaccination began in Russia. The situation in the world is currently turbulent - every day we read about the epidemic in Ukraine, then about the outbreaks in the regions of Russia, even in some elite districts of Moscow. In New York, at the end of March, a state of emergency was declared because of measles, unvaccinated children were barred from visiting public places. In Italy, the law on introducing compulsory vaccination of children and not letting unvaccinated children to public places was adopted. What is the situation in Russia? Can the law prohibit unvaccinated children to visit schools and kindergartens? Can parents be legally required to be vaccinated? - This is a serious problem not only for our country, but also for Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union. The infection flow to the Russian Federation has increased. Measles is a dangerous and highly contagious disease. By the degree of transmission by airborne droplets, measles is more contagious than flu. The national calendar in our country involves vaccination against this terrible disease in the early stages, in childhood, and later - up to 55 years. In recent years, we understand how important it is to convince parents that measles is an infection and it is possible to be protected from it. Any vaccination does not imply the disappearance of the disease, but prevention of complications is necessary. Moreover, complications of measles are very dangerous - pneumonia, meningitis and meningoencephalitis. Unfortunately, there have been many refusals to vaccinate recently, not only against measles, but also against other diseases. This creates the danger of reducing the immunological layer: if the number of vaccinated people is less, the possibility of spreading the infection is much higher. Today, the focus is on vaccination of migrant workers. This will provide an opportunity to prevent the flow of infection to other countries. In addition, there is a possibility of receiving measles vaccination for 72 hours, if you know that there was a contact. This is one of the protection measures. Rospotrebnadzor monitors the situation in various regions. An increase in the incidence is noted in the Vladimir region, in Novosibirsk, in some schools of Moscow. We can prevent unvaccinated children from attending schools, but I think that it is much easier to prevent a disease. It is necessary to consciously approach this issue. The issue of introducing vaccines against chicken pox and rotavirus infection on the national calendar is now being considered. In many countries of the world, vaccination against human papillomavirus is carried out, which is important for the prevention of cancer. Cervical cancer is only cancer that can be eliminated by vaccinating human papillomavirus. In countries where vaccination has been administered for 10 years, the incidence of cervical cancer is much lower. It is necessary to use all the levers in order to reduce cancer incidence. - Another important topic is the provision of high-tech medical equipment to the regions. It was you who drew the attention of colleagues to the shortcomings of the financing mechanism and gave an example with an angiograph, which costs 70 million rubles. Regions which are under the state financing program for several years have money to purchase such medical equipment, but they cannot be spent at once. How to solve this problem? - Our budget is calculated for three years, and sometimes the acquisition of expensive equipment, which is necessary for some particular region, causes difficulty. It is necessary to conduct monitoring throughout the country about the financial resources allocated for the implementation of national projects so that there is an opportunity to pool the funds allocated to the subject in two years and acquire what is really needed. For example, Kalmykia was allocated 24 million rubles for 2019 and 36 million rubles for 2020. If you combine the funds allocated for two years, this amount would be enough to get an angiograph. We are talking about the possibility of rational use of financial flows from the federal budget, which are allocated to the regions. It is necessary to eliminate the prejudice that if the money allocated for the year are not used, they will be taken away. This is an important point. So we can improve the material and technical base. Monitoring will allow you to buy what is really necessary. After all, it often happened so that the purchased equipment was not used, because, for example, there were no relevant specialists. The implementation of the national Healthcare project will depend on the extent to which the region can correctly calculate both the acquisition and the possibilities for improving the availability and quality of medical care. - A few days ago, the amendments came into force, guaranteeing the terminally ill high-quality medical care - the amendments on palliative care. We are talking about a large number of patients - these are children and adults, about one million people. Palliative care also applies to field services, and hospital stay, and the purchase of high-quality painkillers. Can we say that in Russia before there was no palliative care? How will this mechanism really work now? What will change? - I would not say that we did not have palliative care at all, but for a long time, representatives of public organizations and the professional community said that this assistance requires rethinking. The amendments that have been made are very important. This is a law for each of us because no one is immune to the situation when this help may be needed. The law expands the concept of palliative care, reflects the creation of a palliative care system in our state. First of all, it is an interdepartmental orientation - medical, psychological, spiritual and social care. Alone, the Ministry of Health cannot implement all these innovations. The main point of the innovation is that now palliative care is closer to a person. A person who is at home can receive high-quality medical care. In addition, we are talking about care, the skills of which should be taught to family members. The availability of narcotic drugs for home use is also regulated by this law. There used to be a sad case when a doctor, guided by some regulatory documents, could not prescribe a narcotic substance. Now the regulatory documents will clearly regulate the rules for issuing prescriptions, the duration of the prescription: if it was 15 days earlier, now the prescription can be used much longer. The turnover of narcotic and psychotropic drugs is now at the revision stage. Regulatory documents must also protect the health worker because there were precedents when a criminal prosecution was initiated against medical professionals. Now the Ministry of Health proposes to make changes to the Criminal Code: if a not very dangerous violation is committed during the circulation of narcotics and psychotropic drugs necessary for the provision of palliative care, then it should be ranked as an administrative violation. The law on clinical guidelines was also adopted. They are currently under revision. Clinical recommendations for cancer should be reviewed first of all. This will enable the timely implementation of one of the sections of the national project, which concerns the early prevention of cancer. The financial resources that are now allocated for cancer care are unprecedented. Polyclinic pain centers have been established, where you can get outpatient care, new palliative care departments are opened, which are equipped with modern equipment and enable a person with an incurable disease to live in normal conditions without experiencing pain. There is equipment that can block pain at the ganglion level. These are the methods that were not previously used, and the person was forced to endure unbearable pain. And we are talking not only about oncological diseases. A lot of somatic diseases are accompanied by severe pains that need to be stopped - connective tissue diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis. As for pediatric oncology, it is especially important to create conditions for a child when he is not experiencing pain. An important point is a psychological mood, how to help both the patient and his family accept the diagnosis. The quality of life of the patient also depends on this. That is, we want to say that terminally ill people have an opportunity to live well, even knowing that they have such a disease. - Now the Federation Council is developing a unified bill on families with dependent children. You and your colleagues often visit the regions to meet with people, find out what worries them, what they need most urgently. What can the state do for them? - We regularly meet with representatives of large families and understand that many problems are the same in our country and in the regions. Thanks to this communication, we can create a mechanism that will allow us to make the necessary decisions at the legislative level. On behalf of the Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, a working group has been created and now it is working to create a law on large families. First of all, we need to clarify the status of a family with dependent children. In different subjects, there are regulatory documents that define what a large family is. But having left the boundaries of their region, large families no longer enjoy benefits. Benefits that exist on the territory of one subject, people can no longer receive on the territory of another. Determining the status of a large family at the legislative level, I think, will remove many issues regarding large families. It is also about the fact that the family with three children ceased to be considered a large family when one of the children turns 18. Those two children who remained in a large family no longer enjoy the benefits that are provided for in another subject. There is a very acute issue with land plots - the situation on the territory of the regions is different. One cannot compare the steppe Kalmykia with the Murmansk region, where there are hills and stones. Therefore, the financial resources needed for large families for the development of these sites differ in different regions. Why should we endow families with territories that have no communications? A large family will have to spend a lot of financial resources in order to bring necessary communications, in order to develop a plot. Sometimes families who receive a plot pay taxes, but they dont have an opportunity to build something on the plot because they have no necessary financial means. One of the tasks set by the national demographic project is to increase the birth rate to 1.7, that is, two or three children in the family should become the norm. We also have families who do not have children. There are talks about the tax on childlessness. I am categorically against this because this is the ethical side of the issue because, for completely different reasons, some families cannot have children. For many of them, it is a pain. We are a modern society. We must help families get out of this situation. There is a possibility of adoption. It is necessary that the adoptees of several children enjoy the same benefits as an ordinary family, which has the status of having many children. - Do you have any support measures in the region, in the Murmansk region? - In our region, there is such a measure of incentives as payment for the first child if the parents are under 26 years old. This is an opportunity to stimulate student families. Though its only 15 thousand rubles, the stimulation measure itself is quite significant as it allows young mothers not to lose the opportunity for professional growth. You can carry out various kinds of professional training at home, you can work on remote access, now there are all the conditions for this. -Tatyana Alekseevna, you are a pediatrician with a great experience, more than 30 years. During this time, tens of thousands of patients have passed through your hands, through your heart. Do you know the fate of at least some of them? Do you keep in touch with someone? Did some of your patients follow your footsteps, choosing a medical profession? - Of course, I know. A doctor is not a profession, it is a life. If I had to start life all over again, I would still choose only the profession of a pediatrician. I maintain links with many patients, I was even treating their children. There are patients who, looking at me, have chosen the profession of a medical worker. And now, my former patients with whom I maintain relations are studying in the universities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. They send their video greetings wearing white coats. My daughter, Nastya, also became a pediatrician. I always told her that at any course of a medical university, you must be sure that you will never say that you are tired of this. If you realize that this is not yours, it is better to leave earlier. I hope that my daughter will become a good pediatrician, she is committed to this. On March 30, she married. Her husband is a children's traumatologist. I hope that they will be able to work in the Murmansk region and improve the provision of primary medical and sanitary care to the population and will be a part of the program on the elimination of the personnel shortage. I hope those patients who have followed my footsteps will never regret that they have chosen the profession of a pediatrician. In my former office, there is the whole wall with children's photos. I really love childrens eyes. Sometimes a newborn baby says so much with his eyes that it seems that he has already lived a life. I remember them all, I remember their birthdays, we communicate with mothers, and already with adult children. And these meetings are always very important because when you love your profession, you choose your vocation - this is life. Commenting on the row with the United States over Turkey's decision to purchase Russia's S-400 missile defense system, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Omer Celik said that demanding that Ankara give up a done deal is disrespecting the country's sovereign rights. Asking Turkey to withdraw from an agreement that is already completed is disrespectful to Turkey's sovereignty, Anadolu Agency cited Celik as saying. According to the spokesman, Ankara will not give any credit to this disrespectful act. Yesterday, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned Turkey against buying S-400, keeping up pressure on the NATO ally to abandon a purchase that Washington views as a threat to U.S. military equipment. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans AK Party (AKP) has appealed to annul local elections in Istanbul after initial results showed the opposition won a narrow victory in the city. The AKP office in Istanbuls Buyukcekmece district had appealed to the provincial electoral office to annul the vote across the city due to what it said was illegal voter registrations in the district, broadcaster Haberturk reported. Since Sundays vote the AKP has submitted objections to the results, saying they had been impacted by irregularities. Award-winning Soviet film director Giorgi Danelia will be buried at Moscow's Novodevichye cemetery on April 9, according to the press service of that Moscow Department of Trade and Services. Moscow will mourn the death of the director at the Headquarters of the Union of Russian Cinematographers on April 9. Danelia passed away at the age of 88 in Moscow on April 4 after months of illness. The late director had been admitted to a Moscow hospital with pneumonia in February and placed under medically induced coma. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was due to meet eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi today in a bid to avert renewed civil war as his forces advanced on Tripoli to challenge the internationally recognised government. He will also go to Tobruk, another eastern city, to meet lawmakers of the House of Representatives, which is also allied to Haftar. "My aim remains the same: avoid a military confrontation. I reiterate that there is no military solution for the Libyan crisis, only a political one," Guterres said on Twitter. LNA forces on Thursday took Gharyan, about 80 km south of Tripoli after skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. But they failed to take a checkpoint about 30 km west of the capital in a bid to close the coastal road to Tunisia. An LNA-allied militia withdrew overnight from so-called Gate 27, leaving it abandoned in the morning, Reuters reported. Meanwhile militias allied to the U.N.-backed Tripoli government moved more machinegun-mounted pickups from the coastal city of Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftar's forces. The Kremlin appreciates all calls for disarmament, including those coming from the U.S., but they should not be limited to words, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on U.S. President Donald Trumps statement that the U.S., Russia and China should make an agreement to cut military spending. "Any call for disarmament is commendable and worth considering," TASS cited the spokesman as saying. But, according to him, the important thing is that "rather than be limited to words", it "should be translated into specific initiatives and suggestions that would be handed over to partners through official channels." Peskov added that the Kremlin had not received any suggestions of that kind from the United States. Earlier, Trump said at a meeting with Chinese Vice Prime Minister Liu He that the U.S., China and Russia could negotiate an agreement to cut military spending. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Delta 9 Cannabis CEO John Arbuthnot, in the brand new store at Shoppers Mall in Brandon on opening day, Thursday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) The provinces largest cannabis dispensary Delta 9 opened in Brandon on Thursday, marking the citys fourth pot shop. The first customer in line, who asked not to be named due to his place of employment, said he hadnt planned on attending but was driving by just before the stores opening at 10 a.m. He bought a few pre-rolled joints, one gram of the strain "Moonbeam" and 3.5 grams of another strain of cannabis. While Brandon already has three cannabis stores, he said the city can support further expansion. "I think the way that the culture and stigma around cannabis has changed, we have how many (Liquor Marts) in town? So why not the same thing for cannabis shops?" John Arbuthnot, CEO of Delta 9 Cannabis, was on hand for the Brandon stores opening. At 4,500 square feet, the company dubbed the Shoppers Mall store a "superstore" for its size and location in a high traffic area. "Its part of the companys strategy around removing some of the stigma around cannabis. We can put the cannabis stores in back lanes and keep them tucked away out of peoples vision, but I think theres a lot more merit in putting them in the community and let everyone know were here and at the same time being socially responsible." The store is different from the other cannabis stores already open in Brandon. Unlike Tweed, Meta Cannabis Supply and Tokyo Smoke, Delta 9 is not a stand-alone store. The store doesnt have an entrance inside Shoppers Mall itself the main door opens into the parking lot, which was a conscious decision for the company. "I think our challenge for this location was to do it in a way to not be offensive and obviously in a shopping mall location youre going to have a lot of kids, a lot of families around, so we needed to pay attention to that." The store sells cannabis itself, but also accessories such as bongs, vaporizers and candles. Brandons Delta 9 also includes a cannabis education centre in a separate room. The centre is set up like a classroom with desks and will be used to teach people about cannabis and how to use it. Arbuthnot said there was a huge amount of demand for knowledge about the product after legalization on Oct. 17. "They want to know more about it, like alternative methods of ingestion, How do I consume this without smoking? How do I do it safely? They want to come in and learn from someone who knows the tricks of the trade." The new store is Delta 9s third store in the province, which is now host to a total of 22 cannabis dispensaries. Six months after legalization, the demand for cannabis in the county isnt clear, but Arbuthnot said hes confident the province and Brandon itself can support more stores. The companys research before legalization said the province could support up to 120 stores. "Looking at the cannabis market versus liquor, I think there are four liquor stores in Brandon and a number of beer vendors, as well. In terms of the market size, whats interesting is the intake from surrounding communities; it really is western Manitobas hub." At this point, the initial problems around supply are being sorted out. The store is opening with 30 different types of cannabis, including dried, pre-rolled joints and gel capsules. This is up from just after legalization when a store would open with six to eight products in stock. "I think initially we saw some real challenges around supply, still some lingering issues around certain products being stocked out at different times. So were through some of those initial supply challenges. On the demand side I think its blown away our wildest expectations." He said hes also confident people will support a Manitoba company and people have a desire to buy cannabis locally. "I think the natural step for government from here is to open up for more store openings and from there we look to meet the provincial governments mandate of Lets make this as convenient as possible for people, we want it within a 30-minute drive and Ill do everything I can to make that happen." dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ VANCOUVER - A man convicted of criminally harassing his ex-wife through a revenge website has been charged with breaching a probation order. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VANCOUVER - A man convicted of criminally harassing his ex-wife through a revenge website has been charged with breaching a probation order. The RCMP say Patrick Fox was arrested Thursday in Burnaby, B.C. He was sentenced to nearly four years in prison in 2017 for illegally possessing a firearm and criminally harassing Desiree Capuano, who lived in the United States. Fox's trial heard Capuano was harassed through hundreds of threatening emails and the website, which falsely maligned her as a white supremacist, drug addict and child abuser. In a statement, the B.C. Crown prosecution service says Fox is charged with failing to report as directed to a probation officer, leaving the province without permission from his probation officer, and attending within 100 metres of the United States border. A bail hearing for Fox on Friday was adjourned until Wednesday. KAMPALA, Uganda - An elderly Canadian couple came face-to-face with armed gunmen while on safari in Uganda this week, but managed to escape unharmed. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The sun sets over Lake George near Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, near Myeya, Wednesday, April 5, 2000. An elderly Canadian couple came face-to-face with armed gunmen while on safari in Uganda this week, but managed to escape unharmed. Global Affairs Canada confirms two Canadian citizens were present during an ambush of tourists in the country on Tuesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Brennan Linsley KAMPALA, Uganda - An elderly Canadian couple came face-to-face with armed gunmen while on safari in Uganda this week, but managed to escape unharmed. Global Affairs Canada confirms two Canadian citizens were present during an ambush of tourists in the country on Tuesday. Spokesman Richard Walker says the couple are safe and have been provided with consular services. Ugandan security forces are searching for a U.S. citizen and a local driver who were abducted in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and authorities say the kidnappers have demanded a $500,000 ransom. Police say the kidnapped American is a 35-year-old woman. Abductions in Uganda's protected areas are rare. Queen Elizabeth National Park, in southwest Uganda along the porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a popular safari destination. with files from The Associated Press TORONTO - An Ontario court has extended an order that suspended legal proceedings against three big tobacco companies. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO - An Ontario court has extended an order that suspended legal proceedings against three big tobacco companies. JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. were granted protection from their creditors last month after they lost an appeal in a multibillion-dollar case in Quebec. On March 1, Quebec's highest court upheld a landmark judgment that ordered the companies to pay more than $15 billion to smokers who were part of two class-action lawsuits. The companies quickly secured creditor protection in Ontario, putting all legal proceedings on hold so that a global settlement could be negotiated with all those who have claims against them, including the class-action members and several provincial governments. The stay was set to expire at midnight Friday but Ontario Superior Court Justice Thomas McEwen agreed to push the deadline to June 28. However, McEwen has yet to rule on a motion that could lift the stay and send the matter back to the Quebec court of appeal. That decision is expected the week of April 15. Lawyers representing the class-action members argued earlier this week that the stay in their case should be revoked if the companies intend to appeal the Quebec ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada. Appealing would mean the companies do not recognize their debt to the class-action members, which means they would not be negotiating a settlement in good faith, the lawyers argued Thursday. What's more, the possibility of an appeal that would further prolong the case could be used as leverage in negotiations, they said. The lawyers said if the companies intend to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, they should instead ask the Quebec appeal court to suspend the implementation of its judgment until the appeal process is over. The companies have said they had no choice but to seek protection from their creditors, and said the Ontario court was the appropriate venue to deal with the issue. Lawyers representing several provinces including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have opposed the class-action members' application, saying it would give preferential treatment to claimants in one province over the others. CALGARY - A former Calgary teacher has pleaded guilty to 17 sex-related charges involving girls. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CALGARY - A former Calgary teacher has pleaded guilty to 17 sex-related charges involving girls. Christian Allen Sarile had been arrested on 49 charges including sexual assault, sexual interference, accessing child pornography, distributing child pornography, luring and extortion. All of the victims were between the ages of 12 and 17 and are from the Calgary area. Police say Sarile used social media sites to pose as a teenager asking to meet girls. Investigators say he would ask the girls to chat through various social media platforms and then offer them cash or items in exchange for sex or compromising photos. A sentencing date has not been set. (CTV Calgary, The Canadian Press) The Armenian Defence Ministry's military unit commander was injured in the shooting in Yerevan this morning. According to the source, the injured has been hospitalized. When the police arrived, two bullets and a pistol were found at the scene. Despite the injury, the commander neutralized the attacker. The attacker was taken to the police department, shamshyan.com reported. OTTAWA - Malign foreign actors will likely try to meddle in the Canadian federal election in October, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland warned Friday, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed the finger at Russia as the most likely culprit. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, talks with an aide at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers' Session 2 at the US State Department in Washington, Thursday, April 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) OTTAWA - Malign foreign actors will likely try to meddle in the Canadian federal election in October, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland warned Friday, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed the finger at Russia as the most likely culprit. Freeland sounded the alarm over election interference at a G7 foreign ministers' gathering in France. At a parallel G7 meeting of interior ministers, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the bloc wants the world's big internet companies Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft to do more to stop their platforms from being exploited. The dual G7 ministerial mirrored a similar joint meeting in Toronto almost one year ago that unfolded against the backdrop of a van attack on Yonge Street that left 10 people dead. A year later, their meetings occurred just weeks after 50 people were killed in two attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Canada's upcoming federal election also attracted interest, sparking a question to Freeland about the likelihood of Russian interference. "We are very concerned," the minister replied. "I think our judgment is interference is very likely and we think there has probably already been efforts by malign foreign actors to disrupt our democracy." While Freeland did not specifically mention Russia, Trudeau unloaded on the country when asked about the issue at an event in Toronto. "We have seen over the past number of years an increase in the interference or the implication of foreign actors in democratic processes. We saw very clearly that countries like Russia are behind a lot of the divisive campaigns, a lot of the divisive social media," the prime minister said. Trudeau and Freeland talked about Canada's creation of a "critical election protocol," including a group of five senior public servants who will decide whether a malign act of interference in this October's federal election warrants going public about a fundamental threat to the vote in the middle of the campaign. "The election that's coming up in six months will be decided by Canadians," Trudeau said. "We're going to work very hard with all the intelligence communities and our partners around the world to ensure that our democracies stay strong for all the different voices that express themselves within it." The G7 is seized with the issue of foreign intrusions in democratic countries and Freeland made the issue a top priority when Canada hosted the bloc last year. Goodale also pushed a G7 initiative last year to hold the major internet companies to account for malign and disruptive material on their platforms. His assessment one year later: They need to do a better job of fighting terrorism, extremism, child exploitation, and fake news that can undermine democracy. "The message was very clear to the service providers: the G7 countries are grateful for the steps they have taken over the past three or four years, but more steps are necessary," Goodale said in an interview. "They need to have better technology, they need to be able to move faster, they need to assist the smaller companies that may not have the technical wherewithal of the big four or five." Freeland said malign actors aren't trying to necessarily influence who wins elections. "The effort is to make our societies more polarized and to make us, as citizens of democracies, more cynical about the very idea that democracy exists and that it can work." Canada has learned important lessons from countries like Ukraine, which is seen as a veritable laboratory for malign Russian cybermeddling and disinformation following its recent presidential election, Freeland said. "Probably the most important and most powerful defence is an aware citizenry," she said. Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, hate, and misogyny are being propagated through various internet platforms, said Goodale. "This is an evil that we have to combat effectively, and we will use all the tools of our criminal laws, our national security and intelligence laws to deal with this vile phenomenon, which is obviously very dangerous and has cost lives around the world." Freeland and her British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, and the international human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney also discussed a joint Canada-British summit on media freedom in London this summer. Both ministers promoted the need to protect freedom of the press as a core tenet of keeping liberal democracies strong in the face of unprecedented threats. "The U.K. together with Canada has decided that democratic countries need to stand together to make it an international taboo of the highest order to murder, arrest or detain journalists," said Hunt. Clooney, whose clients include two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, praised Canada and Britain for shining an international spotlight on media freedom. "Those with a pen in their hand should not feel a noose around their neck," she said. MONTREAL - Hundreds of taxis converged on downtown Montreal today, blocking major arteries to protest the government's deregulation of their industry. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Quebec taxi drivers protest against new legislation to deregulate the industry Friday, April 5, 2019 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz MONTREAL - Hundreds of taxis converged on downtown Montreal today, blocking major arteries to protest the government's deregulation of their industry. They say proposed reforms to make room for ride-hailing services will drive many of them into bankruptcy. The drivers from Montreal and other parts of Quebec gathered in front of Transport Department offices, parking their cabs in the middle of the street for hours. Some set protest signs on fire. Abdallah Homsy, an industry spokesman who travelled to Montreal from Quebec City Friday, said attempts to discuss the proposed changes with the office of Transport Minister Francois Bonnardel have been fruitless. The drivers say the planned elimination of taxi permits, which at one point sold for as much as $200,000 each, will lead to financial ruin for many of them. The government has said it will pay $500 million in compensation, but the drivers say that would not cover their losses. Premier Francois Legault said the province's taxi system needs to evolve. He said the compensation offered amounts to roughly $70,000 per permit, which is more than some drivers paid and less than others. "That is why we would like to sit down with representatives of the drivers and permit-holders to negotiate an agreement so no driver is left in a situation, for example, of bankruptcy," Legault told reporters in Repentigny, Que. Homsy said drivers would rather keep working as before, not be reduced to taking government compensation. He said it is the ride-hailing service Uber that should be paying to enter the field. "The premier's job is to go get money from Uber, not from taxpayers to pay us," Homsy said. MONTREAL - SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. has signed a deal to sell the bulk of its stake in Ontario's 407 toll highway operator for $3.25 billion, some of which will go toward a loan from Quebec's pension fund. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A man walks past the headquarters of SNC Lavalin Thursday, November 6, 2014 in Montreal. SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. has signed a deal to sell part of its stake in 407 International Inc. to OMERS. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. has signed a deal to sell the bulk of its stake in Ontario's 407 toll highway operator for $3.25 billion, some of which will go toward a loan from Quebec's pension fund. The OMERS pension plan will buy a 10.01 per cent stake in 407 International Inc., reducing SNC-Lavalin's interest to 6.76 per cent, according to an agreement announced Friday. For more than six months, SNC-Lavalin has been mulling a partial sale to help pay down its loan from the Caisse, Quebec's pension fund operator. The two-year-old loan stipulates that the company must keep its headquarters in Montreal until 2024, when the balance would be paid off. A spokesman for the Caisse by far the largest SNC-Lavalin shareholder at 20 per cent said the sale does not alter that condition. SNC-Lavalin had previously paid off $500 million of the $1.5-billion loan, and plans to use the proceeds from the 407 deal to pay down another $600 million upon closing, according to the company. "This is a truly unique and exceptional asset that we believe has been undervalued by the market for many years," SNC chief executive Neil Bruce said in a statement. "Through this transaction, we are able to benefit from crystallizing some of this value, while retaining an interest in a successful Canadian infrastructure asset that we are proud to have helped build." Analyst Yuri Lynk of Canaccord Genuity said in a research note that the sale has the effect of "immediately cleaning up" SNC's balance sheet. OMERS will pay $3 billion to SNC on the closing of the deal and an additional $250 million over 10 years, conditional on certain financial targets related to the performance of the toll highway. The OMERS agreement with SNC is subject to certain rights of 407's other shareholders, including rights-of-first refusal. The other owners of the toll highway include a subsidiary of SNC rival Ferrovial S.A., with a 43.23 per cent stake, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board with 40 per cent. The deal is expected to close within two months. In 1999, Ontario's Progressive Conservative government sold Highway 407 for about $3.1 billion. Based on the newly announced deal, the toll route is worth about $32.5 billion. Analysts say the transaction will yield net proceeds of $2.8 billion for SNC-Lavalin, assuming a tax rate of 13 per cent. The deal values the company's total stake at about $27 per share, below the consensus of $28, according to analyst Benoit Poirier of Desjardins Securities. He estimates the firm will put between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion toward share buybacks over the long term. "Bottom line, while the valuation for SNC's stake in Highway 407 is below expectations, we believe the net proceeds should help SNC to deleverage and benefit from the stock's current valuation," Poirier said in a note to investors. "While the initial goal of SNC was to divest a seven per cent stake in 407, we are not surprised that a higher portion is sold given the managements intention of maintaining its credit ratings," said Laurentian Bank Securities analyst Mona Nazir in a note. The company's shares have hovered near 10-year lows of around $34 since Feb. 11, when it slashed its profit forecast for 2018 by more than 40 per cent and halted all bidding on future mining projects. That reduced guidance came two weeks after it halved its forecast from November amid a diplomatic feud between Canada and Saudi Arabia a key source of oil and gas revenue and delays on its project with Codelco, Chiles state-owned copper mining company, which has since cancelled the contract. Friday's deal comes as the SNC-Lavalin affair in Ottawa continues to simmer following accusations that top government officials pressured former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to veto federal prosecutors' move to prosecute the company on corruption charges instead of negotiating a remediation agreement. Companies in this story: (TSX:SNC) LONDON, Ont. - Police in London, Ont., are urging drug users in the city to be vigilant after a string of suspected overdose deaths. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. LONDON, Ont. - Police in London, Ont., are urging drug users in the city to be vigilant after a string of suspected overdose deaths. Chief John Pare says in a statement that five men have died over the six days, including two on Thursday. He says the cause of death in each case is still under investigation by the coroner, but they're all suspected overdoses and at least three are believed to have involved fentanyl. Police are urging citizens to help out by picking up a free, overdose-reversing naloxone kit from either the Middlesex-London Health Unit or a local pharmacy. The police caution comes just days after the health unit issued a warning about a spike in suspected opioid-related overdoses in London, with 16 occurring over Monday and Tuesday alone. In a statement on Tuesday, the city's medical officer of health called the numbers "truly alarming" and urged drug users to take precautions, including not using alone or visiting an overdose-prevention site. The city is home to one such site and the province is reviewing applications for two more. OTTAWA - The fallout from Saudi Arabia's move to punish Canadian companies was felt within a month of the countries' sudden diplomatic feud last summer, leading to visa rejections, a government ban on food from Canada and a blockage of shipments at the kingdom's ports. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A bird sits by a Saudi Arabia's flag on the roof top of Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. The fallout from Saudi Arabia's move to punish Canadian companies was felt within a month of the countries' sudden diplomatic feud last summer, leading to visa rejections, a government ban on food from Canada and a blockage of shipments at the kingdom's ports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Petros Giannakouris OTTAWA - The fallout from Saudi Arabia's move to punish Canadian companies was felt within a month of the countries' sudden diplomatic feud last summer, leading to visa rejections, a government ban on food from Canada and a blockage of shipments at the kingdom's ports. A newly released federal document provides a close look at Saudi Arabia's retaliation against Canada, following criticism by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland on Twitter of the regime's arrest of women's rights activists. Angered by the public condemnation, Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic ties with Canada last August, expelled the Canadian ambassador and recalled its own envoy from Ottawa. The kingdom also stopped future trade and investment deals, cancelled grain imports and said it would shut down lucrative scholarships for its citizens to study in Canada. The Saudi central bank and state pension funds started selling their Canadian holdings. A briefing note to International Trade Minister Jim Carr offers more detail on how events were unfolding on the ground about a month after the start of the dispute. "It is important to note that over the last few days Global Affairs Canada has been learning of concrete actions taken by Saudi Arabia against Canadian companies across various sectors," reads the memo, released this week to The Canadian Press under access-to-information law. The document went on to list numerous measures, including: Requests for existing contracts to be replaced by new contracts with non-Canadian suppliers. Denial of access to military bases. Payment delays. Re-routing of flights for product supplies. Prevention of a Canadian company from importing and selling medication. Government ministries issuing orders to ban food and medication from Canada. Various shipments from Canada being completely stopped at Saudi ports. The note was created last September for Carr in preparation for his meeting with members of the Canada Arab Business Council, who have interests in the kingdom. The additional details of the dispute with Saudi Arabia emerge as Canada tries to manage other, bigger trade-related challenges with its two largest partners, the United States and China. Saudi Arabia has previously been a key partner for Canada in the Middle East and, according to a separate internal briefing note, the countries had more than $4 billion worth of trade in 2017. That year, Saudi Arabia had $1.28 billion worth of direct investment in Canada, said the memo prepared for Finance Minister Bill Morneau after the crisis broke out. Scott Jolliffe, the president of the Canada Arab Business Council, said in an interview that Saudi investment in Canada ground to a halt last August. He also said Canadian firms have been restricted from bidding on new projects in the kingdom. On the other hand, he said things have mostly carried on as usual for those of his members who already had business in the country. Jolliffe also said he hadn't heard of any visa refusals. He said he would like to see the impasse resolved because Saudi Arabia and the region offer billions of dollars' worth of potential business for Canadian companies and possible alternatives to the U.S. There's a deep need there, he added, for the expertise Canada offers in areas like infrastructure, telecommunications and engineering. "At the moment, it doesn't appear as if there is much going on to strengthen and rebuild the relationship," said Jolliffe, who's had meetings with Carr about the issue. The feud has had an impact on agriculture. Feed-barley producers, for instance, have been shut out of the Saudi market. "Any country we lose, even if it's temporary, hurts us," said Dave Bishop, a farmer and chair of Alberta Barley. He said Canada had been shipping about 122,000 tonnes of feed barley to Saudi Arabia every year amounts that can sometimes reach 10 per cent of all Canadian exports of the product. This year, the industry has been lucky that feed barley is in short supply worldwide and extra demand from markets like China has helped make up for being shut out of Saudi Arabia, Bishop added. The memo to Carr last September said Freeland and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, in an effort to resolve the conflict, "have been discussing ideas to de-escalate ... including an incremental approach which could include a series of steps." Asked about the status of Saudi-Canadian relations now, Carr's office provided a statement that said he's still disappointed with the kingdom's response to Canada's human-rights concerns. A few weeks after Carr received the memo, the kingdom's relationship with Canada came under further strain as did its relations with many countries as details emerged about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Adam Austen, a spokesman for Freeland, said Thursday that Saudi Arabia's explanations for the killing have been inadequate and that Canada has called for a thorough, credible and independent international investigation. Sterling slid against the euro as the request by Prime Minister Theresa May for a Brexit extension increased market tension over the latest drama in British politics. Ms May wrote to Brussels asking to delay Britains European Union departure until June 30 to allow MPs agree a withdrawal deal. France and the Netherlands expressed doubt about the plan and that, combined with lingering fears of a no-deal Brexit, sent the pound 0.4% lower against major currencies, to trade at 86.1p against the euro. Since the referendum in June 2016, the UK currency has been a good gauge of market fears over a no-deal or hard Brexit. Following the vote, it plunged as low as 92p as Ms May sought a hard Brexit and threatened a no deal to get her way in talks with Brussels and to keep her Conservative Party from splitting. It has since risen as financial and betting markets wagered that a no deal outcome was unlikely. The pound would gain if a delay led eurosceptic MPs to back the deal Ms May negotiated with the EU or brought about a reversal of the 2016 referendum. The chances of a no-deal remain remote but at the same time a satisfactory outcome anytime soon also seems highly unlikely and this is containing the pound in a fairly narrow trading range, said David Cheetham at XTB. Global Wealth Management said it foresees a long extension to Brexit because it doubted Ms Mays attempt to build a cross-party consensus would succeed and expected the pound to remain volatile. Chris Beauchamp at broker IG said the UK will get its extension but not the one Ms May favours. Instead European elections now seem to be a certainty, throwing yet another spanner into the Brexit works. Recent general election polling shows the two parties neck and neck in the UK, and it is more a question of which side loses more support first, and whether that is of the leave or remain kind, he said. - Additional reporting Reuters A man who broke into his ex-partner's home before subjecting her and her teenage foster daughter to a series of violent rapes described as a night of horror has lost an appeal against the severity of his 18-year prison sentence. The 38-year-old Limerick man, who cannot be named, threatened the child's foster mother with a knife during the seven-and-a-half-hour ordeal which only ended when he fell asleep the next morning. He pleaded guilty 10 days before his trial was due to commence at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of rape at a house in Co Limerick on the night of September 10, 2016. He had originally faced 17 counts on the indictment with additional charges of rape, making a threat to kill, assault and false imprisonment. Sentencing the man to 18 years imprisonment, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described it as one of the most serious sexual offence cases to come before him. He chose life imprisonment as the headline sentence and reduced this to 18 years because of the guilty plea, the man's remorse expressed through counsel and the moves he had made towards rehabilitation while in custody. Mr Justice McCarthy said the incidents could only be described as a night of horror during which the victims were subjected to prolonged abuse of the vilest kind. He lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence today with the Court of Appeal holding that 18 years was proportionate. Giving judgment in the three-judge court, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said the woman had been in a relationship with the man a year earlier. She fell asleep on her couch on the night in question and was awoken to the mans hand over her mouth while he pressed a knife into her neck. When she attempted to raise the alarm by screaming he threatened to kill her. He instructed her to remove her clothing but when she refused, he struck her in the face a number of times. He then raped her. During the commission of the offence, he enquired as to whether there was anybody else in the house, and forced the woman upstairs naked into the bedroom of her foster daughter. When the woman attempted to dissuade him from raping her foster daughter, he threatened her with the knife. The court heard the woman was trying to protect the girl saying she was 16 and only a child. The two victims held on to one another while he marched them downstairs. He then raped them both. At one stage, when the woman attempted to use her phone to make an emergency call, he smashed the phone against a wall and destroyed the sim card by chewing it. The seven-and-a-half-hour ordeal only ceased when the man, who had been drinking heavily throughout, fell asleep, and both females managed to escape. He was arrested at the scene and made a number of admissions to gardai in respect of the first victim but stated he had no recollection of meeting the second victim. Ms Justice Kennedy said guilty pleas were entered 10 days before the trial was due to commence. In a victim impact statement, the man's ex-partner described feeling that she was to blame for what happened to the teenage victim, but said she believed the man would have killed her had she spoken up while he held the knife to her throat. The then 16-year-old victim did not submit a victim impact statement but was experiencing great difficulties, the Central Criminal Court heard. The mans barrister, Vincent Heneghan SC, submitted that the sentencing judge erred in selecting life imprisonment as a headline sentence and failed to afford sufficient discount for the mitigating factors. The man had one previous conviction for breach of a barring order. Among the aggravating factors was the break-in to the womans home, the fact there were two victims, one of whom was 16. Both victims were violated in many ways and they were humiliated for his own sexual gratification. He placed both victims in fear and used a weapon. He inflicted injuries on the woman. The ordeal lasted seven and a half-hours and was devastating and life-changing for them. Ms Justice Kennedy, who sat with President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Brian McGovern, said the court was satisfied that the sentence was proportionate and contained no error in principle. This article was edited on April 9. A Donegal man who received a so-called comfort letter in relation to the 1982 London Hyde Park bombing, has been given a date to appeal his proposed extradition for the 1972 Enniskillen bombing. Northern Irish authorities are seeking to extradite John Downey (67) to face prosecution for the murder of two British Army Infantrymen as well as aiding and abetting the causing of an explosion on August 25, 1972. Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames were killed when a device exploded in a vehicle they were checking on the Irvinestown Road, Cherrymount, in Enniskillen. Mr Downey was arrested last November at his home address in Ards, Creeslough, Co Donegal on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. He told detectives he believed it was the DUP and not the DPP who decided to prosecute him. The High Court in Dublin ordered Mr Downeys extradition in March, despite objections on grounds of delay and a letter of assurance he believes amounts to a pardon or amnesty. Mr Downeys trial in relation to the 1982 London Hyde Park bombing, in which four soldiers and seven horses were killed, collapsed in February 2014 over a letter sent to him and other alleged republican paramilitaries. The so-called comfort letters", issued by the Tony Blair government, told republican paramilitaries they were not wanted for prosecution of crimes committed during the troubles. The on-the-run scheme and letters, which fully emerged following the collapse of Mr Downeys 2014 trial in relation to the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, triggered a major political controversy and led to an inquiry. Mr Downey has lodged an appeal against his proposed extradition to Northern Ireland. During case management procedures today, President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham fixed May 27 next as the date for hearing of the appeal. In the High Court, Mr Downeys lawyers said their client had recently turned 67 and it was safe to say he was not in good health. He faced the prospect of a lengthy trial process and there was no guarantee he would be admitted to bail. Garnet Orange SC, for Mr Downey, said there was doubt over whether alleged evidence in relation to the 1972 bombing actually exists anymore. Mr Downeys fingerprints are alleged to have been found on adhesive tape recovered from a battery pack used in the Enniskillen bombing, the High Court heard. However, Mr Orange said the adhesive tape was subsequently lost for a number of years and it was unclear whether it actually still existed. He said the northern Irish prosecution intended to rely on statements from two critical prosecution witnesses in relation to the tape and its analysis, who were now deceased. Ordering his surrender, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, the High Court judge in charge of extradition, said she rejected each of Mr Downey's objections. Ms Justice Donnelly said it was clear that the public interest in his surrender is extremely high in light of the offences and that this remained the case despite the delay in time. Foreign ministers of NATO member-states agreed to expand surveillance operations in the Black Sea and also to increase the number of drills in the region jointly with Ukraine and Georgia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. "We are stepping up our efforts in the Black Sea or the Black Sea region. We just agreed the package on more surveillance exercises and all the issues which we strongly believe are relevant for the Black Sea region and of course also work with our partners Georgia and Ukraine," Stoltenberg said, commenting on the alliances Washington meeting. The NATO chief said also that the alliance is working with its "close partners" in the region - Georgia and Ukraine. An Post has launched a new service to provide a fixed address to homeless people and those in temporary accommodation. It will also act as a mail collection point so people can stay in touch with others and get post relating to things like medical appointments, schools or job applications. Letters can then be collected by the customer on production of photo ID at the post office of choice. The service is available in every county in Ireland. Speaking at the GPO, Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail explained that An Post set out to find a solution that respected peoples privacy, and helped to make their lives a little easier: We are keenly aware of the difficulties which can result from people not having a reliable, secure mailing address or letter collection point to access vital services we all take for granted and in looking for a job." Francis Doherty, Head of Communications at Peter McVerry Trust welcomed the new Address Point service saying: This is a personal and practical service that will make a real difference to peoples lives. "From medical appointments to service applications or keeping in touch with family, having a secure address may seem like a small thing, but it brings huge benefits to people who are homeless and to others living in temporary accommodation. The European Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier is set to visit Dublin for talks on Brexit. A spokesman for the Taoiseach confirmed that Mr Barnier and his team would travel to Dublin on Monday. This is part of his frequent visits to EU27 capitals, the spokesman said. The aim is to take stock of developments in London as well as the ongoing planning for a possible no-deal scenario. The visit comes ahead of next week's meeting of EU leaders in Brussels and shortly after German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Dublin yesterday. Mr Barnier will meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in a bid to plan a way forward for the EU. Simon Coveney said it was not surprising that Mr Barnier would visit Dublin before the summit. What he will want to do first of all is show solidarity with Ireland, Mr Coveney told RTE News. But also I think hell want a detailed conversation in terms of Irelands perspective on the most recent ask from the Prime Minister for an extension of time. He added: Ireland is, of course, willing to give the process more time, but we like many other EU member states will want to see a plan to go with that to show that there is a proposed way of finding a majority support in Westminster for a way forward. It comes as British Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the European Union for an extension on Britain's departure from the EU. - Press Association and additional reporting by Digital Desk The Data Protection Commission is trying to get more information from Airbnb after a hidden camera was used to The Barker family from New Zealand discovered the device hidden in a smoke alarm when they were staying in the house as part of a trip around Europe last month. Air BnB has apologised and given them a refund - the house has also been taken off the site. Nealie Barker explained how they made the discovery, saying: "My husband got on to the house WiFi network and as is his custom, he's an IT consultant by trade, he scanned the networks of the house. "He saw a device called an IT camera which didn't belong to any of us. "Almost immediately the live feed of a video recorder or camera popped up on to his mobile phone and we could all see ourselves." Road traffic Gardai were so surprised by a speed clocked by a motorist in Carlow that they said it, beggared belief. The car driver was caught driving at almost 100km/h over the speed limit. Instead of adhering to the 120km/h speed limit the car whizzed past a garda speed check at the lightning speed of 212km/h. The incident happened on the M9 motorway which links the south-east of the country to Dublin. A photo shared on the official An Garda Siochana Twitter account this morning shows the clocked speed. Gardai tweeted: This one beggar's belief. Speed check on M9 motorway yesterday detected a driver travelling at 212km/h in a 120km/h zone. The driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, was charged and is to appear before Carlow District Court in two weeks time, on April 17. Carlow RPU: This One Beggars Belief Speed check on M9 motorway y/day detected a driver travelling at 212km/h IN 120km/h zone. Driver arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and charged to appear before Carlow District Court on the 17th April.#slowdown pic.twitter.com/HVSYhzrLc5 An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 5, 2019 Gardai pleaded with motorists to slow down. Many Twitter users responded with one saying, There are cars in Mondello that cant go that fast. Another added: In old money thats 132MPH. Thats absolute madness. Thats absolute madness. I hope the judge throws the book at him. Gardai would not confirm whether the driver of the car was male or female. Five men who claimed, as members of the Irish Travelling community, they are "nomadic businessmen" not tax resident in Ireland in certain years have lost their legal challenge arising out of some income tax assessments issued by the Criminal Assets Bureau. At the High Court today, Mr Justice Michael Twomey refused to overturn a tax appeal commissioner's ruling upholding a CAB decision the five could not appeal some tax assessments raised by CAB against them. CAB had said they could not appeal because of their failure to file tax returns or pay tax for those particular years subject of the assessments. Because the five had not provided a "scrap" of documentary evidence to support their claims they were not tax-resident in Ireland in the relevant years, the commissioner's task was "very straight forward", he said. There was no basis for claims by the five they were not given reasons for the commissioner's decision, he held. All five were at the hearing before the commissioner, were represented by counsel and a tax adviser and could not but have known, despite the "brevity" of the commissioner's decision, why he found against them, the judge held. The proceedings were taken by John Sheridan Senior, John Sheridan, Thomas Sheridan, Daniel Sheridan and Patrick Sheridan, all related to each other. All said they carry out business in various EU countries outside Ireland and stay in different caravans abroad when doing so. They said, when they are in Ireland, they reside in Rathkeale, Co Limerick. CAB had in 2016 issued income tax assessments for the years 2004 to 2014 on John Sheridan Snr, John Sheridan and Thomas Sheridan. In the same year, it issued assessments for the years 2006 and 2014 for Daniel Sheridan. Those four are tarmac contractors, the court heard. An assessment for the years 2009 to 2014 was issued in 2016 for Patrick Sheridan, who said he is self-employed. All five disputed the assessments on grounds including they were not resident in Ireland for tax purposes for each of the individual tax years. They say, due to their nomadic lifestyles and because their tarmac business is conducted outside Ireland, they have spent minimal periods of time here. Their High Court action arose out of an April 2018 decision by an appeals commissioner to allow them to bring appeals concerning most, but not all, of the assessments. The commissioner said some of the assessments issued by CAB could not be appealed on grounds including self-assessed tax liabilities had not been paid and income tax returns had not been filed. The Sheridans argued before the Commissioner they should be allowed to appeal all of the assessments. In his judgment today, Mr Justice Twomey said it was important to note, when the five appeared before the appeals commissioner, they provided no oral evidence in support of their counsel's submission that they were not tax-resident here. That meant the only document created by them in support of a finding one way or the other was the tax returns they had filed in some years which indicated they were, in fact, tax resident in Ireland in certain years. The precondition to be satisfied before an appeal against an assessment could be permitted was the filing of returns and the payment of tax, he said. There was no dispute no returns were filed and no tax was paid in respect of the relevant years and that meant all the commissioner had to decide was whether "bare assertions" by the Sheridans they were not tax-resident in Ireland should be accepted or not. Those assertions were made "without a scrap of supporting evidence or oral evidence", yet there was documentary evidence of tax residency here, the tax returns that had been filed, he said. Gardai are investigating the discovery of a womans body in Co Clare. A group of school children came upon the womans body close to the edge of stream, along a walkway, a short distance from the Ardnacrusha electrical power station, a garda source said. The discovery was made around 2pm this afternoon. The area where the womans body was found has been cordoned off and the office of the State Pathologist has been contacted by gardai. The womans body currently remains at the scene, and was to removed to University Hospital Limerick mortuary later, gardai said. The investigation is being overseen by Limerick gardai, as the area falls within the Limerick Garda Division. One theory being examined by gardai is that the woman may have collapsed and died while out on a walk. However, investigating gardai said they were keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding the womans death. A source said the womans body was found by the edge of a stream off a walkway near Ardnacrusha Pitch and Putt Club. The State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis is expected to travel to University Hospital Limerick on Saturday, to conduct a post mortem on the womans body. "Once the post mortem is conducted we will no more about how the investigation will proceed, a garda spokesman said. 915751[/reamdore] The Garda Commissioner has undertaken not to examine or otherwise attempt to access information on the phone of a newspaper editor as part of an investigation into incidents at a repossessed house in Strokestown, Roscommon, the High Court has heard. The undertaking will remain in place until a full hearing of Emmett Corcoran's action against the commissioner and the DPP over Thursday morning's threatened search of his home to obtain the phone despite his assertion of journalistic privilege over material on the phone. He is editor of the Democrat newspaper which is based in Strokestown and circulates in Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford. On Thursday, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted him an interim injunction, returnable to today, preventing gardai from going through his phone records. He handed it over after gardai threatened to search his Strokestown home, his grandparents' home and his office, when they arrived on Thursday morning with a warrant issued by District Court Judge James Faughnan, he says. He had attended Roscommon Garda Station, at the invitation of gardai, shortly after the repossession incident in Strokestown last December when a number of vehicles were set on fire. Mr Corcoran was one of the first to arrive on the scene and filmed the fire but he refused to tell gardai who tipped him off, citing protection of journalistic sources. He says he handed over all the photographic material relating to the incident. His solicitor, who accompanied him to the station, told gardai any attempt to seize his phone would be met with a legal challenge. When the matter returned before Mr Justice Noonan today, Michael McDowell SC, for Mr Corcoran, said the matter was of considerable gravity to his client as a lot of his records are on the phone which these days can almost be regarded as one's office. Tony McGillicuddy BL, for the commissioner, said his client was prepared to undertake not to access the contents of the phone in relation to the investigation but would retain the phone in the meantime pending further order of the court. Counsel said he hoped to be in a position to put in a statement of opposition to Mr Corcoran's case next week but there were some legal and factual issues which will have to be assessed. He could not categorically say it would be ready by next week. Oisin Clarke, for the DPP, said his side had only just received the papers and it was not clear whether the DPP will be involved. Counsel said Mr Corcoran had raised an issue that the High Court has placed a stay on District Judge Faughnan, who issued the warrant, from dealing with any further proceedings against one of two people who have been charged in connection with the Strokestown incident. He was Martin O'Toole (aged 56) from Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo, who was charged with trespass and burglary. Mr Clarke said it was not clear from Mr Corcoran's papers whether there was any link between this case and any possible breach of the stay granted in the O'Toole High Court challenge. The court heard it may be possible to transfer data on Mr Corcoran's confiscated phone to another one. Mr McGillicuddy, for the commissioner, said this is something that could be looked at and his side will communicate any proposals it has in that regard to Mr Corcoran's side. Mr Justice Noonan said in view of that he was simply adjourning the matter for a week. He did not know if it would be possible for the case to be heard over the Easter vacation but if the data transfer were to take place, that might take the urgency out of the matter. "I am not sure there is any reality to getting an early hearing date", he said. Irish people consider themselves to be the healthiest in the European Union. 83% of adults perceive their health as good or very good, according to data released by Eurostat today. This is compared to the EU average of 70% who believe they are in good health. The EU's statistical agency assessed those over the age of 16 in all 27 Member States in 2017. The classification included five levels of self-perceived health status: very good, good, fair, bad and very bad. In Ireland, 83% of men and 84% of women felt they were in very good or good health. Among the other Member States, the countries with the highest proportion of the population who shared the same sentiment were Cyprus (78%), Italy and Sweden (both 77%), the Netherlands (76%) and Malta (75%). At the other end of the scale, the lowest share was reported in Lithuania and Latvia (both 44%), Portugal (49%), Estonia (53%), Poland and Hungary (both 59%). In the EU, more men than women felt that they were in good health: 72% of men aged over 16 and 67% of women. When it comes to age groups, the data showed that naturally, the extent to which people rate themselves in good or very good health decreased with age. In the 16-44 age bracket, 88% of men and 87% of women considered themselves to be healthy. This dropped to 69% versus 65% in the 45-64 grouping, and 45% to 39% for people aged 65 and over. In 2017, fewer than 8% overall in the EU assessed their level of health as bad or very bad. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is confident that the United States and Turkey "will find a path forward" amid an ongoing row about Ankaras determination to buy Russia's surface-to-air S-400 system. "We are continuing to have conversations. I think the Turkish government understands the American position quite clearly. Our position hasn't changed," he told a news conference at the end of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Theres great opportunities for the United States and Turkey to work closer together, Reuters cited the Secretary of State as saying. I had a good long conversation with the Turkish foreign minister yesterday and Im very confident well find a path forward," Pompeo added. A man's denial that he knew anything about 167kg of explosives found inside his "heavily laden" car - including detonators sticking out from the passenger seat - has been found to be "totally incredible" by the Special Criminal Court. Armed gardai found four bags of explosives in the boot of a black Skoda Fabia car and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat when they stopped the vehicle on the Naas Road, the court has heard. Mr Justice Tony Hunt said today that the facts of the case proved that both men were "in joint control" over the substances found in the car and that they were guilty of having the explosives. John Roche (55), of Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8 and John Brock (46), with an address at Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 had both pleaded not guilty to 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 13, 2016. Delivering judgment today, Mr Justice Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, said that Roche had travelled from his home in the inner city to Behans Quarry on Windmillhill in Rathcoole, Co Dublin for a specific purpose. That was not to consume and purchase fast food as he asserted to gardai but to travel to the quarry for the purpose of collecting materials and he was apprehended on his return, said Mr Justice Hunt. The Skoda car which Roche was driving on the evening was observed by gardai to be heavily laden with a large quantity of explosive materials, which are typically used in a quarry, said the judge. No one driving such a small car would be unaware of the weight of over 23 stone of explosives as well as openly visible detonators under the front-passenger seat, he outlined. As driver and owner of the car, Roche had full control and awareness of its contents, he added. Detective Sergeant Peter Whelan gave evidence in the trial that he could see between 15 and 20 detonators sticking out from underneath the front passenger seat of the car when he stopped it on the Naas Road on April 13. Four heavy duty plastic bags were in the boot of the car and two of these bags contained a powder mix which looked like homemade explosives, he said. Mr Justice Hunt said Roche's denial that he was not at the quarry or knew what was in the car that evening were "totally incredible". The substances were possessed for the purpose of an unlawful organisation, he indicated. Roche told gardai in his interviews that he knew nothing about the 167kg of explosives which were found in his car. The defendant was also asked to account for his presence at Behans Quarry but said he was not there. In conclusion, Mr Justice Hunt said that the body of evidence against Roche was sufficient to establish his guilt and no further corroboration such as the untruthful and misleading answers he had provided at interview were needed to establish a guilty verdict. In relation to Brock, the court was satisfied that his meeting with Roche in Rathcoole was not a random coincidence but prearranged for the purpose of moving a very significant quantity of explosives, he said. As a front-seat passenger in a relatively small car, it was not reasonably possible that Brock was unaware of the bulky load and the detonators protruding from under his seat, explained the judge. Brock did not engage in implausible denials with gardai unlike Roche, said the judge, adding that his failure or refusal to answer questions inferred that there was no explanation other than guilty knowledge. The court has heard that Brock gave no reply when asked by gardai to account for the presence of 167kg of explosives in the car in which he was a front seat passenger. Mr Justice Hunt said that the evidence against Brock was more than sufficient to also establish his guilt. The convicted men were remanded in custody until Monday, when they will be sentenced. During the mens trial, three members of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) testified that they saw both defendants in the Skoda car at the gates of Behans Quarry, minutes before they were observed on the N7. Detective Sergeant Peter Whelan said that he had received information that members of the IRA may be in possession of explosives on the evening in question. As a result, he and his colleague Detective Garda William Skelly stopped a black Skoda Fabia car at a junction on the Naas Road at 7pm, the court heard. Det Gda William Skelly testified that he had his official firearm drawn when he opened the front door of the Skoda car and asked Roche to get out and lie face down on the ground. Both men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Forensic scientist Dr John OShaughnessy told the three-judge court that he examined items recovered from the Skoda car and said he was satisfied that the samples provided were all explosives under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Sections 18 and 19 of the Criminal Justice Act were invoked in subsequent garda interviews with the two men. These sections allow a court to draw inference from ones failure or refusal to account for certain matters. Closing the prosecution case last week, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC said that the two men were acting in concert with one another when they retrieved and transported 167kg of explosives in a car. She outlined that the offence is contrary to section 9 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883, which states that an explosive substance shall be deemed to include any materials used or intended to be used for making an explosive substance. A Kildare man driving under the influence of drugs mounted a footpath hitting and seriously injuring two men before calmly leaving the scene, a court has heard. Paul Connolly (37), who has 14 convictions for dangerous driving and three for hit and runs, was driving his young child to school at the time. He admitted to taking cocaine and tablets the night before. He was on a 25-year driving ban and had been released from prison about a month previously. Connolly, who has a total of 215 previous convictions, undertook a line of traffic stopped at a railway barrier, before suddenly swerving onto the footpath where he first hit Michael Igoe (54) and continued driving to hit student Francis Dhala (19), causing him catastrophic injuries. Witnesses described him going back onto the road, doing a U-turn and driving calmly from the scene with a smashed windscreen. He was followed by a driving instructor who kept in touch with gardai until they were able to intercept him. Mr Igoe sustained a badly fractured ankle, bruising, torn shoulder muscles and concussion from bang to his head. He underwent surgery on his leg and continues to have a limp. Mr Dhala suffered a severe head injury and underwent multiple surgeries, spending over three months in hospital. He is currently spending weekdays at the National Rehabilitation Centre. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Mr Dhala has done well since the accident but suffers ongoing issues such as cognitive defects and short-term memory problems. He has recently regained the ability to speak, eat and drink normally. Connolly told initially gardai he thought he had hit a bush. He later said he had taken his eyes off the road for a second and didn't know he had hit anyone. Connolly of Cregg Court, Kilmeague, Robertstown, Kildare, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Mr Igoe and Mr Dhala at Coolmine Road, Coolmine on May 1, 2018. He also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs; possession of cannabis; failing to remain at the scene; failing to offer assistance; failing to alert gardai; as well as driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same occasion. Defence counsel, Martin O'Rourke SC, handed in a letter of apology from Connolly and a psychological report into court. He said Connolly admitted taking cocaine and self-medicating with street benzodiazepine as he had been on anti-depressants but could no longer afford them. He said his client had a difficult family background and started drinking as a 14-year-old, with most of his convictions being drink-related. Counsel asked Judge Melanie Greally to take note of Connolly's early guilty plea and submitted that incarcerating him for longer and longer periods would not address the causes of his recidivism. He said if the court accepted Connolly genuinely now wanted to address his issues, suspending a significant portion of any sentence might provide an incentive. Judge Greally adjourned sentencing until May. Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan has secured a High Court order requiring Facebook to provide her with information aimed at identifying those behind alleged defamatory adverts on the social media platform . Facebook neither consented nor objected to the orders, made today by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds. They require Facebook to give Ms OCallaghans lawyers basic subscriber information, payment method details and business manager account information, to the extent such information exists, about those behind the adverts. Ms OCallaghan intends to seek damages over the alleged false and malicious adverts containing her image and name on Facebook and Instagram in May 2018. She wants to bring proceedings against both Facebook, which owns Instagram, and those behind the adverts. Because her lawyers don't know who the latter is, she sought orders requiring Facebook Ireland Ltd to provide information it allegedly has about those who paid for the adverts to be placed on the platforms. When the matter was mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds today, Paul O'Higgins SC, for Ms O'Callaghan, said progress has been made and an order was being handed into the court. He said Facebooks ordinary protocol in such applications is they will notify customers before providing details of their accounts but, in this case, his side wanted that bypassed. The account details may be phoney anyway but he did not want the account holders to be informed in advance, he said. Joe Jeffers BL, for Facebook, said it was neither objecting nor consenting to the order. The judge said she would make the order and returned the matter to April 30. Previously the High Court was told the adverts contain misleading and defamatory headlines wrongly suggesting Ms O'Callaghan has left her job with RTE's Prime Time to promote skin care products. Ms O'Callaghan says she has "nothing to do" with the adverts, linked to offers for skin care products, and is most distressed at being associated against her will with what has been described as "a scam product". She claims the adverts have exploited the trust placed in her by the Irish public and damaged her good name and reputation. The paid-for adverts, known as "targeted advertisements", appear on social media users newsfeeds and are designed to encourage the user to click on the adverts. Those who click on the adverts are offered various skin care products which she says are falsely stated to be owned or endorsed by Ms O'Callaghan. It is also claimed users who avail of an offer of free trials of the skin care products have reported they had money debited from their bank accounts which they did not authorise. Ms O'Callaghan intends to seek a permanent injunction restraining publication of the adverts, plus damages for malicious falsehood, unlawful appropriation of personality, various breaches of her constitutional rights and defamation. A dispute over patient overcrowding levels at University Hospital Limerick rumbled on Friday as the Taoiseach described the number of patients on trolleys at the hospital as a crisis. Last Wednesday nurses reported 92 patients languishing on trolleys at UHL - the worst overcrowding ever recorded at an Irish hospital. Professor Paul Burke, chief clinical director of the UL Hospitals Group, disputed the nurses figures, and told the RTE News at One programme that, in his view, the situation was not a crisis. Its something we deal with all the time, he said. INMO trolley figures on the day showed that at 8am on Wednesday there were 81 patients on trolleys at UHL. This, they said, rose to 92 by midday that day. The HSEs official TrolleyGAR figures stated there were 52 patients on trolleys. A UHL spokesperson later clarified this figure was the total number of people on trolleys in the ED, and did not include trolleys numbers on wards. When asked if he shared Prof Burkes view it was not a crisis, Mr Varadkar replied: Well, I think overcrowding is a crisis, and certainly for those who experience it; whether its the patients on trolleys or their relatives, or the staff - it is a crisis. The Taoiseach said hospitals which continue to experience high levels of overcrowding, such as in Limerick, Cork, and Galway, could learn from areas in the north east, which he said have seen record low overcrowding levels. The countrys largest emergency department, costing 25m, was opened at UHL in June 2017, replacing a not fit for purpose A&E unit. However, following decentralisation of 24-hour emergency departments at Ennis and Nenagh and St Johns Hospital to UHL, the new ED has struggled to cope with the extra demand. Mr Varadkar said UHL has received a lot of investment already, and described the new ED as the newest, most modern emergency department in the country. He said the solution to overcrowding requires a combination of things, and was more than just more resources, more staff, and more beds. Weve had that for four years now in Limerick, so clearly that is not enough. He said a different approach was needed at UHL, which involves better use of other facilities like Nenagh and Ennis, primary care, and also better management of patient pathways, making sure that we don't have patients in a hospital bed waiting weeks and months for a nursing home or home care; making sure that when a patient is admitted on a Friday that they dont wait until Monday or a Tuesday to have the treatment or scan they need. It doesn't matter how many beds you have - if you don't get those things right, itll never be enough, added the Taoiseach. A spokesman for UHL said: UL Hospitals Group is meeting the national target of 5 days average length of stay for surgical patients and is the best performing group for average length of stay for medical patients. "In addition, UL Hospitals Group is within target for and has the lowest rate of medical and surgical readmissions of any hospital group in the country. They added UHL has continually taken measures to relieve pressure on the ED including the transfer of suitable patients to other hospitals within our group; to community care settings; and maximising access to Homecare packages and Transition care; as well as working closely with Community Intervention Teams; and communication with GPs to ensure patients are referred to ED only where appropriate. They added: Overall bed capacity remains considerably below comparable hospitals in Ireland and UL Hospitals continues to use its existing bed stock efficiently. In addition, the annual audits of hospital mortality published by the National Office of Clinical Audit demonstrate that UHL continues to provide safe, quality services for its patients in spite of the challenges it faces. New proposals designed to strengthen renters' rights don't do enough to stop evictions into homelessness, according to housing charity Threshold. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy this week announced new proposals to strengthen rights in the private rental market. These include the extension of rent pressure zones until 2021. The proposals also include strict requirements about eviction notices. Landlords who do so under the guise of selling the property must now sell within nine months or they will be required to offer it back to the former tenant. Housing charity, Threshold, raised concerns that this may still result in tenants becoming homeless. Threshold chairwoman, Dr Aideen Hayden, said: Among the tenants we assist, the main reason their tenancies are ended is because the landlord says he or she wants to sell the house. "While we welcome that any stated intention of the landlord to sell is to be followed up on and verified, this still means many tenants face eviction due to no fault of their own." The measure was described as 'ridiculous and fundamentally unfair' by the Irish Property Owners' Association (IPOA). They said that a property owner has to be able to decide what they do with their own property and that property rights must not be conceded: "Supply is the issue and nothing in this legislation will increase supply. The changes will not encourage more investment; they will result in the reduction in the existing supply of accommodation." However, Threshold welcomed some of the other proposals. Included in the draft were revised notice periods for evictions. Tenants in a property for 6-12 months will see their notice period increase from 35 to 90 days; those renting for 1-3 years will now get 120 days; and those in a property for 3-7 years will now get 180 days. Increasing the notice periods will help to reduce homelessness, Threshold said: It reflects the current reality of renting in Ireland where finding alternative accommodation can be exceptionally difficult. It is our view these longer notice periods will also reduce the risk of homelessness associated with tenancy terminations. "Many tenants, particularly those who are in receipt of HAP, may experience extreme difficulty in sourcing alternative accommodation in a short timeframe." Announcing the measures this week, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy described the proposals as 'the most significant' reforms in the rental sector in recent years. He added that it is not possible to ban tenancy terminations for reason of sale, because it would be unlawful. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that an extension would be preferable to a crash-out Brexit but that "it can't be another licence for more indecision". Mr Varadkar was responding to the news this morning that British Prime Minister Theresa May had written to the EU asking for a second delay to Brexit until June 30. While the Taoiseach said he had not had the chance to look at the letter, he said the request for an extension came as "no surprise". He said that the UK is facing a hard, cliff-edge Brexit next Friday and he believes that an extension is a preferable option to no-deal. However, speaking on Clare FM's Morning Focus programme, he said he was "conscious that these rolling extensions are giving rise to uncertainty". "People need to plan their lives, businesses need to make investment decisions, government needs to decide whether we have money to spend on important thing like rural broadband or whether we'll have to spend that money instead on protecting farmers and the beef industry from Brexit," he said. "Every time there's an extension that delays decisions, but we'll certainly hear what [Theresa May] has to say next Wednesday. Obviously, we want to avoid no-deal for all the reasons I don't need to explain. If there is a further request for an extension, we would want to know there is a clear plan, it can't be another licence for more indecision, sooner or later the United Kingdom needs to decide. Despite this, the Taoiseach said that some of this frustration which may be shared by some of the other member states is unlikely to result in Mrs May's extension request being denied. Irish businesses are also frustrated by the uncertainty and the ambiguity facing their operations should Britain crash out of the EU next Friday. Revenue reported yesterday that more than half of businesses who are trading directly with the UK have not yet engaged with them Mr Varadkar said the impact on every business would be different but that they needed to plan for the prospect of no-deal. "I don't think anyone in Ireland doesn't know about Brexit, it's the biggest topic of conversation after the weather," he said, outlining that there is a large amount of information available for companies to plan ahead. "We have plans, but the difficulty we have in a no-deal scenario is that there are lots of variables. "It's unprecedented, and we don't know what approach the UK will take. "We have some idea from what they've published, but the bottom line is that some businesses would face tariffs, probably all businesses would face delays in getting to market. The effects will certainly be negative, if you look at what the Central Bank and what others say, while it would be negative on you look at the economy as a whole, it's not that we would go back into recession. He said growth will still continue in terms of the economy, jobs and incomes, but not as fast as they would otherwise. "We're not facing into a crisis like we had 10 years ago, but it wouldn't be good, and there would be particular sectors particularly badly affected," he said. A teenager is recovering in hospital after sustaining injuries in a surfing accident in Co Clare this evening. It is understood the boy in his late teens got into difficulty at around 5pm at Spanish Point. According to locals he was injured after coming into contact with rocks while surfing. The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard and National Ambulance Service were alerted and requested to attend the incident. The Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, was also tasked. The helicopter reached with scene within about ten minutes of leaving Shannon. In the meantime, the surfer was helped from the water by others who were in the area at the time. Its understood, according to eyewitnesses, that the teenager was placed on a surfboard and carefully brought ashore. He was assessed at the scene by National Ambulance Service paramedics and it was determined that his injuries were not so serious that he required to be airlifted to hospital. Instead, he was transported by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for what are believed to be minor injuries. Once it was confirmed that a medical evacuation by helicopter was not required, Rescue 115 was stood down and returned to Shannon. The Doolin Coast Guard unit was also advised they could stand down. The operation was coordinated by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guards marine rescue sub-centre on Valentia Island in Kerry. By Daniel McConnell, Eoin English and David Raleigh Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Britain's request to extend Brexit has to be considered but rolling extensions are not tolerable. We also want to avoid rolling extensions, where theres an extension every couple of weeks or every couple of months. "That just adds to the uncertainty for citizens, businesses, and farmers, he said. Speaking in Limerick, the Taoiseach said perhaps a longer extension might make more sense, but that is something Ill have to talk about with other heads of government and also Prime Minister May - well make a decision though next Wednesday. Asked about EU president Donald Tusks flexible extension suggestion, he said: All these things are possible and thats what we are going to have to decide on next Wednesday. We will listen to Prime Minister Mays contribution, and well talk among ourselves and come up with a solution. His comments come as senior ministers and officials expressed their strong relief at the lack of any overt pressure from German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to reveal their plan to deal with the return of a hard border in the event of a no deal. "There was a widespread sense of relief in Government Buildings. People were very nervous before she came into town, but she hit all the right notes. "Some people thought Leo was taking a big risk bringing her in," said one senior minister. Meanwhile, Tanaiste Simon Coveney is warning that the solutions for a no-deal scenario will actually be quite impactful and very negative for the functioning of an all-island economy: Even though we would do everything we can do to protect the peace process and we, of course, want to prevent that kind of scenario happening which is why if we need more time, so be it." We dont have a signed-off agreed document with the European Commission on that at this stage. "But we have made it very clear, and the EU has made it clear also that there are twin obligations here on the EU as well as on Ireland, he added. In relation to the time extension request from Theresa May, he said: From an Irish perspective, we have always said an extension is far preferable than a crash-out no-deal Brexit. "What we would like to see is the British Prime Minister working with the Labour party to bring proposals that can get majority support in Westminster - that hasnt been possible yet hopefully it will be possible this week if not in the next number of weeks." British Prime Minister Theresa May. I think we are looking at an extension of time and I think everybody will be quite demanding on the UK, in terms of how that extra time gets used, so we can try and bring an end to this first phase, he added. Mr Coveney pointed to the commitment to protecting the Peace Process given by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dublin on Thursday: Weve got to protect a peace process on this island and I think Chancellor Merkel yesterday was quite emotive and quite firm in relation to this being an EU responsibility as well as an Irish responsibility, as well as a British government responsibility. The second obligation we have is to protect the integrity of the single market that we are very much part of and I have said very clearly in the last 10 days that this Government will not allow a situation where Ireland gets dragged out of the single market by a UK crashing out of the EU, he added. Simon Coveney. But doing the two of those things together is quite a difficult task because on one level they are contradictory, he warned. The Government will find a way of doing that if we have to that prevents physical border infrastructure anywhere near the border and it is working out the technicalities of how we can do that with the European Commission, he said. The session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries was held in Moscow today. According to the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the session's opening that the Commonwealth format serves to develop and deepen the integration of states in the post-Soviet space. "The CIS has long established itself as a universal platform for multifaceted intergovernmental interaction and meaningful political dialogue. Meetings of foreign ministers provide an opportunity to exchange views on the most pressing issues on the international agenda, help to shape concerted approaches and ultimately strengthen the Commonwealth's authority," Sergey Lavrov said in the first place. I am pleased that we do not stop in our development and that many new ideas and proposals were expressed during today's discussion. We also have to take a number of important decisions which will determine the development of the Commonwealth for the next decade, the Russian Foreign Minister added. At the press conference, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov said that the participants were unanimous in the need to continue the development of diplomatic cooperation of the Commonwealth. "We exchanged views on the widest range of issues related to our cooperation within the CIS. In addition, there was a good opportunity to exchange views on very important regional and international topics. In this context, I would like to emphasize that all participants in this meeting were unanimous that the interaction between the CIS foreign ministries needs to be developed. We talked in detail about the draft program to enhance the interaction between the foreign ministries, introduced at President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's initiative, and agreed to complete work on this very important document in the near future in order to bring it to the next CIS Foreign Ministers Council session in Ashgabat on October 10, 2019," he said. "In addition, at the initiative of our Russian and Kyrgyz colleagues, two very important decisions were signed today - an appeal in connection with the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II, as well as a document that prescribes a careful attitude to the monuments of the Great Patriotic War. I would also like emphasize that the participants in the meeting paid special attention to the further expansion of economic cooperation between our countries with new forms and models of partner interaction. Of course, topics related to the intensification of cultural and humanitarian cooperation in the CIS were also very important. The 14th forum of CIS Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia will be held in Ashgabat on May 15-16. We are preparing for this important event, we will do everything necessary to ensure that it is held at the highest level," Rashid Meredov added. CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev said that today's session is a continuation of a series of events within the framework of the Commonwealth that has been taking place in recent months. "Important decisions were made for the CIS today. First of all, I should emphasize the importance of the program to enhance interaction between the CIS foreign ministries. This is very important in the current international situation, when not only Russia, but also other Commonwealth states are under active pressure in foreign policy and other areas. We need to coordinate our steps in the international arena, support each other,"he said. Today's meeting is one more confirmation of the fact that the Commonwealth as a regional, international organization is developing, existing and interacting, Sergey Lebedev said. In two weeks, the spring session of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly will take place, it ill be attended by a delegation of the Uzbek Parliament. In addition, the forum of CIS Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia will be held in Ashgabat on May 15-16. A meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of Governments will be held in Ashgabat on May 31. A meeting of the heads of our special services will take place in Dushanbe in mid-May, and a meeting of CIS defense ministers will be held in Russia on May 5," the CIS Executive Secretary said. He also praised the work of Turkmenistan as the CIS chairman. "The leadership of Turkmenistan pays great attention to the implementation of the CIS chairmanship concept put forward by Ashgabat. Both the president and the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs strive to do everything possible to make this year rich and productive in terms of cooperation. Therefore, once again, sincere thanks to the CIS Executive Committee and our Chairman, Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov and the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Sergey Lavrov," Sergei Lebedev expressed gratitude. Speaking following a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov said that member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to coordinate their actions to protect the UN Charters norms and principles. "We exchanged views on the key international issues in light of those challenges and threats, which, unfortunately, have been piling up on the global stage,"Lavrov said. "We looked at how international law is being significantly eroded, how meddling in sovereign countries domestic affairs is practiced depending on political expediency, with the methods of ultimatums and the policy of dictating ones terms being used increasingly more often." "Our common opinion was the need to coordinate more closely our actions as CIS members and with other countries in terms of protecting the norms and principles of the UN Charter. We discussed in detail issues related to multilateral cooperation within the CIS, including in foreign policy. In order to strengthen the coordination of our actions, we amended the plan of inter-ministerial consultations within the Commonwealth for 2019 and, at the same time, took note of the successful compliance with a similar plan for 2018," the Russian top diplomat noted. According to him, the CIS member-states assign high priority to the initiative put forward by Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov regarding the intensification of partnership between the CIS diplomatic services. "This program is in a high degree of readiness. We hope to complete work on that very important document soon," the Russian Foreign Minister added. He noted that the ministers spoke a lot about human rights issues and ways of promoting the principles enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "We agreed to push ahead with efforts to coordinate our actions in the human rights sphere," the Russian foreign minister stressed. According to Lavrov, the parties also discussed the current state and prospects for Eurasian integration and the CISs role in that process. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has finalised his divorce from wife MacKenzie, giving her a separate stake in the online shopping giant. Ms Bezos will get 4% of Amazon, worth at least $35bn, when the divorce is approved, which is expected to happen in about 90 days. Before the separation, Mr Bezos had a 16% stake in Amazon worth more than $140bn, making him one of the world's richest people. In a tweet, Ms Bezos said that she was giving up all of her interests in The Washington Post, the newspaper that Mr Bezos bought in 2013, and Blue Origin, the space exploration company he founded. She added: "Excited about my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look forward to what comes next," Mr Bezos said in a tweet on Thursday: "I'm grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process and am very much looking forward to our new relationship as friends and co-parents." The couple announced they were divorcing in January, just before the National Enquirer published a story saying Jeff Bezos was having an affair with a former TV host. Bezos later accused the tabloid's publisher of threatening to publish explicit photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the Enquirer obtained his private messages. He'll still be the company's biggest shareholder when the divorce is complete, with a 12% stake in Amazon. PA & Digital Desk Julia Kelehers relationship with Puerto Ricos education department has shifted for this second time this week. Two days after stepping down as the islands education secretary and shifting into the role of paid department adviser, Keleher is no longer advising the department. She confirmed the end of her brand-new job in a message Thursday, the same day that news reports from the island referred to a legislative inquiry into Kelehers conduct while in office. Keleher had led the department, which oversees public schools that educate more than 300,000 students in the U.S. territory, from January 2017 until Tuesday. Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who picked Keleher to lead the department more than two years ago, announced the same day that Eleuterio Alamo would be her replacement on an interim basis. Alamo most recently oversaw the Puerto Rico education departments San Juan regional office. See Our In-Depth Coverage: Putting Puerto Ricos Schools Back on Track Kelehers salary of $250,000 while serving as secretary had been due to carry over to her role as a department adviser on a contractual basis. According to a report in Caribbean Business, she offered to give up her position as an adviser , and Rossello's chief of staff accepted the termination of the agreement. After leading the islands schools through Hurricane Maria in 2017, Keleher won both strong praise and criticism for her push to revamp the islands schools by closing underused buildings, successfully lobbying for new policies to bolster educational choice, and trying to build stronger connections between K-12 and the islands business community. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Andrew Ujifusa half of Politics K-12 @AndrewUjifusa . U.S. President Donald Trump lamented the amount of money that the United States, China and Russia spend on weapons production, and suggested that such money could be better spent elsewhere. At the meeting with Chinese Vice Prime Minister Liu He in the Oval Office, Trump floated the idea of following up on a potential trade deal with China with a second phase deal that addressed the issue of military spending and arms production. As you know China is spending a lot of money on military, so are we, so is Russia and those three countries I think can come together and stop the spending and spend on things that maybe are more productive toward long-term peace, Reuters cited the U.S. President as saying. It think its much better if we all got together and we didnt make these weapons, he added. Asked by Trump to weigh in on the suggestion, China's vice PM said he thought it would be a good idea. A military observer of the TASS news agency, retired Colonel Viktor Litovkin, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Trump's proposal doesn't sound serious: the state, whose military budget could reach $750 billion by 2020, offers the states with a smaller military budget to reduce their defense spending. "It looks ridiculous in the eyes of the world community and, especially, specialists. Russia's military spending is about $50 billion, China's military spending exceeded $180 billion. How can we compare these budgets? Donald Trump should illustrate an example by reducing his military spending by half. Then we will think about it and, maybe, also reduce our expenses by 1-2%," he said. The expert clarified that Trumps statement was directed primarily to an external audience. The internal audience, of course, will not tolerate it, because the U.S. budget forms military orders for Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other companies that will not forgive him military spending cuts. They need it, because it is their earnings, Viktor Litovkin concluded. Director of the Institute of Political Studies Sergei Markov also drew attention to the discrepancy of Trump's statement to U.S. common military policy. "The United States strives for complete military domination, their strategy includes dominating on land, water, the air, space and cyberspace - as well as in all geostrategic directions - the Pacific Ocean, Europe, America, Africa, the Middle East. They use a very serious advantage in the field of military technology compared with China and a serious money and science advantage compared to Russia. The Americans have only 5-10 years to prevent China and Russia from catching up with them, because in 10 years China will reduce its backlog in defense industry. That is why Washington's task is breaking the political will of Moscow and Beijing, and nothing shows that they are giving up this task," he said. The political analyst expressed confidence that the statement was made for the internal audience. Trump is an impulsive person. He knows that, on the one hand, he is working to achieve U.S. world domination, but, on the other hand, he has to act as a 'dove of peace' sometimes and make such statements," Sergey Markov concluded. He has overhauled the bank's top executive ranks; received a scathing review of CBA's culture from the banking regulator; and endured one of the most memorable grillings of the banking royal commission, just to name a few highlights. He has repeatedly apologised, admitted to a host of mistakes and misjudgments by the bank, and made it clear his top priority is to rebuild public trust in the country's largest financial institution. Loading And in all likelihood, this process is far from over, as the political heat on banks shows few signs of fading. On top of that, investors are looking to see how the bank will navigate a tricky economic environment. 'Things will change' He is methodically ticking these things off one by one and dealing with them, and to be fair, keeping the business humming along in the background, says Andrew Martin, a principal at fund manager Alphinity. Undoubtedly, the most high-profile public event in Comyn's first year in charge was his appearance before the royal commission in November. By this point, CBA's already tainted reputation had been further wounded by the royal commission. It had been revealed throughout hearings during the year that CBA financial planners charged fees to clients after they had died and that its insurance business relied on an out-dated definition of breast cancer in knocking back a client's claim. Comyn was suitably contrite before the commission, as he in effect admitted it had put profits over the wellbeing of customers. Significantly, he was also given the chance to present as a "new broom" for CBA, after some had questioned whether his status as a 20-year CBA veteran made him the right person to improve its culture as CEO. Most sensationally, the commission heard details of a May 2015 meeting between Comyn, then head of retail banking, and his then chief executive, Narev. The pair were discussing CBA's selling of a dubious insurance product that Comyn at the time thought was a "poor value exchange" for customers. Comyn wanted sales of the product ceased. "Temper your sense of justice," Narev replied, according to an explosive hand-written note kept by Comyn and published by the commission. The royal commission is shown Matt Comyns handwritten notes about the CBA selling junk credit card insurance. Narev has previously declined to comment on the hand-written note. This week, as Narev's next executive role at online jobs business Seek was announced, he told The Australian Financial Review: "I think everyone would agree, I obviously made mistakes in my time at CBA." After hours of questioning in the commission's Sydney courtroom, commissioner Hayne was ultimately convinced by Comyn's evidence, which covered many other topics. "I was persuaded that Mr Comyn, CEO of CBA, is well aware of the size and nature of the tasks that lie ahead of CBA," the former High Court judge said in his final report. Analysts and fund managers also say Comyn handled the high-stakes grilling well. "I don't think he would get an Oscar for his performance, but he certainly handled it far better than some of his peers," Regal Funds Management portfolio manager Mark Nathan says. The best contrast is provided by National Australia Bank, where both chief executive Andrew Thorburn and chairman Ken Henry announced their resignations after damning findings in the commission's final report. Bell Potter analyst TS Lim says Comyn has shown humility in the past year, and gives a tick to his appearance before commissioner Hayne. I think he did pretty well. He didnt make any excuses, he just took it upfront and I think thats a good sign. Theres still a lot of work to be done, but hes heading in the right direction. Hes trying to change the culture as well as run the bank, which is always very difficult," Lim says. Hes trying to change the culture as well as run the bank, which is always very difficult. Analyst TS Lim However, others point out that Comyn's appearance before the royal commission had the effect of throwing Narev under the bus. One senior banking source says that while Comyn has shown a desire for change as leader of CBA, they were "very surprised" to see him produce the hand-written note painting Narev in such a poor light. They point out Narev was a key internal backer of Comyn, including appointing him to run the flagship retail bank and playing a key role in bringing Comyn back to CBA after he was briefly lured to Morgan Stanley in 2010. In response, CBA insiders say Comyn had little choice, as there was no hiding internal documents from the commission and he needed to stand up for what he believed when giving evidence. Relations with regulators and customers Alongside the royal commission scrutiny, repairing relations with financial regulators has been another crucial task during Comyn's first year in charge. Within three months of Comyn starting as CEO, the bank agreed to pay a record $700 million fine over a money-laundering compliance scandal; it reached a $25 million settlement with the coroprate regulator over alleged interest-rate rigging; and it received a damning review of its culture that found its senses were "dulled" by financial success. Over the past year, Comyn has been in regular contact with Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) chairman James Shipton. When CBA was named as the first bank to have "embedded" ASIC staff, Comyn said he was "supportive of steps that I think will build a closer working relationship between ourselves and ASIC". ASIC chairman James Shipton. Credit:AAP The chief executive of Clime Asset Management, Rod Bristow, who previously worked with Comyn as chief operating officer of CommSec, says Comyn has an ability to work "complex" situations involving opposing views. This may have helped mend relations with regulators. I get the sense that hes built a strong rapport with the regulators he needs to engage with. Part of that comes from not just the role, but also who he is, Bristow says. Others who have worked with Comyn say he puts in very long hours to get across details. In preparing for the royal commission, Comyn has said he pored over thousands of pages of bank documents. Loading A third key area where Comyn has been trying to signal major changes at CBA is its treatment of customers. Appearing before the government's banking inquiry last month, Comyn said a letter from him to the bank's 8 million customers had sparked 14,000 replies. About 5500 of these were complaints, which the bank has put on extra staff to sift through. Comyn added that he had also been personally looking into more than 30 of the "most serious and long-standing" disputes with customers, and the bank had engaged external lawyers to oversee the process. Reviewing files for the royal commission had underlined "the harm that can be done when a financial institution gets it wrong", he said last month. "In a large organisation, at times you can focus on what is happening across the average experience but you can, and we did, miss some of the worst experiences we were delivering for our customers." Added costs The hope within CBA is that the royal commission's scrutiny, the better relations with regulators and a sharper focus on customers can all help the bank to regain its once-strong reputation. But from a shareholder perspective, the process has also been expensive. CBA's half-year results in February revealed it had spent or set aside $1.46 billion over the past five years on remediation and related programs, which included compensation for fee errors, poor advice and dodgy insurance. There will no doubt be millions more in remediation costs to come in the wake of the royal commission, and Comyn has said shareholders will foot the bill. These costs have hit returns as in all big banks but CBA was still able to churn out a $4.67 billion cash profit in the latest half, with return on equity sitting at a healthy 13.8 per cent. That more than stood up to the performance of its major rivals despite Commonwealth having arguably copped the toughest reputational run in recent years. From a financial perspective, it is early to judge Comyn's performance as CEO, and investors and analysts say it is hard to know what impact he is having on the business after a royal commission-dominated year. Loading Regal's Nathan says Comyn performed "well" in his first year, but it would have been dominated by "putting out fires" rather than focusing on the operations of the bank. "I don't think he's really had the opportunity to demonstrate what he's capable of doing in the normal running of the business," he says. CLSA analyst Brian Johnson said in a note that CBA's earnings "quality" had been deteriorating under previous management before Comyn's appointment, but this trend was now being addressed. "The quality of CBA's earnings are higher under Matt Comyn's leadership. That has required a degree of earnings re-basing, Johnson says. Comyn's strategy of trying to simplify the bank to focus on retail, business and institutional banking is also generally supported by investors. These plans hit a snag last month when CBA indefinitely suspended the float of its challenged wealth management and mortgage broking arm. Despite being an about-face, the fact that these businesses account for only about 3 per cent of its total profits means the suspension is not a first-order issue for the stockmarket. Far bigger influences on CBA's bottom line will be the strength of the mortgage market, and whether the weakening economy lifts bad debt charges from very low levels. Comyn's top priorities, meanwhile, remain centred on restoring trust in the CBA. In the coming months, the bank will push ahead with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's "remedial action plan" designed to deal with governance problems and the royal commission wash-up is tipped to result in more changes to staff incentives, and ongoing remediation and compliance costs. Analysts think the political pressure on banks will also likely remain intense, especially if Labor wins the looming election, as polls suggest is most likely. A senior banking source suggests a Labor win may result in more "self-flagellation" from all big banks. Labor's deputy chair of the House Representatives banking inquiry, Matt Thistlethwaite, certainly makes it clear he expects far more change from a Comyn-led CBA. "Hes saying all the right things, but actions speak louder than words," Thistlethwaite says of Comyn. Oil and gas giant Woodside has signed an LNG supply agreement with Santos's major Chinese shareholder in a decade-long deal that gives it stability in the face of fluctuating prices. Woodside has committed to supplying 1 million tonnes of LNG - about 9 million barrels of oil equivalent - to ENN Energy from 2025 to 2035, it said in a statement on Friday. ENN is one of China's largest private firms as well as being one of Santos's biggest shareholders. Australian oil and gas companies took a major hit this week as commodity prices fell. The deal came as a drop in oil and gas prices wiped out more than $2.5 billion from the sharemarket value of Australian energy companies this week. Woodside, Santos, Oil Search and Beach Petroleum all saw share price falls in the wake of forecast drops in the LNG price and an unexpected slip in oil prices. As soon as it happened those in places distant from it intuitively knew why it had happened and were easily able to appoint blame. It was a horror that confirmed what everyone on every side and in every cabal and cranny already believed. And if the countless people who had their views confirmed by it were in direct counterpoint to each other then that ought remind us politics is not a science, it is a type of hothouse in which many faiths bloom, a series of psychological multiverses overlaid and intermingled so that one incident, an atrocity, might prove different truths to the different followers of those truths. Illustration: Robin Cowcher This universal confirmation of what we already knew means nothing will be learnt by the atrocity and no one will change his or her mind. That might be the great lesson here: politics is a lens through which everything looks like confirmation thus nobody moves an inch. In the aftermath their Prime Minister handled herself with rare grace. Before which she presided over gun laws that made her country a flame for a Nazi moth. But where I live everyone wants a PM just like her. Why can't we have Jacinda, they ask. Instead of our shocker. It reminds me of Captain Smith, skipper of the Titanic, who was being lionised in the British press for bravely going down with his ship, until George Bernard Shaw wrote to The Daily News: "... there have been British captains who have brought their ships safely through icefields by doing their plain duty ... and not lost one life ... And often enough nobody has said 'Thank you' to them for it ... These are the men whom I admire and with whom I prefer to sail." People who believe freedom of speech is a Nazi plot said the media had pulled the trigger. And this despite the perpetrator's foul doctrines being sourced and spread in the covert sewers of the internet, where all contentious thought will hide once it is banned above ground. In Britain they blamed their media. In the US they blamed theirs. In Australia we blamed ours. The Right blamed the Left's identity politics. The Left seized upon the dread event with the gusto of an orc finding a mace and used it to settle old scores. Every conservative politician was blamed. One well-known broadcaster sheeted the horror home to John Howard because Howard begat Hanson who begat Anning who begat et cetera ... and if it seemed like he was building a wonky monument to spite old foes, then that was pretty much what this moment had become. The denunciations were cast wide. On one side a race-baiting throwback senator blamed the victims, on the other side people who justly point out the innocence and goodness of the vast majority of Muslims after a jihadist atrocity called out "whiteness" as a general scourge. A writer in one online mag said all white Australians had blood on their hands. Turkey's President Erdogan told supporters New Zealand and Australia would pay for the murder of 50 of his siblings and that, "If New Zealand fails to hold the attacker accountable, one way or another we will hold him to account." Thereby he told a Western democracy, the citizens you thought were yours are ours. They are our responsibility because their religion trumps their citizenship. In saying this he confirmed and amplified the fears of those people who believe Islamic immigrants will always have another, higher, loyalty than their new nationality. And maybe he wanted to. So many agendas entangled in the outcry that followed the atrocity. Two missing hikers have been found safe and well, according to ACT Policing. Early on Saturday morning, police appealed for help to track down the 54-year-old woman and 43-year-old man, who had last been seen at the man's home in Lyneham on Friday morning. Police believed the pair had gone hiking in the areas near "Smokers Trail", west of Paddy's River. At 9.15am on Saturday, police thanked the public for their help and said the duo were safe and well. Residents, including school students in Eastwood and the surrounding area, are being urged to be alert for measles symptoms, after a woman became the 31st person in NSW to be infected with the disease since Christmas. It's believed she was infected in mid-March while visiting Eastwood's shopping precinct, including Eastwood Shopping Centre (March 28th), the North Sydney Boys High School's uniform shop (March 28th), MyHealth Medical Centre (April 2nd) and the DHM Collection Centre on Rowe Street (April 2nd and 4th). Outbreak: A woman in Sydney has become the 31st case of measles in NSW since Christmas. NSW Health acting director of communicable diseases, Dr Sean Tobin, said none of the locations visited by the woman pose an ongoing risk - but said people should be wary if they were in those areas on the same days. They should also be alert for signs of measles until 22 April 2019, as it can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear following exposure, Dr Tobin said. It began with the disappearance of $5 million worth of Australia's best wines. Granges, Henschkes and Torbrecks that vanished without a trace amid the wreckage of a Hunter wine empire collapse in 2013 - more than 30,000 bottles, including a 1951 Penfold's Grange valued at more than $65,000. Failed business: Former prominent Hunter winemaker David James' empire collapsed in 2013. Arguably one of the country's most infamous heists will now remain officially unsolved after the State Crime Command quietly disbanded Strike Force Farrington, which was set up to investigate the case, the Newcastle Herald reports. In spite of an intensive three-year investigation by fraud and cybercrime squad police, no charges have been laid in relation to the missing prestige wine. Police are looking for a man who has allegedly stolen bottles of Moet and Bollinger from Dan Murphy's stores across Sydney's northern beaches and the north shore. Malek Bishay, 43, is wanted on five warrants relating to the theft of high-end champagne from Dan Murphy's in Willoughby, Manly Vale and Wentworthville. NSW Police are searching for Malek Bishay, who they allege has been stealing high-end champagne. Credit:NSW Police He is also alleged to have stolen from First Choice Liquor at Brookvale, and is wanted for violating the terms of his parole. Moet starts at $56 per bottle at Dan Murphy's and retails for up to $155 per bottle, while Bollinger starts at $66 per bottle and can cost up to $569. UFC chief Dana White said the UFC is taking the "necessary steps" to address Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov's "unacceptable" social media spat. The fierce rivals have traded insulting jabs since McGregor announced his retirement from mixed martial arts last week. UFC boss White then warned both fighters that their recent exchanges would not be tolerated. "I am aware of the recent social media exchange between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The ongoing situation has escalated to a level that is unacceptable," White said in a statement. "As such, we are taking the necessary steps to reach out to both athlete camps and this situation is being addressed by all parties internally," Sportstar cited the UFC chief as saying. A 20-year-old man has admitted to the stabbing murder of his grandmother in Sydney. Ethan Harwood pleaded guilty during a NSW Supreme Court arraignment on Friday to murdering Pauline Farrugia, 67, in December 2017. He is expected to face a sentence hearing in May. Harwood was arrested at his mother's home in Nhill, in western Victoria, just days after his grandmother's body was found at her home in South Penrith. He had lived with Ms Farrugia for most of his life, NSW Police said at the time. The Berejiklian government faces growing opposition to any move to retire Sydney's world-renowned Freshwater ferries which ply the Manly to Circular Quay route. While the government says a decision on the future of the four ferries has yet to be made, community groups, local councillors and unions say they will fight plans to retire the double-ended vessels from the city's most popular run on Sydney Harbour. The Freshwater-class ferries have braved some large swells in their time. Credit:Nick Moir Northern Beaches councillor Candy Bingham, a third-generation Manly resident, said local residents would be "absolutely appalled" if the ferries were removed. "They better be prepared for some pretty angry people," she said. "We will be fighting this." A woman has claimed she and her son were carjacked by people they knew and taken along for a robbery south of Brisbane. But police have charged the woman with burglary after a high-speed police chase on Friday afternoon. The chase started after police allegedly caught them breaking into a Drewvale home. Police allege the woman remained in her car with her 9-year-old son while the two men forced entry into a home on Hume Street and stole property, which they then loaded into the ute. It will be alleged at around 1.20pm two men, a woman and a boy known to them arrived in a ute at a Hume Street address. A factory which burst into flames overnight in Campbellfield had three times the volume of chemicals it was permitted to store when investigators inspected the property last month and suspended the operators licence. The Environment Protection Authority also inspected the warehouse on Thursday, the day before the fire, when it was found to still have 300,000 litres of chemicals inside. A MFB Incident Controller in front of the toxic smoke plumes. Credit:Paul Jeffers Damien Wells from the authority said the factory was an EPA-licensed facility but they had suspended the licence in March after they found hundreds of thousands of litres of chemicals which should not have been there. We suspended the licence in late March and inspected the premises and found three times the amount of material being stored on the premises than it was licensed to store, he said. Melbourne could suffer more toxic fires and other environmental catastrophes unless regulations are brought up to speed, an expert in hazardous waste management has warned. Deakin University lecturer Dr Trevor Thornton, who has been teaching about toxic waste for nearly three decades, said businesses with dangerous materials should face more random inspections and be forced to report their actions to authorities more often. Factory fire on Thornycroft Road in Campbellfield. Credit:Paul Jeffers "We've got a wonderful thing called the internet and it could be weekly or monthly that they're reporting in," Dr Thornton said. "We have the National Pollution Inventory, where companies who fall under that have to report what they're generating, but it's kind of like an annual report. Farmers are not an easily impressed bunch. But walking into the warehouse in northern Geelong, even the hardiest pastoralist would have been awe-struck. A never-before-seen collection of rare and vintage tractors has been opened up to the public before being sold at auction this Sunday. Bruce Chapman casts his eye over a Massey-Harris tractor. Credit:Jason South More than 100 restored tractors will go under the hammer, spanning a string of different marques and models from 1919 to 1980. The total collection is valued at $1 million. But the thing that has all of the tractor fanciers baffled is this how did no one know about it? Bradley Lyons' remains were found in March, three months after he was reported missing. Two more people have been charged over the disappearance and death of Lakes Entrance man Bradley Lyons, bringing the number of people charged to six. Mr Lyons went missing in suspicious circumstances in December and his remains were found more than three months later at a remote location at Fairy Dell Flora Reserve, about 35 kilometres north-west of Lakes Entrance. A 35-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, both from Lakes Entrance, were arrested on Thursday and have been charged with murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment and aggravated home invasion. Mr Lyons was last seen returning to his Lakes Entrance home about midnight on December 2 before a relative in Queensland reported him as missing on December 11. He advised people living nearby to take shelter indoors. "Let me be clear, all smoke is toxic. We have issued a number of community warnings," Mr Stephens said. Residents in Broadmeadows, Pascoe Vale and Coburg have been advised to take shelter indoors immediately and seven nearby schools have closed. All roads around the factory have been closed. Fire authorities say residents should close vents, turn off heating and cooling systems and bring pets indoors. One witness, a welder who was working in the factory next door on Friday morning when the blaze started, reported seeing a fireball about 40-storeys high after he and fellow workers made a quick escape. "About 6.50am we heard someone yelling, 'get out'. Then we saw the roof [next door] on fire. There were a large stack of barrels, probably eight barrels stacked next to the fence," said Alexander Powell, 28. "Then I saw a fireball about 40 storeys high ... I saw a barrel flying in the air, it took off like a rocket," he said. "I could feel the radiant heat bearing down on me." Welder Alexander Powell, who was working next door to the toxic waste factory on Friday morning, saw a fireball about 40 storeys high. Credit:Paul Jeffers Firefighters are using more than 30 trucks and water bombers to fight the blaze. Mr Powell said he was concerned the fire could be heading towards another factory nearby that contains a large gas tank. "I had a firefighter telling me it's out of control; it's moving towards another factory which has a 20,000 litre tank of LPG." About 30 people are believed to have evacuated the factory before firefighters arrived and one man was taken by ambulance to the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital with an eye injury. The factory at the centre of fire is listed to Bradbury Industrial Services, which had its licence suspended by the Environment Protection Authority about two weeks ago. Bradbury's website says the company are experts in the disposal of industrial waste and hazardous waste. Aerial shots of smoke plumes from the Campbellfield fire. Credit:Nine News Details are starting to emerge about the state of the Campbellfield chemical waste disposal facility when it was inspected by a taskforce comprising the EPA and emergency services in early March. Sources say the surprise inspection on March 13 found leaking containers and spilled chemicals on the factory floor. The breaches have been described as "extremely alarming" given that employees were onsite and working near the contamination. The EPA issued a "show cause" notice to Bradbury about its permit breaches and then suspended its licence when Bradbury failed to meet its demands. The community has a right to expect that the management of hazardous and industrial waste is done to a high standard that meets regulations. This was not the case with Bradbury and is why EPA has taken this important decision," EPA chief executive Dr Cathy Wilkinson said in a statement at the time. The EPA found the company was storing more waste than permitted, and that storage containers were not adequately handled and were outside an adequately contained area. Another aerial shot of the blaze. Credit:Nine News Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday said he was prepared to tighten chemical storage laws. If there is improvement that can come from the experience of this fire of course we stand ready, in partnership with our emergency services, to make whatever changes we need to make, he said. But this is not a suspicious fire. Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio said the EPA had been handed stronger powers to prevent toxic disasters, which would kick in next year. Ms DAmbrosio said emergency services agencies had acted quickly to contain the fire to the site and bring it under control. Theres been a really good collaborative approach right across agencies and theyll continue to work together. The fire comes as authorities investigate a massive illicit toxic dumping operation across Melbourne's northern suburbs, where up to 19 million litres of waste has been stockpiled. Firefighters at the factory in Thornycroft Road, Campbellfield. Credit:Paul Jeffers Eight warehouses were discovered in Epping and Campbellfield on December 28, before WorkSafe and Environment Protection Authority investigators uncovered another three in Campbellfield in early March, and another warehouse in Campbellfield about two weeks ago. Authorities have been on high alert since last August when a West Footscray factory, stockpiled with toxic waste, went up in flames and burned for three days. At least 15 fire trucks from the MFB are attending the Campbellfield fire, as well as 10 CFA trucks. Factory worker Pip earlier told 3AW he was watching the fire from a nearby street. "I'm at my factory and ... in the next street there is a massive factory fire, I'm standing here watching it and there are still explosions happening. Flames 30 metres in the air, fireys coming from everywhere," he said. "The intensity of the fire is enormous, smoke going everywhere. "I don't know what's in that factory but there are a lot of explosions," he said. The MFB says people travelling in or around the area can expect to see flames and black smoke, and traffic may also be affected. Motorists travelling through the area have been advised to keep their windows closed, or avoid the area if possible. The MFB's Mr Stephens said the fire had grown very quickly by the time firefighters arrived. "The incident escalated to an eighth alarm, that's over 40 appliances and 100 firefighters. Thirty workers at the premise were evacuated and MFB firefighters conducted an aggressive and assertive attack to surround the incident, to prevent the spread to the surrounding properties. He said they were still establishing the cause and origin of the fire. "My understanding is that evacuation was taken place at the time of the first arriving MFB appliances on scene." Mr Stephens would not say what material was inside the factory. "The inventory of the factory at this point I cannot comment on definitively but what we do know that there were numerous hazardous materials contained in the factory including flammable liquids." Mr Stephens said firefighters had not entered the building as it is made of tilt slabs, which can collapse suddently. "We are not going to risk the life of firefighters... by putting them into the building where there is a possibility of structural collapse," he said. "This incident is likely to last for a number of days while we get in, make the building safe and then fully extinguish the fire," he said. Plumes of smoke from a factory fire in Campbellfield on the approach to Melbourne early on Friday. Credit:Paul Jeffers EPA staff are at the blaze and assisting with air monitoring in the area. The education department says these schools are closed because of the fire: Dallas North Primary School Broadmeadows Primary School Hume Central Secondary College Dimboola Road Campus Home Central Secondary College English Language Campus Meadow Heights Primary School Holy Child Catholic Primary School Dallas St Thomas More Primary School Corpus Christi School, Glenroy Corpus Christi principal Stephen Lucardie said smoke was hovering around the school, with "almost an orange fog", earlier in the morning. "We made a call for the best interests of the children and staff," Mr Lucardie told The Age. Holy Child Primary School principal Alan Smith said thick plumes of smoke were hovering over the Dallas school, and students had been told to start their school holidays a day early. A jury has been unable to reach a verdict on whether an Albany farmer murdered his wife by staging a car accident at their property in 2008. Gregory Paul Johnston had been on trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, accused of killing his wife, Susi Johnston, 56, in order to be with his new lover, who he later married. Susi Elizabeth Johnston died in 2008. Credit:WA Police After a three-week trial and more than three days of deliberations, the jury on Friday informed Justice Robert Mitchell they had been unable to reach a unanimous verdict. They have been discharged. Mr Johnston was released on bail and is due to appear in court later this month, where a new trial date may be set. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has carved out almost $1 billion of yet-to-be-announced cancer funding, setting up a health bidding war with the Coalition government. With the federal election expected to be announced in the coming days, Mr Shorten has signalled a new approach for Labor as it shifts away from the previous "scare tactics" that drew criticism of its 2016 campaign. Bill Shorten is ready for a pre-election health bidding war. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen It will allow Mr Shorten to push his message that Labor is "the party of Medicare", while giving candidates in key electorates the ability to unveil vote-winning commitments, as the opposition seeks to win as many seats from the government as possible. The Coalition still has $880 million left in its $1.3 billion hospital fund announced last year, giving it ammunition to go head-to-head with Labor on health. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold full-format negotiations at their meeting in Moscow on April 8, including a session of the Russia-Turkey High-Level Cooperation Council, Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov said. The talks will begin in a narrow format and "it is not ruled out that some part of this talk will be held tete-a-tete, which will be done to discuss the most sensitive issues,"Ushakov said. The Russian and Turkish presidents will discuss Syria, the deliveries of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey, the pace of building the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, Ushakov noted. "After that, the leaders of both countries will participate in a plenary session of the Cooperation Council, which will be followed by their roundtable discussion with representatives of business," TASS cited him as saying. The sides are also planning to sign some joint documents, the work on which is currently underway. After the business talks are over, the two presidents will hold a joint news conference. In the evening of April 8, Putin and Erdogan will take part in the ceremony of opening the Cross Year of Culture and Tourism of Russia and Turkey that will be held in the Bolshoi Theater. Australians are about to witness an election campaign with an enormous policy gulf between the two major parties and huge scope for surprises and scares. The stakes are so high that some candidates may be caked in mud by the time the campaign is over. The desperation is palpable in this campaign, more so than in recent times, because the opinion polls have encouraged the assumption that Scott Morrison cannot win and Bill Shorten cannot lose. Shorten has only one chance at victory because he cannot retain the Labor leadership if he loses this "unlosable" election. Morrison has only one chance at being confirmed in power by the Australian public and proving to Liberal colleagues they were right to choose him after their nervous breakdown over the leadership last August. One of the biggest, Laverton, now has almost 1000 spaces, with the furthest spot a 450-metre walk to the station entrance. It is further than the 418 metres between Riversdale and Willison on the Alamein line, the shortest distance in the city between stations. The federal governments railway car parking expansion is concentrated in four Liberal seats in Melbournes south-east that Labor believes it has a chance of winning: Goldstein, Casey, Aston and Deakin. Tim Wilsons seat of Goldstein is held by 12.7 per cent, and Hampton and Bentleigh are located in it. It is here that the pork-barrelling nature of the car parking promise seems the most extreme. In Hampton, $4 million has been promised to build 133 extra car parking spaces but the local council cant say where they will put them. Were delighted to get $4 million from the federal government, says Michael Heffernan, Bayside Council mayor and a former Liberal Party candidate for state parliament. He declined to answer questions over when or even if the council ever asked Canberra to fund more parking for Hampton. Whether weve asked specifically is irrelevant commuter parking is a critical issue for us. Bentleigh station is surrounded by car parks but only a few are for commuters. Credit:Jason South The local neighbourhood association is also generally supportive of the idea of more parking around Hampton station but is simultaneously curious as to where it will go. We asked the council Where are these car parks going? They had absolutely no idea. They dont know, theyve just been told the money is coming, says Tony Batt, president of the Hampton Neighbourhood Association. How did we get here? Station car parking, unless its multi-level, is shovel ready so you can announce it and build it really fast, in hard hats and high-vis vests. You cant do that for a bus service, says Liz Taylor, a Monash University planning lecturer who researched the phenomenon of railway station car parking expansion. Dr Taylor has studied how politicians of all hues and at all levels of government pledge millions for railway station car parking, with very little evidence of its effectiveness at improving the transport system. It certainly takes some cars off the road but it takes a very similar number of people off buses or diverts them from walking to the station because now there is a huge car park, says Dr Taylor. A lot of politicians would have you believe that for every car park you put in, thats one person who wont drive. It just doesnt work that way. Melbourne now has more than 40,000 existing car parking spots across its railway network. At the last election, Daniel Andrews promised to add 11,000 extra spots across Victoria. The locations were targeted politically, but the concentration of the Morrison governments 2000-odd new spots in political hot-spots was more blatant, says one Labor strategist who asked not to be named. They said Labor's polling showed swings in some Liberal-held seats could be as much as 15 per cent, so it made sense Mr Frydenbergs budget was trying to sand-bag the citys south-east. Monash University politics expert Paul Strangio said the sort of micro-infrastructure investment the car parking announcement indicated was a sign of a desperate federal government realising old-style meta-campaigning was no longer enough. Professor Strangio also pondered whether the federal government was trying borrow some of Daniel Andrews infrastructure sheen. With the Andrews government, voters could actually see tangible actions like level crossings being removed. While it is tangible action, it is also expensive to expand car parking. And for every cent that goes towards it, there could be a bus service that might never run, says Daniel Bowen from the Public Transport Users Association. Latest News Macquarie Bank allows customers to open a savings account in under a minute Its cloud tech is similar to a seamless fintech experience "with the security of a bank" Welcome to the future of digital media We preview the exciting new world of interactive digital content to feature in Australian Broker Australias oldest operating non-bank has been given finance industry awards for both its wealth management performance, as well as for the operations and returns to investors in its retail credit fund. La Trobe Financial, a non-bank with $7.4bn in assets under management (AUM), provides funding and investment solutions to 140,000 customers. The International Alternative Investment Review (IAIR) Awards, held in Hong Kong last Friday, aim to award excellence and world best practices in funds management and banking. The winners were selected by an independent judging panel from a short list of nominees generated by more than 50,000 investors from over 120 countries. The company was given the Wealth Management Company of the Year Asia Pacific award due to the strong returns and significant growth evidenced by the La Trobe Australian Credit Fund over the last twelve months for both institutional and retail investors. The fund showed a 50.3% growth rate year-on-year and now has over $3.2bn in AUM and 35,000 member investors. We are delighted to again have been nominated and rated best in class by the IAIR international judging panel for the seventh year in a row, said chief investment officer Chris Andrews. Above all else, these awards are a confirmation of our track record of delivering differentiated real value for retail and global institutional investors through a transparent and time-tested approach. The company received the 2019 Credit Specialist of the Year Asia Pacific award for its operations and utilisation of both conventional lending and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending and funding channels. Chief lending officer and VP Cory Bannister said, We have realised that in order to build ongoing and lasting relationships with clients, you need to provide flexible tech-driven solutions when they need it. This is why we [deliver] flexibility and access to products that the major banks generally cannot provide. We remain good stewards of other peoples capital and this enables us to obtain and maintain the trust of our clients this is the real asset of the firm. La Trobe has taken steps to further its Asian Pacific presence with offices now in Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Police are looking for a perv who allegedly made lewd remarks to teenage girls and showed them a picture of genitals on Livonia Avenue on March 28. The creep walked up to a 15-year-old girl, grabbed her by the arm, and made derogatory sexual comments, before taking out his phone and showing her a picture of genitals at Pennsylvania Avenue around 8 a.m., according to police. The victim and her 14-year-old friend, who were on their way to school, walked away and the sleazebag fled toward Alabama Avenue, according to the authorities. Cops describe the baddie as a man in his 30s who was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, black beanie, gray pants, brown work boots, and carrying a blue plastic bag. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDC RIMES TOPPE RS.COM , on Twitter @NYPDTips. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Dozens of families displaced by a Sunset Park inferno Wednesday will have to spend days waiting to regain access to their 44th Street home, unsure of the damage to their apartments, property, and even their beloved pets as they wait for firefighters and building inspectors to sound the all clear, according to a resident and local civic guru. I have two cats in there, said Cesar Zuniga, a resident of 702 44th St. and the chairman of Community Board 7. Were just hoping against hope that theyre OK. The fire broke out on the top floor of the six-story residential building between Seventh and Eighth Avenues at 4:46 p.m., and firefighters stormed the propertys smoldering pent-house apartments only to be forced back outside, as high-winds swept the fire towards them, eventually forcing New Yorks Bravest to battle the blaze from ladders positioned over the structure beyond the fires reach, according to FDNY Chief of Department John Sudnik. And while firefighters continued pouring water into the Sunset Park building well into Thursday evening, officials with FDNY and Department of Buildings, speaking at a closed-door meeting Thursday, said theyre expecting another three to four days of engineering assessments before they allow residents back into the building, according to Zuniga, who as CB7 chair was privy to the private council. As a result, residents living on the lower floors floors four through four six suffered either full, or partial collapse have no idea which of their possessions are salvageable and which have been destroyed in the deluge of smoke, fire, and water, according to the civic leader. Theres no possibility were going to get in there to retrieve personal effects, said Zuniga. Its hard, people are very upset. In addition to the burning building, Department of Buildings officials evacuated three neighboring structures, and some 90 people had registered by Thursday for emergency shelter at the Sunset Park Recreation Center on Seventh Avenue, where various city and relief organizations including Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Office of Emergency Management, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development setup an ad-hoc relief center in response to the crisis, according to David Estrada, director of the Sunset Park Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District. Acting on the direction of local elected officials, including Councilman Carlos Menchaca, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Estrada created an online fund raiser to benefit the displaced 44th Street residents thats already raised more than $15,000 by 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Condo owners living in the building were required to purchase homeowners insurance, but renters were not, according to Zuniga, who said some neighbors may have been wiped out by the fire. Some people have been coming up to me very concerned about the fact they dont have renters insurance, and theyre wondering how to become whole, he said. This is where Im hoping the community steps in and works with Councilman Menchacas office to help out. All told, the conflagration injured 32 people, including nearly two dozen firefighters, who suffered burns, sprains, and debilitating smoke inhalation, according to a spokesman for the fire department. Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixs on@cn gloca l.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC This panel got panned! Mayor Bill de Blasios new expert panel for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway lacks watchdogs from elected offices or neighborhood associations, according to the attendees of a Wednesday town hall. Several audience members at the event, held at Brooklyn Heightss Plymouth Church, raised the question of why the mayor didnt select more community reps or watchdogs for his 16-member panel, which is chaired by the head of a building industry advocacy group and includes urban planners, engineers, architects, labor reps, and several academics. One of the events organizers read out an audience question addressing this concern which she said was common among the submitted queries. This question came up a lot, said the co-founder of the activist group to save the Brooklyn Heights Promenade A Better Way, Sabrina Gleizer, before reading out one submission. The mayors commission has an impressive array of experts but it appears to be thin on community organizers, representatives, and tax payer watchdogs. How can we make sure we are represented, Gleizer read. Gleizer and her fellow head of the advocacy organization Hilary Jager met with de Blasios office to ask whether they could join the panel, which was unlikely, according to Jager. We asked for a seat at the table, I dont think thats going to happen, she said. But both activists and their partners at the civic group and co-hosts of the event, the Brooklyn Heights Association, agreed that the panel would field the communitys input during the whole process. Were insistent, because we can be really insistent, that we have to have a way to check in with community groups, not just A Better Way, not just the Brooklyn Heights Association, other groups on a regular basis, whether thats bi-weekly or bi-monthly, we need to have something really set up and we made that clear, Jager said. A spokesman for the mayors office said that the panel would engage with the community regularly over the next months. The panel will be taking input from and engaging substantially with the community through a robust, transparent process, said Seth Stein. Throughout that process, the panel will meet with local stakeholders and civic groups to solicit feedback. The mayors original release left open the possibility for further additions for the panel but Stein said that City Hall didnt currently have any more panelists to share. Additional members are a possibility but we have none to announce at this time, he said. The panel will meet this month and examine several current and future proposals for an alternative to the Department of Transportations two original plans to either repair the triple-cantilever bit-by-bit or build a six-lane highway on top of the beloved Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Some time in the summer, they will put forward a short report with their recommendations, according to the mayors office. Civic associations, residents, politicians, and most recently, the international architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group, have all floated their ideas for the beleaguered roadway. The Dumbo-based architects, along with Heights local Mark Baker and architect Marc Wouters laid out their ideas to locals at the town hall who applauded the proposals. In addition to de Blasios brain trust, the City Council will hire an independent outside firm to look at the alternatives, Speaker Corey Johnson announced at the event. The Council will be hiring an independent firm to evaluate each of the options that are presented so we can understand the pros and cons of every option thats put on the table, Johnson said. A spokesman for Johnsons office told this paper that they were beginning to hire the firm, but declined to comment on the moves cost or which company they would tap for the job. The Council is beginning the process of hiring an independent firm, said Jacob Tugendrajch. Six elected city and state officials attended the meeting and roused the crowd in opposition to the city agencys original plans, including Johnson, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Borough President Eric Adams, councilman Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn Heights), Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn Heights), and state Sen. Brian Kavanagh (D-Brooklyn Heights). Levin said he didnt support either of the departments plans but urged the audience to form a consensus around a plan so that it can have a chance of passing through the citys Uniform Land Use Review Procedure without hitting any roadblocks, such as litigation or political obstruction along the way. We have to get this right and we have to get this right now. I think were on track, he said. Johnson, along with two other potential future candidates for mayor, Stringer and Adams, railed against the top-down planning of the Robert Moses era, that saw the original construction of the triple-cantilever and envisioned how its reconstruction could change the citys approach to transport, development, and affordable housing. We cant keep building luxury towers and [pushing] rezonings in the name of affordable housing, Stringer said. Because those houses are not affordable to all the neighborhoods in Brooklyn and you know that. The fight for a better BQE should be seen as a lesson for other communities in the borough to improve their environment, said Adams, who mentioned a disused elevated subway track that extends from the Myrtle Avenue-Broadway subway stop into Bedford-Stuyvesant as an opportunity for redevelopment, similar to Manhattans High Line. Everything were doing about this fight should be documented and we should go into communities like Brownsville and East New York and teach those young people how to look at their environment as well, said the Kings County chief executive. Theres so much more we can do. This should be an exercise of how communities come together and define themselves. Armenia asked Russia to postpone payment of loan for modernization of Armenian NPP, head of the Foreign Relations Department of Armenia's Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Tigran Melkonyan said. "I want to raise an issue related to the delay in work with the implementation of the project to extend the lifetime of the Armenian NPP. We identified several reasons, both objective and subjective," he noted at the 19th meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between Russia and Armenia. According to Melkonyan, for the successful completion of the project, it is necessary to decide on the extension of the loan, as well as to postpone the start of loan repayment, while the only source of annual payments on the loan are funds from the sale of electricity produced by the Armenian NPP, RIA Novosti reported. Popular Chinese video apps such as TikTok, Kwai, LIKE and a host of others might be on borrowed time in India. The Madras High Courts direction on Thursday to the central government for a ban on TikTok is the first indication in this regard of what seems likely over the coming months. Highly popular in tier-III cities and towns, with an estimated 300-plus million users, these apps are now on the radar of the home and information technology (IT) ministries, after a slew of complaints. According to official sources, various states are contemplating bans over the ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor HCL Technologies and its US subsidiary are the target of a class action lawsuit that alleges discrimination against non-South Asian workers and they have also been accused of exploiting the H-1B visa system. The lawsuit was filed by law firm Kotchen & Low on behalf of Gregory Handloser, who has alleged that HCL denied him employment five times because it favoured Indians and other South Asians. HCL has been able to secure visas for far more individuals than it actually has a present need for, the lawsuit, filed in US District Court in San Jose last month claimed. "For ... The Supreme Court on Friday threatened to send the former promoters of Fortis Healthcare, Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh, to jail if it was established that they had violated the orders of the court by selling assets of the company. The apex court, while expressing dissatisfaction over the replies filed by the two brothers on how they planned to pay the more than Rs 3,500-crore dues to Daiichi Sankyo, said it would directly hear the contempt petition moved against them on April 11. You may be owning half of the world but you cannot satisfy your creditors by ... The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to seek the approval of the Election Commission (EC) before releasing its new set of guidelines to banks, which will replace its February 12 circular that was quashed by the Supreme Court earlier this week. The new circular is expected to be out in the coming week. While the matter of issuing a circular does not relate to publicity or elections in any way, the Election Commission does have a remit over any new announcement. As a matter of formality, the RBI will seek the ECs permission before issuing the new circular, said a top ... In an interview to a Hindi TV channel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that what Congress has done in the past and what they are promising in their manifesto is not doable and right for the nation. He said that NYAY is a short cut by Congress which is deplorable. On the question of administration, Modi said, "During the previous election campaigns, I said to the people that they have seen the 60-year administration, now give me 60 months. There have been two PMs who have not been from Congress gotra. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, and we work for the ... President Trump stopped short of announcing a final trade deal with China on Thursday, saying in an Oval Office meeting with the Chinese delegation that it may take another four weeks or more to secure an epic trade agreement. Negotiators had originally aimed to secure a deal this week during a visit from Liu He, the Chinese vice-premier and special trade envoy, and announce a presidential summit meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping of China. But after more than a year of tit-for-tat tariffs, on-and-off negotiations and threats of additional punishment, the United States and ... By WestKyStar & Murray-Calloway County Hospital Staff Apr. 04, 2019 | 03:12 PM | MURRAY AARP Safe Driving Class Wednesday, May 1st 8 am - noon MCCH Center for Health & Wellness Kentucky insurances must offer a discount to those who complete this class. Pre-registration is required. Call 270-762-1348 to reserve your spot. Free Screening: Trigg County Senior Center Osteoporosis Screenings Thursday, April 4 9 - 11 am No appointment required. Free Screening: Calloway County Courthouse Tuesday, April 9th 2 - 4 pm Osteoporosis Screening No appointment required. Free Screening: Mayfield Graves YMCA Thursday, April 18th ]9 - 11 am Blood Pressure and Pulmonary Function Screening No appointment required. Free Screening: Weaks Center Tuesday, April 23rd 10 - 11:30 am Osteoporosis Screening No appointment required. Free Screening: Center for Health & Wellness Wednesday, April 24th 8 - 11 am and 1:30 - 4 pm Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Osteoporosis Screening, Pulmonary Function Screening, Wait Circumference, Pulse, Pulse Ox. Appointment required. Call 270-762-1348 to schedule. Free Screening: Marshall County Senior Center Thursday, April 25th 9 - 11 am Blood Pressure & Non Fasting Glucose No appointment required. Free Screening: Calloway County Library Tuesday, April 30th 9 - 11 am Osteoporosis Scan o No appointment required. Blood Drive The Center for Health & Wellness and the MCCH Blood Donor Center are hosting a blood drive. Our donor center is currently in need of ALL Blood Types Wednesday, April 10th 8:30 am - 4 pm MCCH Center for Health & Wellness No appointment required. Benton Alzheimers Care Giver Support Group Wednesday, April 3rd 10 am Marshall County Public Library For more information, call 270-762-1224 Murray Alzheimers Care Giver Support Group Thursday, April 4th 10 am Marshall County Public Library For more information, call 270-762-1224 Bariatric Support Group Thursday, April 4th 10 - 11 am Bariatric Office For more info, call Bariatric Solutions 270-762-1547 ALS Support Group Thursday, April 11th 6 - 7 pm MCCH Board Room For more info, call Mitzi Cathey at 270-293-1748 Bariatric Support Group Tuesday, April 9th 5 - 6 pm Center for Health & Wellness For more information, call Bariatric Solutions 270-762-1547 Parkinson's Support Group Tuesday, April 9th Noon Weaks' Senior Citizen Center For more info, call 270-753-0929 Breastfeeding Support Group Thursday, April 18th 4 - 5:30 pm Center for Health & Wellness For more info, call Alycia Janow 270-226-4776 National Alliance on Mental Illness Thursday, April 18th 6:30 pm MCCH Education Building (Corner of 8th and Elm) For more info, call 270-748-6133 Breast Cancer Support Group Tuesday, April 23rd 5:30 pm Mugsys Restaurant For more info, call Evelyn 270-489-2462 Dialysis Support Group Thursday, April 25th 4:30 - 5:30 pm Weak's Senior Citizen Center For more info, call Tasha Mitchell 270-759-3080 Stroke and Head Injury Support Group Monday, April 22nd 5:30 - 7 pm Center for Health & Wellness For more info, call Cheryl 270-293-9442 For more information on programs or free screenings available from Murray-Calloway County Hospital, and the Center for Health and Wellness, call 270-762-1348. For more information on programs or free screenings available from Murray-Calloway County Hospital, and the Center for Health and Wellness, call 270-762-1348. Staff at Murray-Calloway County Hospital and the Center for Health & Wellness will be offering educational health promotion events during the month of April to community members, Wellness Center members and MCCH employees. British Prime Minister Theresa May has formally asked for another delay to the country's exit from the European Union, buying time to thrash out an alternative Brexit plan with her political opponents. Britain is due to formally leave the EU on April 12, and the government does not yet have an agreed plan to avoid a disorderly exit. The clock is ticking for May to find a workable exit strategy that has majority support at home, and then persuade Brussels to give her more time to implement it. May has asked the EU to delay Brexit to June 30. Below is what the next few days ... In a latest twist to the claims made by India of shooting down US-made Pakistani F-16, the Foreign Policy magazine in a latest article said that America has not found any such planes supplied to Pakistan missing from the inventory. Foreign Policy's Lara Seligman claimed that United States officials have told her that all of Pakistan's F-16 jets are accounted for and none of them is missing, following a recent check by US personnel after the February incident with India. This is in direct contradiction to India's claim that IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 with his MiG-21 Bison before his plane was downed. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani forces and later released as a peace gesture, according to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Reacting to the Foreign Policy article, the Spokesperson of the Pakistan Army, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted: "Allah be praised, truth always prevails. Time for India to speak the truth about false claims & actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan. India needs introspection especially over atrocities in IOK. Region needs peace, progress & prosperity." Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his claim that the Indian Air Force shooting down a Pakistani F-16 jet during an aerial skirmish in February. "Oh dear, how embarrassing @narendramodi if you are going to lie at least try something more believable? Everyone knows you guys can't aim. When you lie you don't hurt others, you hurt yourself. The great nation of India can do better. Its people deserve better," Bhutto Zardari tweeted, quoting an article by Foreign Policy which alleges that the US has contradicted India's claims regarding the incident. The aerial skirmish occurred when the IAF scurried to repel a group of Pakistani jets which violated its airspace in late February, in the aftermath of the gruesome Pulwama terror attack and its subsequent incidents. Reacting to the report, several Indian experts have slammed the Foreign Policy article. Vengalil Venugopal, retired Commodore Indian Navy, tweeted, "Such a statement is but obvious that they are unable to digest a MIG 21 B scoring over an F-16? The fact that their air force analysts are gaming this engagement to draw out reasons for the failure of F-16s in this dogfight is the other story!" Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retired), another defence expert told Sputnik that the article is based on "half-truths and conjectures," highlighting that no US military official has been named. India has constantly maintained that Pakistan used F-16s during the dogfight, with Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying: "As we have already said, there are eye-witness accounts and electronic evidence that Pakistan deployed F-16 aircraft and that one F-16 was shot down by Wing Commander Abhinandan. Evidence of the use of AMRAAM Missile, which can only be deployed on the F-16 with Pakistan, has also been shown to the media. Pakistan should explain why it continues to deny that its F-16aircraft has been shot down? We have asked the United States to also examine whether the use of F16 against India is in accordance with the terms and conditions of sale." India had also refuted Pakistan's claim that two Indian aircraft were downed by the Pakistani side on February 27. "Pakistan...continues to propagate a false narrative of the events of that day... Only one aircraft was lost by us. If, as Pakistan claims, they have a video recording of the downing of a second Indian aircraft, why have they not shown it to the international media even after more than one week? Questions should be asked to them as to where the fuselage of the aircraft is and what has happened to the pilots?" Kumar had said during a media briefing on March 9. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Endorsing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani's blog post, former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Babulal Gaur, said the BJP has never indulged in branding anyone as anti- and that the Opposition in India has always been respected. "Mr Advani has said the right thing. We were in Opposition once, nobody called us anti- then, neither have we done something like this. Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji even called Indira Gandhi 'Durga'. We need to think. There will always be an Opposition in a democracy. Even people who speak against the country cannot be called anti- We can only call such people deluded," Gaur told reporters. LK Advani, who broke his silence yesterday and came out in support of his party through a blog, has made quite a buzz on micro-blogging site Twitter. Advani's take on nationalism is ever since trending on the social media site. Advani in his blog, titled "Nation First, Party Next, Self Last", on Thursday asserted that the BJP had "never regarded those who disagree with us politically as enemies, but only as our adversaries" and that the BJP's conception of Indian nationalism never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-national". Prime Minister Modi also endorsed Advani's post by saying he summed up the true essence of the party and also tweeted the 91-year-old leader's blog. Advani's blog post has reportedly come after five years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boeing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis Muilenburg on Thursday apologised for the 346 lives lost in crashes of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia as well as Ethiopia. In a letter issued by Boeing, Muilenburg said, "We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents. These tragedies continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, and we extend our sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302." "All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognise the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished," the CEO added. The statement by Boeing came after Ethiopia on Thursday released the preliminary report into the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash which claimed the lives of all 157 people on board. Ethiopian Minister Dagmawit Moges said that the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was in good condition before take-off. Speculations regarding the flight being hit with a foreign object were also ruled out by the officials, according to CNN. "The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft," Moges stated. Meanwhile, Muilenburg, in his statement, noted that full details of what happened in the two accidents will be issued by the government authorities in the final reports very soon. According to the Washington Post, preliminary reports show that the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) was activated in the two flights, during the final minutes, when the pilots started struggling to keep the plane level downwards. "As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it," Muilenburg said in his statement. "Our top engineers and technical experts working tirelessly in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration to finalize and implement a software update that will ensure accidents like that of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 never happen again," he noted. "We're nearing completion and anticipate its certification and implementation on the 737 MAX fleet worldwide in the weeks ahead. We regret the impact the grounding has had on our airline customers and their passengers," he added. On March 10, 157 people on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight - a Boeing 737 MAX jet - lost their lives after their flight crashed just a few minutes after take-off from Adis Ababa. Similarly, in October last year, a Boeing 737 MAX Lion Air flight crashed in Indonesia, claiming the lives of all 181 people on board. Investigations are ongoing into both the incidents. The March 10 incident became the second instance that the Boeing 737 MAX jet was involved in a crash within a span of five months. This triggered safety concerns, leading to several countries and airlines grounding the aircraft around the According to Boeing, the new software update for the 737 MAX 7 aircraft lets the pilot have the ability to override MCAS and manually control the aircraft, ensuring that the pilot always has the upper hand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) November 17, 2021, Wednesday Aggiornamenti Lumia has shared screenshots and gifs, revealing what the new software will look like and what will be its key ... Coventry Cathedral recently organised a special service of thanks giving for the Padma Bhushan awardee, Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya on 30th March 2019. Apart from his family and friends, the special service was attended by some leading figures from business, politics, & amp; education. The service witnessed a number of heart touching tributes, led by Miss Tina Bhattacharyya, on behalf of the family. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Motor Company, was also present at the service to pay his tribute. Tributes were also extended by Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, Councillor Abdul Khan, Ratan Tata GBE, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and Chairman of Tata Trusts, Chandrajit General Banerjee, Director of the Confederation of Indian Industry, among others. Regis Professor of Manufacturing, Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, director and chairman of WMG, the University of Warwick, UK, breathed his last on 1st March 2019. Professor Bhattacharyya is survived by his wife Lady Bridie Bhattacharyya and Lord and Lady Bhattacharyya's three daughters Anita, Tina and Malini. A visionary academic and an industry veteran, Prof Lord Bhattacharyya was deeply committed to fostering India's manufacturing excellence. Working on policy development, manufacturing competitiveness and research, he believed in deepening India's global manufacturing footprint to make the country a leader. In 2002, he was conferred the Padma of Bhushan by Government India for his services to Science and Technology. On the same day, the University of Warwick formally unveiled a plinth outside the new PS150 million building on the University campus, hosting the National Automotive Innovation Centre, which now bears the name Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building. To commemorate his life's work, The Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Memorial Fund will create opportunities for young people to thrive, by supporting projects he was passionate about. It will provide funds to enrich the experiences of students at the University of Warwick and the two WMG Academies he was so proud of. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By The Associated Press Mar. 31, 2019 | 07:43 PM | LOUISVILLE The leading Democratic candidates who want to oust Republican Gov. Matt Bevin lashed out Friday evening at the incumbent's efforts to impose new Medicaid work requirements for many of those seeking to keep their health benefits. The Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls took aim at Bevin's efforts to impose new rules for Kentucky's Medicaid program that would require many people to get a job, go to school or volunteer in order to keep their health benefits. Bevin suffered another setback this week when a federal judge in Washington, D.C., once again blocked the new rules for many low-income people in the state. Three of Bevin's potential challengers praised the ruling at a Democratic fundraiser in Kentucky's largest city. "I'm glad to see a federal judge stand up and say 'you're wrong,'" gubernatorial hopeful Rocky Adkins said in his speech at the event. Another Democratic gubernatorial candidate, state Attorney General Andy Beshear, denounced Bevin's Medicaid rules as "callous" and said the federal judge "got it right." "But this victory is temporary," Beshear said in an interview. "Ultimately, we have to beat him at the ballot box, and one of my first acts (if elected governor) is going to be to rescind that (Medicaid) waiver." In his speech, Beshear said he would push to insert key elements of the federal Affordable Care Act's consumer protections into state law, including mandatory coverage for pre-existing conditions. Adkins, the top-ranking Democrat in the GOP-led Kentucky House, said in an earlier interview that Bevin "has been wrong from day one on the expansion of Medicaid. He needs to quit trying to hurt ... people by taking them off the health care rolls and really be supportive of understanding that having a quality, accessible, affordable health care system in Kentucky is essential." Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Adam Edelen said Bevin should "give up on his ideologically-driven political charade." "If he can't be a governor that helps the people of Kentucky, particularly working people, have health insurance, he ought to just do nothing," Edelen said in an interview. Bevin has vowed to end Medicaid benefits for more than 400,000 Kentuckians if the courts ultimately block his proposed rules. He says the state can't afford to keep paying its share for that many people. Asked earlier this week if the state would appeal the judge's ruling, Bevin said: "Of course." "Every one of the able-bodied people taking (Medicaid), is taking it right out of the hands, right out of the mouths and right out of the pockets of the people for whom Medicaid was designed," Bevin told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday. "We are going to stay the course and no one rogue judge in Washington, D.C., is going to dictate what the people of Kentucky do to develop our workforce, to develop our people and to make Kentucky the best version of itself," the governor added. Medicaid is a joint federal and state health care program for poor and disabled people. Former President Barack Obama's signature health care law allowed states to expand the program to include adults with no children. In Kentucky, that allowed more than 400,000 people to get health benefits, many for the first time. But that was a lot more people than state officials had expected, greatly increasing the state's costs. In January 2018, the Trump administration gave Kentucky permission to require some Medicaid recipients to get a job, go to school or volunteer to keep their benefits. The state also planned to impose small monthly premiums from those Medicaid recipients to mimic private insurance plans. Edelen said Friday evening that health care looms as a dominant issue in the general election campaign this year. He said it shows a difference in the "value systems" of his and Bevin's campaigns, adding: "Health care will be where we fight that battle." Adkins said the new Medicaid rules would hurt rural health care in the state. "The governor ought to get his mind on how can we get more people on health care instead of less," he said. The other Democrat running for governor in Kentucky's May 21 primary is frequent candidate Geoff Young. In the GOP primary, Bevin faces challenges from state Rep. Robert Goforth, William Woods and Ike Lawrence. Kentucky is one of three states that will elect governors in 2019, along with Louisiana and Mississippi. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy accused the Election Commission and the Income Tax Department of harassing him and his family. "The Election Commission and Income Tax Department are literally harassing me and my family. Let the EC officials perform their duties, but don't harass us over mere suspicion," Kumaraswamy said. He claimed that his car was searched at least 13 to 14 times in the past two days. He alleged that his car was checked twice within a distance of 60 kilometres on Thursday. Speaking to the media after JD (S) candidate Anand Asnotikar filed his nomination papers for the Uttara Kannada constituency, Kumaraswamy said, "Our car was searched twice between Gokarna and Karwar -- a distance of 60km. My son and JD(S) candidate Nikhil were also around during the search. The Election Commission is pressuring the police to search our vehicles." The Chief Minister also claimed that a record number of officials have been transferred since the election notification was issued. "Never in the history of Karnataka were so many officials transferred during any election," he said. He also stated that he had lost grip over the administration due to BJP's attempts to destabilise his government. "The repeated attempts by BJP to topple my government created uncertainty and officials were not under control. Now the situation is better," Kumaraswamy said. Seven phased elections in the country will begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. Counting of votes will be done on May 23. Karnataka will go to polls on April 18 and 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Steering Committee on Climate Change of the Ministry of and Forests (MoEF) on Friday advised the Delhi government to incorporate Heat Wave Action Plan to combat the upcoming summer season. The Ministry has filed an affidavit in Green Tribunal (NGT) and intimated it that apart from incorporating the Heat Wave Action Plan, it has also advised the Delhi government to take into account the targets set by India regarding its "Determined Contribution" submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In a case filed earlier in NGT, Gaurav Kumar Bansal, advocate appearing for the petitioner had informed the tribunal that due to climate change the capital will face issues like high temperature and heat wave, therefore it is necessary for the government to have its effective action plan ready to combat climate change. Earlier on April 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the average temperature between April and June is likely to be 0.5 degrees higher than normal in North and Central India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prosecutors on Thursday filed charges of murder and attempted murder against Eric Holder, the man accused of killing South L.A.Grammy nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle. Holder is being held on USD 5 million bail. He appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday afternoon, where he was represented by attorney Chris Darden. Darden entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, according to a report from KNX reporter Claudia Peschiutta. LAPD chief Michel Moore said on Tuesday that Holder and Hussle got into a dispute at the clothing store, reported Variety. Holder left and came back with a gun, shooting Hussle several times before fleeing in a white Chevy Cruze. Though both men had gang affiliations, the motive for the shooting does not appear to be gang-related. Holder, 29, also faces a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted. Also, in 2012, he pleaded no contest to a charge of carrying a loaded weapon in a public place. At that time he was sentenced to 180 days in jail and three years of probation. The Los Angeles Country Department of Medical Examner-Coroner, on Sunday determined the reason behind Hussle's death. According to a statement issued by the department and obtained by E Online, the "rapper died from gunshot wounds on the head and the torso." Holder was arrested on Wednesday in Bellflower by L.A. County sheriff's deputies and turned over to the LAPD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Pakistani Federal Minister Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani appeared before the Accountability Court here on Friday in connection with the disproportionate assets case. A member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which is currently one of the parties in the opposition, Jakhrani had been previously granted a pre-arrest bail against a surety of one million rupees by the Sindh High Court, according to Dawn. He was, however, directed to cooperate with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the investigations by the bench. I will provide the required documents and information to NAB," the former Minister said during his appearance, according to Dunya News. The court directed NAB to complete the inquiry against the PPP member within four weeks. Meanwhile, the NAB also conducted a raid at the Lahore residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif today. Initial reports outlined that the NAB undertook the raid to arrest Sharif's son, Hamza Shehbaz, in the assets beyond means case. "The current government is afraid of Shehbaz and it is using NAB to advance its own goals," PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told Geo News while slamming the raid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Textile Minister Smriti Irani, on Friday, addressed a public rally in Amethi. She lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for being absent when the people of Amethi needed his help. "The election of 2019 is the election which will decide the future of our children; it is the election of our village, the election of Indians who pride themselves on India. It is the election of Amethi's independence. Free yourself Amethi, from the shackles of a missing MP," said Irani. "When Yogi Adityanath formed the government in Uttar Pradesh suddenly the Amethi MP (Rahul Gandhi) remembered Ram temple. I got to know that Rahul ji filed nomination from another constituency, somebody (jokingly) told me he has left Amethi," Smriti said. Irani also termed the Congress manifesto as one which helped anti-India forces. The Congress manifesto released on Tuesday promised significant changes in the laws, like quashing of the Sedition law and amendment to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The manifesto proposed to decriminalise laws that are essentially directed against civil violations and can be subjected to civil penalties. The laws include the sedition law and defamation. Smriti Irani is on a two-day visit to Amethi from where she is slated to contest elections. Uttar Pradesh will see polling in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11. The results will be declared on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was inducted into the International Hall of Fame at his alma mater, the Command and General Staff College, here on Thursday. The General, who is on a four-day official visit to the US, was accorded a military ceremony upon his return to the college in Fort Leavenworth, from where he graduated in 1997. "General Bipin Rawat #COAS in an impressive military ceremony, has been inducted into the prestigious International Hall of Fame at the Command & General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. #COAS is an alumnus of the College having graduated in 1997," the Additional Directorate General of Public Information tweeted. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and the United States need to work out a strategic agreement on the services sector, former Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya said on Friday. "As the partnership between two countries evolves, synergies will emerge," he said adding no negotiations on a free trade agreement are in the offing at present. Bilateral trade in services has grown from a mere 6 billion dollars in 2000 to 51.8 billion dollars in 2017, marking a compound annual growth rate 13.5 per cent. Of this, India's exports of services to the United States were valued at 28.1 billion dollars and India's imports at 23.7 billion dollars. However, India's effort to put minimal regulation like mandating data localisation and changes in foreign direct investment rules for e-commerce firms has met with stiff opposition from the United States. There have not been much talks between the two countries on H-1B visa programme, which is popular among Indian technology professionals and allows foreign workers to obtain temporary authorisation to work and stay in the United States. Panagariya said a free trade agreement on goods with the United States does not seem possible in near future as India will not open up its agriculture market for highly-competitive US suppliers. The total bilateral trade (goods and services) between India and the United States was 126 billion dollars in 2017, up 10.4 per cent from 114.2 billion dollars in the previous year. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An inter-state police cooperation meeting aimed at strengthening coordination amongst police forces in the Capital Region (NCR) was held here on Friday. The main objective of the meeting was to share terror-related inputs and increase synergy among various state police forces in the wake of General elections. The meeting, held at Delhi Police headquarters was chaired by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik. "Intensive patrolling at vulnerable points was emphasised upon to check the movement of illegal liquor, firearms, cash and musclemen across the border towards Delhi. Police officials were impressed upon to focus on tenant verification, guest house checking and sensitisation of cyber-cafe owners," said Public Relations Officer (PRO), Delhi Police. Preventive action against anti-social elements to ensure smooth functioning of the impending election exercise was also laid stress on, he added. Senior police officers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh attended the meeting. The General election will be conducted in seven phases starting from April 11 and concluding on May 19. Counting of votes will be done on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Irrfan Khan will soon be seen on big screen with his new movie Angrezi Medium. The actor recently got back from London, where he was undergoing medical treatment. Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the news on his twitter. "Irrfan Khan resumes work... #AngreziMedium shooting begins in #Udaipur today [5 April 2019]... Directed by Homi Adajania... Produced by Dinesh Vijan... Will be shot in #Udaipur and #London... #AngreziMedium is the sequel to the smash hit #HindiMedium, but with a new story." The shooting for the film, directed by Homi Adjania began in Udaipur on Friday and is being produced by Dinesh Vijan. While the "Maqbool" actor is playing the male protagonist; there is no official confirmation about the female lead. Angrezi Medium is the sequel to the 2017 hit film 'Hindi Medium', which starred Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar in the lead roles. Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in March 2018. On Wednesday, through Twitter, he thanked everyone for their affection and support. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for keeping silent over the charge sheet in AgustaWestland deal case. At a press conference here, Jaitley said, "Rahul Gandhi talks on several subjects. He makes wild and unsubstantiated allegations against all and sundry. Now, who are 'RG', 'AP' and 'FAM' mentioned in the chargesheet in the AgustaWestland case." Commenting on the diary recovered by Enforcement Directorate (ED) from the accused in the deal, Sushen Mohan Gupta, who is under arrest now, Jaitly said, "There is an erroneous belief among Indian politicians that a diary is never admissible as evidence. A diary constitutes an admission in writing and is admissible against the maker of that admission. It is admissible against the other co-conspirators as well. "Are 'RG', 'AP' and 'FAM' fictional characters or were they in a position to influence the deal?", questioned Jaitley. Hitting out at the Congress President, Jaitley said, "How come every time there is a controversial defence deal and evidence is collected, names close to the Congress Party's first family start appearing?" Slamming Rahul Gandhi for his silence over the deal, Jaitley said, "The Right to Silence is available to an accused, not to a Prime Ministerial aspirant." Citing the example of Bofors case, Jaitley said, "Alphabet 'Q' appeared in Martin Ardbo's diary in the Bofors Case, with a comment that 'Q' must be protected at all cost, the Congress party was in denial even then." "It is only when the Swiss authorities in 1993 disclosed the names of one of the beneficiaries of the kickbacks of Bofors being paid as Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Narasimha Rao Government facilitated his escape from India in less than 24 hours. This did not wash away the ghost of 'Q' which had scarred the face of the Congress Party nor will 'RG', 'AP' and 'FAM'," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea's main newspaper on Friday slammed the joint drills by USA and South Korea again, labelling it as a move which is the "root of tensions" in the Korean Peninsula. "These joint training exercises that the South Korean military held with the U.S. go against people's aims and the international community's demands," stated a commentary published in the Rodong Sinmun. This comes as the United States and South Korea held joint drills last month to combat the evasion of sanctions by the elusive state through maritime channels, like the illegal ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and goods, reports Yonhap News Agency. "Joint military training with foreign forces, which is the root of the tension on the Korean Peninsula, should not be allowed, and the deployment of military equipment from outside, including strategic assets, should also be completely suspended," the newspaper stated. South Korea, under President Moon Jae-in, is pursuing its Sunshine Policy in full force, with Moon reiterating his desire for establishing long-lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and the subsequent reunification of the Koreas. He has undertaken proactive steps to improve South Korea's relations with North Korea and strengthen cooperation between the two Korean countries, under its policy. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, along with Moon, scrapped their Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises, replacing them with a set of lower-level drills, with the nine-day Dong-Maeng exercise commencing last month. "The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the US for which we are not reimbursed. That was my position long before I became President. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!" the US President tweeted soon after. The second US-North Korea summit ended abruptly in Hanoi in February as the two countries failed to resolve their differences over sanctions relief. US President Donald Trump, however, has maintained that relations with North Korea continue to be good, going as far as cancelling new sanctions against Pyongyang, deeming them as unnecessary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lambasted opposition parties for being solicitous to Pakistan and terrorists, saying Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP's "lenient attitude" has strengthened the terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. In a veiled reference to opposition parties, PM Modi said "some people" support Pakistan when its activities get exposed. Addressing an election rally here, Prime Minister Modi said, "When India hits back at the enemy, some people here start crying. When Pakistan is being exposed in front of the world these people start speaking in support of Pakistan" " Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party's lenient attitude have further strengthened terrorists. These parties have not only helped terror, but they have also done the task of putting your life and existence in crisis," he added. Accusing opposition parties of playing divisive politics, PM Modi said, "There are some people who are trying to divide the country on the basis of different castes. Understand the motive of such people." Modi further attacked Congress party for using the name of BR Ambedkar for vote bank. "The Congress also insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar for the selfishness of just one family (Nehru-Gandhi). Otherwise, it is the same Congress which has not allowed his photo to be put in Parliament for decades," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP veteran leader L K Advani who broke his silence yesterday through a blog, has made quite a buzz on micro-blogging site Advani's take on nationalism is ever since trending on the social media site. Advani in his blog titled "Nation First, Party Next, Self Last" on Thursday asserted that the BJP had "never regarded those who disagree with us politically as enemies, but only as our adversaries" and that the BJP's conception of Indian nationalism never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-national". Prime Minister also endorsed Advani's post by saying he summed up the true essence of the BJP and also tweeted the 91-year-old leader's blog. Soon Advani was among the top five trending in the country according to trends24.in with the hashtag L K Advani figuring among the top three trending items. Advani, who has won the seat six times since 1991 has been replaced by BJP chief for the ensuing general elections. In his Advani had also said democracy, both within and outside the party, was an important hallmark of the BJP. The blog elicited comments from various political figures including chief minister Banerjee took to Twitter, saying, "As the senior most politician, fmr Dy PM and founding father of BJP, the views Advani Ji has expressed about extending democratic courtesies,is significant. Of course, all Opposition who raise their voices are not anti- We welcome his statement & convey our humble regards." Advani's blog was reported to have come after a period of five years. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, has added yet another feather to his cap. The actor, on Thursday, was conferred an honorary doctorate in Philanthropy by The University of Law, London. Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan had received two honorary doctorates from The University of Edinburgh and The University of Bedfordshire. The actor swayed the hearts of his fans with his tweet thanking the University of Law for honouring him with the doctorate. SRK also wished the graduating students. The 'King of Romance' was awarded the merit on Thursday during a graduation ceremony for more than 350 students. Clad in pink and blue robe along with a Roman hat, the actor tweeted: Thank u for the honour @universityoflaw & my best wishes to the graduating students. It will encourage our team at @MeerFoundation to strive 'selfishly' to share more. Over the years, The 'My Name Is Khan' actor has established himself as a successful actor, film producer, television host, philanthropist and an entrepreneur. "I believe that charity should be done in silence and with dignity. One cannot speak about their charitable acts because it loses its purpose. I have been privileged to be able to use my status as a public personality to champion causes close to my heart," Shah Rukh had said in a statement. "I firmly believe that I have to give back to the world that has given me so much. I am humbled with this honorary doctorate bestowed upon me and would like to thank everyone involved for choosing me," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Congress leader Dr Ammar Rizvi and Shia maulana Aga Ruhi on Friday assured full support to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is contesting from Lucknow in the upcoming general elections. Earlier in the day, Rizvi called Singh at his residence and extend full support to him in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Rizvi said that people from his community will come forward to support the BJP as it is working towards the development of Muslims. The meeting assumes significance as it comes two days after Rizvi resigned from the Congress party. However, he has not resigned from the primary membership of the Congress. It is believed that Rizvi was upset with the Congress as he did not get a ticket from Sitapur. He had asked other parties' supporters to not field any candidate against Singh. He also congratulated Singh for starting a flight service from Lucknow to the Iraqi city of Najaf. The Home Minister had won the Lucknow seat in 2014 with a total of 10,06,483 votes. Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in all seven phases - from April 11 to May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday questioned the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which sought to provide citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Addressing an election rally here, Mamata said, "As per Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will be a foreigner for six years and then you will be given citizenship, why? What will you do in those six years? What about your job, school and other essential things. This is nothing but a conspiracy." On Thursday too, Mamata had termed the Citizenship Bill a conspiracy while addressing a rally in Cooch Behar in West Bengal. The Citizenship Bill, which was passed in Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. Attempts by the Central government to pass it through the Rajya Sabha were stalled by the Opposition. Under the proposed amendments in the Bill, the minimum residency period for citizenship was being reduced from the existing 12 years under the present law to 7 years. However, citizenship was supposed to be given to them only after due scrutiny and on the recommendation of district authorities and the state government. The issue had led to numerous protests in the state in the past. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi while reacting to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's complaints of alleged harassment by Income Tax officials, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said that Modi was behind it to demoralise the Opposition. "This is going on for a while. In the past, he used CBI, ED and Income Tax departments. He is doing everything to win elections and to demoralise the Opposition. In a democracy, he must not do these things yet he is doing so because he has lost hope. But, we will fight and win the elections," Kharge told ANI. He also asserted that Congress will form a JPC to probe the Rafale deal after it is voted to power."There is corruption in Rafale deal and there must be a probe on how the contract was not given to public sector but to the private sector. We will form an inquiry committee and a JPC will investigate the matter," Kharge said. He also alleged that "chowkidar" allowed the bank defaulters to flee from India after Congress raised its voice over the issue. On March 28, Kumaraswamy had accused the Income Tax department of working on the directions of the Prime Minister and BJP president Amit Shah. The Chief Minister had alleged that the BJP government was behaving like dictators. CM Kumaraswamy along with Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Congress staged a protest outside the I-T department office. JD(S) supporters also protested on Masuru Road against the Centre and raised slogans against the BJP government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of "cheap election stunts" to divert attention from "imminent defeat of Modi government" on Friday. According to Surjewala's statement, a single uncertified page of a purported charge sheet had allegedly been leaked by the ED to "divert attention from an imminent defeat of Modi government". The chargesheet filed by ED against Christian Michel in relation to the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal had reportedly been circulated in media. "A single uncertified page leaked by ED of a purported chargesheet is a cheap election stunt to divert attention from imminent defeat of Modi Govt. E.D has become 'Election Dhakosla' of a govt manufacturing a lie a day," the statement read. The statement goes on to add that on 8th January 2018 an Italian Appeals Court had acquitted Mr Giuseppe Orsi, former chief executive and Mr Bruno Spagnolini, former head of helicopter unit from any wrongdoing in the sale of 12 helicopters to India. On 17 September 2018 too, the document reads, a higher court in Milan, Italy had affirmed the order in a detailed 322-page document and found no Indian official guilty of any wrongdoing in the deal. One in which the Modi government even after losing did not file an appeal. The statement by Surjewala ended by stating that Modi government will not be able to change the "exit date & fate" of their rule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday said that his father Lalu Prasad Yadav has mentioned in his upcoming autobiography "From Gopalganj to Raisina" that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made many attempts to rejoin the grand alliance within six months of reuniting with Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2017. Talking to ANI here Tejashwi said, "My father in his upcoming book "Gopalganj to Raisina" has mentioned that Nitish Kumar made many attempts to get back and ally with us." The RJD leader emphasised that he has proof that Nitish Kumar tried his best to contact him, Lalu Yadav and even Congress to form the grand alliance. "We will not ally with Nitish Kumar ever," he added. On the question of his meeting with JDU vice-president Prashant Kishor, the man behind bringing RJD and JD (U) under the banner of Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in 2015, the RJD leader said, "He has not invited him, instead, he came on his own." "Everyone one knows Prashant Kishor does not meet anyone without reason," he added. Former JDU leader Sharad Yadav, who is contesting Lok Sabha Polls from Madhepura on RJD ticket also confirmed that Nitish Kumar had tried to patch up with the grand alliance. Speaking to media in Patna on Friday, Yadav said, 'It is true what Lalu Yadav has written in his book about Nitish Kumar making several attempts to join the grand alliance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as "opportunists" whose "main aim is to dethrone" him and not the good of the nation. "This election is for the consolidation of a new India where on one hand you have 'Chowkidaar' with his good record of five years and on the other is a list of opportunists whose main aim is to dethrone me," he said. Hitting out at Congress and SP-BSP, he said, "SP and BSP want proof from brave soldiers, and Congress respects the 'tukde tukde gang'. Should Modi protect our jawans or not? Should Modi save India from bombs and terror attacks? The country says so, but Congress wants to have a dialogue with terrorists." Without taking name, the Prime Minister also hit out at Imran Masood, Congress candidate from Saharanpur. Masood had in 2014 reportedly said that Narendra Modi, who was then a PM candidate, should be cut into pieces. "Shehzada is close to people who talk of 'boti-boti'. While they talk of 'boti-boti', our scheme is 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao'," said the PM. The Prime Minister also spoke of reforms brought about by the NDA government to empower women. "In Congress, SP and BSP rule, the Muslim women will never be empowered," he said. PM Modi also said that Congress disrespected BR Ambedkar. They conferred Bharat Ratna to Babasaheb "only when BJP became powerful enough to question them". Enumerating the work done by the BJP government at the Centre and in the state of Uttar Pradesh, he said: "We are committed to the cause of farmers. We have set up plants across India to make ethanol from sugarcane. Yogi Adityanath is working towards the improvement of sugarcane farmers. The common man is feeling the change due to the good work done by the collaborative efforts of the BJP government at the Centre and state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Proposed Revised Terms of Rights Issue Sydney, April 5, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (Hastings or Company) ( ASX:HAS ) notes that following the announcement of the placement and rights issue on 3 April 2019, its Executive Chairman, Mr Charles Lew, has been contacted by shareholders who did not participate in the recent share placement seeking that those shareholders who take up their entitlement in the rights issue be offered the same terms as for the placement which included the provision for a free attaching option, exercisable at A$0.25 per ordinary share and with an expiry date of 12 April 2022, for every 2 shares subscribed for.Following this feedback, the Board has determined to withdraw the current rights issue. It is the Company's present intention to launch a revised rights issue with improved terms as soon as is practicable.- Shareholders have requested that, as with the recently announced placement, the rights issue should offer free attaching options- Board has determined to withdraw current rights issue and presently intends to launch rights issue on similar terms, including 1 free attaching option for every 2 rights issue shares subscribed forThe revised rights issue is presently intended to be made on the same terms as the withdrawn rights issue, save for the added entitlement of eligible shareholders to also be granted a free attaching option, exercisable at A$0.25 per ordinary share and with an expiry date of 12 April 2022, for every 2 New Shares subscribed for.Given the revised rights issue would incorporate an offer of options, it is intended that the rights issue would be offered under a transaction specific prospectus, which would be lodged with ASIC and ASX.Full terms of the intended revised rights issue will be announced to ASX as soon as the Company has resolved to proceed.The Company notes shareholders have today been sent information regarding terms of the initial rights issue. As this has now been withdrawn, this information should be DISREGARDED once received.Charles Lew said, "We are pleased to have the opportunity to offer shareholders residing in Australia and New Zealand who did not participate in the placement the ability to participate in a rights issue on effectively the same terms as the recent share placement and hope that the rights issue with these improved terms will be well subscribed as was the case with the placement."About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas. Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China. Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project. Brockman Project The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition). The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project. Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products. Delhi Police filed the charge sheet in the JNU sedition case in a "secretive" and "hasty" manner, without obtaining approval of the appropriate authority, the Delhi government submitted before a Patiala House court on Friday. The response came after Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Deepak Sehrawat had on March 30 asked the police to request the Delhi government to expedite the sanction process for the prosecution of former JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and other accused in the case. On April 3, the city government had informed the court that it would take a month to decide whether to grant sanction to prosecute Kumar and others. Reiterating the stand, Chief Public Prosecutor Vikas Singh, representing the Delhi government, today said that a call on the matter will be taken within a month after he gives his opinion. During the course of the hearing, Singh read out the reply stating that the city government has not yet determined whether the purported slogans raised were seditious or not. The next date of hearing in the matter is April 8. Delhi Police had earlier told the court that it had sent a request to the Delhi government seeking sanction in the case. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Kushwaha had appeared before the court on March 30 after being summoned on the issue of filing of the charge sheet without the city government's sanction. "Grant of sanction is an administrative act and is not a part of investigation," Kushwaha said in a written reply to the CMM citing the high court judgment in the Deependra Kumar Srivastava vs. State (CBI) case. The police in it charge sheet filed in January this year had contended that there were videos wherein Kumar could be seen on February 9, 2016 "leading the students who were raising anti- slogans" and that he had been identified by witnesses. The presence of Kumar's mobile phone at the "place of occurrence" was also cited as evidence against him in the 1200-page charge sheet. As part of other evidence, the police had also said the Forensic Science Laboratory retrieved an SMS sent by accused and former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students' Union leader Umar Khalid to Kumar, asking him to "arrive at Sabarmati Dhaba, JNU, as their permission had been cancelled by the JNU administration". The police have charged Kumar, Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya with raising 'anti- slogans' during an event, which was organised to mark the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi has said that if his party comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls, there will be a probe into the Rafale jet deal and the "chowkidar will go to jail", in a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He alleged that the Prime Minister changed the Rafale purchase deal, which led to price increase. Each fighter aircraft was worth Rs 536 crore but was bought at Rs 1600 crore a piece, Gandhi said. "There will be an inquiry and the 'chowkidar' will go to jail," he said addressing a rally here on Thursday. "Have you ever seen a chowkidar outside a labourer's house? No, the chowkidars are found outside Anil Ambani's house, thousands of chowkidars are in front of his house for guarding the money that is stolen. Earlier, it was the slogan 'aache din ayenge, but in 4 years it got converted into 'chowkidar chor hai' in front of all," the Congress leader said. "And he has not stolen any small amount, I tell you there will be an inquiry after the elections...Inside jail there will be another chowkidar and outside jail there are other chowkidars," he said. 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign was launched on March 16 by Prime Minister Modi. A day after the launch, the Prime Minister, as well as a number of BJP leaders across the country, added the prefix 'chowkidar' to their Twitter handles as a mark of support to the poll campaign. Gandhi accused Modi of lying to the people, claiming that the Prime Minister is doing so as "he is ageing" and "wants to do everything in haste". Talking about himself, the Congress chief said that he "will not lie" to the public as he wants to have a "long-term relationship" with them. "In 2014, he (PM Modi) made a lot of promises. He promised jobs for 2 crore youth, Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. But now the truth has come out in front of all. I speak the truth because I want a long-term relationship with you. I want to work with you for 10, 15, 20 years. Hence, I will not lie with you. Modi ji is ageing and is panicky and so he wants to do everything in haste. Therefore he lies," he said at the rally. While the Prime Minister only makes "false promises", the Congress party does work, he added. On the minimum income guarantee programme of 'nyuntam aay yojana (NYAY) promised by Congress, Gandhi said his party decided on the scheme as "(PM) Modi had made a false promise" about depositing Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. "We thought we should try to fulfil it. I did not know how much money can be deposited in a person's bank account. I asked economists to give me a number. I asked them as to how much money we can deposit in the bank accounts of poor without harming India's economy," he said. Describing NYAY as the "surgical strike" on poverty, he gave the example of Arjun, a central character from epic Mahabharata. "Just like Arjun had focus only on the eye of the fish, I have seen my target and will hit it with my arrow," Gandhi said. Nagpur Lok Sabha seat is currently represented by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. He will be contesting against Congress' Nana Patole who quit BJP to join Congress last year. Maharashtra will vote in the first four phases of the general elections on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to social media on Friday promising farmers immunity from criminal prosecution for failure to repay their debt, besides lateral entry to capable ex-Army personnel in civil services, if his party is voted to power. "Our farmers are warm-hearted. Their troubles are our troubles. Congress government won't allow any criminal prosecution against farmers who are unable to repay their debt," a Facebook post by him read. "India's ex-Army men are our pride and they should be given the honour they deserve. We will give capable ex-Army men the permission for lateral entry in Civil services. The ones under 40 will also be included in the central armed police forces," said another post by the Congress president on Facebook. Turning philosophical on Twitter, he tweeted, "Hatred is cowardice. I don't care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred." These posts and tweets by Gandhi have come a day after he filed his nomination for Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad in Kerala. He also addressed students from several institutions at an event held in Pune earlier on Friday. The seven-phased Lok Sabha elections begin April 11 and the results will be declared on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his family and said they should renounce their SPG security if they feel that terror is not an issue in India. "Rahul Gandhi says that terror is not an issue in the country. I want to ask him if terror is not the issue, why you take SPG security. All the (Gandhi) family is having SPG security. If terror is not the issue for you, then you write and give to the government that you don't need SPG security," Swaraj said while addressing a gathering here. "In 2008, biggest terror attack took place in Mumbai in which 166 people died. But the earlier government has not taken any step. When terror attacks took place in Uri and Pulwama, Narendra Modi took the step to conduct air strike," she added. She went on to add, "I received phone calls from External Affairs Ministers of 70 countries and they supported us and conveyed condolences to the soldiers who have lost their lives." Besides Rahul, Swaraj also criticised Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for supporting Pakistan's statement on the air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp in Balakot. "KCR said that Pakistan claims that no one got killed in the airstrike. He is supporting Pakistan's statement," Swaraj said. "I want to convey to KCR that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked for all the sectors of the public in the country. He has started many schemes and initiatives in the country. KCR has not implemented central schemes in the state," she added. Lok Sabha elections will be held in Telangana on April 11, and counting of votes will take place on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security cover of 919 "undeserving" persons of Jammu and Kashmir has been withdrawn since Governor's Rule came into effect last year, freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced Friday. "In a major step, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn security cover from 919 undeserving persons, since Governor's Rule (20th June, 2018) in the State, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles," a press release by the Ministry stated. Among those whose security cover has been withdrawn include 22 separatist leaders of the state, it added. The decision was taken by the Jammu and Kashmir government on directions of the Home Ministry to review security cover of the individuals on a "case by case in-depth review" by Jammu and Kashmir State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC). The press release further said: "It was observed by the Centre that many undeserving persons managed to get security cover resulting in lack of State police resources for the public at large." The SRCC, on Centre's directions, will continue to examine and review the requirement of security cover on merit and case to case basis so that scarce and expensive resources could be freed, the government said. The state government had withdrawn security cover of 155 politicians and 18 separatist leaders including Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, JKLF leader Yasin Malik and former IAS officer Shah Faesal, after the deadly Pulwama terror attack on February 14 this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Amethi, Smriti Irani on Friday said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is supporting the anti- elements who want to break India. "Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi went with anti-Bharat forces to file his nomination. Every time he reveals his real motive that he is not with Hindustan but with those elements who want to break Hindustan," said Smriti Irani, while talking to ANI at Jagdishpur in Amethi. "The people in the capital have already heard how he stood in support of 'Bharat-tere-tukde-hoge' (India will be ripped apart) slogan. Also, the recently released manifesto of Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi has tried to defame the Army and supported slogans like 'bharat-tere-tukde-hoge' ", said Smriti Irani. She also alleged that Rahul colluded with scamsters for financial gains. "He has to give answer to the nation why he stood with everyone who looted the nation. News paper reports says that Rahul Gandhi's name came up in AgustaWestland Scam, earlier also his name surfaced in land scam cases and he has benefitted himself in monetary terms," she said. The Congress manifesto released on Tuesday promised significant changes in the laws, like quashing of the Sedition law and amendment to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The manifesto proposed to decriminalise laws that are essentially directed against civil violations and can be subjected to civil penalties. The laws include the sedition law and defamation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Friday announced her decision not to contest the general elections and said that BJP is free to name a candidate from Indore parliamentary constituency. In a press statement, Mahajan, an eight-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Indore, said that the reason behind the decision was the delay in announcing the BJP candidate from the Indore seat. "BJP has not declared its candidate from Indore. Why this state of indecision? Possibly the party has some hesitation in taking a decision. Even though I had a discussion with the leadership long back and left the decision to the party, it seems they are still in a dilemma. Therefore, I announce that I will not contest the Lok Sabha polls and the party is free to decide, without any hesitation," she said. Reacting to Mahajan's decision, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Sumitra tai is our senior leader. She has refused to contest the elections; hence, we are looking for a candidate." Apart from Mahajan, senior BJP leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalraj Mishra, and BC Khanduri have announced that they will not to contest the polls. In Madhya Pradesh, polling will take place in four phases on April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. Indore parliamentary constituency will vote on May 19. Counting of votes will held on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States on Thursday revoked the entry visa for the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, over a possible investigation into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan. "It is our understanding that should not have an impact on the Prosecutor's travel to the US to meet her obligations to the UN, including regular briefings before the UN Security Council," CNN quoted the ICC as saying in a statement. "The Office of the Prosecutor has an independent and impartial mandate under the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Prosecutor and her Office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favour," it said. Last month, US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo had warned that the US would revoke or deny visas to ICC personnel who led an investigation into the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by US troops in Afghanistan. Pompeo had said that the restrictions apply to "persons who take or have taken action to request or further such an investigation." He had even threatened to impose economic sanctions "if the ICC does not change its course." In November 2017, Bensouda had sought authorisation to open an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan. According to a statement issued then, the ICC "determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe" that the members of the US armed forces and the CIA committed "war crimes." . However, Pompeo slammed the probe as an example of "politically motivated prosecutions of Americans." "The first and highest obligation of our government is to protect its citizens and this administration will carry out that duty," Pompeo was quoted as saying. Last month, Pompeo had further noted that the visa restrictions "may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursed allied personnel including Israelis without allies' consent." Palestine has urged the Hague-based judicial body to carry an investigation on Israel for its alleged human rights abuses in the occupied territories. The United States is not a part of the ICC which aims at bringing justice to the perpetrators of the worst crimes against humanity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Christian Michel, prime accused in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal case has moved a Delhi court on Friday claiming he has not taken any names before the Enforcement Directorate. This comes after, the ED on Thursday claimed to have traced the trail of 70 million euros that had come allegedly in the form of "kickbacks" in the VVIP chopper deal. The ED has to probe who all received the kickbacks, the agency said as it filed a supplementary charge sheet before a special CBI court here. Michel also alleged that the central leadership was using government agencies to suit their personal agendas. Advocate Aljo K Joseph, Michel's counsel also told the court that a copy of the chargesheet was provided to media before it was provided to Christian Michel. Through his counsel, Michel also pleaded that he had not named anyone during the probe. The matter will be heard by the Court on April 6. Michel, who was extradited from the UAE in December last year, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an intriguing statement, Pakistan said it will not "accept" abrogation of Article 370 in Indian Constitution which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Radio Pakistan quoted Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal as saying, "Pakistan will never accept the repeal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees special status for Jammu and Kashmir. He said Kashmiri people will also not allow this to happen ever. Besides violating the rights of Kashmiris, it will also contravene the relevant UNSC resolutions." On the Kartarpur Corridor issue, the FO spokesperson said that Islamabad regretted New Delhi's decision to postpone the meeting. India postponed the second round of talks on Kartarpur corridor after reports surfaced about the appointment of controversial elements by Pakistan in a committee associated with the Corridor. In a statement, meanwhile, Islamabad reflected hypocrisy by stating that it is committed to complete its side of Kartarpur Corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak later this year. India has objected to the presence of certain people, who are known for their anti-India activities and links with terror organisation, in the 10-member committee formed by Pakistan to oversee the Kartarpur Corridor plan. It is learnt that India is upset by the constitution of the recently announced 10-member committee by the Pakistan Government to oversee Kartarpur Corridor as it includes some controversial names like that of Gopal Singh Chawla, Maninder Singh, Tara Singh, Bisan Singh and Kuljeet Singh. Government sources said these names are involved in secessionist and anti-India activities. Gopal is linked with Lashkar-e-Toiba and this has queered the pitch for Kartarpur Dialogue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While this will reduce take home pay by 302 for those earning 25,000, more than half of that (159) will be offset by a range of tax changes coming into effect from 6 April. National Insurance The starting point will rise from 8,424 per year to 8,632 which will put another 25 per year into pay packets Income Tax Personal Allowance This will jump from 11,850 per year to 12,500 which will put another 130 per year into pay packets Qualifying Earnings lower limit The starting point for pension contributions will increase from 6,032 per year to 6,136 which will put another 4 per year into pay packets = 159 This means almost 53% of the extra pension contributions will be paid for by other tax changes coming into force by the government. Meanwhile those on the National Living Wage a full-time salary of 17,000 will receive a boost in their next pay packet due to an increase in the minimum wage this week. The rise for workers aged 25 and over from 7.83 an hour to 8.21 will see them receive an extra 537 a year. Together with the tax changes they will pocket an additional 696 a year while their extra pensions contributions will reduce their annual take home pay by only 175. Adrian Boulding, Director of Policy at NOW: Pensions, comments: Thanks to these tax changes, when people look at the bottom right hand side of their pay slip in April, they are much less likely to be worried by the increase to their pension contributions. By cushioning the impact, hopefully people will continue to save and resist the siren call of spending. Putting away a little bit more each month will, together with the increased employer contribution, make a big difference to savers future retirement prospects. Amid reports of the presence of Chinese vessels near a Philippines-administered island in the South China Sea, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to send his troops on a "suicide mission" if China does not "lay off". "Let us be friends, but do not touch Pagasa Island and the rest. If you make moves there, that's a different story. I will tell my soldiers, 'Prepare for suicide mission'," CNN quoted Duterte as saying. The Philippine President's speech came days after the Philippine government claimed that as many as 275 Chinese boats and ships had been spotted in recent months around Manila's Thitu Island (Pag-asa) in the Spratly Island chain. Stating that his words were advice to his friends and not a warning, Duterte said, "I will not plead or beg, but I'm just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there." Zhao Jianhua, China's ambassador to the Philippines had earlier said that Beijing was trying to verify and quantify the number of vessels around Thitu. He further stated that the said ships might be "unarmed" fishing vessels. Thitu Island is a disputed territory. Several countries including China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam have claimed Thitu as their own. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cipla said that following the inspection by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) at the Goa manufacturing facility from 21 to 28 January 2019, the company has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR), indicating closure of the inspection. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Godrej Properties announced the addition of a new residential project, in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Spread across 5 acres, this project will offer approximately 47,000 square meters (approximately 0.50 million square feet) of saleable area comprising mainly of modern residential apartments of various configurations. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for the inspection carried out by them at our Formulation Facility at Panelav during the period from 22 October 2018 to 25 October 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Zensar announced its expansion into the Latin American market with the launch of its operations in-Mexico City, Mexico. The operations will focus on supporting the company's customers in North America and the local region. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. VIP Industries said that there was a fire accident at the company's warehouse situated at Khasra No. 2900-2904, Dhoom Manikpur, Dadri, Gautambudh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh on 3 April 2019 at around 4.00 p.m. The fire was brought under Control by the Fire Brigades. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices were trading higher in early trade amid positive global cues. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 173.56 points or 0.45% at 38,858.28. The Nifty 50 index was up 53.15 points or 0.46% at 11,651.15. Among secondary barometers,the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.53%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.47%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On BSE, 763 shares rose and 241 shares fell. A total of 40 shares were unchanged. Overseas, most Asian shares rose on Friday as investors watched for more details about a potential trade deal between China and the US. The stock markets in China and Hong Kong are closed on Friday for a holiday. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said a new consensus has been reached between China and the US on the text of a trade agreement that they are negotiating, according to official state news website Xinhua. US stocks closed mostly higher Thursday, as investors continued to monitor trade talks between the US and China. On the data front, new applications for unemployment benefits fell to 202,000 in the week ended March 30, the lowest level since 1969, the government said. Back home, Cipla was up 0.95%. The company said that following the inspection by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) at the Goa manufacturing facility from 21 to 28 January 2019, the company has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR), indicating closure of the inspection. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Godrej Properties was up 5%. The company announced the addition of a new residential project, in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Spread across 5 acres, this project will offer approximately 47,000 square meters (approximately 0.50 million square feet) of saleable area comprising mainly of modern residential apartments of various configurations. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Alembic Pharmaceuticals was up 0.95%. The company has received Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for the inspection carried out by them at our Formulation Facility at Panelav during the period from 22 October 2018 to 25 October 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Zensar Technologies was up 5.24%. The company announced its expansion into the Latin American market with the launch of its operations in-Mexico City, Mexico. The operations will focus on supporting the company's customers in North America and the local region. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. VIP Industries was up 0.22%. The company said that there was a fire accident at the company's warehouse situated at Khasra No. 2900-2904, Dhoom Manikpur, Dadri, Gautambudh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh on 3 April 2019 at around 4.00 p.m. The fire was brought under Control by the Fire Brigades. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zensar Technologies rose 3.4% to Rs 238.80 at 11:41 IST on BSE after the company announced its expansion into the Latin American market with the launch of its operations in-Mexico City, Mexico. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 April 2019. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was 41.44 points, or 0.11% to 38,726.16 On the BSE, 16,000 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 3,025 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 246.90 and a low of Rs 237.70 so far during the day. Zensar announced its expansion into the Latin American market with the launch of its operations in-Mexico City, Mexico. The operations will focus on supporting the company's customers in North America and the local region. Sandeep Kishore, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Zensar said that Mexico is a strategic choice for the company due to its proximity to key customers based in the US and the availability of local talent. Zensar Technologies is a leading digital solutions and technology services company that specialises in partnering with global organisations across industries on their digital transformation journey. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its fourth supplementary charge sheet has mentioned that kickbacks worth 70 million euros were paid to "important political persons of the ruling party, media persons, defence officials and bureaucrats" in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The charge sheet filed against British national and middleman Christian Michel before a city court on Thursday said that the kickbacks were at least 12 per cent of the contract amount. "An amount of around 70 million euros was paid through two middlemen," ED told the court. The court has fixed Saturday for taking congnizance of the ED's supplementary charge sheet and to decide whether the accused should be summoned. The charge sheet mentions that "30 million euros was paid by AgustaWestland to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians as per the budget sheet", sources in the know said. It also disclosed that it was an undisputed fact that kickbacks of at least 70 million euros was received by two chains of middlemen represented by Michel and Guido Haschke from AgustaWestland for successful conclusion of the deal in favour of. Michel was arrested after his extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 4, 2018. As per his deposition and statements from others, as well as copies of the bank accounts of AgustaWestland, various agreements were discussed in details. Michel is currently lodged in Tihar jail and named in the charge sheet as an accused. Another 42 million euros were also paid to the bank account of Michel in his companies Global Services FZE in UAE and Global Trade, the charge sheet said. On one occasion the charge sheet mentions the word 'AP' describing it as Ahmed Patel and another word 'Fam' means family. The charge sheet has also listed a series of "dispatches" between February 2008 and October 2009 by Michel, including one dated March 15, 2008 that mentioned "Mrs Gandhi" as the driving force behind the V.I.P. informing that she will not fly any more in the Mi-8. "The dispatches mentions that 'Mrs Gandhi' and her closest advisors are the people the High Commission should target." "Mrs Gandhi" and some other senior Congress leaders (the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, M. Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes, M.K. Narayanan, and Vinay Singh) were named as "key advisors" in the dispatch but not named as accused in the case, sources said. However, it was not clear who "Mrs Gandhi" is and in which context her name was mentioned. Another dispatch dated August 12, 2009, mentioned that National Security Advisor (NSA) to the Prime Minister had received a briefing from Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) -- external intelligence -- about the threat environment. On top of it, the charge sheet said: "All our other contracts are working at the problem. Even the Special Protection Group (SPG) has written to the Cabinet secretary and NSA. The problem will be sorted out... Nothing in the articles should have been a surprise to A.W." It is also learnt that kickbacks were paid separately under different agreements between companies of Michel, Haschke and AgustaWestland. The legal document submitted to the court also mentions that Michel, Guido Haschke and his associate Carlo Gerosa -- all middlemen in the case -- made payment to defence officials, bureaucrats and political leaders. The charge sheet has named Michel's partner David Syms and his company Global Services Ltd and Global Trading Ltd as accused in the case. Michel had used the companies as a conduit for receiving money. The ED said that the bribe from AugustaWestland was routed through Global Services and Global Trading and that further investigation was going on over the role of politicians and bureaucrats involved in the case. The charge sheet also mentioned names of three Indian journalists. The names of these journalists are, however, not mentioned in the list of accused persons. As per the charge sheet, Michel had used important personalities in the field of media in order to influence the public opinion. The document also said that Michel used media personalities as evident from trail of payment made to one Raju Santhanam. It mentioned that "as per Casana sheet, a payment of 2,05860.40 euros was made to Ashwin Santhanam, son of Raju Santhanam, in addition to booking an air ticket for him and his family for a total amount of Rs 26.50 lakh". Michel has accepted that he had made such payments and admitted to hiring services of one Guy Douglas to influence the media and this fact is further corroborated by act of using influence on journalists "Manu Pubby and Shekhar Gupta to tone down the article in Indian Express", said sources. "Michel also deposed that Douglas was in touch with several journalists." The charge sheet filed before Special Judge Arvind Kumar added three new names to the list of the accused, taking the count of individuals and firms that stand accused to 41. David Nigel John Syms, who the ED claimed was Michel's business partner, and two firms owned by them, Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE, were also included in it. The case pertains to the supply of 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force that was scrapped on January 1, 2014 with Italy-based Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland over an alleged breach of contractual obligation and charges of paying kickback. --IANS rak/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's claim of shooting down a Pakistani F-16 in February has been challenged as a report citing unnamed US officials said that all US-supplied fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have been counted and none is missing. The report in the American Foreign Policy journal said that "two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation talked about the recent count of F-16s and found none missing". India has maintained that one of its MiG-21s flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had shot down a F-16 of the PAF in an aerial battle over the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27 before the Indian pilot went down with his jet and got captured. New Delhi has claimed that the PAF used a pack of F-16s to violate the Indian air space and produced pieces of AMRAAM missile as evidence. But there was no confirmation as the wreckage of the aircraft or the fate of the Pakistani pilot remained shrouded in mystery. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired and genuinely believed he scored a hit. But the count, conducted by US authorities on the ground in Pakistan, sheds doubt on New Delhi's version of events, suggesting that Indian authorities may have misled the international community about what happened that day," said the report. The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian government are yet to respond to the report. According to Foreign Policy, one of the senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the count said that Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalized. "Generally in such agreements, the US requires the receiving country to allow US officials to inspect the equipment regularly to ensure it is accounted for and protected," said the report. "Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets," an unnamed US defence official was quoted as saying in the report. --IANS gd/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hollywood actress Amy Adams is set to star in Netflixs adaptation of "Hillbilly Elegy," which Ron Howard is on board to direct. "The Shape of Water" screenwriter Vanessa Taylor adapted the script. Based on Vance's bestselling memoir, the movie is a modern exploration of the American dream and follows three generations of an Appalachian family as told by its youngest member, a Yale law student forced to return to his hometown, reports variety.com. Netflix boarded the project in January after winning a heated bidding war to finance the $45 million feature. Adams was seen in the limited series "Sharp Objects", which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She followed that up with her Oscar-nominated performance as Lynne Cheney in the Dick Cheney biopic "Vice." She will next be seen in the adaptation of the "Woman in the Window", which co-stars Julianne Moore and is directed by Joe Wright. --IANS dc/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Friday promised to provide 25 lakh farmers in Odisha two instalments of Rs 10,000 each under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, the day his party forms a government in the state. Odisha faces Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously. Addressing an election rally in Jeypore, the Odisha Chief Minister said the welfare of farmers had been the number one priority in the BJD election manifesto. "So far, 40 lakh farmers have been benefited from the KALIA scheme. A list has been prepared of 25 lakh more names for the scheme," said Patnaik. The BJD has alleged that the Chief Electoral Officer stalled the implementation of the KALIA scheme in the state due to enforcement of the election model code of conduct. Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on the other hand, accused the state government of benefitting relatives of BJD leaders in the scheme. Addressing an election rally in Kalahandi Parliamentary constituency, Pradhan said, "Naveen Patnaik boasts of providing money to 40 lakh farmers under the Kalia scheme. But it's the relatives and family members of BJD Ministers and MLAs who are actually enjoying the money, while the farmers are left out." "Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana to benefit small and marginal farmers who have less than 5 acres of land. The scheme would have benefitted 40 lakh farmers in Odisha. But the state government has deliberately delayed its implementation by not providing the Centre details of the farmers," he alleged. Odisha will face Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats. --IANS cd/rtp/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British national Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, on Friday moved a Delhi court seeking a "free and fair" trial as the fresh supplementary chargesheet filed in the case was accessed by some media outlets. Special Judge Arvind Kumar has asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file response on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on Saturday. Michel's counsel Aljo Jospeh and Vishnu Shankar told the court: "It appears that ED has clandestinely provided a copy of the chargesheet to media houses and they are publishing the same in instalments only to sensationalise the issue and prejudice the accused named therein even before cognizance is taken by the court." The defence counsel told the court that the chargesheet was filed on April 4 and at the time of filing of chargesheet, they had asked for a copy of the same. But the prosecutor said that the court had not taken cognisance of the chargesheet, so it could not have been supplied to them at that point of time. The defence counsel said that the government is using investigating agencies for political purposes and stated that the application states that the supply of the supplementary chargesheet is the best example of that. The fresh supplementary chargesheet names Michel's partner David Syms and his company Global Services Ltd and Global Trading Ltd as accused in the case. Michel was extradited to India on December 4, 2018 from the United Arab Emirates. --IANS akk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Friday moved the Election Commission alleging brazen violation of Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by his remarks pertaining to candidature of party President Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala. In its petition, the Congress sought urgent and necessary intervention by the poll panel over Modi's remarks made at a rally in Wardha. The party also complained to the poll panel against "grave and corrupt practices" by senior BJP leaders in Arunachal Pradesh. In another petition, the party sought "posting/transfer" of joint commissioner of police Mumbai and review of other officials in Gujarat. It also called for monitoring of polling booths in all constituencies, particularly in tribal areas. Talking to reporters after meeting EC officials, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the party had made fourth request for urgent and necessary intervention by the poll panel over Modi's remarks. The party's complaint said that Modi had made "hateful and divisive" comments at an election rally at Wardha on April 1 and sought to target Rahul Gandhi "in language tailored specifically to create discord between two different religious communities". The party said Modi stated that Congress had insulted Hindus and people have decided to punish the party in the election. "Leaders of that party are now scared of contesting from constituencies dominated by majority (Hindu) population. That is why they are forced to take refuge in places where the majority is a minority," the complaint quoted Modi as stating. The party said Modi had also stated that Congress used the term "Hindu terror". The complaint said that Modi and BJP have for five years "fostered an atmosphere of communal tension for petty political gains". "The Election Commission must act now and decisively to ensure that this is checked. The Prime Minister should be held accountable if nothing else to his own standard. The Prime Minister knows, but doesn't seem to care, that this is a direct violation of Section 123 (3A) of Representation of People Act, 1951," the Congress said. The party said the commission had not intervened in the three past complaints of the party. "As a result, the PM's violations grow ever more brazen," the party said. The party said that only available remedy compatible with the principle of zero-tolerance towards allegations of corrupt practices is "disqualification of the candidates who try to create a divide between different classes of the citizens of India". "We hope that the ECI treats this situation with the gravity it deserves. This is not a candidate who will be silenced by a simple censure. The integrity of our elections which are the bedrock of our democracy is at stake. We hope that the ECI appreciates the seriousness and on this occasion, intervenes decisively," the party said. In its petition pertaining to Arunachal Pradesh, the party alleged "cash-for-votes" conspiracy and sought immediate disqualification or barring of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and state BJP chief Tapir Gao. It alleged that Rs 1.8 crore were recovered from a convoy of three leaders in a midnight raid. In another petition, the party said that Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police has been posted in Mumbai for nearly four years and has not been transferred till date in violation of the poll panel's guidelines. --IANS ps/vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As public debates about education issues from school improvement and choice to preventing gun violence become more polarized, the worlds largest education research group wants academics to push for more evidence in hot conversations. The American Educational Research Associations annual conference opens Friday in Toronto, with more than 2,500 research presentations on the agenda, and ends on April 10 AERA President Amy Stuart Wells said the conference was planned to respond to the frustration a lot of researchers are expressing around decision-making and political discourse related to issues around inequality in the field of education. AERA plans to hold town hall-style sessions on sexual harrassment in education and gun violence in schools. The conference also plans to livestream sessions for those who cannot attend, including an opening discussion of Canadian and U.S. efforts to respond to historic racism in education systems, such as government residential schools that removed Native American children from their families. The group estimates 14,000 researchers and others will attend the Toronto meeting, about 3,000 less than last years conference in New York City. Education Weeks technology reporter Benjamin Herold and I will be on hand throughout the conference. Tweet us and let us know what sessions and studies you find fascinating this year and watch this space for dispatches on some of the sessions we attend. Having worked for Ministers in the federal government, let's start dealing with reality on "The Raybould Affair". The truth of the matter is that Canada doesn't really have an independent judiciary that's substantively inspired by the ideals of our Canadian Constitution. Indeed, this is what I have documented in my coming book. Our Canadian Judicial system is essentially corrupt and Jody Wilson-Raybould's selfless act to stand-up against it has exposed just how rotten it is. When Justin Trudeau recently asserted that "diversity only works if there's trust" what he really meant to say is that women and visible minorities are only welcomed in our Canadian system of government if they are seen and not heard and turn a blind eye to their ethical responsibilities to integrity. And, if they are asked by the the white male dominated system to do certain things which are essentially corrupt then that is their job to execute; and if they ever dare to inform the public of the corrupt ways of the system then they deserved to be kicked to the curb and humiliated. That's the core belief system that has perpetuated unspeakable social injustices in Canada. When I had worked in government, I was offered a fabulous job with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. However, they demanded that every time a file is brought before me for investigation, they would require me to automatically dismiss any applicant's file for a human rights investigation as being without merit. That's when I decided that my soul was not for sale, and I took myself out of the cesspool of government. Justin Trudeau's reported efforts to interfere in the work and Office of the Minister of Justice is a typical way of doing business not just in Ottawa but across government in Canada. Raybould's apparent miscalculation in my view is that she may have been watching too much American TV and forgot that she was in Canada which still operates substantively based upon colonial norms. If she was in the United States, her actions would have gotten a lot more public support and she probably would have been able to weather the storm in the Cabinet and champion reforms. However, because of the way in which our political system is set up which fuses power in the Office of the Prime Minister, Raybould didn't have much of a chance. Jody Wilson-Raybould's case shows that politics in Canada these days in no place for anyone who has a smack of integrity. Our whole system is dominated by corrupt lawyers who either become corrupt politicians doing "their thing" like Justin Trudeau or instead become corrupt judges and the most corrupt of them get promoted by the corrupt ex-lawyer politicians to Canada's Supreme Court. Indeed, our so-called 'Supreme Court' remains a bastion of Canada's corrupt, racist and neo-colonial norms - not a black, Asian, South Asian or other such visible minorities in the "High Court". As an investigative journalist I can tell you that the idea of "judicial independence" in Canada is a complete myth and farce. Judges in Canada are substantively influenced by who has power and who doesn't in and out the courtroom. If you're a self-represented litigant who hasn't received any attention by the mass media, it is likely they won't even bother taking even one minute to examine your case that's opposed by one of their lawyer colleagues. Judges in Canada on a regular basis consult with various elites who then direct these judges who to support and reject in the substantive operation of Kangaroo Courts in Canada. So when Justin Trudeau reportedly asked Raybould to do certain things for his "friends" in the Montreal " Chateau Clique" that was not Mr Trudeau being corrupt on his own. Rather, that sort of sought favour by Mr Trudeau was a normal way of doing business among the lawyers of our system who act as judges or as politicians. Raybould's role in all of this was not only to help maintain the charade but also to facilitate it by responding to Trudeau's desires, and not stand up against it. Raybould seems to have thought that she could challenge the corrupt norms that operate behind closed doors on a day-to-day basis and Justin Trudeau has made it known just how wrong she is. As Maclean's recently proclaimed, Justin is an " imposter ". His " Sunny Ways " that he sought to extol when he took office was a sham and a scam, Thanks to former Minister Raybould for showing us just a glimpse of just how corrupt our system has become under the Archons who sell out our Canadian Dream to fascistic and self-serving egos. Raybould's big mistake was that she truly believed in the official propaganda taught in Canadian political science classrooms that the Minister of Justice's role is to champion the rule of law and the integrity of our system of justice from political interference. Ms. Raybould was clearly too much of a romantic idealist for her former job. Like Ministers of Justice before, she should have realized when she took the job that Mr. Trudeau simply wanted her to "decorate" his Cabinet as both a female and First Nations face to legitimate his hypocrisy that he actually gives a damn about women and other visible minorities while also "doing what she's told to do" behind closed doors along with the other representatives of the judicial system right down to judges across this land who prostitute themselves of elite political manipulation. I give a toast to Madame Raybould for showing us just a glimpse of the morbid corruption of not only this Justin Trudeau government but other governments across Canada which usually operate in the dark hall of boardrooms under the auspices of elite driven political-military-industrial complex. This complex is maintained by corrupt lawyers with the various hats of power that they wear in order to maintain power in this country which is bereft of principles of equity and values of democracy. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper was killed on Friday and another injured in a gun battle with the Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari area, the paramilitary force said. Head Constable Harish Chandra Pal, 44, a resident of Bhopal and Constable Sudhir Kumar were evacuated to a city hospital. During operation, Pal succumbed to his injuries, a CRPF statement said. Kumar is stable. The two sustained bullet injuries when Maoists opened fire on the paramilitary patrol party moving in the forested area as part of their area domination operation that started on Wednesday, the statement added. The gunfight began around 4 a.m. in deep forest of Saleghat in the Borai area, in which the Masoists also faced "heavy loss", the statement said. The incident took place a day after four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush in Kanker district of the state. --IANS rak/in (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even before voting has taken place for the first phase in the seven-phase general elections, the Election Commission (EC) is struggling with a series of poll-code violations, with more piling up every day. Experts feel that with no exemplary punishment for such violations, the poll-panel's effectiveness in enforcing the model code is in question. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also facing criticism for allegedly violating the model code with impunity, bringing into question the fairness of the elections. The poll panel has received complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself for allegedly misusing his position for electoral gain through his "Mission Shakti" address to the nation. The EC has also received complaints against government companies like Air India and Indian Railways for using Modi's pictures on their tickets and IRCTC using the BJP's slogan 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' on cups used to serve tea in trains. Even before there was clarity on the complaint against release of a film based on Modi's life, starring Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, the case of 'Namo TV' - a channel dedicated to Modi's rallies and speeches - suddenly surfacing on television without subscribers opting for it took social media by storm. The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have already filed a complaint against the channel with the EC. Besides, there are the cases of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath describing the Indian army as 'Modiji ki sena' (Modi's army) - a phrase reiterated by senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh saying Modi's re-election was necessary "for the sake of the country and society". In almost all these cases, the EC has so far failed to take any concrete action which could act as deterrent for others violating the model code. While it has given a clean chit to Modi's "Mission Shakti" address, the poll panel has taken no stringent action against the Air India and the Indian Railways for their violations in the first place, notwithstanding the corrective action later. The EC had not decided on the release of the Modi biopic till Friday. It also remains to be seen what action the poll panel takes on Namo TV after receiving a response from the Information Ministry. Both Yogi and Naqvi are expected to respond to the poll panel in the coming days. On Kalyan Singh, the EC wrote to the President who, in turn, has forwarded the letter to the Home Ministry for taking action on the Rajasthan Governor's remarks. The Odisha and West Bengal governments have claimed that the respective State Election Commissions have stopped their welfare schemes in view of the Model Code of Conduc (MCC), while a similar PM-Kisan scheme of direct income support for farmers announced by Modi had been permitted which would allow the government to credit Rs 2,000 each to farmers' accounts. Constitution expert P.D.T. Achary says that since the MCC is not a "legally enforceable" document, there is rarely any punishment for those who violate it, and hence the violations continue as the EC is "powerless" in that sense. "Of course, there is a provision in the Allotment of Symbols Order which says that if there is a violation of the MCC, and also of other directions of the EC, then the recognition of the party can be temporarily or permanently withdrawn. Apart from that, there is no provision for any kind of punishment," he told IANS. While the MCC is not legally enforceable, the poll body, however, can issue legally enforceable orders for regulating unregulated areas, for which it has enormous powers, Achary added. "EC has enormous powers under Article 324 to issue any kind of direction and order to regulate and conduct elections in free and fair manner. That's a mandate given by the Constitution. EC has to decide when and how to use thse powers to regulate the conduct of elections," he said I won't comment on whether it (Modi's speech, given clean chit by EC on Friday) was a violation of model code or not but even if it was, what action can EC take? I don't think it can take any specific decisive action against the PM and his government," he said.Psephologist and Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav also questioned the sanctity of the MCC and asked whether it would now be a case of "Model Code of Conduct for opposition, but Modi Code of Conduct for the BJP?" "The Election Commission was never so pliant in the last three decades. Sad day," he said. The poll panel held a series of meetings with Internet companies earlier this month and arrived at a code for social media on the lines of MCC. While Internet companies have been prompt in removing violating posts on intimation by the EC, they have, however, been unable to check the menace of misinformation and preventing violations in the first place. Cyber expert Prashant Mali feels that it is not just the poll panel but also the social media algorithms which have to be responsible for stoppiung such violations. "The social media companies promised EC that their platforms won't be used for political purposes. If they are not able to stop such things, then it means their algorithms are not mapped to the election code of India," he said. While the Election Commission has already launched a "cVIGIL" mobile app which allows citizens to report violations and post live photos or videos, Mali feels there should be dedicated teams to check violations on social media. "I think with all the recent steps, we have been able to check only 20 per cent of misuse of social media. A lot needs to be done," he said. --IANS vv/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Friday termed as "rehashed insinuations, lies, and cheap election stunt" the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) act of mentioning names of some party leaders in their supplementary chargesheet in the AgustaWestland case and said a "panic-stricken" Modi Government will not be able to change its "exit date and fate." The Congress' communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said "a single un-certified page leaked by the ED of a purported chargesheet is a cheap election stunt to divert attention from imminent defeat of the Modi government". "ED has become 'Election Dhakosla' of a government manufacturing a lie a day," he said. Surjewala said the Modi government has lost all litigations against the Italy-based Finmeccanica and its British subsidiary AgustaWestland. He said on January 8, 2018, an Italian appeals court acquitted Giuseppe Orsi, Former Chief Executive and Bruno Spagnolini, former head of the Helicopter Unit from the charges of any wrongdoing in the sale of 12 helicopters to India. "On September 17, 2018, a higher court in Milan, Italy affirmed the order in a 322-page detailed judgement and upheld the finding of 'no graft or wrong doing' by any Indian official. Modi government was a party in the case and lost. Modi government has chosen to not file an appeal in the matter," he said. "All these rehashed insinuations and lies were bundled out earlier too through a set of pliable media. Ultimately, they failed in an international court and were rejected as trash. A panic-stricken Modi government and its puppet ED will not be able to change its exit date and fate. The Prime Minister has already been rejected by the people," he added. The ED on Thursday filed a supplementary chargesheet against British national Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal , in which it has mentioned "Mrs Gandhi", but not named her as an accused in the case. The chargesheet said that Michel knew "Mrs Gandhi" since 1986. Names of other Congress leaders were also mentioned in the chargesheet, but not as accused in the case. The chargesheet has listed a series of "despatches" between February 2008 and October 2009 by Michel, including one dated March 15, 2008, that mentioned "Mrs Gandhi" as the driving force behind the V.I.P. informing that she will not fly any more in the Mi-8. --IANS ps/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission of India (EC) on Friday removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and his counterpart in the Bidhannagar Commissionerate Gyanwant Singh. The EC order, which came in the form of a missive to state Chief Secretary Malay De, said Rajesh Kumar would take over as the new Kolkata Police Commissioner. N. Ramesh Babu would replace Gyanwant Singh. The EC also removed two Superintendents of Police -- Shyam Singh of Birbhum and P.S. Selvamurugan of Diamond Harbour police district. Avanyu Rabindranath would be the new Birbhum police superintendent while Srihari Pande takes over as the Diamond Harbour police superintendent. The EC has directed that the orders be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report be sent within 24 hours. "The present incumbent officers being shifted not to be involved by the state government in any election-related duties," the letter said. This is first time that the EC has cracked down on any IPS officer in West Bengal since the announcement of polls last month. The state opposition parties have been regularly complaining about "the partisan" role of a section of the IPS and administrative officers in the state. --IANS ssp/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Gurugram court on Friday sent a man to three days police custody after he was arrested for allegedly abusing and assaulting a Delhi Police constable on Thursday evening. During interrogation, it was also revealed that the accused Sandeep Sharma used to pose as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Gurugram to dupe people. Shamsher Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gurugram said: "Sandeep was involved in several cases of cheating including a 2002 incident when he had concluded an agreement for a plot in Karnal and cheated the actual landowner. An FIR in this connection is registered against him and his mother in Karnal." "In 2007, Sharma had made false documents of a flat located in an upscale condominium in sector 56 area of Gurugram and tried to sell it to other buyer," said Singh, adding that he had also physically assaulted domestic helps and exploited them. Moreover, he used to misbehave with security guards of the Ambience Island society where he was living, the ACP said. Sharma also physically assaulted a Delhi Police constable Ankit on Thursday evening when he was waiting for his relative outside Ambience mall on the Delhi-Gurugram expressway around 5 p.m. "Sharma who was accompanied by another person reached the place and started abusing Ankit. He claimed that he was the DCP of Gurugram. The accused also threatened him with dire consequences if he registered a complaint with the local police," Singh said. Constable Ankit registered an FIR with the DLF phase-3 police station. Acting on the complaint the police arrested Sharma on Thursday. "During interrogation, the accused confessed that he beat up Ankit without any reason," Singh said. --IANS ak/rs/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A family from New Zealand vacationing in Ireland discovered they were being livestreamed by a hidden camera in the living room of their Airbnb accommodation. Nealie and Andrew Barker were in the midst of a 14-month trip around Europe in March when they arrived at the Airbnb property in Ireland with their four children and niece, CNN said in a report on Friday. Once the family unpacked, Andrew Barker, who works in IT security, scanned the house while trying to connect his phone to the Wi-Fi network at the accommodation and saw a device labelled "IP camera". The scan unearthed a camera and subsequently a live feed. From the angle of the video, the family tracked down the camera, concealed in what appeared to be a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. "He scanned that device's ports and found the live video feed," Nealie Barker said. "It was such a shock. It was just a really horrible feeling." The camera was in the lounge, positioned so it had a view of the dining and kitchen area as well. Nealie Barker said her children were frightened after they realized the host could be watching them. "We looked at one another mortified as the realization of the situation sunk in." She called Airbnb to report the camera. "They had no advice for us over the phone. The girl just said that if you cancel within 14 days, you won't get your money back." The family then called the owner of the property who hung up. Later, he called back, insisting the camera in the living room was the only one in the house, said the woman. The family relocated to a nearby hotel. Nealie Barker said Airbnb's response was initially "hopeless" as it took weeks to hear back about the outcome of the investigation. An Airbnb spokesperson said: "We have permanently removed this bad actor from our platform. "Our original handling of this incident did not meet the high standards we set for ourselves and we have apologized to the family and fully refunded their stay. There have been over half a billion guest arrivals in Airbnb listings to date and negative incidents are incredibly rare." --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said peace will be possible in India's neighbourhood only if Pakistan stopped exporting terror. "If they stop exporting terror, it will be very easy to maintain peace," Modi told ABP News on Thursday. "This is not a difficult task." Modi added that it was "very difficult" to know who runs Pakistan. "Whether it is the elected government or whether it is the Army or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or those who have left Pakistan and are staying abroad. Whom to talk to is a big issue for everyone," he said. Modi declined to say who was the better Prime Minister: Nawaz Sharif or Imran Khan. "Let this be decided by the people of Pakistan. My work is to focus on the interests of India. I have no responsibility to run the affairs in Pakistan," he said. On some in India seeking evidence of the Indian Air Force strikes in Balakot in Pakistan, he said it was Pakistan which tweeted and announced that New Delhi bombed its territory. "Pakistan gave the proof in its tweets... I am surprised that some Indians are speaking a language that pleases Pakistan and it bothers me. If India had targeted the Pakistan Army or their citizens, our neighbours would have tried to defame India." Modi told the TV channel: "We ensured that no Pakistani citizen was harmed. The IAF successfully did what was planned." Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the IAF bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp at Balakot, 12 days after the terror outfit claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir which killed 40 CRPF troopers. --IANS bns/rtp/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following a week of controversies surrounding its composition, Google's external advisory board designed to monitor its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been dissolved after just one week of its formation. The AI ethics board, called the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC), included a number of prominent academics. While over 2,300 Google employees signed a petition to remove board member Kay Coles James over her controversial comments against the LGBTQ and immigrant communities in the past, the inclusion of drone company CEO Dyan Gibbens re-opened old divisions in the company over the use of Google AI in military applications. "It has become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC can't function as we wanted. So we're ending the council and going back to the drawing board," Vox quoted a Google spokesperson as saying on Thursday. Earlier on Saturday, a board member and Carnegie Mellon Professor Alessandro Acquisti stepped down from ATEAC tweeting that the forum was not right for him. The committee was formed following criticism about Google's involvement in a US military's drone project that required Google technologies for AI-enabled weaponry and spy systems. Founded with eight members to guide "responsible development of AI" at Google, the short-lived ATEAC was put together to focus on whether to work on military applications of AI and more. The panel was supposed to add outside perspectives to ongoing AI ethics work by Google. --IANS rp/gb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Humanitarian work is an important element of India's diplomacy, although it is often overshadowed by its strategic and defence aspects, according to India's Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Humanitarian assistance plays an important role in India's diplomatic outreach to other countries, he said on Thursday here at a seminar on "India for Humanity", held as part of the year-long commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. The seminar was centred on the example of the 'Jaipur Foot' in promoting the humanitarian element of Indian through a collaboration of the External Affairs Ministry and an NGO behind the prostheses. The Jaipur Foot prostheses, which some have called a "marvel of Gandhian engineering" for their simplicity yet effectiveness, were developed in the Rajasthan state capital by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, which continues to finance their manufacture and distribution. "Jaipur Foot extends Gandhi's message of compassion", Shringla said referring to the organisaton's work of providing free prosthetic limbs to victims around the world. Diplomats from Bangladesh and Malawi acknowledged the Jaipur Foot's humanitarian work in their countries and elsewhere. Malawi's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lot Dzonzi, said that while celebrating Gandhi, "one of the greatest human beings", it is fitting to recall that "Jaipur Foot is the arm that India extended to my country to touch 500 people". It has changed the lives of those who came crawling or stumbling with canes to the camps but walked out straight, he said. Bangladesh Consul General Sadia Faizunnesa said that the Jaipur Foot organisation is changing the lives of underprivileged people in her country. India as a neighbour, she said, is also giving her country humanitarian help with the problem of Myanmar refugees. Shringla said that India had flown plane-loads of aid packages and other supplies for families of Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh and was setting up a hospital for them. He recalled that after the end of the Sri Lanka conflict, India had sent teams to defuse and remove mines planted there and held camps for those who had lost their feet or legs to be fitted with Jaipur Foot prostheses. The chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, Prem Bhandari said that 1.8 million people around the world have benefited from the prostheses programmes since 1975, and 73 camps have been held in 20 countries to help people regain their mobility. During the year of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, Jaipur Foot will be holding 12 international camps, he said. Five of them have already been held in Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Iraq and Malawi, and three are underway in Tanzania, Egypt and Senegal, he said. Mahatma Gandhi's great-great-grandson Paritosh Prasad said that there was no better way of demonstrating his lessons of compassion than the work of Jaipur Foot organisation. India's Consul-General Sandeep Chakravorty said that Jaipur Foot "was India's only international brand" because it is geographically distributed so widely and it brings together and philanthropy. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) --IANS al/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu's picturesque Theni Lok Sabha constituency is set to witness an interesting poll battle with two experienced politicians and debutants fighting it out. The two politicians are Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan and Thanga Tamil Selvan of the AMMK, while the electoral debutants are P. Raveendranath Kumar, son of AIADMK Coordination and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, and S. Radhakrishan from Kamal Haasan's MNM party. While Thanga Tamil Selvan is part of the AMMK floated by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, he will be termed as an Independent candidate as per a Supreme Court order. A total of 30 candidates are in the fray seeking votes from 15,32,240 voters (male 758,557, female 773,506, others 177). "The issues placed before the people by me are mainly related to water-drinking and irrigation, banning neutrino project, rail connectivity for Theni and others," Radhakrishnan told IANS. "Theni is the only district in Tamil Nadu not connected by rail." Alleging the use of money by big rival candidates, Radhakrishnan said: "The money they are spending to buy votes can be used to provide rail connectivity to the district." The people in the Theni constituency are mainly involved in agriculture. The belt is famous for coconuts and grapes, Radhakrishnan added. Radhakrishnan said the issues of the constituency is mainly water disputes, adding that he would fight to increase the water storage level of the Mullaperiyar Dam to 152 ft which would solve the water problem in the constituency. "We are opposed to the neutrino project. Projects that are rejected in other states are being dumped in Tamil Nadu," he added. The other water related issue is the desilting of the Vaigai Dam to improve the storage capacity. According to Thanga Tamil Selvan, the response from the voters for his candidature is very good and he is confident of a victory. He said the poll symbol "gift pack" is easy to remember for the people and also easy for him to canvass. He had earlier represented the Andipatti Assembly constituency as a member of the AIADMK. He was later disqualified by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal for anti-party activities after he extended his support to Dhinakaran. On his part, AIADMK's Kumar promises broad gauge rail link between Madurai-Bodi, road network, tourism promotion and promotion of sports. The constituency has voters belonging to Mukkulathor, Dalits, Naidus and others. According to Radhakrishnan, first time voters will be between 100,000 to 200,000. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, R. Parthipan of the AIADMK won the Theni seat. --IANS vj/ksk/soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global software major Infosys on Friday said it has opened a new office at Baden in Switzerland to help service its clients in the energy and aerospace industries. "The new office at Baden will strengthen our capabilities in turbo-machinery and propulsion in Europe and help serve clients in the energy and aviation industries," the city-based IT behemoth said in a statement. The office will also help clients navigate their digital transformation journey and play an integral role in innovations in the renewable energy markets and aerospace vertical. Located near Zurich and 55 miles from Swiss capital Bern, Baden has been home to the engineering industry, building on the legacy of Brown Boveri, a pioneer in the turbo-machinery industry. "By setting up Baden as a key centre for turbo-machinery and propulsion business, we will enhance our capability to deliver services through a network of engineering centres at Mysuru in Karnataka, Moscow in Russia and Karlovac in Croatia," said the statement. The services include design of core components and accessories, system integration, testing and validation, controls and automation, customer service, manufacturing and field support and digital technologies. "The Baden office is an important step in our strategy to strengthen our capabilities to deliver solutions to our customers in the turbo-machinery and propulsion industry," said Infosys Vice President and global head of manufacturing, Jasmeet Singh, in the statement. In partnership with the US-based General Electric (GE), the company has enhanced its competencies with talent from its engineering business. As the company's many clients in these niche industries are based in Europe, the Baden office is strategically located to meet their needs in the region. "We are committed to help our clients leverage the potential of engineering services to transform their businesses. The office will accelerate that effort by providing the clients access to our talent in this niche domain," said Infosys Senior Executive Nitesh Bansal. According to Urs Hofmann, Economic and Interior Minister in the Cantonal government, Baden has been an important economic region and knowledge centre for long. "We are honoured that Infosys is investing in the region to support and advance this business location with new technologies and services and jobs," Hofmann said. --IANS fb/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Angry inmates set fire to a shelter inside the Srinagar Central Jail after rumours spread that some prisoners were being shifted to jails outside the Kashmir Valley, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Thursday night. Police personnel rushed to the prison to help authorities bring the situation under control. "There were no casualties or injuries," the police added. --IANS sq/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Irrfan Khan, who had taken a break after his neuroendocrine tumour diagnosis last year, is back on sets. He started shooting for "Angrezi Medium" on Friday here. The buzz about Irrfan shooting for the film, which is a sequel to his 2017 movie "Hindi Medium", had started earlier this week when he was spotted at the Mumbai airport. On Friday, producer Dinesh Vijan released a photograph that confirmed Irrfan's return to work. The image has Vijan, director Homi Adajania, actor Deepak Dobriyal, cinematographer Anil Mehta and Irrfan posing together. In March 2018, Irrfan had announced his diagnosis and said that he was going abroad for treatment. He returned to India in February this year. "Hindi Medium", one of the top grossers of 2017, revolved around a well-off Chandni Chowk couple in Delhi (played by Irrfan and actress Saba Qamar) who aspired to break into the elite society and give their daughter the best education possible.--IANS nn/dc/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, April 6 (IANS/AKI) A 59-year-old Italian who was kidnapped in Syria three years ago has been freed and will return to his homeland "in a few hours", Italian premier Giuseppe Conte's office said in a statement on Friday. "Following complex and delicate intelligence gathering, investigative and diplomatic activity involving synergies, today we managed to obtain the release of Sergio Zanotti, who was kidnapped in Syria in April 2016," said the statement. "He will be back in Italy in a few hours," the statement added. Zanotti, a businessman from Brescia, appeared in several videos during his captivity. Sporting a long grey beard and unkempt grey hair, urging the Italian government to save him from execution flanked by masked gunmen. According to Zanotti's ex-wife, he had vanished in southern Turkey near the Syrian border. --IANS/AKI vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, April 6 (IANS/AKI) Italy will keep striving to prevent a disorderly UK departure from the European Union, premier Giuseppe Conte's office said on Friday in a statement which warned that no-deal Brexit seemed "a growing probability". "Italy repeated its commitment to ensure an orderly departure and to avoid 'no-deal'," said the statement. It was issued after talks in Rome on no-deal planning ahead of an emergency summit of European Union leaders on 10 April. "Despite this, given the UK's continuing uncertainty and the growing probability of a no-deal departure, we have completed emergency and preparatory measures," the statement went on. The measures cover various sectors and topics from aviation to climate change, the Erasmus exchange programme for European university students, and assistance to citizens, the business and financial services sectors at transport hubs including air and sea ports, said the statement. The statement came as Britain's premier Theresa May asked the EU on Friday for an extension until 30 June at latest from 12 April currently for the UK's withdrawal from the 28-member bloc. May's written request to EU Council president Donald Tusk came on the third day of crunch talks between her minority Conservative government and opposition Labour leader Jeremey Corbyn aimed at hammering out a compromise agreement to avoid a no-deal Brexit. As yet no Brexit withdrawal deal has been approved by Britain's parliament. --IANS/AKI vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday questioned Congress President Rahul Gandhi's "silence" on the Enforcement Directorate chargesheet in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, which mentioned that kickbacks were paid to "important political persons" of the then ruling party and others. "Rahul Gandhi talks on several subjects, even on those he is having limited knowledge of, but maintains silence over those which only he knows," Jaitley told a press conference. "There must be some answers when someone is accused on the basis of documents. When no reply is given to such serious allegations, the country is entitled to presume that no reply could have been given," Jaitley said while seeking answers from the Congress President as to who were referred to as "RG", "AP" and "FAM" in the documents cited by the ED. "The right to silence was available to an accused, but not to a prime ministerial aspirant. This is in public domain," Jaitley said. Accusing the opposition leader of suppressing the truth, the Finance Minister said the issue can not be eluded as the evidence was "overwhelming and the needle of suspicion clear." "The more you suppress the truth, the more it spreads," he said. The ED in its fourth supplementary chargesheet has mentioned that kickbacks worth 70 million euros were paid to "important political persons of the ruling party, media persons, defence officials and bureaucrats" in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The chargesheet filed against British national and middleman Christian Michel before a city court on Thursday said that the kickbacks were at least 12 per cent of the contract amount. --IANS bns/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bimal Jalan panel examining the RBI's policy of distributing its reserves may suggest a guiding principle for surplus transfers as well as a specific timeframe for its application while keeping in mind the public policy mandate of the RBI, an official source said on Friday. The Jalan panel is expected to sunbmit its report later this month. A senior Finance Ministry source said that the central bank's profit distribution policy as suggested by the Jalan committee report, if accepted, will be applicable on the current as well as future surplus reserves of the RBI. These surplus reserves account for about 28 per cent of the central bank's total assets. As per the ministry source, the committee may also look at past unrealised gains, alongwith the contingency reserves, and consider the extent of reserves the Reserve BanK of India (RBI) should hold and transfer to the government. While many central banks hold 2-3 per cent of their total assets as contingency fund, for the RBI the quantum on this account stands at 7.05 per cent. Last year, the Ministry sought a transfer a surplus of Rs 3.6 lakh crore, which amounts to more than a third of the RBI's total reserves worth Rs 9.59 lakh crore' leading to a series of confrontations between the government and the central bank. The government believes that, when compared with global central banks, the RBI holds much higher level of total capital as a percentage of its total assets (at about 28 per cent). Countries, including the US, the UK, Argentina, France and Singapore maintain much lower capital reserves as a percentage of total assets, while for countries such as Malaysia, Norway and Russia the reserves are much higher than India. For the central bank's accounting year ending June 2018, the RBI had total reserves of Rs 9.59 lakh crore, comprising mainly of currency and gold revaluation account (Rs 6.91 lakh crore) and contingency fund (Rs 2.32 lakh crore). The government has claimed that RBI has been extremely risk averse and conservative in its assessment of capital buffers. --IANS ana/sn/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More trouble seems to be in store for financially-challenged Jet Airways as the country's largest oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) refused to provide jet fuel to the airline over non-payment of dues. According to a senior Indian Oil official, the company stopped fuel supply to the airline on Friday. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 26 aircraft. The development comes a day after the lenders to the cash-strapped airline said that they intend to pursue the bank-led resolution plan for the airline under the present legal and regulatory framework. However, the lenders did not divulge any information about the present funding needs of the airline. Under the debt resolution plan, the lenders would inject up to Rs 1,500 crore working capital into the airline and convert their debt into equity, to revive the airline and then sell their stakes in it. The airline owes over Rs 8,000 crore to its lenders, led by the State Bank of India (SBI). At present, the airline is hard-pressed for funds. It is expected to receive the first tranche of the Rs 1,500 crore promised by banks as part of the debt resolution plan. Industry sources informed that the first tranche of fund is expected in a day or two. But in the absence of any more funding, the airline's fleet size is expected to shrink further. It has already shrunk to 26. The airline 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. On Wednesday evening, the airline informed employees that salaries for March would be delayed. Salaries are pending since January. --IANS rv/sn/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government on Friday told a court here that the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet in the JNU sedition case in haste and secretly without getting the sanction of the competent authority. The government also told the court that it will take one more month to decide whether to grant sanction or not in the case. The Delhi government's submission came before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sherawat, who listed the matter for further hearing on April 8. The court in its last hearing asked the government to submit a definite time frame to decide when sanction would be given in the Jawaharlal Nehru University case that involves a 2016 event organised in the campus against the hanging of Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru. The chargesheet was filed on January 14. It named former student leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and seven Kashmiri students as accused. --IANS akk/rs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said her country will stand together with the other European Union (EU) member states and do everything they can to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Merkel made the remark at a press conference after meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. "We want to stand together as 27, until the very last hour. I can say this from the German side. We will do everything in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit," she told the press conference held at Farmleigh House, a state guest house of Ireland, which is located next to the scenic Phoenix Park in west Dublin. "We have to do this together with Britain," she said, adding "We do hope that the intensive discussions that are ongoing in London will lead to a situation by next Wednesday, when we have a special council meeting, where Prime Minister Theresa May will have something to table to us on the basis of which we can continue to talk." Merkel was referring to a summit meeting of the European Council scheduled on April 10, two days before the deadline EU gives to Britain for Brexit. Earlier, the EU said Britain must come up with a clear solution to break the current impasse of Brexit before April 12 or it could face a no-deal Brexit. Merkel's remarks were viewed by the media here as an important outcome of Thursday's meeting between the two leaders as well as another assurance from a heavyweight EU member state for Ireland. Ireland is most concerned about the possible return of a hard border between itself and Britain's Northern Ireland after Brexit. However, if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal, a hard border looks almost inevitable. Avoiding a hard border after Brexit is something that Ireland has been trying hard to achieve in the Brexit talks and needs firm support from other EU member states. Addressing a joint press conference with Merkel, Varadkar expressed his thanks for the strong solidarity Germany showed for Ireland. He said that Merkel has been a very strong ally to Ireland throughout the Brexit negotiations. He also noted that both Ireland and Germany want to have a close future relationship with Britain. Britain's leaving on April 12 is not an outcome anyone wants, he said, adding that patience is needed in dealing with Britain over the Brexit issue. "Matters continue to play out in London and I think we need to be patient and understanding of the predicament that they are in," he said. But he also warned: "There is very little time left and we have to prepare ourselves for all outcomes." --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular politician in India in terms of online search with 7.24 million and 1.82 million searches for the year 2018 and 2019 respectively, according to a new study. But the Indian National Congress (INC) managed to steal the limelight after two years as the most searched political party during December 2018, said the study by the US-based online visibility management platform SEMrush. The results showed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi emerged as the second most searched Indian politician on online platforms with 1.5 million searches in 2019. However, it is Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi who gained popularity most rapidly between 2018 and 2019. Priyanka Gandhi registered a search volume of 1.22 million in 2019 in comparison with a search volume of 701,000 in 2018. "We also studied trending keywords and popular questions related to leading politicians and found that the most searched question was 'Who is Narendra Modi'," Fernando Angulo, Head of International Partnership, SEMrush, said in a statement. The results also revealed Modi as the most active politician on Facebook with a record profile growth of 68.22 per cent between February 2019 and March 2019. For the study, SEMrush analysed eight politicians and checked how many times people in India searched for them on Google from January 2018 till February 2019. They also looked at the top 10 related keywords and the top 10 related questions for each politician. On social media, the firm analysed the official pages on Facebook and Twitter of the politicians and compared three factors - audience, activity and engagement. They checked the engagement trend from February 12 to March 13, 2019. --IANS gb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Calling the Muslim League a "virus", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the Congress has been infected by it and if the party wins the elections, the virus would spread all over the country. "The Muslim League is a virus, and spares no one infected by it. Today, the country's main opposition party Congress is infected with this virus. What will happen if the party wins the elections? The virus would spread across the country," Adityanath tweeted. "In the 1857 freedom struggle, the whole country joined Mangal Pandey to fight against the British. But the Muslim League virus arrived and divided the country. Now the green flags are fluttering again as the Congress has been infected by the Muslim League virus. Beware!" The BJP leader's controversial comments came a day after Congress President Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. Gandhi was greeted with green flags of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front's (UDF), on his arrival in Wayanad on Thursday. The IUML fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections too as a partner of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and won the Mallapuram and Ponnani seats in Kerala. --IANS hindi-rtp (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday conducted a raid at the residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif to arrest his son Hamza in the assets beyond means case. A press release by the anti-corruption body said a team had gone to Sharif's residence to arrest Hamza Shehbaz on the basis of evidence against him in the assets beyond means and alleged money laundering case. It added that NAB officials were manhandled by Hamza Shehbaz's guards, their clothes were torn and death threats were given, Geo News reported. The press release added that Hamza Shehbaz had violated the law and the bureau on the basis of evidence against him and in light of the Supreme Court directives would arrest him. Shehbaz Sharif and his sons Hamza and Salman are facing multiple NAB inquires, including those into the Ashiana Housing scandal, Ramzan Sugar Mills and assets beyond means. Speaking to reporters outside the residence, Hamza Shehbaz said that for "the first time he felt like a terrorist as this was the type of action taken against them". "Teams came to the house and tried to enter it. Like Superman they came to arrest me. For the first time I felt like we were like terrorists," he said. "What was the need to conduct a raid like that? Hamza Shehbaz said Prime Minister Imran Khan's government was crumbling and this was a reaction to that, according to Geo News. PML-N leaders claimed that the raid was carried out without any warrant or prior notice. A number of party workers and supporters gathered outside Sharif's house and staged a sit-in, raising slogans against NAB. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a tweet said if NAB had raided Shehbaz Sharif's home without a warrant then it was highly condemnable. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tried meditation and failed? Let a new book reorient your approach to battling stress; follow a Scandinavian detective on his mission to uncover bizzare crimes; and finally, teach yourself to "grow" fresh air with tips from two experts. The IANS Bookshelf has a mixed bag for the weekend: 1. Book: Stress Less, Accomplish More: The 15-Minute Meditation Programme for Extraordinary Performance; Author: Emily Fletcher; Publisher: Pan Macmillan; Price: Rs 599; Pages: 252 A guide for people who have "tried meditation" but failed to clear their mind or found themselves just sitting, "Stress Less, Accomplish More" claims to reorient your approach towards meditation. Focussed on stress relief, mental clarity and improved productivity, the approach aims to tackle the busy modern lifestyle. Authored by Emily Fletcher, who has trained over 15,000 people through online meditation, the book has a very simple message: do less - without the stress - and accomplish more. It categorises meditation into three Ms: Mindfulness, Meditation and Manifesting. "Meditation, as I define it, is helping you get rid of your stress from the past. The less stress you have in your body, the easier it is for you to perform at the top of your game," Fletcher advises in the book's introduction. 2. Book: The Department of Sensitive Crimes; Author: Alexander McCall Smith; Publisher: Hachette; Price: Rs 699; Pages: 227 Ulf Varg works in Malmo's Department of Sensitive Crimes. Like all Scandinavian detectives he has his issues. In his case these include his unresolved feelings for his colleague, Anna; his impatience over the seeming incompetence of his irritating colleague Blomquist; and his concerns for the health of his hearing-impaired dog, Marten, the only dog in Sweden who is able to lip-read. Along with his colleagues, Ulf is called upon to investigate a bizarre attack on a market trader, the disappearance of a handsome man who may or may not exist, and the affairs of a variety of young female students whose relationships with one another leave a great deal to be desired. Ulf and his team come to realise that the world is a puzzling place, lycanthropy (were-wolfism) exists and fish might have something to teach us. There is so much to learn if you are a Swedish detective, and in the first book in this new quasi-Scandinavian series, Ulf Varg embarks on these lessons with spirit and good humour. 3. Book: How To Grow Fresh Air: India's Top Experts Teach You How to Beat Air Pollution; Authors: Kamal Meattle and Barun Agarwal; Publisher: Juggernaut; Price: Rs 299; Pages: 228 Declutter your home, leave your shoes at the door, invest in a good air purifier, ventilate indoor spaces, use indoor plants that give you fresh air and more importantly, participate in community efforts to clean air: These are the pearls of wisdom offered by a book by top experts who teach you how to beat air pollution. Co-authored by Barun Agarwal who heads an indoor air quality solutions company, and Kamal Meattle, who does the same and has also delivered a TED talk on 'How to Grow Fresh Air' with over 30 lakh views, the book lists simple and actionable solutions to mitigating air pollution effects in a modern, urban city. It contains a foreword by Suresh Prabhu, who says that the book chronicles how environmental education can lead to urban sustainability. --IANS sj/vm/am (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikkim's famed idyll is being scarred by political violence as elections draw near. With a slew of political parties challenging the five-term rule of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, the election is being fiercely contested, not just for the lone Lok Sabha seat but for the 32-member state Assembly, with balloting for both scheduled for April 11 in the first phase of the seven-phase national polls. Though no killings have been reported, some incidents have provoked the ruling SDF to issue a strong statement condemning the "senseless and inhumane violence". The social media is replete with reports of attacks on ruling party workers by members of the opposition Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), including attacks on women. The police have corroborated some of these attacks and FIRs have been lodged. "Incident of brutal attacks on SDF supporters and workers with rods and knives, and kidnappings, have unfortunately become an hourly occurrence," said P.D. Rai, MP and spokesman for the SDF. "On April 1 a group of around 50 members of SKM's youth cadre allegedly attacked Bikash Rai, Youth Convenor of the SDF. His two brothers were threatened, attacked and their vehicles were damaged with iron rods and metal pipes," said SDF workers. The SKM workers, however, denied the charges and blamed their rivals for the provocation. "Today Sikkim has established its identity as the most peaceful state in the country. This peace in Sikkim has been carefully nurtured by the SDF government over 25 years," Rai said. "As the state approaches elections, Sikkim needs to be even more cautious and re-evaluate the peace and harmony that prevails against any form of vulgar change that is offered by a party that incites violence and vandalism," he added. Commenting on the recent spate of violence, Chief Minister Chamling said: "SKM is a party that thrives on violence. The recent violence unleashed by the party all over Sikkim is shameful and condemnable and will never be accepted by the people of Sikkim". --IANS ssp/rs/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With hundreds of activists holding Congress flags and shouting "Chowkidar Chor Hai", Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday urged people to get "serious about politics" as it was a serious issue. Gandhi's road show in support of party's candidate Dolly Sharma here started from Jawahar Gate and continued for about two kilometres before ending on Ambedkar Road in Nehru Nagar. "It is in your hand if you want to do of caste or where your representatives work for you earnestly," she said. "A representative who will help you to raise your voice or one who will beat you up for speaking. "Those in power (right now) have never let people raise their issues, be it farmers or others." Priyanka Gandhi asked people to question those who come to them seeking votes. "No one is doing a favour by working for you... You are superior, not the leaders... Those in power have forgotten that you have the power. You have let them forget that you are superior." She slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not talking to people even in his constituency Varanasi while "he roamed around the world hugging people". "Every time he went to Varanasi, he gave only speeches, never went to a single house to meet people." Speaking to IANS, Priyanka Gandhi said the Modi government has repeatedly lied to the people on various fronts. "He (Modi) always says Nehru did this, Indira did that. Can he speak about what he has done in the five years? After being in power for five years, he has nothing to count as his achievement," she said. Gandhi received a boisterous welcome during the road show. Gandhi, the party in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, stood with Dolly Sharma in her car with the sunroof open, while constantly waving at people. She stepped out of her car to meet a group of women standing outside their house. One of them was 18-year-old Shivangi Gupta. "I told her about the congestion in the area and lack of security. I also told her that the area is not usually this clean. It was only because she was coming that it is clean," Gupta told IANS after speaking to Gandhi. The Congress is campaigning hard to give a tough fight to BJP's sitting MP and 2019 candidate from Ghaziabad V.K. Singh, a former Army chief, for the elections to be held on April 11. --IANS nks/mr/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rahul Gandhi is a three-time MP from Amethi but his landed property continues to be only in Delhi and Gurugram. He also has a loan of Rs 5 lakh from his mother Sonia Gandhi. The affidavit given by him while filing nomination papers from Wayanad states that he continues to own a share in the inherited farm in Sultanpur Village in Delhi and owns two office spaces in Gurugram. The agricultural land at Sultanpur is jointly owned by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In the 2014 elections, he had declared the value of his total assets as Rs 9.4 crore. The affidavit shows that Rahul Gandhi does not own a car and has a total liability of Rs 72 lakh as loans from various banks and other financial institutions. Gandhi, 48, owns two commercial spaces in Gurugram and also has inherited agricultural land at village Sultanpur which he jointly owns with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The affidavit shows that Gandhi has assets worth Rs 15.88 crore. Gandhi's movable assets, worth Rs 5.81 crore, include Rs 40,000 in cash as on March 31, 2019, Rs 17.93 lakh in deposits with various banks, Rs 5.19 crore worth of shares and bonds, Rs 39 lakh worth of postal, National Savings Scheme (NSS) and insurance investments, and jewellery worth Rs 2.91 lakh. The assets also include 333.3 grams of gold. Of his total immovable assets, Rs 8.75 crore are self-acquired and Rs 1.32 crore inherited. He also has a liability of Rs 72 lakh in bank loans. The affidavit says that Gandhi has five pending cases including in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam and New Delhi. Four of these are cases of alleged defamation, three of which relate to RSS. Another case pertains to a complaint made by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy of alleged conspiracy to cheat shareholders of Associated Journals Ltd. The affidavit shows that the total income for the year 2017-18 was Rs 1,11,85,570. His source of income includes MP's salary besides that from royalty, rent, interest, dividends and gains from mutual funds. Gandhi, who is also contesting from Amethi, has pursued M.Phil (Development Studies) from Trinity college, University of Cambridge. --IANS ps/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The RBI is likely to adopt a more accommodative approach towards resolution of stressed assets when it issues a revised circular sometime in the next few days, against the February 12 circular quashed by the Supreme Court. Sources said the major contention in the controversial February 12, 2018, circular that got challenged in the court leading to its quashing, will be done away with in the new circular. Instead, banks will be given more time to identify and qualify an account as bad debt and also be given more time to resolve the same. The Reserve Bank of India is likely to retain the main contours of its February 12, 2018 circular while making the referral to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) non-compulsory, sources told IANS. It might, however, be guided by suggestions earlier given by the Indian Banking Association (IBA) for debt resolution for classification of Non-Performing Asset (NPA) and resolution of bad assets. Bankers had suggested qualifying a loan as bad debt if the default was for a period of at least 90 days and not one day as was the case in the February 12 circular. A bank-led resolution should start only after that, according to the bankers. Moreover, it had suggested a 60 day incubation period post this time for identifying the default. After this, banks would resolve a case within 180 days and consider referring the case to NCLT post that period if the majority of the lenders agreed. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down a February 12, 2018 circular of the RBI that asked banks to initiate insolvency process against companies even if there was a day's delay in payment of dues. As per the circular, banks were told to start the resolution process as soon as a borrower defaulted on a term loan and were given 180 days to cure it, failing which the account would have to be referred to the NCLT. It also said that any company that defaulted on its loan repayment obligation even by a day should be declared a defaulter. Further, under the new norms, lenders can decide on the resolution if 66 per cent of the lenders agree to take this recourse. This is similar to the adoption of a resolution under IBC where 66 per cent of votes is required. The revised circular on NPAs is unlikely to include the pre-IBC restructuring tools like Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR), Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets or S4A. In the previous circular the RBI had withdrawn all existing debt restructuring schemes -- S4A, CDR, JLF, and SDR -- and asked banks to draw resolution plans for all assets where the banking sector's exposure was more than Rs 2,000 crore. On Tuesday, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that the recent Supreme Court ruling did not take away the powers of the central bank, nor would it impact the major default cases undergoing insolvency proceedings. "We will soon get the revised circular. There will not be any undue delay in that," Das said. On whether the recent instances of the RBI being taken to the court have impacted its actions, Das said: "It's always the democratic right of any person, individual or corporate entity to challenge the decision of any authority in the court of law. The RBI cannot be an exception to this." --IANS rrb-ravi-sn/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission (EC) should treat social like any other and all rules that apply to the during the model code of conduct should also apply to social media, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said on Friday. Quraishi was speaking at an event where a group of former bureaucrats and organisations, like Common Cause, Free Internet Foundation, Association for Democratic Reforms and Free Software Movement of India, came together advocating regulations for digital media platforms, saying the threat posed by them to the integrity of elections had assumed "alarming proportions". Quraishi said that even beyond the elections, the disastrous consequences potential of the social media was quite significant. "We have seen how rumours floating in the social media can cause havoc on law and order situation, security, and communal and caste strife. Therefore, we have to find some solution," he said. He added while a few years ago, everyone would be up in arms against any attempt to regulate social media, now even the Internet companies had come on board. "Initially, there used to hue and cry saying the Election Commission is threatening free speech. But free speech does not give freedom to dis-inform, misinform, provoke, incite and create riots in the country," the former CEC said. He said as far as the EC was concerned, social media was also media and whatever applied to media should also apply to it. "So, first you have to account for every penny spent on any media including social media. Second, you are accountable for the content that goes in any media including all political campaigns, speeches, advertisements... Every campaign material has to be pre-approved by the EC. Therefore, social media content should also be pre-approved," he said. Representing Common Cause, retired IAS officer Krishna Kant Jaswal said the general elections of 2014 gave clear indications of the way things could go wrong and how the social media could influence the outcome of elections at a time when use of smartphone was not even as widespread as today and when apps like WhatsApp did not have much traction. "It is estimated that social media had a decisive role in about 116 parliamentary constituencies at that time. Nowadays, when the number of smartphones has doubled and number of WhatsApp users has gone up by more than five times, potential of mischief through misuse of social media platforms is mind-boggling," he said. Jaswal added that the group had earlier met the EC and submitted its recommendations and that it was assured that appropriate steps would be taken by the poll panel. But the progress was stalled "under the new dispensation", with not much done except the voluntary code of ethics adopted by digital companies and mediated by the Internet and Mobile Association of India. "It is a case of too little, too late. We welcome it as a good beginning but it leaves too much to be desired as it is not legally binding on the Internet companies," he said. Apar Gupta from Internet Freedom Foundation said there was need for the EC to monitor the online spending of political parties for election campaigns and not just the spending by candidates. He added that the political parties should also disclose their official handles in all major social media platforms. --IANS vv/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A massive fire has ripped through around 500 hectares of forest and urban areas along the northeastern coast of South Korea, killing at least one person, damaging hundreds of buildings and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. South Korea declared a national emergency on Friday in response to "one of the largest wildfires on record", Yonhap news agency reported. Over 13,000 rescue officials from across the nation battled to contain the fire that started on Thursday evening in a mountainous county of Goseong, 160 km northeast of Seoul, before spreading to neighbouring Sokcho, Gangneung and Donghae cities within hours and destroying several hundred buildings. It is believed the fire originated from a spark at a transformer near Goseong in Gangwon Province, northeast of Seoul. One man died in the blaze and 35 others were injured, with at least a few thousands left displaced and damage piling up to what authorities described as "an unprecedented extent". President Moon Jae-in urged his government to make all-out efforts to contain the fire and help the victims. He told officials to consider designating the blaze-hit areas as special disaster zones. That would entitle the locations and their residents to speedy, special government support, the agency reported. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the government earmarked 4.25 billion won ($3.7 million) for emergency recovery efforts. Officials said that although the main fire -- in Goseong -- was brought under control, others were still burning. The last time a disaster of a similar scale hit South Korea was in 2007, when a crude oil carrier leaked thousands of tonnes of oil into the sea off the west coast. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Sooraj Pancholi says his upcoming film "Satellite Shankar" is a heart-wrenching story about brave hearts and that it had to be told. "I was super stoked to be a part of this project especially because it's a real story about the life of a jawaan. This movie has got nothing to do with international relations, it's just a heart-wrenching story about the brave hearts that is so raw and pure that it had to be told," Sooraj said in a statement. Sooraj, who is the son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, is set to collaborate with 20 soldiers for a promotional song for the film. Taking about the song, he said: "We're currently in the process of filming a song with a group of Jawaans since we really wanted them to be a part of this in some way, especially since our movie is dedicated to them and their hardships." Directed by Irfan Kamal, the film is shot in different regions -- Punjab, the South and in Himachal near the China Border. "Satellite Shankar" is scheduled to hit the screens on July 5. The film is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Murad Khetani, Krishan Kumar and Ashwin Varde. --IANS dc/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea challenging the ordinance on the voluntary use of Aadhaar as an identity proof for opening bank accounts and getting new mobile phones connection. Declining to entertain the plea by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and lawyer Reepak Kansal, the bench of Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice S. Abdul Nazir asked them to approach the High Court. The Cabinet had on March 1 approved the ordinance for the voluntary use of Aadhaar as an identity proof for opening bank accounts and getting mobile connections. The government decided to promulgate the ordinance as the bill for the use of Aadhaar as an identity proof was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 4 and was pending with the Rajya Sabha. President Ram Nath Kovind had approved the ordinance on March 3. --IANS pk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday refused to allow an urgent hearing in a plea seeking stay on the soon-to-be-released biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi told the lawyer who mentioned the plea that it could not be granted urgent hearing and it will be listed during the regular course of hearing with other cases. "What biopic? We have not seen it. Perhaps we will watch it over the weekend, then you mention," the bench remarked. On Thursday, a Congress leader had moved the apex court with a plea seeking rescheduling of the movie after the Lok Sabha elections. The petitioner contended that the release of the movie can influence the voters during the polls. The producer of the biopic has already postponed the release of the movie, earlier scheduled for April 5. The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court earlier this week dismissed a plea seeking a ban on the release. The Supreme Court will hear the plea on the movie on April 8. --IANS sumit/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities have withdrawn personal security of 919 persons, including separatists, so far in Jammu and Kashmir since the Governor's rule was imposed, a Union Home Ministry statement said on Friday. The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn includes 22 separatist leaders. "In a major step, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn security cover from 919 undeserving persons in the state, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles," the statement said. It said the decision follows strict stance by Union Home Ministry on the usage of scarce police resources in the state. "It was observed by the Centre that many undeserving persons managed to get security cover resulting in lack of state police resources for the public at large. Accordingly, the Union Home Ministry directed the state government that a case-by-case in-depth review may be taken on merit," the statement said. The J&K State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC) has held regular meetings to examine all the cases to ensure strict compliance as per norms, it said. --IANS sq/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikhs around the world are taking part in a scheme to plant a million new trees as a "gift to the entire planet" as part of celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, the media reported on Friday. According to the Guardian, the project aims to reverse environmental decline and help people reconnect with nature. Rajwant Singh, the President of the Washington DC-based environmental organisation EcoSikh, which is coordinating the Million Tree Project, said he wanted to mark the anniversary in a significant way. EcoSikh collaborates with thousands of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions all over India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the US, UK, Australia, France, Hong Kong, Norway and many other countries. The Sikh diaspora has taken on the challenge and tens of thousands of trees have already been planted, the report said, adding that most of the trees were planted in India and also in the UK, US, Australia and Kenya. "Guru Nanak was a nature lover. (He) had talked about nature as a manifestation of God and many of his writings talk about how we need to learn lessons of life from nature," said Singh. He said he hoped the project would motivate Sikhs - especially the young - to improve their relationship with nature and would be seen more broadly as "a gift to the entire planet". Sikh Union Coventry, an environmental organization based in Washington, said it plans to plant 550 trees in the Coventry area and has already started planting native trees, shrubs and flowers such as hazel and hawthorn at various sites. Sikh Union Coventry chair Palvinder Singh Chana said: "As Sikhs, our connection to the is an integral part of our faith and identity. Future generations will benefit from the fruits of our labour, symbolising peace, friendships and continuity for generations to come." People involved in the drive said that the million tree target would be achieved by the time of Guru Nanak's birthday in November. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet will commence a daily direct flight connecting Mumbai with Bangkok from May 17, 2019. According to the airline, Bangkok is the second international destination after Dubai that it will connect with a direct flight from Mumbai. The airline already operates non-stop flights from Bangkok to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Delhi and Kolkata. On the domestic sector, the airline will introduce six domestic flights connecting Mumbai with Kolkata, Chennai and Varanasi, effective from April 18, 2019. Besides, it will commence a new daily regional connectivity UDAN flight between Hyderabad and Kishangarh from April 25, 2019. --IANS rv/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited (SPN), the exclusive broadcast partner for WWE in India, on Friday announced the launch of its new campaign '#WWEKAMAHAYUDH ahead of WrestleMania 35 this Sunday. WrestleMania 35, which takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in the US, features Raw women's champion Ronda Rousey, SmackDown women's champion Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. WrestleMania is set to captivate millions of WWE fans across the globe while SPN's programming and marketing initiatives will make this WrestleMania more accessible to fans across India than ever before. In 2018, WrestleMania 34 was aired live in Hindi for the first time and the ever-growing popularity of WWE in South India fuelled the demand for regional feeds following which SPN live telecast it in four languages: English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. In another first, SPM along with WWE will host special screenings of WrestleMania 35 in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata in partnership with PVR. The screening parties will have many fun activities at an experiential fan-zone where attendees will get an opportunity to win branded WWE merchandise. --IANS kk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) on Friday announced the formation of a "Political Steering Committee" to create awareness among the public, media and decision makers on "Kashmiri Pandits' genocide" and their sustainable resettlement in the Valley". The committee will be headed by Moti Kaul, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit leader who would kick off a nationwide tour and interact with community members, media, representatives from all political parties and other stakeholders, a statement from the GKPD said. "This mobilization of support is designed to create a mass movement against the cover-up of Kashmiri Pandits' genocide and the denial of their basic rights under international and domestic law," Kaul said. He added that the governance stakeholders over the last 30 years had "failed abjectly" to address the community's demands for justice. Kaul said the National Conference's call for pre-1953 Constitutional status had already been declared by the interlocutor's commission as "leading to a dangerous constitutional vacuum". "At the same time, (the) Congress manifesto is a defacto abdication to the genocidaires in Kashmir. What Kashmir needs is strong, clean governance founded on the rule of law and order and based on the tenets of the Constitution," he said. Surinder Kaul, the founding member of GKPD, said the Political Steering Committee was a logical outcome of the GKPD conclave necessitated by the "alarming, current political discourse". Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits fled the Kashmir Valley when militancy broke out, leading to violence directed against the community. --IANS vv/mag/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a third summons to senior Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq to appear before the agency in Delhi on April 18. Farooq has been summoned on charges of involvement in a terror funding case, police sources said on Friday. The summons said that the agency will look after his security. Earlier, Farooq had, through his counsel, expressed his inability to appear before the agency in Delhi because of the "volatile situation" related to his security outside the Kashmir Valley. But he promised complete cooperation with the NIA provided he was questioned in Srinagar. Earlier, Farooq, who delivers the Friday sermon at the Jama Masjid, was placed under house arrest at his residence in Nigeen area on the city's outskirts. --IANS sq/mag/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has warned the US not to interfere in the country's local elections held on Sunday. "No foreign government or body's statement will serve as the source of legitimacy for the election results," AKP spokesman Omer Celik said on Thursday, condemning the earlier remarks from the US State Department on Turkey's election process, Xinhua reported. On Tuesday, Robert Palladino, US State Department spokesman, called on all parties to recognise the outcome of the Turkish elections after an initial count showed the main opposition leading in the largest city Istanbul and the capital Ankara. "Free and fair elections are essential for any democracy. That means acceptance of legitimate election results," Palladino said. In response, Fahrettin Altun, Turkey's presidential communications director, said on Wednesday on his Twitter account that Turkey urges all parties, including foreign governments, "to respect the legal process and refrain from taking any steps that may be construed as meddling in Turkey's internal affairs." Turkey's election board decided on Wednesday to recount the votes in eight districts of Istanbul after the ruling party submitted appeals over the results. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two soldiers were injured on Friday in a mysterious explosion inside an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. Police said the explosion took place at the Lachampora camp of the counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles in Handwara area. "Both soldiers have been shifted to the Army's base hospital in Srinagar. An FIR has been registered and investigation has been started to find out the exact cause of the explosion," a police officer said. --IANS sq/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UK Prime Minister Theresa May has written to European Council President Donald Tusk requesting another extension of Brexit till June 30, the media reported on Friday. The UK is currently due to leave the EU on April 12 and no withdrawal deal has been approved by MPs yet. May said she wanted an extension to June 30 -- a date rejected by the European Union when the UK last sought a delay -- to give more time for cross-party negotiations over the political impasse in London. However, it is likely that the EU will propose a longer process instead. Tusk is understood to prefer a year-long extension, which could be shortened if and when the UK ratifies a withdrawal deal, the BBC reported. This so-called "flextension" will be offered at a European Council summit in Brussels next Wednesday, an EU diplomat familiar with the plan said. It is not clear, however, if Tusk plan will will be favoured by all EU member states. The diplomat said that "some ritual rumbling" could be expected, reports say. May said a further postponement to the Brexit date is needed if the UK is to avoid leaving the EU without a deal, a scenario both EU leaders and many British MPs believe would create problems for businesses and cause difficulties at ports. In any event, the UK must start preparing for elections to the European Parliament, which begin on May 23. May wrote in her letter that the UK government "accepts the European Council's view" that it would be under a "legal obligation" to hold European Parliament elections. The elections would be cancelled if a deal is reached before them, she said. The Prime Minister May said it was "frustrating that we have not yet brought this process to a successful and orderly conclusion," adding that the UK government "remains strongly committed to doing so and will continue to act as a constructive and responsible member state of the European Union in according with the duty of sincere cooperation throughout this unique period". --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's claim that one of its pilots shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in an aerial battle in February "appears to be wrong" as US personnel counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none missing, a US news publication has reported citing military officials. Foreign Policy publication said in a report that two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation said that "American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none missing". The Indian government had said that in a dog fight on February 27 -- a day after it carried out strikes on a terror training camp in Pakistan's Balakot -- Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a F-16, one of the Pakistani Air Force jets that tried to target Indian military facilities. The Indian's MiG was hit in the aerial engagement and it crashed in Pakistani territory. The Indian pilot was captured by Pakistan and later returned to India as a "peace gesture" by Islamabad to de-escalate the crisis between the two nuclear-armed nations. The Indian Air Force had on February 28 displayed to the media pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as an evidence. According to Foreign Policy, one of the senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation said that Pakistan invited Washington to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalized. The publication said a "US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash. "Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets," an unnamed US defence official was quoted as saying in the report. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man in the US was arrested after he discussed on Facebook an American re-enactment of last month's attacks on two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city. Thomas Alonzo Bolin, 22, was charged on Thursday with lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in an interview last week about whether he owned firearms, The New York Times reported. He was already in custody on state charges filed on Saturday, said the report, adding that whether Bolin had made any specific plans for violence was not yet clear. But according to the criminal complaint, Bolin had praised in Facebook messages the March 15 mass killing of 50 people in New Zealand. Using the alias Peter Vincent, Bolin shared video of the Christchurch attack, which was livestreamed by the shooter on Facebook. He used the same alias to discuss potential violence with his cousin, Austin Witkowski, on the social networking platform. --IANS gb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US special envoy for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi here on Friday after holding delegation-level talks on the Afghan peace process. The delegation-level talks between Pakistan and the US were held at the Foreign Office. The Pakistani delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua while Khalilzad led the visiting team, Geo News reported. Khalilzad will also hold separate meetings with the top civil and military leadership during his visit to the country. A day earlier, the US Afghan peace envoy said relations between the US and Pakistan would not improve until Islamabad reconsiders its policies pertaining to Kabul. US President Donald Trump's special envoy was travelling from Kabul where he held discussions with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other prominent leaders on "joint efforts to meet the Afghan peoples' compelling desire for peace". Meanwhile, Tolo News reported that the US envoy supported an agreement between Islamabad and Kabul based on which Pakistan should play a constructive role in Afghanistan. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The joint military training exercises of the United States Special Operations Forces with the National Security Guard (NSG) concluded here, preparing the soldiers for a wide range of challenges. The forces from the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) completed an extensive military training exercise with the NSG, the US Consulate in Hyderabad said on Friday. The month-long exercise included emergency medical training as well as combat marksmanship, urban close-quarter combat and integrated full-mission training. The exercise provided soldiers with hands-on experience in real urban settings, such as hotels and transportation hubs, in preparation for the possibility of terror attacks on vulnerable soft targets, said a statement from the consulate. "Knowing how to respond to complex emergencies in urban areas is a vital skill that can save lives and protect our people. Knowing how to respond together, with enhanced capabilities shared by both the Indian and US armed forces, is even better," U.S. Consul General Katherine Hadda said at the closing ceremony. These training events are part of US Indo-Pacific Command's Theater Security Cooperation Programme, conducted by the US military with a select group of nations in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance coordination and capabilities. The US military works alongside India to increase interoperability, build partner capacity, prevent conflict, and promote regional strength and peace throughout the Indo-Pacific. The overall aim of the programme is to enhance professionalism and the ability to operate together during times of a crisis. The United States has recognized India as a major defence partner. "Military collaboration between the two countries is a result of growing, high-level trust and both sides' consistent efforts to broaden the ways in which the United States and India can work together," it said. Hyderabad has become a hub of US-Indian defence manufacturing, including joint-venture facilities, technology centres, and skill-development, it added. --IANS ms/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apart from creating the gigantic world of superheroes, Joe Russo is also working on bringing alive India-set stories for Amazon Studios as well as Netflix. The filmmaker says there are still many "compelling stories" rooted deep in the country's "amazing" culture waiting to be told. Telling stories has always been an integral part of Indian culture, and Joe, one half of the Russo Brothers, feels the tradition has played an important role in cementing the position of Indian film industry around the globe. "I think the Indian film industry, outside of Hollywood, is the most vibrant filmmaking market in the world, and a culture which values storytelling," Joe told IANS in an interview here. "As we are becoming a part of the global community, there are lots of stories to tell here and there haven't been a lot of stories told (from) here in Hollywood," he added. "We see an amazing culture with rich tradition, storytelling and compelling stories to tell here... Especially because the audience is very savvy. They understand stories on a very profound level," the filmmaker said in the group interview. For Amazon Studios, Joe, along with his brother Anthony is working on creating an international event series. There will be a main global spy series, which will then lead to the creation of multiple original local language series with one based in India, which will live alongside the series. And when it comes to Netflix, Russo Brothers have backed India-set kidnap drama "Dhaka", which will mark the directorial debut of Sam Hargrave. Based on a script by Joe, "Dhaka" is an action film in which Chris Hemsworth has to save a kidnapped Indian boy. From facing financial struggle to make their first film "Pieces" in late 1990s to helming a film "Avengers: Endgame" which is breaking ticket pre-sales records, the brothers have come a long way. Joe describes themselves as "disruptors". "We like to deconstruct things... That's our general disposition and it was interesting (to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe) because we came in at a point where we could start deconstructing the Marvel universe. "We deconstructed the 'Captain America' movie. We went a complete different direction from the first film with 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'. Then we deconstructed 'Captain America: Civil War' by tearing them apart and then we deconstructed the whole universe by killing half of the superheroes in 'Avengers: Infinity War'. "Our disposition lined up with a journey which was happening at that time and we are able to take our thematics which are important to us and infuse them in four movies. And you will see that with 'Avengers: Endgame' that they are all connected." "Avengers: Endgame" is culmination of over 20 Marvel movies, and wraps up 10 years of storytelling. It is slated to release in India on April 26 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The brothers like to infuse their political ideas in their projects. But Joe says they have to be smart to play with such topics. "You have to layer movies. You have to have a narrative so that a nine-year-old can enjoy it from a very superficial point of view. A fan can enjoy it from their point of view. And somebody who doesn't like superhero movies can gain something... And that is what makes movies so accessible. "It has been a theory of ours since we started working. And each one has been successful from the last." (Sugandha Rawal was in Mumbai on an invitation by Disney India. She can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/rb/am (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday threatened to jail Malvinder Mohan Singh and his brother Shivinder Mohan Singh, former promoters of pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy, for not complying with an order to pay dues to Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo. "We will go into the issue - why you violated our orders. We will send you to jail," the apex court said. The court was hearing a petition filed by Daiichi Sankyo, which is seeking to recover Rs 3,500 crore awarded to it in an arbitration by a Singapore tribunal against the Ranbaxy brothers. Rubbishing the claims of the former Ranbaxy promoters, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi told the defence counsel: "You may be owning half of the world but there is no concrete plan as to how the arbitral amount would be realised. "You said that somebody owed you Rs 6,000 crore. But this is neither here nor there." Comprising also of Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, the bench fixed the next date of hearing as April 11. One of the Ranbaxy counsels said they have assets and their values have been submitted to the court. Moreover, they also have immovables. They have two operating businesses and an IT company. Shivinder Singh, who was present in the court, said the total value of their assets after liquidation was nearly Rs 900 crore and if an opportunity was given by the court he could certainly work to grow these assets up to Rs 2,000 crore. "The group's situation has changed in the last couple of years," he pleaded before the court, seeking more time to comply with the foreign arbitration. Daiichi had bought Ranbaxy -- founded by the Singh brothers -- in 2008. Later, the Japanese company moved the Singapore arbitration tribunal alleging that the brothers had misled the company and concealed information that the company was facing a probe by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice. --IANS sumit/in/mr/mag (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the opposition for questioning the Indian Air Force's Balakot airstrike, saying whenever "Pakistan is unmasked", its supporters in India take its side. Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha, Modi said: "It worries some people that we killed terrorists. When we kill our enemies, some people in India shed tears." "When Pakistan is unmasked in front of the whole world, these very people take Pakistan's side." "In the last five years, I did not let India bow it's head in shame even once. It is very important for the country to have a strong government," he said amid thunderous applause. "Today, the whole world is looking at India with so much respect... You know why that is happening? Who is responsible for this? No, it is not because of Modi... it is because of 125 crore Indians." " Be it Congress, SP or BSP, they have put your life and future in danger," Modi said pointing fingers at the opposition, and making a clear case ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as Uttar Pradesh goes to polls on April 11, in first of the seven phase polls. The Prime Minister thundered that some people do not like it when terrorists are given a reply in their own language. "Attacks have stopped in the past five years because you have elected a well-intentioned Chowkidar at the Centre. Now the terrorists know if they commit a mistake, Modi will even go to hell to find and punish them," he said. "Modi does not do vote bank in the name of terror that is why its perpetrators are locked in jails today. If the country has to move ahead then we all have to be together," he said. He will address another election rally in Saharanpur later in the day. Both Saharanpur and Amroha elected Bharatiya Janata Party candidates in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections despite the region being dominated by the minority community. --IANS hindi-mag/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission (EC) has released merchandise with the catchline 'Veni, Vidi, Vote' -- an improvisation on Julius Caesar's "Veni, Vidi, Vici" -- urging people to be a proud voter in the world's biggest democratic exercise. "Veni, Vidi, Vici" is a Latin phrase which means "I came, I saw, I conquered". Caesar had used these words in a letter to the Roman Senate after easily winning a war. "To spread awareness about voting, the EC has sent some merchandise like key chains and badges which will be distributed among voters before the elections," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters here on Friday. The quirky merchandise, includes bags, coasters, mugs, caps and T-shirts with slogans like 'Ready to vote, proud to be a voter' and 'Let's get inked'. "We are also planning to use Bangla phrases in some of these items for West Bengal," Basu added. Basu also informed about the awareness initiatives undertaken by District Electoral Officers across the state. 'Somanubhuti Jatra' (Journey of Equality) is a bus with election-related information moving around East Burdwan district. "This bus has been launched under Awareness on Wheels to answer the election-related queries and encourage people with disabilities to cast their vote," he said. --IANS bnd/ssp/rtp/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first phase of polling in seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra on April 11, has 116 candidates in the fray, an official release said here Friday. Over 1.30 crore voters are eligible to cast their vote in the first phase, it said. "Preparations are going on in full swing for the first phase of elections. There are 116 candidates in the fray for whom 1,30,35,000 voters are eligible to cast their votes at 14,919 polling centres," it said. Of the total number of voters, 66.71 lakh are males and 63.64 lakh females. In addition, 181 voters belong to the third gender category. Nearly 44,000 EVMs and 20,000 VVPAT machines will be put to use. Total 73,837 employees are deputed to conduct the polling process, it added. Voting for Lok Sabha polls will be held in four phases in the state. In the first phase, Wardha, Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur and Yavatmal-Washim constituencies will go to polls. In view of the summer temperature, the Election Commmission has given directions to provide drinking water and put up sheds for voters. The material required for polling has been given to the district collectors. Polling in Naxal-hit areas of Gadhciroli-Chimur Lok Sabha constituency will be conducted between 7 am and 3 pm. In Wardha constituency, there are 2,026 polling centres for 8.93 lakh male and 8.48 lakh female voters. Together there are 17.41 lakh voters. In Ramtek constituency, 2,364 polling centres are provided for 9.96 lakh male and 9.24 lakh female voters totaling to 19.21 lakh voters. In Nagpur, there are 2,065 polling centres for 10.96 lakh male and 10.63 lakh female voters. The total number of voters in Nagpur is 21.60 lakh. The Bhandara-Gondiya constituency has 2,184 polling centres for 9.05 lakh male and 9.03 lakh female voters. The total number of voters in that constituency is 18.08 lakh. In Gadchiroli-Chimur, there are 1,881 polling centres, where 15.80 lakh voters, including 7.99 male and 9.86 lakh female, are eligible to cast their votes. In Chandrapur constituency, there are 2,193 polling centres for 19.08 lakh voters, of whom male voters count to 9.86 lakh, while female voters are 9.22 lakh. There are 19.14 lakh voters in Yavatmal-Washim constituency, of whom 9.93 lakh are male and 9.21 lakh are female. There are 2,206 polling centres in the constituency. Two ballot units are placed at polling centres having over 15 contestants along with one control unit. For the first phase, 26,000 ballot units and 18,000 control units have been provided, in addition to 20,000 VVPAT machines. All the centres are equipped with extra machines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka Navy has arrested at least 18 Indian fishermen and seized three dhows (vessel) for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters. The Navy arrested the fishermen in the seas 16 nautical miles west of Point Pedro during a Naval patrol. Eighteen Indian fishermen were arrested from Tamil Nadu for allegedly breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters, the Navy said. Three dhows used by them were also been taken into naval custody and brought to SLNS Uttara in Jaffna, Colombo Page reported. After a medical test, the fishermen will be handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for further investigation, the Navy Media Unit said. In January 2018, Sri Lanka increased by over 100 times the fine on foreign vessels to deter them from fishing in its waters, amid the dispute over the frequent entry of Indian fishing trawlers into the country's maritime territory. The main aim of the move is to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country's coastal belt. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two drug peddlers were arrested and 210 kgs of poppy was recovered from them in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, police said Friday. Acting on a tip-off, a Punjab-bound truck was intercepted on the link road at Sallan in Hiranagar and the poppy, concealed in six bags, was recovered, they said. The truck driver Jorawar Singh and his helper Dheeraj Kumar are residents of Punjab, they added. A case has been registered under the NDPS act, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least two people were killed and about a dozen labourers injured Friday when an under-construction building collapsed at the APMC Yard at Yashwantapura in Bengaluru, police said. The injured have been rushed to a nearby government hospital while the bodies of the victims have been sent for autopsy. According to police, construction of a multi-level car parking was going on at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard in Yashwantapura. The plan was to build a 10-storeyed building to accommodate vehicles coming there. However, the building collapsed killing Rahul Goswamy (19) from West Bengal and Rakesh (25) from Bihar. They were labourers carrying out the construction work at the site. Among the injured, the condition of Hanumantu (29) from Yadgir is critical, police said. Police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304(A) of the IPC against the contractor and others. Police sources said they were investigating whether those entrusted with the work had necessary permission from authorities. The incident comes days after an under-construction shopping complex crashed at Dharwad, killing 19 people and injuring many others on March 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He is all of 30, educated in the UK, speaks impeccable English and also recites with equal ease and adequate fervour Harivanshrai Bachchan's "Agneepath" and Shyam Narayan Pandey's "Chetak ki Veerta", both Hindi poems exalting bravery and courage. Arvind Kumar Singh's announcement as the Congress candidate for the Gautam Buddh Nagar Lok Sabha constituency had come as a surprise for many, with a section of local old-timers in the party even getting upset for bringing in an "outsider". A PhD holder, Singh had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls unsuccessfully from Aligarh. But this time around he wants to change that. Since the Congress declared him its candidate, Singh has been on whirlwind visits to villages and city areas, reaching out to people with his plans for the district that adjoins national capital New Delhi. "We have a 17-point agenda for Gautam Buddh Nagar," says the young politician, "including jobs, farm distress, flat buyers' issues, private school fees regulation and women safety among priorities." "We will have 30 per cent reservation in jobs for local candidates. There are several skilled, qualified young men and women without jobs because companies don't hire them for being local. We need to tackle this," he told PTI. He also wants Swaminathan Commission recommendations on farm issues implemented. "Farm distress is a major issue in the region. People's lands have been acquired, their compensations are either pending or are inadequate. The MSP (minimum support price) for crops is low, the situation needs to be improved." "We will constitute a special committee to address the flat buyers' issues, and bring in a regulation for fees in private schools and ensure strict implementation," Singh, who has headed the family-run Noida International University, said. Singh said if he was voted to power, streets in Noida and Greater Noida would be equipped with CCTV cameras and 30 per cent personnel in all police stations would be women. But the young politician, who last went to the hustings on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket, is pitted against BJP's heavyweight Mahesh Sharma, sitting MP and a Union minister who raked in 5.99 lakh votes in 2014, and BSP-SP coalition's Satveer Nagar, a first-timer banking on anti-BJP votes and caste equation. Singh found Sharma's tenure "full of flaws" and launched a tirade against the minister-MP. "His government waived loans of the rich, while the condition of the poor and the farmers deteriorated in his own constituency. Could not they (farmers) have been helped by the government?" "He is a doctor but could not get any new government hospital here. There is zero healthcare infrastructure in rural areas," he claimed. On Nagar, whose candidature is also supported by the SP-BSP ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Singh said the coalition has no base in the urban areas and even among the rural populace, they have been rejected for lack of ideas and plans. Singh, who studied at the University of Leeds in the UK, also faulted the BJP for fanning his "parachute candidate" image, which he considers has has managed to overcome. "The BJP had initially tried to do it (highlight me as an outsider) when in fact I have been here since the age of 13, did my schooling here only. It was just that I contested in 2014 from Aligarh, and that is what the rivals used it against me. "But I have been meeting people from 6 in the morning to 1.30 in the night. I visited urban areas and reached out to residents in over 300 villages and wherever I go I have witnessed people coming out in my support. So I think the outsider label is way behind me," he said. Except for Noida, which has a mixed electorate profile, Dadri, Jewar, Khurja and Sikandrabad assembly segments in Gautam Buddh Nagar may witness caste equation playing a major role in the election where Thakur votes, though not in majority but in good numbers, can turn the polls around. "Well you cannot rule it (caste factor) out, but you also don't know what may happen. This time, it's a very complicated election, very complicated. The traditional vote may not go as they have always been doing," he said, exuding confidence of a victory. Asked about future political plans, in case he does not win, Singh, who shares "Agneepath" being his favourite poem which talks about continuing even in the face of adversity -- said, "Happen whatever may, I am not going to leave Gautam Buddh Nagar. I am here only." Gautam Buddh Nagar, with nearly 23 lakh voters, goes to polls on Aprill 11 during the first leg of the seven-phased elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four persons were Friday killed and five others injured after their vehicle crashed into a roadside tree in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, police said. The incident happened on Badnagar Road near Chandukhedi village, some 15 kilometres from the district headquarters, said Inspector Arvind Tomar of Mahakal police station. "It appears the driver of the SUV lost control after which it rammed into a tree. The victims were relatives and were returning to their homes in Dhar after attending a function here," he said. Tomar identified the deceased as Dipak Verma (20), Anil Yogi (20), Parvin Verma (22) and Rajesh Verma (26). A case has been registered and further investigations were on, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP on Friday alleged that Delhi government-run schools are unable to provide quality to children and claimed that four lakh students who failed in examinations in the last four years were not re-admitted. Addressing a press conference here, Union minister Vijay Goel said according to an RTI reply, five lakh children have failed in Delhi government-run schools in the last four years, out of them four lakh students have not been re-admitted. A few students were present in the press conference held at the Delhi BJP office which was also addressed by party MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Verma. No immediate reaction was available from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the allegations levelled by the BJP leaders. Goel said according to the RTI reply, 52 per cent of students who failed in class 9 were not re-admitted. To highlight the plight of such students, he said he will hold a conclave of their parents in coming days. At present, 16 lakh students are studying in 1,028 schools in Delhi. Goel said he will visit a government school on Saturday to check the prevailing situation. "The tall claims of Delhi government on providing quality are being exposed before the people and they will give a befitting reply to it in the elections," Bidhuri said. BJP MP Parvesh Verma accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of betraying people, saying he failed to fulfil his promise of opening 500 new schools in the city. The BJP leaders also claimed that schools were not constructed despite availability of land. The posts of principals were lying vacant in many schools, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 600 theatre personalities, including Amol Palekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad and Usha Ganguli, have signed a letter asking people to "vote BJP and its allies" out of power, arguing that the idea of India and its constitution are under threat. The letter, which was issued Thursday evening in 12 languages on the Artist Unite India website, said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are the "most critical in the history" of the country. Among those who have signed the letter are Shanta Gokhale, Mahesh Elkunchwar, Mahesh Dattani, Arundhati Nag, Kirti Jain, Abhishek Majumdar, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Lillete Dubey, Mita Vashisth, M K Raina, Makarand Deshpande and Anurag Kashyap. "Today, the very idea of India is under threat. Today, song, dance, laughter is under threat. Today, our beloved Constitution is under threat," they said. The government has "suffocated" the institutions where argument, debate and dissent were nurtured, the letter stated. "A democracy must empower its weakest, its most marginalised. A democracy cannot function without questioning, debate, and a vibrant opposition. All this is being concertedly eroded by the current government. "The BJP, which came to power five years ago with the promise of development, has given free rein to Hindutva goons to indulge in the of hate and violence," it added. In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the letter stated that he has destroyed the lives of many people through his government's policies and has failed on the promises he made. The letter does not refer to the prime minister by name. "He promised to bring back black money; instead, rogues have looted the country and run away. The wealth of the rich has grown astronomically, while the poor have become even poorer." The letter asked people to protect the "Constitution and our syncretic, secular ethos" and vote "bigotry, hatred, and apathy out of power". "We appeal to our fellow citizens to vote for love and compassion, for equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism," the letter read. "Vote to empower the weakest, protect liberty, protect the environment, and foster scientific thinking. Vote for secular democratic, inclusive India. Vote for the freedom to dream. Vote wisely," it added. Last week, a similar appeal was issued by celebrated indie filmmakers such as Anand Patwardhan, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan and Devashish Makhija, asking voters to "defeat fascism". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to release its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on April 25, according to sources in the party. Polling for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held in the sixth phase on May 12. The manifesto, which will list out its agenda for the general elections, will focus on its endeavour to get full statehood for Delhi, a source said. The document has been prepared by a seven-member team headed by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The ruling AAP in the national capital is fighting the Lok Sabha elections on the agenda of granting full statehood to Delhi. The Congress, with whom the AAP is yet to forge an alliance in the national capital, has already released its manifesto which promises full statehood to Puducherry but has no mention of Delhi on the issue. The BJP is likely to release its manifesto on April 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The American Civil Liberties Union is asking a judge to block the Trump administration from constructing a border wall with money obtained through his national emergency declaration. The civil rights group filed the request Thursday in California on behalf of communities along the border and the Sierra Club environmental group. The court papers say President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive powers by diverting funds from the Department of Defense to Homeland Security for a border wall. The request was filed as part of a February legal challenge. The request comes after Congressional efforts to stop Trump from diverting funds failed. In addition, a group of 16 states, including California, New York and Colorado, have also filed against the emergency declaration on similar grounds. Trump has blasted the legal action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after he was booked for his remarks against the Election Commission (EC), Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being a blackmailer. Addressing a poll rally at Akola in Maharashtra, Ambedkar alleged that Modi blackmailed the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her party saying if she did not want her son-in-law Robert Vadra to be in jail, they should refrain from joining hands with any other party. "Can anyone tell me why Congress did not have an alliance with any other party across the country? Modi had put a condition that if Congress party wants Rabert Vadra not to be in jail, then it should refrain from forging an alliance with any other party," he claimed. "That is why Congress did not have an alliance with any party. Modi is a blackmailer. He is blackmailing Sonia Gandhi and everyone else. "This is Modi's style of functioning that Congress party did not have an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal," Ambedkar alleged. Ambedkar, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Akola and Solapur constituencies in Maharashtra as a candidate of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). VBA is an alliance of Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBA) and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM. The VBA is contesting all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Ambedkar was in talks with the Congress-NCP for the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress-NCP combine had been trying to bring Ambedkar, who has pockets of influence in the state, in its 'maha agadhi', a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties. However, talks in this regard remained inconclusive. On Thursday, Ambedkar had said at an election rally at Digras in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district that he will jail the EC for two days if voted to power for not letting political parties speak about the Pulwama terror attack. Later, a case was registered against him under IPC sections 503 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 189 (threat of injury to public servant). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Friday asked Rahul Gandhi to clear stand on National Conference Omar Abdullah's separate Prime Minister in Kashmir demand,and said though Modi will return to power,but in any case they were in opposition and they go ahead with Abdullah's proposal "we will put our lives at stake" and not allow it "at any cost." Attacking Congress for raising doubts over Balakot airstrikes,Shah said after Prime Minister directed Air Force to enter Pakistan and destroy terrorists camps to avenge Pulwama attack, "there was an atmosphere of mourning in two places--Pakistan, which is understanable and the other in Congress camp at a time when entire country was celebrating." The BJP president claimed that the NRC was a major step taken by Modi during the last five years to drive out illegal migrants from Assam and said "give Prime Minister Narendra Modi another five years, BJP will find out each illegal migrant and throw them out of the state". "Insaan bhi kya, parinde bhi nahi aa payenge (Forget about people, even birds cannot enter)", he said. Abdullah had recently made a statement that ''Kashmir must have a separate Prime Minister.....Can a country have two Prime Ministers. The Congress is silent on this'', Shah said at an election rally here in this central Assam town. ''I want to ask Rahul Baba whether Congress supports this statement of Abdullah. I know he does not have the courage to say anything on this as it requires the guts to speak on it'', he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form the government again, but if in any case, ''we are in the opposition and they plan to materialise Abdullah's proposal, then 'hum jaan ki baazi laaga denge' (we will put our lives at stake) and not allow it at any cost'', he said. ''Kashmir will always remain a part of the country and we cannot allow it to have a separate Prime Minister'', he said. Elections are also being held in Kashmir where a National Conference member, an alliance partner of the Congress, has declared that it is his right to give the slogan 'Pakistan Zindabad'. ''Can we tolerate this''?, he commented. ''I want to ask Rahul Baba to answer the nation whether he agrees with this'', he added. ''I want to send a message to Rahul baba that it may be your policy to talk with terrorists but it is not BJP's. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principle is ''wahan se goli aayegi, yahaan se gola jayega'' (if we are attacked by bullet, we will reply with cannon balls. Bricks will be answered with rocks)'', the BJP president asserted. Prime Minister's biggest achievement has been to strengthen the security of the nation, he said. ''There was ten years of Congress government at the centre with Manmohan Singh, whom you had sent from Assam, as the Prime Minister. There were unabated incursions from Pakistan......jawans were attacked and beheaded but he did nothing and remained silent'', he added. ''Can the Congress keep the nation, give a fitting reply to the enemies.If Not, then why vote for Congress'', he asked. He asserted that the NDA has a clear and a strong leader in Narendra Modi but the opposition is still not decided who will be their Prime Minister. The BJP during the last five years has also began the work of implementing Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to protect the culture, heritage, traditions and language of the indigenous people of the state. ''A committee has been already set up by the Prime Minister and the recommendations will be put forward within six months'', Shah added. The youths of Assam had agitated for six years and many students were martyred till the Assam Accord was signed in 1985 but since then the successive governments did not take any concrete steps to implement the various clauses of the Accord, he alleged. ''Even in Gujarat, we used to hear 'Assam ki galiyon suni hain, Indira Gandhi khuni hain' (The lanes of Assam are silent, Indira Gandhi is a killer)'', he added. The BJP president claimed that after the party came to power in the state illegal migrants were thrown out of Kaziranga National Park and rhino poaching became non-existent. He said in Assam, the Congress and Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF have an understanding and ''during the day they fight and at night they do 'ILU, ILU' (wording in a hindi film song referring to the expression I love You). It is their old tactics and it is now for you to decided whether you are with the nation or with Badruddin''. Shah was campaigning for BJP'S Nowgong Parliamentary constituency candidate Rupak Sarmah. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Friday asked Rahul Gandhi to clear stand on Omar Abdullah's separate Prime Minister in Kashmir demand,and lauding Balakot airstrikes asserted Gandhi may have the policy to talk to terrorists,Modi government's principle is to reply with cannon balls if attacked by bullet and answer bricks with rocks. Addressing election rallies in Arunachal Pradesh,Manipur and Assam,Shah hailed NRC as a major step taken by Modi government to drive out illegal migrants and praised Modi government for bringing peace and development in the Northeast. Making NC chief's PM in Kashmir comment a major poll issue,the BJP president said though Modi will return to power, but in any case they were in opposition and they go ahead with Abdullah's proposal "we will put our lives at stake" and not allow it "at any cost." Attacking Congress for raising doubts over Balakot airstrikes,Shah said after Prime Minister directed Air Force to enter Pakistan and destroy terrorists camps to avenge Pulwama attack, "there was an atmosphere of mourning in two places--Pakistan, which is understanable and the other in Congress camp at a time when entire country was celebrating." Shah hailed NRC exerise and said "give Prime Minister Narendra Modi another five years, BJP will find out each illegal migrant and throw them out of the state". "Insaan bhi kya, parinde bhi nahi aa payenge (Forget about people, even birds cannot enter)", he said. Abdullah had recently made a statement that ''Kashmir must have a separate Prime Minister.....Can a country have two Prime Ministers. The Congress is silent on this'', Shah said at an election rally at Ahatguri in central Assam town. ''I want to ask Rahul Baba whether Congress supports this statement of Abdullah. I know he does not have the courage to say anything on this as it requires the guts to speak on it'', he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form the government again, but if in any case, ''we are in the opposition and they plan to materialise Abdullah's proposal, then 'hum jaan ki baazi laaga denge' (we will put our lives at stake) and not allow it at any cost'', he said. ''Kashmir will always remain a part of the country and we cannot allow it to have a separate Prime Minister'', he said. ''I want to send a message to Rahul baba that it may be your policy to talk with terrorists but it is not BJP's. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principle is ''wahan se goli aayegi, yahaan se gola jayega'' (if we are attacked by bullet, we will reply with cannon balls. Bricks will be answered with rocks)'', the BJP president asserted. Asserting PM's biggest achievement has been to strengthen the security of the nation, he said ''There was ten years of Congress government at the centre with Manmohan Singh, whom you had sent from Assam, as the Prime Minister. There were unabated incursions from Pakistan......jawans were attacked and beheaded but he did nothing and remained silent''. ''Can the Congress keep the nation, give a fitting reply to the enemies.If Not, then why vote for Congress'', he asked. He asserted that the NDA has a clear and a strong leader in Narendra Modi but the opposition is still not decided who will be their Prime Minister. The BJP chief highlighted his party's sincerity in implementing Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to protect the culture, heritage, traditions and language of the indigenous people of the state by setting a committee whose recommendation will be put forward within six months. The youths of Assam had agitated for six years and many students were martyred till the Assam Accord was signed in 1985 but since then the successive governments did not take any concrete steps to implement the various clauses of the Accord, he alleged. ''Even in Gujarat, we used to hear 'Assam ki galiyon suni hain, Indira Gandhi khuni hain' (The lanes of Assam are silent, Indira Gandhi is a killer)'', he added. He said in Assam, the Congress and Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF have an understanding and ''during the day they fight and at night they do 'ILU, ILU' (wording in a hindi film song referring to the expression I love You). It is their old tactics and it is now for you to decided whether you are with the nation or with Badruddin''. Starting the day with a rally at Bordumsa in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah claimed it was the Modi government that brought peace and development to the northeast, where militant activities were rampant even five years ago. Terming the people of Arunachal "patriots", he said that this Himalayan state withstood the Chinese onslaught in 1962 even when then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in a statement, expressed helplessness for Assam. Noting that Morarji Desai was the last prime minister who attended meetings of the Northeastern Council,he said 40 years later, it was Modi who attended the convention in Shillong. At his second stop at Manipur, Shah said that Narendra Modi has made the country more secure by becoming the first Prime Minister to destroy terrorist camps across the borders. While addressing a public rally at Wangjing locality, he hit out at the Congress saying price of essential items had sky-rocketed under the Congress rule, owing to incessant bandhs and strikes, but the incumbent government has made the state blockade-free. Heaping praise on the BJP-led government in Manipur for its development work, Shah said Chief Minister Biren Singh can be termed "a true chowkidaar" (watchman) as he has served in the Border Security Force. Targetting rival Congress, Shah said "the meeting of North Eastern Council, which had been stalled for forty years during Congress rule was held at Shillong after BJP came to power"under the leadership of Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has urged the high court here that the Centre be asked to supervise water supply from Haryana to the national capital, saying any reduction in Wazirabad reservoir water level would hit important areas where residences of President, Prime Minister and judges are located. Citing the coming lean season, the DJB has contended that "an imminent water crisis is likely to hit the New Delhi area in the next few weeks owing to the failure of state of Haryana to supply water as required pursuant to orders of the Supreme Court". The Board has contended the issue of water supply assumes importance in the 100 days long lean season till the arrival of monsoon and Haryana ought to strictly comply with the Supreme Court's direction to keep the Wazirabad reservoir full during this period. In its affidavit placed on record before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani, the DJB has contended that the neighbouring state was "showing reluctance" in supplying the minimum required 120 cusec of water to keep the Wazirabad reservoir full at all times, which amounts to disobedience of judicial orders. "As an interim measure, at least for the coming lean season of about 100 days, central government supervision be requested in the matter," it has said in the affidavit. The DJB has claimed that Haryana has about 22,000 cusecs of water available to it from all sources, but still it was reluctant to supply the 120 cusecs required to keep the Wazirabad reservoir full at all times during the lean season till the end of June or till monsoon arrives. A cusec is a unit of flow of water equal to one cubic foot per second. The board has claimed that any reduction in the Wazirabad reservoir's water level would hit the supply to the capital's most important and sensitive areas where residences of the President, Prime Minister and judges as well as various government departments are located It has urged the court to ask the central government to intervene and ensure that Haryana keeps up the water supply as ordered by the apex court. The DJB has also sought directions from the court for immediate take over of the canal and channel systems supplying water to river Yamuna, either by the central government or a neutral central body. Haryana, had earlier in its affidavit, claimed that the raw water supply from it to Delhi never gets affected or reduced even in the lean season. It has also said that Delhi should take urgent steps to reduce its losses which are alleged to be 10 per cent during treatment and 30 per cent after that, as residents of Haryana suffer from dearth of water to ensure the national capital does not. The affidavit by DJB was filed during hearing of a PIL by lawyer S B Tripathi seeking sufficient water supply for the national capital. The high court had earlier asked the Haryana government to ensure that it releases the entire quantity of water required as per the undertaking given by it to the court. Haryana has to release 719 cusecs of water per day into Munak canal and 330 cusecs per day in Delhi Sub Branch Canal, according to the undertaking and earlier court orders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- Representatives From 20+ Institutes To Offer Students Free One on One Guidance Regarding Courses, Careers and Opportunities in New Zealand Estero New Zealand, an New Zealand recognised agent, is hosting the New Zealand Fair at Taj MG Road, Bangalore on April 7th. Navigus, an ed-tech company based out of Bangalore is also onboard as the technology partners for the event. Bangalore has emerged as a global tech hub and there is a huge demand for new age skills like data science, AR, VR & animation that can stand the test of global expectations. New Zealand universities require committed and driven students who can build upon the excellent infrastructure and world-class facilities they offer. Bangalore offers the most qualified and dedicated young student crowd fit. New Zealand was ranked Number 1 study abroad destination ( com), Number 1 for preparing students for the future(The Economist) and number 2 least corrupt country in the world. These coupled with easy entry requirements, immigrant-friendly population and affordable costs make New Zealand one of the most sought after study destinations of 2019. The fair is unique as officials from ALL of the public and private universities from NZ are in attendance, along with officials from Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Education New Zealand, who will be present to interact with students and parents. This includes 8 NZ Universities (ranked among QS World 500 Universities), 9 Institutes of Technology and 7 Vocational Providers. Students gain information on various study options, higher education opportunities in New Zealand and what it is like to be an international student in New Zealand. "This fair provides a unique opportunity for students to come and interact with the representative directly from New Zealand, get the opportunity for on spot offers, scholarships, seminars and a whole lot more," says Kshitij Garg, Managing Director, Estero New Zealand. "Although pre-registrations are mandatory, it is completely free of cost. There are no restrictions but I would recommend students to carry 2 copies of their academic records and passport as a lot of universities are offering on-spot admissions and scholarships," added Garg, when asked what should students keep in mind before attending the fair. Students who plan to study overseas can take this opportunity to register for the event sending NZ7 to 56161. For more information, please visit : https://www.estero.co.nz/enzra-fairhttps://www.navigus.in/enzraAbout UsNavigus is an ed-tech startup based out of Bangalore with a major presence in North America, EU, South East Asia and Australia. Founded in 2016 by Shivansh, who is also an angel investor and first team member in Mobstac, an Accel portfolio technology company, in the field of IoT, Proximity marketing and Mobile Publishing, the holding company has already booked sales upwards of $1.8m and has 20,000+ users onboard. Navigus was awarded Best B2C EdTech Company of the year by EdTech Review 2019. Navigus is the official technology partner of the ENZRA fair. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee Thursday said the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a flop whereas the Kanyashree scheme for girls introduced by her in West Bengal has won a UN award. The West Bengal chief minister said the state government has won the United Nations Public Service Award for its Kanyashree programme, which was introduced in 2012 to aid the girl child in education and her wellbeing. "Modi's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' has not been able to provide any real help to the girl child and is a flop," she said at a rally here which falls in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency. Countering Modi's claim that Banerjee is a 'speed breaker' in the path of West Bengal's development, she spoke of the number of welfare schemes and programmes started by her government. She claimed that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has curtailed funds for many projects such as ICDS and Asha for the welfare of women. But these have been kept alive by her dispensation in West Bengal with funds from the state government, she said. Banerjee said that the TMC-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha combine has fielded Amar Rai, a son of the soil for the Lok Sabha elections, unlike the BJP which had got an "outsider" as its candidate for the Darjeeling seat, who won and was not seen again in the hills. The BJP has fielded Raju Bista this time instead of S S Ahluwalia, who was elected in 2014 but had earned the ire of the people because of his absence from the hills during the 2017 agitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 32-year-old businessman was grievously injured Friday after he allegedly attempted suicide by jumping before a moving train at a Delhi Metro station, officials said. The man, identified as Sanant Goel, said he took the extreme step as he suffered losses in his business, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro) Mohammed Ali said. "Goel suffered injuries and his right leg got severed in the suicide bid. He was rushed to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. He is a resident of Chandigarh and had come to visit his sister in Rohini," the DCP said. The incident took place at platform number 1 of Tikri Kalan station of the Delhi Metro's Green Line, which connects Inderlok and Brig Hoshiar Singh stations. "The train was going towards Inderlok when he jumped on to the tracks some time around 12:30 PM. Services were affected briefly on the Bahadurgarh city to Mundka section, which were later restored," a senior Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official said. The incident comes a day after a 46-year-old Delhi Police ASI allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a train at Jahangirpuri metro station on the busy Yellow Line. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, BJP Friday hit out at the Congress Chief, accusing him of giving a "secular certificate" to "communal and divisive politics" of outfits like Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Jamaat-e-Islami. Apparently referring to the presence of workers of IUML with its green flags in Gandhi's roadshow in Kalpetta, senior BJP leader and union minister Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said "Muslim League Ka Jhanda" (flag of Muslim League), "Congress Ka Agenda" (agenda of Congress) has been exposed once again. After filing his nomination at the Collectorate, Gandhi, along with his sister and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and senior leaders of the Congress led UDF in Kerala had undertaken a roadshow to greet voters. IUML, a key ally of the UDF, is a major political force in Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, a Congress stronghold. Addressing an electionmeeting at Mukkam in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Naqvi said Gandhi had landed in Wayanad to give a "secular certificate" to "communal and divisive politics" of IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami. Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, is the NDA candidate from Wayanad. The BJP leader alleged that Congress is a 'history sheeter criminal' for 'communal polarisation'. "The Congress is a traditional skilled exploiter of votes on a communal basis, using the cover of pseudo secularism.Divide and rule policy has been the identity of the grand old party", he said. Naqvi alleged that Congress,under Gandhi's leadership, was carrying forward its policy of legitimising the 'communal politics' of the Muslim League. Lashing out at the Congress, Naqvi said that earlier the party granted recognition to IUML's 'communal politics' by inducting them in the Congress-led UPA government in 2004 for the first time after Independence. Gandhi reached Wayanad to carry forward that same 'communal and divisive agenda' of the Congress, he alleged. IUML representative from Kerala, E Ahamed, was a junior Minister in UPA 1 and UPA 2. Naqvi said the 'journey of Congress president Shri Rahul Gandhi from Amethi to Wayanad' exposes the character of the Congress, which carries the 'veil of secularism' and the 'bag of communalism'. He said the people of the country would not allow the Congress to 'hijack' the votes on a communal basis in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Naqvi said Congress has always compromised with national security for votes. The Congress' manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections proved this, he said, dubbing it a 'Shapath Patra to bring separatists closer and adopt soft policy against terrorists'. This is dangerous for the country, he said. Naqvi alleged that the Congress manifesto encourages anti-national elements. The manifesto, which promises to weaken AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) and scrap the sedition law, exposes the Congress' 'irresponsible approach' towards national security. Naqvi also alleged that the Congress president had earlier also supported those elements who want to divide the country. "First, the Congress raised questions on surgical strikes and now it has questioned the air strikes. This reflects Congress' cheap politics' on sensitive issues of national security. The people of the country will teach a lesson to the Congress for this sin," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Exuding confidence that the BJP will be re-elected at the Centre, party president Amit Shah said Friday it was the Modi government that brought peace and development to the northeast, where militant activities were rampant even five years ago. Addressing a rally here in Changlang district, he said the saffron party is committed to take action against cross-border terrorism and insurgency in the region. Shah also insisted that "political stability returned to the state after the BJP formed government in the state". Terming the people of Arunachal "patriots", he said that this Himalayan state withstood the Chinese onslaught in 1962 even when then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in a statement, expressed helplessness for Assam. "Even five years ago, the northeast region was disturbed, there was hardly any development owing to militant activities among other roadblocks. The BJP has brought peace to the region and paved way for its development," he claimed. The BJP chief also pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed his ministers to visit the northeast states every fortnight and resolve the problems of the region. "All parts of the northeast now have air and rail connectivity. In Arunachal alone, the government has sanctioned Rs 50,000 crore for the development of roads," he stated. Highlighting the achievements of the NDA government for Arunachal, Shah said the state was the first in the northeast to get its two cities Itanagar and Pasighat into the list of smart cities under the Smart City Mission, besides air services to Pasighat and Tezu under the UDAAN scheme. Hitting out at the Congress, he said the development work had come to a halt under the grand old party. The Congress has made no effort during its tenure to root out terrorism or corruption from the country, he said. "When Modi ji took action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups by ordering an air strike on their camps, post the Pulwama attack, a pall of gloom descended on Pakistan and on the face of Rahul Gandhi," Shah claimed. Noting that Morarji Desai was the last prime minister who attended meetings of the Northeastern Council, he said 40 years later, it was Modi who attended the convention in Shillong. From Arunachal Pradesh to Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat, the BJP will form government, the party's national president said, adding that the winning streak of the party has started in this state. "It is for the first time that BJP is fighting on all assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh. Our winning streak started in this region when three MLAs of our party were elected uncontested," he maintained. Three party candidates had been elected unopposed in the state from Aalo East, Yachuli and Dirang assembly constituencies. Appreciating Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his efforts to usher in development in the state, the BJP president said the state government organised 'sarkar aapke dwar' (government at your doorstep) in almost all the districts to reach out to as many people as possible. "It is because of the NDA government Arunachal got its first medical college, while the project to bring mobile connectivity to the state is also on fast track," he added. Arunachal Pradesh is going to simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls on April 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition BJP and Congress Friday ridiculed Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's statement on women empowerment alleging that the state has "completely failed" to protect the interests of women. The BJP called Patnaik "anti-women" while the Congress alleged that the ruling BJD has "betrayed" the entire women community in the state. The opposition parties were reacting on Friday after Patnaik's Thursday message on women empowerment. The chief minister had said that women empowerment is the real "double engine" for growth and development of India. Patnaik, whose regional party has fielded 33 per cent of women candidates in Lok Sabha elections from the state, had also criticised Congress and BJP for "not providing adequate" representation to women in decision making bodies. He cited success of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as symbol of women empowerment. OPCC vice-president Arya Gyanedra at a press conference alleged that there has been rise in crimes against women in the last two decade ever since BJD came to power in Odisha. "Can chief minister justify atrocities against women. At least 4,749 minor girls were raped between 2014 and 2017. This apart, 585 minor girls were gang raped," Gyanendra told reporters. "Is it women empowerment," the Congress leader asked. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan justified his party calling the chief minister as "anti-women". Pradhan claimed that the BJD has fielded candidates accused in woman atrocity cases. He said BJD has renominated sitting Pipili MLA Pradip Maharathy who resigned from the council of ministers in the face of his "anti-women" activities and remarks. The ruling party has also fielded a similar candidate in Bhubaneswar, he claimed. The Union Minister said a woman two days ago attempted self-immolation before the CM's residence opposing candidature of a leader who allegedly physically abused her. "These instances show Patnaik's style of women empowerment," Pradhan said in the statement adding that a minor rape victim girl at Kunduli in Koraput district committed suicide as she "did not get justice". The Union Minister said women and children in Odisha's 25 districts are malnourished and 12 minor girls got pregnant while staying in state run hostels. Referring to Patnaik's statement where he named New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Union Minister said: "Had the Chief Minister taken names of Union Ministers like Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman, the women of India and Odisha would have got inspiration." Pradhan claimed these two women Union ministers have emerged as symbol of women empowerment across the world. Claiming that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was afraid of the growing popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Odisha, Pradhan said: "You may indulge in propaganda against Modi, but the people of Odisha have this time decided to ensure a 'double engine' government in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Supporters of the BJP in the US have organised a number of rallies and events in several American cities ahead of the general election in India. While a group of Indian-Americans organised "Chowkidar March" in New Jersey, NRIs4Modi group organised a car rally in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC this week. "There is so much enthusiasm among the NRIs to bring back the Modi government," said Krishna Reddy, president of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) after participating in a "Chowkidar March" in the Indian-American dominated areas of New Jersey. People from different backgrounds joined the march with placards written in multiple languages like Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannnada and Malayalam, he said. Some of the meetings were addressed by senior BJP leaders over phone or video conferencing. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya addressed a gathering of 500 NRIs at 'NaMo Sangam' meeting in San Francisco. Sunil Deodhar addressed a similar meeting in Chicago. A "Chai Pe Charcha" meeting attracted more than 200 NRIs from New Jersey. Other "Chai Pe Charcha" meetings were held in Detroit, Pittsburg, Boston, Columbus, Cleveland, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, Houston, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. 'Sikhs of America' president, Kanwal Singh Soni, who organised a car rally in Maryland, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping the global Sikh community in many ways and fulfilling all their demands and requests during the last five years. According to India's Election Commission, the Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and polling would be held over seven phases through May 19, followed by counting of votes on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading air conditioner maker Blue Star is expecting around 15 per cent growth in sales of residential air conditioner (AC) segment this year, a top company official said. The company is witnessing healthy sales in the southern market this season, and expects a similar demand from northern and other regions because of harsh summer and pent up demand. Besides, Blue Star is also spending around Rs 55 crore on advertising and brand communications this fiscal year to scale-up the demand. "We continue to make significant investment in product development, after sales service, as well as brand building and are confident of enhancing our market share," Blue Star Managing Director B Thiagarajan told PTI. He further added: "We are expecting a market growth of 10 per cent in the room air conditioners this season for the industry and we would have around 15 per cent growth." The Indian room AC industry market is expected to be of around 4.5 million units with more than 15 companies competing in the space. Blue Star expects the contribution from the northern market, which reports highest volume for the AC industry, to go up this season. "Presently, north India contributes around 29 percent and south around 40 per cent of our total AC sales. We expect contribution from north to go up to 32 per cent," Blue Star President - Sales and Marketing Product Business C P Mukundan Menon said. According to Menon, "the summer is going to be strong this year," as per the predictions and he expects people to buy more ACs. Currently, the residential AC segment contributes around Rs 1,400 crore to Blue Star's total revenue. The company, which ventured into the room AC segment in 2011, had reported a total revenue of Rs 4,433.34 crore in 2017-18. According to Thiagarajan, India has a huge potential for the air conditioner segment as the penetration level is quite low at around 5 to 6 per cent. "There is enough space for us to grow as the penetration level in Indian households is very low compared to other countries," he said. Taiwan has 90 per cent penetration of residential AC, followed by the US with 87 per cent penetration, he said. "In our neighbouring (countries), China has a penetration level of 60 per cent and Thailand has around 30 per cent," Thiagarajan added. Blue Star room ACs are available in 5,000 outlets at 575 locations. 52 per cent of the company's AC sales come from smaller towns. It plans to expand the network of its exclusive brand stores to 250 by the end of this fiscal from the existing 200. The company, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, has introduced 75 models of room ACs this year in the inverter and fixed-speed category. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of hurting the morale of the armed forces by seeking a review of the AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a rally in Dehradun, Modi termed the Congress' manifesto a "Dhakosla patra" and alleged that the grand old party had plans to trample and suppress the "honest' and "tax-paying" middle classes. The Congress is committing a "sin" by promising to revoke the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and do away with the sedition law just for votes, Modi said . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the BJP candidate for West Tripura constituency, Pratima Bhowmik has violated the model code of conduct by making statements about the Indian Army and Balakot airstrike. Bhowmik is also the general secretary of the Tripura unit of BJP. Vice-President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee, Tapas Dey in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti on Wednesday wrote that Bhowmik said Indian Armys "brave steps" and Balakot airstrike in her speech at Kalinagar village of West Tripura district on March 31 last. Dey alleged that Bhowmik said the credit for the Balakot airstrike should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which is violation of mode code of conduct. "She has violated the model code of conduct and the instructions of the Election Commission of India. We are concerned that these statements would turn out to be counter-productive for the spirit and essence of democracy and are also gross violation of the model code of conduct imposed by Election Commission of India," the letter said. The CEO office said it has received the Congress complaint against Bhowmik and was looking into it. Reacting to the Congress complaint, the BJP Tripura unit spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said, if anybody says the 'brave steps' of the Indian Army at Balakot in Pakistan, it did not mean violation of code of conduct. "We should praise Indian Army for their bravery and those who cant tolerate these should be labelled as traitors and anti-nationals. People will give them befitting reply in the Lok Sabha elections," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The cooperation of NASA with ISRO remains intact, chief of the US space agency James Bridenstine has said, days after he criticised India and termed its anti-satellite weapon test a "terrible thing" for creating about 400 pieces of orbital debris. In a letter to ISRO Chairman K Sivan, NASA Administrator Bridenstine said "based on the guidance received from the White House", he looks forward continuing to work with ISRO on a host of issues including human space flights. "As part of our partnership with you, we will continue to work on issues using the NASA-ISRO Human Space Flight Working Group, Planetary Science Working Group, US India Earth Science Working Group, and the Heliophysics Working Group," Bridenstine said. In his letter, Bridenstine says he recently wrote to ISRO about the suspension of cooperation on human space flight. "Recently, we sent you a letter indicating a suspension of activities under the NASA-ISRO Human Space Flight Working Group," he wrote. From the April 4 letter, it appears that after the White House weighing in, the cooperation remains intact. The letter comes days after the NASA chief in a town hall meeting criticised India's anti-satellite missile (ASAT) test because of the debris it generated in the space and its potential threat to the International Space Station. "The anti-satellite weapons test by India last week has resulted in about 400 pieces of orbital debris," he said on April 1, adding "that is a terrible, terrible thing to create an event that sends debris and an apogee that goes above the International Space Station". "As we made clear, space debris is a serious issue for the United States. As it is a growing threat, it is the responsibility of all nations who operate in space," Bridenstine said in his letter, a copy of which has been seen by PTI. "We will continue to monitor the remaining debris from your test as it relates to the safety of our human spaceflight activities especially at the International Space Station," wrote the NASA Administration, according to the letter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had achieved a "historic feat" by shooting down its own low-orbit satellite with a ground-to-space missile, making the country a "space power". Only three other countries - the US, Russia and China - have anti-satellite missile (ASAT) capabilities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The deputy commissioner of Champhai district has issued an order banning movement of all vehicles from Myanmar to Mizoram from Friday, an official statement said. Movement of people would not be restricted as of now, but the international border at Zokhawthar border trade centre and Saikhumphai entry points would be completely sealed from Monday next to prohibit human entry till completion of the polling on April 11, the statement said. The order banning movement of all vehicles from Myanmar to Mizoram and from Mizoram to Myanmar was issued by deputy commissioner Naveen Aggarwal in view of the coming Lok Sabha election in the state, it said. Election to the lone state Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram would be held on April 11. Bootlegging of liquor and other intoxicants from Myanmar was on the rise after closure of liquor vendor shops in the state from March 31, it said, adding that the order was also meant to stop the bootlegging. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With less than a week left for the Lok Sabha election to begin, Delhi Police Friday held a meeting with police forces of other states here to strengthen the cooperation and coordination in order to address various issues related to policing in National Capital Region, officials said. The meeting held by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik at Police Headquarters aimed to improve coordination for smoothly conducting the forthcoming Lok Sabha election and to share terror-related intelligence and inputs about various extremist outfits and their designs in the prevailing circumstances, they said. Senior officers of Delhi Police and their counterparts from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh attended the meeting. The meeting also stressed upon increasing an intensive and coordinated checking and patrolling at vulnerable points to check movement of illicit liquor, firearms, cash and musclemen, a senior police officer said. Tenant verification, guest house checking and sensitisation of cyber caf owners, second-hand car dealers were emphasised in order to strengthen the counter-terrorism measures, especially during election time by taking action against anti-social elements. All officers were also briefed to share advance intelligence having interstate ramifications on law and order, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Friday said the country's Constitution and democracy were under threat in BJP's rule. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, Gehlot said the duo ruled the country for five years and people do not even know the names of most of the union ministers. "The Constitution and democracy is under threat and this is my duty to tell you this. BJP leaders talked about Congress-free India and those who criticise them are considered as anti-national," Gehlot said at a public meeting in Pali. "This is the situation prevailing in the country today. It is alarming and you should know this," he added. The chief minister said Modi was a good actor and should have been in the film industry. "Several promises like bringing back black money were made by Modi during the last elections but not a single rupee was brought back," he said. Gehlot also accused former chief minister Vasundhara Raje of stalling development projects and weakening welfare schemes launched during his earlier term. The chief minister was addressing the rally in support of the Congress candidate from Pali Lok Sabha seat Badriram Jakhar. Pali is among the 13 constituencies which will vote on April 29. Elections on the remaining 12 seats of the state will be held on May 9. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit Friday asked party leaders to jointly campaign for the party instead of doing their separate bits for the Lok Sabha polls, a senior party leader said. Dixit held a meeting with all party leaders at Delhi Congress office where All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the unit P C Chacko and co-incharge Kuljeet Singh Nagra were also present. "The Delhi Congress president asked for joining the common platform to run the party campaign instead of doing their separate bits," Delhi Congress spokesperson Jitendra Kochar said. A senior Delhi Congress leader present at the meeting said the issue of whether to form an alliance with AAP was also raised by party working president Rajesh Lilothia. Chacko, however, said Congress president Rahul Gandhi is yet to take a final decision on it. The district presidents of the Delhi Congress are in favour of an alliance with the AAP. Chacko handed over the letters of support to Gandhi at a meeting last month. The election campaign of the party has failed to pick up in Delhi due to uncertainty over the alliance even as the days for nomination of candidates on the seven Lok Sabha seats is fast approaching. Only working president Devender Yadav is campaigning in various assembly segments in his 'Cycle Yatra' to popularise Gandhi's poll promises, including minimum income of Rs 72,000 per annum to five crore poor families in the country. The Delhi unit is divided over an alliance with AAP. Dikshit, her three working presidents and other leaders oppose the alliance while some leaders, including Chacko and former Delhi Congress president, support it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese scientists have discovered a possible "death switch" mechanism in plant's immune system that triggers infected cells to self-destruct, thus limiting the spread of the disease and keeping other parts of the plant healthy, official media here reported on Friday. Scientists said the discovery provides clues to cell death control and immunity for plants, and they hope further research can lead to a new generation of disease-resistant crops that use significantly less pesticide and are more environmentally friendly. The research was done by scientists from Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Genetics and Development Biology. Their findings were published in the journal Science on Friday. About 20 years ago, scientists discovered that plants, like animals, have robust immune systems that can protect them from pathogens including viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites. Plants also have a unique "lure and catch" immune response to deal with pathogens that have breached their cellular defence, but exactly how this worked remained unknown, Zhou Jianmin, a researcher at the institute and one of the main scientists behind the study was quoted by the state run China Daily reported. To probe this mystery, Zhou and his team investigated a protein called AvrAC, which is produced by a bacterial pathogen that causes black rot on cabbage. The bacterium injects AvrAC into plant cells, where it acts as a "biochemical weapon" weakening the plant's immune system. They discovered that some plants have evolved to carry a resistance protein called ZAR1 that can detect bacterial proteins like AvrAC. These plants use special proteins as "bait" and trick the bacterial protein into attacking them instead. While the bait is being attacked, ZAR1 is activated to form a multiprotein structure called resistosome, Zhou said. The resistosome inserts itself into the cell's membrane and triggers it to destroy itself along with the invading pathogens, thus protecting other healthy cells, he said. In addition to discovering this defence mechanism, Zhou and his associates from the Tsinghua University created structural models of the resistosome from their research. This allows other scientists to examine its composition and functions more closely. "The 'death switch' is usually harmless to the plant because it only affects diseased cells, which are a tiny portion of the entire plant," Zhou said. "Understanding and taking advantage of this mechanism can help us create new disease-resistant crops that rely on their own immune system to fend off pathogens and thus greatly reduce the need of pesticide, which is good for the environment," he said. Sophien Kamoun, a plant pathologist at the Sainsbury Laboratory in the United Kingdom, said in a video interview that the recent discovery is important because it shows what resistosome looks like for the first time and it proposes a "totally new model" for plant pathology and immunity. The discovery is a huge step toward the "dream of designing new resistant genes from scratch. And once we know how the system works, we can harness it for the benefit of agriculture," he was quoted by the Daily as saying. Kang Zhensheng, a professor of plant pathologist at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in Yangling, Shaanxi province, called the discovery a "milestone" that will "lead the fields of plant pathology and immunity for the foreseeable future". Zhou Xueping, the director of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Institute of Plant Protection, said Chinese agriculture constantly faces serious threats from diseases and pests, and a good solution to these problem is to boost the crops' own immunity. "Once we have a better understanding of the procedure, we might be able to create some intricate genetic designs that allow precise deterrence against diseases and pests, while ensuring crop yield," he said adding further research may lead to a new generation of disease-resistant crops. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Irish international human rights lawyer who was caught on camera making abusive rants at crew after she was refused alcohol on a flight from Mumbai to London has been jailed for six months in the Simone Burns, was described as "drunk and obnoxious" during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court in London on Thursday, where it emerged that she also spat at a flight attendant during her foul-mouthed racist tirade after she was refused alcohol on the flight in November last year. "The experience of a drunk and irrational person in the confines of an aircraft is frightening, not least on a long-haul flight, and poses a potential risk to safety," said Judge Nicholas Wood, as he sentenced the 50-year-old to six months in prison for being drunk on an aircraft and two months for assault, sentences to run concurrently. "You were drunk and obnoxious almost from the beginning to the end. You were abusive, contemptuous and confrontational and used appalling language," he said. Burns, born in Northern Ireland and living in Hove in England, was also ordered to pay 300 pounds compensation to the person she assaulted, with the judge saying that "spitting straight into a crew member's face at close range is a particularly insulting and upsetting act." The court heard how the lawyer drank three bottles of wine on the long-haul flight before calling the cabin crew "Indian money-grabbing c***s" as she was denied a fourth bottle of red wine for being too drunk. "I'm a f*****g international lawyer," she told attendants during her tirade before retreating to the toilets to try and smoke. She was given a series of warnings before being arrested on landing in London. A member of the cabin crew described her conduct as unlike anything he had seen during his 34-year aviation career. The judge at Isleworth Crown Court said he was satisfied the offence was racially aggravated and the language Burns used would have been extremely upsetting for the airline staff. Noting Simone Burns' work with refugees around the world, Judge Wood added: "You are a woman, not just of good character but a positive and impeccable character a righter of wrongs. What this has done, thanks to social media, (has meant) you have had death threats and been a hermit in your home. You are a person who has done good work throughout your life." Burns' defence lawyer suggested that her actions were due to a "mixture of altitude, the consumption of drink and anxiety" at the fact that she was likely to miss the funeral of an uncle. Mark Kimsey told the court that his client was "totally ashamed of her behaviour". "This is not a lady who has a drink problem. This is not a woman who has a drug problem. This is totally out of character," he said. The EC Friday allowed chief ministers, cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs and other politicians to participate in the functions which would be organised to commemorate the centenary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Punjab CEO S Karuna Raju said. With the Model Code of Conduct in place in view of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls, Raju said the Election Commission of India has conveyed its approval on the condition that the ministers and lawmakers must confine themselves to "extolling the achievements of the martyrs, glory of the Indian state and so on". "Under no circumstances, it should become a platform for political campaign/ political mileage," the Chief Electoral Officer said quoting the conditions laid down by the ECI. On the harvest festival of Baisakhi on April 13, 1919, a large number of civilians had gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh near the Golden Temple in Amritsar when troops under the command of British officer Reginald Dyer, fired on the crowd. A number of people had jumped into a well on the premises to save themselves. Several bodies were recovered from the well, which was later named as 'martyr's well'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to senior BJP leader and Meghalaya minister A L Hek for using an government vehicle while campaigning for saffron party candidate in West Jaintia Hills district, an official said Friday. Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said a showcause notice was issued to the Health Minister A L Hek based on an inquiry report received from sector officer and the police wherein he was directed to give a reply within 48 hours. Using a government vehicle while campaigning for a party candidate is a violation of the model code of conduct. On Wednesday, Hek went to Khanduli village in West Jaintia Hills district to campaign for BJP candidate Sanbor Shullai. Photograph of Hek with the official vehicle were doing the rounds on social media and reported in a local vernacular paper. According to the CEO, election officials have seized over Rs 50 lakh unaccounted cash in Meghalaya. The biggest seizure was made in South West Khasi Hills district and in Ri-bhoi district wherein Rs 20 lakh and Rs 19 lakh unaccounted cash were seized respectively, he said. The two seats Shillong and Tura - will vote on April 11 along with the assembly bypoll to Selsella constituency. The CEO said 40 accompanies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) sanctioned for the elections have been deployed in the state, 20 companies of which are already stationed here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission (EC) is learnt to have let off Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with a light rap for his "Modiji ki sena" remark, asking him to be more careful in the future. Not satisfied with the remarks, the EC is learnt to have told him that be "more careful in his utterances in future", sources said. They said the EC also told Adityanath that since he is a senior politician holding an important position, his remarks should reflect his stature. The commission was not satisfied with his reply in which he is learnt to have hailed the role of the EC in conducting polls. The EC had issued the Uttar Pradesh chief minister a show cause notice based on a video clip submitted by the Ghaziabad district magistrate which showed Adityanath making the remarks at the election rally there on Sunday. Adityanath, who addressed election meetings in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida on Sunday, had lashed out at the Congress for what he called was its "soft approach towards terrorism and terrorists". "Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai. (Congress leaders would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modi's army gives them bullets and bombs). This is the difference. The Congress people use 'ji' to refer to (JeM chief) Masood Azhar to encourage terrorism," Adityanath had said at the Ghaziabad election rally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The Election Commission Friday removed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha from the post and appointed senior-most IAS officer L V Subrahmanyam of the 1983 batch in place of the former. This is the second major blow to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu as the EC had removed two of his most- preferred top bureaucrats from their positions during election time. Also, the ECI directed that Punetha, scheduled to retire from service May-end, be posted to a 'non-election' position.' Punetha, toeing the ruling TDPs line, had filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court on March 27 challenging the EC order transferring the Director General of Intelligence A B Venkateswara Rao. In the petition, he contended that the EC did not have any 'untrammelled powers' to interfere with the course of administration that is unconnected to polling. ''The EC cannot engage in unchecked, arbitrary and uncanalised exercise of power. The EC order suffers from the vice of lack of jurisdiction, suffers from being a colourable exercise of power and is based on alien purposes or oblique motives which have nothing to do with the conduct of polling duties, state Political Secretary (General Administration Department) N Srikant had said in the petition filed on behalf of the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary, in fact, complied with the EC order Tuesday midnight and transferred the Intelligence DG, along with two district SPs, but he cancelled the Intelligence chiefs transfer order on Wednesday morning after the Chief Minister raised a hue and cry. The High Court rejected the Chief Secretarys petition last Friday, forcing him to issue an order shifting the controversial DG (intelligence). The EC apparently did not take to this kindly and cracked the whip on the Chief Secretary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The Election Commission Friday removed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha from the post and appointed senior-most IAS officer L V Subrahmanyam of the 1983 batch in his place. The EC stated this in a communication to the Andhra Pradesh government. Earlier, the EC had removed two top bureaucrats from their posts during election time. The EC also directed that Punetha, scheduled to retire from service May-end, be posted to a 'non-election' position.' Punetha had filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court on March 27 challenging the EC order, transferring the Director General of Intelligence A B Venkateswara Rao. He contended that the EC did not have any 'untrammelled powers' to interfere with the course of administration that is unconnected to polling. "The EC cannot engage in unchecked, arbitrary and uncanalised exercise of power. The EC order suffers from the vice of lack of jurisdiction, suffers from being a colourable exercise of power and is based on alien purposes or oblique motives which have nothing to do with the conduct of polling duties," state Political Secretary (General Administration Department) N Srikant had said in the petition, filed on behalf of the Chief Secretary. Punetha had complied with the EC order on Tuesday midnight and transferred the Intelligence DG, along with two district SPs, but cancelled the Intelligence chiefs transfer order Wednesday morning, after the Chief Minister allegedly raised a hue and cry. The High Court had rejected the Chief Secretarys petition last Friday, forcing him to issue an order shifting the DG intelligence. Reacting to the removal of the Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrabau Naidu dared the centre to arrest him and demanded that the Election Comission give reasons for the removal of the chief secretary. "First they (ECI) transferred a district Collector. Then the Intelligence DG and two district SPs and now the CS. Why? They did not give any reasons," he said, addressing a road show in Visakhapatnam. Naidu went to add that he too might be arrested. "They may also arrest me tomorrow or day after. I am prepared to go to jail.I will fight from there itself," he said. Meanwhile, BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao said the Chief Secretary became a 'scapegoat' of Chandrababu Naidu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior Ecuadorian official said no decision has been made to expel Julian Assange from the country's London embassy despite tweets from Wikileaks that sources had told it he could be kicked out within "hours to days." A small group of protesters and supporters of Wikileaks' founder gathered Thursday outside the embassy in London where Assange has been holed up since August 2012. He has feared extradition to the U.S. since WikiLeaks published thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables. Earlier, Wikileaks tweeted: "BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest." Another tweet said it had received a secondary confirmation from another high-level source. Ecuador's foreign ministry released a statement saying it "doesn't comment on rumors, theories or conjectures that don't have any documented backing." Later, a top official said while Ecuadorian President Lenn Moreno was angered by the apparent hacking of his personal communications, he denied WikiLeaks' claim and said no decision had been taken to expel Assange from the Embassy. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the matter. On Tuesday, Moreno blamed WikiLeaks for recent allegations of offshore corruption that in appeared in local media outlets and the publication of family photos to social media. Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as "photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance." Moreno provided no evidence, but the speech reflected ongoing tension between Assange and his hosts at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. WikiLeaks in a statement called Moreno's charges "completely bogus," saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuador's legislature investigated the issue. Assange's defense team suggested on Twitter that Moreno was trying to use the scandal to pressure the WikiLeaks founder. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress said on Friday that the Enforcement Directorate's supplementary charge sheet in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam case was a "cheap election stunt" to divert the people's attention from the "imminent defeat" of the Narendra Modi dispensation in the Lok Sabha election. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said a "panic-stricken" Modi government is using "rehashed insinuations" through its "puppet" Enforcement Directorate, which it dubbed as "Election Dhakosla" (sham) for "manufacturing lies". "A single uncertified page leaked by ED of a purported charge sheet is a cheap election stunt to divert attention from imminent defeat of Modi government. The ED has become 'Election Dhakosla' of a government manufacturing a lie a day," he told reporters. "All these rehashed insinuations and lies were bundled out earlier too through a set of pliable media. Ultimately, they failed in an international court and were rejected as trash. A panic-stricken Modi government and its puppet ED will not be able to change the 'exit date and fate' of a government and PM already rejected by the people," Surjewala said. He said parts of the charge sheet were "selectively leaked" to the media to score political points. The Congress leader said the Modi government loses all litigations against AgustaWestland/Finmecanica and on January 8, 2018, an Italian Appeals Court acquitted Giuseppe Orsi, former chief executive, and Bruno Spagnolini, former head of helicopter unit, from any wrongdoing in the sale of 12 helicopters to India. The Modi government was a civil party for damages, he said. Surjewala said on September 17, 2018, a higher court in Milan, Italy affirmed the order in a 322-page detailed judgement and upheld the finding of "no graft or wrongdoing" by any Indian official. "Modi government was a party in the case and lost. Modi government has chosen to not file an appeal in the matte," he said. Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" in the charge sheet charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court here on Thursday. The agency, in its supplementary charge sheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. The charge sheet said according to the "budget sheet, 30 million euros were paid to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians" to swing the deal in the favour of AgustaWestland for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country. Michel told a Delhi court Friday that he has not named anybody in connection with the deal during investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 65-year old chit fund owner has been arrested for allegedly cheating around 1,000 investors of about Rs 4 crore, a police official said here Friday. Thyagarajan was arrested Thursday from Vellore in Tamil Nadu from where he was operating the chit fund, senior superintendent of police(Crime and Investigation) Mahesh Kumar Barnwal told reporters here. He had lured investors here also promising high rate of interest but neither paid it nor returned the deposit amount. Around 1,000 people had deposited their money in the firm which evaded payment of the interest and the principal amount totalling Rs 4 crore, the police official said. Police took action based on the complaint by a man from neighbouring Velrampet village that he had invested Rs 11.18 lakh with the firm but did not get his money back, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An elephant tusk worth Rs 25 lakh in the international market was seized and two persons were arrested from the city in this connection, police said on Friday. The action as taken on Thursday evening, police said. "Based on a tip-off, the crime branch of the city police laid a trap at the old check-post near Gaimukh, where they found two men carrying a gunny bag," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mukund Hatote told reporters. "The police apprehended the duo and searched the gunny bag, in which an ivory was found," he said. The duo, identified as Sachin Chowgule and Pravin Shere, both residents of Mumbai, told the police that they were planning to sell the tusk for Rs 5 lakh and its cost in the international market was Rs 25 lakh, the officer said. Tusks are used for making showpieces, ornaments and other decorative items. They are also believed to have medicinal properties. Elephants are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Kasarwadavali police have booked the accused under different sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and further investigation into the case was being carried out, Hatote said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh Friday told the Supreme Court that the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal was trying to prevent her from entering the state as she is contesting Lok Sabha polls on BJP's ticket from West Midnapore's Ghatal constituency. Ghosh, once considered close to Banerjee, was earlier granted protection from arrest by the apex court in cases registered against her in the state. Her counsel opposed before a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and K M Joseph the application moved by the West Bengal government seeking a direction to restrain her from entering the state. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for West Bengal, claimed that Ghosh, against whom four cases have been lodged, has been declared as a proclaimed offender by the trial court and it is a "serious matter". Senior advocate N K Kaul, appearing for Ghosh, countered Sibal's submissions and said the former IPS officer has not been declared a proclaimed offender. "She (Ghosh) is a candidate for Lok Sabha elections and that is why they (state) are saying so. The prayer in their application is -- do not allow her to enter West Bengal. The purpose is to stop her from entering West Bengal for election as she is a Lok Sabha candidate," Kaul said. However, Sibal told the bench, "She has joined the other party just to save herself". The bench said it would hear the matter on April 15. During the brief hearing, Sibal told the court that after getting bail from a court, one of the co-accused in the case has been transferred to a post where he can access the call detail records (CDRs). "He (co-accused) directed the service providers to give all the CDRs to him, including the call details of the investigating officer (who is probing the case)," Sibal said. On February 19, the apex court had granted protection from arrest in all cases registered against Ghosh and said no coercive action be taken against her. Ghosh had moved the apex court seeking protection from arrest saying the West Bengal government has lodged various FIRs against her. She said that the apex court had already granted her protection from arrest in seven cases but the state has registered three more FIRs against her. The West Bengal government had opposed her plea and said there are clear evidences against her and also submitted a transcript of a purported conversation between Ghosh and her personal security officer. The apex court had on October 1 last year granted her protection from arrest in a case of alleged extortion and illegal exchange of banned notes for gold. Counsel appearing for Ghosh earlier told the court that seven FIRs were lodged against her in an incident which dates back to 2016 in which allegedly gold was taken for currency. He said that police has been acting against her at different places and they should be restrained from taking any coercive action. However, the state had claimed that Ghosh and her personal security officer were allegedly involved in the gold extortion case and other cases and they both acted together. On February 4, Ghosh had joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and senior party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya alleging that "thugocracy" has replaced democracy in West Bengal. Ghosh, who was the West Midnapore Superintendent of Police for more than six years, was transferred as commandant of the third battalion of the state armed police on December 26, 2017. She later resigned from service. Ghosh was transferred twice, once by the Election Commission before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the second time by the state itself before the 2016 Assembly elections. She was, however, reinstated as West Midnapore SP as soon as the elections got over on both occasions. An arrest warrant was issued against Ghosh in February, 2018 in connection with an extortion case registered at Daspur police station in West Midnapore district, following her resignation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Trinamool Congress MP Saumitra Khan, who is now a BJP candidate for Lok Sabha polls, on Friday moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order banning him from entering Bankura district in West Bengal. Khan is an accused in cases of allegedly taking money from students on the promise of giving them jobs. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said his plea would be heard next week. Senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for Khan, said the high court order should be set aside otherwise Khan will not be able to file nomination papers and campaign in his Bishnupur constituency which falls in Bankura district. The high court had last week extended the ban on Khan, who is contesting the election from Bishnupur parliamentary constituency on a BJP ticket, by six weeks. The high court had said such a ban was required for a free and fair investigation of cases against Khan considering his political clout in the area. After Khan joined the BJP, he was also named as accused in illegal sand mining cases. On February 18, the high court had given relief to Khan by directing interim protection from arrest for four weeks in connection with cases of allegedly taking money on the promise of giving jobs but had asked him not to enter the jurisdiction of Bankura district till further orders. In complaints lodged with Barjora police station in Bankura, three persons have alleged that Khan had taken money from them in 2018 on the promise of securing them government jobs. The complainants have claimed that they had not been given jobs despite having paid money to the MP. Khan had told the high court that complaints against him were false and motivated and he was a victim of "political vendetta" by the state. He has said that criminal cases were lodged on January 10, 2019, a day after he joined the BJP after quitting the TMC, the ruling party in West Bengal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook will block election advertising from outside Australia ahead of polls next month, in the wake of growing criticism of the social media giant's role in the spread of disinformation. The restrictions -- already rolled out for polls in other countries such as Thailand and Indonesia -- will come into force when the government announces the election date in the coming days. "We're temporarily not allowing electoral ads purchased from outside Australia ahead of the election in May," Facebook's Australia and New Zealand policy director Mia Garlick said in a statement. "The restriction... will apply to ads we determine to be coming from foreign entities that are of an electoral nature, meaning they contain references to politicians, parties or election suppression. "We also won't allow foreign ads that include political slogans and party logos." Facebook said it has introduced restrictions on foreign electoral ads in countries including Nigeria, Ukraine, Thailand, Indonesia, and Ireland around its May 2018 referendum on abortion. For the European Parliamentary elections, it requires advertisers to be authorised in their country to run ads related to the vote. The world's biggest social network first began looking into its influence on elections after revelations of Russian influence campaigns during the 2016 US election. Critics have accused the US firm of being too slow to act. AFP has a global fact-checking network that is dedicated to verifying and debunking disinformation spread online. Some of this content is flagged on Facebook, as part of a contract between AFP and the social media company. AFP's collaboration with Facebook has just been extended to Australia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canada's foreign minister warned Friday that outside interference in the country's upcoming parliamentary election was "very likely". "We are very concerned. Our judgement is that interference is very likely and we think there have probably already been efforts by malign foreign actors to disrupt our democracy," Chrystia Freeland said. Speaking on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in northern France, she added: "What we are seeing in many liberal democracies, the effort is not so much to secure a particular outcome in an election. "The effort is to make our societies more polarised and make us, as citizens of democracies, more cynical about democracy and that it can work." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal party are seeking re-election in national polls due by October. Foreign interference and cyber defence are on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Dinard, which brings together ministers from the world's Western democracies. "We know that states like Russia have got a very active, planned thought-through strategy to interfere in democratic processes in Western countries and sow dissension and chaos wherever they can," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Friday. Speaking as he launched an initiative to defend media freedom with Freeland, he referred to interference in elections in the United States and Ukraine, as well as hacking attacks on the British and German parliaments. "One of the discussions that we will be having this afternoon is what we need to do to make the price of trying to interfere in our democratic processes too high," he added. "At the moment we don't have that deterrence strategy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Realty firm Gaurs expects to earn a rental income of around Rs 75 crore annually from its 8.5 lakh sq ft shopping mall at Noida Extension in Uttar Pradesh, a top company official said Friday. Gaurs Group has completed the construction of 'Gaur City Mall', the first retail project in Noida Extension, with an investment of Rs 750 crore, its MD Manoj Gaur said. "We are expecting to earn a rental of around Rs 75 crore annually from this shopping mall. The revenue could reach Rs 125 crore annually in the next three years with increase in footfalls," he told PTI on the sidelines of an event. The nine-screen superplex from PVR and three anchor stores -- Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle and Big Bazaar -- are expected to open from May, while the rest of the outlets from June. The company has roped in retail and F&B brands such as Pantaloons, Marks & Spencer, Max Fashion, Reliance Trends, Fab India, Globus and Home Centre among others. Besides the mall, the six-acre commercial project has 1,200 offices, 200 service apartments and a 187-room hotel. The total developable area is around 15 lakh sq ft. Gaurs is also developing a 240-acre township 'Gaur City' with an investment of Rs 8,000 crore and this mall will be a part of this integrated project catering to about 30,000 families. Over 1,00,000 flats are being constructed in Noida Extension area, mostly in the affordable housing segment. This is the company's second shopping mall. It has already developed 'Gaur Central Mall' at Raj Nagar District Centre in Ghaziabad. Gaurs is developing another township on Yamuna Expressway on a 300-acre land which it purchased from Jaypee Group in 2013 for over Rs 1,500 crore. It is also a part of 'Crossing Republik' township in Ghaziabad, being constructed by seven developers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CISF seized gold bars worth more than Rs 11 lakh from a passenger who had arrived from Bahrain at the airport here, an official said Friday. The passenger had concealed the gold bars in his slippers which were detected during security check Thursday, he said. The passeneger, Rahat Ali, who had arrived from Bahrain, was found to have hidden the gold bars weighing about 381 grams in his slippers, the official said. The seized yellow metal was worth Rs 11,12,139, he said, adding Ali was handed over to Customs for further probe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Gold worth Rs 91.5 lakh has been seized in two different cases at the airport here, Customs officials said Friday. In one incident, 1.5 kg of the precious metal worth Rs 49 lakh was seized from six passengers who arrived here from Malaysia Friday. In the other incident, 1.3 kg of gold valued at Rs 42.5 lakh was concealed in the rectums of the six male passengers who had arrived from Dubai Thursday. The male passengers had concealed the metal in their rectums while a woman passenger hid the gold in her innerwear, a press release from the Customs said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Friday accused BJP national president Amit Shah of concealing facts in his poll affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. The Congress' candidate from the seat, CJ Chavda, demanded that Shah be disqualified. District Election Officer S K Langa rejected Chavda's plea. During the scrutiny process held at Gandhinagar on Friday, Chavda raised an objection about Shah's candidature, claiming the BJP chief's affidavit did not reflect a loan of Rs 25 crore taken in 2016 after mortgaging property. According to Chavda, when Shah was fighting Rajya Sabha polls, he had declared that he had mortgaged his property in 2016 for getting a bank loan of Rs 25 crore for his son Jay Shah's company. "Rs 25 crore is a significant liability which has not been mentioned in the latest affidavit. Shah's nomination form should be rejected for wilful and deliberate non-disclosure," Chavda said in his written submission, which was eventually rejected during the scrutiny. Attacking the Congress over the allegations, BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said the opposition party and its candidate were trying to malign Shah's image. "It seems that Congress leaders are unaware about the basics of elections. That loan was already paid and the mortgaged property was also released. Without doing any inquiry, the Congress raised an objection, which was nothing but a childish act. It was a deliberate attempt to malign Shah's image," said Pandya. "Since the objection raised by Congress was not maintainable, it was rejected by the election officer. Shah's form was legally valid and it was accepted by the authorities. The allegations of Congress were baseless and false," Pandya added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Vivek Oberoi, who is playing the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a yet-to-be-released biopic, is among the 40 star campaigners for the ruling BJP in Gujarat. Other actors on the star campaigner list include Union minister Smriti Irani as well as Hema Malini and Paresh Rawal, both sitting Lok Sabha MPs, the latter opting out this time. The obvious names on the list, submitted to the Election Commission by the BJP, are PM Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah, who is fighting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Gandhinagar. The Omang Kumar-directed biopic, titled PM Narendra Modi, is facing legal hurdles with the opposition Congress complaining to the Election Commission about the timing of its release against the backdrop of the April-May Lok Sabha polls. The Congress, as well as other opposition parties, have claimed that the film is less a biopic and more a hagiography and will give undue mileage and advantage to the BJP in the general elections. A Congress leader has also filed a public interest litigation against the release of the film in the Supreme Court, hearing of which is scheduled for Monday. Party sources Friday said Oberoi will campaign in various constituencies in the state though a detailed schedule is yet to be drawn up. The star campaigner list also includes former MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia. All 26 seats in the state, currently held by the BJP, will go to polls on April 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing himself as a "mard" from Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar Friday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he did not heed criticism from "every Tom, Dick and Harry". Addressing a poll rally at Shevgaon in Ahmednagar constituency, Pawar said Modi used to "hurl abuse" at the Nehru-Gandhi family earlier, and now Pawar was his target. "I am getting free publicity. Am I some ordinary man then? I come from the soil Shivaji Maharaj was born in. Hence I do not pay heed to criticism by any such 'lungya-sungya' (Marathi equivalent of 'every Tom, Dick and Harry')," Pawar said, canvassing for party candidate Sangram Jagtap. Speaking at a rally in Gondia Wednesday, Modi had said NCP leaders "were unable to sleep" as their "sleep was jailed in Delhi's Tihar". He was apparently referring to jailed corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar. Before that, at a rally in Wardha Monday, Modi had said that Pawar was losing grip on the NCP. Pawar alleged that the prime minister spent Rs 18 crore for performing 'jal pujan' of the Shivaji memorial off the Mumbai coast, "but the government which is ruling in the name of Shivaji Maharaj did not lay even a single brick for the memorial". More money was spent on publicity of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat than on its construction, the NCP chief claimed. He also alleged that Modi made 92 foreign visits in 55 months, costing the exchequer Rs 2,021 crore. The former Union minister also took potshots at Modi over demonetisation, unemployment and 'failure' to bring back black money stashed abroad. On the Rafale fighter jet deal, the former Defence minister said its price per aircraft soared from Rs 350 crore during the UPA regime to Rs 1,660 crore now. "There is something fishy in it," he added. The Modi government politicised the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan after he was caught by the neighbouring country's forces following an aerial engagement on February 27, he said. "Abhinandan was released as per Geneva Conventions. But the issue was politicised, saying he could be brought back only due to the 56-inch chest leadership (of Modi)," Pawar said. "Why haven't you ensured release of Kulbhushan Jadhav with this 56-inch chest?" asked Pawar. Jadhav, former Navy officer, is on death row in Pakistan after he was charged there with espionage. Later, Pawar took to Twitter to say that "The Modi government earlier abused the Gandhi family, later they abused Nehru too. Now they have turned to me. "But I am a 'mard' (man) from Maharashtra and I am not afraid of any lungyasungya," he tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP chief Sharad Pawar Friday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming the latter by claiming he did not heed criticism by "every Tom, Dick and Harry". Speaking at a poll rally in Gondia on Wednesday, Modi had said NCP leaders "were unable to sleep" as their "sleep was jailed in Delhi's Tihar". While Modi gave no hints on who he was referring to, it is believed he meant jailed corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar who was arrested earlier this year. Modi, in a rally in Wardha on Monday, had criticised Pawar saying the latter was losing his grip on the NCP which was weakened by a "family feud". Addressing a poll rally at Shevgaon in Ahmednagar constituency Friday, Pawar said Modi used to "hurl abuses" at the Gandhi family earlier and now it was his turn. "I do not heed criticism by every Tom, Dick and Harry," he said. "I am getting free publicity. Am I some ordinary man then? I come from the soil Shivaji Maharaj was born in. Hence, I do not pay heed to criticism by such 'lungyasungya' (Marathi equivalent of the phrase Tom, Dick and Harry)," Pawar said here while canvassing for party candidate Sangram Jagtap. Pawar alleged the prime minister spent Rs 18 crore for performing 'jal pujan' of the Shivaji memorial in the Arabian sea, "but the government which is ruling in the name of Shivaji Maharaj did not lay even a single brick for the memorial". Pawar also charged that more money was spent on the publicity of the Statue of Unity (built in memory of Sardar Patel) in Gujarat than on its actual construction. He slammed Modi over the latter's "92 foreign visits in 55 months" which the NCP chief claimed cost the exchequer around Rs 2021 crore. Pawar criticised Modi on the issues of demonetisation, unemployment and failure in bringing back black money stashed abroad. On the Rafale fighter jet deal, Pawar, a former Defence minister, said its price per piece soared from Rs 350 crore during the UPA regime to Rs 1660 crore now. "There is something fishy in it," he added. Pawar further said the issue of release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan, after he was caught by the neighbouring country's forces following an aerial engagement on February 27, was also "politicised". "Abhinandan was released as per Geneva Conventions (Prisoners of War Status). But the issue was politicised, saying he could be brought back only due to the 56-inch chest leadership (of Modi)," Pawar said. Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi had claimed at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh that only a person with a "56-inch chest" (implying a bold approach) could solve problems faced by the country. "Why haven't you ensured release of Kulbhushan Jadhav with this 56-inch chest?" asked Pawar. Former Navy officer Jadhav is on death row in Pakistan after he was charged there with espionage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (The Valley, Anguilla) The RAPF is presently investigating a shooting incident which occurred on the evening of Wednesday 3rd April 2019 at Spring Path Village Anguilla in the vicinity of Albert Issacs apartment. As a result, a 41 yr. old male of Spring Path sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his lower leg. The RAPF is appealing to anyone who would have been in the area of Spring Path at about 7pm last evening, or would have heard or seen anything suspicious, to contact the Major Crime Unit of the Royal Anguilla Police Force at telephone number 497- 5333. Persons can also speak to any police officer who they are comfortable with or who they can confide in. Additionally, information can be sent via the RAPF Tips Website by logging on to www.gov.ai/911 which is a secure website. International Criminal Court judges say a case against the son of former Libyan dictator Moammar al-Gadhafi is admissible, rejecting a call by his lawyers to toss out the charges. Seif al-Islam Gadhafi was charged in 2011 with murder and persecution allegedly committed during his father's violent crackdown on protesters in 2011. He remains at large. Gadhafi's lawyers argued that he was convicted in a Tripoli court in 2015 of largely the same charges as in his ICC indictment and that he cannot be tried twice for the same allegations. He was released from custody in Libya in 2016 under an amnesty. ICC judges ruled Friday that the Tripoli conviction could still be appealed and that granting amnesties for such serious crimes "is incompatible with internationally recognised human rights. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said the 'Nyay' minimum income scheme for the poor will be implemented without raising income tax or burdening the middle class. The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty. "Money won't be taken from the middle class and income tax won't be raised," Gandhi said when asked how funds will be raised for the Nyuntam Aay Yojna (Nyay) scheme. Interacting with students here, the Congress chief said all calculations have been done to fund the scheme. He said the Congress manifesto was prepared after taking inputs from all sections of the society, including farmers and the poor. "The Congress poll manifesto was prepared after speaking to all stakeholders," Gandhi said. Asked about employment scenario in the country, he said around 27,000 jobs are being lost per hour in India. The Congress chief promised to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament, assemblies for women if his party is voted to power. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has strongly criticised the lack of transparency in the procedures of decision-making by the UN Security Council's Sanctions Committees, and said the practice of keeping in secrecy the failed efforts of proscribed terrorists to get themselves removed from the world body's list of designated entities has no legal sanction. Last month, government sources in New Delhi said that the United Nations rejected an appeal of 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to remove his name from its list of banned terrorists. Saeed, chief of UN-designated terrorist organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawa, was banned on December 10, 2008 by the United Nations Security Council after the Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were killed. Saeed had filed an appeal with the UN through Lahore-based law firm Mirza and Mirza in 2017, while he was still under house arrest in Pakistan, for removal of the ban. Participating in the informal meeting of the Plenary on the Intergovernmental negotiations on equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said here Thursday. An area that we haven't been able to focus adequately in the past is the matter of the working methods of the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council. These bodies have grown in number and importance, Akbaruddin said the work of the subsidiary bodies of Security Council is consequential for all member states but added that the Working Methods of the Council's Subsidiary bodies suffer from an Attention Deficit Syndrome. He said it is assumed that given the numerous decisions being made by the Council's subsidiary bodies, referred to as the Subterranean Universe of the Council, their rules will be meticulous, transparent, listed and consistent but there is lack of consistency in the guidelines and practices being followed, without any clarity of their legal basis. Akbaruddin cited the example of the aspect of procedures of decision-making by the Sanctions' Committees. These are an interesting case study as a starting point for understanding how broke the system is, he said, adding that these bodies have given each member a veto and all members therefore are now equal, meaning unless consensus is achieved no action can proceed. He listed various scenarios that come into play in cases where consensus cannot be achieved by these bodies, including provisions for submitting the matter to the Security Council by the Member concerned, referring the matter to the Security Council by the Chair, submitting the issue to the Security Council by the Chair or by the Committee member concerned and one where there is no explicit option at all to refer to Security Council. All are children of the same parent the Security Council. Yet, there are so many differences with no rationale for these differences. None can fathom the rationale for this," he said. On the issue of transparency and making public the decisions of these bodies, Akbaruddin said there is inconsistency in this regard as in some instances, decisions regarding delisting requests made to some of these bodies by sanctioned individuals and entities are made public while in others, they are not made public at all. "Some other subsidiary bodies do not even mention that any such request was received and declined from known and listed terrorist entities or individuals. Bizarre as it may seem, the hiding of failed efforts of terrorists, to get themselves delisted, is attempted to be cloaked in secrecy. It is sought to be kept from being made public by some of the subsidiary bodies on account of practice. Such practice has no legal sanction in the rules, guidelines or resolutions, he said. Akbaruddin further said that normal reporting by these subsidiary bodies to the same parent the Security Council also varies. Some report only in closed meetings. Others report in both closed and public meetings, some others choose not to do so at all. "Again, there is no rhyme or reason for these differing time-periods and methodologies for reporting of similarly constituted bodies handling similar work. Consistency does not impede performance or effectiveness or efficiency. Why go for multiplicity when simplicity can do? he said. He emphasised the need to enhance the transparency, consistency and clarity of the Working Methods of the Subsidiary bodies. In a symbolic gesture aimed at ensuring more transparency and openness in the work of the UN Security Council, Germany, the President of the Council for April, had the curtains in the UNSC chamber drawn aside for the first time since 1964, when Che Guevara was addressing the General Assembly and Cuban exiles fired a 3.5-inch bazooka at the United Nations from across the East River. The German Mission said having the curtains open in the Security Council chamber, a rare occurrence throughout its 75-year history, will let the sunshine in and underscores that transparency and openness to broader @UN membership & civil society are crucial not just symbolically, but also in practice for credibility & legitimacy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has achieved success in getting isolated even among Islamic countries in the aftermath of the terror attacks, External Affairs Minister said Friday. Swaraj was addressing a meeting organised in support of the BJP's candidate in the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency, N Ramachandra Rao. "We achieved success in isolating even among Islamic countries in the world," she said in Hindi. Swaraj recalled how India was invited to the inaugural conference of the OIC countries in 1969 but could not attend the proceedings due to pressure put by She added that India attended the OIC's 50th anniversary meet in March even though Pakistan tried to get Swaraj 'disinvited'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made relations with Islamic countries so strong and this is the benefit of his foreign visits, she asserted. India has identified and shared with China a list of 380 products including horticulture, textiles, chemicals and pharmaceuticals as their shipments hold huge export potential in the neighbouring country, an official said. Increasing exports of these products would help India narrow the widening trade deficit with China, which stood at USD 50.12 billion during April-February 2018-19. During the period, India's exports to China grew by 28.61 per cent to about USD 15 billion, while imports contracted by 6.29 per cent to about USD 65 billion. The official said that in the recent months, India's exports of marine products, cotton, organic chemicals, grapes and plastics have increased significantly. Indian exporters face certain non-tariff measures in Chinese markets, which restrict exports to that country. The commerce ministry on April 4 had called a meeting of stakeholders including export promotion councils and other government departments to discuss ways to increase exports to China. India is taking several steps to promote shipments to China. Recently, it has managed to export agricultural goods such as non-basmati rice to China. India is seeking greater market access for various agricultural products, animal feeds, oil seeds, milk and milk products, pharmaceuticals in light of the potential of these products/services in the Chinese market The official also said that next month Chinese Vice-Minister for General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) is expected to visit India to discuss trade related issues. In that meeting, some more protocols for India's exports are expected to be finalised, the official added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian journal publisher and his companies have been fined over USD 50 million in the US for making "deceptive claims" to academics about the nature of their work and taking millions of dollars from aspiring researchers and writers. Srinubabu Gedela of Andhra Pradesh and his companies OMICS Group Inc., iMedPub LLC, Conference Series LLC, have been ordered by the US District Court for the District of Nevada to pay the amount to resolve the charges brought against them by America's consumer protection agency - Federal Trade Commission (FTC). "These publishing companies lied about their academic journals and took millions of dollars from aspiring researchers and writers," said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "We're pleased with the court's strong order holding these companies and its owner responsible for the damage they caused," Smith said. The court issued the summary judgment order on March 29. In its 2016 complaint, the FTC alleged that "OMICS, iMedPub, Conference Series and their owner Gedela advertised hundreds of online academic journals and international conferences for scientists and medical professionals, and deceptively claimed that their journals provided authors with rigorous peer review and had editorial boards made up of prominent academics". In reality, many articles were published with little to no peer review, and many individuals represented to be editors had not agreed to be affiliated with the journals, the FTC said in a statement. The FTC further alleged that the defendants represented that their journals had been accepted by prominent academic indexing services such as the National Institute of Health (NIH)'s "PubMed Central". In fact, the NIH had refused to index the defendants' journals and demanded that they cease representing that the defendants' journals were associated with PubMed. An article in The New York Times quoted Gedela's attorney Kishore Vattikoti as saying in an email response to the court order that "It's quite surprising for us that court has passed an order against defendants in this case without calling for a trial which is unjustifiable and violation of natural justice". Vattikoti said the publisher would appeal, the report said. The FTC also alleged that Gedela and his companies failed to properly tell authors who submitted papers for consideration that they would charge the authors significant publishing fees. They also failed to allow authors to withdraw their articles from submission, making their research ineligible for publication in other journals. Finally, the complaint alleged that to promote their scientific conferences, the defendants deceptively used the names of prominent researchers as conference presenters when in fact many of those researchers had not agreed to participate in the events. In November 2017, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction requested by the FTC, temporarily halting the deceptive practices of these academic journal publishers. In the summary judgment decision, the court found that "the defendants violated the FTC Act by making deceptive claims regarding their academic journals and scientific conferences, and by failing to adequately disclose their publishing fees". The resulting final order prohibits Gedela and his companies from making misrepresentations regarding their academic journals and conferences, including that specific persons are editors of their journals or have agreed to participate in their conferences, that their journals engage in peer review, that their journals are included in any academic journal indexing service, or the extent to which their journals are cited. It also requires that the defendants clearly and conspicuously disclose all costs associated with submitting or publishing articles in their journals. The order also requires the defendants to obtain express written consent from any person the defendants represent to be associated with their academic journals or scientific conferences. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, who quit railways portfolio in 2017 after two rail accidents, said initiatives taken by him during his three-year stint are now yielding results. Prabhu said measures were taken for increasing capital investments, track renewal and improving passenger convenience. "Railways spent Rs 2.75 lakh crore in the first three years (2014-17) as opposed to Rs 3 lakh crore cumulative in first 70 years. So that was the capital expenditure and now you are seeing the results of that," he told PTI in an interview. He said in the three years, when he was the railways minister, all the backlog of track renewal was completed. "We almost covered the backlog (of track renewal). So now you are actually seeing the result of that. There is hardly any derailment...We did things to ensure safety," he added. He said before that railways had not done any track renewal which is critical for avoiding derailments and due to that there was huge backlog for track renewal. "So all kinds of transformational agenda for railways which we initiated at that time were actually complete. So I am happy that when I left railways, everything was on stream," the minister said. He also said the proposal to run Train 18, now called as Vande Bharat Express and billed as India's fastest train, was announced by him in his rail budget, which was the last rail budget. After that it was merged with the general budget. Prabhu quit the railways ministry in 2017 following two train derailments, taking moral responsibility for the accidents. He took over the railways portfolio in November 2014. Piyush Goyal is currently heading the railways ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition Indian National Lok Dal's state unit president Ashok Arora has said he will fight the Lok Sabha polls if his party asks him. Arora, a senior leader of the party, had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Haryana state assembly polls from Thanesar constituency in Kurukshetra district. When asked if he will fight the general elections, Arora replied, "My wish is to contest the assembly elections, but if party asks me to contest (the LS polls), then I will definitely fight." He said the INLD will fight on all 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state. "Our party will fight on all 10 seats," he said and added the names of the candidates will be announce soon. "After taking feedback from the people and in consultation with them and our party workers, we have prepared a panel, which has been sent to party's national president Om Prakash Chautala. "Soon, we will be meeting and consulting our party chief after which the names of candidates will be announced by April 16," Arora told reporters in Kurukshetra on Thursday. The 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana will go to polls in a single phase on May 12. The INLD has been stung by desertions following a vertical split and suffered a heavy bypoll defeat when it failed to hold on to Jind seat. Two of party's sitting MLAs Ranbir Gangwa and Kehar Singh joined the BJP recently. A few of the party's former legislators have also switched over to the saffron outfit ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Four INLD MLAs have already switched sides and announced their support to the fledgling Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), which was formed after the split in the INLD last year. Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala -- elder son of Abhay Chautala's brother Ajay Chautala -- launched the JJP last year. The INLD, founded by late deputy prime minister Devi Lal and headed by former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, has been out of power in Haryana for over 14 years now. Arora hit out at the Manohar Lal Khattar government, saying it failed to fulfil the promises made at the time of state assembly polls in 2014. "The plight of farmers is known to all," he added. Meanwhile, JJP state unit chief Nishan Singh told reporters in Fatehabad on Thursday that "while the BJP claims that it has given transparent and clean administration, truth is that corruption is rampant everywhere". "Nothing has changed, they are only making hollow claims on having checked corruption," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Friday that her US visa has been revoked, in what appears to be evidence of a crackdown on the global tribunal by the Trump administration. In a statement confirming the revocation, Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's office stressed that she "has an independent and impartial mandate" under the court's founding treaty, the Rome Statute. "The Prosecutor and her office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favour," the statement said. Bensouda's office said that the revocation of her visa shouldn't have an impact on her travel to the US for meetings, including regular briefings at the UN Security Council. The US has never been a member of the ICC, a court of last resort that prosecutes grave crimes only when other nations are unwilling or unable to bring suspects to justice. Bensouda is expected to brief the Security Council next month on her investigations in Libya. The State Department confirmed the measure. "In this case, where Prosecutor Bensouda has publicly stated that her visa has been revoked, we confirm that the Prosecutor's visa to the United States has been revoked," the department said in a statement. It declined to discuss other cases but said that "the United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people from unjust investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that Washington would revoke or deny visas to ICC staff seeking to investigate alleged war crimes and other abuses committed by US forces in Afghanistan or elsewhere and may do the same with those who seek action against Israel. The ICC prosecutor has a pending request to look into possible war crimes in Afghanistan that may involve Americans. The Palestinians have also asked the court to bring cases against Israel. Pompeo said in March that his move was necessary to prevent the court from infringing on US sovereignty by prosecuting American forces or allies for torture or other war crimes. Bensouda asked last year to open an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Afghan national security forces, Taliban and Haqqani network militants, as well as US forces and intelligence officials in Afghanistan since May 2003. The request says there is information that members of the US military and intelligence agencies "committed acts of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, rape and sexual violence against conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, principally in the 2003-2004 period." The United States has never been a member of the Hague-based court, even though the Clinton administration in 2000 signed the Rome Statute that created it. However, he had reservations about the scope of the court's jurisdiction and never submitted it for ratification to the Senate. When President George W Bush took office in 2001, his administration passed the American Service Members Protection Act, which sought to immunize US troops from potential prosecution by the ICC. In 2002, US national security adviser John Bolton, then a State Department official, travelled to New York to ceremonially "unsign" the Rome Statute at the United Nations. In a speech to the American Society of International Law late last month, ICC President Chile Eboe-Osuji paid tribute to American involvement in previous international courts, from the post-World War II trials of Nazis in Nuremberg to UN tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He urged Washington to support the ICC "whose values and objectives are entirely consistent with the best instincts of America and her values. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday told the US envoy on Afghanistan that an intra-Afghan dialogue was a "vital" to bring peace in the neighbouring war-torn country. Qureshi held talks with US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who arived in Pakistan after spending five days in Afghanistan to forge a peace deal with the Taliban and bring the more than 17-year-old Afghan war to an end. Khalilzad briefed Qureshi on the outcome of Doha talks and his recent engagements in the region, the Foreign Office said. The envoy also shared updates on his meetings in Afghanistan and the dynamics of the Intra-Afghan dialogue, it said. Qureshi while appreciating his efforts reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the peace process. "Intra-Afghan Dialogue was a vital component of the reconciliation process," he said. Qureshi said Pakistan wished well for the peace and stability in Afghanistan which would directly benefit Islamabad's own vision for economic and human development. Earlier, Khalilzad held delegation level talks with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua. He was accompanied by an interagency delegation. Janjua was assisted by senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence. The Foreign Secretary briefed him about the telephonic conversation between Qureshi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. She informed about their mutual interest in further progress on Afghanistan peace efforts and that they agreed to remain engaged to pursue the reconciliation process, the Foreign office said. Khalilzad was scheduled to visit Qatar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Jordan, the UK and Belgium before returning to Washington on April 10. He is trying to get broad support for Afghan peace process to bring to an end the longstanding conflict in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Association of Caribbean States (ACS)a multilateral organization that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) conceptualized and helped bring into existence some 25 years ago concluded its 8th Heads of Government Summit in Managua, Nicaragua on the 29th of March 2019, with the adoption of the historic Declaration of Managua and the confirmation of a visionary three year Plan of Action. The twenty-five Member States of the ACS fourteen CARICOM nations, along with Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama sent the World a most remarkable message of hope and commitment to human solidarity with their Declaration of Managua affirmations on such critical issues as climate change, respect for the fundamental principles of International Law, the maintenance of the Greater Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and the payment of Reparations for the crimes of native genocide and African enslavement. It is note-worthy that the delegation heads of such countries as Cuba (President Miguel Diaz-Canel), Nicaragua (President Daniel Ortega), El Salvador (President Salvador Sanchez Ceren), Venezuela (Vice-President Aristobulo Isturiz), Trinidad & Tobago (Minister Dennis Moses), Barbados (Minister Jerome Walcott), Grenada (Minister Peter David), St. Lucia (Minister Sarah Flood-Beaubrun), Suriname (Minister Yldiz Pollack-Beighle), and Guyana (Ambassador Halim Majeed) were able to join together with the delegation heads of such Lima Group nations as Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras to declare at paragraph 22 of the Declaration of Managuathat they reject the application of coercive unilateral measures that are contrary to international law, and that harm the peace and prosperity of the Greater Caribbean. Other quite remarkable affirmations contained in the Declaration of Managua are as follows:- Agrees to unite efforts to face global climate change with a view to positioning the countries of the Greater Caribbean at the forefront of international efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. (Para.8) Recognises the multifaceted and stratified threats that the Greater Caribbean faces..to achieve sustainable development, and the imperative to strengthen coordination and cooperation within the ACS to deal with.. the unilateral listing of uncooperative fiscal jurisdictions and the practice by banks in developed countries to engage in risk reduction activities (de-risking) that result in the decline in relations with corresponding banks for the countries of the Greater Caribbean (Para. 17) Reiterates our commitment and unconditional respect for the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter and the principles of International Law, to maintain international peace and security, the promotion of friendly relations between states, international cooperation in solving problems, the Sovereign Equality of states.., the peaceful resolution of disputes, the prohibition of the use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and the non-interference in their domestic affairs, essential requirements for preserving the Greater Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and cooperation, in accordance with the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. (Para. 21) Supports the 10-point Action Plan of the Reparations Commission of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and applauds this Commissions efforts to correct injustices resulting from the genocide of the native people of the Caribbean and the Transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and slavery, which are counted amongst the most atrocious crimes against humanity, and reaffirming, in turn, the urgent need to request efficient measures for reparation, compensation, indemnification or other in kind measures at a national, regional and international level. (Para. 28) The adoption in Managua of the 20192021 Plan of Action also reconfirmed the tremendous foresight manifested way back in 1992 by Sir Shridath Ramphal and his fellow Commissioners of the West Indian Commission, when they proposed that CARICOM take the initiative to establish a Caribbean Basin-wide Association of Caribbean States as a mechanism for a broader and more extensive Greater Caribbean circle of functional cooperation. The ACS 2019-2021 Plan of Action constitutes a blueprint for a range of valuable initiatives and projects in the spheres of Sustainable Tourism, Regional Trade and External Economic Relations, Regional Air and Maritime Transportation, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction, matters pertaining to the Caribbean Sea, and initiatives in the fields of Culture, Education and Sports. The triennial Plan of Action is extremely wide-ranging, and it will now be left up to the Executive Board of the ACS Ministerial Council, under the Chairmanship of Barbados, to confer with ACS Secretary General Dr. June Soomer, and other officers of the ACS Secretariat located in Trinidad & Tobago, to establish priority projects and implementation modalities. The ACS will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on the 24th of July 2019, and, in his remarks to the assembled Heads of Government at the Summit, the incoming Chairman of the governing Ministerial Council, Dr. the Hon. Jerome Walcott of Barbados, urged all ACS Member States and Associated Member States to undertake celebrations of the silver anniversary that are thoughtfully designed to forcefully bring the existence and achievements of the ACS to the attention and consciousness of the masses of people throughout our region of the Greater Caribbean. Actor Irrfan Khan has commenced shooting for the much-anticipated sequel to his 2017 blockbuster "Hindi Medium". The 52-year-old actor recently returned to the country. He went abroad last year after he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour. Maddock Films, the production company behind the original film, shared on Twitter that the sequel, titled "Angrezi Medium" and to be directed by Homi Adajania, started shooting in Udaipur. "What better start to this Friday than starting something that you all have been waiting for! Our power team, Producer #DineshVijan, Director #HomiAdajania, DOP #AnilMehta, @deepakdobriyal and the man himself @irrfank straight from the sets of #AngreziMedium in #Udaipur," the banner tweeted. The 2017 original was directed by Saket Chaudhary and also featured Pakistani actor Saba Qamar. The sequel will reportedly follow a fresh storyline. Irrfan recently made a comeback to Twitter and in a statement, he expressed his gratitude towards his fans for standing by him during his health crisis. "Maybe somewhere in the pursuit of winning, we forget how much it means to be loved. In our vulnerability, we are reminded. "As I leave my footprints onto these steps of my life, I want to pause to be grateful for receiving your immense love and support, it soothed me in my process of healing. So I travel back to you, thanking you from the bottom of my heart," Irrfan wrote. The National Award-winning actor first spoke of his health on March 5, 2018, when he revealed that he was suffering from a "rare disease" but was yet to get a conclusive diagnosis. He later revealed he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of cancer that can target various parts of the body. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slamming Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his "Muslim virus" remarks, Indian Union Muslim Leagueleader P K Kunhalikutty Friday said he was talking to vacant chairs in UP and BJP got upset over the popularity of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had tweeted that the Muslim League is a virus and the Congress was affected by it. "Muslim League is a virus. If someone is affected by this virus, he cannot survive and today main Opposition party Congress is affected by it. Think, if they win what will happen? This virus will spread in the entire nation," Adityanath tweeted. He also brought in the 1857 movement for freedom and its hero Mangal Pandey. "In 1857, entire country fought against Britishers with Mangal Pandey, then this Muslim League virus came and spread in such a way that the country was divided," he said. "The same threat is looming over the country again. Green flags are once again furled. Congress is suffering from Muslim league virus,remain alert," another of his tweets said. The Chief Minister was apparently referring to the IUML, which is a long-time member of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala. Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran also lashed out at Adityanath, saying the tweet attacking the Muslim League amounts to attack on Muslim community. "It's a conscious attempt to create communal tension and to attack the Muslim community. Adityanath's attempt was to humiliate the entire Muslim community through attacking the Muslim League. The BJP leadership has the responsibility to control Adityanath who nurture the of divide," Ramachandran said. Kunhalikutty said the saffron party was forgetting that they have alliances with various 'green flag' parties at various places. "Yogi Adityanath is ignorant of things happening here. Actually, BJP need to evaluate themselves on the alliance they have formed in various states. BJP is associated with many 'green flags' at many places, including the PDP in Kashmir," the IUML leader said. He also said there was no point in criticising Rahul Gandhi over "silly matters" and the BJP won't be able to stop the "Rahul juggernaut". "BJP will not be able to stop the Rahul juggernaut. Rahul's Nagpur rally was a big hit. In Kerala's Wayanad, Gandhi came like a storm. There was an overwhelming response on part of the public. He is going to win with margin of over lakhs. The BJP is frightened after seeing all these. Adityanath is talking to vacant chairs in Uttar Pradesh. So they just brought up this 'green flag' thing, which is also with them," Kunhalikutty said. The central leadership of the Congress had earlier in the day reorted that it was he (Adityanath) who was a "virus" that would be "eradicated" in the elections. Reacting to Adityanaths statement, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala called the Chief Minister bhogi (hedonistic) and said the remarks were "completely intemperate". "A virus named 'Bhogi' Adityanath has hung development inthe largest State of Uttar Pradesh. People of Uttar Pradesh did correct that virus during the by-elections to some Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. The virus will be completely eradicated in this Lok Sabha election," he said in Delhi. Adityanath had on April 4 accused Gandhi of having a "secret agenda" in Kerala "with the Muslim League, the same organisation which was at the root of the countrys division". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Japanese probe on Friday launched an explosive device at an asteroid, aiming to blast a crater in the surface and scoop up material that could shed light on how the solar system evolved. The explosive mission is the riskiest yet attempted by the Japanese space agency's Hayabusa2 probe that aims to reveal more about the origins of life on Earth. Hayabusa2 successfully released the so-called "small carry-on impactor" - a cone-shaped device capped with a copper bottom - as scheduled, as the probe hovered just 500 metres (1,650 feet) above the asteroid Ryugu. The impactor was programmed to explode 40 minutes later, propelling the copper bottom towards Ryugu, where it should gouge a crater into the surface of the asteroid that spins 300 million kilometres from Earth. Hayabusa2 moved smartly away from the area to avoid being damaged by debris from the explosion or colliding with Ryugu while also releasing a camera to capture images of the event. Images from a different camera at the bottom of the probe showed the impactor was released at the right position and the right angle. Control Mission could not immediately confirm the detonation but assumes "the impactor certainly reached the surface," said Takashi Kubota, engineering researcher at the Japanese space agency (JAXA). Kubota said the probe's use of explosives and its "acrobatic" evasive manoeuvres were "unprecedented" and he hoped the mission would give scientists a rare peek inside an asteroid. Although the detonation was too small to move Ryugu off-orbit, JAXA scientist Makoto Yoshikawa said the ability to operate a probe to this level of precision marked "an important achievement in planetary defence" if Earth were threatened by an asteroid. It will take two weeks for the probe itself to return to its "home position" near Ryugu after the detonation and impact. The crater could be as large as 10 metres in diameter if the surface is sandy, or three metres across if it is rocky, according to JAXA scientists. NASA's Deep Impact project succeeded in creating an artificial crater on a comet in 2005, but only for observation purposes. The aim of blasting the crater on Ryugu is to throw up "fresh" material from under the asteroid's surface that could shed light on the early stages of the solar system. The asteroid is thought to contain relatively large amounts of organic matter and water from some 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system was born. In February, Hayabusa2 touched down briefly on Ryugu and fired a bullet into the surface to puff up dust for collection, before blasting back to its holding position. The Hayabusa2 mission, with a price tag of around 30 billion yen (USD 270 million), was launched in December 2014 and is scheduled to return to Earth with its samples in 2020. Photos of Ryugu - which means "Dragon Palace" in Japanese and refers to a castle at the bottom of the ocean in an ancient Japanese tale - show the asteroid has a rough surface full of boulders. Hayabusa2 observes the surface of the asteroid with its camera and sensing equipment but has also dispatched two tiny MINERVA-II rover robots as well as the French-German robot MASCOT to help surface observation. At about the size of a large fridge, Hayabusa2 is equipped with solar panels and is the successor to JAXA's first asteroid explorer, Hayabusa - Japanese for falcon. That probe returned with dust samples from a smaller, potato-shaped asteroid in 2010, despite various setbacks during its epic seven-year odyssey and was hailed as a scientific triumph. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Recouping early losses, shares of Jet Airways were trading marginally lower Friday morning as lenders prepare to invite bids for stake sale in the ailing airline. The scrip was down at Rs 259.15 after opening at Rs 264 on the BSE. Similar trend was witnessed on the NSE where the company's share price fell to Rs 258.85 apiece. It had opened at Rs 260.95 on the broader index. As uncertainty continues over the future course for the airline, the consortium of lenders on Thursday said bids for selling stake would be invited on April 6 and other options would be explored in case the stake sale efforts do not result in an "acceptable outcome". The consortium of domestic lenders, led by State Bank of India, had also said that they would pursue resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework. Acute financial crunch has forced the airline to ground aircraft, cancel flights and delay payment of salaries, including to pilots. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government on Friday told a court here that the police filed the charge sheet in the 2016 JNU sedition case in a "hasty" and "secretive manner" and that it will take over a month to decide whether to grant sanction to prosecute former JNU student's union president Kanhaiya Kumar in the case. The AAP government made the submission to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sherawat It accused the police of filing the charge sheet secretly and in a hasty manner without obtaining the required sanction from the competent authority. The court had earlier directed the state government to file a "proper reply", citing a definite time-frame. DCP of Special Cell of Delhi Police, Pramod Kushwaha, had told the court that the agency has already sent a request to the Delhi government seeking sanction and added sanction was an administrative action and the charge sheet can be filed without that. On January 14, police had filed a charge sheet in the court against Kumar and others, saying he was leading a procession and supported seditious slogans raised in the JNU campus during an event on February 9, 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor John Cho has landed the lead role in Netflix's live-action series "Cowboy Bebop". The 10-episode show is an official adaptation of popular Japanese science fiction anime of the same name, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It is described as "the jazz-inspired, genre-bending story of a ragtag crew of bounty hunters on the run from their pasts as they hunt down the solar system's most dangerous criminals," working from their spaceship, Bebob. Cho, 46, will portray Spike Spiegel, an impossibly cool 'cowboy' (bounty hunter) with a deadly smile, a wry wit and style to spare. He travels the solar system with his ex-cop partner, Jet, pursuing the future's most dangerous bounties with a combination of charm, charisma and deadly Jeet Kune Do. The series will also feature "Luke Cage" star Mustafa Shakir, actors Daniella Pineda and Alex Hassell. Josh Applebaum, Jeff Pinkner, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg of Midnight Radio will be showrunning and executive producing the series. Alex Garcia, best known for his work on "Cloak and Dagger", "Luke Cage" and "Daredevil", will helm the first two episodes. Shinichiro Watanabe, the director of the original anime, will be serving as consultant on the series. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday announced that financial assistance would be given to all applicants of the Kalia scheme on the first day of his government taking oath of the office after Assembly election. Stating that farmers and agriculture is his party's first priority, Patnaik said not a single eligible farmer will be denied benefit under the Kalia scheme implemented in the state for welfare of farmers. He said two instalment amount will be credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries after the BJD returns to power. "On the first day after the oath taking, all Kalia applicants numbering about 25 lakh farmers who are in the list but not given assistance would be given two instalments (Rs 10,000) at one go," Patnaik announced at an election meeting in Koraput district. Though a majority of beneficiaries have already received the financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for one crop, others identified farmers could not get it due to enforcement of model code of conduct for the elections in the state. So far about 40 lakh farmers have been benefited under Kalia scheme and another 25 lakh farmers will be added to the list soon, the chief minister said. Earlier, while addressing an election rally in Ganjam district, Patnaik had called upon the farmers to teach a lesson to the opposition party which blocked the disbursement of their financial assistance. The opposition BJP in a petition to the Election Commission of India, had alleged that the state's ruling BJD attempts to motivate farmers by providing financial assistance under the cover of Kalia scheme. The saffron party also alleged that the state government blocked the Centre's PM-KISAN scheme by not cooperating with the Centre. The BJD government's Kalia scheme has provision of financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for one crop. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kazakhstan is seeking Indian tractors and agri-input mechanisation equipment to boost its agriculture and is in talks with a few tractor makers including Mahindra and Mahindra, the country's ambassador Iskander Baitassov said Friday. Baitassov said though the talks are moving ahead, some issues need to be ironed out before the orders cyrstallise. "We are holding dialogues with a few Indian tractor makers. Negotiation with Mahindra & Mahindra is ahead than others. We are also inviting another tractor maker Sonalika for an assembly line in Kazakhstan," he said. The central Asian country has 220 million hectares cultivable land and the tractors in use there are 20 years old Russian-made ones and need to be replaced, Kazak Invest deputy chairman Marat Birimzhan said at an interactive session between the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Kazakhstan delegation. Mahindra is seeking protection and assurance on sales and "This is not possible. But we will offer help to export products to other markets to which the country has preferential access," Baitassov said. He said the Indian companies had shown greater interest in Kazakhstan in the past few years and there had been registration of about 200 of them with the country. He expressed optimism that there will be healthy growth in bilateral trade to US dollar 1.5 billion in 2019 compared to 1.2 billion in 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday hit out at the Congress over its poll promise of reviewing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and repealing the sedition law. The Haryana chief minister blamed the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the Kashmir problem. Calling the Congress' poll manifesto a "Dhakosla patra" (sham manifesto), Khattar, addressing a public meeting at Kaimri in the district, questioned the opposition party's promise of reviewing AFSPA. He said after the Pulwama terror attack in February, which left 40 CRPF personnel dead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a free hand to the defence forces to give a befitting reply to the militants. He said, today, anyone who looks at India with an evil eye is made to pay in the same coin. On the other hand, the Congress is promising to review AFSPA and repeal sedition law, he said. "They said they will repeal the sedition law. Those who raise slogans like 'Bharat tere tukde tukde honge' (India will disintegrate), will go scot-free. Can we allow this to happen?," he said, adding many sacrifices have been made to safeguard India and such decisions could undo the armed forces' good work. "Do you care for the human rights of those who give their lives for this nation or those who talk about its disintegration," he asked. Blaming Nehru for the Kashmir crisis, Khattar said, "Had Sardar Vallabhai Patel been prime minister after Independence there would have been no place for terrorism in Kashmir. "These mistakes were committed by the Congress, which we have to bear today. Now if son-of-the-soil Narendra Modi has come forward to rectify these mistakes, there is talk of human rights violation. If anyone talks about the country's division and raises slogans, is this human right? Congress has failed to understand this," he said. "When Rahul Gandhi was asked on whose suggestion they (his party) had incorporated such things in the manifesto (review of AFSPA and repealing of sedition law), he said it was done on the suggestion of surgical strike hero Lt General D S Hooda (retd), but General Hooda has refused any knowledge on this," Khattar claimed. The world has recognised India as an emerging superpower, he said. "Had Congress been at the helm, neither the 1998 Pokhran nuclear test would have been conducted nor the anti-satellite missile test." On the Congress' proposed minimum income scheme 'NYAY', Khattar said, "From pandit Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, promises to eliminate poverty were made before. Congress president Rahul Gandhi's 'NYAY' is one more lie in the series." He lauded the Modi government for introducing several schemes for the poor, weaker sections and farmers. Khattar claimed the law and order situation had improved in the state after the BJP government formed the government. The present government has given 60,000 jobs out of the 74,000 advertised earlier, all of which were given in a transparent manner on merit as against favouritism which prevailed earlier, said Khattar. Mocking the Haryana Congress' 'parivartan yatra', Khattar said, "Earlier, several Congress men were fighting for the chief ministerial post. After the week-long 'parivartan yatra', the Congress Legislative Party leader (Kiran Choudhary) has staked claim for Leader of Opposition (LoP) post, but their party's state unit chief is saying he will decide (on the matter). Now, they are fighting for the LoP post," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday accused coalition partner Congress and others of hatching a 'chakravyuha', a deadly formation in epic Mahabharata, to defeat his son and JDS nominee Nikhil in Mandya Lok Sabha seat. Bringing to fore again deep fissures in the ruling front, the JDS leader lashed out at Congress and others for 'colluding' with independent candidate and multi-lingual film actress Sumalatha, wife of late Congress leader and actor Ambareesh, in Mandya, instead of working for Nikhil. "There are developments that have gone out of hand in Mandya. The independent candidate has got widespread support. She may appear as an independent but she has got the support of Congress, BJP and Raita Sangha (farmers' association). All of them have joined hands to trample JD(S)," he told reporters in Chikkamagalur. He was replying to the queries on JD(S) supremo and his father H D Deve Gowda's remarks Thursday that things have gone out of hand in Mandya, which goes to polls on April 18, and even former chief minister and Congress strongman Siddaramaiah cannot reverse it. Kumaraswamy said "He (Gowda) has only uttered thefacts... Somewhere someChakravyuha has been hatched but the people of Mandya, those toiling populace, have already taken a decision (to elect Nikhil)," the chief minister said. He added he was making the statement clearly without hiding anything. 'Chakravyuha' is a deadly battle formation narrated in the epic Mahabharata in which Arjuna's son Abhimanyu was trapped and killed by the Kauravas. Reacting to Kumaraswamy's outbursts, Sumalatha told reporters that Congress "workers are indeed with me". Seeking to turn the tables on the chief minister for his 'Chakravyuha' attack, she said what he would call "activities of the entire government machinery, ministers and MLAs" allegedly aimed at defeating her. "Which Vyuhais that?. They (JD-S) are playing dirty tricks.They have fielded three other candidates with the name Sumalatha against me. Thosethree candidates are wearing glasses, necklace and attire likeme in the photograph submitted in their affidavit," she claimed. The JD(S) leadership always considered Mandya as its citadel given the huge population of dominant Vokkaliga community, which Deve Gowda belongs to, in the constituency, represented by Ambareesh for three terms. However, upsetting the equations, Sumalatha decided to contest the election from Mandya as an independent after failing to get ticket from the Congress. The BJP is backing Sumalatha instead of fielding its candidate. There is widespread resentment within the local Congress over JDS being alloted the seat under an electoral arrangement between the coalition partners. Disgruntled JD(S) leaders are also reportedly working against the third generation of themighty Deve Gowda clan. Deve Gowda's another grandson Prajwal Revanna, son of minister H D Revanna, is contesting from Hassan, where also a similar situation prevails with the Congress at the grassroot level openly expressing opposition to the JDS. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Belmont, Port of Spain 5 April 2019) A new request yesterday by 70 Non Profit Organisations (NPOs) to delay the passage of legislation that will substantially impact their functioning has been rejected by Attorney General Faris Al Rawi. At their meeting with him, Al Rawi also declined to consider amendments that the NPOs representatives proposed to the legislation. The groups are now calling on all 15 members of the Independent and Opposition Senate benches to ensure Parliamentary debate on the Non-Profit Bill, 2019 is delayed for a short period, there is effective consultation with them, and reasonable amendments to the bill are made. After 20 of the NPOs texted Mr. Al Rawi earlier this week to Stop the NPO bill, he offered them a meeting Thursday afternoon. Thirty groups had made a similar request the prior week, but he had dismissed their letter on the floor of the chamber as he wound up the debate as the House passed the bill Friday. Government aims to pass the Non-Profit Bill in both Houses of Parliament just 18 days after its introduction. Senate debate is scheduled for Tuesday. As the bill requires only a simple majority, Government Senators could effectively railroad its passage without the contributions of civil society or the remaining Senators. The timebound delay was requested by nonprofits concerned with improving the legislations feasibility through adequate input from those it will affect. Compliance with the Financial Action Task Forces Recommendation 8 in advance of an International Cooperation Review Group meeting scheduled for late April, which is Governments rationale for the 11th-hour legislation. Recommendation 8 requires governments to have in place risk-based measures to detect and deter the small number of nonprofits that are used to finance terrorism and arms. The NPOs believe the proposed measures are an overreach that will stymie the operations of the majority of them who are at no risk. They are skeptical that the bills one-size-fits-all, punitive approach is necessary for FATF compliance, and that it risks shrinking the sector, to the detriment of wider society and the economy. Nonprofits hope to convene a forum on Monday to educate legislators and others about FATF compliance and to highlight their concerns about the bill. The groups affirm the need for sensible legislation to reform and harmonise state oversight of NPOs and to achieve Trinidad & Tobagos requirements for participation in the international financial system. However, they feel strongly that transparency and active collaboration are a base requirement for achieving this and for responsible legislating. They attempted to convince the AG for time to propose simpler, similarly compliant, but less intrusive and disruptive measures. Other elements of the bill trouble the groups. The authority to demand access to records at any time and to de-register groups for failure to update information can expose NPOs to harassment, particularly those that may be seen as thorn in the side of government. The cost of the regime is an additional concern. Many NPOs have no paid staff and do all their good works with the contribution of volunteers. They will not have the capacity for the level of constant record keeping that is not demanded even of most private sector companies. Substantial investment will be needed to put the implementing mechanisms in place on the part of both the Government and NPOs. This burden of compliance will lead to the closure of a number of groups and inhibit the development of new ones. The NPO sector plays a significant role in delivering public services that Government is demonstrably not in a position to do technically or financially. The Non-Profit Bill also imposes its new measures atop of a patchwork of inconsistent, outdated and unwieldy fiscal and tax frameworks that currently regulate nonprofits. Nonprofits have long clamoured for law reforms to modernise them. In November of last year, the CSOs for Good Governance Project submitted a paper to the Attorney General proposing a single regulatory regime be created to deal with both these and FATF. Veni Apwanns Colleen Davis, one of the representatives at the meeting, lamented: A piecemeal approach to regulating the NPO sector just makes nonprofits have to dance harder to comply. Veni Apwann helps nonprofits strengthen their functioning, so she sees their challenges and resource constraints up close. But the organisations are celebrating one big win from their meeting with the Attorney General. While the AG refused to take the integrated approach to regulation they proposed, he made a firm commitment to the groups to immediately begin working with them on reform of other nonprofit and charities laws. Its a step forward, said Nicole Leotaud, executive director of the regional environmental group the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), who also attended. Weve been asking for this for 15 years. The Attorney General also sought to reassure groups that considerable time and awareness raising will occur between the legislations passage and its proclamation as law. He accepted the groups offer to partner in engaging nonprofits about the legislationbut only after its passage. But no matter how well informed we are about the provisions of the law, that doesnt increase our capacity to be constantly in full compliance with all of these new measures, noted Colin Robinson from CAISO: Sex & Gender Justice that started the texting campaign. Thats what the bill ignores. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has reportedly claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had sent feelers through emissary Prashant Kishor for his return to "Mahagathbandhan" but the assertion was promptly dismissed as "bogus" by the poll strategist-turned-politician". Reacting to an excerpt of the soon-to-be-released autobiography of Prasad, Kishor - currently the JD(U) national vice-president - tweeted, "The claims made by Laluji as reported are bogus. This is nothing but a poor attempt (at) seeking relevance by a leader whose best days are behind him. "Yes, we did meet many times before I joined JD(U), but if I were to tell what all was discussed then he would be quite embarrassed". Kishor, who had worked with Kumar and Prasad as a strategist during 2015 assembly polls, also shared the excerpt published in an English daily which quoted the RJD supremo as having said, "Kishor seemed to indicate that if I were to assure in writing my party's support to the JD(U), the latter would pull out of the BJP alliance and rejoin Mahagathbandhan. "Though I was not bitter with Nitish, I had lost trust in him completely. Moreover, I was not sure how the people who had voted for the Grand Alliance in 2015 and the other parties that had united against the BJP all over the country, would react if I accepted Kishor's offer," the report quoted Prasad as having said in the book. Kumar had severed his ties with the Grand Alliance in July, 2017, less than two years after his partnership with arch rival Prasad and the Congress succeeded in delivering a crushing defeat to the BJP-led NDA in the assembly polls. The chief minister, who was apparently embarrassed after his then deputy and Lalu Prasad's younger son got embroiled in a corruption scandal, announced his resignation in a sudden development that he attributed to his "inner voice" but ended up getting sworn in as chief minister less than 24 hours later as the BJP and its allies came forward with offer of support. There had been speculations last year, especially in the aftermath of a spate of communal incidents that erupted around the Ram Navami festival in several parts of the state, that the JD(U) president was getting uneasy with his old ally's new, aggressive avatar and thinking of a return to the "Mahagathbandhan" - a term he had himself coined. Meanwhile, former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who fell out with Kumar over his return to the NDA and ended up fighting the Lok Sabha polls as an RJD candidate, also sought to approve the claim made in the excerpt published in the English daily. "It is true that Nitish Kumar had desperately tried to walk out of NDA within months of returning to the BJP-led coalition. Negotiations were on through various channels. Kishor may have been involved," Yadav told reporters in Madhepura. JD(U) spokesman Rajiv Ranjan said, "Kishor is also a strategist who meets a vast cross-section of people in that capacity. He worked with Nitish and Lalu as a strategist in 2015 and may have been in touch with the RJD boss afterwards, but not for the reasons stated by the jailed leader." Notably, in a recently telecast interview to a channel, Kumar too had spoken of Kishor's close acquaintance with political figures of all hues and remarked "even Lalu speaks to him from jail. It may be against the rules but he does that". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel Friday hit out at the Modi government over the Enforcement Directorate charge sheet in the controversial Agusta Westland chopper case and said "baseless and laughable" allegations and "jumlas" are raining this election season. Taking to Twitter, Patel, without directly referring to any charges against him, said he has full faith in the judiciary and the truth shall prevail. "A thief sees a thief in everyone," he said in an apparent swipe at the prime minister. The Rajya Sabha MP said it seems the probe agency has become an "important part" of the NDA alliance. The ED, in the supplementary charge sheet filed before a court on Thursday, said Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the case, has identified the initials "AP", mentioned in a "budget sheet", as Ahmed Patel. The budget sheet contains the details of payments made to various people, including politicians, in connection with the deal. The identity of the said Ahmed Patel is not clear. On Friday, a day after the ED filed the charge sheet, the Congress leader said "such antics" would not work as the public is demanding answers to unemployment, farm distress and sagging economy. And, he said, these issues reflected the "defeat of Modi government". "In this election season, it is pouring 'jumlas' (rhetoric). Baseless and laughable charges are raining. "We have full faith in the judiciary and the truth can never be hidden and shall prevail. It looks like that the ED has become an important part of the NDA," he said in a tweet in Hindi. "The chowkidar and his cronies have targeted the wrong place without evidence. The 'dalals' (middlemen) of Noteban and Rafale cannot escape now. The people will teach them a lesson. But, you must have heard the saying that a thief sees a thief in everyone," Patel also said. Patel, who hails from Gujarat, has been former Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political adviser and is currently the Congress treasurer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Bar Association (DBA) has approached the Lieutenant Governor against the creation of another post of a district judge for the central district for heading the new Rouse Avenue court complex here. The central district already has a district judge at Tis Hazari court complex. The new court complex, to be inaugurated on April 8, would start functioning from Tuesday. Besides opposing the post of district judge cum special judge (PC Act) at Rouse Avenue court, the lawyers are also seeking revocation of the post of chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) proposed to be posted at the building. The DBA lawyers have sought immediate action on the issue. In the letter, which has also been sent to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Law Minister Kailash Gahlot, the lawyers said the Delhi High Court has assured the DBA that no revenue/sessions district has been created for the Rouse Avenue complex which falls within the territorial jurisdiction of central district. "In the light of the aforesaid, you are requested to put the sanction on the post of district judge cum special judge (PC Act) and for the post of CMM/ACMM on hold/ cancel the same at the earliest since this sanction tantamounts to creation of new revenue as well as session district within the central district," it stated. The lawyers added that the bar strongly feels that creation of such post is against the established norms and procedure as the post of district and sessions judge or the post of CMM is created only for a defined territory and not for a particular subject or building. The letter, dated April 2, said the Delhi government has already created 11 judicial districts on the lines of revenue district courts and the area of Rouse Avenue falls within the territory of Central district which is headed by District and Sessions Judge (HQ) and also has the CMM. "Therefore, creating another post in the same area amounts to subverting the judicial and administrative powers given to the existing D&SJ and CMM who are handling the cases in the central district," it said. DBA said the sanction granted for creating the post is legally impermissible and is in violation of orders of the Supreme Court passed in 2000 and 2008. The lawyers alleged that it is also in violation of the norms of judicial discipline and propriety wherein a junior most official has been given the charge of the newest court complex while ignoring the calibre and merits of many other judicial officers who also could be posted only as a judge in-charge but not as a full-fledged D&SJ. All the courts relating to Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti Corruption Branch will be relocated to the Rouse Avenue court complex. 24 Special Judges (PC Act) (CBI) and two Special Judges (PC Act) (ACB) will be functioning there. After Lawyers protest earlier, the high court had sent a note to the lawyers that the new court complex will merely function as a court complex to house all special judges (PC Act) and ACB. The jurisdiction of special judges is not restricted to sessions division but extends to the whole Delhi. On the charge of having carved out a new district, the high court had said the misunderstanding with regard to creation of a separate district at Rouse Avenue complex within central district. It had said presently there are 11 revenue/ judicial districts in Delhi and it shall continue to do so until and unless the Delhi government initiates the process to increase the number. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops Thursday to "advance" on Tripoli, seat of the internationally-recognised unity government, as world powers warned of consequences for military action. Haftar's forces announced Wednesday they were gearing up for an offensive in the west of the country to purge it of "terrorists and mercenaries", having seized key areas of the country's south since the start of the year. "The time has come," Haftar said in an audio message released Thursday by his self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, pledging to spare civilians and "state institutions". Dozens of militias have fought for control of the North African country since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Haftar's forces have emerged as a key player, opposing the government in Tripoli and backing a parallel administration in the east. On Thursday evening LNA spokesman Ahmed Mesmari announced that the force was "at the gates of the capital" and said it was not clear whether there would be any resistance from armed groups there. Unity government chief Fayez al-Sarraj earlier condemned Haftar's "escalation" and said he had ordered loyalist forces to prepare to "face all threats". His interior ministry announced a "state of maximum alert" and powerful armed groups from Libya's western city of Misrata said they were ready to halt Haftar's advance. A convoy of vehicles from Haftar's forces on Thursday pushed towards the city of Gharyan, some 100 kilometres from Tripoli, witnesses and military sources said. Commander Abdessalem Al-Hassi told AFP Thursday that his forces had entered into the city without a fight. But at least four sources in the city denied this, and a Gharyan official said there were "ongoing efforts to avoid a confrontation" between rival fighters who divide the city. Haftar has repeatedly expressed his intention to march on Tripoli. His forces in January launched an offensive from his eastern strongholds into oil-rich southern Libya, ostensibly aimed at wiping out "terrorists" and criminal groups. The latest rise in tensions came as United Nations chief Antonio Guterres visited Tripoli ahead of a planned conference later this month to hammer out a roadmap for delayed parliamentary and presidential elections. "I am deeply concerned by the military movement taking place in Libya and the risk of confrontation," Guterres tweeted. The United States and its allies issued a joint statement urging "all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions". "Our governments oppose any military action in Libya and will hold accountable any Libyan faction that precipitates further civil conflict," said the US, France, Britain, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. "At this sensitive moment in Libya's transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos." The European Union warned that the "military buildup underway in Libya and the escalatory rhetoric... seriously risks leading to an uncontrollable confrontation". The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Friday to discuss Libya, at Britain's request, diplomats said. Russia, which has courted Haftar, meanwhile called for a solution to Libya's problems through "political-diplomatic" means. Rival Libyan leaders had agreed in Paris last year to hold elections before the end of the year, but that vote never materialised as Haftar's forces and the Tripoli government grappled for power. The UN said Haftar and Sarraj agreed at a meeting in Abu Dhabi last month to make a new attempt to organise the elections. Libyan analyst Emad Badi said factions in western Libya were angling for a joint front against the strongman, but "whatever the result ... Haftar will benefit from it militarily or politically". "His progress can enhance his position in the negotiations" if the UN-backed conference set for this month goes ahead, Badi added. Jalel Harchaoui, a researcher at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, said that "taking Tripoli is certainly not an easy or risk-free task, but it's still a possibility." "The risk of conflagration has increased," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming the Congress as "a party of liars", a Rajasthan BJP leader Friday said the upcoming general election was a battle between two ideologies. One ideology has patriots and the other has those who talk about abolishing the sedition law, state BJP general secretary Chandrashekhar said at a workshop of party workers. In its Lok Sabha poll manifesto released on Tuesday, the Congress has promised to abolish the provision of sedition in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP leader said that on the one side was a chowkidar (watchman) who talks about protecting the nation and on the other were those who defame the chowkidar. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Satish Poonia said it was the Congress party's profession to loot the country. "Modi government did remarkable work in five years and launched several schemes and programmes for the welfare of people," Poonia said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BSP supremo Mayawati attacked the BJP and the opposition Congress, alleging that both the parties failed to address the problems of the weaker sections. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign, she said the 'Chaiwallah' who enacted a "new drama" of 'Chowkidar' would undoubtedly be rejected by the people in the coming elections. Addressing an election meeting here Thursday, Mayawati lashed out at the Congress, saying the party, which ruled the country for 70 years, had miserably failed to ensure social justice and empowerment of the weaker sections of the society. As a result, its rule had been rejected in many states and at the Centre as well, she said. The BSP chief, who spoke in Hindi, claimed that the BJP was also following in the Congress' footsteps by ignoring the welfare of the weaker sections. She alleged that aggressive approaches of the BJP and the RSS have created more problems for the weaker sections and minorities in the country. The BSP is contesting three Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh as part of the electoral alliance with the Jana Sena led by Pawan Kalyan. Kalyan, who was also present, said a special governing body headed by Andhra Pradesh chief minister would be constituted in the place of existing board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that governs the Venkateswara temple if his party was voted to power. "There is a dire need to protect the safety, serenity and sanctity of the ancient hill shrine with a body to be headed by none other than the chief minister of the state itself," the actor-turned-politician said. He hit out at the YSR Congress Party led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and alleged that it was practising unruly Kalyan appealed to the people to vote for the nominees of the Jana Sena-BSP-left parties in the coming Lok Sabha and state assembly elections for better governance and to uplift the poor and downtrodden. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court here on Thursday. The agency, in its supplementary chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. The chargesheet said according to the "budget sheet, 30 million euros were paid to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians" to swing the deal in the favour of AgustaWestland for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country. " James has further disclosed various abbreviations used in the budget sheet, which contains the details of the payments made to Air Force officials, bureaucrats and political persons. "The recipients of the kickback include several categories of persons namely Air Force officials, bureaucrats including defence ministry officials and top political leaders of the then ruling party. As per James, 'AP' means and 'Fam' means Family," the ED said. At another place in the chargesheet, Michel said, "I cannot say what Haschke was thinking. As a guess, I would think he was talking about " Regarding "Fam", he said it "could mean family". While the identity of the said Ahmed Patel is not clear, it is understood that it refers to the senior Congress leader. The veteran leader has not been named in the PMLA FIR of the case. In the same chargesheet, Rajiv Saxena, another accused arrested in the case, has been quoted by the ED as saying that "AP" was a "reference" to Ahmed Patel. Patel in the past has denied any wrongdoing in the case. The ED said the kickback paid by the Anglo-Italian firm in the case was "at least about 12 per cent of the contract amount" and around 70 million euros were paid through the two middlemen involved in the case -- Michel and Guido Haschke. It added that this was an "undisputed fact" that the two middlemen had received kickbacks worth 70 million euros. The agency said this fact could be corroborated with the receipt of kickbacks in the bank accounts of companies "controlled and beneficially owned" by Michel and Haschke. It said the company "enlisted" the two as agents for the VVIP choppers deal in India as it wanted to promote its product and ensure that it became a a frontrunner to bag the deal. The central probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary chargesheet with 52 main pages, also named David Syms, Michel's alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them -- Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE -- as accused. In its first chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, the ED had alleged that he and others had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he would decide on whether to take cognisance of the ED's supplementary chargesheet and summon the accused on April 6. Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his party's manifesto was an expression of the people of India and ruled out burdening the middle class to fund the anti-poverty scheme Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay). The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty. Interacting with students here, Gandhi said he did not like making sweeping statements. "The manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where Rs 72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of poor people every year if the party is voted to power," he said. The Nyay minimum income guarantee scheme is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. The BJP, which has criticised the scheme, has sought to know how it will be funded. During the free-wheeling interaction, moderated by RJ Malishka and actor Subodh Bhave, Gandhi answered a number of questions, ranging from politics, his personal life and his bond with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Asked about Priyanka's twitter post calling him courageous, Gandhi replied, "I am persistent, I stand up for people who are weak." He said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures. Gandhi described demonetisation as a "disastrous idea", which had a terrible impact on the economy. He said the exercise, announced in 2016, caused two per cent fall in GDP growth and led to loss of millions of jobs. He said erstwhile Planning Commission was a strategic institution, while its successor Niti Ayaog only talks about implementation and tactics. "We need institutions to strategically think what should be done at the national level. Implementation and tactics can be done by the states," he said, responding to a question on the Congress manifesto promise of scrapping Niti Ayaog, the think-tank set up by the Modi government. Gandhi said the Congress, if voted to power, will focus on strengthening health care and education. On being asked who should take credit for the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said, "the (Indian) Air Force should take credit. It is Important that people know they can't mess around with India." The Congress leader said he was against politicisation of the air strike. "I feel uncomfortable that the PM does that. But it is his choice," Gandhi said. Gandhi said he does not claim to have answers to all questions. "I want you to make me feel uncomfortable so that I go back and revisit the question and start looking for answers," he said. When Bhave, who has acted in biopics on Lokmanya Tilak and Bal Gandharv, said he wants to do a biopic on him and asked who should be the heroine, Gandhi quipped, "Unfortunately, I am wedded to my work." Asked about facing criticism on social media, Gandhi said, "Those who want to live in virtual reality, they are free to do so. But, one can't run away from reality. "In the end you have to face it. I live in reality. Violence doesn't benefit anyone. It gives only false sense of confidence," he said. To a query, Gandhi said, "I love Modi. Genuinely I have no hatred or anger towards the man. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday accused the opposition of being soft on terrorism, saying these parties are putting people's lives at risk. Addressing two back-to-back rallies in western Uttar Pradesh, Modi said the opposition parties' only agenda is 'Modi hatao' (remove Modi), and attacked them over the issue of combating terrorism. "Be it the Congress, the SP or the BSP, they have put your lives and the future in danger," the prime minister said. Saharanpur is among the western UP constituencies that go to the polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 11. Polling in Amroha will be held in the following round. The two constituencies have a sizeable presence of Jats, Gujjars and Muslim voters. "After the terrorist attack, should I have remained silent or attacked," he asked the gathering, referring to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama and the retaliatory strike in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force. "Terrorists are being given a reply in their own language, he said.This is not liked by some people who lose sleep when India hits back." When Pakistan is exposed before the world, "these people" start speaking in its favour, he claimed, adding that there is "competition among them to become that country's hero". He alleged that the previous Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party governments in the state were kind to terror accused, letting them walk free. He claimed terror attacks on innocent people have stopped over the last five years as there is now a chowkidar at the Centre, saying he will go to pataal -- the bowels of the earth -- to get a terrorist. Modi said he did not consider vote banks while dealing with terrorism. He termed the Congress manifesto dhakosla patra (sham document), claiming that the party was against the welfare of the backward classes. "The opposition's only agenda is 'Modi Hatao' (remove Modi). Their only intention is to promote 'vanshvaad' (dynastic politics)," he said at the Saharanpur rally. Saharanpur is going to reject vote bank of the SP, the BSP and the Congress. People here trust the BJP," Modi claimed. "They threaten 'boti-boti' (chopping people into pieces) and we talk of the honour of "beti-beti" (daughters)," he said, reminding people of a reported remark by the Saharanpur Congress candidate Imran Masood against him in 2014. "The Congress policy is to honour the "tukde-tukde" gang, he said, repeating the allegation that the opposition party supported those who wanted to break up the country. Modi said the Congress talks about dialogue with people who patronise terrorism and also referred to the Congress suggestion to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The prime minister said the opposition has used the term "chowkidar of the toilets for him. "This is also an honour for me," he added. On the row over penalising instant divorce of Muslim women, he said the SP, the BSP and the Congress will continue to oppose legislation against the practice. He said some forces are creating divisions on the basis of caste. The people of UP gave a befitting reply to such forces in 2014 and 2017, he said referring to the BJP success in the state in the last Lok Sabha and assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party faces an opposition alliance mainly consisting of the SP and the BSP in UP, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Friday referred to the Enforcement Directorate's charge sheet on the helicopter scam and claimed that alleged middleman had pointed at the involvement of the first family of the Alleging that the and corruption were "inseparable partners", said Michel had disclosed two names to his interrogators. "One was 'AP' and the other was 'Fam'. 'AP' stands for and 'Fam' stands for family. Have you heard of Which family is he close to?" asked the crowd at a rally in Dehradun. When he heard the crowd's response, Modi said: "You understood automatically. The family cannot tolerate the stern attitude of the 'chowkidar' (watchman)." The ED had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Michel in a on Thursday, saying that the alleged middleman had identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel, the senior considered close to the Gandhi family. Michel, however, filed an application on Friday claiming that he had not named anybody in connection with the deal. Modi claimed he was told that a journalists were pushed around when he tried to ask Congress questions on the charge sheet. "I was told today that when some journalists asked this 'naamdar' some questions on the helicopter scam, he slapped him and ran away," Modi said. "When the ground beneath the feet of this messiah of peace is slipping away, he is even pushing around reporters." The apparent reference was to an incident earlier in the day in Pune when a television was stopped by security personnel when he approached the car in which Gandhi was seated. A video clip showed security personnel blocking the The "family", which at one time governed the fortunes of the country, is out on bail and thinking up ways to save itself from going to jail, the prime minister alleged. "The name of the family comes on top when it comes to corruption. They did not spare even our armed forces. No defence deal, be it Bofors or the helicopter deal, took place during Congress regimes without commissions being paid," Modi said at the parade ground. "There was a time when no one dared to touch this family. Their vehicles went straight to the aircraft at airports without anyone checking them. Today, they are trying every method up their sleeve to save themselves from landing behind bars," he said. Modi claimed that the Congress governments compete with each other to exceed in corruption. "Congress and corruption are inseparable partners. Wherever the party comes to power, corruption goes on the accelerator while development goes on the ventilator," Modi said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. "There is no resource on 'jal, thal and nabh' (water, land and space) that they have not looted." The prime minister also accused the Congress of hurting the morale of the armed forces by seeking a review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in "What will happen to the country (if they do so)? You are committing the sin of removing the protective cover from the security personnel for votes? Shame on you for your politics. Any terrorist can file any kind of FIR against the and security personnel if the AFSPA is withdrawn," Modi said. The controversial AFSPA gives a degree of immunity from prosecution to the security forces deployed in "disturbed areas". "By talking about revoking and repealing these laws, the Congress is giving a free reign to Pakistan-funded terrorists, separatists and the stone pelters. What is wrong with the " Modi asked. Modi claimed that the manifesto reflected Congress' hatred for the armed forces, saying it was reflected in the way the party had stalled the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for 40 years. "Those who look only for notes or votes kept the OROP waiting for 40 years. But we could implement it as you gave your blessings and stood like a rock with me," he added. Cheap poll stunt: Congress slams ED The Congress said on Friday that the ED's supplementary charge sheet was a "cheap election stunt" to divert the people's attention from the "imminent defeat" of the Modi dispensation in the Lok Sabha election. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said a "panic-stricken" Modi government is using "rehashed insinuations" through its "puppet" ED, which it dubbed as "Election Dhakosla" (sham) for "manufacturing lies". "All these rehashed insinuations and lies were bundled out earlier too through a set of pliable media. (ANSA) - Rome, April 5 - Coast guard and finance guard motor launches left Lampedusa Friday to take on board, for medical reasons, two children and their mothers from the 64 migrants on board the Alan Kurdi, a rescue ship run by the German NGO Sea Eye, which is currently in international waters, 15 nautical miles from Lampedusa. Sources said the four would be taken to Lampedusa. Berlin said earlier Friday that it is calling for the Alan Kurdi, a ship run by the German NGO Sea Eye that has rescued 64 asylum seekers off Libya, to be assigned a port of safety as soon as possible. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who had closed Italy's ports to NGO-run search-and-rescue ships, said Thursday that Germany should deal with the problem. So far, the vessel's captain has respected the order issued by the Italian interior ministry not to enter Italy's territorial waters. "We have asked the European Commission to take over coordination of the Alan Kurdi and consider the need for the ship to enter a port of safety as soon as possible," a German interior ministry spokesperson said. A German foreign minister spokesperson, meanwhile, said that "we are in direct contact with our Italian partners" about the ship. A European Commission spokesperson said that the EU executive was following the case and had requested the creation of a coordination group. Germany also said it was willing to take some of the migrants on board the vessel. The Alan Kurdi is currently reported to be zigzagging about 12 nautical miles from the Italian island of Lampedusa, respecting an Italian interior ministry warning Thursday that its course was to be considered "not inoffensive" to Italy, sources said. The ship has yet to obtain from the Roma coast guard maritime coordination centre an authorisation to enter Italy's territorial waters. At Lampedusa, coast guard motor launches and finance guard vessels are said to be monitoring the situation, local sources said. Lampedusa is a stepping stone island for migrants, closer to Libya than to Sicily. It has borne the brunt of migrant landings over the past few years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally in Balod district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday. This will be Modi's first rally in Chhattisgarh after the Lok Sabha election dates were announced last month. Polling for 11 seats in the state will be held in three phases- on April 11, 18 and 23. "The PM will address a public meeting in Hathaud village near Balod district headquarters around 2 pm on Saturday," a BJP state spokesperson here said. Modi will arrive at Balod from Sonepur town in Odisha, he added. Preparation for the programme has been done and it will be attended by people from four Lok Sabha constituencies- Kanker (ST), Durg, Mahasamund and Rajnandgaon, the BJP leader said. BJP's candidates on these seats Mohan Mandavi (Kanker), Chunnilal Sahu (Mahasamund), Santosh Pandey (Rajnandgaon) and Vijay Baghel (Durg) will be present on the occasion, he added. After the rally, Modi will reach Raipur, from where he will leave for Maharashtra, he added. Balod district falls in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, which will witness polling along with two other seats- Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund in the second phase. Naxal-affected Bastar (ST) seat is the only constituency in Chhattisgarh, where polls will be held in the first phase. The remaining seven seats - Surguja (ST), Raigarh (ST), Janjgir-Champa (SC), Raipur, Durg, Korba and Bilaspur will will witness polling in the third phase. In the last three lok sabha polls in 2004, 2009 and 2014 after the formation of Chhattisgarh, BJP had fared well, winning 10 out of 11 seats all the three times. During the previous three Lok Sabha polls, the BJP was in power in Chhattisgarh. However, this time, the Congress is ruling the state. The Congress, which had won 68 seats in the 90-member assembly in the last year's state election, has posed a huge challenge before the BJP to retain its previous performances. The PM's rally holds significance as the BJP is mainly banking on Modi factor and development work done by the Centre to garner votes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special court here Friday granted bail to Abdul Sathak, an aide of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, arrested for allegedly helping the latter with money laundering. Special PMLA court judge M S Azmi granted bail to Sathak on a surety of Rs 5,00,000. Sathak, a jeweller, was arrested last month under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He is accused of helping Naik by transferring "funds of dubious origin from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) to facilitate production and broadcasting of incriminating videos for spreading communal hatred and radicalisation of a particular community". While granting bail, the court laid down certain conditions, like he shall make himself available for probe as and when called by the investigating officer. Also, he must not leave India without the permission of the court and surrender his passport with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai, within a week. In his bail plea, Sathak said that there was nothing to show that he "acquired or dealt with any property" obtained through crime. He also claimed to be suffering from myasthenia gravis, a long-term neuromuscular disease. The ED has alleged that Sathak sent about Rs 50 crore to Naik, which the latter illegally routed and laundered. Sathak was the director of Global Broadcasting Corporation FZE LLC that owned Naik's Peace TV channel, it said. The central agency alleged that Global Broadcasting was "controlled" by Naik (who is stated to be in Malaysia now), through Sathak, his "trusted aide". Naik has been under investigation since 2016, when the Centre banned his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for five years. The controversial preacher is accused of inciting youth to take up terror activities, giving hate speeches and promoting enmity between communities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four people travelling in a car were detained with Rs 12 lakh cash in the early hours of Friday in Mumbai's Sewri area, the Election Commission informed. The EC statement said Sewri police intercepted a tourist vehicle at around 2:30am and found Rs 12 lakh cash in a bag in it, following which the four occupants were taken to the police station. While one of the persons detained, identified as Zuber Samiullah Khan, said the Rs 12,01,500 was for his business purposes, he failed to give satisfactory answers on its background, the statement said. Income Tax authorities have been informed and the police are also conducting a probe, the statement said. The three others in the car were identified as Syed Shahbaz Mohammad Shah Alam, Yusuf Usman Sheikh and Akbar Salim Pathan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's anti-graft body Friday conducted a raid at the residence of opposition leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to arrest his son in a corruption case, a media report said. A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team conducted the raid on a house, believed to be that of Shehbaz Sharif's residence, allegedly because his son 44-year-old Hamza was "not cooperating" in the assets beyond means case. The team had gone to arrest Hamza on the basis of evidence against him in the assets beyond means and alleged money laundering case, the report said. "NAB officials had gone to the residence with an arrest warrant and the Supreme Court had stated that the accountability bureau did not require to inform any accused prior to arresting them," the NAB said in a statement. In addition to the assets beyond means case, Hamza is facing an inquiry into the Ramzan Sugar Mills case, the Dawn newspaper reported. According to the NAB, Hamza and his younger brother Salman Shehbaz being directors of the sugar mills got constructed a bridge linking to their mills out of public money in Chiniot district in the Punjab province. It said an amount of Rs 200 million was approved by their father Shehbaz Sharif who was then the chief minister for the construction of the bridge. Hamza, while addressing a press conference after the raid, said he had felt like a terrorist because of the way NAB had raided the residence, the report said. "The sanctity of the home was violated...For the first time, I felt like we are terrorists, the way the raid was conducted," he said. Hamza, whose name had been placed on the Exit Control List, was permitted by a court to travel abroad in February as his newborn daughter was to undergo a cardiac procedure due to complications at birth. "Hamza Shahbaz is a Pakistani. Whenever I was given a notice, I would appear before the NAB. I will not tell you the way they spoke to me," he said. Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said it was "highly condemnable" if Sharif's home has been raided by the NAB without a warrant. "PPP doesn't oppose accountability but we oppose political vendettas in the name of accountability. Yet another authoritarian and undemocratic move by the government," he said. Following reports of the raid, a number of PML-N workers and supporters gathered outside the house and staged a sit-in, raising slogans against NAB. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima was observed by the Nagaland government on Thursday with representatives from the UK and Japan speaking on the theme of 'Remembrance, Reconciliation and Rebirth'. The dignitaries from the UK and Japan assembled at the programme to seek "reconciliation and forgiveness" for the "sufferings and pain" caused against each other at the Battle of Kohima, that was fought in three stages during the Second World War in 1944. Recounting the loss of "thousands of precious lives" in the battle, Ambassador of Japan to India, Kenji Hiramatsu, said the peace "we enjoy today was built over tremendous sacrifices". He said Japan stands committed to "never repeat the devastation of the war". Noting that relations of the countries which "once fought with each other" have been "transformed for the good", he said, "genuine reconciliation is only possible through dedicated efforts by us all." The Japanese envoy said the relationship between Japan and the Northeastern region has become "substantially closer". Two years ago, the 'Act East Forum' was started to help accelerate the development of the region and the people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the youth, he said. British High Commissioner to India, Dominic Anthony Gerard Asquith said, "We are here to remember the British, Indian and Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives during the battle, together with the Naga non-combatants who died valiantly supporting the successful defence of the Kohima Ridge against a numerically superior force." Asquith said India, Japan and UK stand together as "three great democracies" to work with each other for peace and prosperity globally and committed to facing todays challenges. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio recalled that Kohima was the theatre of the War in 1944 and the Nagas were drawn into it on both sides some with the British and some with the Japanese. "The relationship with the UK and Japan over the last 75 years stands as a model of the power of reconciliation," he said. The 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima will be a yearlong celebration, Rio said. Rio said post the Second World War, the Nagas were witness to "more wars and bloodshed". However, the past two decades have been peaceful and Nagaland is moving forward on the path of development, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is all set to star in Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's "No Land's Man", which he will also be co-producing. The predominantly English-language film will revolve around a tragic, strange, and at times funny journey of a South Asian man whose journey takes layered and complicated shape when he meets an Australian girl in the States, the producers said in a statement. "The most coveted script 'No Land's Man' is finally going to be made into a film. Thank you Mostofa Sarwar Farooki for the opportunity. Looking forward," Nawzuddin tweeted. "No Land's Man" won the Motion Picture Association of America and Asia Pacific Screen Awards' Script Development fund in 2014 and was part of the Asian Project Market at Busan. It was chosen as the best project at India's Film Bazaar the same year. The project is currently in pre-production stage and principal photography will commence later this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui will star in filmmaker Glen Barretto's road trip film, "Dusty to meet Rusty". The film choices the journey of a girl who takes a road trip from Mumbai to Dharamshala in search of her childhood sweetheart but finds love on her way. "Dusty to meet Rusty" will mark his third collaboration with producer Rajesh Bhatia and Kiran Bhatia's Woodpecker Movies after his upcoming films "Motichoor Chaknachoor" and "Bole Chudiyan". "When Nawaz heard the narration, he loved the script instantly. Its an honour to work with talent like him who brings great value to the script with his nuances and outstanding performances," Kiran said in a statement. The preparation for the film has begun and another hero as a parallel male lead and a female actor are on the verge of being finalised. The shooting is scheduled to start in August this year with a start to finish schedule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has denied NBCC Chairman Anoop Kumar Mittal service extension till his date of superannuation, resulting in his demitting office a good 10 months before he would have retired. Sources said Mittal's term came to an end on March 31, 2019 and he was entitled for extension till he attained superannuation age of 60 years in January 2020 but the government refused to extend his services. Mittal has since relinquished his office. His charge has been temporarily given to a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, they said. Mittal, a career engineer, was appointed as head of the state-owned construction firm in 2013 for a five year period. Last year, he was given a one-year extension till March 31, 2019. Sources said NBCC's parent ministry had recommended extension of his service till January 31, 2020 but the approval of the competent authority did not come. Mittal joined NBCC in 1985 as assistant engineer and rose through the ranks to head the company, which is into project management consultancy and real estate businesses. It has bagged many prestigious projects in the last few years, including the redevelopment of Pragati Maidan in central Delhi. He is not the first person to have been denied an extension of service. The previous UPA government had denied Subir Raha the same as head of ONGC, P Banerjee as chairman of GAIL India Ltd and Sarthak Behuria as Indian Oil Corp (IOC) head. When contacted, Mittal confirmed the development and said a new CMD with five year tenure should be appointed for the growth of the company. "I am really thankful to the government and NBCC for giving me an opportunity to serve the company for six years," he told PTI. Talking about his tenure, he said NBCC has become a large company with an order book of around Rs 90,000 crore. The company has established itself as a major player in redevelopment projects with self-generating revenue model, he said. Mittal said the company has shown willingness to take up stalled projects in Delhi-NCR for the benefit of all stakeholders, including home buyers. NBCC has bid for acquiring Jaypee Infratech, which is undergoing insolvency process. It is also completing some projects of Amrapali, as per the direction of the Supreme Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A leading Nepalese media body on Friday condemned the government's move to impose restrictions' on the issuance of identity cards to members of the press and urged it to immediately rescind the directives that are against the press freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. In a circular dated February 1 this year, the Nepal Government made it mandatory for journalists and other staff of media organisations to produce their bank details, including statement, to avail facilities, such as issuance of press identity cards. It also asked media houses to submit a copy of the payroll of all journalists and other staff authenticated by banks for availing services from the Information and Broadcasting department. The Nepal Media Society has urged the KP Oli -led Government to immediately revoke the anti-media directives. "This regulation is linked to the secrecy of journalists, which needs to be corrected," Shubha Shanker Kandel, president of the society, said. Let us remind you none of the government's anti-press activities will shut down our media. The entire world and Nepali people will stand in support of the Nepali media. There are innumerable examples in front of us how moves against the media by those drunk on power have backfired, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a tight race for re-election, Israel's prime minister has gotten a welcome lift from his friend in the White House. Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign speeches, billboards and social media videos have all heavily featured President Donald Trump's image, statements and pro-Israel actions as endorsements of the long-seated prime minister. Drawing inspiration from Trump, Netanyahu has dismissed a corruption case against him as a "witch hunt" and his Likud party has launched a weekly webcast to counter what it claims is "fake news" broadcast by mainstream media. For Netanyahu, the close ties with Trump are a welcome change after eight frosty years with the Obama administration, which repeatedly clashed with the prime minister over his policies toward the Palestinians and his opposition to the nuclear agreement with Iran. Upon taking office two years ago, Trump quickly reversed course and established a tight relationship with Netanyahu. This has yielded benefits for Netanyahu on the campaign trail. In the run-up to Tuesday's vote, Netanyahu has hosted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, visited Trump in the White House and received American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war. Those moves are seen as an unspoken U.S. endorsement of Netanyahu, and in Israel, having close ties with whoever occupies the White House is seen as a major asset. Trump enjoys strong support among Israelis, 69% of whom expressed confidence in the president's ability "to do the right thing regarding world affairs," according to a Pew Research Center poll published in October. That support largely springs from Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the opening of the US Embassy there. Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his decision to slash U.S. aid to the Palestinians are also popular among Israelis. A YouTube ad published April 1 strings together Trump statements from recent years extolling Netanyahu's leadership as a "great prime minister." "Benjamin Netanyahu, there's nobody like him," Trump says in a clip taken from a 2013 video. Building-sized billboards in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv show the two leaders shaking hands. A poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 63% of Israelis "believe that Netanyahu's standing in the current election campaign will be strengthened by the US recognition" of the annexation of the Golan Heights. The survey interviewed 603 people and had a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points. While the gambit has played well domestically, Netanyahu's close ties with Trump risk undermining bipartisan support for Israel among Americans, and Israel's relationship with traditionally liberal American Jews. More than 70 percent of American Jews voted against Trump, and many express unease about US-Israel relations becoming too closely associated with the friendship between two polarizing leaders. The April 9 election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's decade-long rule, and his campaign is using the relationship with Trump to portray him as a respected statesman with personal ties to world leaders. In an Instagram video posted Wednesday, Netanyahu touts his administration's "unprecedented diplomatic advancements," foremost among them "strengthening relations with the United States," but also closer ties with Russia, China, India, Japan and Brazil. On Thursday, Netanyahu paid a surprise visit to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin announced his country's instrumental role in recovering the remains of an Israeli soldier who went missing in action in Lebanon in 1982. The return of the soldier's remains, along with a visit this week by Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, has given Netanyahu another diplomatic victory late in the campaign. Netanyahu seeks a fourth consecutive term in office as Israel's leader. If re-elected, he will become the country's longest serving prime minister, outstripping its founding father, David Ben Gurion. The prime minister's campaign has steamed ahead despite Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's recommendation last month that Netanyahu be indicted for a series of corruption charges. With less than a week to go, opinion polls give Netanyahu a slight edge in the race. But he faces major opposition from his former army chief of staff, Benny Gantz. Sounding much like Trump, Netanyahu has attacked the press, branded Gantz and other opponents as "leftists" and questioned Gantz's mental health . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (ANSA) - Rome, April 4 - Winter returned to Italy Thursday with over a metre of snow in Piedmont and other northern regions, and rain and strong winds elsewhere. An Atlantic storm front is bringing wet and windy weather to the north and centre, and will hit the south Friday. The National Green Tribunal has directed a committee to submit a report on Bhalswa landfill site after a plea claimed unscientific capping there. The plea also alleged that bio-mining and bio-remediation is not being done as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. A bench headed by National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the committee comprising an official from the Central Pollution Control Board and Dr G K Pandey, former expert member of the tribunal, to submit the report in two months. "The CPCB will be the nodal agency for the purpose. The Committee may interact with the municipal corporation concerned or other authorities and evaluate the proposed action and furnish a report within two months by email," the bench said. The matter is listed for next hearing on July 17. Landfill capping is a containment technology that forms a barrier between the contaminated media and the surface, thereby shielding humans and the environment from the harmful effects of its contents and perhaps limiting the migration of the contents. The tribunal's order came on a plea filed by NGO Centre for Wildlife and Environment Litigation alleging unscientific capping process of Bhalswa Landfill site, Delhi in violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, said that "scientific capping" of the Bhalswa landfill was necessary to ensure safety of the area and its residents living around it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal Friday directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to apprise it about the status of sewage facilities at the Paryavaran Complex in south Delhi. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra Rathore ordered the municipal corporation to file an affidavit stating the progress of work. "We are informed by the petitioner in person that though on the earlier occasion a statement was made on behalf of SDMC that 70 per cent of the work have been done, is not correct. According to the petitioner in person hardly 30 per cent of the work has been done. "Counsel for the SDMC shall file an affidavit of the officer concerned stating as to whether work has been completed, if not, how much still remains," the bench said. The green panel had earlier directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to look into the issue of sewage generation in the Paryavaran Complex area and asked the chief engineer (water) of Delhi Jal Board to propose the layout plan for the purpose of drainage of sewage of the colony. The SDMC had told the NGT that all these properties were "unauthorised properties" and suggested that DJB cooperate in the matter. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by city residents Charvi Mehra and others seeking stoppage of discharge of sewage from nearby houses which was affecting the environment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Noida administration said Friday it has requisitioned another motor boat to ferry voters across the Yamuna from Dalelpur village to help them reach the polling station and back home after the owner of the first boat said it would be unavailable for service on April 11. Noida's Dalelpur is the only village in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency which falls across the river towards Haryana but is a part of Uttar Pradesh. The villagers rue years of "ignorance" by the system for lack of proper connectivity to their village and have announced to boycott the Lok Sabha election. Khushaal Singh, who owns a motor boat, said he was contacted by the administration for his boat but had to convey its unavailability. "I told them that its engine is not working and also the boat would be in use because my crops are being cut and that need to be transported from my land on the Noida side on the river to the Haryana side. My labourers are working there and I cannot lend it on April 11," Singh, a resident of Faridabad, told PTI. Subdivisional Magistrate and in-charge of Transport Department Balram Singh said the administration has now requisitioned a motor boat from another person. "An official communication has been issued to the boat owner and arrangements are underway. The boat will ply from 6 am to 6 pm on Yamuna on April 11, as stated earlier," he said. Meanwhile, Dalelpur villagers said they have no official information about the boat and all they have got to know is through the press. They said they are also not enthused with the one-day facility and are determined to boycott the election. "It's you who is telling me now that a motor boat has been arranged. Nobody from the administration has informed anyone in the village. Also, we are firm on boycotting the poll, bring they may a boat or a bus. The Uttar Pradesh government and the Centre both are depriving us of roads and electricity, to say the least, and you expect us to get enthused about a boat for election day," Satbir Tyagi, a local, told PTI. The SDM said there is still time for the polling day and they would reach out to the villagers before that. "As for their other demands, that is a different matter and would be looked into in detail and accordingly their grievances would be addressed," Singh said. Dalelpur is home to nearly 250 people where the number of voters has come down from approximately 200 in 2014 to 28 in 2019, with Tyagi claiming "around 90 people here are eligible to vote". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Friday asserted the people of the state were the rightful owners of Jammu and Kashmir and no one can abridge their constitutional rights. Addressing a public meet at Chak Dhara in Fakirgujri on the outskirts of Srinagar, the NC president said the people of Kashmir have never allowed any one to subdue them. "In the coming times, we will keep up with this historical proclivity of ours. New Delhi has time and again betrayed people of the state by back-pedalling on the assurances it gave from time to time on restoring autonomy," he said, adding "the people of the state are the rightful owners of Jammu and Kashmir and no one can abridge our constitutional rights". Referring to the order banning civilian traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway for two days a week, Abdullah sought its immediate revocation. "Never in history have the state highways been closed for civilian traffic, even during the most tumultuous times witnessed by the state. Even during the height of Kargil war, the civilian vehicular movement was never disallowed as is being done today. The order should be revoked as it will make lives of lakhs of people miserable," he said. Flaying prime minister Narendra Modi for "squandering" the mandate of people, the former Union minister said the forthcoming elections would decide whether the minorities, including Muslims, walk with their heads high. "Today our nation is facing immense hazard in the form of communal strife. We are at crossroads, now it is up to us to decide if India remains secular and progressive in its outlook where in all the communities thrive and draw their sustenance affably or a country which is tangled with the clutches of communal strife and bigotry. "The opportunity has come. We should not let it pass by us unutilized. Today on one hand there is Gandhi's India which is all inclusive and on other hand there are forces who believe that India belongs to the adherents of only one faith," he said. The NC president said the election is a vote for securing "our identity and integrity". "Our vote will make difference both at the Centre and in the state level. The people should avail of this opportunity and send the candidates of NC to the Parliament," he said. "We in Jammu and Kashmir suffer immensely due to the animosity between India and Pakistan. The NC has for past 70 years been vouching for affable Indo-Pak relations. We have persistently maintained that Indo-Pak bonhomie will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in our peace craving state. "I believe and hope that the next government would initiate dialogue with Pakistan, because if the two countries come closer, the dividends of their friendship will be felt in our state, which always come between the line of fire between India and Pakistan," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The nomination papers of Trinamool Congress candidate in Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency in Assam were rejected during scrutiny on Friday, the election office here said. Besides papers Trinamool Congress nominee Kamala Kanta Daimary, those of two Independent candidates of Kokrajhar were also rejected. The TMC has fielded candidates in nine of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. Party supremo Mamata Banerjee campaigned in Dhubri on Friday. The nine other nominations filed for Kokrajhar constituency were found valid, the election office said in a statement. Papers of all the 19 candidates in Gauhati, 14 in Barpeta and 17 in Dhubri seats were also found valid. The three-phase voting for 14 seats in Assam will take place on April 11, 18 and 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a leading American magazine reported Thursday. Two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told the Foreign Policy magazine that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," the report said. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit," the report said. The report said that evidence also suggests that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air Force and only the F-16 can shoot a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile. When the incident occurred, India asked the US government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. According to the magazine, Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, one US official said. But now the count has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," the official said. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the report. The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. The US State Department and the Indian and Pakistani embassies declined to comment, the report said. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. But on April 1, Pakistan military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor for the first time indicated that F-16s might have been used to hit Indian fighter jets during the aerial combat on February 27. In a statement, he said Pakistan had the right to use "anything and everything" in its self defence. He further said: "Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets in self defence." The report said the remnants of a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile was found near the site; out of all the aircraft involved, only the F-16 can shoot such a weapon. "As details come out, it looks worse and worse for the Indians," Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Vipin Narang told the Foreign Policy magazine. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," he said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot Wing Commander Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1 in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress in-charge for Gujarat Rajiv Satav Friday said the NYAY scheme announced by his party, which promises minimum income guarantee for the poor, will benefit around two crore citizens of Gujarat living below the poverty line. Referring to the Congress's poll manifesto released by party president Rahul Gandhi recently, Satav said the party has consulted various sections of the society before finalising it. The Nyunatam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme is one of the key highlights of the manifesto. "Our NYAY scheme will benefit around two crore people living below the poverty line in Gujarat. Each of them would get Rs 72,000 per year. This is our commitment. Unlike the BJP, we will implement this scheme after coming to power," Satav told reporters here. He added that the scheme has been devised by none other than former Prime Minister and eminent economist Dr Manmohan Singh. Satav said if the Congress is voted to power, it would focus on improving the quality of education, creating better health care facilities and more employment opportunities in the state. "Just like other parts of the country, farmers of Gujarat are also reeling under huge debt. Small traders are suffering due to GST. We have tried to address all these issues in our manifesto and also offered our vision to solve these issues. We are confident that people will elect Congress to power this time," he said. The Congress leader opined that party's performance in Gujarat this time will be the best ever. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Congress could not open its account in Gujarat as the BJP won all the 26 seats. Polling in Gujarat will be held on April 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition parties in West Bengal Friday welcomed the move of the Election Commission to remove four IPS officers, including police commissioners of Kolkata and Bidannagar, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said this would gain confidence of the voters. "The police establishment in West Bengal has become a B-team of the Trinamool Congress government. I welcome the move of the ECI ," he told PTI when contacted. Sinha, who is the candidate for the North Kolkata constituency, claimed free and fair elections were impossible under these IPS officers who were removed Friday night. The Election Commission of India (ECI) removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and replaced him with Rajesh Kumar. It also removed Bidhan Nagar police chief Gyanwnat Singh and transferred the Birbhum SP and Dimaond Harbour SP. "Free and fair elections could not have happened if these IPS officers were there. I believe the ECI will make some other changes keeping in mind the polls," he said. Congress' Pradip Bhattacharya alleged that there were IPS officers who were working for the Trinamool Congress government and such move was always a welcome one. "We had such complaints last time also. This year we have also seen that there are several IPS and IAS officers who are blatantly working for the ruling party. I have heard that the ECI has removed a few officers. But I do not understand why it has not taken any step against the officers in Malda and Raiganj. I am hopeful that the ECI will soon decide on this as well," he said. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty described the move as a positive. "During the chief minister's dharna we have seen how these officers showed they were working for the TMC government. These officers have forgotten to show respect to the uniform. I think this was a good move of the ECI otherwise free and fair elections were not possible," he said. The announcement of the officers' removal came days after the BJP leaders had alleged that free and fair elections were not possible under them. Rajesh Kumar ADG Pollution Control Board was made the new Kolkata top cop, while Natarajan Ramesh Babu, ADG and IGP Operations was named the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner, an ECI notification about the decisions, said. It also named Avannu Ravindranath DC (airport division) of Bidhannaga as the new SP of Birbhum and announced Srihari Pandey DC KAP, third battalion as the SP of Diamond Harbour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday slammed the opposition parties alleging their only agenda was to dislodge him from power and promote dynastic Addressing a rally in western Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls in the first phase on April 11, he targeted the Congress accusing it of being against the welfare of the backward classes and termed its poll manifesto a "dhakosla patra (sham document)". "The opposition's only agenda is 'Modi hatao' (remove Modi). Their only intention is to promote 'vansvaad' (dynastic politics)," he said. The prime minister also accused RLD chief Ajit Singh of "forgetting" the atrocities against people and not "raising his voice for self-interest". The Rashtriya Lok Dal is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. Modi charged the opposition parties with spreading canard in Saharanpur, Kairna, Muzaffarnagar and the entire western Uttar Pradesh that Saharanpur was their "new laboratory". "But remember, when there was 'mahamilawat', the government at the Centre and then SP government in Uttar Pradesh did an experiment in Muzaffarnagar also," he said. "Saharanpur is going to reject vote-bank of the SP, BSP and the Congress. People here trust the BJP," Modi claimed. Striking an emotional chord with the people of this region, Modi said, "Yogi government is taking caring of pending sugarcane dues and trying to ensure that in the future it did not happen." Raking up the triple talaq issue, the PM said, "My government tried to save Muslim women from triple talaq and make their lives safe, but the Congress and its allies do not want it done. "I want to tell Muslim daughters that in the SP, BSP and the Congress rule, exploitation of Muslim women will continue. They will not allow law against triple talaq and will not let the ordinance we bought to pass," Modi said. "They (opposition) give threat of 'boti-boti' (cut into pieces) and we talk of honour of 'beti-beti' (daughter)," he said. He was reminding people of Congress candidate Imran Masood's "boti-boti" remark in 2014 against him. "Here those who talk of 'boti-boti' are close to 'shehzade' (Rahul Gandhi), but we talk of security and honours of 'beti-beti' (daughters)," he said. The prime minister also said, "The Congress' policy is to honour 'tukde-tukde' gang. The party favours talk with those who patronise terrorists. Special power of security forces will be withdrawn. The Congress wants to put the country at stake for votes, but people will thwart their designs." Modi said the opposition parties also use a term "chowkidar (watchman) of toilet". "This is also an honour for me," he remarked. Accusing the Congress of being against the welfare of the backward communities, Modi claimed that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was against the Mandal commission recommendations. "When I washed the feet of cleaners at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, 'behenji' (Mayawati) had all the time to make fun of me, but when the Congress humiliated the cleaners, she did not even release a statement," Modi added. Polls will be held in Uttar Pradesh in all the seven phases until May 19. Results will be declared on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Friday asserted that it shot down an F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan during the February 27 dogfight, refuting a leading US news magazine report contradicting India's claim. Issuing a statement after the American magazine 'Foreign Policy' reported that a US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of these jets are missing, the IAF said, "during the aerial engagement, one MiG 21 Bison of the IAF shot down an F-16 in Nowshera sector." IAF sources also said it has conclusive "circumstantial evidence" including wireless intercepts, signals and graphic captures from airborne warning and control system (AWACS) and electronic signatures to conclude that the F-16 jet was shot down during the aerial combat. In its report, the US magazine said two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told it that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. The report contradicted the claim made by New Delhi that during in an aerial duel on February 27, a day after India carried out air strikes in Pakistan's Balakot to target a terror camp, pilot Abhinandan Varthaman had engaged with one of the Pakistani F-16s and shot it down before his Mig-21 Bison was downed. Varthaman was captured by Pakistan and was released after spending nearly 60 hours in Pakistani custody. "The Indian Forces have confirmed sighting ejections at two different places on that day. The two sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km. One was an IAF MiG 21 Bison and other a PAF aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate that the PAF aircraft was a F-16," the IAF said in the statement. Pakistan Air Force's attempted "reposte" on February 27 comprising a large force of comprising F-16s, JF 17s and Mirage III/V aircraft were picked up by the IAF radars, the IAF said. "They were intercepted by IAF's Su30-MKI, Mirage 2000 and Mig 21 Bison fighters guided by ground radars and AWACS. All attempts of the PAF to attack any targets were thwarted by the IAF," the IAF said. The on February 28 displayed pieces of an AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. Pakistan has denied that it lost any F-16 jet during the aerial combat. Sources said electronic signals from the F-16 aircraft which was engaged by an Mig 21 Bison ended abruptly, confirming that it crashed after being hit. They said IAF's AWACS picked up signals of presence of an F-16 aircraft when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 Bison was engaging with the enemy jet. However, around eight seconds later, the F-16 went missing from the graphic screen of the AWACS, reflecting that the jet went down. IAF sources said radio intercepts showed that two pilots had ejected after the aerial engagement and one of them was admitted to a Pakistani hospital. They said, Indian ground forces also sighted two parachutes coming down at Sabi Kot and Tandar following the aerial combat on February 27. The two places are separated by a distance of around 8 to 10 kms. According to the report in Foreign Policy, evidence also suggested that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air Force. According to the magazine, Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, one US official said. (by Rodolfo Calo') CAIRO - The ''Laboratory for the restoration of papyri'' of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo has opened thanks to Italy's support. The laboratory is in charge of the restoration and preservation of the museum's precious papyri. A golden plaque inside the lab remembers that it was opened thanks to Siracusa's papyrus museum - ''Istituto internazionale del papiro - Museo del papiro'' - with the financial aid provided by the Sicilian province in 2004, as shown to ANSA by the director Moamen Othman during a recent visit. Further relevant aid was provided by the Italian foreign ministry's 'commodity aid' program of Italian cooperation that enabled the museum to buy high-tech tools, including a laser instrument to clean the highly delicate surface of papyri without using chemicals and a special spectrometer for non-invasive research to identify the chemical elements of a pigment or any other material. The museum's collection, which is partly preserved in air-conditioned cells that have also been donated by Italy for the conservation of the most delicate pieces at a temperature ranging between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius and 35-45 of relative humidity, includes ''over 20,000'' papyri of which only 12,000 have been listed in an inventory, said Moamen. They were found at excavation sites, mainly in central and southern Egypt, which are warmer and drier areas compared to the Nile delta, whose humidity has destroyed nearly all these fragile papyri. The laboratory's priority is the conservation of papyri that are exhibited at the museum. It is mainly ''conservative, non-aesthetic work'', aimed at ''respecting the originality'' without ''ever adding'' colors or lines, explained the director in perfect Italian, which he learned in the early 2000s at Florence's Opificio delle Pietre Dure, one of Italy's most renowned restoration labs. An example of this approach is a papyrus that is being restored and that includes a few chapters of the ''Book of the dead'' dating back to some 3,200 years ago. The 20 meter-long ''Papyrus of Yuya and Tuya'', probably the great-grandparents of Tutankhamon, has been exhibited since last November after three-month-long restoration work. It is the fourth-longest papyrus worldwide after a 40-meter-long papyrus in London, a 30-meter-long one in Turin and a 25-meter-long papyrus at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Moreover, ''we are examining the small roll of Hemaka, the most ancient non-written papyrus ever found'', dating back to the first dynasty before 3,000 BC, said Moamen, whose five aides are also restoring the most ancient 'inscribed' papyri ''Wadi el-Jarf'', which were found in 2013 in the Suez Gulf and are dated to about 2,600 BC. One of these papyri includes the detailed salaries paid to workers while another includes an 'oval' with the name of Cheope, the pharaoh of the largest and most ancient of the three pyramids in Giza. Corrado Basile and Anna di Natale, the founders of the museum in Siracusa, have also restored the Gebelein papyrus from the Old Kingdom, the first half of the third millennium BC, found by a mission of Turin's Egyptian Museum, which was the oldest until the discovery of the Wadi el-Jarf findings. It was exhibited for the first time last August during a visit to Cairo by Italian foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi. One of the most impressive findings being restored in the laboratory included a box of small fragments, many of which had the consistency of dust, coming from Saqqara, south of Cairo, which Moamen's team aims to recompose over the next six months. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken a swipe at Opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for addressing Parliament in English, saying this was an insult to the country's "90 per cent population" which cannot speak the western language. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Hyderabad University here on Thursday, Khan said that despite Urdu being the national language, public speakers choose to speak in English. Bilawal delivers his speeches in English when addressing the parliament. This is patronising and insulting to the more than 90 per cent of Pakistanis who can't speak English, he was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. The 30-year-old Oxford educated chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), on Thursday delivered a speech in English while addressing party supporters at an event to commemorate the death anniversary of PPP founder Zufliqar Ali Bhutto, the paper reported. We know the majority don't understand the language. Why do we then speak in English on public forums in the country despite knowing Urdu? he asked. Khan said there was an overriding sense of inferiority among such people who believe they won't be considered educated unless they speak in English. "The trend dated back to the era of Pervez Musharraf as part of his enlightened moderation' policy. In that period, we picked up certain western values and habits that are an aberration for our society. We need to change this trend, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Friday announced that it will release 355 Indian fishermen and five other prisoners this month in four phases, according to a media report. Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that in the first phase on April 8, 100 prisoners will be released. In the second phase on April 5, another 100 will be released. In the third phase on April 22, another 100 will be released and in the fourth and last phase on April 29, the remaining 60 prisoners will be released, the Dawn reported. Providing details regarding the release, the spokesperson said currently there are 347 Pakistani prisoners in India and 537 Indian prisoners in Pakistan. "Pakistan will release 360 Indian prisoners, of which 355 are fishermen and 5 are civilians," he said. "It is hoped that India will respond positively to this decision by Pakistan," Faisal said while addressing his weekly briefing to the media in Islamabad. Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen as there is no clear demarcation of the maritime border in the Arabian Sea and these fishermen do not have boats equipped with the technology to know their precise location. Owing to lengthy and slow bureaucratic and legal procedures, the fishermen usually remain in jail for several months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Friday announced that it will release 360 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, this month in four phases, as a "goodwill gesture" amidst tensions between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack. Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said the process of releasing the Indian fishermen will start on April 8 when 100 prisoners will be released. In the second phase on April 5, another 100 will be released. In the third phase on April 22, another 100 will be released and in the fourth and last phase on April 29, the remaining 60 prisoners will be released. We are doing it as goodwill gesture and hope that India will reciprocate it, Faisal said while addressing his weekly briefing to the media in Islamabad. The spokesperson said currently there are 347 Pakistani prisoners in India and 537 Indian prisoners in Pakistan. "Pakistan will release 360 Indian prisoners, of which 355 are fishermen and 5 are civilians," he said. The fishermen will be taken from Karachi to Lahore and handed over to Indian officials at the Wagah border. Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman of Edhi welfare organisation, which helps the released fishermen with clothes and food, told PTI from Karachi that the process of releasing the fishermen will start from Sunday. First a group of 100 fishermen will be taken from Karachi to Lahore on Allama Iqbal Express on Sunday," he said. They are likely to be handed over to India on Monday at Wagah. They spent months and sometimes years before repatriated. Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen as there is no clear demarcation of the maritime border in the Arabian Sea and these fishermen do not have boats equipped with the technology to know their precise location. Owing to lengthy and slow bureaucratic and legal procedures, the fishermen usually remain in jail for several months and sometimes years. Pakistan's announcement to release the fishermen came amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani troops Friday lobbed mortars and opened fire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts, leavng two persons injured. "At about 1440 hours, Pakistani Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by shelling with mortars and firing of small arms along the LoC in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district," PRO defence said. The Indian Army is effectively retaliating, he said. On Thursday, Pakistani Army lobbed mortars and opened fire with small arms along the LoC in Degwar and Gulpur sectors of Poonch district, in which one person suffered injury, they said. The Indian Army Thursday destroyed seven Pakistani military posts across the Line of Control in retaliation to the continued ceasefire violations by them. With Pakistan using heavy weaponry and 120 mm mortar bombs targeting civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch, people have been advised to stay indoors, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Friday said his country would not tolerate any violation of its territorial integrity and reserves the right to self-defence. Addressing the under training Pakistani Army officers at the Command and Staff College, Quetta, he said Pakistan was a peaceful and soverign country and sought good relations with all its neighbours, including India. Alvi alleged that India was using the Pulwama attack as a pretext to escalate tensions. He said Pakistan would not tolerate any violation of its territorial integrity and reserves the right to self-defence. Pakistan armed forces are well prepared to give befitting response to any misadventure by India, he told the officers. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14 this year. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. Pakistan is a peaceful and sovereign country, desirous of having good relations with all its neighbours, including India, he said. The President lauded the role and sacrifices of armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civil administration in addressing the challenges of lawlessness and terrorism. He stated that despite facing several challenges Pakistan is now heading in the right direction. Alvi said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the potential to change the fate of the region for the better. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has said it would vacate the stay on a defamation case against DMK president M K Stalin over his remarks linking Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami to the Kodanad estate heist case after the government complained he was repeating the charge. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan made the oral observation Thursday on two petitions by city Public Prosecutor (PP) A Natarajan seeking the court to restrain the DMK leader from making any speech regarding the matter during the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, particularly at a public meeting to be held on Sunday, and vacate the interim stay on the defamation case. The Judge said the petitioner can record the remarks, if any made by Stalin at the meeting and produce it before the court on April 8. The PP submitted that Stalin in his campaign speeches was repeatedly linking Palaniswami to the Kodanad case despite facing prosecution for defamation for same remarks earlier. The Judge told the counsel for Stalin that the grievance of the PP was that the DMK leader was already facing prosecution for defamation. But again and again he was making the same allegations and it would amount to interfering with the administration of justice. The PP has filed two petitions. One to restrain Stalin from making any speech pertaining to Kodanadu case and another to vacate the interim stay granted by the court on the defamation proceedings. "We will vacate the stay. You face the trial," the judge added. Stalin's counsel P Kumaresan opposed the petition, saying the PP had already filed a petition seeking similar relief and it had been dismissed by a division bench of the high court on April 1. He sought time to file a counter affidavit to the present petition. Earlier, the PP submitted that Sayyan and Manoj, two key accused in the Kodanadu heist-cum watchman murder case had hatched a conspiracy to implicate the chief minister and their allegations against Palaniswami were released in a documentary by a Delhi-based journalist recently. Subsequently, the bail granted to Sayyan and Manoj was cancelled by the trial court after the government submitted that they were intimidating witnesses. The trial court order had been confirmed by the high court. Stalin in his election campaign was continuously making speeches linking the chief minister with the case, claiming that it was not his statement but that of the journalist, the PP submitted. When the matter was sub-judice, Stalin cannot make such statements, he contended. A total of 10 people had been arrested in connection with the April 23, 2017 robbery attempt at the Kodanad estate in Nilgiris district, which was used by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. A guard was killed by a gang in the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ED's supplementary charge sheet in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case raised the political temperature ahead of the Lok Sabha polls with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday bringing it up to attack the Congress even as the alleged middleman Christian Michel claimed before a court he has not named anyone during investigation. The Congress said the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) before a Delhi court on Thursday was a 'cheap election stunt' to divert people's attention from the 'imminent defeat' of the Modi government in the polls while senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley insisted that the opposition party answer as to who were RG', AP' and FAM' in the documents cited by the probe agency. Michel, who alleged that the central government was using agencies for political agenda, filed an application before the court after reports appeared that the ED in its charge sheet named politicians of the previous UPA dispensation, defence personnel, bureaucrats and journalists as beneficiaries of kickbacks in the controversial defence deal. Alleging that Congress and corruption were inseparable partners, Modi told a rally in Uttarakhand that Michel has hinted at the Congress' first family's involvement in the chopper deal. Modi claimed that Michel whom his government had brought from Dubai had disclosed two names to his interrogators. "One was 'AP' and the other was 'FAM'. 'AP' stands for Ahmed Patel and 'FAM' stands for family. Have you heard of Ahmed Patel? Which family is he close to? " he asked the audience at the rally at the parade ground in Dehradun. Hearing the crowd's response, Modi said,"You understood automatically. The family cannot tolerate the stern attitude of the chowkidar," Reacting to Modi's veiled reference to him, Ahmed Patel, a senior Congress leader who has been former Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political adviser, said it seems the ED has become an important part of the NDA alliance. He noted that such "antics" would not work as the public is demanding answers to unemployment, farm distress and sagging economy. "In this election season, it is pouring 'jumlas'. Baseless and laughable charges are raining," he tweeted in Hindi. "We have full faith in the judiciary and the truth can never be hidden and shall prevail. It looks like that the ED has become an important part of the NDA," he said. "The chowkidar and his cronies have targeted the wrong place without evidence. The 'dalals' (middlemen) of Noteban and Rafale cannot escape now. The people will teach them a lesson. But, you must have heard the saying that a thief sees a thief in everyone," Patel said. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Delhi, Jaitley questioned Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's 'silence'. "Right to silence is for accused not for the one who is dreaming to be the country's prime minister," the finance minister said, adding if no reply is given in case of such serious allegations, the country is "entitled to presume that no reply could have been given". Contending that evidence is "overwhelming and needle of suspicion is clear", Jaitley said he is demanding political answers to the allegations. "The more you suppress the truth, the more it spreads so it is necessary that reply be given by the Congress,"he added. The initials referred to by Jaitley were allegedly mentioned in Michel's dispatches which are being probed by the ED and the CBI. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said a 'panic-stricken' Modi government is using 'rehashed insinuations' through its "puppet" ED, which it dubbed as 'Election Dhakosla' (sham) for 'manufacturing lies'. "A single uncertified page leaked by ED of a purported charge sheet is a cheap election stunt to divert attention from imminent defeat of Modi government. The ED has become 'Election Dhakosla' of a government manufacturing a lie a day," he told reporters in Delhi. He said parts of the charge sheet were "selectively leaked" to the media to score political points. Michel's counsel appeared with a application before Special Judge Arvind Kumar who issued notice to the ED and sought its reply by Saturday when he will take up the matter. "Michel has not named anyone in his statement before the agency which is being leaked to media. This is only to make the matter sensational and prejudice the case against my client," his counsel, Aljo K Joseph said. He claimed the copy of the charge sheet was provided to the media before it was provided to Michel. He has questioned as to how the charge sheet was leaked to the media even before its cognisance was taken by the court. The application said that trial by a judge and free and fair trial rights override media rights and the court can temporarily curtail the freedom of the media to ensure that. "The court is duty bound to balance it. Even to ensure a free and fair trial the court can temporarily curtail the freedom of media to ensure free and fair trial," it said. It further said that at the time of filing the charge sheet the counsels for the accused had asked for supply of its copies but it was objected to by the ED on the ground that the court has not yet taken cognisance of of the charge sheet. "Since this court is yet to take cognisance of the charge sheet, it appeared that the ED has clandestinely provided a copy of the same to the media houses which were publishing the same in instalments only to sensationalise the issue and prejudice the accused named therein even before cognisance was taken by this court," the application said. "The act of the prosecuting agency is highly condemnable and contrary to the procedure established by law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged Friday Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an "I know everything" problem because of which he does not appreciate questions directed at him and avoids public functions where he would have to answer "uncomfortable" questions. Interacting with students here, Gandhi said he is not afraid of questions. "I have come here, there are 7,000 students here and you are asking me whatever questions you have and there will be some questions which will make me uncomfortable, but I will still deal with them," he said. Why Modi does not attend such open events where anybody can ask him direct questions, the opposition party president asked the students. Then, Gandhi himself offered a possible answer. "It is an attitude that 'I know everything and nobody (else) knows anything'. And that is the problem. It is not with Prime Minister only, it is at every level, we do not appreciate questions," he said. Encouraging students to ask questions, he said only when a person raises a query that everyone gets an answer. Gandhi said he is a political leader and there is nothing wrong in making him uncomfortable by asking probing questions. The Congress chief rued that the Indian system does not encourage students to ask questions. "In our (education) system, we do not appreciate questions. In our system, teacher says and student listens... "So we need to move from memorisation-centric system to question-answer system, where teacher has to be made uncomfortable so that he can seek answers to questions," he said. To improve the current situation, he said, skills need to become key to Indian system and businesses, "and even in political system". In the United States, emphasis is given more on development of skills, he said. "I have studied in both the systems. What is very good about India is that Indian students have capabilities. "We have absolutely the most brilliant students in the world and frankly we have a reputation not because what it (the system) does, but what you do," said Gandhi. Students, he stressed, are the real "assets" of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DMK president M K Stalin Friday said Congress toed his party's stand on autonomy of states by assuring in its manifesto that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) would be scrapped. Training his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin alleged that the top BJP leader was making false poll promises since he was rattled by the Congress party's manifesto. The AIADMK regime did not "stop" NEET's implementation in the state and still has claimed in its manifesto that it was for exempting Tamil Nadu students from the exam, he said. The top DMK leader, addressing a poll rally here, said the AIADMK's assurance on NEET was to deceive the people. "The Congress party in its manifesto has assured that NEET will be dispensed with and made it clear that only state governments had rights on this matter," he said, seeking votes for Congress candidate S Jothimani from Karur Lok Sabha seat. "I am happy and proud that Rahul Gandhi has seconded Kalaignar's (late patriarch M Karunanidhi) slogan of autonomy for states in his party manifesto and I would like to thank him for that," the DMK chief said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "afraid" of the Congress manifesto and that was why he has begun "blabbering" about his "false" poll promises, Stalin alleged. The DMK chief alleged that Modi, who was a "liar," was calling the Congress manifesto a "document of lies." On April 3, Modi had hit out at the Congress in his Arunachal Pradesh rally, terming its manifesto as a "hypocrisy document" and "full of lies". While the DMK assured scrapping of NEET in its manifesto, the Congress said NEET was discriminatory against students from certain States and interfered with the State governments' right to admit students. "We will take measures to dispense with the NEET and substitute it with a State-level examination..," the Congress had said in its manifesto. Stalin said the Congress, like his party, has also assured waiver of farm loans and had already implemented it in states, including Chattisgarh. Also, the Congress has assured the Minimum Income Support plan of Rs 6,000 per month and all such welfare measures were in sync with the DMK's promises, he said. "I promise you that all our assurances will be fulfilled. To implement such welfare measures elect Jothimani by a huge margin," he said. Stalin attacked AIADMK candidate M Thambidurai for not "delivering," despite representing the seat for 10 years and in spite of being the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker. The DMK chief said Thambidurai had slammed the Centre for presenting an interim budget that looked like an "election manifesto." He recalled that the AIADMK leader had also said that if the Centre had been sincere in its intentions, it would have come out with several measures found in the interim budget earlier. "Thambidurai may have forgotten what he spoke; but not the people. The same man has been fielded as the AIADMK candidate from Karur with the support of the BJP," he said. Greater autonomy for states and coalition governments ("Madhiyil Kootatchi, Manilathil Suyatchi" is its slogan) at the Centre to reflect federalism are part of DMK's ideology. Ever since its introduction, NEET faced opposition in Tamil Nadu on grounds that it was allegedly discriminatory, impinged on State government's rights and went against social justice and the rural poor. Following the suicide of a Dalit girl who could not get a good score in NEET, despite pretty high marks in her Class XII examination, the resistance to the exam had a multiplier effect in Tamil Nadu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of hogging credit for the Balakot air strike, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Friday dared him to hold a rifle "for just five minutes" or travel alone in a bus in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a poll rally here, Gandhi said the only thing "chowkidar" Modi did was to ensure "his boss" industrialist Anil Ambani got the Rafale fighter jet contract. The Congress believes in uniting people while the BJP divides people, he said. It was the Air Force personnel who displayed real valour by carrying out the air strike in Pakistan, he said. The Indian Air Force carried out strikes on terrorist camps in Balakot in Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF men were killed. "(But) the prime minister says he did it. You (Modi) did it? Could you please show (us) how to hold a rifle? Hold a rifle, the way our CRPF men do, for just five minutes. "Or travel in a bus alone in Jammu and Kashmir. Show us. You did the air strike? What did you do? The Air Force carried out the bombing," Gandhi said. "It is Narendra Modi who did it (the air strike). He did it sitting on Race Course Road (now Lok Kalyan Marg, where the prime minister's official residence is located)," Gandhi said. The Congress leader also said that Modi had promised to create two crore jobs a year and deposit Rs 15 lakh in each person's bank account in 2014. Referring to Modi's rally in Wardha on Monday, Gandhi said, "A few days ago, he was here. Did he talk about employment? Did he apologise for not keeping the promises?" Demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as introduced by the Modi government hurt the economy, Gandhi said. "Did he apologise for the closure of factories here after demonetisation and GST implementation?" asked the Congress chief. Unlike the BJP, the Congress does not want "two Indias", one of the rich and the other of poor farmers and labourers, he said. "We want one India. There should be justice for everyone, farmers, the youth, small traders and others. There should be a place for big industrialists too," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Restoration lab in Cairo saves papyri thanks to Italy With support provided by Siracusa, Foreign ministry (by Rodolfo Calo') (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 5 - The ''Laboratory for the restoration of papyri'' of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo has opened thanks to Italy's support. The laboratory is in charge of the restoration and preservation of the museum's precious papyri. A golden plaque inside the lab remembers that it was opened thanks to Siracusa's papyrus museum - ''Istituto internazionale del papiro - Museo del papiro'' - with the financial aid provided by the Sicilian province in 2004, as shown to ANSA by the director Moamen Othman during a recent visit. Further relevant aid was provided by the Italian foreign ministry's 'commodity aid' program of Italian cooperation that enabled the museum to buy high-tech tools, including a laser instrument to clean the highly delicate surface of papyri without using chemicals and a special spectrometer for non-invasive research to identify the chemical elements of a pigment or any other material. The museum's collection, which is partly preserved in air-conditioned cells that have also been donated by Italy for the conservation of the most delicate pieces at a temperature ranging between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius and 35-45 of relative humidity, includes ''over 20,000'' papyri of which only 12,000 have been listed in an inventory, said Moamen. They were found at excavation sites, mainly in central and southern Egypt, which are warmer and drier areas compared to the Nile delta, whose humidity has destroyed nearly all these fragile papyri. The laboratory's priority is the conservation of papyri that are exhibited at the museum. It is mainly ''conservative, non-aesthetic work'', aimed at ''respecting the originality'' without ''ever adding'' colors or lines, explained the director in perfect Italian, which he learned in the early 2000s at Florence's Opificio delle Pietre Dure, one of Italy's most renowned restoration labs. An example of this approach is a papyrus that is being restored and that includes a few chapters of the ''Book of the dead'' dating back to some 3,200 years ago. The 20 meter-long ''Papyrus of Yuya and Tuya'', probably the great-grandparents of Tutankhamon, has been exhibited since last November after three-month-long restoration work. It is the fourth-longest papyrus worldwide after a 40-meter-long papyrus in London, a 30-meter-long one in Turin and a 25-meter-long papyrus at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Moreover, ''we are examining the small roll of Hemaka, the most ancient non-written papyrus ever found'', dating back to the first dynasty before 3,000 BC, said Moamen, whose five aides are also restoring the most ancient 'inscribed' papyri ''Wadi el-Jarf'', which were found in 2013 in the Suez Gulf and are dated to about 2,600 BC. One of these papyri includes the detailed salaries paid to workers while another includes an 'oval' with the name of Cheope, the pharaoh of the largest and most ancient of the three pyramids in Giza. Corrado Basile and Anna di Natale, the founders of the museum in Siracusa, have also restored the Gebelein papyrus from the Old Kingdom, the first half of the third millennium BC, found by a mission of Turin's Egyptian Museum, which was the oldest until the discovery of the Wadi el-Jarf findings. It was exhibited for the first time last August during a visit to Cairo by Italian foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi. One of the most impressive findings being restored in the laboratory included a box of small fragments, many of which had the consistency of dust, coming from Saqqara, south of Cairo, which Moamen's team aims to recompose over the next six months. (ANSAmed). The father of a Dalit youth killed in police firing at Thangadh in Gujarat in 2012, has filed his nomination from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, where BJP chief Amit Shah is in the fray. Velji Rathod, father of Mehul Rathod, one of the three youths killed in police firing in Thangadh village in Surendranagar district, Friday said by contesting the election against Shah, he wants to send out a message that the BJP-led government has delayed justice to the victims' families. Rathod filed his nomination as an independent candidate on Thursday. Three Dalit youths - Pankaj Sumra, Prakash Parmar and Mehul Rathod - were killed on the intervening night of September 22 and 23, 2012, when police opened fire to control the clashing members of Dalit and OBC Bharwad communities. The state government had ordered a probe into the incident and a report had been submitted by the then principal secretary of social justice and empowerment department, Sanjay Prasad. However, the report has not been made public so far. "We have been fighting for the last six years to seek justice for my son and two other victims of police excesses, but till date the culprits have not been punished. No charge sheet has been filed against the accused police officers," Rathod said. He said his decision to contest election against Shah from Gandhinagar seat was a deliberate one. "I want to send out a message of how the government led by his (Shah's) party delayed justice to the families of the victims of the government excesses," Rathod said. "We had held a dharna in Gandhinagar and tried to press for our demand for justice, but the BJP government turned a deaf ear. I visited members of Dalit communities in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and sought their opinion whether I should contest the election. As most of them agreed, I jumped into the fray," he said. According to Rathod, Dalit leader and independent MLA Jignesh Mevani has extended his support to him and agreed to campaign for him. "I talked to Mevani, who said he is currently campaigning outside the state. But he has agreed to campaign for me when he comes back," he said. Despite demands from the opposition Congress, the government has so far not tabled the report in the state Assembly. Four police officials were accused of firing that led to the killing. However, the CID, which probed the case, had filed a 'C-summary' report, closing the case without any conclusion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Polling teams for conducting elections in four remote polling stations of Arunachal Pradesh have been airlifted from Miao to Vijoynagar, election office sources said here Friday. The Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter transported the team members in two sorties on Thursday for conducting elections at Ramnagar, Gandhigram, Vijoynagar and Two-Hut polling stations. Arunachal Pradesh will vote for Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously on April 11. The four polling stations fall under Miao assembly constituency and the Arunachal East parliamentary seat. Each team has one presiding officer, four polling officers, one attendant and two policemen with four sets of EVMs and VVPATs, state nodal officer Lod Takkar said. Miao and Vijoynagar are about 163 km apart with no road connectivity and the journey takes six days by foot. Three of the teams will stay in Vijoynagar till April 10 and then undertake a foot march for their respective polling stations. It will take one to three hours for the polling personnel to reach the polling stations, Takkar said. The team bound for Gandhigram will leave on April 9 and embark on an eight-hour journey by foot, he added. While Ramnagar polling station has 252 voters, Gandhigram booth has 1,338 voters, Vijoynagar 8,65 voters and Two-Hut has 726 voters respectively. Eight polling teams for Tali assembly constituency in Kurung Kumey district were also scheduled to begin their journey on Thursday, but were thwarted by weather conditions. Another attempt to airlift them would be made on Friday and if it fails, the polling officials would have to walk for three to four days to reach the polling booths, Takkar added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed confidence that his government will get a massive mandate from the people as there is a "pro-incumbency wave" in the country. He hit out at the Congress for its promises on national security and asked that if it suits the party to "ridicule" the Army in such a way. Modi also slammed the Congress for proposing to repeal the sedition law in its manifesto, saying the party that booked 6,000 people under the law in Tamil Nadu for protesting against a nuclear plant is now preaching the world. "Do you (the Congress) want that talk of disintegration of the country be strengthened," he said in an interview to ABP He also attacked the Congress for its alliance with the National Conference, saying, "(NC leader) Omar Abdullah says that there should be two prime ministers in the country. Now the Congress party has to give an answer that your partner is saying that...what is your stand?" Asked about the challenge of securing more seats than last time, Modi said, "I am not seeing anti-incumbency in this election. For the first time I see that there is a pro-incumbancy wave in the country." To another question, he said the BJP and its allies will get a massive mandate from the people. On Congress chief Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad in Kerala apart from his traditional seat of Amethi, Modi said it was up to the Congress to decide where he contests from. "We have not started this discussion. The media had raised the issue that Amethi is now difficult for him...there is a discussion that why he had to run away from Amethi, and the BJP has the right to discuss that," Modi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday reiterated his 'love' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also berated him for 'humiliating' BJP veteran L K Advani. Interacting with students in Pune, Gandhi said he loves Modi but begets anger from the latter. "I love PM Modi. Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the man, but he (Modi) has anger towards me," he said. "I genuinely do not have anger towards him, he added. Addressing a poll rally at Chandrapur later, Gandhi said Modi had humiliated Advani, adding disrespecting one's guru is not Hindu culture. Gandhi's swipe at Modi over the treatment meted out to Advani follows the BJP patriarch's blog published Thursday where he said his party never considered political adversaries as anti-national. "BJP talks of Hinduism. In Hinduism, guru is supreme. It talks of guru-shishya tradition. Who is Modi's guru? Advani. Modi just kicked Advani out ('Joota marke stage se utara')," Gandhi said. The remark was a veiled reference to Advani not getting Lok Sabha poll ticket from Gandhinagar, from where BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah instead. During his interaction with students, Gandhi said his party's manifesto was an expression of the people of India and ruled out burdening the middle class to fund the anti-poverty scheme Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay). The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty. Gandhi said, "2019 (polls) is a battle of ideologies and the Congress ideology of brotherhood, love and harmony will win against Modi's hate, anger and divisive ideology." The Congress chief also said he was not bothered by the criticism of the Nyay minimum income scheme promised in the party manifesto. Gandhi said he was inspired by the prime minister's "false" promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's bank account. "I felt direct bank transfer was a good idea. Only the Rs 15 lakh promise was false and I am giving you a true number, Rs 72,000 per year will be deposited in the bank accounts of poor people," he said. "Rs 15 lakh in bank account could not have happened since the economy would collapse. But Nyay can be implemented," he said. If bank loans of a few rich can be waived, loans of farmers and the needy can also be waived, Gandhi said. Targeting industrialist Anil Ambani over the Rafale offset contract, he said, "A person who is not able to make even paper planes bagged the biggest defence contract with Rs 30,000 crore going directly to him. The entire budget of MNERGA scheme was given to a single person." Gandhi said the Congress poll manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. "The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where Rs 72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of poor people every year if the party is voted to power," he said. The Nyay minimum income guarantee scheme is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. The BJP, which has criticised the scheme, has sought to know how it will be funded. Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram has also said the middle class won't bear the burden for implementation of the Nyay scheme. "I have already said in press conference and various interviews: there will be no increase in the tax burden of the middle class. This is our promise," Chidambaram tweeted. Asked about sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's twitter post calling him courageous, Gandhi replied, "I am persistent, I stand up for people who are weak." He said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures. Gandhi described demonetisation as a "disastrous idea", which had a terrible impact on the economy. He said the exercise, announced in 2016, caused two per cent fall in GDP growth and led to loss of millions of jobs. He said erstwhile Planning Commission was a strategic institution, while its successor Niti Ayaog only talks about implementation and tactics. "We need institutions to strategically think what should be done at the national level. Implementation and tactics can be done by the states," he said, responding to a question on the Congress manifesto promise of scrapping Niti Ayaog, the think-tank set up by the Modi government. On being asked who should take credit for the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said, "the (Indian) Air Force should take credit. It is Important that people know they can't mess around with India." The Congress leader said he was against politicisation of the air strike. "I feel uncomfortable that the PM does that. But it is his choice," Gandhi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior BJP leader Smriti Irani Friday sought to corner Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers case, latching onto an Enforcement Directorate charge sheet which has reference to senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel and 'family'. "Rahul Gandhi's name has come up in the AgustaWestland case. Besides, his relations with some others involved in the scams related to 2G spectrum are also in the open," the Union minister told newspersons on the last day of her two-day visit here. The Congress has termed the Enforcement Directorate's supplementary charge sheet a "cheap election stunt" to divert the people's attention from the "imminent defeat" of the Narendra Modi dispensation in the Lok Sabha election. Irani is pitted against Gandhi in the Amethi Lok Sabha seat. The Congress leader is also contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad in Kerala. Addressing a meeting of BJP's backward caste cell at Malik Mohammad Jaisi research centre in Jais, the Union minister flayed the Congress for joining hands with those who were behind the partition of the country and said it amounted to humiliation of the people of India and its farmers. She was apparently referring to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a long-time member of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala. She alleged that Congress leaders raise questions on the Army in their bid to get power. "This is such an unfortunate thing that when son of a poor person became prime minister those with big names could not digest it...I appeal to you all to once again ensure that the poor man's son become prime minister so that the country can march ahead on the path of development," she said. Irani said the coming elections are about the future of the constituency and also for bidding "goodbye to the missing MP" of Amethi. Earlier, she met party workers in different assembly segments of the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, including Tiloi and Jagdishpur, and discussed issues related to the polls. The Union minister started her door-to door contact programme from Tiloi and was accompanied by BJP's district president Durgesh Tripathi. On the first day of her visit on Thursday, Irani had attacked the Congress chief, saying his decision to contest from Wayanad was an "insult" to Amethi. This is Irani's second attempt to wrest Amethi from the Congress. In 2014, she lost to Rahul Gandhi by a margin of over one lakh votes. The ED, in its supplementary charge sheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rahul Gandhi Friday said his love for Prime Minister begets anger from the latter, and berated him for 'humiliating' BJP veteran L K Advani. Addressing a poll rally at Chandrapur, Gandhi said, "BJP talks of Hinduism. In Hinduism, guru is supreme. It talks of guru-shishya tradition. Who is Modi's guru? Advani. Joota maar ke stage se utara (Advani was kicked out from stage)." Gandhi said Modi had humiliated Advani, and added that disrespecting one's guru is not Hindu culture. His swipe at Modi over the treatment meted out to Advani follows the BJP patriarch's blog published Thursday where he said his party never considered political adversaries as anti-national. Gandhi's remark was a veiled reference to Advani not getting poll ticket from Gandhinagar, from where BJP has fielded party instead. "I love PM Modi. Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the man, but he (Modi) has anger towards me. I genuinely do not have anger towards him," the said, during an interaction with students in Pune. Gandhi said his party's manifesto was an expression of the people of and ruled out burdening the middle class to fund the anti-poverty scheme Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay). The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty. Gandhi said, "2019 (polls) is a battle of ideologies and the ideology of brotherhood, love and harmony will win against Modi's hate, anger and divisive ideology." The Congress chief also said he was not bothered by the criticism of the Nyay minimum income scheme promised in the party manifesto. Gandhi said he was inspired by the prime minister's "false" promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's bank account. "I felt direct bank transfer was a good idea. Only the Rs 15 lakh promise was false and I am giving you a true number, Rs 72,000 per year will be deposited in the of poor people," he said. "Rs 15 lakh in bank account could not have happened since the economy would collapse. But Nyay can be implemented," he said. If of a few rich can be waived, loans of farmers and the needy can also be waived, Gandhi said. Targeting industrialist over the offset contract, he said, "A person who is not able to make even paper planes bagged the biggest defence contract with Rs 30,000 crore going directly to him. The entire budget of MNERGA scheme was given to a single person." Gandhi said the Congress poll manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. "The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where Rs 72,000 will be deposited in of poor people every year if the party is voted to power," he said. The Nyay minimum income guarantee scheme is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. The BJP, which has criticised the scheme, has sought to know how it will be funded. Senior Congress and former Union minister P Chidambaram has also said the middle class won't bear the burden for implementation of the Nyay scheme. "I have already said in press conference and various interviews: there will be no increase in the tax burden of the middle class. This is our promise," Chidambaram tweeted. Asked about sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's twitter post calling him courageous, Gandhi replied, "I am persistent, I stand up for people who are weak." He said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures. Gandhi described demonetisation as a "disastrous idea", which had a terrible impact on the economy. He said the exercise, announced in 2016, caused two per cent fall in GDP growth and led to loss of millions of jobs. He said erstwhile Planning Commission was a strategic institution, while its successor Niti Ayaog only talks about implementation and tactics. "We need institutions to strategically think what should be done at the national level. Implementation and tactics can be done by the states," he said, responding to a question on the Congress manifesto promise of scrapping Niti Ayaog, the think-tank set up by the On being asked who should take credit for the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said, "the (Indian) should take credit. It is Important that people know they can't mess around with " The Congress said he was against politicisation of the air strike. "I feel uncomfortable that the PM does that. But it is his choice," Gandhi said. Addressing a poll rally in Wardha Friday evening, Gandhi accused Prime Minister of hogging credit for the Balakot air strike and dared him to hold a rifle "for just five minutes" or travel alone in a bus in The only thing "chowkidar" Modi did was to ensure "his boss" industrialist got the fighter jet contract, Gandhi said. It was the personnel who displayed real valour by carrying out the air strike in Pakistan, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Sushma Swaraj Friday hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi's reported remarks that terrorism was not an issue and asked if that was the case, he should renounce his SPG security cover. "He (Rahul Gandhi) says job is an issue not terrorism. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi ji, if terrorism is not an issue and there is no terrorism in the country, then why do you go around with SPG security? From the period of assassination of (former Prime Minister and Rahul's father) Rajiv Gandhi till now all your family is under the security cover of SPG. If you feel that terrorism is not an issue then I want to tell you, you write it and give that you do not need SPG security because you feel there is no terrorism in this country and you are not afraid of anybody," shesaid. At an election meeting here, Swaraj referred to the air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot following the Pulwama attack and said opposition parties who do not have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi were taking his Pakistan counterparts statements for granted. The External Affairs Minister said the air strikes received international support and she received calls from leaders of several countries appreciating Indias stand on terrorism. Opposition parties in the country were taking exception to the BJP claiming credit for the air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in February, she said. She said the UPA Government should have taken strong action against Pakistan when the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people including 40 foreign nationals were killed, took place. Narrating the NDA government's initiatives for people, Swaraj said the ruling party's poll plank will be on three issues- security, development and welfare. She said as many as 1.16 lakh villages have been connected with fibre optic network. "There were only 77 passport centres in the country now it has gone up to 505 and in Telangana they were just four and it has gone up to 19," Swaraj added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its war planes downed a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a leading American magazine reported, even as the IAF on Friday stuck to its stand and said it had conclusive proof. Two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told the Foreign Policy magazine that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," the report said Thursday. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit," the report said. The report said that evidence also suggests that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air Force and only the F-16 can shoot a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile. Reacting to the report, The Indian Air Force Friday asserted that it had shot down an F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force on February 27 during aerial combat. In a statement in New Delhi, the IAF said, "during the aerial engagement, one MiG 21 Bison of the IAF shot down an F-16 in Nowshera sector." IAF sources also said it has conclusive "circumstantial evidence" including wireless intercepts, signals and graphic captures from airborne warning and control system (AWACS) and electronic signatures to conclude that the F-16 jet was shot down during the aerial combat. Sources said electronic signals from the F-16 aircraft which was engaged by an Mig 21 Bison ended abruptly, confirming that it crashed after being hit. IAF sources said radio intercepts showed that two pilots had ejected after the aerial engagement and one of them was admitted to a Pakistani hospital. When the incident occurred, India asked the US government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements. The IAF on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. In Islamabad, the Pakistani military Friday called on India to "speak the truth" about the "actual losses" in an aerial dogfight between the air forces of the two countries. Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said it was time India came clean on "false claims", including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan. "Truth always prevails. Time for India to speak truth about false claims and actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan," Ghafoor said. According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, one US official said. But now the count has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," the official said. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the report. The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. The US State Department and the Indian and Pakistani embassies declined to comment, the report said. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. But on April 1, Pakistan military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor for the first time indicated that F-16s might have been used to hit Indian fighter jets during the aerial combat on February 27. In a statement, he said Pakistan had the right to use "anything and everything" in its self defence. He further said: "Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets in self defence." The report said the remnants of a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile was found near the site; out of all the aircraft involved, only the F-16 can shoot such a weapon. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot Wing Commander Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1 in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stoked a controversy Friday, claiming a retired military officer had told him in 2017 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would create a 'story of a conflict between India and Pakistan' and 'mislead' the people to seek votes. His remarks invited a furious reaction from the BJP, which said the Chief Minister had committed 'treason' by not disclosing the information beforehand. "Two years ago a retired military officer had told me Note down my words that before the Lok Sabha election a story of conflict between India and Pakistan will be created and this man (Narendra Modi) will again mislead the people of India to seek votes. He had told me two years ago itself," Kumaraswamy claimed at an election rally at Koppa in Chikkamagaluru. He said BJP was seeking votes in the name of the security of the nation, but questioned whether it meant that there was no security in the nation for the past 70 years. Kumaraswamy appealed to the people not to rely on BJP. "Dont trust them (BJP). I ask you whether there were any bomb explosions when a Kannadiga (his father H D Deve Gowda) was the Prime Minister. Did any soldier die during his tenure?" Kumaraswamy asked. Coming down heavily on Kumaraswamy's remarks, BJP spokesperson Go Madhusudan told PTI that the chief minister has committed 'treason' by not disclosing the Pulwama ploy despite having knowledge before hand. "Why did not he tell the government if he had information in advance? Its sedition. Is it the responsibility of soldiers alone to protect the nation and not the politicians?" said Madhusudan. He demanded that the chief minister reveal the name of the military officer who tipped him two years ago. The February 14 Pulwama terror attack claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. Following this, the Indian Air Force had struck terror camps at Balakot, destroying them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Loktantrik Party leader Hanuman Beniwal has claimed that his party will influence voters in favour of his alliance partner BJP in nearly 18 seats in Rajasthan. The BJP and the RLP announced an alliance on Thursday under which Beniwal will contest the Lok Sabha elections on Nagaur seat as RLP candidate. Apart from Rajasthan, the BJP is hopeful of Beniwal's influence over several seats in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other states in the general elections. "The RLP fielded candidates on 57 seats in the assembly elections held last year and three, including me, won. My party's vote share was 2.4 per cent in the assembly elections. RLP's supporters and Jat voters are in significant number in 18-19 Lok Sabha seats and they will be influenced in favour of the BJP," Beniwal said. "Besides, I will be campaigning in support of BJP candidates in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab where my party workers are active," he told PTI on Friday. Beniwal, a former BJP MLA, has been a critic of ex-chief minister Vasundhara Raje. He has targeted Raje on many occasions in the past, both inside and outside the Assembly. When asked whether the alliance was a kind of jolt to Raje, who is presently BJP's national vice president, Beniwal said their mission is to make Narendra Modi the country's prime minister again. "BJP's senior leadership in New Delhi wanted an alliance. I was in touch with the party's poll in-charge Prakash Javadekar and other leaders of RSS background for the alliance and the party wanted me to contest on Nagaur seat which I accepted," he said. Union HRD minister Javadekar announced the alliance in a press conference at the party office here on Thursday. When asked whether the alliance was a kind of a message to Raje, a BJP leader said the party wants to achieve its mission-25 (of winning all the 25 Lok sabha seats) and Jat voters can influence poll results therefore the alliance was made. Another BJP leader said the party will support Beniwal in Nagaur. "Beniwal was a BJP member earlier and he has the BJP ideology. The party will extend him full support," party's Nagaur district president Ramkant Sharma said. Beniwal was elected as BJP MLA for the first time in 2008 but later left the party following differences with Raje. He won the 2013 assembly elections as an independent MLA and he formed the RLP ahead of the 2018 assembly elections and three candidates, including himself, won the elections. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in two phases in the state where 13 constituencies will go to poll on April 29 and remaining 12 seats on May 6. Nagaur, where the Congress has named former MP Jyoti Mirdha as the party's candidate, is among 12 seats which will go to poll in the second phase. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Libya: media, over 100 Haftar soldiers captured By Zawiya militias west of Tripoli (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 5 - Over 100 soldiers loyal to field marshal Khalifa Haftar have been captured west of Tripoli by the militias of Zawiya, local media reported on Friday. Photos of the soldiers captured in the area of Wershaffana, near checkpoint 27 reconquered by the forces of the Tripoli government were published on social media. ''The number of prisoners among the forces of Haftar has reached 128. And 40 military vehicles have been taken by forces in the west area'', said in a tweet the broadcaster Libya Al Ahrar, quoting its ''sources''. (ANSAmed). The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zahur Haider Zaidi, an accused in the case related to the custodial death of a man who was among those arrested on charge of gang-raping a minor school girl in Kotkhai in Shimla district in 2017. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, while granting bail to Zaidi, said that it would later deal with the aspect of transferring the trial to Delhi from a court in Himachal Pradesh. The apex court had in November last year sought responses from Zaidi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Theog) Manoj Joshi and six other Himachal Pradesh policemen as to why the trial against them not be transferred to a Delhi court from Shimla. The CBI had earlier told the court that though the charge sheet has been filed, the trial in the case "has not seen the light of the day" and hence, the case be transferred to a Delhi court for expeditious disposal. The probe agency had said that Zaidi, being the former IGP, may influence the witnesses in the case and, moreover, other accused are also policemen. The top court had suggested that let the trial continue in a Shimla court and in the meantime, it would grant bail to the former IGP and restrain him from going to Himachal Pradesh except for attending the court proceedings there. Earlier, it had granted interim bail for a week to Zaidi, who had moved the apex court against the Himachal Pradesh High Court order refusing to grant him bail in the case. Zaidi had sought interim bail on the grounds that he had to attend the post-death rituals (Chhehalum) of his mother from November 6 to 8, 2018 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The High Court had dismissed Zaidi's bail plea, saying it would not be appropriate to release him on bail at this stage as the alleged crime was of serious nature and a detailed investigation was required in the case. Zaidi and seven others were arrested in the custodial death case of Suraj, who was found dead at the Kotkhai police station on July 18. The CBI has already filed the charge sheet against the accused. A 16-year-old girl had gone missing in Kotkhai on July 4 last year and her body was found from the Halaila forests on July 6. The post-mortem report had confirmed rape and murder and a case was registered. Amid a huge public outcry in the state, an SIT headed by Zaidi was constituted by the then Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government. The SIT arrested six persons, one of whom died in police station, following which the High Court handed over the investigations of both cases to the CBI on July 19. The CBI had arrested Zaidi, DCP Joshi and the other policemen with regard to the custodial death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea challenging the grant of 5 per cent quota to Gujjars and four other castes in jobs and educational institutions in Rajasthan through a law amendment in February. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the appeal filed by one Arvind Sharma against an order of the Rajsthan High Court refusing to grant an interim relief on the petition challenging the quota to Gujjars and others, treating them as socially and economically backward classes. It was argued that the reservation would breach the 50 per cent ceiling on total quantum of quota. "The plea for relief is already pending in high court, therefore, we are not inclined to entertain it," said the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna. The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by the Rajasthan Assembly on February 13. The Bill passed by the newly formed Congress government in the state provides 5 per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutes to the Gujjars and four other communities -- Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadarias. The Congress government had passed the bill amid protests in the state led by Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla for reservation for the community. A petition, filed in the Rajasthan High Court, by Arvind Sharma and Badal Verma, had challenged the reservation alleging that it was beyond the ordinary upper limit of 50 per cent and was already denied by the Rajasthan High Court. It alleged that the five communities were granted reservation based on the proportionality of their population and not on "backwardness in education" or "public employment". The plea had also alleged that the actual reason behind granting reservation to Gujjars and the other communities was the agitation, which took the "entire state to ransom". The members of Gujjar and four other communities had called off their eight-day agitation, blocking railways tracks and highways in Rajasthan, on February 16, after getting a written assurance from the state government that it will stand by them if the bill faces legal hurdles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Friday vacated its stay on Karnataka government's scheme to pump secondary treated water from its sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bengaluru into irrigation tanks in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts for recharging ground water table. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna took on record the statements of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and state pollution control board that the water in the tanks was not meant for drinking and will be kept away from human access. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for BWSSB, said the water which was kept for secondary treatment did not have any human access and was only intended to recharge groundwater in arid districts. He said that sewage water would eventually percolate down to the ground which would take care of its impurities. Divan said a detailed project report was prepared after taking into consideration all the aspects including the scientific opinion and lot of money has been invested in the scheme. "We are always monitoring it through an online system and samples of the water are regularly taken," he said. On January 7, the top court had stayed the Karnataka High Court order by which the state was allowed to pump secondary treated water from Bengaluru-based STPs to the minor irrigation tanks situated in Kolar District for recharging ground water table after taking note of a report which claimed that the water was contaminated. On March 11, the apex court dismissed the Karnataka government's plea seeking vacation of stay on the ambitious scheme. It however granted liberty to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to file appropriate applications for vacating the interim order. R Anjaneya Reddy, a Chikkaballapur resident, challenged the September 28, 2018 high court order which allowed the state government to pump the water to the two arid districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security cover of 919 "undeserving persons" in Jammu and Kashmir has been withdrawn, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles, the Home Ministry said Friday. The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn by the Jammu and Kashmir administration include 22 separatist leaders, in a clear message to those involved in "anti-national activities". The move came following the strict stand taken by the central government on inappropriate usage of scarce police resources in Jammu and Kashmir. It was observed by the home ministry that many undeserving persons managed to get security cover resulting in a lack of state police resources for the public at large. "[Thus), the Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn security cover of 919 undeserving persons since the state has come under Governor's Rule on June 20, 2018, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles," a home ministry official said. The home ministry had directed the state administration, currently headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik, that a case-by-case in-depth review may be taken on merits. "Following these strict directions, the Jammu and Kashmir State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC) held regular meetings to examine all the cases to ensure strict compliance of norms. "After the review, the state government has withdrawn 2,768 police personnel from 919 undeserving persons and also from those who were having security cover excess than their entitlement. A total of 389 vehicles were also withdrawn," another official said. As per the directions of the home ministry, the SRCC will continue to examine and review the requirement of security cover on case-to-case basis, based on merit, so that scarce and expensive resources could be freed and engaged to do regular police work, the second official said. In the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack in February, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had withdrawn the security cover of 18 separatists and 155 political leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader and UDF candidate for Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency, Benny Behanan, was admitted to a private hospital here Friday after he suffered a heart attack, party sources said. The 67-year old Behannan was rushed to the hospital after he complained of severe chest pain in the early hours of Friday, they said. "He underwent angioplasty. He has been kept under 48-hour observation," his aide said. Behanan, who is also convener of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, had filed his nomination papers as party candidate from Chalakkudy constituency on Monday. LDF's sitting MP, Malayalam film actor Innocent, and BJP's A N Radhakrishnan are his main rivals in the April 23 Parliamentary polls. Ernakulam district Congress Committee president T J Vinod said the UDF leadership would make necessary arrangements to conduct the poll campaign in his absence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah Friday challenged Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to make his stand clear on National Conference Omar Abdullah's demand for a separate Prime Minister in Kashmir. Abdullah had recently made a statement that ''Kashmir must have a separate Prime Minister.....Can a country have two Prime Ministers. The Congress is silent on this'', Shah said at an election rally in this central Assam town. ''I want to ask Rahul Baba whether Congress supports this statement of Abdullah. I know he does not have the courage to say anything on this as it requires the guts to speak on it'', he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form the government again but if in any case, ''we are in the opposition and they plan to materialise Abdullah's proposal, then 'hum jaan ki baazi laaga denge' (we will put our lives at stake) and not allow it at any cost'', he said. ''Kashmir will always remain a part of the country and we cannot allow it to have a separate Prime Minister'', he said. The BJP president claimed that the NRC is a major step taken by prime minister Narendra Modi during the last five years to drive out illegal migrants from Assam. ''Give prime minister Narendra Modi another five years, BJP will find out each illegal migrant and throw them out of the state. 'Insaan bhi kya, parinde bhi nahi aa payenge (Forget about people, even birds cannot enter)'', he said. Shah said after the Pulwama attack in which 40 jawans were killed, the prime minister had directed the Air Force to enter Pakistan and destroy the terrorist camps there. ''There was an atmosphere of mourning in two places --Pakistan, which is understanable and the other in Congress camp at a time when the entire country was celebrating'', he said launching a blistering attack at the grand old party. ''I want to send a message to Rahul baba that it may be your policy to talk with terrorists but it is not BJP's. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principle is 'wahan se goli aayegi, yahaan se gola jayega' (if we are attacked by bullet, we will reply with cannon balls. Bricks will be answered with rocks)", the BJP president asserted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena, which had earlier announced that it would contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa, has now decided to drop the North Goa constituency from its list and focus only on the South Goa seat. The two Lok Sabha seats in Goa are currently represented by the BJP. Sena's state unit vice president Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik has filed her nomination from South Goa seat, where she is pitted against BJP's Narendra Sawaikar, Congress' Francisco Sardinha and AAP candidate Elvis Gomes. Sena's state unit president Jitesh Kamat had earlier announced that he would contest from North Goa. However, he has now decided not to be in the fray. Senior Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut had told reporters last month in Panaji that his party would contest the general elections in Goa. When contacted, Kamat said on Friday that his party has now decided to put its entire strength in South Goa, where Prabhudesai Naik is contesting. "We didn't want our resources to be shared between both the parliamentary constituencies. So, we took a decision to file nomination only in South Goa," he said. Although the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has joined hands with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, it has not done so in Goa. The Shiv Sena has no representation in the Goa Legislative Assembly and has never won any Lok Sabha election in the coastal state. Polling in Goa will be held on April 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Shiv Sena leader was allegedly shot dead in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Friday evening by three youths over a dispute, police said. Ajay Thakur, 25, was about to board a bus from near a bus stand in Purana Shalla area. Three youths, who have been identified, came on a motorcycle and one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire at Thakur. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the police said. "There is no terror or any other angle behind this incident. The only thing which has come to the fore so far is that the assailants had a dispute with him over some issue," district Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swarndeep Singh said. The accused are at large, but will be nabbed soon. A case has been registered and an investigation is on, the SSP said. Family members of the deceased have alleged that Thakur was facing threats to his life from the assailants, but the police failed to act on time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force Friday asserted that it had shot down an F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force on February 27 during aerial combat. "During the aerial engagement, one MiG 21 Bison of the IAF shot down an F-16 in Nowshera sector," the IAF said in a statement. The assertion came after the Foreign Policy magazine reported Thursday that the US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikhs around the world are taking part in a campaign to plant a million trees as a "gift to the entire planet" as part of celebrations marking 550th birth anniversary of Sikh founder Guru Nanak. The Sikh diaspora has taken on the challenge and tens of thousands of trees have already been planted under the project, which aims to reverse environmental decline and help people reconnect with nature. These are mostly in India the majority of the world's Sikh population lives in the state of Punjab, which is planning to plant 550 saplings in every village but also in the UK, US, Australia and Kenya, the Gurdian reported. "We want to mark the anniversary in a significant way," Rajwant Singh, the president of the Washington DC-based environmental organisation EcoSikh, said. Guru Nanak was a nature lover. He had talked about nature as a manifestation of God and many of his writings talk about how we need to learn lessons of life from nature, he added. Sikh Union Coventry has started planting native trees, shrubs and flowers such as hazel and hawthorn at Longford Park, and is exploring locations in schools, parks and recreation areas. As Sikhs, our connection to the is an integral part of our faith and identity. Future generations will benefit from the fruits of our labour, symbolising peace, friendships and continuity for generations to come, Palvinder Singh Chana, the chair of Sikh Union Coventry, was quoted as saying by the paper. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Libya: Tripoli launches operation to push back Haftar 'Wadi Doum 2' from place in Chad where strongman was defeated (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 5 - The new coalition of militias ''western region'' has launched the operation ''Wadi Doum 2'' to counter the attack of Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar in Tripoli, according to Libyan media including the Libya Observer. The code name comes from the military landing strip built by Muammar Gaddafi in northern Chad where Haftar was defeated and captured by government forces in 1987 when he was fighting the Libyan leader, the Libya Herald recalls. Meanwhile the 'west military zone' of the national unity government of premier Fayez al-Sarraj said it was able to ''reject an attack carried out by groups belonging to Haftar in the areas of Abu Shiba and Al Hira'', west of Garian, Alwasat reports. ''Short clashes were reported between the forces in the area of Hira'', according to Libya Herald. A military source was quoted as reporting fighting in the area and two other zones by the broadcaster Al Ahrar. (ANSAmed). BJP leader Smriti Irani Friday met several party workers in different assembly segments of the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, including Tiloi and Jagdishpur, and discussed issues related to the polls. The Union minister, who will take on sitting MP and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, started her door-to door contact programme from Tiloi. She was accompanied by BJP's district president Durgesh Tripathi. Friday was the second and last day of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's two-day visit to Amethi after the Lok Sabha elections were announced. On the first day on Thursday, Irani had attacked the Congress chief, saying his decision to contest from Wayanad in Kerala was an "insult" to Amethi. Calling herself 'didi' (elder sister), Irani had told a gathering in Parshedpur, "This is a coincidence, a sign from God that didi arrived here and the missing MP reached Kerala. I have come to seek (people's) blessings and he rejected the blessings." "While the BJP workers are working with devotion to make the country capable and strong... the missing MP files his nomination from another place with the blessing of those who want to divide the country," she had said. This is Irani's second attempt to wrest Amethi from the Congress. In 2014, she lost the seat to Rahul Gandhi by a margin of over one lakh votes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some people lose their sleep when India hits back at terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Friday while launching a broadside against opposition parties who he claimed were putting the lives and future of the people in danger. Addressing a rally in this Uttar Pradesh town ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11, the prime minister said "some people" did not like the fact that terrorists were being given a reply in their own language. "After the terrorist attack, should I have remained silent or attacked," he asked the gathering, referring to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. "Terrorists are being given a reply in their own language... this is not liked by some people who lose their sleep when India hits back," he said. When Pakistan is exposed in front of the world, "these people" start speaking in its favour and there is "competition among them to become its (Pakistan's) hero", Modi said. "Be it the Congress, the SP or the BSP, they have put your life and future in danger," the prime minister told the crowd gathered in the town with a sizeable Muslim population. The PM said, "When there was Congress government at the Centre and the governments of SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh, bombs used to explode in Lucknow, there used to be blasts in Ramlala, Kashi and attack on CRPF camp in Rampur." The governments of 'Bua' (Mayawati) and 'Babua' (Akhilesh Yadav) released terror accused and were kind to them, Modi alleged. "The links of these attacks go very far and when our security agencies nab the accused, due to vote bank politics, Bua and Babua governments used to set them free and were kind to them," he said. Asserting that such blasts and deaths of innocent people have stopped in the past five years as there is a "Chowkidar" at the Centre, Modi said, "I will even find terrorist from 'patal' (deep inside the earth). Modi does not weigh terrorism for vote bank. Those responsible for terrorism are in jail." "Some forces are dividing the country and creating fissures on the basis of caste. The people of UP have given befitting reply to such forces in 2014 and 2017. The Congress even tried to humilate Baba Saheb Ambedkar and tried every trick to defeat him in elections. He said the Congress has started taking Ambdekar's name "due to the compulsion of vote bank" "Otherwise, the same party even did not let his photographs installed in Parliament. Can their sins be pardoned?" Modi said. He alleged that leaders like Yogendra Nath Mandal and Babu Jagjivan Ram were also ignored by the Congress which did not met good treatment to them. The prime minister said he had not let the country hang its head in shame in the five years he had been in power, stressing that the country's reputation and image was higher than it had ever been. "I would like to thank the government of UAE and people of UAE for honouring me with the Zayed medal...this is not an award given to Modi but to the Indian people," he said. He said on Thursday that he accepts the prestigious 'Order of Zayed' conferred on him by the United Arab Emirates with utmost humility. "A wave, which is found in the country, is also seen in Amroha. I bow before you for the way in which you helped this 'Chowkidar'," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Samajwadi Party released its vision document on Friday, promising constitution of the Ahir (Yadav) regiment and calling for "mahaparivartan" (grand change). Releasing the 16-page document, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the future of the country should be better for all sections, including farmers and Muslims. "It is our vision document for party leaders and workers, and will be utilised for answering the BJP," he said at the party headquarters here. The vision document, carrying the photographs of Akhilesh Yadav, his father and SP patron, Mulayam Singh Yadav, read: 'Samajik nyay se mahaparivartan: Ek nayi disha, ek nayi ummeed' (grand change through social justice: One new direction, one new hope). It also carried socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia's quote: "The fight against poverty is a farce till there is discrimination on basis of caste and sex." The last page of the multicoloured pictorial vision document carries an appeal: "Vote for 'mahaparivartan' (grand change)". Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the National Democratic Alliance government's decisions had robbed the youth of employment opportunities. "They talk of giving money, but have snatched it from the people." "We feel the future of the country should be better for all sections, be it farmers, youth or Muslims. The chasm between the rich and the poor has become very wide," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. The SP, which has formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the Army as a political tool. It added that "fake nationalism" of the BJP was a threat to the country and promised to ban the use of Army and soldiers for political gains. "Ahir (Yadav) armoured and Gujarat infantry regiments will be formed and equal status and honour will be given to the security forces, be it the BSF or the CRPF," the document read. It promised to empower forces fighting Naxalism. The document also talked of modernising weapons, start "metadata intelligence" and review the Kashmir policy of the BJP government, due to which it alleged that feeling of separatism was gaining. The party promised 100 per cent loan waiver for farmers, equal status and opportunities to women and monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to needy women. It talked of free and quality education, one lakh job per year, doubling of human resource in government departments in a phased manner, besides laptops and tablets to students. Asked whether the document is an election manifesto, Akhilesh Yadav said: "If I say it is a manifesto, you will ask 'are you going to form a government?' This is a vision document or message to party cadre with which they will reply to the BJP and understand the party's stand on various issues. Our party candidates and workers will take it to people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Sri Lankan government has released about 90 per cent of the military-acquired land belonging to the minority Tamil community held during the brutal civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said as he seeks re-election. At the end of the military conflict 10 years ago, some 84,675 acres of Tamil civilian land were under the military control and by the end of March 2019, some 71,178 acres of land have been released, Sirisena's office said in a statement on Thursday. Accordingly, 13,497 acres of land is in the custody of the security forces, of which 11,039 acres of land are state-owned, it said. Another 475 acres of land will be released in the near future, his office said, adding that the de-mining process to clear the land of mines was accelerated after President Sirisena assumed office in January, 2015. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had launched a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the country for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. During the war, the military acquired thousands of acres of land owned by the Tamils near key security establishments coming under increasing threats by the LTTE's suicide squads. For long, the Tamils and rights groups had been demanding the early release of the military-acquired land. Sirisena, who became President in 2015 by defeating former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, had promised to achieve national reconciliation with the Tamils who had supported him in the election. A task force was established in August last year by the President to expedite the development of the north and the east that suffered most during the conflict. The UN Human Rights Council last month reminded Sri Lanka to make progress on the 2015 resolution co-sponsored by Colombo. Sirisena, who is seeking re-election, has made his intentions clear to win the Northern and Eastern provinces by the perceived swift action on releasing the land. The elections must be held before early January next year. The Tamils have expressed concern over the delay in implementing other measures needed for reconciliation. The UN Human Rights Council has called for an international probe into the alleged war crimes during the military conflict with the LTTE. According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the 30-year-long separatist war which claimed at least 100,000 lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A suspected flying object was seen hovering over Jaipur Military Station here on April 2 night after which an investigation was launched, officials said. "It is not clear what was this object. The local police were informed by the Army," Additional Commissioner of Police, Jaipur, Ajay Pal Lamba said. He refused to divulge further details. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) Friday launched the 2019 edition of its motorcycle model Intruder priced at Rs 1,08,162 (ex-showroom Delhi). The new Intruder is equipped with the updated gear shift design and improvised brake pedal for superior ergonomics and overall ride comfort, SMIPL said in a statement. Also, the front foot pegs provide comfort riding capability along with an added backrest for the pillion, it added. Commenting on the launch, SMIPL Vice President Devashish Handa said, "With its modern-day design and premium appeal, Suzuki Intruder is an apt motorcycle for all the cruiser lovers in the country." It will offer a soothing daily commute as well as short weekend rides, he added. The bike is powered by a 155cc engine and has features such as standard ABS and fully-digital instrumentation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Taliban besieged an Afghan government and army compound in a remote western province for a second day Friday, killing at least 12 more troops, according to local officials who issued a dramatic warning, saying those inside the compound were running out of ammunition. The latest fatalities brought the overall death toll for the assault in Badghis province to at least 32 Afghan soldiers and policemen. Many more have been wounded and the area is cut off, said Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial councilmember. Nazari said that according to soldiers inside the base in the district of Bala Murghab, roughly 2,000 Taliban fighters are involved in the attack, with about 600 Afghan troops and members of the security forces inside. "They are running out of everything ammunition, water and food," said Nazari. Abdul Waris Sherzad, a district chief, said local officials and residents were disappointed that NATO forces and the Afghan government have not helped. But Defence Ministry spokesman Qais Mangal denied that, saying reinforcements and supplies have been airlifted to Badghis the previous day and that more would be dispatched on Friday. The brazen Taliban attack first began before dawn on Thursday, when the insurgents stormed all the security posts around the government compound and killed at least 20 soldiers and policemen. Fighting continued throughout the day and overnight and into Friday, Nazari said. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to the media. It was the latest attack by the Taliban who target Afghan forces on a daily basis even as they hold talks with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Khalilzad was in Islamabad on Friday and met with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other Pakistani officials. He had visited Kabul earlier this week where he lobbied for "intra-Afghan dialogue" talks that would encompass prominent Afghan figures, government representatives and the opposition, as well as the Taliban. According to the foreign ministry, Qureshi assured Khalilzad of Islamabad's continued support for the ongoing Afghan peace process. Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with the Taliban, most recently last month in Qatar where both sides said progress has been made. But despite the talks, the Taliban still inflict staggering casualties on Afghan forces and now hold sway over half of the country. The insurgents refuse to talk directly with the government in Kabul, considering it a US puppet. Washington wants Islamabad to encourage the Taliban to hold direct talks with Kabul but the insurgents have shown no flexibility on that stance. Khalilzad was also to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan who last month stirred controversy by calling for the formation of an interim Afghan government with the Taliban. It angered Kabul, which recalled its envoy temporarily in protest, but Islamabad later said that Khan had been misquoted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Steel has been named as the 'Global Slag Company of the Year' at the 14th Global Slag Conference and Exhibition 2019, a company release said Friday. The award was presented to Tata Steel for its innovative practices in development of new applications for Steel by-products (Slag). The award demonstrates global recognition of Tata Steels commitment towards sustainability & circular economy principles, the release said. The conference, held recently in Aachen, Germany, was one of the largest global annual slag event, attended by major steelmakers, steel mill service providers & associated companies, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telecom operators need to support rollout of public wi-fi hotspots to gain edge in technology space, Niti Ayog Special Secretary Yaduvendra Mathur said Friday. "TSPs (telecom service providers) ...also need to support this move (roll out of public wifi). If you do not allow for hotspot roll out then we will be again behind the curve," Mathur said at a Broadband India Forum event. To push proliferation of wi-fi hotspots, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had recommended that a new set of players to be called Pubic Data Office Aggregator (PDOA) should be allowed to resell Internet services through yesteryear PCO type of set-up that will be called Public Data Offices. The recommendation of Trai was based on existing rules for cyber cafes. Telecom operators opposed the public wi-fi model recommended by the sector regulator Trai, saying it will adversely impact debt ridden industry and compromise national security. Later, telecom operators agreed to roll out wi-fi hotpsots by themselves under existing rules. Mathur said that democratisation of wi-fi hotspot is required in the country and called for creation of National Trust Registry for IoT devices so that they can operate on network of all telecom operators smoothly. Talking about over-the-top (OTT) players, he said there is much that both OTTs and TSPs have to gain from each other. "There is a strong case for an even stronger relationship between them to emerge given the continued and exponential consumption of data in India at the lowest rates globally," he said. Broadband India Forum President T V Ramachandran said just as mobile transformed India, OTT is the next dimension of change. "VoLTE has made voice calls free. OTT services have added to the GDP of the country as well as to the productivity of people. This is in addition to the other benefits that they deliver to the TSPs at a time when their revenue from voice is zero. OTT is a very powerful and necessary lever for TSPs and ISPs as revenue generators," Ramachandran said. He said that TSPs must be provided relief from excessive levies and taxes to ensure that they are healthy. "TSPs create a value for whole of economy and hence their financial health is important for the whole of Indian economy to grow and prosper. Thus, there is a need to create an ecosystem that is a win-win for them and all other stakeholders in their ecosystem. Also, OTTs do not fall under the Telegraph Act," Ramachandran said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men were arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a Haryana-based dancer in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas, police said. The incident took place five days ago when the 20-year-old woman had come to Khajuri Khas in north-east Delhi for a show, which turned out to be a trap laid for her by the trio, they said. The woman had arrived at Kashmere Gate ISBT on a bus from Haryana from where the accused had picked her up in a car on the pretext of taking her to the event venue, police said. "They instead took the woman to a house near an isolated field in Bawana where the incident took place," a senior police officer said. They had then dumped her near Khajuri Chowk and also taken away her cellphone, he said. The accused have been identified as Lokesh (21), Om (25) and Hrishikesh (25) and arrested, Thakur said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Africa: Trade agreement bolsters SA exports into Brazil The preferential trade agreement between the Southern African Customs Unions (SACU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) trade blocs has led to a steady increase of South African exports into Brazil. This is according to the South African Foreign Economic Representative in Brazil, Shanaaz Ebrahim. Speaking at the 12th Latin American Defence and Security Exhibition (LAAD) currently underway in Brazil, Ebrahim said that South African exports to Brazil for the year 2016/17 rose to $43 million, and 2017/18 they further increased to $183 million. South Africa is one of the member countries of the SACU. According to trade statistics, our trade deficit with Brazil has shrunk considerably in 2018. The deficit is now at $700 million down from $1.2 billion in 2017. This is thanks to the fact that we have increased our exports to Brazil by 37% from $483 million in 2017 to $663 million in 2018. Part of this was due to the ratification of the SACU/MERCOSUR preferential trade agreement which was ratified in April 2016 where SACU had offered MERCOSUR tariff line items of about 1065 product lines across 16 sectors of which 469 products are zero percent import duty free, she said on Thursday. Mercosur reciprocated this agreement by offering SACU 1052 product lines of which 778 products were at 0% import duty free. This offers us a window of opportunity to penetrate the Brazilian market through these zero percent import duty free products. Negotiations of this agreement started in 2000, said Ebrahim. Ebrahims comments come as a delegation of South African companies are participating in the LAAD through the Department of Trade and Industrys (dti) Export Market Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA). The scheme aims to increase exports of South African manufactured products. The dti is hosting a pavilion at the fair where 21 companies are showcasing South Africas industrial capabilities with the eventual intention of securing trade leads and business opportunities. The purpose of the agreement is to integrate the economies of member countries through gradual and reciprocal liberalisation of trade and the strengthening of economic co-operation ties among member countries. South African exports to Brazil for the year 2016/17 rose to $43 million, and 2017/18 they further increased to $183 million. This offers us a window of opportunity to penetrate the Brazilian market through these zero percent import duty free products. Negotiations of this agreement started in 2000, she said. Both South Africas and Brazils membership to the BRICS multinational agreements was advantageous to both countries. This year Brazil will be chairing the 11th BRICS Summit which will be held in November, so there is going to be a series of working groups and meetings during the course of this year and we are looking forward to those agreements, Ebrahim said. She urged South African companies to familiarise themselves with the Brazilian market. I would also urge our companies to interrogate and familiarise themselves with the list of 0% import duty free products as that will orientate them on the viability of their products within the Brazilian market and it would also stand them in best position to draw instant benefits resulting from the SACU/MERCOSUR preferential trade agreement. LAAD is a leading Latin America and Security event that gathers international and national companies that provides technologies, equipment and services for armed forces, special forces, police, homeland security and security managers from large companies, service concessionaires and critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of black women-owned Floida Engineering Services (FES), Florence Musengi said the exhibition platform falls in line with her companys strategic objectives of securing partnership opportunities in Brazil and the rest of the Mercosur trade bloc. Floida Engineering Services is showcasing its flagship Short-Range Surveillance Radar system (SRSR) at the LAAD exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The company, which was established in 2015, is a multi-disciplinary engineering services company geared towards the provision of innovative solutions for the aerospace and defence industries. We were proud to showcase the development progress of our flagship product at LAAD since it was only in the concept stages when we here two years ago. The Latin American defence market is robust; the technology and operational requirements are typically advanced, so acquiring a customer in this market is critical, said Musengi. LAAD which started in the capital of Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday concludes on Friday. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-04-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Major protest staged in Algiers 'Immense' crowd after Bouteflika's resignation (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 5 - A large demonstration is ongoing in Algiers for the seventh consecutive Friday and the first since President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned, confirming that it is not sufficient for protesters who want to oust the power ''system'' in the country, according to Algerian media and foreign outlets including 'Le Monde'. Though not providing numbers, the newspaper spoke about a ''massive'' crowd, which was ''as relevant as the ones of the previous Fridays''. Demonstrators were asking for the ouster of all those who are connected to Bouteflika, the BBC reports. Demonstrators want to prevent the president's loyalist to manage the transition period, Le Monde said, reporting a slogan heard at Friday afternoon's march: ''We will not forgive'', referring to the ''forgiveness'' asked by Bouteflika to Algerians in his last message on Wednesday. ''Very relevant'' demonstrations, whose images were broadcast by State television, are ongoing in Oran and Constantine, respectively the second and third largest cities of Algeria, the website of the French daily reports. (ANSAmed). At least three persons, including a child, have been killed in separate road accidents in Nepal's Lalitpur district Friday. Two persons were killed and one injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van, police said. The truck driver and a woman succumbed to their injuries at a hospital in the district, police said, adding that the van driver is undergoing treatment at the Medicity Hospital. The van was coming from the opposite direction at Dhobikhola along the ringroad in the district near Kathmandu. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a two-year-old child was killed when he was hit by a minibus at Thaiba in Godavari Municipality of Lalitpur district, police said. The police has taken into custody the minibus driver and initiated further investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three women were killed and seven people injured when their car overturned on Delhi-Dehradun highway under Ratenpuri police station area in this district Friday morning, police said. The victims were returning to Meerut after taking a holy dip in the Ganga in Haridwar when the incident occurred, they said. The injured have been admitted to hospital and their condition was stated to be serious, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and top AIADMK leader K Palaniswami Friday hit out at DMK President M K Stalin for his "negative campaign" targeting him and other NDA leaders, saying no welfare activities were taken up by the opposition party while in power. AIADMK is leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state with its other constituents being BJP, DMDK and PMK among others, while DMK is heading the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) whose constituents include Congress and the Left parties. Canvassing for alliance party candidate, DMDK's R Azhagarsamy here, Palaniswami repeated his charge that Stalin was trying to "break" the AIADMK and "topple" the government. He reiterated his stand that the country required the "strong and determined" Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead it for a successive term. "Stalin is not seeking votes by speaking about public projects but is only targeting me and leaders of our alliance parties. This is because they did not implement any welfare activities when they were in power," he said. DMK last ruled the state between 2006 and 2011. It was also a key partner in the UPA I and II that governed the country from 2004 till 2014. Late DMK chief M Karunanidhi led the party out of the Congress-led alliance in 2013 over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. Sharpening his attack against Stalin, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Palaniswami said DMK has not fulfilled any of its poll-time promises and therefore the leader "is seeking votes by criticising us." He also sought to know Stalin's response to the Income Tax sleuths recovering cash from the property of a DMK leader's associate in Vellore. I-T officials had seized Rs 11.53 crore cash from a cement godown on Monday. Palaniswami alleged Stalin was trying to win over the voters by bribing them, but said it will not happen. "He is repeatedly trying to break the AIADMK and topple the government. This party is a massive cadre-based one. None can harm it," he said. Taking a swipe at MDMK founder Vaiko for joining the SPA, Palaniswami recalled the former had earlier said DMK was a company and not a party at all. "Vaiko had earlier said Stalin was unfit to become even a (municipal) councillor but is now backing him for the post of chief minister," the AIADMK joint cordinator said. Batting for "like-minded" parties ruling both at the Centre and the state (BJP and AIADMK), he said this will help in the ensuring adequate funds for developmental activities. Election to 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu is scheduled on April 18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump Friday said his latest meeting with Chinese leadership was a "big success", but stopped short of announcing that a trade deal has been reached between the two countries. Trump on Thursday met with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office of the White House. The Chinese leader was here for talks with the top American leadership to reach an agreement after the two trading powers entered into a trade war and imposed tariffs on more than USD 360 billion in two-way trade. "The China meeting was a big success. I think we're going to have a... Look, we have a very good relationship. We're going to say... I don't want to predict the deal or not a deal, but we're very well along, Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump wants a trade deal with China that reduces the deficit and addresses his concerns about theft of intellectual property and technology. We really negotiated probably the two hardest points very successfully for our country. And China understands. You know China has taken advantage of our country for 30 years. And we can't do that anymore, not with me, Trump sad. On Thursday, Trump said that he is looking for a trade deal that is enforceable. "It is enforcement. We have to make sure there's enforcement. I think we'll get that done. We've discussed it at length. I think we're going to get that done". "We're getting very close to making a deal. That doesn't mean a deal is made, because it's not, but we're certainly getting a lot closer. I would think within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more -- whatever it takes -- something very monumental could be announced," the US President said. Chinese Vice Premier Liu said that the two countries have made great progress. "I do think that because we got direct guidance by two great President Xi and President Trump," he said. Trump has been accusing China of indulging in unfair trade practices, like the theft of US technology and massive state intervention in markets, contributing to the huge trade deficit amounting to USD 375 billion. Trump is demanding China to reduce the USD 375 billion trade deficit and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. Last week, negotiators from both the countries met in Beijing to resolve the nine month-long trade war. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President went Friday to the Mexican border to deliver a message to would be illegal immigrants: the United States has no room left to take them. Trump sees his campaign against a "crisis" on the border as key to his 2020 reelection bid, and his trip to Calexico in California was meant to keep that message in the headlines. Numbers of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing violence in Central America have risen sharply, although there are enormous political divides on whether this constitutes the "national emergency" that Trump has declared. At a meeting with border patrol agents and other officials in Calexico, he said "it's overwhelming our immigration system and we can't let that happen." Then in a message to those heading for the United States, he said: "The system is full and we can't take you anymore.... Our country is full." "So turn around, that's the way it is," he said. Around 200 protesters, accompanied by a giant inflatable balloon depicting Trump as a baby, were waiting for the president in Mexicali, the town on the Mexican side of the frontier. Waving US and Mexican flags, the protesters carried signs with messages such as "Stop separating families" and "If you build the wall, my generation will tear it down." On the US side, dozens of people lined the road that Trump's motorcade took from the airport, demonstrating support for his policies. "Build the wall," said one placard. Trump is determined to pursue a hard line. Before leaving Washington earlier, Trump said that his previous threats to shut down the border had been successful in persuading Mexican authorities to clamp down by stopping migrants on their journey north. "Mexico, I have to say, has been very, very good... over the last four days since I talked about shutting down the border," he said. Trump indicated again that closing the border is no longer on the cards at present, but reiterated a warning that he will impose 25 per cent tariffs on auto imports from Mexico if illegal migration and drug smuggling are not controlled. Trump said he could still order the border closed later. "I may shut it down at some point but I'd rather do tariffs," he said. While sounding tough, Trump's surprise shift to tariffs from the previous threat to close the border is a major retreat. Until Thursday, the White House had been signalling that Trump could imminently order a full or partial closure of the huge border in response to what Trump says is a "crisis" and "national emergency." There had even been speculation that he might announce such a move during his visit to Calexico, an area where new high fencing has been erected as part of Trump's plan for expanding border walls. The idea caused alarm among economists and Congress, including in Trump's Republican Party. Mexico is the third largest US trading partner and any hold ups at the border crossings would have an immediate impact on trade. Although a border closing has been pushed back, the tariffs idea is causing confusion. On Thursday, Trump indicated there would be a one-year deadline for Mexico to improve the situation before tariffs kicked in. However it was not clear if he meant that both for the drug smuggling and migration, or whether he wanted the migration issue resolved immediately. On Friday, he tweeted that tariffs would be slapped on Mexican-built cars "if for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from." It was unclear how such tariffs would fit into the countries' deeply intertwined trading relationship, which is governed by NAFTA, a free trade accord also including Canada that is due to be replaced by an updated version called the USMCA. Leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in November after more than a year of negotiations. Trump said Friday that his tariffs would "supersede USMCA. It's a great deal, and it's very good for Mexico. But this will supersede USMCA." In Mexico City, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged investors to "stay calm." "Our relationship with the government of the United States is very good," he said. EU Council president Donald Tusk will suggest to member states Friday that they offer Britain a flexible 12-month Brexit delay to allow it time to prepare an orderly withdrawal. "This is Tusk's idea," a senior EU official told AFP, confirming reports. "It will be be presented to member states today." As things stand, Britain is due to leave the European Union at midnight on April 12 next week. Under the suggested extension, Britain would be able to delay this. If the House of Commons ratifies the withdrawal agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May has already signed with the EU members, London could leave before the year is up. But if Britain is still a member when the bloc holds elections to the European Parliament on May 23, it will need to take part in the poll and send another batch of MEPs to Strasbourg. According to British press reports, May is due to write to member states on Friday to lay out her request for an extension. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men allegedly involved in over 85 criminal cases were arrested here, police said Friday. The accused, identified as Shakeel (35) and Rashid (28), were operating in areas of Delhi-NCR. They were arrested on April 2 from their rented accommodation in Jamia Nagar and two semi-automatic pistols, along with eight live cartridges, were recovered from them, they said. In February, the accused duo, along with their associates, burgled the house of famous poet Ashok Chakradhar in Sarita Vihar area and took cash and valuables from the house, but his awards and medals remained intact, Pramod Singh Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) said. Shakeel, carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000 in a case of armed dacoity committed on September 17 last year in Jagatpuri area, was previously involved in more than 70 cases of dacoity, robbery, snatching, extortion, kidnapping, attempt to murder, assault on police and arms act, the DCP said. He was also declared as a proclaimed offender in cases pertaining to assault on police and was lured into the crime world by his brother-in-law gangster Satyaprakash, he said. Last year, on July 23, Rashid, along with his other associates, had killed one Akash in Mayur Vihar area. He is also involved in allegedly raping a minor girl in the same area. He is previously involved in more than 15 cases, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UK government Friday announced the appointment of a new media freedom champion in prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to counter draconian laws that hinder journalists from going about their work. The wife of Hollywood star George Clooney takes over as the UK Foreign Secretary's Special Envoy on Media Freedom and Co-Chair of a High Level Panel of Legal Experts. "Violence against journalists has reached alarming levels globally and we cannot turn a blind eye," said UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt after a meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister and Amal at a G7 event in France. He said Amal's leading work on human rights means she was ideally placed to ensure this campaign has real impact for journalists and the free societies who depend on their work. "She will use her expertise to chair a panel comprising the world's best legal minds to develop and promote legal mechanisms to prevent and reverse media abuses," Hunt said. Amal, 41, said she was honoured to have been hand-picked for the new role. "Through my legal work defending journalists I have seen first-hand the ways in which reporters are being targeted and imprisoned in an effort to silence them and prevent a free media," said Amal, who takes on the role on a pro bono basis. "I welcome the UK Government's focus on this issue at a time when journalists are being killed and imprisoned at record levels all over the world and I look forward to working on new legal initiatives that can help to ensure a more effective international response," she said. At the G7 meeting, Hunt set out the next stages of the UK's campaign to defend free media around the world. The High Level Panel of Legal Experts will examine legal and policy initiatives that states can adopt to improve media freedom including by offering advice to governments who want to strengthen legal mechanisms to improve media freedom. They will support the repeal of outdated and draconian laws; encourage and support governments to help ensure existing laws and international obligations are enforced and promoting best practice and model legislation to protect a vibrant free press. "The media has a crucial role to play in holding the powerful to account. There is no escaping the fact that draconian and outdated laws around the world are being used to restrict the ability of the media to report the truth," the UK minister said. The global campaign on media freedom aims to shine a spotlight on media abuses and reverse the trend of violence against journalists. The announcement this week comes ahead of the International Conference on Media Freedom to be held in the UK in July, co-hosted with the Canadian government. The conference will bring together leaders from around the world to share good practice on media freedom, and seek consensus behind the measures that can be taken to improve the protection of journalists. The other members of the Panel of Legal Experts, along with the full Terms of Reference for the panel, will be confirmed in the coming months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British police stationed armed officers outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Friday after tweets from WikiLeaks quoted what it said were high-level sources saying that Julian Assange could be kicked out of the building within "hours to days." The red-brick embassy building with white window frames and balconies was quiet. No embassy official or any British authorities commented on the WikiLeaks founder's status. Asked about the presence of armed officers outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, London's Metropolitan Police force said there had been no change in police procedure. Police said in a statement there is an active warrant for Assange's arrest and that the police are "obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy." Police withdrew the round-the-clock guard outside the embassy in October 2015 after more than three years in favour of what the service called a "covert" approach. Assange hasn't left the embassy since August 2012, fearing if he steps off Ecuador's diplomatic soil he will be arrested and extradited to the US for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables through WikiLeaks. Ecuador's foreign ministry issued a statement late Thursday saying it wouldn't comment on what it called "rumours, theories or conjectures." Later, a senior official told The Associated Press that no decision had been taken to expel Assange from the embassy. WikiLeaks argued in a statement Friday that forcing Assange out of the embassy would be illegal and a violation of international law on refugees. A small group of protesters and supporters of WikiLeaks' founder gathered Thursday outside the London embassy. On Friday morning, a van appeared outside the building showing a placard that said "Free Speech" and featured images of Assange and convicted classified document leaker Chelsea Manning. Police moved it on. WikiLeaks on Thursday tweeted: "BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest." Another tweet said it had received a secondary confirmation from another high-level source. But a top official said while Ecuadorian President Lenn Moreno was angered by the apparent hacking of his personal communications, he denied WikiLeaks' claim and said no decision had been taken to expel Assange from the Embassy. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to discuss the matter. On Tuesday, Moreno blamed WikiLeaks for recent allegations of offshore corruption that in appeared in local media outlets and the publication of family photos to social media. Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as "photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance." Moreno provided no evidence, but the speech reflected ongoing tension between Assange and his hosts at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. WikiLeaks in a statement called Moreno's charges "completely bogus," saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuador's legislature investigated the issue. Assange's defence team suggested on Twitter that Moreno was trying to use the scandal to pressure the WikiLeaks founder. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain, France and the United States are warning the Syria against using chemical weapons on opponents of the government. The foreign ministers of the three countries say in a joint statement that Syria's past use of such weapons "cannot be disputed." They say they will "act strongly and swiftly" in the event of any future attack. The statement was released ahead of the two- and three-year anniversaries of chemical weapons attacks in Syria for which the three nations vow to hold the perpetrators to account. They also renewed demands for a negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Syria. The government of Syrian President Bashar Assad has denied using chemical weapons against opponents. International investigators have confirmed that the weapons have been used but stopped short of accusing specific perpetrators. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ROME - The Alan Kurdi migrant rescue vessel operated by German NGO Sea Eye with 64 migrants on board - including 12 women and two children - has remained all night out of Italian territorial waters, a few miles from Lampedusa. The migrants were rescued on Wednesday off the Libyan coast of Zuwarah. So far, the vessel's captain has respected the order issued by the Italian interior ministry not to enter territorial waters, denying the safe port requested. Diplomatic talks are ongoing between Italian and German authorities to reach a solution. The commander of the Alan Kurdi has never crossed into Italy's territorial waters but has renewed the request for a 'place of safety' to the Center of maritime coordination of the coast guard in Rome, asking to enter. Sources said the request was denied based on the interior ministry's directive Thursday which stressed that crossing into Italian waters would be considered ''not inoffensive''. Finance police has been told that, when and if the ship reaches the limit of 12 miles from Lampedusa delineating territorial waters, the captain should be informed of the denied access. An independent rights expert will visit WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadoran embassy in London to assess whether privacy violation claims involving him merit investigation, the UN rights office said Thursday. "The Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joe Cannataci, plans to meet WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on 25 April," the UN office said in a statement. The meeting will take place at the Ecuadoran embassy in London, where Assange has been living for more than six years, and would be facilitated by the Ecuadoran government, it said. The announcement came after Quito filed a formal complaint to Cannataci accusing WikiLeaks of spreading private information linked to President Lenin Moreno. Photos, videos and private conversations appeared on portals such as Twitter and Facebook. Moreno was also forced to deny allegations of corruption which surfaced on the website inapapers.org, with the president claiming he knew who was responsible for the accusations. An informed source said the special rapporteur would also investigate allegations made by Assange that his privacy had been violated during his time holed up in the embassy. "The UN expert said the meeting would help determine if there exists a prima facie case of violation of privacy that warrants further investigation," the UN statement said. In an interview broadcast by several Ecuadoran radio stations this week, Moreno said: "Assange has too often repeatedly violated the agreement we have with him and his legal team," without saying whether Ecuador would withdraw asylum. Another UN rights expert, Nils Melzer, meanwhile voiced alarm Friday at reports that Ecuador was preparing to expel Assange from its embassy, and said he planned to investigate the case. WikiLeaks tweeted Thursday that it had learned through a high-level Ecuadoran source that Assange would be expelled within "hours to days". "In my assessment, if Mr. Assange were to be expelled from the Embassy of Ecuador, he is likely to be arrested by British authorities and extradited to the United States," said Melzer, who is the UN Special Rapporteur on torture. "Such a response could expose him to a real risk of serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," he warned. "I therefore urge the government of Ecuador to abstain from expelling Mr. Assange from its embassy in London, or from otherwise ceasing or suspending his political asylum until such time as the full protection of his human rights can be guaranteed," he added. Assange sought refuge at the Ecuadoran embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced accusations of sexual assault that prosecutors in Stockholm have since abandoned. Assange has refused to leave the embassy to avoid extradition to the United States to face charges over his website publishing huge caches of hacked State Department and Pentagon files in 2010. The 47-year-old Australian denies the rape claims, and said he feared Sweden would pass him on to US authorities if he was extradited. The Swedish chief prosecutor dropped proceedings against him in 2017 because going ahead and serving notice of charges would necessitate Assange's presence in court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US and China are close to striking a "monumental" trade deal in the next four weeks, President Donald Trump has said, a view concurred by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, generating optimism that the bruising trade war between the world's two largest economies may end soon. Trump's positive comments came as top Chinese and US officials are meeting in Washington to reach an agreement after the two trading powers entered into a trade war and imposed tariffs on more than USD 360 billion in two-way trade. Trump has been accusing China of indulging in unfair trade practices, like the theft of US technology and massive state intervention in markets, contributing to the huge trade deficit amounting to USD 375 billion. Trump is demanding China to reduce the USD 375 billion trade deficit and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. Last week, negotiators from both the countries met in Beijing to resolve the nine month-long trade war. "The deal is coming along really well. We'll probably know over the next four weeks. It may take two weeks after that to get it papered, but I really think that, over the next fairly short period of time, we're going to know," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House during his meeting with the visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. "It's looking very good. A lot of really good things have been negotiated and agreed to. I would really say, and I say it again, a lot of the most difficult points that we didn't think we could ever do or we wouldn't agree to, on both sides have been agreed to," he said. The two sides, he said, have negotiated some of the toughest points, but there are still some ways to go. "I think we have a very good chance of getting there". Responding to a question if he was looking forward to meet Chinese President Xi, Trump said the summit would take place only if the trade deal is finalised. "I look forward to seeing President Xi. It will be here. If we have a deal, then we're going to have a summit. If we don't have a deal, we're not going to have a summit. But there's a very good chance that we'll have the summit," Trump said. When asked what is coming in the way of the deal, he said "It is enforcement. We have to make sure there's enforcement. I think we'll get that done. We've discussed it at length. I think we're going to get that done". "We're getting very close to making a deal. That doesn't mean a deal is made, because it's not, but we're certainly getting a lot closer. I would think within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more -- whatever it takes -- something very monumental could be announced," the US President said. Chinese Vice Premier Liu said that the two countries have made great progress. "I do think that because we got direct guidance by two great President Xi and President Trump," he said. In Beijing, President Xi said on Friday said that "new substantial progress" has been made on the China-US economic agreement. Xi's remarks were part of a message conveyed to US President Trump at the White House by Vice Premier Liu. The Chinese President said that "new substantial progress" has been made on the text of the China-US economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month. He encouraged the two sides to keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible. Under the current situation, a healthy and stable development of China-US relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, Xi told Trump, state-run Xinhua agency reported. Xi also said that he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means, and believes that the China-US relations will make new and greater progress under their joint guidance. Separately, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson Gao Feng announced reciprocal suspension of additional tariffs slapped by both the countries on each other's goods since last year, saying the move would "undoubtedly" create a conducive atmosphere for the China-US economic and trade negotiations. China's Cabinet said last Sunday that Beijing would continue to suspend additional tariffs on US vehicles and auto parts after March 31, in a goodwill gesture following a US decision to delay tariff hikes on Chinese imports. China said in December it would suspend additional 25 per cent tariffs on US made vehicles and auto parts for three months, following a truce in the trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden in a statement asked for a strong trade deal with China. "We've had nearly two decades of broken promises from China. Any deal that fails to address the core trade cheating by China - theft of intellectual property, forced tech transfer and state-owned enterprises - will be a loser for American workers. Trump must not settle for a short-term political deal that doesn't include real, enforceable ways to hold China accountable for its promises, he demanded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabia has arrested at least nine writers and academics, including two US citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of detained women activists whose trial has drawn global censure, campaigners said Friday. of the arrests came the morning after US lawmakers voted to end military support for a Saudi-led war in neighbouring Yemen, which has triggered what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It also marks the first major crackdown since the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October, which sparked unprecedented international scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record. Campaigners identified the US-Saudi dual nationals as writer and doctor Bader al-Ibrahim and Salah al-Haidar, the son of Aziza al-Yousef -- a high-profile activist who was temporarily released last week but remains on trial along with other women campaigners. The latest round up started on Thursday, a day after the 11 women -- some of whom accused interrogators of torture and sexual abuse in detention -- returned to court to face charges that include contact with foreign media, diplomats and human rights groups. London-based rights group ALQST identified eight arrested writers, bloggers and academics -- including a pregnant woman -- adding that the crackdown was linked to their support of female activists on trial. Another public intellectual, university lecturer Anas al-Mazrou, was detained last month after he expressed solidarity with the detained women during a panel discussion at the Riyadh book fair, it added. Prisoners of Conscience, a Saudi group that tracks political prisoners, put the number of people arrested at 10. Many of those arrested face travel bans, campaigners said. "Saudi authorities seem to be hellbent on silencing anyone who dares to speak up or even voice their opinions privately and publicly," Amnesty International's Middle East campaigns director Samah Hadid told AFP. "This goes beyond just attacking activists and now seems to target different segments of society. This is a dangerous pattern." There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities or the US embassy in Riyadh. "What is disturbing about new Saudi arrests is that waves of arrests keep moving from most-known to successively lesser knowns," Saudi-American activist Nora Abdulkarim said on Twitter. "Another confusing aspect is timing, leaves one asking: 'why now?'" Riyadh has faced pressure from major Western powers to release the women on trial, most of whom were detained last summer in a wide-ranging crackdown against activists just before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female motorists. Three of them -- activist Aziza al-Yousef, blogger Eman al-Nafjan and preacher Rokaya al-Mohareb -- were granted temporary release last week. Before their provisional release, the three freed women and their bail guarantors were made to sign a pledge that they will stay away from the media, according to multiple people with access to the trial. The siblings of one of the prominent detainees, activist Loujain al-Hathloul, this week said they were being pressured by people close to the Saudi state to stay silent over her treatment in detention. People close to the Saudi establishment have warned that public criticism by family members could prolong their detention. "A reminder: we are not going to stay silent," Loujain's sister Alia al-Hathloul tweeted on Friday. At an emotionally charged hearing last week, some women broke down as they accused interrogators of subjecting them to electric shocks, flogging and groping in detention, two people with access to the trial told AFP. A Saudi prosecutor roundly rejected the accusations in the latest court hearing on Wednesday, witnesses said, reiterating the government's stance. The next hearing in the trial, which foreign media and diplomats are barred from attending, is scheduled for April 17, activists say. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The presence of large numbers of Chinese vessels near islands and islets occupied by the Philippines is "a concern," a senior US defence official said Friday. The Philippine government protested the Chinese ship movements Thursday after its military monitored more than 200 Chinese vessels from January-March in a disputed area named Sandy Cay, which is near the Philippine-occupied island of Pag-asa. Asked about the situation while on a visit to Bangkok, Joseph Felter, deputy assistant secretary of defence for South and Southeast Asia, told reporters that the US is troubled "by any aggressive activity by any country in the South China Sea, in this case China. We see that as of concern." "In this case, China's activities are of concern. It seems to be somewhat aggressive and provocative and we feel that they're unnecessary and unwarranted," said Felter, who was in Thailand to attend a meeting of defense officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. He noted that the US does not take a stance on various conflicting claims in the South China Sea. But he said the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region involves working with allies and partners to keep the seas free and open and ensure that "no country's sovereignty is undermined." "We expect every country to be able to sail, fly and operate wherever international law allows," he said. The Philippines regards a chain of islands and islets, nine of which it occupies, in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea as a municipality it calls Kalayaan under its western province of Palawan. That claim conflicts with the larger territorial claims of China, Vietnam, and three other governments in a long-simmering Asian dispute. Over the last few years, China has stepped up its territorial claims by turning seven made-man islands it controls into military installations, drawing rebukes from other claimants as well as Washington. Chinese boats have swarmed around Sandy Cay, a chain of three sandbars between Pag-asa and a Chinese man-made island called Subi, since 2017. Such practice could be meant to pressure other governments into abandoning their islands. A 2002 accord between China and the 10-nation ASEAN aims to prevent armed confrontation in the busy waterway, where much of Asia's oil and trade transits. Felter said the meetings he attended also addressed the lingering threat from the extremism and the Islamic State group in Southeast Asia and the US looks forward to working with regional partners on counterterrorism. "It's a threat. We've degraded ISIS in the Middle East significantly as far as its territory but importantly, it's still able to recruit and inspire individuals to participate in attacks, which we've seen recently and sadly we probably haven't seen the last of this," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against Christian Michel in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam, the alleged middleman moved a Delhi court Friday claiming that he has not named anybody before the probe agency. He also alleged that the central government was using agencies for political agenda. Michel's counsel claimed that the copy of the charge sheet was provided to the media before it was provided to Michel. Advocate Aljo K Joseph, who has filed plea on Michel's behalf, claimed that "he (Michel) never named anyone". In his plea, Michel has questioned how the charge sheet was leaked to the media even before its cognisance was taken by the court. The matter will come up for hearing on April 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Christian Michel, alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam, told a Delhi court Friday that he has not named anybody in connection with the deal during investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, which has filed a supplementary charge sheet. Michel, who alleged that the central government was using agencies for political agenda, filed an application after the reports appeared that ED in its charge sheet has named politicians of the previous UPA dispensation, defence personnel, bureaucrats and journalists as the beneficiaries of the controversial defence deal. Michel's counsel appeared with the application before Special Judge Arvind Kumar who issued notice to the probe agency and sought its reply by Saturday when he will take up the matter. "Michel has not named anyone in his statement before the agency which is being leaked to media. This is only to make the matter sensational and prejudice the case against my client," his counsel, Aljo K Joseph said. He claimed the copy of the charge sheet, which was filed on Thursday, was provided to the media before it was provided to Michel. He has questioned as to how the charge sheet was leaked to the media even before its cognisance was taken by the court. The plea said that trial by a judge and free and fair trial rights override media rights and the court can temporarily curtail the freedom of the media to ensure that. "The court is duty bound to balance it. Even to ensure a free and fair trail the court can temporarily curtail the freedom of media to ensure free and fair trial," the plea said. It further said that at the time of filing the charge sheet the counsels for the accused had asked for supply of copies of the charge sheet but it was objected to by the ED on the ground that the court has not yet taken cognisance of of the charge sheet. "Since this court is yet to take cognisance of the charge sheet, it appeared that the ED has clandestinely provided a copy of the same to the media houses which were publishing the same in installments only to sensationalise the issue and prejudice the accused named therein even before cognisance was taken by this court," the plea claimed. It said selective portions of the charge sheet have been published in the media which make it clear that the ED was not interested in a fair trial in a court of law but in a trial by media. "ED is making mockery of the judicial process resulting in complete travesty of justice. The extradition treaty prohibited the extradition of accused involved in the political offences and the government is now using the ED and all the investigating agencies for the political purpose. The supply of the charge sheet to the media houses is the best example of that," it said. The plea said that even though the court has not taken cognisance over the documents filed before it, in order to make the entire case a sensation again in the media, the ED had supplied the charge sheet to the media. "The act of the prosecuting agency is highly condonable and contrary to the procedure established by law. It is pertaining to mention here that the prosecuting agency is acting as a weapon in the hands of the government and by clandestinely giving the documents to the media houses engineered in media trial with ulterior motives," it claimed. The plea further claimed that such hostile remarks might curtail the rights of Michel to a free and fair trial as he was a citizen of another country. ED had told the court on Thursday that Michel and other accused received 42 million euros as kickbacks in the defence deal. The probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary charge sheet had also named David Syms, Michel's alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them-- Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE -- as accused. Michel, extradited from Dubai in December last year, was one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Italy-based Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal government has performed "poorly" in almost all governance issues, mainly on providing better employment opportunities, agriculture loan availability and higher price realisation for farm products, according to a survey released on Friday. The West Bengal Survey Report 2018 also said the three issues -- providing better employment opportunities (for 39.28 per cent of survey participants), agriculture loan availability (35.86 per cent) and higher price realisation for farm products (35.21 per cent) -- which have been neglected by the state government are in the top priority list for voters in the state. "The government has performed poorly in almost all governance issues, with the exception of average performance on matters such as empowerment of women and security and electricity for domestic use," said the report, which is the third part of the survey jointly conducted by the West Bengal Election Watch (WBEW) and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on 'Governance issues and Voting Behaviour 2018'. The survey report was released on a day when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at an election rally that the state government has won the United Nations Public Service Award for its Kanyashree programme, which was introduced in 2012 to aid the girl child in education and her wellbeing. The WBEW is a civil society process, linked with NGOs ADR, New Delhi, and the National Election Watch India. This survey report has a dedicated chapter for West Bengal covering all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state and approximately 21,000 voters as respondents. The survey, which was conducted between October-December 2018, covered 534 parliamentary constituencies and more than 2.37 lakh voters. It found that for the urban voters in West Bengal, the top most issues were providing better employment opportunities (45 per cent), reducing water and air pollution (39 per cent) and traffic congestion (39 per cent). The state government performed poorly in providing better public transport (2.36) and reducing noise pollution in urban regions of the state, it stated. On the voting behaviour of the electorates in the state, the survey said the highest percentage of voters felt that the chief ministerial candidate was the most significant reason for voting a candidate in an election. While 38 per cent of the voters said this was important, 46 per cent felt it was "very important". A large number of voters (67 per cent) said distribution of cash, gifts for polls were illegal, while 32 per cent said they were aware of instances where such inducements were offered in lieu of their votes. "Ninety eight per cent voters felt that the candidates with criminal background should not be in Parliament or the state assembly, while only 36 per cent voters said they could get information on criminal records of the candidates," the report elaborated. In relation to voting candidates with criminal antecedents, 36 per cent voters felt that people vote for such candidates because they were unaware about their criminal records. In the opinion of 34 per cent voters, people vote for criminal candidates as they feel that the cases against such candidates were not of serious nature, the survey said. Voters in West Bengal while voting for candidates with criminal records also keep in mind whether they were powerful (34 per cent), belong to the same caste or religion (33 per cent) or whether candidates were otherwise doing good work (34 per cent). Seventy-four per cent of the people included in the survey were from rural areas, while 26 per cent were from the urban regions of the state. While 61 per cent were males, 39 per cent were females. A total 63 per cent people surveyed were from the general castes, 23 per cent scheduled caste, seven per cent scheduled tribe and six per cent from the other backward classes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An organisation of displaced Kashmir Pandits Friday vowed to create a mass movement against the alleged cover-up of the community's genocide and the denial of their basic rights under the international and domestic laws. The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) also criticised national and regional political parties including the Congress, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for failing to give justice to Pandits. "We will create a mass movement against the cover-up of genocide of KPs and the denial of their basic rights under international and domestic law", GKPD Chairperson Moti Kaul said. "I will kick off a nationwide tour and interact with the community members, media, political representatives from all parties and other stakeholders," he added. This mobilisation of support is designed to create a movement against the cover-up of Kashmiri Pandits' genocide, he said further. Kaul stressed that for the last 30 years, governments have failed to address the community's demands for justice. He said that the NC's recent call for pre-1953 constitutional status was declared by the interlocutor's commission as something which will lead to a dangerous constitutional vacuum. At the same time, the Congress' manifesto and the remarks of other regional parties is a defacto abdication to the genocide in Kashmir, he added. "What Kashmir needs is strong, clean governance founded on the rule of law and order and based on the tenets of the Constitution," Kaul said. GKPD founder member Surinder Kaul said that the political steering committee (PSC) of the organisation has been formed in view of the ongoing political discourse. The PSC shall raise awareness among the public, the media and the decision makers on the issue of Kashmiri Pandits' genocide and secure and sustainable resettlement in the Valley, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A treat awaits fans as Wrestlemania-35 is all set to kick-off with 'WWEKAMAHAYUDH in India Sunday. "In Indian mythology, 'Mahayudh' signifies the biggest battles with the fiercest warriors and is akin to WrestleMania 35 where the biggest WWE Superstars battle for supremacy on the grandest stage of them all," a release said. Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited (SPN) is the exclusive broadcast partner for WWE in India. To further the appeal in India, it has launched #WWEKAMAHAYUDH, a campaign that showcases the scale of WrestleMania, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The World Trade Organization sees a "challenging" and "difficult" road ahead for international trade liberalization due to the current political climate. WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo said Thursday he's confident Mexico and the United States can sort out their current trade difficulties, which include a border-crossing slowdown, U.S. threats to close the border and the still-pending ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. But the fight to expand free trade "is going to be challenging, is going to be difficult, above all because of the political conditions we have in the world today." Mexico's Economy Secretary Graciela Mrquez said a labor reform bill has been sent to Mexico's Congress this week. Some U.S. legislators said they wouldn't ratify the free trade agreement, negotiated last year to replace the old NAFTA, until Mexico passes a labor reform bill. The bill is expected to assure workers can freely vote for the union representation by secret ballot. Pro-company unions in Mexico have a long history of keeping wages down and workers voiceless in union affairs. Mrquez also said that the border slowdowns caused by the re-assignment of some U.S. border agents to processing waves of incoming migrants had most acutely affected shipments of Mexican fresh vegetables headed north. "Of course Mexico is going to lose, Mexican exporters are going to lose," Mrquez said. "But in the end, the ones who are going to be affected are U.S. consumers, because soon they won't find fresh vegetables on store shelves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Women, kids refuse to land from Alan Kurdi - Salvini We won't split up families says Sea Eye (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 5 - Two children, their mothers and a pregnant woman are refusing to leave the Alan Kurdi migrant rescue ship, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Friday. The kids, aged one and six, their mothers and the pregnant woman were given permission to land in Lampedusa for medical reasons by the interior ministry earlier. "All that remains is to wish them bon voyage towards Berlin," said Salvini. The Alan Kurdi is run by German migrant rescue NGO Sea Eye. Sea Eye said later its policy was not to split up families. "Italy offered to evacuate two children and their mothers, The accord with the German government was, however, that families would be evacuated. We will not make any family separation active!" It added: "this is an emotional torture and puts the wellbeing of the child at risk". A German foreign minister spokesperson, meanwhile, said that "we are in direct contact with our Italian partners" about the ship. A European Commission spokesperson said that the EU executive was following the case and had requested the creation of a coordination group. Germany also said it was willing to take some of the migrants on board the vessel. Two children, their mothers and a pregnant woman are refusing to leave the ship, Salvini said. The kids, aged one and six, their mothers and the pregnant woman were given permission to land on Lampedusa for medical reasons by the interior ministry earlier. "All that remains is to wish them bon voyage towards Berlin," said Salvini. Coast guard and finance guard motor launches had left Lampedusa Friday to take the four on board. Sources said they would be taken to Lampedusa. The Alan Kurdi is currently reported to be zigzagging about 15 nautical miles from Lampedusa, respecting an Italian interior ministry warning Thursday that its course was to be considered "not inoffensive" to Italy, sources said. The ship has yet to obtain from the Roma coast guard maritime coordination centre an authorisation to enter Italy's territorial waters. At Lampedusa, coast guard motor launches and finance guard vessels are said to be monitoring the situation, local sources said. Lampedusa is a stepping stone island for migrants, closer to Libya than to Sicily. It has borne the brunt of migrant landings over the past few years. (ANSAmed). The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP RERA) Thursday said it has sent letters to the zonal heads of all 42 banks to be more vigilant of the escrow accounts of the promoters and developers. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the director general of the Directorate of Institutional Finance, Government of Uttar Pradesh, UP RERA said in a statement. The authority has asked banks for strict compliance of the provisions of Section-4 (2) (I) (D) of RERA Act, 2016, which warrants 70 per cent of amounts realised for real estate projects to be deposited in a separate account and to be maintained in a scheduled bank to cover the cost of construction and the land cost and shall be used only for limited purposes. UP RERA Chairman Rajive Kumar said, "It has come to the notice of the Authority that some of the promoters are not complying with the statutory provisions of the law and withdrawing the amount from the designated account without submitting the requisite certificate. This is grave violation of the mandatory provisions of the Act." UP RERA Secretary Abrar Ahmed said the separate accounts related to 2,651 projects registered in RERA are being maintained in 962 branches, some of them are based out of Uttar Pradesh. "We have sent separate individual letters to all the 962 branches by speed post." It has also come to the notice of the Authority that some of the banks, especially the ones that have sanctioned loan to the promoter, arbitrarily adjust the entire amount deposited in the account against the outstanding loan of the promoter instead of transferring 70 per cent of the money collected to the escrow account for the purposes of construction and payment of the cost of land of the project, the statement said. "The banks are requested to issue necessary instructions to all of the regional managers, deputy general managers, assistant general managers (and) branch managers to strictly comply with the provisions," Ahmed said. It is further clarified that if the banks do not adhere to the provisions of the Act, the matter will be brought to the notice of the chairman of the respective banks and the secretary of the banking department of the Government of India for appropriate action in the matter. In total, there are 42 scheduled commercial banks -- 21 each public sector and private sector lenders. Also read: Repo rate cut to ease liquidity, boost sales for real estate sector Also read: UP Real Estate Regulatory Authority issues deregistration notices to 7 builders over delay in 14 projects India is one of the highest taxing nations in the world, U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged as he again slammed the country for imposing 100% tariffs on American products, including the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Such a high tariff is not fair, Mr. Trump said on Tuesday during National Republican Congressional Committee Annual Spring Dinner here. Early this year, at a White House event to announce his support for reciprocal tax, Mr. Trump had said he was satisfied with the Indian decision to reduce the import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 100% to 50%. "Even this is not enough, this is okay," he said at that time. Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed that India is a "tariff king" and imposes "tremendously high" tariffs on American products. "I got a call from Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi of India. They're one of the highest taxing nations in the world. They taxed us 100%," Mr. Trump said reiterating his often-heard remarks on Indian tariff structure. "They charge us 100% tariffs on goods. So they send a motorcycle-and they make a lot of them-Indian cycles. They send them to our country, we charge them nothing. We send a Harley Davidson to India and they charge us 100%. Not fair, okay. Not reciprocal. It's not fair," Trump said. During his address to the National Republican Congressional Committee Annual Spring Dinner, Mr. Trump explained how his trade policies are successfully addressing the balance of trade issue with other countries. Trade talks with China are going on very well, he said. The world's two largest economies are locked in a trade war since Mr. Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items from China in March last year, a move that sparked fears of a global trade war. Mr. Trump imposed tariff hikes of up to 25% on $250 billion of Chinese goods. In response, China, the world's second largest economy after the U.S., imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on $110 billion of American goods. Top trade officials from America and China are holding talks to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal. "I think we're doing very well. They need the deal more than we do. They need the deal. And they getting hurt badly with they're paying 25% on $50 billion worth of technology stuff and they were going to pay 25% on another $200 billion," he said. Mr. Trump said his administration is fixing broken trade deals to protect the American workers. "We are standing up to China's chronic trading abuses and theft of intellectual properties and so many other things that they've done to us," he said. "I don't know how you people allowed this to happen for so many years. You've been here longer than me. But they really have, they've taken advantage of our country. And you know what? I respect them for it. I say it. We should have been doing that to them, he said. Mr. Trump described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a king. "I was in China making a speech," Trump recounted. "President Xi, who is a strong man, I call him 'king.' He said, 'But I am not king, I am president' I said, 'No, you are president for life, and therefore you are king.' He said, 'Huh. Huh.' He liked that. I call him 'king.' I get along with him great," he said. "So I call him King. I get along with them great. But I was really hitting him hard about how they've hurt our country. And I had 5,000 Chinese people, I'm China, I'm in Beijing doing this, can you believe it? And I'm looking down, he's getting angrier and angrier. And then I saved it. I said, "You know, I don't blame you. I blame the leaders of our country for allowing it to happen." And it's really true. We should never have allowed that to happen, Mr. Trump said. The corporate affairs ministry Thursday sought more time from the NCLT to file the progress report on the ongoing investigations into Gitanjali Gems along with Nirav Modi companies involving the Rs 14,000 crore PNB scam case by central law enforcement agencies. The ministry asked for more time from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to submit the progress report on the investigations by the Enforcement Directorate and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) into largest financial fraud in the country to date. A two-member bench of VP Singh and Ravikumar Duraisamy, allowing more time, fixed the matter for further hearing to April 25. Both Gitanjali Gems' Mehul Choksi and his nephew diamantaire Nirav Modi are absconding and are facing extradition now. They are being probed under various criminal laws after the fraud came to light in February 2018. The ministry had earlier sought the tribunal's intervention to attach the properties owned by Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle Choksi, across the world. Modi and Choksi and their families own or control as many as around 114 companies. Sanjay Shorey, joint legal director at the ministry, had earlier argued that there were many more blacksheep than it appeared and SFIO would investigate the matter for which he wanted to attach all the properties owned by these four people along with their company assets. He had further said, government was seeking an ex- parte relief in extraordinary circumstances as most assets owned by Modi and Choksi are in liquid form and the investigation cannot be taken forward without attaching and freezing them to prevent alienating as well as creating any third-party interest on them. Sebi is also looking into the matter and the ministry is also seeking the help of the Central Board of Direct Taxes to ascertain the assets of the prime accused and other related parties. Also read: Nirav Modi's Rolls Royce Ghost, Porsche Panamera and other luxury cars to be sold online Also read: Nirav Modi's defence team even uses his pet dog in attempt to win bail A US count of the Pakistani F-16s has found that no aircraft is missing indicating India's claim of striking down a Pakistani fighter jet during recent military escalation between the two countries may be "wrong", an American magazine has reported. The Foreign Policy report cited "two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation" who claimed that the US personnel had recently counted Pakistan's F-16 and had "found none missing". "All aircraft were present and accounted for," the report quoted one of the official as saying. Pakistan invited the US to count the number of F-16s after the dogfight with India on February 27, the report said quoting an official. Also Read : IAF scrambled Mirage, Sukhoi jets last night to fight off Pakistani F-16s near Punjab border US and Pakistan have an end-user agreement over the F-16s, which allows the United States to inspect the fighter jets so that they are "accounted for and protected," the report said quoting an official. The report said the development "sheds doubt on New Delhi's version of events" and suggests "Indian authorities may have misled the international community". No official confirmation has come from the US authorities if they have counted and confirmed the number of F-16s Pakistan currently possesses. Also Read : Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale to give proof of Pakistan's misuse of F-16s to top US officials The Indian Air Force had claimed that it downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in a dogfight that ensued in Pakistan's skies on February 27. The incident occurred when Pakistani fighter jets entered Indian air space in response to Indian Air Force's a morning raid on February 26 on JeM terror camps in the Pakistani territories of Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad nearly two weeks after a militant attack killed 44 Indian soldiers in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday sneered at Congress party and its President Rahul Gandhi calling the party's manifesto a "proof of Congress' hypocrisy", and said that the poll promise document spoke in "tukde tukde gang's bhasha." In about an hour-long interview to ABP News, the Prime Minister enunciated his stand on several topics and issues such as demonetisation, BJP-PDP alliance, Congress Manifesto, Priyanka Gandhi, NaMo Tv, Nirav Modi, Ayodhya, the sedition law and much more. Also Read: Lok Sabha election 2019 LIVE: Congress President Rahul Gandhi to file nomination from Amethi on April 10 Excerpts from PM Modi's quotes from the interview: Congress Manifesto "I was pained that Congress said such things in its manifesto about national security. It has insulted the Indian Army. Its manifesto was speaking tukde tukde gang's language." "We want an India where AFSPA is not even required. But for that, we need an atmosphere where such a situation is possible. Congress manifesto stinks of Pakistani language. It is the language of the separatists. Congress has insulted army by bringing in accusations like rape." Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad and Amethi "Which seat he fights the elections from is his prerogative but, the way he had to go to Wayanad is something to look at, media is saying that winning from Amethi is difficult for him. He can give whatever excuses he wants to give. We are not questioning why he's contesting in two seats, we are questioning why he has run away from Amethi. The BJP has full right to question the latter." BJP-PDP Alliance "Mufti sahib was a mature leader when we formed the alliance. We wanted panchayat polls to be held and funds to be given to panchayats. But the PDP didn't want that. So we decided to part ways, and panchayat polls were also held," Modi said. Opposition's 'Mahagathbandan' Alliance "I don't call it Mahagathbandan, I call it 'Mahamilavat'. NDA is also an alliance. In Jammu and Kashmir when we forged an alliance with PDP, we had come close, but we were not together. The mandate was such that we had to walk together. However, today NDA alliance is not contradictory. Like Shiromani Akali Dal, we are together in good times and bad. Unlike in UPA. Two years back during Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, two guys wore jackets and came on TV as if shooting a film. Today they are standing as opposition themselves." Balakot Airstrikes "Pakistan tweeted it itself. We had not made any claims. Those who want to debate how many were killed can continue to do so. Pakistan would have badmouthed us if we had attacked civilians and army installations. Our target was only terrorists. We carried out research and it was carried out successfully. Pakistan cannot accept it because that will mean they will have to accept that terrorist activities were happening on their land. It is a matter of worry that Indians are speaking the language Pakistan would like." "It is unclear who runs the government in Pakistan: the elected government, the army, the ISI or the Pakistanis residing abroad who are running it from afar? Pakistan should stop exporting terrorism to India. We have differences with China, but we are not going to let them get converted into dispute." Sedition Law "When people were protesting against the nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, Congress had arrested 6,000 people under sedition laws. The same Congress now wants to abolish the sedition law to stand by the ones who want to break India into pieces. They want them to go free?" Where was PM when Pulwama happened? "Nobody will believe in these allegations. I get very sad by such allegations." Priyanka Gandhi' entry into politics "In democracy, anyone can contest from anywhere. I don't fear about who are contesting from where, it doesn't matter to me." Nirav Modi "It is as a result of the measures taken by us that the fugitives had to land in jails of the countries where they fled; and because of us their properties are being seized." "The nation runs on law and we are making full use of law; but it is to see why these people had to flee, because they were enjoying under Congress rule." "These people have cheated us with so much money in a span of 10 years only, and not after we came to power. But, they didn't know a government like this would come which would take an action against us, therefore they got scared after we came to power and fled." NaMo TV "I haven't had the time to see the channel. I am sure the people of the country have started believing now that Modi doesn't favour the corrupt." Ram Mandir "It's not just me but everyone wants Ram Mandir to be built. We can only wait for the Supreme Court's decision to find a solution for it." Muslims' trust issues with the government "I said, 'we haven't done anything for Muslims, and won't do anything in the future'. (But) I also said, 'we haven't done anything for Hindus, and won't do anything in the future'. Instead, my slogan is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. All my schemes follow that mantra." Demonetisation "The formal economy has been advanced, crores of undisclosed income has been found, benami properties have been seized, etc." Also Read: Rahul Gandhi owns commercial property worth Rs 8.75 crore, agri land worth Rs 1.32 crore, Rs 40,000 cash in hand Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2019: A ready reckoner on the polling dates by state and constituency Enforcement Directorate (ED), the government agency that looks into economic crimes in India, has tighten its grip on corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar. Talwar, who has been under scrutiny in a money laundering case, is under ED's custody since January 31 this year after he was deported from Dubai. He had filed a Habeas Corpus petition in Delhi High Court against the arrest which he termed as illegal. However, yesterday his lawyer withdrew the writ petition and has now applied for bail instead. Last week, the ED provisionally attached one of Talwar's properties - Hotel Holiday Inn located in Aerocity, New Delhi. The property is valued at Rs 120.20 crores. Also Read: Lok Sabha election 2019 LIVE: Congress President Rahul Gandhi to file nomination from Amethi on April 10 Deepak Talwar is being investigated for his role in illegally securing traffic rights for Emirates, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways in exchange for money. The investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was initiated against Talwar in August 2017 on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI against officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation, NACIL, Air India and unknown private persons. It was alleged that Deepak Talwar illegally engaged in liasoning/lobbying with politicians, ministers, other public servants and officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation for airlines such as Emirates, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways for monetary benefits. It was also alleged that Talwar illegally managed to secure favourable traffic rights for these airlines in 2008-09 at the cost of government-owned Air India. In a presse statement, ED said that their investigation revealed that these airlines made around Rs 272 crore payment to Deepak Talwar during 2008-09. He laundered the amount through a web of shell companies created by him and his family members in India and international tax havens. A part of the payment was made through an account in Bank of Singapore. The account belonged to a company called Asiafield Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands and owned by Deepak Talwar. According to the ED press release, these proceeds of the crime were layered through a series of international money transfers to finally integrate in India in Wave Hospitality Private Limited, which is registered in the name of Deepak Talwar's son Aditya Talwar but controlled by him and his family members. Also Read: Rahul Gandhi owns commercial property worth Rs 8.75 crore, agri land worth Rs 1.32 crore, Rs 40,000 cash in hand Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2019: A ready reckoner on the polling dates by state and constituency With Britain still feverishly discussing its Brexit plans, the other 27 European Union states are preparing their joint stance for a top-level summit with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday. Nearly three years since the shock referendum vote to leave the EU, Britain's political chaos has forced May to ask the bloc for a second Brexit delay. Britain was originally due to leave on March 29 but the current date is April 12. Any further postponement would need to be approved unanimously by the 27 nations staying on together after Brexit. And they feel increasingly fatigued. Playing the bad cop, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Monday the bloc's patience was wearing thin. On Tuesday, European Council President Donald Tusk took a softer tack, telling the EU: "Let us be patient." A balance between the EU's growing exasperation and patience with Brexit will shape the strategic position the 27 adopt at the April 10 summit. Here are the pros and cons of the main options from the bloc's point of view. Unless something else is agreed, Britain will crash out from the bloc as soon as April 12. The EU talks of growing risk of no-deal Brexit almost daily, partly because it is current legal reality but also to scare the factious UK parliament into accepting the divorce deal May sealed with the bloc but which British lawmakers have rejected three times. France has led EU states in adopting a tough line towards Britain and calling for accepting no-deal to end the Brexit uncertainty as soon as possible. But the EU appetite for the most-damaging break is low and exposed countries like Ireland and Belgium are not fully prepared to manage ensuing disruptions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's strong opposition to no-deal Brexit and the bloc's wariness of being assigned blame for any abrupt split means this is not the most likely scenario for next week. Between preparing for the worst-case scenario and plotting a long delay, the EU has been somewhat caught by surprise by May's request for a second, unspecified but short lag. The bloc is waiting to see what comes out of May's talks with the opposition Labour Party to break the parliamentary impasse over Brexit. It says London must relay its plan for the summit on Monday or Tuesday morning at the latest to ensure enough time for coordination among the other 27 capitals before the Wednesday evening talks between leaders. Several EU diplomats said they thought May 22 was as late as a short delay could possibly go, with that date clearly shaping up as the limit of the bloc's tolerance. They fear anything beyond that would risk compromising the functioning of the EU. Juncker said on Wednesday that London would not get another short delay to Brexit unless the UK parliament approves the stalled EU divorce agreement by April 12. For Britain to be allowed to stay much longer, the EU 27 have set a firm condition that it must take part in elections to the European Parliament on May 23-26. They have given London until April 12 to state its intentions. EU diplomats discussed in recent days possible postponements of Brexit until the end of 2019, for a year until next spring or even going as far as the end of 2020. Their Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been vocal about the high economic and political costs of keeping Britain in much longer, as the bloc elects its new parliament and replaces the executive European Commission. It will also be setting its next joint budget for 2021-27. The bloc is considering adding a "sincere cooperation" condition to that option, a gentleman's agreement to minimize any risk that Britain could stall the EU's agenda and vital processes, or undermine its operations or the legitimacy of its key institutions. EU diplomats said that could include Britain removing itself from discussions on the next budget or selecting the new European Commission. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie An Tanaiste Simon Coveney officially opened the new EDPAC International newly extended manufacturing plant in Carrigaline, Co. Cork today. As part of the expansion, the Data Centre and Air Cooling Systems manufacturer will create 50 new jobs. EDPAC International will continue to operate from its sites in Newmarket (North Cork) and from Carrigaline, where more than 80 people are currently employed. The company is actively recruiting a further 50 employees over the next 24 months, particularly design engineers, refrigeration technicians, plumbers, electricians as well as quality engineers and logistics personnel. EDPAC International is supported by Enterprise Ireland for a number of years. Following the successes of the EI Lean Plus programme, EDPAC have been recently approved for the EI Operational Excellence Programme which will further enhance development at the company. The EDPAC manufacturing site in Carrigaline is now over 5000 square metres and equipped with state of the art facilities, including a new environmental test laboratory, dedicated factory witness test facility and a new canteen. The Newmarket facility supports the Carrigaline factory, providing prefabricated components and manufacturing high quality air handling systems to customer specifications. The Irish owned company has a large client list, with installations at Doha Airport, Qatars Al Wakra Stadium, Hong Kongs Metro, Bolivias Itaipu Dam, Copenhagens City Link Metro, the BBC in the UK, most hospitals in Ireland and Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the companys home county. EDPAC International processes multi-million euro orders from all around the world every month and is expanding the headcount in Cork to meet sustained growth over the last 3 years. Speaking at the official opening of the new extension, An Tanaiste Simon Coveney said, "EDPAC International exemplifies all that makes Irish companies so successful around the globe; a high quality solution, innovative in design and execution combined with ambitious leadership and outstanding customer service to create a truly world class product. I am delighted to officially open the newly extended manufacturing site in Carrigaline, and wish all the EDPAC team continued success." Managing Director of EDPAC International, Noel Lynch added, "The opening of the extended manufacturing site will undoubtedly enhance productivity and how we work as a team, and I want to acknowledge that it is the people behind EDPAC International that make it a great place to work and a great company. We have a number of exciting international and national projects in the pipeline, and look forward to continuing to grow and develop from our Cork sites in Carrigaline and Newmarket." Source: www.businessworld.ie Sterling strengthened on Friday as Prime Minister Theresa May asked the European Union to delay Brexit until late June, but its tentative moves reflected continued unease among investors. May wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday asking to delay Britain's EU departure until June 30 to allow divided British lawmakers to agree a withdrawal deal. Britain's exit from the EU, nearly three years in the making, is now in doubt because the British parliament cannot decide what exit terms it wants. The impact of a long Brexit delay on sterling is unclear. The pound would gain if a delay led eurosceptic lawmakers to back the deal May negotiated with the EU or brought about a reversal of the 2016 Brexit referendum. But on Friday sterling stuck close to $1.31 - the middle of its trading range for most of March - and traders said the path to any resolution remained murky. "We favor a tortuous path to a deal leading to some eventual pound gains, with $1.2950/3000 remaining the lower end of the near term range for Cable," said analysts at ING. Adding to the uncertainty, France said it considers premature talks of granting Britain another extension. UBS Global Wealth Management said it foresees a long extension to Brexit, because it doubted May's attempt to build a cross-party consensus would succeed and expected the pound to remain volatile. May is talking with opposition lawmakers to create a cross-party consensus to break the Brexit deadlock, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said she had not moved far enough in a first round of the talks. This week's developments have also pushed up expected gauges of volatility for the pound, with one-month implied gauges elevated vis-a-vis the euro. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie Algeria: secret service chief resigns - media Tartag, close to Bouteflika, has stepped down (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 5 - The head of the Algerian secret intelligence service, General Athmane Tartag, has resigned, Algerian media including television Ennahar and the website Tsa reported on Friday, quoting their sources. ''General Athmane Tartag has been removed from his functions as head of the Algerian intelligence service'', wrote the broadcaster in a tweet. The website Tsa added that the official, ''called Bachir'', ''has presented his resignation on Tuesday'' and has been in office since 2015. The resignation comes after a month and a half of protests and pressures by the military on Tuesday led to the fall of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with the perspective of an interim institutional presidency to reach elections in just over three months. Tartag was the head of the ''Dss'' (formerly Drs), reported Tsa, implicitly referring to the ''Department of surveillance and security'', known as the ''Direction of security services''. The member of the military presented his resignation to Bouteflika ''who accepted them'', said Tsa. The decree was signed yesterday by Bouteflika, reported the website Algerie360, recalling that the former head of State can still sign presidential decrees as parliament has not yet convened to appoint a new interim president. (ANSAmed). A study from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) revealed that nearly half (45%) of Greater Montreal area households are renters and that many of them live alone. According to the CMHCs Housing Market Insight report, 48% of renter households in the Montreal were people living alone. The report also found that about 35% of all renter households had incomes below $30,000, before taxes. Households with incomes above $100,000 accounted for only 5% to 8% of renters in most sectors of the Montreal area. However, in the Griffintown, Outremont and LIle-des-Soeurs areas, where rents are generally high, the proportions of renters varied between 20% and 25% Read more: Luxury properties in Montreal slated for record spring Renter profiles were fairly consistent across the various geographic sectors of Greater Montreal, said Francis Cortellino, market insights economist at CMHC. Most renters were people living alone, with relatively low incomes. The data revealed that lower-income households also moved slightly less often than other households and tended to stay within the sector where they already lived, when they did move. Finally, there did not seem to be a significant movement of less affluent renters to sectors of the CMA where the rents were less costly. The profile of renter households in Greater Montreal was also generally in line with that of households in core housing need, the report said. The proportions of high-income renter households were rather low in the Montreal CMA, except in a few geographic sectors. TEL AVIV - Benyamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz are fighting for every vote ahead of national elections on Tuesday whose outcome is still uncertain, according to the latest polls. Gantz's Blue and White party is ahead with 30 seats against Likud's 26, according to the most recent surveys. And the premier has told voters that ''the conservative government is in danger. Our rivals Gantz and Lapid at the moment are ahead of us by four-five seats'', he said during a demonstration in front of his residence in Jerusalem. ''If right-wing supporters don't wake up and don't go to the polls - he added - we will have a left-wing government with Gantz and Lapid. Go vote and vote only for Likud''. Gantz was more optimistic in urging supporters to vote: ''We are one meter away from victory. Go vote: each vote is important to defeat Netanyahu'', he told supporters at an event in an overcrowded theater in Tel Aviv. ''There is no room left for indecision - he insisted - We must not waste votes: either you vote for us or for Netanyahu''. ''We are the alternative - an alternative of moderation, sense of the State and moral rectitude'', he continued. ''In a few days we will face only two options: the 'White-Blue' as a determined government party or the risk of prosecution of an executive led by a manipulative premier''. Nevertheless, while Gantz and Lapid appear to be ahead as a party, this is not true for the coalition: the right (including religious parties) can count, according to surveys, on 63 seats (out of 120) in the Knesset against the 57 of the center-left. comment In all my life I have never heard of old age pensioners referred to as "welfare recipients", and I find it extremely offensive, Mr Morrison. When I was young and I questioned the constitutional legality of income tax, I was assured I was investing in my aged pension and the education and support of future generations. As an early baby boomer I worked and paid taxes most of my life, to support those opportunities that we never had, for those generations, some of whom never got to pay taxes, newcomers who had contributed nothing, and others who have little respect for experienced seniors and do not believe we should even receive a pension. As for our dumbed down education system ... don't get me started. So, if a senior on an old age pension is now called a welfare recipient, what do we call self-serving politicians who rort the system to push their own agendas, pay themselves far more than they are worth, and receive a hefty unjustified pension for the rest of their lives as soon as they move on to their next opportunity. V. Redburn, Launceston, Tasmania In among the 2019 budget coverage, there was an article "Retiree lends backing to home-care boost" (March 3, p.5) which discussed the budget impact on a retired serviceman. I believe the article contains fundamental errors which should be corrected. It states: "the 70-year old lives off a pension from his defined benefit superannuation (the military's scheme) and as such doesn't pay tax". This is wrong the DFRDB/MSBS schemes are not tax-exempt. The pensioner will likely be paying tax and can therefore still benefit from his dividend imputation credits. If he's not paying tax, it's because he's under the tax threshold, in which case it's got nothing to do with his military pension scheme. It also states "neither he nor his wife will benefit [from the energy assistance payment] as they are not pensioners". But, according to both the ABC News and the DVA websites, the payment will also go to those in receipt of a service pension, ie, this pensioner. Kym MacMillan, O'Malley Treasurer Josh Frydenberg remarkably managed to avoid even a mention of carbon dioxide emissions or climate change in Tuesday night's rather ponderous budget presentation. Now Prime Minister Scott Morrison flippantly dismisses Labor's global carbon price policy, which is supported by the CEO of Woodside, Australia's largest oil and gas company ("Woodside boss backs global carbon plan as Morrison dubs it Borat tax, April 4, p4). Some people, like Doug Hurst (Letters, April 4), may deny the realities of climate change, but it remains a very serious perhaps existential threat. Given that a large and increasing proportion of the electorate does realise this, and ranks action on climate change no lower than No.3 on its list of concerns, Mr Morrison may have just hammered another nail into the coffin of his dying government. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin Your report "The five minute budget" (April 3, p.6) omitted Australia's overseas assistance. This was $4.162 billion in 2018-19 but will be reduced to $4 billion in 2019-20. Our aid would help prevent tuberculosis, one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2017, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.6 million died from it. Elsewhere, 767 million people around our world lived on less than US$1.90 a day in 2013. That reduction of $162 million shows how little this government cares for them. Peter Graves, Curtin I agree with your editorial view (Editorial, canberratimes.com.au, April 1) that the ACT Attorney-General was right to excoriate Archbishop Prowse for pushing back on new mandatory reporting requirements. If the archbishop can claim to have been misreported, let him do so. Of more weight would be public responses from Catholic laypersons. Can they bear the opprobrium of association with a leader who condones illegal behaviour by an institution that prioritises tradition over humanity and justice? Current confessional practices have been shown to contain highly damaging elements. The law of the land is therefore justified in requiring full accountability if, indeed, the Church wishes to maintain the practice. It is worth remembering that findings from the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse resulted in the following recommendations regarding the Catholic Church's confessional practices: "We recommend that canon law be amended so that the "pontifical secret" does not apply to any aspect of allegations or canonical disciplinary processes relating to child sexual abuse" (Recommendation 16.10). "We recommend that any religious institution with a rite of religious confession implement a policy that confession for children be conducted in an open space and in a clear line of sight of another adult" (Recommendation 16.48). These recommendations are generally addressed to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. The pronouncements attributed to Archbishop Prowse therefore suggest that he is speaking beyond his authority. It would be interesting to read an argument from the ACBC or the Vatican in favour of maintaining the seal of the confessional (if they have one). Ernest Berry, Stirling The primary purpose of confession or reconciliation is to reconcile a person to God through the forgiveness of their sins. Any psychological benefits are secondary. Since we are all sinners, even if some of us are reluctant to admit it, the sacrament is as relevant as ever. The new law puts priests in an impossible situation. Either they must disobey the law which they would be most reluctant to do or they must break the seal of confession, which under canon law would subject them to an automatic excommunication which would mean they could no longer function as priests. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Everybody wants to prevent any form of child abuse but this is not the way to do it. M. Gabbitas, Palmerston Congratulations to R S Baczynski's letter ("Capital going downhill", Letters, April 2). And to quote another song: "And so say all of us". Susan Swift, Kambah The diagram of the Ginninderry development ("New cross-border development residents may have to pay ACT-level rates" (canberatimes.com.au, April 2) clearly shows the fingers of housing proposed intrude into the narrow conservation zone around the NSW portion in Parkwood. This design reflects the near vertical slopes in the area and will increase the urban impact on native species that have survived over a century of pastoral activities. It will also expose future human residents to catastrophic fire created by the steep slopes and spread by embers over many kilometres. The current consultation by Yass Valley Council is to approve rezoning of Parkwood. At present, land closest to the ACT border is zoned for rural use, whilst a large portion abutting the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek, including the falls, is zoned for environmental management. Several decades ago, a wide strip along the length of the Murrumbidgee in Yass Valley Shire was designated for environmental management, presumably to protect water quality and to ensure a safe habitat for wildlife living along the waterways. The proposed change from environmental management was not an initiative of the Yass Valley Council. On August 23, 2017, the council accepted a settlement strategy that rezoned the five-kilometre area along the ACT border to exclude development. The Parkwood area is within five kilometres of the border but is not included in this zone, despite its more sensitive environment. The consultation documents, filling four large folders, are available at the Yass Council office, Yass and Kippax libraries and Hall post office. Consultation closes on April 26. Robyn Coghlan, president, Ginninderra Falls Association I want birds, lots of birds, right throughout the ACT. I want to see them, hear them, notice their contribution to the natural environment and enjoy their beauty every day. And I don't want them distressed or scared off by noisy invasive drones. Actually, I don't want to be distressed by noisy invasive drones either. I'd much rather be swooped on by a bird than a drone; I'd even rather be pooped on by a bird than have someone's coffee hit me from the sky. Not all technology is necessary, good, beautiful, or even consistently useful. But birds are. I want birds, not drones. J Huggett, Page Mike Quirk (Letters, April 2) has raised the travails of witnessing last week's Assembly committee hearings into the ACT Planning Strategy. There certainly was too much smooth patter and reliance on folksy anecdotes, rubbery data, fuzzy mapping and time frames in answers about the ACT government's uptake of the strategy. It was clear it would forge ahead with more and more major residential development and renewal complexes, with attention to associated suburban and community level impacts, needs and concerns still lagging behind for the foreseeable future. The session's content suggested that hearings on the strategy need to be held at least quarterly and be conducted more rigorously, given that the strategy will affect, increasingly, our liveability and well-being for decades to come. Government accountability would also be well-served by several specific subject matter hearings each year, on key aspects of the strategy about which we have heard and seen less. More transparency and better coordinated information and responses across directorates would inform not only the committee but also the ACT community about plans and delivery against key strategy objectives that impact directly on our day-to-day life, including the good design and quality of our surroundings, and the urgent need to mitigate the city's growing urban heat-island effects caused by both densification and climate change. Sue Dyer, Downer The ACT Legislative Assembly is inquiring into fuel prices, listing a variety of reasons why they are high. Part of the problem must be the lack of local competition in large areas of the city. For example, Weston Creek has one petrol outlet for almost 30,000 people if one includes Molonglo. A small country town normally has two or three outlets. This ridiculous situation has applied for more than 10 years, ever since the last small petrol station in the district was forced out of business by the Caltex/Woolies outlet. Prices are high and long queues are standard at peak-hour. If the single compressed air machine fails for a week or two (it is out of action at present) many of us must rely on the NRMA to pump up an unexpectedly leaky tyre. Our "innovative" government has let this anti-competitive situation continue for all these years, to the great frustration of Weston Creek motorists. Why? I am baffled as to an explanation. Is it because the government has an ideological dislike of the possible competitors? If so, it should get over it, and approve more sites in Weston Creek and Molonglo. Neville Exon, Chapman ACT legislative changes to force priests to break the seal of confession seem more about the application of Marxist ideology by Catholic haters, or the efforts of ill-informed meddlers, than a genuine attempt to protect children. Any paedophiles who do feel genuine remorse are now more likely to go deeper into their sad lifestyles than to seek help and forgiveness. All institutions should make genuine efforts to stamp out child abuse. The Catholic church is taking real steps in this area. The overwhelming majority of children are abused in the home by people they know. It is more convenient for the ACT government to undertake Catholic witch hunts than to face the real problems in our society. John Popplewell, Hackett POPE NAILS IT AGAINAbsolutely brilliant cartoon by David Pope (April 3, p23). As portrayed: large tax cuts, virtually no money for cutting carbon dioxide emissions (actual figures are $2 billion for the somewhat discredited Emissions Reduction Fund over 15 years i.e. $130 million per year), but billions for disaster relief from climate change-accelerated natural disasters. Absolute madness. Rod Holesgrove, OConnor PRIORITIES SKEWED On track for a surplus, off track for fairness, the homeless and those on the dole. Jon Jovanovic, Lenah Valley, Tas FRESH CHALLENGE Keep up the good work David Pope. Your depiction of the boy with braces, aka Treasurer Josh, is a classic, however, just in case this was his first and last budget, have you decided on how to portray his rodeo ring nemesis, young Chris? Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW SOMETHING SMELLS DODGY The Morrison/Turnbull/Abbott government suddenly finds a projected budget surplus five weeks out from an election without actually doing anything substantive for years except swap leaders. Thats either accidental good economic management or total bull dust. Yep. Definitely smells like total bull dust. Rory McElligott, Nicholls FIGURE A WORRY $1080. Does anyone else remember that 1080 was a poison used to kill rats and feral dogs? Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Vic. ENDORSEMENT FLAWED Julia Gillards glowing endorsement of Bill Shorten for PM demonstrates she is no smarter now than when she was PM. Mark Sproat, Lyons BRING ON THE POLL After six years of disunity and policy ineptitude bring on the Coalition- busting initiative, the election. Mike Quirk, Garran INTEREST APPALLING Its appalling that we pay about $18billion interest a year on our national debt. Think what that could be spent on. Rod Matthews, Melbourne, Vic VOTES AND THEIR VALUE Does the federal government have actuarial advice the value of votes in the election will be $75 for one and $125 for a couple? M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA HERES A SOLUTION The ridiculous complexities of delivering government services in the proposed NSW suburb of Parkwood, Ginninderry, have a simple fix. Yass council should refrain from rezoning its land for urban use. Glenys Byrne, Florey Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610. Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published). /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/e4cbe636-f0e4-434d-b99a-8e47590a9438/r0_158_2000_1288_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg comment, editorial Wednesday's debate over whether or not to censure, or to censure and suspend, Senator Fraser Anning was a comedy of errors such as only the Australian Parliament can provide. One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, Anning's one time boss and now his enemy, was unable to attend due to an unscheduled appendectomy. This left the job of explaining why her party was abstaining from the vote, but not the debate, to Senator Peter Georgiou. He stuck very closely to his leader's songsheet, dutifully referring to the censure motion as the parliamentary equivalent of a "public flogging". Cory Bernardi agreed Anning was way out of line and supported the censure motion while, at the same time, taking umbrage at the use of the words "hate speech" to describe the words that had given such an offence in the first place. The nation's self-appointed libertarian-in-chief said it was disappointing Coalition senators were "adopting the language of the left". Anning, for the record, had tweeted on the day of the attack "Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?" He then issued a media release describing the attack as the act of a vigilante and saying: "The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place". Anning and Bernardi need to take a long hard look at themselves if they can't understand inferring the innocent victims of an awful and atrocious crime were "fanatics" and, by implication, deserving of the fates that befell them, was hate speech at its most foul. They should, as the millions of Australians who signed a petition to have Anning ejected have indicated, hang their heads in shame. That was never going to happen. The censure motion ultimately did little more than give Anning a platform from which to double down on his remarks. "This is exactly the kind of self-righteous, leftwing, intolerance, of alternative views that you would expect from an extremist party like the Greens," he said. "What is shocking is, it is supposedly a Liberal prime minister who is leading the charge, joining hands with Labor and the Greens." While thousands of Australians would have been delighted to hear Senator Cormann condemn Anning's "inflammatory and divisive comments" and Senator Wong say "He doesn't speak for us. He doesn't speak for the Senate and he doesn't speak for this nation" there is an argument it may have been wiser to let sleeping dogs lie. Giving Anning such a prominent public platform only weeks out from an election in which he is reportedly planning to run candidates in a large number of lower house seats may do more harm than good. That was certainly the case with the abortive effort by the Greens to have Anning suspended, if only for a day. It is up to the people, or the speaker, to determine who should sit in either of the houses of Parliament. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/8a14cbc1-a7bd-4260-9c6e-e0213a65b141/r0_46_900_554_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following story contains names and images of people who have died. A mother has been charged over the deaths of her two boys, whose bodies were found in a Townsville river in February. The bodies of Jhulio Sariago and Barak Austral, 3 and 5, were found by police in a deep section of the Ross River on February 26. Leeann Eatts, 47, was taken into custody on Friday and police charged her with manslaughter and drug offences later that day. The brothers had gone missing from their home in the suburb of Cranbrook and were captured on CCTV walking alone down a street towards the river, the evening before they were found. Townsvilles officer in charge of child protection Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said police were pursuing manslaughter charges because there had been a "gross negligence and failure on the part of the mother". "This is a catastrophic result for this family and it is a preventable tragedy," Detective Senior Sergeant Miles said. "It should never have happened. "There is no way these young men should have been allowed to have gone down to the river." He alleged the boys had not been supervised for a "considerable amount of time" on the evening they wandered down to the river. "Certainly their deaths, under appropriate supervision and management by a parent, would have been averted," Detective Senior Sergeant Miles said. The day after the brothers' bodies were found, their aunt told Brisbane Times their mother's heart "had been shattered into millions of pieces". Ms Eatts had also been charged in relation to "a number of drug trafficking charges" including supply dangerous drugs to minor, which was not connected to the boys' deaths. She was set to appear in Townsville Magistrate Court on April 6. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/1e02d003-768f-4e8a-b9bb-d60d48074f6b/r2_0_958_540_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics Canberrans injured in a motor vehicle accident will not be able to claim any insurance for anxiety or depression caused by the crash, under proposed changes to the compulsory insurance scheme. The Barr government Motor Accident Injury Bill passed in principle on Thursday, with the details to be debated when the Assembly resumes sitting next month. But the ACT Law Society and ACT Bar Association have written to all parliamentarians highlighting fundamental problems with the proposed scheme. Claimants will have choose between getting compensation for pyschological or physical injuries, meaning they cannot combine the physical and psychological injuries they suffer from the accident. Their insurer only has to pay for one whole person impairment assessment as well, so if the injured person wants to be assessed for both physical and psychological injuries, they will have to foot the bill. The definition of psychological injury also excludes psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, meaning people can only get compensation for conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or "mental shocks". In a speech that drew heavily from the Law Society and Bar Association letter, Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe described the exclusions as "appalling". "I cannot overstate the effect these changes would have," Mr Coe said. "The government has not addressed the significant issues raised by stakeholders and the Assembly inquiry. The Canberra Liberals believe Canberrans should continue to have access to a comprehensive CTP scheme that supports the rights of motor vehicle accident victims." The Law Society and Bar Association also said provisions that would allow children still getting treatment for their injuries four and a half years after their accident to pursue more benefits were easily circumvented. "There is nothing to stop an insurer ceasing treatment and care after four years and five months and effectively avoiding the automatic consequences," they said. However Chief Minister Andrew Barr said insurers could lose their licence if they did not follow the rules set out in the scheme which state they must provide people with reasonable access to treatment and care. "Now of course there is no such thing as a perfect accident insurance scheme and as we've said from the start of this reform project, we're aiming to deliver a scheme that best reflects the prioirties and the values of this community," Mr Barr said. "We have been upfront in acknowledging there will always be trade-offs and competing views when emarking on an overhaul this significant." Mr Barr said of the 1500 people injured a year on Canberra's roads, only about 900 could access the existing, fault-based system. "The changes we are making would mean around 600 more Canberrans would be covered," Mr Barr said. However Mr Coe said this was only achieved by slashing the rights of not-at-fault drivers. "Quality of life payments would be cut by 80 per cent. There'd be a 31 per cent reduction in loss of earning compensation, a 26 per cent decrease in care costs and reimbursement of private medical costs and public hosptial costs would drop 17 per cent and 6 per cent respectively," Mr Coe said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/5953658d-ce83-42ce-a6ec-c0f01e4552b5/r0_75_1000_640_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime There have been six serious incidents at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre in the first half of this financial year, despite none in the previous two years. The latest government figures - providing data from the first half of 2018-19 - also showed there have been no strip searches and just one operational lockdown in the six months to December 2018. It is the third report since the government committed to releasing the figures in 2017. The report, tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, found there were six category one incidents at the youth detention facility between July and December 2018. In the two years from 2016-17 to 2017-18 there was not one similar incident at the facility, the report said. A category one incident is a serious incident where the director is to be notified. This includes, but is not limited to, attempted suicide, serious injury, serious health complaint, escape and serious assault. Ms Stephen-Smith noted there had been an increase in the serious incidents, saying they all reflected "complex trauma-related behaviours" within the cohort of young people. "As I have said before, I am committed to being as transparent as possible about Bimberis operation and performance," Ms Stephen-Smith said. "These bi-annual reports will continue to drive continuous improvement in practice at Bimberi and enhance the already robust oversight mechanisms currently in place." The report showed there were nine assaults in the six month period and 104 use of force incidents. Ms Stephen-Smith said there had been a trend downwards in assaults over the past decade. There was also just one lock down period in the first six months of this financial year despite 179 in 2017-18. The number of strip searches for young people entering detention is now at zero with 50 per cent of inductions undergoing a strip search just two years ago. The ACT Human Rights Commission previously raised concerns with the practice of strip searching Bimberi detainees, particularly the use of the "squat and cough" technique, which was discontinued in 2017. Ms Stephen-Smith said staff applied a risk-based assessment for the types of searches necessary on induction. "These searches are necessary at times to maintain the safety of the young person themselves and others within the centre, however it is acknowledged that every effort should be made to reduce strip searches to a minimum, given the trauma that has often been experienced by young people entering custody," she said. "As this Assembly knows, the work of supporting some of our most complex young offenders at Bimberi is challenging. "I remain passionate about ensuring we have a youth justice system that is rehabilitative and provides opportunities for young people. "I wish to thank all the people at Bimberi who work tirelessly to support some of our most vulnerable children and young people." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/96aed504-82b4-4edb-86aa-6feac518c7b6/r0_228_4256_2633_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Libyan dossier today at UN Security Council Meeting requested by UK. Zawiya against Haftar (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 5 - Libya's situation of chaos will be discussed on Friday at a UN Security Council requested by Great Britain, in which special envoy Ghassan Salame will give an update on the situation, the British diplomatic mission at the UN reports. Meanwhile the brigades of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, have declared ''war'' against the forces of Khalifa Haftar: militants have resumed control of a checkpoint near Sorman, capturing ''10 soldiers of Haftar'', they claim. Meanwhile the Grand Mufti of Libya, Sadiq Al-Ghariani, the highest religious authority in the country, has urged to ''fight against Haftar's forces'', according Al Jazeera. ''The Libyan people should resist and fight against Haftar's forces in Tripoli to end crimes against humanity in Derna and Benghazi'' in the country's east under the partial control of the marshal. ''It is not a secret anymore that the UN mission cooperates with Haftar'' and UNSMIL ''has been deployed to exacerbate problems not solve them''. (ANSAmed). Turkey: Imamoglu leads in Istanbul vote recount Completed in 17 out of 39 municipalities, lead by 19,000 votes (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL APRIL 5 - A vote recount after mayoral elections Sunday is continuing in Istanbul, after the AKP party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan challenged the victory of opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of the Social Democratic CHP party, by 22,000 votes. According to the latest toll released by Imamoglu, after the recount of votes from 17 of the city's 39 municipalities, he is leading over rival Binali Yildirim by 18,742 votes, a situation that has remained unvaried. Overall, he said, some 119,652 ballots were reviewed out of the 318,222 that were initially declared void. Operations are expected to last a few more days. The president of Turkey's Superior Electoral Board (Ysk), Sadi Guven, said on Friday morning that he will not release public statements while the recount is ongoing. (ANSAmed). Modified On Apr 05, 2019 04:39 PM By Raunak for Citroen C5 Aircross The C5 Aircross will be Citroens flagship vehicle in India and all other cars will be positioned below it Citroen will launch its first car for India, the flagship C5 Aircross SUV, by the end of 2020. The French brand is part of Groupe PSA, which first entered India with Peugeot in the mid-90s. Cars after the C5 Aircross will feature 90 per cent localisation; the C5 Aircross will be assembled locally. Citroen will give more priority to petrol engines rather than diesel engines. The second model is expected at the end of 2021; will be positioned below the C5 Aircross After announcing its plans for India in April 2019, Citroen became the third new carmaker after Kia nad MG Motor to enter the subcontinent in recent times. Unlike Kia, which is set to introduce a brand-new car, Citroen will start its innings with an established product the C5 Aircross SUV. Citroens second car will enter the Indian market in late 2021. Now it is interesting to note that this second car will be an all-new product in Citroens global lineup. It will go on sale in India before any other global market. Citroen also plans to make its Tamil Naidu manufacturing facility an export hub. While Citroen hasnt dropped any hint, we think that its second car for India could be the next-gen C3 Aircross. The current C3 Aircross is 4.1m long and there is room for Citroen to turn it into a sub-4m model keeping the Indian car market in mind. Pictured: Euro-spec Citroen C3 Aircross The Citroen C3 Aircross SUV would then go up against the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Mahindra KUV300, Ford EcoSport and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Pictured: China-spec Citroen C4 Aircross On the contrary, we cant rule out Citroen posing a challenge to the Hyundai Creta and other compact SUVs in India with its second product. This compact Citroen SUV could be the next-gen C4 Aircross, which is currently a China-only model and is essentially a long wheelbase version of the Euro-spec C3 Aircross. It is safe to assume that Citroen is planning SUVs for India, at least initially, given the ever-increasing popularity of the body type around the globe. Likewise MG (Morris Garages) Motor, which is set to launch the Hector next month, has four SUVs lined up thereafter. PSA has consolidated its global platform lineup to just two modular underpinnings - EMP2 and CMP - like most of its peers. The C5 Aircross will be Citroens flagship product in India and is based on the EMP2 platform. Citroen will move all its mid-size and premium hatchbacks, compact and mid-size sedans, and compact SUVs to the CMP in the near future. So while it is too early to guess Citroens next model for India, we reckon it could be based on Groupe PSAs smallest multipower modular platform, the CMP (Common Modular Platform). Pictured: PSA 1.2-litre PureTech Petrol Cars based on the CMP platform are currently compatible with PSAs latest 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder PureTech turbo petrol engine as well as the companys last-ever diesel engine the 1.5-litre Blue HDi. Thanks to the upward sales trajectory of petrol-powered cars here, Citroen will prioritise petrol over diesel engines and the 1.2-litre is likely to be produced right here in India. Pictured: Citroen C5 Aircross Compared to PSAs stint here in the mid-90s, the group looks a lot more focused this time around, especially when it plans to have global models on Indian roads before the rest of the world. That said, only time will tell how the French brand will be received in India. Pictured: Roland Bouchara, Sr. VP. Sales & Marketing Citroen India Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org ATLANTA In the past year, 26 states in the United States have adopted legislation to discourage support to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign advocated by Palestinian activists. The campaign aims to pressure Israel to respect Palestinian rights. These laws apply to individuals and business entities, and prevent them from receiving U.S. government contracts. Courts in Kansas and Arizona have struck down anti-BDS laws, declaring them unconstitutional as they infringe on rights protected by the First Amendment to freedom of expression. On February 5, 2019, the U.S. Senate adopted a bill to safeguard the right of states to adopt such anti-BDS laws. While stressing that they do not support the BDS movement, 23 senators opposed the anti-BDS provision on grounds that it is unconstitutional. The bill is now pending in the House of Representatives. Under our Constitution, people and legal entities have the right to express political views without fear of consequences, stated former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. U.S. courts have protected the right of individuals to participate in boycotts as a form of political protest. The same protection applies to the right to advocate or oppose BDS. The House of Representatives should reject this unconstitutional bill. ### Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Investment in Ugandan cement plant at risk due to land acquisition challenges ICR Newsroom By 05 April 2019 Uganda is at risk of losing a US$250m cement plant investment to Kenya due to challenges associated with land acquisition in the country, according to Hima Cements Managing Director, Nicolas George. Mr George said Hima Cements parent company LafargeHolcim took a decision to invest US$250m in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We have been wondering where to invest money and Uganda was our number one destination but it is likely to lose the opportunity to Kenya where it is easy to acquire land, Mr George said. He was appearing before the land probe to explain his companys role in acquiring surface rights in Mwello Parish in Tororo District. Mwello residents had petitioned the land probe, accusing Hima Cement of buying their communal land from individuals at give-away prices. The company hired Optima mines and minerals to help them acquire surface rights on 29 acres of land in Mwello to extract stones to build their factory in Tororo and supply the SGR railway. Although Hima paid UGX600m (US$161,018) to acquire surface rights from locals and another US$100,000 in fees to Optima mines, it lost the money to clear their image, according to a report in the Daily Monitor. Mr George said speculators had made Himas search for a new plant site difficult for the last seven years, adding that it had tried to start a factory in Moroto but failed. Whenever we go as Hima, we are confronted by speculators who push land prices 20 times high, he said. Speculators with exploration licences to limestone deposits earmarked for investment by the company have been a particular thorn in the side of Mr George. When you go to talk to them they tell you to put down US$2m before they allow you to carry out tests. I challenge you to find a square mile of land where someone does not have an exploration licence, he said. Following an internal investigation into the matter, the company had decided to negotiate with the community directly. Published under Greg Beck went from a run-down home at 1803 Baldwin St. to the projects to the County Commission. He never knew his father. He said, "I took the name I was given for him at first, then I changed it to Beck, which my mother used." He said the mother, Flossie, abandoned him and his sister, Shandrel, when they were young, then she died of an aneurysm at age 33. It fell to his grandmother Iretha and great-grandmother Pearl to raise him at Baldwin Street, where a chicken processing plant was later built on the Southside. He remembers a house that was freezing cold. "We just had a monkey heater. I would get under five blankets with my grandmother. We would get up in the morning and be freezing again." He said, "At a time when my dear elder grandparents should have been in retirement, they had to seek day jobs (domestic cleaning) in order to make ends meet. Looking back, I think of how humbling it must have been for a proud person such as my great-grandmother to settle for maid work after becoming one of the first black women to be employed at the then new Tennessee Valley Authority. I had always lived in the same house and received love and good instructions from these two women and so there was no great transition needed at the time of my mothers death." One benefit of living with the grandmother and great-grandmother was they insisted that he always go to church. They attended the nearby New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. It still stands on Rossville Avenue, but is now an event hall. He said, "Sometimes we were at church all day long." The church training brought him stability and a sense of morality that has followed him all his life. Greg said when they were allowed to move to the Spencer McCallie Homes in Alton Park "that was a mecca to us." Living in Alton Park, he became a proud Howard High Tiger. He went on to Zion College and Chattanooga State Community College, where he studied political science and computer science. Then at Grace Baptist Bible School, he studied systematic theology and world history. At the age of 19, Greg had married a 17-year-old girl (Patricia Glenn). They are still together over a half century later. Their children include sons Adrian and Anthony and daughter Annittra. He said he drifted away from the church, then "my church upbringing began to drift back to me. I heard a man preach the Gospel for the first time (or at least the first time I ever paid attention to it) and it changed my life dramatically. Pastor W.C. Hunter was a fire and brimstone preacher who impressed me with his simple approach to the Bible and its message. I attended his store-front church in 1973 and made a confession of faith on the night of a great flood in Chattanooga." Greg said he then "made a commitment to the God of my upbringing - the God of the Bible, and I took on the responsibility of working with young people. For over 30 years, I took on the task of ministry to young people - those who will control the future of the planet Earth. While taking on these responsibilities, I have discovered my potential." He worked 18 years at Combustion Engineering before joining Inner City Ministries in 1981, where he founded a youth organization called the Action Group, and a summer work adventure program (S.W.A.P.) under which he received a special commendation from President Ronald Reagan. After 10 years with the Action Group, he became executive director of the Roanoke Community Center in East Chattanooga and established programs that inspired community redevelopment in a low-income area of Chattanooga. Five years later, he became executive director of the Bethlehem Community Center where he helped to bring area service groups together in a United Community Action Alliance, which is still in operation. Greg worked at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department from 1994 and was named officer of the year in 2002. While on that job as a courthouse security officer he got to know some of the members of the County Commission, including Fred Skillern. The two gained a special bond because one of Greg's sons had dealt with a brain tumor and so did Fred's son, Rees. Greg's son survived, but, unfortunately, Rees did not. Greg and Pat still place flowers regularly on Rees' grave at Soddy Daisy. When Commissioner JoAnne Favors decided to move up to the Legislature, there was an opening for the District 5 seat and it was a commission appointment. Commissioner Skillern asked Greg to consider being a candidate, then he helped steer the votes for him. Greg says, "At the time Fred was the strongest voice on the commission. He had the final say. The other candidates didn't know it, but they didn't have a chance." Greg was appointed Hamilton County Commissioner for the Fifth District in February 2005. He served two years as chairman of the security and corrections committee and two years as vice chairman of the Hamilton County Commission. He also served as chairman of the economic development committee responsible for working with the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and bringing thousands of jobs to Hamilton County. He established the areas first joint city/county summer work program serving over 600 youth and their families. Greg currently serves as court officer for City Court Judge Sherry Paty. He also serves as Saturday morning radio host of the Discovery Hour on WNOO-1260, a community information program sponsored by the Heritage Memorial Christian Center, which he founded and directs. He still is grateful to grandmother Iretha and great-grandmother Pearl as well as many other family members and friends. Along the way, he said there were a number of "white men who made a difference in my life." He lists them as Ray Murphy, Frank Brock, Jerry Summers, Curtis Adams, Fred Skillern, George Knowles and Bill Hullander. Despite his 45-year history of community service in several different capacities, he feels his greatest achievement is "the long lasting relationship with my soul-mate Patricia with my wonderful family which I love so dearly." Governor Bill Lee announced on Thursday that his administration, in coordination with the Tennessee General Assembly, is temporarily reinstating paper-based assessments for students in the 2019-2020 school year. We must ensure the utmost quality in our annual assessment, said Governor Lee. Commissioner Schwinn and her team at the Department of Education are doing outstanding work to get testing on the right track, and we thank the General Assembly for their thoughtful approach on this matter. Testing for the 2018-2019 school year, the final year with the current vendor, begins on Monday, and the online version of the test will be delivered as scheduled. In preparation for testing, 100% of districts reported as meeting the criteria for technical readiness to give the online assessment. The move to temporarily reinstate paper-based testing next year will allow the new vendor to establish an accountable, long-term solution to be put in place for students, teachers and taxpayers. One year of paper-based testing will give the new vendor a full year to properly stand up a Tennessee office, hire exceptional talent, and make sure the assessment is ready for Tennessee classrooms, said Commissioner Schwinn. Legislative leadership offered support for the move: I fully support this amendment because our students and teachers deserve a system that works. I look forward to working with legislative colleagues and the Lee Administration to build a solution, said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. I am proud to work with House Education Chairman Mark White and the Lee Administration on this amendment so that we may ensure that the Commissioner of Education has the flexibility needed to do what is in the best interest of our children during the continued phase of planning toward the best system possible, said House Majority Leader William Lamberth. Our priority is to act in the best interest of Tennessee students. This amendment is a step in the right direction. I look forward to working with the House and the Lee Administration in these efforts to ensure our students are set up for success, said Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham. Our teachers and students deserve our best and this will give the Department of Education time to ensure that everything is running smoothly. said House Education Committee Chairman Mark White. My dear friend John McGee was up from Atlanta on Thursday afternoon, bringing cakes and best wishes on my birthday, when he said he wanted to introduce me to a new friend. Sampson, a regal Corgi, is about five years old, or 35 in dog years, and from the way he walks youd never guess he was just rescued at an animal services center in Cincinnati. The dogs austere presence immediately brightened the day. Sampson took complete control of the moment and reminded me of a tale that seems is perfect to be shared on a rainy Friday but known as one of lifes most enduring truths. What youre about to read is an exercise in psychiatric magic that is unique to the canine breed throughout the world. I discovered this story, as told by a very talented author Catherine Moore, some weeks ago during my Morning Readings and share it primarily because there may be someone you know who realizes stuff such as this hardly occur by accident: * * * THE DAY WHEN CHEYENNE OFFERED HIS PAW By Catherine Moore Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?" Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle. I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving." My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him? Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon. He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his powers. The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man. Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived ... but something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone. My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it. The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article." I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog. I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly. I pointed to the dog "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly. As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You mean you're going to kill him?" "Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog." I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly. Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house. Anger rose inside me It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!" Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal. It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night. Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind. The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." "I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said. For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article. Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father, and the proximity of their deaths. Suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all. * * * Some have entertained angels without knowing it. roexum@aol.com Much of the Soddy Daisy Commission meeting Thursday night involved the commissioners responding to complaints from citizens. One couple had a confrontation with the owner of Diesel Auto Technology over repairs to a truck which escalated to the women being arrested and thousands of dollars being spent in their defense, said Carol Gaddy who made the claim. She came to the meeting looking for justice and restitution and asked for the commissioners to have the police chief follow through with an internal investigation they said had been promised at the time the incident took place over two years ago. That has never been done, they claimed, because the officers were involved with the owners of the business. City Attorney Sam Elliott responded that is a legal claim and advised the couple to go see a lawyer. The commissioners can do nothing, he told them. Another complaint came from resident Todd Pattten about speeding on Hyatt and Hixson roads that lead to the Soddy Daisy High School. During hours before school opens and after school lets out, he said cars travel 60 mph in a 15 mph zone. After a near-miss with the mail carrier on his street, he told the commissioners that mail is no longer being delivered to his house and he must go to the post office every day. Commissioner Jim Adams said speeding has been a problem there since the school opened. The resident said police have not been writing reports for the multiple times he has called to complain and the dispatchers have failed to document the calls he has made. Another resident had a complaint about speeding on Lovell Road. That man has two video recorders on his house and said he spends a lot of time looking at the film. That is where he has noticed several trucks and a car that frequently drive by his home, resulting in the request for police drive-bys. They have not been done frequently enough, he told the commissioners. On March 26 a train blocked two lanes of the only road leading in and out of a neighborhood for an hour and 20 minutes. There is concern that blocking the road prevents access by emergency vehicles in an area where ambulances are frequently in use. The city was aware when this was happening and made calls to authorities. However, City Manager Janice Cagle said the city has no control. Commissioner Rick Nunley said that is an area-wide problem and that Tennessee state representatives are now in the process of working on a bill. Attorney Elliott said that trains are regulated by the federal government and Soddy Daisy has no ability of enforcement. Beer sales in Tennessee are regulated by each municipality and wine and liquor sales are regulated by the state. A new state law allows retailers to sell wine and spirits beginning at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Beer sales in Soddy Daisy cannot begin until 1 p.m. This makes it difficult for businesses, said City Manager Cagle who suggested doing away with a time or matching the ABC time. If people want to buy beer, they will just drive into the county, she said. A decision will be made at the next commission meeting in two weeks. She also announced a clean-up day around the lake and park that is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided and the city will collect and dispose of all that is picked up. The city is looking for volunteers to join the 25 who have already signed up. Ms. Cagle also requested that warning signs be posted in the shallow area of the lake where debris has collected since the flooding last fall. The trash was visible until the water levels were raised and covered the dangerous sheet metal, tree stumps and more. The rubble is hidden under the surface in the embayment of Soddy Creek between Old Dayton Pike and Highway 27. Caution is urged by boaters in this area. The history museum is opening today (Friday) and will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through the fall. Ms. Cagle said she had been told that a number of new exhibits have been added. Opening day for the Kids Club will be Saturday. Commissioner Nunley recently hiked the Big Soddy Creek Gulf with volunteers from the Cumberland Trail Association. The group marked a connector trail to the Cumberland Trail. The planned trail is on state property so they will provide equipment to build it at no cost to the city. The commissioner said that he wanted the board to be aware that it will be moved across city property. Approval was given to pay two companies for construction of four roads that have now been completed at the cost of $22,000 and $55,4131. It was decided that the same amount of fireworks will be ordered this year as last for the Fourth of July celebration. McKamey Animal Center invites animal lovers to the 2019 A Night for Paws Gala, Friday, May 3, an evening celebrating the success of animal advocacy and hands on care and services for more than 20,000 animals throughout the SE Tennessee area. McKamey lives its mission every day by: Saving Animals. Helping People. More than 7,000 animals were sheltered in 2018 and over 300,000 people impacted. Special guests Nashville songwriters Don Goodman and Steve Dean from Operation Song will perform a piece written by them about a veteran who credits his dog for saving his life. The evening is presented by McKameys Chair Couple, Dr. Mike Goodman and Carol Goodman. A Night for Paws will honor the late Bob McKamey and Bobby Stone for their dedication to the McKamey Animal Center and animal welfare. Songwriters Goodman and Dean will perform Angel Dog about Hunter the dog who saved his veteran owner. The duo is prolific in creating hits for Alabama, Reba McEntire, Rodney Atkins and many more country stars. They will wrap up the evening with ORed penned by Goodman about a Hound Dog facilitating a prison escape and a big hit for Blake Shelton. All proceeds from the night will provide veterinary care, food, shelter and the chance for a forever home. A cocktail hour and interactive booths about the shelter kick off the evening overlooking the Tennessee River at the Hunter Museum of American Art. A gourmet dinner is provided by Lee Towery Catering. A live auction will include a trip to Costa Rica for a week at a beachfront property. Tickets are discounted through April 15 for $90. To purchase go to mckameyanimalcenter.org or for more information call 305-6506. Cleveland State Community College Bursar Sindy Reynolds attended the League for Innovation in the Community College Conference in New York where she presented a paper Tennessees Innovative State-wide Community College Initiatives, with two other Tennessee community college colleagues, to faculty, staff and administrators from across the nations. They showed how community colleges throughout the state are using research and high impact practices to increase credit hour completion, graduation rates and access to higher education. The team also suggested how Tennessees cutting-edge state-wide community college initiatives could be improved, especially in terms of ensuring educational equity by developing additional programs to support students who are minorities and students who come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Crye-Leike Real Estate Services congratulates Realtor Diana Seavey for earning the Social Networking Professional (SNP) designation. Ms. Seavey is affiliated with Crye-Leikes Ooltewah branch office and serves the real estate needs of buyers and sellers in the Chattanooga and North Georgia regions. Crye-Leike's SNP program includes specialized training for effective use of social media in real estate marketing to help with growth of the associate's real estate business. It includes video marketing, online reputation management and how to incorporate this training across various social media platforms. Sales associates with this designation know how to generate leads from social media, and how to market their services and their listings to create improved outcomes for their clients. In addition to successfully completing the classes in the training curriculum, a sales associate in the SNP program has successfully created a plan for his/her social media strategy, developed accounts in compliance with industry regulations, increased their followers, ran ad campaigns and responded in a timely manner to customer requests. Ms. Seavey has been in the real estate industry for 16 years and joined Crye-Leike in 2008. Licensed in Tennessee and Georgia, Seavey is a member of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), the Georgia Association of REALTORS (GAR), the Tennessee Association of REALTORS (TAR) and other local associations. Her new SNP designation will accompany the previous designations she has earned, including the NAR E-Pro Certification and the Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI). Seavey is proud of her new designation and hopes that her extended knowledge in social networking will maximize the exposure her clients receive. Social networking is one of the cornerstones of my personal business and brand, said Ms. Seavey. I am especially proud to have earned the SNP designation through Crye-Leike! My personal commitment to my client base is to always exceed their expectations, and staying up-to-date in the tech world ultimately gives my clients an advantage when it comes to home buying and selling. Dennis Clark said he plans to challenge current Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Khristy Wilkinson at the party convention on Saturday. He said, "I am proud to officially announce that I am running for chairman of the Democratic Party of Hamilton County. I believe in the power of unity and diversity and it is time for local Democrats to unite around our common interests and supercharge our party in every community and zip code throughout Hamilton County; to fight for our progressive agenda and win Democratic victories up and down the ballot. "If elected, I will become the first African-American to hold this post. Normally, this would be something to boast about, but sadly enough in our modern age, the current leadership has not done an adequate job in embracing the African-American community, the unwavering base of the party. "At a fundraising event supporting Senate candidate Stacey Abrams, Tom Perez, the DNC chair, said, 'I am sorry,' before stating, 'We took too many people for granted.' He went on, 'and African Americans - our most loyal constituency - we all too frequently took for granted. That is a shame on us, folks, and for that, I apologize. And for that I say, it will never happen again.' Apologies are great, but our actions must speak louder than our words even in Hamilton County, which is why I strongly urge party members to elect new leadership that reflect the core values of what we stand for in making sure all voices are heard and represented. "I have a heart committed to the people and the right kind of experiences and relationships that it will take to start working with all Democrats to bring victories, unity, stability and funds back to the party. "If you believe we can do better, together, then join us this Saturday, at the Downtown Public Library at 3 p.m. and let's elect new party officers we all can be proud of." Five city of Chattanooga public works employees will be going to Europe to check out the latest in technology for converting solid waste for reuse. The employees include Jeff Rose, Eric Brooks, Jimmy Spence, Marty Knight. One other is to be named later. The City Council is to consider a resolution accepting $20,000 in gratuities from private firms toward the trip. It says the employees "may accept gratuities in the amount of $4,000.00 each being split by two competing equipment manufacturers, CAMBI and Veolia, for travel and training expenses during a trip to Europe to review Innovative Solid Technologies for biosolids treatment, for a total amount of $20,000." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are the perfect couple! When they look at each other, you can actually see the love in their eyes. Now that they are expecting their first child, we really know just how much the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are meant to be. In fact, although theyve only been married for less than a year, it is hard to imagine a time when Meghan and Harry were not together. People all over the world can see just how much they belong together, only one of the many reasons as to why their May 2018 wedding was such a huge event. So, is it true that Harrys best friend actually warned him not to marry Meghan? Harry and Tom Inskip were classmates at school Britains Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex |ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images The former best friends met years ago when they were classmates at the elite school, Eton. They instantly connected, due mostly to their outgoing personalities, and their love for all things fun. Through the years, Harry has stood by Toms side, offering friendly support for just about everything that he has done! Tom himself got married in 2017, and Harry and Meghan even attended the wedding, further showing what an excellent friend Harry is. However, when Harry and Meghan got married, Tom was one of the very few people who werent happy. Why doesnt Tom seem to like Meghan? The world is in love with Meghan Markle. So, why does Tom Inskip feel differently? Well, there are actually a few reasons. It seems that Tom feels that Meghan is trying to steer Harry away from his former life and change him just a little too much. There are several things that Harry did before he met her that Meghan disapproves of. Although she feels that she is changing him for the better by encouraging him to stop behaviors such as smoking, it would appear that Tom sees it from a different perspective. Tom thinks that Meghan and Harry moved too quickly In addition to feeling that Meghan is trying to change Harry too much, Tom apparently thinks that Harry and Meghan rushed into marriage too quickly. We can all remember how Harrys older brother, Prince William, dated Kate Middleton for so long before proposing that the media nicknamed her Waity Katie! Harry didnt follow in his brothers footsteps when making the decision to marry Meghan, which didnt sit well with Tom Inskip. Did Tom warn Harry not to marry Meghan? Unfortunately, it appears that he did, according to The Sun. Sadly, Tom felt that Meghan just wasnt good for Harry, something that royal fans disagree with. He thought that it just wasnt the right thing for his friend to do, so he tried to advise the prince against asking Meghan to marry him. Not only did Harry obviously not take Toms advice, but he also chose to end their years-long friendship. While we were sad to see the former best friends part ways, we do have to say that we are beyond relieved that Harry made the right decision and went forward with his marriage. Will the friends ever reconcile? While it remains to be seen as to if Harry and Tom will ever repair their friendship, we know that Harry feels he was doing what was best for him. Marrying Meghan has turned out to be the best decision that the Duke of Sussex has ever made! Although they werent together for a long time before announcing their engagement, the couple is truly happy, and Harry couldnt be more confident in his decision! Hopefully, Tom will come to the realization that Harry was following his heart, and chose to spend his life with the person he loves. After years of dealing with a president who hides his tax returns and enriches himself in office, its easy to understand why voters would want a change. At the very least, it would be refreshing to have someone in office who is transparent about their finances. Former Vice President Joe Biden definitely checks that box. Following the vetting by Obamas campaign team in 2008, the future president described it as one of the easiest vets in the world. The reason, Obama joked, was because Biden owns nothing. Over the years, Bidens tax returns have backed up that claim. In 2014, when estimating the VPs net worth, OpenSecrets.org actually had Biden steep in negative territory. No one had to wonder if any business interests of Middle Class Joe would get preferential treatment. In brief, whatever his flaws and there are several its safe to say Biden wouldnt be running for president with financial gain in mind. Heres a look back at the salary hes earned throughout his career and his net worth in 2019. $42K-$169K per year as U.S. Senator from Delaware to $230K as Veep Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden during an interview with Seth Meyers on October 12, 2016. | Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Politicians dont get rich by cashing their paychecks every week. Even in the U.S. Senate, where Biden represented Delaware from 1973-2008, salaries pale in comparison to lucrative work in the private sector. In 1973, Bidens first year in the formerly deliberative body, he earned $42,500. By the time he left office to serve as Obamas VP, the pay had risen to $169,500 per year. Moving up to vice president meant a significant bump in pay. By 2015, Biden received $230,000 per year for his work in the Obama administration. Since he left office, Biden has earned slightly more off his pension, according to analysis run by CNN Money. As the retired president of the Senate, Biden would be set to collect $248,670 per year in pension funds. Since he served well over the five-year requirement, Biden would also receive health insurance coverage. But a book deal he made after leaving office may have finally made him a millionaire. Bidens net worth estimated at $1-2 million Vice-President Joe Biden campaigns at a September 27, 2016 rally at Drexel University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images While Bidens career in public office kept him at modest means (or even in the red), that changed following his transition to private life. In April 2017, he and his wife Jill signed a three-book deal with Flatiron Books for an estimated $8 million. When Vanity Fairs David Kamp profiled him later that year, he noted that Biden had used some of the money from the book deal to buy a modest home in Rehoboth Beach. Clearly, its not something a man nearly $1 million in debt would be able to afford. This change in his finances might have put Biden at the most comfortable position hes been (monetarily speaking) in his life. His net worth likely falls between $1-2 million in 2019. While he told Vanity Fair hed have liked to have much more socked away for his retirement, we imagine hell be just fine on his government pension and earnings as an author. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Following reports of a friendship-ending feud between Kate Middleton and her best friend, Rose Hanbury, rumors have run wild regarding the reason behind their falling out. One of the allegations claim that Prince William might have had an affair with his wifes now former friend, but it appears as though the Duke of Cambridge might have denied such claims. Prince Williams cheating scandal Prince William and Kate Middleton | Charlotte Graham WPA Pool/Getty Images Last month, The Sun reported on a rumored falling out between Kate Middleton and a woman from her inner circle (called the Turnip Toffs), Rose Hanbury. As it turns out, Rose Hanbury and her husband David Rocksavage aka the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley are Prince William and Kate Middletons neighbors in Norfolk and were their closest couple friends and confidantes. It is well known that Kate and Rose have had a terrible falling out. They used to be close but that is not the case any more [sic], a source revealed to The Sun. William wants to play peacemaker so the two couples can remain friends, given they live so close to each other and share mutual friends. But Kate has been clear that she doesnt want to see them any more [sic] and wants William to phase them out, despite their social status, they added. Another royal family source offered Radar Online some unique insight into the affair allegations Kates extremely jealous of Rose. Shes been told William has carried a steaming torch for Rose for years and he even confided to pals she was the one that got away, they noted. Rose has an aristocratic pedigree that made them an ideal match and William has raised eyebrows with his comments about her grace and beauty, the insider added. Did Prince William deny the allegations? Its unclear whether or not Prince William actually cheated on Kate Middleton with Rose Hanbury, as many sources only mention flirtation. Nonetheless, Prince William likely had some explaining to do, based on the sources comments. Kate sees the friendship in an entirely different light now, Radar Onlines source revealed. She thinks about William flirting with Rose, and shes jealous and suspicious. Kate confronted William, demanding to know the truth about his relationship with Rose, but he just laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it. How will the royal family handle the allegations? The royal family is notorious for keeping their lips sealed about royal scandals and this one is likely no different. According to some reports, the palace has already declined to discuss the matter and will likely stay hush-hush regardless of whether or not theres truth to any of the allegations. What to look for: a real push by Clarence House to focus on Meghan and Harry as new parents, am increase in Wills and Kate doing more events (theyve been yelled at for not doing their share) together, and likely a general increase in photo and story access to bribe the tabs. Nicole Cliffe (@Nicole_Cliffe) March 30, 2019 In the meantime, reporter Nicole Cliffe believes the royal family might try to distract from the rumors What to look for: a real push by Clarence House to focus on Meghan and Harry as new parents, am [sic] increase in Wills and Kate doing more events (theyve been yelled at for not doing their share) together, and likely a general increase in photo and story access to bribe the tabs [tabloids], she wrote on Twitter. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! On last nights episode of The Act, viewers were introduced for the first time to Gypsy Roses (Joey King) boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (Calum Worthy). Gypsy, who is beginning to rebel against her mother Dee Dees (Patricia Arquette) attempts to control every aspect of her life, meets Nick on an online dating site. Soon, Gypsy has confessed that her mother is making her pretend to be sick, while Nick introduces Gypsy to BDSM. But when Dee Dee discovers what Gypsy has been doing, she smashes her laptop with a hammer. What happened to Gypsy and Nicholas Godejohn? Calum Worthy as Nick Godejohn in The Act. | Brownie Harris/Hulu If you havent seen any of the documentaries or read any of the articles about what happened to Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard, stop reading right now. But if you have followed the real-life case, then you have a pretty good idea of whats coming in The Act. After meeting on a Christian dating website, Nicholas and Gypsy began discussing ways to get rid of her mother. In June 2015, Nicholas, who lived in Wisconsin, traveled to Missouri, where he stabbed Gypsys mother to death while Gypsy hid in the bathroom. The two then fled to Wisconsin, where they were eventually discovered and arrested. We thought we would never get caught, Gypsy later said. I felt like this is a fairy tale and I was going to be the princess that got rescued [but] what started as a fairy tale ended as a horror movie. Where is Nicholas Godejohn today? Nicholas and Gypsy were both charged with Dee Dees murder. Because of Dee Dees history of abuse, prosecutors were lenient on Gypsy, even though she had helped orchestrate her mothers murder. She plead ed guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Shes currently serving her time at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri. Her ex-boyfriend who reportedly has autism spectrum disorder and a low IQ received a much harsher sentence. In November 2018, he was found guilty of first-degree murder, and in February 2019, he received a sentence of life without parole. According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, Godejohn is currently housed in the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center in Fulton, Missouri. The facility is a processing center for new inmates, according to its website, where they undergo a mental health screening, a medical needs assessment, and an education evaluation before being placed in a specific facility to complete the rest of their sentence. Godejohn says now that he feels used by Gypsy Rose. I loved Gypsy to the point where I would do anything for her. Ive proven that with what I did, Godejohn told 20/20 in 2018. Unfortunately, because of how far I went, I feel as if shes betrayed me. I feel that shes abandoned me. All the planning, she did every bit of it, he added. She pretty much willed the knife in my hand to commit the deed herself. She is the mastermind behind the entire thing. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! April 5, 2019 (Morning Star News) A human rights committee in Malaysia has concluded that police officers were responsible for the 2017 disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, according to published reports. The prime minister of Malaysia told reporters late Wednesday (April 3) that the government would investigate the abduction of the pastor and the 2016 disappearance of a Shiite charity leader if it determines the committees conclusion that police abducted them is factually based. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the National Human Rights Commission must have evidence to support its conclusion that the special branch of police forced Pastor Koh into a car in Selangor state on Feb. 13, 2017. He has not been seen since. The commission also concluded that the special branch was responsible for the Nov. 24, 2016 disappearance of Amri Che Mat, the Shiite leader of a charity in the officially Sunni Islam country. Asserting that police cannot be allowed to break the law, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship called on officials to reopen the investigation into the heinous injustice against the two religious leaders, the AP reported. The National Human Rights Commission announced on Wednesday (April 3) that its two-year investigation showed direct and circumstantial evidence that the two religious leaders were victims of enforced disappearance by state agents involving the special branch. The retired judge who headed the commissions inquiry, Mah Weng Kwai, said Thursday (April 4) that police were reluctant to cooperate but that circumstantial evidence in both cases strongly pointed to police involvement, which he called heinous and despicable, according to the AP. Mah said the three-member commission had done sufficient fact-finding to warrant a further government investigation, the AP reported, and that the onus was on the government to prove that officers were not involved. The commission noted that both men were targeted by religious authorities and police, and that they were abducted in similar ways, according to the AP, which reported, Their cars were blocked by several four-wheel drive vehicles before they were swiftly seized by men in black wearing ski masks. The commission stated that it also expects to investigate the disappearance of Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth Hilmi, evangelists and converts from Islam who disappeared six days after Amri did in 2016. Prior to their disappearances, Amri Che Mat and Pastor Koh were under direct surveillance, according to the inquiry, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) noted in a statement. The commission concluded that both men were individuals targeted by religious authorities and the police on allegations that they were involved in matters against Islam in Malaysia, according to CSW. Closed Circuit TV footage shows Pastor Koh was taken from his car by 15 men dressed in black clothes and balaclavas who surrounded his vehicle in three black cars. Pastor Koh, previously a pastor at the Evangelical Free Church in Petaling Jaya, founded Harapan Komuniti (Hope Community), a non-profit organization that undertakes social and charity work among marginalized and underprivileged communities, including people living with HIV/AIDS, recovering drug addicts, single mothers and their children, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). In 2011, 30 officers from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raided a dinner organized by Hope Community and accused those present of proselytizing Muslims. No charges were filed, but Pastor Kohs family later received death threats, according to CSW. Prime Minister Mahathir has said that national police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun will be allowed to retire soon, and that a new police chief could investigate him later, according to the AP. Fuzi had made no comment at this writing. The prime minister pointed out that the disappearances occurred under a previous government that lost power in elections last May, according to the AP. Former national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar has denied that the special branch was involved in the disappearances, according to the AP. Malaysias population is about 61 percent Muslim, the official religion is Islam, and there are signs that hard-line Islamist influences are growing. With Islam as the state religion, the government provides financial support to Islamic establishments and enforces the tenets of Sunni Islam. State governments have fined or imprisoned Muslims who have tried to convert out of Islam. We urge the government of Malaysia to act swiftly to ensure that the recommendations are implemented fully and effectively, CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said in a statement. We call on the Malaysian authorities to do everything possible to establish the truth about the whereabouts and well-being of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat and ensure that such incidents never recur. Enforced disappearances have absolutely no place in a civilized, democratic society where the rule of law should be respected and fundamental human rights upheld. Malaysia ranked 42nd on Christian support organization Open Doors 2019 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Morning Star News/Wikipedia A recent article in the national magazine of the Sierra Club asked the question, Does a Bear Think in the Woods? Beyond the clever play on the old rhetorical question, the article made the remarkable claim that the intelligence of bears, chimpanzees, and other great apes shares many properties with our own. What prompted the article was a study of black bears in the northeast. A researcher, who has spent twenty-two years observing these animals in New Hampshire, told the author that bears are like us. They judge. They punish. They have gratitude and friendship. The article also cited the example of a black bear in Upstate New York who figured out how to open the latest in bear-proof cannisters. Soon afterwards, other local bears soon followed suit, which prompted the question; Did she teach them? Of course, no one who has owned a dog would find any of this all that surprising. That animals have what might be called feelings is undeniable, and animals are often smarter than we expect them to be. One of my friends successfully trained his Portuguese water dog to open a refrigerator and bring him a beverage. And many nature documentaries teach us that most animals spend the first part of their lives learning by emulating their mothers. All of this can be amazing to watch, but it still leaves us a long way from saying that animals think like humans in any meaningful way. It certainly doesnt warrant calling the woods a neighborhood instead of a habitat. One of the things thats behind the tendency to anthropomorphize bears, dogs, and other animals is the belief that animals and people are locked in a kind of zero sum game, as if the only way to assure the continued survival of animals is to deny and/or diminish how distinctly different they are from humans. In the process, mans unique role as Gods image bearer and steward in the created order is also denied. These denials are especially obvious in all the talk about animal culture. In humans, culture includes the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. No animal, no matter how smart or clever, has produced anything that remotely resembles these things. Whenever the word culture is used to describe animal behavior, it is always defined down to mean socially transmitted behaviors, such as a group of chimpanzees using a stick to dig up termites or Japanese macaques washing sweet potatoes before eating them. Calling this culture only makes sense if human uniqueness has been ruled out beforehand. Its not only animal achievements that are puffed up in an effort to put us homo sapiens in our place. The past few decades have seen a strange new respect for Neanderthals among anthropologists. For a century after the first discovery of Neanderthal fossils in 1856, they were regarded as brutish ape-men. While that assessment was wrong, what has been substituted for it is just as wrong. Just as is done with animals, many anthropologists conclude that homo sapiens must decrease and Neanderthals must increase. And, just as is done with animals, this increase involves inflating the Neanderthals cultural achievements. Even though the evidence for things, such as art, that would indicate a capacity for complex and symbolic thought, is virtually non-existent, what does exist can reasonably be attributed to copying the behavior of homo sapiens. And so, scratches in caves are proclaimed as art and the presence of bird bones are cited as evidence of Neanderthal fashion in a sort-of forced attempt to see evidence of creativity in the smallest and most improbable things. All of this wishful thinking rejects the unique status humans have in the created order as created in Gods image and as co-creators with Him. Its a status that no bear shares, no matter how many bear-proof containers she can break into. BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions. John Stonestreet, the host of The Point, a daily national radio program, provides thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. Publication date: April 5, 2019 Photo courtesy: Janko Ferlic/Unsplash Martin Mosebachs new book, The 21, tells the story of 21 Coptic Christians martyred by Muslim extremists on a Libyan beach in 2015. I finished reading it a day before the horrific terrorist attack by a white nationalist on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The echoes between the martyrdoms in Libya and Christchurch are uncanny. In both cases, the perpetrators made a video recording of their violent acts in order to heighten fear and promote their demented vision of purity. In both cases, the victims died because of their faithand, for many, because they were vulnerable as migrants who had gone to a foreign land to work or make a new life. In the aftermath of such terror, we often debate the extent to which we should focus attention on the terrorists and their motives. Were conscious of how excess publicity can spread their destructive ideas and encourage imitators. (The Christchurch terrorist claimed that certain murderous predecessors had precisely this effect on him.) Yet our understandable interest in the perpetrators and desire to counteract what has gone wrong should never drown out our concern the victims, because they deserve our grief. And one way to honor them is by learning their stories and seeking deeper understanding. This is the approach Mosebach, a German novelist, takes in The 21. In the books introduction, he explains he had no intention to learn anything more of the perpetrators. It was enough for me to leave them in the darkness they themselves aspired to. I was significantly more moved by, and motivated to know more about, the fate of the murdered men. Contemplating the victims humanity makes the tragedy feel heavier. But in a small way, it also makes room for light to shine in, because it affirms that evil and the killers dont get the final word. Completely Normal Guys In The 21, Mosebach travels to visit the land, homes, families, and churches of the men killed in Libya by ISIS militants. Their deaths were dramatic: They were marched in orange jumpsuits along a beach, each led by a sword-wielding man dressed in black from head to toe (only their eyes were visible). But their lives, before their martyrdom, had been quiet and unassuming. All but one were migrant workers from Egypt, and they were Coptic Christians by faith. As Mosebach quotes one of their pastors, These were average young men, completely normal guys. I never would have thought theyd become saints! Each chapter starts with a photo of one of the men. Because their lives were so normal, there is limited biographical material for Mosebach to recount, which often makes the book seem as much about the authors journey in a lesser-known (for many of us) branch of Christianity as about the martyrs themselves. Coptic Christians trace their history back to Mark, one of the four gospel writers. After the Council of Chalcedon in 451, they broke from the Roman Catholic Church on account of disputes over the exact nature of Christs humanity and divinity. A few centuries later, their position within Christendom became even more marginalized. Ever since the Arab conquest of Egypt in the 7th century, the Copts have persevered as a minority religion within their nation. The 21s strongest chapters take us deep into the lives and churches of these Coptic believers, with Mosebach exhibiting an attention to detail befitting his novelistic gifts. In a chapter called The Martyrs Liturgy, we visit their church and learn about the sanctuary, liturgy, and eucharistic service. We hear that Hany was friendly and had a kind heart and that Sameh gave alms even though he was poor. When working in Libya, they slept in a single room, side by side on the floor. They sent the money they earned back to their Egyptian families. In the evenings they sang, prayed, and read the Bible, although some could only listen because they were illiterate. Article continues below We gain a rich impression of what shaped the lives and faith of these martyrs, and we witness how their martyrdom reverberates to this day through their families, churches, and communities. Their families each have an iPad with the video of their martyrdom. Photos of them as saints are on display in homes and churches. As we follow along on Mosebachs journey, were given a chance to consider how the martyrs gift is twofold: They gave their lives to God, but their lives are also a gift to those left behind, both a source of inspiration and an invitation to reflect on our own lives. They stop me in my tracks, compelling me to ask myself how serious I am about what is ultimately important. Im inspired to ask what my story tells about experiencing Gods grace and following Jesus. And when I contemplate how they were vulnerable because theyd traveled as migrant workers to provide for their families, I remember migrant workers who have faced risks, family separation, and other challenges coming to the US as the only way to provide for their families. I think of the dad and son martyred in the Christchurch mosque who were Syrian refugees. I ask again how we can help those working and trying to survive on our societys margins. They were poorjust an inconspicuous little group, writes Mosebach, heading out to look for jobs together. Who would care about such people? The 21 reminds us why we should care about such people, our innocent neighbors suffering in various ways, even unto death. Mosebachs book carries the subtitle, A Journey into the Land of the Coptic Martyrs. At times, as I read, I found myself impatient with the notion of journey, wanting instead to hasten on to the destination. The book starts with a vivid description of the video in which these men are led out onto a beach to have their heads cut off. The scene is gripping, and I was anxious to enter straight into the stories of the 21 men. Instead, however, we meander through a long imaginary conversation in a Cairo teahouse, a paragraph about birds that cavorted, a paragraph-long reflection about garbage as one of the twentieth centurys most diabolical inventions. Occasionally Mosebachs musings felt off-tune, like when he writes of one of the martyrs that he was fair-skinned, and looked as if he couldve been of European descent. Might the influence he was said to have on [the other martyrs] have come precisely from thisthe fact that he looked like a foreigner among the others, and somehow stood equally apart from all of them? I would be reluctant to speculate that his European-ness is part of what made him special, especially in light of the Christchurch terrorists manifesto, which objected strenuously to mass immigration and remarked, I only wish I could have killed more invaders and traitors as well, and I am just a regular White man, from a regular family. Who decided to take a stand to ensure a future for my people. The books travelogue structure wasnt always the approach I found myself wanting, but it might not pose a problem for other readers. Im grateful Mosebach made the journey so I could spend time learning about men whose story I only vaguely remembered from the news headlines a few years ago. Article continues below Our Next Steps of Love The 21 also encouraged my own related (though much shorter) journey to attend a vigil for Christchurch mosque victims at a Chicago-area Islamic center two days after the attack. Among those who spoke were pastors, politicians, rabbis, and members of law enforcement. More than a thousand people attended. About half stood crowded around the walls of the room. Up front was one prayer rug for each victim. The imam said that as we mourn, were left with two questions: Why did this happen? What can I do about it? The 21 models one important answer to the latter question. We can honor our martyred neighbors by seeking peace that passesor maybe comes throughunderstanding. We can take a journey of empathy toward people we dont know or understand. We can pray for Gods wisdom and guidance along the way. We can ask who among us is most vulnerable and needs protection. We can make the effort to learn and grow. We may not resolve all our serious disagreements, questions, and confusions. But we hope to develop the kind of empathy and connection that helps us love each other as neighbors and live well together. Hospitality at the Islamic center vigil was remarkable, even as police were stationed in the lobby because of potential danger. I paused awkwardly at an entrance, wondering if I was about to enter a door reserved for women. A young woman in a hijab noticed and quickly said it was okay. She graciously showed me where to go. Men shook hands and thanked visitors for coming. They appreciated those who had taken a step in their direction in a moment when their community was mourning and feeling vulnerable. In light of the sacrifice of those Coptic martyrs, this kind of personal commitment doesnt ignore the challenge of taking on Muslim, Christian, nationalist, or white-supremacist extremists. It doesnt ignore important theological differences. Rather, we can affirm that we wont be paralyzed by fear. We can accept Jesus invitation to a faithful journey of following him, being his witnesses, and loving our neighbors. Steps along this journey are crucial today if were going to have a more peaceful tomorrow. At the vigil, one of the pastors quoted Jesus words in John 14:27, words embodied by those Coptic men with each step they took on the beach that dayand words that can encourage us to take our next steps of love: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Kent Annan is director of humanitarian and disaster leadership at Wheaton College. He is author, most recently, of You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us (InterVarsity Press). Kevin DeYoung: The Heartbeat of Jesus ministry was not to transform social structures Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christ Covenant Church Senior Pastor Kevin DeYoung warned attendees at an evangelical conference that the key point of Jesus earthly ministry was to proclaim the Good News and not to transform social structures. The pastor and author gave a speech on Tuesday at The Gospel Coalitions 2019 National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, the theme being Conversations with Jesus." DeYoung preached about Luke 4:14-30, in which Jesus attends worship at a synagogue in his hometown and reads from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, specifically the passage that reads: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor. DeYoung noted that the passage was considered by many to be the very heartbeat of Jesus ministry and that many also argued that it meant social reform was a key part of His ministry. Then I would often have people say to me that what we see here is Jesus ministry was one, to focus upon the poor and the oppressed and the downtrodden, to bring Gods creation back to Shalom, and to transform social structures, said DeYoung. DeYoung explained that the passage was a key text for traditions like Liberation Theology, which argues that the Bible should be interpreted from the perspective of the poor and that the church is obligated to engage in socio-economic change. While Liberation Theology is largely concentrated in Latin America, groups within the United States like the Red Letter Christians movement also stress this socio-economic focus. Jesus calls us away from the consumerist values that dominate contemporary America. Instead, he calls us to meet the needs of the poor, notes RLCs website. He also calls us to be merciful, which has strong implications in terms of war and capital punishment. After all, when Jesus tells us to love our enemies, he probably means we shouldnt kill them. In his speech before the conference on Tuesday, DeYoung said that he believed the socio-economic justice focus is not the most careful way to exegete this passage. In his critique, DeYoung pointed out that of the four verbs used in the Isaiah passage quoted by Jesus, all but one of them had to do with proclamation rather than works. So yes, this is a key text for defining Jesus mission and the methods of His ministry, but what do we see here? We see that the Spirit has anointed Him chiefly to be a preacher. To proclaim a message of Good News, said DeYoung. Regarding the fourth verb from the passage, which spoke of liberating captives, DeYoung noted that since the Gospels do not record Jesus literally freeing captives, it should be understood exclusively on a spiritual plane. That the recovery of sight to the blind was spiritual sight for those blinded by sin. Those who would have demons cast out was ultimately a pointer to the spiritual freedom that we find only in Christ, he continued. In other words, we see that the mission of Jesus was first and foremost to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of salvation for sinners. While the Gospels show Jesus ministry centered on three things: preaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick, explained DeYoung, they were not treated as equally important by Jesus. There is not a single example of Jesus going into a town with the purpose of healing or casting out demons. He never ventures out on a healing or an exorcism tour, said DeYoung. The reason He came out to public ministry was to preach. DeYoung then quoted Luke 4:42-43 to further his point, noting that when the locals urged Jesus to stay upon healing many, Jesus replies: I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. DeYoung concluded his speech by noting three lessons from the biblical passage. The first lesson was to note the importance of preaching the Gospel, the second was to note that the church should be prepared for all sorts of outsiders to come to faith, and finally, that people who proclaim the Good News should expect to be misunderstood. You and I are not prepared to do ministry in this world, in this day unless we are prepared to be misunderstood, explained DeYoung. Sometimes by people honestly trying to understand and sometimes by people willfully misunderstanding. Jesus was misunderstood." David Platt calls out 'false gospel' of faith healing; forgiveness of sins is the real Good News Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment McLean Bible Church Pastor David Platt denounced faith healing as a false gospel in a speech at an evangelical conference, explaining that the real Gospel is about Jesus Christ forgiving sins. Preaching on Mark 2:1-12, which recorded the gospel story of Jesus healing a paralytic who was lowered from a roof into a home, Platt explained that while the passage showed two urgent needs that Jesus addressed, the two needs were not equal. This mans spiritual need was ultimate. More important than even his physical paralysis was his spiritual malice, stated Platt, noting that while the passage does not say if the paralysis came from sin, it was evident that this man was a sinner, which meant that his ultimate need was not healing from God, but holiness before God. And this is the ultimate need in all of our lives. Our ultimate need is never physical. Our ultimate need is always spiritual. The Virginia pastor believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not the gospel that is being preached in many places around the world. As I travel around the world, there are so many places where a false gospel is being proclaimed, that if you believe in Jesus, you will be healed of all of your diseases now, he explained Wednesday at The Gospel Coalitions National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, which had as its theme Conversations with Jesus. That if you trust in Jesus, youll be free of your sicknesses today. It is not the Gospel, because the Gospel is much, much better news than that. Platt argued that our ultimate need is not to be rid of our maladies but to be reconciled to our maker and this is what Jesus has come to do. The Gospel is not going to Africa and saying trust in Jesus and your HIV/AIDS will be gone. The Gospel is not going to America and saying trust in Jesus and your cancer will be gone, he continued. The Gospel is going anywhere and everywhere in the world and saying trust in Jesus and your sins will be gone. Platt said people require a savior who does not just have power over disease and demons, but more importantly someone with power over sin and death. For all who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, you can know cancer will not have the last word. Tumors will not have the last word. Alzheimers will not have the last word. Parkinsons will not have the last word, declared Platt. Pain will not have the last word. Heart attacks, hospital rooms, and hospice care will not have the last word. Death itself will not have the last word because it has been defeated by the Son of Man. His name is Jesus and He will have the last word. The Good News of the Kingdom is not that Jesus will heal you of all your sicknesses now. The Good News of the Kingdom is Jesus will forgive you of all of your sins forever. The former head of the Southern Baptist Conventions International Mission Board also talked about the importance of making the power of Jesus love evident in a world of physical need, to care for those who endure earthly suffering. Platt mentioned a wheelchair-bound person named Marisa who was recently baptized at his church. Marisa has cerebral palsy, spends her life in a wheelchair. Every Sunday, she wheels that motorized chair to the middle aisle right in front of me, he explained. Before she came to our church, she was used to being put in a corner by herself. Even at churches who had not thought through how to care for children or adults with special needs. But this time, she found a family of brothers and sisters who welcomed her. And as they cared for her special needs, they brought her to the One Who can meet her greatest need. Platts remarks came on the final day of the conference, which featured other notable speakers including DesiringGod.org founder and pastor John Piper, author and Presbyterian pastor Timothy Keller, and Christ Covenant Church Senior Pastor Kevin DeYoung. During his remarks on Tuesday, DeYoung told conference attendees that the key point of Jesus earthly ministry was to proclaim the Good News and not to transform social structures. While the Gospels show Jesus ministry centered on three things: preaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick, said DeYoung, they were not considered equally important by Jesus. There is not a single example of Jesus going into a town with the purpose of healing or casting out demons. He never ventures out on a healing or an exorcism tour, stated DeYoung. The reason He came out to public ministry was to preach. Hillsong UNITED's JD Douglass talks church's impact on Christian music, ministry and fashion Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Multiplatinum-selling and award-winning Christian worship band Hillsong UNITED is gearing up for the release of their album PEOPLE, and The Christian Post caught up with founding band member JD Douglass to get a look at how the ministry continues to revolutionize worship music worldwide. Hillsong church was founded by Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie, in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, in 1983. It has now grown from a single church to an international ministry that has churches in 21 countries on six continents, including: London, England; Paris, France; Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Cape Town, South Africa; Tel Aviv, Israel; and three cities in the United States. The church has an average global attendance approaching 130,000 weekly. In the U.S., Hillsong is recognized for its thriving congregations in New York City, Los Angeles, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, and their services are frequently attended by many A-list celebrities. There are three different musical groups affiliated with Hillsong Church, these are Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free, and Hillsong UNITED. Hillsong UNITED has sold more than 4.7 million albums and remains the No. 1 Christian artist on all social media platforms with over 10.5 million fans combined. Their new live album PEOPLE will be released on April 26 and is said to reflect the band's roots and core mission of unity. In support of their new music, UNITED will also return to the U.S. for the first time in three years for their The People Tour MMXIX. The following is an edited transcript of The Christian Post's interview with longtime Hillsong church member and founding member of Hillsong UNITED, JD Douglass, who talks about the evolution of Hillsong music, their commitment to God, and their influence on western culture. CP: Your relationship with Hillsong Church has been a lifelong journey. What's it been like to be a part of the ministry all these years? JD: I feel extremely blessed. Everyone has a different journey, but my parents are Christian so not going to church wasn't an option in our family. Im kind of glad that we've been going to Hillsong church my whole life. There really hasnt been a time that I haven't wanted to go [to church]. Were definitely not the best or the most perfect church but it's a church where we've got great leadership that just believes in the next generation. That believes in encouraging, letting people know that God does have a plan and purpose for everyone's life, and that's a really encouraging life-filled environment. Growing up in that, going from the school of Hillsong and then in the youth ministry, its been a great experience. I never dreamed or imagined that Id be part of the music team, especially with UNITED and being able to be around those early days and to see 20 years on now what God has done and how faithfully Hes been. It's definitely one of those things that has blown our expectation and probably surprised us more than anybody. CP: Hillsong has revolutionized Christian culture, even down to what people wear to church in a lot of contemporary churches. Was that intentional as a way to reach people? JD: It's kind of funny to see how thats unfolded as I look back over the journey. But to be honest, it wasn't anything that we did intentionally, and I think I can say that about the whole Hillsong journey. I think that we're just lucky that in the part of the world that we grew up in, Australia has always had great churches and people that are following Jesus. But I guess the culture is a lot different in the church. Different people, different languages, and they all have different accents. And I think one thing about Australia is that were very laid back because it is a secular nation. It was actually a weird thing to go to church in Australia. The majority of Australians don't go to church. So just the way that our culture was in the church within Australia was very laid back. So I think for us, we didn't know anything else except to dress how we wanted to, and sometimes that was the same as our school friends or whatever was the fashion at the time. We have a lot of respect and honor for the house of God and the platform, but I honestly just think that, again, if we can just be who were called to be and be authentic to ourselves, and do our best to honor and please God, then He will have His way. It's funny, and I can see now that it's probably worked to our advantage, but it's all laughs that that has happened because there was absolutely no intention. Its just kind of how we grew up and it was to our surprise that it wasn't the same all over the world. God has been able to use that to help people and to get His message into the hearts of many, and I'm all about it. But yeah, we kind of sit back and laugh about that stuff because it was not intentional. CP: Discipling people to be like Jesus in this day and age is very counter-cultural. How do you, as someone who has been in church leadership, disciple people in this generation? JD: At the risk of sounding cliche or too basic, I can't go past looking at Jesus and use His example. I think where we get it wrong is when we overlook, or we go too far away from the truth of God's word. I think, automatically thinking about Jesus' ministry, it was full of opposition from the religious people of the day. There's not many or any stories that I can remember, in the Bible, where He got attacked by the non-Christian or the nonreligious people of the day. He got all this opposition, all resistance from the religion that had been set up in His time. It does surprise me that other religious groups, or churches, or people of faith would oppose what we do. But I also think that we've got grace for that, because, again, Jesus. Also, Paul was constantly writing letters about how we are going to have opposition, living this life of faith and this life sacrifice and hard times. What I love though is that the Bible always talks about the fact that it's worth it, and God is with us, and He's made us perfect in our weakness. It's not always going to work out the way that we want, it's not always going to be perfect. But at the same time, it is always going to be worth it and God is always with us. I think that would be the biggest thing that I want to encourage the next generation or anyone really to not get discouraged when things aren't going our way. To understand that out our journey of following God and being in relationship with Jesus is one of trusting Him and that Hes working all things together for good. I think, if we just all go with our emotions or feelings or circumstances, I think we can all get pretty discouraged. I'm 35 now and have been on this journey my whole life. When it comes to disciplining, if we look to the world for our inspirational strengths or stability, then were not going to go the distance. But if we look to the Word of God, which is the truth, I believe that we can re-center what's really important and live the kind of life that God has planned for all of us. Knowing that we are human, and that we are going to stumble, we are going to fall, but God loves us too much to leave us the way that we are. He works with us and I'm just grateful that every day we get new mercies. CP: Whats the difference between Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, and Hillsong Young & Free? JD: We all have a laugh about it because on one hand it's really clear that theyre different but it can get very confusing because we are all trying to do the same thing, really. There was always Hillsong Worship and that was from the very early days. That was just our main church worship team that would lead worship on Sunday mornings and Sunday night services and write songs for the church. Then youd have our youth group. Even when I was in youth group, 20 years ago now, the pastor encouraged our youth group to write songs that would really hit home for that age group and write in the style of music that would really encourage and speak to the young generation. So that's how UNITED got birthed. Our pastors always encouraged us to bring people through and give young people the opportunity to serve God. So that's how Young & Free got birthed because UNITED has been going for 10 or so years and youth was getting a little bit too old for us. So we all encouraged the younger guys that were coming through. Slowly, thats how Young & Free was birthed and that was kind of a new generation. As UNITED, we thought, does that means that we should stop doing what were doing? But God had really created a special lane for us to create music, so we've kind of just kept going. So really, at the end of the day, the three different brands are all about writing songs that glorify God and help people. Hillsong Worship is definitely more about writing songs for churches to be able to sing on Sunday mornings. Young & Free are going for that next generation. Were (UNITED) somewhere in between, doing whatever we can really. CP: In a recent interview with former Hillsong worship leader Darlene Zschech, she said she really loves how honest and raw some of the newer worship music is. What inspires your music now? JD: First of all, I have to honor Darlene because she was my worship pastor growing up. And when I was too young to have the opportunity to be able to sing in big church, she really put her arm around me and I was just lucky to have her as a worship pastor. She always believed in me and all of us from UNITED and Young & Free. For us, [its about] writing honest and authentic songs. I think that religion always wants to paint a picture thats not real. [But for us, we want to create] something that makes it all about the things that Jesus came to establish, which is have a relationship with people, operating in His grace, His love His mercy. I feel like Jesus spoke to the hearts of people, not to the heart of a religious organization. Even within the church and even with the best of intentions, I think we've got to always commit to being authentic, to being honest, and that's probably been one of the most key things for us. I know I can speak on behalf of Joel Houston, who is our main writer and our main leader over the years, whenever we get together to write a project or when we get in the studio, he always says, I want to write the most honest song I possibly can. So its always a balance because you've got to put faith in there and keep it positive and all the rest of that. But to be honest, I think its the grace of God that people are connected with the songs more than anything. That commitment to just writing the most honest songs that we can and at the end of the day, we dont want to write a song that sounds good or that lots of people are going to listen to or that sells a lot of records, we want to write songs that are going to glorify God. And secondly, actually help people where they're at. Thats always been our main focus. And we've been blessed to still have had the ability to travel the world as we get to do that. CP: You guys are bringing your tour back to America, what's your goal with the tour? JD: I feel like America is such a big country, and theres so many people and so many churches. Weve been going to America a lot over the last 20 years and its hard to make a general statement on the whole of church in America, or Christianity in America. I think that it's probably different for each person, but one thing I know is that weve never been more excited about this tour. Its going to be the biggest tour that we've ever done, especially because were coming off a season where we just recorded a new album and it's the first live album weve done in almost 10 years. CP: What overarching message are you are hoping to get across with the new album? JD: We recorded it in the same auditorium where we recorded a lot of the early UNITED albums and gave us the platform that we've got today. So just going off how these songs have been going in our church and even just the few that we've released already, the response has been the best response weve ever had. The name UNITED came by accident because it was just the name that we were giving these nights at youth, when we're gathering all the different age groups that used to come to our church. We would all come together and have these United youth nights. But I think God planned for us to be called UNITED because now what we feel more than ever is that nows the time for people to come together and be united and understand that we're not always going to agree on everything but let's stand behind the things we agree on. As believers, thats the truth of God and His word and plan for humanity. So I think that it's a really important time because there's a lot of uncertain things out there. But there is also some certain things and that's that God is in control and God wants to work His destiny through His church and through His people. And so that's what these tour nights are all about. We just want to unite people. We want to unite America as much as we possibly can. We believe that with God nothing is impossible. Were just fired up about this tour because we think God's gonna do something really incredible and were just pumped that we get to be a part of it. The new album PEOPLE is now available for pre-order. For more information on Hillsong UNITED or their U.S. tour, click, here. 3 Ohio Congregations Merge to Create One Multiethnic Church Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Three Ohio congregations largely consisting of different ethnic groups Caucasian, African-American and Hispanic have merged together to make one multiethnic church. Norwood Church of Christ, Madisonville Church of Christ, and Iglesia de Christo came together to form Indian Mound Avenue Church of Christ on New Year's Day. In an interview with The Christian Post on Wednesday, Indian Mound Avenue lead Pastor Greg Jasper explained that the three congregations were already sharing the same building in advance of the merger, as they all met separately at Norwood Church of Christ. "Once I became affiliated with these groups and eventually became the senior minister to the predominately African-American congregation, I saw an opportunity as a biracial person to try to unite these three groups," said Jasper. "I began to make efforts for discussions on how to accomplish this. And in time God made it crystal clear that what was best for His Kingdom and what was best for all three groups was that we unite as one congregation and no longer be three congregations sharing a building." At present, Indian Mound Avenue has a membership of about 150, with their service being held on New Year's Day. Since then, the new congregation continues to offer two services, one in English and one in Spanish for members of the former Iglesia de Christo who are still not fluent in English. "We have held a few with all three groups and brought in a translator to help us in one of the services to sing songs in English and Spanish," explained Jasper. "We will, at a minimum, have a full joint worship in English and Spanish with translators quarterly. But we feel it is most beneficial for the teaching of God's Word that on a regular basis everyone is taught in the language they understand best." The creation of the new Indian Mound Avenue congregation comes at a time when many believe that racial tensions in the United States are on the rise. Jasper told CP that he is hoping Indian Mound Avenue can be a "model for other churches to follow" when it comes to multiethnic cooperation and community. "With all that has been and is still going on in our country we are hoping that our church merger can be a ray of sunshine for those losing hope in our ability, as Americans, to have unity," said Jasper. "Sunday across the country is still in 2017 the most segregated day of the week. It is our hope and prayer that as other Christians hear about us that they will seek more unity in their church families and in the cities where they live, wherever they may be." AR Bernard says he'll work with Trump but not on evangelical advisory board Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment MIAMI BEACH, Florida Pastor A.R. Bernard explained Tuesday why he left President Donald Trump's evangelical advisory board but will continue to work with his administration on issues of concern. Bernard, who left the evangelical advisory board in August 2017, clarified that he has continued to work with the Trump administration and HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on the inner city initiative, formally known as the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Bernard is founder and pastor of Christian Cultural Center, a nondenominational megachurch in New York City with over 40,000 members. Trump announced the formation of the council, to be led by Carson, on Dec. 12. "With the creation of todays council, the resources of the whole federal government will be leveraged to rebuild low-income and impoverished neighborhoods that have been ignored by Washington in years past. Our goal is to ensure that Americas great new prosperity is broadly shared by all of our citizens," Trump said at the time. Earlier that same month, Bernard announced a partnership between his church, the private sector, and government to build a $1.2 billion affordable housing development in Brooklyn. On Tuesday, Bernard recalled that he left the Faith Leaders Initiative, commonly known as the evangelical advisory council, because "to the public it comes across as" endorsing "everything the president says." "However," he continued, "I'm still available for the inner city initiative, issues of religious freedom, ... whatever I can do to bring my talents to bear." Bernard also clarified that he won't "exploit this" by letting "the media use me to go on the talk show circuit to bash my evangelical colleagues" who remain on the board. He was speaking on a panel at the Faith Angle Forum with Pastor Dimas Salaberrios on the issue of racism, Christianity and the 2015 white supremacist-inspired shooting at Emanuel Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He was asked about his decision to leave the evangelical advisory board during the Q&A part of the 2.5-hour presentation. "I'm a gun-toting Republican," Bernard began, then recalled the story of his decision to leave the board. "I believe that in order for change to take place, people who disagree with each other have to be willing to find common ground, sit down and work together," he said. "I was willing to do that in spite of things that were present even before I got on the advisory council. I got the call. I attended the meeting." Most of the 27 members on the board were "evangelical colleagues," Bernard said. In particular, he "felt the need to be at the table because there were maybe four persons of color." "We need to be at the table," Bernard recalled thinking at the time. "We need to have a voice, speak into this administration on issues that are particular to our community." When he heard the other evangelical voices on the board, they expressed concerns about issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and Israel, Bernard said. And when one member of the board said, "money's not the issue for us, we've got that so we don't need your money," Bernard spoke up and said, "hold it, we need the money," in defense of the needs of his community. At the time, that interaction solidified Bernard's view that he needed to participate in the board. He also mentioned that others on the board, such as Franklin Graham, "were friends and relationships that continue to this day." Two events changed his mind, however. First, the media discovered and published the names of those on the board in April 2017, and along with that media coverage came the perception that those on the board were endorsing and supporting Trump. "That changed the nature of the relationship," Bernard said, "and put us under pressure because now we're seen as this advisory body to the president, committed and supportive of everything that he had to say." While that bothered him, it alone wasn't enough to push him off the board. Bernard "had meetings with some of the key leaders in the African-American community," he recalled, who told him, "we want you there, we need to have someone at the table." So he was able to overlook some of the negative aspects of Trump. "I was able to distinguish between his personal morality and moral judgments, as opposed to moral judgments that affected society as a whole, the common good." But that changed, Bernard said, with the second event Trump's response to the racial unrest and white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. "So when Charlottesville came up, I waited to see how he would respond, and when he vacillated the way he did, that was problematic. When he finally drew that false equivalence, that was the straw that broke the camel's back," Bernard said. Trump blamed both sides for the violence and said there were "very fine" people among the white supremacist marchers. While there were violent Antifa counter-protesters at the march, Trump was criticized by many for failing to add moral clarity to the racist messages and to calm the tension. Conservative evangelical columnist David French wrote at the time, "Donald Trump loves people who love him, and the vile and vicious alt-right has loved him from the beginning. Today, he loved them right back." Trump's lack of a moral center, which he displayed in reaction to the racism in Charlottesville, led Bernard to leave the board. "I said, OK, he's not a moral man, I'd prefer that. But he's not immoral, I would understand that. He's amoral, which means he's transactional. If you go whichever direction suits the transaction at the time, that's unpredictable. I can't follow that kind of leadership," he said. Ex-transgender Walt Heyer: 'We are ruining an entire generation of young people' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment WASHINGTON A man who underwent a sex change and now regrets it is urging people to resist transgender medicine and related therapies, saying we are medically "manufacturing" children as transgender and abusing them. Speaking on a panel before a small crowd gathered at the Heritage Foundation Thursday, Walt Heyer, a man who formerly lived and identified as a transgender woman named Laura for eight years. He underwent surgery in 1983 and spoke of his experience of being psychologically abused and how that contributed to significant discomfort with his body. This is now playing out on a massive scale, he said, and the medical establishment is pushing these dangerous hormonal treatments and surgical interventions on thousands of young people. Heyer is the founder of Sex Change Regret and is reportedly hearing from many more people who now feel as he does. "We get letters from parents or the transgenders themselves asking for help, after they've lived the life like I did for five, six, 15, 18, 20, all the way up to 30 years. And they are saying 'Walt, can you help me de-transition. This was the biggest mistake of my life.'" He recently helped a schoolteacher, a pharmacist, and his good friend Jamie Shupe, the first man to be legally recognized in the United States as "non-binary." "I think it's important for us to realize that there is nothing good about affirming a young boy at four years old like my grandma did me," he said. Heyer's grandmother put him a purple chiffon dress and told him how wonderful he looked, which confused him. Children should not be sent those kinds of messages because it communicates that there is something wrong with them, Heyer said. "That is child abuse," he asserted. "We need to be calling it what it is. It's not affirming a child. It's causing them to be depressed and anxious about who they are." "The only reason I am able to speak to you today is because after 46 years dealing with this issue, I was able to de-transition in 1990 after I had psychotherapy, the very same psychotherapy [transgender activists] are trying to prevent people from having. Why? Because they don't want them to de-transition." "It's painful to get these emails from people whose lives have been totally torn apart." The entire basis of much of transgender medicalization is self-diagnosis. "We are manufacturing transgender kids," he asserted. "We are manufacturing their depression, their anxiety, and it has turned into a huge industry that people are profiting from after kids lives are completely torn apart." "It's really beyond my understanding why we are even having this discussion because it shouldn't be happening. I don't believe any doctor who injects a young person with hormone blockers should have a license to do so." People must start speaking up about this, he stressed. "We do not know who the transgender kids are," he said, referencing the words of Kristina Olson, a research psychologist at the University of Washington who has said scientists "dont have definitive data one way or another" on who is and who is not transgender. "Do you get that? That should sink in. They cannot actually identify who trans kids are except by them saying so. There is no test. there is no proof," he said. Even the American Psychological Association says in their handbook that children are not born transgender, he pointed out. "And yet, we're treating them with medical treatment as if they were and trying to alter them. They're not born that way," Heyer said. "I want to say it again. We are manufacturing transgender kids," he reiterated. As a result of the trauma from the gender reassignment surgery, Heyer recounted that he drank heavily and used cocaine to stifle the pain. Heyer has worked with hundreds of people over the past decade who have sought to de-transition and over half of them were sexually abused, he said. Heyer himself was sexually abused several times when he was 9 years old by his uncle. His parents did not believe him and said he was a liar, which compounded his gender confusion. "Boys who were abused at a young age come to the conclusion that the only way they can prevent themselves from being sexually abused again is to cut off their genitalia and become females. In their mind that is their defense mechanism for sexual abuse. Girls who were sexually abused want to be men as a way to fend off any intruder or sexual abuser so they will no longer be attractive for sexual abuse," Heyer said. "We're ruining an entire generation of young people, and it's serious business. I'm not pulling any punches anymore. And you shouldn't either," Heyer concluded. Representing the Kelsey Coalition a recently formed non-partisan group of parents of trans-identifying children that have been harmed by transgender medical treatments one such mother, "Elaine," explained the horror of what can happen when surgeons cut off the reproductive organs of minors, highlighting the case of transgender television star Jazz Jennings of TLC's "I Am Jazz." "Jazz was born a boy, but raised as a girl since the age of 5. He was treated hormonally since age 11. Last year, at the age of 17, Jazz had surgery to remove his penis and create a simulated vagina out of his stomach lining," Elaine said. An emergency follow-up surgery had to be performed after the initial operation because Jazzs wounds began separating and a blood blister began to form. Jennings' doctor said that as he moved Jennings to the bed he heard something go "pop," and upon examination "the whole thing had split open. "This is a medical experiment on a child that has been playing out on television for the past 12 years. No one knows what might happen next," Elaine asserted, urging that the clinics that perform these operations be shut down. Pastor AR Bernard Leaves Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board Citing 'Deepening Conflict in Values' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment One of the ministers serving on President Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board has resigned from the group, citing a "deepening conflict in values" between himself and the administration. Pastor A.R. Bernard, 64, a former banker and founding pastor of the Christian Cultural Center, a Brooklyn megachurch, released a statement Friday afternoon noting that he considered himself an "unlikely" individual in the current political and social climate and was willing to serve on this particular council in order "to shape the future of our nation on issues of faith and our inner cities." "However, it became obvious that there was a deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration," he continued. "I quietly stepped away from the board several months ago, and submitted my formal letter of resignation as of Tuesday, Aug. 15. I am always grateful and honored by any opportunity to serve my country." CP contacted Bernard on Friday for comment and will update this article with any response we receive. In a statement shared with The Christian Post, advisory council member Johnnie Moore said he has the deepest respect for Bernard. "Sometimes, friends disagree and that doesn't change our commitment to our shared faith and friendship. We have every intention to continue to extend invitations to him to contribute his perspective on issues important to all of us," said Moore, a senior adviser to CP and former vice president of communications at Liberty University. Bernard's announcement follows comments made earlier this week by Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. A widely circulated Instagram post from Wesley listed the names of advisers on the board and decried the fact that none of them had stepped down from their roles, noting that several business leaders have departed Trump's manufacturing council in light of the president's comments about the racial turmoil and violence in Charlottesville. "Shame when business is more righteous than church," Wesley wrote, adding the hashtags #staywoke, #loveisgreaterthanhate and #shame. At a news conference at Trump Tower on Tuesday, President Trump condemned white supremacists, yet asserted that there were some "fine people" in Charlottesville among those protesting the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. He further inquired why the "alt-left" and Antifa had not been criticized by the media for their part in the violence. Thus far, the rest of Trump's evangelical advisers have stuck with him, saying they have a moral obligation to continue to serve. "What we may say to the president privately in calling him out or expressing our concerns about anything he or a member of his team might do ... people want us to expose the president or to express our disdain for this, that or the other. That's not our responsibility as I view it," said Evangelical Advisory Board member Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, in an interview with CP Friday afternoon. Pastor Mark Burns, who leads The Harvest Praise & Worship Center in Easley, South Carolina, stated emphatically on Twitter Friday night: "I will NEVER RESIGN or Abandon @POTUS over #Charlottesville. He needs his spiritual advisers more than ever." For some American leaders, such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Trump's comments on Tuesday seemed to undo his previous statement to reporters at the White House on Monday when he said: "Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America." During Tuesday's news conference, Trump reiterated that "there is blame on both sides" for the violence and there were decent people on all sides of the protests. ... Not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me. Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch." Trump's comments were perceived by many as giving the alt-right a pass, and he was roundly condemned by the mainstream media, members of both political parties and some of his supporters for reiterating that many sides were to blame for the violence. The #WhiteSupremacy groups will see being assigned only 50% of blame as a win.We can not allow this old evil to be resurrected 6/6 Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2017 In defense of the president's comments about there being blame on both sides, Pastor Darrell Scott, president of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, agreed that violence coming from the alt-left cannot be ignored. Scott told MSNBC's Katy Tur on Tuesday that he believed many people were giving the counter-protesters "a pass" when it came to some of their own having violent intentions. "They came with the intent to incite violence," Scott said. "They were walking down the street with pepper spray and they were walking down the street with homemade flamethrowers." "Let's not act like they did not know with the intent to shut that protest down by whatever means necessary." The Best of Enemies actors share how Christian faith of civil rights activist changed KKK leader Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment NEW YORK Hollywood filmmaker Russell Bissell and the lead actors of the new movie The Best of Enemies said it was Ann Atwaters Christian display of love that broke through the hatred of KKK leader C.P. Ellis in the 70s. The Best of Enemies tells the true story of an unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, the president of the Durham chapter of United Klans of America (played by Oscar winner Sam Rockwell). The pair unwittingly co-chaired a community summit in Durham, North Carolina, in the summer of 1971, just months after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of busing to desegregate schools. What followed would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever, as the two formed a friendship that lasted a lifetime up until Ellis' death in 2005. Director Robin Bissel, who also produced Hunger Games, told The Christian Post, I think that Ann's idea of her faith and her being a Christian was all about love. It was all about love will see its way through and that's what she took." Bissel was really touched by how Atwaters life helped transform Ellis. That's what's important in the story to me because she was so religious, she had such strong faith, and it carried her forward, he added. She worked until she passed away for good. The love Atwater showed Ellis despite his innate hatred of black people as a KKK leader eventually broke through his contempt, and popular actress Taraji P. Henson describes that as a reflection of Gods heart. "When we talk about love, we talk about God's love. It's unconditional and love is the search for understanding, Henson told CP. So even the person you hate, if you want change, you can't match it with hate or else nothing's going to change. Someone has to rise above and tap into love. And that's when she (Atwater) was able to get change." "It changed C.P.," Hensons co-star, Sam Rockwell, added. Bill Riddick was responsible for hosting a 10-day charette in 1971 that helped bring the KKK leader and civil rights activists to a place where they could have an honest conversation. It helped bring unity and change the school system in their town. The Christian Post spoke with the real-life Riddick who said he didn't realize Atwater was a Christian until she requested to end each charette with a gospel set. [Atwater] had a [faith] that I had not seen in her conversations [before] and C.P. had faith in the clan. So it made sense to let them bring those two ideas to fruition. They both participated in a sense, Riddick explained of his decision to allow Atwater to host her gospel sets and Ellis to display KKK propaganda at the charettes. In the film, a scene showing a group of young boys confronting the offensive KKK display was featured and Riddick says that actually happened in real life. Atwater, however, stepped in and instructed the boys to be tolerant to the offensive display which showed her enemy the best of her heart. I can remember Ann, literary telling the guys you can't do this and gave them a lecture. When I looked out the corner of my eye I saw C.P. peeping out the little office door [at that same moment], the charette leader recalled. The Best of Enemies STXfilms hits theaters everywhere April 5. For more information, visit the movies website. Chick-fil-A banned from another airport for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Salvation Army donations Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Chick-fil-A was once again banned from an airport concession project over the popular fast food chicken chains support for groups that hold conservative views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. A plan to open a new Chick-fil-A at Buffalo Niagara International Airport was canceled following an outcry from individuals including New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority confirmed last Friday to local media that they had reversed course and that Chick-fil-A will not be part of the food court project any longer. A publicly financed facility like the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is not the appropriate venue for a Chick-fil-A restaurant. I applaud the decision that has been made to remove Chick-fil-A from the plans for this project, stated Ryan last week, as reported by WGRZ. We hope in the future the NFTA will make every effort to contract with businesses that adhere to anti-discriminatory policies, and were confident another vendor who better represents the values of the Western New York community will replace Chick-fil-A as a part of this project in the very near future. In response to the news, the chicken sandwich company released a statement denouncing the inaccurate narrative being advanced about them. We do not have a political or social agenda or discriminate against any group. More than 145,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs represent the Chick-fil-A brand, stated Chick-fil-A, as reported by WGRZ. We embrace all people, regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. NFTAs decision about the Buffalo airport came days after city council for San Antonio, Texas, voted 6-4 to remove Chick-fil-A from a project at their airport. As with the Buffalo airport, the key issue was Chick-fil-As connections to conservative Christian nonprofits and CEO Dan Cathys stated opposition to same-sex marriage. Both decisions came after the liberal website Think Progress published an article on March 20 arguing that Chick-fil-A was donating money to anti-LGBT groups. "Chick-fil-A has taken great pains to downplay its anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and giving, seven years into a national boycott by LGBTQ and allied diners," stated Think Progress. "But contrary to the companys latest claims that it has no political or social agenda, newly released tax filings show that, in 2017, the Chick-fil-A Foundation gave more than $1.8 million to a trio of groups with a record of anti-LGBTQ discrimination." Chick-fil-A released a statement the following day rejecting the claim, pointing out that their donations to groups like the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and others were for charitable purposes. "To suggest that our efforts in supporting these organizations was focused on suppressing a group of people is misleading and inaccurate," stated the company. "It is well-known that our Founder S. Truett Cathy used biblical principles to guide our business in its formative stages, and that we still uphold those same principles today." San Antonio Councilman Roberto Trevino celebrated the earlier vote in San Antonio as an example of the Texas city becoming a champion of equality and inclusion. San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior, said Trevino, as reported by NBC News. For his part, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has stated that he is investigating whether the San Antonio decision constituted discrimination and a violation of the First Amendment. The Constitutions protection of religious liberty is somehow even better than Chick-fil-As chicken. Unfortunately, I have serious concerns that both are under assault at the San Antonio airport, wrote Paxton in an official letter to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. I have directed my office to open an investigation into whether the Citys action violates state law. I trust the City will fully cooperate with my investigation into this matter, and will abide by relevant federal and state laws in the future." Group behind 'hate map' is 'morally bankrupt': Christian conservatives call out corruption, hypocrisy Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Conservative groups that have suffered due to being tagged on the controversial hate map of the Southern Poverty Law Center say the organization has no moral authority to label others as it grapples with racial discrimination and sexual harassment allegations of its own. Todays SPLC is aggressively anti-Christian and morally bankrupt, both inside and out. It has long lost any claim as the moral arbiter of hate, Jeremy Tedesco, senior counsel and vice president of U.S. advocacy for Alliance Defending Freedom told The Christian Post. The ADF is an alliance-building legal organization based in Arizona that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith. The group unites attorneys, ministry leaders, pastors, and like-minded organizations in a common purpose a shared commitment to defending religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage and family. The SPLC was founded in 1971 to take on legal cases related to racial injustice, poverty and the death penalty. The organization, which began tracking the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1980s, has since broadened its field of threats to include conservative groups like the ADF whose ideology it does not agree with. The vaunted civil rights organization currently lists the ADF as a hate group among 20 other organizations in Arizona because of their sexual politics. In a report in The Washington Post Magazine last November, the SPLC noted that the ADF filed an amicus brief in the 2003 landmark Supreme Court case that struck down a Texas law criminalizing gay sex. Lawyers for the ADF wanted to uphold the states right to decide whether it is reasonable to believe that same-sex sodomy is a distinct public health problem, the brief noted, because it clearly is. Its really bad that you want these people thrown in jail for consensual activity, Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLCs Intelligence Project told The Washington Post. Its literally barbaric in our opinion. And that was the thing that really pushed ADF over the top to us. Earlier this month, the nations wealthiest civil rights organization fired its co-founder, Morris Dees, and president, Richard Cohen, a week later, due to allegations of sexual harassment and racial bigotry. Bob Moser, a former writer for the SPLC who is gay, wrote in the New Yorker on March 21 that the organization which has amassed an endowment of nearly half a billion dollars is a scam. A part of that scam was to also use the widening scope of its hate map, to raise funds. When the S.P.L.C. hired me as a writer, in 2001, I figured I knew what to expect: long hours working with humble resources and a highly diverse bunch of super-dedicated colleagues. I felt self-righteous about the work before Id even begun it, Moser wrote. He quickly lost faith in the organization after realizing that leadership did not practice what the organization preached when it comes to issues of race and gender. Nothing was more uncomfortable than the racial dynamic that quickly became apparent: a fair number of what was then about a hundred employees were African-American, but almost all of them were administrative and support staffthe help, one of my black colleagues said pointedly, Moser explained. The professional staffthe lawyers, researchers, educators, public-relations officers, and fund-raiserswere almost exclusively white. Just two staffers, including me, were openly gay, Moser continued. The work could be meaningful and gratifying. But it was hard, for many of us, not to feel like wed become pawns in what was, in many respects, a highly profitable scam. In a statement on the scandal at the SPLC, Bryan Fair, the Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law and chair of the Southern Poverty Law Centers board of directors, who happens to be black, chose to highlight a laundry list of the organizations important ongoing work while hitting back at the suggestion that their fundraising is a scam. Were doing this work because countless people continue to face discrimination and exploitation. They deserve justice. I resent the suggestion that were doing it merely for fundraising purposes, as some have said, Fair argued. I would not be serving on the board if this were true, and I know that Julian Bond, a true civil rights icon, would not have served on our board for many years had he thought that the organization took on cases and causes for the wrong reasons, he continued. Right now, as you may have read, were facing some internal workplace challenges. But were meeting them in the same way that were meeting every other challenge that we face with a fierce commitment to do justice. I can assure you that we will continue to work as hard as we can to combat the forces of hate and bigotry and to seek justice for the most marginalized people in our country. Because of the SPLCs "hate map," however, organizations like the ADF have suffered hits to their fundraising and security and believe it's time to get rid of it. For ADF, the SPLCs baseless accusations have resulted in our exclusion from the Amazon Smile donation program. Microsoft has removed us from its non-profit pricing for its software, we have armed guards at our offices, and we have been forced to hire plain-clothes police officers to protect attorneys when they speak on hostile campuses, Tedesco said. The recent revelations about the inner workings of the SPLC, he said, shows that the organization isnt a neutral watchdog. Recent reports have highlighted once again that todays SPLC is a corrupt fundraising machine that has become nothing more than a partisan progressive hit operation. Nobody should rely on the SPLC as a neutral watchdog. Investigative reporters, charity watchdogsand most recentlyformer employees have been raising the alarm that SPLC is partisan and unreliable for years, he said. It is time for the media, major corporations, and big tech companies to cut ties with the SPLC once and for all. Todays SPLC has zero credibility and its making hate pay business model should be rejected by all. Christopher Gacek, a senior fellow at the conservative Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., agrees. He told CP that while tracking the work of the Klan was strategic for the SPLC in the early days of the organizations operations, he doesnt think they should be using a "hate map" at this time, especially with trained law enforcement already tracking true hate crimes. They should not be doing the hate map, Gacek said. In August 2012, 28-year-old Floyd Lee Corkins II opened fire inside the FRC's headquarters. At the time, according to his parents, Corkins was volunteering at a community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. The FRC was targeted for its strong opposition to gay marriage, which landed it on SPLC's "Active Anti-Gay Groups" list. Corkins reportedly had a bag packed with Chick-fil-A sandwiches and a box of ammunition when he said, "I don't like your politics," and shot a security guard in the FRC's lobby. Weve been interacting with them (SPLC) over this (hate map) for nine years. One of the big effects of it was that a guy who was using the hate map came to our building and wanted to kill everybody in our building and shot our building manager and he told the FBI that he had been using the SPLC material. One of the things we have always been concerned about is security, Gacek said. No one should be using the hate map and it should be discontinued. It should have been discontinued after the shooting. He argued that for companies like Amazon to continue to use the SPLCs data as a standard to determine who can fundraise on their platform is also inappropriate. ADF was on it and was kicked off it, he said, referring to the Amazon Smile program. ADF is not a hate group. Its ridiculous this claim that they are. Its like YouTube tagging Prager videos. Its just absurd. When Amazon does this its just extremely lazy and it just shows the prejudices of the organization, he continued. I think anything coming out of the SPLC is rotten fruit from a poisonous tree and organizations need to stop playing around with this until they come clean about whats going on inside the organization and how long its been going on. Would the discovery of alien life disprove Christianity and the Bible? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment BALTIMORE As there is believed to be billions of planets in the universe, the theological implications that the discovery of intelligent alien life would have was overviewed at the recent BioLogos conference. BioLogos Foundation President Deborah Haarsma, the former chair of Calvin Colleges physics and astronomy department, gave her thoughts Thursday on tough hypothetical questions related to what the potential discovery of intelligent life on other planets would have on biblical claims and teachings. The BioLogos Foundation is an advocacy group that exists to help bridge biblical faith with modern scientific theories, which many in todays secular society believe must be at odds. With a conference theme of beyond conflict, Haarsma outlined how the theology of incarnation wouldnt be disproven if alien life were to be discovered on other planets. While online commentators and atheists argue that the discovery of intelligent alien life would be the end of organized religion," she shot down the notion that Christianity is parochial and something that is local with no cosmic significance. Although the Bible is about events that took place on Earth, Haarsma pointed out that the Bible is even more narrow than that because it really focuses on Abraham and his descendants. In the New Testament, the Bible focuses on Jesus life and ministry. She noted that the New Testament primarily takes place in the Middle East. Even in Jesus journeys, Christ did not travel too far of a distance from where He was born. Although the Bible is focused primarily on a certain geographical region, its message still applies to the entire Earth. Gods revelation was very particular for a particular culture and a particular place. But yet, the claims of Scripture are cosmic, she said. In Colossians 1 it says that In Him, all things were created: things on Heaven, things on Earth, visible, invisible, thrones, powers, rulers, authorities. All those things were created through Him and for Him. The biblical text from Colossians 1, Haarsma contended, suggests that claims of Christianity reach far beyond Earth and inhabit the whole cosmos. [T]he Christ that was incarnate here on Earth was the same Christ of the whole universe, she added. Whether or not there are intelligent aliens, the Bibles claims are cosmic in scope and [and cant be] shoveled aside. Some might ask whether the discovery of alien life reduces the significance of the human race. Whether or not there are intelligent beings, we are significant in Gods eyes, Haarsma asserted. How do we know? Well, the incarnation is a huge clue. God came and lived here as one of us. Christ died for us. He sent His spirit to live with [us]. These are the things that make us significant in Gods eyes [like] our relationship with Him. But would the discovery of intelligent alien life alter views on Christs incarnation? Haarsma explained that such a question is one where many Christians disagree. There are several theological possibilities, she pointed out. One possibility is that Christs sacrifice on Earth redeemed the entire universe, while another possibility is that aliens might not need redemption because they might have made a different choice than humans when it comes to sin and the Fall. Another option, she argued, was that God might have also been incarnated on alien planets to provide redemption in those worlds. The last possibility she mentioned is that aliens have their own way to God that is different from the paths humans have to God. Haarsma noted that this idea of God being incarnated on other planets was suggested in the final novel of C.S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia series. In Narnia, you have the idea of Aslan, God appearing in the form of a Lion in a different world, she explained. And by the time you get to the end of The Chronicles of Narnia in The Last Battle, you see him acknowledge that there are many worlds all pointing to one God. But God incarnates in different ways. In Perelandra, part of Lewis The Space Trilogy, Haarsma noted that Lewis talks about how life that is born after the incarnation would still look like Christ. It is the notion that Gods incarnation on Earth has an effect on what intelligent life looks like elsewhere. I dont know the right answer to this. There are multiple options here to consider, she admitted. So I dont think this is a showstopper for Christianity. It is something that we need to wrestle with. Christians have multiple views on how God can be related to aliens. But we do know that Christ took on human form. So our understanding of the incarnation itself here on Earth is still robust. Despite the different possibilities, Haarsma asserted that Gods character will remain the same. It is the same character of love, the same desire to be sacrificial, the same desire to redeem people to Himself, she stressed. While Christians have multiple views on God related to aliens, we know that Christ died to redeem human sin. Haarsma was joined by NASA astrophysicist Jennifer Wiseman and astrobiologist Stephen Freeland on Thursday. Wiseman discussed the proof that there is an abundance of exoplanets and stars that exist throughout the universe. Freeland focused on the origins and distribution of life on Earth. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Correction appended We told you this was coming. We warned you it would happen. We were not crying wolf. We were telling you the truth. And now it is here, as a headline announces: Canadian tribunal fines Bill Whatcott $55,000 for expressing Christian views on transgenderism. In other words, Whatcott called a biological male (who identifies as a female) a biological male. That was his crime. What a miscarriage of justice. What an assault of freedom of speech and expression. John Carpay, president of the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedom, which defended Whatcott, noted in protest that, The Supreme Court of Canada has long held that freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy. But not when it crosses the lines of transgender activism. Freedom halts there. Carpay added, Society is full of people with diverse views and the Tribunals decision undermines the foundational principles of the free society and jeopardizes the health of Canadas democracy. Precisely so. But, as I have stated often, this was always the end-goal of radical LGBT activism: the opposition must be silenced. (And until it is legally silenced, it must be socially shamed.) Last month, a Catholic journalist in England was interrogated by police at her house after she misgendered a child with whom she had appeared on TV. How dare she identify the child based on its biological sex. (For the shocking details, see here.) Now, in Canada, a Christian activist has been fined $55,000 for the hateful act of misgendering an adult male. How soon before this reaches America? Mass Resistance notes, Whatcotts offence is still considered perfectly legal in the United States. But for how long? (We are already seeing private censorship regarding transgenderism on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo!) Passage of the pending federal Equality Act (H.R. 5) will insert gender identity protections throughout federal law. In reality, some of these laws are already on the books in America, with New York City calling for fines up to $250,000 for misgendering someone in the workplace. (This was put in place in 2015.) And in 2016, A transgender schoolteacher in Oregon won a $60,000 settlement from a school district after co-workers allegedly failed to address the teacher by the proper gender pronouns. (For examples from the UK, see here and here.) Is the water hot enough for the frog to take notice? When bill C-16 (the Trans Rights Bill) was being debated in Canada, Prof. Jordan Peterson opined that, under this new law, he could go to jail for refusing to follow transgender speech guidelines. For making such claims, he was ridiculed. As expressed in an article on Vice, No, the Trans Rights Bill Doesnt Criminalize Free Speech. U[niv] of T[oronto] Prof Jordan Peterson has made C-16 a rallying point for free speech advocates. But experts say he has it all wrong. Tell that to Bill Whatcott. As Mass Resistance explains, During the British Columbia elections in the spring of 2017, Christian activist Bill Whatcott passed out hundreds of flyers notifying people that one of the local candidates for Parliament, Morgane Oger who claimed to be a woman and dressed as a woman was actually a man named Ronan Oger. (In fact, up until five years ago, Oger lived relatively normally as a father with his wife and two children.) That was it. He simply reported the truth: Morgane was a biological male. It is absolutely true that Whatcotts flyer also spoke out against homosexuality and transvestitism. And it is certain that many found his flyer to be offensive. (For the text of the flyer, see here, p. 104.) So be it. People say offensive things day and night in countless public settings, and those freedoms are protected by the law. You might even say, As a Christian activist, Whatcott should simply preach Jesus and not warn voters that Oger is a not a female but a male. Youre entitled to that opinion. What is not debatable meaning, it should not be debatable is that Whatcott has the legal right to tell the truth about Oger. Not according to the Canadian tribunal, which issued a 104-page ruling, concluding that: 1) Mr. Whatcotts conduct was discrimination contrary to the Code and that he must cease and desist from such action in the future; 2) he must pay Ms. Oger $35,000 as compensation for injury to her dignity, feelings, and selfrespect; 3) he must pay Ms. Oger $20,000 as costs for improper conduct; and 4) he must pay Oger interest due. (The Code in question is the Human Rights Code, to my knowledge, related to but not identical to Bill C-16.) So, this is not the prediction from a sky is falling pessimist. This is a factual report from a biblically-based realist. Expect this in a city near you in the coming days, unless you stand up and speak out today. As followers of Jesus, we can tell trans-identified people that we love them and wish them no harm without agreeing with their perceptions or affirming their choices. You have been forewarned. Again. Correction: April 5, 2019: Whatcott was not arrested and jailed in the B.C. proceeding. He was arrested and jailed for a separate incident in Toronto. The trial for that is scheduled soon. Details here. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In 2008, the Advocate, the leading LGBT news magazine in the U.S., ran a cover that starkly declared, in all capital letters, GAY IS THE NEW BLACK. It was a dramatic illustration of an assertion (explicit or implicit) that has been at the heart of the LGBT rights movementthe idea that sexual orientation is immutable, or incapable of change. Now, the left is pushing for a bill that would declare gay is the new black in even more direct terms. On April 2, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Equality Actbetter termed the Inequality Acta piece of legislation masquerading as a civil rights protection that would actually increase inequality and harm women and children. This bill has been introduced before, but has new life because of the Democratic majority in the U.S. House. It would amend virtually every area of federal civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, not only in the area of employment, but also public accommodations, housing, credit, and a raft of other areas. The Equality Act would begin by amending the granddaddy non-discrimination law of them allthe Civil Rights Act of 1964. This was the law passed at the height of the African-American civil rights movement of the 1960s in order to break the back of the pervasive Jim Crow racial segregation laws in the deep South. Without much debate, Congress also prohibited discrimination based on sex. What both race and sex have in common is that they are inborn, involuntary, immutable, innocuousand in the U.S. Constitution. None of these criteria apply to sexual orientation (or gender identity). Yet the Equality Act would add these categories to federal law nonetheless. This bill is based in part on the idea that any laws or practices which in any way disadvantage those who engage in homosexual conductfrom restricting their military service to defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman to allowing religious schools not to hire or admit themare inherently unjust because a persons sexual orientation (like their race) is fixed at (or before) birth and can never change. In the 2015 Supreme Court decision which redefined marriage to include same-sex couples (Obergefell v. Hodges), Justice Anthony Kennedy was explicit in declaring that his opinion rested on this premise. Only in more recent years have psychiatrists and others recognized that sexual orientation is . . . immutable, Kennedy declared. Marriage is a fundamental right, and the petitioners immutable nature dictates that same-sex marriage is their only real path to this profound commitment. Yet there is only one problem about this immutability argument; the science shows it simply isnt true! In Evidence Shows Sexual Orientation Can Change: Debunking the Myth of Immutability, I report on academic studies over the last two decades based on four large data sets drawn from surveys about sexuality. These studies are both population-based (representative of the population as a whole) and longitudinal (meaning they survey the same individuals at intervals years apart, allowing us to measure change over time). The truth is, sexual orientation is a multi-faceted concept, involving a combination of attractions, behaviors, and personal identity. These four studies all demonstrate that significant change in each of the elements of sexual orientation is possible. The percentage changing from homosexuality to heterosexuality ranged from 13% to 53% (while the percentage changing from heterosexuality to homosexuality ranged only from 1% to 12%). In one survey of same-sex attracted respondents, up to 38% of men and 53% of women changed to heterosexuality in only a six-year period. Confirmation of this has come from a surprising source. Scholar Lisa Diamond (who herself identifies as a lesbian) has long studied and written about the sexual fluidity of women. In a 2016 article with her colleague Clifford Rosky, she declared, Given the consistency of these findings, it is not scientifically accurate to describe same-sex sexual orientation as a uniformly immutable trait. Some scholars on the left (including Diamond), still advocate for an LGBT political agendabut they do so on the basis of arguments for personal sexual freedom, rather than arguments about the nature of sexual orientation itself. However, this amounts to replacing an argument rooted in the principles of civil rights with an argument rooted in the principles of the sexual revolution. In light of this evidence, the public would be wise to question whether the efforts of the LGBT movement to ride on the coat-tails of civil rights can any longer be justified. Indeed, the science shows that the evidence for immutabilityon which many have relied to argue for such legislationsimply isnt there. If Congress truly wants to pursue evidence-based policy, it will reject the Equality Act and its deceptive premise. Peter Sprigg is a Senior Fellow for Policy Studies at the Family Research Council. Churches unite Rwanda genocide victims and killers to empower communities Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment RUGANGO, Rwanda Farmer Habarurema Bosco did not feel like a human anymore after losing all of his family in the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi minority that saw the loss of about 1 million lives. He and his family were hunted like animals by the Hutu ethnic majority, incited by the government and extremist propaganda spewed over the radio and through newspapers. Even religious leaders were utilized to spread the message of hate. As the only survivor from a family of 40, he lost all hope for the future. At the time, he didn't have faith in Christ. He resorted to doing drugs and drinking alcohol to ease his pain and make him feel more human. But thankfully, a man of God shared the Word of God with him and prayed for him and his salvation. As a result, Bosco joined a Pentecostal church. It was there he learned that all humans are made in the image of God. Today, Bosco, whom God has blessed with a wife and six kids to keep his family line going, is helping his neighbors in Rwandas southern province to transform their hearts and forgive those who trespassed against them and their families. "The first miracle that happened in my life is being transformed from that life to this kind of Christian life," Bosco told reporters from the United States who visited him and his friends in the village of Rugango. The press trip was sponsored by the evangelical humanitarian charity World Vision U.S. Now I praise God that saved me and because I will be able to live in peace with other members. My heart now is free and God is living in me. As God has saved me, I want to share that love with others and I will teach them to pray because it is from praying that I lived again. Although Bosco is Pentecostal, he is an integral part of a program run by the Catholic parish of Rugango that began in 2017 training and equipping genocide survivors and perpetrators of all Christian walks to put their pasts aside and work together in an attempt to create more economic empowerment for their impoverished farming community. In August of that year, the church began months of training for 84 genocide survivors and perpetrators to truly forgive and be forgiven from the bottom on their hearts. But there is more to it than just forgiveness. Every Sunday, the class gathered for four hours. It was led by a community reconciliation facilitator and the parish priest. The key to this group, called "Peace Warriors," is for those participating to go beyond repenting and forgiving and be truly reconciled to create a new way to support themselves and their loved ones. "From that mindset change is a genuine mindset change process," Mukankrange Vestine, the community facilitator for the program who herself lost 14 family members in the genocide, explained. "Genocide victims, they have lost their [loved ones]. They do not have husband and they do not have children. So physically, they are not ready to work alone. They still need people to work with. Only people to work with are those neighbors who were against them during the genocide. So now what you are doing is calling on people to come support them and go on together for the rest of their lives." In Rwanda, about 20 percent of the population is living in extreme poverty and 44 percent are living in moderate poverty. Malnutrition for children can reach up to 38 percent. Thanks to the international evangelical humanitarian charity World Vision and church leaders, this community in Rugango is being taught the importance of not being dependent upon handouts. This group of 84, which is the first of many groups that the Rugango parish plans to train and equip with the power of radical forgiveness, is now involved in a beekeeping enterprise that they hope will one day produce enough profit to help all families involved. So far, the community is taking care of 39 beehives located in the woods on the parish property. After training, all 84 members of the group play some role in maintaining the hives. But since the hives are relatively new, the group has not yet been able to harvest the honey. But they are patiently and optimistically waiting to reap the reward. A second group of about 86 Rugango genocide survivors and perpetrators, which has not yet been named, began its training and classes last year following the end of the first session. Although that group has not yet figured out what their economic empowerment endeavor will be, they are working with the country's largest humanitarian organization, World Vision Rwanda, to figure that out. "Our motto is the mind, the heart and the pocket. We start with the mind, which changes the heart," said Aimable Nsengiyumva, the leader of World Visions efforts in the Southern Province. "When the mind is changed, the heart changes. When the heart is changed, [so should] the pocket. " Worlds most expensive painting, a $450M image of Jesus by Da Vinci is missing Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The worlds most expensive painting, a centuries old image of Jesus known as the Salvator Mundi attributed to legendary Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci, has disappeared in Abu Dhabi. The painting, which was purchased for $450 million in 2017 by Saudi prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, is now missing, The New York Times reports. Al-Saud is believed to have acted as a proxy for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who was named the new Saudi Culture Minister in 2018. The Abu Dhabi culture department announced about a month after the painting was purchased that it would be displayed in the world-class Louvre Abu Dhabi museum. But a scheduled unveiling of the painting last September was canceled without explanation, the Times said. Officials with the culture department are now refusing to answer questions about the painting, but staff of the Louvre Abu Dhabi say privately that they have no knowledge of the paintings whereabouts, the report notes. And while art experts are hoping that the painting will resurface soon, some argue that depriving the world of the work would be tragic. It is tragic, Dianne Modestini, a professor at New York Universitys Institute of Fine Arts and a conservator who has worked on Salvator Mundi, told The New York Times. To deprive the art lovers and many others who were moved by this picture a masterpiece of such rarity is deeply unfair. Martin Kemp, an Oxford art historian who has studied the painting, called it a kind of religious version of the Mona Lisa and Leonardos strongest statement of the elusiveness of the divine. Even he had no clue where the painting might be. I dont know where it is, either, he told the Times. Professor Kemp said the Salvator Mundi is believed to have been painted around 1500, and was one of two similar works listed in an inventory of the collection of King Charles I of England after his execution in 1649. The painting disappeared from the historical record in the late 18th century. The painting later resurfaced in the collection of a 19th century British industrialist but attributed to one of Da Vincis followers. It was reclaimed as a Da Vinci work in 2005 and brought to professor Modestini of NYU for restoration. Since the latest disappearance of the painting there have been renewed concerns over the works authenticity but Modestini called them nonsense. Some art experts are speculating that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman might have decided to keep the painting for himself while others are thinking more sinister things might have happened to the painting. Isn't it against conservative Muslim dogma to have an image of one of the prophets, i.e. Jesus? How does Salvator Mundi end up in Saudi Arabia or UAE? Could disappearance be a religious matter? critic James Stevenson asked on Twitter. Let's only hope Muhammad bin Salman didn't chop it up and use it for firewood ((: wrote James Chikonamombe. Texas bans chaplains from execution chambers in dispute over religious rights Texas has implemented a ban on chaplains being present in execution chambers for condemned inmates in response to two high-profile court cases on the issue. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for a Buddhist inmate who was prohibited from having a chaplain of his choosing in the chamber. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice told the Texas Tribune that the ban was to take effect immediately. "TDCJ Chaplain(s) will continue to be available to an offender until they are transferred to the execution chamber. The chaplain will also be present in the viewing room if requested," explained the spokesperson. Late last month, the Supreme Court halted the execution of 57-year-old Patrick Murphy, a Buddhist who had been sentenced to death for his involvement in a prison escape that resulted in a murder of a police officer. At issue was Murphy's denied request to have a Buddhist spiritual adviser present with him in the execution chamber, even though Christian and Muslim chaplains were permitted to be present. In a concurring opinion, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that Texas had two options to resolve the constitutionally problematic policy. "(1) allow all inmates to have a religious adviser of their religion in the execution room; or (2) allow inmates to have a religious adviser, including any state-employed chaplain, only in the viewing room, not the execution room," wrote Justice Kavanaugh. "In any event, the choice of remedy going forward is up to the State. What the State may not do, in my view, is allow Christian or Muslim inmates but not Buddhist inmates to have a religious adviser of their religion in the execution room." Luke Goodrich, senior counsel and vice president at the religious liberty law firm Becket, expressed concern over Texas' new ban, arguing in a series of posts to Twitter that it would not survive a legal challenge. "If this new policy is fully litigated, Texas will lose. Texas has already shown that clergy can be present in the execution chamber without harming security. So it won't be able to prove banning all clergy is the only way to maintain security," tweeted Goodrich on Wednesday. "Religious freedom *includes* the vital requirement of equal treatment across all religious faiths. But it also means the government can't prohibit religious practices without a very powerful reason for doing sowhich Texas doesn't have here." Courtesy of The Christian Post Theresa May asks EU leaders for Brexit delay to be extended to June 30 British Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday asking to delay Brexit until June 30 to allow divided British lawmakers to agree a withdrawal deal. "The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019," May said in the letter. May said that if an agreement was reached before this date, then Britain proposed that the extension should be ended early. "The government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible," she said. A senior EU official told Reuters that chairman Donald Tusk is likely to offer Britain a flexible extension of the date of the country's exit from the EU of up to one year, with the possibility of leaving sooner. The official said the option could be presented to British Prime Minister Theresa May at the EU summit on Brexit on April 10th in Brussels. If May accepted, Britain would have to hold elections to the European parliament in May, the official said. "The only reasonable way out would be a long but flexible extension. I would call it a 'flextension'," the official said. "We could give the UK a year-long extension, automatically terminated once the Withdrawal Agreement has been accepted and ratified by the House of Commons," the official said. "And even if this were not possible, then the UK would still have enough time to rethink its Brexit strategy. A short extension if possible, and a long one if necessary. It seems to be a good scenario for both sides, as it gives the UK all the necessary flexibility, while avoiding the need to meet every few weeks to further discuss Brexit extensions," he said. Britain's exit from the EU, nearly three years since the country voted to leave the bloc, is now in doubt because the British parliament cannot decide what exit terms it wants, just a week before the current Brexit date of April 12. May offered to quit to get her deal passed but it was defeated for a third time last Friday, the day Britain was originally due to leave the EU. She is now in talks with opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to find a way out of the deadlock, but it is not clear if they can find a solution in the next few days. A request for an extension, if May makes one, would have to be backed by sound arguments why the EU should grant it, officials said. Britain's BBC reported that May would make such a request on Friday. "If we are not able to understand the reason why the UK is asking for an extension, we cannot give a positive answer," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters in Bucharest, when asked about the possible 12-month extension. 5 minutes with... An important Gustav Bauernfeind painting Specialist Arne Everwijn hails the texture, the rituals, the light, colour and detail in this vision of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus detail that has made the Orientalist artists windows into the past much sought after in the Middle East When the German artist Gustav Bauernfeind (1848-1904) visited Damascus in December 1888, he wrote in his diary about exploring the city and coming across a great subject for a painting. His eyes had alighted on the 8th-century Umayyad Mosque, one of the oldest in the world, and built after the Muslims conquered Damascus in 634 AD. The result is what Arne Everwijn, Senior Specialist in European and Orientalist Art, describes as a fantastic picture, which taps into the richness of Middle Eastern culture. As a non-Muslim, Bauernfeind was not allowed to enter the holy site, so he bribed the guards to let him observe the comings and goings of the worshippers from the forecourt. The picture incorporates the doorway's threshold, which is partly covered by a richly decorated carpet that divides the viewer from the spectacle, reinforcing the artists outsider status. Bauernfeind was one of the great Orientalist painters of the 19th century, says the specialist. He travelled to the Middle East and tried to capture daily life there, documenting the exotic mystery of a foreign culture for European and American collectors. Bauernfeind was a master of technical detail, and his painting Forecourt of the Umayyad Mosque, Damascus (1890) is both an historical record and a beautifully balanced composition. He was trying to encapsulate everything in one picture, says Everwijn, the texture, the rituals, the light, colour and detail. Not everything you see would have been happening at the same time. In fact, the picture was not painted until two years after Bauernfeind returned to Germany in 1890. He made watercolours in situ and subsequently painted two luxurious panels depicting the North gate and the West gate. I think his intention had always been to paint the Mosque from multiple angles, says the specialist. The picture of the North gate The Gate of the Great Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, 1890 was sold at Christies in 2008 for 2,505,250, making it the second most expensive work by the artist at auction. Many Orientalist paintings are bought by Middle Eastern collectors and institutions today, explains Everwijn, because there is no similar pictorial tradition in the Islamic world. A painting by an artist like Bauernfeind, who travelled in the region and could render detail almost photographically, is a window into the past. The Mosque was also badly damaged by fire in 1893, making Bauernfeinds picture a rare document of what it once looked like. There is no Western bias of superiority in the way he documents the scene Arne Evenwijn Everwijn says that Bauernfeind was inspired by his immediate surroundings. As a young artist he painted the landscape of his native Germany, until, like the French painter Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863), he found his subject matter in the Middle East. The reason why Bauernfeind stands alongside the other great 19th-century Orientalists like Jean-Leon Gerome and Rudolf Ernst is because of his meticulous observation. He had trained as an architect, so had a keen eye for detail, and was obsessed with line, texture and material. You can see this in the way he has painted the metalwork and the tiling, Everwijn points out. It gives us a very clear picture of the craftsmanship that existed at the time. Sign up today Christie's Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe The tastemaker: Marc Auclert The Parisian jewellery designer, who specialises in repurposing ancient gems, admires some 40 miniature masterpieces from the G. Sangiorgi Collection, offered in New York on 29 April Sitting with his sketchbook in front of a collection of ancient engraved gems some carved from jasper, others from gold, onyx, amethyst and carnelian is the French jewellery designer Marc Auclert. The grandson of an antiques dealer, Auclert caught the collecting bug when he was young, working the flea markets of Paris before going on to establish a successful career in the jewellery industry at De Beers and Chanel. Eight years ago he launched his own boutique in Paris, which specialises in repurposing museum-worthy ancient jewellery. Read more: Guide to engraved Classical gems I use antiques remounted on modern settings I basically re-employ jewellery, explains the designer, who sources his ancient material from dealers and auction houses before resetting it in unconventional designs, such as diamond-enclosed brooches or ruby-studded rings. Marc Auclert holding a Roman black chalcedony intaglio portrait of Antinous, Circa 130-138 AD. 1 in (3.4 cm) long. Sold for $2,115,000 on 29 April 2019 at Christies in New York The 40 ancient gems Auclert is examining span the second millennium BC to the 4th century AD, and come from the collection of the Italian art historian, collector and dealer Giorgio Sangiorgi. Most are no bigger than two to three centimetres long, and all of them display exquisitely engraved portraits of mortals and gods, battle scenes or constellations, carved using tiny iron tools by virtuoso craftsmen. You have to put yourself in that time no electricity, no lights, no motor, remarks the designer. Everything is hand-made, hand-drilled. They are more than artisans; they are artists. In our film, the designer highlights the breadth of imagery the engravers employed: one 2,400-year-old mottled yellow jasper scaraboid depicts a grasshopper at rest and is thought to have been made by a Greek named Dexamenos, while a candy-orange carnelian lozenge from circa 20-10 BC depicts the moment described in The Iliad when Protesilaos becomes the first Greek warrior to leap onto Trojan shores. They are like little stories, little comic strips, says Auclert. The art of working with Classical Greek and Roman jewels in particular miniature engraved gemstones is nothing new, explains Auclert. In medieval times they were often set on book covers and chalices, and during the 17th and 18th centuries they were collected and worn by aristocrats. We love things that are old and that give us roots and give us purpose, he explains. Indeed, many of the ancient gems in the Sangiorgi collection come on much later mounts. Sign up today Christie's Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe In an ongoing effort to starve Nicolas Maduro's regime of resources by targeting Venezula's oil sector, the U.S. will now direct sanctions on 34 vessels owned and operated by the national oil company, PDVSA, as well as two other companies carrying Venezuelan crude oil to Cuba, Vice President Mike Pence said Friday. Pence said the U.S. will now target crude oil from Venezuela to Cuba through sanctions during a speech at Rice University's Baker Institute Friday. "Venezuelan oil belongs to Venezuelan people," Pence said. FUEL FIX: Get oil and gas news directly to your inbox every weekday The move aims to put pressure on Cuba as a way to get to Caracas. Despite falling oil production and a mounting economic crisis in Venezuela, Cuba still has been receiving shipments of PDVSA oil as an important part of its energy mix. Cuba is a major importer of crude and in return it sends assistance to Venezula in the form of political advisers, intelligence and military officials and medical professionals. "Cuba has been an underlying force fueling Venezuela's descent into crisis. Treasury is taking action against vessels and entities transporting oil, providing a lifeline to keep the illegitimate Maduro regime afloat," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin in a statement shortly after Pence's speech. "Cuba continues to profit from, and prop up, the illegitimate Maduro regime through oil-for-repression schemes as they attempt to keep Maduro in power. The United States remains committed to a transition to democracy in Venezuela and to holding the Cuban regime accountable for its direct involvement in Venezuela's demise." RELATED: Citgo gets $1.2B loan amid concerns over Venezuela sanctions Already the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan crude oil and the state-owned oil company PDVSA as a way to cut off the main source of revenue for Maduro regime. PDVSA, which owns the Houston refiner Citgo Petroleum Corp., has been surviving off sending crude to Asia, although India is slowing down purchases of Venezuelan crude under pressure from the White House. Meanwhile Citgo Petroleum has essentially aimed to cut off ties with PDVSA and has shifted away from importing Venezuelan crude to comply with U.S. sanctions, although it has received some exemptions from the U.S. government to keep operating. Citgo now is operating under the leadership of a board appointed by Juan Guadido, the opposition leader who the U.S. and dozens of other countries recognize as Venezuela's legitimate leader. Friday's announcement is part of the White House's ongoing effort to ramp up pressure on the Venezuelan government. Last week, President Donald Trump met the wife of Juan Guaido, Fabiana Rosales, and called for the removal of Russian military forces assisting the Maduro government. On Tuesday Pence meant with families of six executives from Citgo Petroleum who have been detained in Caracas for about 17 months with no due process after they were arrested on what their families say are trumped up charges. Pence demanded Maduro release the prisoners. On Friday Pence was scheduled to meet with again the families of the detained Citgo executives as well as other Venezuelans who fled to Houston area to escape persecution. "All of the families here and all those that are looking on, from President Trump, 'Estamos con ustedes' (we are with you)," Pence said. In a closed-door meeting prior to Pence's speech, activists and former Venezuelan government leaders gave impassioned speeches about the worsening conditions in the country - where access to food, water and electricity have been dwindling. Power outages in the country have further crippled the country's already struggling oil industry as Venezuela saw production slashed in half last month, Bloomberg reported. Jesus Guarecuco, a doctor who now lives in Pasadena after fleeing from Venezuela, spoke of the lack of access to basic medicine. "There are babies that are dying in hospitals because we don't have ... basic treatments," said Guarecuco,, who also works with the nonprofit Medicos Unidos Venezuela. Pence repeatedly called for Maduro's exit and said "libertad" or freedom can' t be restored to Venezuela until then. "Nicola Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power and Nicolas Maduro to go," he said. Power failures that plunged Venezuela into darkness for much of March also briefly slashed the countrys crude production by half, according to people familiar with the situation. Rolling blackouts across much of the country that started on March 7 paralyzed most of the countrys oil wells and rigs, which have slowly come back online. Oil output averaged less than 600,000 barrels a day during the blackouts, the people said, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public. For the full month, daily production was 890,000 barrels, according to a Bloomberg survey of officials, analysts and ship-tracking data. RELATED: Citgo executives, arrested by Maduro, forgotten in Venezuela turmoil The loss of production due to the blackouts deals another blow to Venezuelas already-crippled oil industry, already reeling from years of mismanagement and U.S. sanctions that removed its biggest customer. The nations crude output, one of the few sources of cash for Nicolas Maduros regime, has tumbled by two-thirds since before PDVSA workers went on strike in December 2002. Near the Orinoco basin in the East, where four out of every five barrels is pumped, heavy tar-like oil has begun to clog pipelines and tanks after the heating system lost power, according to Wills Rangel, a former PDVSA board director and president of the United Workers Federation of Oil, Gas and Related Derivatives of Venezuela. Cleaning or removing the pipes could take months, he said. Damage caused by the blackouts at the Orinoco Belt oil fields is substantial, Rangel said in an interview. Production Drop Because of the blow to Orinoco Belt production, a huge drop will be reflected in the March numbers Venezuela will report to OPEC, Rangel said. During the blackouts, production was down to a level similar to Venezuelas January 2003 reported production to OPEC, which plunged after the PDVSA strike against then-president Hugo Chavez. The Orinoco Belt area hasnt recovered fully from the electricity blow and is currently producing about 300,000 barrels a day, he said. RELATED: Board, named by Venezuelan opposition, takes control at Citgo While pumping oil from fields in the Orinoco Belt requires some electricity, the bigger power demand comes from the upgraders -- facilities that convert the extra-heavy oil to more commercial blends -- located some 300 kilometers away in the north near the coast. The countrys four upgraders are still working to restart. If PDVSA restores power at full to all its four upgraders, jointly owned by Chevron, Total, Equinor and Rosneft, it can have an impact on the national grid, Rangel said. Upgraders will only have total power once the state run utility allows it, Rangel said. The flow of electricity from the national grid needs to be stabilized before it can bring power back to other high-demand services such Caracass subway and water pumping systems. In the fields, oil wells and pumps are expected to be connected under a government-ordered power rationing plan thats in effect. --With assistance from Lucia Kassai. Investors have their eyes on Houston, thanks to a federal tax incentive known as the Opportunity Zone program. Part of the 2017 federal tax overhaul aimed to spur economic activity in low-income neighborhoods by allowing states to designate areas in need of revitalization as Opportunity Zones, investments in these areas would be rewarded by federal tax breaks. Houston is home to two of the nation's most attractive neighborhoods for such investment, according to a Zillow analysis. That could be important as the city considers what types of investment it would like to encourage. "Local governments have their own priorities with what they want to do with Opportunity Zone money," said Alexander Casey, a Zillow policy adviser. Many local leaders are looking for ways to promote the types of investment that low-income neighborhoods need -- such as affordable housing, grocery stores and infrastructure -- while mitigating displacement and other negative effects. OPPORTUNITY ZONES: Are federal opportunity tax breaks going to right places? But not all Opportunity Zones are equally likely to attract investment. In Houston, factors such as home value appreciation and sales volume led Zillow to conclude that two neighborhoods are especially likely to attract substantial investment: Greater Eastwood and Gulfton. "Local leaders Houston should be ready -- these are the areas where change will likely occur," Casey said. The median price of homes in parts of Eastwood selected it as an Opportunity Zone by Gov. Greg Abbott rose 8 percent more than they had the year before. And the surge in Gulton's property sales after that neighborhood became eligible for the tax break was larger than similar surges in 98 percent of Opportunity Zones. The changes in Opportunity Zones stand in stark contrast to the changes in neighborhoods that had been eligible to become Opportunity Zones but were ultimately not selected. For years, sales prices for the two groups followed similar trends. But Zillow data show that after the final Opportunity Zone selection was announced in the summer of 2018, those paths quickly diverged. In Opportunity Zones, the year-over-year change in average sales prices jumped to 25 percent from roughly 15 percent. In the neighborhoods that were eligible, but not selected, the year-over-year change in average sales price slowed to 8 percent from roughly 15 percent. Casey warned that these trends are preliminary. Because the final guidelines for Opportunity Zone investment have not yet been announced, many investors may still be sitting on the sidelines. "But we're seeing an indication that people are paying more for property located in these Opportunity Zones," he said. American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race By Douglas Brinkley Harper. 548 pp. $35 --- During the 1960 presidential campaign, a Princeton University freshman wrote to candidate John Kennedy seeking his views on the future of America's space program. The Soviet Union had the lead in the space race, having launched the first satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, and continued to push ahead. In his reply to the student, Kennedy wrote of the "possibilities of leap-frogging the Russians," adding that "without leap-frogging I fear we shall be getting their exhaust in our face for quite a long time." When Kennedy became president, he "articulated a visionary strategy to leapfrog" the Soviets to assert space leadership, writes Douglas Brinkley in his new book, "American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race." "Sometimes in history," Brinkley explains, "a single word or concept can trigger a blinding flash that illuminates a presidency or the life of the nation. 'Leapfrog' ... became that kind of word, taking on a life of its own in NASA culture." When Kennedy took office, America was cautiously moving toward manned flight in increments, always a step or two behind the Soviet Union; by the time he was assassinated, the country had committed irrevocably to go to the moon and was at work on a crash program to do it. With a mixture of granular detail from a gigantic body of works on the subject and analyses of Kennedy's decision-making and political savvy, "American Moonshot" transcends mere narrative to help the rest of us understand how America geared up for the astonishing feat of landing a man on the moon. With the approach of the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's "small step for man," Brinkley's focus on the all-important early days provides a valuable perspective. Brinkley deftly shows the tense atmosphere that surrounded Kennedy's special message to Congress on May 25, 1961, calling for a widening commitment to the space program. In the previous month, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth. The United States had hoped to send astronaut Alan Shepard into space months before Gagarin, a launch that would have earned America the glory of the first manned spaceflight. But Shepard's liftoff was delayed repeatedly. Gagarin's interceding accomplishment was another setback for the American program, prompting Kennedy to pepper his advisers with urgent questions: "Is there any place we can catch them? What can we do? Can we go around the moon before them? Can we put a man on the moon before them? ... Can we leapfrog?" A few days after the Soviets' success in space, the United States suffered a political and public relations disaster when the Cubans routed the CIA-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion. In anticipation of Kennedy's special message to Congress, the press speculated that the president would deliver "a comeback address, redirecting [his] high-minded optimism and undeniable energy after the double wallop of Yuri Gagarin and the Bay of Pigs," Brinkley writes. And Kennedy lived up to expectations. As Brinkley recounts, "The president laid out the grand challenge that would come to define his administration and legacy." Kennedy told Congress, "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." Despite the high ambitions, a policy didn't exist yet. Kennedy had a decent foundation of American accomplishment and specific plans to build on, but the nation's future in space was far from certain. Under Dwight Eisenhower's administration, the United States suffered an embarrassing failed launch of a satellite - the rocket exploded on live television. In the 1950s, the United States succeeded in sending some satellites into orbit. But after his term, Eisenhower was steadfast in his adherence to a cautious program and never hid his disdain for expensive crash programs like Kennedy's that were designed to advertise America's might. As Brinkley writes, "Former president Eisenhower continued to snipe that 'anybody who would spend $40 billion in a race to the moon for national prestige is nuts.' " When Kennedy took office, he had only a transition report that recommended continuing the Eisenhower incrementalism. While Kennedy had bigger ideas, the best estimate of the experts was that the United States could get to the moon by the mid-1970s. But Kennedy never wavered after his decision, as this compelling and comprehensive book shows in depth. In his epilogue, Brinkley recounts the drama of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon in July 1969, nearly six years after Kennedy's death. On that day America beat the Soviets by delivering the first two men to the lunar surface. "At around that time," Brinkley writes, "an unknown citizen had left a lovely bouquet of flowers on Kennedy's Arlington grave with a thoughtful card that read simply: 'Mr. President, the Eagle has landed.'" --- Oliphant, a retired Boston Globe columnist, is the author with Curtis Wilkie of "The Road to Camelot: Inside JFKs Five-Year Campaign." Between an argument for cultural assimilation and gibes at freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked his viewers on Thursday night to consider a hypothetical situation. What if President Donald Trump were sick of being president, he mused, and wanted to doom his own chances of re-election? "It wouldn't be a crazy conclusion," said Carlson, who did not apologize last month after the liberal media watchdog group Media Matters for America surfaced old recordings of him making racist and sexist remarks. "How would you like to spend your 70s locked in the White House?" But what would the commander in chief need to do, practically speaking, to arrange his escape? Carlson offered some ideas, in what amounted to a thinly veiled broadside against the president. The segment stood out at a network - the most watched on American cable - that has been extraordinarily friendly with the White House. Its hosts repeat Trump's rhetoric about the border and the special counsel's Russia probe. And he rewards them in turn, defending Jeanine Pirro when she was sidelined after suggesting that a Democratic congresswoman was disloyal to the Constitution because she wore a hijab. Sean Hannity appeared onstage with the president at a rally before the midterm election last fall. But Carlson, who also on Thursday professed not to know what a "white nationalist" was, strives to cut a different figure. He has not shied away from disparaging the president. Asked in a December interview with the Swiss weekly "Die Weltwoche" whether Trump has "achieved nothing," the Fox host answered bluntly: "Not much. Not much." It was a winter of some discontent at Fox News, where several of its most visible personalities denounced the compromise that Trump was forced to accept to keep the government open. Hannity called the deal "garbage." But Carlson's suggestion that Trump may be actively seeking to avoid a second term, and, if not, that his administration is so severely off the rails that self-sabotage is a reasonable interpretation of his approach to governing, marked an escalation of his criticism. It all began much more subtly. What if the president were trying to lose? First, he would cut Medicare. "That's something that nobody outside the libertarian symposia circuit wants to see," Carlson said. Second, he would slash funding for the federal E-Verify database, an electronic system that enables employers to check documents provided by new hires against government records. "That would allow companies to keep hiring illegal alien labor, in violation of a key campaign promise," Carlson observed. In further engineering his own defeat, Carlson said, Trump might allow more low-skilled workers into the country, reduce the prison sentences of people convicted of drug crimes and "continue our pointless military intervention in Syria, which in no way benefits the United States." "If the president did all that, the message would be very clear," the Fox host said. "He has no idea what he ran on in 2016. He just wants out." But if voters still didn't get the message - perhaps they were "too distracted by the Russia hoax to notice," Carlson said - one final move could really drive the message home. "You'd raise gas taxes," he said. The punchline was that the Trump administration has done - or is reportedly thinking about doing - each of these things. Notably, among the policies that Carlson identified as misguided, several have been championed by the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has aligned himself against Trump's more nationalist and economically populist impulses and influences. These policies include the First Step Act, signed into law in December, which eases sentencing requirements for nonviolent drug offenders. More recently, Kushner has been working on a plan that would bring more low- and high-skilled workers to the United States legally, according to Politico. Some of the other changes denounced by Carlson reflect priorities in Trump's 2020 budget proposal, unveiled last month. The blueprint, which is subject to considerable congressional revision, includes $845 billion less in Medicare spending over the next 10 years. It also cuts funding for E-Verify. In February, Trump decided to leave 400 U.S. troops in Syria, after declaring in December that he was bringing all American forces home "now." Finally, the administration is reportedly open to raising gas taxes, an idea that could put Trump on common ground with some congressional Democrats. To Carlson, that possibility was most troubling of all. Increasing levies on gas, he said, is "so mindless and counterproductive there's literally no way you could get re-elected after doing it." "And, in fact, the administration is proposing just that," he said incredulously. He said the policy is popular in the capital because political heavyweights are "too rich to care what gas costs." "But if you live outside the coastal cities, and you're not rich, higher gas prices are a disaster," Carlson said. Carlson's view is in line with the consensus on Capitol Hill about the political hazards of asking more of people at the pump, even though numerous presidents, including Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Bill Clinton, increased levies on fuel in their first terms and won re-election. In a case study of how vexed the issue can be, France recently backed down from a plan to raise diesel prices after violent demonstrations by yellow-vested protesters. The Fox host called the idea "nuts," adding, "If you're really sick of the job, go with the gas tax." The possible playbook for political suicide featured as an interlude Thursday in a show otherwise focused on Ocasio-Cortez, whom Carlson called an "idiot." He pilloried the 29-year-old for her comments about immigration, accusing her of shutting down debate. According to Carlson, it is impossible to have a "serious" conversation about the border because "you are met with either accusations that you're a racist or a white nationalist - whatever that is; you're a bad person." Or, he sad, "you're met with these, again, platitudes." He chided his interlocutor, Univision anchor Enrique Acevedo, "Please don't quote the poem at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty to me." The aside by the Fox host, who has been accused of both parroting white nationalists and inspiring them, sounded similar notes that Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, struck when he inquired, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive?" Carlson also ridiculed concerns about climate change. "How did we wind up with a country in which feminists do science?" he asked, mocking a study that addresses the relationship between gender norms and environmental consciousness. Ocasio-Cortez, ever the eager combatant, fired back, writing on Twitter, "Democracy and civil rights is how we got a country where 'feminists do science.'" New Orleans is a city that revels in its quirks: the voodoo boutiques, sidewalk snake charmers, haunted graveyards, magic potions, dodgy dive bars and little musty museums crammed with cabinets of curiosities. Its prime hunting ground for those with a taste for the odd, which describes my grownup daughter and me to a T. In town for the vampy (and muddy) Voodoo Music + Arts Experience rockfest last fall, we set aside five days for offbeat exploration, glamming up and heading out in search of some real-deal Nawlins mystery and funk. We asked locals for advice and got a friendly earful. They pointed us to hidden gems away from French Quarter and Bourbon Street crowds: seance rooms; vampire boutiques; restaurants serving farm-raised snapping turtle soup and crawfish pie; 24-hour bars with excellent live music and fancy $5 cocktails want that to go? We were impressed by their fierce love for this freewheeling Paris of the South. Boasted one longtime resident: We dont have laws in New Orleans. We have suggestions. In that spirit, we offer some of our favorite discoveries. ECLECTIC SHOPPING I was hooked on Secondline Arts and Antiques the moment I spotted the necklace of raccoon vertebrae and beaded garfish scales. Excellent swamp vibe, and only $25. Deeper into the sprawling French Quarter store, I found the edgy, Crayola-bright paintings of street artist Nathan Pitts (aka Nathan Henry): two for $40. An hour later, I was still wandering, lost in a world of blue morpho butterflies and sitting Buddhas, doll heads and deer heads, chandeliers and painted skulls, vintage hats and glittering masks, handmade light fixtures and fine old European furniture. More than 150 local artists and collectors rent booths in the eclectic shop, which goes all-out in supporting local creativity. The concept is to give starting-out artists a chance to showcase their work at a very low rent and commission rate, manager Victoria Williams says. Its a welcome antidote to the same-same tourist souvenir shops nearby. 1209 Decatur St., 504-875-1924; secondlinenola.com HUMBLE GRAVEYARD Grand aboveground mausoleums and family tombs draw hordes of tourists to New Orleans graveyards. We stopped by a few of these cities of the dead, taking in the stately, megabuck monuments, before visiting the haunting, hidden-away Holt Cemetery in the Navarre neighborhood. Nothing fancy or pretentious at this humble site, a resting place established for indigents in the 1870s. Despite the citys high water table, almost all the departed here are buried below ground, and flooding can push up bits of bones and burial goods that keep death very real and very present. I was stirred as I wandered the muddy cemetery, taking in beloved stuffed animals now covered in muck, half-buried Mardi Gras beads, sunken graves, bouquets of dusty plastic flowers, pieces of PVC pipe laid out in rectangles to mark off family plots, ripped bits of shroud cloth and hand-lettered wooden tomb markers leaning underneath old trees hung with moss. I kept thinking of poet John Donnes famous line: Death, be not proud. The Holts most famous resident is jazz king Charles Buddy Bolden, described by pianist Jelly Roll Morton as the blowingest man since Gabriel. Bolden died penniless and is buried in an unmarked grave in this poignant place. 4901 Rosedale Drive, next to Delgado Community College AUTHENTIC CONJURING Voodoo, brought to New Orleans from Africa by slaves, is a serious and seriously exploited religion in the city, with many shops selling poorly made, mass-produced potions and relics. My daughter, a longtime student of pagan practices, wanted to find something authentic, and locals pointed us to Crescent City Conjure in the Marigny District. The African-American-owned shop is a hoodoo, not voodoo, center for serious practitioners of the magical arts from across the country. The owner of the small, cheery, brick-walled place makes goods by hand and personally blesses them, using herbs, roots and other earthy matter such as the grave dirt used in ancestral powder, which is said to open spirit communication with those gone beyond. Original conjure oils which may be bottled in front of you include offerings named Follow Me Boy Oil, Crown of Success Oil and Fast Money Oil. Youll find hand-poured Happy Home candles, Fiery Protection Gris-Gris bags and a bath mix called Get Yo Mind Right. Tarot-card readings cost $50-$75; spiritual services and spells, including love work and vexing, are individually tailored and priced. Even if people know nothing when they come in, were hoping they can feel something special in the air, owner Sen Elias says. 2402 Royal St., 504-421-3189; crescentcityconjure.us UNUSUAL MUSEUMS New Orleans is fertile ground for little back-street museums, some no bigger than a dusty room or two: alligator museums, wax museums, voodoo museums, cocktail museums, jazz museums. We started at the two-story New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, opened by the citys first licensed pharmacist in 1823. Its old-timey cases reveal marvelous medical curiosities: leeches, snake oil, voodoo love drops and rectal dilators that promised to cure insomnia, piles and other ills. Unfortunately, it was soon packed with a large tour group that filled every cranny, led by a guide with the voice of Zeus. We slipped out to search for something less trampled. To avoid big tours, the best time to visit is late afternoon, but all bets are off in peak season. 514 Chartres St., 504-565-8027; pharmacymuseum.org. General admission, $5. No crowds at the Museum of Death. Its creepy content weeds out the squeamish (and its website cautions parents against bringing children). Our exploration of death began at the front desk, which displayed a macabre image of a man run over twice by vehicles. Inside the building were autopsy photos, mounted dog heads, fetal pigs, beheading photos from China, a Donner family display case and walls dedicated to the lives, letters and drawings of serial killers including Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy. I had no idea Bundy was a necrophiliac, but youll find plenty of stuff you didnt need to know here. This museum even has the infamous Thanatron, Jack Kevorkians suicide machine, with a name that means instrument of death in Greek. In the video room, you can take in a series of grisly murder scenes set to upbeat Dixieland Jazz. Seriously unsettling. 227 Dauphine St., 504-593-3968; museumofdeath.net/nola. General admission, $15. To lighten up, we headed to the little Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture. There, we checked out the private collection of brilliantly colored, feathered, sequined, beaded costumes from carnival-ball royalty and Mardi Gras krewes. We had the insanely fun Costume Room to ourselves for a half-hour, laughing and flashing selfies as we tried on ensembles from rack after rack of genuine Mardi Gras costumes, including elaborate and surprisingly heavy headdresses and king-and-queen-of-the-ball regalia. The museum has an interesting gift shop, where my daughter bought a bewitching flower-and-ribbon-adorned antler headdress that looks right out of a scary fairy tale. 1010 Conti St., 504-218-4872; themardigrasmuseum.com. General admission, $12; docent tours, $15. LITERARY REFRESHMENT Putting an interesting twist on the citys all-hours, open-container cocktail culture is the Backspace Bar and Kitchen, tucked away in a dive-bar stretch of the French Quarter. This comfy, low-key spot with stone floors and fireplace is dedicated to writing and writers. We found manual clickity-clack typewriters and old books on shelves, and icons of Southern literature on walls: Truman Capote, Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty. Authors are honored in food, booze and merch: Dont be a writer. Be writing, advises a Faulkner T-shirt. You can dine on a Hemingway Cuban Sandwich with pulled pork and prosciutto ($12.50) and sip on a Death in the Afternoon cocktail ($10.50), an intoxicating mix of champagne and absinthe the author claimed he invented with friends and which was named after one of his books. As you do, contemplate Hemingways famous line: I drink to make other people more interesting. The place is also known for its mean Sazerac, the official cocktail of New Orleans, a heady combination of absinthe, rye and Peychauds Bitters ($9). Mmmm and whoa: Step carefully down those uneven Big Easy sidewalks. 139 Chartres St., 504-322-2245; backspacenola.com Kristie Huffman loves the outdoors, and coming from a life spent largely outside in southern California, one of the first things she sought out when moving to Galveston in 2014 was a way to get her then-2-year-old daughter out in the sunshine regularly. There wasnt much on the island for small children at the time, said Huffman, who now lives in Dickinson. So, I started looking for local activities for children online. Thats when I stumbled across Hike it Baby. Hike it Baby is a national nonprofit group devoted to getting families outdoors to walk together. Branch ambassadors organize local group hikes and park visits for families with kids to get outdoor exercise. Base memberships are $10 per year, which helps cover organizational costs. Huffman became a branch ambassador for the Houston group but found that many of its hikes were a little far from home. After a couple years, she and formed her own branch the Hike it Baby Galveston-Bay Area group. Being an avid hiker all my life, I was stoked to find a group of families who we could share the outdoors with, she said. I was also excited to make new friends and explore the area. Hike it Baby, she said, isnt just about getting kids outdoors. Huffman said the group brings people together, promotes family closeness, helps socialize young children and promotes positive health changes that can elevate mood and reduce stress. But the major reason for starting a local group was that it allowed her and her daughter, Scarlett, 6, to participate with other like-minded families in local activities. I have had several members approach me and tell me what a positive force they have found in Hike it Baby, from helping them with postpartum depression, to helping them feel comfortable as a new parent, she said. More Information 3 See More Collapse The benefits, she said, have been numerous. The friendships we have made are at the top of my list, Huffman said. When you share the trail together, you share a lot about yourself and parenting. You also learn to share snacks and strollers, in addition to laughter and tears. We had at least five Hike it Baby families who came to help us muck out our house after Harvey flooding. Huffman said hikes are typically one to three miles long and are built around accommodating toddlers. Not all our local parks contain nature trails; so we use the term hike lightly. We host coffee strolls, park and play events at playgrounds (no walking), craft hikes, brewery walks, and more, all in addition to nature trail hikes. Well host indoor events if the weather is uncooperative, like mall walks or library story time, but we aim to keep an 80/20 ratio 80 percent outdoor and hikes and 20 percent other. No hiking experience is required. Details about each event, such as mileage and pace, are posted on the groups Facebook page so members can determine what events will work best for their families. We often break into fast and slow groups as needed, and we welcome everyone, Huffman said. One of our rules is No hiker left behind. We welcome caregivers, grandparents, extended family and friends. There is no minimum age to hike. Hike it Baby focuses on children from newborn through school age, but we dont limit ourselves to that, she said. Chances are, people who live in southeast Harris County, Brazoria County or Galveston County, would be able to find a nearby hike without much trouble. Hike it Baby Galveston-Bay Area tends to host events in Pearland to the northeast, in Seabrook to the northwest, as far west as Alvin, and south to Galveston, Huffman said. To join, Huffman recommended visiting HikeItBaby.com and signing up for a membership. The Galvston-Bay Area groups Facebook page can be found here. She said that the group is a good opportunity to meet supportive people in the area. Get familiar with your local branch by joining the branch Facebook page. Bring friends along. Read through the hike description and contact the Hike Host with any questions. Dont stress it, as weve all been in your shoes. Were a supportive group. If you have to stop to change a diaper, or let your toddler hug a tree, we understand, she said. Perhaps more importantly, Huffman said she sees the positive impact Hike it Baby has on her daughter. It has taught her to love the outdoors, respect nature, form and nurture friendships, and best of all, it has taught her confidence, she said. by Emanuele Scimia Chinas economic reforms have achieved great results over the past four decades, but some scholars, including Chinese governance expert Minxin Pei, believe the regime must change the countrys political system. (Roma) - The uncertain outcome of trade talks between Washington and Beijing, and the slowdown of the Chinese economy, have made the debate in China over reforms more vibrant than it was just a year ago. Deng Xiaopings post-1978 reform and opening up policies ignited the Chinese economic miracle, but the current leadership in Beijing does not seem open to systemic adjustments, turning the country into a real market economy. Zhang Jun, dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University, defends Chinas economic trajectory from mounting criticism. In an opinion piece on April 2, Zhang said that after the financial crisis in 2008, the Chinese authorities remained dedicated to their long-term plan to revise the countrys growth model, by shifting away from exports and towards domestic consumption. He emphasized that thanks to this effort, many millions of Chinese had reached the middle class over the past decade. However, influential pro-market economist Wu Jinglian thinks China is heading in the wrong direction. In a video message delivered at a seminar hosted by the Hongfan Institute of Legal and Economic Studies in mid-January, Wu said that state control of the economy was inconsistent with the countrys reforms plan, which is aimed at market liberalization, and could lead to crony capitalism in China. But economic reform in China, as elsewhere, is inextricably linked to political advances. Minxin Pei, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in the US, believes the Chinese leadership is unwilling to liberalize the economy because it wants to retain political control. Economic freedom could indeed promote free speech and, accordingly, spark demands for political and religious liberties, so undermining the communist regime. Causing quite a stir in and outside China, economist Xiang Songzuo of Renmin University said last December that for the Chinese economy to continue to grow in a stable way, the government must reform the tax system, the political structure and state governance. But perhaps only an economic crisis also fueled by trade pressure from the US will lead to serious political changes in China, similarly to what happened with the Soviet Union in the 1980s. An economic crisis may be a necessary, but sufficient, condition to fundamental political change, Pei told AsiaNews. It takes more than smaller paychecks for people to become thoroughly disenchanted with a political regime. Pei noted that in Chinese history, fundamental political change occurred only after a systemic crisis that not only caused economic hardship, but also completely discredited the ruling elites ideological claims, moral authority and emotional connection with their people. SAN DIEGO While most members of the U.S. Navy conduct deployments at sea as part of U.S. Navy warship crews, each year thousands of sailors are called upon to conduct non-traditional deployments, often in austere locations outside the maritime environment, in support of military missions around the globe. A Houston native and 2007 West Orange Stark High School graduate is one of these sailors. Petty Officer 3rd Class Darrin Gipson is serving in the U.S. Navy with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit One, operating out of San Diego. Gipson is an equipment operator responsible for moving heavy machinery for cargo operations. Gipson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Houston. I was taught to never give up, said Gipson. Its important to keep striving and moving forward. I try to keep in mind that the hardest day was yesterday. The men and women of the support unit provide combat logistics for the explosive ordnance disposal and mobile diving and salvage commands on the West Coast. With EOD Expeditionary Support Unit Ones logistics support, explosive ordnance disposal technicians are able to counter explosive hazards on land and at sea, and Navy divers can perform combat harbor clearance and search, diving, salvage, repair, assistance and demolition in ports or harbors and at sea onboard Navy ships and commercial vessels. I enjoy the camaraderie within this command, said Gipson. We have a family atmosphere here. All the way from the commanding officer to the most junior troop, its one big family. Being stationed in San Diego, the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, means Gipson is playing an important part in Americas focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy. Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships, said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities. Sailors jobs are highly varied in the support unit. More than 100 men and women make up the units crew and come from over 20 different Navy ratings, or career paths. Because of the variety of personnel at the command, the unit is able to provide logistical support for explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage units including supply, ordnance, transportation, tactical communications support, field services, facility maintenance and programming, weapons inventory control and repair, boat and engine maintenance and dive locker and hazardous material handling. Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Gipson, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Gipson is honored to carry on the family tradition. My father was a commander in the Navy, and I have even more family in all the branches of the military, said Gipson. This is my dedication to him. Once I go back to the civilian world, I can say that this was all for him. As a member of one of the U.S. Navys most relied-upon assets, Gipson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nations needs. Serving in the Navy is a sense of pride to be able to say you were one of the few that could serve the country, Gipson said. I thank my dad for his 22 years of service and helping raise me. This is just my way to give back. Robb Voyles remembers the first case he handled for Halliburton. The year was 2002. Voyles was a young partner just assuming leadership roles in the litigation section at Houston legal powerhouse Baker Botts. The CEO of Halliburton had departed to become vice president of the United States. High-powered plaintiffs lawyers slapped Halliburton with a massive securities class-action lawsuit that sought billions of dollars in damages for shareholders who claimed that executives at the Houston-based oilfield services company had lied about cost overruns with one of its Brazilian offshore projects, hid information about liabilities related to asbestos litigation and costs and covered up allegations of corporate misconduct involving its operations in Nigeria. It was a highly complex litigation that was later split into two parts and posed a real financial risk to the company, Voyles said in a recent interview with The Texas Lawbook. It was a major cloud hanging over the business for a long time. Seventeen years later, Voyles is now the chief legal officer and one of the most senior and respected executives at Halliburton and is widely recognized as a leader of the legal profession. During his five years as the companys top lawyer, hes won two cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, successfully concluded a nine-figure tax dispute with its former KBR subsidiary and convinced the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to end its investigation of the company without a fraud finding. Voyles also was intensely involved in guiding Halliburton through treacherous legal waters that included waves of lawsuits with billions of dollars at stake related to the deadly Deepwater Horizon explosion at the Macondo well. But three weeks ago, Voyles won what may have been his sweetest victory yet - and it involves that first case that brought Voyles to the attention of Halliburton executives. Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn of Dallas officially dismissed the final remnants of the nearly two-decade-old securities class-action lawsuit. Ive been dealing with this case for nearly half of my time practicing law, he said. This litigation has cost us millions and millions of dollars in legal fees, but it could have been a few billion dollars if we had lost. This week, the Association of Corporate Counsels Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook named Voyles as the 2019 General Counsel of the Year for a Large Legal Department. Voyles and two-dozen other senior level corporate lawyers will be honored April 25 for their courtroom successes, execution of major mergers and acquisitions and strategic leadership at the 2019 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards. (The names of all award finalists are listed below.) Robb epitomizes ethics and integrity, said Haynes and Boone partner Mark Tidwell, who nominated Voyles for the award. He has handled all the challenges and opportunities he has faced during his career with extremely good care, judgment and caution. He says what he means and does what is right - not merely what is expedient. While Voyles, who is 61, occupies most of his time these days in Halliburton corporate boardrooms advising executives, he spent the first three decades of his career in courtrooms representing large businesses and accounting firms in complex civil disputes. Robb is a great lawyer and he is wicked smart, said Baker Botts partner Van Beckwith, who worked with Voyles on several litigation matters. Robb is able to understand the most complex business and legal issues. Beckwith said he worked on a case in which Voyles won the dispute for his client and then the opposing company tried to hire him later for other cases. Robb understands the importance of the law and its role in business, and he never forgets the needs of the business and the people involved in the business, he said. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Voyles was raised by parents with Midwestern sensibilities. His father was an ex-U.S. Marine who later worked at a General Mills factory. His mother was a registered nurse. There were two attorneys in the family - an uncle who was a small town lawyer and a cousin who became a federal judge, and later, the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio. Im a product of Perry Mason, and hes the reason I became a lawyer - the way he dressed, his high-mindedness and, ultimately, his success, Voyles said. I love my job, but I admit that I miss being in court. I dont miss pretrial discovery or depositions at all. But theres something extraordinary about being in court before a judge and jury. Voyles obtained his bachelors degree in accounting at the University of Dayton and his law degree from the University of Michigan. I decided I wanted to be a business trial lawyer early on, and I never really considered being anything else, he said. Baker Botts and Vinson & Elkins recruited Voyles as he finished law school, but he chose to join Rain Harrell Emery - a Dallas firm later swallowed by Locke Lord. His mentor was the late, great trial attorney Morris Harrell. Morris taught me how to shut up, Voyles said. Seriously, the biggest advocacy skill I learned from Morris Harrell was to know when not to talk. Many lawyers have a problem with talking too much, and they talk themselves into problems they didnt have and wouldnt have had if they had just shut up. In 1987, Baker Botts came calling again and this time Voyles accepted. He represented businesses in complex civil disputes, but he started representing more and more accounting firms, including Deloitte, Arthur Anderson and Ernst & Young, in securities fraud cases. As the courtroom successes piled up, Baker Botts turned to Voyles for leadership roles in firm management. It is much easier to manage lawyers in a corporate environment than in the law firm environment, he said with a laugh. Did I say that out loud? For Voyles, moving from Baker Botts to Halliburton, which was a firm client, seemed like a logical choice. I was at a point in my career when I was open to do something different and the opportunity to become the general counsel of a Fortune 150 company doesnt present itself every day, he said. My best day at Halliburton was the day I started, Voyles said. I knew there would be huge challenges - and there definitely have been many - but I realized I now had a seat at the table where decisions were being discussed and made." The biggest challenge for Voyles on day one was the mountain of lawsuits pending against Halliburton as part of the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion. The company faced litigation ranging from wrongful deaths and personal injuries to oil spill pollution and contamination. Tens of billions of dollars were at stake, and the company also faced numerous federal and state investigations. Obviously, Deepwater was a huge overhang for the company, Voyles said. We spent tens of millions of dollars in legal fees on this. We believe that we have no additional exposure in that matter. Voyles took a leading role for Halliburton in 2014 and 2015 in settling all Macondo litigation for a reported $1.2 billion. In August and September 2014, Voyles stepped away from the BP oil spill talks to negotiate a complex settlement agreement between Halliburton and its former subsidiary, KBR, over a dispute related to a tax sharing agreement involving KBRs spinoff in 2007. The deal resulted in KBR paying Halliburton $81 million. At the same time those two high-stakes disputes were underway, Voyles was thrust back into the long-running securities class-action litigation. We took the securities case to the U.S. Supreme Court twice with great success both times and we made good law in doing so, he said. In 2014, the Supreme Court used the Halliburton case to allow businesses to present evidence earlier in litigation that fraud played no role in a decline in the price of company stock. As a greatly reduced class size headed for trial in 2016, Voyles and the lead lawyer for the shareholders, David Bois, negotiated a $100 million settlement agreement that ended the potentially dangerous litigation. We worked diligently to alleviate the risk involving some of the biggest litigation the company was facing, Voyles said. In 2013, our contingency statement (in the companys 10-K report to the SEC) had an eight-pages long footnote. Today, it is really nothing at all. Thats not to say Voyles has had no failures. The biggest disappointment of Voyles career came in 2016 when Halliburtons efforts to acquire rival Baker Hughes for $28 billion failed. A lot of hard work went into making that transaction happen, he said. A combination of delays by the federal government and deterioration of the oil and gas market did us in. The truth is, we were a little ahead of our time with that transaction, he said. A Halliburton-Baker Hughes merger would have been great for our industry and for our country, especially as we see the rise of the Chinese oilfield service companies. We would not have had the problems GE had. Corporate executives at Halliburton demonstrated their confidence in Voyles in 2017 when the company gave him the additional responsibility of interim chief financial officer - a position he held for several months. Robb likes to joke that he has the longest job title in corporate history - general counsel, executive vice president, corporate secretary and then chief financial officer, said Halliburton vice president and chief ethics and corporate compliance officer Jeffrey Spalding. Robb takes the view that our corporate lawyers must know the business and must take an active role in advising our corporate leaders on substantive issues involving the operations of the company, he said. Voyles said investing in corporate compliance and ethics is a good long-term business decision. Our biggest challenge is keeping up with the growth and business strategy of the company to help our leaders be successful, Voyles said. I sleep really well at night, mainly because Im very tired, but also because we stay on top of our risk and we do what it takes to mitigate or minimize our risks. For a longer version of this article, visit TexasLawbook.net. Daphne's Mediterranean, a Greek fast-casual chain, plans to open its first Houston restaurants later this month. The California-based company will hold grand opening events at its Heights and Spring locations on April 19 and April 26 respectively. The Heights restaurant is at 107 Yale St. and the Spring restaurant is at 1600 Louetta Road. The restaurants were formerly Noon Mediterranean locations. "We were so pleased with the warm Texas welcome we've received in Dallas and Austin, and we have no doubt we'll experience the same reception from the Houston community," Michael Nakhleh, president of Elite Restaurant Group, the parent company of Daphne's Mediterranean, said in a statement. RELATED: Noon Mediterranean restaurants to convert to Daphne's brand Daphne's acquired Noon Mediterranean, formerly known as Verts and VertsKebap, out of bankruptcy last year. The 30-year-old chain is known for serving traditional Greek food such as gyro, grilled seafood and falafel, as well as modern dishes using quinoa and spicy cauliflower. The brand, which operates 31 restaurants nationally, plans to open two restaurants in Southern California and will convert Noon locations in Boston later this year. The chain is owned by Elite Restaurant Group, which also owns Slater's 50/50 and Patxi's Pizza. Provident Realty Advisors has hired CBRE as the exclusive retail leasing agent for The Star, a 286-unit apartment high-rise at 1111 Rusk. The downtown building is a historic redevelopment of the Texaco Building from 1915 with 26,170 square-feet of retail space, including four corner spots at the street level. Rachel Farris, Lacee Jacobs and Laura Harness are handling the assignment. Le Macaron French Pastries will hold a grand opening for its Galleria mall location on April 21. The French patisserie, 5085 Westheimer, will offer more than 20 flavors of macarons, as well as pastries, eclairs, gelato, coffee and cakes and is operated by local franchisee Marlon Baumgartner. The Florida-based company has 50 locations nationwide including one other Houston location in the Bridgeland community in Cypress. Lennar, one of Houstons largest homebuilders, has launched a line of communities that aims to offer new houses in an increasingly rare affordable price segment serving first-time buyers. Wayside Village, on Wayside Drive just south of Little York in northeast Houston, will have 64 homes starting in the mid $100,000s. Lennar has acquired 15 acres as the site of its first in nuHome product in Houston, with others planned later this year. PRIME PROPERTY: Get updates on Houston real estate deals and developments While new home starts in the Houston area rose 10 percent to more than 30,000 in 2018, activity in the segment priced below $200,000 fell by 26 percent, according to Metrostudy, a housing data and consulting firm. About 2,950, or 10 percent, of the houses started in 2018 were priced below $200,000. In 2006, two-thirds of new houses in the Houston market sold for less than $200,000. Theres plenty of demand for homes at that price, said Lawrence Dean, Houston regional director for Metrostudy. It is a shrinking part of the market. That is a supply condition, not a demand condition. Shrinking lots With rising land, labor and materials costs, builders have had to scale back houses to between 1,200 and 1,600 square feet on 40-foot lots, rather than 50-foot lots, to lower the price, Lawrence said. They also save by developing their own lots rather than buying from a developer. Centex, a division of PulteGroup, and Express, part of D.R. Horton, are among the area builders that offer homes below $200,000 in the market, Lawrence said. John Hammond, Houston division president of Lennar, said the nuHome communities will meet pent-up demand for affordable new homes starting in the mid-$100,000s. Its all about making it easier to purchase a new home for families of all sizes who otherwise were limited to rent or resell residences, Hammond said in an announcement. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas among the states with highest property taxes The new offering has six home plans, ranging from 1,174 to 2,229 square feet, with open-concept kitchens and adjoining breakfast rooms, spacious family rooms, first-floor masters and two-car garages. Prices range from $161,990 to $199,990, according to Lennar. The starting prices shaves about $18,000 off the price of the Miami-based builders next-least expensive houses in the local market. The $200,000 threshold is also hard to break in the local resale market. Existing homes sold for a median price of $217,500 in March, up 1.8 percent from a year earlier, according to the Houston Association of Realtors. The initiative to offer lower-priced new homes comes as owning a home is becoming more difficult. Harris County is among 65 percent of the nations markets where home prices are less affordable than a year ago, according to a first-quarter study by ATTOM Data Solutions. Others include counties covering Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego. katherine.feser@chron.com twitter.com/kfeser NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. At a party at her Arizona home in 1981, a middle-aged Sandra Day OConnor, ever the consummate hostess, served enchiladas poolside with good cheer. But when she greeted a friend of her son who was soon to begin a clerkship for Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, her mood shifted. As Evan Thomas describes the scene in First, his illuminating and eminently readable biography of the Supreme Courts first female justice, OConnor conveyed an almost palpable sense of longing for past opportunities denied her because of gender. With her appointment to the court weeks away, she launched into a stream-of-consciousness monologue about her envy decades earlier when Rehnquist, her Stanford Law School classmate (and former beau), had started his clerkship at the court, a steppingstone at that time reserved almost exclusively for men. Intelligent, ambitious women of OConnors vintage were thwarted at every turn. A Stanford Law Review editor in the top 10 percent of her class, she couldnt even get an interview with the big firms that recruited on campus in the 1950s. When she wangled a meeting in the Los Angeles offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Thomas writes, a partner told her our clients wont stand for being represented by a woman and suggested a secretarial job instead. By the time of the poolside chat, OConnor had racked up an impressive series of achievements against the odds. Shed been the majority leader of the Republican-controlled Arizona state Senate and a state judge at the trial appellate level. But the doors slammed shut earlier in her career were not easily forgotten. Sexism stings. And it stung just as harshly for a Phoenix country-sclub Republican like OConnor as it did for a liberal Brooklynite like Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Only a few weeks after that pool party, President Ronald Reagan made good on a campaign promise to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court. OConnor got the call and breezed through her confirmation with a 99-to-0 vote. That OConnor found herself the highest-ranking woman ever in American government was no accident. Thomas vividly sketches the attributes she used to clear the high barriers to female ascendancy: a knack for brushing past insults, relentlessness belied by a pretty smile, an almost superhuman level of energy and, not least, a heroically supportive husband. John OConnor was a successful lawyer in his own right but willing to take a back seat if it meant helping his wife achieve her lofty goals. This list of assets will sound familiar to Ginsburg aficionados. (Though unlike the kitchen-averse RBG, SDO could whip up a tasty salmon mousse when the need arose.) First: Sandra Day OConnor By Evan Thomas Random House 476 pp. $32 Though Ginsburg in her pre-justice days distinguished herself by fighting to secure gender equality under the Constitution, OConnor was no flaming feminist. If she had been, the Reaganites surely would have looked elsewhere. As a politician anxious to distance herself from womens libbers, she addressed a Rotary Club with the evocative line: I come to you with my bra and my wedding ring on. In the state Senate, OConnor played a key role in striking down hundreds of Arizona laws discriminating against women, but she didnt put her political weight behind passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. After the Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade opinion, she voted against a resolution calling for an antiabortion constitutional amendment but supported key measures restricting womens access to abortions. It was the same style of compromise some might say fence-straddling that OConnor would employ as a Supreme Court justice. Some legal scholars have criticized her for seeking to decide cases on narrow grounds, leaving larger constitutional issues unresolved. In Thomas more generous interpretation, OConnors judicial minimalism flowed naturally from a realpolitik shed honed as, well, a real politician. In Wygant v. Jackson Board of Education (1986), four justices wanted to throw out a Mississippi plan to lay off white teachers with seniority before their less-experienced black counterparts, and four favored preserving the plan, designed to redress the citys clear history of racial discrimination. OConnor, finding herself in the middle and undecided, initially proposed sending the case back to the lower court to be reargued. Eventually she joined most of Justice Lewis Powells majority opinion striking down the layoff plan, but in her concurrence she left the door open to constitutionally permissible affirmative action. OConnor went on to write key majority opinions on affirmative action herself. Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena (1995) ruled that affirmative action plans must be subjected to the most stringent level of judicial scrutiny, though OConnor made clear that not all affirmative action is untenable. Later in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), she wrote for the majority to uphold an affirmative action plan at the University of Michigan Law School. Thomas emphasizes the courts role in helping the American people, who are divided and feeling their way, through tough issues. The Court is an essential part of a long process of melding attitudes and mores with the law of the land. OConnor was temperate on abortion rights cases, too, resisting numerous attempts by her conservative colleagues to strike down Roe but not issuing the ringing endorsement of reproductive freedom that liberals might have favored. Her split-the-difference standard: States can regulate reproductive rights so long as their rules dont place an undue burden on a woman seeking an abortion. In Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992), which she co-authored with Justices David Souter and Anthony Kennedy, OConnors undue burden standard became the law of the land. Interspersed with the legal analysis in First is lighter fare: camaraderie and sniping among the justices, even a scene in which two clerks come to fisticuffs in a Supreme Court fountain over an abortion rights case. Some anecdotes are so juicy I found myself checking the footnotes to see where Thomas got them. Yes, as in most Supreme Court literature, theres plenty from the clerks. But some of his best material comes from interviews with former and sitting justices. And he makes strong use of the notes scrawled by justices in conference or in the margins of draft opinions. (Very tent[ative]!!! an apparently irritated Justice Harry Blackmun wrote by OConnors name in his Wygant conference notes.) But with an institution as insulated as the Supreme Court and a protagonist as discreet as OConnor, theres a limit to how far inside one can get. As much as wed love to hear what the first female justice was thinking as allegations of sexual harassment surfaced during Clarence Thomass confirmation hearings, the author can only speculate. She was surely disheartened by Anita Hills testimony, he writes. He does provide a contemporaneous snippet from John OConnors diary about a political cartoon depicting Clarence Thomas in judicial robes with his hand on Justice OConnors knee. It really is a funny cartoon, John wrote. (Actually, it wasnt). First gives us a real sense of OConnor the human being. Cinematic scenes from her upbringing on the family ranch find young Sandra changing a tire all by herself as she struggles to get the chuck wagon to the cowboys before cattle-branding time. Thomas shows how well her flintiness served OConnor in adulthood. She faces down Stage 2 cancer and a mastectomy with minimal self-pity, doing chemo on Fridays so she could be back on the bench for Monday oral arguments (a regimen passed on to the equally flinty Ginsburg when she, too, got cancer). Thomas also reveals OConnor to be likable and quirky, a woman who yells Hot diggity dog! when she hooks a trout and gets a charge out of Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde. The scenes of OConnor retiring early to help care for her husband as he struggles with Alzheimers disease are poignant; the news of her own diagnosis with that same brutal disease even more so. A major biography such as First draws its power not only from the people and events it depicts but from the culture into which its launched. The white-hot polarization in the age of President Donald Trump makes OConnors preference for cool civility and compromise seem especially appealing. And this eras struggle for womens rights, energized by the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements, makes this the right time to take stock of the country-club cowgirl who managed to climb higher than any American woman had before. Thomas gives OConnor the credit she deserves. Even if her sometimes pallid support for Roe v. Wade makes you uneasy and her ruling with the majority to cut off the Florida recount in the 2000 Bush v. Gore case nauseates you, Thomas suggests, you owe her some respect. Without OConnors crucial fifth votes, both legalized abortion and affirmative action could well have lost their protection under the Constitution. And her strong work through a quarter-century on the Supreme Court paved the way for Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and the others who will follow. The first step to getting power is to become visible to others, and then to put on an impressive show, OConnor said in a 1990 speech (later quoted admiringly by Ginsburg). As women achieve power, the barriers will fall . And well all be better off for it. To which so many women millennial and older, progressive and conservative might say in unison: Amen, sister. Julie Cohen is the director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary RBG, along with her filmmaking partner Betsy West. A Katy man remains in custody after he was accused of pulling a knife on a teenage girl during a robbery in the Cinco Ranch area. A Fort Bend County Precinct 3 deputy constable said he spotted James Mertes, 50, about 3:30 a.m. on April 4 at the water park near Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Westheimer. Mertes told the deputy he stopped at the park to fill his water bottle and charge his cell phone. He was allowed to go on his way after a check was made for any outstanding warrants, officials said. BREAKING NEWS ALERTS: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox The deputy was unaware Mertes was a possible suspect in the armed hold-up the day before of a 16-year-old girl in the parking lot of a business on Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Commercial Center Boulevard about a mile away from the water park. Authorities said the teenager apparently lost her cell phone to the assailant but managed to get away from him. I suspect there would have been more if she wouldnt have escaped. Glad we caught him, Fort Bend County Precinct 3 constable Wayne Thompson said in a statement after the capture. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Deputies later confirmed Mertes had a Facebook page that said he was looking for young girls who live in the Katy, Texas area. More Information Man arrested after allegedly pulling knife on teenage girl in Cinco Ranch robbery See More Collapse RELATED: HPD: Woman finds fiance dead with injury inside Midtown apartment The deputy later discovered the man he spoke to at the water park matched the description of the robbery suspect - a 50-60-year-old white man with gray hair and wearing desert pattern camouflage pants. Investigators later spoke to his mother after going to the address listed on the drivers license. She relayed a message to her son, saying deputies wanted to question him in connection with the armed robbery. Mertes told her he would meet them outside the Katy Independent School Districts transportation center at 3151 Falcon Landing. He was taken into custody when he arrived on foot. Mertes was later turned over to the Ford Bend County Sheriffs Office. He is charged aggravated robbery and held at the Fort Bend County Jail with bail set at $100.000. Through persistence and hard work, our team was able to take this guy off the streets, Thompson said. mike.glenn@chron.com NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Suburban restaurants A Katy man accused of killing his wife allegedly admitted to police he tried to dispose of her body by buying 100 pounds of charcoal and cremating her. Jay Patrick Hammersley, 44, turned himself over to police April 3 and was charged with murder and tampering with a corpse. Hammersley reported that his wife Mara Vestal, 29, went missing March 19, according to court documents. Investigators said Hammersley intentionally caused the death of Vestal by striking her with an unknown object and choking her to death. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox During his court appearance at the Harris County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility, it was revealed the morning of Feb. 16 Hammersley was on his way home from a strip club with his wife the day he allegedly killed her. Hammersley told police he and his wife got into a verbal argument on their way home before he allegedly strangled her, according to court documents. He told police he then placed Vestal's body in a shed at the back of the home for two days before buying 100 pounds of charcoal and cremating her. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. After reducing her body to ashes, he placed the remains in a trash bag and left it out on the curb. When garbage collectors did not pick up the remains, he disposed of the remains at his place of employment, Texas RV & Car Care in Cypress, according to court documents. Hammersley told police he "did a good job" trying to dispose of the body, according to investigators. RELATED: HPD: Woman finds fiance dead with injury inside Midtown apartment Phone records police reviewed through a search warrant showed Hammerly and his wife had been in contact every day up until Feb. 16, the day he allegedly killed her, according to court documents. Investigators have not been able to recover Vestal's remains yet. Hammersley's bond was set at $105,000; $75,000 on a murder charge and $30,000 for tampering with evidence-human corpse. He asked to be represented by public defenders. Hammersley faced charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, forgery and theft between $1,500 and $20,000 in 1999. His latest charge in Harris County was for felony theft between $30,000 and $150,000 in 2018. Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers City of Houston officials took a step forward in seeking federal approval for the $40 million dredging of a large deposit of sand and sediment that could increase flooding in Kingwood. Chief Resilience Officer Steve Costello re-submitted the citys permit application to dredge the notorious mouth bar located on the San Jacinto River in Kingwood to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on March 25. He is also expecting the results from the rivers core study today, which will determine how much of the buildup was caused by Hurricane Harvey. Costello, along with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and City Councilman Dave Martin informed residents that the results of the study were important to securing federal funds for the dredging project at a community meeting in March in Kingwood. Under FEMAs Stafford Act, they are only authorized to fund the removal of sand and sediment that came from a natural disaster, such as Harvey. When the City of Houston originally submitted their permit application in they were denied by the corps, which wanted more specific data. The problem was the data I was using as base data was not immediately before Harvey, Costello said. It was historical-based data. So FEMA said in a meeting back in December, two months later, that we really cant verify that, first of all, this data is accurate... We needed to do a little more of a detailed, technical effort to identify what was Harvey-related material. The city then initiated a Stockton Survey to get more recent data. Its something that was actually approved by FEMA for Hurricane Sandy recovery in New Jersey, Costello said. So we just simply followed that procedure. Costello said the city notified the corps that they are expecting approximately 1.4 million cubic yards of debris was caused by Harvey. Costello said the permit application process could take from four months to a year and a half. Were hoping well be on a much quicker timeline, and, in fact, we would much rather have it quicker than four months, Costello said. Well see how the process goes. Right now we made sure we submitted a complete application and since (the corps) just got it on (March 25) well have to wait and see. During the last community meeting in Kingwood, Turner announced that Governor Greg Abbott allocated $50 million to the City of Houston for flood restoration and $18 million will be allocated to Kingwood. So what we have right now is FEMA advanced the city a little over $100 million post Harvey for debris removal. We (spent) $75 million of that advance. So we want to use the extra money from FEMA, Costello said. Then the governor hasgiven us $50 million for debris removal. We have spent all but $18 million out of it, and we want to use both the FEMA leftover money as well as the governors leftover money for the dredging operation. The city estimated the removal of the mouth bar would cost $40 million. However, the price could rise. To move anything north of 1.4 million yards is going to cost a lot more than ($40 million), Costello said. Thats one of the issues about the report. FEMA has to review it see if they agree with the amount of material we need to move and then decide how much theyre willing to fund. kaila.contreras@chron.com A new wine vault with more than $3 million of inventory is now open at Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta's local AAA Five-Diamond hotel, according to a press release on Thursday. Located on the sixth floor at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, The Cellar is available for private dining, including celebratory milestones, corporate dinners and tastings, for groups of up to 20 people. Designed to resemble a wine vault French Chateau or Tuscan Villa, the space is decked out with exposed brick, a cross-vault ceiling and glimmering chandeliers. Tilman Fertitta's empire: See all the businesses the Houston billionaire owns The encyclopedic wine menu features more than 30,000 bottles from 25-plus countries, with vintages dating back to the 1800s, the release said. With more than 30 years of experience, the wine program is curated by master sommelier Keith Goldston. "Every bottle of wine has a story to tell and every cork popped is an opportunity to create your own," Goldston said in the release. "The Cellar at The Post Oak is your chance to drink your way through some of the greatest wine stories ever told." As though that's not enough to grab your attention, beginning spring 2019, The Cellar will host a "Sommelier Series." Tilman Fertitta: Said to be considering second bid for Caesars Limited to 12 spots only, the intimate dinners will be helmed by Goldston, along with his team of accredited sommeliers, who will lead guests in a tasting of some of the world's standout wines, all paired with dishes prepared by the hotel's executive chefs. Dates for the "Sommelier Series" include: Grand Crus of Burgundy on April 25, Napa versus Sonoma on June 27, Journey through Italy on August 29, Beef and Bordeaux on October 24, and the 100 Point Dinner on December 12. To make a reservation call 346-227-5037. The Cellar is just one of the many perks available at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. To see images of The Cellar, plus photos of the other lavish amenities at the at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, head to the photo gallery above. Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message In 2010, over 1,500 families were evicted from land they had farmed for 31 years. The farmers want the ministry to speed up the compensation process. Previous agreements were reached without any participation from the communities concerned. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) Almost 700 people from different communities in Kampong Speu province yesterday protested (pictured) in front of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, seeking a solution to their long-running land dispute with three sugar companies. The villagers petitioned the Ministry to speed up the settlement for the residents in 14 villages in Oral districts Trapaing Chou commune, three in Rasmey Samaki commune and six in Thpong districts Omlaing commune. The litigants have been embroiled in the dispute since 2010 with Phnom Penh Sugar Company, Kampong Speu Sugar, and Sugar Plantation. The former is owned by tycoon Ly Yong Phat, whereas the existence of the other two could not be ascertained, local media said. Nine years ago, more than 1,500 families were evicted from the land they had farmed since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. Yub Noeun, a Trapaing Chou commune resident, said she had lost 3 hectares of land, adding that she wanted to be compensated US$ 5,000 per hectare instead of the US$ 500 pay-out each family received from Phnom Penh Sugar in 2016. Seng Sokhom, who represents the litigants from Oral district, said 20 people were invited to have a talk regarding their dispute with a ministry working group. The protesters, he said, agreed with the ministrys idea to involve the communities in finding solutions. Another representative Sok Siengheng said previous settlements were made without any participation from the communities. Ring.com Fulshear police used doorbell surveillance video to track down and arrest two women caught on camera stealing items from a homeowner's porch. One woman can be seen on video approaching the home located at Paintbrush Falls Court and Liberty Heights Lane. She then bends down, scoops up the package and hides it in her sweatshirt before taking off. The women were seen on another ring cam video in the same neighborhood stealing another package. When the new officers of the April Sound Mens Club began the 2019 year with Steve Barricklow as President, John Ricci took over as Chairman of Special Interests and began planning some events and activities that might be of interest to the gentlemen. John Blair is starting a fly fishing group, Tom Beeckman is teaching a Texas License to Carry a Handgun class, Foster Needels volunteered to begin a book discussion group and Tom Gardiner is heading a trap/skeet/sporting clays group. Through the year, several fun events will be planned that could include guests. The first such event took place last Saturday afternoon, March 30, when 20 ASMC members and guests met at Bartletts Distillery, LLC on Beach Airport Road in Conroe for a tour and tasting. Upon arrival we were met by Van Brackin and his wife, Laura. When everyone had arrived and the tour began, Van told us a little about himself and how he began distilling fine spirits. Interested in many pursuits, Van has been a traveler, driller, butcher, mechanic, diver, chef, welder, runner, programmer and, according to him, a little bit mad-scientist. His love of mechanics, computers, and science pulled him to engineering as a profession for 20 years in the oil industry. Visiting the website, I quote him as believing our old traditions are the foundation for our world. Todays technology stands on the shoulders of the giants from yesterday. Using his experiences, education and knowledge, Van decided to pursue the goal of creating craft spirits so fine they can be enjoyed neat without ice, water or mixers, but also can be enjoyed in cocktails. He strives to meld the traditional methods of distilling used for centuries with new sciences of enzymes, esters and electronics to create his fine spirits. courtesy of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office A Montgomery County jury deliberated for about 30 minutes before sentencing a 37-year-old man from Spring to life in prison on Wednesday for stalking and harassment after hearing the more than 150 voice mails he left his accuser. Jason Brian Hamlin received 25 years to life after being convicted Tuesday in presiding Judge Phil Grants 9th state District Court for the felony offense following two days of testimony. Assistant District Attorney Kristina Pekkala played the voice messages to jurors as evidence of Hamlins telephone harassment. Hamlin and his accuser had previously dated, according to a press release from the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. Questions and answers risk overlap as a civil attorneys cross examination of a witness intensifies, but in the courtrooms pews sits an unfazed Monica Cejudo. In simultaneous speed, her crisp voice whispers into a microphone transmitting a Spanish interpretation into headsets worn by the plaintiffs. Contracted by law enforcement agencies and regularly hired on by law firms, Cejudo is one of six native Spanish-speaking women working within the Montgomery County judicial system as state-licensed foreign-language interpreters. As officers of the court, their function is not much different than a court reporters since they must achieve accuracy in the service of delivering fair judicial treatment, specifically to those with limited English proficiency. Since we have a license number and that allows us to practice, its important to keep it in good standing, Cejudo said, adding, I can defend (my work) on the stand. And the record will document what they submit during oral interpretation or written translation, and will be referenced if an appeal is made to a verdict, judgment or ruling. To get it right during the civil trial, Cejudo brushed up on livestock-related terminology, for instance. Just as she has in other cases that deal with maritime or oil and gas issues. ARGUMENT REJECTED: Houston death row inmate loses sleepy lawyer appeal I love what I do because every case is different. And some cases you have to study a lot, Cejudo said. Though they all hold the same high standard for exactness in interpretation and translation, not all of the court interpreters work alike. The equipment Cejudo uses for interpreting, which she bought herself, is not a resource used by all of the interpreters. In addition to interpreting for plaintiffs, civil and criminal defendants and witnesses during trial, Cejudo transcribes and translates documents for the court. Recently, Cejudo transcribed, translated and certified for accuracy 20 jail call conversations made by murder trial defendant Rafael Leos-Trejo. She also transcribes recorded interrogations by officers. Cejudo, who was born in Hamburg, Germany while her father worked in the Mexican consulate there, grew up in her parents native Mexico and started interpreting when she was 20. A U.S. citizen, the 52-year-old Cejudo became a licensed court interpreter in 2008. She is licensed through the Judicial Branch Certification Commission, which is part of the Office of Court Administration, a state resource agency. Licensing is earned following minimum 70 percent scores on a written bilingual fluency test and on three additional tests on interpreter and translator skills. These tests measure competency on interpretation following a speakers full sentence or address, interpretation as a speaker is speaking and document translation. A Walden resident, Cejudo also does work in multiple other southeast Texas counties, including Harris and Galveston counties. Huntsville is one destination that fills her busy schedule. Much of her transcription and translation work is done out of her downtown Houston office. And it can be straining work. Ana Gallardo is one of the other state-licensed interpreters in the Montgomery County district and county courts. She said rotations between interpreters during a trial are necessary to allow for fluid interpretations as fatigue may set in from continuous oral interpretation. After an hour, we get very tired, Gallardo said. The interpreters have to speak in the first person, placing themselves in whatever situation the witness or defendant may be relaying to the court. We have to convey the same thing that is being said, Gallardo said. If we say one word that is not the correct one, we can change the whole meaning of a trial. As such, court interpreters often suffer from vicarious trauma, fellow state-licensed interpreter Doris Foulkes said. This means they will vicariously experience trauma endured by the people they are interpreting for. It stems from interpreting what victims of violent crimes have suffered. But it also involves repeating the actions of violent perpetrators. You have to put yourself in the place of the witness or whoever youre interpreting. You have to be them for a minute to be able to convey feelings, Foulkes said. You hear tremendous things that you have to say. Embodying those experiences by the witness or defendant during court proceedings is key, Cejudo and Gallardo argue. Court interpreters, they say, understand the value of upholding the standards set forth by their state licenses. Otherwise, you put into risk the outcome of the trial, Gallardo said. Any misstep can be detrimental to cases where peoples fates are decided. This is why court interpreters are fundamental to carrying out the Constitutional right to due process, Conroe criminal defense attorney Brian Burns explained. For defendants with limited English proficiency, he continued, the court interpreter affords them due process in understanding in their native language the legal proceedings in full. It is important to have a court interpreter there to translate exactly what is being said in real time, Burns said. It really helps everyone. Montgomery Countys court interpreters skill level, training and experience deciphers the legal language for defendants, Burns said. The interpreters, he added, pick up on linguistic nuances between defendants of different nationalities. A court interpreter helps bridge the language barrier between a defendant and a court-appointed attorney, allowing for an intelligent decision on plea bargains and avoiding potentially risking the immigration status of some, Burns said. Court interpreters are absolutely critical, said Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Tyler Dunman. Were very lucky in Montgomery County we have a good team of interpreters that we use. Dunman agrees with Burns on the safeguard court interpreters provide the judicial process. We want to make sure that defendants and victims and witnesses or anyone interacting with the criminal justice system clearly understand and know whats going on and kept engaged. Using court interpreters is the primary way we do that, Dunman said. In addition, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against discrimination on the basis of national origin, and Cejudo asserts this ensures people with limited English proficiency understand the judicial process throughout. To that effect, the court interpreter is typically the only face and voice within the judicial system for defendants, Cejudo said. This may create risky circumstances the interpreters work to thwart. Many times defendants will begin to confide in the court interpreter, even asking for legal advice or counsel. During one trial when an attorney momentarily stepped away from the defense table, Cejudo said a defendant turned to ask her if he should just confess to how he committed the crime. She got out of the compromising situation by immediately stepping away from the defendant and alerting the attorney. After that I was told to not even be close to the defendant unless I was there with the attorney because this sort of thing happens, Cejudo said. Dont tell me (what you did) because then I become a witness. jose.gonzalez@chron.com The city of Richmonds Commission recently heard that the prior years financials earned an unmodified or clean opinion, the highest level of assurance that can be given to a city. PB&H Audit partner, John Manning, shared the results of the audit for the 2018 fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, with high praise for the Citys financial position. This was PB&Hs first year to perform the audit for the city of Richmond, which typically introduces a few growing pains, but he said none occurred. The firm performed 15 fraud interviews, a standard practice, with zero findings. The cash handling departments were reviewed as well with no discrepencies noted. The city staff does an excellent job of putting [the financial statements] all together, Manning said. As well, the General Fund balance was $5.93 million, which would be operating reserve available to meet emergency needs or unforseen items necessary to provide for citizens, which exceeds the Government Finance Officers Association Best Practice of 90 days. Unlike a standard business, a municipality is encouraged to have a 90-day Fund Balance at any given time which allows a city to meet the needs of its citizens during catastrophic events (like a hurricane or, more recently, the Deer Park ITC tank fires). In the city of Richmonds case, the reserve provides a stronger security net to the residents of Richmond for a period of 134 days should a public calamity occur. The city also engaged a single audit this year which required additional audit procedures be performed in conjunction with the normal testing during the annual financial audit. The same results of no findings were identified. A single audit is required when an entity spends more than $750,000 in total Federal funds. Had it not been for Hurricane Harvey, the city would not have had to add the additional audit testing and subsequent report that follows; however, the city again passed. Richmond ended fiscal year 2018 with a clean opinion for both audits. On March 29, Child Advocates of Fort Bend broke ground on the new Davis George Campus at 5403 Avenue N in Rosenberg. CAFBs plans for expansion were driven by significant increases in the reporting of child abuse and referrals in Fort Bend County. In 2018, CAFB served 2,586 children and families whose lives were touched by abuse or neglect. This rise of 23 percent over the prior year forces many children to wait six to eight weeks to receive the therapy services they need. CAFB expects the number of families and children served will double in the next five years. To meet this demand, the campus will include 9,000 additional square feet to double the space needed for forensic interview rooms and therapy rooms. It will completely renovate its current 18,000 square feet and provide room for 25 additional staff and many more volunteer trainees. On the project is architect Gensler and project manager Darrell Roth of RMG. Forney Construction will begin construction this spring. CAFB will relocate its Childrens Advocacy Center services to temporary offices at 6415 Reading Road, Rosenberg and its Court Appointed Special Advocates Program and administrative offices to Fort Bend County Justice Center at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, second floor in Richmond, during the building and renovation. Theyre hoping to move back into their building the first of next year. We are here so that no child falls through the cracks in Fort Bend County, said Ruthanne Mefford, CAFB chief executive officer. This newly remodeled and expanded building will ensure we can serve every child who needs our services now and into the future. To fund construction and expanded operations, CAFB launched a Capital Campaign called For The Childrens Sake chaired by Nancy Olson with counsel from Dini Spheris. To date, CAFB has raised $5.9 million toward the campaigns goal of $8 million. All of the board of directors have made a financial commitment. In late 2018, The George Foundation quietly kicked off the campaign with a $2 million grant commitment. Additional supporters include The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation, Houston Endowment, Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation, BGE, Sprint Waste, OCuSOFT, Gulf Coast Medical Foundation and Amegy Bank. We need the community to step up now more than ever. I cannot think of a sector of our society who deserves attention more than abused and neglected children. A child who is brave enough to come forward and disclose abuse shouldnt have to wait in line for help. We cant have that in Fort Bend County, said The Childrens Sake Campaign Chair Nancy Olson. CAFB has a unique opportunity to receive a $1M matching grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Oklahoma if it raises $1.4 million in community support in the next nine months, essentially doubling the impact of every donation from now until the match is completed. For more information about the campaign or to learn about potential naming opportunities on the new campus, contact Jessica Jubin, development officer & campaign manager, at jjubin@cafb.org 281- 344-5136. Hope for Three, a Fort Bend County non-profit organization that offers support to autistic children and their families, hosted an open house social for volunteers and families at their new Sugar Land location on Thursday, April 4. Spotting chatting with other parents was Lynn Clouser, a member of the Board of Directors who calls herself an autism mom to her 14-year-old son Marshall. Autism is not a death sentence. Our kids can thrive but you have to put in the work early so that you can see the progress later, she said. My son is living proof of that. He couldnt speak at three years-old, maybe one or two words. Now, I cant find his mute button. But, thats the blood, sweat and tears of occupational therapy, handwriting therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy and private schools. Its a financial hardship and there are many things we do without so we can make sure we can pay his tuition. But, it has been the best sacrifice Ive ever made because I am here to see his progress. Clouser said Hope for Three had given her family invaluable support and helped her connect with families with shared experiences. Being involved in Hope for Three has truly enriched my life. It helped me connect with other people who are on this journey with me, Clouser said. Its also given me the opportunity to reach out to the community and give back, to pay it forward, all that has been planted in me so I can reach other families and help them find the resources that helped me. What is autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a development disorder that affects a persons ability to communicate and impacts their behavior, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A diagnosis can be made at any age but most children are identified by the age of two-years-old. Experts say early detection is key to helping autistic children in later years through improved communication skills and supporting healthy development. The Center for Disease Control (CDC0 estimates that one in every 59 babies in the United States will develop ASD and more than 3.5 million Americans currently live with autism. What causes autism is not known, but CDC reports indicate the number of U.S. children affected increased 119.4 percent from 2000 (one in 150) to 2010 (one in 68). According to doctors, some defining characteristics of children with ASD include delayed language skills. For example, a young child with ASD may not speak at all or may only learn one or two words. A small percentage of those diagnosed may develop normally during the first year but then enter a period of regression between 18 months and two-years. Doctors say children on the autistic spectrum also have limited interest in social interactions and prefer being alone in their own inner world. Some children may not like being touched or hugged. Difficulty reading other peoples facial expressions or body language, avoiding eye contact and having trouble starting conversations are also indicators. Many children (and adults) with autism establish certain daily routines that are very important to them and may become upset if forced to deviate from their plans, such as eating the same foods every day or wearing certain clothes. Doctors say children on the autistic spectrum also are often sensitive to light, noise, clothing or temperature. For example, they may be unsettled by loud noises or bright lights or may refuse to eat certain foods or wear certain clothing because of the texture. From volunteer to family assistance coordinator When Hope for Three was founded in 2011, Samantha Katchy started out as an unpaid volunteer. As her passion for the organization and its mission grew, her skills and ability to connect with the public also grew and she now works full-time as family assistance coordinator for the group. I work directly with families. I provide resources, information about autism and help connect families with providers such as medical doctors, speech therapist, nutritional information, whatever they need, she said. My favorite part of my job is I get to hang out with the kids and that I am part of our families journey. To see our families, go through some of the situations they have to and see how our organization brings them hope, its a pleasure and an honor to be a part of families lives. Organizers say more than 5,000 children diagnosed on the autism spectrum attend Fort Bend County public schools. Katchys role also includes visiting campuses and making presentations as part of their Its Cool to Care program, which aims to educate students, teachers and school staff about the unique challenges of autism. We talk about autistic characteristics and I try to help teenagers accept and understand children on the spectrum, she said. Katchy also serves as an autism educator for local law enforcement, including the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Department CIT program and the Sugar Land Police Department where she teaches first responders strategies and intervention techniques for connecting with individuals with autism or those affected by mental illness. Inspired by Hope Founder Debra Farmer said the inspiration for Hope for Three was her special friendship with Hope Collins Montgomery, a Richmond mom to identical triplets who were diagnosed with ASD at four-years-old. The two friends met and became close in 2006 before the triplets, Londyn, Lakin and Lauren, were born. Farmer witnessed the turmoil that started when the triplets were around two-years old. Montgomery said she and her husband, Eric, began to notice Lakin had started regressing. She showed repetitive behaviors, delayed reactions, lack of eye contact and disassociation. Soon, she stopped talking altogether. Soon, Londyn and Lauren were displaying the same behaviors. Debra and I have been the best of friends for a very long time and she saw the issues we were having with the girls. No one would officially diagnose them. We had to really fight for a diagnosis, Montgomery said. No one knows what causes autism and there is no known cure. But, doctors say autism is treatable and children benefit tremendously from early detection. Autism is not going away, thats for sure. More and more through awareness, acceptance and action, more and more people are becoming aware. Children now are being diagnosed earlier, Montgomery said. But, there is still a need for everybody to understand it is not going away and they are part of the community. As long as you know what is going on, everybody can be included. Since Hope for Three was founded, the organization has helped over 200 families. From a financial situation, they basically bridge the gap between the families and the therapies the children need. Not all therapies are covered by insurance and it is very expensive, Montgomery said. Hope for Three is the only non-profit in Fort Bend County that focuses exclusively on autism and is the only non-profit that offers financial assistance to families of children with ASD. For more information about Hope for Threes upcoming events or to learn more about their programs, visit www.HopeForThree.org Parliamentary elections are set for tomorrow. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is seeking a majority to review New Silk Road agreements with China, which have left up to US$ 3 billion in debt. Male (AsiaNews/Agencies) Parliamentary elections will take place in the Maldives tomorrow with incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih seeking a majority for his party in order to investigate debts his predecessor piled up with China. According to estimates, the country is in a debt trap, owing S$ 3 billion to China, and it is finding it hard to pay it back. Tomorrows election will thus determine the fate of its deals with China. Recently the Finance Minister has boldly accused Beijing of inflating the cost of debt". And according to President Solih, the country is on the brink of bankruptcy because of Chinese infrastructural loans to build Beijings New Silk Road, the so-called the "Belt and Road Initiative". The Maldives is not the only country concerned about the consequences of its ties with the Chinese juggernaut. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are in a similar predicament. Solihs recent election has led to a shift in trade policy and geopolitical relations vis-a-vis China and India. Before his election, Solih was a relatively unknown figure in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and a trusted aide of former President Mohamed Nasheed. Former President Abdulla Yameen, of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), was close to Beijing, with whom he signed several deals during his presidency, whilst Solih is seeking a rapprochement with India. In tomorrows elections, the MDP is pushing for a secular country and would allow the construction of churches and temples. It is currently in a coalition government with three parties, including the Jumhooree Party. A favourite destination for western tourists, Maldivian authorities do not allow religious freedom and enforce Islamic law (Sharia). Sunni Islam is the state religion. by Mathias Hariyadi Starting with a photograph and an initial, the nun was able to find the woman. J.M. could not remember her family or native village. East Nusa Tenggara is the Indonesian province most affected by human trafficking. Since 2014, more than 2,600 Indonesian migrants have either died or gone missing. Jakarta (AsiaNews) An Indonesian woman who left for Malaysia in search of fortune and went missing 14 years ago was able to hug her elderly father again (picture 1) thanks to the incredible efforts of Sister Laurentina (picture 2), a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence (PI). The story started in Kupang, capital of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), an Indonesian province on the border with East Timor. "I receive a phone call from the BP3TKI, the Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers. Can you help us get information on a missing Indonesian migrant? the official asked. We only have her initial." A small photograph and the letter J are the only clues Sister Laurentina received. The nun is troubled, but not by what or whom she had to find. A second phone call came to complicate things. She is told that the woman in question might be in a medical centre run by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The woman cannot remember either her family or her place of birth. Thanks to the police commander of the district of Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS) and another local source, Sister Laurentina managed to discover the first letter of her surname: M. Thanks to this information, she was able to identify a village with residents whose surname had the same initial. The settlement is very far from Kupang. "It takes almost six hours by car to reach the local parish. From there we must continue for another three hours, then leave the car and walk along mountain paths, the nun said. In December 2018, Sister Laurentina travelled to Timor Tengah Selatan to visit the village of Oenlansi along with Fr Eko Aldianto, from the Commission for Justice, Peace and Care of Migrants of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI). This was the right chance to reach the village of the missing young woman. "Together with Fr Sebastianus Kefi, the local priest in Oinlansi, we reached the remote place of Obibi, where the settlement is located. The two priests and the nun arrived in Kualiu (picture 2), but there was still one more effort to make: the house they were looking for stood at the top of a steep hill (picture 3). "I was almost out of breath when reached it, Sister Laurentina said. However, the sight of the elderly father was a great relief for me. I was also very moved: the girl's father is sick and lives in a small traditional house. Known as T M, he suffers from a serious leg illness, which does not allow him to walk properly. "Do you have a daughter named J M?" Sister Laurentina asked, showing him the small photograph. A local man offers to translate the nuns request from Indonesian into Dawan, the local language. "Yes, said the elderly gentleman bursting into tears. My family and I don't know anything about her since 2006. Is she alive, dead?" "She is alive, she is in Kuala Lumpur, the nun replied. Soon she will be repatriated. "Sister, please bring her back to me." For Sister Laurentina, "Things were still unclear. I didn't even know if I would ever see the father again. I wanted to tell him yes, I will, but I could not know how the matter would end . . . Then I said: With Gods help, you will meet each other again, she said, a lump in her throat. A friend who works at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) told Laurentina - who has since returned to Kupang that she was not sure that the woman was still in the Kuala Lumpur shelter. For the nun, that led to days of despair. In the following weeks, however, she received an unexpected phone call. Fr Perno told her that he was certain that "the young woman is alive and at in the centre." However, she had some health problems to deal with before returning to Indonesia. Sister Laurentina did not waste time, and immediately contacted the embassy to organise the repatriation. "The young woman arrived in Kupang on 25 March, on a (state carrier) Garuda Indonesia flight," the nun explained. After dealing with some paperwork at the airport, Sister Laurentina immediately set off with J M. The road between Kupang and Timor Tengah Selatan district is long. In Kaileu, the family had waited for J M for 14 years (picture 4). Due to widespread poverty, the remote and predominantly Christian East Nusa Tenggara province is the most affected by human trafficking. In the past, generations of residents have emigrated to Malaysia to work as domestics or on plantations. But in recent years migrant trafficking has increased and more and more young people - especially women - fall into the trap of underpaid work or forced prostitution. According to the BP3TKI, more than 2,600 migrants have died or gone missing since 2014. Finding the latter is almost always impossible, as traffickers change names, birthdays and addresses on migration papers. The Church is one of the few institutions trying to prevent and counter the problem. Some priests and nuns have dedicated their lives to this mission. Sister Laurentina has been crisscrossing the region in 2012 to inform villagers about the dangers of trafficking. She began to help victims directly in 2014, at the Migrant Care Centre in Jakarta. Since 2017 she has been the anti-trafficking coordinator for the island of Timor and is head of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPIC) of the Archdiocese of Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara. Currently, she is also involved with KWIs Commission for Justice, Peace and Care of Migrants. One of the tasks her Order has assigned her is caring for victims who return to their villages from abroad. But not everyone can return: some die in accidents or from illnesses; others because of negligence and abuse. "For this reason, she noted, in addition to offering comfort to survivors of human trafficking, my job is also to receive coffins at the airport and deliver the remains of those who did not make it to their families. All the early mornings Zechariah Rickett spent taking care of his steer, Kobe, in the ag barn have paid off. The Dekaney High School junior earned the grand champion title for his 1,242 pound steer on Saturday at the Spring Livestock Show and Fair. Rickett would often arrive at 6 a.m. to make sure Kobe was well taken care of. When you first get him, youve got to be very friendly with them. Let him get to know you. I think thats what I did the most and let him meet as many people as he can, touch on him and stuff like that so he doesnt get too afraid when hes surrounded by them, he said. Since May, Rickett has been making sure to feed Kobe, clean out the stable, bathe him regularly, have him exercise by walking in a field and working to handle him. Steers should have a shiny coat and be well fed, but not fat, he said. Thanks to Ricketts work, Kobe sold for $5,500, according to a press release from Spring ISD. While Rickett has also raised pigs and turkeys, he said he wanted to work with a steer when he was a freshman but was unable to do so at first because he needed to participate in FFA for at least two years. Students can begin to participate in the third grade if they are part of the Spring Tri-Club, all the way up to their senior year in high school. Participating students in their last year of school can also earn scholarships that range from $500 to $2,500, said Marsha Cook, president of the Spring Tri-Club, which hosts the event. This year, the district raised a total of $115,365, according to a release. In 2018, the show raised $103,780, which was used to help fund the show, hire the judges and provide scholarships to students, she said. It all goes back to the kids, Cook said. Like Rickett, other Spring ISD students participating in FFA often start their days before the sun even rises to get to the agriculture barns. These dedicated students showed off their livestock raising efforts during the districts livestock show and fair, hosted from March 28 to March 30. Reyna Hopkins, a sophomore at Spring High School, would get to her schools ag barn at 5:30 a.m. to clean up, feed and work with her goat, who she named Fiji. Goats in general like to eat anything they can see. I put a muzzle on him so when we take him out to this big arena, he wont eat the grass and wont get fat so he can exercise and run around, she said. Hopkins said she began working with Fiji during the holiday break in December and injured her right knee, for which she eventually had surgery. Despite her injury not allowing her to work with Fiji for a month, she earned the title of grand champion on Thursday, March 28, during the goat show. In the previous shows, Hopkins said she raised rabbits before changing her animal of choice to a goat. I just thought goats were cute, she said. Kierstin Taylor, a senior at Wunsche High School, earned second place during the goat show. Like Hopkins, Taylor said she would wake up at dawn and be at the ag barn to work with her goat, who she named Little Bad Attitude. The more you work with them, the better your relationship will be. If youre nervous, hes going to be nervous. If youre confident, hell be confident, Taylor said. Like any other goat, Little Bad Attitude also likes to eat and Taylor said she kept things away from him all the time. We have a treadmill and I just run him on a treadmill every day. We have to wash him a lot also because he gets dirty a lot, she said. While she will be graduating later this year, Taylor said she plans on pursuing agriculture education as a major when she enrolls in college and eventually become an agriculture teacher. mayra.cruz@chron.com Years of attempted purse snatching at one local public art venue in The Woodlands has led local officials to take action. Unfortunately for the unlucky pranksters, the purse theyve attempted to grab and run off with is actually a metallic sculpture owned by The Woodlands Development Co. that is on display in Waterway Square. And the action that is being taken isnt to stop would-be robbers, it is to repair damage to the artwork wrought by repeated attempts to grab the purse that has led to a loosening of the mechanism keeping it in place, said Robert Heineman, vice president of planning and design for The Woodlands Development Co., a subsidiary of the Howard Hughes Corp. People would walk by and pull the purse, Heineman said with a chuckle. After several years, the anchor was getting very loose. We had to re-anchor it more securely. (The sculpture) Is very life-like. They (would be pranksters) find out it is made of bronze, not leather. Keeping it clean The Grandmas Purse is one of more than two dozen bronze sculptures of human figures, deer and other works of public art in The Woodlands are getting some TLC as part of a three-year, on-going repair and conservation project to ensure the popular and pricey displays of art are kept in tip-top shape for both residents and visitors. Heineman, who oversees acquisition and care for the many pieces of art as part of his job with the Woodlands Development Co., said repairs and conservation treatments to the 25 pieces of public art owned by the company had not been done in many years and officials decided to take action in 2018 with a wide-ranging plan to assess each piece of art to determine what needed to be done. Once the assessment phase was completed, a list of priorities was created and work started, he added. Last year, we began that conservation effort. We have not done it in several years. This is really the first time weve addressed it and itll be an on-going effort, Heineman said. We evaluated all the pieces that the Woodlands Development Company owns, with examining the condition and if work was needed or not. This is the first time weve professionally evaluated the artworks. The repair process is being coordinated by officials from the Woodlands Development Co. along with help from Kinzelman Art Consulting, the Sculpture Conservation Studio in Houston and ONAIM Conservation of Houston. The 25 statues and art pieces owned by the company were examined by a team from Kinzelman Art Consulting, which was then given to Heineman and others to coordinate the cleaning, repairs and conservation upgrades all of which were funded by the Art Fund, which is fueled by revenue from commercial land sales. The Art Fund began many years ago with Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell. Over the years, weve funded the art projects through commercial land sales. A certain amount of the funds go into the Art Fund, Heineman explained. The Art Fun had funded about 60 sculptures in The Woodlands over the years. Some have been given to other entities, but we retained about 20 to 30. Wear and tear Although The Woodlands does not have snow and ice except in the rarest occasions each year, Heineman said the rain and humidity of the region can cause havoc with certain metallic structures, causing rust and a loss of patina which is the shined look many statues have when first created. Other ways the works of art can be damaged include high winds that may cause a structure to loosen, or even damage from people who may walk on the statue or inflict other types of damage. The first one we did was a piece in College Parkit was a large metal piece that had heavy rust, Heineman said. The various deer around The Woodlands have been completed already. The mosaics under the Waterway Bridge were repaired, that was a problem with water leakage. We cleared all that up, but it will probably need to be revisited in the future. Heineman said the most common damages that the sculptures and other pieces of art suffer include excessive rusting; water leakage into the structure of the artwork; eroded, fading or scraped paint; loosening of the structure; and the deterioration of the patina on a piece of art. Moisture is not the friend of some artwork, Heineman said of the weather in the Houston region. Climate causes a lot of damage..all the rain, the mildew and the moisture. The care of the statues is coordinated by Julie Kinzelman, of Kinzelman Art Consulting, who compiled a list of the artwork and prioritized it for the Woodlands Development Company. From there, the artwork is either repair onsite or it is removed and taken to an indoor studio. Work on some sculptures, such as the un-named piece by Horace L. Farlowe at the entrance of Harpers Landing, for example, was done inside a studio, however for massive sculptures like The Family, workers have no choice but to do the repairs and conservation efforts on site. The latest one (to be refurbished) is The Family by the freeway. It is made out of tin and is painted, Heineman said. They needed to do that in place due to the size of it. They did it in place with scaffolding, and then patching the tin, cutting out bad pieces and welding in new onesgetting rid of oxidation and painting it. According to Heineman, some pieces of art are more difficult than others to work on, with many pieces like the Robert Cook sculpture On the Shoulders of Giants in the median at the intersection of Grogans Mill Road and Research Forest Drive being located in the middle of a busy thoroughfare which means appropriate permissions and traffic control measures need to be taken. Some (statues) are in a county road right-of-way and we have to coordinate with Commissioner (James) Noack, he added. Dedication to art Byron Kessler, owner of Sculpture Conservation Studio in Houston, is doing many of the renovation and repair projects under the supervision of Kinzelman and officials from The Woodlands Development Co. Kessler said the most common repairs his team of workers do include general cleaning, re-painting, masonry work on joints of various statues, welding repairs, and what he called re-patinization, or restoring the patina luster to a piece. It has been pretty straight forward, Kessler said of the projects he and his team have been tasked with. It is hard, it takes a lot of work. Some (statues) get basic cleaning, some of the bronze (statues) get re-patinized and lacquered. The process of cleaning a statue includes many different methods. According to a report provided to The Villager, the statue Disc II in the median of Timberloch Place by Grogans Mill Road received a vigorous cleaning. The report states the statue had, surfaces were pre-soaked, washed with a 10% solution of Simple Green Detergent and Tampico brushes and power wash rinsed. Residual black mold staining was pre-soaked, scrubbed with gray Scotch Brite pads and power wash rinsed. The intensive work, Heineman noted, is all part of a dedication to public art in The Woodlands as envisioned by George and Cynthia Mitchell as they developed and planned the community. The whole idea (in planning) was experiential art where the viewer interacts more directly with the art, Heineman said of the original idea of the Mitchells. Well be continuing to conserve art until theyre all done. jeff.forward@chron.com Rihabi Mohamed Rihabi is involved in several different areas of the community, but he has one main goal. Whether hes at at the local mosque, teaching as the groups Muslim religious leader, or teaching Arabic studies at Lone Star College-Montgomery, Rihabi is focused on building bridges throughout the greater community. He sat down with The Villager to tell us more. QUESTION: Tell us a little bit about yourself: where are you from and what is your family like? RIHABI: I was born in Syria, in the city of Edlib. Its well-known for figs and olives. I live in The Woodlands with my wonderful, lovely wife Areej and four children: Mohamed is an eighth grader at McCullough Junior High school, Ali is a sixth grader at Mitchell Intermediate, Elias is a preschooler at Powell Elementary and Yunus is 3 years old. My father was very well known as a wise person and peacemaker in his city. I studied under Sheikh Ahmad Kuftaro; The Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic. This Islamic center is known as The Center for Moderation and Tolerance. In that environment, I realized the world was like a small village and God created us to know each other and to be together as a family. I got my Ph.D in Islamic Studies and the Academic study of Arabic literature at the University of Damascus. I have done numerous training and self-development programs. Im also a professor at Lone Star College Montgomery teaching the Arabic language. I am an author and researcher; I have written many books and research papers, which emphasize the values of mercy, tolerance and acceptance of others. I have been working hard for over 20 years on building bridges and friendship with all faiths. I am trying to bring all the different members of the human family together. I have been directing all the efforts possible toward conducting interfaith dialogue and cooperation. QUESTION: When did you become the religious leader, or imam, of Masjid Al-Ansaar Islamic Center of The Woodlands? RIHABI: I began serving as an imam to The Woodlands community in October of 2017.This center belongs to the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, or ISGH. They have around 20 centers. Our vision as an organization is to provide understanding and communication between Muslims and the Houston community in general. I love my job as a religious leader, teacher, educator and trainer. QUESTION: What is the Muslim community like here in The Woodlands and Conroe area? RIHABI: The Muslim community here in The Woodlands and Conroe area is just like any other community throughout the United States and elsewhere in the world. We have families, friends, careers, businesses, students. We are blessed to have many doctors, engineers, business owners and general workers that make up our small and diverse community. Not only are we diverse in occupation, but ethnically as well. Our community is made up of Pakistani, Arabs, North Africa and South East Asia. We truly believe that the human diversity is viewed as part of the blessing and bounty of God. People are urged to go beyond mere coexistence and to seek mutual understanding and cooperation with one another proactively. The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that all people are considered part of the family of God, and that God best loves those who are most useful to His family members. As a result of belief in God and the brotherhood of all human beings, mankind must live a life of love, peace and harmony. I am happy when I explain the meaning of Islam, submission to God," which reflects the relationship between man and God. There has been only one message throughout the history. All of the messengers of God brought one message, so, there can be no conflict between what was revealed to Moses, Jesus or Muhammad. I believe that God commanded all prophets and messengers to be one family, to live together, to help each other. QUESTION: How does that translate to your work in the community? RIHABI: This encourages and motivates me to open doors and communicate with others, to build the bridges. To open the door for them to visit, have conversations. Some rabbis and pastors invite me like family to their houses. We sit and eat, and I respect them. I appreciate their way of dealing with us. For example, they cook Mediterranean food, just to make us more comfortable. That means a lot for us, that we live together and introduce our children to each other. This is what I hope to continue doing. QUESTION: What challenges do you face as a group? RIHABI: As a Muslim community living in this area, we are not immune from challenges like any other groups. The difference is that we are a target of hate, misunderstanding and discrimination. Unfortunately, the Islamophobia is far greater than the peaceful narratives that never get to the headline of any news. Therefore, we will have to work even harder to educate and share with the world to show who we really are by one friend, one neighbor and one co-worker at a time. It is a responsibility for the humanity to deliver that message. To let them know about Islam, when we educate or advise each other, or when we tell each other about our friends, they would know who we are. Islam means peace and love. But people misunderstand something in Islam because maybe some small group of bad people do something wrong, we should not judge Islam because of those bad people. They dont represent Islam. QUESTION: How is your community responding to the tragic attack at the two mosques in New Zealand? RIHABI: Like other tragedies and calamities, we all go through the stages of feelings as human kind, such as sadness, grief, anger and fear. Sadness because we lost our brothers and sisters of faith. Sadness because many lives were taken unjustly, unprovoked and unwarranted in a Holy place of worship. Grief is a natural emotion that mankind feels when we lose, a father, a son, a brother, a friend, a neighbor, a contributor of society. Anger because we do not deserve to be categorized as terrorist on behalf of a few delusional individuals that uses Islam for their political or financial gain. After all the roller coaster of emotions run through our veins, we then become fearful because What if! this happens here in my Mosque, my community, with my friends, with my family on any Friday like that sad day in New Zealand while I am giving the sermon of peace and love for all humanity? Usually, in my lectures and our service, I teach them God created us in our differences to understand each other and to learn from each other, even if we dont agree with their faith. This is my message that Im always trying to remind my community of. QUESTION: What are the exciting parts of the group? RIHABI: The exciting thing about our Muslim community is that we have many youths that are in elementary, junior high, high school and college with so many dreams and aspirations. We have doctors and nurses in most of the surrounding hospitals and engineers at major oil companies, but yet, our faith is still misunderstood by so many people. I have high hopes that their aspirations and dreams will change the false narrative about our faith, people and our traditions to a positive narrative of peace and love to share with all the world. QUESTION: What are your goals? What do you hope to bring to the Muslim community here? RIHABI: I can summarize it in five points: peaceful coexistence, safety and integration into the society, rejecting any kind of radicalism and racism, sharing the human values and building bridges of cooperation with all getting to know each other in the community. This is what I work on, day and night. I dont leave any chance, any opportunity to have that communication and friendship with people around us, regardless of their thoughts and beliefs. My goal is to build bridges and connect with different faiths to learn about each other and to learn from each other. This will hopefully open our mind and doors to accept, respect and tolerate eachothers differences in faith, culture, tradition and appearances. I believe in the right of each individual to have the freedom of thought and religion, and I teach my students and people in the mosque this idea that, where religious differences exist, the followers of various religious traditions should engage with one another on the basis of mutual respect and kindness. jane.stueckemann@chron.com "Call me, maybe?" is on the brink of becoming "Call me, never." Robocalls, those computer-generated shysters, are making some people stop answering the phone altogether. The rest of us trust unknown calls about as much as truck stop sushi. By several estimates, Americans got more than 5.2 billion automated calls in March - a record of about 16 for every man, woman and child. It's happening because the internet made it incredibly cheap and easy to place thousands of calls in an instant. But we don't have to just bury our heads in the spam and take it. While lawmakers debate what to do about the roboscourge, engineers have cooked up some clever ways to make bots work for us, not against us. Verizon just began offering free spam-fighting tech like AT&T and T-Mobile, if you sign up. The right app or service on your phone can make it safer to say hello again - or even extract revenge. Yes, revenge. So let's battle, bots. I collected dozens of robocalls from my Washington Post colleagues along with the (good grief) 30 I got myself in March. I get lots in Chinese; one colleague gets one for a "medical-grade brace" that he definitely doesn't need. Then I took this list of 100 naughty numbers - and a few legitimate calls like pharmacies and schools - to six tech companies that flag and block robocalls on cellphones: Hiya, Nomorobo, RoboKiller, TNS, Truecaller and YouMail. (Landlines and VoIP phones also get barraged, but some of the solutions are different.) My test lasers in on one important question: Who was first at identifying the bad guys? I discovered no service could flag more than two-thirds of the calls on my list, in part because so many robocalls spoof their identities. Those are the callers that look conspicuously similar to your number, or copy the caller ID of some poor soul who gets lots of angry return calls. In a robocall deathmatch, speed matters. And one free app was, on average, faster at adding bad guys to its blacklist. It comes down to how much effort you want to put into battling robocalls, and how much personal information you're willing to share to make it happen. Just adding numbers to your phone's individual block list won't get you very far, but there are a few simple steps everyone could benefit from. Here's my recommended plan of attack. - - - Round 1: Register on the 'Do Not Call' list It won't help much, but it only takes 30 seconds so why not? The list, kept by the Federal Trade Commission, tells legitimate telemarketers not to bother you - the equivalent of a "no trespassing" sign on your lawn. Bonus: It also registers with the government that you care about this issue. It's free to register at donotcall.gov. - - - Round 2: Activate your service provider's free protection Phone companies have finally realized that stopping robocalls is an essential part of what we pay them for. You may have heard that recently the biggest carriers pledged to support new network technology with a James Bond name - STIR/SHAKEN - that will help identify the true origin of calls. That's a good thing to help stop all those spoofed calls, but there's still a lot to work out before it might make a noticeable difference. Meanwhile, everyone should take advantage of tech the carriers offer to identify and block certain robocalls. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon offer free services that monitor network activity and crowdsourced reports to block suspected fraudulent calls. The carriers outsource these services to Hiya, First Orion and TNS, respectively. Don't worry: they cross-check your contacts list to make sure they don't block someone legitimate. One caveat: If your company pays for your phone service, it might have to authorize turning on some of these services. - AT&T: Download an app called AT&T Call Protect. The free level of service will label suspected spammers and gives you the option to automatically block calls that are a fraud risk. Unfortunately, if you also want to automatically block nuisances like spam, political calls and telemarketers, you have to pay $4 per month, which also comes with access to AT&T's mobile security service. - Verizon: Download an app called Verizon Call Filter. As of last week, Verizon stopped charging for basic service, which labels suspected robocalls and gives you three options based on risk level for how many to block. If you pay $3 per month, you'll also get caller ID. - T-Mobile: Most T-Mobile customers already have the company's Scam ID and Scam Block service turned on, with no need to download an additional app. If you pay $4 per month, you'll get better caller ID and the ability to send more kinds of calls straight to voicemail. In my test, the carrier services were slower at adding spammers to blacklists than some independent apps - and paying for their premium versions won't make them faster. In everyday use, these services take advantage of algorithms that might have stopped spoof numbers my test didn't pick up. Verizon's service provider TNS and AT&T's provider Hiya identified nearly the same number of robocalls, though Hiya did so, on average, a bit faster. (T-Mobile's provider First Orion declined to participate.) Just as important: Both let the legitimate calls through. - - - Round 3: Get a robocall-blocking app Independent apps offer a few tricks of their own, but they're not all effective and might be after the personal data in your phone. Into my bot battle, I threw four popular apps: Nomorobo, RoboKiller, Truecaller and YouMail. I also spoke with the companies behind them about how they make money and handle our privacy. I recommend starting with the free YouMail, which won my robocall speed test. The main reason it's faster is that it has data the carrier-provided services don't: the contents of your voicemail. YouMail replaces your phone's existing voicemail service, and it uses software to identify when robocallers leave messages - like Shazam for spam. That helps it quickly crowdsource the identity of new robocallers and block them from other phones. If YouMail, which has about 10 million registered users, sees a scam rotating through lots of different spoofed numbers, it knows not to block those numbers that belong to legitimate callers for all its users. A coming update will also let you automatically block spoof calls designed to look like they're coming from neighbors. And my favorite part: YouMail tries to trick known robocallers into taking you off their lists by playing them the beep-beep-beep sound of a dead line. I wouldn't blame you for being hesitant about handing over so much data, including (on Android phones) the details of every call that comes in. You're required to use the YouMail app to listen to your messages, but it does helpfully transcribe them, make them accessible on the web and offer fun outgoing message options. YouMail says it makes money through selling a premium voicemail service for businesses and through advertising, but over its 12-year history has also run an identity-verification data service. The company told me it's ending its data business and won't sell user data or share it with others unless it's part of an effort to stop robocalls. If you don't want to give up your voicemail, the most-effective option is Truecaller, which replaces your phone's main call app and crowdsources spam numbers from some 300 million users worldwide (including 10 million in the U.S.). But it wasn't my favorite app, because you have to pay $3 per month to automatically block top spammers, and it stuffs in lots of functions unrelated to robocalling. The simplest app, $2 per month Nomorobo, is one of the first robocall blockers on the market with a popular service for home lines. On your smartphone, Nomorobo doesn't sell your data or monkey around with your voicemail or calling apps, and it is smart about blocking spoofed calls that appear to be from neighbors. But I also found it was the slowest to add my test's robocalls to its blacklist. - - - Round 4: Get revenge For some, dark times call for dark measures. The $4 per month RoboKiller, which ranked second in my speed test, also takes over and fingerprints your voicemails but adds a clever twist: "answer bots." They're voicemail messages that try to keep robots and human telemarketers on the line, listening to nonsense. Answer bot options range from Trump impersonators and extended coughing sessions to someone doing vocal exercises. Even better, RoboKiller will send you an often-hilarious recording of the interaction. (It only uses these recordings when it's very sure it's a spam call.) Another service, called Jolly Roger, doesn't sell itself as a robocall blocker but takes this auto-generated annoyance idea a step further by actively trying to game the spammers' systems, such as when to press 1 to speak to a human. It calls this tech "artificial stupidity." It costs $11.88 per year. It's possible you're better off not engaging with a robocall in the hopes the dialer with decide the line is dead. And it's also not clear how much these actually cost the people placing robocalls. But any time robocallers spend with your bot might be minutes they're not calling someone else, so you can think of it as community service. I expect we'll see more call software that works like this. Google's Pixel phones last year added a button to have a robot assistant screen calls for you. Even if you're not interested in revenge, good bots can play a role in combating bad ones. SEATTLE (AP) The national chain Motel 6 agreed Thursday to pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Washington state claiming names of hotel guests were improperly provided to immigration officials for two years, the state attorney general said. The information led to targeted investigations by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who went after people with Latino-sounding names, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: ICE arrests 280 at N. Texas tech repair company Some people staying at seven Motel 6 locations in the state were detained or deported, he said. "Motel 6's actions tore families apart and violated the privacy rights of tens of thousands of Washingtonians," Ferguson said in a statement. "Our resolution holds Motel 6 accountable for illegally handing over guests' private information without a warrant." The company said in an email that it will enforce its guest privacy policy, which prohibits the sharing of guest information except in cases where a judicially enforceable warrant or subpoena is present or local law requires release of the information. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: The Latest: People ICE arrested in Texas from 15 countries The company has also implemented controls to ensure corporate oversight and compliance in cases where law enforcement requests are made. "The safety and security of our guests, which includes protecting guest information, is our top priority, and we are pleased to be able to reach resolution in this matter," the company said. The agreement applies to all Motel 6 locations nationwide. The company also agreed to provide training to employees to protect guest privacy, Ferguson said. In a separate lawsuit filed in Arizona, the company agreed in November to pay up to $7.6 million to Latino guests who said hotel employees shared private information with immigration officials. In Washington state, Ferguson said Motel 6 gave ICE information on a daily basis about a total of 80,000 guests without a warrant between 2015 and 2017. In one case, a Seattle man who stayed at a Motel 6 near SeaTac was stopped in a parking lot by ICE agents as he wrapped Christmas presents for his four children. He was detained and deported several days later, Ferguson said. The man was the sole provider for his family and his wife has struggled to support the children, he said. In another case, a Vancouver father who had lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years was detained after staying at a Motel 6 on a trip to pick up supplies for his grocery business, Ferguson said. He also was deported, leaving behind his wife and six children. Ferguson filed the lawsuit in King County Superior Court last year, claiming the company's disclosures violated the state's Consumer Protection Act and a law against discrimination. The company must also create an online tool for guests to report incidences where they believe the hotel chain has shared guest information. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. The government mobilizes all available resources. The fire broke out along a Goseong county road and extended to the cities of Sokcho, Gangneung and Donghae. At 11 this morning, the flames had burned 525 hectares of forest and destroyed more than 200 between houses and buildings. Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A devastating fire has engulfed the forests and mountains along the east coast of South Korea, causing one death, at least 35 wounded, more than 4,200 displaced people and damage to numerous buildings. The government has declared the national emergency and, on the orders of President Moon Jae-in, is mobilizing all available resources to tame the flames. According to reports from the Gangwon fire brigade headquarters, the fire broke out along a road in Goseong County, about 210 kilometers northeast of Seoul, around 7:17 pm yesterday. Driven by strong southern winds that blew at speeds of up to 35.6 meters per second, in a few hours the flames reached the nearby cities of Sokcho, Gangneung and Donghae. To contain the emergency, the authorities have mobilized a total of over 13 thousand rescuers, firefighters, soldiers and police officers from all over the country. More than 872 tankers are used in the operations. The fire agency also plans to mobilize 51 helicopters, of which 13 are military. The Gangwon control center states that at 11 this morning, the flames had burned 525 hectares, or 5.25 million square meters of forest, and destroyed more than 200 homes and buildings. Roads and railways in the region are closed, as are 52 schools and other public facilities. The Interior Ministry says that much of the fire at Goseong has been contained and more than 50% of the fire in Inje and Gangneung has been under control since noon. By Jeremy Dean Wilson, Ph.D candidate, Department of Environment & Science, Griffith University, Griffith University Jeremy Wilson, Author provided Several new species of trapdoor spiders found in Queensland are finally described in an article published this month in Invertebrate Systematics. But each of the new species occurs in only its own single, isolated patch of rainforest in southeastern Queensland, and nowhere else. Because these species have such tiny natural distributions, they are especially vulnerable to extinction. Read more: The first known case of eggs plus live birth from one pregnancy in a tiny lizard Unique spider burrows These newly described spiders have been given the common name palisade trapdoor spiders because of the strange and unique burrows they construct. The entrance to the burrow projects out from the surrounding soil like a miniature turret. https://images.theconversation.com/files/267687/original/file-20190404-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267687/original/file-20190404-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267687/original/file-20190404-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267687/original/file-20190404-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267687/original/file-20190404-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Jeremy Wilson (left), Michael Rix (right) Not only that, but each of the four new palisade trapdoor spider species constructs its own unique type of burrow. One species, found in national parkland near Gympie and known scientifically as Euoplos crenatus, constructs a particularly elaborate burrow. The hinged door that covers the burrow entrance is adorned with several rounded lobes which project from the doors circumference. This marvel of natural architecture is constructed by the spider using silk and soil. No other spider species in the world constructs something similar. This species was originally discovered by local naturalists Kelvin and Amelia Nielsen in 1999, who then guided researchers back to the discovery location in 2016 to collect specimens so the species could be formally named. https://images.theconversation.com/files/267664/original/file-20190404-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267664/original/file-20190404-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267664/original/file-20190404-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267664/original/file-20190404-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267664/original/file-20190404-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Michael Rix Another species, Euoplos thynnearum, constructs a burrow entrance with a thick lip within which the burrow door sits. Its found in the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, a 55-hectare patch of subtropical rainforest popular with visitors to the Sunshine Coast hinterland. This species is named after Elizabeth, Mabel and Mary Thynne, who originally donated the reserve land to the local council in 1941 to honour their mother Mary Thynne (nee Cairncross). Currently, this species is known to occur only within the reserve and in other rainforest patches in the immediate vicinity. https://images.theconversation.com/files/267665/original/file-20190404-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267665/original/file-20190404-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267665/original/file-20190404-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267665/original/file-20190404-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267665/original/file-20190404-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Michael Rix Short-range species at risk Species that only only occur in a very small area, like these new palisade trapdoor spider species, are known as short-range endemic species. Although scientists are naming new species at a faster rate than ever before, estimates of the total number of species on Earth still suggest that most animal species have not been formally named. With so much work still to do, some scientists have chosen to prioritise work on particular types of animals that are especially vulnerable to extinction. In 2002, Mark Harvey, an arachnologist from the Western Australian Museum, proposed that scientists should prioritise the discovery and description of short-range endemic species. He reasoned that the small ranges of these species make them inherently vulnerable to extinction, and that identifying, naming and studying them is the first step to protecting them. https://images.theconversation.com/files/267663/original/file-20190404-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267663/original/file-20190404-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267663/original/file-20190404-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267663/original/file-20190404-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267663/original/file-20190404-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Jeremy Wilson Staying local For trapdoor spiders, short-range endemism is the rule, not the exception. These spiders live their entire lives in a burrow. Juvenile spiders walk only short distances from their mothers burrow, before constructing a burrow of their own. Usually, these spiders will then remain in the same burrow for the remainder of their lives, enlarging it as they grow. https://images.theconversation.com/files/267732/original/file-20190405-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267732/original/file-20190405-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267732/original/file-20190405-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267732/original/file-20190405-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267732/original/file-20190405-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Jeremy Wilson Adult male trapdoor spiders will also leave their burrow to breed, but will only travel relatively short distances. Over time, this extremely limited dispersal ability has led to the evolution of many different trapdoor spider species, each of which occurs in only a very small area. Since 2012, a research team, led by Queensland Museum researcher Michael Rix, has been trying to discover and name all species of spiny trapdoor spider - this group includes the palisade trapdoor spiders, as well as other strange trapdoor spider species such as the shield-backed trapdoor spiders of Western Australia. https://images.theconversation.com/files/267706/original/file-20190404-1... 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267706/original/file-20190404-1... 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267706/original/file-20190404-1... 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267706/original/file-20190404-1... 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/267706/original/file-20190404-1... 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> Mark Harvey So far, this project has led to the description of more than 100 new species from throughout Australia, some of which are already classified as threatened by federal and state governments. Read more: Banning exotic leather in fashion hurts snakes and crocodiles in the long run The most iconic of these is Idiosoma nigrum (also a shield-backed trapdoor spider), which is a listed threatened species. The discovery of all these weird and wonderful spider species should remind us that Australia has some of the most remarkable invertebrate species in the world, and new species are waiting to be discovered in the national parks and reserves which occur around, and even within, our towns and cities - under our noses. Next time you visit a national park, or drive past a patch of forest while commuting along Australias east coast, think to yourself, what might be living in there? Do those species occur anywhere else? And above all, if we lose that forest remnant, what unique species might disappear along with it? Jeremy Dean Wilson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Originally published in The Conversation. Two people have been arrested in the shooting of a 3-year-old boy last month in a southwest Houston park known for violence, police said. Leonard Butler, 25, and Mark Wakefield, 26 were jailed Thursday on charges of injury to a child and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both were part of the "Most Wanted" sect of the Bloods gang, said Houston Police Department Detective Zane Brumley. Authorities first said that the child, initially reported to be 2, was hit about 5:25 p.m. March 30 at Haviland Park, 11600 Haviland St., during a party. The boy, who was struck in the cheek and buttocks, has been released from the hospital and will recover from his injuries, authorities said Friday. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox The boy and his mother were in their car fleeing from people in another vehicle firing gunshots in the air, police said. As the mother and son were leaving, Butler and Wakefield stopped about 10 to 15 feet away from their car and began shooting, according to court documents that outline the criminal charges. Detectives said they do not know yet if the woman was a target. The initial gunfire came from people in a silver car who, witnesses say, drove by the park. No one was hit during that incident. Authorities are looking for the people in that car. RELATED: Suspected drunken driver crashes into Harris County deputy constable watching for speeders Both Butler and Wakefield were out on bond when the child was shot. Their earlier arrests came after incidents in the same park, police said. Butler was out on a $30,000 bond after he allegedly took food from a food truck and when he was asked to pay, threatened the owner with a gun, according to charging documents. That bond has now been revoked. Wakefield was out on $1,000 bond after he allegedly was carrying a handgun in his car without a license, according to charging documents. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Activists and family members of a man strangled during an altercation outside a Houston-area Dennys restaurant in 2017 demanded Friday that a former deputy sheriff who was charged with murder in the case -- then saw the charge dropped this week -- not be granted an appeal to regain her job. The former Harris County deputy, Chauna Thompson, filed a request to be rehired in 2017 after she was fired in connection with the death of John Hernandez, 24, who was strangled by her husband, Terry Thompson, in her presence while she was off-duty. Terry Thompson was convicted of murder last year and sentenced to 25 years in prison. But the Harris County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that it had dropped a murder charge stemming from a grand jury indictment against Chauna Thompson because prosecutors determined they lacked sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. A cellphone video of the incident on May 28, 2017 appeared to show Thompson by her husband's side, helping to restrain Hernandez. We are protesting to prevent the Sheriffs Office (from rehiring) Thompson because she is a danger to our society and contributed to Hernandez' death, said his aunt, Wendy Maldonado, at a protest in front of the sheriffs office. When you are a police officer, whether you are on-duty or off-duty, you are supposed to follow guidelines, policies, rules and regulations, and she did not act like a police officer that night," Maldonado alleged. Jason Spencer, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, noted that Sheriff Ed Gonzalez made the decision to fire Chauna Thompson in July 2017. "He's not withdrawing his decision to terminate," Spencer said. But the spokesman added that the final decision rests with the sheriff's civil service commission for Harris County, an independent review panel. "If they hear the appeal and decide she gets her job back, she gets her job back and the sheriff doesn't have any say," Spencer added. Thompson was off-duty when her husband confronted Hernandez for urinating outside the Sheldon diner along the Crosby Freeway and in front of the couple's teenage daughter and her friends. Hernandez slugged Thompson's railroad-worker husband in the eye, prompting him to tackle the victim and place him in a chokehold on the sidewalk, maintaining it as Hernandez kicked his legs. The deputy later administered CPR on the unconscious man. Hernandez died three days later of strangulation and chest compression. Family members believe, based the video, that Thompson helped her husband kill Hernandez by pinning down the only hand that he had free to defend himself. ...she didnt get (her husband) off, she didnt do anything to try to stop a murder from happening right in front of her, said activist Shere Dore. She should not get her job back; even if she did give CPR, we are saying she is still negligent and it still can be construed as manslaughter because she was involved and did not act or gave CPR until it was too late. Hernandezs mother, Maria Elena Hernandez, said Thompson should not be permitted to work in law enforcement. I will never get over this pain, she said. I feel that they ripped something from my heart. Edison Toquica, the sheriffs office chief deputy, said Thompsons appeal is going through a due process, as it is the right to any employee. Its unclear whether Thompson still wants to rejoin the sheriffs office, Toquica said. Greg Cagle, Chauna Thompson's lawyer, said Wednesday that no new facts had been discovered since his client was indicted in June 2017 and that the dismissal of charges "is simply the confirmation that Deputy Thompson should never have been charged in the crime." As for any return to the job, Cagle said, "She was a good police officer and she had no issues at the sheriff's office. She was well-liked. If she wants to go back (to policing), that's something she should be able to do." olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter.com/oliviaptallet Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration, as preserved by the Library of Congress. UPDATE: A second person has died as a result of equipment toppling over An industrial worker was killed and another airlifted to a hospital Thursday night as a piece of large equipment flipped on them in east Harris County, according to authorities. Police were dispatched to the apparent accident in an industrial site in the 13800 block of Industrial Road in the Brown Shipbuilding Industrial Park between the Greens and Buffalo Bayous around 9 p.m., Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted. One of the workers died at the work site, while the other was airlifted with what the sheriff described as "serious injuries." IMPALED: Two hospitalized in January industrial accident in southeast Houston The type of equipment involved in the death was not immediately known but it is believed to have flipped and possibly trapped the two workers. It was not known which company the employees were working for. The address provided by Gonzalez is for Spitzer Industries' Waterfront Facility, according to its website. A phone call to the facility went unanswered. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. A suspected drunken driver was charged Friday morning after crashing into a Harris County deputy constable who was watching for speeders on North Sam Houston Parkway, according to police. The deputy constable was in stable condition after receiving staples at the hospital to close a head injury, according to a Facebook post from the constable's office. Officials are cautiously optimistic that a burned body found off a highway near Government Canyon State Natural Area on Thursday might be that of a businesswoman last seen alive in late February. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said a hiker found the remains about 3 p.m. in the 13000 block of Texas 211. Being that were working on the Andreen McDonald case, were cautiously optimistic that this might be her, Salazar said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox McDonald was reported missing March 1 after she didnt show up for work. On Thursday, Deputy Johnny Garcia, a Sheriffs Office spokesman, said deputies confirmed the discovery and began surveying the area with drones and examining the scene. The passer-by indicated that there was a burned area about 100 yards away from the road, which appeared to have human remains, Garcia said. The body was too burned for deputies to say whether it was that of a man or a woman. Its burned down to the bone, Garcia said. McDonalds husband, 40-year-old Andre Sean McDonald, is a suspect in her disappearance. On March 3, the Air Force Reserve major was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence. READ ALSO: San Antonio man charged with tampering in wife's disappearance released from jail According to court records, investigators found blood and hair in Andreen McDonalds bathroom after her disappearance. A fresh burn pit also was found in the homes back yard, as well as a shovel, heavy-duty trash bags, an ax and gasoline canisters. Andre McDonald was arrested on the tampering charge after investigators said they found two receipts for the items and that he had tried to destroy them. A judge agreed to lower his bail from $2 million to $300,000 last week. He posted bail and was released Tuesday. As night fell at the far Northwest Side scene, the Bexar County medical examiner had arrived to collect the remains. Salazar said that because the crime scene is pitch black, deputies will hold down the site until first light. Bright and early, we will resume the crime scene search of the area utilizing the FBIs crime scene investigation capabilities, Salazar said. Salazar said he hopes dental records will help identify the body. If not, authorities will have to compare DNA from the body with that of Andreen McDonalds relatives. The sheriff warned that DNA evidence can take up to several months to be processed in some cases. ON EXPRESSNEWS.COM: Employee says missing San Antonio woman and her husband had a history of fighting Several independent searchers who went to the scene stood by as Salazar spoke about the discovery. My homicide folks have been literally working around the clock on this case. Weve been working like crazy to get some closure for Andreens family, Salazar said. Were hoping that this is her, but we have to remain open-minded until the evidence takes us there. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Animal Care Services cruelty investigators are seeking more information concerning two unrelated cases where dog owners sliced off part of the ears of pit bull puppies instead of taking the dogs to a licensed veterinarian for the surgical procedure. A resident called ACS about the first case that took place on March 14 in the backyard of an East Side home. Officers said the dog owner used pruning shears to allegedly cut the ears of his dog Jefe after watching an instructional video online. The second case took place in the living room of a West Side home around March 24. ACS officers were able to verify the second case after pictures of the bloodied puppy Sancho were posted on a Facebook page by the owner. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The owners surrendered both puppies to ACS. Jefe has found a home and Sancho is recuperating at the shelter. In both cases, felony charges of torture are pending. All of this needs to stop, said ACS Field Supervisor Manuel Flores. I hope that other people get away from playing doctor and leave animal surgeries to the veterinarians. RELATED: Somebody shot a San Antonio dog in the eye; ACS officers are looking for the perpetrator ACS assistant director Shannon Sims said the practice of cropping ears is not illegal but it is unlawful in Texas for non-licensed veterinarians to perform the operation. If youre not a licensed veterinarian youre basically disfiguring and mutilating an animal, Sims said. ACS investigators are asking anyone with more information to call 311. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis Another low-cost carrier could begin flying in U.S. skies later this year or early in 2020 if the plans of a former United Continental Holdings executive are realized. The entrepreneur is Andrew Levy, who previously served as executive VP of United Airlines and chief financial officer of the United parent company until May of last year. Before that, he was CFO and then president of low-cost carrier Allegiant Air. He is currently on the board of Panama's Copa Airlines. Levy is currently raising capital to launch a domestic airline that he said would focus on providing "high-quality, highly reliable, extremely low fare, basic transportation service," according to Bloomberg News. He already has an FAA operating certificate in his pocket for the new venture following his acquisition last year of Florida-based charter carrier XTRA Airways. That company sold most of its aircraft but retained one older 737 in order to preserve its operating certificate. Levy told Bloomberg that XTRA will be transformed into his new airline, which he hasn't yet named. Levy said his new company will offer a more simplified fee structure than current low-cost airlines, which derive a big portion of their revenues from the sale of optional extras ranging from checked bags to in-flight services to seat selection. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts The Boston radio station WBUR got ahold of Levy's presentation to investors, which said his new airline will also distinguish itself from existing ultra-low-cost carriers by providing better service and more reliable flight operations. It also said the new airline will focus on linking up second-tier U.S. airports that are currently underserved by major carriers and their regional affiliates. No specific cities were mentioned. That operating strategy sounds a lot like the plan for JetBlue founder David Neeleman's new airline, temporarily named Moxy, which is aiming for a 2021 start with a fleet of Airbus' new A220 jets. Neeleman has also said that he sees a demand for more non-stop service between second-tier cities. Levy' s company, based in Houston, hasn't yet picked an aircraft type, Bloomberg said, but he is thinking about leasing a fleet of 189-passenger 737-800s, and said he could have five planes in service by the end of 2019 or early next year. The air travel landscape is littered failed or acquired low-fare carriers, with California Pacific as the latest casualty in the US. And today we are hearing that Skuli Mogenson, the founder of recently bankrupt and shut-down WOW Air, is hoping to resurrect that carrier. He's seeking $40 million and has seven planes ready to go. What? More here. How likely is it that this one will take off? Leave your thoughts in the comments. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. In June 2015, Donald Trump announced that he was running for president and made a promise: if elected, he would build a border wall. Mexico would pay for it. Three and-a-half years later came the longest-running government shutdown in United States history, accompanied by a dizzying onslaught of border coverage. Mexico would not pay; would we? Stories alternately framed the shutdown as a serious hardship for furloughed workers and mere partisan bickering over wall funding. Americans following local and national media coverage would be forgiven for thinking they had fallen into a parallel universewith the episode being presented both as a moment of crisis and hardship, and a curiosity that mostly registered as a politically motivated annoyance, Maggie Astor and Michael Grynbaum wrote for The New York Times. When there were still decisions to be made about whether Trumps wall would ever happen and who would fund it, there was plenty of coverage of the debate. Now the shutdown has come and gone. Congress emerged with an agreement to give Trump $1.375 billion for physical barriers. Trump, unsatisfied, declared a state of emergency that would give him access to more money; the Pentagon threw in $1 billion. At this moment, construction is happening on Trumps wall, which we know because of Customs and Border Protection Bureau press releases picked up by local news outlets in places like the Rio Grande Valley. But with the exception of the occasional storylike Thursdays news of legal challenges to Trumps emergency declaration, filed by House Democrats and groups like the ACLUcoverage of what this means at the border seems to have all but disappeared. ICYMI: Freelancers have a name for endless rounds of edits: scope creep Most coverage has shifted to the possibility that Trump will close the United States-Mexico borderanother hypotheticalrather than the wall thats being built. In the past week, news organizations have run analyses on the cost of shutting down the border; zeroed in on clashes between Trump and Republicans like Mitch McConnell; and invited readers and viewers to watch Trump flip on his threat to shut down southern immigration. Its hard not to feel like the spotlight on the border wall saga has dimmed. Lost in the news cycle, we can find it difficult to step back and take in all the pressing storylines at any given time, thanks in no small part to Trumps ability to command coverage. Maintaining intense scrutiny of the southern border is no small feat, and many reporters have done a good job covering some facets of the story, most notably when they have pressured federal agencies to release information on families and children being separated and detained. But what mainstream outlets can continue to do, and do better, is allocate as many resources to reporting on the ground as they have to the fighting in Washington. More about covering the border: To improve coverage of the US-Mexico border, Tiffany Stevens wrote for CJR in February, have reporters living on the border write about it. More reporters are living among residents in US-Mexico border cities, Stevens says, helping national outlets like the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times . During the government shutdown in January, Natalie Pattillo wrote for CJR that media amplifies the antics of partisans, which leads to greater polarization . Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories: BBC news director Fran Unsworth told staff in an email obtained by The Guardian not to tweet strong political views, saying theres no distinction between personal and official social media accounts. In spite of anti-press rhetoric, students are undeterred from pursuing careers in journalism, and criticism of the press may actually be energizing student journalists, Philly.coms Anna Orso reports . BuzzFeed management continues to drag its feet on recognizing the its union, wanting to recognize specific titles, not the newsroom as a whole. Jack Crosbie of Splinter reports on accusations of union-busting. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel has long tried to differentiate Snapchat from other social platforms by keeping it closed off; unlike Facebook and Twitter, for example, Snapchat is inherently ephemeral, and doesnt have share counts or a newsfeed. That has helped it avoid the sorts of privacy scandals and disinformation campaigns that have plagued Facebook. But now Snap is cautiously opening up its platform, adding integrations like sharing buttons with publications like the Washington Post as a launch partner. The Guardian has the story that, in incoming proposals, the UK government is asking social media companies to produce transparency reports and introducing an independent regulator to police them. In a tweet Thursday, MacKenzie Bezos said that her divorce from Jeff Bezos was finalized and that she would give her ex-husband voting control of her Amazon sharesand leave him with their full stake in the Washington Post . Per the Associated Press, Twitter, following criticism, has stopped blocking French government ads urging people to vote. A new study shows that even when Facebook ads arent targeted, they end up being racially biased because of the design of their algorithm. In one example, per a report from The Intercepts Sam Biddle, Facebook delivered our broadly targeted ads for houses for sale to audiences of 75% white users. ICYMI: A fragile period: Journalism in Rwanda, 25 years after the genocide Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Maya Kosoff is a freelance reporter based in New York City. She's written for Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, Allure, and Business Insider. In 2015, Shamima Begum left her family home in London to run away to Syria and join the Islamic State. She was 15, and still in school. In the four years that have since passed, as Britain has turned toward nativism, hostility towards female members of ISIS has helped conservatives whip up their base. When Begum, now 19, arrived at the Al-Hol refugee camp in northeastern Syria in February, after surrendering to Syrian Democratic Forces, she quickly became a polarizing figure in Britainthe poster child for former ISIS members trying to return home, or, as the right sees it, sponge off the government while plotting against the West. A British news crew found Begum soon after she gave birth to her third child. She was still in a delivery room, barely sitting up, when Sky News entered and trained their cameras on her. A day after she gave birth, ITV News handed Begum a letter and told her to open and read it on camera. It was from the British Home Officethe government ministry which oversees immigration, among other things. It had revoked her British citizenship. Youve destroyed your familys lives, the reporter said. Begums newborn son, Jarrah, lay still in her lap, wrapped in rags. He was still a British national. The British tabloids responded with bilious rage to what was seen as detachment in Begums demeanor. ISIS bride Shamima Begum might NEVER be de-radicalised because she has shown no remorse or regret a Daily Mail headline said. ICYMI: Graphic memoir illustrates new frontiers in ISIS coverage Its unprecedented to have so many people in this situation, Ruth Sherlock, an international correspondent for NPR, says. Sherlock has been reporting on Begum and other families left behind by the Islamic State in Syria. She estimates there are nine thousand foreigners in the Al-Hol camp alone. (Kurdish officials have estimated that they hold thousands, or even tens of thousands, of foreigners in two camps from about 44 countries including Britain, America, Canada, Russia and central Asia.) What someone did in ISIS and whether they should be allowed to come back should be two separate questions, Sherlock says. The European media blurs that line. Yesterday Sherlock launched a four-episode series, How it Ends, on NPRs Embedded podcast, focused on the gray area ISIS refugees like Begum inhabit. Sherlock follows four family members search for loved ones who joined ISIS in Syria. In the first episode, listeners meet a Canadian woman, who takes the pseudonym Rima, as she searches for her brother, whom NPR does not name, in Syria. He has a history of mental health issues, we learn. He completed courses on sharia law and military training with the Islamic State, but it is not clear that he ever fought before attempting to leave the group. ISIS imprisoned him, and he is now in a jail run by the Syrian Democratic Forces. When Rima finally finds him, he is so malnourished that he can not walk unaided. The two are allowed a single meeting. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Canada has not yet stepped in to repatriate Rimas brother, or any Canadian nationals asking to leave Syria. Sherlock asks Rima what she wants for her brother in spite of people who believe citizens who leave their country to join a terrorist organization should be left in Syria to rot. To face justice, says Rima says. To her the right to a fair trial is fundamental to citizenship. As a country we decided were going to respect each human. I dont know if thats correct, says Sherlock on the phone from Beirut, but its a thorny point the media should be covering. Sherlock, who has covered the Middle East since 2011, says the western idea of the Islamic State as a terrorist organization makes it sound much grander than it actually is. Its really a mafia structure, she says on the phone from Beirut. [Members of the Islamic State] have been warned never to criticize. But theyve been part of it for so long, they dont even know how to answer questions in a way that the West will let them come home. Sherlock, who lives in Beirut, reports on many of her stories through the lens of children and families affected by ISIS. This beats so interesting because it does challenge our assumptions, she says. We have a gut instinct to suddenly seek revenge on anyone who went to Syria, and were very aware that our reporting runs counter to the prevailing narrative of the extremist murderer who wants to attack the West. Sherlock tries to avoid what she calls ISIS jihadi bride languageshorthand in the media that assumes that women and girls in ISIS work to destroy the West through violent means. Instead, she writes stories that report into the human toll of ISISs reign in parts of Syria and northern Iraq: A Father In Florida Is Frantically Trying To Find His Children In Syria and Trinidadian Mom Reunites With Kids Taken By Their Father To ISIS are more recent fare. Sherlock was disappointed by the way journalists hounded those who joined ISIS but did not actually fight. Trying to understand the perspective someones coming from isnt an endorsement, Sherlock says. It isnt an accurate interview without the context. The gray areas are lost. I am interested in how the media should respond. Yes ISIS committed atrocities. Some members are violent. But some caused no harm and never left the house. Sherlock has lost colleagues to ISIS: Jim Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig. (The image for this story was taken by Sherlocks friend John Cantlie, who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2012 and is presumed dead or still in captivity.) And she survived a kidnapping attempt in 2014 herself. As she interviewed the family of a young boy who had suffered third-degree burns in a suicide bombing, at a clinic in Yabrud, 50 miles north of Damascus, her fixer overheard plans to abduct her and physically forced her back to the car before smuggling her to Lebanon. He saved my life, she says. She traces the loss of that nuance and context in ISIS coverageespecially coverage about Syrias civil warto Trumps presidential campaign in 2016. It hit me watching Trump as a candidate, describe ISIS as an existential threat, she says. Most of their terrible acts were against Muslims and minorities in the Middle East. There was no way they could threaten a superpower like the US, but hyperbole entered the public discourse, fueled by ISIS propaganda, beheading videos. This is what they wanted to accomplish. For now, Begum remains in the refugee camp in Syria. Since her British passport was revoked, she is now stateless. Her son, Jarrah, died a few weeks later from a lung infection. Begum told The Times of London she regretted those early interviews she gave in February, when she had just arrived at the camp. I was still brainwashed, she said. ICYMI: White-supremacy threat demands its own beat reporters Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Amanda Darrach is a contributor to CJR and a visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. Follow her on Twitter @thedarrach. It remains one of the most difficult issues to deal with in the world of property insurance. Homeowners insurance policies usually contain a provision obligating the carrier to repair or replace an insureds damaged property with material of like kind and quality or with similar material. They cover property damage resulting from sudden and accidental losses. When damage caused by fire, smoke, water, hail, or other causes results in a small portion of a home or building being damaged (e.g.,shingles, siding, carpet, cabinets, etc.), whether and when a carrier must replace non-damaged portions of a building in order for there to be a perfect match remains a point of contention. It is a matter of great importance to insurance companies because matching problems with a slightly-damaged section of roof or flooring can lead to a domino effect of tear out and replacement costs of many items that are not damaged. The problem of partial replacement is especially troubling where the damaged siding or shingles have been discontinued, making it virtually impossible to properly match. To replace only the damaged portion would result in an obvious aesthetic deficit due to a clear difference in the appearance of the replaced portion of the building from the portion that remains undamaged. Would the entire structure need to be re-sided or the entire roof re-shingled? Or is it sufficient to replace just one wall of siding or just a few shingles? Whether or not the insurance company must pay to replace entire sections of the structure in order to bring the property back to its previous uniformity and aesthetics can bring various state insurance laws and regulations into play. On the one hand, many pundits claim that the terms of the insurance policy require the carrier to pay the cost to repair or replace with similar construction for the same use on the premises. They argue that similar doesnt mean matching exactly. Others argue that coverage for matching and uniformity under a homeowners policy doesnt exist without a specific endorsement. The truth lies somewhere in between and can vary greatly from state to state. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) vs. Actual Cash Value (ACV) Policy There are two primary valuation methods for establishing the value of insured property for purposes of determining the amount the insurer will pay in the event of loss under a homeowners policy: Replacement Cost Value(RCV): This method is usually defined in the policy as the cost to replace the damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, without any deduction for depreciation. It pays an insured for the value of replacing the damaged property without deduction for deterioration, obsolescence, or similar depreciation of the propertys value. The carrier assumes the cost of paying the full cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property. Actual Cash Value(ACV):This method pays an insured for a similar item less depreciation. ACV is ordinarily determined in one of three ways: (1) the cost to repair or replace the damaged property, minus depreciation; (2) the damaged propertys fair market value (FMV); or (3) using the broad evidence rule, which calls for considering all relevant evidence of the value of the damaged property. The insured bears the difference between the depreciated value of the damaged property prior to loss and the higher cost of repairing or replacing it. The issue of matching or uniformity in first-party homeowners insurance claims is one that lends itself to RCV policies. If property is only partially damaged, the carrier takes the position that it is only required to pay for repair or replacement of the limited portion of the property that is damaged. The insured argues that replacing only the damaged property restores the functionality of the roof but does not fully replace the damaged property because the replaced property does not match the existing property. For example, a roof had a uniform appearance, and uniformity has a significant effect on value. Therefore, the proper measure of RCV is the cost to replace the entire roof to restore the uniform appearance. This is known as the issue of matching or uniformity. The issue is whether the carrier has to match the damaged property to the undamaged property in order to return it to its previous uniform appearance and restore the entire home to its condition prior to loss. Whether the policy is an RCV or ACV policy can make a big difference. ACV coverage pays an insured for a similar item less depreciation. RCV coverage compensates an insured for the value of replacing the damaged property without deduction for deterioration, obsolescence, or similar depreciation of the propertys value. An insurer with an ACV policy may be able to exercise the option to repair, restore, or replace the damaged property itself rather than having to pay for the cost to repair the property with property of like kind and quality. Moreover, some matching regulations only apply to RCV policies. A good illustration of the matching/uniformity problem is found in a 2014 Minnesota federal district court case in which a manufacturer discontinued the shingles used on the insureds roof, thus leading to a mismatch problem. The issue was whether the carrier was obligated to replace the damaged shingles with substantially similar shingles or to pay for new shingles for the entire roof. Trout Brook S. Condo. Assn v. Harleysville Worcester Ins. Co., 995 F. Supp.2d 1035 (D. Minn. 2014). The Harleysville RCV policy provided coverage which obligated it to pay for the propertys replacement cost, defined as: (1) the cost of repair or replacement with similar materials for the same use and purpose, on the same site, or (2) the cost to repair, replace, or rebuild the property with material of like kind and quality to the extent practicable. Harleysville claimed only partial damage to the roof and allocated $21,000 for roof repairs, but the insureds construction expert believed the roof had to be entirely replaced at a cost of more than $800,000. In addition, the shingles were no longer being manufactured. The insured sued, arguing that the unavailability of matching shingles entitled it to full roof replacement. The court noted that the covered property under the policy was defined as the buildings (rather than the individual items on the property) and held there was a jury question as to whether the building suffered a loss on account of the unavailability of matching roof shingles. Whether Harleysville was able to replace shingles with shingles of a like kind and quality hinged on whether the unmatched shingles would provide an acceptable aesthetic result, and that had to be determined by a jury. The idea is that property that has not been physically damaged may become damaged where replacement of physically damaged property does not lead to an aesthetic result acceptable to the insured. It suggests that the carrier has an obligation beyond repairing the functionality of the damaged property, by paying to repair the aesthetics of the building. Notwithstanding any insurance regulations that control the issue, a carriers obligation to pay for matching depends on the policy language and hinges on whether the loss payment and valuation terms of the policy can be read to obligate the carrier to match the replacement materials. The industrys response is that allowing coverage for matching provides a windfall to the insured. To allow for full replacement of matching roofing and siding can be unduly burdensome on a carrier whose policy agrees only to repair damaged portions of the building. Terms of Insurance Policy The terms of insurance policies vary greatly and are extremely important to determining the carriers obligations in a claim which involves a matching concern. The current ISO HO-3 and HO-5 and company-specific policies contain Loss Settlement provisions which provide for payment of the replacement cost of that part of the building damaged with material of like kind and quality and for like use. Individual insurance companies may have a variety of other standard terms included in their policies. Some policies may have other terms, conditions, and/or definitions which attempt to address the matching or uniformity issue and limit exposure in such situations. Some policies even contain Roof Surfacing Loss Percentage Tables which address the percentage of a roof the carrier will be obligated to replace as a function of the roofs age and type of roofing surface material. Overshadowing all of the above are a patchwork of insurance statutes and regulations which attempt to govern claims which have a matching or uniformity component to them. In response to a proliferation of matching claim issues, many insurers have begun inserting language in their policies that expressly precludes the coverage requirement of matching based upon color, a change in product specifications, or other factors, in an attempt to circumvent this clear precedent. Many states have statutes, insurance bulletins, or case law that directly address matching issues, but many do not. Insurance Statutes, Regulations, and Case Decisions Governing Matching Claims In an effort to provide uniformity and predictability in this area, many states have passed insurance statutes, rules, and regulations that govern the handling of matching claims. An Ohio regulation states that when an interior or exterior loss requires replacement of an item and the replaced item does not match the quality, color, or size of the item suffering the loss, the insurer shall replace as much of the item as to result in a reasonably comparable appearance. O.A.C. 3901-1-54(I). In Kentucky, a regulation says that if a loss requires replacement of items and the replaced items do not reasonably match in quality, color, or size, the insurer shall replace all items in the area so as to conform to a reasonably uniform appearance, although the courts have not applied the regulation in private litigation. 906 Ky. Admin. Regs. 12:095 9(b). Whether the statute or regulation applies, and whether the insured can bring a private right of action under the applicable statute or regulation, are also significant issues. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has drafted a model law called the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. It is a consumer-protection law that prevents insureds from predatory and unfair claims settlement behavior on the part of insurance companies. Most states have enacted their own version of this model law, and the specifics of each such law vary from state to state. The NAIC Unfair Property/Casualty Claims Settlement Practices Model Regulation (MDL-902, 1997) has a section which reads as follows: Section 9. Standards for Prompt, Fair and Equitable Settlements Applicable to Fire and Extended Coverage Type Policies with Replacement Cost Coverage . When the policy provides for the adjustment and settlement of first party losses based on replacement cost, the following shall apply: (1) When a loss requires repair or replacement of an item or part, any consequential physical damage incurred in making such repair or replacement not otherwise excluded by the policy shall be included in the loss. The insured shall not have to pay for betterment nor any other cost except for the applicable deductible. (2) When a covered loss for real property requires the replacement of items and the replacement items do not match in quality, color or size, the insurer shall replace items in the area so as to conform to a reasonably uniform appearance. This applies to interior and exterior losses. The insured shall not bear any cost over the applicable deductible, if any. On the other hand, subsection (B) governs ACV policies and reads as follows: B. Actual Cash Value: (1) When the insurance policy provides for the adjustment and settlement of losses on an actual cash value basis on residential fire and extended coverage, the insurer shall determine actual cash value as follows: replacement cost of property at time of loss less depreciation, if any. Upon the insureds request, the insurer shall provide a copy of the claim file worksheets detailing any and all deductions for depreciation. (2) In cases in which the insureds interest is limited because the property has nominal or no economic value, or a value disproportionate to replacement cost less depreciation, the determination of actual cash value as set forth above is not required. In such cases, the insurer shall provide, upon the insureds request, a written explanation of the basis for limiting the amount of recovery along with the amount payable under the policy. While Section A of the above regulation establishes a guideline for the insurance company to follow with regard to the payment of claims involving matching or uniformity issues, it doesnt necessarily mean that a carrier in any individual state must adhere to those guidelines or that the regulation works to the advantage of a property owner who has been wronged by a carrier who simply ignores the regulation. Private Right of Action Most states have case decisions that state that an individual homeowner/insured does not have a private right of action under a states statute or regulations governing unfair claims settlement practices and the handling of a matching or uniformity issue. As an example, in California, the case of Rattan v. United Services Automobile Association, 101 Cal.Rptr.2d 6 (Cal. App. 2000) involved a home damage by fire. United Services Automobile Association (USAA) allegedly breached the terms of policy in adjusting the loss, and the insureds claimed that it violated requirements imposed on carriers under regulations established by the Department of Insurance. The Court of Appeals disagreed, stating: Even in first party insurance cases, neither the Insurance Code nor regulations adopted under its authority provide a private right of action. ( Zephyr Park v. Superior Court (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 833, 839 [262 Cal.Rptr. 106].) Thus, any particular violation of the regulations does not require a finding of unreasonable conduct. (See California Service Station, etc. Assn. v. American Home Assurance Co. (1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 1166, 1175-1176 [73 Cal.Rptr.2d 182].) Rather, as the trial court stated, at most the regulations, which were in evidence, may be used by a jury to infer a lack of reasonableness on USAAs part. Because given as instructions the regulations would have suggested to the jury that any violation of the regulations was per se a breach of contract or an act bad faith, rather than only evidence of a breach or bad faith, the trial court was fully warranted in rejecting them. Simply because a state requires carriers to follow a regulation such as the one above doesnt mean that an individual homeowner (private citizen) has a private right of action under the statute or regulation. Defenses to First-Party Matching Claims The arguments most effectively used by carriers in combating matching claims include the following: The property lacked uniformity prior to the covered loss, it would be impossible to conform any replacement items to an existing reasonably uniform appearance and, therefore, the obligation to match the replacement items under the regulation was not triggered; The lack of a reasonably uniform appearance prior to the covered loss was the result of causes that were excluded under the policy so there was no obligation to replace all the existing items because it would represent an unjust windfall to the insured; Even if a matching regulation or obligation applies to the insureds loss, the evidence establishes that the repair can be performed such that a reasonably uniform appearance can be maintained; The replacement items can be matched to conform to a reasonably uniform appearance because reasonably uniform appearance is analogous to like kind and quality. The area that must be replaced to conform to a reasonably uniform appearance is less than the entire property (immediate area, slope section, line of sight); and The regulation is not enforceable because it does not create a private right of action. Much will depend on the courts and the parties understanding of terms such as like construction and use or reasonably uniform appearance. The fine print terms, conditions, and/or definitions of the policy will factor into the matching or uniformity issue and could limit exposure in such claims. Cosmetic Damage While the matching issue involves repairing truly damaged or destroyed property and the ensuing problems that result when the repaired section of a roof, siding, or cabinetry, for example, does not match the remainder of the roof, siding, or cabinetry in appearance. Cosmetic damage, on the other hand, is a related subject, but differs in that it involves dents, scratches, or other minor imperfections to property which result from a loss, that do not rise to the level of being truly damaged. In other words, it is a qualitative difference. The damage is so minor that it is only cosmetic and affects only the appearance of the property in a very minor way. Such cosmetic damage does not cause any punctures, leaks, or loss of functionality of a particular piece of property. An example would be dents in a metal roof resulting from a hail storm. Insurance policies vary, and some include exclusions for cosmetic damage or appearance damage to property. While not every home or business policy currently includes these kinds of exclusions, a growing number of major insurers have started including them in their policies. One policy might cover cosmetic damage while another will exclude it, while technically covering direct physical lossfrom hail, even if the homeowners insurance policy doesnt distinguish between cosmetic and other types of damage and such damages are usually covered. However, some homeowners insurance companies are introducing endorsements which may exclude cosmetic damages. The two organizations that standardize forms and policies for property/casualty insurers, the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) and the Insurance Services Office (ISO), have both filed cosmetic damage endorsements. The endorsement also enables the insurer to exclude one component such as the roof separately. These are becoming common with homes that have metal roofs. In practice, what the insurance company considers cosmetic damage as opposed to functional damage is rarely straightforward. In the example of the dented metal roof, what happens if the dents have subtly affected drainage, runoff, or seals? For example, it is not easy to differentiate cosmetic from functional damage on traditional and architectural shingles. Insurers will argue that a few dings to the surface do not compromise the shingle structure, but the storm-chasing roof sales industry will argue that any localized loss of mineral will expedite the demise of the shingle. Profitability in homeowners coverage has become a multi-faceted, politicized, and elusive objective in many states. Regulators, politicians, and consumer advocacy groups with little understanding of how insurance works can present significant obstacles to obtaining appropriate rates for such policies and risks. Recovery of RCV Matching Claim Payments in Subrogation Actions Subrogation claims traditionally involve an insurance company stepping into the shoes of an insured and proceeding against the third-party tortfeasor who caused the loss in the first place to recover those claim payments. The subrogated insurance company (subrogee) assumes the same rights against the tortfeasor as the insured possessed no greater, no less. The tortfeasor can usually employ any defenses against the subrogee that it could have employed against the insured. As a result, the measure of recovery (i.e.,damages) for the subrogee is the same measure of damages as for the insured. This creates some unique and troubling issues when the law dictating third-party damages recoverable in tort are different from the measure of a first-party claim payment under a policy and/or applicable law or regulations. An insurance company that has paid additional damages in order to address matching problems in a first-party claim may or may not be able to recover those damages in its subrogation tort action against the tortfeasor/defendant. The law varies from state to state. If a carrier pays for full replacement cost of a house or a portion of a structure, it might nonetheless be limited to recovering the market value or difference in market value before and after a loss, in a subsequent subrogation tort action. Whether a tort defendant is liable to a subrogated carrier for the additional claim payments necessary for the damaged property to match and be uniform after repair depends on the state. Reimbursement under an RCV policy is likely to lead to an economic betterment of the insured because it means that payment will be made to replace old, depreciated property with new property. Therefore, subrogated carriers cannot always count on recovering all of the claim dollars they have paid out. Liability carriers will argue they are only responsible for ACV or repair costs. Some states allow for recovery of the full cost of repairs without a reduction for depreciation or betterment, where the repairs do not materially increase the value of the property over its market value prior to the loss. You can view a chart that summarizes the regulations or laws in all 50 states regarding the matching issue in the payment of first-party insurance claims HERE. This chart focuses on homeowners claims and only tangentially discusses commercial property policies/claims, although if law regarding a commercial policy is all that is available, it is included. It does not address whether damage alleged to be purely cosmetic, such as dents to a metal roof caused by hail, is covered direct physical injury or the issue of upgrades required by changes in modern zoning or building codes. It also does not address whether an individual private homeowner has a private right of action under the law of each state to mandate compliance with these regulations by an insurance company in a first-party RCV property damage claim or if a subrogated insurance carrier can recover the full RCV matching claim payments it has made in a civil subrogation tort action filed against a responsible tortfeasor. The alarms started sounding just seconds after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 took off on March 10 from Addis Ababa with 157 people on board. As speed and altitude readings started going haywire, a device known as a stick shaker activated on the left side of the cockpit, where the captain sits. The mechanism makes a loud noise and rattles a pilots control column to warn of an impending aerodynamic stall. But the Boeing Co. 737 Max wasnt about to stall. Instead, a computer was getting erroneous readings from a sensor mounted like a weather vane on the jets nose. The malfunction triggered an anti-stall feature that forced the plane into a dive the same system that was implicated in a crash less than five months before in Indonesia that killed 189 people. To counteract it, the Ethiopian Airlines pilots responded with at least some of the steps that Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recommended after the first accident. But amid a chorus of confusing alarms, they also made a critical oversight as they struggled for control, according to three pilots with experience in accident investigations: They left the engines set nearly to maximum. The thrust was full bore the whole way, said Roger Cox, a former accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, who flew earlier models of the 737 while working as an airline pilot. That is extremely curious. Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said in a press conference Thursday that the pilots followed proper procedures issued after the October crash of a Lion Air jet and recommended that Boeing review its flight-control system. Ethiopian safety officials stopped short of saying the plane needs a redesign. Boeing was little changed Friday at $394.37 at 11:02 a.m. in New York trading. The shares have fallen 6.7 percent since the Ethiopian accident. Ethiopian Airlines Group is reconsidering its order for 25 additional 737 Max jetliners from Boeing, in part because of the stigma surrounding crashes, Tewolde GebreMariam, the state-owned carriers chief executive, said in an interview Friday with Bloomberg News. It may be a hard sell for us to convince our customers to continue flying the plane, GebreMariam said. The two disasters in five months have pushed Boeing into one of the biggest crises in its century-long history. The crash in Ethiopia resulted in the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max, the revamped version of a plane model that accounts for a third of Boeings operating profit. The accidents also prompted multiple investigations and reviews including a criminal probe led by the U.S. Justice Department of how U.S. regulators certified the flawed anti-stall system, known as MCAS. The groundings are piling pressure on Boeing to come up with a fix that will keep pilots from having to make such complicated, split-second decisions to keep the 737 Max aloft. The company is redesigning its software and expects to complete the work within weeks. Among other changes, the update will keep the safety system from kicking in when only one of the sensors detects a stall. We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 Max accidents, CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a video. The Chicago-based planemaker blamed the accident on a chain of events and acknowledged the sensor malfunction. Near-Maximum Thrust At near-maximum thrust, the plane became more difficult to fly, multiplying the problems created by the flaw in the 737 Maxs software, according to pilots who reviewed a preliminary report issued Thursday by Ethiopias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. High speed also made it impossible to recover in the final seconds when the planes nose pointed downward into their final, high-speed dive. They exacerbated it, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, the former director of the FAAs Accident Investigation Division. The Ethiopian report clearly showed that MCAS the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a safety measure added to the new plane to prevent it from dangerous stalls had activated multiple times. That was similar to the Lion Air crash. Sensors in the aircraft that report how high its nose is pointed relative to oncoming air varied by almost 60 degrees. One of the angle-of-attack gauges read 15.3 degrees, likely an accurate reading for a plane taking off. The other erroneously read 74.5 degrees which would suggest a plane pointing almost straight skyward. Lost Control Even though pilots took at least some of the steps recommended by Boeing and the FAA to counteract MCAS, they were confused and ultimately lost control, according to the report. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment, Muilenburg said in his statement. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it. Every plane crash typically involves multiple contributors, and the detailed Ethiopian report chronicles many factors that occurred over a matter of minutes leading to the accident. Everyone can talk about it from a desk, but when you see it happening its another thing, said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines. What steps were taken, what steps were missed? Those are all things were going to be looking at for several weeks. Excess Speed Pilots interviewed by Bloomberg didnt agree completely about the factors. Some took issue with Ethiopias transport minister, saying the Ethiopian Airlines pilots had actually failed to properly follow the procedures. Other pilots said the flight crews actions were understandable given the chaotic situation. But they all agreed that the speed was critical. The plane took off at 94 percent of full power, according to the report. That is normal for liftoff, but pilots then typically pull back the power soon afterward. Even though the captain called for setting the speed at 238 knots, or 274 miles per hour, about a minute after takeoff, the engine thrust remained at the same level for the entire short flight, according to the report. Before it picked up speed in its final dive, the plane was flying as fast as 365 knots, or 420 miles an hour almost twice the usual top speed at that low altitude. In addition to the multiple warnings prompted by the MCAS failure, the pilots were also getting audible alerts indicating they had exceeded the safe flying speed, according to the report. The Ethiopian crew followed one important step required to deal with an MCAS failure when they shut off power to the motor the system uses to automatically drive down the nose, according to the report. However, at the high speed at which they were flying, it became much harder to adjust the planes pitch manually, said John Cox, president of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot. Control Column For more than two minutes during the flight with the trim system powered off, the crew had to apply strong pressure to their control column to continue flying, according to the report. Normally, pilots would adjust the wing at the tail of the plane to make the nose point upwards and reduce that pressure. During that time, the captain asked the copilot to try making adjustments known as trimming manually. The first officer replied that it is not working, according to the report. The two wheels that pilots turn by hand to trim would have been very hard to move or impossible at that speed, John Cox said. While its not clear from the report exactly what steps the pilots took, their struggles to keep the plane climbing apparently led them to switch power back on to the trim system. About 30 seconds before they crashed, it was activated by the pilots to slightly raise the nose. Five seconds later, MCAS engaged again, once more pushing down the nose. At that speed, they couldnt overcome the dive using their control column alone, according to John Cox and Guzzetti. For reasons that havent been explained, they didnt try to also trim the plane using switches on their control yokes. The plane eventually pointed down by 40 degrees and the plane reached speeds of 575 miles per hour. You cant read the transcript and not put yourself in the cockpit, Tajer, of the Allied Pilots Association, said. Every honest pilot says, I could see me right there, doing that, even if it was not a good thing, or saying, yeah that makes sense. LOS ANGELES Chicago will sue actor Jussie Smollett for the costs of police overtime spent investigating his claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, which prosecutors say were false, a city official said on Thursday. The lawsuit was being prepared after Smollett, 36, refused a demand by the city for $130,000, said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the citys Department of Law. Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019, McCaffrey said. The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook Country. Smollett, who is black and gay, touched off a social media fire storm by telling police on Jan. 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. But the actor, best known for his role as a gay musician on the Fox Television hip-hop drama Empire, was charged in February with staging the incident himself and filing a false police report. Last week prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett, infuriating police and outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Prosecutors said they stood by the accusation but that an agreement by Smollett to forfeit his $10,000 bond was a just outcome. The case file was sealed by a Chicago judge, which critics suggested was evidence of a cover-up. The actors criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos, could not be reached for comment. On Monday, some 300 people, including off-duty Chicago police officers, took to the streets to protest, calling on Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx to resign over her handling of the case. Foxx, who recused herself from the case before charges were filed, citing conversations she had with one of his relatives, has defended her actions and those of her prosecutors. Smollett was written out of the final two episodes of Empire this season after he was charged with staging the hate crime. Fox executives have not said if he will return should the show be renewed for another year. Creation of a catastrophic wildfire risk pool is emerging as the most likely option as California lawmakers seek to protect the solvency of investor-owned utilities from record payouts for fire damages. PG&E filed for a bankruptcy reorganization this year, saying it needed the courts protection because it cannot count on the California Public Utilities Commission to allow it to recoup its costs through rates. The legislature last year created the Commission on Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery, which is due to recommend ways of mitigating wildfire risks by July 1. Gov. Gavin Newsom is also drafting plans to respond to wildfires more broadly and is expected to release a proposal late next week. One potential solution would be to change laws that California courts have interpreted to assign strict liability to investor-owned utilities inverse condemnation actions, which are lawsuits against public entities. The courts have assigned liability to insurers irrespective of fault if their equipment causes fires. But legislation to reform inverse condemnation rules failed to pass the state legislature last year. Moodys on Wednesday issued a report saying that creation of a state catastrophe fund appears to be the reform that is most likely to happen. Analyzing several possible remedies, the ratings house said an independent fund could provide an immediate source of liquidity for utilities addressing wildfire claims and allow for financial stability during times of crises. Californias application of inverse condemnation effectively turns the states investor-owned and publicly owned electric utilities into an insurance backstop, said Jeff Cassella, a vice president at Moodys. When wildfires occur now, investors face significant uncertainty regarding the ability of utilities to recover related costs in a timely manner. Standard and Poors and Fitch have also warned state lawmakers that they will continue to downgrade the credit ratings for the states utilities unless lawmakers and regulators craft a solution to protect investors from catastrophic costs. James Woods, an insurance attorney and industry lobbyist who was active in the creation of the California Earthquake Authority, said Wednesday that efforts to create a catastrophic wildfire and mudslide fund are taking shape in Sacramento. He said Sen. Robert Hertzberg, a well-placed Democrat, is in talks with Assemblyman Chad Mayes, the Republican author of legislation, Assembly Bill 235, that would create a catastrophic wildfire fund. The two are hoping to present a detailed plan to the governor within 30 to 60 days, he said. Hertzberg was speaker of the state Assembly during Californias energy crisis in 2001 and has been a senator for the past four years. He is a former chairman of Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water and a member of several other committees. I think the significance is that Mayes is going to lead the bill, Woods said. I think thats fabulous that we have bipartisan support here. Woods said the proposed catastrophe fund would likely set aside $20 million to $30 million. The money would come from taxpayers, the utilities and rate payers, he said. Insurance lobbyist John Norwood said as long as California courts continue to interpret inverse condemnation laws as imposing strict liability on utilities for fire damage caused by their power lines, there arent very many good options. He said the difficulty in creating a catastrophic wildfire fund is that it has to be replenished as damages are paid out. PG&E had $100 million in insurance, he said. If you want to go to Lloyds and you want a $10 billion fund, they will probably tell you it will cost you $9 billion and there is a $1 billion deductible. Norwood said he doesnt see how a catastrophe fund will be any help to insurers. He said while insurers banded together to create the California Earthquake Authority to protect individual carriers from catastrophic payouts, he said wildfire risk is not like earthquake risk. California hasnt suffered a major earthquake in a decade, while wildfires blaze every year and losses continue to grow. Eleven of the 20 most destructive fires in Californias history have occurred since 2015, with five occurring in 2017 alone, according to a preamble to Mayes bill. Utilities expressed their own doubts about the feasibility of a catastrophic wildfire fund in comments to the commission that is studying the issue, which met Tuesday in Santa Rosa. Caroline Choi, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Edison International, said in a letter to the commission that it supports creation of a wildfire recovery insurance fund. But she also said that any cost socialization needs to be accompanied by reform of inverse condemnation rules. She noted that Southern California Edison is paying nearly $200 million more in interest than utilities outside of California would have paid for a $1.1 billion bond issue earlier this year. Without a predictable objective process for timely cost recovery at the CPUC, the existing strict liability framework applied to wildfire damages when ignition is substantially caused by utility infrastructure has damaged the utilities financial health, which will result in higher customer rates, she said. FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio Toxicology tests show a Cleveland man accused of causing a Fairview Park crash that resulted in a tow truck drivers leg being amputated had a urine-alcohol content above the legal limit for driving, police said. Prosecutors will now determine whether the 35-year-old man will be charged in connection with the March 18 crash, police said Thursday in a news release. A urine sample taken when the man was hospitalized after the crash showed he had a urine-alcohol content of 0.25 grams by weight of alcohol per 100 mL of urine, according to a police report released Thursday. The legal limit for driving is 0.11 grams, according to the Ohio Revised Code. A Pattons Five Star Towing employee had the lower part of his left leg amputated after the crash, which had caused him to be pinned under his truck bed, police said. The 53-year-old employee, has been working at the towing company for a year, the Association of Professional Towers said in a statement on behalf of Pattons. The crash happened about 4 a.m. on Lorain Road near West 204th Street, police said. A Fairview Park police officer requested a tow truck for a car stopped in the eastbound lane on Lorain Road. The Pattons driver was putting the car onto the tow truck when a 2017 Acura TSX struck the tow truck, police said. Both the tow truck and a police cruiser had emergency lights activated when the crash occurred, police said. The crash pushed the tow truck on top of its driver and pinned him under the truck bed. Officers performed first aid until paramedics arrived to take the tow truck driver and the Acuras driver to a hospital. To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Special Counsel Robert Mueller punted rendering a verdict on President Trump obstructing justice. Now some of Muellers investigators are confirming that Attorney General William Barr has indeed mishandled and fumbled the Mueller Report punt and summary. The Washington Post and New York Times have reported that members of Muellers team are frustrated that Barrs four-page summary did not accurately reflect the 400+ page reports findings, especially on the issue of obstruction. According to the Post, evidence investigators found that Trump was engaged in obstruction was alarming and significant. There was immediate displeasure" when they saw Barrs summary not reflecting that. The investigators who spoke out were said to be taken aback by Trumps victory lap, knowing the report is more damaging to Trump than Barrs summary indicates. Adding to the investigators frustration is that they included multiple summaries of their findings in the report and Barr never referenced them. The investigators contend they were intentionally written in a manner that minimum redactions, if any would have been necessary," anticipating that they would be made available to Congress, and ultimately, to the public. The investigators are annoyed that Barrs glossed over summary may well be the permanent narrative implanted in the publics minds, even if the report is made public after a long delay. Department of Justice officials are disputing that the investigators summaries contained few, if any needed redactions. DOJ officials also argue that Barr was trying to avoid pulling a Comey-Clinton on Trump by disclosing derogatory details about an uncharged subject of an investigation upon it being closed. Which goes against DOJ protocol, and one of the reasons given for Comeys firing. The New York Times reports that Barr is said to have been surprised and frustrated that Mueller and his team fell short of their task by declining to decide whether Mr. Trump illegally obstructed the inquiry. Its thought that Mueller didnt issue a judgment because he was operating under the DOJ standard that a sitting president couldnt be charged and that any such judgement is for Congress to make in an impeachment process. If Mueller thought Barr would let Congress make the call on obstruction, he clearly thought wrong, as Barr exonerated Trump in his summary. The only way to know what Mueller and Barr were thinking is for both of them to testify before Congress. President Trumps approval rating bump from the Barr Report exonerating him, has been miniscule. And hes now retreated from his call for the full report to be released. It should be noted there are differences between the report being released to Congress and the public. Releasing the report to Congress should be a speedy process because the committees it would released to already have security clearances, making fewer redactions necessary. During their two-year investigation, the Mueller team was known for being a leak-free zone. But it was only a matter of time that if the report wasnt properly released and inaccurately spun by Barr, that some of the 19 lawyers and 40 FBI agents who worked on Muellers team would start talking. The truth will eventually come out, It would be better for the reputations of Barr and Mueller, and for American Democracy, if the truth comes out in the proper way, by releasing the report to Congress and the public. Google theater chains for screening dates and times. NA Apollo 11 G. 93 minutes. A documentary on the mission that took astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon and back half a century ago. Apollo 11 relies on footage shot and audio recorded at the time, and the results, from liftoff to landing to the journey back home, are completely riveting. Los Angeles Times NA The Beach Bum R; for pervasive drug and alcohol use, language throughout, nudity and some strong sexual content. 95 minutes. A rebellious stoner named Moondog (Matthew McConaughey) lives life by his own rules. With Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher, Martin Lawrence, Zac Efron and Jonah Hill. IMDb A Captain Marvel PG-13; for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language. 132 minutes. Any fears that Marvels first female-driven movie would not be deliver are dispelled in the first few minutes of Captain Marvel, as Brie Larson proves to be a match for any male superhero. Without qualification, Captain Marvel is a brilliant, blazing success and the perfect lead-in to the Avengers: Endgame movie opening April 26. With Samuel L. Jackson, Annette Bening and Jude Law. Michael Sangiacomo A Dumbo PG; for peril/action, some thematic elements, and brief mild language. 130 minutes. Dumbo is a Tim Burton movie, but it is the least overtly Tim Burton Movie in years. Instead of the over-the-top quirkiness that has come to dominate his movies, Burton allows this (bitter)sweet, inspiring story of outsiders under the big top to shine on its own merits. Set in 1919, the action focuses on the low-rent Medici Brothers Circus, traveling the back road of America. With Colin Farrell, Danny Devito, Eva Green and Michael Keaton. Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer C Five Feet Apart PG-13; for mature thematic elements, strong language and suggestive material. 115 minutes. A mushy, three-hankie weeper that is aimed squarely between the eyes of 15-year-old girl with a crush on Cole Sprouse (Jughead in Riverdale). Set in a hospital, the romantic melodrama centers on the romance between two 17-year-old cystic fibrosis patients (Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson). Washington Post A- Gloria Bell R; for sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use. 102 minutes. Gloria Bell is almost a shot-for shot remake of the original 2013s Spanish film Gloria that was set in Santiago, Chile. Gloria Bell is set in Los Angeles which allows for an even starker representation of how alienating life in the big city can be for a single woman of a certain age. Directed by Sebastian Lelio, with Julianne Moore, John Turturro and Michael Cera. Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer C+ Green Book PG-13; for thematic content, language, including racial epithets, smoking, some violence and suggestive material. 130 minutes. In 1962, the African-American concert pianist and recording artist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) embarked on a concert tour of the Midwest and the South, chauffeured by an Italian-American (Viggo Mortensen). "Green Book" relies almost entirely on the interplay between Mortensen and Ali. It's a car-based journey of discovery, begun on a note of mutual wariness, ending on an affirmative flourish of true friendship. Chicago Tribune B Hotel Mumbai R; for disturbing violence throughout, bloody images, and language. 123 minutes. Director Anthony Maras makes his directorial debut with the gripping nearly minute-by-minute account of the carnage that unfolded in the grand Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India, during the terror attacks of November 2008. Its a meticulous depiction of the events that is at once disturbing, het also illuminating. With Dev Patel and Armie Hammer. Tribune News Service B+ How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World PG; for adventure action and some mild rude humor. 104 minutes. The third movie in the animated trilogy How to Train Your Dragon series. The saga followed Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his best friend, the dragon Toothless, as they turned Hiccups village of Berk into a place where people and dragons live together peacefully. F. Murray Abraham is a cruel dragon hunter who threatens all of the dragons of Berk with imprisonment. Julie E. Washington, The Plain Dealer B The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part PG; for some rude humor. 106 minutes. The innocent-looking Lego Duplo characters introduced at the end of the first movie turn into invading space aliens in the sequel. Under siege, the town has morphed into "Apocalypseburg," two roads down and to the right of "Mad Max: Fury Road." With Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and Tiffany Haddish. Chicago Tribune NA The Mustang R; for language, some violence and drug content. 96 minutes. The story of Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a violent convict, who is given the chance to participate in a rehabilitation therapy program involving the training of wild mustangs. With Jason Mitchell, Bruce Dern and Connie Britton. IMDb NA Tyler Perrys A Madea Family Funeral PG-13; for crude sexual content, language, and drug references throughout. 109 minutes. A joyous family reunion becomes a hilarious nightmare as Madea and the crew travel to backwoods Georgia, where they find themselves unexpectedly planning a funeral that might unveil unsavory family secrets. IMDb NA Unplanned R; for some disturbing/bloody images. 106 minutes. As one of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors in the nation, Abby Johnson (Ashley Bratcher) was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions and counseled countless women on their reproductive choices. Her passion surrounding a womans right to choose led her to become a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, fighting to enact legislation for the cause she so deeply believed in. Until the day she saw something that changed everything. IMDb C The Upside PG-13; for suggestive content and drug use.125 minutes. On the hunt for signatures to prove to his parole office he's looking for a job, Dell (Kevin Hart) stumbles into a job interview in the palatial penthouse of a uber-wealthy investor (Bryan Cranston) who is quadriplegic and requires the assistance of a "life auxiliary." Tribute News Service A- Us R; for violence/terror, and language. 116 minutes. Us is a 1970s-inspired horror flick that wears its references on its sleeve, grapples with Big Ideas and crawls with genuinely creepy tension. This is a family horror melodrama that is a classic home invasion thriller that ponders huge philosophical questions about our own existence and identity. Directed by Jordan Peele, with Lupita Nyongs, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss. Tribune News Service B- Wonder Park PG; for some mild thematic elements and action. 86 minutes. Wonder Park plus Captain Marvel make for a terrific female-centric double feature. While Captain Marvel fights aliens, the superhero in the animated movie Wonder Park is a preteen girl with an oversize imagination and mad engineering skills. Visual candy and silly slapstick bring a sense of wonder and fun to Paramount Animations effervescent action-adventure comedy, but a change in tone keeps the movie from soaring as high as it could go. With the voices of Brianna Denski, Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Garner. Julie E. Washington, The Plain Dealer CHILLICOTHE, Ohio A suspect in three murders was arrested after an employee at a Burger King recognized the name of a credit card the man was using was that of a woman who had been killed a day earlier. The employee and other workers at the Burger King managed to delay the order of James Rinehart Jr. long enough until police arrived and took Rinehart into custody, the Chillicothe Gazette reports. Rinehart was indicted this week on 16 felony counts ranging from aggravated murder to kidnapping and rape, WCMH Channel 4 reports. The Gazette reports Rinehart was arrested on Feb. 5, the day after the three victims were found dead at two homes in Londonderry, Ohio. Authorities say Rinehart tried to use a Netspend credit card of Leann Marie Potts, 46, to pay for the drive-thru order. WCMH reports a worker at the Burger King recognized the name as one of the murder victims. She told Rinehart there was a problem with the cards payment and that he would need to come inside the restaurant. He wasnt getting away today even if I had to tackle him, the worker told police, according to WCPO. When I walked up front I looked at the credit card, I said Oh hell no, this lady was just murdered. Employees had called police and then used other tactics to stall Rineharts order, reports say. When officers arrived, Rinehart, 39, offered no struggle, the Gazette reports. Police found more than $1,100 in cash on Rinehart, plus Burger King gift cards he had just purchased and Potts Netspend card. Authorities say Rinehart killed Potts, her brother, Rick Adams, and her husband, Thomas S. Littler. Another unidentified woman was seriously wounded but survived, reports say. According to WCMH, investigators say Rinehart knew his victims but the motive for the killings is unclear. He is scheduled to appear in court in Ross County on Monday. To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page. SANDUSKY, Ohio A 5-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with serious injuries Thursday after he was struck by a vehicle on a city street, according to the State Highway Patrol. Troopers did not release the condition of the boy. The boy was walking along a street near a family members residence when he walked into the street and was struck by a Toyota Highlander driven by a 30-year-old Sandusky woman, troopers say. The crash remains under investigation, but drugs and alcohol are not considered factors. To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page. KENT, Ohio -- More than a quarter of college students have considered suicide, with 11.3 percent considering it in the past year, according to a recent survey from the American College Health Association. Mental health is the social justice issue facing this generation, Active Minds founder Alison Molman said at Kent State Universitys State of Wellness on Wednesday. College students today need to figure out how to pay sky-high tuition costs while deciding which path will serve them best in an overcrowded and changing job market. A rise in so-called "helicopter parents," who over-involve themselves in their kids' lives, can also lead to students panicking or feeling incapable when they leave home, studies show. Such anxiety and mental health problems can slow or stop young adults from graduating -- a problem for universities, students and parents. The top problems affecting student success are all related to mental health, Molman said, The State of Wellness" event, hosted by Kent State University and chaired by two students, started in 2016. This years summit included panel discussions with students, mental health professionals and local officials. All the panels presented the same message: mental health isnt discussed enough, and when it is, theres often misinformation. Here are five things to know about mental health on college campuses. Classes arent the only thing stressing students out Student stress isnt just about getting an A on a test. College students are facing life-shaping decisions at the age where many mental health problems start. About 75 percent of individuals experiencing mental illness experienced problems by 24, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness. The summit brought together a panel of student mental health leaders, who discussed some of the factors that lead to stress. They included: Pressure to pick the right major and to graduate on time Sense of belonging and finding the right community on campus Social media, and separating whats real from its appearance online Working circumstances -- having to pay for school or living expenses while balancing classwork Work-life balance Friendships and relationships Parents may not be preparing students appropriately Instead of sending emails for their kids, parents should prompt students to reach out to teachers to get the information they need, Alanna Updegraff, the director of Kent States psychological clinic, said during a panel. We need to give teens and tweens additional responsibility and freedom. We need to let them figure stuff out while theyre still in the protective cocoon of middle school or high school or home," she said. This means letting teens make their own doctors appointments, let them do their own laundry and manage their own money. But parents should also teach their kids how to study independently and use their time wisely. Updegraff added, modeling self care -- healthy eating, exercising and sleeping regularly -- can show students how to take care of themselves before leaving the home. Having conversations about mental health will also show teens that its okay to have questions or discuss problems. Stigma is going down, but is still present More students are reaching out for help as stigma decreases around mental health issues. Over 10 years, rates of perceived stigma decreased from 64 percent to 46 percent, according to the Healthy Minds study, which included more than 150,000 students. Rates of treatment went up from 19 to 24 percent. Campus climate matters Kent State and other universities have therapy resources available, but thats not always the issue. We can have top quality resources, but if students dont feel comfortable, theyre not going to reach out, Malmon said. Universities need to publicize their resources, including group therapy sessions and offerings for those with autism. Including students in publicity is also important, because its those stories that can inspire other young adults to ask for help, Malmon said. Also helpful: student clubs that organize speakers and events. Researchers examined how students on campuses with chapters of Active Minds felt about mental health stigma and resources on campus. Even those who didnt really engage with the chapter said they felt more knowledgable about mental health issues. Treatment doesnt look the way you think it does The path to getting treatment isn't "cookie cutter," panelists said. Nor is it a one-step quick fix. Colleges offer one-on-one therapy, the most traditional style of treatment. Where those appointments can be helpful, students can also try: This column was originally published Jan. 25, 2004 People in Northeast Ohio have talked about regional government over the years but nobody ever does anything about it. On the contrary, when the discussions get serious, so do the naysayers. They complain of lost power, autonomy and home rule. They shout it down before a real debate can even get started. Regionalism, it seems, is what politicians call a third-rail issue touch it and you die. But in the last six months something has changed. Maybe its the weakened state of the local economy or a sense of political malaise or the futile search for the next big thing. Whatever it is, talk of regionalism has gone from taboo to trendy. The Republican Party has called for reform of county government. Clevelands 14 biggest law firms are pushing for a study on regional government and will team with the Citizens League and the League of Women Voters on the project. A subcommittee of the Cuyahoga County Mayors and Managers Association is looking at ways to increase governmental efficiency in the face of declining revenues. The head of the newly combined Greater Cleveland Growth Association, Cleveland Tomorrow and Greater Cleveland Roundtable talks of convening a constitutional convention. It would explore how governments created to tackle 19th-century problems deal with 21st-century realities. In short, in ever wider circles, the concept of regional government is talked about not in timid whispers, but robustly and in the glare of day. Plain Dealer editors and reporters have been discussing the issue as well. Weve decided that our role in the emerging communitywide conversation should be to provide information, analysis and commentary from all perspectives. Today starts a yearlong effort to keep you apprised of what will no doubt become one of the most intensely debated issues the region has faced in decades. For the past two years, we have documented Clevelands Quiet Crisis and the various efforts to counter it. The discussion of a regional approach to governing is an outgrowth of the series. We hope a clear-headed debate over the need for governmental change will be helped along by the work we do. Todays installment sets the table for further discussion. It defines terms and outlines whats been done elsewhere. Future installments will tabulate the cost of running 59 political subdivisions, 33 school districts and 13 municipal courts. Conventional wisdom has it that newspapers should present both sides of the story. That would be a measure of success only for two-sided stories. Real-life problems typically have many more. The story of regionalism has dozens. It is our intent to explore all aspects of the issue and to do it as evenhandedly as possible. The range of opinions is nearly as broad as the range of options for governmental reorganization. Well do our best to ensure that the opinions expressed by those we quote are based on verifiable facts. Were looking for light, not heat, in this debate. Ultimately, The Plain Dealers editorial board will debate the issue and take a position. But that will be on the editorial page. The news pages will contain analysis, data and the opinions of experts. But that does not mean citizen voices wont be reflected in our coverage. Its your government and it should take the shape you want it to. Our job is to present the facts. Yours is to decide what to do with them. I hope this series is a help. Clifton is the editor of The Plain Dealer. CLEVELAND -- Single-payer. Single-payer. SINGLE-PAYER. The word the promise, the meme! Its all the rage in liberal Democratic circles, initiated by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanderss Medicare for All proposal, endorsed by at least 15 Democratic senators and four presidential candidates. The Dems are all seemingly swooning in Sanders promise to revolutionize our extraordinarily expensive, inegalitarian health care system. So immense is the belief among many Democrats in the Sanders plan that you can almost hear them channeling their inner Stephen Sondheim, shifting the masters West Side Story lyrics from Maria to single-payer, breathlessly intoning, Say it loud and theres music playing; Say it soft and its almost like praying. Economic conservatives, undoubtedly enjoying this satirical romp on Sanders-esque single-payer, would be quick to defend American health care, emphasizing that it prevents the inexorable liberal march toward socialized medicine, while giving Americans more health care choices than European health plans. But this conflates single payer with socialized medicine, when Britain is the only European country to have socialized medicine, with health care provided by government through the National Health Service. And, like most things in the United States, immense choice is available, but only if you have the money to select your health care plan (Once again, Sondheims West Side Story is instructive, this time the lyrics from America: Everything free in America For a small fee in America.) Richard M. Perloff is a professor of communication and political science at Cleveland State University. Few would disagree that Americas health care system leaves much to be desired. Even economists, who, by training, embrace capitalistic choices and free enterprise competition, have highlighted its shortcomings. A blue-ribbon group of economists at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, in a 200-page report published by the Political Economy Research Institute, emphasize that our health care is neither efficient health care expenditures account for about 17 percent of GDP, much higher than comparable nations nor equitable. They note that about 9 percent of U.S. residents have no health insurance and 26 percent are underinsured, lacking adequate access to health care due to excessively high costs. Proposing to remedy these problems, the UMass report puts forth a sweeping, data-supported series of changes -- a Medicare for All plan that replaces private insurance with government-run health care. They argue this would cut U.S. health costs by 19 percent, while also saving businesses money by phasing out of employer-based insurance. However, according to the report, it would cost nearly $3 trillion, and others place the costs much higher. The UMass economists would fund the program with a net-worth tax of 0.38 percent, taxing assets above $1 million, with the tax applying to the wealthiest 12 percent of U.S. households. The latter is a political poison pill. Even if you want to argue this is the way America should equitably change its health care program, its a political nonstarter in a Senate controlled by Republicans. There are two other elephants in the operating room. First is shifting more than one-sixth of the economy to government-funded health care without doing harm to the overall economy. Thats a huge economic change, and it is not exactly clear whether the cost cuts the authors project will actually materialize, given the churn and volatility of macroeconomic forces. Whats more, it is not clear exactly what will happen to the more than 800,000 people who work in the private health insurance field, many of whom, as Monica Potts notes in a 2017 article in Vice, are low-income women whose economic livelihoods could be permanently jeopardized. The second problem, as liberal writers Paul Krugman and Jonathan Chait point out in columns written in 2017, is persuading the 162 million people the UMass report concludes now receive health insurance through their employers. These individuals like their plans and would reasonably wonder how the proposed changes would impact their health care. Nonetheless, the inefficiency and inequality of American health care are economic and moral travesties that demand attention. A government-run single-payer plan, frequently conflated with universal care, is not the only way to offer decent health insurance to all Americans (as well as cut costs). There are intriguing plans all over Europe, but notably in Germany, where people can select from 100 private insurance carriers, but the government pays for health care coverage for children and the unemployed. As the nation readies for the next installment of the health care debate, the devil is in the details -- in recognizing there are many ways to reform our current system and appreciating that a complex mongrel of an approach is probably best to fit the diverse, multifaceted American health scene. Unfortunately, as the presidential election campaign approaches, it is more likely that terms like single-payer will be used as a polarizing cudgel to elicit support or mobilize opposition, exactly the opposite of the kind of thoughtful health care debate Americans deserve. Richard M. Perloff is a professor of communication and political science at Cleveland State University and author of The Dynamics of Political Communication. *************** Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, in his debut presidential campaign speech, made clear Friday the way he plans to market himself on the campaign trail: a Democrat who isnt a coastal elite. The 45-year-old from the Youngstown area appeared Friday in front of a crowd of mostly black civil rights leaders at the Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network conference in New York. Over the course of his roughly 10-minute speech, he took special care to distance himself from common stereotype that the Democrats prioritize coastal states at the expense of the heartland. While most of the speech focused on division in the country either via race, class or gender and a call for economic equality, a key moment in Ryans speech came when he attacked venture capital. Ryan criticized venture capital firms for ignoring Middle America, women and minorities. Most venture capital funding goes to three states California, New York and Massachusetts and only a fraction goes to women and people of color, he said. I will say that the economic system today is not serving many, many people in our country, Ryan said. I want you to look at venture capital, the big powerful money that will scale up business, that will create jobs. Eighty percent of that money goes to three states: California, New York and Massachusetts. Nine percent of it goes to women and less than 2 percent goes to people of color. Less than 2 percent. It was a brief, but notable, moment in Ryans speech. The term venture capital is frequently associated with the tech industry in Silicon Valley a noted liberal hotbed. California, New York and Massachusetts are all overwhelmingly liberal states and happen to have senators currently running for office: Kamala Harris from California, Kirsten Gillibrand from New York and Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts. Ryan openly disdains the coastal elite label that is often bestowed on Democrats, and his Friday speech was a clear attempt to separate himself from the party while preserving his progressive credentials. He is arguably most famous for challenging then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California for her spot in 2017, and his Friday speech was another chance for him to stress his Ohio roots and his connection with a forgotten part of America. That included a preview of his first announced policy: a new Marshall Plan to reinvest into the urban cores of the United States of America. The original Marshall Plan was the 1948 American investment in the Western European recovery following World War II. Ryan said he would release details in the coming weeks. As part of the deal, Droga5's 500 employees in New York and London will join Accenture, with Droga5 founder David Droga remaining in his role of creative chairman and Sarah Thompson remaining as global CEO. The parties did not disclose financial terms but said the deal represents Accenture Interactive's biggest acquisition since its founding in 2009. The deal could sound alarm bells for traditional agencies, which may worry about keeping pace when consultancies have historically had strong ties to the executive suites at major marketers. But some experts say the deal is actually good news for the advertising industry because it signals that companies are getting more serious about creativity in marketing. Accenture Interactive, the consultancy's "experience agency," said Wednesday it has agreed to acquire Droga5, the independent creative agency behind work like IHOP's "International House of Burgers" stunt and this year's Super Bowl spot promoting "Game of Thrones" and Bud Light. This week, one of those consultancies made clear its interest in taking on the creative industry. For years, the advertising industry has pondered the potential of big tech consultancies like Accenture and Deloitte to eat its lunch. While Droga5 isn't the first creative shop to be bought by a consultancy, this acquisition made waves in part because of the agency's creative prowess and its status as a sizable independent agency in a landscape where giant holding companies like WPP and Publicis dominate the market. CEO Brian Whipple has said Accenture Interactive was formed 10 years ago because CMOs had become more responsible for business goals instead of solely brand goals. In the years since, the company has acquired digital design agency Fjord, London-based creative agency Karmarama and a slew of other companies giving it chops in areas like programmatic ad buying, tech, data and experience design. Agencies have frequently claimed that consultancies don't have the creative firepower or the flexibility to compete in advertising. "We don't see them very much in terms of who we pitch against, and when we do pitch against them we win because we're able to provide the integrated offering that they don't," Michael Roth, CEO and chairman of advertising holding company Interpublic, said last summer of consultancies. Many may interpret the Droga5 acquisition as an omen for agencies, Forrester Research analyst Jay Pattisall said in a blog post. But he said that's missing the point. "Accenture Interactive's acquisition of Droga5 cements a renewed emphasis on creativity in marketing," he said, adding that chief marketing officers are wise to "take up the creative mantle and build differentiation and preference for their brands." Instead of a death knell, the advertising industry should think of the deal as a sign that Accenture sees value in marketing services. "It's a sign that the C-suite might be more receptive of marketing solutions," said Mike Duda, managing partner at a strategic creative agency and consumer investment firm called Bullish and a former executive of ad agency Deutsch. "Consulting is not good enough anymore it's what you do with that advice." Duda added that the agreement should be viewed as a positive for the agency business since it's an example of a sizable deal for a nondata firm. "This is one of the most respected and prestigious agency brands, and Accenture saw that value and bought it," he said. The deal could also mean marketers are about to see a lot more tattoos. "This could be a trend where you see less blazers and wingtips in the boardroom and more sneakers and untucked shirts," he said. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a 2020 US Presidential hopeful, speaks during the 'We The People' Summit at the Warner Theatre April 1, 2019, in Washington, DC. Americans have offered their initial judgment of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plan to break up large technology companies: They don't support it. By 50% to 47%, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll shows, Americans disagree that the likes of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google should be split into smaller competing companies because they have too much influence on American life. By a more emphatic 68% to 28%, respondents said such decisions should be left to the free market rather than government. Warren, the Massachusetts senator seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, has emphasized her commitment to challenging corporate power. Her proposal aims to break up tech giants with global revenue of at least $25 billion, with the goal of helping consumers and small businesses by improving competition and preventing abuses of corporate power. The poll shows Americans skeptical of those mammoth firms. Just 6% say they trust Facebook to protect their personal information, while 92% do not. Google and Amazon fare better, but only slightly. The telephone survey of 1,000 adults, conducted March 23-27, carries a margin for error of 3.1 percentage points. Three in 4 call it unacceptable that social media companies collect users' personal data to help advertisers target them. Solid majorities say social media divides Americans, wastes their time, spreads lies and disseminates unfair attacks on public figures and corporations. Just 36% call themselves satisfied with the amount of federal oversight and regulation of companies such as Facebook and Twitter. But they plainly don't want those companies' services to go away. By better than 3 to 1, Americans call the use of smartphones and social media to communicate and stay in touch with people an overall step in the right direction for society. Six in 10 say technology has more benefits than drawbacks, and call themselves hopeful of further advances over the next five years. Unusually for an American political issue, attitudes toward technology regulation do not divide along party lines. Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents all pronounce themselves dissatisfied with current levels of regulations and agree that free market competition should determine the future of giant tech firms. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, speaks to the media before the opening of the Berlin representation of Google Germany in Berlin on January 22, 2019. Google has nixed its panel for discussing AI issues, one week after it was announced. The sudden shift is a sign of change coming after employees at technology companies speaking out against actions their employers are taking. Vox was first to report on the move on Thursday. Google named the constituents of its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council on March 26. "This group will consider some of Google's most complex challenges that arise under our AI Principles, like facial recognition and fairness in machine learning, providing diverse perspectives to inform our work," Google's senior vice president of global affairs, Kent Walker, said in a blog post. Walker said that the group would meet four times this year and that it would issue a report on the conversations. Employees and outsiders quickly questioned the makeup of the board. Specifically, some people wondered why Kay Coles James, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, was included on the council. More than 2,300 Google employees signed a petition calling for Google to take Coles James off the council. The petition described her as "vocally anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-immigrant." On March 30, Alessandro Acquisti, professor of information technology and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University and one of the people Google selected for the panel, announced that he had chosen not to participate. tweet And on Wednesday, Luciano Floridi, professor of philosophy and ethics of information at the University of Oxford and another person Google chose for the council, said that while he did not agree with the views of Coles James and the Heritage Foundation, he also felt he should nevertheless be involved. "I wish Google had never asked Mrs. Coles James to advise it. But now that it has, since it has also asked for my own advice, I shall double my efforts and, insofar as a I can, help support the voice of reason and knowledge, and foster tolerance and mutual respect for individual choices and human diversity," he wrote in a Facebook post. On Thursday evening, Google canceled the whole project. "It's become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC can't function as we wanted. So we're ending the council and going back to the drawing board," Google said in a statement affixed to the top of the announcement on Thursday. "We'll continue to be responsible in our work on the important issues that AI raises, and will find different ways of getting outside opinions on these topics." Google employees also pushed back against Google's collaboration with the U.S. military around artificial intelligence, and the company decided not to renew the contract. Additionally, Google said it wouldn't submit a bid for a $10 billion contract for cloud work with the Defense Department. Microsoft and Salesforce employees have also reacted to their companies' actions in the past couple of years. WATCH: Google: Pleased to have productive conversations with Trump J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon did not condemn the White House's decision to face off with China on trade. Even if it's a drag in the near-term. When asked whether he thought the trade dispute was one we should have entered into, Dimon said "absolutely." "We're better off dealing with it now, whatever that means for the economy," Dimon said on stage at the Council on Foreign Relations Thursday evening. "I wasn't in favor of the tariffs and the threatening but absolutely in facing the issues." The 63-year-old CEO highlighted "serious issues" affecting global companies include intellectual property theft, non-bilateral investment rights and non-tariff barriers. The two largest economies have been locked in a stalemate over trade, each imposing billions of dollars worth of tariffs on each others' goods. Washington and Beijing moved closer to a deal during trade talks this week. But negotiators still need to smooth out details as they push for a final summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump. "We're glad," Dimon said, adding that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have "made a huge amount of progress." Details matter though, Dimon said. "We don't want a soybean deal. If they agree to buy $200 billion in goods from us that doesn't fix the problem," Dimon said during the discussion, which was moderated by David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group. The series of tariffs imposed by both countries has rattled financial markets and led to concerns about the effects on both economies. Dimon was optimistic about the U.S. economy though, and said he's not worried about an immediate recession. "The U.S. is chugging along," Dimon said. "Forget the noise all the geopolitical stuff affects market but unemployment is going down, and wages are going up, business confidence is high and housing is in short supply." The European Union is considering a new approach to taxation rules, but certain member nations are already voicing their opposition. The European Commission, the EU's executive body, suggested that the 28 countries should start taking decisions by a qualified majority when it comes to taxation this means it must represent a minimum of 65 percent of the EU's population. At the moment, new tax rules only move forward if there is a complete consensus. Changing from unanimity to a qualified majority would bring faster tax changes, including those on big tech companies. However, the Dutch finance minister told CNBC exclusively that he is against changing the rules. "I think if you look back, there's plenty of evidence that the current way of decision making actually works, also in the area of tax," Wopke Hoekstra, head of the Dutch finance ministry, said Friday. "I don't think that's very helpful," he added. Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, in charge of taxation in the EU, told CNBC last month that qualified majority would help the EU address taxation matters more urgently. "If we want a very strong Europe, we need to move from unanimity on those issues to qualified majority that's democracy and that is also efficiency." His proposal to update the rulebook came after certain EU countries blocked a new tax on digital companies, which could have affected firms such as Facebook and Alphabet's Google. Four out of the 28 European countries, including The Netherlands, stopped the initiative in March, arguing that the first steps for a digital levy should happen at the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) level. A man holds an Apple iPhone5S as he uses Apple Music app on October 11, 2017 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Apple Music has passed Spotify in terms of paid U.S. subscribers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The milestone is a turning point in the race to be the dominant streaming music service. It is also an early sign of success for Apple's new "services" strategy, which aims to sell existing iPhone users paid monthly subscriptions to online services. In February, Apple Music had 28 million paid subscribers in the United States and Spotify had 26 million, according to the report, which cited people familiar with the matter. The report also mentioned that Apple Music's worldwide and U.S. growth rates are higher than Spotify's. Spotify still has more subscribers than Apple Music. Spotify said it had 96 million paid users in February, and unlike Apple Music it offers a free tier that's supported by advertising. Spotify has 207 million users when you add free users to the number of paid subscriptions. Apple Music has 56 million paid subscribers worldwide, according to the Financial Times. But Apple Music has a few advantages that Spotify doesn't. It comes pre-installed on iPhones, of which there are 900 million currently in use around the world. The biggest U.S. carrier, Verizon, bundles free Apple Music subscriptions with certain cell phone service plans, but Spotify has similar deals with Sprint and Samsung. Spotify and Apple are on bad terms. Last month, Spotify's CEO blasted Apple for what it called "unfair" policies around its App Store and filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission. Apple responded in a statement on its site that said Spotify was wrapping "its financial motivations in misleading rhetoric." Apple and Spotify declined to comment. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem (L) is welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before a meeting in Beijing on December 24, 2015. Wang Zhao | AFP | Getty Images As U.S. troops withdraw from Syria, another country may be stepping up its presence in the war torn nation: China. Beijing sees the situation in Syria as an opportunity to benefit economically, expand its influence in the Middle East and even boost its globe-spanning Belt and Road infrastructure investment initiative. "As the U.S. is withdrawing its troops, the EU and U.S. have shown little interest in supporting Assad and leading the efforts of reconstructing Syria. China is facing little competition in Syria to realize its plans," said Mollie Saltskog, an analyst at security intelligence firm The Soufan Group. U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria last December, saying the extremist group Islamic State had been defeated the "only reason" he's wanted troops in the country. As the American forces withdraw, the spotlight has turned to the other nations with strategic interests in Syria's ongoing civil war. It serves (China's) interest to first enter Syria economically, and be seen as contributing to the overall economy. Bonnie Glaser Center for Strategic and International Studies While experts and lawmakers suggest the U.S. drawdown may strengthen the hands of Russia and Iran, Syrian President Bashar Assad's partners, others have highlighted China's potential role in coming years. That is, with diminishing U.S. influence in the region, China is presented with an opportunity to increase its economic presence in Syria, Saltskog said. A $250 billion investment opportunity Syrians restore a shop in the Bab al-Nasr area in old city of Aleppo on April 22, 2018. George Ourfalian | AFP | Getty Images Chinese auto companies Geely and Changan have reportedly partnered with Syrian car manufacturer Mallouk & Co, and its manufacturing plant in Homs is set to produce both brands of cars. "It serves (China's) interest to first enter Syria economically, and be seen as contributing to the overall economy," said Bonnie Glaser, a senior Asia advisor at a Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This can create greater, sort of more positive sentiments and attitudes toward China. Ultimately, that could translate to more Chinese influence in the region," she added. On top of that, Beijing is likely to leverage a role in Syria's reconstruction to advance its Belt and Road Initiative, Saltskog said. Syria could become a crucial player in the initiative a multi-billion dollar investment scheme that aims to create a vast global infrastructure network connected to China. For one, Syria's Tartus port is a likely point of interest to China, experts said. In fact, a 2018 statement from the Chinese embassy in Damascus affirmed the importance of the port for economic development. The consequences of taking Chinese money will be an issue to deal with further down the line. Mollie Saltskog The Soufan Group Markets in Asia edged up on Friday as hopes rise on a potential trade deal between China and the U.S. The Nikkei 225 in Japan advanced 0.38% to close at 21,807.50, as shares of companies which are dependent on Chinese demand saw gains: Fanuc and Hitachi Construction Machinery advanced 1.21% and 1.15%, respectively. The Topix index also added 0.35% to finish at 1,625.75. The moves in Tokyo came after data showed that Japanese household spending rose less than expected in February, rising 1.7% in February as compared to the year before, as compared to a median estimate for a 2.1% annual increase, Reuters reported. Over in South Korea, the Kospi rose 0.14% to close at 2,209.61. Shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics slipped 0.21% after the company warned that its first-quarter profits likely dropped almost 60% as compared to a year ago. Australia's slipped 0.83% to close at 6,181.30, with nearly all sectors seeing declines. The stock markets in China and Hong Kong were closed on Friday for a holiday. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said a new consensus had been reached between Beijing and Washington on U.S.-China trade, Chinese official state media Xinhua reported on Friday. Liu led a delegation to Washington this week to meet with U.S. officials for another round of high-level negotiations as the two sides seek to end a potentially devastating trade conflict. One analyst, however, told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Friday that any deal that emerges is unlikely to be as "comprehensive as Donald (Trump) would like to tell us," nor would it "iron out all the problems." "Remember, we've had ... the big (North American Free Trade Agreement) change which basically was a name change. We've had the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, how did that work out? You know, Trump promises big things, and he says we'll get a deal, and yes there will be some movement. But I think, you know, the fundamental way that (the) Chinese run their economy is not going to be changing anytime soon," said Fraser Howie, an independent analyst. "The trade deal has already been priced in, probably around 80 percent," Eugenia Victorino, head of Asia strategy at SEB, told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Friday. "At this point, I wouldn't be so excited considering that it's basically the same headline in the last few weeks and they're just kicking the can down the road." "Until there is a specific date I wouldn't really be that optimistic. Even so, the last 10% ... of the trade negotiations are really the tricky part," Victorino said. Currencies and oil Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday joked about the inappropriate touching accusations made against him by a number of women just days after pledging that he would be "more mindful and respectful" of people's space. The longtime politician's two jokes during a speech at a conference in Washington could shed some early light on how the likely 2020 Democratic presidential candidate plans to rebuff accusations that he made inappropriate physical contact. One joke came shortly after Biden invited four children on stage. Biden put his arm around a young boy and told the crowd, "by the way, he gave me permission to touch him." The comment provoked laughter from the kids onstage, as well as those in the audience. He was speaking at a conference of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. It was the second joke Biden made about the accusations during the speech. Earlier, Biden joked that Lonnie Stephenson, IBEW's international president, gave Biden permission to hug him. The jokes earned pushback from at least one of the women who have accused Biden in recent weeks of inappropriate physical contact. They show that Biden "hasn't reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable," said Lucy Flores, who in an article in The Cut published last month accused Biden of kissing her on the back of her head during a rally in 2014, while she was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Nevada. "To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have," Flores said. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks at the Heartland Forum held on the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, Saturday, March 30, 2019. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's call to break up big agriculture has stirred a debate, but industry groups are fighting back, with one group saying her "proposals seriously miss the mark." "You've got these giant corporations that are making bigger and bigger profits for themselves, for their executives, for their investors, and they're putting the squeeze on family farms, on small farms," the Democratic presidential hopeful told attendees at the Heartland Forum in Storm Lake, Iowa, on Saturday. "Twenty years ago, 600 different outfits were selling seed; today it's basically six." The senator also released a policy post on Medium last week that focused on "leveling the playing field for America's family farmers." But big agribusiness groups suggest Warren's policy proposals are detached from reality and say what's needed is a focus on growing exports, not adding regulations. The Massachusetts Democrat has criticized "immense market power" created by mergers and expansion, targeting seed giants, big chicken companies and meat processors. The Democrat also has vowed to install "trustbusters to review and reverse anti-competitive mergers." "We disagree with the premise and the policies outlined," said Jim Monroe, a spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council, a trade group. "The U.S. pork production system is the envy of the world. It is also highly export dependent. What U.S. pork producers and the other American farm families need are expanded export opportunities, not more regulations." Warren has also been critical of the government's commodity checkoff programs, funded by farmers, that are used to promote products such as soybeans, milk, beef and pork. She backs a bill, reintroduced last week by a bipartisan group of senators, to reform the commodity programs and wants farmer checkoff payments to be voluntary. She said the system is now "rigged against family farmers." "If Senator Warren's goal is to help cattle farmers and ranchers, her policy proposals seriously miss the mark," said Colin Woodall, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a trade group. "The ideas she outlines are nothing more than recycled policies promoted by some of the leading opponents of animal agriculture." Warren's campaign did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. Warren also targeted recent mergers involving Bayer-Monsanto, Dow-Dupont and Syngenta-ChemChina companies supplying seeds and other products to farmers. She singled out those companies last week in her policy post and called for the breakup of big agricultural mergers. "Agriculture is a complex and highly competitive industry, and there are hundreds of companies driving innovation and competing for farmers' business," said Christi Dixon, a Bayer spokesperson. "After a robust global regulatory review process, we brought together two talented teams and a robust portfolio to offer more choices for farmers." Dow referred inquiries to the industry trade group. Syngenta declined comment. "Much of the consolidation we have seen in recent years is the result of the need and desire of our members to continue to innovate and invest in new, more targeted technologies," said Chris Novak, president and CEO of CropLife America, a biotech industry trade group. Novak said companies require on average more than 11 years and some $300 million to bring a chemistry product to market. But the considerable time and hefty outlay needed to go through the regulatory process make it tough for small companies to make these investments, he said. "Through the consolidation process, we have seen divestiture of assets that has allowed other companies to acquire new and more diverse portfolios," he said. "This has created a more competitive marketplace." Warren's policy paper said the two biggest seed makers, Monsanto and DuPont, together had just over 70 percent market share of the corn seed market before they were acquired. She said "conservative estimates" have the merged Bayer-Monsanto with "more than 37 percent" domestic market share of the vegetable seed market and "more than half of the market for some vegetables." The National Farmers Union, a group representing family farmers, sides with Warren. The group is concerned about the impact of recent industry deals and testified against the three big seed mergers when they were still pending. "When you get to a place in a sector of the economy where 40 to 50 percent of that business volume is represented by four or fewer players, you have by definition what most economists would say is a non-competitive [market], or at least a market that is less competitive than it ought to be," said Roger Johnson, president of the group. Johnson said farmers' choice is more limited due to the mergers. He also said agricultural producers are "getting squeezed on both" ends by paying more than they should for products and getting lower prices when selling their commodities "because of highly concentrated markets that are paying less to us." Rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday, March 11, 2019. Boeing is reportedly looking at slowing production of its popular 737 Max jets amid mounting evidence that bad data feeding into an automated flight system played a role in two crashes of the planes since October that killed 346 people. The company and its suppliers are weighing a slowdown if the aircraft remains grounded by international aviation regulators for several months, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The 737 Max has been grounded following a March 10 crash in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines is also reportedly reconsidering its order for 25 additional 737 Max jets in the aftermath of the crashes, Bloomberg reported. The plane maker did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Boeing's stock is down by about 1% Friday. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg acknowledged for the first time Thursday that faulty data feeding to the jet's automated control system played a role in the crashes. His statement came after Ethiopian aviation officials released a preliminary report that found pilots followed Boeing's standard safety procedures in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in Addis Ababa on March 10. "With the release of the preliminary report of the Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 accident investigation, it's apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information," Muilenberg said. Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges did not directly blame the MCAS system for the crash, but said it should be reviewed before the 737 Max jets are allowed back in the air. President Donald Trump speaks during a White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council meeting in the Cabinet room at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 4, 2019. On the eve of President Donald Trump's visit, California's Democratic Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the state has unleashed its 49th lawsuit against the Trump administration, this time challenging a presidential executive order signed in 2017 that "arbitrarily" slashes regulations. California was joined in the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia by the attorneys general of Minnesota and Oregon. In a statement Thursday night, Becerra said Trump's "2-for-1" executive order, issued on Jan. 30, 2017, requires that U.S. agencies to repeal at least two existing government regulations for every new one an agency issues, with the goal to offset costs. In doing so, agencies make determinations based on looking at "the cost of the proposed regulation, while giving no consideration to the benefit or protections lost by the repeal of existing regulations," the release added. "This arbitrary two-for-one executive order is just bad public policy," Becerra said. Becerra added that the Trump order "forces federal agencies to make potentially bad decisions in order to meet existing rules without consideration for their importance or value." According to the lawsuit, Trump's order "harms the states by preventing, delaying and discouraging federal regulations addressing public health, safety, and environmental concerns." The states are seeking "declaratory and injunctive relief." California previously sued the Trump administration over issues such as health care, immigration, the border wall, public lands, climate change. California's 49 lawsuits against the Trump administration compare with 48 lawsuits the state of Texas filed against the federal government during the Obama administration. In February 2017, two advocacy groups and a union filed a challenge to Trump's 2-for-1 order. But a federal judge in D.C. dismissed the case by ruling the plaintiffs didn't have standing to bring the case. Trump is scheduled to go to California on Friday to visit a newly replaced border fence in Calexico. The U.S. Department of Justice declined comment. CNBC also reached out the White House. Two Oregon college students allegedly managed to scam Apple out of nearly $900,000 through a scheme involving counterfeit iPhones, according to the federal government. The scam revolved around counterfeit Apple iPhones that were shipped to students Quan Jiang and Yangyang Zhou from "an associate" in China, the government claims. Jiang and Zhou would allegedly submit the fake iPhones to Apple for repair under the company's warranty program and Apple, in many cases, would send them authentic iPhones as replacements. In total, the pair submitted thousands of warranty claims for counterfeit iPhones through the end of 2017, according to complaints filed by the federal government in March 2018 and March 2019. Jiang, who was reportedly a student at Oregon State University at the time, estimated that he submitted over 2,000 warranty claims in 2017 alone, the government said, and Apple's records show over 3,000 claims in total attributed to Jiang. In every case, Jiang claimed that the iPhones could not be turned on, which turned out to be the crux of the scam, according to the government. "Submission of an iPhone that will not power on is critical to perpetuating iPhone warranty fraud, as the phone will not be able to be immediately examined or repaired by Apple technicians," and the company will often have to send a replacement iPhone under its warranty policy, the government wrote in its complaint. While Apple was able to determine that many of the counterfeit iPhones Jiang submitted were not authentic, the company still accepted 1,493 of the phones the student sent in as authentic and provided him with replacement iPhones. At a cost of $600 per iPhone, according to the company's estimates, those replacements resulted in losses of $895,800 for the tech giant, the government said. Apple did not immediately respond to CNBC Make It's request for comment. Jiang told authorities that he regularly received packages with 20 to 30 iphones from "an associate" in China with instructions to submit them to Apple under warranty claims. After receiving replacement iPhones, Jiang would ship them back to China, where they could be sold. The unnamed "associate" would pay a portion of the profits to Jiang's mother in China, who would deposit the funds into a bank account that Jiang could access from the US. Last year, federal agents searched Jiang's Oregon home and found over 300 counterfeit iPhones, along with shipping records and documents for warranty claim submissions. They also found several boxes that had been addressed to Zhou, who has been named as Jiang's accomplice. Zhou was studying engineering at Linn Benton Community College last spring, according to The Oregonian. Apple records show that over 200 iPhone warranty claims have been submitted in Zhou's name, the government wrote in a complaint, filed in March 2019, that accuses Zhou of submitting false or misleading information on an export declaration. Zhou faces fines of up to $10,000 and five years in prison. Jiang, meanwhile, was accused of wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods in federal court last year. He faces fines of up to $2 million and 10 years in prison for the trafficking accusation, and another possible 20 years in prison for wire fraud. Disney shares have underperformed the broader market this year, but two market watchers say there may yet be magic in the stock. "It has been range bound for years. We think for multiple reasons it's ready to break out," Michael Bapis of Vios Advisors at Rockefeller Capital said Thursday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." He notes that the company's Fox acquisition creates a "real media powerhouse," and he believes the upcoming launch of the streaming service Disney+ will "compete with Netflix" and could "really drive revenues." So while the stock has only gained about 4% this year compared with the S&P's almost 15% rise, Bapis argues that it's a "long-term hold" as well as a "long-term buy." The Street is also betting on the Mouse House. The stock rose roughly 2% on Thursday after Goldman Sachs reinstated coverage on Disney with a buy rating, saying it's the "dawn of a new era." This followed another bullish initiation earlier in the week from Rosenblatt Securities analyst Mark Zgutowicz, who believes the stock can hit $150. It was at $114.80 in Friday's premarket. TradingAnalysis.com's Todd Gordon agrees with the optimistic sentiment around Disney, and he points to the stock's chart as confirmation that the media giant is heading higher. Looking back at the stock's trend over the past 10 years, Gordon points to two distinct periods of the stock moving swiftly higher. And citing the Elliott Wave Theory, which argues that markets move in distinct phases and is used by technicians to predict a stock's next wave, Gordon believes the next push higher may be coming. "According to Elliott Wave Theory, market trends tend to unfold in 3 separate phases," Gordon said in an email to "Trading Nation." "Diving further into the theory, it will also show a tendency for the percent change realized in the first phase to be equal to, or two-thirds, of the percent change in the final phase." During the first push from early 2009 to early 2011, Disney rallied 192 percent. In this wave, Disney has rallied 17 percent from its May monthly low. A move to $192 would mark a nearly 100 percent rally. He currently has half a position in the stock, and said that once it tops the $120 level he'll be adding more. Ultimately, he thinks the stock could hit $192, which is nearly 68% above the current level. Disclosure: Gordon, Bapis and Vios Advisors have holdings in Disney. Elon Musk says Tesla vehicles one day make money for their owners by autonomously transporting people when their owners are not using them like a driverless Uber or Lyft ride. Teslas already have the hardware they would need built in. For example, there's a small camera above the rear view mirror of Teslas meant to eventually give users a way to watch what happens inside their car when they are not in it. It's "there for when we start competing with Uber/Lyft & people allow their car to earn money for them as part of the Tesla shared autonomy fleet. In case someone messes up your car, you can check the video," Musk Tweeted Thursday. there for when we start competing with Uber/Lyft & people allow their car to earn money for them as part of the Tesla shared autonomy fleet. In case someone messes up your car, you can check the video "It's hard to wrap my head around a future where my car might be earning me money through autonomous driving while I'm asleep in my bed or play video games but here we are," German professional e-sports player Marcel "Dexter" Feldkamp tweeted back. That reality is "...just a matter of finishing the software & going through regulatory approval," Musk tweeted. That's exactly the idea. And eventually, "Instead of someone needing to drive their car personally, they can manage a fleet of self-driving cars," Musk says. instead of someone needing to drive their car personally, they can manage a fleet of self-driving cars Currently, Tesla has autopilot function which includes following features: "match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes without requiring driver input, transition from one freeway to another, exit the freeway when your destination is near, self-park when near a parking spot and be summoned to and from your garage," according to the Tesla website. However, the autopilot features require the driver to be actively supervising the car. All Tesla vehicles are built with the hardware capable of "full self-driving capabilities," says the website. The hardware, however, is not useful until it has been activated with appropriate software updates. And Tesla will not be able to activate such software until "billions of miles of experience" have proven the features to be safer than humans and regulatory approval has been received, according to the site. When the self-driving software is fully deployed, Tesla claims users will be able to get in the car and tell it where you need to go. "Your Tesla will figure out the optimal route, navigate urban streets (even without lane markings), manage complex intersections with traffic lights, stop signs and roundabouts, and handle densely packed freeways with cars moving at high speed. When you arrive at your destination, simply step out at the entrance and your car will enter park seek mode, automatically search for a spot and park itself. A tap on your phone summons it back to you," Tesla says on its website. Musk also mentioned the Uber-like business model during Tesla's third-quarter earnings conference call in October: "Tesla will operate its own ride-hailing services and compete directly with Uber and Lyft, obviously," he said, according to CNBC. Lyft, which went public in March, is already actively involved in autonomous car technology. In August, Lyft said it had completed more than 5,000 self-driving rides through its app. By January, that number had climbed north of 30,000. The autonomous driving system used for these first 5,000 rides was not built by Lyft, but by the auto-parts supplier Aptiv Plc with which it partnered, according to Reuters. In October, Lyft acquired the London-based augmented reality startup Blue Vision Labs to advance its self-driving ambitions, TechCrunch says. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Lyft pointed CNBC Make It to Lyft co-founder and President John Zimmer's 2016 Medium post: "Elon is right that a network of vehicles is critical, but the transition to an autonomous future will not occur primarily through individually owned cars. It will be both more practical and appealing to access autonomous vehicles when they are part of Lyft's networked fleet." Tesla and Uber did not immediately respond to CNBC Make It's request for comment. However, about a year ago, Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed the companies interest in self-driving technology. "[W]e are absolutely committed to self-driving cars," Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC's "The Today Show," during an interview which aired in April 2018. "This is an important technology," Khosrowshahi said. See also: Tesla 'obviously' plans to take on Uber and Lyft, says CEO Elon Musk Uber's CEO: 'We are absolutely committed to self-driving cars' This 23-year-old founded a company with self-driving car tech that's giving Tesla some competition A flurry of Brexit activity early Friday morning saw both the EU and the U.K. move to lengthen the current timetable for negotiations, reducing the prospect of Britain exiting the bloc without a deal. First, European Council President Donald Tusk proposed allowing the U.K. a 12-month "flexible" extension to leave the European Union, an EU source told CNBC. Tusk's proposal, first reported by the BBC, would allow the U.K. the flexibility to leave the EU whenever British lawmakers approve and ratify a deal within the 12-month period. However, leaders of the political and economic bloc would need to agree to Tusk's plan at a summit next week. Later on Friday morning, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May officially asked the EU another short extension. A letter from May to Tusk proposes an extension to June 30, which could be terminated early if a deal is agreed. The letter also mentioned preparations for the U.K. to hold EU elections in late May. Tweet 1 At the moment, the U.K. is scheduled to leave the EU on April 12 and will be the first country to leave the bloc. The process to take the U.K. officially out of the EU began two years ago, but has yet to be finalized. U.K. parliamentarians have so far rejected the deal that Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated with the EU three times. When asked about a possible extension, German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "Hopefully, in the end we will have an agreement, because this is the best outcome for all the things that are going to happen." The gender pay gap widened at almost half of British firms in 2018, according to an analysis of new data. U.K. firms with at least 250 employees were legally required to submit their pay gap data to the government by Thursday. The data, available from the U.K. government website, showed that almost 80 percent of firms had a gender pay gap that favored men, while 14% of firms paid their female employees more than men. On average, men were paid 11.8% more than women in the U.K. last year, based on a list of companies with more than 250 employees. The median pay gap is calculated by comparing the discrepancy in pay between a company's middle-ranking male and female workers. According to a BBC analysis of the data, the pay gap widened at 45% of British firms in 2018, while 7% of companies reported no change. Ryanair was ranked among the worst performers, with a median pay gap of 64%. The company said in its latest gender pay gap report that its numbers reflected a low number of female pilots. "Although it is a global feature of the aviation industry that more males than females choose to enter the pilot profession, we continue to see a welcome increase in the number of female pilot applicants," the airline said. "In the past year we have doubled the number of female pilots in the U.K. and are committed to continuing this growth in the coming years." Other companies with gender pay gaps above the 11.8% average included Credit Suisse, which had a gap of more than 29% in the U.K., and luxury fashion brand Chanel, which had a median pay gap of more than 13%, according to the data. In Credit Suisse's latest gender pay gap report, published in March, U.K. CEO David Mathers admitted the bank's pay gap was "far from good enough." "The principal reason for this disparity has been well covered in the media over the past 12 months: there are not enough senior women in financial services organisations," he said. "As an industry, we have to work together as a whole to effect change and recognize that it is only by every employer playing their part that permanent change will begin to shine through." A spokesperson for Chanel told CNBC via email: "Chanel continues to be focused and committed to closing the gender pay gap and promoting an equal and inclusive environment for women and men through a number of initiatives." "In contrast with many other companies, women hold 40% of Chanel's executive positions," the spokesperson added. "Chanel guarantees that men and women in the company who undertake the same or similar roles get equal pay." Clothing retailer Primark, which employs more than 20,000 people in the U.K., reported an equal hourly wage for its middle-paid male and female workers. In its 2017 gender pay gap report, the company acknowledged that while it employed more female retail assistants, the majority of its senior positions were held by men. Spokespersons for Ryanair and Primark were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. Job gains in the education and health services sector easily surpassed those in all other industries in March, while the manufacturing sector posted its first month-over-month decline since July 2017. CNBC studied the net changes by industry for March jobs based on the data from the Labor Department contained in the jobs report released Friday. The government said the U.S. economy added 196,000 jobs last month, more than the 180,000 increase expected by economists polled by Refinitiv. Education and health care alone added 70,000 jobs, with strong hiring in ambulatory care, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities. The professional and business services sector, which includes lawyers, accountants and consultants, added to a consistent hot streak with a gain of 37,000 in March. A ultra-Orthodox Jewish man stands behind a voting booth in Jerusalem. Ronen Zvulun | Reuters In every Israeli election since 1948, the top issue has been security. That won't change on Tuesday when Israelis cast ballots to see who will become prime minister. But the economy has become a major factor influencing voters as they head to the polls. Year-to-date, Israel's vaunted technology index is one of the best performing areas in the world. One way to get exposure is through the BlueStar Israel Technology ETF, which is up almost 20 percent this year, outpacing even red hot U.S. tech stocks. "Israel's trade world has expanded well beyond Europe and North America under Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu," said Steven Schoenfeld, BlueStar's founder and chief investment officer. Specifically, Israel has made inroads with Africa and India, opening avenues for exports. A large digital ticker shows financial information outside the entrance to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in Tel Aviv, Israel on August 4, 2016. Rina Castelnuovo | Bloomberg via Getty Images Last week, Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro visited Jerusalem to set up a trade office. Israeli energy executives have made progress on a pipeline that it's hoped will transport natural gas from Israel's recently discovered fields in the Mediterranean to Europe, by way of Cyprus and Greece. Global reach for Israeli trade is critical, because Israel has no trade with neighbors Syria and Lebanon to the north and only minimal trade with Jordan and Egypt, despite having peace agreements with the latter two countries. Netanyahu has been Israel's prime minister since 2009. Since then, Israel's gross domestic product has increased by 70 percent. That's despite that Israel has very little trade with its contiguous neighbors. He's made his economic policies and what he calls a lack of experience by his chief election rival, Benny Gantz, a main point of his campaign. Tuesday's vote: The latest poll numbers The first of the two most likely election scenarios Tuesday would be for Netanyahu's Likud party to win the most seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. The second most realistic scenario is for a new party known in English as Blue and White to score enough votes to take the top spot. Blue and White is led by Gantz, a former top Israeli general and one-time military chief of staff under Netanyahu. The party hopes to benefit from corruption allegations swirling around Netanyahu. Here's how recent poll numbers break down: Likud: 29 seats Blue and White: 28 seats Labor: 14 seats Union of Right Wing Parties: 7 seats Hadash-Ta'al: 6 seats United Torah Judaism: 6 seats Shas: 5 seats New Right: 5 seats Meretz: 5 seats Ra'am-Balad: 5 seats Kulanu: 4 seats Poll dated April 2, Courtesy of Israel Channel 13 Polling Either Likud or Blue and White will need help from multiple, smaller parties to get the 61 seats needed to form a government. And there could be uncertainty in markets, at least in the near term, if Likud is pushed from power. "Short term uncertainty is a concern if Netanyahu's Likud loses to Blue and White," said Ori Greenfield, chief economist and strategist at Psagot Investment House, one of Israel's largest financials firms. But Greenfield doubts any impact would last. He said that "because the Federal Reserve in the United States is signaling no more hikes and global Central Banks aren't moving, it's unlikely the Bank of Israel will be able to make a move, unless inflation starts to become more of a concern, then they'd be forced to act." One area ripe for change after the election is Israel's once sky-high housing market. Reforms went into place under Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon designed to help new home buyers, through a lottery system where winners won large subsidies. The renowned economist who coined the acronym BRICS told CNBC that he's started to worry about some parts of the Chinese economy after several decades of stellar growth. Speaking at the Ambrosetti Workshop on the shores of Lake Como, near Milan, Jim O'Neill said that China has become an integral part of the global economy, and any slump would have the potential to drag other major economies lower. "I have to say, for the past year, for the first time in 30 years I have been a bit more troubled about some aspects of China's path than I have been before," the former Goldman Sachs Asset Management chairman told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick on Thursday. The world's second-largest economy grew 6.6 percent in 2018 the slowest pace since 1990. Recent consumer data has also spooked market watchers. Retail sales growth in 2018 declined to 6.9 percent year-on-year, from a 9.1 percent increase the year before. There's also been plummeting auto sales, fears over household debt, and firms like Apple warning about falling demand in the country of 1.4 billion. You have to be able to lie yourself to get started as an entrepreneur, tech billionaire Mark Cuban says. "One thing that entrepreneurs, we all do, we lie to ourselves. All the time. You have to," Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a judge on ABC's "Shark Tank," said in a keynote speech on Tuesday at an event for Dallas Startup Week. Cuban goes on to explain that most entrepreneurs are so terrified when taking the first steps toward launching a new business that they have to lie to themselves in order to psych themselves up enough to move ahead. Cuban warns against being a "wantrepreneur," or someone who has an idea for a business, but can't convince themselves to go beyond just talking about putting that idea to work. "Behind the lie are the 'wantrepreneurs,'" Cuban said in his speech. "The people who talk about doing it, but don't take that step. And then you lie to yourself a little bit and you say, 'I can do this.' You're scared s---less, but you know you can do this. You take one small step." In Cuban's case, he seemingly faced long odds to become a billionaire when he arrived in Dallas at the age of 23 "with $60, hole in my floorboard, case of oil in the trunk & a floor to sleep on in Dallas," he said in 2017. But even though Cuban soon got fired from a job selling software, he didn't allow himself to let his dire situation dent his confidence. He formed a software company called MicroSolutions that he sold in 1990 for $6 million. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin are seen during the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 30, 2018. Russia won a dispute about "national security" at the World Trade Organization on Friday, in a ruling over a Ukrainian railway dispute that may also lend support to global automobile tariffs that could be imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The WTO panel ruling, the first ever on the right to a national security exemption from the global trade rules, can be appealed. The panel also confirmed the WTO's right to review national security claims, denting U.S. claims that national security was not subject to review by the global trade body. The panel also confirmed the WTO's right to review national security claims, denting U.S. claims that national security was not subject to review, and said any such claim should be "objectively" true, relating to weapons, war, fissionable materials or an "emergency in international relations". "An emergency in international relations would, therefore, appear to refer generally to a situation of armed conflict, or of latent armed conflict, or of heightened tension or crisis, or of general instability engulfing or surrounding a state," it said. The ruling, the first ever on national security, can be appealed. Invoking national security was taboo at the WTO for decades after it was founded in 1995. Diplomats referred to it as "Pandora's box" which could never be closed once it was opened, and would undermine the discipline of the WTO's widely accepted rules. But in the past three years, Russia has cited it in the dispute with Ukraine, Trump has used it to justify tariffs on steel, aluminium and -- potentially -- autos, and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have cited it in a dispute with Qatar. Ukraine went to the WTO in 2016, complaining of a huge reduction in trade with Asia and the Caucasus region after Russian President Vladimir Putin banned road and rail transport from Ukraine unless the route also went through Belarus. Russia's Economy Ministry said that Friday's ruling had recognised Ukraine's arguments to be unfounded, and said the issue was of systemic importance for the WTO. 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), speaks at the 2019 National Action Network National Convention in New York, April 5, 2019. Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., on Friday called for eliminating a Senate filibuster rule for legislation when the next Democrat takes over the White House. The rule for legislation requires 60 votes to end debate on bills before the Senate. Ending the filibuster would lower that threshold to a simple 51-vote majority. "When Democrats have the White House again, if [Republican Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell continues to put small-minded partisanship ahead of solving the massive problems facing our country, then we should get rid of the filibuster," Warren said on Twitter. Warren's call to ditch the rule, announced in a series of tweets Friday morning, mirrored remarks she was expected to make later on at civil rights advocate Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference in Manhattan. Warren TWEET For generations the filibuster has been used to block progress, and in recent years, obstruction in the Senate has only gotten worse. We're fighting for big, structural changebut we won't get anything done unless we face this head on. Warren TWEET We're done with having two sets of rules. When Democrats have the White House again, if Mitch McConnell continues to put small-minded partisanship ahead of solving the massive problems facing our country, then we should get rid of the filibuster. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rammed a rules change through the Senate, slashing debate time on most of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees. The new rules limit debate on most nominees to two hours instead of 30. McConnell has been opposed to killing the filibuster rule for legislation. Warren, in excerpts of her speech shared with CNBC by her 2020 campaign, also called for a "constitutional amendment establishing a nationally-recognized right to vote and a right to get that vote counted." And she dove into the details of her universal childcare proposal, which would build upon existing programs like Head Start and raise pay for childcare workers. "Childcare workers are educators, not babysitters. They deserve a livable wage," Warren said. Warren tied the plan to her already-proposed tax on the super-wealthy, dubbed the "ultra-millionaire" tax. It would slap an additional 2% tax on Americans with more than $50 million in assets "That one change," she said, "would bring in all the money we would need to completely cover the cost of this universal child care and early education planand have $2 trillion left over." U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and the leader of the main opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn, meet on Friday for the third consecutive day of talks in a bid to break the current Brexit deadlock. The two leaders, who have fought bitterly for months over Britain's future, are now trying to agree a deal that can then be negotiated with the rest of the EU. Earlier this week, May outlined to Parliament the terms for the talks, promising to support the final outcome and take it to Brussels. "If we cannot agree on a single unified approach, then we would instead agree a number of options for the Future Relationship that we could put to the House (of Commons) in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue," she said. "Crucially, the government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House. But to make this process work, the opposition would need to agree to this too." Unlike in the U.S., the party that controls the legislature (Parliament) in the United Kingdom also controls the executive (government). Therefore, for Corbyn to be engaged in days of talks with May to resolve an issue is yet another example of how Brexit has shaken British politics. The problem for May, and the reason why she has been forced into talks, is that she cannot rely on the unanimous support of members of her own Conservative Party who are split between different versions of Brexit, and even no Brexit at all. Corbyn and Labour have the same issue of division. Many of Labour's lawmakers in the north of England secured their seats in Parliament in areas which voted to leave the European Union. Many southern seats won by Labour, especially those in London, voted to remain. Once the U.S. and China have reached a trade deal, the world's largest economy will amplify tensions with the European Union, according to the chief economist of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Her comments come as market participants continue to monitor the prospect of a comprehensive trade agreement between Washington and Beijing. On Thursday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. had found common ground on some of the toughest points in trade talks, adding a deal could be agreed in the next four weeks. Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly echoed the optimism over a possible deal, but the White House warned some sticking points remain unresolved. "Even once we are done with the U.S. and China, the U.S. will turn to Europe," Laurence Boone, chief economist at OECD, told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at the Ambrosetti Workshop in Italy on Friday. "So, I think by undermining the multi-lateral rules-based system on trade, we have just injected a massive dose of uncertainty in the world that will stay with us for a long time." U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on April 4, 2019. "Even if Ways and Means had a legitimate committee purpose for requesting the President's tax returns and return information, that purpose is not driving Chairman [Richard] Neal's request. His request is a transparent effort by one political party to harass an official from the other party because they dislike his politics and speech," Consovoy argued in the letter obtained by NBC News. In a letter Friday to Treasury Department General Counsel Brent McIntosh, lawyer William Consovoy argued that the House Ways and Means Committee has no "legitimate committee purpose" for seeking the president's returns. The attorney from the law firm Consovoy McCarthy Park also wrote that the Treasury would set "set a dangerous precedent" by releasing the returns. The letter escalates the legal dispute between the White House and House Democrats, who formally requested the president's tax returns on Wednesday evening. Trump, who came into office in 2017 still owning sprawling global business holdings, did not release his returns during the 2016 election, breaking with decades of precedent. Democrats have said politics did not inspire their request. Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, asked the IRS, which is part of the Treasury, for six years of the president's personal tax returns and some of those for his businesses. It was the first time Congress asked for a sitting president's tax information in 45 years. "I take the authority to make this request very seriously, and I approach it with the utmost care and respect," Neal said in a statement Wednesday. "This request is about policy, not politics; my preparations were made on my own track and timeline, entirely independent of other activities in Congress and the Administration." Trump has repeatedly claimed he cannot release his returns because he is under audit. Asked Wednesday about sending his tax returns to Congress, he said that "until such time as I as I am not under audit, I will not be doing that." Some legal experts have disputed the argument. On Wednesday, Neal in part said his committee "has a duty to examine whether Congressional action may be needed to require such audits, and to oversee that they are conducted properly." In his letter, Consovoy argued "it would be a gross abuse of power for the majority party to use tax returns as a weapon to attack, harass, and intimidate their political opponents." "Once this Pandora's box is opened, the ensuing tit-for-tat will do lasting damage to our nation," he writes. "Can the Chairman request the returns of his primary opponents? His general-election opponents? Judges who are hearing his case?" Spokespeople for the Treasury Department and Neal did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the letter. Democrats have wanted to see the president's tax returns in order to determine whether his personal holdings pose any conflicts with his policymaking. Polls have found broad public support for Trump releasing his tax returns. Sixty-seven percent of respondents to a Quinnipiac University poll in February said they think Trump should publicly release his tax returns, versus 24 percent who said he should not. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they think he has not released his tax returns "because he has something to hide," while 19 percent responded that he had not done so because he was being audited. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Michael Cohen, former attorney to President Donald Trump testifies before the House Oversight Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday February 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. A memo that Cohen's attorneys sent with a letter Thursday to top Democrats in Congress details what Cohen has told special counsel Robert Mueller's team and the House Intelligence Committee about circumstantial evidence that the attorneys say suggests Trump was involved in or knew about a criminal conspiracy to collude with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen is seeking to delay his surrender to prison and get a reduced sentence by citing his recent ability to access a computer hard drive containing more than 14 million files, some of which could help congressional committees investigating Trump. Cohen's attorneys asked lawmakers to write federal prosecutors in New York a letter detailing that he has "substantially cooperated with Congress," and support his effort to win a lighter criminal sentence. They also want him to be given extra time to cooperate "fully with prosecutors and Congress" before he has to enter prison. The letter comes a month before Cohen is scheduled to begin serving a three-year prison term, and two weeks after Mueller's report found there was no evidence Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to interfere with the election. Cohen, 52, pleaded guilty last year to making false statements to Congress about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, to financial crimes, and to campaign finance law violations. Cohen admitted facilitating hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal before the election, at Trump's behest, to prevent their accounts of having had affairs with Trump thwart his chances of winning the White House. Cohen last month testified before several congressional committees about his work for Trump, and about evidence of possible crimes by the president. Trump has denied having sex with Daniels and McDougal, and also has denied any criminal wrongdoing. The letter says that since he testified "at least six government entities not just congressional committees, but New York State authorities have requested detailed, additional information, document review, personal interviews, and assistance from Mr. Cohen." In their letter, Cohen's lawyers also said, "Mr. Cohen was only recently able to access a hard drive with important documents. Said drive contains over 14 million files, which consist of all e-mails, voice recordings, images, and attachments from Mr. Cohen's computers and phones." "To date, Mr. Cohen has located several documents that we believe have significant value to the various congressional oversight and investigation committees," the attorneys wrote. "Working alone, Mr. Cohen has only had the time to go through less than 1 percent of the drive, or approximately 3,500 files." The letter said "it will take time, effort and ready accessibility to members of Congress and their staffs to assist in providing the relevant documents." The letter did not say whether the more than 14 million files that it mentioned have already been in the possession of federal prosecutors, Congress or other investigatory entities. Trump told reporters Friday, when asked about the documents Cohen's lawyers mentioned in their letter, that they were nothing new. "They've already got it," Trump said. "He lied numerous times during his last testimony. They had that for many months." The letter from Cohen's lawyers also argues that he has received a "disproportionate" sentence, and that "there is something unjust" in the fact that "Mr. Cohen remains the only member of the Trump Organization, including Mr. Trump himself, who has been prosecuted, and who is going to prison for conduct almost all of which was for the benefit of Mr. Trump personally and indeed directed by him." Longevity expert Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara lived to be 105 years old. Hinohara, former chairman emeritus of Tokyo's St. Luke's International University and former honorary president of St. Luke's International Hospital, was perhaps best known for his book, "Living Long, Living Good." But Hinohara's own longevity wasn't due to strict or rigid regimens. "It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime," Hinohara said in a 2009 interview with The Japan Times. There was at least one routine he had, however Hinohara generally ate the same thing every day. For breakfast he drank coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. "Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy," he told The Japan Times. His lunch was perhaps surprising, as it often consisted of milk and a few cookies or "nothing when I am too busy to eat." Dinner was "veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and twice a week 100 grams of lean meat," Hinohara said. The doctor believed keeping your weight in check is critical to living a long life. "All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common: None are overweight," Hinohara said. Though Hinohara didn't seem to eat much, he said he never got hungry because he was focused on his work, which also may have been a secret to his longevity. "There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65," Hinohara said. First work for your family and to achieve your goals, "until one is 60 years old," he said. Then "in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society." From the age of 65, Hinohara worked 18-hour days, seven days a week as a volunteer and "love[d] every minute of it," he told The Japan Times in 2009. In fact, he volunteered until the last few months before his death on July 18, 2017, according to The New York Times. See also: Japanese doctor and longevity expert who lived until 105: Don't retire Iris Apfel: 10 life lessons from a 96-year-old who is probably cooler than you 95-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel says hard work is her fountain of youth Construction of the Gulf Coast Project pipeline, part of the Keystone XL pipeline, in Prague, Okla. The White House is planning to roll out an executive order next week that aims to cut regulations, spur interstate pipeline construction and lower energy costs, according to two senior administration officials. The effort was spurred by the blockage of the construction of the 125-mile Constitution Pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York. A protracted legal battle over the project has been underway since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, gave a greenlight in 2014 and 2016, because the state of New York has refused to issue a water permit. According to four current and former administration officials, the order directs the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to clarify Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, the law that gives states authority over permits where water quality is concerned. Backlash from states and governors is expected, especially in New York, where regulators warned of further legal action if FERC throws out its water safety review in the Constitution case. And Wall Street likely won't see this as a big breakthrough. "We don't think this manifestly changes the state of play," said ClearView energy analyst Christine Tezak. "An executive order can't change the statutory discretion of a state to approve, deny or waive, so a state could still say no." But officials vow the administration's broader goal is to lower energy prices by accelerating the transport of natural gas and to reaffirm U.S. energy "dominance," a word that appeared multiple times in an early draft of the order. Energy executives are optimistic about the prospects for more pipeline construction. Dennis Xander, chief executive of West Virginia-based Denex Petroleum, said the state is at risk of a glut if it can't ship more gas to New England or the Gulf states. "We now have more capacity than we do gas for the first time in several years," Xander told CNBC. But in central West Virginia where Denex operates, "There's no pipeline to get the gas transported." Lower energy prices are of high interest to President Donald Trump, who has tweeted criticism of OPEC and its impact on higher prices at least 12 times. The executive order is currently slated to be signed on Wednesday, with Texas as one suggested location for the event. Administration officials caution the plans could change. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. One proponent of medical marijuana says the only realistic way to legalize it in Missouri is for voters to do so at the ballot box. Marketing it as an alternative for all the "disappointed Apple fanboys (and girls)" who will never see Apple's nixed AirPower wireless charger, a startup has begun shipping a wireless charging mat that simultaneously charges three Apple devices: an iPhone, an Apple Watch and AirPods. The new AirUnleashed wireless charging mat takes its aesthetic looks from published images of Apple's cancelled AirPower charging pad, but its internal design is radically more simple. More than a year and a half after announcing its AirPower wireless charging mat, Apple finally threw in the towel and admitted last week that it had failed to create a product that could meet its "high standards." Apple Apple said its AirPower mat would ship in 2018, but more than a year and a half after being announced it was cancelled. Several published reports claimed Apple was confronted by inter-device communication problems, overheating or electromagnetic interference as it attempted to interleave a dozen or more copper charging coils inside the thin AirPower charging mat. Apple would not say whether it planned on pursuing development of another wireless charger in the future. Since Apple announced AirPower, more than a dozen companies have produced wireless chargers that can simultaneously charge at least two Qi-enabled mobile devices, including smartphones and Apple or Android watches. Computerworld reviewed four multi-device wireless chargers that can power up both an iPhone and an Apple Watch, or in one case an Android smartphone and watch. The new AirUnleashed wireless charger uses just three copper charging coils placed side by side; the company claims its design enables the mat to avoid the electronic hurdles that tripped up Apple's AirPower charging pad. "With AirPower, Apple was trying to create a charging mat that would allow you to power multiple devices from anywhere on the mat. Apple's wireless charging patent shows that they were trying to achieve this by using up to 32 overlapping charging coils," AirUnleashed stated in a news release. "This introduced challenges like overheating and electromagnetic interference, which Apple ultimately did not (yet) overcome." Patently Apple Apple's AirPower design as depicted in a patent submission obtained by Patently Apple. Engineers of the AirPower were purportedly attempting to interleave more than a dozen copper coils. Amy Teng, a Gartner research director, said she has concerns about the AirUnleashed not being MFI certified, an Apple licensing program for developers of hardware and software peripherals. Teng added there are also many competitive 3-in-1 wireless charging products on Chinese online shopping site Taobao. Smartphones and smartwatches, Teng said, are the master devices that control how they will receive power from a charging pad. The user experience and safety are better when both master and slave [charger] devices are collaborated by developers. "Apple can control the iOS and the MFi certified devices at a more detailed level, which will provide a better [user experience]," Teng said via email. "Third party charging devices can charge Apple devices but [it will] be difficult to reach the same level [of user experience] if theyre not MFi certified." The AirUnleashed company co-founders are CTO Hakim Sugito, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, is an industrial design engineer with a master's degree from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and CEO Gerard Nieuwenhuis, whose LinkedIn profile says he has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, also in the Netherlands. Nieuwenhuis also founded Amsterdam-based TRNDlabs, a consumer goods company that makes drones, earphones and other consumer tech. AirUnleashed is being produced by a separate company. AirUnleashed's Sugito said while both he and Nieuwenhuis are Dutch, they decided to legally incorporate their company in Hong Kong under the name Betafresh Hong Kong Limited. AirUnleashed The AirUnleashed wireless charger The new charging mat has the same clean white design and thinness the Apple AirPower mat appeared to have it's just 12 mm thick. A quarter-sized dimple just off center on the pad indicates the spot to place an Apple Watch for charging. Otherwise, Apple AirPods or an enabled iPhone 8 or X can be placed on either end of the charging pad, according to the company's website. "I'm not all that surprised that the watch has its own 'zone' for charging," said Jack Gold, principal analyst with J. Gold Associates. "The charging coil in the watch is much smaller than in the phone and probably harder to couple with magnetically, requiring a different coil in the charger to make the charge more efficient." The AirUnleashed mat requires a USB charger with an output current of at least 2 amps at 5 volts (10W). A default Apple iPhone adapter has a maximum output of 5W and so is not compatible with the AirUnleashed mat. But any Apple iPad adapter or another third-party charger that has a 2A charging port can be used to power the mat. Requiring a USB charger with at least 10W is just smart product development, as a 5W charger would result in it being underpowered for devices that meet today's Qi wireless charging specification, Gold said. "Most Qi wireless chargers recommend at least a 10W power adapter, although some now support quick chargers which have even more," he said. "Also, the wireless chargers are lossless, so you are losing some power in the magnetic resonance coupling to the device, making the 5W even less effective (maybe by as much as 50%)." Even with a 10W power adapter, Gold questioned how long a single mat like the AirUnleashed would take to fully charge three devices at the same time. "How do they power balance to the phone vs. air buds and the watch?" he asked. "Everyone would have this problem and [it] is probably what gave Apple the most trouble. If it takes [three times] as long to charge my device as by just plugging it into a wall charger via a cable, will I be happy? Probably not." The AirUnleashed retails for $99. Shipping is free. Cabinet plot to stop Mays bid for long Article 50 extension Ministers mull mass walkout as death by a thousand cuts isnt working Daily Telegraph Leavers try to filibuster lengthy extension in the Lords The Times Cabinet ministers are seeking to block Theresa May from agreeing a Brexit delay of up to a year. The prime minister has not yet secured cabinet support for a long extension but ministers fear that she will press ahead anyway. Mrs May is due to set out her intention to delay Brexit in a letter to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, in the next few days. No 10 has declined to say whether she will consult the cabinet before the letter is sent. EU leaders will meet to decide whether to give Britain an extension and how long it could be on Wednesday night. Cabinet members were in open revolt yesterday. The Times Welfare: Halfon warns MPs are having a collective breakdown The Sun Civil servants handling no deal planning offered mental health support The Guardian Comment: Im backing the Cooper Bill, warts and all, to avert No Deal Daniel Finkelstein, The Times Long extension offers a chance to think again Martin Wolf, FT >Today: Iain Dales column: Something has changed this week. Since May announced talks with Corbyn. I can smell it. >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Lords sketch: Peers warn that the Cooper Bill threatens the constitution whilst soft Brexit ministers reportedly discuss a second referendum Theresa Mays ministers have discussed the possibility of giving MPs a vote on a second referendum during talks aimed at agreeing a Brexit deal with Jeremy Corbyn, it has emerged. A team of four ministers led by David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister, held four and a half hours of talks with their Labour counterparts on Thursday during which the idea of offering a second referendum was discussed as an option. Labours Keir Starmer is believed to have said that a second referendum had to be one of the options put to MPs in a series of so-called indicative votes which will take place next week if a cross-party deal cannot be agreed. Government sources played down the idea that such a plan had been agreed, as Downing Street rebuked Philip Hammond for suggesting that Parliament should have another chance to vote on a second referendum. Daily Telegraph Ministers and backbenchers ready to walk away over another vote The Sun Cox warns of long delay if talks break down Daily Express More: Deal has customs union in all but name, Tories tell Corbyn The Times Talks with the Opposition make little progress FT Labour leader urged to cut deal by 25 MPs The Sun EU: Tusk offers UK flexible extension FT German Chancellor hails MPs who forced Mays hand The Sun Analysis: May clutches at straws as options fade Oliver Wright, The Times Cross-party deal not certain to pass the Commons Henry Mance et al, FT A briefing from the no-deal bunker Anonymous, The Guardian >Today: Graham Gudgin in Comment: If the EU delivers No Deal after all, there will be little to fear and much to gain >Yesterday: Rory Stewart MP in Comment: Corbyn is wrong about almost everything but we can find common ground with him on Brexit amidst reports the voluntary party is repelled by talks with Corbyn Local Conservative leaders stand by May The Times Officials warned of infiltration ahead of deselection The Times Grassroots Conservative activists are quitting in their droves, it has been claimed, as new polling shows that more than 90 per cent disagree with Theresa Mays decision to open talks with Jeremy Corbyn. Don Porter, a former head of the Tory partys grassroots body National Conservative Convention, said Mrs Mays talks with the Labour leader were doing lasting damage to the Tory party. Mr Porter said volunteers, members and candidates were quitting, with real fears that he way has been cleared for Mr Corbyn to become Prime Minister. The news came as Tory MPs spoke out against the strategy. Johnny Mercer told The Specator magazine: Well get top-sliced and bottom-sliced by those who dont want any Brexit and those who want a Ukip version of Brexit. Well just get left behind and Jeremy Corbyn will be prime minister. Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: and as Merkel sides with Ireland after talks Angela Merkel has said Germany will stand with Ireland every step of the way after her meeting with Leo Varadkar in Dublin yesterday. The German chancellors visit for talks with the Irish prime minister at such a crucial point in the Brexit impasse is seen as a significant intervention with a week to go before a potential no-deal scenario unfolds. Before their meeting the pair had a round-table discussion with a panel of 15 people from Protestant and Catholic communities, made up of unionists and nationalists, from both sides of the border. The border issue has remained a bone of contention amid the Brexit stand-off between the British parliament and the European Union. The Times She compares a hard border to the Iron Curtain Daily Mail Varadkar rejects calls to negotiate with MPs Daily Express EU uneasy about Dublins no-deal readiness FT More: Historian says Republic played key role in backing IRA News Letter Comment: Backstop would drastically alter the 1800 Act of Union Jeff Dudgeon, News Letter >Yesterday: Henry Hills Red, White, and Blue column: DUP attack decision to contract out Brexit to Corbyn Fraser Nelson: Dont write the Tories off, a new leader could swiftly restore their fortunes T Brexit has sounded the Conservatives death knell Iain Martin, The Times Mays path leads to personal failure and loss of power for the Party Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Daily Telegraph Corbyn could have the last laugh Philip Collins, The Times May belatedly moves to fill ministerial vacancies he Conservative Party seems to be engaged in a slow but spectacular suicide, determined to confound anyone who thinks things cannot possibly get worse. Its obituary could be written now: that this once-great party hadnt won a convincing election victory since 1987 and seemed to abandon conservatism once in government. It then clung on to Brexit, having little else to say. And when even this project was botched, it sought Jeremy Corbyns help and, in so doing, filed for intellectual bankruptcy. Westminster is full of Tories offering such gloomy analysis But theres another way of looking at all this. Brexit need not be a Tory Calvary. Things are pretty bad, but most great political revivals begin in such crises. And a leader capable of providing hope and direction may be able to turn things around rather quickly. Daily Telegraph Theresa May belatedly filled six junior ministerial posts on Thursday evening, having lost more ministers to date than any other prime minister in modern times, according to the Institute for Government think-tank. Mrs May has shed more members of her government over policy and political differences in just two years than Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown combined lost over the 22 years they spent in Downing Street. One surprise appointment on Thursday was James Cleverly, previously deputy chairman of the Conservative party, who becomes a new minister at Dexeu, the Brexit department One problem for Mrs May is that the pool of loyalist backbenchers has become increasingly small, with only 25 MPs left who have not rebelled against Mrs May. Of those 14 have already been ministers. FT Hancock drops huge hint he may join leadership race The Sun >Yesterday: Ministers 1) Hunt appoints celebrity free speech ambassador As Foreign Secretary, I vow to keep the press free around the globe Jeremy Hunt MP, The Sun Ministers 2) Williamson seeks protection for gay British troops in Brunei Jeremy Hunt today reveals he has appointed Amal Clooney as a media freedom ambassador to fight for free speech across the globe. The human rights lawyer wife of Hollywood legend George Clooney has campaigned to free jailed journalists abroad. Mr Hunt has made it one of his missions as Foreign Office boss for Britain to be a global champion for the cause. The UK is hosting an international conference on media freedom in London in July, alongside Canada. Ms Clooney, 41, will join Mr Hunt today at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers Mr Hunt dubbed a free media in any country as the thin line that separates a free country from an oppressive one. The Sun The defence secretary has asked Brunei for assurances that gay British troops in the state will not be affected by its draconian new anti-LGBT laws. Gavin Williamson said yesterday that the UK was intervening at the highest levels after the southeast Asian sultanate made adultery and gay sex offences punishable by death by stoning. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has immediately started discussions with the government of Brunei to discuss this because we want to ensure that they do not affect our service personnel in any way whatsoever, Mr Williamson said. The UK has had a contingent of Gurkhas in Brunei since the 1960s. About 2,000 personnel are based there as part of a five-year agreement that expires next spring. The Times Why are crack Army troops protecting this bigot? Richard Pendlebury, Daily Mail Ministers 3) Rudd unveils cash boost for Universal Credit Study finds welfare system was causing hardship 18 months ago The Guardian Amber Rudd is preparing a near 2billion spending spree on benefits for low-paid Brits to tackle a shock rise in child poverty. The Sun can reveal the Work and Pensions Secretary is demanding a small fortune to top up child benefits and housing allowances. The money would be paid out from April 2020 after the end of the current four-year benefits freeze. Initial meetings have been held with Treasury officials ahead of the Chancellors Spending Review later this year. It comes just days after ministers were humiliated by official figures showing a shock 200,000 rise in the number of children living in absolute poverty to 3.7million. The number the governments preferred poverty measure had been falling since 2012. The Sun More: Tory MPs queue up to attack controversial loan charge FT Labour retain Newport West in by-election Labour has retained Newport West in a by-election marred by low turnout and held against a background of Brexit chaos. The battle for the Commons seat saw turnout slump with Labours Ruth Jones taking 9,308 votes, giving her a majority of 1,951 over the Tories. Ukips Neil Hamilton took third place with 2,023 votes as the party saw support increase from its showing at the 2017 general election. The contest was triggered by the death of veteran MP Paul Flynn Voter turnout was 37.1%, down from 67.5% in the 2017 general election, with parties blaming poor weather and dissatisfaction as a result of the Brexit chaos in Westminster. Mrs Jones, who campaigned for Remain in the lead-up to the EU referendum, said the country should not accept a damaging Tory Brexit or a no-deal outcome. Daily Telegraph Just one in three voters go to the polls The Sun >Today: ToryDiary: Newport Wests by-election. Where is the voter uprising against establishment elites? Sturgeon ordered not to delete records by Salmond probe N News in Brief: The major parties Brexit divides are only getting wider Tom Harris, CapX May has betrayed all who believed what she said about No Deal Matt Ridley, Brexit Central What we can expect from Corbynomics Maggie Pagano, Reaction If theres no deal, theres no Brexit James Forsyth, The Spectator Why does the Left sneer at the traditional working class? Paul Embery, UnHerd icola Sturgeon has been ordered not to delete phone records, emails or text messages related to her governments botched inquiry into allegations against Alex Salmond. A Scottish Parliament inquiry into the debacle wrote to the First Minister telling her to keep both hard copy and electronic documents, including any personal communications with her predecessor. The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints told her she must preserve any data which would otherwise be deleted in the ordinary course of business. She was also ordered not to delete details of any employees or SNP members involved directly or indirectly with the complaints made against Mr Salmond. In a second letter to the Scottish Government, the committee asked whether documents had already been deleted and what steps were being taken to recover them. Daily Telegraph Below is the text of the Prime Ministers new letter, requesting a further extension to Brexit and conceding that it might be necessary to hold European elections. Dear Donald, In the European Council Decision of 22 March, taken in agreement with the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United Kingdom agreed that if the House of Commons had approved the Withdrawal Agreement by 29 March 2019, the period provided for by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union would be extended until 22 May 2019 to provide for ratification. The House of Commons declined to approve the Withdrawal Agreement and take up that option. Therefore unless we agree a further extension at the European Council you have convened for 10 April, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union without a deal at 2300 BST on 12 April 2019. The Governments policy has always been and remains to leave the European Union in an orderly way, and without undue delay. The House of Commons has not thus far approved the deal that would enable this, nor despite considerable efforts by both Members of Parliament and by the Government has it yet found a majority in favour of any other proposal. The House has, however, continued to express its opposition to leaving the European Union without a deal. The Government agrees that leaving with a deal is the best outcome. This impasse cannot be allowed to continue. In the UK it is creating uncertainty and doing damage to faith in politics, while the European Union has a legitimate desire to move on to decisions about its own future. That is why the Government has decided to take further action to seek a consensus across the House of Commons on the right way forward. I therefore met the Leader of the Opposition earlier this week to discuss whether we might be able to agree a proposal that can be put before the House of Commons which allows the United Kingdom to leave the European Union with a deal. We agreed follow-up discussions that are now taking place. I have also extended an open invitation to Members of Parliament more broadly to work with me to achieve a consensus that respects the result of the 2016 referendum. I am clear that all of these discussions need to be based on acceptance of the Withdrawal Agreement without reopening it, as the United Kingdom agreed with the European Council at our last meeting, and should focus on the framework for the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. If a consensus is going to be found, compromise will be needed on all sides, in the national interest. If the talks do not lead to a single unified approach soon, the Government would instead look to establish a consensus on a small number of clear options on the future relationship that could be put to the House in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue. The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same. These steps demonstrate that the Government is determined to bring this process to a resolution quickly. The Government acknowledges, however, that after approval to the Withdrawal Agreement is achieved, the process of enacting those commitments in domestic law and therefore ratifying the Agreement in the United Kingdom will take time. Therefore having reluctantly sought an extension to the Article 50 period last month, the Government must now do so again. It remains the Governments view that, despite this request to extend the Article 50 period, it is in the interests of neither the United Kingdom as a departing Member State, nor the European Union as a whole, that the United Kingdom holds elections to the European Parliament. However, the United Kingdom accepts the European Councils view that if the United Kingdom were still a Member State of the European Union on 23 May 2019, it would be under a legal obligation to hold the elections. The Government is therefore undertaking the lawful and responsible preparations for this contingency, including by making the Order that sets the date of the poll. The process I have laid out in paragraphs 4 and 5 is designed to bring the House of Commons to rapid approval of the Withdrawal Agreement and a shared vision for the future relationship, and to allow the Government to introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and so ratify the Agreement. An important part of that process will be the Government agreeing with the Opposition a programme for the Bill. The Governments objective is to ensure that this programme means the Bill can complete its passage such that the Agreement can be brought into force and the United Kingdom withdraw from the European Union in time to cancel the European Parliament elections. I am writing therefore to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty. The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early. The Government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible. It is frustrating that we have not yet brought this process to a successful and orderly conclusion. The United Kingdom Government remains strongly committed to doing so, and will continue to act as a constructive and responsible Member State of the European Union in accordance with the duty of sincere cooperation throughout this unique period. I would be grateful for the opportunity to update our colleagues on the position at our meeting on Wednesday. Yours sincerely, Theresa May Graham Gudgin: If the EU delivers No Deal after all, there will be little to fear and much to gain Dr Graham Gudgin is Policy Exchanges Chief Economic Adviser. He is a visiting Professor at the University of Ulster and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre. Many like to claim that No Deal is off the table, but it remains the legal default position on April 12 and the EU may not be bluffing in suggesting that it is now the most likely endgame. It has of course been decisively rejected in the Commons but so has almost everything else. Decisive parliamentary rejection has hardly been a bar to reclaiming options from the dead. What is certainly true is that there has been little cool consideration of what no deal involves. The Cabinet Secretarys letter to last Tuesdays cabinet meeting claimed that No Deal would lead to recession and currency depreciation. One could almost hear the laughter in the aisles as the civil service once more tried its hand at economic prediction. Historians are likely to judge the demonisation of No Deal as one on the great triumphs of the Remain campaign. With impressive discipline, Remainers ubiquitously link the phrase No Deal to the adjectives catastrophic or disastrous. In this, they have been greatly helped by the BBC and other media which invariably allow such descriptions to pass with no attempt to elicit any evidence. The idea that No Deal would greatly damage the UK economy started early with detailed studies by the Treasury and other economics groups during the EU referendum campaign of 2016. Their absurdly mistaken short-term forecasts damaged the departments credibility, but the its equally flawed long-term impact estimates live on, and were cited recently by John McDonnell as the key evidence for Labours aversion to No Deal. Nor has the Bank of England been much better, with its estimates for No Deal jumping all over the place. CBI assessments of No Deal All of this has muddied the water for what should have been a serious national debate, but this has not taken place. The CBIs assessment of its opposition to no deal is unfocused and vague. The CBI websites comments from individual businesses are limited to say the least. Most fear delays at ports, and appear to ignore positive statements from HMRC, Calais and other ports. They seem to be reacting to alarmist press reports rather than to up to date information. Ford views a no deal Brexit as catastrophic (that word again) but much of its reasoning (border friction, a deteriorating economic outlook, further sterling devaluation and tariffs) is speculative and outside its direct expertise. Tariffs The potential dangers from no deal come largely from high tariffs facing and the threat of border delays. Tariffs of 10 per cent or more would affect car and food producers but account for only four per cent of UK exports. Since firms have already benefitted from a 15 per cent depreciation of Sterling, even a 10 per cent tariff on car exports into the EU would not be decisive. The UKs own published tariff regime would be one of the most liberal in the advanced world. Many tariffs which only protect continental producers but raise prices for UK consumers would be abolished. The average tariff on imports would fall to an estimated 0.7 per cent versus 7.7 per cent for the EU now. This would make the UK an attractive place for international firms to invest because the vast bulk of imported components (including car parts, electronics and machinery) will be tariff-free. Non-Tariff barriers Much of the concern over a WTO exit has revolved around non-tariff barriers to trade. Here again, preparations and agreements over recent months mean that the picture is much brighter than usually claimed. The UK has agreed rollovers of mutual recognition agreements with key non-EU trade partners, and many UK firms have acted to transfer product registration and safety certification to EU approved bodies. A range of contingency measures and memoranda of understanding have secured the future of finance at least until a free-trade agreement can be negotiated. Dangers for food and agriculture The CBI and others rightly point up the dangers to agriculture which has important exports to the EU facing tariffs of 20-40 per cent or more, enough to make some trade in food completely uneconomic. However, this affects under two per cent of UK exports and the CBI makes no mention of the authoritative AFBI study which concluded that UK prices and output would rise for most farming commodities. The reason is that UK food producers would replace imports from the EU which face high tariffs into the UK. Proposed UK tariffs steer a sensible middle ground between higher prices for UK consumers and higher incomes for UK farmers. The main exception is UK lamb production, where the large EU market could be devastated by high EU tariffs. Much of sheep farming is however already heavily subsidised, and can be further subsidised to maintain farm incomes. On sensitive agricultural products, there are worries that the entry of animals and goods would be prohibited unless the UK is listed as meeting EU sanitary standards. However, the EU has announced that it will swiftly list the UK to allow the entry of live animals and animal products from the UK. The French authorities have arranged for any food safety checks to be undertaken inland from Calais to avoid congestion. Customs Delays The risk of major delays at ports is now remote even for food products. Calais port says that there will be no more checks than today. On the UK side, HMRC says it will prioritise a free flow of goods. Eurotunnel has made it quite clear that its services and business model remain unaffected by Brexit. Government claims that large numbers of firms with EU markets have not signed up to HMRCs new customs procedures are irrelevant. Firms will do so as they need to. Air travel and Safety Concerns Air transport was another supposed danger area. But the EU, despite previous threats, has now agreed to allow British planes to fly over, land in and return from the EU27. Meanwhile, the UK has 111 bilateral agreements in our own right which continue unchanged. Of the 17 negotiated via the EU, virtually all covering 98 per cent of the passengers carried have been successfully renegotiated. The Government has also said that there will be no implications from the UK leaving Euratom including on the flow of radioactive isotopes for the NHS. Other safety regulation concerns have evaporated. Car manufacturers have swapped their approvals over to the recognised Swedish body, with other industries taking similar steps. The EU has also agreed to extend EASA design, production and maintenance approvals for aerospace firms temporarily, with a permanent solution to follow. Conclusions Fears of a no deal Brexit are hugely exaggerated, not least because no deal is not what will happen under any circumstances. A series of mini-deals between the UK, the EU and non-EU countries, plus unilateral preparations by the UK, means that most of the building blocks for a managed no deal Brexit are already in place. Moreover, the assumption that leaving without a deal means we will never have a free trade deal with the EU is not true either. In reality, no deal would not last very long, since both sides have strong mutual interests in quickly agreeing at the very least a basic free-trade agreement with no tariffs or quantitative restrictions. It would even be possible to avoid new tariffs altogether using GATTs Article 24, as long as a mutual intention was announced to begin free-trade negotiations. Temporary side deals would need to be made permanent, but since these are mutually advantageous no issue of principle should be involved. All of this seems manageable as a means to securing an independent trade policy. Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio and is a commentator for CNN. Listening to Today earlier this week, I thought I must be living in a parallel universe. First up was Ken Clarke, blithely wittering on about the Customs Unions without seemingly understanding how it works. Perhaps, as he admitted with the Maastricht Treaty, he hasnt actually probed the damned thing. When Nick Robinson explained that if we were outside the EU, but inside the Customs Union, Lithuania would have more influence over UK trade policy than we would, he brushed it away saying that our views would be taken into account. Well thats alright then. This is what I do not understand. Why is it that politicians of all parties are willing to cede this sort of control to a body which they would have no influence over? Not just that but, in theory, the EU could do trade deals which were inimical to British interests, and there is nothing we could do about it. Its all very well for Geoffrey Cox to go on TV, and witter on about how it wouldnt be all that bad, and people should really get a sense of perspective. He was then followed by putative leadership contender, Matt Hancock, who made it clear that he, too, doesnt see membership of the Customs Union as a real problem. He wasnt exactly categoric in ruling out a second referendum, either. His bid to succeed Theresa May has already got stuck in the EU quicksand. On Tuesday, there were two Cabinet meetings, which lasted more than seven hours between them. And the great conclusion these massive brains came up with? To hold cross party talks with Jeremy Corbyn. From what we now know, less than half the cabinet supported the idea, with Gavin Williamson telling the Prime Minister the idea was ridiculous. At least one of them had the bollocks to say it. The rest of them did their usual supine thing and sat on their hands. Its as clear as night follows day that if these talks amount to anything, membership of the Customs Union will be the result. The other consequence is that the Prime Minister has pushed some MPs who support her on last weeks third meaningful vote back in the other direction. Way to go. Maybe it doesnt matter so much to her if she can win by securing Labour votes. For a woman whose primary loyalty was supposed to be to the Conservative Party, it is a shameful road to go down. It is already riven by split after split, but this move opened up a chasm. She will never recover from it, and doesnt deserve to. Why are the likes of Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, Penny Mordaunt and several others still in the Cabinet? You wonder what would have to happen for them to resign? They can argue until they are blue in the face that they have more influence inside than out. Really? Difficult to spot how that has manifested itself, isnt it? If they and at least six others dont resign en bloc if there is a move by the Prime Minister actually to support membership of the Customs Union, they will become little more than clapping seals. Each of the possible leadership contenders in the Cabinet has masochistically damaged their chances by tacitly going along with the Mays talks with Corbyn. Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and David Davis have clean hands, while Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Andrea Leadsom and the rest have dipped their hands in blood. As Williamson argued, how on earth can Tories now stick to their policy of painting Corbyn as some sort of dangerous Marxist who is not fit to govern, when the Prime Minister has now effectively invited him to join the government? A day of reckoning will come for the Conservative Party. We can be sure of that. Something has changed in the last week. I can sense it. Peoples patience has run out. The trickle of people who phone my radio show to say theyve torn up their party membership cards has become a torrent. Tales from the doorstep demonstrate there are large numbers of people who say theyll never vote Tory again are legion. Theresa May could be trying to ensure that the same happens to Labour by holding these talks with Corbyn, but as she has never said: something has changed. And not for the better. I was very sad to see Nick Boles cross the floor of the Commons on Tuesday. Hes been a friend ever since he invited me to join the board of Policy Exchange at its inception. A man of ideas and very good company, hes clearly reached the end of his tether both with his local party and with the Prime Minister. On Wednesday night he went full tonto on Twitter, and laid into Robbie Gibb, the Prime Ministers Director of Communications. Now thats a job no one would want at the moment, isnt it? Boles accused him of being committed first to a hard Brexit rather than to May. Thats quite an accusation to make. In the days when Gibb used to speak to me, I have to say he was never anything other than professional, and very protective of the Prime Ministers interests. Perhaps, given my regular criticism of May over the last few months, he regards me as someone beyond redemption. But if Boless accusations were true, youd have thought that Gibb would have been encouraging me in my criticism of the ever-softer Brexit policy that the Government has pursued. But he hasnt. Its a funny old world. Syed Kamall: Why the Prime Minister has grounds to hope the EU will grant her request for an extension Syed Kamall is Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group and is an MEP for London. For two years the European Union, personified by Michel Barnier, displayed a tungsten-like inflexibility during the Brexit negotiations. It constantly rejected innovative solutions to difficult problems, insisting that only previously tried and tested models or existing templates could be considered for Britains future relationship with the EU. It was a rock against which many ideas, and successive Brexit Secretaries, foundered, and is part of the reason why we still find ourselves without an acceptable deal. But it also made the EUs stance entirely predictable. It is safe to say no-one from the UK side emerged from any of the talks in Brussels surprised at Barniers responses. All the unpredictably has come from our side of the Channel. However, that has suddenly changed. As we head towards the latest crucial European Council Summit on Wednesday night, we cannot be sure how leaders of EU27 countries will react to the Prime Ministers request for an extension to Article 50 beyond April 12. Publicly there are conflicting signals being sent by member states. And speaking privately to people at all levels in Brussels, it is clear those differences on the best way to proceed are real, if more nuanced than the sound bites might suggest. Emmanuel Macron, the French President, is the most publicly outspoken member of any hard line squad, expressing his opposition to a further extension and suggesting that a clean break would be preferable to many more months of uncertainty as he seeks to implement his vision for the future of the EU. We cannot avoid failure for them, he said of the UKs inability to agree a way forward. In recent days he has been joined by Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian Chancellor. After Theresa May announced on Tuesday she would seek another delay he said: There is, from the current point of view, absolutely no reason for an extension since the chaos in Britain has not changed. Mixed pronouncements have also emerged from the European Union institutions. On Tuesday Donald Tusk, the European Council President, tweeted: Even if, after today, we dont know what the end result will be, let us be patient. And today it appears he will recommend a long flextension. But over at the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has been less accommodating, telling MEPs on Wednesday that unless the withdrawal Agreement was agreed by April 12, no further short extension will be possible. So what can the Prime Minister expect on Wednesday? My discussions here in Brussels suggest that member states and political parties are divided into three camps. One group would like to let the UK go and use us as an example in their fight against rising eurosceptic forces within their own countries at Mays European elections. They believe that the immediate disruption presented by a no-deal Brexit, for both the UK and EU, would be a powerful electoral weapon. This faction does not only include leaders like President Macron whose patience has worn thin, but reportedly also includes others who are usually more sympathetic towards the UK but now face eurosceptic parties in their countries. The second group favours granting a long extension of Article 50 on condition of a second referendum in the hope this could stop Brexit altogether. Indeed, in the European Parliament, socialist parties have called for a second referendum since they believe that the result could be overturned. However, a third group including quite a few Christian Democrat politicians I have spoken to ask what is the point of a second referendum if the UK votes to leave again? While they also think that the EU should grant the UK a long extension of Article 50, they believe that by the UK participating in Mays European Parliament elections and leaving the departure date open-ended, the Brexit process would either eventually fizzle out, or events such as a general election would take Brexit off the agenda. This lack of an obvious consensus from the EU27 could make the Prime Ministers task more difficult on Wednesday when she seeks the extension to Article 50 and means the outcome is difficult to read. On the other hand, one message comes across loud and clear from every capital, EU institution and MEP. No-one wants to be blamed for forcing the United Kingdom out. If a no-deal Brexit is to happen, they want to be able to pin the responsibility firmly on the us. Consequently, no member state is yet ready to veto a request for a long extension. However much President Macron and others are tempted repeat Charles De Gaulles famous Non to the UK, the prize of keeping the UK in, the desire to deny those in the UK calling for a no-deal Brexit and the need to counter eurosceptic parties across the EU, remain powerful incentives for not kicking us out yet. There can be few stranger sights than seeing the Prime Minister citing her concern for the Union to justify reaching out to a Labour leader she previously denounced for his historical relationship with violent republicanism. But in the aftermath of the pivot to Corbyn this is precisely what has happened, with Theresa Mays allies telling the press that it was dire warnings about the need to introduce direct rule in Northern Ireland which finally led our ardently unionist leader to abandon plans for a no-deal exit. According to ministers, defining issue was that if there was a no-deal Brexit wed have to go to direct rule in Northern Ireland says one. Disaster. Huge risk. Of all legacies, the break-up of the Union [of the UK], the worst for a PM. Shell never do no deal now. And Robert Peston (@Peston) April 2, 2019 Given that May has evinced genuine unionist instincts in the past, it is difficult to tell at this point whether this is simply shameless praying-in-aid of the Union or if she is acting on abysmal advice from the Northern Irish Office. Quite possibly both. Suffice to say, there is no compelling evidence that a formal move to direct rule, of all things, would be particularly controversial. Ulster has been governed by the civil service for over two years now, with necessary legislation passed at Westminster. Acknowledging this reality would simply reintroduce a level of political and democratic accountability to decision-making in the Province. (It might make it harder for Karen Bradley to bypass parliamentary scrutiny, though.) Even if that werent the case, why on earth should the Prime Minister only be hearing about this now? Her public position has countenanced a No Deal exit from the beginning. If this threat is real, what has the NIO been doing with itself that it hasnt been able to bring it up before this weeks crunch Cabinet meeting? It certainly hasnt been overseeing talks to restore devolution or administering Northern Ireland directly. But if this is simply a ploy, it is a ploy which will have real-world consequences. Just as ruling out No Deal has severely reduced any incentive Remain-minded MPs have to back her Withdrawal Agreement, so too making it contingent on the restoration of a functioning Assembly creates a powerful motive for Sinn Fein (or indeed other anti-Brexit parties) to ensure that there isnt one a fact only compounded by simultaneously ruling out direct rule. In all, it is increasingly difficult to take Mays warm words about Ulster at face value. Her Government has put no energy either into attempts to revive Stormont or to devise alternative measures for ensuring accountable government in the Province. She has allowed itself to be comprehensively outmanoeuvred by Dublin in the Brexit negotiations, and used the NIO as a means of keeping lacklustre loyalists in her Cabinet. These are not the hallmarks of someone who takes Northern Ireland seriously. That she might have buried any prospect of getting the Assembly back on its feet just to win a news cycle would, alas, be entirely in keeping with that record. 100% Website audiopipe.com uses latest and advanced technologies like: JQuery and Boostrap. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 271550 bytes (265.19 kb uncompressed) and 46380 bytes (45.29 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-07-31, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 60% Website bokepwow.blogspot.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 27430 bytes (26.79 kb uncompressed) and 7072 bytes (6.91 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-12-09, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 80% Website fenokulu.net uses latest and advanced technologies like: Php. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 38009 bytes (37.12 kb uncompressed) and 6869 bytes (6.71 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-11-20, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 100% Website minez.nl uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 21323 bytes (20.82 kb uncompressed) and 5058 bytes (4.94 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2020-07-20, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 80% Website prawkobazapytan.pl uses latest and advanced technologies like: Php. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 6209 bytes (6.06 kb uncompressed) and 989 bytes (0.97 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2020-08-10, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. About a year ago, Heinz stumbled upon a surprise viral hit when its Middle Eastern bottle of ketchup-mayonnaise mix called Mayochup (or as the Europeans call it, shitty cocktail sauce) became viral on social media. Ignoring the fact that most of the comments involved people saying they would sooner dip their genitals in Mayochup than their fries, Heinz imported the sauce combo to the States, where it proved successful enough a gimmick to become the only flicker of hope for the slowly drying sauce company. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Now, fueled by desperation and presumably leftover bottles of Salad Cream, the executives at Heinz have launched an entire lazy range of sauce combo bottles, called Saucy Sauces -- which, again, makes them sound less like a delectable treat and more like this bottle of mustardy mayo can't wait to tell me how it Miranda'd a busboy on holiday in Dubai. In March, the company launched two more variations, called Mayocue and Mayomust (which is also the Urban Dictionary term for the smell white people give off when they're stress-calling the police on their new black mailman). And it seems like they've already run out of mediocre ideas with Kranch, every sex dungeon's least favorite safe word. Continue Reading Below Advertisement So why does Heinz keep doubling down on their existing sauces? It might be because the terribly named combos are giving them something we all know is even better than money: exposure. "When we launched Mayochup, Mayomust, and Mayocue, our fans speculated on social media what they thought the next condiment mashup should be -- the tweets were pouring in!" crowed the Heinz associate director of marketing. So does that mean the more the internet makes fun of these Saucy Sauces, the more of them they'll squeeze into existence? Captain Wu Huimin is the first Asian master of a Royal Caribbean International ship, commanding the Voyager of the Seas since Nov. 23, 2018. Huimin first joined Royal Caribbean in 2014 as staff captain of the Adventure and Quantum of the Seas. Before that he had served aboard various cruise lines for nearly 20 years, while starting his seagoing career aboard cargo ships in China. The majority of the captains at Royal Caribbean are from Scandinavia, therefore I really appreciate the companys recognition of my skills and qualifications, Huimin told Cruise Industry News. As captain, my objective is to deliver top-notch service to our guests and ensure that they arrive at their destination safely. I am also responsible to my team to do more than navigate, but also possess the knowledge and skills to be their leader, trainer and counselor, he continued. My priority is always to ensure the safety of my guests, crew and ship and treat everyone with respect. In the early days after becoming captain, I wondered how to take on this big challenge. Luckily, I gained more confidence over time with the help and support of my team. Huimin grew up in the port city of Qingdao in the Shandong province in Eastern China. While none of his family members had been seafarers, he accepted an opportunity to attend the Shanghai Maritime University. Going to sea in 1995, his first job was as a deck cadet on a Chinese cargo vessel sailing in Southeast Asia. Later, when he moved to a cruise ship in 2000, he realized that he enjoyed working with larger teams and interacting with people of different nationalities. Across the Royal Caribbean brand fleet there are more than 20 Chinese deck officers, but Huimin remains the only one aboard the Voyager, although the ships hotel director also hails from China, another first for the company. With heavy ship traffic in the region, Huimin said that despite the intense traffic, he is comfortable with his navigation team, which he described as vigilant and proactive. No region is particularly easy to sail in, he added. Every port has its challenges. Among his more memorable experiences is sailing into Victoria Bay in Hong Kong. The day or night view is spectacular. History of ransomware Ransomware, a type of malware that holds data for ransom, has been around for years. In 1991, a biologist spread PC Cyborg, the first ransomware, by sending floppy disks via surface mail to other AIDS researchers, for instance. In the mid '00s Archiveus was the first ransomware to use encryption, though it's long ago been defeated and you can find its password on its Wikipedia page. In the early 2010s, a series of "police" ransomware packages appeared, so called because they purported to be warnings from law enforcement about the victims' illicit activities and demanded payment of "fines"; they began to exploit the new generation of anonymous payment services to better harvest payments without getting caught. In the 2010s, a new ransomware trend emerged: the use of cryptocurrencies as the ransom payment method of choice by cybercriminals. The appeal to the extortionists is obvious, as cryptocurrencies are specifically designed to provide an untraceable, anonymous payment method. Most ransomware gangs demanded payment in bitcoin, the most high-profile cryptocurrency, although some began shifting their demands to other currencies as bitcoin's popularity made its value more volatile. Attacks shot up in the middle of the 2010s to crisis levels. But by 2018, the ransomware boom seemed to be on its way out, in favor of another illicit way to snag bitcoin that didn't require victims to figure out what a bitcoin wallet was: cryptojacking. Cryptojackers follow the script that spammers and DDoS attackers have been using for years: surreptitiously gaining control of computers without their owners knowing. In the case of cryptojacking, the compromised machines become bitcoin mining rigs, quietly generating cryptocurrency in the background and eating up idle computing cycles while the victim is none the wiser. Ransomware attacks declined over the course of 2018, while cryptojacking attacks shot up by 450 percent. Ransomware attacks today Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu is quoted as saying, if you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. In cybersecurity terms, that means knowing the cyber-adversaries and associated tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) they use to attack your organization. Additionally, Sun Tzus quote extends to an organizational reflection where you must know everything about your technical, human, and even physical vulnerabilities in order to apply the best protection for critical assets. How can organizations gain this knowledge? By attacking themselves through penetration testing and red teaming exercises. According to ESG research, organizations pursue penetration testing and/or red teaming at least once a year for the following reasons (note: I am an ESG employee): 26% conduct penetration testing/red teaming as a best practice for risk assessment 17% conduct penetration testing/red teaming because they are required to do so for regulatory compliance 14% conduct penetration testing/red teaming because it is mandated from executive management or the board of directors 13% conduct penetration testing/red teaming because it is mandated as part of third-party contracts Penetration testing and red teaming are finite projects 75% of organizations say they have a duration of two weeks or less. Despite this short timeframe, however, penetration testing and red teaming produces useful results and benefits. Organizations use these exercises to find/fix vulnerabilities, review risk status with executives, use the results to reassess IT and security priorities, and determine where they need to hire and/or train employees. Problems with penetration testing and red teaming processes Yup, penetration testing and red teaming can be quite beneficial, but there are several problems with the current processes, including: Testing frequency. Like any other type of IT or security scanning, penetration testing/red teaming results have a short shelf life in any dynamic IT environment. Testing results from Q1 are ancient history in Q3. Testing methodologies. The ethical hackers who conduct these tests are highly skilled for the most part, but many testers use the same playbook repeatedly for months and years. While its important to test security against tried-and-true hacking techniques, its also critical to assess defenses against new and evolving attacks. The output of penetration testing and red teaming is often highly technical. That means cybersecurity professionals must translate results into a business context for business executives. Unfortunately, this translation skill set isnt always very strong, and whats important to the cybersecurity team may be gobbledygook to business managers. Continuous testing needed. Enter continuous automated security validation To maximize the benefits, organizations need continuous penetration testing/red teaming using the latest exploits seen in the wild. Furthermore, the results of these tests must be available for viewing through a business and technical lens to understand risk to business-critical assets and prioritize remediation actions. Im encouraged by a relatively new category of security technologies called continuous automated security validation (CASV). CASV tools use a variety of current hacker techniques to hammer corporate networks continually. These tools then gather this data in dashboards that can be used to constantly monitor vulnerabilities and track remediation progress. Some tools can align results with the MITRE ATT&CK framework, and the best tools provide role-based dashboards for positions like security analysts, IT auditors, and business managers so they can review the results and use real-time data to prioritize remediation decisions. CASV tools and services come from vendors like AttackIQ, Censys, Metronome, Pycsys, Qadium, Randori, SafeBreach, SCYTHE, Verodin, and others. Penetration testing and red teaming can really help with cyber risk identification and mitigation, but you cant measure a dynamic environment like cybersecurity using static data. CASV can help organizations maximize the benefits of penetration testing and red teaming continuously and in real time, which I why I am bullish on the future of CASV technology. GREENWICH Two Greenwich investment groups announced this week that they had led eight-figure fundraising rounds for two startups worth a total of $70 million. Private equity firm L Catterton spearheaded a $45 million Series C funding round in San Francisco-based Tonal, which specializes in on-demand, personalized strength-training. Venture capital firm Oak HC/FT led a $25 million Series C investment in Pagaya, a New York and Tel Aviv, Israel-based financial-technology company that uses artificial intelligence to advance asset management. A number of other firms joined L Catterton and Oak HC/FT in their respective investing initiatives. As the fitness landscape continues to evolve, we have seen a clear shift toward personalized, content-driven, at-home workout experiences, Scott Dahnke, global co-CEO of L Catterton, said in a statement. Tonal is the first connected fitness brand focused on strength training and represents an opportunity to invest behind an innovative concept with tremendous growth potential. Dan Petrozzo, venture partner at Oak HC/FT, said in a statement that weve seen first-hand what the Pagaya team can accomplish. Institutions looking for stable investment solutions with higher returns will continue to turn to Pagaya as there is just no one else creating comparable opportunities. L Catterton has invested in a number of fitness companies, including Peloton, Classpass, and Equinox. Last month, it announced that it would sell the CorePower Yoga fitness-studio chain to San Francisco-based private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. In other industries, L Catterton announced last December the acquisition of Cholula, a producer and distributor of Mexican-made hot sauce. Oak HC/FT, whose name references its focus on health care and financial technology, has also made a number of recent investments. Last month, it led a $35 million Series B funding round for Unite Us, which focuses on connecting health care and social-services providers. L Catterton describes itself as the worlds largest consumer-focused private equity firm. Headquartered at 599 W. Putnam Ave., it manages more than $15 billion of equity capital. Oak HC/FT is based at 3 Pickwick Plaza, with about $1.1 billion in assets under management. Formed in 2014, its founders include Annie Lamont, who is married to Gov. Ned Lamont. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) The implementing rules of the rice tariffication law have been approved by all government concerned agencies, paving the way for its full effect, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) announced on Friday. The law is meant to reduce the market price of rice by easing import restrictions on the food staple. Its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) provide for the reorganization of the National Food Authority (NFA) which will no longer have regulatory powers. Under the new law, the President, in the event of a food shortage, can adjust tariff rates as recommended by the NEDA Board but only when Congress is not in session. The implementation of the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund was also outlined in the IRR. The fund, which would be allocated in the national budget, should be used to assist rice farmers by providing better access to financing and training. "All concerned agencies, including NEDA, are duty bound to implement this historic law. In moving forward, we all have the long-term goal of modernizing the rice industry and improving the lives of all Filipinos, especially farmers, in our minds," Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement. Several provisions of the law took effect even before the IRR was completed, including the imposition of new tariff rates and the NFA's shift to a management role. READ: Despite lack of IRR, some provisions of rice tariffication law already in effect BRIDGEPORT A local woman was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to helping her husband stab a neighbor to death. Martha Galati, 41, of Freemont Street, pleaded guilty under the Alford Doctrine to the reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter as she was about to go to trial for murder. Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin sentenced Galati to 20 years, suspended after she serves 12 years in prison and followed by five years of probation. A plea made under the Alford Doctrine means Galati doesnt admit her guilt but concedes she could be found guilty of the crime if she went to trial. Senior Assistant States Attorney Marc Durso told the judge that Galati and her husband, Jeremy Burke, stabbed 50-year-old Carlos Ribot 14 times in the victims apartment in the Fairbridge Commons on April 30, 2017. Burke is awaiting trial. The prosecutor said Galati and Burke, who also lived in the apartment building and had a previous dispute with Ribot, burst into Ribots apartment and in front of the victims girlfriend began beating Ribot with a flashlight. Police said Burke then yelled to Galati to get him a knife. She came back with a paring knife and he yelled at her to get him a bigger one, police said. Police said Burke began stabbing Ribot and then asked Galati if she wanted him to kill Ribot, police said. Durso said when officers arrived Burke was sitting on top of Ribot, who was lying in a pool of blood. He said Galati had blood on her pants and her forehead. Durso said the witness told police Galati had also stabbed the victim. GREENWICH Greenwich lawyer Gordon Caplan announced Friday he will plead guilty to the criminal charges brought against him in the Operation Varsity Blues college-admissions cheating scandal. Caplan was accused in federal court documents of paying $75,000 to have a hand-picked proctor oversee an ACT exam taken by his daughter and correct the answers after she had completed it. I take full and sole responsibility for my conduct and I am deeply ashamed of my behavior and my actions, Caplan said in a statement released Friday. I apologize not only to my family, friends, colleagues and the legal bar, but also to students everywhere who have been accepted to college through their own hard work. His daughter is still more than a year away from going to college, and had no idea that he made arrangements to have her ACT test fixed, he said. I want to make clear that my daughter, whom I love more than anything in the world, is a high school junior and has not yet applied to college, much less been accepted by any school, he said. She had no knowledge whatsoever about my actions, has been devastated to learn what I did and has been hurt the most by it. My immediate goal is to focus on making amends for my actions to try to win back the trust and respect of my daughter, my family and my community. The remorse and shame I feel is more than I can convey, Caplan said in the statement. The charges he will plead guilt to are conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. He appeared in federal court in Boston on Wednesday with others charged in the notorious case, including actress Lori Loughlin, of Full House, her fashion designer husband Mossimo Gianulli, and actress Felicity Huffman, a star of Desperate Housewives. Caplan remains free on $500,000 bond. He faces a felony conviction, which would mean an automatic disbarment. The mail fraud charge also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Also, Caplan is no longer with Manhattan-based international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where he was a lawyer and a co-chairman, after he signaled his intention to plead guilty. His firm had already placed him on leave after his arrest in March. In his court appearance, he told the federal magistrate that he understands the conditions placed on him no firearms, no using illegal drugs. Caplan, like the other defendants, signed a waiver that he does not have to return to court for the next hearing, and said nothing other than yes, your honor and no, your honor. He secured four high-powered attorneys for his defense: Joshua Levy and Michael McGovern of Boston-based international law firm Ropes & Gray, as well as Peter Cane, a regular commentator for Court TV, and Patrick Smith, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor. Caplan was caught in a cheating scandal centered on William Rick Singer and his test-prep business. Federal officials say phone calls between Caplan and Singer were taped between June and December 2018. These wire tappings allege Caplan paid for a California psychologist to evaluate his daughter and conclude she had learning differences and qualified for extra time to take her college entrance exams. The FBI-wiretapped conversations in which Caplan worked through the scheme with ringleader Singer, according to the court filings. I can make scores happen, Singer told Caplan in one conversation recorded by the FBI in late 2018, released in the criminal complaint. She (the daughter) wont even know that it happened. Caplan was guided through the process that allowed his daughter, who was attending an online high school, to gain special permission to take an ACT exam with an extended time limit. The ACT exam was also scheduled to take place in West Hollywood, Calif., where an alleged conspirator, a former tennis player at Harvard, Mark Riddell, was enlisted to proctor the exam and change wrong answers to give the daughter a high score, federal authorities allege. In December, Caplan and his daughter flew to California, where she took the ACT at the West Hollywood Test Center. Through Singer, Caplan bribed a proctor to fix some of his daughters answers to improve her score, according to the affidavit. Last week, former Yale University womens soccer coach Rudy Meredith pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Boston as part of the scheme. When sentenced June 20, Meredith faces up to 41 months in federal prison, which take into account his cooperation with the government as well as his crimes. Meredith could face a fine and must pay restitution of $866,000. The case began when a suspect under investigation for securities fraud said he had paid a bribe to Meredith. That person allegedly met with Meredith in a Boston hotel room, where Meredith allegedly solicited a bribe in order to recruit the mans daughter to Yale. The meeting was video-recorded by the FBI. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com BRIDGEPORT A formerly local man convicted of killing two people when he firebombed a halfway house in 1990, has been charged with violating a probation that he apparently never should have gotten in the first place. There is a legal claim that maybe you werent entitled to probation under the law, and Im going to look at that, Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin told Joseph Miller on Thursday. Im going to look at that, but there is the question that if the judge and prosecutor made a mistake, whats the remedy? Miller, 58, who now lives in Woodstock, was convicted in December 1992 of two counts of arson murder and sentenced to life, suspended after he served 40 years in prison and followed by five years of probation. Both the judge and the prosecutor who handled the case at the time have since retired. The transcript of the sentencing hearing in 1992 is no longer available. According to state criminal statutes, there is no probation for murder convictions. My office is researching the issue, said States Attorney John Smriga. The sentence is illegal because Connecticut law does not allow a sentence of probation to be imposed for the crime of murder, said Millers lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Brad Buchta. Mr. Miller completely served his 40-year sentence, and he has also served more than a year of a probationary term that never should have been imposed. The only constitutionally-sound remedy under Connecticut law is to vacate the sentence of probation and correct the sentence to 40 years imprisonment, which Mr. Miller has already served, Buchta said. Court records show that Miller was released from prison on Aug. 28, 2017, after serving 25 years of his 40-year sentence, and began his probation. On Feb. 11, state police were called to his home in Putnam. Police said Millers girlfriend told them that following an argument, Joe put his hands around my neck and said if I caused him to go back to prison he would hunt me down and kill me when he got out. Miller was charged with disorderly conduct and issued an order to stay away from his girlfriend. Police said that based on the arrest and Miller failing to notify his probation officer of his new address, he was charged with violating his probation. In June 1990, the then 29-year-old Miller was charged with setting a fire at the three-story Transitional Living Center on Barnum Avenue. The fire killed 49-year-old George Nyorba and 22-year-old Irving Mayzenberg who were among the 12 residents living at the center. A third man suffered severe burns. Witnesses testified at a hearing that Millers girlfriend at the time was living at the center and that he had previously threatened to burn it down. One witness said he saw Miller throw something through a window at the center and then run off as the fire broke out. Originally facing the death penalty, Miller agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a plea bargain. BRIDGEPORT They look good on paper, but will the ambitious plans to return, after several decades, regular passenger service to Sikorsky Memorial Airport two years from now fly? The city and its consultants recently revealed new details about the proposed $15 million partnership between Bridgeport, the state and an unnamed private investor that Airport Manager Michelle Muoio said could eliminate the airports financial woes. We currently operate at a loss, Muoio told the tiny audience gathered at the downtown government center Monday for a public hearing. Accommodating this activity could completely resolve that loss. By this activity Muoio meant potentially shifting and repaving runway 11-29, building a 20,000-square-foot terminal and offering five to eight daily flights on aircraft accommodating 100 to 150 passengers. The tentative launch date is 2021, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. The work on runway 11-29 would be funded by the state. In December then-outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy approved $7 million for the project, with the interested operator potentially kicking in $7 million to $8 million for the terminal and parking facilities. Muoio was careful to note theres no (runway) extension being proposed here and the 11-29 strip would remain 4,761 feet. Her comment addressed possible opposition from Stratford residents and, more specifically, the Lordship neighborhood where the Bridgeport-owned airport is based. Mostly federally funded safety upgrades concluded a few years ago at Sikorskys second runway, 6-24, were delayed for two decades because of disputes between Bridgeport and Stratford. Rather than an extension, 150 feet of runway 11-29 closest to Route 113/Main Street which is unusable for landings because of height restrictions near street traffic would be moved to the opposite end of the strip, overlooking wetlands, where there are no height issues. At the end of the day the runway is going to start and end at a slightly shifted spot, with the potential for a future safety area at the end of the runway, near Main Street, said Dan Roach, an aide to Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who is working on the Sikorsky deal. The private investor would then build the terminal and parking on a grassy area known locally as the North 40 and lease the space from Bridgeport. Stratford would collect taxes on the improvements. Most of the airport that is developable is already developed, Muoio said. And its (the North 40) about as far away as you can get from the residential community as possible. ... It was the best spot and the only spot. The field is also dry and not part of the wetlands that surround Sikorsky, Muoio said. Taking the risk Addressing another concern neighbors have had in the past with noise, Muoio said the passenger planes would be about the size of the larger business jets that use Sikorsky theres no 747 widebody jets and that airline fleets have gotten quieter. Returning passenger service to Sikorsky could be a major election-year coup for Ganim, whose administration had previously wanted to sell the airport. State Rep. Joseph Gresko, D-Stratford, who also has a job in the Ganim administration, attended Mondays hearing. Gresko said some testimony from a recent legislative meeting on Tweed Airport in New Haven stated that air travelers were gravitating to larger airports that offer plenty of amenities, not smaller ones. This goes in direct contrast to that, Gresko said of the plans for passenger service. There will be people who will say theres not a market for this. Muoio said, Fairfield County is the most populated in Connecticut and its not served by its own carrier airport. But Paul McDonnell, a consultant hired by the city to help plan improvements to Sikorsky, told Gresko that he, too, has doubts. McDonnell noted he was not tasked by the city to do a sales analysis. I think the developer would have to take the risk on building the terminal and launching the passenger service, McDonnell said, adding: Im always a skeptic, myself. McDonnell said regardless of the passenger service proposal, runway 11-29 needs an overhaul. Its getting close to its end here, he said. Roach insisted in an interview afterward, We believe there is a market for point-to-point passenger service out of Sikorsky. David Faile, head of Friends of Sikorsky Airport, also has his doubts. Faile attended the hearing and was very impressed with the plans for runway 11-29. I think thats brilliant, Faile said afterward. If you take that piece (by Main Street), rip it up and put it at the other end, theyll (planes) still land at the same place but have more runway. As for passenger service, Faile said, What studies have shown the volume is there and the people want it? The poorly attended hearing led Gresko to request Muoio, McDonnell and Roach schedule another in Stratfords Lordship area. Absolutely, Muoio said. If you asked the entire town whether or not they would like to see some sort of economic development there (Sikorsky), meaning commercial air service, I would think that the majority would say yes, Gresko said in an interview. However, its going to be in Lordships backyard. ... The worst thing is if the city goes forward and people of Lordship go, We had no idea this was happening, say or input. Id like to alleviate that. SHELTON One parent says the Shelton High School administration failed her in a case involving a racially charged video seen by students on social media late last year. The parent, who has asked to remain unnamed, said an African-American high school student was sent an 11-second video via Snapchat in December. In that video, the parent said one high school student was heard using a racial slur several times and another was in what could be construed as black face. The students parent alerted the high school administration, but outside of an apology to her from a member of the faculty, who she said was not Beth Smith, nothing was done to alert the school community about the incident specifically whether an investigation was taking place and what steps would be taken in response to better promote racial tolerance in the school. Smith, who was principal at the time, is unavailable to comment because she remains on paid administrative leave in connection with an unrelated criminal investigation into if high school staff properly follow protocols and procedures, in accordance with state law, when dealing with potentially criminal incidents involving students. School Superintendent Dr. Chris Clouet confirmed that Smith, who he placed on paid leave March 28, is under investigation by law enforcement and other agencies regarding a situation. Clouet could not comment on what prompted the probe and what other agencies are involved, other than to see the incident occurred early in the week of March 24-29. Clouet confirmed Thursday that he is aware of the racist video and appropriate actions were taken at the time of the report in December. We recognize that racism has played a role in the United States since its founding, but I would say that Shelton High School, specifically, is not an especially racial or hostile environment, said Clouet. That said, there are always things that can be done better. Clouet said the video report was investigated and, since there was not a pattern of such behavior displayed with the students involved with the video, this was treated as an isolated incident and the students were reprimanded. He said that the girls were given a written assignment, with a focus on racial tolerance, and also told to apologize to the student who was sent the video. But the parent said she felt the punishment was too light and the incident was swept under the rug. She added that the entire school community should have been informed and actions taken, in a broader sense, to promote racial tolerance throughout the high school. They spoke to my son, but no one spoke to me until I reached out, said the parent. There was no acknowledgment of what happened. Many students were adversely affected by what was posted. This affected many minorities in the school. My problem is I had to seek out information on what was going on. And when this latest investigation started, it just made me think, here we go again. Will this be swept under the rug, too? the parent asked. Clouet said this video incident, combined with an unrelated incident of intolerance, promoted him to form an Anti-Bias Committee later in December. He said the committee meets on a regular basis to discuss any issues of racial intolerance in the schools and ways to create an even more tolerant environment for all students, whatever the race or religion. Clouet said that, next week, Anti-Defamation League representatives will be making a presentation to teachers and administration staff, focusing on hate crimes and protocols that should be used when dealing with those issues. We take this issue very seriously, Clouet said. The Anti-Defamation League takes this seriously as well, and they are the first to say it is not always the best practice to make a big announcement in this type of situation. This is serious. Racism is serious issue. We are not sweeping this under the rug, but it does not always need to be a public forum. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com A New Hampshire man has been identified as the person who apparently jumped from the Sikorsky Memorial Bridge on Thursday afternoon. The victim was identified as Stephen P. Regan, 62, of Merrimack, N.H. Connecticut State Police confirmed Friday morning that the death is being investigated as a suicide. State Police said an unresponsive male was pulled out of the water under the Sikorsky Bridge on Thursday afternoon. Stratford Police Sgt. Jamie Rivera said it all started on the Merritt Parkway. Pedestrians can access the bridge by the paved Sikorsky Bridge Bikeway/Walkway that opened to the public in early 2007. The walkway is accessible from either Ryder's Landing in Stratford or Wheeler's Farm Road in Milford. Parking lots are at both ends of the trail. Police have not said whether Regans vehicle was found at one of those lots. According to the Nexis database, Regan has lived in Merrimack, N.H., since 2004. He previously lived in Glastonbury and Windsor from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s. While living in Connecticut, he worked at Advest, an investment banking and brokerage firm based in Hartford that is no longer in business. A Facebook page of a Stephen Regan, of Merrimack, N.H. said he recently retired and had studied at the University of Connecticut. Merrimack is located in southeastern New Hampshire, about 200 miles from Stratford. The Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge carries vehicles on the Merritt over the Housatonic River between Stratford and Milford. The clearance below the bridge is 85 feet. The bridge sees nearly 80,000 drivers daily. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. Ethan Fry and Lisa Backus contributed to this story. Clad in an orange T-shirt printed with the words, Justice for Our Soldier, Liza Herrera told the state Legislatures Judiciary Committee last month that her daughters death in a Shelton street racing incident could have been prevented. I think often, if only the laws had been stricter with regard to street racing, the drivers of the two cars involved might have thought twice before they decided to race without regard to their lives, the passengers or passersby that day, Herrera said. Herrera and her husband, Jesus, and other family members are seeking a change in state law to stiffen the penalties for illegal racing. They are calling for fines to increase to $600 from $150 and a one-year prison term for those found guilty of street racing. They are also proposing a fine up to $3,500 and up to three years in jail for those found guilty of negligent homicide for street racing. I dont want any parent to go through this, said Herrera, who lives in West Haven. My daughter isnt the first to die this way. Shalymar Herrera had just returned from seven months of training with the U.S. Army Reserve when she decided to spend an afternoon with friends in Shelton last April 8, her mother said. Hours later, Liza Herrera and her husband received the phone call that every parent fears. Their 18-year-old daughter had been killed in a horrific car crash. Herrera later learned that the accident, which also killed her daughters best friend who was eight months pregnant, was caused by illegal street racing. The unborn child, named Luna Rose, also died from the crash. This was all new to me, Herrera said of the court process that followed the accident. We were in shock. Illegal street racing is a $75 fine. That doesnt make sense, three people died. I want their license taken away when theres a death. We need to increase that fine and we need to increase the time they spend in prison. Jelian Herrera admitted he was nervous about testifying in favor of the law, but told the committee his sister was his best friend. Losing my sister has been the hardest thing that has ever happened to me, the 11-year-old said. Sometimes its hard to concentrate in school because I am thinking of my sister and all of the memories I had with her. I am sad when I see my mother crying and my dad suffering, too. Their father said the punishment for illegal racing doesnt fit the crime. A car at a high speed can be a weapon, Jesus Herrera said. You put danger on yourself and you put it on other people. Lawsuits filed by Liza Herrera, as the administrator of her daughters estate, and three members of the New Haven-based band Like Violet who were injured in the crash, indicate that Shalymar Herreras friends were traveling at speeds of more than 80 mph on River Road where the speed limit is between 35 to 45 mph. Lawrence Carter, 20, of Bridgeport, was driving a Mini Cooper with his pregnant wife, Briana Torres-Carter, 23, in the front passenger seat. Shalymar Herrera and a fourth person were in the back. Liza Herrera contends that Carter and Abdulaziz Yuldoshev, 20, of Hamden, had agreed to a street race. Shaly had come home to prepare for college last April 1, her mother said. I had her one week before she died, Liza Herrera said. The 18-year-old spent the morning of April 8 with her mother and brother Jelian, but planned on meeting up with friends later in the day. We are old fashioned, her mother said. We ordinarily wouldnt let her drive with anyone, but she had been on her own for seven months. She was 18. I still cant believe I said she could go. At some point, Shalymar Herrera texted her parents, asking if she could go out to dinner with the group. Even though she was 18 and in the Army, she still texted to ask, her mother said. The family exchanged texts with her until about 6:40 p.m. Within 30 minutes, she was dead, her mother said. Carter and Yuldoshev were each traveling south on River Road in Shelton at high speeds, chasing and passing each other, the lawsuits said. Carter lost control of his car after Yuldoshev cut him off, sending the Mini Cooper into the oncoming lane where he smashed head-on into a Saturn carrying the three band members. The aftermath of the crash has been devastating, Jesus Herrera said. Its been so hard, I really cant describe it, he said. The emptiness, its a lot of different feelings, its a roller coaster. Sometimes Im angry and then I go back to empty, but I try to not show it for my son, I try to keep going for him. Both men were charged with manslaughter, negligent homicide, illegal racing and four counts of first-degree assault. They are each free on $50,000 bond. Even though each of the assault charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years, Liza Herrera realizes its unlikely either will see any jail time. I dont miss one day, Herrera said of attending each of the defendants court appearances. Thats the only thing I could do. I want them to see my face. Torres-Carters mother, who has filed a lawsuit against the two drivers, also testified March 25 in favor of the proposed bill. Illegal street racing has become a growing problem in Connecticut. One week before the crash, Hartford police arrested more than 50 people during an organized illegal street racing incident in their city. Two days before Shalymar Herrera died, a Bridgeport man was killed in a street racing incident in Stratford. Two Bridgeport men have been charged in his death. Like Carter and Yuldoshev, the Bridgeport men are facing several motor vehicles charges, including illegal racing. Their cases are pending. Liza Herrera and her family plan to visit the Shelton crash site for the first time on the one-year anniversary on Monday. The family will hold a motorcycle and car run on Aug. 11 at the Savin Rock Conference Center in West Haven. The proceeds will benefit a female homeless veteran. I know my daughter is watching me saying, You are a strong person, you can do it, Herrera said. I want people to understand that driving a car you can put other people in danger. I am a mother, I want everyone to get the message. A Massachusetts' family's pet German shepherd that was believed to have been fatally shot was actually mauled to death by another animal, according to police. Methuen police said a necropsy performed by a veterinarian revealed that the 3-year-old dog, named Moose, was killed in a mauling attack by one or more other dogs. Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore noted in her report to police that it is not unusual for fatal dog-on-dog maulings to be be mistaken for gunshot wounds. Methuen police said they presented the results to the German shepherd's owners, who have additional dogs in the household. On Thursday, police said a woman returned home at around 1 p.m. to find her German shepherd, Moose, dead. She reported finding her German shepherd behind her house. The German shepherd appeared to be deceased from a gunshot wound, Capt. Kristopher McCarthy said Thursday. Three other dogs on the property were not harmed. The homeowners said when they found Moose, another dog, Creek, was lying on top of him in an apparent attempt to comfort or protect him. State police and Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals law enforcement assisted Methuen police in the investigation. State police also called in a K-9 trained to detect ballistic evidence to help. Methuen police said the criminal investigation is now closed. They will offer resources and advice to the family on further steps. WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on NATO members to "stand together" and confront evolving threats, even as resentments old and new flared at a meeting of alliance diplomats Thursday in Washington. The gathering of 30 foreign ministers at the State Department focused on threats from Russia and China. Among the challenges, Pompeo said, are "things not solved by more troops being on the ground" - including cyber attacks and hybrid warfare. In his opening remarks and comments to reporters at the end of the meeting, Pompeo returned to the theme of defense spending, saying that all members need to boost their budgets. He rejected what he called "tired arguments" from leaders who say that their voters will not support it. "It's important for them to make the case to their citizenry why collective deterrence is necessary," he said. U.S. officials have slammed Germany in recent days over its defense spending. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas responded by citing his country's history in World War II. "Instead of only talking about ability or willingness to honor commitments with the alliance, we should also make one thing clear," he said. "NATO may be a security alliance, but above all, it's an alliance of values, and it has a political function." Pompeo also found himself in a spat with Turkey over conflicting accounts of his meeting Wednesday with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The State Department said in a statement that Pompeo had warned of the "potentially devastating consequences" if Turkey sends forces against Kurds in northeast Syria and expressed "concerns" about Turkey's plans to purchase the S-400 air defense missile system from Russia. But Turkey accused the State Department of lying. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the statement "not only fails to reflect the content of the meeting, but also contains matters that were not even raised during said meeting." Asked about it Thursday, Pompeo said he had reread the State Department account and pronounced it "spot on." The Trump administration has threatened to halt delivery of the F-35 fighter jet over the transaction. A Pentagon spokesman, Charles Summers, told reporters that the U.S. government considers Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 system highly problematic but declined to say if officials thought it should impact Turkey's NATO membership. "There's great opportunities for the United States and Turkey to work closer together," Pompeo said at a news conference. "I had a good long conversation with the Turkish foreign minister yesterday and I'm very confident we'll find a path forward." Meanwhile, a source of tension between Canada and the Trump administration also resurfaced at the meeting. Speaking to reporters, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland dismissed as "absurd" and "groundless" Washington's decision last year to label Canada a national security threat, requiring steel tariffs. Freeland has said she will travel to France to join a Group of Seven countries whose top diplomats are meeting this weekend to address global security challenges. Pompeo is skipping the session, dispatching Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan to head the U.S. delegation. When CEO Jennifer Hyman co-founded (with Jennifer Fleiss) Rent the Runway ten years ago, her focus wasnt on creating a workplace culture with best-in-class programs, policies and practices. Instead, she was determined to prove the business case for providing affordable luxury. Related: Is Your Parental Leave Policy Driving Away Top Talent? She succeeded: Today, the company, which rents out designer clothes and accessories, is that rare thing Silicon Valley calls a unicorn -- with a valuation over $1 billion. It has 1,600 full-time and hourly employees. The fact that those employees' average age is 36 points to something else Hyman has done with her company: provided parental leave for all. The majority of employees at Rent the Runway are in their prime child-bearing years, the CEO told me. They are going through significant life events: pairing up, getting married, having children, caregiving to their own parents." For Hyman, that fact has prompted her to build a culture that prioritizes attracting and retaining talent. At the top of that list: parental leave. "Providing [employees] with support during these life stages is not just a moral imperative, its a financial one, as well," Hyman said. The business case for parental leave has long been debated, as employers have complained that its costs outweigh its benefits. Indeed, employers' concerns include short-term productivity, wage replacement and the burden of paying an employee who is not working. What those concerns have added up to is the fact that most employers today deny their employees paid leave after childbirth (though five states and the District of Columbia have paid family-leave programs, offering varying benefits). In fact, a 2018 study by Mercer revealed that 60 percent of employers polled did not offer paid parental leave. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this means that only 15 percent of Americans have access to paid leave through their employers. The net effect for new mothers is that many are forced to leave the paid workforce to care for their children. Despite popular belief to the contrary, only 48 percent of mothers with children under the age of 18 work full-time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rest work part-time, or not at all. Seventy percent of new moms pause their careers. I conducted a study of nearly 1,500 college-educated women for my book, Work Pause Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career and was surprised to learn that more than 70 percent of those polled had paused their careers for a period of time because of a lack of support once they became mothers. Related: 19 Companies and Industries With Radically Awesome Parental Leave Policies College-educated women often have options when it comes to re-launching their careers, but for many without a college degree, and for hourly workers, the impacts can be devastating. PL+US, a non-profit advocate for paid family leave, reported that nearly one quarter of American women take less than two weeks off after the birth of a child because of lack of paid leave. Their subsequent work commitment lags, resulting in high turnover, reduced productivity and financial hardship. Rent the Runway isnt the only business facing a parenting tsunami. Millennials, whose average age is 28, are soon to be the largest age cohort in the workforce. Like the employees of Hymans company, they are pairing up, getting married and having children. In fact, in the next decade, 64 million U.S. millennials are expected to become parents. Shockingly, the United States is one of only two countries among 185 United Nations members that don't provide paid maternity leave to its citizens. As a result, businesses are going to have to be the ones to fill the void. And there's an economic motivation for that: In a low-unemployment environment like the one we have today, large and small companies alike are competing for talent. A 2017 E&Y study revealed that 83 percent of millennials surveyed would be more likely to join a company if it offered paid parental leave. As a result, this particular benefit has become table-stakes for todays workers. Given the lack of a much-needed national paid leave program, Annie Sartor, campaigns director at PL+US, told me, employers are finally stepping up to fill the void. "Many large companies already provide paid family leave to employees," Sartor said. "Twenty titans in the last year alone expanded their policies. Increasingly, small businesses and entrepreneurs alike are seeing the need to offer this benefit in order to stay competitive." Hyman at Rent the Runway, echoed her. Welcome to 2019! Hyman said. If you believe that the profit of a company comes from its talent, then it is imperative you make the right choices when it comes to how you serve your employees. What about cash-strapped startups? Of course, "serving your employees" by providing paid parental leave may be fairly easy for a billion-dollar company, but what about a startup? In this context, Founders for Change, an organization of entrepreneur leaders, has partnered with PL+US to launch a new initiative, #LeadersforLeave. Their goal is to encourage company founders, chief executives and venture capitalists to provide paid leave to employees from the beginning. Here are some things to help entrepreneurs get started doing just that: 1. Evaluate the financial impact. This easy-to-use financial model open-sourced by Optimizely can help you assess the costs of parental leave for your company. Gusto, meanwhile, offers a detailed overview of how to implement a parental leave program. Whatever your size, its critical to remember that the burden of losing an employee for a few months far outweighs the cost of recruiting, hiring and training, which, according to the Center for American Progress, can run from 21 percent to over 200 percent of the departee's salary. 2. Empower your employees to work collaboratively, to develop a solution that works for them and the company by inviting them to create a task force. They can survey their peers, research what other companies in the area are offering and craft a customized offering that meets the real needs of your team. Consider what is already available to help underwrite parental leave. Four states (and soon, Washington, D.C.) offer some measure of state-funded paid leave. Find out what is offered in your state to assist you financially. Adapt your parental leave to the needs of the individual employee by ensuring you also have a parental return strategy. Some employees may not want to take their leave all at once and would prefer to have time to transition back with a reduced work week or flexible hours. Related: Why a Generous Paternity Leave Policy Can Be Bad for Equality Rent the Runway cant go back to its early days, Hyman said. But were committed to getting it right now. She herself is expecting her second child within the month and is passionate about proving the business case for meaningful parental leave and other benefits that make for a great workplace culture. Toward that goal, in 2018, Rent the Runway expanded its 12-week fully paid leave to both salaried and hourly workers. No one employees life event is more important than another employees life event, Hyman said. My pregnancy is no more important than [that of] someone who works in our warehouse. We are all equal in terms of our importance as people. Values-based, yes, but a financial win? According to Hyman, her company's retention is moving in a positive direction, and importantly, she said, productivity has increased. Its up 30 percent year over year. In todays new world of work, where talent has options, recognizing the business imperative of providing programs and policies that meet the true needs of employees is key to staying competitive. At the core is meaningful paid parental leave for women and men. As Hyman pointed out, Its not just the right thing to do, its smart business. Related: Paid Parental Leave: Doing Well by Doing Good How Reddit's Alexis Ohanian Balances Work and Family Stop Making New Parents Choose Between Their Job and Their Premature Baby Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved A man who authorities say claimed to be an Illinois boy who disappeared eight years ago has twice made similar claims in which he falsely portrayed himself as a juvenile sex trafficking victim, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court Friday. Brian Rini of Medina, Ohio, was jailed in Cincinnati on Thursday. The FBI has identified Rini as the person who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in 2011 at age 6. Rini has been charged with making false statements to federal agents. The FBI declared the man's story a hoax Thursday based on DNA testing one day after he identified himself to authorities as Pitzen. Rini was found Wednesday in Newport, Kentucky, "wandering the street and looking confused and in need of assistance," according to the six-page affidavit from FBI agent Mary Braun. After identifying himself as Pitzen, Rini complained of abdominal pain and was taken to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Emergency Room, the affidavit said. Rini refused to be fingerprinted Wednesday and Thursday but agreed to a DNA test which on Thursday identified him as Rini, according to Braun. Even after Rini was advised of his rights and warned against making false statements, he continued to insist he was Pitzen and that he had escaped from a hotel where he'd been forced to have sex with men against his will, the affidavit said. Rini finally acknowledged his identity after being confronted with the DNA results, said he had watched a story about Pitzen on ABC's "20/20" and had wanted to get away from his family, according to Braun. An FBI investigation found that Rini had twice portrayed himself as a juvenile sex trafficking victim, and in each case was later identified after being fingerprinted, the affidavit said. When questioned further, Rini allegedly stated "he wished he had a father like Timmothy's." Rini was released from prison on probation less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism. Timmothy's family had been cautiously hopeful over Wednesday's news, as were neighbors and others who'd long wondered whether he is dead or alive. "Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today," FBI spokesman Timothy Beam said in a statement Thursday. Timmothy vanished after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of kindergarten early one day, took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, and then killed herself at a hotel. She left a note saying that her son was safe with people who would love and care for him, and added: "You will never find him." In Timmothy's hometown of Aurora, Illinois, police Sgt. Bill Rowley said that over the years his department has received thousands of tips about Timmothy, including false sightings. "We're always worried about copycats, especially something that has a big national attention like this," Rowley said. Timmothy's family members said they were heartbroken at the latest twist. "It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again, and Timmothy's father is devastated once again," said his aunt Kara Jacobs. The boy's grandmother Alana Anderson said: "It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting." She added, "I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else." A 10-year-old girl was fatally shot and her father was wounded in their driveway in what may have started with a traffic dispute, Phoenix police said Thursday. Sgt. Vince Lewis said the shooting that killed Summerbell Brown occurred Wednesday night when a man in a pickup truck who had been following the familys car fired several gunshots after they arrived at their home. The girls mother, who was in the front passenger seat, and sister were not injured. The driver of the pickup then fled. Lewis said the fact that the pickup was closely following the victims vehicle might indicate thered been a traffic dispute. He said there was no immediate indication that the family and the shooter knew each other. Its possible that this was a road rage that started earlier in the area prior to the victims family arriving at home, Lewis told KTAR . The father, Dharquintium Brown, told TV station KTVK-TV that the shooting occurred after he got out of the car to confront the man who was following his car. "He was ready to start shooting. I got out my vehicle and I asked them, 'What's going on, what's up?' because he stopped at my house," Dharquintium Brown told KNXV. "And he just got to firing. And he shot my car and he shot me right here and he shot up my house and he killed my daughter." While police initially described Brown as critically wounded, he told the station he wasnt badly injured. "I looked at him dead in the face, he had this deranged look, like, he looked like he was high on something. His pupils were dilated. And as soon as he -- as soon as I looked at him in his eyes, he just 'boom boom boom boom boom' -- through through the car. He didn't even reach the gun outside the window, he shot through his door," the victim's mother, Taniesha Brown, said. The girl was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Dharquintium Brown said the family was working with police on a composite sketch of the suspect. Police have since released footage from a nearby surveillance camera that shows a white pickup closely following the familys car around 5:45 p.m. The shooter is described as a Hispanic man between 30 and 40 years old wearing a long-sleeve orange shirt. He was believed to be driving a white Ford F150 pickup with dark trim on the bottom. The vehicle has scrapes and damage on its left side above the rear tire, police said. Family members remember Summerbell Brown as a straight-A student who loved dancing and gymnastics. "This is just heartbreaking. And I'm going to miss her every day, think about her every day. This nightmare is going to replay in my head every day. I can't sleep. I just hope she is at peace. I just hope she's at peace," Taniesha Brown said. "She was just a baby. There was no reason for her to be taken like this." Volaris Adds 2 New Summer Flights to Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - This summer, ultra-low-cost airline Volaris will begin two new flights to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport - one from Phoenix, Arizona, and another from Queretaro, Mexico. Service to and from both destinations start on June 16, 2019, with frequencies on Fridays and Sundays through December 2019. These two new flights will add another 10,000 seats to Puerto Vallarta - Riviera Nayarit, making it easier for domestic and international travelers to visit one of Mexico's premier tourist destinations. Phoenix-Puerto Vallarta (PHX-PVR) The airline reported that due to the growing demand that has been detected in the Phoenix market and its surroundings, it considered it opportune to start the operations of this new flight during the summer, when many travelers look to the beaches of Mexico for vacation. The flight will be permanent with two frequencies per week on Fridays and Sundays. It will leave Puerto Vallarta at 11:08 am and arrive in Phoenix, Arizona, at 11:56 pm. On its return, it will depart from Phoenix at 1:16 pm, arriving back in Puerto Vallarta at 5:56 pm. Queretaro-Puerto Vallarta (QRO-PVR) With the new PVR-QRO flight, Volaris seeks to encourage an exchange of national tourists between colonial and beach destinations. This new domestic route is in addition to those already established in the Bajio area, as well as Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana. This flight will also be offered on Fridays and Sundays, departing from Queretaro at 8:47 am, and arriving in Puerto Vallarta at 10:18 am. On its return flight it will depart Puerto Vallarta at 6:46 pm, and arrive in Queretaro at 8:04 pm. According to the airline, Puerto Vallarta remains a highly sought after destination, and interest continues to grow as national and international travelers discover its ideal mix of an attractive and safe beach vacation destination and quality services for every budget. Do you have a colleague who displays exceptional creativity, innovation, and passion in their job? Credit Union Magazine wants to honor these top performers for its seventh annual Credit Union Rock Stars program. Sponsored by Fiserv , Credit Union Rock Stars are professionals and volunteers in credit union system organizations who are devoted to driving the movement forward through their commitment to excellence and embodiment of credit union values. Year after year were inspired by the many nominations we receive, says Ann Hayes Peterson, CUNAs vice president of publishing and editor-in-chief. Credit Union Rock Stars come from every asset size, every state, and every part of the credit union system. We look forward to reading all of the entries this year. A few weeks back we announced that, for the second year in a row, CO-OP would be bringing the Crasher program to THINK 19 in partnership with Filene Research Institute and The Cooperative Trust. This year we received applications from so many outstanding candidates and after much careful deliberation we are excited to announce our THINK 19 Crashers! These Crashers embody the enthusiasm, drive and commitment to excellence that will continue to define and propel the credit union movement forward. In addition to having the opportunity to meet and mingle with innovators and thought leaders like CUNA CEO Jim Nussle, Jose Andres, Seth Godin and Bradley Leimer, they will also receive personal mentoring from CO-OP leaders and credit union executives who are a part of CO-OPs Co-Creation Councils. Meet our THINK 19 Crashers: Arpi Andzhunyan, Accountant II Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union, California Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Motivated, outgoing, hard-working Why Crash THINK? It excites me to know that I will be given the opportunity to meet with many individuals within my age group and actually build a valuable network. Attending this conference will allow me to share my vision amongst peers from who I will develop the ability to think outside of the box. Mike Barakat, System Admin I Coastal Credit Union, North Carolina Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Passionate, caring, connector Why Crash THINK? This conference [will] be a wonderful opportunity to meet the knowledgeable leaders of this industry to learn about our past and present in order to create a bright future. Tamarah Brooks, Member Service Representative The Family Credit Union, Iowa Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Sassy, innovator, leader Why Crash THINK? Im driven to expand and educate the youth on how important credit unions are for now and the future. I believe our members are the top priority and if I get chosen, I would come back home and serve them better. Joe Cacioppo, Security Analyst II CO-OP Financial Services, Georgia Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Passionate, kind, articulate Why Crash THINK? Im looking forward to gaining insight into how technology drives credit union growth at THINK 19. Remie Cruz, Deposit Services Manager Wright-Patt Credit Union, Ohio Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Driven, Kind, Supportive Why Crash THINK? I would love to network with other like-minded credit union professionals to discuss/learn how credit unions can continue to stay relevant while being good stewards of our members money. Alicia Disantis, Marketing Program Manager CU Service Network, Colorado Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Curious, creative, compassionate Why Crash THINK? For the past seven years, I have watched the THINK Conference evolve from a product-oriented, operational event to a wildly-progressive brainstorming symposium. I want to be part of it attend the workshops, see the speakers and collaborate with the best individuals the credit union movement has to offer. Aleasha Ford, Fulfillment Officer II Spokane Teachers Credit Union, Washington Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Passion for learning Why Crash THINK? My home is in the credit union industry, and I cant think of a better opportunity to strengthen the movement and empower myself as a young credit union professional than attending this conference. Madison Hersom, Implementation Manager CO-OP Financial Services, Iowa Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Positive, easy-going, curious Why Crash THINK? THINK [will] provide an opportunity to gain insight into our clients and their members. Not only can I internalize this experience to become a better employee and improve client experience, but I can share what I learned with my team. Joshua Josephson, Deposit Product Manager Canvas Credit Union, North Carolina Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Fun, analytics, professional Why Crash THINK? It would be great to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing our industry with other credit union professionals. It would also be beneficial to hear how the guest speakers addressed these issues in their own industries or positions, and how I can apply those same techniques to my role. Kaitlyn Newlin, Contracts Manager CO-OP Financial Services, California Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Curious, ambitious, tactical Why Crash THINK? Im looking forward to going to THINK so that I can build relationships with our customers, network with industry and emerging leaders, and continue to be inspired! Dain Stevens, Payments Manager WECU, Washington Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Passionate, trustworthy, caring Why Crash THINK? Ideally, Id like to be mentored by someone in product development or data analytics to get an inside look at how another organization handles these disciplines. Christopher Taylor, Card Services Supervisor Elevations Credit Union, Colorado Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Enthusiastic, Hard Working, Friendly Why Crash THINK? As I grow in my career, areas I am wanting to learn more about include strategy, risk and project/product implementation. Im looking for guidance as to what would be most impactful for me to learn to support my strategic initiatives. Choua Yang, Assistant Consumer Loan Manager Hiway Federal Credit Union, Minnesota Describe Yourself in 3 Words: Kidding Not Kidding Why Crash THINK? I am one of the committee members for the Hiway Young Professionals. Our committee focuses on keeping our young professionals engaged in credit union events and activities. Id love to see what I can learn and bring back home with me that will be of value to Hiway. Congratulations to all of our Crashers we cant wait to see you at THINK 19! Meet the THINK Crashers along with 800+ credit union professionals at THINK 19 May 6-9 in Miami Beach, Florida. Register now for the credit union industrys premier thought leadership conference: STORY LINK Pound to Australian Dollar Exchange Rate Outlook: GBP/AUD Steadies as US-China Edges Closer to 'Epic' Trade Deal GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Flat as Worries on No-Deal Brexit Haunt UK Markets GBP/AUD Forecast: Sterling Could Rise on Article 50 Extension Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound Sterling to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate steadied today following the announcement from US President Donald Trump that US-China trade talks were edging closer to an epic trade deal.Australias economy is closely tied to Chinas, and with signs of a consensus emerging between the two superpowers, this has benefited the risk-sensitive Aussie.Trump said yesterday during an Oval Office appearance:We are rounding the turn. We'll see what happens. We have a ways to go but not very far.There is no Chinese data today due to a Bank Holiday celebrating the Ching Ming Festival, while Australian economic stats are also thin on the ground until next week.Sterling, meanwhile, has benefited from news that Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, would push for a possible 1-year extension to the Brexit process.Many Pound traders are remaining cautious, however, as the previous extension until 12 April was condition on Prime Minister Theresa May passing her withdrawal through Parliament. As this has not happened, it is raising some concerns that the extension could be rejected.Donald Tusk said:The only reasonable way out would be a long but flexible extension. I would call it a flextension . How would it work in practice? We could give the UK a year-long extension, automatically terminated once the withdrawal agreement has been accepted and ratified by the House of Commons.Today, meanwhile, saw the publication of the UK Halifax house prices figures for March, which came in at a disappointing -1.6%.Russell Galley, a Managing Director at Halifax, commented:Industry-wide figures show that the number of mortgages being approved remains around 40 per cent below pre-financial crisis levels, and we know that lower levels of activity can lead to bigger price movements.Aussie traders will be looking ahead to next weeks data releases, which will see the publication of the Australian home loans figures for February on Tuesday.Many Australian Dollar investors will, however, be paying close attention to developments between the US and China over their imminent trade deal, and with any indications that this could be as monumental as Trump promises, the Aussie could soar.The Pound to Australian Dollar exchange rate will remain fixated on Brexit developments next week, and with the 12 April deadline ticking down, any indications that the EU will concede on an extension to Article 50 would greatly benefit Sterling. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Australian Dollar Forecasts Currency Predictions Daily Currency Updates Pound Australian Dollar Forecasts For Subscribers Wrestling preview: Yoder, pair of D5 champs lead county grapplers A preview of the 2021-22 Somerset County wrestling season. New coaches take over at three local schools. Plenty of talent returning to chase gold. 25 Pasitos de Luz Kids Had a Blast Surfing with Nixon Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Surfing with Nixon is the leading charity in the US to promote surfing as a form of therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Since 2014, the charity, founded and lovingly run by the couple Daniel and Shari Romney, has hosted free surf days for hundreds of children on the autism spectrum. Each year their surf events get bigger and bigger, as more parents realize the benefits that surf therapy can bring to their kids. The couple knows all about having a child with disability and the challenges it can pose for a family. Nixon is their son. He is 11 years old, is on the autism spectrum and also has other special needs. He was born deaf, is non-verbal and only recovered his sight at age 3. He has Cerebral Palsy. That is a lot to contend with for any parent. However, both Daniel and Shari were determined to identify the things that Nixon loved doing, and surfing just happened to be top of that list! Fast forward to March 14, 2019, and Daniel, Shari and their young family (Nixon is one of four siblings) are on the beach in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, to run the first ever Surfing with Nixon day outside the US. Riviera Nayarit is world-renowned for its surfing spots and so was the natural choice. Twenty five kids and thirty professional surfers were all set to hit the water and ride those waves. Daniel had contacted Pasitos de Luz, a local and much-loved daycare and therapy center for Puerto Vallarta kids with disabilities, to see whether they would like to take part. 'Of course!' was the answer. Pasitos supports children with disabilities from low-income Mexican families, offering completely free therapy and daycare to children with autism spectrum conditions, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, among many others special needs. They do all this with no government or local authority funding. Before Surfing with Nixon, some of these kids had never been on the beach or experienced the sea, and so this was a first-time experience for them. They absolutely loved it! For three hours, top surfers from surf schools including Sayulita Surf Co., Sayulita Surf School, Okala Vallarta Surf School, and Tron and Bucerias Surf & SUP, patiently supported kids as young as 3 to lie on their board, face forward and ride the waves. Some of the older children, including 17 year old Kapila who has Asperger Syndrome, managed to stand up and ride all the way to the beach. All the children and surfers had huge smiles on their faces. So what's next for Surfing with Nixon in Riviera Nayarit? Daniel and Shari's dream is for this to become an annual event, involving more local charities, benefiting more children and raising more awareness in Mexico about surfing as a great therapy for people with disabilities. They would also like to bring on board (excuse the pun!) some major sponsors, such as Quiksilver, Roxy and Hurley, to make this dream become a reality. So keep an eye on the beaches of Nuevo Vallarta for the next Surfing with Nixon event! Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load Hey kids. So what's the narrative on the Harry-Meghan axis? The theme, the zeitgeisty gist, the Major Issue that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are tackling next? Hang on to your mouse mat, because the royal Batman and his feisty Robinette are fighting the big one this week; the evils of the internet. 'Growing up in today's world, social media is more addictive than drugs and alcohol,' said Prince Harry on Wednesday, with his usual flair for talking urgent nonsense. It was a particularly ridiculous thing to say, given that the Sussexes have just launched their own social media account on Instagram, which has already attracted 3.6 million followers and counting. 'It's not hypocritical,' insisted their official spokesman, but many of us would beg to differ. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex visited the YMCA South Ealing, where he spoke about the effects of social media on mental health Increasingly, he seems to think there is one set of rules for him and his wife, while everyone else must abide by a completely different moral code. More stringent for a start. Let them eat Meghan's special recipe austerity soup, they silently cry, while we live like well, royalty, amid the lush and plush of our Soho House set. In the past, Harry has shot water buffalo, game birds and other hapless critters while campaigning for animal conservationism. Yet we have forgiven him for most of his youthful idiocies. Recently and more damningly, he encouraged youngsters to act on climate change and environmental issues, while he and Meghan fly around in private jets and helicopters should the opportunity arise. And now this. At a YMCA centre in West London promoting the Heads Together mental health charity, the Prince claimed online games such as Fortnite were more addictive than booze or drugs. The Sussexes have just launched their own social media account on Instagram, which has already attracted 3.6 million followers and counting It is true that the violent natures of such games are reprehensible, but his theory doesn't even make sense. To an addict, a substance or a habit is either addictive or it is not. You'd think someone who is always banging on about eradicating public stigma over mental health issues (What stigma, I always ask myself?) would know that, but there is never any joined up thinking where Prince Harry is concerned. He says it, therefore it is. According to Harry this week, we are in an exciting time, but we are also in a mind-altering time. We are in good times, but we are also in bad times. We are up and we are down. That is because we are a royal mass of contradictions, aren't we? 'Kids need a human connection,' he said, digging out his prompt sheet, which was surely handwritten in beautiful flowing calligraphy and scented with crushed macaroons. Instagram is now the go-to for lovely, exclusive pictures of Meghan and Harry doing their good deeds For when Harry speaks these days, all I hear is the avocado mulch of Meghan's impeccable socially liberal concerns, filtered through the obliging vassal of her husband. The concern this week seems to be in urging parents to get children off social media where they might be bullied or have issues. Yet it didn't seem to cross his princely mind that the place where they have most issues is on Instagram, where his new Sussexroyal account is attracting much attention. Instagram is a photo-based platform associated with high levels of anxiety, depression and bullying in the young. It is infamous for fostering feelings of inadequacy and depression in millions of kids. A survey by the Royal Society for Public Health (ironic) found it had the worst scores of all social media platforms when it came to body image and anxiety, especially among girls. In its way, it probably does as much damage as Fortnite, but who cares? Certainly not Prince H. For Instagram is now the go-to for lovely, exclusive pictures of Meghan and Harry doing their good deeds; a safe space (for them) which is free from criticism or wry judgments about their ocean-going insincerity. Harry and Meghan fly around in private jets and helicopters, and could chart their trips on their new Instagram With all this, plus his dutiful trips to a herbal wellness centre and his exhortations to millennials to find their true north star, Prince Harry is fast becoming the woke dope royal and I rather wish he was not. Behind the scenes he still leads a life of unthinkable luxury and entitlement. Yet in public he wants to sound good, he wants to do good and he wants to look good. They may see themselves as caped crusaders, but people would love Harry and Meghan more if they set an example, rather than just kept telling us all what we should be doing and feeling and thinking. The problem with Prince Harry is that he has become more Soho House than House of Windsor, and that is not good. No man has a right to sex Just when you thought wed left Gilead and the Handmaids Tale for good, a judge has spoken out about the fundamental human right of a man to have sex with his wife. The remark was made by Mr Justice Hayden, who has been asked to consider imposing a court order preventing a man from having sex with his wife of 20 years because she may no longer be able to give her consent. Local social services believe the woman, who has learning difficulties, may lack the mental capacity to make her own decision. Lawyers have suggested that a judge might have to bar the husband from continuing to have sex with his wife in order to ensure that the woman is not raped. He has offered to give an undertaking not to have sex with his wife. I cannot think of any more obviously fundamental human right than the right of a man to have sex with his wife and the right of the state to monitor that, he said. I think he is entitled to have it properly argued. It is a sad and complicated case. However, I do hope we have reached a point in this country where no man has a legal right to insist upon sex with his wife or any other woman. The Daily Mail has long been campaigning for regulators to have a close look at sharp practices in the funeral industry. Now the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are on the case. Good. The thought that the bereaved are regularly being ripped off is too much to bear, especially when they are at their most vulnerable and racked by grief. Not all funeral directors are charlatans, but the CMA has already warned rogue firms who may be taking advantage of distressed customers that they are on notice. Meanwhile, the rising costs of funerals about 4,000 on average causes some families real hardship. Is that because of keen pricing in the funeral industry? Or is the me-generation pushing funerals down the same route as weddings into an unaffordable extravagance when something simpler would do? I adore Aintrees exuberant fillies It is Ladies Day at Aintree today, which made yesterday The Day Before Ladies Day, but it was still a fashion eye-opener. Some like to mock these peacocking racegoers, but I absolutely love these women. They look like they are having a ball, which in these ghastly times is a tiny triumph of its own. Yes, some of the outfits are side-splitting literally. Yet there is something about the cheery ostentation that is just so uplifting. And also the hope over experience that is so killing. Look at these women! They have planned a sunny weather wardrobe, but were greeted with freezing spring temperatures. Yet there were no cosy cardigans nor comfortable footwear in this exotic paddock of pain. The only ladies I saw wearing smart suits and hats with a darling chequered trim were called policewomen. Each year Aintree officials say they are going to impose a more demure dress code but, thank goodness, they never do. Ra-ra skirts, plunge front dresses, nightclub curves plus racy underwear? All present and correct. And theyre off! J.K. Rowling has won her case against the personal assistant who fraudulently obtained 18,734 from her accounts. Amanda Donaldson spent the money on toiletries, coffees from Costa and Cafe Nero and stationery from Paper Tiger. She also took nearly 8,000 in foreign currency and 2,000 in cash. Considering that Rowling is worth over 500 million, her thievery was meek, unimaginative and crushingly sad. J.K. Rowling had every right to drag her through the courts, but one wonders why she didnt report it to the police instead. The publicity that has resulted means that Miss Donaldsons life and career prospects are in ruins. Yet she must blame herself for that and not her merciless employer. Spare us the shades of grey Forget the pink and the blue and the colourful mobiles, grey is now the most popular colour in baby nursery home decor. What more proof do you need that its all about the selfish parents, not about the welfare of the little children? Poor little grubs, growing up in a monochrome prison of dreary asphalt and elephant paint shades. Their little buggy eyes must yearn for something bright to alight upon, but they have to realise mummy and daddys good taste must come first. John Lewis has reported that the paint trends for the nursery of 2019 finds parents opting for neutral shades in grey and cream. Naturally, Harry and Meghan (them again) are bang on trend. They are using expensive Auro paints to decorate the nursery at Frogmore. A ten-litre pot of the German brand paint costs 120 several times the price of Dulux. However, it doesnt smell, isnt toxic and it breaks down pollutants, too. Even the names of the colours are marvellous. Have the royals gone for Wood Spurge, Constance Spry, Meconopsis or Yorkshire Fog Grass? How about Mind Your Own Business? Not being rude, its another paint name, for a lovely pastel brown. Will Barbara be a born again star? Before there was Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, there was Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. They starred in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, which was also a huge hit. In that version, Esther (Barbra) told self-destructive John (Kris) that: You can trash your own life, but you are not going to trash mine. In similar scenes, a rather more conciliatory Ally (Gaga) told Jack (Bradley): Next time you can clean up your own mess. Do we live in kinder times? And is a resurrection planned? Under a photo of her and Kris, Barbra told fans to stay tuned. Like a rose under the April snow, she was always certain that love would grow. Is it about to bloom again? Be still my hopeful heart. Almost 20 years since he first appeared as dour DI John Rebus, John Hannah's back playing another Scottish detective in new BBC1 thriller The Victim. Set in Glasgow and Edinburgh, it stars John as DI Steven Grover alongside Trainspotting's Kelly Macdonald and rising star James Harkness, and as events play out over four hour-long episodes being shown on consecutive nights this week it will be up to viewers to decide which of the characters is the real victim. 'It puts the audience front and centre in terms of how they react to the drama,' says John. 'I think people will have a gut reaction to what happens, but then they'll find that reaction being questioned. 'They might well change their minds over the course of the four hours.' From left: James Harkness plays Craig Myers, Kelly Macdonald stars as Anna Dean and John Hannah plays D.I. Steven Grover in the gritty new BBC drama about a murdered child Kelly's character, Anna Dean, is a grieving mother whose nine-year-old son Liam was brutally murdered 15 years before by a boy four years his senior called Eddie J Turner. Turner's now been released from jail and is allegedly living under the pseudonym Craig Myers, but an anonymous post on social media claims to know where he is. The message receives thousands of likes, and Myers (James Harkness) a hard-working family man is visited by a hooded figure who viciously attacks him. But is Myers really Eddie J Turner? Whoever wrote the social media message stands accused of incitement to murder, and Anna Dean is an obvious suspect given that she's long campaigned for the killer's new identity and whereabouts to be revealed. And she seems even more likely to be the perpetrator when she's visited by DI Grover. Frustrated by the fact Turner was released after just seven years of his life sentence, she comes across as an angry woman intent on revenge. 'I've thought about taking the law into my own hands every day since my son was killed 15 years ago,' she tells Grover. We also learn in the first episode that Grover has been seconded to the Glasgow area from Edinburgh while some allegations against him are investigated, but is there any truth to them? As the drama progresses, the viewer is invited to decide whether Anna Dean, Craig Myers or indeed DI Grover is the real victim. James Harkness as Craig Myers, with his onscreen daughter Jessica Myers. The drama will explore if it's a case of mistaken identity and let the viewer decide who the victim really is 'I'm sure opinions will change,' says Kelly Macdonald. 'Your loyalties will be shifting from one character to another; it'll keep everyone on their toes.' The Victim marks an unexpected return to the ranks of TV cops for John, who appeared as various boys in blue early in his career, including DS Frankie Drinkall in BBC1's Out Of The Blue as well as Rebus. He enjoyed working on swords-and-sandals series Spartacus so much that when it ended in 2011, he vowed not to return to cop shows. 'I said to my agent,"'I don't care what it is, I don't want to do any more of them." He couldn't, however, resist taking another detective role, in a comedy poking fun at the genre, Sky's A Touch Of Cloth, the following year. 'After that I thought, "Now I definitely won't do any more cop shows." 'But now here we are with The Victim. I wanted to be a part of this because the character I'm playing is so interesting and it's an extremely powerful piece of work in which a lot of highly relevant issues are explored. And I found I could switch off from it. I'm old, I can do that! I certainly didn't get carried away with the emotion of the piece.' 'I wanted to be a part of this because the character I'm playing is so interesting and it's an extremely powerful piece of work in which a lot of highly relevant issues are explored. 'And I found I could switch off from it. 'I'm old, I can do that! I certainly didn't get carried away with the emotion of the piece.' John, who's married to actress Joanna Roth and father to 15-year-old twins Gabriel and Astrid, says that he benefited from being on his own while filming, not because playing DI Grover made him difficult to live with but because it allowed him to focus on the work. 'It was nice to have a space where I wasn't making the tea for everybody or trying to get the children to go to bed. 'Instead, I was just going back to my flat in Glasgow after I'd finished work and preparing for the next day's filming. To have that space was important.' His co-star James Harkness, who's married with an 18-month-old son named Clark, also stayed away from his family. 'My wife and son were going to come and visit me during filming but because of the subject matter of the drama they didn't, so I didn't see them throughout the whole production,' says Glaswegian James, 29, who's best known as Private Basteren in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. 'It was hard but it would have been hard too to jump back into that family unit and then come back to a production that raises questions about murder and abuse. 'It wasn't easy, but we felt it was the right way to go when the drama was so intense.' The Victim is never more intense than the scenes in Edinburgh's High Court, a version of which was specially built in a warehouse in Glasgow, and then disassembled and put into storage ahead of a potential second series. The first episode begins and ends in the courtroom although, initially, it's not clear who's on trial and for what offence. It was the real-life criminal trial of South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius that inspired Rob Williams to write the story in the first place. 'I'd been talking to executive producer Sarah Brown at STV, who made The Victim for the BBC, about Oscar Pistorius and how court cases retain that particular power to polarise opinion,' he says. 'I was fascinated by that particular trial, where Pistorius stood accused of murdering his girlfriend, because it was possible to take opposite sides and be either absolutely convinced he didn't mean to kill his girlfriend, or absolutely convinced he did. 'I think The Victim will also polarise opinion.' The impact of social media is another key part of the drama. 'It shows how it has started to influence the law and how the law is struggling to keep up with it,' says Rob. 'The Victim shows how easy it is to accuse somebody of something on a social media platform however outrageous it might be and cause this huge ripple, affecting the life of the person accused and the lives of the people around them. Digital media has a unique and unprecedented power.' Advertisement All of us know what our planet looks like from above. We know the shapes of the continents, the intense blueness of the oceans and the iridescence of the land. We also know that our home is round, and that we float in the infinite blackness of space. We take all this knowledge for granted, and yet we forget just how recently we acquired it. The first known aerial photograph was only taken 161 years ago, and the very first shots of the planet from space were taken in 1946. Elephants on the move: A mother elephant and her baby, pictured on the ground in Buffalo Springs, Kenya. The herd was also spotted via satellite Can you spot the elephants? The satellite image of the herd (zoomed out) in Buffalo Springs, Kenya It wasn't until around 20 years later that the first colour photograph of the whole Earth was taken by a satellite. Our picture of the world is therefore almost brand new, and there is still so much more we can learn about our planet when we view it from the heavens. With cameras and optics improving all the time, we are now able to zoom in on any part of the Earth and peer closely at it, as if we were studying cells through a powerful microscope. It is this awe-inspiring focus on the world that is the reasoning behind a magnificent four-part BBC series called Earth From Space, which harnesses the power of aerial imagery to teach us about the natural world and man's impact upon it. Elephants are a staple of many nature documentaries, and Earth From Space is no exception. However, you will not have seen elephants in quite the same way as those which are shown in Kenya's Buffalo Springs National Reserve, where some of these vast creatures are tracked using collars that are connected to global positioning satellites. Using this data, the documentary decided to try something ambitious to simultaneously film the elephants from the ground while they were being photographed from space. Two islands become one: Hunga Tonga and Hunga Haapai (pictured left) before the 2015 eruption of a volcano joined the two islands in the Tonga archipelago together (right) 'It was exciting and a touch surreal to be with the elephants, knowing that hundreds of kilometres above us the satellite was taking a picture,' says the series director Barny Revill. 'It was also a nervous time, as the satellite passed over just once a day; so if there was a single cloud overhead at the precise moment it was taking its image, there would have been nothing to see.' Astonishingly, the crew was in luck, because they received the satellite image of a female elephant called Raine and her new baby at the precise moment they were filming them on the ground. 'Receiving the image in the field was an incredible moment,' says Barny. Yes, that's a circular lake: An eroded crater has formed Lake Manicouagan, Quebec, which takes the shape of an unbroken ring of water 'Knowing that we had filmed an elephant family on the ground, in the air from a drone, and actually from space, all at the same time, was mind-blowing.' But the satellite imagery isn't just simply the provider of impressive camera angles. As the programme shows, the satellites reveal much about the elephants' habitat. In one arresting image, the effects of climate change on the previously lush vegetation near a river in Kenya's north is all too apparent, with the ground scorched deep red. The opposite problem to drought is also caused by climate change. The effects of flooding in countries such as India and Bangladesh are evident when seen from space. The world's most colourful mines: These are potash mines in Moab, Utah in the US. Colourful dyes are used to speed up the crystallisation process of the potassium in the water Photos show how the colour of rivers changes from silver to brown as silt is washed down from the Himalayas during the monsoon. Although the monsoon is a regular feature of the climate, the sheer intensity and volumes of recent monsoons have caused widespread damage, with hundreds of thousands of people losing their homes. Another image reveals how much of the Great Barrier Reef has been bleached by rising temperatures, and there's a striking shot of a receding glacier in Alaska. As well as revealing so much of the land, satellite imagery tells us a huge amount about the oceans, and the creatures that live in them. Populations of whales can actually be counted from space, and in the Mediterranean, fin whales are also monitored from satellites that are 300 miles or more above. The photographs also show the location of phytoplankton, which in turn supports zooplankton, which is eaten by krill, which are then eaten by whales. The bleaching of the Great Barrier Reed: Satellite images show how temperature increases have caused bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef As the location of the plankton changes throughout the year, the whales are monitored following it around. Sadly, the whales are often hit by ships, especially when they go through shipping lanes such as the Suez Canal in Egypt or the Straits of Gibraltar. It's hoped the data about whale movements gathered from space may bring about changes in restrictions on ships' courses. But the programme also looks at human beings. Although it is thought that military satellites can zoom in on individuals, commercial satellites are not far behind. Some of the most striking scenes in the series are those of the 35,000 students at a martial arts academy in Dengfeng in China's central Henan province, who are pictured displaying their kung fu in choreographed groups by satellites that are some 430 miles above them. As the choreography is so precise and so strict, each student knows that if he makes an error, the entire group has to perform all over again. When the BBC visited, the pressure for perfection was even more intense. Fortunately there were no slip-ups, and watching the performance from space is the most extraordinary spectacle. Africa at Sunrise: Sunrise at the Okavango Delta in Africa, as seen from the International Space Station Humans, of course, have had a huge impact on the planet, and although it would be tempting for the series to focus on the negative, some of the imagery, especially of agriculture, is beautiful to behold. The brilliant red of acres and acres of chillies drying in the sun outside a town in the Gobi Desert is breathtaking, rivalled only by a huge 'slick' of brilliant cranberries encircled by a floating man-made ring in a cranberry bog. Then there is the Netherlands, famous for its flower industry, and the shots of millions of flowers growing in perfect geometric patterns look like paintings by Mondrian, or a very neat patchwork quilt. More striking is a potash mine near Moab in Utah in the United States. Viewed from space, you might be forgiven for thinking someone had spray-painted the rocks, so vivid are the colours of the dyes that are added to the potash lakes. The dyes are added to speed up the crystallisation process the darker colours absorb more sunlight and heat and thereby increase productivity. The multiplicity of the planet's natural colours is especially memorable, and the colours reveal so much. London by night: London shows up brightly at night from the International Space Station, with the dark waters of the River Thames meandering through the city The dull brown of guano (droppings) on Antarctica's white snow tells scientists penguins have recently been in the area, while the beautiful sapphire colour of lakes in Greenland belies the awful truth that such lakes are the results of glaciers melting. Of course, animals also come in all sorts of wonderful colours, and can often blend into their environment. Viewers get to take a peek at Lake Natron, which lies in the East African Rift in northern Tanzania. At its deepest, Natron is only three metres deep, and much of it evaporates during the dry season, leaving behind minerals and salts. Youd be forgiven for thinking the image above is a frozen river. But its a road, carved into the snow at a depth of 50-65 feet, its banks dwarfing the traffic passing along its 60 miles (below ) in the Japanese Alps. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Road is not just a physical marvel for many it also represents a spiritual pilgrimage, as it passes near Mount Tateyama, one of Japans three holy mountains. Although this road is shut during winter, enormous ploughs clear hundreds of thousands of tons of snow in spring to reopen the entire snaking length. Another attraction for the busloads of tourists who visit is the chance to glimpse a ptarmigan, birds which are reputedly messengers from God, bringing good luck and happiness to whoever spots them even if that is through a satellite camera. This makes the lake so alkaline that it has a pH value of around ten about the same level as ammonia solution. One of the few things that can survive in such caustic conditions is a form of salt-tolerant cyanobacteria, which make the water look orange and deep red. Amazingly, the lake is also home to some 2.5 million pink lesser flamingos. From a satellite, you can make out their pink forms blending into the orange and red of the lake. You might have expected that such a hot and almost poisonous environment would not make a great home for the birds, but it is thought they are attracted to Natron because of an absence of predators, who would rather hunt for prey in more pleasant conditions. Then there are the weird shapes only seen from space. A body of water in Quebec looks like a perfect ring. Another in Peru, home to giant river otters, looks like a huge curved symbol. A network of rice paddies on a hillside is as mesmerising as the paths hippos make through grasslands and swamps, and the interlacing channels of deltas are as fiendish as any maze devised by humans. Lake Natron in Tanzania (below) is home to millions of lesser flamingos. A micro-organism that thrives on the salty water has turned it a deep orange and red, blending with the pink of the birds when seen from a satellite. Spot the flamingos! Lake Natron in Tanzania spotted via satellite camera from out of space An area of partially-flooded sand dunes is so surreal it is difficult to work out what you're looking at. Satellites also reveal to Western eyes at least features that could almost be described as 'lost worlds'. In 2012, by looking at satellite imagery, a scientist from Oxford Brookes University called Julian Bayliss 'discovered' an isolated mountain in northern Mozambique that had pushed itself some 700 metres above the surrounding rainforest. On top of the mountain called Mount Lico was a 'secret' rainforest, that was of course entirely separate from the surrounding trees. Last year, Julian led an expedition to the mountain, during which he found some ancient pots that had been ceremonially placed near the source of a stream. Ancient man had clearly got there before both Bayliss and the satellites. 'One thing's for sure humans really do get everywhere,' Julian ruefully observed. The big lake of life: This satellite picture shows an enormous oxbow lake that has been cut off from the main river in the Peruvian Amazon. Locals call it El Dorado, and it is a haven for many of the Amazons creatures, such as manatees, river dolphins and giant river otters A glacier retreat: All over the world, glaciers are retreating due to global warming. The Bear Glacier in Alaska, seen here, is losing about 0.75 metres each year. As it recedes, icebergs break off into the lake, floating like shards of glass Lagoons in the sand dunes: This is the corrugated surface of Lencois Marahenses in Brazil. The roughly 1,500 square kilometres of white sand dunes are transformed every rainy season by 1,195mm of rain accumulating as lagoons in troughs between the dunes But while most landforms are ancient, satellites are especially good at keeping track of lands that are brand new. Take, for example, two islands in the Tonga archipelago called Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai. Until 2015, they were quite happily leading separate lives, minding their own business, until a volcano erupted between them, causing it to push up to the surface and join the two islands. The volcanic ash has reacted with the warm seawater and a hard rock has been formed that scientists believe will last for several decades so the two Hungas will stay attached for many years to come. There is lots about the modern world we may not like, but to view our planet from hundreds of miles in the sky really does make you feel grateful to be alive today. Ultimately, it makes you feel out of this world. n Earth From Space by Michael Bright & Chloe Sarosh, published by BBC Books, price 25. Adapted here by Guy Walters. To order a copy for 20 visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640, p&p is free. Spend 30 on books and get FREE premium delivery. Valid until 20/04/2019. Earth From Space begins on Wednesday 17 April at 9pm on BBC1. Stacey Dooley is renowned for her strong Southern twang, but the Strictly champion has blasted people's 'obsession' with her accent, calling it 'f****** boring'. The 32-year-old documentary maker from Luton, Bedfordshire, slammed the BBC for being dominated by middle class, male Oxbridge elites. 'When you go into current affairs, and the BBC is particularly guilty, it's very middle-class, Oxbridge-educated and male-dominated,' she told Cosmopolitan magazine. 'But it's refreshing to have different perspectives. It's healthy to surround yourself with people who don't think the same as you, vote the same as you or read the same papers as you. It's refreshing to have different perspectives. The obsession with my accent is so f****** boring, though.' Stacey Dooley revealed she thought obsession about her accent was 'f***** boring' and said it was 'healthy' to work with people who didn't have the same viewpoint as you The Strictly star is best known for presenting hard-hitting documentaries, such as when she visited Iraq (above) The red-headed television star was raised on a council estate by single mum Diane and previously admitted she was 'lucky' to find fame. Stacey, who once dated a drug dealer, came to the small screen aged 19 when she was chosen as one of six teens to visit India's notorious child sweatshops and be filmed for BBC Three documentary, Blood, Sweat And T-shirts. From there she went on to front her own documentary series: Stacey Dooley Investigates. She tackled topics including how tourism in Thailand and Kenya is affecting the locals, and interviewed Islamists and members of the English Defence League. The red head revealed she thought the BBC was dominated by middle class, Oxbridge-educated men Stacey told Cosmopolitan magazine that she knew she 'wasn't everyone's cup of tea,' but admitted she tried to let criticism go as much as she could More recently, the documentary film maker travelled to Russia, Iraq and Hungary to explore challenging issues such as child exploitation, sex offenders, war and domestic violence. She told how she knew she wasn't going to be loved by everyone, but admitted she tried to let any criticism go over her head. 'I have accepted that you're never going to be everyone's cup of tea,' she told the publication. 'You could be the juiciest peach in the bar and some f*cker won't like peaches. But you can't value yourself on other people's opinions so you have to let it go.' The down-to-earth star also was also keen to highlight earned her stripes and wasn't bothered about proving herself to people. Stacey is renowned for tackling difficult subject matter, including visiting Mosul, where she met the women fighting ISIS (pictured) In December last year, Stacey lifted the Strictly Come Dancing trophy with dance partner Kevin Clifton (pictured) During the interview, she also refuted claims her success is down to her talent, instead stating that she just works incredibly hard. 'I know Im not where I am because Im insanely talented,' she told the magazine. 'If you want to do well and you want nice bits, you have to work harder than everyone else for it.' In 2018, Dooley was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to broadcasting. In recent weeks its been reported that Stacey has split from long-term boyfriend Sam Tucknott. The documentary maker was the winner of Strictly Come Dancing last year, and is said to have formed a close friendship with her dance partner Kevin Clifton. When it comes to scoring a bargain, shopping at your local secondhand shop is likely to turn up a staggering range of deals. To prove this is the case, Australian financial expert Canna Campbell took a trip to the Salvos store located in Sydney's Tempe to see what she could find. In a recent YouTube clip for SugarMama TV, the mum-of-one scoured the aisles along with thrifty celebrity stylist Faye De Lanty. While there, she found Louboutin heels for just $35, as well as martini glasses for $8 and a designer-inspired chair for a fraction of the price. Scroll down for video Australian financial guru Canna Campbell (pictured) has revealed how to shop an op shop and walk away with a plethora of bargains 1. Designer home furnishing for a fraction of the price The savvy shopper said these chairs normally retail for $700 each - they were priced at $340 each at her local Salvation Army store Canna is famed for having saved a staggering $36,000 in just 13 months - all in addition to her regular salary. And while she's no stranger to shopping for bargains, she also loves a chic home and so when a pair of leather Marlboro chairs caught her eye, she was delighted. 'These normally retail for $700 each and they are priced at $340 each in Salvos,' Canna said in a clip. 'They are white leather with a beautiful gorgeous leather frame. They are so chic and so classic they would go perfectly in so many homes.' 2. Shop for unopened toys and unique kids' clothing items Canna said it is possible to purchase secondhand toys (pictured) which are unopened from op shops If you need to shop for a child but don't have a huge amount of money to spend, browsing the aisles of a secondhand store can prove a goldmine. Canna said she'd seen racks of children's clothing in very good condition and that she'd also come across shelves of unopened kids toys. 'So next Christmas or next time you have to go to a kids' birthday party, or it's your own kids' birthday party, head out to your local Salvation Army,' she said. 'Now that you know this why would you want to go to your local mall and spend 10 times the amount of money and add to more landfill.' Unopened children's toys cost between $5 and $15. Children's clothing ranges between $5 and $20. 3. Cast your eye over shelves of women's shoes Canna revealed how she found a pair of genuine Christian Louboutin (pictured) heels for just $35 When it comes to looking fabulous on a budget, don't forget to scour the shelves of secondhand shoes. The expert revealed that she found not one but two pairs of heels that she absolutely loved. The first, a pair of burgundy suede heels, priced at $15, came with studded detail across the front and ankle strap. Canna said these shoes had never been worn and would look 'fantastic with a nice pair of skinny black denim jeans'. Canna said these burgundy suede heels (pictured) would look 'fantastic with a pair of skinny black jeans' The second pair she found were genuine Louboutin heels for $35 in a very fashionable shade of nude. 'Check out these Christian Louboutin heels I found. They are authentic, they are a size 36 and they are in perfect condition. I think you would be able to sell these on eBay or Facebook groups like High End for at least $150. 'So there are actually opportunities here to hustle up some extra cash.' 4. Shop secondhand for a stunning range of homewares Secondhand shopping can turn up all manner of bargains, such as these martini glasses, priced at $8 If you are needing to deck out your kitchen and don't have a lot to spend, shopping secondhand can turn up all manner of gems. Thrifty celebrity stylist Faye De Lanty (pictured) believes you can score a range of excellent deals shopping secondhand Canna revealed how she discovered three boxes of unopened martini glasses for just $8, a pasta maker in the box priced at $12 and bright red kitchen scales for $12. 'Faye pointed out to me when you shop at these stores you often find really unique pieces that you're not going to find in major department stores,' Canna said. 5. Pick up camera gear for rock bottom prices As well as being able to purchase furniture, clothing and kitchenware, remember secondhand shops also stock affordably priced camera gear. 'If you are a budding photographer before you go an expand your collection by buying new lenses and new cameras why don't you pop down here and have a look at what they've already got. 'You'll save yourself a tonne of money.' Faye reports recently purchasing a secondhand Canon camera from the store in perfect working order for $85. Small auto-focus lenses retail secondhand for $50 while large auto focus lenses are $100 plus. 6. Decorate your home with stunning coffee table books Canna (pictured with thrifty celebrity stylist Faye Delanty, right) was very excited to find this coffee table book in excellent condition for a mere $25 What are eco stylist Faye's top tips for op shopping? 1. Start simply: Start with a simple plan of attack when heading to the op shop. Only look for what you would actually wear and build from there, whether that's a white T-shirt and a good pair of jeans or a trench coat and pencil skirt. 2. Let restriction be your reinvention: Just because something was made for one reason, it doesn't mean you can't wear it for another. For instance, say you find a bridal corset in an op shop. What is to say this won't work for a formal outfit? Get creative and this is what will get you the most compliments with outfits. 3. Do your homework: Get interested in fashion. Read magazines, fashion blogs and watch the catwalks. Be curious, as the more you know the more you can recreate what you see with secondhand. 4. Be prepared with an idea in mind: While it's good to let your mind be swayed once you're in a store, at least for your first few trips it's good to go in with an idea in mind of what you want to buy. 5. Have a good dressmaker available: Faye also recommends having a good dressmaker on speed dial as tailoring a good find is less expensive than buying it new. 6. Shop the men's section as well: Embrace the male section for white collared shirts, over-sized blazers and cool vintage T-shirts. You might be surprised at what you find. 7. Customise outfits: Just because you've bought something, that doesn't mean that it's best as it is. Cut it up, add tassels, ribbons and various customised elements. This is what will set your outfit apart even further. 8. Look everywhere: Lastly, Faye said you should always look everywhere when op shopping as things won't automatically be set out neatly for you. She found a gorgeous Sheike cocktail dress on the floor at Salvos' Store in Tempe, Sydney. Advertisement Nothing adds a touch of elegance to a home more than an artfully curated selection of coffee table books. However, buying these new can be expensive which is why it pays to take a look at what's on offer secondhand. One book Canna got very excited about was the Big Book of Chic - which she revealed came with the rock bottom price of just $25. 'These can retail for between $80 to $100. This is so elegant and would look so nice on a coffee table with a candle, maybe some flowers.' Canna added those with a savvy eye could also make some extra cash on-selling books once they'd read them. 'I know people who sell their books through Gumtree, through eBay, through those Facebook groups. 'You could potentially make a profit, which is fantastic.' More than one million people have watched a first-time mother give birth on a YouTube video she uploaded to her popular health and fitness channel. Sarah Stevenson, who is better known as 'Sarah's Day' online, shared the pre-labour, contractions and eventual delivery of her son Fox Ocean Tilse on March 29. The 26-year-old from Sydney's Sutherland Shire region has been praised by her thousands of subscribers for giving an insight into the raw and emotional experience of childbirth. Strangers commented that the footage 'made them cry'. Scroll down for video More than one million people have watched a first-time mother (pictured with her partner) give birth on a YouTube video she uploaded to her popular health and fitness channel Sarah endured a 30 hour-long labour, before she eventually asked for an epidural to 'calm her body' and help her give birth. The video shows the entirety of Sarah's birthing process, which began on Sunday March 24 when she experienced mild contractions. At this point, walking up and down a flight of stairs and bouncing on a gym ball was her only relief. Sarah relied on her boyfriend Kurt, a filmmaker, and sister Emily, who is a midwife, for support when she finally made her way to the hospital on Tuesday March 26. When she was there, viewers of the video could see that Kurt was constantly trying to support her, while Sarah was in visible pain. She relied on her boyfriend Kurt (pictured), a filmmaker, and sister Emily, who is a midwife, for support as she finally made her way to the hospital on Tuesday March 26 In a particularly poignant scene of the 25-minute video Sarah's mother can be seen praying in front of her daughter, who is trying to get some relief from the pain by standing in the shower. 'This is what our bodies are built for... Father we pray for some energy,' Sarah's mother utters throughout the spiritual moment. After 30 hours of labour Sarah was still only 5cm dilated and the pain was becoming too much for her 'mind and body to handle'. She then asked for an epidural to relax her body. In a particularly poignant scene of the 25-minute video Sarah's mother can be seen praying in front of her daughter, who is trying to get some relief from the pain by standing in the shower 'This was probably the most raw emotional video I've ever watched on YouTube,' one person said. 'I've never actually cried during a video until this one. What an incredible journey. 'It's crazy how much love goes into birthing a child. Love from the mother and all of her support system. 'You are such a strong human being and this video really shows the extent of it. Thank you for making this video!'. Another said: 'If I ever get pregnant I'm showing this video to my man so he knows exactly how to act. Kurt was incredible.' Sarah will continue to update her followers on Fox's progress and her experience of breastfeeding as her son grows and changes Towards the last few minutes of the video Sarah can be seen 'pushing', her face a contorted grimace as she focused on the job at hand. 'I really felt that. It's overwhelmingly raw and honest and I have definitely cried,' one person commented. Sarah will continue to update her followers on Fox's progress and her experience of breastfeeding as her son grows and changes. A seven-year-old who loves unicorns has revamped IKEA's iconic yellow and blue striped flag after she wrote a letter to the Swedish homewares store. The idea to change the flags struck Charlotte on her way to school, as each day she and her mum's commute would take them past their local IKEA in Springvale, South East Melbourne. To make her dream come true, Charlotte wrote a letter to IKEA's bosses asking if they'd consider making some changes to their flags and consider her designs. 'Dear IKEA boss, can you please change the boring old flags near the road in Springvale to these pictures,' Charlotte began her note. Seven-year-old Charlotte (pictured) is unicorn-obsessed and recently wrote to IKEA to request they consider adding the mythical animal to their flags Charlotte wrote this letter to IKEA bosses at the Springvale store she passed each day on her way to school Her letter also included drawings she thought would look good on the company's flags, showing unicorns saying the word 'IKEA'. In a surprising twist, Charlotte's letter made it into the right hands and a response was issued to the young girl from Julian, IKEA's Springvale manager. 'We think you are right, they are a bit boring,' Julian wrote. 'We actually really love unicorns too, and we loved your idea so much we've decided to make a whole day out of it and celebrate Unicorn Day with the new flag.' The seven-year-old's letter made it into the right hands and she received a reply telling her the flag would be updated to include unicorns IKEA's flags are usually the same blue and yellow colour as their buildings (pictured) Charlotte's mum Rachael told Daily Mail Australia the family were really proud of her for writing a letter to the 'IKEA boss' suggesting he change the flags to her favourite animal. 'We are blown away by IKEA's response. It's going to be so exciting for Charlotte to see her design on a flag at our local IKEA in Springvale and for the whole family to be involved in the great activities the store is putting on. 'I love that my daughter is seeing that she can influence the world around her.' A new flag that incorporates Charlotte's cute design will be flown from the store's flagpoles for two weeks starting from April 9 - which is National Unicorn Day. This flag (pictured) will be hoisted at IKEA on National Unicorn Day, April 9, and will fly at the Springvale store for two weeks Charlotte's inspirational idea has also caught the attention of Jan Gardberg, CEO at IKEA, who said he was impressed with the seven-year-old's creativity: 'We have been inspired that this little girl has shown her creativity in such a unique way, and we are excited to celebrate her drawings whilst making it a reality and bringing it to life,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'At IKEA we are always looking for new ways to work and unlock potential and this is a brilliant example of us working together with the community to do so.' A photographer who shared emotional images of a breast cancer survivor on social media has revealed her shock at being banned from Facebook because of one topless image. Lauren Crooke, who works as a boudoir photo taker in Western Australia, was asked to take images of a woman who had suffered a botched double mastectomy, and the shoot was one of her favourite to date. 'She had a double mastectomy and six months later they put in implants,' Ms Crooke told FEMAIL. Lauren Crooke , who works as a boudoir photo taker in Western Australia, was asked to take images of a woman who had suffered a botched double mastectomy (pictured) What is boudoir photography? Boudoir photography is a photographic style featuring intimate, romantic and sometimes erotic images of its subjects in a photographic studio, bedroom or private dressing room environment. It is usually a portrait only made to share with close friends of the model. Advertisement 'The surgeon completely hacked at her breast tissue despite her warning him that she scars badly, and has left her with extremely bad keloid scarring - a large, raised scar - on her breasts. 'The entire shoot was so huge for her. 'She cried and cried every time I showed her the images as she couldn't believe that she could actually be beautiful.' At the end of their scheduled time together Ms Crooke asked if she would like to go topless, to which the woman agreed. 'The result was one of the most beautiful images I've ever had the privilege to take,' Ms Crooke said. 'Seeing herself topless and seeing beauty was never a possibility, but she finally saw it and it was truly, truly wonderful. 'Small miracles are special in the world these days when we are amongst so much tragedy and heartache.' Despite the topless nature of the photo, Ms Crooke said she goes for a 'pretty subtle and beautiful' angle to her portraits, rather than raunchy. This is appreciated by her followers as she's never had anything reported or banned from Facebook before - and doesn't get 'sleazy' comments on any of her snaps. 'The entire shoot was so huge for her. She cried and cried every time I showed her images as she couldn't believe that she could actually be beautiful,' she said This was why it was so devastating that after uploading the breast cancer survivor's images, they were banned by Facebook. 'Facebook shut it down completely. They blocked me for 24 hours despite me trying constantly to appeal,' she said. 'After coming off the ban a few days later I tried again in a group and again I was banned immediately, this time for three days. 'There are no nipples (because it's a double mastectomy) and her underwear is on. Their rules even state that mastectomy scars are allowed to be published,' she said (pictured) Sadly, the ban is not coming from being reported by someone on her social accounts, but rather an autobot deciding it doesn't meet Facebook's guidelines 'Next time will be a week, then a month and then possibly permanently. 'There are no nipples (because it's a double mastectomy) and her underwear is on. Their rules even state that mastectomy scars are allowed to be published.' Sadly, the ban is not coming from being reported by someone on her social accounts, but rather an autobot deciding it doesn't meet Facebook's guidelines. 'I totally understand that Facebook have a big job to do managing a billion people but their system of autobots just isn't working,' Ms Crooke said. 'We are in a crisis of eating disorders, body dysmorphia and depression. Images like this need to be shown so women (and men) can truly start to understand what beauty looks like.' Ms Crooke, who shoots at Crooked Photography, works with women in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. A man who hit headlines when his fiancee dumped him just weeks before their wedding in 2015 - before he auctioned off his spare honeymoon ticket and went on holiday with a stranger - has proposed to his ex-girlfriend again. John Whitbread, 36, from Leicestershire, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday and explained that he had reconnected with Amy Jackson three years after they split at the end of 2014. With the help of the morning show, he took her to a cafe and popped the question live on ITV with the help of a flash mob posing as diners. An ecstatic Amy said yes, and while many users praised his bravery, others branded the appearance 'a cringe fest'. John Whitbread, 36, from Leicestershire, appeared on Good Morning Britain and took ex-fiancee Amy to a cafe and popped the question live on ITV - with the help of a flash mob posing as diners With the help of Good Morning Britain, John organised a breakfast at a cafe under the pretence it was celebrating its tenth anniversary. Telling Amy he was heading to the toilet, John received a pep talk from the producer who handed him the ring before a choir posing as diners broke into song. The GMB producer was seen leading him out to Amy, before telling her: 'Just to warn you, you are on live TV and I'm not really a waitress. John has a very important question to ask you.' Greeting each other with 'hello', John was seen getting down on one knee before pulling out the ring. He said: You are my best mate, my soul mate. Will you marry me? And with no hesitation, Amy replied: 'Yes!', as the choir cheered before the newly-engaged couple embraced. Telling Amy he was heading to the toilet, John received a pep talk from the producer who handed him the ring before a choir posing as diners broke into song Greeting each other with 'hello', John was seen getting down on one knee before pulling out the ring Explaining to the studio why she pulled the plug on the wedding the first time, she said: 'It all happened really quick, I just panicked and got cold feet.' However she assured them that she would go through with the wedding this time around. Some Twitter users took to social media to praise John, with one writing: 'That is one brave fella! Heres to happily ever after!'. However other were less impressed, with one tweeting: 'That was cringetastic!'. Another added: 'This Jilted John proposal is a cringe fest. Almost enough to put me off my breakfast' 'Omg the Jilted John thing on GMB I cant cope Im cringing so hard!' another said. Elsewhere one commented: 'One way to make sure she doesnt say no a second time, do it on national TV! Cringe overload'. Another viewer tweeted: 'Well that was cringing hell, and put me down for a strip of raffle tickets for next time.' He said: You are my best mate, my soul mate. Will you marry me? And with no hesitation, Amy replied: 'Yes!', as the choir cheered before the newly-engaged couple embraced John became known as Jilted John after after raffling his ex-fiancee's honeymoon place on eBay after his girlfriend told him at Christmas 2014 she did not want to get married. Desperate to find a holiday partner for the 1,950 trip to the Dominican Republic, with lucky winner Kelly Wood - who he met for the first time at the airport. The pair flew to the Caribbean region, where they stayed in the honeymoon suite in single beds and returned as 'good friends but nothing more'. 'That was brave': While many Twitter users praised John's bravery, others branded the appearance 'a cringe fest' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have given the public a unique glimpse into their 2017 trip to Botswana, sharing stunning never-before-seen photos on their new Instagram account. The African country holds a special place in the couple's hearts as Harry took Meghan to his favourite luxury camp Meno a Kwena to celebrate Meghan's 36th birthday and mark their first year together. One of the moving shots shows the royal couple tending to a large bull elephant in the bush, equipping him with a satellite collar. Their Royal Highnesses were assisting Dr. Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders, who is working to protect elephant populations by tracking their movements. Harry and Meghan have shared never-before-seen photos from their 2017 trip to Botswana, including this shot of the couple fixing a satellite collar to a bull elephant The series of shots also includes a moving image of Harry hugging a park ranger in Botswana One image shows the Duke of Sussex addressing local school children as part of his work for the African Parks Network, for which he continues to advocate for the communities and wildlife that coexist in some of the most vulnerable environments around the world There was also a shot of Harry at the Our Planet premiere - David Attenborough's latest project - at the Natural History Museum last night, which he attended with his brother The Duke of Cambridge and father Prince Charles to lend their joint support for the protection of the environment The cascade of images on the Instagram shows Harry embracing a ranger at the park, addressing local school children and a video clip of the sedated elephant regaining consciousness and returning to his herd. There was also a shot of Harry at the Our Planet premiere at the Natural History Museum last night, which he attended with his brother The Duke of Cambridge and father Prince Charles to lend their joint support for the protection of the environment. The caption on the Instagram post read: 'As president of African Parks Network, the Duke of Sussex continues to advocate for the communities and wildlife that coexist in some of the most vulnerable environments around the world. 'Be it human wildlife conflict or natural disasters, these communities (park rangers, school children, families) are on the frontline of conservation and we must do more to help them as we also work to safeguard the animals and landscapes that are in critical danger.' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sent fans into a frenzy as they unveiled a new Instagram account this afternoon. They marked the occasion by sharing a gallery of nine of their favourite photos, including this previously unseen snap taken in Fiji in October last year Meghan shares a light-hearted moment with a well-wisher during a walkabout in Sydney. The image was one of three in the gallery taken on their royal tour last year In another image Meghan is seen embracing two women at the launch of the Hubb Community Kitchen charity cookbook at Kensington Palace in September last year The couple also shared this photo taken on a boat in Sydney Harbour during the Invictus Games in Australia in October last year Harry meets service personnel during a visit to Exercise Clockwork in Bardufoss, Norway, for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Commando Helicopter Force in February It explained how the elephant pictured was sedated for just 10 minutes before he was back on his feet. It went on: 'Tracking his movements has allowed conservationists to better protect him and other elephants and ensure heightened protection for these beautiful creatures moving forward.' Approximately 100 elephants are poached every day for their ivory tusks. Using satellite technology allows conservationists to track their critical migratory patterns and to protect them and the local communities from human wildlife conflict. Harry and Meghan greeting schoolchildren during a visit to Sussex in October last year Prince Harry, seen far right, helping to tip a sedated elephant before it's relocated to a wildlife reserve in Malawi, Africa This image shows girls waiting to catch a glimpse of the royals during their visit to Morocco Another of the snaps shared on Harry and Meghan's Instagram account, believed to be taken during a stop on the royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji last year Harry was rumoured to have proposed in Botswana, and Meghan's engagement ring includes a center diamond from Botswana, which is cushioned by two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's collection. On Meghan's first ever wildlife safari, the couple watched the sun set behind a spectacular vista of acacia thorn trees and green-backed herons fishing in the river. They were photographed as they arrived at Maun airport in Botswana, smiling excitedly as they crossed the tarmac - Harry's arm affectionately around his girlfriend's shoulder. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched their own Instagram account on Tuesday, after previously sharing the kensingtonroyal handle with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Harry and Meghan also shared a photo of their entwined 'HM' monogram, pictured above, along with a brief description announcing the account. The couple previously shared the Kensington Palace Instagram account with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote a note to followers welcoming them to the official Instagram account and thanking them for their support, pictured The profile, described by an expert as 'highly stylised', racked up a staggering 150,000 followers in the 30 minutes after it was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon, and by Wednesday morning had accumulated a record-breaking 2.2 million followers. The Guinness World Records confirmed they had broken the record by reaching the 1 million milestone in just 5 hours and 45 minutes, taking the title from K-Pop star Kang Daniel, who achieved 1 million followers in 11 hours 36 minutes in January. Before this, the record holder was Pope Francis, who reached one million in 12 hours after debuting his verified Vatican media channel franciscus in 2016. Among the followers are celebrities David Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as Princess Eugenie who commented 'welcome cousins'. Kensington Palace's account, which has now been assigned to Prince William and Kate, currently stands at 7.1million followers. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first post - which announced they were joining the social network along with a gallery of their highlights - received 755,000 likes by Wednesday morning. And followers were keen to share their support for Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, who are expecting their first child this month and are expected to share the first picture of their little one online. Harry and Meghan take control of their image with their own Instagram account A brand expert has claimed Harry and Meghan have joined Instagram in an effort to take control of their image An expert has claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have unveiled their own Instagram account in an effort to take control of their image. Nick Ede, Popular Culture Expert and CEO of East of Eden, told The Sun: 'Harry and Megan have shown themselves to be stand out Royals who are embracing their work commitments in a progressive and passionate way. 'Like Kate when she took the official images of her children, I think we will see Harry and Meghan controlling their image and the communication of their life and relationship using Instagram as a tool to do this. 'Meghan had her own popular website, The Tig, which was highly stylised so I suspect she will have a lot of input in the style and what they want to say,' 'It also shows a willingness to be out there in the public eye because Instagram is not for shrinking violets'. Advertisement The profile picture is an image bearing a white version of couple's royal cypher the entwined initials H and M below a coronet on a navy background. Their first post - a picture gallery- was kicked off with the same blue background featuring their monogram, and a welcome message written in a mix of italics and upper case fonts. The carefully chosen pictures featured in the gallery, highlighted the work they are most passionate about, and included their recent visit to a girl's school in Morocco, Harry's work with African conservation charities and Meghan's cooking project with the Grenfell community. In this age of social media, we're constantly bombarded by advertising, but sometimes what it takes to grab your attention is a good old-fashioned sign. And the people behind these adverts, shared to Reddit by amused onlookers from around the world, certainly get top marks for creativity - not to mention brutal honesty. One US bar admitted that it had splashed out on a $400 sign to tempt customers to buy a $6 beer, while a book shop in Johannesburg described itself as the 'second best' in town. From a sign advertising 'genuine fake watches' to a gym inviting 'fat and ugly' clients to come in and lose weight, these hilarious signs At least they're honest! Whoever follows this sign can't complain they did not know what they were getting themselves into Can a rum and coke really be that bad? This pub owner seemed to hold a grudge against a Yelp reviewer, but made the most of it with this very funny sign In need of some motivation? Sometimes a bit of brutal honesty can do the trick when it comes to pushing you to work out Not your everyday wisdom! Whoever put together this sign is not a fan of the softly-softly approach when it comes to life advice Somebody call the Justice League! This building's security team is certainly living on the edge Beer anyone? This business wanted to let its customers know its not afraid of investing in the future Better safe than sorry! A restaurant gave a rather alarming warning to accompany this bottle of hot sauce Other signs included a petty traffic jam notification that simply read: 'You'll never get to work on time ahah!' Another petty sign was put up in front of a house for sales, which read: 'House for sale by owner because my neighbour's an a******.' And an equally petty pub put out it's own chalk board sign which read: 'Come in and try the worst rum & coke that guy on Yelp ever had in his life.' But some of the signs just showed self-awareness from their owners. One sign in front of a Thai restaurant read: 'My English - not very good. My good - is GREAT,' in an attempt to reassure customers. As long as the food is good! Customers are bound to be hoping that the bill gets lost in translation too Mind the kitty! This pet owner was not afraid of bruising their pets' egos in order to keep them from being run over Who doesn't love a good book? This no-nonsense approach might well gain some extra sales A sign from a honest pet owner read: 'Please slow down, my cats are stupid. Another sign tried to manage potential customers' expectation in the most honest of ways: 'I'll do my best but I can't promise anything,' it read. This list would not been confused with some ambiguous signs. One dental practice tried its hands as humours and failed. 'We do our business in your mouth,' read their sign. We're not sure how many clients called after that. Neighbours: whether you love them or hate them, they'll always give you opportunities to come up with a great sign The cheek! Commuters must have been delighted to see this notification on their way to work Fair enough: This business owner believes in the principle of managing his potential clients' expectations We're not sure how many patients called this dental practice after they put out this unfortunate sign Tis the season to be unfaithful? Serial mistress, 49, claims 'Christmas brings out the naughty side in men' Gweneth Lee, 49, who lives in Chelsea, says the festive season is rife with infidelity, revealing her current lovers all plan to betray their wives this yuletide while also playing happy families at home. Princess Beatrice visited Chiltern Firehouse on a romantic date night with her boyfriend in London yesterday. The royal, 30, kept her burgeoning relationship with real estate millionaire Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 34, out of the spotlight when they first started dating in October 2018. But she didn't appear to have any problem being photographed together as they stepped out of the cab at the celebrity hangout. And it seems the couple have good taste as the exclusive restaurant in Marylebone is also favourite with stars including David Beckham, Cara Delevigne and Orlando Bloom. Beatrice opted for a casual look in a head-to-toe black ensemble which included a t-shirt dress featuring feather patterning - and she threw on a smart grey jacket to fend off the chilly weather. Princess Beatrice, 30, and boyfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 34, were spotted arriving at the Chiltern Firehouse on a romantic date night in London on Thursday Beatrice opted for a black t-shirt dress featuring feather patterning and threw on a smart grey jacket to fend off the chilly weather. Meanwhile, the real estate millionaire opted to dress down his dark navy suit with some grey plimsolls Wearing her auburn locks loose, Beatrice, who lives in New York and works full time as a consultant that introduces start-ups to potential financial backers, was pictured clutching her phone in her left hand as her beau followed close behind. Meanwhile, Edoardo dressed down his navy suit with a pair of casual grey plimsolls and a white shirt - leaving the top button undone. And the appearance at the celebrity haunt isn't the first time in recent weeks that Beatrice has stepped out with her boyfriend, who is known as Edo, suggesting their relationship is becoming serious. They put on a very public display of devotion at an A-lister gala fundraiser at the National Portrait Gallery in March, marking their first red carpet together. Wearing her auburn hair loose, the fun-loving royal clutched her phone in her left hand as Edo followed close behind Princess Beatrice kept her burgeoning relationship with the father-of-one out of the spotlight when they first started dating in October 2018, but has been pictured with him on several occasions in recent weeks Rumours Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were dating first emerged late last year and they have since spent time together in New York and Kenya. Edo, who is father to a two-year-old son Wolfie, is thought to have been an acquaintance of Beatrice for years, before their friendship evolved into a romance. He is the stepson of ex-Prime Minister David Cameron's late friend Christopher Shale. Beatrice and Edo went public when they attended the annual gala for the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture in New York in December. Mozzi founded real estate firm in 2007, and serves as its CEO to this day. The company specialises in finding and developing homes for wealthy clients. Prince Charles showed off his pint pulling skills while touring a brewery today, and even enjoyed a sip of the ale. The Prince of Wales visited St Austell Brewery this morning where Tribute, Proper Job and Tinner's Ale are made. He had previously visited in 2001, and appeared to be impressed at how much the brewery had grown since his last trip, reports Cornwall Live. The royal toured the facilities, met suppliers and spoke with representatives from the Pub is the Hub initiatives during the trip. Prince Charles, 70, pulled himself a pint during a visit to St Austell brewery in Cornwall today The royal, pictured, toured the facilities and spoke about his Pub Is The Hub initiative before showing his pint pulling skills to guests at the brewery which was founded in 1851 Prince Charles, pictured, appeared to enjoy the pint of Tribute ale that he poured for himself He also met barley farmers during his visit who explained how the crop is used in the beer-making process. After a tour Prince Charles was invited to pull a pint for himself, with the royal opting for a glass of Tribute. A young man stood back from the pump and let Charles show off his skills, as the rest of the guests watched. Prince Charles donned a striped grey suit with a bright purple tie for his engagement today. When he spoke to the guests, Prince Charles said: 'Pubs are such an important part of the community. 'When I came last time, I rather cunningly coined the phrase Pub Is The Hub because I was worried about rural pubs closing down. During the visit Charles, right, met barley farmers who explained how the brewing process worked Prince Charles, pictured today, had visited the brewery in 2011 and said he was impressed with how much it had grown since then Prince Charles, pictured, met with suppliers during his visit to the brewery which makes beers such as Tribute and Proper Job 'Long may you go on brewing beer and finding more exciting beers for the next time I come back - if I havent lost everything by then!' Pub Is The Hub is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving community services and activities. The offer advice and support to communities looking to relocate, re-open or introduce vital services and activities in their local pub. St Austell Brewery has been brewing in Cornwall since 1851 after it was founded by Cornishman Walter Hicks. The brewery remains 100 per cent independent and family owned today and has more than 1,000 full and part time employees. Prince Charles was greeted by school children and locals during the visit to Cornwall today It is one of the countys oldest businesses, it is still independent and family-owned. Yesterday the heir to the throne visited the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester. He met members of the Muslim community and learned about the centre's programme of education and community initiatives. While at the centre, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, Charles told those gathered for the visit: 'How important your communities are here in this country.' MasterChef star Ben Milbourne has shared his simple step-by-step recipe to cooking a classic carbonara but with an Australian twist. Despite its popularity, 90 per cent of Australians are still making the same mistake by adding cream to the Italian dish, when traditionally raw eggs are the key ingredient to create the creaminess. To celebrate World Carbonara Day on Saturday April 6, the celebrity chef has teamed up with Barilla to whip up the ultimate 'Carbonara Australiana'. The dish includes Australian produce such as Tasmanian pepperberry and macadamias, paired perfectly with salty bacon and Parmesan cheese. Scroll down for recipe MasterChef star Ben Milbourne (pictured) has shared his simple step-by-step recipe to cooking a classic carbonara but with an Australian twist The 'Carbonara Australiana' dish includes Australian produce such as Tasmanian pepperberry and macadamias, paired perfectly with salty bacon and Parmesan cheese 'Carbonara is one of my favourite dishes to make. The beauty of the dish is in its simplicity - traditionally, it uses only five key ingredients,' Milbourne told Daily Mail Australia. 'But the best thing about carbonara is that you can make it your own, as long as there's no cream. 'For my version, I've created something that still honours tradition, yet celebrates Australian natives. It's a deliciously simple dish and I hope it inspires people to get creative in the kitchen.' Milbourne - who's the ambassador of Barilla - said to cook the cuisine, you will need spaghetti, garlic, olive oi, salt as well as the Australian produce. The easy-to-follow recipe, which serves two people, takes just five minutes to prepare, and 10 minutes to cook. He starts by cooking the spaghetti in a large pot of salted water. To celebrate World Carbonara Day on Saturday April 6, the celebrity chef has teamed up with Barilla to whip up the ultimate 'Carbonara Australiana' Next, he sautes garlic in oil , before adding chopped bacon to the pan. Meanwhile, he mixes grated Parmesan cheese and three whole eggs in a bowl. Add the al dente pasta to the pan with garlic and bacon, along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. He then tosses the Parmesan cheese and egg mix through the hot pasta, before seasoning with cracked pepperberry. Finish by grating macadamia nuts over the top - and add salt to taste. Canada is set to become the second country this month to ban textured breast implants over cancer fears. The country's health department has warned it will follow France's lead if no new evidence proving their safety is produced in the next two weeks. France withdrew the implants from sale today because they have caused cancer in more than 450 women worldwide. Health Canada has warned the implant manufacturer, Allergan, that if it can't reveal new safety evidence for its Biocell implants it will lose its licence for the products. The health department today announced Allergan will be allowed a 15-day window to fight its case. Textured implants were banned in France today and now the Canadian government is threatening to follow suit unless the manufacturer can prove they are safe (stock image) But, if no satisfactory information is submitted to the government, textured implants will be withdrawn from the Canadian market. The French National Agency of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) yesterday announced the implants would no longer be used in the country. It said there was a 'rare but serious danger' of women developing anaplastic large cell lymphoma a type of white blood cell cancer from the implants. A total of 457 women around the world have been diagnosed with this illness, called BIA-ALCL when triggered by implants, according to the FDA in the US. In Canada there have been 28 cases linked to breast implants, with 24 of them involving Allergan's Biocell implant, Health Canada said. Textured implants, of which Allergan is the sole supplier in Canada, are designed to stick to the breast to avoid slipping out of position. But researchers have found they could rub against the internal tissue and cause swelling which could lead to tumours forming. WHAT IS BIA-ALCL? BIA-ALCL is breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. It is a rare but treatable cancer that develops in the immune system around breast implants. By September 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration had received reports of 660 BIA-ALCL cases and nine deaths. Per its latest statistics, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recorded 57 cases of BIA-ALCL since 2011. The cancer most commonly occurs among women who have had breast implants with a textured surface. The disease is a type of T-cell lymphoma, which means it affects lymphocytes, more commonly known as white blood cells. These can start a cancer when one mutates to become abnormal or out of control, then divides into more cancerous cells which spread. BIA-ALCL is a relatively treatable cancer and many patients are declared cancer-free after having the implants and surrounding tissue removed. The survival rate for patients with BIA-ALCL is 89 per cent for five years after being declared cancer-free. It is considered to be a rare illness but estimates of its incidence vary the MHRA believes it to be one case of cancer per every 24,000 implants. Advertisement It is unclear how many women have the textured implants but, in the UK, as many as 99 per cent of women with implants may have them. The company stopped selling them in Europe after France refused to renew its licence in December last year, introducing a de facto ban. UK and US governments, however, have not taken the same action. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has noted 48 cases of BIA-ALCL since it started recording in 2011. It has not banned the implants from being used but the issue remains controversial, and the MHRA urges surgeons to explain the risks to women considering having them. A spokesperson for the MHRA said: 'We are aware of ANSMs announcement concerning breast implants. 'Patient safety is our highest priority and we always investigate where there are safety concerns raised about a medical device. 'Based on our analysis of the latest scientific evidence and expert clinical advice input our advice remains unchanged: there is no new evidence of an increased risk to patients and there is no need for people with breast implants to have them removed. 'If individuals people have any questions about their implants, they should speak to their implanting surgeon or general practitioner.' Advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week finished a hearing about the pros and cons of breast implants. The agency has not yet proposed any change to how implants are used. Allergan is reviewing Health Canada's notice and intends to respond within the deadline, a company spokeswoman told Reuters. MailOnline has contacted Allergan for further comment. A dog has been diagnosed with the parasitic disease leishmaniosis in what is thought to be the first reported case of a pet getting infected with the tropical disease within the UK. The three-year-old Shih Tzu, who lives in Hertfordshire, became increasingly ill with vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss over three weeks. Having never left the British isles, vets suspect the pooch caught the Leishmania infantum parasite from another dog it lived with. This dog had come over from Spain and was put down six months earlier after developing severe leishmaniosis. Although dogs cannot transmit leishmaniosis directly to humans, sand flies can act as a reservoir for the infection by biting the popular pets and then passing the infection onto people. Sand flies are not found in the UK, however, humans infected in tropical regions can endure oozing sores, fever, and even deadly swelling of the liver and spleen. The three-year-old Shih Tzu, who lived in Hertfordshire, became increasingly ill with vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss over three weeks. The pooch became infected in the UK (stock) The dog was examined by a team at the Royal Veterinary College in Hatfield, UK, led by Myles McKenna, from the department of clinical science and services. 'To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of leishmaniosis in the UK in a dog without a history of travel to an endemic area,' they wrote in the BMJ journal Vet Record. 'In an era of increased foreign travel of dogs and increased importation of dogs to the UK, it is likely that the number of dogs seropositive for L infantum will continue to increase. 'Leishmania-infected dogs may present an infection risk to other dogs, even in the absence of natural vectors, as direct transmission between dogs is possible.' WHAT IS LEISHMANIASIS? Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection found in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as southern Europe. The disease is caused by being infected with one of more than 20 Leishmania parasites, which is spread by over 30 species of sand flies. The most common forms of the condition are cutaneous leishmaniasis - which causes skin sores - and visceral leishmaniasis - which affects the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Cutaneous symptoms usually start out as bumps that then ulcerate. These are typically painless. Visceral symptoms include fever, weight loss, abnormally low blood cells, and an enlarged spleen and liver. Some people have a 'silent infection' and never develop symptoms. Leishmaniasis' prevalence is difficult to estimate. The cutaneous form of the disease is thought to affect between 700,000 and 1.2million people globally every year. And the visceral form affects around 100,000-to-400,000 annually. The infections are found in parts of Asia, Middle East, Africa, southern Europe, Mexico, Central America and South America. Cases that arise in the US or UK are almost always from people who have become infected while travelling or living in other countries. Cutaneous leishmaniasis usually heals on its own without treatment, but this can take years and leave scars. There is also the risk the ulcers may spread from the skin to the nose, mouth or throat. Visceral leishmaniasis is often deadly if untreated, however, medication is available. There is no vaccine or preventative medication for humans, with people being advised to avoid sand flies via nets and insecticide sprays. However, a vaccine does exist for dogs. Collars impregnated with insecticides and spot-on treatments that prevent sand-fly bites are also effective. Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention Advertisement Leishmaniosis is transmitted via sandflies, but infected dogs can spread the disease by biting other canines. A veterinary examination of the Shih Tzu revealed he was deficient in all three blood cells - red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body; white blood cells, which make up the immune system; and platelets, which cause blood to clot. He also had an elevated level of calcium in his blood, as well as an abnormally high amount of the protein globulin, which is usually a sign of liver disease. Bone marrow and skin biopsies revealed the Shih Tzu was infected with L. infantum. This is one of 20 known parasites that cause leishmaniosis . The Shih Tzu case sparked a second leishmaniosis incident in the UK to come to light. A three-year-old English Pointer - who never went beyond Essex borders - developed leishmaniosis earlier this year. He was eventually diagnosed after his owners took him to the vet four times between February 2016 and September 2017 when he developed an eczema-like reaction and hair loss. Although the pooch had never left the UK, its owners had lived in Spain. The couple also traveled between Alicante and Valencia last summer. Unlike the first case, this dog was not living with an infected pooch. Vets therefore believe his owners may have brought back sand flies in their luggage. His case was written up in Vet Record by a team at Mount Veterinary Practice in Fleetwood, Lancashire. 'The increased importation of infected dogs into the UK also makes incidental socialising with infected dogs increasingly likely,' they warned. 'We should not be complacent about the risk of Leishmania infantum establishing in the UK, even in the current absence of the sand fly vector'. There is some evidence Ibizian Hounds are resistant to certain Leishmania strains, according to The British Small Animal Veterinary Association. And German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Cocker Spaniels and Boxers may be less at risk of the infection developing into the disease. Daniella Dos Santos, junior vice president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: 'The increase in cases of non-endemic diseases such as leishmaniosis is extremely concerning. 'More than a quarter of vets surveyed by BVA last year mentioning [reported] seeing cases of this rare disease in practice. 'Leishmaniosis is mainly associated with pets who have recently travelled outside of the UK or "trojan" rescue dogs from abroad with unknown health histories'. Ms Santos advises pet owners who are planning to travel with their dogs to seek advice from a vet, while those who have rescued an imported pooch should have them tested. 'Anyone looking to get a dog should consider adopting from a UK rehoming charity or welfare organisation instead of rescuing from abroad as the unintended consequences from trojan can be severe for the health and welfare of UK's pets', she said. Sand flies capable of transmitting leishmania have been found in Greece, Italy, Spain and southern France. Paolo Silvestrini, a lecturer in small animal internal medicine at the University of Liverpool, told Vet Times: 'Canine leishmaniasis is still not well known here in the UK. 'Vets would not have seen these cases 15 years ago, but they are becoming more frequent now as it becomes easier for pets to travel across Europe and the UK.' An earlier version of this article stated that the Shih Tzu had died and this was the first case of leishmaniosis in the UK, which we now appreciate was an error. We are happy to put the record straight. A baby who weighed a tiny 1lb 9oz after being born at just 24 weeks and three days is finally home. River Willis arrived on July 27 last year via emergency C-section after his mother Cara Willis' placenta came away from the wall of her womb - putting both their lives at risk. The newborn gradually grew stronger, until he was struck by sepsis at three weeks old, which left his face so swollen Mrs Willis, 24, did not recognise her own son. Doctors even warned they would have to withdraw treatment if he failed to improve. After pulling through, River spent three-and-a-half months at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, before being transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil - far closer to the family's home in Tredegar. It was not until he was five months old that the youngster was finally able to go home, with him still requiring oxygen ahead of open-heart surgery in October. River Willis (pictured recently, aged seven months) spent the first five months of his life in hospital after he was born four months premature on July 27 last year. He also endured sepsis at three weeks. Although home, he requires oxygen ahead of open-heart surgery in October Pictured as a newborn at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, River weighed a tiny 1lb 9oz and could 'fit into the size of your hand'. His parents claim he was so small you almost missed him when nurses pulled back his blankets and he was half the size of the teddy bears in his bed Doctors were forced to carry out an emergency C-section four months ahead of River's due date when Mrs Willis endured a placenta abruption. This caused such severe bleeding it 'turned the hospital bed red', she claims. Placenta abruption affects up to one per cent of pregnancies and increases the risk a baby will be born premature or with complications. The mother-of-four said: 'They had to put me to sleep in order to deliver the baby. 'When I woke up I didn't know if my son would be alive or dead. 'As I'd been given a high dose of morphine I was really struggling to speak. 'I kept on trying to ask if the baby was okay. I didn't know his weight, his condition or what he looked like. 'I wanted updates but they weren't telling me too much.' After a seven-hour wait, which Mrs Willis describes as the worst time of her life, a nurse brought her and her husband Luke a picture of their son. 'It was lovely,' Mrs Willis said. 'He was so early that his skin was still see-through. 'He also had a big bag over him to keep him warm and loads of wires around him.' But it would be another two days before the couple could see their baby for the first time. 'They lifted up the blankets around him and he was so small you could hardly see him,' Mrs Willis said. 'We both cried. 'He was about half the size of the little teddy bears around him. 'You could literally fit him into the palm of your hand, but we couldn't hold him for two weeks.' River's parents Cara and Luke Willis (pictured together) call their son's progress 'amazing' Doctors and nurses reassured the parents River's chances of survival grew with every passing hour. And for the next three weeks he made promising progress despite his weight dropping to 1lb at one stage. Although thrilled her son was on the mend, it was a difficult time for Mrs Willis. 'He was so premature my milk hadn't come in yet which meant I couldn't express,' she said. 'Not being able to feed my own child was heartbreaking. He ended up getting his milk from a donor mum. 'It felt wrong, but all that mattered was River getting stronger.' As a newborn, River's hand could not even grasp the tip of his parents' fingers (pictured). After getting stronger over the first few weeks, the youngster was struck by sepsis that left his face so swollen his mother did not recognise him. Doctors even threatened to withdraw treatment But things took a dramatic turn for the worse when River suddenly contracted sepsis, which occurs as a complication of an infection. 'When he had sepsis I didn't recognise him as his face was so swollen,' Mrs Willis said. 'I actually thought I was looking at a different baby in the incubator.' Doctors warned the parents River may not make it through but, once again, the newborn defied expectations. 'They said if he didn't get any better then we would have to have a chat about withdrawing his treatment,' Mrs Willis said. 'He was quite bad for a week but he did get better.' While worried sick about their son, the couple had three children at home to look after. 'For weeks neither of us slept because we were worried about receiving a call that River had taken a turn for the worse,' Mrs Willis said. 'I think the other children probably helped me as they kept me so busy. 'If I'd been a first-time parent I would have spent time at home just worrying and that would have been horrendous.' Mrs Willis is thrilled to have River home but describes the ordeal as the toughest time she has ever faced. Doctors were forced to carry out an emergency C-section when her placenta separated from the wall of her womb, putting both herself and her baby at risk of death After overcoming sepsis, River slowly became strong enough to move hospitals. 'We got really close to the staff in UHW, so it was really sad to leave them,' Mrs Willis said. 'They not only saved River's life, but they saved mine too. 'I'm so immensely grateful for what they have done for us.' While River was being cared for at Prince Charles, his parents were trained in how to give CPR and how to manage his oxygen machine. 'If anything goes wrong it's now down to us,' Mrs Willis said. River was finally discharged at five months old, which came with mixed emotions. 'We should have been excited to get him home, but as the hospital staff had been so amazing we were a little scared to be separated from them,' Mrs Willis said. But despite her fears, River has settled into family life well. 'He adores his older brothers and sister, and it's so amazing to think how much he's progressed,' Mrs Willis said. 'We're hoping he'll have open heart surgery in Bristol around October time, but until then he'll still need oxygen.' Tests have also revealed River has a hole in his heart and will need another operation in the future. Mr Willis is planning a charity bungee jump to help raise awareness of very premature babies. She finished chemotherapy today and will have a double mastectomy A mother is battling an aggressive form of breast cancer after finding a lump that was believed to be built-up milk from not breastfeeding. Vicki Keating, 28, of Birmingham, discovered the lump a few weeks after the birth of her daughter, Rey Flower, now eight months. She assumed the lump was due to a blocked milk duct something nurses initially agreed with after an ultrasound. Ms Keating had more tests done just in case, and they revealed she had triple negative breast cancer in November 2018. The catering assistant, who will have a double mastectomy next month, is sharing her story to warn other young women to check their breasts. Vicky Keating is battling an aggressive form of breast cancer after finding a lump that was believed to be built-up milk from not breastfeeding. Pictured before she was diagnosed The mother-of-two, 28, assumed the lump was due to a blocked milk duct - something nurses initially agreed with before more tests were done Ms Keating, who lives with her partner, Gavin Flower, 27, said: 'I wasn't too worried when I first felt a lump in my breast shortly after the birth of my daughter, Rey. 'I assumed it was linked to my recent pregnancy and the doctor agreed it was most likely to be a blocked milk duct.' A lump in the breast or a red, swollen area that is painful is a symptom of a condition called mastitis in breastfeeding women where the milk is built up. In non-breastfeeding women, mastitis most often occurs when the breast becomes infected as a result of damage to the nipple, according to the NHS. Ms Keating said: 'Even after I was referred for an ultrasound and the lump was discovered by nurses, they assumed the fluid inside was actually just milk. 'But thankfully they didn't stop their tests there and the lump had a biopsy taken from it.' Three weeks later, Ms Keating received a letter which asked her to return to hospital for results. Ms Keating, pictured while pregnant, with her son, Grayson, 11, finished chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer today [April 5] Ms Keating first found the lump a few weeks after the birth of her daughter, Rey, now eight months old. Pictured, before the diagnosis Ms Keating is due to have a double mastectomy next months to ensure her cancer doesn't return. Pictured with Rey and her partner, Gavin Flower, 27 She said: 'I went along on my own as I assumed the lump was benign. 'I never imagined I'd be diagnosed with cancer at such a young age.' Triple negative breast cancer is a rare breast cancer that occurs in around one in five women with breast cancer. It occurs more commonly in women under the age of 40 and in black women. Every year 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Britain the equivalent of 150 cases a day - and around 1,735,000 in the US. Ms Keating started having chemotherapy just before Christmas and has completed her final round today [April 5]. She said: 'Thankfully doctors don't think it has spread but they won't know until I have surgery.' Ms Keating has decided she wants to undergo a double mastectomy next month to ensure her triple negative cancer doesn't return. She added: 'The type of cancer I have doesn't respond to any type of hormonal treatment so after chemotherapy and surgery there's no other options for me.' Ms Keating returned to the hospital for results three weeks after tests - she went alone because she didn't think she could have cancer so young. Pictured, in hospital while having treatment with Mr Flower Ms Keating said she didn't have fertility treatment before chemotherapy because she already has two children with her partner, pictured together at home The growth of triple negative cancer is not fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, or by the HER2 protein. Therefore treatment using hormone therapy and HER2 targeted therapies have no benefit. Ms Keating said: 'Doctors haven't advised a double mastectomy but I know there's a chance I could get cancer again in my other breast. 'I don't want to take that risk and want them both removed at the same time. 'I will then undergo surgery at a later date to have them both reconstructed. 'I was asked if I wanted fertility treatment before my chemotherapy but as I already have two children I decided against it. 'I have to make a full recovery for my kids, Rey and Grayson Rainbow, 11.' Ms Keating - who has lost her hair due to chemotherapy - started a blog, The Tales of The Triple Negative Boobie, to document her experiences with cancer at a young age to help others. Ms Keating - who has lost her hair due to chemotherapy - started a blog to document her experiences with cancer at a young age to help others Ms Keating started having chemotherapy just before Christmas. Pictured, with Rey Ms Keating said: 'I want everyone to know that breast cancer does occur in your 20s' She said: 'I've been lucky to have a supportive partner and family but I wanted to start my blog to help raise awareness. 'It 100 per cent can happen to anyone. I've known from the day I was diagnosed that I didn't want to be quiet about it. 'I want everyone to know that breast cancer does occur in your 20s. 'Young women need to be aware that they need to check their breasts for lumps and regardless of whether you think it's related to your pregnancy or not, push for further tests.' A snowboarder had to have her entire pelvis rebuilt after she smashed it when she hit a tree at 55mph. Amber English, from Missouri, needed a 12-hour operation after her devastating accident in March last year. She said doctors could find 'no comparison' for her injuries, which also triggered internal bleeding. Intense rehab for months afterwards has meant Miss English has been able to return to snowboarding and her doctors praised her 'miracle' recovery. Amber English, 28, was living in Colorado and snowboarding regularly when, one day, she lost control and smashed into a tree at 55mph Miss English smashed her pelvis and required 12 hours of surgery to rebuild it. She was reliant on a zimmer frame (pictured) for months during her rehab 'High on adrenaline, I threw caution to the wind,' said Miss English, who was staying in Colorado at the time. 'It was my second run through that day. 'I was having so much fun, so I just gave it all I had and went for the best run of my life. 'As I was flying through the trees, I realised I was going too fast and the trees were getting tight. I freaked out and it all happened so fast. 'I hit the tree at an angle, so it was a full blow to my right hip, and there was another tree on the other side. The pain started taking over and I had a hard time comprehending what was going on.' Miss English said she got wedged standing up between some trees, despite having broken her pelvis in multiple places. She thought she had been travelling at 30mph but doctors said the extent of the damage looked more like she was going 55mph. 'I didn't have the strength to remain standing and had no other option,' she said. 'I was in a lot of pain for a long time that day but lowering myself to the ground while still strapped to my snowboard was almost unbearable. 'I called my Dad and calmly told him I had hit a tree and was hurt, but hoped it wasn't bad.' What had been planned as a six-hour operation to rebuild her entire pelvis ended up taking twice as long because her bones were so damaged. Pictured, the metalwork, including screws and plates, put into Miss English's pelvis After the operation Miss English had to relearn to walk with two weeks of inpatient rehab in hospital and a further eight months after she was discharged Miss English said her medical report says 'no comparison' when describing the severity of her injuries It took Miss English around an hour to make it to an ambulance she had to be transported off the mountain in a sled without pain medication. When back at the hospital, a CAT scan revealed the extent of the damage she had done, and she said her doctor's face 'turned white'. 'In the simplest of terms, I crushed my pelvis. My medical reports are filled with severe fractures of every feature in my right pelvis and internal bleeding. 'My medical report says, "no comparison" when describing the severity of my injuries.' Miss English was using a walking stick for eight months - but still took to the slopes Miss English, pictured a week before her accident (right) thought she had been travelling at 30mph but doctors said the extent of the damage looked more like she was going 55mph Miss English describes herself as a walking miracle after doctors said her case was one of the top five worst they had seen. Miss English said she recently went back to the winter sport What had been planned as a six-hour operation to rebuild her entire pelvis ended up taking twice as long because her bones were so damaged. After the operation Miss English had to relearn to walk with two weeks of inpatient rehab in hospital and a further eight months after she was discharged. She said: 'My doctor later informed me that, out of the thousands of pelvic rebuilds he has constructed, mine was the top five worst he had ever seen. 'I'm a walking miracle, but it hasn't been easy. Rehab in the hospital was hard. 'Relearning how to do everything was hard. But the entire time I couldn't help but feel immensely blessed. 'I still do physical therapy exercise to improve nerve and muscular damage and maintain range of motion. 'I worked so hard to get back on the mountain by the next season and I did just that. 'I went back to Wolf Creek in December to face my fear head on and keep doing what I love.' Her brain cells are dying, reversing the skills she had already developed A mother has revealed the heartbreak of watching her two-year-old die of 'childhood dementia'. Vicky Cunningham, 34, of West Lothian, Scotland, said her baby, Mirryn, was happy and healthy, despite being born premature. But at 10 months old, Ms Cunningham instinctively knew something wasn't right when Mirryn stopped trying to hold her hand or rock in her baby bouncer. After insisting doctors investigated, Ms Cunningham was shocked to be told that her daughter's brain was dying. At the age of one, Mirryn was given a diagnosis of the rare Batten disease otherwise known as childhood dementia which is incurable. The specific type of the condition she has, CLN1, has only been recorded in around 200 people, according to the US government's National Institutes of Health. Vicky Cunningham, 34, of West Lothian, Scotland, has told of her heartbreak as she watches her two-year-old daughter, Mirryn, die of 'childhood dementia' Ms Cunningham said her baby was a happy and healthy baby, despite being born premature Ms Cunningham told The Sun: 'Like an elderly person with dementia she will stop breathing in the end. Its taking my little girl, piece by piece. 'It's heartbreaking to see. She should be starting nursery but I know it will never happen. There's so much she will be missing. 'She is so different to the happy girl she used to be. I never would have imagined this could happen.' Mirryn was born at 31 weeks and two days, weighing 3lb 2oz, and spent two months in a special care unit being treated for jaundice a sign of liver problems. But she developed normally once returning home, and Ms Cunningham will always hold memories of her daughter's former cheeky personality, gurgles and babbling. At 10 months old, Ms Cunningham noticed she was no longer trying to grab things such as her toys or mother's hand and her muscles appeared to be weaker. Mirryn was referred to St John's Hospital in Livingston where she had an MRI which showed some decline in the myelin in the brain a fatty substance which protects nerves. But doctors were not hugely concerned at that point. However, Mirryn's behaviour became worse at an alarming rate, according to Ms Cunningham. She was no longer rocking in her baby bouncer and she stopped making babbling sounds. Ms Cunningham, pictured holding Mirryns, said: 'Like an elderly person with dementia she will stop breathing in the end. Its taking my little girl, piece by piece' At 10 months old, Ms Cunningham instinctively knew something wasn't right when Mirryn stopped trying to hold her hand or rock in her baby bouncer Ms Cunningham is now a full-time carer for Mirryn, pictured in her bed at home with medication around her. Mirryns was diagnosed with Batten disease at one-years-old, which causes her development skills to reverse and brain cells to die Ms Cunningham insisted that another MRI was carried out. It showed drastic changes in her brain from the previous results, which she said were obvious in the images even to her other child, Alexander, eight. WHAT IS BATTEN DISEASE? Batten disease, also known as Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses, is a rare genetically-inherited disease. It is caused by waste buildup in the cells which creates neurodegnerative effects including: Blindness Seizures Personality changes Dementia Loss of motor skills and the ability to walk, talk and communicate Because it is a rare disease, it is often difficult to diagnosed and untested at birth. There are 14,000 children worldwide that are diagnosed with the disorder. There is currently no known cure or treatment available for Batten disease. Advertisement It was then that Mirryn was given the diagnosis of Batten's Disease a disorder of the nervous system which begins in childhood. There are different forms of the illness and collectively they affect an estimated one in 100,000 people worldwide including one or two of every 50,000 children in the US and up to six babies born in the UK a year. Mirryn has CLN1 Batten Disease, which typically starts showing signs at 18 months old as the brain cells die at a rapid rate. Developmental skills such as standing, walking, and talking are never achieved or are gradually lost in children with the illness. Children often develop seizures by age two and eventually become blind. By age three, children may become completely dependent on a caregiver and they normally don't survive past early childhood. Mirryn is under the care of specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London but, due to the rarity of the disease, a treatment has not been found. Since her diagnosis, Mirryn has deteriorated fast. Mirryn had an MRI scan which showed drastic changes in her brain, which Ms Cunningham said were obvious in the images. Pictured, in hospital Mirryn has CLN1 Batten Disease which most patients will die of by early childhood Ms Cunningham admits any day could be her last, and she doesn't think her daughter will make it to Christmas. 'Its devastating to watch,' she said. 'She has lost eye contact, cant interact, her vision is going and she cant swallow.' As the condition worsens, children have severe difficulties eating and often require a feeding tube. Ms Cunningham had had dreams of taking her little girl to Disneyland, but now will arrange a Disney themed party at her home in the late summer. She has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money for a 'P Pod' a chair which helps to protect her daughter's 'floppy' posture. Mirryn is unable to support herself and the chair allows her to breathe at ease. You can donate to the GoFundMe page here. Molly Hughes wasn't even a year old when she was diagnosed with stage four cancer - but after nearly a year-and-a-half, the Kentucky toddler is now cancer-free. When she was just under five months old, doctors discovered that Molly had neuroblastoma, a cancer that typically strikes children under age five. The toddler endured 15 months of chemotherapy, her mother, Chelsea Hughes, told WKYT. But now that she's free of the hospital, Molly is 'just wild,' joyfully playing outside, as if her cancer battle never happened at all. There could be no sweeter relief for Chelsea than the moment she got the news that cancer no longer showed up her daughter's scans. As of April, Molly Hughes, 21 months, is clear of cancer. Her family and doctors will have to keep a close eye out in case her stage four neuroblastoma recurs, but for now it's a 'happy day' Molly was diagnosed at just five months old, and has spent 130 days in the hospital 'I kinda just fell to the ground after I got off the phone and I just hugged her for like five minutes,' she told WKYT. Molly's cancer began with a genetic mutation that disrupts the development of immature nerve cells. Typically, these cells, called neuroblasts, eventually become the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys and produce important hormones. These don't become fully formed until after birth and, in some cases, the immature cells can divide out of control and become cancerous. Neuroblastomas may form in the abdomen or chest. Molly was just five months old when she was diagnosed and had to immediately begin chemotherapy and radiation treatments to treat her cancer Abdominal neoroblastomas may cause pain in the area and either constipation or diarrhea. Chest tumors may likewise cause pain there, wheezing, and eye abnormalities, like droopy eyelids or unequally sized pupils. It didn't take long for Chelsea and Molly's doctors to realize that something wasn't right with her baby girl. As soon as she was diagnosed, at five months, Molly underwent surgery to remove her tumor, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Molly (center) has spent much of her young life - including Christmas - in the hospital, accompanied by her mother, Chelsea (right) and Santa (left) The bubbly toddler had her last treatment in January. Now, four months later, her scans are clear of cancer In the US, about 800 people - mostly infants and young children - are diagnosed with neuroblastoma a year, but with treatment, 80 percent of children are still alive five years later. While undergoing chemo and radiation, Molly had to spend 130 days in the hospital. 'I don't think people realize, until you actually go through it, just how hard it is,' Chelsea said. In addition to the hardship of treatment itself, Molly looked fine and healthy, and Chelsea found herself having to explain her daughters illness over and over again. But her little girl was resilient from day one. Chelsea (left), her husband Robbie (right) and Molly's older brother (second from left) are all thrilled that Molly is home with clear scans 'She would just bounce back after every treatment, I mean it would knock her down for a few days, but then she'd be up playing,' Chelsea said. The family rallied around the bubbly toddler, making the hashtag 'Molly Strong,' words that Molly herself often wore on tee-shirts while undergoing treatment. But, at last, Molly can stop fighting and go back to doing all the things a 21-month-old should - and she hasn't missed a beat. 'She loves being outside from the time she gets up til she goes to bed, she's just wild,' said Chelsea. '[She is] so full of energy and just loves doing what a baby should be doing.' The grueling cancer treatments damaged Molly's hearing, but it doesn't seem to slow her down much. Most neuroblastomas don't come back - only five to 10 percent of patients have recurrences - but, just in case, Molly will join a clinical trial and start a new drug to prevent relapse on Monday. At least 10 babies have died in Fisher-Price's 'Rock 'n Play' sleeper since 2015, a warning from the company and the US Product Safety Commission (USPSC) revealed on Friday. The USPSC did not reveal the exact causes of the babies' deaths, but said they died after rolling from their stomachs to the backs or sides unrestrained in the sleeper. A previous warning from Fisher-Price said that babies over three months old that were not buckled into the sleeper had rolled over and fallen out of it to their deaths. Both the USPSC and Fisher-Price are warning parents to stop using the rocking crib without restraints after their children are over three months old. US officials and Fisher-Price are warning parents to stop using the Rock 'n Play sleeper for children over three months old after 10 babies died in the rocker FOX 8 Safe sleeping is always a top-priority concern for new parents. Some studies have suggested that babies that sleep on their backs have a lower chance of dying of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Doctors advise parents to position babies on their backs in cribs, bassinets or other infant beds. But by the time babies are about three months old, they can roll themselves over - and might do so in their sleep. A baby sleeping on their stomach can much more easily choke if they regurgitate milk. More importantly, if they are sleeping somewhere high and without some kind of barrier around them, babies that roll over can fall. Elevated rockers and bassinets come with warnings that babies should be always strapped in to the seat. But despite instructions and prior warnings, 10 babies have fallen to their deaths since 2015. The USCPSC and Fisher-Price are now begging parents to stop using the Rock 'n Play Sleeper as soon as their children are able to roll over when they are awake - as they are then able to do so in their sleep too - or after they are three months old. Fisher-Price said in a statement that their product meets safety standards. But the risk that it will be used improperly is too high, and the cost too great. 'A child fatality is an unimaginable tragedy,' the company said in a statement. 'We are there with you from the moment you bring your child home and take our responsibility for product safety very seriously.' Chemists are charging up to 475 to vaccinate teenage boys against the cancer-causing HPV virus in advance of an expected rush for the jabs. From September boys across the UK will be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus in Year Eight at school, when they are aged 12 or 13. But an estimated two million older boys will miss out on the vaccination programme to the fury of health campaigners. Many high street chemists offer the vaccinations privately, but charge up to 475 for a three-jab course, which experts say makes it unaffordable to all but the wealthiest families. When the vaccine was first offered to Year Eight girls in 2008 the NHS put in place a temporary catch-up programme, offering the vaccine to any girl up to the age of 18, to ensure as much coverage as possible. Chemists are charging up to 475 to vaccinate teenage boys against the cancer-causing HPV virus in advance of an expected rush for the jabs But they have refused to introduce a similar catch-up programme for boys, meaning even 13-year-olds in Year Nine will miss out. Experts estimate HPV causes around 2,500 cases of cancer in men each year and around 650 deaths, mainly from cancers of the throat and mouth. Peter Baker, of the HPV Action charity, said last night: Its a big problem. The vaccines are available privately but most people will be priced out. They either wont be able to afford it or they wont even know that it is available. It creates inequality. High price for HPV jabs Boots 330 for two injections, 475 for three Lloyds Pharmacy Three jabs for 429 City Doc 165 per injection Superdrug 300 for two injections, 450 for three Royal Free Hospital, London (private patients service) 155 per injection Advertisement Most clinics advise that teenagers aged 14 or under receive two HPV jabs over several months, and those aged 15 and over receive three. Lloyds Pharmacy offers three jabs for 429, Superdrug charges 300 for two injections or 450 for three, and Boots charges 330 for two injections or 475 for three. Even NHS hospitals, such as the Royal Free in Hampstead, north London, charge 155 per injection privately. The injection has an official NHS price listing of between 80 and 105 per jab although the Government has negotiated a substantial, but confidential, discount. The introduction of the age-restricted HPV programme could create a rush on private vaccination later this year when parents realise their children are not eligible for the jabs. For the past decade all schoolgirls have been vaccinated against HPV to ward off cervical cancer, a step that is thought to save 500 lives a year. Boys were initially not included in the vaccination programme, but the Government changed tack earlier this year after advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. An estimated two million older boys will miss out on the vaccination programme to the fury of health campaigners The vaccine is given to those in their early teens to establish an immune response well before they become sexually active. A Department of Health spokesman said: Parents should be reassured that advice from experts is that a catch-up programme for older boys is not necessary, as they will continue to benefit greatly from the indirect protection built up from ten years of the girls successful vaccination programme. But Matt Case, of Cancer Research UK, disagreed. HPV is linked to several types of cancer in men so its disappointing that the Government is not planning to offer a catch-up programme, he said. Boots UK said: The majority of the cost of the [HPV vaccine] service is to cover the administration of the vaccine and VAT. The rest is to pay for the pharmacist time providing the service. Superdrug said: We constantly review the pricing of our vaccination services with vaccine manufacturers. MACHINES LIKE ME by Ian McEwan (Cape 18.99, 320 pp) MACHINES LIKE ME by Ian McEwan (Cape 18.99, 320 pp) Ian McEwan has always been a generous writer to his readers, his novels bulging with big ideas and rich story-telling. Here, though, he almost seems to be channelling the spirit of Mrs Doyle, the persistent housekeeper from Father Ted constantly offering us more and more to chew on. At the heart of the book is a love triangle between Charlie, a thirty-something Londoner, his girlfriend Miranda and the handsome, clever Adam. But this triangle is not as straight-forward as it sounds. For one thing, the story takes place in an alternative version of the early Eighties, where (among much else) Britain loses the Falklands war, Mrs Thatcher falls from power, Tony Benn becomes prime minister and the Beatles reform. For another, Adam is a robot. Not that youd necessarily know it from meeting him because, in another change from the world were familiar with, Alan Turing didnt die in 1954. Instead, he lived on to become the presiding genius of the digital age, which, as a result, began much earlier. Now its allowed for the production of extremely humanoid robots endowed with what appears to be genuine consciousness. Along the way, McEwan also gives Miranda a dark, possibly criminal past that gradually unravels. For no obvious reason we get the tale of an abandoned four-year-old boy, along with jokes about our own times. Yet McEwans central interest is clearly with the implications of Artificial Intelligence for the future of mankind. Sometimes it leads to sections the non-scientific reader might struggle with, however enjoyably. Mostly, it makes for a fascinating discussion, and dramatisation, of the whole business especially once things, in the traditional way of robot fiction, start to go wrong. After all, Adam is programmed to be unfailingly logical and principled and, seeing as real human beings are neither, his mission to act like one is ultimately doomed. By the end of the book, you might feel like one of Mrs Doyles guests pretty stuffed. But youll also find it hard not to admire the sheer scale of McEwans ambition. Many literary novels claim to be exploring what it is to be human. Few carry out this exploration as thoroughly, or as literally, as this does. LITTLE FAITH by Nickolas Butler (Faber 12.99, 336 pp) LITTLE FAITH by Nickolas Butler (Faber 12.99, 336 pp) Little Faith is a defiantly unfashionable novel: kindly in tone, rooted in the idea that most people are essentially good and with a sympathetic interest in religious belief. The setting is rural Wisconsin where folks go contentedly about their business of working hard and being nice to one another. But, the book seems to be asking, for how much longer? Already, the younger generation is moving away, family shops have disappeared and the local church is far emptier than it used to be. Meanwhile, 65-year-old Lyle Hovde is facing a more urgent crisis. His adopted daughter Shiloh has recently returned home from the big bad world, bringing with her a six-year-old son, whom Lyle adores. Unfortunately, shes also joined a cult-like urban church, whose charismatic pastor has singled out Lyle as a somewhat unlikely tool of Satan, and wants to keep him from seeing his beloved grandson. As plots go, what happens next works perfectly well. But the novels considerable appeal lies mainly in Butlers unashamed, touching and infectious fondness for Lyle and his vanishing way of life. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) Ever dreamed of becoming a K-Pop idol in a girl group or boy band? Well, it's not that easy. "K-Pop is like army style po eh. Very strict 'yung mga Koreans eh. [Koreans are very strict,]" Carlyn Ocampo, the leader of girl group Z-Girls told CNN Philippines' The Source. Ocampo and Josh Bautista, who is a member of the Z-Boys, said they have to train in dancing and singing from 9 a.m. sharp until 3 a.m. and do it all over again. Bautista, who was formerly with local dance group G Force, said they sometimes get a respite from all the training, being allowed to go home one or two hours earlier than usual. "The training itself is really helpful kasi [because] it's not just about singing and dancing, it includes personality development. Everyday living is very academic. We have, like, dorm living and we have strict rules to follow," said Ocampo, who was previously with the local girl group Pop Girls. The Z-Boys and the Z-Girls are emerging singing-and-dancing groups in South Korea created by Z-POP Dream, which "seeks to replicate the success of K-Pop and create global music stars from multiple countries by bringing together the KPOP professionals and voting power of fans." "It's a global project that aims to establish a system that connects different countries through music. Kaya po [That's why it's called] Z-POP, they wanted to create a new genre of pop which is K-Pop that goes beyond," Ocampo said. The Z-Girls' and the Z-Boys' first singles are out, respectively titled "What You Waiting For" and "No Limit." After promoting these songs around Asia, the groups head back to South Korea for even more training. A VIEW TO A KILT by Wendy Holden (Head of Zeus 18.99, 352 pp) A VIEW TO A KILT by Wendy Holden (Head of Zeus 18.99, 352 pp) I am a huge fan of Holdens sparkling prose and zany, roller-coaster plots stuffed with brilliantly-drawn characters. She irreverently skewers social pretensions of all kinds, from those held by hipsters in East London to members of the aristocracy, and there are always tons of memorable one-liners and laugh-out-loud moments. This latest, the third in her Laura Lake series, sees glossy magazine editor Laura struggling to meet the ridiculous demands of her new chief executive, who cares far more about advertising than journalistic integrity. Desperate to drum up some business, Laura heads to Scotland to investigate the newly-fashionable nature of bagpipes and a plethora of baronial castles for sale to billionaires with more money than judgment. But Laura uncovers a rather different story . . . I adored it. THE NEWCOMER by Fern Britton (HarperCollins 12.99, 400 pp) THE NEWCOMER by Fern Britton (HarperCollins 12.99, 400 pp) Angela is a new reverend seeking a parish. When she gets offered the Cornish coastal village of Pendruggan, her husband agrees to put his media career on hold and support her while she follows her dreams. Some there are excited by positive change, while others make it very plain theyre not interested in doing anything differently. Its difficult enough to deal with people who openly disagree, but quite another to deal with the anonymous, nasty letters which soon begin arriving. A warm, easy read that depicts the joys of rural Cornwall. STAR-CROSSED by Minnie Darke (Bantam Press 12.99, 400 pp) STAR-CROSSED by Minnie Darke (Bantam Press 12.99, 400 pp) Astrology is divisive. There are those who swear by their daily horoscopes and those who believe its rubbish. Justine is a Zodiac sceptic who works on a local newspaper, where one of her jobs is to input the column sent in by their reclusive astrologer. When she bumps into struggling actor Nick, her childhood crush and new neighbour, shes amazed to learn hes a believer who avidly picks over the words, using them as a life guide. Desperate for him to notice her, Justine begins making changes to his sign, hoping to push him towards the realisation they should be together. When Justine finally gets a promotion, shes upset about losing the job of looking after the stars . . . Its smart, compelling and different. EXCEEDING MY BRIEF by Barbara Hosking (Biteback 9.99, 384 pp) EXCEEDING MY BRIEF by Barbara Hosking (Biteback 9.99, 384 pp) Before starting a memoir, it is always entertaining to look at the index, where an enticing selection of jokes is often hidden. But turn to the back of broadcaster and civil servant Barbara Hoskings memoir, and you find this pithy line: If you are looking for the index, there isnt one. It would be too long. This sums up Hoskings character: blunt, witty and delighted with the richness of a career that saw her at various times holding up the unexpectedly heavy body of a dead cobra, telling Ted Heath to change his droopy old cardi for something more becoming and placating a bunch of thirsty journalists whom she inadvertently booked into a temperance hotel. This funny and fearless memoir (she came out as gay aged 91) of a Cornish scholarship girl who grew up to roam the corridors of power is a delight. Lady M by Colin Brown (Amberley 9.99, 304 pp) Lady M by Colin Brown (Amberley 9.99, 304 pp) Many of us have heard of Byrons lover, the highly- strung Lady Caroline Lamb, who memorably described the poet as mad, bad and dangerous to know. Her mother-in-law, Lady Elizabeth Lamb, is a less familiar name but she, too, caught the poets eye. Byron called her the best friend I ever had in my life and the cleverest of women. Elizabeth was born in 1751; at 17 she married a rakish and vastly wealthy young MP, Sir Peniston Lamb, later Lord Melbourne. Lady Melbourne proved as fertile as she was socially ambitious: she was soon pregnant with the first of her six children the only one definitely fathered by her husband. Another son, William, later Queen Victorias favourite prime minister, was said to have been fathered by the Earl of Egremont. Who the devil can tell whos anybodys father, he once observed. Colin Browns biography is a lively portrait of a clever, beguiling and free-spirited woman. The Secret Books by Marcel Theroux (Faber 8.99, 384 pp) The Secret Books by Marcel Theroux (Faber 8.99, 384 pp) It seemed to me that the people we didnt become, the lives we couldnt lead . . . were like so many secret books, writes Marcel Theroux. The hero of his novel, Nicolas Notovitch based on a historical figure is a man of many unled lives. Notovitch, born in 1858 near the Black Sea, dreams of escaping his humdrum life when a chance encounter with a U.S. reporter offers an opportunity he knows will never come again. He abandons his old life to become a journalist, spy, and the author of a book claiming Jesus trained as a Buddhist monk. Ranging from the Crimea to Tooting Bec, via Paris, Moscow and the Indus valley, Therouxs novel mixes fact and fiction to spellbinding effect. THE FERAL DETECTIVE by Jonathan Lethem (Atlantic 16.99, 336 pp) THE FERAL DETECTIVE by Jonathan Lethem (Atlantic 16.99, 336 pp) Lethems first detective novel since the exquisite Motherless Brooklyn 20 years ago confirms him as one of Americas finest living writers wry, truthful and utterly original. There are echoes of James Ellroy in this story, set against the edges of society in LA and featuring hippy groups who live in the Mojave Desert. It bristles with unusual characters, and bizarre locations. Phoebe Siegler is searching for her friends missing daughter, Arabella, who has been off the grid for the past three months. She hires eccentric private detective Charlie Heist, who keeps a possum in his desk drawer, to help. It transpires that Arabella may have become involved with one of two groups hiding out in the desert, known as the Rabbits and the Bears. Heist has been a member of both at one time, hence his feral nickname. Startling, funny it is captivating. THE KILLER IN ME by Olivia Kiernan (Riverrun 18.99, 352 pp) THE KILLER IN ME by Olivia Kiernan (Riverrun 18.99, 352 pp) This is the second outing for the engaging, if troubled, head of the Dublin murder squad DCS Frankie Sheehan. Two mutilated corpses are found in a church in Clontarf where the detective grew up, and it appears to her, as a trained criminal profiler, that a serial killer is at work. In the meantime, the shortcomings in the investigation of a 17-year-old cold case are being played out in a TV documentary, which suggests that the young man convicted of the crime may have been innocent. Plenty of careful detail, not least in the politics at the highest levels of policing, and a satisfyingly twisty plot make this a procedural that positively hums with authenticity. But at its heart is the character of Sheehan, fiercely independent and determined not to be bullied. KOSSUTH SQUARE by Adam LeBor (Head of Zeus 18.99, 432 pp) KOSSUTH SQUARE by Adam LeBor (Head of Zeus 18.99, 432 pp) I am a fan of foreign correspondent and crime writer Adam LeBor, who sets his intriguing stories in interesting locations. He lives part-time in Hungary, so it is no surprise that he sets this serpentine tale of political corruption there, against the background of a policeman hero who may be horribly compromised. Detective Balthazar Kovacs is summoned to a luxurious brothel owned by his brother. A VIP Arab customer has died in embarrassing circumstances, and it emerges that hes a Qatari financier who is a guest of the Hungarian government. The brothels in-house CCTV footage has been mysteriously erased is someone out to discredit Kovacs? Are his family now a target for the fresh political forces in a Hungary struggling under a new PM? An elegant, atmospheric tale that twists and surprises at every turn. Workers are expected to shrug off a big rise in pension deductions starting tomorrow, as a combination of inertia and self-interest keeps most people saving into retirement pots. Millions of people auto-enrolled into pensions will see minimum payments jump from 2.4 per cent to four per cent of their wages at next payday. Lack of knowledge or interest about pensions, plus pay rises and advantageous tax changes, are likely to keep the opt out rate at around nine per cent. Auto enrolment: Millions of people will see minimum pension payments jump from 2.4 per cent to four per cent of their wages Workers who do swallow the increase stand to benefit greatly due to free top-ups from employers and the Government, plus the compound effect of investing over long periods. However, more low earners are going to be affected by a technical quirk which prevents some from getting the Government cash paid to the better off, purely due to the 'lottery' of what type of pension scheme their employer has chosen. See the box below. Auto enrolment is a huge and so far successful initiative to get people saving for old age by signing everyone up unless they actively choose to opt out. There was little sign of workers ditching pensions after an increase in minimum contributions at this time last year. Why are some low earners losing pension top-ups? Half a million more low paid workers will be deprived of free pension top-ups from the Government from April 6. That's on top of the 1.22million people already estimated to be missing out on up to 720 of government pension cash a year. This is because the Government has frozen the earnings threshold at which people are automatically enrolled into pensions at 10,000. Meanwhile, the personal allowance, the level at which people start to pay tax, is set to rise from 11,850 to 12,500. Some people who earn between those two sums lose pension tax top-ups - but whether or not you miss out depends on the tax mechanism used by your work pension scheme. Most master trusts, which manage centralised funds for lots of employers at once, use a system called 'net pay' that is convenient for top-paid staff but penalises lower earners. Read more here. Pension payment rates are levied on the portion of people's wages that falls under the auto enrolment rules - between 6,136 and 50,000 from 6 April. Free top-ups from employers plus Government tax relief (for all except some low earners) mean that the total amount of workers' 'band earnings' put aside for retirement will rise from five per cent to a total eight per cent. This year's rise will see deductions jump from 50 to 83 a month for a worker on 25,000 a year. But figures compiled by investment manager 7IM for This is Money show a 25-year-old worker on 25,000 could be sitting on 403,000 by the time they are 65 if they contribute at the new rate, compared with a pot worth 252,000 at the old rate. 7IM used a relatively optimistic six per cent rate of investment return, but this is not unachieveable given it is calculating potential rewards on a 40-year time horizon. The impact of pending rises on workers earning 20,000, 30,000 and 50,000 a year was calculated by AJ Bell, and is shown below. 'While for some particularly those struggling to make ends meet this increase might lead to a re-evaluation of whether to continue saving for retirement through the workplace, experience to-date suggests for the majority inertia remains a powerful force,' says Tom Selby, senior analyst at AJ Bell. 'Furthermore, rising average wages mean lots of workers will at least not see a dramatic drop in their pay packet, although real wages could well dip. 'Anyone who chooses to opt out is basically taking a voluntary pay cut. Employers will have adjusted remuneration packages to take auto-enrolment into account, so if you turn down the matched contribution you won't get it back elsewhere.' Auto enrolment minimum payments: The impact of pending rises in contributions on workers earning 20,000, 30,000 and 50,000 a year (Source: AJ Bell) Nathan Long, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: 'Auto-enrolment has revolutionised retirement saving in the UK, with our pay packets absorbing all that's been thrown at them so far. 'April's contribution hike is yet another hurdle to clear before we can be confident we're in better retirement health.' But he adds: 'Only relying on inertia to provide for us in retirement is dangerous. Auto-enrolment is a little like a cheap balloon at a kid's party. Give dukes and dustmen the same pension boost Ex-shadow minister Gregg McClymont warns the Government to play fair on top-ups here. 'The more you inflate, the better it gets, but at some point it cannot take any more. 'The focus now needs to switch to getting people to understand how paying in more personally or improving their investment returns may boost their income or allow early retirement, rather than forcing them to pay more in automatically.' Gregg McClymont, former shadow pensions minister and now policy director at The People's Pension, criticised the Government's failure to fix the tax technicality that means more low paid people will miss out on pension tax relief that the better off have added to their pots automatically. 'Millions of lower-earners the vast majority women - are being deprived of a much-needed boost to their pension pot due to a tax flaw.' he says. 'Those who need to increase their retirement savings most are being let down by an avoidable issue which threatens to damage public confidence in the system. 'It was disappointing that the government missed the opportunity to address this issue in the Spring Statement. As thousands more people will be affected following April's income tax threshold increase, fairness demands it be fixed urgently. 'The Government must find a solution that allows all savers to receive the tax relief they're entitled to.' Work and Pensions Minister Amber Rudd has given pensions dashboards the go-ahead, hailing the end of the '20billion mountain' of forgotten pots employees have lost track of. The new dashboards will enable workers to see details of all the pensions they have amassed at different companies and with different providers in one place online. Ms Rudd said: 'With record numbers saving for retirement as a result of our revolutionary reforms, it's more important than ever that people understand their pensions and prepare for financial security in later life. Green light: Work and Pensions minister Amber Rudd has given pensions dashboard the go-ahead 'Dashboards have the potential to transform the way we all think about and plan for retirement, providing clear and simple information regarding pension savings in one place online. 'I'm looking forward to seeing the first industry dashboards later this year.' In its response to a previous consultation on the dashboards, today the government said it would bring forward legislation to 'compel all pension providers to make consumers data available.' It is expected that the majority of schemes will be ready to go live 'within a three to four year window.' State pension details will also be included in the dashboards at the earliest opportunity. All these details may seem a bit dry, but pensions dashboards have the potential to help workers dig out lost pension pots from numerous different companies, often spanning decades. At the moment, when people build up savings with different employers for when they retire, they can only look at each pension pot separately. To put the problem into context, recent data from the Association of British Insurers showed over 1.6 million pension pots had been lost with the value amounting to roughly 20billion. The original prototype: The industry came up with a pensions dashboard to show workers all their pension pot details in once place Tom Selby, a senior analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'Introducing Pensions Dashboards has clearly been shunted down the priority list as the vice-like grip of Brexit on Parliament grows ever tighter. 'In the current political climate there is no guarantee the Pensions Bill needed to compel schemes to provide data to Pensions Dashboards will see the light of day in 2019. 'However, the fact the policy has attracted cross-party support suggests it is likely to become reality eventually we just dont know who will introduce it or when. 'Nonetheless, Dashboards represent a potentially significant positive step forward, both in terms of uniting people with lost pensions and boosting engagement over the longer-term. Over time Dashboards could potentially expand to include other savings vehicles and financial products, effectively allowing people to see all of their finances in one secure place. 'The DWPs pragmatic approach towards early testing is sensible, although care will need to be taken to ensure users are fully aware of the limitations of Dashboards. Ultimately this will be a starting point for most people in engaging with their retirement pots, rather than an all-singing, all-dancing solution. 'Government, regulators and industry should seize the opportunity provided by the launch of Dashboards to review the behavioural impact of presenting information to customers in different ways. 'The current disclosure regime creates unwieldy packs of pensions documentation which very few people engage with in a positive way. By focusing on simplicity in the initial roll-out of Dashboards, we hope the DWP is lighting the way for a more fundamental rethink of retirement disclosure generally.' Yvonne Braun, director of long-term savings and protection policy at the ABI, said: 'The digital retirement revolution is here at last. 'All the pieces are being put in place to deliver the easy access to retirement information everybody needs and that the pensions industry is so keen to deliver.' Meanwhile, Helen Morrissey, pension specialist at Royal London, said: 'If done properly, the dashboard will give people a full understanding of what they have saved. 'If it is rushed, or we don't have all interested parties on board from the beginning, there is a risk that we will not be able to deliver something meaningful or credible and the opportunity to engage people will be lost.' Top pension firms who spearheaded the development of dashboards initially warned that legislation might be necessary to get all schemes to participate, and make the tools as comprehensive and useful as possible for savers. Today, it is now clear that providers will be forced by the Government to feed data into the dashboards. Meanwhile, fears that scammers could hack or exploit the information on dashboards to steal people's retirement pots have also been raised, at a time when the Government and other authorities are battling the scourge of pension fraud. The former wife of Guns N' Roses legend Slash is auctioning off a strange selection of the guitarist's old belongings, including a bronze and leather spanking bench. Memorabilia and exotic person items collected during Slash and Perla Hudson's 14-year marriage, which was stashed in the couple's Beverly Hills mansion, will be sold next month after they finally thrashed out their three-year divorce battle. Signed versions of the 53-year-old musician's iconic bowler and top hats will feature alongside his Jimi Hendrix emblazoned black leather jacket on New York's Hard Rock Cafe's auction table. Slash's ex-wife Perla Hudson (pictured in Hawaii at their 2001 wedding) is selling off some of the guitarist's former possessions The items up for auction next month include a bronze and leather spanking bench and a coffin shaped guitar case The belongings had previously been stashed in the former couple's Beverly Hills mansion But some of the couple's more personal possessions are also available for bidding, including Perla's crystal-encrusted beaded and sequin bride's veil, their wedding cake topper and an erotic spanking bench. Julien's Auction house announced yesterday that the belongings will be sold as part of the Music Icons auction on May 17 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Youth Emerging Stronger charity. Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson, split from Perla in 2014 more than a decade after tying the knot in 2001. Yet the pair only finalized their divorce in September last year because Perla had accused the Guns N' Roses' rocker's new girlfriend, Meegan Hodges, of harassing her and her two sons on Instagram. In 2015, the Paradise City hitmaker joined the Los Angeles-based band on its Not In This Lifetime tour, thirty years after it formed in 1985. Perla Hudson is even selling off her beaded and sequin wedding veil encrusted with crystals at the Music Icons auction in May Signed versions of the 53-year-old musician's iconic bowler and top hats will feature alongside red diamond leather and snakeskin cowboy boots A copy of the Nikki Sixx biography, The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, is up for bidding As is a black leather motorcycle hand painted jacket with the back reading 'Drunk Fux' with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a skeleton in a top A Marshall Classic Rock Roll of Honor Album of the Year award, presented to Slash in 2010 for the album 'Slash' and an MTV Music Video Award Moonman trophy, presented in 1987-1988 to Slash for Best New Artist in a Video for Guns N' Roses will be sold at New York's Hard Rock Cafe A Gina Alexander designed Jimi Hendrix Collection black leather motorcycle jacket with a printed image of Hendrix on the back will be sold A Florida sheriff who was suspended after the Parkland school shooting is appealing a judge's decision to dismiss his lawsuit challenging his suspension. A judge ruled Thursday that Gov Ron DeSantis' executive order removing Scott Israel as Broward County sheriff was consistent with the Florida Constitution. DeSantis has said Israel displayed poor leadership and failed to keep children safe before and during the Valentine's Day 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead. Scroll down for video Former Broward County sheriff Scott Israel (left) is appealing a judge's decision to dismiss his lawsuit challenging his suspension following the Parkland school shooting. A judge ruled Thursday that an executive order by Gov Ron DeSantis (right) removing Israel as Broward County sheriff was consistent with the Florida Constitution Israel accused DeSantis of overstepping his constitutional authority and interfering with the public's right to determine their elected official. He appealed the dismissal of his lawsuit to Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal. 'The constitutional question involving the Governor's political use of the limited suspension power is so very important that it should be resolved by Florida's appellate courts,' Israel's attorneys said in a statement Friday. 'Sheriff Israel's appeal will ask the appellate judges to constrain the Governor's suspension and removal power, restricting it to what has historically been allowed for clear violations of constitutional and statutory duties of elected officials. ' Israel (center in January) has accused DeSantis of overstepping his constitutional authority and interfering with the public's right to determine their elected official The Florida Legislature, which must approve DeSantis' decision to suspend Israel, is reviewing the matter, but says it would wait for Israel's court proceedings to play out. After the judge's ruling Thursday, DeSantis said in a statement he pleased that the 'court recognizes my authority as governor to suspend a public official for reasons of neglect of duty and incompetence,' and said he will ask the Senate to move forward with its review. Several parents of slain students had pushed the newly elected Republican governor to remove Israel, a Democrat. Calls for Israel's ouster began shortly after the shooting when it was revealed that the deputy assigned to guard the school, Scot Peterson, had not gone into the building to confront the shooter, but took cover outside. Before the shooting, Israel had changed his department's policy to say deputies 'may' confront shooters, instead of 'shall.' Critics say that gave eight deputies an excuse for not confronting the gunman during the shooting. Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian posted a picture of himself yesterday on his 17th birthday. 'It's Damian day!' he captioned the snap. Many were struck by his increasing resemblance to his mother not least because of his winning smile and shoulder-length hair. Damian, whose father is American businessman Steve Bing, also displays his penchant for jewellery sporting two necklaces and a bracelet. Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian posted a picture of himself yesterday on his 17th birthday. Fans were struck by the increasing resemblance between Liz Hurley and her son Damian, not least because of his winning smile and shoulder-length hair No doubt the Austin Powers star, 53, has influenced him heavily. 'Being an only child of a single mother has meant that we have spent a great deal of time together,' she says. Kelly, 59, shows off fab abs Interior designer Kelly Hoppen is turning 60 this year and says she's never felt or looked better. She shared this picture of herself in a 99 Melissa Odabash bikini, following a seven-day retreat. Interior designer Kelly Hoppen is turning 60 this year and says she's never felt or looked better. She says her gruelling regime involved training every day 'with hikes and weight jacket, body sculpting, stretching, swimming, running and walking in water against the current' Hoppen says her gruelling regime involved training every day 'with hikes and weight jacket, body sculpting, stretching, swimming, running and walking in water against the current.' She adds: 'It's a fantastic reboot for me in every way.' 280m Dragon joins Clooney hotel boycott Where George Clooney leads, former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne follows. Earlier this week the American actor called on celebrities to boycott the five-star Dorchester hotel in London after its owner, the Sultan of Brunei, brought in laws that make gay sex punishable by stoning to death. Where George Clooney leads, former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne follows. The 70-year-old Scots entrepreneur had booked a room The Dorchester for week. He said: 'I cancelled and rebooked at The Ritz.' Watch out, Ritz! The 70-year-old Scots entrepreneur, who is worth 280 million, is a regular at the hotel and has now fallen quickly into line. 'Actually I had a room booked at The Dorchester for week from a Friday,' Bannatyne told followers on social media. 'I cancelled and rebooked at The Ritz.' Watch out, Ritz! Descended from Edward III, EastEnders actor Danny Dyer reveals modern fame is much harder to deal with than the mantle of royalty. 'You don't want to pressurise your kids,' says Dyer, who found out he was directly descended from royalty on Who Do You Think You Are? 'The thing is, fame is quite an intoxicating thing. It's all right when you become famous at first, and it's all lovely, but it actually does drive you insane, so I tried to keep my children away from it as much as possible.' I'm sure his Love Island star daughter Dani agrees . . . Broadcaster Angela Rippon has little time for social media. 'I can't be bothered with it for lots of reasons,' the 74-year-old tells me. 'If I want to get in touch with friends I pick up a telephone or I write to them or email them. I've done a public job for over 50 years so I value my privacy. 'It's my closest friends and family who know what I do and where I am, not the world at large. I'm glad I didn't have to rely on social media when I started out, unlike people today.' The television actress whose body was found with a convicted rapist at a halfway house in New Zealand had a chilling premonition about her death. The bodies of Tania Ellwood, 39, and her ex-boyfriend Timothy Hamilton, 36, were discovered at Dryden Lodge, a sprawling home for vagrants and Auckland's most vulnerable, on March 6, 2018. Mystery surrounds exactly why Ms Ellwood and Hamilton were together in the tiny unit on the basement level of the four-storey estate. Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marhsall was unable to determine what killed Ms Ellwood, but found she died several days before Hamilton. She once told her mother she believed Hamilton was going to kill her. The last time she spoke to her boyfriend Ira Heyder she had a chilling foreshadowing of her eventual death. 'So you're going to leave me here to get murdered?' she asked him as he left on a work trip. The bodies of Ms Ellwood (left) and Timothy Hamilton (right) were found together inside a halfway house in Grey Lynn, in Auckland's inner suburbs. Police are not investigating homicide The bodies of Ms Ellwood and Mr Hamilton were found at Dryden Lodge (pictured), in Auckland's inner suburb of Grey Lynn, in early March 2018 The Coroner could not identify what caused Ellwood's death because her body was too decomposed when it was found. At the time her body was found, police said Ms Ellwood's death was 'unexplained' and were not treating the incident as a homicide. Mr Heyder said he had 'little confidence in the police investigation from the outset', and that someone told him Hamilton was 'obsessed' with Ms Ellwood and was not happy that she was with someone else. 'She saw him at the WINZ (welfare) office [on] Dominion Road on the Monday before she vanished, and commented how sick he looked - being a loving person there is every possibility she contacted him out of pity,' he told Stuff. 'When have the New Zealand police ever got something 100 per cent correct? Until I am able to view the evidence, anything could have happened to Tania, anywhere and by anyone.' Mr Heyder said Ms Ellwood had suffered from addiction problems in the past, and her doctor had diagnosed her with depression and anxiety and she sometimes had psychotic thoughts. Her clinical notes showed she had a risk of suicide. She met Hamilton while they were in emergency care together but her mother did not approve of him, the Coroner's report stated. Hamilton, a sickness beneficiary, had previously been imprisoned for five years after strangling a woman until she was unconscious and raping her in 2007. He was sleeping under bushes in the street before checking into Dryden Lodge two days before he met Ms Ellwood on the day she is believed to have died. Ms Ellwood had told her doctor in February 2018 that she planned to leave Mr Heyder because he was controlling and had thrown away her medication. Ms Ellwood was found to have died on February 28, 2018, the day she went missing. Hamilton was found to have died five days later on March 5. On the day she disappeared, Ms Heyder was dropped at a bank in Newmarket in the morning. She withdrew $440 from the bank and went to a hair appointment at a salon. She was seen by her hairdresser at a cafe drinking wine about 9.30am. The hairdresser said Ms Ellwood was drunk and told her she was going to meet her 'ex' - Hamilton. Ms Ellwood then took a bus to Mercury Lane in the city and was seen playing pokies at a bar. Hamilton then arrived at the bar with another man. He had an argument with Ms Ellwood before she left the area. Hamilton left shortly afterwards. Ms Ellwood then met Hamilton on Karangahape Road, near the central city and they were captuted on CCTV travelling towards Dryden Lodge at 2.30pm. After neighbours complained about the smell coming from the room, a caretaker went through the window and saw Hamilton standing in the room naked, holding a white sheet and mumbling on March 5. The caretaker shut the door, and the next day he entered the room to find both Hamilton and Ms Ellwood dead. This is the entrance to the downstairs level of the boarding house where both Ms Ellwood and Mr Hamilton were found dead on March 6 Relatives raised the alarm when they did not hear from Ms Ellwood in the first week of March, but little did they know the tragedy that had occurred. Described by mates a 'bubbly' blonde and a 'gorgeous, gorgeous soul', Ms Ellwood was a well known stylist and a former fashion writer for top magazines. She was once cast for a role in Shortland Street, New Zealand's equivalent of Neighbours or Coronation Street, although she did not play an onscreen role. Her sister Katrina issued a cry for help on Facebook and police went public with a plea for information when she went missing. 'It was like something out of a horror movie,' one resident said, describing the scene at the halfway house in an interview with the New Zealand Herald. In a bizarre twist, the property was later revealed to be owned by Ronald Lapread - Lionel Richie's former bassist in the American R&B supergroup, the Commodores. The Alabama band were one of the biggest of the 1970s - supporting the Jackson Five for three years - and some of Lapread's clothes are even 'embalmed' in museums in the United States. Another view of the halfway house - which is home to vagrants and houses some of Auckland's most vulnerable people Bikes and kids' scooters were strewn in a small courtyard on a lower level of the estate Ron Lapread (back row) is pictured here with his wife and pop superstar Michael Jackson Mr Lapread's Facebook page still features several pictures of himself with Michael Jackson. He even claimed to be his protege. 'Michael Jackson is my mentor,' he told Noted.co.nz. 'He taught me everything about the business.' Lapread and his Iranian wife have long housed more than a hundred tenants across two boarding houses in the city - most down on their luck. A bunch of flowers were rested on the door of the room once occupied by Tania Ellwood and Timothy Hamilton But the deaths have left some tenants and the owner of the home a little jumpy. Mr Lapread declined an interview request through his son. A prominent tenant at the residence, Junior, did not want to speak about the deaths but said: 'We've got some odd ones that come in here, the village idiots. 'But we are like a community in here. We look after each other.' Tenants smoked out the front and walked the hallways shirtless as music boomed from their tiny rooms. The estate showed signs of age and features communal bathroom and kitchen spaces. The reception area was abandoned and a large sign out the front stipulated some strict rules, including 'all tenants must be free of odour'. A Muslim group has been slammed for promoting a free trip to New Zealand to meet the families of the Christchurch massacre victims. Muslims of the World, an American Islamic awareness organisation, advertised its tasteless competition just three weeks after 50 people were killed in a shooting spree. 'GIVEAWAY: win a FREE TRIP to New Zealand to meet the families of the victims,' it told its 300,000 Instagram followers on Thursday. A Muslim group has been slammed for promoting a free trip to New Zealand to meet the families of the Christchurch massacre victims Muslims of the World, an American Islamic awareness Instagram page, advertised its a tasteless competition, just three weeks after 50 people were killed in a shooting spree (Al Noor Mosque pictured on March 15) Maha Elmadani, a Christchurch-based graphic designer whose 66-year-old engineer father Ali Elmadani was killed in the massacre, condemned the Instagram post. 'This is actually disgusting,' she wrote on the group's page. 'You guys are turning this horrific massacre into some f***ing excuse to vacation in NZ and you're doing it on the backs of the victims that died! 'My dad died in that mosque and so did 49 of the most beautiful souls that walked this Earth. 'I don't know who you think you are but you and your idiot friends are now welcome to come here and look at us like some animals in a zoo. 'Why don't you leave us to grieve properly and go feed your f***ing ego somewhere else?' Maha Elmadani, a Christchurch-based graphic designer whose 66-year-old engineer father Ali Elmadani was killed in the massacre, condemned the Instagram post Khaled Beydoun, an American law professor and author, apologised for the post following a deluge of criticism and deleted the original. 'We at Muslims of the World want to sincerely apologise to the families of the victims of the New Zealand massacre for yesterday's post,' he said, next to the word 'apology' on a black background. 'Our intention was to visit New Zealand in hopes of being agents of healing and community. 'However, our wording was insensitive and we take full ownership of it. 'We apologise for our offensive post and ask for your forgiveness. The criticism for the insensitivity is spot on, we are a very young team and have lots to learn.' Professor Beydoun has written a book, American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear, and is a columnist with the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera network. The Instagram post also featured images of fellow American author Sajjid Shah and American Muslim convert Suhaib Webb, who were planning to visit New Zealand. An Australian man, Brenton Tarrant, has been charged with the shooting murders of 50 people at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, on March 15. Khaled Beydoun, an American law professor and author, apologised for his Instagram post following a deluge of criticism A white supremacist who alongside his cousin praised the Christchurch shooting and expressed support for a similar attack in the U.S. has been charged with lying to the FBI, after he denied owning a shotgun which was then discovered in his room. Thomas Bolin, who lives in New York, managed a white supremacist Facebook group in which his cousin, Austin Witkowski, called for a reenactment of the New Zealand terror attack that claimed the lives of 50 Muslims who were worshiping in mosques. Bolin, who said online that the Christchurch shooting 'did his heart good', was charged with making a false statement to the FBI during their investigation. He was charged after agents questioned him outside his girlfriend's house Saturday, asking him if he possessed any guns. Bolin admitted to having possessed guns while living in Kansas City but said the guns were legal there. He denied ever possessing a gun while in New York. However, a search of Bolin's rented room found a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and several boxes of ammunition. They also discovered the mask which appeared in the Facebook photo. Thomas Bolin, who lives in New York, managed a white supremacist Facebook group in which his cousin, Austin Witkowski, called for a reenactment of the New Zealand terror attack that claimed the lives of 50 Muslims who were worshiping in mosques Bolin, who used the aliases Folk Odinist and Paul Vincent, when speaking online, discussed a possible attack in Baltimore and joined various white supremacist groups to praise the tragic events in New Zealand. The FBI said Bolin talked to his cousin about the New Zealand gunman, telling him, 'Brugh dude killed 40 muslims.' Witkowski responded with a heart emoji and the word 'lovely'. According to an affidavit from an FBI special agent on the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Buffalo, Witkowski - who went under the alias Ragnar Odinson - sent threatening messages via Facebook Messenger on the day of the Christchurch attack and 'indicated that he was willing to 'do something as of next week.'' In the messages, he encouraged another individual to buy firearms, ammunition and food, and said he would travel to meet the individual the following week for the attack. The next day, Bolin messaged his cousin and said his car was wrecked and he had broken his arm. 'There goes all that shit then,' Witkowski replied, police say. 'Only takes one arm to fire a glock,' Bolin replied. Accused Christchurch massacre gunman Brenton Harrison Tarrant (pictured) made a white power gesture from behind a glass window, during his first court appearance in March Witkowski then said: 'I guess I'll do this shit my self. I'm not waiting months and months or a week. It was supposed to be done by Halloween'. He was arrested the next day, on March 17, for a separate incident. Bolin also wrote on Facebook about 'the invasion happening at the southern border' and the 'destruction of our homeland by Islamic trash.' Witkowski shared the Christchurch shooter's manifesto and video, responding 'Lovely' when Bolin wrote, 'Brugh dude killed 40 muslims.' Bolin also wrote to his girlfriend that the victims in New Zealand were 'muslim rats they would gladly do the worse to you or me' and that it 'does his [heart] good to see [them] run down.' Prosecutors also say Bolin wrote in one message that what the Christchurch shooter did 'was fucked up but politically he is making some points his focus was on the fact that the elites want to kill off the white race and replace us with a demographic they can control better. 'Which is fairly obvious if you look into it. His solution was extremely radical and misguided but its a good read ill send you the link to it if you want its about a 30 min read.' In an interview with FBI agents on March 30, Bolin said he wanted Muslims out of the country because they were 'contributing to a corruption of his culture,' according to the FBI affidavit. He claimed he did not possess a weapon in New York state, where he had moved in May 2018. But FBI agents searched the room he was renting and found a red devil mask and a shotgun, both of which were depicted in a photo on Bolin's Facebook account. Landmark new laws could be passed as early as next week allowing people in Tasmania to change their gender on their birth certificates. The legislation was passed in the upper house in Tasmania on Thursday night 8 votes to 6 - and will be formally approved next week, before returning to the lower house to get the tick of approval to become state law. It will allow people aged 16 and over to apply to change their gender through a statutory declaration at the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. Current birth certificates have a field saying 'sex' - but if new laws pass, a person can opt to change their gender or remove it from being shown, by applying through the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry A parent or guardian can do so on behalf of someone under 16, but anyone under 18 may be asked to provide proof of counselling to make sure they're aware of what they're doing. It also means a person will be able to change their gender officially without sexual reassignment surgery, Ruth Forest, Independent member for Murchison - who brought the changes to parliament, told Daily Mail Australia. Once their application goes through they can then apply to change their birth certificate details, or have the gender field removed, although someone's preferred gender will always remain shown on the register. The requirement for married transgender partners to divorce before they can change the gender on their birth certificate will also be removed. Tasmania is expected to become the first state in Australia to make the inclusion of a child's sex on birth certificates optional Tasmanian transgender activist Martine Delaney says it's only half way there, the legislation passing the Upper house has made history The proposal also prevents hate speech and offensive language against gender identity and intersex status. Summary of Proposed Laws - Transgender people will no longer need to have sexual reassignment surgery in order to have their preferred gender recognised - Transgender couples will not be forced to divorce before they can change the gender on their birth certificate - Prevent hate speech and offensive language which discriminates against people on the basis of their gender identity or intersex status - Gender will be optional on birth certificates and allow 16-year-olds to change their registered gender without parental permission Advertisement Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey supported Labor and the Greens when the changes passed in the Lower House last year. Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest - who brought the proposals to parliament - said the changes were 'about treating all Tasmanians equally'. Although the legislation still needs to be voted on before becoming a law, Tasmanian transgender activist Martine Delaney told The Mercury that the LGBT community is already celebrating. 'When historians come to write about how Tasmania adopted the best transgender laws in the nation, and the world, they will say the quietest voices spoke the loudest,' she said. But not everyone's excited for the potential new laws, Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage - who opposed the Bill - said she was disappointed the legislation passed the Upper House without 'proper community consultation'. The ACT, SA and NT have similar laws but Tasmania's laws would go further by allowing people to remove gender entirely from their birth certificate. A cherished family pet that was stolen by a hooded thief has been reunited with its owners. After a week-long search for the missing 10-week-old puppy named Teddy, the owner Glenn Murray increased the original reward of $10,000 to $20,000. Camera footage showed a hooded thief carrying Teddy while he crept through a backyard. On Friday, the puppy was found safe and well by Western Australia Police. Scroll down for video Teddy (pictured) was returned home safe and sound to his very happy family late on Thursday night Teddy was bought as a companion for the Murray family's other pet dog after their son moved out of their family home. On Thursday evening WA Police searched a property in Armadale where they found the missing puppy. He was returned home safe and sound to his very grateful family late on Thursday evening. Former Vice President Joe Biden is a presidential candidate in all but name, reinforcing that nether-realm status Friday in a conversation with reporters following a speech in Washington. 'I am told by the lawyers that I've got to be careful what I say,' he explained, 'so that I don't start the clock ticking and change my status.' The Federal Election Commission draws a bright line between 'declared' candidates and people in an 'exploratory' stage of their political planning. Those designations can affect fundraising limits, reporting requirements and other facets of campaigning. Biden said he is 'very close to making the decision to stand before you all relatively soon.' Asked what's delaying him, he retreated into his folksy persona. 'The hold up? Putting everything together, man,' he said. That appears to include a campaign-launch video: Biden was photographed on Thursday with a film crew at his childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Biden fielded questions after spekaing to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, temporarily sidestepping the thorny crisis of seven women who have accused him of touching them in nonsexual but unwelcome ways. 'I think it's going to have to change how I campaign,' he conceded during his brief press availability. Joe Biden hasn't announced he's running for president but all mystery is gone; he told reporters on Frirday that he's just being 'careful' about calling it a presidential campaign because election regulations would kick in Biden is facing allegations from seven different women that he touched them in nonsexual but unwanted ways; he mad elight of the scandal during a speech Friday A neighbor of Biden's childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania tweeted a photo of the former VP and a film crew working outside the home on Thursday The vacuum Biden has created by repeatedly pushing back a final decision about a 2020 bid has increasingly been filled with missteps and controversy, most recently the women who say his behavior made them uneasy. As a result, Biden would enter the race as something of a paradox, a popular, deeply experienced front-runner but also a flawed candidate whose weaknesses are on full display. 'He has considerable assets, but the downside of 45 years of experience and relationships is 45 years of experience and relationships,' said David Axelrod, a longtime political adviser to President Barack Obama. Biden's speech Friday was his first public appearance since several women began recounting their experiences with him. The first was Nevada politician Lucy Flores, who said she was uncomfortable when Biden kissed her on the back of the head backstage at a 2014 campaign event. Her account was countered by scores of women from prominent lawmakers to former Biden staffers who praised him as a warm, affectionate person and a supportive boss. He said in a cellphone video released Wednesday that he understood 'social norms have begun to change' and 'the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset.' Biden allies insist the eruption has done little to slow down planning for a 2020 campaign. Barring the unforeseen, he is expected to announce his candidacy, perhaps online, after Easter and immediately embark on a trip to early voting caucus and primary states. Those stops would be followed by a ceremonial kickoff. In this January 6, 2015 C-SPAN screen grab, Biden (3rd right) , then the vice president, is pictured with his hand on the hop of Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner's then-13-year-old daughter Biden joked on Friday that he had 'permission to touch him' as he was joined by a group of children on stage Vice President Joe Biden kissed a niece of incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on January 6, 2015 Advisers say they are working to build out a robust campaign staff, including operatives in Iowa and South Carolina, states that are seen as key to his path to the nomination. Women are being considered for key roles, including senior strategist and deputy campaign manager, according to advisers, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the planning publicly. Biden's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, has long been one of his most trusted political confidantes. His daughter, 37-year-old Ashley Biden, who has largely kept a low profile during her father's political career, may also take on a more prominent role. She has quit her job as a social worker, fueling speculation. But the past few weeks have laid bare the challenges Biden would face. Some women's groups have balked at his attempts to apologize for his role overseeing the Senate hearings in which Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. UltraViolet, the women's advocacy organization, said its message to Biden was 'Do better. Do better for women.' Biden was also broadly panned following reports that he was considering asking 2018 Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, a 45-year-old African American woman, to be his running mate during the Democratic primaries. Abrams herself brushed back the speculation by saying she thought a woman or a minority would be the Democratic Party nominee in 2020. President Trump retweeted a doctored video on Thursday that showed Biden putting his hands on his own shoulders andinhaling the scent of his hair In this Sept. 9, 2012 photo, then-Vice President Biden visited with patrons at a diner in Seaman, Ohio where he buddied up with bikers including this woman Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday, Abrams offered support for Biden and said Democrats shouldn't 'have perfection as a litmus test.' But in a sign of the volatility that could be ahead for the Democratic field, Abrams said she doesn't expect to decide whether to launch a presidential bid of her own until the fall, just months before primary voting begins. The rush of attention on Biden's behavior with women has been particularly intense, raising questions about whether his hugs and shoulder squeezes are simply out of a different era or a new front in the MeToo movement that has put a spotlight on the actions of powerful men. 'It feels so much like some of the other Me Too stuff that's been floating around, that I'm afraid he might get tarred with that brush whether or not it's really warranted,' said Mike Waggoner, a 70-year-old Democrat from Waterloo, Iowa. 'This is such a sensitive area and an important area, I'm afraid it could just take him out.' As the scrutiny has intensified, Biden has kept the counsel of a small group of advisers who have been with him for years. The team appeared to respond slowly to Flores' assertions, first releasing a brief statement from a spokesman, then a longer statement from Biden himself about 36 hours later. Four more days passed before the former vice president's video response was released. 'It is a really difficult period before you announce when you are nonetheless a target,' Axelrod said. 'You're not wholly in a position to respond and yet you have to, and so that may account for the halting way in which this unfolded.' Fiona Bruce has revealed that a BBC boss once told her she did not need a wage rise because her boyfriend would pay her bills. The Question Time and Antiques Roadshow host said the incident happened early in her career, when she asked for a 'desultory' salary increase. Miss Bruce, now one of the BBC's biggest female stars, told Vogue magazine that instead of assessing her work performance, her manager quizzed her about her living arrangements, her boyfriend's job and who paid the bills. 'My boss said, 'Do you really need it? What does your boyfriend do? You live with him, don't you? Doesn't he pay for most things?',' she said. Miss Bruce, 54 who was photographed for Vogue wearing subtle make-up, her hair tied back and dressed in a 1,000 white cashmere polo neck from Ralph Lauren now regards the row over her modest pay rise as 'ludicrous' The presenter, who worked in advertising before joining the BBC in 1989, did not reveal who her boyfriend was at that time. But it is thought to be her now husband, Nigel Sharrocks. They are pictured together in 1999 To her consternation, Miss Bruce replied: 'Well, I do most of the supermarket shopping so I need to pay for that.' The presenter, who worked in advertising before joining the BBC in 1989, did not reveal who her boyfriend was at that time. But it is thought to be her now husband, former advertising executive Nigel Sharrocks, whom she met at an office party. Miss Bruce, 54 who was photographed for Vogue wearing subtle make-up, her hair tied back and dressed in a 1,000 white cashmere polo neck from Ralph Lauren now regards the row over her modest pay rise as 'ludicrous'. But it appears to be in keeping with the way the BBC was run at that time. 'It was a terrible atmosphere dog-eat-dog bitchy, not a nice place to be,' Miss Bruce said. The revelations will heap fresh embarrassment on the corporation, which is still battling to shed a reputation for sexism. Bruce and former advertising executive Mr Sharrocks met at an office party. They are pictured together in 2008 Miss Bruce, who also hosts Fake Or Fortune? and the BBC news, was revealed as one of the highest-paid women, on between 350,000 and 400,000 a year. She said the incident happened early in her career, when she asked for a 'desultory' salary increase [File photo] The BBC was forced to publish the salary details of its highest-paid earners two years ago, exposing a yawning gender pay gap. Miss Bruce, who also hosts Fake Or Fortune? and the BBC news, was revealed as one of the highest-paid women, on between 350,000 and 400,000 a year. That will have soared since, after she landed the coveted Question Time job this year fending off competition from Emily Maitlis and Kirsty Wark to replace David Dimbleby. The revelations will heap fresh embarrassment on the BBC, which is still battling to shed a reputation for sexism. See the full feature in the May issue of British Vogue, available on digital download and newsstands now According to insiders, Miss Bruce is paid at least as much for the job as her predecessor, putting her overall BBC pay packet at around 800,000. Miss Bruce admitted that she still does not know how she will juggle her new job with the rest of her commitments on screen. 'I did have doubts about how I'm going to fit everything in. Because I'm still doing news, though less of it, and Fake Or Fortune? and Antiques Roadshow will start in May,' she said. 'Accompanying the thrill of being asked was, 'Oh my God, how am I going to make all that work?' ' Miss Bruce said she usually thrives on the drama of a 'really hairy' broadcast. But she admitted that she was nervous before her Question Time debut. 'It was a rather unpleasant shock. For the first ten minutes I thought, what is happening?' she said. Afterwards, she drank champagne and watched the show with her husband and their children, aged 17 and 21. 'I am the least cool person they know. The fact they all stayed to be there for me, it just meant everything.' See the full feature in the May issue of British Vogue, available on digital download and newsstands on Friday 5th April. www.vogue.co.uk The orphaned children of notorious Islamic State terrorist Khaled Sharrouf could soon be granted travel documents to return to Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not put lives at risk to extract them from the Syrian conflict zone. However, if Sharrouf's family can get out of Syria and to an Australian embassy, they will likely be given passports to return. 'When they might be in a position to return to Australia, we will cooperate with that process,' he told reporters in Canberra on Friday. The orphaned children (pictured) of notorious terrorist Khaled Sharrouf could be back on Australian soil if they can get out of Syria and to an Australian Embassy (Zaynab, top left; Hoda, top right; Hamza, bottom centre; Abdullah, bottom right; Zarqawi, bottom left) Mr Morrison said he was working with the Red Cross to get the children out of a Kurdish-controlled refugee camp. Security and identity checks would then be undertaken. 'We would follow the normal processes for issuing of travel documents after all those other matters have been addressed,' he said. 'Where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation - particularly as innocent children - we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf.' Hoda Sharrouf was just 11 when she was taken to Syria along with her siblings, and is now asking the Australian government for help. Hoda, who is now 16, is being held in a Kurdish-controlled refugee camp with her older sister Zaynab and eight-year-old brother Hamza. Zaynab, 17, is heavily pregnant with her third child and at risk of dying in the Al-Hawl camp. 'I want to see my brother grow up as a normal kid,' Hoda told The Sydney Morning Herald. Her two other brothers, Abdullah, 12, and Zarqawi, 11, were killed alongside Khaled in September 2017 in a US air strike on ISIS territory 'I want to see my nieces with a happy life with good treatment. I want to see my sister give birth safely.' Federal Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said he sympathised with the children, but not with the parents who put them in their precarious position. 'Every western country has somebody in this situation - that's a conundrum being dealt with by many like-minded countries,' he told ABC News Breakfast. 'We provide bipartisan support to the government.' Houda is urging the Australian government to 'step up'. 'What about the children? What about the people that didn't want to come here? What about the people that are stuck here and never wanted to be here in the first place?' she said. 'We're Australians too. Australia needs to do something about it. They need to step up.' Sharrouf and his two eldest sons, Abdullah and Zarqawi, were killed in a US air strike on Syria in 2017. The children's mother died of a medical condition in 2015 after following Sharrouf to the Middle East with their five children. Zaynab was married off to Sharrouf's best friend and fellow jihadist Mohammed Elomar when she was just 13. She has two daughters, Ayesha, 3, and Fatima, 2. Australians begging to come home after fighting with ISIS Oliver Bridgeman, 21 Olive Bridgeman, 21, (pictured) claims he went to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. The 21-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland's Darling Downs claimed he travelled to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. Queensland's Darling Downs claimed he travelled to Syria to be a humanitarian worker. He previously assured his mother and father he hadn't been fighting in the war-torn nation, where ISIS terrorists are battling for control. His passport has been cancelled by the Australian government and he has been stuck in the war-torn area since 2016. Mahir Absar Alam, 26, Mahir Absar Alam, 26, (pictured), was caught just outside Baghouz. Alam joined Islamic State just four weeks after it declared its so-called caliphate in 2014. He has allegedly expressed regret for joining. The 26-year-old faces spending time in a prison camp in Syria, and could be taken to Iraq for trial or possibly be deported back to Australia, where he could be prosecuted. Ahmed Merhi, 27 Ahmed Merhi, 27, (pictured) has begged Australia to help him escape. Sydney terrorist Ahmed Merhi has begged Australia to help him after he was sentenced to death by hanging in Iraq. The former Granville Boys High School student, from Sydney's west, travelled to Syria in 2014 or 2015. At the time, he claimed he was travelling to the war-torn region to perform aid work. Janai Safar, 24 Janai Safar, 24, (pictured), previously vowed never to return to Australia. Safar is living in a refugee camp in northern Syria after its defeat. She left Australia to allegedly join the jihadi terror group in 2015. She previously vowed she'd never return to Australia. 'It was my decision to come here to go away from where women are naked on the street. I don't want my son to be raised around that,' she said. Zehra Duman, 24, Zehra Duman, 24, (pictured) hit headlines in Australia when she fled to Syria in 2014. Duman, from Melbourne, is believed to be held at the al-Hawl refugee camp in Syria with her two-year-old son and six-month-old daughter. She claims she has been trying to leave ISIS for two years. The 24-year-old said she knows Australians would be angry with her but insisted: 'My kids have a right to be treated like normal kids.' Khaled Sharrouf's children: Zaynab, 17, Hoda, 16, and Humzeh, eight Zaynab (top left), Hoda (top right), and Humzeh (bottom, middle) are in the al-Howl camp. The Australian terrorist's remaining three children have been held at the al-Hawl refugee camp in north-eastern Syria since mid-march. Their Sydney-based mother, Tara Nettleton, smuggled the children out of Australia after her husband left to join the caliphate. Nettleton is believed to have died in 2016, while Sharrouf and his two eldest sons were believed to have been killed in an airstrike in 2017. Advertisement Malcolm Turnbull praised brutal Chinese dictator Mao Zedong as his country's 'greatest leader' despite his slaughter of millions. The former Australian prime minister said Mao's extreme communist writings, which justified the deaths of up to 70 million people, 'belong to everyone'. He even compared the depot's words to those of American founding father Thomas Jefferson and famed Irish statesman Edmund Burke. Malcolm Turnbull (pictured with current Chinese president Xi Jinping) praised brutal Chinese dictator Mao Zedong as his country's 'greatest leader' 'Chairman Mao is a great Chinese leader, one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest, but his writings belong to all of humanity,' he told the South China Morning Post. 'Everyone is entitled to quote, read Mao, read that history, quote it. Just like Americans are not the only people who can quote Thomas Jefferson, English men and women are not the only ones who can quote Edmund Burke.' Chairman Mao won the Chinese Civil War in 1954, ushering in the country's current communist system, and began to radically remake the country. His mass executions of enemies and wholesale slaughters of landlords saw up to 15 million people murdered or perished in forced labour camps. Execution after a 'people's tribunal' in the land reform movement in Communist China Huang, probably a landowner paid for his 'crime' by being shot, taken in January 1953 Famines caused by his Great Leap Forward industrialisation policy killed tens of millions more. Mao's total body count runs as high as 70 million. Adolf Hitler by contrast killed up to 17 million in the Holocaust and World War II and USSR despot Joseph Stalin up to 20 million. Chairman Mao Zedong won the Chinese Civil War in 1954, ushering in the country's current communist system, and began to radically remake the country - along with the deaths of up to 70 million people Mr Turnbull was responding to savage criticism he received from the Chinese state-owned press when he quoted Mao while prime minister. 'Modern China was founded in 1949 with these words: Zhongguo renmin zhanqilai the Chinese people have stood up,' he said in December 2017. 'It was an assertion of sovereignty, it was an assertion of pride. And so we say: Aodaliya renmin zhanqilai the Australian people stand up.' China's press accused him of being 'full of lecturing aimed at China', and Mr Turnbull this week finally returned fire with both barrels. 'You are never going to win friends by insulting them and some of those personal attacks were utterly offensive and of a kind I have never seen used in Australian media,' he said. 'Rambunctious, independent as it may be, I have never seen criticism like that against a Chinese leader.' In speaking of the Australian media, he claimed the influence of the News Corp press owned by Rupert Murdoch - which helped oust him - was waning. Mr Turnbull said it was 'much easier' to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump than President Xi as the pair had a 'very good, fairly frank, blunt' relationship while he was still PM He pointed to U.S. President Donald's Trump's massive Twitter platform, which he called 'liberating', as a sign that the mainstream media was in general less powerful. Mr Tunbull contrasted the 'plain-speaking' Trump with the more 'complicated' style of Chinese president Xi Jinping and other Asian leaders. He said it was 'much easier' to deal with Trump as the pair had a 'very good, fairly frank, blunt' relationship while he was still PM. President Xi on the other hand was 'less free-flowing, less spontaneous, more carefully considered than the way Western leaders would talk to each other'. A convicted child sex offender molested a six-year-old schoolgirl while she crossed the road, less than a week after he had been released from prison. John Howard, 38, wrapped his arm around the young girl's chest, and touched her thigh and bottom in the horrific attack last November, The Daily Telegraph reported. The Sydney man has a string of prior convictions for the indecent assault of children, stalking, loitering near schools and drug possession. Burwood Local Court heard Howard was drunk at the time of the attack and had only been released from a six-month prison sentence five days earlier. A six-year-old Sydney schoolgirl was molested by a drunk paedophile, who had been released from jail just five days earlier (stock image) His young victim had been holding her grandmother's hand at the time, and her mother had just told her to be careful crossing the road when Howard struck, telling the schoolgirl: 'listen to your mother' before molesting her. Howard was sentenced to a maximum sentence of nine months behind bars, but will be eligible for parole in July. At the time of his offending, he had been under a child protection prohibition order, which forbade him from communicating in any way with a person under the age of 18, living with a minor, working or volunteering in a role that could put him in contact with a minor, and from contacting any other child sex offender. Howard has an intellectual disability, and a psychologist report tendered to the court said the Summer Hill man's substance abuse issues and disability would make it hard for him to transition from prison back into civilisation. Victims advocate Howard Brown said Howard had not been given adequate rehabilitation or supervision upon his release, leaving him 'stuck in a revolving door in and out of jail'. Heaps of rubbish left on roadsides have become an all-too-familiar sight across the country. But this is fly-tipping on a new and shocking level. Waste mountains weighing the equivalent of three humpback whales have been illegally dumped within a five-mile radius in just over a week. The Environment Agency said it believes the crimes could be linked and the waste may have been deposited by a grab lorry. Four villages outside Guildford, Surrey, have woken up to find their communities blighted by 100 tons of rubbish in total since Tuesday of last week. Waste mountains have been illegally dumped outside four villages in Surrey. The waste mountains weighing the equivalent of three humpback whales have been illegally dumped within a five-mile radius in just over a week The average humpback whale weighs between 25 and 30 tons. About 20 tons were dumped by woodland near West Horsley on March 26. Another 20-ton pile was left just outside Ripley on March 27. And a 40-ton pile was discarded on an access road near the A3 in Burpham over the weekend. The Environment Agency said yesterday it was investigating a fourth incident after a 20-ton heap was found in Gomshall. The Environment Agency said it believes the crimes could be linked and the waste may have been deposited by a grab lorry. Fly-tipping is a criminal offence, it can result in an unlimited fine or five years jail in the most serious cases Fly-tipping is a criminal offence that can result in an unlimited fine or five years imprisonment in the most serious cases. Quantities of waste weighing 20 tons or more are considered large-scale fly-tipping, according to the Environment Agency. A spokesman said: 'People who illegally dump rubbish anywhere have no soul; no moral compass about what is right or wrong. They are purely motivated by greed and self-interest. This isn't someone dropping a couple of bin bags. It's serious organised crime. 'These reckless actions put people and the environment at risk and we encourage the public to help us catch these criminals.' A driver has been fined for almost wiping out a cyclist as they changed lanes after footage of the incident was handed over to police. A South Australian cyclist captured the moment a Mercedes moves across three lanes in a last-minute attempt to turn right. The car almost wipes out the cyclist who was also using the right hand lane. The cyclist submitted the video to both the Cycliq Facebook page and the police, who later fined the driver. A driver has been fined for almost wiping out a cyclist as they change lanes, but some believe it's the cyclist who was actually in the wrong While some social media users blasted the motorist for their reckless driving, others believed the cyclist was also in the wrong. 'Why is the cyclist in the right lane? Not sure what is going on here?' one Facebook user asked. 'The cyclist just kept going and did not make a left. Also, the street looks like main through fare without a bike lane,' another person said. According to South Australian road laws, cyclists must keep to the left where practical. The South Australian cyclist captured the dramatic moment the Mercedes desperately moves across three lanes in a last-minute attempt to turn right But in the process of making the last minute turn the car almost takes out the cyclist, who is also using the right-hand lane 'Cyclists must keep as close as reasonably practicable to the left-hand side of the road or bikeway except when making, or about to make, a right hand turn or where the road is divided into lanes,' Legal Services Commission of South Australia says. Another user made said perhaps the cyclist was intending on making a right turn up ahead at the intersection he was approaching. 'Careless Mercedes driver is trying to drive right across three marked lanes in order to get into the u-turn box. Would be nice to know which of the multiple road laws they broke with that maneuver they were fined for,' the Facebook user said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has choked back tears while launching a royal commission into the abuse and neglect of disabled Australians. The $528 million inquiry, which will be headed by Justice Ronald Sackville and be based in Brisbane, will examine mistreatment across institutions, workplaces, schools, homes and the wider community. 'Australians living with disability and their families have spoken and my government has listened and is taking action,' Mr Morrison said. He said people with disabilities were much more likely to suffer abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation than other Australians. Mr Morrison (right) quoted his disabled brother-in-law Gary (left) while announcing details of the royal commission at Parliament House The royal commission will investigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme. 'People living with disability have faced the most difficult of circumstances because of their own condition,' Mr Morrison said. 'But worse than that is the lack of a culture of respect towards people with disability that leads to their abuse and mistreatment.' More than 3700 people responded to public consultation on the terms of reference. 'We have to establish a culture of respect for people living with disabilities and the families who support, love and care for them,' Mr Morrison said. The royal commission will hand down a final report in April 2022. An emotional Mr Morrison quoted his disabled brother-in-law Gary while announcing details of the royal commission at Parliament House. 'As my brother-in-law Gary said to me, it is not flash being disabled, but the good thing is that that's the condition you live with in Australia and that you're an Australian,' he said, pausing to clear his throat. Mr Morrison (pictured) said if the six royal commissioners need more time, they would receive it 'That has always meant a lot to me. They deserve our respect. This is so above politics I can't tell you. 'To all those Australians with a disability, their families, to Gary, this is for you.' Mr Morrison said if the six royal commissioners need more time, they would receive it. 'This is a no limits inquiry,' he said. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten promised to keep the funding and scale of the commission the same should Labor win the coming federal election. 'This is what we wanted and if the government's not being stingy about the roll out of it - fine,' he told reporters in Canberra. Farmers have been warned to lock their gates and install CCTV ahead of a 'major animal activist event' lead by militant vegans. Industry groups have contacted members ahead of the April 8 event, which marks the anniversary of the anti-farming film Dominion, The Tenterfield Star reported. The documentary has been slammed by critics who believe the footage was covertly obtained to deliberately ruin the reputation of livestock farming. The warning comes after more than a 100 activists (pictured) staged a similar event in March, where they stormed a southern Queensland feedlot Protesters (pictured), wore white overalls covered in black shirts that read: 'Meat the Victims', in March cut across Lemontree Feedlot as the farmer chased after them The warning comes after more than 100 activists staged a similar event in March, where people stormed a southern Queensland feedlot. The protesters, wearing white overalls covered in black shirts that read: 'Meat the Victims', cut across Lemontree Feedlot as the farmer chased after them. Lot feeder David McNamee later told Daily Mail Australia the vegans' actions were distressing for his family and had put his livestock at risk. National Farmers Federation CEO Tony Mahar told Daily Mail Australia farmers are right to be apprehensive as to what Monday may bring. 'The disturbing message from these radical extremists is to demand farmers shut down their farms and release their animals,' Mr Mahar said. 'Unauthorised entry risks not only disturbing the contentment of our stock but threatens to bring in devastating germs, bacteria and ultimately sickness.' According to the Dominion: Documentary Facebook page, the April 8 event, which has 'guests' in the thousands, has already undergone several key time changes. 'We ask that you respect this by not asking details about the plans on the day and also not speculating what might be planned,' the message stated. 'It's important to not communicate about any plans, known or speculative on any form of electronic communication.' 'We will share the exact meeting spot and more details closer the time to avoid the plans being sabotaged,' the message stated. Industry leaders have urged all farmers whose details have been listed on the controversial 'name and shame' Aussie Farms Map to take caution ahead of Monday. David McNamee from Lemontree Feedlot said the vegans' actions in March were distressing for his family and had put his livestock at risk Farmers have been warned to ensure all doors, gates and other entry points are securely locked and to consider the installation of CCTV video surveillance systems. Several groups, including Australian Chicken Growers Council and Queensland Dairy Organisation, have also reportedly advised members to vet new staff carefully. Australian Chicken Meat Federation executive director Vivien Kite confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Friday it was aware of the planned protests. 'It will continue to advise members to maintain their strict farm biosecurity protocols to ensure that anyone entering their property without permission is aware they are trespassing,' a statement read. The National Farmers' Federation has also urged farmers to stay calm and to not take matters into their own hands if confronted by trespassers on Monday. 'Farmers should call the Police and ask them to attend immediately. The Police are aware of the plans,' Mr Maher said. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Australian Chicken Growers Council and Queensland Dairy Organisation for comment. The foreign aid budget rose by almost 500 million last year to reach a record 14.5 billion. The huge increase will pile pressure on ministers to end the controversial 0.7 per cent target, which has seen spending on international development double in a decade. Each UK household now pays an average of 535 a year for overseas aid more than 10 every week. News of the increase comes a week after families were told they faced an average rise of 76 a year on their council tax from this month. The foreign aid budget rose by almost 500 million last year to reach a record 14.5 billion. Households across the UK now pay an average of 535 a year for overseas aid more than 10 every week The total spent on aid has more than doubled from the 6.4billion spent in 2008. Britain is one of only five countries to meet the 0.7 per cent foreign aid target. Tory backbenchers said it was indefensible that ministers could find another half a billion pounds for foreign aid but could not properly fund police, schools or the care system. Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann said: 'It can't be right that we can afford to help Third World countries while we seem to be unable to offer more than Third World care to our elderly citizens.' Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'This remains an extravagance in an era of continuing austerity. 'When we are facing a real challenge with social care and when everyone is facing increasing tax, it seems a peculiar priority to spend more and more money on overseas aid when the record shows the waste and corruption which forms part of it.' Provisional figures released yesterday show the Department for International Development and other ministries handed out 14.546billion in foreign aid in 2018. This is up 487million on the year before, or 3.5 per cent. The increase was so large because, thanks to a law passed by David Cameron, the aid budget is set at 0.7 per cent of Britain's gross national income. If that rises, so does the amount spent on development. But Tory backbenchers said it was indefensible that ministers could find another half a billion pounds for foreign aid but could not properly fund police, schools or the care system. Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'This remains an extravagance in an era of continuing austerity' Gross national income hit almost 2.1trillion last year. While aid spending is protected, funding for departments providing services in the UK has been slashed. England's schools are struggling with huge spending cuts. The creaking social care system requires billions just to prevent services from deteriorating. And the increase in aid spending is almost five times the 100million that the Chancellor has given police to fight knife crime. Tory MP Pauline Latham, who sits on the Commons international development committee, said: 'If it's gone up that much then it must mean the economy is doing better than anticipated. There must now be an equivalent rise in the amount of money spent on health, education and other services.' A Government spokesman said: 'Our aid budget only increases when the UK economy grows. 'Reducing poverty, hunger and providing clean water and sanitation is at the heart of what UK aid does, but it is also tackling disease, terrorism and conflict, and creating a safer, healthier and more prosperous world for us all.' Officers arrested a man who slashed another man with a sword after the victim allegedly knocked his 'Make America Great Again' hat from his head, San Francisco police said Thursday. Leor Bergland, 30, of San Francisco was arrested in a restaurant Wednesday night by officers staking out his neighborhood since the March 29 incident, police said. A 27-year-old Berkeley, California, resident and Bergland encountered each other outside of the popular Church of 8 Wheels, a roller-skating rink inside an old church in San Francisco's Fillmore district, police said. Berland was charged with suspicion of attempted murder, mayhem, and weapons and assault with bail set at $1 million. Leor Bergland, 30, was arrested in San Francisco after an incident where he allegedly drew a sword on a man after an encounter on March 29 Bergland was wearing a 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) hat, the Trump campaign slogan, when the victim was alleged to have pushed it off of his head. Bergland then drew his sword and slashed the hand of the victim Bergland allegedly drew a sword and slashed the victim's hand after the victim knocked Bergland's hat bearing President Trump's MAGA campaign slogan to the ground. The victim and another man briefly pursued Bergland but stopped after Bergland turned on them and brandished the sword, according to authorities. Police didn't release the victim's name, but the victim was treated and released from a hospital. Jail records don't indicate if Bergland is represented by an attorney. Bergland allegedly drew his sword against the victim outside of the Church of 8 Wheels rollerskating rink in San Francisco, California David Mile who runs the San Francisco roller rink, Church of 8 Wheels, tweets about the violent incident that allegedly occurred outside of his establishment While the wound was not life threatening, the victim left pools of blood on the street after getting slashed with a sword across his hand Scott Sweeney told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was in the same neighborhood about 30 minutes before the incident and saw a man with a MAGA hat and a sword tucked into the back of his jacket. The man, Sweeney said, was shouting homophobic slurs at him. 'In my mind I didn't think it was a real sword until we came out later and police were on the scene and there was blood and the hat on ground,' he said. David Miles, who runs the roller rink at the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said he didn't see the attack but ran out to help the victim. He tweeted that a man in a MAGA hat attacked people with a sword in front of his establishment saying it was the first time he had ever experienced how 'crazy' Trump people are. Miles said officers asked him if a man dressed as a pirate had come into the roller rink, but he hadn't seen anyone like that. Court records show that Bergland had another blade related incident back in October of 2012, when a man in Portland found him in his van's backseat, according to the Chronicle. The owner of the van removed Bergland and held him down, when the trespasser allegedly pulled a knife before passerby were able to separate the two and take away the knife. The charge from the incident was eventually dismissed. Elaine Wynn learned for the first time on Thursday that her husband had hired a former FBI agent to spy on her while she met with a Japanese gambling mogul. James Stern, who is the security chief for Wynn Resorts and a former FBI agent, told gambling regulators that he watched Elaine as she met with Kazuo Okada, who has possible ties to organized crime. Elaine said she was never aware that she was being spied on while denying that she ever met up with Okada. She did not deny telling the Wynn board and execs about payouts her ex Steve Wynn made to women on two occasions - once in 2009 and then again in 2016. In both cases, no action was taken by the board. Scroll down for video Elaine Wynn (pictured in court on Thursday) learned for the first time on Thursday that her husband had hired a former FBI agent to spy on her while she met with a Japanese gambling mogul Billionaire Steve Wynn (left) hired the former FBI agent to spy on her while she met with Japanese gambling mogul Kazuo Okada (right) who has possible ties to organized crime Massachusetts gambling regulators questioned Wynn Resorts leaders about what they knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against company founder Steve Wynn. The state's gaming commission began the day by resuming its interrogation of new company CEO Matt Maddox, who took over after company co-founder Steve Wynn resigned last year and has been a close confidant of the billionaire for years. He was even the bets man at one of Wynn's weddings. The commission opened the hearings Tuesday after releasing a 200-page report by its investigators that concluded company executives concealed and failed to take action on allegations against Steve Wynn for years. Steve Wynn has denied the sexual misconduct allegations and told investigators his 'multiple relationships' with company employees were all consensual. He resigned as CEO last year and sold off his shares in the company after multiple outlets detailed allegations of sexual assault that had been made about the billionaire. Under questioning from regulators, Maddox denied knowing about the specifics of private settlements Steve Wynn had reached with former casino employees who had accused him of sexual misconduct until those details became public years later. Elaine said she was never aware that she was being spied on while denying that she ever met up with Okada Wynn Resorts chief executive Matthew Maddox, left, speaks to the commission during day one of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's three-day hearing on the Wynn Resorts casino license at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston on April 2 He said Wednesday that he had been aware of a settlement made with a cocktail server in 2008 while he was serving as the company's chief financial officer. Maddox maintained he was told the $700,000 payment was to help a financially struggling employee and not the result of a sexual relationship with Steve Wynn. He also claimed that the payment was made at the behest of Elaine and her husband. Maddox revealed as well that he was made aware of at least one of a number of complaints made by spa workers at Wynn Las Vegas about Steve Wynn's conduct during massages. Maddox, who was company president at the time, said he told the then-president of the casino to tell Steve Wynn to discontinue the behavior. Maddox acknowledged he should have informed regulators about the allegations because company officials were aware of the reporting weeks prior to publication. Company board members, meanwhile, acknowledged they failed to investigate after learning in 2016 about a $7.5 million settlement Steve Wynn had paid to a former employee in 2005. Board member Patricia Mulroy testified Wednesday that the settlement first came to the board's attention in 2016 during a lawsuit brought by Elaine , who by then was in a bitter feud with Steve Wynn and the company board. Mulroy said the company's then-legal counsel assured them the incident was an 'outlier' and that Wynn had personally paid the settlement with no liability to the company. She also maintained the company's legal counsel never told board members the allegations involved a former manicurist who claimed she'd become pregnant after Wynn raped her, and that company officials never made the board aware of other settlements. 'The word 'rape' was never said,' claimed Mulroy. Former longtime Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is set to offer Democrats new information on Donald Trump in a bid to stay out of jail. Cohen's attorneys Lanny Davis and Michael Monico told lawmakers that Cohen has discovered substantial files on a hard drive that might be helpful to investigators. They have asked for more time and help from Congress to persuade the Southern District of New York to allow Cohen to postpone reporting to jail in order to review his files. Former longtime Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is set to offer Democrats new information in a bid to stay out of jail after he was convicted of fraud charges According to CNN, Cohen's lawyers wrote in a letter that they hoped Cohen could receive a reduced term. His legal team said he is still reviewing the documents that might be of interest to House Democrats investigating Donald Trump, including emails, voice recordings, images and other documents on a hard drive. 'To date, Mr. Cohen has located several documents that we believe have significant value to the various congressional oversight and investigation committees,' wrote the attorneys, Lanny Davis, Michael Monico and Carly Chocron. They stated that Cohen would not therefore be able to report to jail on May 6 as scheduled has as he won't be able to finish reviewing the material. It added that 'the substantial trove of new information, documents, recordings, and other evidence he can provide requires substantial time with him and ready access to him by congressional committees and staff to complete their investigations and to fulfill their oversight responsibilities.' If any lawmakers were to write such a letter to officials, it could be useful if Cohen petitioned the court to delay his prison report date. 'Working alone, Mr. Cohen has only had the time to go through less than 1 percent of the drive, or approximately 3,500 files,' Cohen's attorneys wrote. Michael Cohen, (left), claimed his former boss Donald Trump, (right), committed financial fraud and also accused him of sanctioning hush-money payments to women alleging affairs Michael Cohen arrives to testify before a closed-door hearing of the House Intelligence Committee accompanied by his lawyer, Michael Monico, (left) 'Mr. Cohen needs time, resources, and assistance to separate out privileged and personal documents from these 14 million files to make the rest available for review by various congressional committees.' Cohen pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion, fraud, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations and received a three year jail term. He has already received one short delay on medical grounds while he recovered from shoulder surgery. He was originally scheduled to report to prison in early March, but that date was pushed back two months as he prepared for his congressional testimony. It's not clear which committees received letters from Cohen, or what they plan to do in response. Michael Cohen leans back to listen to his lawyer, Lanny Davis of Washington, (left), as he testifies before the House Oversight and Reform Committee Cohen's lawyers said they were still hopeful that federal prosecutors in New York agree to reopen his case and advocate for a lighter sentence. He has been sentenced to a three-year term. 'It is our hope that the authorities in the Southern District of New York will consider this total picture of cooperation by Mr. Cohen and the particular facts involved here to grant Mr. Cohen a reduced term following the rules and procedures of the Southern District of New York.' New York prosecutors previously advocated for a tough sentence, saying the crimes were serious and that the help Cohen had provided to ongoing investigations wasn't as valuable or as complete as Cohen had claimed. Cohen told Congress in February how Trump ordered him to figure out how to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money Cohen testified on Capitol Hill earlier this year and accused President Donald Trump of financial fraud. He also accused him of sanctioning hush-money payments to women who claimed they had affairs with him. Republicans accused Cohen of lying when he appeared before Congress, including statements that he never requested a pardon from Trump and that he did not want a job in the White House. In a six-page letter, Ohio Rep Representative Jim Jordan and North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows wrote to Attorney General William Barr that Cohen 'committed perjury and knowingly made false statements during his testimony.' Most of the Republican committee members on Wednesday railed against the Democratic majority for calling as a witness a man who pleaded guilty to lying to Congress once already. In Thursday's letter, Jordan and Meadows asserted that '[s]everal times during his testimony, Mr. Cohen denied committing various fraudulent acts that he has pleaded guilty to in federal court.' Cohen's contention that 'I never defrauded any bank' raised a red flag. One of his guilty pleas was to a charge of making false statements to a banking institution, which prosecutors referred to as 'bank fraud' in his plea agreement. Jeremy Corbyn expressed hopes that his controversial wreath-laying trip to Tunisia could be kept cheap so he would not have to declare it, a leaked email shows. The Labour leader, who was then a backbencher, told staff he had to be careful about the visit because if it cost more than the official threshold, he would have to mention it in Commons debates. He voiced concerns that the visit would have to be declared formally if it was too expensive. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited the Tunis cemetery where terror leaders linked to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre were buried in 2014, attracting huge criticism when the photo emerged last year In the end Mr Corbyn did not declare the trip until an MP referred the case to Parliamentary standards watchdog. She started an investigation and last year she accepted the Labour leaders explanation that the cost of the trip was just 4 less than the upper threshold. The 2014 trip to Tunis, during which Mr Corbyn visited the cemetery where terror leaders linked to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre are buried, attracted huge criticism last year. The Daily Mail obtained a photograph of the Labour leader holding a wreath only feet away from the graves of terror leaders linked to the killings. Le Palace Hotel is a top hotel in the upmarket beach resort of Gammarth, La Marsa in Tunisia where Jeremy Corbyn stayed during his visit in 2014 Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, accepted his estimate that his two-day trip to a five-star hotel cost 656 just short of the 660 threshold above which visits had to be declared at the time. She exonerated him even though he admitted it had not been possible to find the actual cost, which was met by the Tunisian government. Now it has emerged that at the time of the trip, Mr Corbyn sent an email to a staffer about the trip and whether it should be declared. In an email seen by the Guido Fawkes website, he wrote: Thanks, just received a text from [redacted] also. It sounds alright but will need to be very clear who is paying for it as I will have to declare anything over 660, unless thy [sic] can keep it cheap. If declared has to be referred to by debates etc. The Labour leader told Miss Stone he flew business class on Tunisair and returned on an economy flight costing 410 total. Mr Corbyn admitted he stayed at the five-star Hotel Le Palace, but said he stayed in a standard room for two nights, costing just 130. Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said at the time he was sceptical that the trip to Tunisia apparently only cost 4 less than the threshold On top of this was 46 for transport from the airport to the hotel. And he estimated the cost of two lunches, two dinners and two coffees at 70. Rooms at the hotel, which is in the upmarket beach resort of Gammarth, overlooking the Mediterranean, cost from 100 up to 1,700 a night. Last year Labour insisted that Mr Corbyn had stayed in a cheap room. At the time, Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, told the Mail that he was sceptical when it emerged that the trip to Tunisia apparently only cost 4 less than the threshold. I was sceptical and Im still sceptical, he said. You do expect strong leadership from the Leader of the Opposition and he really should have made sure he fully recorded the details of the trip at the time. Mr Corbyn was joined at the ceremony by member of the Fatah Central Committee Mohammad Ashtiyeh, Secretary General of the People's Party Bassam Salhi, and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Maher Tahir Miss Stone cleared Mr Corbyn of breaking Commons rules by not declaring 16 trips between 2011 and 2014. She did find him guilty of not declaring one trip which did exceed the 660 threshold for declarations a visit to New York in April 2014 to attend a nuclear non-proliferation conference for CND. Mr Corbyn apologised unreservedly for that trip. Referring to the email about the Tunisia visit, a Labour Party spokesman said: This is entirely untrue. What the email shows is Jeremy Corbyn ensuring his staff follow the rules for declaring trips. The email does not in any way advocate avoiding declaring the trip. The graves of Palestinian Martyrs in Hammam Chatt, Tunisia, in front of which Mr Corbyn was photographed holding a wreath Last October Labour dropped its complaint against the Mail over its coverage of Mr Corbyns visit to the graves of terror leaders linked to the Munich massacre. The party complained to the Press regulator in August about several papers coverage of the event in 2014. But it later told the Independent Press Standards Organisation that it did not wish to take the case against the Mail any further. Gipsies and travellers should get priority for NHS spending, a Tory-led committee of MPs said yesterday. Health chiefs should be ordered to 'direct resources towards gipsy, Roma and traveller communities who have the worst health outcomes of any ethnic group', it said. There should also be heavy public spending on a new national computerised database listing every school child, to ensure that traveller children do not disappear from school rolls, the Commons women and equalities committee said. The register would be a revival of a system introduced in the 2000s. The 224million ContactPoint database was abolished in 2010 amid concerns about its cost and the possibility that paedophiles would use it to find details of children. The committee said technology has now improved. The NHS should allocate more money to people from gipsy, Roma and traveller communities who have the worst health outcomes of any ethnic group (stock image) Its 49 sweeping but uncosted recommendations, which would mean spending hundreds of millions, are necessary because gipsies and travellers suffer deeply from discrimination and disadvantage, a report by the MPs said. It found: 'Gipsy, Roma and traveller people have the worst outcomes of any ethnic group across a huge range of areas, including education, health, employment, criminal justice and hate crime.' Committee chairman Maria Miller, Tory MP for Basingstoke and a former Cabinet minister, said: 'Our inquiry has tried to shine a light on the issues that are rarely talked about by policymakers: gipsies and travellers are likely to die over a decade earlier than non-travellers, only a handful of gipsy and traveller people go to university every year and many Roma are being exploited by rogue landlords and paid far below the minimum wage. 'Gipsy, Roma and traveller people have been comprehensively failed by policymakers and public services for far too long. The Government must stop filing this under 'too difficult' and set out how it intends to improve health, education and other outcomes for these very marginalised communities who are all too often out of sight and out of mind.' Committee chariman Maria Miller said: 'Gipsy, Roma and traveller people have been comprehensively failed by policymakers and public services for far too long' The report said there are likely to be at least six times as many travellers in the country as were recorded in the 2011 census, and called on ministers to count numbers and collect information through the NHS and Whitehall ministries. While the census said there were 58,000 people classed as gipsies or travellers, the MPs said there are between 100,000 and 300,000 gipsies and travellers, plus up to 200,000 more Roma, mainly recent immigrants from Eastern Europe. The committee recommended that the NHS collects information on travellers, and that midwives and maternity nurses should be told to direct traveller mothers towards immunisation services, dentists, mental health services and sexual health checks. It said extra NHS spending should go to help travellers under the law that requires public sector bodies to promote equality. Mrs Miller was Culture Secretary and women and equalities minister in David Cameron's government until she was forced to resign following an expenses scandal. Her committee has previously recommended granting everyone over 16 the right to change sex without consulting a doctor. Uri Geller has claimed he used his psychic powers to cause a water leak in the House of Commons. Geller, well known for his alleged ability to bend metal spoons using his mind, said it was part of his plan to prevent Brexit. Yesterday the Commons was suspended early for the day after water started pouring into the chamber from a leak in the roof shortly after lunch. Geller, well known for his claimed ability to bend metal spoons using his mind, said it was part of his plan to prevent Brexit The tweet in which Geller claimed to have caused the ceilings to spring a leak He tweeted: Yes, I did it House of Commons! I bent the pipes and I wont apologise. You all deserve it! #brexit #startfromscratch. Hours earlier Geller tweeted: It seems these people who are supposed to be running things are completely incompetent. Now this spoon-loving c*** womble is having to step in. Last month Geller wrote an open letter to Theresa May in which he vowed to telepathically halt Brexit. He wrote: I will not allow you to lead Britain into Brexit. Believe me, I am capable of executing it. Before I take this drastic action, I appeal to you to stop the process immediately while you have a chance. Universities must end the 'pressure selling' of courses to students with unconditional offers, Education Secretary Damian Hinds will announce today. He will order 23 institutions, including a member of the prestigious Russell Group, to stop using 'unethical' and 'unacceptable' recruitment methods. Mr Hinds is also commissioning a wider review of university admissions, amid fears teenagers are coasting in A-levels as they are likely to be guaranteed places regardless of grades. Last year, unconditional offers were made to a third of applicants as soaring numbers of students with poor results were recruited by universities competing to fill spaces. Education Secretary Damian Hinds will order 23 institutions, including a member of the prestigious Russell Group, to stop using 'unethical' and 'unacceptable' recruitment methods (Nottingham Trent University pictured) Mr Hinds has singled out the practice of 'conditional unconditional' offers for criticism. This is when a university makes a conditional offer but, when a student agrees to make it their first choice, this is converted to an unconditional offer. The minister will say the practice is 'backing students into a corner', and could even breach consumer protection laws. He will write to 23 institutions ordering them to stop issuing such offers, including the University of Birmingham a member of the Russell Group as well as Nottingham Trent and Oxford Brookes. Nottingham Trent alone made 8,380 conditional unconditional offers to 18-year-olds from England, Northern Ireland and Wales last year. 'It is unacceptable for universities to adopt pressure-selling tactics, which are harming students' grades in order to fill places,' Mr Hinds will say. 'Conditional unconditional offers are damaging the reputation of the institutions involved and our world-leading sector as a whole.' Damian Hinds is commissioning a wider review of university admissions mid fears teenagers are coasting in A-levels as they are likely to be guaranteed places regardless of grades (University of Birmingham pictured) He will ask the higher education regulator, the Office for Students, to further examine the use of unconditional offers. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the OfS, said: 'Admissions practices are clearly not working if they are having a negative impact on students' choices or outcomes.' Universities UK said it was already working with the admissions service Ucas to review existing guidance and 'gain a better understanding of how these offers are being used'. He will write to 23 institutions ordering them to stop issuing such offers, including the University of Birmingham a member of the Russell Group as well as Nottingham Trent and Oxford Brookes (pictured) A spokesman added: 'Universities must be able to explain why and how they award unconditional offers with conditions attached.' The universities being written to are: Roehampton; Loughborough College; Kingston; Sheffield Hallam; Brighton; Birmingham City; Nottingham Trent; Bournemouth; Staffordshire; Lincoln; Hertfordshire; Royal Holloway; Oxford Brookes; Lancaster; Birmingham; Middlesex; Derby; West London; City; Keele; Kent; Aston; and Surrey. Some say they have already stopped making conditional unconditional offers. A woman who was injured after falling from a Las Vegas rollercoaster last week was a double amputee before she went on the ride. Officials said the woman fell from her seat on the El Loco Roller Coaster inside the Circus Circus casino on March 25. The woman, aged in her mid-20s to early 30s, was rushed to hospital but authorities have not released any details about her injuries. A woman who was injured after falling from the El Loco Roller Coaster inside the Circus Circus casino in Las Vegas last week was a double amputee before she went on the ride A report on the incident was only made public on Thursday and revealed that the woman was a double amputee prior to being injured on the rollercoaster. Officials have not said whether the woman was missing her arms or legs, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. It also not clear how the woman managed to fall from the ride, including whether she was secured properly or if the safety features malfunctioned. The rollercoaster inside the casino's indoor amusement park stands 90-feet tall and reaches speeds of up to 44 mph. It remains closed following the incident involving the woman. Officials have not revealed how the woman managed to fall from the ride, including whether she was secured properly or if the safety features malfunctioned. Pictured above is a close up of the ride harness The El Loco Roller Coaster inside Circus Circus was built in 2013 and opened in 2014. The ride passed its annual inspection about two months prior to the incident Authorities continue to examine the ride as part of their ongoing investigation. The El Loco Roller Coaster was built in 2013 and opened in 2014. The ride passed its annual inspection about two months prior to the incident. The inspections check the condition of the rollercoaster, as well as safety guards, warning signs, emergency stop controls and restraints. 'This attraction features publicly posted guidelines based on manufacturer recommendations and associated regulations,' MGM Resorts, which owns the casino, said in a statement. 'We are committed to the safety of our guests and holding all rides and attractions to high standards. We work closely with the county on the routine inspection and certification process for our attractions, and we will continue to work closely with officials as this incident is investigated.' A drawing of William Blake believed to be his only self-portrait is to go on show in the UK for the first time. The 1802 pencil piece will be part of a major exhibition at Tate Britain on the Romantic artist and writer, possibly best known for the poem that became the lyrics to the hymn Jerusalem. The work has been displayed only once before, as part of a show in the US, but has never been available to see in Blake's home country. The only known self-portrait of artist and writer William Blake will be part of a major new exhibition at the Tate Britain The portrait, in which the subject appears to be around 45, will be displayed alongside a similar pencil drawing of his wife Catherine Blake to highlight her enormous impact and influence on him and his work. While there is no definitive evidence that the work is a self-portrait, curator Martin Myrone said the 'compelling' and 'hugely revealing' image was 'most likely' drawn by Blake. The portrait will be displayed alongside a pencil drawing of his wife Catherine to highlight her importance to his work The Tate exhibition will highlight Blake's contribution to visual arts and continued political relevance, showing 300 well-known works and many previously unseen pieces. Blake lived from 1757 to 1827, but the eccentric and mystic nature of his work meant his genius was not fully recognised until after his death, when he came to embody the Romantic reaction to science and industry. Opening in the autumn, the exhibition aims to shed more light on Catherine's influence on the radical poet. As well as giving him practical assistance, according to the Tate, she 'became an unacknowledged hand in the production of his engravings and illuminated books'. Other highlights will include Albion Rose, a 'visualisation of the mythical founding of Britain' and a section on Blake's illuminated books such as Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience. William Blake runs at Tate Britain from September 11 to February 2, 2020. Abigail Disney, 59, says she wishes she could ban the ultra-rich from owning private jets An heiress to the Disney family fortune has said that although her parents had a lavish 737 plane at their command, she believes private jets should be banned. Abigail Disney, 59, spoke out in an interview with The Cut last week, describing how she tries to stay grounded despite her family fortune and the pitfalls of extreme wealth. Abigail is the daughter of longtime Walt Disney Company executive Roy E. Disney, who died in 2009, and grand niece of co-founder Walt Disney. She inherited millions at age 21, and now has an estimated net worth of $500 million. 'If Im in a situation where people know my last name, they usually know it,' Abigail said of her wealth. 'But Im not recognizable, so I can go through the world and restaurants and airports and interact with people like a normal person. That, I love.' Abigail was grand niece of Walt Disney (above in 1950), the mastermind of Walt Disney World Abigail described her family as 'comfortable, upper-middle-class' in childhood, before Disney stock began to soar in the 1980s. She is seen above (second from left) along with parents Patricia and Roy, and siblings Susan, Tim and Roy P (right rear) in 1965 The family is seen in 1967 (left to right): Roy P, Patricia, Tim, Abigail, Roy E, and Susan Photos courtesy of WDWinfo.com Abigail described how her parent's net-worth swelled from well-off to ultra-wealthy while she was in college, and Disney's stock price began soaring to dozens of times its original value. 'So all of the sudden, we went from being comfortable, upper-middle-class people to suddenly my dad had a private jet. Thats when I feel that my dad really lost his way in life,' she said. 'My dads plane was a 737, and it was insane to have a 737 as a private airplane. It had a queen-sized bed with one big long seatbelt across it, and a shower, and it was ridiculous,' Abigail continued. 'They were in their 50s and they liked the shortcuts that wealth gave them,' she said. 'But what ends up happening is you end up being surrounded by people who dont tell no, ever. And as my fathers drinking problem grew, he was surrounded by people who wouldnt say, You have a terrible drinking problem. You need to go get some help,' Abigail recalled. Abigail's parents Roy and Patricia Disney are seen in 1987, after the company stock had begun to skyrocket and they began to live the life of the ultra-wealthy Roy E. Disney died of stomach cancer in 2009, a few weeks shy of his 80th birthday. Abigail said that, as a mother of four, she often found the use of the family's private plane convenient, allowing her to skip the hassles of commercial travel. Her opinion changed one day in the 1990s, when she had to fly out to California from her home in New York for a meeting, and found herself alone on the 737, flying cross country in the fully crewed jet. 'I was sitting there thinking about the carbon footprint and the number of flight attendants and the other pilot on-call and what it was costing, and I just wanted to be sick,' she said. Abigail swore off the private plane - and in fact now she wishes that the rest of the wealthy elite would do the same. 'If I were queen of the world, I would pass a law against private jets, because they enable you to get around a certain reality. You dont have to go through an airport terminal, you dont have to interact, you dont have to be patient, you dont have to be uncomfortable. These are the things that remind us were human,' she said. 'Its fundamental to remember that youre just a member of the human race, like everybody else, and theres nothing about your money that makes you better than anyone else. If you dont know that and you have money, its the road to hell, no matter how much stuff you have around you,' Abigail told the Cut. Abigail has gone on to have success as a documentary filmmaker. She is seen attending the Maysles Documentary Center's Albie Award Dinner in New York in 2018 Since coming into her inheritance, Abigail says she has donated about $70 million to charity, which is more than she originally inherited. In addition to her philanthropy, she has gone on to have success as a documentary filmmaker, executive producing The Trials Of Spring and directing The Armor Of Light, both released in 2015 She said that she tries to stay grounded, and has friends from different economic classes who help keep her in touch with reality. Although she abhors private jets and has no appetite for real estate, she still enjoys splurging on the finer things in life. 'I really love a very good meal at very good restaurants and a very good bottle of wine. I really love a beautiful pair of shoes, and Ill spend way too much money on that, or a purse,' she said. 'So Im lucky that the things I love are really not expensive, considering. But to most normal people, what I spend on a really good dinner at a really good restaurant, that would be horrifying. They couldnt even imagine spending that.' Samsung has warned of more than a 60 per cent plunge in their first-quarter profits this year. The smartphone company, based in Seoul, South Korea, blamed the weakening markets for the dramatic loss in profits. Operating profits for January to March would be 'approximately 6.2trillion Korean won' (4,186,674,000), the firm said in a statement - down 60.4 per cent. Smartphone company Samsung has warned of a more 60 per cent plunge in their first-quarter profits Sales were about 52trillion won (35,113,109,200), it said, marking a 14 per cent drop. The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung Group, by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in the world's 11th-largest economy, and it is crucial to South Korea's economic health. It has enjoyed record profits in recent years despite a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief. But now the picture has changed, with chip prices falling as global supply increases and demand weakens. Operating profits for January to March would be 'approximately 6.2 trillion Korean won' (4,186,674,000), the firm said in a statement - down 60.4 per cent Samsung Electronics warned investors last week to expect weak operating profits, citing 'unfavourable market conditions' for displays and memory chips. 'Amid weak demand for memory business, a drop in price for signature products is expected,' it said. 'The company will seek to improve cost competitiveness through effective resource management,' it added, 'while enhancing product quality in the short term'. Samsung was also launching the 5G version of its top-end Galaxy S10 smartphone after South Korea won the global race to commercially launch the world's first nationwide 5G networks this week. But the company has to contend with increasingly tough competition in the smartphone market from Chinese rivals such as Huawei - which in 2017 surpassed Apple to take second place - offering quality devices at lower prices. Samsung supplies components to other manufacturers such as Apple as well as making its own devices. But market prices for liquid crystal displays have fallen 10 per cent quarter-on-quarter, said Sanjeev Rana, an analyst at investment firm CLSA, while demand for smartphones in China - the world's biggest market - has been weak. Samsung is launching its top-end S10 5G smartphone Friday, after South Korea this week won the global race to commercially launch the world's first nationwide 5G networks Prices for NAND memory - used in smartphones and other devices - fell 20 per cent in the first quarter, according to market tracker DRAMeXchange, which pointed the finger at consumers taking longer to replace their smartphones, and lower-than-expected sales for Apple's new devices. DRAM chips, used in computer servers, fell by similar levels, it added. Samsung's earnings estimate was below analyst forecasts of 6.9 trillion won, according to Bloomberg News. It would represent the firm's lowest operating profit since the third quarter of 2016, and comes after it reported its first fall in quarterly profit for two years in January. Samsung shares were down 0.4 per cent in morning trade. Markets have been buoyed in recent weeks by optimism over China-US trade talks and positive Chinese factory data. South Korean semiconductor exports also rose for the first time in six months in March, according to government figures. Samsung is also set to release the world's first bendable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold. CLSA's Rana predicted a 'slight' rebound in the April to June period, saying: 'This quarter is the bottom in terms of earnings.' Samsung Electronics once had a 20 percent market share of China's smartphone market but has seen that tumble to less than one percent. Its reputation suffered a major blow after a damaging worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices over exploding batteries in 2016, which cost the firm billions of dollars and shattered its global brand image. It also took another hit after the bribery conviction of Lee Jae-yong -- the son and heir of the group's ailing current chairman Lee Kun-hee. The 50-year-old scion was a key figure in the scandal that ousted former South Korean president Park Geun-hye following nationwide street protests, and was sentenced to five years in jail. But he was released in February last year after several of his convictions were quashed on appeal. Samsung withholds net profit and sector-by-sector business performance data until it releases its final earnings report, which is expected later this month. David Babbs, the executive director of 38 Degrees, has been sacked from his 75,000 role The executive director of a popular campaign group has been fired after he allegedly supplied staff with illegal drugs. David Babbs, of 38 Degrees, from Hackney, east London, was sacked from his 75,000 role after it was found that he had supplied cocaine and ketamine to younger staff at an after-work event. Police have been made aware of the incident and an independent external investigation is now looking into the claims. 38 Degrees is funded by donations from its three million members. Chair Srabani Sen said: 'We take these allegations extremely seriously and are keen to hear from anyone should they have concerns. The board have alerted the police and await next steps.' The group, named after the angle at which snow starts to trigger avalanches, says its aims are to promote peace and preserve the planet. It previously campaigned for a new housing regulator after the Grenfell Tower tragedy and also called on Walkers Crisps to go plastic-free. Mr Babbs has previously claimed that he founded 38 Degrees after becoming inspired by the march against the Iraq War in 2003. It uses mass email campaigns, online petitions, and repeatedly calls MPs as part of its campaigns. Mr Babbs said: 'It's right that all allegations are properly investigated. I'm pleased that an independent external investigator has been appointed.' A spokesman for 38 Degrees told The Telegraph that the incident in question took place at an after-work dinner in September 2018. He was allegedly after it was found that he had supplied cocaine and ketamine to younger staff at an after-work event On its website, 38 Degrees wrote: 'The 38 Degrees Board has dismissed David Babbs from his role as Executive Director for gross misconduct. He was found to have provided illegal drugs to staff members behaviour which failed to meet the standards expected of him as Executive Director. 'Separately the board has commissioned an independent external investigation into a number of other allegations which have been made relating to David's conduct. We've launched this investigation to determine the facts about what happened, and are committed to seeing this process through. The allegations do not relate to any alleged financial impropriety and do not in any way imperil the financial position or assets of 38 Degrees. '38 Degrees is unwavering in our determination to hold those in power to the highest possible standards. We are holding ourselves to the same standards. Mr Babbs has previously said that he founded 38 Degrees after becoming inspired by the march against the Iraq War in 2003 'The Board considers the welfare of our staff to be one of our highest priorities. We are also conducting a review to ensure our processes and procedures live up to that commitment. We're working closely with our senior leadership team to ensure 38 Degrees continues to champion people power, at a time in British politics when our voices are needed more than ever.' It is understood that further complaints have been made about Mr Babbs' alleged 'emotional abuse' of staff, particularly young women. One source claimed: 'He would make people feel uncomfortable, and he would talk down to females. There were often people crying in the toilets after he'd finished with them.' Another person described Mr Babbs as a 'merciless bully'. An innocent man who spent five months in a maximum security prison after his ex-fiancee falsely accused him of rape has found love again with a new girlfriend. Daniel Jones, 31, spent five months in Goulburn prison, 195km south-west of Sydney, in 2014 after Sarah Jane Parkinson, his then fiancee, made false allegations that he had raped an assaulted her. After a lengthy police investigation Mr Jones was found to be innocent of all charges and Parkinson was jailed for three years and one month. Mr Jones has now found love again, but his family say his family are still struggling after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees. Daniel Jones, 31, spent five months in Goulburn prison, 195km south-west of Sydney, in 2014 after his then-fiancee made an emergency call to police claiming she'd been savagely raped Mr Jones has now found love again, but his family say his family are still struggling after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees Emma Holsty, who is related to Mr Jones, said the family is attempting to recover since losing 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' it cost in legal fees to fight for his innocence and freedom. 'That is before any compensation for the damage she (his ex-fiancee) caused for my cousin and his immediate family - now torn apart,' she wrote on Facebook. 'It really has been a six year nightmare that will never be repaired.' Despite the horrific sequence of events, it seems that Mr Jones has found love again. A picture of Mr Jones kissing a blonde woman was posted to Facebook in February and was captioned 'Happy Valentines Day to my amazing Dan' with a love heart emoji. Mr Jones met Sarah Jane Parkinson in 2011 when they both worked at Canberra airport, and he thought she was the love of his life. The couple became engaged after a few short months and Mr Jones even built a house so they could live together. But shortly after moving in, Mr Jones' life began to unravel. He was served with an AVO (apprehended violence order) after Parkinson told her colleagues at the Queanbeyan Police Station that he had abused her. Mr Jones protested his innocence but police brought a string of charges against him anyway. Canberra man Daniel Jones thought Sarah Jane Parkinson (pictured) was the love of his life when they met in 2011 'I'd just built a house and she'd moved in with me, everything was going well,' he told 60 Minutes in an upcoming interview. 'I had everything going right, and in that instant, everything just went to s***.' 'She's a lying, vindictive, cancerous woman.' Parkinson's lies snowballed and in 2014 she claimed she had been raped. Mr Jones was arrested at the granny flat at her parents' house and taken to a police station. He would later learn that Parkinson had made an emergency call to police telling them she had been beaten and savagely raped that morning. Mr Jones was transferred to Goulburn maximum security prison for five months while police investigated multiple false allegations. But Parkinson's lies were about to catch up with her. Detective Leesa Alexander from the ACT criminal unit look on the investigation and found multiple inconsistencies in Parkinson's evidence. Parkinson was sentenced to three years and one month behind bars in Canberra magistrates' court in January for making a false rape claim. During sentencing magistrate Beth Campbell described as 'incomprehensible, wicked behaviour', The Australian reported. Her crime has also been described as a mockery of genuine domestic and sexual violence victims 60 Minutes airs this Sunday at 8.30pm on Channel 9. Labour has held the Newport West by-election but Brexit anger pushed up UKIP's vote share up a third. But support for Jeremy Corbyn's party and the Tories plunged amid the ongoing chaos in Westminster over Britain's stuttering exit from the EU. Labour's Ruth Jones took the Commons seat with 39.6 per cent of the vote, but that was down 12.7 per cent on the result of the veteran MP Paul Flynn who died in February. But there was an increase in support for UKIP, whose candidate Neil Hamilton trebled its share of the vote when compared to the 2017 election - up from from 2.5 per cent to 8.6 per cent. The Tories came second with 31.3 per cent of the vote - down eight per cent in two years - but overall there was a 2.4 per cent swing from Labour to the Conservatives. Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn hugs new MP Ruth Jones at the Pill Millennium Centre, Newport, after she won the Newport West by-election last night Ruth Jones (pictured after winning the by-election) took the Commons seat with 39.6 per cent of the vote, but that was down 12.7 per cent on the result of the veteran MP Paul Flynn who died in February Welsh Labour candidate Ruth Jones (centre) looks at Renew candidate June Davies (left) after winning the Newport West by-election at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in Newport. Pictured right: UKIP candidate Neil Hamilton, whose trebled UKIP's support Mrs Jones had been the clear favourite to succeed Paul Flynn (pictured) who held the Newport West seat for 32 years before his death in February Mrs Jones had been the clear favourite to succeed Mr Flynn, who held the Newport West seat for 32 years, winning with a majority of 5,658 and more than half the vote in 2017. Jones took 9,308 votes, giving her a majority of 1,951 over the Tory candidate Matthew Evans. UKIP's Neil Hamilton took third place with 2,023 votes as the party saw support increase. The city has long been a Labour stronghold and voted Leave by a margin of 56 per cent to 44 per cent in the 2016 in-out referendum. Voter turnout was 37.1 per cent, down from 67.5 per cent in the 2017 general election, with parties blaming poor weather including rain and hail on Thursday. The poll took place in the wake of Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meeting face-to-face at Westminster for talks on a possible cross-party Brexit compromise. Mrs Jones paid tribute to her predecessor in her victory speech, saying: 'This by-election has taken place because of the sad passing of Paul Flynn, our friend. 'There have been many tributes to him over the weeks, but one saying stood out to me: 'Everyone knew someone helped by Paul Flynn'. These words have been an inspiration to me during this campaign.' Mrs Jones added: 'Who knows what the next few days, weeks and months will bring. But what I do know is that people have had enough after a decade of austerity.' Mrs Jones, who campaigned for Remain in the lead-up to the EU referendum, said the country should not accept a 'damaging Tory Brexit' or a no-deal outcome. Mrs Jones (pictured with her husband David) who campaigned for Remain in the lead-up to the EU referendum, said the country should not accept a 'damaging Tory Brexit' or a no-deal outcome Mrs Jones took 9,308 votes, giving her a majority of 1,951 over the Tory candidate Matthew Evans (left). Neil Hamilton, pictured with his wife Christine, took third place with 2,023 votes as the party saw support increase from its showing at the 2017 general election Speaking of voters' feelings on the issue, she later said: 'The general consensus was that Brexit had become a cloud that was on top of people and it seemed to be stopping the main issues getting up to Parliament, so the people of Newport West feel their voices are not being heard at the moment. 'The trust in politicians is very low at the moment and I recognise that. Newport West result Ruth Jones (Lab) 9,308 (39.58%, -12.73%) Matthew Evans (C) 7,357 (31.29%, -8.00%) Neil Hamilton (UKIP) 2,023 (8.60%, +6.07%) Jonathan T Clark (PC) 1,185 (5.04%, +2.56%) Ryan Jones (LD) 1,088 (4.63%, +2.38%) Amelia Womack (Green) 924 (3.93%, +2.79%) June Davies (Renew) 879 (3.74%) Richard Suchorzewski (Assembly) 205 (0.87%) Ian McLean (Soc Dem) 202 (0.86%) Phillip Taylor (DVP) 185 (0.79%) Hugh Nicklin (FBM) 159 (0.68%) Lab majority 1,951 (8.30%) 2.36% swing Labour to Conservative Advertisement 'They say get on with it, we need to make sure we bring this to a close now, it's gone on long enough.' Ukip leader in Wales Mr Hamilton, the highest profile name taking part in the contest, sought a return to the Commons more than two decades after being ousted as an MP in the 1997 general election over the cash-for-questions scandal. Mr Hamilton had hoped to benefit from the Brexit effect in the Leave-voting city and campaigned saying the by-election would provide a chance to send a clear message to Westminster over its handling of the UK's exit from the EU. After the result, he said: 'To nearly quadruple our vote, I regard a success in itself even though we didn't win the election. 'Brexit is the issue of the day and fundamentally that is itself the biggest issue of the day because it's all about democracy, about whether we should be able to elect the people that make our laws and rules and regulations. 'Ultimately this is what it's all about. It's really whether you, the people, are the ones the politicians obey or the other way around. That is an issue that certainly isn't going to go away, and Ukip isn't going to go away. 'I regard this as the start of a new era for my part and I look forward to the next election, whenever that may come.' Conservative candidate Matthew Evans took 7,357 votes, and saw a swing from Labour to the Tories of 2.36%. Mr Evans also paid tribute to Mr Flynn, saying: 'He served our city for over 40 years with passion and commitment. I hope Ruth will look to Paul's example as a dedicated local MP.' Ukip leader in Wales Mr Hamilton (pictured) the highest profile name taking part in the contest, sought a return to the Commons more than two decades after being ousted as an MP in the 1997 general election over the cash-for-questions scandal He added that he had 'never seen such anger' on the doorstep regarding Brexit. Mr Evans said: 'I have never known such anger and frustration which I share and has been reflected in the turnout. People just want clarity and I've seen no appetite for another referendum or a general election.' Mrs Jones is a former president of the Wales Trade Union Congress (TUC) and was defeated at two previous parliamentary elections for Monmouth in 2015 and 2017 by Conservative David Davies. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the victory, stating: 'Ruth will be a fantastic successor to Paul Flynn and will take up the tireless work he carried out for this community. 'Tonight's result sends a clear message that the people of Newport and Wales are fed up of austerity which has robbed the Welsh economy of 1 billion through needless cuts, and shows support for Labour's alternative.' Another young girl has come forward to make sexual assault allegations against a Sydney swimming teacher charged with molesting students in his care. Former Knox Grammar prefect Kyle James Henk Daniels, 20, was charged in March with 31 offences relating to the alleged sexual assault of eight young girls he taught at the Mosman Swim Centre. On Friday, an additional four counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 were laid against Daniels relating to a new alleged victim, age seven, who has come forward since child abuse specialist police began their investigation. He is now facing 35 counts of child sex abuse against nine girls. Police also served Daniels with a fresh Apprehended Violence Order, in addition to the seven protection orders already in place. Daniels, who is currently studying sports science at the University of Sydney, was charged over incidents police say took place at the centre between January 1, 2018 and March 2 this year while he was employed as a swimming teacher. The allegations include sexual intercourse with a child under 10, intentionally sexually touch a child under 10 and the indecent assault of a person under 16. Daniels' lawyer said his client denies the allegations. Scroll down for video Fresh charges have been laid against swim teacher Kyle James Henk Daniels after a new alleged victim came forward to police (Daniels, pictured with his mother, reports to Manly Police Station on Friday) Daniels is already charged with 31 offences relating to the alleged sexual assault of young girls at the Mosman Swim Centre, on Sydney's north shore. He also has eight AVOs against him Court documents claim Daniels' alleged offences began in January 2018, with the indecent assault of a ten-year-old girl. Among the allegations are that Daniels had sexual intercourse with a seven-year-old girl eight times in just three weeks. The documents also claims Daniels was still allegedly committing sexual offences on swim students up until 10 days before he was arrested. The shocking allegations against Daniels led police to hold an information night on Thursday for concerned parents on the city's north shore. One mother who attended the evening told Daily Mail Australia police focused on the common behaviour of children who have been abused, after some of Daniels alleged victims were not discovered for more than a year. Among the allegations are that Daniels had sexual intercourse with a seven-year-old girl eight times in just three weeks As part of his bail conditions, Daniels (pictured) has to report to Manly Police Station daily A TIMELINE OF DANIELS' ALLEGED OFFENCES: 2018: January 1 to November 30 - Indecently assaulted a girl, ten, on four different occasions June 7 - Indecently assaulted a girl, five July 4 - Indecently assaulted a girl, seven October 24 to November 14 - On eight occasions during this period Daniels allegedly raped a girl, seven September 22 to November 30 - Indecently assaulted a girl, seven, on eight different occasions December 1 - Sexually touched a girl, seven December 5 - Sexually touched a girl aged under 10 2019: February 2 - Sexually touched a girl, six, twice February 14 - Raped a girl, six December 1, 2018, to March 2, 2019 - Sexually touched a young girl on four occasions Advertisement 'Obviously what has happened has shocked parents. It's normally such a nice, family orientated area,' the mother said. 'Some of those girls didn't come forward or talk to their parents about it for a long time, so it was really good to learn about what you need to look out for. 'I guess you think it will never happen to you, but clearly as we've seen, it can.' Close to 100 parents turned out to the RSVP-only information session, with dozens more whose names were not on the list refused entry. Those who were allowed into the session said they were told not to ask police about the allegations or investigation into Daniels. 'They told us at the start of the session that it wasn't going to be about the incidents at the swimming pool and that if we asked any questions about it we would be asked to leave,' one woman said. The alleged sexual assaults carried out by Daniels are alleged to have occurred 'in and around' the pool at the Mosman Swim Centre (pictured) between January 2018 and March 2019 At a bail hearing last month, Daniels' lawyer said his client strongly denied the charges. Daniels spent more than a week behind bars after his arrest before being released on bail on Wednesday, March 20. A surety of $100,000 was posted to secure his freedom, with strict bail conditions of reporting daily to police, not going to pools and surrendering his passport also put in place. Daniels is due to face Manly Local Court on Tuesday. Microsoft is under fire after an email thread circulated among female staff detailing numerous instances of sexual harassment and discrimination was leaked. Employees at the company have been emailing back and forth since March 20, discussing the sexism and discrimination they've faced from male colleagues, with the 90-page thread eventually coming to the attention of senior figures. The email thread, which was leaked to Quartz, makes a number of bombshell claims including a woman who was asked to perform sexual acts on a colleague and then had her HR complaint dismissed, a woman who was asked to sit on a senior figure's lap and multiple staff who claim to have been called a 'b****.' Bombshell claims: Staff at the company have been emailing back and forth since March 20, discussing the sexism and discrimination they've faced from male colleagues, with the 90-page thread eventually coming to the attention of senior figures The leak is set to cause significant embarrassment to the tech giant whose female staff constitute just 27 percent of its global workforce, and which has just 20 percent of its leadership and tech positions occupied by women. Some of the claims included in the extensive email seen by Quartz include: A woman was told to sit on a coworker's lap in front of a human resources leader A woman in a technical role was tasked with booking conference rooms, taking meeting notes and making dinner reservations during a scheduled work trip Another claimed an employee at a partner company threatened to kill her if she didn't perform sex acts on him. Her complaint was dismissed as 'flirting' by HR An Xbox core team worker said she had been called a 'b***h' more than once One Microsoft employee wrote in the chain: 'This thread has pulled the scab off a festering wound. The collective anger and frustration is palpable. 'A wide audience is now listening. And you know what? I'm good with that.' The worker who alleges she was threatened if she did not perform sexual acts on a coworker wrote: 'I raised immediate attention to HR and management. My male manager told me that 'it sounded like he was just flirting' and I should 'get over it'. The email thread, which was leaked to Quartz, makes a number of bombshell claims including a woman who was asked to perform sexual acts on a colleague and then had her HR complaint dismissed, a woman who was asked to sit on a senior figure's lap and multiple staff who claim to have been called 'a b***h' She added: 'HR basically said that since there was no evidence, and this man worked for a partner company and not Microsoft, there was nothing they could do.' Elsewhere in the long list of complaints, a woman within the Xbox core team claimed sexist language is pervasive at the company, and described a roundtable where every woman bar one said they had been called a 'b***h' at work. She wrote: 'Before people say this is just an Xbox thing (as I've heard that dismissiveness way too many times within Microsoft before) the other engineering orgs where my experiences happened were Windows & Azure. This is a Microsoft thing, a common one.' Another employee alleged she was asked to sit on a senior figure's lap while working as a 'Microsoft Partner' and when she complained to HR and other executives, citing Microsoft's policy, she objections were ignored. Microsoft's head of human resources replied to the thread on March 29, after dozens of emails accumulated within the chain. Kathleen Hogan told staff she would personally look into the claims. Microsoft's head of human resources replied to the thread on March 29, after dozens of emails accumulated within the chain. Kathleen Hogan told staff she would personally look into the claims She replied: 'I discussed this thread with the [senior leadership team] today. We are appalled and sad to hear about these experiences. It is very painful to hear these stories and to know that anyone is facing such behavior at Microsoft. We must do better,' Hogan wrote. 'I would like to offer to anyone who has had such demeaning experiences including those who felt were dismissed by management or HR to email me directly. I will personally look into the situation with my team.' The company will reportedly now hold sessions on the week of April 22 to hear feedback from women employees and determine what actions needs to be taken. This is not the first time Microsoft has been in hot water over claims of sexual harassment. A class action filed in March 2018 alleged some 238 cases of sexual harassment or discrimination between 2010 and 2016 were not taken seriously enough by senior staff. The DailyMail.com has approached Microsoft for comment. The mistress of a man whose pregnant wife was murdered in India has been questioned by Australian Federal Police as they continue to investigate her mysterious death. Gold Coast nurse Ravneet Kaur, 29, went missing from the village of Bagge Ke Pipal on the Pakistan-India border while on holiday with her four-year-old daughter on March 14. Her body was found 200km away in the Bhakra Canal on March 25. Ms Kaur's husband, businessman Jaspreet Singh, was in Australia at the time but local police allege he was having an affair and arranged the murder with his mistress Kiranjeet Kaur. Mr Singh, Kiranjeet and two other people have been charged in India with conspiracy and murder and are facing extradition, according to the ABC. Ravneet Kaur's (left) husband, businessman Jaspreet Singh (right), was in Australia at the time of her alleged killing but local police allege he was having an affair and arranged the murder with his mistress Mr Singh and his alleged mistress Kiranjeet Kaur have been charged in relation to the alleged conspiracy to kill Ms Kaur (pictured) Indian police have alleged Ms Kaur was speaking with her husband on the phone when she was grabbed off the street. Kiranjeet Kaur was interviewed by federal agents at the Surfers Paradise police station on Friday, the Courier-Mail reported. Australian Federal Police refused to confirm whether they had spoken to Kiranjeet Kaur, but said they had 'been in regular contact with its Indian counterparts.' Punjab police inspector Mohit Dhawan said four people have been charged in relation to Ms Kaur's death and there were discussions with the Australian High Commission about extraditing Singh to India, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. 'The maximum punishment for this offence is the death penalty, that's on the prosecutor and the judge,' he said. Capital punishment is a legal penalty in India but has only been carried out five times since 1995. It is done by hanging by the neck until death. Ravneet Kaur went missing from the village of Bagge Ke Pipal on the Pakistan-India border on 14 March. Her body was found on Monday night in a canal 200km away in Lehragaga Australia has a long-standing policy of not allowing people who are facing the death penalty to be extradited. One of the people charged in relation to Ms Kaur's death has denied being involved. Australian Federal Police officers are expected to travel to Punjab to meet with Indian authorities. Gold Coast police sources said they have not communicated with Indian police or Interpol in relation to the case. One of the people being investigated by police reportedly went to the Surfers Paradise police station on Wednesday before leaving. THE DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH OF RAVNEET KAUR February 27, 2018 - Ravneet Kaur travelled to Punjab with her four-year-old daughter to visit family in Punjab, India. March 14 - Ms Kaur goes missing from the village of Bagge Ke Pipal on the Pakistan-India border. March 15 - A woman who was allegedly having an affair with Ms Kaur's husband returns to Australia from India. March 25 - Ms Kaur's body is found in a canal in Lehragaga, 200km away from where she was last seen. Advertisement An Attorney-General's Department spokesman said they would not comment on the case. 'As a matter of longstanding practice the Australian Government does not comment publicly on extradition matters, including whether it has received an extradition request, until the person is arrested or brought before a court pursuant to a request,' the spokesman said. Ms Kaur, 29, who was pregnant, arrived in India on February 27 to visit her friends and family with her four-year-old daughter. The Indian-born woman was meant to return on March 22. Ms Kaur had been employed at Tricare in the Gold Coast and was described as a devoted worker and mother and was reportedly expecting a son. Police have alleged Mr Singh was wanting to move to Canada with his mistress, who is also an Australian citizen. Mr Singh denied the allegations in an interview with SBS Punjabi. 'I don't know what the basis of all these allegations is,' he said. 'I can't say anything. I will have to go to India and find out what happened. I have no role in this whatsoever.' Indian authorities have been working with the Australian High Commission in New Dehli, police said. Inspector Dhawan said an alleged 'murder conspiracy' resulted in the kidnap of Ms Kaur (pictured) At a memorial for Ms Kaur on March 30, family and close friends met at Surfers Paradise to pay tribute to her. Ms Kaur was remembered as 'beautiful' and a 'saint' as well as pleasure to work with, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. 'You have no idea how beautiful this lady was, you'd never meet anyone like her. 'She was a saint. Honest to God, you talk to anyone, they'll say the exact same thing. Never a bad word, never,' former colleague Kerrie Hawker said. The group of mourners gathered at the shore to observe a moment of silence for the slain mum-of-one. Loved ones were seen weeping while holding colourful flowers which were later thrown into the ocean. Congresswoman Maxine Waters called for Donald Trump to be impeached at the Womans National Democratic Club dinner on Tuesday. The California Democrat said that the findings of the Mueller Report will not deter her from calling for Trump's impeachment. 'Some people say, "How dare she come out and say Impeach him?," she doesn't know enough about him to talk about impeaching him. Democrat Congresswoman Mazine Waters, (left), has reiterated her calls for Donald Trump, (right) to be impeached regardless of the Mueller Report exonerating him 'But now the American people, whether they say it or not, they know that this man is dangerous,' Waters said. 'That certainly, he conspired with the Kremlin and with the oligarchs of Russia.' Waters took a swipe at the commander-in-chief and Attorney General William Barr for 'holding' Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report about's involvement during the 2016 election. She added: 'I know that you are all worried about the special counsel and the fact that we have a report that has been described to us in a letter by the attorney general. Waters had made the call for Trump to be impeached just last month at the NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood. 'We don't know what's in the report yet, and were going to demand it,' the Washington Examiner reported her as saying. She finished her speech with a message to her supporters: 'Let me leave you with this: Despite the fact that we havent gotten the report yet, and were going after it, and it may be subpoenaed, that it is being worked on. Im still saying impeach 45.' Attorney General William Barr said on March 24 that Special Counsel Robert Mueller failed to 'establish that the members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.' Waters took aim at the commander-in-chief and Attorney General William Barr for 'holding' Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report about's involvement during the 2016 election Donald Trump has called Maxine Waters at several of his campaign events 'a low IQ individual' The attorney general also said the special investigation could not find enough evidence 'to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.' Waters claimed she would try to obtain the full Mueller report, explaining she hopes it will lead eventually to the presidents impeachment. However many Democrats have expressed reservations about going down the impeachment route, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warning that the process just isnt worth pursuing. Congresswoman Maxine Waters was honored with the Chairman's Award at the NAACP Image Awards last month 'I'm not for impeachment,' Pelosi told The Washington Post Magazine. 'Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless theres something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I dont think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And hes just not worth it,' she added. The public feud between Waters and Trump has been a slew of name-calling and questioning each other's intelligence. In a 2017 interview with The New York Times, she called Trump a 'bully, an egotistical maniac, a liar and someone who did not need to be president'. Then, in an appearance on MSNBC, Waters referred to him as 'the most deplorable person' she has met. Meanwhile, in response Trump has called Waters at several of his campaign events 'a low IQ individual.' Waters, the US Representative for California's 43rd congressional district, recently addressed 'ultra-right wing white supremacists' and 'haters who have threatened to kill me and my family and my staff during her speech. The public feud between Waters and Trump has been a slew of name-calling and questioning the other's intelligence which started in recent years She claimed earlier this month: 'I've gotten four of them convicted. If you come for me, I'm coming for you.' Congresswoman Waters made history as the first woman and first African American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Prior to her election to the House of Representatives in 1990, Congresswoman Waters had already attracted national attention for her no-nonsense, no-holds-barred style of politics. A magistrate has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a teenager in the 1980s - a decision which the victim says has liberated him. The jury took two days to deliver the decision on seven of the nine charges in the very building where Graeme Curran, 68, once worked. Curran met the victim through his parents and said their relationship was almost like 'father, son'. He regularly took him on trips in Australia and Europe, and he told the court he would often share a bed with him, while his brother slept in the single. Sydney magistrate Graeme Curran (pictured), 68, has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a teenager in the 1980s Curran met the victim through his parents and said their relationship was almost like 'father, son' 'In retrospect I think I would be more cautious but then it didn't occur to me there was anything wrong with it.' But he denied he had indecently assaulted the boy who was then in his mid-teens. The allegations were that he assaulted him on a boat trip to Pittwater, at a motel in Bega and at the dentist. There was also a claim he engaged in a ritual at his Balmain home, where he pulled back the sheets and stroked the boy's naked body from head to toe while telling him to 'just relax'. The now adult male had told the court 'I was petrified. I was scared stiff.' In a statement his victim said the liberation was profound. 'The feeling of relief far outweighs the doom and gloom of time spent bringing the accused to justice,' he said. Curran regularly took the victim on trips in Australia and Europe, and he told the court he would often share a bed with him, while his brother slept in the single The 68-year-old denied he had indecently assaulted the boy who was then in his mid-teens The allegations were that he assaulted him on a boat trip to Pittwater, at a motel in Bega and at the dentist The Chief Magistrate's Office has said Curran will remain unable to preside over local court until the entire legal process has been finished. 'Magistrate Curran will remain suspended from the local court bench until all criminal proceedings have concluded,' a spokesperson from the office said in a statement. 'As he has not exhausted his appeal rights it would be inappropriate to make any further comment'. There was also a claim he engaged in a ritual at his Balmain home, where he pulled back the sheets and stroked the boy's naked body from head to toe A nine-year-old girl who was left seriously injured when she was struck by a car while playing in her front yard is making a remarkable recovery and insists she won't be in the hospital for too long. LaDerihanna Holmes was left with a fractured skull and broken pelvis when a car careened across her front lawn in Lithonia, Georgia, last Friday and sent her flying when it crashed through her home. The horrifying ordeal was captured on surveillance video and showed the alleged driver fleeing the scene as LaDerihanna's family rushed to save the little girl's life. Gabriel Jabri Fordham, 28, turned himself into police on Tuesday and was charged with a number of offenses, including hit and run and serious injury by vehicle. Fordham has since claimed he was trying to fight off a carjacker at the time of the crash. LaDerihanna Holmes was left with a fractured skull and broken pelvis when a car crashed into her while she was playing outside her Georgia home last Friday A week on from the crash, LaDerihanna is adamant she will make a full recovery. In an interview with NBC Nightly News from the hospital on Thursday, LaDerihanna said: 'I'm coming back'. The nine-year-old is currently in a wheelchair and having physical therapy. 'We've taken a few steps on the walker - as many as I could do. I was like, I'm not going to be in the hospital for too long,' she said. She said while she was 'in a lot of pain' when she was first rushed to the hospital, LaDerihanna wants to walking in 'about a week'. LaDerihanna said she was grateful to her family, medical staff and strangers who have sent her well-wishes following the incident. 'It's just wonderful and overwhelming that they're helping me and praying for me and putting me in their prayers, and it's just so nice,' LaDerihanna said. 'My goal is to get better with the help from everybody in the world.' The nine-year-old is currently in a wheelchair and having physical therapy after being left in a critical condition following the horror crash LaDerihanna (pictured in the hospital after the crash) sustained a skull fracture with laceration and a broken pelvic bone in three places Her parents, Derryl Holmes and Charlette Bolton, said they didn't actually know if she would survive immediately after the crash. 'She's truly a miracle. From what happened to her I'm surprised she's alive,' her mother said. Gabriel Jabri Fordham, 28, turned himself into police on Tuesday and was charged with a number of offenses, including hit and run and serious injury by vehicle 'She's a strong, resilient little girl. She's very, very strong - she keeps me strong on my every day.' Her parents said LaDerihanna has a long road of doctor visits and physical therapy ahead of her and that she has to learn to walk again, but they are optimistic she will make a full recovery. In dramatic security camera video of last week's crash, a black Ford Fusion is seen hitting a stop sign and then careening across the front yard before hitting LaDerihanna as she tried to get out of the way. Another girl who was playing with LaDerihanna right before the wreck suffered bruising when her foot got stuck between the car and the house. The man charged over the crash claims he was trying to fight off a carjacker when he veered into the little girl's home. His attorney Ryan Williams said a man jumped into Fordham's car, put a gun in his face and made him drive. In dramatic security camera video of last week's crash, a black Ford Fusion is seen hitting a stop sign and then careening across the front yard before hitting LaDerihanna as she tried to get out of the way The horrifying ordeal was captured on surveillance video and showed a man fleeing (circled) the scene as LaDerihanna's family rushed to save the little girl's life 'My client tried to take the gun from him, the guy hits him in the face, my client blacks out, and that's why you see the full fledge force of them going through a stop sign,' the attorney said. The attorney said a man in white pants who can be seen in the video running from the car just after the crash is the person who attacked his client. Fordham initially stuck around after the crash, but left after interacting with people who came out of the house, his attorney said. 'With emotions rising, he had no opportunity to stay there, without possibly being harmed,' Williams said. Fordham's girlfriend owns the car and the couple contacted police the day of the crash, the attorney said. They had been negotiating a surrender in the days that followed. 'He has not been trying to hide in the shadows,' Williams said. Authorities said Fordham was booked into the DeKalb County jail on charges of failure to maintain lane, failure to stop at a stop sign, reckless driving, hit and run and serious injury by vehicle. A man has been charged with five counts of attempted murder following a series of knife attacks in north London. Jason Kakaire, 29, from Cameron Close, Edmonton, will appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court later this morning. Police said five stabbings happened in the Edmonton area between Saturday and Tuesday. Police at the scene of the fifth in what officers say is a linked series of stabbings, in Aberdeen Road, on Tuesday Three of the victims remain in hospital this morning, police told MailOnline. A 45-year-old woman who was stabbed in the back in Aberdeen Road on Saturday evening is still being treated for 'life changing' injuries, a Met Police spokesman said. Timeline of stabbings Saturday, March 30 7.02pm: A woman, aged 45, is left in a 'critical condition' after she is knifed in the back in Aberdeen Road, Edmonton. Sunday, March 31 00.15am: A man aged 52 is stabbed in Park Avenue and rushed to hospital with non-life threatening wounds. 3.55am: A 23-year-old man is stabbed in Silver Street, Edmonton, before being found at Seven Sisters Tube station. 9.43am: A man aged 29 is knifed in the back in Brettenham Road in another 'bloodbath attack'. Tuesday, April 2 5.05pm: A man, in his 30s, is found with knife injuries in Aberdeen Road, Edmonton after being stabbed in Fairfield Road. Advertisement A 23-year-old man knifed on Silver Street but found at Seven Sisters Tube station in the early hours of Sunday, and a 36-year-old man stabbed on Tuesday evening in Fairfield Road, are both in a stable condition being treated for their injuries. A 52-year-old man attacked in Park Avenue just after midnight on Sunday morning, and a 29-year-old man stabbed in the back in Brettenham Road nine hours later, have both been discharged. An man in his 30s had been arrested hours after the fifth of the stabbings on Tuesday. A Met Police spokesman said at the time: 'Police investigating a stabbing in Fairfield Road in Enfield this morning have made an arrest. 'A man aged in his 30s was arrested in the Edmonton Green area this morning. 'He has been taken into custody at a north London police station. 'At this time police retain an open mind as to whether this incident is linked to the incidents in Enfield over the weekend. 'Police advise members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.' The scene in Fairfield Road, Edmonton, on Tuesday after the fifth of the attacks The apparently linked series of stabbings left locals shocked with several residents telling MailOnline they were changing their day-to-day routines to protect themselves. Scotland Yard said this morning was not seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation. A 67-year-old California man died when he fell over a ledge while visiting the Grand Canyon, marking the third death in eight days at the popular Arizona tourist destination. The man was visiting Grand Canyon National Park alone at about 11:30 am on Wednesday when he reportedly fell off the edge at a viewing spot on the South Rim, said park spokesman Murray Shoemaker. Rescuers were alerted by a bystander and the mans body was recovered several hours later about 400 feet below the rim by the parks helicopter and a technical rescue team, Shoemaker said. The man was visiting Grand Canyon National Park when he reportedly fell off the edge at a viewing spot on the South Rim. Pictured is the Yavapai Observation Station Visitor Fatality at South Rim A rescuer on the edge takes a break as the park helicopter moves in to long-line out the body of the 67-year-old man on Wednesday The victims name and hometown were not immediately released. The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are investigating the death, but officials said it has initially been ruled accidental. It was the third confirmed fatality in separate incidents at the sprawling attraction this year, two of them within the parks boundaries. Park officials said a body was discovered on March 26 in an undeveloped area at the parks South Rim, but not near any overlooks. No other details were released. A helicopter lifted the body of the Hong Kong man from 1,000 feet below the rim Thursday afternoon at Grand Canyon West. The spot is a popular tourist destination on the Hualapai reservation outside the boundaries of the national park, spokesman David Leibowitz said. His identity has not yet been released. Two days later, a Hong Kong tourist fell to his death while taking photographs at an overlook on Hualapai tribal land. The Hualapai reservation includes a roughly 100-mile stretch of the Grand Canyon at its western edge. Grand Canyon West is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe, according to its website. 'The thoughts and prayers of every Grand Canyon West employee remain with the loved ones of this individual and the members of the tour group,' the tourist destination said in a statement. Authorities at Grand Canyon National Park were working to identify a person believed to be a foreign national who also died last month Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., drawing nearly 6.4 million visitors last year. Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai reservation gets about 1 million visitors annually. On average, the Grand Canyon sees two to three deaths each year from falls over the rim, park spokeswoman Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski told a website dedicated to the Grand Canyon. Joe Biden has responded to a mocking tweet by Donald Trump with one of his own. 'I see that you are on the job and presidential, as always,' Biden wrote on Thursday as he retweeted one of Trump's earlier tweets. Trump had trolled the former Vice President earlier in the day when he tweeted a parody video making fun of Biden as he pledged to alter behavior that made some women uncomfortable. Biden's pledge took place in a video in which he said he understood that his touchy-affectionate behavior upset some women and promised to change his ways. Joe Biden responded to a tweet by Donald Trump on Thursday after the President mocked him by tweeting a parody video of the former VP pledging to alter behavior He seemed to be seeking to ease some people's discomfort, which has raised questions about whether he could wage an effective presidential campaign. Trump responded by posting a doctored version of the video in which a fake image of Biden creeps up behind the actual Biden and puts his hands on his shoulders and nuzzles him. 'WELCOME BACK JOE!' Trump wrote above the video. Seven women have come forward in recent days to complain about Biden making them uncomfortable. None of the women who have come forward have accused Biden of sexual harassment. Rather, they've described behavior that made them feel uncomfortable because it invaded their personal space, regardless of his intentions. The president discovered a doctored video on Thursday afternoon of Biden putting his hands on his own shoulders and shared it with his 59.5 million followers In response, Biden released the two-minute video addressing the claims of inappropriate touching years ago. He defended himself over instances where he kissed women on the head or put hands on them, suggesting he was merely affectionate and that politics is about 'making connections'. In the video, Biden said he would be 'more mindful about respecting personal space in the future.' While he has not declared officially, polls show the former Vice President under Barack Obama and longtime senator would be a formidable challenger to Trump. Trump faces a litany of far more serious allegations about his behavior around women, including multiple affairs, and claims of rape, groping and harassment that he has dismissed. Just before the 2016 election a decade-old recording was released in which Trump could be heard boasting about 'grabbing' women's genitals. Trump said that he was 'not proud' of his words but that they were just 'locker room talk.' Police are searching for a man who allegedly stole bottles of Moet and Bollinger from bottle-shops across Sydney's northern beaches. Malek Bishay, 43, is wanted on five warrants relating to the theft of the high-end champagne from stores across northern Sydney. He allegedly stole the bottles of fizz from Murphy stores in Willoughby, Manly Vale as well as Wentworthville in the city's west. Malek Bishay (pictured), 43, is wanted on five warrants for the theft of high-end champagne from stores across northern Sydney The 43-year-old is also believed to have stolen from First Choice Liquor at Brookvale. At Dan Murphy's bottles of Moet sell for $56 at the cheapest and range up to $155 per bottle. While a bottle of Bollinger starts at $66 up to $569. Mr Bishay is known to change his appearance and could have facial hair or be wearing glasses in an attempt to disguise himself Officers from the North West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad are now appealing for public assistance to help locate Mr Bishay. He is described as being of Mediterranean appearance, between 170 and 180cm tall with a medium build. Mr Bishay is known to change his appearance and could have facial hair or be wearing glasses in an attempt to disguise himself. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers immediately. A military grade assault rifle has been seized during a police bust of a property in Sydney's inner west that was reportedly being used to manufacture the drug 'ice'. The weapon found at the scene is known to be most commonly used by US forces. The heavy duty firearm was a M4 Carbon Assault Rifle, which was found alongside a 9mm pistol at the house in Strathfield. Detectives also seized about 5kg of 'ice' with an estimated potential street value of between $750,000 and $2.5 million. M4 Carbon Assault Rifle found at the scene which is most commonly used by US forces A second gun - 9mm pistol was also found at the scene by Strike Force Bardoo detectives In February 2019, detectives from the State Crime Commands Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Bardoo to investigate an alleged criminal organisation involved in the large-scale manufacture and supply of methylamphetamine. Following the investigation, detectives arrested a 23-year-old Queensland man following a vehicle stop on Carter Street, Lidcombe, about 10pm on Thursday. He was reportedly found in possession of $66,000 cash. A further four men, which included a 26-year-old Victorian man, a 28-year-old Lidcombe man, a 39-year-old Zetland man and a 47-year-old Carlingford man were all arrested as they attempted to escape the property on Hilts Road, Strathfield, just after midnight. All five men were then taken to Auburn Police Station for questioning. Detectives found a large-scale clandestine laboratory in the process of manufacturing ice Detectives subsequently executed a crime scene warrant at the Strathfield unit and a search warrant was then executed at a unit on Carter Street, Lidcombe. During the search, officers seized the M4 carbine assault rifle, a 9mm pistol, 200 rounds of ammunition, $11,000 cash, drug paraphernalia and methylamphetamine. The Lidcombe man was charged with manufacture prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime (x2), participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and possess unauthorised prohibited firearm (x2). Police seized about 5kg of ice with estimated value between $750,000 and $2.5 million All men involved in the manufacture and supply of methylamphetamine were refused bail The Victorian man was charged with an outstanding warrant, manufacture prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. It will be alleged in court he was wanted by police after a rental van hired in his name was repossessed in June 2018 and found with nearly 10kg of methylamphetamine, 160 litres of hydrochloric acid, 60 litres of methanol and 60 litres of acetone. The Queensland, Carlingford and Zetland men were all charged with manufacture prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. Police will allege the men were all involved in the large-scale commercial manufacture and supply of methylamphetamine. They were all refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today. Investigations into the importation, manufacture, and supply of methylamphetamine are still ongoing. Alabama lawmakers have proposed a law that would make performing an abortion a crime punishable by up to 99 years in prison, in a move they hope will lead to a new Supreme Court precedent on abortion. The bill was introduced into the Alabama state Senate and House on Tuesday, and would make performing an abortion a Class A felony, and attempting an abortion a Class C felony. The law would not punish women who seek or obtain abortions, and exempts cases where abortions would prevent serious health risks to the mother. In dramatic language, the bill describes the estimated 50 million abortions carried out in the U.S. as three times the combined death toll of Nazi death camps, Communist Chinese purges, Joseph Stalin's Soviet gulags, the Cambodian killing fields, and the Rwandan genocide. 'It simply criminalizes abortion,' said bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins (above), a Republican from Decatur, Alabama, said of the Alabama bill The bill would ban all abortions, even those using prescription drugs, as soon as a woman is 'known to be pregnant.' It does allow for ending a pregnancy when the fetus has a 'lethal anomaly' or to avoid a 'serious health risk' to the mother, but there are no exceptions for rape and incest. Any attempt to end a healthy pregnancy would be a felony. 'It simply criminalizes abortion,' said bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins, a Republican from Decatur, Alabama, said of the Alabama bill. 'Hopefully, it takes it all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn (Roe versus Wade.)' The bill has more than 60 co-sponsors in the 105-member Alabama House of Representatives. Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast, called it a 'death sentence for women across this state.' 'These bans are blatantly unconstitutional and lawmakers know it - they just don't care. Alabamians are just pawns in this political game to challenge access to safe, legal abortion nationally,' Fox said. Staci Fox (above), president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast, called the bill a 'death sentence for women across this state' Abortion provider Dr. Willie Parker stands in a procedure room at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2016. A new bill would criminalize abortions in Alabama Alabama Republicans are hoping that the proposed law is challenged in court and taken all the way to the Supreme Court, in a bit do overturn the 1973 precedent established in Roe v Wade legalizing abortion nationwide. In the event that Roe v Wade was overturned, states would have jurisdiction over the legality of abortion. Energized by new conservatives on the Supreme Court, abortion opponents in multiple other states have also put forward bills they hope will ignite new legal battles that could prompt the justices to revisit Roe v. Wade. In recent weeks, Kentucky and Mississippi approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which happens as soon as the sixth week of pregnancy. Other states, including Georgia and South Carolina, could soon enact similar bans. Georgia's governor is considering whether to sign a law banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected. More than 50 Hollywood actors, including Alyssa Milano, Alec Baldwin and Amy Schumer sent a letter threatening to pull business out of Georgia - a hub for television and movie production- if the ban is enacted. Women hold signs to protest HB 481 at the Georgia state Capitol on Tuesday in Atlanta. HB 481, which would ban most abortions after a fetal heart beat is detected, has passed both the House and the Senate and awaits a signature from Gov. Brian Kemp Actress Alyssa Milano speaks after delivering a letter to Gov. Brian Kemp's office detailing her opposition to HB 481 at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday in Atlanta A South Carolina House subcommittee passed a similar 'heartbeat' bill on Tuesday. Opponents say the Republicans are needlessly launching legal battles that will prove to be expensive and futile. 'Here's the problem: This bill is unconstitutional,' Vicki Ringer, director of Public Affairs Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said during subcommittee debate of the South Carolina bill. 'You believe that (Justice Neil) Gorsuch and (Justice Brett) Kavanaugh will save you on the Supreme Court. That court has already blocked an abortion bill.' In Alabama, Collins said she's not concerned that her bill conflicts with Supreme Court precedent. The 'whole point is to get the courts to relook at this issue,' she said. 'I think people are seeing a possibility that the Supreme Court might have a more conservative leaning balance.' A 20-year-old man has admitted to killing his grandmother in a frenzied stabbing attack in Sydney. Ethan Harwood pleaded guilty to murdering Pauline Farrugia during a New South Wales Supreme Court arraignment on Friday. Harwood was a teenager when he stabbed his grandmother 18 times inside her South Penrith home on December 2, 2017. Harwood (pictured during his arrest) was extradited from Victoria just days after his 67-year-old grandmother's body was found at her South Penrith home Harwood was a teenager when he stabbed his grandmother 18 times inside her South Penrith home (pictured) on December 2, 2017 Harwood was extradited from Victoria just days after his 67-year-old grandmother's body was found at her South Penrith home. Police found Ms Farrugia's body next to several broken knives after one of her daughters reported her missing. He had lived with Ms Farrugia for most of his life, NSW Police said at the time. Police allege Harwood had been at a barbecue at his sisters home in Sydney when he became drunk and upset on the night Ms Farrugia was killed. People had reportedly heard him telling his mother over the phone that he wished he had never been born and claiming his grandmother had physically abused him as a child. He had lived with Ms Farrugia for most of his life, NSW Police said at the time Police allege Harwood left the barbecue and went to his grandmother's house. 'Whilst inside the house, the accused attacked the deceased, inflicting at least 18 stab wounds to the torso of the deceased using several knives,' police said. 'The attack appears to be uncontrolled and the accused broke several knives while attacking the deceased.' Police allege Harwood tried to set fire to the house. 'Oddly, the television was showing a DVD of the accused and the deceased on holidays in Hawaii in 2012,' police said. He is expected to be sentenced in May. Dr. Tawanda Mashinya of Zeta Medical Day Care Clinic - who recently won a case to have his practice back - has robbed patients, medical aid schemes and institutions huge sums of money, says his partner and main antagonist, Dr. Alfred Madigele. Dr. Mashinya recently won his court application against the Director of Health Services who had revoked his practicing licence. But Madigele, who incidentally is also Minister of Health, says that the Zimbabwean national obtained or defrauded numerous organisations through clandestine schemes at the CBD-based Zeta Clinic, which they co-own as shareholders and directors. Dr. Madigele accuses Dr. Mashinya of colluding with service providers and using the clinic as a conduit for illegal activities, which improper and disgraceful conduct contravenes the professional ethical code of conduct. Dr. Mashinyas alleged unprofessional conduct has been reported to President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi who in turn approached Dr. Madigele and questioned him about the conduct of his private clinic.This publication has documents that show that Mashinya has been running a laboratory service outside the scope of Zeta Clinic licence. He achieved this through colluding with other professionals to defraud the patients through alleged falsified lab requests. The documents show that he also defrauded Medical Aid schemes and institutions (names withheld) by doing unnecessary blood tests, a matter that has potential to put the lives of clients in danger. Mashinya is alleged to have acted and or defrauded Zeta client, Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) through procurement of medicines and other related consumables. It is alleged that Mashinya formed a shadow company that made business with BAC under the umbrella of Zeta. Based on the above and other issues, Zeta Board led by Madigele suspended Mashinya pending disciplinary hearing. It also reported the matter to Botswana Health Professionals Council (BHPC) which is also investigating. Dr. Mashinyas licence to practice under Zeta was revoked by the Director of Health Services on 01 February 2019 subsequent to a request from Madigele in his private capacity as owner and chairman of the clinic board on 31st January 2019. Madigele also wrote to Director of Immigration and Citizenship informing them that the work permit which he applied for Dr. Mashinya under the guarantee of Zeta is invalid. Suspension Dr. Mashinya was suspended from duty on 30 January 2019 with full benefits pending investigation of allegations levelled against him. Among others these included misappropriation of company funds, gross misconduct related to attendance at work while under the influence of intoxicating substance and dishonest practice with potential to bring Zeta Clinic into disrepute. A special general meeting of Zeta was held on 1st February 2019 with only one agenda item being the removal of Mashinya as director of Zeta. Dr. Mashinya was allegedly given the right to address the members on the allegations levelled against him. Minister Madigele confirmed this. Speaking to Botswana Guarduan Madigele explained that he started the clinic with him but just after I became minister I roped him in so that he can continue with the operation work as I was being held busy by political work. The clinic is operating under my private practice license. He said that Dr. Mashinya does not have a private practice license to operate in Gaborone, but he has been allowed to work under my license by the Director of Health Services after I requested such. Madigele said the clinic has been operational for several years until last year when we started receiving complaints from patients that he (Mashinya) would sometime smell intoxicated especially in the evenings. Others claimed they would feel that he had consumed some drinks. Late last year Madigele was called by President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi to explain if he was operating a laboratory at his clinic. He denied this because his private practice license does not have such a provision. He explained to the president that they refer patients for blood tests to Diagnofirm and continue the management of the illness once results have been obtained. But Madigele says that since he was not aware of the goings-on at the clnic, he decided to conduct his own investigation after the presidents call. I found that indeed he (Mashinya) was running a laboratory in my service where he collected blood samples and liaised with an external lab to process those tests. This practice is not allowed under Zetas license; it also compromises patients safety and care because there is no assurance of the quality of the tests in terms of the times to transport the blood specimens to the laboratory. Madigele says he also found out that there was collusion between practitioner and a laboratory service. The two parties would collude to have as many tests done on a patient so that the practitioner can get money in terms of fees and commissions paid by laboratory service, he said. Madigele said this has been confirmed but they have not established the amount of monies that has exchanged hands in this illegal transaction. Fraud In early January 2019 Madigele had a contract with BAC for provision of medical services to students and staff. I have been running this clinic since 2010; the agreement is that we provide service while BAC buys the medicines and the consumables. So each time when we realise that there is shortage, we make up a list of those items in shortage then submit it to BCA, they in turn request us to look for three quotations so that the normal procurement process ensues. It has come to light that Mashinya has formed a clandestine company behind the scenes and incidentally it shares the same name and domicile with Zeta Clinic in terms of address. It shares the same landline in terms of telephonic conversation. So what he has been doing is that he cooks or forges two quotations so that he also submits his after playing around with the figures so that his company wins the tender. Madigele says he only got to realise this after one of the organisations employees told him that they suspect something because the vote for medicines and consumables was getting depleted quickly. Action Since the alleged fraud is being committed under Zetas licence Madigele approached his lawyers who advised him to suspend Dr. Mashinya pending hearing. He also reported the matter to Botswana Health Professional Council (BHPC) and requested that they investigate. Dr Mashinya protested that he is a shareholder and cannot be fired. Thats when Madigele sought intervention of Director of Health Services to revoke Dr. Mashinyas license pending investigations by BHPC. Report to Masisi In January 2019 Madigele reported to President Masisi what has since transpired and action taken. Dr. Mashinya has committed fraud, I was waiting for the BHPC investigation, then I can report him to the police or they report him to the police. Court appearance Madigele said that Mashinya never served him with papers when he went to court but instead he served the ministry because I was appearing as a doctor from the clinic. I only came to know about the case after it was decided in court. The Registrar of BHPC Maruping Maruping confirmed having received a formal report from Madigele around February of improper conduct. We have since written to Dr. Mashinya to give his side of the story, but he is not easy to get hold of by phone as it continues to ring but unattended. His letter still awaits him in our office. Attorney Basimane Bogopa of Bogopa Manewe Attorneys confirmed that his company represents Zeta Clinic. He said as attorney of records they were never served with court documents and that we got the court documents from our client Dr. Madigele on Tuesday this week. All efforts to contact Dr. Mashinya were futile as his phone rang continuously unattended and he was physically not at the clinic. A monster cane toad was spotted in a coastal town just north of the city sparking fears that the poisonous pest will start appearing in Sydney. Local resident, Sylvia Lee, found a toad in her backyard in Swansea, a small town at the entrance to Lake Macquarie, NSW. While no humans have died from cane toad poison in Australia, the spray from its poison can cause temporary blindness, intense pain, and inflammation. Ms Lee said the NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed the visitor was a cane toad, and that it probably hitched a ride in a vehicle from up north. The Swansea local told the Newcastle Herald that at first she thought the toad was a giant frog after she saw it resting in the water of a big pot plant saucer. Scroll down for video This cane toad (pictured) was found in the NSW town of Swansea by local resident, Sylvia Lee 'It's normal for us to have bright green tree frogs. They're friendly and sometimes sneak inside the house.' 'I have a storm water easement in my backyard. The dirty cockroaches come out from there. I'm thinking maybe the cane toad feasts on them at night,' she said. Ms Lee was told by the Department of Primary Industries to catch the toad in a box and to take it to a vet authorised to exterminate it. The find prompted another warning from the Hunter Local Land Services to be on the lookout for the creatures. The discovery of this cane toad (pictured) by a Swansea, NSW resident, prompted the Hunter Local Land Services to urge residents to keep their eyes open for the pests 'Help us stop cane toads on the move,' the service wrote on its Facebook page. It also provided information on exactly why the toads are so dangerous, and provided advice on what to do should you find one. 'Do you know one female can lay up to 70,000 eggs a year?' 'We don't want cane toads to establish in the Hunter - it only takes one toad to have a huge impact on our biodiversity,' it added. 'If you catch a suspected cane toad, don't kill it but store it in a ventilated container and report all sightings immediately to the DPI,' the service wrote. It's the second sighing of a cane toad in the area after another was seen last week in Eleebana, a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie, just north of Swansea. This cane toad (pictured) found by a resident of Swansea, NSW, comes after another was spotted in nearby Eleebana last week It's sighting follows the release of a report last week from a federal inquiry into controlling the spread of the dangerous pests. 'We cannot undo their introduction to Australia or completely eradicate them,' the report said. It concluded there 'does not appear to be an immediate solution that could safely and effectively eradicate cane toads from Australia.' But it did add that there are 'many control method and avenues of potential research into how to control can toads.' 'The viability of each option begins with research and field experiments.' 'Once an option becomes viable, there is a clear responsibility for government agencies to assist with implementation, coordination and monitoring the results,' the report said. A former Australian actress who starred in the hit Australian film Jindabyne ran an 'order-and-collect' heroin supply service to feed her own addiction, a court has heard. Tatea Reilly, now 34, played the character of Susan in the 2006 film, a young Aboriginal woman who was murdered. Since the film's release, Reilly has been in and out of rehab, struggled with drug addiction and crime, and spent time behind bars. Tatea Reilly (pictured), now 34, played young Aboriginal woman Susan in the 2006 hit Australian film Jindabyne Judge Michael King said Reilly had fought a constant battle with drugs over 12 years. Her addiction got so bad that she was forced to supply heroin and ice to feed her own addiction in 2018, The Daily Telegraph reported. On Friday, Reilly was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order. She must also complete a rehabilitation and abstain from drugs. 'I accept she was engaging in drug supply for the purpose of feeding her own addiction rather than for the purpose of obtaining a wealthy lifestyle that is need rather than greed,' Judge King said. With assistance from a younger male co-offender, Reilly would have buyers arrive at the back gate of her Waterloo home in Sydney and bring them inside. But Reilly was arrested after one of her 'buyers' turned out to be an undercover police officer recording the exchanges. 'Reilly handed the source two small foil packages and the source handed Reilly 100 dollars in exchange,' Judge King said. In addition to giving the undercover officer heroin, on February 9, 2018, the former actress also supplied them with ice for $100 in cash. Since the film's release, Reilly has been in and out of rehab and struggled with drug addiction, crime and time behind bars Downing Centre Local Court on Friday heard that Reilly had a troubled past, growing up with an abusive father and a mother addicted to drugs. But Reilly worked hard and completed the Higher School Certificate before she turned to acting when she finished high school. The 34-year-old's criminal history dates back to 2005 and she completed a full-time jail sentence in 2009. 'I can only hope that her previous experience of jail is enough to convince her that she does not want to return to a period of imprisonment,' Judge King said. He allowed Reilly a 25 per cent reduction on her sentence for providing an early guilty plea to the charge of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis. A terror expert has recommended Australia allow jihadi brides stuck overseas to return to Australia, saying it would make the country safer in the long run. Deakin University terror and security expert Dr Greg Barton argued the open-arms approach would reduce the spread of radicalisation, 7 News reported. Dr Barton said refusing them the right to return to Australia after the collapse of ISIS would increase the likelihood of them using social media to attack the country and radicalise new recruits to the Islamist cause. 'If we bring them back, we will know where they are,' he said. The comment comes as pressure mounts on the Australian government to bring home scores of Australian women living in refugee camps in northern Syria and Iraq. Deakin University terror and security expert Dr Greg Barton argued the open-arms approach would reduce the spread of radicalisation The comment comes as pressure mounts on the Australian government to bring home scores of Australian women living in refugee camps in northern Syria and Iraq At least 30 Australians are stuck in the Al-Hawl refugee camp in Syria, following the fall of the ISIS stronghold at Baghouz. Among them are Kirsty Rosse-Emile - who moved to Syria with her husband in 2014 - and children of dead Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf. Dr Barton noted keeping them overseas would increase their chances of reconnecting with the jihadi community. 'They will be back online reaching out to Australians here and recruiting, and their story becomes all the more powerful, because they have been refused the right of return,' he said. 'They are most dangerous not physically but digitally, as they turn up virtually in social media in family homes everywhere.' Barton said 2014 legislation made it an offence to be in IS territory, which gave security agencies the power to monitor and control communications. But Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Dr John Coyne picked up the thread and said their radical ideologies would be easily picked up by the next generation. Dr Barton noted keeping them overseas would increase their chances of reconnecting with the jihadi community But Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Dr John Coyne picked up the thread and said their radical ideologies would be easily picked up by the next generation He said allowing the ISIS brides to return would influence young people to see the western world in a negative light and reinforce messages of the west's aversion towards Muslims. 'And when they are rolling around the world, we can't control them, we can't control their activities ... we cannot stop them recruiting others,' he said. Dr Coyne, who has spent decades working in intelligence, said it wasn't guaranteed the brides would be deradicalised and it was worthwhile making an exception to allow them in the country. Dr Clarke Jones, who works in youth intervention programs with Muslims, said the children stranded in camps are less likely to be radicalised if they came to Australia. The Australian National University psychology researcher said the decision to let them in would show the Australian Muslim community the country was compassionate. Dr Coyne, who has spent decades working in intelligence, said it wasn't guaranteed the brides would be deradicalised Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday the government was working with the Red Cross to process the return of the Australian women and children. Assessments would have to take place, including a citizenship and formal identification check, before being granted travel documents. Mr Morrison's stance comes after he said it was 'appalling' any Australians would go and join IS. 'I'm not going to put one Australian life at risk to try and extract people from these dangerous situations,' he said on Monday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday the government was working with the Red Cross to process the return of the Australian women and children Northern Beaches Council has refused to reduce the cost of parking fines, despite being advised to do so by the State Government. The divisive decision was made last week during a council meeting where councillors of the coastal suburb of Sydney chose not to follow suit with the rest of the city. They instead agreed to keep the charges the same, even though the state government advised the price slash would make the system 'fairer' for drivers. Scroll down for video (File picture) orthern Beaches Council has refused to reduce the cost of parking fines, despite being advised to do so by the state government In 2018, the state Treasurer Dominic Perrottet had implored local councils to cut the price of fines from $122 to as little as $80, The Daily Telegraph reported. He'd also advised councils to lower the price of 52 non-safety parking offences. 'Parking fines play an important role in maintaining order and safety on our streets,' he said. 'But the penalty should not be out of proportion to the offence,' the 36-year-old added. (File picture) Councillors of the coastal suburb of Sydney choose not to follow suit with the rest of the city State Treasurer Dominic Perrottet (pictured) had implored local councils to cut the price of fines from $122 to as little as $80 He issued his advice around the same time he announced the state government would reduce 10 of the most common parking fines by 25 per cent. But the NSW government are only responsible for issuing around 10 per cent of parking fines in the state. The rest of the fines are issued by local councils, and ultimately the cost of the fine lies within the local councils jurisdiction. Councillor David Walton, who is a long-term Northern Beaches resident, said the suggested changes were designed to create a 'fairer' and 'more common sense approach' to issuing fines in the state. 'Fines should be used as a deterrent not a license to raise revenue. 'Parking fines on the northern beaches are higher than many other cities around the world, including New York and London,' Mr Walton said. In a recommendation made by council officers it stated parking fines were vital in managing parking availability. It also noted that reducing the fine amount could potentially reduce the effectiveness of the deterrent. However, the council is understood to have recently agreed to introduce a 10 minute grace period for those who have stayed over their paid parking time limit. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Northern Beaches Council for comment. Mr Walton has also been contacted for further comment. Donald Trump has hit back at the late Barbara Bush over her newly revealed insults, saying the former first lady was just mad that he defeated her son Jeb Bush. 'I have heard that she was nasty to me, but she should be. Look what I did to her sons,' Trump told the Washington Times in an Oval Office interview on Thursday. Bush's snide remarks about Trump, newly revealed in a biography that published part of the late first lady's diaries, dated back to the 1990s, when she wrote 'Trump now means greed, selfishness and ugly. So sad.' 'Look, she's the mother of somebody that I competed against. Most people thought [Jeb Bush] was going to win and he was quickly out,' Trump said, referring to the 2016 Republican presidential primary. President Donald Trump has clapped back at the late Barbara Bush over her newly revealed insults, saying the former first lady was just mad that he defeated her son Mrs Bush, who was 92 when she died last April, gave Susan Page, author of 'The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty,' access to volumes of her diaries Trump's nickname of 'low energy' stuck with Jeb Bush, who famously pleaded 'please clap' when met with a silent audience at a New Hampshire town hall. 'I hit him very hard in South Carolina. Remember? He was supposed to win South Carolina and I won it in a landslide. I hit him so hard,' Trump told the Examiner. 'That's when his brother came to make the first speech for him,' Trump said. 'And I said, 'What took you so long?' Barbara Bush referred to Trump in one diary entry as 'the real symbol of greed in the 80s.' Mrs Bush, who was 92 when she died last April, gave Susan Page, author of 'The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty,' access to volumes of her diaries, which she began keeping in 1948. Jeb Bush was supposed to be a front runner for the 2016 GOP primary but dropped out The former first lady recounts in a January 1990 entry about reading a news article on Trump speaking at a Los Angeles charity awards dinner for Merv Griffin. Former President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, attended the gala, and Trump needled the former president over pricey speeches he had given in Japan. Mrs Bush later showed a friend news clips about Trump's separation from his first wife, Ivana, and noted that allies of the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Trump were saying a $25 million settlement in the prenuptial agreement she signed wouldn't be enough. 'The Trumps are a new word, both of them,' Mrs. Bush wrote. 'Trump now means Greed, selfishness and ugly. So sad.' On election night 2016, Mrs Bush was so confident that Hillary Clinton would win, she prepared a letter for Bill Clinton to welcome him as a first spouse. On the day after the 2016 election, however, Mrs. Bush wrote that she woke up and 'discovered to my horror that Trump had won.' Boeing has vowed to fix software problems detected in its 737 Max flight control system with a new patch following the two deadly crashes that led to the worldwide grounding of the manufacturer's flagship model. The embattled aviation giant pledged on Thursday to take all necessary steps to ensure the airworthiness of its 737 MAX aircraft after a second problem was detected in the fleet's flight control system. It comes after a preliminary accident report into last month's fatal crash in Ethiopia found that faulty sensor readings and multiple automatic commands to push down the nose of the Boeing plane contributed to the crash, leaving the crew struggling to regain control. Boeing said its coming software fix for the anti-stall system that pushes down the plane's nose would give pilots the authority to always override the system if activated by faulty sensor data. A preliminary accident report into last month's fatal crash in Ethiopia (above) found that faulty sensor readings and multiple automatic commands to push down the nose of the Boeing plane contributed to the crash Meanwhile, federal aviation regulations have ordered Boeing to fix a second issue with the control system in its 737 Max, the Washington Post reports. The issue, which is separate from the anti-stall system currently under investigation, has pushed back Boeing's timeline to get the aircraft back up in the air. The second issue affects other flight-control hardware. 'We remain confident in the fundamental safety of the 737 MAX,' CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement, adding that impending software fixes would make the aircraft 'among the safest airplanes ever to fly.' In an earlier statement, the head of the company's commercial aircraft division had said Boeing was ready to perform 'any and all additional steps' to enhance the safety of the 737 MAX. The preliminary findings released Thursday by Ethiopian transportation authorities put the American aircraft giant under even greater pressure to restore public trust, with nearly 350 people dead in crashes involving its formerly top-selling 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months amid mounting signs the company's onboard anti-stall systems were fault. The first substantial account of the last minutes of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on March 10 described how the captain three times called out: 'Pull up' and was acknowledged by the first officer, but to no avail. Boeing said it plans to release a software fix to the anti-stall system used aboard the 737 MAX aircraft in the coming weeks. Investigators believe a faulty sensor may have triggered the Ethiopian plane's MCAS anti-stall system, pushing the nose of the plane down repeatedly as pilots struggled to regain control Boeing's top-selling aircraft, the 787 MAX, has been grounded worldwide since the March 10 disaster, which killed 157 people and came just five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia that killed 189 in a plane of the same model. Families of the victims, regulators and travellers around the world have been waiting for signs of whether the two crashes are linked, and the extent to which Boeing technology and the actions of the Ethiopian Airlines pilots played a role. 'I'd like to reiterate our deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the accident,' said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Kevin McAllister. 'We will carefully review the AIB's preliminary report, and will take any and all additional steps necessary to enhance the safety of our aircraft.' The report leaves unanswered questions, some experts said, such as why the plane's trajectory did not respond to pilot and automatic commands including two final nose up commands from the pilots about 30 seconds before the plane crashed. 'Those should literally follow each other,' said one U.S.-based expert, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. 'I think this is a more complex problem than what we initially thought.' Questions have also been raised over whether crew followed guidance not to restore power to a troublesome anti-stall system following the sensor damage, possibly caused by a bird strike. The plane was also set to unusually high thrust, data suggested. A final report by Ethiopian authorities aided by air-safety experts from the United States and Europe is due to be published within a year. Boeing said its coming software fix for the anti-stall system that pushes down the plane's nose would give pilots the authority to always override the system if activated by faulty sensor data Some pilots expressed disquiet that following Boeing's checklist for the malfunction had not appeared to work. 'If the preliminary report from the Ethiopian authorities is accurate, the pilots quickly identified the malfunction and applied the manufacturer's checklist. Following this checklist did not appear to allow the pilots to regain control of the aircraft,' said Captain Jason Goldberg, spokesman for Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration, which has come under fire over the way it decided to certify the plane and its so-called MCAS anti-stall software, cautioned the investigation had not yet concluded. 'We continue to work towards a full understanding of all aspects of this accident. As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action,' the U.S. agency said in a statement. Southwest Airlines Co and American Airlines Group Inc, the two largest U.S. operators of the MAX with 34 and 24 jets respectively and dozens more on order, each said on Thursday that they continued to await guidance from U.S. regulators and Boeing on when the MAX could resume flying. Ethiopian investigators did not blame anyone for the crash, stressing the importance of international rules requiring civil probes to focus on recommendations for safer flight. Most accidents take months of analysis because of the need to trace backwards to find a root cause from tangled evidence. 'There is a big difference between having the data and knowing the cause,' a senior European investigator said. Officials denied reports of tensions between Ethiopian officials and U.S. and other foreign investigators accredited to the probe. 'We don't have any reservations from different stakeholders who were engaged in the investigations,' chief investigator Amdye Ayalew Fanta said. Following a previous Ethiopian Airlines accident off Beirut in 2010, Addis Ababa authorities rejected the conclusions of a Lebanese investigation citing pilot error and suggested the aircraft had exploded in a possible act of sabotage. Aviation safety analyst Paul Hayes said deeper investigation would delve into the role played by software and how pilots were able to respond, and said he hoped scars from the 2010 dispute would not get in the way of a comprehensive investigation. 'Pilots shouldn't have to cope with such an emergency situation. We need to understand what are the factors that meant these two crews were overcome,' said Hayes, safety director at UK-based consultancy Flight Ascend. 'It is unusual for there to be a single cause,' he added. Ousted Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested in Japan on new charges, less than a month after he was released on bail for financial misconduct allegations. Ghosn, 65, was taken into custody Thursday and is being held at the Tokyo Detention Center, after Tokyo District Court approved the further arrest. The detention request was approved by the Tokyo District Court, the court said in a statement. Ousted Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested in Japan on new charges, less than a month after he was released on bail for financial misconduct allegations. Ghosn, 65, was taken into custody Thursday and is being held at the Tokyo Detention Center The former Nissan chief was arrested November 19 and released March 6 on a near $9 million bail. The latest arrest is on suspicion that $5 million sent by a Nissan subsidiary, meant for an Oman dealership, was diverted to a company effectively controlled by Ghosn. His arrest means Ghosn won't be released in time for the April 11 news conference he had promised to hold 'to tell the truth about what's happening.' Ghosn's lawyer Junichiro Hironaka told reporters arresting his client again was unfair when Ghosn had cleared the bail conditions. Prosecutors had earlier tried to block the release, saying he may be a flight risk and he may destroy or tamper with evidence. They demanded the latest detention, arguing that he may tamper with evidence related to the fresh allegations. The earlier allegations, on which Ghosn has been charged, involve under-stating his compensation in financial documents, having Nissan shoulder investment losses and making payments to a Saudi businessman. The former Nissan chief was arrested November 19 and released March 6 on a near $9 million bail. The latest arrest is on suspicion that $5 million sent by a Nissan subsidiary, meant for an Oman dealership, was diverted to a company effectively controlled by Ghosn Ghosn says the compensation was never decided or paid, the investment losses were never suffered and the payments were for legitimate services. Ghosn's case and the extended detention without a conviction are drawing scrutiny to Japan's criminal justice system. Legal experts say Ghosn's release on bail came quickly, and many defendants endure months, in extreme cases more than a year, incarcerated while they await trial. Bosses at Aintree are today clamping down on drugs in a bid to stamp out anti-social and rowdy behaviour at the festival. Racegoers are being urged to put their drugs in 'amnesty bins' on entering the site, in the wake of thugs brawling at other courses around the country. Grand National attendees are being met with armed police and sniffer dogs at the racecourse, and banned from taking in bottles of perfume and large handbags. Racegoers are being urged to put their drugs in 'amnesty bins' on entering the site One of the UKs top sporting events, the three-day meet attracts more than 150,000 people over three days and is watched by 600 million on TV. Merseyside Police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also confirmed a 2,000ft high, one-mile ground radius, 'airspace restriction' applies to drones. Pilots have been slapped with a ban so they cannot monitor races without a time delay feed, giving them an 'in play' betting advantage. Merseyside Police confirmed any breach of the exclusion zone would be 'classed a criminal offence.' Security chiefs have granted an amnesty for anyone found in possession of small amounts of illegal substances. Large blue bins have been placed outside the main entrances to the course in the hope race-goers dumped their stash before facing the embarrassment of being pulled aside. Large blue bins have been placed outside the main entrances to the course in the hope race-goers dumped their stash Aintree security has been ramped up with guests advised not to bring any handbags in with them if possible. Pictured armed police on duty yesterday A sign on the 'honesty' bins says: 'Aintree racecourse is a drug free zone, please deposit your drugs here.' Paul Green, from private sniffer dog firm 'MPK9' said their animals will alert handlers to anyone suspected of breaking the law. Suspects will be searched and small amounts intended for personal use will be confiscated. But he added: 'If there are large amounts than we are talking about people dealing drugs and the police will become involved.' Grand National attendees (seen yesterday) are being met with armed police and sniffer dogs at the racecourse, and banned from taking in bottles of perfume and large handbags An Aintree Racecourse spokesperson said: 'Amnesty bins are now routine across racing's major events. 'They are also at various other sports, as part of a zero tolerance policy towards illegal substances. Other measures include detector dogs in operation.' Aintree security has been ramped up with guests advised not to bring any handbags in with them if possible. The course has introduced a strict new policy banning all rucksacks, holdalls and any bags taller than 20cm in height. Racegoers have also been forbidden from bringing any bottles of perfume or aftershave in to the racecourse. An American tourist accused of stabbing a Sydney man in a Bali bar brawl has been pictured as he was paraded wearing a balaclava and prison jumpsuit. John Bruce Lewis, 52, allegedly stabbed Simon Wilson Menzies, 39, of Darlinghurst, after a fight broke out at Santa Fe Bar and Grill in Seminyak last Friday. Photos released today show Lewis bowing his head wearing an orange jumpsuit and black balaclava while he is flanked by Indonesian authorities. John Bruce Lewis (pictured) was seen bowing his head wearing an orange jumpsuit and black balaclava while he is flanked by Indonesian authorities Police said Menzies had been arguing with a woman outside the bar when Lewis came by and was pushed to the ground and a fight ensued, the Bali Post reported. Menzies allegedly knocked Lewis to the ground once more and repeatedly hit him while he was down. Lewis then allegedly wielded a knife from his bag and stabbed the man in the stomach, according to police. Lewis was arrested and is currently in custody at Kuta. Menzies suffered non-life threatening injuries but remains in hospital. Former AFL star Brian Lake has been released from custody after pleading guilty to stalking his estranged wife. The 37-year-old was arrested on Tuesday at his ex-wife Shannon's home in Aintree, Melbourne. Lake, who has been seeking help over his mental health for years, pleaded guilty to stalking her and interfering with her iPhone to install monitoring software. He also pleaded guilty to property damage and assaulting his wife's friend in a separate incident at the same home on February 17. Former Hawthorn player Brian Lake (pictured today) will be required to serve 250 hours of community service work over 18 months and has had his drivers licence suspended for 21 days The former Hawks star on Friday received a community corrections order for assault, trespass, stalking, driving and property damage offences. The 37-year-old must complete 250 hours of community service work over 18 months and has had his drivers licence suspended for 21 days. Lake didn't speak as he left court surrounded by reporters and photographers, jumping straight into a waiting car. Looking forlorn as he sat in the dock, the 2013 Norm Smith medallist was warned the charges were serious and he could face a jail sentence if he offended again. 'If you had any prior serious criminal history, I would incarcerate you,' the magistrate told Lake. AFL legend Brian Lake, pictured with estranged wife Shannon in happier times Lake, who played 251 AFL games for the Hawks and the Western Bulldogs, damaged an iPhone at an Aintree property on Tuesday, court documents revealed. He also committed an indictable offences of stalking, theft and criminal damage at the property while on bail. Lake didn't speak as he left court surrounded by reporters and photographers, jumping straight into a waiting car The court was told Lake had been seeking help for mental health issues for a number of years. Lake was also booked for speeding and driving without a licence while behind the wheel of a VW ute at Melton on March 30. His defence lawyer pleaded for leniency in relation to Lake's driving offences, arguing he needed to continue working. Brian Lake (pictured) has been embroiled in controversy since he retired from AFL in 2015 Brian Lake split with wife Shannon (pictured left) last year In October, the fullback admitted he needed professional help after he was pictured in a toilet at the Caufield Cup with lines of a white substance. He had told The Herald Sun a week earlier he was going through a hard time after his marriage ended following his return from competing on the reality TV series Survivor. 'It wasn't agreed upon beforehand, but it was obviously thought about,' Lake said of the split. 'Then it didn't really happen until probably a couple of days after I got back (from Survivor). She mentioned it's probably best if we just had a break for a while.' Brian Lake (pictured in 2014) won three premierships with the Hawthorn Hawks He also expressed hope of rekindling his marriage. 'There's a reason why you get married,' he said. 'You want to work on it. You've just gotta get yourself right. I'm not a person just to give up.' Lake spent six nights behind bars in Japan after a drunken scuffle at a bar last July. No charges were laid. He had been in Osaka playing for the Indonesian Volcanoes in the AFL Asia tournament. He played 251 AFL games, including 197 for the Western Bulldogs, before he moved to Hawthorn in 2013, where he won three successive premierships. He retired at the end of the 2015 season. He won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the Hawks' 2013 grand final win against Fremantle. Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Members of Parliament have called for calm and a clean campaign ahead of the partys Special Congress in Kang next week Friday. The MPs raised the concerns last week during the partys Parliamentary Caucus meetings. President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi will become the first BDP leader to be challenged for the presidency of the party at this Special Congress. He will defend his seat against a former member of his cabinet, Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Campaigns for the presidency have been marred by controversy. There have been accusations and counter-accusations of use of underhand tactics to lure voters. Dr. Masisis camp has been accused of using both state and party resources to advance their campaign while Dr. Venson-Moitois team is accused of mudslinging, ignoring party processes and procedures and attacking the president. Some key members are known to be supporting Dr. Venson-Moitoi among them Central Committee member and MP for Tati East Samson Guma Moyo, who has since fled the country on claims that he is a target of an assassination plot. During the caucus meeting MPs expressed concern over the dirty campaigns that both camps have engaged in. According to sources who attended both last week and this weeks Tuesday meetings, the MPs want a peaceful Kang congress that would also unite the party. We want both teams to be humble as they get to the final lap of campaign. Things have not been going well and this has divided us even more. So, we believe we have to air our concerns as MPs because we are the ones more senior when it comes to delegates. We want to come back from Kang a united force, said one MP. Another MP stated that the issue here is not about who is powerful than who, but it is about the democratic dispensation within the party which we have for years preached (that) we stand for. This is the time to lead by example that indeed we are a democratic organisation. The MPs pointed out that it is not wrong for Vice President and BDP Chairman Slumber Tsogwane to support Dr. Masisi as it has always been the party tradition that the president and his second in command stick to each other even during central committee elections. Government Whip (BDP) Liakat Kablay confirmed that the MPs have called for calm as the campaigns get into the last lap before the congress. Kablay said the MPs spoke with one voice as concerned leaders within the party. He stated that they have put to rest the issue of Tsogwane supporting the president as party chairman and former president Dr. Ian Khama supporting Dr. Venson-Moitoi. According to Kablay they have concluded that this is nothing new and should not be used by either camp to attack the other. This is why you will hear people saying BDP MPs would resign. I can assure you that no MP would dump the BDP after the Kang congress and we are not going to split. Of course, we have our differences for now but that is not happening for the first time and BDP is not going for internal elections for the first time. We have been on this road before even during our National Congresses where presidents endorsed their deputies there were tensions. Even during the Festus Mogae era and Dr. Khamas times, said Kablay adding that they have urged both camps to accept the results and work together towards building a strong BDP ahead of this years general elections. Kablay who is also MP for Letlhakeng-Lephephe rubbished claims that BDP Womens Wing Chairperson Dorcas Makgato was behind the postponement of the Womens Wing congress. He revealed that it was the Parliamentary Caucus that pursued her to postpone because of logistical issues such as accommodation. An electrical company that sacked a woman after she vomited at farewell drinks at the Sydney Opera House has been ordered to re-hire her. The woman, a project administrator for electrical company Ryan Wilks, got drunk at an event in the historic building in July last year. She admitted to being intoxicated and vomiting on the floor of the bar area of the Opera House and needing help to get into a taxi. The woman was also accused of sexually propositioning an Opera House employee as well as insulting staff on that night - which she strongly denied. The project administrator for electrical company Ryan Wilks, attended after work drinks for an employee on July 20, 2018 at the Sydney Opera House The woman admitted to being drunk and vomitting on the floor of the bar area of the Opera House, and required help to get into a taxi (stock) Her employer was initially unaware of her drunken actions and was informed by the contractor the following Wednesday, who then launched an investigation. Following a number of meetings between her employer, the woman was questioned about her alleged misconduct during the farewell drinks. The company then sacked her for breaching their internal 'code of conduct'. The woman launched a complaint of unfair dismissal to the Fair Work Commission against her by Ryan Wilks, stating they 'did not have a valid reason to terminate her services.' She provided a number of documents to support her case, pushing for her reinstatement within the company, Fair Work documents revealed. She claims that she was not told about the extent of the allegations made against her and the company did not review the CCTV footage of the night of the party. The woman launched a complaint of unfair dismissal to the Fair Work Commission against her by Ryan Wilks Further to that, the woman said her employer 'deliberately did not speak to any of the witnesses that she sought to have present evidence of what actually occurred at the farewell function'. She said she was currently looking for work but remained unemployed, but asked to be reinstated 'as she enjoyed that work and that other than 'this minor blip' her conduct and work record had always been unblemished.' Fair Work Commissioner Ian Cambridge ordered that Ryan Wilks rehire the woman and called her sacking harsh, unjust and unreasonable. Ryan Wilks is now appealing the decision saying they have certain standards for their employees. 'The company relies on its code of conduct as to expected standards of behaviour for its employees,' the company told ABC via a statement. 'As the appeal is yet to be determined, the company is not able to make any further comment at this stage'. Southend Pier was closed yesterday morning after an unexploded Victorian-era bomb was discovered close to it. The suspect device was found just 30 metres from what is the world's largest pleasure pier, in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. A team from the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit waited until low tide to detonate the device at around 7pm. Southend Pier, in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, was closed yesterday morning after an unexploded Victorian-era bomb was discovered close to it. A team from the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit waited until low tide to detonate the device at around 7pm in what was a huge explosion The device (pictured), thought to be a British rifled muzzle-loading projectile, was found just 30 metres from the pier. It was then dragged away from the pier An exclusion zone was placed around the device and it was then detonated by an explosive charge 'The police kept the scene secure while Royal Navy Southern Diving Unit Two was deployed to examine the situation. 'The Royal Navy team waited until low water in the evening, when the device was safely destroyed. 'The device was thought to be a British rifled muzzle-loading projectile.' Firearms expert Bill Harriman, who is a regular on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and is director of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said the explosive was a 'rare historical artifact'. He said it was a Palliser studded shell, which dates from around 1880. 'Palliser shells had a cavity for a small bursting charge but they were principally designed to defeat armour. Consequently I suspect that this was probably inert,' he said. 'It will have been the modern explosives used by the EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] disposal that made the bang rather than the shell. He added: 'This was a rare historical artefact. It is a pity that the Bootnecks blew it up.' A unit from the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team from Portsmouth pictured yesterday evening They dragged the bomb to a safe distance and then detonated it HM Coastguard Southend said on their Facebook page: 'The Southern Diving Unit team arrived this afternoon, removed it from the vicinity of the pier and carried out a demolition of the shell by controlled detonation.' 'The munition was taken to a safe place and destroyed by Southern Diving Unit 2 after cordoning off the pier. Not bad for a day's work!' The pier is around 1.3 miles long. Southend Council said on Twitter: 'Thanks to the emergency services and the military for their swift action and the public, for giving them the space to get on with their important job.' A lesbian traveller who cancelled a flight with Royal Brunei Airlines over the country's new anti-gay laws has slammed Fight Centre after it refused to pay her cancellation fees. Shannon, 26, and her lesbian friend Jacqueline, 28, had booked a flight last month with a stopover in Brunei but decided to cancel a few weeks later. The pair feared they would be targeted during the flight and the four-hour stopover after new anti-gay laws were brought in on Friday including making gay sex punishable by death. Shannon (right) and her friend Jacqueline (left) decided to cancel a flight with Royal Brunei Airlines after new anti-gay laws Brunei's Sharia laws If two males are caught they can be punished by being stoned to death or whipped with 100 strokes. If two females are caught together they can be whipped up to 40 times or jailed for 10 years. An unmarried heterosexual couple are also punished in the same way. Adultery is punished with stoning or whipping however there must be at least four eyewitnesses or the accused must testify. If someone steals, they have their right hand or left foot amputated. Muslims caught drinking alcohol are whipped. Women face jail if they have an abortion or give birth out of wedlock. Advertisement Shannon called flight centre and also contacted the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as well as Royal Brunei Airlines. Flight centre agreed to waive their cancellation fees but claimed the pair would need to pay the $300 RBA fee. But Shannon is arguing Flight Centre should cover that cancellation fee too. 'It's not that we can't afford the cancellation fees. It's just that it's them putting a price on our life and that isn't right,' she told news.com.au. 'Being a second-class citizen on a holiday? I don't need to do that,' Shannon said. A Flight Centre spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'In line with the customers' requests and in line with our policy, we will waive any of our fees in the circumstances. Unfortunately though, we cannot waive fees that the airline applies.' 'We did what the customers asked and [they] indicated they would be happy with that,' the spokesperson said. Shannon contacted flight centre claiming she feared she would be targeted during the flight and four-hour stopover Chief executive of LGBTI advocacy group Thorne Harbour, Simon Ruth, said travel agents who sold these flights need to be offering refunds. 'Our preference would be that the government rescind RBA's rights to fly in Australia,' he said. 'Any travel agent selling these flights is now profiting from these terrible laws.' Travel agency STA Travel has joined in boycotting RBA as they have stopped selling the airline's tickets to protest the country's laws. Flight centre agreed to waive their cancellation fees but claimed the pair would need to pay the $300 Royal Brunei Airline fee Ellen DeGeneres has asked the public to boycott a number of hotels worldwide that are owned by the Sultan of Brunei The Muslim-majority nation which is ruled by billionaire Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was the first Asian country to adopt sharia laws in 2014. The first phase which involved prison sentences and fines began in 2014, however the Sultan said the law's full force was going to be implemented over several years. Brunei introduced the new laws on Friday which punish gay sex by stoning people to death. People who 'persuade, tell or encourage' Muslim children under the age of 18 'to accept the teachings of religions other than Islam' can also be jailed. Celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres and George Clooney have asked the public to boycott a number of hotels worldwide that are owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Clooney wrote about the new stoning laws in Deadline claiming people should not stay in these hotels. 'Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery,' he wrote. 'I've learned over years of dealing with murderous regimes that you can't shame them.' But you can shame the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them and choose to look the other way,' he said. Brunei, ruled by billionaire Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (pictured), introduced new laws on Friday which punish gay sex by stoning people to death A high-speed train smashed head-on into an ambulance that was trapped between barriers on rail tracks in shocking footage. A doctor and a paramedic were killed instantly while the driver was rushed to hospital after the shocking incident at a level crossing in Puszczykowo in Poznan County, Poland, on Wednesday. CCTV footage shows the ambulance becoming trapped while crossing the tracks as the barriers suddenly begin to lower. CCTV footage shows a high-speed train whizzing past and smashing head-on into the ambulance in Puszczykowo in Poznan County, Poland, on Wednesday Attempting to move out the way of a quickly approaching train, the driver tries to manoeuvre the vehicle to sit parallel to the tracks to avoid being struck. But the front of the ambulance is left jutting over the tracks and the driver is unable to move in time. A high-speed train whizzes past and smashes head-on into the ambulance causing it to be crushed on impact and dragged along with the moving train. Two of the workers inside the ambulance, a doctor and a paramedic, were killed instantly, local media reports. Aftermath of the crumpled wreckage of the ambulance with debris strewn across the platform as emergency services attempt to free those inside Emergency services rushed to the scene after the train - which was travelling from Katowice to Gdynia - was derailed Footage of the aftermath shows the crumpled wreckage of the ambulance with debris strewn across the platform. Crowds gathered to watch as emergency services rushed to the scene to attempt to free those inside. The driver was found in serious condition and taken to the hospital in Puszczykowo as local media report he is fighting for his life. The train - which was travelling from Katowice to Gdynia - was derailed but fortunately the driver and passengers were not injured in the smash. Following the fatal crash, the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, Tweeted his 'deepest sympathies' to the families of those involved. It is not yet clear why the ambulance became trapped and an investigation into the accident is ongoing. The smashed wreckage of the ambulance after it was hit head-on and dragged along the tracks Michael Cohen has accused President Trump of instructing him to lie to Congress about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Russia. In documents filed late Thursday night, Cohen's legal team claims Trump used 'coded' language to encourage the disgraced lawyer to lie under oath and say the Moscow tower project had ended by January 31, 2016. Cohen's attorneys, Lanny Davis and Michael Monico, said the president urged their client 'during various conversations' to say there was 'no collusion, no Russian contacts, nothing about Russia' after the start of the campaign, according to BuzzFeed. Former Donald Trump fixer Michael Cohen has claimed the president used coded language to encourage him to lie under oath, according to reports In documents filed late Thursday night, Cohen's legal team reportedly claim Trump urged his former lawyer to tell Congress negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow ended in January 2016 The allegations come in a 12-page memo sent to senior House Democrats in a bid to have Cohen's three-year prison sentence reduced. 'Cohen explained that he was, in effect, instructed to lie about the January 31, 2016 date through the use of Trump code words that could only be interpreted as an instruction or 'directive',' the memo states, 'to cover-up the fact that Cohen had been in contact with Russians during most of the presidential campaign, from the day of the Iowa caucuses, February 1, through all the primaries and caucuses and until June 2016, after Trump had become the putative Republican nominee by assembling a majority of delegates.' The memo also claims Trump's attorney called Cohen and congratulated him for lying to the House and Senate Intelligence committees, and said the then-Republican frontrunner was 'happy with Cohen's testimony', according to the news outlet. In a statement, lawyer Davis said: 'Michael Cohen's recent public and closed-door testimony to Congressional committees has triggered additional areas for investigation by law enforcement authorities and the Congress. 'In fact, Mr. Cohen has recently obtained a hard drive with 14 million files from his computers and phones over the past 10 years, which we believe has significant value to the various congressional oversight and investigation committees. Yet Michael Cohen is the only person in the Trump organization who has been prosecuted. 'The actions against Mr. Cohen appears to be selective prosecution and the sentence imposed is a disproportionate one. For him to surrender in 30 days would be a detriment to committees search for truth, as well as a miscarriage of justice.' The 12-page memo corroborates a BuzzFeed report published in January that Cohen, (left), claimed his former boss Donald Trump, (right), 'was happy' after he gave false testimony and that Trump's attorney 'congratulated him for lying' claimed Cohen admitted that Trump explicitly ordered him to lie about the Moscow tower plans ending long before Trump looked like winning the Republican primary. It also claimed special counsel Robert Mueller possessed documentation of it. When the story broke, Democrats called for Trump's impeachment, and Mueller publicly slammed the report as inaccurate. 'BuzzFeed's description of specific statements to the special counsel's office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen's congressional testimony are not accurate,' said Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, less than a day after the story was reported. Speaking to reporters at the White House at the time, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders called the Buzzfeed story's allegation 'absolutely ridiculous' and 'categorically false'. The new memo is also said to detail a planned trip for Trump to visit Moscow for negotiations in August 2016 - seven months after the president claims correspondence with Russia stopped. 'In May 2016, Cohen told Trump he could travel to Russia to assist the building of the project either before or after the GOP Convention in August, and Trump agreed,' Cohen's attorneys wrote. Michael Cohen (with his lawyer, Michael Monico) also claims Trump agreed to fly to Russia in May 2016 to move negotiations on, it's claimed The planned trip never went ahead, but Cohen's legal team reportedly said it serves as 'further evidence that the trip to Russia was under serious consideration after Trump approved it'. The memo is also said to accuse Ivanka Trump of knowing about Cohen's false testimony to Congress. Cohen's attorneys said Ivanka had been in talks to sponsor a health spa at the top of the Moscow Trump Tower. A spokesperson for Ivanka Trump previously told BuzzFeed News that the President's daughter never 'talked to anyone outside the Organization about the proposal [the Moscow tower], never visited the prospective project site and, even internally, was only minimally involved'. The memo is part of an effort to have Cohen's three-year prison sentence - which was due to begin on May 6 - reduced. Cohen's legal team say they have emails between Ivanka Trump and Russian contacts from after the January 31 date Cohen's legal team have also told senior House Democrats they have discovered a hard drive filled with millions of files including emails, voice recordings, images and other documents that 'might be helpful to investigators'. Cohen pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion, fraud, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations and received a three year jail term. They have asked for more time and help from Congress to persuade the Southern District of New York to allow Cohen to postpone reporting to jail in order to review his files. They stated that Cohen would not therefore be able to report to jail on May 6 as scheduled has as he won't be able to finish reviewing the material. Michael Cohen (leaning back to listen to his lawyer, Lanny Davis) pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion, fraud, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations and received a three year jail term It added that 'the substantial trove of new information, documents, recordings, and other evidence he can provide requires substantial time with him and ready access to him by congressional committees and staff to complete their investigations and to fulfill their oversight responsibilities.' If any lawmakers were to write such a letter to officials, it could be useful if Cohen petitioned the court to delay his prison report date. 'Working alone, Mr. Cohen has only had the time to go through less than 1 percent of the drive, or approximately 3,500 files,' Cohen's attorneys wrote. 'Mr. Cohen needs time, resources, and assistance to separate out privileged and personal documents from these 14 million files to make the rest available for review by various congressional committees.' Cohen has already received one short delay on medical grounds while he recovered from shoulder surgery. He was originally scheduled to report to prison in early March, but that date was pushed back two months as he prepared for his congressional testimony. Cohen told Congress in February how Trump ordered him to figure out how to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money It's not clear which committees received letters from Cohen, or what they plan to do in response. Cohen's lawyers said they were still hopeful that federal prosecutors in New York agree to reopen his case and advocate for a lighter sentence. He has been sentenced to a three-year term. 'It is our hope that the authorities in the Southern District of New York will consider this total picture of cooperation by Mr. Cohen and the particular facts involved here to grant Mr. Cohen a reduced term following the rules and procedures of the Southern District of New York.' New York prosecutors previously advocated for a tough sentence, saying the crimes were serious and that the help Cohen had provided to ongoing investigations wasn't as valuable or as complete as Cohen had claimed. Cohen testified on Capitol Hill earlier this year and accused President Donald Trump of financial fraud. He also accused him of sanctioning hush-money payments to women who claimed they had affairs with him. Republicans accused Cohen of lying when he appeared before Congress, including statements that he never requested a pardon from Trump and that he did not want a job in the White House. In a six-page letter, Ohio Rep Representative Jim Jordan and North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows wrote to Attorney General William Barr that Cohen 'committed perjury and knowingly made false statements during his testimony.' Most of the Republican committee members on Wednesday railed against the Democratic majority for calling as a witness a man who pleaded guilty to lying to Congress once already. In Thursday's letter, Jordan and Meadows asserted that '[s]everal times during his testimony, Mr. Cohen denied committing various fraudulent acts that he has pleaded guilty to in federal court.' Cohen's contention that 'I never defrauded any bank' raised a red flag. One of his guilty pleas was to a charge of making false statements to a banking institution, which prosecutors referred to as 'bank fraud' in his plea agreement. Advertisement Emmanuel Macron is leading European efforts to stop Britain from getting any new delay to Brexit without a 'clear and credible' plan for leaving, saying we should otherwise be left to quit 'in a disorderly manner'. Paris today attacked both Theresa May's plea to postpone leaving until June 30 and a separate plan from European Council president Donald Tusk to keep us in the trade bloc for a year. A French diplomatic source said Mr Tusk's idea for a 'flextension' until March 29 2020 was 'a clumsy trial balloon' ahead of an emergency summit next Wednesday. And European affairs minister Amelie de Montchalin warned that Theresa May's desire for a short extension of Article 50 with a break mechanism to leave sooner if a Withdrawal Agreement passed through Parliament was not likely to succeed. 'The European council took a clear decision on 21 March Another extension requires the UK to put forward a plan with clear and credible political backing,' she told the Guardian. 'The council would then define the necessary conditions attached to that extension, she said. 'In the absence of such a plan, we would have to acknowledge that the UK chose to leave the EU in a disorderly manner.' The French intransigence came as senior Dutch and German politicians also questioned Mrs may's request for a delay to June - after a similar request was rejected out at the last summit in March and two shorter ones imposed. Dutch premier Mark Rutte said May's letter seeking the extension 'raises many questions' and there will have to be 'intense discussions' ahead of a crucial summit of European leaders next Wednesday that will decide on the issue. 'The plan was that the British would explain what they wanted from the EU,' Rutte told a weekly press conference. 'A letter was sent today which, as far as I am concerned, doesn't answer this request (from the EU for more information). I hope it will be possible to give the answers to these questions.' Rutte - who has been one of the most outspoken EU leaders on Brexit as his country faces the risk of an economic shock if Britain leaves without a deal - said the letter had 'no full plan, there was only part of a plan.' 'We hope London will provide more clarity before Wednesday,' German foreign minister Heiki Mass added that 'many questions' remained about Mrs May's plan. The hardline continental approach to next week's summit came as meetings between the Tories and Labour to try to find a Brexit compromise appeared to have stalled tonight. After a third day of talks Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: 'So far, the Government isn't proposing any changes to the deal.' Emmanuel Macron (pictured today, second from right) believes it is 'premature' to assume they will grant Britain another extension to the Brexit negotiation period Theresa May will write to EU Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 - but Mr Tusk will insist in it being a year-long delay into 2020 One of Jeremy Corbyn's senior aides today joked that three days of Brexit talks with the Tories had only produced a single piece of paper - as Jeremy Hunt warned Britain would have 'no choice' but to accept a long Brexit delay if Labour won't do a deal. Brexiteers have pledged to 'go nuclear' and accused Theresa May of 'abandoning' her party - and leave voters - after she wrote to the EU begging them to extend Article 50 until June 30. There is also fury that she promised Brussels that British taxpayers would stump up 108million to hold European elections in late May if she fails to make a deal with Jeremy Corbyn by then. Senior Labour and Conservative MPs are meeting for the third day in a row to thrash out a Brexit deal with a customs union and a second referendum being discussed as a compromise. But ominously Labour's chief whip Nick Brown described the outcome of the crunch talks had produced 'a piece of paper' - but refused to say what the A4 sheet contained. Mr Corbyn also admitted that talks with the Prime Minister could drag on after admitting he had 'no issue' with Britain taking part in the European elections. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said today there 'no choice' but to accept a long extension if a way through cannot be found. He told the BBC: 'It's obviously not optimal to have any extension at all and we have a plan to leave the EU and deliver on the referendum result which we put before Parliament a number of times. 'We still hope to leave the EU in the next couple of months, that's our ambition, we don't have a majority in Parliament and that means that we have to have these discussions with Jeremy Corbyn to see if there is enough common ground to do that.' Asked if he could accept a long extension, Mr Hunt said: 'If we can't find a way through with Parliament then we have no choice'. Jeremy Hunt, pictured with Amal Clooney today, has warned Britain would have 'no choice' but to accept a long Brexit delay from the EU if Jeremy Corbyn (right today in Newport after their by-election win, won't do a deal) This morning the Prime Minister sent a letter to EU chief Donald Tusk to formally request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 to June 30. What are the European Parliament elections and why do they cost 108m? Elections to the European Parliament take place every five years. The last election in 2014 cost 108million to hold and it is expected it will cost a similar amount to the taxpayer this time around if we take part. The 108million cost includes funding for things like hiring polling stations and the staff to run them, getting the ballot papers printed and producing promotional material highlighting that the elections are taking place. It does not include the cost of MEPs' salaries. The UK currently returns 73 MEPs from 12 electoral regions to a parliament with 751 members that sits alternately in Brussels and Strasbourg. The system used to pick MEPs is different from that used for Westminster elections, where you vote for one candidate who represents a specific constituency'. Instead several forms of proportional representation are used, so between three and 10 MEPs are picked in each of the 12 UK regions and represent every one of the people in them. At the moment the UK's 73 MEPs consist of 19 Labour, 18 Tory, ten independents, seven Ukip, seven Brexit Party, three Greens, two SNP and one each for the Lib Dems, Ulster Unionists, Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, Plaid Cymru and the Social Democratic Party. There is also one vacant seat. Advertisement Donald Tusk said today that a 12-month 'flextension' to March 31 2020 is 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis and will urge leaders of the EU's 27 member states to back him later today. Mrs May wants a 'termination clause' allowing the UK to leave on May 22 - the day before European elections - if a deal can be pushed through the UK Parliament. But Mrs May's letter admits that if she fails Britain would go to the polls between May 23 and May 26, costing the taxpayer up to 108million to put on the elections. British MEPs would then be paid a 85,000-a-year salary to sit in Brussels from July as the UK tries to leave. Brexiteer Owen Paterson tweeted that Tories should 'go nuclear' and push again for No Deal while Tory ERG chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said today: 'If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible. We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macron's integrationist schemes'. He added that if the PM agrees to a customs union: 'The Conservative Party is being abandoned'. After Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that the UK 'should be as difficult as possible' if it remained in the EU for a long period, the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt responded: 'For those in the EU who may be tempted to further extend the #Brexit saga, I can only say, be careful what you wish for.' Tory Brexiteer Mark Francois said Theresa May's letter to Donald Tusk was a 'mistake' and said: 'We should just leave the European Union because that's what 17.4 million people voted for'. Mr Francois also accused the Prime Minister of having 'completely ignored' her Cabinet - which he said was 'unconstitutional' - as he claimed 14 Cabinet ministers said the UK should leave next week with no deal. Eurosceptic Conservative MP John Redwood tweeted: 'No more delays. The government should just get on with leaving the EU on 12 April. Offer a free trade agreement and go. The talks with Mr Corbyn cannot result in an outcome that honours Brexit and pleases Leave voters.' EU sources have said they will reject Mrs May's June 30 Brexit date and tell her that a year-long deal is the only option. With No Deal now off the table she would be forced to accept it. But it also emerged Emmanuel Macron could break ranks with the EU and is still considering whether to dump Britain out of the EU unless it finds a 'credible plan'. French diplomatic source slammed as 'clumsy plans of a 'flexible extension' for Britain to leave the EU in the next year. Theresa May has written this letter to the EU for permission to delay Brexit again and also admitted the UK could take part in European elections Mrs May has asked for an Article 50 extension until June 30 - but Brussels are only going to offer a longer delay of a year Theresa May's cabinet is considering giving MPs a vote on holding a second referendum as the price of a deal with Jeremy Corbyn, it emerged today, but Mr Corbyn appears to be in no rush to find an agreement. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH BREXIT? WEDNESDAY APRIL 10: EU SUMMIT Another summit with EU leaders where May will ask for a new delay beyond April 12. May's new plan is to strike a cross-party consensus in London and persuade EU leaders it means the deal can be delivered in time for Brexit on May 22. She may have to accept a longer extension that means holding EU elections, as Brussels has made clear this is a red line - and will take a decision on delay without Britain and it must be unanimous. EU officials including Michel Barnier have warned that the risk of an accidental No Deal is increasing if May arrives with no plan. THURSDAY APRIL 11: PM'S FACES MPs Theresa May will return from Brussels with a likely nine to 12 month extension and will outline her plans in the the Commons in the wake of the EU summit. FRIDAY APRIL 12: BREXIT DAY Britain is due to leave the EU without a deal on this date if no delay is agreed. Advertisement He said today: 'We don't think the European elections are an issue one way or another. The more important thing is to get an agreement on our future relationship with Europe. If there are elections we will contest them'. Brexiteer Tory Marcus Fysh told MailOnline 'we don't need more time, we need the right approach' and suggested Tory grassroots members might refuse to help elect Conservative candidates if the UK took part in the European elections. He said: 'They [the EU] don't want an unhelpful and unhappy group in the European Parliament and local Conservative parties will not be working to get Conservatives elected under the circumstances. And ERG deputy chairman Steve Baker added: 'The PM could get us out with a deal if only she would secure changes to the backstop in line with the Brady amendment which she whipped for. If only the Government would abandon pursuit of a customs union in all but name, this crisis would end.' Theresa May's cabinet is considering giving MPs a vote on holding a second referendum as the price of a deal with Jeremy Corbyn, it emerged today. But ministers are considering quitting if Britain does not leave by May and backbench Brexiteers said today: 'The little bit of credibility she has left would be completely shattered' if she offered a new public poll. Talks between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn continue today with a customs union proposal looking the most likely compromise. But Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said today it's 'highly unlikely' that the party would support a cross-party deal with the Prime Minister if a second referendum was not included. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox last night warned that Britain would be stuck in the EU for at least another year unless the Government cuts a soft Brexit deal with the Labour leader. He said it was now the only way in which Britain was likely to leave the EU next month. Several Brexiteer ministers are pushing Mrs May to rule out a long delay, with a handful even urging her to take Britain out of the EU without a deal next Friday if Parliament continues to refuse to pass her plan. Mr Cox told the BBC that unless a deal can be cut with Labour the delay would be a 'long one... longer than just a few weeks or months'. Donald Tusk's suggestion of a year's 'flextension' to Brexit still has to be approved by EU leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron (pictured today in Paris), who have taken a far harder line with Britain in negotiations DUP leader Arlene Foster said the Prime Minister's request for an extension was 'unsurprising but unsatisfactory'. Theresa May begs EU to delay Brexit to June 30 Theresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk requesting an extension to Article 50 until June 30. The Prime Minister said she will seek to ratify her Withdrawal Agreement before the European Parliament elections on May 23, but will make 'responsible preparations' to take part if that does not prove possible. Britain is due to leave the European Union at the end of next week, but Mrs May is now seeking to delay Brexit for a second time after her deal was rejected for a third time last week. In her letter, she wrote: 'I am writing therefore to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty. 'The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early. 'The Government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible.' Mrs May said if ongoing talks with Labour do not lead to a 'single unified approach soon' then the Government would instead look to establish a 'consensus' on options on a future relationship that could be put to the Commons. She wrote: 'The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same.' Advertisement 'It should not have been like this,' she said. 'Exiting the EU has become chaotic because of intransigence in Brussels and ineffectiveness in London. 'The United Kingdom fighting European elections almost three years after a clear majority voted to leave the EU sums up the disorganised and slapdash approach taken to negotiations by the Prime Minister.' Mrs Foster said Mrs May should not be 'subcontracting the UK's future to Jeremy Corbyn' by going into talks with the Labour leader. She said: 'We want a sensible deal which protects the Union and respects the referendum result but it was foolish strategically in the negotiations to limit the UK's leverage by removing 'no deal' from the table. 'The Prime Minister should not waste any extension by subcontracting the UK's future to Jeremy Corbyn. This time should be used to get a better deal which works for every part of the United Kingdom so the entire nation can leave the European Union together.' Last night the delay had not been signed off by the Cabinet, which is deeply split over how long to ask for. The move came amid signs that ministers are closing in on a deal with Labour that is likely to involve some form of customs union and guarantees on workers' rights and environmental standards. After two days of intensive talks, officials were last night working on a formal letter to Labour setting out the broad scope of a possible deal. Sources played down reports that the package would include a second referendum although they pointed out there would be nothing to stop Parliament attempting to attach one to the deal. But both sides described talks, which will continue today, as constructive. One Tory source said: 'There has been a bit of capitulation on both sides. Everyone is looking to have something imposed on them get a deal done and blame the other side for the bits they don't like. It could all come crashing down, but at the moment it's in play.' Mrs May launched formal talks with Labour on Wednesday after MPs rejected her deal three times. The decision has prompted a furious Tory backlash, with Eurosceptic MPs threatening to go 'on strike' and up to 15 ministers saying they will quit if the deal includes a customs union. But in an interview with the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, Mr Cox said the Government had no choice but to agree a compromise if Britain was still to leave the EU. He warned that with Parliament now legislating to force the Government to seek a delay to avoid a No Deal Brexit next week, Mrs May 'would have little choice but to accept the extension that she's offered'. Asked if Mr Corbyn could become the midwife of Brexit, he replied: 'So be it. What matters is this is born.' Jeremy Corbyn leaves home today as Labour and the Tories enter threedays of intensive talks. No 10 officials are working on a formal letter to Labour setting out the broad scope of a possible deal The Cabinet is split over how long an extension to ask the EU for. At a seven-hour Cabinet showdown on Tuesday, up to 14 ministers voiced doubts about a long extension that would delay Brexit beyond the European Parliament elections on May 23. Tories could go on STRIKE to protest against May's courting of Corbyn - and are also plotting new vote to remove her from No 10 Tory MPs could go on 'vote strike' to protest against Theresa May's courting of Jeremy Corbyn as she seeks a soft Brexit compromise. The Prime Minister has ended her efforts to win over hardline Brexiteers and the DUP to support her deal - and called for a compromise with Labour instead. A second day of talks between senior ministers and Labour officials concluded at the Cabinet Office today amid hopes of a new cross-party deal in time for next week's EU summit. But even if she does pull off the political miracle of bringing Labour on board with a Brexit plan, scores of her MPs are ready to effectively end her ability to get other business through the Commons. One senior MP told MailOnline: 'There is talk of a vote strike. People are telling the whips that unless she goes, MPs won't vote. 'They won't get any Government business through - though they would vote, of course, in a confidence vote.' The Prime Minister fought and won a vote of no confidence in her party leadership in December - meaning she cannot be forced out by party rules. But demands are mounting for the party's backbench 1922 Committee to call another vote anyway. The theory is a new secret ballot would allow ministers to join a revolt and produce a landslide vote against Mrs May's leadership. Success would be yet another political humiliation piled onto the ailing Prime Minister and could force her out. Advertisement Just ten Cabinet ministers backed a long delay to give time to negotiate a new deal. Downing Street yesterday confirmed that preparations for the elections are likely to go ahead, but insisted the 100million exercise could be called off as late as the day before if the Government is able to get a Brexit deal through Parliament. Members of the 'Pizza Club' of pro-Brexit Tory MPs met on Wednesday night in the office of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom. In attendance were several Cabinet ministers including Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Hunt and Chris Grayling. One minister told the Daily Mail: 'Ministers were saying, 'It is miserable, but we need an alternative. We fear Brexit isn't going to happen in the next 18 months'.' Senior ministers clashed yesterday over whether the Government should contemplate agreeing a second referendum, which Mr Corbyn is under pressure from Labour activists to demand. Chancellor Philip Hammond described the idea as a 'perfectly credible option'. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'That's certainly not how I would describe it.' Mr Corbyn is under intense pressure from MPs and activists to demand a referendum as the price of any deal. But the Labour leader has indicated he believes a second vote is only needed to 'stop a damaging Tory Brexit or a No Deal'. Spartan chief Steve Baker told MailOnline: 'The Chancellor has come up with about the stupidest suggestion I could imagine. Look at the rage and despair created by asking Parliament to choose between Brexit in name only or no Brexit, and then imagine the public reaction. Is he trying to destroy all faith in democracy?'. There were reportedly talks on creating a 'devolution lock' that would give Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast a veto on any future changes to the UK-EU relationship, according to BuzzFeed News. Downing Street denied this as 'categorically untrue'. Tom Watson today heaped more pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to demand a second referendum from Theresa May as Labour's price for agreeing a Brexit deal. The party's deputy leader said that it's 'highly unlikely' members would support a cross-party agreement the Prime Minister if another public vote on leaving the EU was not included in some way. Tom Watson today heaped more pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to demand a second referendum from Theresa May as Labour's price for agreeing a Brexit deal. Labour is split over Brexit after Emily Thornberry contradicted her leader by also demanding a second referendum on any deal. But yesterday a group of 25 of his backbenchers wrote to Mr Corbyn warning against the inclusion of a second referendum in any compromise Brexit deal negotiated with the Government. The letter warned that a second referendum would be 'exploited by the far-Right, damage the trust of many core Labour voters and reduce our chances of winning a General Election'. Labour is meeting the government for a third day of talks on a possible solution to the impasse over Brexit, with May seeking a further delay while she seeks to find a deal that can get parliamentary support. Mr Watson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that negotiations are 'making progress', he said, and both sides are hoping for 'a creative solution' - which could include another referendum. He added: 'One of the solutions to break a parliamentary impasse is to ask the people to run their slide rule over Theresa May's deal. 'They can work out for themselves whether this deal works for them and their families.' Mr Watson revealed that Labour opened nominations on Thursday for candidates to stand in the European elections. What happens now May has asked for a new Brexit extension and the EU wants to keep us in for a YEAR? Theresa May and Donald Tusk's very different visions for the next Brexit delay set up an incredibly tense period for the Prime Minister both at home and abroad. Mrs May has said she will seek an extension to June 30 - a date already rejected once by EU leaders - at an emergency summit in Brussels. Her letter to the European Council president Mr Tusk came after he said that he wanted an extension to March 31 next year as 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis. But the decision will ultimately be made unanimously by the heads of state of the other 27 EU states, who overruled Mr Tusk last time round to offer the UK just two weeks until April 12 if no Brexit deal had been agreed. It means there is still a great deal of uncertainty over what extension - if any, the Brussels summit will come up with next week. Against this backdrop talks continue between Mrs May's top team and senior Labour figures over plans for a compromise Brexit deal that would allow the UK to leave as soon as possible. They will sit down again today in a bid to hammer out a deal acceptable to both parties. But the move had threatened to shatter both parties, with Tories aghast that Mrs May is negotiating with a hard Left leader and Labour MPs worried that Mr Corbyn, a long-term Brexiteer, might not seek a second referendum on any deal agreed. If they do agree a deal there is still time for a vote to be held in the Commons before the Brussels summit. If the talks come to nothing, Mrs May has indicated she would present MPs with her own version of 'indicative votes - options for Brexit that they get to vote on - which could also be held before the summit. But previous backbench-led votes like this have so far to win a majority, hence the current situation is a total mess. Last night peers were spared an all-night sitting over a controversial move to pass in one day a Bill extending the Brexit process in a bid to avoid a No Deal scenario. After seven hours of procedural wrangling on whether the European Union (Withdrawal) (No.5) Bill should be pushed through in just one sitting, a deal was reached to complete the second reading stage last night. But its detailed committee and report stages, and third reading, will be taken on Monday, sparing weary peers the prospect of votes through the night. Under the rebel law the Commons will set out demands for the length of the new Brexit. The Government says if the EU Council offers a different delay - whether in length or with conditions - the PM will not be able to agree it without a further vote in Parliament. If Parliament makes further demands instead of rubber stamping whatever comes from Brussels, there would need to be further talks among EU leader - effectively impossible when the second vote would be on April 11 and exit due the following day. What has Mrs May asked for? In her letter to Donald Tusk she formally requested an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 to June 30 - but she also wants a 'termination clause'. This would allow the UK to leave on May 22 - the day before European elections - if a deal can be pushed through the UK Parliament. However, this delay is a carbon copy of that sought by Mrs May before the last emergency summit in March - which was rejected. What has the EU said? Mr Tusk said that a 12-month 'flextension' to March 29 2020 is 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis and will urge leaders of the EU's 27 member states to back him later today. Such an extension is likely to spark fury among Tory Brexiteer MPs, with Jacob Rees-Mogg suggesting if we were kept in we should be troublesome to the rest of the EU, politically. And Mrs May has previously said she would not be able to accept such a delay - suggesting it could prompt her to resign. This could lead to a summer leadership battle in Tory ranks before a new, most likely Brexiteer leader, takes over. What is happening in the cross party talks? The Prime Minister has said the divorce deal could not be changed but announced on Tuesday she would seek a new consensus with Jeremy Corbyn on the political declaration about the final UK-EU agreement. Talks are taking place for a third day on Friday between ministers and officials from both parties, with previous efforts being hailed as 'constructive. If the talks fail, Mrs May has promised to put options to Parliament and agreed to be bound by the result. In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs. What does Mrs May's shift mean? It suggests Mrs May has abandoned all hope of winning over remaining Tory Brexiteers and the DUP on the terms of her current deal. Striking a cross-party deal on the future relationship will require Mrs May to abandon many of her red lines - including potentially on free movement and striking trade deals. To get an agreement with Labour, Mrs May will need to agree the political declaration should spell out a much softer Brexit than her current plans do. This might mean a permanent UK-EU customs union or even staying in the EU Single Market. What if Mr Corbyn says No? Mrs May said if she cannot cut a deal with Corbyn, she would ask Parliament to come up with options - and promised to follow orders from MPs. In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs. They would probably pass if the Tories whipped for them - but it would almost certainly mean ministers quitting the Government. Can either option be completed before the PM goes to Brussels? Yes there is still technically time. The Government would have to table a motion the night before any such vote was due to be held. MPs would then have time the following day to debate what was on offer - and possibly suggest their own changes - before it is put to a vote, probably in the evening. In practice, talks with Mr Corbyn and his team must have concluded by Monday at the very latest to give time for MPs to have their say if she is to make demand to the EU ahead of next week's summit. When will Brexit be? It is hard to say - but it is unlikely to be next week on April 12. Mrs May has asked for an extension to June 30. Donald Tusk has suggested a year. There are EU leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron who have played Bad Cop and said they want us gone quickly. But others, including Germany's Angela Merkel, has been more conciliatory, suggesting yesterday she would show more flexibility to get a deal. The PM clearly still wants to get out of the EU before European Parliament elections have to be held on May 22 but this is ultimately up to Brussels. Will the EU agree to this? It is hard to say. The EU has said it is open to further extension if there is a clear purpose and plan. Open ended talks on the future framework are unlikely to qualify. A clear, negotiable goal for the future framework probably would do. The EU has always said it is open to Britain staying in the Single Market and Customs Union. Will May resign? Nodbody knows for sure. Last week, Mrs May announced she would go if and when her divorce deal passed so a new Tory leader could take charge of the trade talks phase. In practice, it drained Mrs May of all remaining political capital. Most in Westminster think her Premiership is over within weeks at the latest. As her deal folded for a third time last Friday, she faced immediate calls from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn so stand down with instant effect. What is clear is there is already a fight underway for the Tory leadership. Does is all mean there will be an election? Probably, at some point though the immediate chances have fallen because of the latest events. The Commons is deadlocked and the Government has no functional majority. While the Fixed Term Parliaments Act means the Government can stumble on, it will become increasingly powerless. Mrs May could try to call one herself or, assuming she stands down, her successor could do so. Would May lead the Tories into an early election? Unlikely. Having admitted to her party she would go if the deal passes, Mrs May's political career is doomed. While there is no procedural way to remove her, a withdrawal of political support from the Cabinet or Tory HQ would probably finish her even if she wanted to stay. How is an election called? When would it be? Because of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act passed by the coalition, the Prime Minister can no longer simply ask the Queen to dissolve the Commons and call an election. There are two procedures instead. First - and this is what happened in 2017 - the Government can table a motion in the Commons calling for an early election. Crucially, this can only pass with a two-thirds majority of MPs - meaning either of the main parties can block it. Second an election is called if the Government loses a vote of no confidence and no new administration can be built within 14 days. In practice, this is can only happen if Tory rebels vote with Mr Corbyn - a move that would end the career of any Conservative MP who took the step. An election takes a bare minimum of five weeks from start to finish and it would take a week or two to get to the shut down of Parliament, known as dissolution - putting the earliest possible polling day around mid to late May. If the Tories hold a leadership election first it probably pushes any election out to late June at the earliest. Why do people say there has to be an election? The question of whether to call an election finally reached the Cabinet last week. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned the rejection of Mrs May's deal would set in train a series of events that will lead to a softer Brexit - meaning an election because so many MPs will have to break manifesto promises. MPs voting to seize control of Brexit from ministers has only fuelled the demands. Labour has been calling for a new vote for months, insisting the Government has failed to deliver Brexit. Mr Corbyn called a vote of no confidence in the Government in January insisting the failure of the first meaningful vote showed Mrs May's administration was doomed. He lost but the calls did not go away. Brexiteers have joined the demands in recent days as Parliament wrestles with Brexit and amid fears among hardliners promises made by both main parties at the last election will be broken - specifically on leaving the Customs Union and Single Market. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen wants Mrs May replaced with a Brexiteer. He believes it would push Remain Tories out of the party and then allow a snap election with more Eurosceptic candidates wearing blue rosettes. What might happen? Both main parties will have to write a manifesto - including a position on Brexit. Both parties are deeply split - in many cases between individual MPs and their local activists. Under Mrs May, the Tories presumably try to start with the deal. But it is loathed by dozens of current Tory MPs who want a harder Brexit and hated even more by grassroots Tory members. Shifting Tory policy on Brexit to the right would alienate the majority of current MPs who voted to Remain. Labour has similar splits. Many of Labour's MPs and activists want Mr Corbyn to commit to putting Brexit to a second referendum - most with a view to cancelling it. Mr Corbyn is a veteran Eurosceptic and millions of people who voted Leave in 2016 backed Labour in 2017. The splits set the stage for a bitter and chaotic election. The outcome is highly unpredictable - the Tories start in front but are probably more divided on the main question facing the country. Labour is behind but knows it made dramatic gains in the polls in the last election with its promises of vastly higher public spending. Neither side can forecast what impact new political forces might wield over the election or how any public anger over the Brexit stalemate could play out. It could swing the result in favour of one of the main parties or a new force. Or an election campaign that takes months, costs millions of pounds could still end up in a hung Parliament and continued stalemate. This is the current forecast by polling expert Sir John Curtice. Labour holds on to safe seat of Newport West in by-election but UKIP support TRIPLES as 'angry' voters shun Corbyn's party and the Tories amid Brexit chaos Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn hugs new MP Ruth Jones at the Pill Millennium Centre, Newport, after she won the Newport West by-election last night Labour has held the Newport West by-election but Brexit anger pushed up UKIP's vote share up a third. But support for Jeremy Corbyn's party and the Tories plunged amid the ongoing chaos in Westminster over Britain's stuttering exit from the EU. Labour's Ruth Jones took the Commons seat with 39.6 per cent of the vote, but that was down 12.7 per cent on the result of the veteran MP Paul Flynn who died in February. But there was an increase in support for UKIP, whose candidate Neil Hamilton trebled its share of the vote when compared to the 2017 election - up from from 2.5 per cent to 8.6 per cent. The Tories came second with 31.3 per cent of the vote - down eight per cent in two years - but overall there was a 2.4 per cent swing from Labour to the Conservatives. Mrs Jones had been the clear favourite to succeed Mr Flynn, who held the Newport West seat for 32 years, winning with a majority of 5,658 and more than half the vote in 2017. Jones took 9,308 votes, giving her a majority of 1,951 over the Tory candidate Matthew Evans. UKIP's Neil Hamilton took third place with 2,023 votes as the party saw support increase. The city has long been a Labour stronghold and voted Leave by a margin of 56 per cent to 44 per cent in the 2016 in-out referendum. Voter turnout was 37.1 per cent, down from 67.5 per cent in the 2017 general election, with parties blaming poor weather including rain and hail on Thursday. Advertisement Attorney General defends inviting Jeremy Corbyn into Brexit talks saying 'we must use any lawful means' to ensure UK leaves the EU Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has defended inviting Jeremy Corbyn to Brexit talks, saying 'we must use any lawful means' to ensure the UK leaves the EU. Mr Cox said that if Government discussions with Labour fail to deliver an agreement the UK faced a long extension to Article 50. The Attorney General suggested that in such circumstances Prime Minister Theresa May would have little choice but to accept what the EU offered her. Welcoming the cross-party talks, Mr Cox told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast: 'I say we must use any means to secure the ends, any lawful means. 'We are assisting at the birth of something new. Births are not always easy and we must take the necessary steps to achieve our departure.' Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, pictured yesterday, has defended inviting Jeremy Corbyn to Brexit talks, saying 'we must use any lawful means' to ensure the UK leaves the EU Asked if that meant Mr Corbyn would be the midwife, the Attorney General replied: 'So be it. What matters is this is born.' The Attorney General said failure to reach agreement with Labour would have repercussions. Mr Cox said: 'The problem, then, would be that we would be in an extension. It's likely to be a long one, by which I mean longer than just a few weeks or months.' He added: 'We will no doubt be offered an extension with a date on it and the Prime Minister will be required to accept or reject it.' Mr Cox said the backbench Bill brought forward by Labour's Yvette Cooper and others, which forces the Government to seek an extension if no deal has been agreed by April 12, would leave the PM with little room to manoeuvre. Referring to the Bill's impact on a no deal option, the Attorney General said: 'It rules it out... the Prime Minister would have little choice but to accept the extension that she's offered.' Mr Cox was cool on the prospect of another Brexit referendum. He said: 'I think a good deal of persuasion might be needed to satisfy the Government that a second referendum would be appropriate. But of course we will consider any suggestion that's made.' The Attorney General said Mr Corbyn was not fit to be PM. He said: 'The opposition is simply not fit to govern. The leader of the opposition is simply not fit to be Prime Minister of this country. 'It is vital that the Conservative Party sustains itself in office and sustains its unity.' Nigerian child brides as young as ten are being advertised on Facebook and then sold to pay off their parents' debts - it has been claimed. Young girls in the Becheve community, a group of 17 villages in Obanliku, Nigeria, are also regularly exchanged for food, livestock or cash, according to the Daily Beast. The girls, who are referred to as 'money women' or 'money wives' are often advertised on Facebook and sometimes sold to men 'old enough to be their grandfathers'. Men from a Becheve village travelling to another settlement with goods to pay for a child bride One girl, Monica, told the Daily Beast how she and her sister were sold without their consent to clear a debt their father owed to a distant relative. Monica said she and her sister got married a month apart to men they had never met and who were far older than them. 'My father knew nothing about Facebook until my elder brother bought him a smartphone and convinced him to join Facebook and post our photographs whenever he likes,' Monica said. 'He'll buy new clothes and force me and my sisters to put them on before taking photographs of us.' 'It is young people who convince old men to look for wives on Facebook,' said Monica, who ran away from her husband to live with a friend less than a year after she got married. A 'Money Wife' breaks down in tears when speaking about her experience of being sold by her family 'The man I married said his oldest son showed him my photo on Facebook and directed him to my father.' Usually in the Becheve community, parents of the money brides take the girls to men who can afford to pay for their daughters But in recent months, families who are so desperate to give their children away for money turn to Facebook so their kinsmen can check them out. 'The practice is meant to boost the status of the men in Becheve community,' Magnus Ejikang, a local chief in Ogbakoko, told The Daily Beast. 'The more brides you have, the more respect you gain in the community.' A Facebook Spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Any form of human trafficking - whether posts, pages, ads or groups - is not allowed on Facebook and we remove this content whenever we identify it. 'We're always improving the methods we use to identify content that breaks our policies, including doubling our safety and security team to more than 30,000 and investing in technology.' A jury has been unable to reach a verdict in the case of a West Australian farmer accused of murdering his wife by crashing her car into a tree then burning her alive in a staged accident. Gregory Paul Johnston stood trial in the WA Supreme Court accused of killing 56-year-old Susi Elizabeth Johnston at their Borden farm in 2008. The jury began deliberating on Tuesday but by Friday afternoon said they could not reach a unanimous verdict, so they were discharged. Justice Robert Mitchell told family members in the public gallery he understood their disappointment. Gregory Paul Johnston was on trial for the murder of his wife, Susi Elizabeth Johnston (pictured) at their Boden, WA farm in 2008 He said it would be up to the director of public prosecutions to determine whether a retrial would be pursued. Mr Johnston was granted bail ahead of a status conference on April 18. The court heard during the trial that Mr Johnston repeatedly lied to police before he was finally charged a decade later. Prosecutor Justin Whalley said Mr Johnston was the victim's sole financial beneficiary and also mistakenly believed she had taken out a life insurance policy days before her death. Mr Johnston escaped the blaze that killed his wife, unscathed, without even soot or smoke straining his clothes. Johnston was accused of murdering his wife by crashing her car (pictured) into a tree, then burning her alive in a staged accident In explaining how the accident happened, he first told police he had blacked out while driving, then that he was distracted, before finally stating that his wife had steered herself into the tree. Mr Johnston had been unfaithful and days after his wife's death transferred $15,000 into the bank account of a woman he had met online, then married her nine months later, the court heard. But defence counsel Linda Black noted the lack of direct evidence in the circumstantial case, including any proof the fire was deliberately lit. She admitted Mr Johnston cheated on his wife and lied to police, but insisted he was not a killer. Gregory Paul Johnston (pictured leaving court in Perth with family members on Friday) may face a re-trial. The decision is up to the WA director of public prosecutions During the trial Johnston's daughters both took the stand to defend their father, saying he had never been angry of violent, and had been left 'broken' by Susi Johnston's death. Both admitted their father's story had changed over the years, but they still considered him gentle, generous and genial, PerthNow reported. Defence council, Ms Black, also presented a theory that Ms Johnston wanted to kill herself, which was backed up by Mr Johnston's daughter, Felicity. Martin Kovac, 44, was jailed for two years and ten months for letting his Slovakian partner enter a sham marriage with a man she needed Google Translate to understand A dad who allowed his partner to marry an Indian groom who she sometimes needed Google Translate to understand has been jailed for two years and 10 months, after being on the run for two years. Martin Kovac, 44, from Wolverhampton, allowed his Slovakian partner Marcela Banamova to marry Lovepreet Singh in a bogus ceremony at Stockton's Register Office, though neither of them could speak fluent english. He fled England in 2016 through the Eurotunnel, three months before his November trial for breaking immigration law, and had been living in Europe ever since. A registrar became suspicious of the supposed happy couple after believing the pair gave rehearsed interviews, and raised her concerns with the Home Office. But both Kovac and Banamova failed to show up to their trials and warrants were issued. Despite the no-shows, the trial went ahead and both were sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Teesside Crown Court. Singh, 24 at the time, who did come to the trial, was jailed for two and a half years. And it wasnt until December 19 last year that Kovac was finally tracked down and arrested on a European arrest warrant. Marcela Banamova, who had already married Kovac, was wed to Lovepreet Singh in a ceremony at Stockton's Register Office The marriage was reported to the Home Office by a registrar after she became concerned that the couple had rehearsed their interviews He was soon locked up in Germany and was moved back to Britain last month. Appearing at Teesside Crown Court via video link from Durham Prison on Wednesday, Kovac was once again sentenced to two and a half years prison, this time with an added four months. Prosecutor, Paul Cleasby, said Kovac, of Burleigh Road, Wolverhampton, fled Britain on August 20, 2016 despite being 'well aware of the proceedings, having been served a notice'. 'He took the Eurotunnel to France and remained wanted until a UK warrant was executed on December 19. 'He remained in custody with German authorities until he was brought back to the UK on March 21.' Mr Cleasby added that it was a 'serious attempt to evade justice'. Banamova was arrested on March 23, and remains in custody in Germany. Banamova married Singh at Stockton's register office (pictured) in a sham marriage Kovac was sentenced to two years and ten months in jail at Teesside Crown Court after spending two years on the run. He was previously sentenced in his absence to two and a half years In mitigation, the court was told that Kovac maintained that 'prior to his trial there was significant pressure put on him and his wife. 'The threats were such that he left the country. Hes very stupid for that.' It was said that Kovac, who has previous convictions for theft, battery and criminal damage, has 'suffered' due to being on the run for a 'significant period of time' and that his children are currently in care. Judge Stephen Ashurst said that Kovacs two and a half year sentence has 'effectively been in abeyance' and 'will have to take effect.' He told him that there would be a 'similar outcome' for Banamova when she is returned to the UK. He said: 'You were party to a dishonest scam in which you allowed your own wife to go into a bogus marriage at Stockton Registry Office to a man who didnt even share a common language. 'The purpose was to evade immigration in respect of Lovepreet Singh. 'There was strong circumstantial evidence in that you knew what was going on and financial documents related to this marriage were discovered at your home address that you shared with your children in the West Midlands.' Although the judge referred to Banamova as his wife, the pair were not married when the sham marriage took place in 2012. A financial incentive was offered to both Kovac and Banamova to carry out the sham marriage. Singh was jailed in 2016 after he was convicted for breaking immigration law with the April 2012 marriage. His visa had expired a year before the wedding but he stayed in the UK living in Jarrow, Tyneside. Dave Magrath, the Deputy Director of Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation, welcomed the outcome of the lengthy case. 'Kovac was prepared to abuse our immigration laws purely for financial gain', he said. 'The 30 months handed to him in his absence in 2016 shows that this type of offence is taken seriously by the courts. 'My officers have worked hard to ensure that he did not escape justice and thanks to their efforts he is now serving that jail time.' Officials at a province in east China are considering a plan to use the country's social credit system to punish people who frequently switch jobs. The proposal, which aims to regulate stable employment, was revealed during a forum among Zhejiang province officials and representatives of companies in Ningbo city last Saturday. 'If an individual is frequently resigning and getting employed, then surely there is a problem with his credibility,' said Ge Pingan, deputy director of Zhejiang's provincial department of human resources and social security. China's has been building a social credit system that rates citizens based on their daily behaviour. Graduates look for employment during a job fair at Zhejiang University of Technology in Hangzhou city. Officials in Zhejiang are considering a plan to use the country's social credit system to punish people who frequently switch jobs With a tagline of 'once discredited, everywhere restricted', the system vows to punish 'untrustworthy' citizens in as many ways as possible. According to Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation's televised report of the meeting, a human resources manager from Yinyi, an industrial, trade and real estate company, complained to officials about high resignation rates. She said that companies would have to compensate employees if they want to terminate contracts, but when employees want to quit, there isn't anything they could do. Responding to her queries, Ge said that the government will put measures in place to address the issue. An official said the Zhejiang government plans to put measures in place to stabilise employment. The news sparked a fierce backlash from net users on social media 'We will implement the social credit system on both companies and individuals,' he said. According to the report, Ningbo's human resources and social security department has a 'smart centre' that holds information of about 10 million people based on their social security cards. The news sparked a fierce backlash from net users, who said the plan could constitute a violation of human rights. A topic page on Chinese microblogging site Weibo titled 'Zhejiang intends to use social credit system to limit frequent resignations' has been viewed 100 million times. 'Shouldn't companies that drive employees to quit get penalised as well?' one top comment read. 'How do you define "frequent" resignations? Who defines it? Does this mean employees who are being treated unfairly in companies are not allowed to quit?' another person questioned. 'I completely disagree with the move. Why can't a person leave a company if they aren't happy there? Sometimes, a person resigning could be beneficial to both the employee and the firm,' one user said. Recruiters hold up job advertisements for migrant labour at a job market in Yiwu, Zhejiang. In a commentary, Beijing News disapproved of the plan, saying that the collection of personal information must not invade employees' privacy and companies' commercial secrets In a commentary, state-owned newspaper Beijing News disapproved of the plan, saying that the collection of personal information must not invade employees' privacy and companies' commercial secrets. 'The government must not take sides - the plan must take into account the rights of both companies and employees,' the newspaper said. In a follow-up report by Southern Metropolis Daily, a representative of the department clarified that 'normal resignations' would not affect a person's social credit. 'The system will only target malicious and frequent behaviour,' spokesperson Tong Weihong said, adding that the government would further study the plan according to public feedback and fairly weigh the interests of enterprises and individuals. In the last year alone, nearly 3.6 million individuals were deemed 'untrustworthy' by the China's social credit watchdog. Discredited individuals in China have been barred from taking a total of 17.5 million flights and 5.5 million high-speed train trips as of the end of 2018, according to official data (file photo) This group of 3.6 million 'discredited individuals', who earned poor ratings mostly for refusing to pay their debts, are disqualified from spending on 'luxuries' including renting a flat, travelling on a plane or on a fast train in China (file photo) These discredited individuals have been barred from taking a total of 17.5 million flights and 5.5 million high-speed train trips as of the end of 2018, according to a report by the National Public Credit Information Centre. More than 12,900 individuals and companies have been banned from carrying out various forms of financial trading and 128 people who owe taxes have been prohibited from leaving the country. China plans to complete the national social credit system by 2020 after the State Council unveiled the plan in 2014. Train passengers could face travel bans if they endanger railway safety, smoke on high-speed trains, sell on tickets, produce fake tickets, dodge tickets and occupy unassigned seats, according to People's Daily. Air passengers could be banned from future flights for behaviours including spreading rumours about terror attacks, breaking into runways, assaulting the crew and causing disruption on flights. A crafty schoolgirl's attempt to enjoy a 'sick day' backfired after she tried to draw chickenpox spots on her body but ended up covered in red blotches for four days. Mother-of-two Charlotte Schooley, 34, said six-year-old daughter Lily had noticed some of her friends were absent due to the illness and hatched her own plan to get out of a spelling test. The youngster borrowed a red permanent Sharpie pen to 'do her homework' and then ran downstairs 10 minutes later claiming she had a rash. Mrs Schooley said she and husband David immediately saw through the trick and had to stifle laughter as they threatened to take Lily to the doctor, causing her to quickly try to scrub the spots off. Lily Schooley, six, left, tried to get out of a spelling test at school by faking chickenpox using a red marker pen to draw spots all over herself, right The youngster, pictured with mother Charlotte, 34, and father David, was inspired after schoolfriends caught the illness but her parents saw through the trick straight away But they would not wipe off even after using body wash, soap, baby oil and hairspray. Lily returned to school the next day and had to do PE, revealing the spots to her classmates who had to be convinced that she was not contagious. Lily got the idea for the spots from a YouTube video, according to her mother Mrs Schooley, from Saint Austell, Cornwall, said: 'The house is always full of laughter with Lily. She is very witty. 'She had a spelling test the next day that she didn't want to do. 'A few of the children in school had come down with chicken pox and she's had it before so she know she stayed off school for a while. 'She came down and said "I just need a red pen Mummy, I need to do my homework". 'Then she came down 10 minutes later and she was stroking her arm. She said 'Oh mummy, I'm feeling a bit itchy. I've think I've got a rash'. 'We turned the light on and she was absolutely covered in it. 'Me and my husband were aching with laughter, trying not to let on that we knew. The plan backfired when Lily's 'spots', left, would not was off despite her mother using a variety of cleaning products and the six-year-old, right, had to go back to school and explain to her friends and teachers what happened Mrs Schooley, pictured with Lily, centre, and older daughter Emily, 15, said the trickster immediately regretted the stunt when she was unable to get rid of the spots 'I asked what the matter was and she said 'I think I've got chicken pox, I can't go to school'. WHAT IS CHICKENPOX REALLY LIKE? For most children, chickenpox - which causes a red itchy spots that crust over to form scabs - is a mild illness that gets better on its own. But one in 100 chickenpox patients suffer complications from the virus. Around 95 per cent of children catch chickenpox before the age of 16, and for most it's a mild illness leading to itching, blisters and sometimes a high temperature. It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is highly contagious, usually lasting a week to ten days. In an estimated one per cent of cases, though, serious complications can develop such as pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), sepsis and inflammation of the heart - all usually down to impaired immunity. Doctors advise parents to contact a GP straight away if your child develops any abnormal symptoms, such as: the blisters on their skin become infected they have a pain in their chest or difficulty breathing Advertisement 'She'd been sat on the bathroom floor drawing dots on herself.' Mrs Schooley added: 'She [Lily] was deadly serious about it until we said 'oh gosh, it's come on so quickly in 10 minutes. We're going to have to see the doctor'. 'She quickly disappeared and we went upstairs to find her trying to rub them off with a flannel. 'She said "I can't go to school Mummy because everyone will laugh". 'We had to send her in with a letter the next day to say they weren't contagious or real and we just couldn't get them off. 'We used body wash, soap, hot water, baby oil, alcohol wipes. I think it was hairspray in the end that got it off - after four days. 'Everyone was looking at her like she was contagious. We had to tell everyone she wasn't. 'She had PE that day as well and had to wear shorts and t-shirts. The teachers thought it was hilarious. 'Luckily this happened on a Thursday night so she only had one day [in school with the spots].' Mrs Schooley believes her daughter had taken inspiration from a light-hearted video on YouTube. She said: 'She watches a lot of YouTube and she'd apparently watched a video called "10 Ways to Get Out of School" - so there'll be another nine to come. 'She's always dressing up the cat and pushing her around in pushchairs.' Jeremy Hunt has been pictured attending a G7 meeting in France alongside celebrity lawyer Amal Clooney as Theresa May continues her frenetic Brexit negotiations. The Foreign Secretary was pictured in the port of Dinard on the northern coast of France on Friday alongside Mrs Clooney as they attended a meeting of the G7 foreign ministers. It comes as Theresa May penned a letter to the EU this morning requesting a further extension of the Brexit deadline from April 12 to June 30. Ms Clooney, 41, will join Mr Hunt today at the meeting of foreign ministers from Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and the US. Scroll down for video Jeremy Hunt walking alongside human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in the French port of Dinard on Friday Reports suggested Mr Hunt has appointed Amal Clooney as a 'media freedom ambassador' during the visit While in France, Mr Hunt appointed Amal Clooney as a 'media freedom ambassador' to fight for free speech, according to the Sun. Mrs Clooney, who is famously married to Hollywood star George Clooney, has won praise for work to free imprisoned journalists around the world. Mr Hunt has set goals to make media freedom a top priority in the coming year. Writing in the Sun, the foreign secretary said: 'Together we will work to ensure the legal protections available for journalists are maintained, and the global spread of laws against hate speech and fake news do not unintentionally harm the work of the media. 'I will do everything possible to help journalists to work in safety.' As part of his plans to tackle press freedom, Mr Hunt also announced plans for an international conference to promote safety for journalists. Britain and Canada will co-host the first edition of the conference in London in July this year. Theresa May has asked lead EU negotiator Donald Tusk for a short extension until June 30, but looks set to be rebuffed It comes as Theresa May's cabinet nears open revolt over her talks with Jeremy Corbyn to reach a Brexit compromise. Several of the Prime Minister's inner circle are said to be voicing their discontent over Labour demands to offer to hold a second referendum on the final deal. Mrs May's request for a short extension, meanwhile, looks set to be rebuffed by Brussels - with reports suggesting Donald Tusk has said that a 12-month 'flextension' offer is 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis. Before the meeting on Friday, Hunt said he would call on his European counterparts to support his government's request for a further delay to Britain's exit from the EU, scheduled to take place in a week unless EU countries agree an extension. Prime Minister Theresa May has been unable to pass her withdrawal agreement in parliament. Hunt said the G7 was proof Britain was not pulling back from a leading international role. 'The UK's involvement in the G7 is vital for our collective security and prosperity as we seek to protect the rules-based international system,' he said. 'Be in no doubt that once Brexit has happened, the UK will remain a global power.' Along with the United States, France and Britain, the group includes Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada and the European Union. The ministerial meeting is meant to ensure that when the leaders convene in Biarritz in August, they are largely in agreement. Jeremy Hunt greets a French diplomat after arriving on the runway in Dinard, France for the conference Edward Brooks (pictured) was jailed for 23 months after pleading guilty to downloading hundreds more indecent images of children A paedophile who stored two million child abuse images and avoided jail as a judge slammed sentencing guidelines has finally been caged - after he was found with more. Edward Brooks, 52, was jailed for 23 months after pleading guilty to downloading hundreds more indecent images of children while on a suspended sentence. In 2017 Brooks, of Minehead, Somerset, appeared in court after officers uncovered a hoard of over two million child abuse images and videos hidden on hard drives in a cavity wall. The stash, found in 2016, had been downloaded over a 10 year period and mainly featured young girls. While he was on bail awaiting trial Brooks downloaded a further 2,231 sexual photos and videos of girls aged between eight and 16. He was spared jail as a judge, who slammed sentencing guidelines which he said meant he had to choose between jailing the self-confessed child abuse 'addict' and rehabilitating him. Now his addiction saw him back in Taunton Crown Court on Monday, as he was charged with making another 637 indecent photographs of children between February and March 2018. At his 2017 court appearance, Brooks' defence lawyer said: 'He accepts that he needs help. He wants help so he can - in his own words - sort his head out.' 'The only thing keeping him going is his daughter. He wants to see her grow up.' Brooks' addiction saw him back in Taunton Crown Court (pictured) on Monday, as he was charged with making another 637 indecent photographs of children between February and March 2018 Judge David Ticehurt said he wanted to jail Brooks and put him on a rehabilitation programme after release - but implied that he couldn't do both. Speaking at the time, Judge Ticehurst said of the two-year jail term he could impose: 'I wish I could make it longer. 'The fact is you'd serve only half of that sentence, less the time you've already served and the credit for your guilty plea. 'You'd spend a few months behind bars and come out and offend again, no doubt. That is not in the public interest. What I want to do is stop you.' The judge imposed a two-year custodial sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to take part in the Thames Valley Sex Offender Programme. But Brooks has continued to offend. Judge Paul Cook sentenced Brooks, of Minehead in Somerset, to 23 months behind bars- 4 months for his latest offence and the 19 month suspended sentence from his last conviction. Speaking after Monday's verdict an NSPCC spokesperson said: 'Behind Edward Brooks' sickening collection of images and videos are countless children that will have suffered harrowing, traumatic and life changing abuse. 'He has rightly been sent to prison from where he must be made to undertake an intensive programme of rehabilitation. 'The scale of Brooks' offending also highlights how big this twisted industry has become and the necessity for the authorities and the tech companies to work in unison to disrupt and ultimately destroy the networks that make and share this terrible content.' A desperate search is under way for a 33-year-old woman who hasn't been seen by friends and family for six days. Jackie Kennedy was last seen at a Mistral Crescent address in Griffin in Brisbane's north after midnight on Saturday. She is described as Papua New Guinean, is approximately 160cm tall, of a slim build with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Ms Kennedy was last seen wearing a black top and black tracksuit pants. Jackie Kennedy (pictured) is described as Papua New Guinean, is approximately 160cm tall, of a slim build with dark brown hair and brown eyes Police say Ms Kennedy's behaviour is out of character and hold concerns for her welfare. The 33-year-old was reported missing to police on Tuesday. Anyone with information about her location is urged to contact police. Democratic 2020 hopeful Beto O'Rourke launched a stinging attack on Donald Trump yesterday in which he compared the President's administration to Nazi Germany. In an explosive intervention, the former congressman accused the White House's immigration rhetoric of being strikingly similar to the language used during Hitler's Third Reich. The Texan, who narrowly lost the state's tight Senate race, hit out at the President's labeling of migrants as 'animals and an infestation'. Democratic 2020 hopeful Beto O'Rourke launched a stinging attack on Donald Trump yesterday in Iowa where he compared the President's administration to Nazi Germany Speaking in Iowa, where he will fight his first caucus in February next year, Mr O'Rourke said: 'Putting kids in cages, saying that Neonazis and Klansmen and white supremacists are "very fine people"?' 'Now, I might expect someone to describe another human being as an infestation in the Third Reich. 'I would not expect that in the United States of America.' He added: 'Seeking to ban all Muslims, all people of one religion, what other country on the face of the planet does that kind of thing? 'Or in our human history? Or in the history of the western world? Because they are somehow deficient or violent or a threat to us?' President Donald Trump came under fire for his language on immigration which Mr O'Rourke claimed likened migrants to 'animals and an infestation' Mr O'Rourke said: ' I might expect someone to describe another human being as an infestation in the Third Reich' (Hitler pictured at the regime's 10th anniversary) Mr O'Rourke moved to increase the war of words against the President ahead of next year's General Election which Mr Trump has declared he will stand in once again. And the man vying to be the Democrats' candidate, whose campaign recently declared to have already raised $9.4million, hit out at the language coming out of the Oval Office. Mr O'Rourke said that Democrats need to call out 'the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals but as animals and an infestation.' The 46-year-old announced his Presidential bid on March 14 following widespread speculation of his candidacy after an energetic but unsuccessful Senate race. Mr O'Rourke moved to increase the war of words against the President ahead of next year's General Election which Mr Trump has declared he will stand in once again Saudi Arabia has arrested eight people, including two dual U.S.-Saudi citizens, in a new round of arrests targeting women's rights backers, witnesses say. They are the first wave of arrests of perceived critics of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. The arrested individuals, nearly all of whom were detained on Thursday, are not seen as front-line activists. They are writers and advocates who quietly supported greater social reforms and most had ties to a group currently on trial for flouting the driving ban before it was lifted last year. Aziza al-Yousef drives a car on a highway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of a campaign to defy Saudi Arabia's then ban on women driving Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month Those detained include a pregnant woman and seven men, among them two U.S.-Saudi nationals: Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, whose mother is prominent women's rights activist Aziza al-Yousef who was recently temporarily released from prison. Al-Haidar has a family home in Vienna, Virginia, and lives with his wife and child in Saudi Arabia. A third U.S.-Saudi national, Walid al-Fitaihi, remains imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since late 2017, when the crown prince detained more than 100 businessmen, princes and officials in a purported anti-corruption sweep. Al-Fitaihi, whose family alleges that he's been tortured in prison, worked as a physician in the Boston area before he returned in 2006 to his native Saudi Arabia, where he helped found a hospital built by his family. Nearly all of those detained Thursday were taken from their homes in the capital, Riyadh. One individual was arrested in the eastern city of Dammam, according to the person with knowledge of the arrests, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The individuals were not active politically on Twitter and were not widely quoted in foreign media. The group loosely had ties to one another, some as friends and others through intellectual circles, including with Saudi activists living abroad. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October last year Those arrested include: Khadijah al-Harbi, a feminist writer who is pregnant; her husband Thumar al-Marzouqi, also a writer; Mohammed al-Sadiq and Abdullah al-Dehailan, both writers; and Fahad Abalkhail, an activist who supported the right of women to drive. Anas al-Mazroui, a lecturer at King Saud university was believed to have been detained last month. He was not known to be actively involved in human rights work and appears to have been detained shortly after he merely mentioned the names of some of the detained women's rights activists during a panel discussion about human rights at a book fair in Saudi Arabia. The person with knowledge of their arrests said the group is among 13 people placed under travel bans since February. Meanwhile, the siblings of Loujain al-Hathloul, a female activist detained since May, stated on Twitter this week that they are being pressured to remain silent about her arrest and her claims of torture. The siblings live outside Saudi Arabia, but their father who resides in Saudi Arabia was previously briefly detained after tweeting about his daughter's imprisonment. Loujain al-Hathloul - who was arrested in 2014 - driving driving towards the United Arab Emirates Al-Hathloul and Aziza al-Yousef are among nearly a dozen women on trial for charges related to their activism. These included campaigning for the right to drive before the ban was lifted last year and calling for an end to guardianship laws that give men final say over a woman's right to marry or travel abroad. Al-Yousef, a grandmother and former university professor, was released from prison last week along with two other women. Al-Hathloul and at least 10 other women activists remain imprisoned. The women - some of whom have been held in solitary confinement for months - have told the court they were abused during interrogations, including being waterboarded, caned, electrocuted, sexually assaulted and threatened with rape and death. A Chicago attorney has called for a special prosecutor to investigate whether Jussie Smollett should be re-charged with staging an attack on himself and if the city's top prosecutor interfered with the case. Saani Mohammed filed a petition asking for the investigation into Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx's actions over the decision to drop the 16 felony charges against the Empire actor. According to court documents, Mohammed, who until recently worked in Foxx's office, wrote that a prosecutor should investigate if Foxx 'acted to impede the investigation concealed evidence, and/or intentionally misled the public'. Foxx also improperly 'used her position to intervene in the investigation', after meeting with one of Smollett's relatives before the charges were dropped, the filing states, according to the Chicago Tribune. Chicago police union chiefs have also demanded the resignation of Foxx over her office's handling of the case. Police chiefs associations announced they passed a 'no confidence' vote against Foxx during a joint news conference yesterday afternoon. Police chiefs have called for the resignation of Kimberly Foxx Cook County State's Attorney after 16 felony counts were dropped against actor Jussie Smollett Jussie Smollett was ordered to pay the city of Chicago $130,106.15 to cover the costs of the investigation into his alleged racist and homophobic attack Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the vote was about more than just the Smollett case, NBC News reports. He reportedly said the decision was just one of many issues undermining their trust in Foxx and Chicago's criminal justice system. The announcement came as the city confirmed Chicago will sue Smollett for the costs of police overtime spent investigating his claims that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack - which prosecutors say were false. The lawsuit was being prepared after the 36-year-old Empire star refused a demand by the city for $130,000, said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Department of Law. He said: 'Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019. 'The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook Country.' On Monday some 300 people, including off-duty Chicago police officers, took to the streets to protest, calling on Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to resign over her handling of the case. Foxx, who recused herself from the case before charges were filed, citing conversations she had with one of his relatives, has defended her actions and those of her prosecutors. Rahm Emanuel condemned the 16 felony charges against Jussie Smollett being dropped and demanded the actor foot the bill for the investigation Smollett's lawyer said there was no doubt that the brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo attacked him, but no other motive than that Smollett asked them to has emerged Smollett, who is black and gay, told police on January 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. He claimed the attackers poured the bleach-like chemical on him and tied a rope noose around his neck, yelling racist and homophobic insults as well as 'This is MAGA country'. He told officers the unknown chemical substance was used on him while 'Empire f****t' and 'Empire n*****' was shouted at him. But on February 15, unconfirmed reports emerged suggesting the openly-gay actor might have staged the attack to save his job with help from two Nigerian brothers that he reportedly knew as extras on Empire. The actor, best known for his role as a gay musician on the Fox Television hip-hop drama Empire, was charged in February with staging the incident himself and filing a false police report. Investigators said they believe Smollett may have paid Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo $3,500 to assault him in the orchestrated attack. Actor Jussie Smollett (center) and his team arrive for a court hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago last month Last week prosecutors dropped all 16 felony charges issued by a grand jury against Smollett, infuriating police and outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Prosecutors said they stood by the accusation but that an agreement by Smollett to forfeit his $10,000 bond was a just outcome. The case file was sealed by a Chicago judge, which critics suggested was evidence of a cover-up. Last week Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel's law chief sent the Empire actor a letter demanding he cover the probe costs after the 16 felony disorderly conduct charges against him were dropped. The letter, dated March 28, demanded the 36-year-old actor pay the $130,106.15 bill within seven days. Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot could reverse any legal action after she's sworn in on May 20. Smollett was written out of the final two episodes of Empire this season after he was charged with staging the hate crime. Fox executives have not said if he will return should the show be renewed for another year. The actor's criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos, could not be reached for comment. Tommy Robinson has been banned from Snapchat after posting a video telling his followers the 'Czech Republic has no terror attacks because there are no Muslims.' The 36-year-old far right activist made the inflammatory claims on social media last night during a visit to the country - which is home to around 20,000 Muslims. Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - has now been banned from the app, while a conference he was due to speak at at the Czech government has been cancelled. Facebook and Twitter have both banned him from their platforms after he repeatedly broke their hate speech rules and he has been told his account had been deleted by Snapchat for violating the site's terms of services. Tommy Robinson has been banned from Snapchat after claiming, the 'Czech Republic has no terror attacks because there are no Muslims' A statement to his website 'TR.news' said: 'This is insane, I'm banned from the world. None of these platforms has shown me what terms I breached and/or what posts were in breach.' Robinson was supposed to speak today at a conference called 'Family and its rights in the 21st century' in the lower house of the Czech Parliament. He was invited by one of the MPs from the ruling party ANO, but the event was met with a wave of criticism and has now been cancelled. Earlier this year Czech pensioner Jaromir Balda, 71, felled trees to block railway lines and then pretended Islamists were responsible. He left messages at the scene proclaiming 'Allahu Akbar' - or 'God is great' in Arabic. Two passenger trains hit the trees, but nobody was injured. The far-right sympathiser, who said he hoped to spread fear of Muslim migrants, was jailed for four years for terrorism. According to estimates, between 5,000 and 20,000 Muslims live in the Czech Republic, with 3,500 recorded in the 2010 census. On Wednesday, Google faced accusations that it is fuelling hate after it refused to delete Robinson's official YouTube channel. Google claimed that it had cracked down on the English Defence League founder by putting all of his videos behind a warning screen. It also banned him from livestreaming, removed his videos from recommendations and barred other users from liking or commenting on his material. However, it stopped short of removing them altogether despite mounting political pressure to do so. The web giant is the last of the major tech firms to continue giving a platform to the far-right activist. Earlier this year Czech pensioner Jaromir Balda, 71 (pictured), felled trees to block railway lines and then pretended Islamists were responsible. The far-right sympathiser, who said he hoped to spread fear of Muslim migrants, was jailed for four years for terrorism But Google has allowed Yaxley-Lennon to remain on YouTube on the basis that his posts are not illegal and do not break the website's own rules. Nearly 390,000 people now subscribed to Yaxley-Lennon's YouTube channel, up around 100,000 since the start of the year. Google said it is willing to take a 'tougher line' with his content because so many users have flagged it up to moderators. Facebook and Twitter have both banned him from their platforms A spokesman said: 'After consulting with third-party experts, we are applying a tougher treatment to Tommy Robinson's channel in keeping with our policies on borderline content. 'The content will be placed behind an interstitial, removed from recommendations, and stripped of key features including live streaming, comments, suggested videos and likes.' Viewers who press play on one of Yaxley-Lennon's videos are warned that the content has been 'identified by the YouTube community as inappropriate or offensive to some audiences'. They are then presented with one button, stating 'I understand and wish to proceed'. If they press the button, the video plays. The far-right activist had dozens of videos live on YouTube this week, including a vile clip of him punching a migrant in Italy. In another video - posted days after the New Zealand massacre that killed 50 people - Yaxley-Lennon told his followers that the population risks being replaced by 'mass, mass numbers of Islamic immigration'. Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and Tory MP Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, have also called for the far-right activist to be shut down online. Yaxley-Lennon claims that efforts to ban him online are part of a far-reaching conspiracy by the media and the 'establishment' designed to silence 'any opposition to their globalist plans'. A Russian model is fighting for her life suffering 'acute poisoning' on a flight after taking drugs to counter her air phobia. Sofia Edigarova, 27, was rushed to hospital in St Petersburg after become severely ill on a domestic Russian flight. Reports citing informed sources said she had taken methamphetamine to counter her fear of flying. Sofia Edigarova, 27, was rushed to hospital in St Petersburg after become severely ill on four hour flight from Omsk The model (left and right) was said to have a phobia of flying and this may have been why she took the drug She was given first aid on the four hour flight from Omsk after she became ill. But she failed to respond, say reports. 'The crew requested medical assistance and after landing she was taken to hospital with acute poisoning by a psychotropic substance,' stated one report. A friend said: 'Sofia's mother reported that her daughter is in hospital, but we do not know any details so far.' Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg declined to comment. Police in the city said: 'This woman was hospitalised. Now doctors are attending to her.' Her condition was categorised as 'severe'. Miss Edigarova poses for a modelling shot - her condition was described as 'severe' and she remains in hospital The model is alleged to have taken methamphetamine - a recreational drug which can have fatal side effects The 27-year-old model dashes through a puddle in this artistic modelling shot The model was known to suffer from flight phobia. Methamphetamine is a potent stimulant which is commonly used as a recreational drug as an aphrodisiac or for producing feelings of euphoria. In high doses the drug can cause seizures and bleeding in the brain. Tourists taking beach selfies while planes take-off have angered airport chiefs in Thailand - who warned the maximum penalty for distracting pilots is the death sentence. The stretch of sand next to the busy airport on the island of Phuket in the country's south has become a popular attraction with holidaymakers. Many beachgoers take pictures of themselves with the jets in the background and post the images on social media sites like Instagram. But airport bosses are furious and have vowed to close off the section of beach amid concerns it could cause an accident. Tourists have flocked to the beach on the Thai island of Phuket to take photos at the end of the notorious runway In a bid to stop the practice Thai authorities have warned that anyone caught taking selfies faces the death penalty The executives have not explained how taking pictures of the aircraft could pose a danger but it is believed to relate to the potential to distract pilots in the same way that drones and laser pens can. Officials told local media that the maximum punishment for distracting pilots with such devices is the death sentence. Holidaymakers who breach the planned restricted area preventing pictures would be punished under the same law, which carries the death penalty. Wichit Kaewsaithiam, director of Phuket International Airport, said: 'We want both the income from tourism and the aviation safety to co-exist.' Despite the warnings, footage taken this week at the popular selfie spot shows bikini-clad women and men in their swimming trunks taking pictures while planes take-off. Officials said holidaymakers will be forced further down the beach with the area used by tourists for pictures being sealed off. Vijit Keawsaitiam, the airport's Deputy General Manager, said a 'safety zone' was in the process of being put in place under the flight path to prevent tourists from taking pictures too close to the planes. According to Thai aviation authorities people's photography is distracting pilots during takeoff Despite the warnings, footage taken this week at the popular selfie spot shows bikini clad women and men in their swimming trunks taking pictures while planes take-off He said: 'We are setting up a safety zone which will be categorised as a strictly prohibited area that does not allow people and tourists to take pictures. 'Aside from this area, local people and tourists can still come to take pictures as usual.' Airport bosses have also warned tourists about flying drones in the area and shining laser pens, which a report found had caused disturbances to pilots. Anyone found guilty of deliberately distracting the pilots could be punished under the Air Navigation Act. 'The maximum penalty is the death sentence,' Mr Wichit told the Bangkok Post. Less severe punishments include a fine of up to 40,000 baht (950) or a jail sentence of up to 20 years. Monrudee Gettuphan, a director at the Phuket International Airport, previously told The Phuket News, that officials were ''concerned about the safety of residents and tourists'' who use the area while taking selfies near the planes. The airport official said: ''People need to stay away from the restricted zone. We want to prevent any unknown object or material injuring people, or even their hearing being damaged by the noise of the aircraft's engines. 'The penalty for anyone failing to comply with this regulation includes the death penalty, a life sentence, or a jail term of between five to 20 years, as per the Air Aviation Act 1978.' Professional surfer Jodie Cooper pretended to 'go limp' and drown after a fellow board rider allegedly held her underwater during a surf rage attack last year, a court has heard. The 54-year-old athlete appeared at Ballina Local Court on Friday where she testified that the incident left her feeling 'fearful' and 'ashamed.' Cooper and surfer Mark 'Carcass' Thomson, 57, had been surfing in front of a crowd at Lennox Head on the New South Wales north coast last August. She claimed in court that Thomson at one point 'aggressively' cut her off before allegedly grabbing her and holding her below the surface. Professional surfer Jodie Cooper, 52, claimed in court that fellow rider Mark Thomson (right) held her underneath the water during a surf rage attack last year Cooper and Thomson had been surfing in front of a crowd at Lennox Head (pictured) on the New South Wales' north coast last August 'I had to go out of my way not to hurt him or run him over,' she told the court. 'He had reached around and grabbed me and pushed me under the water. He just grabbed me with two hands and just forced me under the water,' she said according to the Sydney Morning Herald. She told the court Cooper it felt like Thomson had stood on top of her and was pulling her hair. Fearing she was going to die, she said she decided to pretend she had drowned to get him to stop. 'Why don't I just pretend that I drowned? ... When I went limp thinking I was dead or drowned or something, that's when he released,' she told the court. 'I shot straight to the surface and took an almighty gasp for air.' When she confronted Thomson, the father of surfboard shaper, Damien Thompson, he allegedly thought she was a man said 'do you know who I am?' 'He just had this horrible smug look on his face,' she told the court. Cooper, who has 30 years of experience and has appeared as a stunt double in films, said she reported the incident to police two weeks later after feeling 'ashamed' and not wanting to 'deal with it.' The professional surfer appeared in Ballina Local Court on Friday where she revealed she pretended to drown to stop her alleged attacker from killing her Thomson, the father of surfboard shaper, Damien Thompson, pleaded not guilty to assault and occasioning bodily harm Thomson was later charged with assault and assault occasioning bodily harm to which he has pleaded not guilty. Police body cam footage showed Thomson had referred to the incident as a 'maritime collision' when confronted by authorities. It is alleged the professional female surfer and Mr Thomson collided while surfing the wave. 'I'm not a wilting flower. I was brought up to be a strong person and I will stand up for myself and I always will,' she previously said. 'You get a lot of frustration in the surf and it is becoming a popular sport and getting more crowded, there have to be rules.' The case was adjourned to July 18. A Chinese man who was stopped by airport security in Australia for carrying a large jug of milk was determined to not let it go to waste. The tourist from Zhengzhou, east China's Henan province was carrying a three-litre container of milk through an airport in Australia when he was stopped by staff at the security checkpoint. After being told that he had violated the 100ml hand luggage liquid restriction, the man grabbed the plastic bottle and chugged back all 2.5 litres left in it. Down it! After being told that he had violated the 100ml hand luggage liquid restriction, the man from China grabbed the plastic bottle and chugged back all 2.5 litres left in it Video footage filmed by the tourist's friend shows the young man lifting the jug of milk, throwing his head back and gulping down the beverage in one go Video footage filmed by the tourist's friend shows the young man lifting the jug of milk, throwing his head back and gulping down the beverage in one go. Amused bystanders and passengers at the airport were filmed staring at the man and gawking at his performance. The man's friend told video news site Pear on Wednesday that they had wanted to bring home the milk because it was 'very cheap'. 'It's way cheaper to buy milk in Australia than in China,' the man, surnamed Nan, told reporters. 'It's cheaper than getting water there!' The man's friend told video news site Pear on Wednesday that they had wanted to bring home the milk because it was 'very cheap' in Australia Amused bystanders and passengers at the airport were filmed staring at the man and gawking at his performance. The young man eventually finished the milk in one go Australian supermarkets have been selling milk at AUD$1 (0.54) a litre, with supermarket giants Coles and Aldi announcing last month that they will raise the prices of their two-litre bottles to AUD$2.20 (1.20) and three-litre bottles to AUD$3.30 (1.80). In comparison, milk in China - particularly imported ones - could cost up to 60 yuan (6.84) per liter. Locally produced ones usually cost around 11 yuan (1.25) to 13 yuan (1.48) a liter. 'We were not allowed to bring the milk on the flight, so my friend decided to drink all of it at the airport,' Mr Nan said. 'I've never seen him drink so much milk before,' he added. Australian supermarkets have been selling milk at AUD$1 (0.54) a litre, with supermarket giants Coles and Aldi announcing last month that they will raise the prices of their two-litre bottles to AUD$2.20 (1.20) and three-litre bottles to AUD$3.30 (1.80) In the movie 'Lost on Journey', Niu Geng, a naive migrant worker who works as a milk extraction technician, decided to chug a gallon of milk when he was stopped by airport security - only to end up in the bathroom several times during the flight Footage of the hilarious incident has been widely circulated on Chinese social media, where net users compared the man's actions with a scene in the popular 2010 Chinese comedy film, 'Lost on Journey'. In the movie, Niu Geng, a naive migrant worker who works as a milk extraction technician, decided to chug a gallon of milk when he was stopped by airport security - only to end up in the bathroom several times during the flight. 'This is exactly what happened in the movie Lost on Journey!' one net user commented. 'He might regret it once he gets on the plane!' another said. 'Australian milk really does taste better!' one said. This is the beautiful moment a landscape photographer saw the vivid colours of a sunrise for the first time. David Wilder, 35, had been taking photos of landscapes professionally for a decade despite not seeing full colour. The photographer, who lives near Banff National Park, Alberta in Canada, bought two pairs of EnChroma glasses which help colour-blind people see more vividly. Looking back to the sunrise David explains the sky usually just looks 'dull' but now he can see there is pink around the clouds David begins to tear up as he sees a range of colours in a sunrise that has always looked grey to him. As his tears cause his glasses to fog he laughs While the bright yellows, oranges and pinks of a sunrise had always been 'washed out' and 'dull' to David his sight was transformed by the glasses. Wearing them for the first time in the Vesturhorn mountain range in Iceland he was brought to tears as he repeated 'this is what you see?' to a friend. As he puts the glasses in place he says: 'Wow. That's what you see? Holy cow. What? I want to take them off and look but... That's what you see? That's really bluish purple.' David has Deuteranopia, a form of red-green colourblindness, where the eyes are insensitive to green but overly sensitive to yellows, oranges and reds - the colours that make up a sunrise. This results in greens, reds and yellows merging together and appearing the same. Others, like blue and purple, are also tough to tell apart. Without his EnChroma glasses the sunrise looks 'dull' and 'grey'. David takes them out of their case as he prepares to see a broader spectrum of colour for the first time As David takes off his own bright purple hat he can see the difference between the purple of his hat and the blue of his jacket for the first time WHAT IS COLOUR BLINDNESS? Approximately one in 20 people suffer from colour blindness, a condition that makes the world a duller place to look at. According to the NHS, it affects 1 in 200 women in the world and 1 in 12 men. There are four kinds of colour blindness known as protanopia, dueteranopia, tritanopia and achromatopsia. Protanopia Protanopia involves defective or absent long-wavelength cones in the retina; these photoreceptor cones are responsible for the perception of red light. Protans find it difficult to distinguish between red and green colours, and also between blue and green. Deuteranopia Deuteranopia is a condition where the green photoreceptor cone is missing from the retina. As a result, it is much harder for deutans to distinguish green from red, as well as some grays, purples and a greenish blue. Along with protanopia this is one of the most common forms of colour blindness. Tritanopia Tritanopia is a complete lack of the short-wavelength cones in the retina that receive blue light. People with this very rare form of colour blindness confuse light blues with greys, dark purples with black, mid-greens with blues and oranges with reds. Achromatopsia People with total acromatopsia cannot perceive any colours at all and can only observe the world in black and white and shades of gray. The retina of the eye has two types of light-sensitive cells; rods and cones. Both are found the layer at the back of your eye which processes images. Rods work in low light conditions, but cones work in daylight and are responsible for colour. People who have colour blindness have a problem with the cones in their retina. Advertisement David takes off his own bright purple hat and holds it to his coat to see the difference between blue and purple for the first time. He says: 'Oh yeah that's purple. I didn't know that was purple but now I see.' Looking back to the sunrise David explains the sky usually just looks 'dull' but now he can see there is pink around the clouds. Talking about his new glasses he adds: 'I don't have the words. Without them it's just dull. Take them off and its washed out, dull. There's pink up there. If I take them off it's just grey. 'There's pink on the bottom clouds too. That's always grey. It's getting stronger. We should probably take some photos. 'That's insane. It just keeps getting brighter and brighter.' As he starts tearing up his glasses begin to fog and despite an intention to take photographs David decides the moment is too special to disrupt. In the video he says: 'I'm just gonna have a seat and just watch a minute.' He later wrote: 'We both were so enchanted by the moment we forgot that we were out there to take photos.' There are three main types of colourblindness - Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia. David said: 'It was like a curtain of colour just rushed over my view and everything became so much more vivid. 'Colours I didn't see before - the subtle blends - appeared. 'I felt like I was learning colour all over again.' David's colourblindness causes him to focus more on other elements when he is photographing landscapes. He looks at composition, light and technique rather than colour. But after writing about being a colourblind photographer in January he was contacted by EnChroma and got two pairs of their glasses. In his January blog piece he wrote: 'Since my eyes basically have trouble seeing every colour that landscapes are made up from, it can be difficult to edit images in a realistic way. 'It is common for me to over saturate or introduce unwanted noise and blemishes into an image. This results in a shot that looks overcooked and unrealistic.' And when on location he sometimes needs to ask other photographers what they see in order to capture the best images. David Wilder, 35, took this photo in Iceland moments after he had seen the oranges and pinks of a sunrise for the first time. He finds it difficult to see the subtle changes in colour and often has to ask others what they can see. But for this shot he was able to view it himself He added: 'I remember standing at Lake Louise one morning surrounded by other photographers that were already shooting and I could not understand why. 'I finally turned to the photographer next to me and asked, Am I missing something? They responded, You cant see that? The sky is full of pink. 'When I start editing I often open a file and start moving the colour adjustments very drastically in order to see what colours are predominant, where the colours are, and just how strong or weak they are in the image.' When the sky has pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows David finds it difficult to see the subtle differences between those colours And writing about the moment he first discovered he was colour blind as a teenager David explained his friend had to correct him when he thought a pink raft was grey. He wrote: 'My teachers thought I had a learning disability. I remember having to pick up a crayon over and over to read the name so I knew what colour it was. 'That was the earliest I can remember having issues with colour, but it really didnt hit home until I was a teenager. 'I was walking to the river with a friend when I saw a raft sitting unattended. I said to my friend lets go grab that grey raft and go for a ride, to which friend replied dude, thats pink. 'That was the first time I realised I was colour blind. To this day I still make mistakes. I recently bought an orange shirt, but turns out it wasnt orange.' A jet captain has said she was a 'grumpy old so-and-so' before coming out as transgender and working as British Airways' most senior woman pilot. Cat Burton, from Barry, South Wales, was known as Vance Burton and sported a mustache, when she started her flying career in 1972. But when she reached the age of 58 she decided to come out as transgender to her British Airways colleagues - saying it was the 'hardest thing she's ever done.' Cat Burton (pictured), 66, from Barry, South Wales, has worked for British Airways' for 45 years, but it was only later in life that she decided to transition Ms Burton (pictured) always knew she wanted to be a pilot after her father took her in a jet fighter when she was just six months old. She also wanted to transition from male to female from a young age but that dream took much longer to realise She retired as BA's most senior woman pilot a year-and-a-half ago and is now flying the flag for transgender rights. Ms Burton said: 'The support I had from my colleagues was incredible. When I got back to work I was called in by my chief pilot, which is always a bit of a worry. 'He said he'd had a string of first officers in to talk about flying with me since I came back to work. Ms Burton started her flying careers as Vance Burton (pictured). Only transitioning at the age of 62 'They all said how much easier I was to fly with now. I was a grumpy old so-and-so as a male captain. 'I used to sit on my side of the aeroplane and basically cut myself off, whereas now it's a case of you can't stop me talking.' Ms Burton always knew she wanted to be a pilot after her father took her in a jet fighter when she was just six months old. She also wanted to transition from male to female from a young age but that dream took much longer to realise. Speaking about coming out to her colleagues, Ms Burton said: 'I liken it to stepping off a cliff in pitch darkness and then finding out the cliff is only two inches high. 'It was daunting contemplating transitioning, I'd buried all my gender issues when I was 14. 'I'd locked them away in a little box in the back of my brain and I would never open this box but something opened it quite late in life - and I realised you only live once.' Ms Burton is now calling for better GP services for transgender people over 50, citing particular issues over facial hair growth or hair loss. She said: 'Somebody who's transgender and has gone past the ability to either afford or manage that situation is going to be in a care home and perhaps have no hair but they are still them. 'Are they going to be treated with dignity if they're going to be sitting there with male pattern baldness but identifying as female?' Ms Burton, who worked for British Airways for 45 years, is now calling for better GP services for transgender people over 50 Ms Burton (centre) is pictured with her British Airways colleagues. She retired as BA's most senior woman pilot a year-and-a-half ago - and is now flying the flag for transgender rights Research by The Trans Ageing and Care project also says GPs need more training. Dr Nimish Shah, transgender lead for GP Wales, agreed there needs to be more transgender awareness training for doctors. He said up until now doctors had to refer transgender patients to London. But plans are being made for a new gender team based in Cardiff. He said: 'Hopefully we're going to have a more local system and a system with shorter waiting times. I think it will also increase awareness of trans issues.' The U.S. government granted waivers to just 6 percent of visa applicants subject to its travel ban on a handful of countries during the first 11 months of the ban, according to new government data. Trump administration officials have characterized the waiver process as proof the travel ban was not motivated by animus towards Muslims, as critics have charged, but rather serves to protect the United States. In June 2018, after legal challenges defeated earlier iterations of the ban, the Supreme Court upheld a revised version and wrote in its majority opinion that the waiver program supported the government's claims that the ban served 'a legitimate national security interest.' This graph breaks down the outcomes for the 38,000 people who applied for waivers on the Trump administration's travel ban. Numbers are approximate Between December 8, 2017 and October 31, 2018, State Department officers ruled on nearly 38,000 applications for non-immigrant and immigrant visas filed by people subject to the travel ban who otherwise qualified for the visas and needed waivers to get them. They determined that just 6 percent - or 2,216 applicants - met the criteria for a waiver. Of those, 670 had not yet received their visas but were expected to do so. The data was provided in a February 22 letter from Assistant Secretary of State Mary Taylor to Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. Van Hollen's office received the letter on Wednesday, and his office provided it to Reuters. 'This data paints a clear - and deeply disturbing - picture of the Trump travel ban,' Van Hollen said in a statement to Reuters. 'The administration repeatedly swore to the Supreme Court and the American people that this was not a de-facto Muslim ban and that there was a clear waiver process to ensure fairness. That couldn't be further from reality.' A State Department spokesman said on condition of anonymity that 'a consular officer carefully reviews each case to determine if the applicant is covered' by the travel ban and 'if so, whether the case qualifies for a waiver.' The travel ban blocks citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as some Venezuelan officials and their relatives, from obtaining a broad range of U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Chad was previously covered by the ban but was removed in April 2018. The latest data show a slight increase in the waiver issuance rate. Data from December 2017 through April 2018 showed that waivers were issued in 2 percent of visa applications filed by people subject to the travel ban. The ban's restrictions vary from country to country - Somalis, for instance, can receive short-term visas and Iranians are allowed to get student visas, while North Koreans are blocked from all visas. U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order calling for the 'extreme vetting' of visa seekers from 'terror-plagued' countries In addition to the almost 38,000 applications considered for a travel ban waiver, around 8,100 by people from countries subject to the travel ban were refused in the 11-month period for reasons unrelated to the ban, and nearly 2,600 applicants were found eligible for visas based on exceptions to the ban and thus did not need a waiver. Critics say the waiver process is shrouded in secrecy, with vague standards and little information given to applicants about how they can qualify or apply for one. Two federal lawsuits are contesting the fairness of the process. The official criteria for a waiver is a three-part test assessing whether denying entry to an applicant would cause 'undue hardship,' if entry of the person would not pose a threat to the United States, and if entry would be in the national interest. There is no application for a waiver - the State Department says it 'automatically' considers applicants for them. 'They (the State Department) are actually actively telling applicants, 'We don't want your materials in support of a waiver,'' said Mahsa Khanbabai, an immigration attorney in Massachusetts who has clients subject to the ban. 'Even in the cases where they do take them, the extraordinary amount of time that it takes to make a decision causes tremendous hardships for people.' The New York cop accused of using excessive force in the death of Eric Garner did not put the African-American - whose famous last words were 'I can't breathe' - in a chokehold, the police department's top doctor has reportedly ruled. Daniel Pantaleo, 33, faces being kicked out of the NYPD following misconduct charges over his aggressive arrest of the 43-year-old unarmed father on Staten Island in July 2014. But weeks before Pantaleo's department trial on May 13 before NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials, the officer whose actions exploded into a nationwide racism row was allegedly found not to have not used a deadly chokehold. Scroll down for video Daniel Pantaleo, 33 (left) faces being kicked out of the NYPD following misconduct charges over his aggressive arrest of the Eric Garner, 43, (right) on Staten Island in July 2014 At a pre-trial hearing yesterday, Pantaleo's lawyer said that the NYPD's chief surgeon, Eli Kleinman, had declared that his client's detainment of Mr Garner was not a chokehold, NBC New York reported. Attorney Stuart London insisted that Mr Garner, who weighed 350lbs, had most likely died from a long-suffering heart problem and claimed that 'there was no misconduct at all'. And although the medical examiner had previously judged the death to be a homicide, Pantaleo was cleared by a grand jury in December 2014. An autopsy had ruled that a chokehold was used. This fresh intervention from the cop's defense team came under fire from Mr Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, who took aim at the attorney for using 'trickery' tactics. Pantaleo's attorney has claimed the NYPD's top surgeon ruled that his client did not put Mr Garner in a chokehold Mr Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, took aim at the attorney for using 'trickery' tactics in suggesting her son was not killed by an illegal chokehold She added: 'We know they're going to be throwing fire at us even though the lawyer knows it's wrong.' Next month's disciplinary hearing will decide the fate of Pantaleo's NYPD career, which has already been limited to desk duty and seen the officer stripped of his gun and badge. If found guilty, his punishment could be anything from losing vacation days to being fired from the NYPD. In a viral video, Mr Garner could be heard telling those around him how he had trouble breathing after officers stopped him for selling untaxed cigarettes and handled him forcefully. Pantaleo was accused with putting him in an apparent chokehold, which is banned under police department policy, but this is denied. The alleged police brutality against Mr Garner triggered a huge racism row and the father's dying words - 'I can't breathe' - became a rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter protest group. A decision on whether a civil rights case will be brought against Pantaleo has not yet been ruled. The Department of Justice has until July 17. A decision has reportedly been made but the outcome has not been revealed. Theresa May and Donald Tusk's very different visions for the next Brexit delay set up an incredibly tense period for the Prime Minister both at home and abroad. Mrs May has said she will seek an extension to June 30 - a date already rejected once by EU leaders - at an emergency summit in Brussels. Her letter to the European Council president Mr Tusk came after he said that he wanted an extension to March 31 next year as 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis. But the decision will ultimately be made unanimously by the heads of state of the other 27 EU states, who overruled Mr Tusk last time round to offer the UK just two weeks until April 12 if no Brexit deal had been agreed. It means there is still a great deal of uncertainty over what extension - if any, the Brussels summit will come up with next week. Against this backdrop talks continue between Mrs May's top team and senior Labour figures over plans for a compromise Brexit deal that would allow the UK to leave as soon as possible. They will sit down again today in a bid to hammer out a deal acceptable to both parties. But the move had threatened to shatter both parties, with Tories aghast that Mrs May is negotiating with a hard Left leader and Labour MPs worried that Mr Corbyn, a long-term Brexiteer, might not seek a second referendum on any deal agreed. If they do agree a deal there is still time for a vote to be held in the Commons before the Brussels summit. If the talks come to nothing, Mrs May has indicated she would present MPs with her own version of 'indicative votes - options for Brexit that they get to vote on - which could also be held before the summit. But previous backbench-led votes like this have so far to win a majority, hence the current situation is a total mess. Last night peers were spared an all-night sitting over a controversial move to pass in one day a Bill extending the Brexit process in a bid to avoid a No Deal scenario. After seven hours of procedural wrangling on whether the European Union (Withdrawal) (No.5) Bill should be pushed through in just one sitting, a deal was reached to complete the second reading stage last night. But its detailed committee and report stages, and third reading, will be taken on Monday, sparing weary peers the prospect of votes through the night. Under the rebel law the Commons will set out demands for the length of the new Brexit. The Government says if the EU Council offers a different delay - whether in length or with conditions - the PM will not be able to agree it without a further vote in Parliament. If Parliament makes further demands instead of rubber stamping whatever comes from Brussels, there would need to be further talks among EU leader - effectively impossible when the second vote would be on April 11 and exit due the following day. Theresa May will write to EU Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 - but Mr Tusk will insist in it being a year-long delay into 2020 What has Mrs May asked for? In her letter to Donald Tusk she formally requested an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 to June 30 - but she also wants a 'termination clause'. This would allow the UK to leave on May 22 - the day before European elections - if a deal can be pushed through the UK Parliament. However, this delay is a carbon copy of that sought by Mrs May before the last emergency summit in March - which was rejected. Theresa May has written this letter to the EU for permission to delay Brexit again and also admitted the UK could take part in European elections Mrs May has asked for an Article 50 extension until June 30 - but Brussels are only going to offer a longer delay of a year What has the EU said? Mr Tusk said that a 12-month 'flextension' to March 29 2020 is 'the only reasonable way out' of the crisis and will urge leaders of the EU's 27 member states to back him later today. Such an extension is likely to spark fury among Tory Brexiteer MPs, with Jacob Rees-Mogg suggesting if we were kept in we should be troublesome to the rest of the EU, politically. And Mrs May has previously said she would not be able to accept such a delay - suggesting it could prompt her to resign. This could lead to a summer leadership battle in Tory ranks before a new, most likely Brexiteer leader, takes over. What is happening in the cross party talks? The Prime Minister has said the divorce deal could not be changed but announced on Tuesday she would seek a new consensus with Jeremy Corbyn on the political declaration about the final UK-EU agreement. Talks are taking place for a third day on Friday between ministers and officials from both parties, with previous efforts being hailed as 'constructive. If the talks fail, Mrs May has promised to put options to Parliament and agreed to be bound by the result. In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs. What does Mrs May's shift mean? It suggests Mrs May has abandoned all hope of winning over remaining Tory Brexiteers and the DUP on the terms of her current deal. Striking a cross-party deal on the future relationship will require Mrs May to abandon many of her red lines - including potentially on free movement and striking trade deals. To get an agreement with Labour, Mrs May will need to agree the political declaration should spell out a much softer Brexit than her current plans do. This might mean a permanent UK-EU customs union or even staying in the EU Single Market. What if Mr Corbyn says No? Mrs May said if she cannot cut a deal with Corbyn, she would ask Parliament to come up with options - and promised to follow orders from MPs. In a second round of indicative votes on Monday night a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit and second referendum were the leading options - but none got a majority of MPs. They would probably pass if the Tories whipped for them - but it would almost certainly mean ministers quitting the Government. Can either option be completed before the PM goes to Brussels? Yes there is still technically time. The Government would have to table a motion the night before any such vote was due to be held. MPs would then have time the following day to debate what was on offer - and possibly suggest their own changes - before it is put to a vote, probably in the evening. In practice, talks with Mr Corbyn and his team must have concluded by Monday at the very latest to give time for MPs to have their say if she is to make demand to the EU ahead of next week's summit. When will Brexit be? It is hard to say - but it is unlikely to be next week on April 12. Mrs May has asked for an extension to June 30. Donald Tusk has suggested a year. There are EU leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron who have played Bad Cop and said they want us gone quickly. But others, including Germany's Angela Merkel, has been more conciliatory, suggesting yesterday she would show more flexibility to get a deal. The PM clearly still wants to get out of the EU before European Parliament elections have to be held on May 22 but this is ultimately up to Brussels. Will the EU agree to this? It is hard to say. The EU has said it is open to further extension if there is a clear purpose and plan. Open ended talks on the future framework are unlikely to qualify. A clear, negotiable goal for the future framework probably would do. The EU has always said it is open to Britain staying in the Single Market and Customs Union. Will May resign? Nodbody knows for sure. Last week, Mrs May announced she would go if and when her divorce deal passed so a new Tory leader could take charge of the trade talks phase. In practice, it drained Mrs May of all remaining political capital. Most in Westminster think her Premiership is over within weeks at the latest. As her deal folded for a third time last Friday, she faced immediate calls from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn so stand down with instant effect. What is clear is there is already a fight underway for the Tory leadership. Does is all mean there will be an election? Probably, at some point though the immediate chances have fallen because of the latest events. The Commons is deadlocked and the Government has no functional majority. While the Fixed Term Parliaments Act means the Government can stumble on, it will become increasingly powerless. Mrs May could try to call one herself or, assuming she stands down, her successor could do so. Would May lead the Tories into an early election? Unlikely. Having admitted to her party she would go if the deal passes, Mrs May's political career is doomed. While there is no procedural way to remove her, a withdrawal of political support from the Cabinet or Tory HQ would probably finish her even if she wanted to stay. How is an election called? When would it be? Because of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act passed by the coalition, the Prime Minister can no longer simply ask the Queen to dissolve the Commons and call an election. There are two procedures instead. First - and this is what happened in 2017 - the Government can table a motion in the Commons calling for an early election. Crucially, this can only pass with a two-thirds majority of MPs - meaning either of the main parties can block it. Second an election is called if the Government loses a vote of no confidence and no new administration can be built within 14 days. In practice, this is can only happen if Tory rebels vote with Mr Corbyn - a move that would end the career of any Conservative MP who took the step. An election takes a bare minimum of five weeks from start to finish and it would take a week or two to get to the shut down of Parliament, known as dissolution - putting the earliest possible polling day around mid to late May. If the Tories hold a leadership election first it probably pushes any election out to late June at the earliest. Why do people say there has to be an election? The question of whether to call an election finally reached the Cabinet last week. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned the rejection of Mrs May's deal would set in train a series of events that will lead to a softer Brexit - meaning an election because so many MPs will have to break manifesto promises. MPs voting to seize control of Brexit from ministers has only fuelled the demands. Labour has been calling for a new vote for months, insisting the Government has failed to deliver Brexit. Mr Corbyn called a vote of no confidence in the Government in January insisting the failure of the first meaningful vote showed Mrs May's administration was doomed. He lost but the calls did not go away. Brexiteers have joined the demands in recent days as Parliament wrestles with Brexit and amid fears among hardliners promises made by both main parties at the last election will be broken - specifically on leaving the Customs Union and Single Market. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen wants Mrs May replaced with a Brexiteer. He believes it would push Remain Tories out of the party and then allow a snap election with more Eurosceptic candidates wearing blue rosettes. What might happen? Both main parties will have to write a manifesto - including a position on Brexit. Both parties are deeply split - in many cases between individual MPs and their local activists. Under Mrs May, the Tories presumably try to start with the deal. But it is loathed by dozens of current Tory MPs who want a harder Brexit and hated even more by grassroots Tory members. Shifting Tory policy on Brexit to the right would alienate the majority of current MPs who voted to Remain. Labour has similar splits. Many of Labour's MPs and activists want Mr Corbyn to commit to putting Brexit to a second referendum - most with a view to cancelling it. Mr Corbyn is a veteran Eurosceptic and millions of people who voted Leave in 2016 backed Labour in 2017. The splits set the stage for a bitter and chaotic election. The outcome is highly unpredictable - the Tories start in front but are probably more divided on the main question facing the country. Labour is behind but knows it made dramatic gains in the polls in the last election with its promises of vastly higher public spending. Neither side can forecast what impact new political forces might wield over the election or how any public anger over the Brexit stalemate could play out. It could swing the result in favour of one of the main parties or a new force. Or an election campaign that takes months, costs millions of pounds could still end up in a hung Parliament and continued stalemate. This is the current forecast by polling expert Sir John Curtice. Tube workers in London have threatened to shut down the entire network after unions reject 'derisory' pay rise. The RMT turned down a 2.5 per cent increase in pay and is planning a network-wide ballot for industrial action. The previous deal had covered all staff and had been running for four years. London tube workers could through the network into chaos after announcing a strike Now all unions are preparing demands for another agreement. Transport for London has said it believes the offer was 'fair and affordable' and looked forward to discussions with the unions. According to the Evening Standard, RMT leader Mick Cash said the group had 'wholly rejected' the deal. Mick Cash (pictured above) said that the RMT had rejected the deal and that in improved offer was being sought 'As a result we will begin preparations for an industrial action ballot and the ball is firmly in London Underground's court to come back with an improved offer.' This is while leader of the TSSA union Manuel Cortes said a meeting next week would discuss a one year offer but cautioned that it was 'nowhere near good enough'. He said: 'If it's rejected our union will go into dispute with London Underground.' The four year deal had been originally agreed by TFL in 2015. The announcement of the possible walk out comes as South Western Rail passengers travelling through Waterloo are set to face disruption this weekend due to planned engineering works. Previous tube strikes have caused chaos across central London as commuters seek alternative routes to work. Intense talks between Labour and the Government as they seek to find a way out of the Brexit chaos appeared to have stalled tonight. Labour accused Theresa May of failing to offer opposition 'real change or compromise' after a third day of talks between senior frontbenchers and officials on both sides. With just days to go to find a consensus and get an agreed deal though the Commons after months of division, Labour voiced 'disappointment' at the way they had gone. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the Government was 'not countenancing any changes' to the wording of the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future UK-EU relationship. In a sign that talks with ministers have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, he said: 'Well, we've had two rounds of talks and today we've had an exchange of correspondence with the Government. 'So far, the Government isn't proposing any changes to the deal. In particular it's not countenancing any changes to the actual wording of the political declaration. 'Now obviously that's disappointing; compromise requires change. We want the talks to continue and we've written in those terms to the Government, but we do need change if we're going to compromise.' A Labour spokesman added: 'We are disappointed that the Government has not offered real change or compromise. 'We urge the Prime Minister to come forward with genuine changes to her deal in an effort to find an alternative that can win support in Parliament and bring the country together.' Tom Watson had earlier heaped more pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to demand a second referendum from Theresa May as Labour's price for agreeing a Brexit deal. The party's deputy leader said that it's 'highly unlikely' members would support a cross-party agreement the Prime Minister if another public vote on leaving the EU was not included in some way. Labour is split over Brexit after Emily Thornberry contradicted her leader by also demanding a second referendum on any deal. But yesterday a group of 25 of his backbenchers wrote to Mr Corbyn warning against the inclusion of a second referendum in any compromise Brexit deal negotiated with the Government. Labour is meeting the government for a third day of talks on a possible solution to the impasse over Brexit, with May seeking a further delay while she seeks to find a deal that can get parliamentary support. Tom Watson today heaped more pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to demand a second referendum from Theresa May as Labour's price for agreeing a Brexit deal. Mr Watson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that negotiations are 'making progress', he said, and both sides are hoping for 'a creative solution' - which could include another referendum. He added: 'One of the solutions to break a parliamentary impasse is to ask the people to run their slide rule over Theresa May's deal. 'They can work out for themselves whether this deal works for them and their families.' Mr Watson revealed that Labour opened nominations on Thursday for candidates to stand in the European elections. The question whether voters should be offered a 'confirmatory' referendum on any compromise deal emerging from talks is hotly disputed at Westminster. The Daily Telegraph reported that ministers have considered the possibility of giving MPs a vote on holding a referendum on a deal if that is needed to seal agreement with Labour. It is understood the Government could set out proposals to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a letter on Friday. The Labour leader personally held talks with the Prime Minister to thrash out a jointly-agreed deal to put to Parliament. But in an explosive intervention, his shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry wrote to all Labour MPs demanding a ballot on whatever deal emerges. Miss Thornberry wrote: 'Any deal agreed by Parliament must be subject to a confirmatory public vote, and yes, the other option on the ballot must be Remain.' Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer leaves the Cabinet Office following cross party talks in London yesterday. Talks are back on today Mr Corbyn also faced pressure on a second referendum from the unions. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: 'Whatever deal emerges in the coming days should be put to the country. We cannot allow the UK's future to be dashed on the rocks of a no-deal Brexit.' It sets the scene for an almighty row in the shadow cabinet, which is deeply split on the issue of a second vote. Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott and Miss Thornberry are strongly in favour of another ballot. On Monday Sir Keir made his position clear, saying: 'At this late stage it is clear that any Brexit deal agreed in this Parliament will need further democratic approval.' But business spokeswoman Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and party chairman Ian Lavery are against. Mr Corbyn is also believed not to be keen. Mrs Long-Bailey, one of Mr Corbyn's closest allies, made clear that she believed Labour was unlikely to support a public vote on a deal to which the party had agreed. She said: 'If we get exactly what we want - a good strong deal, then I would struggle to find a reason to put that to a public vote.' And Mr Corbyn's spokesman also seemed to say a second vote would only be held on Mrs May's deal alone. 'Our policy is to support a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit or a No Deal,' he said. A man has been charged with stabbing five people in a knife rampage that left one victim paralysed when their spinal cord was severed. Jason Kakaire, 29, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates's Court charged with five counts of attempted murder after the spate of attacks in Edmonton. He was also charged with five counts of knife possession in relation to the offences that allegedly took place between March 30 and April 2. Kakaire, of Edmonton, spoke only to give his name, address, national insurance number, and nationality of British. Police at the scene of the fifth stabbing, in Aberdeen Road, Edmonton, on Tuesday With short dark hair, light facial hair, and wearing a grey tracksuit he stared blankly throughout the hearing. Timeline of stabbings Saturday, March 30 7.02pm: A woman, aged 45, is left in a 'critical condition' after she is knifed in the back in Aberdeen Road, Edmonton. Sunday, March 31 00.15am: A man aged 52 is stabbed in Park Avenue and rushed to hospital with non-life threatening wounds. 3.55am: A 23-year-old man is stabbed in Silver Street, Edmonton, before being found at Seven Sisters Tube station. 9.43am: A man aged 29 is knifed in the back in Brettenham Road in another 'bloodbath attack'. Tuesday, April 2 5.05pm: A man, in his 30s, is found with knife injuries in Aberdeen Road, Edmonton after being stabbed in Fairfield Road. Advertisement Senior Crown Prosecutor Harika Yuksel said: 'None of the victims had possessions stolen from them. The sole intention was to kill them. 'All the victims were defenceless and approached from behind and stabbed in the back. 'The victims were both male and female and of varying ages and ethnicities and none had been robbed.' The prosecutor said a man in his 30s suffered a severe back wound. She added: 'One of the victims suffered a severed spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis.' The defendant, of Edmonton, was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on May 3. District Judge Julia Newton said: 'These matters are now being sent to the Central Criminal Court where you will next appear on May 3 at 10am in the morning.' Kakaire was remanded in custody and walked stiffly as he was led out of the dock. Advertisement Russia has denied supporting a Libyan general who is currently marching on Tripoli in an apparent attempt to take control of the north African nation. Rebel strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls the eastern-based Libyan National Army, is pushing west towards Tripoli, to challenge the internationally recognised government. Militias in the west have vowed to confront the army command's attempt to seize the capital, sparking fears of a renewed civil war. This morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hoped the crisis would not lead to 'renewed bloodshed', adding that Moscow did not support Haftar. Asked if Russia considered supporting Libya militarily, Peskov said: 'No, Moscow is not taking part in this in any way.' The military thrust by Haftar's LNA marks a dangerous escalation of a power struggle that has dragged on since the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was due to meet Haftar in Benghazi today in a bid to avert war. A video published on the Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar's Facebook page on Wednesday allegedly shows military convoys heading towards western Libya and Tripoli Haftar's trucks were filmed lining the road to Tripoli this week as the leader proclaimed on Facebook that his forces would be heading to the capital Militia faction leader Khalifa Haftar is moving towards Tripoli from the country's east along with his army, sparking fears of a civil war Strongman Haftar, backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, controls some parts of the country, while the capital is the seat of a UN-backed government. A showdown between Hafter's army and the militias could plunge Libya into another spasm of violence, possibly the worst since the 2011 civil war. Yesterday, LNA forces took Gharyan, about 50 miles south of Tripoli after skirmishes with forces allied to Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. Hafter then ordered his forces to march on the capital, saying in an audio recording posted online: 'We are coming Tripoli, we are coming.' He also urged his forces to enter the city peacefully and only raise their weapons 'in the face of those who seek injustice and prefer confrontation and fighting.' Trucks armed with heavy machine guns could be seen driving down the road in the remote region in the center of Libya as they made their way to Tripoli Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar patroling in downtown Sebha last month, the biggest city in southern Libya Hafter's spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari said later the army's next stop would be the town of al-Aziziya, considered the gates of Tripoli. In response, the militias from the western cities of Zawiya and Misarata, which control Tripoli, posted on social media early Friday that they're mobilising to confront Hafter. 'We are the revolutionaries and the elders ... we declare we are on full mobilization and war,' they said. Militias allied to the Tripoli government moved more machinegun-mounted pickups from the coastal city of Misrata to Tripoli to defend it against Haftar's forces. The escalation surprised the United Nations, whose Secretary-General Guterres had been in Tripoli this week to help organize a national reconciliation national conference planned for later this month. Soldiers from the self-styled army of Libyan Strongman Khalifa Haftar take part in a military parade in the eastern city of Benghazi in May last year A member of pro-internationally recognised government forces checks the confiscated military vehicles from Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar's troops Guterres, who spent Thursday night in the heavily fortified U.N. compound in a Tripoli suburb, was flying to Benghazi on Friday to meet Haftar. He will also go to Tobruk, another eastern city, to meet lawmakers of the House of Representatives, which is also allied to Haftar. 'My aim remains the same: avoid a military confrontation. I reiterate that there is no military solution for the Libyan crisis, only a political one,' Guterres said on Twitter. Assembly President Aguila Saleh welcomed the offensive, a spokesman said. Haftar also enjoys the backing of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which see him as bulwark against Islamists and have supported him militarily, according to U.N. reports. Germany called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council due to the military escalation. Russia said it was not helping Haftar's forces and it supported a negotiated political settlement that ruled out any new bloodshed. 'The situation should be resolved peacefully,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Former colonial power Italy, which lies across the Mediterranean from Libya, was very worried by the turn of events, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said. 'We need to throw water on the fire, not petrol on the fire. I hope that people, acting out of economic or business self-interest, is not looking for a military solution, which would be devastating,' Salvini said. The United Nations and Western countries have been trying to mediate between Serraj and Haftar, who met in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss a power-sharing deal. The conference the United Nations is helping to organize is aimed at forging agreement on a road map for elections to resolve the prolonged instability in Libya, an oil producer and transit point for refugees and migrants trekking across the Sahara with the aim of reaching Europe. A German tourist survived 12 agonising hours before he was found after falling off a cliff, suffering spinal and head injuries, and braking his legs in the accident. The man stumbled off a cliff near a camping site in the Blue Mountains after he got up to go the toilet. He was missing for more than 12 hours before he was finally found by police at Perry's Lookdown Campground at 2.15pm on Friday afternoon. Four ambulance crews rushed to the site and found the man had broken both his lower legs, was suffering hypothermia and was being treated for spinal and head injuries. Paramedics extricate a man (pictured) after he fell down a cliff in the Blue Mountains, suffering spinal and head injuries and two broken legs Four ambulance crew, three special operations paramedics, and police rescue were needed to remove the man from the scene (pictured),after bad weather prevented a helicopter from reaching the location 'He has no feeling below the waist,' NSW Ambulance Chief Inspector Brian Parsell said. Mr Parsell added that the man's condition was 'serious but stable.' Adverse weather prevented a helicopter from getting to the scene, so three special operations paramedics and police rescue 'set up a hauling system to get him out,' said Mr Parsell. The man was finally extricated from the scene just after 7pm. Due mainly to the precarious nature of his spinal injuries, the man was taken by road to Royal North Shore hospital. Advertisement The Russian military has sent thousands of soldiers, as well as tanks and missile launchers on to the streets of Moscow in a show of strength ahead of this year's Victory Day parade. Today's events are part of preparations for the annual march on May 9 to celebrate Stalin's defeat of the Nazis in the Second World War. The public holiday used to be a sombre remembrance for the tens of millions of Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in the war. Rehearsals took place just a day after NATO warned against Russian 'aggression' at a meeting to mark its 70th anniversary Servicemen during a joint rehearsal by Moscow Garrison detachments and mechanised forces ahead of the 74th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany A Bumerang amphibious wheeled infantry tank during the rehearsal in Moscow, which comes ahead of Victory Day on May 9 One of the soldiers taking part in the preparations today is pictured stretching his leg on another troop's shoulder before the rehearsal's began Show of strength: An UAZ Patriot pickup (left) with a Kord machine gun on top rides alongside a land-based mobile missile system with a RS-24 Yars ballistic missile Rows and rows of the soldiers march during the rehearsal. Last year's celebrations saw as many as 55,000 troops in Red Square The annual parade has been turned into a cause for patriotic celebration under President Vladimir Putin in recent years. Last year, around 55,000 servicemen and women marched across Red Square as Putin watched from near Lenin's mausoleum alongside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic. The images of the rehearsal today show servicemen marching during a joint rehearsal by Moscow Garrison detachments and mechanised forces ahead of the 74th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, at Alabino range. The preparations come as defence ministers from former Soviet states in Central and Eastern Europe celebrate the anniversaries of their countries' membership of Nato, amid concern over Russia's increased military interest in the area. Seven red flags are carried by servicemen during the practice as the front four soldiers salute. They lead hundreds of other troops who also salute to their right Soldiers march with the tricolour Russian national flag as well as a red flag with a hammer and sickle emblazoned on it that is the Banner of Victory. The historical battle flag was raised above the Reichstag when the Russians defeated the Nazis in 1945 and is always carried on Victory Day A Russian soldier waves a red flag during today's practice. Last year's Victory Day parade saw as many as 13,000 soldiers march through Rd Square The public holiday used to be a sombre remembrance for the tens of millions of Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in the Second World War But President Putin has turned it into a cause for patriotic celebration in recent years. with 2014's parade being especially large after the annexing of Crimea that year Police officers face the same direction as they march in unison during the joint rehearsal by Moscow Garrison detachments Two soldiers turn away from their colleagues, with one squinting in the sunlight and the other looking directly at the camera The nine ministers are to meet in Poland today, the largest of the post-communist countries in the region. Their nations joined the military alliance, based in Brussels, between 1999 and 2004, sealing their new links with the west and away from Russia. Their membership also shifted the centre of Europe's security eastwards, toward Russia, to the increasing annoyance of Moscow. The two-day meeting that ends today will focus on improving the alliance's combat readiness in the region. And yesterday Nato marked its 70th anniversary at a meeting in Washington DC - its place of birth - with renewed calls to tackle Russian 'aggression'. The military alliance was also trying to find a united message amid rifts within the Western countries over policy. Closing two days of talks in Washington DC, foreign ministers from the 29-nation alliance said in a joint statement that they face 'an unpredictable and challenging security situation' that includes 'a more aggressive Russia.' Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance approved new surveillance measures and naval exercises in the Black Sea to support Ukraine and Georgia - aspiring members of Nato that are battling Russian-backed separatist forces. The yellow and red flag of the Russian Ground Forces billows in front of the flag of the Russian Navy - called Andreevskiy (St Andrew's) flag The Russian campaign during the Second World War was undoubtedly the bloodiest, with roughly 8.7million soldiers killed, and an estimated 11million civilian deaths The Battle of Berlin, which ended with the capture of the German capital by Russian forces, lasted from April 20 until the morning of May 2 The celebrations came as a Nato meeting in Washington DC yesterday hit out at Russian military 'aggression' in recent years Stoltenberg urged Russia to return three Ukrainian navy vessels and its sailors which it seized in November near Crimea - annexed by Moscow in 2014 in a move not internationally recognised. He said: 'We are stepping up our efforts in the Black Sea region.' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Nato members agreed to study strategies to face non-traditional warfare from Russia, which is also accused of meddling in a series of Western elections. 'Vladimir Putin harbours dark dreams of imperialism. This is evident from his invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, his meddling in Syria and now in Venezuela. 'He wants to split our alliance and weaken our democratic resolve.' Pompeo said Nato needed to confront 'Russian aggression' but also 'emerging threats' including the rise of China as well as Iran. The US has had less support over these two issues, with Nato allies backing an international accord on ending Iran's nuclear program, which President Donald Trump withdrew from. Us Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Nato needed to confront 'Russian aggression' but also 'emerging threats' including the rise of China as well as Iran. The calls were echoed by Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to return three Ukrainian navy vessels and its sailors which it seized in November near Crimea - annexed by Moscow in 2014 in a move not internationally recognised. Stoltenberg was questioned by reporters yesterday over whether Nato is provoking Russia by considering membership for Ukraine and Georgia But Stoltenberg said the 'big powers' cannot dictate terms to other countries. He said: 'As soon as you accept that that's a provocation against Russia, then you accept that Russia has the right to decide what neighbours can do' Pompeo has also been seeking - with limited success - to persuade US allies not to choose Chinese telecom giant Huawei for their fifth-generation networks, warning that the company poses risks to security and personal privacy. But Putin hit back at the comments, arguing that Nato has posed a threat by its eastward expansion into the former Soviet bloc and accused the US of plotting a coup with its bid to oust Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolas Maduro. Russia criticised the Black Sea plan and voiced regret that Nato 'has no intention to renounce its political and military confrontation with Russia.' 'It is time to stop bringing back the Eastern threat. In the interest of peace, the world needs a de-escalation of military and political tensions,' Russia's foreign ministry said yesterday. Replying to the question of if Nato was provoking Russia by considering membership for Ukraine and Georgia, Stoltenberg said the 'big powers' cannot dictate terms to other countries. He said: 'As soon as you accept that that's a provocation against Russia, then you accept that Russia has the right to decide what neighbours can do.' Nato allies have also seen rising friction with Turkey, which has been clamping down on dissent and has bought a major missile defence system from Russia. A soldier, wearing the Russian military hat called an ushanka, balances his gun between his knee and arm as he crouches to sort out his boot A police officer with his brass instruments rests on a small fold-able chair today as the preparations for May 9 got underway The large number of soldiers saw some armed with guns during the preparations today in Moscow. Some (centre) were pictured smiling during the march A large group of soldiers march with their weapons over their shoulders during the parade today. There is heightened tensions between Russia and Nato, but Putin called for it to be de-escalated This came despite the US suspending its participation in the F-35 fighter-jet program. But in a positive step, the Nato meeting saw the end to a long-running standoff with the participation of the foreign minister of North Macedonia. The former Yugoslav republic had been in limbo for years, with Greece objecting to the name Macedonia, due to it historically being tied to Hellenic, rather than Slavic, civilisation. Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras brokered a deal to welcome the country after it changed its name to North Macedonia and it is expected to enter Nato as its 30th member later this year. The country's foreign minister, Georgios Katrougalos, said the deal can offer a 'blueprint' for resolving conflicts as leaders need not see 'history as a prison.' The meeting came after a decade that saw Nato's focus shift beyond Europe, with the alliance engaged in the Afghanistan conflict for nearly 18 years. Sarah Cahill, 41, from Middleton, Greater Manchester was jailed for nine years at Minshull Street Crown Court under the terms of an extended sentence after a judge ruled she was a 'dangerous' offender A spurned lesbian armed with three knives broke into the home of a woman she had become infatuated with in a scene reminiscent of 'a horror movie', a court heard. Sarah Cahill, 41, from Middleton, Greater Manchester fell in love with the victim after she was appointed as her voluntary sponsor at Alcoholics Anonymous. But when the victim failed to reciprocate her feelings, she sent disturbing messages threatening to cut her father's throat before eventually storming her home. The shock incident took place at around 3.30am on October 16 last year as the victim, who lives with her parents, was asleep at home in Bury, Greater Manchester. Cahill, who had drunk strong lager that night, smashed her way inside using a plant pot to break a patio window and started demanding to speak to the victim. She was only restrained thanks to the woman's father who got out of bed and grabbed her before she could cause any injury. It emerged she had a Stanley knife in her handbag plus two other knives in her pockets. At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester Cahill was jailed for nine years under the terms of an extended sentence after a judge ruled she was a 'dangerous' offender. She admitted aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, stalking and having a bladed article at an earlier hearing. Sentencing Cahill, Judge Bernard Lever said: 'This was a serious example of a very serious offence. You entered the complainant's home at 3.30am which must have been terrifying for the family. 'I have to certify that you are dangerous in these circumstances. You won't be released until the parole board is satisfied that you are no longer dangerous. 'I am doing this to reassure the victims and because I have a duty to ensure safety from you to the general public.' The court also heard how Cahill had sent messages to the victim saying she would 'die for her' by self harm. And added: 'I just know in my heart it is you, you are the love of my life, I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world. 'I am in love with you, I always have been and always will be. I wish I could make love to you just once.' Cahill admitted aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, stalking and having a bladed article at an earlier hearing. She was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court (pictured) She later left a voicemail vowing to break into the victim's home and stab her. In a statement the unnamed victim said: 'The messages disturbed and frightened me. Everything I felt was an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame. 'I often lay awake at night worrying about this - I didn't tell my mother and father what had been happening because I was embarrassed. When she threatened to slit his throat I felt sick and terrified. 'That night I thought I was safe in my home and it turns out I wasn't. I keep thinking about seeing the first knife and being so shocked that she had come to stab me all I could think about was protecting my dad. I was so anxious I couldn't leave the house for nine days after.' Outlining the background to the case, Prosecutor Robert Elias said: 'Sarah became infatuated with the complainant to the extent that this became an obsession. 'Her feelings were not reciprocated not least because the complainant isn't gay and this turned to feelings of resentment, and crystallised in a drunken desire by Sarah to stab the complainant. 'They had been long term friends for four years having met through Alcoholics Anonymous and the complainant acting as a sponsor to Sarah. 'They formed a friendship described as almost 'sibling like' and Sarah thought she had fallen in love but the complainant had an existing relationship. 'Sarah found it difficult to accept this and became obsessed with the complainant. She picked up her first drink in two years and texted saying she was going to hurt herself.' The court heard the victim tried to contact Cahill as she knew of a previous self harm incident and she found her that day and encouraged her to get help. But that evening Cahill bombarded her with a number of voice mails and text messages saying: 'If your dad ever calls me again I'll cut his throat. You would be nothing without your mum.' It was then followed by other messages adding: 'I don't mean what I'm saying we had some good times didn't we?' and saying: 'You could have stopped this you silly girl.' A further message warned of her coming to the victim's house break through the window and stab her. On the night of the attack, the victim awoke to the sound of banging at the front door and looked out of the bedroom window to see Cahill outside. Her father was about to get dressed but she initially prevented him from going downstairs and the family remained in a bedroom whilst police were called. Mr Elias said: 'Sarah was shouting through the letter box pleading to speak with the complainant. She used a plant pot to smash through the patio window she was armed with three knives there was then a violent incident where the victims father tried to prevent her from reaching his daughter and pinned Sarah to the floor. 'The complainant spoke with Sarah to calm her down then noticed a very long knife and she thought she wanted to kill them all. She asked if there were any more knives and she was found to be in possession of two others.' Police arrested Cahill following a struggle in which she threw a bottle of fluid at officers. She told officers she had a personality disorder and 'issues with rejection.' It emerged she had a previous conviction from 2008 for harassment. Speaking in court, the victim's mother said: 'We have shown nothing but kindness to this woman especially our daughter. When she did break into the house I couldn't breath properly.' While her father said: 'That night left me feeling very shocked and nervy in my own home, it can only be likened to a horror movie.' And Judge Lever, finishing his sentencing, said: 'The three victims experienced hurt and it is noteworthy that the mother has commented that you were always treated by them with nothing but kindness. 'You know that these three people will have been so worried and hurt by your behaviour.' Cosi Doerfel, 47, from Munich, slept apart from her Remainer husband for three weeks after they argued about Brexit Two Remainers almost divorced when one became such a fierce anti-Brexit campaigner that they had to sleep in separate beds. Cosi Doerfel, 47, from Munich, who lives near Liverpool with her Scottish husband Jim, 49, from Ayre, and their two children, aged eight and 11, slept apart from him for three weeks and even looked for a new place to live when they argued about Brexit. She had started campaigning with the In-Limbo Project, for EU citizen's in the UK, as she was concerned about how the UK's decision would affect her rights. Cosi, who is disabled and has lived in the country for 30 years, also said that it had forced her herbal teas business to close down, leaving her family reliant on Jim's electrician job for income. 'The more time I spent on researching Brexit and the In-Limbo Project, the more my husband did not want to face up to what I was discovering,' she said. 'It seemed monstrous to him and he couldnt believe that what I was saying was true. Cosi and her Scottish husband Jim, 49, who works as an electrician, live together with their children near Liverpool Cosi became a major anti-Brexit campaigner and joined the In-Limbo Project after learning what Brexit could mean for her 'The more time I spent on the computer, reading legal texts and government webpages as well as supporting the In-Limbo group members, the less we spoke. 'He couldnt cope with the fact that I was diagnosed with PTSD and that the objectification and insults at the hands of the Home Office and the politicians had caused old wounds to open up and the therapy I was undergoing was also taking a lot of my time and energy. 'We drifted further and further apart and had more and more arguments until eventually we were sleeping in separate rooms and only living in the same house because neither was prepared to leave the children - we both refused to move out. 'However, things got so bad and scary that I did actually contemplate moving and enquired at the town hall about what my rights are and whether there was any help available for me. 'There was none. 'In between this hectic schedule, we had a fight which culminated in him sleeping on the guest bed for about two or three weeks and things became unbearable. She had also started a herbal tea business which she says folded because of Brexit Although the business was yet to provide much income, she had hoped it would help supplement her husband's wages Cosi said that she also looked for another place to live after her and her husband clashed over Brexit 'I had to get out and enquired at the town hall about social housing and whether there was any help available if I left at short notice. 'I was told that here was nothing they could do for me. 'There wasnt any domestic violence, so I couldnt go to a shelter and housing benefit has been scrapped - its all universal credit now, but only British citizens can get universal credit. 'I was stuck. 'Two days later my husband broke down in tears and said that he was proud of my campaigning against Brexit, that he had been too optimistic thinking that it would never happen, that he admired my strength and fighting spirit and thanked me for campaigning. 'He also asked whether I was having an affair - to which I laughed and said I wish. We started talking again; he joined anti-Brexit groups on Facebook, he joined me at anti-Brexit events and has listened to my speeches. 'It took over a year for my speeches to reach the person who should have been closest to me. He actively campaigns online and at real events, but also looks after the children and the household to enable me to do more in the campaign against Brexit.' Although she looked at moving out of the Liverpool family home because of disagreements with her husband, she felt she couldn't leave because of her 11-year-old and eight-year-old children Cosi has campaigned against Brexit since the 2016 EU referendum. She is allowed to stay in the UK under the Indefinite Leave to Remain scheme but says the UK government is already going back on some of its promises. 'Although I have now obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain through the EU Settlement Scheme, I do not know whether the government will stay true to the promises that were made about settled status,' she said. 'Several things have already been changed about it, several promises already broken. 'For example, the time I can be out of the country without losing the status has been reduced from five years to two years. 'I do not know what the Home Office will do with the data they obtained from me (including facial recognition data, my fingerprints and all my tax records). She also said that she can stay in the UK, where she has lived for 30 years, because of the Leave to Remain scheme Cosi, pictured here with her husband and daughter, said that Britain's decision to leave the EU has affected 'every aspect' of her life When Brexit happened she stopped doing a business development course at the Chamber of Commerce. Her business also folded. 'The business was something I had put my heart and soul into and studied towards', she said. 'I went to university to study herbal medicine. I put a lot of brain power into it. 'I just thought lets get this stupid referendum out of the way and then Ill register the business with HMRC and of course the referendum results came out and it was not what I expected. 'That completely threw a spanner in the works, I may as well throw the last 12 years in the bin.' With all the family income just coming from her husband, Cosi said that they have had to cut back on expenses such as travel, meaning she gets to see her family less. 'Im not available to work and Im not bringing anything anymore. Ive had to rely on my husband. 'There was no money in the business at the time, but I was hoping it could add to the income we rely on. 'Weve had to economise even more so that we can still pay for the childrens activities because we prioritise them a lot.' She also said that Britain's decision to leave the EU has affected 'every aspect' of her life. 'Having lived in the UK all my adult life means that all my qualifications are British and not recognised elsewhere,' Cosi said. 'I have paid National Insurance Contributions for nineteen years and now do not know whether I will be able to get a pension and I am too old to start again in another country. 'Brexit has affected every aspect of my life; my mental health, relationships with friends, husband, children, everything.' Emmanuel Macron (pictured today) believes it is 'premature' to assume they will grant Britain another extension to the Brexit negotiation period Emmanuel Macron is leading European efforts to stop Britain from getting any new delay to Brexit without a 'clear and credible' plan for leaving, saying we should otherwise be left to quit 'in a disorderly manner'. Paris today attacked both Theresa May's plea to postpone leaving until June 30 and a separate plan from European Council president Donald Tusk to keep us in the trade bloc for a year. A French diplomatic source said Mr Tusk's idea for a 'flextension' until March 29 2020 was 'a clumsy trial balloon' ahead of an emergency summit next Wednesday. And European affairs minister Amelie de Montchalin warned that Theresa May's desire for a short extension of Article 50 with a break mechanism to leave sooner if a Withdrawal Agreement passed through Parliament was not likely to succeed. 'The European council took a clear decision on 21 March Another extension requires the UK to put forward a plan with clear and credible political backing,' she told the Guardian. 'The council would then define the necessary conditions attached to that extension, she said. 'In the absence of such a plan, we would have to acknowledge that the UK chose to leave the EU in a disorderly manner.' The French intransigence came as senior Dutch and German politicians also questioned Mrs may's request for a delay to June - after a similar request was rejected out at the last summit in March and two shorter ones imposed. Dutch premier Mark Rutte said May's letter seeking the extension 'raises many questions' and there will have to be 'intense discussions' ahead of a crucial summit of European leaders next Wednesday that will decide on the issue. 'The plan was that the British would explain what they wanted from the EU,' Rutte told a weekly press conference. 'A letter was sent today which, as far as I am concerned, doesn't answer this request (from the EU for more information). I hope it will be possible to give the answers to these questions.' Rutte - who has been one of the most outspoken EU leaders on Brexit as his country faces the risk of an economic shock if Britain leaves without a deal - said the letter had 'no full plan, there was only part of a plan.' 'We hope London will provide more clarity before Wednesday,' German foreign minister Heiki Mass added that 'many questions' remained about Mrs May's plan. Theresa May will write to EU Council President Donald Tusk to request an extension to Article 50 that will delay the UK's departure beyond April 12 - but Mr Tusk will insist in it being a year-long delay into 2020 Meanwhile former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt took a swipe at Jacob Rees-Mogg after the Tory Brexiteer hit out at plans for even closer EU integration. Mr Rees-Mogg had tweeted suggesting that if the UK was forced to accept a long Brexit delay we should 'be as difficult as possible' and 'veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macron's integrationist schemes'. In response, Mr Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, said: 'For those in the EU who may be tempted to further extend the Brexit saga, I can only say, be careful what you wish for.' Mr Verhofstadt lashed out at Jacob Rees-Mogg after the Tory Brexiteer suggested the UK could use a longer Brexit delay to be ' as difficult as possible' inside the bloc The Prime Minister said she will seek to secure ratification and departure before the European Parliament elections on May 23, but will make 'responsible preparations' for the UK to take part in the polls if that does not prove possible. The request will be considered at an emergency EU summit on April 10, where it requires the unanimous agreement of the leaders of the remaining 27 member states. But Mr Tusk is recommending a longer postponement of one year, with a break clause in the case of earlier ratification, in a so-called 'flextension' deal. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said today that Britain's request needed to be clarified before or at next week's summit. 'Theresa May's letter raises many questions, which need to be discussed', Mr Rutte told reporters in the Netherlands. 'We hope for more clarity from London before next Wednesday.' Mrs May has already obtained one extension to the Article 50 withdrawal process, postponing the date of Brexit from March 29 to April 12 - next Friday. She was forced to seek a second delay after her deal was rejected for a third time by MPs last week. In her letter, she wrote: 'The Government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible.' Mrs May said if ongoing talks with Labour do not lead to a 'single unified approach soon' then the Government would instead look to establish a 'consensus' on options on a future relationship that could be put to the Commons. She wrote: 'The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same.' Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested the UK should retaliate to any long extension by using its continued membership to block moves towards closer EU integration. 'If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible,' he tweeted. 'We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block (French President Emmanuel) Macron's integrationist schemes.' Talks aimed at finding a way out of the Brexit deadlock are continuing between the Government and Labour negotiating teams on Friday. A man charged with the murder of a Brisbane doctor has been accused of deliberately running him over as he went for an early morning jog. Peter Dunne, 53, was killed at about 4am in Tarragindi, Brisbane in February, in a brutal hit-and-run. The father-of-three was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital with critical head injuries and died six weeks later on Sunday. Thomas Hill was arrested on Thursday by Queensland Police for the alleged murder of Mr Dunne. It is believed that the two men were known to each other. Father-of-three Peter Dunne (pictured) was on his morning jog at Tarragindi, in Brisbane, Queensland, on February 18, when he was struck by a car Thomas Hill was arrested on Thursday by Queensland Police for the murder of Mr Dunne The 32-year-old was charged with murder, failing to remain at the scene, and showing callous disregard by failing to assist the injured man. CCTV footage shows a car driving on the street, which police believe was driven by Mr Hill. Detective Inspector Mark Thompson told the media that police will allege the hit-and-run was deliberate. 'We will be alleging that the offender deliberately and willfully struck the victim with his vehicle,' he said. 'We will be alleging that he deliberately aimed his vehicle at the victim and ran him down.' Police believe the pair knew each other but no further information was shared. Mr Hill appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and did not apply for bail. His lawyer said he will be fighting the charges. Police have now released a picture of Joe Atkinson after he entered a guilty plea today A 25-year-old maths graduate has admitted murdering his betting analyst girlfriend, who was found dead with stab wounds to her head and neck in the flat they shared together. Joe Atkinson appeared in Leeds Crown Court today to change his plea in relation to the murder of Poppy Devey Waterhouse. Miss Devey Waterhouse's family wept in the public gallery throughout the hearing. The 24-year-old was pronounced dead at the couples flat in Leeds in December last year. The analyst, who was born in London and moved to Leeds to work for bookmaker William Hill, had suffered trauma to the head and the neck. She had been awarded a bachelor's degree in financial mathematics, and had achieved A*s in her A-levels in both maths and further maths - as well as an A in law. Previously, Miss Devey-Waterhouse had managed 9 A*s and 3 As in her GCSEs at Frome Community College in Somerset. According to reports she also played and coached tennis to children when living at home. Joe Atkinson today pleaded guilty to murdering his girlfriend Poppy Devey Waterhouse (the couple pictured together right, Poppy, left) Her social media accounts feature many pictures of the couple holidaying all over the world. Globe trotter Miss Devey-Waterhouse, originally from Frome, Somerset, enjoyed travelling with Joe. Last year alone they visited the Greek island of Santorini, Belgium, Morocco, Lithuania - where Joe celebrated his birthday - Sweden and Denmark. In 2017 the couple went backpacking for six months to South America, the USA. And she also enjoyed trips to Australia and Thailand and Indonesia. Atkinson was due to go on trial in June after pleading not guilty to murder in January. Poppy Devey Waterhouse was a data analyst and lived in Leeds with her boyfriend Joe Atkinson (left, police pictured outside the property, right) However, he today pleaded guilty during a brief hearing in which no details of the case were revealed. The defendant spoke only to enter his plea. Atkinson was returned to custody and will be sentenced on April 12. Relatives of both Miss Devey Waterhouse and Atkinson wept in the public gallery throughout the hearing. Atkinsons parents cried as he entered his guilty plea. An inquest into Miss Devey Waterhouses death has been opened and adjourned pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. Prosecutor Jason Pitter QC said there can be only one type of sentence for the murder, but that all the relevant material for Mr Justice Lavender will be available next Friday when Atkinson is sentenced. Joe and Poppy had shared a flat together in Leed (police pictured outside the building) Miss Devey-Waterhouse achieved 9 A*s and 3 As in her GCSEs, as well as 2 As and 1 A at A-level A William Hill spokesman previously said: 'We are providing support to her colleagues who are obviously very shocked and saddened. 'She was a very young, recently-joined member of the team, highly intelligent and she was a member of the research and development team, who work on quantitative techniques for trading.' A post mortem exam was carried out on December 15 which found that the case of death had been a head and neck trauma. 'On the morning on December 14, a call was received by the ambulance service in relation to an assault by stabbing at an address in Leeds. 'Police and paramedics attended. Paramedics certified death at 9.03am.' The CPS has said they will release more information following sentencing next week. Joe Atkinson appeared in Leeds Crown Court today [April 5] to change his plea in relation to the murder of 24-year-old Poppy Devey Waterhouse Authorities say two people suspected of defacing the gravesite of former President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford in Michigan have turned themselves over to police. A Grand Rapids city police spokesman told reporters Thursday that the crime occurred outside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum around 4.07pm on March 27. Surveillance video and images captured the moment the duo walked on to the property and sat together on top of the gravesite. The man was then caught on camera appearing to mark or dig into panels that say, 'Lives Committed to God, Country and Love.' The woman was seen kicking her skateboard into the panels. The photos show the man appearing to mark or dig into the grave site's panels that say, 'Lives Committed to God, Country and Love' Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan said the duo came forward voluntarily Thursday after surveillance video of them was circulated through the media The unnamed twosome are suspecting of defacing the gravesite of former President Gerald Ford and first lady Betty Ford was defaced on March 27 'We are saddened and very disappointed that anyone would show disrespect to the burial site of President and Mrs. Ford, or to any gravesite, in this way,' said Geir Gundersen, acting director of Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Gerald and Betty Ford are buried outside the museum dedicated to the former's time in the White House during the mid 1970s. Gerald died in 2006. Betty Ford died in 2011. Police said they will forward the case onto the Kent County Prosecutor's Office for review and consideration of possible charges once their investigation is complete. The last time and only other time the Fords' gravesite was defaced happened back in February of 2018 when bikers jumped the site's fence and performed wheelies against the wall, according to WOOD-TV. Police in south-east China are investigating after a man assaulted a store employee over some candy in a drunken rampage. The staff member, surnamed Liu, said the man was looking for some orange-flavoured lollipop at the convenience store in Nanchang, Jiangxi province last Tuesday, Chinese media reported. However, when Liu told the man that the shop doesn't sell them, he flew into a rage and started raining punches on the employee. Police in Nanchang, south-east China's Jiangxi province are investigating after a man assaulted a store employee over some candy in a drunken rampage Shocking surveillance footage of the incident shows the man, dressed in a black jacket, pointing a finger at the employee and stepping behind the cashier's counter. He is filmed shoving and pushing the employee, who tries to escape by moving towards one of the aisles. The drunk man then follows him and is seen beating him up. Shocking surveillance footage of the incident shows the man, dressed in a black jacket, pointing a finger at the employee and stepping behind the cashier's counter The store owner told reporters that products on three metal shelves in the store were knocked over during the fight and police are now investigating Moments later, the man's girlfriend intervened and stopped the fight, Liu told Kan Kan News. He immediately called the police after the man fled the scene. The store owner told reporters that products on three metal shelves in the store were knocked over during the fight. The incident remains under investigation, the report added. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Amid a maze of white walls displaying blue-chip artworks from 242 galleries across the globe at this years Art Basel Hong Kong, I found myself dwelling in a small booth covered in fragments of balikbayan boxes, starkly contrasting the ubiquitous gloss of Asias biggest art fair. Fragile and fading, the cheap cardboard medium almost felt subversive in a place flooded with polished works worth millions of dollars. The familiar material served as a subtle reminder of home, isolated in an atmosphere that almost felt alien in its global glamour. On display were the works of Filipino-Canadian artist Jill Paz, represented by Manila-based gallery 1335 Mabini. Paz migrated back to the Philippines only a year ago after living in the U.S. and Canada since the early 80s. Since coming home, she has confronted the tensions of rediscovering her roots and understanding the unfamiliarity of her home country. Her works draw from her unresolved conflicts in migration and memory, employing the iconic balikbayan box as an invaluable material to symbolize Philippine diaspora. While Hidalgo and Paz are personally linked as ancestor and descendent, they also expose the collective, overlapping realities faced by Filipino artists from over a century ago up to today artists who share similar struggles in diaspora, rootedness, and the inevitability of foreign influences. In photo: Jill Paz, After Hidalgo (La Barca de Aqueronte). Photo by NICOLE SORIANO Jill Paz looks at Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo Etched on her cardboard pieces are faded depictions of paintings by the late 19th century artist, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. Recognized as the romantic painter that brought pride to the country by winning prestigious awards in Europe, Hidalgo is also Pazs great grand-uncle. As a child, Paz grew up surrounded by his masterpieces, many of which were destroyed in the Second World War and salvaged by her grandfather. In an effort to reclaim her identity as a Filipina, Paz reinterprets these works that resonated with her as a child, maintaining the worn quality of the paintings and highlighting their difficult story of almost being lost in history. While museum workers go through painstaking efforts to preserve and immortalize the paintings of Hidalgo and his contemporaries, Pazs renditions of Hidalgo on cardboard are hazy, punctured, and refreshingly imperfect laying bare the reality that pieces of the past persist to be unstable, transient, and broken. Pazs works appear as an intimate, unfinished conversation between the two artists. While Hidalgo and Paz are personally linked as ancestor and descendent, they also expose the collective, overlapping realities faced by Filipino artists from over a century ago up to today artists who share similar struggles in diaspora, rootedness, and the inevitability of foreign influences. It is thus fitting that such a conversation unveiled in Hong Kong: a place where hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers have been displaced in hopes of earning a living, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos have kept and transported their own pieces of home in cheap and faded balikbayan boxes. Pacita Abad's works on display came from her 1980s series, Masks and Spirits, which are intricate depictions of the tribal masks that enamored her throughout her wandering lifestyle. In photo: Pacita Abada, On Reaching. Photo by NICOLE SORIANO Entering the colors of Pacita Abad Another Filipina artist showcased at the fair is no stranger to the realities of migration. Having travelled to over 50 countries and lived in places from the U.S., Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sudan, to the Singapore, Pacita Abad built her artistic career on her exposure to diverse cultures and traditions around the globe. Abads works inspired by her travels were highlighted in a special exhibit by Silverlens Gallery. Juxtaposing the nostalgic and monochromatic works of Paz, Abads works radiate with color and vitality. Her bright and bold style is steeped in having traversed a myriad of landscapes and histories, where she drew inspiration from the unique skills and indigenous materials she encountered in the communities she immersed in. Known for her mesmerizing colors and patterns, Abad experimented with forms and mediums that broke artistic boundaries in the 70s and 80s, eventually developing her own distinct trapunto technique, wherein she layers a mix of stones, sequins, buttons, mirrors, and printed textiles on quilted canvases. The results are large, visually arresting pieces that exude the excitement of cultures brimming with pulsating life and energy. A departure from depicting solely Filipino themes, Abads works reflect her courage in diving in and dwelling in the traditions of others. Her works on display came from her 1980s series, Masks and Spirits, which are intricate depictions of the tribal masks that enamored her throughout her wandering lifestyle. At first glance, her canvases are evocative of Picassos iconic cubist works, which were similarly inspired by the tribal masks of Africa. But, moving closer to Abads canvases, one detects her sensitivity to the local materials and techniques she weaves in her works, reflective of one deeply immersed in the crafts of tribal heritages. Abad appears to refuse staying comfortable in the safe and familiar; fully absorbing the contrasting cultures she experienced and expressing them with compassion and compulsion on her canvases. Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan's work on display came from a series entitled The Left Wing Project, wherein the couple originally collaborated with local artists, blacksmiths, and farmers from Yogyakarta, Indonesia to create wing sculptures made of sickles. In Photo: Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, Left Wing Project (Belok Kiri Jalan Terus), Wing 10. Photo by NICOLE SORIANO The stories behind the wings of Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan Moving to the booth of the Singapore-based Yavuz Gallery, I stopped in awe before a large wing containing sickles as feathers. Powerful and piercing, the work was created by the distinguished Brisbane-based Filipino couple, Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan who have, like Abad, made their mark on the international platform for their radical experimentations on themes of migration and the plight of marginalized groups. Their work on display came from a series entitled The Left Wing Project, wherein the couple originally collaborated with local artists, blacksmiths, and farmers from Yogyakarta, Indonesia to create wing sculptures made of sickles. The works initially confronted a dark period in Indonesias history: the mass killings of half a million alleged leftists during the mid- 60s. Since the series inception in 2015, the couple has traveled around Asia and used their work to open themselves up to the grim social realities faced by other rural communities in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Unearthing and exposing difficult stories often left buried in collective memories, the Aquilizans offer a vital way to stand in solidarity with oppressed groups from neighboring countries, using their journeys across underrepresented communities to remember, provoke, and forge ties through art-making. Silverlens' Kabinett booth at Art Basel Hong Kong featuring works of Pacita Abad. Photo by NICOLE SORIANO Reconciling migration and identity While each unique in their own right, the Filipino artists being given a voice on the international platform today are undeniably linked through shared struggles in movement, migration, and identity. Filled with curiosity and care, they revisit personal and collective pasts to feel rooted and dive in rich traditions, cultures, and histories to build connections with others. But, perhaps the most pervading sentiment among all is the inherent longing to belong whether to places, persons, or stories in a world often too cold, too big, and too harsh to bear. Waiting alone at a gate in the Hong Kong airport with dozens of other Filipinos, I watched as people grumbled at the 45-minute delay and second time gates were changed. I overheard one fantasizing about eating warm, home-cooked meals; while another was eager to get home just in time to catch her childs graduation. I could not help but think that among Filipinos displaced around the globe, the feeling translated by these artists remains real and urgent in the present: lured in by the illusion of color and life overseas, we often find ourselves struggling to stay afloat, relentlessly searching for the warmth of the places we call home. The brother of the 23-year-old man who claimed he was missing 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen has apologized to Timmothy's family and revealed his sibling's extensive history of lying and crimes. Brian Rini is in police custody awaiting charges. On Wednesday, he approached a woman in a parking lot in Kentucky and claimed he was Timmothy, who vanished in 2011 after his mother's suicide. The FBI ran a DNA test on Thursday which proved he was not the boy, bringing fresh devastation to his family. Rini's brother Jonathon, who has not spoken to him for four years, spoke out on Thursday night to apologize to the Pitzens. He said he had no idea why his brother lied and did not know how he even knew about the case as he had never heard of Timmothy until this week. He revealed that Brian was often in juvenile detention as a teenager then started going to 'actual jail' in his late teens. Jonathon also revealed his older brother has suffered from mental health problems. He said: 'He has several mental issues. He has Aspergers, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, the list goes on. 'He was receiving treatment, but then he stopped and started getting in more trouble, actually started going to, well...he was in juvy a lot when we were kids and the he started going to actual jail, and then he recently just got out of prison.' Police said Brian Michael Rini (left in his mugshot on Thursday) from Medina, Ohio, lied to investigators when he claimed to be missing Illinois boy Timmothy Pitzen (right) when he was found wandering around on Wednesday Brian was released from prison on March 7 after serving an 18-month sentence for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. He posed as a house hunter in Medina, Ohio, and asked to be shown model homes, claiming he had $800,000 in the bank. After touring one, he broke into it the next day and held a house party that caused more than $1,000 in damage. Police believe he got in by watching the realtor as they punched in the code to open the garage door to it. Rini and his friends advertised the party on Facebook and told guests to 'BYO drugs'. Four people, including Rini, were arrested as part of it. His other crimes include burglary and theft. Jonathon said his brother should remain locked up. 'Once he started using my name for things he was doing, I have no compassion for him whatsoever. He used my name in a traffic stop in Norton and then skipped court and I received a traffic warrant for it. 'I'd tell the family that I'm sorry for what he's done, but for him, I wouldn't even speak to him,' he told Fox 8. Timmothy's remaining family say they are devastated after the man claiming to be their missing son turned out to be a 23-year-old criminal. Rini's brother Jonathon spoke out on Thursday night to apologize Timmothy's family and say his brother deserved to be in jail Rini (left on after claiming that he was the missing boy and right in a mugshot) has an extensive of false claims to police, his criminal records show . He recently finished serving an 18 burglary sentence, before emerging in Newport This is the house that Rini broke into in 2016 and held a house party in after touring it with a realtor. He memorized the code as they punched it into the garage door then returned with his friends They trashed the model home with their party, smashing glass and causing thousand of dollars worth of damage Among the items left at the house were cigarette ends put out in solo cups filled with booze There were also diapers left in the bathroom as a result of the day-long house party Prescription medication was also discovered. It's not clear if it was they belonged to Rini, who has ADHD and bipolar among other conditions Rini and his friends advertised the party on Facebook and told people to bring their own drugs 'It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again and Timmothy's father is devastated once again,' the boy's aunt Kara Jacobs said in a press conference. The family said that they were elated when they first heard that a boy claiming to be Timmothy had been found wandering the streets of Newport, Kentucky. He told police that he had been kidnapped but had fled his abductors in Cincinnati, Ohio, and run across state lines to safety. But that hope was cruelly dashed when police ran a DNA test and found that 'Timmothy' was actually 23-year-old ex-convict Brian Michael Rini. 'It's been awful,' said Timmothy's grandmother Alana Anderson. 'We're been on tenterhooks it's been exhausting.' Incredibly, Anderson said the family didn't feel anger towards the fraudster, only pity. 'It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again and Timmothy's father is devastated once again,' the boy's aunt Kara Jacobs (pictured with his grandmother Alana Anderson at a press conference) 'I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else,' she said. Timmothy vanished on May 11 2011, after being taken out of school by his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen. She committed suicide in a motel room soon after and left a note saying the boy was safe but would never be found. 'Although we are disappointed that this turned out to be a hoax, we remain diligent in our search for Timmothy, as our missing person's case remains unsolved,' an Aurora Police Department spokesperson said. Another of Timmothy's aunts, Jen West, was even more generous and said that, while she was crushed, there could be a silver lining to the hoax as it has renewed interest in her nephew's missing person's case. Brian Rini's criminal history July 2017: Rini pleaded guilty to 'disorderly conduct' and 'criminal trespass' after breaking into a home and causing $1,250 worth of damage after throwing an elaborate house party. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and released in March this year December 2016: pleaded guilty plea/no contest to theft charges April 2016: guilty plea/no contest to 'making false alarms about law enforcement' December 2015: guilty plea/no contest after 'writing a series of bad checks' November 2015: pleaded guilty/no contest to two counts of theft June 2015: pleaded guilty/no contest after dialing 911 to falsely claim to police that his ex-girlfriend was going to commit suicide April 2015: pleaded guilty/no contest to once count of 'passing bad checks' - fifth degree felony October 2013: pleaded guilty/no contest to 'falsification' Source: Fox 19 Advertisement 'It's a blessing in that respect, that the more coverage he gets, the better,' said West, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. It is still not clear why Rini pretended to be the family's missing child. Police have not yet announced any charges but lying about felony offences to the police can result in felony charges, which carry anything from probation up to ten years in jail, plus multiple other charges. Rini appears to have a history criminal behavior including charges for burglary, vandalism, using bad checks and giving fraudulent information to the police. He's only been released from an Ohio jail for the burglary a few weeks before making the Timmothy claim, on March 7. Police have confirmed they are investigating Rini's claims that he had been kidnapped and acknowledged that he had a history of issuing false statements to authorities. In 2018, the alleged Pitzner impersonator was arrested and charged by the Norton Police Department on one count of falsification. Police say he lied about two friends fighting in the back of his car, giving them vague details about the incident using the vehicle's in-car emergency alert system. He then gave officers false identification and social-security information, which later turned out to belong to his brother. He was also arrested and charged in 2017 with burglary and vandalism after breaking into a home in Medina County, Ohio, and throwing an elaborate house party that caused $1,250 worth of damage, The Medina Gazette reports. Rini had just finished serving an 18 month sentence in Belmont Correctional Institute when he emerged in Newport claiming to be Timmothy. He has been in and out of prison over the past six years, according to WLWT. In the wake of the DNA results, Timmothy's grandmother Alana Anderson expressed the devastation the family is now feeling, following their brief moment of hope. 'It's been awful,' Anderson told reporters. 'We've been on tender-hooks,' adding that the family has been 'alternatively hopeful and frightened' over the last 24 hours. An age processed image released last year predicts what Timmothy Pitzen may have looked like at age 13 When asked about Rini and his alleged false statement, Anderson offered compassion, saying the man had 'obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was someone else, and [I] hope that they can find his family.' The grandmother said their family would never give up hope that Timmothy may one day be found. 'My prayer has always been that when he is old enough, he would find us if we couldn't find him.' According to an officer's dispatch report from Wednesday, Rini had told police he was born on October 18, 2004, the same day as Timmothy, and also gave his correct middle name of James. The report also said he claimed that he had managed to flee 'from two kidnappers that have been holding him for seven years'. He said his abductors had most recently been keeping him in a Red Roof Inn, thought to be in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rini claimed that when he saw his chance to escape, he fled and 'kept running across a bridge' - the state line - and into Newport, Kentucky. 'FBILouisville, Newport PD, and HCSO have been conducting a missing person investigation. DNA results have been returned indicating the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen,' FBI Louisville tweeted on Thursday. 'A local investigation continues into this person's true identity. To be clear, law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today.' Locals who saw Rini on Wednesday said that his face was bruised and he appeared to be 'very scared and agitated'. Timmothy vanished without a trace in 2011 following his mother Amy Fry-Pitzen's suicide (pictured together) 'He walked up to my car and he went, 'Can you help me? I just want to get home. Can you just please help me?'' a good Samaritan told a 911 dispatcher. 'And I asked him what was going on and he told me he's been kidnapped.' One woman revealed to CBS Chicago that the alleged impostor told her he had been running for two hours and that he had 'been passed around for seven years'. 'Really you felt bad for him, his face looked like he'd been beat up,' she said. 'He had a really big bruise on his face. I was hurt for him' Another resident told ABC7: 'He looked like he had been beat up, punched in the face a couple of times. You could see the fear on him and how nervous he was and how he kept pacing. He just looked odd.' On Wednesday afternoon, Rini reportedly gave police a detailed description of his alleged kidnappers, who he says have held him captive for more than seven years. He described the two kidnappers as 'two male, whites, body-builder type build,' according to the police report. 'One had black curly hair, Mt. Dew shirt and jeans & has a spider web tattoo on his neck. The other was short in stature and had a snake tattoo on his arms.' He then described his alleged captor's vehicle as a new white Ford SUV, with yellow transfer paint and a dent on the rear left bumper, registered to Wisconsin. Several police departments were instructed to search Red Roof Inns in both Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, but workers at several of the hotels said they couldn't recall anyone matching the description. His mother took Timmothy on a three-day holiday, visiting the zoo and several water-parks before she was found dead inside a Rockford motel room, having committed suicide Timmothy disappeared on May 11, 2011, shortly after being dropped off at Greenman Elementary School, in Aurora, Illinois, by his father. The boy, just six-years-old at the time, was later picked-up by his mother, who told the school she needed to take her son home because of a family emergency. Fry-Pitzen, 43, then took her son on a three-day holiday, visiting the zoo and several water-parks across different state lines. The last known images of Timmothy and his mother together were captured on CCTV, checking out of the Kalahari Resort, in Wisconsin Dells on May 12. Rini has a history of mental illness and lying to police The following day, Amy was spotted alone by a surveillance camera in a supermarket 120 miles away near Rockford, having purchased a pen, paper and some envelopes. On May 14, she was found dead inside her Rockford Inn motel room with a series of slashes to her wrists. She left behind a note that said her son was safe and in the care of others, but added: 'You'll never find him'. 'I was in total shock at the time,' Timmothy's dad James Pitzen said to Crime Watch Daily, back in 2017. 'They told me where she was found, in a cheap little motel. She had a razorblade knife and she cut herself.' Timmothy's identification card was found among Amy's possessions, but her son, the Spiderman backpack he'd been pictured leaving school with and her cellphone were all missing. James said just hours before she committed suicide he received a call from Amy saying: 'Timmothy is fine. Timmothy belongs to me. Timmothy and I will be fine. Timmothy is safe'. 'She was definitely wrestling with the demons. The demons were winning, and they eventually won,' James said. The mother grappled with depression for the majority of her adult life and had attempted to commit suicide on more than one occasion. She had also disappeared for a series of days-on-end before but never with Timmothy. A report filed by the Sharonville Police Department on Wednesday details boy's claims to be Timmothy, and even describes his alleged kidnappers In an interview with People in 2015, Timmothy's father, James Pitzen (left), described his son as a 'little mini-me' and vowed to never give up searching for him After Rini allegedly claimed to be Timmothy, the Pitzen family were given new hope. Timmothy's maternal aunt Kara Jacobs told NBC Chicago: 'We hope it's true. What's hard is the story that he escaped from captors. And your mind goes in too many directions that you don't want to think about,' . What happened to Timmothy Pitzen? On the morning of May 11, 2011, James Pitzen dropped his son off at Greenman Elementary School in Aurora. At 8:30am, Timmothy's mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, appeared at the school telling educators that she needed to remove her son from class because of a 'family emergency'. Later that day, James returned to the school to pick Timmothy up, but was told Amy withdrew him from class hours earlier. For more than a day, he found no sign of Timmothy or Amy, until eventually she called James and his brother on May 12, telling them 'Timmothy is fine. Timmothy belongs to me. Timmothy and I will be fine. Timmothy is safe'. The last CCTV images of Amy and Timmothy alive together were captured on May 12 as they checked out from the Kalahari Resort, in Wisconsin Dells. The following day, Amy was spotted alone on CCTV 120 miles away in a supermarket near Rockford, having purchased a pen, paper and some envelopes. On May 14 she was found dead in her Rockford Inn motel room having committed suicide by slashing her wrists. A note found next to her body said that Timmothy was safe, and in the care of others, but added: 'You'll never find him'. Timmothy's identification card was found inside the room, but workers at the motel said Amy had checked-in alone. Police say they've investigated several false leads since Timmothy's disappearance in 2011. The last potential breakthrough came in 2014, when a woman said she saw a boy matching his description at her yard-sale. Police were never able to confirm the sighting. Advertisement 'And what I've prayed about since he's been gone is that God will keep him close and take care of him, and that maybe by some stroke of luck, he was with people who would love him. And if that's not the case, it will be heartbreaking to get through.' However, the brief glimmer of hope turned out to be another false-lead in the missing child case. The last breakthrough in the disappearance of Timmothy came in 2014 when a woman hosting a garage sale in northern Illinois dialed 911 to tell police a boy matching his description had been standing in the front-yard of her home. Shortly before her daughter's suicide, Alana Anderson received a note from her daughter that read: 'I've taken him somewhere safe. He will be well cared for and he says that he loves you. Please know that there is nothing you could have said or done that would have changed my mind.' Aurora Police launched an investigation spanning three states including Illinois and Wisconsin after her death to find the person allegedly in possession of Timmothy. Police say they also explored the possibility Amy may have murdered her son in the midst of her turmoil and hidden the child's body somewhere. The razorblade-edged knife she used to cut her wrists with showed only traces of her blood. But three months after Timmothy's disappearance investigators found a 'concerning' amount of blood in the back seat of Amy's car. However, hope the six-year-old could still be alive was revived when the blood was later concluded to have come from a nosebleed suffered by the Timmothy several months earlier. Analyzing the exterior of Amy's SUV, police were able to determine the vehicle had at one stage been parked in a grassy area, near a stream and a road treated with glass beads. They believed this could have been the location where Amy handed over Timothy to the mysterious third-party, but nothing further came from the evidence. James Pitzen has previously said he's never given up hope that his son is alive and will one day return home to him. 'I always wonder what she told Timmothy, Why hasn't he tried to call? We taught him how to dial 911. 'This is your number, this is your mom's number, you know where you live, your address,' all the stuff you do,' he told People in 2015. 'Maybe I'll see Tim in the morning,' James said he often tells himself. 'Maybe tomorrow they'll find him.' Advertisement Hundreds of migrants have stormed a train station and clashed with riot police in Greece as part of an attempt to reopen a land route to Germany. Mothers carrying their babies were seen running from tear gas while fires were started amid chaotic scenes in the village of Diavata, close to the Greek border with Northern Macedonia. Migrants had gathered in the field hoping to make their way illegally up through the Balkans towards northern Europe. It followed reports on social media of plans for an organised movement to cross Greece's northwest border with Albania in early April. In Athens, refugees were seen lying on train tracks shouting 'Germany!' and 'open the borders' in a separate protest at the main railway station in Athens. Hundreds of migrants have stormed a train station and clashed with riot police in Greece as part of an attempt to reopen a land route to Germany. A woman is pictured running with her baby next to flames during heated clashes with cops in nortern Greece today A female migrant collapses on the ground in Diavata, Greece amid violent clashes between refugees and riot police. It comes after rumours started spreading that the borders had re-opened Anger: A migrant woman pushes with riot police outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata. Hundreds gathered in a field amid online rumours of a bid to reopen a land route to Germany Refugees sit on the railway tracks in front of a train during a protest at the central railway station in Athens Up in flames: A crowd trying to make its way towards the Greek border scuffled with police who responded with tear gas. TV footage showed shrubs burning nearby Children were seen crying and huddling together after police used tear gas during clashes outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata, west of Thessaloniki, today Separately, migrants holed up in Turkey were heading towards that country's border with Greece following false rumours that Ankara had opened its border gate. Turkish authorities have detained nearly 1,200 migrants there, Turkish media reported. By Friday morning migrants had set up more than 100 tents in the field at Diavata. A crowd trying to make its way towards the Greek border scuffled with police who responded with tear gas. TV footage showed shrubs burning nearby. 'It's a lie that the borders will open,' Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas told Greek state television, urging migrants to return to their accommodation centres. In Athens, a group of about 50 migrants squatted on the tracks of the capital's main railway station shouting 'Germany!' and 'Open the borders.' Several more were at the station under heavy police presence. Services from the station were suspended. 'We want to go to Thessaloniki and then to the borders,' said Amin Omar, a 27-year-old Iraqi Kurd sitting on the tracks. 'We don't know if they are open.' A migrant shouts during a protest outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata, west of Thessaloniki, this afternoon Flash point: A woman carrying a baby clashes with riot police during chaotic scenes outside a refugee camp in northern Greece today Riot police pin a man to the ground during the clashes in northern Greece this afternoon. Migrants had gathered in the field hoping to make their way illegally up through the Balkans towards northern Europe A man holding two baby strollers runs to avoid tear gas thrown by riot police during the violence A man in a wheel chair faces a cordon of heavily armoured Greek riot police outside of the refugee camp Riot policemen try to detain a migrant during the rally near the vastly populated refugee camp Riot police fired tear gas into fields full of migrants as they attempted to disperse the protesting crowd A woman attacks riot police officers near Daviata on Friday as police try desperately to make the migrants go back to their camps The situation revived memories of the 2015 migrant crisis, when more than one million people, mostly fleeing conflicts and poverty in the Middle East and beyond, travelled via Turkey, Greece and the Balkans towards wealthy western Europe. Turkey drastically curtailed that exodus in 2016 under a deal with the EU. Soon after, Balkan countries shut their borders, blocking a main passage way to northern Europe and stranding tens of thousands in Greece. Miltiadis Klapas, a Greek migration ministry official, said the latest movement towards the border was 'the result of completely unfounded information that there will be a mass gathering on the borders and that they will open'. 'The borders are closed because of initiatives by other countries,' he said. Turkish police have detained 496 people in Edirne, the province bordering EU member states Greece and Bulgaria, after migrants flocked there in the hope of crossing the border, state-owned Anadolu news agency said. A family run as Greek riot police throw tear gas outside a refugee camp in Diavata, a west suburb of Thessaloniki, A woman holding her child washes her face after Greek riot police threw tear gas during the clashes in northern Greece today The Athens protest occurred a day after clashes broke out near a camp for refugees and migrants in northern Greece Authorities did not immediately intervene to disperse the demonstrators but waded in after it became violent The migrants, mostly Afghan, Iranian or Pakistani, referred to themselves as the 'Convoy of Hope', it said. Some 700 migrants were also caught in the neighbouring province of Tekirdag after police were positioned on the highway in the direction of Edirne, Demiroren News Agency said. Authorities were not immediately available to confirm the reports. Reuters Television footage shot on Wednesday showed Turkish policemen in plain clothes chasing migrants around train tracks and putting them on to buses. Another group, who were sent back to Turkey after illegally crossing into Greece, anxiously waited to be sent to a repatriation centre. Greek police fired tear gas on Friday to disperse migrants who had gathered in a field near the country's border with Northern Macedonia in the hope of making their way illegally up through the Balkans towards northern Europe Hundreds have made their way to the field in the village of Diavata since Thursday, galvanized by reports on social media of plans for an organised movement to cross Greece's northwest border with Albania in early April The situation revived memories of the 2015 migrant crisis, when more than one million people, mostly fleeing conflicts and poverty in the Middle East and beyond, travelled via Turkey, Greece and the Balkans towards wealthy western Europe Migrants try to break the police cordon during clashes outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata, west of Thessaloniki The clashes in northern Greece occurred outside an overcrowded migrant camp where police used tear gas and stun grenades to push back hundreds of protesters carrying their belongings and trying to walk to the border with North Macedonia, about 40 miles to the north In Athens, police said about 300 protesters gathered at Larissis Station, many sitting on the tracks in front of trains. Authorities did not immediately intervene to disperse the demonstrators, while officials from the United Nations refugee agency were trying to persuade them to leave voluntarily Migrants blocked the main railway station in Athens in protests authorities said were triggered by false reports on social media that restrictions on travel to northern Europe had been lifted The protest in Greece today occurred a day after clashes broke out near a camp for refugees and migrants in the country, after protesters tried to break through a police cordon and reach the border with North Macedonia, which has been fenced off and heavily policed for the past three years. The German humanitarian group Sea-Eye says it is asking Berlin to use diplomatic channels to find a safe port for the 64 migrants it rescued off Libya earlier this week. Sea-Watch spokesman Carlotta Weibl said Friday that the rescue boat Alan Kurdi remains in international waters off Lampedusa and will not approach Italy's southernmost island until it has permission. She said conditions on board were worsening and that a storm was approaching. She said a request has been made to the German foreign ministry to find a solution. Malta and Italy have refused to open ports to humanitarian rescue ships, saying their activities encourage smugglers to pack unseaworthy rubber dinghies with migrants looking for sanctuary in Europe. A migrant man with his child sit at the side of blocked rail way at Larissis rail way central station in Athens Hundreds gathered in the hope of reviving a route that saw hundreds of thousands enter more prosperous countries in Europe A migrant holds a banner pleading for urgent help as he takes a stand near tents outside the refugee camp Refugees sit on the raliway tracks in front of a train during a protest at the central railway station in Athens A stolen Spoodle named Teddy has been returned home after his owners offered a $20,000 reward. Glenn and Stephanie Murray went viral after offering a $10,000 reward for his safe return, which they then doubled on Thursday. Teddy was found at a house in Armadale, Perth on Thursday night after his location was reported by a call to Crime Stoppers. The owners will give the reward to charity because the mystery person who led them to the puppy has refused to come forward to accept it. Scroll down for video Teddy (pictured with one of his owners Stephanie Murray on Twitter) was returned home last night after his location was reported to Crime Stoppers and a crime page on Facebook The stolen spoodle (right) back at home in Perth with his owners' other dog Following a check-up at the vet, the 10-week old Poodle/Cocker Spaniel cross was returned to his relieved owners. 'He's got an upset stomach but other than that he's completely on fire, he's running around having a great time with our other dog,' Mr Murray said, in PerthNow. Teddy was stolen a week ago from the Murrays' Swanbourne property. CCTV footage captured the robbery and showed a hooded figure creeping through the backyard with the young puppy in his arms. Teddy (pictured in a police car) was unharmed in the incident which saw him stolen from his owner's Swanbourne home by a masked robber Glenn and Stephanie Murray offered $20,000 for the return of their puppy, Teddy (pictured) but the person who reported his whereabouts has not come forward to collect it A 39-year-old Armadale man has been charged with stealing the puppy and will appear in court on April 30. The reward will now be pledged to a local dog refuge and the WA Police Legacy. 'We will donate some to the Shenton Park Dog Shelter and some to Police Legacy for families who have lost a loved one,' Ms Murry told 9news. She added: 'It's been a challenging week but I'd really like to thank the West Australian Police Force.' Rachel Dolezal, the former NAACP leader who pretended to be black before being unmasked as white, has reached a settlement in a welfare fraud case brought by the state of Washington. An attorney for Dolezal, who legally changed her name to Nkechi Diallo in 2016, confirmed that she accepted a diversion agreement on March 25, under which she will pay undisclosed restitution and complete 120 hours of community service. The onetime president of the NAACP's Spokane chapter was charged with theft by welfare fraud, perjury and false verification for public assistance. Court documents alleged that she illegally received $8,747 in food assistance and $100 in child care assistance from August 2015 through November 2017. Scroll down for video Rachel Dolezal, the former NAACP leader who pretended to be black for years before being unmasked as white, has reached a settlement in a Washington state welfare fraud case. Dolezal (above in June 2018) was accused last year of illegally receiving nearly $9,000 in government aid between August 2015 and November 2017 An investigation was launched in March 2017 when a state official received information that Dolezal had written her autobiography, In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World. A criminal investigator with the Department of Social and Health Services reviewed Dolezal's records and found she had been reporting that her sole source of income was $300 per month in gifts from friends. An investigation was launched in March 2017 when a state investigator was notified about Dolezal's autobiography (above) Her scheme unraveled when investigators learned that a typical contract with her book's publisher would include payments of $10,000 and $20,000 as advances against later royalties. They also found Dolezal had obtained a business license under multiple trade names which she was using to promote the sale of In Full Color as well as her art, soaps and handmade dolls. Documents say she the fraudster deposited some $84,000 into her bank account without reporting it. The 41-year-old reportedly told investigators she 'fully disclosed her information' and declined to answer further questions. After confirming Dolezal's settlement on Friday, attorney Bevin Maxey told KXLY: 'I think it's a fair and equitable resolution of the matter. 'I don't believe she tried to obtain benefits that she wasn't entitled to. Needless to say, she's been through a lot. I believe this is the appropriate way to solve it. She added: 'I think she's anxious to move beyond this and move forward with a productive life. She's a very intelligent and creative woman.' In June 2015, Dolezal's parents revealed to the media that she was born white but had been presenting herself as a black activist in Spokane. The former civil rights activist and African studies instructor has not been able to find regular employment since the bombshell reveal Dolezal sparked nationwide outrage in 2015 when her parents revealed she had been posing as a black woman for years. The former civil rights activist and African studies instructor has not been able to find regular employment since the bombshell reveal. She claimed in a BBC interview last year that ethnicity is not biological and compared being 'transracial' to being transgender. She then released her book, titled In Full Color, and people said she was using her 'white privilege' to make her arguments. In Dolezal's memoir, she likened being forced to do household chores as a child to indentured servitude and noted that she developed a 'similar resourcefulness' to that which slaves were forced to develop so she could complete her chores. She claimed that the mere act of forcing kids to do household chores was similar to 'the institution of chattel slavery in America'. Dolezal also wrote about how her first marriage ended because she was 'too black' for her African-American husband. She detailed how she evolved over the years from being a blonde white girl with freckles into her current state of 'Blackness'. Dolezal also chronicled what she said are the myriad of ways that being 'outed' as a white woman while she was passing as a black woman has impacted her life. The imposter came under fire once again in March after Netflix released the first trailer of her documentary. The streaming giant was criticized for spending money to promote someone who is 'fraudulent and problematic'. Her teenage son Franklin, who is biracial, is featured in the trailer where he implores his mother to stop publicizing her beliefs. 'I resent some of her choices and I resent some of the words she has spoken in interviews,' Franklin said during the documentary's trailer. Netflix also submitted her documentary, The Rachel Divide, to the Tribeca Film Festival, which took place in April. White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists. Sens. Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand were delivering remarks on Friday. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, Georgia politician Stacey Abrams and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg stopped by the conference earlier in the week. The Sharpton event has become a must-pass through event for Democratic candidates eyeing the Oval Office. Barack Obama addressed the National Action Network conference in 2007. So did Hillary Clinton. Sharpton insisted Friday that the conference is about highlighting and discussing racial injustice and not about propping himself up. 'This is not about kissing my ring or Al Sharpton the kingmaker,' he said. 'Be not confused: I could have every candidate on my television show.' White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists A string of politicians, including Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand took their turns on Friday Former Vice President Joe Biden was speaking at an event in Washington, D.C. on Friday and did not attend Sharpton's conference in the New York. The under-siege Democrat spoke at Sharpton's annual King Day breakfast in January in Washington, however. Candidates who have spoken this week have been put on the spot by New York City activist, who founded the organization in the early '90s. Pressed to back a bill sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that would create a commission to study the possibility of federal reparations for slavery, O'Rourke threw his support behind the measure. 'I would sign that into law,' he told Sharpton. Jackson Lee says her bill would 'make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long delayed process of atonement for slavery.' Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, also from Texas, has endorsed the legislation, as well. Castro also spoke at the convention on Wednesday. Warren and Booker, both of whom spoke at the conference on Friday, have said they back the bill, too. The senator from Massachusetts has called for a 'national, full-blown conversation' on the issue. She reaffirmed her stance on Friday, telling Sharpton after he asked her about Jackson Lee's bill, 'Yes. I would. I already support that bill.' Other presidential candidates have been less clear about their positions on the thorny topic. Harris has generically backed the idea of a study on the 'effects of generations of discrimination and institutional racism' that would seriously take a look at 'intervention, to correct course.' She did not address the topic in her remarks at Sharpton's conference. Harris, who is half-black, spoke instead about raising teacher pay and gun violence prevention. The freshman senator from California gently derided 'supposed leaders in Washington, D.C.' who she said are not doing enough to enact universal background checks and a renew the assault weapons ban. 'We are better than this, and we certainly can do better than this,' she said. She also took aim at Trump's claim that 'white nationalism' is not a national security issue. Sharpton asked her directly about the reparations legislation and whether she'd sign it as president before he let her leave the stage. 'Uh oh,' a vocal audience member said, before Harris could answer. But she said to applause, 'When I am elected president, I will sign that bill.' She did not elaborate or come by a press pin of reporters, where she could have been pressed on the subject. Sharpton pigeon-holed them reparations legislation. Booker said he was 'frustrated' that it was being discussed as a check-the-box issue right now Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper struggled with the same question when it was his turn in the hot seat. 'You know I'd look at the opportunity to, to provide every person a real chance at treating their own version of the American Dream as one of the fundamental holdings of this country. One of the reasons we passed, you know, when I was mayor of Denver, we spent 30 months and we got ...' Unsatisfied audience members cut him off. 'Yes or no,' a woman shouted. 'Yes, I'm gonna pass it, let me get to the point,' he said. 'The one of of those point where you can make reparations is through making sure you've got things like high-quality early childhood education in every single neighborhood in every single school in your community. That's what we did in Denver.' Sanders said after his speech 'there needs to be a study' after Sharpton prodded him to answer. 'If the House and Senate pass that bill, of course I'd sign it,' he said. An attendee rebuffed him, too, asking loudly, 'What is there to study?' He noted that Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, agrees that direct payments are not as suitable for the situation as alternatives. Sanders reiterated his belief that the federal government should direct more money to low-income communities for education, jobs and other programs. Booker in a speech later confronted the issue head on, before Sharpton could ask him about it. He said that it is important to have a conversation about reparations. 'But this conversation cannot just become a political-box checking exercise or a litmus test without meaning,' he argued. He said the conversation should focus on balancing the economic scales and confronting biases within society. Booker said he was 'frustrated' that it wasn't being discussed that way right now. At a luncheon that followed the plenary session, Gillibrand became the first candidate of the day to broach the subject. 'This is a conversation that is long overdue. So, I want to let you know where I stand. I firmly support Congresswoman Jackson Lee's bill to study reparations. As president, I would advocate to Congress to pass that bill, and I would sign that commission into law,' she said. Elizabeth Warren has called for Massachusetts has called for a 'national, full-blown conversation' on the issue of reparations. She reaffirmed her position on Friday She told a hometown crowd, 'This is the first step of acknowledging as a country the 100 years of slavery and institutional racism have caused mass inequity and harm to black people and has held black communities back for generations from achieving their full potential.' Klobuchar also spoke at the luncheon that was not structured the same way as the other sessions, which meant that she did not have to take the standard question from Sharpton. She did not bring it up herself. She suggested in her remarks that Trump bears responsibility 'racism' she said is festering in the country. 'Because racism still exists in this country. We hear it echoed in our school yards and in on our neighborhood sidewalks. We hear it from white nationalist riots and on the presidential podium,' she said. 'We see it reflected in our laws and in our institutions. And we must change it. No, Mr. President there are not two sides on this issue, there is one side, and that is the side of justice.' President Trump has made extensive appeals to black voters since taking office, championing criminal justice reform and touting the historically-low unemployment rate among African-Americans. He memorably told black voters in 2016 who might be hesitant to support him: 'What the hell do you have to lose?' His dismissal of white nationalism as a global issue that requires attention and his refusal to condemn a Republican lawmaker who made remarks that were seen as supportive of the movement have prompted charges from Democrats, however, that he himself is sympathetic to supremacist groups. An equipment store in California has released security footage of a man stealing a chainsaw by stuffing it in his pants. RG Equipment, located in Fresno, released photos and video footage of the man that robbed the store on Wednesday and the Fresno police are now looking for him. Footage shows the man taking the machine and putting it down his pants and covering the top of the tool with his jacket. Scroll down for video RG Equipment, located in Fresno, released photos and video footage of the man that robbed the store on Wednesday and the Fresno police are now looking for him as well He can be seen positioning it further into his pants before making a break for the exit. The man exits the scene in a silver Dodge Ram and there are various pieces of equipment in the trunk of the vehicle. The suspect who stole the chainsaw appears to be middle aged and is wearing a tan hat and jacket. Footage shows the man taking the machine and putting it in his jacket He can be seen positioning it further into his pants before making a break for the exit Jeff Bennett, co-owner of the store, said that there were two guys involved in Wednesday's theft. He was the only one at the counter at the time. 'It was frustrating, you feel embarrassed, you feel confused,' Bennett explained to ABC 30. Bennett added that the two immediately worked to distract him. He said: 'I kind of had that intuition that they were not here to buy something in the store.' The man exits the scene in a silver Dodge Ram and there are various pieces of equipment in the trunk of the vehicle The other suspect lured Bennett to the left of the store as the robbery took place. Bennett says that the chainsaw cost $400. And when both men exited the store, he immediately knew something was off. 'I immediately got on my phone to check the cameras and I seen it happen, but by that time he was gone,' he said. 'You kind of wish if they applied themselves doing something good for humanity and for life, the same energy they apply to steal.' Meghan Markles mom Doria Ragland may be on the other side of the world, but she still managed to find her way to Windsor Castle. The grandmother-to-be can be seen in DailyMailTV exclusive photos leaving an apartment complex in Los Angeles on Thursday, which happens to share the same name as the venue where Meghan and Prince Harry tied the knot last May. Doria is expected to fly to London ahead of the birth to help her 37-year-old daughter get ready to welcome her first child with Prince Harry, 34, but it was business as usual for the social worker as she attended client appointments. The 62-year-old is rumored to be moving to the Windsor Estate to help out the royal couple, who have officially moved out of their Kensington Palace home and into their new cottage, which they reportedly spent $3.9 million (3 million) renovating. Doria Ragland was seen leaving Windsor Castle, an apartment complex, in Los Angeles on Thursday, which happens to share the same name as the venue where Meghan and Prince Harry tied the knot last May Doria is expected to fly to London in the weeks before Meghan welcomes her first child with Prince Harry, 34, but it was business as usual for the social worker as she attended client appointments around Los Angeles The grandmother-to-be is rumored to be moving to the Windsor Estate to help out the royal couple, who have officially moved out of their Kensington Palace home and into their new cottage, which they reportedly spent $3.9 million (3 million) renovating The Windsor Castle apartment complex is on the cross sections of Windsor Way and Buckingham Parkway - a nod to Meghan's royal family The royal's due date is in late April, early May, and it was widely believed that Doria would be by her side in the weeks leading up to the birth. However, she didn't appear to have any impending travel plans as she attended meetings and walked her dogs on Thursday. The Windsor Castle apartment complex is on the cross sections of Windsor Way and Buckingham Parkway - a nod to Meghan's royal family. The yoga instructor was dressed casually in a light blue long-sleeve shirt and khaki pants while strolling through the neighborhood with her two dogs by her side. Doria topped off her dog-walking outfit with a sporty gray puffy vest to keep warm, a red crossbody bag, and dark pink sneakers. The grandmother-to-be may not be in London, but the Duchess of Sussex's friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin is. On Thursday, he was spotted in London's Soho neighborhood, which is just a couple of miles from Kensington Palace. Daily routine: The yoga instructor was also seen walking her two dogs. She was dressed casually in a light blue long-sleeve shirt and khaki pants The royal's due date is in late April, early May, and it was widely believed that Doria would be by her side in the weeks leading up to the birth New home: Meghan and Harry have finally moved into Frogmore Cottage (above) after months of renovation work being done on the property Daniel was seen wearing a black coat and trousers while taking a phone call on the sidewalk. His appearance in London has prompted speculation that he was flown across the pond to ensure that Meghan is camera ready after giving birth. It was previously reported that Meghan and Harry would not have a nanny, and instead, Doria would move to the UK to help them watch their newborn. It was thought that she would fly to London ahead of her grandchild's birth to attend Meghan's second baby shower and help the mom-to-be prepare the nursery in her new home, where she would be staying in her own suite. However, it's unclear when Meghan's baby shower will be taking place, or if she is having one at all. Multitasking: Doria was seen carrying her cellphone in her hand at one point during the walk On the go: The grandma-to-be appeared to be jogging at one point. Her puffy vest blew in the wind as the dogs followed behind her Speculation: It was previously believed that Doria would be moving to the UK permanently to help the couple take care of their newborn, but sources said those reports were off the mark It was reported that her sister-in-law Kate Middleton would be throwing her a party, though baby showers have never been a British tradition. 'Doria is coming to a baby shower here. It will be a small gathering of five or six people,' a source told The Mail on Sunday last month. It was said that Meghan planned to host the event at Frogmore Cottage at Windsor where she and Prince Harry are setting up home, but the renovation work on the property took longer than expected. Last month, The Mail on Sunday reported that the couple will be hiring a traditional nanny after the birth of their child. Spotted: The Duchess of Sussex's close friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin was in London on Thursday Close by: Daniel was seen taking a phone call in London's Soho neighborhood. He was just a couple of miles from Kensington Palace Glam squad: Daniel's appearance in London has prompted speculation that he was flown across the pond to ensure that Meghan is camera ready after giving birth Informed sources dismissed speculation that Meghan will recruit a doula, a non-medical assistant who provides support during pregnancy and the early days of motherhood, or opt for a New Age-style birth. They also said reports that Meghans mother, Doria, will move permanently to Britain from America to help bring up the child are also wide of the mark. Instead, the royals plan on being hands-on parents and will bring in a nanny later this year ahead of a rumored royal tour. The approach mirrors that adopted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their children, George, five, Charlotte, three, and Louis, ten months. Royal outing: Prince Harry attended the twelfth annual Lord Mayors Big Curry Lunch in aid of the three National Service Charities on Thursday Prince Harry was also out and about in London on Thursday. He attended the twelfth annual Lord Mayors Big Curry Lunch in aid of the three National Service Charities. ABF The Soldiers Charity, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund are all being honoured at the event, which is hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The father-to-be proved he was a natural with children at the event, as he greeted a little girl and adorably shook hands with her. As Harry was leaving the event, he was asked by the wife of a servicemen if he was looking forward to the upcoming birth of his child. He told her: 'Of course I am excited, very excited.' Families of the 21 victims of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings demanded their loved ones' killers are brought to justice after an inquest found they were murdered by the IRA. Two massive detonations caused what one witness described as 'pure carnage', ripping apart the packed Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs on the night of November 21 1974, killing 21 and injuring 220 more. A Provisional IRA member had made a call to the Birmingham Post and Mail around 8.11pm on the evening of the attacks, but the first bomb went off just seven minutes later. An inquest jury today found unanimously that the warning call was inadequate and the victims were unlawfully killed. Speaking afterwards, Julie Hambleton, who lost her older sister in the bombings, said: 'We now demand of Dave Thompson, the chief constable of West Midlands Police, to tie his shoe laces, black his shoes and go out and do the job because we've heard new evidence that two of the murderers are out there. She demanded officers 'communicate with the police in Ireland, the police in Belfast, the PSNI, and bring those responsible finally to justice.' Julie Hambleton, whose sister was killed in the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974, today demanded the IRA killers behind the attacks were brought to justice The families want the bombers still who are still alive to face charges over the killings Family members of those who died visited a memorial to their loved ones after the inquest An IRA member who gave evidence to the inquest named four men as being behind it, one of whom is still alive and living in Ireland. He was accused of protecting another man linked to the plot, who is also still alive in Northern Ireland. Ms Hambleton added: 'Twenty one of our loved ones went out one evening to meet friends and family and they never saw the light of day again. 'Today the inquest has found they were unlawfully killed by murder.' 'Whilst the police officers of the day can't be questioned in any great detail there is no way that the people of this country and the people of our community of Birmingham and our families, will allow the senior police officers to get off with letting these murderers, two of whom are still alive, get away with their continued liberty.' Leslie Thomas QC, representing 10 of the bereaved families, said after the verdicts: 'We just hope, in light of the jury's unequivocal finding that the IRA murdered 21 innocent people, that the West Midlands Police will now redouble their efforts in terms of those bombers who may still be alive to bring them to justice.' This evening, police said there was insufficient evidence to charge the three men named as bombers who have since died. In regard to the man who is still alive, they said the investigation remains ongoing. The jury also found there were no failings, errors or omissions by West Midlands Police's response to the bomb warning call. They also found there was no tip-off to the force, giving advanced warning the blasts were going to happen. The blasts at the Mulberry Bush (shown) and the Tavern in the Town killed 21 people in 1974 A body is carried from the Mulberry Bush. A jury today found the victims were unlawfully killed Following the verdicts, Sir Peter Thornton QC said: 'The atrocities of the night of Thursday 21 November 1974 are now etched in the history of Birmingham. 'Those dreadful events will never be forgotten because the people of Birmingham will never forget the 21 lives that were tragically lost.' Michael Patrick Reilly (pictured), who is alive in Northern Ireland, has previously been named as a bomber. An IRA witness at the inquests was accused of covering for him. Reilly has denied involvement He added: 'I wish to express my condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones in these terrible bombings. 'I wish to express my admiration and respect for the dignity in which you have conducted yourselves during the difficult time of the inquests.' The inquests, at the civil courts building in Birmingham, came about after years of campaigning by relatives of the dead for a full account into what happened that night. The pub bombings were the deadliest post-Second World War attack on the British mainland, until the 7/7 London terrorist attacks in 2005. The conclusion to the inquests comes after an ex-IRA member gave evidence in which he named four of those behind the attacks and gave the nicknames of two others, apparently with the blessing of IRA leaders. The anonymous witness, himself a convicted bomber, said Seamus McLoughlan was the commander of the Birmingham IRA at the time and selected the targets, while Mick Murray and Michael Hayes were part of the bombing team and another man, James Gavin, was involved. Murray, McLoughlan and Gavin have all since died and the man, named in court only as 'Witness O', claimed that Hayes has protection from prosecution following the peace process. During the inquests, Michael Hayes was named as one of four IRA terrorists behind the 1974 Birmingham bombing. He is the only one of the four still alive. He apologised for his role in the attack on TV in 2017, but is reportedly protected by the Good Friday Agreement A convicted IRA bomber, who was not identified, told the inquests into the victims' deaths that Mick Murray (left) and James Gavin (right) were also involved The IRA witness was accused of protecting another man previously linked to the bombings, Michael Patrick Reilly, who is also still alive and living in Northern Ireland. Reilly has previously denied involvement. The witness added that two other men, who he identified as 'Dublin Dave' and 'Socks' had also been involved, but that he did not know either man's name. In 1975, six men - the Birmingham Six - were convicted over the blasts but acquitted 16 years later. The attacks remain Britain's largest unsolved terror crime. Not enough evidence to charge three 'bombers' who have since died, say police, but investigation into living man remains ongoing West Midlands Police released a long statement after the inquest verdicts, revealing details of the investigation. Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: 'The inquest heard from a man, called Witness O, claiming to be from the IRA. He named three men as the bombers who are now dead: Mick Murray, James Gavin and Seamus McLoughlin. 'I cannot say whether these three men were or were not the Birmingham pub bombers. What I can now say is that all three men were interviewed and investigated. 'Seamus McLoughlin was interviewed by officers in September 1973, and again in November 1974 but it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him for any offences. 'In June 1993 McLaughlin was interviewed in Ireland during the re-investigation of the pub bombings known as Operation Review. He denied any involvement or advance knowledge of the pub bombings. Chief Constable Dave Thompson said today that the investigation remains ongoing 'James Gavin was arrested at his home in Bordesley Green in January 1975. When interviewed by officers, he refused to answer any questions. Again there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. 'In June 1981 Gavin was convicted of an IRA-related murder in Dublin and sentenced to life imprisonment. 'During Operation Review he was interviewed in prison but declined to answer any questions about the pub bombings saying that it was in the past. 'Mick Murray was arrested in November 1974. He denied any involvement with the pub bombings and, once again, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. 'Murray was charged and convicted of two conspiracy charges relating to other offences and was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the first, and nine years to run concurrently for the second. 'In 1993, when contacted by Operation Review officers, he refused to be interviewed or answer any questions. 'Witness O also claimed Michael Hayes was one of the bombers. I can make no comment on him or any other individual because, as I have said on many occasions, the investigation into the pub bombings continues. 'Our approach is when and if significant new information comes to light we scrutinise it to see if anyone can be brought to justice. 'I am prepared to say that we are following a number of further enquiries.' Mr Thompson added: 'I remain determined to do all we can to bring those responsible to justice.' Who are the men named as the Birmingham bombers by an IRA witness to the inquests? Mick Murray Mick Murray has previously been said to be second-in-command of the Birmingham IRA unit. After the attacks he was questioned alongside the Birmingham Six but was never charged with murder. He was convicted of possessing explosives and later sentenced to 12 years for separate terrorist offences. Throughout his trial he refused to say a single word because he refused to acknowledge the court. On his release, he was welcomed back into the IRA and remained a member until his death in 1999. Advertisement James Gavin James Gavin, also known as Jimmy Kelly, was found guilty of possessing explosives after the original Birmingham bombings trials. He was given one year in jail, but because of time on remand he walked free. Gavin was said to be from County Armagh in 1963 and joined the British Army. He deserted in 1964 in West Germany. After the Birmingham bombings he was jailed for the murder of another Republican in 1975. He died in 2002, a free man. Advertisement Michael Hayes Michael Hayes is a a married father of two in his 70s still living free in Dublin. In 2017, he told a BBC interview that he accepted 'collective responsibility' for the Birmingham bombing but did not know who planted the devices. He was questioned by police following the interview but has not faced action. Today's evidence in the inquests suggests he may have been granted immunity during the peace process. Advertisement Seamus McLoughlin Seamus McLoughlin was known as 'Belfast Jimmy' in 1970s. On the day of the Birmingham blasts he was on an Aer Lingus flight from Birmingham to Dublin with the remains of James McDade, the IRA man who had blown himself up with a bomb in Coventry. When he died in Ireland in 2014 masked men fired shot over his coffin, which was covered in the Irish flag outside a relative's home in the Ardoyne district of North Belfast. Advertisement An IRA atrocity and 44 years of heartbreak for victims' families Thursday, November 21, 1974: Bombings in two Birmingham pubs leave 21 dead and 220 injured. They are said to be revenge for the death of IRA member James McDade, who blew himself up trying to plant explosives in Coventry. Hours later, five men are arrested in Heysham, Lancashire, and a sixth is arrested in Birmingham. November 24: Patrick Hill, Hugh Callaghan, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny, Gerard Hunter and Billy Power are charged with murder. June/August 1975: Trial at Lancaster Crown Court. 'The Six' are sentenced to life imprisonment. The Birmingham Six outside the Old Bailey in London, after their convictions were quashed. Left-right: John Walker, Paddy Hill. Hugh Callaghan, Chris Mullen MP, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter and William Power. October 1985: TV's World In Action questions forensic tests. A book is then published claiming three unnamed men were behind the bombings. January 1987: The home secretary refers case to the Court of Appeal. The appeal is later dismissed. A 1990 TV drama then names four 'real' bombers. March 14, 1991: The Six are freed by the Court of Appeal after 16 years in prison. October 1993: Perjury case against three former West Midlands police involved in the charging of the Birmingham Six is dismissed. June 1, 2016: Senior coroner for Birmingham rules to resume the inquests. The original hearings were not continued after jailing of The Six. September 29, 2018: Families lose their legal battle to name those responsible for the bombings in the inquests February 25, 2019: The inquest into the 21 deaths opens in Birmingham. March 22, 2019: IRA member names Seamus McLoughlan, Mick Murray, Michael Hayes and James Gavin as the bombers. April 5, 2019: Inquest finds the victims were unlawfully killed and a botched IRA warning call contributed to their deaths. Advertisement Who were the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings? The victims in the Mulberry Bush pub, in the base of the Rotunda, were: - Trevor Thrupp, 47, and a rail guard was a married father of three, who loved taking his son and daughters on holidays to Sandy Bay in Devon and Great Yarmouth. He had an 'infectious' laugh, loved Laurel and Hardy, The Goons and especially Spike Milligan. 'His love for his family is still with us today and always will be,' his son Paul Thrupp said. - John Rowlands, 46, was a qualified electrician and worked as a foreman at Land Rover in Tyseley, Birmingham. A married father of two sons, he served with the Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War, and the Mulberry Bush was his favourite pub. His youngest son Paul Rowlands remembered him as 'a bit of a card, a joker' and a 'good dad', while his oldest child Stephen said they lost 'a great friend' when he died. Trevor Thrupp (left) and John Rowlands (right) - William Michael 'Mick' Beasley, 30, was a stock controller at a motor company, whose father had died four months before the bombings. He led a quiet but full and active life, collected coins, and had a keen interest in film and cinema. Mick owned an 8mm camera, and was a regular in the projector room of the Odeon in New Street. The night of the bombing, the wife of the Mulberry Bush landlord, Mary Jones, recalled he had found a lucky Cornish pixie charm on the night bus into town, and gave it to her. She survived the bombing, and told how she had kept it ever since. - John Clifford 'Cliff' Jones, 51, was a railway station postal worker, and a father-of-four. As a soldier with the Durham Light Infantry in the Second World War, he survived being machine-gunned in combat in 1945, and spent weeks convalescing in a Carlisle hospital. He was a keen gardener and the Cliff Jones Memorial Trophy is still awarded to Birmingham's best kept allotment, his son George Jones said. Mr Jones said his father was ' cruelly robbed' of the chance to live and see his family grow. Michael Beasley (left) and John Clifford Jones (right) - James Caddick, 56, was a porter at nearby Birmingham markets, a divorcee, and father-of-two. A Mulberry Bush regular, Mr Caddick was stood with his friends, Mr Bodman, Mr Thrupp, Mr Rowlands, Mr Beasley, and Mr Jones in their usual spot at the end of the bar - just feet from where the bomb was planted. - Father-of-three Stan Bodman, 47, an electrician, was 'larger than life' and 'very popular', his son Paul Bodman said. An ex-RAF wartime serviceman, Stan told his son there was nothing to fear from IRA bombs, as they were not 'military or political' targets. 'We certainly got that wrong,' he said. 'The carnage of that night will never be forgotten and as a family we hope the inquest will finally bring some answers to what really happened on that devastating night,' added Mr Bodman. James Caddick (left) and Stan Bodman (right) - Charles Gray, 44, was a mechanic at British Leyland in Longbridge, and had never been in the Mulberry Bush before the night the bomb went off. He never missed a day's work, and those who knew him said he had 'an easy charm and a slight air of mystery'. His family said he was a 'lovely, quiet man' and a 'gentleman, mild-mannered and agreeable', always known for being well-dressed. - Pamela Palmer, 19, was an office worker, who used to take her three-year-old niece shopping. Her older sister Pauline Curzon said: 'She was a lovely sister. She helped me in numerous ways. 'Her companionship and kindness is a memory I treasure.' She was there with her boyfriend, Derek Blake, who was in intensive care for days afterwards and lost a leg in the blast. Charles Gray (left) and Pamela Palmer (right) - Walking past and caught in the blast, outside, were Paul Davies, 17, and Bruce Lee fan, Neil 'Tommy' Marsh who, at 16 years old, was the youngest victim. Mr Marsh's cousin, Danielle Fairweather-Tipping, said Tommy and Paul had a 'very strong' bond, and enjoyed the 'carefree life' of teenagers. She said: 'His death has been a devastation to our family and words really can never explain this.' Victim Paul Davies Mr Davies supported Aston Villa, was 'a massive Bruce Lee fan' and had already earned his karate black belt before his 17th birthday, son Paul Bridgewater said. It was the son he never got to meet, as he died three months before Paul was born, but 'I feel his spirit still lives on it me'. - Thomas 'Tom' Chaytor, 28, born in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, was a retail assistant at Willoughby Tailoring and part-time barman. Adopted as a child, he was a divorcee and father-of-two, who three weeks before the bombs had started a job on the bar at the Tavern to earn extra money, his then fiance Susan Hands said. He died of his injuries on November 27, a week after the blast. - Maxine Hambleton, 18, was a shop assistant at Miss Selfridge in Lewis's department store, in the city centre. She was a 'beautiful soul', her sister Julie Hambleton said, and died not knowing she had been the first in her family to earn a place reading law at university. Maxine Hambleton was one of 11 people killed in the Tavern in the Town pub - Jane Davis, 17, who had her eyes set on being a nuclear physicist, was with her co-worker and close friend Miss Hambleton in the Tavern in the Town when she was killed. She and Miss Hambleton had gone on a coming-of-age grape-picking holiday to the vineyards of France earlier that year, and she sent a postcard home describing how 'my back is bloody killing me'. Her family remembered their 'loyal' and 'much-loved' daughter, sister and friend, who had the chance of being a mother and a wife 'taken from her'. - Anne Hayes, 19, was another retail assistant working at Miss Selfridge, who was in the Tavern that night. She lived with her parents, and had been an apprentice hairdresser, before taking up retail. - Marilyn Nash, 22, was a supervisor at Miss Selfridge, and was out with her friend, Miss Hayes when she died. Jane Davies (left) and Marilyn Paula Nash (right) - Eugene Reilly, 23, was a Deep Purple and Black Sabbath fan and his younger sister Mary recalled seeing him play air guitar to his LPs in the lounge of the family home at weekends. Shy, but 'very sociable', he a was a keen roller skater, and went to the rink several times a week. He was out with his married younger brother, that night, in the Tavern. - Desmond Reilly, 21, had invited his brother into the city, to celebrate news his wife Elaine was pregnant - though he would not live to see his son's birth. Their family said: 'Eugene never had the opportunity to get married and have children, and Desmond never got to meet his son - part of us died with them on the day they died.' Eugene Thomas Reilly (left) and Desmond Reilly (right) - Stephen Whalley, 21, was a quantity surveyor in town on a date arranged through the New Musical Express (NME's) lonely hearts club page. In a statement read to the inquest, his elderly mother said: 'While I would love the world to know about my son Stephen, and the lovely young man he was, it is just too difficult and painful for me to recall any memories I have because it is too traumatic to remember. 'Stephen was our only child, who had his whole life ahead of him.' - Mr Whalley's date was Lynn Bennett, 18, a punch-card operator, and the two died together in the Tavern in the Town. She was 'very petite and looked great in miniskirts and platforms', her sister Claire Luckman said. A passionate Birmingham City Football Club, her grieving father never set foot in the ground again after her death. Stephen Whalley (pictured, left, in childhood) was 21 when he died. Right: Lynn Bennett - Maureen Roberts, 20, was a wages clerk at Dowding and Mills, and was due to be engaged to her boyfriend, Fred Bromley. An only child, with a 'happy-go-lucky' side, she also had a caring nature, buying Christmas presents for neighbours. Mr Bromley said she had striking auburn hair, 'the colour of gold, when the sun shone on it'. 'Everyone would remark on it wherever she went,' he added. - James 'Jimmy' Craig, 34, was an automotive plant worker and keen amateur footballer who once had a trial with Birmingham City Football Club. He was the last victim of the bombings, dying on December 9, 1974, of injuries he sustained in the Tavern. Jimmy Craig, who could neither read nor write, was only in the pub that night to meet a girl who had written to him, making the arrangement. His brother, Bill Craig, said he would never have been at the Tavern, had the letter remained unread but his brother had asked their mother to read it for him. A female sailor has been wounded and a male sailor has died in a domestic-related shooting at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. The base tweeted early Friday that the shooter has since been 'contained.' The victim, who was shot multiple times, was taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A female sailor has been wounded and a male sailor has died in a domestic-related shooting at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia The naval base tweeted that the shooter 'has been contained' A Navy Region Mid-Atlantic spokesperson has confirmed that the male sailor who opened fire on the female sailor at 6.45am in the parking lot outside Hanger 145 on the base was shot and killed by security personnel. The Virginia Beach base announced at around 7am that the station was locked down, writing in a social media post, 'This is not a drill.' David Todd, a spokesman for the Navy's mid-Atlantic region, says it was an isolated, domestic incident. He says the lockdown has been lifted and it is safe to enter the base. Capt. Chad Vincelette, the base's commanding officer, said at a press conference Friday morning that both the gunman and the victim are assigned to the Strike Fighter Squadron 37. Vincelette told reporters that the male sailor was armed with a single handgun. He was quickly identified and shot dead by security officers. The incident was resolved within less than five minutes. 'The base has a no weapons policy,' the commanding officer noted. 'How the sailor was able to get the weapon on base is part of the ongoing investigation.' Vincelette said the motive behind the shooting is unknown at this time, and he would not comment on the nature of the relationship between the two sailors. Advertisement This is the moment a giraffe's head seemed to disappear as it fought its rival in a practice known as 'necking' in the Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. The males attacked each other with aggressive swings of the neck, creating a loud thud as they made contact with each other. This bout amounted to a light sparring session between the young pair of Masai giraffes but they will face far more intense battles with rival adults in future. The duels can go on for over half an hour depending on the ferocity of the competition, while others are less intense and involve rubbing of the necks, rather than impact. Although most fights pass without serious injury, others have involved broken necks and jaws, lacerations from their horns and even death. Giraffes use their necks as weapons in this way to establish a dominance hierarchy and decide who will find the best mate. The giraffes were involved in a 'necking' bout when one of their heads looked as if it had been cut off as it disappeared behind the body of the other giraffe in the Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. The stunning photographs by an amateur Marco Pozzi when he was on holiday in Africa The giraffes were not involved in love making but were in fact engaged in a fight to test which of them was the dominant male. While this was a relatively low intensity bout, which consisted of some light sparring, other fights will be harder and serious injuries can be sustained. Necking fights have resulted in broken necks and broken jaws and even in death One of the giraffes flails his head at the other as they practice 'necking' on the grassland, when they made contact with each other loud thuds could be heard as their thick neck muscles cracked off each other. The bouts can go on for as long as half an hour, depending on how competitive the fight is and how strong the giraffes are A video which allegedly shows a scorned wife confronting her unfaithful husband and his suspected mistress has gathered more than 15 million views in China. The wife is said to have caught the man in bed with his lover at a hotel when the altercation took place. The woman questioned her husband why he cheated on her after six years of marriage. She then slapped him in the face while his alleged mistress was lying next to him in a night gown. A trending video appears to show a Chinese wife scolding and slapping her unfaithful husband In the video on Sina.com, the furious, bespectacled wife also yelled: 'How dare you.' She then said: 'How well do I treat you? You know it.' It seems that the wife had gone to catch the lovers with a group of friends, who indicated in the video that there were money disputes between the couple. At one point, the husband went up to beat one of his wife's friends who shouted at him 'you have been using her money until today'. The two men got into a fight in one corner of the room. Soon after, the wife grabbed the alleged mistress by her arm and the latter begged 'can we talk calmly'. The alleged mistress then claimed the man had not told her about his marital status when they first started a romantic relationship. When one of the wife's friends scolded her: 'What about after you found out?' The alleged mistress remained quiet. Last month, a married man and his alleged mistress were bound to a tree naked and publicly shamed in China's Guizhou Province. The couple were punished in the extreme manner after the man's wife caught them cheating, according to Chinese media citing accounts from the locals. The alleged mistress who lies in the bed with a night gown, claims the man did not tell her that he had a wife when they first started a romantic relationship. She is challenged by the wife Mistress, also known as 'the little third' or 'the second housewife', is an unavoidable topic in today's Chinese society. According to a report released by All-China Women's Federation in 2014, ex-marital affairs is the number one cause of divorce in China. Nearly 75 per cent of couples in China end their marriage because of unfaithful partners, the report finds. The report also highlights that only 30 per cent of the affair victims would go through a divorce - the rest 70 per cent would choose to put up with the situation. There are professional 'mistress hunters' in China who help thousands of wives catch 'shameless home wreckers'. One of them, Zhang Yufen from Xi'an, assists her clients to collect evidence of their husbands' suspected adultery and - in some extreme cases - leads her colleagues to punish the mistresses. 'A mistress deserves to be beaten,' Zhang said in a previous interview with MailOnline. 'You have to strip off her pants first so that she couldn't run away.' In the past two decades, Ms Zhang, a divorcee in her 50s, has helped more than 200,000 Chinese women deal with their marriage crises. A skull recovered in Michigan has been identified as that of a beheading victim who was killed, along with his pregnant girlfriend in 2014, after meeting a man off Craigslist in a sex-for-cash deal. Authorities say Charles Oppenneer, 25, was identified by his dental records, as reported by Fox News. Oppenneer's skull was found on private property in northern Kent County, nearly five years after he was murdered. Signs of trauma to the skull indicate Oppenneer was likely killed by a gunshot, Wyoming Department of Public Safety Captain James Maguffee said in a press release. Maguffee said it didn't appear the skull had been left there recently. It was discovered by a farmer on March 24 in woods along Kenowa Avenue north of 6 Mile Road in Alpine Township near the Kent-Ottawa county line. Oppenneer's decapitated body had been found more than 17 miles away nearly five years earlier. Scroll down for video A skull found in Michigan is that of Charles Oppenneer, 25, (pictured above) who was decapitated in 2014 Oppenneer's skull, showing gunshot trauma, was found more than 17 miles away from where his decapitated body had been found nearly five years earlier Oppenneer was killed when accompanying his girlfriend Brooke Slocum, 18, (pictured above) to meet Brady Oestrike, 31, after Slocum had agreed to have sex for cash. Slocum was eight months pregnant Oppenneer's decapitated body was found in woods near Gezon park in the Grand Rapids suburb of Wyoming on July 16, 2014. He'd been killed by Brady Oestrike, 31, who had met up with Oppenneer on July 12 and his girlfriend Brooke Slocum, 18, who was eight months pregnant, to exchange sex for cash. The three had corresponded via Craigslist, according to authorities and Oppenneer had accompanied Slocum to the park. Slocum had posted a desperate message asking for $50 to buy medication. She agreed to meet and have sex with Oestrike in return for $120. Brady Oestrike (pictured above) killed Oppenneer and Slocum after holding her captive for five days then strangling her Torture chamber: Oestrike pictured with two guns next to a dog kennel. He had a pulley system rigged up to which he attached Brooke Slocum's arms while her neck was attached to a chain that was bolted to the bathroom floor. He filmed the entire ordeal Slocum was kidnapped by Oestrike, a supervisor at a gas company, and subjected to five days of torture in his home. Video footage was recovered from Oestrike's home and police reports indicate Slocum was repeatedly assaulted and tortured along with being forced to smoke marijuana. Oestrike also put a chain around her neck that was bolted to a bathroom floor and her arms were attached to a pulley system suspended from the ceiling. Police later found long guns and hand guns all over Oestrike's Taft Avenue house. After a high-speed chase with officers he crashed into railings and then killed himself Oestrike shut off the video system showing Slocum's horrific ordeal around 1 p.m. on July 17. An autopsy report shows she died of strangulation. Police later found long guns and hand guns all over Oestrike's Taft Avenue house. On the evening of July 17, 2014, Oestrike backed his car out of his driveway and was immediately chased down by police. After a high-speed chase he crashed into railings and then killed himself. Slocum's body was found in the trunk of his car. Her unborn daughter, who had been named Audi Lynn, also died. Shortly after the murders, senior police officers described it as the 'one of the worst ever.' A special 'crisis intervention stress management team' was made available to officers trying to deal with the horrors they'd witnessed. Greg Slocum, Brooke Slocum's father said that he knew about the couple's schemes and that his daughter was desperate to do anything her boyfriend insisted so that they would stay together to bring up their child. Police reports show that just weeks before Slocum's kidnap and murder, Oestrike had developed another relationship with a woman he met on Craigslist. Slocum's body was found in the trunk of his car. Her unborn daughter, who had been named Audi Lynn, also died Video footage was recovered from Oestrike's (pictured above) home and police reports indicate Slocum was repeatedly assaulted and tortured along with being forced to smoke marijuana Just weeks before, a woman who described being chained up in Oestrike's (pictured above) basement, escaped from living with him The woman said she had placed a personal ad seeking friendship and sex. She moved in with Oestrike who she said drugged her, asked her to be his sex slave, and put guns to her head. When Oestrike left for work, he would chain her by the neck. She said he kept a 'sex room' in the basement and was at times forced to sleep in a kennel if she didn't 'listen to him.' Brooke Slocum's father said that he knew about the couple's schemes and that his daughter was desperate to do anything her boyfriend (Charles Oppenneer pictured above) insisted so that they would stay together to bring up their child Slocum had posted a desperate message on Craigslist asking for $50 to buy medication. She agreed to meet and have sex with Oestrike in return for $120 She moved into a domestic-violence shelter but later moved back in with Oestrike who she described as having a sweet side and believed the two had a strong relationship which included sexual-type bondage role playing. After been badly beaten and whipped she left, telling police about the assault but not bringing charges. The woman also expressed concern that Oestrike had children's books and sippy cups in his house despite there being no sign of any children. Miami firefighters performed a dramatic rescue of a woman who was stuck in a car that was danging off the side of a parking garage. The woman, who has not been named, had crashed her SUV through the Miami Springs parking garage's steel cable barrier, leaving her car dangling out of the second story wall opening for nearly an hour on Thursday afternoon. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said that 11 units responded to the incident scene at about 4.25pm, including a technical rescue team and a specialized heavy rescue vehicle. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene where a woman had crashed her SUV through the barrier cables at a parking garage, leaving her car dangling from just its hatchback After her car was secured, a firefighter climbed into the backseat so that he could pull the woman out from behind the steering wheel to safety The firefighters then worked to anchor the SUV and secure a system of pulleys to stabilize the car before the trapped woman could be pulled out from behind the steering wheel, Local 10 News reported. Photos released on social media by the fire department show a firefighter secured by a safety cable climbing into the hanging SUV's rear passenger area while the driver sits upfront with her hands gripping the steering wheel. After the rescue, she can be seen hugging her rescuer. The fire department said the woman was not injured and did not require transportation to a medical facility. All told, it took firefighters about 45 minutes to secure the SUV and perform the rescue. Firefighters spent 45 minutes crafting a series of anchors and pulleys to ensure that the SUV was secured before they could enter the car and rescue the woman inside Eleven units from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, including a technical rescue team and a heavy rescue vehicle (shown), responded to the parking garage scene Thursday afternoon Firefighters can be seen here working to secure the car so that it wouldn't fall to the ground The firefighter who climbed into the woman's SUV to go and retrieve her from the driver's seat The woman could be seen hugging her rescuer after she was safely back inside the garage The car was then safely lowered to the ground and towed away. Authorities said that if it hadn't been for the fact that the SUV was a hatchback, the car might've fallen to the ground below with the woman still inside. The SUV was in 'a very precarious position,' Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Danny Cardeso said, according to CBS Miami. 'The vehicle was wedged by a few inches of metal on the hatch top,' which he noted was 'the only thing that kept it from falling.' Authorities said they are investigating how the woman managed to crash through the steel barrier cables to get the car stuck in the garage wall opening. The woman only told Local 10 that the incident happened quickly. An Albanian national who authorities say talked about joining ISIS and attacking random people to avenge a shooting at a New Zealand mosque has been arrested at a gun range in Montana. Fabjan Alameti, 21, appeared before a US magistrate judge Thursday on charges of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and making false statements involving international and domestic terrorism. It's alleged he moved from the Bronx in New York to easily obtain a weapon and he was seen browsing firearms at a pawn shop and Walmart before heading to a shooting range experience using an M1A rifle. Fabjan Alameti, 21, was arrested at a gun range in Montana on Wednesday. He appeared before a US magistrate judge Thursday to hear the charges of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and making false statements involving international and domestic terrorism Alameti's federal public defender, John Rhodes, said he is working on a proposal for his client's release. He declined further comment. Authorities first interviewed Alameti in 2018, and he later made pro-ISIS comments on Facebook, FBI Special Agent Matthew Duermeier said in a sworn statement filed with the court. Starting in January of this year, Alameti spoke with a federal informant about fighting with the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria and plotting an attack in the US against a military facility, recruitment center, government building, 'gay club' or Jewish temple, Duermeier said. But Alameti also later said he would not carry out an attack on US soil because the country had granted him citizenship, the FBI agent's statement said. Alameti told the informant he moved from his home in the Bronx to Bozeman last month because he hated his life in New York City, he was having family issues and he had a job interview in Montana, where it was easier to buy a gun, Duermeier said. Alameti was traveling to Montana by bus on March 15 when a gunman opened fire in a Christchurch mosque and killed 50 people. Suspect browsed pawn shop and Walmart for an M1A rifle then went to gun range to practice He asked the federal informant to send him a link to the video of the shooting because it would fuel him. 'I will attack random people to avenge the blood,' Alameti told the informant, according to Duermeier. Once in Bozeman, Alameti looked at guns in pawn shops and Walmart, and he bought an air rifle. He was kicked out of a motel for smoking marijuana and hospitalized on March 25 for apparent acute alcohol intoxication, Duermeier said. After he was released, he went to the Bozeman police department to pick up his belongings, where was interviewed by an officer. He was kicked out of a motel for smoking marijuana and hospitalized on March 25 for apparent acute alcohol intoxication, FBI said. On Tuesday, another federal informant recorded Alameti saying while buying marijuana that he could die the following day and said he wanted to 'shoot up' the motel that he had been kicked out of In that interview, Alameti denied being linked to anyone who asked him to travel overseas, said he never expressed a desire to harm Americans, never expressed a desire to fight the US military overseas and never expressed a desire to fight for ISIS, Duermeier said. On Tuesday, another federal informant recorded Alameti saying while buying marijuana that he could die the following day and said he wanted to 'shoot up' the motel that he had been kicked out of. He said he wanted to go to a gun range the following day and shoot a rifle that he had seen in a pawn shop, the FBI agent's statement said. On Wednesday, Alameti showed up at the firing range, paid $35 to rent an M1A rifle and was arrested when he took possession of it, Deurmeier said. The federal charge on which he was arrested says it's illegal to possess a weapon while using drugs, and the false statement charge apparently is related to the answers he gave Bozeman police during his interview. US Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch ordered him detained for further proceedings. A woman who accused Joe Biden of inappropriately touching her in 2016 says the former vice president's handsy moment was 'unwelcome, uncomfortable and strange.' In a Washington Post op-ed published Thursday night, Sofie Karasek recalls the encounter backstage at the Oscars as she stood with dozens of other sexual assault survivors in the wake of a rape victim's suicide. Biden, who now appears to be preparing a presidential campaign launch at age 76, introduced a performance that night dedicated to the Alabama college student, Megan Rondini. After the broadcast, Karasek recalls, she told him Rondini's story while they stood in the theatre. 'In response, he leaned down, took my hands and put his forehead to mine,' she writes, describing a snapshot in time memorialized in a real snapshot that webt viral. 'I was taken aback. I averted my eyes, hoping my body language could shorten the interaction. I didnt think he was going to kiss me, but it felt like if I met his eyes, it wasnt out of the question, either,' she writes. 'It was unwelcome, uncomfortable and strange.' Three more women, including Sofie Karasek, came forward Wednesday saying Joe Biden had made them uncomfortable with inappropriate touching. Karasek said Biden pressed his forehead against hers at the 2016 Oscars (pictured above in a moment that has been widely shared) after she took to the stage as a sexual assault survivor Ally Coll (left) claims Biden squeezed her shoulders and held her for 'for a beat too long' at a 2008 election event where she was working as a Democratic staffer. Vail Kohnert-Yount (right) claimed Biden pushed their foreheads together when she was White House intern in 2013 A series of frank reports in recent weeks have upended Biden's image as a folksy, straight-shooting public servant. He promised in a video message this week that he would be 'much more mindful' of respecting women's personal space. Karasek is one of three women who came forward just hours later to say Biden's unwelcome touch made them uncomfortable. Along with Vail Kohnert-Yount and Ally Coll, her story brings the number who have spoken publicy to seven. Kohnert-Yount, said she met Biden when she was a White House intern back in 2013. She said they shook hands before Biden allegedly put his hand on the back of her head and pressed their foreheads together as they spoke. 'I was so shocked that it was hard to focus on what he was saying. I remember he told me I was a 'pretty girl',' Kohnert-Yount said. She went on to say that believed Biden's intentions were good 'but it was the kind of inappropriate behavior that makes many women feel uncomfortable and unequal in the workplace'. Just hours before the latest allegations surfaced, Biden acknowledged in a Twitter video that his tendency toward physical displays of affection and encouragement has made some women uncomfortable Coll, the third woman, said she met Biden at a 2008 election event when she was working as a Democratic staffer. She said Biden squeezed her shoulders and held her for 'for a beat too long'. Coll, who now works for a non-profit that fights sexual harassment, said she brushed off feelings of discomfort at the time because she was nervous and excited to meet him. JOE BIDEN'S FULL STATEMENT: In the coming month I expect to be talking to you about a whole lot of issues and Ill always be direct with you but today I want to talk about gestures of support and encouragement that I have made to women and some men, and I've made them uncomfortable. And Im always trying to be, in my career, I have always tried to make a human connection. Thats my responsibility I think. I shake hands, I hug people, I grab men and women by the shoulders to say You can do this. Whether theyre women, men, young, old, its the way Ive always been and the way Ive tried to show I care about them and Im listening. Over the years, knowing the things that Ive been through and the things that Ive faced Ive found that scores, if not hundreds of people, come up to me, and reached out for solace and comfort, something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy theyre going through. So, its just who I am. And Ive never thought of politics as a cold and antiseptic. Ive always thought of it as about connecting people as Ive said, shaking hands, hands on the shoulder, a hug, encouragement. And now, now, its all about taking selfies together. You know social norms have begun to change, theyve shifted, and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset. I get it. I get it. I hear what theyre saying. I understand it and Ill be much more mindful. Thats my responsibility my responsibility and Ill meet it. But I always believe, governing, quite frankly, life for that matter is about connecting, connecting with people. That wont change but I will be more mindful and respectful of peoples personal space and thats a good thing a good thing. Ive worked my whole life to empower women. Ive worked my whole life to prevent abuse. Ive written, err, err, and so the idea that I cant adjust to the fact that personal space is important, more important than its ever been is just not there. I will. I will. Advertisement 'There's been a lack of understanding about the way that power can turn something that might seem innocuous into something that can make somebody feel uncomfortable,' she said. None of the women who have come forward have accused Biden of sexual harassment. Rather, they've described behavior that made them feel uncomfortable because it invaded their personal space, regardless of his intentions. Their stories were made public soon after Biden released a two-minute video addressing the claims of inappropriate touching years ago. 'I want to talk about gestures of support and encouragement that I've made to some women and some men and I've made them uncomfortable,' he said in the video. 'I always try to be in my career, always tried to make a human connection. That's my responsibility, I think. I shake hands, I hug people. I grab men and women by the shoulders and say you can do this, whether they're women, men, young, old. 'It's the way I've always been and tried to show that I care about them and I'm listening. In his video, Biden referred to his wife Neilia and daughter Naomi being killed in a car crash in December 1972 shortly after he was first elected to the Senate. His sons Beau and Hunter survived, but Beau died in May 2015 of brain cancer. 'Over the years knowing I've been through the things that I've faced, I found that scores, if not hundreds, of people have come up to me and reached out for solace and comfort. Something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy they're going through. So it's just who I am,' Biden said. The longtime Democratic senator from Delaware said he has 'never thought of politics as cold and antiseptic'. 'Now, it is all about taking selfies together. Social norms begin to change and they've shifted and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been re-set and I get it. I get it. I hear what they're saying,' he said. Biden promised to be more 'mindful and respectful' going forward. 'I understand it. And I'll be much more mindful. That is my responsibility. My responsibility and I'll meet it. But I'll always believe governing, quite frankly, and life for that matter is about connecting, about connecting with people. That won't change. I will be more mindful and respectful of people's personal space and that is a good thing. That is a good thing,' he said. He concluded by addressing his history as an advocate for women. 'I worked my life empower women. I worked my whole life to prevent abuse. So the idea that I can't adjust to the fact the personal space is important more important than it's ever been, is just not true. I will. I will,' he said. Biden's first accuser, former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, said she was 'mortified' when Biden planted a 'big, slow kiss' on the back of her head as she waited to take the stage at a campaign rally five years ago Amy Lappos said she felt uncomfortable when Joe Biden touched her at a 2009 political fundraiser. Caitlyn Caruso said Biden touched her thigh and gave her a long hug at an event devoted to sexual assault at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Former Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's wife says this photo of Biden touching her shoulder was 'misleading' and that he was helping her get through the nervous occasion His defense comes five days after his first accuser, former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, said she was 'mortified' when Biden planted a 'big, slow kiss' on the back of her head as she waited to take the stage at a campaign rally five years ago. Amy Lappos told Connecticut's Hartford Courant newspaper about an incident at a 2009 political fundraiser which, she said, 'wasn't sexual, but he did grab me by the head.' Caitlyn Caruso, 22, said she met Biden at an event devoted to sexual assault at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, where she studied as an undergrad. Caruso, who was 19 years old at the time, said that Biden placed his hand on her thigh while she squirmed in her seat to show how uncomfortable she was, according to The New York Times. She said Biden then gave her a hug and held it 'just a little bit too long'. D.J. Hill, 59, met Biden at a fundraiser in Minneapolis in 2012 with her husband. The couple were posing for a photo with Biden when she claims he put his hand on her shoulder and began to run it down her back. Biden came under criticism in 2015 for massaging the shoulders of Ash Carter's wife as her husband was sworn in as secretary of defense. Photographs of that incident have circulated online so frequently that Stephanie Carter posted a column on Sunday saying Biden was merely 'a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful'. President Donald Trump, who has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct (which he denies), was asked Wednesday whether Biden should apologize for the ways he has interacted with women. The president replied, 'No, he's going to make his own decisions. He's very capable of making a decision, I assume.' A day earlier, Trump taunted Biden at a National Republican Congressional Committee fundraiser, saying, 'Our former vice president, I was going to call him. I don't know him well. I was gonna say, 'Welcome to the world, Joe. You having a good time, Joe?'' Advertisement Strictly Come Dancing judges Dame Darcey Bussell and Shirley Ballas are both upsetting their neighbours with elaborate renovations at their London homes, it can be revealed. Dame Darcey, 49, whose home in south-west London was today covered in scaffolding, was the first to launch her extensive renovation project in February 2018. Having first submitted it to planners in early 2017. While Ms Ballas, 58, whose home in south London currently has a skip outside it, submitted her renovation proposals in March last year. With work involving a part single storey and part two storey rear extension. Strictly Come Dancing judges Dame Darcey Bussell (left), 49, and Shirley Ballas, 58, (right) are both renovating their London homes. But both have faced complaints from neighbours, with some concerned about noise from construction Dame Darcey Bussell, 49, whose home in south-west London was today covered in scaffolding (pictured), was the first to launch her extensive renovation project in February 2018. Having first submitted it to planners in early 2017 While Shirley Ballas, 58, whose home in south London currently has a skip outside it, submitted her renovation proposals in March last year. With work involving a part single storey and part two storey rear extension Dame Darcey has almost completely demolished her house for the renovations, which once completed will also boast a state-of-the-art kitchen and dining area, a separate living room and a large study and will be worth about 5 million. The lavish three-storey, four-bedroom house which was originally built in 1920, is in a conservation area meaning Dame Darcey has to keep the facade to fit in with the well-heeled area. The local council gave the go-ahead for the plans last year - after initially refusing the first application - but wealthy neighbours were unhappy with having building work around them ten hours a day. But residents werent happy, with next door neighbour Jonathan Mellor sending in a three-page letter stating that while he didnt object to the application, there were many aspects he didnt understand or needing clarification. He said: Part of the issue we have in trying understanding the impact of the proposal is that - on the basis of the information submitted in support of the application - it is difficult to assess how extensive that impact might be. Dame Darcey has almost completely demolished her house for the renovations, which once completed will also boast a state-of-the-art kitchen and dining area, a separate living room and a large study and will be worth about 5 million According to reports, Dame Darcey and her family are renting a property nearby while they wait for their home to be finished. Pictured are the plans for the renovation The lavish three-storey, four-bedroom house which was originally built in 1920, is in a conservation area meaning Dame Darcey has to keep the facade to fit in with the well-heeled area. Pictured are the proposed plans The house, which was thought to be worth around 3million, before the extensive building work began. The Strictly Come Dancing judge is said to be renting a property nearby in the interim Meanwhile, Shirley Ballas is overhauling her 1.1 million mansion. With recent photographs showing a skip on the driveway alongside what appears to be a portable toilet. The 58-year-old was granted planning permission by the local council back in May to construct a part single storey and part two storey rear extension despite neighbours complaints. There were two public objections with one neighbour saying: 'It is important that any approval granted is conditional to the actual works being carried out during ordinary working hours. This is a quiet neighbourhood, and our house in particular faces the drive and our bedrooms and living space directly look on to it. 'It will be unacceptable to have drilling, cutting and contractor and delivery noise in the mornings before 8am and after 6pm on weekdays and should be kept to a minimum on weekends and certainly not before 9am and after 4pm. 'The applicant is not going to be in residence during the works and there has been previous occasion for concern, when works have been carried out late in to the night which is why we are raising this issue now. Dame Darcey Bussell (left) and Shirley Ballas (right) are pictured alongside their fellow Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli An artist's impression of how the extension will look at Ms Ballas' home once finished Ms Ballas was granted planning permission by the local council in May (pictured is the the existing ground floor plan) to construct a part single storey and part two storey rear extension despite neighbours complaints Pictured is the proposed ground floor plan. There were two public objections to the plans, with one neighbour saying: 'It is important that any approval granted is conditional to the actual works being carried out during ordinary working hours' Another local resident added: 'Looking at the proposed drawings we are very concerned at the proximity of the extension to our boundary. We would appreciate a discussion on this matter with the applicant and their architect to understand exactly what they are proposing. In an interview with HELLO! magazine back in November, Ballas said she was just beginning renovations, which would take seven months, adding: 'I am in the middle of a seven-month renovation of my house. I will have that as my base here now and am looking forward to that. I would love to settle over here. Ballas bought the property in 2006 and photos taken from the Right Move website show the original front and rear of the property, as well as the elegant internal staircase. An Ohio man accused of impersonating missing child Timmothy Pitzen allegedly saw a TV show about the boy's disappearance weeks before attempting to assume his identity. Brian Michael Rini, 23, was found wandering the streets of Kentucky on Wednesday, and claimed he was Timmothy - who vanished in 2011 after his mother committed suicide. Rini also told law enforcement he had been sexually assaulted and trafficked as a child - but DNA tests proved he was lying. He has been charged with false statement or representation made to a federal agent of the United States. He could face up to eight years in prison if found guilty. The charges follow an FBI affidavit filed on Friday that said Rini has made similar claims of being a victim of child sex trafficking to authorities twice before. On April 3, the reported Pitzen impersonator is said to have approached a woman on a residential street in Kentucky and claimed he was Timmothy. He told the woman he had just escaped from two kidnappers who had been holding him captive for nearly eight years. According to the affidavit, Rini was then taken to the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, where he repeatedly told investigators he was Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in Aurora, Illinois, nearly eight years ago at age 6. Brian Michael Rini, 23, was booked into the Hamilton County Jail at 10:18pm last night, where local police say he could face federal charges for allegedly attempting to impersonate missing Timmothy, on Wednesday After being taken to the medical center, he is said to have refused to be fingerprinted but eventually agreed to submit DNA. He was arrested 24 hours later, after authorities conducted a DNA test and confirmed he was not the missing 14-year-old boy hed claimed, but a 23-year-old man with an extensive rap sheet. Rini is said to have continued to reaffirm that he was Timmothy, but when confronted about the results, investigators say he immediately confessed and told them he'd recently watched an ABC 20/20 episode about the missing boy, before lying to police. He also said he wanted to get away from his family and 'wished he had a father like Timmothys,' the affidavit details. 'We confirmed that there was such a '20/20' episode, and in fact, a rerun had aired several weeks ago,' U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman said in a press conference on Friday. 'My heart goes out to the family of Timmothy Pitzen. I can only imagine the pain they've been put through' he added. Timmothy vanished on May 11 2011, after being taken out of school by his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen. She committed suicide in a motel room soon after and left a note saying the boy was safe but would never be found. A day earlier, Rini is said to have approached a woman on a residential street in Kentucky and claimed he was Timmothy Pitzen and had just managed to flee two kidnappers who had been holding him captive for eight years (pictured: Rini in the street moments after claiming to be Timmothy) Police said Brian Michael Rini (left) from Medina, Ohio, lied to investigators when he claimed to be missing Illinois boy Timmothy Pitzen (right). He could face federal charges, with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison Rini was booked into the Hamilton County Jail at 10:18pm last night, on a detainer issued by the FBI. He was picked up at the jail by the bureau at 10:30am, after the FBI launched a criminal investigation into the incident. Rini appeared in Federal court at 11:00am this morning, and will reappear on Tuesday for a detention hearing. FBI say he will remain in their custody without bail. Brian Rini's criminal history July 2017: Rini pleaded guilty to 'disorderly conduct' and 'criminal trespass' after breaking into a home and causing $1,250 worth of damage after throwing an elaborate house party. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and released in March this year December 2016: pleaded guilty plea/no contest to theft charges April 2016: guilty plea/no contest to 'making false alarms about law enforcement' December 2015: guilty plea/no contest after 'writing a series of bad checks' November 2015: pleaded guilty/no contest to two counts of theft June 2015: pleaded guilty/no contest after dialing 911 to falsely claim to police that his ex-girlfriend was going to commit suicide April 2015: pleaded guilty/no contest to once count of 'passing bad checks' - fifth degree felony October 2013: pleaded guilty/no contest to 'falsification' Source: Fox 19 Advertisement 'False reports like this can be painful to the families of missing children and also divert law enforcement resources in order to investigate these untruthful claims,' said FBI special agent Herb Stapleton, in a press conference. 'Law enforcement takes dishonest reports very seriously, and we caution that people making false claims can and will face criminal penalties.' The 23-year-old appears to have an extensive history of criminal behavior including charges for burglary, vandalism, using bad checks and giving fraudulent information to the police. He'd only been released from an Ohio jail for the burglary a few weeks before making the false Timmothy claim. According to an officer's dispatch report from Wednesday, Rini told police he was born on October 18, 2004, the same day as Timmothy, and also gave his correct middle name of James. The report also said he claimed that he had managed to flee two tattooed, body-builder type captors who had been holding him hostage in a Red Roof Inn, said to be in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rini claimed that when he saw his chance to escape, he fled and 'kept running across a bridge' - the state line - and into Newport, Kentucky. In Timmothys hometown of Aurora, Illinois, police Sgt. Bill Rowley said that over the years his department has received thousands of tips about Timmothy, including false sightings. 'Were always worried about copycats, especially something that has a big national attention like this,' Rowley said. On Friday, Rinis brother Johnathan spoke out about his siblings troubled past, and called him a terrible person for his latest wrongdoing. Rini's brother Jonathon spoke out on Thursday night to apologize Timmothy's family and say his brother deserved to be in jail Timmothy vanished without a trace in 2011 following his mother Amy Fry-Pitzen's suicide (pictured together) Johnathan also revealed that his brother suffers from Aspergers and bipolar disorder, but insisted to CCN that he should have the rational thinking not to do something like this. He was receiving treatment, but then he stopped and started getting in more trouble, actually started going to, well...he was in juvy a lot when we were kids and the he started going to actual jail, and then he recently just got out of prison,' Johnathan said. Brian was released from prison on March 7 after serving an 18-month sentence for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass, having broken into a home and thrown an elaborate house party, causing $1,250 worth of damage. Once he started using my name for things he was doing, I have no compassion for him whatsoever. He used my name in a traffic stop in Norton and then skipped court and I received a traffic warrant for it. 'I'd tell the family that I'm sorry for what he's done, but for him, I wouldn't even speak to him.' Brunswick Hills chief of police Tim Sopkovich said he was not surprised to her Rini's name mentioned as the alleged impostor, calling the accused a 'dirt bag'. 'He's a mastermind,' Sopkovich declared to Fox 8. 'I don't know if he has multiple personalities or what, but he had our realtor convinced he was buying the house, he had neighbors convinced he was living there.' The Brunswick police department arrested Rini in 2017, in the burglary-turned-house party that secured the 23-year-old an 18-month prison term. 'I would not put it past him to make up this story,' he added. 'Brian Rini is the type of dirt bag who is going to go out and do whatever he feels and will do whatever he can get away with.' 'We confirmed that there was such a '20/20' episode, and in fact, a rerun had aired several weeks ago,' U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman (picture on the podium) said in a press conference on Friday. Timmothy's mother took him on a three-day holiday, visiting the zoo and several water-parks before she was found dead inside a Rockford motel room, having committed suicide Timmothy's father, James Pitzen (left) is said to be devastated once more after Rini's impersonation gave him false hope What happened to Timmothy Pitzen? On the morning of May 11, 2011, James Pitzen dropped his son off at Greenman Elementary School in Aurora. At 8:30am, Timmothy's mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, appeared at the school telling educators that she needed to remove her son from class because of a 'family emergency'. Later that day, James returned to the school to pick Timmothy up, but was told Amy withdrew him from class hours earlier. For more than a day, he found no sign of Timmothy or Amy, until eventually she called James and his brother on May 12, telling them 'Timmothy is fine. Timmothy belongs to me. Timmothy and I will be fine. Timmothy is safe'. The last CCTV images of Amy and Timmothy alive together were captured on May 12 as they checked out from the Kalahari Resort, in Wisconsin Dells. The following day, Amy was spotted alone on CCTV 120 miles away in a supermarket near Rockford, having purchased a pen, paper and some envelopes. On May 14 she was found dead in her Rockford Inn motel room having committed suicide by slashing her wrists. A note found next to her body said that Timmothy was safe, and in the care of others, but added: 'You'll never find him'. Timmothy's identification card was found inside the room, but workers at the motel said Amy had checked-in alone. Police say they've investigated several false leads since Timmothy's disappearance in 2011. The last potential breakthrough came in 2014, when a woman said she saw a boy matching his description at her yard-sale. Police were never able to confirm the sighting. Advertisement Timmothy Pitzen's family say they are heart-broken to find themselves back at square one in their search for Timmothy. 'It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again and Timmothy's father is devastated once again,' the boy's aunt Kara Jacobs said in a press conference. The family said that they were elated when they first heard that a boy claiming to be Timmothy had been found wandering the streets of Newport, Kentucky. But that hope was cruelly dashed when police ran a DNA test and found that 'Timmothy' was actually 23-year-old ex-convict Brian Michael Rini. 'It's been awful,' said Timmothy's grandmother, Alana Anderson. 'We're been on tenterhooks it's been exhausting.' Incredibly, Anderson said the family didn't feel anger towards the fraudster, only pity. 'I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else,' she said. Timmothy vanished on May 11 2011, after being taken out of school by his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen. She committed suicide in a motel room soon after and left a note saying the boy was safe but would never be found. 'Although we are disappointed that this turned out to be a hoax, we remain diligent in our search for Timmothy, as our missing person's case remains unsolved,' an Aurora Police Department spokesperson said. An FBI spokesman added: 'Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today.' Timmothy's aunt, Jen West, said that, while she was crushed, there could be a silver lining to the hoax as it has renewed interest in her nephew's missing person's case. 'It's a blessing in that respect, that the more coverage he gets, the better.' This is the moment a blazing meteorite shot across the night sky in Russia with reports saying it 'shook the ground' and 'warmed the air' before smashing through 3ft of solid ice. Spectacular new footage shows the 'small meteorite' flashing across the sky in Evenkia district of Krasnoyarsk region moments before impact last month. Russian scientists now claim to have located it and have sent leading experts from Moscow to examine the mysterious Siberian phenomenon at the crash site in the Podkamennaya Tunguska River. The small meteorite whistles through the sky above the Evenkia district of Krasnoyarsk region, Russia It was described as a 'glowing ball' that turned the evening 'bright and warm' close to the site of the world's largest 'meteor explosion' which had the force of 185 Hiroshima bombs. Footage showed the dazzling flash changing colour from green to yellow to orange. The meteorite split in two shortly before it hit the frozen river. Experts say one part of the cosmic rock smashed through more than 4ft of snow and 3ft of solid ice into the river. The 'glowing ball' turned from green, to yellow, to orange and split into two before one part landed in the Podkamennaya Tunguska River Scientists from Moscow's Vernadsky Institute say they have located the ice hole where the cosmic rock fell and an attempt will be made soon to retrieve the rock from the river bed. They are working with the Finnish Meteorological Institute on the project. The head of administration in the village of Uchami, with a population of 96 and close to the site, felt the ground move, reported The Siberian Times. Russian scientists believe they have found one part of it that broke through a 3ft-thick layer of ice, ending at the bottom of the river 'I was home when I heard loud thunder which sounded like an explosion. 'There was a huge glow, the floor trembled and dry branches fell off a birch tree in the yard,' said Natalia Moskvitina. 'I panicked and called my brother who lives some 300 metres away. 'He said he wondered if this was a plane crash.' One witness claimed the edge was taken off the minus 20C cold by the eerie phenomenon. 'The night got bright and warm, as if a giant light bulb was switched on in the sky', said witness Pyotr Bondarev from Tura village. The crash site (pictured) is a few hundred miles from where the devastating Tunguska Event happened 111 years ago Bondarev said: 'It was about 7.30 pm, it was dark. 'I was outside having a walk with my wife and children, when the sky flashed green and yellow. 'Many people saw it and got very excited.' The 330ft fireball, which locals compared last month's meteorite to, in 1908 wiped out 80million trees left thousands of reindeer carcasses charred Locals claimed it was a 'second Tunguska'. The crash site is several hundred miles from the monumental Tunguska Event 111 years ago. More than 770 square miles of forest was wiped out after a fireball - believed to be some 330 ft wide - tore through the atmosphere and exploded, according to scientists. The remote Tura village where the bright light was observed streaking over the Siberian hills in Russia The Tunguska explosion is thought to have been produced by a comet or asteroid hurtling through Earth's atmosphere at over 33,500 miles per hour (50, 000km/h), resulting in an explosion equal to 185 Hiroshima bombs as pressure and heat rapidly increased An estimated 80million trees were destroyed, and there were thousands of charred reindeer carcasses. It is believed to have exploded three to seven miles above the earth's surface yet despite the carnage there was no impact crater. There were no reports of casualties in the sparsely populated area despite an explosion with the force of 185 Hiroshima bombs. However, some experts have disputed the cause of 1908 Tunguska explosion. Advertisement President Donald Trump got his first in-person look at a section of the 30-foot 'bollard wall' his administration is building along the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, touring a California border town where a 2-1/4 mile stretch of barriers is replacing antiquated fencing made from landing mats scavenged during the Vietnam War era. The White House called Trump's destination 'the first completed section of the new border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.' 'Weve already built a lot of it,' the president told reporters at the site. The administration has not, however, erected walls in any places along the 1,954-mile border where no barriers existed on his Inauguration Day. Trump said the imposing structure, made of reinforced steel slats spaced apart so U.S. Border Patrol agents can see the other side, is 'anti-climb' and can be made quickly. 'Just checked out the new Wall on the Border GREAT!' he tweeted as Air Force One glided along the brief flight path to Los Angeles, where a fundraiser awaited. The president has been eager to continue making border security a central campaign issue. He consulted with immigration agents in the California border city of Calexico on Friday while insisting that the nation's immigration system was overburdened and declaring that 'our country is full.' He has also complained bitterly about media coverage of his ambitious border agenda that whipped rally crowds into frenzied mobs during the 2016 campaign. On Friday he invited border agents to join him with reporters so they could meet the 'fake news.' President Donald Trump showed off a section of his long-planned border wall (not pictured here) on Friday in the town of Calexico, California The new wall, pictured Friday, is made of reinforced vertical steel slats spaced far enough apart for border guards to see through to the Mexican side Trump greeted enthusiastic law enforcement officers and leaders as he toured the border wall area on Friday A 'Baby Trump' balloon floated in protest nearby where Trump visited on Friday, seen from the Mexican side of the border in the hours before the president's arrival Touch down in LA: The political battle over the border ignited again just as Air Force One touched down in Calexico, not far from Mexico, as California and 19 other states that are suing Trump over his declaration requested a court order to stop money from being diverted to fund the project Trump, who has placed hard-line immigration policy at the heart of his administration, declared that his move, which included vetoing a congressional vote and some opposition from his own party, was necessary The political battle over the border ignited again just as Air Force One touched down in Calexico, not far from Mexico, as California and 19 other states that are suing Trump over his declaration requested a court order to stop money from being diverted to fund the project. But Trump, who has placed hard-line immigration policy at the heart of his administration, declared that his move, which included vetoing a congressional vote and some opposition from his own party, was necessary. 'There is indeed an emergency on our southern border,' Trump said at a border security briefing, adding that there has been a sharp uptick in illegal crossings. 'It's a colossal surge, and it's overwhelming our immigration system. We can't take you anymore.' Although the wall his signature campaign promise remains unbuilt, Trump declared that at least 400 miles of the border barrier would be erected over the next two years even as he tried to blame Democrats for a lack of progress on the wall. 'The crisis is a direct result of the obstruction by Democrats,' the president claimed. Protesters had their moment in the hours before Trump arrived, flying a giant balloon in the shape of a diapered 'baby Trump' in a nearby section of border. The ballooners never crossed paths with the president or his entourage. Trump also denied that he changed his mind about shutting down the border with Mexico, a threat he backed off on Thursday. Trump said he reversed course because he saw Mexico get tougher in stopping an influx of immigrants from moving north. Trump's public display of border power comes as he is threatening to shut the frontier entirely because of what he says is an out-of-control influx of migrants and drugs the 'baby Trump' balloon flew A Mexican federal police member stood guard on his own side of the new wall Friday in Mexicali, Mexico, while Trump visited The president participated in a roundtable on immigration and border security at the U.S. Border Patrol Calexico Station, saying the U.S. is 'full' and can't handle a sustained influx of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers Though Trump, who has pulled a series of about-faces in recent days, walked away from his threat to close the border, he went ahead and highlighted the conditions at the boundary with Mexico 'Mexico has been absolutely terrific for the last four days,' the president said as he left the White House. 'I never changed my mind at all. I may shut it down at some point.' Though Trump, who has pulled a series of about-faces in recent days, walked away from his threat to close the border, he went ahead and highlighted the conditions at the boundary with Mexico. The fence that Trump is touring is a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trump's name and those of top homeland security officials. The president's visit came a day after he withdrew his nominee to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Longtime border official Ron Vitiello appeared to be cruising toward confirmation, but Trump said Friday that he wanted to go in a 'tougher direction.' Trump, who wants to return to illegal immigration as a key 2020 re-election issue, also took to Twitter earlier Friday to claim that he could revive his threat to shut the border, a move that fellow Republicans warned would have a devastating economic impact. 'If for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesn't work, which it will, I will close the Border,' Trump tweeted, before invoking the new but not-yet-approved trade policy. 'This will supersede USMCA.' Trump, who wants to return to illegal immigration as a key 2020 re-election issue, also took to Twitter earlier Friday to claim that he could revive his threat to shut the border, a move that fellow Republicans warned would have a devastating economic impact As Trump landed in California, the state's governor ripped the president's push for Congress to pass legislation that would tighten asylum rules to make it harder for people to qualify As Trump landed in California, the state's governor ripped the president's push for Congress to pass legislation that would tighten asylum rules to make it harder for people to qualify. 'Since our founding, this country has been a place of refuge - a safe haven for people fleeing tyranny, oppression and violence. His words show a total disregard of the Constitution, our justice system, and what it means to be an American,' said Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. And the state's attorney general, Democrat Xavier Becerra, said Friday that 20 states took action to prevent $1.6 billion from being siphoned away from fighting drug trafficking and funding military construction projects. Trump, who was presented with a piece of the future border wall, traveled to the border with a number of congressional Republicans, including Rep. Duncan Hunter, who was indicted last year on a litany of campaign finance violations and has since been stripped of committee assignments. Hunter still won re-election. Trump has been increasingly exasperated at his inability to halt the swelling number of migrants entering the U.S., including thousands who have been released after arriving because border officials have no space for them. Arrests along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months, and border agents were on track to make 100,000 arrests or denials of entry in March, a 12-year high. More than half of those are families with children, who require extra care. The southern border is nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) long and already has about 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) of different types of barriers, including short vehicle barricades and tall steel fences that go up to 30 feet (9 meters) high. Most of the fencing was built during the administration of George W. Bush, and there have been updates and maintenance throughout other administrations. Trump has yet to complete any new mileage of fencing or other barriers anywhere on the border. His administration has only replaced existing fencing, including the section he is touring Friday. Construction for that small chunk of fencing cost about $18 million, began in February 2018 and was completed in October. Plans to replace that fence date back to 2009, during President Barack Obama's tenure. Administration officials had been studying ways to minimize the economic impact of a potential border closure in case Trump went through with his threat, including keeping trucking lanes open or closing only certain ports. But even absent that extraordinary step, delays at border stations have been mounting after some 2,000 border officers were reassigned from checking vehicles to deal with migrant crowds. Trump walked away from his border closure threat just days after he also abruptly postponed Republican efforts to work on a replacement for Obama's health care law, commonly called 'Obamacare.' After the border visit, Trump was slated to travel to Los Angeles, where he was set to hold a pair of fundraisers in the deeply liberal city. He was then poised to travel to Las Vegas for another re-election fundraiser and an address to the Republican Jewish Coalition, which is backed by GOP mega-donor Sheldon Adelson. A French transgender woman who was filmed being jeered and beaten during a protest by Algerians in a viral video has spoken out. Julia, 31, said she was trying to make her way to the metro from the Place de la Republique in Paris when she was heckled and abused by men who were protesting the now former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last Sunday. In an exclusive interview with Tetu, an LGBT+ magazine, she said: 'People need to know that the video only shows part of the assault. The individual you can see ruffling my hair on the video had slapped me just before. 'Another individual took his penis out in front of me and, laughing, asked me to satisfy him.' Julia, 31, said: 'I looked at one of my aggressors and told him I was absolutely not afraid of him and I think this is what provoked his very violent reaction' A protester can be seen wildly striking Julia, 31, repeatedly across the arm after she confronts him near the Place de la Republique in central Paris on Sunday Footage shows her being shouted at before she goes to confront one of the men who then beats her repeatedly across the arm. Members of the crowd can be heard jeering in the background as others try to intervene before the police take hold of the situation. Transport police officers intervened and protected Julia from any further assaults. Julia said: 'I looked at one of my aggressors and told him I was absolutely not afraid of him and I think this is what provoked his very violent reaction.' She continued: 'This is sadly part of the daily lives of transgender people.. If I have taken full advantage of the media spotlight, it really is to give as much visibility as possible to the LGBT community. Because attacks like this sadly happen almost every day. 'It is 2019, in Paris, and we can still be assaulted because we are different, because we are not part of "the norm." So I just want to send a message of tolerance and open-mindedness.' According to Tetu, Julia began her transformation six months ago. Julia, 31, jostles with the crowd as the transport police move in to diffuse the situation (left) and before the violence she cuts a lonely figure on the steps, surrounded by loud protesters (right) Julia said she told local media that she was trying to get to the metro, but that 'three individuals blocked me' (pictured: protesters hold smoke grenades in the Place de la Republique on Sunday, there is no suggestion these protesters were involved in the incident) Julia said: 'In my head, I am a woman, so I move forward and am out and proud and it does not stop me living, to go out in the street, despite what happened, and I carry on living my life and being proud of what I am.' She added: 'I would like to tell people who are the victims of assault in the LGBT community not to let it slide, to really file complaints, you should not hesitate. I also hesitated to file a complaint, because I was afraid it wouldn't go anywhere. I might also have been afraid of reprisals.' The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, tweeted that she was 'indignant at this transphobic aggression, which I condemn with the greatest firmness. I want to assure the victim of all my support. 'The parties guilty of this intolerable act must be identified and prosecuted.' Julia said: 'But I want to tell all these people 'this is not normal, we can't be assaulted like this because we are different, or because we have a different sexuality or a different gender. 'So, be proud of what you are and don't be afraid!' Romain Burrel, the Director of the Tetu magazine, told Europe 1 that transphobic attacks are rooted in 'toxic masculinity.' President Donald Trump attacked a front-page media account that said he 'backed down' on closing the southern border a day after he said he was giving Mexico a 'one-year warning' to stem illegal immigration. Trump took to Twitter Friday to push back on a Washington Post account of his border decision after he revealed he would not close the border as he had said he might do if Mexico didn't clamp down on illegal immigration immediately. The paper reported that Trump had 'backed down' after business leaders and some White House aides warned of potentially devastating consequences if he carried out his threat. 'The Crazed and Dishonest Washington Post again purposely got it wrong. Mexico, for the first time in decades, is meaningfully apprehending illegals at THEIR Southern Border, before the long march up to the U.S.' Trump tweeted. 'This is great and the way it should be. The big flow will stop,' he added. President Donald Trump is not 'ready to close' the border after all. He said he's giving Mexico a year stop illegal immigration - or he'll come back to the topic Then Trump issued a specific tariff threat to Mexico. 'However, if for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesnt work, which it will, I will close the Border' he wrote. He said it would supersede the new trade deal he negotiated with Mexico and Canada. 'Likewise I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border. Over 100,00 Americans die each year, sooo many families destroyed!' he wrote. Trump fired off the message shortly before heading off on a trip to California to visit a section of border wall. A day earlier, he revealed he is 'not 'ready to close' the border after all. Trump told reporters that he's inclined to tariff cars coming over from Mexico first, and then close the border. He said the neighboring country should consider this a warning. 'Were going to give them a one-year warning and if the drugs dont stop or largely stop were going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, particularly cars. The whole ballgame is cars,' he said. 'And if that doesnt stop the drugs, we close the border.' It was a steep climb down from his repeated threats to close it the border as soon as this week. America's top CEOs warned him in a Wednesday letter that even threatening to do it hurts companies and their workers and he should rethink his decision. He signaled Thursday that their complaints had an impact, and he would not shut down the border, as planned. 'Frankly better but less drastic than closing the border is to tariff the cars coming in,' he told reporters. 'And I will do it. You know I will do it I dont play games. I will do it.' CEOs from America's leading companies told the Trump administration Wednesday that a border shutdown 'would severely damage the operations of American businesses and hurt American workers' and the president should not count it as an option. The heads of GM, JP Morgan Chase, Oracle, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Cisco, IBM, Marriott, AT&T, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Comcast and dozens of American businesses sent the administration a letter via the Business Roundtable outlining the economic risks of Trump proposed port of entry closure. 'Closing the border would back up thousands of trucks, impact billions of dollars of goods each day, cripple supply chains and stall U.S. manufacturing and business activity,' they said in a letter to the president's economic advisers and members of his Cabinet. Trump said last week that he could close it all down within days if illegal immigration does not come to an immediate halt. 'I'm ready to close it, if I have to close it,' he insisted as he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. After he threatened a border closure again on Wednesday, fellow billionaires signaled they'd had enough. Administration officials were working behind the scenes, in the meantime, to limit disruptions to the economy and local businesses, in case Trump acted on his threat during a Friday visit to Calexico, California, to see newly-constructed areas of his border wall. Trump gave Mexico a lifeline on Thursday afternoon, pledging to hold off on a border closure while the work to reduce the number of immigrants illegally crossing the border and illicit drug sales. 'Mexico has been capturing people and bringing them back to their countries at their southern border. They keep people under their very powerful laws they have the right to do it and bringing them back to where they came from,' he said. 'Thats been about three days now, I guess, frankly since they thought I was going to close the border.' Economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Wednesday morning that the administration was looking at keeping freight lanes open if Trump shuts down the rest of the border Trump warned Congress again on Wednesday that he'll shutdown the border without immediate action In this photo taken on April 2, 2019 cars line up to cross to San Diego, US from Tijuana, Mexico at San Ysidro crossing port in Baja California state, Mexico National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said Wednesday morning that the administration was looking at keeping freight lanes open if Trump shuts down the rest of the border. 'We're very integrated with the Mexican economy,' he acknowledged at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. 'We certainly looking at it, we're certainly exploring it. We will do the best that we can in the event that that becomes necessary.' White House Director of Strategic Communication Mercedes Schlapp punted to the president's Council of Economic Advisers as she was cornered by reporters outside the building and questioned about a possible border closure's economic impacts. 'They're studying all options,' she said. 'They're looking ways to ensure that we're able to minimize any economic impact.' She said the Department of Homeland Security is working on alternatives to a closure, but the border crisis is at a 'breaking point' and it's a priority of the president to fix it. 'We're looking at all options. I think what we've already started to see is Secretary Nielsen has ordered the redeployment of resources from the ports of entry to other points along the border where we're seeing the surge of illegal immigrants coming through the border. So that's where we are at this point,' she said. DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has established an inter-agency task force that's being led by border patrol veteran Manny Padilla. She reportedly said on a call that the administration is treating the border emergency like a Category 5 storm. 'We know that this is a crisis. It's a humanitarian crisis. We want to be able to manage this as we've seen the system is overwhelmed, and it's at a breaking point,' Schlapp said Wednesday. A DHS spokesman did not respond to a request from DailyMail.com for comment. Trump's acting chief of staff warned Sunday that the president isn't bluffing. Mick Mulvaney said it would take 'something dramatic' to change Trump's mind. Since then, the president altered his border closure threat numerous times. He suggested Thursday that he'd put new tariffs on cars that are built in Mexico. A trade agreement with the country that the nations have signed but have not ratified allows Trump to take that very action. The president seemed to be looking for a way out of his border shutdown threat. A shutdown would hamper tourism and trade on both sides of the border. Trucks delivering goods would be temporarily barred from traveling between the United States and Mexico. 'I don't think the car industry would be able to adjust to that very rapidly,' said the American Enterprise Institute's Stan Veuger. While it is impossible to estimate the total economic cost of a border closure, experts anticipate weekly losses in the billions. In 2017, the U.S. and Mexico did $615 billion in business with one another, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office. That's roughly $1.7 billion a day. Mexico is the United States' third largest trading partner after Canada and China. Veuger said the United States' GDP would not immediately take a hit as a result of a total border closure, but after a couple of weeks, he said there are likely temporary layoffs in the automotive industry. The agricultural industry would also be effected because food products would expire and rot. Construction companies who rely on day laborers and retailers on both sides of the border would also be hurt, he said. 'I think the baseline assumption should be that its government by hissyfit,' he said of the potential carveouts for workers and commercial deliveries that have been floated. He said it would seem the Trump administration is trying to 'blackmail' legislators and Congress with a border closure will not solve the problems the president cited as reasons for taking unilateral action. If the U.S. shuts down legal ports of entry, the economic expert said, 'People will just say, "Ok. Fine. Then we'll just cross illegally." ' That makes their journey more dangerous, he said, and it won't necessarially cut down on the number of people crossing the border with claims that they deserve asylum. While the state of Texas would bear the brunt of a border closure, California, Arizona and New Mexico will also share in the pain. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Wednesday that he would be 'supportive of' the president if he shuts down the border but he would 'want it to be as short as possible' Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Wednesday that he would be 'supportive of' the president if he shuts down the border but he would 'want it to be as short as possible.' 'I don't see any reason why that would have to happen, when all Congress needs to do is act on something that I think everyone, Democrat and Republican, knows is a real issue,' he said. Trump claimed in a Friday tweet, that if his conditions were not met, 'I will be CLOSING the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week.' 'Well keep it closed for a long time. Im not playing games,' he told reporters later in the day. 'Mexico has to stop it.' His spokeswoman admitted Tuesday, as she spoke to reporters outside the White House, that Trump doesn't actually have a day in mind to shut the border down, though. 'The president's not working on a specific timeline,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. 'He's working to look at all of the options on the table.' Trump has been claiming since October of last year that he will close the border if illegal immigrants continue to enter the U.S. at record rates. Nearly half a million people, 465,000, come through legal ports of entry each day. Sanders said Monday that problems at the border are already creating long lines 'and eventually maybe that it's the best decision that we close the border' because agents are spread too thin. 'This isn't our first choice,' she noted as she spoke to press after a television hit. 'We've already had to move roughly 750 personnel from ports of entry.' Asked about a date of closure, she admitted that Trump doesn't have one. 'We're hoping that Mexico will continue to step up like we've seen them do over the last couple of weeks we hope that continues, and we can work with them so that we don't have to do that,' Sanders said. An Ohio man who replied to an advert on Craigslist 'looking for an incest family' has pleaded guilty to child abuse after sharing his sick sexual fantasies with six other men. William Weekley, 35, faces decades in jail after he is said to have replied to an ad on the site which read: 'I AM LOOKING TO PRIVATELY MEET AN INCEST FAMILY. Mom son brother sister.' He pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child pornography, one count of attempted coercion of a minor and two counts of distributing child pornography. Authorities say Weekley, from Newark, who is now facing decades in prison, took part in the pedophile ring which involved sick fantasies about minors, incest and bestiality. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio says he sexually abused a 10-year-old girl and shared images of her with others on messaging apps. He was caught out when an undercover investigator began to speak with him. William Weekley, left, replied to an ad from Timothy Sullivan, right, on Craigslist which read: 'I AM LOOKING TO PRIVATELY MEET AN INCEST FAMILY. Mom son brother sister' Authorities say Weekley, who is now facing decades in prison, took part in the pedophile ring which involved sick fantasies about minors, incest and bestiality Investigators discovered he was meeting other men on Craigslist and talking about child abuse. Authorities say he communicated with each of the other defendants on an ongoing basis through text and various other apps, including Wickr. He also had regular access to a little girl, approximately 10 to 11 years old, who he shared images of her abuse. One of the men, Franklin Eugene Perry, 63, is said to have also sexually abused that victim with Weekley. Weekley and Grant Michalski, 29, messaged on Craigslist about interests in sexual topics like 'family, forced' and 'K9 and more', authorities say. Eric Zevely, 34, is said to have also sexually abused a different 10-year-old victim. The author of the Craigslist ad, Timothy Sullivan, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Franklin Perry, left, pleaded guilty to coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Eric Zevely, right, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography Brian Scott Perkins, 42, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography Perry pleaded guilty in January 2019 to coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Brian S. Perkins, 42, of Mt. Vernon, Zevely and Grant Michalski, 29, of Columbus, all pleaded guilty in November 2018. Perkins and Michalski pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and Zevely pleaded guilty to producing child pornography. Jordan I. Makowski, 33, of Greenville, Ohio pleaded guilty in February 2019 to distributing child pornography. Just as Joe Biden faces increasing criticism for his inappropriate touching of women, his wife Jill has written a memoir telling how his public displays of affection like hugs, kisses and rubs have always been the norm for the former Vice President and his family. 'He was always holding my hand, putting his arm around me, or brushing the hair from my face,' when they began dating, the former Second Lady writes in her 'deeply personal' memoir Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself due out next month and exclusively obtained by DailyMailTV. She admits that being thrust into a family of 'huggers' made her feel 'strange and uncomfortable', writing that Joe and his two young sons 'never wanted to miss a chance to hold a hand, wrap their arms around each other, or give a kiss'. She says that as an introvert, she 'sometimes found all that affection draining', but knew that it was the death of his first wife Neilia and their baby daughter Naomi that gave the family an understanding of 'how precious every second could be', which was displayed by 'constantly touching' and 'being connected to each other'. But it's those same displays of affection that have led to eight women coming forward with their accounts of how Biden made them uncomfortable by squeezing their shoulders, touching their thighs, smelling their hair or kissing their head. Jill Biden says her husband Joe has been handsy since they first began dating, she reveals in her new memoir. Biden is pictured kissing her forehead after announcing his bid for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination Jill details in her new book how his overly affectionate family made her feel 'strange and uncomfortable', but ultimately said of Joe, 'He connects with people so easily and he never hesitates when a stranger wants to tell him something personal or give him a hug'. He's pictured touching his wife's shoulder as she introduces him in 2014 DailyMailTV obtained a copy of former Second Lady's 'deeply personal' memoir Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself out May 7 'I realized that physical affection played an important role in his entire family,' Jill writes. 'Val [Joe's sister] couldn't walk by the boys without reaching out to touch their shoulders or brush their heads. Their parents stopped by often to shower the boys with kisses.' Jills tells of Joe's nighttime ritual with the boys where he'd gently scratch their backs and arms as they settled in to sleep. 'With your fingernails!', the boys would insist. 'He did the same at Mass as a way of keeping them still,' she writes. That affection, as many of his supporters and defenders have said, is what makes Joe the politician he is. Jill says: 'He connects with people so easily and he never hesitates when a stranger wants to tell him something personal or give him a hug. 'When Joe loves, he loves hard; he's all in.' She details how their first date was set up over a cold call from Joe. 'How did you get this number?' were the first words she said to then-Delaware Senator Biden in 1975. A confident Joe said he got her number from his brother Frank after he saw Jill on a poster at the Wilmington, Delaware, airport. 'That's the kind of girl I'd like to date,' the widower and father-of two told his brother when he saw Jill's photo. Jill writes that she had a date that night and Joe boldly asked her to cancel it. She did, they got to know each other over dinner and a movie and would meet up consecutively for three nights. Biden, who is now mulling a White House run, has addressed making his accusers feel uncomfortable and vowed to be 'more mindful' in the future about respecting personal space. He released a two-minute video addressing the claims. 'I want to talk about gestures of support and encouragement that I've made to some women and some men and I've made them uncomfortable,' he said in the video. His sister Valerie Biden Owens is equally as affectionate with Joe and his kids. 'Val couldn't walk by the boys without reaching out to touch their shoulders or brush their heads,' Jill writes. The siblings are pictured together sharing a tender moment in 2018 Jill writes that Joe and his two young sons Hunter and Beau 'never wanted to miss a chance to hold a hand, wrap their arms around each other, or give a kiss' after the death of their mother and his first wife Neilia and daughter Naomi (pictured before their deaths at Joe's 30th birthday party) 'I always try to be in my career, always tried to make a human connection. That's my responsibility, I think. I shake hands, I hug people. I grab men and women by the shoulders and say you can do this, whether they're women, men, young, old. 'It's the way I've always been and tried to show that I care about them and I'm listening,' he said, mirroring Jill's claims in her book about the Biden family's way of displaying affection. In his video, Biden referred to his wife and daughter being killed in a car crash in December 1972 shortly after he was first elected to the Senate. His sons Beau and Hunter survived, but Beau died in May 2015 of brain cancer. 'Over the years knowing I've been through the things that I've faced, I found that scores, if not hundreds, of people have come up to me and reached out for solace and comfort. Something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy they're going through. So it's just who I am,' Biden said. The longtime Democratic senator said he has 'never thought of politics as cold and antiseptic'. 'Now, it is all about taking selfies together. Social norms begin to change and they've shifted and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been re-set and I get it. I get it. I hear what they're saying,' he said. Eight woman in total, including Sofie Karasek, have come forward saying Joe Biden had made them uncomfortable with inappropriate touching. Karasek said Biden pressed his forehead against hers at the 2016 Oscars (pictured above in a moment that has been widely shared) after she took to the stage as a sexual assault survivor This is another photo that has been circulated to prove the 'Creepy Uncle Joe' theory showing Biden leaning in to say something to Maggie Coons, next to her father Sen Chris Coons after Biden administered the Senate oath to Coons in 2015 Biden promised to be more 'mindful and respectful' going forward. 'I understand it. And I'll be much more mindful. That is my responsibility. My responsibility and I'll meet it. But I'll always believe governing, quite frankly, and life for that matter is about connecting, about connecting with people. That won't change. I will be more mindful and respectful of people's personal space and that is a good thing. That is a good thing,' he said. He concluded by addressing his history as an advocate for women. 'I worked my life empower women. I worked my whole life to prevent abuse. So the idea that I can't adjust to the fact the personal space is important more important than it's ever been, is just not true. I will. I will,' he said. The public scrutiny against Biden has caught the attention of President Trump, who himself has been accused of sexual harassment. Trump trolled Biden Thursday when he tweeted a parody video making fun of the former VP as he pledged to alter behavior. 'WELCOME BACK JOE!' Trump wrote above the video. 'I see that you are on the job and presidential, as always,' Biden replied later in the day. Tim Schrandt passed away at the age of 63 last week in Spillville, Iowa, after a battle with cancer. His family paid tribute to his iconic sense of humor in a hilarious obituary The family of an Iowa man have managed to find humor in death by penning a hysterical obituary after he passed away from cancer. Tim Schrandt, 63, was laid to rest on Thursday in Spillville after making 'his last inappropriate comment' on March 29, his family announced in the obituary on the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home and Cremation Service website. 'If you are wondering if you may have ever met him, you didn't - because you WOULD remember,' it says. 'For those of you that did meet him, we apologize, as we're sure he probably offended you. He was world renowned for not holding back and telling it like it is.' Later on the family adds: 'It's not that he was such a great storyteller, its that he WAS the story!' Schrandt was a Spillville-born US Army veteran who worked as a tool-and-die maker for Stanley Black and Decker for more than 30 years. 'Tim worked with many friends and "a bunch of morons". His words, not ours. Well not exactly his, words because that would have included a bunch of swear words,' the obituary reads. His family joked that he had a 'fondness for authority (his own - not others)' and mentions his 'fist-a-cuff with a nun' several years back. Schrandt is pictured with sisters and cousins at a family gathering in 2015. The obituary says that he will be reunited in death with several late loved ones, adding: 'Tim was in charge of getting the beer and ice for our family reunions, so they will be happy to see him' The obituary also took a jab at Schrandt's questionable taste in decor as it says: 'Tim leaves behind a hell of a lot of stuff that his family doesn't know what to do with. 'So, if you are looking for a Virgin Mary in a bathtub shrine (you Catholics know what were talking about) you should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch with them. 'Tomorrow would be fine.' The obituary stresses the cancer didn't beat Schrandt because 'when he died, the cancer died, so technically it was a tie!' Schrandt is survive by his two sons, the two granddaughters 'he adored and taught to cuss', his mother, six of his seven siblings and his partner of 13 years. The family wrote that in death Schrandt will be reunited with his infant daughter, his brother, his father and several other late family members. 'Tim was in charge of getting the beer and ice for our family reunions, so they will be happy to see him,' the obituary says. Schrandt is seen in a Facebook photo from 2014 with his partner of 13 years, Cheryl Murray Taking a slightly more serious tone toward the end, the obituary says: 'Despite his crusty exterior, cutting remarks and stubbornness, there is actual evidence that he was a loving, giving and caring person. 'That evidence is the deep sorrow and pain in our hearts that his family feels from his passing.' The family also joked that they are considering setting up a GoFundMe page for the company that makes Schrandt's favorite beer because 'we anticipate they are about to experience a significant hardship as a result of the loss of Tim's business'. The humorous tribute ends with the simple warning: 'Good luck God!' It can be read in full here. Hundreds of people have posted in the comments expressing their sadness at never getting the chance to meet such a comical character. Robert Mueller and President Trump actually got on behind the scenes, with the special counsel's office even notifying the White House 'in code' of errors in press reports, it has been claimed. John Dowd, Trump's former lawyer, said that Mueller knew Trump would trash him publicly but away from the cameras the atmosphere was more amicable. He even claimed that as Mueller's office rarely made public statements, that a member of his team would tip Dowd off when a detail in the press was incorrect. Throughout the near two-year investigation, Trump regularly referred to the probe as a hoax and a witch hunt. But Dowd, who was a former state department attorney, said that there was a 'high level of co-operation' between Trump and Mueller. In a podcast interview with Byron York of the Washington Examiner, Dowd said Mueller 'was a big boy about the political side' of Trump's public criticisms of his investigation. John Dowd (left), Trump's former attorney, claimed both the White House and Robert Mueller (right) camps co-operated behind the scenes Dowd claimed Trump co-operated fully with the special counsel's Russia investigation Dowd said: 'All this, what I call mainstream knee-jerk theories, these wild theories that he [Trump] was really trying to get rid of Bob, that was nonsense. 'He [Mueller] understood the president had to address the politics of it. He couldn't just say nothing because people were pounding him about this thing every day, both privately and publicly, so he had to take it on and his view was that it was a nothing. It was a waste of time and a waste of money.' Democrats said Trump tried to obstruct the broader investigation into potential co-ordination between Russia and his 2016 presidential campaign by firing former FBI Director James Comey. Trump said he has the constitutional authority to fire anyone in his administration at any time for any reason. His lawyers were worried that an on-the-record interview would be a minefield for the president who often makes mistakes when he claims to be presenting facts. Last November Trump submitted written answers to questions from Mueller in lieu of facing an in-person interview in which he could get caught in verbal traps. Trump submitted written answers to 'limited' questions from the Department of Justice's investigation on the topic of collusion while refusing to entertain anything that delved into alleged obstruction of justice. Describing a conversation in the summer of 2017, Dowd claimed Mueller got all the co-operation from witnesses and was handed every document his office requested. Donald Trump departing the White House California for a visit to the US-Mexico border, and to Nevada today Barr defended his decision to delay the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia, saying it contains 'sensitive grand jury material' that prevented it from being immediately made public He said: 'Early on, when the president started teeing off on Mueller, Mueller indicated to me that he was worried that some people might not co-operate and I said, ''well, we've encouraged everyone to co-operate and if you want me to say something publicly about that, and the president, we're happy to do it'', and we did.' Dowd also told how he would meet with Mueller's deputy, James Quarles, who would signal to him when something was not correct in the media. He added: 'So I had to go by this office to drop something off, and we met outside and he said - in code - don't believe everything you read in the papers. 'I said, ''I got it, OK'', and then I could say [to Trump], ''I talked to the special counsel and there was no basis for it''.' Attorney General William Barr has delayed the release of the special counsel's full 400-page report on the Russia investigation which found no evidence the president was involved in collusion. Barr said the confidential document contains 'sensitive grand jury material' that prevented it from being immediately released to the public. The attorney general also said the special investigation could not find enough evidence 'to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.' Democrats have called for the report to be made public, with Congresswoman Maxine Waters calling for Trump to be impeached. A group of firefighters in China have amazed the internet with their incredible rope-skipping skills and teamwork. They have been billed as the real-life 'Snake' - after the classic Nokia phone game - because of their fluid movement and seemingly never-ending formation in a collective performance. The 10 firefighters from Shanghai were attending a local long-rope jumping competition on Wednesday when they showcased the astonishing routine. 10 firefighters from Shanghai have amazed the internet users with their rope-skipping skills They beat all rivals after completing 604 skips in three minutes, or more than three skips per second, without tripping once. The firefighters are from the Jinshan Fire Brigade in Shanghai, which won the same competition last year. Two members were assigned to swing the rope from two ends while the rest eight ran into the rope and jumped up one after another. On a social media post, the fire brigade said practising group rope-skipping would help improve the firemen's team spirit. 'The 10 firefighters worked with each other precisely, just like when they are at dangerous rescue scenes,' the post read. They completed 604 skips in three minutes, or more than three a second, without tripping They have been billed as the real-life 'Snake' - after the Nokia game - for their fluid movement Long rope skipping is a beloved sport in China and is taught to pupils at school. The team's perfect performance have drawn waves of praise from Chinese web users after the fire brigade released the footage on Twitter-like Weibo. One user wrote: 'Jinshan Fire Brigade's "Snake" rope team returned and was still the champion of all.' Another one gushed: 'Great teamwork!' A third one said: 'You guys are brilliant. Hope you can also stay safe well when you are sent out on a mission.' Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has lodged an official complaint after being served up croquettes instead of chips on 'Fish & Chip Friday'. Prisoners across the country are normally offered a choice of fish and chips, often served up with mushy peas, on Fridays. But after being moved to HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire from HMP Frankland in February this year, the 66-year-old - who has been in jail since 1974 - was recently left fuming after being served up croquettes instead of chips. Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has lodged an official complaint after being served up croquettes instead of chips on 'Fish & Chip Friday' Writing to pal Rod Harrison, Bronson - now called Charles Salvador - said he had 'slammed in an official complaint' about it. He wrote: 'You won't believe this...Friday Fish and chips...no chips here, only fish with croquettes. 'I've slammed in a complaint.' He added: 'I just can't believe it - it's tradition...English. 'Every jail in UK has fish 'n chips on a Friday.' Superfit Salvador, who does 2,000 press-ups every day, is known for his love of British cuisine, with his favourite dishes including apple pies, bacon rolls, sausages, roast chicken, fried eggs, fish and chips, Pot Noodles, t-bone steaks, ice cream, porridge and lamb hot pot. Bronson, 66, is serving time at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire after moving from HMP Frankland in February this year. In a letter to friend Rod Harrison, Bronson said he had 'slammed in a complaint' after his chips were replaced In 2017 he wrote out a gut-busting menu of his favourite foods he wanted to tuck into when he is eventually released. The menu included lunches of whole roast chickens, with fish and chips as an 'evening snack' - as well as rump steak, turkey, shepherd's pie, sausages, liver and onions and jam roly-poly. Pal Anthony Hardy said Salvador was 'quite right' about getting fish and chips on Friday, adding: 'A tradition (in) every jail I been in: fish, chips mushy peas and curry sauce - one of the best meals of the week bar none!' Salvador was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, but during his time inside he has taken hostages in 10 prison sieges, attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused 500,000 in damage in rooftop protests. In 1999 he was given a life sentence after taking prison art teacher Phil Danielson hostage at HMP Hull after he criticised one of his drawings. In November last year, Bronson was cleared of attempting to seriously harm the governor of HMP Wakefield, Mark Docherty. Bronson, who is now called Charles Salvador, was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974 but during his time inside he has taken hostages in 10 prison sieges, attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused 500,000 in damage in rooftop protests The 66-year-old allegedly lunged at governor Mr Docherty in January 2018 after bosses at HMP Wakefield refused to release snaps of his jail wedding to Paula Williamson, 37. Bronson landed on top of Mr Docherty and allegedly screamed 'I will bite your f***ing nose off and gouge your eyes out'. Appearing via video link from HMP Frankland, the inmate danced and waved his arms with delight after he was cleared. Judge Tom Bayliss QC said to the defendant: 'You seem pleased with that, Mr Salvador. You are discharged from this.' Motorists up and down the UK have hit the roads as the great Easter getaway kicks off with an estimated 14 million trips planned. Schools across the country broke up today for their annual Easter break two weeks earlier than usual. The RAC warned that the worst traffic would be seen on Friday with more than 5.3million road users battling for road space with both commuter and commercial traffic. Motorists are advised to hold off until 7pm if they want to avoid the masses of traffic which are expected. Major road works taking place from Friday through to Sunday across the whole of the UK The M25 was chaotic this afternoon as traffic hell began for many motorists in Dartford There were lines of traffic today on the M25 clockwise towards Dartford crossing and its expected that 14 million cars will hit the road A second wave of congestion is expected over the Easter bank holiday weekend two weeks later. On Saturday there is expected to be 5 million road users, and the RAC has urged people to travel before 10am and after 3pm. This is while on Sunday there is expected to be 4.1 million with the guidance being to travel before 11am of after 3pm. RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: 'With the Easter bank holiday falling so late this year we are expecting to see a double wave of getaway traffic firstly at the end of this week and then again two weeks later for the four-day weekend. Roads in Kent were already backed up this afternoon as motorists tried to leave work early There has been an accident earlier today in Leeds which had caused more delays at the junction of York Road and Gipton Approach There was high levels of traffic on the M25 anti-clockwise between M25 J2 (Darenth Interchange) and the Dartford Tunnel 'We're hopeful the weather won't cause drivers too many issues through this coming weekend, but everyone should be ready for some typical short, sharp April showers, with even the possibility of some snow on higher ground in the North. 'This can be a busy time of year for our patrols so we strongly urge motorists to check over their vehicles before they set out. This is particularly important for people driving long distances. 'Spending just a few moments to check oil, coolant, together with tyre tread depth and pressures, can mean the difference between a long but completed journey and one disrupted by an inconvenient, and perhaps preventable, breakdown that ruins the start of a holiday.' Top tips to avoid traffic jams The RAC has developed some top tips in order to make your journey as stress-free as possible 1. Plan when to travel Traffic queues are caused by too many cars on the road at the same time. By travelling outside of peak times you can avoid the jams. 2. Prepare your vehicle Before travelling make sure you check tyre pressure, oil and coolant levels to avoid a breakdown. 3. Keep you and your passengers happy No one wants to argue in the car so make sure that you pack enough food and water for the journey and that the temperature is right for all passengers Advertisement There is already congestion along many major routes today and closures and road works are due to continue over the weekend. The A14 Westbound will be closed Northbound from 8pm to 6am tomorrow morning on junctions 14-31. The full closure is due to construction improvement of behalf of the A14 integrated delivery team. This is while the A14 Eastbound carriageway is also closed from Cambridge to Madingley, with lane closure leading to carriageway closure. On the A1M Southbound junction 60 to Junction 58 will also be closed from 8pm to 8am. The A282 Northbound A282 East tunnel is closed in order for bridge closure contraflow from 9.30pm to 5am. As well as road congestion, those travelling by train could also face delays as South Western Rail passengers travelling through London Waterloo are set to face disruption this weekend due to planned engineering works. Zimbabwe's government has caused outrage after it emerged that it was spending thousands on importing wigs from the UK for judges. According to the Zimbabwe Independent, the country's judiciary placed an order for 64 horse-hair wigs from Stanley Ley Legal Outfitters in London, at a cost of 1,850 each. Stanley Ginsburg, the owner of Stanley Ley, told CNN that his company had supplied Zimbabwe with wigs but it was not as many as reported in the Zimbabwean media. The Zimbabwean judiciary placed an order with Stanley Ley Legal Outfitters in London Many in Zimbabwe voiced their concern as the expenditure was revealed. Arnold Tsunga, Africa director at the International Commission of Jurists, wrote on Twitter: 'The judicial wig (colonial) tradition continues in Zimbabwe with all its costs and controversy, without any meaningful benefit to access to justice.' While Hopewell Chin'ono, a leading Zimbabwean journalist and documentary filmmaker, wrote: 'I have argued that this country suffers from a catastrophic mismanagement of resources. 'How do you explain a government allocating $155,000 for wigs to be bought in England when the same government is failing to buy bandages and betadine for infants in pediatric wards.' 'These are people who shout about sovereignty and anti-colonial rhetoric and yet they are still wearing hideous wigs.' 'You can take Zimbabwe out of the empire, but you can't take the empire out of Zimbabwe.' Advertisement A United States Air Force weapons officer was pictured relaxing while his aircraft flew at 600mph over Wales - as an MP called for low-flying jets in the area to be banned following noise complaints by residents. The F15E 'Strike Eagle', seen zooming just 500ft above an area called 'the Mach Loop' near Snowdonia, has featured in a series of stunning images - so close to the ground the pilots can clearly be seen. Mid Wales is home to one of the MoD's three Tactical Training Areas (TTAs) - used for operational low flying training by fast jets and Hercules transport aircraft. A United States Air Force weapons officer was seen in a very relaxed pose as his F15E 'Strike Eagle' jet travelled at 600mph The USAF jet was pictured just 500ft above the ground in Snowdonia, Wales, in an area known as the 'Mach Loop' The Welsh TTA, located in south Gwynedd between Dolgellau to the north and Machynlleth in the south, is colloquially referred to as 'the Mach Loop'. But Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts says the low jets at night in mid Wales should be stopped by the Ministry of Defence except in 'exceptional circumstances'. She says locals claim the jets are upsetting children, setting off car alarms and causing tiles to fall off roofs. The results of a public consultation have been published this week on the issue following renewed concerns from constituents. The MP said: 'I heard accounts of children being distressed, especially at the unexpected noise of low flying jets at night. Mid Wales is home to one of the MoD's three Tactical Training Areas (TTAs) - used for operational low flying training by fast jets and Hercules transport aircraft (pictured: The F15E 'Strike Eagle' manoeuvres above Snowdonia) Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts says the low jets at night in mid Wales should be stopped by the Ministry of Defence except in 'exceptional circumstances' 'People also mentioned aircraft noise as being sufficiently powerful to set off car alarms and cause tiles to fall from house roofs. 'The report makes seven recommendations, including a call to reduce the effects of noise by presuming that the MoD has a duty of care to people living below flight paths, and should make best use of modern communications technology and social media to update flights on a daily basis or more often.' 'Night flying should cease in mid-Wales save in exceptional and justifiable circumstances, and should only be conducted as normal practice in an alternative area where the resident population is negligible. 'Having carefully considered the broad range of responses received, both for and against the practice, I will be seeking a meeting with the MoD with the aim of finding agreement on the best way forward to alleviate the effects of low flying.' The report found that residents 'have increasingly made complaints about the impact low flying aircraft are having on their lives and well-being, mainly in relation to noise.' The MP said: 'I heard accounts of children being distressed, especially at the unexpected noise of low flying jets at night' 'People also mentioned aircraft noise as being sufficiently powerful to set off car alarms and cause tiles to fall from house roofs,' she said (pictured: The moment the USAF jet created its own cloud over the Welsh mountains) Of the 103 responses; 35 people stated that they were content with low flying aircraft in the area, while 64 expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation. Noise complaints featured in the bulk of the objections, with multiple concerns were raised about the impact of noise on children and animals specifically. Ethical or anti-militarism complaints were also made to the consultation about the Tactical Training Area. The news comes after NATO fighter jets were pictured flying at 30,000 feet during a major military exercise over Britain yesterday. The Joint Warrior exercise involved 10,000 personnel from 13 NATO countries and Australia, and is part of the alliance's UK-lead operation taking place on the organisation's 70th anniversary. The Welsh TTA, located in south Gwynedd between Dolgellau to the north and Machynlleth in the south, is colloquially referred to as 'the Mach Loop' During the exercise, RAF Typhoons were pictured refuelling over the Scottish coast while the new F35 stealth fighters could be seen over the east coast of England. One Machynlleth resident said in response to the consultation that low flying jets between the hours of 7pm and 7am is 'completely unacceptable and unreasonable.' A south Gwynedd resident said they find 'the noise (from the aircraft) really stressful in our daily life'. Several respondents pointed to the pollution of fuel and fumes from the jets as a problem, but the MoD said there is no evidence to suggest that fuel emissions from military aircraft have a significant effect on the environment, even in locations where intensive low flying takes place. NATO fighter jets were pictured flying at 30,000 feet during a major military exercise over Britain yesterday (pictured: RAF Typhoon refuels over the Scottish coast) Pictured: Typhoons refuel over Scotland during the Joint Warrior exercise - which involves 10,000 personnel from 13 NATO countries Pictured: The new RAF stealth fighter F35 refuels over the east coast of England during the Joint Warrior exercise - held on NATO's 70th anniversary The MoD, which publishes a monthly 'operational low flying training timetable' said that while military low flying has reduced in the past three decades, 'it remains an essential skill for military aircrew.' 'Whatever missions we ask our armed forces to undertake, the aircrew must be able to fulfil the task as effectively as possible, often without time for 'work up' training,' the MoD said. 'They are only able to do this through specialist training gained through the use of the UK low flying system. 'Safety remains the highest priority during flying operations for all military aircrews and they do not wish to frighten or upset people and animals. 'All our aircrews are highly trained and procedures are in place to ensure that members of the public are protected at all times.' France has ruled out repatriating jihadists and their families from Syria following furious backlash at reports 250 of them would be allowed to return. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told a press conference in Paris on Friday: 'No communal repatriation was under consideration to be carried out.' It had been reported that in early March the government was prepared to bring home around 250 men, women and children from the former 'caliphate,' which brought widespread public backlash. France and other European nations are considering how to deal with the thousands of foreigners, many of whom are being held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces which led the final push against IS. Women queue to collect items of delivered aid at the al-Hol refugee camp in al-Hasakeh province in northeastern Syria in January French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner speaks during a press conference at the Ministry of Interior in Paris on Friday A foreign woman, living in al-Hol camp which houses relatives of Islamic State group members, looks back in the camp in al-Hasakeh governorate in northeastern Syria last month The issue is extremely sensitive in France, where a deadly 2015 attack on the capital claimed by IS killed 130 people and set off a wave of other deadly assaults since then. Castaner said: 'It's logical that our services considered all hypotheses. This was one of the hypothesis they prepared.' However, he reiterated that France would nonetheless study bringing back children of jihadist fighters on a 'case-by-case basis'. He denied Liberation's claim that France's policy with regards to fighters in Syria was being dictated by public opinion. Last month, French authorities for the first time brought home five orphaned children of French jihadists' from camps in northeast Syria. According to the UN children's agency UNICEF, around 3,000 foreign children from 43 countries are housed at the Al-Hol camp in Syria alone, which has taken in most of the people fleeing IS's self-proclaimed 'caliphate' in recent weeks. A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces stands before veiled foreign women in al-Hol camp where thousands are being held after they fled ISIS last stand at Baghouz Unidentified women, reportedly wives of a suspected ISIS fighter, cover their faces as they walks at Roj refugees camp in Hasakah, northeast of Syria last month A woman suspected of being the wife of a jihadists walks with her children at a camp in northeastern Syria where thousands are being held - many of them foreign nationals Up to 1,700 French nationals are thought to have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight with the jihadists between 2014 and 2018, according to government figures. Around 300 are believed to have died in combat. Kurdish officials have warned they do not have the resources to hold all the captured fighters indefinitely, and Washington is also urging its allies in the anti-IS coalition to take home their citizens. But repatriation is a politically fraught issue, and governments fear they may not have enough evidence to convict IS members who claim they did not fight. U.S. employers added 196,000 jobs last month, more than economists had forecast. And President Donald Trump made sure the country knows it. He boasted about the good news with a three-word tweet echoing what he said in 2016 were is three most important performance metrics: 'JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!' As he left the White House for California, he said the U.S. 'is doing unbelievably well.' 'We have a lot of very exciting things going on. A lot of companies will be announcing shortly they're moving back into the United States,' he said. 'They're all coming back. They want to be where the action is.' The stronger-than-expected jobs report helped smooth concerns about the economy, after February's report initially said just 20,000 jobs were added during the month, which was sharply below the recent pace. The government on Friday revised that number to growth of 33,000. President Donald Trump boasted about positive jobs numbers on Friday after the Labor Department said private sector employers created 196,000 new positions in March The president said that 'a lot of companies will be announcing shortly they're moving back into the United States' Trump tweeted 'JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!' on Friday Average hourly earnings rose 3.2 per cent in March from a year earlier, which was weaker than economists' forecasts. Markets pay close attention to the numbers because while higher wages help workers afford to buy more things, they also crimp corporate profit margins. The S&P 500 has climbed every day this week, though most of the gains were only modest, and it now sits just 1.4 per cent away from its most recent record high, which was set in September. The index has been tacking on more gains since closing out its best quarter in nearly a decade, with a 13.1 per cent rise in the first three months of the year. If the index ends Friday higher, it would clinch a seven-day winning streak, its longest in a year and a half. Stocks around the world have also been climbing as the United States and China say they are making progress on talks to ease their trade war. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. and China were 'rounding the turn' in the talks, which resumed Wednesday in Washington. No details were announced, but Trump said after meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He that 'something monumental' could be announced within weeks. Challenges still lay ahead for the market, though, including expectations for the weakest batch of corporate earnings reports in years. Economists also still expect growth for economies around the world to slow in 2019. In this Feb. 5, 2019, file photo trader John Panin works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 5 Apache, EOG Resources and Anadarko Petroleum all rose at least 3 per cent, as energy-related stocks plowed higher with the price of crude oil. The strong jobs report helped expectations for oil demand, and benchmark U.S. crude rose 38 cents to $62.48 per barrel. It's close to hitting its highest settlement price since November. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 27 cents to $69.67. Energy stocks in the S&P 500 jumped 0.9 per cent, the biggest gain among the 11 sectors that make up the index. Profitability is one of the market's top concerns as companies line up to begin reporting their first-quarter results next week. Analysts expect companies in the S&P 500 to report a nearly 4 per cent drop in earnings per share from a year earlier, which would be the first decline since the spring of 2016. The expected drop in profits is due almost entirely to weaker profit margins. Analysts are forecasting that revenue grew nearly 5 per cent for S&P 500 companies during the quarter. Companies are holding on to less of each $1 of revenue as profit than a year ago, analysts say. President Donald Trump said he thinks he's a 'good messenger' after poking fun of Joe Biden for accusations by women who say he made them feel uncomfortable even though multiple women have accused Trump of unwelcome advances. Trump responded after DailyMail.com asked him Friday if he was the best messenger to criticize Biden, following his recent tweet of a video making fun of the former vice president's video statement responding to accusations by women who say his touching made them uncomfortable. The video that the president retweeted made fun of the situation by showing a bake Biden sneaking up from behind the real Biden to give the famously touchy Biden a shoulder rub, as the accusations mar the potential rollout of a Biden presidential campaign. 'Yeah, I think I'm a very good messenger, and people got a kick out of it. He's going through a situation. Let's see what happens. But people got a kick. We've got to sort of smile a little bit, right?' Trump said. ON MESSAGE: 'Yeah, I think I'm a very good messenger,' President Trump said when asked what specifically he found offensive about Joe Biden's conduct and whether he was the right messenger to point it out The president who has denied accusations by multiple women of inappropriate behavior didn't respond to another part of the question asking what specifically he found offensive about Biden's behavior. The president and his son Donald Trump Jr. had each shared the video. mocking Biden. In the president's case, he shared it with his 59.5 million followers. 'WELCOME BACK JOE!' he quipped in the tweet. The president, who regularly talks about how much he would love to face Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, said he doesn't see Biden, who leads Democratic polls, as a threat. 'No, I don't see Joe Biden as a threat. ... I think he's only a threat to himself,' said Trump. Trump said he was a 'very good messenger' to criticize Biden. Multiple women have accused him of misconduct, and Trump bragged about grabbing women in the infamous 'p**** tape' 'I just don't see him as a threat. He's been there a long time. His record's not good. He'd have to run on the Obama failed record. You look at what happened with so many things, North Korea, the Middle East, the economy never got going. No, I don't think Joe's a threat. I'd love him to be. Look, I'd be happy with any of them, to be honest,' the president. said. In his video statement, Biden responded to the new accusations, saying: 'Social norms have begun to change, they have shifted. And the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset, and I get it. I get it. I hear what they are saying, I understand it. And I will be much more mindful, thats my responsibility,' he said. He was responding after former Neva assemblywoman Lucy Flores came out to publicly criticize Biden for smelling her hair and kissing her head at a campaign event. Biden's first accuser, former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, said she was 'mortified' when Biden planted a 'big, slow kiss' on the back of her head as she waited to take the stage at a campaign rally five years ago Amy Lappos said she felt uncomfortable when Joe Biden touched her at a 2009 political fundraiser. Caitlyn Caruso said Biden touched her thigh and gave her a long hug at an event devoted to sexual assault at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Biden issued a mea culpa of sorts but has not apologized for the behavior that women say was inappropriate The president discovered a doctored video on Thursday afternoon of Biden putting his hands on his own shoulders and shared it with his 59.5 million followers Biden, who is known as a famously glad-handing politician, first responded with a statement: 'In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort,' he contended. 'And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention,' he said. Since then, other women have come forward with similar stories. Summer Zervos, who accused United States President Donald Trump of groping her in 2007, and who is suing the President for defamation after he claims they never met at his hotel Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball for the Arts, Washington DC, USA - 20 Jan 2017 Rachel Crooks, Jessica Leeds, and Samantha Holvey speak during the press conference held by women accusing Trump of sexual harassment in NYC on December 11, 2017 in New York City Amy Lappos said Biden made her feel uncomfortable when he touched her at a fundraiser in 2009. Caitlyn Caruso said Biden touched her thigh and gave her a long hug at an event devoted to sexual assault at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Vail Kohnert-Yount says she met Biden in 2013 when she was a White House intern, and that Biden pressed their foreheads together as he spoke to her. 'I was so shocked that it was hard to focus on what he was saying. I remember he told me I was a 'pretty girl,' Kohnert-Yount said. According to a count by Business Insider, 23 women have accused Trump of inappropriate conduct since the 1970s. Among them are Jessica Leeds who told the New York Times before the 2016 election that Trump groped her on a flight while seated next to her in the 1970s. 'He was like an octopus. His hands were everywhere,' she told the paper, in a claim Trump denied at the time. Sumner Zervos, a former 'Apprentice' contestant who is suing Trump for defamation, says he grabbed her and started kissing her without her consent at the Beverly Hills hotel in 2007. Trump denied meeting her at a hotel or greeting her inappropriately. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to send troops on a 'suicide mission' if Beijing refuses to 'lay off' a disputed island in the South China Sea. Duterte said he has been left with few options by the Chinese manoeuvres in the region. In a speech on Thursday night Duterte said: 'I will not plead or beg, but I'm just telling you lay off Pag-asa because I have soldiers there. He added: 'If you touch it, that's another story. Then I will tell my soldiers "prepare for suicide missions."' The disputed Pag-asa (Thitu Island) in the South China Sea, President Duterte has warned China that if they touch the island he may be forced to send his military on a 'suicide mission' Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the Presidential Palace in Manila in October 2018 He reminded China of the closer ties that had been forged under his leadership but warned if the disputed island was threatened 'things would be different.' Duterte has adopted a non-confrontational approach in territorial spats with Beijing while seeking Chinese infrastructure funds, trade and investment. He has often lashed out at the security policies of the United States, a treaty ally, while praising China and Russia. Duterte has often had to walk a tightrope when discussing China's increasingly assertive actions in the disputed waters, where Manila and Beijing, along with four other governments, have wrangled for control. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday issued a rare public rebuke of large numbers of Chinese vessels near islands and islets occupied by the Philippines in the disputed waters, saying the Chinese presence was illegal. The Philippine military has monitored more than 200 Chinese vessels from January to March in a disputed area named Sandy Cay near a Philippine-occupied island called Pag-asa by Filipinos. 'I'm trying to tell China, Pag-asa is ours ... so let us be friends but do not touch Pag-asa Island and the rest. Otherwise, things would be different,' Duterte said. 'This is not a warning, this is just a word of advice to my friends, because China is our friend.' When he first met President Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2016, Duterte said he told him, 'We are staking our claim in our economic zone and we will dig for oil in our territory.' But Duterte said the Chinese leader replied that it was better to hold talks first because 'if you insist on your position, there might be trouble.' 'I had no choice,' Duterte said. 'If I send my navy and my soldiers there tomorrow and start to travel toward them, in a matter of seconds they'll all explode ... they will be slaughtered and the missiles that are parked there will arrive in Manila in about four minutes. Do you want a war?' Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks after reviewing the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy fleet in the South China Sea in April 2018 Filipino soldiers stand at attention near a Philippine flag at Pag-asa (Thitu island) in disputed the South China Sea in April 2017 Duterte said the Americans would comply with their obligations under their Mutual Defense Treaty with Manila but that they need congressional permission before going to war. 'Do I trust the Americans? Yes. But will that help be on time? That's the problem,' he said. He raised anew his criticism of America for failing to stop China's transformation of seven disputed reefs into islands, some of them with runways, in the South China Sea. After he took office in 2016, Duterte said the Chinese islands had become 'military garrisons.' 'Why was it not stopped by America?' Duterte asked. Jan Goodneough (pictured above) suffers from various conditions such as arthiritis Former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya has been cleared of discriminating against a disabled case worker. Jan Goodenough, who was a case worker for the Peterborough Labour MP in 2017, suffers from conditions including arthritis, IBS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Judge Michael Ord ruled that a broken lift meant she was forced to use the men's toilets and that Ms Onasanya's employment requirements to Ms Goodenough were 'reasonable'. Ms Goodenough resigned on November 7 2017. She claimed during a three-day employment tribunal at Cambridge County Court that female toilets in the Peterborough office building were too far from her area of work. Judge Michael Ord said there were no ladies toilets on the first floor, where Ms Onasanya's office is located, but there were ladies toilets on the ground floor and second floor and the building had a lift. Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya (centre) leaves Cambridge County Court after a discrimination case brought against her by a former worker is dismissed MP Fiona Onasanya's Constituent Offices in Peterborough city centre He said the lift was out of action between October 25 and November 2 in 2017 but that this was a matter for the building's landlord. Ms Goodenough said she was asked to work 9am to 5pm on Mondays and Fridays and that this could adversely affect her health. The judge said Ms Onasanya's requirements were 'reasonable'. He said: 'It's unfortunate that the demands of the role... were beyond the complainant's physical capabilities.' Fiona Onasanya was not aware of Ms Goodenough's complex medical conditions He described Ms Goodenough's efforts to return to employment as 'commendable'. Speaking after today's ruling, Ms Goodenough said outside court: 'I did my best against a top-notch team.' Ms Goodenough, who represented herself at the employment tribunal, said she was on Universal Credit and could not afford a barrister, whereas Ms Onasanya was legally represented. The employee also said she was discriminated against because she was not allowed flexible working hours, which she said was required because of a number of medical conditions. Yesterday (April 4), Stuart Brittenden, representing Ms Onasanya, had said it was 'impossible' for employers to cater for every disability and combination of disabilities. He said Ms Onasanya could not have been expected to move her entire office to fit in with Ms Goodenough's needs. Ms Onasanya made no comment as she left the hearing. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris says she would sign legislation 'when' she becomes president authorizing a study on financial compensation and a national apology for slavery. Harris told civil rights activist Al Sharpton on Friday: 'When I am elected president, I will sign that bill.' She was the first in a long line-up of 2020 Democrats to address the National Action Network conference during a third day of sessions, where reparations, voter suppression and Donald Trump's comments about white nationalists were repeat topics. 'Justice means recognizing domestic terrorism, including white nationalistic extremism, from Pittsburgh to Charlottesville to Orlando as a threat to the country we love and should be considered a national security priority,' Harris said, as she took a dig at the sitting president. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris says she would sign legislation 'when' she becomes president authorizing a study on financial compensation and a national apology for slavery Candidates who have spoken at the gathering this week have been put on the spot by Sharpton, who founded the organization in the early '90s, on the subject of reparations. He is pressing them to back a bill sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that would create a commission to study the possibility of federal reparations for slavery. Jackson Lee says her bill would 'make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long delayed process of atonement for slavery.' Ex-Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke threw his support behind the measure at the conference on Wednesday. 'I would sign that into law,' he told Sharpton. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, also from Texas, has endorsed the legislation, as well. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, both of whom spoke at the conference on Friday, have said they back the bill, too. The senator from Massachusetts has called for a 'national, full-blown conversation' on the issue. She reaffirmed her stance on Friday, telling Sharpton after he asked her about Jackson Lee's bill, 'Yes. I would. I already support that bill.' Other presidential candidates have been less clear about their positions on the thorny topic. Harris has generically backed the idea of a study on the 'effects of generations of discrimination and institutional racism' that would seriously take a look at 'intervention, to correct course.' She spoke about raising teacher pay and gun violence prevention in her speech on Friday, prompting Sharpton to ask her after she was finished about the reparations study. The freshman senator from California gently derided 'supposed leaders in Washington, D.C.' who she said are not doing enough to enact universal background checks and a renew the assault weapons ban. 'We are better than this, and we certainly can do better than this,' she said. Sharpton asked her directly about the reparations legislation and whether she'd sign it as president before he let her leave the stage. 'Uh oh,' a vocal audience member said, before Harris could answer. But she said to applause, 'When I am elected president, I will sign that bill.' Like most of the 2020 candidate who would follow her at the conference, she did not elaborate or come by a press pin of reporters, where she could have been pressed on the subject. Sharpton pigeon-holed them reparations legislation. Booker said he was 'frustrated' that it was being discussed as a check-the-box issue right now Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper struggled with the same question when it was his turn in the hot seat. 'You know I'd look at the opportunity to, to provide every person a real chance at treating their own version of the American Dream as one of the fundamental holdings of this country. One of the reasons we passed, you know, when I was mayor of Denver, we spent 30 months and we got ...' Unsatisfied audience members cut him off. 'Yes or no,' a woman shouted. 'Yes, I'm gonna pass it, let me get to the point,' he said. 'The one of of those point where you can make reparations is through making sure you've got things like high-quality early childhood education in every single neighborhood in every single school in your community. That's what we did in Denver.' Sen. Bernie Sanders said after his speech 'there needs to be a study' when Sharpton prodded him to answer the reparations question. 'If the House and Senate pass that bill, of course I'd sign it,' he said. An attendee rebuffed him, too, asking loudly, 'What is there to study?' He noted that Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, agrees that direct payments are not as suitable for the situation as alternatives. Sanders reiterated his belief that the federal government should direct more money to low-income communities for education, jobs and other programs. Booker in a speech later confronted the issue head on, before Sharpton could ask him about it. He said that it is important to have a conversation about reparations. 'But this conversation cannot just become a political-box checking exercise or a litmus test without meaning,' he argued. He said the conversation should focus on balancing the economic scales and confronting biases within society. Booker said he was 'frustrated' that it wasn't being discussed that way right now. Elizabeth Warren has called for Massachusetts has called for a 'national, full-blown conversation' on the issue of reparations. She reaffirmed her position on Friday At a luncheon that followed the morning plenary session, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand became the first candidate of the day to broach the subject on her own. 'This is a conversation that is long overdue. So, I want to let you know where I stand. I firmly support Congresswoman Jackson Lee's bill to study reparations. As president, I would advocate to Congress to pass that bill, and I would sign that commission into law,' she said. She told a hometown crowd, 'This is the first step of acknowledging as a country the 100 years of slavery and institutional racism have caused mass inequity and harm to black people and has held black communities back for generations from achieving their full potential.' Sen. Amy Klobuchar also spoke at the luncheon that was not structured the same way as the other sessions, which meant that she did not have to take the standard question from Sharpton. She did not bring it up herself and was not asked about it. She suggested in her remarks that Trump bears responsibility 'racism' she said is festering in the country. 'Because racism still exists in this country. We hear it echoed in our school yards and in on our neighborhood sidewalks. We hear it from white nationalist riots and on the presidential podium,' she said. 'We see it reflected in our laws and in our institutions. And we must change it. No, Mr. President there are not two sides on this issue, there is one side, and that is the side of justice.' Police are hunting for the ex-wife of a Texas man after his Shih Tzu was found stabbed to death. Joe Bailey returned home on March 26 to find blood all over his home in Bandera County. His pet dog, nine-year-old BG was missing, along with a Samsung tablet. Bailey initially thought burglars had taken his beloved dog but the following day, after help from a friend's drone, the body of BG was discovered under tree branches in a neighbor's yard. Joe Bailey initially thought burglars had taken his beloved dog but the following day, after help from a friend's drone, the body of BG (pictured above) was discovered under tree branches Bailey had returned home on March 26 to find blood all over his home in Bandera County and BG was missing along with a Samsung tablet There was a blood all over the house, Bailey told KENS5 and said at first he thought his dog had been stolen 'I found him in the brush, inside of a feed sack, with a bloody knife and some stuff that was taken from my house,' Bailey told KENS5. A necropsy report confirmed BG was stabbed to death. 'The vet looked me in the face and said, 'in my over 40 years of veterinary and medicine I've never seen anything like this,' Bailey added. 'The vet looked me in the face and said, 'in my over 40 years of veterinary and medicine I've never seen anything like this,' Joe Bailey (pictured above) said A felony warrant has been issued for Heidi Carpenter after an alleged burglary involving her ex-husband's murdered dog Bailey also said he found a pair of women's sandals nearby. Bandera County Sheriff's Office told Bailey that on the same day the dog was killed, they had briefly questioned his ex-wife, Heidi Nichole Carpenter, 46, after finding her crossing a highway barefoot, according to Texas Breaking News. A warrant has been issued for Carpenter's arrest in connection to the stabbing. Carpenter is on probation for a criminal trespass charge from an incident in July 2017, according to Kerr County court records. Court records also show that Carpenter possesses a concealed carry license. Bloody kitchen knives and a Samsung tablet were recovered near to the scene BG was found buried under branches in a neighbor's back yard and discovered by drone A mother has brought legal proceedings against her seven-year-old son's primary school after she claimed staff made him wear a fluorescent bib because he was autistic. Joanne Logan has taken Cherry Lane Primary School to a disability tribunal after her son, Charlie, told her about the bib in February last year, reports the Daily Mirror. She cannot seek damages in the case, but hopes that it will help other parents raising kids with special needs. Joanne Logan is taking her autistic son's primary school to a disabilities tribunal after claiming Charlie was forced to wear a fluorescent bib at school He was a Year 1 pupil at the school in West Drayton, London, which has almost 700 children. Ms Logan, a mother of five, told the Daily Mirror she hopes to win the case to help other parents in a similar position. 'I just want to make sure that no other autistic child needs to be put through what we did,' she said. 'It needs to be challenged - and if this case, if its won, it could change that.' 'I have had a lot of people say theyve had similar. It can affect a child as they get older - they realise theyre different.' Ms Logan previously said she was 'fuming' and described the school's actions as 'disgusting' and 'discrimination' when she found out about the bib in February last year. She said: 'It's just not right - it's massive discrimination. Looking back on it I think the classroom teacher mentioned a bib during the week - but I didn't really think about it, it didn't click until Charlie said something. Mrs Logan said she didn't know her son was wearing a bib and called it 'discrimination' 'When he came home on Thursday (February 22) he said about wearing a bib at break times - and I was like, 'Oh? - what kind of bib?' and he told me it's silver and yellow, and he said: "My teachers have said I have to wear a bib so that they know where I am at break times".' She added: 'I knew during lunch break he's not always allowed out because he has been accused of hurting the other children, I know there's an issue there which the school have to work with me on. 'But they seem to think the best way to deal with it is to make him wear a bib so that teachers know that he's autistic. 'I wasn't informed about this by any means! - They decided to do this and it's disgusting - it's discrimination!' She added: 'As far as I'm aware in the mainstream part of the school Charlie is the only child made to where a bib. 'I'm so upset - I can't believe it's even allowed. I'm totally fuming. I've told Charlie he must never wear the bib, whatever they say to him, he should never put it on.' Ms Logan had to wait until Tuesday before she could speak to the school's headmaster, Steve Whitehouse, about Charlie's situation. Charlie was a Year 1 pupil at Cherry Lane Primary School, in West Drayton, and first told his mother he was being made to wear a bib at break times in February last year Following the meeting a decision was made that Charlie would no longer have to wear a bib. In a statement the school claimed Ms Logan was previously informed about the bib. Responding to Ms Logan last year, headteacher Stephen Whitehouse said: 'The bib is only for medical emergency so that dinner ladies can quickly see the children who need help. 'This is not something that is used as standard, it is a preventative measure used to identify if something happens. Mrs Logan said she was 'fuming' and 'can't believe it's even allowed' to make her son wear a bib 'This was a decision with the parent, he had a number of problems with other children, the class teacher had spoken to his mother and suggested that the teacher take appropriate action. 'We said to the mother, if you do not wish for this to happen, then your child does not need to wear it.' THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with autism have trouble with social, emotional and communication skills that usually develop before the age of three and last throughout a persons life. Specific signs of autism include: Reactions to smell, taste, look, feel or sound are unusual Difficulty adapting to changes in routine Unable to repeat or echo what is said to them Difficulty expressing desires using words or motions Unable to discuss their own feelings or other peoples Difficulty with acts of affection like hugging Prefer to be alone and avoid eye contact Difficulty relating to other people Unable to point at objects or look at objects when others point to them Advertisement A Cherry Lane Primary School spokesman said that parents are 'always consulted' before actions are taken in regards to the needs of their children. 'Should a parent change their mind regarding our practice, we work with them accordingly', they said. Mrs Logan said there had been complaints about Charlie acting in a violent manner and hurting other children. But she is angry at the way the school has handled her son. She added: They seem to think the best way to deal with it is to make him wear a bib so that teachers know that hes autistic. Mrs Logan has discussed the problem with headmaster Steve Whitehouse. The decision was made not to make Charlie wear the jacket again. She has kept him off school for two days and is not sure what the next step will be. It is by no means the first time Mrs Logan has clashed with the education authorities over the treatment of an autistic son. Her other three boys, Brendan, 18, Leighton, 16, and TJ, 12, have all been diagnosed on the autistic spectrum and she said she has resorted to legal action to force Hillingdon Borough Council to put them on an educational support plan. Mrs Logan also has a daughter Marina, 20. The full-time mother said: Ive had to fight for all of them. Its been an absolute nightmare I shouldnt have to fight like this constantly. President Donald Trump said Friday that he will skip the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner for a third straight year, continuing his own tradition of holding a competing campaign rally instead. 'The dinner is so boring and so negative,' the president told DailyMail.com at the White House as he left for California. 'We're going to hold a very positive rally,' he added, but couldn't say where it will take place. White House Correspondents Association president Olivier Knox told DailyMail.com: 'Were looking forward to an enjoyable evening of celebrating the First Amendment and great journalists past, present, and future.' The organization's 2017 dinner, the first during Trump's presidency, was overshadowed by a presidential rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trump took the opportunity to needle the Washington political press corps on their biggest night. President Donald Trump told DailyMail.com outside the White House on Friday as he left for California that he will skip the White House Correspondents Dinner for the third year in a row The president said he will hold a competing rally instead, but wouldn't say where 'A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our nation's capital right now,' he said that night. 'They are gathered together for the White House correspondents' dinner without the president!' 'And I could not possibly be more thrilled than to be more than 100 miles away from the Washington swamp spending my evening with all of you and with a much, much larger crowd and much better people,' Trump added. Last year's rally, his second boycott of the gala dinner, was in a suburb of Detroit. 'We haven't determined' the location of this year's event, Trump said Friday. 'We have about three sites. Everybody wants it.' 'It'll be a big one. But the correspondents dinner is too negative. I like positive things, okay?' he said. President Trump skipped the dinner last year to hold a campaign style rally in Washington, Michigan Trump has never attended the dinner as president; he skipped the 2018 dinner (seen above) The April 27 dinner could have been awkward if the president had followed the example of past presidnets and spoken from the podium, given the heap of criticism he has pushed on the press for their coverage of the speical counsel investigation. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said this week that the media owe the president a collective apology. 'I think Democrats and the liberal media owe the president, and they owe the American people an apology,' Sanders said earlier this week on NBC's 'Today Show.' 'They wasted two years and created a massive disruption and distraction.' The annual dinner is affectionately known in D.C. as 'NerdProm.' Trump has never attended the dinner as president but did go in 2011 when Barack Obama was in the White House. Obama and comedian Seth Meyers, the featured entertainer, both resoundingly mocked him that night. At the time Trump was best known as the host of NBC's 'The Apprentice' and a fervent supporter of the 'birther' movement, which promoted the disproven claim that Obama was born outside the United States. Obama roasted Trump for about five minutes that night. 'No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald,' Obama said. 'That's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like: Did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?' Meyers also threw out some zingers. 'Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican - which is surprising, since I just assumed that he was running as a joke,' he said. At the 2011 dinner, President Obama and comedian Seth Meyers mocked Donald Trump Comedian Michelle Wolf's performance at last year's dinner had some in the audience laughing, while others were left sitting in a stony silence 'Donald Trump owns the Miss USA pageant, which is great for Republicans because it will streamline their search for a vice president,' he noted. Trump has not attended since. Historian Ron Chernow is the featured speaker for this year's event. There is no entertainer this year after comedian Michelle Wolf's performance last year was panned and her jokes about White House press secretary Sarah Sanders resulted in heavy criticism of the comic. Wolf offered a blistering critique of Sanders, who was seated just feet away, and mocked everything from her truthfulness to her eye makeup and Southern roots. 'I have to say I'm a little star-struck, I loved you as Aunt Lydia in 'A Handmaid's Tale.' Mike Pence, if you haven't seen it you would love it,' said Wolf, turning to Sanders. 'I like Sarah, I think she's really resourceful. She burns facts and uses the ash to create a perfect smokey eye,' she said. 'Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's lies. 'I'm never really sure what to call Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Is it Sarah Sanders? Is it Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Is it Cousin Huckabee? Is it Aunt Huckabee Sanders?' Trump declared the dinner 'dead' last year 'What's 'Uncle Tom' but for white women who disappoint other white women? Ah, I know! Aunt Coulter!' Then-WHCA president Margaret Talev, a White House correspondent with Bloomberg News, said Wolf's speech was 'not in the spirit' of the dinner. 'Last night's program was meant to offer a unifying message about our common commitment to a vigorous and free press while honoring civility, great reporting and scholarship winners, not to divide people,' Talev said. 'Unfortunately, the entertainer's monologue was not in the spirit of the mission.' After Wolf's performance, Trump declared the dinner 'dead.' 'The White House Correspondents Dinner is DEAD as we know it,' the president declared on Twitter the Monday after the dinner. 'This was a total disaster and an embarrassment to our great Country and all that it stands for.' 'FAKE NEWS is alive and well and beautifully represented on Saturday night!' A United Airlines flight had to be diverted when the screens in the cockpit suddenly went blank in mid-air. Passengers on board the plane traveling from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Houston were forced to land at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport instead due to mechanical problems on Flight 4390. The captain told passengers that if the flight continued he would have been 'flying blind'. A video of the moment the captain announced the plane had landed in Dallas and that it was due the screens malfunctioning was posted in Twitter. The captain of Flight 4390 told passengers Flight 4390 had to be diverted to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to the cockpit screens malfunctioning mid-flight Rodney Giles said his parents were traveling on the flight saying in his post that 'something is on fire in the plane'. But the clip confirmed the diversion was due to a malfunction with the cockpit monitors and that if the plane did not land all the screens would eventually fail. The captain is heard saying in the video: 'So you may be able to see we lost two of our screens. 'Now if we kept flying we'd lose them all eventually, because there's not enough cooling. There is tremendous heat behind those screens. The United Airlines plane suffered a malfunction on its way to Houston and had to be diverted to Dallas (file photo) 'If we had continued eventually, I'd be flying blind. So, that's why we are in Dallas right now. It is unlikely this aircraft is going anywhere tonight.' The plane landed safely on the tarmac and passengers were booked on a different flight to Houston, a United Airlines airline spokesman told ABC News. Officials said that as part of normal safety procedures fire trucks met the aircraft upon arrival, but there was no fire. United Airlines also confirmed passengers go off the plane normally. Scotland Yard has launched its 34th murder investigation this year after a man, 60, died in hospital after being attacked in Walthamstow town centre. The man was left with a serious head injury after being assaulted in Hoe Street just before 6.45am on Tuesday morning. He was taken to hospital but died in intensive care just before 5.45pm the following day. Scotland Yard has launched its 34th murder investigation this year after a man, 60, died in hospital after being attacked in Hoe Street in Walthamstow town centre (pictured) A man, 44, was arrested on suspicion of murder in Dagenham, east London, at 10.50pm on Thursday. A police spokesman said: 'A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Walthamstow. 'Police were called at 6.44am on Tuesday to Hoe Street following reports of a man having been assaulted. The 60-year-old's death, which has sparked the 34th murder probe this year, comes just two days after the death of a man in his 40s on Northolt Road, in Harrow, on Wednesday afternoon. Police launched a separate murder investigation after a man was found with slash wounds and died at the scene 'Police attended along with the London Ambulance Service. 'A 60-year-old man was found was found suffering from a head injury. He was taken to an east London hospital, where he died at 5.40pm on Wednesday. 'His next-of-kin have been informed 'Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. 'Detectives from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command are leading the investigation and arrested a 44-year-old man in Dagenham at about 10.50pm on Thursday, 4 April on suspicion of murder. Last week, there were four knifings in just five days nationwide and four people were attacked 'at random' in north London over the weekend (file photo) 'He has been taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody. 'Enquiries continue.' The arrest over the 60-year-old's death comes just two days after police launched a separate murder probe following the death of a man in his 40s on Northolt Road, in Harrow, on Wednesday afternoon. Police and ambulance services found a man, believed in his mid-40s, with 'stab or slash' wounds lying on the busy high street. He was pronounced dead at the scene 30 minutes later despite efforts by emergency responders. Last week, there were four knifings in just five days nationwide and four people were attacked 'at random' in north London over the weekend. More than 100 experts met this week after the Government unveiled new plans which could see frontline workers in schools, hospitals and police stations accountable for failing to 'spot warning signs' of violent crime among young people. And Home Secretary Sajid Javid granted police new powers to increase stop and search activity in an effort to tackle the crisis. Police in Connecticut have released dramatic body camera footage showing an officer being dragged by a suspect's car for a mile during a traffic stop-gone-wrong last year. The incident took place back on February 26, 2018, but the Groton Police Department made the video recording public on Thursday to show the dangers of routine law enforcement work. Just before 4am that morning, Officer Tyler DeAngleo pulled over 22-year-old Taj Dickerson on Fort Hill Road near Route 117 after spotting him driving with a broken taillight. The Groton Police Department has released body camera footage showing an officer being dragged behind a suspect's car during a traffic stop in February 2018 The incident took place following a traffic stop in Groton, Connecticut; in the video, DeAngelo screams at the driver to 'stop the car' Officer DeAngelo was dragged for a mile, with the car reaching speeds of more than 50mph The cop eventually let go and fell onto the roadway, leaving him with injuries (pictured) Officer DeAngelo (left) required staples to close a wound on the back of his head. Suspect Taj Dickerson (right) was later arrested on nearly a dozen charges DeAngleo, who at that time had been on the force for two years, reportedly smelled marijuana on the driver and instructed him to get out of the vehicle, along with his pet pit bull, which was found in the car. A search of the vehicle, a 2007 Ford Edge, turned up a quantity of crack cocaine, and police on the scene made the decision to arrest the driver. At first, Dickerson cooperated with the police, but as DeAngleo's body camera video shows, all that changed a few minutes later. In the footage, Dickerson is standing in the middle of the road, waiting for police to make transportation arrangements for his pit bull, when suddenly he scoops up the dog in his arms and sprints back to his car. Dickerson has made a full recovery and returned to his regular duties as a patrolman Officer DeAngleo gives chase and jumps into the suspect's car, where a struggle ensues. As the cop and Dickerson are grappling, Dickerson puts the car in drive and speeds off, despite DeAngelo's repeated commands to stop the car. The officer was left partially hanging out of the car and being dragged. Police said Dickerson's car reached speeds of more than 50mph. In the bodycam video, an audibly panicked DeAngelo repeatedly screams at the suspect, 'Stop the car! Stop the car!' When it appeared that Dickerson was directing the officer and the car at a telephone pole, and fearing for his life, the officer grabbed the steering wheel to turn the vehicle away from the telephone pole. A mile into the journey, DeAngelo let go of the car and fell onto the roadway. He is heard in the video panting loudly as he struggles to steady himself before the footage cuts out. DeAngelo suffered a laceration to the back of the head that required staples, as well as scrapes and bruises, but he was back on modified duty less than a week later. This incident could have ended so much worse, were it not for the quick actions of all involved, Groton Police Chief Louis Fusaro said in a statement shortly after the incident. Dickerson (left and right) has since been convicted and given a five-year prison sentence, which was suspended after 400 days Dickerson was later arrested in his hometown of New London and charged with interfering with a police officer; assault on a police officer; reckless endangerment; unlawful restrain; threatening; cruelty to animals; possession of marijuana and crack cocaine; defective tail lamp; reckless driving and engaging police in pursuit. WTNH reported that the 22-year-old has since been convicted and given a five-year prison sentence, which was suspended after 400 days, followed by three years of probation. These heartbreaking images show a loyal dog sitting next to the body of its owner who died after being hit by a train. The 57-year-old victim, named as Victor Reyna Vazquez, had reportedly been drinking near the train tracks when he was run over by a train and killed in the early hours of the morning. Emergency crews found the victim's dog by the body and there were reports that the animal had to be forcibly removed from the scene. Heartbreaking images show a loyal dog sitting next to the body of its owner who died after being hit by a train Reports state the dog even tried to bite one of the police officers and paramedics who tried to take it away from its owner. The incident took place on the train tracks of Montemorelos, in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. Local residents claim the dog's owner was an alcoholic and that his pet had accompanied him for several years. It is unclear if the dog has been put into a shelter although social media users have called for it to be adopted. One social media user, 'Marychuy Zamarron', wrote: 'We have a lot of things to learn from animals, and now I wonder who is more animalistic, them or u.' A detective in West Virginia says criminal charges will be brought against a woman for falsely reporting that an Egyptian man tried to kidnap her daughter from a shopping mall. Barboursville Police Detective Greg Lucas said they plan to charge Santana Renee Adams with falsely reporting an emergency incident. The charge would be the latest turn in a sensational tale of a mother who used a gun to thwart an abduction but quickly unraveled amid inconsistencies in her story. Authorities on Thursday announced they were dropping charges against the man, Mohamed Fathy Hussein Zayan. Police say he may have simply been patting the girl on the head. Adams couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Santana Renee Adams is escorted into Cabell County Magistrate Court Friday to be arraigned on charges for falsely reporting an emergency incident The charges stem from Adams falsely reporting that an Egyptian man attempted to kidnap her daughter from a West Virginia shopping mall Monday evening Police had initially said a woman pulled a gun on Zayan, forcing him to release her five-year-old daughter inside the Old Navy at the Huntington Mall. He was arrested near the Huntington Mall's food court on an attempted abduction charge. But her story started falling apart when no witnesses could be found and mall surveillance video showed inconsistencies in the womans original statement. That led to police saying the mother then said she may have misinterpreted the man's intentions. Police said that the whole incident stemmed over a 'cultural misunderstanding'. Zayan doesn't speak English, and police say he may have simply been patting the girl on the head. The 54-year-old engineer from Alexandria, Egypt, who is in the area for work. He cried as he greeted family members upon his release from jail. The young girl's mother said she thwarted the kidnapping attempt by pulling a gun out and scaring him off - but Barboursville police now say they're going to charge Santana Renee Adams with falsely reporting an emergency incident The girl had been shopping with her mother inside an Old Navy store at Huntington Mall in Barboursville, West Virginia (pictured) on Monday night The mother initially told police that she had been shopping on Monday evening with her daughter at the Old Navy store when Zayan 'grabbed the child by the hair and attempted to pull her away'. She said the girl tried to stop her kidnapper, dropping to the floor as he was 'still pulling her away'. That's when the girl's mother pulled out a handgun and told the man to let go of her daughter. The mother told investigators that the man released her daughter and sprinted out of the store and back into the mall, according to WSAZ. She gave officers a description of the suspect. Officers and mall security then spotted Zayan walking near the food court and arrested him. He was subsequently charged with attempted abduction shortly after 6pm. But police later said they found inconsistencies with the mother's report, according to WOWK. She was asked to return to the police station to give a further statement, and reportedly admitted she may have misjudged the suspect's intentions. A millionaire travelled to Peru to change a boys life after seeing him doing homework in the light of a streetlamp. Victor Martin Angulo Cordoba went viral after he was pictured working in the street, because he had no electricity at home. Unable to finish his tasks in the house, he had to sit on a kerb in the road in Moche district. Hopefully that should all change, as his story was noticed by a philanthropist in Bahrain. Yaqoob Yusuf Ahmed Mubarak, 31, from Bahrain, pledged to rebuild his house making it two storeys high, Tubarco reports . He has already restored electricity to the house, the paper said, inspired to do it because he had a similar childhood himself. Victor Martin Angulo Cordoba is a 12-year-old boy who sits outside his home in Peru to do his homework under the street lamp because his mother can't afford to pay for residence's electrical meter Angulo Cordoba is the youngest of three siblings and hopes one day to become a police officer so that he can help end corruption in Peru As well as helping just Victor, he has also pledged money to help the boys school. According to Diarrio Correo, the boy said: Thank you for the help you are offering, thank you very much because you are helping us to build our school. The paper quoted his mother saying: He kept thinking, How can people from another continent come to see me? I thank the people who want to do this to me (build my house) I thank them very much that they have had that kindness and they have given time to come to my humble home, because anyone does not do it. The 12-year-old boy want to be a cop because he wants to help end corruption in Peru and to help his family progress A man in his 20s was stabbed near a train station in east London as commuters made their way home for the weekend. The attack happened at 3.30pm outside Ilford station, near Stratford, east London. The man has been rushed to hospital by the London Ambulance Service to be treated for his injuries which have been described as 'non-life threatening'. A man in his 20s was stabbed outside Ilford station near Stratford, east London. Police, pictured today at the scene, began the search for evidence Forensics officers attended the scene looking for evidence to find the perpetrator The road outside Ilford station was closed while police searched for the attacker's knife Officers closed a main road outside the station causing delays for local traffic while they searched the scene for forensic evidence At least two police cars and an ambulance attended the scene in Ilford, east London, pictured today Cranbrook road was closed for several hours following the attack earlier today, according to the AA. It is the latest stabbing to hit the capital. The Metropolitan police said in a statement: 'Police were called at around 15:29hrs on Friday, 05 April to reports of a stabbing on Cranbrook road, Ilford. 'Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and found a man, believed to be in his 20s, suffering stab wounds. 'No arrests have been made.' London Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to the scene shortly after 3.30pm after receiving reports of an 'incident'. The spokesperson said: 'We sent an incident response officer and an ambulance crew to the scene. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance. 'We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.' One bystander said: 'My colleague actually saw it happen. She saw a young guy get stabbed outside the station and she pulled him in off the street and called the police.' According to the Ilford Recorder, a shop worker said: '(People) keep trying to kill each other outside the station. 'There unfortunately has been another knife offence, which means we have to close early for the afternoon and selfishly we will lose out on trade. 'They have put the guy (victim) in the back of an ambulance and taken him to hospital, but he had a smile on his face when they did, so hopefully he will be OK.' Last year, there were 285 fatal stabbings in England and Wales, the highest number since records began more than 70 years ago. At least 48 people in Britain have been stabbed to death since the start of 2019. Today's victim was rushed to hospital by the London Air Ambulance service, pictured A Metropolitan police statement said a man in his 20s had suffered stab wounds. No arrests have been made at this stage. The victim has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery London has been at the centre of a knife-crime epidemic with at least 33 people stabbed to death since the beginning of the year Meanwhile, in Glasgow, a man is being treated for a stab wound after he was assaulted outside a nightclub. Police say the attack on the 20-year-old in Glasgow city centre appears to have been unprovoked. The victim was standing outside Kokomo nightclub on West Regent Street at around 3.20am on Friday when he was assaulted by two men. He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he is said to be in a stable condition. One of the suspects is described as being between 5ft 8in and 10in, of average build, with red hair. He was wearing a black puffa-style jacket, glasses and spoke with a local accent. Detective Sergeant Donna McDougall said: 'This appears to have been a random and unprovoked attack and it is vital that we trace the individuals involved. 'I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident, or anything at all suspicious, to get in touch.' Police are appealing for information as they would like to speak to anyone who witnessed today's stabbing in Ilford Five members of a so-called paedophile-hunting group have denied charges of false imprisonment. The four men and one woman from Leeds-based group Predator Exposure appeared at the city's Crown Court, where they each denied all the charges put to them and were told they will go on trial in October. Phillip Hoban, Jordan McDonald, Jordan Plain, Dean Walls and Kelly Meadows all denied the false imprisonment of a man in the Chapel Allerton area of Leeds, on January 13. Five members of a so-called paedophile-hunting group - Predator Exposure, based in Leeds - have denied charges of false imprisonment. Appearing at the city's Crown Court today, they include Phillip Hoban, 44 (left) and Dean Walls, 51 (right) Jordan Plain, 25 (pictured outside court today), Phillip Hoban, Jordan McDonald, Dean Walls and Kelly Meadows all denied the false imprisonment of a man in the Chapel Allerton area of Leeds, on January 13 Hoban, McDonald, Plain and Walls also denied assaulting the same man on the same date. Hoban, Meadows, and McDonald denied a further charge of the false imprisonment of another man in Ackton, near Pontefract, on August 11 2018. A sixth defendant, Christine James-Roberts, did not appear in court with the other defendants on Friday. She is charged with the false imprisonment in Ackton and has not entered a plea. Judge Guy Kearl QC told the defendants they will go on trial on October 21. He said they will appear in court again for a case management hearing on October 4. Jordan McDonald, 18 (left) and Kelly Meadows, 39 (right, in striped suit) outside Leeds Crown Court today Around 50 supporters of the defendants gathered outside Leeds Crown Court and were addressed by Hoban (left) after the 20-minute hearing Hoban, 44, James-Roberts, 59, McDonald, 18, Meadows, 39, Plain, 25, and Walls, 51 - all from Leeds - were each given conditional bail. The conditions of their bail include not engaging in 'child activist group activity' and not publishing images of people suspected of committing criminal offences. Around 50 supporters of the defendants gathered outside Leeds Crown Court and were addressed by Hoban after the 20-minute hearing. Vice President Joe Biden cracked jokes about his handsy reputation as he addressed union workers amid fallout from women who say his touching made them uncomfortable. Biden took the stage to address the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and promptly shook hands and back-patted union president Lonnie Stephenson Friday. A politician with decades in politics and countless speaking engagements under his belt, Biden came armed with a joke. 'I just want you to know I had permission to hug Lonny,' Biden quipped, to laughs from the crowd of several hundred electrical workers. Biden made reference to the controversy as women have come forward with years-old claims that they have not always appreciated his physical gestures including shoulder rubs, head kisses, and forehead touching. Scroll down for video Vice President Joe Biden made two quips about the controversy involving his penchant for touching people during a speech to electrical workers in Washington Former Vice President Joe Biden, who is mulling a 2020 presidential candidacy, hugs International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) President Lonnie Stephenson as he addresses the IBEW construction and maintenance conference in Washington. 'By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,' Biden joked Biden also joked he had 'permission to touch him' as he was joined by a group of children on stage It was the first of two quips about the controversy that is causing difficulties for the Democrat who is currently leading in early primary polls. Later in his remarks, Biden invited a group of children on stage at the Washington Hilton. They had been seated on the floor during his remarks. He shook each child's hand, then put his arm around the shoulder of one boy. 'By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,' Biden joked once again, before returning to his speech, where he stressed the value of workers, invoked his Scranton roots, and talked of recognizing the toil of American workers. After his remarks said he was not sorry for any of his intentions Biden's first accuser, former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, said she was 'mortified' when Biden planted a 'big, slow kiss' on the back of her head as she waited to take the stage at a campaign rally five years ago Amy Lappos said she felt uncomfortable when Joe Biden touched her at a 2009 political fundraiser. Caitlyn Caruso said Biden touched her thigh and gave her a long hug at an event devoted to sexual assault at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas Former Vice President Joe Biden who is mulling a 2020 presidential candidacy, walks to his vehicle after speaking at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) construction and maintenance conference in Washington, U.S., April 5, 2019 'I'm sorry I didn't understand more,' said Biden Biden said it was important to 'make sure that if you embrace someone, touch someone, that it's with their consent, regardless of your intentions' After his speech, Biden refused to apologize for any of his conduct, but said he was sorry he didn't grasp more about changing mores. 'I'm sorry I didn't understand more. I'm not sorry for any of my intentions. I'm not sorry for anything that I have ever done. I've never been disrespectful intentionally to a man or a woman. It's not the reputation I've had since I was in high school for god's sake,' Biden said. Biden said it was important to 'make sure that if you embrace someone, touch someone, that it's with their consent, regardless of your intentions.' 'Even if you're trying to bring solace. If you're trying to welcome them. And it's my responsibility to do that,' Biden said. Biden also said the situation will change how he campaigns a possible admission that he is in fact intending to run for president. 'I think it's going to change somewhat how I campaign. It's just like, you know the new thing is selfies. Everyone wonders why I take the selfie. So they don't put it on Instagram,' Biden said. 'At least I make sure it's a photo and I'm not doing something else.' 'It's all changed. And it's changed even with you guys,' he told reporters. The brief gaggle was itself another demonstration of what Biden backers believe is a key asset: an ability to speak off the cuff and take on adversaries like Trump, who himself has become a leading practitioner of improvised remarks. Biden spoke at the side entrance to the hotel where President Reagan was shot in 1981. Biden also included in his speech a defense of bipartisanship, where he called for making personal connections as a way to reach compromise. Biden invited a group of women on stage who had been listening to his speech. Then he put his arm on the shoulder of a boy and joked that he 'had permission' After making such connections, 'Its hard to dislike you. I know you. I make a personal connection,' Biden said, in a comment that also defended his brand of retail politics. 'And we can work together to compromise. But we dont even know one another? What happens? We attack each other,' he said. President Donald Trump said he thinks he's a 'good messenger' after poking fun of Joe Biden for accusations by women who say he made them feel uncomfortable even though multiple women have accused Trump of unwelcome advances. Trump responded after DailyMail.com asked him Friday if he was the best messenger to criticize Biden, following his recent tweet of a video making fun of the former vice president's video statement responding to accusations by women who say his touching made them uncomfortable. The video that the president retweeted made fun of the situation by showing a bake Biden sneaking up from behind the real Biden to give the famously touchy Biden a shoulder rub, as the accusations mar the potential rollout of a Biden presidential campaign. 'Yeah, I think I'm a very good messenger, and people got a kick out of it. He's going through a situation. Let's see what happens. But people got a kick. We've got to sort of smile a little bit, right?' Trump said. The president who has denied accusations by multiple women of inappropriate behavior didn't respond to another part of the question asking what specifically he found offensive about Biden's behavior. The president and his son Donald Trump Jr. had each shared the video. mocking Biden. In the president's case, he shared it with his 59.5 million followers. 'WELCOME BACK JOE!' he quipped in the tweet. The president, who regularly talks about how much he would love to face Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, said he doesn't see Biden, who leads Democratic polls, as a threat. 'No, I don't see Joe Biden as a threat. ... I think he's only a threat to himself,' said Trump. Trump said he was a 'very good messenger' to criticize Biden. Multiple women have accused him of misconduct, and Trump bragged about grabbing women in the infamous 'p**** tape' 'I just don't see him as a threat. He's been there a long time. His record's not good. He'd have to run on the Obama failed record. You look at what happened with so many things, North Korea, the Middle East, the economy never got going. No, I don't think Joe's a threat. I'd love him to be. Look, I'd be happy with any of them, to be honest,' the president. said. In his video statement, Biden responded to the new accusations, saying: 'Social norms have begun to change, they have shifted. And the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset, and I get it. I get it. I hear what they are saying, I understand it. And I will be much more mindful, thats my responsibility,' he said. He was responding after former Neva assemblywoman Lucy Flores came out to publicly criticize Biden for smelling her hair and kissing her head at a campaign event. Biden issued a mea culpa of sorts but has not apologized for the behavior that women say was inappropriate The president discovered a doctored video on Thursday afternoon of Biden putting his hands on his own shoulders and shared it with his 59.5 million followers Biden, who is known as a famously glad-handing politician, first responded with a statement: 'In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort,' he contended. 'And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention,' he said. Since then, other women have come forward with similar stories. Summer Zervos, who accused United States President Donald Trump of groping her in 2007, and who is suing the President for defamation after he claims they never met at his hotel Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball for the Arts, Washington DC, USA - 20 Jan 2017 Rachel Crooks, Jessica Leeds, and Samantha Holvey speak during the press conference held by women accusing Trump of sexual harassment in NYC on December 11, 2017 in New York City Amy Lappos said Biden made her feel uncomfortable when he touched her at a fundraiser in 2009. Caitlyn Caruso said Biden touched her thigh and gave her a long hug at an event devoted to sexual assault at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Vail Kohnert-Yount says she met Biden in 2013 when she was a White House intern, and that Biden pressed their foreheads together as he spoke to her. 'I was so shocked that it was hard to focus on what he was saying. I remember he told me I was a 'pretty girl,' Kohnert-Yount said. According to a count by Business Insider, 23 women have accused Trump of inappropriate conduct since the 1970s. Among them are Jessica Leeds who told the New York Times before the 2016 election that Trump groped her on a flight while seated next to her in the 1970s. 'He was like an octopus. His hands were everywhere,' she told the paper, in a claim Trump denied at the time. Sumner Zervos, a former 'Apprentice' contestant who is suing Trump for defamation, says he grabbed her and started kissing her without her consent at the Beverly Hills hotel in 2007. Trump denied meeting her at a hotel or greeting her inappropriately. Bernie Sanders invoked his Jewish heritage on Friday in a new attack on Donald Trump, telling attendees of a civil rights conference that he knows a thing or two about bigotry. He said that while Trump believes Nazis and white supremacists are 'very fine people,' his relatives were murdered by the Nazis. 'So from a very young age, I knew that we must stand up to bigotry wherever and whenever it exits,' he said at an event for activists. Sanders blasted Trump by name for the 'racist theory of the birther movement' that he pushed when Barack Obama was president. 'And how ugly was that?' he asked the mostly African-American audience. Bernie Sanders invoked his Jewish heritage on Friday in a new attack on Donald Trump, telling attendees of a civil rights conference that he knows a thing or two about bigotry BERNIE SANDERS' BACKGROUND Bernie Sanders does not talk much about his personal life or his religion. The Vermont senator has invoked his Jewish heritage in the past, but has not said very much about Polish relatives who died in an extermination camp. During a Democratic presidential debate in 2016, he said, 'I'm very proud of being Jewish and that is an essential part of who I am as a human being.' 'Look, my father's family was wiped out by Hitler in the Holocaust. I know about what crazy and radical, and extremist politics mean,' he said. Last month, as held a kick-off rally in Brooklyn, where he spent his childhood, he referred to his father as a Polish immigrant who fled the country, because of a pervasive anti-Jewish sentiment. 'I learned a great deal about immigration as a child because my father came to this country from Poland at the age of 17, without a nickel in his pocket,' he said. 'He came to escape the crushing poverty that existed in his community, and to escape widespread anti-Semitism.' He said, 'And, it was a good thing that he left Poland when he did, because virtually his entire family there was wiped out by Nazi barbarism.' Advertisement He said that the Republican president he's seeking to replace is a 'racist,' as evidenced by the comments he made about the 2017 race riot in Charlottesville and the 'sharp rise' in hate crimes in America since he took office. 'I wish I did not have to say that. But that is the damn truth and we gotta say that,' he told a packed house at the National Action Network conference. White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, Georgia politician Stacey Abrams, and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg delivered remarks earlier in the week. Candidates who have spoken at the gathering this week have been put on the spot by Sharpton, who founded the organization in the early '90s, on the subject of reparations. He is pressing them to back a bill sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that would create a commission to study the possibility of federal reparations for slavery. Jackson Lee says her bill would 'make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long delayed process of atonement for slavery.' O'Rourke threw his support behind the measure at the conference on Wednesday. 'I would sign that into law,' he told Sharpton. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, also from Texas, has endorsed the legislation, as well. White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, both of whom spoke at the conference on Friday, have said they back the bill, too. The senator from Massachusetts has called for a 'national, full-blown conversation' on the issue. She reaffirmed her stance on Friday, telling Sharpton after he asked her about Jackson Lee's bill, 'Yes. I would. I already support that bill.' Other presidential candidates have been less clear about their positions on the thorny topic. Sen. Kamala Harris has generically backed the idea of a study on the 'effects of generations of discrimination and institutional racism' that would seriously take a look at 'intervention, to correct course.' She spoke about raising teacher pay and gun violence prevention in her speech on Friday, prompting Sharpton to ask her after she was finished about the reparations study. The freshman senator from California gently derided 'supposed leaders in Washington, D.C.' who she said are not doing enough to enact universal background checks and a renew the assault weapons ban. 'We are better than this, and we certainly can do better than this,' she said. Sharpton asked her directly about the reparations legislation and whether she'd sign it as president before he let her leave the stage. 'Uh oh,' a vocal audience member said, before Harris could answer. But she said to applause, 'When I am elected president, I will sign that bill.' Like most of the 2020 candidate who would follow her at the conference, she did not elaborate or come by a press pin of reporters, where she could have been pressed on the subject. Sharpton pigeon-holed them reparations legislation. Booker said he was 'frustrated' that it was being discussed as a check-the-box issue right now Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper struggled with the same question when it was his turn in the hot seat. 'You know I'd look at the opportunity to, to provide every person a real chance at treating their own version of the American Dream as one of the fundamental holdings of this country. One of the reasons we passed, you know, when I was mayor of Denver, we spent 30 months and we got ...' Unsatisfied audience members cut him off. 'Yes or no,' a woman shouted. 'Yes, I'm gonna pass it, let me get to the point,' he said. 'The one of of those point where you can make reparations is through making sure you've got things like high-quality early childhood education in every single neighborhood in every single school in your community. That's what we did in Denver.' Sanders said after his speech 'there needs to be a study' when Sharpton prodded him to answer the reparations question. 'If the House and Senate pass that bill, of course I'd sign it,' he said. An attendee rebuffed him, too, asking loudly, 'What is there to study?' He noted that Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress, agrees that direct payments are not as suitable for the situation as alternatives. Sanders reiterated his belief that the federal government should direct more money to low-income communities for education, jobs and other programs. Booker in a speech later confronted the issue head on, before Sharpton could ask him about it. He said that it is important to have a conversation about reparations. 'But this conversation cannot just become a political-box checking exercise or a litmus test without meaning,' he argued. He said the conversation should focus on balancing the economic scales and confronting biases within society. Booker said he was 'frustrated' that it wasn't being discussed that way right now. Elizabeth Warren has called for Massachusetts has called for a 'national, full-blown conversation' on the issue of reparations. She reaffirmed her position on Friday At a luncheon that followed the morning plenary session, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand became the first candidate of the day to broach the subject on her own. 'This is a conversation that is long overdue. So, I want to let you know where I stand. I firmly support Congresswoman Jackson Lee's bill to study reparations. As president, I would advocate to Congress to pass that bill, and I would sign that commission into law,' she said. She told a hometown crowd, 'This is the first step of acknowledging as a country the 100 years of slavery and institutional racism have caused mass inequity and harm to black people and has held black communities back for generations from achieving their full potential.' Sen. Amy Klobuchar also spoke at the luncheon that was not structured the same way as the other sessions, which meant that she did not have to take the standard question from Sharpton. She did not bring it up herself and was not asked about it. She suggested in her remarks that Trump bears responsibility 'racism' she said is festering in the country. 'Because racism still exists in this country. We hear it echoed in our school yards and in on our neighborhood sidewalks. We hear it from white nationalist riots and on the presidential podium,' she said. 'We see it reflected in our laws and in our institutions. And we must change it. No, Mr. President there are not two sides on this issue, there is one side, and that is the side of justice.' President Trump has not been asked about reparations but he has made extensive appeals to black voters, championing criminal justice reform and touting the historically-low unemployment rate among African-Americans. He memorably told black voters in 2016 who might be hesitant to support him: 'What the hell do you have to lose?' Trump said this week at a White House event in celebration of the First Step Act, which passed with bipartisan support, that he doesn't regret his pointed ask of black voters who typically support Democrats to back him, even if the way he did was crass. 'And you've seen where I've said a lot because I'm very proud of it. And I said, 'What do you have to lose?' And people would say, 'Well, maybe you shouldn't say it.' But I meant that because it was tough. African American unemployment is the lowest level in the history of our country right now,' he stated. Packiam Ramanathan (pictured) went into a trance and battered her disabled husband Kanagusabi in his bed A wife who beat her 'control freak' husband to death with a wooden pole after he 'treated her like a servant' has been jailed for two years and four months. Packiam Ramanathan, 73, went into a trance and battered her disabled husband Kanagusabi Ramanathan, 76, in his bed in Newham, east London after he threw a stick at her, a court heard. The Old Bailey was told how Mr Ramanathan had treated his wife 'like a servant', used 'filthy language', and was abusive and controlling in their home. The shopkeeper was also said to have 'exerted financial control and repeatedly accused her of having an affair with a fishmonger who called her darling'. Mrs Ramanathan, who is frail, underweight and suffers from diabetes, was described to the court as a 'wonderful person' who was 'quiet, reserved and upstanding'. Her barrister Stephen Kamlish QC said: 'To say she is a good person is an understatement. She is a truly decent person. 'She has been in a real prison with her husband, a prison of cultural design, for 36 years. She has been tried for a murder she did not commit which she admitted from the outside was loss of control. 'She now has to face a battle to remain in this country. She is in fear of going back to Sri Lanka and people in Sri Lanka finding out.' The defendant, a German citizen of Sri Lankan descent, had admitted manslaughter and was cleared of murder after a jury deliberated for just half an hour. Judge Anuja Dhir QC agreed Mrs Ramanathan was a 'good person' as she passed sentence. The judge said the husband was a 'control freak' who had been physically and verbally abusive and subjected her to 'coercive and controlling behaviour'. The defendant has already spent 194 days in custody and faces possible deportation to Germany, where she has no family. The court had heard how the couple had an arranged marriage in 1983 and had fled Sri Lanka in the civil war. On September 21 last year, paramedics found former shopkeeper Mr Ramanathan dead in his bedroom after his wife told her neighbour she had hit him. The Old Bailey was told how Mr Ramanathan (pictured) had treated his wife 'like a servant', used 'filthy language', and was abusive and controlling in their home A blood-stained wooden stick was found in a cupboard in the hall of the couple's flat. Prosecutor Sally O'Neill QC claimed there had been arguments about money and the defendant had become 'very angry' at finding out her husband had written to Sri Lankan police accusing her brother of fraud and theft. But in her evidence, Mrs Ramanathan told of years of bullying and abusive behaviour by her husband. Recalling the killing, Mrs Ramanathan told jurors: 'It was like I was in a trance. I hit him. I do not know. I did not know what I was doing. I could not feel this. I remember him saying don't hit me. I remember I hit him. 'I lost control at that time. I did not plan anything. I'm not a person who would do such a thing. I don't know how I did it. For me I still feel like somebody else did it.' Detective Sergeant Anthony Atkin, of Scotland Yard, said: 'The jury carefully considered the evidence placed before them and felt that this was a sad case whereby Packiam Ramanathan had killed her husband Kanagusabi. 'This was a tragic case whereby an elderly, vulnerable man lost his life and the circumstances surrounding how and why needed to be put to a jury in order that they could listen to Packiam's account and test this against the evidence.' Advertisement The six-level Manhattan townhouse was first put on the market by its owner, Virtu Financial CEO Vincent Viola, back in 2013 at a price of $114 million A luxurious New York City mansion has had its price slashed by $26 million as it continues to look for a buyer after six years on the market. The six-floor, six bedroom Manhattan townhouse owned by Virtu Financial CEO Vincent Viola is now $88 million after initially hitting the market at $114 million in 2013. The home features 14-ft. ceilings, a Versailles-inspired dining room, a panic room and a saltwater pool. There are heated onyx-marble floors in the mansion's entry hall, a rotunda with 28-1/2-foot ceilings, an in-home movie theater, and a hidden door off the main hallway that leads to a two-story library, complete with 24-foot ceilings decorated with murals reminiscent of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. It's also the only 40-foot-wide house on the market in Manhattan with a fully-renovated 20,000-square-foot interior, according to listing agent Paula DelNunzio of Brown Harris Stevens. The great room in the rear of the mansion's entry level spans 40 feet complete with French doors that open to Juliette balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows The mansion's formal dining room extends 40 feet, easily seating 40 guests or more for special occasions The home is located on Manhattan's Upper East Side less than a block away from Central Park The mansion's expansive kitchen comes with 'almost every cooking appliance known to a chef', according to its real estate listing 'The scale of the interior rooms is beyond belief and without compare, as there are four of the most remarkable rooms ever seen in a New York mansion,' DelNunzio told Business Insider. And there is no need to buy appliances for the home's expansive kitchen. It comes with 'almost every cooking appliance known to a chef', according to the home's listing. The 40-ft. wide great room in the rear of the mansion's entry level is complete with French doors that open to Juliette balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. The dwelling features a two-floor library with 24-ft ceilings decorated with murals reminiscent of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel One of two 40-foot-wide bedrooms on the dwelling's fourth level that can be converted to four or more bedrooms, according to the home's listing The extravagant dwelling features heated onyx-marble floors in the mansion's entry hall Make a splash: One of nine full bathrooms in the 20,000 sq. ft. interior of the 40-ft. wide home is seen above In addition to it's size and amenities, this mansion also has a storied past. Business mogul James Ellsworth hired architect William Welles Bosworth in 1913 to revamp the 19th century abode with its current neo-Classical style, according to the unit's listing. The building was originally commissioned by an international silk trader in 1883. Real estate agents nearly secured an $80 million sale with a Chinese buyer in December 2017, according to The Real Deal, but the deal reportedly fell apart in its final stages. Virtu Financial CEO Vincent 'Vinnie' Viola has been trying to sell his Upper East Side pad since 2013 'Vinnie' Viola, 62, founded Virtu Financial, Inc. in April 2008 serving as its Executive Chairman from November 2013 until July 20, 2017, according to Bloomberg. Virtu, one of the largest high-frequency trading and market making firms, has helped Viola acquire a current estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, according to Forbes. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slapped back at President Trump after he belittled her as a 'young bartender' this week at a fundraiser. Trump was riffing on the Green New Deal at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington D.C. He said, 'The Green New Deal, done by a young bartender, 29 years old.' She served it right back on Friday, telling attendees of the National Action Network conference in her hometown of New York City, 'I'm proud to be a bartender. Ain't nothing wrong with that.' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slapped back at President Trump after he belittled her as a 'young bartender' this week at a fundraiser She served it right back on Friday, telling attendees of the National Action Network conference in her hometown of New York City , 'I'm proud to be a bartender. Ain't nothing wrong with that' The Republican president said she has senators in her party 'shaking' and they are 'petrified' of the freshman congresswoman. 'A young bartender, wonderful young woman,' he said. 'The Green New Deal. The first time I heard it I said, "That's the craziest thing." ' He went on to claim that windmills, a renewable energy source that the climate change resolution relies on to meet its goals, cause cancer when they blow. In New York on Friday, civil rights activist Al Sharpton brought up Trump's assault on Ocasio-Cortez, who was a bartender before she defeated a fellow Democrat in the primary and won a congressional seat last year. 'This president tried to disparage her, calling her a bartender. I never met a bartender that took babies out of their mothers' arms at the border of Mexico,' he said. 'I never met a bartender that insulted peoples' nations, calling them s-nations. 'I never met a bartender that tried to cut Medicare and Medicaid and affordable health care,' he said. He added,'I'd rather have somebody serves at a bar to feed their family and do the right thing, than have somebody sitting up in gilded penthouses that try to figure out how to hurt people.' Introducing Ocasio-Cortez, who goes by AOC, Sharpton said, 'I bring you our little sister who went from being a bartender, serving customers to congresswoman, serving the people.' 'Reverend, you bring up a funny anecdote,' she told Sharpton as she began her remarks. 'I'm proud to be a bartender. Ain't noting wrong with that.' Trump was riffing on the Green New Deal at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington D.C. when he slammed AOC In a riff of her own, she said, 'There's nothing wrong, with working retail, folding clothes for other people to buy. There's nothing wrong with preparing the food that your neighbors will eat. There is nothing wrong with driving the buses that will take your family to work. 'There is nothing wrong with being a working person in the United States of America, and there is everything dignified about it,' she said. Challenging Trump, who has made her Green New Deal resolution a fixture of his campaign rallies since she introduced it, the congresswoman said she isn't bothered by reminders that she was working in a bar a year ago. 'I am in fact encouraged when people remind the country of my past, not because of anything about my story,' she said, 'but because it communicates that if I can work in a restaurant and become a member of the United States Congress, so can you.' Angel Merkel is a leader that has always made her feelings clear. And now it seems the German chancellor cannot hide her feelings towards US presidents. Ms Merkel, 64, played host to former US president Barack Obama in Berlin today - and the pair were spotted in a warm embrace after a meeting at the German Chancellery. Angela Merkel says goodbye to Barack Obama at the German chancellery in Berlin today The former US president kisses the German chancellor after their meeting - believed to be about Trans-Atlantic relations Ms Merkel leans across a table as President Trump looks on during the second day of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Canada, on June 9 This is in stark contrast to the reception she has given President Donald Trump in the past, with an awkward stare across a table being a recent example. Obama, 57, has even said Ms Merkel was one of his 'favourite partners' during his time in office and his last international trip as president was to Germany in November 2016. A year later, the former Democratic Party leader told a crowd in Berlin of the 'outstanding work' across the world Ms Merkel had undertaken. Obama arrived in Germany yesterday and made a speech to 14,000 people at the World Leadership Summit in Lanxess Arena, Cologne, German newspaper Bild reported. Obama and Ms Merkel share a laugh during their meeting today. During his three-day visit to Germany, Obama will also meet with a group of young people tomorrow Today, the pair were believed to have discussed Trans-Atlantic relations during the hour and a half exchange - and Ms Merkel showed her appreciation with a hug and a kiss on Obama's cheek. It comes as a turbulent relationship has evolved between Germany and the US, with President Trump lashing out at Ms Merkel for lowering the country's military spending to below Nato targets. The latest German budget plans, revealed last month, showed defence spending drop well below the two per cent of GDP expected from Nato members. US ambassador Richard Grenell said the cuts were a 'worrisome signal', while President Trump repeatedly accused Germany of freeloading on US military might. But Ms Merkel rejected the criticism, saying Germany will not cut foreign aid to raise military spending. Obama arrived yesterday at around 5pm and addressed the World Leadership Summit in Lanxess Arena, Cologne And this month, President Trump - while complaining about how Germany does not pay its fair share - claimed his father was from the country. Trump repeated an error he has made in public at least twice, this time adding to the story of his father's supposed European birth. He made the claim while seated next to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian politician who has publicly praised the president for encouraging allies to spend more on defence. The president said: 'I have great respect for Angela and I have great respect for the country.' He added: 'My father is German, right? Was German. 'Born in a very wonderful place in Germany, so I have a great feeling for Germany.' But Fred Trump, the president's father, was born in New York - it was his grandfather Friederich Trump who was born in the German village of Kallstadt. A Massachusetts police officer has been arrested and charged with raping one child and sexually assaulting another younger than 14 years old. Officer Shawn Souza, 37, with the Dartmouth Police Department, was taken into custody on Thursday by the Massachusetts State Police. Souza is facing counts of rape of a child by force; rape of a child aggravated by age difference, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person under 14 years old by a mandated reporter. Dartmouth police officer Shawn Souza, 37 (left and right), has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting two children (victims not pictured) At his arrangement Friday, Souza (pictured) pleaded not guilty to the charges Souzas arrest came after an investigation by the Bristol County District Attorney's Offices Special Victims Unit, reported WBSM. Souza's commanding officer, Dartmouth Police Chief Brian Levesque, said that the incidents involving the children occurred while the cop was off duty. Levesque also revealed on Friday that the case began unfolding after his agency received a report from the Department of Children and Family, and immediately contacted the District Attorneys SVU, asking to look into the allegations. At his arraignment on Friday, Souza pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing set for Monday. Souza's commanding officer says two victims have been identified; the alleged rape and incident assault took place while the cop was off duty He has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. South Coast Today reported that Souza's badge and service weapon have been seized. Souza's defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, spoke to WPRI, calling the allegations against the officer shocking, and said Souza 100 per cent denies them. Souza has been on the force in Dartmouth since 2008, serving as a patrolman. Jockey Barry Geraghty, 39, was also rushed to Liverpool Hospital after a tumble Crucial Role had a fatal accident during the Betway Mildmay Novices on Friday Two horses have died after Ladies Day races at Aintree just a day before the start of the Grand National. Crucial Role, ridden by Harry Skelton, had to be put down after an accident during the Betway Mildmay Novices this afternoon. Forest Des Aigles was injured later in the day in the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase when it fell with Derek Fox on board, the Mirror reported. Crucial Role, ridden by Harry Skelton, (pictured) had to be put down after an accident at the Betway Mildmay Novices this afternoon The eight-year-old horse 'had to be put down' after it broke its leg on the final jump of the chase, ITV racing confirmed. It said: 'We've been passed the desperately sad news we were fearing. 'After falls in the Betway Mildmay Novices' and in the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase, Crucial Role and Forest des Aigles have both had to be put down. 'Our deepest condolences to connections of both horses.' ITV Racing confirmed the two horses 'had to be put down' on Twitter on Friday afternoon Jockey Barry Geraghty, 39, was also rushed to Liverpool Hospital on Friday with a suspected fracture to his leg after a fall in the Topham Chase. The jockey had been riding Peregrine Run when he tumbled over the Grand National fences. Mark Enright was also taken to hospital after a fall from Call It Magic at the Canal Turn. Advertisement A four-bedroom house covered in pigeon poo has sold for 100,000 at auction. The semi-detached property in Ilfracombe, Devon, has views of the Bristol Channel but the top two floors are caked in poo that is 1ft high in places. The property was so unsafe that potential buyers were not even allowed in for viewings. The house has rotten ceilings, fallen-in floors and broken windows. Father and son John and Guy Jones paid more than double the 45,000 asking price for the house The semi-detached property in Ilfracombe, Devon, has views of the Bristol Channel but the top two floors are caked in poo that is 1ft high in places. The staircase bannister, left, is coated with poo New owner Guy Jones said the clean-up was going to be a 'nightmare' but he was looking forward to getting stuck in. More than 100 people attended the auction and a round of applause erupted when the gavel went down There is not even a staircase to the first floor. The property was so unsafe that potential buyers were not even allowed in for viewings The house in Ilfracombe, North Devon, is on the market for the first time in 40 years and was lived in until the end of last year The four-bed property is pictured from the outside, above. The director of Webbers estate agents said he was astonished by the level of attention the property received As well as being plastered in poo, the property is missing windows and some of the ceilings have collapsed. A woman reportedly lived in the house until the end of last year but is now renting elsewhere, local news website Devon Live reported. Father and son John and Guy Jones paid more than double the 45,000 asking price for the house. Mr Jones said: 'I just wish that less people had seen it'. 'I could have got it a bit cheaper.' Lee Hussell, director of estate agents Webbers, said the project was 'not for the faint-hearted'. Mr Hussell said he was astonished by the level of attention the property received. 'It was picked up all over the UK and then we saw it popping up on sites in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa,' he said. 'People were sharing it left, right and centre.' Guy Jones said the clean-up was going to be a 'nightmare' but he was looking forward to getting stuck in. More than 100 people attended the auction and a round of applause erupted when the gavel went down. The property has stunning views of the Ilfracombe coast in Devon. More than 100 people attended the auction and a round of applause erupted when the gavel went down A Sugar Daddy dating site CEO who set up billboards outside UK universities trying to lure debt-saddled students has appeared in a court in Belgium after being charged with debauchery. Last year Sigurd Vedal, who runs RichMeetBeautiful.com, ran adverts across Europe in an attempt to expand his company, which he founded in Norway. But his efforts in Belgium were widely criticized and Universite Libre de Bruxelles complained, leading to Vegal being charged with debauchery, public incitement to debauchery and violating anti-sexism laws, reports the Guardian. Belgium's anti-sexism laws, introduced in 2014, defines sexism as a remark or action that is 'intended to express contempt', suggests someone is inferior due to their gender or is designed to 'reduce someone to his or her sexual dimension'. The CEO of sugar daddy dating website RichMeetsBeautiful (pictured) who tried to get students to sign up by putting adverts outside universities in Belgium has been charged with debauchery Sigurd Vedal, who runs RichMeetBeautiful.com, ran adverts telling students to 'improve your style of life [by getting] a sugar daddy' across the country A man who told a female police officer, 'Shut your mouth, I don't talk to women, being a police officer is not a job for women,' was the first person convicted under the law in March last year. Pictured: Sigurd Vedal, CEO of RichMeetBeautiful Prosecutors hope Vedal is handed a six-month suspended sentence, a 215,000 (250,000 euro) fine for the company and 34,000 (40,000 euro) fine for Vedal himself. Laurent Kennes, a spokesman for the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, told the Guardian 'We presumed the existence of a sexual counterpart to the registration on this site. 'The message is: "you're young, you're beautiful, go out with a sugar daddy!" Everyone understands what it's about.' But Vedal's lawyer Eric Cusas claimed Vedal was a 'scapegoat', and that the site was not about sex. Universite Libre de Bruxelles, pictured, complained, and now Vedal is being charged with debauchery, public incitement to debauchery and violating anti-sexism laws During the website's advertising campaign in UK, five giant billboards were sent on tour in the hopes of getting 100,000 students to sign up in 2018. The huge billboards, which appeared to be poorly translated, showed a couple cuddling alongside the caption: 'Romance, passion, fun & 0,- in study loan? Date a sugar daddy or sugar mama'. Among the universities targeted were Regents University, Kings College London, the London School of Economics and the City of London Law School. Students at Kings College London lashed out at the dating site at the time. A second-year history student, who asked not be named, said: 'It's disgusting. It should be illegal for these perverts to pray on youngsters like this. 'University is expensive, we all know that, and I'm in a massive amount of debt. 'But me and my friends would never turn to prostitution in order to reduce that, and these sorts of websites are tantamount to that - it's exploitative and wrong.' Jussie Smollett's lawyers have hit back at the city of Chicago on Thursday for threatening to sue him for costs of the police investigation into his 'hoax' attack and say it amounts to harassment. On Friday, Smollett's lawyer Mark Geragos replied to the city's letter by claiming its threats were 'malicious'. It added that he 'will not be intimidated' by the city's demands. He almost dared the city to proceed with filing a lawsuit and said that if it did, his team would want to depose Mayor Emanuel, the superintendent of the Chicago police department, the Nigerian brothers who say he paid them to attack them and their lawyers. The letter reads: 'Your letter constitutes part of a course of conduct intended to harass and irreparably injure Mr.Smollett. 'Mr. Smollett will not be intimidated into paying the demanded sum. Scroll down for video Jussie Smollett's lawyers said on Friday that he 'will not be intimidated' by the mayor of Chicago over threats to sue him for the cost of the police investigation into his allegedly staged attack 'As you know, Mr. Smollett vehemently denies making any false statements to the City of Chicago or to any individuals investigating the January 29 attack on him. 'All criminal charges against Mr. Smollett from this incident have been dismissed and his record has been sealed. 'Thus your claim that Mr. Smollett filed a false police report and orchestrated his own attack is false and defamatory. It is apparent that your threats were made maliciously and in bad faith and without an honest belief that a cause of action against Mr. Smollett exists. Describing the request as 'unprecedented' and 'unconstitutional', he went on: 'If you file a civil action against Mr. Smollett, please be advised that in addition to raising the appropriate legal defenses, 1) we will demand the prompt production of the entire investigation file in this matter, including the full discovery from the criminal action which was never provided to the defense; 2) we will demand that you promptly produce for deposition Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Abimbola Osundairo, Olabinjo Osundairo, and attorneys Gloria Schmidt and Jorge Rodriguez; and 3) we will seek to have all records and hearings on this matter be open to the public. 'We are confident that Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent Johnson will not object to providing their testimony under oath. This is the letter Smollett's attorneys sent in response to the city's threat of a lawsuit on Friday 'Mr. Smollett's preference remains, however, that this matter be closed and that he be allowed to move on with his life.' On Thursday, the city of Chicago sent the 36-year-old a letter saying it planned to file a lawsuit against him unless he paid up. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city's police department still believe he is guilty of staging the January 29 attack and are furious that the State's Attorney's Office decided to drop the charges against him. They are now demanding that he pay $130,000 which they say is the cost of the overtime paid to officers for investigating the attack as a means of holding him accountable. State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx, whose office dropped the charges after she recused herself from the case for exchanging text messages with Smollett's family at the start of the probe, is facing calls to resign. The police union in Chicago has passed a vote of no confidence in her and even attorneys who used to work for her and calling for her to be investigated. Among them is Saani Mohammed who filed a petition asking for the investigation into Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx's actions over the decision to drop the 16 felony charges against the Empire actor. According to court documents, Mohammed, who until recently worked in Foxx's office, wrote that a prosecutor should investigate if Foxx 'acted to impede the investigation concealed evidence, and/or intentionally misled the public'. Foxx also improperly 'used her position to intervene in the investigation', after meeting with one of Smollett's relatives before the charges were dropped, the filing states, according to the Chicago Tribune. Police chiefs have called for the resignation of Kimberly Foxx Cook County State's Attorney after 16 felony counts were dropped against actor Jussie Smollett Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the vote was about more than just the Smollett case, NBC News reports. He reportedly said the decision was just one of many issues undermining their trust in Foxx and Chicago's criminal justice system. On Monday some 300 people, including off-duty Chicago police officers, took to the streets to protest, calling on Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to resign over her handling of the case. Foxx has defended her actions and those of her prosecutors. Smollett told police on January 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. He claimed the attackers poured the bleach-like chemical on him and tied a rope noose around his neck, yelling racist and homophobic insults as well as 'This is MAGA country'. He told officers the unknown chemical substance was used on him while 'Empire f****t' and 'Empire n*****' was shouted at him. But on February 15, unconfirmed reports emerged suggesting the openly-gay actor might have staged the attack to save his job with help from two Nigerian brothers that he reportedly knew as extras on Empire. The actor, best known for his role as a gay musician on the Fox Television hip-hop drama Empire, was charged in February with staging the incident himself and filing a false police report. Investigators said they believe Smollett may have paid Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo $3,500 to assault him in the orchestrated attack. Last week prosecutors dropped all 16 felony charges issued by a grand jury against Smollett, infuriating police and outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo told police Smollett paid them to attack him Prosecutors said they stood by the accusation but that an agreement by Smollett to forfeit his $10,000 bond was a just outcome. The case file was sealed by a Chicago judge, which critics suggested was evidence of a cover-up. Last week Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel's law chief sent the Empire actor a letter demanding he cover the probe costs after the 16 felony disorderly conduct charges against him were dropped. The letter, dated March 28, demanded the 36-year-old actor pay the $130,106.15 bill within seven days. Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot could reverse any legal action after she's sworn in on May 20. Smollett was written out of the final two episodes of Empire this season after he was charged with staging the hate crime. Fox executives have not said if he will return should the show be renewed for another year. The actor's criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos, could not be reached for comment. The estranged husband of a teacher and his new girlfriend have appeared in court charged with her murder. New York City public school teacher Jeanine Cammarata, 37, disappeared on Saturday night, less than 48 hours after she told Michael Cammarata that she wanted a divorce. Charred remains found in a Staten Island storage facility have been confirmed as belonging to the missing mother-of-three. Michael, 42, had been taken into police custody on Tuesday after he allegedly admitted to assaulting his wife on the night she went missing. Ayisha Egea, 41, is said to have been in the Queens apartment where she lived with Michael when the Staten Island teacher was killed. A police source told The Daily News: 'She was with him the entire time.' They both appeared in court Friday and have been charged with murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence. They were held without bond. Scroll down for video Michael Cammarata has been arrested over the death of his estranged wife Jeanine Cammarata after her charred remains were found in a Staten Island storage facility Cammarata is seen above in court on Friday. He has been charged with second-degree murder Ayisha Egea is also charged with second-degree murder. She is seen above in court Friday Sources say Egea told police about the storage unit, which was filled with air fresheners allegedly intended to hide the stench of the body PIX11 NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea tweeted Friday: 'The investigation into the disappearance of Jeanine Cammarata is now officially a murder investigation. 'Working closely with (the) Staten Island DA we have arrested Michael Cammarata & Ayisha Egea, both charged with (second-degree) murder.' Investigators have allegedly obtained surveillance footage which shows Michael carrying a large plastic bin out of his apartment in the Queens shortly after Jeanine left on Saturday night. He was later seen unloading the bin with the help of another person at a storage facility in Staten Island, where police recovered a woman's body early Thursday. A police spokesperson told New York Post that authorities had struggled to make a positive identification of the victim as the corpse was 'charred and unidentifiable' before being placed in a black plastic bag. Sources say Egea, Michael's girlfriend, told police about the storage unit, which was filled with air fresheners allegedly intended to hide the stench of the body. Egea, 41, left, is also charged with concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence after her new boyfriend's estranged wife was found dead. Michael Cammarata is pictured, right, outside court Friday Investigators have allegedly obtained surveillance footage which shows Michael carrying a large plastic bin out of his apartment in Queens shortly after Jeanine left on Saturday night The body of missing teacher and mother-of-three Jeanine Cammarata, 37, was found in a storage unit on Staten Island early Thursday morning A lawyer representing Jeanine (left) said she had served her estranged husband Michael Cammarata (right) with divorce papers less than 48 hours before she vanished Saturday night NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea tweeted Friday: 'The investigation into the disappearance of Jeanine Cammarata is now officially a murder investigation' A city medical examiner vehicle is seen parked outside the storage facility Investigators in white Tyvek suits were seen going in and out of a building at the facility Jeanine was last seen at about 9pm Saturday when she dropped her boyfriend off at his house and said she was going to visit Michael and their three-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter, who live with him. Later that night she sent several alarming messages to friends. Jeanine's boyfriend reported her missing on Tuesday after she failed to show up for work at elementary school P.S. 29 in Castleton Corner or her side job at Dollar Tree. She had missed a child custody hearing on Monday, according to the attorney handling her divorce, Eric Gansberg. 'It just doesn't make sense to me,' Gansberg told the New York Post. 'She was so eager to proceed. She wanted to be with her children. I cannot imagine her just walking away.' By Tuesday afternoon Michael was questioned by police about Jeanine's disappearance and allegedly admitted to police that he had hit her in the face after they had sex on Saturday, according to WPIX-TV. He was charged with stalking, harassment, and assault, though law enforcement sources have said those charges are unrelated to Jeanine's disappearance. The van that Michael allegedly drove from Queens to Staten Island on Saturday night has also reportedly been recovered by police, but Jeanine's vehicle has still not been found. Jeanine Cammarata was reported missing on Tuesday after she failed to show up for her job as an elementary school teacher at P.S. 29 in Staten Island. She was last seen at round 9pm Saturday when she dropped her boyfriend off at his house and said she was going to visit Michael and their children, who live with him Jeanine and Michael are seen above with two of their children at their wedding Those who know Jeanine say she was terrified of her husband. They say she described his behavior toward her as abusive. Her landlord, Jose Perez, claimed that Jeanine was 'concerned about her safety' because Michael would harass her and follow her in his car. 'She even escalated it because she was concerned about her safety. 'And I mentioned it to her, I said to her: 'You better get this thing straightened out, because you don't want any problems',' Perez told WABC. 'She always texted me where she's at or if something's happening to her. But she has not.' Perez said he last saw Jeanine two weeks ago, and that she was determined to win custody of her two children with Michael. 'He wasn't giving her her kids, she wasn't able to see her kids,' the landlord said. 'That's when she said okay, I had enough. I'm gonna go get a lawyer, I'm gonna get divorced, and I'm gonna get custody of my kids. And now she's gone.' Jeanine also has an 11-year-old son from another marriage. Jeanine was in the middle of a custody battle for her three children (above together) and missed a court hearing on Monday Jeanine's boyfriend and a co-worker at Dollar Tree, Elizabeth Torres, were questioned by police on Tuesday evening. 'She let me know Friday she was going to pick up her children Saturday,' Torres told ABC. 'And that's the last anybody actually saw her,' Jeanine's best friend Jessica Pobega added. Pobega said she received strange and mysterious text messages from Jeanine on the day she disappeared. When Pobega told Jeanine she was going to call the police out of concern, the mother allegedly replied: 'I don't want that. I have the kids...I apologize. I have to do this for the children.' Pobega appeared to be suspicious that it was actually Jeanine who sent her the messages because she never ended up seeing her children over the weekend. 'I don't know who that was and what they were covering for,' she said, adding: 'She's my oldest friend. My mother is distraught. Something happened. Something bad happened. And I don't know what it is and I really hope I'm wrong.' Jeanine's best friend Jessica Pobega posted the poster above on Facebook along with a plea for information about the mother's whereabouts Pobega took to Facebook to plead for any information on Jeanine's whereabouts. She noted that her sudden disappearance is suspicious, saying that Jeanine would always called into work if she couldn't make it. 'She's never once NOT called into school. She'd never risk her job at the [Department of Education] in NYC. She's never NOT check in with me or her sister Christine. She didn't call her mother for her birthday, which was yesterday. There are a lot of people very worried,' Pobega wrote. 'May they suffer in the 10th circle of hell,' she posted about the accused killers of her friend to Facebook on Friday. Police revealed that her roommate received a text message from Jeanine on Monday saying she's 'okay', but her roommate doesn't believe Jeanine sent that text. Jeanine's sister Christine Ross told CBS: 'The last I talked to her was Friday morning. We were talking about her coming to visit me.' Ross added that Jeanine not appearing for her jobs is very irregular and worrisome. An Illinois man who was arrested for violating traffic laws while rushing his one-year-old daughter to the hospital has been bailed out of jail by a group of nurses. Darius Hinkle unwittingly caused a car chase on Thursday as he sped to the hospital at over 100 miles per hour because his daughter was choking on a penny. 'The first thing in my mind was to get her to the hospital,' the father told FOX2. Several squad cars were on his tail when they arrived at Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville, where Hinkle was taken into custody after officers learned he didn't have a valid license. Scroll down for video Darius Hinkle was arrested Thursday for violating traffic laws while rushing his one-year-old daughter to the hospital in Centreville, Illinois, because she was choking on a penny. The dad (above with his daughter) was later bonded out of jail by a group of nurses Hinkle is seen during an interview with a local TV station Fox2 after he was released from jail on Thursday. He said of the nurses who bonded him out: 'I can't thank them enough' After the daughter was treated and released, Hinkle's wife, Donecia Pittman, went to the jail to post his bond - but someone had beaten her to it. A woman at the station informed Pittman that she and other nurses were touched by Hinkle's commitment to his daughter's wellbeing and pooled their money to post his bond. 'I can't thank them enough,' Hinkle said. The names of the nurses have not been released, and it is unclear how much Hinkle's bond cost. Several members of the community have expressed frustration on social media with the Centreville police officers who arrested the dad after learning the reason he'd violated the law. Hinkle himself wrote on Facebook: 'How could saving somebody life (my daughter at that) [be] worth going to jail over?' He said that one of the officers had told him they would have done the same thing in that situation. Hinkle's daughter was treated and released from the hospital after her dad was arrested. The one-year-old appeared to be in good spirits when her dad was interviewed by a local TV station Advertisement Protesters have flown a giant Donald Trump blimp in Calexico ahead of the president's arrival as the 20-foot-tall inflatable showing him in a diaper and holding a cell phone was pictured floating over the southern border Friday. The huge balloon has made several appearances across the country in recent months as Trump picks up the campaign trail for 2020. 'Baby Trump' was set up by a group of protesters just a few miles from the Republican's supporters at the same spot to welcome him. The president is expected to tour a 2.5-mile long part of replacement wall that was recently installed in the area. He is also expected to meet with immigration enforcement officials. The fence that Trump is touring was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trump's name and those of top homeland security officials. A 'Baby Trump' balloon flies over the U.S.-Mexico border fence as Donald Trump visits Calexico Friday. The huge balloon has made several appearances across the country in recent months as the president picks up the campaign trail for 2020 The 20-foot-tall inflatable, showing him in a diaper and holding a cell phone, was set up by a group of protesters just a few miles from the Republican's supporters at the spot to welcome him Trump said Friday his administration is ensuring the country knows 'this is an actual emergency' at the U.S.-Mexico border President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One at Naval Air Facility El Centro, in El Centro, Calif., Friday Arriving in Southern California Trump says his administration is ensuring the country knows 'this is an actual emergency' at the U.S.-Mexico border. He said the administration is making progress in building a border wall and says he expects 'close to 400 miles' to be completed within the next two years, adding: 'We've done a lot, we've renovated a lot.' Trump this week said he was giving Mexico a 'one-year warning' to stem illegal immigration. He revealed he would not close the border as he had said he might do if Mexico didn't clamp down on illegal immigration immediately. Trump told reporters that he's inclined to tariff cars coming over from Mexico first, and then close the border. He said the neighboring country should consider this a warning. 'We're going to give them a one-year warning and if the drugs don't stop or largely stop we're going to put tariffs on Mexico and products, particularly cars. The whole ballgame is cars,' he said. 'And if that doesn't stop the drugs, we close the border.' Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday he will be briefed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on 'exactly what is taking place at the border'. She told Fox News: 'He's going to get a briefing when he first arrives there from a number of law enforcement officials, the CBP folks the people that are on the front lines there on the ground.' Trump traveled Friday to Southern California to meet with local law enforcement officials and tour a section of recently rebuilt fencing he cites as the answer to a surge of migrant families coming to the U.S. in recent months The president has said the administration is making progress in building a border wall and says he expects 'close to 400 miles' to be completed within the next two years. The fence that Trump is touring in Calexico is a two-mile section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trump's name and those of top homeland security officials. The visit comes after Trump sparked confusion with a threat to seal the southern border Trump said Thursday he wouldn't act for a year, and issued a fresh threat to place tariffs on autos manufactured in Mexico Trump is later expected to head to Beverly Hills for a campaign fundraiser. He has been ramping up his attacks on Democrats as he looks to make border security an issue for the 2020 re-election campaign. Trump's campaign released a new video attacking 2020 Democrats for dismissing what Trump calls a 'crisis' at the border. It comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom denounced President Donald Trump's comments about getting rid of the asylum system. The governor issued the strong criticism in a statement Friday as the president arrived in California to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. Newsom says that since its founding, the United States has been a refuge and safe haven for people fleeing tyranny, oppression and violence. The governor says the president's rhetoric disregards the Constitution, the justice system 'and what it means to be an American.' In comments at the White House as he left for California, Trump urged Congress 'to get rid of the whole asylum system because it doesn't work.' Trump's administration has been pushing Congress to pass legislation that would tighten asylum rules. Superman actor Dean Cain has lashed out at what he believes is an arrogant film industry for trying influence state laws on abortion. More than 50 Hollywood actors - including Alyssa Milano, Alec Baldwin and Amy Schumer this week sent a letter threatening to pull business out of television and movie production hub Georgia if an abortion ban is enacted. On Friday morning's Fox & Friends, Cain a 56-year-old single father said the stars had gone too far. 'The hubris of Hollywood to say to a sovereign state like Georgia, you guys have to follow our beliefs on abortion, is ridiculous,' he said. 'There's a reason the 10th Amendment exists. 'For Hollywood to tell Georgia voters what their views should be on abortion is a huge mistake, and I think it's a giant overstep But, you know, it's Hollywood. And Hollywood has done that before.' Georgia 'heartbeat' abortion ban - which is awaiting Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's signature - would outlaw almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Dean Cain, 56, disagreed with Alyssa Milano leading a backlash on Georgia's vote to change abortion laws. He spoke about the 'hubris of Hollywood' to say Georgia 'must follow our beliefs' Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Fox News Privacy Policy More than 50 Hollywood actors - including Alyssa Milano, Alec Baldwin and Amy Schumer this week sent a letter threatening to pull business out of Georgia if an abortion ban is enacted The screen star didn't think those celebrities protesting would follow through with their threats and used the example of people claiming they'd go to Canada if Donald Trump won the 2016 election. Cain added that Hollywood's boycott wouldn't make much of a difference anyway. 'Those tax incentives that bring in studios, honest to goodness, don't make a huge fiscal impact on the state,' he said. 'So if people don't show up to work in Georgia, it's not going to hurt Georgians very much at all in the pocketbook, and I think it's a ridiculous thing to go for.' The actor added that he doesn't think Charmed actress Milano is truly the driving force in the political protest. 'I don't think Alyssa Milano is doing this out of her own volition, I think she's got somebody behind her, a group behind her, for her to be quoting certain things and creating these protests - I don't think she's doing it by herself,' he shared. Milano is currently working in Georgia on a Netflix project but does not live in the state of Georgia. She said other film workers with her did. Cain said for Hollywood to tell Georgia voters what their views should be is a 'giant overstep' Cain portrays detective James Wood in Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer. The October 2018 motion picture based on the real life story of Pennsylvania doctor Kermit Gosnell, who stored trash bags of terminated babies, did not get widespread theater release After the show's hosts asked Cain about Milano in particular, he added about her protesting: '[T]hose voters spoke. They elected these guys and gals, and that's the bill they came up with. 'They have to understand the idea of federalism, states' rights. There's a reason that states have their own rights [and] can make some of their own laws.' Georgia joins a string of GOP-controlled states moving to enact strict abortion bans, with the ultimate goal of getting a case in front of the US Supreme Court to challenge its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Georgia's 'heartbeat' abortion ban is currently awaiting Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's signature. The move would ban abortions as early as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy. The measure was approved by 92 votes, just one vote more than the majority needed to pass out of the 180-member House. The push comes amid rising optimism among conservatives that the restrictions might prevail in the reconfigured high court that includes President Donald Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Superman star doesn't think Charmed actress Milano is protesting out of her own volition and claimed there's group backing 'for her to be quoting certain things' Cain portrays detective James Wood in Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer. The October 2018 motion picture based on the real life story of Pennsylvania doctor Kermit Gosnell, who stored trash bags of terminated babies, did not get widespread release in movie theaters. It's something Cain and the film's producer Ann McElhinney have claimed proves Hollywood doesn't want the truth to come out. '[Gosnell] would induce live abortions and then he would snip the spinal cord of the fetuses,' Cain said on Fox & Friends. 'A viable alive child. And he's in jail for life for that. But the way abortion laws have been going lately, I think he believes he's going to get out. Because even though what he did was so far and above and beyond, he may be the greatest serial killer of all time.' Actress Alyssa Milano, front right, poses with film industry workers and pro-abortion rights supporters after delivering a letter to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office detailing her opposition to HB 481 at the State Capitol, Tuesday But Cain himself identifies as politically independent despite supporting Rick Perry in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016, both Republicans. Cain said in a 2018 interview with the Epoch Times: 'I am fully pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-full equality. But there should be equality of opportunity, not of outcome. I'm not a Republican. I am an independent. I vote for the candidate I like best.' In the same interview last year, Cain said he doesn't believe Roe v. Wade will be overturned. 'Abortion must be legal, but every state makes its own rules. 'Legal' meaning that a fetus is viable from 20 to 24 weeks. Women haven't had any rights overturned. I've traveled to Saudi Arabia,' he said. 'I haven't seen Trump roll back any rights for women or gays. 'Trump is doing a fantastic job. He speaks differently and tweets differently, but when I say fantastic job, I'm basing it on his policies, not only here but for the world. Today, we're No. 1 again. The economy is soaring.' A Florida police department were forced to rename their newest four-legged recruit on Friday morning, having accidentally originally named the K-9 after an infamous Nazi general. Lake County Sheriffs Office proudly announced the debut of their new 10-week-old bloodhound puppy, called Rommel, on Friday, ahead of his journey in assisting officers in their search for missing persons and fugitives. Meet LCSO's newest Bloodhound, Rommel, the department tweeted. He is a 10 week old liver colored bloodhound now assigned to Master Deputy Meintzschel. Rommel will soon begin his rigorous training to support the community by locating missing persons, fugitives, and evidence. Welcome aboard Rommel! Lake County Sheriffs Office proudly announced the debut of their new 10-week-old bloodhound puppy, called Rommel, on Friday Police say the dog was given the name as a tribute to one of Deputy Mark Meintzschels (pictured) childhood pets However, despite the adorable photo, the oblivious deputies were soon inundated with messages of contempt from the public, who compared his name to Nazi general Erwin Rommel Police say the dog was given the name as a tribute to one of Deputy Mark Meintzschels childhood pets. However, despite the adorable photo, the oblivious deputies were soon inundated with messages of contempt from the public who were quick to point out the dogs unsavory name. Erwin Rommel, who many associated the dogs name with, was at one time considered one of Hitler's favorite generals. He was later ordered to commit suicide for plotting to assassinate the Nazi leader Cute dog, said Helene McCarthy in response. Too bad he got named for a Nazi hero. I find that offensive to me and the dog. We have plenty of American heroes this fine animal could be named after. Erwin Rommel, who many associated the dogs name with, was a German general who acted as a field marshal for the Wehrmacht in North Africa during World War II. Nicknamed 'Desert Fox', he previously served in Hitler's personal escort battalion, accompanying the fascist dictator wherever he traveled. But despite at one time being considered one of Hitler's favorite generals, Erwin was was ordered to commit suicide in 1944, after the Nazi party accused him of mobilizing an attempt to assassinate the leader. The Nazi propaganda machine initially reported that Erwin had died in a hail of gunfire during battle, but the true nature of his death was revealed after the war. The police department insist the name choice was an innocent mistake Just hours later the police department returned to social media to reveal the bloodhounds name had changed The K-9's name changed started a string of sarcastic comments about the name scout Thats a real educated police force you have there, Mein Fuher, added Daniel Sweebe. Just hours later the police department returned to social media to reveal the bloodhounds name had changed, following the backlash. [Meintzschel] just learned that the name was tied to a Nazi war criminal, an updated Facebook post claimed. That being said, knowing that this four-legged public servant belongs to the taxpayers of Lake County and his sensitivity to our Veterans, he immediately renamed him Scout. Despite the name change, the police force continued to receive sarcastic comments about their choice of moniker. 'Scout is offensive to native Americans,' wrote Thad Benton. 'Maybe try a name like 'Adolf' or 'Zimmerman' next.' Allison Christine Johnson, 45, reportedly turned herself into police in Norman, Oklahoma on Thursday A registered Republican has been arrested for allegedly spray-painting racist graffiti on several buildings in Oklahoma, including the local Democratic Party's headquarters. Allison Christine Johnson, 45, reportedly turned herself into police in Norman on Thursday, a week after initial reports of 'terroristic threats' made at the state Democratic Party headquarters and the Chickasaw Nation headquarters, both located in Oklahoma City, were reported. Police were called seven days ago after the concrete outside the two buildings was painted with neo-Nazi rheotoric like 'Gas the Jews' and 'Welcome to Germany'. Johnson also allegedly spray-painted '1488' outside one of the buildings, a reference to the neo-Nazi '14 words' slogan, 'We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,' and the 88 numerical code for HH, which stands for 'Heil Hitler'. A manifesto with the words 'Trump, Pence, Hitler 2020' and a vandalized picture of former President Barack Obama was also left at the door. Scroll down for video Swastikas, red blood, and the word 'Jewess' were spray-painted over the eyes and forehead of a sculpture of a woman's head outside one of the locations in Norman, Oklahoma Police were called seven days ago after the concrete outside two buildings in Oklahoma City was painted with neo-Nazi rhetoric like 'Gas the Jews,' 'Welcome to Germany' and '1488' Johnson also allegedly spray-painted '1488' outside one of the buildings, a reference to the neo-Nazi ' 14 words ' slogan, 'We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,' and the 88 numerical code for HH, which stands for 'Heil Hitler' White nationalist graffiti was also reported to police at three additional buildings in Norman on Wednesday. Swastikas, red blood, and the word 'Jewess' were spray-painted over the eyes and forehead of a sculpture of a woman's head outside one of the locations. The words 'every race but whites' was painted on the window of the Cleveland County Democratic Headquarters in Norman along with the words 'Nazis. 'I was just shocked, stunned, in fact. I'm still almost speechless,' Krystal Golding-Ross, Chair of the Cleveland County Democratic Party told KFOR on Wednesday. Oklahoma police say Johnson is seen in surveillance footage captured at the scene of one of the incidents Voting records obtained by the local news station indicate Johnson, who lives at home with her parents in Norman, registered as a Democrat in 2007 and voted for Democratic candidates in two elections, but she's currently registered as a Republican. It's not immediately clear when Johnson changed her party affiliation. 'It's really shocking and really surprising to see this in Norman,' Chris Tripp, one of Johnson's neighbors, told KFOR. Archaeologists have pieced together 70 broken shards to restore a statue of Ramses II in in the Sohag region of Egypt. Ramses II was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt and was often regarded as the greatest and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom. Nearby in the city of Akhmim, a 2,000-year-old tomb has been discovered. Egyptian archaeologists have pieced together 70 broken shards to restore a giant statue of Ramses II - the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt Ramses II was often regarded as the greatest and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom More than 50 mummified mice, falcons and even a child have been unearthed from the tomb. The Tomb of Tutu, discovered in the city of Akhmim on the east bank of the Nile, is believed to have belonged to a senior official. The tomb was built for a man named Tutu and his wife, and is one of seven discovered in the area last October, when authorities found smugglers digging illegally for artefacts, officials said. Egypt's Ministry of Antiques unveiled their findings with the aim of drawing tourists to the central Sohag province. Egypt's Ministry of Antiques revealed the statue and the mummified remains in hopes of encouraging more tourism in the area A haul of more than 50 mummified artefacts including a woman and child (pictured) have been found in a 2,000-year-old Egyptian tomb in the city of Akhmim Tutu was an Egyptian god that was depicted as an anthropomorphic figure usually with a lion's body, human face, wings, other heads of hawks and crocodiles projecting from the body, and the tail of a serpent More than 50 mummified cats, mice and falcons were found in the tomb. While it was common practise for Ancient Egyptian pets to be mummified, it isn't clear why mice also were Ancient Egyptians believed that mummification was essential to successfully making it to the afterlife. They believed that as well as all of their possessions, they would need their body in the afterlife so preserved them The coffin would then be placed in the tomb and surrounded by the person's possessions and small model workers who would work for the dead in the afterlife. Pictured is Anubis, the god of embalming the dead Egypt's Ministry of Antiques revealed their findings in the hope of attracting more tourists to the Sohag region. A proper mummification would take about 70 days, while poorer people would sometimes get mummified within a week The Egyptian god Tutu was believed to be a protector tombs and to watch over people while they slept Secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, said: 'It's one of the most exciting discoveries ever in the area. 'The tomb is made up of a central lobby, and a burial room with two stone coffins. 'We see the same thing for his wife, Ta-Shirit-Iziz, with the difference that (we see) verses from a book, the book of the afterlife.' Two mummies, a woman aged between 35-50 and a boy aged 12-14, were on display outside the shallow burial chamber, in a desert area near the Nile about 390 km (242 miles) south of Cairo. More than 50 mummified mice, cats and falcons, were also found dating to the Ptolemaic era. Egypt's tourism industry has been struggling in recent years and the antiquities ministry said Friday's presentation was intended to 'draw the world's attention to the civilisation and antiquities of Egypt'. Secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, said: 'It's one of the most exciting discoveries ever in the area' The Ancient Egyptian mummifying process consisted of 10 steps. Firstly embalmers would have to remove moist parts of the body which would rot. The brain would be removed through the nose with a hook Once the brain had been removed and thrown away, a cut would be made on the left hand side of the body to remove internal organs like the lungs, liver, stomach and intestines - which would be mummified separately and stored in jars The heart would also be removed and cleaned but it would then be placed back in the body so it could be weighed against a feather when travelling to the afterlife. Ancient Egyptians believed that if a person was good enough to be allowed into the afterlife then their heart would weigh the same as a feather The country's plethora of heritage sites is a major draw for tourists and the ministry described Sohag as 'one of the most historically rich cities in Egypt', where a museum opened last year. Political instability and deadly attacks since the 2011 revolution have led to a drop in visitor numbers, although there has been a slight recovery in recent years. Authorities regularly celebrate new discoveries, but Egypt is often accused of negligence regarding its cultural heritage and a lack of scientific rigour. Ptolemaic rule spanned about three centuries until the Roman conquest in 30 B.C. Egypt's ancient sites are a draw for tourists and authorities hope new finds can help boost the sector. The body would then be covered in salt for 70 days to absorb all the excess fat and moisture After the body had been covered in salt for 40 days it would be stuffed with linen or sand to give it a more human shape. The body would then be treated with herbs, oils and resin Jewellery and a wig were then placed on the body. If any limbs were missing they were replaced with wooden ones so their body would be whole in the afterlife A mentally ill woman who pushed a stranger unprovoked in front of a train on a New York City subway platform has been handed a 20 year sentence. Melanie Liverpool-Turner, 33, pleaded guilty to the killing of 49-year-old Connie Watton on March 4. She was sentenced on Friday. Robert Watton, Connie's husband, shared a charged statement during the sentencing hearing asserting that he was haunted by the thought of his wife's last moments before she was pushed in front of an oncoming 1 train in Times Square on November 7, 2016. Scroll down for videos Melanie Liverpool-Turner, 33, pleaded guilty to the killing of 49-year-old Connie Watton on March 4. She was sentenced on Friday. On November 7, 2016, Liverpool-Turner pushed Watton in front of a 1 train at Time Square 'I am haunted when imagining what happened to Connie that day by this demented piece of garbage. This murderer. Connie didn't deserve what happened to her,' he said, according to the New York Daily News. He added: 'Melanie means darkness. You are heartless and you have no soul.' Watton described his wife - who immigrated to the Philippines when she was 16 - as always willing to help others. She had been 'extremely generous and giving' and was even sending money home to put her family through college. Two of her nephews were forced to drop out of school as a result of their aunt's death. 'I am haunted when imagining what happened to Connie that day by this demented piece of garbage. This murderer,' said the victim's husband He added: 'Melanie means darkness. You are heartless and you have no soul' 'This murdering psychopath will be eligible for parole at the age that Connie lived until,' Watton added. 'Why should you get a second chance? Connie doesn't get a second chance. She is a danger to the public, and I wish nothing but life behind bars for this psychopath.' Aaron Wallenstein, the woman's attorney, described how his client was failed by the system as her struggles with multiple mental illnesses were well documented. Liverpool-Turner is said to have suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Just a month before the murder, the woman witnessed someone commit suicide by jumping in front of a train in Union Square Wallenstein mentioned that Liverpool-Turner had an 'unblemished' criminal record but struggled with years of sexual abuse as a child in Trinidad. She is also said to have suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Just a month before the murder, the woman witnessed someone commit suicide by jumping in front of a train in Union Square. At the time, she provided a false confession to the NYPD and told them that 'I hear voices. I push people in front of trains.' She was admitted to the psychiatric ward at the Bellevue Hospital, but was released shortly after. Ninetten days later, and Liverpool-Turner would kill Watton. Robert Watton has also sued the woman and the city Health & Hospitals Corporation. He is also suing the New York Transit Authority. Aaron Wallenstein, the woman's attorney, described how 'unblemished' criminal record but struggled with years of sexual abuse as a child in Trinidad 'There is no disputing the loss of life of Mrs. Connie Watton is nothing short of a tragedy,' Wallenstein said, adding that his client's 'serious mental problems' could allude to 'society' needing 'to take some responsibility as well.' Judge Michael Obus imposed the maximum sentence and called the incident every New Yorker's worst nightmare. 'Thousands of people ride the subway every day,' Obus said. 'This is truly the quintessential urban nightmare when a total stranger takes it upon them self to snuff out someone else's life. When two fresh-faced teenage Brexiteers popped up among the motley crew of protesters marching from Sunderland to London with Nigel Farage last month, it wasnt long before political tongues started wagging. Images of the placard-waving pair were plastered across national newspapers and social media and featured on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 news. They were caught on camera at several other Leave Means Leave events, joining Farage on stage in London at one of them. They were at the politicians side again in Parliament Square last week, on the day the UK was meant to depart the EU, joining him in hearty renditions of Rule Britannia and I Vow To Thee My Country. Farage even referred to them as an inspiration in a recent diary piece he wrote for The Spectator magazine entitled Pints And Pretty Girls. But these political cameos have fuelled much speculation among Remain-sympathising cynics about the girls true identities. In the past fortnight, social media has been rife with allegations that they are paid actresses or even hired Russian models. Some have suggested they are relatives of Leave Means Leave officials, or brand ambassadors drafted in to inject a bit of colour into a grey party. In the past fortnight, social media has been rife with allegations that these fresh-faced teenage Brexiteers, seen marching with Nigel Farage, are paid actresses or even hired Russian models. They are in fact sisters Alice (left) and Beatrice Grant, aged 17 and 15 - privately educated granddaughters of the late industrialist and former Governor of the Bank of Scotland Sir Alistair Grant The Grant sisters were caught on camera at several Leave Means Leave events, joining Farage on stage in London at one of them. (Above, Alice with him at a rally at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre last December) Farage (with Beatrice) even referred to them as an inspiration in a recent diary piece he wrote for The Spectator magazine entitled Pints And Pretty Girls Now, however, the Mail can reveal the inconvenient truth. The two young women are in fact sisters Alice and Beatrice Grant, aged 17 and 15, privately educated granddaughters of the late industrialist and former Governor of the Bank of Scotland Sir Alistair Grant. Far from being paid support as their desperate critics suggest, they are both highly intelligent Brexiteers who, in recent weeks, have been juggling their studies at school in London with their devotion to the Brexit cause. Giving their first ever interview to the Mail this week and displaying an eloquence that belies their youth the politically astute pair speak with bemusement about the wild accusations made against them, while making an impassioned plea for Theresa Mays Government to hurry up and deliver the clean Brexit voters were promised after the 2016 referendum. There is a huge disconnect between the political class and the real British people who have so much faith in our nation. We just want to be free from Brussels, says Alice, the elder of the two, with impressive gravitas. Far from being paid support as their desperate critics suggest, the Grants are both highly intelligent Brexiteers who, in recent weeks, have been juggling their studies at school in London with their devotion to the Brexit cause Away from the barricades Alice and Beatrice enjoy hunting for vintage clothes in charity shops which helps to explain their quirky, eye-catching style of dress share a passion for the Beatles, love painting and dote on their cats, Peach and Pickle The girls argue that what Britain needs is a swift No-Deal exit from the EU. In their eyes, Nigel Farage is a hero for standing up for Britain and fighting for British independence from the corrupt EU. And while they are still too young to vote, they have little time for those who doubt they are the genuine article. People dont seem to realise there are young people who want Brexit, too, says Beatrice, who will sit nine GCSEs after the Easter holidays and has been juggling her protest appearances with a strict revision timetable. Weve had Remainers following us around at protests and filming us, while accusing us of being models or actresses. Its not very nice, she says. But we dont let it get to us. Alice, who is studying politics, English, Ancient Greek and French at A level and hopes to study law at university, sees the accusations levelled at them as typical Remainer negativity. Brexiteers are generally so much more positive, she says. We are optimistic about an independent future for our country. We believe in Britain, whereas Remainers go on about how, if we leave with no deal, it will be catastrophic for the economy. Its shocking that they have such little faith in our ability to carry on after Brexit. Given their political poise, it is easy to forget how young the girls are. Away from the barricades they enjoy hunting for vintage clothes in charity shops which helps to explain their quirky, eye-catching style of dress share a passion for the Beatles, love painting and dote on their cats, Peach and Pickle. People dont seem to realise there are young people who want Brexit, too, says Beatrice, who will sit nine GCSEs after the Easter holidays and has been juggling her protest appearances with a strict revision timetable Accusations of xenophobia are given short shrift by the girls, whose 46-year-old mother is from South America and came to the UK as a 17-year-old Yet they have undoubtedly made an impact. This week, in his piece for The Spectator about the 200-mile protest march, Nigel Farage wrote: A week into the event, as we walked from Mansfield, I was delighted to chat to the Grant sisters, Bea and Alice. They are first-time voters and committed Brexiteers. To the horror of many, they also happen to be bright, pretty girls. Yes, intelligent women do support Brexit. Of claims the girls were hired models or ringers, he added: The truth is far more prosaic. They are just ordinary young women excited by the prospect of a free UK. They are an inspiration to me; its their future that Im working for. Alice and Bea were thrilled to be mentioned in print by Farage and admit their support for Leave Means Leave has set them apart from many of their peers. Most of my friends are Remainers, says Alice, but when I ask them why, they cant really give any good reasons. I believe its because they dont know enough about the EU and its history. The sisters attended their first Leave Means Leave rally in London in December, not long after Theresa May first announced she was postponing a final vote on her Brexit deal. Alice subsequently revoked her membership of the Conservative Party in disgust I think people our age are afraid of judgment because being a Brexiteer is seen as being far-Right, which is untrue, and there are horrible words attached to us like fascist and racist. We are made out to be extremists and people are afraid of that label. They are scared to voice their opinion. This is clearly not the case with Alice and Bea, who set out their arguments calmly and clearly, citing books they have read and statistics they have noted. Alice adds: Many people dont realise we are the fifth largest economy in the world or that despite the uncertainty of last year, London was still ranked number one as the best place for business in the world. Lots of countries would love to do free trade deals with us. Accusations of xenophobia are also given short shrift by the girls, whose 46-year-old mother is from South America and came to the UK as a 17-year-old. Brexiteers are often portrayed as inward-looking but we want a global future for Britain, says Alice. The EUs preferential migration system is something we have a problem with because we dont see why people from Europe should be given preferential treatment over people from India or New Zealand or the rest of the world. At home in Notting Hill, West London, the girls are backed by both their mother and their father, a 53-year-old former advertising executive and journalist. Their mother often accompanies them to protests. They fully support what we are doing as long as we keep up with our schoolwork, says Bea. By their own account, they were raised in a non-political household. Their father is the son of the late Sir Alistair Grant, who rose from being a management trainee at Unilever to become the driving force behind the Safeway supermarket chain, chairman of the brewer Scottish & Newcastle and Governor of the Bank of Scotland. He died in January 2001, just before Alice was born. Sadly, we didnt get to meet him, she says. I think he would have been proud of us for standing up for what we believe in. The girls were barely into their teens when the EU referendum took place in June 2016. Alice was 14 at the time, Bea just 12. Their conversion to the Brexit cause came last year when Alice began studying A-level politics. We started researching the EU and the question of leaving. It was clear to us that the will of the people wasnt being respected at all. We felt this was an assault on the result of the 2016 referendum. The pair certainly seem to have done their research. Both are well-versed in Brexiteer literature, citing works such as The Great Deception, by Christopher Booker and Richard North, and Brussels Laid Bare, by Marta Andreasen, the EUs former chief accountant, as well as pro-EU speeches. Most of my friends are Remainers, says Alice, but when I ask them why, they cant really give any good reasons. I believe its because they dont know enough about the EU and its history' Their conversation is littered with mentions of the Maastricht Treaty, the Lisbon Treaty and the Treaty of Nice as evidence of an erosion of British sovereignty. It became clear to us, continues Alice, that the EU cannot be reformed from within. Its a super-state project and we dont want to be part of that. We saw how politicians had signed our sovereignty away. There has been a huge transfer of power from the British people to a bunch of bureaucrats in Brussels. Were not anti-Europe, were anti-EU. The EU is just a complex of buildings in Brussels where laws are made. Its not the continent. We love Europe. They attended their first Leave Means Leave rally in London in December, not long after Theresa May first announced she was postponing a final vote on her Brexit deal. Alice subsequently revoked her membership of the Conservative Party in disgust. We were horrified by what she had negotiated in Brussels, says Alice. We went to the rally because we wanted to throw our weight behind a WTO Brexit. At the end of that event on December 15, the girls met Nigel Farage for the first time. We went up to say hello, says Bea, but we didnt get to talk to him for long because there were so many people there. Alice adds: It was just great to be with so many people who believe in Britain and want to be independent. In London, people are so isolated from the rest of the country. At another Leave Means Leave rally in January, Alice plucked up the courage to tell 55-year-old Farage how much she admired him. Farage, she says, was gracious and politely thanked her. Alice and Bea were thrilled to be mentioned in print by Farage and admit their support for Leave Means Leave has set them apart from many of their peers She doesnt hold back in her praise for a man she says is full of integrity. He really has given Brexiteers a voice, she adds. In February, she phoned in to the politicians LBC radio show and spoke live on air about her beliefs. Im 17 years old and Im very passionate about Brexit, she told him, adding that she did not feel represented by any of the political parties in Parliament. Last month, the girls mother accompanied them by train to Sunderland, where they set off on a 20-mile walk in the rain to Hartlepool on the first day of the Brexit protest march. At a pub en route they were photographed chatting to Farage. The girls returned to London because of school but rejoined the march the next weekend as it moved through Nottinghamshire, where they were photographed again, striding alongside Farage. We fought our way to the front to walk with him, says Bea. We talked to him for longer that time. Alice adds: I asked him if he thought Article 50 would be extended. He said yes. At that point I still believed we were leaving on March 29. It was a false hope. Last Thursday the girls marched from Fulham to Parliament Square with their mother because we feel betrayed by our Parliament. It was the only time they have skipped school to demonstrate but they say even though they were marked down for an unauthorised absence, it was a sacrifice worth making. It was there, they say, that they found themselves photographed and filmed by Remain-supporting protesters, who posted the footage online along with more accusations that they were being paid. I have to hand it to the Leave Means Leave top brass, they have certainly hired themselves some smoking hot young things, especially these two, was one comment posted online. Another described them as hired young hotties. Bea and I are made of stern stuff so it doesnt bother us but its quite shocking because were still quite young, says Alice. We shouldnt have to put up with it, especially from adults. As for the current Brexit situation, Alice calls it a shambles. We all assumed the law would be upheld and that after two years of negotiation we would leave the EU with or without a deal. No deal is better than a bad deal. For opponents of Brexit, they are clearly an enigma bright young girls who know what they think and are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Feel free to disagree with their political views, if you will, but dont dare accuse them of not being genuine. Lauren Sanchez and her husband Patrick Whitesell have filed for divorce after months of mediation and a day after Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie settled theirs, leaving her free to carry on her romance with the Amazon CEO. Sanchez and Whitesell filed mirroring petitions in Los Angeles on Friday which stipulate the same terms; neither is seeking spousal support and they want joint custody of their kids. They do not have a prenuptial agreement, according to TMZ which saw copies of their petitions, and it remains unclear how they will split their assets. The pair were married for 14 years and have two children together. She also has an 18-year-old son from a previous relationship. Lauren Sanchez and her husband Patrick Whitesell (left) filed their divorce on Friday, a day after her boyfriend Jeff Bezos (right with them in 2016) settled his with his wife MacKenzie Whitesell is on the verge of taking his talent company, Endeavour, public in an IPO. Its last valuation, from a 2018 round of funding, was $4billion. The pair have been working privately with celebrity divorce specialist Laura Wasser for months and have likely ironed out a settlement privately. It comes a day after the Bezos announced they had settled their divorce - the most expensive in history. MacKenzie will walk away with 25 percent of their joint $144billion stake in Amazon, half of what she was legally entitled to. She has also given voting control of her remaining shares to her ex-husband. Her shares alone are still worth between $35billion and $36billion, making her the recipient of the world's largest divorce settlement. Bezos keeps a 12 percent stake in the company - twice that of the next largest shareholder, The Vanguard Group. Now, he and Lauren are free to resume the romance they have been putting on hold for the last four months. Their affair made headlines around the world in January after being exposed by The National Enquirer. Since then, he and the company which owns it have engaged in a very public battle over the means they used to get and publish the story. Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos settled their divorce on Thursday. She walks away with 25 percent of their joint Amazon stake, half of what she is entitled to, worth $35billion This was the statement Jeff issued on his account shortly after the pair reached their agreement Neither he nor Lauren have confirmed that they were in a relationship before their marriages ended. Both say their marriages were over before the affair came to light but have never specified exactly when it started. Text messages showed they were speaking romantically as far back as April last year. THE BEZOS DIVORCE WHAT SHE GETS $35, 832, 724,000 in Amazon shares WHAT HE KEEPS $107, 472, 168,000 in Amazon shares The Washington Post - (Bought for $250million in 2013) Blue Origin WHAT IS LEFT Homes in Seattle, Beverly Hills, Texas, Washington DC, and New York City Advertisement After their affair became public, the pair vowed not to see one another but remained in touch and stayed 'very much in love' according to friends. Neither Patrick nor MacKenzie had spoken until yesterday when MacKenzie made a Twitter account to post the terms of her divorce. 'Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness, and looking forward to the next phase as co-parents and friends. 'Happy to be giving him all of my interest in the Washington Post and Blue Origin and 75% of our Amazon stock plus voting control of my shares to support his continued contributions with the teams of these incredible companies. 'Excited about my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look forward to what comes next,' MacKenzie said. In his statement, Jeff wrote: 'I'm so grateful to all my friends and family for reaching out with encouragement and love. 'It means more than you know. MacKenzie most of all. I'm grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process and am very much looking forward to our new relationship as friends and co-parents. 'In all our work together, MacKenzie's abilities have been on full display. 'She has been an extraordinary partner, ally and mother. 'She is resourceful and brilliant and loving and as our futures unroll, I know I'll always be learning from her.' Shamima Begum's Dutch husband Yago Riedijk, pictured, has said he wants to return home and go back to 'normal life' after serving time in prison Shamima Begum's Dutch husband has said he wants to return home and go back to 'normal life' after serving time in prison. In a new interview, terrorist Yago Riedijk, 27, said that he feels 'regret' over his time in Syria. He married Begum after meeting her in the war-torn country, but just 10 days after their wedding he was jailed by ISIS in Raqqa for seven months for spying charges. Riedijk is currently languishing in a Kurdish jail, as U.S.-backed forces reclaimed the last of the so-called caliphate's territory last month. He said: 'I wish to return home, spend the due time in jail, then go back to normal life with my wife, with no troubles, no wars, and no poverty, just to live. 'For me, I recognised what wrong I did, and I knew ISIS reality. I feel regret, I want to go back to my normal life and improve myself, I would never go back to such error.' After his release from prison, Riedijk was treated for his injuries before being sent to the front line. Last month, he revealed the Begum - who he married when she was just 15 - was the 'perfect wife', describing her as 'young and innocent' and 'very easy to love'. He also shared his heartbreak at the death of his son Jerah, who died from a lung infection in early March at just three weeks old. Last month, he revealed the Begum - who he married when she was just 15 - was the 'perfect wife', describing her as 'young and innocent' and 'very easy to love'. The pair had three children together, but they all died prematurely Jerah was the ISIS fighter's third child with Begum, with all three having died prematurely. The baby died soon after UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid refused to allow Begum into the country and revoked her citizenship. Riedijk shared his sorrow at the death, before saying that his wife would be 'heartbroken and alone'. He added that he found out about Jerah's death when he was told by a journalist, a few days after it happened. Riedijk is being held in a Kurdish detention centre in north east Syria and faces six years behind bars if he returns home. He said: 'I wish to return home, spend the due time in jail, then go back to normal life with my wife, with no troubles, no wars, and no poverty, just to live' The ISIS fighter spoke about his love for his wife in an interview with The Times. He said: 'We got very close very quickly. The perfect wife. She was so young and innocent. It was very easy for me to love her.' Riedijk travelled to Syria to join ISIS in October 2014, after converting to Islam when he fell in love with a Muslim girl at his school when he was a teenager. Local media in Arnhem said he was raised in a 'lovely' middle class family before converting to Islam and leaving for Syria to join ISIS. Riedijk claims that he immediately started doubting whether he had made the right decision, before being wounded by an airstrike. It was as he was recovering from these injuries that he met 15-year-old Begum, introduced by a mutual friend. Sergeant Alexander Blackman has kept every single one of the many thousands of cards and letters he received during the 1,277 days he spent behind bars for shooting a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. The Royal Marine, who was finally released two years ago following this newspapers campaign to free him, believes he might not have survived the dark times in prison without these messages of support. Those letters helped me hold on to my sanity, he says. Thats not something you just throw away not when people have taken time, as so many did, to write such nice things or perhaps include a donation from a modest income or pension. Alexander Blackman, left, pictured with his wife Claire and their labrador, was released from prison after more than 1,200 days behind bars following a massive campaign by the Daily Mail They were proof that people did actually care about me. I had a lot of dark times, particularly when I was first convicted of murder. You just have these dark thoughts going through your head, but then these letters began to arrive daily. It wasnt just my family and friends but strangers who Ive never met or I may never meet who were looking at my situation and saying: Thats not fair. Sgt Blackmans murder conviction was, in truth, a downright disgrace that appalled the nation, particularly when a Mail investigation uncovered vital evidence about the unimaginably stressful conditions under which he served in what has been described as the most dangerous square mile on Earth. The evidence had not been heard at the original court martial in November 2013 when he was jailed for life. Instead he was left to rot in jail, which is where he would be now were it not for the incredible generosity of Daily Mail readers who raised more than 810,000 to fund a legal challenge to his conviction. Sgt Blackman, pictured in October 2001 while with the Royal Marines, was jailed for life in November 2013 after being wrongly convicted of murder The fighting fund paid for a new legal team and psychiatric evaluation, which diagnosed a combat stress condition called an adjustment disorder. His wrongful conviction for murder the first time a British soldier had been convicted of murder on the battlefield was reduced to the lesser offence of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and his sentence was slashed. I first met Sgt Blackman, who was also known as Marine A, when he was finally released from HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire a little less than two years ago. The undiluted joy of his wife Claire, whose tireless campaign to free him touched so many of us, was a sight to behold. That solid relationship (her words) is as evident today. If you put me in the same situation again without Claire I probably wouldnt be here now, says Sgt Blackman, 44. I wouldnt be free for a start because I wouldnt have had anyone as eloquent and passionate as Claire to advocate for me. And I might not be here because I might have done something silly. For me, when I was initially convicted, it was like the rest of my career anything Id done that was good or noteworthy counted for less than nought. I felt I was going to be judged until the end of time on a five-minute video of what happened in Afghanistan in 2011 and that was it. He is referring to the video footage filmed on a head camera worn by a fellow marine that captured him shooting the Taliban fanatic. He was also recorded saying shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***. Until it was made public, Sgt Blackman was regarded as an exemplary marine who possessed impeccable moral courage and progressed impressively through the ranks after joining in 1998. With a tour in Northern Ireland, three tours of Iraq and another in the Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, behind him, he was promoted to Acting Colour Sergeant just three months before he was deployed to Helmand in 2011. When he was convicted of murder he was also dishonourably discharged dismissed with disgrace and it was this that truly devastated him. Sgt Blackman married his wife Claire, ten years ago. He said without her support, he would not be where he is now That just piles on top of you and it becomes very hard. You He shakes his head. When Id had a pretty good career up to that point and had nice things said about me on a regular basis, it became hard to take. It grinds you down, gets on top of you and puts you in a very dark place. But at the end of the day, it came back to not doing anything silly because of Claire. To see how hard she was working for me was extremely humbling, especially knowing her as I do. She hates me taking photographs of her when were on holiday, so to see her in front of news cameras and on television, there for me, was very warming. You say when you marry until death us do part and in sickness and in health all of those phrases, but until you find yourself on the rocky side of the road, you dont know if thats going to be the case. To have been in a situation where youre on the receiving end of so much care and love is not a bad place to be. He looks fondly at Claire, who smiles warmly. They married ten years ago and she says they are, quite simply, two legs of a pair of trousers. There are no shadows between us. Theres implicit faith and trust. Its just easy. But we wouldnt be here without the Daily Mail and your readers contributions and support. Here is a picture-postcard, centuries-old cottage in Somerset. It is the sort of rural dream that sustained Sgt Blackman during those testing times in prison. He is an active man who likes the outdoors. During his first 18 months of incarceration in the austere, Victorian Lincoln Prison, he didnt see so much as a blade of grass. Of the 14 marines who served with Sgt Blackman in Nad Ali - more than half have had a mental health disorder diagnosed When they moved here eight months ago, Sergeant Blackman resolved to draw a line under the past and have a fresh start. To do so he finally decided to write his autobiography Marine A: My Toughest Battle which will be serialised in the Daily Mail next week. The gripping narrative is part love story and part Sgt Blackmans experiences as a Royal Marine. Writing it was at times hard, he says, and it is, in parts, hard to read, particularly his account of the sheer brutality of war and the impossible pressures our soldiers faced in Afghanistan. Of the 14 marines who served with Sgt Blackman in the Nad Ali (North) district an area a Royal Marine padre was warned not to visit because it was simply too dangerous more than half have had a mental health disorder of some sort diagnosed. Whether thats full-blown PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or something similar to mine, an adjustment disorder, its... Again, he shakes his head. I can still be hard on myself about what happened but I think Ive apologised enough for my actions. Do I still regret what I did? Yes. Its had a marked effect on Claires and my life. I miss the Marines. Its hard not to. You work with some exceptional people. Its a fantastic organisation but He shrugs. It is what it is. Understanding that I had this adjustment disorder when what happened happened, helped. It was very specific to me being in that situation in that place at that time. Once I was away from that situation, my mental health reverted to an even keel. Thats not to say that somewhere down the line I couldnt have further mental health issues but at the moment, touch wood, Im fine. Sgt Blackman is a strong-minded, strong-bodied man. You sense it is not easy for him to confess to frailty of any sort. Sgt Blackman, pictured on Patrol in Afghanistan, had been stationed in one of the most dangerous places in earth When someone has been terribly injured perhaps lost a limb its easy to recognise the potential for mental health issues because you can see their physical injury, he says. You know they have been involved in a terrible traumatic experience that has undoubtedly changed the rest of their life. If, however, someone has experienced a situation where for the want of a step right or a step left they might have died, it may not have an instant effect but, if dwelt on over time, it can have a cumulative effect that, arguably, does as much damage to someone as a visible injury. I know people friends who have taken their own lives. They might not have shown symptoms when they were serving or when they left. It might have been a slow decline over such a long time that people didnt twig something was wrong. That has a tragic effect on the family that a person they love got to the stage where they see that as the only option. I found that heartbreaking. In prison I encountered many former service personnel, some of whom were in there because of aspects of their service that affected their mental health later in life. I was in there with one guy whod murdered his partner. After hed been incarcerated he was diagnosed with PTSD. Hed done a fair old chunk of service including the Falklands. That was extremely violent. The guys were fighting at night in trenches in difficult terrain. They were outnumbered and being asked to do a very difficult job attacking fortified positions is never easy. This guy struggled to deal with the things he had to do out there, but mental health issues werent ever raised then. When he talked to me about his situation, it was with the deepest regret. He said, I cant forgive myself for what Ive done despite the fact I might, some day, get out of prison. Ive killed someone Ive loved. You can see from the overwhelming sadness on Sergeant Blackmans face that he feels for this former fellow inmate deeply. Even as he charts the terrible pressures of modern warfare in his autobiography, he doesnt dwell on the gory particulars he witnessed of fellow servicemen killed in Afghanistan. The families dont need to know, he says. He was always aware that the marines who served under him were someones son, someones brother, someones partner. There are aspects of my military service actions taken fully within the rules of engagement that are arguably nastier than the incident I was convicted for, he says. I dont think its helpful to dwell on those dark aspects. I put them behind me. I felt it was something that happened in a part of my life that unfortunately ended earlier than Id have liked. And heres the rub for Sergeant Blackman. Despite his ordeal, Sgt Blackman, pictured here in 1998 aged 24, still misses the Royal Marines You always realise, no matter how you leave the service, its going to end at some time but its not easy. When Im sat with 40 Commando at, say, a birthday dinner, I see my peer group and the level theyre at now. If I was still there, thats where Id be so yes, theres a tinge of sadness not to be part of that any more. It was hard. He says this with such force, you know exactly how hard it was. They were living in their former marital home in Taunton when Sergeant Blackman was first freed. He busied himself with DIY and a puppy their labrador, Dave to keep occupied, but once Claire went back to her job in public relations for the NHS, the days were still too long. Once the euphoria of release starts to fade and youre not busy, you think: What can I do to fill my day? You feel at a loose end. Youre used to being seen to be achieving to be doing well in the Marines. Its an alpha male environment. Everybody is pushing to be the best they can. I found myself over-analysing things. Like, Id be laying some flooring in the bathroom and Id be halfway across the floor when Claire would come home and say: Oh, that looks good. Id say: Im not happy with it, theres a slight gap. The next morning Id tear it all up and re-lay it. Ten months after his release, Sergeant Blackman began to work for ExFor+, a new scheme to support veterans in adjusting to civilian life and finding work. It was set up by former Royal Marine Simon Adams, 35, who struggled to cope after being medically discharged in 2011. Sergeant Blackman says the work gives him a sense of purpose. When I look at my time in prison, some of the most rewarding parts were when I was working for the education department, helping guys with their maths and English. I got several of them to the point where they were able to achieve a GCSE or equivalent in those subjects. That was gratifying. There are guys out there who struggle with the transition to civilian life. Military life is very ordered. They do so much for you. Everything is provided healthcare, somewhere to live so adjusting can be a struggle. Im there for moral support. Sergeant Blackman completed training on careers advice and guidance shortly after moving into the cottage. Im now helping veterans find employment if theyve got mental health issues or suffered with substance abuse, or if theyre homeless. Im also there once theyve found a job if they want to chat to someone who has shared their life experiences. Im able to use examples from my service when Im mentoring them. You know, though, that however rewarding his work, given a chance Sergeant Blackman would be back in the Marines serving his country in a flash. I was proud of being in the Marines, he says. Now it is Claire who shakes her head. Im a black-and-white person. Id have loved to think we could have got the whole thing overturned because that, for me, was the only right outcome. She looks at her husband. But this time next month it will be two years since you came home. Life has moved on. Its only writing the book that has taken us back to that place. Here, weve found where we want to be and were enjoying our time together. With which, she throws open the door to let the labrador out. Birdsong fills the room on this gloriously sunny spring day and you cant help but feel they have the sort of happy ending for which each and every person who wrote to Sergeant Blackman during those dark times wished. Marine A by Alexander Blackman is published by Mirror Books, price 20. To order a copy for 16 (20% discount), visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640, p&p is free on orders over 15. Spend 30 on books and get FREE premium delivery. Offer valid until 16/04/2019. Ray Hadley has been hit with fresh accusations of bullying by an experienced co-worker, weeks after an initial complaint was made about the 2GB shock jock. One of the station's most senior members of staff members lodged the complaint with 2GB management on Thursday. The new allegations follow accusations made by a junior staff member at the end of March that the host bullied and intimidated him. There is a chance Hadley could be hit with similar accusations by a third colleague, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Ray Hadley has been hit with fresh accusations of bullying by a co-worker, weeks after an initial complaint was made about the 2GB shock jock Hadley's accusers remain anonymous amid fears they could face repercussions if identified. The radio host is accused of calling the accusers names and demeaning them in separate accounts of the bullying. Some claim they would cry almost on a daily basis. Thursday's long-term 2GB employee and complainant continues to work for the station and was in the Sydney studio during the week while Hadley has been broadcasting out of Queensland. In 2013, Hadley reached a court settlement where he was forced to pay a former staffer a significant amount of money after they secretly recorded a tirade. The second investigation came within a fortnight of the first and the day after former 2GB staffers Chris Bowen and Andrew Moore detailed alleged bullying on ABC's 7.30. The junior staff member who lodged their complaint on March 25 has reportedly been on leave and is seeing a psychologist. One of the station's more senior staff members lodged the complaint with 2GB management on Thursday Adam Lang, 2GB chief executive officer, defended the station's handling of the situation on Friday. 'Claims and complaints received are handled by way of a confidential process between the person complaining, the person being investigated and the company,' Mr Lang said. 'Out of fairness and sensitivity to those involved, it is not something that is disclosed outside those personnel.' Mr Lang also responded to claims the third alleged complainant was worried about coming forward due to Hadley being 'close mates' with program director Michael Thompson. 'I reject that. Michael Thompson has only ever acted in the best interests of the station and its staff ... at all times,' Mr Lang said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted 2GB for comment. The brother of a slain Islamic State terrorist has vowed to care for the orphaned children of Khaled Sharrouf. Ahmed Elomar is the brother of Mohamed Elomar who travelled to Syria with Sharrouf to join Islamic State in 2013. Mohamed and Sharrouf were both been killed but Sharrouf's three children are now stranded in a refugee camp in Syria. Hoda was just 11 when she and her siblings were smuggled out of Australia and taken to Syria by her father notorious Islamic State terrorist Khaled Sharrouf. Last month Hoda, who is now 16, her sister Zaynab, 17, and eight-year-old brother Hamza emerged in the Kurdish-controlled Al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria. Now Elomar, who knew the children when they lived in Sydney, is fighting to get the children home. For a long time Ahmed Elomar (pictured) believed Hoda Sharrouf and her siblings were dead The orphaned children (pictured) of notorious terrorist Khaled Sharrouf have been trying to return to Australia (Zaynab, top left; Hoda, top right; Abdullah, centre, and Humzeh) 'I was surprised they were still alive because I thought they had all died. I was happy,' he told The Australian. Elomar was close with Khaled Sharrouf and his family. They were often at Elomar's two hectare compound in Sydney, having barbecues or riding horses. The 36-year-old said he was surprised the children had not yet been brought back to Australia. He said his family would do whatever it took to help the children settle back into life in Australia. When the children will be able to return remains unclear, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he would not put lives at risk to extract them from the Syrian conflict zone. He told reporters in Canberra if Sharrouf's family can get out of Syria and to an Australian embassy, they will likely be given passports to return. 'When they might be in a position to return to Australia, we will cooperate with that process.' Mr Morrison said he was working with the Red Cross to get the children out of a Kurdish-controlled refugee camp. The orphaned children (pictured) of notorious terrorist Khaled Sharrouf could be back on Australian soil in a matter of weeks (Zaynab, top left; Hoda, top right; Humzeh, bottom centre; Abdullah, bottom right; Zarqawi, bottom left) Security and identity checks would then be undertaken. 'We would follow the normal processes for issuing of travel documents after all those other matters have been addressed,' he said. 'Where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation - particularly as innocent children - we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf.' Zaynab, 17, is heavily pregnant with her third child and at risk of dying in the Al-Hawl camp. 'I want to see my brother grow up as a normal kid,' Hoda told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'I want to see my nieces with a happy life with good treatment. I want to see my sister give birth safely.' Sharrouf and his two eldest sons, Abdullah and Zarqawi, were killed in a US air strike on Syria in 2017. The children's mother died of a medical condition in 2015 after following Sharrouf to the Middle East with their five children. The president of the Chicago Police Union has called for Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to resign, claiming she has displayed a trend not to pursue felony charges. Kevin Graham said the decision to drop all charges against Smollett was the 'tip of the iceberg' for local authorities upset with Foxx, noting that the city's Fraternal Order of Police took a formal vote to show the group's lack of support for her. 'We're saying: this is enough,' Graham said during an appearance on 'America's Newsroom' on Friday. 'We're asking for her to step down, the FOP in Chicago took a vote of no confidence and so did the police chiefs around Cook County.' Foxx responded with a statement that she would continue serving the people who elected her through the end of her term, and might seek re-election in November of 2020. Chicago Police Union president Kevin Graham has called for Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx (right) to resign, citing what he calls a trend of hers not to pursue felony charges. Graham said whatever role Foxx may have had in the city dropping 16 felony charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett (left) is the 'tip of the iceberg' and that local police do not support Foxx 'I was elected by the people of Cook County to pursue community safety, prevent harm, and uphold the values of fairness and equal justice,' Foxx said in the statement. 'Im proud of my record in doing that, and I plan to do so through the end of my term and, if the people so will it, into the future.' Although the city's decision to drop 16 felony charges against Smollett may have been a breaking point, Graham said there's much more to his issues with Foxx, who he said has a history of failing to pursue serious charges. 'We have had problems getting felony charges approved for battery to police officers,' Graham said. 'I've had officers, in my office, where their kneecaps were broken, where their fingertips were nearly bit off, and we can't get felony charges approved on this.' Graham added: '[W]e'd like to have her step down and have someone in there who is actually going to prosecute cases. We want her to do her job.' Although the city's decision to drop 16 felony charges against Smollett may have been a breaking point, Graham said there's much more to his issues with Foxx, who he said has a history of failing to pursue serious charges. Graham is pictured at a news conference on Thursday where he announced the city's Fraternal Order of Police took a formal vote to show the group's lack of support for Foxx Meanwhile, Chicago attorney Saani Mohammed has called for a special prosecutor to investigate whether smollett should be re-charged with staging an attack on himself and if Foxx interfered with the case. According to court documents, Mohammed, who until recently worked in Foxx's office, wrote that a prosecutor should investigate if Foxx 'acted to impede the investigation concealed evidence, and/or intentionally misled the public'. The filing also states that Foxx improperly 'used her position to intervene in the investigation', after meeting with one of Smollett's relatives before the charges were dropped, according to the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, Chicago attorney Saani Mohammed has called for a special prosecutor to investigate whether smollett should be re-charged with staging an attack on himself and if Foxx (pictured) interfered with the case The filing came as the city confirmed Chicago will sue Smollett for the costs of police overtime spent investigating his claims that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack - which prosecutors say were false. The lawsuit was being prepared after the 36-year-old Empire star refused a demand by the city for $130,000, said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Department of Law. He said: 'Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019. 'The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook Country.' On Monday some 300 people, including off-duty Chicago police officers, took to the streets to protest, calling on Foxx to resign over her handling of the case. Foxx recused herself from the case before charges were filed, citing conversations she had with one of his relatives. She has continually defended her actions and those of her prosecutors. On Monday some 300 people, including off-duty Chicago police officers, took to the streets to protest, calling on Foxx to resign over her handling of the Smollett case. Protesters are shown Foxx recused herself from the case before charges were filed, citing conversations she had with one of his relatives. She has continually defended her actions and those of her prosecutors. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police and supporters of the group protest against Foxx outside of the county administration building on Monday Mayor Rahm Emanuel condemned the dropping of 16 felony charges against Smollett and has demanded the actor foot the bill for the investigation Smollett's lawyer said there was no doubt that the brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo attacked him, but no motive has emerged Smollett, who is black and gay, told police on January 29 that two apparent supporters of President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. He claimed the attackers did so while yelling racist and homophobic insults, including 'Empire f****t' and 'Empire n*****' as well as 'This is MAGA country.' But on February 15, unconfirmed reports emerged suggesting Smollett might have staged the attack to save his job with help from two Nigerian brothers that he reportedly knew as extras on Empire. The actor was charged in February with staging the incident himself and filing a false police report. Investigators said they believe Smollett may have paid Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo $3,500 to assault him in the orchestrated attack. Then, last week prosecutors dropped all 16 felony charges issued by a grand jury against Smollett, infuriating police and outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Prosecutors said they stood by the accusation but that an agreement by Smollett to forfeit his $10,000 bond was a just outcome. The case file was sealed by a Chicago judge, which critics suggested was evidence of a cover-up. Emmanuel's law chief then sent the Empire actor a letter demanding he cover the costs of the investigation in the attack. The letter dated March 28, demanded Smollett pay $130,106.15 to the city of Chicago within seven days. Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot could reverse any legal action after she's sworn in on May 20. On Friday, Smollett's lawyer Mark Geragos replied to the city's letter seeking payment for the costs of the police investigation by claiming its threats were 'malicious' and amounted to harassment. In the letter, Geragos almost dared the city to proceed with filing a lawsuit and said that if it did, his team would want to depose Mayor Emanuel, the superintendent of the Chicago police department, the Nigerian brothers who say he paid them to attack them and their lawyers. The letter reads: 'Your letter constitutes part of a course of conduct intended to harass and irreparably injure Mr.Smollett. Mr. Smollett will not be intimidated into paying the demanded sum.' Smollett was written out of the final two episodes of Empire this season after he was charged with staging the hate crime. Fox executives have not said if he will return should the show be renewed for another year. Michael Hayes, 70, was dramatically named last month by a witness 'instructed by the head of the IRA' as one of the men responsible for the blasts which left 21 dead A terrorist suspected of carrying out the Birmingham atrocity remains unrepentant over his role in the IRA boastfully describing it as the 'greatest guerrilla army the world has ever known'. Michael Hayes, 70, was dramatically named last month by a witness 'instructed by the head of the IRA' as one of the men responsible for the blasts which left 21 dead. But Hayes last night said of the bombings: 'I didn't do it. I don't care who believes it or not. 'I'll probably go down in history as the perpetrator but I'm not. I know it and those people that know me know I wouldn't do it,' he told ITV News. The grandfather, who lives alone in Dublin, praised the IRA as the best guerrilla army ever and said it should not have laid down its arms. He told the Daily Mail that West Midlands Police had visited him in the run-up to the inquest hearings. Retired Hayes, who worked as a toolsetter in Birmingham at the time of the blasts, said he has paid little attention to the inquest. He admitted he had been an explosives expert but insisted he 'did not build' the bombs in Birmingham. He said it was inexcusable to have left devices in two pubs packed with customers and claimed he was 'horrified' by the loss of life. He repeated an earlier claim that he had defused a third device left on Birmingham's Hagley Road when the extent of the carnage became clear. Hayes said: 'The war is over the fighting is over. But I never surrendered. I would never surrender. I would sooner die fighting, but I'm an old man now. We should have finished the war win, lose or draw.' In an interview with the BBC in 2017 the father-of-three claimed the Birmingham bombers had planned to give a warning half an hour before the blasts, but lost crucial time because two phone boxes were out of order or occupied. The eventual phone call was received just minutes before the first explosion. But Hayes last night said of the bombings: 'I didn't do it. I don't care who believes it or not' (Pictured, the Mulberry Bush after the explosion in Birmingham city centre) Hayes said only: 'The phones were checked that day.' He was named by the witness alongside Seamus McLoughlin, Mick Murray and James Gavin all now dead. Asked if he wished to apologise to the families of victims, he said: 'I absolutely and sincerely commiserate with them and I will take full collective responsibility for all IRA operations. 'I don't excuse the war in England. I can't it was fighting behind enemy lines. But to kill civilians...that's unadulterated murder.' 'Now we want justice': Families of 21 murdered Birmingham pub bombing victims demand police arrest IRA terrorists after inquest finds they were unlawfully killed By Richard Spillett, crime correspondent for MailOnline Families of the 21 victims of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings demanded their loved ones' killers are brought to justice after an inquest found they were murdered by the IRA. Two massive detonations caused what one witness described as 'pure carnage', ripping apart the packed Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs on the night of November 21 1974, killing 21 and injuring 220 more. A Provisional IRA member had made a call to the Birmingham Post and Mail around 8.11pm on the evening of the attacks, but the first bomb went off just seven minutes later. An inquest jury today found unanimously that the warning call was inadequate and the victims were unlawfully killed. Speaking afterwards, Julie Hambleton, who lost her older sister in the bombings, said: 'We now demand of Dave Thompson, the chief constable of West Midlands Police, to tie his shoe laces, black his shoes and go out and do the job because we've heard new evidence that two of the murderers are out there. She demanded officers 'communicate with the police in Ireland, the police in Belfast, the PSNI, and bring those responsible finally to justice.' Julie Hambleton, whose sister was killed in the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974, today demanded the IRA killers behind the attacks were brought to justice The families want the bombers still who are still alive to face charges over the killings Family members of those who died visited a memorial to their loved ones after the inquest An IRA member who gave evidence to the inquest named four men as being behind it, one of whom is still alive and living in Ireland. He was accused of protecting another man linked to the plot, who is also still alive in Northern Ireland. Ms Hambleton added: 'Twenty one of our loved ones went out one evening to meet friends and family and they never saw the light of day again. 'Today the inquest has found they were unlawfully killed by murder.' 'Whilst the police officers of the day can't be questioned in any great detail there is no way that the people of this country and the people of our community of Birmingham and our families, will allow the senior police officers to get off with letting these murderers, two of whom are still alive, get away with their continued liberty.' Leslie Thomas QC, representing 10 of the bereaved families, said after the verdicts: 'We just hope, in light of the jury's unequivocal finding that the IRA murdered 21 innocent people, that the West Midlands Police will now redouble their efforts in terms of those bombers who may still be alive to bring them to justice.' This evening, police said there was insufficient evidence to charge the three men named as bombers who have since died. In regard to the man who is still alive, they said the investigation remains ongoing. The jury also found there were no failings, errors or omissions by West Midlands Police's response to the bomb warning call. They also found there was no tip-off to the force, giving advanced warning the blasts were going to happen. The blasts at the Mulberry Bush (shown) and the Tavern in the Town killed 21 people in 1974 A body is carried from the Mulberry Bush. A jury today found the victims were unlawfully killed Following the verdicts, Sir Peter Thornton QC said: 'The atrocities of the night of Thursday 21 November 1974 are now etched in the history of Birmingham. 'Those dreadful events will never be forgotten because the people of Birmingham will never forget the 21 lives that were tragically lost.' Michael Patrick Reilly (pictured), who is alive in Northern Ireland, has previously been named as a bomber. An IRA witness at the inquests was accused of covering for him. Reilly has denied involvement He added: 'I wish to express my condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones in these terrible bombings. 'I wish to express my admiration and respect for the dignity in which you have conducted yourselves during the difficult time of the inquests.' The inquests, at the civil courts building in Birmingham, came about after years of campaigning by relatives of the dead for a full account into what happened that night. The pub bombings were the deadliest post-Second World War attack on the British mainland, until the 7/7 London terrorist attacks in 2005. The conclusion to the inquests comes after an ex-IRA member gave evidence in which he named four of those behind the attacks and gave the nicknames of two others, apparently with the blessing of IRA leaders. The anonymous witness, himself a convicted bomber, said Seamus McLoughlan was the commander of the Birmingham IRA at the time and selected the targets, while Mick Murray and Michael Hayes were part of the bombing team and another man, James Gavin, was involved. Murray, McLoughlan and Gavin have all since died and the man, named in court only as 'Witness O', claimed that Hayes has protection from prosecution following the peace process. During the inquests, Michael Hayes was named as one of four IRA terrorists behind the 1974 Birmingham bombing. He is the only one of the four still alive. He apologised for his role in the attack on TV in 2017, but is reportedly protected by the Good Friday Agreement A convicted IRA bomber, who was not identified, told the inquests into the victims' deaths that Mick Murray (left) and James Gavin (right) were also involved The IRA witness was accused of protecting another man previously linked to the bombings, Michael Patrick Reilly, who is also still alive and living in Northern Ireland. Reilly has previously denied involvement. The witness added that two other men, who he identified as 'Dublin Dave' and 'Socks' had also been involved, but that he did not know either man's name. In 1975, six men - the Birmingham Six - were convicted over the blasts but acquitted 16 years later. The attacks remain Britain's largest unsolved terror crime. Not enough evidence to charge three 'bombers' who have since died, say police, but investigation into living man remains ongoing West Midlands Police released a long statement after the inquest verdicts, revealing details of the investigation. Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: 'The inquest heard from a man, called Witness O, claiming to be from the IRA. He named three men as the bombers who are now dead: Mick Murray, James Gavin and Seamus McLoughlin. 'I cannot say whether these three men were or were not the Birmingham pub bombers. What I can now say is that all three men were interviewed and investigated. 'Seamus McLoughlin was interviewed by officers in September 1973, and again in November 1974 but it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him for any offences. 'In June 1993 McLaughlin was interviewed in Ireland during the re-investigation of the pub bombings known as Operation Review. He denied any involvement or advance knowledge of the pub bombings. Chief Constable Dave Thompson said today that the investigation remains ongoing 'James Gavin was arrested at his home in Bordesley Green in January 1975. When interviewed by officers, he refused to answer any questions. Again there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. 'In June 1981 Gavin was convicted of an IRA-related murder in Dublin and sentenced to life imprisonment. 'During Operation Review he was interviewed in prison but declined to answer any questions about the pub bombings saying that it was in the past. 'Mick Murray was arrested in November 1974. He denied any involvement with the pub bombings and, once again, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. 'Murray was charged and convicted of two conspiracy charges relating to other offences and was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the first, and nine years to run concurrently for the second. 'In 1993, when contacted by Operation Review officers, he refused to be interviewed or answer any questions. 'Witness O also claimed Michael Hayes was one of the bombers. I can make no comment on him or any other individual because, as I have said on many occasions, the investigation into the pub bombings continues. 'Our approach is when and if significant new information comes to light we scrutinise it to see if anyone can be brought to justice. 'I am prepared to say that we are following a number of further enquiries.' Mr Thompson added: 'I remain determined to do all we can to bring those responsible to justice.' Who are the men named as the Birmingham bombers by an IRA witness to the inquests? James Gavin James Gavin, also known as Jimmy Kelly, was found guilty of possessing explosives after the original Birmingham bombings trials. He was given one year in jail, but because of time on remand he walked free. Gavin was said to be from County Armagh in 1963 and joined the British Army. He deserted in 1964 in West Germany. After the Birmingham bombings he was jailed for the murder of another Republican in 1975. He died in 2002, a free man. Advertisement Mick Murray Mick Murray has previously been said to be second-in-command of the Birmingham IRA unit. After the attacks he was questioned alongside the Birmingham Six but was never charged with murder. He was convicted of possessing explosives and later sentenced to 12 years for separate terrorist offences. Throughout his trial he refused to say a single word because he refused to acknowledge the court. On his release, he was welcomed back into the IRA and remained a member until his death in 1999. Advertisement Michael Hayes Michael Hayes is a a married father of two in his 70s still living free in Dublin. In 2017, he told a BBC interview that he accepted 'collective responsibility' for the Birmingham bombing but did not know who planted the devices. He was questioned by police following the interview but has not faced action. Today's evidence in the inquests suggests he may have been granted immunity during the peace process. Advertisement Seamus McLoughlin Seamus McLoughlin was known as 'Belfast Jimmy' in 1970s. On the day of the Birmingham blasts he was on an Aer Lingus flight from Birmingham to Dublin with the remains of James McDade, the IRA man who had blown himself up with a bomb in Coventry. When he died in Ireland in 2014 masked men fired shot over his coffin, which was covered in the Irish flag outside a relative's home in the Ardoyne district of North Belfast. Advertisement An IRA atrocity and 44 years of heartbreak for victims' families Thursday, November 21, 1974: Bombings in two Birmingham pubs leave 21 dead and 220 injured. They are said to be revenge for the death of IRA member James McDade, who blew himself up trying to plant explosives in Coventry. Hours later, five men are arrested in Heysham, Lancashire, and a sixth is arrested in Birmingham. November 24: Patrick Hill, Hugh Callaghan, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny, Gerard Hunter and Billy Power are charged with murder. June/August 1975: Trial at Lancaster Crown Court. 'The Six' are sentenced to life imprisonment. The Birmingham Six outside the Old Bailey in London, after their convictions were quashed. Left-right: John Walker, Paddy Hill. Hugh Callaghan, Chris Mullen MP, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter and William Power. October 1985: TV's World In Action questions forensic tests. A book is then published claiming three unnamed men were behind the bombings. January 1987: The home secretary refers case to the Court of Appeal. The appeal is later dismissed. A 1990 TV drama then names four 'real' bombers. March 14, 1991: The Six are freed by the Court of Appeal after 16 years in prison. October 1993: Perjury case against three former West Midlands police involved in the charging of the Birmingham Six is dismissed. June 1, 2016: Senior coroner for Birmingham rules to resume the inquests. The original hearings were not continued after jailing of The Six. September 29, 2018: Families lose their legal battle to name those responsible for the bombings in the inquests February 25, 2019: The inquest into the 21 deaths opens in Birmingham. March 22, 2019: IRA member names Seamus McLoughlan, Mick Murray, Michael Hayes and James Gavin as the bombers. April 5, 2019: Inquest finds the victims were unlawfully killed and a botched IRA warning call contributed to their deaths. Advertisement Who were the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings? The victims in the Mulberry Bush pub, in the base of the Rotunda, were: - Trevor Thrupp, 47, and a rail guard was a married father of three, who loved taking his son and daughters on holidays to Sandy Bay in Devon and Great Yarmouth. He had an 'infectious' laugh, loved Laurel and Hardy, The Goons and especially Spike Milligan. 'His love for his family is still with us today and always will be,' his son Paul Thrupp said. - John Rowlands, 46, was a qualified electrician and worked as a foreman at Land Rover in Tyseley, Birmingham. A married father of two sons, he served with the Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War, and the Mulberry Bush was his favourite pub. His youngest son Paul Rowlands remembered him as 'a bit of a card, a joker' and a 'good dad', while his oldest child Stephen said they lost 'a great friend' when he died. Trevor Thrupp (left) and John Rowlands (right) - William Michael 'Mick' Beasley, 30, was a stock controller at a motor company, whose father had died four months before the bombings. He led a quiet but full and active life, collected coins, and had a keen interest in film and cinema. Mick owned an 8mm camera, and was a regular in the projector room of the Odeon in New Street. The night of the bombing, the wife of the Mulberry Bush landlord, Mary Jones, recalled he had found a lucky Cornish pixie charm on the night bus into town, and gave it to her. She survived the bombing, and told how she had kept it ever since. - John Clifford 'Cliff' Jones, 51, was a railway station postal worker, and a father-of-four. As a soldier with the Durham Light Infantry in the Second World War, he survived being machine-gunned in combat in 1945, and spent weeks convalescing in a Carlisle hospital. He was a keen gardener and the Cliff Jones Memorial Trophy is still awarded to Birmingham's best kept allotment, his son George Jones said. Mr Jones said his father was ' cruelly robbed' of the chance to live and see his family grow. Michael Beasley (left) and John Clifford Jones (right) - James Caddick, 56, was a porter at nearby Birmingham markets, a divorcee, and father-of-two. A Mulberry Bush regular, Mr Caddick was stood with his friends, Mr Bodman, Mr Thrupp, Mr Rowlands, Mr Beasley, and Mr Jones in their usual spot at the end of the bar - just feet from where the bomb was planted. - Father-of-three Stan Bodman, 47, an electrician, was 'larger than life' and 'very popular', his son Paul Bodman said. An ex-RAF wartime serviceman, Stan told his son there was nothing to fear from IRA bombs, as they were not 'military or political' targets. 'We certainly got that wrong,' he said. 'The carnage of that night will never be forgotten and as a family we hope the inquest will finally bring some answers to what really happened on that devastating night,' added Mr Bodman. James Caddick (left) and Stan Bodman (right) - Charles Gray, 44, was a mechanic at British Leyland in Longbridge, and had never been in the Mulberry Bush before the night the bomb went off. He never missed a day's work, and those who knew him said he had 'an easy charm and a slight air of mystery'. His family said he was a 'lovely, quiet man' and a 'gentleman, mild-mannered and agreeable', always known for being well-dressed. - Pamela Palmer, 19, was an office worker, who used to take her three-year-old niece shopping. Her older sister Pauline Curzon said: 'She was a lovely sister. She helped me in numerous ways. 'Her companionship and kindness is a memory I treasure.' She was there with her boyfriend, Derek Blake, who was in intensive care for days afterwards and lost a leg in the blast. Charles Gray (left) and Pamela Palmer (right) - Walking past and caught in the blast, outside, were Paul Davies, 17, and Bruce Lee fan, Neil 'Tommy' Marsh who, at 16 years old, was the youngest victim. Mr Marsh's cousin, Danielle Fairweather-Tipping, said Tommy and Paul had a 'very strong' bond, and enjoyed the 'carefree life' of teenagers. She said: 'His death has been a devastation to our family and words really can never explain this.' Victim Paul Davies Mr Davies supported Aston Villa, was 'a massive Bruce Lee fan' and had already earned his karate black belt before his 17th birthday, son Paul Bridgewater said. It was the son he never got to meet, as he died three months before Paul was born, but 'I feel his spirit still lives on it me'. - Thomas 'Tom' Chaytor, 28, born in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, was a retail assistant at Willoughby Tailoring and part-time barman. Adopted as a child, he was a divorcee and father-of-two, who three weeks before the bombs had started a job on the bar at the Tavern to earn extra money, his then fiance Susan Hands said. He died of his injuries on November 27, a week after the blast. - Maxine Hambleton, 18, was a shop assistant at Miss Selfridge in Lewis's department store, in the city centre. She was a 'beautiful soul', her sister Julie Hambleton said, and died not knowing she had been the first in her family to earn a place reading law at university. Maxine Hambleton was one of 11 people killed in the Tavern in the Town pub - Jane Davis, 17, who had her eyes set on being a nuclear physicist, was with her co-worker and close friend Miss Hambleton in the Tavern in the Town when she was killed. She and Miss Hambleton had gone on a coming-of-age grape-picking holiday to the vineyards of France earlier that year, and she sent a postcard home describing how 'my back is bloody killing me'. Her family remembered their 'loyal' and 'much-loved' daughter, sister and friend, who had the chance of being a mother and a wife 'taken from her'. - Anne Hayes, 19, was another retail assistant working at Miss Selfridge, who was in the Tavern that night. She lived with her parents, and had been an apprentice hairdresser, before taking up retail. - Marilyn Nash, 22, was a supervisor at Miss Selfridge, and was out with her friend, Miss Hayes when she died. Jane Davies (left) and Marilyn Paula Nash (right) - Eugene Reilly, 23, was a Deep Purple and Black Sabbath fan and his younger sister Mary recalled seeing him play air guitar to his LPs in the lounge of the family home at weekends. Shy, but 'very sociable', he a was a keen roller skater, and went to the rink several times a week. He was out with his married younger brother, that night, in the Tavern. - Desmond Reilly, 21, had invited his brother into the city, to celebrate news his wife Elaine was pregnant - though he would not live to see his son's birth. Their family said: 'Eugene never had the opportunity to get married and have children, and Desmond never got to meet his son - part of us died with them on the day they died.' Eugene Thomas Reilly (left) and Desmond Reilly (right) - Stephen Whalley, 21, was a quantity surveyor in town on a date arranged through the New Musical Express (NME's) lonely hearts club page. In a statement read to the inquest, his elderly mother said: 'While I would love the world to know about my son Stephen, and the lovely young man he was, it is just too difficult and painful for me to recall any memories I have because it is too traumatic to remember. 'Stephen was our only child, who had his whole life ahead of him.' - Mr Whalley's date was Lynn Bennett, 18, a punch-card operator, and the two died together in the Tavern in the Town. She was 'very petite and looked great in miniskirts and platforms', her sister Claire Luckman said. A passionate Birmingham City Football Club, her grieving father never set foot in the ground again after her death. Stephen Whalley (pictured, left, in childhood) was 21 when he died. Right: Lynn Bennett - Maureen Roberts, 20, was a wages clerk at Dowding and Mills, and was due to be engaged to her boyfriend, Fred Bromley. An only child, with a 'happy-go-lucky' side, she also had a caring nature, buying Christmas presents for neighbours. Mr Bromley said she had striking auburn hair, 'the colour of gold, when the sun shone on it'. 'Everyone would remark on it wherever she went,' he added. - James 'Jimmy' Craig, 34, was an automotive plant worker and keen amateur footballer who once had a trial with Birmingham City Football Club. He was the last victim of the bombings, dying on December 9, 1974, of injuries he sustained in the Tavern. Jimmy Craig, who could neither read nor write, was only in the pub that night to meet a girl who had written to him, making the arrangement. His brother, Bill Craig, said he would never have been at the Tavern, had the letter remained unread but his brother had asked their mother to read it for him. A judge has finally thrown out a Taliban bombmakers landmark claim for compensation from the Ministry of Defence, it has emerged. Serdar Mohammed had been unreachable in Afghanistan for three years and it was unclear if he was even still alive. But British lawyers continued to fight his case, chasing compensation from the Government over his detention in the Afghan war. Now the High Court has dismissed the long-running case pursued by law firm Leigh Day, citing Mohammeds baleful history of contact with his solicitors. The Royal Military Police were also investigating the bombmakers complaints as part of Operation Northmoor an inquiry into alleged abuses by British troops in Afghanistan. Mr Justice Turner (pictured), has ruled: I am satisfied the claimants failures are serious and significant' But last night sources confirmed that complaint had been thrown out as well. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson accused the convicted Taliban fighter of abusing the court process and wasting more than 1million of taxpayers money. We have always been clear that our troops were right to detain Serdar Mohammed, a Taliban commander involved in the production of explosive devices on an industrial scale, he said. This case should never have gone on as long as it did. By failing either to engage with or withdraw his claim, Mohammed has abused the court process for more than three years and wasted taxpayers money. Leigh Day, which claimed the MoD had breached Mohammeds human rights by detaining him for too long, was forced to admit at a High Court hearing last year it had not heard from him in a long time. At that hearing Mr Justice Leggatt issued an order giving the lawyers an extension to find their client, also known as Mullah Gulmad, or the case would be struck out. Now another judge, Mr Justice Turner, has ruled: I am satisfied the claimants failures are serious and significant and the reasons given for his repeated inability consistently to engage with his legal advisers are inadequate and lack sufficient detail adequately to assist the court. Throwing out the case, he said there was not a reasonable explanation for the repeated delays and noted his lack of initiative could threaten the progress of the matter to trial. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, pictured during a visit to Salisbury Plains Training Area, accused the convicted Taliban fighter of abusing the court process and wasting money In court documents seen by the Daily Mail, he added: I am satisfied if this claim were allowed to continue it is highly likely its further progress would thereafter be bedevilled by further delay and disproportionate calls upon the time and resources of the court. Mohammed was captured in 2010 during a ten-hour firefight in which three British soldiers were wounded. He was detained for 106 days without charge before being handed over to Afghan authorities and convicted of terrorist offences by a court in Kabul. He was sentenced to 16 years, reduced to ten on appeal. He alleged he was tortured into giving a false confession and was released under an amnesty in 2014. The MoD said Mohammed helped make explosives on an industrial scale and was covered in bomb dust when he was captured. Leigh Day had argued Mohammed should not have been held for longer than 96 hours under the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Britain is a signatory. In July 2015, the Court of Appeal ruled in Leigh Days favour, saying Afghans were detained unlawfully, but the MoD challenged the decision. The case then went to the Supreme Court, where judges ruled that troops had acted lawfully in holding insurgents for longer than specified under the ECHR. But the case carried on because the Supreme Court said that in the specific case of Mohammed the MoD had to prove that his extended detention was for imperative reasons of security. Leigh Day had previously claimed Mohammeds case was relevant to a further 19 they were conducting linked to UK forces. Last night a spokesman for the law firm said: We are continuing to progress a number of claims against the MoD over allegations of human rights abuses in Afghanistan. A major motel chain that handed over the names of Latino-sounding guests to immigration officials for two years has agreed a $12 million lawsuit settlement. Washington state filed the claim against Motel 6, stating the chain gave the details of 80,000 customers to U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement agents between 2015 and 2017. Motel 6 released customer information including names, driver's license numbers, passport and green card ID numbers, room numbers, birth dates and license plate numbers. The information led to targeted investigations by ICE who went after people with Latino-sounding names, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. Motel 6 released customer information including names, driver's license numbers, passport and green card ID numbers, room numbers, birthdates and license plate numbers. The information led to targeted investigations by ICE who went after people with Latino-sounding names, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said 'Many Motel 6 locations in Washington turned over the personal information of their guests to ICE on a daily basis without requiring a warrant. 'From 2015 to 2017, seven Washington locations shared the personal information of approximately 80,000 guests,' Ferguson said. 'Motel 6s actions tore families apart and violated the privacy rights of tens of thousands of Washingtonians. 'Our resolution holds Motel 6 accountable for illegally handing over guests' private information without a warrant.' The company said that it will now enforce its guest privacy policy, which prohibits the sharing of guest information except in cases where a warrant or subpoena is presented or local law requires release of the information. The company also says it has implemented controls to ensure corporate oversight and compliance in cases where law enforcement requests are made. Washington state filed the claim against Motel 6, stating the chain gave the details of 80,000 customers to U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement agents between 2015 and 2017 'The safety and security of our guests, which includes protecting guest information, is our top priority, and we are pleased to be able to reach resolution in this matter,' the company said. The agreement applies to all Motel 6 locations nationwide. The company also agreed to provide training to employees to protect guest privacy, Ferguson said. In a separate lawsuit filed in Arizona, the company agreed in November to pay up to $7.6 million to Latino guests who said hotel employees shared private information with immigration officials. In Washington state, Ferguson said Motel 6 gave ICE information on a daily basis about a total of 80,000 guests without a warrant between 2015 and 2017. In one case, a Seattle man who stayed at a Motel 6 near SeaTac was stopped in a parking lot by ICE agents as he wrapped Christmas presents for his four children. He was detained and deported several days later, Ferguson said. The man was the sole provider for his family and his wife has struggled to support the children, he said. In another case, a Vancouver father who had lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years was detained after staying at a Motel 6 on a trip to pick up supplies for his grocery business, Ferguson said. He also was deported, leaving behind his wife and six children. Ferguson filed the lawsuit in King County Superior Court last year, claiming the company's disclosures violated the state's Consumer Protection Act and a law against discrimination. The company must also create an online tool for guests to report incidences where they believe the hotel chain has shared guest information. Ajay Jagota's long and tireless record of service to the Tory cause made his resignation letter in January especially painful to write. Yet given everything that had happened, or, more to the point, not happened, since he'd first complained of experiencing appalling racism at a party event, the 49-year-old Asian businessman felt he had little choice. Jagota was once a poster-boy for modern Conservativism: the son of Indian immigrants, and whose father worked as a miner, he managed through talent and hard work to progress from the proverbial shop-floor to a senior managerial role in a national advertising firm. After leaving the blue-chip world in the late-1990s, the father-of-two became an entrepreneur in the North East, making his fortune from property and technology companies. Ajay Jagota's long and tireless record of service to the Tory cause made his resignation letter in January especially painful, writes Guy Adams Jagota's belief in the virtues of ambition and enterprise led him to become an eager Tory activist. By early 2017, he was elected chairman of his local party in South Shields, Tyneside, and even wondered about one day signing up as a prospective Parliamentary candidate. But that was then. Today, Ajay Jagota is no longer a local Tory chairman, and the ambition this highly-driven man once harboured regarding a career in politics now hangs by a thread. The reason? A toxic dispute over Islamophobic abuse that he claims to have personally experienced at the hands of a Tory councillor. It's perhaps one of the most unedifying among a slew of such incidents to have made headlines in recent months, culminating in news last week that the Conservative Party has been reported to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. The commission is considering whether to investigate the fact that dozens of Tory councillors were reported to party chiefs for allegedly making racist remarks in person and online and sharing discriminatory material about Muslims and other minorities on social media. Some have called Arabs 'sand peasants' or referred to Muslims as 'parasites', 'cavemen', 'ragheads' and 'cockroaches'. This week, Theresa May refused to apologise to Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Mayor of London, for what he called 'the openly Islamophobic campaign' run against him in 2016 (Pictured in Downing Street on April 1) Others have described Asian colleagues as 'Pakis' and 'invaders', or posted doctored photos comparing women in Islamic clothing to black bags filled with rubbish. It also emerged last week that 15 culprits had been quietly reinstated as Tory councillors, after serving short suspensions. It was further reported that at least 25 party members were kicked out after uploading similarly vile material to an unofficial Facebook group for supporters of the Brexiteer MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. This week, Theresa May refused to apologise to Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Mayor of London, for what he called 'the openly Islamophobic campaign' run against him in 2016. The mayor also referred to an incident in September in which the current Conservative London mayoral candidate, Shaun Bailey, shared an image online that described him as 'mad mullah Khan of Londonistan'. Little wonder that Baroness Warsi, a Muslim peer and former Conservative chairman, has claimed her party is riddled with 'institutional Islamophobia' and called for a public inquiry into the issue, saying that the party's procedures for dealing with the scourge are utterly unfit for purpose. 'The party line is to deny [Islamophobia], ignore it and bury one's head in the sand,' she said this week. To which end, Ajay Jagota provides a deeply depressing case study. For what is perhaps most worrying about his experience is the shocking (and, he argues, insulting) indifference shown by officials at every level of the party. Last September, he attended a meeting at which his South Shields party branch discussed a possible merger with their neighbouring association in Jarrow. During a social function afterwards, he and Gerard Leake, the chairman of Jarrow Tories, were approached at the bar by a man called Jeff Milburn, who is one of the party's local councillors. Milburn declared that he was vehemently opposed to the merger. They claimed that he was then heard to say, with regard to Jagota: 'I tell you another f****** thing, I'm not working for that Muslim c***.'Shocked by what they say they heard, Jagota and Leake (who had immediately told Milburn it was unacceptable) filed separate complaints with the party's regional office. 'I grew up in the Seventies and Eighties, when racism was pretty rife, but when you hear it like that, it still stops you in your tracks,' Jagota told me. 'It still has the power to shock. I'm not even Muslim, I'm a Hindu, so it's just the worst sort of offensive bigotry, based purely on the colour of my skin.' Last September, Jagota attended a meeting at which his South Shields party branch discussed a possible merger with their neighbouring association in Jarrow. Afterwards, he was approached at the bar by a man called Jeff Milburn (Pictured) A week passed, but they received no response. Concerned that he was being 'fobbed off', Jagota decided to raise the incident with Tory chairman Brandon Lewis, who he was introduced to at the party's conference in Birmingham a week later. 'Brandon's response was that it sounded totally unacceptable, so he asked his deputy chief of staff, Toby Wilmer, to follow things up,' he recalls. 'Councillor Milburn denied that he'd made the remark, though we'd both very clearly heard it, so obviously there needed to be a proper investigation.' Jagota duly emailed both Wilmer and Lewis with details of his experience. When he again didn't receive a reply, he tried two further times to ask them to ensure his complaint was being properly looked into. Eventually, he got a message saying the party's complaints team were looking into things 'and would be in touch' to hear his version of events. That didn't happen, though. Instead, Jagota was incensed to see Brandon Lewis issue a statement on Twitter seeking to downplay the growing controversy over the party's handling of several other complaints about Islamophobia. It read: 'We deal with all complaints, none outstanding.' Mr Lewis did not respond to a request for comment, however, sources close to the Tory chairman insisted that the party's complaints process is fit for purpose. Given that Jagota's complaint about Islamophobia was at that stage very much outstanding, he believed those remarks were at best misleading, and at worst untrue. So he emailed Lewis the following day to ask for an explanation. Once more, there was no reply. Christmas came and went, and on January 6, having still never been contacted by anyone in the Conservative Party or its complaints department, he decided he could no longer remain a party official. 'No one bothered to contact me to properly investigate the incident, or ask for my version of events, he said. 'So I decided it was time to give this up.' In recent months, the Conservatives have sought to make political capital from the appalling levels of anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party His colleague Gerard Leake, who'd also complained about the incident to no avail, quit too, saying: 'It seems the management of the party are not interested in sorting this out.' Jagota's letter of resignation was sent to Brandon Lewis and to Theresa May in Downing Street. While the party chairman yet again did not respond, a No 10 adviser named David Beckingham wrote to him in mid-February saying: 'Your complaint is being investigated and you will receive an update shortly.' But no update came. Indeed, it wasn't until after a third, entirely separate complaint was made about Councillor Milburn's behaviour involving abusive remarks he allegedly made (within earshot of a Labour MP) about Kenyan athletes taking part in the Great North Run that party bosses finally expelled him. News of that move became public last month. But the saga isn't yet over. Milburn, who denies ever making racist comments and has described the claims against him as 'heresay' and 'tittle-tattle', has vowed to appeal. However things end, this particular shambles couldn't have come at a worse time for the Tories. For in recent months, they have sought to make political capital from the appalling levels of anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party. Tories were particularly gleeful when the Equalities and Human Rights Commission launched an inquiry into Labour's practices. However, the Tories now face a similar probe. Last Thursday, the commission said it had 'received a complaint' about Islamophobia in Tory circles and will 'consider the issues raised'. This follows several incidents in which Tory councillors have shared questionable material via social media, only to be allowed to remain members of the party after serving short suspensions. Take, for example, Mick Murphy, who sits on Ashfield Disctict Coucil in Nottinghamshire. Last summer, he shared on Facebook an image of a Muslim woman and her child, wearing burkhas, flanked by two black rubbish bags. The caption read: 'I saw her standing there and I told her she had three beautiful children ... It was an honest mistake.' Having served a brief suspension, he's now once more a Conservative member of the council. Then there is Jeff Potts, a Solihull borough councillor suspended by the party in September for sharing a Twitter post saying Muslims should be deported to avoid the risk that terrorists would 'kill innocent people for generations to come.' In November, it emerged he had been readmitted to the party (though he is still sitting as an independent on the council). Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the European Research Group, leaves his home in London on April 3 Then there's Andrew Bowles, the Tory leader of Swale borough council, who described far-right activist Tommy Robinson as a patriot; Rosemary Carroll, a Pendle borough councillor, who shared a 'joke' on Facebook that compared an Asian person to a dog; Mike Payne, a Calderdale councillor, who posted an article on Facebook that described Muslims who claim welfare benefits as 'parasites.' And Ron McKail, an Aberdeenshire councillor, who treated his social media contacts to the image of three folded black patio umbrellas, with the caption: 'I spent half an hour talking to them, wanting to learn about their culture until the bartender cut me off and told me they were patio umbrellas.' All are now elected Tory councillors. Perhaps the ugliest example centres on a Facebook group created by self-styled 'supporters' of Jacob Rees-Mogg, large numbers of whom are Conservative Party members, which has become a veritable sewer of Islamophobia. Muslims are described as 'cavemen' and 'Muzzies' and the Prime Minister as 'Sharia May', owing to her alleged support for minorities. On the day of the recent New Zealand terror attacks, it was used by a contributor purporting to be a party member to say: 'I was going through a few magazines the other day down at the local Mosque. I was really enjoying myself. Then the rifle jammed.' Last October, a Conservative Party official was alerted to racist material being published on the site, and they emailed both Brandon Lewis and the party's complaints department to bring it to their attention. In keeping with a worrying trend, the official received no reply. A month later, they again emailed to ask if 'any action is being taken'. They again received no reply. It wasn't until last month, when the site came to the attention of the online news outlet Buzzfeed that it was properly investigated. Around 25 members who used the site have now been suspended. The baffling failure to adequately respond to complaints of Islamophobia isn't just immoral, it is also bad politics. For in recent times, this lax complaints procedure has led to the Tories' share of the Muslim vote fall to historic lows. Mohammed Amin, chair of the Conservative Muslim Forum, says the party's support among his community rose from 14-25pc when led by David Cameron, only to drop to 11pc at the 2017 election. While Muslim votes have historically been concentrated in a few mostly safe Labour, inner-city seats, the growing prosperity of British Muslims means that's no longer the case. But there is also another trend. Amin cites Ilford North. 'It was a rock-solid Tory seat for decades, but now has swung to Labour. One reason is that there are more Muslim voters there, who have moved out of the East End. We narrowly lost the seat in 2015, then in 2017 were beaten by far more. 'If we want to win back seats like this, the party has to do far more.' Amin adds: 'There are many reasons for the rise in bigotry. But we need to take steps to stop it, and that means being open and honest about our disciplinary process. However, until such reforms are implemented, Tory Party policy appears the opposite of openness. On March 18, for example, the anti-racist group Hope Not Hate wrote to Brandon Lewis, asking for 'an explanation' for what it called his 'untrue' claim in October that no complaints about the matter were 'outstanding'. Like so many others who have sought to bring the scourge of Tory Islamophobia to light, they are still waiting to receive an answer. The Prince of Wales received a first-hand account of the horrors of D-Day yesterday as he was introduced to Britains most indefatigable fundraiser who told him: The whole place was awash with blood. The Duke of Cornwall was in his duchy in St Austell, where he was introduced to Normandy veteran and local celebrity Harry Billinge. The prince is royal patron of the Normandy Memorial Trust, dedicated to honouring the 22,442 members of the British Armed Forces who gave their lives there in 1944. Harry spends his life campaigning on behalf of the project in his local area. Having heard about his efforts, the prince was keen to arrange a meeting during his visit yesterday. The royal visitor had clearly been well briefed. I gather you used to blow things up, the prince remarked. I was very good at that once upon a time, replied Harry, 93, who was part of a Royal Engineers crack unit charged with demolishing a German radar station near Arromanches on the morning of D-Day. Of his ten-man unit, only four survived. The Duke of Cornwall was in his duchy in St Austell, where he was introduced to Normandy veteran and local celebrity Harry Billinge (pictured together) Harry, who is Britains most indefatigable fundraiser, has spent his life campaigning for the Normandy Memorial Trust. Pictured: the planned new D-Day memorial in Ver-sur-Mer I didnt want to talk too much about it. I told the prince that I never wanted to kill anyone but our boys were being baptised in their own blood. He just shook his head. Much of the princes private 25-minute meeting with Harry and his wife Sheila concerned the progress of the memorial appeal, backed by the Daily Mail and its readers. Harry explained how much the project meant to the veterans and relatives of those who never returned. The prince was absolutely lovely and genuinely interested in what we are doing. Hes as keen on this memorial as we are. All British servicemen killed on D-Day and in the brutal Battle of Normandy which followed will have their names engraved on the new memorial, thanks to the generosity of Daily Mail readers and the persistence of veterans like Harry men whose final, burning ambition is to see this thing finally unveiled. Of all the Allied nations which took part in the D-Day landings, paving the way for the liberation of Europe, the UK is the only one without a national memorial on French soil. That is why the Mail is campaigning to find the last 7.5million needed to complete a tribute that is long overdue. On the 75th anniversary of D-Day June 6 the memorial site will be inaugurated, in front of veterans and VIPs, including royalty and world leaders. Harry, 93, was part of a Royal Engineers crack unit charged with demolishing a German radar station near Arromanches on the morning of D-Day There could hardly be a more timely reminder that there are some bonds which predate our marriage to and divorce from the European Union. They are bonds which will endure long after todays politicians have quit the stage. We might be leaving the EU, but we can never leave Europe proper when it is strewn with the remains of those who died to make it free. It will take at least another year to finish the task of building this peerless monument on a 50-acre site overlooking the beaches where so many perished. This week, though, the engraving process has begun. Every name will be carved alphabetically by Service (including Merchant Navy, SOE and other units) and then in date order on columns of a carefully-sourced French limestone called Massangis. All the engraving, however, will be done by S McConnell & Sons, the stonemasons who produced Londons superb Bomber Command Memorial. The first lorryload of limestone has already arrived at the McConnells workshop at the foot of the Mourne mountains in Northern Ireland. I was there a few days ago to see an 18-ton chunk of rock cut down to a series of half-ton rectangular blocks by a rotating saw the size of a tractor wheel. The blocks will form columns around a central memorial court which, from above, will resemble the Union flag. There is no scope for error when the diamond-tipped tungsten drill is carving names straight on to solid stone. Im sure well have a few sleepless nights along the way, admits Alan McConnell, the third-generation stonemason in charge of a project which will take a team of six a year to complete. Due to the carefully-planned installation of the memorial columns, the first batch of names to be carved have actually been those of men who died on June 7, 1944, starting with the Royal Navy. As a result, the very first name to be engraved on the memorial has been that of Leading Seaman Frederick Alexander. He was a member of the crew of Tank Landing Craft 427. They were in the thick of the action on Gold Beach on June 6, 1944 and returned to sea again in one piece. They had just got home to pick up more tanks when they were involved in a collision with the battleship HMS Rodney outside Portsmouth Harbour. All hands 13 brave men aged between 19 and 37 went down with the landing craft. Harry said: I didnt want to talk too much about it. I told the prince that I never wanted to kill anyone but our boys were being baptised in their own blood. He just shook his head They might have died in home waters, victims of a ghastly accident of war. But their loss was no less painful. They all did their duty unflinchingly and paid with their lives. Frederick Alexander and his comrades have no marked grave, their names merely listed on the Royal Naval memorial at Chatham in Kent. Thanks to the Normandy Memorial, they will now be properly recognised and honoured for their valiant part in the liberation of an entire continent. That is precisely why Harry is out in all weathers with his tin in St Austells high street. When I join him for an afternoon of tin-rattling, passers-by of all ages stop to give him something. This country owes a hell of a lot to those men, said Richard Wedgwood, 58, making a donation. Harry was one of a team of ten Royal Engineers who came ashore on Gold Beach at dawn on D-Day, charged with blowing up a German radar station behind Arromanches. Theyd been well dug in for four years and they werent about to give it up, recalled Harry. I was carrying the gelignite and we did it. But only four of us came out. As he himself likes to point out, he was always a little un. I was the only man in the British Army who could hide behind a blade of grass, he jokes. But in his green beret and a blazer heaving with medals, he is the most commanding presence here on the high street. Hes the boss, joked one of the team in the local branch of Tui travel agents, bringing out the campaign banner which Harry stores in their cupboard. A green-haired youth on a skateboard stops to put something in his tin. Hes a hero, him, says the boy. It is particularly touching to see the local busker chipping in. Miguel Fernandez comes up to give Harry some of his days takings at the end of an afternoon of guitar-strumming. Hes a great character, always here whatever the weather, said Miguel. Recent days may have been a dispiriting affair for this country. What a profoundly uplifting contrast, then, to see the ordinary people flocking around Harry, a true giant of our times, on a British high street. The Fashion Institute of Technology building in Manhattan was briefly placed on lockdown Friday after reports of an armed shooter. Multiple 911 callers reported possible shots fired inside the school on W 27th Street in the Chelsea neighborhood shortly after 6pm on Friday, police radio traffic indicated. By 6.40pm, the suspect had been taken into custody and the lockdown was lifted. There were no reports of injuries. Police were seen clearing the street of pedestrians and establishing a perimeter An armed man in a trench coat was reported inside a Fashion Institute of Technology Building in Manhattan on Friday evening. He is believed to have had a pellet gun Police confirmed that there was no active threat in regards to the incident after taking the person into custody. Initial reports indicated that the suspect was armed with a pellet gun. Multiple NYPD units responded to the school during the brief manhunt. Police were seen clearing the street of pedestrians and establishing a perimeter. The suspect was located in a Barnes and Noble bookstore on campus and taken into custody, radio traffic indicated. The suspect was described as a white male, five-foot-ten, 130 pounds, wearing a navy blue trench coat. The Fashion Institute of Technology is a public school and part of the the State University of New York (SUNY) system. It has a student body of roughly 8,700 and focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry. A city worker is suing a bank for nearly 4million after an alleged campaign of sexist abuse that included her boss calling her sexy and a witchs hat being left on her desk. Stacey Macken, 48, claims French bank BNP Paribas paid her less than men on the same level and she suffered from a hostile culture in its London office. The 120,000-a-year worker said jobs were divided into undesirable, referred to as pink, which seemed to be given to her, and good blue jobs that the men were given, a tribunal heard. She also claimed her line manager Denis Pihan told her on her first day he was worried about hiring a woman and did not want to disrupt the laddish culture of the office. Stacey Macken, 48, claims French bank BNP Paribas paid her less than men on the same level And she said another boss, Matt Pinnock, would answer the phone with hey sexy or hey f***face and referred to her as just a sexy product manager. She also told the hearing that a risk manager who called her a lesbian was later promoted. Miss Macken, who was previously a vice president at Deutsche Bank with 28 years in the industry, claims she was harassed the minute she blew the whistle on the gender pay gap. She said another boss, Matt Pinnock, would answer the phone with hey sexy or hey f***face In a statement to the Central London Employment Tribunal, she said: In October 2013, I was shocked to arrive at work to find a witchs hat on my desk and wondered what I had done to deserve this. I am aware Matt and a group of male colleagues who had been out drinking the night before had put this there. Matts PA witnessed this. Matt has since denied this. Miss Macken, a prime brokerage product manager, who joined the bank in 2013, claimed she was discriminated against when she entered salary negotiations. She was paid 50,000 less than her male predecessor and 40,000 less than a man appointed to the same role six months later. Miss Macken, of Fulham, west London, is claiming sex discrimination, as well as victimisation and unequal pay. She was eventually given a 5,000 pay rise in March 2015 to narrow the gender pay gap. She is currently off sick with anxiety and is asking for 3.9million in damages because of stigma and about 500,000 in back pay she would have received if there was not a gender pay gap. She also claimed her line manager Denis Pihan told her on her first day he was worried about hiring a woman and did not want to disrupt the laddish culture of the office Tribunal awards are not capped if a worker can show discrimination or that they were fired for whistle blowing. The banks lawyers said in a statement: The claims of harassment, victimisation and whistle-blowing detriment are stale, scattergun and weak. They referred to Miss Macken as defensive and unmanageable and said she labelled any employer action she did not like as unlawful discrimination. They added she was comparing her salary and bonus to more senior staff. A spokesman for BNP Paribas said: We do not tolerate discrimination. A decision on the case is expected in June. The sunbed industry has been slammed for threatening to sue a leading skin cancer charity for suggesting that regular use of sunbeds increases the risk of getting the deadly disease. In a move branded unacceptable by an MP, the Sunbed Association has warned Melanoma UK it faces action for malicious falsehood over its call to ban sunbeds. Extraordinarily, the associations chairman, Gary Lipman, has written directly to a few skin cancer patients who have spoken out in favour of a crackdown. In 2013 Mr Lipman wrote to melanoma sufferer Mark Carter, from Scunthorpe, after Mr Carter accused him of lies and deceit on Twitter. Mr Lipman told him that he was leaving himself wide open to legal action and could face punitive damages. Mr Carter has since died. The Sunbed Association has warned Melanoma UK it faces action for malicious falsehood over its call to ban sunbeds Another patient, who did not wish to be named, was told to think very carefully and seriously in future about linking sunbed use to skin cancer. Melanoma UK is calling for a ban on commercial sunbeds, arguing that the move is vital to tackle a disease which kills seven people every day. Its campaigning has been applauded by the NHS, whose national cancer director, Cally Palmer, says it is absolutely right to highlight the risks caused by sunbeds. The British Association of Dermatologists says each sunbed session increases a users risk of melanoma by 1.8 per cent and wants salons to display warning signs akin to those on cigarette packets. And Cancer Research UK cites the conclusion of the International Agency for Research on Cancer that there is sufficient evidence to show that using sunbeds causes melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma UK launched a petition last year calling for sunbeds to be banned in this country, saying: Sunbed users have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. It attracted 15,000 signatures. Melanoma UK launched a petition last year calling for sunbeds to be banned in this country, saying: Sunbed users have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. It attracted 15,000 signatures But in correspondence seen by the Daily Mail, lawyers for the Sunbed Association which represents manufacturers and tanning salons have accused Melanoma UK of causing it financial loss. They said its campaign is irresponsible, alarming and wrong. In a letter sent in January, lawyers RIAA Barker Gillette warn that claiming there is a proven link between sunbed use and skin cancer is factually incorrect. The letter says: Our clients position is clear: responsible use giving rise to tanning (not burning), especially through a salon which signs up to The Sunbed Associations Code of Practice, does not pose a health risk. Yesterday the founder of Melanoma UK, Gillian Nuttall, spoke of her shock at the threats. I have attended multiple funerals of people who have died from melanoma, she said. The link between sunbed use and melanoma is clear how can the Sunbed Association say our campaign is a malicious falsehood? The charity is backed by Pauline Latham, the Tory MP for Mid Derbyshire, who lost her brother to melanoma. She said the legal threats were unacceptable, adding: Melanoma UK is just trying to save lives. The Sunbed Association denied its lawyers had made threats. It claimed Mr Lipman had been writing in a personal capacity, even though his letters feature the associations branding. It cited research which it said cast doubt on whether sunbed use was the cause of skin cancer in people who had used tanning salons, claiming moderate exposure may outweigh the risk of over exposure. 'No one told me there were risks...' As a teenager in the early 1990s, Debbi Williams began using a sunbed because it made her feel better about the way she looked. I used to go every other week no one ever told me there were any risks, she said yesterday. Mrs Williams, 47, from Northampton, continued using sunbeds and later stand-up tanning units until the age of 31 when she found a rough patch of skin on one of her buttocks. Debbi Williams, 47, from Northampton, found she had a patch of malignant melanoma after using a tanning bed 'every other weeks' for several years After it was removed at her GP practice, tests showed it was malignant melanoma. Later, a dermatologist removed tissue around that area. I told the surgeon I never expose that part of myself to the sunshine, but I do use sunbeds, she said. He replied, Well we dont need to say any more. Mrs Williams, who has a stepdaughter and works for a human resources consultancy, was monitored regularly for five years but fortunately there was no recurrence. An English hospital is refusing to offer care for new Welsh patients except for emergencies or maternity cases. The decision will impact thousands of people who live in North Wales close to the border with England. It means GPs will not be able to refer them for treatment over the border. Bosses at The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust said their decision to refuse care for Welsh patients had come into effect immediately Bosses at The Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust said the decision comes into effect immediately. The controversial move follows a dispute over the hospitals funding arrangements for Welsh patients. Trust boss Susan Gilby said it was a difficult decision taken with great reluctance. She told the BBC: Unfortunately, the trust is currently unable to accept any new elective work relating to patients living in Wales. We will of course honour any existing appointments. Trust boss Susan Gilby said it was a difficult decision taken with great reluctance to refuse care, except in emergencies or maternity, to patients who could as little as two miles away She added that contract talks were ongoing with Welsh health chiefs to sort out the issue. The trust said it treated 23,500 Welsh patients in 2016-17 at a cost of 31.2million. A Welsh government spokesman said the move was not acceptable. The Kelsey Berreth murder trial took yet another unexpected turn on Friday when Patrick Frazee's arraignment was moved back to May 24 as he sat in the courtroom prepared to enter his plea. The prosecution and defense both agreed to this after Woodland Park Police revealed that they are at most 40 percent done with the search and forensic testing for Berreth's remains. Authorities would not reveal however if they had or had not found any remains as this time, saying a statement would not be made until the search was complete. An unfazed Frazee seemed nonchalant about the day's proceedings as he swiveled in his court chair and gazed around the room. In addition to his jumpsuit, he wore a heavy ballistics vest while in court for his own safety. Scroll down for video Stripe-tease: Patrick Frazee (above on Friday) made a brief appearance in court on Friday, with the judge agreeing to push back his arraignment until May 24 Dust: The search for Berreth's body continues with no word of any remains being found at a local landfill (above last month) It was revealed earlier this week that the Deputy District Attorney filed a motion requesting that records generated by the Teller County Department of Human Services be placed under seal. 'The records relate to the charged crimes in this case, and include extensive interviews documenting statements made by the defendant and witnesses in this case,' wrote DDA Elizabeth Reed in her Motion for Disclosure and Protective Order. She then noted: 'The people believe these records contain either inculpatory or exculpatory information as it relates to the criminal allegations in this case.' That 'exculpatory information' is believed to be the claim that Berreth was an unfit mother, which was made by both Patrick Frazee and his mother to child services. Frazee's mistress, Krystal Kenney, had previously hinted at the substance of these claims when she revealed that the killer fiance told her that Berreth was abusive towards their daughter Kaylee and struggled with drug addiction. This motion was filed at the same time as documents dealing how Kenney disposed of crucial evidence in the case. Kenney was tasked not only with cleaning up the gruesome murder scene, but also finding a way to get rid of the young mothers personal items. Legal filings submitted in early March state that Kenney did this by hurling Berreths keys into a gorge, burning both Berreths cell phone and the burner phone she used to communicate with Frazee and giving the victims gun to a relative. Kenney told authorities this after first denying she even knew who Berreth was, before eventually confessing to just how the 29-year-old pilot was brutally murdered on Thanksgiving as her daughter played in the next room. Filings submitted in the case show that Kenney eventually told authorities that, after watching Frazee burn his former fiances body in a giant fire on his mothers ranch, she was sent home to Idaho with strict instructions to make sure the items belonging to Berreth were either hidden or destroyed. Mom and daughter: Frazee's mistress revealed that the killer fiance told her that Berreth was abusive towards their daughter Kaylee (above) The keys were the first piece of evidence Berreth disposed of, throwing them into one of the deep gorges at Malad Gorge State Park. The deep and steep cliff walls make most of the park inaccessible, while the raging rapids make a water search near impossible. Berreths phones were then burned by Kenney according to documents, but not before they provided investigators with a trail that led from Frazees farm in Colorado to the home of Kenneys friend in Idaho. Berreths phone last pinged in Idaho on November 25 at Malad Gorge, around the same time a woman with unknown ties to Kenney called Frazee's cell. That woman lives less than 10 miles from Malad Gorge. The woman, 39, has been employed in the medical field, so there is a chance she may have been a friend of Kenney's from work. Then, when Kenney returned home, she burned Berreth's phone and the burner she used to speak with Frazee. The charred remains of those two devices were then disposed of at the hospital where she worked before she was charged in the case. The final remaining piece of evidence - Berreths gun - was given by Kenney to a male friend. Kenney said that it belonged to a family member. Tainted love: Frazee (left) will formally enter his plea knowing that Kenney (right) is cooperating with the prosecution In addition to this, Kenney also texted Berreth's mother, Frazee and Berreth's place of employment during her drive home to Idaho 'with the intent of distracting law enforcement at the direction of Frazee'. These actions and her delay in sharing this information, which has dealt a devastating blow to prosecutors has now led some to question if Kenney should have been offered a plea deal by the state of Colorado. At the same time, because she is the only witness in the case, the verdict in the case now hinges entirely on her testimony. There is also still no trace of Berreth's remains. Kenney broke down in tears as she confessed to destroying Berreth's cell phone in court back in February. She also agreed to testify against Frazee at his murder trial. Kenney will be sentenced after Frazee's trial for her own involvement after pleading guilty to one felony count of tampering with evidence. Google has caved to pressure from its staff and abandoned a new AI ethics panel after hundreds demanded conservative members of the board were sacked for their views. The search giant announced last week that it was setting up a new board to tackle moral issues surrounding its use of the technology. It hoped to avoid controversies by using a broad spectrum of expertise to inform its future decisions, but the move has ironically stirred up a debacle of its own. Eight experts from outside the company were recruited and employees at the traditionally liberal leaning firm took issue with two of the appointees. More than 1,000 of its protest-prone workers signed an open letter objecting to specific board members, who they say are 'anti-trans' and pro-military drones. Earlier this week, staff insisted that Kay Coles James, president of conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation, was removed from the group. Google has now bowed to the pressure from within the firm and is dissolving the board entirely according to Vox, who first reported the news. This is not the first time Google has caved in to the demands of its outspoken and largely left-wing staff. It opted not to renew a contract with the US military in June 2018 following staff protests. Scroll down for video Google is dissolving a council it formed a week earlier to consider ethical issues around artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies (file photo) WHO IS KAY COLES JAMES? She is currently the president of the Heritage Foundation - the first African American woman to hold this position. She served as the director for the United States Office of Personnel Management under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005 Before that she she served as Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Ms James is also a member of the NASA Advisory Council and is the president and founder of the Gloucester Institute, a leadership training centre for young African Americans. Advertisement The board, called the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC), consists of experienced industry experts who work in the field of artificial intelligence research. Its specific focus was areas such as facial recognition software, a form of automation that has prompted concerns about racial bias and other limitations. Kent Walker, SVP of Global Affairs at Google, said in a blog post at the time: ' Last June we announced Googles AI Principles, an ethical charter to guide the responsible development and use of AI in our research and products. 'To complement the internal governance structure and processes that help us implement the principles, weve established an Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC). 'This group will consider some of Google's most complex challenges that arise under our AI Principles, like facial recognition and fairness in machine learning, providing diverse perspectives to inform our work.' He added: 'This inaugural Council will serve over the course of 2019, holding four meetings starting in April.' Google employees signed a petition calling for the removal of one of the members over comments about transsexual people earlier this week. Kay Coles James, president of conservative think-tank Heritage Foundation, was brought on-board to provide a different viewpoint to that of Google's left-wing staff. Activists lashed out at Ms Cole, who was selected by the search giant for her role so the council could offer a range of backgrounds and experience, saying she is 'anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant'. The protesters say in the open petition: 'In selecting James, Google is making clear that its version of 'ethics' values proximity to power over the wellbeing of trans people, other LGBTQ people and immigrants.' The AI ethics board was specially curated to steer the Mountain View-based firm away from any controversies by ensuring it fully considers morality while developing its artificial intelligence (file photo) Google staffers are known for their willingness to protest, with employees previously voicing discontent at a range of the firm's endeavours. The inclusion of a drone company executive also raised debate over use of Google's AI for military applications. Google has been embroiled in past controversies regarding the use of its AI, as well as the way it protects the data it gathers. It established an internal AI ethics board in 2014 when it acquired DeepMind but this has been shrouded in secrecy with no details ever released about who it includes. The firm is a world-leader in many aspects of AI and the eight people recruited for the advisory board were going to 'consider some of Google's most complex challenges'. The eight-member Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) was comprised of technology experts and digital ethicists. They included Joanna Bryson, an associate professor at the University of Bath and William Joseph Burns, former US deputy secretary of state. A group of Google employees earlier this week attempted to remove a member of the newly-formed AI ethics board because her opinions do not match theirs. Kay Coles James, pictured here with President Donald Tump (right) is the president of a conservative think-tank Criticism of Ms James includes her history of being 'vocally anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant'. Comments include a recent tweet, which read: 'If they can change the definition of women to include men, they can erase efforts to empower women economically, socially, and politically' WHO WAS ON GOOGLE'S AI ETHICS BOARD? Alessandro Acquisti - s a Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy at the Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University Bubacarr Bah - Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stellenbosch University. De Kai - Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Dyan Gibbens - CEO of Trumbull, a Forbes Top 25 veteran-founded startup Joanna Bryson - Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bath Kay Coles James - President of The Heritage Foundation Luciano Floridi - Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford William Joseph Burns - Former US deputy secretary of state Advertisement 'It's become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC can't function as we wanted,' a Google spokesman said in an emailed statement. 'So we're ending the council and going back to the drawing board.' The board had been specially curated to steer the firm away from any future controversies by ensuring it fully considers morality while developing its artificial intelligence. Google uses AI in many high-profile forms, including its smart speaker, Google Home, and DeepMind, its specialist AI division. Privacy concerns piqued when Google absorbed its DeepMind Health AI lab - a leading UK health technology developer last year. The news raised concerns about the privacy of NHS patient's data which is used by DeepMind and could therefore be commercialised by Google. DeepMind was bought by Google's parent company Alphabet for 400 million ($520m) in 2014 and had maintained independence until the acquisition in November. But now the London-based lab shares operations with the US-based Google Health unit. Google had also previously received criticism from the public and internal members of staff over Project Maven, a collaboration between Google and the US military to use its AI to control drones destined for enemy territory. Google decided not to renew this contract in June 2018 following protest resignations from some employees. An amateur metal detectorist scouring the grounds of a field in Kent has discovered a perfectly preserved gold coin dating back almost 2,000 years. It is emblazoned with the face of Emperor Allectu who is being touted as the first Brexiteer after he took Britain out of the Roman Empire during his reign around 293AD. The 24 carat gold coin, known as an Aureus, is expected to sell for 100,000 ($130,000) when it goes to auction later this year. An anonymous hobbyist found the coin in a newly-ploughed field near an ancient Roman road in Dover, Kent. The 30-year-old finder initially thought the coin was fake due to its condition until it weighed in at a hefty 4.31 grams - confirming its provenance. Scroll down for video The well-preserved coin is emblazoned with the face of Emperor Allectus, who is being touted as the first Brexiteer after he took Britain out of the Roman Empire during his reign around 293AD The 24 carat gold coin, known as an Aureus, is expected to sell for 100,000 when it goes to auction later this year. An anonymous hobbyist found the coin in a newly-ploughed field near an ancient Roman road in Dover, Kent There is just one other known matching example in in the world which resides in the British Museum. As as result of its combination of rarity and preservation it is tipped to sell for a six-figure sum when it goes under the hammer at London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb. The coin, the first Allectus example to be discovered in 50 years, is roughly the size of a one penny piece. The detectorist said: 'This really is the find of a lifetime for me and the greatest discovery I have made by miles. 'At first I was quite sceptical of its authenticity because it was so shiny but when I realised what it could be potentially I just completely freaked out by it. 'It was then authenticated by the British Museum and the specialist there was just as ecstatic as me. He said it was one of the best finds he had ever seen.' An anonymous hobbyist found the coin in a newly-ploughed field near an ancient Roman road in Dover, Kent. The 30-year-old finder thought the coin was fake at first as it was in such good condition until it weighed in at a hefty 4.31 grams - confirming its provenance There is just one other known matching example in in the world which resides in the British Museum. As as result of its combination of rarity and preservation it is tipped to sell for a six-figure sum Allectus ruled in Britain and northern Gaul from 293 to 296AD. He is best known for his to attempts to lead a rebel empire, effectively annexing Britain from Rome. He has been dubbed by many as a 'Brexiteer of his day' and was assassinated in battle in 296AD. The coin depicts a noble-looking Allectus on one side and on the obverse has two captives kneeling at the feet of Apollo. The coin was found last month and can be sold at auction as under British law, the existing Treasure Act states single gold coins do not count as treasure and as such the coroner does not have to be notified. There are controversial plans to revise the current legislation that include redefining single gold coins as treasure upon their discovery. The coin, the first Allectus example to be discovered in 50 years, is roughly the size of a one penny piece The finder, who is a portrait artist, will have to split the proceeds of the sale 50/50 with the landowner but it can be sold at auction as it is not considered 'treasure' HOW DO METAL DETECTORS WORK? The invention of the metal detector cannot be truly claimed by one person. It is a combination and amalgamation of several different pieces of technology. Alexander Graham Bell did fashion a device that was an electromagnetic, metal locating machine. This was based on a device invented by physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. Sometime later, an engineer Gerhard Fischer, filed a patent regarding a design. A metal detector consists of a stabiliser, control box, shaft, and search coil. It is the two coils that are actually responsible for the detection of metal. The outer coil is the transmitter coil while the inner coil is the receiver coil. This works to detect and amplify frequencies. This type of technology is known as Very Low Frequency or VLF technology. When electricity is provided to this transmitter coil, there is a magnetic field created around the coil. This is the same science behind electromagnets. When the machine wafts over metal the electrons in the metal - due to its metallic bonding and sea of electrons surrounding a fixed positively charged mass - are affected by the magnetic field. The change in the electrons triggers a tiny electrical field in the metal object which alters the frequency of the metal detector. This indicates metal is present. More advanced metal detectors are also able of differentiating between different types of metal ad the frequency change is different and therefore the pitch of the note is altered. Source: The Detectorist Advertisement The finder, who is a portrait artist, will have to split the proceeds of the sale 50/50 with the landowner. 'I've never found anything like it in seven years of detecting and I'm still gobsmacked now,' the fortuitous finder added. 'The landowner has been made aware and is obviously really excited. 'I don't have any plans for the money at the moment but the first thing the landowner said to me was that they would be going on holiday. 'I actually wish I could afford to keep the coin but unfortunately it's way out of my range. 'The field doesn't really have any history of Roman coinage. I've searched it before without finding anything but made the discovery about 45 minutes into this search.' Nigel Mills, of a coin consultant from Dix Noonan Webb, said: 'This is an amazing find and is one of the finest condition coins out there. 'I've never seen one like it in my 40 years of work so it really is a remarkable discovery. 'We would expect it to attract a lot of interest as it just has everything going for it. 'The rarity is there, the condition is there and it's made of 24 carat gold all of which make it an fantastic coin.' The sale takes place on June 12. The design of the astrobees was inspired by a flying robot target seen in the film Star Wars: A New Hope Advertisement Step aside, Mr Aldrin, because there's a new buzz in town - and it's coming from robot bees that NASA is sending to work on the International Space Station. Dubbed 'Astrobees', the cube-shaped robots will fly about the orbiting laboratory, running experiments and helping out the crew by using their attachable manipulator arms. The design of the little bots was inspired by the flying combat remote from Star Wars, which teaches the film's hero Luke Skywalker to fight with a lightsaber. Dubbed 'Astrobees', the cube-shaped robots will fly about the orbiting laboratory, running experiments and helping out the crew by using their attachable manipulator arms The design of the little bots was inspired by the flying combat remote from Star Wars, which teaches the film's hero Luke Skywalker to fight with a lightsaber (pictured) The robots were built and developed at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, where engineers created a mock-up of the interior of the International Space Station where they tested the Astrobees' capabilities. 'There are some things only humans can do in space. The rest can be left to robots,' a NASA spokesperson said. 'To free up valuable time for astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station, were sending three robotic helpers to the orbiting outpost.' In the microgravity of the orbiting space station, the Astrobees can zip around freely, each propelled by built-in fans that let them move and spin in any direction. The robots were built and developed at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, where engineers created a mock-up of the interior of the International Space Station within which they tested the Astrobees' capabilities. The blue prototype (pictured) sits on a carriage mechanism that enables it simulate movement in the microgravity experienced in orbit Cameras and sensors built into each robot help them navigate their way around the space station without bumping into things. In addition, each Astrobee can be equipped with a robotic arm and claw that the robots can use to handle cargo or help run experiments. Astrobees can either be worked under remote control - whether by astronauts on the space station or researchers back on the ground - or left to operate autonomously. Each Astrobee can be equipped with a robotic arm and claw that the robots can use to handle cargo or help run experiments. This image shows an artist's impression of this process The space station crew will keep the robots as busy as real bees, getting them to fly about providing assistance to routine chores like maintenance and tracking inventory, along with testing out new technologies. They can also monitor conditions about the space station by, for example, taking note of changes in air quality or sound levels. When the robots' batteries run low, they can automatically navigate their way back to a power station to connect and recharge. The Astrobees follow in the footsteps of the SPHERES - three first-generation free-flying robot assistants NASA sent to the International Space Station in 2006 to take part in various hardware and software experiments. Each of the little assistants has a touch-screen 'face' - these can display either images of eyes or animations that can help the Astrobees' human colleagues understand what the robots are doing. Learning how robots can best work with humans in close proximity will be key for exploring the Moon and other destinations, a NASA spokesperson says. The Astrobees follow in the footsteps of the SPHERES - three first-generation free-flying robot assistants NASA sent to the International Space Station in 2006 to take part in various hardware and software experiments. An ancient Jewish settlement dating back 2,000 years has been discovered in Israel. The find also exposed underground tunnels used by rebels during the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135AD. Evidence also surfaced proving the area was being used during the First Jewish Revolt of 70AD to store goods in underground rooms and chambers. Archaeologists also unveiled parts of a watchtower, rubbish dumps, bakeries, Roman-era coins, a mikveh - a Jewish ritual bath - and limestone vessels used in rituals. A rare oil lamp emblazoned with the nine-branched menorah was also found and is being heralded as the most culturally significant find at the site in the desert. Scroll down for video An ancient settlement dating back 2,000 years has been discovered in Israel. The find also exposed underground tunnels used by rebels during the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135AD Evidence also surfaced of the area being used during the First Jewish Revolt of 70AD to store goods in underground rooms. Archaeologists also unveiled parts of a watchtower, rubbish dumps, bakeries, Roman-era coins, a mikveh (Jewish ritual bath) and limestone vessels used in rituals WHAT WAS THE BAR KOKHBA REVOLT? The revolt occurred between 132 and 136AD in the Judae Province. It occurred many years after rising tensions following the failure of the first revolt in 6673AD. Tensions over a rising Roman presence in the area boiled over and led to a period of unrest. An influx of Roman troops eventually crushed the revolt after two years of independence. Advertisement The marquee finding of the haul is the nine-stemmed menorah, which some say may be a 'hanukkiah,' a menorah which has a total of nine flames and is used during Hanukkah. Experts caution that this may be unfounded, as there is no evidence of celebrations occurring at the site during the holiday period. All the relics from the site's inhabitants were found as part of a project orchestrated by academics from Ben-Gurion University in the Negev and the Israel Antiquities Authority ahead of a new residential town being built in the region near Be'er Sheva. Dr Peter Fabian and Dr Daniel Varga revealed in a statement: 'It is interesting to note that of the few lamps found depicting a menorah, these are never seven-branched. 'This was in accordance with a ruling in the Babylonian Talmud stating that only the menorah in the Temple could have seven branches and thus lamps used in domestic contexts commonly had eight to eleven branches. ' The half-acre site, the searchers claim, is evidence Jewish culture and practices stretched to the very edge of the Judea province and also suffered from the disruption of the time. The marquee finding of the haul is the nine-stemmed menorah (pictured), which some say may be a 'hanukkiah,' a menorah which has a total of nine flames and is used during Hanukkah Typical Second Temple period Jewish vessels uncovered in the excavation near Tel Beer Sheva .The half-acre site, the searchers claim, is evidence Jewish culture and practices stretched to the very edge of the Judea province Archaeologist Shira Bloch holding a 2,000-year old vessel discovered in the excavation. It is one of the only sites in the region where there is clear evidence of a thriving Jewish settlement All the relics from the site's inhabitants were found as part of a project orchestrated by academics from Ben-Gurion University in the Negev and the Israel Antiquities Authority ahead of a new residential town being built in the region near Be'er Sheva 'Signs of a conflagration discovered in some of the structures evince a crisis that the settlement experienced, probably that of the First Jewish Revolt in c. 70 CE,' the lead excavators said. It is one of the only sites in the region where there is clear evidence of a thriving Jewish settlement. 'We don't really have any Jewish sites from the Second Temple period in this area,' said archaeologist Shira Bloch, the Times of Israel reports. 'Our excavation is large, complex and very interesting.' There is little evidence, outside of the watch tower, of a military presence at the site as no swords, arrows or other weaponry was unearthed. Amazon's digital assistant could soon do more than just turn on your lights or tell you the weather. The e-commerce giant has signaled a major leap into healthcare for Alexa, by rolling out an invite-only program for developers to create their own skills around health and medicine. It would allow users to ask Alexa to book a doctor's appointment, find an urgent care center and check for updates on prescription refills. Scroll down for video Amazon's digital assistant could soon do more than just turn on your lights or tell you the weather. A new invite-only program lets developers create skills around medicine WHAT ARE ALEXA'S NEW HEALTH SKILLS? Express Scripts - Check the status of prescription deliveries and receive updates when prescriptions have shipped. Cigna - Manage health improvement goals and earn personalized wellness incentives. Boston Children's Hospital - Parents and caregivers can give updates on their child's progress and get information on post-op appointments. Providence St. Joseph Health - Customers can find an urgent care center near them and schedule appointments. Atrium Health - Customers can find an urgent care center near them and schedule appointments. Livongo - Members can get blood sugar readings and measurement trends, as well as receive reminders. Advertisement Amazon, which launched the program on Thursday, said the skills are all compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which ensures that personal health care information is protected. The firm told Wired that it has added extra security levels to how it treats the data collected through these skills, beyond the encryption, access controls and secure cloud storage it deploys for other skill data. Amazon did not clarify what additional layers of security are in place. Six companies were invited to roll out skills with the program, but the company expects to add more over time. 'These skills are just the first step in making it easier for customers to manage their healthcare needs using just their voice - we're excited to see what developers build next,' the firm said in a statement. Skills included in the initial roll out include one created by Express Scripts, which lets users check the status of their prescription deliveries, as well as get notifications from Alexa when their prescriptions have shipped. Another skill, from healthcare giant Cigna, lets members manage their 'health improvement goals,' as well as earn 'personalized wellness incentives.' 'We are meeting customers where they are in their homes, in their cars - and making it simpler to create healthier habits and daily routines,' Stephen Cassell, senior vice president of global brand and customer communications at Cigna, said in a statement. 'Through our Amazon Alexa skill, customers can simply use voice to understand the full range of their health benefits and receive personalized wellness incentives for meeting their health goals, empowering them to take control of their total health.' Amazon said the skills are all compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which ensures that personal health care information is protected As many have pointed out, it may take a while before users feel comfortable trusting Amazon and its Alexa assistant to oversee their personal healthcare data. However, earning compliance with HIPAA is an important step in being able to branch out into this market. Amazon had reportedly been working for many months to meet HIPAA requirements. The move also gives credence to larger rumors that Amazon is planning a major expansion into healthcare. Amazon already sells some medical products on its website, but it has been speculated to be considering offering its own prescription delivery services, among other things. Additionally, last year, the firm announced it was working with Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan to improve health-care services. Advertisement NASAs Parker Solar Probe has survived yet another blisteringly close approach to the sun. The space agency confirmed the successful completion of its brief encounter on Friday morning, after it passed within just 15 million miles (24 million km) of the solar surface the evening prior. This is the closest a spacecraft has ever come to the sun and Parker's second time doing so, tying with the record it set back in November during its first close approach. NASA says all systems appear healthy, and expects data from the encounter to begin coming in over the next few weeks. Scroll down for video NASAs Parker Solar Probe has survived yet another blisteringly close approach to the sun. The space agency confirmed the successful completion of its brief encounter on Friday morning, after it passed within just 15 million miles (24 million km) of the solar surface the evening prior HOW BIG IS THE PARKER SOLAR PROBE? Launch mass -1,510 lb (685 kg) Dry mass - 1,224 lb (555 kg) Payload mass - 110 lb (50 kg) Dimensions - 3.3 ft 9.8 ft 7.5 ft) (1.0 m 3.0 m 2.3 m) Advertisement The probe, roughly the size of a family hatchback, has come closer to the sun than any other man-made object on two separate occasions. During the close approaches, it must contend with extreme cosmic radiation - 500 times more intense than on Earth - and temperatures of 1,300C (2,400F). When it passed within 15 million miles of the sun, Parker was traveling at 213,200 mph (343,000 kph) - fast enough to fly between New York and London 39 times in one hour. The Parker probe reached its closest point at 6:40 p.m. EDT on April 4th during its second closest approach, and will now be transmitting the data back home. The spacecraft is performing as designed, and it was great to be able to track it during this entire perihelion, said Nickalaus Pinkine, Parker Solar Probe mission operations manager at APL Were looking forward to getting the science data down from this encounter in the coming weeks so the science teams can continue to explore the mysteries of the corona and the sun. The probe first entered the sun's orbit in November and has been approaching steadily closer ever since. Its final pass in 2024 will be just 3.8 million miles (6.1m km) from its surface, when it will burn up. NASA designed the probe to protect its fragile internal instruments from the harsh conditions and deflect most of the sun's heat. The Parker probe, roughly the size of a family hatchback, has come closer to the sun than any other man-made object. On two occasions, it's passed just 15 million miles (24 million km) away from its surface The US space agency hopes to maintain an internal temperature of 29C (84F) and take vital measurements of the corona to unpick the mystique surrounding our closest star. For example, scientists are expecting to receive vital data to help explain a long-standing mystery among physicists - why the corona is 300 hotter than the sun's surface. Our star still poses many unanswered questions, chief among them how it is capable of producing such violent plumes of material, known as solar flares or coronal mass ejections. These ions - charged particles - travel at extraordinary speeds, up to half the speed of light, before swamping all objects in the solar system and dousing them in potentially fatal radiation. Earth is protected by these by our planet's thick atmosphere and strong magnetic field and, for the most part, they only manifest themselves as auroras at the north and south poles. Stronger events are capable of affecting electronics on Earth, with GPS and other satellite-reliant services affected. 'Parker Solar Probe is providing us with the measurements essential to understanding solar phenomena that have been puzzling us for decades,' said Nour Raouafi, Parker Solar Probe project scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Maryland. The Parker Solar Probe will ultimately complete a total of 24 planned orbits over the next seven years, bringing it closer and closer to the surface. The probe's position, speed and round-trip light time as of Jan. 28, 2019 is illustrated in the graphic above 'To close the link, local sampling of the solar corona and the young solar wind is needed and Parker Solar Probe is doing just that.' This cosmic meeting between mankind and the stars will last until April 10 and NASA will lose contact with the spacecraft during this time. It will be completing its orbit and focusing its resources on maintaining its heat shield in the direction of the sun's unrelenting assault of heat and charged particles. A mission to the depths of the sun required materials capable of withstanding conditions unlike anything humankind has ever experienced. Meeting the astounding astrophysical challenges required NASA to create new materials with remarkable thermal properties. A carbon-composite shell 4.5 inches (11.5cm) thick was developed which is fitted to the probe and provides it with the bulk of its protection. NASA expects to start receiving a gentle trickle of data from the pass over a prolonged period of several weeks later this spring. NASAs Curiosity rover got a front-row seat to not one, but two solar eclipses last month. The two Martian moons Phobos and Deimos both passed in front of the sun in late March but, each being only a few miles across at most, the transit didnt exactly turn day to night. Animations of the events show each moon sweeping across the face of the sun, temporarily causing an eerie shadow over Mars. NASAs Curiosity rover got a front-row seat to not one, but two solar eclipses last month. In the animation above, the 7 mile-wide moon Phobos can be seen during its pass on March 26 The larger of the two, Phobos, is about 7 miles (11.5 kilometers) across and passed in front of the sun on March 26. Deimos, at a much smaller 1.5 miles wide (2.3 kilometers), eclipsed the sun about a week earlier, on March 17. In addition to the spectacular views, scientists say data from the eclipses can help them to better constrain the orbit of these small moons, which have repeatedly defied expectations over the years. More observations over time help pin down the details of each orbit, says co-investigator Mark Lemmon of Texas A&M University, College Station. These orbits change all the time in response to the gravitational pull of Mars, Jupiter, or even each Martian moon pulling on the other. Deimos, at a much smaller 1.5 miles wide (2.3 kilometers), eclipsed the sun about a week earlier, on March 17 According to NASA, the Mars rovers have captured a total of eight eclipses caused by Deimos over the years. Phobos, on the other hand, has been observed eclipsing the sun 40 times. These events help bring the distant world into view, and will hopefully help to narrow the margin of uncertainty about the orbits of these small moons. Eclipses, sunrises and sunsets, and weather phenomena all make Mars real to people, as a world both like and unlike what they see outside, not just a subject in a book, Lemmon said. Animations of the events show each moon sweeping across the face of the sun, temporarily causing an eerie shadow over Mars Soon enough, the robotic explorers on Mars could be joined by human astronauts. The space agency this week said its targeting the early 2030s for a Martian mission following the reveal of President Trumps plans for an accelerated mission to the moon. We want to achieve a Mars landing in 2033, but in order to do that we have to accelerate other parts of the programme, the Moon is a big piece of that, the administrator told the congressional Science, Space and Technology Committee. By moving up the Moon landing four years... we can move up the Mars landing. NASA plans to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s after first landing on the Moon Mars has become the next giant leap for mankind's exploration of space. But before humans get to the red planet, astronauts will take a series of small steps by returning to the moon for a year-long mission. Details of a the mission in lunar orbit have been unveiled as part of a timeline of events leading to missions to Mars in the 2030s. Nasa has outlined its four stage plan (pictured) which it hopes will one day allow humans to visit Mars at he Humans to Mars Summit held in Washington DC yesterday. This will entail multiple missions to the moon over coming decades In May 2017, Greg Williams, deputy associate administrator for policy and plans at Nasa, outlined the space agency's four stage plan that it hopes will one day allow humans to visit Mars, as well as its expected time-frame. Phase one and two will involve multiple trips to lunar space, to allow for construction of a habitat which will provide a staging area for the journey. The last piece of delivered hardware would be the actual Deep Space Transport vehicle that would later be used to carry a crew to Mars. And a year-long simulation of life on Mars will be conducted in 2027. Phase three and and four will begin after 2030 and will involve sustained crew expeditions to the Martian system and surface of Mars. Advertisement Advertisement It may be a half-century since former U.S. astronaut, Buzz Aldrin rose up to become one of the first-ever humans to step foot on the moon, but that doesn't mean he's done making a splash. At a recent reunion, eight former Apollo astronauts, and three of the four living men to have walked on the moon, gathered together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. While the momentous feat of humankind's lunar landing was the subject of the reunion, Aldrin quickly stole the show, showing up in a glimmering silver suit, American flag socks, and an array of accessories replete with not one but two gold watches and an array of gold rings. Aldrin stole the show at a recent reunion of astronauts involved in the Apollo space missions. From left to right: Charles Duke (Apollo 16), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7), Al Worden (Apollo 15), Rusty Schweickart (Apollo 9), Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17), Michael Collins (Apollo 11), Fred Haise (Apollo 13) Photographer Felix Kunze shared the image of the astronauts on his website. Aldrin has made the news for his bold fashion choices in the past, particularly during Men's Fashion Week in 2017 when he took to the runway with fellow man-of-science, Bill Nye. The former astronaut wore a similarly silvery suit with a T-shirt that read 'get your a** to Mars,' while Nye donned a jacket that looks almost identical to Aldrin's above. The event last month wasn't all about Aldrin, though. In a panel discussion, astronauts discussed their sometimes harrowing journeys, including what it's like to drive the rover on the moon's surface and another about how Aldrin and Armstrong were nearly stranded on the moon's surface only to be miraculously saved by a felt-tipped pen, as reported by Space.com. An anniversary of the first lunar landing comes with apt timing as the U.S. begins to shift back towards human space travel, particularly returning astronauts to the moon which hasn't been done since 1972. With an uptick in support from the White House, another lunar mission could be sooner than expected. Buzz Aldrin can be seen in the photos above during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, when he stepped foot on the moon Vice President, Mike Pence, announced that he intends to have another man on the moon by 2024, cutting NASA's timeline in half. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin are pictured above In a recent and buzzy announcement, Vice President Mike Pence announced the White House's intention to expedite another lunar visit, slating the next visit for 2024. Previously, NASA said that the soonest it planned to do so was in 2028, double the amount of time. 'Since the end of Apollo 11, weve forged incredible breakthroughs in our technology that have allowed us to go further, more safely in space than ever before,' said pence last month. 'We have the technology to go the moon and renew American leadership in human space exploration.' Advertisement A Bulgarian coastal resort has been named as the best value destination for a European beach holiday for Brits for the sixth year running. The Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer, which compares costs in 20 European beach resorts, found prices in Sunny Beach have plunged - despite the pound's volatility. Other cheap locations include the Algarve in Portugal as well as the Turkish beach resort of Marmaris. The Bulgarian coastal resort of Sunny Beach, pictured, has been named as the best value destination for a European beach holiday for Brits The Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer, which compares costs in 20 European beach resorts, found prices in Sunny Beach have plunged The research found a basket of nine tourist staples - comprising lunch and evening meals, drinks, sun cream and insect repellent - at Sunny Beach is 38.86, which is 10.7 per cent lower than last year. An evening meal for two with wine will set visitors back around 22, while lunch for two is just over 8 and a cup of coffee weighs in at 70p. As a result, the overall barometer cost in Sunny Beach is under half that in most other resorts. There has also been a price fall of 16.2 per cent in the Algarve, although holiday costs are 48 per cent higher than in Bulgaria at 57.45. However, the Portuguese hot spot is easily the cheapest of 16 eurozone resorts and less than half the price of Sorrento (143), the most expensive destination surveyed. In Marmaris, the total cost of all six items is 59.19 - which is down 8.6 per cent on last year. Although local costs have risen over 20 per cent, sterling's strength against the Turkish lira easily outweighs those price rises. The biggest fall of over 20 per cent year-on-year was found in Limassol, Cyprus. The research looked at a basket of nine tourist staples - comprising lunch and evening meals, drinks, sun cream and insect repellent As a result, Limassol (94) has moved up to ninth place from 16th last year to join Paphos (7th, 84) in the Holiday Costs Barometer top 10. Altogether, 14 of the resorts surveyed over three-quarters of the 18 resorts which also featured in the report a year ago have seen prices fall. While sterling is currently stronger year-on-year against the euro and other European currencies, the main factor governing the barometer price falls is competitive pricing in restaurants, bars and shops, which has led to lower resort prices. In Spain, Brits will see prices vary significantly. Torremolinos (fourth) on the Costa del Sol is by far the cheapest of five resorts surveyed by the Post Office this year. At 66, barometer prices have fallen 8.7 per cent on 2018 levels and are just half of those in Ibiza (19th, 132), the highest-priced Spanish destination. Nick Boden, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: 'There are significant variations between the prices we found in resorts this year so it will really pay dividends to do some holiday homework before booking to avoid busting the budget' Despite recording a 4.7 per cent fall in barometer costs, Sorrento (143) remains the most expensive of 20 destinations In the Costa Blanca, Benidorm (78, new for 2019) is fifth cheapest overall. However, rising prices in neighbouring Alicante (10th, 95) has made it 22 per cent more expensive than Benidorm. In the Balearic Islands Majorca (97) has moved up to 11th place on the back of an 11 per cent fall in costs and is 26 per cent cheaper than Ibiza. There are also big cost variations between the three Greek resorts surveyed. Crete, sixth in the table, is cheapest at 81 for the tourist staples, while tourists visiting either Halkidiki (101, 13th) on the Greek mainland or Corfu (104, 14th) can expect to pay over 25 per cent more. In Croatia, falling prices mean that Porec (98, 12th) is now a cheaper option than Zadar (106, 15th). This is because prices have fallen 8.6 per cent in the Istrian Peninsula since last year, while they have risen marginally (0.7 per cent) further south in Zadar. There has been a price fall of 16.2 per cent in the the Algarve, pictured, although holiday costs are 48 per cent higher than in Bulgaria at 57.45 Despite recording a 4.7 per cent fall in barometer costs, Sorrento (143) remains the most expensive of 20 destinations. Further east in southern Italy, Puglia (112, 16th, new for 2019) is over 20 per cent cheaper and may offer UK visitors a more affordable holiday option. Nick Boden, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: 'There are significant variations between the prices we found in resorts this year so it will really pay dividends to do some holiday homework before booking to avoid busting the budget. 'Compare the barometer prices for meals, drinks and other tourist staples to find a destination that will offer good value for money.' While Victoria Bacon, Abta director of brand and business development, explained: 'Europe remains the number one overseas destination for British holidaymakers and this research highlights the amazing value on offer in so many of our holiday favourites. 'The relative weakness of sterling against the Euro has also meant that increasingly customers are looking for good value in other destinations and Abta members are reporting significant interest in travel to Bulgaria and Turkey. With the incredible prices in resort, revealed in this Post Office report, it's easy to see why.' Advertisement Qatar Airways' business class suites have been named as the best cabin experience at a prestigious awards ceremony. The Pax International Readership Awards 2019 honoured airlines from around the world with gongs handed out in categories also including food service, amenity kits and catering. Air Canada was named as having the best food service for a North American airline while American Airlines came top in the first class amenity kit ranking. Qatar Airways won the award for best cabin experience at the Pax International Readership Awards for its business class Q-suite, pictured The award for the most outstanding food service on a North America-based airline was won by Air Canada, pictured American Airlines won the award for the best amenity kits in first class in North America. Pictured is one of the kits The awards were voted for by readers of Pax International, a publication that focuses on passenger services and in-flight interiors. The publication's title refers to the term used by airline workers to describe passengers. More than 35 gongs were handed out to airlines and their suppliers at a ceremony in Hamburg on Wednesday. Qatar Airways scooped two awards. It also jointly won best food service of a Middle Eastern airline with Turkish Airlines. The accolade for its business class was in recognition of the quality of its Q-suite cabin, which features the aviation industry's first-ever double bed in business class as well as sliding panels that stow away, enabling colleagues, family members and friends travelling together to create their own private suite in the middle of the cabin. The European winner of the most outstanding food service was Tap Air Portugal. Pictured is the food service in business class Qatar Airways' group chief executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, said: 'As an airline, one of our highest priorities is to provide our customers with an exceptional experience each and every time they fly. 'We continually strive to innovate in order to create a memorable environment onboard - from our cabin interior, to our exquisite food and beverage service, to our extensive duty free offering. 'We are very pleased that these awards recognise our efforts to pay attention to every detail.' The European winner for most outstanding food service was Tap Air Portugal and the Asian winner was Thai Airways. Air Canada, meanwhile, took a second award - the gong for the Americas' best business class amenity kit, which is created by design brand Buzz. The Buzz business class kit that is handed out on Air Canada flights. The kit won the award for best business class kit in the Americas The award for the most outstanding food service for an Asian airline went to Thai Airways, pictured Andrew Yiu, vice president of product at Air Canada, said: 'We are honoured to have been awarded both the Outstanding Food Service in North America and Best Business Class Amenity Kit in the Americas awards at the Pax International Readership Awards. 'On behalf of Air Canada, I would like to thank Pax International as well as its readers for these recognitions and awards. These accolades speak to our commitment to customer service excellence, delivered by our dedicated onboard team.' The award for the best first class amenity kit in Europe went to German-based Lufthansa for its bag created in conjunction with Spiriant. Aijaz Khan, publisher of Pax International and Pax Tech magazines, said: 'With each year, our readership awards keep getting better and better. 'In fact, this year we received an avalanche of votes 30 per cent more than what we saw in 2018. 'The Pax International team and I would like to thank the industry at large for their continued support, as well as our readership for coming out in droves to vote. Congratulations to all of the deserving 2019 winners.' Grand Designs: The Street Rating: Code Blue: Murder Rating: Back in the glory days of DIY, every homeowner had to be able to wallpaper a room and build their own furniture. My parents spent months in the Seventies sawing, sanding and varnishing a coffee table so indestructible, it would survive a nuclear holocaust. Kevin McCloud wants to harness that spirit and put it to work solving the UKs housing crisis, on Grand Designs: The Street (C4). Before Lynns walls were half-finished, the first frosts had shattered her concrete floors and wrecked the heating pipes. When she finally got the roof on, it split apart at the apex. Fixing that meant demolishing a wall, at an extra cost of 20,000 Like everything else he suggests on this absorbingly crackpot show, it looked a great idea on paper. Knee-deep in mud on-site on a wet Monday, it was a different story. The plan was to buy plots of disused MoD land outside Oxford and build a row of innovative homes, each tailored to the buyers particular needs. And no construction firms would be involved: this was strictly DIY. Terry, 65, threw himself into the labour, despite diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome, an agonising nerve condition. His 74-year-old wife Olwen tried to help, but walked into a scaffolding pole. Next door, their close friend Lynn, 63, was gamely attempting to match them, even though each breeze-block was bigger than her own body. I cant even put up a tent, so Im filled with admiration for their ambition. Lets do this while we still physically can, declared Terry, wrestling with a crane that squirted liquid concrete like a 100ft icing nozzle. My parents spent months in the Seventies sawing, sanding and varnishing a coffee table so indestructible, it would survive a nuclear holocaust. Kevin McCloud (above) wants to harness that spirit and put it to work solving the UKs housing crisis, on Grand Designs: The Street (C4) But the grim fascination of this show was seeing how horribly, shockingly wrong it all could go. Before Lynns walls were half-finished, the first frosts had shattered her concrete floors and wrecked the heating pipes. When she finally got the roof on, it split apart at the apex. Fixing that meant demolishing a wall, at an extra cost of 20,000. And as she wrestled with scaffolding, this diminutive former teacher exploded, I never want to see another f****** plank in my life. Not a good idea, wish Id never done it. Bad move. Worst of all, the stress broke Lynns friendship with Terry and Olwen. She kept borrowing their tools, and when she started using their shed for storage without permission, a neighbourly line was crossed. It seems suburban moral codes begin with the foundations of the house. Both builds went about a hundred grand over budget. Kevin predicts the street will expand to become a town of 2,000 self-built houses. If you fancy joining in, make sure you take your own tools...and a shed. The one moment of real excitement came from CCTV footage at the railway station in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, when the killer was bundled to the ground and arrested by undercover officers While emotions were at breaking point outside Oxford, all was level calm at the police station in Cardiff, on Code Blue: Murder (ITV). This documentary, tracking an investigation from the first 999 call to the killers sentencing, dispelled the myth of dramas such as The Bay, that all coppers are perpetually on the brink of tearful breakdowns. This undramatic approach emphasised what a tawdry, unglamorous business real-life murders are. A young mother was beaten and stabbed to death by her psychotically jealous new boyfriend. He then went on the run, taunting her family and his own ex-girlfriends with text messages about what hed done. The one moment of real excitement came from CCTV footage at the railway station in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, when the killer was bundled to the ground and arrested by undercover officers. Watching his slow-witted, callous attempts at evasion in the interview room was simply depressing. He claimed he had his victims blood on his clothes because he head-butted her during an argument. An unknown intruder must have committed the murder, he said. It was all bitterly sad and ugly. Top Girls (National Theatre, London) Rating: Verdict: Engrossing return to Thatcher-era feminism Caryl Churchills 1982 play has always fascinated me. Its about a tough-as-tungsten woman running an employment agency in the early 1980s. Its often seen as an indictment of the hatchet-faced individualism of that era. But its also a celebration of those years, as more women gained independence by entering the workforce. Although not mentioned by name, Mrs Thatcher was the plays elephant in the room. What the play never does is tackle its subject directly. It starts by imagining the executive heroine Marlene (Katherine Kingsley) hosting a dinner party for five great women from history [File photo] She had caused widespread panic and confusion among feminists because as the UKs first woman Prime Minister, she was also a Tory and not on their side. But the great thing about Lyndsey Turners lively revival at the National Theatre is that it distils the excitement and foreboding of those unsettling times. What the play never does is tackle its subject directly. It starts by imagining the executive heroine Marlene (Katherine Kingsley) hosting a dinner party for five great women from history. They include the Victorian explorer Isabella Bird (a wry Siobhan Redmond), the 13th-century Japanese concubine Lady Nijo (a dippy Wendy Kweh) and the 9th-century Pope Joan, who gave birth in the Vatican (a hilarious Amanda Lawrence). Each has her subversive story, but the purpose of this brilliant comic set-piece is to big-up their host Marlene as being worthy of their company. Then its down to business in Marlenes Top Girls employment agency. Its a cold clinical world pushing women to sell themselves for work. Caryl Churchills 1982 play has always fascinated me. Its about a tough-as-tungsten woman running an employment agency in the early 1980s Then into these shark-infested waters paddles Marlenes goofy niece, Angie, whos come down from sleepy Norfolk to bask in her selfserving aunts slick London lifestyle. Its in the plays last half hour that it all pays off in a scruffy Norfolk cottage. Marlene has a set-to with her sister, Joyce, who scrapes a living with cleaning jobs after kicking out her cheating farmer husband. Its here we learn the price each woman has paid in her life: the sacrifices Marlene made to move on and the compromises Joyce made to stay put. Theres a twist at the end that brings the weight of guilt and responsibility for both women rushing in like a blast of cold air. It made me shiver. Monstrous as Kingsleys Marlene sometimes is, you never lose sight of how shes blinkering herself with booze and mantras about how the Eighties will be stupendous. As her sister, Lucy Black is equally well observed. She slogs all day then looks like shes longing to flop into bed. Any parent will recognise that look of folded arms and distracted eyes. Although not mentioned by name, Mrs Thatcher was the plays elephant in the room. She had caused widespread panic and confusion among feminists because as the UKs first woman Prime Minister, she was also a Tory and not on their side But the real pearl of a performance is Liv Hill as Angie. Everyone except Joyce beats about the bush with the fact that shes not very bright. She is the misfit who indicts Marlenes world and drags down Joyces. She is also a sweet and needy child, desperate to be loved. She is the opposite of a top girl, but needs to find a place on this Earth just the same. What does the modern world have to offer her? Thats the question that makes this play fizz and burn. Kunene And The King (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon) Rating: Verdict: Shakespeare sheds light on the country after Apartheid By Patrick Marmion I never cease to be impressed by Shakespeares posthumous reach. It turns out that his Complete Works were required reading for Nelson Mandela and fellow inmates while jailed on South Africas Robben Island. His plays were considered revolutionary and smuggled in under the cover of a Hindu prayer book. Who knew? This love of the Bard is the starting point of John Kanis play about modern South Africa, 25 years since the end of Apartheid. Lines such as the one suggesting that white South Africans voted for Mandela only to protect themselves against black anger must seem even more incendiary there than they do here Kani was the first black South African to play Othello in 1987 and he has been aptly paired here with the great South African-born actor Antony Sher. Kani plays a nurse, Lunga Kunene, whos been sent to care for Jack, a bibulous white thespian with terminal liver cancer. Jack is preparing to play King Lear at a theatre in Cape Town, and in a nod to that play, Kanis nurse is like Lears loyal servant Kent, putting up with his grandiloquent irascibility. But the play is also about the festering resentments that still continue to divide South Africa along racial grounds. Lines such as the one suggesting that white South Africans voted for Mandela only to protect themselves against black anger must seem even more incendiary there than they do here. Kani occupies the moral high ground as the big-hearted nurse putting up with Jacks snarling dyspepsia. But Sher has the better part as the truculent old soak, veering between delusions of grandeur and quivering pathos. Its not the most sophisticated drama and the two men are authorial mouthpieces with little investment in each other. But its still an intriguing 90minute snapshot of life in South Africa today. Putting a damper on the camper van heartwarmer Little Miss Sunshine (Arcola) Rating: Verdict: Avoid the musical choose the film By Luke Jones Roll up, roll up and witness an Oscar-winning film murdered by musical theatre. Live artistic execution, it turns out, is not a spectator sport. This is the story of a family VW van adventure, a mission to get their young daughter to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, across many states of America, while being weighed down by a rowdy grandfather, depressed uncle, moody teenager and marital discord. Its a tedious journey and I felt every bump. This musical version has a truly dreadful score. I couldnt even grasp a tune during a song, let alone hum it as I walked home. An energetic live band were wasted, reduced to a soft backing track rather than a storytelling statement in their own right. The dialogue was all pretty basic stuff and the performances (including, Im sorry to say, the young children) had the kind of bland sheen usually reserved for CBBC. At least Peppa Pig engages you with story, motivation and jeopardy. Its bright yellow, the songs are loud enough and the tiny brick and girder Arcola theatre has been kitted out with discos finest lighting. But I drifted almost immediately, strangely transfixed by the shenanigans of the band, who were perched on a balcony. Why are flutes a different colour to saxophones? Are their scores laminated? Ah look, theyre all in black. Are we there yet? There was no escape. Normally on Press nights you can hide in the warm, slightly drunk bosom of the assembled hacks. Tonight we were outnumbered by screaming friends, cheering families, and the many giddy children who perform in the show on other nights. I had to stifle a cry of isnt it dreadful to a friend as the interval dawned. A saviour, however, arrives in the second half. One actress with two very minor parts: a bereavement co-ordinator in the hospital, and then an ageing beauty competition winner. Imelda Warren-Green briefly rescues us with quick wit, the driest comedic delivery and tremendous pained faces. What a relief. But then shes gone, the band strikes up and were back into another song. Australian actress Claire Holt has shared an adorable photo of her cradling her newborn son James. The photo, uploaded to her Instagram page on Friday morning, shows the stunning blonde doting over the newborn as he pokes his tongue out. 'My dream came true. Counting my lucky stars every day,' the actress wrote in the accompanying caption. 'Counting my lucky stars every day': Claire Holt has posted an adorable picture of her cradling her newborn baby boy James Dressed in a denim blue shirt, her hair effortlessly tousled and sporting minimal makeup, the actress looked radiant as she beamed with joy. Claire announced last Friday that she and her husband Andrew Joblon, 35, had welcomed their bundle of joy. She shared a snap of the adorable bub, gushing: 'James Holt Joblon. Everything they say is true. There is no love like it.' Baby joy: Claire announced last Friday that she and her husband Andrew Joblon, 35, had welcomed their bundle of joy The monumental milestone comes after Claire suffered a devastating miscarriage last year, which left her 'broken' and 'ashamed'. She revealed the devastating news on Instagram in March 2018, captioning a picture of herself in hospital. 'I took this photo 10 days ago, as I waited for surgery after my sweet little baby lost its heartbeat. I sent it to my fiance in the waiting room to show him that I was OK. I wasn't. I've never felt more broken in my life,' she wrote. 'Nothing like it': She shared a snap of the adorable bub, gushing: 'James Holt Joblon. Everything they say is true. There is no love like it' 'I debated sharing this so soon and I'm still frightened about making such a private struggle public, but I'm doing it anyway because it's important.' She later explained how her miscarriage had been the 'most difficult thing [she] had ever faced'. 'But it brought my husband and I so much closer and we have really grown as a result of it... We are also so much more grateful for the little boy we are about to welcome into our lives,' the new mother told Mini Magazine. 'Because I experienced such intense grief, I found it very difficult to process things and move on,' The Originals star added. Claire married Andrew on August 18, eight months after their engagement. She was previously married to Matthew Kaplan, who filed for divorce in April 2017, a day before to their one-year anniversary. Advertisement She's dyed her hair various shades over the years. And Lily Allen unveiled her latest hairdo as she attended the launch of make-up artist Pat McGrath's new beauty collection, A Technicolour Odyssey, designed exclusively for Selfridges, at Brasserie of Light in London on Thursday night. The Smile hitmaker, 33, displayed a multicoloured hairdo, opting for a bold pink and purple fringe, with the rest of her locks dyed a deep brunette shade. Funky: Lily Allen unveiled her latest hairdo as she attended the launch of make-up artist Pat McGrath's new beauty collection, A Technicolour Odyssey, at Brasserie of Light, Selfridges, in London on Thursday night Lily looked effortlessly chic for the star-studded event as she wore a terracotta coloured shirt wrap dress, which she layered with an oversized Burberry trench coat, with prices for the designer outerwear starting at 1,690. She completed her look with a pair of knee-high black suede heeled boots and a matching coloured handbag for her night out. Lily styled her new multicoloured locks into a bohemian look as she plaited her hair around her head, blow-drying her fringe to the side, she added a slick of glamorous make-up. Also attending the event was Brooklyn Beckham and his model girlfriend Hana Cross as they cosied up together inside the Oxford Street venue. Chic: The Smile hitmaker, 33, displayed a multicoloured hairdo, opting for a bold pink and purple fringe, with the rest of her locks dyed a deep brunette shade Details: Lily looked effortlessly chic for the star-studded event as she wore a terracotta coloured shirt wrap dress, which she layered with an oversized Burberry trench coat, with prices for the designer outerwear starting at 1,690 Finishing touches: She completed her look with a pair of knee-high black suede heeled boots and a matching coloured handbag for her night out Hair transformation: Lily styled her new multicoloured locks into a bohemian look as she plaited her hair around her head, blow-drying her fringe to the side, she added a slick of glamorous make-up Brooklyn, 20, who attended the premiere of David Attenborough's latest project Netflix's Our Planet with his dad David Beckham earlier in the evening, cut a casual figure compared to his previous ensemble. The aspiring photographer wore a pair of navy blue corduroy with a brown belt which he teamed with a white top and an oversized black blazer. He finished his look with worn out white trainers and socks, a collection of silver necklaces and a navy blue ribbed beanie hat. Meanwhile, Brooklyn's girlfriend Hana clearly took fashion inspiration from her beau as she too rocked a casual ensemble of ripped bleached denim jeans, a white T-shirt and a green sheer chiffon jacket. Star-studded: Also attending the event was Brooklyn Beckham and his model girlfriend Hana Cross as they cosied up together inside the Oxford Street venue Busy bee: Brooklyn, 20, who attended the premiere of David Attenborough's latest project Netflix 's Our Planet with his dad David Beckham earlier in the evening, cut a casual figure compared to his previous ensemble Casual: The aspiring photographer wore a pair of navy blue corduroy with a brown belt which he teamed with a white top and an oversized black blazer Matching: Meanwhile, Brooklyn's girlfriend Hana clearly took fashion inspiration from her beau as she too rocked a casual ensemble of ripped bleached denim jeans, a white T-shirt and a green sheer chiffon jacket Loved-up: The couple looked smitten as they left the venue hand-in-hand and later stopped for a cuddle outside The 22-year-old model completed her look with a pair of stylish black heeled ankles boots as she styled her glossy brunette locks into a blow-dried wavy hairdo. And Hana wasn't the only model attending the event as Victoria's Secret Angels Shanina Shaik and Elsa Hosk also made a glamorous appearance at London's Selfridges on Thursday night. Shanina, 28, ensured she caught the eye in a figure-hugging white minidress with a high-neck and long sleeves. With a thigh-skimming detail, the outfit ensured her nicely toned legs were visible as she rubbed shoulders with fellow guests at the one-off event. Victoria's Secret Angels: And Hana wasn't the only model attending the event as Victoria's Secret Angels Shanina Shaik and Elsa Hosk also made a glamorous appearance at London's Selfridges on Thursday night Wow-factor: Shanina, 28, ensured she caught the eye in a figure-hugging white minidress with a high-neck and long sleeves, which had a thigh-skimming detail, the outfit ensured her nicely toned legs were visible Gorgeous gals: Meanwhile, giving a nod to the psychedelic sixties, Elsa, 30, opted for a wildly contrasting but no less engaging multi-coloured, marble-print dress and matching tights Retro: Elsa added to her look with a simple yellow handbag, while her blonde locks were conventionally styled with a simple centre-parting Eye-catching: Fellow Victoria's Secret Angel Stella Maxwell was also in attendance and she looked stunning in an elegant blue silk gown Perspex heels added to the look, while a simple gold clutch proved to be her only notable accessory. Pulling her hair into a tight ponytail, the supermodel drew further attention to her delicately proportioned features by opting for deft touches of make-up selected from a rich colour palette. Meanwhile Elsa, 30, opted for a wildly contrasting but no less engaging multi-coloured, marble-print dress and matching tights. Giving a nod to the psychedelic sixties, the highly distinctive outfit stood out as the Dutch model ventured inside the sprawling department store. Strike a pose: The floor-length creation ensured the supermodel, 28, commanded attention as she joined a star-studded guest list at the elusive event Stylish: Also attending the event was Charli XCX who prowled around in a very wild little number, she elongated her legs in a thigh-skimming stripy tiger print dress and sky high heeled boots Work it: Red splodges flecked across the design stood out against the golden and black striped pattern of the dress ensuring all eyes were drawn to her slender figure Elsa added to her look with a simple yellow handbag, while her blonde locks were conventionally styled with a simple centre-parting. Fellow Victoria's Secret Angel Stella Maxwell was also in attendance and she looked stunning in an elegant blue silk gown. The floor-length creation ensured the supermodel, 28, commanded attention as she joined a star-studded guest list at the elusive event. Stella added to her look with an embellished leather jacket, and it was tastefully draped across her shoulders as she made her way inside. Matrix-inspired: Actress Noomi Rapace also turned heads as she made her way inside Selfridges & Co in London on Thursday evening with her 16-year-old son Lev Glamorous: Models Bee Beardsworth, Munroe Bergdorf and Ikram Abdi Omar were also in attendance (L-R) A smart, gold clasped handbag gave an already noticeable look a distinctive flourish, while a striking choker necklace rounded things off. Drawing further attention to her features the model opted for striking eye-make up, while smart contouring accentuated her delicately proportioned cheekbones. Also attending the event was Charli XCX who prowled around in a very wild little number, she elongated her legs in a thigh-skimming stripy tiger print dress and sky high heeled boots. Red splodges flecked across the design stood out against the golden and black striped pattern of the dress ensuring all eyes were drawn to her slender figure. Pretty in pink: Maxim Magnus knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm in a floor-length one shouldered pink ruffle dress embellished with black beads Guest list: Sam Rollinson, Neneh Cherry and Molly Gallagher were also in attendance at the star-studded event (L-R) Sexily posed with her PVC jacket off her shoulders, Charli XCX showed she didn't mind the breezy temperatures when she strutted her stuff about town. Giving her look an edge, the musician donned mid-length pointed boots with killer stilettos and a bold red lip to complement her dress. Actress Noomi Rapace also turned heads as she made her way inside Selfridges & Co in London on Thursday evening. The Alien: Covenant star, 39, looked slick in a PVC dress with matching killer heels as she stepped into the iconic store joined by her 16-year-old son Lev. Good times: Supermodel Naomi Campbell's stunning mother Valerie Morris and Editor-In-Chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful posed up a storm at the event McGrath has joined forces with a host of designer brands to produce a range of uniquely designed products, all coloured with her signature gold. Embellished Judith Leiber clutch bags, Comme Des Garcons x Dr. Martens brogues, Valentino Garavani V Ring Bags are among some of the highlights, and McGrath admits she was thrilled to work on the new collection. 'To curate a selection of golden treasures from the worlds most iconic brands has been such an exciting element,' she said in a statement. 'From accessories to clothes to china to candy to candles to bijouxits beyond!' She rarely sets a foot wrong on the red carpet. And Shanina Shaik's style was on point on Thursday, when she stepped out in a pair of perspex heels for the launch of Pat McGrath's new beauty collection in London. Pairing the unusual footwear with a thigh-skimming white mini dress, the Victoria's Secret model, 28 flaunted her endless legs and incredible figure. Perspex appeal! Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik rocked transparent heels at Pat McGrath's beauty launch in London on Thursday night Keeping her accessories to a minimum, she wore gold earrings and a matching clutch. Shanina styled her brunette hair in an elegant updo, and showcased her flawless complexion with with a glamorous makeup palette. It comes after the U.S.-based model denied rumours she'd undergone lip fillers. White hot: The Victoria's Secret model, 28 flaunted her endless legs and incredible figure in a thigh-skimming mini dress 'Some people recently said, "Oh, my lips have changed",' she told to The Daily Telegraph last month. 'But I was like, I have video [on social media] of myself waking up in the morning you don't see anything different from my images'. Instead, Shanina insisted that any apparent changes to her appearance are always down to filters and 'good lighting'. Stunning: Shanina styled her brunette hair in an elegant updo, and showcased her flawless complexion with with a glamorous makeup palette Having walked the Victoria's Secret runway five times since 2011, Shanina takes her position as a role model very seriously. 'To be a role model, you have to be real. You can see from certain Instagrams what's real and whats fake,' she told the publication. 'I don't think it's good to alter so many images. We have young girls who are trying to achieve something and you have to remember that it's not always real.' The Footy Show's dramatic fall from grace continued this week as competitor The Front Bar kicked yet another goal in the ratings. After pulling in a measly 163,000 viewers nationally last week, the troubled Channel Nine AFL program drew in an even meager 160,000 last night, Perth Now reports. However, Channel Seven's The Front Bar increased their viewership, managing to draw in an incredible 392,000 viewers, up 7,000 from last week. Out with the old! The Front Bar kicks The Footy Show out of the field in ratings yet again..as the troubled Channel Nine AFL program continues to lose thousands of viewers every week The viewers in Perth were enough to bump the show up - with 63,000 viewers alone tuning in from the Western Australia capital. The statistics will be sure to disappoint Channel Nine executives, as The Footy Show has failed to capture a stable audience. The ever-switching panel have exhausted audiences, with many calling for the show to be put out of its misery. Fail: The statistics will be sure to disappoint Channel Nine executives as The Footy Show's dramatic fall from grace continues. Last year, Footy Show host Eddie McGuire announced on his Triple M breakfast show that the long-running program would be entirely revamped for 2019. Eddie also confirmed that he and colleague Sam Newman would only feature sporadically in the 'completely new format'. However, Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann, Neroli Meadows, Dylan Alcott and Brendan Fevola have since taken over the reins. The Front Bar, which is hosted by Andrew Maher, Mick Molloy and Sam Pang, has enjoyed stellar ratings since its 2015 inception. Win: The Front Bar, which is hosted by Andrew Maher, Mick Molloy and Sam Pang, has been a ratings winner for Channel Seven Married At First Sight's Jessika Power, 27, moved to Queensland's Gold Coast three weeks ago to be with her new beau Dan Webb, 35. And now Dan - who began a relationship with the blonde after having an 'affair' on the social experiment - has shared how his son has reacted to his new partner. Speaking at a Nova event in Sydney on Thursday, Jessika boasted: 'He's (Dan's five-year-old son) seen a photo of me and said "Daddy, your girlfriend is pretty!"' Scroll down for video 'Daddy, your girlfriend is pretty!' MAFS star Dan Webb (left) reveals his five-year-old son's reaction to new 'wife' Jessika Power (right) as the blonde relocates to the Gold Coast The crowd of guests and co-stars were heard reacting with a collective 'aww' as the couple spoke about their blossoming relationship. A fan had posed the question to Dan as to when he planned on introducing Jessika to his son. 'We are just taking our time, building a foundation and building a relationship,' the tattooed car broker said. Jessika agreed, adding: 'we want to make sure our love is strong enough to be there for him.' 'We want to make sure our love is strong enough to be there for him': The couple said they are taking their time to build their relationship before introducing Dan's son to Jessika Putting on a loved-up display! The crowd of guests and co-stars were heard reacting with a collective 'aww' as the couple spoke about their blossoming relationship While she has now relocated from Perth to the Gold Coast, she told HIT's Heidi, Xavier & Ryan this week that the couple are living separately. The busty blonde explained that she wanted to spend more quality time with her beau before taking it to the level. Dan gave Jessika a $399 commitment ring during their final vows ceremony on Sunday night. 'The future for me and Dan is a quick coastal move for me, marriage, kids and a house,' Jessika excitedly declared on the show. 'She's probably busy': Groom Mike Gunner (right) awkwardly dodged questions about where his 'wife' Heidi Latcham (left) was amid rumours their relationship has gone sour Meanwhile, groom Mike Gunner awkwardly dodged questions about whether his relationship with 'wife' Heidi Latcham has gone sour. 'If you guys are head over heels together, where is she tonight?' a fan asked Mike, to which he explained that her early start as a radio presenter kept her away from events. However, when the event hosts suggested he FaceTime Heidi, he claimed 'she's probably busy' and declined to contact her. Married At First Sight's two-part reunion finale starts on Sunday from 7pm Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) The Chinese Foreign Ministry avoided directly answering questions on the presence of hundreds of its vessels on Philippine territory. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang on Thursday was repeatedly asked about the presence of 275 ships that have swarmed around Pag-asa Island, the seat of the Kalayaan municipal government in Palawan province, in January to March. Foreign journalists pointed out that the Philippine government called the encroachment "illegal." Geng, instead of responding to the specific questions head on, said that China and the Philippines discussed how to resolve the situation in the South China Sea through cooperation during their "candid, friendly, and constructive" Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on Wednesday. "We discussed ways to resolve issues with a cooperative attitude and reiterated our commitments to further cooperation and talked about measures to enhance mutual trust. I believe that the consensus reached by the two sides through discussion in this meeting is the best answer to your question," he said in a media briefing in Beijing. The official added, "I think this speaks volumes." President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday told China to lay-off their hands on Pag-asa Island, but he also said this is not a threat. "Let us be friends, but do not touch Pag-asa Island and the rest," he said. Duterte, who has maintained friendly ties with China, said the country will exercise "compromise" with China as the Philippines cannot afford to go to war with the East Asian giant. "It's not 'no need (to drive them away).' We go into a compromise for the time being. If we go to war or there is a violent conflict, we would never win and I would suffer beyond imagination. I would just go there and send my soldiers and policemen to be slaughtered. I am not prepared to do that," he said. Ozzy Osbourne is 'getting better every day' as he continues to recover from his battle against pneumonia. But unfortunately for fans of the rocker, he has had to postpone more tour dates. The 70-year-old rocker was hospitalized in February after 'complications' stemming from his flu diagnoses, and although hes said hes on the mend, he will be postponing all of his scheduled 2019 performances in order to make a proper recovery. Improvement: Ozzy Osbourne is 'getting better every day' as he continues to recover from his battle against pneumonia In a statement, Ozzy said: 'I cant believe I have to reschedule more tour dates. 'Words cannot express how frustrated, angry and depressed I am not to be able to tour right now. 'Im grateful for the love and support Im getting from my family, my band, friends and fans, its really whats keeping me going. 'Just know that I am getting better every day I will fully recover I will finish my tour I will be back!' Postponement: Unfortunately, he has had to postpone more tour dates The Black Sabbath frontman first postponed dates of his No More Tours 2 tour when he was hospitalized for an infection in his hand last year. After honoring those delayed dates, he was then taken to hospital again where he was diagnosed with a severe upper-respiratory infection, which forced him to push back the UK and European leg of his concert series. Earlier this year, the Crazy Train hitmaker landed himself in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to complications from the flu, but was released in mid-February to continue his recovery at home. Working his way back: The 70-year-old rocker was hospitalized in February after 'complications' stemming from his flu diagnoses, and although hes said hes on the mend, he will be postponing all of his scheduled 2019 performances in order to make a proper recovery His wife Sharon Osbourne said at the time: 'He's doing great. He's out of ICU and he's doing great. 'He's breathing on his own. I just want to say a huge thank you to everybody that has reached out with good wishes. 'He is overcome by the response that he's had, and it's kind of bittersweet because he's overwhelmed with it, but he's sad too.' And Ozzy's doctors were reportedly "gravely concerned" about his condition. Disappointment: Ozzy said: 'I cant believe I have to reschedule more tour dates. 'Words cannot express how frustrated, angry and depressed I am not to be able to tour right now. A source said: 'Poor old Ozzy hasn't had the best of times. He's been really struggling with flu which turned into bronchitis. 'Doctors feared he could contract pneumonia which, in a person over 70, can be fatal. 'This sparked a lot of panic among those closest to him, but doctors reassured everyone he was in the best possible hands. ' Ozzy's a fighter, and is getting better day by day. The worst is over, he's smiling again, and he can't wait to get up on stage.' She was accused of 'preying on vulnerable people' during a tense exchange with Hamish MacDonald on The Project earlier this week. And celebrity psychic Jackie Gillies has responded to her TV stitch-up, claiming she could sense that Hamish had a 'negative energy' about him before their interview. During an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, the former Real Housewives star, 38, said she told Hamish he had a 'lot of anxiety' when they first met backstage. 'I could feel his anxiety': Celebrity psychic Jackie Gillies (left) 'sensed Hamish MacDonald's (right) negative energy' before their clash on The Project about the ethics of fortune telling Recalling their pre-show conversation, Jackie said: 'When I went on I could feel his anxiety and I said, "You've got a lot of anxiety". 'And he said, "No I don't". I said, "Yes you do". Pete [Helliar, The Project host] then goes, "You do". I just think he was coming from a place of fear.' Jackie added: 'A lot of the time when people don't want me to know things about them they try to close off because I do start to see their past, present and future - so I think there was a bit of fear factor going on. 'I was a bit taken aback, I was meant to be there to talk about my book. They didn't really get to that.' Hitting back: Jackie responded to her stitch-up on The Project during an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday alongside her husband, Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies Jackie's husband, Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies, who joined her on The Kyle and Jackie O show, also took issue with Hamish's confrontational attitude. 'Believe it or don't believe it, you don't have to keep ramming it down people's throats,' he said. The tense exchange on The Project began when Jackie claimed she had 'helped tens of thousands of people' during her 15 years as a medium. Hamish then suggested that psychics who charge for readings are potentially 'preying on vulnerable people'. Not impressed: Jackie suggested that Hamish was 'fearful' of her, before Ben said that skeptics should keep their opinions to themselves Jackie replied: 'Well, for me, I've been doing it for 15 years...' Hamish then asked, 'Do you take money for it?' to which Jackie responded: 'Absolutely! Just like you get paid for this job, [which is] quite a lot!' She added: 'I know when I give a psychic medium reading how many people I have helped and inspired over the years, and after 15 years I've got tens of thousands of testimonials that say that.' Jackie explained that it's important for people to 'keep an open mind and an open heart' when it comes to psychic readings. Addressing the ethics of being a professional medium, Jackie said that she 'isn't pushing anyone to come' to her and charges for her services because she 'knows [her] self-worth'. Michelle Williams gave fans an update on her 13-year-old daughter Matilda on what would have been her father Heath Ledger's 40th birthday. The 38-year-old actress appeared on Live With Kelly And Ryan on Thursday morning as she reflected on what it has been like raising her child as a single mother. Kelly Ripa along with her husband and guest co-host Mark Consuelos asked her how parenting was going on the Oscar winner's birthday to which Williams replied: 'So far, so good.' Scroll down for video Back in the day: Michelle Williams gave fans an update on her 13-year-old daughter Matilda on what would have been her father Heath Ledger's 40th birthday Revealing: The 38-year-old actress appeared on Live With Kelly And Ryan on Thursday morning as she reflected on what it has been like raising her child as a single mother Matilda was only two when her Australian dad Heath died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in a New York hotel on January 22, 2008, aged 28. As the teens are notoriously a rough time in a parent-child relationship, the four-time Oscar-nominee has braced herself for a change but things are still going swimmingly between the two. Michelle explained: 'Every morning we wake up and I look to see if the transformation has happened and if its turned into the next level that I keep hearing about, but so far, were not there yet.' 'So far, so good': Kelly Ripa along with her husband and guest co-host Mark Consuelos asked her how parenting was going on the Oscar winner's birthday to which Williams replied 'Every morning we wake up and I look to see if the transformation has happened': As the teens are notoriously a rough time in a parent-child relationship, the four-time Oscar-nominee has braced herself for a change but things are still going swimmingly between the two. No doubt Heath's presence is still felt today even over a decade after his untimely death as Kate Bosworth posted a sweet tribute to him on Instagram. She shared a sweet black and white photo of the talented actor as she opened up about their bond writing: 'Doesnt seem so long ago we were all running around LA, shotgunned into Hollywood + popping off the new millenniums cork, having a laugh. It was a crazy time. 'I was literally straight out of high school, feeling young & super shy and he was always so sweet within a surreal scene. I really, really would have loved to have known Heath today, at 40. No limits on what he would have accomplished. Just the two of us: Williams with daughter Matilda back in March 2013 Young love: Heath with Michelle at The Brothers Grimm premiere in LA back in August 2005 'Here is what I remember: he was sensitive, gentle, kind, wickedly funny. Extraordinarily special. Time goes by, his image still a teenage heartthrob. And his work. So brilliant + honest & he was just getting started.' Bosworth, 36, explained that it was important to remember the human being that he was. She concluded: 'I was on the outer orbit. Imagine those close to the sun. Thinking of all the people who knew and loved him on this day. Man, you made one hell of a mark. xo' 'No limits on what he would have accomplished': Kate Bosworth posted a sweet tribute to him on Instagram Bond: Heath and Kate pictured back in September 2007 Michelle has been a single mom since Heath's death - but the Dawson's Creek alum wed indie rock musician Phil Elverum, 40, in July. It came as a surprise to their fans as Michelle, who is notoriously private, and Phil had never gone public with their relationship. The two met through a mutual friend and married in a secret ceremony in the Adirondacks in upstate New York, according to Vanity Fair. Their nuptials were witnessed by a few friends and their kids Michelle's Matilda and Phil's daughter Agathe, three, who was an infant when her mother Genevieve Castree died of pancreatic cancer in 2016. Jamie Lee Curtis swung by CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Thursday in aid of her upcoming thriller Knives Out. The 60-year-old actress, whose parents were film stars Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, slid her enviably trim figure into a sleek white cocktail dress. Lending herself a bit of extra stature on nude stilettos, the childhood pal of fellow star kid Liza Minnelli accessorized with a glinting watch. Glowing: Jamie Lee Curtis swung by CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Thursday in aid of her upcoming thriller Knives Out She posed up a storm on the red carpet with her Knives Out co-star Ana De Armas, who has worked in both the American and Spanish film industries. Ana cut a chic figure in an LBD that featured a gleaming gold collar, plus matching gold trim around her waistline and down her decolletage. Jamie got in a bit of mingling on the red carpet, having an animated chat in front of the cameras with Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron. Charlize, who wore a fiery orange mini-dress to Caesars Palace that day, was promoting her forthcoming action comedy Long Shot co-starring Seth Rogen. The 60-year-old actress, whose parents were film stars Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, slid her enviably trim figure into a sleek white cocktail dress Looking fab: Lending herself a bit of extra stature on nude stilettos, the childhood pal of fellow star kid Liza Minnelli accessorized with a glinting watch Onstage at CinemaCon, Jamie spilled that she will play the mother of Chris Evans' character and the wife of Don Johnson's in Knives Out. It was previously known that these actors would be in the film, but not whom they would be playing, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jamie, who is married to Best In Show director Christopher Guest, said Knives Out follows the story of 'family gathering that turns bloody very quickly.' Dynamic duo: She posed up a storm on the red carpet with her Knives Out co-star Ana De Armas, who has worked in both the American and Spanish film industries Baroness Haden-Guest quipped: 'These people put the "dis" in dysfunctional, which should play very well this Thanksgiving weekend.' The film is helmed by Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, who said at CinemaCon: 'I've been a die-hard Agatha Christie fan since I was a teenager.' He explained: 'Knives Out was my attempt to take everything I love about an Agatha Christie who-done-it, jam it into an all-star cast, give it a Hitchcock thriller, genre twist and set it in modern-day America.' Tres elegant: Ana cut a chic figure in an LBD that featured a gleaming gold collar, plus matching gold trim around her waistline and down her decolletage Alfred Hitchcock directed Jamie's mother in her best-remembered role, murder victim Marion Crane, in the 1960 horror film Psycho. Daniel Craig headlines the cast of Knives Out, which also features Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Michael Shannon. Jamie took the stage at last year's CinemaCon to plug Halloween, the revival of the horror movie franchise that made her a star in 1978. Hobnobbing: Jamie got in a bit of mingling on the red carpet, having an animated chat in front of the cameras with Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron She always keeps her fans updated with her latest outfits and fashion inspiration. And Vogue Williams stepped out in another fashion-forward ensemble as she attended the launch of the Huawei p30 Pro mobile phone at The Tower Of London on Thursday. Showing that she is happy to wow in high street outfits, the beauty, 31, stunned in a brown jumpsuit that retails for 65 from River Island. On-trend: Vogue Williams, 31, stepped out in another fashion-forward outfit as she attended the launch of the Huawei p30 Pro mobile phone at The Tower Of London on Thursday The Irish beauty complemented her all-in-one with gold barely there heels and a stylish leopard print bag. Vogue's flawless bone structure was amplified by her plaited hair style that allowed her full face of make-up to be seen. For her evening out, she slicked a matte red lipstick over her pout and framed her eyes with wispy lashes. The mother-of-one attended the event with former Made In Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock, 30, who is pals with her husband, Spencer Matthews. Proudlock also dressed in a palette of warm earthy tones by pairing a white t-shirt and jeans with sand coloured desert boots and a brown and beige long-line coat. Friends: The mother-of-one attended the event with former Made In Chelsea co-star Oliver Proudlock, 30, who is pals with her husband Vogue's child-free night comes after she revealed she's put plans for a second child on hold, admitting she and Spencer want to enjoy their time with their first-born Theodore. The couple had previously been outspoken about how they wanted to add to three more to their brood, but now Vogue has backtracked and explained that she wants to give her 'body a break' before trying again. She told the Daily Mirror: 'I think I just want to enjoy a bit more of Theodore. And being pregnant, I didnt find it the easiest thing in the world so I need to give my body a little bit more of a break.' Work it! The Irish beauty complemented her all-in-one with gold barely there heels and a stylish leopard print bag Vogue admitted she doesn't want to wait too long before the next as she shares such a special bond with her sister Amber, who is two and half years her junior. She added: 'Theres just two and a half years between my sister and I and shes my best pal so Id love that for Theodore. At some point, we will start trying again in the not too distant future.' Vogue and her husband Spencer first met in January 2017 in Austria, on the set of Channel 4 reality show The Jump. The couple married at Spencer's family's estate in the Scottish Highlands in an intimate ceremony in June 2018. Earlier this year, Vogue admitted she cannot take any credit for 'taming' her former lothario husband as she discussed their marriage. Speaking to Fabulous Magazine, the model claimed that Spencer's transformation from a woman-loving party boy to doting dad and husband was simply due to him 'growing up'. She said: 'Taming Spencer wasnt anything to do with me. He had already grown up and was ready for a relationship. Ready for this kind of relationship.' Britain's Got Talent finally returns to screens this weekend for its new 2019 season - and episode one certainly isn't without its edge-of-your-seat moments. All four of the show's judges - David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon - as well as the studio audience and hosts Ant & Dec are left recoiling in terror and screaming shrilly as a double-act involving acrobatic brothers take to the stage. Viewers watching on Saturday can expect the Armenian Vardanyan Brothers, aged 28 and 30, to perform a shirtless act on stage, which sees one lifted up by the other in three separate routines. Back with a bang: Britain's Got Talent finally returns to screens this weekend for its new 2019 season - and episode one certainly isn't without its edge-of-your-seat moments The first leaves the audience shocked as they perform the splits in mid-air; the second sees one brother balance on the other one's head on his own, upside-down. The third, however, involves two sharp silver swords - and goes scarily wrong. The brothers attempt to replicate the up-side down routine, only this time with swords in their mouths, using these to balance on one another, instead of their heads. As Simon and co watch on, the brothers struggle to connect the swords, shaking and looking as if they will collapse at any moment. Shock: All four of the show's judges - David Walliams, Amanda Holden [pictured], Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon - as well as the studio audience and hosts Ant & Dec are left recoiling in terror and screaming shrilly as a double-act involving acrobatic brothers take to the stage Death defying: Viewers watching on Saturday can expect the Armenian Vardanyan Brothers, aged 28 and 30, to perform a shirtless act on stage, which sees one lifted up by the other in three separate routines The judges are left hiding behind their hands or turning their backs to the stage, as the audience can be heard screaming in terror. Eventually, one brother has to drop down, afraid to loose grip, leaving the routine incomplete. Yet they try it again, re-placing the swords between their teeth and launching themselves up once more to try and balance them. Again, screams can be heard from the audience and the judges are left recoiling, but the men achieve their goal and use the swords' tips to take one another's weight. Hard to watch: The judges are left hiding behind their hands or turning their backs to the stage, as the audience can be heard screaming in terror Wobbly: As Simon and co watch on, the brothers struggle to connect the swords, shaking and looking as if they will collapse at any moment Dare devils: Screams can be heard from the audience and the judges are left recoiling once more, but the men achieve their goal and use the swords' tips to take one another's weight Breathing a sigh of relief: Amanda says to the duo - 'It was exciting, terrible. I can't wait to see what you can do next' Dangerous: 'We have more dangerous acts to perform...' says one of the brothers, as they sail through to the next round Breathing a sigh of relief, Simon says: 'I almost was going to say you can't do this because in all my years this is the most dangerous act I have ever seen on any talent show!' Alesha remarks: 'Thrilling and incredible.' As Amanda adds: 'It was exciting, terrible. I can't wait to see what you can do next.' 'We have more dangerous acts to perform...' says one of the brothers, as they sail through to the next round. Britain's Got Talent returns at 7:15PM on ITV this Saturday. She's getting set for her latest Hellboy movie to hit the big screens next week. And Milla Jovovich was making sure she is going to bring her fashion A-game as she promotes the movie, spotted shopping in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 43-year-old actress looked stunning as ever as she carried giant bag which looked to be filled with clothing as she hit up designer stores in Melrose Place. Retail therapy: Milla Jovovich was spotted shopping in Los Angeles on Thursday She flashed her black bra underneath her fleshy-hued sheer T-shirt. The Resident Evil star showcased her shapely legs in skintight black jeans, which she teamed with cute ankle boots. The Ukraine-born stunner popped to Isabel Marant, as she was joined by a gal pal who was carrying a Balmain shopper. New togs: The 43-year-old actress looked stunning as ever as she carried giant bags which looked to be filled with clothing as she hit up designer stores in Melrose Place Raunchy: She flashed her black bra underneath her fleshy-hued sheer T-shirt Milla had an olive leather bag over one shoulder and simple pearl stud earrings. Her brunette tresses were in a chic updo which left her bangs and some sexy tendrils loose to frame her striking features. The star was seen last month in the trailer for Hellboy, a new adaptation of Mike Mignola's Dark Horse Comics title. Quirky touch: The Resident Evil star showcased her shapely legs in skintight black jeans, which she teamed with cute ankle boots Pretty: Her brunette tresses were in a chic updo which left her bangs and some sexy tendrils loose to frame her striking features Stylish: Milla had an olive leather bag over one shoulder and simple pearl stud earrings David Harbour, best known as Sheriff Hopper for Netflix's Stranger Things, stars as the title character, whose origins from the depths of hell are revealed. The trailer begins with a shot of, as Sophie Okenedo's Lady Hatton explains that, on an island off the coast of Scotland, 'something was summoned from the depths of hell.' A bizarre figure wearing a Nazi uniform while red and blue goggles watches as lighting strikes this stone temple, as a young Hellboy emerges. Hellboy hits theaters nationwide on April 12. The Britain's Got Talent judging panel are reduced to floods of tears in images released ahead of Saturday's comeback episode. As viewers tune into the show - which returns to ITV at the weekend - they can expect an upsetting audition involving Flakefleet Primary School, from Fleetwood, Lancs, who perform Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. The performance hits a nerve with the judging panel - David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon - as well as the studio audience and hosts Ant & Dec, as they are all left weeping at the audition. Welling up: The Britain's Got Talent judging panel are reduced to floods of tears in images released ahead of Saturday's comeback episode Things get more emotional when one of the kids tells Ant McPartlin that they 'missed him' - following his absence from TV for a year, having chosen to cease work to recover from his divorce, drink driving conviction and painkiller addition. As they leave the stage Ant plucks one of the little girls from the group and jokes that he wants to keep her. Tearful Ant tells her he 'loves her lots' in heart-string-tugging scenes. Judge David brands the children's performance, 'one of the most joyous things Ive ever seen' and tells them: 'You made our hearts soar.' Bless: As viewers tune into the show - which returns to ITV at the weekend - they can expect an upsetting audition involving Flakefleet Primary School, from Fleetwood, Lancs, who perform Don't Stop Me Now by Queen Sweet: Things get more emotional when one of the kids tells Ant McPartlin that they 'missed him' Judge David brands the children's performance, 'one of the most joyous things Ive ever seen' and tells them: 'You made our hearts soar' He adds: 'This is what you want your childhood to have been like and what you want your childrens childhood to be like' He adds: 'This is what you want your childhood to have been like and what you want your childrens childhood to be like.' In a somewhat more grown up moment from the show, all four judges are left recoiling in terror and screaming shrilly as a double-act involving acrobatic brothers take to the stage. Viewers watching on Saturday can expect the Armenian Vardanyan Brothers, aged 28 and 30, to perform a shirtless act on stage, which sees one lifted up by the other in three separate routines. Awww: As they leave the stage Ant plucks one of the little girls from the group and jokes that he wants to keep her Back with a bang: Episode one certainly isn't without its edge-of-your-seat moments The first leaves the audience shocked as they perform the splits in mid-air; the second sees one brother balance on the other one's head on his own, upside-down. The third, however, involves two sharp silver swords - and goes scarily wrong. The brothers attempt to replicate the up-side down routine, only this time with swords in their mouths, using these to balance on one another, instead of their heads. As Simon and co watch on, the brothers struggle to connect the swords, shaking and looking as if they will collapse at any moment. Shock: The judges, as well as the studio audience and hosts Ant & Dec, are left recoiling in terror and screaming shrilly as a double-act involving acrobatic brothers take to the stage Death defying: Viewers watching on Saturday can expect the Armenian Vardanyan Brothers, aged 28 and 30, to perform a shirtless act on stage, which sees one lifted up by the other in three separate routines The judges are left hiding behind their hands or turning their backs to the stage, as the audience can be heard screaming in terror. Eventually, one brother has to drop down, afraid to loose grip, leaving the routine incomplete. Yet they try it again, re-placing the swords between their teeth and launching themselves up once more to try and balance them. Again, screams can be heard from the audience and the judges are left recoiling, but the men achieve their goal and use the swords' tips to take one another's weight. Wobbly: As Simon and co watch on, the brothers struggle to connect the swords, shaking and looking as if they will collapse at any moment Dare devils: Screams can be heard from the audience and the judges are left recoiling once more, but the men achieve their goal and use the swords' tips to take one another's weight Breathing a sigh of relief: Amanda says to the duo - 'It was exciting, terrible. I can't wait to see what you can do next' Dangerous: 'We have more dangerous acts to perform...' says one of the brothers, as they sail through to the next round Breathing a sigh of relief, Simon says: 'I almost was going to say you can't do this because in all my years this is the most dangerous act I have ever seen on any talent show!' Alesha remarks: 'Thrilling and incredible.' As Amanda adds: 'It was exciting, terrible. I can't wait to see what you can do next.' 'We have more dangerous acts to perform...' says one of the brothers, as they sail through to the next round. Britain's Got Talent returns at 7:15PM on ITV this Saturday. Former Neighbours star Caitlin Stasey has posted yet another sexually explicit photo to her Instagram account. The 28-year-old Australian actress doesn't appear to be concerned about being banned from the social media platform after uploading the image on Friday morning, just four days after her first was taken down. The image, which is similar to the one she posted on Monday, shows three men in cowboy hats committing a sex act, with a video of Caitlin superimposed over them. Does she want to be banned? Former Neighbours star Caitlin Stasey has posted yet ANOTHER sexually explicit photo on Instagram... just four days after her first one was taken down What is she playing at? The image, which is similar to the one she posted on Monday, shows three men in cowboy hats committing a sex act, with a video of Caitlin superimposed over them 'What do you love? - Cowboys,' the actress says as she pouts in the video. In the video, she wears the same black cowboy hat, but pairs it with a green frilly top. 'Theyre doing a trust fall,' she writes in the accompanying caption. Free the nipple: The actress has previously lambasted Instagram for having double standards, as it apparently gives some high-profile users a free pass for nudity The post comes just four days after she uploaded a similarly suggestive post on her feed. In that image, two men appeared to be engaging in a sex act, as she again had superimposed a clip of herself over the image wearing a cowboy hat and a stripey top. After Instagram briskly took the photo down, Caitlin risked having her account cancelled altogether, as the social media site has a zero tolerance policy regarding sexual images. The actress has previously lambasted Instagram for having double standards, as it apparently gives some high-profile users a free pass for nudity. In 2015, she co-founded her website herself.com, a body confidence project aimed at empowering women through nude photography. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Caitlin Stasey for comment. During an appearance on TV's The View Thursday morning, she said that Jussie Smollett will return to Fox drama Empire following his legal drama. And hours later, Taraji P. Henson walked the red carpet at the New York premiere of her new film The Best Of Enemies. The actress, 48, stars as civil rights activist Ann Atwater in the based-on-a-true-story drama set in Durham, North Carolina. Star: Taraji P. Henson walked the red carpet at the New York premiere of her new film The Best Of Enemies on Thursday night Atwater wanted to work for peaceful implementation of school desegregation in Durham in 1971. During a 10-day long community meeting called a Charrette, she ended up forging an unlikely alliance with segregationist C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, and together they worked to improve public schools. The movie is adapted from the book The Best of Enemies by Osha Gray Davidson. Atwater died in 2016 but her granddaughter Ann Nakia Green attended Thursday's screening and posed for photos with Henson. Stylish: Henson, 48, looked gorgeous in a full-length Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini midnight blue dress with long sleeves that boasted 300,000 blue Swarovski crystals Historical: The actress stars as civil rights activist Ann Atwater in the based-on-a-true-story drama about the implementation of desegregation in public schools in Durham, N.C. in 1971 Glamorous: The actress was preened to perfection with her raven rob styled sleek and straight Finishing touches: Taraji put her best foot forward in sleek pointed black stilettos and accessorised with a smattering of sparkling jewels on her fingers Big night: Atwater died in 2016 but her granddaughter Ann Nakia Green attended Thursday's screening and posed for photos with Henson Stunning: Taraji enhanced her natural beauty with a flawless make-up application Henson looked gorgeous in a full-length Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini midnight blue dress with long sleeves that boasted 300,000 blue Swarovski crystals. On The View, when asked if Smollett will return to Empire, she replied that she hadn't heard anything to the contrary. She added she's been in regular touch with Smollett who plays one of the three sons of her character Cookie Lyon. 'Yeah I talk to Jussie all the time. He's doing well, we are all doing well, the show is doing well,' Henson went on. 'We are on hiatus right now, the writers are trying to figure out what the next season is going to look like, what our storyline is going to be.' Happy to see you: Sam Rockwell, 50, stars as C.P. Ellis and greeted his leading lady with a warm hug as they reunited at the premiere held at AMC Loews Lincoln Square in Manhattan Chiseled: The actor was nattily attired in an olive green two-piece suit Happy days: Sam gave the cameras a thumbs up as he posed for photographs Dapper: The actor buttoned up his olive green jacket over a black shirt Excited: Taraji couldn't contain her excitement as she made her way to pose for photographers Sam Rockwell stars as C.P. Ellis and other castmembers include Anne Heche, Babou Ceesay, Nick Searcy, Wes Bentley and Bruce McGill. Rockwell, 50, greeted his leading lady with a warm hug as they reunited at the premiere held at AMC Loews Lincoln Square in Manhattan. The actor was nattily attired in an olive green two-piece suit with the jacket buttoned up over a black shirt. Co-stars: Anne Heche also has a role in the film and joined Henson at the event wearing in a buttercup yellow dress Dared to bare: Heche put on quite a show in the revealing outfit that displayed plenty of her cleavage Eye-catching: The dress had a tiered skirt and the actress added a matching yellow necklace and gold embellished black shoes What's been said? Taraji looked shocked as she chatted to Anne at the NY premiere Sensational: Anne worked her best angles in the eye-catching gown Heche was also at the event, standing out from the crowd in a revealing buttercup yellow dress. The actress, 49, put on quite a show in the outfit that displayed plenty of her cleavage. The dress had a tiered skirt and she added a matching yellow necklace. The Best Of Enemies opens in theatres on Friday. On trend: Nadej K. Bailey paired a striped crop top and black pants paired with a black jacket, left, while Caitlin Mehner opted for an ankle-length dark green dress, right Finishing touches: The blonde beauty wore stud-adorned stilettos Simple look: Producer Dominique Telson kept it classy in a white off-the-shoulder dress with bateau neckline and snakeskin heels Dazzling: Ann-Nakin showcased her flamboyant sense style at the premiere Sleek: Babou Ceesay looked stylish in a sleek black suit and shift combo, while Nick Searcy gave his casual ensemble a unique twist with patterned shoes She stars alongside Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell in real life civil rights drama Best of Enemies. And Anne Heche was flaunting the best of her style credentials on Thursday, when she walked the red carpet at the premiere of her new movie. The actress, 49, put on quite a show in the outfit that displayed plenty of her cleavage as she arrived at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square in New York City. Build me up buttercup: Anne Heche was flaunting the best of her style credentials on Thursday, when she walked the red carpet at the premiere of her new movie The canary yellow silk cutaway dress revealed her torso and featured a tiered skirt. The Donnie Brasco star added a matching yellow necklace which dipped into her cleavage. Anne's blonde bob was styled into tousled waves, and she added some extra va-va-voom with cerise lipstick. Revealing: The actress, 49, put on quite a show in the outfit that displayed plenty of her cleavage as she arrived at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square in New York City Elegant: The canary yellow silk cutaway dress revealed her torso and featured a tiered skirt Glam: Her blonde bob was styled into tousled waves, and she added some extra va-va-voom with cerise lipstick Accessories: The Donnie Brasco star added a matching yellow necklace Heche plays Mary Ellis in the based-on-a-true-story drama set in Durham, North Carolina. It tells the story of the unlikely relationship between civil rights activist Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader. Atwater wanted to work for peaceful implementation of school desegregation in Durham in 1971. Movie role: Heche plays Mary Ellis in the based-on-a-true-story drama set in Durham, North Carolina Red carpet: She posed with co-star Taraji P. Henson During a 10-day long community meeting called a Charrette, she ended up forging an unlikely alliance with segregationist C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, and together they worked to improve public schools. Sam Rockwell stars as C.P. Ellis and other castmembers include Babou Ceesay, Nick Searcy, Wes Bentley and Bruce McGill. The movie is adapted from the book The Best of Enemies by Osha Gray Davidson. The Best Of Enemies opens in theatres on Friday. Logan Lerman looked slightly bruised and battered on the set of Amazon's The Hunt, where he was seen alongside his legendary co-star Al Pacino. The 27-year-old actor was seen sitting on a front stoop in Brooklyn, with a bruised face, while sitting next to his 78-year-old co-star on Thursday. Both Lerman and Pacino were announced as stars in mid-February, when Amazon Studios confirmed the cast of The Hunt. Logan and Al: Logan Lerman sported a bruised face while sitting next to co-star Al Pacino on the set of The Hunt from Amazon Studios Lerman was wearing a classic suit with a white shirt and black tie, black pants and black shoes, and his face seen br uised in several places. Pacino wore a black suit himself, with a purple tie, sitting in a chair on top of the stoop above Lerman. Lerman was later seen by himself, wearing a Patagonia coat over his suit while walking around the set. The Hunt is set in the year 1977, following a diverse band of Nazi Hunters living in New York City. On the steps: Lerman was wearing a classic black suit with a white shirt and black tie, with black pants and black shoes, with his face seen bruised in several places Nazi hunters: The Hunt is set in the year 1977, following a diverse band of Nazi Hunters living in New York City They have discovered hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials living in the United States, conspiring to create a Fourth Reich. The eclectic team of Hunters will set out on a bloody quest to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their new genocidal plans. Pacino plays a character named Meyer Offerman, described as, 'a powerful and mysterious man who is the leader of a vigilante group known as The Hunters.' Meyer becomes friends with Lerman's character, Jonah Heidelbaum, after his grandmother is brutally murdered right in front of him. Lerman's character: Meyer becomes friends with Lerman's character, Jonah Heidelbaum, after his grandmother is brutally murdered right in front of him Pacino's character: Pacino plays a character named Meyer Offerman, described as, 'a powerful and mysterious man who is the leader of a vigilante group known as The Hunters' Jonah's desire for revenge has lead him to Meyer's group, known as The Hunt, as he becomes his guide through the world of The Hunt. The cast also includes Jerrika Hilton as FBI agent Millie Malone, Saul Rubinek and Carol Kane as grandparents and The Hunt weapon experts Murray and Mindy Markowitz and Tiffany Boone as Hunter Roxy Jones. Jordan Peele executive produces, with David Weil and Nikki Toscano serving as co-showrunners for the new show. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is directing the pilot episode and slated to serve as executive producer. The Official Convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners - otherwise known as CinemaCon - wrapped up it's week-long convention Thursday night with a glitzy awards show. And a slew of celebrities showed up to receive their trophies at the event held in Las Vegas. Charlize Theron and Olivia Wilde brought glamour with their red carpet fashion choices. Charlize Theron and Olivia Wilde brought glamour to CinemaCon's closing night awards show in Las Vegas with their red carpet fashion choices Theron, 43, opted for a calf-length monochrome patterned dress with a high collar and long sleeves. The outfit was cinched at the waist with a black leather silver-studded band that matched the patterns on the dress. The South African star added black boots and wore her recently dyed brunette hair flat against her head with a center parting for a bold look. She added several metallic earrings just in one ear. Bold look: Theron, 43, opted for a monochrome patterned dress cinched at the waist with a black leather silver-studded band. The South African star added black heeled boots Dramatic: Theron wore her recently dyed brunette hair flat against her head with a center parting for a bold look. She added several metallic earrings just in one ear Honored: Theron was at the show to get the CinemaCon Comedy Stars Of The Year Award with Seth Rogen for their movie Long Shot which opens in theatres on May 3 Entertaining: The pair played it for laughs on stage Theron was at the show to get the CinemaCon Comedy Stars Of The Year Award with Seth Rogen. The convention honored the pair for their movie Long Shot even though it hasn't been released yet. It's due to hit theatres on May 3. Wilde, 35, chose a glittery emerald green tuxedo suit which she paired with black stiletto heels. It was a big night for the actress who was honored for her directorial debut, Booksmart which arrives in theatres on May 24. Her two leading ladies in the comedy were also on hand because they, too, were honored at the convention. Kaitlyn Dever, 22, and Beanie Feldstein, 25, were presented with the Female Stars Of Tomorrow Award. Dazzled: Wilde, 35, chose a glittery emerald green tuxedo suit which she paired with black stiletto heels. She left her shoulder-length hair loose and accessorized with several necklaces Called the shots: It was a big night for the actress who was honored for her directorial debut, Booksmart which arrives in theatres on May 24 Style: Olivia looked stunning at the event where she styled her blonde locks into loose curls Debut: Olivia's film Booksmart had its premiere at the South by Southwest film festival The actress switched her footwear later in the evening, sporting a pair of white and red trainers as she posed for a snap with Steve Buscemi Another award recipient was Octavia Spencer who had given a presentation at the convention for her horror movie Ma. The movie reunited her with her The Help director Tate Taylor and it comes out on May 31. Spencer, 46, who was honored with the Spotlight Award, looked lovely in an off-the-shoulder black dress with white flowers on the skirt. She completed her look with dramatic statement earrings and black sandal heels. Breakout roles: Wilde's two leading ladies in the comedy Beanie Feldstein, 25, and Kaitlyn Dever, 22, were presented with the Female Stars Of Tomorrow Award at the event Got a trophy: Octavia Spencer, 46, who had given a presentation at the convention for her horror movie Ma that comes out May 31, was honored with the Spotlight Award Pretty: The actress looked lovely in an off-the-shoulder black dress with white flowers on the skirt. She completed her look with dramatic statement earrings and black sandal heels Sincere: Spencer got a little emotional as she gave a speech after receiving her award Classic: Jamie Lee Curtis looked fabulous in a sleeveless black dress with a silver embroidered pattern around the neckline and a pair of black pumps Happy: The Halloween star, who's 60, received CinemaCon's Vanguard Award In the spotlight: David Harbour, 43, who stars in the new Hellboy movie opening April 12, was given the Action Star Of The Year Award Thanks: Harbour appeared thrilled to be given the recognition Recognition: Steve Buscemi, 61, got the big award of the night - the Cinema Icon Award Grateful: Buscemi was heartfelt in his appreciation Jamie Lee Curtis, 60, received CinemaCon's Vanguard Award. The Halloween star looked fabulous in a sleeveless black dress with a silver embroidered pattern around the neckline and a pair of black pumps. Stranger Things star David Harbour stars on the big screen in the upcoming Hellboy reboot which opens April 12. The actor, 43, was given the Action Star Of The Year Award. Steve Buscemi, 61, was honored with the biggest award of the night - the Cinema Icon Award. Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding was also at the awards show to receive the Male Star Of Tomorrow Award. The 32-year-old matched the red carpet in a red shirt paired with a red suit and provided a little contrast with black shoes with white trim. Honoree: Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, 32, received the Male Star Of Tomorrow Award Blended in: The 32-year-old matched the red carpet in a red shirt paired with a red suit and provided a little contrast with black shoes with white trim No joke: Comedian and actor Kevin Hart wore a gray ensemble as he accepted the International Star Of The Year Award Group effort: Linda Hamilton and her Terminator: Dark Fate co-stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes and Gabriel Luna received the CinemaCon Ensemble Award She's back: Hamilton, 62, kept it simple with a classic black pantsuit and some eye-catching earrings Comedian and actor Kevin Hart wore a gray ensemble as he accepted the International Star Of The Year Award. Linda Hamilton and her Terminator: Dark Fate co-stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes and Gabriel Luna received the CinemaCon Ensemble Award. Hamilton, 62, who reunites with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the next installment of the Terminator franchise, kept it simple with a classic black pantsuit and some eye-catching earrings. Things to say: Hamilton made some remarks on stage after the cast were presented with their trophies Contrasts: Natalia Reyes, 32, flaunted her curves in a gold and black strapless dress, left, while Mackenzie Davis, 32, paired a silky pink pinafore dress with a check shirt, right Julia Roberts donned a dark outfit in Malibu Thursday, as the A-lister stepped out to shop for groceries and vintage clothes on the overcast spring day. The 51-year-old actress was chic in a black dress with a multicolored blue and gray coat with floral patterns, and black clog shoes. The Academy Award winner's reddish-blonde locks were parted in the middle and she wore black sunglasses and a necklace while toting a leather purse. Scroll below for video Out and about: Julia Roberts, 51, donned a dark outfit on an overcast day in Malibu Thursday, as the A-lister stepped out to shop for groceries and vintage clothes on the spring day The Smyrna, Georgia native, who shot to super-stardom playing Vivian Ward in the 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman opposite Richard Gere, was hailed earlier this week by actress Samantha Barks, who plays Ward in the Broadway production of the film, Pretty Woman: The Musical. 'Shes so beautiful,' Barks told Broadway.com Wednesday of Roberts. 'She created this incredible character. She is magic ... shes such a warm person.' Barks opened up about the 'surreal moment' she had when she crossed paths with Roberts when she attended the show last summer. 'She hugged me, and we just stayed in a hug,' the 28-year-old performer told the publication. 'I was like, "Is this real life? Is this actually happening?"' Happy: The stunning actress smiled as she carried on her day in the luxe beach community Kind words: Samantha Barks, who plays Julia's Pretty Woman role in the Broadway production of the film, said of the star earlier this week: 'Shes so beautiful ... she is magic ... shes such a warm person.' The pair posed together last year Banks said that Roberts - who earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination in 1991 for the part - 'was so kind to [her] about what [she'd] done in the role,' adding that 'to have her blessing was a dream come true' and that 'you cant ask for more.' Roberts revisited the famed role last month while speaking with The Guardian, telling the publication that the dynamics of the storyline - a business magnate falling in love with a prostitute he hired - might not resonate as well 29 years after its March 1990 release. Happy: (L-R) Banks, Barbara Marshall, Roberts and Andy Karl posed at The Nederlander Theatre in NYC last year amid a performance of the musical dedicated to the film's late director, Garry Marshall 'I dont really think you could make that movie now, right?' Roberts said. 'So many things you could poke a hole in, but I dont think it takes away from people being able to enjoy it.' Roberts noted the lucky twist of fate she experienced in receiving the role after a number of actresses - including Demi Moore, Valeria Golino and Daryl Hannah - had turned it down, according to iMDb. 'It really is not a measure of talent, particularly in the beginning,' she told the outlet of her route to leading lady status. 'Its a measure of good fortune - and being able to have your wits about you enough to make something out of that good fortune.' She's a single mother-of-one who knows how hard it is to balance motherhood and a career. And on Friday, media personality Laura Csortan stepped out for the launch of the new parenting book, The Juggle, in Sydney. The 42-year-old showed off her incredible figure and washboard abs on the outing wearing a crop top and high-waisted trousers, as she joined a number of celebrity mothers on the day, including Sally Obermeder and Erika Heynatz. Looking good! Mother-of-one Laura Csortan, 42, (pictured) flashed her washboard abs at the launch of parenting book The Juggle in Sydney on Friday Laura's short blouse featured a floral print and she teamed the look with black wide-leg trousers and black pointed heels. She wore her locks out and over her shoulders and appeared to be wearing minimal makeup. Laura, who is the proud mother of daughter Layla, two, appeared in high spirits at the event. Her girl! Laura is the proud mother of daughter Layla, two (pictured). Laura recently opened up about being a single mother, admitting it can be 'really lonely' sometimes Laura recently opened up about being a single mother, admitting it can be 'really lonely' sometimes in a social media post back in October. 'Mothering/parenting can be a really lonely road, it certainly is for me at times, more often than I'd like to be honest,' she wrote. The former travel presenter and single mother has chosen not to reveal the identity of her daughter's father. At the event meanwhile, she joined the likes of Sunrise's Natalie Barr, Erika Heynatz and Sally Obermeder, with the event taking place at the Champagne Bar at the Sofitel in Darling Harbour. Stepping out in style: Some of Australia's most high profile mums gathered for the launch of the new parenting book, The Juggle, in Sydney on Friday. Pictured, Natalie Barr Pretty in pink: Natalie led the celebrity guest list, stepping out in a short-sleeve magenta knit T-shirt, which she paired with navy blue trousers Natalie, 51, stepped out in a short-sleeve magenta knit T-shirt, which she paired with navy blue trousers. The Sunrise news presenter rounded out her look with a pair of strappy black high heels. Also at the event was Erika, 44, who looked stunning in a black wrap dress printed with a blue and pink printed motif. She accessorised with black high heels and a black clutch purse and wore her long blonde hair loose. Dressed to impress: Erika Heynatz (pictured) looked stunning in a black wrap dress printed with a blue and pink printed motif Into the wild: Sally Obermeder (pictured) also stepped out for the event, donning a stylish red and black leopard-print dress Sally, 45, also stepped out for the event, donning a stylish red and black leopard-print dress. She accessorised with lace-up black stilettos, and carried a quilted black clutch purse. Sally's sister, Maha Koraiem Corbett, was also at the launch, stepping out in an all-black ensemble. The 41-year-old author opted for black pants, a black top and black blazer, which she wore draped over her shoulders. New mum: Tahyna MacManus (nee Tozzi, pictured) opted for a black and red ensemble, stepping out less than a month after welcoming her second child, a boy named Oisin Keeping mum: A host of celebrity mothers were on hand for the book's launch, including (L-R) Maha Koraiem Corbett, Steph Adams, Laura, Sally, Elle Halliwell and Samantha Brett Like Sally, Tahyna MacManus (nee Tozzi) also opted for a black and red ensemble, stepping out less than a month after welcoming her second child, a boy named Oisin. The 32-year-old new mum stepped out in a black shirtdress, which she paired with a maroon-coloured velvet blazer. The book's authors, Steph Adams and Samantha Brett, wore matching white ensembles. Words of wisdom: The book features first-hand accounts from real-life mothers on how they create balance Steph opted for a strapless mid-length dress, which she teamed with a statement jewel necklace and enclosed heels. Meanwhile, Samantha wore a one-shoulder mini-dress, which she paired with metallic strappy stilettos. Journalist Elle Halliwell was also on the guest list, stepping out in black pants, a black top and loafers. Issa Rae stepped out in Atlanta to celebrate the release of her new big screen comedy Little, in theaters April 12. The 34-year-old Insecure star/creator was all smiles posing with her co-star Marsai Martin and others at the Atlanta premiere at Regal Atlantic Station on Thursday. Rae also took to the stage to introduce the movie to the crowd, along with Martin, co-star Regina Hall, producer Will Packer and director Tina Gordon. Issa on the carpet: Issa Rae hits the red carpet of the Little premiere in Atlanta Co-stars: Rae also took to the stage to introduce the movie to the crowd, along with Martin, co-star Regina Hall, producer Will Packer and director Tina Gordon The Insecure actress wore a full-length violet dress for her red carpet appearance on Thursday, which fell to her ankles. She also wore gold earrings and black heels while holding a small clutch handbag. Rae was also wearing a number of rings on her fingers as she posed with her castmates at the event. Little follows Jordan (Regina Hall), a successful woman who gets transformed to her younger self (Marsai Martin) when she can't handle the pressures of adulthood. Stepping out: Rae was wearing a full-length violet dress for her red carpet appearance on Thursday, which fell to her ankles Little stars: Little follows Jordan (Regina Hall), a successful woman who gets transformed to her younger self (Marsai Martin) when she can't handle the pressures of adulthood Rae portrays April, the overworked assistant of Jordan, who tries to help Jordan get back to her old self. Martin pitched the original idea in 2014 when she was just 10 years old, and now at 14 years of age, she became the youngest person ever to get an executive producer credit on a major Hollywood production. Rae stars in and co-created the hit series Insecure, which returns for its fourth season on HBO later in 2019. She also stars in The Lovebirds, alongside Anna Camp and Kumail Nanjiani, which is slated for release on March 6, 2020. Busy actress: Rae stars in and co-created the hit series Insecure, which returns for its fourth season on HBO later in 2019 Castmates: Rae was also wearing a number of rings on her fingers as she posed with her castmates at the event Multi-talented: Martin pitched the original idea in 2014 when she was just 10 years old, and now at 14 years of age, she became the youngest person ever to get an executive producer credit on a major Hollywood production The actress is currently filming The Photograph, alongside Chelsea Peretti, Lakeith Stanfield and Lil Rel Howrey, which will be released in 2020. Other guests at the Atlanta premiere included Braxton Family Values star Trina Braxton and Von Scales. Director Tina Gordon and producer Will Packer also posed on the red carpet during the event, along with Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin. Other premiere guests include actress Erica Page and Dish Nation host Monyetta Shaw. Regina: Regina Hall hit the red carpet at the Little premiere Premiere: Other guests at the Atlanta premiere included Braxton Family Values star Trina Braxton and Von Scales Tina and Will: Director Tina Gordon and producer Will Packer pose on the red carpet Caleb is here: Caleb McLaughlin posed on the red carpet Erica's arrival: Erica Page arrives at the Little premiere in Atlanta He's been clutching onto the fame ever since he appeared on Married at First Sight last year. And now former groom Nasser Sultan, 51, has claimed he has a net worth of $6.68 billion dollars. Nasser shared a link to a website called Idol Networth on his Facebook page, which says he has $6.68 billion in the bank. Billions in the bank? Former MAFS star Nasser Sultan, 51, (pictured) claimed he has a net worth of $6.68 BILLION dollars Interesting! Nasser shared a link to a website called Idol Networth on his Facebook page, which says he has a net worth of $6.68 billion 'Nasser Sultan net worth and salary: Nasser Sultan is a reality star who has a net worth of $6.68 billion,' Nasser's profile on the website read. The description continued: 'Nasser Sultan was born in in May 9, 1967. Reality television personality who starred on the fifth season of the Australian reality show Married at First Sight. Away from the show, he has worked as a fitness instructor.' Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Friday after being questioned whether this was a correct figure, Nasser said: 'Yes I do and it's a family wealth.' Confirmation: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Friday after being questioned whether this was a correct figure, Nasser said: 'Yes I do and it's a family wealth' 'We have a long history and our family are the real Sultans,' he added. But it seems money can't buy you everything, as the self-proclaimed billionaire has struggled to get his official blue tick on Instagram and have his account verified. Multiple stars from the current season were officially verified last week. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about the snub, an enraged Nasser said: 'It's a disgrace!' Things money can't buy! But it seems money can't buy you everything, as the self-proclaimed billionaire has struggled to get his official blue tick on Instagram and have his account verified Awkward! Multiple stars from the current season were officially verified last week He continued: 'I am bigger and more known than any of those wannabes. My celebrity status is growing and those people are fly-by-night. 'But if Instagram recognises bogans and delinquents then this country is sad and we as a Australia have got a problem.' Nasser has been actively campaigning for the coveted blue tick since last year, when every one of his season five MAFS co-stars were verified except for him. She's become an overnight success on Netflix show, Sex Education - and Emma Mackey has spoken about the key themes of the new cult show. Speaking to ES magazine, the 23-year-old discussed what it was like filming sex scenes with her on-screen boyfriend in a post #MeToo environment. She said: 'The nudity and the sex stuff was fine, because I knew I had to do it. We had a workshop and worked with an intimacy co-ordinator. Outspoken: Sex Education's Emma Mackey told ES magazine'there was a lot of self-love and nudity' in the Netflix show as she reflected upon her overnight success (still from the show) Star: Emma features on the cover of the magazine in which she reveals her mother binge watched the show in a weekend We were sorted really, there was a lot of self-love in the show, some full nudity and some half nudity. Emma stars as Maeve Wiley in the teenage drama which also features X-Files alum Gillian Anderson as a sex therapist and Asa Butterfield as her son who starts his own sex advice clinic at school alongside Maeve. On landing the part, Emma said: When I got off the phone I burst into tears and did a cliched squeal. Sex Education: The coming-of-age drama sees the socially awkward Otis Milburn, played by Asa Butterfield, (left)and Maeve Wiley, (Emma) joins forces to provide sexual advice to students 'I called my mum and pretended to be very, very cool. Like Yeah, got this role, its not big thing Emma said her mother binge watched the controversial series over the course of a weekend. She said of her family: 'They love it. Everyone I know of my grandparents generation said that they wished it had existed when they were younger. How things change: Only 12 months ago, Emma was working as a translator and living with friends and family in London to make ends meet (at LFW in February) 'Everyone in my family watched it my mums best friend flew to France to watch it with her, and they binged it in the course of a weekend. Now known to millions across the world, only 12 months ago, Emma was working as a translator and living with friends and family in London to make ends meet. However after receiving the call that would land her a role on the highly anticipated Netflix drama watched by 40 million viewers the actress has been propelled into worldwide stardom. Before the actress relocated to the UK, she grew up in the rural idyllic Sable-sur-Sarthe, north-west France, and was educated at a Catholic School. She said: 'It was really... nice, I went to a Catholic school and did loads of sport and I was really happy. I loved studying and was very bookish. It was quite a sheltered existence.' However after arriving in Leeds on her own to study English Language she experienced a shock to the system and described having to 'toughen up'. She said: 'Yeah. I had to toughen up a bit. People made me realise I was quite innocent and oblivious to certain things. I wanted to make people like me.' Emma Mackey's full interview can be read in this weeks issue of ES Magazine out on April 9. Megan McKenna was spotted taking a break from the recording studio on Thursday, as she continues to spend time in Nashville after her ex Mike Thalassitis' death. The 25-year-old reality star has been honouring her country music commitments in America as she immerses herself in work following the tragic event. Last month, the Love Island star was found hanged in a woodland near his Edmonton home aged 26, with his management and Met Police confirming his passing. Tough times: Megan McKenna was spotted taking a break from the recording studio on Thursday, as she continues to spend time in Nashville after her ex Mike Thalassitis' death Megan looked sombre as she made her way back to her SUV after picking up some lunch from the Cheesecake Factory with a friend. Megan spoke about her planned trip to Nashville in an interview with new! magazine before Christmas, in which she said she would be recording new music. The star released a statement on Twitter to offer condolences to Mike's family, two days after his death. She wrote at the time: 'Sorry I haven't been on social media but I'm in complete shock and trying to come to terms with this. Stepping out: The 25-year-old reality star has been honouring her country music commitments in America as she immerses herself in work following the tragic event Tragic: Last month, the Love Island star was found hanged in a woodland near his Edmonton home aged 26, with his management and Met Police confirming his passing Way back when: Mike and Megan dated on and off throughout 2018, but ended their relationship for good last August (pictured in May last year) 'I can't believe I'm even writing this post. My thoughts and prayers are with Mike's family. Rest in peace Mike x' Mike and Megan dated on and off throughout 2018, but ended their relationship for good last August. Megan previously defended the reality star, insisting that he was not a 'nasty' person and there was no other explanation for their break-up than being at 'different points in their lives.' Heading home: Megan looked sombre as she made her way back to her SUV after picking up some lunch from the Cheesecake Factory with a friend New music: Megan spoke about her planned trip to Nashville in an interview with new! magazine before Christmas, in which she said she would be recording new music Just weeks before his passing, Megan became emotional when speaking about her relationship with Mike, while looking for love on Celebs Go Dating. In an episode of the E4 dating show that aired in February, the former TOWIE star began to cry before saying she did not want to discuss it further. Megan said: 'I think my last relationship, I was kind of... I definitely fell in love. I don't really want to talk about it, sorry. But I feel that's all I want, I want that love back.' Statement: The star released a statement on Twitter to offer condolences to Mike's family, two days after his death. She wrote at the time: 'Sorry I haven't been on social media but I'm in complete shock and trying to come to terms with this' Defence: Megan previously defended the reality star, insisting that he was not a 'nasty' person and there was no other explanation for their break-up than being at 'different points in their lives' Mike and Megan dated for seven months on and off but ultimately confirmed their separation seven months ago. They were first romantically linked in February 2018 when they jetted off to spend Valentine's Day together in Amsterdam. On why they ended things, Megan previously said: 'We just feel like we're both at different point in our lives. We both respect each other and we didn't want it to get nasty or messy. 'There is only so much you can do in a relationship and when it's not working you've got to take separate routes.' Emotional: Just weeks before his passing, Megan became emotional when speaking about her relationship with Mike, while looking for love on Celebs Go Dating They went public with their romance at the beginning of this year. And Halsey wasn't afraid to show off her budding relationship, as she stepped out with her new beau Yungblud while grocery shopping together in LA. The Without Me songstress, 24, cut a relaxed figure as she strolled around the store with her boyfriend, musing at the items on offer before heading to the check out. New love: Halsey wasn't afraid to show off her budding relationship, as she stepped out with her new beau Yungblud while grocery shopping together in LA Halsey - real name Ashley Nicolette Frangipane - opted for a low-key look, sporting a baggy black band T-shirt and a pair of loose-fitting sweatpants. She teamed her casual ensemble with a pair of chunky white trainers, while simply accessorising with a silver choker-style necklace and a pair of hoop earrings. The New Jersey native worked her raven tresses up into cute buns on top of her head, tied with red velvet scrunchies, while opting for minimal make-up. Grocery store: The Without Me songstress, 24, cut a relaxed figure as she strolled around the store with her boyfriend, musing at the items on offer before heading to the check out Yungblud - real name Dominic Harrison - also opted for a laid back look, as he rocked a pair of grey sweat pants and a brown T-shirt with a black jacket. Halsey and Yungblud were first rumoured to be dating in November, after her split from on/off boyfriend rapper G-Eazy in October. She shared snaps from Yungblud's tour performance in Paris in early January, fuelling more speculation that they're dating, before going on to confirm their romance. Star performer: Before heading back to LA to spend time with her boyfriend, Halsey jetted to Toyoko to perform during the Tokyo Girls Collection held at Yokohama Arena Just weeks after her split from G-Eazy, Halsey was spotted visited her new beau in London, however it is unknown whether this was because of work or their budding romance. Halsey recently shocked fans by joining her boyfriend on stage at a Radio 1 gig at their Maida Vale studios to sing their song 11 Minutes together. Before heading back to LA to spend time with her boyfriend, Halsey jetted to Toyoko to perform during the Tokyo Girls Collection held at Yokohama Arena. Sensational: During her concert Halsey flaunted her toned legs in a skimpy white leotard, teamed with a flowing silk jacket, which she belted around her svelte waist Leggy: Halsey added white, pointy lace-up boots that matched her suit nicely, showcasing her inking along the top of her thigh as she strutted along the stage During her concert Halsey flaunted her toned legs in a skimpy white leotard, teamed with a flowing silk jacket, which she belted around her svelte waist. Halsey added white, pointy lace-up boots that matched her suit nicely, showcasing her inking along the top of her thigh as she strutted along the stage. Her pink hair was worn down with soft waves and she added a selection of dazzling diamond jewellery - two necklaces, a ring and earrings. Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley is set to leave fans squirming on Friday night's episode of Celebs On The Ranch as she is flung from her horse. The WAG was seen losing control of the animal as she rode along, shortly before a shocking jolt saw her hurtle in the air and fall with a crash - as paramedics sped in to rescue her while her co-stars looked on in horror. Wheel of Fortune icon Jenny Powell, 50, was particularly stunned as she had been bunking with Tanya, 37, yet had faith in her co-star, saying: 'She's my roommate and she's a feisty girl. She's tough as nails. Her resilience will get her through this.' Shocking: Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley is set to leave fans squirming on Friday night's episode of Celebs On The Ranch as she is flung from her horse Tanya joined a host of fellow stars in heading to the Channel 5 show, which is a Celebs On The Farm spin-off and premiered on Monday night. Thus far, former Love Island star Georgia Steel has infuriated fans as she rocked up to the ranch screaming incessantly about how desperate she was to ride a pony. However the horses were causing more problems, as Tanya was seen in her horrific moment before being strapped up by vying paramedics. Her co-star Louis Spence recounted to the camera: 'Her horse started to buck. She let go of the reins. She did everything she wasn't meant to do. But I understand why she did, because out of all us, Tanya was more fearful of the horse.' Agh! The WAG was seen losing control of the animal as she rode along, shortly before a shocking jolt saw her hurtle in the air and fall with a crash - as paramedics sped in to rescue her while her co-stars looked on in horror Terrifying: However the horses were causing more problems, as Tanya was seen in her horrific moment before being strapped up by vying paramedics That was then! She has been sharing smouldering snaps from her time on the ranch Love Island star Eyal Booker added: 'I was in shock. No one knew what to do and we all rushed to the fence but the paramedic was straight in.' Jenny went on, said: 'I think none of us had really seen anything like that in front of our eyes, but she's my roommate and she's a feisty girl. And she's tough as nails. Her resilience will get her through this.' The beleaguered group also shovel manure, herd cattle, move hay bales and ride horses while taking part on the show, filmed entirely on location in rural Arizona. Tanya's accident hit headlines before the show came on screens, with a source telling The Daily Star: 'The ranch was four hours by car to the nearest hospital so when Tanya was thrown from her horse she had to be airlifted by helicopter. Noo! Wheel of Fortune icon Jenny Powell, 50, was particularly stunned as she had been bunking with Tanya, 37, yet had faith in her co-star, saying: 'She's my roommate and she's a feisty girl. She's tough as nails. Her resilience will get her through this' Alarming: Love Island star Eyal Booker added: 'I was in shock. No one knew what to do and we all rushed to the fence but the paramedic was straight in' Shock: Her co-star Louis Spence recounted to the camera: 'Her horse started to buck. She let go of the reins. She did everything she wasn't meant to do. But I understand why she did, because out of all us, Tanya was more fearful of the horse' 'She was taken straight to the trauma unit where they assessed her back. She was in agony and her back was swollen from the fall. Everyone was worried that she wouldn't be able to continue and would have to pull out of the show.' She was later released from hospital and returned to the show, only to discover her injury was worse than first thought when she returned to the United Kingdom. The source added: 'It was only when she got home that she discovered she'd cracked a vertebrae.. Her back was so swollen that the injury had been missed when she was initially checked over' Sigrid Thornton looked every inch the movie star when she stepped out for the Screen Industry Gala Awards on the Gold Coast on Friday. The 60-year-old actress looked elegant in a knee-length white shift dress with a belted waist. She finished off her look with a pair of nude-coloured pointy-toe stilettos and silver jewellery. Classic beauty: Sigrid Thornton looked every inch the movie star when she stepped out for the Screen Industry Gala Awards on the Gold Coast on Friday Her long brown hair was worn in a chic updo, with a few face-framing layers left loose. The awards show is part of the Gold Coast Film Festival, which runs from April 3-14. Sigrid was awarded The Chauvel Award at this year's ceremony, and was seen proudly posing with her trophy on the red carpet. Winner: Sigrid was awarded The Chauvel Award at this year's ceremony, and was seen proudly posing with her trophy on the red carpet Proud moment: The accomplished actress was seen showing off her trophy to other guests at the ceremony The Chauvel Award was established in 1992, and according to the Screen Industry Gala Awards website, 'acknowledges significant contribution to the Australian Screen Industry and is named in honour of two of Australias most significant filmmakers, Charles and Elsa Chauvel'. Sigrid was this year's recipient, with the website describing her as 'an icon of Australian screen, television and stage'. The accomplished actress was seen showing off her trophy to other guests at the ceremony. Iconic: The Screen Industry Gala Awards described the actress as 'an icon of Australian screen, television and stage' All white: The 60-year-old actress looked elegant in a knee-length white shift dress with a belted waist. Pictured with another attendee She was also seen engaging in an animated conversation with her husband, film producer Tom Burstall, 65. The pair appeared somewhat tense during a discussion on the busy red carpet. Sigrid and Tom have been married for over 30 years, and are parents to two adult children, daughter Jaz and son Ben. Married life: She was also seen engaging in an animated conversation with her husband, film producer Tom Burstall Talking animatedly: The pair appeared somewhat tense during a discussion on the busy red carpet Longevity: Sigrid and Tom have been married for over 30 years, and are parents to two adult children, daughter Jaz and son Ben In a 2015 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the Wentworth actress said her children being older meant she was able to focus more on her career. 'While the sun shines, I'm making hay. My family is older now, they're more independent, so I've got an opportunity to focus more on those aspects of my life,' she said at the time. 'I've always been mildly obsessed with trying to keep some sort of balance, but I can focus a bit more keenly on a single task now.' She has just returned from a girls' trip to the Maldives. And during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Friday, Ashley James, 30, insisted she would be 'offended' if a partner went snooping through her phone, because it shows a lack of 'respect.' The reality star, who is currently single, went on to admit that she previously snooped on an ex-boyfriend's phone, which led to her finding out that he was cheating on her. Offended: during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Friday, Ashley James, 30, insisted she would be 'offended' if a partner went snooping through her phone, because it shows a lack of 'respect' During a debate about whether or not it's acceptable to snoop through a partner's phone, Ashley said: 'I think the key to a healthy relationship is obviously trust and if you trust someone you shouldnt have to snoop, its important in a relationship.' Later she admitted: 'If I was with someone who read my phone, I feel like it'd doom the relationship because Id be offended that they didnt respect me enough to ask the question, because I think we can always forgive people being insecure. The Celebrity Big Brother star then revealed that she previously read through an ex's phone, which confirmed her suspicions that he was being unfaithful. Ashley said: 'In my case, I snooped on my boyfriends phone years ago and it turns out he did cheat, but looking back at it, I think I already knew the answer.' Snooping: The reality star, who is single, admitted that she previously snooped on an ex-boyfriend's phone, which led to her finding out that he was cheating (Pictured in March 2017) Relationship chat: Ashley said: 'I think the key to a healthy relationship is obviously trust and if you trust someone you shouldnt have to snoop, its important in a relationship' Doomed: Later she admitted: 'If I was with someone who read my phone, I feel like it'd doom the relationship because Id be offended that they didnt respect me enough' The truth: Ashley then revealed that she previously read through an ex's phone, which confirmed her suspicions that he was being unfaithful (Pictured with Anila Chowdry) The Celebrity Big Brother star also explained how looking on someone's phone without permission could lead to 'completely innocent' things being taken out of context. She said: 'We all know what happens on friends' Whatsapps. Someone shares a picture of someone they've met online. You wanna encourage them, so you're like: "Wow, they'r so hot," or whatever it might be. 'And if you're insecure, and there looking for things. They might take that and internalise it. 'I think as well it shows a lack of respect for yourself if you feel maybe that youre not worth it and youre insecure. 'We all have different insecurities and that's fine, but I just think it should be a face-to-face conversation.' Confirmation: Ashley said: 'In my case, I snooped on my boyfriends phone years ago and it turns out he did cheat, but looking back at it, I think I already knew the answer' Misconstrued: The Celebrity Big Brother star also explained how looking on someone's phone without permission could lead to 'completely innocent' things being taken out of context Stylish: Ashley looked chic for her TV appearance in an animal print blouse Pretty: The blonde beauty styled her locks into tight curls and wore a peach eyeshadow Going into more depth about her own experiences, she went onto express how she used to feel as though she didn't 'deserve a good relationship.' She said: 'If my boyfriend - I dont have one - asked to use my phone to call someone and I said "no" then that would create suspicion. 'This is what I think, again with what I said earlier, I didnt think I deserved a good relationship in the past so I think I was looking for validation by snooping. 'But also I think you could have, I could go into my next relationship after being cheated on and then think that it would happen again, but you need to build that trust. 'If you sext someone else, that counts as cheating for me.' They are successful actresses who starred in the 2018 hit film Widows. And Michelle Rodriguez enjoyed a spot of leisure time with co-star Elizabeth Debicki at the farmer's market in LA on Thursday. The Fast and The Furious actress, 40, was casually cool for the outing, clad in a skintight pastel pink vest top, covered with a sparkling white hoodie. Day off: Michelle Rodriguez enjoyed a spot of leisure time with Widows co-star Elizabeth Debicki at the farmer's market in LA on Thursday Drawing the eye to her toned legs, the brunette beauty slipped on clinging leggings adorned with a sunny woodland print. Keeping the ensemble comfortable, she completed her look with suede loafers. Her tresses were pulled back into a sleek updo while she shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of mirrored shades. Glamour: The Fast and The Furious actress, 40, was casually cool for the outing, clad in a skintight pastel pink vest top, covered with a sparkling white hoodie Outing: Elizabeth, 28, who had a steamy sex scene with Tom Hiddleston in hit BBC drama The Night Manager, was suitably chic for the outing in a plunging scarlet floral maxi dress paired with white trainers Elizabeth, 28, who had a steamy sex scene with Tom Hiddleston in hit BBC drama The Night Manager, was suitably chic for the outing in a plunging scarlet floral maxi dress paired with white trainers. She layered up in a grey duster coat and wore her blonde locks in a half updo. The star flashed a sunny smile as she walked along, having picked up some oranges and avocados at the market. The actresses took leading roles in Steve McQueen's thriller Widows, released in 2018. Co-stars: The actresses took leading roles in Steve McQueen's thriller Widows, released in 2018 The film starred Viola Davis, Michelle and Elizabeth Debicki as women who band together after their husbands are killed in a robbery gone wrong. Michelle is currently filming a new movie called Dreamland which explores the US opioid crises. The film also stars Evangeline Lily, Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp's daughter Lily-Rose Depp. The drama will follow the story of a university professor (Gary) as he makes a disturbing discovery about his employer, a pharmaceutical company with profound government influence bringing a new 'non-addictive' painkiller to market. A drug trafficker (Armie) who organises a multi-cartel operation moving Fentanyl between the US and Canada and an architect who is recovering from an OxyContin addiction who discovers the truth behind her son who is also involved with drugs. Michelle plays a DEA supervisor who clashes with Armie's character while Lily will portray his younger sister. Meanwhile Elizabeth became one of the most enviable women in the world after her steamy sex scene with Tom Hiddleston aired in 2017. But The Night Manager star revealed that shooting the show's most memorable moment was far from sexy. The stunning actress, who is currently starring in the West End, told This Morning that she had no idea the fuss the sex scene would cause. Elizabeth played Jed in the hit BBC series, who begins a sizzling affair with Tom's Jonathan Pine - an intelligence operative tasked with infiltrating the inner circle of Jed's arms dealer boyfriend Roper (Hugh Laurie). She recently revealed she lost a stone in just one week at an intensive boot camp in Portugal. And Imogen Thomas showcased the fruits of her labour as she hit the town for a night out at Japanese eatery Zuma in London's Knightsbridge on Thursday. The former Big Brother star, 36, looked incredible as she slipped into a sheer lace bodysuit and an elegant black pleated midi-skirt. Party time! Imogen Thomas hit the town for a night out at Japanese eatery Zuma in London's Knightsbridge on Thursday The Welsh model kept the chill at bay in a sleek fur-look jacket, while teetering on towering black stiletto heels. The mother-of-two swept her brunette locks into a sleek ponytail and accentuated her stunning features with bronze make-up. Imogen accessorised with a pair of dramatic gold hoop earrings and a black leather handbag by Valentino. The reality star's appearance at the high-end restaurant comes after she revealed she'd lost a stone in just one week earlier this year after attending a gruelling boot camp in Portugal. Looking good: The former Big Brother star, 36, looked incredible as she slipped into a sheer lace bodysuit and an elegant black pleated midi-skirt Strike a pose: The Welsh model kept the chill at bay in a sleek fur-look jacket, while teetering on towering black stiletto heels Imogen is approaching the first anniversary of her split from ex-boyfriend, Adam Horsley, who she shares daughters Ariana Siena, six, and Siera Aleira, three, with. The couple parted ways in April 2018 after six years together. A statement released to MailOnline at the time read: 'Imogen is completely heartbroken and devastated about the break up, however she has amazing friends and family who are very supportive and will help to get her through this difficult time. 'Her two beautiful children are her priority moving forward, and she will continue to focus on the positive things in her life such as her business Chasing Summer.' Charlotte Hawkins looked absolutely exquisite as she lead the celebrity arrivals at day two of the three-day Aintree Grand National Festival 2019. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 43, showed off her svelte figure in a stunning cobalt blue dress and an eye-catching fascinator as she made her presence felt at the event. Arriving alongside her pal Mark Heyes, the beauty commanded attention in her chic ensemble. Stunning: Charlotte Hawkins, 43, looked absolutely exquisite as she lead the celebrity arrivals at day two of the three-day Aintree Grand National Festival 2019 Charlotte looked sensational as she wrapped up against the chill in the Hobbs number, which she teamed with a matching Fallon K dress. Styled by Debbie Harper, Charlotte boosted her height in towering blue heels. Her blonde locks were styled into a chic chignon and she tamed her tresses in place with a stylish blue hat, with rainbow-tipped feathered detailing. Blue-tiful! The Good Morning Britain presenter showed off her svelte figure in a cobalt blue dress and an eye-catching fascinator as she made her presence felt at the event Looking good: Arriving alongside her pal Mark Heyes, the beauty commanded attention in her chic ensemble Fashionista: Charlotte looked sensational as she wrapped up against the chill in the Hobbs number, which she teamed with a matching Fallon K dress Meanwhile, fashion journalist Mark cut a dapper figure in a snazzy beige-coloured tartan suit with matching essentials. Day two of the event three-day event, is famously Ladies Day, where female racegoers get out their best outfits and put on an array of daring displays, with the 'best-dressed' receiving the coveted award. More than 150,000 are expected at the three-day meeting, which is in its 180th year and hosts the showpiece Grand National race on Saturday afternoon. Standing tall: Styled by Debbie Harper, Charlotte boosted her height in towering blue heels Topping things off: Her blonde locks were styled into a chic chignon and she tamed her tresses in place with a stylish blue hat, with rainbow-tipped feathered detailing Dapper display: Meanwhile, fashion journalist Mark cut a dapper figure in a snazzy beige-coloured tartan suit with matching essentials TV presenter Alison Hammond brought a splash colour in a cobalt blue cardigan and matching dress. She opted for a stylish grey hat and matching heels as she delightedly posed for cameras. Thursday saw a few celebrity guest appearances as well as royal racegoers, with Zara Tindall and Princess Anne enjoying the races. She sought romance in the Love Island villa in 2016 yet failed in her quest. Yet Tina Stinnes seems to have finally got lucky as she continues in her romance with Baroness Scotland's son Matthew Mawhinney, with the duo proving they are stronger than ever during a night out in London on Thursday. The blonde beauty suffered a wardrobe malfunction through her racy lace top as she emerged with her beau for a night at Raffles nightclub in Chelsea. Heading off: Tina Stinnes seems to have finally got lucky as she continues in her romance with Baroness Scotland's son Matthew Mawhinney, with the duo proving they are stronger than ever during a night out in London on Thursday Tina was a vision in her lace ensemble as she flashed her assets from beneath the sheer material - no doubt sending pulses racing. In a nod to the cardinal legs-or-cleavage rule, she kept herself covered up on the bottom half in a pair of skin-tight black jeans. Her ombre tresses were worn in a spunky style while she applied her make-up dramatically to help highlight her stunning features. Tina went public with their relationship last year and took to Instagram in December to write: 'Ending 2018 with the biggest smile and with you thank you for everyone who has been a part of my year and making it special... Cheeky! The blonde beauty suffered a wardrobe malfunction through her racy lace top as she emerged with her beau for a night at Raffles nightclub in Chelsea Chic: Her ombre tresses were worn in a spunky style while she applied her make-up dramatically to help highlight her stunning features Mama: Matthew is the son of Patricia Scotland - who was the Attorney General under then Prime Minister Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010 (pictured in September 2018 with the Queen) 'Hope everyone has had an amazing year.. and an even better 2019 and it brings you all the happiness you deserve'. Tina told The Sun of her romance: 'We've been going out for a while. It's going really well. So far, so good.' The reality television star confessed she was the first to break the ice when they met as she said 'hello' to him at the bar while he was chatting to one of her friends. Sources also dished to the newspaper at the time: 'They were all over each other.' Heading off: Tina was a vision in her lace ensemble as she flashed her assets from beneath the sheer material - no doubt sending pulses racing Her love: Tina told The Sun of her romance: 'We've been going out for a while. It's going really well. So far, so good' Matthew is the son of Patricia Scotland - who was the Attorney General under then Prime Minister Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010. Proving himself to be even further connected, Matthew's dad is Richard Mawhinney, a barrister who is the brother of former Tory chairman Brian. Her hunky boyfriend's Instagram feed is littered with images of his lavish life, including snaps meeting former US President Bill Clinton, at a lavish party at St Jamess Palace, at Buckingham Palace and St Jamess Palace. Olivia Attwood has paid tribute to her late co-star and former flame Mike Thalassitis on the day of his funeral. On Friday, friends, family and fellow TV stars descended upon Christ Church in Southgate to honour the tragic star who was found dead in a woodland near his Edmonton home at the beginning of last month. The 27-year-old former motocross girl took to Instagram to simply write: 'Thinking of you today', just weeks after she revealed she had been trolled in response to her original tribute, in which she stated: 'You will be missed terribly'. Cruel: Olivia Attwood has paid tribute to her late co-star and former flame Mike Thalassitis on the day of his funeral After a late entrance to Love Island's second season in 2017, Mike was at the heart of the drama when he coupled with Olivia despite her pairing with Chris Hughes, who she eventually returned to, however they remained on fond terms. Leading a bevy of their co-stars, Olivia swiftly shared a tribute to the star with a broken heart Emoji on Twitter and an heartfelt post on Instagram when he first passed away, while she returned to social media on Friday. Posting the simple note, she honoured the late star at the same time as his funeral was underway among a host of stars from reality television. Family and reality TV stars came together for the memorial service including Rebekah Vardy and TOWIE's Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell and Mario Falcone. Pain: On Friday, friends, family and fellow TV stars descended upon Christ Church in Southgate to honour the tragic star who was found dead in a woodland near his Edmonton home at the beginning of last month Lashing out: Leading a bevy of their co-stars, Olivia swiftly shared a tribute to the star with a broken heart Emoji on Twitter and an heartfelt post on Instagram when he first passed away, while she returned to social media to praise him on Friday Following his tragic death, it was claimed Mike was suffering from depression and financial troubles, and struggling to come to terms with the loss of his grandmother, who had passed away days earlier. Dozens of mourners have gathered outside Christ Church on Friday afternoon. Among those making their way into the church today include Mike's fellow Love Islanders Zara McDermott, Ellie Brown and Samira Mighty. Mike's friend and fellow Love Island star Montana Brown, who was visibly distraught as she made her way into the church, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram this morning reading: 'Wished today would never come'. Pained: Her message was simple yet touching as she reached out to the hunk Way back when: After a late entrance to Love Island's second season in 2017, he was at the heart of the drama when he coupled with Olivia despite her pairing with Chris Hughes, who she eventually returned to, however they remained on fond terms His beloved grandmother on his father's side passed away days before his death, shortly after the reality star had moved in with her to become her full-time carer. Mike, who hails from a Cypriot family, was said to be devastated by her loss. The news of his death also came months after his best friend Danny Cutts passed away. The former League One footballer had enjoyed a successful playing career before appearing on season three of ITV's Love Island in 2017. Friends and family members stopped to pay their respects to the star's brother Nick as the funeral procession arrived in north London Pained: Mike's friend and fellow Love Island star Montana Brown was seen arriving for the funeral. She posted an emotional tribute on Instagram this morning reading: 'Wished today would never come' He rose to fame for his exploits in the villa and had viewers in stitches with his antics before he went on to search for love again in E4's Celebs Go Dating. Born in Edmonton, Mike played football for Stevenage, Ebbsfleet United, Boreham Wood, St Albans City, Margate, Hemel Hempstead Town, Chelmsford and Welling United. He had been due to open a restaurant, named The Skillet, before he died. His friend and business partner Scott Neilson confirmed he would press ahead with the opening despite the tragedy because 'it was what Mike would've wanted'. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see samaritans.org for details. They're hot on the promotional trail for the final season of their hit HBO show Game Of Thrones, which returns on April 14. And co-stars Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams and Kit Harington continued their busy schedule as they posed for the show's photocall, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City on Friday. The 23-year-old actress looked effortlessly chic in a black spaghetti top, which she tucked into a pair of flared trousers. Busy schedule: Game Of Thrones stars Sophie Turner was joined by Maisie Williams and Kit Harington at the HBO hit's photocall at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City on Friday The Dark Phoenix star had brushed her blonde tresses into a sleek, straight style while she wore light touches of make-up and glittering jewellery to finish off her look. While best friend Maisie upped the glamour in a plaid monochrome jacket and skirt, which she paired with a simple white T-shirt. Boosting her petite frame in a pair of black rhinestone heels, the New Mutants star opted to forgo flashy jewellery while her purple locks were styled into waves. The actor, 32, meanwhile kept things casual as he donned a flannel shirt over comfy grey trousers, and he seemed to return to his iconic character's signature look by sporting a closely trimmed beard. Demure: Maisie upped the glamour in a plaid monochrome jacket and skirt, which she paired with a simple white T-shirt Stylish: The New Mutants star opted to forgo flashy jewellery while her purple locks were styled into waves Casual: Kit kept kept things casual as he donned a flannel shirt that he paired it with comfy grey trousers Dapper: The actor seemed to return to his iconic character's signature look by sporting a closely trimmed beard Chic: The 23-year-old actress looked effortlessly chic in a black spaghetti top, which she tucked into a pair of flared trousers Glam: The Dark Phoenix star had brushed her blonde tresses into a sleek, straight style while she wore light touches of make-up and glittering jewellery to finish off her look Sophie and Maisie play siblings Sansa and Arya Stark in the drama, while Kit plays their cousin Jon Snow, whose lineage was revealed at the end of season seven. Jon believes he is the bastard child of Ned Stark, however it was revealed he's actually Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen's son, making him the legitimate heir to Westeros - though he has yet to become aware of this fact. The character has teamed up with Daenerys Targaryen in the battle against the Night King and his ominous army of white walkers. Stunning: Maisie completed her look by boosting her frame in a pair of black rhinestone heels Iconic roles: Maisie plays Arya Stark in the drama, sister to Sophie's character Sansa Lead: Kit plays Arya and Sansa's cousin Jon Snow, whose lineage was revealed at the end of season seven, though neither he nor the Stark sisters are aware of this fact yet Rightful ruler: Jon believes he is the bastard child of Ned Stark, however it was revealed he's actually Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen's son, making him the legitimate heir to Westeros Ruler: Sophie's character Sansa has gone on to become the Lady Of Winterfell, and has come a long way over the course of the series Evolving: Sansa has become a strong female lead, after suffering several hardships on the way While Arya finally returned to Winterfell in the last season, reconnecting with her sister and their brother Bran Stark. Bran has been on quite the epic journey, travelling from Winterfell to go beyond The Wall and hone his ability as a Greenseer to become the Three-Eyed Raven, who can perceive the past, present and future through visions. The eighth and final season of Game Of Thrones is set to premiere on April 14. Back together again: Arya finally returned to Winterfell in the last season, reconnecting with her sister and their brother Bran Stark Hero: Jon has teamed up with Daenerys Targaryen in the battle against the Night King and his ominous army of white walkers Dazzling: Maisie looked pretty with her glittering make-up Posing at a storm: The actress worked every angle as she took photos for the event Finishing touches: Sophie completed her look with jewel-encrusted hoop earrings She recently shocked fans when it emerged she had split from boyfriend Jack Fincham. And Dani Dyer looked uncharacteristically jubilant as she arrived at at Liverpool Lime Street station with her mother Joanne Mas for a book signing. The Love Island winner, 23, appeared in high spirits just days after Jack, 26, announced their split and dressed for the outing in a pink top and matching bottoms. Out and about: Dani Dyer looked uncharacteristically jubilant as she arrived at at Liverpool Lime Street station with her mother Joanne Mas for a book signing She also sported a black leather jacket and a pair of white trainers while she carried a pink suitcase through the station. Styling her blonde locks into loose waves, Dani accessorised with a brown handbag. Joanne also cut a casual figure in a grey jumper and matching tracksuit bottoms with a black bomber jacket. Jack made the announcement of their split on social media in a post that has since been deleted. Family: Joanne also cut a casual figure in a grey jumper and matching tracksuit bottoms with a black bomber jacket Happy: The Love Island winner, 23, appeared in high spirits just days after Jack, 26, announced their split and dressed for the outing in a pink top and matching bottoms His original post had read: 'There is no easy way to say this and it isn't going to be an easy time but me an Dani are not in a relationship anymore. 'We will always care a lot for each other and have love for each other and I mean that from the bottom of my heart and I wish her nothing but happiness. 'We have some amazing memories together and have been through a lot but sometimes things aren't meant to be and we really did try to make it work but it unfortunately didn't and that is life. 'That's all I have to say, a break up is hard enough as it is for both of us let alone in the public eye so I hope everyone is considerate and understands this. X.' Outfit: She also sported a black leather jacket and a pair of white trainers while she carried a pink suitcase through the station While the announcement seems sudden, many factors seem to allude to the fact the couple split some time ago - after Dani's comments about Jack moving out, his drug scandal and the release of her book made for a timely announcement. Dani and Jack won the hearts of the nation during last summer's Love Island and appeared to be one of the sturdiest couples in the show's history. Their romance was rocked to its core however when the duo announced they had split in December just five months after leaving the villa. The couple reunited shortly after and revealed they had in fact been arguing and Dani made the brash decision to announce the split - despite the fact it was fleeting. Style: Styling her blonde locks into loose waves, Dani accessorised with a brown handbag While their latest split has been shocking, things don't appear to have been too sudden for the duo as a number of factors have counted towards the timing of the announcement - including the fact she has a book coming out. Dani is blazing the promo trail with her debut book, What Would Dani Do?: My Guide to Living Your Best Life, which came out this week meaning her firm placement in the spotlight at such a time is a welcome arrangement. Dani insisted that she was still in a relationship with Jack during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show and revealed that she called time on things in December due to his 'lack of respect' around the house. Busy: Dani is blazing the promo trail with her debut book, What Would Dani Do?: My Guide to Living Your Best Life Talking about her romance with Jack and how much their relationship has grown since living separately, they recently had a romantic getaway to Thailand in March, she said: 'Me and Jack are absolutely fine we love each other. 'We are trying to build a relationship from a show where we met which is so bizarre and you have so much attention from it, and you have so many opinions and people go "Its all money, its all for fame." 'Its just like, "Relax, chill, we are just trying to be happy." Life is tough so were just trying to make it work, that's all we're trying to do. We are together, we are soooo together, we are fine.' They welcomed their first child together in August 2018. And Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig were every inch the happy family unit as they made a rare family outing with their daughter and the actress' son Henry in New York City recently. The Oscar-winning actress, 49, and her James Bond star husband, 51, were happy and relaxed as they strolled with their baby girl, and Henry, 12, whose father is Rachel's ex fiance Darren Aronofsky. Family: Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig were every inch the happy family unit as they made a rare family outing with their daughter and the actress' son Henry in New York City recently The Favourite star Rachel wrapped up in the chilly Big Apple weather in a black jacket and joggers, paired with white trainers. She wrapped a black and burnt orange scarf around her neck and completed the ensemble with a chestnut woolly hat. Layer Cake star Daniel looked typically dapper in a tailored black jacket and polka dot scarf, paired with jeans and suede shoes. The hunk finished his daytime look with a pair of stylish round shades and a flat cap. New arrival: The Oscar-winning actress, 49, and her James Bond star husband, 51, were happy and relaxed as they strolled with their baby girl, and Henry, 12, whose father is Rachel's ex fiance Darren Aronofsky Happy moments: The Favourite star Rachel wrapped up in the chilly Big Apple weather in a black jacket and joggers, paired with white trainers Daniel was every inch the doting dad as he pushed the couple's baby girl in a stroller, with the infant - whose name has not been publicly released - looking snug in a woollen jacket. Henry matched his superstar mother in a warm jacket and trousers, with the youngster sweetly holding Rachel's hand as they enjoyed the day. Rachel and Daniel, who tied the knot in 2011, told friends they were 'very happy' to welcome their daughter into the world in August. Chic: She wrapped a black and burnt orange scarf around her neck and completed the ensemble with a chestnut woolly hat Hunk: Layer Cake star Daniel looked typically dapper in a tailored black jacket and polka dot scarf, paired with jeans and suede shoes The private duo had been laying low in New York as they prepared for the birth of their child and last walked a red carpet together in April 2018. Rachel was last pictured in April in the Big Apple, where she covered her large baby bump with a black smock top. The actress first shared her baby news in an interview that month with the New York Times, telling the publication: 'Daniel and I are so happy.' She added: 'Were going to have a little human. We cant wait to meet him or her. Its all such a mystery.' Family: Daniel was every inch the doting dad as he pushed the couple's baby girl in a stroller, with the infant - whose name has not been publicly released - looking snug in a woollen jacket Special moments: Henry matched his superstar mother in a warm jacket and trousers, with the youngster sweetly holding Rachel's hand as they enjoyed the day Wow factor: Daniel was every inch the film star as he walked down the street She later talked about raising her newborn in the UK, with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show. 'Is the child going to be raised American or English,' Colbert asked the NYC resident, causing Rachel to quip: 'I suppose it will have to be bilingual!' Daniel and Rachel kept details of the pregnancy a closely guarded secret, not publicly revealing the due date or the gender of the baby. Rachel shares son Henry, 12, with former fiance, director Darren Aronofsky, while Daniel, 50, has a daughter Ella, 26, with ex-wife Fiona Loudon. They began dating in 2010 and married in June 2011 in a private New York ceremony with just four guests - their children and two family friends. Thandie Newton made a disturbing claim this week. In the May issue of Marie Claire magazine the 46-year-old Westworld star revealed she actually lost acting roles because she spoke out about sexual abuse in the past. 'I was very aware of the climate of sexual abuse that was going on around me, so I became the person you didnt want to hire because I would call it out,' she said. 'In retrospect, I can see many instances where not only would I not be employed, but other actors and actresses would not necessarily want to be associated with me.' Sad story: Thandie Newton made a disturbing claim this week. In the May issue of Marie Claire magazine the 46-year-old Westworld star revealed she actually lost acting roles because she spoke out about sexual abuse Even members of her own team began to tell her to remain silent, with her own publicist shutting her down. 'When I parted ways with her, it wasnt because I thought she was dreadful and wrong, I felt ashamed that I was missing out on a really good publicist because of my behavior,' she explained. All of this led to years of shame for the beauty. 'Probably the worst thing about having your innocence rocked is what stays with you. The sense of worthlessness, shamethese things are very hard to move on from. But you can,' she told the outlet. She had to speakL: 'I was very aware of the climate of sexual abuse that was going on around me, so I became the person you didnt want to hire because I would call it out,' she said For three decades, the powerhouse has been in the world of Hollywood and through her time in the industry she's witnessed and dealt with plenty of injustice. The Londoner told her survival story saying that back when she was just 22-years-old, a director told her to intimately touch herself during an audition. Newton obliged, as there was also a female casting director present. But years later, she discovered the unnamed man had kept her tape and was playing it at poker games for other Hollywood elite. Following this violating discovering, the bombshell began to fight the abuse and call it out - an act that today would be applauded, but back then, cost the actress many jobs. Now, years later, the Line Of Duty star has regained her confidence, with help from husband, Ol Parker, and is now taking roles that allow her to shift the unfairness around her. Take, for instance, her inspiring character of Maeve in on HBOs otherworldly smash series. Her issues: 'In retrospect, I can see many instances where not only would I not be employed, but other actors and actresses would not necessarily want to be associated with me' added the beauty The fierce Maeve is a robot who, in the second season, realizes she's inhuman and begins to go against the actual humans who've made her a slave. She quickly becomes a woman on a mission to not only save her robotic daughter, but break free from the amusement park she's been created for. This character fits the mother's real life mission perfectly. Speaking on the gig she said: 'It couldnt have happened at a more relevant time, lets face it... Particularly Maeve, because she educates herself in order to revolt and beat them at their own game.' And Westworld has opened up a whole new line of opportunities for the A-Lister, especially giving her the chance to incite change. On top: Westworld has opened up a whole new line of opportunities for the A-Lister, especially giving her the chance to incite change Since the show, she's gone on to promote projects that share her cause, like the 2017 documentary Liyana, about orphans in Swaziland, which she executive-produced. And through her work with The Vagina Monologues' playwright Eve Enslers foundation, she also worked on the 2016 documentary City of Joy, about women in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have survived sexual violence. And thanks to the Time's Up movement, HBO announced the female actors on Westworldnamely Newton and costar Evan Rachel Woodwill receive the same pay day as their male counterparts. 'I was initially really shocked because it was such a leap from what wed been paid before,' she said. 'For years, it hadnt even occurred to me to question it.' Crediting her husband as one of the people who helped her find her voice again, Thandie and The Mama Mia! Here We Go Again director have been married since 1998. They share three kids, daughters Ripley, 18 and Nico, 14, and son, Booker, 5, together. Their youngest daughter, Nico, also just starred in Disney's live action remake of Dumbo. And Newton can be seen again in Westworld's third season, which is likely to return in 2020. Role model: Sandra Oh, 47, who just wrapped up hosting the Golden Globes with Andy Samberg, was also recognized with the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama, for her role in Killing Eve Also in the Marie Claire issue were Newton's fellow strong female friends, Sandra Oh and Elisabeth Moss. Sandra, 47, who just wrapped up hosting the Golden Globes with Andy Samberg, was also recognized with the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series for her role in Killing Eve, during the star studded night. Throughout her interview, the superstar reflected on her award show experience. She revealed that the power behind being an Asian actress who not only hosted one of the biggest nights in Hollywood, but was also recognized for her work during it, was not lost on her. Tune in: Oh can continue to be seen in Killing Eve's second season and audiences can revel in her talent once again through her role in newly announced TV series, Invincible 'I wanted to be here to look out into this audience and witness this moment of change,' she said during her big night. Oh can continue to be seen in Killing Eve's second season and audiences can revel in her talent once again through her role in newly announced TV series, Invincible. Starring JK Simmons, Seth Rogen and Mark Hamill, Sandra will lead in the animated series about a teenager whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. What's next? Starring JK Simmons, Seth Rogen and Mark Hamill, Sandra will lead in the animated series about a teenager whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet Leading lady: Elisabeth Moss, 36, continues to shock audiences with her roles in Us and The Handmaids Tale As for Moss, who continues to shock audiences with her roles in Us and The Handmaids Tale, discussed how the show, which highlights fictional political corruption has actually bled over into real life politics today. After woman wearing red cloaks (a symbol of oppression in the Hulu series) lined the halls of the Hart Senate building during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, Moss said she knew her on-screen role held real life responsibilities. 'Its not like I did this to have a political platform, but at the same time, Im an American. Im a woman. I have things that I believe in as a citizen,' she said. Groundbreaking: 'Its not like I did this to have a political platform, but at the same time, Im an American. Im a woman. I have things that I believe in as a citizen,' Moss said Theres a responsibility there that I try to handle with as much intelligence as possible,' she said. The blonde just terrified audiences with her part in Jordan Peele's record breaking horror film, Us. And, she has numerous projects unfolding including upcoming films, The Kitchen, Shirley, Call Jane and The Invisible Man. She recently revealed the secrets to her post-baby fitness transformation after welcoming son Stanley two years ago. And the results were clear to see, as Sarah Jayne Dunn arrived at Aintree Racecourse for the annual Ladies Day event alongside her glam co-stars on Friday afternoon. The Hollyoaks' star, 37, ensured her sizzling abs were on display in a midriff-baring white crop top which she teamed with an eye-catching blue suit. Power suit: Sarah Jayne Dunn arrived at Aintree Racecourse for the annual Ladies Day event alongside her glam co-stars on Friday afternoon Sarah rocked the power two-piece suit which she accessorised with a silk scarf tied around her lithe waist which she teamed with a series of gold chain necklaces. She wore her blonde locks in bouncy waves while sporting a glamorous coat of make-up in rose gold tones complete with a pink lip. The actress added inches to the lithe frame with a pair of patent nude stilettos, while posing for snaps with co-stars Nadine Mulkerrin and Nikki Sanderson. Glam: The Hollyoaks' star, 37, ensured her sizzling abs were on display in a midriff-baring white crop top which she teamed with an eye-catching blue suit Nikki cut a chic figure in a mint green tailored suit with a very plunging neckline, which she also teamed with an array of gold chains. The star, who joined the soap in 1995, showed off her natural looks by wearing bronzed make-up and a pink lip. She allowed her sun-kissed brunette locks to cascade down her shoulder in loose voluminous curls. The soap star opted for maximum glamour with a perfectly applied layer of make-up complete with a bright pink lip and lashings of mascara. Meanwhile Nadine sported a striped mini dress in black and champagne hues, as she attended the event alongside her fiance Rory Douglas-Speed. Marvellous in mint: Nikki cut a chic figure in a mint green tailored suit with a very plunging neckline, which she also teamed with an array of gold chains Nadine teamed her look with a pair of towering black heels, while finishing her stunning outfit with a pretty fascinator and soft brushes of make-up. Her beau appeared to have been in the wars, as he was pictured wearing a pair of shorts with a chunky black cast on his leg, but still managed to look dapper in a pale blue suit jacket and waistcoat. Rory and Nadine Mulkerrin recently opened up about their engagement, with Rory admitting it was 'terrifying' to pop the question to his co-star. The pair filmed their characters' Cleo McQueen and Joel Dexter's wedding late last year, and now they are set to go through their own real ceremony. Glowing: Nikki, who first appeared on Hollyoaks in 1995, allowed her sun-kissed brunette locks to cascade down her shoulder in loose voluminous curls Pals: The soap star opted for maximum glamour with a perfectly applied layer of make-up complete with a bright pink lip and lashings of mascara The couple took a trip to Amsterdam, with Rory getting down on one knee in Dam Square. Speaking to OK! Magazine about the proposal, he said: 'It was terrifying. I felt like I was on my knee for an eternity and I remember saying: Go on, just say something! 'I felt that she was always going to say yes because we always have a laugh about it, but in that moment when I was on my knee I thought, "shes saying no!"' The actor also revealed that they are going to having quite a large wedding as many of their Hollyoaks co-stars will in attendance. Fun day: Sarah Jayne and Nikki watched on to the racing course from the stands as they chatted and smiled Loved-up: Meanwhile Nadine sported a striped mini dress in black and champagne hues, as she attended the event alongside her fiance Rory Douglas-Speed Rory said: 'When youre talking about going to a wedding, its friends for life and weve definitely got a few on the show.' Nadine revealed that their co-star and former X Factor contestant Rachel Adedeji has promised them she will sing on their special day. The actress added that she thinks Rory has made her 'kinder' and that her family have all noticed her become happier since they got together. While moving in with your significant other for the first time can often be challenging, Rory said it was been plain sailing for the pair since they started living together last Febuary. She regularly posts photos of her 'picture perfect' life. But Louise Thompson took to Instagram to write a lengthy post on the dangers of presenting a false reality on Friday. The reality star, 29, posted a slideshow of images as she went from posing on her sofa at a Parisian hotel to throwing cushions around and eventually laughing as she larked about. 'Maybe I'm an addict?' Louise Thompson admitted Instagram is making her 'miserable' and claimed it 'isn't real life' in a lengthy post on Friday alongside SEVEN new snaps Honest: Louise shared this lengthy post on social media as she admitted that the false representation of her life on Instagram was starting to get her down In the snap, Louise looked stunning in a yellow floral patterned sundress as the colour of the ensemble accentuated her sun-kissed glow and matched the hotel furniture perfectly. The former Made In Chelsea star opted for minimal accessories for the outfit and went for a natural makeup look, with her long brunette locks flowing down her back. Alongside the snaps, Louise explained to fans that she 'needed to stop taking Instagram so seriously'. She began: 'Insta vs Reality NEWSFLASH - Instagram ISNT real life.... and who YOU are should be enough! Dont let it suck the happiness out of you. Larking around: The reality star posted a slideshow of images as she went from posing on her sofa at a Parisian hotel to throwing cushions around as she compared Insta vs reality She began: 'Insta vs Reality NEWSFLASH - Instagram ISNT real life.... and who YOU are should be enough! Dont let it suck the happiness out of you' 'I, for one need to stop taking it so damn seriously. Im more aware than ever that Instagram can present a false expectation for people to live up to. The reality star then began outlining examples of how the picture sharing site had been used to give the rest of the world a picture perfect image. She continued: 'Bikini shots are always ultra posed, at flattering angles in good light and shot before mealtimes. 'Everybody seems to be on holiday and at festivals in skimpy clothes ALL the time. Sunkissed: Louise looked stunning in a yellow floral patterned sundress as the colour of the ensemble accentuated her sun-kissed glow Serious talk: The television personality also confessed that she had considered taking herself off the site and questioned if she had an addiction 'Relationships look like something out of The Notebook: hands always held, walking into the distance.... think how many conversations have been lost in that moment. @ryan.libbey knows. 'Sea must be turquoise. - Sand must be white. - Sun must be shining. Pancakes are always served for breakfast.' 'People posing in supermarkets or on top of washing machines in laundrettes, just because they saw it once on the discover page..' The television personality also confessed that she had considered taking herself off the site and questioned if she had an addiction. Social ban: The television personality also confessed that she had considered taking herself off the site and questioned if she had an addiction to the site Taking a stand: 'I want to be unique and individual and pave my own path in life. I want to use this space to be me' 'Instagram is supposed to be friendly, so why is it leaving people (and me) miserable?,' Louise said. 'I dont even see the peeps that Im following on my homepage anymore, whats up with that? Sometimes I want to go away and leave it all behind. 'Im starting to realise the world doesnt give a s*** if I dont post 3 times a day, so why do I care so damn much. Maybe Im an addict? 'It worries me that when children grow up they no longer aspire to be astronauts, vets, teachers, scientists or firefighters. They want to be an influencer. That word makes me cringe so hard.' Snap happy: During her trip to Bali in March the brunette star posted a whopping 48 pictures as she posed for several snaps that she shared with her impressive 1.2million followers Exotic: Louise enjoyed the idyliic holiday to the exotic Indonesian island alongside fiance Ryan Libbey, 28- following the news that she had quit Made In Chelsea Louise continued to explain how she had toyed with the idea of becoming a travel influencer during her recent trip to Bali but wanted to be use her social media platform to be unique. She added: 'Its a saturated market of people becoming clones of one another. I thought I liked the idea of being a travel influencer, but when I was in Bali I felt like a bit of a fraud tbh. 'I LOVE travelling, I LOVE photography, fashion etc and I LOVE the opportunity to be creative and share my stories, but I dont enjoy being a copycat or feeling like Im following in someone elses footsteps. 'I want to be unique and individual and pave my own path in life. I want to use this space to be me. 'Its not that my content is harmful, but I wanna make sure I dont get sucked into the vortex. If it isnt adding value to your life then whats the point?' During her trip to Bali in March the brunette star posted a whopping 48 pictures as she posed for several snaps that she shared with her impressive 1.2million followers. Louise enjoyed the idyliic holiday to the exotic Indonesian island alongside fiance Ryan Libbey, 28- following the news that she had quit E4 reality show Made In Chelsea after eight years. The couple first started dating in 2016 during a cast trip to the South of France and got engaged in August last year. Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney looked to be having a romantic day out together in Manhattan on Friday. The newly engaged couple were arm-in-arm as they were seen walking down a street together. And the Red Sparrow actress flashed her diamond engagement ring as well. In March People reported New York City-based jeweler Alison Lou designed the large sparkler, which features an emerald-cut stone that sits on a thin gold band. It's true love: Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney looked to be having a romantic day out together in New York City on Friday The blonde beauty looked elegant in her winter outfit. The actress was also flashing her diamond engagement ring She had on a beige coat - which could pass for a robe - over a white T-shirt. And the star added black cigarette slacks that made her lean legs look even thinner. Pointy beige shoes matched nicely with her coat. The Kentucky native pulled her long hair back and wore minimal makeup for the Manhattan outing. Cooke looked urban chic in a zipped-up black jacket with grey slacks and sneakers. She confirmed her engagement at the beginning of February after sporting a 'massive' diamond ring from jeweler Alison Lou, according to People magazine. So chic: She had on a beige coat - which could pass for a robe - over a white T-shirt. And the star added black cigarette slacks that made her lean legs look even thinner Jen style: Pointy beige shoes matched nicely with her coat. The Kentucky native pulled her long hair back and wore minimal makeup for the Manhattan outing The couple had dated for eight months when Maroney dropped to one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. Cooke works at New York's Gladstone Gallery, which represents artists including Lena Dunham's dad, Carroll Dunham, as well as Richard Prince, Anish Kapoor, and Bjork's ex, Matthew Barney. While he is now very much part of the New York social scene, Cooke, reportedly grew up in the countryside, spending his childhood on his parent's farm in Vermont. Taken has by the arms: At one point it looked as if he was about to kiss his future wife And the moment was gone... : Then he released his grasp and looked off in the distance The couple have not spoken publicly about their relationship. But insiders gushed about their chemistry, with a source telling People in August: 'She is smiling like I have never seen her do with any of her previous boyfriends.' This most recent sighting comes after J-Law went out for a raucous night with pal Adele. Grammy-winning British artist Adele, 30, and J-Law, 28, hit Pieces Gay Bar in New York City in the West Village. He knew she was THE ONE: The couple had dated for eight months when Maroney dropped to one knee to ask for her hand in marriage His job: Cooke works at New York's Gladstone Gallery, which represents artists including Lena Dunham's dad, Carroll Dunham, as well as Richard Prince, Anish Kapoor, and Bjork's ex, Matthew Barney Footage from inside the venue shows them playing wild drinking games to the sound of Kylie Minogue before rolling around on the floor laughing. Lawrence most recently starred in a documentary about the American political system in the 12-minute film, Unbreaking America: A NEW Short Film about Solving the Corruption Crisis. The movie was created by Represent.US, an anti-corruption group which seeks to bridge the political divide, creating anti-corruption laws that 'stop political bribery' and 'fix broken elections.' Country boy: While he is now very much part of the New York social scene, Cooke, reportedly grew up in the countryside, spending his childhood on his parent's farm in Vermont Emerald Fennell has revealed that fans will get to see the early days of Camilla Parker Bowles' romance with Prince Charles in the third series of The Crown. The Call The Midwife star told Vanity Fair it's 'freeing' to play out scenes that pre-date the royal couple's marriage, of which little is currently known. Emerald will play The Duchess Of Cornwall opposite The Durrells' star Josh O' Connor in the much-anticipated third series of the Netflix show. Big role: Emerald Fennell has teased fans will see the early days of Camilla Parker Bowles' romance with Prince Charles in the third series of The Crown (pictured above in character) Emerald told the publication she was surprised to learn about the early days of Camilla's romance with Charles, as so little is known about their meeting before he married Diana in 1981. She said: 'I think people will be surprised to learn they experienced great challenges in both their lives, and were able to maintain a strong bond through it all. 'The weird thing about Camilla Parker Bowles, there's very, very little about her as a young woman which is quite freeing. 'It means that I've been able to get a sense of her rather than being able to do a mimicry.' Happy: The Call The Midwife star told Vanity Fair it's 'freeing' to play out scenes that pre-date the couples marriage (above), of which so little is known Anticipated: Emerald will take on the role of The Duchess Of Cornwall in the third series of The Crown, which is expected to be released on Netflix later this year Emerald previously played nurse Patsy for four years in Call The Midwife, a role she stepped down from in 2017. The star was confirmed to be playing the role of Camilla in October, and she will appear opposite Josh as Charles, depicting their first relationship before he met Diana in the late 1970s. The pair are believed to have met in mid-1971 and dated until 1973, and little is known about why their romance came to an end. Charles of course married Diana in 1981, and the couple divorced in 1996. Diana Princess Of Wales was then killed in a car accident on 31st August 1997. Former flame: Charles was married to Diana Princess Of Wales from 1981 to 1996. They separated in 1991 Flawless: The star was confirmed to be playing the role of Camilla in October, after leaving her role on Call The Midwife in 2017 Camilla married Charles in 2005, eight years after Princess Diana's death in car accident. Emerald and Josh will follow in their predecessor's footsteps and play the Royal couple for two seasons before the cast will change once again, in order to portray the characters accurately as they age. They are joined on the star-studded cast list by Helena Bonham Carter, who will star as Princess Margaret, and Jason Watkins as former Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The new series is expected to land on the online streaming site in 2019. Leading Lady: Olivia Colman has taken over from Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth while Tobias Menzies plays Prince Philip, previously played by Matt Smith She is one of Hollywood's most talented stars, having worked her way up from her a child star to an Oscar winner. And Brie Larson has added another string to her bow, with her directorial debut in the flick Unicorn Store - which was finally released to Netflix viewers on Friday. Despite the movie having a long road to release after having its world premiere two years ago before being acquired by the streaming giant, fans were left impressed as they dubbed it 'magical, pure and relatable'. Own venture: Brie Larson has added another string to her bow, with her directorial debut in the flick Unicorn Store - which was finally released to Netflix viewers on Friday Brie, 29, stars as a woman called Kit who is expelled from art school and plants herself on the couch for days, until a surprise comes along to cheer her up. Her childhood dream of having a pet unicorn looks like it may come true courtesy of a salesman played by Brie's Captain Marvel co-star Samuel L. Jackson. While the movie was released to mixed reviews from critics, it was a different story for fans, who ensured to watch Brie in action on the first day of release. 'Magical': Despite the movie having a long road to release after having its world premiere two years ago before being acquired by the streaming giant, fans were left impressed 'So pure': While the movie was released to mixed reviews from critics, it was a different story for fans, who ensured to watch Brie in action on the first day of release They delightedly took to Twitter to make their opinions known: 'One of the best movies at netflix tbh #UnicornStore.' 'Okay so I just finished #UnicornStore and I am so glad I did. A super pretty film and a new take on what modern depression can look like, especially as an artist who hasnt had a breakthrough moment. Thank you.' 'Just watched Unicorn Store. 1) I loved it so so so SO much. Wish it was on the big screen. 2) please direct another movie soon, you're amazing at it. 3) We need more films like this in general it was honestly MAGICAL! Go watch on Netflix!' 'Friendly reminder, Unicorn Store is now available on Netflix. Its quirky, entertaining, heartfelt, and creative. Definitely give it a watch when you have the time this weekend. It is sure to make you smile. #UnicornStore.' '#UnicornStore is so damn charming. ' Plot: Brie, 29, stars as a woman called Kit who is expelled from art school and plants herself on the couch for days, until a surprise comes along to cheer her up Storyline: Her childhood dream of having a pet unicorn looks like it may come true courtesy of a salesman played by Brie's Captain Marvel co-star Samuel L. Jackson 'Most wonderful thing ever': The praised kept pouring in for Brie's performance and directorial debut. 'I just watched #UnicornStore and it was so beautiful. Its a film for people who feel like they dont quite fit in with the world yet try to hold on to their different outlook, despite reality trying its best to drain the dreams out of them. Relatable af and simply magical.' 'If youve ever felt like you have to be something youre not instead of who you truly are, you should watch #UnicornStore on directed by Brie Larson. Im glad I watched this morning. Plus @SamuelLJackson was magical.' 'I watched #UnicornStore this morning and I love Kit so much she is so pure and adorable I would die for her .' 'My face hurts from smiling and my heart is filled with joy. #UnicornStore is so beautiful and seeing the words a @brielarson film in those end credits was probably the most wonderful thing ever.' Brie initially auditioned for the project five years ago, but failed to get the part. However, five years later was invited to serve as director for the project. Netflix picked up the distribution rights for the film at the beginning of the year - two years after it had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival. Meant to be: Brie initially auditioned for the project five years ago, but failed to get the part. However, five years later was invited to serve as director for the project Rodrigo Alves' song Plastic World was released on Friday, and has already climbed the charts to reach number one in Dubai and Italy. The Human Ken Doll, 35, recorded the song with his plastic surgeon Giancome Urtis, and within hours of its release on Friday it reached the top of the Electronica and Dance charts in both countries. He exclusively told MailOnline: 'This is such a big day for me! I cant believe that that my song in top chart and number one already in few countries ! The launch is today and the positive peoples response to it is overwhelming ! Human Ken Doll EXCLUSIVE: Rodrigo Alves' new song Plastic World reached NUMBER ONE in the dance charts in Italy and Dubai hours after its release on Friday 'I worked very hard to make it happen and seen the response from the public today making my song plastic world top chart in few countries, including Italy and UAE, means the wold and makes me want to produce and make more music from now on.' Explaining the song, which is available in both English and Spanish, is based on his life, Roddy added that he's set to promote the song in Dubai with night club events, a Eurovision party, and during an appearance on Virgin Radio with Cris Fade. He continued: 'I have just finished a pool party event today and people were going crazy with plastic world! I promise that this year I will make people sing and dance alongside me like a rock star!' Roddy is also set to film part of his music video while travelling in Dubai, before then going on to the Cine Citta in Rome to finish off filming. Happy: Rodrigo exclusively told MailOnline: 'I cant believe that that my song in top chart and number one already in few countries...the positive peoples response to it is overwhelming' Success: Within hours of its release it reached the top of the Electronica and Dance charts Partner in crime: The Human Ken Doll, 35, recorded the song with his best friend and plastic surgeon Giancome Urtis His success comes after Rodrigo confided in MailOnline with his concerns that his body can't take any more surgery, just four days after getting the 'perfect' chin. The star revealed his 'very swollen face' had left him unable to drink or eat following the operation in Istanbul where he has been filming a TV documentary. Refusing to slow down, Roddy proudly showed off his altered 'beautiful, perfect' chin when he made a dashing arrival at the Mercedes-Benz fashion show. Concerns: His success comes after Rodrigo confided in MailOnline with his concerns that his body can't take any more surgery, just four days after getting the 'perfect' chin 'I hope that this was my last surgery my body just cant take it anymore. I just cant help the fact that I had an infection which deformed my chin,' he told MailOnline. 'Yesterday was my first day out and about after having the OP on Saturday. My face is very swollen still, I am struggling to eat and to drink. Liquid just goes everywhere.' The CBB star flattered his surgically-enhanced figure with a sheer shirt which had sapphire blue lace detailing to draw eyes to his chest. Reality star Roddy showed off his signature pose for cameras when he twirled around in his flashy blue suit. Ouch: Human Ken Doll, 35, revealed his 'very swollen face' had left him unable to drink or eat following the operation in Istanbul where he has been filming a TV documentary It was the first day the Human Ken Doll debuted his new chin as he returned to the public eye following the corrective surgery. He elaborated: 'I had a massive chin make over with Dr Ali Mezdegi at Comfort Zone. 'My chin is absolutely perfect now it is small at a V-shape. The surgeon did a very fine and sophisticated job.' Roddy, who boasts of 809,000 followers on Instagram, celebrated his surgery triumph as he hailed his chin as 'beautiful' and 'perfect'. Stand out: Reality star Roddy showed off his signature pose for cameras when he twirled around in his flashy blue suit He said on social media: 'As you can see it's been three days after my surgery. As you can see I've got a beautiful, perfect chin.' Known for his jet-setter lifestyle, Roddy will be getting on a plane to Dubai to film the music video for his imminent new single Plastic World. From Dubai, the Brazilian native will make a beeline for Israel to ensure he is ready to open the glittering Eurovision party with his new song. Snazzy: The CBB star flattered his surgically-enhanced figure with a sheer shirt which had sapphire blue lace detailing to draw eyes to his chest The fashion guru had previously revealed three surgeons had turned him down for corrective chin surgery after his implant exploded before a miracle doctor stepped up to the challenge. The TV star had a new implant fitted just weeks ago, only to wake up and discover a permanent dent had appeared. Rodrigo also recently had his 11th nose job done in Iran which he said has been a huge success. He enthused that he was able to breathe for the first time in four years after during his recent 6,000 cosmetic surgery quest for perfection. Trooper: Refusing to slow down, Roddy proudly showed off his altered 'beautiful, perfect' chin when he made a dashing arrival at the Mercedes-Benz fashion show Adam Sandler is returning to the show that made him famous. The 52-year-old comic will host SNL for the first time in his career in May, it was announced by the show via Twitter on Friday. Sandler was both a writer and a star of the long-running sketch show but was unceremoniously fired at the peak of his popularity in 1995. Debut! Adam Sandler is set to return to Saturday Night Live on May 4 for his first time as a host, the show announced on Twitter Friday The funny man will make his debut as host on May 4 along with returning musical guest Shawn Mendes. 'We are happy to welcome Adam back to 'SNL' in what is sure to be a special night,' said executive producer Lorne Michaels, according to Variety. The Billy Madison star was originally a writer on the show for one year in 1990 and joined the cast in 1991. Sandler developed some iconic characters and sketches during his tenure like Opera Man and releasing the perennially popular Chanukah Song. Iconic! Sandler developed some memorable characters and sketches during his tenure from 1991-1995 like Opera Man (pictured) He also had several famous bits with co-star Chris Farley like the Gap Girls, Hank and Beverley Gelfand and Schlitz Gay. The pair also worked together on Sandler's famous Lunch Lady Land song. In 1995, both Sandler and Farley were fired in a surprise move by Lorne Michaels. Each of the stars had just released two popular movies, Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore, as well as Tommy Boy and Black Sheep respectively so the move was a shock to fans. Years later in an interview with The Daily Beast, Sandler still couldn't make heads or tails of the firing. Gap girls! David Spade, Adam Sandler and Chris Farley were the Gap Girl in this 1993 sketch Shock: In 1995 Lorne Michaels made the surprising move to fire both Sandler and Farley His decision to return to the show as a host is equally as puzzling since in 2014 he famously told former SNL star Norm MacDonald that he had no interest in ever doing so. 'Why should I [host]?' Sandler told MacDonald. 'I don't know how good it would be. I'm slow now. ... There are guys who love doing it who are great at doing it. I just don't know how good I'd be doing it. I did what I can do on the show.' He has returned to the series over the years in different bit pieces, performing songs and sketches with the various members of the rotating cast. Sandler will join an elite group of former star's who've returned to host SNL. Surprised: Sandler's decision to host is puzzling considering he once told Norm MacDonald he had no interest in doing so (skit circa 1991) Elite group: Sandler will join a long list of stars who have returned to the sketch show as hosts after leaving the cast (pictured in 1991 playing Iraqi Pete) Chevy Chase was the first comedian to return to the show as a host and others include Tina Fey, Dana Carvey, David Spade, Will Ferrel, Jimmy Fallon and a laundry list of others. Sandler has been a busy man these days, finishing his latest Netflix project, Murder Mystery, with Jennifer Aniston. He is slated to reprise his role of voicing Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 4 and his most recent comedy special, 100% Fresh is currently streaming on Netflix. They fall head over heels in love with each other in the upcoming film The Sun is Also a Star. Yara Shahidi, 19, and Charles Melton, 28, are not only lovebirds in the new flick but also the May cover stars of Cosmopolitan. The exceeding attractive duo each also star in two popular television shows, Grown-ish and Riverdale, respectively. Red hot! Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton smolder on the cover of May's issue of Cosmopolitan to discuss their upcoming movie The Sun is Also a Star The pair shot an Instagram worthy photo shoot together for the popular magazine. On the cover they sizzle with Yara in a red sequin jumpsuit next to Charles who smolders in a leather jacket with a red printed Hawaiian shirt underneath. Interior photos capture the undeniable chemistry between the two as Melton feeds the teen activist a giant forkful of fettucine. Yara's youthful visage is flawless int he shots with glowing makeup, a flicked cat-eye and voluminous soft curls that have a vintage Diana Ross vibe. Star power! The exceeding attractive duo each also star in two popular television shows, Grown-ish and Riverdale, respectively Gorgeous: Charles and Yara were picture perfect in the kitschy photo spread for the mag Perhaps not-so-ironically, her on-screen mom on Black-ish, Tracee Ellis Ross, is Diana's real life daughter. The duo change costumes a few times for the shoot, rocking retro looks with Yara in a printed halter neck dress and Charles rocking polyester pants a a shirt sleeve black Oxford. Yara transforms her look a third time in a head-to-toe printed floral number that is captured mid flight as she leaped in front of the camera. In love! The sizzling pair fall for each other in just 24 hours in their upcoming YA romance It's not hard to see why the stunning duo was cast to capture the melting hearts of teens everywhere in their upcoming movie. The film centers around a whirlwind love-at-first-sight romance between the pair's characters. Natasha, a Jamaican immigrant who is going to be deported from along with her family New York meets and falls for Daniel, the son of Korean immigrants. Melton told Cosmo he is a believer in love at first site: 'I think you can fall in love in the snap of a finger, you know?' Too busy! Yara who is a freshman at Harvard has no time for a relationship between being a vocal advocate, Ivy League student and an actress The romance occurs in just 24 hours before Shahidi's character is scheduled for deportation. Melton told Cosmo he is a believer in love at first site: 'I think you can fall in love in the snap of a finger, you know?' 'It all started when I was 13 or 14,' he continued. 'Every girl I was with, I thought I was gonna marry My head's in the clouds. I'm a dreamer. I'm a hopeless romantic!' Style stars! The 19-year-old rocks a 1970s inspired look with gold hoops, voluminous curls and a sequin jumpsuit The tall handsome actor was mum as to whether that still holds true in adulthood with his girlfriend and Riverdale co-star Camila Mendes. Meanwhile, Yara who is a freshman at Harvard has no time for a relationship between being a vocal advocate, Ivy League student and an actress. She was spotted on Friday bowing down to actress Taraji P. Henson on the red carpet at Variety's Power of Women event in New York. 'Being an Asian-American lead for a studio filmit almost seems like it's not real for me, you know? Growing up, I never saw anybody who looked like me, really,' Melton revealed. However she has found time to develop close friendships with her on-screen love interests, Trevor Jackson and Luka Sabbat (famous for being Kourtney Kardashian's short lived fling.) 'It's really funny. I forgot what story I was telling themit wasn't anything bad, but somebody wasn't being the nicest to me, and I think they both offered to fight them on my behalf. I said noI'm a pacifist! But I appreciated the gesture.' Both actors are blazing paths in an increasingly more inclusive Hollywood landscape, albeit one that has a long way to go. Advocate! Yara has managed to carve out a place for herself as one of Hollywood's biggest activists 'Being an Asian-American lead for a studio filmit almost seems like it's not real for me, you know? Growing up, I never saw anybody who looked like me, really,' Melton revealed. Adding: 'So it's very emotional for me [After seeing Crazy Rich Asians] I cried seven times. It was just so emotional. Everyone was of Asian descent, and I was like, Wow. And I'm thinking about the movie I did with Yara, and Yara is Iranian and Black. It's very surreal.' The Sun Is Also a Star is out in theaters on May 17. Kyle Richards ridiculed Lisa Vanderpump's husband Ken Todd during a night out in Hollywood on Thursday. The latest episode of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills revealed a dramatic showdown between the two after Kyle accused Lisa of planting negative stories to the press. Ken stepped in to end the row by yelling 'goodbye Kyle!' before kicking her out of their home. Kyle, 50, referenced the argument and mocked Ken by shouting she was going to 'order a Goodbye Kyle on the rocks' outside while wandering past the front of his restaurant, SUR. The claws are out: Kyle Richards ridiculed Lisa Vanderpump's husband Ken Todd on Thursday Mocking Ken: Kyle joked she was going to 'order a Goodbye Kyle on the rocks' while outside his restaurant SUR during a wild night out in Hollywood Kyle even got her friends involved in the Instagram video as she asked one 'What do you want to drink?' and the answer was 'I'll have a tequila with a side of Goodbye Kyle!' The barbs didn't stop there as the ladies kept shouting the now infamous catchphrase adding an English accent to imitate Ken. And as they were dropped off home, each member of the party got a farewell in the vain of 'goodbye Kyle'. Kyle's close friend Faye Resnick was happy to receive a 'Goodbye Faye' from the group. The Uber driver even got in on the action by shouting each passengers name as they exited the vehicle. Bye Felicia: The episode titled Showdown At Villa Rosa revealed a dramatic showdown after Kyle accused Lisa of planting negative stories to the press with Ken ending the row by yelling 'goodbye Kyle!' before kicking her out of their home Strength in numbers: Kyle got her friends involved in the video as she asked one 'What do you want to drink?' and the answer was 'I'll have a tequila with a side of Goodbye Kyle!' Not to be left out, RHOBH cast mate Lisa Rinna piled in on social media on Friday morning. She filmed her husband Harry Hamlin sitting at their kitchen table before shouting 'goodbye Kyle!' Lisa then had her mother Lois film another version of what is now being called the #goodbyekylechallenge. While the mockery is a source of entertainment for Kyle and Lisa, not everyone is amused. A production source from Bravo told DailyMail.com: 'This may seem funny to some people but this is bullying by our cast. The cast clearly want Lisa off the show and have gone beyond the production calendar to make sure they are targeting her off the show too.' The insider maintained that the other cast members - including Teddy Mellencamp, Erika Jayne, and Denise Richards - aren't happy with fans who are taking Vanderpump's side. 'This comes from a cast who are concerned that the fans have turned on them and are now on Lisas side. Even Kyle Richards is being criticized and she doesnt handle criticism from viewers well.' Support group: The barbs didn't stop there as the ladies kept shouting the now infamous catchphrase adding an English accent to imitate Ken Keep it going: And as they were dropped off home, each member of the party got a farewell in the vain of 'goodbye Kyle'. Kyle's close friend Faye Resnick was happy to receive a 'Goodbye Faye' from the group The source went on to explain that this front against Lisa is distracting from the original source of contention and even other storylines. 'What is absolutely crazy is they have all forgotten who the real villain is here. Its Dorit. Shes the one who abandoned two dogs. These women clearly have their priorities wrong,' said the source. 'This storyline deflects from what is really going on we should have captured the lawsuit that Mauricio and the Agency is facing and the ongoing money troubles of PK, Dorits husband. These are far juicier than the current storyline. I mean our team had their mouths drop open when Dorit was chased around the pool and called a cheap b*tch in the Bahamas for an outstanding debt.' Even the driver! The Uber driver even got in on the action by shouting each passengers name as they exited the vehicle The epic feud between Kyle and Lisa began on the episode titled Showdown At Villa Rosa when Kyle confronted Lisa about rumors that she leaked harmful stories about their friend Dorit Kemsley. 'Maybe you care more about your image than your friendships,' Kyle exclaimed. Lisa stormed away as she told Kyle to show herself out of her Villa Rosa estate in Beverly Hills. Piling in: Not to be left out, RHOBH cast mate Lisa Rinna filmed her husband Harry Hamlin sitting at their kitchen table before shouting 'goodbye Kyle!' Mommy too? Lisa then had her mother Lois film another version of what is now being called the #goodbyekylechallenge Ken was clearly upset at Kyle after she admitted to believing that Lisa supplied the tabloid story about Dorit adopting a puppy that ended up in a kill shelter. 'You're not her friend! You are not her friend!,' Ken shouted as Lisa said that she wasn't going to admit to something she didn't do. 'I'm done with you, too. Kyle, I'm done,' added Lisa who also swore on her children's lives and the life of her beloved dog Giggy that she didn't give the story about Dorit to a gossip website. 'She would never say something like that about you. You're a f***ing liar! You're not my friend or her friend, so you get out. Please go. Please go! Go join the gang,' Ken yelled at Kyle. Lisa came back to calm down Ken as Kyle said she was there as a friend to tell her how it looked to the others. 'You came here to tell me I'm a liar,' Lisa told her. 'Good-bye, Kyle!,' Ken said as he marched upstairs. THAT showdown: The epic fight between Kyle and Lisa began on the episode titled Showdown At Villa Rosa. Kyle confronted Lisa about rumors that she leaked harmful stories about their friend Dorit Kemsley Ouch: 'Maybe you care more about your image than your friendships,' Kyle exclaimed No friend of mine: 'You're not her friend! You are not her friend!,' Ken shouted as Lisa said that she wasn't going to admit to something she didn't do Nadia Essex paid her respects to Mike Thalassitis on social media after she joined the world of reality stars attending his funeral on Friday. The former Celebs Go Dating guru, whose path crossed with Mike's when he starred on the E4 show, was among the reality stars in attendance at his funeral at Christ Church in Southgate, north London. In the Instagram snap, Mike could be seen playfully planting a friendly kiss on Nadia's cheek during the Celebs Go Dating finale party in Cape Verde. Heartbreaking: Nadia Essex paid tribute to Mike Thalassitis after his funeral with playful kissing snap and devastating words, 'Life will never be the same' She wrote: 'Sleep well my Prince. Today was harder than I could have ever imagined. Life will never be the same. Thank you for lighting up my life in every way. I will think of you often, I will love you always #ripmike.' Mike was tragically found dead in a park in North London, with police later confirming he was found hanged. Nadia's outing comes after she exclusively told MailOnline that she has 'absolutely quit' Twitter and backed a new mental health app called YAPA following her online abuse. Go way back: Their paths crossed when Mike starred on the E4 show Celebs Go Dating on which Nadia used to be a dating guru Devastating: Nadia was among the stars in attendance at his funeral at Christ Church in Southgate, north London (pictured) Nadia took to Twitter hours after his death and asked her followers if someone would clarify whether or not the news was a hoax, only for trolls to attack her for posting the video. Shunning social media, now the personality has backed a new mental health social media app called YAPA which offers help to users 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nadia told the MailOnline: 'When I heard that Mike died I was shocked at the news and I tried to contact him and couldnt get an answer. Close: In the Instagram snap, Mike could be seen playfully planting a friendly kiss on Nadia's cheek during the Celebs Go Dating finale party in Cape Verde 'So I went on Twitter and asked my followers for help to confirm the news, and all I got was abuse and trolling. 'Its ironic that on one hand were saying "please everyone talk about your feelings and say when you need help", but then I show my vulnerability to the world and I get attacked for it.' She added: 'I absolutely quit Twitter. Why should I have 2000 notifications of people abusing me that I cant stop and cant control? Support: Shunning social media, now the personality has backed a new mental health social media app called YAPA which offers help to users 24 hours a day, seven days a week Tearful: The star took to Twitter hours after his death and asked her followers if someone would clarify whether or not the news was a hoax, only for trolls to attack her for posting the video 'It's like telling a woman who is a victim of sexism that they are the problem and they should just put up with sexist comments. 'YAPA has no likes, no photos and no followers. So you can enjoy social media and get help at the same time if you need to. 'This app is really important and the hope is that other social media apps will do the same and get rid of the things people seek validation from, like likes and comments and followers. 'Even Kanye West has called for changes to Twitter and Instagram. We all know how toxic social media can be.' It seems Claire Foy and Matt Smith remain great friends as the pair were seen catching up over several drinks in Soho They may have given up their roles as the Queen and Prince Philip in The Crown, but it seems Claire Foy and Matt Smith remain great friends. The actress, 34, and the 36-year-old former Doctor Who star were spotted enjoying a lengthy catch-up over several drinks in Soho. While Miss Foy drank red wine, her on-screen husband stuck to beer as the pair chatted animatedly. They were sharing a table by the side of the pavement outside the Dean Street Townhouse hotel and restaurant, with another female friend. Given that they have not worked together since the 2017 second series of Netflixs royal drama, they may have had a lot to catch up on. Smith is in a long-term relationship with Downton Abbey star Lily James, 30. Miss Foy announced her split from her husband, actor Stephen Campbell Moore, 41, in February last year. Reunion: Miss Foy touches Smiths arm. Miss Foy has gone on to have a number of roles in Hollywood films including First Man and The Girl In The Spiders Web Smiles: The pair share a joke. While Miss Foy drank red wine, her on-screen husband stuck to beer as the pair chatted animatedly While Miss Foy played the lead role in The Crown, winning a Golden Globe award for her performance, it emerged last year that she had been paid less than Smith. After finding out that he received 10,000 more per episode, Miss Foy said she was upset and felt like she had become an inadvertent spokesperson for woman in the gender pay gap row. I was deeply hurt by it, because Id been working on that show for two years. I loved everybody on it, and then I realised, theres been a big, fat, dirty secret that nobodys ever talked about, she told Porter magazine last year. While Miss Foy played the lead role in The Crown, winning a Golden Globe award for her performance, it emerged last year that she had been paid less than Smith But there was also that thing [of being] an inadvertent spokesperson. Why did it have to be me? I could have said nothing. And I think everyone would have preferred that. Smith stuck up for Miss Foy amid the pay row and The Crown producers apologised to both of them for the furore. Despite the wage disparity, it seems that Miss Foy and Smith have maintained a strong friendship off screen. Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies, both 45, have taken over from the pair for the third series of the drama, which has recently finished filming. Oscar-winner Miss Colman plays the Queen at an older age, with Menzies taking over the mantle of the Duke of Edinburgh. Miss Foy, who previously starred in BBC historical drama Wolf Hall, has gone on to have a number of roles in Hollywood films including First Man and The Girl In The Spiders Web. Smith will next be seen on the big screen as notorious American cult leader Charles Manson in Charlie Says. The pair have not worked together since the 2017 second series of Netflixs royal drama The Crown, where Foy played the Queen and Smith played her on-screen husband Prince Phillip The hugely anticipated film Avengers: Endgame is set to swoop into theaters on April 26. And weeks before the movie premieres on the big screen, the film's stars made a visit to Disney's California Adventure Park on Friday as they launched a charity event called Avengers Universe Unites. Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner and Paul Rudd were on hand at the Disneyland Resort to celebrate the donation of more than $5 million to children's hospitals. Incredible: Weeks before the movie premieres on the big screen, the film's stars made a visit to Disney's California Adventure Park on Friday as they launched a charity event called Avengers Universe Unites; (from left to right) Paul Rudd, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger, Brie Larson, Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner Avengers Universe Unites is a charity event that supports Disney Team of Heroes - The Walt Disney Company's signature philanthropic commitment that delivers both inspiration and comfort to seriously ill kids globally, according to the Disney Parks Blog. The event brought the film's stars to Disney California Adventure to celebrate the donation of $5 million to nonprofits. The donation goes to causes that support critically ill children and also includes $1 million in cash to the Starlight Children's Foundation, according to Disney Parks Blog. Amazon, Funko, Hasbro and The LEGO Group donated the remaining $4 million in Avengers: Endgame toys; they were sent to children's hospitals in the United States and the Give Kids the World nonprofit resort in central Florida. Amazing news: Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner and Paul Rudd were on hand at the Disneyland Resort to celebrate the donation of more than $5 million to children's hospitals Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement to Disney Parks Blog: 'The superheroes in Avengers personify traits like courage, perseverance, bravery and hope - the same traits countless kids and their families in children's hospitals exhibit every day.' He continued: 'We are grateful to have the Avengers cast take time out of their day to be a part of this effort to lifts spirits and bring comfort to children during a difficult time.' During the celebration, Scarlett - who plays Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff - in the Avengers franchise - looked beautiful in a red elbow-length blouse with a coordinating crimson and white floral skirt. Stunning: During the celebration, Scarlett looked beautiful in a red elbow-length blouse with a coordinating crimson and white floral skirt The blonde haired beauty, 34, plays the character Black Widow in the Avengers franchise; (from L to R) Paul, Scarlett, Robert Downey Jr. and Robert A. Iger Wow factor: Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement to Disney Parks Blog: 'The superheroes in Avengers personify traits like courage, perseverance, bravery and hope - the same traits countless kids and their families in children's hospitals exhibit every day;' (pictured from L to R) Paul, Scarlett, Robert Downey Jr., Robert A. Iger, Brie, Chris and Jeremy Brie, who plays Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers also rocked a red top - the Merlette Monceau Top - but paired it with denim bottoms. She clearly took inspiration from her surroundings for her ensemble, completing her look with a pair of Disney x Vans sneakers. Chris, who plays Thor in the Marvel Universe films, cut a casual figure in a cream T-shirt with a black jacket and dark wash denim bottoms. Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man/Tony Stark), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton) and Paul Rudd (Ant Man/Scott Lang) were also on hand. Their film Avengers: Endgame will arrived in theaters on April 26, 2019. Star power: Brie, who plays Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers also rocked a red top but paired it with denim bottoms, and she even wore themed Disney x Vans sneakers Happy: Brie and Chris grinned during the Friday afternoon event So cool: Chris, who plays Thor in the Marvel Universe films, cut a casual figure in a cream T-shirt with a black jacket and dark wash denim bottoms Incredible: The launch took place at the California Adventure Park inside Disneyland Resort Lily-Rose Depp had a relaxing Friday morning. The 19-year-old daughter of Johnny Depp looked laid back in a crop top revealing her tiny stomach while on a coffee run with a friend in West Hollywood. The Chanel model also proved she is brand loyal by wearing a pair of black-toed sling-back Chanel shoes. Sweet and simple: Lily-Rose Depp, 19, looked laid back in a crop top revealing her tiny stomach while on a coffee run with a friend in West Hollywood on Friday The teenager was all smiles as she walked down the street with a drink in hand. She wore a button-down navy Henley crop top which revealed the formation of some impressive abs. On bottom, she kept things simple with mom style blue jeans. Looking as though her outfit was straight off the racks of a thrift store, Lily-Rose also wore tan kitten heels with a long black leather jacket, complete with a neutral grey toned purse. She sported thin sunglasses - the kind that have recently reappeared in the world of fashion to be considered trendy again. Quick hang: With the A Faithful Man actress was another young girl, who dressed down in a similar look On the go: The young star also did some shopping during her afternoon jaunt Casual-cool: She kept things simple with a pair of blue jeans Stylish: The young star wore tan kitten heels and sunglasses as she carried a grey toned purse Fun in the sun: The actress shopped along La Brea Ave with a group of friends With the A Faithful Man actress was another young girl, who dressed down in a similar look. While her stomach was covered in a red Warner Brothers sweater, Depp's blonde gal pal also wore jeans and vintage heels. The pair's afternoon stroll in Los Angeles comes days after the brunette was last spotted filming for her upcoming thriller, Dreamland, in Canada. Appearing with Armie Hammer and Michelle Rodriguez, Lily-Rose will act in the film about a drug trafficker smuggling Fentanyl between the U.S. and Canada. The Vogue Cover Girl will also be seen in The King and Moose Jaws coming up. Lily-Rose is the eldest child of Vanessa Paradis, 46, and Johnny Depp, 55. They could be sisters! Lily-Rose is the eldest child of Vanessa Paradis, 46, and Johnny Depp, 55. Vanessa and Lily-Rose are pictured here at Paris Fashion Week in 2017 They also share a 16-year-old son together, John Christopher Depp III. Since her parent's separation in 2012 after a 14 year relationship, Lily-Rose currently divides her time between Los Angeles and Paris. Venessa is now remarried to Samuel Benchetrit after first meeting him on the set of Dog in 2018. As for Johnny, he also went on to date again and married Amber Heard in 2015 before their 2017 divorce and prior to both the women, he was wed to Lori Anne Allison from 1983 to 1986. Day with dad: Since her parent's separation in 2012 after a 14 year relationship, Lily-Rose currently divides her time between Los Angeles and Paris. Hey they are at the Narita Airport in Japan in 2013 His model and actress daughter is rumoured to be dating Oscar-nominated actor Timothee Chalamet, who went to the same Manhattan performing arts high school as Ansel Elgort. Timothee was asked about the rumoured romance at the Golden Globes, which he attended on the arm of his mother Nicole Flender. 'I'm here with Mom,' the Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird said to Access Hollywood when they brought up the subject. He and Lily-Rose have more than their acting careers in common - each of them has one parent who was born in the United States and one from France. After last weeks powerful and devastatingly emotional episode, we were thankfully given a little light relief this week. Jo (Camilla Luddington) is still reeling after meeting her birth mother, and to follow suit this week, one of the other doctors gets a surprise visit from a family member, while Teddy (Kim Raver) tries to figure out whats going on with her love life. Surprise, Megan Hunt (Abigail Spencer) is back! Owens (Kevin McKidd) sister made her Greys Anatomy debut back in Season 13 remember when she went missing for 10 years and then miraculously was found? but now shes back to stir up some drama. Megan Hunt (Abigail Spencer) is back! Owens sister made her Greys Anatomy debut back in Season 13 remember when she went missing for 10 years and then miraculously was found? but now shes back to stir up some drama. Catherine (Debbie Allen) is back in the OR following her own cancer surgery, and its all thanks to Jackson (Jesse Williams) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). Megan cant believe her brother not only knocked up Teddy, but didnt put a ring on her finger and confronts both of them about their relationship situation, or lack thereof. Not only is she in town to see her brother, but shes also come back with a patient, Caleb, who is in need of an abdomen, penis, and scrotum transplant after getting severely injured while serving in Afghanistan. The only problem? She has no idea about Owens baby with Teddy. In fact, she doesnt even know Teddys back in Seattle. At first, Megan is excited to see Teddy has returned, but its only because she thinks the pair have finally decided to be in a relationship. Clearly, thats not the case. Once she gets all the details, Megan cant believe her brother not only knocked up Teddy, but didnt put a ring on her finger. Megan came back with a patient, Caleb, who is in need of an abdomen, penis, and scrotum transplant after getting severely injured while serving in Afghanistan. Jackson and Meredith decide to assign Catherine to the massive transplant surgery, but it all goes down hill once the doctors find out Caleb doesnt have a support team around him. She becomes even more irritated when she finds out Teddy is actually in a relationship with Koracick (Greg Germann). Megan confronts Teddy about her current relationship situation and questions why shes dating Koracick when shes really been in love with Owen for years. While Teddy knows it looks complicated from the outside, she also doesnt want to jump into something with Owen so shortly after he ended his relationship with Amelia (Caterina Scorsone). Finally, a doctor who is rational! Catherine (Debbie Allen) is back in the OR following her own cancer surgery, and its all thanks to Jackson (Jesse Williams) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). They decide to assign Catherine to the massive transplant surgery, but it all goes down hill once the doctors find out Caleb doesnt have a support team around him. Caleb told the doctors his girlfriend, Anna, would be taking care of him post surgery, but when Anna surprisingly arrives to the hospital unannounced, its clear theyre no longer together. Thanks to Owen and Catherine, the operation was a success, but Megan is still upset with him. Caleb told the doctors his girlfriend, Anna, would be taking care of him post surgery, but when Anna surprisingly arrives to the hospital unannounced, its clear theyre no longer together. While on a walk, Owen convinces Caleb to ask Anna for another chance, which ends up working. The surgery is a go! Though it's a success all thanks to Owen, Megan is still upset with him. Shes tired of him running away from relationships and not taking time to deal with his past trauma. Because of Megan, Owen may finally get the help he needs to potentially make a relationship with Teddy work. Meanwhile Jo, after finding out about her birth mother and father last episode, is in a rough place. She hasnt been out of bed in over a week and isnt communicating with Alex (Justin Chambers). Not only does she not want to talk about what she went through, she cant seem to get herself to work. After finding out about her birth mother and father last episode, Jo is in a rough place. She hasnt been out of bed in over a week and isnt communicating with Alex. Alex asks Link to stop by their place to talk with his wife. Alex knows how much Jo connects with Link, so its basically his only shot. Link brings over soup and is ready to pull Jo out of bed, but she doesnt budge. In fact, when she does decide to get out of bed, its only to the freezer to grab a bottle of vodka. Ultimately, Link cant through to her. Not only is this bad news for Jo, its tough to watch Alex go through this with his wife. Knowing he cant through to her, Alex asks Link (Chris Carmack) to stop by their place to talk with his wife. Alex knows how much Jo connects with Link, so its basically his only shot. Link brings over soup and is ready to pull Jo out of bed, but she doesnt budge. In fact, when she does decide to get out of bed, its only to the freezer to grab a bottle of vodka. The pair drink and laugh about Links ex-girlfriend for a little bit, but things take a turn when Jo starts to open up about her past. She realizes she always runs away from relationships, just like her birth mother. Jo gets close to telling Link about her birth mother and father, but stops herself in order to get a new bottle of vodka. Ultimately, Link cant through to her. Not only is this bad news for Jo, its tough to watch Alex go through this with his wife. Hasnt he been through enough in 15 seasons?! Dear Greys Anatomy writers, dont put Alex through anymore pain. The Kutupalong camp near Bangladesh's border with Myanmar -- seen here in November 2018 -- is the biggest refugee settlement in the world, housing tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims Bangladesh police have prevented 115 Rohingya refugees from being smuggled to Malaysia in rickety fishing boats, officials said Saturday, but no suspected traffickers were detained. The group from the Kutupalong camp near Bangladesh's border with Myanmar -- the biggest refugee settlement in the world -- were stopped as they headed to boats in the Bay of Bengal. The operation, which took place late Friday, was the latest in a series involving Rohingya refugees seeking to leave squalid camps for Malaysia, a more prosperous Muslim-majority nation. "We stopped a convoy of 15 auto-rickshaws and rescued 50 men, 39 women and 26 children," Bangladeshi police officer Anwar Hossain told AFP. "But we could not catch any traffickers." The officer said the Rohingya, who had already paid the traffickers some money, would be taken back to the camp. About 740,000 of the Muslim minority Rohingya fled Myanmar for Bangladesh following a brutal military clampdown in the Buddhist-majority nation in August 2017. They joined another 300,000 Rohingya who have already been living in the overcrowded camps in the Cox's Bazar area following previous bouts of violence. Thousands have risked their lives travelling to Malaysia and Thailand by boat when the Bay of Bengal is calm before monsoon season sets in at the end of March. So far this year, Bangladeshi security forces have stopped more than 300 Rohingya from attempting the trip on small fishing boats, which experts say are not fit for deep-sea navigation. The group detained Friday was the third prevented from heading to Malaysia this week alone. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said the vulnerability of Rohingya to trafficking has increased enormously as livelihoods, support networks, and other fundamental systems are disrupted. "It is hard to comment on the scale of the activity, due to the clandestine nature of the activity," UNHCR spokeswoman Caroline Gluck told AFP. "The community finds it difficult to speak up." CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A North Carolina Catholic diocese official stepped down after what the diocese called a "credible allegation" of sexual misconduct, officials said Thursday. The Diocese of Charlotte announced in a news release that Monsignor Mauricio West stepped down effective March 25. The allegation involves multiple instances of unwanted overtures during the mid-1980s toward an adult student at Belmont Abbey College, where West was vice president of student affairs, the diocese said. West has denied the allegation. He had served as the diocese's vicar general and chancellor. Bishop Peter J. Jugis said that in February, the individual met with the lay review board to discuss the allegation. "While the alleged behavior did not constitute sexual abuse and did not involve a minor, it is the strict policy of the Diocese of Charlotte to refer all allegations by known accusers of potential sexual misconduct to the Lay Review Board for investigation," Jugis said. "Misconduct includes boundary violations and improper behavior by clergy, lay people and church volunteers involving children and adults." Jugis said West will remain a priest but be on a leave of absence during a period of counseling and assessment. Belmont Abbey College Chancellor Placid Solari issued a statement saying school officials have apologized to the victim personally. "Although we cannot undo the past, we are dedicated to preventing such inappropriate behavior in the future," Solari said. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) - Police in El Salvador say the father-in-law of ex-President Mauricio Funes has been arrested in Costa Rica and is wanted back home for alleged corruption. National Civil Police deputy director Cesar Flores Murillo said Wednesday that Juan Carlos Guzman Berdugo is facing a process of extradition that has a 30-day window. Prosecutors have said Guzman is wanted for prosecution on money laundering related to a corruption network allegedly led by Funes in which $351 million was purportedly diverted from government coffers. Funes and his partner, Ada Mitchell Guzman, are also implicated. Both are in Nicaragua where they were granted asylum in 2016. They have denied wrongdoing. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Days after celebrating the anniversary of the military coup that led to Brazil's last dictatorship, the government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is pushing for a revision of the history curriculum for the country's schools. Education Minister Ricardo Velez Rodriguez says he will introduce changes in school textbooks so children will get a "true idea" of that era, describing the de facto government that took over after the coup as a "democratic regime of force." "Brazilian history shows that March 31, 1964, was a sovereign decision of the Brazilian society. It wasn't the barracks that put Castelo Branco at the presidency," Velez Rodriguez said in an interview published Thursday in the newspaper daily Valor. Repeating Bolsonaro's interpretation of those times, the minister denied it was a coup that removed democratically elected President Joao Goulart, saying the military acted with the support of Congress in installing Marshal Castelo Branco, head of the army, as the country's leader. The armed forces then shut down Congress and held power for 21 years with a regime marked by censorship, political persecution, torture and death. Velez Rodriguez argued that Brazil adopted a "democratic regime of force because it was necessary at the time" to block the rise of communism. In this Jan. 1, 2019 photo, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, left, shakes hands with Education Minister Ricardo Velez Rodriguez, during a swearing-in ceremony for his cabinet at the Planalto presidential palace, in Brasilia, Brazil. Velez Rodriguez said on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, that he will have school books revised to refer to the 1964 military coup as a "democratic regime by force." (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) The administration of Bolsonaro, a former army captain who is a fervent anti-leftist, also reaffirmed its controversial reading of Brazil's past to the United Nations in a telegram, which The Associated Press had access to. It was sent in response to a comment by Fabian Salvioli, the U.N. special investigator on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, who described the commemorations of the coup as "inadmissible." The government's telegram said "there was not a coup d'etat but a legitimate political movement" that was supported by a majority of Brazilians to deal with "the growing threat of a communist takeover" and "terrorist organizations." In his interview, Velez Rodriguez said there will be "progressive changes" in school material to rescue "a broader version of history." Carlos Fico, a history professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University who specializes in Latin American dictatorships, said the government's initiative is "a purely ideological denial attempt" that will fail. "In the field of historiography there is no doubt, there is no debate of this kind. No one is denying that there was a coup and a dictatorship because it would be considered ridiculous," Fico said. The government's weekend commemoration of the coup angered many Brazilians, and protests were held in cities across Brazil. The National Truth Commission, which investigated the crimes of Brazil's dictatorship, has said at least 434 people were disappeared and there were more than 30,000 illegal detentions and cases of torture. But no one has ever been tried in Brazil for the regime's abuses, unlike in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, which have tried people associated with their dictatorships of the same era. "In denying history, the government tries to devalue all the struggles of Brazilian workers for their rights and wipe out the gains they still have," said Cesar Cordaro, a former Sao Paulo prosecutor who is a member of the Paulista Committee for Memory, Truth and Justice. HARRISBURG >> When eight teenagers from the Council Rock School District contacted State Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) about crafting legislation to designate Hersheys Kisses as Pennsylvanias state candy, Mehaffie jumped at the opportunity to build on their enthusiasm and get the bill introduced. House Bill 2150 would add Hersheys Kisses to the list of state symbols, which includes mountain laurel... Aircraft maker Boeing has admitted that a key sensor malfunctioned on an Ethiopian Airlines flight which crashed last month, killing all on board. A preliminary report from the Ethiopian government said the pilots followed Boeings recommended procedures when the plane started to nose dive but could not avoid crashing. The findings draw the strongest link yet between the March 10 crash in Ethiopia and an October crash off the coast of Indonesia, which both involved Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. All 346 people on the two planes were killed. Both planes had an automated system that pushed the nose down when sensor readings detected the danger of an aerodynamic stall, and it now appears that sensors malfunctioned on both planes. Boeing acknowledged that the sensor malfunctioned and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said a software update would prevent future incidents. (PA Graphics) Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk, Mr Muilenburg said in a video statement. We own it, and we know how to do it. Thursdays preliminary report, based on flight data and cockpit voice recorders on the Ethiopian Airlines jet, showed that the faulty sensor touched off a series of events that caused the pilots to lose control of the plane. The report from Ethiopias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the sensor problems began about a minute after the plane was cleared for takeoff. It said air speed and altitude values on the left side of the Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max conflicted with data from the right sensor, causing flight control problems. Eventually the pilots could not keep the plane from plummeting to the ground, killing all 157 people on board. (PA Graphics) The problems are similar to those reported on the Indonesian Lion Air flight that crashed last October. Investigators found that software on that plane took readings from the sensor and pointed the nose down. Thursdays revelations raise questions about repeated assertions by Boeing and US regulators that pilots could regain control in some emergencies by following steps that include turning off an anti-stall system designed specifically for the Max, known by its acronym, MCAS. The Max has been grounded worldwide pending a software fix that Boeing is rolling out, which still needs to be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators. In a statement, Boeing said that to make sure unintended activation of the MCAS system does not happen again, it is developing software and associated comprehensive pilot training for the Max. The software update, Boeing said, adds layers of protection and will stop erroneous data from activating the system. Ethiopian investigators did not specifically mention the MCAS, but recommended that Boeing review the aircraft flight-control system related to the flight controllability. They also recommended that aviation officials verify that issues have been adequately addressed before allowing the planes to fly again. At a news conference, Ethiopias Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges said the Ethiopian Airlines crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft. However, it was not clear whether the Ethiopian pilots followed Boeings recommendations to the letter. The pilots initially followed Boeings emergency steps by disconnecting the MCAS system by switching off power to a stabiliser on the tail, the report said. But they turned the system back on 32 seconds before hitting the ground and tried unsuccessfully to use it to point the nose up. Boeings procedures instruct pilots to leave the MCAS disconnected and continue flying manually for the rest of the flight. The report said multiple alarms went off as the pilots struggled to control the plane, indicating an even more complex situation than in the Lion Air crash, said William Waldock, a professor of safety science at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Its similar in a lot of ways but perhaps more extreme, he said. It seems likely theyve got more things going on at once in a shorter time period. The two pilots had just 159 hours of combined flying time on the Boeing 737 Max, a new aircraft that went into service in 2017. The 29-year-old captain had more than 8,000 flight hours overall, including more than 1,400 on older 737s, the report said. The 25-year-old co-pilot had only 361 total flight hours not enough to be hired as a pilot at a US airline. He flew 207 of those hours on 737s, including 56 hours on Max jets. By Milton Castillo and Daina Beth Solomon SANTA MARIA CHIQUIMULA, Guatemala, April 5 (Reuters) - After a U.S.-funded program gave Guatemalan farmer Rigoberto Leon and his neighbors tools to plant new crops like tomatoes and chile peppers, many of them stayed to live off their drought-prone lands even as droves of villagers left for the United States. More programs like the climate change adaptation scheme backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that helped Leon are in jeopardy after U.S. President Donald Trump said he will end Washington's aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. He has accused the Central American countries of failing to halt an influx of migrants to the United States. Leon fears an aid cutoff would make it harder for farmers to survive in villages around the small indigenous Mayan town of Santa Maria Chiquimula, in Guatemala's western highlands, which is suffering deforestation and low rainfall. "Here, there's no money to invest in materials, in what's needed," he said. "If there were more opportunities for work here, there would be no need to go to the United States." For decades, hundreds of programs throughout Central America have worked to slow the steady outflow of men - and increasingly, children and entire families - through efforts such as assisting farmers, educating teens, improving police and strengthening governance. While these programs have not stopped the overall rise of migration, proponents of international aid say the situation would be worse without them and that the United States should invest more, not less. U.S. assistance expanded under former President Barack Obama, whose administration sought to tackle root causes of immigration. In his last full fiscal year in office, funds appropriated for Central America hit a high of $754 million. That aid has steadily decreased under Trump, however, to $700 million the first year and to $627 million in 2018. Leon, who grows hundreds of pine tree seedlings in a greenhouse equipped with a sprinkler-based irrigation system, both donated by USAID, said the number of families he knew living off the dry hillside more than doubled to 40 as a result of the program, which ran from 2014 to 2017. Local project organizers say they still receive bare-bones U.S. funding to organize training, but are lobbying for more in order to buy storage tanks and tubing to bring water from a nearby river. The Mayan people suffer some of the highest poverty rates in Latin America. Guatemala's paltry tax take and low public investment have contributed to worsening social indicators. Sebastian Charchalac, an agricultural engineer who helped lead the climate change program, lamented that its funding evaporated after Trump took office, saying it could have been extended to additional locations. "The results are still very good, because they rooted people to their communities," he said. While data is not clear on which projects have been affected by the change in government, the Trump administration has signaled a desire to shift funding away from economic aid and climate change-oriented programs, in favor of security and policing. USAID did not respond to a question about why funding was reduced for the Santa Maria program. Instead, it said it was evaluating the impact of Trump's directive to end fiscal year 2017 foreign assistance funding. Approximately $450 million in 2018 funds would be affected, they said. It is also unclear how much funding Trump can cut off without the support of Congress. Rachael Shenyo, a former USAID coordinator in Guatemala who now runs climate change programs funded by non-profit groups and the private sector, said further reductions in U.S. assistance would create an opportunity for China. Since 2017, El Salvador, Panama and the Dominican Republic have all forged closer ties with Beijing, Washington's strategic rival. "China has been increasing its presence more or less across Latin America. You're going to see a lot more investment," Shenyo said. SELF-SUFFICIENCY Critics of foreign aid say it is not always effective, or helps only small numbers of people, while sometimes acting as a political tool and forcing an underdeveloped country to become dependent on a stronger one. In El Salvador, where migration has been shrinking along with the homicide rate, President-Elect Nayib Bukele said he welcomes funding, but that he wants the country to ultimately stop relying on outside help. "We Salvadorans should be self-sufficient," he told reporters this week. "It's somewhat a sense of low self-esteem to think that we can't get ahead without humanitarian aid." U.S. help in El Salvador includes training police and developing strategy. Ever Manzano, the country's police spokesman, said he did not think Trump's vow to cut aid would materialize. "They have a lot of interest and have had a big presence, substantial investment, and excellent relations with the police force," he said. U.S. Representative Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said ending aid would make it harder for Trump to crack down on gangs and crime. During a visit last week to El Salvador, he visited a program that teaches software coding to teens to steer them from crime, and an FBI-backed anti-gang project. "We're cutting off our nose to spite our face. The very things (Trump's) complaining about, will make it tougher for us to do," said Engel. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; additional reporting by Milton Castillo in Santa Maria Chiquimula, Guatemala, Nelson Renteria in San Salvador, Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; writing by Daina Beth Solomon; editing by G Crosse) SOFIA, April 5 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that he would nominate Danail Kirilov, head of the parliaments legal affairs committee, to succeed Tsetska Tsacheva as Justice Minister. Last month Tsacheva resigned after being investigated in connection with having acquired apartments at allegedly below-market prices (24 Chasa, Trud, Monitor, Sega) -- Bulgaria had the second-highest road fatality rate in the European Union for a second consecutive year, the European Commission said, presenting its report on preliminary road fatality figures for 2018 (Trud, 24 Chasa, Monitor, Sega) -- CSKA Sofia will meet Botev Plovdiv in the Bulgarian Cup semi-finals following the draw on Thursday, while Lokomotiv Plovdiv face Septemvri in the other last-four tie YANGON, April 5 (Reuters) - Myanmars military said on Friday six Rohingya Muslims killed and nine wounded in an aerial attack in the western state of Rakhine this week were affiliated with an armed rebel group. The army-run Myawady newspaper said the villagers were "together with terrorists while the army was cracking down on the Arakan Armys terrorist activities" on Wednesday in the township of Buthidaung. Rakhine state came to global attention in 2017, when the Myanmar army drove about 730,000 ethnic Rohingya across the border into neighbouring Bangladesh, following attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. The United Nations has accused the army of 'genocidal intent' in cracking down on the Muslim minority. More recently, the military has been battling another armed group, the Arakan Army, which draws recruits mostly from the ethnic Rakhine population. The men were collecting bamboo near the Sai Din waterfall when an army helicopter attacked, three villagers and a regional lawmaker told Reuters on Thursday. "All of them were bamboo workers," said Soe Tun Oo, a fellow labourer. Arakan Army spokesman Khin Thu Kha denied the dead and wounded men were members of the armed group, saying the military had attacked indiscriminately. "They bombed everywhere, believing there were Arakan Army members in the jungle," he added. Ten people are being treated at the Buthidaung public hospital, Kyaw Min Tun, a hospital official, said on Friday. In a statement, the military said nine injured were taken to a military-run hospital for treatment. But a military spokesman, Tun Tun Nyi, declined to comment on the discrepancy between the accounts. More than 17,000 people have been displaced by the violence in Rakhine since December, the U.S. embassy said, urging urged authorities to allow humanitarian relief for those affected. "The United States is deeply concerned about the harm to civilians of the ongoing conflict in Rakhine and Chin States between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military," it said in a statement on Tuesday. "We call on all parties to renew their efforts to end the fighting and work toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict." (Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Film: Romeo Akbar Walter Director: Robbie Grewal Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff You will like it if you like: Raazi As a once-upon-a-time fan of John Abraham, when the opportunity to catch the first-day-first-show of Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW) presented itself, I grabbed it. It took me 30 minutes into the film to start regretting it. Most cinemagoers had realised a long time ago that John cannot emote to save his life. John, however, is in denial. RAW, being the story of a spy, sort of benefitted in some places from his forever emotionless face. But in particularly emotional scenes, it stuck out like a sore thumb. John, over the years, has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood whether successfully is a matter of debate. From Madras Cafe to Satyamev Jayate, we've seen his chiselled body in only patriotic films no, we are not complaining. But that has finally become a disadvantage for him. It seems like he is still stuck in the same character, playing it over and over again to get it right the next time, but failing. As the audience, it is boring. Romeo Ali (John) is a bank employee in India and lives with his mother Waheeda (Alka Amin). Though he always nurses this desire to fight for the country, like his father, his overprotective mother, and her grief of losing her husband to war, stops him. He is finally recruited by Shrikant Rao (Jackie) as a spy and sent to Pakistan. Akbar and Walter are his spy names. Jackie Shroff seems to have been given the instruction to look stern you're a RAW chief, you better look the part. Unfortunately, that stiffness was a bit much in many places. We're not sure if RAW chiefs actually look that menacing. Mouni Roy was used pretty much as garnish after a little more substantial role in Gold opposite Akshay Kumar, this was a raw deal for her. (Oops!) Have we seen John look like this before? (Source: YouTube screengrab) Sikander Kher, however, was outstanding. Anybody who happens to find themselves in the theatre watching this movie would probably stick around only for this guy. But the acting aside, the real problem with the film is its screenplay. It is slow, often boring, seems to stretch too long, but even then, nothing much happens. A man is chosen to be a spy but no screen time was spent in showing how he was trained. Pep talks in Jackie Shroff's grave voice aren't enough to prepare someone to face the enemy country. The cinematography and the framing, however, are quite good. The film is set in 1971, with palpable tension between India and Pakistan at the backdrop. Spies from both countries are infiltrating the other, which means there is an obvious life risk. Each frame sort of captures that grimness in the air dark, grungy, scary. If only the story was tighter to compliment the picturisation. There was a time when I was certain I'd walk out of the theatre. But I am glad I didn't. The ending, sort of, helps redeem the film though not entirely. But with a little over two and a half hours of run time, the wait to the end feels almost never-ending. There is one thing that works in favour of RAW the delay in the release of the Vivek Oberoi starrer, PM Narendra Modi. Which has ensured RAW gets a solo release, with only No Fathers In Kashmir to compete with. That will surely help the business. As a fan, however, I'd perhaps still go for another John movie, even if it is only to regret immediately. For this one, I'm going with 1.5 stars out of 5. Also read: 'No Fathers in Kashmir' Movie Review: 'No Fathers in Kashmir' is a valiant attempt at capturing the Valley's sufferings Q Omar Abdullah has said that there should be a separate PM for J&K what is your view? There used to be a separate PM for J&K and this arrangement was well within the Indian Constitution. This system was abolished in view of the series of erosions in the Article 370 we believe that the demand is not unjust, it is justified. However, coming at a time when elections are happening and more so, coming without taking care of what has happened to the Constitution in the last 70 years, apparently emerging from a party which has been responsible for the erosion of the special status in the state that is something I dont agree with. I do agree that this demand of a separate PM in the state is part of the political aspiration of the people of J&K. Article 370 does give special privilege to the state to have a separate PM, I dont think people should have any problem with this. Q Removal of Article 370 will end accession of J&K: is this right? Article 370 is a covenant as part of the accession process it reflects the spirit of accession and those conditions which have been envisaged in the accession process. This was made by none other than the former PM of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. So, we believe that its a bridge between India and the state of J&K. It should stay. If you want to burn the bridge, then nothing will remain. 'Nothing wrong in having J&K's own PM' Shah Faesal echoes Omar Abdullah's recent remark. (Source: ANI) Q What are your views on the Balakot air strike which followed the Pulwama attack? Was it an effective response? There has been a lot of debate on the effectiveness of the Balakot strike. Fundamentally Im an anti-war person. At the end of the strike, we lost our own aircraft, we almost lost Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, he had to be returned and Pakistan scored a point over it. There was a war-like situation I dont think we gained much. Q Will removing/reducing AFSPA end militancy in Kashmir? Congress is talking about removal of AFSPA now. It has been a long-pending demand of the people of J&K. We saw recently, the act was scaled down in Arunachal Pradesh. AFSPA is not in any way helping in reducing militancy, because, despite 30 years of armed forces with this act, there has been a huge escalation of militancy in the last four to five years. We dont believe that such a draconian law will help in building the confidence of the local population. This in fact promotes a sense of injustice. Q Should India have talks with Imran Khan and Pakistan on Kashmir? Totally India should have talks with Imran Khan on all issues. When India and Pakistan have had talks, the situation in the state has improved. The condition of people living at the borders has improved, shelling has stopped and we have some sort of peace process taking place. We need this dialogue process. The EC is well within its wisdom, it knows Kashmir has special and sensitive ground conditions. (Source: PTI) Q Are you of the view that elections in Kashmir should have been held simultaneously? I believe that the Election Commission is an autonomous body, they are well within their wisdom. They have considered the security situation in the state and then, they have taken this decision. We need to understand that J&K is a very sensitive and special state, which has its own unique ground issues. Q Your have recently formed a new political party what are your predictions for the coming elections? We are not participating in the Lok Sabha elections but we will take part in the Assembly elections. We are hopeful we will be able to develop a new sort of leadership, bringing youth towards the political mainstream. Also read: Because promises are made to be broken? Congress manifesto on Kashmir promises a great deal Remember the allegory of The Frog Prince? Well, in Wayanad the scenic rural district of Kerala we have the frog AND the prince making their appearance. It started when a group from Delhi went to Wayanad little did they expect to discover a new species. Turns out, they did. The district in the Western Ghats, with lush forests as far as the eyes can see, houses a thumbnail-sized star-speckled frog species that was discovered by scientists from the University of Delhi. The new amphibian a unique addition to the series of frog species unearthed in this biodiversity hotspot is a mysterious narrow-mouthed frog that makes only a four-day appearance in seasonal roadside puddles every year in Wayanad district. After breeding for four days, the frogs mysteriously disappear. The frog Mysticellus Franki is named after evolutionary biologist Franky Bossuyt from Brussels Vrije Universiteit. Sonali Garg, a researcher from the University of Delhi, first found the tadpoles, whose physical features and DNA did not match any known species. This was over a routine field survey in Wayanad district in 2013. Two years thence, a team that Sonali was part of hit a jackpot after years of persevering search for the mystery frog. The team found a large colony of around 200 adult frogs in 2015 in a single locality in Wayanad. The site was not hidden in a remote jungle that forms most of Wayanad, but just metres away from the vehicular movement, plantation activities and human settlements. The new prince and the old frog of Wayanad. (Design: Naveen Siromoni; Source: ZSI/Reuters) After nearly four years of observing, researching and studying the species, the team published their research in Scientific Reports on February 13 this year. It is not only a new species, but belongs to a completely new genus called Mysticellus derived from Latin mysticus that means mysterious, and ellus for diminutive. The features of Mysticellus Franki is nothing like Indian counterparts, but closely resembles frogs found in South America and Central Africa. Diminutive, because the tiny little frog is just around 3 cm long. According to the authors, Genetic studies further revealed that the frog is around 40 million years old and its nearest relatives live more than 2,000 km away in Southeast Asia including Indo-Burma, Malaysia and Vietnam. This southeast Asian connection adds strength to the theories that India and Southeast Asia were connected in the past by land bridges. We assure you that the group from Delhi that went to Wayanad was a team of scientists not workers from a national political party testing the depths before a certain prince contests elections from the district. And we hope it was nothing but a coincidence that a certain prince of an Indian political clan decided to contest from the land of the Franki, Wayanad, for the upcoming run-up to the throne, ooops, we mean, the elections. While the frog might be 40 million years old, our prince is much younger only 48 years old. And while the Mysticellus Franki has two black spots that look like eyes on their backs to woo the opposite gender, our prince has the power of dynasty and his own prodigious political acumen to woo his voters. However, what we do not hope for is the prince to mark a mysterious four-day appearance only if he were to be elected to power from Wayanad. Also read: How Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad is advantage BJP American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. 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Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, TXF LLC, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut. Alio Gold Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of mineral resource properties. The company primarily mines for gold and silver. It holds 100% interests in San Francisco open pit gold mine that covers an area of approximately 53,380 hectares situated in the north central portion of the state of Sonora, Mexico; Florida Canyon open pit mine covering an area of approximately 11,886 hectares located in Nevada, the United States; and Ana Paula property situated in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. The company was formerly known as Timmins Gold Corp. and changed its name to Alio Gold Inc. in May 2017. Alio Gold Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Bellatrix Exploration Ltd., an oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas reserves in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan in Canada. It primarily focuses on developing its two core resource plays, the Cardium and the Spirit River in Western Canada. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L.. Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Hannover RAck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The Property & Casualty Reinsurance segment offers specialty lines comprising marine, aviation, facultative and direct business, credit, surety, and political risks reinsurance products; and treaty, catastrophe XL, and structured reinsurance, as well as insurance-linked securities. This segment also provides risk solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space business; and marine and offshore energy business. The Life & Health Reinsurance segment offers group and individual credit life, enhanced annuities, group life and health, and Sharia-compliant Takaful reinsurance products. This segment also provides risk solutions in the areas of critical illness, disability, health, longevity, long term care, and mortality and morbidity, as well as underwriting services. In addition, it offers various financial solutions, including new-business financing; monetization of embedded value; reserve and solvency relief; and divestiture of non-core businesses. The company was formerly known as Hannover RAckversicherung AG and changed its name to Hannover RAck SE in March 2013. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Hannover RAck SE is a subsidiary of Talanx AG. Read More There is not enough analysis data for ITEX. 4.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes ITEX has received 73 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes ITEX has received 47 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment ITEX has received 60.83% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about ITEX and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe ITEX will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe ITEX will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of General Motors: 2140879 Ontario Inc., ACAR Leasing, ACAR Leasing Ltd., ACF Investment, ACF Investment Corp., AFS SenSub, APGO Trust, Adam Opel, Adam Opel GmbH, Aftermarket (UK), AmeriCredit, AmeriCredit Consumer Loan, AmeriCredit Consumer Loan Company Inc., AmeriCredit Financial Services, AmeriCredit Financial Services Inc., AmeriCredit Funding, AmeriCredit Syndicated Warehouse Trust, Annunciata Corporation, Argonaut Holdings, Argonaut Holdings LLC, BOCO (Proprietary), BOCO (Proprietary) Limited, Banco GMAC, Banco GMAC S.A., Baylis (Gloucester), Boco Trust, Boden Brussels, CHEVYPLAN, CHEVYPLAN S.A. Sociedad Administradora de Planes de Autofinanciamiento Comercial, Cadillac, Cadillac Europe, Cadillac Europe GmbH, Carve-Out Ownership, Carve-Out Ownership Cooperative LLC, Chevrolet Deutschland GmbH, Chevrolet Sales (Thailand), Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited, Chevrolet Sales India, Chevrolet Sales India Private Ltd., Chevrolet Sociedad Anonima de Ahorro para Fines Determinados, Controladora General Motors, Controladora General Motors S.A. de C.V., Cruise, DCJ1, DCJ1 LLC, DMAX, DMAX Ltd., Dealership Liquidations, Dealership Liquidations Inc., Delphi Energy and Engine Management Systems UK, Delphi Energy and Engine Management Systems UK Overseas Corporation, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), FAW-GM, Fundacion Chevrolet, G.M.A.C., GCAR Titling Ltd., GM (UK) Pension, GM (UK) Pension Trustees Limited, GM APO Holdings, GM Administradora de Bens, GM Administradora de Bens Ltda., GM Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters Ltd., GM Auslandsprojekte, GM Automotive, GM Automotive Services Belgium, GM CME, GM Canada Holdings, GM Canada Limited, GM Components Holdings, GM Components Holdings LLC, GM Cruise, GM Cruise Holdings LLC, GM Cruise LLC, GM Defense, GM Eurometals, GM Eurometals Inc., GM Europe Treasury, GM Finance, GM Finance Co. Holdings LLC, GM Financial, GM Financial AB, GM Financial Canada, GM Financial Canada Leasing, GM Financial Canada Leasing Ltd., GM Financial Colombia Holdings LLC, GM Financial Colombia S.A. Compania de Financiamiento, GM Financial Consumer, GM Financial Consumer Discount, GM Financial Consumer Discount Company, GM Financial Del Peru, GM Financial GmbH, GM Financial Holdings LLC, GM Financial Insurance Services, GM Financial Mexico Holdings, GM Financial Mexico Holdings LLC, GM Financial Real Estate, GM Financial de Mexico, GM Financial de Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.R., GM Financial del Peru S.A.C, GM Global Business Services, GM Global Propulsion Systems -Torino S.r.l., GM Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, GM Global Technology Operations, GM Global Technology Operations LLC, GM Global Tooling, GM Global Tooling Company LLC, GM Global Treasury Centre Limited, GM Holden, GM Holden Pty Ltd., GM Holdings U.K. No.1 Limited, GM Inversiones Santiago Limitada, GM Investment Trustees Limited, GM Korea, GM Korea Company, GM LAAM Holdings, GM LAAM Holdings LLC, GM Mexico Holdings, GM Mobility Europe GmbH, GM PSA Purchasing Services, GM Personnel Services, GM Personnel Services Inc., GM Philippines Inc., GM Plats (Proprietary), GM Regional Holdings, GM Regional Holdings LLC, GM Retirees Pension Trustees, GM Retirees Pension Trustees Limited, GM Subsystems Manufacturing, GM Subsystems Manufacturing LLC, GM Technical Center Korea Ltd., GM Viet Nam Motor Company, GM-DI Leasing, GM-DI Leasing LLC, GMAC - Instituicao Financeira de Credito, GMAC Administradora de Consorcios, GMAC Administradora de Consorcios Ltda., GMAC Banque, GMAC Continental, GMAC Espana de Financiacion, GMAC Holdings (U.K.), GMAC Lease B.V. (aka Masterlease Europe), GMAC Nederland N.V., GMAC Prestadora de Servicios de Mao de Obra Ltda., GMAC Servicios, GMAC UK, GMAC de Venezuela, GMAC-Prestadora de Servios de Mo-de-Obra, GMACI Corretora de Seguros, GMACI Corretora de Seguros Ltda, GMAM Real Estate I, GMCH&SP Private Equity II, GMCH&SP Private Equity II L.P., GMF Australia Pty Ltd, GMF Europe, GMF Europe Holdco, GMF Europe LLP, GMF Floorplan Owner Revolving Trust, GMF Funding, GMF Germany Holdings, GMF Global Assignment, GMF Global Assignment LLC, GMF International, GMF International LLC, GMF Leasing LLC, GMF Leasing Warehousing Trust, GMF Wholesale Receivables, GMGP Holdings, General Motors (China) Investment Company, General Motors (China) Investment Company Limited, General Motors (Thailand), General Motors (Thailand) Limited, General Motors - Colmotores, General Motors - Colmotores S.A., General Motors Advisory Services LLC, General Motors Africa and Middle East, General Motors Africa and Middle East FZE, General Motors Asia, General Motors Asia LLC, General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings, General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, General Motors Asset Management, General Motors Asset Management Corporation, General Motors Australia, General Motors Australia Pty Ltd., General Motors Austria, General Motors Austria, General Motors Auto, General Motors Auto LLC, General Motors Automobiles Philippines, General Motors Automobiles Philippines Inc., General Motors Automotive Holdings, General Motors Automotive Holdings S.L., General Motors Belgique Automobile NV, General Motors Belgium, General Motors Chile, General Motors Chile Industria Automotriz Limitada, General Motors China LLC, General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology, General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology CIS LLC, General Motors East Africa, General Motors Egypt, General Motors Egypt S.A.E., General Motors Espana, General Motors Europe Holdings, General Motors Europe Limited, General Motors Financial Chile, General Motors Financial Chile Limitada, General Motors Financial Chile S.A., General Motors Financial Company, General Motors Financial Company Inc., General Motors Financial International, General Motors Financial Italia, General Motors Financial Suisse, General Motors Financial UK, General Motors Financial of Canada, General Motors Financial of Canada Ltd., General Motors Finland, General Motors France, General Motors GBS Hungary, General Motors Global Service Operations, General Motors Global Service Operations Inc., General Motors Hellas, General Motors Holden Australia, General Motors Holden Australia NSC, General Motors Holden Australia NSC Pty Ltd., General Motors Holden Australia Pty Ltd., General Motors Holdings LLC, General Motors IT Services (Ireland) Limited, General Motors India Private, General Motors India Private Limited, General Motors International Holdings, General Motors International Holdings LLC, General Motors International Operations, General Motors International Operations Pte. Ltd., General Motors International Services Company, General Motors International Services Company SAS, General Motors International Services LLC, General Motors Investment Limited, General Motors Investment Management, General Motors Investment Management Corporation, General Motors Investment Participacoes, General Motors Investment Participacoes Ltda., General Motors Investments, General Motors Investments Pty. Ltd., General Motors Ireland, General Motors Israel, General Motors Israel Ltd., General Motors Italia, General Motors Japan, General Motors Japan Limited, General Motors LLC, General Motors Limited, General Motors Manufacturing Poland, General Motors Nederland, General Motors New Zealand Pensions, General Motors New Zealand Pensions Limited, General Motors Overseas, General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle, General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle Corporation, General Motors Overseas Corporation, General Motors Overseas Distribution, General Motors Overseas Distribution LLC, General Motors Peru, General Motors Peru S.A., General Motors Poland Spolka, General Motors Portugal, General Motors Powertrain (Thailand), General Motors Powertrain (Thailand) Limited, General Motors Research Corporation, General Motors South Africa, General Motors South Africa (Pty) Limited, General Motors Suisse, General Motors Taiwan, General Motors Taiwan Ltd., General Motors Technical Centre India, General Motors Technical Centre India Private Limited, General Motors Treasury Center, General Motors Treasury Center LLC, General Motors Turkiye, General Motors UK, General Motors Uruguay, General Motors Uruguay S.A., General Motors Venezolana, General Motors Ventures, General Motors Ventures LLC, General Motors Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai), General Motors Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., General Motors de Argentina, General Motors de Argentina S.r.l., General Motors de Mexico, General Motors de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., General Motors del Ecuador, General Motors del Ecuador S.A., General Motors do Brasil, General Motors do Brasil Ltda., General Motors of Canada, General Motors of Canada Company, General Motors-Holden's Sales, General Motors-Holden's Sales Pty. Limited, GigaPower LLC, Global Services Detroit, Global Services Detroit LLC, Global Tooling Service Company Europe, Global Tooling Service Company Europe Limited, Go Motor Retailing, Go Trade Parts, Grand Pointe Holdings, Grand Pointe Holdings Inc., Grand Pointe Park Condominium, Grand Pointe Park Condominium Association, H.S.H., Haines & Strange, Holden New Zealand, Holden New Zealand Limited, IBC Pension Trustees, IBC Pension Trustees Limited, IBC Vehicles, Lease Ownership Cooperative, Lease Ownership Cooperative LLC, Lidlington Engineering Company, Lidlington Engineering Company Ltd., Limited Liability Company "General Motors CIS", Master Lease Germany, Maven Drive, Maven Drive LLC, Millbrook Pension Management, Millbrook Pension Management Limited, Monetization of Carve-Out, Monetization of Carve-Out LLC, Motor Repris Automocio, Motors Holding, Motors Holding LLC, Motors Properties, Motors Properties (Trading), Multi-Use Lease Entity Trust, North American New Cars, North American New Cars LLC, Omnibus BB Transportes, Omnibus BB Transportes S. A., OnStar Connected Services Srl, OnStar Egypt Limited LLC, OnStar Europe, OnStar Europe Ltd., OnStar Global Services, OnStar Global Services Corporation, OnStar LLC, OnStar de Mexico, OnStar de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Opel Bank, Opel Danmark, Opel Group, Opel Group Warehousing, Opel Leasing, Opel Norge, Opel Sonderdienste, Opel Southeast Europe, Opel Sverige, Opel Szentgotthard Automotive Manufacturing, Opel Wien, P.T. G M AutoWorld Indonesia, P.T. General Motors Indonesia, PIMS, PIMS Co., PT. General Motors Indonesia Manufacturing, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Company Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios GMF Colombia S.A.S., Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, Reliance Motor Car Company, Riverfront Holdings III Inc., Riverfront Holdings Inc., Riverfront Holdings Phase II Inc., SAIC GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co. Ltd., SAIC GM Dong Yue Motors Company Limited, SAIC GM Dong Yue Powertrain Company Limited, SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Company Limited, SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited, SAIC General Motors Investment Limited, SAIC General Motors Sales Company Limited, SAIC-GMAC Automotive Finance Company Limited, SAIC-GMF Leasing Co. Ltd., Servicios GMAC S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Chengxin Used Car Operation and Management Company Limited, Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd., Sherwoods (Darlington) Limited, Sidecar Technologies, Skurrays Limited, Stam-Terberg Autobedrijven B. V., Strobe Inc., VHC Sub-Holdings (UK), Vauxhall Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Vehicle Asset Universal Leasing Trust, Vickers (Lakeside) Limited, Vision Motors Limited, WRE, WRE Inc., and Zona Franca Industrial Colmotores SAS. Ibstock plc manufactures and sells clay and concrete building products and solutions primarily in the United Kingdom. Its principal products include clay bricks, brick components, concrete roof tiles, concrete stone masonry substitutes, concrete fencing, pre-stressed concrete, and concrete rail products. The company provides facing bricks, walling stones, architectural masonry products, cast stones, facade systems, and retaining walls, as well as lintels, sills, and arches; and cladding solutions; roof tiles, chimneys, soffits, and roofing accessories; and fencings, caps and copings, bollards, balustrades, path edgings, and urban landscaping products. It also offers floor beams, door steps, gully surrounds, screed rails, insulated floorings, and hollowcore products; and rail and infrastructure products, such as troughing, cable theft protection, boards, blocks, bases, catchpits, and inspection chambers. In addition, the company offers engraving, cutting, and bonding services; floor beam and block design, supply, and fitting solutions; bespoke concrete products; and staircases and lift shafts services. Its products are used in new build housing; repair, maintenance, and improvement; and infrastructure markets. The company sells its products under the Forticrete, Supreme, Anderton, and Longley brands to customers in the construction industry. Ibstock plc was founded in 1825 and is headquartered in Ibstock, the United Kingdom. Read More Canadian Utilities Limited and its subsidiaries engage in the electricity, natural gas, and retail energy businesses worldwide. It operates through Utilities, Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate & Other segments. The Utilities segment provides regulated electricity transmission and distribution services in northern and central east Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and integrated natural gas transmission and distribution services in Alberta, the Lloydminster area of Saskatchewan, and Western Australia. It owns and operates approximately 9,000 kilometers of natural gas pipelines, 16 compressor sites, approximately 3,700 receipt and delivery points, and a salt cavern storage peaking facility located near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta in Canada. The Energy Infrastructure segment provides electricity generation, natural gas storage, industrial water, and related infrastructure development solutions in Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Australia, Mexico, and Chile. The Corporate & Other segment retails electricity and natural gas business in Alberta. The company was incorporated in 1927 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Canadian Utilities Limited is a subsidiary of ATCO Ltd. Read More Campus News Belliveau welcomed as director for Center for Diversity Innovation By ROBBY JOHNSON There may be no more significant, and yet more poorly informed area of organizational practice than diversity. The College of Arts and Sciences introduced Maura Belliveau as the inaugural director of its Center for Diversity Innovation at a meet-and-greet reception on Monday. Faculty and staff gathered in the Student Unions Landmark Room to hear her vision for UBs continued efforts in diversity and inclusion. The Center for Diversity Innovation, one of the College of Arts and Sciences new strategic initiatives, is designed to train the next generation of diversity leaders, build greater capacity for social inclusion and close opportunity gaps in education and employment. The center will help develop degree programs, research-based models, practical tools, community collaborations and experiential learning opportunities, as well as transform UB students into more empathetic global citizens. The centers goals are to close opportunity gaps all over the place in education employment, to educate the next generation of university leadership and to help transform UB, SUNY, the community and the region, said Robin G. Schulze, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. We knew when we were going after an inaugural director for the center that we needed someone with a terrific vision and with an extensive background in the research of diversity and inclusion, especially in the translational research of that area. I couldnt be more pleased to have found that person in Maura Belliveau, who absolutely rose to the top in a very competitive national search. Belliveau arrives at UB with more than 20 years of experience as a faculty member at leading business schools across the country including, Emory University and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Since earning her PhD in organizational behavior and industrial relations at the University of California, Berkeley in 1995, she has contributed heavily to research on the gender wage-gap, the effects of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies, and issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act and accommodation practices. After being introduced by Schulze, Belliveau spoke to the faculty and staff about her belief in UBs potential and its vision as a university. SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson singled out our university as a critical engine for social mobility, propelling more students upward in their life trajectory than the top eight Ivy-caliber institutions combined, she said. Those results are a testament to the commitment and vision of UBs leadership and faculty, who dedicate themselves to having such a transformative effect on students lives. Invesco CEF Income Composite ETF's stock was trading at $19.88 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PCEF stock has increased by 19.3% and is now trading at $23.71. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares MSCI Spain ETF's stock was trading at $22.48 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWP stock has increased by 10.9% and is now trading at $24.94. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (International Services) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Stock Exchange Branch) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Asset Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Scotland Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (HP) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.4) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (LM) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds LLP, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 7) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 9) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 11) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 20) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 5) Ltd, Lloyds Bank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Hill Samuel Holding Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank International Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 6) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 8) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank MTCH Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 10) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 13) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No.16) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Trust Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 1) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 2) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pensions Property (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Properties Ltd, Lloyds Bank Property Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank S.F. Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. Group) Nominees Ltd, Lotus Finance Ltd, MBNA, MBNA Direct Ltd, MBNA Europe Finance Ltd, MBNA Europe Holdings Ltd, MBNA General Foundation, MBNA Global Services Ltd, MBNA Indian Services Private Ltd, MBNA Ltd, MBNA R & L S.A.R.L., MBNA Receivables Ltd, Mainsearch Company Ltd, Maritime Leasing (No. 19) Ltd, Membership Services Finance Ltd, Mitre Street Funding S.A.R.L., Molineux RMBS 2016-1 plc, Molineux RMBS Holdings Ltd, Moor Lane Holdings Ltd, NFU Mutual Finance Ltd, NWS Trust Ltd, Nominees (Jersey) Ltd, Nordic Leasing Ltd, Ocean Leasing (July) Ltd, Oystercatcher Nominees Ltd, Oystercatcher Residential Ltd, PIPS Asset Investments Ltd, Pacific Leasing Ltd, Penarth Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Penarth Funding 1 Ltd, Penarth Funding 2 Ltd, Penarth Master Issuer plc, Penarth Receivables Trustee Ltd, Pensions Management (S.W.F.) Ltd, Peony Eastern Leasing Ltd, Peony Leasing Ltd, Peony Western Leasing Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 1) Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 2) Ltd, Permanent Holdings Ltd, Permanent Master Issuer plc, Permanent Mortgages Trustee Ltd, Permanent PECOH Holdings Ltd, Permanent PECOH Ltd, Perry Nominees Ltd, Prestonfield Investments Ltd, Proton Finance Ltd, R.F. Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business. The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. engages in the mining of copper, gold and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining; Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. The South America Mining segment includes Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The Indonesia Mining segment handles the operations of Grasberg minerals district that produces copper concentrate that contains significant quantities of gold and silver. The Molybdenum Mines segment includes the Henderson underground mine and Climax open-pit mine, both in Colorado. The Rod and Refining segment consists of copper conversion facilities located in North America and includes a refinery, rod mills, and a specialty copper products facility. The Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining segment smelts and refines copper concentrate and markets refined copper and precious metals in slimes. The Corporate, Other and Eliminations segment Read More Campus News Hopkins to receive Norton Medal at UB commencement Three UB faculty members will receive the university's highest honors during commencement ceremonies this year. Photo: Douglas Levere UBNOW STAFF L. Nelson Hopkins, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery who has transformed the way the medical field thinks about and treats cerebrovascular disorders, will be awarded the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, UBs highest honor, during the universitys 2019 commencement ceremonies being held May 3-19. Amit Goyal, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor and founding director of UBs RENEW Institute, and Amanda Nickerson, professor in the Graduate School of Education and director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, will receive the UB Presidents Medal in recognition of extraordinary service to the university. Also this commencement season, SUNY honorary doctorates will be presented to four UB alumni: Julio M. Fuentes, JD 75, senior U.S. Circuit Court judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; Rebecca J. McCormick-Boyle, BS 81, rear admiral and commander, Nurse Corps (retired), U.S. Navy; Donald Pinkel, MD 51, founding director of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital; and Ashutosh Sharma, PhD 88, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal is presented annually in public recognition of a person who has, in Nortons words, performed some great thing which is identified with Buffalo a great civic or political act, a great book, a great work of art, a great scientific achievement or any other thing which, in itself, is truly great and ennobling, and which dignifies the performer and Buffalo in the eyes of the world. L. Nelson Hopkins will receive the Norton Medal at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences commencement ceremony on May 3. As one of the founding figures of endovascular treatment for neurovascular disorders, Hopkins has redefined the field of vascular neurosurgery in stroke management and lesion stenting. In the process, he has trained a new generation of neurosurgeons in catheter-based technology for minimally invasive neurosurgery. Hopkins innovations in endovascular surgery serve as the benchmark for therapeutic endovascular intervention. An advocate of cross-specialty collaboration, Hopkins fostered the creation of UBs Toshiba (now Canon) Stroke & Vascular Research Center. He also conceived a new way to organize the multidisciplinary treatment of vascular disease, working with experts from around the world to design the Gates Vascular Institute. Hopkins then recruited the necessary partners to bring it and the Jacobs Institute a non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development of next-generation technologies in vascular medicine to life. He currently is chief scientific officer of the Jacobs Institute, after serving as chair of the Department of Neurosurgery from 1989-2013. He joined the UB faculty in 1975. Hopkins has served on the board of directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and on the executive committee of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association. A past president of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, he is a former chairman of the scientific and annual meetings of AANS and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and of the Joint Section on Cerebrovascular Surgery. The UB Presidents Medal, first presented in 1990, recognizes outstanding scholarly or artistic achievements, humanitarian acts, contributions of time or treasure, exemplary leadership or any other major contribution to the development of the University at Buffalo and the quality of life in the UB community. Amit Goyal, an internationally recognized materials scientist and energy researcher, will receive the Presidents Medal at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences graduate commencement ceremony on May 17. Goyal was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2018 for his groundbreaking scientific advances and technological innovations that enabled the worldwide commercialization of high-temperature superconductors. He joined UB in 2015 to direct RENEW, an interdisciplinary institute that harnesses the expertise of more than 100 faculty in seven UB schools and colleges to explore solutions to globally pressing energy and environmental problems, as well as the social and economic issues with which they are connected. His leadership has placed UB at the forefront of efforts to reduce water and air pollution, and to find innovative, clean ways to produce, transmit and store energy. Prior to joining UBs faculty, Goyal was a corporate fellow and distinguished scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Goyal has developed clean energy technologies for more than two decades. He has authored more than 350 technical publications. Thompson-Reuters Essential Science Indicators (ESI) and ScienceWatch.com, which track global trends and performance in research, ranked him as most-cited author worldwide in the field of high-temperature superconductivity from 1999-2009. A fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, he has 87 issued patents with more than 20 patents pending. He has received numerous accolades, including the U.S. Department of Energys E.O. Lawrence Award in the inaugural category of Energy Science & Innovation, an award that the DOE secretary bestows on behalf of the president. Other key honors include TEN R&D 100 awards, which are widely regarded as the Oscars for Innovation; the 2010 R&D 100 Magazines Innovator of the Year Award; the Energy-100 Award for the finest 100 scientific accomplishments of the DOE since the department opened its doors in 1977; and the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Technical Review TR100 Award. An elected fellow of eight professional societies, Goyal is founder and president of a private equity-funded solar photovoltaics company, and an intellectual property holding and consulting company. Amanda Nickerson, professor in the GSEs Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, will receive the Presidents Medal at the Graduate School of Educations commencement ceremony on May 17. Nickersons research focuses on school crisis prevention and intervention, with a particular emphasis on violence and bullying. She studies the role of schools, parents and peers in preventing violence and enhancing the social-emotional strengths of children and adolescents. A fellow of the American Psychological Association, Nickerson has received numerous honors for her work, including the Presidential Award from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and UBs Exceptional Scholar: Sustained Achievement Award. The author of five books and more than 95 journal articles and book chapters, she has delivered hundreds of presentations to educators and mental health professionals, nationally and internationally. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Educational Research Association, Committee for Children and New York state agencies. Nickerson is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of School Psychology and School Psychology Review, among others, and has served as the associate editor of the Journal of School Violence. She also is coordinator of research for NASPs Safety and Crisis Prevention Committee and served on Gov. Andrew Cuomos Suicide Prevention Task Force. She has collaborated with schools and agencies to guide them in using data to help prevent bullying and violence, and improve social-emotional and behavioral functioning. Julio M. Fuentes has distinguished himself as a lawyer and jurist who has earned the highest degree of respect and admiration from his colleagues on the bench and in the bar. Nominated by former President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals, he is the first Hispanic judge to serve the Third Circuit. In his position, he hears appeals on criminal and civil issues arising from all district courts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the Virgin Islands. Fuentes will receive a SUNY Honorary Doctorate in Laws at the School of Laws commencement ceremony on May 19. A 1975 graduate of the School of Law, Fuentes began his legal career in private practice. He then served as a judge in the Newark Municipal Court and the New Jersey Superior Court before his unanimous confirmation to the Third Circuit in 2000. A native of Puerto Rico, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the advancement of minority attorneys throughout his career. He works closely with his alma mater to mentor and hire UB law students; to date, he has hired seven UB law graduates as law clerks and 33 student interns, providing them with invaluable experience from a highly esteemed jurist who leads by example. For more than a decade, he has also served the law school as a member of the Deans Advisory Council. During her distinguished 36-year career in the U.S. Navys Nurse Corps, Rebecca J. McCormick-Boyle was a dedicated leader who demonstrated a sustained and purposeful commitment to the health needs of the nation and its military populations. Through her outstanding achievements and expertise in quality management, diversity management and the patient experience, McCormick-Boyle made a tremendous difference not only in Navy medicine, but in how health care is delivered to our service members across the Department of Defense. She will receive a SUNY Honorary Doctorate in Science at the School of Nursings commencement ceremony on May 17. A fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, McCormick-Boyle credits the UB School of Nursing with preparing her to serve others with care and compassion. Her numerous career accomplishments include leading early efforts to establish Navy Medicines primary care model; playing a pivotal role in coordinating humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and contingency support activities; and planning and providing oversight for Navy health care and readiness missions in the air, on the sea, on the battlefield and in 16 hospitals and 189 clinics. Her ability to leverage and lead more than 5,000 nurses and establish the Navy Nurse Professional Practice Model which ensures that all Navy nursing personnel understand their scope of practice and professional development throughout their careers is unprecedented. Donald Pinkel, a pioneering pediatric oncologist, will receive a SUNY Honorary Doctorate in Science in absentia at the Jacobs Schools commencement on May 3. Michael Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School, will accept the award on Pinkels behalf. Pinkel is world-renowned for developing the first curative drug treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the most common type of cancer in children and a disease once considered virtually untreatable. For his seminal achievements, he was honored in 1972 with the Lasker Award, often referred to as Americas Nobel Prize. Pinkel also helped develop and prove the efficacy of a public health initiative that led to the formation of a supplemental food program for women and children that was adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Now known as WIC, this program is widely praised as one of the nations most successful and cost-effective nutrition interventions. After graduating from the Jacobs School, Pinkel began his career in pediatrics as an intern, resident and chief resident at the Childrens Hospital of Buffalo, now the John R. Oishei Childrens Hospital. While there, he developed his interest in hematology and oncology, starting the hospitals first oncology service and clinic. Throughout his career, he integrated clinical care and basic research protocols. He is a passionate advocate for children and a trailblazer in the research and treatment of a once-incurable disease. His groundbreaking work has enhanced not only the lives of patients with ALL, but of those with other childhood cancers and several adult malignancies as well. Deutsche Lufthansa AG operates as an aviation company in Germany and internationally. The company's Network Airlines segment offers passenger services through a route network of 273 destinations in 86 countries. Its Eurowings segment provides passenger services through a route network of more than 210 destinations in 60 countries. The company's Logistics Business segment offers transport services for various cargoes, including living animals, valuable cargo, post and dangerous goods, and temperature-sensitive goods serving approximately 300 destinations in 100 countries. Its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services (MRO) segment provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for civilian commercial aircraft serving original equipment manufacturers and aircraft leasing companies, operators of VIP jets, and airlines, as well as develops and manufactures cabin and digital products. The company's Catering Business segment engages in-flight sales and entertainment, in-flight service equipment, and the associated logistics services, as well as consulting services; and operates airport lounges. As of December 31, 2020, it had a fleet of 757 aircraft. Deutsche Lufthansa AG was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. Read More Velocys plc operates as a sustainable fuels technology company. It designs, develops, and licenses its Fischer-Tropsch technology for the generation of clean, low carbon, synthetic drop-in aviation and road transport fuel from municipal solid waste and residual woody biomass plants. The company has a collaboration with British Airways and Shell for the development of a waste-to-jet-fuel project in the United Kingdom. It has operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as Oxford Catalysts Group PLC and changed its name to Velocys plc in September 2013. Velocys plc was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Oxford, the United Kingdom. Read More Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) President Rodrigo Duterte said he will ask the Philippine Air Force to "take over" the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), once tagged as the worst in the world, if operations do not improve. "'Yang NAIA na 'yan 'pag hindi kayo nag-improve diyan, magtake-over diyan Air Force. 'Yan lang ang paraan diyan na -," Duterte said at a campaign rally of the ruling PDP-Laban party in Palawan Thursday night. [Translation: "NAIA, if it does not improve, the Air Force will take over. That's the only way."] He did not finish his sentence or elaborate. The President made the statement as he discussed the case of the beleaguered Bureau of Customs (BOC), which he earlier said would be taken over by the Armed Forces. Duterte had appointed Rey Leonardo Guerrero, a former Armed Forces chief, as Customs Commissioner, prompting criticisms that government agencies were being taken over by military officials. Guerrero denied this, saying that the President only asked the Armed Forces "to assist" in the BOC. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in December 2018 warned that security at the NAIA did not meet international standards and the government said it had made security measures in the country's main international gateway a top priority. A consortium of seven big business firms has also been contracted to rehabilitate, operate and maintain NAIA. The Builders Merchants Federation led a fact-finding visit for its counterpart trade bodies in Belgium, Spain, Portugal and several merchants from the Iberian peninsula. This was part of an initiative to promote wider understanding and best practice between builders merchants across Europe during BMF CEO, John Newcombs term as President of UFEMAT, the European Association of National Builders Merchants Associations and Manufacturers. Representatives from eight European organisations took part in a 3-day field trip hosted by BMF Chairman, Peter Hindle MBE, John Newcomb and the BMFs Event Manager, June Upton. Delegates were briefed on the UK market during a visit to the BMFs HQ in Coventry before attending the Roofing Cladding and Insulation (RCI) Show at Ricoh Arena. The group also visited branches of two merchants, Selco Builders Warehouse, which has 66 trade-only branches across the county, and EH Smith which serves both trade and DIY customers from 12 branches in the midlands and south east. They were able to hear directly from the branch manager and directors of both operations about the opportunities and challenges faced by UK merchants and the business models they have adopted. Thanking the BMF for their hospitality, Jaume Rullan, MD of Spanish merchant Bongrup, said: I would like to express the sincere gratitude we feel for the attention we received during the trip. We have got to know the BMF very well, which has been of great interest, and have also learnt about a series of companies that has shed some light on how the future may look. The BMF has now been invited to speak at the Congress of the National Association of Distributors of Ceramics and Construction Materials in Spain later this year to share best practice with a wider audience of their members. John Newcomb said: The building materials supply industry throughout Europe shares many similarities. We can all benefit from sharing experiences and working together to uncover new and better ways of addressing common concerns. I hope this field trip will be the first of many during my term as President of UFEMAT. The following companies are subsidiares of EnerSys: ABSL Power Solutions Inc., ABSL Power Solutions Ltd., Acumuladores Industriales EnerSys SA, Alpha Alternative Energy Inc., Alpha Broadband Services Inc., Alpha Innovations Industria e Comercio de Produtos Eletronicos Ltda., Alpha Innovations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alpha Mexico Network Power S.A. de C.V., Alpha Tech Energy Solutions India Private Limited, Alpha Technical Services Ltd., Alpha Technologies Ltd., Alpha Technologies Pty. Ltd., Alpha Technologies Services Inc., Alphatec Technologies (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Argus Research Ltd., Batterias Hawker de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Battery Power International Pte Ltd., Coppervale Enterprises Inc., DCPM Engineering Sdn Bhd, EH Batterien AG, EH Europe GmbH, EH Global Holdings GmbH, EH Swiss Holdings GmbH, ENAS Industrial Batteries Morocco Sarl, EnerSys (Chaozhou) Huada Batteries Company Limited, EnerSys (China) Huada Batteries Company Limited, EnerSys (Chongqing) Huada Batteries Company Limited, EnerSys (Jiangsu) Huada Batteries Company Limited (94.7%) *, EnerSys (Luxembourg) Finance Sarl, EnerSys (Yangzhou) Huada Batteries Co. Ltd., EnerSys A/S, EnerSys AB, EnerSys AD, EnerSys AE, EnerSys AS, EnerSys Advanced Systems Inc., EnerSys Argentina S.A., EnerSys Asia Limited, EnerSys Australia Pty Ltd., EnerSys BV, EnerSys BVBA, EnerSys Battery Private Limited, EnerSys Brasil Ltda., EnerSys Bulgaria EOOD, EnerSys Canada Inc., EnerSys Capital Inc., EnerSys Cayman Euro L.P., EnerSys Cayman Holdings L.P., EnerSys Cayman Inc., EnerSys Delaware Inc., EnerSys Delaware LLC I, EnerSys Delaware LLC II, EnerSys Delaware LLC III, EnerSys Delaware LLC IV, EnerSys Delaware LLC V, EnerSys Energy Products Inc., EnerSys Europe Oy, EnerSys European Holding Co., EnerSys GmbH, EnerSys Holdings (Luxembourg) Sarl, EnerSys Holdings UK Ltd., EnerSys Hungaria Kft., EnerSys India Batteries Private Ltd., EnerSys JSC, EnerSys LLC, EnerSys Ltd., EnerSys Malaysia Sdn Bhd, EnerSys Mexico Holdings LLC, EnerSys Mexico Management LLC, EnerSys Participacoes Ltda., EnerSys Reserve Power Pte. Ltd., EnerSys S.r.l., EnerSys SARL, EnerSys SNC, EnerSys South East Asia Pte. Ltd., EnerSys de Mexico II S de R.L. de CV, EnerSys de Mexico S de R.L. de CV, EnerSys s.r.o., EnerSys sp. z o.o., EnerSystem Chile Ltda., Enersys Aku Sanaya Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Esfinco LLC, Hawker GmbH, Hawker Power Systems Inc., Hawker Powersource Inc., Hawker Systems GmbH & Co. KG., ICS Industries Pty Ltd, ICS Industries Pty Ltd., ICS Sheet Metal Pty Ltd., Industrial Battery Holding Ltda., International Communication Shelters Australasia Pty Ltd., Lancord Pty Ltd., Lenmic Pty Ltd., MIB Energy Sdn Bhd, N Holding AB, National Infrastructure Pty Ltd., National Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd., NaviSemi Energy Pte Ltd., NaviSemi Inc., New Pacifico Realty Inc., NorthStar Battery Company LLC, NorthStar Battery Company LLC, NorthStar Battery DMCC, Outback Power Technologies Inc., Powercom (NSW) Pty Ltd., Powersonic S de R.L. de CV, Purcell Systems, Purcell Systems Inc., Purcell Systems International AB, Quallion LLC, Riverfront Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Shenzhen Huada Power Supply Mechanical & Electrical Co. Ltd. , SiteTel Shanghai Co Ltd., SiteTel Sweden AB, Telecomponents & Supply (Hong Kong) Ltd., The Enser Corporation, UTS Holdings Sdn Bhd, UTS Technology (JB) Sdn Bhd, UTS Technology (PG) Sdn Bhd, YCI Inc., and Yecoltd S. de R.L. de CV. Albert Mining Inc., a junior mining exploration company, acquires, explores for, and develops mineral resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for gold, zinc, copper, diamond, base metals, precious metals, and lithium deposits in Quebec. It also offers computer aided resources detection system that enables mineral exploration professionals identify areas with a high statistical probability of similarity to known areas of mineralization. In addition, the company provides data mining, target generation, project management, and financing services. The company was formerly known as Majescor Resources Inc. and changed its name to Albert Mining Inc. in June 2017. Albert Mining Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. Read More Recent initiatives on stabilizing Afghanistan and security in the region during the high-level International Conference on Afghanistan in Geneva, and discussions of reconciliation with the Taliban in Doha and Moscow, have offered a number of conventional measures helping to resolve some of the areas problems, but often only in the short run. However, below the radar of the heavyweight political players, groups of dedicated youth quietly work on the long-term solution through replicating the international efforts inside and outside of Afghanistan in their Model UN. Every year tens of thousands of students from across Greater Central Asia not only discuss the most pressing regional issues, but also educate and train the next generation of young people on diplomatic, negotiation and conflict prevention issues. The question is, will it work? BACKGROUND: During the past decade a large cohort of young students have emerged in Afghanistan, as the government in Kabul and many international agencies have devoted great attention towards formulating and supporting national educational policies. This has entailed not only the reopening of many government-funded universities and various educational institutions, but also allowed for private and public initiatives and the opening of dozens of private Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) colleges and schools. The capital Kabul alone hosts more than a dozen universities and VET colleges, and is home to some 100,000120,000 students (2018, est.), up from about 4,000 in 2001. In addition, about 17,000 Afghan students (2016, UNESCO est.) are studying at various universities in neighboring countries, including Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. During the past few years, the government of Afghanistan has also formulated broader youth policies not only aimed at promoting hard skills and better technical education among young people, but also developing soft skills preparing the new generation for conflict prevention and conflict resolution, peaceful economic development and reconciliation. One of the civil society platforms is the Model UN movement in Afghanistan. Like in many countries around the world, this is a student-led decentralized movement, which brings together young people from different backgrounds to replicate the work of diplomats, government and UN officials in addressing the most pressing issues and challenges at the national, regional and global levels. In addition to organizing conferences, Model UN activists usually offer various forms of training in the field of diplomatic and community negotiations, conflict mitigation and public debating. According to estimates by Moneer Kodhani, president of the Kabul-based Pamir Model UN organization, the Model UN involves anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 young people annually in various Model UN activities around Kabul City and in Kabul province. For example, the Pamir Model UN has been organizing conferences not only with partners in Afghanistan, but also with the regional Model UN New Silk Way (Kazakhstan), and has attracted current President Ashraf Ghani and former President Hamid Kharzai among the speakers. IMPLICATIONS: The past decade has provided relative stability for the new generation of Afghan citizens (about 63 percent of Afghans are under 25 years of age, 2018 UNFPA est.) to receive a better education, including acquiring skills and competences for developing the national economy. The emergence and rapid growth of the new educated and technocratic youth in Afghanistan (the number of students in HEI doubles every 57 years), albeit still small at the moment, will have a significant and positive long-term impact on building a peaceful society. It would also help move forward the reconciliation process if the energy and knowledge of this young generation can be directed towards national reconciliation and building a sustainable future. In this context, the diplomatic, negotiation, conflict resolution and conflict mitigation skills offered by the Model UN movement and other similar programs are crucial for building stability in Afghanistan. First, the wider participation of young people from Afghanistan in the national and regional Model UN movement would help them gain better knowledge about the democratic policy process in their home country and in neighboring countries and to learn important skills, while directly connecting them to young people along the Silk Road countries of Central and South Asia. Second, the Model UN and similar programs create important platforms for peaceful communication, debate and exchange of new ideas, as there are practically no other opportunities for Afghan youth to become involved in open, non-biased and non-partisan exchanges about the international relations of Afghanistan and policies of the major international players. Third, the Model UN is an important platform to demonstrate workable alternatives to radicalization and political confrontation, allowing young people to engage not only with each other, but also with many civil society nongovernmental organizations and communities. Fourth, open debate and networking among young, educated activists brings together this cohort of tomorrows leaders, who will become major internal stakeholders capable of building effective governance, economic stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. CONCLUSIONS: The country needs to develop trustworthy and widely accepted discussion platforms where urban youth, students and educated young professionals debate different views on the current and future development of their country, and search for compromises and mutually beneficial solutions to the current problems. Educated youth also need to find their place in the reconciliation process, civil society dialogue and peace building. Unfortunately there are few established and respected platforms in Afghanistan for youth, and especially for student youth, to get involved in civil society issues and learn civil society skills. The work of the government with the Civil Society Working Committee, which is the main umbrella of civil society organizations in Afghanistan, and all major stakeholders, illustrates the need for better coordination in achieving greater involvement of youth and their organizations in the policy process. In this context, the Model UN movement has become an important civil society platform for engaging youth and youth organizations, where young professionals debate different views on the current and future development of their country in the process creating a place for the young generation in national reconciliation and peace building. AUTHORS BIOS: Rafis Abazov, PhD, is a visiting professor at Al Farabi Kazakh National University and a director of Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development. He is author of The Formation of Post-Soviet International Politics in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan (1999), The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics (2007), The Stories of the Great Steppe (2013) and some others. He has been an executive manager for the Global Hub of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) on Sustainability in Kazakhstan since 2014 and participated at the International Model UN New Silk Way conference in Afghanistan. Image Source: Rafis Abazov (personal) accessed on 4.3.2019 Direct Line Insurance Group plc provides general insurance products and services in the United Kingdom. It operates through Motor, Home, Rescue and Other Personal Lines, and Commercial segments. The company offers motor, home, rescue, travel, creditor, and pet insurance products, as well as insurance for mid-to-high-net worth customers; and commercial insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises. It also provides management, motor vehicle repair, insurance intermediary, support and operational, legal, and breakdown recovery services. The company sells its insurance products directly through price comparison Websites and phone, as well as through partners and brokers under the Direct Line, Churchill, Green Flag, Direct Line for Business, DLG Partnerships, NIG, Privilege, Shotgun, DLG Legal Services, Darwin, and DLG Auto Services brands. The company was formerly known as RBS Insurance Group Limited and changed its name to Direct Line Insurance Group plc in February 2012. Direct Line Insurance Group plc was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bromley, the United Kingdom. Read More Sartorius AG provides solutions for the biopharmaceutical research and industry. It operates through the following segments: Groups; Bioprocess Solutions (BPS); and Lab Products and Service (LPS). The Group segment produces and markets instruments and consumables as well as related services in its segments BPS and LPS. The Bioprocess Solutions segment focuses on single-use solutions, helps customers manufacture biotech medications and vaccines safely and efficiently. The Lab Products and services segment serves the needs of laboratories performing research and quality control at pharma and biopharma companies and those of academic research institutes. The company was founded by Florence Sartorius, Sr. in 1870 and is headquartered in Goettingen, Germany. Read More There is not enough analysis data for Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund. 4.4 Community Rank Outperform Votes Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund has received 78 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund has received 41 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund has received 65.55% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Eaton Vance California Municipal Bond Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EVM will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EVM will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Grafton Group plc engages in the distribution, retailing, and manufacturing businesses in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Its Distribution segment distributes building and plumbing materials to professional trades people engaged in residential repair, maintenance, and improvement projects, as well as in residential and other new build construction. This segment operates 487 branches primarily under the Selco, Buildbase, and Leyland SDM brands in the South East, Midlands, and North of England; the Chadwicks brand in the Republic of Ireland; and the MacBlair brand in Northern Ireland; and the Isero, Polvo, and Gunters en Meuser brands in the Netherlands. The company's Retailing segment engages in DIY retailing and home improvement business that supplies a range of products, including paints, lighting products, homestyle products, housewares, bathroom products, and kitchens, as well as gardening and Christmas products. This segment operates 35 stores primarily under the Woodie's brand. Its Manufacturing segment manufactures silo-based dry mortar for use in new build residential and commercial construction projects in England and Scotland; plastic pipe systems in Dublin; and wooden staircase in the United Kingdom. Grafton Group plc was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, as well as oral nicotine and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Bastos, Fine, Winston, News, Parker & Simpson, blu, Kool, Horizon, Jade, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Knox in approximately 160 countries worldwide. It also provides logistics services that include the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; marketing of papers; restaurant business; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom. Read More Nwafua Lawrence Forwang, Ndian SDO Atia Azohnwi Nwafua Lawrence Forwang, Senior Divisional Officer of Cameroons oil rich Ndian Division, South West Region has ordered Civil Servants and other state agents within his sphere of command to resume work within one week or face severe sanctions. The ultimatum was issued in Mundemba during a ceremony to install newly appointed military officials in the Division. The civil administrator said it is an act of embezzlement for someone to be receiving pay for no work done. Though many had escaped as a result of the uncertain socio-political climate compounded by an armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions, Forwangs ultimatum may well be informed by the relative calm that has since embraced his administrative unit. He asserted that, if the concerned fail to show up for work within the prescribed time, he will have no option than to report them to the competent quarters. The administrator observed that, collecting a monthly salary without doing any work is synonymous to embezzlement. He lamented that some of the concerned civil servants go to the extent of collecting budgetary allocations meant for their services without any work done. The former Secretary General at the South West Governors Office observed that State employees cannot collect such money usually known as running credits and disappear into thin air. Most civil servants across the interior of the South West Region have deserted their duty posts owing to the unending insecurity associated with the Anglophone Crisis. Forwang is not the first administrator to issue such threats. In February this year, Bernard Okalia Bilai, Governor of the Southwest Region embarked on a crusade for civil servants to work on Mondays, known as ghost town days. The pressure heightened in the days leading to celebrations on February 11. After the celebrations, nothing has been heard about the campaign. In the month of March, the 1st Assistant SDO of Lebialem Division issued a similar threat on civil servants. The deadline for such to be respected was March 17. It is April and the status quo has remained the same. State offices remain deserted with wild grass taking over the premises. It is unlikely that there will be any response from those concerned as many fear for their lives. The following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited. Patrick Ekema, Maire de Buea W. Tchango Ekema Patrick Esunge, Mayor of the Buea Council in Cameroons South West Region has warned that those respecting the separatist imposed lockdown within his municipality will face the music as from April 5, 2019. In a radio announcement dated April 4, 2019, Ekema calls on the general public and economic operators to desist from respecting ghost town calls emanating from unknown individuals . The mayors outing comes on the heels of a 10-day lockdown ordered by separatists loyal to the self-declared state of Ambazonia geographically Cameroons North West and South West Regions. Ekema warns that: any business premises found going against this municipal order as from April 5, 2019 will be sealed for 30 days. The Mayor recalls that several meetings have been held to put an end to the so called ghost town phenomenon. He cites two meetings held with transporters syndicates on December 27 and 28, as well as those held with public and private economic operators of the Buea municipality. On Wednesday April 3, 2019, the Mile 17 Motor Park in Buea and Mile Four Motor Park in Limbe, all in Fako Division, South West Region were teeming with people scrambling to board vehicles to other Regions. Some had with them mattresses, pots, plates and other personal effects. The outpour of passengers was triggered by information circulating on the social media that there will be a 10-day lockdown in the Division. Meanwhile, the population of Buea was spotted in food stores and makeshift markets scrambling for foodstuffs, even though these foodstuffs were sold at exorbitant prices. This 10 lockdown will be hell. It is another way to kill the people, a local said. Even though the information started making the rounds as a rumour, things took another twist when Chris Anu, Secretary of Communication and Spokesperson of the Ambazonia Interim Government in a media outing confirmed that there will be a lockdown in Fako Division. The lockdown, according to Anu, is meant to frustrate the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC, slated for April 6 to 13. Going by Anu, such events like FESTAC should not be taking place in times of war, and especially at a time when people are mourning their loved ones. He added that the Interim Government had earlier informed the authorities of Limbe to put such a celebration on hold. Since they are not ready to stop it, the Interim Government will help them to stop it , he threatened. To him, they have come to a conclusion that we are therefore declaring a total lockdown of Fako Division only, Anu stated. The Ambazonia Spokesperson advised denizens in these areas, especially Fako and Meme to stock their homes with food and warned defaulters that sanctions will be implemented. If you plan to go for this celebration, you are doing so at your own risk, he stated. To him, the Limbe authorities are doing so to show the international community that all is well and that only few separatist are wreaking havoc on the population. Saga plc provides general insurance, package and cruise holidays, and personal finance products and services in the United Kingdom. The company operates in three segments: Insurance, Travel, and Other Businesses and Central Costs. It offers car, home, health, travel, landlord, boat, motorhome, caravan, pet, and personal accident, breakdown cover, building, content, renter, holiday, and holiday home insurance. The company also operates and delivers package tours and cruise holiday products; and provides equity release and care funding advice, savings accounts, credit cards, and wealth management services, as well as shares ISA and share dealing services. In addition, it offers mailing house services; retirement benefit schemes; and publishes Saga Magazine, as well as repairs automotive vehicles. The company was formerly known as Saga Limited and changed its name to Saga plc in May 2014. Saga plc was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Folkestone, the United Kingdom. Read More Lincoln National Corp. is a holding company, which operates multiple insurance and retirement businesses through its subsidiary companies. It provides advice and solutions that help empower people to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. The company operates through the following segments: Annuities, Retirement Plan Services, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Other Operations. The Annuities segment provides tax-deferred investment growth and lifetime income opportunities for its clients by offering fixed and variable annuities. The Retirement Plan Services segment includes employers with retirement plan products and services, primarily in the defined contribution retirement plan marketplaces. The Life Insurance segment focuses on the creation and protection of wealth for its clients by providing life insurance products, including term insurance, both single and survivorship versions of universal life insurance, variable universal life insurance, and indexed universal life insurance products. The Group Protection segment offers group non-medical insurance products, which includes term life, disability, dental, vision and accident and critical illness Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Tesco: Adminstore Limited, Adsega Limited, Alfred Preedy & Sons (Trustees) Limited, Alfred Preedy & Sons Limited, Anthony Heagney Limited, Arena (Jersey) Management Limited, Armitage Finance Unlimited, Armitage Luxembourg s.? r.l., BLT Holdings 2010 Limited, Bath Upper Bristol Road Management, Bedminster Estates Limited, Beehythe Estates limited, Berry Lane Management Company Limited, Blinkbox Books Limited, BlinxBox, Booker Group, Brian Fords Discount Store Limited, Broadfields Management Limited, Brookmaker (GP) Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 1 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 2 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 3 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 4 Limited, Buckingham Road (Bletchley) Management Company Limited, Bugden Ltd, Buttoncable Limited, Buttoncase Limited, Canterbury Road Management Limited, Cardiff Cathays Terrace Management Company Limited, Careneed News Limited, Cheshunt Finance Unlimited, Cheshunt Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cheshunt Hungary Servicing Limited Liability Company, Cheshunt Luxembourg S.? r.l., Cheshunt Overseas LLP, China Property Holdings (HK) Limited, Chirac Limited, Cirrus Finance (2009) Limited, Cirrus Finance Limited, Cirrus Luxembourg s.? r.l., Clarepharm Limited, Clondalkin Properties Limited, Comar Limited, Commercial Investments Limited, Crazy Prices, Crest Ostrava a.s, Cullens Holdings Limited, Cullens Stores Limited, Daily Wrap Produce Limited, Day And Nite Stores Limited, Delamare Cards Holdco Limited, Delamare Cards MTN Issuer plc, Delamare Finance PLC, Delamare Group Holdings Limited, Delamare Holdings BV Netherlands, Delamare Luxembourg s.? r.l. Luxembourg, Delamare One Limited, Dunnhumby Ventures LLC, ELH Insurance Limited, Edinburgh Butterfly Farm Limited, Edson Investments Limited, Edson Properties Limited, Ek-Chai Distribution System Co. Ltd., Euphorium (London) Limited, Euphorium (North London) Limited, Euphorium Group Limited, Euphorium IP Limited, Europa Foods Limited, Faraday Properties Limited, Flitwick Pharmacies Limited, Food & Wine Lovers Limited, Forum Liberec s.r.o, Freds Food Construction Limited, Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund, Gain Land Limited, Genesis sp. z o.o., Gibbs News Limited, Gibbs Newsagents Limited, Gida Sanayi A.S., Giraffe, Giraffe Cafe Limited, Giraffe Concepts Limited, Golden Island Management Services Limited, HIT hypermarket Sp. z o. o., Halesworth SPV Limited, Harris and Hoole Holdings Limited, Harris and Hoole Limited, Harris and Hoole Nominees Limited, Homeplus, Hymall Co. Ltd., J E Properties Holdings Limited, Jasper Sp. z o. o. Poland, KSS Retail Limited, Kabaty Investments Tesco (Polska) Sp. z o. o. Sp.k, Kingsway Fresh Foods Ltd, Koxka Hungary Refrigeration LLC, Launchgrain Limited, Launchtable Limited, Laws Stores Limited, Lazada Group S.A., Lee (Southern) Limited, Lek?ren? Tesco Bansk? Bystrica k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Dunajsk? Streda k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Ko?ice k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Lama k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Nitra k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Petr?alka k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Pie?tany k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Pre?ov Vukov k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Senec k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Spi?sk? Nov? Ves k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Trenc??n s.r.o. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Zlat? Piesky k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Zvolen k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Linebush III Holdings Limited, Linebush III Limited, Linebush IV Limited, Linebush Limited, Linebush V Limited, London and Home Counties Superstores Limited, Lowfoods Limited, M & W Limited, Merrion Shopping Centre Ltd, Mills (East Midlands) Limited, Mills (West Midlands) Limited, Mills Group Holdings Limited, Mills Group Limited, Mobcast Services, Monread Developments Limited, Morgam Holdings Limited, Morgam News Limited, Motorcause Limited, NPL (Hardgate) Limited, Nabola Development Limited, NutriCentre Limited, OC FORUM Liberec Ltd., Oakwood Distribution Limited, Obchodn? dom Bratislava s.ro, Obchodn? dom Ko?ice s.ro., Obchodn? dom Nitra s.ro., Obchodn? dom Pre?ov s.ro., Old FEHC Inc., Old FEPC LLC, One Stop Community Stores Ltd, One Stop Convenience Stores Limited, One Stop Stores Limited, One Stop Stores Trustee Services Limited, Orpingford, Orpington (Station Road) Limited, Oxford Fox and Hounds Management Company Limited, PEJ Property Developments Limited, Paper Chain (East Anglia) Limited, Pharaway Properties Limited, Power Supermarkets Limited, Premier Garage (Worthing) Limited, Pulford Foods Limited, R.J.D. Holdings, Retail Property Co. Ltd, S Bottomley & Bros Limited, Sanders Supermarkets Limited, Sandtable Limited, Sarcon (No. 239) Limited, Seacroft Green Nominee 1 Limited, Seacroft Green Nominee 2 Limited, Shire Park Limited, Shuke Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Snowman Retail 1 Limited, Snowman Retail 2 Limited, Sociomantic AB, Sociomantic Labs B.V, Sociomantic Labs Inc, Sociomantic Labs Internet Hizmetleri Limited ?ireketi, Sociomantic Labs LLC, Sociomantic Labs Limited, Sociomantic Labs Private Limited, Sociomantic Labs Pte Ltd, Sociomantic Labs S.r.l, Sociomantic Labs SARL, Sociomantic Labs Servicos Web Ltda, Sociomantic Labs Sp.z.o.o., Sociomantic Labs s.r.o., Sociomantic S.L.U., Sociomantic labs GmbH, Spen Hill Developments (Holdings) Ltd, Spen Hill Developments (Portishead) Ltd, Spen Hill Developments (Tonbridge) Limited, Spen Hill Developments Limited, Spen Hill Management Limited, Spen Hill Properties (Holdings) plc, Spen Hill Properties (Southend) Limited, Spen Hill Regeneration Limited, Spen Hill Residential No 1 Limited, Spen Hill Residential No 2 Limited, Station House Welling Management Limited, Statusfloat Limited, Stewarts Supermarkets Limited, Streatham Management Company Limited, T & S Management Services Limited, T & S Properties Limited, T & S Stores Limited, TESCO (POLSKA) sp. z o.o., TESCO Akad?mia K?pz?si ?s Fejleszt?si Kor?tolt Felelss?g T?rsas?g, TESCO MOBILE POLSKA SP. Z O.O., TESCO STORES SR a.s., Tapesilver Limited, Teesport (GP) Limited, Teesport (Nominee) Limited, Telegraph Properties (Kirkby) Limited, Tesco (Foxtrot 1) Limited, Tesco (Foxtrot 2) Limited, Tesco (Fujian) Industry Limited, Tesco (Jersey) Limited, Tesco (Overseas) Ltd, Tesco (Yorkshire) Limited, Tesco Aqua (1LP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (3LP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (FinCo1) Limited, Tesco Aqua (FinCo2) Limited, Tesco Aqua (GP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Atrato (1LP) Limited, Tesco Atrato (GP) Limited, Tesco Barbers Wood Limited, Tesco Bengaluru Private Limited, Tesco Blue (1LP) Limited, Tesco Blue (FinCo2) Limited, Tesco Blue (GP) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Capital No. 1 Limited, Tesco Capital No. 2 Limited, Tesco Card Services Limited, Tesco Card Services Limited, Tesco Card Services Ltd., Tesco Chile Sourcing Limitada, Tesco Coral (GP) Limited, Tesco Corporate Treasury Services PLC, Tesco Depot Propco Limited, Tesco Distribution Holdings Limited, Tesco Distribution Limited, Tesco Dorney (1LP) Limited, Tesco Dorney (GP) Limited, Tesco Dystrybucja Sp. z.o.o., Tesco EU IT Services s.r.o., Tesco Employees Share Scheme Trustees Limited, Tesco Estates Limited, Tesco Europe B.V. Netherlands, Tesco Family Dining Limited, Tesco Food Sourcing Brazil Representa??o De Servi?os Ltda., Tesco Food Sourcing Limited, Tesco Foundation (Nadacia Tesco), Tesco Freetime Limited, Tesco Fuchsia (1LP) Limited, Tesco Fuel Limited, Tesco Global Employment Company Limited, Tesco Guangdong (HK) Co. Limited, Tesco High Beech Limited, Tesco Holdings BV, Tesco Holdings Limited, Tesco Home Shopping Limited, Tesco Hungary (Holdings) Limited, Tesco International Franchising s.r.o., Tesco International Internet Retailing Limited, Tesco International Services Limited, Tesco International Sourcing Limited, Tesco Ireland Holdings Limited, Tesco Ireland Limited, Tesco Ireland Pension Trustees Limited, Tesco Jade (GP) Limited, Tesco Joint Buying Service (Shanghai) Co Limited, Tesco Kipa Kitle Pazarlama Ticaret Lojistik ve, Tesco Kirkby (General Partner) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (LP) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Unitholder 1) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Unitholder2) Limited, Tesco Lagoon GP Limited, Tesco Licences Limited, Tesco Lotus Retail Growth, Tesco Lotus Retail Growth Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund, Tesco Maintenance Limited, Tesco Mauritius Holdings Limited, Tesco Mobile (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Tesco Mobile CR s.r.o., Tesco Mobile Communications Limited, Tesco Mobile Ireland Limited, Tesco Mobile Ireland Limited, Tesco Mobile Limited, Tesco Mobile Services Limited, Tesco Mobile Slovakia s.r.o, Tesco Mobile Slovakia s.r.o., Tesco Mobile CR, Tesco Nanjing Zhongshan, Tesco Nanjing Zhongshan (HK) Co. Limited, Tesco Navona (1LP) Limited, Tesco Navona (GP) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Navona PL Propco Limited, Tesco Opticians Limited, Tesco Overseas (Holdings) Limited, Tesco Overseas Investments Limited, Tesco Overseas ULC, Tesco Passaic (1LP) Limited, Tesco Passaic (GP) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Passaic PL Propco Limited, Tesco Pension (Jade) Limited, Tesco Pension Investment Limited, Tesco Pension Trustees Limited, Tesco Personal Finance, Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, Tesco Property (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) (No.2) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) Limited, Tesco Property A.S., Tesco Property Finance 1 Holdco Limited, Tesco Property Finance 1 PLC, Tesco Property Holdings (No. 2) Limited, Tesco Property Holdings Limited, Tesco Property Limited, Tesco Property Nominees (No.5) Limited, Tesco Property Nominees (No.6) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (GP No.2) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (GP) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (No.2) Limited, Tesco Red (1LP) Limited, Tesco Red (GP) Limited, Tesco Red (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Red (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Sarum (1LP) Limited, Tesco Sarum (GP) Limited, Tesco Seacroft Limited, Tesco Secretaries Limited, Tesco Services Limited, Tesco Sourcing India Private Limited, Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Tesco Stores (Thailand) Ltd, Tesco Stores CR a.s., Tesco Stores Limited, Tesco Technology Services HK Limited, Tesco Treasury Services PLC, Tesco Trustee Company of Ireland Limited, Tesco Underwriting Limited, Tesco Vin Plus SA, Tesco Worldwide Limited, Tesco for Thais Foundation, Tesco-Global Stores Privately Held Co. Ltd, Tesco.Com Limited, The Brookmaker Limited Partnership, The Teesport Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Aqua Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Atrato Limited Partnership, The Tesco Blue Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Coral Limited Partnership, The Tesco Dorney Limited Partnership, The Tesco Kirkby Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Navona Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Passaic Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Property (No.2) Limited Partnership, The Tesco Red Limited Partnership, The Tesco Sarum Limited Partnership, Trent Hypermarket Private Limited, Trigger Retail Ltd, Valiant Insurance Company DAC, Value House Properties Limited, Variable Preference, Ventnor High Street Management Company Limited, Verulam Properties (2001) Limited, Verulam Properties Limited, Victoria BB Sp z.o.o., WE7, WSC Properties Limited, Wanze Properties (Dundalk) Limited, Weymouth Avenue (Dorchester) Limited, Whitecastle Properties Limited, Wm. Low Supermarkets Limited, Woolwich Central Residents Management Company Limited, Worple Road Plc, Xiamen Firste Property Limited, Xiamen Firste Property Limited, aAcklam Management Company Limited, dunnhumby (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, dunnhumby (Thailand) Limited, dunnhumby Canada Limited, dunnhumby Consulting Services India Private Limited, dunnhumby Czech s.r.o., dunnhumby Employment Company Limited, dunnhumby Holding Limited, dunnhumby Hungary Kft, dunnhumby IT Services India Private Limited, dunnhumby Inc, dunnhumby International Limited, dunnhumby Ireland Limited, dunnhumby Italia Srl., dunnhumby Limited, dunnhumby Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., dunnhumby Netherlands B.V., dunnhumby Norge A.S., dunnhumby Overseas Limited, dunnhumby Poland Sp z.o.o, dunnhumby Slovakia s.r.o., dunnhumby South Africa (Pty) Ltd, dunnhumby Trustees Limited, and dunnuhumby. Lock down in Buea W. Musa The Mayor of Buea council in the South West region of Cameroon, has warned economic operators to desist from respecting calls for ghost town, or their shops will be closed down for a month He made this threat in a press release signed on Thursday, where he warned these business persons to respect the laws of the municipality, starting from Friday 5th of April 2019. This call comes to counteract a confusing call for 10 days ghost town in Fako division, declared by an anonymous voice over social media, warning citizens to stay at home. The ghost town is meant to frustrate the one week Limbe cultural festival, FESTAC, which celebrates not only Cameroons rich cultural heritage, but also unity and peace in the 10 regions of the country. However, one of the secessionist leader, Chris Anu in another audio, condemned the idea of the said ghost town and called on ground forced to collaborate with diaspora leaders. Another separatist, Mark Bareta while cautioning the population to be vigilant, decried the effects of such long ghost town on the population, calling on members of the so-called Ambazonia state, to agree with armed forces in the affected regions and avoid such sufferings on the population. The mayor of Buea, Ekema Patrick has earned the reputation of a fearless administrator, faced with a series of threats from secessionists and a disgruntled population on his activities and utterances. The mayor has since the start of the Anglophone crisis, stood against the course and sanctioned business operators who didnt want to open their shops on ghost town days. These business operators are caught between imposing powers of the Mayor( who could shut down their businesses) and that of secessionists ( who could kidnap or burn down their business place). Mayor Ekema has fought against ghost towns from holding in his municipality, by shutting down shops who fail to open, seizing Taxis, and even hired extra taxis from other parts of the country, to occupy the streets of Buea. However, his decision comes at a time when some denizens prefer listening to the voices of diaspora leaders than the anonymous calls, recorded and shared over social media. Reports say despite the said call, some markets were operating. People were spotted on the streets as well as few taxis, but for the heavy rains that sent most persons at home. The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U. 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Mark Bareta W. Musa Mark Bareta, Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) activist based in Belgium has begged the masses in the North West and South West Regions to stop blaming the diaspora for the goings-on in the restive area. In a message he shared April 4, the separatist kingpin said fighters on the ground take most of the decisions and they, like the helpless populace, are only forced to toe the line. His words: Let us face the truth. Stop blaming Diaspora. It is so easy to blame diaspora, call them names and avoid the real issues. Why are we lying to ourselves? Diaspora has no more absolute control on ground zero. The gun is the law and when the boys have spoken, hardly will that change. The least they will do will be to modify after several calls. Why are we not seeing the handwriting on the wall? Basically 'military' who are in charge especially at war always act this way. I can assure you that most people in the diaspora even leaders also get these decisions such as the current INSENSITIVE and NO USE LOCKDOWN coming from the fighters on the ground. Bareta was reacting to a lock down call that has since been reiterated by Chris Anu, Secretary of Communication and Spokesperson of the Ambazonia Interim Government. The lockdown, according to Anu, is meant to frustrate the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC, slated for April 6 to 13. Going by Anu, such events like FESTAC should not be taking place in times of war, and especially at a time when people are mourning their loved ones. He added that the Interim Government had earlier informed the authorities of Limbe to put such a celebration on hold. Since they are not ready to stop it, the Interim Government will help them to stop it , he threatened. To him, they have come to a conclusion that we are therefore declaring a total lockdown of Fako Division only, Anu stated. The Ambazonia Spokesperson advised denizens in these areas, especially Fako and Meme to stock their homes with food and warned defaulters that sanctions will be implemented. If you plan to go for this celebration, you are doing so at your own risk, he stated. Even with these threats from Anu, Bareta insists that they in the diaspora are as helpless as the suffering masses. Hear him: So it is just so cheap and easy to blame diaspora often and often but trust that the boys [separatist fighters] on the ground are in charge. Most people in the diaspora even the leaders who know the right thing are just flowing with what the boys on the ground are saying in order not to anger them. What we should pray is better collaboration and chain of command structure between ground zero and leaders in the diaspora so that decisions like these could easily be looked in a cost benefit analysis without which the GUN will always control. It is a sad reality. We can only continue to educate and communicate with ground zero forces to see the setbacks in some of the decisions such as the LOCKDOWN they are taking especially one which has lots of bearing on our people. Spare DIASPORA PLEASE. Ayah Paul W. MUSA Barrister Ayah Paul Abine, retired Cameroon Supreme Court judge and ex-CPDM Member of Parliament has in an emotional piece titled WE ARE NOT DIFFERENT, called on separatists to be more humane in their decisions. He was touched by the pandemonium that greeted news of a separatist imposed 10-day lockdown of Fako Division. Below is the lamentation of the ace legal juggernaut: Mrs. Ayah returned from CONGELCAM, Buea, yesterday [April 3, 2019], after two hours of unsuccessful effort to buy fish. The husband visited the scene in the late evening to appraise the situation. WHAT A CHAOTIC SCENE! Some elderly women had been there all day without as much as entering the building. There was no queue. Entry was by the fittest. Even then, those behind the counter decided whose money to take when Anglophones abroad at room temperature often do grossly fail to appreciate what patriots in the war zone go through daily. While they have sound sleep with the police pacing up and down, assuring their security, those back home are under constant apprehension of being killed by direct or stray bullets. While they enjoy good earnings, coupled, at times, with windfalls, the 'dogs of war' back home have lost everything: ascendants/descendants, shelter, access to medical facilities, foodstuffs preserved for the rainy day While their own children are going to school, excellent schools quite often, the children back home suffer educational privation as the price of war. Their catch clause is WE ARE AT WAR. So what? What is the difference between us? You run away from the war. Then, from your safe sanctuary, you seek to induce others to volunteer into all kinds of battlefields. How more valuable are your own lives? And are there any relative values in human lives? WE ARE AT WAR, YES! Why are you at war if there is no difference between your conduct and the conduct of the other party you are at war with: if the end justifies the means either way? If, for instance, the other party kills directly and you kill slowly, is the latter killing not more painful dying after suffering? To put it otherwise, if the one party destroys food preserved for future use, and you prevent the planting of crops for future use, what difference does it make? The wise teach that leadership is constant introspection so as to avoid repeating mistakes. And that is the mainstay of credibility. Empty boasting (bluff) leads to contempt. After the previous lock-down; after the ban on food leaving or entering the land; did credibility not require proper introspection before venturing into another lock-down: all the worse, such a sudden lock-down? What is the intended objective? What if the festival holds after all? Would the privation of movement and food not have been in vain? Even if the festival did not hold, would the price paid by the people be commensurate to the failure of the festival? Those questions are of immense importance and relevance. Fighting against someone for doing what you too do is self-infliction. Theres little difference between someone killing a patient on board an ambulance and you preventing the desperately sick, including women under labour, from being taken to the hospital in the name of LOCKDOWN. There is little difference between the one who forces people into the bushes/forests to die from want of food/medicines and you preventing people from planting food crops during the planting season like now. It is absolutely facetious to shout out that people should STOCK FOOD AND WATER! There are families here hosting as many as 25 refugees (some prefer to call them 'internally displaced persons'). The minimum wage in Camerouoon is 38.000 francs. Would any intelligent person call on any such family to STOCK FOOD AND WATER to last them 10 days? If such a family bought a bag of rice for 25.000 and some trog-canda, would they eat the rice raw? How much water would the family store for, maybe, 30 persons for bathing, laundry, cooking and drinking for 10 days? LET US BE MORE SERIOUS MORE HUMANE!!! We beg to opine that it is self-defeating to fight against the very people one claims to be fighting for. May we add that true leadership is more than copying and pasting far more than safeguarding ones own life while pushing others into self-destruction. Whoever advises, let alone, urges unlimited sacrificing should do so by examples: joining us back home, if only OCCASIONALLY! EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER! WE ARE NOT GUINEA PIGS! Paul Atanga Nji, ministre de l'Administration Territoriale archives The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji has ordered a ban on a planned peaceful protest of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement(CRM) party, scheduled to take place between the 6th to the 13th of April 2019. The minister says the move is provocative and has an undertone to cause an uprising in Cameroon, after some members of the party in the diaspora, destroyed property in the Cameroonian embassies in Paris and Berlin. To the Minister, the 6th of April remains a painful day to Cameroonians, paying allusion to an unsuccessful attempt on the 6th of April 1984, to impeach President Paul Biya from seat. He further threatened to suspend the CRM party, if they continue to hold manifestations, despite government's restrictive moves, following the provision of law on political parties, signed on the 19th of December,1990. The government called on all, including members and sympathisers of the CRM, to work hand in gloves and stand the test of peace and unity, threatened by the ongoing crisis, in the North West and South West regions. He called on governors and other administrative officers across the country to ensure that government's stance on the banned protest is strictly respected, and offenders might face the law. The opposition party CRM, had declared amongst other issues, its intention to March in protest of the incarceration of the leaders of its party, led by Maurice Kamto,along with over 150 members. Maurice Kamto along with many other members of his party, are facing charges of rebellion, insurrection and hostility against Cameroon. They were arrested across the national territory, after staging a peaceful protest late January, against injustices in Cameroon and electoral fraud. Despite mounting pressure on President Paul Biya to release the arrested members and sympathisers of Kamto, government is steadfast on seeing the law punish, those they say, are hindering peace in Cameroon. Limbe FESTAC 2019 opens April 6 Limbe FESTAC Residents of the seaside resort of Limbe have conquered fear and gone about their routine activities in disregard of separatist calls for the city to be locked down for 10 days beginning April 4, 2019 as a way of frustrating the much cherished Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, Limbe FESTAC. Chris Anu, Secretary of Communication and Spokesperson of the Ambazonia Interim Government in a media outing ordered a lockdown of Fako Division. The lockdown, according to Anu, is meant to frustrate the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, slated for April 6 to 13. Going by Anu, such events like FESTAC should not be taking place in times of war, and especially at a time when people are mourning their loved ones. He added that the Interim Government had earlier informed the authorities of Limbe to put such a celebration on hold. Since they are not ready to stop it, the Interim Government will help them to stop it , he threatened. To him, they have come to a conclusion that we are therefore declaring a total lockdown of Fako Division only, Anu stated. The Ambazonia Spokesperson advised denizens in these areas, especially Fako and Meme to stock their homes with food and warned defaulters that sanctions will be implemented. If you plan to go for this celebration, you are doing so at your own risk, he stated. The population of Limbe on day one of the lock down could be seen going about their daily business in all tranquility as a way of registering their disgust to the lockdown call. They are said to be readying their city for what is described by many as the celebration of Cameroons unity in diversity. Many other inhabitants of Fako Division have roundly condemned the lockdown decision. One of such inhabitants described the lockdown as madness. The 10 days madness will only work if you let it work! We can all just ignore the nonsense and go about our lives, he stated. FESTAC has over the years become an annual festival; bringing together many people in and out of Cameroon to savour the rich cultural heritage of Cameroon. The Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Motanga Andrew Monjimba, had on February 20, expounded on security during a press briefing about FESTAC. He said only the people of Limbe have to decide whether they will celebrate the event or not, stressing that they are not fighting anything with anybody. If this lockdown comes true as speculated by many, it will be the second in less than two months since the Anglophone Crisis escalated into an armed conflict. But this time around, the people have said No! (CNN) A growing call to boycott luxury hotels owned by the kingdom of Brunei has led the hotels to hide their social media accounts. The public outcry comes in response to the implementation of new Islamic laws that make gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. Actor George Clooney condemned the measures in a recent opinion piece and highlighted the hotels' ties to the Brunei Investment Agency, which the Sultan of Brunei owns. The hotels are operated under the Dorchester Collection brand. "Dorchester Collection is an inclusive and diverse company and does not tolerate any form of discrimination," the company said in a statement pinned on its corporate Twitter and Facebook accounts. "Although we believe in open and transparent communication, we have reluctantly deactivated our hotel social pages due to the personal abuse directed at our employees for whom we have a duty of care." Clicking on the Twitter handle @TheDorchester on Thursday yielded a "Sorry, that page doesn't exist!" message. Same for @45ParkLaneUK, @LeMeurice, @BevHillsHotel, @HotelBelAir, @PrincipeSavoia, @CoworthParkUK and @Plaza_Athenee. "Our corporate social media pages remain in place. Dorchester Collection's Code (emphasizes) equality, respect and integrity in all areas of our operation, and strongly values people and cultural diversity amongst our guests and employees," the company's statement reads. A string of celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, Billie Jean King and Elton John, have joined in calling for a boycott of the nine properties, which include The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane in London, Hotel Plaza Athenee and Le Meurice in Paris and Hotel Eden in Rome. On its website, the Dorchester Collection says "our values are far removed from the politics of ownership," underlining its values of "inclusion, diversity and equality." "We understand people's anger and frustration but this is a political and religious issue that we don't believe should be played out in our hotels and amongst our 3,630 employees. We're deeply saddened by what's happening right now and the impact it is having on our employees, guests, partners and suppliers in particular," the message reads. The boycott has also had an impact on similarly named hotels that are not owned by the Brunei Investment Agency. On Facebook, the Hotel Bel-Air in Greece posted this clarification: "After having received hate mail, we would to clarify that we are not the hotel bel air owned by the sultan of Brunei. This is just a synonymity. We are a family owned business in the Ionian Islands of Greece and we support the lgbtq community and their rights." Twitter users have been addressing protests about Brunei's anti-gay laws at Hotel Plaza Athenee in New York (@PlazaAtheneeNY), but the hotel is not under the same ownership as Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris. The New York hotel is owned and managed by a company out of Bangkok, Thailand, according to a hotel spokeswoman. This story was first published on CNN.com "Brunei-owned hotels hide social media pages as outcry grows over anti-gay laws" La ville de Bamenda, le 16 juin 2017 au Cameroun AFP/Archives/Reinnier KAZE The 3,500 hectares of the Ngemba Forest Reserve in Mezam Division is at the risk of being extinct following the recent scandalous illegal exploitation of timber in complicity with some administrative officials in Mezam. This forest reserve comprising mostly eucalyptus trees, planted in 1946 by the colonial masters, is located in Bamenda III, Bamenda I and Santa Sub-divisions in Mezam Division of the Northwest Region. Truckloads of timber illegally exploited by some individuals keep leaving the Forest Reserve, especially around the Bamendankwe area. The truckloads of timber sail through the several checkpoints mounted by ecoguards unperturbed. The blind eye exhibited by some administrators in Mezam is said be as a result of kickbacks they get from controllers who are wrapped in the racketeering. This rampant exploitation of the Forest Reserve, sources say, has been noticed recently, coupled with the fact that the newly appointed Regional Delegate, Esola, is not resident in the Region. Though the natives of Bamendankwe have all along been carrying out rudimentary exploitation for wood which is transformed into charcoal for sale in the local markets, locals say they are very worried now with what is happening. One quarter head who elected anonymity said their activity in the area as locals did not threaten the life of the Forest Reserve, until the recent heavy exploitation by some highhanded business tycoons. Sources say over 50 tons of wood is carted away on daily bases from the Forest Reserve. A large portion of the area under exploitation is drying up. Tubah Forest Reserve was handed to the Council and management has changed for the better. As for the Ngemba Forest Reserve, the Government is finding it difficult to reallocate management to Municipal Councils. The rampant felling of the trees is beginning to affect water supply in Bamenda City as water catchments located within the Forest Reserve are fast drying up. The high rate of exploitation is partly blamed on roadblocks to other Divisions has made big business persons tilt their attention to Ngemba Forest Reserve. They seem be doing brisk business while the forest guards have been accused of being knee-deep in the racket. When Bell Manga, onetime Regional Delegate of Forestry in the Northwest and today an Inspector General in same Ministry, was contacted by phone on Sunday, March 24, 2019, he said when he was in the Region he fought very hard to protect and preserve forest reserves. In the case of the rampant felling of the Ngemba Forest Reserve, he lamented that it is unfortunate and should illegal exploitation be allowed, the forest might one day be history. Manga explained that the Ministry has put in place powerful personnel to protect State property that has to do with the forest. Those at the Region, he said, are supposed to collaborate with the local administration to ensure that the forest reserves are kept intact. The new Regional Delegate, Esola, told this reporter on phone on Sunday, March 24, that he is new and does not master the ongoing. He, however, gave assurance that he shall instruct his collaborators to fortify vigilance on the Forest Reserve. Le nouveau Premier ministre camerounais Joseph Dion Ngute, a Oslo le 24 fevrier 2017 NTB Scanpix/AFP/Archives/Hakon Mosvold Larsen The decision restricting ministerial heads, Directors or managers of state corporations and other important positions , from paying inconsequential visits abroad, was signed this Friday, 5th of April by the Secretary General at the Prime Minister's office, Fouda Seraphin. The order authorises only statutory visits, highly important to the state of Cameroon. As a result, ministers and heads of state corporations asking authorisations to leave the country in order to attend seminars, workshops or price award ceremonies, will be turned down. It is under the instructions of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, that the Prime minister's office is embarking on seeing that state budget is used for just purposes. Cameroonian ministers have been criticised for leaving in luxury ,especially while budgeting for missions abroad. They board first class seats in expensive airplanes and pick expensive hotels amongst other things. Most of the past ministers now in detention for embezzlement, have been accused of spending carelessly on missions abroad. Such visits have repeatedly cost the government a lot of money, with some infringing on some programmed budgets, while others lead to unexplained absenteeism, on the part of these public heads. The government is mainly responding to critics, who think that an atmosphere of laxity exists amongst Cameroonian ministerial positions. Some opine that these ministers could easily s divert funds meant for public investment budget. A concern that has recently been raised at the National Assembly on how public authorities have been using funds meant for the crisis-hit, North West and South West region. Talking in parliament today, Prime Minister Dion Ngute ,reassured law markers that projects earmarked in the Anglophone regions would be covered or completed, despite difficulties encountered. He called on all to exercise patience. Bamenda City Government Delegate to Revamp Motorbike Sector Facebook The government delegate to the Bamenda City council, Vincent Ndumu Nji has embarked on seeing all motorbikes within the city of Bamenda, registered, as part of an effort to regulate the sector. In a press briefing on Wednesday in Bamenda, the government delegate said all motorbike riders need are a registration certificate known in French as Carte Grise, a national identity card and two passport size photographs. As a means to facilitate this registration process, the council has offered free jackets to the first 1000 commercial motorbikes who have registered, as well as painted the tanks of their bikes in yellow, within two weeks. Last month , the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, Songa Pierre, signed an order on the regularisation of the motorbike sector within the city of Bamenda, instructing the City council amongst other forces to implement the decision. In 2013, an attempt by the government delegate to revamp the sector led to an attack on his personality, as many of the councilors he agreed on the decision with, during the series of council sessions, abandoned him to face the roar of these bike riders. Ndumu Nji Vincent blamed the mayors of the three sub divisional councils that make up the city council for being responsible for the non respect of city council orders prohibiting the circulation of commercial bikes on tarred roads in Bamenda. He accused them of dragging their feet because of politics and selfish interest, as elections were around the corner. This decision was considered unpopular and decision wasnt implemented at the time. On the heels of the Anglophone crisis, with many attacks from armed secessionists on motorbikes, government is bent on keeping the sector clean, so that they can easily spot out the attackers. Motorbike riders have also been a target to the military in the Anglophone regions, as a result of this stigma. It is believed that mayors have no choice now, than to join forces with the government delegate to regularise the sector, given that the outcome of the Anglophone crisis, has led to unprecedented effects on each Anglophone and the country as a whole. This municipal order of 15th March 2019, instructs motorbike riders on where to park within the city of Bamenda. The order mentions Mile One junction, Customs, Ntenefor, Akumbele, Abangoh, Ntahnghang in Bamenda One sub-division, and T-junction, City Chemist, Hospital roundabout, Rendezvous, Nghomgham, Mbengwi Park, Nanga junction, Nobel man, Mile 8 Mankon, Waterside, in Bamenda Two, amongst official parking spots for motorbikes in those areas. As for Bamenda Three, the order quotes junctions at Mile 6 Nkwen, Starlight College, Mile 3, Farmer's House, New Road, Family Pharmacy, Below Foncha, PNEU, Mobile Nkwen and first tap Ntamulung Talking about the proposed national e-commerce policy, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said the draft is in the public domain and the ministry would look at all suggestions and views. New Delhi: India is planning to host the second informal meeting of trade ministers from about 20 member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) here next month amid growing challenges for global trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has said. This meeting assumes significance as several countries are raising questions over the relevance of the global trade body. Many countries are also taking protectionist measures, impacting global trade. "We are planning this (meeting) in May. We will be inviting about 20 WTO member countries this time," he told PTI. The US had imposed high duties on imports of certain steel and aluminium products, which triggered a major trade tariff tussle. Recently, the WTO cautioned that the global trade will continue to face strong headwinds this year and in 2020 after growing slower-than-expected in 2018 due to rising trade tensions and increased economic uncertainty. India has time and again stressed the importance and relevance of the WTO for promoting global trade. In March last year, over 50 nations participated in a meeting here which was convened by India to explore options for resolving various issues and re-invigorating the WTO. That meeting was organised in the wake of talks collapsing at the Buenos Aires ministerial conference in December 2017. India had appealed to the WTO members to identify common ground for strengthening the multilateral trade body amid challenges being faced by it following the deadlock at the Buenos Aires ministerial in December. Talking about the proposed national e-commerce policy, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said the draft is in the public domain and the ministry would look at all suggestions and views. "Every objection raised by small or big traders, we will take it on board," he said. Concerns have been raised by certain quarters over some proposals of the draft policy related with data localisation and cross border flow of data. Mumbai: The wait is over! Actor Irrfan Khan has finally begun shooting for Hindi Medium sequel titled 'Angrezi Medium' in Udaipur. On Friday, film's team including producer Dinesh Vijan officially start shooting and as the production house, Maddock shared first pictures right from the sets in Udaipur. Check out the pictures here: In these pictures, Irrfan Khan can be seen in the healthier avatar. After all, the Hindi Medium actor had returned from London last month after undergoing treatment for the neuroendocrine tumour. Hence, this is indeed delightful news for Irrfan fans. Earlier, Irrfan had shared a heartfelt note for his fans in which he thanked them for giving him love and support. His Twitter note stated, "Maybe somewhere in the pursuit of winning, we forget how much it means to be loved. In our vulnerability, we are reminded. As I leave my footprints onto these steps of my life, I want to pause to be grateful for receiving your immense love and support, it soothed me in my process of healing. So I travel back to you, thanking you from the bottom of my heart." Directed by Homi Adajania, Angrezi Medium will tell a story of Irrfan Khan's on-screen daughter who goes to London for higher studies. Hindi Medium (2017) was directed by Saket Choudhary with Pakistani actor Saba Qamar as the female lead. However, latest reports stating that Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen playing the female lead opposite Irrfan. Apart from that, 'Pataakha' actor Radhika Madan has been confirmed for the role of his daughter in the film. Angrezi Medium will be shot in Udaipur and London. Mumbai: Sajid Nadiadwala's Housefull franchise shares a unique connection with the much loved Hollywood series of James Bond as both the movie series are shot in London. Like every James Bond film terminates in an entertaining action sequence in the capital of UK, Housefull has also showcased fondness for the metropolitan city of London. The most famous secret agent has London as an exquisite location even after the decades of the story surrounding the city. Even Sajid Nadiadwalas Housefull franchise which stars Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh have a strong London connection. Not only this, right from Housefull to its second and third instalment and now Housefull 4 has a London setting. Sajid Nadiadwala loves the city personally and professionally. The producer who has previously gone holidaying to the city loved milieu and ambience. The beautiful outdoors not only simply stands out but also bring glitz and glamour on screen. The filmmaker has always treated the audience with the captivating natural beauty with Housefull series. Revisiting London for Housefull 4, Sajid Nadiadwala says, London has always held a special place in my heart. Also, when it comes to the Housefull franchise then London is an inseparable element. There is certain vibe around the city that augurs so well with the stage and setting that Housefull demands. Just like the James Bond series, Housefull which has always been a big ticket film is worth watching in theatres for its majestic grandeur and whole canvas. The Franchise happens to be the costliest amongst Sajid Nadiadwalas many productions. In Addition, Sajid Nadiadwala said Housefull means a house full of masti, mazaa, vibrancy and energy, something that London stands for as well. Audiences have traditionally loved what the city and its people have to offer on screen in the film and we are taking that forward with Housefull 4 too. Just like the masterpieces Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan have been known amongst many other Bond heroes and has been London based. Similarly, Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh Housefull 4 have found its heart in London. The film is all set to hit theatres this Diwali. Director Saamy, who made films with controversial themes like Mirugam and Sindhu Samaveli, is back after a long hiatus with an interesting movie. It is the official remake of the acclaimed Iranian movie Children of Heaven directed by ace Majid Majidi. Titled Akka Kuruvi in Tamil, Madurai Muthu Movies and Kanavu Thozhirchalai who have bought the south Indian language remake rights, are bankrolling it in Tamil and Telugu. Speaking about the film, Saamy says, The movie received critical reception and garnered attention on several international circuit deals with a brother and sister and their adventures over a lost pair of shoes. I auditioned close to 200 children for the lead roles of an 11-year-old brother and 7-year-old sister. Finally, I zeroed in on Daavia for the girl character and Maahin for the boy. Popular classical dancer Thara Jagadhamba plays the mother role and Senthilkumar will be seen as their dad. And of course, a pair of shoes plays the central character. Ace Malayalam lensman Utpal V Nayanar shot the movie in multi camera setup for 55 days in the hilly terrain of Poombarai in Kodaikanal. Veerasamar is the art director. This 1940 photo provided by Sotheby's shows artist Frida Kahlo with her head suspended by straps, is a part of the photographs by Nicholas Muray up for auction. (Photo: AP) New York: Frida Kahlo with her head wrapped in bandages. Diego Rivera posing with a gas mask. Miguel Covarrubias at the beach. The photographs of the three Mexican painters and other works by Nickolas Muray, many of them never seen before, are going on sale this week in New York. The images, dating from around 1925 to 1946, are among 78 portraits by the renowned Hungarian-born American photographer, who had a decade-long affair with Kahlo after meeting her in 1931. They will be auctioned Friday as part of Sothebys Photographs sale, each with a starting price of USD 15,000. It is the first time that such a large group of photographs by this artist, by Nickolas Muray, go on sale, Sothebys specialist Aimee Pflieger told The Associated Press in a recent interview. The anonymous consigner originally bought them from the photographers estate, according to the auction house. This 1940's portrait of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera provided by Sotheby's is part of the collection by Nicholas Muray up for auction. (Photo: AP) Muray met Kahlo and Rivera through Covarrubias, whom he befriended while working for Vanity Fair, where Covarrubias served as a cartoonist. They later introduced him to other prominent figures of the arts. There are at least 20 photographs of Kahlo, Rivera or both of them together. Pflieger noted that the collection doesnt necessarily show the progression of the relationship between Frida and Nickolas, but it does show this incredibly wide range of people that were involved in their circle. Portraits of composer Carlos Chavez, muralist Roberto Montenegro and actress Margo Albert are some examples. Many photos of Kahlo shot by Muray have become iconic, like one from 1939 in which the painter appears with her hair braided through with purple yarn and wrapped around her head in a sort of crown while a deep magenta shawl drapes her shoulders. Some are currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum, as part of Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving. But Pflieger said the ones in the sale are much more intimate. The collection is currently on display at the auction house in New York or also on Sothebys official website. People look on from the Mexican side (L) as US Border Patrol agents on the other side of the US border wall in San Diego prepare for the arrival of hundreds of pro-migration protestors, seen from Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo: AP) Washington: The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday asked a judge in California to block the Trump administration from building a border wall, using funds obtained through his national emergency declaration. The court papers say President Donald Trump has overstepped his executive powers by diverting funds from the Department of Defense for a border wall. The threat is pressing because efforts by Congress to stop him have failed and building plans are starting to come into focus. Lawyers asked for a hearing as soon as possible. Trump has said he will shift USD 3.6 billion from military construction to erecting border barriers and plans are taking shape. Congress has voted to provide less than USD 1.4 billion for border barriers, leaving Democrats and some Republicans fuming that Trump is abusing his powers by ignoring Congress constitutional control over spending. New sections of wall using the funding will be built in Arizona and New Mexico, areas not covered by Congress allocation. Now that the President has started raiding military funds and vetoed Congresss rejection of his emergency, its urgent that the court stop his unconstitutional power grab, ACLU attorney Dror Ladin said in a statement. Congress had approved a resolution annulling the national emergency that Trump declared at the US-Mexico border in February. That included passage by the Republican-led Senate, in which 12 GOP senators, nearly 1 of every 4, joined Democrats in blocking him. Trump vetoed that measure almost immediately. But then the Democratic-led House failed to override the veto. The request to block the construction Thursday was part of a legal challenge filed in February on behalf of the Southern Border Communities Coalition and the Sierra Club environmental group, a day after Trumps declaration. In addition, a group of 16 states, including California, New York and Colorado, have also filed against the emergency declaration on similar grounds. Trump has dismissed all legal action as an effort to stall important priorities through activist left-leaning judges who lack border experience. Separately, US Customs and Border Protection said it was about to begin construction as early as Thursday on approximately 13 miles of levee construction in the Rio Grande Valley using funds that were allocated in 2018. Right now there is about 654 miles of barrier built along the 1,954-mile border with Mexico. The majority was constructed under George W Bushs administration. Some families have taken matters into their own hands, reconstructing the dilapidated manors and reinventing them as hotels and guesthouses. (Photo: AFP) Rajasthan: The resplendent mansions of Bikaner once hosted royalty and wealthy merchants passing through India's deserts with their caravans, but centuries later these bygone architectural masterpieces are crumbling. Made from distinctive red sandstone, these once grand residences known as 'havelis' were famed for their vivid facades engraved with intricate patterns. First built in the 15th century by Bikaner's bygone aristocracy, many boasted multiple levels, large balconies, and grand rooms built around a central courtyard, enclosed to escape the summer heat. But after decades of neglect, a large number lie in ruins. "Many havelis have vanished in front of our eyes," said Gopal Singh, who runs heritage walks in the old quarter of Bikaner, adding that in its heyday, the city had more than 1000 such residences. "What exists is unique. Not just for its intricate architecture but just because of the overall concentration in one single place," he explained. Such decay is not confined to Bikaner, with historic residences falling apart in other major Indian cities where the old quarters have been felled by rapid urban development. In India's only UNESCO heritage listed city, Ahmedabad, efforts have been made to preserve the clusters of settlements identified as having huge historic value. But there has been little cash or interest in saving the havelis of Bikaner, a once fabled desert outpost where the sands of Rajasthan skirt the city's ramparts. Some 500 kilometres (310 miles) southwest of New Delhi, today it struggles to attract tourist interest and seems largely untouched by India's recent economic success. "It has been a long struggle for us to get the public and government's attention to the havelis of Bikaner," said Singh. A lack of concern about proper preservation has been compounded by overcrowding, poor city planning, as well as inadequate drainage and waste disposal. Some families have taken matters into their own hands, reconstructing the dilapidated manors and reinventing them as hotels and guesthouses. "We decided to open this so that others too can experience living in a haveli, and it becomes more manageable for us to maintain this huge property," said Manisha Maloo, whose family manages a popular homestay in the old city. A few families still reside in their ancestral estates and invite tourists in so the can learn about the heritage and history of the properties and the area. "They come here and are so amazed and excited at the unique colours, heritage and design of our home," said Rachna Mohta, who greets visitors on walking tours in Bikaner to her palatial 150-year-old haveli home. "It makes me feel proud," she confessed. But maintaining the huge, creaking homes saps money and energy. Many buildings have collapsed from years of neglect; others hang on by a thread. "We opened our haveli for tourists as a way to better protect our heritage, and to let people live our ancestors' experience," Sunil Rampuria, whose family owns Bhanwar Niwas, one of the region's grandest and earliest havelis converted into a hotel, told AFP. Singh warned that if action is not taken now to preserve and protect the houses, there will be nothing for future generations to see. He warned: "If things don't change quickly, we may not have any of these havelis in two decades." Cameroon Ranked 6th Consumers of Champagne in Africa Archives A recent report published by well-known champagne website called Inter professional Committee of Wine and Champagne, reports that about 156,212 bottles of champagne worth seven billion FCFA were consumed in Cameroon in 2018. According to statistics elaborated by the report, Cameroon has experienced a drop by 13,828 bottles of champagne as compared to 2017 consumption. These figures, put Cameroon, amongst highest consumers of champagne in Africa, putting them at the 6th position in Africa, and 51st in the world It should be recalled that in 2016, Cameroon still came 6th in Africa after consuming 154,813 bottles of champagne. Comparing 2016s figures to that of 2018, it shows that Cameroon experienced an increase of 1,399 bottles but still maintained the 6th position. African countries South Africa, Nigeria and Ivory Coast occupied top positions. As for the world, the report clearly stated that the United Kingdom is top with 26,762,068 bottles consumed, followed by the United States and Japan with 26,762,068 and 13,588,106 bottles of champagne consumed respectively. Cameroonians continue to be quoted worldwide as key consumers of alcohol, which justifies the statistics published by the Inter Professional Committee of Wine and Champagne. According to a 2017 alcohol consumption study published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cameroon emerged 12th out of 49 African countries following an average consumption of 9.01 pure alcohol(by year and by inhabitant aged over 15 years). Despite this, many argue that institutions such as churches consume nonalcoholic champagne, in most of their occasions. Therefore in as much as champagne containing alcohol is consumed, a greater proportion of nonalcoholic champagne is being consumed in Cameroon. The study from the Inter Professional Committee of Wine and Champagne, could there be considered relevant. Anil Kumar, 61, had come to Starbucks cafe for a meeting with his clients. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: A businessman was arrested on Thursday after his pistol went off at a coffee shop in Connaught Place, creating panic, police said. Anil Kumar, 61, had come to Starbucks cafe for a meeting with his clients. When he stood up to leave the coffee shop, his pistol fell on the floor which accidentally triggered it, they said. The incident was reported to the police around 1 pm, they said. No one was injured, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma said. One revolver and 5 live rounds and one empty cartridge were found on the spot, the officer said. The DCP said the license of the pistol had expired on October 26, 2018. A case was registered and Kumar arrested, the DCP said, adding Kumar owns a factory that makes metallic wire in Ghaziabad's Loni area, police said. "All customers and partners (employees) are safe and all necessary measures were taken to ensure their safety, which is our highest priority," a Tata Starbucks spokesperson said. Chennai: A 32-year-old man, who allegedly murdered his friend in a drunken brawl and shared the photograph of the dead body on a WhatsApp group, was arrested by the city police from his hideout in Puducherry on Friday. The residents of the Army quarters in Nadambakkam on Thursday night messaged the police on Whatsapp about their suspicion that a man could be have been murdered and buried inside the bushy empty land in their locality. The police reached the spot and in the presence of the Tahsildar, dug out the body of the man. He was later identified as Subesh(37), a resident of Nandambakkam and a history-sheeter with a murder case and many burglary cases against him. Quoting the residents, the police officer said that although mostly only youngsters would frequent the empty land to smoke marijuana and consume alcohol, on Wednesday night, a few men with shovels were seen entering the bushes. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Subesh, along with five other friends, had gone to drink alcohol inside the bushes and resolve some internal disagreements. "While drinking, his friends Anandan and Karthik attacked Subesh on his head with the beer bottles and murdered him. Anandan happened to take a picture of the dead body and later shared it on a Whatsapp Group," said the police officer. The Nandambakkam police then initiated a search for the accused and nabbed Anandan(32), an electrician from Puducherry, and detained him. "We are actively searching for Karthik and the rest. Anandan will be remanded in Judicial custody on Saturday," the police officer said. BJP chief Amit Shah holds a sword after being felicitated by party leaders during an election rally at Changlang districts Bordumsa, Arunachal Pradesh, on Friday. (PTI) Imphal (Manipur): BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said that Narendra Modi has made the country more secure by becoming the first Prime Minister to destroy terrorist camps across the borders. He spoke highly about airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan following the Pulwama incident in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Such retaliation made the country third in the world after the US and Israel to avenge any loss of its soldier's lives, Mr Shah said while addressing a public rally at Wangjing locality, as part of an election campaign for BJP's Outer Manipur candidate Benjamin Mate. Making a fulsome praise of five years of Modi government, the BJP chief remarked that from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and from Gujarat to Assam there are echoes of Modi's name which meant that the people are with him. Hitting out at the Congress, Shah said the price of essential items had sky-rocketed under the Congress rule, owing to incessant bandhs and strikes, but the incumbent government has made the state blockade-free. Heaping praise on the BJP-led government in Manipur for its development work, Shah said Chief Minister Biren Singh can be termed a true chowkidaar (watchman) as he has served in the Border Security Force. Mr Shah highlighted various changes brought by N. Biren Singhs government in the last two years. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Jaipur: In an effort to target the influential Rajput community in Rajasthan, the BJP is eyeing to field Jaipur princess Diya Kumari in the forthcoming general elections. A former state legislator, Kumari, is likely to debut on the national stage in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It is learnt that Kumari is the frontrunner from Rajsamand Lok Sabha constituency. The party is considering her for the Lok Sabha, sources said. Kumari did not contest the recent Rajasthan assembly election in which the party fared badly and lost the state to Congress. Diya Kumari was earlier the BJP's Sawai Madhopur legialator and had vacated her seat in the 2018 Assembly polls for another BJP candidate Asha Devi. It is learnt that Kumari and her mother Padmini Devi had earlier also held a one-on-one meeting with party chief Amit Shah at their residence in Jaipur which has further fuelled the talks of her being fielded as a probable Lok Sabha candidate Sources stated that Diya Kumari has been stealthily put to use by the BJP to repair its frayed relationship with the states powerful Rajputs. BJP voters by tradition, Rajasthans Rajputs have reportedly been miffed with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje over a host of issues, beginning with the denial of candidature to former union minister Jaswant Singh in 2014. Deploying Kumari to soothe the Rajputs was a last-minute strategy devised by the BJP, sources said. The former royal has reportedly been speaking to influential community leaders of the state to secure their support for the BJP. The community is said to be the most powerful in Rajasthan despite comprising less than 10 per cent of its population, on account of its vast land and commercial interests. It has the power to influence the voting outcome. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. The Perunagar police registered a case and have begun inquiries. It is unclear if the unit's owners have the details of the victims or their families in Uttar Pradesh. Chennai: An iron ore boiler in a smelting unit at Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram burst injuring eight employees of the unit. While three of them died in hospital, one was rushed to a government hospital in Chennai with over 90 per cent burns, and four others were in the Intensive care unit of a private hospital here. According to sources, the smelting unit employed nearly 300 people in two shifts. The unit picked up scrap iron and smelted them into new blocks for industrial units in the area. As the burner needs to stay at a high temperature and it takes longer to get the temperature to, it is rarely allowed to cool down. Sources say that though the employees were all working with melted metal ore, they do not regularly wear the prescribed safety gear. The workers were mostly migrant workers from other states, and it is unclear if the unit had registered their details with the labour department. Four of the injured, who reportedly were brought to the medical college with over 90 per cent burns, were immediately referred to the Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai. While Abilesh (34), Surendhar (24) and Sarchu (28) died early on Friday morning without responding to the treatments, Dinesh (28) is still in the ICU at KMC with over 92 per cent burns. The other four, though not fatally injured, were admitted to the private medical college hospital. The Perunagar police registered a case and have begun inquiries. It is unclear if the unit's owners have the details of the victims or their families in Uttar Pradesh. One of the largest luxury cruise liner Costa Venezia docked at Ernakulam wharf on Friday. (Photo: VINOD KARIMATT) Kochi: Three years after starting international cruise operations from the country, Italy-based Costa Cruises is all set to tap growing South Indian market, mainly Kochi. Costa Cruises has seen immense growth in Indian passenger numbers coming from South India which include the key cities, and also some remote areas of Kerala, said Nalini Gupta, Managing Director, Lotus Destinations, Representative of Costa Cruises in India. Cruising is an innovative way to increase the number of tourists in Kochi. This has been made possible with the support of the Cochin Port Trust and Key officials from the ministry.., she said. Two luxury cruise liners of the company Costa Luminosa and Costa Venezia on Friday simultaneously docked in Cochin Port, the first time ever that two ships of the same cruise company docked at the same port on the same day. While Costa Luminosa, on a 109 nights world cruise itinerary, carris 2,000 tourists, Costa Venezia has 2,670 tourists on board. This is one of the major arrivals in this years tourist season which is drawing to a close in a few weeks time. The Indian cruise market is growing at a rapid pace now. Well be bringing more ships to Kochi. Weve plans to roll out a cruise liner specifically designed and build for the India market in future, said Tihomir Muzic, Captain of Costa Venezia, the cruise liner aimed at China and South East Asia market. The ship will be embarking 100 Indian passengers on an eight nights itinerary from Kochi to Singapore via Colombo, Langkawi and Port Klang. Earlier, the companys Costa neoRiviera was homeported in Kochi from December to March 2019, catering to 7,000 Indian guests in the three-night Kochi-Maldives itinerary. Taking into consideration the growing demand from Indian guests, Costa neoRiviera will be replaced by a larger vessel Costa Victoria next November. The latter will have a guest capacity of 2,300 as against 1,500 of neoRiviera. Costa Victoria, which has 14 decks, three swimming pools, ten bars, five restaurants, a sprawling Casino, a theatre, a disco and a Ballroom, will make its inaugural call in Kochi on November 13, Gupta said. The starting price for the 3 Nights Kochi to Maldives will be Rs 26, 800 per person (all inclusive for Inside Cabin excluding 5% GST). Residents of the new colonies in Rajendranagar protest against scarcity of water. Hyderabad: Residents of new colonies in Rajendranagar have decided to highlight the problem of water scarcity by declaring a boycott of the April 11 Lok Sabha elections. New colonies like Khizra Enclave, Kohinoor Colony, Happy Homes, Pasha Colony, Bayoot Colony, Classic Enclave, Saba Colony, Sultan Colony and Dollar Hills have come up over the last two decades. The residents are facing a water problem as there is no pipeline supply. They are dependent on groundwater and private water tankers. Dr Mohammed Ali, president of the Khizra Enclave Welfare Association, said politicians of every party had approached them during the previous elections and promised to provide drinking water facilities but no one came forward to solve the problem. We purchase water from private suppliers but in the summer they are not in a position to cater to our requirements as many borewells dry up. Almost 12,000 voters stay in the surrounding colonies and public representatives are neglecting their problem, Dr Ali said. We are not demanding that the pipelines be laid right now but we are requesting the authorities to provide us water through tankers for which we are ready to pay, he said. Dr Ali said the residents had held a demonstration with empty cans to sensitise the officials. We have decided to keep away from polling until the problem solved. We are not allowing vote-seekers into our enclave. Residents of many surrounding colonies have decided to refrain from voting, he said. Mr P. Kalyan, general secretary of the association, said, Public representatives are not showing interest in solve our problems. They express concern during the elections but forget us afterwards. According to sources, the traced websites and groups linked to Darknet contained the pictures of children from Kerala too. Kochi: The state police with the help of Interpol and other agencies have traced the encrypted messaging groups and websites working in hidden networks of Darknet to crack down on child pornography. The pornographic pictures and videos were showcased in the hidden sites linked with Darknet for sale to paedophiles and others to make money. Meanwhile, Operation P-Hunt, the ongoing cyber infiltration operation carried out by the Kerala police, continues with the arrest of 21 persons from different parts of the state last week. According to sources, the traced websites and groups linked to Darknet contained the pictures of children from Kerala too. We suspect the pictures of children aged 5 or 6, mostly taken from the states villages, are being circulated in the groups and showcased on the websites as a business, a source said. According to ADGP Manoj Abraham, who is also the nodal officer of Kerala Police Cyber-dome, the suspects sell the pictures and videos in foreign countries through the hidden networks. Paedophilia is a major offence in countries like China, Japan, Europe, and... videos related to child sex are also banned there. Hence, there is a huge demand for such contents among the paedophiles and those who are addicted to thom. They buy or download them using bitcoins through this network, Mr. Abraham said. In Operation P-Hunt, the Cyberdome used a special software provided by the Interpol to trace out the accused and the contents they share across the internet. As the contents are available in India through regular networks, these businesses are not going deep in India. Besides, the less usage of cryptocurrencies in India is also another reason for it, officials said. The culprits in child sex abuse cases in those countries are monitored by the police even after their prison term by tagging an RFID (radio frequency identification) ring on the leg that enables the polkice to locate them anywhere, anticipating the chances of committing such crimes again," the officials said. Kadapa: With less than a week to go for the elections, 40 policemen searched the houses of the Telugu Desam MP Mr C.M. Ramesh and his neighbours. This marks yet another action against a Telugu Desam leader in the run-up to the elections. Later, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu sat on a dharna to protest income-tax raids on party leaders. Mild tension built up in Potladurthi village where Mr Rameshs house is located when the MP objected to the search and asked for a warrant. The Yerraguntla urban inspector Mr B. V. Ramana, who was heading the team, replied that they were on election duty and did not need a warrant. Mr Ramesh immediately called the superintendent of police Mr Abhishek Mohanty, who reportedly replied, Let them do their duty. Mr Ramesh then allowed the police to enter his house. Mr Mohanty recently replaced Mr Rahul Dev Sharma, whose transfer was ordered by the Election Commission. Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party released its vision document on Friday, promising constitution of the Ahir (Yadav) regiment and calling for mahaparivartan (grand change). Releasing the 16-page document, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the future of the country should be better for all sections, including farmers and Muslims. It is our vision document for party leaders and workers, and will be utilised for answering the BJP, he said at the party headquarters here. The vision document, carrying the photographs of Akhilesh Yadav, his father and SP patron, Mulayam Singh Yadav, read: Samajik nyay se mahaparivartan: Ek nayi disha, ek nayi ummeed (grand change through social justice: One new direction, one new hope). The SP, which has formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the Army as a political tool. It added that fake nationalism of the BJP was a threat to the country and promised to ban the use of Army and soldiers for political gains. Ahir (Yadav) armoured and Gujarat infantry regiments will be formed and equal status and honour will be given to the security forces, be it the BSF or the CRPF, the document read. It promised to empower forces fighting Naxalism. The document also talked of modernising weapons, start metadata intelligence and review the Kashmir policy of the BJP government, due to which it alleged that feeling of separatism was gaining. The party promised 100 per cent loan waiver for farmers, equal status and opportunities to women and monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to needy women. It talked of free and quality education, one lakh jobs per year, doubling of human resource in government departments in a phased manner, besides laptops and tablets to students. Mimi Memo sort de prison Facebook Winner of the 2019 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Journalism Award, Mimi Mefo is one of less than a handful of journalists working without fear or favour in Cameroons climate of repression and self-censorship. Mimi Mefo is one of less than a handful of journalists working without fear or favour in Cameroons climate of repression and self-censorship. An award-winning broadcast journalist at private media house Equinoxe TV and Radio, Mefo is courageous in her commitment to the truth, journalistic integrity and freedom of expression. Through broadcast reports, social media and a newly founded website, Mefo informs Cameroonians about the escalating violence in the countrys western regions, in a conflict that has become known as the Anglophone Crisis. The conflict has caused hundreds of deaths, including civilians, and has exacerbated the already critical condition of media freedom. The Cameroonian government has long been a direct threat to the press and has recently intimidated and arrested journalists accusing them of supporting terrorists. Between January 2017 and November 2018, at least 15 journalists were detained. Four are still behind bars. At the same time, the separatist movement has also grown increasingly intolerant to critical media, and journalists like Mefo have been caught in a double-barrelled threat. Mefo has herself been followed home by mysterious cars and faced intimidation, online harassment and imprisonment. Her job might be under threat, too, as her employer is coming under growing government pressure because of her defiant line. Equinoxe has already been temporarily forced off the air by Cameroonian police in the past, and now faces new threats of sanctions for Mefos coverage of the crisis. Her boss has been questioned by government officials, who complained about her reporting and told him she needs to be reined in. Mefo has denounced the harassment of other Cameroonian journalists and used her digital media to inform the public about the abuses and amplify campaigns calling for the release of those jailed. Her impact has been tangible: one of her tweets denouncing the poor health of journalist Thomas Awah Junior in prison was shared widely, and only then was he allowed to receive treatment. She was also behind the social media campaign that led to the release of Josiane Kouagheu and Mathias Mouende Ngamo hours after they were arrested on 21 and 27 October. In September 2018 she founded her own website, Mimi Mefo Info, where she publishes updates from her reporting on the ground. After she published reports concerning an American missionary, she was arrested on 7 November on charges of publishing and propagating information that infringes on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cameroon. A social media campaign and pressure from Equinoxe and international organisations were able to secure her release on 10 November. Mefo resumed reporting immediately. Mimi Mefo dedicates her award to all those fighting for a free press in Cameroon and beyind. So this award is not just for me, but also for others who continue to stand up for press freedom. It is a reminder that I must continue to work with objectivity and balance and continue to be a voice for the voiceless. It will also give me more power to advocate for press freedom and for the release of my colleagues in jail. Who is Mimi Mefo Mimi Mefo Takambou hails from the conflict-hit North West region, and from the French-speaking West region of Cameroon. She became one of the most persecuted journalists in Cameroon due to my constant reporting on the civil war that has ripped the English-speaking community apart. The anti-terror and cybercrime laws have been used to intimidate, threaten, and silence the media. I stopped publishing information on Facebook and my website for several months because of constant threats and intimidation. But I continue to report, she says. She adds that: Since 2017, at least 20 journalists have been arrested and jailed in Cameroon for doing their jobs. I call on the government to drop all charges against them. One of the most challenging moments of my career was in November 2018 when I was arrested, handcuffed and imprisoned for reporting the killing of an American missionary. I was released four days later following unprecedented national and international mobilization. As we speak, the crisis in Cameroon remains highly under-reported: journalists are not guaranteed safety when travelling to conduct investigations, and access to information is a major problem. A government which imprisons a journalist is weak, scared of being exposed. But the response from other journalists when I was arrested tells me that others are still prepared to speak out. The reputed American magazine Foreign Policy in a story had said that Indias claim that one of its fighter pilots shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in an aerial battle between the two nuclear powers in February appears to be wrong. (Representational Image) New Delhi: Rubbishing claims made by an American magazine, Indian Air Force on Friday brought its high ranking official Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor, assistant chief of air staff (operations) to assert that Indias MiG 21 Bison did shoot down a Pakistani F-16 on February 27. According to sources, India has Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) images which shows one F16 near MiG 21 suddenly disappearing from screen, radio transmissions, missing call signal of one of the F16s, sightings by army personnels on ground of two parachutes and initial statement by Pakistan itself to prove that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down an F16. During the aerial engagement, one MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down one F-16 in Nowshera sector, said the Air Vice Marshal. He said Indian forces have confirmed sighting ejection at two different places on that day. He said that two sightings were at places separated by atleast 8-10 kilometres. One was an IAF MiG 21 Bison (flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman) and the other a Pakistan Air Force aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate that the PAF aircraft was a F-16, said Air Vice Marshal Kapoor. The reputed American magazine Foreign Policy in a story had said that Indias claim that one of its fighter pilots shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in an aerial battle between the two nuclear powers in February appears to be wrong. The magazine, citing two unnamed United States defence officials, had claimed that US personnel recently counted Islamabads F-16s and found none missing. The dogfight between IAF and PAF fighter planes happened on February 27, when a group of Pakistani jets entered Indias airspace after Indian air strike on Jaish terror camp at Balakot. Air Vice Marshal Kapoor said that a large force of PAF F-16s, JF 17s and Mirage aircraft were picked up by India Air Force radars on that day. "They were intercepted by IAF's Su30-MKI, Mirage 2000 and MiG-21 Bison fighter guided by ground radars and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). All attempts of PAF to attack any targets were thwarted by the IAF," he added. The AWACS pictures with IAF show that MiG 21 Bison flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and F-16 were near to each other, said sources. "Then there is another picture after few seconds where the F-16 is missing from the display and there is only MiG 21 left," said sources. Through technical analysis, IAF officials are able to identify the type of planes which are being picked up by AWACs. Sources said that the place where Abhi and PAK fighter planes were involved in dog fight only F16's were present. Sources said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman locked and fired a missile at one of "The monitoring of radio transmission of the F16 reveal that call sign of one of their aircraft was missing," said sources. Government also has media interview of an old tribal from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir who claims that they had captured three pilots. Indian security forces also has intercepted transmission between Pak security personnels which shows that two planes were hit. "One was our MiG. Which was the another one. It was Pakistan's F16," said sources. One of the intercepted message is (In Urdu) says "enemy ka jo tabah huwa parinda wala pakad ke hum apni unit me laye abhi. Dusra bhi 658 (Pak Army unit) waalon ne unko pakad liya. over" (Fighter from enemy's destroyed bird has been caught and just brought in our unit. The second one has beencaught by 658 (another Pak army unit)). Another messages says "(In Urdu) Wing commander Abhinandan MiG 21 pilot, dusra zakhami CMH transfer. Dusra ek hai zakhami wo CMH me hai." (Wing commander Abhinandan MiG 21 pilot and second one injured transferred to military hospital. There is another one who is injured and has been transferred to military hospital.) Indian ground forces also sighted two parachutes coming down at Sabi Kot and Tandar following the aerial combat on February 27, said sources. New Delhi/Bhopal: Joining the list of BJP veterans who have been denied a ticket to contest the coming parliamentary elections for crossing the unofficial age bar of 75 years, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumita Mahajan on Friday dramatically announced that she will not contest the Lok Sabha poll from Indore, a seat that she has represented for eight times in a row. Apparently miffed over the party leaderships delay in announcing the candidate for Indore parliamentary seat, which she was hopeful to contest again, Ms Mahajan, 75, wrote to BJP president Amit Shah and later told reporters in Indore that she has freed the party to make its choice. I declare that I will not contest Lok Sabha elections, so party is free to decide, without any hesitation, she wrote. The sudden development has ended the month-long suspense over her re-nomination from the seat, paving the way for nomination of a fresh candidate. Ms Mahajan who turns 76 next Friday, just above the BJPs age bar of 75 for candidates, has now joined the club of party seniors who are not contesting this election L.K. Advani, 91, M.M. Joshi, 85, Karaj Mishra, 77, and B.C. Khanduri, 84. Ms Mahajan, popularly known as Tai, wrote, Till date, the BJP has not declared its candidate for the Indore seat. Why is this state of indecision? It is possible that the party is hesitating to take a decision. Even though, I held discussions with the leadership and left the decision to them, it seems they still have reservations. So, I announce not to contest the LS elections, so that the party can take a decision freely without any hesitation. There had been speculations whether the party would field someone who has crossed the 75-year age bar, so I decided to end them and free the party to make its choice,she said, adding that she would continue to work for the party and campaign for it. Incidentally, Ms Mahajan had been campaigning in Indore constituency for the past two weeks despite speculations that she would be denied a ticket on the ground of her age. Sources disclosed that Ms Mahajan had held a discussion with the party top brass a few months back over her re-nomination and had asked whether she should continue visiting her constituency or the party leadership wants to field a new candidate from there. Ms Mahajan, sources said, was told that she should continue. Also, her suggestion that her eldest son could be considered to succeed her was not met with a positive response from the party leadership and now speculation is rife that Indore mayor and BJP MLA Malini Gaur could replace her. Madhya Pradesh BJP president Rakesh Singh said a decision on party candidate for Indore seat would be taken only after consulting with Ms Mahajan. Interestingly, Ms Mahajans letter to Mr Shah came a day after party veteran L.K. Advani wrote a blog after a gap of almost five years and also after the party denied a ticket to the nonagenarian. On Friday, M.M. Joshi, another BJP veteran who has been denied a ticket this time, met Mr Advani at the latters residence. Members of the BJPs Margdarshak Mandal, both Mr Advani and Dr Joshi, had kind of revolted against the party leadership after its defeat in the Bihar Assembly polls of 2015. The duo, along with Himachal Pradesh Shanta Kumar and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, had demand. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Pakistan, however, has consistently denied the Indian Air Force's claim, saying none of its aircraft were shot down. (File Photo) Islamabad: Pakistan military Friday called on India to "speak the truth" about the "actual losses" in an aerial dogfight between the nuclear-armed neighbours, after a leading US magazine questioned India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 on February 27. Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said it was time India came clean on "false claims", including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan. "Truth always prevails. Time for India to speak truth about false claims and actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan," Ghafoor said. His remarks came after a report in US-based Foreign Policy magazine, quoting two senior American defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation, said the US personnel recently counted Pakistan's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. Also Read: US count of Pak's F-16s fighter jets found none of them missing: report "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," the report said. After the aerial confrontation, India said one of its MiG-21 fighter jets downed a Pakistani F-16 before itself being shot down on February 27. The pilot of that jet Varthaman was captured by Pakistan and handed over to India on March 1 in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. Pakistan, however, has consistently denied the Indian Air Force's claim, saying none of its aircraft were shot down during the weeks of tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries. Pakistan also claims to have shot a second Indian Air Force jet during the engagement, a claim India has dismissed. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pune: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday interacted with a group of students in Pune where he said that his courage comes from accepting who he is and subsequently working on that realisation. From truth comes humility, from humility comes courage. I dont like to make excuses and am persistent. I stand up for people who are weak, like farmers, said Rahul Gandhi. When asked about the educated youth being underemployed and underpaid, Rahul Gandhi stated the link between university education and businesses is needed. 27,000 jobs are being lost every 24 hours in India because we do not respect a persons capability, he added. The Congress chief promised to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament, Assemblies for women if his party was voted to power. The Opposition party has said if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to 20 per cent of poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people. Gandhi termed the move as 'surgical strike' on poverty. "Money won't be taken from the middle class and income tax won't be raised," Gandhi said, when asked how funds would be generated for the Nyuntam Aay Yojna (Nyay) scheme. Interacting with students here, the Congress chief said all calculations have been done to fund the scheme. He said the Congress manifesto was prepared after taking inputs from all sections of society, including farmers and the poor. Attacking the Modi-led BJP government, Rahul said demonetisation was a disastrous idea. It had a terrible effect on the economy as millions of jobs were lost and the economy was jammed shut. "We want to give access to young entrepreneurs to the banking system and loans. We will do away with permissions for three years for businesses, which is part of our manifesto. Twenty two lakh government jobs are vacant. We will increase expenditure on education and health," he added. Talking about the airstrike by the Indian Air Force (IAF), Rahul said, "IAF should get credit for the recent air strikes. I am against the politicisation of the air strikes, I feel uncomfortable when the PM politicises these issues." Rahul Gandhi pointed out that all politicians need to be asked uncomfortable questions. "We dont appreciate questions in our system. I have the guts to answer your questions even if some questions might make me uncomfortable. We have to move from memorisation-centric system to a question-centric system." While signing off from the event, Rahul said he loved Narendra Modi and had no anger or hatred towards him. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Yogi Adityanath further said that if Congress and the Muslim League win the election then the virus would spread across the nation. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that Muslim League is like a "deadly virus" and the Congress party is infested with it. He further said that if Congress and the Muslim League win the election then the virus would spread across the nation. "Muslim League is a virus. The type of virus which if somebody is infested with cannot be saved and today the principal Opposition party Congress is infested with it. Just think if they win then what will happen? The virus will spread across the nation," tweeted Adityanath. In a subsequent tweet, he said: "In the 1857 war of independence, the whole nation stood with Mangal Pandey and fought the British, then this Muslim League virus came and spread in such a manner that the nation was partitioned. Again the same fear is hovering, the green flags are again waving. The Congress is infested with Muslim League virus. Beware!" Rahul Gandhi on Thursday filed nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, a Muslim League stronghold, in Kerala. Congress is contesting 16 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala leaving four seats for its allies two for Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and one each for Kerala Congress (Mani) and Socialist Party (RSP). Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. New Delhi: The Election Commission said on Thursday the I&B Ministry will not be given any extension beyond Friday to reply to its notice seeking a report on NaMo TV, after opposition parties sought the suspension of its broadcast claiming it was launched in violation of the model code of conduct. The channel, launched nearly two weeks after the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls beginning on April 11 came into effect, carries the picture of Modi as its logo. It broadcasts election rallies, speeches of the prime minister and interviews of BJP leaders. The Congress has asked the poll watchdog to stop at the "misuse" of media and ensure a level-playing field during the seven-phase election. Other opposition parties too have criticised the BJP after the launch of the channel on March 31. The EC is expected to take a final call by Friday on whether NaMo TV violates the model code after going through the documents the ministry sends to it. "The I&B Ministry had sought time till April 5 from the EC to reply. They had said they have to obtain information from DTH platforms also," Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena told reporters here. "No extension will be given to the ministry beyond this deadline," Saxena added. The AAP had complained to the EC, saying though a party can have its own channel, can permission be granted for its launch "even after the model code of conduct is enforced". The BJP has maintained that it does not own the channel or the platforms that broadcast it. Its Twitter handle nonetheless had urged people to watch it for the prime minister's election campaign. In a memorandum, the Congress has also said that the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign of the prime minister was being broadcast "live" on DD News and its YouTube channel. The said programme was even being promoted on social media handles of the state broadcaster, the opposition party has alleged. The RJD leader emphasised that he has proof that Nitish Kumar tried his best to contact him, Lalu Yadav and even Congress to form the grand alliance. (Photo: PTI) Patna: Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday said that his father Lalu Prasad Yadav has mentioned in his upcoming autobiography "From Gopalganj to Raisina" that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made many attempts to rejoin the grand alliance within six months of reuniting with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2017. Talking to ANI here Tejashwi said, "My father in his upcoming book "Gopalganj to Raisina" has mentioned that Nitish Kumar made many attempts to get back and ally with us." The RJD leader emphasised that he has proof that Nitish Kumar tried his best to contact him, Lalu Yadav and even Congress to form the grand alliance. "We will not ally with Nitish Kumar ever," he added. On the question of his meeting with JDU vice-president Prashant Kishor, the man behind bringing RJD and JD (U) under the banner of Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in 2015, the RJD leader said, "He has not invited him, instead, he came on his own." "Everyone one knows Prashant Kishor does not meet anyone without reason," he added. Former JDU leader Sharad Yadav, who is contesting Lok Sabha Polls from Madhepura on RJD ticket also confirmed that Nitish Kumar had tried to patch up with the grand alliance. Speaking to media in Patna on Friday, Yadav said, 'It is true what Lalu Yadav has written in his book about Nitish Kumar making several attempts to join the grand alliance." Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. When at 3.40 am I was told that the operation was over and our forces had returned safely, I did not sleep, I browsed the internet to see if there was any reaction anywhere in the world, PM Narendra Modi told a television channel. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained awake till the early hours the night the Indian Air Force carried out the Balakote strikes to avenge the murder of more than 40 jawans in Pulwama terror attack. The Prime Minister told ABP News that he stayed awake on the early morning of February 25 and browsed the Net to see how the world would react after India bombed the terrorist-training camp in Balakote. When at 3.40 am I was told that the operation was over and our forces had returned safely, I did not sleep, I browsed the internet to see if there was any reaction anywhere in the world, PM Narendra Modi told the television channel. He revealed officers updated him every minute. Even if there is a major accident in India, I keep following it up. How can I sleep if I know the operation is going to happen? he said in the interview. He added that it was only around 5.30 am that a Pakistani official tweeted about the operation. After that I called all the officials concerned for a meeting, around 7 am, the PM said. On the Opposition leaders asking for proof of the Balakot strike, the Prime Minister said: The biggest proof is the tweet by the Pakistan official, we did not publicise the operation, they did. In the early hours of Feb 25, IAF struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistans Balakote in retribution of Feb 14 Pulwama terror attack. More than 40 jawans were killed in the attack in Pulwama. Soon after the strike, at 5.36 am, spokesperson of Pakistani Armed Forces Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted about the operation. The problem is that Pakistan cannot complain about Balakot operation beyond a point, because they will then have to admit that IAF struck a terrorist camp, PM Modi added. On being asked on the future of India, Pakistan diplomatic relations, PM Modi said: For that, they will have to stop exporting terror. Giving a case of Indias relations with China, the PM said that we had differences and disputes with them as well. However, we talk about bilateral issues, do business. The Congress on Thursday hit out at Union Minister Smriti Irani for her attack on Rahul Gandhi, saying she was mostly angry and trying to copy actor Amitabh Bachchan but ends up being a villain as she gears up to face another defeat in Amethi. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday hit out at Union Minister Smriti Irani for her attack on Rahul Gandhi, saying she was mostly angry and trying to copy actor Amitabh Bachchan but ends up being a villain as she gears up to face another defeat in Amethi. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the people of Amethi will ensure her "decisive defeat" and will show her what "temperate behaviour is and what respect for the opponent is". "I can understand the scepticism and also the constant fear that prevails in the mind of Smriti Irani ji. She is mostly angry, trying to copy Amitabh Bachchan but she always ends up being the villain in the story. She is getting ready for her third successive defeat," he said. "We will defeat her with the blessings of the people of Amethi, but we will always respect her as an opponent," Surjewala said. The Congress leader also took a swipe at her saying despite her third defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give her a Rajya Sabha seat and she should not be worried, "for she has never won even a panchayat election in her whole life". On her first visit to Amethi, Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency, after the Lok Sabha elections were announced, Irani attacked the Congress president, saying his decision to contest from Wayanad in Kerala was an ''insult'' to Amethi. The 48-year-old Congress chief is contesting from Kerala in addition to his traditional stronghold Amethi, where he is pitted against the Union textile minister. Terming herself ''didi'' (elder sister), Irani told a gathering in Parsadepur in Amethi, "This is a coincidence, a sign from God that ''didi'' arrived and the missing MP reached Kerala. I have come to seek (people's) blessings and he rejected the blessings." Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Dhubri: Addressing a rally in Dhubri on Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill are two lollipops being doled out by PM Modi to fool people of Assam. TMC has stood beside all 40 lakh people Hindu or Muslim whose names have been left out of NRC, said the party chief Mamata Banerjee. "It was not only Muslims, but the names of 22 lakh Hindus and also Gorkhas, Biharis, Tamils and people from Kerala and Rajasthan have been left out from the NRC. We are fighting to get all of their names included," she said. "Within two days after the NRC list was announced, I sent a team of my party to Assam. We were not allowed to go out of the airport and harassed," she said. Claiming the Citizenship Amendment Bill as conspiracy, Mamata Banerjee said, "In Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will be a foreigner for six years, then you will be given citizenship, why? What will you do in those six years? What about your job, school and every essential thing." Mamata did not leave any stones unturned in slamming the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign. "Five years ago PM Modi called himself 'Chaiwala' but now he has forgotten how to make tea and has become 'chowkidar'," she added. The West Bengal government was considering to take over Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's home in Kolkata and rename a road after the maestro to keep his legacy alive. "I and the people in West Bengal remember all his songs and we have offered to procure his home which is a private property", Banerjee added. The Trinamool Congress is contesting nine of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, which is set to go to polls in three phases from April 11 to May 19. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Akhilesh alleged that the Centre was deliberately hiding actual figures of socio-economic data, the growth of unemployment and farmers suicides etc. (Image: ANI) Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) on Friday released its manifesto titled 'Vote for Mahaparivartan' for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and termed it as a document of 'social struggle'. Releasing the party manifesto here, SP president and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in a press conference said: "The economic divide in the country was widening and poverty cannot be reduced if we don't fight against gender and caste inequalities." "Our manifesto talks about how to improve the primary education system and employment. We have promised to provide 1 lakh new jobs every year. We will build Samjawadi hostels in all prominent educational institutions and playground in every village," he added. Targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not working in favour of weaker sections of the society, Akhilesh said: "Under the present government, only rich people have benefited, while the poor have become poorer. Thus, development is restricted to some people. We are collecting data how many farmers have committed suicide as without statistics, we cannot achieve equality and economic prosperity for them. Businessmen have suffered due to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), public sector banks are running in losses, demonetisation had badly affected country's economy and there is no quality education for children," he added. Continuing his tirade against the Prime Minister, Akhilesh alleged that the Centre was deliberately hiding actual figures of socio-economic data, the growth of unemployment and farmers suicides etc. He demanded that the government must make the caste census public for better implementation of policies across the country. Akhilesh came out in support of a full waiver of farm loans. "90 per cent of our farmers depend upon moneylenders. Whatever farm loan waiver announcements were made in the past, it was difficult for the farmers to meet the eligibility criteria. Thus, they do not benefit from it," he said. Asserting on the need of strengthening the national security of the country, Akhilesh said: "It is our vision that we will build an 'Ahir Armoured Regiment' and a 'Gujarat Infantry Regiment'. Akhilesh also announced Socialist Pension Scheme, which aims to provide a dole of Rs 3,000 per month to women from needy families. The SPs vision document speaks for women empowerment, green energy, the unity of backwards, Dalits and minorities. It is worth mentioning that SP-BSP and RLD have forged an alliance in Uttar Pradesh to take on the BJP in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in the state. As per the seat-sharing agreement, the SP is contesting 37 seats and BSP 38. Three seats have been given to the RLD -- Mathura, Muzaffarpur, and Baghpat. The Lok Sabha elections have been scheduled to start from April 11 and will go on till May 19 in seven phases. The polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in all seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo: File) New Delhi: A day after ED filed a supplementary chargesheet against Christian Michel in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam, the alleged middleman moved a Delhi court on Friday claiming that he has not named anybody before the probe agency. He also alleged that the central government was using agencies for political agenda. The accuser's counsel claimed that the copy of the chargesheet was provided to the media before it was provided to Michel. Advocate Aljo K Joseph, who has filed plea on Michel's behalf, claimed that "he (Michel) never named anyone". In his plea, Michel has questioned how the charge sheet was leaked to the media even before its cognisance was taken by the court. The matter will come up for hearing on April 6. Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court in New Delhi on Thursday. The agency, in its supplementary chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. The chargesheet said according to the "budget sheet, 30 million euros were paid to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians" to swing the deal in the favour of AgustaWestland for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country. "Christian Michel James has further disclosed various abbreviations used in the budget sheet, which contains the details of the payments made to Air Force officials, bureaucrats and political persons. The recipients of the kickback include several categories of persons namely Air Force officials, bureaucrats including defence ministry officials and top political leaders of the then ruling party. As per Christian Michel James, ''AP'' means Ahmed Patel and ''Fam'' means Family," the ED said. At another place in the chargesheet, Michel said, "I cannot say what Haschke was thinking. As a guess, I would think he was talking about Ahmed Patel." Regarding "Fam", he said it "could mean family". While the identity of the said Ahmed Patel is not clear, it is understood that it refers to the senior Congress leader. The veteran leader has not been named in the PMLA FIR of the case. In the same chargesheet, Rajiv Saxena, another accused arrested in the case, has been quoted by the ED as saying that "AP" was a "reference" to Ahmed Patel. Patel in the past has denied any wrongdoing in the case. The ED said the kickback paid by the Anglo-Italian firm in the case was "at least about 12 per cent of the contract amount" and around 70 million euros were paid through the two middlemen involved in the case Michel and Guido Haschke. It added that this was an "undisputed fact" that the two middlemen had received kickbacks worth 70 million euros. The agency said this fact could be corroborated with the receipt of kickbacks in the bank accounts of companies "controlled and beneficially owned" by Michel and Haschke. It said the company "enlisted" the two as agents for the VVIP choppers deal in India as it wanted to promote its product and ensure that it became a frontrunner to bag the deal. The central probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary chargesheet with 52 main pages, also named David Syms, Michel's alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE as accused. In its first chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, the ED had alleged that he and others had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he would decide on whether to take cognisance of the ED's supplementary chargesheet and summon the accused on April 6. Visakhapatnam: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan fell on the stage in Vizianaga-ram after a fan tugged at his feet to take his blessings on Friday. With fans milling around, people wanted to touch Mr Kalyan. Soon after he took the stage, a boy standing behind Mr Kalyan crossed the security cordon and fell at his feet. Mr Kalyan tripped and tried to take the support of the microphone stand. It broke, and Mr Kalyan fell down. Security personnel immediately dragged the boy away from Mr Kalyan and thrashed him. The JS leader continued the programme after the boy was taken away. Later when the boy was being handed over to police, Mr Kalyan asked them to leave him alone. Later, Mr Kalyan travelled to Vijayawada, where he was admitted to Aayush Hospital for treatment. After performing primary medical tests, toctors suggested that he take two days of rest. Following this, his public meetings and road shows in Sattenapalli and Tenali were cancelled. This left the party with no star campaigner. Former Assembly Speaker and senior party leader Nadendla Manohar said Mr Kalyan did not have lunch before the public meeting at Vizianagaram and he was weak due to the high temperature. He said he fell ill in Vijayawada due to dehydration when he was readying to fly to Tenali in a helicopter at Gannavaram. He asked fans not to worry about Mr Kalyan's health as he was responding well to treatment. Visakhapatnam: AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed anger over the Election Commissions transferring Mr A.C. Punetha as chief secretary and replacing him with Mr L.V. Subramanyam. He alleged that this was the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah conspiring against the state along with YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Speaking at a public meeting, he said, the I-T raids were blocking TD leaders from spending money for the campaign. Im ready to go to jail, but will never bend before Narendra Modi. The Madras high court has passed an interim direction to prohibit downloading of the TikTok mobile app as it contains "degrading culture and encourages pornography, besides causing paedophiles and explicit disturbing content, social stigma and medical heath issue between teens (sic)". The fact that the app, that has apparently been downloaded several hundred million times and at least by 50 million Indian users, is freely available for download on the PlayStore and other app stores, shows bans rarely work. Online bans even on porn sites are often beaten by websites that change names present the same content without major disruption to their Internet presence, policing which is hard for authorities in democracies with no pre-censorship, nor can users be hit with stiff penalties as in totalitarian countries. The arrests of young people in Gujarat for ignoring the PUBG Mobile ban reflects the social cost of punitive measures. The premise that TikTok, a gaming app that lets users share their creativity in making short videos, memes, lip-synced songs and comedy clips, can be used to share pornographic images is a fallacy as such images, text and graphics can be shared with anyone on their contact list on any app. It's a different matter that Internet addiction and cyber games is harmful to the development of India's youth. Cyber addiction can be tackled only by adult supervision of youngsters' online activity, and guidance from schools. Regular advisories to schoolchildren and parents about the dangers of open Internet interaction that may prove addictive may be more useful than blanket bans. The courts may be well-meaning, but they need to be in touch with reality. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has severed ties with Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp as US authorities investigate the Chinese firms for alleged sanctions violations, the school said on Wednesday. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has severed ties with Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp as US authorities investigate the Chinese firms for alleged sanctions violations, the school said on Wednesday. MIT is the latest top educational institution to unplug telecom equipment made by Huawei and other Chinese companies to avoid losing federal funding. "MIT is not accepting new engagements or renewing existing ones with Huawei and ZTE or their respective subsidiaries due to federal investigations regarding violations of sanction restrictions," Maria Zuber, its vice president for research, said bit.ly/2K528XI in a letter on its website. Collaborations with China, Russia and Saudi Arabia would face additional administrative review procedures, Zuber added. The institute will revisit collaborations with these entities as circumstances dictate, she said. Britains Oxford University stopped accepting funding from Huawei this year. Were disappointed by MITs decision, but we understand the pressure theyre under at the moment, Huawei said on Thursday. The company denies the allegations of the US government. We trust the US judicial system will ultimately reach the right conclusion, Huawei said. ZTE did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Representatives for Zuber and Richard Lester, an associate provost at MIT who also signed the letter, referred questions about details such as how much research was likely to be affected to MIT spokespeople, who did not immediately respond. In a letter to MIT faculty at the start of the current school year, Lester wrote that in cases where US and Chinese interests are in direct conflict, MIT would prioritize its home country. Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer and daughter of its founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested in Canada in December at the request of the United States on charges of bank and wire fraud in violation of US sanctions against Iran. She denies wrongdoing. US sanctions forced ZTE to stop most business between April and July last year after Commerce Department officials said it broke a pact and was caught illegally shipping US-origin goods to Iran and North Korea. The sanctions were lifted after ZTE paid $1.4 billion in penalties. In Beijing, the Foreign Ministry referred questions to the two companies, but said Chinese firms were required to abide by local laws. At the same time, we ask that governments in countries where they are based provide a just, fair, and nondiscriminatory environment, its spokesman, Geng Shuang, told a news briefing on Thursday. Chinese telecoms equipment makers have also been facing mounting scrutiny, led by the United States, amid worries Beijing could use their equipment for spying. The companies, however, have said the concerns are unfounded. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. US District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan gave Musk and the SEC two weeks to work out their differences before she rules. Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk is a prolific user of Twitter, and a federal judge on Thursday urged him to settle contempt allegations brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission over one of his tweets. The SEC accused Musk of violating his Oct. 2018 fraud settlement with the regulator by posting an Feb. 19 update about Teslas production outlook without first getting required approval from lawyers for the electric car maker. Musk countered that the tweet contained nothing new and did not need advance approval. US District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan gave Musk and the SEC two weeks to work out their differences before she rules. The following is a sampling of some of Musks more notable posts on Twitter, where he has more than 25.6 million followers. Tesla made 0 cars in 2011, but will make around 500k in 2019. Feb. 19, 2019. The tweet that prompted the SEC contempt motion. Musk has said the tweet merely restated outlook he provided on a Jan. 30, 2019 conference call, when he said production may be on the order of 350,000 to 500,000 Model 3s, something like that this year. Just want to that the Shortseller Enrichment Commission is doing incredible work. And the name change is so on point! Oct. 4, 2018. Musk was attacking both the SEC and short-sellers by renaming the regulator just one week after being sued over the funding secured tweet. Twelve days after this tweet, he and Tesla reached their settlement with the SEC. Am considering taking Tesla private at USD 420. Funding secured. Aug. 7, 2018. The tweet that prompted the SEC lawsuit. Musk was not close to taking Tesla private, and had not lined up financing. Teslas share price traded as much as 13.3 percent higher following the tweet, which occurred during market hours. Musk tweeted on Aug. 24, 2018 that Tesla would remain public. They have about three weeks before their short position explodes June 17, 2018. Musk frequently uses Twitter to attack short-sellers betting that Teslas share price will go down. He was responding to a tweet suggesting that short-sellers were freaking out about suspected problems on Teslas production line. Despite intense efforts to raise money, including a last-ditch mass sale of Easter Eggs, we are sad to report that Tesla has gone completely and totally bankrupt. So bankrupt, you cant believe it. April 1, 2018. Some investors appeared to believe it. A day after the April Fools Day prank, Teslas share price fell 5.1 percent. When the zombie apocalypse happens, youll be glad you bought a flamethrower. Works against hordes of the undead or your money back! Jan. 27, 2018. Musks Boring Co sold flamethrowers and hats to raise funds to build underground tunnels for its hyperloop transportation project. Ive talked to Mark about this. His understanding of the subject is limited. July 25, 2017. Musk was targeting Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, who had downplayed Musks warnings about the danger of artificial intelligence. A little red wine, vintage record, some Ambien ... and magic! June 6, 2017. In an interview with the New York Times in August 2018, Musk said he takes Ambien and was having problems sleeping because of stress from his job. The rumor that Im building a spaceship to get back to my home planet Mars is totally untrue March 12, 2015. Musk has said he wanted his company SpaceX to develop a rocket capable of an unpiloted trip to Mars in 2022, with a crewed flight two years later. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Samsung supplies memory chips and screens for its own smartphones and Apple Inc, and server chips for cloud companies such as Amazon. Its semiconductor business is the main profit driver. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Friday it was heading for its lowest quarterly profit in more than two years as a glut in memory chips, slowing panel sales and rising competition in smartphones hit margins. The South Korean tech giant said first-quarter operating profit likely slid 60 per cent from a year earlier, missing market expectations and putting it on track for its weakest quarterly profit since late 2016. Shares in Samsung rose briefly before paring gains to trade flat following the guidance, as many investors are already looking ahead to an earnings recovery on the back an improvement in chip prices in the second half of the year. Samsung supplies memory chips and screens for its own smartphones and Apple Inc, and server chips for cloud companies such as Amazon. Its semiconductor business is the main profit driver. In the second half, memory chip prices will have a soft landing, so falls will slow, and the release of new iPhones later seems like a good sign for Samsungs display and memory chips, said Kim Yang-jae, an analyst at KTB Investment and Securities. The worlds biggest maker of smartphones and memory chips said in a filing January-March profit was likely 6.2 trillion won ($5.5 billion), missing the 6.8 trillion won estimate from analysts according to Refinitiv SmartEstimate. Revenue likely fell 14 per cent from a year earlier to 52 trillion won. The firm will disclose detailed earnings in late April. Samsung shares were flat as of 0120 GMT, while the broader market up 0.2 percent. The firm earlier had warned the quarter could be disappointing due to falls in memory prices, and slowing demand for display panels used in Apples iPhones. Samsungs premium Galaxy smartphones meanwhile are struggling to be profitable due to rising costs of innovation, competition from Chinese rivals and the reluctance of consumers to upgrade, analysts have said. HIT BOTTOM Samsungs share price has leapt more than 25 per cent since sinking to a two-year low in early January as some investors bet on a recovery in chip demand. SK Hynix Inc, Micron Technology Inc and Samsung - which dominate the global market for dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips used in personal computers, smartphones and servers - recently have issued upbeat assessments of the prospects for a recovery in chip prices. Hopes were buoyed further when data showed the manufacturing sector in China, the worlds biggest smartphone market, unexpectedly returned to growth for the first time in four months in March. Samsung is betting a new line-up of smartphones including a foldable handset and a 5G-enabled model will help boost its market share in China, which crashed with the advent of cheaper Chinese rivals like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. But its latest phones are expensive to make, weighing on profitability even as its sells faster than its predecessor, analysts say. New smartphones coming out in the second half wont necessarily help its smartphone business, but will be a plus for Samsungs chip side as those phones require high density chip adoptions, said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at BNK Securities. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. New Zealand police said on Thursday that Tarrant will face a total of 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in court on Friday. Australia will fine social media and web hosting companies up to 10 per cent of their annual global turnover and imprison executives for up to three years if violent content is not removed expeditiously under a new law. The new law passed by parliament on Thursday is in response to a lone gunman attack on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 which killed 50 people as they attended Friday prayers. The gunman broadcasted his attack live on Facebook and it was widely shared for over an hour before being removed, a timeframe Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described as unacceptable. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with one murder following the attack and was remanded without a plea. New Zealand police said on Thursday that Tarrant will face a total of 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges when he appears in court on Friday. Under the new laws, it is now an offence in Australia for companies, such as Facebook Inc and Alphabets Google, which owns YouTube, not to remove any videos or photographs that show murder, torture or rape without delay. Companies must also inform Australian police within a reasonable timeframe. It is important that we make a very clear statement to social media companies that we expect their behavior to change, Australian Minister for Communications and the Arts Mitch Fifield told reporters in Canberra. Australian Attorney-General Christian Porter described the laws as a world first in terms of legislating the conduct of social media and online platforms. Juries will decide whether companies have complied with the timetable, heightening the risk of high-profile convictions. Whenever there are juries involved, they can get it wrong but when you add into the mix technology - which is complex - the risk is heightened, Jason Bosland, professor of media law, University of Melbourne told Reuters. Technology firms said they are already working on the issue. We have zero tolerance for terrorist content on our platforms, said a spokesperson for Google in an emailed statement. We are committed to leading the way in developing new technologies and standards for identifying and removing terrorist content. A spokeswoman for Facebook was not immediately available for comment. Facebook said last week it was exploring restrictions on who can access their live video-streaming service, depending on factors such as previous violations of the sites community standards. Digital Industry Group Inc (DIGI) - of which Facebook, Apple, Google, Amazon and Twitter are members - said the laws fail to understand the complexity of removing violent content. With the vast volumes of content uploaded to the internet every second, this is a highly complex problem, said Sunita Bose, Managing Director of DIGI. Australias opposition Labor party backed the legislation, but said it will consult with the technology industry over possible amendments if it wins power at an election due in May. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the United States and China were a month from a potentially "epic" trade agreement. But, nine months into the two countries' trade war, the announcement was anti-climactic, as the White House had earlier stoked anticipation that Trump could announce a date for a summit to clinch a final deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Global markets had also rallied in recent days, roused by the hope that an end to the skirmish between the world's two top economies was at last at hand. "We will probably know over the next four weeks. It may take two weeks after that," Trump told reporters following a meeting with Beijing's trade envoy Liu He. "It's looking very good." The talks are due to continue for a third day on Friday. Trump had said as far back as February that a summit could occur within a month. Despite Trump's rosy gloss on the talks on Thursday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told reporters that major issues were left to be resolved. Both US and Chinese officials have projected cautious optimism for months, but the last mile is proving to be the hardest, with the two sides reportedly tussling over whether and when Washington should remove the punishing tariffs it imposed last year on Chinese goods. Trump in early 2018 launched a trade war with China, seeking to slash that country's soaring trade surplus with the United States, end alleged unfair trade practices such as the theft of American technology and China's massive state intervention in markets. Washington and Beijing since last year have imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade, biting into their manufacturing sectors as the world economy slows. China has floated offers to make sizable purchases of US commodities and taken steps to show it will protect foreign intellectual property. But Democrats have warned of the temptation to accept a superficial deal that does not extract profound changes to the Chinese industrial policies American officials have long denounced. Trump reiterated Thursday however that, "if it's not a great deal, we're not doing it." Chinese state media later carried a report which said Xi has called for the talks to conclude as soon as possible. "I hope the two sides of the economic and trade teams will continue to resolve both sides' issues of concern in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, and finish negotiations on the China-US economic and trade agreement document as soon as possible," Xinhua quoted Liu as saying, as he conveyed a message from Xi to Trump. A tariff compromise? A final sticking point appears to be when and how Washington will agree to lift the steep tariffs it has placed on more than USD 250 billion in Chinese imports. Last month, Trump said the tariffs would stay in place for "a substantial period," although whether this would apply to both tranches of goods subjected to the new duties was unclear. US officials demand that any agreement have teeth and Lighthizer, the US trade representative, has said tariffs offer crucial leverage should Beijing backslide on its commitments. Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a former US trade official and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said lifting the tariffs too early could encourage criticism from Democrats that he had gone soft in the negotiations. "The White House response to this drama is to keep the tariffs and only to slowly lower the rate as the Chinese fulfill their commitments," Hufbauer told AFP. "The Chinese strategy is to have them get rid of it," he said. "My guess is that something in between will be in the compromise." Analysts say any agreement is likely to include banner announcements that China has agreed to increase purchases of American commodities like soybeans and fuel. This could perversely serve to give Chinese state enterprises a greater market role while making US exporters more reliant on the Chinese government's purchasing decisions -- both possibly contrary to US objectives and interests. William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and former Commerce Department official for exports, pointed to Beijing's boycott of US soybean exports last year. American producers could struggle to fill major new orders announced by Beijing, he said. "The only way they can buy every bean is if we stop selling to everybody else and that puts us in an enormous position of vulnerability," he said. Friday, April 5, 2019 at 1:26PM Embed from Getty Images Late last year, Apple hired former Googler John Giannandrea as the first senior vice president of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Strategy as the company promised to get more serious about AI. Apple seems to be keeping that promise with its new hire. Another former Googler, Ian Goodfellow, joined the company as the director of Machine Learning in the Special Projects Group. This division is in charge of working on next-generation tech for the company. There might even be a chance that Goodfellow will report to Giannandrea. But Goodfellow didnt elaborate on what hell be working on at Apple. He worked for Google from 2013 to 2016, and then from 2017 to 2019. His last role at Google was senior staff research scientist. The year he wasnt in the company, he worked for the Elon Musk-funded AI research non-profit OpenAI. He is known for inventing a form of machine learning training approach thats called generative adversarial network (GAN). Its a technique that pits two neural networks against each other to create photos and videos that look real. As Engadget mentioned, bad actors have been using GANs to create deepfake media, a lot of them AI-generated fake porn that borrows faces of famous celebrities. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. (Representational Image) Washington: A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are "missing" and all the fighter planes were "present and accounted for", according to a report in a prominent American magazine. The finding by the US on the ground in Pakistan "directly contradicts" India's claim that its air force shot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial dogfight on February 27. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan invited the United States to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported on Thursday. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the magazine. The Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. "As details come out, it looks worse and worse for the Indians," MIT professor Vipin Narang told Foreign Policy magazine. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," he said. Generally, in such agreements, the US requires the receiving country to allow its officials to inspect the equipment regularly to ensure it is accounted for and protected, the news report said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the suicide bomber of JeM killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. Fanned by strong winds it quickly spread through the mountainous area. (Photo:AP) Seoul: A giant forest fire swept across swathes of South Korea on Friday, as authorities declared a rare national disaster, deploying 900 fire engines and tens of thousands of personnel to bring it under control. Apocalyptic images on television and social media showed walls of flame lighting up the night, buildings engulfed in flames, and clouds of smoke billowing across hillsides during the day. The blaze broke out late Thursday alongside a road in the town of Goseong, in the far northeast of the country and only around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the border with the nuclear-armed North. Fanned by strong winds it quickly spread through the mountainous area, incinerating 400 homes and 500 hectares of land, according to the government. Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated and one person died, authorities said, while 11 were injured. More than 870 fire engines and some 10,000 emergency personnel were dispatched to fight the blaze, the National Fire Agency said. The military sent 32 helicopters, along with fire engines of its own and 16,500 soldiers, to help. "Fortunately, the main fire has been brought under control," provincial governor Choi Moon-soon said in a radio interview with YTN, but added that others were still burning. The central government declared a state of national disaster, entitling affected areas to special assistance including goods and equipment, and banning entry to dangerous zones. The last time Seoul made such a declaration was in 2007, when a crude oil carrier leaked thousands of tonnes of oil into the sea off the west coast. President Moon Jae-in told officials to take all measures necessary to battle the inferno, and to liaise with North Korean authorities if the fire approaches the border, the presidential office said. Lawmakers have voted down PM Theresa May's Brexit deal three times this year. (Photo: AFP) London: Battles over Brexit have worn down British MPs, who are now being offered counselling to cope with the "extraordinary pressure" they have been under. The Daily Telegraph reported that House of Commons Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle had written to all MPs to inform them about a 24-hour counselling phone line. "It is vital that in times of heightened stress in the workplace we can access the necessary health and wellbeing support," Hoyle wrote, a day after a particularly intense parliamentary session that ended after midnight. Despite enormous pressure, British MPs have voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal three times this year but have failed to agree on any alternatives. The two main parties, the ruling Conservatives and the Labour opposition, are now locked in talks to attempt to find a compromise that could pass through parliament. Security measures have in any case been stepped up around parliament because of angry heckling -- mainly from hardline Brexit supporters against pro-Remain MPs. "Members of Parliament and staff are resilient but Brexit has meant we are all working very long hours for extended periods of time whilst facing extraordinary pressure. "In order to fulfil our duties and do our work on behalf of constituents we must take care of our health and wellbeing," Hoyle wrote in his letter. Hoyle said anyone ringing the confidential phone line would find trained counsellors or advisers. "Your needs will be discussed and together you will agree what support is required," he said. "This could be immediate support given there and then or it may be agreed structured counselling is required". MPs had to cancel a mid-term break in February and are greatly reducing their regular Easter holiday in order to make more time for Brexit debates. The plan would let UK leave sooner if the British parliament ratifies a deal. (Photo:AP) Brussels: European Council President Donald Tusk is proposing to make an offer of a 12-month "flexible" extension to the UK's Brexit date, the BBC reported on Friday, citing a senior European Union source. The plan would let UK leave sooner if the British parliament ratifies a deal but will need to be agreed by EU leaders next week at a summit, the BBC said. After her EU withdrawal deal was rejected three times by lawmakers, British Prime Minister Theresa May invited opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for talks in parliament to try to plot a way out of the crisis. May said earlier this week she would seek a delay that is "as short as possible" to the current Brexit date of April 12. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told BBC that if the talks between UK's Conservative and Labour parties fail, the delay is "likely to be a long one". The Government has dismissed a recent statement by five United Nations human rights experts condemning deportation of three more Rohingyas from India to Myanmar last week. The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday stated in New Delhi that the Rohingyas had been repatriated to Myanmar in accordance with the directions of the courts of India. It also made it clear that the government would continue to take such actions if it was necessary to implement the laws of the land as directed by the judiciary of India. Three Rohingyas, a father and his children, were deported to Myanmar via Moreh in Manipur on March 29. They had been detained in Assam in 2013 and had since been held in a prison in Tezpur in the north-eastern state for illegally entering India. Five UN human rights experts issued a statement on April 2, condemning the decision of the Government of India to deport three more Rohingyas to Myanmar and urged the authorities to stop such forced deportations, which were prohibited under international law. "The interpretation made of the facts of the case, as portrayed in the statement (by the UN experts), are misleading and incorrect," Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in New Delhi. We are dismayed by the decision of the Indian Government to continue forced returns of Rohingya to Myanmar, where they face high risk of attacks, reprisals and other forms of persecution because of their ethnic and religious identity," said the UN experts. India had deported two groups of five and seven Rohingyas to Myanmar in October and January. "The repatriation of illegal immigrants to their country of origin is in accordance with Indian laws. These actions are being taken in response to the instructions of India's Courts, which have required Government at the State and Union levels to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants," said the MEA spokesperson. "In this sense, Government will continue to take actions as may be necessary in implementation of Indian laws, and as directed by our Judiciary." Sending back refugees not allowed under international laws India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, however, holds that the "principle of non-refoulement" (or not sending back refugees to a place where they face danger) was considered part of customary international law and therefore binding on all states no matter whether they have signed the Refugee Convention or not. The UN experts expressed serious concerns over the legal and administrative processes in India for determination of refugee status. The deportation of Rohingya to Myanmar speaks to a system of refugee status determination that fails to account for the ongoing, credible reports of ethnic and religious minority persecution in that country, they said. We also remain concerned with the systemic use of indefinite detention of Rohingya in India, which is indicative of the unacceptable conditions of discrimination and intolerance they face in the country where they have sought refuge. The UN experts, who issued the statement, are Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, E Tendayi Achiume; Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe Gonzalez Morales; Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Seong-Phil Hong; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, and Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes. With the 2019 Lok Sabha Election just days away, all political parties are in a race to the finish before April 9, when the EC's ban on political activities comes into force. While the BJP is projecting Narendra Modi as the face of the PM candidate again, the other parties are currently unclear on who to field. However, did you know you are not actually voting for the PM? Here's how the PM of India is elected, and how your vote actually factors into it. Pre-Election: It all begins when the ECI announces the dates for the Elections. Soon after, the process of choosing candidates begins. Every party who wants to fight in the election chooses a candidate from any given constituency, who then files their nomination papers with that constituency's Returning Officer. Once all the nominations are received and scrutinised, the ECI publishes the list of candidates who will be contesting the Election. While this is going on, political parties are free to engage in electioneering work, which may include public rallies, roadshows, release of manifestos, which is a document detailing the party's plan and vision, aimed at maximising the exposure and getting potential voters to choose them. Election: The election of your MP is where everything starts. India is divided into 543 constituencies for a total of 545 seats in the Lok Sabha. 2 seats are appointed by the President. When you go to vote, you are actually only voting for a candidate who is fighting to represent your constituency in the Lok Sabha. Among several candidates, one typically wins when they get a majority and they become the Member of Parliament for that particular constituency. India has dozens of political parties, all of which are vying for a piece of the pie that is a seat in the Lok Sabha. Post-Election: Once the candidates have won from their constituencies, the Lok Sabha is formed. The condition to form the government is that any single party or a coalition should have at least 272 seats to claim, which is called a simple majority. After the single party or coalition has acquired the requisite numbers, the President invites them to form the government and they select the Prime Minister, who in turn elects their cabinet ministers. In 2014, the BJP-led NDA swept the elections, taking 341 seats, of which the BJP alone holds 271 seats. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu staged a protest in front of Ambedkar statue at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram here on Friday against the alleged harassment of TDP leaders by central government in the form of IT raids. He alleged that the Modi government colluded with YSRC leader Jaganmohan Reddy and resorted to vindictive measures against TDP leaders. IT Department raided Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanms (TTD) Chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav. After that on Friday, searches were made in the properties belonging to TDP MP CM Ramesh at Potladurti village in Kadapa. The police then searched the homes of C M Rameshs supporters. It is time for us to go out for campaigning. The selective raids made on TDP leaders are affecting our electioneering, Ramesh said. He alleged that the police had no search warrant with them. Naidu was upset because this is the second such raid on the assets of TDP leaders both in the crucial Kadapa district. As a mark of protest, the chief minister released black balloons with photos of Modi and Jagan into air at the Ambedkar statue. He said he launched to save democracy and save the constitution campaign to protect democracy. Opponents in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have been harassed in a similar fashion. The Chief Minister warned Modi not to interfere in AP politics. Condemning the IT raids, the Chief Minister said that IT officials should not dance to the tunes of Modi as it is an autonomous institution. "The comments of senior BJP leader Advani are true in this case. All those who oppose BJP are not anti-national," he said. Four polling teams have begun their journey to set up polling stations in remote Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh, which includes a 25-minute trip in an IAF helicopter followed by one to eight hours of trekking. Situated at a height of 4,000 feet in Changlang district bordering Myanmar, Vijaynagar doesnt have a motorable road yet. The 4,000-odd residents in 16 villages, comprising the Yobin (Lishu) tribe and retired Assam Rifles personnel, trek for six days (163-km) across the Namdapha National Park to reach Miao near the Assam border. This is probably why connectivity continues to be the most important promise made before every election in the state, which shares a border with China, Myanmar and Bhutan. Four polling teams, each comprising one presiding officer, four polling officers, one attendant and a policeman with four sets of EVMs and VVPATs (one extra) were airlifted by the IAF in an AN-32 transport helicopter in two sorties to Vijaynagar, on Thursday. One team will leave for 27 Gandhigram polling stations (1,338 voters) on April 9, which will require trekking for eight hours. The three other teams will leave Vijayanagar on foot on April 10 for Ramnagar (252 voters), Vijaynagar (865 voters) and Two Hut (726 voters), which take trekking for one to four hours, said Lod Takkar, nodal officer in the chief electoral office, Arunachal Pradesh. Elections for the two Lok Sabha seats and 60-member Assembly will be held together on April 11. A total of 7.94 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the frontier state. The four polling stations fall under the Miao Assembly constituency and Arunachal East Lok Sabha seat. The IAF's transport aircraft AN-32 is used to carry essential items to Vijaynagar mainly from Jorhat in eastern Assam, but the service was stopped in 2016 due to the poor condition of the Advance Landing Ground (ALG). The work to upgrade and improve the ALG is underway. A polling booth in the states Hayuliang Assembly constituency will have only one voter (a woman) in the Malogam Temporary Structure polling station. Polling station 52 SE (power) offices, East Side, Naharlagun under Itanagar (ST) constituency will have a maximum of 1,340 voters. Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the opposition parties of being ''soft'' on terror and said that they (rivals) did not like his government's tough action against the terrorists. Addressing an election rally at Amroha, about 400 kilometres from here, Modi said that some people (read opposition) ''started crying'', when India conducted the air strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan. ''Some people do not like, when we take tough action against the terrorists....they started crying and supported Pakistan, when the latter was exposed before the world,'' the prime minister said. ''The opposition parties are competing with each other to become hero in Pakistan,'' he said. Modi said that there used to be explosions in Uttar Pradesh during the rule of Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP. ''The SP, BSP governments used to let off the terrorists owing to their vote bank politics,'' he said. ''The days of explosions are gone as now there is a chowkidar in Delhi,'' he added. The prime minister said that during the past five years, the country had taken long strides in every field. ''Today the countries in the world look at us with respect,'' he remarked. He also listed the achievements of his government during his stint and said that the centre had taken steps for the welfare of the people from all sections. Modi heaped praise on UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and said that the law and order situation in the state had improved under his government. In an apparent bid to woo the scheduled caste voters, the prime minister referred to the contribution of B.R.Ambedkar and also former defence minister Jagjivan Ram. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing terror funding to Kashmiri separatists and militants, has issued a third notice to moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in an alleged militancy funding case. Sources told Deccan Herald that Mirwaiz has been asked to present himself on April 8 at the Delhi headquarters of the premier probe agency for questioning. A summon notice has been sent to the separatist leader, they said and added the notice says that Mirwaizs security concerns in New Delhi will be taken care of. The Hurriyat chairman had through his counsel, refused to travel to Delhi on earlier two occasions, citing fears for his security in view of conditions of hostility. But he promised complete cooperation with the NIA provided he was questioned in Srinagar. The anti-terror probe agency is investigating a case related to terror funding in Kashmir through hawala channels. The agency carried out a series of raids on separatists, including the Mirwaiz in February. The agency claimed to have recovered several incriminating documents, including letterheads of different terrorist organisations as well as high-end communication systems, during the raids. The NIA had questioned two maternal uncles of the MirwaizMolvi Manzoor and Molvi Shafatand his close aides last year. Both Manzoor and Shafat are retired senior government officers. The NIA has arrested nearly a dozen people, including seven separatist leaders, a high-profile businessman and a son of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salah-ud-Din. The probe agency has also questioned octogenarian separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani's sons, Dr Nayeem and Naseem, though both have been let off after several rounds of interrogation in New Delhi. Indias claim of shooting down one of Pakistans F-16 combat aircraft in a dogfight on February 27 has now come under question. Foreign Policy a reputed US journal on international relations on Friday published a report in which unnamed US officials were quoted to note that each of Pakistans F-16 fighter jets were accounted for. The officials were involved in an F-16 head counting exercise undertaken in the wake of the recent Indian Air Force-Pakistan Air Force aerial battle on February 27. The aerial combat between the two neighbours happened a day after IAF fighter jets struck at a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp at Balakot in Pakistan to avenge the killing of 40 CRPF soldiers in a terror attack at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. In a press statement on February 28, IAF stated, In the aerial combat that ensued, one F-16 of PAF was shot down by an IAF MiG-21 Bison. The F-16 crashed and fell across the Line of Control in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. It was the same MiG-21 piloted by Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman. The MiG took a hit from the PAF fighter aircraft and crashed inside Pakistan. Wg Cdr Abhinandan was captured by the Pakistani forces, but was returned to India after nearly 60 hours following diplomatic pressure. The IAF claims of the vintage Russian-origin MiG-21 downing a more advanced American fighter jet F-16 made instant headline all over the world. Foreign Policy now quotes senior US Defence official having knowledge of the headcount exercise to suggest that every piece of the aircraft is accounted for and protected. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict. Thats why it took the US personnel several weeks to account for all the jets. But now the count has been completed and all aircraft were present and accounted for, the report says quoting the official. A second senior officer has also confirmed that US authorities on the ground found that no F-16 was missing. The IAF and Defence Ministry has not so far responded to the Foreign Policy report. The counting is a part of a US government investigation that was initiated after India asked the Donald Trump administration to probe the use of F-16 against India in violation of the fighter jets sale conditions. The US can carry out such probes as a part of the End User Agreement for the military equipment that it sells to other countries. The US journal report contradicts what Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations and Space) had stated in a press conference on February 28. There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission and Pakistan is trying to hide this fact. Also, parts of AMRAAM Air-to-Air missiles, which is carried only on the F-16 in the PAF were recovered East of Rajauri within the Indian territory. Therefore the fact remains that one F-16 of PAF was shot down by an IAF MiG-21 Bison aircraft, he mentioned. Prior to the prime ministers televised 10-minute address in Hindi on the noon of March 27, few had expected that he would be announcing the beginning of a new space age for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India had successfully conducted an anti-satellite missile test, lauded the scientific establishment, emphasised that this was a measure for national security without contravening any international law and assured the world that the step was not aimed at any specific country. The exercise, dubbed Mission Shakti, represented a direct ascent kinetic kill, where a ballistic missile launched from the earth without any explosive warhead destroys the targeted satellite upon impact. Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), the sixth largest space agency in the world, marks 50 years this year, having been established by Indira Gandhi in 1969 (although its earlier avatar INCOSPAR within the Department of Atomic Energy came into being in 1958, with Jawaharlal Nehru establishing the space programme, the DRDO and finalising the countrys three-stage nuclear programme that year). Isro has carved out a niche not only through exemplary cost-effectiveness and innovative societal applications but by hosting the largest constellation of civilian satellites in the Indo-Pacific region, the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission and creating the world record of launching 104 satellites from a single rocket. But Isro being a civilian space programme, the ASAT test was carried out under the aegis of the DRDO, the architect of the indigenous missile programme that started in 1983. The DRDO has had the ASAT capability since at least 2012. The March 27 test was conducted by adapting the indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor vehicle and targeting a recently-launched Indian satellite in Low Earth Orbit, at a height of 300 kilometres from the earth. Satellites enable a range of capabilities, from civilian to military, scientific and commercial. Thus, outer space is integral to the functioning of modern societies as a diverse range of services and devices ranging from missiles to mobiles, banking to navigation, meteorology to disaster management are irreversibly dependent on it. The strategic utility of space was evident from the early years of the Cold War, when both the US and the erstwhile Soviet Union demonstrated a wide array of space weapons, including anti-satellite missiles. As the Space Age dawned with the advent of Sputnik in 1957, research and development in various types of anti-satellite systems can be traced, on both sides of the Iron Curtain, back to this time. However, the 1980s marked the crest, with President Ronald Reagans Strategic Defence Initiative, followed by a prolonged trough. Ending decades of stability, China conducted an ASAT test in 2007 and the US responded a year later. Since then, the US, China and Russia have accelerated their military space activities in varying degrees. The arrival of new technologies, like hypersonic glide vehicles and nano-satellites further complicates the picture. While there has not been any conflict in space itself and establishing weapons in space is proscribed as per the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, strategic applications of space technology are nevertheless widespread. Deploying a weapon system in space denotes weaponisation of space and is in contravention of the Outer Space Treaty; in contrast, militarisation of space entails utilising space for military purposes, and is legitimate. Incidentally, subsequent proposals to restrict the arms race in space have been languishing in the United Nations Conference on Disarmament since the 1980s, owing to opposition primarily from the US. The European Union, Russia and China have in the recent past put forward various proposals, ostensibly to prevent weaponisation of outer space. But the platitudes notwithstanding, consensus remains elusive. India has consistently opposed weaponisation of space and upholds space as a common heritage of mankind. It was the Chinese ASAT test that aggravated Indias security concerns and catalysed the establishment of an Integrated Space Cell within the Ministry of Defence. Outer space being integral to key strategic and civilian functions, securing assets in space has emerged as a crucial priority. India now joins the select quartet of countries in the world possessing the ability to project hard-power into space, along with the US, Russia and China. The test seems to have been driven by considerations of security, demonstrating technological prowess and by the rightful Indian insistence on having a voice at the high table of global politics, a recurring theme of Indian diplomacy. As the Ministry of External Affairs underlined, India expects to play a role in the future in the drafting of international law on prevention of an arms race in outer spacein its capacity as a major space-faring nation with proven space technology. The selection of a target in Low Earth Orbit aimed to prevent space debris, since space pollution is a universal concern. Further, the assertion of upholding international conventions signalled Indias desire to be perceived as a responsible global player. The Chinese ASAT test of 2007, on the other hand, had been condemned globally for lack of transparency and generating the largest amount of space debris in history. The unequivocal assertion about the military nature of the tests is welcome for a country whose enduring amnesia about the role of force in international relations circumscribes its emergence as a great power. Space assets had been harnessed for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) functions cross-border raids and aerial strikes like that of post-Uri and Balakot being facilitated through satellite reconnaissance and remote sensing, for example but the ASAT test establishes a new aspect to the deterrence matrix. Still, the optimal utility of space power cannot be realised absent an integrated Space Command, accompanied by a coherent space doctrine and possessing a comprehensive gamut of ASAT measures. The test conclusively establishes India as a pre-eminent space power, but it remains to be seen whether political will sustains subsequent steps crucial to consolidate this momentum. (Harsh Pant is Director, Studies, at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi and Professor of International Relations, Kings College, London; Shounak Set is a PhD candidate at Kings College, London) Flat sandbanks embrace Indus as it curves and disappears into the gorge. We sit around and let the evening light the barren landscape of Ladakh. My friend fiddles with a radio crackling with Radio Kashmir while the three of us continue to listen to the sound of the river jumping over stones. He switches channels and we are listening to Radio Pakistan. Whoaaa.. he looks at both of us in wonder and tunes the device again only to get radio in an entirely foreign language. Is that Radio China? You get enough reminders that this is a border area through the hilariously pithy Border Roads Organisation signs (Be gentle on my curves), the jokes Ladakhi kids make, the Army bunkers, the occasional Air Force planes going overhead and the check posts. Yet, it is difficult to orient yourself geographically in Ladakh when all you see is the sky bowing down to the majesty of these snow-flecked ochre mountains. The mountains surrounding the Pangong Lake. Among many a wonder this strange moonland has to offer, where the idyllic haze takes over the acute awareness of being at the border, is Pangong Tso (Tibetan for enchanted lake). Pangong lake is in Changthang plateau where the firoza stones Ladakhis wear on their perak (headdress) are found. The region is part of the Tibetan plateau with its dry grasslands, nomads who herd pashmina goats, the occasional appearances of Tibetan wild ass and the coy marmots. After our descent from the massive snow walls of Chang La pass, where the altitude is so high that birds glided past our car like an autorickshaw cutting ahead in traffic, Changthang plateau was an entrance to a rugged version of Grimms Fairytale. Wild horses, yaks, and pashmina goats drink from melting snow streams meandering through the dry green grasslands. Small stone houses occasionally pass you by. And at the end of this five-hour-long drive from Leh is this endoheric saltwater lake made famous by Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots which straddles the India-China border. About 70% of the lake sprawls in China a hard fact that snatches away pleasures of boating on the lake. In mid-March, we were greeted with a white sheet nestled between the red mountains instead of seven shades of blue that had become a part of the lakes myth. Prayer flags flutter in the wind. It is as if the saltwater itself is hibernating under the snow. However, a frozen Pangong Tso has other enchantments a chance to walk on the lake or even better, make snow angels near the Line of Actual Control. When war broke out.. When Ladakh was ruled by kings from Namgyal line, there was a war between Tibet and Bhutan. The then ruler, Delden Namgyal, supported Bhutan. Angered, the fifth Dalai Lama sent an army to attack Ladakh in the 1680s. Ladakhis were defeated at Chang La Pass and were chased down to Indus valley. The Ladakhi leaders and Army hid inside the famed Basgo Fort. The Tibetans confined them in the fort for three years. Desperate, Delden Namgyal asked the Mughal rulers for help. Their help came with a price: that pashmina from Ladakh and Western Tibet be sold only to Kashmir and he must convert to Islam. After this, Delden Namgyal was known as Aqibat Mahmud Khan in Kashmir. Tibetans, upset with this development, sent a representative to meet the king and signed a treaty in 1684 with the present borders cutting through the Pangong Lake. The Ladakhis had to send tributes for Tibetan kings and monasteries every three years and Tibetans agreed to sell the pashmina. Ladakh was never truly independent after this. Subservient to both Kashmir and Tibet after this siege, the kings never tried to expand Ladakhs borders. My friends started to make a snowman by the lakes edge as I staggered around with my camera, listening to the fluttering of prayer flags, sounds of laughter, as my friends snowman-making exercise devolved into a snow fight, clicking pictures of this expanse of white contrasted starkly by the red mountains hemming the lake in. Pashmina goats nibble on dried grass and frozen snow inside Changthang region. Since it was off-season, there were only a few tourists apart from us, clicking pictures, and much to our amusement, asking their bewildered Ladakhi driver for the 3 Idiots point. It can be argued that the movie has brought a lot of tourists to an otherwise isolated region, but I ended up chuckling when my friend muttered under her breath, Well I can see one idiot. As we headed back to the school we were volunteering in, one of our students broke the spell: Aap logon ne Pangong nahi dekha, aap ne barf dekha (you didnt see Pangong, you saw snow). The Glen Mills Schools has appealed an emergency order to remove all children at the reform school issued last month by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Nearly all of the remaining 64 students at the school when the order was filed March 25 have been relocated, according to Glen Mills spokeswoman Aimee Tysarczyk. Only one remained as of Thursday and he was set to depart today, she said. A spokesperson for DHS did not respond to calls and emails Thursday, but DHS Secretary Teresa Miller indicated in a release at the time the order was entered that removal was just one step in an ongoing process. She added that the department would be continuing an investigation to ensure that any individual responsible for endangering the welfare of children and coercing silence can be held responsible. The order says DHS Office of Children, Youth, and Families staff conducted an investigation in the first three months of the year and verified several violations carried out by employees against students, including punching, kicking and slamming into walls or floors. The order additionally pointed to instances where senior staff members failed to follow reporting protocol or seek medical care and coerced students into saying they received injuries as a result of playing sports. But the appeal, filed by attorneys William Sasso and Guy Vilim on behalf of the school, claims many of the findings provide no details as to times, places or locations, and no information on the identities of the students or alleged perpetrators. As written, this finding is so vague and non-specific that it deprives Glen Mills of any fair notice of the charge and makes it impossible for Glen Mills to identify what happened or who was involved if the incident happened at all, the appeal states in response to several of the reports findings. For more specific instances cited in the order, the appeal claims staff took all necessary steps to provide medical attention and report incidents where required. The appeal denies that Glen Mills ever violated regulations related to mandatory reports of suspected abuse and in fact contacted Pennsylvania State Police after video evidence of one altercation contradicted what staff had reported happened to supervisors. The appeal also points to anonymous written complaints cited in the order, which Glen Mills claims DHS has refused to furnish. The school indicated that without seeing those letters, it has no choice but to dispute their existence and veracity and demand proof of their existence at a hearing. Glen Mills, which began laying off staff this week, additionally notes that it has been one of the most-often visited, regulated, inspected and scrutinized programs of its kind. State inspectors visited almost every week and conducted in-depth annual full cite inspections, according to the appeal. A host of probation officers, visiting dignitaries, substance abuse counselors and others were also often on campus, the appeal says. The appeal says the school has received high marks and certifications from various entities in the past 40 years, including the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and DHS itself, which had previously issued annual licenses while finding only minor violations for things like missing garbage can lids or expired saline in a first aid kit. The Departments inspectors were so thorough, so searching, and so comprehensive in their work that they checked for excess dryer lint, missing trashcan lids and eyewash expiration dates, the appeal says. But now the Department says its very same inspectors totally missed a longstanding pattern and practice of physical abuse of students at the hands of staff. The appeal notes that the emergency order is based on a section of the Pennsylvania Code permitting removal actions where there is substantial evidence of mistreatment or abuse that is likely to constitute an immediate and serious danger to the life or health of the clients. Glen Mills maintains that the order lacks any of the requisite credible evidence to support the emergency removal of students, however, and asks the DHS Bureau of Hearings and Appeals to reverse and vacate the order. UPPER DARBY -Twenty protesters calling for the release of Robert Muellers report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election waved signs and rallied in front of the 69th Street terminal Thursday evening. As rush-hour traffic inched west the protesters held up signs calling motorists to honk in support. When (Attorney General William) Barr didnt release the report, that said events in motion by different groups coming together to hold this, said Pam Magidison of Harverford Community Action Network, who helped organize the event. We decided to pick 69th Street because state Sen. Tim Kearney is having his town hall meeting down the street. We put together our Trump is not above the law group to bring attention to the Mueller report findings which have not come out. No one knows what it says. If you pay attention Barrs wording, its gas lighting. Release the report, Madison said. Its unconstitutional and illegal to keep it from us. Barr has said hell release a redacted version of the report by mid-April. Were out here protesting but the plan really is to vote (President Donald Trump) out, said Rick Beerue of Boothwyn Janet Barnes of Upper Darby its not OK , echoing U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. I want to know whats in the Mueller report. A four-page summary is not enough, said Barnes. I understand we cant see everything but Congress should have a say. SPRINGFIELD A detective with the Upper Chichester Township Police Department is facing felony charges connected to an alleged off-duty, drunk driving crash in which he reportedly struck a pedestrian, seriously injuring the man, and then left the scene, according to court documents. John Peter Montgomery Jr., 49, a veteran of the force, was charged with aggravated assault while driving under the influence, a second-degree felony, and accidents involving death or personal injury, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he would face a possible maximum prison sentence of 10 years for the DUI charge, and seven years for the accidents charge, which requires motorists to stop their vehicle at the scene of an accident. He is also charged with driving under the influence as a stand-alone offense. Montgomery, of Aston, is a veteran criminal investigator with the Upper Chichester department, who has also worked with the Delaware County District Attorneys Criminal Investigation Unit on narcotics cases in the past, according to press reports. He was arrested on Jan. 16, 10 days after the crash. The arrest, by Cpl. Michael Santos with the state police barracks at Media, was not publicly reported at the time. It came one month before the township began dealing with the tragic consequences of a drunk driver who slammed into the car of a Brookhaven couple, killing the wife and seriously injuring her husband. A preliminary hearing for Montgomery is set for Thursday, April 11, before Magisterial District Judge James Merkins of Springfield. The attorney listed as representing Montgomery, Mark Much of Media, did not return telephone calls Friday seeking comment. A spokesman for the state Attorney Generals Office, Joe Grace, confirmed that the state is prosecuting the case, on a referral from the Delaware County District Attorneys Office because of an unspecified conflict of interest. A spokeswoman for the Delaware County District Attorneys Office did not return a call seeking comment. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Christopher Phillips. Attorney Michael Pierce of the law firm of Pierce & Hughes of Media, the Upper Chichester solicitor, said the township would have no comment on the charges pending against Montgomery. It was on his own time, in his private vehicle, Pierce said of the crash. It is an ongoing investigation that is being handled by the Attorney Generals Office. Pierce said that Montgomery had been placed on limited duty, but that he was still working a non-patrol shift with the department. He will be allowed to maintain that status until the final disposition of the criminal charges against him, the solicitor said. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Santos was called to investigate a one-vehicle crash in the 2800 block of Larkin Road in Upper Chichester at 11:22 p.m. on Jan. 9. Santos was told that the operator of the vehicle was an off-duty Upper Chichester officer and that he had struck a pedestrian. The scene of the crash is a residential area south of Route 322, about two miles from Montgomerys home address. When Santos responded, he encountered Montgomery with an Upper Chichester officer at the intersection of Chichester Avenue and Chelsea Parkway, about 1 1/2 miles from the spot where the pedestrian was allegedly struck. When he spoke with Montgomery, he noticed that the driver had bloodshot and glassy eyes, and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Asked what had happened, Montgomery allegedly told Santos that he had been driving his Ford 150 pickup truck on Larkin Road when he struck what he thought was a deer. He said that he turned around to check what had happened, but did not see anything. He drove away, but was stopped by an Upper Chichester patrol officer a short time later and detained. Santos wrote in his complaint that Montgomery admitted to having had a couple of beers at a friends house earlier that evening, but nothing since crashing. Santos asked Montgomery to perform two field sobriety tests, and the suspect showed signs of impairment in doing so, according to the affidavit. A preliminary breath test showed a positive result for the presence of alcohol. Montgomery was then taken into custody and transported to the Media barracks, where he was given another breath test, which reportedly showed a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.143, more than the legal limit of 0.08. In the complaint, Santos said that the victim of the crash was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where he was admitted for treatment of serious injuries, including a broken right clavicle and a broken left fibula. The 43-year old victim in the case, whose name was not listed in the complaint, said he had been walking on Larkin Road wearing reflective bands around his legs and a flashing red light on his back when he was struck from behind. The impact of the crash broke off the side-view mirror of Montgomerys pickup truck. The scene of the crash is less than four miles from where David Strowhouer, a Willistown man with five prior DUI convictions, allegedly struck a car near the CSX railroad crossing on Market Street on Feb. 16, killing 45-year-old Deana Eckman of Brookhaven and seriously injuring her husband, Christian Eckman. Strowhouer, who admitted to driving heavily earlier in the day, is currently in Delaware County Prison awaiting trial on third-degree murder and homicide by vehicle while DUI charges. Analysts call Brexit the great divorce, a slow-motion car crash, a political crisis, a constitutional crisis, a wrecking ball, a mess and a delusion. Brexit is all of these and more. The uncertainty has already caused substantial economic displacement and the hurt continues. As Britains parliament meets this week its natural to ask the question, What in the world is going on? Brexit passed in 2016 with support from 51.9% of voters. In the years since, division in the House of Parliament has grown wider than the English Channel. Deadlines have been missed and multiple Brexit votes have failed. Prime Minister Theresa May has been called a dead woman walking because of her policy and leadership failures. Her administration lacks any significant domestic policy achievements, and she has lost control over much of her cabinet and party. The Economist magazine wrote this week, Mrs. May was dealt a bad hand in Brexit; she has played it extraordinarily badly. I was in London last week when news spread that May would resign after the passage of a Brexit vote. She said, I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party." This declaration prompted a political commentator to opine that May is too weak to resign. The divisions within parliament, her cabinet and the conservative party are so severe that the system cant handle a resignation right now. Thats a sobering thought. The European Union, or EU, has given the United Kingdom until April 12 to agree to an exit strategy or there will be no deal. The U.K. faces four options: no deal (also called hard Brexit), a customs union (also called soft Brexit), a single market (also called the Norway option) or a confirmatory referendum. I favor the last option. The no deal option was unthinkable just a few months ago, but increasingly the hardline Brexiteers have expressed a willingness to leave without any concessions from the EU. The U.K. would revert to trading with the EU under the terms of the World Trade Organization. There would be no preferential access to the EU market and the U.K. would have complete freedom in setting up its own trade policies. Under the customs union approach, or soft Brexit, the U.K. would adopt the EUs common external tariff on goods coming from outside the EU, but benefit from tariff-free trade within the EU. The U.K. would not have the freedom to negotiate their own trade deals outside of the EU and be required to comply with a host of product regulations. A third approach is a single market approach, also called common market 2.0. This option mimics the relationship Norway has with the EU. The U.K. would leave the customs union, but would stay in the EU single market. To do this the U.K. would have to continue to abide by the EUs four freedoms, including freedom of movement. The U.K. could pursue its own independent trade policies, but would lose representation in the European Parliament that makes the rules. The final approach, and the one I like best, would be a confirmatory referendum. Parliament would agree to a compromise withdrawal agreement from the EU, but would seek a public vote to confirm. The vote would allow the public to vote to support the House of Parliament deal, support no deal, or stay in the EU. Another option would be a straight up-down vote on whether to leave. One of the first principles of economics is that people face tradeoffs. You cant leave or stay within the EU without paying a price. You can restrict immigration from Europe without leaving the single market. You cant create your own regulatory rules without erecting barriers to trade. Some public policy deliberations require leaders to push the reset button. The time has come for the U.K. to do just that, so the Brexit discussions dont last longer than World War II. Its time for the U.K. to seek another vote of the people. SALT LAKE CITY Before the interview begins, Carl Allen is already talking about jazz. You know, like all the kids of the day, I grew up listening to funk, blues, James Brown and Motown and then one day I heard this record and something really different was going on and I was curious, the jazz drummer said in a recent interview. Allen was in Dallas preparatory to playing a tribute with his quintet to jazz great Art Blakey on Saturday, April 6, at Salt Lake's Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, and he was in a reflective mood. So, I bought this record for 50 cents. It was a jazz record and I spent my weeks allowance on it and I hated it, Allen said with a laugh. After selling the record to his brother for a dollar, Allen thought he was done with jazz. But heres the deal, Ive always been very curious, its the foundation of my life, and I just had to figure the music out and when I did, when I understood how the music communicated and changed, it was jazz for me from then on," he said. "This sense of curiosity has, to a great degree, governed my life. Allen is a composer, an educator and a historian of the craft. His concert schedule is brutal and sometimes he wonders why he works so hard. Im at the point in my life where I have had to teach myself to take some time off," he said. "So Ill take a couple of weeks off where I do nothing but lounge around in my sweats and hang out with my wife. Its a great way for me to rejuvenate. One of Allens greatest concerns about the future of jazz is the need to build up a new base of fans. Look, jazz is really interactive music. It requires a different set of skills to appreciate it," he said. "With 21st century media, everything is at the tip of our fingers and we want instant gratification . Jazz isnt like that and thats the beauty of it. The music, the conversation we have on stage with each other changes every night, every set. Its a message he pounds home every time he teaches a class or is invited to be an artist-in-residence. I always begin by asking my students when they listen to an album, how many of them listen to it completely," he said. "Ninety percent of the students say they pretty much just listen to the cuts theyre interested in and that drives (me) crazy. With jazz, Allen emphasizes how essential it is to know where the music comes from, and the story that comes from the entire corpus of an album. If you dont understand that, if you dont know the music, you miss the urgency that is so important in jazz," he said. Allen knows something about the importance of understanding jazz's history it's a lesson he learned the hard way. As a younger musician, Allen was touring Europe with jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's band, and the conversation one afternoon turned to legendary jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. "The guys were trash talking Stan Getz nothing big but trash talking nonetheless. Hubbard was driving and pretty soon I (joined in,)" he recalled. Hubbard, who knew Getz, listened for about 20 minutes, and then asked Allen, "When was the last time you played with Stan Getz?" Allen admitted he had never played with him. "Hubbard leaned in close and told me to shut up, go back to my seat and dont say another thing about Stan Getz or hed punch me in the face. Those guys had all played with Getz and I was trying to be something and someone I wasnt," he said. "I hadnt earned the right to say anything." It was a moment Allen never forgot. And now, preparing to pay tribute to bebop pioneer drummer Art Blakey in Salt Lake, it's a lesson he hopes his audience especially the younger members understand. "I guess my ultimate point to this generation would be to respect the music and respect the people that came before you and allowed you into this beautiful world of jazz. If you go What: Carl Allen Quintet, "Tribute to Art Blakey" When: Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. Where: The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South How much: $29.50 for adults, $10 for students with ID Phone: 801-355-ARTS (2787) Website: jazzslc.com/carlallen PET SEMATARY 2 stars Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Jete Laurence; R (horror violence, bloody images and some language); in general release; running time: 101 minutes SALT LAKE CITY Stephen King fans have something to celebrate with the new Pet Sematary, but if you prefer a different beat one that doesnt feature blade-wielding demon children be warned. Based on the King novel of the same name, which was already turned into a movie in 1989, Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer's film tells the story of a family that moves in next door to a magic bog that can bring the dead back to life. Things seem pretty normal when Louis (Jason Clarke) and his family move up to Ludlow, Maine, from their Boston home, but it isnt long before the warning signs come knocking: Long haul trucks fly down the road a little too quickly, local kids walk through the woods in creepy masks, and when Louis' 8-year-old daughter Ellie (Jete Laurence) goes on a walk of her own, she discovers a creepy animal graveyard and grizzled old neighbor named Jud (John Lithgow). Louis and his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) are dealing with their own demons. Louis, a physician, is a devout atheist who thinks his wife should stop teaching their kids about spirituality. This is problematic for Rachel, who is haunted by the childhood trauma of witnessing her sisters death. Things get weirder when Louis starts having visions of a car crash victim who gives him ambiguous warnings like, The barrier is not meant to be broken. Then, when the family cat gets hit by a truck, Jud leads Louis out beyond the pet cemetery to a burial plot with apparent supernatural powers. The next morning, the cat is back, but in a decidedly scratchy mood. A lot of horror movies hinge on the dumb decisions of their characters, and Pet Sematary is a pretty egregious example. For one thing, once the cat comes back and starts wreaking havoc, why does Louis continue to associate with Jud? Wouldnt you be more inclined to punch the guy who tricked you into bringing a demon cat into your house? And wouldnt that factor into your admittedly grief-ridden state when a more substantial family death followed? I guess that would ruin all the fun. To its credit, Pet Sematary does deliver on some frights, though they tend to be of the manipulative jump scare variety, and most of the time you can see them coming a mile away. Its amazing what a loud soundtrack clang will do, even when you know its about to happen. While a lot of movies horror or otherwise go off the rails in the third act, Pet Sematary really does kick things into high gear, though again, whether you enjoy this particular brand of gear really is a matter of taste. (Which is another way of saying that this critic did not.) The film will resonate with King diehards there are multiple callbacks to the first movie, along with some twists but to be clear: This is pretty unsettling stuff, enough that its hard to recommend it. Pet Sematary lies closer to the nihilistic Halloween slasher end of the horror spectrum than A Quiet Place or Get Out territory. Cheap frights and violence, yes. But plenty of eye-roll moments, too. Rating explained: Pet Sematary doesnt feature wall-to-wall carnage, but it has plenty of disturbing imagery, violence and gore to justify its R rating, as well as scattered profanity and some brief sexual content. SALT LAKE CITY Aspiring Jeopardy! contestants, rejoice! Its almost time for the Jeopardy! online test, and Ken Jennings wants to help you succeed. But first, he wants to let you in on a little secret: Hes never taken the online test, which will be available April 9, 6 p.m. MT; April 10, 7 p.m. MT; and April 11, 9 p.m. MT. Thats not going to stop him from giving advice, though. Im pretty sure Im qualified, said Jennings, who recently returned to Jeopardy! and competed in the shows first All-Star Games. I dont want to brag. The audition process ran a lot differently during the initial Jennings era of Jeopardy!, when the Brigham Young University graduate wound up winning more than $2.5 million after 74 consecutive wins in 2004. Back in the day, you had to wait for Jeopardy! to come to your town like to show up at a mall with their Brain Bus or (you had) to come to L.A. to try out at a hotel in person, he said. They never came to Salt Lake, so me and a friend, a BYU roommate, drove down to L.A. just to try out which they tell you not to do. But we both passed the test." The first part of Jennings Jeopardy! audition in 2003 involved a 50-question written test where he had 15 seconds to answer each clue much like todays online format. The one main and exciting difference was that the clues were presented on a PowerPoint, voiced by longtime Jeopardy! announcer John Gilbert. After completing the 13-minute test, Jennings and his friend waited while a person on the Jeopardy! team graded the tests. They never received their official scores potential contestants must get at least 35 of the 50 questions right but after reconstructing the test in his head, Jennings figured hed answered around 40 correctly. He couldnt have been too far off, as both Jennings and his friend made the cut. So yes, even though he took the test back in the day, Jennings does believe he has insights worth sharing with Jeopardy! fans today. Preparing for the online test Watch "Jeopardy!" The sad truth is, the best tip is: Spend your entire life being interested in learning stuff and watching Jeopardy! every night on KJZZ-TV, Jennings said. Watching the show is the best thing youll see how the clues work and the kind of stuff that comes up over and over. Know your U.S. presidents and world capitals If youve watched the show, you realize which things you really have to know, Jennings said. Theres only 45 presidents; theres no reason not to spend some time studying the presidents. Know their years, know their vice presidents, know their home states and first ladies. And world capitals, thats kind of the other big one. Be able to know the capital for every country in the world. Thats the most bang for your buck. Other categories to be aware of Theres stuff thats disproportionately Jeopardy! Jennings said. Like they dont ask about opera a lot, but way more than it comes up in real life, so learn the composers of 20 operas. The Shakespeare plays are another manageable list, (as well as) Olympic cities, orchestra conductors, constitutional amendments (and) university towns. Make flashcards About a year after making the drive to Los Angeles to take the Jeopardy! written test, Jennings received a shocking phone call. He was at his job in Salt Lake City when he got the news. Bob from Jeopardy! was like, OK, we actually want to have you on (the show) in three weeks, Jennings recalled. Id totally forgotten that I had ever tried out for Jeopardy! and then I panicked because I had not been studying; I had not even been watching the show, and so then it was flashcards morning, noon and night. (I) made flashcards with the name of a cocktail on the front and all the ingredients on the back so that I would know how to mix drinks if it ever came up on Jeopardy! Taking the online test Aspiring Jeopardy! contestants have only a few days to watch Jeopardy! and brush up on U.S. presidents and world capitals before the big day arrives. When it comes to taking the test, Jennings has another handful of tips. Dont cheat Jennings may use Google when it comes to HQ Trivia, but he would never think to do that with the online Jeopardy! test. Fifteen seconds is enough time to have a friend googling, but dont because youll get caught when you get invited to the in-person audition, he said. Speed-read the clue When it comes to taking the online test, Jennings encourages test-takers to follow the lead of his supercomputer nemesis Watson. (Watson) doesnt read the whole clue; it tries to pick out the most relevant parts of the clue the proper names, the place names, the dates, the titles, he said. Pick those out as quick as you can, see if an idea pops into your head of who or what (the clue is) talking about and then plug that back into the clue and see if everything fits and works. Dont worry about spelling Taking the test can be stressful enough. Dont throw obsessing over spelling into the mix. What they want to know is, Could you answer the question right on the show? Jennings said. Dont get into a brain freeze about i before e. Dont get hung up on one question Even Jennings misses questions from time to time. You can get a bunch wrong; dont let one wrong answer submarine you, Jennings said. You can get one wrong. Dont think Oh, now Im done for. Theres another question coming up in 15 seconds, (so) leave the past in the past. The great thing about the online test is youre doing it at home and no one will know, he continued. You can always tell everybody you missed it just by one. Thats the best advice: Always say you missed it by one. Have fun According to Jennings, the real best advice is simple: Have fun. This is the best advice for the show as well, he said. Dont treat it like its some nerve-wracking crucible thats going to define you as a person. Its really fun to play Jeopardy! even on a computer test. Dont put so much pressure on yourself; youll play better and theres always the next test. Dont give up Tens of thousands of people try out for Jeopardy! each year, so don't feel discouraged if you don't make it through. Its super selective every year, Jennings said. I think by the numbers its 10 times harder to get on Jeopardy! than to get into Yale. I know a lot of really good players who failed the audition five times before they finally got on the show and did great. So dont get down on yourself. Wait for the next tryout, youre going to get better. It is something you can get better at. For additional tips and practice tests, visit jeopardy.com. SALT LAKE CITY Rich Dixon got out of the shower one morning to find his wife, Patricia, was gone. After reaching out to police and the fire department, she was found attempting to get into a home that was not hers. She had walked around barefoot and across a busy street looking for what she thought was home. After that, Dixon added multiple locks to his doors so his wife couldn't leave alone, and would no longer even take a shower without being aware of exactly what she was doing. Dixon cared for his wife for seven years while she progressed through stages of dementia. "Its just very, very frightening. What do you do? I mean you go out and look but sometimes they wander great distances," Dixon said. Utah is creating a Silver Alert program to help find endangered seniors and those with dementia who have wandered away from home. Created by HB215, which passed unanimously in the House and Senate during the recently completed legislative session and was signed by the governor, the program will go into effect later this year. Local Silver Alerts will work through a reverse 911 call. Cellphones can be registered with the local 911 dispatch center. Utah's aging population is growing significantly. There are more than 33,000 Utahns diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but national statistics suggest that accounts for only half, according to Jeremy Cunningham, director of public policy for the Utah chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Cunningham said 60 percent of adults with Alzheimer's will walk away from caregivers at some point. Between now and 2025, about 21,300 adults will wander in Utah. And he noted that Alzheimer's patients often wander farther 2 to 5 miles than the national average because of the rural nature of much of the Beehive State. Trina Anderson, memory care director at Sheridan at South Jordan, an assisted living facility that also offers adult day care, likes the the idea of the program. "I think (the Silver Alert program) is really cool," Anderson said, adding "I hope I never have to use it." Anderson said the care facility conducts drills and practices procedures if a patient is lost, but the facility hasn't had a resident wander away. The facility is proactive in its work with seniors with dementia, trying to keep them engaged, both physically and mentally, so they are less likely to wander. "We create the environment where theyre thriving and enjoying life again, and then they dont want to wander because theyre enjoying the moments," Anderson said. One resident likes to swim, so they take him swimming on Wednesdays, she said. They go on field trips and get out of the bus to do activities most Mondays. "If we get out they get to feel like a normal person again, they have purpose and feel a sense of belonging," Anderson said. But the center also takes measures to ensure residents don't walk away unnoticed. Each has a bracelet that will alert the staff if the resident gets close to an exit, giving them 15 seconds to intervene before the door opens. They can also see each resident's location from their phones. Cunningham said 39 states have a program like the Silver Alert, but Utah's is unique because it will include a geographical aspect, reaching out first through local alerts and contacting local officials and media. This differs from Utah's Amber Alert program, which sends push alerts to the entire state. Later, if there is evidence the senior has used a car or other transportation, the alert will expand and use messaging boards on freeways and interstates. The program will also allow law enforcement to send an alert if they have found a senior and are attempting to contact their family or caregiver. The Alzheimer's Association reached out to Rep. Lee Perry, R-Perry, who sponsored HB215 to create the Silver Alert system. Perry said before there wasn't much a small police department could do when looking for an adult who had wandered, especially if they had access to a car or public transportation. "I want law enforcement to have the tools they need to work out from the area they were last seen in," Perry said. Perry said a few years ago a man got keys to a car and drove off. After a three-day search in Box Elder county, police found he had died in the car in nearby Cache County. He said the Silver Alert system could have helped find the man sooner. The odds of finding a person are much higher when everyone is looking, Perry said, and not just police and family members. He said using the Utah Department of Transportation's overhead signs can get people in the area to start talking about and looking for a missing person. Detective Greg Wilking, of the Salt Lake City Police Department, said the department sees on average about one instance a month where police are called to locate a senior with dementia "I like anything that we can get that information out there quickly because time is always of the essence," Wilking said. He did express concerns the system would not reach as many people because more people are using cellphones and online landlines are automatically registered. As part of the bill, the Alzheimer's Association is providing training throughout the next year for police and first responder agencies. Dixon, who lost his wife to dementia, notes the new Silver Alert program fits in well with highlighting the importance of community involvement to help a caregiver. He remembers being able to call members of the Relief Society from his Latter-day Saint congregation when he needed help, and both his children and her children were available as well. He sees the Silver Alert program as bringing another level of support. "I think (the program) would give them reassurance that other people were concerned and other people were willing to keep their eyes open and be looking," Dixon said. SALT LAKE CITY About 100 protesters convened Thursday in downtown Salt Lake City to demand that Attorney General William Barr release special counsel Robert Mueller's report as soon as possible. "This is really a nonpartisan issue. It's about democracy, it's about transparency, it's about the rule of law, and it's about ethical government. And you know, we need to see this report. All we have is a summary from the president's hand-picked attorney general, and that is not enough," said Joanne Slotnik, a founder of activist group Salt Lake Indivisible, which organized the rally. According to organizers, the event was part of a nationwide protest spurred by public interest organizations calling for Barr to make the report public. On March 22, Barr released a four-page summary of Mueller's 400-page report of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election of President Donald Trump. On Thursday, Barr said he expects to release the full report with some redactions to the public by mid-April. But according to protesters at Thursday's rally, that isn't soon enough. "We have to know what has gone on. We have to understand," Nancy McHugh told the Deseret News. Slotnik, an attorney, said she doesn't believe making redactions should cause the delay. "I mean, it was a 400-page report. Attorney General William Barr has all the resources of the United States Department of Justice at his beck and call. Surely he can redact the few things that need to be redacted more quickly than he has. I think the Department of Justice could probably handle that," Slotnik said. She and others at the rally said they weren't pleased with Barr's summary of the report. "All we know is the way the attorney general has spun those 400 pages of the report," Slotnik said, adding that she hopes everyone in the country can see it and "make an ethical and moral judgement" about it for themselves. For Tom Laabs-Johnson, the problem is the president himself, though he noted "I hesitate to call him that because he just misrepresents my values and misrepresents the values that I believe are important for our country." He said he is concerned with potential redactions from the report and with Barr's objectivity. The report should be released to Congress without redactions "so we can get other eyes on it," Laabs-Johnson said. Brett Webster believes the president is trying to hide the results of the report. "I just can't sit idly by and be silent over what looks like an effort by the president to hide this report. This is ours. This is America's report. We paid for it, and we shouldn't have a government where that can happen, where powerful people, the subjects of investigations, shouldn't be able to hide the results," Webster said. "We need to see the results of this investigation and help heal, one way or another." Retired Utah Court of Appeals Judge Fred Voros, told the crowd during the rally, "We will be the wind that clears the sky. That is because we believe that freedom is worth fighting for." He said that everyone, including the president himself, was "shocked" when he won the election in 2016. "How did this rich billionaire with a string of bankruptcies, this vulgar reality TV star, this grinning face on the cover of Playboy magazine, how did he do it?" Voros asked. "We now know. He won with help from a hostile foreign power." But according to Barr's letter summarizing the report, Mueller's 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." Voros called Barr's letter "spin" and urged Barr to release the report with "minimal redactions and maximum transparency." Contributing: AP Correction: A previous version incorrectly spelled protester Joanne Slotnik's last name as Slotnick. Editor's note: A version of the following article was originally published by the Wheatley Institution at Brigham Young University. On the contemporary college campus, believers exhibit their own brand of skepticism. The academics I know tend to be thoughtful, well-meaning types who, on the whole, expand knowledge and aspire to foster a pluralistic vision of society. But, as New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has observed, the one kind of diversity that universities disregard is ideological and religious. He continues: Were fine with people who dont look like us, as long as they think like us. Kristof points to University of North Texas sociologist George Yancey: Outside of academia I faced more problems as a black. But inside academia I face more problems as a Christian, and it is not even close. Yanceys own research suggests that about half of academics would be less willing to hire someone they find out was a conservative Protestant. Within the academy, religion is often viewed as an outdated relic. Sure, it may have once served as a helpful mythos. But, like Platos noble lie, its an illusion or, in Karl Marxs parlance, an opiate to sedate the suffering masses. More generous critics say religion provides humans with Darwinian advantages. Evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein, for example, contends that even though religion can be metaphorically true (that is, it can produce positive outcomes), it will still be literally false. And yet, not everyone within the Ivory Tower imbibes these or other emerging secular dogmas. Theres skepticism, it seems, regarding the skeptics. Take Elaine Pagels, a Princeton professor and the author of the new book Why Religion? My father gave up the kind of ferocious Calvinism of his family for Darwin, she says in a recent interview discussing her book. He basically said, well, religion is just a bunch of old folk tales, and we dont need that. Educated people dont need that. Only people who arent (educated) would ever bother with the Bible and all that stuff. Then something happened. As a 15-year-old, Pagels attended a sermon by Billy Graham at Candlestick Park in San Francisco with a group of friends. While there, she felt something. She experienced something. Her conversion to evangelical Christianity lasted only a year. But her encounter with the numinous lingered. It expanded her worldview beyond the strident Darwinism of her father. She began to doubt his doubts and discover the wisdom in Hamlets remark to Horatio: There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Within todays prevailing academic posture toward religion theres an inherent assumption: bona fide believers are woefully wrong. And, by extension, bona fide believers must be ill-informed, ignorant or simply unintelligent. This, perhaps, helps explain why some scholars express a bias regarding hiring conservative Christians. After all, aspiring academics must demonstrate intellectual acuity, a commitment to data and facts, critical thinking abilities, curiosity and an unrelenting scholarly skepticism. But what if, as in the case of Pagels and others, the skepticism cuts the other way. Pagels describes a conversation she had with noted poet Marie Howe. While discussing Howes poem Annunciation in which Jesus mother, Mary, suddenly senses a divine presence of overpowering love approaching her Pagels asked how she came to write it. Well you know, it happened to me. But, of course, I couldnt say that, Howe responded. Such experiences, Pagels implies, may be more common than we imagine. A predecessor of the French philosophes of the 18th century, Blaise Pascal was a child prodigy. By age 16 he had written his first influential work on geometry, and by 21 he had invented the Pascaline what many consider to be the worlds first mechanical calculator. And yet, perhaps more important to him were the events that took place in his life on the night of Nov. 23, 1654. Sometime between 10:30 p.m. and midnight, Pascal had an ineffable experience, a personal theophany a revelation. Though the specifics of his mystical moment remain unknown, Pascal recorded the following words: Fire. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob not the God of the philosophers and of the learned ... Certitude. Certitude. Joy. Peace. Pascal closed his lines by quoting the biblical psalmist, I will not forget thy words. Amen. He placed the parchment containing these words in his jacket lining, as if to put it closer to his heart. In academia, skeptics are revered as shrewd truth-seekers. They stand in the grand tradition of scientists like Galileo, who was condemned to home confinement during an inquisition for his reasoned-based worldview. The orthodoxy of Galileos day refused to entertain the evidence. What of the orthodoxy of our day? To paraphrase Pascal, there are many truths the only real heresy is excluding some of them. SALT LAKE CITY Utah State University representatives said staff changes are to blame for delays on two reports addressing allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment against a biology professor at Utah State University Eastern in Price. The schools policy says reports regarding sex-based discrimination should be completed by the affirmative action and equal opportunity office within 60 days. But a complaint filed by a male student who said he was discriminated against by 43-year-old professor Tyson Chappell took 10 months to be answered. A female student who said she was sexually harassed by the same professor waited nearly two years to receive a draft report of the schools findings. The school found no evidence of discrimination against the male student, who claimed the professor gave special attention to attractive women in the class. However, the school found, based on a preponderance of evidence standard, that the professor "sexually harassed" the female student while she was enrolled in his anatomy and physiology class in the spring of 2017, citing text messages that were sexual in nature and frequently included invitations for the student to meet him alone in his office, as well as the professors own admission that he hugged the student and held and caressed her hand. The professor has a right to appeal the decision released to the student in a draft report of the findings before a final report is issued. Chappell would not comment on specific allegations but said in an email to the Deseret News, I fully support a students right to make these accusations if they are willing to go through the legitimate procedures and protocols established at Utah State University. I have full confidence in the school to handle such cases and concerns respectfully, properly and ethically. The university reorganized the office that handles discrimination and harassment complaints and made multiple staff changes in the wake of last years investigation into allegations of unchecked discrimination and sexual misconduct within the piano program. At the same time, the school has been under federal investigation by the Department of Justice for the past two years regarding its handling of alleged sexual misconduct. Colleges across the country are grappling with the best way to handle complaints about violations of Title IX, a federal law aimed at protecting students at universities from sex-based discrimination. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, there are 305 open Title IX investigations being conducted by the Department of Education at colleges and universities across the United States, including at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University. In an email to the female student on March 22, director of the affirmative action and equal opportunity office Alison Adams-Perlac wrote, The AA/EO Office has been in a leadership transition for the past year. When a recent records request was made in this case, we realized that, although we had completed an investigation, we had not yet issued a report of our findings. The draft report of findings issued to the male student on March 13 cited the 60-day rule, but said, the AA/EO director may adjust deadlines upon good cause. In this case, there was good cause to depart from timelines as the office underwent leadership changes and was understaffed for the majority of the investigation. Both reports were issued shortly after the school was contacted by the Deseret News. Utah State University spokesperson Tim Vitale said decisions about disciplinary action are only made after the investigation and appeals process is completed and a final report has been filed. Because the report only recently went out and is technically still a draft, that process is still unfolding, Adams-Perlac wrote in an email to the female student. Once the written response period ends, I will be sharing the final report with Tysons department so that appropriate action can be taken to address his behavior. Since the alleged sexual harassment took place in the spring of 2017, Chappell has continued to teach at the university. His anatomy and physiology classes are required for multiple health-related degree programs, including nursing. In December of last year, the professor announced publicly on Facebook his relationship with a woman who was a student in his spring 2018 class. Previously, in a May 2018 complaint letter sent to the university affirmative action and equal opportunity office, the male student accused Chappell of flirting with that woman during class to the point that it was distracting. Two other students in that class told the Deseret News they noticed the behavior and thought it was inappropriate. In his May 2018 complaint letter, the male student also alleged that Chappell "liked" photos of students on social media and sent emails to his female study partner that made her uncomfortable. The emails, reviewed by the Deseret News, contained comments such as, Youre such an amazing student and person... Youre really amazing, and, I love that you are in my classes. The female study partner told the Deseret News she was uncomfortable with the emails and likes on her Instagram photos because her male study partner did not receive the same attention. I feel vulnerable as a female, and I have no drive to go to class, another one of Chappells students told the Deseret News. I make sure to never go to his classroom or office alone. In its draft findings report, the school said there was no evidence of gender-based discrimination against the male student after reviewing three of his exams and evaluating grade adjustments made by the professor during the prior four semesters. The report did not draw any conclusions about the male students allegations of flirtation. Please consider how easy it is for anyone to make allegations without evidence, Chappell told the Deseret News, noting that the classes he teaches are very difficult and students who dont do well may be motivated to say such horrible things. After receiving the report, the male student said he filed a complaint with the Department of Education saying the school did not investigate thoroughly enough and the 10-month delay allowed Chappell to retaliate with his own claims that the student stalked and blackmailed him, allegations which the student denies. Vitale said student records, including complaints against professors, are private under federal law, and therefore the school cannot comment on individual cases. AA/EO and Title IX address issues of discrimination. We have extensive processes for grievances, for appeals, for chain-of-command, for channels to complain, open-door-policies at multiple levels, said Vitale. In general terms which are important to understand sometimes cases can become extremely complicated as new claims and serious new counterclaims can continue to come forward. A hostile learning environment When the female student enrolled in Chappells anatomy and physiology class more than two years ago, she was 20 years old. At the time, Chappell was 41 years old and married. The student and her professor started sending each other frequent emails and Facebook messages, first about questions she had from the class. Soon however, the conversations became personal. The student and her professor talked about music, drugs, the students mental health struggles and pornography. The Deseret News reviewed messages between the student and her teacher during the spring 2017 semester and found many examples of sexual suggestions and innuendos as well as comments about the students appearance. According to a draft report of findings, Chappell told an investigator that there was a fantasy element to his conversations with the student, but he was not pursuing a sexual relationship with her. In the messages, Chappell said repeatedly, "I'd like to help you succeed in class anyway possible," and constantly invited her to visit his office for extra help. "I'm your professor, but for certain things I'd rather you think of me as a friend," he said in one message. I mean I already dont think of you as just a student. So youre not JUST that, but that is one thing that you are to me. Get it? he wrote in another. The female student told the Deseret News she was initially flattered that Chappell was being so attentive, but later felt pressure to continue engaging with him so she could do well in the class. I would also like to pass these next exams, and I would also like an answer to the second half of my last question, the student wrote in a message to Chappell on April 11, 2017. Will you keep the conversation appropriate and will you keep your hands to yourself this time? Utah State University defines sexual harassment as any sexual attention that is unwanted including comments about a persons body or clothing, unwelcome touching, giving letters and subtle pressure for sexual activity among other things. Based on a preponderance of evidence standard, meaning it is more likely than not that harassment occurred, the school determined in its draft report that the professors verbal, written, and physical conduct was unwelcome and sexual in nature, and it created a hostile learning environment. The school is legally required to respond promptly and equitably to abuses of power. Lisa Anderson, executive director of Atlanta Women for Equality Lisa Anderson, executive director of Atlanta Women for Equality, a nonprofit that provides free representation to women who have faced sex discrimination at school, said that if it appears a professor is flirting with students or favoring students based on their gender and attractiveness, it can create a sexually hostile environment for everyone else in the class and can interfere with students education. The school is legally required to respond promptly and equitably to abuses of power, Anderson said. According to the student, after she reported the alleged harassment, she was interviewed by an investigator. She said the schools Title IX coordinator at the time, Stacy Sturgeon, offered to allow her to retake the class online, but she had already passed and didnt feel it was necessary. She said that when she chose to take another class from Chappell last summer instead of driving to a different campus, Sturgeon told the student to stay in touch about concerns. The student ended up dropping the class, in part because she was not prepared and in part because she was uncomfortable being around Chappell, she said. Being a professor with very difficult classes, I have been accused of any number of discrepancies, Chappell told the Deseret News. When I read these cruel complaints about me there is a very high probability that they are coming from students that didnt want to put the time in to studying, so I am the bad guy. In November, the student sent an email that was never answered to Sturgeon asking for an update on her case. Before the student spoke to the Deseret News in March, she did not know Sturgeon had been removed from her position as Title IX coordinator following the investigation into allegations of gender discrimination and sexual misconduct within the schools piano program. Sturgeon told the Deseret News she left the university in May 2018 and declined to comment further. According to Title IX experts such as Daniel Carter, president of Safety Advisors for Educational Campuses, when a student makes a claim about sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination, the school is required to investigate and come up with a finding as to whether such occurred. During the investigation process, the school is supposed to provide ongoing notice to the complainants and appraise them of reasons for delays. If investigators determine harassment or discrimination did occur, the school is required to intervene and eliminate the inappropriate behavior, and regardless of findings, the school should provide accommodations to help students complete their education. There is no specific criteria for firing or disciplining a member of the faculty, according to Carter, but schools typically choose to terminate a faculty member when that person has repeatedly abused their teaching authority and the school has calculated that removing the teacher is the best way to remedy the situation, Carter said. After this story was posted online, Vitale issued the following statement: We deeply regret how long it took to produce those reports, and we have recently taken many significant steps to prevent delays from happening again. USU has more than doubled the size of the Title IX office and resources. Weve added a prevention specialist, a new Title IX coordinator, and a new executive director of the office that oversees Title IX," Vitale said. "We are also now working to hire a person to provide support for those involved in the Title IX process. The staff has been working double time to improve processes for Title IX and discrimination complaints and to resolve outstanding cases. We are on track now to prevent these kinds of delays from happening again. Unlocking the female bias in lupus The autoimmune disease lupus, which can cause fatigue, a facial rash, and joint pain, strikes females far more often than males. Eight-five percent of people with lupus are female, and their second X chromosome seems partly to blame. According to a new study by Penn researchers, females with lupus don't fully "silence" their second X chromosome in the immune system's T cells, leading to abnormal expression of genes linked to that chromosome. The work, led by Montserrat Anguera of the School of Veterinary Medicine and published in the journal JCI Insight, is the first to connect disruptions in maintaining X chromosome inactivation in T cells to lupus. It also suggests that changes to the nuclear structure in the inactive X chromosome of T cells may play a part in the genetic missteps that can arise in lupus--the first time that nuclear organization has been noted as a feature of this disease. "In normal circumstances, the inactive X should be silenced, and what we show is, in lupus, it's not," says Anguera, a biologist at Penn Vet. "And it's ultimately affecting gene expression." Anguera's lab has paid close attention to the link between X chromosome inactivation, an epigenetic process that balances gene expression between males and females, and autoimmune disease. In earlier studies, the team found that, in females, both T cells and B cells have incomplete inactivation of the second X chromosome due to changes in the patterns of Xist, an RNA molecule that is necessary for X inactivation. In the new work, Anguera and colleagues wanted to more closely examine this process in T cells and specifically in the context of an autoimmune disease, in this case, lupus. They first tracked the process of X inactivation in T cells from healthy mice. Their observations revealed that, as T cells develop, Xist temporarily diffuses away from the inactive X chromosome. But when a T cell is activated, as it would be upon encountering a potential pathogen, for example, then Xist RNA returns to this chromosome. To see what happens in autoimmune disease, the researchers used a mouse model that spontaneously develops lupus in a female-biased manner, similar to the human disease. All female mice of this strain develop the disease, while only 40 percent of males do. Examining the animals' T cells, the researchers discovered that those at early stages of disease resembled healthy controls in their patterns of Xist localization. But those in the later stages of disease had a dramatically different pattern. "The only differences we detected happened at late stages of disease," Anguera says. "What this means is that abnormal X inactivation is a consequence of the disease; it's not predisposing the animal to develop the disease." Interestingly, when the researchers looked at T cells from pediatric lupus patients, provided by study co-author Edward M. Behrens of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, they found the same mislocalization of Xist that they had seen in the mice with lupus, even though the children were in remission from their disease. Even stimulating those patients' cells in vitro wasn't enough to coax Xist into the normal pattern. "Even though they don't have active disease, there's something missing that's preventing the RNA from staying targeted at that inactive X chromosome," Anguera says. As a next step, the scientists wanted to drill deeper into which genes might be altered in expression from the X chromosome of lupus patients. Comparing additional data from female and male lupus patients with either severe or mild disease, as well as healthy controls, they found a subset of genes altered only in the females with lupus, but not in the healthy females or the males with lupus. And while roughly a quarter of genes from the inactive X chromosome escape inactivation even in healthy individuals, the research team found that a subset of the altered genes in the lupus patients belonged to regions of the X chromosome that didn't normally escape inactivation. Of this smaller group of genes, they determined that some that were lower in expression in lupus patients are involved in controlling nuclear organization and structure. "What we think is happening is that in lupus, this Xist RNA is diffusing all over the place, these chromosomal proteins are changing their expression, and nuclear organization in the territory of the inactive X is changing," Anguera says. "And that may also be contributing to the relaxed silencing of the inactive X and the changes in gene expression that we're seeing." No one has yet attributed changes in nuclear structure to lupus or other autoimmune diseases, and Anguera and her team hope to dig further into the causes and consequences of the altered nuclear DNA organization. "This is taking our research and the field into a whole new direction for understanding the female bias with lupus disease," she says. In the future, the researchers plan to use single-cell sequencing technology to probe questions about the maintenance and disruption of X inactivation. And though the research is in early days, Anguera is hopeful that further work will lead to new approaches for treating autoimmune diseases such as lupus. "I think it's really promising," she says. "If you can get Xist RNA to look like it should, then perhaps you can fix the aberrant X-linked gene expression." Exploring the role of RNA binding proteins, which help to tether Xist to the X chromosome and keep it in place, she says, may be a fruitful area for further study. ### Anguera and Behrens's co-authors on the paper were lead author Camille M. Syrett, as well as Bam Paneru, Donavon Sandoval-Heglund, Jianle Wang, Sarmistha Banerjee, Vishal Sindhava, and Michael Atchison, all from Penn Vet. Support for the study came from the University Research Foundation, the American Chemical Society, the McCabe Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health (grants AI124084, HD085848-03, GM007229, HD083185, GM123604, AI079002, and GM111384). Montserrat Anguera is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. This story has been published on: 2019-04-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. SALT LAKE CITY Federal prosecutors dismiss as "misplaced" a Utah lawmaker's accusation that their efforts to quintuple his restitution payments for an illegal ATV ride is politically motivated. And in a reply to Rep. Phil Lyman's tirade against assistant U.S. attorney Allison J.P. Moon, the government argues that the Blanding Republican is more than able to pay a larger amount. A new filing in U.S. District Court late Thursday is the latest in the back and forth between prosecutors and Lyman over his $95,955 in restitution after his conviction for leading an ATV protest ride through an archaeologically sensitive southeastern Utah canyon. Lyman spent 10 days in jail for trespassing. Last month, prosecutors claimed Lyman's financial circumstances had changed since his election to the Utah House of Representatives last year and that he has a "heightened moral obligation" to pay off the debt. They say he is capable of paying $500 a month rather than the court-ordered $100. Lyman, acting as his own attorney, argued that he's making $25,000 per year less after giving up his position on the San Juan County Commission to serve in the House. He also questioned Moon's motives for seeking the higher payment. "Could it be that this has come about because I am a newly elected state representative on the opposite of Ms. Moon politically?" he wrote in letter last week to Judge David Nuffer. Moon dismisses Lyman's allegations in the latest court filing. "As to the United States motive, the United States is simply seeking to collect a debt, and Mr. Lymans accusations are misplaced," she wrote. Prosecutors also acknowledged that they overlooked the fact that Lyman makes less as a state legislator than he did as a county commissioner. "But in the end this matters little because any material change in the defendants economic circumstances allows the court to adjust the defendants payment schedule to serve the interests of justice," Moon wrote. "And even with his allegedly decreased income, Mr. Lyman can afford to pay $500 per month towards restitution." Prosecutors say Lyman, a certified public accountant, did not argue in his letter that he can't afford to make the higher payment nor did he provide any specific financial information. Though much of what apparently is Lyman's personal financial information is redacted in the new court filing, the government says he owns commercial real estate in Blanding. It estimates the net equity in the property at $202,511. Raising the restitution payment would ensure the full amount is paid and that "Mr. Lyman, who receives a publicly funded income, would also pay his public debt," Moon wrote. Court documents show Lyman has a $90,105 balance on his restitution, with the judgment against him expiring in April 2036. At the current rate, he would pay only another $20,500 before that date, according to court documents. If he were to pay $500 a month, he would have it paid in full by 2034. SALT LAKE CITY The $650 million price tag for the new state prison being built west of the Salt Lake City International Airport continues to climb, with escalating costs possibly bringing the bottom line closer to $800 million. "There was no surprise. Everybody can see whats happening in the market," Marilee Richins, deputy director of the state Department of Administrative Services that includes the division responsible for prison construction, told reporters Friday. Senate Budget Chairman Jerry Stevenson, who helped oversee the yearslong prison relocation process, said there's little choice at this point but to come up with the additional funding needed. "Nobody wants to, but we're way past the point of no return on this. We're going to have to finish it now. I don't think anybody planned for this," Stevenson, R-Layton, said, blaming the ballooning costs on a bustling economy. "We don't have control of that," he said of the lawmakers who came up with initial estimate. "We played by all the rules we laid down for ourselves. We're a victim of the economy. We never tried to deceive anyone." Richins said while there's been "some great progress" on the new prison due to be completed by the end of 2021, construction expenses have already been 18 percent to 22 percent higher than anticipated. She declined to estimate what the final price to taxpayers could end up being, but with only half of the contracts for the prison in place, a similar escalation could boost the cost by up to $143 million. No additional money was sought during the 2019 Legislature, and Richins said there's enough cash flow to continue work. She said about $210 million has been encumbered out of $361 million currently available. Bonds that have been authorized but not yet issued could help make up the difference, Richins said. "Was it funded less than we needed? Yeah, it was," she said, in part to force the state to find every possible savings in the massive project. "I think we did the best that we could." She also said Utah's strong economy has helped make the prison more expensive, along with other big projects including the new multibillion-dollar airport under construction. There have been about $118 million in savings over initial estimates, Richins said, such as $8.5 million cut by reducing the size of the facility. Now the new prison will have 3,600 beds rather than the 4,000 at the Utah State Prison in Draper. Design changes that mean only parts of the new prison are considered state-of-the-art have also been made, Richins said, such as using electronic monitoring rather than relying on guard towers. Such decisions are part of an effort to comply with what Richins called both pressure and encouragement from Gov. Gary Herbert to cut costs that led to suspending work for months at one point. "Theres concern of course," she said of the recent increased expenses. "We received very strong instructions to continue to find savings. (By) no means are they saying, 'Doggone it, we understand.'" The governor's deputy chief of staff, Paul Edwards, praised the effort by the administrative services department's Division of Facilities Construction and Management to control costs. "In an economy marked by escalating labor and material costs," Edwards said the division "continues to impress us with their careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars. They have been creative in design and frugal in procurement to keep costs down." Moving the Utah State Prison from the Point of the Mountain site to free up that property along the state's high-tech corridor known as Silicon Slopes for development has always been controversial. Lawmakers selected the west Salt Lake site over locations in Utah and Tooele counties, but has required significant soil mitigation to ensure the land near the Great Salt Lake was compacted enough to hold the weight of the new prison. The project had been overseen by the Prison Development Commission, created in 2015 after the Legislature voted to relocate the decades-old facility. However, the commission was among the government groups disbanded in the last legislative session. Stevenson said there's always been a possibility of an increase in the $650 million estimate, which included $100 million to pay for developing infrastructure to the undeveloped site near the airport. But he said budget details made public Friday weren't available during the legislative session that ended in mid-March. Now, Stevenson said, lawmakers will continue to look for potential savings. That could mean housing more inmates in county jails, mental health facilities or other locations, further reducing the size of the prison, he said. Nearly a quarter of state inmates already serve time in county jails. "We will be in a position next year to put more cash into it if we deem that is necessary," Stevenson said. "Part of the issue we've had here is it's just taken a long time. This has all come together in the last two weeks." He suggested there may be a silver lining. "We've got to remember that the existing prison site is escalating," Stevenson said. "We may make a lot of money there. When we put everything together, maybe it's not as dark a picture as it could be." Luxury-grade commercial real estate can be found in virtually every major city. With that said, certain places have a substantially higher volume of high-end commercial real estate. Whats more, these places tend to be where the most sought-after and inspiring structures are located. Nowhere is this truer than in Southern California, where timeless building principles have fused with state-of-the-art structural engineering to produce some of the most iconic commercial real estate in the world. The following is a breakdown of the significance of luxury commercial real estate design in Southern California. Read more after the jump: Demand High-end commercial real estate was once only sought by the most successful and established companies, but not anymore. This is certainly the case in Southern California, where tech startups operate alongside tech giants in most major cities. These smaller companies want luxury workspace as much as the big guys. They make room in their budget by opting for refurbished Xerox machines and other cost-saving measures. It means that much to them. The resulting demand for luxury commercial real estate in Southern California is intense. Innovation The companies in search of high-end commercial real estate in Southern California tend to aim for something extraordinary. For San Diego construction management overseeing commercial real estate building projects, this means being involved in innovation from one site to another across the southern coast. These structures represent the cutting edge in terms of energy efficiency, harmony with nature, and structural engineering particularly when it comes to withstanding the earthquakes common to California. Exposure The vast majority of popular movies, television shows, music videos, and other visual media is produced in the studio zone of Southern California. The makers of these productions typically seek out interesting locations for shooting, including buildings which stand out due to their architectural design. The high-end commercial real estate in Southern California is showcased to the world in a way rivaled by no other region on earth. Influence Given the demand, innovation, and exposure of luxury commercial real estate in Southern California, its no surprise these structures are highly influential in the world of architectural design. Some of the most iconic buildings ever constructed for the sake of commercial purposes have been in cities in Southern California, and the list keeps growing with every year. These structures inspire architects and engineers around the globe to embrace new ideas and concepts. Its safe to say the high-end commercial real estate of Southern California influences the look and feel of similarly proposed buildings being built on the other side of the world. Certain places seem to draw a higher concentration of wealth and success than others. This has been true since the dawn of civilization. In the modern age, Southern California ranks as one of these regions. Its only natural that luxury commercial real estate across the southern portion of the Golden State would be in such high demand. The effects of this go beyond the region itself and stretch out to the world as a whole. Its for this reason that high-end commercial real estate in Southern California is so significant. After the stupendous success of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, last year, actor Kartik Aaryan delivered another superhit film this year, Laxman Utekar's Luka Chuppi. The quirky rom-com has not only earned praises from all quarters but has also done great business. Luka Chuppi has collected over Rs. 92 crores at the BO and is declared a superhit. Kartik's character - Guddu has been adored by one and all and the talented actor has been receiving praises galore for deftly portraying a small-town guy in the film, even from the likes of superstar Ajay Devgn. Earlier, Kriti Sanon had voiced her concerns about the fact that Kartik was the only person receiving all the praises for the film and that is completely unfair. She further elaborated that she was as much a aprt of the film as Kartik and it is wrong to shower praises on just the leading actor of a film. And recently, Ajay Devgn, proved her right yet again. It so happened that, recently, after Ajay Devgn released the trailer of his new film De De Pyaar De, Kartik took to his Twitter handle to praise the trailer, Ajay Devgn's comic timing and wish luck to the makers of the film. Kartik's appreciation was soon reciprocated by the superstar, who replied saying, "Thanks Kartik. Congrats on Luka Chuppi, you rocked it." Now a compliment like that coming from none other than Ajay Devgn, who is one of the finest actors we have, definitely means a lot. Heartthrob Kartik Aaryan is currently busy shooting for Imtiaz Ali's next untitled film. Post that he will start the next schedule of Pati Patni aur Woh. 9mobile has lodged an appeal against the Abuja Federal High Courts decision to nullify the sale of the Nigerian operator to Teleology. Teleology acquired 9mobile in October last year, but Justice Binta Nyako ruled that any activity related to the sale taking place after 25th April 2018 was void, on the grounds that all involved parties had been instructed not to progress with the acquisition prior to the resolution of a lawsuit filed by two stakeholders. Afdin Ventures and Dirbia Nigeria took legal action to demand the return of their combined $43 million investment, claiming that they were not privy to the decisions that led to the proposed sale of 9mobile. According to the judge, there is evidence that the relevant parties knew of this lawsuit but opted to continue with the sale. However, 9mobile has decried the ruling, with the operators legal adviser Ore Olajide dismissing the reports as incorrect, misleading, mischievous and a total falsehood. The sale of 9mobile to Teleology Nigeria Limited has not been nullified. The court made an order to maintain status quo as at April 25, 2018 when EMTS (Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services) was not a party to the suit and we have appealed the ruling as well as sought an injunction pending appeal at the Court of Appeal. Minister Cannon Announces Africa Day 2019 Invitations to Local Authorities Press release Minister Cannon Announces Africa Day 2019 Invitations to Local Authorities Opportunity to Bring the Sights and Sounds of Africa to Local Communities Across Ireland Deadline for Applications: Wednesday 10 April Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon T.D., is inviting local authorities across Ireland to get involved in helping communities to celebrate Africa Day 2019. Having hosted annual Africa Day celebrations over the past several years at Farmleigh in Dublin, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is this year adopting a fresh and collaborative approach, encouraging local authorities in Dublin and throughout the country to lead their own events and engage their local communities in the celebrations. The Department is offering financial and practical supports towards these community events for which local authorities can apply up to Wednesday 10 April. Announcing the supports available for 2019, Minister Cannon said: I am delighted to invite local authorities from around the country to get involved in supporting communities to celebrate Africa Day. My Department will be pleased to offer support towards events around the country that help to highlight and increase public understanding of the many positive connections that exist between Ireland and Africa. I encourage all local authorities to avail of this wonderful opportunity to bring the sights and sounds of Africa to their local community and to submit an application by Wednesday April 10th. Further details of specific events taking place in local areas will be announced as soon as possible over the following weeks. ENDS Press Office 5 April 2019 Notes to Editors: - Africa Day, designated by the African Union as an annual celebration of the continents unity, falls on 25th May each year and celebrations to mark the day occur across the globe. - A number of communities around Ireland have organised Africa Day-related celebrations and event over the past several years. In 2018, Irish Aid supported these activities in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Meath, Waterford and Wexford, as well as in Dublin. - Invitations to apply for Africa Day 2019-related funding and other available supports have issued to every local authority organisation in Ireland. Local authorities are encouraged to consult with their local communities and to hold any proposed events as close as possible to Africa Day itself, and no later than one week either side of 25th May. - For further information and guidance on how to apply, local authorities can contact Public Outreach Section in the Communications Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. - Information on previous Africa Day events and celebrations is available via the www.africaday.ie website. Previous Item | Next Item The Madras High Court order also prohibits the media from telecasting videos that are made via TikTok. Highlights: Madras High Court has asked the central government to ban TikTok as it encouraging pornography" The courts order directs the media to not air videos made using the app. The popular video creation app TikTok has been under the Tamil Nadu governments radar for some time now. Earlier, the states IT minister asked the state government in the state assembly to initiate a dialogue with the Center to ban the application as it is said to promote sharing of sexually-explicit material. Now, a court in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has asked the centre to ban the app again saying that it is "encouraging pornography". The bench has reportedly prohibited the media from telecasting videos that are made using the app. As per a Reuters report, the Tamil Nadu High Court was hearing a PIL against the app and said children using the app were vulnerable to exposure to sexual predators. "The dangerous aspect is that inappropriate contents including language and pornography are being posted in the TikTok App. There is a possibility of children contacting strangers directly and getting lured by them. Without understanding the dangers involved in these kinds of mobile apps, it is unfortunate that are our children are using these apps," the court said asking the Centre to ban TikTok. A TikTok spokesperson told Reuters that it is committed to abiding by local laws and is waiting for the courts order, after which it will take appropriate actions. The spokesperson told Reuters, Maintaining a safe and positive in-app environment ... is our priority. As per the report, the petition was filed by a Madurai-based senior lawyer, who is also a social activist, Muthu Kumar. Kumar apparently cited pornography, child abuse and suicides as the reasons for banning TikTok. The app is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Co. and has over 54 million monthly active users in India and touched the 1 billion download mark this February. It enables its users to create Related Reads: Tamil Nadu government might ban TikTok as it is reportedly used to circulate extreme content Tamil Nadu government might ban TikTok as it is reportedly used to circulate extreme content Yangyang Zhou and Quan Jiang studying in the US on student visas reportedly scammed Apple by submitting over thousands of fake iPhones and getting them replaced under Apples warranty scheme. Two engineering students in the US reportedly swindled Apple out of thousands of dollars. As per a report by The Oregonian, two students named Yangyang Zhou and Quan Jiang imported thousands of fake Apple iPhones and sent them to Apple for replacement. The two apparently received the counterfeit iPhone shipments from China and sent them back to Apple again after getting them replaced from Apple by stating that they wouldn't power on, exploiting the companys replacement warranty policy. Zhou and Jiangs contact in China sold the original iPhones off at a standard price and paid a cut of the profit to them. As per the report, Federal agents in Portland commenced investigating the import of counterfeit shipments in April 2017, after the U.S Customs and Border Protection seized five such shipments from Hong Kong. A Homeland Security agent identified Jiang as one of the alleged importers of fake phones and interviewed him. Jiang reportedly denied knowing that the phones were knock-offs and said that he received 20 to 30 iPhones regularly from his associate in China and submitted them as they didnt turn on and sent the repaired phones back to him. His associate back in China paid Jiangs mother in lieu of his labor and efforts, who deposited it in an account that the student accessed from the US. Jiang is said to have submitted 2,000 units in 2017 to Apple for warranty repairs, sometimes by walking into an Apple store and at times by raising service support online and shipping it to Apple. Adrian Punderson, an Apple representative, said that the company checks every device for authenticity before performing repairs and sometimes rejects them if they are not genuine, the report states. Jiang apparently had 3,069 iPhone warranty claims by either his name, email, address or IP address, all citing the reason that the device wouldn't power on. Apple replaced 1,493 of these phones and rejected the rest, which reportedly cost the company $895,800 (Rs 6 crores approx). Apples engineers were unable to find out whether the devices were fake since they wouldnt power on, the report states. As The Verge points out, Apple apparently doesnt ask for proof of purchase. Additionally, the company sent Jiang cease-and-desist notices to Jiangs address, to which he didnt respond. Jiang reportedly said that he never received any notification from Apple that the phones being returned by him were counterfeit. Both Zhou and Jian remain out of custody. Zhou recently completed his engineering at the Oregon State University and appeared before the U.S. District Court in Portland. Jiang is being monitored by GPS. Jiang was studying engineering last spring at Linn Benton Community College. This is not the first time someone has tried to con a conglomerate into shelling out money. A previous report claimed that a Lithuanian man duped Google and Facebook by producing fake invoices. The companies paid up the fake invoices worth $122 million without realising that the invoices listed things they didnt even order. Related Reads: Man steals $122 million from Google and Facebook by producing fake invoices Man steals $122 million from Google and Facebook by producing fake invoices Here's how you can access and check The Google Transparency Report which shows how much political parties in India are spending on Google Ads during the election period. Highlights: Google release report aiming transparency in political advertising during general elections. People can see expenditure by geography and advertiser. You can also see the type of advertisement placed on different Google-owned platforms. In a weeks time, the worlds largest democracy will enter the election phase where the people will vote for candidates in seven phases to form a government. In the past, it has been accused (and observed) that political parties have used several technology platforms to influence the voters. While the tech giants have already faced a lot of criticism on this issue in western countries, it seems they are already taking precautions in case of India to avoid a repetition of the ruckus. While Facebook and WhatsApp have already released an outline of the steps they will take to ensure the transparency in this election, Google has now come out with their own way by releasing the Google Transperancy Report to share data that will sheds light on how policies and actions of governments and corporations affect privacy, security, and access to information. Our goal is to provide greater transparency in political advertising on Google, YouTube, and partner properties. This report includes information about Lok Sabha election ads that feature or are run by a political party, a political candidate, or a current member of the Lok Sabha, Google said about the report. Heres how you can check the facts and keep a track on the developments: You can click here to go to the Reports section on the top left corner of the screen. From the third column, click Political Advertising on Google and select India to know about the expenditure on political ads by every political party since February 19, 2019. The report will also show you the states where the money has been spent. Moreover, you can also see the types and content of the ads that have been placed on different platforms owned by Google. There's also a break-up of expenditure made by each political party since February 2019. It is worth noting that the sum displayed here only shows the expenditure done to place ads only on Googles different platforms. The company updates the stats on a weekly basis. Google has segregated the expenditure into two sections: Ad spend per geography and top advertisers (the data on the platform represents total spend by verified advertisers since February 19, 2019.) The Google Transparency Report shows that over Rs 3.7 crores have been spent cumulatively by several political parties since February 19, 2019. According to the report, Andhra Pradesh has seen the maximum ad expenditure on Googles platforms followed Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar. It is worth noting that people in all these states will be voting in the first phase, that is, on April 11. The report also shows that the Bharatiya Janata Party has spent the most among all the political parties in the country. People can also download the data offline. Recently, Facebook launched initiatives to boost civic engagement during general elections: Candidate Connect and Share You Voted. While Candidate Connect will help people learn more about candidates contesting for Lok Sabha elections from their constituency, Share you Voted will provide people with polling information and enable them to announce that they have voted. Both the two new tools have been made available in twelve local languages in India. Either through a bookmark in their settings, or through a message in their News Feed, voters will be able to watch 20-second videos of candidates contesting from their respective constituencies. These videos, presented through the Candidate Connect tool, will enable candidates to engage with the electorate. On its part, WhatsApp also introduced tools to curb the spread of fake news and misinformation during the general elections. The instant messaging app launched a new tip line in collaboration with PROTO, an India-based media skilling startup to verify text messages, videos and photos circulating on the platform with regards to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The platform also added teeth by rolling out new privacy settings and invite system in India ahead of the elections aimed at giving users more control over who can add them to a group. Related Read: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey banks on AI to help company curb fake news dissemination ahead of 2019 general elections in India Windows 10's next feature update won't force you to install it immediately. Highlights: Windows 10's next update is the May Update (version 1903) It should go llive in late May Users can defer installation of the update for up to 35 days Microsoft is notorious for pestering its users with Windows updates, be it feature updates or security patches. Well, the Satya Nadella-led company is finally bringing us some good news. When the Windows 10 May Update (version 1903) goes live in late May, users will get a chance to defer the installation of the update for a period of up to 35 days. Sadly, that is the maximum time period a user will get before Windows forces the user to update. On the other hand, users ready to embrace the new May Update can always hit the Check for updates button in Settings in late May if their Windows is 10 version is either 1803 or 1809. When the update is ready, Windows will show a Download and install now option. Users may install it then and there if they feel like it. According to Microsofts blog post on the matter, the company will use its ML model to perform a phased rollout of the update. Machines predicted to have the best update experience will get the update first. We have added new label criteria so we can train the model on a broader set of issues, such as display or audio issues after update. In addition, we have implemented an ensemble approach that enables the model to predict the individual label criteria (e.g., rollback, operating system crash, application issues, etc.) related to the update experience as well as the full collection of criteria to improve our ability to accurately predict and troubleshoot issues, Microsoft writes in its blog post. In related news, Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows 7 SP1 a couple of weeks ago. After 10 years of servicing, January 14, 2020, is the last day Microsoft will offer security updates for computers running Windows 7 SP1. This update enables reminders about Windows 7 end of support, the company said. In fact, Microsoft has been urging its Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 for a while now. A fresh copy of Windows 10 Home costs Rs 9,299 on the Microsoft India site. Related Read: Microsoft announces end of support for Windows 7 SP1 Interior/Commercial Washington Photo by Bruce Damonte For the Nordic Museum, Western Partitions performed multiple scopes of work, including engineered exterior framing and sheathing. Nordic Museum Location: Seattle Contractor: Western Partitions Architect: Mithun Team: Award Metals, Cemco, CertainTeed Gypsum, CWallA, Fry Reglet, Georgia-Pacific, GTS Interior Supply, Hamilton Drywall Products, HILTI, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, Scafco Steel Stud Co., The Supply Guy, USG Building Systems The Nordic Museum is the only cultural center in the United States that celebrates all five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. It is an internationally recognized museum and cultural center. Founded in 1980 by the Nordic Heritage Society, the museum occupied an old Seattle school building in Seattles Ballard neighborhood until it relocated to a new building in the heart of Northwest Ballard in May 2018. Budgeted at just under $54 million, the new three-story, 57,000-square-foot Nordic Museum houses more than 77,000 artifacts. It is designed around the linear Fjord Hall with its multi-faceted walls, which direct visitors to the exhibits while weaving together stories of the Nordic region and the Nordic American experience. Western Partitions performed multiple scopes of work on the project, including engineered exterior framing, exterior sheathing, weather-and-air barrier, interior framing, gypsum wallboard and tape-and-finish. One of the first challenges was laying out, framing and hanging the 39-foot-high faceted Fjord Hall walls. Another obstacle was how best to produce a level five finish on the north side of Fjord Hall. With the multidirectional lighting, including the 300-foot-long skylight directly above the hall wall, the 11,000 square feet of level five finish posed a procedural hurdle. After technical consultation with the NWCB staff, WPI tapers produced a top-notch finish that was extremely pleasing to the design team. For the Nordic Heritage Society, the opening of the Nordic Museum completed years of fundraising and planning. The project was committed from the start to innovation and sustainability and the team achieved LEED Silver certification for the work. Juror's comment: Real artistry was required to achieve finishes for a skylight and the angles contained in this museum. Other Stories: Exterior/Residential Washington Photo by Rich Jackson The Falterman-Strong residence project stucco-reclad endured weather extremes over two years. Falterman-Strong Residence Location: Mercer Island Contractor: Joseph J. Jefferson & Son Architect: William Zimmerman Architects Team: Dryvit Systems, Georgia-Pacific, Salmon Bay Construction Products The Stronghold is a single-family residence on Mercer Island. The scope of work involved a complete exterior stucco reclad with a new conservatory/sunroom addition. The work included new window surrounds, three levels of decks, structural and nonstructural soffit beams and other alterations. Existing barrier exterior insulation and finish systems were removed and about 6,000 square feet of new stucco with acrylic finish were installed over exterior walls and columns. Direct-applied finish systems were installed over vented-glass, fiber-faced gypsum sheathing at 1,600 square feet of roof perimeter and deck soffits. Stucco components included two layers of 60-minute paper, Eisenwall stucco scratch and brown coats, raised expanded polystyrene trim bands and a custom acrylic-texture finish. The architectural design by William Zimmerman Architects was inspired by the owners travels through Spain, Morocco and the Mediterranean. Terracotta tile roofs, decks and wall caps enhance the stucco exterior. Flowing stucco arches, column detailing, and tile accents at window and door surrounds add color and a clean look to the design. Joseph J. Jefferson & Son encountered many challenges, starting with access to the site for deliveries. Weather extremes over two years required multiple exterior protections. Juror's comment: A classic home! A tight space and a long project delayed by weather, but the contractor did a great job. Other Stories: Interior/Residential Washington Photo by Nicolas Gerlach At the University of Washingtons McCarthy and Madrona halls, Mehrer Drywall had 1.7 million square feet of drywall to hang, tape and texture. University of Washington North Campus Housing/McCarthy and Madrona Halls Location: Seattle Contractor: Mehrer Drywall Architect: Kieran Timberlake Team: Award Metals, CertainTeed Gypsum, Fry Reglet, Georgia-Pacific, GTS Interior Supply, Hamilton Drywall Products, HILTI, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, Steeler, USG Building Systems The University of Washington North Campus Housing job contains three separate buildings: McCarty Hall, Madrona Hall and Willow Hall. Mehrer Drywall did the interior drywall on McCarty and Madrona halls. These buildings were built in Phase 4a of the universitys phased plan to reconstruct its student housing. McCarty Hall was built with 341 units to house 918 students. Madrona was built with 230 units to house 505 students. Willow was built with 221 units to house 539 students, plus full food service and dining for 2,000 people. These jobs were bid at a time when subcontractors were hard to find. Mehrer Drywall bid the drywall job twice against three competitors and was awarded the contract in June 2017, with an anticipated opening by the 2018 school year. Drywall was scheduled to start in October 2017 but due to the lack of manpower on the part of other trades, Mehrer didnt get going until November, with 1.7 million square feet of drywall to hang, tape and texture in four weeks less than what was scheduled at the contract award. Due to W.G. Clarks ability to organize a job of this size, the team accomplished this task without using an abundance of overtime. Mehrer spent only 1.8 percent of its time working within premium pay. It also allowed every subcontractor to have their space to work onsite without trade stacking. Mehrer finished on time and under budget. Juror's comment: Excellent project, with props for scheduling so efficiently. Other Stories: Suspended Ceiling/Commercial Washington Photo by Sean Airhart/NBBJ The remodeled ceiling at Two Union Square Lobby uses 2,833 unique planks from wood sources in Italy. Two Union Square Lobby Renovation Location: Seattle Contractor: Firstline Systems Architect: NBBJ Team: Armstrong World Industries, GTS Interior Supply, Rulon International In 1989, when Two Union Square first opened, it was heralded as "...a distinctly expressionist, Northwest regionalist design, where the uniqueness of the region and economy drove the building's architecture, materials and experiences. For example, the front desk and lobby directory were fabricated in the shape of an airplane wing. Some forms were more suggestive, such as the way the north facade of the building curves gracefully in the form of an airfoil. The bright white penthouse at the top of the building is a light-hearted reference to the snow-capped mountains surrounding the city. Two Union has aged gracefully and remains the premier address for hundreds of local and national businesses. However, in 2015, ownership decided it would undertake a series of modernization initiatives in One and Two Union Square. The project was intended to enliven existing spaces and generate additional experiences for tenants. The goal was to offer a variety of comfortable, upbeat and collaborative settings where tenants could talk, sip coffee, team-up and work. The ceiling is a custom creation that relied on computational design, high-tech fabrication techniques and skilled local craftsmen to install the completed piece. Rulon International, located in Florida, manufactured the ceiling's 2,833 unique planks from wood sources in Italy. The planks, ranging in length from 3 to 12 feet long, were installed by Firstline Systems craftsmen in a tongue-in-groove manner to form the 30- to 140-foot-long beams, which are suspended by cables from one end of the lobby to the other. The design and structure are meant to last for 30 years. Juror's comment: This is an amazing ceiling! The flow of the ceiling and precision of the installation was highly technical yet artistic. Other Stories: Allan Osberg dies at 94 Osberg Longtime local contractor Allan Osberg died March 15 at the age of 94, according to the Associated General Contractors of Washington. Osberg was president of Osberg Construction, a heavy-highway contractor started by his father, Axel. That firm built many projects in Alaska under a joint venture with Manson Construction, including the Yukon River Bridge in the mid-1970s. It also built local projects, such as straightening the Sammamish River between Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington in 1963. Osberg graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in civil engineering in 1945, and then went to Harvard University, where earned a master's degree in civil engineering with a specialty in soil mechanics. After college, he joined his father's company, eventually becoming president in 1966. Osberg phased out the company's construction operations in the late 1980s to make it a development company. In a 1998 interview, Osberg told the DJC that the thing he liked best about construction was the variety each day brought, including travel and meeting people. It's been fascinating, he said. Osberg said the 1950s and 1960s fascinated him the most because problems were settled on the job. In the 1998 interview, he said the industry spends too much time on attorneys and accountants instead of on engineers, which has created an adversarial work environment. (In the past) you could buy a drink for the engineer and not be accused of trying to bribe him, he said. Osberg was president of the AGC Mountain Pacific Chapter in 1965, and in 1974 he became the first president of the AGC of Washington a merger of the Seattle-Northwest and Mountain Pacific chapters. In 1970, he was named Contractor of the Year for the Mountain Pacific Chapter and in 2007 was given the AGC Lifetime Achievement Award. Osberg also served on the AGC Education Foundation board for many years, was its president in 1994, and won the 2010 Distinguished Service Award for his contribution to the foundation and his role in educating the future construction workforce. In 1998, he was inducted into the UW's Construction Hall of Fame. There has been no announcement of a memorial. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold an industry day on April 23 in Seattle to provide preliminary information about a new weapons storage and maintenance facility at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. The construction contract could be worth up to $250 million. . . . Subscriber content preview In the second of two recent transactions at Bow Lake 55+ Residential Community, at 18050 32nd Ave. S. in SeaTac, the roughly 46-acre main property has sold for $38.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was Bow Lake Inc. of Spokane, which had owned the property for decades. . . . NASH, Holland pay Cornish $22M for high-rise site in Denny Triangle Journal Staff Reporter By BRIAN MILLER Journal Staff Reporter Rendering by Weber Thompson [enlarge] Holland is planning a 45-story, 435-unit mixed-use tower at 1000 Virginia St. It would share the block with another tower Holland is developing. Concluding a deal that was announced last year, Cornish College has sold a corner property at 1000 Virginia St. to Holland Partner Group and Japanese financial partner NASH for $22 million. King County recorded the sale on Tuesday. With Weber Thompson, Holland is planning a 45-story, 435-unit apartment tower, which will have some retail/commercial space and underground parking for about 261 vehicles. Brokers were not announced. The deal was worth about $1,528 per square foot. Cornish acquired the 14,400-square-foot property in 2011 for $3 million. The old warehouse building, now used for classrooms, will be removed. The 1000 Virginia tower will share the block with Holland's planned 44-story tower at 2019 Boren Ave., which will have about 426 units, ground-floor performance space and classroom space above for Cornish, plus offices for Cornish and/or other tenants. There will be about 370 underground parking stalls. That project, also designed by Weber Thompson, is further along in design review. Holland assembled that larger corner site last year by paying $24.4 million to Cornish, Bellwether Housing and Recovery Cafe. NASH and Holland previously partnered on Westlake Steps, which they sold in 2017 for $324 million. Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517. Jet lenders to invite bids for sale of stake on 6 April Lenders to Jet Airways on Thursday announced plans for sale of stake in the debt-laden airline, but said they will look for other options if the efforts to sell their stake in the airline do not materialise. In a statement issued after a meeting on Thursday, lenders proposed to invite Expressions of Interest from eligible buyers on 6 April with a deadline for submission of the EoIs by 9 April. The statement, however, said, the lenders will consider other options if the stake sale plans do not yield good results. While the lenders intend to pursue a plan for a stake sale in the airline, they said, any sale of stake would depend on an acceptable outcome. Lenders said they intend to pursue the bank-led resolution plan for the sale of a stake in the company in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework and intend to invite expressions of interest (EoI). They also said the recent Supreme Court order setting aside RBIs 12 February 2018 circular on a revised framework for the resolution of stressed assets, will not have any impact on Jets shareholding pattern. As per the debt resolution plan, lenders led by SBI will take over the airlines debt and convert it into 114 million shares for a token Re1. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Secretary PS Kharola said in New Delhi on Thursday that the Ministry is keeping a close watch on Jet Airways. On Wednesday, Jet Airways board met to review the airlines operations and consider the resolution plan that has been drawn up for the airline. News agencies quoting PS Kharola, Secretary, Civil Aviation said Jet Airways had a fleet of less than 15 aircraft. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), however, clarified that Jet Airways currently has a fleet of 28 aircraft, which is enough to keep operating services. The regulator, however, did not specify the type of aircraft and the number of weekly flights that the airline operates on domestic and international routes. For Jet to operate international services, however, current regulations require the airline have a minimum fleet of 20 aircraft. There is, however, uncertainty as to the number of aircraft Jet Airways currently operate after the airline had told the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday that 15 more of its aircraft had been grounded due to non-payment of lease rentals. Madras High Court asks govt to ban disturbing Tik Tok mobile app With children increasingly getting lured to the popular lip-syncing app Tik Tok, the Madras High Court on Wednesday issued directions to the government to prohibit download of the app that led to vulgarity and children being enticed by strangers. Justice Kirubakaran and Justice SS Sundar of the Madurai bench of the Madras high court also issued directions which prohibit television channels from telecasting Tik Tok videos. The courts directions to ban comes after the Chinese app reportedly triggered self-harm and anti-social elements made use of the app to lure children. The government has to answer whether the Union of India will enact a statute, like Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, enacted by the United States, to prevent the children becoming cyber/online victims. said the court The court was hearing a petition which contended that the Tik Tok mobile app 'was containing degrading culture and encouraging pornography besides containing explicit disturbing content and causing social stigma and medical health issue between teens. Majority of the teens are playing pranks, gaffing around with duet videos and sharing with split screen to the strangers. The children who use the said application are vulnerable and may expose them to sexual predators. the court observed. The court lamented the apathy on the part of the government and officials concerned on the wellbeing of children even after the menace of the 'Blue Whale' challenge, which was prohibited by the court in suo motu proceedings. The Blue Whale phenomenon, the court observed, was not a singular app which could have been banned by authorities. Any messaging service could have been used to play the 'game' which reportedly assigned self-harming tasks to recipients. It may be noted that the Tamil Nadu government had previously sought a ban on the app. In March, Tamil Nadu's information technology minister M Manikandan said in the state assembly that the government would recommend to the centre to ban the app, which it was brought to his notice, was causing rifts within the family. Created by ByteDance, a Chinese internet technology company, Tik Tok has gained massive popularity across Asia clocking over 500 million users. The app allows users to upload and view lip-synced videos, music and other performances. Children in India, mostly teen-agers, use it to enact popular videos or film scenes and to share their own versions of it. The app has a variety of filters and editing features that make it attractive. The Chair of the Referendum Commission will launch a campaign to encourage people to ensure they are registered to vote ahead of the upcoming referendum on the regulation of divorce. Judge Tara Burns will begin the register-to-vote campaign at Letterkenny Institute of Technology next week where she will address students. Donegal had one of the lowest voter turnouts in the last referendum, and the Chair will talk about the importance of voting. The event at Letterkenny Institute of Technology on Tuesday at 12 30 pm will mark the start of the Commissions information campaign encouraging people to ensure they are on the electoral register. A referendum on the regulation of divorce will take place on May 24, the same day as the local government and European Parliament elections. Those not registered to vote have until May 7 to get on the electoral register in time. Ms Justice Burns will talk about the importance of voting, and will answer students questions. A Donegal man who received a so-called comfort letter in relation to the 1982 London Hyde Park bombing, has been given a date to appeal his proposed extradition for the 1972 Enniskillen bombing. Northern Irish authorities are seeking to extradite John Downey (67) to face prosecution for the murder of two British Army Infantrymen as well as aiding and abetting the causing of an explosion on August 25, 1972. Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames were killed when a device exploded in a vehicle they were checking on the Irvinestown Road, Cherrymount, in Enniskillen. Mr Downey was arrested last November at his home address in Ards, Creeslough, Co Donegal on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. He told detectives he believed it was the DUP and not the DPP who decided to prosecute him. The High Court in Dublin ordered Mr Downeys extradition in March, despite objections on grounds of delay and a letter of assurance he believes amounts to a pardon or amnesty. Mr Downeys trial in relation to the 1982 London Hyde Park bombing, in which four soldiers and seven horses were killed, collapsed in February 2014 over a letter sent to him and other alleged republican paramilitaries. The so-called comfort letters", issued by the Tony Blair government, told republican paramilitaries they were not wanted for prosecution of crimes committed during the troubles. The on-the-run scheme and letters, which fully emerged following the collapse of Mr Downeys 2014 trial in relation to the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, triggered a major political controversy and lead to an inquiry. Mr Downey has lodged an appeal against his proposed extradition to Northern Ireland. During case management procedures today/yesterday(FRIDAY) President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham fixed May 27 next as the date for hearing of the appeal. In the High Court, Mr Downeys lawyers said their client had recently turned 67 and it was safe to say he was not in good health. He faced the prospect of a lengthy trial process and there was no guarantee he would be admitted to bail. Garnet Orange SC, for Mr Downey, said there was doubt over whether alleged evidence in relation to the 1972 bombing actually exists anymore. Mr Downeys fingerprints are alleged to have been found on adhesive tape recovered from a battery pack used in the Enniskillen bombing, the High Court heard. However, Mr Orange said the adhesive tape was subsequently lost for a number of years and it was unclear whether it actually still existed. He said the northern Irish prosecution intended to rely on statements from two critical prosecution witnesses in relation to the tape and its analysis, who were now deceased. Ordering his surrender, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, the High Court judge in charge of extradition, said she rejected each of Mr Downey's objections. Ms Justice Donnelly said it was clear that the public interest in his surrender is extremely high in light of the offences and that this remained the case despite the delay in time. Home Four wheelers Dakar Switches Continents Again Moves To Saudi Arabia In 2020 oi-Dennis James The Dakar Rally, is perhaps the world's best-known off-roading motorsports event in the world. Now a new report by Motorsport.com states that the Dakar Rally is set to run in Saudi Arabia from 2020 after Amaury Sport Organisation, (ASO) the organiser of the off-roading race signed an agreement with the Middle-Eastern nation for five years. The move to Saudi Arabia will be the second time in its history that the off-roading race moves continents. In 2008, terrorist threats to the rally route in Mauritania led to the race being cancelled that year. The next year, the Dakar Rally moved to South America and has stayed there since. However, this year's race, considered to be one of the toughest yet was run only in one country Peru after its neighbours Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador failed to reach terms with Amaury Sport Organisation to host the race. While the organisers of the race have refused to comment on the Dakar Rally's move to Saudi Arabia, economic conditions in South America and the growing sporting ambitions of the Middle-Eastern oil giant should provide the Dakar Rally the stability it requires. The deal will also mean that the 2020 Edition of the Dakar Rally will start from Riyadh next January. Like the 2019 edition, the 2020 edition of the Dakar Rally is expected to be confined to the borders of Saudi Arabia. However, the next edition of the Dakar Rally will have quite a lot more area to play with Saudi Arabia's 2.25 million kilometres of desert open for the rally to scythe through. The rally will also be able to make use of the Asir Mountain range in south-western Saudi Arabia that runs parallel to the Red Sea and where the temperatures can range from minus two to 31 degrees Celsius in the month of January. It is expected that the Dakar Rally could move to other countries in the region including Oman and Egypt in the future once things get better with regards to the geopolitical situation in the area. Also, another bone of contention for the race could be how the country deals with female members of the teams who are either racing, team members, organisers and journalists. Most Viewed Videos A former friend of Lisa Smith was attacked with a can of coke in a hate-crime incident in Dundalk last Saturday. Carol Duffy, a local Muslim convert who is also known as 'Karimah' spoke to Extra.ie about the incident which left her needing two stitches. Speaking to Extra.ie the Dundalk woman told how she was walking to the local library in Co Louth around 11.30am last Saturday morning to finish an assignment for college when the attack took place. She told the website: "I got whacked on the head on Saturday from a Coke can from a car window and I ended up with two stitches on top of my head. It was a bit of a shock. "I was listening to an audiobook, walking home from the library and there was this car horn beeping and beeping. It pulled up close to me and they opened up the window and chucked the can out and got me on top of the head with it. And then they drove off. "The can was kind of open as my clothes got all wet. I got two stitches on top of the head. I mentioned it to the gardai but I couldnt describe the car as it happened so quickly. It was red with blacked-out windows." Carol, who is a former friend of Lisa Smith the 37-year-old woman from Saltown, Dundalk who is currently being held in a camp in northern Syria with her two-year-old child, said the attackers shouted abuse at her calling her a terrorist. She continued: "I went up to the A&E and they cleaned it up. I wasnt busted open but it still needed a stitch or two. Its only a tiny mark but people are stupid. Any of the abuse I have been getting has escalated. People, when they see you, shout things, and if me and other people in the community are getting it, I can imagine what Lisa Smith will be in for. Its frightening but it is what it is. The gardai are doing their best they can." The chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Brian Killoran told Extra.ie that he condemned the attack saying: "We have spoken with young Muslim women who have had their hijabs pulled off on public transport and young Muslim men who are verbally abused and called terrorists simply because they are members of the Muslim faith. "This is intolerable, and inconsistent with the values of Ireland as a modern, democratic and successfully diverse country." Carol Duffy spoke on RTEs Liveline last month and described Lisa Smith as a nice girl, very funny and very generous. She added that she was more than shocked when she heard the news that Lisa had been detained. "What has happened to Lisa is a level of brainwashing. (Lisa) is very, very vulnerable and naive. She didn't know what she was getting into," Karimah told Joe Duffy. She went on to say that the last she had heard Lisa had moved to Tunisia with a man. Karimah also believes that Lisa was "radicalised online", adding that "we have no proof she has done anything". This Saturday night sees the appearance of one of Dundalk's greatest heroes, punk poet Jinx Lennon, at An Tain Arts Centre for what looks set to be one of the most exciting gigs to happen in the town this Spring. Appearing with Jinx on the night is the wonderful beat poet Carl Plover AKA Wasps V Humans, originally from Grantham in the UK, the home town of the brilliant Sleaford Mods. Dundalk is well represented on the night, with local act Farmer Darkness also set to perform. Formed by Emer Mc Ginnity and Meabh Breathnach, Farmer Darkness have a DIY punk ethos and sharp sense of humour, their debut release, "CD" is on sale now in Classified records in Dundalk. Tickets for what is shaping up to be a brilliant night, are 12 and are available from www.antain.ie or you can pay at the door. Doors open on the night at 8 pm. Jinx is currently working on his 10th record, the working title of which is ''At last ........The Border Schizo Cosmic Folk Sound''. According to Jinx, it will be a "double album with 30 tunes which I have recorded with Silverbridge musician Ben Reel. Dundalk features in a lot of the new songs like ''Sneachta'', "The Manhole Covers of Dundalk Town", "The Friend of The Ice Cream Machine'", "Live North Louth'' and ''Pushin the Patients Round''. His last album, "Grow a Pair" received great reviews, the following is just one of the many positive reviews it has received: "Grow a Pair!!! again confirms Lennon as one of the most idiosyncratic and singular talents in this country. Jinx is never afraid to sing in his own accent, or address the personal and political, and every shade of grey in between, while empowering the listener throughout the whole beautiful process." To keep up to date with gigs and new releases from Jinx Lennon, follow his Facebook page here. Doing the weekly family food shopping across the border in Newry and bringing it back to Dundalk could be considered an act of smuggling in a no deal Brexit scenario the EU commission has said. This will mean the possibility of disruption for hundreds of people in Louth and Dundalk who cross the border weekly to do grocery shopping, at a time when weak sterling has seen cross border shopping rise to a five year high. A failure to reach a deal will mean the UK (including Northern Ireland) will be considered a third country by the EU. This will mean an automatic ban on meat and dairy products travelling over the border and into the Republic of Ireland including everyday products like cheese, butter, milk and ham. The ban will be in place from the minute Britain leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement which could be as early as Saturday 13th April, or 30th June should an extension be granted to the UK. However it is unclear whether Ireland is prepared to place checks at the border to enforce this ban. Ireland will be mandated to carry out checks as the Ireland- UK border is also an EU border, but the Irish Times has reported that the government is not keen on any measure that could be seen as imposing a hard border. The Commission stated that it was working with the Irish government to find a way of carrying out checks away from the border if at all possible if the necessary infrastructure is not in place. The Commission further stated that the only way for this scenario to be avoided was for Britain to accept the withdrawal agreement which would mean the Island of Ireland will be seen as a single sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) region and there would be no need for checks on food products at the border. Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Louth Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick called for urgent action on Defence Forces pay and conditions. In his Dail contribution, Deputy Fitzpatrick first expressed his concern over the news that, "some 130 members of the Defence Forces were unable to return home on Thursday as scheduled after a tour of duty in the Golan Heights. They were scheduled to fly from Syria to Beruit and then on to Dublin." Fitzpatrick went on to say, "this is an absolute disgrace. I am a former member of the 27th Battalion, and it seems to me that Army personnel are being treated as second class citizens. He continued, "Morale is at an all-time low. Numbers are at an all-time low. The Tanaiste is a former Minister of Defence, and I expect a lot more from this Government. "Last Tuesday I read an article in a newspaper by an ex-officer of the 27th Battalion. The officer said that nobody joins the Army to get rich, but neither do they join the Army to qualify for family income support. Deputy Fitzpatrick called on the Government to, "please stop treating these people like second-class citizens. They can strike, but they do not want to strike. "An Garda Siochana went on strike in the last number of years. Are we going to force the Irish Army to go out on strike? Members of the Army sacrifice their time, as do their families." Finishing his speech the local TD stated, "it is about time the Government sorted out the Army once and for all. In response to Deputy Fitzpatrick, the Tanaiste replied: "The Deputy has raised two issues. With regard to bringing home the contingent from the Golan Heights, there was an issue between the UN and the Lebanese authorities that resulted in their plane having to be rescheduled because permission to land was not given because of a miscommunication somewhere. "That is as much as I can say about it. We are looking to get that fixed quickly so people can come home to their families." Minister Coveney also noted that: "On the second issue, we are considering how we can improve the remuneration of Defence Forces personnel. "We have asked the Public Sector Pay Commission to look specifically at the Defence Forces so that we can do so without undermining the broader pay agreements we have. We hope to be able to get those recommendations shortly. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The award-winning Canadian blogger and travel writer behind the hugely successful blog The Lost Girl's Guide to Finding the World Ashlyn George landed in Carlingford last Monday (April 1) to sample North Louth's finest tourist attractions. On her trip Ashlyn dove headfirst into activities such as oyster shucking, sailing on Carlingford Lough, pulling a pint of Guinness and even getting the chance to drive a 15-tonne military tank. The four-day trip was organised by Shane Reenan of Louth Adventures with support from Tourism Ireland. Whilst Ashlyn had visited Ireland briefly before she told how she really got to grips with the Irish way of life on her most recent trip. Extolling the virtues of North Louth Ashlyn said: My visit to Carlingford was so wonderful! I was hosted at the historic Ghan House by Paul Carroll for two nights. I explored the townsite and was welcomed warmly by the women at Carlingford Craft. We stopped in at the Carlingford Oyster Company and I was given a pair of wellies and taken out and shown exactly how oysters are farmed. They even shucked a couple for me to try right there. We headed out to Fitzpatricks for a wonderful seafood grill. They even got me behind the bar to pull a pint of Guinness which was quite fun to try! I also managed to get a different perspective of the town by heading out on the lough with Louth Adventures for a cruise in the boat Brienne. We visited the historic sites Newgrange and Roche Castle. One of my absolute favourites stops was the Irish Military Museum in Collon, owned and operated by William Sullivan. I was able to have a crazy experience and drive a 15 tonne APC military tank. It was one of the best experiences Ive ever had. Such a blast! Ashlyn added: I'm from a rural town in Saskatchewan, Canada and walking into Carlingford felt like coming home. Everyone was so welcoming and very interested in why I was there. It was truly amazing to see how warmly I was welcomed into the community during my stay. When asked if she would recommend Carlingford as a destination for other Canadians to visit Ashlyn said: "I think Canadians would love to visit Carlingford and the northeast of Ireland. I was amazed at the variety and breadth of experiences to have - from sampling local foods grown and produced in the Boyne Valley to getting out on a boat in the lough with Louth Adventures to shucking oysters and cruising the Greenway with an e-bike! "Its lovely to get away from the busyness of the city and relax a bit more in the countryside. The pace of life is very enjoyable and its so nice to visit with locals who are genuinely curious about who you are and what brought you to the area." See: www.thelostgirlsguide.com The family of Seamus Ludlow, the 47-year-old forestry worker from Thistle Cross in north Louth who was murdered by a UVF/Red Hand Commando UDR gang in May 1976, held a press conference in An Tain Theatre in Dundalk today, to launch an information leaflet to highlight their case to the general public. In a statement the family shared at the press conference, the family say that to date there has been no effective investigation into the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The family are currently engaged in legal battles in both the Republic and Northern Ireland to seek justice for Seamus. Gavin Booth of Phoenix Law, solicitor to the Ludlow family, said, This is a case where the members of the British Army working in conjunction with loyalist paramilitaries entered another jurisdiction and committed murder. "There is considerable public interest in ensuring that all facts and circumstances of this murder are known, including the Gardai's response and their investigation. The family's solicitor referred to two public inquiries in England, one in relation to the death of Alexander Litvinenko and the other in relation to the death of Alexander Perepilichny, and the benefit public inquiries into both gave. It is in the government's gift to hold the two further Commissions of Investigation under the Commission of Investigation Act 2004, Mr Booth continued. The point of these inquiries was to remove time, expense and length from Inquiries. This was to ensure a quicker and more cost-effective way to deal with these issues. There has also been a number of recent examples of Inquiries being held under Section 42 of Garda Siochana Act 2005. In respect of the Kenneally Inquiry, the most recent Inquiry to be granted, this was done so after representations were made to Charlie Flanagan. He decided that it was then in the public interest. It is our view that the public interest test has been met in the Republic of Ireland the further commissions of investigations should be immediately implemented as per the recommendations of the Joint Committee of the Oireachtas, Mr Booth concluded. Following statements by members of the Ludlow family and Mr Booth, questions were taken from those present, with Louth Sinn Fein TD Gerry Adams commending the family and their solicitor for all the work you have been doing, and indeed all those families who are searching for the truth. Deputy Adams then asked, would it be helpful if the TD's and seanadoiri were able to bring forward a motion calling for the implementation of the Barron report? Welcoming Deputy Adams comments, Michael Donegan said absolutely, with Mr Booth adding, I believe that it would be helpful. If we could get cross party support for it. Fianna Fail TD Declan Breathnach, who was also present at the press conference welcomed Gerry Adams' comments, saying, since joining the Oireachtais, the issue of collaboration with TDs, including Gerry, and what he has just said I certainly commend and will work with him and Jim O'Callaghan(Fianna Fail spokesperson for Justice and Equality) to put additional pressure on. Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat following the press conference, Deputy Breathnach said: I think that the request for a public inquiry should be at least listened to. "I think this particular case along with a lot of others, whether people are looking for redress or closure is very important. "Because I do think after a long period of years, 43 in this particular case, we all know the family want to know what happened. "I think the issue of how people are to get to grips with, whether they want justice, and I mentioned earlier that justice delayed is justice denied. But there are quite a lot of families out there who just want the truth and would be acceptable of that. But in this specific case, the Ludlow family made a presentation to the local authority many years ago, before I went into the Oireachtais; I firmly believe that the onus is on the Oireachtais memebers. Welcoming Gerry Adams comments on cross party collaboration to bring forward a motion, Breathnach added: To be able to highlight it again in the Oireachtais, and I see it as my duty as Vice Chairman of the Good Friday Implementation Committee to see that at least they get a hearing, that further highlights this family's tragedy on seeking closure. Sinn Fein councillor Ruairi O Murchu shared his thoughts with the Democrat, saying: The whole idea of this is to highlight the issue, a man that was killed in this area by people who were allegedly members of the British Armed Forces. There has been an absence of truth. There has been a failure by the Gardai and there has been a failure to follow through at Governement level. Cllr O Murchu welcomed the comments from both Gerry Adams and Declan Breathnach on potential cross party collaboration to move the process forward, to a point where the family would get justice, would get the truth and an element of closure. There they go again. This important essay was written by Mike Jackson, executive secretary treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights union. Please contact your state legislator and ask them to vote NO on House Bill 4406. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), an anti-union organization, is hoping taxpayers further subsidize their failed training programs. This time, ABC wants to take money from a scholarship program designed to help foster children go to college and funnel it to their training programs that simply dont measure up to the programs offered by joint skilled trades training centers. The bill ABC is trying to shove through the legislature is a blow against education and job training and needs to be defeated. House Bill 4406, introduced by Representative Greg Markkanen would extend the Fostering Futures Scholarship, which helps foster children attend college, to skilled trades programs. What Markkanen and ABC dont want us to know is that the best skilled trades programs, those offered by unions such as the Carpenters and Millwrights, Laborers, Operating Engineers and others are already tuition free and come with a job offering excellent wages and benefits. ABC doesnt offer anything like that. The training programs offered by ABC are not tuition free and the quality of their programs is suspect at best. To make up for the fact that young people looking to enter the skilled trades need to find money to get into their programs, ABC is constantly looking to manipulate tax-funded programs. In a move that should surprise no one at all, ABC is now tweeting support for HB 4406, which would take money from college-bound foster children and funnel it into the pockets of ABC. The Fostering Futures Scholarship is a program for students who were in foster care due to abuse and/or neglect during their teen years to attend a Michigan private or public degree-granting college or university or a community college. This is a good program that gives students who faced child abuse and neglect a chance to attend college. ABC, in its quest to find sneaky ways to fund itself is now seeking to abuse this system neglecting needy students of a chance to attend accredited colleges. ABC has a history of shady practices when it comes to running a skilled-trades program. As a matter of fact, ABC recently was called out for low graduation rates at their so-called schools. Instead of admitting they have low graduation rates and seeking to improve, ABC blamed the students claiming they didnt report their hours to the Department of Labor. This is despite the fact that students are not able to do their own reporting and is the job of the program. Moreover, a study of the ABC-sponsored registered apprenticeship programs shows their offerings pale in comparison with those offered by the constructions trades at no cost. Among the findings are the fact the ABC programs focus mainly on only three trades: electrical, plumbing and pipefitting meaning students are not offered a diversified portfolio of occupations to choose from and learn. In addition: ABC programs exhibit the lowest rate of completion and highest rate of cancellation. The starting wage for ABC program apprentices is 13 percent lower than those who go through joint programs. Women only make up 1 percent of ABC-program apprentices and 9 percent of ethnic and racial minorities far below the numbers at joint programs. Its clear that the ABC apprenticeship program is not a good solution for children who would otherwise choose to use their Fostering Futures Scholarship to attend college or enroll in a successful joint program with a track record of training success and a career path. Moreover, ABC has shown themselves to be more interested in lobbying than in creating quality skilled trades training programs. As a matter of fact, ABC is best known for lobbying and spending millions of dollars to repeal Michigan prevailing wage law which will lead to lower pay for skilled trade workers certainly a loss for any student who chooses the trades. Instead of spending their time lobbying in Lansing, the leadership of ABC should roll up their sleeves and get to work fixing their broken training programs. While the training programs offered by the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights gives people a hand up and good career, ABC is back in Lansing with their handout seeking our tax dollars to prop up their bad training programs. House bill 4406 should be dead on arrival in the Michigan legislature. There is likely more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than at any other time in the last three million years. That is the conclusion reinforced by a study published in Science Advances Wednesday. Researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany succeeded for the first time in creating a computer simulation of the climate over the past three million years that matched data taken from sediment from the ocean floor. The model showed that carbon-dioxide levels played a major role in shaping climate during that period but in the reverse of their impact today. Lower levels of the greenhouse gas were a major factor in the onset of ice ages. "We know from the analysis of sediments on the bottom of our seas about past ocean temperatures and ice volumes, but so far the role of CO2 changes in shaping the glacial cycles has not been fully understood," lead study author Matteo Willeit of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said in a press release. "It is a breakthrough that we can now show in computer simulations that changes in CO2 levels were a main driver of the ice ages." But while this may be a scientific breakthrough, it has frightening implications. During the period modeled in the simulation, global temperatures never rose above pre-industrial levels by more than two degrees Celsius. However, if humans continue to burn fossil fuels at current rates, they will shoot past that marker within 50 years, with major consequences. "Our results imply a strong sensitivity of the Earth system to relatively small variations in atmospheric CO2," Willeit said. "As fascinating as this is, it is also worrying." Willeit told CNN that the models showed that carbon dioxide levels would not be more than 280 parts per million (ppm) today if human activity had not intervened in natural climate cycles. Instead, they are at around 410 ppm. If this trend is not slowed, Willeit told CNN, "our planet will change." The next 200 years could see one to two meters (approximately 3.3 to 6.6 feet) of sea level rise. On the same day that the Science Advances study was released, scientists met at the Royal Meteorological Society in London to discuss what the earth was like the last time carbon dioxide levels were so high. That was 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago during the Pliocene epoch, when beech trees grew in Antarctica, temperatures were three to four degrees Celsius warmer and sea levels were 20 meters (approximately 65.6 feet) higher. Scientists said that studying this past era could help humans understand what the planet would look like if climate change continues apace, The Guardian reported. However, they noted it would take some time for current C02 levels to cause these changes. It could take millennia for the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets to completely melt, for example. "If you put your oven on at home and set it to 200C the temperature does not get to that immediately, it takes a bit of time, and it is the same with climate," Imperial College London geophysicist Martin Siegert said, according to The Guardian. British Antarctic Survey Director Jane Francis said the fossils of the Antarctic beech trees had been an important find. "I call them the last forests of Antarctica. They were growing at 400ppm CO2, so this may be where we are going back to, with ice sheets melting at times, which may allow plants to colonise again," Francis said, according to The Guardian. Francis said that the polar regions were important to understanding climate change, since they are uniquely sensitive to it. However, Siegert said the changes represented by the Pliocene were not inevitable. "Can we restrict temperature rise to 1.5 degrees this century? Can we do that? It's possible," he said, according to BBC News. "We've got to bring CO2 levels down to 40% of what they are today by 2030, or so. And then to zero by 2050, and then negative after that. That's a massive undertaking but it's possible." A major genetic study has concluded that there is no healthy level of alcohol consumption, at least when it comes to stroke risk. The study, published in The Lancet Thursday, contradicts some previous research suggesting that drinking one to two glasses a day might protect against stroke, though other studies have said there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, BBC news reported. In Thursday's study, a research team from the University of Oxford, Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences found that even drinking one to two glasses a day increased stroke risk by 10 to 15 percent. "The key message here is that, at least for stroke, there is no protective effect of moderate drinking," study co-author and Oxford Nuffield Department of Population Health professor Zhengming Chen told Reuters. "The genetic evidence shows the protective effect is not real." For heavy drinking, the effect was even more pronounced. Drinking four or more glasses a day increased stroke risk by 35 percent and raised blood pressure. The researchers were confident in their results because they were able to use a unique genetic variant common in Asian populations to help separate the impact of alcohol on health from other factors, The Guardian explained. In East Asian countries, around one third of people have a combination of genes that makes them flush and feel uncomfortable after drinking, leading them to drink less. However, the genes cut across status or overall health, so scientists can isolate them as a variable. Researchers followed around 500,000 people from China for 10 years and tracked their drinking habits and incidents of stroke or heart attack. When they looked at self-reporting of alcohol consumption, they did find that drinking 100 grams of alcohol a week (one to two drinks a day) did seem to ward off stroke. However, when they looked at genetic data and location to predict the mean amount of alcohol consumed by participants, the protective effect disappeared. Stroke risk went up 38 percent for every additional 280 grams of alcohol consumed each week. "Using genetics is a novel way ... to sort out whether moderate drinking really is protective, or whether it's slightly harmful," study author and Oxford epidemiologist Iona Millwood told Reuters. "Our genetic analyses have helped us understand the cause-and-effect relationships." The study looked at both women and men, but very few women in China drink. While 33 percent of the male subjects consumed alcohol, only two percent of the women did. This allowed the researchers to further confirm the negative impacts of alcohol, since women with the same combination of genes did not have an increase in stroke risk. Tributes paid to former Steam Packet MD The former managing director of the Steam Packet Company has died. Hamish Ross led the Company for more than a decade. He was 75. Mr Ross joined the board in 1994 and was appointed managing director in 1996. He held that role until retired in 2007. His successor, Chief Executive Mark Woodward, said: Everyone at the Company is extremely saddened to learn of Hamishs passing. Not only did he steer the Steam Packet Company for 11 years but he was a constant wise counsel and sounding board who always had the best interests of the Company and the Isle of Man at heart. Amazon CEO retains control of the company after divorce Amazon chief executive officer Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie Bezos, on Thursday finalized their divorce. Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos will retain voting control of his entire $143 billion stakes in the company under a divorce settlement with his wife, MacKenzie Bezos, who will own 25 percent of those shares, the couple said on Thursday, removing uncertainty over control of the online retailer. MACKENZIE BEZONS WILL BE THE WORLD'S THIRD RICHEST WOMEN The worlds richest couple had announced their impending divorce in a joint Twitter statement in January, causing some to worry that Jeff Bezos could wind up with less Amazon voting power or that he or MacKenzie would liquidate large positions. It takes the issue off the table, with less turbulence than you might have expected, said an investor, whose company owns several million dollars worth of Amazon shares but who asked for anonymity because of firm policy. MacKenzie Bezos will wind up with a stake in Amazon that is worth roughly $36 billion. Her shares represent a 4 percent stake in Amazon, according to a regulatory filing by the company. The Amazon shares will make her the worlds third-richest woman while Jeff Bezos will remain the worlds richest person, according to Forbes. The couple, who tweeted separately on Thursday, disclosed that under their settlement MacKenzie will give up her interests in the Washington Post, which Jeff Bezos bought in 2013 and which has been a frequent target of criticism from Donald Trump, and the rocket company Blue Origin he founded in 2000. Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff, MacKenzie Bezos said in her tweet outlining the agreement, the first and only post from an account created this month. The two did not provide any further financial details about the settlement. Civilians killed in regime attack in Syria's Idlib At least 40 civilians were injured in artillery attacks by the Assad regime. At least 13 civilians were killed Thursday in artillery attacks by the Assad regime and Iran-backed militias in Syrias northwestern Idlib province. 13 DEAD 40 INJURED The regime and Iran-backed militias targeted rural parts of the districts of Kafranbel, Maraat al-Numaan, Saraqib, Hamas Kafz Zita and the village of Khan al-Sabil, according to the local sources. At least 40 civilians were injured in the attacks. The regime and its allies have allegedly been responsible for the deaths of at least 176 civilians and the injuries to scores of others in continued air and ground attacks this year. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed with last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be strictly prohibited. Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity. EP approves visa-free travel for UK citizens after Brexit UK nationals would be able to enter the EU visa-free for short periods after the countrys exit, provided EU nationals enjoy the same conditions when traveling to the UK. Amid continuing chaos over Brexit, with Britains prime minister seeking another delay on the exit date, the European Parliament Thursday ratified a measure to allow British citizens visa-free travel after Brexit. PROVIDED VISA-FREE TRAVEL The EPs Committee on Civil Liberties proposed Wednesday that after Brexit, British citizens would be able to enter EU countries visa-free for short periods, provided EU nationals enjoy the same conditions when traveling to the UK said a committee statement. The proposal was voted in the full EP on Thursday and passed. It will apply on the day following Britains withdrawal from the bloc. From that date, British citizens will not be required to have a visa for stays in the EU of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, under the proposal. British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday that the UK needs an additional short extension from the EU from the current exit date of April 12. The EU is set to hold an emergency Brexit summit on April 10, two days before the delayed date. Britains parliament has repeatedly failed to settle on any plan for Brexit. In a 2016 referendum, UK voters decided to leave the bloc after a more than 40-year-long membership. Hundreds of migratory birds in Diyarbakr Located on the flyway of migratory birds, Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakir once again welcomed hundreds of hawks. The Anatolian lands provide plenty of shelter and feeding options to the migratory birds that fly across Africa, Europe and Asia over Turkey. Diyarbakir is one of their common stops, especially for birds of prey. "ALTERNATIVE ROUTES" Recep Karakas, a professor of zoology in Diyarbakirs Dicle University, told Anadolu Agency that Turkey was a popular route for migratory birds. "While migrating, alternative routes emerge. And these routes include Turkey, as a variety of migratory birds use our region. We think that birds use the Tigris-Euphrates River systems for navigation," he said. "Hawks, a predatory species [or raptor], are one of the birds using [Turkish] route. Hawks usually migrate in flocks, they use our region to migrate to northern latitudes," he added. He pointed out that the birds of prey would prey on little mammals, lizards, reptiles, insects, and indirectly help farmers. However, there are stand-alone instances when these visiting birds are attacked. "POACHING OR HUNTING DAMAGES NATURE" Mesut Tomar, a veterinarian, said he treated a hawk wounded by gunfire of hunters in Ergani district of Diyarbakir. "Poaching or hunting damages nature," he said. "Our region is a migration route and resting area for birds. We should do our best to ensure their healthy migration," he added. Israeli settlers attack vehicles Palestinian Jewish settlers block road linking Nablus, Jenin, local witnesses say. Jewish settlers on Friday closed a road in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and attacked Palestinian vehicles, according to witnesses. ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE PALESTINIANS Dozens of settlers closed the road linking [the West Bank cities of] Nablus and Jenin, one witness told Anadolu Agency, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. Settlers also hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles near the towns of Bizzariya and Burqa, the witness added. The same witness went on to assert that the settlers had been accompanied by Israeli military personnel. According to Palestinian figures, more than 650,000 Jewish settlers currently live on 196 settlements (built with the Israeli governments approval) and more than 200 settlers outposts (built without its approval) across the occupied West Bank. Merkel still sees a chance for Brexit deal Irelands leader Leo Varadkar welcomes German Chancellor A.Merkel to Dublin determined to reassure the EU that his country is ready to deal with the chaos that would be unleashed by a no-deal Brexit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that there is still a chance to strike a Brexit deal with the UK. "WE WILL HAVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL" Where there is a will there is a way, Merkel said, speaking at a press conference in Dublin during a visit to the Irish capital. Merkel added that she will work until the very last hour to prevent a no-deal scenario, which would be problematic for all parties. However, she said this would require a new proposal for a way forward from British Prime Minister Theresa May if the UK will be granted a further extension to the article 50 a process any leaving EU member triggers to start divorce talks. Asked whether she believed Ireland could protect the EU single market without a hard border with Northern Ireland, Merkel said: "We will simply have to be able to do this. We will have to be successful, she added. "I think you also have this phrase 'where there's a will, there's a way. And were working on this," he added. Merkel underlined the significance of her visit to Dublin, saying it is because Germany wanted to show its solidarity with Ireland at a difficult time. We do hope that the intensive discussions that are ongoing in London will lead to a situation by next Wednesday when we have a special council meeting, where Prime Minister Theresa May will have something to table to us on the basis of which we can continue to talk, Merkel said. She added: We want to stand together as 27. Until the very last hour I can say this from the German side we will do everything in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit; Britain crashing out of the EU," she added. But we have to do this together with Britain and with their position that they will present to us, she said. "WE HAVE TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR ALL OUTCOMES" Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he still would like to see the Brexit deal is ratified in London but not much time left for that. We have to prepare ourselves for all outcomes, he said, stressing the possibility of a UK crash out. Varadkar said he discussed with the German chancellor about plans on a no-deal Brexit. "Including how we will work together to meet our twin objectives of protecting the Good Friday [1998 Belfast] Agreement on which peace in Ireland is based and also protecting the integrity of the European Single Market and Customs Union on which our economic model is founded," he said. "I welcome the Chancellor's continued understanding and support for the challenges that we face and if it arises it will be a shared challenge for Ireland and the European Union," he said, adding patience is needed with Westminster. Echoing Merkel, Varadkar reiterated that a further Brexit extension will require a credible and realistic way forward. He said: Matters continue to play out in London and I think we need to be patient and understanding of the predicament that they are in." But of course, any further extension must require and must have a credible and realistic way forward," he added. Security forces killed by Naxal rebels in India India, four Border Security Force personnel were killed and two others injured by Naxal rebels. Four Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers were killed and two others injured Thursday in the central state of Chhattisgarh in a gun battle with Maoist insurgents, also known as Naxals, said police. 4 DEAD 2 INJURED We lost four BSF men today. Two others are injured, and they are under treatment, Deputy Inspector General (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P told Anadolu Agency. He said the encounter took place in a forest area in the states Kanker district around 12 p.m. (0600 GMT). Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker, Indias Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, said on Twitter. They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation. My deepest condolences to the families of these martyrs and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured, he added. In another tweet, Singh said: I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation. Naxalites are an insurgent group which draws inspiration from far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political ideology. The Maoist rebels have been fighting for more than three decades in eastern and central India for what they describe as the rights of tribal people in the region. US eyes F-35 sales to Greece US is considering expanding sales of F-35 fighter jets to five new nations including Romania, Greece and Poland as European allies bulk up their defenses in the face of a strengthening Russia. In written testimony submitted to the US House of Representatives and seen by Reuters, Vice Admiral Mathias Winter - the head of the Pentagons F-35 office - said that future potential Foreign Military Sales customers include Singapore, Greece, Romania, Spain and Poland. GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT DEALS Foreign military sales like those of the F-35 are considered government-to-government deals where the Pentagon acts as an intermediary between the defense contractor and a foreign government. Other US allies have been eyeing a purchase of the stealthy jet including Finland, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Winters full written testimony, which will be made public as soon as Friday, said the United States would respond to all official requests for information about the jet. US transfers Turkey's F-35 jet to Arizona base The Pentagon said Wednesday it transferred one of Turkey's two F-35 jets to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The Pentagon said Wednesday it transferred one of Turkey's two F-35 jets to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. "ANOTHER ONE WILL BE SENT TOMORROW" Spokesperson Eric Pahon told Anadolu Agency "another one will be sent tomorrow." He reiterated the US concerns about Turkey's procurement of Russian S-400 surface to air missile system. On the training of Turkish pilots in the Arizona base, Pahon said there has yet to be any change and "training will continue." Two F-35s already delivered to Turkey are currently at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Turkish pilots are being trained. The jets were scheduled to be transferred to Turkey in November. The US would have delivered four of the jets to Turkey with the latest transfer. Anther Pentagon spokesperson said Turkish pilots would continue training on F-35s in Arizona despite Pentagon decision to suspend delivery of parts. Turkey joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program in 2002 and has invested more than $1.25 billion. It also manufactures various aircraft parts for all F-35 variants and customers. Ankara's decision to procure the Russian S-400 defense system has led to significantly strained ties with the US, and Washington earlier this week suspended delivery of parts and services necessary to Turkey's receipt of the stealth fighter jet. The behind the scenes legal drama surrounding imprisoned rapper Meek Mill continues to build. The judge who set Mill to prison has denied to free him. Judge Brinkley Strikes Again On Monday, April 16, the Philadelphia District Attorney's office stated in courtroom that it wants a new trail for the "All Eyes On You" rapper. They stated that the rapper deserves another trial after it was revealed that Reginald Graham, the officer who arrested Mill in his 2007, is part of a "do not call" list that highlights corrupted police officers. However, the prosecutors at the time of the 2008 conviction sat on the vital piece of information. TMZ reported that if the Philadelphia District Attorney office's wishes are granted, Mill's 2008 conviction would be thrown out. Also, Mill would be allowed to leave prison. However, Judge Brinkley who initially sentenced the rapper in November 2017 to two to four years in jail for violating his probation, revealed that she has decided to wait until June to hear more about this case. Judge Brinkley also denied any members of Mill's legal team a chance for Mill to be released on bail. No Bail And Personal Vendetta This is not the first time that Judge Brinkley denied Mill his freedom. On Monday, April 3, despite growing vocal support from both the Philadelphia District Attorney's office and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolfe, Judge Brinkley stated that Mill would remain in jail. Several members of Mill's legal team believe that she had a bias against their client. The group indicated that Judge Brinkley allegedly requested to re-record Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" and demanded that Mill should switch his management team. Judge Brinkley has denied all of the legal team's claims. Celebrity Legal Problems Meek Mill is not the only celebrity that is dealing with legal dramas. Fellow rapper Travis Scott was challenged with a lawsuit from a Minneapolis event planner. The event planner, PJAM LLC, paid the "Butterfly Effect" rapper over $160,000 in fees for his scheduled pre-Super Bowl celebration on February 3. However, Scott canceled at the last minute due to inclement weather. Rapper Nelly was under investigation following an alleged sexual assault crime in London. CHICAGO (April 5, 2019): A standardized interdisciplinary clinical pathway to identify and manage frailty in older patients has reduced the rate of one of the most debilitating complications for older patients--delirium--and kept patients from returning to the hospital within 30 days of treatment for traumatic injury. The pathway is being adapted for other surgical services as trauma surgeons from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, focus attention on the specific needs of elderly surgical patients. A study describing the pathway and its effects on outcomes appears as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication. As the U.S. population continues to age, increasing numbers of elderly patients will have a need for trauma surgery. By 2050, 40 percent of all trauma patients will be over age 65.1 While the elderly are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality after trauma, age itself is not the sole reason for poor outcomes.2 Frailty is a major contributor. Frail patients are more likely to have complications and loss of function after hospital care and require readmission for repeat trauma than more robust patients.3 As many as 50 percent of older trauma patients are frail, and 78 percent are functionally impaired.4 Interdisciplinary inpatient care protocols involving consultation with geriatricians have improved outcomes for elderly hospitalized patients.5 However, there is a nationwide shortage of geriatricians.6 "It's just not feasible to have a geriatrician available for consultation all the time. We needed to become better equipped to provide dedicated geriatric-focused care on our own. So we put some processes in place to screen elderly trauma patients for frailty and stratify and direct our resources to provide the best possible care for them," said Zara Cooper, MD, FACS, an associate professor of surgery, Harvard Medical School, and corresponding author of the study. Since Brigham and Women's Hospital's trauma surgery service hired a geriatrician to consult on the care of elderly injury victims in 2014, it documented fewer complications, mortalities, readmissions and extended hospital stays.7 However, the surgeons noticed gaps in care when the geriatrician was not available and lack of overall uniformity in the way recommendations from the geriatric team were instituted. The pathway for frail elderly trauma patients was created in 2016 to standardize processes of care a geriatrician would typically recommend: early ambulation, bowel and pain regimens, non-pharmacological delirium prevention, nutrition, physical therapy, and geriatric assessments. Surgeons at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed the Frailty Identification and Care Pathway over a six-month period with input from geriatrics, nursing, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, social work, and care coordinators. The pathway makes use of the five-item FRAIL scale to identify vulnerable elderly trauma patients, a standardized set of orders for geriatric-focused care and consultations, family meetings, and fall prevention education.7 In the present study, researchers compared outcomes for frail elderly trauma patients before and six months after implementation of the pathway. In addition to overall mortality, the investigators analyzed whether the pathway could prevent or quickly recognize and treat delirium (one of the most common causes of increased hospital length of stay), transfer to a nursing facility, and mortality within six months of hospital care. In addition, the investigators tabulated the 30-day hospital readmission rate, which serves as an indicator of quality hospital care and effective use of resources. Researchers reviewed the care of 125 patients who were treated before the pathway was implemented and 144 after it was in place for six months and found lower rates of delirium, in-hospital mortality, and readmission. Patients who were managed according to the pathway had a 9 percent less risk for delirium, 3 percent reduced risk for mortality, and 7 percent lower risk for readmission. Interdisciplinary protocols represent a shift in perspective for trauma surgeons. "Trauma centers are primarily focused on hemorrhage and complications that are typical for young patients. The elderly, especially frail elderly, have very different needs. Innovative models for geriatric trauma patients are emerging in parts of the country that have a significant proportion of older adults," Dr. Cooper said. The pathway at Brigham and Women's Hospital is fairly straightforward and makes use of resources that are readily available in other trauma centers and surgical services. The standardized approach is being expanded for pre- and post-operative elective operations for frail elderly patients. "We have to adapt the protocol here and there, but the basic framework relies on getting patients mobile and managing medications, nutrition, and communication with families," Dr. Cooper said. "This is the type of care that matters to patients and should be universal." ### Dr. Cooper's coauthors are Elizabeth A. Bryant, MPH, Samir Tulebaev, MD, Manuel Castillo-Angeles, MD, MPH, Esther Moberg, MPH, Steven S. Senglaub, MS, Lynne O'Mara, PAC, Meghan McDonald, RN, MSN, Ali Salim, MD, FACS, all of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Citation: The Frailty Identification and Care Pathway: A interdisciplinary approach to care for older trauma Patients. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Available at: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.02.052. 1Banks S and Lewis M. Trauma in the Elderly: Considerations for Anesthetic Management. Anesthesiology Clin. 2013; 31: 127-139. 2Joseph B, Pandit V, Zangbar B, Kulvatunyou N, et al. Superiority of frailty over age in predicting outcomes among geriatric trauma patients: a prospective analysis. JAMA Surg. 2014; 149: 766-72. Malmstrom TK, Miller DK, Morley JE. A comparison of four frailty models. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62:721-6. 3Joseph B, Orouji Jokar T, Hassan A, Azim A, Mohler MJ, et al. Redefining the association between old age and poor outcomes after trauma: the frailty syndrome. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017; 82: 575-581. 4Maxwell CA. Screening hospitalized injured older adults for cognitive impairment and pre-injury functional impairment. Applied Nursing Research. 2013; 26: 146-150. 5Eamer, G.J., Taheri, A.A., Chen, S.S., Daviduck, Q., Chambers, T., Shi, X., & Khadaroo, R.G. (2018). Comprehensive geriatric assessment for older people admitted to a surgical service. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 1, CD012485. 6Olufajo OA, Tulebaev S, Javedan H, Gates J, et al. Integrating Geriatric Consults into Routine Care of Older Trauma Patients: One-Year Experience of a Level I Trauma Center. J Am Coll Surg. 2016;222: 1029-35. 7 Gleason LJ, Benton EA, Alvarez-Nebreda ML, Weaver MJ, Harris MB, Javedan H. FRAIL Questionnaire Screening Tool and Short-Term Outcomes in Geriatric Fracture Patients. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017 Dec 1;18(12):1082-1086. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.07.005. Epub 2017 Aug 31. Morley JE, Malmstrom TK, Miller DK. A simple frailty questionnaire (FRAIL) predicts outcomes in middle-aged African Americans. J Nutr Health Aging. 2012; 16: 601-608. About the American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit http://www.facs.org. Studies showing links between personality traits and life outcomes, such as marital stability and vocational achievements, provide a reasonably accurate map of the relationship between personality and various aspects of one's life, according to findings from a large-scale replication project. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The results of the project "provide grounds for cautious optimism about the personality-outcome literature," says study author Christopher J. Soto, a psychology researcher at Colby College. "Like a lot of researchers, I have been following recent discussions about the robustness of our scientific findings with great interest, but I was genuinely uncertain about how much this problem generalized to my own key area of interest: personality psychology," he explains. To find out, Soto developed the Life Outcomes of Personality Replication (LOOPR) Project. The LOOPR Project aimed to replicate 78 previously identified trait-outcome associations, which had been noted in a comprehensive literature review published in 2006. The project specifically examined links between the Big Five personality traits -- openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism -- and 48 individual, interpersonal, and institutional outcomes, which ranged from subjective well-being to personal behavior to occupational performance. Prior to conducting the study, Soto preregistered the study hypotheses, design, materials, and analysis plans on the Open Science Framework. A total of more than 6,100 adults, from four online samples of participants, completed surveys for the study. The surveys included a version of the widely used Big Five Inventory to measure personality traits, as well as various measures of life outcomes, such as career and relationship success, political beliefs, and criminal history. The analyses showed that the majority of the replication attempts were successful -- that is, the replication attempts reproduced previously identified trait-outcome links about 85% of the time. But the LOOPR Project results showed associations between personality traits and life outcomes that were often not as strong as those originally published. "The key reason for optimism is that the replicability estimates from this project are pretty high -- true personality-outcome associations don't seem to be outnumbered by false positives or flukes," says Soto. "However, the replicability estimates are still a bit lower than we would expect if the personality literature didn't have any problems with false positive results, selective reporting, or publication bias." "This suggests that personality research can still benefit from current efforts to improve the robustness of our science," he says. Soto does note certain aspects of the LOOPR Project that may account for some of the differences in the findings. Whereas the replication attempts were based on self-report surveys completed by groups of online participants, some of the original studies collected data in a different way (i.e., following people over time), used a different method (i.e., in-person interviews), or drew from a different sample (i.e., community-based sample). When both the original study and replication attempt used self-report measures, for example, the replication effect sizes tended to be larger. Ultimately, the study represents a first step in examining the reliability of trait-outcomes associations. "The LOOPR Project has generated a large and rich data set, so I'm excited to collaborate with other scientists to bring these data to bear on other key issues in our field," Soto says. "These include updating and extending our understanding of how personality relates with consequential life outcomes, and testing the degree to which these personality-outcome associations generalize across factors like age, gender, and socioeconomic status." ### All data, materials, and analysis code for this study are publicly available on the Open Science Framework. The preregistration protocol and revisions to the preregistration are also online. This article has received badges for Open Data, Open Materials, and Preregistration. For more information about this study, please contact: Christopher J. Soto at christopher.soto@colby.edu. The article abstract is available online at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0956797619831612 The APS journal Psychological Science is the highest ranked empirical journal in psychology. For a copy of the article "How Replicable Are Links Between Personality Traits and Consequential Life Outcomes? The Life Outcomes of Personality Replication Project" and access to other Psychological Science research findings, please contact Anna Mikulak at 202-293-9300 or amikulak@psychologicalscience.org. Data from more than 17,000 teenagers show little evidence of a relationship between screen time and well-being in adolescents. The study, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, casts doubt on the widely accepted notion that spending time online, gaming, or watching TV, especially before bedtime, can damage young people's mental health. "Implementing best practice statistical and methodological techniques we found little evidence for substantial negative associations between digital-screen engagement and adolescent well-being," said Amy Orben, a Researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) and College Lecturer at the Queen's College, University of Oxford. "While psychological science can be a powerful tool for understanding the link between screen use and adolescent well-being, it still routinely fails to supply stakeholders and the public with high-quality, transparent, and objective investigations into growing concerns about digital technologies. Analyzing three different datasets, which include improved measurements of screen time, we found little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent well-being, even if the use of digital technology occurs directly before bedtime," said Professor Andrew Przybylski, Director of Research at the OII and coauthor on the study. The full research article is available online. The research found that adolescents' total screen time per day had little impact on their mental health, both on weekends and weekdays. It also found that the use of digital screens 2 hours, 1 hour, or 30 minutes before bedtime didn't have clear associations with decreases in adolescent well-being, even though this is often taken as a fact by media reports and public debates. Unlike other studies, the Oxford research analyzed data from Ireland, the US, and the UK to support its conclusions. The researchers used a rigorous methodology to gather how much time an adolescent spends on screens per day, including both self-reported measures and time-use diaries. This is important as many studies are based solely on self-reported digital technology use, even though recent work found only one third of participants give accurate accounts of how much time they spend online when asked after the fact. The researchers were also able to create a comprehensive picture of teens' well-being, examining measures of psychosocial functioning, depression symptoms, self-esteem, and mood, with data provided by both young people and their caregivers. Additionally, the final of the three studies conducted was preregistered, meaning that the researchers publicly documented the analyses they would run before they analyzed the data. This prevents hypothesizing after the results are known, a challenge for controversial research topics. "Because technologies are embedded in our social and professional lives, research concerning digital-screen use and its effects on adolescent well-being is under increasing scrutiny," said Orben. "To retain influence and trust, robust and transparent research practices will need to become the norm--not the exception. We hope our approach will set a new baseline for new research on the psychological study of technology," added Przybylski. The insights come days ahead of the anticipated release of the UK government's new White Paper on Online Harms, which is expected to set out plans for legislation governing social media companies. This new study builds on previous work by Orben and Przybylski that used novel and transparent statistical approaches to show that technology use has a minuscule influence on adolescent well-being. The study used data from Ireland, the US, and the UK. In Ireland, it covered 5,363 young people tracked under the Growing Up in Ireland project. In the US, the data covered 709 subjects of a variety of ages compiled by the United States Panel Study of Income Dynamics. And in the UK, the dataset included responses from 11,884 adolescents and their caregivers surveyed as part of the Millennium Cohort Study. ### The National Institutes of Health (R01-HD069609/R01-AG040213) and the National Science Foundation (SES-1157698/1623684) supported the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs funded Growing Up in Ireland, carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin. A. Orben was supported by a European Union Horizon 2020 IBSEN Grant; A. K. Przybylski was supported by an Understanding Society Fellowship funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The analysis code for this study is publicly available and the design and analysis plans were preregistered, all via the Open Science Framework. This article has received the badges for Open Materials and Preregistration. The APS journal Psychological Science is the highest ranked empirical journal in psychology. For a copy of the article "Screens, Teens, and Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From Three Time-Use-Diary Studies" and access to other Psychological Science research findings, please contact Anna Mikulak at 202-293-9300 or amikulak@psychologicalscience.org. Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and Aalto University, along with Forum Virium Helsinki and the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, have obtained 15 million of funding from the Horizon 2020 programme in addition to 17 million of co-financing from the Government of Estonia for the Finest Twins project. The funding will be used to establish the Smart Cities Centre of Excellence in Tallinn. This will be the first global centre of excellence focusing on developing top-level research and innovative solutions for cross-border smart cities. The innovative concepts and solutions will be tested and implemented in Tallinn and Helsinki before being scaled globally. Jaak Aaviksoo, Rector of TalTech, emphasises: 'This is the largest ever competitive R&D grant in Estonia. The Estonian Research Council has compared the Teaming Grant to receiving a R&D Oscar Award. The funding recognises that TalTech and Aalto researchers can innovate modern cities towards more citizen-oriented and sustainable futures.' The project will last 7 years and aims to create a centre with top-level international research expertise in smart cities while also strengthening research cooperation between the two universities. The initiator of the project, Dr Ralf-Martin Soe from the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance at TalTech, explains that Finest Twins is a broad and multidisciplinary project covering a number of research areas, including user-orientated built environment design; smart transport; digital services; data and cybersecurity; and renewable energy solutions.The concept of the Centre was developed as part of his PhD thesis at Nurkse Department. "We are very happy that we can boost the collaboration between two leading tech universities of Finland and Estonia, Aalto and TalTech. It is a bit surprising how little joint projects and activities these two partners have, although they are just around 100 kilometers apart. The Finest Twins CoE aims to take over best practices and expertise of Aalto researchers working on fields connected to smart city and replicate best parts in TalTech with the help of Forum Virium Helsinki, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia and also supported by cities of Tallinn and Helisnki," said Dr Soe 'Helsinki and Tallinn will start building together and researching smart city digital services which span borders and work together seamlessly,' explains Aalto university Professor of Usability and User Interfaces, Marko Nieminen. An Urban Open Platform and Lab for connecting Talsinki The Urban Open Platform and Lab, to be co-designed by Forum Virium Helsinki, TalTech and Aalto, will build on the Centre's research outputs to design and trial joint pilot-projects for the two smart cities. For example, robot cars are a typical example of smart transport, and smart street lighting seeks to improve not only energy-saving goals but aesthetic and safety considerations as well. 'The platform can be used to try out ideas in real-life environments. For example, digital micro-payments enable whole new business models for the Internet of Things, but we don't yet know what consumer behaviour will actually be like. Therefore, real-life testing environments will open up interesting research possibilities,' Professor Nieminen continues. Among other things, the project will also involve research of local renewable energy production and smart electricity distribution solutions. Also, because smart cities make use of a huge amount of data, the project will require data analysis and data security expertise as well. The goal is to develop an open research and development ecosystem that combines research and services and product development both for public administration and commercial business activities. The Finest Twins project is coordinated by TalTech. The project partners are Aalto University, the City of Helsinki innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki, and the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication. The project is also open to innovation collaborations with dozens of Estonian and Finnish of companies interested in smart city development and innovation projects. ### Contact details Ralf-Martin Soe Finest Twins coordinator TalTech ralf-martin.soe@taltech.ee, Phone +372 523 9520 Erkki Karo Professor TalTech erkki.karo@taltech.ee Phone +372 515 6795 Marko Nieminen Professor Aalto University marko.nieminen@aalto.fi Petri Kanninen Research Liaison Officer Aalto University petri.kanninen@aalto.fi phone. +358 50 355 6869 First study dedicated to the world-famous concept proposes that sisu can help people exceed their preconceived limitations but can be detrimental when used unwisely If you ask Finns about what defines Finnishness, the word sisu is sure to come up--even if they can't always put it into words. In 1940, during World War II, The New York Times declared sisu to be 'the word that explains Finland.' Sisu has traditionally been elusive and poorly defined but a new study from Aalto University is the first to break down the cultural construct in a systematic way to describe a universal phenomenon of hidden energy in the human system. 'Sisu is a Finnish word that goes back hundreds of years and a quality that Finns hold dear but the phenomenon itself is universal,' says Emilia Lahti, a doctoral student at Aalto University and author of the study. 'Taking a close look at the concept reminds us that, as humans, not only are we all vulnerable in the face of adversity but we share unexplored inner strength that can be accessed in adverse times.' In her study, Lahti analysed more than 1000 responses from Finns and others knowledgeable about sisu on what the concept means--as well as whether it is inherently a good thing. One of the most prominent aspects apparent in the data: extraordinary perseverance, in other words, an individual's ability to surpass preconceived limitations, either mentally or physically, by accessing stored-up energy reserves. Lahti also found the concept to be marked in the responses by a consistent courageous approach to taking action against slim odds, in some cases appearing to the respondents almost as a 'magic' source of power that can help pull through tremendous challenges, whether self-selected like an ultra-run or something unexpected like a health struggle. It is hard to exhaustively describe sisu but, according to the study, it denotes an internal, latent force that moves you forward when you think you have reached your limit. It is almost like a spare tank of gas, Lahti explains; its benefits are thanks to adversity, not in spite of it. Sisu is not always, however, for the better. 'Sisu will help us take the next step--or the first one--but the outcome of that action will depend on how we use it. In that sense, sisu can be constructive or it can be destructive.' It was apparent from the data that too much sisu can result in burnout, exhaustion, disconnection and even create an attitude of mercilessness as the individual imposes his or her own harsh standards on others. It seems that sisu is neither good nor bad, but a tool you must learn to master. While the public discourse at large glorifies mental strength and perpetuates a 'faster, higher and stronger' mentality, the answers in the data displayed an alternative view. '[Too much sisu leads to] denying the realities of life, as well as the limits of human strength, therefore denying the very core of our humanity in ourselves and others,' one respondent wrote. As an action researcher, Lahti sees the study results as an opportunity to engage in a broader societal conversation on how we might improve the quality of human life through greater self-understanding that includes the sisu construct. 'Finland is an interesting case,' she says. 'We've again been named world's happiest country and in global terms we have an excellent social welfare system, but at the same time we are a country that, also, struggles with things like suicide, depression and domestic violence.' With global conversations on burnout and the tolls of modern life, understanding the extent and limits of human strength through new cultural contexts, like Finland, can contribute to a roadmap toward a more harmonious way of living. 'We need sisu, but we also need things like benevolence, compassion and honesty with ourselves, Lahti says. 'The study is basically an invitation to talk about balance.' Lahti has also recently explored sisu in her personal life by running the length of New Zealand in 50-days as part of her non-profit that seeks to build cultures of zero violence. ### PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- A recent study of centuries-old French-Canadian genealogical data by a Brown University economist revealed evidence that supports his own 17-year-old theory that natural selection played a pivotal role in the emergence of economic growth and industrialization. Oded Galor, a professor of economics at Brown, and Marc Klemp, a visiting scholar in Brown's Population Studies and Training Center, together studied genealogical records from Quebec's Saint Lawrence Valley dating from 1608 to 1800. Focusing on changes in families' fecundity, or predisposition toward fertility, they found that in those centuries, those who were able to conceive a child shortly after marriage -- a measure of fecundity -- had more surviving children. However, the study found, those who conceived months after marriage -- a measure of more moderate fecundity -- had fewer children but a larger number of surviving descendants in future generations, giving them the evolutionary upper hand. The researchers also noted that the population they studied became increasingly less predisposed toward high fertility over the course of those two centuries. Galor says the study results, published on Monday, April 1, in Nature Ecology & Evolution, lend credence to what he and a colleague had surmised in a highly influential 2002 paper -- that during the pre-industrial era, the natural selection of those who were genetically predisposed toward having fewer children was instrumental in spurring industrialization and sustained economic growth. "The data suggest that over time, nature selected individuals who had a predisposition to invest in their children," Galor said. "This contributed to the transition from an epoch of stagnation to an era of sustained economic growth." Before the Industrial Revolution began in North America in the mid-1700s, Galor explained, humanity lived in what he calls the Malthusian epoch. For thousands of years, humanity had a predisposition toward high fertility. Galor and Kemp's study shows that the pattern began to change in the pre-industrial era, when those with more moderate levels of fecundity began to gain an evolutionary advantage. By the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, their advantage had grown so large that the high-fecundity population became the minority, while those with moderate fecundity started to dominate the population. Galor argues that this change created ideal conditions for economic growth during the Industrial Revolution. As evolution began to favor families who were less fertile and thus had fewer children, those families had more resources to devote to each child. Children who came from these families became more educated -- an important trait, he says, in an era that demanded greater cognitive ability and creativity for technological advances. The population gradually became more educated, creating a "positive feedback loop" between education and technology and generating sustained economic growth. "The fundamental building block in our hypothesis, that natural selection was critical for the emergence of economic growth, is now supported by the evidence," Galor said of the 2002 paper. "We show that although higher fecundity maximized the number of surviving children someone would have after one generation, moderate fecundity -- and therefore greater predisposition toward child quality -- generated higher reproductive success in the long run and was selected by nature in the pre-industrial period." To reach their conclusion, the researchers chose to focus on an extensive genealogical record of nearly half a million individuals in a particular area of Quebec, where nearly every citizen's birth, marriage and death was recorded in Catholic parish registers between 1608 and 1800. Given the time period and the region's religious uniformity, the researchers could safely assume that for most, marriage signaled a deliberate attempt to conceive children. They ensured their findings weren't driven by stray exceptions in the dataset -- for example, those who married much later in life or whose genetics predisposed them to infertility. The results of the analysis -- that those who successfully conceived a few months after marriage, rather than immediately afterward, had more surviving descendants in the long term -- mirror preliminary results from another analysis Galor and Klemp conducted using records in Britain between 1541 and 1871. Galor says this suggests the phenomenon may have extended beyond Quebec and Britain, as he posited in 2002. "My hope," he said, "is that this study will spur further interest in exploring the role of evolutionary processes in economic development." ### The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is establishing six new Research Units. This decision was made by the DFG Joint Committee upon recommendation by the Senate in Bonn. The new units will receive a total of approximately 18 million, including a 22 percent programme allowance for indirect project costs, for an initial three-year period. Research Units are generally funded for two three-year periods. In addition to approving the six new units, the Committee extended eight Research Units and one Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences for a second funding period. Research Units enable researchers to pursue current and pressing issues in their research areas and to take innovative directions in their work. Centres for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences are tailored to the working methods used in these disciplines. With today's decisions, the DFG is now funding 168 Research Units, 10 Clinical Research Units and 12 Centres for Advanced Studies in SSH. The six new groups (in alphabetical order by spokesperson's university) The detection rate of causal mutations of rare genetic diseases is stagnating because, although all coding regions of the human genome have been successfully deciphered, diseases caused by changes in non-coding sections are still not understood. The Research Unit "Beyond the Exome - Identifying, Analysing, and Predicting the Disease Potential of Non-Coding DNA Variants" therefore intends to improve the evaluation of whole genome sequences and bring together information on gene regulation in a single database. (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Markus Schulke-Gerstenfeld, Charite Berlin - FU Berlin and HU Berlin) The ability to cope with difficult life experiences without lasting negative impacts is referred to by psychologists as resilience. The Research Unit "Resilience in Religion and Spirituality. Endurance and the Formation of Powerlessness, Fear and Anxiety" aims to investigate this concept in relation to the religious and spiritual dimension of human life. The researchers intend to complement currently accepted resilience factors such as self-perception, self-efficacy, self-regulation, self-control and conflict resolution capability with additional factors and thus define the concept of resilience more precisely. (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Cornelia Richter, University of Bonn) The Research Unit "Adaptive Polymer Gels with Controlled Network Structure" will work with polymer components that form a shared network structure and swell in both water and organic solvents. The properties of these components make them suitable for a wide range of applications, for example as a material for soft contact lenses. The researchers intend to manipulate the nano- and microstructure of the polymer networks and investigate what impact the characteristics of individual components and the nature of their connections have on the network. (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Seiffert, University of Mainz) In cognitive psychology, basic processes of human action control are studied using a range of experimental paradigms such as task switching, negative priming, sequential conflict and action planning. In the past, however, research into these individual paradigms has developed along independent lines because only one specific aspect of human action control was being analysed at any one time. The Research Unit "Binding and Retrieval in Action Control" therefore aims to develop a framework model that is capable of explaining and integrating existing empirical findings relating to the individual paradigms. The framework should enable new hypotheses and predictions in relation to action control and other areas. (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Christian Frings, University of Trier) Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which abnormally modified proteins accumulate in tissues and organs throughout the body, leading to organ malfunction or failure. Light-chain or AL amyloidosis is one of the most common forms of the disease and manifests itself in many different ways. The purpose of the Research Unit "Mechanisms of Antibody Light Chain Misfolding in Systemic AL Amyloidosis" is to discover how the development and manifestation of two particularly common forms of AL amyloidosis, namely those that affect the heart and kidneys, are caused by protein biochemistry factors. (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Marcus Fandrich, University of Ulm) The Research Unit "Advanced Concepts in Cellular Immune Control of Cytomegalovirus" will focus on the investigation of the cellular immune response to cytomegalovirus. This virus belongs to the family of herpes viruses, and following infection it remains in human cells for the rest of an individual's life. In healthy individuals this does not cause a problem, and infection often causes no symptoms, but in patients with a weakened immune system infection can be dangerous. How cytomegaloviruses escape detection by the immune system and what defensive mechanisms the immune system can develop is still poorly understood. The Research Unit intends to fill this knowledge gap. (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Lars Dolken, University of Wurzburg) The nine research collaborations extended for a second funding period (in alphabetical order by their spokesperson's university, with links to project descriptions in GEPRIS, the DFG's online project database): Advanced Studies Centre in SSH "Cinepoetics - Center for Advanced Film Studies" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Hermann Kappelhoff, FU Berlin) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/256920011 Research Unit "Rough Paths, Stochastic Partial Differential Equations and Related Topics" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Peter Karl Friz, TU Berlin) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/277012070 Research Unit "Social-Ecological Systems in the Indian Rural-Urban Interface: Functions, Scales, and Dynamics of Transition" (Spokesperson for second funding period: Prof. Dr. Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel, University of Gottingen) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/279374797 Research Unit "Debris Disks in Planetary Systems" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Alexander Krivov, University of Jena) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/262443618 Research Unit "MAD Soil - Microaggregates: Formation and turnover of the structural building blocks of soils" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Kai Uwe Totsche, University of Jena) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/251268514 Research Unit "Questions at the Interfaces" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Miriam Butt, University of Konstanz) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/240796339 Research Unit "VIROCARB: Glycans Controlling Non-Enveloped Virus Infections" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Thilo Stehle, University of Tubingen) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/269564371 Research Unit "Macromolecular Complexes in mRNA translocation" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Dierk Niessing, University of Ulm) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/270067186 Research Unit "Correlations in Integrable Quantum Many-Body Systems" (Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas Kluemper, University of Wuppertal) http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/267822229 ### Further Information Media contact: DFG Press and Public Relations, Tel. +49 228 885-2109, presse@dfg.de Further information will be provided by the spokespersons of the units. DFG Head Office contact: Ursula Rogmans-Beucher, Quality and Programme Management, Tel. +49 228 885-2726, ursula.rogmans-beucher@dfg.de Further information on DFG Research Units: http://www.dfg.de/for/en http://www.dfg.de/advanced_studies_centre Currently, the study of the effects of ionizing radiation is of great relevance in the context of the challenges in the field of agriculture development, the existence of zones with an elevated natural and man-made radiation background, and the need to develop space biology. At the same time, this type of radiation can be successfully used for developing new varieties of agricultural plants, pre-sowing seed treatment and solving other general biological tasks aimed at establishing general patterns and peculiarities of ionizing radiation effects on various living organisms. To date, a large amount of data has been accumulated and summarized about the effects of ionizing radiation on plant growth and reproduction, as well as on changes caused by ionizing radiation at the genetic level. At the same time, there is a significant gap in understanding the mechanisms of the influence of ionizing radiation on the activity of biochemical and physiological processes, despite the fact that it is at this level that the basis is formed, due to which all effects appear at the level of the whole organism. According to Professor Vladimir Vodeneev, Head of the Department of Biophysics at Lobachevsky University, the activity of physiological processes, on the one hand, determines the growth of plants, and on the other, is determined by changes at the genetic level. Thus, the study of the physiological and biochemical effects of ionizing radiation can give the most complete and comprehensive picture of the effect of ionizing radiation on plants. "In the present study, attention is focused on the effect of radiation on the most important physiological processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, long-range transport, the functioning of the hormonal system, and biosynthesis of various compounds. Based on a large amount of experimental data, an analysis was performed of the dose and time dependences of ionizing radiation effects, which show qualitative similarity in relation to various physiological and biochemical processes. The sequence of the stages of these processes, their mechanisms and cause-effect relationships between them were examined," Vladimir Vodeneev notes. Primary physico-chemical reactions caused by ionizing radiation, including the formation of various reactive oxygen species (ROS), are the cause of the changes in the functional activity of plants. The study emphasized the role of the long-lived form of ROS, hydrogen peroxide, that mediates the effect of ionizing radiation. It acts not only as a damaging molecule, but also as a universal intracellular messenger and a molecule playing the role of a long-range signal. In other words, not only negative factors of ROS influence on plants have been shown, but also some positive aspects of ROS as a source of information transfer at the molecular level. Nizhny Novgorod scientists have suggested that the influence of ionizing radiation on physiological processes occurs mainly through dysregulation of their activity. Such a dysregulation is apparently due to the existence of a cross-talk between plant signaling systems, such as ROS, calcium, hormonal and electrical systems. An increase in the level of ROS induced by both acute and chronic irradiation may affect the activity of a wide range of physiological processes through regulation both at the genetic and physiological levels, which ultimately affects the process of plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions. The obtained results open up a new stage in studying the possibilities of plant survival under the influence of various adverse factors, including extreme conditions of outer space. ### Research published this week in Science Advances shows that it may be possible to create rocket fuel that is much cleaner and safer than the hypergolic fuels that are commonly used today. And still just as effective. The new fuels use simple chemical "triggers" to unlock the energy of one of the hottest new materials, a class of porous solids known as metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs. MOFs are made up of clusters of metal ions and an organic molecule called a linker. Satellites and space stations that remain in orbit for a considerable amount of time rely on hypergols, fuels that are so energetic they will immediately ignite in the presence of an oxidizer (since there is no oxygen to support combustion beyond the Earth's atmosphere). The hypergolic fuels that are currently mainly in use depend on hydrazine, a highly toxic and dangerously unstable chemical compound made up of a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. Hydrazine-based fuels are so carcinogenic that people who work with it need to get suited up as though they were preparing for space travel themselves. Despite precautions, around 12,000 tons of hydrazine fuels end up being released into the atmosphere every year by the aerospace industry. "This is a new, cleaner approach to making highly combustible fuels, that are not only significantly safer than those currently in use, but they also respond or combust very quickly, which is an essential quality in rocket fuel," says Tomislav Frisci?. He is a professor in the Chemistry Department at McGill, and co-senior author on the paper along with former McGill researcher Robin D. Rogers. "Although we are still in the early stages of working with these materials in the lab, these results open up the possibility of developing a class of new, clean and highly tunable hypergolic fuels for the aerospace industry," says the first author, Hatem Titi, a post-doctoral fellow who works in Frisci?'s lab. Friscis is interested in commercializing this technology, and will work with McGill and Acsynam, an existing spin-off company from his laboratory, to make this happen. ### To read "Hypergolic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) as next-generation solid fuels: Unlocking the latent energetic behavior of ZIFs" by H.M. Titi et al in Science Advances: 10.1126/sciadv.aav9044 This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada CFI program. Computations were made on the supercomputer Mp2 from Universite de Sherbrooke, managed by Calcul Quebec and Compute Canada. The operation of this supercomputer was funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the ministere de l'Economie, de la science et de l'innovation du Quebec (MESI), and the Fonds de recherche du Quebec-Nature et technologies (FRQ-NT). Contact: Katherine Gombay Media Relations McGill University 514-398-2189 katherine.gombay@mcgill.ca http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/ http://twitter.com/McGillU Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAZp1wM2C8 This week, publication of a special issue on tuberculosis (TB) begins in PLOS Medicine, advised by guest editors Richard Chaisson of Johns Hopkins University, Claudia Denkinger of the University of Heidelberg, and Mark Hatherill of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Institute. An estimated 10 million people developed tuberculosis (TB) and 1.6 million died of TB globally in 2017, making it the number one cause of death from a single infectious agent. Last year the United Nations held a High Level Meeting on TB, where heads of state pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030. The Special Issue opens with publication of two original research articles: In the first article, Radojka M. Savic, of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues, develop a model for estimating the distribution of TB drugs in patients' lung lesions. They used data on 329 plasma- and 1,362 tissue-specific drug concentrations from 9 distinct lung lesion types obtained from 15 patients (10 men, 5 women) undergoing lung resection surgery, to develop and evaluate a site-of-action mechanistic pharmacokinetic model for 7 major TB drugs (rifampin [RIF], isoniazid [INH], linezolid [LZD], moxifloxacin [MFX], clofazimine[CFZ], pyrazinamide [PZA], and kanamycin [KAN]). The researchers found that patients receiving standard doses of RIF and INH, who are at the lower range of exposure distribution, spent substantial periods (>12 h/d) below effective concentrations in hard-to-treat lesions, such as caseous lesions and cavities. Standard doses of INH (300 mg) and KAN (1,000 mg) did not reach therapeutic thresholds in most lesions for a majority of the patient population. The investigators also found that the majority of TB drugs showed poor penetration into the cavitary lesions, leading to inadequate drug levels at the site of disease and increased risk of developing drug resistance. The authors note that this was a small group of patients from a unique population of TB patients who failed treatment and underwent lung resection surgery. Still, the authors note that the finding that TB drugs do not penetrate equally in different tissues suggests that a patient-focused approach to optimize drug regimen to the disease extent, lesion type, and individual drug-susceptibility profiles may eventually be useful to guide selection of tailored drug regimens with improved outcomes. They provide a web-based tool to further explore this model and results at http:// saviclab.org/tb-lesion/. In the second article, Ankur Gupta-Wright, of London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and colleagues develop a clinical risk score for identifying HIV-positive patients diagnosed with TB with an increased chance of dying within 2 months. The risk score includes 6 factors that can be measured upon hospital admission, including a urine TB diagnostic test to detect the protein lipoarabinomannan [LAM], age, sex, previous experience on antiretroviral treatment, anaemia, and ability to walk unaided. The score was derived in a cohort of 315 patients from the STAMP TB screening trial in Malawi and South Africa, and externally validated in 644 patients from 2 other studies done in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya. For patients identified by the score as high-risk, the odds of dying within 2 months were about 5 times greater (odds ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 2.2-9.5) compared to patients classified as low-risk in the validation cohort. The authors note that this risk score depends on access to urine LAM testing, does not measure all potential predictors of mortality (e.g., TB drug resistance), and further validation in larger and diverse cohorts is necessary. However, this risk score may be able to identify patients who could benefit from enhanced clinical care, follow-up, and/or adjunctive interventions. In addition to the research articles this week, the Special Issue includes a blog on Speaking of Medicine featuring the stories of six survivors of TB, discussing their experiences with different aspects of the TB care cascade, and how it led them to advocate at a local and global level to improve TB care. The Special Issue will continue with further research and discussion articles appearing over the next several weeks. ### Research Article--Savic et al Funding: This work was carried out with funding from US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R01AI106398-01 and R01AI111967 (RS and VD), grant OPP1066499 (VD) from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Intramural Research Program of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (CEB), the Critical Path to TB Drug Regimens (CPTR) Initiative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, grants OPP1031105 and the GC11 Grand Challenges in Global project, which was jointly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (37882) and the Wellcome Trust (077381). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Citation: Strydom N, Gupta SV, Fox WS, Via LE, Bang H, Lee M, et al. (2019) Tuberculosis drugs' distribution and emergence of resistance in patient's lung lesions: A mechanistic model and tool for regimen and dose optimization. PLoS Med 16(4): e1002773. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002773 Author Affiliations: Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America International Tuberculosis Research Center, Changwon, Republic of Korea Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea Public Health Research Institute and New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002773 Research Article--Gupta-Wright et al Funding: The funding for the STAMP trial was provided by the Joint Global Health Trials Scheme of the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for International Development, the Global Challenges Research Fund, the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust (MR/M007375/1). AG-W has received a Royal College of Physicians London JMGP Fellowship, ELC has received a Wellcome Trust Fellowship (WT200901/Z/16/Z). Funding for LAM-RCT was provided by the European Developing Clinical Trials Partnership the South African Medical Research Council, and the South African National Research Foundation for the TB Neat project. The MSF cohort study at Homa Bay County Hospital, Kenya was funded by Medecins Sans Frontieres. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: KD has obtained speaker fees at industry-sponsored symposia and non-financial support from Alere in the form of kits and test strips, outside the submitted work. No other authors declare competing interests. Citation: Gupta-Wright A, Corbett EL, Wilson D, van Oosterhout JJ, Dheda K, Huerga H, et al. (2019) Risk score for predicting mortality including urine lipoarabinomannan detection in hospital inpatients with HIV-associated tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa: Derivation and external validation cohort study. PLoS Med 16(4): e1002776. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002776 Author Affiliations: TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom Malawi-Liverpool- Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi Department of Medicine, Edendale Hospital, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Dignitas International, Zomba, Malawi Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Epicentre, Paris, France Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMI 233 TransVIHMI-UM-INSERM U1175, Montpellier, France Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002776 A study has shown that 'inclusive' educational policies that help working class students access higher education, such as delaying streaming children according to their ability until they are older, lowering the cost of private education, and increasing the intake of universities so that more students can attend all act to reduce the 'happiness gap' between the rich and poor. Research shows that the more educated people are, the happier they tend to be. Unfortunately it is also the case that children from privileged, wealthy backgrounds tend to do better at school and are more likely to go to university than children from poorer working class backgrounds. This means that by the time they reach adulthood, there is a big 'happiness gap' between middle class kids and their peers from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, a new study, published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education shows that this doesn't have to be the case, and that the link between social class and happiness can be moderated by educational policies that offer more opportunities to disadvantaged children. Researchers from Umea University in Sweden used the European Social Survey, a European wide survey carried out every two years since 2002, to calculate the life satisfaction and happiness of almost 15,000 people aged 18-29 years from a total of 25 countries. They then looked at the impact of four different education policies on the wellbeing of citizens. These included streaming, or tracking children according to ability at a young age; providing low cost education to all; allowing universities to increase their number of places so that more young people could attend; and giving students a second chance to go to university if they did not get the right grades. The results showed that, as expected, young people from privileged social backgrounds were more satisfied with their life than those from disadvantaged backgrounds. However the size of this disparity was affected by the types of educational policies adopted by European countries. For example in countries that delayed streaming, or tracking children according to ability until a later age, there was a negligible difference in life satisfaction between different social classes. "The age at which children were streamed had no effect on the wellbeing of middle class students, however children from impoverished backgrounds were significantly happier when streaming age was delayed," says Bjorn Hogberg from Umea University, who led the study. People from disadvantaged backgrounds were also happier in countries where the average cost of education was low, where universities increased their enrolment size, and when universities allowed second chance opportunities. The gap in happiness between social classes was largest in Hungary and Bulgaria, where children are streamed at a very young age and there are limited second chance opportunities provided for students to go to university. The UK and Germany also had significant 'happiness gaps', which in the UK was due to the very high costs of private education and the low enrollment levels of British universities. Denmark, on the other hand was one of the most equal country in terms of the happiness of its citizens. It also had the most inclusive educational policies - tracking pupils at an older age, providing low cost private education, and giving children generous second chance opportunities to go to university. "Among the wealthier western European countries, those with more inclusive education systems, such as Denmark, had smaller social differences (in fact none at all, on average) than equally wealthy but less inclusive countries, such as the UK or Germany," says Hogberg. The study suggests that governments and other policymakers need to consider the wider impact of their education policies on society. "Schools have the potential to have a huge impact on children and youth and on their life chances, but a narrow focus on academic outcomes such as test results provides only an incomplete picture of the consequences of education policies," says Hogberg. "I would recommend that education policy, especially at higher levels, are designed such that the opportunity to access education, should one want to, is maximised, either through institutional measures, such as widening access for poorer students, or through financial measures - such as lowering student fees." ### A few years ago, the Peruvian government launched a program to protect the rainforest. However, an analysis by the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn shows that its effect is small. But the researchers also have good news: Three measures could probably significantly increase effectiveness. The study is now published in the Journal Environmental Research Letters. In their publication the scientists analyze the "National Forest Conservation Program" (NFCP). It was launched by the Peruvian government in 2010 to curb the deforestation of the rainforest. The program is aimed at indigenous communities in the Amazon region. It is mainly funded from public Peruvian sources and by international donors. Communities that succeed in effectively curbing deforestation on their territory and establishing sustainable production systems receive a compensation payment: the equivalent of three dollars per year and per hectare of forest. They also receive technical assistance to implement the sustainable production systems. "We have investigated the extent to which the program has successfully contributed to forest conservation," explains Renzo Giudice. The Peruvian is a PhD candidate and researcher at the ZEF with a DAAD scholarship. His doctoral thesis is supervised by Prof. Dr. Jan Borner, whose working group investigates the economic aspects of sustainable land use. Giudice has studied the development of forest cover in 50 indigenous communities participating in the program. For comparison, he used 50 other communities that had not enrolled in the NFCP, but were otherwise very similar to those of the first group. "We were able to prove that the loss of forest among NFCP participants was somewhat lower," he states as a central outcome. "However, this difference was very small." Why was this? Giudice and his colleagues cite two main reasons for this: On the one hand, communities themselves could decide which part of their land they designated as a protected area. "They often chose the strategy that made the most economic sense," explains the scientist: "Particularly areas that are already hardly threatened by deforestation were declared protection zones." These are areas that are unsuitable or inaccessible for agriculture. Violations only punished leniently In addition, the government did not consistently punish violations of the program's conditions. The people living in villages in the Amazon region are among Peru's poorest social classes. The NFCP therefore generally has two objectives: on the one hand to protect the forest and on the other to combat poverty. "This is probably the reason why those responsible turned a blind eye when the environmental goal was not achieved," explains Giudice. The scientists propose that the program be redesigned to increase its effectiveness in a socially responsible way. Corresponding recommendations for action were also made to those responsible for the program in the course of the study together with the GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation): First, the participating communities should have to enroll their entire territory and not only selected parts. And secondly, the government should insist more consistently on compliance with the agreed protection goals. Violations of the rules would by no means have to lead to the exclusion of an indigenous community from the program, but only to a reduction in the compensation payment by an amount corresponding to the loss of forest. Land use would then always remain a voluntary decision of the community. There is also a third point: Those responsible should primarily offer participation in the program to those communities whose areas are most ecologically endangered. Whilst the government had drawn up a list of priority areas in advance, the criteria for this ranking were chosen inappropriately and were not communicated transparently. Some of the funds flowed into areas where the forest is still doing quite well anyway. "The available money should be distributed more efficiently," Giudice emphasizes. "The aim must be to benefit above all the indigenous communities where the forest is most threatened." The Amazon rainforest is regarded as an extremely important ecosystem that is the basis of life for millions of people. Furthermore, it is an important climate factor, not only because of its carbon storage service, but also as a motor for global water cycles. ### Publication: Renzo Giudice, Jan Borner, Sven Wunder and Elias Cisneros: Selection biases and spillovers from collective conservation incentives in the Peruvian Amazon, Environ. Res. Lett. (2019), https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aafc83 Contact: Renzo Giudice Center for Development Research (ZEF) University of Bonn Tel. +49(0)228/731816 E-mail: rgiudice@uni-bonn.de In a study published in Science Advances magazine, researchers from the University of California, Irvine have captured, for the first time, the full-length structure of the rod photoreceptor phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6), an enzyme that plays an indispensable role in human vision. PDEs are associated with various diseases and are targets of several widely used drugs and major targets for drug development. Unfortunately, many of these enzymes have similar structures, particularly their catalytic domains, where the chemical reaction takes place. Because of this, inhibitors that target one type of PDE can stop the reaction in multiple members of the PDE family, resulting in unwanted side effects. PDE5 inhibitors, for example, such as sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra), which are used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, can stop the reaction in PDE6 resulting in side effects affecting vision. "PDE5 inhibitors are associated with several visual side effects, including blurred vision, changes in color vision, extreme sensitivity to light, and in extreme cases, damage to the optic nerve that relays optical signals to the brain," said Sahil Gulati, PhD. "These side effects are caused by the binding of PDE5 inhibitors to PDE6 in the retina." Several cases of patients experiencing vision changes after using sildenafil citrate have been reported. Led by Gulati, researchers, including world renowned vision researcher Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD, director of the UCI Center for Translational Vision Research at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology at the UCI School of Medicine, and a team from the University of Basel in Switzerland, used single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the full-length PDE6 enzyme. They revealed fish-hook-like regions of the PDE6 structure that forms potential signal transduction routes from the regulatory domains of PDE6 to its catalytic domain. "The high-resolution images we were able to capture clearly underscore the immense hidden beauty of human vision and reveal several features of PDE6 that were previously unseen," said Gulati. "Included among them were some very promising regions of PDE6 that resemble fish-hooks. These regions are responsible for controlling PDE activity. By targeting the fish-hook-like region with a new class of PDE inhibitors, drug development companies may be able to eliminate unwanted side effects of certain PDE targeting drugs." ### Funding for this research was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R24EY024864 and R01EY027283), Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). About the UCI School of Medicine: Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates more than 400 medical students, as well as 200 doctoral and master's students. More than 600 residents and fellows are trained at UC Irvine Medical Center and affiliated institutions. The UCI School of Medicine offers an MD degree, a dual MD/PhD medical scientist training program, PhDs and master's degrees in anatomy and neurobiology, biomedical sciences, genetic counseling, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and biophysics, and translational sciences. Medical students also may pursue an MD/MBA program, a combined MD/Master's in Public Health or a dual MD/master's program called the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). UCI School of Medicine is accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation (LCME), and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit: som.uci.edu. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 222 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu. Renee Seward's last name is pronounced see-word, though some might not realize that when reading her name. So it's fitting that this University of Cincinnati associate professor created an app that helps users with reading, pronunciation and recognizing letters. Appropriately, the tool is called See Word Reading. Seward turned her idea -- sparked from the desire to help one child who was struggling in school -- into a bonafide business, thanks to UC's Venture Lab at the 1819 Innovation Hub, including funding and talent to support commercialization. The local business community is taking notice: Seward was a winner at the 2015 Cincinnati Innovates competition and the 2019 Cincinnati Business Courier's Innovation & Technology Awards. The See Word Reading app is currently being tested in schools from Cincinnati to Singapore. Though originally created to help children with dyslexia, the technology has broad potential, from young children learning the alphabet to future products that will meet the needs of adults for which English is a second language. Creating innovative solutions to real-world problems like this is a key component to Next Lives Here, UC's strategic direction. "The heart of the tool is to imbed images inside of the letterforms to help cue a person to what sound associates with those letterforms," says Seward, who is also the communication design coordinator in UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. When a child using the See Word app on a tablet comes across a letter they can't identify, they can touch the letter. The tool then guides them to trace the letter, then cycles through images associated with that letter. For example, the letter "P" could feature images of a peach, peppermint and pie within the letter. When the user sees and hears those pronunciation cues, they can better associate the "puh" sound with the letter "P." Seward first conceived the idea when she noticed her friend's son, who was diagnosed with dyslexia, complaining about the page layout of his tests. In reality, he was having trouble identifying the sounds associated with different letters. A graduate student in North Carolina at the time, Seward set out to develop an interactive tool that could help children with dyslexia and other at-risk youth learn to read, spell and pronounce words, building basic literacy skills. When Seward received her Master of Graphic Design degree in 2007 in North Carolina, she was invited to be a visiting professor at DAAP, where she had received her bachelor's degree in graphic design in 2002. Seward brought her idea for a literacy app with her back to UC and teamed up with Allison Breit-Smith, an associate professor in UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, to create a testable tool. Together with then-UC colleagues special education professor Pam Williamson, educational psychologist Beth O'Brien and interactive design specialist Ben Meyer, they developed a prototype based on the principles Seward created in grad school. The team first tested the tool at Mount Washington School, which serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Cincinnati's public school system, as part of its after-school programming. The results were promising, but the numbers were small. Seward turned to UC's Venture Lab, the UC Office of Innovation's pre-accelerator program, to gain more education, funding and support. Housed in UC's 1819 Innovation Hub, the Venture Lab helps members of the university community turn their entrepreneurial ideas into viable businesses in a matter of weeks. At the end of the program, there's a graduation where members present their plans to a group of entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIR) from the Cincinnati startup business community. "The goal is that one or more want to jump into the CEO seat, help you think through the business model and help you use your funding to get it built and see if it can turn into a successful business so that it gets to market," Seward says. Seward was awarded $40,000 in initial State of Ohio and UC funding 2015 and partnered with EiR mentor Nancy Koors, who has worked at the executive level at a number of tech-related companies. She still works with Seward today, fine-tuning the business model and pricing while seeking potential partners. "She's been tremendous for me," Seward says of Koors, "showing me how to be a leader and the head of a company." The UC Venture Lab at 1819 has since facilitated $275,000 in additional State of Ohio and UC funding (via Ohio Third Frontier, a state development agency). Jason Heikenfeld, assistant vice president for commercialization at UC, says Seward has been a great model for how UC faculty, staff and students can bring their startup concepts to life. "Entrepreneurial success at UC happens when innovation, downright determination, and critical startup resources all collide," Heikenfeld says. "Renee brought the former two to the 1819 Venture Lab, where UC connected the latter, and when that happened, this opportunity absolutely caught fire." Today the See Word app is still being tested at Mount Washington, which Seward refers to as her "ride-or-die school." Instructors like preschool teacher Ebonne Torain appreciate how engaging the tool is. "I like that the See Word Reading app is interactive," she says. "It is more than just watching something on the screen. It requires they speak the sounds, trace letters and find the sound combinations in the stories. It forces them to pay attention to what is happening on the screen." Elsewhere, See Word is being tested in the local Princeton city schools, Cincinnati Preparatory Academy, the YMCA, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Beech Acres Parenting Center. But it's not just in the Cincinnati area -- children on the other side of the world are using the app in Singapore. Beth O'Brien from the original See Word team left UC in 2012 for the National Institute of Education in Singapore, but continued her work on the project. She introduced the app to Singapore's prime minister of education, who helped the team refine it so it would work for bilingual children there, making See Word an international effort. See Word Reading is now in a three-year pilot program in five elementary schools there. Seward continues to receive positive feedback on the app, with countless anecdotes from teachers describing how the tool is helping students meet their reading goals. Last year when Seward was introducing the tool to a Cincinnati-area school, she witnessed a kindergartner being admitted to school for the very first time, mid-year. He didn't know any of his letters, couldn't recognize his own name and had disciplinary issues. At the end of the school year when Seward returned to the school to interview teachers about using See Word, she discovered the student had been using the app to help meet his target. After a few months, there was an increase in the amount of letters and sounds he could identify and he quickly began to recognize his name -- and the teacher attributed that to See Word. In fact, because so many students enjoy using it, Seward has been told, teachers often use it as an incentive to behave and complete other work. "The kids don't refer to it as See Word," a play on Seward's own name, "they call it 'Eyeballs,' because my logo looks like an eye," she says, laughing, "I love it. I should have named it 'Eyeballs!'" Looking ahead, she's working on new font technology that will aid in literacy and hopes to expand the app to include stories for all ages, so her tool can teach English to adults as well. Seward notes that one of the biggest inhibitors of employment is a lack of English literacy. "I want to make an impact on at-risk kids in the inner city -- that's where my heart lies -- but the idea that I can help anyone who doesn't have the access to learn to read is exciting," she says. ### PHILADELPHIA (April 5, 2019) -Breastfeeding is an accepted practice for millions of women worldwide and strongly endorse by the World Health Organization. To provide appropriate counseling about human milk and breastfeeding, it is important to understand cultural beliefs and customs related to the practice. Understanding Orthodox Jewish customs regarding breastfeeding is especially important for health care providers because the Orthodox population in the United States is growing. Orthodox women get married younger and have twice as many children as non-Orthodox Jews. Some of these families are at higher risk for conceiving infants with genetic disorders, who may require special care and continued hospitalization after the mother has been discharged. In a new article published in The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, nurse researchers examine Orthodox Jewish practices related to the provision of human milk and breastfeeding for a sick newborn. The article guides nurses in providing culturally competent lactation education, and evidence based guidance to meet the individual needs of each Orthodox Jewish infant and family. It is critical for the family to have conversations with their Rabbi ideally before delivery or at time of birth to determine needs for saving colostrum and milk, as well as, milk expression during Shabbat or religious holidays. "Personalized, culturally and religiously tailored care, education, and counseling can ensure that Orthodox mothers are able to meet their personal breastfeeding goals even if their infant requires hospitalization at birth," says Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, the Helen M. Shearer Term Professor of Nutrition at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), one of the article's co-authors. ### The article, Breastfeeding Guidance for Orthodox Jewish Families When Newborns Require Special Care and Continued Hospitalization, is available online. It was co-authored by Laura M. Candelaria, PhD, MS, RN, FNP, of the Molloy College Hagan School of Nursing; and Toby Bressler PhD, RN, OCN, of the Mount Sinai Health System. About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world's leading schools of nursing. For the fourth year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University and is consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools. Penn Nursing is currently ranked # 1 in funding from the National Institutes of Health, among other schools of nursing, for the second consecutive year. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram. UPDATE: While the immediate market impact following reports that Prime Minister Theresa May has written to EU Council President Donald Tusk to request a longer Brexit delay was muted, the Pound Sterling (GBP) drifted lower as Friday's session progressed amid concerns that the EU could reject May's request. At the time of writing, the Pound-to-Euro (GBPEUR) exchange rate was last seen trading at 1.1634, down 0.1% from the daily open, reversing marginal gains posted earlier in the session. Having edged higher in early Friday trading, the Pound-to-Dollar (GBPUSD) exchange rate was last seen having reversed early gains to trade flat against the daily open at $1.30720. PM is at odds with reality. EU rejected this proposal just weeks ago. We're now at the mercy of their decision. She's also undermined talks with Labour by effectively ruling out #PeoplesVote. Corbyn and May must deliver the time we need for the people to decide our future. https://t.co/ViUn4WNCZ6 Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) 5 April 2019 May's request comes following reports that EU officials could be considering offering a flexible extension, or 'flexstension' of up to a year while allowing the UK to withdraw earlier should a deal be reached. For PM May, a shorter delay is thought to be preferential as Eurosceptic elements within the divided Tory party are expected to be averse to a lengthy protraction. Given the failure of the government to present any majority-backed deal, the odds of a longer delay appear to be on the rise. Speaking to the BBC, Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said that the UK could be forced into accepting a longer delay. Hunt said "Its obviously not optimal to have any extension at all and we have a plan to leave the EU and deliver on the referendum result which we put before parliament a number of times... If we cant find a way through with parliament, then we have no choice." With talks continuing between PM May and Labour Leader Corbyn, eyes remain on the newswires as investors await any reports of progress, or lack thereof, towards a cross-party Brexit deal. BREAKING: In the latest developments to the Brexit saga, Theresa May has formally written to the EU to request a further delay to Brexit until 30 June. As it stand the UK is currently set to leave the European Union on 12th April. .@theresa_may has asked EU leaders for a further delay to Brexit to 30 June. As @PhilipHammondUK said to me, the EU is very likely to insist on a much longer extension (if any) - unless the PM and @jeremycorbyn can demonstrate by Wednesday's EU council meeting that... Robert Peston (@Peston) April 5, 2019 Into Friday's session, the Pound Sterling (GBP) attempted to recover late Thursday losses with the GBP edging higher against a basket of major peers. At the time of writing, the Pound-to-Dollar (GBPUSD) exchange rate was last seen trading at $1.31041, up 027% from the daily open after sliding by 0.65% through Thursday's session. The pound-to-Euro (GBPEUR) exchange rate traded at 1.1669, up 0.19% following Thursday's half-a-percent decline. The move lower for the came following reports of efforts to thwart the passing of a bill which would add legal impetus to the government's request for a longer Brexit delay as a number of peers in the House of Lords attempted to filibuster the bill into non-existence. Commenting on the behaviour, Labour Party spokeswoman Dianne Hayter, said "What we are seeing today ... is a small group of unelected peers in an unelected house, firstly trying to stop us considering the bill today and then trying to talk it out and no doubt seeking to go through the night to halt the Commons desire to prevent a no deal." Despite their best efforts, the passing of the bill is expected to be finalised on Friday meaning there is now a legal onus on the government to pursue a Brexit delay to avoid a no-deal outcome. While PM May had already committed to seeking a further short extension, the bill means May requires parliamentary approval on the details of any further delays with the length thereof debatable. On the subject of Brexit delays, the latest news-flow from the EU has indicated some officials could be softening their stance towards offering the UK further extensions. Commenting on the intentions of European Council president, Donald Tusk, ahead of the special EU summit scheduled for April 10th, a senior EU official said Tusk is likely to offer the UK a flexible extension of up to a year with the option to withdraw earlier. The only reasonable way out would be a long but flexible extension. I would call it a flextension, the official said before adding "We could give the UK a year-long extension, automatically terminated once the Withdrawal Agreement has been accepted and ratified by the House of Commons." They went on to say such an arrangement could be mutually beneficial, allowing UK lawmakers adequate time to find and approve a deal while removing the necessity for EU leaders to "meet every few weeks to further discuss Brexit extensions." Friday's session is expected to see cross-party talks between Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn continue. With only a week to go until the new April 12th deadline and even less until the special EU summit (April 10th), the pressure is on both leaders to put forward a joint deal while appeases a majority in the House of Commons. Following four and a half hours of negotiations on Thursday, Corbyn said that while talks had again been "productive" and even included "technical" details, they were still a way off from a final resolution. In-line with other institutions an in light of cross-party talks and efforts to block a no-deal Brexit, Goldamn Sachs have upped their probability of a deal passing while lowering their perceived odds of a no-deal, disorderly, withdrawal. With a base case scenario which sees the UK withdrawing from the EU "in an orderly fashion", economists at the US bank hiked the odds of modified version of the current deal passing from 45 to 50% while leaving expectations of Brexit abandoned by way of a second referendum at 40%. In a research note, Goldman economists wrote "Outside our central scenario, we think the risks are skewed decisively in the direction of a longer Article 50 extension and a softer Brexit end-state than originally envisaged by Prime Minister May." They added "Wrapping any negotiated exit deal in a confirmatory second referendum may well be seen by a majority of MPs as an appealing ameliorative to the stark divisions running through the House of Commons." For the Sterling, which despite the Brexit-driven swings looks set to see out the week slightly above flat against both the Euro and US Dollar, the outlook remains Brexit-coupled. The latest poll of FX analysts conducted by Reuters suggested the currency could gain around 3% should a deal be secured. No-deal, however, is expected to see the GBP slide by around 5%. A lengthy extension is expected to see the Pound edge up around 1.75%. For now, therefore, focus remains on cross-party talks between Corbyn and May, as well as any confirmation from EU officials on the nature of the extension expected to be granted. With eyes glues to Brexit developments and the Pound Sterling (GBP) trading in well-trodden ranges against a basket of peers, Friday's release of the latest Canadian labour market statistics prompted some substantial volatility in CAD-crosses. The initial market reaction appeared to be negative for the Canadian Dollar with GBPCAD first spiking to match the session high at Ca$1.752 before reversing to tumble to Thursday's session low, with the cross last seen trading at CA$1.74490, down a shade from the daily open. According to the Statistics Canada release, employment fell during March by 7.2k, the first monthly decline since September 2018's figures while the unemployment rate held steady at 5.8%. Above: Statistics Canada: Employment Change Declines in employment were attributed to reduced hiring activity within the healthcare sector while provincially, Quebec led the declines. Despite the monthly moderation in employment levels, annual measures of wage growth and hours worked accelerated with wage growth ticking higher to 2.4% (year on year). From the release, "More people were working in the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing industry, and in public administration. At the same time, employment declined in health care and social assistance; in business, building and other support services; and in accommodation and food services." Despite the monthly decline, the quarterly and annual figures remained upbeat. From a quarterly perspective, employment over Q1 increased by 116k (0.6%). Commenting on the latest data, Royal Bank of Canada senior economist, Nathan Janzen noted that the unemployment rate had remained "around multi-decade lows," while the drag of poor weather in February, capping hours worked, faded to see hours worked rebound by 1.0%. Summarising the release and how it fits into the broader fiscal context, Janzen wrote "Wage growth ticked modestly higher, although at 2.4% year-over-year is still lower than one would ordinarily expect given what still look ostensibly like quite tight labour markets. And hours worked rebounded 1.0% after falling 0.7% in February as the number of hours of work lost to bad weather fell after jumping higher the earlier month. The data should do little to change the broader narrative that labour markets in Canada still look pretty solid. Friday, April 5, 2019 It was a muggy July evening in 1946 when five women, whose husbands had died in World War II, traveled to Hyde Park, New York, to meet with a soon to be war widow, Eleanor Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt later wrote in her news column, My Day, they came for supper, and then went to Poughkeepsie [where] the Lafayette Post of the American Legion had given them permission to use a room It was a small meeting, though the casualties among servicemen from Dutchess County were pretty high. In fact, more than 175 men from Dutchess County alone were killed or missing in action by 1945. These five young widows had first met together in Marie Jordans apartment in New York City in 1945 to talk about how they might band together to support the needs of all war widows and their children. Losing a spouse in combat meant also losing income, medical care, commissary privileges and even a place to live if they lived in military housing. Most had married young and had no job training. They had little or no resources from the U.S. government and often relied on the charity of family and friends. Out of desperation they formed a support group called the American Widows of WWII. Their appeal to Mrs. Roosevelt was auspicious. When FDR died in 1946, she counted herself among them and became one of the original signers of the groups charter. The name was changed to Gold Star Wives of America in 1948 (GSW) and the mission expanded to seek benefits for both the spouses and children of persons who died in combat and/or as a result of service-connected illness. Today there are more than 7,000 active members of Gold Star Wives and approximately 80,000 more survivors who are eligible for membership. It is not a group that one covets simply because of the very fact of how you become eligible. But, its membership does represent courageous spouses from all backgrounds who feel obliged to enter a different battle; to continue to protect the pensions, rights and privileges of all survivors. The organization is not limited to women. Qualified spouse of any gender are welcome. Currently there are local chapters in all parts of the United States, and members-at-large throughout the world. The organization is primarily supported by membership dues and by the legacies of several thankful members. It is a busy organization with many opportunities to participate and become connected with kindred souls. A legislative committee continuously monitors the status of legislation relative to pensions, medical insurance, education and VA home loans. GSW members search out other survivors who may not know about their eligibility for benefits. However, membership is not required to receive benefits from the government as a survivor. They exist as the guardian of benefits for all eligible spouses and children. At a National Board meeting of GSW held in Denver in 2015, I was one of several Vietnam War widows who were acknowledged as part of the fifty-year commemoration of the war. As I glanced around the soaring classical style rotunda of the Colorado State Capitol at my sisters from all wars wearing the organizations signature gold color, I thought of those five women so recently bereaved back in 1945 who had the courage to say: We will survive One of those women is now in her nineties and continues to be involved in the Gold Star Wives organization. Because of what makes us a group, I dream that someday the reason for our existence will become extinct and we will no longer need such an organization. Until then, we will continue the battle to remain visible for the sake of all who have the misfortune to become survivors. Ruth W. Crocker is the author of Those Who Remain: Remembrance and Reunion After War. Visit her at www.ruthwcrocker.com. After 13 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Luis Rodriguez was glad to land a job as a facilities scheduling assistant with the Alamo Colleges District. His job keeping track of and caring for fighter pilots flight gear gave him the skills it takes to make big campus events go off without a hitch. And with the jobs flexibility, combined with his GI Bill education benefits, he was able to work toward a bachelors degree. Still, financial problems were bubbling up. His benefits were running out, and he wasnt sure if hed be able to afford graduate school. Also, with pay of $12.88 an hour and some old debt dragging down his credit score, the 35-year-old wondered if he would ever be able to afford a home loan. In September, hell get a needed boost. Alamo Colleges adopted a $15 minimum wage for all campus workers. The community colleges board of trustees approved the increase last month. Of its approximately 2,400 nonfaculty staff, the raises will affect about 146 full-time employees. Another 420 part-time or temporary employees will be affected by a pay floor increase from $10 an hour to $12.50. Alamo Colleges move is part of a nationwide push for a living wage, defined as enough income to pay for food, child care, medical care, housing and transportation. The Texas living wage threshold for a single adult is considered to be $11.48. But for a single parent with one child, it jumps to $23.42 meaning a single parent earning the college districts new entry-level wage would still fall short of meeting basic expenses. The fight for living wages has focused attention on whether minimum wage requirements are effective in decreasing poverty. In San Antonio, the issue also underscores the fact that area workers continue to earn less an hour on average than their counterparts across the state and nation. On ExpressNews.com: Read about Alamo Colleges entry wage hike A little relief Rodriguezs pretax pay bump of $4,410 annually, or $367.50 monthly, could help him pay off his debt, buy a house and eventually pursue a masters degree. Getting this pay, it kind of offsets whatever money I was getting from the GI Bill, Rodriguez said. You know, (the military) gives you a little stipend for housing and stuff. This actually helps me cover those expenses. Before the pay raise, Jennifer Wilgren, 42, a college graduate and administrative assistant at the Alamo University Center, knew because of San Antonios strong job market she could do better than $13.64 an hour. With her $1.36 an hour raise, shes more inclined to stay at Alamo Colleges. For me, it was like, well, I need to pay rent and I need to buy food and stuff like that, she said. So if someones offering me this job with this or so much an hour, I can either take it or try to hold out. Well, I can only hold out for so long. For someone earning the colleges current minimum of $11.50 per hour, the 30 percent raise to $15 means about $6,406 a year after taxes, assuming a 12 percent tax bracket. Thats enough for a used car or 6 months of San Antonios average $1,010 apartment rent. Between 20,000 and 30,000 San Antonians have received raises, thanks to the living wage campaign, according to the grassroots organization COPS/Metro Alliance, which has pressured Alamo Colleges, the city of San Antonio and other government entities to increase their minimum wages. The jurys still out on how much the bigger paychecks will help the local economy. On ExpressNews.com: Read about San Antonios working poor Alamo Colleges move wasnt entirely altruistic. The city, Bexar County and several school districts already had agreed to gradually boost their entry-level pay to $15 an hour. And with a historically low unemployment rate, its a job seekers market in most fields. Among businesses in the private sector, USAA has raised its minimum pay to $16 an hour, Amazon to $15 and Target is moving toward $15 an hour by 2020. The college district also saw that despite qualifying for financial aid, its own workers couldnt take courses because they were working multiple jobs. Poverty, and intergenerational poverty in particular, in San Antonio is a challenge, Alamo Colleges Chancellor Mike Flores said. We want to ensure as a public entity that our wage earners and our student workers are more successful and are more able then to support themselves and support others. For COPS/Metro, the living wage fight goes back to the 1990s, said Mike Phillips, one of the organizations leaders. Since Texas law prohibits mandating private employers pay above the federal minimum, currently $7.25 an hour, they focused on local public entities. When school districts had trouble passing their bond issues, COPS/Metro offered its mobilization muscle if the districts agreed to raise wages not just for teachers but also for cafeteria and janitorial workers and their other employees. COPS/Metro also relentlessly pressed city officials to adopt a living wage for municipal workers. City Council did just that in 2017. Whenever theyre using our tax money, we dont want to be responsible for holding people in poverty, Phillips said. At Bexar County, county commissioners extended the wage floor to private-sector contractors. Some of the employers theyre now contracting with have thanked us, because they dont have as much turnover, he said. If its a level playing field for contractors, its not a race to the bottom on salaries. A cheap labor town Workers in the San Antonio metro area earned an average of $22.43 an hour a year ago about 11.4 percent below the national average of $24.98 and 6.6 percent below the state average of $23.90, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For comparison, the Austin areas average hourly wage was $25.87, Dallas-area workers made an average of $25.28, and Houston-area employees $26.10. A BLS analysis showed that San Antonio-region wages in 2017 were lower than the national average in 12 of the 22 major occupational groups, including legal services and construction. Your manufacturing sector is not quite as large as other manufacturing sectors, which is where youre going to find things like production workers, said Cheryl Abbot, a Dallas-based BLS economist. And theyre generally among the higher (paying) blue-collar occupations. An old debate The debate over whether minimum wages help or hurt the economy is close to 100 years old, said David Neumark, chancellors professor of economics at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of books on the subject. Obviously, minimum wages help some people, Neumark said. But the standard economic theory would lead us to predict that there are trade-offs in that some employers will now economize on the use of low-skilled labor. In other words, companies may hire fewer entry-level workers or reduce their workforce. A study of Seattles minimum wage increase, conducted by the University of Washington, found that employers did not lay off workers, but they did cut hours particularly hours for low-wage workers. More experienced workers came out ahead because employers were reluctant to pay for training. If you are a dishwasher in a restaurant kitchen, you are going to be using equipment. And if you have some familiarity with that equipment already, you dont need to be trained, study author Jacob Vigdor said in an interview on economist Russ Roberts EconTalk podcast. You can be productive starting from Day 1 on the job. And thats really what employers are emphasizing. Nationally, 2.1 percent of workers earn at or below the federal minimum wage. The way Neumark sees it, measures such as the earned income tax credit, which allows workers to take home more nontaxed income, are more likely to help poor families than raising the minimum wage. I think what policymakers want to do, and maybe even think theyre doing, is pass a law that says, Thou shall not be poor, he said. But its hard to pass that kind of law. So, instead, they passed a law which they think is the same thing but it isnt, and thats Thou shall not pay low wages. Lynn Brezosky is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering trade, agriculture and the economy. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lbrezosky@express-news.net | Twitter: @lbrezosky When Cruz Shaw unexpectedly left the City Council last year to become an associate judge, his departure created a vacancy in District 2 that was filled temporarily by the appointment of Councilman Art Hall. The seat, however, remains open; Hall has opted not to run in the May 4 election. That means the contest in District 2 is one of three council races this year with no incumbent. Most of the eight candidates vying for the open seat are political neophytes. The exception is former Councilman Keith Toney, who once held the seat for five months after he was appointed in 2014 to replace Ivy Taylor following her appointment that year to serve as mayor. The district stretches east from downtown, beyond Kirby and Windcrest. It has the highest population of African-Americans in the city, at 20.8 percent, and has seen an influx of residents and investment in recent years. In the past decade, its population has grown by 7 percent. Here are the District 2 candidates, in the order that they will appear on the May 4 ballot. District 2 candidates Joseph Powell Age: 32 Occupation: Seasonal labor Family: Married; two children Education:GED In his own words: "I'm a very strong progressive, or an anarchist even, if you want." Jada L. Andrews-Sullivan Age:43 Occupation:Disabled Army veteran Family:Single; four grown children Education:High school graduate In her own words: "Running, for me, is not about me. It's truly about the district and the community which I'll be able to serve." Richard Anthony Ramey Age:31 Occupation:Group leader for YMCA after-school program Family:Married; one child Education:Bachelor's in sociology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio In his own words:"City Council is like the greatest social work because you're not just helping a group, you're helping an entire district of people." Keith A. Toney Age:67 Occupation:Vietnam veteran; retired school liaison officer for Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Family:Married; four children, five grandchildren Education:Master's in human resources management, Pepperdine University In his own words:"When you don't have the continuity of personnel, you don't have the continuity of purpose." Salena Santibanez Guipzot Age:35 Occupation:Owner of consulting company and drywall company Family:Married Education:Associate in business, St. Philip's College In her own words:"People know me for the work I've done. It's not the promises I make, but the work I've already done." Denise Gutierrez-Homer Age:55 Occupation:Artist Family:Married; two stepchildren Education:Bachelor's in political science, University of Texas at San Antonio In her own words:"I'm ready. It's time. I've been watching, listening." Walter E. Perry Sr. Age:43 Occupation:Owner of consulting company Family:Married; eight children Education:Associate degree, St. Philip's College In his own words:"We're looking to give the hope and the morale back to the community." Ruben I. Arciniega Age:38 Occupation:Program coordinator at University of Texas at San Antonio Family: Single Education:Bachelor's in history, Texas Lutheran University; master's in bicultural studies, University of Texas at San Antonio In his own words:"I think there's a need to stabilize and create a community amongst District 2." See More Collapse Joseph Powell, 32, calls himself a protest candidate. Im a very strong progressive, or an anarchist even, if you want, Powell said. Im almost apolitical. Im very for the people. You can write that down. Powell is sporadically employed. I was charging scooters, but that kind of fell out, he said. So I have this driveway Im working on, and then theres this guy I help in the neighborhood. Council offices are nonpartisan. Nonetheless, Powell cited his dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party its not progressive enough, he said as his primary motivation for running in the district. His platform, he said, is helping the environment. Like most of the candidates in District 2, hes a strong supporter of San Antonios Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which will go before the council for a vote in the fall. Jada L. Andrews-Sullivan, 43, was one of three finalists in the appointment process to replace Shaw, but the council opted for Hall instead. (The other finalist, neighborhood association leader Aubrey Lewis, jumped into the ensuing race before withdrawing in February.) Andrews-Sullivan joined the Army at 19. I was a mother at 16, and so I decided that going into the military would be a better option for my daughter, she said. A family violence survivor, Andrews-Sullivan now advocates for victims of domestic and sexual assault. In 2001, she said, her late husband held her and one of her sons captive for five hours in a standoff with police. At the end of it all, before he decided to take his own life, he set us free, she said. About a year ago was when I finally found the courage to actually speak out about it. And so what I do now is I give motivational and inspirational quotes and verbiage that can help others that are going through that tough place. Andrews-Sullivan said she would take a selfless approach to transforming her district. We have a different kind of demographic in District 2, she said. So you have to dig down deep into the roots of how we got here, and then we have to start pulling those weeds and getting that root out and start flourishing from that inside-out part. One of her four children suffers from asthma: a reason, she said, to support the citys pending climate action plan. Richard Anthony Ramey, 31, is concerned about crime in the district. Public safety, he said, is his priority. From talking to people, they want a stronger police presence, he said. More patrols, more police. Ramey received a bachelors degree in sociology from Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and he envisions serving the district as a continuation of this work. I like the idea of helping people, he said. City Council is like the greatest social work because youre not just helping a group, youre helping an entire district of people. Keith A. Toney, 67, likes to emphasize the five months he spent leading the district in 2014 before he was ousted by former Councilman Alan Warrick. I know how it works down there, he said. Experience matters. Temperament matters. You have to get along with other council members. You have to know how to drill down into the issues that arent very sexy. He waved off as a gross miscommunication an accusation by Shaw in 2017 that Toney requested financial favors in exchange for his endorsement. Toney ended up endorsing Warrick in that race. Now, Toney cites Warricks tumultuous defeat that year the former councilman passed out drunk on a bench in front of City Hall shortly before losing re-election and Shaws sudden departure last year as evidence of a lack of stability in leadership that has compromised the districts progress. We dont need any more embarrassments, he said. This is a serious business. Its a full-time job. We dont have time for a learning curve. Im ready to hit the ground running. Salena Santibanez Guipzot, 35, cited public safety, accessibility and housing as her top three reasons for seeking the seat. The last reason is personal: Guipzot grew up homeless. She lived on the streets with her father in nearly a dozen states until she was 11, she said. Guipzot owns a construction consulting company and a drywall business. As investment in the district grows, educating homeowners and ensuring that housing remains affordable and high-quality is critical, she said. I know construction work, Guipzot said. I dont have relations or a vested interest with any developers or any funders. Everything is grassroots. Denise Gutierrez-Homer, 55, earned a degree in political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio before embarking on a career as an artist. Unlike the other candidates, Gutierrez-Homer is skeptical of the citys pending climate action plan. She said she doesnt believe humans can cause climate change. We had a dust bowl, she said. And we had one again. We really have cyclical weather changes. Gutierrez-Homer criticized the citys targeting of greenhouse gas emissions. Are we going to go California? I mean, this is San Antonio, Gutierrez-Homer said. This is Texas. This is a visitors city. They travel in their car. Are we going to put a border around us to say, You cant come in because you havent passed an emissions test? Walter E. Perry Sr., 43, was the first to file to run in the district. But some say that as a convicted felon, he isnt qualified to run at all. Perry spent more than seven years behind bars on a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The Texas Election Code prohibits anyone from seeking public office if theyve been finally convicted of a felony from which they were not pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities. Perry said the restoration of his voting rights in 2009 fulfilled the latter condition. If Im paying taxes, Im voting, Im a homeowner, I should be able to run for public office, case closed, he said. Perry said hes a second-chance candidate. So anybody who may have made mistakes, looking to do better, Im the candidate whos going to be looking to work with people who may have lost hope, he said. Ruben I. Arciniega, 38, bemoaned a disunity in the district. I think theres a need to stabilize and create a community amongst District 2, said Arciniega, who works as a graduate adviser at UTSA. Its very fractured and everyone has a different emphasis in terms of issues, he added. I definitely understand that, but I think we need to come to a consensus so we can empower ourselves. Arciniega said he would support the citys pending climate action plan. Brian Chasnoff is an investigative reporter based in San Antonio. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | bchasnoff@express-news.net | Twitter: @bchasnoff Responding to concerns about rider safety and looming lawsuits, San Antonio-based Blue Duck has replaced its first generation of e-scooters with a safer model wider, longer and heavier. This weeks unveiling of what Blue Duck CEO Eric Bell called the finest scooter hardware on the planet positions the company to remain standing after an expected City Council move to reduce the number of scooter firms with vehicles on the street. There are now seven. San Antonios six-month scooter pilot program will end soon, and several Council members say they are all but certain to cut the number of currently permitted companies through a request-for-proposal (RFP) process that would lead to the granting of concessions, as with the citys river barges. Blue Duck is not the first company to upgrade its scooters. Bird introduced a rugged model in October. Its what we call the reactive model in our industry, said California-based vehicle safety expert Philip Rosescu, who has tested numerous scooter models and testifies as a witness for plaintiffs attorneys. Companies put out a product and then modify that product based on what happens. Not unlike the car industry with airbags and motion detection systems. Like mushrooms after a rain, scooters suddenly appeared last summer in most major U.S. cities and are now in hundreds of towns and college campuses. Bird and Lime, permitted for a combined 8,500 scooters in San Antonio, each have been valued by Bloomberg at nearly $2 billion. Blue Duck, the only commercial scooter company based in Texas, is just 11 months old and has 75 employees and contract workers. The city allows it to operate 100 dockless vehicles, so it has not seen a significant number of riders injured or, the firm says, any lawsuits. Bell, 35, said staking out Blue Ducks identity as a safer, more responsible company amid concern from consumer advocates, medical experts and personal injury lawyers just made sense in the Wild West scooter world. The new scooter weve introduced were calling it The Maverick because were from San Antonio is not just an upgrade from what we were using, but is demonstrably better than our competitors models, he said. If safety is not your first priority in this business, youve got misplaced priorities. Bell said the sturdier, safer scooter made by a Chinese manufacturer he would not identify will have a wider and longer deck, a lower center of gravity, wider inflatable tires (rather than solid core wheels) and both hydraulic and disc brakes. Birds rugged model, the Okai-manufactured Zero, also features a wider, longer deck, a lower center of gravity, improved electronics and better lights. Bell said his firms first generation of Ducks, made by the Chinese company Segway Ninebot which also made scooters for Lime and Bird, the two nationwide giants of the rentable scooter craze had a lifespan of three to four months, It was more suited to limited personal use, Bell said not a commercial market where scooters might be repeatedly ridden and dumped on sidewalks. Bell thinks his new model should last nine to 12 months. If we could have had this model from the very beginning, we would have, Blue Ducks chief marketing officer, Elizabeth Houston, said Thursday after she showed off the Maverick at the companys warehouse headquarters near The Pearl. Its a nice coincidence that its ready right now before the City Council makes its decisions. Some scooter execs elsewhere have estimated that rough use and widespread vandalism, including the mass dumping of scooters into lakes, have reduced the actual average lifespan of their vehicles to closer to one month. Aware of numerous cases around the country of steering columns breaking loose in mid-ride, Bell said his new Mavericks have columns bolted to the bottom of the frame. We absolutely noticed that problem, he said. And wider wheels are safer wheels. I dont think youll see scooters having bicycle-sized tires, but I think youll see them getting wider and taller. The new Blue Duck also will have an internal governor on its accelerator, Bell said, that will keep the scooter from exceeding 15 mph, the speed limit for scooters in San Antonio and dozens of cities. The Maverick will also be heavier about 46 pounds, compared to 28-30 pounds for earlier Lime and Bird models due mainly to a doubling of its battery cells. Every Blue Duck scooter will continue to be personally inspected each night by mechanics before it is taken in for re-charging, Bell said. Lawsuits around the country have accused Bird and Lime of deploying scooters with wobbly steering columns, flimsy decks and defective brakes. One former Bird mechanic, who sued the company in California, claimed he was fired for exposing maintenance problems. Bird denies the allegations. Bell said Blue Duck operates only in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, where it has about 600 vehicles. Houston said the firm expects to open in Dallas and two other cities within a month. The San Antonio process for evaluating proposals and picking two or three companies could easily stretch into the fall, city officials say, and could impose new limits and regulations on helmet usage, speed limits, parking or sidewalk usage. Helmets may not be popular with some people, said City Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, But I know they save lives, so I strongly urge everyone to use them. Well have to talk about whether to make them mandatory. Some Blue Duck executives took some unusual steps to amplify their participation in the coming debate. Among Sandovals challengers in the May 4 election is Trevor Whitney, Blue Ducks regional director of government relations. Farooq FH Malik, the companys chief strategy officer, filed as a candidate but then dropped out of a race against Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales. Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran said she rode a Blue Duck Maverick for about a mile near Mitchell and Flores streets Wednesday. She said she always wears a helmet but was hesitant to make them mandatory. Previously, she had ridden a Lime scooter, but I had to abandon it because the brake handle was broken, she said. I dont have any opinions about which is the better company right now, Viagran said. But whichever company comes forward, they will have to prioritize safety. Bell said he supports the direction the City Council appears to be heading specifically, to permit fewer scooter companies and believes Blue Duck, by emphasizing safety and local control, has improved its chances of landing one of those contracts. Were not trying to compete with Bird in Santa Monica or Lime in San Francisco, Bell said, referring to the California home turf of the scooter pioneers. Wed like to be the Southwest Airlines of scooters. Bruce Selcraig is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read his stories on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | BSelcraig@express-news.net EAGLE PASS Migrants released by the Border Patrol in Eagle Pass say a small bus company is charging them at least $75 for a ticket to San Antonio, three times more than the companys regular fare. Migrants are dropped off at a parking lot and directed to an intake line by Aguila Express staff. Many said they thought the company works for the government. They said its not clear they have a choice of bus carriers in Eagle Pass with daily service to San Antonio. They just appeared, Luis Said Alvarado Turcio, 45, of Honduras, said about Aguila Express staff. They take advantage of you because you dont have a choice. Turcio said he paid $300 for him, his wife, and his two children to get from Eagle Pass to San Antonio, a trip of about 140 miles. The Express-News interviewed more than a dozen migrants in Eagle Pass and San Antonio, as well as volunteers who have been handling the hundreds of migrants arriving at the San Antonio Greyhound bus station from the border, following CBPs announcement of mass releases last month. Related: Flood of migrants defies get-tough policies, long waits at border bridges All confirmed that Aguila Express charged at least $75 per person, regardless of age, and a few reported costs as high as $100. Tino Gallegos, the city of San Antonios immigration liaison, said he asked Aguila Express drivers twice how much they charged, and the drivers said $25. I am really concerned for their lack of concern for people, Gallegos said. An Aguila Express official refused to disclose the price and wouldnt allow a reporter into the companys Eagle Pass bus terminal. I dont have to tell you anything, the man said. Aguila Express is one of three bus companies in Eagle Pass. A block away is the Greyhound station, which charges $12 to $31 to get to San Antonio, and Turimex, which charges between $16 to $33. Both companies dont charge parents for their children under the age of 6. After he arrived in San Antonio, David Noel Castro Gomez, 33, of Nicaragua, said he learned about the Greyhound station in Eagle Pass and bought five tickets there for less than half the price Aguila Express quoted him. Theyre taking advantage of us, Castro Gomez said about Aguila Express. Were not in our home country, how are we supposed to know? Records show Aguila Express has a valid businesses license. No consumer complaints have been filed against the seven-year-old company, according to the Attorney Generals Office. Related: Catholic Charities expands to meet "huge" demand Sister Denise LaRock, a volunteer at the Interfaith Welcome Coalition in San Antonio, has heard stories of migrants arriving at the San Antonio station from Eagle Pass having paid steep fares. Theyre exploiting these families because theyre vulnerable. They have no other alternative, theres no other transportation at Eagle Pass that they know of, she said. The coalition and the city of San Antonio reached out to Eagle Pass city officials with concern about the Aguila Express pricing. Gallegos said he was not satisfied with the citys response. Taken to the station Every day, Border Patrol vans and G4S Secure Solutions buses, a security service contractor, drop off migrants at a parking lot next to a house used as a shelter by Aguila Express, a few doors down from the station. The staff greets them and directs them to a line on the sidewalk to be checked in at a fenced backyard. The house is a block away from the port of entry into Mexico. A currency exchange stand is next to the house, and a discount store and the two other bus stations are within walking distance. Customs and Border Patrol said in a statement it chose the drop-off point because of its proximity to bus stations and shops. Those released have complete freedom of movement once out of Border Patrol custody and can make their own travel arrangements, CBP said. Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu said CBP had picked Aguila Express because it has easy access to Money Gram, the money wiring service, and helps migrants communicate with their family members in the U.S. to wire money for a bus ticket. All of those logistical factors were taken into play by the Border Patrol to utilize that company, he said. As far as what is being charged there specifically, of course that is a private business, the city does not interfere with any operational expenses or charging expenses. CBP said it doesnt endorse any bus company. Related: City jumps in to help shelter migrants A G4S Secure Solutions official who was driving the migrants from federal custody to the Aguila Express station Thursday morning said hed been told to take them to the location because he heard it offered better services. I guess they give them a good deal here, he said. Listen: Now Playing: A Honduran migrant named Jorge called the company from a resource center in San Antonio. His family is in Eagle Pass. Video: San Antonio Express-News A Honduran migrant named Jorge, who took the Aguila Express bus to San Antonio, called the company as he sat watching his children play at the San Antonio resource center. Speaking in Spanish, he told the staffer that he wanted to wire money to family members who would soon be released and need a bus ticket to San Antonio. He was told it would cost $75 per migrant. Their pockets are swelling because of all the migrants that are coming, Jorge said. Waiting at the shelter Migrants waited in the fenced-in yard behind the Aguila Express shelter Thursday to borrow cell phones to call their U.S. sponsors for bus fare money. Some sat on chairs caring for infants while others stood by the fence, anxious. Two immigrants expressed fear that they would not be allowed to return if they left the yard to speak with a reporter. Theyre not nice to us here, said a Honduran woman named Kelly, who didnt want to give her full name. They just dropped us off here, and thats it, she said. We thought it was a shelter. But no. Photos viewed by the Express-News show a bare, tiled house with only two small sleeping mats. Its ugly, its dirty, theres no blankets. You sleep on the floor, Jorge said. Joel Bati, 28, of San Pedro, Honduras, said he and his family were put into the shelter, but they left because they treat the people badly there. A migrant named Robert said he had stayed at the house for two nights. When asked about the conditions, he said they werent good but he didnt elaborate. The problem is I cant talk a lot right now, because the man is right there, he said, staring at the Aguila Express official. Hell run me off. A handful of migrants said being overcharged in a time of desperation to get to their destination was not new to them. They said it reminded them of the smugglers and coyotes they dealt with all along their journey north. We come through Mexico, theyre robbing you, you cross the U.S., theyre robbing you, Jorge said. And now you get to the U.S., and they rob you. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF The path forward for contract talks between San Antonio and its fire union remains murky, and the two sides could be headed for arbitration. At a news conference Thursday morning, union attorney Ricky Poole reiterated the firefighters desire for an extension to continue negotiating. The bargaining teams will meet a 60-day impasse under state law Sunday, and they left their last meeting Tuesday without resolving how to move forward. If this extension is not agreed to by the city, then Proposition C will be triggered, the union wrote in a news release. Proposition C, approved by voters in November, gives the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association sole authority to declare an impasse and send the contract into binding arbitration. Listen: The city has said it would agree to an extension only if a mediator was present and the union agreed to provide more details about its proposal. Clearly, simply doing what we have been doing over the past 10 sessions leaves no reasonable expectation of resolution, City Attorney Andy Segovia wrote. Both sides had already expressed those positions Tuesday, in more general terms. Poole said the union is not open to mediation, which he said proved fruitless in 2017. He said he would relay Segovias letter to the union, which has the power to declare an impasse at any time. The firefighters collective bargaining agreement expired in 2014, but an evergreen clause is keeping most of its provisions in place. Dylan McGuinness covers City Hall and local politics in San Antonio. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | dylan.mcguinness@express-news.net | Twitter: @DylMcGuinness Robert Kirschner killed a man on April Fools Day, stabbing him during a fight at a party he didnt want to attend in the first place. Wrong place, wrong time, self-defense, he said. He was 18 years old; it was 1973. It turned out to be a swerve in an otherwise straight life. Kirschner spent three years in a California facility for youthful offenders, after which a judge set aside his conviction meaning, for most purposes, it was cleared from his record. During college, he unexpectedly found himself drawn to a career in criminal justice. He worked as a state parole agent and later started his own private security company. Over the years he has been licensed in a half-dozen states and teamed up with numerous police agencies, including the FBI. So Kirschner was stunned when, in 2016, Texas regulators rejected his application for a private security license. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which regulates the profession, his lengthy law enforcement resume didnt matter: Kirschners 43-year-old crime made him too great a risk to public safety. When it comes to getting permission to work in security professions in Texas, he isnt the only one who has been unable to outrun his distant past. Jimmy Carter was still a new president when Wayne French was convicted of a Harris County burglary. The judge suspended the then-17-year-olds sentence and placed him on probation. He was released from supervision early, in 1981. Frenchs only other brush with the law was a marijuana possession charge more than 30 years ago. Yet last year, when he sought a license as an unarmed security guard, the public safety agency said the decades between Frenchs crimes and license application were insufficient to ensure the now 57-year-old could be trusted with the job. Over the past decade, Texas and federal policymakers have passed an array of criminal justice reforms stressing rehabilitation and reintegrating convicts into society. By comparison, the Texas Department of Public Safetys oversight of professions such as security guards and alarm systems sales is a laggard, criminal justice reformers say, a holdover from an era when some offenders were viewed as irredeemable. In 2017, DPS denied more than 1,400 private security applicants because of their criminal histories. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox What you did at 19 shouldnt preclude you from anything you do at 45, said Andrew Ward, an attorney for the Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based advocacy group that has pushed for occupational regulation reforms. Texas legislators have tried to get DPS to adopt more progressive approaches to how it evaluates ex-offenders for occupational licenses. Ten years ago, lawmakers instructed the agency to apply standards that weigh each applicants life story individually, accounting for the passage of time and mitigating circumstances, such as evidence of rehabilitation. The agency has resisted, however, ignoring the rules used by other state occupational licensing agencies to evaluate applicants with a criminal past. In some ways, it has since made its assessment of ex-offenders even stricter and less flexible. This year, as the Department of Public Safety undergoes its once-a-decade performance evaluation, state officials are trying again. In their report, so-called Sunset reviewers again criticized the agencys regulation of occupational licenses, describing it as overly criminalistic. Legislators again have agreed, and once more have recommended the agency modernize how it evaluates applicants whose long-ago pasts have clearly passed. I dont smoke, I dont drink Kenneth Crosby admits he was a wild teenager. In 1976 the then-19-year-old was convicted of aggravated robbery in Dallas, the latest in a string of crimes. But, he said, I turned my life around. He took college courses in prison and has worked steadily since his release. He volunteers for a ministry that helps ex-offenders. I dont smoke, I dont drink, Ive been married 10 years in September and Im a homeowner, he said. So when DPS rejected his application to be an alarm salesman in 2017, citing his 40-year-old criminal history, Crosby, now 63 and a grandfather, was baffled. If I was going to do something, he said, I wouldve done it by now. In addition to ignoring legislators intent, DPS rules about permanently excluding ex-offenders from certain professions defy research describing how people with criminal records typically behave. Studies have shown that after about seven years, offenders whove stayed clean have the same odds of committing another crime as someone without a criminal record. Other research indicates the older a person is, the less likely he or she is to break the law. So people in their 60s whose only crimes occurred decades ago are statistically among the lower public safety risks, said Stephen Saltzburg, a law professor at The George Washington University Law School. Still, he added, even states that have recently pioneered prison reforms - including Texas - have been slow to replace restrictive occupational laws that can summarily exclude applicants with a criminal record. Its not what most people think of when they think of criminal justice reform, he said. Yet making it easier for former prisoners to find good work is a crucial component of the overhaul, Saltzburg said. A quarter to a third of all jobs are regulated in some way, and millions of American adults have a criminal past. A good job is an essential component of preventing recidivism. As a result, in recent years, groups on both sides of the political spectrum have pushed to update occupational licensing laws to give ex-convicts a better shot at qualifying for the good-paying jobs typically subject to government regulation. Cut-and-dry standards According to guidelines created by the National Right to Work Project, an advocacy group, occupational regulators should weigh each license applicants individual history and background rather than simply banning those who have committed particular crimes. Most Texas licenses already are evaluated that way. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees 39 occupations, recognizes no crimes that automatically bar applicants from state-regulated professions. It instead relies on guidelines in the Texas Occupations Code that instruct regulators to consider factors such as the persons age when the crime was committed, how long it has been since the conviction and his work and personal history in the time since. For years, the Department of Public Safety didnt apply those same rules, contending the security professions it regulated - private guards, locksmiths, alarm system sales and service required stricter standards to better protect the public. But in its decennial 2009 review of the agency, the Sunset Advisory Commission noted DPSs rigid approach was unfair to applicants with a criminal history who had demonstrated rehabilitation. Legislators agreed the agency should adopt the individual-by-individual approach to evaluating applicants, and DPS was instructed to make the changes. But last year, when the Sunset investigators returned for the agencys next 10-year evaluation, they discovered it hadnt followed directions. Instead, they wrote, the agencys staff had continued denying applicants convicted of certain serious crimes using rules that create cut-and-dry standards for disqualification - no matter how much time had passed or compelling evidence the person had turned around his or her life. The DPS media office did not respond to a request to make a representative from the Regulatory Services Division available for an interview to explain the departments approach to permanently disqualifying crimes. 68 years old, still too risky License applicants summarily rejected by DPS because of their criminal record may appeal to the agency for a second look. But those, too, typically are quickly denied, lawyers say. I was surprised at how perfunctory it was, said Peter McGraw, an attorney for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. It seemed like it wasnt a real opportunity to present your case. The next step for a persistent applicant is to appeal to the independent State Office of Administrative Hearings. At that stage, a review of records shows, administrative judges often side with those who present evidence of their rehabilitation. But the process can take up to two years and thousands of dollars in legal fees. Its booting you into this long, drawn-out and expensive procedure, said Erica Smith, an Institute for Justice attorney. Some applicants give up, lawyers say, abandoning their pursuit of the license. Administrative law decisions are considered advisory, and still must be accepted by the agencys Private Security Board. The appointed members approve most of the recommendations, records show. But not all of them. In October, an administrative judge concluded Rodolfo Gallardo had earned the right to be trusted as an alarm salesman. His felony sexual assault against a 26-year-old woman, for which he was sentenced to seven years of probation, was serious, the judge wrote. But it had occurred a quarter-century ago. Since then, Gallardo, of Houston, had undergone counseling, kept a clean record and steady employment, and participated in community and church activities. Mr. Gallardo, the judge summarized, turned his life around after his crime. Two months ago, however, the security board overturned the judges findings, concluding the now 68-year-old still posed an unacceptable public risk. I wish this would change, but theres nothing I can do about it, Gallardo said. Maybe in another life. DPS has made the rules it uses to summarily exclude applicants even more restrictive. The agency changed standards that once allowed certain felons to qualify for occupational licenses 20 years after their crimes. Now the disqualification is permanent. It also tacked a new crime, burglary of a habitation, onto its list of permanently disqualifying offenses. That updated rule snagged Ted Brannum. He was 17 years old when, in 1981, he broke into a Tarrant County house he thought was empty. I done something stupid that I shouldnt have, he said. The judge agreed, suspending his sentence and placing him on probation. Court records show a judge later set aside Brannums conviction. By the time he applied last year for a registration to work as an unarmed security guard, 37 years had passed since the crime. According to DPS rules, however, that didnt matter. The agency summarily denied Brannums application, and then rejected his appeal. Six weeks ago, an administrative judge recommended Brannum, now 55, be allowed to become a guard. He said he has offers from two companies, awaiting final approval from DPS. Im praying, Brannum said. Ive always been good and lived right. Overwhelming evidence of rehabilitation The hard-line rules at DPS have occasionally produced absurd-seeming results. In 2017, its staff cited the recently enacted burglary rule to reject Shayne Gatlins application to renew his locksmiths license because of his teenaged 1980 burglary conviction - even though by then Gatlin had been working in the profession for more than 30 years, earning a top Better Business Bureau rating, court records show. Perhaps no applicant has performed such a complete turnaround as Kirschner. Found guilty of second-degree murder, he was diverted to a program for youth with rehabilitative potential. Three years later the court set aside his guilty verdict. He interned at the California Department of Corrections while still in college. After graduation, his former ward, the California Youth Authority (now the Division of Juvenile Justice), invited him to apply for a job. His previous life a partying hobbyist, he said helped him better understand and manage the young offenders. He retired after 28 years. With the help of an FBI mentor, Kirschner also founded a security company, Threat Management and Protection, Inc. He later earned a masters degree in business. He was even approved to work in Texas. In 2008, DPS granted Kirschner his private security license, granting renewals every two years. Yet his 2016 form was rejected. Even though hed built a new life in law enforcement in the four decades since his crime and held his Texas license in good standing for nearly a decade the Department of Public Safetys new rule changing his crime from a 20-year disqualification into a permanent one suddenly rendered him ineligible. The agency summarily denied Kirschners appeal, as well. Last October, an administrative judge concluded the overwhelming evidence shows that Mr. Kirschner is not the same person he was in 1973 when he committed a very serious crime and recommended DPS re-grant his license. In February, after two years of wrangling, it finally did. In a recent interview, Kirschner displayed a thank you gift hed recently received for assisting the FBI in a case. They wouldnt be playing with me, he said, if I werent credible. AUSTIN Texas state troopers had House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's home in Lake Jackson under surveillance last week amid concerns that an outraged gun rights activist was headed there. Chris McNutt, executive director of the nonprofit Texas Gun Rights, is advocating for a constitutional carry bill that would allow gun owners to carry their pistols, openly or concealed, in public without a license. The bill has gone nowhere so far in the legislative session, and McNutt took to posting rants on Facebook about Bonnen. Then McNutt visited the homes of Bonnen allies Amarillo Rep. Four Price and Lubbock Rep. Dustin Burrows early last week. McNutt posted a video of himself in Burrows neighborhood on the Texas Gun Rights Facebook page. On March 27, while Bonnen was 200 miles away in Austin for an all-day budget session, McNutt arrived in the Speakers neighborhood. As first reported by The Facts, a Brazoria County newspaper, officers with the Department of Public Safety were waiting for him. McNutt handed them a business card and left, Bonnen said. Bonnen says McNutts purpose was to intimidate himself and the other lawmakers. In a statement to Hearst Newspapers, McNutt suggested the home visit was fair play. Thats gutless, Bonnen told Hearst Newspapers. Mr. McNutt knew exactly where I was. I was on the House floor and he chose to go to my home, to Lake Jackson where my 14-year-old son was. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox McNutt documented on Facebook his three-day trip across the state last week, including videos of himself in each lawmakers town. He said he was personally visiting the members districts to talk to gun owners there. If politicians like Speaker Dennis Bonnen think they can show up at the doorsteps of Second Amendment supporters and make promises to earn votes in the election season, they shouldnt be surprised when we show up in their neighborhoods to insist they simply keep their promises in the legislative session, said McNutt, in an emailed statement. He called Bonnens response a deliberate overreaction. Burrows confirmed McNutt visited his home, too, but declined further comment. Prices office did not respond to a request for comment. On the day he posted a video saying he was in Lake Jackson, McNutt wore a shirt with an assault rifle on it, a detail that Kim Bonnen, the Speakers wife, says bothers her. Youre also showing up with a T-shirt with a machine gun on it, she said, adding that the visit was freaking me outThis cannot become how we advocate. She said she worries that other people who have an insane view may take it upon themselves to visit legislators homes. In the past, McNutt has served as deputy district director for Dallas-area former state Sen. Don Huffines. McNutt founded a political consulting firm in 2016 called Liberty Methods LLC, which according to its website was hired that year to do campaign work for Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford. Stickland, author of the constitutional carry bill, did not respond to requests for comment. People commenting on Facebook pages of Texas Gun Rights and that of a related group, Lone Star Gun Rights, have criticized Bonnen for assigning the constitutional carry bill to a committee run by a Democrat who is not likely to push the measure. A comment on the Lone Star Gun Rights page says, Drag Im Out To The Nearest Tree. Another says, He has an address just like everyone else. Bonnen, who is a gun owner, called the messages very threatening. Those comments, paired with pro-gun groups work to flood his office with belligerent phone calls and the visit to his house amount to a a high level of intimidation, he says. He is the first person to go to a members residence in 22 years that Im aware of, and he went to three of them, said Bonnen. The Department of Public Safety would not confirm surveillance on Bonnens home. Bonnen said he was told DPS was patrolling his neighborhood over the weekend. Bonnen said he is not in control of the fate of the bill and said he does not dictate how people vote. With that said, do I think this bad policy? Yes. So Im not running from that, he said. The bigger point is they can attack me all they want, but dont go to my residence when you know theres zero opportunity of my being there dont go where my two sons and my wife are and I am not. The author of the so-called constitutional carry bill has essentially withdrawn the legislation, which would allow Texas handgun owners to carry their weapons openly or concealed in public places without a license State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, said Friday he will withdraw his request for a public hearing on the bill, which faced steep odds in the House. "The issue is of great importance to me, but I refuse to act like it is still a possibility and continue to provide false hope to my constituents," Stickland said in a statement released Friday morning. "I cannot participate in political theatre and ask that Texans come to Austin to spend their time and money for a piece of legislation that has no path to success." The announcement came amid news reports that Chris McNutt, a gun rights advocate outraged by the lack of movement on Stickland's bill, had traveled to House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's home and was intercepted there by officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety. For subscribers: State troopers intercept gun-rights activist at House Speaker Dennis Bonnens home Stickland also posted a minute-and-a-half long video on Facebook calling McNutt's actions "some of the most concerning behavior" he has witnessed as a legislator. Watch the video here. In the past, McNutt has worked for Stickland. His political consulting firm, Liberty Methods LLC, was hired by Stickland for campaign work in 2016. The bill, House Bill 357, was referred to the House Homeland Security Committee in February. Rep. Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass, who chairs the committee, said Friday that he no longer plans to give the bill a hearing, and that McNutt's visit to Bonnen's house "was completely irrational and unreasonable, and it makes it really easy to shut down what, in my mind, was a bad idea to begin with, but it makes it easier to shut down." Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Robert Francis ORourke doesnt claim to be Latino. But the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful goes by Beto, and he doesnt seem to mind if you think hes Latino. When the Associated Press covered ORourkes recent campaign-kickoff rally in El Paso, the reporter noted that the former congressman spoke at length in his native Spanish. Since ORourke is a fourth-generation Irish American, the reporter must be talking about the Gaelic dialect of espanol. Is this cultural appropriation, or just more evidence that the media are clueless about Mexican Americans, their culture and language? Both. The AP has issued a correction. ORourke doesnt do any correcting. When you run for president, youre supposed to tell your story. But the Texas Democrat would rather toss out catnip for the radical left open borders, legalized marijuana, Medicare for all, etc. than talk about his familys journey from the Emerald Isle. I think about that bit from John Leguizamo, the Colombian American comedian and actor. Hollywood casting directors, he recalls, would tell him: We dont want a Latino. We want someone who can play Latino. Meanwhile, there is a real-life Latino vying for the Democratic nomination Julian Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the former mayor of San Antonio. Once built up by the media as a post-racial rising star in the Democratic Party, the Mexican American cant get on television to save his White House bid, and hes stuck at 1 percent in Iowa polls. No worries. We have a white male who can play Latino. Now casting Beto ORourke as the nations first Latino president? Dont act like you havent seen this movie before. As Bill Clinton taught us in the 1990s through his supposed familiarity with African Americans, white males always get to pick the best roles for themselves. Hows this for irony? Half of the immigration debate is driven by a fear shared by white people that Latinos will replace them. Yet, in the presidential race, white people are replacing Latinos. This is like C-SPAN meets The Twilight Zone. I have heard conservative radio hosts say that ORourke poses as a Latino because white males are out of fashion in a Democratic Party obsessed with identity politics. But they are wrong about this as they usually are about race or ethnicity, where they are out of their depth. First, conservatives are just as obsessed with identity politics as liberals; its just that the identity the GOP worries most about these days is that of a threatened white male victim. Second, the demise of white males in the Democratic Party or any party has been wildly exaggerated. They still get a lions share of the media and raise truckloads of money. Notwithstanding the first-quarter fundraising acumen of California Sen. Kamala Harris ($12 million), the Democratic candidates grabbing headlines for their fundraising in the first quarter are all white males Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ($18.2 million), South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg ($7 million) and ORourke ($9.4 million, $6.1 million of that in the first 24 hours after entering the race). Human resources managers will tell you that, for all the talk about valuing diversity and thirsting for new blood, people still hire people they can relate to. What if a similar dynamic is at work when TV network executives decide which candidates get airtime? Or when donors decide who to support when they ink their checks? White males with money and power can probably relate to Sanders, Buttigieg and ORourke in a way that they cant relate to, say, someone like Stacey Abrams. Like ORourke, Abrams was the Democratic nominee in a crucial statewide race in 2018. While the El Paso native was running for a Senate seat in Texas, Abrams was vying to become the first African American and first female governor of Georgia. Both ran good races, and both came closer to winning than observers predicted. But, in defeat, they are not living the same lives. During a recent interview on MSNBC, Abrams who has herself been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate said that race plays a part in the fact that ORourke has enjoyed so much media fawning. The same cant be said for her and Andrew Gillum, the African American Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for governor in Florida, she noted. Abrams is right. Ive been saying the same thing for weeks now even if people didnt want to hear it. No matter which parts candidates choose for themselves, when the reviews come in, race always plays a major role. ruben@rubennavarrette.com When historians look back to this era, they will wonder why we insisted on outsourcing our border control to a foreign country. President Donald Trumps threats to close down the southern border with Mexico, whether now or in a year isnt a sign of strength but of frustration fading into desperation. He is reacting with understandable alarm at a spiraling migrant crisis on the border and is looking to Mexico to address it because we are unwilling to do it on our own not unable, unwilling. There were more than 100,000 apprehensions at the border in March, an increase from the 76,000 in February. The numbers for both months were the highest in 10 years. The total for the fiscal year could hit a million, a historic surge completely overwhelming our capabilities. We built our border facilities to hold single men, back when illegal migrants were largely adult males from Mexico, rather than family units from Central America. This means that they are ill-suited for the needs of women and children. Regardless, the sheer numbers are leading to authorities releasing migrants almost as soon as they are caught. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen warned Congress last week of the real-time dissolution of the immigration system. Its not that border control has been tried and failed; it hasnt been tried. Thanks to court decrees and congressional enactments, we dont permit ourselves to quickly return minors from Central American countries, or to detain them for any significant period of time. They get released, along with the adults accompanying them. The asylum process is broken. The initial so-called credible-fear interview to determine whether asylum-seekers get to the next step of the process approves almost all of them, even if they are unlikely ultimately to win asylum. In the meantime, they are waved into the country and probably never removed. The migrants coming in increasing numbers realize that we are helpless to exclude them and, indeed, surrender to Border Patrol agents when they get here. Congress could fix all this in an afternoon, with a few key changes in the law. Trump has a Nancy Pelosi problem much more than an Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador problem. But since Pelosi is unmovable, Trump has to try to work the Mexican president, known by his initials, AMLO. Mexico has done more to play ball with the U.S. under Trump than most people would have thought possible, yet all the migrants showing up at our border are still traveling through the country. Mexico doesnt make controlling these migrants a high priority because they will end up here, not there. The talk of cutting off the border now or in a year isnt aimed at the migrants, who largely dont come through ports of entry, but at forcing the Mexican government to do more. Maybe the mere threat of the resulting economic disruption will work. But as Trump considers going through with closing the border, the strategy has some of the same weaknesses as the government shutdown earlier this year. Where does it end? If Mexico doesnt act , how long are we going to keep the border closed? The longer its closed, the more the pain would be felt in the U.S. economy. What if Mexico buckles, then backslides? Will we shut down the border again, or threaten to? Even if this gambit were guaranteed to succeed, its insane that a sovereign country of unparalleled power has tied its own hands such that it must try to bully and cajole a foreign nation to do immigration enforcement for it. In a more rational world, Congress would take seriously the spectacle of U.S. officials and humanitarian organizations scrambling to handle a flood of humanity showing up every day, and give them the legal authorities and resources to get the situation under control. That it wont is a dereliction of duty of the highest order comments.lowry@nationalreview.com A 2009 police report detailing an accusation of domestic violence involving City Councilman Greg Brockhouse cannot be found, and this disappearance must be investigated. It must be investigated because its unclear if the record was correctly expunged. It must be investigated because the absence of answers only fuels more questions. Left unaddressed, those questions will erode trust in local government, and fuel conspiracy and conjecture. It must be investigated because Brockhouse is a member of City Council who is also running for mayor and police reports are public records. Why has this record disappeared? And if there is an innocent reason why it no longer exists in official records, someone must explain. The police report in question was independently obtained by Express-News reporter Brian Chasnoff. It is dated Dec. 23, 2009, and it describes an incident between Brockhouse and his wife, Annalisa. The report says Brockhouse had recently lost his job and had been drinking a lot, and during an argument he threw her to the ground and got on top of her. Police have said Brockhouse was neither arrested nor charged. For his part, Brockhouse has said he does not recall the incident and has no knowledge of such a report. But, again, the report exists. The conventional wisdom is the record was expunged. But if this is so, a number of experts have said, it was a mistake. This is because expungement removes records for wrongful arrests. But, again, police have said Brockhouse was not arrested. Newly elected District Attorney Joe Gonzales has said it is impossible to trace a wrongful expunction because all records of that process also disappear. But this answer is not good enough. A judge would have been involved, right? So would the District Attorneys Office and, presumably, officers from the San Antonio Police Department. Someone should know what happened to the police report. And if expunction occurred, the person involved should step forward to explain the reasons. There must be some accountability. Why? What if this record wasnt expunged? What if the record was removed some other way? To be clear, we are not suggesting this. But these are the kinds of questions that arise without a proper investigation and finding. In essence, the public deserves to know, first and foremost, whether the removal of the report was warranted. And if the removal was not warranted, then the public needs to know what happened and who was responsible for this action. Some may view this through the narrow lens of politics. An unfavorable police report about a mayoral candidate was obtained by a member of the media at the height of a hard-fought campaign. But this is way too narrow of a lens for this issue. This is fundamentally about the sanctity of public records. When other media members have requested this report, it does not exist. This is information relating to a public official that may be of interest to voters. There is also an aspect of fairness. We doubt embarrassing police reports involving average San Antonians just inexplicably disappear. If expunction didnt occur, why is this one missing? If expunction did occur, was it legally or reasonably attained? Because this involves city and Bexar County officials, and because it has arisen in the midst of an election, the question of what happened to this police report should be referred to an outside agency. The public deserves to know how this record came to not exist. Was this expunged correctly? And if it was not, what were the circumstances? It seems that to some, a move of the Cenotaph 500 feet is the same as dismantling it. Moving it makes Alamo Plaza more visible and realistic. Moving the Cenotaph will not change its value, nor make it unavailable for those visiting the shrine. During my time in San Antonio, more than 80 years, I have heard discussions before about its value and where it stands. The plan to move it 500 feet is a reasonable solution, and Alamo Plaza will better depict its past. Craig Bell Time to leave S.A. I have been a resident of San Antonio for more than 60 years, but it may be time for me to get out of here. Changing the name of Robert E. Lee High School, banning Chick-fil-A from the airport, attempting to move the Cenotaph and discussing changing the name of Sidney Lanier High School, among other ridiculous ideas, leave me, quite frankly, almost nauseated. What is happening to this great city that I used to say I was proud of? Richard Ochoa Listen to Lincoln Abraham Lincolns famous words that the government of the people, for the people, by the people should not perish from the earth apply to our public schools. Listen to Lincoln, SAISD board. Dont kill our schools by taking them away from us. Janice Clayton Setting it straight A letter to the editor on Sunday on online schooling was not written by Melissa Schrade. We regret the error. When Nicholas Manciero wasnt teaching math at Stratford High School on Thursday, he was checking email. April 6, 2019, was the day he was to learn if his proposal for a Fund for Teachers grant had been accepted. Not until the end of the school day when Manciero was called down to the principals office did he learn that he was one of 153 public school teachers from across the state who will spend part of their summers on self-designed learning experiences courtesy of the national program. Awesome. This is amazing, Manciero said, when Stratford High Principal Jack Dellapino broke the news that he will be going to Italy to study how mathematical concepts were used during the construction of cathedrals, towers, aqueducts and monuments during the Roman Empire, Gothic and the Renaissance periods. Jenny Heikkila-Diaz of Fund for Teachers was on hand to present Maciero with a backpack and invitation to an awards dinner. Elsewhere Thursday, grants were handed out to teachers at Bullard Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport and at schools in Fairfield, Greenwich, Hamden, New Haven, North Branford, Norwalk, Redding and Weston. Since 2001, Fund for Teachers has invested $30 million in nearly 8,000 teachers across the country. Fund for Teachers, in Connecticut, has been supported for the past five years by the Dalio Foundation. This year, the foundation provided $875,000 in grants for teachers to improve their instructional practice and, as a result, student success. More Information Local teachers to receive 2019 Fund for Teachers grants include: Janet Forbes, Bullard Havens Technical High School Bridgeport Timothy Foster of Fairfield Warde High School Nicholas Manciero of Stratford High School See More Collapse Since the Dalio Foundation started supporting the program in 2015, some 637 fellowships and $3.6 million have been awarded in the state. Barbara Dalio, co-founder and director of the foundation, calls Fund for Teachers one of her favorite causes. This years Connecticut fellows will learn in 24 states and 35 countries across six continents. The recipients teach in 89 schools across 55 districts. Many serve predominantly low-income students. It is something that teachers love, said Dalio. It expands their world, gets them energized. Gets them inspired. They get to see what other people in other countries are doing. The idea is that teachers take that energy and excitement back with them to the classroom next fall. Melissa Hadsell, a Stamford High teacher, will explore the historical and cultural influences of British authors such as William Shakespeare and Jane Austen on a trip to England and Scotland. Timothy Foster of Fairfield Warde High School will travel to England, France, Denmark and Sweden to learn more about sustainable practices to help in an AP Environmental Science classes. Maria Frederick of Read Middle School in Redding is going to Rwanda to deepen her understanding of the events that led up to that countrys genocide in 1994. Janet Forbes, an English Language teacher at Bullard Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport will study at a Spanish language immersion school in Costa Rica to improve her ability to communicate with students and their families in their first language. Dalio said it is fascinating to hear about the teacher adventures when she attends annual dinners for the grant recipients. When given the resources and space, magic happens, Dalio said of the programs purpose. The winners were selected from among 260 applicants, a record number in the state. In March, a committee of 60 teachers and community leaders reviewed the applications and matched them against program criteria. Manciero was encouraged to apply by Dan Hicks, a vice principal at Stratford High who recieved a Fund for Teachers grant in 2016 to study ruins in the Virgin Islands. It definitely gave me a better perspective in some things I was working on in the classroom, Hicks said. Manciero said he is very excited to do the same. His plans are to travel to Florence, Rome and Pisa, where he will take classes in how to teach algebra in more meaningful way, attend university lectures and explore museums. U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., a former Waterbury teacher and National Teacher of the Year, said the program is important because it trusts the judgment of teachers to carve out their own professional learning. Both students and teachers thrive when we have some ownership over our professional development choices, Hayes said. Based in Greenwich, the Dalio Foundation was created by Barbara and her husband, Ray, a hedge fund manager and billionaire. The foundation has invested more than $50 million in public school districts in the state and is a big supporter of Donors Choose, a crowdfunding website for teachers, and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck Christian Abraham / Christian Abraham SHELTON Police Chief Shawn Sequeira said an investigation into the conduct of staff members at Shelton High School would extend into next week before any findings were announced. Shelton High School Headmaster Beth Smith has been on paid administrative leave since March 28, and local police and the states attorneys office have been investigating whether school staff adhered to state law in the handling of an incident involving two students. FAIRFIELD At 3:01 p.m. July 31, Fairfield Warde High School Headmaster David Ebling will be, after a 40-year career, a retired educator. Though he plans to remain connected to education, the Trumbull native said he has an idea of what to do on his first day of retirement. I look forward to talking a walk on the beach, Ebling, 63, said with a smile. On March 27, a day after announcing his retirement decision, Ebling said he felt very mixed emotions. I feel confident that I left the school in a good place. We have been through a lot of improvements in our plan, Ebling said. Eblings wife, a former social studies teacher at Fairfield Woods Middle School, retired four years ago. He said it was around January this year that the thought of retirement became more of a possibility. The timing with school is always a challenge. I didnt want to leave the district in a position where I retired too late being a headmaster is a big job and I didnt want to leave too early because then youre seen as a lame duck, Ebling said. The Warde headmasters announcement prompted praise and best wishes on social media. Fairfield Ludlowe High School Headmaster Greg Hatzis said, while the high schools are rivals on the fields and on the courts, working with Ebling demonstrated they are all part of the a unified town. Dave Ebling is one of the most caring, thoughtful and hard-working educators Ive ever worked with, Hatzis said. Hes made a great impact on all who have worked with him through his many years of services to the Fairfield Public Schools. As graduation nears a date will be set at the Board of Educations April 9 meeting administrators will commence the search for a new Warde headmaster, as well as a new superintendent, for the 2019-20 school year. Superintendent Toni Jones, who is starting her new gig in Greenwich July 1, said the process to find a new Warde High School headmaster would involve an survey sent out by the central office and sessions with PTA, staff and students. Then, there will be a committee comprised of students, staff and parents who will spend a few days interviewing those candidates who are selected for first interviews, Jones said. The candidates are narrowed to the finalists who will interview for the second round. The process would culminate with the central office issuing an offer to the final candidate, Jones said. While his mind is still fixed on the next four months left with the district, Ebling said he has considered traveling to Asia and spending time with family when he retires. I look forward to other work opportunities in education. Im not the kind of guy who is just going to sit around, he said. humberto.juarez@hearstmediact.com Of all the places youd expect to see a fight between the cold, hard face of ag economics and the warm, tender heart of rural America, that place would not be the corner of West 41st St. and Eighth Avenue in New York City, the home of the New York Times. And yet there it was in late March, two of the nations column-writing heavyweights slugging it out as much as verb-slingers slug at all on the worlds most prestigious opinion page. Getting real Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman threw the first punch with a March 18 column titled Getting Real About Rural America. In it, he noted that rural Americas deepening economic woe is, in some cases, the result of powerful forces that nobody knows how to reverse Krugman is being kind. He knows these powerful forces like trade-centered farm bills, corporately integrated meat production, the unchallenged growth of the Farm Credit System drive todays rural economy. Without change, however, he sees continuing rural woe because, We cant help rural America without understanding that the role it used to play in our nation is being undermined by powerful economic forces that nobody knows how to stop. In fact, most ag leaders have little interest in stopping any of these forces even if they could. The reason is as old as they are: When commodity prices are good, Big Ag wins big; when commodity prices are poor, Big Ag still wins, just not as big. Twitter exploded in rage over Krugmans analysis; he was called every barnyard name there is and was urged, impolitely, not to fret (or write) about the future of rural America again. Rebuttal Three days later, another Times columnist, David Brooks, wrote a rebuttal to Krugmans dark portrait. Its premise was in its warm title, What Rural America Has to Teach Us. Everybody says rural America is collapsing, began Brooks. But I keep going to places with more moral coherence and social commitment than we have in booming urban areas. These visits prompt the same question: How can we spread the civic mindset they have in abundance? Brooks cited several examples of this mindset he encountered during a recent visit to McCook and Grand Island, Nebraska, where nearly everyone is working at something, people leave their homes and cars unlocked, and crime is low. The rosy portrait fueled Twitter acclaim for Brooks and, unlike Krugman, hes welcome to come back and write about rural America anytime. Overall, however, Times readers reactions were just the opposite. Of the 1,867 written comments, the newspaper received on Krugmans column, most offered personal facts to confirm his view that rural America is now a tough place to find jobs, health care, education, and, in the end, any kind of a prosperous future. Surprisingly, many of Brooks 1,473 commenters cited the same hard facts in their responses. Hundreds of city-dwelling rural refugees noted that Brooks was right about rural neighborliness and civic engagement. But, they added, he never mentioned that rural America is pockmarked with dissolving or merging school districts, shrinking medical choices and closing hospitals, few high-paying jobs, and an opioid epidemic. More fascinating to me, both a rural dweller and New York Times subscriber, is that while rural America was debating the two New York Times opinion pieces, the Trump administration was pushing deep budget cuts to almost every federal program that rural America has grown increasingly dependent upon like food aid, Medicare, Medicaid, and crop insurance. Indeed, on March 11, the White House proposed to slash the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) 2020 budget by 15 percent. Various farm policy leaders allied to the White House immediately dismissed the proposal. Dont worry, they explained, the White House isnt serious. Not serious? Why then waste taxpayer money writing, printing, and distributing what is, essentially, a joke? The most logical answer is that its not a joke; the budget proposal is clear indication what the White House would do to rural programs if it had the Constitutional authority to do so. That overreach should worry rural Americans a great deal more than whether or not we leave our homes and cars unlocked. An agreement has been reached to allow a tenant farming couple to remain on a farm they rented from Buccleuch Estates after fears of eviction. David and Alison Telfer occupy Cleuchfoot Farm on Buccleuch Estates near Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway on a short limited duration lease. The couple wished to remain on the farm until their retirement and said they had received verbal assurance from the previous Duke of Buccleuch which would allow them to remain as tenants beyond the end of their short limited duration lease. Buccleuch Estates, which manages over 270000 acres of land across Scotland, had wished to bring the Telfers occupation of the holding to an end earlier than their original planned retirement date. This was in order to sell the farm and adjoining hill ground with the immediate prospect of vacant possession. However, the Telfers were unhappy with the way Buccleuch had dealt with the issue. Last year, allegations of bullying and intimidation by Buccleuch Estates were made at a public meeting in Dumfries and Galloway. The estate was accused of potentially failing to follow industry guidance on landlord-tenant negotiations. Because of this, the Telfers approached the Tenant Farming Commissioner, Bob McIntosh, in an attempt to reach an agreement between Buccleuch and the buyers to allow them to remain on the farm until their retirement. Through discussion with all the parties, a satisfactory agreement has now been achieved. The couple will now be able to continue farming part of the land until they retire. The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) welcomed the intervention by Mr McIntosh and highlighted the role of the Tenant Farming Commissioner. STFA Chairman Christopher Nicholson said: If the Telfers had not been prepared to stand up and make their case to the Tenant Farming Commissioner then they would likely be leaving their farm, home and livelihood this year. The lesson is clear, tenants need to be prepared to take their cases to the Commissioner when they find themselves in difficult situations. He added: Unfortunately there is still a belief amongst tenants that taking a dispute to the Commissioner will risk the wrath of their landlord and make matters worse. However, it is time for attitudes to change, and the now two year record of the Land Commission shows that disputes can be resolved amicably with a timely intervention from the Tenant Farming Commissioner. A new inquiry will consider the impact and threat in the rise of non-native invasive species to UK biosecurity and the farming industry. The UK is witnessing a rise in the introduction of non-native species with damaging effects estimated to cost almost 2 billion a year. Examples of such species include the American skunk cabbage, Topmouth gudgeon, water primrose, American bullfrog and Asian hornet. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is launching the inquiry, and will focus on the impact and management of non-native species. The Committee says non-native species have a 'detrimental effect' on native biodiversity, ecosystems, farming, public health, with threats posed by predatory behaviour, competition or by transmitting disease. The inquiry will send out an alert to those most likely to come into contact with invasive species, such as farmers. Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Mary Creagh MP said that climate change is driving a 'dramatic rise' in the numbers of invasive species in the UK. These are plants, fish and insects that pose a threat to our indigenous wildlife and human health, and are already costing our economy almost 2 billion a year, she said. We want to identify the scale of the problem and assess how well prepared we are to cope with it, particularly with the possibility of a new era of regulation outside the EU. Identifying and recording sightings or clearing invasive species is important to reduce the impact on our native environment. Increasing global temperatures from climate change are allowing invasive species to thrive in non-native environments and are likely to intensify the threat they pose through increasing their range. Other factors behind the rise in non-native species include increased globalisation in trade and travel, for example in agriculture and horticulture. Farming and horticultural sectors are among areas affected by invasive species that arrive through human activity, either deliberate or accidental. The inquiry launch follows the government urging farmers to be on the look out for Asian Hornets after a person was stung by the aggressive insect in Jersey last year, thought to be the UK's first such case. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Anupam Kher Calls Ranbir Kapoor His 'Favourite Actor' Sharing this picture, Anupam Kher wrote on his Twitter handle, "It is always delightful to meet one of India's finest and my most favourite actor and person #RanbirKapoor. He is affectionate, loving, respectful, knowledgable compassionate and hugely talented. It was nice walking with him on the streets of NYC and talking about films, life and life's lessons." Old Friends Earlier, Anupam had caught up with Rishi Kapoor in his previous visit to New York. Kapoor Sr. had later tweeted this picture. When Ranbir Opened Up About His Dad Speaking about Zee Cine awards, Ranbir said, "Whenever I speak to him, he only talks about movies. He only talks about how is this film?', how is this film doing?', how is this performance?', what are you doing in this scene? And more so, he speaks to me about his insecurities that when he gets back, will he get to work in movies? Whether people will offer him films? Will he be able to act in movies?" Ranbir's Emotional Speech For His Dad After Winning 'Best Actor' Award For Sanju "I would like to dedicate this award to very special people in my life, starting with my father. He is going through a little bit of a rough patch in his life and I have often heard that whenever you come at crossroads in your life, you can really tell who you are as a person." Shahrukh Khan Expressed His Gratitude On Receiving The Award Sharing this picture, King Khan wrote, "Thank u for the honour #universityoflaw & my best wishes to the graduating students. It will encourage our team at @meerfoundationofficial to strive selfishly' to share more." 'Charity Should Be Done In Silence' "I believe that charity should be done in silence and with dignity. One cannot speak about their charitable acts because it loses its purpose. I have been privileged to be able to use my status as a public personality to champion causes close to my heart," said SRK to IANS in a statement. A Humble Superstar! He further added, "I actively participate with the causes of women empowerment, rehabilitation of the underprivileged and basic human rights. I firmly believe that I have to give back to the world that has given me so much. I am humbled with this honorary doctorate bestowed upon me and would like to thank everyone involved for choosing me." For Those Who Ain't Aware Shah Rukh's non-profit organisation Meer Foundation primarily works with acid attack victims and aims to initiate change at the ground level to build a world that empowers women. The actor was honoured with the Crystal Award for his work towards acid attack survivors at the World Economic Forum 2018 held in Davos. Challenging Star Darshan is currently busy campaigning for Sumalatha Ambareesh. The Yajamana actor has apparently taken a break from his shooting schedule for the same. He is staying in Mandya and participating in rallies until the Lok Sabha elections commence, on April 18, 2019. But, a few reports regarding his health condition have been making rounds lately. It was said that the actor was in pain due to the injury from the car accident he was involved in last year and had to seek immediate medical help. However, now it has been confirmed that Darshan in not hospitalised. He's been asked to get some rest for recovery amidst the election activities. A source close to the actor told First News Kannada that he's not admitted at the Vikram hospital in Bangalore. For the past few days he's been constantly travelling in and around villages in Mandya for campaigning. Some of the fans who are highly enthusiastic to see him have been greeting the actor with handshakes, which has resulted in more strain on his injured hand. Also, he's suffering from backache due to long hours of standing without breaks. Though he's not hospitalised, the doctors have asked him to get some rest to subside the pain. Well, D Boss' fans needn't have to worry as he's keeping well. Yash & Darshan Enter Politics For Personal Benefits? Reasons Why They Could Be Supporting Sumalatha Meanwhile, other Sandalwood celebrities such as Yash, Rockline Venkatesh and others have also come forward to support Sumalatha Ambareesh, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Mandya. According to the latest news reports, Yash and Darshan's wives, Radhika Pandit and Vijaya Lakshmi are also going to take part in the rally on April 16, 2019. Dr Ambareesh is not among us anymore, but his legacy will stay forever. The actor passed away last year due to a cardiac arrest. He was not only a renowned actor, but also won the citizens' trust as a politician. And now, his wife and actress Sumalatha has entered politics to carry forward his beliefs and dreams. However, a few months before his death, Ambareesh praised wife Sumalatha for fulfilling her promise. He went on to call it the biggest present. Now when you look back in time, these words spoken by Ambareesh will bring tears to the eyes! It was during a press meet on his birthday (May 29), last year, when Ambareesh was asked if Sumalatha gave him any present. The actor stunned everyone when he said, "Sumalatha kept her promise. She said she would bring Rebel back as a Rebel and she did it. That is the biggest present." When Ambareesh fell sick and was undergoing treatment, Sumalatha had made this promise to his fans. Seems like Sumalatha is working towards making her husband's political dreams come true, too. She is contesting an an independent candidate from Mandya. She's been backed by some of the biggest Sandalwood actors such as Darshan, Yash and Sudeep. Yash & Darshan Enter Politics For Personal Benefits? Reasons Why They Could Be Supporting Sumalatha Yash also told in an interview that he's campaigning for Sumalatha, because he was very dear to Ambareesh who helped him a lot. He also said that he's happy to see all that the Rebel Star has done for the people in Mandya and would like to help his wife Sumalatha in serving them too. Bold And Beautiful Chandrika is seen setting the temperatures soaring in the stunning photo, which might create a great deal of buzz on social media. The bold lady, born to a Malayali father and a Tamil mother, sure knows how to make young men go weak in the knees. Modern Silk Smitha' Chandrika's body language is the biggest highlight of her look in this awesome click. The Aussie lady bears a striking resemblance to the late Silk Smitha. As a result, fans often call her the 'Modern Silk Smitha'. She's A Confident Lady Prior to the release of Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuthu, she had said that she never felt uncomfortable while shooting for the film even though it had plenty of double meaning dialogues. Her Exact Words "There was never a situation where any of us were uncomfortable. We all are adults, and everyone who worked on sets knows that we are doing our job here. Any film will be driven by some message or emotion and at the end of this film is quite a sad message. The director has taken every element of storytelling and added some masala to accommodate the younger generation of South India." On The Work Front At present, Chandrika is gearing up for the release of Un Kadhal Irundhal, which is a Tamil-Malayalam bilingual and has Srikanth in the lead. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 4, 2019 / ParcelPal Technology Inc. ('ParcelPal' or the 'Company'), (CSE: PKG) (FSE: PT0) (OTC: PTNYF) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting an investor update conference call on May 1st, 2019 to review the Company's recent progress. The Company would also like to inform shareholders that it will be releasing its quarterly financial statements for Q4 FY2018 (October 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018) by April 30, 2019. Conference Call Information: When: May 1st, 2019, 8:00 am PST / 11:00 am EST Dial in Canada: +1 647 558 0588 Dial in United States: +1 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 142 555 258 You do not require a participant ID when entering the call. About ParcelPal Technology Inc. ParcelPal is a technology-driven logistics company that connects consumers to the goods they love. Customers can shop at partner businesses and through the ParcelPal technology receive their purchased goods within an hour. The Company offers on-demand delivery of merchandise from leading retailers, restaurants, medical marijuana dispensaries and liquor stores in Vancouver and soon in major cities Canada-wide. ParcelPal Website: www.parcelpal.com The Canadian Securities Exchange ('CSE') or any other securities regulatory authority has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release that has been prepared by management. CSE - Symbol: PKG FSE - Symbol: PT0 OTC - Symbol: PTNYF Contact: Peter Hinam Director-Investor Relations peter@parcelpal.com Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward looking statements relating to the Proposed Transaction, and the future potential of ParcelPal. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", 'intends', "anticipates", "expects", 'plans' and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risk that the Proposed Transaction will not be completed due to, among other things, failure to execute definitive documentation, failure to complete satisfactory due diligence, failure to receive the approval of the CSE and the risk that ParcelPal will not be successful due to, among other things, general risks relating to the mobile application industry, failure of ParcelPal to gain market acceptance and potential challenges to the intellectual property utilized in ParcelPal. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will only update or revise publicly any of the included forward looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities laws. SOURCE: ParcelPal Technology Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/541003/ParcelPal-Announces-Call-In-Details-for-Quarterly-Reporting-Call-to-Take-Place-on-May-1st-2019 Additional data presented at ABA Annual meeting include results demonstrating that donor sites treated using the RECELL System could be reharvested in as little as seven days after treatment Patients with burns covering more than 50% of their bodies treated using the RECELL System in combination with widely meshed autografts healed as quickly as patients with smaller burn injuries with the same treatment AVITA Medical (ASX: AVH, OTCQX: AVMXY), a global regenerative medicine company, announced health economic data projecting that use of the RECELL System to treat patients with severe burns could save a major U.S. burn center up to USD $28 million annually compared to treatment with the standard of care. The health economic results were presented at the American Burn Association (ABA) 51st Annual Meeting in Las Vegas by Kevin Foster, MD, MBA, FACS, of the Arizona Burn Center, and were calculated based on the demographic mix of patients treated at that institution in 2018. An additional presentation at the ABA meeting, awarded best in category at the conference, highlighted preliminary study results demonstrating that donor sites treated with the Spray-On Skin Cells prepared using the RECELL System could be reharvested in as little as seven days after treatment. Also presented were data showing that patients with extensive burns, greater than 50% total body surface area (TBSA), treated with Spray-On Skin Cells in combination with widely meshed autografts healed as quickly as patients with smaller burn injuries provided the same treatment combination. Patients from both the donor site and large TBSA presentations were treated under Compassionate Use and Continued Access programs, which allowed treatment of patients with life-threatening burns in advance of the September 2018 approval to market the RECELL System in the U.S. The RECELL System uses a small amount of a patient's own skin to prepare Spray-On Skin Cells at the point of care in as little as 30 minutes, providing a new way to treat thermal burns. Two randomized, controlled clinical trials demonstrated that treatment of acute burn wounds using the RECELL System required substantially less donor skin than conventional treatment to achieve closure of burn wounds. Reduction in donor skin requirements provides key clinical benefits to patients and significant reductions in the cost of treatment. The RECELL System was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2018 for the treatment of acute thermal burns in patients 18 years and older. The donor site and large TBSA presentations include classes of burns or injuries that are unapproved indications that fall outside of the currently approved U.S. product labeling. Healthcare professionals should read the INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE RECELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device (https://recellsystem.com/) for a full description of indications for use and important safety information, including contraindications, warnings and precautions. RECELL Projected to Reduce Cost of Treating Severe Burns at Major Center by USD $28 Million Annually The results of the health economic model were highlighted by Dr. Foster in a presentation titled "Budget impact of autologous cell harvesting device (ACHD) use versus standard of care (SOC) for treatment of severe burns: A case study for the Arizona Burn Center" and demonstrated: The Arizona Burn Center would save approximately USD $28 million (16%) per year using the RECELL System versus the current standard of care (net of the cost of the RECELL System) The largest driver of the predicted cost savings is reduction in length of stay per patient, comprising 70% of the savings Also contributing to the estimated cost savings is an approximate 67% less autografting procedures, with reduction in operating room time contributing another 13% to the estimated cost savings The Arizona Burn Center is part of the Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS), a major public teaching hospital and safety net system of care based in Phoenix. "We now have a tool to economically assess any new intervention into the burn market, which can be used in our hospitals to determine fiscal responsibility of new treatments," said Dr. Foster. "Based on the characteristics of our burn center and the patients we treated in 2018, use of the RECELL System is estimated to produce significant cost savings of about 16% of our total center costs, or approximately $28 million per year. Key drivers of projected cost savings were decreased length of hospital stay, fewer autograft surgeries, reduced donor site size and associated wound care, and reduced rehabilitation needs." To investigate the value proposition and potential transformative impact of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) investments in burn care such as the RECELL System, an evaluation and modeling tool which emulated the cost effectiveness in routine care was developed by IQVIA, BARDA and AVITA Medical. The BEACON model evaluates how practice patterns, interventions and patient characteristics interact across all phases of care (wound assessment, debridement/excision, temporary coverage and permanent closure) to understand how patient and burn center outcomes change given the incorporation of a new burn care treatment, such as the RECELL System. Results from the model demonstrate that the RECELL System would reduce treatment costs for patients with burns ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent TBSA were presented last year at the 2018 ABA Annual Meeting and at a series of other burn and health economic meetings. As described in this week's presentation, the patient characteristics for the Arizona Burn Center (for example, age, burn depth, TBSA) were input into the BEACON model based on the 800 patients with 10% TBSA and greater burns treated in 2018 at the institution. "Our ability to run this economic model based on the specific demographics of an individual burn center is a great resource to them as they evaluate the potential benefits of the RECELL System," said Dr. Michael Perry, Chief Executive Officer. "We thank Dr. Foster, IQVIA, BARDA and others who have participated in the development of the BEACON model. The cost savings benefits of the RECELL System demonstrated by the model complement the clinical benefits which are also being prominently featured in a series of ten presentations at the ABA meeting this week." Funding and technical support for the development of the RECELL System is provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under ongoing USG Contract No. HHSO100201500028C. Programs funded under the BARDA contract include two randomized, controlled pivotal clinical trials, the Compassionate Use and Continued Access programs, development of the health economic model demonstrating the cost savings associated with the RECELL System, and two randomized, controlled clinical trials in pediatric burn patients. Healing of Donor Sites after Treatment Using the RECELL System Another presentation by Dr, Foster, "Healing of Donor Sites with Autologous Skin Cell Suspension Enables Early Reharvesting for Large TBSA Burn Injuries: A Prospective Evaluation," described the treatment of donor sites in patients with large TBSA burn injuries. In large TBSA injuries the patient may not have enough donor skin available to allow for immediate treatment of the entire area of burn injuries with traditional autografting techniques. In severely burned patients with extensive injuries, surgeons often must wait until the donor sites have healed so that they can reharvest from the site, resulting in delays in treatment and healing and the need for multiple procedures and extended hospital time. In the prospective observational study of 73 subjects with life-threatening thermal burn injuries treated under the Compassionate Use program, 426 donor sites wounds were treated with Spray-On Skin Cells prepared using the RECELL System. The mean TBSA of the patients in the study was 54% with burns ranging from 20% to 91% TBSA. Two weeks after treatment, 91% of the donor sites had healed in this compromised patient population, and 98% had healed by week eight. Donor sites treated using the RECELL System were able to be reharvested as early as seven days after treatment. No infection or delayed healing were reported for donor sites treated with Spray-On Skin Cells. "The ability to reharvest additional donor skin from a site in as little one week after treatment with the RECELL system is extremely beneficial in this population of patients with extensive life-threatening injuries and limited available donor skin," said Dr. Foster. "Treatment of donor sites using the RECELL System may provide improved healing rates as well as pain reduction and additional exploration of the potential benefits of the RECELL System should be undertaken." Treatment of Patients with Burns Greater than 50% TBSA William Hickerson, MD, FACS, Firefighter Burn Center and University of Tennessee Health Science Center, presented data showing that the use of the RECELL System in combination with meshed autografts achieves definitive closure for patients with burn injuries greater than 50% TBSA and achieved comparable outcomes to patients with less severe injuries in a presentation titled "Evaluation of Autologous Skin Cell Suspension (ASCS) for Definitive Closure of Extensive Burn Injuries in an Adult Population." In patients with extensive burn injuries, lack of available donor skin is a major limitation in achieving permanent closure, and the longer a wound remains open the more susceptible a patient is to infection. The use of the RECELL System, a donor skin sparing technology that enables rapid definitive closure, has the potential to improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes for patients with life-threatening, greater than 50% TBSA burn injuries, in which the RECELL System was used in combination with widely meshed split-thickness autografts. In this study of 35 patients with life-threatening thermal burn injuries, the RECELL System was used in combination with widely meshed split-thickness autografts to achieve definitive closure using minimal donor skin. For patients with greater than 50% TBSA burns, 150 burn wounds were treated with the combination of Spray-On Skin Cells and widely meshed split-thickness autografts, with 95% of the wounds achieving complete wound closure two months after treatment. For patients with equal to or less than 50% TBSA burns, 53 burn wounds were treated with the same combination and the rate of healing was similar to the large TBSA patients, with 92% of wounds achieving full healing two months after treatment "The RECELL System combined with widely meshed split-thickness autografts achieved definitive closure and achieved healing outcomes for patients with life-threatening injuries greater than 50% TBSA, largely equivalent to those with less severe injuries equal to or less than 50% TBSA," said Dr. Hickerson. "There were no device-related adverse events and long-term durability was excellent." ABOUT AVITA MEDICAL LIMITED AVITA Medical is a regenerative medicine company with a technology platform positioned to address unmet medical needs in burns, chronic wounds and aesthetics indications. AVITA Medical's patented and proprietary collection and application technology provides innovative treatment solutions derived from the regenerative properties of a patient's own skin. The medical devices work by preparing a REGENERATIVE EPIDERMAL SUSPENSION (RES), an autologous suspension comprised of the patient's skin cells necessary to regenerate natural healthy epidermis. This autologous suspension is then sprayed onto the areas of the patient requiring treatment. AVITA Medical's first U.S. product, the RECELL System, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2018. The RECELL System is indicated for use in the treatment of acute thermal burns in patients 18 years and older. The RECELL System is used to prepare Spray-On Skin Cells using a small amount of a patient's own skin, providing a new way to treat severe burns, while significantly reducing the amount of donor skin required. The RECELL System is designed to be used at the point of care alone or in combination with autografts depending on the depth of the burn injury. Compelling data from randomized, controlled clinical trials conducted at major U.S. burn centers and real-world use globally reinforce that the RECELL System is a significant advancement over the current standard of care for burn patients and offers benefits in clinical outcomes and cost savings. Healthcare professionals should read the INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE RECELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device (https://avitamedical.com) for a full description of indications for use and important safety information, including contraindications, warnings and precautions. In international markets, AVITA Medical's products are marketed under the RECELL System brand to promote skin healing in a wide range of applications, including burns, acute wounds, scars and vitiligo. The RECELL System is TGA-registered in Australia and CFDA-cleared in China. To learn more, visit www.avitamedical.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This letter includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "could," "may," "will," "believe," "estimate," "look forward," "forecast," "goal," "target," "project," "continue," "outlook," "guidance," "future," other words of similar meaning and the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements in this letter include, but are not limited to, statements concerning, among other things, our ongoing clinical trials and product development activities, regulatory approval of our products, the potential for future growth in our business, and our ability to achieve our key strategic, operational and financial goal. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Each forward- looking statement contained in this letter is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the timing of regulatory approvals of our products; physician acceptance, endorsement, and use of our products; failure to achieve the anticipated benefits from approval of our products; the effect of regulatory actions; product liability claims; risks associated with international operations and expansion; and other business effects, including the effects of industry, economic or political conditions outside of the company's control. Investors should not place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this letter. Investors are encouraged to read our publicly available filings for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this letter speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190404005858/en/ Contacts: U.S. Media Sam Brown, Inc. Christy Curran Phone: +1-615-414-8668 christycurran@sambrown.com O.U.S. Media Monsoon Communications Sarah Kemter Phone: +61 (0)3 9620 3333 Mobile: +61 (0)407 162 530 sarahk@monsoon.com.au Investors Westwicke Partners Caroline Corner Phone: +1-415-202-5678 caroline.corner@westwicke.com AVITA Medical Ltd Dale A. Sander Chief Financial Officer Phone: +1-661-367-9178 dsander@avitamedical.com NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / Weekend Unlimited Inc. ("Weekend" or the "Company") (CSE: POT - FSE: 0OS1 - OTCQB: WKULF) announces that Mr. Christopher Backus has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors and Mr. Morie Shacker has stepped down from his role as Director. "On behalf of our Directors, I want to thank Morie Shacker for all his efforts and welcome Chris Backus to the Company's Board of Directors," said Mr. Paul Chu, Weekend Unlimited President and CEO. "Chris is bringing a tremendous skill set and perspective to the Board at this exciting time for the Company as we launch our brands into multiple markets." Chris Backus comes to Weekend Unlimited as a former Senior Officer and Manager with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Chris achieved a master's degree in conflict management and interest-based negotiations from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. Mr. Backus has worked internationally with the United Nations as a strategic advisor to peacekeeping operations and negotiations in Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast, West Africa). In these and additional roles he has worked extensively in the specific areas of strategic communications and negotiations in the fields of law enforcement, healthcare, technology, retail sales, real estate, and venture capital work environments. In keeping with the Company's sharpened focus on control and accountability in its operations, the Company wishes to announce that it has successfully transformed its prior ownership interest in Jerome Baker to a license agreement. Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company is entitled to use the Jerome Baker trademark and other intellectual property in respect to a wide range of cannabis-related products for a 5-year renewable term without any royalty obligations. The Company also announced that it has recently issued 2 million shares at a deemed price of $0.12 to two consultants as part of their compensation under their consulting agreements. These shares are subject to a 4-month trading restriction. For further information, please contact: Mr. Paul Chu, President and CEO Telephone: 1 (236) 317-2812 - Toll free 1(888) 556-9656 E-mail: IR@weekendunlimited.com About Weekend Unlimited Inc. Weekend Unlimited is capitalizing on its vast industry relationships to establish a lifestyle brand featuring premium products and delivering life's highest moments. The company aggregates and scales small to medium brands, primarily in the categories of flower, extracts and edibles. Weekend Unlimited brands have best of class operations, distribution and strong revenue trajectories, making them ideal candidates for the deployment of capital and expertise through access to technologies, infrastructure and centralized systems. Learn more at www.weekendunlimited.com 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. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Weekend Unlimited Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/541172/Weekend-Unlimited-Updates-Its-Board-of-Directors Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CHICAGO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Process Oil Market by Type (Aromatic, Paraffinic, Naphthenic, and Non-Carcinogenic), Application (Tire & Rubber, Polymer, Personal Care, Textile), and Region (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, South America)- Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Process Oil Market is projected to grow from USD 4.7 billion in 2018 to USD 5.6 billion by 2023 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.6% during the forecast period. Growing preference for non-carcinogenic process oil in the tire & rubber application has also helped to grow the market for process oil. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=70882267 Browse in-depth TOC on "Process Oil Market" 108 - Tables 41 - Figures 157 - Pages View detailed Table of Content here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/process-oil-market-70882267.html Among types, Naphthenic segment is the largest segment the Global process oil market owing to the rising demand for process oil in tires and footwear applications Among types, the Naphthenic segment led the global process oil market during the forecast period in terms of volume. Naphthenic segment of the global process oil market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Naphthenic process oils are light colored and non-staining; they have excellent compatibility and low temperature performance, good color, and thermal stabilities. These oils have greater solvating power than paraffinic oils. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=70882267 Among applications, the tire & rubber oil segment is the largest segment in the Global process oil market The tire & rubber application segment led the global process oil market during the forecast period and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023. The increasing concern for fuel efficiency and lower energy consumption in automotive sector is driving the growth of this segment. The growth in this segment is also supported by the rising demand for automobiles in the emerging countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico amongst others. Asia-pacific is expected to be largest market in the Global Process Oil market Asia-pacific led the Process Oil Market in 2018 both in terms of value and volume. This demand can be attributed to the high growth in emerging economies of the region that has made Asia Pacific a lucrative market for the manufacturers of process oils. The growth of the tire and rubber industries in China and India has resulted in the high consumption of process oils in these countries in recent years. Key market players, such as Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Chevron Corporation, Nynas AB, Avista Oil AG, and Petronas Lubricants Belgium NV, are planning to expand their process oil business in the region. Emerging economies, including China and India, are the major markets for process oils. Some of the leading players in this market are Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Chevron Corporation, Petronas Lubricants Belgium NV, Nynas AB, Lukoil Oil Company, Repsol, and Avista Oil AG and among others. Browse Adjacent Markets: Bulk Chemicals and Inorganics Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Report: Base Oil Market by Type (Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V), by Application (Automotive Oil, Industrial Oil, Metalworking Fluids, Greases, Hydraulic Oil, & Others), by Geography - Global Trends & Forecasts to 2020 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: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/process-oil-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg A Colour Safari by Camille Walala and Jean-Francois Adam FLOREAL, Mauritius, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Newly launched hotel brand, SALT , has opened the doors to its first resort, 59-key SALT of Palmar located on the east coast of Mauritius. It is a beautiful base conceived to champion sustainability, connect with the local community and introduce culturally curious, style-savvy, modern travellers to the real Mauritius. Its distinctive look is born out of a collaboration between local Mauritian architect Jean-Francois Adam of JFA Architects , an award-winning visionary behind notable contemporary spaces in Mauritius and abroad; and French artist, Camille Walala , whose vivid murals adorn buildings across the globe. Devoted to all things local and sustainable, the new hotel brand is committed to taking guests to people - not just places - and unearthing the beating heart of destinations. At the core of Jean-Francois' designs is a desire to bring the natural environment and local Mauritian way of life to the forefront, giving every visitor a real sense of what his homeland has to offer. Taking an incredible existing geometric, riad-like building on the fringe of Palmar beach he carefully repurposed the standing structures to accentuate the hotel's proximity to the sea. As part of this, he orientated all beds to face the water and redesigned the pool to reinforce its connection with the beach. In addition, he played to the island's warm tropical light, allowing the location's natural colours to shine. Fauna and flora have been protected throughout this project. Jean-Francois' explained, "Everything about the hotel is designed to bring people together. From the communal tables in the bakery, restaurant and beach bar, to Mauritius' ?irst roof-top bar and the inviting spaces in the SALT equilibrium spa, it is all about gathering and sharing stories of travels and enjoyment of this incredible location." Camille's task was to find the perfect balance between her own creative impulse and the authentic expression of the island's character - fresh, playful and irresistibly positive in outlook. To find inspiration, she travelled around Mauritius, meeting with local artisans and absorbing the bright palette that punctuates the island; from verdant landscapes, brightly painted houses, azure seascapes and show-stopping sunsets, to the spirit of its communities and the colourful mosaic of culture that makes Mauritius so special. Walala commented, "People paint their houses in the most amazing tones that really stand out against the lush tropical setting. When choosing the colours for SALT of Palmar I wanted to try and get a balance between natural tones and bold pop colours. The space is supposed to be fun and hero the beauty of the incredible island." Detailing throughout the hotel is authentic, artisanal and unique. Local ceramicist Janine designed and crafted the hotel's tableware - a beautiful set of 950 individual pieces for SALT of Palmar; each one made entirely by hand. SALT of Palmar connects modern explorers with communities and their way of life, which makes for meaningful travel experiences. SALT guests have the opportunity to bond with locals via the Skill Swap programme, exchanging their time and talent with local producers, designers and artisans such as fisherman, potters, basket weavers and more. The food philosophy at the restaurant is fresh, local, homemade, home-grown, seasonal and zero-waste. Recognising the strong connections between people, plate and planet, and the fact that food choices have a major impact on the environment and on the health of its guests, SALT is committed towards Good, Clean and Fair food. The resort's chefs are members of Slow Food International and part of Slow Food Chefs Alliance. SALT adheres to Slow Food Travel promoting ecotourism and providing all our guests with a culinary journey full of stories, traditions, flavours and craftsmanship. Guests can also be confident that sustainability and environmental consciousness is at the core of the hotel. Simply by staying, they contribute to empowering local communities as the hotel sources every-thing it can locally, creates employment, and preserves the environment by going single-use plastic-free, supporting bio-farming and causing zero-waste. All of this has positioned SALT of Palmar as a practising advocate of sustainability. Its partnership with Positive Luxury means that it proudly carries the butterfly mark awarded to brands that balance luxury with mindful, responsible ac tions . The team behind SALT ensure guests have truly luxurious stays in destinations they take real strides to protect. From $200 per double room per night on a bed and breakfast basis. For more information, visit www.saltresorts.com . WeAreSALT SALTShakers @SaltResorts The Lux Collective The Lux Collective is a global hotel operator of own brands and managed properties: LUX*, SALT, Tamassa & Cafe LUX*. Successful hospitality experiences don't happen by accident - they are created through hard work, passion and the collaboration of a lot of people with diverse skills. The Lux Collective work together with some of the most passionate and creative thinkers and doers. Together with their team members, stakeholders, vendors and partners they create and deliver some of the leading hospitality experiences in the world. The Lux Collective always puts people first and stays true to its values of being passionate, responsible and innovative in all that they do. theluxcollective.com (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/846969/SALT_of_Palmar.jpg) Contact: Shakeel Ramjan Sales & Marketing Manager, Administration shakeel.ramjaan@saltofpalmar.com T +230-401-8500 - M +230-5-944-1019 The Lux Collective Ltd, Pierre Simonet Street, Floreal, Mauritius Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE:BHGE) announced today that the Baker Hughes international rig count for March 2019 was 1,039, up 12 from the 1,027 counted in February 2019, and up 67 from the 972 counted in March 2018. The international offshore rig count for March 2019 was 247, down 3 from the 250 counted in February 2019, and up 62 from the 185 counted in February 2018. The average U.S. rig count for March 2019 was 1,023, down 26 from the 1,049 counted in February 2019, and up 34 from the 989 counted in March 2018. The average Canadian rig count for March 2019 was 151, down 79 from the 230 counted in February 2019, and down 67 from the 218 counted in March 2018. The worldwide rig count for March 2019 was 2,213, down 93 from the 2,306 counted in February 2019, and up 34 from the 2,179 counted in March 2018. March 2019 Rig Counts March 2019 February 2019 March 2018 Land Offshore Total Month Variance Land Offshore Total Land Offshore Total Latin America 160 28 188 6 156 26 182 167 26 193 Europe 58 37 95 1 58 36 94 56 33 89 Africa 102 25 127 14 88 25 113 78 11 89 Middle East 340 55 395 -3 340 58 398 353 44 397 Asia Pacific 132 102 234 -6 135 105 240 133 71 204 International 792 247 1,039 12 777 250 1,027 787 185 972 United States 1,001 22 1,023 -26 1,029 20 1,049 976 13 989 Canada 150 1 151 -79 228 2 230 215 3 218 North America 1,151 23 1,174 -105 1,257 22 1,279 1,191 16 1,207 Worldwide 1,943 270 2,213 -93 2,034 272 2,306 1,978 201 2,179 About the Baker Hughes Rig Counts The Baker Hughes rig counts are counts of the number of drilling rigs actively exploring for or developing oil or natural gas in the U.S., Canada and international markets. The company has issued the rig counts as a service to the petroleum industry since 1944, when Hughes Tool Company began weekly counts of the U.S. and Canadian drilling activity. The monthly international rig count was initiated in 1975. The North American rig count is scheduled to be released at noon Central Time on the last working day of each week. The international rig count is scheduled to be released on the fifth working day of the month at 5:00 a.m. Central Time. Additional detailed information on the Baker Hughes rig counts is available from our website. About Baker Hughes, a GE company Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE: BHGE) is the world's first and only fullstream provider of integrated oilfield products, services and digital solutions. We deploy minds and machines to enhance customer productivity, safety and environmental stewardship, while minimizing costs and risks at every step of the energy value chain. With operations in over 120 countries, we infuse over a century of experience with the spirit of a startup inventing smarter ways to bring energy to the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005077/en/ Contacts: Media Relations: Melanie Kania, +1 713-439-8303 melanie.kania@bhge.com or Investor Relations: Philipp Mueller, +1 281-809-9088 investor.relations@bhge.com Global Business Insight has recognized Vantagepoint for its artificial intelligence software that empowers traders around the world daily WESLEY CHAPEL, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / Global Business Insight Awards recognize business leadership, innovation in finance and investment and sector success across seven continents. Vantagepoint AI has been recognized for its artificial intelligence trading software used by over 29,000 traders around the world. Throughout the year, Global Business Insight monitors digital channels across the globe to identify key companies and individuals that meet their criteria for recognition. All identified nominees are then judged by a research team using a unique model Global Business Insight has created. This year, Vantagepoint was identified through their global monitoring process and subsequently judged to be 2019's Most Trusted Online Trading Solution. Visit www.vantagepointsoftware.com to find out more about how artificial intelligence is changing the lives of traders worldwide. 'This comes as a welcome surprise,' says Vantagepoint President Lane Mendelsohn, 'but it is confirmation for us that we are empowering traders around the globe! We have traders in 120 countries who now have the power of artificial intelligence at their fingertips. The fact that Global Business Insight has recognized us as a TRUSTED software solution speaks to our accuracy rate of up to 86% of predicting trend changes one to three days before they change - that means a lot to us!' Mendelsohn also said, 'Even though my father, Louis Mendelsohn, started this company 40 years ago, we continue to innovate - adding new products like cryptocurrencies and cannabis stocks for instance as the marketplace evolves. It all helps to level the playing field for self-directed traders and investors which is why our company was founded.' You can find out more about why Vantagepoint AI is Global Business Insight's 2019 Most Trusted Online Trading Software Solution and see the software in action with a free lesson at www.vantagepointsoftware.com/demo or by calling 1-800-732-5407. About Vantagepoint AI, LLC. Headquartered in Wesley Chapel, Fla., Vantagepoint AI, creators of Vantagepoint Software, is a leader in trading software research and software development. Vantagepoint forecasts Stocks, Futures, Forex, and ETFs with proven accuracy of up to 86%. Using artificial intelligence, Vantagepoint's patented Neural Network processes predict changes in market trend direction up to three days in advance, enabling traders to get in and out of trades at optimal times with confidence. The company is also recognized as one of the Top 10 Places to Work in Tampa Bay and employs a family of over 60 team members. Vantagepoint is also actively committed to giving back in the Tampa Bay community and to Shriners Hospitals for Children. MEDIA CONTACT Andrew Rowe Communications Specialist 8139730496 info@vantagepointsoftware.com SOURCE: Vantagepoint Software View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/541050/Vantagepoint-AI-Named-2019-Most-Trusted-Online-Trading-Software-Solution RIGHTMOVE PLC - Notice of AGM 5 April 2019 Rightmove plc Annual Report and Notice of Annual General Meeting Rightmove plc ('the Company'), the UK's number one property website, confirms that the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018 has today been sent to shareholders, together with the Notice of Annual General Meeting. Electronic copies of the Annual Report and Accounts and the Notice of Annual General Meeting are now available to download from the Company's website at plc.rightmove.co.uk The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held at 10am on Friday, 10 May 2019 at the offices of UBS AG London Branch, 5 Broadgate, London EC2M 2QS. For further information, please contact: Sandra Odell Company Secretary Telephone: 01908 712058 Moody's Analytics, a leading provider of financial intelligence, has won Best Wealth Management Product in the 2019 FinTech Breakthrough Awards. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005161/en/ Our award-winning financial planning solution supports better wealth management decisions. It helps retail investors and their financial advisers to understand risk and select investment options, in the context of the investor's financial needs and risk profile. "We're delighted to be recognized in the FinTech Breakthrough Awards," said Phil Mowbray, Senior Director at Moody's Analytics. "Assessing the suitability of investment options is critical. With our solution, clients can compare financial planning options and make more informed investment decisions." Moody's Analytics offers a modular suite of financial planning solutions supporting investment product providers and advisers, from product design through customer advice and investment decisions into ongoing investment governance and suitability analysis. This helps to ensure compliance with regulation and leads to a superior customer experience. Our modern technology platform makes it easy for firms to access our capabilities, whether by integrating into in-house technology or accessing our analytics through our software-as-a-service offering. The FinTech Breakthrough Awards recognize fintech innovators from around the world in banking, personal finance, regtech, and more. The 2019 awards program attracted more than 3,500 nominations. Click hereto learn more about the Moody's Analytics financial planning solution. Click hereto learn more about the FinTech Breakthrough Awards. About Moody's Analytics Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit www.moodysanalytics.com. Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moody's Corporation reported revenue of $4.4 billion in 2018, employs approximately 13,100 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 42 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005161/en/ Contacts: Justin Bursztein Moody's Analytics Communications 001.212.553.1163 justin.bursztein@moodys.com Moody's Analytics Media Relations moodysanalytics.com twitter.com/moodysanalytics linkedin.com/company/ Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 5, 2019) - Appia Energy Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A0I.F) (FSE: A0I.MU) (FSE: A0I.BE) (the "Company" or "Appia) is pleased to announce it will be closing a non-brokered private placement of 1,000,000 flow-through shares (the "FT Shares") for gross proceeds of $400,000. Each flow-through share is priced at $0.40. Proceeds from the Offering are expected to be used for drilling and exploration on the Company's Alces Lake Property as well as other properties in Saskatchewan. An eligible finder will be paid a cash fee of $24,000 and issued 60,000 FT broker warrants. Each FT broker warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at a price of $0.40 for twelve (12) months from Closing. All securities to be issued are subject to a statutory four month hold period expiring on August 9, 2019. About Appia Appia is a Canadian publicly-traded company in the uranium and rare earth element sectors. The Company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements ("REE") and uranium on the Alces Lake property, as well as prospecting for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 64,045 hectares (158,259 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), including rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario, which historically produced over 300 million pounds of U 3 O 8 and is the only Canadian camp that has had significant rare earth element (yttrium) production. Appia's Management and Board have over 250 years of combined industry experience, and the Technical team is directed by James Sykes, who has had direct and indirect involvement with over 450 million lbs. U 3 O 8 being discovered in five deposits within the Athabasca Basin. Appia has 65.0 million common shares outstanding, 84.0 million shares fully diluted after giving effect to the financing. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Tom Drivas, President, CEO and Director: (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) appia@appiaenergy.ca Frank van de Water, Chief Financial Officer and Director, (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) fvandewater@rogers.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43911 27th European Congress of Psychiatry, EPA 2019, Warsaw H.C. Wainwright & Co Global Life Sciences Conference, London MADRID, SPAIN and CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a public clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging epigenetics to develop therapies in diseases with strong unmet medical need, announced today that the company will continue its institutional presence in several reputed international conferences in the upcoming weeks. Dr. Roger Bullock, Oryzon's Chief Medical Officer, will present first-in-human efficacy data of vafidemstat on April 8 at the 27th European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA 2019), which will take place in Warsaw (Poland) from April 6-9 2019. For more information on this event please visit https://epa-congress.org/2019#.XID8AVVKipo. Dr. Carlos Buesa, Oryzon's CEO, will participate at the H.C. Wainwright & Co Global Life Sciences Conference, to be held on April 7-9 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London (UK). Besides 1-on-1 meetings, Dr. Buesa will present the recent advances of Oryzon's clinical programs, vafidemstat and iadademstat, on Monday 8th in the Somerset Suite at 11:10 local time. For more information on this event please visit https://european-biotechnology.com/events/highlights/highlight/hcw-global-life-sciences-conference.html. About Oryzon Founded in 2000 in Barcelona, Spain, Oryzon (ISIN Code: ES0167733015) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company considered as the European champion in Epigenetics. Oryzon has one of the strongest portfolios in the field. Oryzon's LSD1 program has rendered two compounds Vafidemstat and Iadademstat in clinical trials. In addition, Oryzon has ongoing programs for developing inhibitors against other epigenetic targets. Oryzon has a strong technological platform for biomarker identification and performs biomarker and target validation for a variety of malignant and neurodegenerative diseases. Oryzon has offices in Spain and the United States. For more information, visit www.oryzon.com. About Vafidemstat Vafidemstat (ORY-2001) is an oral, brain penetrant drug that selectively inhibits LSD1 and MAOB. The molecule acts on several levels: it reduces cognitive impairment, memory loss and neuroinflammation, and at the same time has neuroprotective effects. In animal studies vafidemstat not only restores memory but reduces the exacerbated aggressiveness of SAMP8 mice, a model for accelerated aging and Alzheimer's disease, to normal levels and also reduces social avoidance and enhances sociability in murine models. In addition, vafidemstat exhibits fast, strong and durable efficacy in several preclinical models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Vafidemstat is in Phase IIa clinical studies in patients with Relapse-Remitting and Secondary Progressive MS (SATEEN), in patients with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's disease (ETHERAL) and in aggressiveness in patients with different psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders (basket trial REIMAGINE). About Iadademstat Iadademstat (ORY-1001) is a small oral molecule, which acts as a highly selective inhibitor of the epigenetic enzyme LSD1 and has a powerful differentiating effect in hematologic cancers (See Maes et al., Cancer Cell 2018 Mar 12; 33 (3): 495-511.e12.doi: 10.1016 / j.ccell.2018.02.002.). A first Phase I/IIa clinical trial with iadademstat in refractory and relapsed acute leukemia patients demonstrated the safety and good tolerability of the drug and preliminary signs of antileukemic activity, including a CRi. Beyond hematological cancers, the inhibition of LSD1 has been proposed as a valid therapeutic approach in some solid tumors such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC), medulloblastoma and others. Oryzon has two ongoing Phase IIa clinical trials of iadademstat in combination; the first one in combination with Azacitidine in elderly AML patients (ALICE study) and the second one in combination with platinum/etoposide in second line SCLC patients (CLEPSIDRA study). FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This communication contains, or may contain, forward-looking information and statements about Oryzon, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates" and similar expressions. Although Oryzon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Oryzon shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oryzon that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by Oryzon to the Spanish Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which are accessible to the public. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and have not been reviewed by the auditors of Oryzon. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Oryzon or any of its members, directors, officers, employees or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to Oryzon on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, Oryzon does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Oryzon's securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of Oryzon's securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Oryzon or the selling security holder, as applicable, that will contain detailed information about Oryzon and management, as well as financial statements. CONTACT: US Contact: The Trout Group Thomas Hoffmann +1 646 378 2932 thoffmann@troutgroup.com Spain: ATREVIA Patricia Cobo/Idoia Revuelta +34 91 564 07 25 pcobo@atrevia.com irevuelta@atrevia.com Oryzon: Emili Torrell BD Director +34 93 515 13 13 etorrell@oryzon.com SOURCE: Oryzon Genomics, S.A. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/541081/Oryzon-To-Present-at-Upcoming-International-Conferences INCLINE VILLAGE, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net) (the 'Company'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), a lithium resource exploration and development company, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Doug Cole was recently interviewed by Proactive Investors, a UK-based online investor services company that provides analytics, market reports, and company and industry profiles. During the interview Chief Executive Officer Doug Cole discusses that the lithium company is beginning its drill program a week early, starting today. Cole says the Company should have the first hundred feet of the drill program underway in the next few days, taking two to three weeks to drill and another 60 to 120 days for chemistry results on the samples. To see the video interview in its entirety, please visit: https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/stocktube/12877/lithiumore-begins-drilling-on-lithium-project-1-week-early-12877.html Made in America, LithiumOre holds 1,300 lithium mineral claims, totaling 26,000 acres, located in Railroad Valley of Nye County, Nevada. Railroad Valley is approximately 112 miles northeast of Clayton Valley and can be accessed by paved highway directly from U.S. Route 6. Railroad Valley is one of Nevada's largest trapped basins and is noted to hold all the necessary commercial and engineering prerequisites for a massive lithium brine deposit. The Company's claims have been evaluated by experts and the BLM and are in planned on-site exploration. LithiumOre, Corp. LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), is a lithium resource exploration and development company, whose primary focus is the establishment of a low cost production base to supply the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery industry for both mobile devises and laptops, as well as the burgeoning EV (electronic vehicle) industry. LithiumOre is focused on becoming a substantial, profitable lithium producer via the timely development of valuable production-grade lithium brine deposits in Nevada. For more information, please visit: http://lithiumore.net Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to the expected project economics for Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), including estimates of life of mine, average production, cash costs, AISC, initial CAPEX, sustaining CAPEX, pre-tax IRR, pre-tax NPV, net cash flows and recovery rates, the impact of self-mining versus contract mining, the timing to obtain necessary permits, the submission of the project for final investment approval and the timing of initial gold production after investment approval and full financing, metallurgy and processing expectations, the mineral resource estimate, expectations regarding the ability to expand the mineral resource through future drilling, ongoing work to be conducted at the Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), and the potential results of such efforts, the potential commissioning of a Pre-Feasibility study and the effects on timing of the project, are 'forward-looking statements.' Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information, unfavorable exploration results, inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices, final investment approval and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release. Contact Information p775-434-4744 info@lithiumore.net SOURCE: Oroplata Resources, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/541192/LithiumOre-Begins-Drilling-on-Lithium-Project-1-Week-Early GREENWICH, Conn. - April 5, 2019 - XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) will hold its first quarter conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The company's results will be released after market close on May 1 and made available on www.xpo.com. Access information: Call toll-free from US/Canada: 1-877-269-7756 International callers: +1-201-689-7817 Live webcast online at: www.xpo.com/investors A replay of the conference call will be available until June 2, 2019, by calling toll-free (from US/Canada) 1-877-660-6853; international callers dial +1-201-612-7415. Use the passcode 13689334. Additionally, the call will be archived on www.xpo.com/investors. About XPO Logistics XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) is a top ten global logistics provider of cutting-edge supply chain solutions to the most successful companies in the world. The company operates as a highly integrated network of people, technology and physical assets in 32 countries, with 1,535 locations and more than 100,000 employees. XPO uses its network to help more than 50,000 customers manage their goods most efficiently throughout their supply chains. XPO's corporate headquarters is in Greenwich, Conn., USA, and its European headquarters is in Lyon, France. xpo.com Contact: XPO Logistics, Inc. Tavio Headley, +1-203-930-1602 tavio.headley@xpo.com (mailto:tavio.headley@xpo.com) 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: XPO Logistics, Inc. via Globenewswire Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 5, 2019) - Tower Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TWR) (OTCQB: TWRFF) ("Tower" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), that Mr. Joe Dhami has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Dhami has over 20 years of experience in the capital markets working with portfolio managers, retail brokers and high net worth investors. He is a well respected financial consultant who provides end to end corporate advisory services from the corporate start-up stage through the high growth cycle of a discovery or product launch, with a view to optimizing shareholder value. Companies which achieved success with Mr. Dhami's assistance include Webtech Wireless, a Canadian telematics and location-based service provider that became an industry leader, recognized as one the fastest growing companies that had top line revenue to 35 million, sold product worldwide and was eventually bought by a competitor, and Rainy River Resources, a Canadian based exploration company which discovered an economic gold deposit in northern Ontario and was eventually acquired by a established gold producer which put Rainy River's project into production. Tower's Chairman of the Board, Mr. Gerald Shields, commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Dhami as our new CEO. As a longstanding significant shareholder with an extensive knowledge of Tower's assets and potential, and an understanding of the capital markets, he will be a great asset for the Company moving forward." The Company also announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 12,500,000 units (each a "Unit") at $0.04 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $500,000. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement to fund a diamond drill program on its Nechako property and for general working capital purposes. Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one-half of one (1/2) transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at price of $0.10 per Common Share until the date which is one (1) year from the date of issuance. The Company may pay certain finders a fee for introducing eligible participants to the Private Placement. All securities issued under the Private Placement, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. The Private Placement is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Tower Resources Tower is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in the Americas. The Company's key exploration assets are the Rabbit North copper-gold porphyry project located between the New Afton and Highland Valley Copper mines, the Nechako gold project near New Gold's Blackwater project and the More Creek and Voigtberg gold projects in the Golden Triangle area of Northern British Columbia. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tower Resources Ltd. Gerald Shields - Chairman (604) 558-2565 www.towerresources.ca Reader Advisory This news release may include forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking, including statements with respect to the closing of the Private Placement and use of proceeds from the Private Placement. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, the Company's ability to close the Private Placement, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43902 RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / Brighthaven Ventures LLC. ("BHV"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolynt, Inc., a company focused on the development of therapeutics for rare and metabolic diseases, announced today the dismissal of civil litigation against BHV executives in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. In 2015, Richard Schoninger, Scott Schoninger, Jacqueline Schoninger, Gerald Allen, and COVA Capital Partners, LLC filed claims against executives of BHV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolynt, Inc. in the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs' unsubstantiated claims arose from their direct investment in Islet Sciences, Inc., an unrelated, now delisted, formerly publicly traded company. In 2018, based on undisputed facts, all claims were dismissed by the Court on summary judgment. Plaintiffs appealed the decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which agreed with the reasoning of the lower court, and quickly affirmed the lower court's decision denying plaintiffs' appeal in 2019. "Both the District Court and the Court of Appeals found that there was absolutely no evidence to support plaintiffs' meritless claims. We are glad to have this nuisance lawsuit behind us." said BHV Chief Financial Officer Steven Delmar. About Brighthaven Ventures, LLC Brighthaven Ventures, LLC, d/b/a BHV Pharma is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolynt Inc. BHV Pharma owns intellectual property and other certain exclusive rights to SGLT2 inhibitor remogliflozin-etabonate. About Avolynt, Inc. Avolynt is a privately-owned drug development company based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Avolynt's mission is to improve the lives of patients suffering from dysfunctions related to human metabolism. The Avolynt team has significant discovery and development experience across the metabolic syndrome, including diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other metabolic diseases. Through its subsidiaries, Avolynt is developing multiple novel therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic disease. For more information about Avolynt, visit www.avolynt.com . CONTACT: +1 (919) 659-5677 info@avolynt.com SOURCE: Avolynt, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/541193/Brighthaven-Ventures-LLC-Announces-Dismissal-of-Lawsuit-on-Motion-For-Summary-Judgement Publication of the Scheme Document Regulatory News: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005205/en/ NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION Highlights The Scheme Document has been published today and is available on Stallergenes Greer's (Paris:STAGR) website at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com/ The Court Meeting and the General Meeting are scheduled to be held on 13 May 2019 starting at 14:00 and 14:15 C.E.S.T. respectively in Paris The last date for lodging Voting Forms for the Court Meeting and General Meeting is 9 May 2019 at 14:15 C.E.S.T. The Effective Date is expected to be on 16 May 2019 Shareholders are strongly encouraged to sign and return the Voting Forms for both the Court Meeting and the General Meeting as soon as possible Payment of the cash consideration to the relevant paying agents by Waypoint is expected to be made by 23 May 2019 Publication of Scheme Document On 21 March 2019, the special committee of independent directors of Stallergenes Greer (the "Special Committee") and Waypoint announced that they had agreed the terms of a recommended cash acquisition by Waypoint of the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Stallergenes Greer not already directly or indirectly owned by Waypoint (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is intended to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement under the U.K. Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme The Special Committee is pleased to announce that the scheme document relating to the Acquisition (the "Scheme Document"), together with the Proxy Forms for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, are being sent to Scheme Shareholders today. Copies of this announcement, the Scheme Document and the Voting Forms have been published on the Stallergenes Greer website at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com/ and the Scheme Document is being made available, for information only, to participants in the Share Schemes and persons with information rights. The Scheme Document and Voting Forms for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will also be sent to Registered Shareholders shortly. Bearer Shareholders should contact their intermediary bank to request hard copies of the Scheme Document and Voting Forms. The Scheme Document sets out, amongst other things, a letter from the Chairman of the Special Commitee, an explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the U.K. Companies Act 2006, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, an indicative timetable of principal events, notices of the shareholder meetings relating to the Scheme and details of the action to be taken by Shareholders. Notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting As described in the Scheme Document, the Scheme will require the approval of the Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting, the passing of a special resolution at the General Meeting and then the sanction of the Court. The Court Meeting and the General Meeting are scheduled to be held at 14:00 and 14:15 C.E.S.T. respectively on 13 May 2019 at Maison de la Recherche, 54 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France. It is important that, for the Court Meeting, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court can be satisfied that there is a fair representation of Scheme Shareholder opinion. Shareholders are therefore strongly encouraged to sign and return the Voting Forms for both the Court Meeting and the General Meeting as soon as possible. Timetable The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme, which is copied below. Event Time/date Publication of the Scheme Document 5 April 2019 Latest time for requesting copies of the Scheme Document, Voting Forms and Proxy Forms 09:00 on 7 May 2019 Latest time for lodging Voting Forms for the: Court Meeting (BLUE form) 14:15 on 9 May 2019(2) General Meeting (WHITE form) 14:15 on 9 May 2019(2) Voting Record Time 18:30 on 9 May 2019(3) Latest time for lodging Proxy Forms for the: Court Meeting (BLUE form) 14:15 on 10 May 2019(4) General Meeting (WHITE form) 14:15 on 10 May 2019(4) Court Meeting 14:00 on 13 May 2019 General Meeting 14:15 on 13 May 2019(5) The following dates are subject to change(1) Last day of dealings in Shares 10 May 2019 Suspension of listing of, and dealings in, Shares 09:00 on 13 May 2019 Court hearing to sanction the Scheme 15 May 2019 Scheme Record Time 19:00 on 15 May 2019 Scheme Effective Date 16 May 2019 De-listing of Shares 17 May 2019 Cancellation of book entries within the Euroclear system 20 May 2019 Payment of cash consideration to the Shareholder Paying Agent and the Scheme Shareholder Paying Agent by 23 May 2019(6) Long Stop Date 30 June 2019(7) The Court Meeting and the General Meeting will each be held at Maison de la Recherche, 54 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France. (1) These times and dates are indicative only and will depend, amongst other things, on the date upon which the Court sanctions the Scheme. The timetable is also dependent on when the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme is delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Stallergenes Greer will give notice of any change(s) by issuing an announcement through Business Wire. (2) It is requested that the Voting Forms for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting be lodged before 14:15 on 9 May 2019 or, if a Meeting is adjourned, not later than 72 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned Meeting. The completion and return of Voting Forms will not prevent you from attending the Court Meeting or the General Meeting and voting in person provided that: (i) if you are a Registered Shareholder, you attend the Meeting with your Attendance Card or, if not requested or not received on time, with valid identity papers; or (ii) if you are a Bearer Shareholder, you attend the Meeting with your Attendance Card or, if not requested or not received on time, with your Participating Certificate and valid identity papers. (3) If either of the Meetings is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be 18:30 on the date two calendar days (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the date set for the adjourned Meeting. (4) It is requested that the Proxy Forms for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting be lodged before 14:15 on 10 May 2019 or, if a Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned Meeting. The completion and return of Proxy Forms will not prevent you from attending the Court Meeting or the General Meeting and voting in person, if you so wish and are so entitled. Proxy Forms not so lodged may be handed to the Chairman of the Meeting before the taking of the poll at such Meeting. (5) Or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting has been concluded or adjourned. (6) Shareholders and Scheme Shareholders will receive payment of the cash consideration from the Shareholder Paying Agent or the Scheme Shareholder Paying Agent (as applicable) in accordance with their respective normal procedures. (7) This date may be extended to such date as Stallergenes Greer and Waypoint may agree and the Court (if required) may allow. All times are C.E.S.T. This section should be read in conjunction with the Scheme Document and, in particular, the notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting in Part 10 and Part 11 of the Scheme Document respectively. Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings set out in the Scheme Document. Further Information UBS AG London Branch is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom. UBS AG London Branch is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Waypoint and no one else in connection with the Acquisition. In connection with such matters, UBS AG London Branch will not regard any other person as its client, nor will it be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition, the contents or subject matter of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. Evercore Partners International LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as financial adviser exclusively for the Special Committee and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Special Committee for providing the protections afforded to clients of Evercore, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement, nor for the contents or subject matter of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and disclosure requirements under French law. Accordingly, the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of the United Kingdom and France (as applicable). The statements contained in this announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement, you should consult your own legal adviser, tax adviser or financial adviser for legal, business, financial or tax advice. The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by Shareholders and Scheme Shareholders may be a taxable transaction under applicable national, state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each Shareholder and Scheme Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to him or her. No person has been authorised to make any representation on behalf of Stallergenes Greer or Waypoint concerning the Acquisition or the Scheme which is inconsistent with the statements contained in this announcement and any such representation, if made, may not be relied upon as having been so authorised. The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and service of this announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set out in this announcement since such date. Nothing contained in this announcement shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Stallergenes Greer except where otherwise expressly stated. Neither Stallergenes Greer nor Waypoint intends, or undertakes any obligation, to update information contained in this announcement, except as required by applicable law or other regulation. Information for Overseas Shareholders Unless otherwise determined by Waypoint and Stallergenes Greer, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made, directly or indirectly, in, into or from any restricted jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a restricted jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and any formal documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any restricted jurisdiction and persons receiving this announcement and all other documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from any restricted jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Waypoint, Stallergenes Greer and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for such violation by any person. It is the responsibility of each Overseas Shareholder to satisfy himself as to the full observance of the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in connection with the Acquisition, including the obtaining of any governmental, exchange control or other consents which may be required, or the compliance with other necessary formalities which are required to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such jurisdiction. This announcement and the accompanying documents have been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and disclosure requirements under French law. Accordingly, the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if these documents had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom and France (as applicable). Nothing in this announcement or the accompanying documents should be relied upon for any other purpose. The financial information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this announcement has been prepared in accordance with accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of U.S. companies. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles differ in certain respects from International Financial Reporting Standards. None of the financial information in, or incorporated by reference into, this announcement has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S. or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). U.S. persons should note that the Scheme relates to shares of an English company trading on Euronext Paris that is a "foreign private issuer" as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Scheme will be governed by English law. Neither the proxy solicitation rules nor the tender offer rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will apply to the Scheme. Moreover, the Scheme will be subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in France, which differ from the disclosure requirements under U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult for U.S. holders of Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the U.S. federal securities laws, since Stallergenes Greer and Waypoint are located in non-U.S. jurisdictions, and some of or all of their officers and directors may be residents of non-U.S. jurisdictions. U.S. holders of Shares may not be able to sue a non-U.S. company or its officer or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-U.S. company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any U.S. state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Acquisition, or passed comment upon the adequacy or completeness of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains certain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" which are prospective in nature. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact, are or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from the future results, performance or events expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "aims", "projects", "goal", "objective", "outlook", "risks", "seeks" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, as well as variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might", "probably" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. Any forward-looking statements made in this announcement on behalf of Stallergenes Greer or Waypoint are made as of the date of this announcement based on the opinions and estimates of directors of Stallergenes Greer or Waypoint respectively and no assurance can be given that such opinions or estimates will prove to have been correct. Each of Stallergenes Greer and Waypoint and their respective members, directors, officers, employees, advisers and any person acting on behalf of one or more of them, expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking or other statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither Stallergenes Greer nor Waypoint nor their respective members, directors, officers or employees, advisers or any person acting on their behalf, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. No forward-looking or other statements have been reviewed by the auditors of Stallergenes Greer or Waypoint. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Stallergenes Greer or Waypoint or their respective members, directors, officers, advisers or employees or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Rounding Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them. No Profit Forecasts or Estimates Nothing in this announcement is intended or shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Stallergenes Greer or Waypoint for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that cash flow from operations, earnings, or earnings per share or income of those persons (where relevant) for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published cash flow from operations, earnings, earnings per share or income of those persons (as appropriate). Publication on website and hard copies A copy of this announcement will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning the Acquisition is sent or made available to Shareholders in that jurisdiction, on Stallergenes Greer's website at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com/ promptly and in any event by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 6 April 2019. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement. If you are a Registered Shareholder, you will receive a hard copy of the Scheme Document and the Voting Forms from Societe Generale. If you have not received such hard copies you may request such copies by contacting Societe Generale with an address to which the hard copies may be sent. If you are a Bearer Shareholder, you may request a hard copy of the Scheme Document and the Voting Forms by contacting your intermediary bank with an address to which the hard copies may be sent. If you are a Scheme Shareholder, you may request a hard copy of the Scheme Document and the Proxy Forms by contacting Computershare, at UKCSBRS.ExternalProxyQueries@computershare.co.uk or Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY, United Kingdom with an address to which the hard copies may be sent. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005205/en/ Contacts: Enquiries: Stallergenes Greer Youssef Abbas, Investor Relations +33 1 55 59 78 43 Catherine Kress, Communications +33 1 55 59 26 05 Evercore +44 (0) 20 7653 6000 Financial adviser to the Special Committee Edward Banks, Senior Managing Director Simon Elliott, Senior Managing Director Wladimir Wallaert, Managing Director FTI Consulting +33 1 47 03 69 48 Investor and media relations adviser to Stallergenes Greer Arnaud de Cheffontaines Havas Worldwide Paris +33 06 13 54 38 91 Media relations adviser to Stallergenes Greer Claire Olivieri UBS +44 (0) 20 7567 8000 Financial adviser to Waypoint Cailin McGurk, Managing Director Sarantis Douropoulos, Executive Director Nicolas Le Ray, Executive Director Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors +41 43 344 42 42 Media relations adviser to Waypoint Dr Jorg Neef SpendEdge, a leading provider of procurement market intelligence solutions, has announced the completion of their supplier performance assessment study for a car manufacturing company This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005170/en/ Supplier performance assessment study for a car manufacturing company. (Graphic: Business Wire) Project background The client wanted to increase their rapidly shrinking profit margins by improving the sourcing process. They also needed to address the falling stock prices to sustain themselves in the market. The time agreed to conclude this engagement was twelve weeks. Objective 1: The company wanted to lower its total production costs, especially those coming from suppliers by conducting a comprehensive supplier performance assessment. The company wanted to lower its total production costs, especially those coming from suppliers by conducting a comprehensive supplier performance assessment. Objective 2: They were also interested in integrating new technologies to reduce costs and improve quality. They were also interested in integrating new technologies to reduce costs and improve quality. Looking for more information on supplier profiling? Request a free demo to know how our experts can help you evaluate suppliers and improve the operational performance of your organization. "Supplier performance assessment is critical for companies to improve visibility into their suppliers' performance, eliminate hidden cost drivers, and reduce risks by lowering order cycle times and inventory. It further helps companies to improve supplier performance metrics and achieve better cost savings," says a procurement expert from SpendEdge. Key findings and solutions offered In a span of twelve weeks, the client a leading car manufacturing company achieved significant cost savings by meeting all their performance goals. The performance assessment solution offered helped them to: Eliminate costs occurring due to activities such as extra freight charges, overtime, safety stocks, and obsolete inventory. Improve supplier engagement process by adopting industry best practices. Often, an inefficient supplier profiling process increases production costs for products. Request a free proposal and access our complete portfolio of supplier risk assessment solutions today! With the help of SpendEdge, the car manufacturing company was able to recognize high performing suppliers. This helped them to mitigate financial risks and address issues pertaining to quality, delivery, and cost management. The performance assessment solution delivered also enabled the client to reduce their sourcing costs by 19% To access the complete case study on supplier performance assessment, contact our team of experts here 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. Request free proposal to know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005170/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 5, 2019) -Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSXV: MUN) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the initial target testing drill program at the Savinac and Bacevica exploration licenses (the "Freeport-Mundoro Projects") in the Timok Magmatic Complex ("Timok") in eastern Serbia. The exploration programs on the Freeport-Mundoro Projects are sole funded by Freeport-McMoRan Exploration Corporation ("Freeport") as part of the earn-in agreement ("Agreement") with Freeport, in which Mundoro has granted to Freeport an option to earn-in to the Freeport-Mundoro Projects. The Freeport-Mundoro Projects are located within the southern portion of Timok in eastern Serbia, one of the most prolific metallogenic domains in the Tethyan Belt with deposits such as the Cukaru-Peki deposit, the Bor copper porphyry underground mine and the Veliki Krivelj copper-gold porphyry open-pit mine (Figure 1: Freeport-Mundoro Project Location Map). Teo Dechev, CEO & President of Mundoro commented, "Mundoro has benefited from establishing earn-in relationships to fund our exploration programs. Mundoro is appointed operator for Phase I and has completed, five months after closing the transaction, the first target testing drill program funded by Freeport. The 2019 exploration program will continue with follow-up geophysical surveys and alteration mapping. The geophysical surveys have been scheduled for Q2-Q3 2019 in order to be used for planning further drill programs. As a result of having optionee funded exploration programs, Mundoro conserves its cash. At the end of Q1-2019, the treasury of the Company was approximately C$3.2 million. Mundoro continues to have discussions with interested third parties seeking options on our available projects, confirming the growing interest in exploring the Tethyan Belt in Timok, Serbia as well as Bulgaria." Freeport-Mundoro Projects - Target Testing Drill Program A total of 4,778 m of diamond drilling has been completed in seven drill holes. Planning has commenced for geophysics surveys and alteration mapping at both licenses as part of the 2019 exploration program. The aim of the initial target testing drill program was to test four target areas located along the 16-km elongated zone of extensive hydrothermal alteration defined by mapping and Cu-Mo-Au-Ag-Pb-Zn geochemical anomalies (see Figure 2: Map of Targets, Hydrothermal Alteration, Drill Hole Locations and Planned Geophysics). Tilva Rosh (Savinac License) This target is a large area of 2.5 km by 1 km of advanced argillic alteration containing epithermal gold mineralization cropping out at surface as observed through trench sampling by Mundoro in 2013 which returned 12 m of 30 g/t gold and 171 g/t silver . Interpretation of drill results suggests the epithermal mineralization is proximal to a copper-gold porphyry system. . Interpretation of drill results suggests the epithermal mineralization is proximal to a copper-gold porphyry system. Drill hole FMSC18006, was collared near this surface gold mineralisation and orientated to drill through the mineralization. Final depth of drill hole reached 1154.9 m. The drill hole intersected an interval for 263 m of fragmental volcanics from 190 m that display patchy-kaolinite texture with banded quartz-magnetite-specularite veins, which is suggestive for proximal porphyry source of the mineralization. A fault zone containing vuggy silica, massive pyrite, barite and patches of sphalerite cross cut the fragmental volcanics and returned a high grade interval of 7.3 m of 0.18% Cu and 3.22 g/t Au (2.39% CuEq) (see Table 1 ). (see ). At depth, the drill hole intersected diorite dykes that contain traces of chalcopyrite mineralization indicating relation to a porphyry source. Patchy texture, with dickite and pyrophyllite was also observed and mapped on surface 300 meters to the north of drill hole FMSC18006 and remains a compelling target for future testing. Targeting will continue with IP-Resistivity and CSAMT/NSAMT geophysics after which further drilling can be planned. Markov Kamen (Savinac License) This area is another epithermal target identified by several copper-gold-in-soil geochemical anomalies related to 4 km by 1.2 km zone of argillic and advanced argillic alteration. It is located 2 km south of the Tilva Rosh target (see Figure 2 ). One hole drilled in 2015 at Markov Kamen intersected hydrothermal breccia, massive sulphides and vuggy silica, suggesting high-sulphidation type epithermal mineralisation controlled by northwest structures. zone of argillic and advanced argillic alteration. It is located 2 km south of the Tilva Rosh target (see ). One hole drilled in 2015 at Markov Kamen intersected hydrothermal breccia, massive sulphides and vuggy silica, suggesting high-sulphidation type epithermal mineralisation controlled by northwest structures. Three drill holes FMSC18001, FMSC18003 and FMSC19007 tested the eastern contact of the advanced argillic zone. Results of note are (see Table 1 ): FMC19007 with 36 m of 0.25 g/t gold and 0.19 % copper from 65.0 m and FMC18003 with 22.7 m of 0.46 g/t gold from 78.7 m . ): All three drill holes were terminated in andesitic country rock that display propylitic alteration at the east. Measured contacts to the country rock suggest the advanced argillic zone and the epithermal mineralisation remain open towards the west. Drill hole FMSC18005 was collared at the central portion of the Markov Kamen advanced argillic zone and was drilled sub vertical into a magnetic low anomaly to a depth of 1269.1 m. Drill hole intersected dominantly advanced argillic alteration determined by the presence of strong and pervasive silica intervals and hydrothermal breccias with anomalous gold grades of: 7.1 m of 0.60 g/t gold from 308.4m; 12.3 m of 0.24 g/t gold from 395.7m; 12.0 m of 0.24 g/t gold from 469.0m. The advanced argillic zone remains open down plunge to the south and west beyond the vertical depth of 1200 m, where the drill hole was terminated due to the drill rig capacity. Targeting will continue with alteration mapping, IP-Resistivity and CSAMT/NSAMT geophysics after which further drilling can be planned. Prekostenski (Bacevica License) This area is a copper-gold porphyry target identified from geochemical analysis surface sampling which resulted in 55 m of 0.28 g/t gold and 0.21 % copper located in the western portion of the Bacevica license. The exploration work identified chalcopyrite-magnetite mineralisation hosted by potassic altered diorite. located in the western portion of the Bacevica license. The exploration work identified chalcopyrite-magnetite mineralisation hosted by potassic altered diorite. Drill hole FMSC18004 confirmed the extension of the surface mineralisation to a depth of 68.6 m. Quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins were observed hosted in potassic altered diorite porphyry and returned an intercept of 49.8 metres of 0.14 g/t gold and 0.13 % copper from surface (see Table 1 ). from surface (see ). Detailed mapping, CSAMT/NSAMT and IP-Resistivity geophysics are planned in order to better define the lateral and vertical extension of the mineralised porphyry. Orlovo Brdo (Bacevica License) This target is a broad zone of phyllic alteration of 3 km by 700 m with gold and copper anomalism located at the central portion of Bacevica license. with gold and copper anomalism located at the central portion of Bacevica license. One drill hole FMSC18002 was completed to a depth of 837 m. The drill hole intersected a zone of quartz vein stockwork mineralization related to potassic altered diorite at depth of 458 m overlain by phyllic alteration from surface. An intercept of 26.0 metres of 0.23 g/t gold and 0.10 % copper from 458.0 m (see Table 1 ). (see ). Detail mapping, CSAMT/NSAMT and IP-Resistivity geophysics are planned in order to better define the lateral and vertical extension of the mineralised porphyry. Table 1: Freeport-Mundoro Projects Diamond Drill Hole Summary Results Drill hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Copper (%) Gold (g/t) CuEq* (%) Comments FMSC18001 including including 76.0 77.8 1.8 0.15 0.01 0.16 Markov Kamen North target; az.90/-50; drill hole length 392.8m 90.9 100.7 9.8 0.15 0.01 0.16 116.5 118.5 2.0 0.16 0.02 0.16 192.5 204.5 12.0 0.07 0.13 0.16 192.5 195.0 2.5 0.09 0.13 0.18 197.0 200.6 3.6 0.14 0.14 0.24 228.0 230.5 2.5 0.10 0.23 0.26 243.2 244.5 1.3 0.30 0.15 0.40 FMSC18002 258.0 264.0 6.0 0.07 0.16 0.18 Orlovo brdo target; az.260/-65; drill hole length837.0m 396.0 400.0 4.0 0.32 0.06 0.36 458.0 484.0 26.0 0.10 0.23 0.26 FMSC18003 including 78.7 101.4 22.7 0.06 0.46 0.38 Markov Kamen North target; az.90/-60; drill hole length 365.9m 84.7 99.4 14.7 0.08 0.64 0.52 219.6 222.0 2.4 0.25 0.10 0.32 FMSC18004 4.0 53.8 49.8 0.13 0.14 0.23 Prekostenski potok target; az.260/-60; drill hole length302.9m FMSC18005 160.3 162.6 2.3 0.13 0.09 0.19 Markov Kamen North target; az.180/-80; drill hole length 1269.1m 221.0 243.2 22.2 0.03 0.11 0.11 308.4 315.5 7.1 0.05 0.60 0.46 380.9 384.9 4.0 0.03 0.21 0.17 395.7 408.0 12.3 0.02 0.24 0.18 469.0 481.0 12.0 0.03 0.24 0.19 489.2 513.6 24.4 0.05 0.08 0.11 571.1 573.0 1.9 0.21 0.22 0.36 591.5 594.2 2.7 0.04 0.21 0.18 750.6 752.0 1.4 0.08 1.27 0.95 874.8 880.7 5.9 0.29 0.21 0.43 FMSC18006 including including including including including 147.8 150.0 2.2 0.11 0.06 0.15 Tilva Rosh target; vertical; drill hole length 1154.9m 376.0 400.0 24.0 0.08 0.24 0.24 379.1 383.8 4.7 0.06 0.60 0.47 388.0 392.0 4.0 0.10 0.28 0.29 398.0 400.0 2.0 0.07 0.64 0.51 440.0 460.5 20.5 0.04 0.15 0.14 492.0 500.3 8.3 0.05 0.19 0.18 530.0 579.0 49.0 0.06 0.66 0.51 537.0 544.3 7.3 0.18 3.22 2.39 565.0 577.0 12.0 0.10 0.42 0.39 887.3 898.0 10.7 0.03 0.27 0.22 933.9 937.0 3.1 0.03 0.18 0.15 1019.5 1021.0 1.5 0.16 0.02 0.17 FMSC19007 including including 65.0 101.0 36.0 0.19 0.25 0.36 Markov Kamen South target; vertical; drill hole length 455.6m 85.0 101.0 16.0 0.24 0.51 0.59 138.4 174.0 35.6 0.17 0.16 0.28 156.0 162.0 6.0 0.43 0.14 0.53 281.0 285.0 4.0 0.02 1.35 0.95 Copper equivalent (CuEq%) is calculated using the formula CuEq = (%Cu) + [(g/t/AuEq) x (1/31.1035) x ($/ozAu)] [(22.0462) x ($/lbCu)]. Metal prices used are: gold price of US$1,268/oz, copper price of US$2.7/lb, the average for the last 3-year period. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses or outcrop sample length thickness and not true widths. Drilling, Sampling, Analysis and Quality Assurance and Control The drilling technique was triple tubed diamond drilling from surface for PQ and HQ, while for NQ was double tubed. The drill holes were generally cased from surface progressing from PQ to HQ at 260m on average, however exact depths vary from hole to hole. Drill hole orientations were surveyed at approximately 30 meters intervals. Drill core was oriented using the Reflex EZ-Trac and Devico Pee Wee tools, the bottom of the core was marked by the drillers and this was used for marking the whole drill core with reference lines. Company personnel monitored the drilling, with drill core delivered daily to the Company's core storage facility where it was logged, cut and sampled. Core recovery was measured and recorded continuously from the top to the end of the hole for every drill hole. Each run of 3m length was marked by plastic core block which provided the depth drilled. Core recovery is recorded as 96.3-100% in most intervals. The drill core was sawn into quarter for PQ diameter and into two for HQ and NQ diameter, along drill core orientation line using a core-cutter and left half looking downhole was collected in bag and submitted for analysis, the other half is kept in tray and stored. Samples were collected at two-meter lengths from mineralised intervals and three to five-meter lengths from non-mineralised intervals with brakes for major geological changes. The samples were submitted to ALS Prep Laboratory in Bor, Serbia, for sample preparation and then internally submitted to ALS Romania and ALS Ireland for analysis. The samples were fine crushed to 2mm with 70% pass, split by rotary splitter to produce 1000 g sub-sample which was pulverized with 85% passing 75 um using. The samples were assayed using 50 grams charge for Au-fire assay with AES finish and multi-element method ME-MS61 - 48 element four acid ICP-MS. Samples returned above > 3 ppm Au, >1% Cu, >1% As and >100 ppm Ag were additionally analyzed with method OG62. In addition to the laboratory's internal QA/QC procedures, the Company conducted its own QA/QC with the systematic inclusion of certified reference materials every 20 and 30 samples, blank samples every 50 samples, field duplicates every 50 samples, crush duplicates every 50 samples and pulp duplicates at every 50 samples. Qualified Person Technical information contained in this Press Release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. G. Magaranov, P. Geo., Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Company, Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director About Mundoro Capital Inc. Mundoro is a Canadian mineral exploration and development public company focused on building value for its shareholders through directly investing in mineral projects that have the ability to generate future returns for shareholders. The Company holds a portfolio of projects in Serbia and Bulgaria as well as an investment in a producing gold mine in Bulgaria. There are eight licenses in Serbia, four of which are optioned to JOGMEC, two licenses are optioned to Freeport-McMoRan Exploration Corporation and two licenses are available for joint venture. In Bulgaria, Mundoro has formed a Generative Alliance with JOGMEC. Mundoro's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "MUN". For further information please contact: Teo Dechev, CEO, President and Director of Mundoro Capital Inc. at +1-604-669-8055 Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This News Release contains forward-looking information and statements ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated by reference in this News Release are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the completion of exploration work on any projects and licenses and results of that exploration work, the prospect of one or more joint ventures, options and other statements regarding activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "further", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "promising", "encouraging" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward-looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which these forward-looking statements are based will occur. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this News Release, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and Mundoro undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figure 1: Freeport-Mundoro Project Location Map To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2408/43900_fcb4cc89f4a479c7_001full.jpg Figure 2: Map of Targets, Hydrothermal Alteration, Drill Hole Locations and Planned Geophysics To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2408/43900_fcb4cc89f4a479c7_002full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43900 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 5, 2019) - Contact Gold Corp. (TSXV: C) (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2018. Contact Gold's extensive land holdings are on Nevada's prolific Carlin, Independence and Northern Nevada Rift gold trends which host numerous gold deposits and mines. Contact Gold's land position comprises approximately 200 km2 of target-rich mineral tenure hosting numerous known gold occurrences, ranging from early- to advanced-exploration and resource definition stage (the "Contact Gold Properties"). The Company's focus is on the Pony Creek gold project. All dollar amounts are presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. 2018 highlights and recent developments Closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of common shares of the Company ("Common Shares"). The Company issued 9,827,589 Common Shares at a price of $0.29 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $2,850,000. Net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used to undertake further drilling at Contact Gold's Pony Creek project located in Elko County, Nevada, and for general working capital. Closed the sale of the "Santa Renia" and "Golden Cloud" properties on November 27, 2018, generating approximately $635,000 in additional cash; enhancing the Company's working capital balance to advance our strategic plan, and reduce land holding costs. Continued to report high-grade and oxide gold ("Au") drill results at Pony Creek's Bowl Zone, the majority of which are step-outs from the historical mineral resource area; confirming that the Bowl Zone is open for continued expansion. Highlights of most recent drill results include: 2.42 g/t over 35.05 metres ("m") from 266.7 m in hole PC18-33, including 3.15 g/t Au over 24.38 m from 274.32 m; 0.55 g/t oxide Au over 25.91 m from 105.16 m in hole PC18-034; and 0.39 g/t oxide Au over 35.05 m from 92.97 m in hole PC18-31, including 1.77 g/t oxide Au over 4.57 m from 99.06 m Announced a new near-surface discovery of oxide gold at the 2 kilometre ("km") long "West Zone" at Pony Creek, approximately 1 km from the property's "Bowl Zone". Highlights of oxide gold drill results include: 0.42 g/t Au over 33.53 m from 4.57 m in discovery hole PC18-018; 0.33 g/t Au over 92.97 m from surface in hole PC18-51; 0.29 g/t Au over 15.24 m from 10.67 m, and 0.24 g/t oxide Au over 7.62 m from 39.62 m, and 0.22 g/t Au over 32.00 m from 64.01 m in hole PC18-23; 0.71 g/t Au over 10.67 m from 19.81 m in hole PC18-022; and 0.34 g/t Au over 10.67 m from 10.67 m in hole PC18-21. Announced another new gold discovery at the Pony Creek property's "Pony Spur" target, located 2 kilometres NW of the Bowl Zone, and 1 kilometre west of the West Target. Highlights of oxide gold drill results include: 0.19 g/t Au over 27.43 m from 65.53 m in hole PC18-26; and 0.21 g/t Au over 19.81 m from 53.34 m in hole PC18-27. Further defined large scale, high-priority Carlin-type gold drill targets for the 2019 program at Pony Creek, including the "Elliott Dome" target, and the "Moleen" target, each located north of Pony Creek's Bowl Zone and adjacent to the "Jasperoid Wash" discovery made by Gold Standard Ventures ("GSV"); the "Palomino" target, immediately NW of the Bowl Zone; and the "Willow" target immediately south of GSV. Filed a base shelf prospectus (the "Shelf Prospectus") with securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec in order to provide the Company with greater flexibility to raise capital over the 25-month period through which the Shelf Prospectus is valid. Outlook The Company will continue to focus on the Pony Creek property and expects to begin advancing its other South Carlin Trend properties in 2019. Based upon drill results generated since August 2017, management believes Pony Creek has the potential to host multiple Carlin-type gold systems and if successful, could play an important role in the development of potential operations in the district. The Company expects to continue advancing exploration at the Bowl Zone, to expand the new discovery at the West Zone, and the footprint of the North Zone, and follow-up on the Palomino, Pony Spur, Moleen, and Elliott Dome targets through 2019. Target generation efforts at the property continue to produce new large-scale drill targets featuring the same characteristics that define Carlin-type gold deposits in the district: strong gold values in rock and soil sampling, geophysical anomalies in CSAMT and gravity, and widespread hydrothermal alteration. The Company continues systematic target generation on the approximately 85% of Pony Creek that is outside the Bowl/North and West Zone areas that has never been drilled. With the prospectivity demonstrated to date at Pony Creek, and after having intersected gold mineralization in 87 of 93 holes drilled since acquiring the property in June 2017, management has confidence that the property will continue to deliver. Although the 2019 budget has not been finalized, management anticipate targeting at least 75% of total expenditures to exploration and field activities (2018: 66%). Selected financial data Details of financial results as at and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, are described in the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto (the "Financial Statements"), as prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and the MD&A for the corresponding period; copies of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The following selected financial data is derived from the Financial Statements. Attributable to shareholders: Year ended December 31, 2018 Year ended December 31, 2017 Loss for the period $11,855,092 $3,238,190 Loss and comprehensive loss for the period $8,565,066 $6,028,565 Basic and diluted loss per share $0.23 $0.10 As at December 31, 2018 As at December 31, 2017 Cash $545,164 $6,176,258 Working capital $425,897 $6,239,022 Total assets $40,861,284 $45,424,278 Current liabilities $921,004 $524,212 Preferred shares $11,589,700 $9,466,747 Shareholders' equity $28,275,551 $35,348,230 Losses attributable to shareholders for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 of $11.86 million and $3.24 million, respectively, include expenditures for (i) exploration and evaluation on the Contact Gold Properties of $4.45 million (2017: $4.26 million), (ii) loss on disposal of the Santa Renia and Golden Cloud exploration properties of $1.96 million (2017: -nil), (iii) non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.20 million (2017: $0.57 million), and (iv) professional, legal and advisory fees, administration & office expenditures, wages and salaries, and investor relations activities of $2.24 million (2017: $1.76 million). The Company also recognized non-cash gains, offsetting operating activities through each of the periods. These gains include a fair value adjustment recognized on the embedded derivatives within the Company's Preferred Shares of $0.46 million (2017: $5.80 million), and an accretion expense on the 'host' instrument of the Preferred Shares of $1.84 million (2017: $0.90 million). During the year ended December 31, 2018, exploration and evaluation expenditures predominantly related to activity at the Pony Creek property with the commencement of an active drill program in July. Approximately $3.85 million in expenditures had been incurred through year end for exploration at Pony Creek (2017: 3.95 million). Other comprehensive gain attributable to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2018, was $3.29 million, and primarily reflects the foreign currency impact arising on the post-acquisition carrying value of the Contact Gold Properties (2017: loss of $2.79 million). Net cash operating outflows for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $6.06 million reflects the commencement of an active exploration program at Pony Creek, marketing and investor relations activities, and general corporate activities (2017: $6.09 million). The Company has elected to capitalize mineral property acquisition costs, and expense exploration expenditures as incurred. Total assets at December 31, 2018 primarily comprise: exploration and evaluation assets of $39.28 million, and $0.54 million in cash. At December 31, 2017, total assets included exploration and evaluation assets of $38.47 million, including the acquisition "bump" of $35.01 million attributed to, and subsequently allocated across, the individual properties and assets acquired by Contact Gold, net of a $2.9 million foreign currency adjustment. Total liabilities at December 31, 2018, include the value of the Preferred Shares ($11.59 million), and accounts payable and accruals ($0.89 million). The Preferred Shares were concluded to be a form of obligation and have been included as a non-current liability. The terms and conditions of the Preferred Shares are detailed in the Financial Statements. The accounting value of the Preferred Shares reflects both a "host" component of the instrument and certain embedded derivatives. At inception these were determined to be $8.14 million and $6.85 million, respectively. The fair values of each will change from period to period, reflecting (i) an accretion to the value of the host instrument, and (ii) the impact of foreign exchange on the embedded derivatives ($1.84 million, and $0.46 million gain, respectively in the year ended December 31, 2018). Equity awards The Company announces that it granted stock options to purchase 1,670,000 common shares of Contact Gold ("Options") on April 3, 2019, to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company at an exercise price of $0.275 per share. The Options have been granted pursuant to Contact Gold's stock option plan (the "Plan") and will expire five years from the date of grant. All of the Options vest as to one third thereof on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant, and will expire in accordance with the Plan and not later than April 3, 2024, subject to the applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com. For more information, please contact (604) 449-3361 for either: John Wenger, Chief Financial Officer wenger@contactgold.com John Glanville Director, Investor Relations glanville@contactgold.com Scientific and Technical Information The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Vance Spalding, CPG, VP Exploration, Contact Gold, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). All of the Contact Gold Properties are early stage exploration properties and do not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by NI 43-101. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource estimate at any of Contact Gold Properties. Scientific and technical information contained herein is subject to all of the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in a technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Pony Creek Project, Elko County, Nevada, USA" (the "Technical Report"), prepared for Contact Gold, with an effective date of October 16, 2018, and dated October 22, 2018, as prepared by Vance Spalding, C.P.G; VP Exploration of Contact Gold, and can be viewed under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and reference should be made to the full details of the Technical Report. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to planned expenditures through the remainder of the year, and the anticipated exploration activities of the Company at Pony Creek, and the other Contact Gold Properties. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/43908 A well-known customer intelligence solutions provider, Infiniti Research, has announced the completion of their recent free downloadable resource on bridging the gaps in customer experience through customer intelligence. This supplement provides detailed insights into customer intelligence and how companies can leverage it to enhance their customer experience, customer loyalty, and overall brand image. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005174/en/ Key metrics in customer intelligence. (Graphic: Business Wire) Increasing digitization has empowered both businesses and customers to interact with each other at multiple touch points. This also makes it easy to resolve the queries and grievances with ease and efficacy. As modern businesses are highly focused on identifying customer needs and enhancing customer experiences to outdo competitors, customers are now being placed at the crux of business strategies. Furthermore, social media and online review platforms have empowered the customers to share their views, opinions and experiences with a company or product. Any negative comment or experience could hamper the brand image of the company. Getting ready to know your customers better may prove to be a daunting task. Request Free Brochure to know how our customer intelligence solutions can help. Key customer intelligence metrics Sentiment Analysis: During customer interactions, it is essential for companies to understand the emotional state and behavior of the customer. Sentiment analysis involves analyzing the information that is usually in text format. This provides insights into customer opinions, demands, and emotional state. 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Request a free proposal Overall Satisfaction Rating Customer satisfaction should be assessed to identify if the products/services are successful in meeting customer expectations. For a product or service, the quality can be assessed easily based on the previous ratings of the customer. Public Shoutout Index There is a rapid increase in platforms where customers can share their views and opinions. It is also imperative to track social and online review channels to identify such customers who can have great impact on the business. Request for more information and know how we can help you leverage robust customer intelligence solutions that can tap into the market requirements and meet customer needs. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005174/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us RIGA, Latvia, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Printful is enabling payments in EUR. Customers can now choose to pay for their orders in EUR or USD. This is especially beneficial for merchants in Europe who already operate their stores in EUR, since it eliminates foreign exchange fees. Since the duration of the beta period and launch 3 days ago, 1,000 customers have opted in to using EUR on Printful and orders in EUR have already reached nearly 70k. In addition, Printful is adjusting their product prices in EUR so they're more competitive for local markets. The revenue forecast for ecommerce in Europe is expected to reach $483.8 billion by 2023, a 40% increase from 2018. Printful is committed to keeping up with this growth and is already working on it by opening a larger fulfillment center in Latvia, integrating with European ecommerce platforms, and working on multi-language capabilities on their site. Europe is the fastest growing region for Printful on a percentage basis due to the Latvian facility they opened in 2017. Printful is a print-on-demand drop shipping company that prints and ships print products for online retailers. They offer more than 160 product variations and have a team of over 500 people across North America, Europe, and Mexico. They have printed 10 million items since their launch in 2013. Contact: Nora Inveiss, nora@printful.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847420/Printful_Logo.jpg Oslo, 5 April 2019: Yara International ASA will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 7 May at 17:00 CEST at Drammensveien 131, Oslo. The notice and the Nomination Committee's proposal is available on the company's website. The Board proposes that a dividend of NOK 6.50 per share is paid for the financial year 2018, and that the existing share buy-back program is replaced by a new program, renewing the Board's authorization to acquire up to 5% of Yara's shares before the next Annual General Meeting. Vice chair of the Board Maria Morus Hanssen has communicated that due to a change of position she will make her seat at the Board available as of the annual general meeting on 7 May 2019. In addition and as mentioned in item 9 above, the Nomination Committee proposes that the number of shareholder-elected members of the Board of Directors is increased by two. To fill these three board positions, the Nomination Committee proposes the election for a period of two years of Kimberly Lein-Mathisen, Adele Bugge Norman Pran and Hakon Reistad Fure as new Board members. The Nomination Committee recommends that the Board elects Trond Berger as the new vice chair of the Yara Board of Directors. The complete notice of the Annual General Meeting will be distributed to Yara's registered shareholders and is also available on Yara's website: https://www.yara.com/investor-relations/reports-presentations-2019/ (https://www.yara.com/investor-relations/reports-presentations-2019/) Contact Thor Giver, Investor Relations Cellular: (+47) 48 07 53 56 E-mail: thor.giaver@yara.com About Yara Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet, to fulfill our vision of a collaborative society, a world without hunger and a planet respected. To meet these commitments, we have taken the lead in developing digital farming tools for precision farming and work closely with partners throughout the whole food value chain to develop more climate-friendly crop nutrition solutions. In addition, we are committed to working towards sustainable mineral fertilizer production. We foster an open culture of diversity and inclusion that promotes the safety and integrity of our employees, contractors, business partners, and society at large. Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has a worldwide presence with about 17,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries. In 2018, Yara reported revenues of USD 12.9 billion. www.yara.com (http://www.yara.com/) This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Notice of Annual General Meeting (http://hugin.info/134793/R/2240915/883699.pdf) 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: Yara International ASA via Globenewswire GUANGZHOU, China, April 5, 2019 /PR Newswire/ -- The 125th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) is set to exhibit a record number of new generation products, celebrating a new decade of human development with global customers from April 15 in Guangzhou. This year consumer electronics companies will present product innovations and technological breakthroughs designed to meet customer needs in the IoT and future 5G era. Home appliance leaders such as Haier, Midea, TCL, Gree and Changhong will bring their latest premium products to the show. The gathering will also be joined by global companies including Cascade, Time Lab and NUC, whose Product showcase will feature smart home functions and digital services, which can make home appliances the terminals for intelligent interaction between human and machine. "Human development has entered a new decade. The introduction of IoT has led to a significant global change in lifestyles," Said Liu Quandong, Deputy Director General of Foreign Affairs Office of Canton Fair. "The Canton Fair has witnessed decades of development since 1957 as a forerunner event for manufacturing and is pleased to share this collective effort with global consumers as we welcome more smart products this year than ever before", added Liu. The 125th exhibition covering 1.2 million square meters of display space will attract businesses from over 200 countries and regions, with more than 25,000 exhibitors throughout its three phases. Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the fair will bring more innovative, high-end, unique and diversified products in consumer products and textiles zone allowing global consumers to enjoy a smarter and comfortable life. Serving as a gateway for international companies to explore the Chinese market, the International Pavilion (the Pavilion) will feature more than 600 companies from 50 countries and regions showcasing their products. For the first time, the Fair will also highlight the establishment and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with various exchange meetings to promote trade cooperation. More information: http://cantonfair.org.cn/en/index.aspx About Canton Fair The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is held biannually in Guangzhou every spring and fall. Established in 1957, the fair is now a comprehensive exhibition with the longest history, highest level, largest scale and largest number of products as well as the broadest distribution of buyer origins and the highest business turnover in China. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/846029/Canton_fair_125th.jpg LONDON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DMS Governance ("DMS"), the world's leading governance + risk + compliance firm, is pleased to announce the successful launch of the TRG Emerging Markets Local Debt UCITS Fund on its DMS UCITS Platform. The fund, which was launched by DMS Investment Management Services (Europe) Limited - Luxembourg Branch1 on November 8, 2018, now exceeds US$80M in AUM. Laurent Leclercq, European Investor Engagement Leader for DMS, said, "We are delighted by the reception the TRG UCITS Fund has received from seasoned asset owners, including pension funds, family offices and private wealth managers." The Rohatyn Group, ("TRG") is an investment manager focused on emerging markets globally, with capabilities across public markets, private equity and credit, infrastructure and forestry and agriculture. TRG's public markets investment team has a long track record investing in emerging markets currencies, rates and credit, and has been managing its local debt strategy since 2011, in both funds and separately managed accounts. Its unconstrained portfolio construction and unique investment process allows it to access a broader set of local market assets in a wider universe of countries and more precisely reflect its views on each. Leclercq commented that "The fund's current investors in Europe, Latin America and Asia have looked at the TRG Emerging Markets Local Debt UCITS Fund as an alpha generator and risk diversifier for their emerging markets allocation. We are looking forward to continuing to earn their trust and would like to thank the current investors for the confidence placed in TRG and the DMS European funds infrastructure and solutions." About DMS DMS Governance is the worldwide leader in fund governance + risk + compliance representing leading investment funds and managers with assets under management exceeding $350Bn. DMS is a global institutional firm that excels in delivering high-quality services across a diverse range of investment fund structures and strategies. We are proud to be the leading independent provider of AIFM, UCITS Management Company and MiFID services to many of the largest institutional investors and asset managers globally. For more information, please visit www.dmsgovernance.com About TRG Founded in 2002, The Rohatyn Group is an asset management firm with expertise in emerging markets and real assets headquartered in New York, with offices around the globe including Boston, Singapore, Rotorua, Mumbai, New Delhi, London, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Lima and Sao Paulo. For more information, please visit www.rohatyngroup.com Media Contact: Alison Mitsas, Marketing Director + 1 345 749 2514 amitsas@dmsgovernance.com 1 DMS Investment Management Services (Europe) Limited - Luxembourg Branch NORTHAMPTON, England, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Restaurant critic and MasterChef judge William Sitwell today lays down the gauntlet for what he calls the 'Food Battle of Britain'. In a challenge to regions across the country Sitwell argues that his home county of Northamptonshire has a greater combination of ingredients, producers and food businesses. The sum total, he says, is that "Northamptonshire is Britain's most foodie county." "Cornwall has great pasties, Lincolnshire has sausages and Yorkshire has rhubarb," he explains adding: "Derbyshire boasts its Bakewell Tart, Leicestershire its Melton Mowbray and counties like Kent and Hampshire produce wonderful wines. Across Britain we are becoming a fabulous nation of food and drink. But when you analyse the output of Northamptonshire's food and drink sector - from the 3.5 billion biscuits made each year by Weetabix to the fact that 95% of British householders own a product containing a herb or spice from British Pepper & Spice - not to mention hundreds of great pubs, restaurants, small producers and drinks firms in between - you can see that Northamptonshire wins the Food Battle of Britain." Sitwell makes his comments today at the launch of 'Northamptonshire Year of Food and Drink' at Rockingham Castle attended by some of the county's leading producers including Tom Warner, founder of Warner's - now a leading global gin brand. At the launch Sitwell delivers some definitive facts to back up his claims of Northamptonshire food dominance, revealing that: Northamptonshire has twice the national average of producers and manufacturers, whose food output was worth over 600m in 2016 (Source ONS) has twice the national average of producers and manufacturers, whose food output was worth over 600m in 2016 (Source ONS) Weetabix makes 70 million biscuits a week at its Burton Latimer factory - that's more than 3.5 billion every year - with one box sold every second factory - that's more than 3.5 billion every year - with one box sold every second Warner's, the internationally award-winning craft gin distillers in Harrington, produced the world's first Rhubarb Gin which kick-started the pink gin craze 95% of British householders owns a product containing a herb or spice from Northampton's British Pepper & Spice British Pepper & Spice Wellingborough's Whitworth Bros Ltd process 1.65 million tonnes of wheat annually, making them the third largest flour miller in Europe Northamptonshire farming produces over 687 million loaves of bread, 32 million litres of vegetable oil, 300 million eggs and employs over 4,000 people (Source NFU) farming produces over 687 million loaves of bread, 32 million litres of vegetable oil, 300 million eggs and employs over 4,000 people (Source NFU) Between 1997 and 2016, output from food and drink manufactures rose on average by 57% across Northamptonshire (Source ONS) The 'Northamptonshire Year of Food and Drink' is part of the Northamptonshire, Britain's Best Surprise campaign and is staged today at Rockingham Castle by the Lord Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, David Laing, and hosted by the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson. It is proudly sponsored by British Pepper & Spice and Howes Percival LLP. For more details on the 'Northamptonshire Year of Food and Drink', visit www.northamptonshiresurprise.com Meanwhile you can also follow the campaign on Facebook at @NNBestSurprise and on Twitter at @NN_BestSurprise For further information, including images and video links, please visit www.northamptonshiresurprise.com/press DUBAI, UAE, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury has a new destination: ELIE SAAB at Emaar Beachfront, a gated island destination in Dubai, was unveiled at Dubai Opera by Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar, and Elie Saab, founder and Chairman of ELIE SAAB Group. Emaar, the global developer, is partnering for the first time with the renowned fashion designer for the new residential development. Reflecting the innate elegance and exceptional detailing that sets Elie Saab apart in the global fashion world, the sumptuous residences will reflect the luxurious heritage of ELIE SAAB's style and signature. Mohamed Alabbar said: "Elie Saab is the pride of the Arab world, and a fascinating international success story. Through our first association with Elie Saab, admired by the world's leading celebrities, we are offering discerning customers a new lifestyle address. Every aspect of these glamourous residences is personally designed by Elie Saab." Elie Saab said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Emaar and Mohamed Alabbar on this new project. Over the years, ELIE SAAB has evolved into a lifestyle brand, through the development of diversified product categories that deliver a unique experience of the brand's universe. Through this new collaboration, brought by Emaar, leaders and experts in real estate, ELIE SAAB is confident that its aim at extending the brand experience into home and interiors will be a granted success." In addition to 1 to 3-bedroom apartments, the tower by ELIE SAAB at Emaar Beachfront will have an exquisite collection of ELIE SAAB four-bedroom penthouses - overlooking the Arabian Sea, The Palm and Dubai Marina. Designed to celebrate the 1930 Art Deco era, the tower serves as a subtle landmark of elegance and composure. Ground level boutique fashion stores, galleries and cafes as well as lobbies designed by ELIE SAAB promote the feeling of luxury. A pool deck, inspired by chic Miami lifestyle, and an infinity edge swimming pool facing the Palms, gym and recreational facilities add to the quality of life, and are designed for haute living. ELIE SAAB at Emaar Beachfront enjoys an exclusive island lifestyle overlooking the sea and the Palm offering a private beach, private marina, and several sport and resort-style facilities for a wholesome lifestyle. Call +1-800-36227 (UAE) or +9714-3661688 (International); or email: sales_enquiry@emaar.ae. For details: Kelly Home ASDA'A BCW +9714-4507-600 kelly.home@bcw-global.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847470/Emaar_Elie_Saab_and_Mohamed_Alabbar.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847471/ELIE_SAAB_at_Emaar.jpg A global data analytics and advisory firm, Quantzig, that delivers actionable analytics solutions to resolve complex business problems has announced the completion of their latestweb mining and text analytics engagementfor a leading e-commerce retailer based out of Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005277/en/ Web Mining Engagement for a Leading E-commerce Retailer (Graphic: Business Wire) All that matter in today's data-centric business world is your ability to efficiently analyze the gigantic troves of information and extract granular, meaningful insights that help maximize business value. Businesses collect trillions of bytes of data from innumerable sources across the organization. Such datasets are predicted to grow in the coming years, due to which businesses are focusing on the incorporation of web mining solutions to exploit the true potential of data. The Business Problem:The client is a well-known e-commerce retailer based out of Germany. The retailer was looking at expanding its online product offerings by sifting through the massive datasets in their repository to uncover hidden patterns and meaningful insights. They also wanted to develop a new online business strategy that would help them gain a competitive advantage. To seize the complete potential of online business models, businesses will have to develop better strategies by leveraging web mining and text analytics. Get in touch with our experts for more insights. "Penetrating deeply into the textual datasets by leveraging web mining solutions empowers retailers to gain a better understanding of customer sentiments," says a web analytics expert from Quantzig. The Solution OfferedThe analytics experts at quantzig followed a three-pronged approach to gain the desired insights for this web mining engagement. The first phase of this web mining engagement revolved around collecting and documenting the available information. The second phase focused on pattern discovery, wherein structured datasets were analyzed to understand the browsing behavior of online customers. Also, you might be interested in taking a look at Quantzig's webinar which highlights the benefits of web crawling and data mining techniques. Quantzig's web mining solutions helped the client to: Achieve a remarkable 3X improvement in customer satisfaction rates. Fine-tune product development, pricing strategies, and customer experience. Request a free demo to know how web mining and text analytics can help you gain a competitive advantage. Quantzig's web mining solutions offered predictive insights on: Analyzing the user-generated content to optimize business decisions. Sifting through the huge data repositories and structuring the datasets in the form of intelligible information. Don't you feel a good online business strategy is a non-negotiable requirement for players in the ecommerce sector? Request for more information now! About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/request-for-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005277/en/ Contacts: Quantzig Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 538 7144 UK: +44 208 629 1455 https://www.quantzig.com/contact-us ALBANY, New York, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to TMR, the global medical radiation shielding market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period to attain a value of US$1,100 mn by 2022-end. On the basis of product type, the blocks and rooms segment is anticipated to remain lucrative by the end of 2022. Presently, the segments accounted for about 30% revenue share in the market and are expected to attain a valuation of US$350 mn by the end of 2022. By end-use, the hospital segment is anticipated to retain its position over the forecast period. In terms of revenue, the segment accounted for 36% market share and is expected to attain a valuation of US$400 mn. Based on the region, North America is expected to exhibit growth during the forecast period. North America is anticipated to reflect growth with a magnificent CAGR over the forecast period from 2017 to 2022 Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=20219 Growing Prevalence of Cancer to Propel Market's Growth Medical radiation shielding offers protection to people from harmful effects due to exposure with ionizing radiations. These radiations are widely used in numerous industries and in the medical sector. This ionizing radiation presents a significant health hazard by causing microscopic damage to living tissues. Ionizing radiations result in major skin burns, radiation sickness, and major tissue damages. Exposure to these radiations for longer duration is affecting adversely on human health such as skin burn and rashes and results in several cases it may develop another type of cancer or tumor. Growing awareness about these serious mishaps is boosting the adoption of medical radiation shielding and propelling growth of the global medical radiation shielding market. Request a Sample of Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=20219 Additionally, growing usage of nuclear medicine and radiation therapy for diagnosis and treatment in life-threatening diseases such as cancer is also reflecting positively on the growth of the global medical radiation shielding market. Additionally, the increasing number of diagnostic imaging centers in order to control the rising incidences of cancer globally is boosting demand for the radiology equipment. Further, medical radiation shielding includes radiation therapy; growing demand for radiation therapy is boosting the growth of the medical radiation shielding market. Request For Discount On This Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=20219 Growing Government Support to Drive Market in Coming Years Moreover, factors such as growing government support are supporting growth of the global medical radiation shielding market. In addition to this, growing awareness level in the patients is having the potential of boosting adoption of the medical equipment, which protects from the radiations. However, lack of professional and trained workers handling these shielding and knowledge of doses of consuming the type of shielding is challenging the growth of the market to some extent. Nevertheless, growing importance to sufficient medical radiation shielding in imaging and mainly in diagnostic facilities in order to protect the medical staff and people is expected to offer lucrative opportunities for growth over the forecast period. Request For Custom Research - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=20219 Analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) estimated that the global medical radiation shielding market is competitive due to the presence of numerous local and global players. Companies including A&L Shielding, Gaven Industries, Inc., ESCO Technologies Inc., Global Partners in Shielding, Inc., and Radiation Protection Products, Inc. are some of the key players in the medical radiation shielding market. Additionally, numerous companies are actively looking to improve the efficiency of products to ensure safety from radiation and enhance the efficacy of the products. These players are increasingly investing in product innovation and development. Browse Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/medical-radiation-shielding-market.htm This information is encompassed in the report by TMR, titled, "Medical Radiation Shielding Market (Product Type - Apron and Blankets, lead Sheet, Plate and Bricks, Blocks and Rooms, Curtains, Shield and Booths and others; End User - Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Oncology Centers and Other End Users; Solution - Radiation Therapy and Diagnostic) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022." Popular Research Reports by TMR: Jet Lag Therapy Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/jet-lag-therapy-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/jet-lag-therapy-market.html Pharmaceutical Excipients Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-excipients-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-excipients-market.html First Aid Kits Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/first-aid-kits-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/first-aid-kits-market.html Cryolipolysis Devices Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cryolipolysis-devices-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact: Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SEOUL, South Korea and CHICAGO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Vieworks, a global leader in machine vision, presents the latest industrial cameras at Automate 2019 (Booth# 8440) from April 8th to 11th in Chicago. Automate, held once every two years in the United States, is the broadest automation solutions event in North America. Over 450 exhibitors will showcase the latest innovations in robotic, vision, and motion control automation technologies, to provide an overview of the entire automation industry. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847390/VIEWORKS_Camera.jpg Vieworks VP-151M, with Sony CMOS image sensor, amazingly improves the performance and sensitivity of the camera by providing wide dynamic range. Moreover, VP-151M model enables its sensor to maintain the operating temperature at up to 15? below the ambient temperature, through the Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) Peltier technology. In non-TEC cameras, the sensor temperature can increase to near 50?, and therefore, generates worse dark noise. However, this cutting-edge technology enables VP-151M to dramatically reduce the noise and offer the unparalleled image quality. In addition to superior image quality, the camera allows stable operating condition and longtime exposure. Despite of the spectacular performance, VP-151M is also competitive in price, which makes it more accessible. Therefore, this ultra-high resolution camera is ideal for various demanding applications such as FPD, PCB and semiconductor inspections. VP-151M: High Resolution Thermoelectric Peltier Cooled Camera Main Features: 151 Megapixel Resolution CoaXPress & Camera Link Interfaces DSNU and PRNU Correction Dynamic Defective Pixel Correction Electronic Rolling Shutter Flat Field Correction with Sequencer Control Hot Pixel Correction Thermoelectric Peltier Cooled - 15? below ambient temperature Key Applications: Flat Panel Display Inspection Electrons Inspection Semiconductor Inspection Document / Film Scanning About Vieworks Co., Ltd. With the state-of-the-art technology in optics design, Vieworks presents to the machine vision industry a wide variety of industrial cameras including ultra-high resolution cameras with its signature pixel shifting technology. Vieworks also adapted Thermoelectric Cooling Technology (TEC), allowing stable camera performance even in the high-temperature environment. Through the Nano-stage Pixel Shifting technology, Vieworks overcame the physical limit of conversional sensors and introduced the Ultra-high resolution of 620MP, in 2019. As an imaging expert, Vieworks is committed to not only advance the ultra-high resolution camera technologies but also provide convenience and precise quality management at industrial operation sites and systems. For more information, please visit www.vieworks.com Olivia Cho Marketing, Vieworks +82.70.7751.9688 ocho@vieworks.com 5 April 2019 Milamber Ventures plc ("Milamber" or the "Company") Proposed Withdrawal from NEX Exchange Growth Market The Board of Milamber announces that the Company is today giving notice of its intention to withdraw its ordinary shares in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") from trading on the NEX Exchange Growth Market ("NEX") (the "Withdrawal") and subject to going through the transfer process to move to a more cost effective trading platform called JP Jenkins https://www.jpjenkins.com/ ("JPJ"). The Company will, while the Withdrawal process for NEX is underway, be going through the set up and transfer processes in order for Milamber shares to be traded on JPJ in an orderly fashion. JPJ provide a solution that enables companies to allow their existing shareholders and prospective investors to trade in their shares via the CREST electronic settlement system. The trading facility has been used by some well-known companies, such as: Weetabix, NCP, Arsenal, West Ham, Adnams, Manchester City FC, Liverpool FC and numerous others. The primary differences between NEX and JPJ are the annual cost savings by being on JPJ, the reduction in compliance and regulatory obligations which use up a significant amount of management time and which can now be used to focus on growing the business instead. Furthermore, the JPJ trading platform offers a matched bargain facility for trading shares i.e. JPJ matches a willing buyer with a willing seller. The advantages of a matched trade versus auction are the following: Shares can be traded through a wide range of stockbrokers and banks, using shareholder's existing stockbroker No cost for stockbrokers to trade via JPJ, so therefore no added cost to the company or the investor or shareholder Indicative price shown on the JPJ website Trades can be effected immediately if buy and sell order limits match compared to waiting for an auction. The Board will be calling a general meeting to be held for shareholders to vote on this matter. This announcement sets out the reasons for the Withdrawal and explains why the Directors believe that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to move the shares on to the JPJ trading platform. Background and reasons for proposed withdrawal from NEX The original company Smart Identity plc joined NEX (then known as PLUS Markets) on 20 Sept 2007 to, inter alia, raise capital for the future development of the business and provide access to new investors and future capital. From 2007 to 2012 the company went through various name changes, management changes, and was called Ronaldsway Private Equity Plc when, on 10 December 2012, Andy Hasoon joined the Board as a Director. On 6 December 2013 shareholders voted in favour of changing the Company name to Milamber Ventures plc. However, since the Company has been on NEX, there has been limited trading in the Company's shares and Milamber has been unable to raise any meaningful growth capital. This has impacted on the Company's ability to realise the full potential of Milamber's strategy and its Portfolio Companies in order to capitalise on the various opportunities the Company is pursuing. The Directors have reviewed all equity and debt funding options for the Company to enable it to maximise shareholder value and they have now concluded that the pursuit of additional funds would benefit from seeking the withdrawal of the Company's ordinary shares from NEX and joining the more cost-effective trading platform of JPJ. Effect of withdrawal from NEX By moving to JPJ there would still be a formal mechanism enabling shareholders to trade their shares but on a matched trading basis. However, following the Withdrawal, the NEX Exchange Growth Market - Rules for Issuers ("NEX Rules") will no longer apply to the Company and it will no longer be required to comply with any of the specific corporate governance requirements for companies admitted to trading on NEX. The Company will, however, remain subject to the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. Procedure for withdrawal from NEX Under the Rule 81 of NEX Rules, the Company must announce an intention to withdraw its securities from NEX, with any withdrawal of shares ordinarily being conditional on approval at a general meeting by shareholders representing 75 per cent of the votes cast in respect of each class of securities. Milamber was in the process of securing a new Advisor but due to the Board's decision yesterday to withdraw its ordinary shares from the NEX Exchange Growth Market that process has been stopped by the Company today, which triggers suspension of the shares under Rule 27 of the NEX Rules. As a result, of this issue and other factors the Company has asked NEX to suspend the shares from trading with immediate effect. Shareholders will be sent communications shortly about the process and the implications and asked to vote at the general meeting whose date will be announced shortly. The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. -ends- ENQUIRIES: Milamber Ventures Plc Andy Hasoon T: 07768 875 681 E: andy.hasoon@milamber.co.uk www.milamber.co.uk Leander (Financial PR) Christian Taylor-Wilkinson T: 07795 168 157 E: ctw@leanderPR.com HANNOVER, Germany, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Haier,the tailored life solutions manufacturer brought 179 smart home solutions in 28 scenarios to Hannover MESSE, showcasing an upgraded version of COSMOPlat, the world's largest mass customization solutions platform and unveiling an innovative realization of the exhibition theme, "Integrated Industry - Industrial Intelligence". First launched in 2016, Haier's independently-developed COSMOPlat digitally integrates the entire factory process and supply chain, including interaction, R&D, and procurement, to better serve individual customers. This year's upgrade combines a diverse range of advanced intelligent manufacturing technologies and 5G to open up a new chapter of mass customization, pioneering the world's first "smart + 5G" customization verification platform with profound application possibilities for industries as diverse as ceramics, agriculture, motor home manufacturing, molds, and machinery. In addition to a large number of enterprise customers, Haier attracted several industry-leading experts to its booth, including Henning Kagermann, the father of the Industry 4.0 movement to digitize industrial production, and Francisco Betti, head of Advanced Manufacturing Industry in World Economic Forum's (WEF). "I'm thrilled to see the progress achieved by the latest iteration of COSMOPlat, now integrated with advanced technologies such as 5G and AI," said Kagermann following his tour of the Haier booth. "Not only is Haier serving large enterprises, but it is empowering SMEs to transform and upgrade as well. Thanks to the real-time updates and optimization, a larger number of customers can enjoy greater efficiency and a more user-centric experience." As the first Chinese enterprise to be selected to the WEF's network of "Manufacturing Lighthouses", a community of leading manufacturers that are integrating Industry 4.0 technologies, Haier leveraged the exhibition to co-host the WEF Lighthouse Factory Forum with Bosch, Phoenix Contact, Rold, Sandvik, and Tata Steel. Together, the companies announced the Lighthouse Program Hannover Initiative, which seeks to set and implement industry norms for standards, technology, talent, security, and more. As the leader of this cooperation, Haier's COSMOPlat will draw on its open ecosystem to promote and cultivate the initiative. Thus far, COSMOPlat has developed 15 sub-platforms for different industries, with 12 demonstration bases across six regions, including eastern China and northern China. The model has been further implemented in 20 countries, transforming clothing, food, housing, travel, health, education, and other industries so that global users can enjoy the enhanced lifestyle experience opened up by mass customization. *** About Haier Haier Home Appliance is the world's No. 1 home appliance brand, with a 10.5% global market share. Its brands include Haier, Casarte, and Leader in China, GE Appliances in the US, Fisher & Paykel in New Zealand, and AQUA in Japan. Aiming to provide interconnected smart home experiences for customers everywhere, Haier continuously enhances its products and services while making the transition to an open entrepreneurship platform. For more information, visit: http://www.haier.net/en/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847448/Haier_Unveils_5G_Empowered_COSMOPlat_at_Hannover_Messe.jpg TORONTO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Citron Hygiene has expanded its global footprint and entered the European market with its acquisition of Admiral Cleaning Supplies Limited in Leicestershire, England. This is Citron Hygiene's first acquisition outside of North America, making it an especially significant one. Admiral has been in business for 34 years and is one of the United Kingdom's largest distributors of the HORECA market (Hotel/Restaurant/Cafe). They have two locations in the U.K., approximately 80 employees and 7,500 customer locations. "This is an exciting time for Citron Hygiene! In March 2017, we entered into the U.S. market, and having this transaction closed July 2018, we are now in a new country and new continent. Breaking into the European market has been a big step for our global growth strategy," Peter Farrell, the President & CEO, stated. Since establishing a partnership with Birch Hill Equity Partners, Citron Hygiene has acquired six companies (now seven) in an effort to increase its corporate footprint. The acquisitions in the United States and Canada have enabled strong market expansion of Citron Hygiene's core service platforms of washroom hygiene, pest control, ware-washing and chemical services, to the most sophisticated of commercial buildings, public spaces, and local eateries. Citron Hygiene plans to implement their washroom services platform in the U.K. in relatively short order. According to Peter Farrell, "Much like how Citron strives in 'building healthy spaces,' Admiral focuses on creating the clean, professional environments that support the health and wellness of building occupants. Our businesses align and I look forward to this being a successful introduction to the U.K." Going forward, Citron Hygiene intends to invest significant capital into the U.K. market.Andy Bottrill will continue to be the Managing Director of Admiral. Both he and Richard Adams will stay with the business and remain as part of the investment. Citron Hygiene looks forward to future acquisitions in North America and the United Kingdom. In the meantime, Admiral customers can expect the same quality services they have been receiving while also seeing new products and services becoming available. To learn more about our expansion, visit the U.K. section of our website here: http://citronhygiene.com/uk/. Media Contact: Rebecca Dickinson Sales Coordinator +1-978-495-5606 rdickinson@citronhygiene.com Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX: SMT) (BVL: SMT) (NYSE AMERICAN: SMTS) ("Sierra Metals" or "the Company") announces the appointment of Mr. Ricardo Arrarte to the Board of Directors who will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Mr. Philip Renaud who is resigning to focus more of his time on other business ventures. These changes are effective immediately. Mr. Arrarte is a Director with an affiliate of the private equity firm Arias Resource Capital Management LP and is also the Chief Executive Officer for Cautivo Mining Inc. Mr. Arrarte is a Mining and Mechanical Engineer with over 20 years' experience in management, operations, and consulting for mining companies. Mr. Arrarte has worked with Hochschild Mining PLC as Operations Manager in charge of four silver mines in Peru, Compania Minera Caudalosa SA as Chief Executive Officer, Consorcio Minero Horizonte as Planning and Engineering Manager, Buenavetura Ingenieros SA BISA as an Engineering Consultant, Fosfatos Del Pacifico SA as Mine Manager, and Cementos Pacasmayo SAA as Geology and Mine Central Manager. Mr. Arrarte is experienced in mine and plant design, managing mining operations, production and costs with large teams of personnel. Mr. Arrarte earned his Mining and Mechanical Engineering degrees from Pontifica Universidad Catolica Del Peru and his MBA from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. On his departure, Mr. Renaud commented "It has been a great pride for me to be part of the growth and value creation process at Sierra Metals since 2003. I am confident of the strong fundamentals of the company in the future." J. Alberto Arias, Chairman of Sierra Metals, commented: "I want to express my gratitude to Philip for his many years of contribution to the Board of Directors of Sierra Metals. Philip's commitment, enthusiasm and loyalty to the Company were appreciated by the Board and Management. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors." He continued, "On behalf of the Board and Management I would like to welcome Ricardo to the Sierra Metals Board of Directors. Ricardo's experience in the Latin American mining industry makes him a valuable addition to our Board. We believe that Ricardo will help Sierra Metals realize the considerable growth and strategic opportunities that the Company presently has available at all of its properties." About Sierra Metals Sierra Metals Inc. is Canadian based growing polymetallic mining company with production from its Yauricocha Mine in Peru, and its Bolivar and Cusi Mines in Mexico. The Company is focused on increasing production volume and growing mineral resources. Sierra Metals has recently had several new discoveries and still has additional brownfield exploration opportunities at all three Mines in Peru and Mexico that are within or close proximity to the existing Mines. Additionally, the Company has large land packages at all three Mines with several prospective regional targets providing longer term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential. The Company's Common Shares trade on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SMT" and on the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol "SMTS". For further information regarding Sierra Metals, please visit www.sierrametals.com. Continue to Follow, Like and Watch our progress: Web: www.sierrametals.com | Twitter: sierrametals | Facebook: SierraMetalsInc | LinkedIn: Sierra Metals Inc Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws related to the Company (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's operations, including the anticipated developments in the Company's operations in future periods, the Company's planned exploration activities, the adequacy of the Company's financial resources, and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be considered to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if and when the properties are developed or further developed. 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 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", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof, or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the mining industry including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, floods, labour disruptions, explosions, cave-ins, weather conditions and criminal activity; commodity price fluctuations; higher operating and/or capital costs; lack of available infrastructure; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks associated with the estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the inability to replace reserves; fluctuations in the price of commodities used in the Company's operations; risks related to foreign operations; changes in laws or policies, foreign taxation, delays or the inability to obtain necessary governmental permits; risks relating to outstanding borrowings; issues regarding title to the Company's properties; risks related to environmental regulation; litigation risks; risks related to uninsured hazards; the impact of competition; volatility in the price of the Company's securities; global financial risks; inability to attract or retain qualified employees; potential conflicts of interest; risks related to a controlling group of shareholders; dependence on third parties; differences in U.S. and Canadian reporting of mineral reserves and resources; potential dilutive transactions; foreign currency risks; risks related to business cycles; liquidity risks; reliance on internal control systems; credit risks, including risks related to the Company's compliance with covenants with respect to its BCP Facility; uncertainty of production and cost estimates for the Yauricocha Mine, the Bolivar Mine and the Cusi Mine; and other risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which filings are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and the Company's actual achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. The Company's statements containing forward-looking information are based on the beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Note Regarding Reserve and Resource Estimates All reserve and resource estimates reported by the Company are calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC. The differences between these standards are discussed in our SEC filings. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005453/en/ Contacts: Mike McAllister V.P., Corporate Development Sierra Metals Inc. +1 (416) 366-7777 Email: info@sierrametals.com Igor Gonzales President CEO Sierra Metals Inc. +1(416) 366-7777 Trump said some of the tougher points of a deal had been agreed but there were still differences to be bridged Washington: US.President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States and China were close to a trade deal that could be announced within four weeks, while warning Beijing that it would be difficult to allow trade to continue without a pact. The two countries are engaged in intense negotiations to end a months-long trade war that has rattled global markets, but hopes of a resolution soared after both sides expressed optimism following talks in Beijing last week. Speaking to reporters at the White House at the start of a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, Trump said some of the tougher points of a deal had been agreed but there were still differences to be bridged. Were getting very close to making a deal. That doesnt mean a deal is made, because its not, but were certainly getting a lot closer, Trump said in the Oval Office. And I would think with, oh, within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more, whatever it takes, something very monumental could be announced. Trump said he would hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping if there were a deal. Xi assured Trump that text of the China-US trade could be finalised soon, in a message conveyed by Liu He. According to state-run news agency Xinhua, Liu He told Trump that Xi believed under his and Trumps leadership, China-U.S. relations will make new and greater progress. Xi said that in the past month or more, the two sides trade teams had maintained close contact and achieved new and substantive progress on issues in the text of two countries trade agreement. I hope the two sides trade teams can continue working in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit to resolve each others concerns, and finish negotiations on the text of the China-US trade agreement soon, Xi said to Trump through Liu. Keeping leverage Trump declined to say what would happen to US tariffs on $250 billion worth of goods as part of a deal. China wants the tariffs lifted, while US officials are wary of giving up that leverage, at least for now. Asked about the benefits of an agreement for China, Trump said: Its going to be great for China, in that China will continue to trade with the United States. I mean, otherwise, it would be very tough for us to allow that to happen. Goods trade between the United States and China, the worlds two largest economies, totaled $660 billion last year, according to US Census Bureau data, consisting of imports of $540 billion from China and $120 billion in exports to China. On Chinas behalf, Liu cited great progress in the talks because of Trumps direct involvement and expressed hope that the talks would lead to a good result. Jet Airways, which is grappling with acute financial woes, had a fleet of around 119 planes. New Delhi: Jet Airways is currently operating a fleet of 26 planes and the airline right now fulfills the criteria for operating on international routes, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said on Thursday. On Wednesday, Kharola had said that Jet Airways is operating 28 planes, including 15 aircraft on domestic routes. Jet Airways, which is grappling with acute financial woes, had a fleet of around 119 planes. On Thursday, the secretary said that "26 planes are flying currently". He added that international operations of an airline depends on the number of aircraft and seating capacity and Jet Airways "right now fulfils this" criteria. Jet Airways, where the lenders are set to take control as part of a debt resolution plan, on Tuesday disclosed that it has grounded 15 more aircraft due to non-payment of lease rentals. For the past few weeks, the airline has been grounding its aircraft in tranches due to non-payment of dues to lessors. On 25 March, the airline's board approved a debt-resolution plan under which the lenders would take control of the airline and also make an immediate fund infusion of Rs 1,500 crore. The secretary said that airlines have to comply with the "0/20 rule for international operations". He added that since Jet Airways has 26 aircraft in its fleet currently, question of "examining Jet Airways" on "0/20 rule does not arise". The secretary said that Jet Airways reiterated on Thursday that it will fly 75 aircraft by the end of April. The new "0/20" rules does away with the five-year requirement, but carriers will still need to demonstrate a fleet of 20 aircraft for international operations. After taking stock of the current situation at cash-strapped Jet Airways, which is currently operating less than 30 planes, the lenders said they would pursue resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework. New Delhi: Amid uncertainty over future of Jet Airways, the consortium of SBI-led lenders on Thursday said bids for selling stake would be invited on 6 April and other options would be explored in case the stake sale efforts does not result in an acceptable outcome. After taking stock of the current situation at cash-strapped Jet Airways, which is currently operating less than 30 planes, the lenders said they would pursue resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework. The expressions of interest for selling stake in the ailing airline would be invited on April 6 and the last date for submission of bids would be 9 April, a statement issued by the SBI on behalf of 26 lenders said. SBI is the lead lender to Jet Airways, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 8,000 crore. The lenders are cognisant that the outcome of the efforts of the lenders will depend on the interest shown by the parties on sale of stake in the company, the statement issued late in the evening said. Whilst all efforts will be made for the stake sale by the lenders, other options may be considered by the lenders should these efforts not result in an acceptable outcome, it said. The statement was issued after a nearly three-hour meeting of the lenders in the national capital. The meeting was chaired by SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar, who earlier in the day met several government officials in the finance and civil aviation ministries. Under the debt resolution plan approved by the Jet Airways board on 25 March, lenders have taken majority stake in the airline and are set to infuse Rs 1,500 crore funds. Besides, the carriers founder and promoter Naresh Goyal as well as his wife Anita Goyal quit the board. The shareholding of Goyals have come down to 25 percent from 51 cent earlier. On Wednesday, Naresh Goyal, also former chairman of the airline, said he had agreed to every term and condition laid down by lenders to ensure timely release of funds for the airline. Acute financial crunch has forced the airline to ground aircraft, cancel flights and delay payment of salaries, including to pilots. Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said Jet Airways is currently operating a fleet of 26 planes and the airline right now fulfils the criteria for operating on international routes. Jet Airways, which is grappling with acute financial woes, had a fleet of around 119 planes. Miffed at replies of former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh to its directive to submit a plan for paying Rs 4,000 crore to Daiichi Sankyo, as awarded by a Singapore tribunal, the Supreme Court on Friday threatened to send them to jail if found that they have violated the apex court's order New Delhi: Miffed at replies of former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh to its directive to submit a plan for paying Rs 4,000 crore to Daiichi Sankyo, as awarded by a Singapore tribunal, the Supreme Court on Friday threatened to send them to jail if found that they have violated the apex court's order. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it will now hear on 11 April the contempt petition by the Japanese firm against the Singh brothers for non-payment of the arbitral award. "What we propose to do is that we will hear the contempt petition alleging violation of this court's order. If we find that there is violation of orders, we will send them to jail," said the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna. It also asked the duo to be present before the top court on the next date of hearing. On 14 March, the Supreme Court had asked the former Ranbaxy promoters to submit a concrete plan for paying Rs 4,000 crore to Daiichi Sankyo as directed by a Singapore tribunal and had asked them to consult their accountants as also financial and legal advisors and apprise it by today. The bench considered the submissions of senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and P S Patwalaia, representing Malvinder and Shivinder respectively, on their plans to give money for honouring the arbitral award. "Their nearly Rs 6,300 crore has been siphoned off by some 'baba'. These children have been duped," Sibal said, adding that let the properties of the contemnor be sold under the instruction of the court. To this, the bench said: "We will only adjudicate on the violation of our orders. You sell your own properties. "You may be owning half of the world but there is no concrete plan as to how the arbitral amount would be realised. You said that somebody owed you Rs 6,000 crore. But this is neither here nor there." Patwalia, appearing for Shivinder, said he wanted two years time to work with Daiichi so that valuation of the companies can get better and the arbitral award can be honoured. The bench got irked when Malvinder said that he has not got done the valuation of his properties. "How is it possible that you do not know the value of your properties," the bench asked. The apex court also stayed insolvency proceedings against a bunch of companies purportedly linked to the Singh brothers. The insolvency cases were filed by Religare Finvest Ltd in National Company Law Tribunal, Delhi. The Japanese firm has filed a contempt plea against the Singh brothers, saying that it was promised some shares of Fortis Healthcare by them and sought the recovery of Rs 3,500 crore as directed by the tribunal. Senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Daiichi, had said that Malvinder claimed he is honest and bona fide and would pay the outstanding at the earliest. He added that the younger brother Shivinder, on the other hand, has stated that he has taken 'Sanyas' (renunciation) and become a 'Sadhu' (monk) and has nothing to do with the company. The apex court had earlier refused to pass any interim order on the pleas relating to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad. The top court, on 14 December last year, had ordered status quo with regard to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare. "Status quo with regard to the sale of the controlling stake in Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad be maintained," the bench had said. It had also issued notices to the Singh brothers asking them to explain as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against them for allegedly violating its earlier order by pledging the shares. The board of Fortis Healthcare had approved in July a proposal from IHH Healthcare to invest Rs 4,000 crore by way of preferential allotment for a 31.1 percent stake. The Malaysian IHH Healthcare Bhd became the controlling shareholder of Fortis Healthcare Ltd by acquiring a 31.1 percent stake in the company. Daiichi had bought Ranbaxy in 2008. Later, it had moved the Singapore arbitration tribunal alleging that the Singh brothers had concealed information that Ranbaxy was facing a probe by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice, while selling its shares. Daiichi had to enter into a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice, agreeing to pay $500 million penalty to resolve potential, civil and criminal liability. The company had then sold its stake in Ranbaxy to Sun Pharmaceuticals for Rs 22,679 crore in 2015. The 30-share Sensex index jumped 177.51 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 38,862.23, while the broader NSE Nifty rose 67.95 points, or 0.59 percent, to 11,665.95 Mumbai: The BSE Sensex ended 178 points higher Friday led by gains in metal, realty and IT stocks amid positive cues from the global markets on optimism over the US-China trade talks. The 30-share Sensex index jumped 177.51 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 38,862.23, while the broader NSE Nifty rose 67.95 points, or 0.59 percent, to 11,665.95. Tata Steel was the biggest gainer in the Sensex pack, rising 3.36 percent, followed by Vedanta, Bajaj Finance, TCS, IndusInd Bank, Infosys, ONGC, Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank, HDFC, M&M and ITC. On the other hand, SBI, PowerGrid, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC, Sun Pharma, HUL, HCL Tech, Yes Bank and Asian Paints were among the top losers, shedding up to 1.46 percent. The market ended on a positive note with broad-based gains post two days of consolidation supported by favourable global cues on account of progress in US-China trade talks, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. US President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States and China are close to a trade agreement and something very "monumental" could be announced in the next four weeks. Top Chinese and US officials are meeting in Washington to reach an agreement after the world's two biggest economies imposed tariffs on goods worth more than USD 360 billion. "Metals and IT index outperformed given an improvement in global investor sentiment and dollar strength. Mid and small caps were outperforming on account of relative value buying opportunities compared to large caps. Going ahead, investors focus will be on Q4 results season starting next week," Nair added. The BSE metal, realty, tech, IT, basic materials, finance and oil and gas indices ended in the green, gaining up to 2.03 percent. Broader indices too ended on a positive note, with the BSE Midcap and Smallcap rising up to 0.72 percent. Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) pulled out a net Rs 226.19 crore Thursday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought equities to the tune of Rs 1,206.16 crore, provisional data available with stock exchanges showed. In Asia, Korea's Kospi inched up 0.14 percent, Japan's Nikkei climbed 0.38 percent and Topix gained 0.35 percent. In Europe, Frankfurt's DAX was down 0.16 percent, while Paris CAC 40 rose 0.07 percent, and London's FTSE moved up 0.07 percent in early deals. On the macro front, the benchmark Brent crude futures slipped 0.30 percent to $69.19 per barrel. The rupee depreciated 7 paise to 69.24 against the US dollar intra-day. Subramanian said that quashing of the RBI's 12 February circular by the Supreme Court does not impact the ongoing cases or resolution or credit culture itself New Delhi: Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramanian said Thursday he expects the government and the RBI to work together to ensure expeditious resolution of bad loans against the backdrop of a recent Supreme Court order on RBI's February 12, 2018, circular. Subramanian further said that quashing of the RBI's 12 February circular by the Supreme Court does not impact the ongoing cases or resolution or credit culture itself. "I think RBI and the government will be working together to ensure that whatever needs to be done can be done...it (quashing of RBI's 12 February circular) really doesn't impact the ongoing cases or resolution or credit culture itself," he said at an event organised by industry body CII. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said the Reserve Bank will shortly come out with a revised circular for bad loan resolution after its February 12 circular was quashed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Tuesday declared the one-year-old circular as "ultra vires", in response to a petition by stressed borrowers. Subramanian further said that analysis shows that globally, there has been a significant increase in uncertainty. Interestingly, though, he said, in India, uncertainty has reduced over time despite spikes during events such as demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CEA also noted that the key to surviving in the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) is innovativeness. Thriving in a VUCA world, he said, requires vision, understanding, clarity and agility. Subramanian also pointed out that no country is immune to uncertainty coming from path-breaking innovations. Speaking at the event, the principal economic advisor in the finance ministry Sanjeev Sanyal said the single biggest reform India now needs is the reform in its legal system. "We need to think of doubling the number of judges in India," Sanyal said adding that it has to be done in partnership with the judiciary. US-India Business Council President Nisha Biswal emphasised the need for a more adaptive mindset in the government for India to fully unleash its growth potential. Months after revealing new music was in the pipeline, ABBAs Bjorn Ulvaeus has told fans to expect the track to drop in September or October. Swedish pop group ABBA has confirmed they will release a new single in September, more than a year after the group announced they have reformed. The legendary band, which includes Agnetha Faltskog, Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, last released a single in 1981. ABBAs Bjorn Ulvaeus says at least one of the new songs which are called 'I Still Have Faith In You' and 'Dont Shut Me Down' will emerge later this year. In an interview to Denmark's Ekstra Bladet, Ulvaeus said that "it takes an extremely long time" to make the video with the avatars of the group members, adding "it has been delayed for too long". Talking about the tracks, Ulvaeus said, "I am very proud of both songs. One is like a pop song from the '70s. The other one is kind of timeless." ABBA shot to fame by winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, and had big hits in the 1970s including 'Dancing Queen', before splitting up in 1982. The pop group have not released a studio album of new music since 1981's 'The Visitors' and have not toured since the 1979/80s ABBA: The Tour. ABBA is one of the most popular bands in history, having sold hundreds of millions of albums worldwide since their formation in Sweden in 1972. The groups simple-sounding but visually sophisticated songs have set a template for pop music. (With inputs from Indo Asian News Service) Operation NCO(X) led by Cdr Samant was a maritime sabotage operation that took down some 100,000 tonnes of shipping during the Bangladesh liberation war Mohan Narayan Rao Samant passed away quietly on March 20 at 11.53 am in a suburban Mumbai hospital, at the ripe age of 89. He was given a military funeral befitting a hero and braveheart. Thus for a moment bringing back to life, memories, anecdotes and stories of his deeds. The story of his exploits is set nearly half a century ago, in 1971. The worlds largest covert naval covert operations were run right under our noses, here in the Indian subcontinent, little known to most except three Naval officers, and the prime minister. The key field operative of that operation was none other than Indian Navy Commander Samant (later Captain), commanding officer of one of Indias very first set of silent service Foxtrot class submarines INS Karanj and recipient of the second highest gallantry award, the MVC. Samant went on to become the first chief of staff of the embryonic Bangladesh Navy and was conferred the honour friend of liberation war. Samants deeds 50 years back were related to NCO(X), as the series of operations was known. It used perhaps the largest numbers of maritime saboteurs in the history of modern naval warfare. This was done under the meticulous planning, direction and knowledge of just two other officers of the Indian Navy Admiral SM Nanda, then chief of naval staff, and Captain MK Roy, then director of Naval Intelligence (later vice admiral) and with express knowledge of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Operation X, as the name was abbreviated to, was a set of complicated guerrilla manoeuvres against the maritime jugular of the Pakistan Army in erstwhile East Pakistan. These innovative sabotage missions were executed using East Bengali college students specially recruited and trained for the operation. It was only one part of a larger and more sustained undercover naval operation that involved training 500 Mukti Bahini naval guerillas in the seven months up to and during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The operation was responsible for the sinking of and damage to some 100,000 tonnes of shipping. It was bigger than the riverine operations of the Vietnam War, and larger than the Decima Flottiglia MAS commando operation (1941-1943) of Italian naval frogmen that sank several marquee Royal Navy ships in the Mediterranean Sea. What were the dimensions of this covert Operation X? The aim was simple: cripple the regular Pakistani forces in the then East Pakistan by attacking their supply and logistics lines and replenishment routes for food, water, men, arms and ammunition. This would ease things for the Indian Army while moving forces towards Dacca (as Dhaka was known then) during the actual fighting with Pakistan, even as the Indian Navy hammered them off the Bay Of Bengal with INS Vikrant. The covert mission objective of Samant, as executive officer (XO) of operations, was to target merchant marine shipping and inland water transportation up the river from Chittagong, the port of entry of East Pakistan and the Bombay of the East, by blowing up fully laden merchant ships, barges , naval pontoons, tugs and gunboats using limpeteers frogmen, who swam downstream and horizontally at the top of the notoriously strong ebbing riverine tides of the Pussur, Karnaphulli, Shitlakashya and Meghna with specially designed limpet mines and inventive detonation devices strapped to their stomachs breathing all the while using zero-tech bamboo reeds, their heads camouflaged by water hyacinths! One particular lot of 176 commandos in Operation Jackpot, as one operation was code named, under the direct stewardship of Samant, sank and damaged about 60,000 tonnes of shipping. Twenty-five ships were sunk in the span of just one hour on August 14, 1971. Samant was the last surviving member of that secret triumvirate. Admiral Nanda passed on in 2009, and vice-admiral MK Roy in 2013. With his death, the forgotten heroes of yesteryear conflicts have all moved on. Many important secrets would have gone with Captain Samant and his other compatriots to their graves. But several stories are chronicled in a forthcoming book co-authored by Samant, titled Operation X, soon to be published by Harper Collins. Amidst this exasperation, Andhra Pradesh voters are set to elect representatives for both Houses this month for the first time after Telangana was carved out of it 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 *** Anantapuramu: The advertisement starts on an emotional note. A farmer, nearly in tears, is on a video call with his college-going son, showing him the water gushing through the canals; he cant believe his eyes that water has finally reached seema (the border). The young man shares this with his dismissive friend who says its probably all computer graphics (alluding to the graphic presentation made of the greenfield capital to be built in Amaravathi by Babhubali film director SS Rajamouli). The son, angered, slaps him and launches into a monologue about how, whatever tales those opposed to him spin, at least educated people should appreciate how Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidus irrigation projects have brought water to these lands and wiped away farmers tears. Andhra Pradesh voters, set to elect representatives for both Houses this month for the first time after Telangana was carved out of it, are routinely subjected to such ads. The ecstatic farmer from the ruling Telugu Desam Partys election ad could have been anyone from Rayalaseema, where rural population accounts for the bulk of the population and whose main occupation is agriculture. But he certainly wasnt Y Chandra Sekhar from Yaleru in Anantapuramu constituency, a district particularly synonymous with farm distress and mass migration. Yaleru has received water in the village pond, but its fields are still dry. We have had to buy rice for the past 10 years. We werent even able to grow vegetables, he said. Many farmers in the region have moved to less water-intensive horticulture crops, which is costing the region its self-sufficiency in food. But this year we were able to sow paddy once. There are no sub-canals in our village but fields abutting the water pond were irrigated, he said. The three other districts that fall under Rayalaseema Kurnool, Chittoor and Kadapa are also perennially drought-prone. But Anantapuramu is so severely affected that only Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is drier. In 2018, Anantapuramu recorded just 272.8 mm rainfall (the lowest in the last century), which is half the average (550 mm) it receives. More often than not Anantapuramu is ready made election folder for politicians, but this time most of the water politics appears to be focussed on Chittoor. Not surprisingly, Naidu made only a passing reference to providing water to all lands at the hustings in Anantapuramu. Last month, 11 municipal councillors of YSRCP from Dharmavaram in Anantapur district tendered their resignations to protest against Naidu for diverting Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi (HNSS) waters to irrigate his home turf of Kuppam in Chittoor. The Opposition also said the aim of the project has been diluted and it is now only focussing on filling tanks to provide drinking water while irrigation has been neglected. Meanwhile, in January the TDP announced another drinking water project to take water from Gandikota in Kadapa district to Chittoor, where YSRCP won 6 out of 14 seats in the last Assembly elections. Not much water under the bridge HNSS, a lift irrigation project, was designed to irrigate major parts of Rayalaseema. It was conceptualised by former chief minister NT Rama Rao in 1985-1986 to channel the backwaters of Krishna to villages in the western mandals. Starting from the lush green forests of Nallamala where the Srisailam reservoir is based the canal system snakes downward and west in a semicircle, bringing the waters to Chittoor via Anantapuramu. The project has a troubled past. While it had an allocation of 40 TMC, it wasnt assured; so it would only get water if reservoir levels are above 854 feet. Critics are quick to point out that projects for coastal Andhra Pradesh have assured allocations. When Naidu came to power in 1995 after forcibly replacing NTR his mentor and father-in-law as the party president and chief minister, he said the project wasnt feasible and it was shelved for the next decade. In 2004, on his appointment late chief minister, YS Rajashekar Reddy took up a few long-pending projects, including HNSS. The project, which 15 years later is still inching towards completion, was supposed to irrigate 0.85 lakh acres in Kurnool, 3.90 lakh acres in Anantapuramu, 0.25 lakh acres in Cuddapah, and 1 lakh acres in Chittoor district. Activists of Rayalaseema have for long argued that by issuing the 1996 government order (GO) 69, which allowed water in Srisailam dam to be drawn to and maintained below 854 feet, even if theres a surplus, Naidu sounded the death knell for the regions irrigation projects. Activists allege that no party is raising questions about this even after 22 years. There was a hue and cry when YSR issued a government order to raise the capacity of the head regulators in Pothyreddypadu and, as a result, it was withdrawn. Rayalaseema Intellectual Forum convenor M Purushottam Reddy said, After reducing the water level in Srisailam, we were told that water can be drawn from Muchumarri in addition to the designated Malyala (both are lower than Pothyreddypadu and hold less water) for the HNSS project; but if 35 TMC can be drawn from Malyala only if water is at 854 feet, Muchumarri, with its water at 802 feet, will fetch us just 3.5 TMC. Isnt this cheating? HNSS project officials in Ananthapur said they released 35.02 TMC for the region from Muchumarri and Malyala foreshores, of which 24.8 TMC was given to Anantapuramu and 1.2 TMC to Chittoor district. M Mallikarjuna Reddy, executive engineer of HNSS, admits that no ayacut (an area served by an irrigation project) has been developed as of now. But nearly 43,000 acres have benefitted either directly or indirectly. The water was given between August 2018 and March 2019. We have filled 135 water tanks across the district (which has 1,263 ponds), he said. Left high and dry Countering any claims made on the success of HNSS, B Dasaradha Rami Reddy, general secretary of Confederation of Indian Farmers Association (CIFA), said that only 13,000 acres in Anantapuramu have been irrigated. He explained that since water is being taken through the main canals without any branch canals, irrigated area hasnt risen. Branch canals are part of the HNSS project, but they havent been made owing to lack of allocations over the years. Also, there is no detailed project report on it from the government, he added. K Nagalinga Reddy from Sanapa village, a few kilometres away from Yaleru, said, Water has been released only to ponds. There isnt even a water tank in our village. The Pennahobilam Balancing Reservoir canal flows a kilometre from here, and the HNSS canal is three kilometres away. But they are of no use as they dont have branch canals. We have had a drought for ten years now. The Opposition has promised to build branch canals, but we are not hopeful. D Nagendra of Guttakindapalli of Dharmavaram and fellow villagers, on the other hand, have a different problem to deal with. He alleged that local authorities asked them not to take water from the pond to give the impression of good water levels. We were informed that we were not allowed to raise crops with this water. But we are thankful that water levels in bore wells have risen. We would have sold our cattle but for the water from HNSS in to the village pond, even though there are no branch canals to fields. But even at full capacity, the canals wouldnt be able to irrigate the designated areas, as they are too small, according to Rami Reddy. To take 40 TMC water from Malyala to the fields in tail-end areas of Chittoor district while ensuring Anantapuramu gets its share, the water should flow at 2,500 cusecs per day in the canals. At the current rate, it takes five to six days for one TMC to flow; so, for 40 TMC, its 220 days. Duration of most crops is between 90 and 100 days. Hence, the canals have to be increased in size, he reiterated. Meanwhile, other projects like HNSS Galeru Nagari, Srisailam Left Bank Canal, Nettampadu, Kalwakurthy, and Telugu Ganga which have for long been held as a panacea for the drought-hit region, have been woefully ignored. Critics like CIFAs Rami Reddy say the injustice has been done historically and continues to this day institutionally. Projects meant to benefit Rayalaseema were kept in Schedule 11 and read with Section 85 of the AP Bifurcation Act. This section determines the reference to Krishna River Management Board (The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) is an autonomous body established as per AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 to manage and regulate the waters of Krishna Basin in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). But the modalities for distribution of water to new projects and in case of water shortage between the parties is mentioned under Section 89 by which Brijesh Kumar Committee works. This committee refused to interfere and allocate water for the projects under Section 85 and termed it outside of its purview. This anomaly has to be corrected by amending Section 11 of the Bifurcation Act to be read with Section 89 to get allocation of water for Rayalaseema projects. Neither the ruling party nor Opposition are seeking this. Veteran journalist A Raghava Sharma said this indifference stems from the fact that of the 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, 123 are in the coastal region; Rayalaseema has only 52. Any political party can afford to rely mostly on coastal Andhra to get 88 seats and capture power. Misdirected flow? The feeling on the ground remains that the rich and satiated coastal belt continues to be prioritised over the arid Rayalaseema, despite the fact that many prominent leaders hail from this region, from Naidu to Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project to link Godavari and Krishna rivers in the West Godavari district was completed within a year, earning it a place in the Limca Book of Records for being the first and fastest such irrigation project in the country to be completed on time, without any budget enhancements. Polavaram, an under construction multi-purpose irrigation project on Godavari river, which will bring 45 TMC water to the already well-served coastal delta, was accorded National Project status by the Union government, the last project to get this status before the end of the current term. Purushottam Reddy accused the government of conveniently forgetting the Dummugudem project that could bring 165 TMC of Godavaris waters to Rayalaseema. Bhooman, a veteran activist from the region, said, In 1951, the Krishna-Pennar project, which would have served the Rayalaseema region better, was shelved after protests. It was opposed as it included irrigating parts of Tamil Nadu before the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. For Rayalaseemas sake, the state could have re-looked at it later; instead, it took up Nagarjuna Sagar, which is useful only to the coastal area. And this despite the Sribagh Pact assuring priority to Rayalaseema over other regions in terms of water from Krishna, Tungabhadra, and Penna rivers. Deriding the state government for neglecting Rayalaseema projects, convenor of Rayalaseema sub-committee of the CPI(M), G Obulu said, All 63 mandals in Anantapuramu and the region have been declared drought-hit; this debunks governments claims. How much water do you think was brought to Rayalaseema if 150 TMC was taken from Srisailam for Pattiseema, which the state claimed was completed in six months? His logic: why deny this water to Rayalaseema? The chief minister is trying to grab votes with water. Why couldnt the government have declared HNSS also a national project? It cites lack of funds but spends Rs 3,400 crore on Godavari and Krishna pushkaralu (12-year celebrations of the rivers)! he added. The author is a Tirupati-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters At least, twenty-two antique statues, mostly from the 3rd Century Gandhara period owned by fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, is likely to go under the hammer in the ongoing bankruptcy proceeding in the US court. These statues, that have substantial value in the international market, were brought from Christie's Auction House in March 2010 and recovered from Firestar Diamond office in New York. At least, twenty-two antique statues, mostly from the 3rd Century Gandhara period owned by fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, is likely to go under the hammer in the ongoing bankruptcy proceeding in the US court. These statues, that have substantial value in the international market, were brought from Christie's Auction House in March 2010 and recovered from Firestar Diamond office in New York. Another sculpture, a golden female head created by Indian artist Ravinder Reddy in 2000, was sold by Christie's in London in 2015. These statues, including Stucco heads of Bodhisattvas, Terracotta heads of Buddha and females, were brought by Deepak Kumar Modi, Nirav Modi's father on 23 March, 2010 during the Christies auction of Indian and Southeast Asian Art in New York. Deepak had given a Hong Kong address during the auction. In the US court's record, he is shown as a citizen of India and a resident of Hong Kong. Interestingly, in June 2018, 6 months after Nirav fled India, his wife Ami Modi went to Firestar office in New York claiming to be the owner of these antique statues. Firestar and its associated companies Fantasy Inc and A. Jaffe Inc, had filed for bankruptcy in a New York court in February 2018. After Ami demanded that statues be turned over to her, the chief restructuring officer asked her to produce the proof of ownership. She could not. In December last year, her counsel contacted her regarding the sculptures and the trustee, appointed by the court, yet again, demanded the proof of ownership. Since then Ami or her counsel have not been able to provide the proof of ownership. But, one thing has become clear that Ami, a US citizen, was in New York in June last year. Under the US law, statues are treated as the property of debtors estate (Firestar and associated companies) in the absence of any proof. The trustee has requested the court to declare that each sculpture is now the property of the estate. The sale process of Firestar and associated companies assets are on to recover the money. Last month the Income Tax department auctioned a total of 68 expensive artworks owned by Nirav for Rs 59.37 crore. 'Nirav Modi Used PNB Money To Buy Personal Assets' The trustee has also alleged that Nirav, now jailed in the United Kingdom, used the money he acquired by defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) to purchase personal assets for himself and his family. The Ithaca Trust, set up by Nirav's sister Purvi Mehta, for Ami and their three children, was funded with $23 million in cash. The money in Purvi Mehta's account was funnelled by Nirav from PNB fraud, the trustee has alleged. Although Purvi, in disclosure form for the Trust, mentioned that she funded it using dividends she received from a shadow entity 'Fine Classic FZE.' There is also huge transactions between Ami's and Purvi's accounts in 2017, just months before the PNB scam exploded all over the news. Tens of millions of dollars of transactions were carried out between Ami Modi's HSBC account and Purvi's Bank of Singapore account. In September 2017, four months before the PNB fraud came to light, Ami transferred more than $31,506,000 to Purvi's account. Nirav also owns Central Park Real Estate LLC that was created in February 2007. On 26 March, the company bought an apartment at the Essex House, which was used as Nirav Modi's personal residence. The money was paid via Firestar's account. At the end of December 2017, Central Park Real Estate LLC was bought by Ithaca Trust of Purvi Mehta for $6 million. The Ithaca Trust money was used to purchase an apartment at Ritz Carlton in New York. In September 2017, $25 million was paid through Central Park LLC, an entity owned by Ithaca Trust. After the scam tumbled out, Nehal Modi, younger brother of Nirav, was appointed Trident Trust Company as the successor of the Ithaca Trust. The US trustee has also accused former CEO of Firestar Mihir Bhansali of coordinating fraudulent transactions among the group's companies and shadow entities involving hundreds of millions of dollars. It said Firestar, Fantasy Inc and A. Jaffe Inc were engaged in sham transactions with shadow entities to launder huge amount of money. The three US-based companies received $155 million in cash transfers from mailbox companies owned by Nirav and transferred about $72 million to other shadow firms. These shadow entities used for sham transactions includes Radashir Jewelery Private Limited, Eternal Diamonds, Empire Gems, Unique Diamond, Pacific Diamond, Universal Fine Jewelery, Aura Gems, Fancy Creations, SDC Designs, Vista Jewelery and Tri Color Gems. Nirav Modi's Chief Financial Officer Ajay Gandhi also directed transactions worth millions of dollars to multiple shadow entities. BSEB will close applications for the scrutiny process on the online portal on 12 April, 2019 The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has commenced the scrutiny process Friday for the BSEB Class 12 intermediate examination results. The students who had appeared for the Bihar Intermediate examination and are interested in their scores to be reviewed, can now apply for scrutiny of their answer sheets. The application should be filed only on the official website of the BSEB board at: bsebinteredu.in. The candidates, who apply for the reassessment of their marks, will receive their final result once the board finishes the scrutiny process. The last date for applying for the reassessment is 12 April, 2019. Students are required to submit a fee of Rs 120 and apply for the same at the official website of the board : biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. Steps to apply for BSEB 12th results 2019 scrutiny Step 1: Visit the official website at: bsebinteredu.in Step 2: Fill in your credentials ie: roll code, roll number and mobile number (password) Step 3: Now proceed to sign in to the site According to a report in News 18, 79.76 percent students qualified the Bihar Board Inter result 2019. The pass percentage stood at 76.53 percent in arts, 93.02 percent in commerce and 81.20 percent in science. The students can check their Bihar Inter result 2019 for 1st and 2nd year through the official websites: bsebinteredu.in The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is expected to announce the results for Bihar Board Class 10 examination also know as matriculation examination, tomorrow at 12.30 pm The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is expected to announce the results for Bihar Board Class 10 examination also know as matriculation examination, tomorrow at 12.30 pm. Around 16.6 lakh students had registered for the examination that was held between 21 to 28 Feb. In an official notification, the BSEB confirmed that the Bihar Board Matriculation exam result will be declared on 6 April, at 12.30 pm reported Hindustan Times. The candidates who appeared for the Bihar Board Class 10th Examination 2019 will be able to check their results on the official websites of the board: biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in, biharboard.ac.in and bsebinteredu.in. Here's how students can check the results: Steps to check the class 10 result 2019: Step 1: Visit the official website: biharboardonline.in/Result or other official websites :bsebssresult.com, biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in, biharboard.ac.in and bsebinteredu.in Step 2: Click on the link: Bihar Board matric result 2019. Step 3: Once the login page opens enter your Roll number and Roll Code Step 4: Click on Submit and your result will be displayed on the screen Alternatively, students can also send SMS BSEBROLLNUMBER to 56263 to get their result as SMS on their phones. Today's top stories: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will campaign in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand while Rahul Gandhi will interact with students in Pune today, and more BJP, Opposition leaders on Lok Sabha election campaign blitzkrieg With less than a week to go for the first phase of the crucial General Election on 11 April, top BJP and Opposition party leaders continue their campaign blitzkrieg. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha and Saharanpur along with Uttarakhand's Dehradun. Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally and hold an interactive session with students in Maharashtra, reports said. He is scheduled to interact with students in Pune, after which he will be addressing rallies in Chandrapur and Wardha. Modi had held a rally in Wardha last week and slammed the Congress-NCP alliance in the state during his speech. BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to campaign in Arunachal Pradesh's Bardumsa, Manipur's Thoubal and Assam's Jagiroad while Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will be present at an event in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad in support of Congress candidate Dolly Sharma. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will also be holding a rally in Assam's Dhuburi and West Bengal's Naxalbari. All of the TMC chief's speeches will be streamed live on her Facebook page, reports said. Yogi Adityanath to reply to EC's notice over 'Modi ji ki sena' remark Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to reply to the Election Commission (EC) over the reference to the Indian Army in his "Modi ji ki sena" comment. The EC issued a show cause notice to Adityanath for the remark he made during a poll rally at Ghaziabad earlier this week. Sources in the poll panel told PTI, prima facie, Adityanath has violated the EC's advisory of keeping armed forces away from the political campaign. The EC took the decision based on a video clip submitted by the Ghaziabad district magistrate which shows Adityanath making the remarks at the election rally on Sunday. Adityanath, who addressed election meetings in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida on Sunday, had lashed out at the Congress for what he called was its "soft approach towards terrorism and terrorists". The EC had on 19 March asked political parties to "desist" from indulging in any propaganda involving actions taken by defence forces during their Lok Sabha poll campaigns. The advisory was issued days after the poll panel asked parties and their candidates against using pictures of defence force personnel in their campaign material. Not 'anti-national', just 'adversaries', says LK Advani in blog post Veteran BJP leader LK Advani said on Thursday that his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-nationals" or "enemies" but only as adversaries, remarks which come at a time when top BJP leaders have used anti-national barbs against political rivals on the issue of national security. Advani, who has been replaced by party president Amit Shah in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, wrote a blog titled 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last' ahead of the party's foundation day on 6 April, in which he said, "The essence of the Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression." In the blog, written almost five years after he posted the last piece on its web page, the 91-year-old leader said, "Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries." "Similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as 'anti-nationals'. The party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level," he added. Reacting to Advani's blog post, Modi tweeted, "Advaniji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last'. Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advaniji have strengthened it." Christian Michel named Ahmed Patel, says ED in AgustaWestland case chargesheet Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court on Thursday. The agency, in its supplementary chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. The chargesheet said according to the "budget sheet, 30 million euros were paid to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians" to swing the deal in the favour of AgustaWestland for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country. "Christian Michel James has further disclosed various abbreviations used in the budget sheet, which contains the details of the payments made to Air Force officials, bureaucrats and political persons. "The recipients of the kickback include several categories of persons namely Air Force officials, bureaucrats including defence ministry officials and top political leaders of the then-ruling party. As per Christian Michel James, 'AP' means Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' means Family," the ED said. There has to be basic honesty: Javed Akhtar on Modi biopic credit row Javed Akhtar says it was unfair on PM Narendra Modi producers part to rehash his old song and put his name in the credits on the film's poster when he hadn't even worked on the remake version. On 22 March, Akhtar took to Twitter to say that he had not written any songs for the Vivek Oberoi-starrer and was "shocked" to find his name on its poster. Akhtar, in an interview with PTI, said the practice was against "basic honesty". "Nowadays, it has become a frequent practice that people buy rights of a song from an old film. They re-record it and use it. This is not fair," Akhtar said. Jet Airways lenders to invite bids for stake sale on 6 April Amid uncertainty over future of Jet Airways, the consortium of SBI-led lenders on Thursday said bids for selling stake would be invited on 6 April and other options would be explored in case the stake sale efforts do not result in an "acceptable outcome". After taking stock of the current situation at cash-strapped Jet Airways, which is currently operating less than 30 planes, the lenders said they would pursue resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework. The expressions of interest for selling stake in the ailing airline would be invited on 6 April and the last date for submission of bids would be 9 April, a statement issued by the SBI on behalf of 26 lenders said. SBI is the lead lender to Jet Airways, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 8,000 crore. Bottom-ranked RCB host KKR, hoping to end losing streak Royal Challengers Bangalore hope to end their hunt for their first win of IPL 2019 in their fifth match of the tournament when they host Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. RCB suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in a seven-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals. KKR, on the other hand, is coming off a break, having last squared off against the Delhi Capitals in an away clash on 30 March, a match that saw them lose narrowly in the Super Over. Kidambi Srikanth takes on fourth seed Chen Long in Malaysia Open quarter-final World No 8 Kidambi Srikanth, the lone Indian left in the Malaysia Open, takes on reigning Olympic champion Chen Long of China in the quarter-finals. Chen Long leads the head-to-head record having beaten Srikanth five times and losing only once. The pair haven't faced each other since the 2017 Australian Open when Srikanth won his only match against Chen Long. Amazon joins race to launch network of internet satellites into low earth orbit Amazon is officially joining the race to create a network of satellites in low earth orbit that will provide high-speed internet services. Amazon plans to launch a constellation of 3,236 satellites and has named this initiative Project Kuiper. Union minister of state for external affairs and BJP candidate from Ghaziabad General (Retired) VK Singh had triggered a controversy on Thursday after he purportedly told BBC Hindi in an interview that anyone who called the Indian Army 'Modiji ki sena' was not only wrong but also a traitor a statement he has now denied and called out the channel for 'distorting' his comments. Union minister of state for external affairs and BJP candidate from Ghaziabad General (Retired) VK Singh had triggered a controversy on Thursday after he purportedly told BBC Hindi in an interview that anyone who called the Indian Army 'Modiji ki sena' was not only wrong but also a traitor a statement he has now denied and called out the channel for "distorting" his comments. In reference to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's remark calling the army 'Modiji ki sena', Singh allegedly had said: "If someone says that the Indian Army is Modis army, then he is not only wrong but also a traitor to the country. Indias Army belongs to the country, it does not belong to a political party. He added that those leaders who do such a thing, "don't even know what they have said". The Union Minister also advised fellow politicians against mixing armed forces with political work while addressing the people. "If you talk about India's military, talk about Indias military. Sometimes when we speak of political workers, we say Modis Army or BJPs Army. There is a difference, he was quoted as saying by BBC. Singh said the Indian Army is impartial and has always been. "Don't know who is saying all this. There are one or two people who say things like these because they do not have anything else." During a rally on 1 April, Adityanath had said, "Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate hain aur Modi ji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (The Congress government used to serve biryani to terrorists and Modi jis army sends bullets and bombs their way)," Adityanath had said. LOK SABHA ELECTION 2019 TRACKER: Who is campaigning where The Election Commission of India had issued a notice to Adityanath on Wednesday for his remarks. The commission said that the speech was not in direct violation but had flouted the EC order, which asked parties to desist from "indulging in any political propaganda" involving activities of the defence forces. It had asked the chief minister to respond till 5 pm on 5 April. Meanwhile, Singh slammed BBC as he tweeted: BBC has done the same thing for which I had used the presstitute word. I have a record of what I said. Either the reporter was sleeping or he deliberately cut and pasted things to make a wrong statement," asking how much money was given for this distortion of his comment. @BBCHindi presstitute - ?? Chowkidar Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) April 4, 2019 Singh had earlier courted controversy four years ago for calling the news media "presstitutes" when his statement "visiting the Pakistan high commission was more exciting than evacuating Indians" from Yemen made headlines. The Election Commission on Friday decided to consult its legal experts before taking a final decision on whether to restrain the release of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi till the Lok Sabha polls are over. New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday decided to consult its legal experts before taking a final decision on whether to restrain the release of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi till the Lok Sabha polls are over. "The matter is now in the Supreme Court where it is listed for April 8. Since the EC has been made a party, the commission will discuss the situation with its legal experts on way forward," a functionary explained. Sources said there is a strong view in the EC that it should not restrain the release of the biopic on the prime minister and should leave it to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take a call on the issue. Opposition parties, including the Congress, had alleged that the film will give undue advantage to the BJP in electioneering and its release should be delayed till the polls are over. The seven-phased Lok Sabha polls begin on 11 April and end on 19 May. The Model Code of Conduct, which among other things, calls for an even-playing field for all parties and candidates, came into force on 10 March when the elections were announced. 'PM Narendra Modi' is scheduled to be released on 11 April, film's producer Sandip Ssingh announced on Twitter Friday. A functionary cited at least two Supreme Court rulings about movies. In one of the rulings, the Supreme Court had directed the West Bengal government to ensure satirical film 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot' is screened without obstruction. The movie was critical of the state chief minister. "We also have to see the latest Delhi High court ruling which said the biopic screening should be decided by the EC," he said, adding that the model code is silent on flims and it was a grey area. He said the EC has to keep the court verdicts in mind. The commission had earlier sent a notice to the makers of the film following a meeting with a Congress delegation, which sought a ban on its release ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. On Monday, the Bombay High Court disposed of a plea filed by a petitioner against the release of the biopic. The court had said that the EC will deal with the issue. The flags waved were not those of Pakistan but of Kerala-based Muslim party The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). IUML is one of the six parties in the United Democratic Front alliance, which includes the Congress party. Lok Sabha Election 2019 Fact-checker: Claim: Pakistani flag was waved at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Wayanad; Congress had warned IUML against waving its flag during Rahul' rally Fact: FALSE. Though the contents of the video were not morphed or tampered with, captions and comments claiming that it was the Pakistani flag are untrue as the flag seen in the video is of Kerala based political party Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which bears similarities with the national flag of the neighbouring nation. Also, both Congress and IUML had denied discussing any warning given against the use of the latter's flag during the rally. *** As Congress president Rahul Gandhi reached Wayanad to file his nomination, a large crowd of supporters gathered to cheer him. Rahul also conducted a roadshow in the constituency he has chosen to be his second seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, apart from Amethi. Soon after his rally, videos showing the presence of "Pakistani flag" at the Congress event started doing rounds of social media. The Congress' official handle also tweeted a video of Rahul's public interaction in the Kerala district in which similar flags can be seen. Thousands of people have gathered around Wayanad, Kerala for Congress President @RahulGandhi's road show after he filed his nomination. #RahulGandhiWayanad #RahulTharangam pic.twitter.com/cri5zAu8Ru Congress (@INCIndia) April 4, 2019 Notice the green Pakistani Flag https://t.co/iLgI92IjcD Chowkidar Squinty (@squintneon) April 4, 2019 However, it has turned that the flags waved were not those of Pakistan but of Kerala-based Muslim party IUML. IUML is one of the six parties in the United Democratic Front alliance, which includes the Congress party. IUML flags were previously also falsely shared as Islamic flags waved by Congress supporters over reports of Rahul Gandhi contesting the election on the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. Earlier, a similar claim was shared about Congress rallies in Karnataka and Rajasthan and in 2018, ahead of the Karnataka Assembly election which was debunked by AltNews. Also, similar claims were made of Pakistani flags being used during rallies of Congress leader Ashok Gehlot which were debunked by online fact-checking websites. There were also reports of a similar Muslim group's flag being hoisted in Kolkata in celebration of the newly-elected mayor, which was widely criticised for the use of the Pakistani flag but was later found to be false. In fact, even before Rahul reached Wayanad there were reports that the Congress has warned IUML against waving its flag during his rally to avoid confusion in 'North India'. Organiser had claimed that IUML had been asked by the Congress not to wave its green flags at the rally as it could "backfire in North India. The report quoted a WhatsApp chat purportedly between Congress volunteers and IUML workers. According to the Organiser report, the chat read, "Muslim League friends are our dear ones. Rahul Gandhi will be coming to Wayanad soon. There is no doubt that the green flag (Muslim Leagues official flag) is our pride. But in North India, this flag will be understood in another way. So I request our Muslim League workers to stay away from the rally, even if you come, then please dont carry your flags." The report and the chat were shared widely by many on social media, including BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya. However, the Quint reported that both IUML and Kerala Congress had denied these reports refuting their veracity. Meanwhile, Prafulla Kelkar, editor at Organiser, tweeted in response to The Quint's report, that the organisation stood by their source, who had sent them the screenshot of the WhatsApp chat. Outlook also quoted a Muslim League leader as saying: Muslim League is the deciding factor in the constituency. In 2014, the Congress candidate won because of the votes garnered from three districts, where IUML has an upper hand, putting to rest the controversy surrounding the use of the regional party's flag. The unfortunate timing of LK Advani's comments takes away from the gravitas of his words and show him in still more unfavourable light. Modi blunts Advani's latest jibe by owning it, reminds BJP veteran that timing is everything What Advani failed to realise was that the BJP had become a behemoth from the sapling that he once nurtured. It took fresh thinking, new energy and a different perspective for the BJP to become the dominant pole in national politics: something which Advani could perhaps never have done. He may still have claimed the moral high ground had he written the blog and emphasised on putting nation first, party next and self last, before he was denied the chance to contest from Gandhinagar one last time. The unfortunate timing of his comments takes away from the gravitas of his words and show him in still more unfavourable light. Article 370 was introduced temporarily in good faith; repealing it is political choice, not a legal one The Article 370 itself lays out a route for its removal. Clause (3) of the provision declares that only subject to other provisions of Article 370 itself, the President of India can delete the provision by a mere notification. Through a 'notification' means that Article 370 is so temporary that not even a legislative process of the Parliament is required to do it away. It can be done through an exercise of executive power. The contention is that for this to happen, the consent of the Constituent Assembly of the state is required. Is NaMo TV a news channel or special service? Ownership, content, regulation raise many questions The controversy over the launch of NaMo TV is yet to be resolved with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) having sought time till Friday to respond to the Election Commission's queries on the status of the 'channel'. The I&B ministry's investigations notwithstanding, the problems swirling around the 'channel' are multifaceted and not very easily capable of neat resolutions. To begin with, as matters stand, there is a suggestion that it is not a news channel in the sense we would normally understand the idea and does not, therefore, one presumes, need the kind of licences or clearances that television channels need to operate. Shazam movie review: DC finally realises borrowing the Marvel formula is not a bad idea Shazam is a momentous film because this is the movie youd remember for years as the moment DC finally rendered genuinely great cinema in its cinematic universe. This is also the moment where DC finally realised that borrowing the Marvel formula is not altogether a bad idea. With fantastic performances, a cracking script, a hilarious protagonist, fun set pieces, a genuine emotional core and even nods to the horror genre because of Lights Out director David F Sandberg being at the helm, Shazam is a delight from start to end. Indus Waters Treaty: How India lost hydro disciplining tool against Pakistan What might have been had India not been partitioned? Had Jinnah not died? Had China not taken over Tibet? In a previous column, we saw how the Indus Valley was transformed by the British a transformation rooted in securing a territory and prioritising immediate revenue gains over longer term local resilience. These changes paled before the Partition of the Punjab. The second wave of the National Trust Survey conducted by Firstpost-IPSOS, which polled more than 31,000 voters from 2 to 22 March, shows it is Narendra Modi who seems to be contesting the election on behalf of the BJP, with the party itself playing second fiddle With the first phase of voting in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections less than a week away, media commentators appear to have developed a consensus around three factors. First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is by far the most popular leader in the country today. Second, despite Modi's popularity, the Bharatiya Janata Party is unlikely to repeat its 2014 performance. It may emerge as the single-largest party by a wide margin, but crossing the majority mark on its own would be a miraculous achievement. And third, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party seem to have lost the momentum generated in the aftermath of the party's victory in the December 2018 Assembly elections. The second wave of the National Trust Survey conducted by Firstpost-IPSOS, which polled more than 31,000 voters from 2 to 22 March, gives us useful data with which to test this consensus. The survey points to a particularly interesting feature about the 2019 campaign: It is Modi who seems to be contesting the election on behalf of the BJP, with the party itself playing second fiddle to the prime minister's positive perception among voters. This does not mean that respondents have a low level of trust in the BJP for solving the issues that are facing the country today. In fact, the BJP is far likely to be trusted than the Congress on most issues. The trust in the BJP is higher on issues related to infrastructure, national security and corruption. Notably though, the trust level in the party is lower when respondents are quizzed about job creation and on keeping the prices of essential commodities under check. The data also points that respondents are more likely to trust regional parties like the Trinamool in West Bengal, the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, the Telegu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana, Left Front in Kerala, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu. The prime minister manages to transcend geographical and social divides whereas the party's popularity is constrained by these divisions. In comparison to the previous round of the National Trust Survey conducted in November-January 2018, preference for Modi as the next Prime Minister of India has increased by 10 percentage points. Modi, who enjoyed approval rating (52.8 percent) levels twice those of Rahul's (26.9 percent) has now doubled the lead to four times, 63 percent against 16 percent. The perception around Modis performance as prime minister has also gone up in similar proportions. More interestingly for the BJP, the prime ministers approval rating in Odisha and West Bengal, although still below his national average, is significantly high. It is possible that a concerted campaign by Modi in these two states may bring rich dividends for the party. The trust survey also highlights the emerging faultlines as it shows that in many parts of North East India, despite the BJPs successful inroads in these states, the prime minister's rating remains far below the average. In contrast, the approval rating for Rahul has declined considerably in the past few months. In fact, respondents are more likely to find Modi as warm and favourable over Rahul. Not only has the gap in the popularity levels of the two leaders further widened, but Rahul's public perception remains poor. Only a small proportion of respondents think that he has shown great maturity in understanding Indias problems. Sadly for the Congress party then, Rahul's leadership is unable to galvanise that sizeable section of Indian society which can challenge the BJP and its allies in reaching the majority mark. A caveat Before we delve deeper into the reasons behind the huge popularity of Modi among India's electorate, it is important to understand the context. Modi, even during the 2014 election, was immensely popular, and incumbent leaders generally enjoy greater favourability at the time of elections, unless there is huge public anger against their government. An incumbent's leadership rating gets further accentuated when the Opposition does not have a clear prime ministerial preference. Moreover, incumbents in general, and right-wing incumbents, in particular, are likely to get a bump amidst a national security crisis. The Pulwama tragedy and India's response by conducting airstrikes deep in Pakistan have further strengthened Modi's image as a decisive and strong leader. The survey was conducted a few days after Indias airstrikes when the prime minister's popularity must have peaked. This claim is further buttressed by the survey data that shows awareness regarding the issue is substantially high, and there is strong approval of the government's action. Finally, one also needs to be careful in interpreting exact numbers, as the survey design, question syntax, and pre-ordered categories may result in different estimates on the same issue. For example, if a survey question asks who would you like as the next prime minister between Modi and Rahul, it is likely that more responses would converge in favour of Modi than in a question that asks about prime ministerial preference in an open-ended manner. BJP strategy Why has the BJP chosen to play second fiddle to the prime minister's popularity in the run-up to 2019? The National Trust Survey confirms something that many have alluded to: Public faith in Modi is primarily built on abstract notions, not concrete issues. The data suggest that respondents are disposed to rating Modi favourably due to their perception of him creating a better image of India abroad, capacity for taking big risks, bringing big changes and taking care of the country. The perception of ensuring equality among various groups seems to be the least favourable reason. Similarly, economic policies such as demonetisation, the Goods and Services Tax, black money, and the Make in India initiative are considered less successful, especially in comparison to Ujjwala Yojana which a larger number of respondents believe to be a highly successful scheme. In this scenario, the Congress must avoid a direct leadership battle vis-a-vis Modi and make efforts to divert the election discourse to economic concerns of Indian voters. The promise of Rs 72,000 per annum to 20 percent of India's poorest may be a well-intended scheme and may also undercut the BJP gains from Rs 6,000 to farmers. But the key difference is that somehow Modi manages to weave his policies into a language of empowering Indians while Rahul falls in the trap of patronising promises. The findings from the survey make the electoral logic behind the BJPs campaign plank Modi hai to mumkin hai (Everything is possible with Modi) is very evident. Modi is more popular than the party, and he alone can ensure its return to power. In the post-Pulwama scenario, the BJP has focused on national security issues that keep its Hindutva base energised and create the possibility of adding fence-sitters. If the BJP manages to cash in on Modi's popularity, it may have a home run even in states like Uttar Pradesh where a strong coalition of Opposition parties is challenging it. However, such a campaign plank with over-reliance on a charismatic leader has its downside. It may bring the BJP closer to victory in 2019, but is likely to change the social fabric of Indian democracy as well as the BJP's organisational capabilities in the future. Will Indians vote on who becomes their prime minister or will they focus on electing their Members of Parliament (MP)? If it is the former, then this survey is unambiguous about the direction of the electoral wind. The author, Resident Political Analyst at Network 18, is a fellow at the Centre for Policy Research This article appears in the 6 April edition of Firstpost Print Read the findings from the first wave of the National Trust Survey here For the last two months, eight-year-old Prashant Singh has been late to school. Every morning, Prashant and his friends make a quick stop at the local cow shelter on way to school. No one, including his teachers and parents, seems to mind that. The boys carry with them dinner leftovers and leave them at the gaushala, where they fold their hands and close their eyes to sing a prayer before rushing off. The gaushala in Chandaus that opened in January has not just altered the school routine of some children but has completely transformed this village in Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh district. While farmers are relived, Muslims and Dalits feel it has driven a wedge between communities. Cow shelters like the one in Chandaus have come up across Uttar Pradesh, which sends the largest number of members, 80, to the Lok Sabha. Ahead of the seven-phase national election, the ruling BJP is trying to showcase such shelters as a proof of its commitment to protecting the cow. Rivals accuse the Adityanath government of putting cattle before farmers battling agricultural distress and the menace of stray cows. Back at their one-room school, a Show Sympathy Towards Animals message, painted in bold red, greets Prashant and his friends. The gaushala is a godsend for Prashants father, Mahendra Singh. I had to spend the nights on the farm, guarding my crops from stray cows. My elder son had to do so during the day, he said. http://www.firstpost.com/india/why-bovines-are-no-more-cash-cows-for-dairy-farmers-6395211.html Mahendra is among hundreds of farmers in Uttar Pradesh hit by the stray cattle menace, which has multiplied over the last two years, following a blanket ban on cow slaughter and shutting down of illegal abattoirs. Farmers are abandoning cows as they cannot afford to feed them. Shutting down of illegal slaughterhouses added to the stray cattle menace. This coupled with lack of cow shelters made it worse, said Jitendra Singh, another farmer in the village. Farmers have been forced to keep stray and hungry cattle away from their fields where wheat crop is ripe for harvesting. With the harvest season coinciding with campaigning for the Lok Sabha, strays are a big election issue. Former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has been unsparing in his criticism of the government. I would like to tell the chief minister that the people have given him 90 days. Do something to save the crops from the bulls. Farmers need to be saved first, he said at a public meeting a few weeks ago. The polling for Lok Sabha begins on April 11 and ends May 19, with voting in Uttar Pradesh staggered across all the seven phases. The gaushala politics It is lunch time. Suddenly a group of BJP workers and members of Hindu right-wing outfits reach the cow shelter. The gaushala looks like a BJP office. The men invite farmers, returning from their fields, to join them as they talk about efforts made by the BJP to keep stray cattle off their farms. The men also tell farmers that Adityanath had set aside a record sum of money for cows. In its budget for 2019-2020, the government allocated Rs 447 crore for the upkeep of the stray cattle. While Mahendra and Jats like him have warmed up to the idea of the gaushala, Muslims and Dalits in the village are keeping their distance. In May, 2017, the state government amended the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, saying that cows, camels and buffaloes may be sold to farmers only for farm purposes and not for slaughter. It has led to the closure of several slaughterhouses and tanneries. Many have lost jobs and Shamim Khan is one of them. People are afraid these days, especially in northern parts of India. Suppliers are finding it hard to transport cattle. Cow vigilantism and new rules for sale of cattle have dried up business for the leather industry, said Khan, who used to work at the local tannery. Suresh, a Jatav dalit, lost his job in March 2018 after the local slaughterhouse shut down, where he used to be paid Rs 7,000 a month. He is now a farmhand and his income has dropped by half. The village seems all the more divided now that gaushalas are being built. Hindus are happy that cows are being protected while for others, who worked in cow-related industries, the loss of employment is galling, he said. When it ordered a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses and meat-sellers operating without licences, the Adityanath government was accused of targeting Muslims and Dalits, who accounted for a sizable chunk of the workforce. Ravi Srivastava, professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys Centre for the Study of Regional Development, sees a grimmer future. Cows and other dairy animals were supposed to be an asset and couldnt be turned into a liability, he said. An increasing number of farmers are disinclined to keep cattle now. If this continues and they are unable to sell their redundant cattle, the cost per unit of milk will automatically go up, Srivastava said. A fund-collection drive is another change that the gaushala has brought to Chandaus. Not just Chandaus, BJP workers are going around several villages seeking donations in the name of the cow, which is considered a holy animal by Hindus. The task of collecting funds has been assigned to new recruits, who also use the opportunity to seek support for the BJP. During one such drive, BJP workers reach Mahender Singhs house. He barely makes enough to feed his family of six but doesnt mind parting with Rs 500 a month for the upkeep of the gaushala. We do not pressurise anyone for money. The villagers pay on their own because they have been through the menace caused by stray cows, said Ravi Kumar, who recently joined the BJP. They sought donations every month because feeding the cows, 180 of them, was costly. It is also a chance to remind people that it was the BJP who took the initiative to set up cow shelters, he said. The gaushala was built by BJP worker Manvendra Singh on his land. Stray cows were destroying crops and disrupting movement of vehicles. Here the cows are safe and farmers will also not have a problem, said Singh, who pegged the daily expenditure of the shelter at Rs 12,000. The school day has ended. Prashant and his friends are back at the gaushala, with a chapatti each that they had saved from the mid-day meal. No prayers are to be offered. They have done their bit for the cows for the day. Now it is playtime. The Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) picked up gauraksha as one of its primary action points immediately after its formation. In 1952, a national call was given by the BJS and the RSS to observe 26 October as Anti-Cow Slaughter Day and to collect signatures against slaughter. Editor's note: This is the fifth reported piece in an 18-part series on the contemporary history of Hindutva in coastal Karnataka. The series features interviews, videos, archival material and oral histories gathered over a period of four months. Read other articles of the series here *** In May 2018, four Muslim men were intercepted by Bajrang Dal activists and the police at Hiriyadka in Udupi district of Karnataka, as they were transporting cattle. Three managed to run away but 62-year-old Husainabba couldn't. His family received a call from the police a few hours later informing them that Husainabba had died of a heart attack. Over the next weeks, seven Bajrang Dal activists Suresh Mendon, Umesh Shetty, Rathan and Prasad Kondadi, Chethan, Shailesh Shetty and Ganesh Naik were arrested for the murder of Husainabba. For the first time in the history of coastal Karnataka, three police officials were also arrested for the murder. It has often been alleged that police officials collude with activists of the Bajrang Dal when they orchestrate such killings. The Superintendent of Police who is credited for the swift action, Laxman B Nimbargi, doesn't completely deny the charge. He says officers are humans as well and it is possible that some of them will have ideological preferences and leanings. "The only way to keep them in check is to take action, like I did," says Nimbargi. But he termed incidents such as the killing of Husainabba as the 'rarest of rare case'. This is not true. One of the first cow-vigilantism incidents which triggered statewide outrage was in March 2005. 60-year-old Hajabba and his son Hussainabba were stripped off their clothes, beaten and paraded naked for three hours by activists of the Hindu Yuva Sena, Bajrang Dal and VHP. They justified the violence by saying that the father-son duo was illegally transporting cattle. This incident which sent shockwaves across the State, according to many activists, marked the arrival of 'gauraksha' activities and cow vigilantism in coastal Karnataka. This is also only partially true. In 1952, 53 years before Hajjaba and Hassanabba were publicly brutalised, the same district of Udupi saw its first political mobilisation for gaurakshaks. It is important to reiterate that the methods of the Sangh in Dakshina Kannada aren't a modern-day invention. Nor is this a 'laboratory' where recipes were tried out as recently as the 1980's. Coastal Karnataka is the oldest division of the Sangh in South India, forming as early as 1941, even before the State of Karnataka could take shape. While the level of violence around mobilisations in the name of the cow was relatively lower, as compared to the North, this doesn't alter the fact that these campaigns were very much part of the activities of the Sangh during its initial years in Coastal Karnataka. Was the western coast communal? A peek into one of the earliest recorded observations of Mangalore tells us a familiar story. In Rehla of Ibn Battuta, translated by Mahdi Hussain, Baroda, 1953, Chapter XV, Battuta has observed: We left Fakanar (ins: Barkur), and after three days came to the city of Manjarur (ins: Mangalore) - a large city on a bay, called the bay of ad' Dumb. It is the largest bay in the Malabar country, and in the city, most of the merchants from Fars and Yemen disembark. And there is an abundance of pepper and ginger there. Sultan of Manjarur He is one of the most powerful rulers of the country and his name is Ram Deo (Ramadau). In this city, there are about four thousand Muslims, who inhabit a suburb of their own inside the jurisdiction of the city. There is fighting between them and the inhabitants of the city often, but the raja (Sultan) intercedes since he has needs of merchants. Evidently, communal tensions existed even in medieval Mangalore. The multicultural nature of the western coast made it an easy spot for communal fights to break out between religious communities. Surprisingly, other than minor skirmishes which were controlled as mentioned in Battuta's memoir, communal violence didn't explode in colonial South Kanara like it did in the northern provinces of British India, especially in the United Provinces and the Punjab-Sindh region. As mentioned here, the trading Brahmins who occupied urban Mangalore were more focussed towards maintaining caste supremacy during this period. Also, Muslims were fellow traders. This might have deterred disputes as a business relationship existed between both. But the situation was grim up north. These attacks received a new lease of life after the writings of Arya Samaj founder Dayanand Saraswati on gauraksha. Saraswati published a book on the protection of cows called 'Gaukarunanidhi' in 1881. In the book, while squarely blaming Muslims, Saraswati says: "It was during the last 700 years that flesh eating foreign races who started slaughter of cow and other animals came in considerably number and inhabited India. They eat away flesh and bones of all these beneficent animals." Other than quoting religious scriptures, the Marxist in Saraswati argued that killing cows will have more economic losses than gains. He based this on the assumption that milk is a primary source of nutrition for all and bulls are the only source of farm labour. He used such arguments to garner popular support. He concluded by recommending the setting up of Gaukrishyadhi Rakshini Sabha, where he called upon Gorakshak Sabhasads to work towards protecting the animal. As commanded by their leader, Arya Samajists set up gauraksha societies across the Hindi belt, especially in the Punjab-Sindh region, where violence around gaus can be traced back to the 1850s. Kenneth W Jones, in his book, Communalism in the Punjab: The Arya Samaj Contribution, he describes the situation: "Another feature of Punjab society was exemplified by the Namdhari movement, the pattern of casual and accidental violence arising from points of tension between the Muslim community on the one side and the Sikhs and Hindus on the other. Various forms of activity caused sporadic communal rioting. The greatest cause of such riots was the same as that which triggered the Namdhari clash with the British government, the issue of cow-killing. The sacrifice of cows at I'd, a major Muslim celebration, created periodic outbursts and, on occasion, the public sale or carrying of meat through a Hindu or Sikh section of town would produce violence. Religious festivals, particularly Holi or Muharram, were often marked by disorders and on those unlucky days when two festivals-one Muslim and one either Sikh or Hindu-would be celebrated, then rioting was almost inevitable." "Veneration of the cow was characteristically a Hindu attitude and a long standing point of tension between Hindus and Muslims, who ate beef and sacrificed cows in certain religious ceremonies. The defense of kine became a major element in Namdhari ideology, and so strong was their belief that in 1871 Namdhari extremists murdered several Muslim butchers in the Amritsar and Ludhiana districts." With the entry of Saraswati, this polarisation gained further approval and spread to other regions in the North as well. Starting in 1891, frequency of riots that broke out over the slaughter of cows in regions other than Punjab and Sindh increased. Members of the Indian National Congress also, directly and indirectly, endorsed activities around gauraksha. Regular public campaigns calling on 'Hindu protecters' to protect the 'sacred cow' against 'beef-eating Muslim invaders' in the north were organised. Handbills regarding cow slaughter were printed and distributed along with newspapers. This model of gauraksha emerged in coastal Karnataka as a popular method to homogenise the native population only a century after Saraswati wrote his controversial magnum opus. National Cow Weekly in Udupi in 1952 The Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) picked up gauraksha as one of its primary action points immediately after its formation. In 1952, a national call was given by the BJS and the RSS to observe 26 October as Anti-Cow Slaughter Day and to collect signatures against slaughter. A first of its kind post-Independence, a National Cow Weekly was organised by the RSS in Udupi under the leadership of Kiriyaswamy of Kikkanur Mutt and Vishva Teertha of Pejavar Mutt in October-November 1952. It saw the participation of national leaders such as Prabhavathi Raje who was the President of the All India Ramarajya council and Swamy Adidevananda, President of the Ramakrishna Mission. At this program, cow slaughter was unequivocally opposed and the leaders stressed the need of a regular 'Cow Parliament' to discuss methods to combat this. The assembled leaders felt that the Indian National Congress had done nothing in the interest of cows. Even the recent trend of attributing scientific inventions to the 'Hindu civilisation' isn't a present day exercise. In the same Cow Weekly, Swamy Adidevananda stressed on 'how Pencillin is made out of cow dung' and encouraged his volunteers to spread awareness about this among the public. A collective call for banning the slaughter of cow was raised, signatures were collected and a letter was sent to the President of India asking him to bring about such a ban. A 'cow march' concluded the Cow Weekly. As a political activity, the Jan Sangh actively promoted the campaign of gauraksha through the 1950s and 1960s. Sarvadaliya Gorakshan Maha Abhiyan Samiti (All party committee for cow protection movement) was constituted by the head honchos of various mutt's and other Sangh affiliates in September, 1966. They launched their outfit with a national demonstration at the Parliament in New Delhi on 7 November 1966. Thousands of religious sadhus and Sangh acitivists landed up in Delhi. Fights broke out in many places. In Parliament, Swami Rameshwaranad, one of the key organisers of the protest, directed the crowd to stall anybody from entering or exiting the Parliament till their demands were heard. Stones were pelted and, soon enough, the crowd started setting vehicles on fire. The mob entered Congress President Kamarajar's office and attacking his workers. Finally, the police opened fire, injuring many. The following day, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Swami Rameshwaranad and other RSS leaders were arrested. The years to follow witnessed regular meetings on anti-cow slaughter which continued to be organised all over South Kanara by the Sangh. Simultaneously, the Congress also tried to take part in the movement by creating bodies like the 'Dakshin Kannada Cow protection Committee' which would tie cows and calves in different wards during election campaigns. In 1967, Vishva Teertha called for a law banning cow slaughter in the country, failing which he threatened that a big clash will ensue and all-India marches will be organised. What is evident from these programs is that while the calls for collective action were being spearheaded by religious leaders of Ashtamutta's like Teertha of Pejavara Mutt, who by the 1960s were important RSS leaders, the popularity of these campaigns remained largely within the Brahmin populace. It did not attract mass support as it does now. The major activity of Sangh affiliates, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in present-day Dakshin Karnataka, is to organise events around gauraksha. Though these campaigns have adapted to modern-day needs, the format is pretty much the same. It's just that these activities now depend entirely on efficient ways of attracting negative publicity, carry out attacks on Muslims, organise weekly rallies, take selfies and dish out aggressively loaded calls to form 'armed cow-squads'. To be continued... The incident that the leaders at the Vamanjoor Gauraksha Dal launch kept referring to, as a trigger point for their renewed anger against gau-kalathana (cow theft), happened 15 kms away from the event. Editor's note: This is the sixth reported piece in an 18-part series on the contemporary history of Hindutva in coastal Karnataka. The series features interviews, videos, archival material and oral histories gathered over a period of four months. Read other articles of the series here *** Location: Vamanjoor, Mangalore District Time: 4 pm Date: 26 July 2018 Occasion: Launch of Gau Raksha Dals in Dakshin Kannada A crowd is not unusual to the multi-religious population of Vamanjoor. On a busy day, the Vamanjoor market is bustling with activity. Not only is the market adjacent to National Highway 169, which connects Karavalli to Malnad, it is also home to two unique tourist destinations in the district Pililuka Biodiversity Park and Manasa Amusement Park. But this small crowd of around 500 people carrying placards, saffron flags and bellowing Bolo Gau Mata ki Jai was unusual. While gauraksha rallies are commonplace in the district, one was yet to be organised at Vamanjoor. And it was on 26 July. A week prior to this, two calves and a cow had been stolen from the compound of Purushottam and Prema Poojary. Immediately, Hindu groups like the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini called for a press conference. VHP district president Jagadish Sheneva alleged that a gang of sword-bearing thieves had stolen these cows after terrorising the couple. He proclaimed that the Sangh was left with no other option than to take matters into their own hands. "These incidents are happening every day. We cannot trust the police anymore. We will launch gauraksha dals in every village on 26 July. We will protect our cows 'our mother' our self." This proclamation made its way into every national media outlet with the usual stock photo of men wearing saffron headbands, brandishing swords. Activists blamed the Sangh Parivar for their fascism. Leaders of the Sangh made their usual Hindu society will protect its mother. Statements were shared, Whatsapp messages circulated, Facebook statuses were updated. The stage was set for a showdown. Or so it seemed. On 26 July, a trickle of Sangh Parivar leaders and activists from groups, including, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Dakshin Kannada Gau Sene, Matra Mandali and Durga Vahini started to assemble at the Ram Bhajana Temple in Moodushedde at 4 pm. After half an hour of aartis (the torch bearer for the day), Jagadish Sheneva emerged from the temple and started singing the hanuman chalisa. After that, the members raised slogans vowing to protect gaumata. The inefficient government which had failed to protect gaumata was condemned. After this, the group set out towards Vamanjoor Market. The road from Moodushedde led to National Highway 169. At the T-junction, on the left, was the Vamanjoor Market. As I approached the area where the stage had been erected, right in the middle of the market, I understood why the Sangh had chosen this spot for the public meeting. It was congested and logistically not a great option. But it was facing the Jumma Masjid of Vamanjoor, which was less than 100 meters away. After a bit of hustle and bustle, Sheneva took to the stage. Sheneva is dubbed as one of the most articulate VHP leaders in the region, which means that he dishes out communal rhetoric which would qualify as hate at a steady and even pace. For a man of short stature, Sheneva with his bushy eyebrows and intimidating demeanour, can be quite the terror. Sheneva introduced those who had assembled for the rally as gaupremis who had forayed out to protect their mother (in this context gau). He scanned through the crowd to mention every name that was important to mention. The list included names of Bajrang Dal state convener Suresh KR , VHP zonal convener Sharan Pumpwell, Bajrang Dal state co-convener Muralikrishna Hasanthadka, VHP district convener Gopal Kuttar, Bajrang Dal zonal convener Bhujanga Kullal, Durga Vahini zonal convener Vidya Mallya, Bajrang Dal district convener Praveen Kuttar, VHP-Gurupura leader Vishnu Kamath, VHP district leaders Vasudev Gowda and Manohar, corporators Hemalatha Salian and Jayaprakash, Gau Sene convener Veerappa and BJP MLA Umanath Kotian. This reading wasnt a mere exercise. For Sheneva, it was a show of strength. For others, it was an occasion to publicly display their allegiance to the Sangh and the cause of gauraksha. For bystanders, it was a curious new activity. For residents of Vamanjoor, it was a cause of traffic and disruption. After labouriously introducing every leader present, some of these leaders took to stage. Some didnt. Like Umanath Kotian, the reigning BJP MLA from Moodabidre district, where the alleged incident of cow theft had occurred. It could be because the Sangh had the unsaid rule of separating hardline organisations like the Bajrang Dal and its activities from the activities of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The first speaker to set off the long list of speeches was Muralikrishna Hasanthadka, the state co-convener of Bajrang Dal. Hasanthadka has served previously as the head of the Karnataka Gau Raksha Sene and has many FIRs to his name, the most recent for spearheading violence during the funeral procession of murdered RSS worker Sharath Madiwala. Hasanthadka is a regular at these programs. Carefully timed with relevant pauses and voice modulation, his eloquence at delivering inflammatory speeches are a crowd puller. The speech he delivered at Vamanjoor was no less. *** High Pitch: Jagatthina ella rashtragaligae manavathaeyya pattavanu kalisikottirvantha Hindu Dharmada mellae akramana! (Hindu Dharma, the religion which taught humanity to all the countries around the world is under attack!) *pause* Hindu Samajada mela daujanya! (Atrocities on the Hindu community!) High pitch: Hindugala nambikkagala mela dali, jagathidda matha gau mela akramaduva mukantara nama nambikkagalannu nasha maduva prayatna dina nithi dina nithi ee rajya dali nadutha idhe (The beliefs of Hindus are under attack. When they attack the mother of this universe, the cow, what they are actually doing is destroying the beliefs of the Hindu community. This is what is happening in the country.) *pauses for dramatic effect with a sweeping glance* Low pitch: Yochanae madu bekalva navu? Prashnae madu bekalva navu? Prashnae madu bekalva navu? (We should be questioning this, shouldnt we?) *APPLAUSE* Inta shreshtavagi iruvantha gauvinna mela akramana! Gauvinna mela yava reethi akramana madhtharae namagella gothide. Gudetha mela iruva gau vigallana kalathana madi kasai kana dali daujanya maduva mukanthara gau mathaya melae akramana. (These attacks are on animal as pure as the cow. We all know in what ways they are attacking our cows. Cows which are grazing along the mountainside are being picked up and sold to butcher shops. These atrocities are a direct attack on gaumata.) High pitch: Ashtakenninilla (2X), mathanthra shandathana yelli thanakka kelidhrae, Rathriya hortu nalli, mahalirgal mathra iruva mane alli bandhu kondu talvar thorsi gauvinna kalathanna maduva shandathanake ivathu neechal bidithare. Gauvinna mela ee deshadalli yava durkhatana ee mathantara shaktigalu madtha idare, adhanu nodi yochne madbeku, govinna sthiti yavu tara idhe youchnae madbeku (It doesnt end there, the level of religious impotency has reached a point where these thieves are attacking houses in the middle of the night, where only women are staying. These women are threatened with swords. At knife point, cows are being stolen. This is the kind of impotency at display. We need to think about the injustices being committed by religious forces against the cow. We need to think about the situation that the cows are in this country) High pitch: Nimge ahara agi thinlikkaw beraeennu siglilva? (Cant you find anything else to eat?) High pitch: Hindu Samaja prashna madu beka bedva yochanae madu bekalva ivathu (It is time that the Hindu society decides whether or not this is to be questioned.) *pauses for dramatic effect* Low pitch: Yochanae madu bekalva navu? Prashnae madu bekalva navu? (2x) *APPLAUSE* *** From where I sat and watched the show, these statements seemed to electrify the crowd. Some of them loudly clapped, egging those next to them to clap as well, others vigorously nodded their heads in agreement. Many seemed to be charged to the point that they got up to pose prashnaes (questions), in the same way Hasanthadka wanted them to. Every speech, one after the other, pretty much followed the same style and tone. Spanning twelve to fifteen minutes, it started with stating the abysmal situation that the Hindu society is in and ended with the resolve to protect our mothers the cow. Almost every speaker took a minute or two to refer to the ordeal of Purushottam Poojary and how his family must've "shivered" at the sight of the sword-brandishing thieves. The program spanning two hours was on the mother that needed saving. The only woman speaker, the last one, wrapped up her speech in less than a minute as by then people were on the edge of their seats, almost ready to get up and leave. Mallya took it in her stride and, like her comrades, proclaimed: "We will not hesitate to take up arms to protect our cows. The women of this district will take talwars in their hands and stand guard. I suggest that armed women's gauraksha teams should be formed." Every speaker stressed on the same point: Cows are disappearing; the incident at Moodushedde revealed a new pattern of cow thieves now brandishing talwars; state administration is useless and it was time to unite and get organised to protect cows. Attacks on Muslims were couched in a safe-zone language, probably because of the FIRs which were filed in earlier cases against inflammatory speech. But every speaker displayed full aggression. Hasanthadka went to the extent of saying that a second freedom struggle will be waged to safeguard gaumata. "We won't show our left cheek if you slap us on the right. Hindus are not cowards!" Sharan Pumpwell demanded elaborate measures from the state government ranging from shut down illegal butcher shops to check source of beef in butcher shops to install check posts across the district for keeping a check on cattle transport but the poster boys demands didnt attract as much applause. By then, the crowd started getting restless, especially among the assembled volunteers, who had started to talk among themselves. They were bored. Some had retreated to the shops around the venue, sipping on sodas. Sensing dipping interest and numbers, the speeches got shorter and program ended by 7 pm. The buildup to the event was more ceremonious than the event itself, or so it seemed. The turnout was small, with just five members of the media covering the event. Despite the location of the program and the buildup given to it, the attention it sought, wasn't received. *** The incident that the leaders at the Vamanjoor Gauraksha Dal launch kept referring to, as a trigger point for their renewed anger against gau-kalathana (cow theft), happened 15 kms away from the event. At 3 am on 16 July, 2018, Prema Poojary heard voices coming from outside her house. Without switching on the light, she tiptoed to the glass window and peeked out. She saw a Tata Sumo pulling up at the gate of her house and two figures emerging from the jeep. They were conversing in Tulu and made their way into compound of her house. She nudged her husband awake, who instinctly switched on the light. Before Purushottam could switch off the lights, the groups knew what was happening inside the house. The two blurry figures outside knew the residents of the house were awake. Vanaja and Purushottam knew that the blurry figures were trying to lug their cattle into the jeep parked at their gate. Commands flew in from outside: "Dont step out, well attack you." Prema and Purushottam huddled into a corner along with their children. Prema said she saw one of the figures holding a weapon. It resembled a hatchet, only smaller. But she couldnt make out much since there was hardly any light. They didnt want to endanger the lives of their children or their own so they remained quiet. In less than three minutes, they heard the jeep drive away. Purushottam called his friends who lived nearby, and Prema ran out. Two of their milch cows were gone. Purushottam came out closely on her heels, cursing. These calves wouldve eventually been a regular source of income for the household. "These are hills where our cows used to graze freely. Look what is happening now!" says Purushottam pointing to the mountains. Three cows belonging to his cousin were stolen three months before the incident at Purushottam's house. The theft of his cousins cows had received no attention or dharnas. But crime, in the case of Botta Village, isnt restricted to the theft of cows. "Things started going downhill after this area was connected to the adjacent highway from Bondel to Moodabidre. This provides direct access to our, otherwise, inaccessible village. Since then we've been facing many problems," says Prema. Purushottam elaborates that in June a neighbour was robbed by two masked chain-snatchers on a motorcycle. "Chinmayee was returning home from work at 5.30 in the evening when they passed by her. Before she knew what was happening, they had reached for her throat. They took her chain and before she could react and they sped away." Purushottam's uncle Jarappa Poojary, too, faced a similar incident. Two men on a motorcycle tugged at a piece of cloth he had wrapped around his neck, assuming there was gold beneath. "There was none. In the tussle, my uncle fell down and they sped away. We dont know where these bikers wearing opaque helmets come from but theyve become a real menace." Prema says that none of them have complained or lodged an FIR regarding these incidents. The first FIR was registered from Botta about the theft of their cattle. "We didnt want to frequent the police station," says Prema. Purushottam also registered a complaint at the Gram Panchayat office. Till date, there has been no update on their case. When asked if he was aware of the program that was organised by the Sangh, he said he knew about the event but he didnt attend. He was away on work, a contract needed to be finished on the same day. Purushottam supports a family of five. "I am not a member of any of these groups. My livelihood is hit now. I do menial building-related work here and there. How will being part of these groups help? Will I get my cattle back?" asks Purushottam as he takes me to the cow shed where his remaining cows idle, probably not having a clue about what goes on in their name. *** Two arrested for illegal cow transport, one of them a Bajrang Dal activist: Prajavani, 28 July, 2018 The Vittla police have arrested two persons on the charge of illegally transporting cows to a Kerala butcher house. Of those arrested, one is Shashikumar Bhat (48), a Bajrang Dal activist from Padaru in Padnur village. The other person is Abdul Harris (21). There were four cows and a calf in the vehicle. Shashikumar is a local leader of BJP and chief of Gomatha Rakshak Dal - Mani division. During the last village panchayat elections, he had contested as the BJP candidate from Padnur village. The arrest comes barely a few hours after the VHP and Bajrang Dal staged a protest at Vamanjoor in Mangaluru against illegal transportation of cows. Statements like the next Independence struggle will be waged to protect our cows were made at this rally. *** Zuhaib (name changed) noticed the saffron-clad gang following him at the Vittla intersection. It would take this gang less than five minutes to finish him off. The murders of Hussainabba, cattle theft at Praveen Poojary, and Matani Kareen crossed his mind. Earlier that day, Thimanna (name changed), a farmer who had over the years sold Zuhaib cattle regularly, had called him. Though Zuhaib said he was busy, Thimanna insisted that he buy the cow immediately. "I cannot sell it to anybody else. You are special!" Thimanna had said. Zuhaib had postponed a personal engagement and travelled to Vittla to purchase this farmer's cow. Less than ten minutes after he had started on his journey back, Zuhaib knew he had walked into a trap. He had to act quickly because more than himself, the life of his 18-year-old cousin sitting next to him was at stake. He looked around and saw a mosque. Without thinking twice, he drove right inside the compound of the mosque. As soon as he parked inside, a crowd gathered around him. By then, the saffron-clad gang entered the compound and an argument broke out. While this was happening, Zuhaib tried to jump out of the back gate, only to be caught and thrashed by the gang, who by now had identified themselves as Bajrang Dal activists. Inside the compound, a member of Bajrang Dal was also roughed up. Finally, the police intervened and filed cases against both the groups. One for illegally transporting cattle, the other for assault. The cow was returned to Thimanna. *** Soumya Shetty is a housewife whose life revolves around her four year old son and Whatsapp. "I am part of many WhatsApp groups, both family and friends. Every day these groups are filled with hate posts targeting Muslims and Christians. During elections, these posts spiral out of control. What are we going to do with such posts?" asks Soumya. As an afterthought, she adds that there was a time when she was also anti-Muslim. "We heard these things in college, it is but natural. Now, I understand these things better." Soumya's husband is a district level leader of the Congress. But Seema says she is still not comfortable with the idea of a Hindu marrying a Muslim or a Christian. "I am okay with inter-caste marriage. But I cant accept inter-religious marriage." Soumya is convinced that the gauraksha campaigns of the Sangh are propaganda. Originally from a village close to Surathkal, Soumya says, "My father is a farmer. When his cattle were no longer of use, he used to call a Beary and sell the cattle to him. Everybody from my village did that. This practice has been there forever. Where did this gauraksha come from now? asks Soumya *** Dakshin Kannada is an agrarian region. Most of the local population were engaged in agriculture. The Paddanas best describe the characteristics of this land. Paddanas are songs about local deities, which have handed down the history of the region orally from one generation to the other. In the course of narrating the story of the deity, the Paddana would describe the agricultural character of the Tulu nation, elaborating on the feudal practises and hierarchical caste driven existence of the Tuluvas. Some of the paddanas acknowledge those from other religions, like Bearys, who were intrinsic part of an agrarian tulunadu. As the Paddanas elicit, agrarian land was central to existence in the region. While the land was subject to regular changes in ownership under different rules, the mulageni system was primarily in practise. Animal husbandry was also an important part of the milieu as any other aspect of agriculture. The Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act was enacted during the tenure of S Nijalingappa in 1964, when the movement against cow slaughter led by the Sangh, was at its peak. This wasnt the first law on cow slaughter to be passed in the region though. Hyder Ali who ruled Mysore from 1761 to 1782 outlawed cow slaughter. The law didnt apply to Coastal Karnataka, which was part of colonial Madras Presidency. But after the formation of the state of Karnataka, this Act would for the first time apply to Coastal Karnataka as well. Farmers routinely buy and sell cattle. Now the issue has turned communal because the business is almost exclusively being monopolised by Muslims. The situation was different 40 years ago," says Suresh Bhat Bakrebail, a retired engineer. Suresh Bhat has been documenting vigilantism in the name of the cow for close to two decades now. In his experience, he says that almost every case involves the seller informing the Bajrang Dal of a soon-to-happen transaction and them forming a plan around this. Most of the cases are pre-mediated. The police is informed." Would India have agreed so readily to the Indus Waters Treaty if she had not needed to be in the World Banks good books? Thats a question only history can answer. Defanging the Hydro-Threat What might have been had India not been partitioned? Had Jinnah not died? Had China not taken over Tibet? In a previous column, we saw how the Indus Valley was transformed by the British a transformation rooted in securing a territory and prioritising immediate revenue gains over longer term local resilience. These changes paled before the Partition of the Punjab. Weaponisation of the Indus Partition. The line drawn across the Indian subcontinent accommodated political and religious pressures, while neglecting water realities. The Indian and Pakistani leadership were too mentally colonised to revert to their pre-British reverence for water. Cyril Radcliffe, a man who had little knowledge and far too little time, drew a line severing a land in days which had stood as one for millennia. When he suggested that perhaps the canals should be treated separately, Jinnah told him to get on with his job and that he would rather have Pakistan deserts than fertile fields watered by the courtesy of Hindus, while Nehru seemingly said that what India did with her waters was her business. Thus when the line was drawn, the bulk of the lauded irrigation canals lay in Pakistan while the headworks were in India. The Indians were unhappy because, as Ashutosh Mishra writes: Pakistan ended up with 18 million acres of irrigated land for 22 million people in the Indus River system. India received 5 million acres for 20 million people. This was worsened by the exodus of Partition, where many had to leave their fertile fields and cross the border. Eastern Punjab looked enviously over the line at the rich Pakistani lands, which just days before had been theirs. Pakistan faced an existential crisis because it was fully vulnerable to Indias ability to turn off the tap at the Ferozepur headworks, which lay in Indian hands. Here, we see a potent example of the weaponisation of dams. Dams, or the temples of modern India as Nehru called them, are powerful, curious things. On the one hand, they help store water and assist in flood control. They generate hydroelectric power, which with very few direct greenhouse gas emissions, is considered a green source of power. Dams can provide thousands of jobs during their construction, as the Hoover Dam did during the Great Depression of America, and act as visible symbols of the power of a nation the temples of modern India indeed. Dams, however, have their disadvantages. When a river is dammed, the water accumulates behind the dam creating a reservoir and submerging anything that might have existed there before homes, forests or cities. This is a problem for the former residents. Dams also prevent the movement of silt carried by the rivers to cross the dam with the result that the fertility of the areas downstream is limited. Farmers often talk about the water being thinner and less nourishing when a river is dammed. Moreover, dams can trigger seismic activity especially the truly large ones constructed close to geological fault lines. Think of what millions of tons of pressure exerted by the water held in the reservoir can do to a fault line. Many consider the Great Sichuan Quake of 2008 that killed 70,000 and left millions homeless to be caused by the Zipingpu dam, located 5 km from the quakes epicentre. Dams are also potent geopolitical weapons. After all, the flow of a river is controlled by the dam. It can be increased or reduced, potentially reducing flooding during peak rainfall and reducing drought by releasing water during lean times. However, if the dam is controlled by another country, the control itself is a potent tool of ensuring the good behaviour of downstream countries which brings us back to the Indus. The rivers which flowed from India to Pakistan did not pause for Partition. To protect the interests of the downstream population, a standstill agreement was signed on 18 December 1947, which provided that the allocation of water in the Indus system would be maintained until 31 March 1948. In October of 1947, thousands of raiders (aided and abetted by the Pakistani Army, as many believe) entered Kashmir and proceeded to loot and plunder. This action forced the hand of the indecisive Hindu Maharaja to ask the Indian army for help and sign the Instrument of Accession. Over the winter and the spring, the first war between the newly minted nations continued. Names like Poonch and Uri, which light up in our minds because of current-day associations, were battlefields where boundaries were secured and defended by military action. The Standstill Agreement expired on 31 March 1948. India flexed her hydrological muscles by turning off the water flow on 1 April 1948. As a result of which, 5.5 percent of the sown area watered by canals dried up just before the critical sowing period in Pakistan. Lahore lost its main source of municipal water. With millions of refugees to be fed, Pakistan had to consent to an agreement that required it to pay for whatever waters it received through the Indus river system. The dam proved to be a potent and strategic weapon indeed as a ceasefire agreement followed shortly thereafter in August 1948. The majority of Kashmir became a formal part of India. Neutering the weapon: Enter America This is where the story becomes most interesting. Why did India, who held all the cards, as AA Michel quotes a Pakistani negotiator as saying, move to a situation where it neutered its advantage? Seen in pure negotiating terms, India had the superior in-going negotiating position upstream, with a functioning tap to compel obedience in an inimical neighbour, with no real need to please that neighbour. How did that transform to a treaty where Pakistan not only got unfettered access to 81 percent to the waters of the Indus river system, but also got to defang Indias tap (and got India to pay for part of that privilege)? To answer that question, we must step back to understand the global zeitgeist at that time. As the 1940s gave way to the 1950s, Britain gave way to America, and the Great Game morphed into the Cold War, pitting American capitalism against Russian communism. 1950 was a momentous year. China occupied Tibet and signed a 30-year pact with the erstwhile USSR. America needed a foothold in the sub-continent. Pakistan seemed ideal: small, poor, and with a location to die for (adjacent to both Afghanistan and China). Americas wooing of Pakistan began with inviting Pakistans Prime Minister Khan for an official 23-day state visit to the United States beginning on 3 May 1950. During this visit, it is alleged that President Truman requested Pakistan's premier to let the CIA set up a base in Pakistan (something he was said to have refused). To hedge its bets in the subcontinent, the World Bank advanced a $18.5 Million loan to India for Damodar Valley. America had thus inserted herself into the affairs of the subcontinent. This was a colonialism by commerce and the philosophy spread around the world, some argue, by the actions of the World Bank. Americas insertion deepened with the visit of David Lilienthal, or Mr TVA, as he was called. Lilienthal was a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority, a dam system set up during the Great Depression, to provide power to several American states. He visited India in 1951 as a personal guest of Nehru and later Pakistan as well and wrote a set of influential articles that characterised the Indus waters as an engineering problem not a political one. Was this naivete? After all, Lilienthals experience was grounded in the TVA, which was a very different beast. The TVA did not cater to irrigation needs, did not have to deal with two inimical countries it was an organisation created during the Great Depression, to provide power and employment, and not sensitive to politics or timing of water flows. Lilienthal countered this by saying, plenty of water in the Indus system (in the western rivers to be sure), and two-thirds of it was running waste to sea. He was sure the answer lay in engineering and finance (perhaps with World Bank help). Certainly, the commercial potential of a giant Indus Water System with the engineering contracts, the orders for steel and concrete, the lucrative consulting contracts was vast. As a fascinating aside, in the construction of the Mangla Dam in PoK, 280 villages were submerged. As per the Institution of Civil Engineers, to which the lead engineer of the project belonged, one of the incentives given to the submergees was a UK work permit. Apparently, Around 70 percent of Britains Pakistani community originate from the community displaced by this dam. Even framed as an engineering problem, was it fair to say there was enough for future needs? To be fair, climate change at that time was not then in anybodys mind space. Coincidentally, Charles Keeling was soon to head to California to begin his CO2 readings that revolutionised our understanding of how our planets climate worked. But was it fair, based on a cursory visit, to say, that for two nations with burgeoning populations and rising economic, an engineering solution was sufficient for managing the waters of the Indus? Or was it spin? After all, embedding itself in an Indus water treaty, was a good way for the World Bank (and America) to entrench itself in the affairs of the Indian subcontinent, to guard against Russian incursion. Eugene Black, the President of the World Bank, and a friend of the well-connected Lilienthal made a visit to India and Pakistan the subsequent year, and persuaded the two nations upstream and downstream to agree to World Bank mediation, to agree to a new kind of standstill agreement and to send engineers to sort out the issue independent of the politics, and importantly of Kashmir. The next few years saw the engineers put forth their estimates of what current and future uses would be, that put paid to Lillienthals blithe claim that there was water enough for everyone. Meanwhile, around the engineers closeted discussions, the world began to change. India began to construct the Bhakra Nangal Dam on the Sutlej, upping Pakistani angst on their share of the waters. Bigger moves were made on the global chess board. Pakistan sank deeper into an American embrace, agreeing to accept American military aid in 1954 and join SEATO (whose stated aim was to prevent Communism from gaining ground). The American alliance came with benefits after all, the World Bank was headquartered in the US. Apart from being an impartial, patient, and persuasive mediator, the Bank also politely adopted tough postures in the interests of the negotiations and threatened to pull out if its independent proposals were overlooked. This threat worked on Pakistan, which, being the lower riparian, needed the Bank to be involved. India, too, was keen to keep the Bank in the loop for want of a second five-year plan, which required substantial economic aid that the World Bank could arrange. American angst increased with the French loss to Communist forces in Vietnam. But the die was perhaps truly case when the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited the Soviet Union in June 1955, and, in return, Nikita Khrushchev visited India later that year with the USSR formally supporting Indian sovereignty in Kashmir. The lines had been drawn: US-Pakistan vs Russia-India. 1956 saw Pakistan lease space to America in the Peshawar Air Station to US for intelligence gathering. The World Bank meanwhile released its Aide Memoire, acknowledging the timing of water required additional storage facilities and link canals than originally planned for. India, naturally, baulked at the $2.3 billion bill. It was an uneasy stalemate, as the focus shifted to economics of the issue. Losing the Battle: Water and Finances Then drought struck India. Predicted losses to agriculture in India were 50 percent during the drought of 195758. This partially contributed to the unfolding balance of payments (BOP) crisis in India. The BOP account turned from a surplus of $38 million in 1955-56 to a huge deficit of $620 million in 1957-58. This was due to both heavy imports of capital goods to develop heavy and basic industries as per the Second Plan and food imports to support a growing population. India also became dependent on the wheat imported via the US PL480 programme that allowed for payments in local currency. India had to rely on the World Bank's good offices to put together a consortium to fund its external currency needs. Those good offices came with strings attached. In 1959, when Eugene Black visited India, he got Nehru to agree to the Indus Water Treaty, wherein the three western rivers would go to Pakistan (with a small portion for India to develop for Domestic Use and the generation of Hydroelectric power), and moreover, for India to pay 62,060,000 towards the cost of replacement works that allowed Pakistan to break free of the Indian headworks. Additionally, India would, for a 10-year transition period, continue to supply water to Pakistan. To sweeten this pill, the Bank would sanction a loan towards a Beas Dam. Eugene Black had a busy and productive 1959: he managed to persuade friendly governments to committed $541 million in grants to Pakistan towards the total bill of $893.5 million of Pakistani infrastructure needed. Would India have agreed so readily if she had not needed to be in the World Banks good books? Thats a question only history can answer. If there ever was a lesson for fiscal prudence, this is it. But the deed was done. In short order, in September 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, neutering any hydrological disciplining tool that India possessed For 12 years, there had been peace between India and Pakistan. Just over 4.5 years after the treaty was signed, the second Indo-Pak war began. Also read part one of this series on Firstpost. The writer is the founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute, cleantech angel investor and author of The Climate Solution India's Climate Crisis and What We Can Do About It published by Hachette. Follow her work on her website; on Twitter; or write to her at cc@climaction.net. The LSE student union issued a statement condemning the alleged comments of Vasudev calling a Muslim student during an interaction a 'Talibani'. The London School of Economics' student union on Friday issued a statement condemning spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev's alleged comments calling a Muslim student during an interaction a "Talibani". Vasudev was delivering a lecture at the university called 'Youth and Truth: Unplug with Sadhguru'. After the talk, Vasudev reportedly had a discussion with Bilal Bin Saqib, during which he called him a "Talibani". The students' union (LSESU), in the statement issued on Thursday, said that it was "deeply disappointed" by Vasudev's comments and "viewed them as Islamophobic". Asserting that such language did "not have a place" on the LSE campus, the organisation said, "If the comments were made in jest, this does not lessen their impact the words still offend. Such incidents, if not duly denounced, aggregate to create a culture where casual Islamophobia becomes acceptable." The students' union also demanded a formal apology from Sadhguru. However, when the union contacted Vasudev for a statement on the matter, the spiritual leader denied an "intention to abuse or insult" Saqib. He said, "I would like to tell all those concerned that the word Taliban in Arabic means an ardent student, which Bilal definitely is, as also the other two students are. "This term is always used in India in relation to someone who is over enthusiastic. It is in that context that I was joking with Bilal, it is very unfortunate that it has been projected this way," he said. Vasudev also added that the video clip of the discussion had been "mischievously edited". "This private conversation was mischievously edited, with what intent, I am unable to fathom," the statement said. "I wish to anyway apologise to the London School of Economics and the Students Union, if it offended any of you in some way." The LSESU denied Sadhguru's claim of the video having been edited. "We do not believe the video was 'mischievously edited' and have heard no reports supporting the common use of Taliban in India as meaning over-enthusiastic," the statement said. "We believe that individuals who have many followers, hold power and status, and claim to promote tolerance, should be aware of and sensitive, to the political and extremist connotations attached to the word Taliban in our current context. Casual Islamophobia such as this perpetuates the culture of misunderstanding and judgement...This is especially relevant given recent spates of terror against Muslims in Britain, New Zealand and around the world," the statement concluded. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that Hindus have never been involved in acts of terrorism, but many who participated in the freedom movement would disagree Walter Rands elegant, horse-drawn carriage pulled out of Government House around midnight, where Poonas elite had been celebrating Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee, and headed, military escort trotting alongside, down whats now Senapati Bapat Marg. His assassins were waiting for him: men who were proud Hindus, and terrorists. In 1897, the Chapekar brothers Damodar, Balkrishna and Vasudev carried out the first act of terrorism recorded in India. Rands efforts to stamp out plague in the city had included public strip searches outraging conservative Hindu opinion. He had made himself an enemy of our religion, a confessional statement to police reads. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that Hindus have never been terrorists, but many who participated in the freedom movement would have disagreed. From 1906 to 1917, colonial records document 210 revolutionary outrages, as well as another 101 attempted acts, involving some 1,000 terrorists in Bengal alone. There were another 189 incidents from 1930 to 1934 claiming the lives of nine British officials, including an Inspector-General of Police. Early in the last century, Aurobindo Ghose and his lieutenant, Jatindranath Banerji, began popularising the idea of a violent revolution against the British. But, with a population disarmed by law, insurgency was impossible, making targeted terrorism the only viable option. The ideological currents the revolutionary terrorists tapped were diverse: Marxism, anarchism, Irish nationalism. For many, though, the creation of a masculine Hindu nationalism was key to this process. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who went on to lead the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, set up Abhinav Bharat in May, 1904, to begin this project. In one manifesto, Savarkar organisation, Abhinav Bharats followers promised to shed upon the earth the life-blood of the enemies who destroy religion. Later, the radical right journal Yugantar argued that the murder of foreigners in India was not a sin but a yagna. In some revolutionary literature, Islam was seen as having sapped Hinduism of its energy, enabling British colonialism. Edinburgh-educated Pandurang Bapat played a key role in providing Indias terrorists the technology they needed . In 1908, Bapat is believed to have been given a manual for bomb-making by a Russian chemical engineer. Bapat insisted that his bombs never killed anyone. He was, however, suspected of involvement in the Alipore bomb case an attack on a British magistrate by Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki which missed its target, and killed two women. More often than not, scholar Walter Lacquer has recorded, the Indian terrorists managed to kill some innocent bystander rather than their intended targets. That wasnt always true: in 1930, revolutionaries raided the Chittagong armoury, losing 19 of their own but seizing arms, and destroying rail and communications lines. Narendra Modis approval rating climbs 10 points to 63 per cent in second wave of survey even as he quadruples lead over Rahul Gandhi (16 per cent) With the first phase of voting in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections less than a week away, media commentators appear to have developed consensus around three factors. First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is by far the most popular leader in the country today. Second, despite Modis popularity, the Bharatiya Janata Party is unlikely to repeat its 2014 performance. It may emerge as the single largest party by a wide margin, but crossing the majority mark on its own would be a miraculous achievement. And third, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party seem to have lost the momentum generated in the aftermath of the partys victory in the December 2018 Assembly elections. The second wave of the National Trust Survey conducted by Firstpost-IPSOS, which polled more than thirty-one thousand voters from March 2 to 22, gives us useful data with which to test this consensus. The survey points to a particularly interesting feature about the 2019 campaign: it is Modi who seems to be contesting the election on behalf of the BJP, with the party itself playing second fiddle to the prime ministers positive perception among voters. This does not mean that respondents have a low level of trust in the BJP for solving the issues that are facing the country today. In fact, the BJP is far likely to be trusted than the Congress on most issues. The trust in the BJP is higher on issues related to infrastructure, national security and corruption. Notably though, the trust level in the party is lower when respondents are quizzed about job creation and on keeping the prices of essential commodities under check. The data also points that respondents are more likely to trust regional parties like the Trinamool in West Bengal, the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, the Telegu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana, Left Front in Kerala, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu. The prime minister manages to transcend geographical and social divides whereas the partys popularity is constrained by these divisions. In comparison to the previous round of the National Trust Survey conducted in November-January 2018, preference for Modi as the next prime minister of India has increased by 10 percentage points. Modi, who enjoyed approval rating (52.8%) levels two times more than Rahul (26.9%) has now doubled the lead to four times, 63% against 16%. The perception around Modis performance as prime minister has also gone up in similar proportions. More interestingly for the BJP, the prime ministers approval rating in Odisha and West Bengal, though still below his national average, is significantly high. It is possible that a concerted campaign by Modi in these two states may bring rich dividends for the party. The trust survey also highlights the emerging faultlines as it shows that in many parts of North-East India, despite BJPs successful inroads in these states, the PMs rating remains far below the average. In contrast, the approval rating for Rahul Gandhi has declined considerably in the past few months. In fact, respondents are more likely to find Modi as warm and favourable over Gandhi. Not only has the gap in the popularity levels of the two leaders further widened, but Rahul Gandhis public perception remains poor. Only a small proportion of respondents think that he has shown great maturity in understanding Indias problems. Sadly for the Congress party then, Rahul Gandhis leadership is unable to galvanise that sizeable section of Indian society which can challenge the BJP and its allies in reaching the majority mark. A caveat Before we delve deeper into the reasons behind the huge popularity of PM Modi among Indias electorates, it is important to understand the context. Prime Minister Modi even during the 2014 elections was immensely popular, and incumbent leaders generally enjoy greater favourability at the time of elections, unless there is huge public anger against their government. An incumbents leadership rating gets further accentuated when the Opposition does not have a clear prime ministerial preference. Moreover, incumbents in general, and right-wing incumbents, in particular, are likely to get a bump amidst a national security crisis. The Pulwama tragedy and Indias response by conducting airstrikes deep in Pakistan have further strengthened Modis image as a decisive and strong leader. The survey was conducted a few days after Indias airstrikes when the PMs popularity must have peaked. This claim is further buttressed by the survey data that shows awareness regarding the issue is substantially high, and there is strong approval of the governments action. Finally, one also needs to be careful in interpreting exact numbers, as the survey design, question syntax, and pre-ordered categories may result in different estimates on the same issue. For example, if a survey question asks who would you like as the next PM between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, it is likely that more responses would converge in favour of Modi than in a question that asks about PM preference in an open-ended manner. BJP strategy Why has the BJP chosen to play second fiddle to PMs popularity in the run-up to 2019? The National Trust Survey confirms something that many have alluded to: public faith in Modi is primarily built on abstract notions, not concrete issues. The data suggest that respondents are disposed to rating Modi favourably due to their perception of him creating a better image of India abroad, capacity for taking big risks, bringing big changes and taking care of the country. The perception of ensuring equality among various groups seems to be the least favourable reason. Similarly, economic policies such as demonetisation, the Goods and Services Tax, black money, and the Make in India initiative are considered less successful, especially in comparison to Ujjwala yojana which a larger number of respondents believe to be a highly successful scheme. In this scenario, the Congress must avoid a direct leadership battle vis-a-vis Modi and make efforts to divert the election discourse to economic concerns of Indian voters. The promise of `72,000 per annum to 20 per cent of Indias poorest may be a well-intended schemeand may also undercut the BJP gains from `6,000 to farmers. But the key difference is that somehow Modi manages to weave his policies into a language of empowering Indians while Rahul Gandhi falls in the trap of patronising promises. The findings from the survey make the electoral logic behind the BJPs campaign plankModi hai to mumkin hai (Everything is possible with Modi)is very evident. PM Modi is more popular than the party, and he alone can ensure its return to power. In the post-Pulwama scenario, the BJP has focused on national security issues that keep its Hindutva base energised and create the possibility of adding fence-sitters. If the BJP manages to cash in on Modis popularity, they may have a home run even in states like Uttar Pradesh where a strong coalition of opposition parties is challenging them. However, such a campaign plank with over-reliance on a charismatic leader has its downside. It may bring the BJP closer to victory in 2019, but is likely to change the social fabric of Indian democracy as well as BJPs organisational capabilities in the future. Will Indians vote on who becomes their prime minister or will they focus on electing their Members of Parliament (MP)? If it is the former, then this survey is unambiguous about the direction of the electoral wind. (Rahul Verma, Resident Political Analyst Network 18, is a fellow at the Centre for Policy Research) A well-designed national basic income scheme in the form of direct cash transfers could reduce the structural inefficiencies associated with these schemes "...Its the uncertainty", repeated Purna (not his real name) when I visited him a few years ago, after learning he had been ill with several chronic medical conditions. I could not see him for a few years as I was busy pursuing my own dreams. Purna is my childhood buddy with whom I grew up in a rural community on the north bank of Brahmaputra in Assam in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When his father passed away due to cancer, Purna, then 16, had to drop out of school to support his mother and two brothers. His family had to sell the tiny plot of agricultural land it owned, to partially cover the cost of the basic treatment for his father. Purna started earning by making various traditional household items with bamboo, and occasionally writing signs and banners. His mother would work in the neighbours fields or as a domestic help. For a while, they earned enough for his brothers to attend school. Purna got married and fathered two boys, but his income started dwindling as the market for his products shrank due to a change in peoples preferences toward factory-made plastic items and computer-generated signs. Initially, he would supplement his earnings by working as a daily wage worker. It was during this period that he took to drinking. As he said, it was the uncertainty of not knowing where the money would come from, for the next days food, to pay for the childrens school and other necessities. After a while, it started taking a toll on his health. As he became increasingly disabled, his wife stepped up to be the breadwinner. Along the way, their eldest son who, Purna believes, had a knack for engineering began his apprenticeship to be a mechanic at the local mobile phone repair shop. The kid had barely finished his secondary education. Like Purna, there are millions who dont know where their money will come from. They end up making poor choices that push them into the poverty trap. As numerous studies show, these decisions have consequences not only for the decision-makers but also for the larger society. The peace and prosperity of a society is intricately related to the incidence of poverty. At the fundamental level, a national basic minimum income more than just providing for food and clothing would save millions from making poor decisions by eliminating or reducing uncertainty. It is more relevant now than ever before. It's an act of desperation by the Congress With the onslaught of mechanization in agriculture, manufacturing and even services, the prospect of generating employment for unskilled, semi-skilled, or even skilled workers in large numbers, has been bleak. These developments have further added to the uncertainty. India has achieved faster economic growth since the 1990s. This period has also witnessed a substantial reduction in the rate of poverty and a rise in income inequality. India still has a sizeable population living under poverty. It is, therefore, a moral imperative that the country not only creates an opportunity for the unfortunate, but also puts a brake to rising income inequality. A national basic income could be the vehicle for achieving these dual objectives. It needs to be emphasized that the moral argument is more about creating opportunities than about creating a misplaced sense of right. Since Independence, India has been implementing several social safety net schemes that involve in-kind and in recent times limited cash transfers. Most policy evaluation studies acknowledge there is widespread pilferage and misuse of resources allocated to these programs. Consequently, the intended beneficiaries receive only a negligible proportion of the benefits. In fact, Purna told me how he worked for much less than the guaranteed 100 days a year with a job card under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and how money was siphoned off by unscrupulous Panchayat officials. A well-designed national basic income scheme in the form of direct cash transfers could reduce the structural inefficiencies associated with these schemes and improve the well-being of the recipients by expanding choices and reducing financial constraints. It can be argued that a basic income scheme would create the moral hazard of making people lazy and idle. Yet, knowing my friend Purna and many others like him, I would say that if such a scheme creates an enabling and empowering environment for even half of poor, societys gain will be much larger than its cost. Furthermore, designing the best national basic income scheme with the least amount of inefficiencies would be a second order problem, for which I believe there are extremely able individuals with relevant expertise and experiences. (Professor Hiranya K. Nath teaches economics at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA, and works with rural communities in Assam, India, to create an enabling environment for individual as well as collective peace and prosperity through Good Neighbor Initiative) It is quite bizarre that a party that boasts of a number of intellectual economists is coming up with a completely messed up income programme as this The idea of a universal basic income is wholly inappropriate for a developing country like India. What is more appropriate is a targeted basic income. Nor is the basic income concept akin to a negative income tax like what the Congress has espoused. So it is quite bizarre that a party that boasts of a number of intellectual economists is coming up with a completely messed up programme as this. Even if for a moment one assumes zero implementation problems, it is a flawed concept. Most economists have been advocating a targeted programme and what is called a top up programme which says I know what your consumption or income is and I think you should have more so I give that additional amount. The design of the Nyay programme says that each family, regardless of anything, will get 6,000 rupees. And that is faulty. Politically speaking, if you are giving money to the bottom 20 per cent of the poor, they are very happy but you have alienated the other 30 per cent poor-to-middle category. It is more relevant now than ever before In other words, I see it as an act of desperation by the Congress. I find it very sad that the Congress, instead of celebrating the decline of poverty in India which they brought about, is saying No, nothing has happened. After all, of the past 70 years, the Congress was there for all but 10. And from 2004 to 2011, India recorded good growth and poverty declined further. Even if you assume that there has been no improvement in poverty from 2011 or even from 2014 onwards, then too this programme is absurd. Look at the Congress manifesto: the party accuses the BJP of not increasing the Minimum Support Prices (MSP). But I believe MSP is one of the most corrupt programmes that benefits only the top 10 per cent of farmers, besides the politicians. Why should we have MSPs? Why not cash transfers? The BJP realised its error and finally opted for cash transfers to farmers. Look at it globally. No country has ever done this or a transfer like Nyay. What Finland and Switzerland were doing was to try out a universal basic income after a referendum on the issue, where everybody gets a certain amount. I am not a supporter of universal basic income at all and I dont think it works even for advanced countries. I also think that, partly, the present government messed up the discussion on universal basic income in the Economic Survey. I have consistently supported cash-back transfers to both support income levels of the poor and to improve efficiency of government expenditures. There is a conventional belief among economists and also in the World Bank that if you hand out cash to farmers, they will indulge in wasteful spending. In 1995, a Berkeley economist studied how cash subsidy to farmers was being spent. He found that 80 per cent was being investedThat started the train of thinking in academia and among policy makers as to whether to begin cash transfers or not. In 2000, I wrote a detailed analytical academic piece on poverty which is where I suggested that India should move towards cash transfers for the poor. After all, we had been doing in-kind transfers for the previous 25 yearsthe Public Distribution System (PDS) being a classic in-kind transfer. Back in 1985, Rajiv Gandhi deputed young IAS officers to study the process and that is when he came up with his classic assertion that only 15 paise of a rupee meant for the poor actually reaches the poor. Study after study had documented that for India. I studied the issue comparing the transfers in PDS as well as NREGA targets and found that only 15 per cent reached the poor. But now we have technology to identify the cash transfers and the beneficiaries and the wherewithal to target them very efficiently. Coming back to Nyay, we are already giving PDS subsidies, we give fertilizer subsidies etc.. But would it be better if we just gave them the cash equivalent to that subsidy? The Nyay programme doesnt want to remove any existing subsidies. They want to have it as a add on. The supplement to the poor comes in if you now look at the Indian Tendulkar poverty line in 2019-20, according to which only about 3-4 per cent of the population is living below the Tendulkar poverty line. I consider that absolutely unacceptable that the poverty line should be so low. So I have been advocating the increase of the poverty line for India. Obviously you cannot increase or decrease the poverty line when you are poor but as the income grows we should increase the poverty line which we havent done. What most of the countries in the world have moved to is a relative poverty line. So, I am for increasing the poverty line, I am for cash transfers as I want the poor to get more. Because society is now much richer than what it was. (As told to Sanjib Kr Baruah) (Surjit Bhalla is an economist, author and columnist, and a former member of the PMs Economic Advisory Council) The Tibetan spiritual leader, in response to questions during a press conference in New Delhi, also said, the Tibetans were 'open' to such a solution, while reiterating that he was not seeking Tibet's independence from China New Delhi: Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Thursday said people from Tibet have been seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue with China since 1974 but Beijing considers him a "splittist" though he isn't one. The Tibetan spiritual leader, in response to questions during a press conference in New Delhi, also said, the Tibetans were "open" to such a solution, while reiterating that he was not seeking Tibet's independence from China. "In 1974, we decided to not seek independence and seek a mutually acceptable solution. And, in 1979, we established a direct contact with the Chinese government. So basically, our side is open," the Dalai Lama said. "I am not a splittist, but Chinese government considers me a splittist," he said. So, the Chinese government "wants me to fight for Tibet's independence", he added in a lighter vein, drawing laughter from the audience. "Splittist" is a person who advocates separation from a larger body. He said he preferred Tibet remaining with China, with "some kind of a reunion". The Tibetan spiritual leader said, both sides can mutually benefit each other by harnessing their old links, and while China can help Tibet economically, Tibet can offer its knowledge to China. "China and Tibet have century-old ties, and through marriage also have very old links. The Dalai Lama also said he admired the "spirit of the European Union". "France and Germany were arch-enemies during World War II, but after the war, common interests were put above individual interests... The creation of the EU was wonderful," the 83-year-old said. To a question on China's stand on the next Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader said, "If I live for another 10-15 years, political situation in China will change. but, if I die in next few years, Chinese government will show the reincarnation must happen in China." China has said that the successor to the Dalai Lama must be chosen according to the religious rituals and historical conventions as well as the backing from the ruling Communist Party. Since he fled Tibet in 1959 to escape from the Chinese occupation, the Dalai Lama has been keeping China on tenterhooks about his successor. Central security forces were sent to West Bengal as early as two months before the Election Commission announced the dates of the seven-phase parliamentary polls that begin on April 11 and end on May 19. The jawans have since been staging route marches and area-domination exercises everywhere from the once Maoist-overrun western districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura to even middle-class localities in Kolkata. The immediate provocation was the allegation of the Opposition that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) would never allow fair elections. In the May 2018 panchayat polls, about 34 per cent of the seats went to the TMC uncontestedrivals were not even allowed to file nomination papers. Since the panchayat elections were fought on the issue of rural development, Anubrata Mandal, Birbhum district president of the TMC and a blue-eyed boy of Mamata Banerjee, asked opposition candidates not to venture out as unnayan (development) would be lying in wait. But can Mamata Banerjee alone be accused of bringing in violence to protect her dominance? Poll violence in Bengal is a known malady though never admitted in public by bhadralok of all camps. Why? A middle class that only has art and culture to showcase since Independence cant really admit that violence in different shapes and of varying scale has always been part of their culture. From Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyays Anandamath on the Sannyasi Revolt of the late 18th century and the terrorist groups during the freedom struggle to the Naxalite movement of the late 1960s and early 70s, violence has always been the theme around which politics has played out in Bengal. Its been said the three things that dominate life in Bengal are rosogolla, hilsa and bombs. The first question that comes to both the voter and the voteseekers mind here is how effective are the weapons and action squads of a particular political party. The parties know that power flows from fright, created not only by the gun but also by other life-taking devices, such as crude bombs, small arms and even knives and swords. On election day in 1977, this writer witnessed vans and jeeps full of armed cadres of the Congress (I) were roaming around the booths, scaring away voters, while CPI(M) cadres calm and focused herded committed voters to their assistance booths where workers were smearing coconut oil on the forefingers, so the ink mark could be wiped away. http://www.firstpost.com/india/why-mamata-is-playing-the-hindu-card-against-modi-6394811.html But even the CPI(M), once in power, steadily built a formidable arsenal and took shortcuts. As long as violence was judicious, the party ruled the roost for 34 years. But first Singur and then Nandigram changed the scene rapidly. The farmer, the slum dweller, the clerk, the small shopkeeper, the roadside hawker, the unemployed, and the army of domestic helps who commute to Kolkata homes of the bhadralok every morning from distant villages then lost faith in the red flag, and needed a face that spoke their language. Enter Mamata Banerjee. Subsequently, the Trinamool learnt the trick well too and turned out to be more effective since they didnt have to live up to the democratic and ideological commitments of the bhadralok class. The party just wants to be in power for all-round development. Now, the situation is such that even the BJP is looking at tricksters and bahubalis, such as former Trinamool MLA Arjun Singh, who is contesting against the partys old faithful Dinesh Trivedi, to face the challenge. The Congress can fight back in pockets, such as former state party chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhurys constituency, Bahrampur. The CPI (M) is keen on the dual strategy of guerilla warfare in the rural areas and the victim card the urban ones. But whoever wins most of Bengals 42 Lok Sabha seats this time and in the state elections in 2021 should remember that the bombs will be ticking for them too. (Debjyoti Chakraborty is a senior journalist) It is not surprising that the award-winning journalist and author of Gujarat Files Rana Ayyub finds herself on a global list of 10 journalists threatened for pursuing the truth; the list has been released by Time magazine and One Free Press Coalition. The list underscores the need to take a hard look at the violence meted out to journalists in any form for doing their job, and is as much a reflection of the governments in question as it is of their failure to implement the law of the land. It is not surprising that the award-winning journalist and author of Gujarat Files Rana Ayyub finds herself on a global list of 10 journalists threatened for pursuing the truth; the list has been released by Time magazine and a dozen leading news organisations called the One Free Press Coalition. The Coalition is standing up for these journalists from different countries. In a country where truth has become a casualty, and fake news thrives, Ayyub is certainly an exception for the lengths she has gone to, including going undercover to expose the reality of the Gujarat communal riots of 2002. In any other country she would be a celebrity and her audacity and relentlessness would be celebrated. But in a world where investigating a reality beyond propaganda is described as anti-national specially so since she is a Muslim and has to constantly prove her credentials Ayyub is the target of the worst kind of online harassment, which has driven her to anxiety and fears for her safety. While she has been awarded and recognised for her reporting, her life after the book was published in English and its translation into other languages has been hell. In her many invitations to speak abroad, she has been vocal about the severe threats and harassment to other Indian journalists as well. And she would be the first to acknowledge that she is not the only one under threat as her reaction on Twitter indicates: Not sure how I should feel about being on this list. But here I am. Among the 10 journalists facing the most urgent threats to press freedom around the world. Ayyub, facing escalating online threats, joins journalists from around the globe who have been killed, jailed, threatened all in the fair pursuit of their duties. The independent Indian journalist Rana Ayyub has spent her career covering taboo subjects, including violence against lower-caste groups and minorities in India. Because of her work, Ayyub has faced a wave of harassment on social media, including pornographic videos with her face Photoshopped in them and the publication of her address and personal phone number. It is shameful that social media has been put to such malicious and detrimental use by her detractors who have no sense of decency or fair play and will stoop to any level to threaten, slut shame and humiliate her. And nothing and nobody can stop them, it seems. Journalist Geeta Seshu, former consulting editor of the mediawatch site The Hoot and co-founder of the Free Speech Collective, who has been monitoring free speech violations in India for the last ten years, said that Ayyub is one among the notable journalists specially women singled out for online harassment, physical threats of gang rape or murder, and slut shaming, whose lives were clearly in danger. Journalist Gauri Lankeshs murder in 2017 is testimony to the fact that threats to her life were not taken seriously and the outrage came after she was gunned down in front of her home in Bengaluru. There was a need to focus on threats to journalists as a whole, more importantly those writing in the non-English media who are decidedly more vulnerable. Lankesh wrote in Kannada and was a popular writer with a clear anti-Hindutva stand. Translations of Ayyubs book into Hindi and other languages were accompanied by increasing abuse and threats, Seshu said. Ayyub was dubbed anti-national and ordered to leave for Pakistan, a favourite destination to despatch those with anti-national credentials. That Ayyubs reporting and book brings out unpalatable facts is evident from the hysterical reaction it has provoked, but that she is under so much strain and emotional trauma was also recognised by the United Nations' human rights experts who, in May 2018, called on Indian authorities to act urgently to protect her after she received death threats following an online hate campaign. The International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) in 2018 also issued a statement in her support, which said that it was distressed to learn about the dangerous online attacks and social media campaign against award-winning Indian journalist Rana Ayyub. Since 22 April, when a fake tweet that defended child rapists and said that Muslims are not safe in India was falsely attributed to Ayyub, dangerous online attacks against her have escalated. Her face has been morphed in videos and content calling for her to be gang-raped 'if she didnt stop talking against Hindus and [Narendra] Modi' has been circulating widely. Most concerning, she has been doxed that is her address and personal phone number have been made public creating the real possibility for her cyber-attacks to become physical attacks. Although the fake tweet and account have since been deleted, other fake tweets have been circulating, the IWMF said. It also pointed out that harassment in journalism and the media industry has risen to the forefront of public attention. The online world is where journalists experience most threats. When journalists are targets of online abuse, the attacks take a toll on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The chilling effect on individual journalists and journalistic lines of inquiry can lead to the silencing of diverse voices in the media. Many organisations have come out in her support and demanded freedom for women journalists to express themselves without fear. They demanded that the government investigate these threats and hold the social media platforms and the persons accountable but little has happened. In the murky, unregulated world of social media, which functions with impunity and lacks any accountability, action on the ground is too little and too late. Journalists like Barkha Dutt, Sagarika Ghose, Neha Dixit, Sandhya Ravishankar (who faced physical threats and attacks for her reporting on the sand-mining mafia), Tongam Rina (associ Modi government is being blamed for sabotaging the Samjhauta prosecution. The record, however, shows that the UPA must take the blame for the shoddy probe I have sent some three lakh letters, distributed 20,000 maps of Akhand Bharat on 26 January, but these Brahmins and traders have never done anything, raged the Hindu nationalist leader Baikunth Lal Sharma at a closed-door meeting with a small group of activists on Independence Day in 2008. I do not talk casteism. Its just that they dont have the potential; they dont have the aptitude for this kind of feeling. To awaken people mentally, I believe that you have to set re in society, at least light a spark, Sharma concluded. For over a year before that meeting, Indias police and intelligence services had long believed that a small core of Hindu nationalists had set about doing just that. Enraged by the Indian Mujahideens long-running terror-bombing campaign, which claimed hundreds of lives, Hindutva terrorists had begun hitting back at Muslims: at Modasa, Malegaon, Ajmer Sharif, Hyderabad, and the Samjhauta Express. Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindutva-leaning government is being blamed for sabotaging the Samjhauta prosecution. In fact, records show, the United Progressive Alliance must take the blame for overlooking shoddy investigation. STRONG EVIDENCE From the outset, National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigators coming to the case more than three years after the 18 February, 2007 Samjhauta terrorist attack knew they needed hard evidence to back their case. The Haryana Police had, for example, collected closed-circuit television footage from the Delhi junction, hoping to identify the perpetrators. Forty closed-circuit cameras had been installed at Delhi junction, but only nine were working. There was no footage from the Samjhautas platform. Had the CCTV footage of old Delhi railway station been collected by the investigating agency and put to rigorous examination then some vital leads might have been obtained, the judge at Panchkula NIA court records. The NIAs case diaries, seen by Firstpost, show why this evidence wasn't placed before the judge: none of the perpetrators is on it. Call data that could have shown links between the perpetrators didnt exist. In 2011, the NIA asked service-providers for digital records of phone calls made by its suspects, only to be told the data was erased after 12 months. There was evidence that showed phones belonging to four members of the cell were linked but none to tie them to those alleged to have carried out the attack. NIA investigators also sought to establish that the men Lokesh Sharma, Rajender Chaudhary, Amit Chauhan and Kamal Chouhan alleged to have planted the fire-bombs on the Samjhauta travelled to Delhi from Indore on 17 February, and stayed at the stations dormitory before the attack. Ticket records that could have borne out the claim though had been destroyed. No witnesses to their travel could be found. And the station dormitorys records didnt bear their names. Even when witnesses could be found, their stories werent useful, judge Jagdeep Singh notes. Ram Pratap Singh, a Bhopal resident, claimed to have attended an 4 April, 2008 meeting where Naba Kumar Sarkar, also known as Swami Aseemanand, advocated bomb-for-bomb attacks on Muslims in the same way the jihadis are attacking Hindus religious places. But this meeting, coming nine months after the Samjhauta strike, didn't prove intent, the judge noted and, in the witness box, Singh failed to identify Sarkar. There was no NIA witness who could show that the accused ever attended any conspiracy meeting with respect to Samjhauta Express train blast, Judge Singh said. NIA investigators were also unable to establish where the bombs components were obtained from, or who assembled them into a lethal device. In other cases, promising witnesses led to dead ends. NIA investigators were able to establish, using forensic means, that the suitcases carrying bombs were fitted with cloth covers stitched at Indores Kothari market on February 14, 2007. The judge faulted the NIA for not holding an identification parade to see if the tailors at the store could identify the person who got the covers stitched. The NIA had in fact shown them photographs of the suspect and drawn a blank, the case diaries show. Aseemanands confession the most powerful evidence the NIA had in its possession was rejected by Judge Singh, who said it was not corroborated by other evidence, the key legal test of its credibility. The judge criticised the NIA for failing to pursue claims that Aseemanand had made the same confession to a prison inmate, Sheikh Abdul Khaleem. However, the case diaries show the NIA questioned prison guards to corroborate Khaleems claims, only to find Aseemanand was in solitary confinement throughout. The best evidence, which could have clinched the issue, was withheld by the prosecution, the judge wrote of the NIAs decision not to produce Khaleem. But Khaleems testimony, the case diaries show, was in fact withheld because it weakened the prosecutions case. Frankly, this case should never have been brought to trial, says a senior NIA official involved in the case. Lack of evidence had identical outcomes in several other cases, too, with all five suspects prosecuted for the bombing of Hyderabads Mecca Masjid walking free. The NIA secured convictions against former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activists Sunil Joshi and Devendra Gupta for a terrorist bombing at the Ajmer Sharif shrine, along with Bhaveshbhai Patelbut seven others were acquitted. In some cases, the pressures on the NIA to secure convictions had bizarre outcomes. In the Samjhauta case, the NIA produced Bharat Rateshwar as a witness, after he confessed to his role in the attack and sought a pardon in return for cooperation with the prosecution. Later, though, Rateshwar resiled on his confession, and was promptly prosecuted by the NIA for allegedly participating in the Ajmer and Mecca Masjid bombingsonly to be acquitted. LIVE THREAT The story isnt, however, quite over: Hindutva activists Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sandeep Dange and Ramesh Venkatrao Mahalkar alleged by the NIA to have organised and executed the bombing, are fugitives. Police operations continue to target the suspects: just in November, Suresh Nair, named along with Kalsangra and Dange as a perpetrator of the Ajmer Sharif shrine, was arrested. Future arrests could lead to new trials. That the NIA did secure convictions against two terrorists involved in the Ajmer Sharif shrine, makes clear the agency wasnt looking in fundamentally the wrong place and thats something which should concern Indians, irrespective of politics. From 2003, hardliners disenchanted with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh began drifting away from democratic politics to a new cult of the bomb. In August 2004, 18 people were injured in the bombings of mosques at Purna and Jalna. In the summer of 2006, Naresh Kondwar and Himanshu Phanse of the Bajrang Dal were killed in a bomb-making accident in Nanded. Then in June 2008, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti operatives were held for the bombing of the Gadkari Rangayatan theatre in Thane. Later, in October, Bajrang Dal-linked Rajiv Mishra and Bhupinder Singh were killed while making a bomb in Kanpur. Former Maharashtra director-general of police KP Raghuvanshi said in an interview that the Nanded incident could have frightening repercussions. The collapse of the Samjhauta prosecution will have far-reaching consequences and not just for the families of the 70 children, women and men killed on the train. Each time New Delhi raises Pakistans failure to prosecute terror cases, including 26/11, its own failure to prosecute cases involving Hindutva terrorists will be held out before the world. Locked in a grim embrace, jihadist terrorism and Hindutva terrorism have fuelled a cycle of hate which has the potential to tear the country apart. Politics blinded the criminal justice system when the Samjhauta prosecutions began. Its imperative that this not be allowed to happen again. The article first appeared in Firstpost Print The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear on 10 April a plea of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking bail in three cases related to the multi-crore-rupee fodder scam, in which he has been convicted. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear on 10 April a plea of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking bail in three cases related to the multi-crore-rupee fodder scam, in which he has been convicted. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to file reply by 9 April and said Yadav's bail plea will be taken up for hearing next Wednesday. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo, sought urgent listing of the bail plea saying notice has been issued in the matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the agency needs to file reply in the matter. "You (CBI) file the reply by 9 April. We will take up the matter (Yadav's bail plea) on 10 April, the bench said. Prasad, currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, has challenged the 10 January verdict of the Jharkhand High Court dismissing his bail plea. The three cases in which Prasad has been convicted are related to the over-Rs 900-crore fodder scam, which pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of money from the treasuries in the Animal Husbandry department in the early 1990s, when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. The RJD was in power in Bihar with Prasad as the chief minister when the scam had allegedly taken place. Kanishak Kataria the UPSC 2018 topper is a BTech (computer science and engineering) graduate from IIT Bombay belonging to the Scheduled Class category. The other nine candidates in the top 10 category in the exam are Akshat Jain, Junaid Ahmad, Shreyans Kumar, Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, Shubhan Gupta, Karnati Varunreddy, Vaishali Singh, Gunjan Dwivedi, Tanmay Vashistha Sharma. UPSC 2018 Result | The Union Public Service Commission declared the result for the 2018 final examination on Friday, and recommended a total of 759 candidates for civil services. Kanishak Kataria the UPSC 2018 topper is a BTech (computer science and engineering) graduate from IIT Bombay belonging to the Scheduled Class category. He qualified the examination with mathematics as his optional subject. Speaking to ANI, Kataria said that it was a surprising moment for him as he had never expected to secure the first position. Kanishak Kataria, AIR 1 in #UPSC final exam: It's a very surprising moment. I never expected to get the 1st rank. I thank my parents, sister & my girlfriend for the help & moral support. People will expect me to be a good administrator & that's exactly my intention. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/IBwhW8TJUs ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 The other nine candidates in the top 10 category in the exam are Akshat Jain, Junaid Ahmad, Shreyans Kumar, Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, Shubhan Gupta, Karnati Varunreddy, Vaishali Singh, Gunjan Dwivedi, Tanmay Vashistha Sharma. There are 10 women in the top 25 candidates. While Kataria and second rank-holder Akshat Jain hail from Rajasthan, Junaid Ahmad who secured the third rank is from Uttar Pradesh. Akshat Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Guwahati, told PTI he was elated and one of the reasons why he appeared in the civil services examination was to serve the society. Hailing from Jaipur, Akshit's father is an IPS officer while mother is an Indian Revenue Service officer, who also motivated him to join the civil services. "I would like to serve as an IAS officer in my home state Rajasthan," he said. Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, who holds a BE degree in chemical engineering from Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya in Bhopal, is the topper among the women candidates securing an overall fifth rank. Deshmukh, who will be the first civil servant in her family, is an MPhil in chemical engineering. She said she had faith in herself and that helped her clear the prestigious examination in her first attempt. Daughter of an engineer father and a pre-school teacher mother, Srushti hails from Bhopal. "I think it is the consistency and the faith in yourself that make one achieve all goals," she told PTI. Madhya Pradesh: Family of Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, all India rank 5 and topper among women candidates in #UPSC final exam, celebrate at their residence in Bhopal. This was her first attempt at taking the exam. She says, "It was my childhood dream." pic.twitter.com/z6iKGTsGF0 ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 The final ranks have been announced based on the results of the written part of civil services examination, 2018 held by the UPSC in September-October, 2018 and the interviews under the personality test held in February-March, 2019. Here's the UPSC's press release, with the list of qualified candidates: The number of vacancies reported by the government to be filled is as under: IAS-180 (including reserved category), IFS-30, IPS-150, Central Services Group 'A'-384, Group 'B' services-68. Educational qualification-wise, the top 25 candidates belong to subjects like engineering, Sciences, economics, law, mathematics; history; political science; public administration and commerce graduating from premier Institutions of the country such as IITs, NIT, NLU, BITS Pilani, DU, Mumbai University, Anna University, Pune University, etc. Optional subjects of the top 25 candidates in the examination ranged from anthropology, chemistry, commerce and accountancy, geography, law, maths, history, political science and international relations, public administration, psychology, sociology, and English literature. With inputs from PTI Madison Erhardt Kelowna resident Phat Ly thought he'd found love online. In January, Ly made a connection with a Moscow woman named Alina on an online dating site. The pair began exchanging emails, and once things began to get serious, Ly says he indicated he didn't want a long-distance relationship and wanted to meet in person. Alina then started emailing him, saying she was in distress and desperately needed money to survive. Ly, who recently lost his job, borrowed money from friends and managed to get enough to fly her to Kelowna. Once the flight was booked, Ly waited anxiously to greet his new found love at Kelowna airport, but she never arrived. What did arrive was another story of how she was denied entrance into Canada. She asked Ly for more money to try again, seeking $3,000. Ly borrowed more money and, even though he was suspicious, sent her the funds in hopes of a happy outcome. ''I fell in love with her," Ly admitted. But, once again, he was left waiting, and what he got was a tearful story of how she was robbed and assaulted. Ly realizes there is a 99.9 per cent chance this is a scam, but he still holds out hope. Im not stupid. I am very emotionally stable and logical,'' he said. "I need to know if she is safe. If she is a scammer, I'm OK with that. I learned my lesson, but she continues to write me back, so I don't know what to do or what to think.'' ''The spread of online dating ... has made fraud like this easier to commit,'' the Better Business Bureau says. The bureau reports victims in Canada and the U.S. have lost nearly $1 billion over the last three years. Ly is hoping someone who speaks Russian will help him clear the matter up. Contact Ly at [email protected]. The Congress has always been Hindu in its personality, signifying elite upper-caste interests but pulling in lower castes because of its policy of patronage The extraordinary emphasis on welfare in the Congress manifesto constitutes the beam and truss of the bridge that the party hopes to build between its predominantly upper-caste leadership structure and the teeming lower castes. The Congress hopes its version of social engineering will replace the politics of identity with that of interest and diminish the appeal of religion and caste. The manifesto also implies that the Congress will not directly engage the Bharatiya Janata Party in a competition on nationalism and Hindutva. Nor it will take on regional outfits on caste-based equity. The Congress self-definition has influenced its choice of welfare as a weapon to tackle them. A catch-all party, offering something to everyone, the Congress in its decades of dominance depended on the social alliance it had forged, in the main, between the upper castes, particularly Brahmins, Dalits and Muslims. It was Hindu in its personality for instance, its governments in four states passed anti-cow slaughter laws in the 1950s but eclectic and inclusivist in its ethos. It signified the elite upper-caste interests and yet pulled in the lower castes because of its policy of patronage. Mandal, or social justice, and Mandir, or Hindutva, gradually tore apart the social alliance of the Congress from 1990, particularly in north India, from where maximum number of MPs are elected to the Lok Sabha. A clutch of parties predominantly aligned with a numerous caste or two in different states cannibalised the subaltern base of the Congress for instance, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This, in turn, prompted the upper castes to switch to the BJP, through which they hoped to preserve their hegemony. Hindutva, after all, provided an overarching ideological framework to unite disparate social groups upper and lower castes, rich and poor on the basis of their Hindu identity. Yet majority eluded the BJP until Narendra Modis slogan of development gave Hindutva the sharp edge to slice through the support base of most political outfits in north India in 2014. It is impossible for a catch-all party to overtly resort to the politics of religion. The Congress cannot groom an Adityanath because it would alienate its minority and liberal Hindu voters across India. Nor can the partys Dalit leaders emulate Mayawati, who flaunted her caste identity in the 1985 bypoll in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, by saying, I am born of a Chamar mother. I have not forgotten my dalit and oppressed brothers the way that others, who live as slaves in Brahminical parties, have forgotten them. Mayawati was alluding to her Congress rival, Meira Kumar, a dalit herself. Kumar could not adopt Mayawatis tone as it would have alienated the upper castes from the Congress. Kumars speeches have always espoused the dalit cause as one of the many the Congress promotes. The difference between Mayawati and Kumars rhetoric is vividly illustrated in the academician Kanchan Chandras observation: ...Even in everyday conversations about Scheduled Castes, Kumar prefers to use the term they rather than we. Historically restrained from spawning an Adityanath or a Mayawati, welfarism becomes the Congress weapon to battle the practitioners of identity politics, both on the right and left of Indias ideological spectrum. Welfarism will have an echo among social groups which are, typically, poor and small in number. They are fragments of the support base of both the BJP and regional outfits. The manifesto, therefore, is unlikely to help the Congress quadruple its 2014 tally of 44 seats in the 2019 elections. Yet it could enable the party to build upon its last years victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh; or give it an additional momentum in, say, Kerala, where Rahul Gandhis decision to contest has queered the Lefts pitch. It also gives the Congress a campaign point in a state like Uttar Pradesh, where it is fighting solo, and in states Tamil Nadu, Karanataka and Bihar where it is part of an alliance. The Congress decision to make life difficult for regional outfits opposed to the BJP Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Left has been interpreted as a long-term endeavour to rebuild the party at their expense. Yet this possibility ignores the fact that if the BJP is unable to form a government, the Congress will need anywhere between 45%-50% of the majority figure of 272 seats to stake claims to lead a coalition of parties. Or else it could increase the bargaining position of regional satraps. Every seat counts for the Congress, which is what its manifesto seeks to achieve. (Ajaz Ashraf is a senior journalist) The Bengal chief minister has spared no occasion to throw punches at the BJP, even daring the PM and Amit Shah to compete with her in shloka recitation A day before the festival of colours, dressed in her trademark white tant sari, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee walked up to a cluster of television cameras and wished Holi mubarak to everyone. Maintaining her authoritative tone, in broken Hindi, she added, Radha-Krishna ko pushpanjali nivedan kijiye koi Ganpati ko kartein hai (You may offer prayers to Radha-Krishna some pray to Ganpati). Again, at a pre-Holi get-together with Marwari businessmen, she dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah to compete with her in reciting Sanskrit shlokas. Mocking the BJP, she said at the same gathering that while the saffron party had failed to keep its promise of building a Ram temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid disputed site in Uttar Pradesh, her government had undertaken development initiatives for Bengals Hindu religious sites such as Dakshineshwar, Gangasagar, Tarapith, Tarakeswar and Kalighat. The message of the Trinamool boss, who at a public meeting in January led a secular alliance of 23 parties to oppose the communal Narendra Modi, is loud and clear the battle with the BJP will be fought on religious lines. Mamata Banerjee is in a hurry to prove she is more Hindu than Modi, Kolkata-based political observer, researcher and activist Kumar Rana says. As BJP started emerging stronger in the state in the past two years, Banerjee has started appeasing Hindus and replicating the BJPs Hindutva brand of politics. Her approach is not as regressive as the BJPs, but it is soft Hindutva. By giving donations to Durga Puja committees, building temples and holding religious rallies, Banerjee and her party have taken a series of initiatives since last year, with the general elections approaching, to garner Hindu votes that the BJP has been eyeing. Banerjee announced the construction of a Jagannath temple in Digha, 183 kilometres from Kolkata. Mayor of Asansol, Jitendra Kumar Tiwari, has started mobilising funds to build 10 sun temples. A grant of `28 crore was offered to Durga Puja organisers out of state coffers. At a Martyrs Day rally on March 23, Banerjee emphasised that her party doesnt subscribe to the BJPs version of Hinduism but she rattled off a list of Hindu gods. Trinamool spokesperson Mahua Moitra denies that these are tactics to appease Hindu voters. This is a communal narrative which the BJP has been feeding the media, she says. The communists call it competitive communalism. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty says, After all, the Trinamool once was part of the BJP-led NDA (1999). The ideology is the same. It is competing with the BJP on communal lines. It helps both parties to divert attention of the people from real issues of the state corruption, unemployment, farmers distress and free speech. Thats the reason, Chakraborty asserts, why the Trinamool is becoming an active participant in communal politics of the BJP instead of resisting it. To counter the saffron partys Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti rallies, it has started organising its own. Trinamool workers are sprinkling Ganga jal and cow dung, both considered sacred by many Hindus, to purify the grounds where the BJP holds rallies. Banerjees party has given more space to the BJP and its fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to grow in the state. Over 250 new RSS shakhas have opened in Bengal in the 18 months. There is an upsurge of activities of Hindu radicals too. Soon after the Pulwama terror attack, a Kashmiri Muslim doctor was harassed by Hindu men at a market in Kolkata and they allegedly threatened him to leave the city. Two years ago, two Muslim men were lynched by self-styled cow vigilantes in Jalpaiguri. Such violence was unheard of in Bengal before. http://www.firstpost.com/india/poll-violence-does-not-really-shock-anyone-in-bengal-6394501.html But political scientist Maidul Islam points out that the fundamental difference between the two parties is the BJP has a mission of creating a Hindu Rashtra by subordinating religious minorities while the TMC believes only in public display of all religious festivals. That distinction doesnt seem to be strong enough to deter Trinamool leaders from switching loyalties to their enemy camp. Three Trinamool members Arjun Singh, Soumitra Khan and Anupam Hazra recently joined the BJP. This crossover is happening at the grassroots level too. A large section of liquid cash holders cement dealers, illegal sand miners and transporters fund the Trinamool and they have a huge support base, especially in rural Bengal. These people are largely anti-Muslim and up for the BJPs brand of petty nationalism. They are switching sides because they are more comfortable with the saffron partys aggressive Hindutva, Rana says. The trend can certainly help the BJP, which aims to win 23 of the states 42 parliamentary constituencies, up from the two it bagged in the 2014 general elections. Though some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders appear a bit perturbed to see Banerjee replicating their Hindutva politics, they assert that no amount of Hindu appeasement can help the Trinamool win this election. Trinamool is adopting such tactics in desperation because it dreads losing the polls, says Kolkata-based BJP leader Shamik Bhattacharya. Hindus, he asays, know they were never the first choice of Banerjee: after all, she was busy pandering to Muslims all this while. The CM offered a stipend to imams which was eventually struck down by the state high court, postured to offer namaz wearing hijab, and tweaked the schedule of Durga idol immersion to ensure Muharram processions were uninterrupted. All this irked a section of Hindus. Hindu vs Muslim tension has become the order of the day in the state which was relatively calm earlier. A series of riots have taken place in Dhulagarh, Basirhat and Asansol in the past three years. Bengal seems to be a veritable communal tinderbox now. Article 370 was added to the Constitution as a gesture of goodwill to show India's commitment to respect plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, but since demilitarisatin of the state is unlikely, the provision makes no sense today Article 370 of the Constitution of India is a temporary provision. It is imperative to keep the geopolitical context of those times while examining the impermanence of this provision. The Kashmir issue was sent to the United Nations, and the combined effect of several UNSC resolutions was, the fate of the state of Jammu and Kashmir was to be determined through a plebiscite. However, this was not so simplistic. The plebiscite was the second mention in the resolution, and the first one was the demilitarisation of the entire state, first by Pakistan (because it was the aggressor) and then by India, and then a UN-mandated plebiscite. These were 'sequential' considerations, and without Pakistan demilitarising the entire state, including the present geographic region of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin (the part of the state in Chinas actual control), India was not obliged even to withdraw its troops, let alone conduct a plebiscite. Therefore, the demand for a plebiscite does not stand any legal ground whatsoever, under Indian Law as well as International Law. India, in good faith, and as a gesture of goodwill towards International Law, inserted Article 370 in Indias Constitution, in furtherance to its commitment at the United Nations that indeed if there is a plebiscite, India will abide by its verdict, irrespective of its outcome. In the ensuing seven decades, Pakistan failed to demilitarise the region and instead militarised it even more, which remains the first condition of the UNSC resolution to come into play. However, India still retains Article 370 in its Constitution, and this goodwill remains the sole ground for defending the presence of such a provision in the Constitution. Mountbatten insisted in 1947 that Maharaja Hari Singh signs the Instrument of Accession (IoA) before the Indian Army can be sent in to fight the Pakistani marauders, who were pillaging through the Kashmir Valley. This insistence of Mountbatten is very important in the eyes of the law, solely because, the Indian Army could operate only on Indian territory and Kashmir would become an Indian territory only when the IoA was signed. Hence, it became an Indian territory from that moment onwards. Therefore, as soon as the IoA was signed, the state of Jammu and Kashmir became a part of the Union of India. The Union Government, thus became the sole sovereign in the region, not limited by any legal instrument whatsoever, because such is the nature of a sovereign. Moreover, the IoA was signed between the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the 'Dominion of India', both being non-sovereign entities and hence bound by an instrument like this. Technically, till the Constitution of India came into force, the British Parliament remained the sovereign over and above all such dominions, like that of India, Pakistan and the princely states like Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, the promises in IoA, legally do no bind the Union of India, which is a sovereign entity, created by the Constitution of India, and much later in time. Therefore, the debate on the legality of Article 370 is more or less futile, because it stands absolutely no legal scrutiny and the provision merely stands as a manifestation of good faith of the Indian Union. It is in the nature of Rule of Law that everything cannot stand the test of time, and therefore rights and duties are bound by a limitation', meaning that if they are not invoked within a period of time, they die their natural death. The seven decades that have lapsed are more than enough to make any temporary provision redundant. Since one knows that there cannot be any demilitarisation of the region by Pakistan and hence there cannot ever be a plebiscite, the presence of Article 370 makes no sense in the Constitution of India even today. Amendment to Article 370 The provision itself lays out a route for its removal. Clause (3) of the provision declares that only subject to other provisions of Article 370 itself, the President of India can delete the provision by a mere notification. Through a 'notification' means that Article 370 is so temporary that not even a legislative process of the Parliament is required to do it away. It can be done through an exercise of executive power. The contention is that for this to happen, the consent of the Constituent Assembly of the state is required. The advocates of Article 370 argue that since there is no Constituent Assembly, this provision has now become permanent. Though prima facie, this argument has some merit, however, nothing can be farther from the truth on two grounds. Firstly, any state Assembly or the Parliament has the constituent power and functions as a constituent Assembly when it amends any Constitution. Therefore, if the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly recommends the removal of Article 370, it does function as a Constituent Assembly in the eyes of the law, because it adds an amendment to the Constitution. Secondly, because Clause (3) of the provision provides a way to remove Article 370, it does not mean there cannot be other means to remove it. Article 368 of the Constitution vests Constituent Power of Indian State into the Indian Parliament, which theoretically is unlimited, and such is the wording of the provision. Clause 1 of Article 368 opens up with the words 'Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution....' This framing evidently means that this power is not limited by Article 370. The illegality of Article 35A Article 370, even though temporary, was enacted through a legal means and the due process was followed just because it was a part of the original draft of the Constitution as enacted by the Constituent Assembly. If there is an award for the most illegal provision in Indian Constitutional Law, it will be given to Article 35A. There is not a single argument, which can justify the legality of this provision and it is only a matter of a horrible surprise that this remains a provision recognised and enforced by Indian law. This provision is not even found in the main body of the Constitution of India. It is hidden in an Annexure. As has been explained above, an amendment to the Constitution requires an exercise of Constituent Power, which only flows through Article 368. However, the illegality of Article 35A is so absurd, that it was permanently added to the Constitution through an exercise of power under Article 370, which itself is a temporary provision, and through an executive action; which is the Presidential Order of 1954. All Presidential orders are products of executive exercise and do not involve the Parliament one bit. Not even a permanent law can be enacted in such a manner, let alone a constitutional provision. Future in the eyes of Law As far as Article 370 stands, if there is no political will to do away with it, it will remain a part of the Constitution and will remain recognisable in the eyes of the law, because it was appropriately enacted and remains sustainable that way. To do away with it or not, hence, remains a political choice and not a legal one. However, this also means that it does not have a permanent nature, as has been argued by some. Only the components of our Constitution which have been declared as part of the basic structure of the Constitution by the Supreme Court of India, are immune from the amending power of the Parliament. Article 370 has not been declared as such and hence if there is a political will to do away with it, there are no legal and constitutional impediments to it. Article 35A, however, is not sustainable in the eyes of the law, because the due process for its enactment has not been followed and it remains an illegal appendix to the Constitution. The author is assistant professor of Law at Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai. He tweets @raghavpandeyy On 27 March, the poll panel had sought NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar's response on his remarks in which he had attacked the Congress over its minimum income guarantee promise. New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday expressed "displeasure" over NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar's remarks against the Congress' proposed minimum income scheme 'NYAY' and said the comments violated the model code of conduct norms. In a communication sent to Kumar, the EC asked him to be cautious in future while making statements. The Election Commission asserted that the public servants should not only be impartial in their conduct but also in their public utterances, "which was found wanting in the instant case". On 27 March, the poll panel had sought Kumar's response on his remarks in which he had attacked the Congress over its minimum income guarantee promise. The commission had felt that since Kumar is a bureaucrat, his remarks were prima facie violative of the model code. Kumar is learnt to have told the Election Commission that he spoke against Congress' Nyuntam Aay Yojna (NYAY) scheme as an economist and not as part of the policy body. The commission, in its letter, said that it considered his reply and has not found it to be satisfactory. At a press conference here on 25 March, Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced that 20 percent families belonging to the poorest category will be given Rs 72,000 each annually as minimum income if his party comes to power. While BJPs Sofi Yousuf is almost a nonentity in this region for his lack of political sway over masses, Mehboobas only contest seems to come from Congress state president GA Mir. On Wednesday, when Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti paid her obeisance at a shrine in south Kashmir apparently to strike semblance with the voters, one of her party workers was shot dead in Kulgam. Between the divine intervention and the lurking gun, the former ally of BJP is trying to break the ice with the sulking populace in its erstwhile stronghold, which slid into chaos, right under her nose, in 2016. For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the party has once again fielded its chief whose ties with the terrain goes back to 1996 when as a daughter of then Congress veteran Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she would visit the grassroots grappling with heightened militarization. Her exhaustive field tripsnow part of political folklore in the valleyhelped raise whats known as floating vote bank for Muftis in south Kashmir. Later, the same vote bank would come in handy for them when they floated their own party, PDP, in 1999. Three years later, this new party would conveniently dethrone the traditional power centre, the grand old political party of Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference, to form the coalition government with the Congress. The tenure saw Muftis create another power centre, other than Srinagar, in their strategic south. But another coalition government that PDP formed with BJP in 2015 badly unsettled their stronghold. And much of the blame for that unholy alliance was put on voters of south Kashmir, said Imtiyaz, a onetime party diehard from Shopian. PDPs decision made Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh a reality in Kashmir. This was simply a treacherous tag for its thousands of supporters, scores of whom were killed for holding the party together. PDP defended its decision by saying that they took the call keeping the fractured mandate of 2014 Assembly elections in view. However, the party supporters who had sought votes against the BJP didnt buy it. Some of them eventually took arms, joined militant ranks and were subsequently killed in different encounters across Kashmir. South Kashmir, perceived as a pro-PDP belt, was majorly blamed for Sangh Parivars Kashmir advent, said Hameed Bhat, a PDP supporter from Anantnag. Such perceptions have made us partners in crime. It was in the backdrop of this seething sense that south Kashmir massively revolted in 2016. Had PDP not joined hands with BJP, perhaps things would have been different in this region right now. Since then, south Kashmirs four districtsPulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopianhave greatly suffered in renewed anti-establishment rage. The frequent encounters, regular blasting of houses, heightened militarization, raids and detentions have made it a war-torn zone. But despite the anger against PDP on the ground, the party seems to compete with only itself in the upcoming elections. While BJPs Sofi Yousuf is almost a nonentity in this region for his lack of political sway over masses, Mehboobas only contest seems to come from Congress state president GA Mir. Her main rival party, National Conference has also made it a cakewalk for her by fielding a lesser-known candidate, the former judge, Hasnain Masoodi. PDP in south Kashmir is like Modi in India today, said Zameer Misgar, a young teacher from Pulwama. Both of them lack a strong opposition and therefore, they might be a pariah, but they surely are competing with their own past. The absence of strong alternative is itself playing in favour of PDP, whose chief badly irked her vote-bank during 2016 unrest. Her controversial toffee remarks followed by her angry retort that she was the one who saved trouble-shooters of 2016 protests from the knives of Special Task Force lately forced her to tender an apology. She was clearly referring to Jamaat-e-Islami supporterswhose cadres were blamed for acting as spark plugs of the 2016 unrest in Kashmir. Now, Mehbooba is promising to lift the ban from the same Jamaat while seeking votes for the Anantnag constituency seat. Traditionally, too, the Muftis do hold their grip on the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, which was once considered as Congress bastion. Its candidate Mohammad Shafi Qureshi won it thrice1967, 1971 and 1977. Much of the credit for it is being given to PDP founder and father of Mehbooba Mufti, Mufti Sayeed, who created the base for Congress there. However, Muftis rival National Conference did manage to register three consecutive winsGhulam Rasool Kochak in 1980, Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah in 1984 and PL Handoo in 1989before it was finally won by Mufti Sayeed, then veteran Congressman, in 1998. After Mufti resigned to float PDP, NCs Ali Mohammed Naik won it back in 1999 bye-elections. Barring 2009, when Mirza Mehboob Beg won it for National Conference, Mehbooba twice registered wins from the seat -- 2004 and 2014. Now, banking on her fathers old Congress cadre and contacts, besides her own grass root activism, Mehbooba will be eyeing to secure another parliament berth from the south, which is otherwise sulking over the turn of events in the valley, ever since PDP shook hands with BJP. LOK SABHA ELECTION 2019 TRACKER: Who is campaigning where Farmers, whose votes arent driven by rural distress alone, remain divided by caste and class and have failed to turn their concerns into drivers of political behaviour Haroti, blanketing south-eastern Rajasthan, is a faded parchment, amber and crumpled from perennial lack of water. The Malwa Plateau to their east, the Aravalli Range in the west, the regions farmers are busy under the fiery sun digging up ripe purple onions; barley and wheat shimmer in the fields, buffaloes amble in muddy waterswater bought by farmers for Rs 800 every week. Less than a year ago, farmers across Haroti and its neighbouring Shekhawati region were marching to Jaipur and Sikar, demanding higher remuneration for their crops, better water supply and expansion of farm subsidy. From share-croppers and tillers to landlords and peasants, all renounced their distinct caste identities and unequal circumstances to forge a common identity. For political parties hoping farm distress will bring about the undoing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming elections to Parliament, that was good news. That oneness brought about the defeat of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in last years Assembly elections. But it proved short-lived, unravelling rapidly after the swearing-in of the Congress Ashok Gehlot as chief ministerand the reasons hold out important lessons on what role agricultural hardship will actually play in the Lok Sabha elections. From Jaipur to Sikar and Kota to Chhittorgarh, farmers still recollect their collective struggle of last year with the passion of a great battle won. But their memories are tempered by the realisation that changing the party in power has not altered conditions. The Congress had assured farmers that their loans will not have to be repaid once it came to power in the statea promise its yet to implement. Modis promised large-scale employment and doubling of farm income did not materialise either. Failed by all sides, farmers voting choices are being driven by factors like local equations and caste, which will help them secure some patronage and powernot big promises or grand narratives. BROKEN HOPES Farmers are like pigeons, says Arjunlal Nitharwal, a villager in Manoharpur, on the Sikar-Ajmer highway. Parties throw crumbs at us and reel us in. His family owns 35 bighassome 13 acresof farmland, shared between four brothers. This places Nitharwal in the category of a middle peasant: neither poor, nor rich. He also belongs to the landholding Jat social group, which dominates these parts numerically. Last year, they participated in the farmer agitation. The Nitharwal family stopped repaying their crop loans after Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced last year a waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh for Rajasthans farmers. After the agitation, the state government had given a Rs 50,000 discount on loan repaymentbut not much else has changed. Many farmers who participated in the agitation still face criminal charges, says Mahesh Nitharwal, Arjunlals son. In a two-party state like Rajasthan where voters have to pick either the BJP or the Congress, some farmers have started to wonder if the Congress loan waiver promise was just a trick to secure their votes. Others are more optimistic, but fearful that the banks will soon start calling in their debts. Chand Manihar, an onion farmer who has brought his produce to Sikars wholesale market, isnt among the optimists. Hes being offered Rs 2.5-Rs 4.5 a kilo, a price at which he cannot recover his costs. In every election, we vote for change but nothing changes, he says. https://www.firstpost.com/politics/fractured-land-fissured-ballot-6394231.html Loan waivers can help maximum 30 per cent peasants and minimum support prices at wholesale markets, not even 20 per centboth favour the big and rich. Direct income support can help the most; the best is market reform and investment in logistics and processing, says Ashok Gulati, Infosys chair professor, agriculture, ICRIER. Faced with the prospect that no party is going to address their economic concerns, some farmers say their voting choices will be driven by other national issues. Many cast the election as a presidential-style contest in which Modi is matched, usually very favourably, against Rahul. Modi is a better prime minister, says Nandkishore, a farmer in Mundwara village, Sikar. The country is less corrupt and armed forces deal with terrorists with a free hand now. POLITICS AND FARM HARDSHIP Last years Assembly elections from Sikar demonstrate how the farmers movement didnt necessarily carry into electoral politics. The CPM had led the agitation against the Vasundhara Raje Scindia governments neglect of the farm crisis. Amra Ram, vice-president of the CPMs All India Kisan Sabha and former member of Rajasthans Legislative Assembly, says, The unemployment crisis, atrocities against Dalits, the Hindu-versus-Muslim tension encouraged by the ruling BJP and high input costs in farms had brought rural society together. But the momentum of their movement did not carry Amra Ram back into the Legislative Assembly. People split into caste, religion and region-based differences because their interests as a class, as farmers, are discouraged by other parties, he admits. Farmer identity, experts note, is not a monolithic thing. All farmers are not the same, says Amita Baviskar, a sociologist with the Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi. That is why farmer is not a cohesive identity, she says. For instance, demands to hike the minimum support price (MSP) come largely from rural clans with enough land to produce a surplus that can be marketedlike the Nitharwals and Chand Manihar. Demands for loan waivers, similarly, are more strongly expressed by large farmers with connections in local banks that ease their way to credit. But smaller farmers and landless workers are more drawn to schemes such as public distribution of food grains and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Act (MNREGA), which boost their low income and improve their lives. Naturally, MNREGA is strongly opposed by farmers with larger holdings as it raises their labour costs, Baviskar notes. Similarly, castes able to secure their children a reasonable education agitate for government jobs. The less fortunate instead migrate to towns and cities as surplus agricultural labour, making daily wages. Often, the politics of farmers is subsumed under politics of intermediate castes. Leaders mobilise them on caste rather than occupational basis. Hence, farmers do not vote as farmers and there is no farmers party as such, says Suhas Palshikar, who taught political science at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune. Indeed, Sushila from Ralawata, a village roughly one hour from Sikar, has sought for NREGA work for the last five years. Her family is building a house with Rs 3.5 lakh borrowed from a private moneylender at high interest; she must repay Rs 10,000 a month. I really need NREGA, says the mother of four, who supplements her income with five goats and two buffaloesmilk sells for roughly Rs 40 a litre in her village though prices have dropped elsewhere. Even though MNREGA was a United Progressive Alliance scheme, Sushila backs Modi, on the grounds that he has proved to be an efficient administrator. So does Shankarlal, a Meghwal. Interestingly, Sushila and Shankarlal own small plots of agricultural landbut they are fallow from lack of irrigation. Both have switched to alternative sources of income but continue to stay in their village houses. While Sushilas husband drives taxis for the booming tourism industry, earning Rs 15,000 a month, Shankarlal has switched to masonry, farming only during the monsoons. In Ajmer, three hours from Sikar, those not even as fortunate as Sushila and Shankarlal gather every morning at Bihari Chowk to get hired as daily wage workers. By mid-morning, hundreds of men and women collectincluding a toothless grandmotherall seeking work. Many belong to landless families. Their daily income of Rs 200-Rs 500 buys food, a ticket to and from their village to the city and a surplus of anywhere from Rs 50-Rs 350. But the number of people finding work more than twice a week is falling after Rajasthan was forced by the Supreme Court to ban stone-crushing, squeezing the construction business. For the first time last month, I cleaned a sewer because lack of construction work, says Sonu, a 22-year-old seeking work. The government does nothing for the uneducated like us and we struggle the most to survive. The concentration of work force in agriculture is a critical issue that becomes serious because of the unemployability of educated youth and non-affordable good higher/skill education. Thus, the agricultural issue while being economic, is also socio-political, says Palshikar. Like farmers, though, the rural poor arent sure who to turn to: postdated cheques like the Congress promise of a universal basic income are treated with skepticism. Sonu says his family has traditionally voted Congress. The fact that conditions have worsened for them in recent months though has led some to consider voting for Modi. HEART OF DARKNESS From the heart of the farmers protests in the Hindi-speaking belt, Mandsaur, the complexity of their voting behaviour becomes apparent. Even though Mandsaura district of Madhya Pradeshsaw police violence against protesters in 2017, the BJP won here in the 2018 Assembly elections with a margin of 18,370 votesdown from 24,295 in 2013but emphatic nonetheless. If the BJPs votes in the Assembly constituencies of Jaora, Mandsaur, Malhargarh, Suwasra, Garoth, Manasa, Neemuch and Jawad are added upthe eight Assembly seats that make up the Lok Sabha constituency of Mandsaurits victory margin in the Lok Sabha will be 65,000. Thats far below the 300,000-plus victory it secured in 2013, but still comfortable. Budha, a village in Malhargarh Assembly constituency of Mandsaur, is part of a seat the BJP won by a wafer-thin 657 vote margin, down from 11,872 in 2013. Even so, no monolithic farmer vote bank was created here. Malhargarhs Saini and Brahmin votes did not migrate to the Congress while the landed Patidars deserted the BJP. Additionally, the influential Bania and Jain trading communities of Malhargarh turned against farmers, both electorally and socially. Their rift with Patidars arose during their protest at Pipliamandi in June 2017, in which the police shot dead six farmers. Local traders attacked farmers while police watched, says Dilip Patidar, a farmer from Budha who had led farmers to protest against the [Shivraj Singh] Chouhan government. In Pipliamandi, the nearest town, traders actually voted against farmers. That never happened before. I doubt the Congress will sustain its gains in Madhya Pradesh into the Lok Sabha polls, says Anand Rai, an activist best known for exposing the Vyapam scam during chief minister Chouhans reign. Activists nurtured the farmers protest and the Congress benefitted electorally, says Rai, but not giving the promised loan waiver has angered farmers again. In Balaguda, declared an Adarsh Gram in 2014, the main road is broken. There is no bank, no hospital, no doctor, no factory nearby and no work. The farmers participated in the 2017 protests. Furious, they voted against the government. The Congress, though, has neither withdrawn police cases against them nor waived their loans. Farmers, divided by caste and class, havent been able to turn their concerns into drivers of united political behaviour. Ramchander Patidar, an activist from Malhargarhs Barujna village, thinks its a lost cause. I have been striving for 20 years for farmers unity but unsuccessfully, he says. I dont think it will happen. Bihar is a state where caste identities probably matter more than the rest of India. The upper caste, Baniyas and Rajputs are firm with BJP, just as they have traditionally been. Yadavs and Muslims are more consolidated with the RJD and the Congress than they have ever been. The swing vote in Bihar is usually the non-Yadav Other Backward Class (OBCs) and the Economically Backward Class (EBCs). Editor's note: This is part of a multi-article series on the jobs crisis in the three states crucial to Lok Sabha election 2019: Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. *** Rahul Paswan takes a long, deep drag of the cigarette, sips the tea and declares that he will not be repeating the mistake he made in 2014. "Narendra Modi is a fraud," says the 27-year-old who has completed his MSc in Physics but failed to land a job. On a sweltering weekday at Ragehpura Mohalla of Darbhanga town, 200 kilometres northeast of Bihar's capital Patna, Rahul says, "Where are the two crore jobs? He fooled us with his 56-inches five years ago. Not this time." Bihar is a state where caste identities probably matter more than the rest of India. The upper caste, Baniyas and Rajputs are firm with BJP, just as they have traditionally been. Yadavs and Muslims are more consolidated with the RJD and the Congress than they have ever been. The swing vote in Bihar is usually the non-Yadav Other Backward Class (OBCs) and the Economically Backward Class (EBCs). However, apart from the non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs, the first-time voters and the young voters who fall in the aspirational class, are a critical factor this election, for they are more likely to go beyond caste identities than their parents. In Modis resounding victory of 2014, youth had played an instrumental role, after he had promised to create two crore jobs. The promise never materialised. Young voters of Bihar are languishing without jobs. According to the December 2018 Centre of Monitoring Indian Economy's report, Bihar's overall unemployment rate is at 10.9 percent, which is higher than India's 6.9 percent (as of 13 March). The unemployment rate among graduates in India is 13.2 percent, and those who have in Class 10 and 12 is 10.6 percent. In Bihar, however, the unemployment rate among graduates is 19.4 percent, and among those who have studied Class 10 and 12 is 18.6 percent. Rahul, a graduate in Physics, says. "I am not an exception. Last year, the civil court opened 27 vacancies for the job of a peon. The applicants had degrees like PhDs, MAs, MComs. I also applied, but I did not get through." Rahul is among the minority when it comes to his verdict on Modi. Majority of the youngsters employed and unemployed believe that the prime minister deserves another term. The combination of reasons includes his own popularity and lack of a credible leading face in the Opposition. At the peak of Modi's popularity, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had grabbed 31 seats out of 40 in Bihar during the Lok Sabha election in 2014. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) was not a part of the ruling alliance back then. However, the JD(U) of 2014 had Jiten Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha, who have a significant presence among their communities and are with the Opposition today. Even the youth in the state is no more enamoured by the BJP or the prime minister. The core vote of Modi may be intact, but the margin of swing vote is likely to widen. In the outskirts of Darbhanga, in a small village called Mathurapur, 27-year-old Naveen Kumar Paswan says Modi has a "pakode wali sarkar" that broke the 45-year old record of unemployment. "Modi has been a total disappointment," he said, adding, "He only knows how to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims. In the past five years, law and order situation in the country also has gone to the dogs." Naveen says there are no signs of job creation in Darbhanga. "I wanted to join either CRPF or BSF," said the 27-year-old, "But, I can also settle for a grade four job. That, too, is nowhere in sight. There are no vacancies in government jobs, and private industries are not coming up. Where do we go? Has Modi even thought of us?" LOK SABHA ELECTION 2019 TRACKER: Who is campaigning where There is no doubt that the BJP is contesting the elections piggybacking on Modi's popularity. The ruling party has tried, and succeeded, in shifting the narrative away from rural distress and unemployment towards national security to prop up the ruling government and prime minister's image. Wider consensus is that his campaign received a fillip post Balakot strikes. But the public in Bihar is not entirely buying the whole story. "Who saw how many terrorists were killed?" asks Amit Kumar, a graduate in polytechnics, who currently is jobless and is manning his uncle's medical store in Madhepura. "It could well be a ploy to gain brownie points ahead of the elections. And let us be clear, air strikes did not get me a job," says the 25-year-old. Travelling through the state, the amount of young men looking for jobs is significantly higher than the women. Bihar still suffers from a feudal mindset, and women have a shorter rope than men. "We cannot look for a job the way boys do," says 22-year-old Kanchan Kumar, a resident of Parmanandpur in the district of Madhepura. "We want to stand on our own feet. And that was the hope Modi had brought in. But he has been a total disappointment." Kanchan says the market is 30 kilometres from her village, and public transport is not great. "It limits our options to look for jobs," she says. "Fearing for our safety, parents do not let us go out. Eventually, if we are still unable to find a job, we would have to get married by 25." Among the youth that is determined to vote Modi out, the question of "if not Modi, then who?" is irrelevant. Even though Congress president Rahul Gandhi is not perceived as prime ministerial material, he is no longer a subject of ridicule. Those who want to vote against Modi say they don't mind Rahul replacing him. I think Mahagathbandhan can run a decent government," said Rahul Paswan. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh both did it successfully. Rahul is young, he can learn on the job if he has credible people around him. And more importantly, the bar is not set too high by Modi. How much worse can the situation get?" The controversy over the launch of NaMo TV is yet to be resolved with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) having sought time till Friday to respond to the Election Commission's (EC's) queries on the status of the 'channel' The controversy over the launch of NaMo TV is yet to be resolved with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) having sought time till Friday to respond to the Election Commission's (EC's) queries on the status of the 'channel'. The ministry has argued that since NaMo TV is a direct-to-home (DTH) service, it needs more time to ascertain the facts surrounding its launch on 30 March, after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force. The I&B ministry's investigations notwithstanding, the problems swirling around the 'channel' are multifaceted and not very easily capable of neat resolutions. To begin with, as matters stand, there is a suggestion that it is not a news channel in the sense we would normally understand the idea and does not, therefore, one presumes, need the kind of licences or clearances that television channels need to operate. Let us provide an illustration of the complexities of the case. On 4 April, the chief executive officer of Tata Sky tweeted a message that effectively absolved NaMo TV of any 'wrongdoing'. "NaMo TV is not a Hindi news service. If someone on the frontline at Tata Sky has tweeted or said that it is a news service, it is a mistake," Harit Nagpal told NDTV. He said NaMo TV "does not fall into any genre" and its feed comes from the BJP via the internet. "Special services do not need a licence," he added. This was put out as a clarification of an earlier tweet from the company, which had said that NaMo TV was a "Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics". Therein lies the rub. If NaMo TV is an internet-based 'special service' that provides content that any channel or service provider can then telecast in one form or another, how is it to be regulated? This question has a special urgency because the service was set up after the MCC came into force with the exclusive objective of providing content promoting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the achievements of its governments, especially the one operating out of Delhi. Some lawyers, who are not BJP apologists, say that prima facie, it is legitimate to set up an entity for election propaganda, even if it has been done after the MCC has become operational. This writer, for instance, can set up a website or blog and disseminate news or views favouring or disfavouring a party or alliance contesting the impending election. Some rules do, however, apply. There is the question of ownership and following from that the issue of responsibility for content. That is an area where the waters get just a little muddied. Normally, lawyers say, the issue of ownership is not particularly germane because a 'special' service, say in the form of a website, does not need to be licensed, nor does it need to be incorporated as a company and, therefore, attract the attention of legal provisions requiring registration, along with all necessary details, with the relevant authorities. But since NaMo TV is a public entity providing a public service, some clarity on ownership and responsibility for content inevitably arise. If an individual disseminates banned content like hate speech on a blog, for instance, he or she can be prosecuted, whether or not the entity in question is registered or not. The same should apply to NaMo TV. The problem is that the ownership of NaMo TV is shrouded in layers of impenetrability. The BJP has not claimed responsibility for the entity. The developer of the application hasnt been specified but the address in the 'application information section' is the BJP's headquarters in Delhi. At the same time, one of the promoters of the company that first aired NaMo TV has disclaimed any knowledge of what's happening with it now. When asked to whom he had transferred NaMo TV operation, Sujay Mehta told a media outlet, "I am not involved anymore. I do not know anything." The ownership issue gets curiouser and curiouser. One Parag J Shah, who claims to be the owner of the domain name namotv.com has put it up for sale. A message on the website states, "This domain is on sale" and urges those interested in buying it to contact him by email. The domain was registered on 4 October, 2012 and updated on 9 September, 2018. Its registration expires on 4 October, 2025. The domain was, in fact, registered on the same day that the Gujarat BJP unit launched NaMo TV in partnership with five Gujarati channels. But NaMo TV had to be shut down for almost a week when the issue of funding was raised. It was back on air by the third week of October, by which time, the EC decided that NaMo TV's expenses would have to be added to the BJP's party expenditure. The channel, or special internet service, has now resurfaced in time for the impending elections. It airs Prime Minister Narendra Modis elections speeches round the clock and propagates his government's policy initiatives. All the major DTH platforms are airing the channel even though it does not have an I&B ministry licence. Its name does not figure in the list of permitted private satellite TV channels on the website of the ministry either. The very fact that the EC has sought clarifications from the I&B ministry points to some problems. Potential grey areas concern, fundamentally, what NaMo TV is in the first place and, therefore, what regulations it is subject to; further what regulations govern the DTH and cable networks that are carrying content from it; and, finally, who owns NaMo TV, and whether disclosure rules apply to it. Some experts say that NaMo TV is an advertising platform for the BJP, which does not require approval, which, in turn, implies that the networks and platforms that are hosting it do not need approval either. It's a moot point whether a teleshopping channel can be equated with a channel dedicated to political propaganda. In any case, even an advertising 'platform' probably needs to specify what kind of an animal it is. A media professional says that the BJP has actually taken advantage of a grey area in the regulations. If that is the case, one of the questions has been answered. But the damaging part of the NaMo TV adventure, if one may call it that, is that the ownership issue remains unresolved. First, the relationship between the domain namotv.com and NaMo TV is eminently unclear. We have now been informed that the domain is up for sale, which further complicates the issue. Second, though ownership of the domain has been claimed, that of the 'channel' has not: Certainly the BJP has not claimed ownership. That raises two questions: First, how can a network or a platform host an entity which does not have a disclosed owner. Tata Sky might clarify that it is a 'special service', but in the public interest, surely, it has some responsibility to issue a clarification about ownership given the seriousness of the controversy, even if it is a private company. Second, if, for example, NaMo TV provides objectionable or illegal content, who will be held responsible and prosecuted? Perhaps the network or platform as co-respondents, but the primary respondent will have to be the owner of the 'channel' or platform. Given these large swathes of grey territory, the EC has to decide whether this exploitation of a 'grey area' sits comfortably with the MCC. Intuitively, the answer seems to be no. It doesn't, which means that the EC has to crack the whip as it had done earlier. Ahead of the BJPs foundation day, Advani said, 'Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries. Similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as 'anti-national'.' Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani on Thursday wrote a blog claiming that the guiding principle of his life has been Nation first, party next, self last, and that the BJP had never regarded those with a different political stand as its enemies or anti-national. Ahead of the BJPs foundation day, Advani said, "Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries. Similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as 'anti-national'." In March, Advani was replaced by BJP chief Amit Shah as a candidate for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming General Election. The Gandhinagar seat was won by Advani six times since 1991, except for his defeat in the 1996 Lok Sabha polls. Amid Opposition criticism that BJP was destroying the countrys institutions, Advani wrote that the party had always been at the forefront of demanding protection of independence, integrity, fairness, and robustness of democratic institutions, including the media. And mentioned that it was committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level. Defence of democracy and democratic traditions, both within the party and in the larger national setting, has been the proud hallmark of the BJP, the former deputy prime minister said. Reacting to Advanis blog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of Nation First, Party Next, Self Last. Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it. https://t.co/xScWuuDuMq Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2019 Whereas, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said Advanis views about extending democratic courtesies was significant. As the senior most politician, fmr Dy PM and founding father of BJP, the views AdvaniJi has expressed about extending democratic courtesies,is significant. Of course, all Opposition who raise their voices are not anti national. We welcome his statement & convey our humble regards Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 4, 2019 On the other hand, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said: Under Modi ji BJPs thought processes have been both: Changed and Maimed." "Listen Modi ji to one who helped you in your journey to Delhi!" he tweeted. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, however, lamented the timing of Advani's remarks saying that his these comments should have come much earlier. BJP Patriarch questioning current brass for terming entire opposition as anti national is surprising. Not a word was uttered since 2014 . Instead its finally said when BJPs tenure at Centre is almost over. Wish he had spoken up all these years. Badi dair kar di mehrbaan aate aate Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 4, 2019 Meanwhile, Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide of Advani praised the senior politician and said he has emerged as a "respected margdarshak" (guide) for the nation. Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kulkarni said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was Advani's true follower and not the "divisive Modi". Kulkarni also told CNBC-TV that Advani's blog post was "the most important intervention for the BJP in 2019 election campaign". Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati accused the BJP-led central government on Thursday of failing on all fronts and claimed that people from all sections, including the poor and traders, were unhappy with its governance in the last five years. Hyderabad: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati accused the BJP-led central government on Thursday of failing on all fronts and claimed that people from all sections, including the poor and traders, were unhappy with its governance in the last five years. Addressing a rally in support of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BSP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Telangana, she said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not fulfilled its promises made ahead of the last general election and was again coming out with new assurances. She also attacked the Congress, saying it too did not fulfil its earlier assurances and was now coming out with "tempting promises" such as the promise to eradicate poverty. "Under the BJP regime, people all over the country are unhappy. People from all sections, be it the poor, farmers, unemployed, small traders all are unhappy. Not only the SC/ST and OBC communities, but the poor from the upper castes and religious minorities also unhappy," she said. Pointing out that the BJP had come to power at the Centre with its "acche din" promise and the assurance of giving Rs 15 lakh to all the citizens of the country, the BSP chief said, "The Narendra Modi government has completed five years, but did any one of you get Rs 15 lakh? You should ask them (BJP) to give an account of their previous promises." Mocking the Congress's "NYAY" minimum income guarantee scheme, she said they should have first implemented the "formula" of Rs 72,000 annual payment to the poor in the Congress-ruled states. "When they are unable to implement it in those states, how can they implement it in the entire country?" the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister asked, adding, "You should not get misled and fall into the traps of the BJP and the Congress." She said the BSP had got an opportunity to serve Uttar Pradesh under her leadership and they gave "good governance to all people". "In Uttar Pradesh, we will definitely do well and following the BSP-SP-RLD alliance, the situation of the BJP is bad," Mayawati said, adding that the prime minister of the country was always chosen from the northern state. The BSP chief said if there was a change and "if we are given a chance to form the government at the Centre, the way welfare schemes for all were launched during my tenure, they will be implemented in the entire country". The JSP and the BSP have forged a pre-poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and have launched a joint campaign. Stating that the people in the two southern states also wanted a change, Mayawati appealed to the voters to give them a chance. She said only because the Telangana region was neglected during the Congress regimes, the separate state demand was made and realised. "Now also, despite Telangana becoming a separate state, there is not much development here and the people are still neglected," she added. The BSP chief said SCs, STs and OBCs together constituted 70 percent of the population in Telangana, but TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had become the chief minister, despite his community's strength being "just 1.5 or 2 percent". JSP chief Pawan Kalyan requested Rao not to meddle in Andhra Pradesh's politics, to remain neutral and not support YSR Congress Party leader Jaganmohan Reddy. "As the leader who led the agitations for Telangana, I respect you a lot. We want you to be neutral," the actor-turned-politician said. He also wondered how KCR supported Reddy when the latter was "rejected outright" during the Telangana agitation. Kalyan, who is the younger brother of top actor Chiranjeevi, formed the JSP in 2014. To all those who compare Justin Trudeau to Stephen Harper's abuses of government, read on. Andrew Scheer was an MP with Harper, and he has the gall to point a finger at Trudeau, knowing full well the abuse of power by Harper. What disturbs me is how quickly the citizens turn on Trudeau because of the media only stating what they figure will sell print. Here are just a few examples relating to Harper: PMO tied to Senate hush money scandal. Harper found in contempt of Parliament. A court order compelling him to share budget info, and he refused. Conservative cabinet staffers granted immunity from testifying. Conservatives falsifying reports and documents. Lied to the public, pegging the cost of F-35 jets $10 million less than the actual cost per copy. Repeated duplicity in Afghanistan detainees controversy. Harper minister lies, blames StatsCan for killing the long form census. Compare this to the SNC-Lavalin situation and Trudeau. Trudeau is more worthwhile to keep around. If you want more Conservative misadventures, remember Scheer was very much part of the whole situation. Ask yourself why you should believe him. Dale Dirks If Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins this springs general election it will also be another massive victory for the marketing machine created to amplify Brand Modi into every living room. New Delhi: If Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins this springs general election it will also be another massive victory for the marketing machine created to amplify Brand Modi into every living room. Opinion polls regularly show Modi is India's most popular politician, and to turn that appeal into votes, the Bharatiya Janata Party has pulled out all the stops from the most modern methods of communication to the very traditional. There is the recently launched NaMo TV dedicated to the 68-year-old leader, a Narendra Modi mobile app the party says has been downloaded by 100 million people, and a massive social media following across every major platform in India. Modi and the BJP have a combined 57.5 million followers on Twitter, four times the total for Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi. Modi is the worlds third-most-followed politician on Twitter after former US President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump. The BJP itself claims to have more members than any other political party in the world. Polls for the worlds biggest democratic vote open on a rolling basis between 11 April and 19 May. Modi is widely expected to be in a position to form a new government after the election, according to pollsters, with the big question whether he will win an outright majority or be forced into trying to form a coalition. With the campaign now in full swing, the BJP says Modi physically reaches out to more than 250,000 people a day through the many rallies he addresses. Most of those are then carried live across multiple party platforms and news channels across India, including the nations public broadcaster. "He is doing three to four rallies every day. One rally will cover three to four constituencies," said Vijay Chauthaiwale, who is in charge of BJPs foreign affairs department. Last Sunday 10 million people watched a TV programme in which Modi interacted with the countrys security guards, he added. Opposition parties have complained the BJP is gaining an unfair advantage by using the state broadcaster and the NaMo TV to air its propaganda. The BJP has denied the accusations but the Election Commission has said its looking into the complaints. Early start On Wednesday alone, Modi addressed as many as four rallies, starting early in Arunachal Pradesh and ending late in a constituency 2,300 km away in Maharashtra. Rahul spoke in three rallies, all in the northeast. Even before the election dates were announced on 10 March, Modi went on a spree to launch various public projects across more than 16 states, often using those events to broadcast the achievements of his government. The opposition is way behind the curve, said a close aide to Modi who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak with reporters. Even before the official inauguration of the political campaign on March 28, he completed the first phase of campaigning. Now its the second phase. Congress accuses Modi and the BJP of misusing its powers and deep pockets to try and influence voters. Modi used public projects, government-sponsored events as a vehicle to serve his political campaigning, Congresss chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said. We know the voters understand this strategy and they will make the right choice of defeating his party. Lacking helicopters Congress also complained in January that it was struggling to find enough helicopters to ferry its leaders because the BJP had reserved most of the available aircraft well in advance. The BJP has indeed substantially increased its income and party membership in the past five years in power. In 2017 and 2018, the BJPs total income including donations stood at Rs 10.27 billion compared with Rs 1.9 billion for Congress, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a Delhi-based advocacy group that examines political funding and candidate disclosure forms. Theres a huge gap between our campaign and their (Congress) campaign, BJP spokesman Gopal Krishna Agarwal said. Were much ahead in our communication, on organisational structure, outreach schemes etc. For bringing to public consciousness the realisation that another idea of India exists, LK Advani deserved a more respectful send-off. LK Advanis blog, which caused the Opposition (and even Robert Vadra) to shed copious amount of crocodile tears in public and much mirth in private, is the sad case of a patriarch refusing to accept the reality of his superannuation and raging against the dying of light. It wont harm his target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All the blog does is reveal the bitterness Advani nurtures in his heart and exposes him to ridicule from the 'liberal' brigade who see in his attempts at statesmanship a crow donning the feathers of a peacock. A disingenuous blog written out of disgruntlement cannot make a 'liberal out of someone who spread so much hate and bigotry. Do read what I wrote about L. K. Advani in 2017:https://t.co/ZSjYN1PhFy Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) April 5, 2019 All those who are seeing a 'statesman' in LK Advani - see this map. This is what he sowed. India is where it is because of him. His words are just that - words. Shed no tears for his plight. Let him repent first. pic.twitter.com/glEAmzvTx2 Salil Tripathi (@saliltripathi) April 4, 2019 The nonagenarian could have spared himself the ignominy. For bringing to public consciousness the realisation that another idea of India exists one that is rooted in civilisational mores and lay buried beneath the hangover of Indias colonial past and manicured history Advani deserved a more respectful send-off. The new middle class, described in this piece in The Times of India as a neo-Hindu middle class that combines livelihood in the modern professions and a commitment to technology with an adherence to traditional values and robust nationalism, has emerged and grown in self-confidence, could have been more appreciative of the work that Advani did to expand the party base from two seats in 1984 to 282 in 2014. But Advani has never been a man to make it easier for himself. Right from 2013, when he played the resignation card as a last-ditch attempt to stall Modis rise within the party and projection of the Gujarat chief minister as the NDAs prime ministerial face in 2014, Advani has always fought a bitter mind game with the party he built from scratch. Not for him the reading of the writing on the wall and a graceful exit. It has always been a dare to the party to take one more step against him, and then when that step is taken: a fresh bout of bitterness, denial and loss of more clout within the party. Even in 2013, when Advani resigned from all party posts in a desperate gambit to make the BJP change its course in putting forth Modi as the man to lead the campaign, he was unwilling or unable to fully grasp the reality. It lay not just in the fact that Advanis lifelong ambition of becoming prime minister lay shattered as his second and final bid was nullified. It also lay in the fact that the party was willing to look beyond him and usher in a second stage of development that doesnt necessarily dismiss Advanis contribution in making BJP a national alternative to Congress but builds on it. It is pertinent to remember that Modis ascent in 2013 was not accidental. It was a clamour from within the party that entrusted Advani with BJPs campaign in 2009 only to see him fail again as Manmohan Singh-led UPA retained power. That decision wasn't easy for the BJP to take because Advani alienated himself from the party in 2005 during his third term as BJP president when he went to Pakistan and praised Muhammad Ali Jinnahs secular credentials. That created a trust deficit between the Advani camp and a section of the BJP. The RSS wasnt too impressed either. As per this article in The Print, Advanis stock was down even in 2009, but he nevertheless made his bid. A resounding defeat to the Congress-led UPA in the polls severely dented Advanis stature, image and position within the party. But little did he know that by the next Lok Sabha polls, his irrelevance in the party would be complete. What Advani failed to realise was that the party had become a behemoth from the sapling that he once nurtured, will be governed by the law of nature: to seek fresh leadership to take it to another level. It took fresh thinking, new energy and a different perspective for the BJP to become the dominant pole in national politics: something which Advani could perhaps never have done. To militate against change as the only constant in life is to become bitter in defeat. Advani may still have claimed the moral high ground had he written the blog and emphasised on putting nation first, party next and self last, before he was denied the chance to contest from Gandhinagar one last time. The unfortunate timing of his comments takes away from the gravitas of his words and show him in still more unfavourable light. Modi put paid to Advanis hopes of causing whatever little discomfort that he intended to by playing from the front foot and owning Advanis sharpest jibe, thereby blunting its effectiveness. It could be the last lesson for Advani in politics: Timing is everything. When asked that between Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who does he think is a better leader, Modi lamented at the 'paucity of grassroots leaders' in the party and said it was sad that a party which is 100 years old is unable to produce grassroots leaders and revolves around just one family It is that time of the year when every public statement and policy observation made by politicians is a mini poll pitch. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, in an interview to the ABP News, weighed in on several issues ranging from the Congress party to his government's Kashmir policy to the Indian Air Force's strike in Balakot, which is now mired in controversy. When asked that between Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who does he think is a better leader, the prime minister lamented at the "paucity of grassroots leaders" in the party and said it was sad that a party which is 100-years-old is unable to produce grassroots leaders and revolve around just one family. "But otherwise, I am not personally acquainted to either of the two and never had the privilege of interacting with them on any subject, so I cannot comment," he replied. Criticising the Congress manifesto which released recently and which promised a slew of measures, including repealing sedition laws and "amending" the AFSPA Act, Modi panned the party on its promises. The prime minister said that pitching such ideas as electoral agenda will only strengthen 'anti-national' elements who speak about dividing India. He also criticised the other promises made in the manifesto saying the party has a poor track record in following up on those promises. "Congress had promised in Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan that they will give pension to the youth every month and pay the allowance. No government has given this so far. In 2004, he (Rahul Gandhi) promised that he would supply electricity to every household. After coming to power in 2014, I have reached 2.5 crore households so far, but still, I am a little behind in achieving the target. I might be able to do it till May-June," Modi said labelling the Congress manifesto Dakhosla Patra (A manifesto of false promises). The prime minister also latched on to the Congress stating that it will reassess the need for Armed Forces Special Forces Act in the regions where it is in force. He claimed that the BJP would ideally want to build a nation where AFSPA becomes redundant. "But because Congress shut its eyes to the problems for 70 years, that we do not have the environment where we can repeal the law," Modi said. Modi accused the Congress of humiliating the Indian security forces to score political goals. "The Congress in its manifesto in humiliating the Indian Army. They are talking about security personnel being accused of rape. Does all this befit a national party?" the prime minister said. He gave the ruling NDA government full marks on creating jobs even as the Opposition has made unemployment a key poll plank. He claimed that under the MUDRA scheme, around 17 crore people availed a loan, out of which, 4,25,0000 were taking a loan for the first time. "It means that they are starting a business with that money. If someone has started a business so they must be employing at one or two." He claimed that crores of Indians were employed in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and added that only 10 percent are employed in the formal sector and about 85 percent are working in the informal sector. Modi claimed that it was a part of the Congress strategy to spread lies about employment data every time before elections. He, however, expressed confidence that he will be re-elected for a second term because "people were shown hope in a long time" and they could think beyond "nothing will change," narrative. LOK SABHA ELECTION 2019 TRACKER: Who is campaigning where Modi clearly is trying to give the elections an emotive turn a nationalist pitch revolving around zero tolerance on national security and a fight against corruption. It is said that westerly winds help the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Some had made this remark while speaking on the reasons for the BJP's massive win in the state in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and the 2017 Assembly election. The claim is made by some analysts as well as some of the party's critics. The region has a substantial number of communities which, as per conventional wisdom, have not traditionally been BJP voters, such as Muslims, Jats, Dalits and Yadavs. Top leaders of the mahagathbandhan such as Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Ajit Singh belong to western Uttar Pradesh. In 2014 and 2017, it was not considered to be a good thing from the BJP's perspective for multi-phase elections to begin from western Uttar Pradesh and then progress to the central and eastern parts of the state. There is a belief that the first and second phases of an election set the trend and impact polling pattern in the rest of the country, or the state. With 80 Lok Sabha seats, Uttar Pradesh is the country's most politically critical state. In 2014, the BJP created history by winning 73 of these seats. The poll schedule this time is broadly the same as during the previous election. Will the "westerly" winds blow again? This time around, the BJP has devised a slightly different strategy, a glimpse of which was the way the party planned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally. On Friday, Modi chose to address two rallies at Amroha and Saharanpur. Both constituencies will go to the polls in the first phase of the election on 11 April, and both have a Muslim population of over 40 percent. Modi had not been to these places either in 2014 or in 2017. While Modi is a very powerful speaker, he has been the prime minister for five years. This time, his popularity will depend not just on generating hope for the future, but also on whether he delivered on his promises. It will be seen whether Modi, despite being in power, has the same capacity to demolish political rivals, not just on rhetoric, but also on merit. In Saharanpur on Friday, the turnout was mammoth. It was a packed ground, and there were a good number of people outside the ground as well. That must have been very gladdening to the hearts of the organisers, and to Modi. The response of the crowd, which cheered lustily, clapped and chanted Modi's name would have been even more enthusing. In both Amroha and Saharanpur, Modi used a mix of rhetoric and facts, and engaged with the audience in his trademark way. On numerous occasions, he paused, at which time the crowd chanted his name. In obvious references to the air strikes at Balakot and the surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he asked, "Who entered the homes of the enemy, and the terrorists to strike against them? Who brought looters (a reference to Christian Michel and others) back to India? Who has the capacity to send looters of public money to jail?" Modi clearly is trying to give the elections an emotive turn a nationalist pitch revolving around zero tolerance on national security and a fight against corruption, and against those who were earlier considered beyond the scrutiny of the law. The Nehru-Gandhi family is expected to figure on top of his agenda. There was a time when nobody would dare to frisk them at the airport, people would salute them, but they (in a reference to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra) are on bail today. They used to think that they are writers of Indias fate, but today, they are trying everything to avoid going to jail," Modi said. Saharanpur is going to see a very interesting pre-election contest one of the crowd-gathering capacities of various parties and leaders. On Sunday, BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav will kick off their joint campaign from here. The two parties, which are foes-turned-friends, are obviously trying hard to make the proposed rally a big success. A day later, on Monday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will hold a joint rally, the first such rally ever outside of Amethi and Rae Bareli, to campaign for Imran Masood, a person who threatened to chop Modi into pieces in the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary polls. The Congress, of course, has thrown all its might into making this rally a grand success. The extent to which crowds at rallies translate into votes will be known only when votes are counted on 23 May. On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate submitted a fresh chargesheet in the AgustaWestland case and stated that the alleged middleman mentioned that "AP" meant Ahmed Patel, and "fam" meant family. This gave fresh ammunition to Modi to accuse the Nehru-Gandhi family of corruption. The prime minister asked at the rally, "You tell me, which family is Ahmed Patel close to?" Modi called the Congress' manifesto a dhakosla patra (a document of lies). The prime minister also made veiled references to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. He spoke at length about the plight of the businessmen in Saharanpur, Kairana and Shamli, and about the alleged harassment of girls and women during that period. Modi also targeted Ajit Singh, RLD chief and the mahagathbandhan's candidate from Muzaffarnagar, and his son Jayant, a candidate from Baghpat. He sought to send a message to the Jat community that Singh, his son and the RLD betrayed them by joining hands with those who either backed or tacitly supported the "other community" during the riots. He asserted that Chaudhary Charan Singhs soul "would not forgive them." The prime minister also made a reference to Imran Masood's statement from five years ago, in which he had said that people would "cut him into pieces" ('boti-boti kaat denge'). Modi said, "They talk about 'boti, boti', we talk about 'beti, beti.'" Addressing a rally in this Uttar Pradesh town ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11, the prime minister said 'some people' did not like the fact that terrorists were being given a reply in their own language. Amroha: Some people lose their sleep when India hits back at terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday while launching a broadside against opposition parties who he claimed were putting the lives and future of the people in danger. Addressing a rally in this Uttar Pradesh town ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections beginning 11 April, the prime minister said "some people" did not like the fact that terrorists were being given a reply in their own language. "After the terrorist attack, should I have remained silent or attacked," he asked the gathering, referring to the 14 February terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. "Terrorists are being given a reply in their own language... this is not liked by some people who lose their sleep when India hits back," he said. When Pakistan is exposed in front of the world, "these people" start speaking in its favour, Modi said. "Be it the Congress, the SP or the BSP, they have put your life and future in danger," the prime minister told the crowd gathered in this Uttar Pradesh town with a sizeable Muslim population. The governments of 'Bua' (Mayawati) and 'Babua' (Akhilesh Yadav) released terror accused and were kind to them, Modi alleged. The prime minister said he had not let the country hang its head in shame in the five years he had been in power, stressing that the country's reputation and image was higher than it had been ever been. "I would like to thank the government of UAE and people of UAE for honouring me with the Zayed medal...this is not an award given to Modi but to the Indian people," he said. He said on Thursday that he accepts the prestigious 'Order of Zayed' conferred on him by the United Arab Emirates with utmost humility. At a time when the political class is criss-crossing the country at a feverish pace for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it's important to note the stations where the top leaders are touching down to connect with the electorate At a time when the political class is criss-crossing the country at a feverish pace for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it's important to note the stations where the top leaders are touching down to connect with the electorate. This is especially true for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies. The prime minister is addressing the electorate in Saharanpur and Amroha Lok Sabha constituencies on Friday, becoming the first of the big leaders to stop by these constituencies. Soon after Modi, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav will hold a rally on 7 April. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are likely to be in Saharanpur addressing the voters soon thereafter. Modis Friday rallies in these two Muslim stronghold constituencies will set the narrative for the BJP's election campaign in rest of western Uttar Pradesh. Of the total population in western Uttar Pradesh, 72.29 percent are Hindus and 26.21 percent are Muslims. Although, the Hindus are a majority, the percentage of Muslims in western Uttar Pradesh is higher than that in the entire state. The significance of Saharanpur and Modi's visit to the constituency cannot be overemphasised. Both Saharanpur and Amroha elected BJP candidates in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections despite the region being dominated by the minority community. It's not a surprise then, that Modi is making a stop in this area to ensure that the BJP's seats from these constituencies remain secure even in the 2019 elections. Deoband, one of the five Assembly segments in Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency, is a centre of Islamic seminaries and exercises strong influence on the minority voters of this region. For these very reasons, the seats assume significance for the Congress and SP-BSP as well. The stakes are the highest for the BJP, which holds the seats right now. Modi's rally in Saharanpur is being seen as his call to the entire region to vote for the BJP in the forthcoming election. Incidentally, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had also begun his poll campaign from Saharanpur on 24 March. The other reason this constituency is in limelight is because Uttar Pradesh Congress vice president and former MLA, Imran Masood, is the partys candidate for Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat. He came to limelight after a video clip surfaced in March 2014 in which Masood was seen threatening to chop the then prime-ministerial candidate of the BJP, Narendra Modi to pieces. He is also a relative of former Lok Sabha MP from Saharanpur and former Rajya Sabha member, Rashid Masood, who was the UPA candidate for the post of Vice President of India. Despite having lost the last Lok Sabha election in 2014 and the Assembly polls in 2017, Imran remains a strong candidate in the Muslim stronghold, as the minority community is likely to vote en block for him. LOK SABHA ELECTION 2019 TRACKER: Who is campaigning where Prashant Kishor, JD(U) vice president, on Friday hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over his claim that Kishor acted as an 'emissary' on behalf of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. JD(U) leader Prashant Kishor, on Friday, hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over his claim that Kishor reached out to the latter for a reunion of the Bihar Mahagathbandhan. Reacting to Lalus claim that Kishor negotiated for Nitish Kumars re-entry into the "secular" grand alliance, the JD(U) vice president tweeted that it was bogus and a poor attempt to regain relevance by a leader whose best days are behind him. He further added, "Yes, we did meet many times before I joined JD(U) but if I were to tell what all was discussed then he would be quite embarrassed." Lalu, in his soon to be released book, wrote that Nitish attempted to rejoin the grand alliance within six months of allying with the BJP. However, Lalu refused because he had "completely lost trust" in Nitish. "Kishor seemed to indicate that if I were to assure in writing my party's support to the JD(U), the latter would pull out of the BJP alliance and rejoin the mahagathbandhan. Though I was not bitter with Nitish, I had lost trust in him completely. Moreover, I was not sure how the people who had voted for the grand alliance in 2015 and other parties that had united against the BJP all over the country, would react if I accepted Kishor's offer," Lalu has written, as quoted by The Times of India. JD(U) secretary general KC Tyagi was also quoted by the report as categorically denying Lalu's claim. "I can say this in the capacity of one of the top functionary of the JD(U) that Nitish Kumar never wanted to get back with RJD after severing ties with it in 2017," he said. tech2 News Staff Windows phones have in recent times become a dying breed thanks to the onslaught of iOS and Android devices globally. Many apps are pulling their services from the platform and one of them was Instagram, which made the announcement this week. Now it seems Facebook's native app and Messenger app have also joined the list. As per a report by Engadget, a Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed that Facebook is dropping support for all of its apps on Windows phone on April 30. If you are still one of those few people using Windows phones, then you can access Instagram, Facebook and Messenger through the web. There isn't currently no information on whether the discontinuation of the Facebook app will affect other apps who use a Facebook login. With Microsoft just about a few months away from completely pulling the plug on Windows 10, it isn't surprising to see many high profile apps abandoning the sinking ship. Microsoft has notified users that Windows 10 Mobile will cease to receive new security updates after 10 December 2019. Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella has also acknowledged that Cortana is no longer in direct competition with Amazon's Alexa and the Google Assistant. Microsoft is rather looking to integrate with other popular platforms rather than fight against them. tech2 News Staff Allegations of mistreatment of women at Microsoft have emerged at an employee meeting with the CEO Satya Nadella. There have been claims of discrimination and sexual harassment amongst others at the workplace. The report by Wired says that nearly 100 to 150 employees attended a Q&A session with Nadella and the event was live-streamed as well. In response to the complaints, Nadella and chief people officer, Kathleen Hogan promised transparency with regards to advancement within Microsoft. As per the report, one woman was threatened by a man who worked for a partner company if she did not perform a sexual act. Another woman was twice asked to sit on an executive's lap during a business meet and no one objected to the inappropriate request. A roundtable meeting with women from Xbox revealed that each of them had been called a 'bitch' at work. The matter, as per the report, was first raised in the form of a mail posted to a distribution list for female employees by a woman who's promotion had been withheld for years even though she had her manager's support. More responses poured in with several other female colleagues detailing acts of harassment. On 29 March Kathleen Hogan sent an internal memo to all employees We are appalled and sad to hear about these experiences, Hogan wrote. It is very painful to hear these stories and to know that anyone is facing such behaviour at Microsoft. We must do better. I would like to offer to anyone who has had such demeaning experiences including those who felt were dismissed by management or HR to email me directly. Questions about discrimination against women in the tech industry arise time and time again. Back in 2017, Google was sued by a group of women who filed a lawsuit against Google accusing it of discriminating against female employees by underpaying them. It was later proved that men were being underpaid. However, critics as per reports said that the pay doesnt come close to matching what a female employee would make if she was assigned the appropriate pay grade in the first place. Anita Gurumurthy and Jai Vipra Earlier this week, Facebook deleted over 700 pages in India for coordinated inauthentic behaviour and spam. Most of these pages were related to the Congress and the BJP. The action, evidently with an eye on the upcoming elections, targeted what Facebook described as deliberate attempts to mislead. Facebooks role in cleaning up mala fide actions antithetical to electoral democracy needs to be understood better. The Internet has made the process of coordinated action easier, thanks to the anonymity it allows and social media has brought new dimensions to the social engineering of thought and action. Digital virality has transformed the propagation and spread of news and views. Law enforcement agencies have had to turn to social media companies ever-so-often to restore order. In 2012, when there was a mass exodus of the North-Eastern community from Bengaluru following rumours of violence against them, social media companies were asked to cooperate with the government to screen websites spreading these rumours. Similarly, after its platform was used to fuel mob lynchings, WhatsApp made some design changes following government directions. However, it has not always been straightforward to resolve the issues of misinformation or coordinated action to mislead, on digital platforms. Anti-caste activists have pointed out that even as Facebook unfairly removes posts of those who speak against caste oppression, it does not act against those who use casteist slurs or tackle trolls against women in public life. In the case at hand, Facebook took suo moto action to identify and delete the Pages. Ostensibly, the company acted in accordance with its own policies against spam. Facebook says it took down pages for behaviour, not content. This behaviour, according to Facebook, includes deceiving people about the identities, locations or motivations of those running these Pages. As per Facebooks categorisation, therefore, the case of deletion of Pages of political parties is distinct from the case of lynchings, or from what happened in Myanmar where Facebook was used to spread hate speech and rumours. This claim of minding behaviour and not doctoring content needs some unpacking. Facebook as a public sphere infrastructure Appearing to cause trouble in elections does not augur well for Facebooks reputation, and so, it does have a business interest in maintaining/appearing to maintain fairness. And while Facebooks actions might be legitimate according to its own policies, we must not uncritically accept its self-appointed role as the custodian of Indian democracy. The platforms that Facebook controls including WhatsApp have now become an infrastructural service provided to countries around the world. And Facebook is technically not accountable to the people of these countries for how it manages this infrastructural service. Facebook is a company incorporated in the US, and as such is only accountable to the US government. The implication of the infrastructural nature of its service is that as a platform that co-creates the public sphere encompassing not just ordinary people, but their political representatives and the lobbies that make and break political power, no individual or political party can afford to ignore it. Even if Facebook faces flak, as it did after the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal, any reputational damage it may suffer in real terms is pretty much contained, thanks to its monopoly power. Facebook could, therefore act in allegedly fair and noble ways or not; it could choose to censor that which is inauthentic or not. In addition to its lack of accountability to the Indian electorate, Facebooks actions also lack transparency. We do not know whether Facebook is telling the truth about why it took down these Pages, who the people were who controlled these Pages, and whether the behaviour was really inauthentic and coordinated. More importantly, we also do not know which other Pages were allowed to stay on despite exhibiting coordinated inauthentic behaviour. We cannot know, because Facebook controls how much data it releases about these actions. These glaring lacunae in the accountability and transparency of the infrastructure scaffolding the public sphere become more worrisome because they directly impact Indian democracy. This issue is not limited just to elections, as one can easily imagine other activity on Facebook that endangers Indian democracy; coordinated, vicious hate speech, for example. Who must decide authenticity? In the digital age, social media platforms are co-implicated in how societys democratic contours evolve. Decisions by platform companies deeming certain activity authentic and certain others inauthentic beg the question about who determines what action is good for democracy. Facebooks acts of selective commission and omission are part of its pick-and-mix game to use shifting standards as may be best for its business and in utter disregard of local laws. The fine line between content and behaviour may amount to nothing significant for social good and completely ignore democratic consensus about the same. In the Kathua rape case, the Delhi High Court issued notices to Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube for disclosing the identity of the victim, in contravention of the law. In the wake of the Christchurch shootings, the Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand asked Facebook to provide the police with the account details of everyone who had shared the gunman's video, in an "egregious" breach of the victim's privacy. Facebook refused to hand over the names and Global Policy VP, Monika Bickert, held that she was following the law presumably, US law. Meanwhile, Facebook is trying to fix the issue of contentious content by attempting to institute an External Oversight Board. But in the manner in which this is planned, such a Board will neither be democratically elected nor have more than mere advisory power over Facebook. What countries need from Facebook is transparency and democratic oversight over that transparency. Rules on intermediary liability only partially address these concerns. Civil society activists in India are now asking for the Election Commission to demand transparency, both from the platforms and from candidates. We should however not limit our demands for transparency only towards ad spending. Public disclosure of decisions made by social media platforms with respect to allowing, promoting, and limiting content must be mandatory. Platforms make trade-offs between free speech and safety/anti-racism/counter-democratic speech, and these trade-offs are often made algorithmically. Transparency will help citizens understand what choices were made and demand different choices, if they so desire. The changes we need in intermediary liability rules are ones that would make Facebook reveal data on such actions. In December 2018, the French Parliament passed a law that inter alia requires digital platforms exceeding a certain number of hits a day to publish their algorithms. Facebook needs to be obligated to explain the basis of its decisions, and not just carry out these decisions as a matter of discretion. The solution to its lack of accountability, of course, will have a much longer path. The Indian Parliament does not have the same ability to summon Facebook to a hearing as the US Congress does. Nevertheless, we must demand that democratic oversight over digital platforms like Facebook be maintained in the case of elections through the Election Commission of India, or through a Parliamentary Standing Committee comprising members from ruling and opposition parties. Authors of this article are with IT for Change, an NGO working at the intersection of technology and social change. Photo: File photo RCMP have shut down a suspected drug house, taking what is believed to be cocaine and fentanyl off the street. On Wednesday, April 3 police descended in force on a house in the 3000-block of 39th Avenue in Vernon to execute a search warrant under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Upon entry, police searched the residence and seized what is believed to be cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, said Cpl. Tania Finn. As well, police located and seized drug paraphernalia which included scales and packaging, an undisclosed amount Canadian currency, and recovered stolen property. At the time of the warrant execution, police located a total of 16 individuals inside the residence. Cpl. Dan Pollock, of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMPs Targeted Policing Unit, said for some time, the residence was identified as a priority problem premise by the police and the residents in the area. While it is not unusual to locate numerous persons at a residence during a warrant execution, to find 16 people was taxing on police resources to identify and process each individual. The investigation and execution of this search warrant is a great example of team work by all of our front-line police officers. The investigation continues as police work to identify and contact owners of suspected stolen property located inside the house. Two Vernon men, aged 27 and 52, were released from custody with a future court date for charges relating to drug trafficking and possession of stolen property. A 29-year-old Vernon woman was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants and remains in custody. A 30-year-old Vernon man was arrested leaving the residence with stolen property and faces possession of stolen property charges. The Associated Press Twitter said Thursday it has stopped blocking French government ads calling on people to vote after it came under fire from authorities for being overzealous in applying a law aimed at banning fake news. The social media company modified its policy after executives met with French government officials, saying it has now decided to authorize such ads after many exchanges. The French government had planned to use the #OuiJeVote or Yes I vote social media campaign to encourage voter registration and urge people to cast their ballots in the European parliamentary elections set for 26 May. The campaign reportedly intended to promote its message using sponsored tweets. However, the government said Twitter refused the ads because it was unable to meet the new French laws transparency obligations and therefore banned all political ads in the country. The incident highlights the challenge Silicon Valley tech giants face complying with tighter regulations from governments trying to clamp down on false information and prevent foreign interference in elections. The EUs executive Commission, in its latest monthly report on tech companies efforts to fight election-related disinformation, criticized Twitter for not taking action to improve ad scrutiny or report on what it has done to protect its ad services against manipulation. The new French law, championed by President Emmanuel Macron and adopted in December, is aimed at curbing false information disseminated around electoral campaigns. It obliges platforms to require transparency of funding for any sponsored political content in the three months leading up to an election. That means the platform must reveal the identity of the funder and how much they spent. French officials had criticized the company. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tweeted that its focus should be stopping content promoting terrorism, not voter registration. Je salue la decision de @TwitterFrance. La question du retrait des contenus terroristes et haineux demeure. Et nous devons encore progresser, avec les GAFA : ce sujet est a l'ordre du jour du #G7 des ministres de l'Interieur, cet apres-midi a Paris.https://t.co/ua4YAwKVQg Christophe Castaner (@CCastaner) April 4, 2019 Twitter said it clarified its policy because it wanted to promote and protect the integrity of conversations around the elections. The government said it welcomed the changes but suggested Twitter hasnt gone far enough in enforcing the fake news law and fighting the spread of misinformation online. Other platforms have already put in place these simple obligations of transparency, showing their technical feasibility, the interior, culture and digital affairs ministries said in a statement. Some have even made the choice to apply this transparency rule in other countries, without specifying which platforms or countries. tech2 News Staff Twitter has been testing the 'Labels' feature on its beta platform for some time and now it appears the feature is going out of beta and coming to the main platform. The feature would tag every person on a Twitter thread to create transparency. For example, if someone tweets about something and mentions someone in the tweet, the person who is mentioned gets a label called "mentioned" when they reply to the tweet. The person who tweeted gets the label "author" if they reply to their tweet. "We want it to be easy to follow and join conversations on Twitter. We're testing out 'Labels' on replies: Author, Mentioned and Following," Twitter announced on 4 April. As per Social Media Today, Twitter has usage data collected by various feedback reports which have contributed to this feature. There is also a colour coded version of 'Labels' being tested on the beta-test app. In more news, Twitter said on 4 April it has stopped blocking French government ads calling on people to vote after it came under fire from authorities for being overzealous in applying a law aimed at banning fake news. The social media company modified its policy after executives met with French government officials, saying it has now decided to authorize such ads after many exchanges. The twin Christchurch attacks have forced Australia to face up to the rise of outfits fed on a steady diet of Islamophobia and racism The murderous act of terror in New Zealands Christchurch has put the spotlight firmly on far-right groups in neighbouring Australia, the country to which the 28-year-old white supremacist suspect of the carnage belonged. For years, the media and politicians did not pay attention to right-wing extremism. The threat it posed to the Australian society was downplayed, sometimes pointing to the supposedly bigger risk of domestic terrorist attacks committed by extremist Muslims. Admittedly, one reason for the neglect was that far-right groups in Australia didnt enjoy the kind of popularity and electoral success such outfits had in Europe and North America. That does not mean that far-right extremism and its core underlying ideology of racism and white supremacy was absent in Australia. As a colonialised country built on the violent dispossession of Aboriginal peoples, Australia has a long history of racism. In fact, a founding principle of Australiaas a British colony and also as a sovereign nationwas to turn the allegedly terra nullis (empty land) into a white continent. The first law the new parliament passed in 1901established the White Australia policy that sought to populate the continent through exclusively white, European immigration. The dismantling of this racist policy began only in the 1960s and ultimately led to the evolution of multicultural policies in the 1970s. White Australia is dead. Give me a shovel and I bury it, were the famous words of immigration minister Al Green in 1973. While the White Australia policy ended here, it certainly did not mean the end of racism or white superiority. Australia has seen emergence, and disappearance, of fascist and other right-wing extremist groups, especially after World War II. These include the League of Rights in the 1960s, National Action and the Australian Nationalist Movement, which resorted to firebombing, burglaries and assaults aimed at Asian immigrants in the 1980s and 90s. These groups remained on the political fringe, finding little resonance in Australian society and did not attract much public attention. Far-right politics has also had some electoral successes but at a fairly low level when compared to Europe. Pauline Hansons One Nation is the most successful right-wing populist party. She was elected to parliament in 1996 as an independent, but soon after established One Nation party on a platform opposing Asian immigration and with explicit hostility towards Aboriginal Australians. Hanson lost her seat in 1998 and infighting forced the party out of the political arena. But, not for long. In the 2016 federal election, One Nation won four Senate seats, this time following an anti-Muslim campaign, called for, amongst others, a ban on Muslim immigration. Hanson again has medias attention, disproportionate to her partys status in the countrys politics. Hansons victory was made possible by a climate of heightened moral panic around the place of Islam and Muslim communities in Australia. This climate of Islamophobia has intensified as the global war on terror has continued, turning Muslims in Australia into a suspect community. The rhetoric from politicians, especially in the wake of Islamic State atrocities in West Asia and a series of overseas and domestic attacks, such as the Lindt Cafe siege in 2014, allegedly inspired by IS, have contributed to this panic. Islamophobia created a fertile ground not only for Hansons party; it was also the catalyst for the emergence of a new wave of far-right anti-Islam groups, most notoriously, Reclaim Australia, and fringe outfits such as the Australian Liberty Alliance, in the first half of this decade. These groups tapped into widespread Islamophobia instead of explicit racist ideologies and mobilised larger numbers of supporters, especially through social media. Though many of the groups were active primarily online, some of them also held public events. The largest of these rallies took place in Victorias town of Bendigo, where protesters opposed a plan to build a mosque. Essentially a local conflict, the anti-mosque protests became a rallying point for far-right groups, both local and interstate. The Bendigo mosque protests marked a breakthrough for new far-right movements. These have since become more diverse and fragmented with new ethno-nationalist splinter groups, with many having their origin in the anti-Islam movement. Anti-Muslim messaging still occupies an important place in these new groups online and offline mobilisation. But their ideological agenda has broadened and their language has become more aggressive and confrontational. Flux is a constant but recently there has been partial consolidation and increased collaboration between some of these groups. A study conducted by Melbournes Victoria University between 2016 and 2017, underscores the complexity and heterogeneity of the far-right. Differentiating between anti-Islam, cultural superiority and racial superiority groups, the study says each far-right group is characterised by a specific ideological mix and tactics. The groups are not internally homogeneous either. Each individual has his (or, sometimes, her) own motives, views and agendas. Many of these new (cultural superiority) groups increasingly use debates around issues such as feminisms and (toxic) masculinity, gender normativity and LGBTIQ (eg marriage equality), or an alleged crime crisis to push their interests. These themes are framed to mobilise support and to spread the groups ethno-nationalist, anti-egalitarian and anti-government messages, to fuel a sense of white (male) victimhood and to paint an image of societal decay, caused, in their views, by the political establishment and left-wing politics. While far-right groups with a predominantly anti-Islam focus have become less visible, except intense messaging on social media, the more aggressive ethno-nationalist outfits have shifted focus away from the internet to the local offline space. They have contracted into smaller social networks. The idea is to build an ethno-nationalist community, where people know each other and are committed to the groups nationalist cause, leading to ideological hardening. Expressions of white supremacy, anti-Semitism and racism used to occur primarily at the extremist, fascist and neo-Nazi margins of the far-right. This has recently changed, as more and more far-right groups openly articulate such aggressive ideologies, in addition to Islamophobia. This ideological radicalization is full swing maybe even more so after the Christchurch massacre and it remains difficult to predict how the far-right will evolve in Australia. Following the Christchurch attack, several Muslim community leaders in Australia said they were shocked but not surprised that an Australian committed such a murderous act. Biased and negative media reporting and anti-Muslim rhetoric were singled out as the two critical factors that fuelled a climate of fear by demonising Muslims. Australia has come a step closer to recognising the threat far-right extremism poses. It is now for political leadership to effectively respondtogether with communities to the rise of far-right ideologies, hate and violence. (Dr Mario Peucker is a research fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities at Victoria University, Melbourne.) BRASILIA (Reuters) - The government of Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has rejected an appeal by a United Nations expert not to revise Brazilian history by denying a military coup occurred in 1964. In a letter to the U.N. human rights commission in Geneva made public on Thursday, the government said it 'repudiates the baseless allegations' of the U.N BRASILIA (Reuters) - The government of Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has rejected an appeal by a United Nations expert not to revise Brazilian history by denying a military coup occurred in 1964. In a letter to the U.N. human rights commission in Geneva made public on Thursday, the government said it "repudiates the baseless allegations" of the U.N. expert who criticized Bolsonaro's decision to commemorate the 1964 military uprising as an attempt to condone rights violations. "President Bolsonaro has reiterated his understanding that the 1964 movement was necessary to stave off the growing threat of a communist takeover of Brazil and to ensure the preservation of national institutions in the context of the Cold War," the letter said. According to Bolsonaro, the overthrow of an elected leftist government was not a coup d'etat, but a legitimate movement backed by the country's Congress and judiciary, as well as the majority of Brazilians, the letter said. Brazil's armed forces on Sunday paid tribute to the 1964 coup that lead to a two-decade military dictatorship at the behest of Bolsonaro, who reversed an eight-year-ban on celebrations. The move stirred debate and underscored Bolsonaro's support for a military government that executed hundreds, tortured thousands, shuttered Congress and left most Brazilians with dark memories of the period. Two days earlier in Geneva, Fabian Salvioli, the U.N. expert who wrote the letter and a human rights lawyer and professor, called on the Bolsonaro government to reconsider the commemoration. "Attempts to revise history and justify or condone gross human rights violations of the past must be clearly rejected by all authorities and society as a whole," Salvioli said. Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, has long praised the 1964-85 military government and often said its biggest mistake was not killing enough leftists. Pushing the U.N. appeal aside, his government is moving ahead with rewriting history. Education Minister Ricardo Velez said in an interview published on Wednesday that school history books will be edited to give a "broader" view of what happened in 1964. He told Valor Economico newspaper that there was no coup and the military regime that followed was not a dictatorship. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Across much of Britain's former Asian colonies, many are greeting the UK's impending departure from the European Union with a mixture of bafflement, apathy, amusement and a touch of schadenfreude. Hong Kong: Across much of Britain's former Asian colonies, many are greeting the UK's impending departure from the European Union with a mixture of bafflement, apathy, amusement and a touch of schadenfreude. Britain long justified imperial subjugation by arguing Rule Britannia brought order, stability and shared prosperity even after its retreat from colonialism birthed a host of troubled new nations still saddled with historical grievances and legacies to this day. Now Brits face a chaos and internal division of their own making, alongside potential isolation and years of economic hardship particularly if the UK crashes out with no deal on 12 April. "I was born and brought up in this British colony called Hong Kong and used to think that the Brits were a very sensible people," remarked Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy lawmaker in the financial hub. "I've been watching Brexit process as a former colonial person and it's almost like a farce, it's sadly funny, sadly amusing. I'm baffled as to why and how things got to where they are now. To outsiders it's almost unthinkable," she told AFP. Mo, 62, came of age politically during a turbulent period for her birthplace sparked by Britain's colonial legacy the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Unlike Brexit, Hong Kongers had no say in their future and many were desperate to obtain British passports in case the handover unleashed chaos. Many youngsters, Mo said, are still looking for opportunities overseas given Beijing's increasingly authoritarian grip, but they may be less inclined to opt for Britain. "I think their first choices here are more likely Australia and Canada," she remarked. In India, Sreeram Chaulia, dean of the Jindal School of International Affairs, said many regard Brexit as the latest chapter in what has been a "sharp decline in the place Britain commands as a great power". "They are not a gold standard to look up to," he said. "We get a feeling of a sinking ship and everybody wants to leave a sinking ship." India's economy is set to overtake the UK's later this year. "The UK will then become a middle power. It is like a reversal of scale," he noted. Students at Bangladesh's Dhaka University offered mixed views on what Brexit might mean. Syed Tahsin said he hoped the relationship between the two countries might be "more positive than ever before" given Britain has vowed to strengthen bridges with Commonwealth countries. But others fretted that the anti-immigrant sentiment which fuelled the leave vote would make Britain less welcoming to overseas visitors and the Bangladeshi community already there. "Brexit itself is a policy of white supremacists," lamented student Aishwarya Proma, adding she feared it will "just push more... immigrants (to) go back to their countries." While Brits and Europeans may have been engrossed by the unceasing weekly drama of Brexit, many further afield admitted that they were more preoccupied by local issues. "The Brexit issue and the wider conversations about democracy seem far removed from daily life in Sri Lanka, where we are all consumed with our own dysfunctional politics," Dharisha Bastians, chief editor of the Sunday Observer newspaper, told AFP. Nationalist Sri Lankan legislator Udaya Gammanpila regarded that disinterest as a good sign. "We are no longer preoccupied with British politics. We are slowly getting over our colonial mentality," he said. Given its cultural and linguistic links, Australians have followed the Brexit drama perhaps more closely than any other former colony. Nick Miller, Europe correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers, noted there was "immediate interest" from readers. "The sight of a country deliberately throwing away a close, mutually beneficial partnership, wilfully damaging its economy and influence on a point of cultural principle, was a surprise," he wrote. Though he noted Britain hardly had a monopoly on political dysfunction. "We've changed prime ministers six times in the past 11 years, only twice as the result of an election," he wrote. Others have opted for humour. A "Brexit Yoga" video by Australian comic Sammy J featuring postures such as "Rising Nationalism", "Instant Regret" and "Downward Facing Economy" went viral last month on Facebook racking up some 5.4 million views. Singaporean economics student Linus Yeo said he was keen to look for silver linings. "Feels like the perfect time to take a holiday in the UK," he told AFP. "The pound is probably going into freefall." Meanwhile Tanmay, a freelance cameraman in New Delhi, joked Brexiters could learn some patience from India. "I am not surprised Brexit is taking a long time," he said. "The British took ages to leave here too." The 28-year-old Australian will be seen by two health assessors to determine 'whether he is fit to stand trial or insane', High Court judge Cameron Mander ruled during a brief hearing in Christchurch. Christchurch: A New Zealand judge on Friday ordered the accused Christchurch mosque gunman to undergo a mental health assessment to determine if he is fit to face trial for the murder of 50 Muslim worshippers. Alleged attacker Brenton Tarrant is facing 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges over the 15 March attacks on two mosques, which shocked the world and rattled normally peaceful New Zealand. The 28-year-old Australian will be seen by two health assessors to determine "whether he is fit to stand trial or insane", High Court judge Cameron Mander ruled during a brief hearing in Christchurch. Tarrant appeared by an audio-visual link from Auckland, where he is being held in isolation in a maximum security prison following the deadliest massacre in modern New Zealand history. The suspect a self-avowed white supremacist sat motionless throughout the hearing. He was not required to enter a plea. Several relatives of victims were in the court getting their first glimpse of the man charged with the massacre. "(I) just want to see what he has to say, what sort of feeling he's got, (his) emotion, to see what his reaction is, good or bad," Yama Nabi, whose 71-year-old father was killed, told Radio New Zealand outside the court. Tarrant was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 14 June. Ahead of the shooting, Tarrant posted a 74-page manifesto on social media in which he identified himself by name and described himself as a white supremacist out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. He live-streamed himself as he opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque. Tarrant was initially charged with one murder count as a holding measure when he made his first court appearance a day after the killings. However, the charges were updated Friday to include the names of all 50 who died in the attack and 39 others who were wounded. Tarrant had sacked a court-appointed lawyer after his first court appearance, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a propaganda platform. However, two Auckland lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, appeared in court on his behalf. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the mosque slaughter a well-planned "terrorist attack" and took immediate steps to tighten the country's gun laws. The government has also said it will review laws dealing with hate speech. Acts of hate crime are now everyday occurrence in Britain that appears to have been teased into Brexit by anti-Islamic feelings and its cousinly sentiments against other migrants A man who allegedly tore the hijab off a Muslim woman at Turnpike Lane Station in London last weekend wasnt doing anything particularly unusual. Acts and abuse of this kind are now everyday occurrence in a Britain that appears to have been teased into Brexit, however messily, by Islamophobia and its cousinly sentiments against other migrants. Islamophobic attacks and abuse recorded a sharp spike with the Brexit vote, and have risen massively since, hardly coincidentally. An increase in recorded hate crimes is thought to be largely driven by improvements in police recording, although there have been spikes in hate crime following certain events such as the EU referendum and the terrorist attacks in 2017, a British Home Office document says. The Brexit provocation to Islamophobic attacks is now acknowledged officially. A report from the Home Office tells us 94,098 hate crimes were recorded in the country in 2017-2018, of which 52 per cent were aimed at Muslims, with Jewish people the next most targeted. Thats about 130 to 140 hate crimes against Muslims reported every single day and Scotland Yard says such crimes are hugely underreported. Thats with just a couple of million Muslims in a country of about 60 million. The group Citizens UK found in Nottingham that three in five Muslims said they had been victim of a hate crime: that can mean anything from abuse to assault. The scourge of Islamophobia is real, with statistics by the Home Office highlighting a 40 per cent increase in hate crimes (in a year), Nafisa Begum from the Muslim Council of Britain told Firstpost. In only one case in ten on average is anyone charged over the offence. Most victims are women and most perpetrators young white men. The violence by extremists is out on the streets for all to see, but thats only the sharp end of a shared prejudice others express by vote. There is no known organisation behind these attacks. In place of a mainstreaming of Muslims, Britain is witnessing a mainstreaming of hatred of Muslims, and of increasing aggression in expressing it. The group Tell Mama that invites Muslims to inform it on hate crimes reported a sixfold rise in incidents in the week after the Christchurch carnage in mid-March. Women wearing the hijab have been called terrorist sluts, men with typically Muslim beards have been called bin Laden and this is only about the least unprintable of the abuse. Just stepping out of home in Britain looking like a Muslim is these days a calculated risk. In a predictable outcome, Muslim neighbourhoods appear to be turning in upon themselves. British Muslims have for long crowded into a few selected areas around the country, mostly Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Bolton towards the north, areas in London such as Newham and Tower Hamlets, and around Birmingham in the Midlands, where five mosques were attacked after the Christchurch killings. The smashed windows at the Witton Islamic Centre in Aston area of Birmingham are still boarded up with plywood. The streets around feel boarded up as well. The neighbourhood is entirely Muslim, and it lives around itself and for its own. Before political correctness stepped in, this would be called a ghetto. Britain politely calls this sort of place an inner city. At the crossing of Witton Road with Birchfield Road in this inner city a broken sofa seats garbage not the way Britain usually deals with its sofas, or its pavements, or its garbage. Bottles and waste litter the little around that is green. A few men hanging around at corners look on visitors with suspicion. After the attacks on the mosques the place looks scared, not just neglected. For the first two days after the attacks parents did not send their children, Sharafat Ali who heads the Witton Islamic Centre told Firstpost. Send their children that is, to the madrassa that the centre runs. The madrassa offers the Islamic part of a childs education and Britain has close to a couple of thousand of them. Regular school for a kid coming to the Witton Centre is from eight in the morning to 3.30 in the afternoon followed by lessons at the madrassa from about five to seven. The morning school is intended to build up the good Brit, the evening madrassa the good Muslim within that good Brit. The madrassa that looks to keep a growing kid Muslim also makes the kid separate from other British kids. Its a separation that most Muslim families are at pains to ensure. The formal regime of an Islamic education means the stamp of separation is brought to bear a little more heavily on the typical Muslim kids than on children from other minority religions. Muslim parents protested outside a Birmingham school that has begun already to teach primary children about gay sex; that education will be compulsory from next year. The parents protest only marked Muslims as other in yet another way - it can get hard to tell sometimes whether British Muslims are more excluded than excluding. That raises the troubling political question whether Muslims themselves ask to be seen as the other that Brexiteers see them as. Thats still no reason why someone cant be both a good Brit publicly and a good Muslim privately. But the growing abuse and rising attacks a Muslim now faces on Britains streets is leaving British Muslims increasingly troubled in both spaces. Theres only that far anyone can retreat into the cocoon of an inner city. Stepping out of that to deal with the Islamophobia all around presents a difficulty as easy to describe as it is difficult to resolve: speak up against hate crime and you raise your profile as a Muslim against whom the hate is directed. But just who among British Muslims is speaking up? A study by Newcastle University threw up some unexpected results. The slightly older participants, who were at or had been at University, were the most likely to actively participate in politics and activism, Dr Robin Finlay from the university told Firstpost. The younger participants, who were still at school, were more likely to be marginalised and uncomfortable with the public realm of mainstream politics. That would make older Muslims more willing to contest anti-Muslim sentiment politically. What becomes of a Britain where young white men attack Muslims more and more, that then drives young Muslims to refuse to engage with Britain. British Muslims are missing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns tone after the Christchurch attacks. You are us, she said to her countrys Muslims. That also needs the other side to say We are you. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister on Thursday criticised a statement from the U.S. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister on Thursday criticised a statement from the U.S. State Department about his meeting with his U.S. counterpart, saying references to Syria and detained U.S. consular staff did not reflect the truth. Turkey and the United States have been at loggerheads over a host of issues, including differences over policy in Syria, the fate of detained U.S. consular staff in Turkey over terror links, and Turkey's purchase of Russian missile defence systems. Speaking after a strongly worded statement by his ministry, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he was "really surprised" by the U.S. readout of his meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which he said had been prepared ahead of their meeting. "Whether you look at the tone of the statement or the sentences it claimed Pompeo told us, we see it doesn't reflect the truth," Cavusoglu told reporters in the United States. Turkey's Foreign Ministry earlier slammed the U.S. statement, saying it failed to reflect the content of the meeting and contained issues that were not discussed. "Our alliance naturally requires that such statements are prepared with greater care, while avoiding to include matters that were not raised during meetings," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said. Earlier, the U.S. State Department's deputy spokesman, Robert Palladino, said Pompeo had warned Cavusoglu about the "potentially devastating consequences of Turkish military action" in Syria and called for the resolution to the cases of the "unjustly detained U.S. citizens" in Turkey. However, Cavusoglu appeared to play down the dispute over the conflicting statements. "For some reason, our friends leave us foreign ministers in tough positions by making such statements," he said. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Leslie Adler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Photo: Wikipedia Vancouver's iconic St. Paul's Hospital is up for sale. A replacement for the aging hospital in downtown Vancouver has been announced for the False Creek Flats, and the 6.6-acre St. Paul's property is up for grabs but you had better have a thick wallet. Real estate brokerage CBRE is calling the property a "once in a generation" opportunity and the largest contiguous development site in the city in the past 13 years, CTV News reports. "In the normal course of business, to assemble an equivalent-sized parcel of land in downtown Vancouver could potentially take decades, CBRE's Tony Quattrin says. There is no listed price for the site, but its assessed value is $784,054,000. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the new hospital, which is expected to open in 2026. with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: Facebook Christian Allen Sarile A former Calgary teacher has pleaded guilty to 17 sex-related charges involving girls. Christian Allen Sarile had been arrested on 49 charges including sexual assault, sexual interference, accessing child pornography, distributing child pornography, luring and extortion. All of the victims were between the ages of 12 and 17 and are from the Calgary area. Police say Sarile used social media sites to pose as a teenager asking to meet girls. Investigators say he would ask the girls to chat through various social media platforms and then offer them cash or items in exchange for sex or compromising photos. A sentencing date has not been set. Photo: The Canadian Press Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, center, is escorted to a helicopter in handcuffs by Mexican navy marines at a hanger in Mexico City, after he was captured overnight in the beach resort town of Mazatlan. The wife of convicted drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has launched an appeal to fashion designers to propose designs for a clothing line named after her husband. Emma Coronel posted a message on her Instagram account this week saying "I invite clothing designers who are starting out and who want to join the project, to work with me." Coronel has dubbed the line "El Chapo Guzman: JGL," but she has had a little trouble registering her husband's name as a trademark. Authorities say the fact that it's the name of a criminal "violates public order, morality and good manners." She has also struggled with exactly what contribution to fashion could be made by a short, stocky man who was best known for fleeing through sewers in a filthy tank-top T-shirt. Coronel wrote that "my goal is to project my style and Joaquin's, but to please everybody." Coronel urged aspiring designers to write to Mariel Colon Miro, her designated representative for the undertaking. Colon Miro wrote Thursday that "we have received a lot of responses from designers who are interested in forming part of the project. We are very happy with the response." "We are still not going to give out details about the look, because we want it to be a surprise," Colon Miro wrote. "The line will be offered online for the moment, so that people around the world can buy it." El Chapo was found guilty in February of murder conspiracy charges, drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms possession. He's awaiting sentencing and could spend the rest of his life in prison. Photo: The Canadian Press Shannade Clermont, left, and her twin sister Shannon outside of federal court in New York. A former cast member of the reality TV series "Bad Girls Club" was sentenced to a year in prison for stealing the debit card information of a man found dead from a drug overdose in his Manhattan apartment the morning after hiring her as a prostitute in 2017. Shannade Clermont appearing in federal court Manhattan with her twin sister received the sentence after tearfully expressing remorse and asking for mercy. "I take responsibility for my shameful actions," Clermont told U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald. "Words can't explain the sorrow I have in my heart." Clermont, 25, appeared on the Oxygen network's reality series "Bad Girls Club" in 2015 along with her sister, amassing a large social media following along the way. The twins have also appeared in music videos and have modeled for Kanye West's Yeezy brand, appearing in the Yeezy Season 6 campaign. The defendant wasn't charged in the death of a victim identified by police as James Alesi, and Buchwald said she didn't care that she engaged in prostitution. But the judge criticized her for not seeking help when the victim passed out while she was with him the result of what his family says was an accidental fatal overdose from cocaine laced with fentanyl. "When faced with a real test of character, you chose to steal his debit card information," the judge said. Prosecutors alleged that after Clermont left, she sought to use the dead man's credit to pay rent, phone bills and for an expensive wardrobe. The victim's family eventually discovered the fraud while sorting out his estate. "On Jan. 31, 2017, my brother died and she went shopping," the victim's sister said at the sentencing, declining to give her name. Defence attorney Jeffrey Lichtman insisted his client didn't bear any responsibility for the man's death, claiming she "had no idea he was in any kind of distress." The judge responded: "I'm not sure I totally agree with you because I don't know what happened in the 3 1/2 hours she was in the apartment. . Had she decided before she left to call 911, we don't know what would have happened." Le Masurier and Whitbread enter agreement for second Premier Inn hotel in St Helier 70m redevelopment to include housing, plus retail, bar and restaurant units April 05, 2019 // Franchising.com // Le Masurier, the Jersey property investment and development company, has entered into an Agreement To Lease with Whitbread, Premier Inns parent company, to bring a second Premier Inn hotel to Jersey, as part of a major redevelopment in the north of St Helier. The proposed 70 million Bath Street Redevelopment will provide for substantial regeneration, employment, housing and a boost for tourism. It will include: 122-bedroom latest generation Premier Inn hotel 145 high quality residential apartments and car parking New retail, bar and restaurant units A new pedestrian street connecting the Millennium Town Park to the library into town More green areas, pavement widening and street art St Heliers second Premier Inn is expected to create 35 new jobs and accommodate 40,000 overnight stays in Jersey, with the potential to attract annual visitor spend of 1.6 million and, in turn, support over 30 new year-round jobs in the tourism sector. The wider redevelopment is also expected to create over 70 full time jobs in the construction industry. Le Masurier, which has remained under Jersey family ownership since 1835, is holding two public exhibitions of the plans for the Bath Street Redevelopment at the Freedom Centre (formerly the Odeon Cinema). Islanders are invited to attend on the afternoons of the 9th and 10th April to see images of the impressive new site and to leave feedback. Brian McCarthy, Managing Director, Le Masurier, said: Our Bath Street Redevelopment represents a significant 70 million investment in St Helier, helping with the much-needed regeneration of the north of town and boosting tourism and business. In addition, the impressive new residential units will help to meet the demand for housing that the Island has, and St Helier specifically. He added: We are delighted to partner with Whitbread in bringing a second Premier Inn to Jersey. Despite the whole Brexit uncertainty, this demonstrates Le Masuriers confidence in investment in Jersey and also Whitbreads confidence in the Island - and follows the success of their first Premier Inn at Charing Cross. I believe that this is a real success story for Jersey and will provide a host of social and economic benefits. Jacqui Allum, Head of Estate Development at Whitbread, said: We're excited to sign an agreement to lease to bring a second Premier Inn to Jersey less than a year after opening our first on the Island. Jersey is a relatively new market for Premier Inn and our confidence to invest further in the Island has been underpinned by the strong performance of our Charing Cross hotel. Since opening in July 2018, the Charing Cross Premier Inn has consistently achieved above average occupancy rates and positive guest feedback. This strong performance, along with the high level of interest from our customers searching for Jersey on the PremierInn.com website, has encouraged us to partner with Le Masurier and invest in the Bath Street site. Simon Crowcroft, Constable of St Helier, said: I am delighted to support this major regeneration of the north of St Helier. It will significantly improve business and tourism in the area and, importantly, with more green areas and proposed wider pavements it will considerably improve the look and feel of this significant gateway to town. Significant milestones Bath Street Redevelopment Launch - 5th April Public Exhibitions: Tuesday 9th April - 12-7pm; Wednesday 10th April - 12-2pm and 4-7pm Submission of planning application - The visitor number and guest spending calculations were compiled by Walsingham Planning, an independent planning consultancy, and will form part of the planning application for the Bath Street development. About Le Masurier Le Masurier is one of Jerseys oldest and largest property companies with real estate assets located in Jersey, the United Kingdom and throughout continental Europe. The Groups strategy is to achieve long-term growing, secure and sustainable income. The investment risk profile of the Group is aligned with the culture of the ultimate beneficial owners and follows a risk averse, conservative and long-term growth strategy. About Premier Inn Premier Inn was named the UK's top-rated hotel chain for 2018 according to Which? With almost 800 hotels and more than 75,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland, Premier Inn guests are never far from a great night's sleep at fantastic value rates. Premier Inn hotels are in more locations than any other UK hotel brand for the ease and convenience of leisure and business travellers alike. All Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms, a luxurious Hypnos bed, a choice of pillows, TV with Freeview and free Wi-Fi. A bar and restaurant is situated either on-site or next door to each hotel, offering a wide range of food and drink including a delicious all-you-can-eat breakfast. Across the estate, the average Trip Advisor score for Premier Inn hotels is 4.2. Premier Inn has been awarded the Best UK Family Hotel in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards, Best UK Hotel Group in the Silver Travel Awards and the Business In The Community Environmental Leadership Award. In 2018 Premier Inn was also named the UKs top-rated hotel chain for the fourth year in a row by Which. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity is the National Charity partner of Premier Inn and to date team members, guests and suppliers have reached the milestone of 10 million, which formed part of the funding towards the Premier Inn Clinical Building, officially opened by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge in January 2018. Outside of the UK, Premier Inn's expansion plans are focused on Germany. Premier Inn opened its first hotel in Frankfurt in 2016 and has more than 6,000 Premier Inn bedrooms in its secured pipeline in Germany. Media Contacts: Martyn White Freedom Media on behalf of Le Masurier T: 01534 607804 E: martyn@freedom.media James Anderson Property Communications Manager, Whitbread T: 07850 944 798 E: james.anderson@whitbread.com SOURCE Premier Inn ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Motto Mortgage HPLB Now Open and Serving Chicagoland New Mortgage Brokerage Franchise held Grand Opening Celebration on April 3 at the Charles Rutenberg Realty Group, Event Included Ribbon Cutting and Food Drive April 05, 2019 // Franchising.com // Chicago - A new Motto Mortgage franchise is now open in the Chicago metropolitan area and serving customers across Illinois. Motto Mortgage HPLB held their grand opening yesterday evening at the Charles Rutenberg Realty (CRR) office in Naperville, complete with a ribbon cutting for CRR agents, clients and friends. The centerpiece of the fete was the culmination of a month-long food drive for the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry (AAIFP) as part of the Motto Mortgage Mission Against Hunger program. The food drive collected 250 pounds of food. The AAIFP spoke at the celebration, highlighting the special new partnership with Motto Mortgage HPLB and the impact it will make for the local Chicagoland community. Charles Rutenberg Realty of Illinois is proud to announce the addition of the mortgage brokerage to their portfolio. The new endeavor will allow the company to offer high quality service to customers with one-stop shopping. The brokerage, which will celebrate their 15th anniversary later this year, also offers title services. Established by Ray Zabielski, broker owner of Charles Rutenberg Realty of Illinois with more than 45 years experience in real estate, Motto Mortgage HPLB is a customer-first, full-service mortgage brokerage whose motto, helping people live better, is literally a part of the name (HPLB) and is engrained in everything they do. His son, Grant Zabielski, will serve as the lead loan originator and manage the day-to-day operation of the business. Purchasing and financing a home can be an arduous process. At Motto Mortgage HPLB, we provide superior service by offering personalized mortgage guidance and presenting competitive mortgage options from carefully chosen lenders, said Grant Zabielski. Further, our mission to help people live better goes beyond the homebuying process. Giving back to the Chicagoland community is a main pillar of our business and will be showcased through programs like Motto Mortgage Mission Against Hunger. Loan originators in the Motto Mortgage network have access to competitive loans from various wholesale lenders, and work hard to give homebuyers choices - because no loan is one-size-fits-all. A loan originator with Motto Mortgage HLPB can be reached at (630) 718-4300. Each Motto Mortgage franchise is independently owned, operated and licensed. About Motto Mortgage HPLB Motto Mortgage HLPB is a locally owned and operated full-service mortgage brokerage serving the greater Chicagoland area including Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, Wheaton, Downers Grove, and all other DuPage and surrounding counties, in Illinois. NMLS# 1824551. To learn more, please visit: https://www.mottomortgage.com/offices/hplb-naperville/ About Motto Mortgage The Motto Mortgage network is breaking the mold by giving the power of choice back to consumers with less jargon, more transparency, and even more options to choose from as they shop for the right home loan. With more than 100 franchises sold and nearly 80 offices open in 30 states, Motto Franchising, LLCs unique national franchise mortgage brokerage model is the first of its kind in the United States. Created to disrupt the mortgage industry, the Motto Mortgage network connects loan originators and real estate agents to provide a seamless, personalized experience and one-stop shop for consumers. Motto Mortgage is the second member of the RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. family of brands. Each Motto Mortgage office is independently owned, operated and licensed. To learn more about Motto Mortgage, email newsroom@mottomortgage.com, or visit www.mottomortgage.com/offices. Media Contact: Emily Gibson ?Public Relations and Social Media Manager ?Motto Franchising, LLC ?(303) 796-3918 ?emily.gibson@mottomortgage.com SOURCE ?Motto Franchising, LLC ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Photo: Tracy Hughes/CSRD Kukpi7 Wayne Christian show his enthusiasm during his opening remarks of the Sicamous-to- Armstrong Rail Trail Corridor Interjurisdictional Governance Advisory Committee, while District of Sicamous Chief Administrative Officer Evan Parliament looks o Plans are well underway for a second Okanagan Rail Trail. Splatsin Kukpi7 Wayne Christian of Splatsin showed great enthusiasm for the project at the Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail Trail Corridor Interjurisdictional Governance Advisory Committee meeting held March 15 at the Splatsin Community Centre. "We need to pull together in the same direction. Now let's harness up, and get going, said Christian. The committee approved a series of recommendations to assist in advancing the project. These recommendations will be taken back to the boards of both the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) and the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), as well as the Splatsin Band Council for approval. Some of the recommendations set the foundation of the working relationship between the three partners, as well as the priorities and processes involved with the project including a memorandum of understanding and terms of reference for the committees involved. There are already more than 200 known agreements dealing with land leases, crossings, access and easements to be addressed. To fund the trail, grant applications of approximately $13.4 million have been made to provincial and federal programs, with the outcomes pending. The timeline of work on the project rests heavily on obtaining grant funding for project planning and development. Photo: Parks Canada Whether you are pro-national park, anti-national park or on the fence in the South Okanagan, you're invited to a public forum in Osoyoos to discuss all angles of the issue, hosted by a local interest group seeking to mend "frayed tempers" over the national park question. The proposed park has long been contentious, with Parks Canada operating an online survey over the winter that garnered 2,740 responses but declining to hold a public forum, instead meeting privately with a few stakeholders. Lionel Trudel with the South Okanagan Similkameen Preservation Society, which is against a national park, said they feel that process wasn't fair. "We have a lot of people who wanted to have a conversation with Parks Canada but were never invited," Trudel said. "Many did submit online feedback, but a lot of people, especially seniors and people that are challenged with computer and technology capabilities felt they were left out in the cold." He said that's why the group decided to host a forum, at which the SOSPS, B.C. Cattleman's Association, B.C. Wildlife Federation, members of local First Nations, MLA Linda Larson and more will be in attendance. Trudel has personally sent an invitation to Parks Canada to attend or send a representative as well, and expects to hear back next week. "We're getting a lot of requests saying 'Hey, we've read everything you have, we have a ton of questions, where can we ask those questions in person?'" Trudel said. " He said the goal is to bridge a gap in the community between those who have strong opinions about the national park. The SOSPS does not believe the involvement of Parks Canada is the right way to preserve the area, Trudel said, but there are many in the community who do believe that, and he hopes some middle ground can be found. "We want to repair that divide," Trudel said, explaining the issue has tempers high in communities around the South Okanagan. They are looking for a rational, calm dialogue about preserving the area. "You know, these are all first-world problems, that we're trying to preserve an ecology that we all feel is important," Trudel said. "We just want to have a talk. Whether you're pro-park, or against the park. We want to have a rational conversation without shouting, pejoratives, using words that inflict damage." The meeting will be held April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sonora Centre in Osoyoos and will be open to all. Photo: The Canadian Press Vivid blue spinel with white carbonate in calc-silicate rock is seen in this undated handout photo. Baffin Island holds some of its treasures in plain sight with rocks that produce rare gems sitting exposed to the elements, scientists say. A new study from the University of British Columbia shows the area is home to a mineral that is prized by jewellers and collectors. Study co-author Philippe Belley said in an interview that cobalt-blue spinel, "which is a ridiculously rare gemstone" gets a lot of interest from gemologists and jewellers but there's not enough supply. The most significant source of the gems is Vietnam, and even then production is limited, said Belley, who's a PhD graduate within the department of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences. He and report co-author UBC mineralogist Lee Groat conducted the first scientific study of the cobalt-blue spinel in Canada. Baffin Island is "really unique" because it has all the "right ingredients" needed to produce coloured gemstones but the area is "virtually" unexplored, Belley said. "The rock is extremely well exposed so not only is it easy to see if you have a gem occurrence by just walking on the surface and doing geological mapping, but it's also suitable for remote detection methods using drones and satellites to collect data on the rocks." Using remote detection can't be done in most other gem-producing areas because of plant cover or challenging terrain, Belley said. The researchers analysed 14 occurrences of spinel on Baffin Island, including two of cobalt-blue spinel, to better understand how it forms. They found it was formed 1.8 billion years ago at temperatures of about 800 C, but cobalt was only present in high-enough concentrations to produce gem-quality stones in small, localized areas. Baffin Island spinel contains up to 500 parts-per-million of cobalt, giving it a vivid blue colour comparable to the best sources worldwide, Belley said in the news release. Spinel also comes in red, pink and violet, Belley said. Other gems found on Baffin Island include Beluga sapphires, used in the Queen's sapphire jubilee brooch, and lapis lazuli, a rock used as a gemstone by the Egyptians, he said. One of the things Borderlands is famous for is all the fight you have to embark on in order to grab the best loot in co-op. Thats about to change, fortunately enough, in Borderlands 3, as shared by Gearbox Software over social networks and a PlayStation Blog post. Lead boss designer Matt Cox said on Twitter that no more fighting for loot in Borderlands 3 will happen. We can now choose to have our own personal loot stream if we want. One of my favorite things we announced today. You can still play the classic way, too, if you feel the new system doesnt work as youd have expected. On top of that, its good to note the full explanation by art director Scott Kester. Regardless of your respective levels or mission progress, you and your friends can play together online or on the couch, and not only will each of you deal a meaningful amount of damage, but youll also receive your own discrete loot stream, Kester said. No more loot ninjas! Of course, if you prefer to play with classic Borderlands 2 co-op ruleswhere loot is sharedyou can choose to do so. Borderlands 3 is releasing on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on September 13, 2019. The title is an Epic Games Store exclusive for six months on PC. Photo: The Canadian Press A representative for Mick Jagger says he has successfully undergone treatment, though no details were provided. In a statement released Friday, Jagger's rep says he "is doing very well and is expected to make a full recovery." Jagger thanked his supporters and the hospital that treated him in a tweet Friday. "Thank you everyone for all your messages of support, I'm feeling much better now and on the mend and also a huge thank you to all the hospital staff for doing a superb job," he wrote. Last week the Rolling Stones announced they were postponing their latest tour so Jagger can receive medical treatment. Jagger was told by doctors "he cannot go on tour at this time" and the 75-year-old Jagger tweeted, "I'm devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can." The Stones' No Filter Tour was expected to start April 20 in Miami. Photo: The Canadian Press WestJet Airlines Ltd. and its 510 regional pilots have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement. The Calgary-based airline says the deal with WestJet Encore pilots will be presented to the Air Line Pilots Association for ratification. WestJet did not disclose details of the agreement. It comes more than three months after an arbitrator set the terms for the first collective agreement between the company and its other 1,600 or so pilots, who are also represented by ALPA. They voted in favour of joining the union in May 2017, marking a major shift in culture at the airline as it expands internationally. Last August, the company's 3,000 flight attendants voted in favour of joining the Canadian Union of Public Employees to further unionize WestJet's workforce. ALPA represents pilots at WestJet's main service as well as ultra-low-cost subsidiary Swoop and WestJet Encore. NATO marks 70th anniversary with Washington meeting of Foreign Ministers NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 04 Apr. 2019 Foreign Ministers gathered in Washington D.C. on Thursday (4 April 2019) to mark 70 years since NATO's founding, and to continue adapting the Alliance. "Over seven decades, NATO has stepped up time and again to keep our people safe, and we will continue to stand together to prevent conflict and preserve peace," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Addressing security in the Black Sea region, Ministers agreed a new package of measures to enhance NATO's situational awareness and strengthen support for the Alliance's partners in the region, Georgia and Ukraine. This support could include training for maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises, and sharing information. Ministers also discussed Russia's ongoing violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Allies reiterated their call on Russia to return to full and verifiable compliance with the Treaty, and discussed the way forward should Russia not return to compliance. The Secretary General stressed that any response would be "measured and coordinated," and NATO has no intention to deploy ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe, but added that NATO will continue to "maintain credible and effective deterrence and defence." Later on Thursday, Ministers addressed NATO's role in the fight against terrorism, and the efforts of the United States to seek a political settlement in Afghanistan. "We went into Afghanistan together, and we agree that we will take any decisions on our future presence together," said the Secretary General. Ministers also discussed progress in the fight against ISIS, and how NATO is adapting to new terrorist threats and tactics, such as the use of small drones. The Secretary General stressed that NATO will continue to work with partners in the region, training local forces in the fight against terrorism. Ministers concluded their meeting with a discussion on fairer burden-sharing in the Alliance. The Secretary General welcomed Allied progress, including four consecutive years of rising investment in defence. "Since 2016, European Allies and Canada have added $41 billion dollars to their defence spending; by the end of next year, this will rise to $100 billion," he said. Mr. Stoltenberg noted that Allies are not only spending more, but also investing in new capabilities and deploying more forces for NATO. The NATO Secretary General is wrapping up a three-day visit to the United States, where he also addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress, met with President Trump, took part in a "NATO Engages" conference, and participated in a ceremony to mark 70 years since the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Do Not Sell My Personal Information Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the first meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers' session NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 04 Apr. 2019 Good morning. Seven decades ago, on this day, in this city, our Alliance was founded. Foreign Ministers from twelve countries across Europe and North America signed the Washington Treaty. Those nations promised to stand together, and to defend each other. That pledge has given us seventy years of peace, prosperity and security. This morning Allied Foreign Ministers addressed Russia's continuing violation of the INF Treaty. By fielding multiple battalions of SSC-8 missiles, Russia has made the world a more dangerous place. The United States and other Allies have tried to engage with Russia about this missile system for several years. We all agree that Russia continues to be in violation of the treaty. And today, we all once again call on Russia to return to full and verifiable compliance with the INF Treaty. But time is running out. So NATO is preparing for a world without the INF Treaty. Today, we discussed the way forward. And what potential measures we can take, should Russia not return into compliance. We will not mirror what Russia is doing. We will be measured and coordinated. And we have no intention of deploying ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe. At the same time, NATO will continue to maintain credible and effective deterrence and defence. And all Allies are strongly committed to arms control and non-proliferation. Russia's ongoing violation of the INF Treaty is a pattern of destabilising behaviour. Russia used force to illegally annex Crimea from Ukraine. And continues its military build-up across the region. We call on Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized last year near the Sea of Azov. And we discussed what more we can do to enhance our security in the Black Sea region. We agreed a package of measures to improve our situational awareness. And to step up our support for both Georgia and Ukraine. In areas such as the training of maritime forces and coast guards. Port visits and exercises. And sharing information. This will build on our already close cooperation. Right now, one of NATO's naval groups is on patrol in the Black Sea. And today, it is exercising with Ukrainian and Georgian ships. So we will maintain our focus, and our presence in this vital region. With that, I am ready to take your questions. Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: OK, we'll start with the New York Times, over there, yeah. Question [New York Times]: Mr Secretary General. Over here. I wondered you outlined today and yesterday in your speech the sort of strong steps NATO has taken to deter Russia in Europe. Mr Trump has talked consistently and mentioned it in his meeting with you, about better relations with Russia. Is it time to emphasise deterrence less and dialogue more? How do you sort of balance between those two? Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: For NATO, and for me, and for all Allies, there is no contradiction between deterrence, defence and dialogue. Actually, we strongly believe that as long as we are strong, as long as we are united, as long as we adapt to the actions of a more assertive Russia, respond to that, then we can also engage in dialogue. So, one of the main reasons why we now are able to engage Russia in dialogue as we do, on many issues; risk reduction, arms control, Ukraine and so on, that's exactly because we are united and exactly because we have shown, by the increased readiness of our forces, by the increased military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, that we are united. So, this is about the dual track approach, deterrence, defence and dialogue, and we will continue to pursue that dual track approach. And it was strongly supported by all the Allies in the meeting we just ended. Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: [We have ZDF] Question: Once again a question on burden sharing: has Germany again be subject of discussion? And if so, is it only the USA criticising Germany for falling short or also other countries? Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: So, all NATO Allies made a promise to invest more in defence, to improve burden sharing in the Alliance. And I expect, and all Allies expect, that Allies deliver on what they have promised. The good news is that that is exactly what is now happening because, after years of reducing defence spending, all Allies have started to invest more. The majority of NATO Allies have submitted plans on how to reach the 2% goal by 2024, and I expect other Allies to follow. Germany has started to increase and we have seen healthy increases in the Germany defence investments, Germany defence budgets, over the last years. And also in the proposed budget for 2020, for next year, there is a continued increase in defence spending. So, this is about all Allies having to make good on the pledge they made. This is not about, you know, only pleasing the United States, this is about that we see that we live in a more challenging and demanding security environment and therefore we need to invest more in our own security, to preserve peace and to safeguard freedom. Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: OK, we'll go to the gentleman in the front row here. Question: Secretary General, I would like to shift the question to partnership. I would like to know about NATO-Azerbaijan partnership, and also Azerbaijan's contributions to NATO missions and activities. Thank you so much. Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Azerbaijan is a close partner of NATO, and works with us in furthering international peace and security. Not least, Azerbaijan makes important contributions to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, by providing troops and assistance to NATO Allies on transit routes, on land, in the air and by rail, for example through the use of the BTK rail link. These are important contributions to the success of the NATO mission. And all our partners, including our partners in the Caucasus region, make valued contributions to our mission. Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: OK, and we'll have one last question, the gentleman with the beard in the second row. Question: Mr Secretary, yesterday US Vice President said Turkey must choose between remaining a critical member of NATO Alliance and going forward with its procurement of S-400 systems. Do you share this threat by US Vice President? Is Turkey's procurement of S-400s a red line for its membership to the NATO Alliance? Thank you. Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: It is a national decision what kind of systems different NATO Allies procure, but we fully realise that this is now a challenge and it is an issue that has been discussed is addressed by the United States and Turkey. It is not on the agenda of this Ministerial meeting, but NATO provides a platform, including this meeting, for dialogue between Allies on this issue and that's one of the important reasons why we welcome that NATO is able to provide a platform for also addressing issues where there are disagreements between NATO Allies, for instance on the issue related to the S-400 and the involvement, or the planned delivery of F-35s to Turkey. We have to remember that NATO is augmenting the air defences of Turkey and we do that by deploying Patriot batteries, Spanish Patriot batteries to Turkey, and also Italy is deploying SAMP/T batteries, augmenting the Turkish air defences. I also welcome the fact that there is ongoing dialogue between United States and Turkey on delivery of Patriot systems to Turkey, and also that there is dialogue going on between Turkey, Italy and France, looking into the possibility of delivering a French/Italian system, SAMP/T. I hope that it's possible to find a solution to this issue, because we see now that this is an issue where there is disagreement between two Allies; Turkey and United States. Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: Thank you very much. I know there's lots more questions. Unfortunately, that's all we have time for at this moment. Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: There will be more time at the last press conference. Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: Thank you. Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 04 Apr. 2019 (As delivered) Good morning. It is a great honour to be in Washington today, because on this day 70 years ago, NATO's founding treaty was signed in this great city. And since then NATO has preserved peace and safeguarded freedom. NATO is not only the longest lasting Alliance in history, but NATO is the most successful Alliance in history. We will during our foreign ministers meeting today of course reflect on our achievements over these 7 decades but we will also look to the future. We will address important issues such as burden sharing and the importance of having a fair Alliance. And the good news is that we are making progress. Allies are stepping up and they do more together now than they have done for many decades. We will also assess NATO's role in the fight against terrorism. Secretary Pompeo will update us on the peace negotiations. And all NATO Allies strongly support the efforts to find a negotiated peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, to the war in Afghanistan. NATO is also stepping up its efforts in the fight against terrorism with increased efforts when it comes to training of Iraqi forces. Prevention is better than intervention. We need to build local capacity to make sure that ISIS does not return. And then we will address our relationship with Russia. Russia violates the INF Treaty by deploying new nuclear capable missiles in Europe. And we will also address the aggressive actions of Russia in the Black Sea region. We will agree on new measures of support for our close partners, Georgia and Ukraine, sovereign nations with the sovereign right to choose their own path. And with that I am ready to take your questions. QUESTION: Vice President Pence has criticised Germany for not spending enough money. Do you share his view? SECRETARY GENERAL: So all NATO Allies made a pledge to invest more in defence, to improve burden-sharing in our Alliance. And and I expect all Allies, including Germany of course, to make good on the pledge we made together. We didn't make this pledge to please the United States, we made it because we live in a more unpredictable and more uncertain world. Allies reduced defence spending after the end of the Cold War when tensions went down, but now tensions are going up again and we have to invest more in defence. Germany as all other Allies are now making progress. The good news is that after years of cutting defence spending, Germany and all other Allies are adding billions to their defence budgets. So I welcome the progress we have seen, increased investments from Germany, but of course I expect more from all Allies. Then, let me add that burden sharing is not only about spending. Burden sharing is also about contributions to different NATO missions and operations. Germany is a lead nation in Afghanistan, has been there for many years. Germany leads one of our battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance, in Lithuania. And Germany is also now responsible for our high-readiness force in NATO, and Germany is also leading the NATO activity in the Aegean Sea. QUESTION: Do you see any resolution to the dispute with Turkey, on its plans to buy a Russian missile defence system, or is NATO going to have to live with what the Turkish Foreign Minister says is a done deal? SECRETARY GENERAL: It's a national decision for each NATO Ally to decide on procurement of capabilities. But at the same time, we see that this is now an issue that has created disagreement between Allies. And NATO provides a platform for Allies to address issues like this. The S-400 issue is not on the agenda of the meeting today, but I expect of course this to be addressed on the margins of the meeting, because NATO is a platform for Allies to discuss issues like this. NATO provides support to Turkey. We augment the air defence of Turkey with the deployment of NATO Patriot batteries. Spain, on behalf of NATO, has deployed Patriot batteries to Turkey. And also Italy has deployed something called SAMP/T, air defence system to Turkey. So NATO provides support, we augment the air defences of Turkey already, but of course I expect also this issue to be discussed on the margins of the meeting. QUESTION: [inaudible] Had to be 4 percent? SECRETARY GENERAL: Well, we have made our decision, all Allies have agreed to a pledge. And I expect Allies to deliver on what we have agreed to. And the good news is that we are now moving in the right direction. Since 2016, European Allies and Canada have added 41 billion to their defence budgets already, and by the end of next year, that number will be 100 billion more for defence. So this makes a difference, and I welcome the increase we have seen. QUESTION: Do you see any chance to save the INF? SECRETARY GENERAL: It is still possible for Russia to come back into compliance. Because the period for finishing the withdrawal process will end in August. And therefore we call on Russia to come back into compliance, because the INF Treaty has been so important for European security. We have to understand that the INF Treaty didn't only reduce the number, but actually banned all nuclear missiles, all intermediate-range missiles. And that has served Europe, all of us, very well for many years. Therefore it is of great concern that Russia now for several years has deployed the new SSC-8 missile. It's nuclear-capable, mobile, hard to detect, can reach European cities, and lowers the threshold for any potential use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. We have to also understand that it was actually the Obama administration that first raised this with Russia. So Russia has been in violation or a long time. And all NATO Allies agree that Russia is in violation. Also several Allies have independently assessed, based on their information, that Russia is in violation. So NATO is united the call on Russia to come back into compliance, but NATO is also united in now starting to prepare for a world without the INF Treaty. A treaty which is only respected by only one side will never keep us safe. QUESTION: [inaudible] How optimistic are you about peace talks with Taliban? [inaudible] SECRETARY GENERAL: We are doing an assessment together with the United States, because the United States is a member of NATO. So we will discuss the situation in Afghanistan later on today, We met with Ambassador Khalilzad last week in Brussels. So NATO Allies are consulting closely on the situation in Afghanistan, of course with the United States, which plays a special role by being party to the talks which are now going on with Taliban. So we are assessing the situation in Afghanistan together, and we will make decisions on our future presence there together. For us it is important that a peace agreement makes sure that Afghanistan doesn't once again become a safe haven for international terrorists. But we also of course strongly believe that the only way to have sustainable peace in Afghanistan is to have Afghan reconciliation. And to have Afghan reconciliation we need of course the Afghan government to be part of that. Therefore the work, the talks which are now taking place, are only the first stage. The next stage has to be Afghan reconciliation, including with the Afghan government. And I would like to commend President Ghani for his leadership, for his efforts. Because that is so crucial in a time where we really all would like to see a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NAVSEA SIOP Office Leads $21 Billion Naval Shipyard Modernization Navy News Service Story Number: NNS190404-11 Release Date: 4/4/2019 11:05:00 AM From Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communication Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A new Navy program office will centrally coordinate a plan to recapitalize its four public shipyards. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP) Program Office, PMS-555, established in June 2018, is working in concert with Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) to recapitalize and modernize the infrastructure at the four public nuclear shipyards to include critical dry dock repairs, restoring needed shipyard facilities and optimizing their placement, and replacing aging and deteriorating capital equipment. Executing this plan will improve the naval shipyards' productivity and increase their maintenance throughput in order to support the combat readiness of the Navy the nation needs. Without major upgrades and reconfigurations, the shipyards would not be able to meet the fleet's future aircraft carrier and submarine depot maintenance and inactivation requirements looking out through 2040. "The Navy relies on NAVSEA to deliver combat-ready ships and submarines out of planned maintenance availabilities on time," said NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm. Tom Moore. "Modernizing our four naval shipyards a massive task under any circumstance is critical because it's the only way we will be able to meet our future mission requirements." Moore also said, "This is a comprehensive plan developed in partnership with NAVFAC and CNIC, that will allow the Navy to bring it's organic shipyards into the 21st Century to fully support the Navy the Nation needs." The Navy's four public shipyards Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington; and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii were originally designed and built in the 19th and 20th centuries to support construction of sail- and conventionally-powered ships using industrial models of the time. As a result, they are not configured to maintain and modernize the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines of today or tomorrow. Developing, programming and executing the plan falls to PMS-555 program office comprised of industrial engineers, process improvement specialists, facilities engineers, regulatory compliance specialists, strategic and financial analysts, civil engineer corps officers, construction managers and construction schedulers from NAVSEA, CNIC and NAVFAC. "The Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan articulated a vision that shipyard infrastructure has three interdependent components: the dry docks, the facilities, and the capital equipment; and that these configurations are fundamentally linked to the shipyards' ability to execute the mission they are tasked to do," said Steven Lagana, PMS-555 program manager. "We are utilizing modeling and simulation as a tool to integrate these components to better inform the desired infrastructure layout. Through this, the Navy will be in a better position to make meaningful, long-lasting investments that not only address the condition of the facilities and equipment but also change the way the work is conducted. Once we're finished, the Navy will recover more than 300,000 work days per year, every year." The first milestone PMS-555 is scheduled to achieve is the development of a "digital twin" of the naval shipyards. This will be a virtual representation of the shipyards that will be used to conduct modeling and simulations of the shipyard environment to aid in evaluations and decisions for the future shipyard infrastructure. The program office is also developing comprehensive strategies to address historic preservation and environmental compliance during this recapitalization effort. The program office is hosting its first industry day April 8 at the Washington Navy Yard. "We're sold out," said Lagana. "We have more than 100 companies from 19 states and the District of Columbia who are coming to hear about the program and see how they can be part of this once-in-a-century team that will deliver the shipyards the Navy needs." SIOP directly supports the Chief of Naval Operations' "Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority 2.0." Modernizing the Navy's shipyards is necessary in order to maintain a fleet that is ready to fight decisively, which is one of the CNO's four lines of effort strengthening naval power at and from the sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo: Contributed The RCMP Emergency Response Team was called upon to assist local police in a high-risk takedown of a suspected armed robber. Cpl. Tania Finn said as a result of the investigation of an armed robbery with a sawed off shotgun on April 2 at a business on 27th Street in Vernon, police were led to an address on George Street in Enderby. Finn said given the high-risk situation involving a firearm, Vernon North Okanagan police officers contained the area and called in ERT to assist with the arrest. In responding to calls of this nature, our police officers want to ensure the safety of everyone involved including the suspect and other occupants of the residence, said Insp. Gord Stewart, Vernon North Okanagan Operations Officer. After conducting a risk assessment, we determined the best course of action was to deploy the South East District Emergency Response Team to assist with the arrest of this individual. A 35-year-old man from Enderby was taken into custody and is facing numerous charges including robbery with a firearm, disguise with intent, pointing a firearm and possession of a firearm contrary to a Prohibition Order. Police executed a search warrant at the residence and seized numerous items including a loaded firearm. The investigation continues as police gather evidence and interview witnesses. USS Zumwalt arrives in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Navy News Service Story Number: NNS190404-01 Release Date: 4/4/2019 7:30:00 AM From Commander, Third Fleet Public Affairs PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The lead ship of the U.S. Navy's newest class of guided-missile destroyers, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), arrived in Pearl Harbor April 2. "USS Zumwalt possesses stealth, size, power and computing capacity that provide the Navy a multiple-mission ship capable of meeting today's maritime missions as well as the ability to incorporate new technologies to counter emerging threats tomorrow," said Capt. Andrew Carlson, Zumwalt's commanding officer. The Zumwalt-class destroyer will be capable of performing the critical maritime missions of deterrence and power projection and creating battlespace complexity for adversaries with its abilities to operate both near to shore and in the open sea. The ship's arrival marks the first time Zumwalt has visited Pearl Harbor. "The training ranges only found in the Hawaiian operating area allow Zumwalt to conduct important at-sea evolutions that enhance our crew's warfighting skills," said Carlson. "The world-class facilities found in Hawaii, coupled with its strategic location in the Pacific, make this port visit an important part of our success." During the scheduled port visit, Zumwalt will conduct engagements with local officials and organizations. Zumwalt is under operational control of U.S. 3rd Fleet. Third Fleet leads all naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. Third Fleet coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Congress votes to end support for Saudi-led war in Yemen, Trump likely to veto Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 05:25PM The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution to end US support for the Saudi Arabia-led war against Yemen, rebuffing President Donald Trump's policy of continued support for Riyadh and curtailing a president's war-making powers. The lower chamber of Congress voted 247 to 175 to approve a resolution that directs the president "to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen" within 30 days. Sixteen Republicans joined the majority Democrats in backing the rare use of the War Powers Act, which limits the president's ability to send troops into action. As the resolution had already passed the Senate, the vote in the Democratic-led House sends the measure to Trump. Trump has promised to veto the measure, which would be the second veto of his presidency. Neither the votes in the House or Senate, where Republicans have a slim majority, would be enough to override a veto. "Today we took a clear stand against war and famine and for Congress's war powers by voting to end our complicity in the war in Yemen," Senator Bernie Sanders, a lead author of the resolution and a 2020 US presidential candidate, said after the House vote. Backers of the resolution argued that US involvement in Yemen violated the constitutional requirement that Congress, not the president, should determine when the country goes to war. Getting the measure passed took months, despite international outrage over the civilian toll in Yemen and Saudi Arabia's human rights record. 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 about 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 warned 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 worst global famine in more than 100 years. US lawmakers have escalated their opposition to Saudi Arabia after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Khashoggi relocated to the United States in June 2017 and began writing for The Washington Post in September of that year. Some members of Congress have publicly stated that they suspect that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was directly responsible for Khashoggi's killing, based on the CIA's conclusions. Republicans and Democrats lawmakers alike have bristled over the Trump administration's apparent embrace of the kingdom and its leadership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MSF halts work in Yemen's militia-held Aden after patient abducted, killed Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 05:21PM International medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has stopped admitting patients to its hospital in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, after a group of armed assailants stormed the medical facility, threatened staff there and kidnapped and killed a patient. The Geneva-based humanitarian non-governmental organization said on Thursday that the unknown gunmen had raided its emergency trauma hospital in Aden and terrorized guards as well as medics at the medical facility. Aden is controlled by Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. MSF went on to say that the armed men then kidnapped a patient, who had been admitted the day before. The patient was found dead on a street in the al- Mansurah district of the city. "Following this incident, we have no choice but to suspend the admission of patients until further notice," Caroline Seguin, MSF's program manager for Yemen, said. A Yemeni police commander, requesting anonymity, said the patient had been wounded in a battle between rival armed groups and hospitalized at the MSF clinic. Separately, three women and a man lost their lives when Saudi-backed militiamen targeted their residential building in an area of al-Hawak district in Yemen's western coastal province of Hudaydah. A civilian sustained injuries in the incident as well. Moreover, four people were killed when Saudi military aircraft struck a water tanker in the al-Sawadiyah district of the central Yemeni province of al-Bayda. Meanwhile, Yemeni snipers, backed by allied fighters from Popular Committees, managed to kill and injure some 30 Saudi-paid militiamen during operations in Saudi Arabia's southern border areas of Najran and Jizan. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of Hadi back to power and crushing Ansarullah. According to a 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 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More Russian troops may arrive in Venezuela: Deputy foreign minister Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 03:09PM Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Gil says he does not rule out the possibility of more Russian military personnel arriving in his country based on agreements already reached between Caracas and Moscow. The senior diplomat made the comments on Thursday, days after Caracas confirmed the deployment of two Russian planes with troops and equipment to the Venezuelan capital under a defense deal signed in 2001. Gil also said that Russian forces would stay in Venezuela as long as needed, and that there was no set period for their stay. "The group of military specialists is (in Venezuela) in the context of our agreements and contracts for military-technical cooperation," Interfax news agency quoted Venezuela's deputy minister as saying. On March 28, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian military specialists were in the South American country to service pre-existing contracts for the supply of Russian arms, stressing that Moscow was not interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs. Venezuela has been in an unprecedented political chaos since US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido declared himself the "interim president" in a bizarre move in January. The administration of US President Donald Trump, which immediately recognized the 35-year-old opposition leader as the acting president of Venezuela and called other countries to follow suit, has repeatedly threatened to use military force to topple incumbent President Nicolas Maduro's government. Furthermore, Washington has been using everything in its power, including economic pressure, to topple Maduro. The US has also confiscated Venezuela's oil assets based in the US to channel them to Guaido. Late last month, Russia's sole state arms exporter Rosoboronexport announced that it had opened a training center for military helicopters in Venezuela. Russia and China, among many other countries, back the legitimate government of Maduro, who has called Guaido a "puppet" of Washington. Russia also vocally opposes US measures against Venezuela and accuses Washington of attempting to organize a coup there in violation of the United Nations Charter. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Washington would resort to all means in an attempt to force Russia out of Venezuela. "President Trump's made clear that we're prepared to do what it takes to get the Russians to leave. I think he said it precisely that way," he said. A week earlier, the US special representative for Venezuela said Pompeo has a list of options, including sanctions, that the White House could use to respond to the presence of Russian troops in the Latin American nation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US government working to increase pressure on Venezuela Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 10:49AM The United States administration and Congress are working to increase pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by introducing new sanctions and enticing Venezuelan officials to defect to an opposition figure. Larry Kudlow, the top White House economic adviser, claimed in a press conference on Wednesday that the US would pump dollars into the Venezuelan economy once it "gets rid of" Maduro. Kudlow said Washington was already working with banks and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a plan to improve Venezuela's economy. "We call it Day Two. It would be a rescue plan, it would be a restructuring plan, it would be a plan to put cash into the country," he said at the briefing, which was arranged by The Christian Science Monitor weekly. "The timeline is to get rid of Maduro. I have no idea when that is going to be," added Kudlow, who is director of the US National Economic Council. He said that once Maduro is gone, Washington would provide Venezuela with immediate economic assistance, beginning with pushing the US currency in to reignite economic activity, moving it via "banks, iPhones, and apps." "The cash will not be bolivars. It will be dollars, at least at the beginning. There is no demand for bolivars. Dollars are the answer," Kudlow claimed. Venezuela has been in political chaos since opposition figure Juan Guaido declared himself "interim president" late in January. Guaido has received backing and encouragement from the US government along the way. Senate 'aid' Also on Wednesday, a bipartisan group of 15 US senators introduced legislation the so-called the Venezuelan Emergency Relief Democracy Assistance and Development (VERDAD) Act to authorize 400 million dollars in new humanitarian aid to the Latin American country. It was not clear who the supposed aid would go to. Venezuela blames the US for the country's economic and political difficulties and has previously refused to take aid from Washington. The act simultaneously encourages other countries to impose sanctions on Maduro's administration and ease penalties on the Venezuelan officials who recognize Guaido. Guaido cancels event in Caracas Meanwhile, Guaido canceled an event scheduled to be held by and for his supporters in the Petare neighborhood of the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday, while opposition supporters were waiting for him. The main access to the district was reportedly blocked by police. US to use all tools to make Russia leave Venezuela: Pompeo Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Washington would resort to all means in an attempt to force Russia out of Venezuela, days after Moscow confirmed the dispatch of military experts to Venezuela under a defense deal signed in 2001. "President Trump's made clear that we're prepared to do what it takes to get the Russians to leave. I think he said it precisely that way," he said during an interview with the Hugh Hewitt Show on Wednesday. Late last month, Russia's sole state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said that it had opened a training center for military helicopters in Venezuela. Russia and China like many other countries back the elected government of Maduro, who has called Guaido a "puppet" of Washington. Russia, a close ally of Venezuela, vocally opposes US measures against Venezuela and accuses Washington of attempting to organize a coup there in violation of the United Nations Charter. US extends ban on lawsuits against foreign firms in Cuba Also on Wednesday, Pompeo announced that the White House had extended by two weeks a ban on US lawsuits against foreign firms conducting business in Cuba, without giving a reason for the move. "Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo announced his decision to continue for two weeks, from April 18 through May 1, 2019, the current suspension with an exception of the right to bring an action under Title III of the 1996 Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act," said State Department spokesman Robert Palladino. The US move seems to be aimed at punishing Havana over its full support for Maduro and not following Washington's suit in recognizing Guaido's self-proclamation. Venezuelan meets with Hezbollah leader Separately, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who is on a tour of the Middle East, met with the leader of the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on Wednesday night. Earlier in Lebanon, Arreaza had met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. Arreaza later flew to Syria, where he met with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Muallem, in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday morning. Arreaza plans to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad later in the day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pence slams Germany's unacceptable Russia ties, NATO spending Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 09:39AM US Vice President Mike Pence has blasted as "unacceptable" Germany's dependence on Russian energy and its failure to meet its military spending commitments as a key member of the NATO military alliance. Pence told NATO's 70th anniversary gathering in Washington, DC, on Wednesday that Berlin's insistence on completing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to buy Russian gas was not acceptable and undermined Europe's security. "Germany must do more. And we cannot ensure the defense of the West if our allies grow dependent on Russia," Pence told the two-day forum. Washington has long taken issue with Germany's plans to import Russian natural gas through the $11 billion pipeline project, which runs straight under the Baltic Sea. The pipeline has also been criticized for depriving Ukraine, a staunch US ally, of lucrative gas transit fees. Pence then repeated a warning by President Donald Trump that Berlin's reliance on Russian energy would eventually make it a captive of Moscow. "If Germany persists in building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as President Trump said, it could turn Germany's economy into literally a captive of Russia," Pence said. The vice president noted that the deal as well as Germany's reluctance to meet the required military spending levels for all NATO members also undermined Europe's deterrence power against what he called "Russian aggression." Trump has repeatedly slammed Germany and other members of the Western alliance for not meeting a goal set by NATO in 2014 for each member state to spend two percent of its GDP on defense. "It is simply unacceptable for Europe's largest economy to continue to ignore the threat of Russian aggression and neglect its own self-defense and our common defense," Pence said Wednesday. Pence also pointed to a parliamentary report on Germany's armed forces, which warned of "glaring deficiencies" in the country's overall military readiness. Germany, which remains opposed to nuclear power, has long sought for reliable sources of energy. However, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been met with strong criticism from the Baltic States Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as well as Poland. The US has even warned that German companies working with Russia on the project could face sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Germany and some other nations, have accused Washington of using the CAATSA to meddle in their foreign policy and energy affairs. NATO chief calls for confronting Russia Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who had been invited to deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance, called for unity against an increasingly assertive Russia. Stoltenberg claimed that NATO had been trying to avoid tensions with Russia but that Moscow's behavior made confrontation inevitable. He cited the Crimean Peninsula's 2014 reintegration with Russia, Moscow's alleged cyber aggression against the US and its support for Syria as examples of problematic Russian behavior. "We do all of this, not to provoke a conflict, but to prevent conflict and to preserve peace. Not to fight but to deter. Not to attack but to defend," he said during his 40-minute speech. "There is no contradiction between the defense and dialogue. We do not want to isolate Russia. We strive for a better relationship with Russia." The NATO chief did not address the alliance's growing buildup on Russia's borders, which has been a source of tension between the two sides since NATO unilaterally cut all ties with Moscow in 2014. Stoltenberg also called on Russia to comply with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF), which has been halted by both Washington and Moscow, who accuse each other of breaching the deal. "We do not want a new arms race. We do not want a new Cold War. But we must not be naive. An agreement that is only respected by one side will not keep us safe," Stoltenberg said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Kill At Least 20 Afghan Troops In Badghis Province April 04, 2019 Afghan officials say a Taliban attack in the northwestern province of Badghis has killed at least 20 government soldiers and police. Abdul Aziz Baig, head of the Badghis Provincial Council, said Taliban fighters stormed several security checkpoints outside the government headquarters in the district of Bala Murghab during the early morning hours of April 4. Baig said Taliban fighters seized most of the district. He said only the district police headquarters and a base of the Afghan National Army remained in the control of the government. Jamshid Shahabhi, the spokesman for the Badghis governor, said after midday on April 4 that intense fighting was continuing in the district. He said there were fears that the death toll for government forces could rise. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial council member, said the Afghan Army base and police headquarters in the district also could fall to the militants if the government did not send reinforcements. The attack comes less than three weeks after 50 government soldiers were killed during a week-long battle in Bala Murghab. Nazari said 100 Afghan soldiers fled their posts and tried to cross into neighboring Turkmenistan during the battle in mid March. Many were captured by Taliban fighters after Turkmen government forces prevented them from crossing the border safely into Turkmenistan's territory. Based on reporting by AP and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-kill-at-least-20- afghan-troops-in-badghis-province/29861429.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 Tells NATO Members To Adapt To Emerging Threats Like Russia, China, Iran By RFE/RL April 04, 2019 The United States has renewed calls for NATO allies to increase their military spending so the alliance can adapt to new challenges, including a more aggressive Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Washington on April 4 that the world has entered a "new era of great power competition" and that, while the 29-member alliance was in a "position of strength," emerging threats mean it cannot stop evolving. "We must adapt our alliance to confront emerging threats ... whether that's Russian aggression, uncontrolled migration, cyberattacks, threats to energy security, Chinese strategic competition, including technology and 5G, and many other issues," Pompeo said at the opening of the meeting to mark the 70th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic military alliance. Last year the United States put China, Russia, and Iran at the heart of its national strategy for defense. The foreign ministers held a series of sessions on the first day of the meeting at the headquarters of the U.S. State Department focusing on Russia and the Black Sea region where Moscow seized three Ukrainian ships last year. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg addressed the Black Sea situation and called on Russia to release the vessels and their crews. Alliance foreign ministers on April 4 approved a series of measures to "improve NATO's situational awareness in the Black Sea region." The steps would provide allies Ukraine and Georgia with increased maritime cooperation, patrols, and port visits, the alliance said. Stoltenberg also called Russia's alleged breach of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty part of a "pattern of destabilizing behavior." "We will not mirror what Russia is doing," Stoltenberg said. "We will be measured and coordinated, and we have no intention of deploying ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe," he added. U.S. President Donald Trump last year chided NATO leaders for failing to meet their commitments of spending 2 percent of economic output on defense. Stoltenberg noted progress in members stepping up their spending but added there's more work to be done. "We didn't make this pledge [to increase defense spending] to please the United States. We made it because we live in a more unpredictable and uncertain world," Stoltenberg said. Pompeo also said that NATO should also address the rising threat of cyberwarfare, especially from China. U.S. officials are concerned by Huawei's expansion in Europe, especially in NATO member states where they believe the Chinese telecoms firm poses significant information-security threats. Washington has warned it will not partner with countries that adopt China's Huawei Technologies systems, but the EU has rejected Washington's calls to ban the company across the bloc. The bulk of NATO members are EU countries. Washington says the NATO meeting agenda also includes a briefing on the situation in Afghanistan, the demise of the INF treaty, which was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in the last years of the Cold War, and NATO-member Turkey's purchase of a Russian surface-to-air missile system. The United States and other NATO countries have demanded that Ankara call off its deal with Russia to purchase the S-400, which is not compatible with NATO systems and is considered a threat to U.S. F-35 aircraft. "Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on April 3. Russia's Foreign Ministry said on April 4 that the two-day gathering in Washington shows that NATO "has no intention of abandoning plans to step up military and political confrontation with Russia." Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pompeo-tells- nato-members-to-adapt-to-emerging-threats- like-russia-china-iran/29862081.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 Uzbekistan Praised For Curtailing Forced Labor In Cotton Harvest. Activists Say Not So Fast. By Mike Eckel April 04, 2019 In Uzbekistan, it's called white gold -- cotton, one of the country's most important cash-crop exports. For decades, hundreds of thousands of Uzbeks have been forced to do the annual backbreaking work of harvesting the crop. Last year, according to the International Labor Organization, around 170,000 people were forced to pick cotton, a sizable number but one the agency says showed "major progress" in eliminating the problem. Not so fast, say Uzbek and Western rights activists: while forced child labor has dramatically decreased, there's still a significant level of forced labor involving adults, and the government's production system perpetuates the problem. The divergent conclusions about what is one of Uzbekistan's most problematic economic issues comes as the Central Asian nation struggles to open up its economy and attract foreign investment after years of isolation under the late president, Islam Karimov. Despite cotton being a water-intensive crop, Soviet planners targeted Uzbekistan's arid climate for growing it, and cultivation increased to generate up to 70 percent of all Soviet cotton production by the late 1970s. But with a lack of technology and capital investment that deepened after the Soviet collapse, harvesting cotton continued to be a human effort, and millions were forced every year to labor in the fields. Schools, universities, hospitals, and businesses that had no direct connection to cotton mandated their students and employees to join in the harvest. Named And Shamed Over the past decade, as the annual value of Uzbekistan's cotton crop has surpassed $1 billion, Uzbek and Western activists have waged a campaign to shame international textile manufacturers and apparel companies from using Uzbek cotton harvested with forced labor. In 2012, then-Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoev ordered an end to the use of children in picking cotton. But the practice persisted in some places, and adults were still routinely conscripted into the work. The activists' efforts, called the Cotton Campaign, succeeded in persuading companies like Ikea, Adidas, and Tesco to pledge not to use any cotton from Uzbekistan. After 2016, when Karimov died and Mirziyoev assumed the presidency, the country made more efforts to dismantle the system of state-organized forced labor. In May 2018, Mirziyoev's government issued a decree aimed at completely ending forced labor. Rights groups say that despite improvements the practice has continued in the cotton industry and other sectors. According the International Labor Organization, a United Nations agency charged with promoting positive working environments around the world, the government's reform efforts have paid off during the 2018 harvest. "Uzbekistan demonstrated major progress in the eradication of child labor and forced labor in the cotton harvest of 2018. Forced labor during the harvest was reduced by 48 percent compared to 2017," the organization said in its latest report, released on April 1. "A considerable number of forced labor cases were still observed, and legacy systems conducive to the exaction of forced labor have not yet been fully dismantled," the report added. 'Significantly Reduced' But Still A 'Significant Problem' That upbeat assessment was also reflected in a notice issued 10 days earlier by the United States, which formally announced that Uzbek cotton would be removed from an official list of products produced with child labor. The U.S. government "determined that the use of forced child labor in the cotton harvest in Uzbekistan has been significantly reduced to isolated incidents," said the notice published in the Federal Register, the U.S. government's official printed publication of legal documents. The Uzbek-German Forum on Human Rights, meanwhile, agreed there's been progress. However, in a report released on April 4, the group said forced labor continues to be a significant problem for adults, and a network of government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and other informal organizations continues to perpetuate the issue. The 2018 harvest saw "some encouraging signs of progress," the group said in its report. "But despite serious efforts by the central government to curtail forced labor for some citizens, key root causes remained in place." That includes how the government sets the overall quota for the annual cotton harvest, and how regional officials then order various public and private companies and entities to enlist people to pick. "At the end of the day, it's still government perpetrators in a government production system," said Allison Gill, a longtime human rights activist and member of the Uzbek-German Forum. The Mirziyoev administration has moved slowly toward undoing the legacy of the Soviet system and privatize the production system, Gill said; for example, letting companies contract directly with farmers to grow and harvest cotton. "I hope they solve some of these production problems, even as they proceed toward privatization," Gill told RFE/RL. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbek-cotton-harvest- forced-labor/29862119.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 Bill Preserves Immunity From Prosecution For Kyrgyzstan's Ex-Presidents By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service April 04, 2019 BISHKEK -- A bill that initially had been drafted as a way to prosecute former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has, instead, preserved the immunity from prosecution of former presidents. Lawmakers in Kyrgyzstan's parliament passed the bill in its final reading on April 4 by a vote of 111 to 3. One of the authors of the legislation, Iskhak Masaliev of Onuguu-Progress party, said he opposes the final language of the bill. Masaliev said original intention of the bill was remove immunity for former presidents, but the language upon its final reading had been altered in a way that, "on the contrary, increased the immunity." The bill in its first reading was approved in December amid calls by some lawmakers and other politicians for an investigation into decisions made by Atambaev while he was in office. It was later amended with considerable proposals by other lawmakers. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-atambaev-ex- presidents-immunity-prosecution-/29861365.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 Press Availability at NATO Foreign Ministerial 2019 Press Availability Michael R. Pompeo Secretary of State Dean Acheson Auditorium Washington, DC April 4, 2019 SECRETARY POMPEO: So good afternoon, everyone. Seventy years ago today, 12 courageous nations came together to form an alliance that to this day remains the bedrock guarantor of Western security and democratic liberties. Today, our 29 nations believe in our founding mission. We believe in deterrence to keep the peace. We believe in our common defense, as captured in Article 5 of the treaty. We believe that Western democratic ideals are worth defending and defend them we will. Our nations have inherited a strong alliance because our predecessors had the wisdom to continue to adapt to the challenges at hand. And now it's our duty to adapt to the challenges like radical Islamic terrorism, cyber attacks, uncontrolled migration, Chinese strategic competition, and indeed, still, Russian aggression. Today, we had wide-ranging, robust discussions. We took important decisions on urgent problem sets. Vladimir Putin harbors dark dreams of imperialism. This is evident from his invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, his meddling in Syria, and now in Venezuela. He wants to split our alliance and weaken our democratic resolve. In light of Russia's attacks on Western democracies, we agreed to improve our defenses against hybrid warfare, develop new strategies to deter it, and identify prompt and effective responses. We also discussed terrorism. NATO plays a key role in the fight against Islamist terrorism both inside and outside of our alliance. The U.S. especially appreciates NATO's commitment to the NATO mission in Iraq. For nearly 18 years, NATO allies and partners have fought terrorism in Afghanistan. We've trained and advised and assisted the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. I updated our NATO counterparts on the work of Ambassador Khalilzad and his diplomatic undertaking that he is executing at my direction. The United States will ensure that our collective sacrifices are not wasted and that terrorists can never again threaten us from Afghanistan's soil. Lastly, we discussed burden sharing. No alliance can survive without proper investment from all of its partners. Our allies have joined the United States in recognizing the need for greater burden sharing each and every one of them. I am pleased to say that since 2016 our allies have pledged 41 billion, and that number will increase to 100 billion by the end of next year, 2020. That's no small feat. It's money well spent. Nations who have contributed should be proud. You have the deep gratitude of President Trump for that. But I told them too there's more work to do. It's important for them to make the case to their citizenry for why this collective deterrence remains important, that spending commitments matter; they lead to political solidarity. As a military alliance, our officers should be second to none. It's self-evident that our armies, navies, and air forces must be fully trained and equipped and ready to go when called upon in conflict or crisis. At the Leaders Summit last July, we took a major step forward in agreeing to the Four Thirties Initiative. Now it is time for us to fulfill those goals. Seventy years ago, the great Dean Acheson said that the NATO alliance was, quote, "a statement of the facts and lessons of history," end of quote. He knew that if free nations do not stand together, they will fall one by one. The same is true today. As for the United States, we will continue to bear our fair share. We will continue to lead within NATO, and by doing so we will defend the freedoms of the American people and the people of our allies. I'm happy to take a few questions. MR PALLADINO: We'll start off with Latvia TV. Ina Strazdina. QUESTION: Thank you so much. Mr. Pompeo, Ina Strazdina, Latvian Television. Seeing growing aggression of Russia, do you see that NATO presence in the Baltics is sufficient, or would you see even plans to strengthen it even more? Thank you. SECRETARY POMPEO: So there's lots of discussion always at this meeting, at the summit, at the Leaders Meeting last July about proper allocation of resources. Where are the right places? Where do we need to do more? We've certainly talked about that as a geographic matter, so I don't have anything to add with respect to the Baltic states today. But it's not just a geographic matter. We've also talked about new challenges that face us, right? So telecommunication systems, infrastructure, cyber, hybrid warfare things that aren't resolved by more troops sitting on the ground someplace but which present risk to the Baltics, to all of your to all the NATO partners, including the United States and Canada as well. So we're trying to make sure that our resources, our focus, are meeting the challenges of today. We talked a lot about it, the 70th anniversary, we talked a lot about the history of the founders of the 12 nations that began this important alliance, and the fact that it's now our time, the leaders of today, to take on the mantle and the challenges that the world presents to NATO today. MR PALLADINO: Let's go to BBC. Barbara Plett Usher. QUESTION: Test, test. Mr. Secretary, on Turkey. The Turks are disputing your readout of the meeting you had with the Turkish foreign minister this week. So my question is: Have you made any progress in meetings this week on issues like the S-400s and northern Syria, or have things actually gotten worse? And then I have another question about China. NATO allies have not followed U.S. requests to cut off Huawei. So do you think that that could become a risk for intelligence sharing and military communications in the alliance in the future? SECRETARY POMPEO: So as for the first question, I reread I saw the comments by my Turkish counterpart. I reread the readout of our meeting spot on. Stand by every word of it. QUESTION: Have you made any progress? SECRETARY POMPEO: We are continuing to have conversations. I think the Turkish Government understands the American position quite clearly. I think I heard the Vice President speak to that yesterday as well. Our position hasn't changed. There's great opportunities for the United States and Turkey to work closely together, and I had a good, long conversation with my with the Turkish foreign minister yesterday, and I am very confident we'll find a path forward. As for the risks associated with the installation of Chinese technology in systems related to security, there is undoubtedly the risk that NATO or the United States will not be able to share information in the same way it could if there were not Chinese systems inside of those networks, inside of those capabilities. We've done our risk analysis in the United States; we have now shared that with our NATO partners, with countries all around the world. They understand the concerns not our concerns, but the factual concerns associated with companies so deeply connected to their own government who would be willing to act at the behest of their government, the risk that that presents to information management. And we have made clear that if the risk exceeds the threshold for the United States, we simply won't be able to share that information any longer. And our task is to do education, make sure they understand every sovereign nation that will make its own decision, and then the United States will make its decision. MR PALLADINO: Let's go to Italy. La Stampa, Paolo Mastrolilli, QUESTION: Thank you very much. Two questions. Today, the Libyan General Haftar order his troops to march on Tripoli. Did you discuss them, this issue in terms of the terroristic threats from the south? And the second question: Italy signed BRI Initiative with China. Do you consider that to be a threat to the interoperability of NATO? SECRETARY POMPEO: So with respect to the first question, let me I don't have anything to add. We're following closely what has been taking place there over the past weeks and months. We have been following the UN process, trying to do the best we can to be a positive force to deliver a good solution for the people of Libya and increase stability there, to be sure. Second, as I said in response to the previous question, every country has to make its own decisions about how it wants to respond to Chinese debt-trap diplomacy or Chinese efforts to sell goods at below market. They clearly have a security component to the transaction. But each nation will make its own choices. Then the task falls to every other country to observe that, see what risk it presents to them if they begin to engage in those systems, in that infrastructure, that IT infrastructure or transportation infrastructure, and respond to that threat. MR PALLADINO: Germany. DPA, Ansgar Haase. SECRETARY POMPEO: Let me just add one thing to that. It is one thing to compete in an open, fair, transparent way. The United States is prepared to compete with our NATO allies, with China, with any country that shows up with a commercial transaction a better mousetrap, a better idea and compete with fair, reasonable, transparent transactions. It is a very different thing to engage in transactions that have a national security component to them. When a nation shows up and offers you goods that are well below market, one ought to ask what else is at play, why it was that that entity showed up with a deal that is literally too good to be true. MR PALLADINO: DPA, please. QUESTION: Thanks. Maren Hennemuth, DPA. The President and the Vice President have been quite clear that they want Germany to step up on defense spending. So but according to the latest projection, they won't even reach 1.5 percent in 2024. What concrete consequences is the U.S. considering if they don't step up? Do you have any steps in mind, like withdrawing troops from Germany? SECRETARY POMPEO: It's important to step back just a bit. Remember that this notion of 2 percent isn't made up. It wasn't created by this administration in the United States; it wasn't created by the previous administration in the United States. It was a commitment that every NATO ally agreed to in Wales. That includes Germany, who committed to that. So the promise that is being fulfilled is a promise that the German Government made. So we're very hopeful, and we're very hopeful that they will get it right, that they will understand that it is important for our collective defense, and we will urge them to continue to do so. MR PALLADINO: Norway, Aftenposten. No? Please, go ahead. QUESTION: I just wanted to ask you, Secretary I'm from Spain, from ABC. Did you manage to talk about Venezuela and the presence of Russian troops in Venezuela as a part of the meeting today, and what's your position regarding those 100 soldiers that, according to Special Envoy Abrams, were calibrating a missile system? SECRETARY POMPEO: We did talk about Venezuela. The American position was made clear by President Trump. They need to they need to leave. And we talked about that. We talked about that in the context of Russian efforts all around the world, whether that's efforts in Ukraine, the Russians' continued malign activity in Syria. We talked about it in Venezuela, we talked about what they did in the Sea of Azov. In each case we are doing our best, collectively, to respond. In the case of Venezuela, the United States has its responses being prepared as well. MR PALLADINO: Let's do one more question. Sir, in the pink shirt back there. Please, yes. QUESTION: Hello, my name is Farhad Pouladi. I'm with the Voice of America Persian Service. In your morning's remark, you said NATO should seek peace through strength in era of great power competition from Russia, China, and Islamic Republic of Iran. So my question is this: What challenges the NATO and specifically U.S. is facing from regime in Tehran? Thank you. SECRETARY POMPEO: The list is long, but let me speak about it in countries other the risk to countries other than the United States. I have articulated the threat that we believe the Islamic Republic of Iran presents to our country. They are many. We've asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to simply behave like a normal nation, but give me let me give you a concrete example. Today there continues to be a concerted assassination effort, campaign, inside of Europe. We've seen it. You've seen European countries respond to this threat. This is real. This is this isn't something that was made up. This is an effort by the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran the president, Rouhani, who's the president of Iran, is permitting to take place, where they're going to Europe and killing people on European soil. This is unacceptable in Western Europe. To allow something like this to happen is just unacceptable. We are working with our partners all around Europe to make sure we all have the right information placed in the right place at the right time to reduce this risk and reduce this threat. But a second component of this is the deterrence effort, which is the undertaking that the United States is engaged in to reduce the capacity of the Islamic Republic of Iran to undertake precisely this kind of activity by sanctioning them in a way that forces them to have fewer resources so that they can create these risks around the world. I'll give you a second one we spent time on today. There are European foreign terrorist fighters sitting today in Iraq and in Syria that we now have to figure out a way to make sure do not return to the jihadi battlefield. The efforts that Iran is engaged in in Syria fundamentally make that problem set more difficult, as do Iranian Shia militias that are not under the control of the Iraqi Security Forces in Iraq. That malign activity by Iran makes Europe, NATO countries, less secure. We talked about those, we talked about how we would collectively seek to approach them to reduce the risk to NATO members. Great, thank you all very much for being with me today. MR PALLADINO: Thank you all. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers' Session 1 Remarks Michael R. Pompeo Secretary of State Washington, DC April 4, 2019 SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG: Good morning. Seventy years ago today, NATO's founding treaty was signed in this great city, and I would start by thanking Secretary Pompeo for hosting us all today to mark the 70th anniversary of our great alliance. And by that, I actually give the floor directly to you, Mike, to give some public opening remarks. Again, welcome to all of you. SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you. Thank you, Secretary General Stoltenberg. It's a great pleasure working with you during my now almost one year as Secretary of State. And I'm delighted to welcome each of you here today, as well, to this historic place at this historic time. I'm proud to have the opportunity to join with you to celebrate seven decades. I have personal experience with this organization. As a young armor officer a couple decades back, I patrolled the border between then-East Germany and West Germany. I know the nature of the regimes that want to undermine what it is we're here to talk about today. I want, too, to give a special welcome to our colleague, Nikola Dimitrov from North Macedonia. I had a chance to speak with you last night. This is your first NATO foreign ministerial as we prepare for your country to become NATO's 30th ally, and I'm pleased to say last week that we formally submitted the documents for North Macedonia's accession to NATO to the United States Senate. This is a memorable occasion for each of us. Seventy years ago, 12 nations banded together in a historic experiment in security and democracy. We signed what was called the Washington Treaty, establishing NATO. As I mentioned last night at the reception, President Truman said that we hoped to create a shield against aggression. It's worked. That unique shield we have carried these 70 years is made strong because of our belief in deterrence, not aggression. It is made strong because of our democratic underpinnings. It is made strong through our collective defense commitment as enshrined in Article 5, to which we all recommit today. And we have rightly sought peace through strength here in NATO. We must continue to do so, especially in this new era of great power competition from Russia, from China, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. But there's a second anniversary of significance to the West that we celebrate this year too: the crumbling of the Iron Curtain. To borrow a phrase from Abraham Lincoln, 1989 marked a new birth of freedom. That anniversary is intimately connected to NATO. For 40 years, the NATO alliance was a bulwark against communist expansion in Europe. We were ready to invoke Article 5 at any moment if the Soviets poured through the Fulda Gap, the way that we did after 9/11. Our military superiority deterred them from acting on their designs of dominating Europe, and in the meantime, President Reagan's military buildup drove the evil empire into bankruptcy. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of young people in Slovakia. Virtually all of them were too young to remember the history that I just described, but they were certain they knew it and they did not want to return to that history. That's why we have work to do here. It's why we must continue to strengthen our alliance. And the good news is we're in a good position a position of strength today. Our structure is designed to empower each ally, not to subjugate it. We maintain an outstanding degree of unity. I saw this firsthand, as you all did, when we demonstrated the unanimous denunciation of Russia's INF Treaty violation and with unanimous allied support for America's decision to suspend our INF obligations and declare our intent to withdraw. This organization continues to add new members, and we welcome the aspiration of other non-members. No military alliance in the world can remotely do what we do. No alliance can remotely match the power of the nations represented here today. We should all be proud. These are great accomplishments, but we must adapt our alliance to confront emerging threats too, whether that's Russian aggression, uncontrolled migration, cyber attacks, threats to energy security, Chinese strategic competition including technology in 5G and many other issues that jeopardize our people's ideals and our collective security. These are real challenges, to be sure, and now is not the time to repeat tired excuses that our citizens don't support increased defense spending or security spending. Each nation has a duty to make the case to our people. We, as leaders, have a duty to make the case to our citizens about why this work, why these resources are important to keep not only our own countries but our alliance strong. This work to convince our citizens of the importance, the relevance, the intrinsic centrality of this institution falls to each of us and the other leaders of our countries. It's a key step in confronting these threats head on. I'll close with this: The founders of NATO perceived with absolute and total clarity that the threat, the Soviet menace was real, and that communism posed a true threat. They were not timid in responding to it. They took a risk in creating this alliance and it paid a massive dividend: decades of peace and prosperity for the West on a scale unrivaled in world history. Today, we are the beneficiaries of that work. We celebrate their accomplishment with great pride. But the true way to honor the genius of their compact is to make it ever stronger, and to recommit to our principles of deterrence, democracy, and collective defense. I look forward to the conversations today so that we can do just that. It is indeed my pleasure to invite welcome you all here to Washington, and it is my privilege to work with each of you, my NATO counterparts. Thank you. SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG: Thank you so much, Secretary Pompeo, Mike, for those opening remarks. And also, once again, thank you for hosting us all here in Washington. This concludes the public part of this meeting, so then I will kindly ask the media to leave the room before we continue with our working session. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Utah Air National Guard participates in African Lion 2019 By Staff Sgt. Danny Whitlock, 151st Air Refueling Wing / Published April 04, 2019 TATA, Morocco (AFNS) -- Approximately 80 members of the Utah Air National Guard participated in the humanitarian civic assistance portion of exercise African Lion 2019 in Tata, Morocco, March 25 through April 3. African Lion is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-sponsored, U.S. African Command-scheduled, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa-led, joint and combined exercise. African Lion offers an opportunity for participation in a multinational exercise to enhance our professional relationships and allow support for interoperability of forces. The U.S. Armed Forces participants in this portion of exercise brought medical capabilities such as surgery, dentistry, optometry, gynecology, cardiology, internal medicine, pharmacy, radiology and general public health. The team arrived in Morocco, March 24, to stage equipment and prepare for the two-week-long event. Military personnel included Utah ANG, members from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Guardsmen from Colorado, California, Montana and Arizona. This multistate team ensured the best medical care was available for the local population seeking care. Partnership events like this would not be possible without the total-force contribution of both Guardsmen and reservists working together alongside the Moroccan RAF and continuing the strong U.S. partnership with Morocco. "We are expecting patients seeking treatment for various medical concerns," said Col. Matt Bird, 151st Medical Group commander, Utah ANG. "We are supporting the southern region, seeing many Moroccan families. We are expecting to see more than 6,000 patients over the next nine days in the field." Multinational exercises like African Lion allows the ANG to build and enhance professional relationships while supporting interoperability of forces. In this year's iteration of African Lion, contributing countries included Canada, France, Morocco, Senegal, Spain, Tunisia, U.K. and U.S. "Over the last 16 years, the organization of the event and the quality of care to the patients has improved and continues to expand," said Alva Myers, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, force protection officer Marseille, France. "After medical care is administered, the Moroccan health care system will continue care as a result of having been referred by the field hospital for ongoing care for a single visit, or issues that can't be taken care of in the field." African Lion is an annual training opportunity for U.S. and Moroccan RAF, allowing both parties to further develop tactics, techniques, and medical procedures together, and continue to advance the capabilities of all participants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US SOF strengthen relationships with allied partners through combined training By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Pena, 352nd Special Operations Wing Public Affairs / Published April 04, 2019 BACAU, Romania (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Force's 7th Special Operation Squadron, assigned to 352nd Special Operation Wing, based out of RAF Mildenhall, U.K., deployed to Bacau, March 10-15, conduct mission essential tasks and simultaneously familiarize Romanian Special Operation Forces, or ROU SOF, with the CV-22 Osprey. "The importance is not only for the commonality of our tactics, techniques, and procedures between U.S. forces and partner forces but combining that within the NATO spectrum to make sure we are all operating in the same format," said a U.S. Air Force Special Operations mission commander for the training event and flight lead pilot captain. "Being able to get these staged drills out of the way now in a safe and effective training environment, allows us to be able to have the confidence to forward deploy in any contingency operation." The 7th SOS operates the CV-22 throughout the entire range of military operations in support of conventional and special operations. The 7th SOS executes this mission at night, in adverse weather, performing long-range insertion, extraction and resupply missions in hostile, denied and politically sensitive territories. U.S. and ROU SOF conducted day and night fast rope infiltration and exfiltration operations, or FRIES, and low-level flying. These capabilities are something ROU SOF are trained and skilled in; however, this was their first time conducting FRIES out of the CV-22. "Everyone here had used fast rope before, on different platforms, so they understood their techniques," said a 7th SOS special mission aviator staff sergeant. "One of the main differentiators from our side was just reminding them that the CV-22 creates a lot more downwash and it's a much different experience when it comes to deploying out of our aircraft, compared to a conventional rotary wing aircraft." Through these pieces of training, SOF members demonstrate and strengthen partner nation relationships and air operations in the European Theatre. "The ROU SOF was able to extend the CV-22 familiarization training invitation to other units that are not co-located here at Bacau," the mission commander said. "So they were able to cycle through as many of their special operation ground forces as they could, during this timeframe." Along with developing combined leaders, this deployment gave the U.S. SOF members the opportunity to establish professional development at the tactical level. "I've been flying for the Air Force for 15 years, and all my training has been stateside, so even for me in the short time I've moved to RAF Mildenhall," said a U.S. Air Force 7th SOS instructor pilot captain. "I've learned a lot working with allied partners, whether it's working through language barriers or just the different techniques. It's eye-opening." The 7th SOS mission commander was very thankful for the ability to utilize the diverse NATO terrain and base resources to accomplish their objectives. "The Romanian Government and air force base here in Bacau have been extremely supportive with their ability to reach out to us and help," the mission commander said. "They've been able to work on request, with short notice, to include base access, providing us workspace and just being very accommodating when it comes to airspace and tower-controlled patterns that they run here on the airfield." This collaborative training event allows each force to improve its individual and collective capabilities, and the 352nd SOW and ROU SOF will continue to train shoulder-to-shoulder in similar exercises. "The biggest takeaway for me is the Romanian partners are more than willing to host us, but they are thirsty to work with us as far as continued training," the mission commander said. "Looking forward to coming back, not just in Bacau but into Romania in general, so that we can work in the dynamic air space that they have, and their terrain, but also working with the ROU SOF members who seem to be very much interested in working with specialized air power like the tilt-rotor Osprey." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IS, Taliban Fight Displaces 1000s in Eastern Afghanistan By Zabiullah Ghazi, Mohammad Habibzada April 04, 2019 In Afghanistan, fighting between Islamic State militants and Taliban insurgents has displaced over 20,000 people in eastern Kunar province recently, according to U.N. officials. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Thursday that 3,000 families fled their homes, and warned the situation could escalate as the warring sides mobilize more fighters. "Sporadic clashes continue to be reported in several areas of the (Chapa Dara) district, with indications that both sides are reinforcing positions and continuing to mobilize, while the frontlines remain unchanged," OCHA reported. The report warns that efforts by the Afghan National Security Forces could spark renewed fighting as the government tries to push both Islamic State and the Taliban out of the area. Meanwhile, provincial government officials are working to help displaced families. "As our survey is still under way, the number of displaced families recorded up until now is around 2,500. Humanitarian aid has already been distributed," Abdul Ghani Musamim, a spokesperson for the Kunar provincial government, told VOA. The displaced families, mostly women and children, sought refuge in nearby districts and villages. According to local residents, fighting forced most residents out of three villages Digal, Korangal and Manar in Chapa Dara district. "Only a few families remained in those villages. During the past few days, the area is calm, but people are afraid to return," Shoaib Gahrwal, a civil activist in eastern Kunar province, told VOA. Dire situation Local officials say most of the displaced families are living with relatives, some in makeshift tents. "We are nine families living in one house now. We fled our home at night. We have received a little aid. The government should pave the path for our safe return to our homes," Gul Rasool, a local displaced civilian, told VOA. Twelve-year-old Shafiqa told a VOA reporter that she and her family walked for hours before reaching safety. "We escaped in the middle of the night. I walked for two hours with my cow until I reached [a relative's house]," she said. The disruption brought by the fighting also means thousands of children cannot attend school. "I miss my school," said Jawed, a third-grader. The child was with his family from an internally displaced people's camp in the province. Military operation Afghan security forces have an operation under way to clear the areas of Taliban insurgents and IS militants, according to Musamim. "Afghan Army forces will continue their operations in eastern Afghanistan, including Kunar and Nuristan province, to provide security and prevent further displacements," Col. Qais Mangal, a spokesperson for the ministry, told VOA. Clashes between the Taliban, IS and the Afghan security forces are a continuing issue in eastern Afghanistan, particularly in Nangarhar province. The province is the traditional stronghold of the IS Khorasan branch that emerged in the country in 2015 and has since made inroads to other parts of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic State Operatives Captured as Afghan Forces Battle Taliban By Ayaz Gul April 04, 2019 Counterterrorism forces have captured 16 operatives of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, including online recruiters, authorities in Afghanistan said Thursday. The operation comes as Taliban insurgents have staged a major assault on a troubled northwestern district, killing at least a dozen Afghan security forces. The Afghan spy agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS), said a group of six men picked up in capital city Kabul confessed to using hundreds of fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram to recruit fighters and promote IS ideology in the country. The rest of the 10 detainees, described as "Daesh facilitators" using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State were captured during anti-terror operations in eastern Nangarhar province, according to NDS. The terrorist group calls its Afghan affiliate IS Khorasan Province (ISKP). IS emerged in Afghanistan in early 2015 from bases in southern districts of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan. The terrorist outfit, however, has since faced regular ground and air offensives against its bases from U.S.-backed Afghan security forces, losing thousands of fighters. "The Taliban insurgents also have attacked IS militants to prevent them from establishing a foothold in the country." The United Nations reported Thursday that ongoing fierce clashes between Taliban and IS fighters in parts of Nangarhar and neighboring Kunar province have displaced more than 3,000 Afghan families. It said the displaced people have mostly relocated to nearby safe villages in Taliban-controlled areas. Taliban in Badghis Meanwhile, intense battles have been raging between government security forces and Taliban insurgents in the Bala Murghab district of western Badghis province, causing heavy casualties on both sides. The Taliban stormed military and police bases overnight near the district center and killed at least 12 Afghan force members as they took several others hostage. The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement its ground forces were engaged in a counteroffensive, and its A-29 attack aircraft also were dropping bombs on Taliban positions in Bala Murghab, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents. A Taliban spokesman claimed its fighters remained in control of several outposts. This is the second Taliban attack against Bala Murghab in less than a month. The insurgents have besieged the remote Afghan district for days, killing and injuring dozens of government forces. The Taliban has intensified battlefield attacks in many provinces of Afghanistan, which is typical for them in the spring. The United States also has stepped up efforts to seek a negotiated settlement to the conflict with the Taliban, and it has encouraged the rebel group to engage in an intra-Afghan peace dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pompeo Warns NATO Must Adapt to Emerging Global Threats By VOA News April 04, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told NATO foreign ministers Thursday the 29 nation alliance must alter its approach to developing threats throughout the world. "We must adapt our alliance to confront emerging threats ... whether that's Russian aggression, uncontrolled migration, cyber attacks, threats to energy security, Chinese strategic competition ... and many other issues," Pompeo said. Pompeo delivered opening remarks to the foreign ministers as they met in Washington for a second day to commemorate the 70th anniversary of NATO. The two-day gathering has been marred by differences over security and other issues. A disagreement with Turkey has intensified over its plans to buy a Russian air-defense system, and the U.S. has repeated demands for allies to increase their defense spending. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned the U.S. Congress Wednesday of the threat of a "more assertive Russia," saying the West's key military alliance is not looking to start a new Cold War with Moscow but needs to deter its military aggression. In an unprecedented address to a joint session of Congress on the 70th anniversary of NATO's creation at the end of World War II, Stoltenbergalso said NATO "has no intention of deploying land-based nuclear missiles in Europe." He accused Russia of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the U.S. says it is leaving because of Russian violations a claim Russian has denied. "We do not want to isolate Russia. We strive for a better relationship with Russia," Stoltenberg said. "But even with a better relationship, we still need to manage a difficult one." He said "NATO will always take the necessary steps to provide credible and effective deterrence." Stoltenberg also called on NATO allies to spend more on defense, to meet the Western alliance's goal of each country spending at least 2 percent of the size of its national economy on defense by 2024, a standard only eight NATO countries currently meet. He credited U.S. President Donald Trump, who once called NATO "obsolete," with pushing NATO countries to increase their defense spending and said, "It has had a real impact." A two-time Norwegian prime minister, Stoltenberg acknowledged differences among the NATO countries on trade, energy, climate change and other issues, but said, "This is democracy. It's not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invited the NATO leader to speak to members of the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate to show bipartisan support from lawmakers in spite of Trump's ongoing criticism of NATO. In an unprecedented address to a joint session of Congress on the 70th anniversary of NATO's creation at the end of World War II, Stoltenbergalso said NATO "has no intention of deploying land-based nuclear missiles in Europe." He accused Russia of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the U.S. says it is leaving because of Russian violations a claim Russian has denied. "We do not want to isolate Russia. We strive for a better relationship with Russia," Stoltenberg said. "But even with a better relationship, we still need to manage a difficult one." He said "NATO will always take the necessary steps to provide credible and effective deterrence." Stoltenberg also called on NATO allies to spend more on defense, to meet the Western alliance's goal of each country spending at least 2 percent of the size of its national economy on defense by 2024, a standard only eight NATO countries currently meet. He credited U.S. President Donald Trump, who once called NATO "obsolete," with pushing NATO countries to increase their defense spending and said, "It has had a real impact." A two-time Norwegian prime minister, Stoltenberg acknowledged differences among the NATO countries on trade, energy, climate change and other issues, but said, "This is democracy. It's not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invited the NATO leader to speak to members of the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate to show bipartisan support from lawmakers in spite of Trump's ongoing criticism of NATO. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address House Votes to End US Support for Saudi-Led War in Yemen By VOA News April 04, 2019 Congress voted Thursday to end U.S. participation in the war in Yemen, giving President Donald Trump a bipartisan rebuke of his foreign policy. The House passed the resolution 247 to 175, with 16 Republicans joining majority Democrats. The Senate passed the resolution last month. The vote marks the first time in history that Congress invoked the 1973 War Powers Act, which says a president cannot involve U.S. forces in a foreign conflict without the consent of Congress. The White House has said Trump is likely to veto the resolution, saying it could hurt U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia, a major ally and arch foe of Iran. Democrat Eliot Engel, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said "the president will have to face the reality that Congress is no longer going to ignore its constitutional obligations when it comes to foreign policy." A Saudi-led coalition has been backing Yemen by launching airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Republican opponents say the War Powers Act does not apply to U.S. involvement because the U.S. is only supplying the Saudis with intelligence and other such support. But Democrats and Republican supporters of the bill point out that the Saudis may have been using U.S.-made missiles against the Houthis. Some of the missiles have hit civilian neighborhoods, killing thousands and destroying hospitals. One missile struck a busload of children returning from a picnic last August, killing 40. Engel has said Yemen's humanitarian crisis, made worse by the fighting, "demands moral leadership." More than four years of fighting in Yemen has made an already dire humanitarian disaster in one of the world's poorest countries even worse. U.N. officials say nearly 80% of Yemenis are in desperate need of food and medicine, and say the country is on the edge of famine. Many U.S. lawmakers are not only sickened by the carnage in Yemen, they are also upset over what has been Trump's tepid response to last year's killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post columnist was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His remains have not been found. Khashoggi was an outspoken critic of the Saudi royal family. Some U.S. officials suspect Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered his murder. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Urges International Community to Invest in Mali's Humanitarian Needs By Lisa Schlein April 04, 2019 The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns the security situation in Mali will continue to spiral downward unless the international community invests more heavily in addressing the humanitarian crisis that is increasing poverty and hunger among the population. U.N. officials expect 3.8 million people in Mali will be short of food during the so-called lean season from June to August. This is the period between two harvests when food stocks are depleted. They say more than one-half million people will be in a crisis or emergency situation. The head of the OCHA office in Mali, Ute Kollies, said poverty, hunger, the impact of climate change and disputes over land and resources are some of the problems that trigger inter-ethnic violence and that are behind rising insecurity in the country. Unfortunately, she said the international response to growing violence in the country is to spend more money to beef up security, rather than addressing the huge humanitarian assistance needs. "It is not that the international community does not invest in Mali. They look at Mali as a problem of terrorism, illegal migration and so their answer is invest in military deployments, reinforce security," said Kollies. Kollies estimates roughly $3 billion a year is spent for U.N. Peacekeeping Forces, the G-5 countries that fight terrorism in the Sahel, and other Malian Armed Forces. By contrast, the United Nations has appealed for $296 million for its humanitarian operations in Mali this year and has received just nine percent of that amount. She said stronger political mediation efforts are crucial for ending the seemingly endless spiral of fighting. She told VOA multiple mediation efforts currently are underway by the government, the United Nations, and various non-governmental agencies. "We need a strong leadership in that because we need to have a harmonized approach, and we need to address the different conflicts in the different areas with similar kind of methodology and similar kind of messaging, and we have to act on those messages, as well," said Kollies. The OCHA official says it is not good enough to just talk about ways to end the conflicts. She said the underlying causes must be addressed. She said the likelihood of stopping the current spiral of deterioration will be enhanced if serious efforts are made in this direction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Philippines conclude fruitful dialogue on South China Sea issues Global Times Source:CGTN Published: 2019/4/5 0:54:49 China and the Philippines have wrapped up talks on the South China Sea issues as well as maritime activities in a friendly and constructive manner, and achieved fruitful outcomes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Thursday. Geng hailed the meeting as successful on Thursday while answering a question about the Philippine side calling the presence of Chinese vessels at Zhongye Island illegal. "Both sides reiterated their commitments to full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and agreed to maintain the positive momentum of the negotiations towards the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, based on consensus," read a statement issued after the Fourth Meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on Wednesday. Issues related to the South China Sea are not the sum total of Sino-Philippine relations, Geng said, stressing both sides should not exclude mutually-beneficial cooperation in other fields. Both sides reiterated their commitment to addressing disputes by peaceful means through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, Geng added. The two countries also discussed how to enhance maritime cooperation and exchanged views on oil and gas development, Geng noted. China looks forward to working with the Philippines to make efforts to safeguard the overall interests of Sino-Philippine cooperation, as well as the peace and stability in the South China Sea, the spokesperson stated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China sends new naval destroyer fleet to Somali waters for escort mission Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2019/4/4 13:16:46 China's 32nd convoy fleet to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters set sail from a military port in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy official WeChat account announced that same day. The naval fleet includes the guided missile destroyer Xi'an, the missile frigate Anyang and the Gaoyanghu, a comprehensive supply ship. This will be the first time that the Xi'an and Anyang have participated in an escort mission. One of the country's new generation of self-developed Type-052C guided missile destroyers, the Xi'an, which entered into service in February 2015, possesses over-the-horizon strike capability at sea. The Anyang, a domestically developed frigate, entered into service in April 2018 and is capable of attacking surface ships and submarines alone or in conjunction with other naval forces. It also has strong long-range alert and air defense capabilities. It is part of China's new generation of main combat ships. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Congress Urged to Do More to Protect China's Uighurs By Adrianna Zhang April 04, 2019 U.S. representatives and activists are calling for the U.S. to do more to protect the Uighurs, a Muslim minority in China who live primarily in the northwest autonomous region of Xinjiang. Activists have accused Beijing of putting more than a million Uighurs in detention camps with a goal of destroying their ethnic identity. China has said the camps are vocational education centers aimed at stopping the spread of religious extremism. Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said the Chinese government's actions against the Uighurs amount to a war with faith which, he added, China will not win. Brownback made his comments at a reception on Monday and called on Congress to protect international religious freedom and the human rights of Uighurs. He said he had seen reports that China may have put legal residents of the United States in detention camps in the province-like Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Media reports of such detentions have not been confirmed. The ambassador told VOA's Mandarin Service that the United States has a great deal at stake, whether legal U.S. residents are being detained or not. "You've got, really, an aggressive police state that the Chinese have put in place with ubiquitous cameras, with artificial intelligence systems behind it, with people being locked up in internment camps," Brownback said. "This is, in and of itself, enough, but if they're also United States legal residents there, it raises the stakes even further," he said. "What the Chinese government is doing is wrong. They should not do it. They're at war with faith. It is a war they will not win. And we're going to press back hard against that taking place." The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to requests for comment. Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier, co-chair of the Congressional Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus, told VOA the U.S. government needs to do more to push the Chinese government to change its behavior. "This whole issue has got to be addressed on the highest levels of the U.S. government," Speier said. "I feel that we have really not done our job in terms of highlighting what's going on with the Uighur population in China," she said. "It's time for us to speak loudly and clearly about how this has all the makings of yet another genocide." Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the United States should raise the issue on a bilateral basis. "I think that the Chinese government is engaging in massive persecution of this Muslim community. And I believe that we have to speak up now for their rights and their dignity and their freedoms," Krishnamoorthi said. The reception was part of the annual "Day on the Hill" event for Ahmadiyya Muslims in the United States. Every year, the community chooses a day to summon Ahmadiyya Muslim volunteers from all over the U.S. to meet lawmakers on Capitol Hill, calling on them to protect international religious freedom for all people. Many mainstream Muslims view Ahmadiyya Muslims as not real Muslims because they do not believe that Mohammed was the final prophet. Amjad Mahmood Khan, national director of public affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, said this year's event focused on the human rights situation of Muslims in Xinjiang, with 125 volunteers and Uighur Muslims from more than 30 states visiting the offices of more than 200 U.S. lawmakers. "We feel that we should be very clear that all people should have basic minimum human rights, the right to have freedom of conscience, not to be deprived of their conscience, not to be detained unfairly, the right to a free trial. And these things are really causing problems for Uighurs in China," Khan said. Rushan Abbas, director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, a human rights group, said she has relatives being held in detention camps by the Chinese government. She hopes the U.S. government will take action to help the detained Uighurs. "The United States government should take action, and using the Global Magnitsky Act, should sanction the Chinese officials who are responsible for this atrocity," Abbas said. The act "allows the executive branch to impose visa bans and targeted sanctions on individuals anywhere in the world responsible for committing human rights violations or acts of significant corruption," according to Human Rights Watch. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranians Protest Government's Poor Response To Deadly Floods By RFE/RL's Radio Farda April 04, 2019 Iranians affected by the county's worst floods in a decade have been staging angry demonstrations against what they say is an inadequate relief response by the government. With heavy rains drenching much of the country since March 19, floods have swept through hundreds of towns and villages in 26 of Iran's 31 provinces, killing at least 62 people. Thousands of people have sheltering for days in the open with little food or warm clothes as the rains have continued. Protesters also have been venting anger at the government's decision to release water from major dams that are near overflowing, saying the move threatens to destroy their homes, farmland, and livestock. Videos on social media, which could not be independently verified, showed what were said to be protests in the mountainous Lorestan Province and the oil-producing Khuzestan Province. Both of those provinces have been especially hard hit by floods that have forced evacuations of dozens of towns and villages and caused massive damage to homes and infrastructure. One video uploaded to social media on April 4 showed an angry crowd surrounding the vehicle of Ahmad Khadem Sayyid al-Shohada, an Iranian army commander who is coordinating relief efforts along the Karun River in Khuzestan Province. The anonymous uploader said that video was shot in the village of Sharmiyah. Authorities in Khuzestan, where a state of emergency has been declared, have ordered evacuations from dozens of villages ahead of releasing water from a large dam in the region. Shohada told Iran's state-run IRNA news agency on April 3 that locals resisted, and that "emotional" farmers already hit by floods "showed their objections." Both the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army are taking part in relief efforts. The protests come amid accusations by the IRGC that President Hassan Rohani's administration has mismanaged the relief response. Many Iranians see the relief effort as inadequate. Critics say the government's efforts have been too small and the authorities are unable to cope with the immediate needs of the tens of thousands of people who have been affected. One IRGC commander, Mohammad Pakpur, said on April 3 that there had been "no management" of the rescue or aid operations in neighboring Lorestan Province. Sarem Razaee, the head of the nongovernmental Iranian Red Crescent Society, said the town of Pol-e Dokhtar in Lorestan was facing a "super-crisis." Pakpur said government officials do not "dare" go to the region because the "people are in a rebellious mood." Pakpur also said that citizens evacuated from the area "are in a sorry state and conditions are bad." With reporting by IRNA Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranians-protest-government-s- poor-response-to-deadly-floods/29861036.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 Eastern forces in Libya seize town south of Tripoli, UN chief voices deep concern Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 06:35PM Forces of the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Libya's strongman Khalifa Haftar, say they have managed to seize full control of a town south of the capital Tripoli in their westward advancement. The development brings their conflict with the North African nation's internationally recognized government in the capital to a potentially dangerous new phase. "We fully control Gharyan and right now as we speak I'm driving through the town," Abdelsalam al-Hassi, commander of the operation to secure western Libya, said on Thursday. The town is located about 100 kilometers south of Tripoli. Libya has been the scene of increasing violence since 2011, when former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled from power after an uprising and a NATO military intervention. His ouster created a huge power vacuum, leading to chaos and the emergence of numerous militant outfits, including the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. Libya is now divided between two rival governments the House of Representatives, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and the internationally-recognized government of Fayez al-Sarraj, or the Tripoli-based unity Government of National Accord (GNA). Haftar is presumably loyal to the one in the east. Gharyan had been allied to the GNA although some Haftar supporters were also based there. The two sides reportedly entered into brief clashes but according to the town's mayor earlier on Thursday the clashes had ceased. "The town now is under control of the army who came from the east and I can see their vehicles with their Libyan National Army logo," a town resident told Reuters. A video posted online showed LNA vehicles, including pickups mounted with heavy machineguns, marching through Gharyan. On Wednesday, the LNA claimed in a statement that the advance on the country's west was meant to root out what it called "terrorist groups" in the restive region. The LNA office also published a video showing a convoy of armored vehicles and pickup trucks with heavy guns mounted on them on a road, which appeared to be on the coastline along the eastern city of Benghazi. The GNA quickly responded by declaring a "general alert" to all Libyan army and security forces. The Tripoli government denounced the move as an "escalation" and called on Haftar's forces to "stop using the language of threats." In January, the LNA started a military campaign to take control of Libya's south and its oilfields. Haftar's advance order came less than a month after he met with Sarraj in the United Arab Emirates, where they agreed on ending military operations, peacefully ending transitional phases, and going to elections. Additionally on Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern over the risk of possible confrontation in the North African country after forces loyal to Haftar announced they were preparing to advance on Tripoli. "I am deeply concerned by the military movement taking place in Libya and the risk of confrontation," the visiting Guterres tweeted from Tripoli, adding that there is no military solution. "Only intra-Libyan dialogue can solve Libyan problems. I call for calm and restraint as I prepare to meet the Libyan leaders in the country," he further said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Situation tense in Libya as General Haftar forces move toward govt. positions Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 07:47AM Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar have started advancing on the country's western cities and districts, with reports of skirmishes already taking place in the south of the capital Tripoli, which is controlled by Libya's internationally-recognized government of Fayez al-Sarraj. The media office of Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) announced in a statement on Wednesday that the advance on the country's west was meant to root out what it called "terrorist groups" in the restive region. "In fulfillment of his (Haftar's) orders, several military units moved to the western region to purge the remaining terrorist groups located in their last hideouts," the LNA said in the statement. The office also published a video showing a convoy of armored vehicles and pickup trucks with heavy guns mounted on them on a road, which appeared to be on the coastline along the eastern city of Benghazi. Government issues alert to security forces The deployment prompted the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), administered by Sarraj, to declare a "general alert" to all Libyan army and security forces. Sarraj said he had ordered pro-government forces to prepare to "face all threats... from terrorist groups, criminals, outlaws, and all who threaten the security of every Libyan city." The Tripoli government denounced the move as an "escalation" and called on Haftar's forces to "stop using the language of threats." Additionally, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said clashes had erupted between forces loyal to Haftar and those allied to the GNA near Gharyan, a town south of Tripoli. "Right now, there are clashes south of Tripoli... in Gharyan," Mismari told Saudi television channel Al-Arabiya on Wednesday evening. In January, the LNA started a military campaign to take control of Libya's south and its oilfields. Haftar's advance order came less than a month after he met with Sarraj in the United Arab Emirates, where they agreed on ending military operations, peacefully ending transitional phases, and going to elections. The United Nations is holding a conference this month in the southwestern Libyan city of Ghadames to discuss a political solution to the conflict and stabilize the oil-rich North African country. Libya has been the scene of increasing violence since 2011, when former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled from power after an uprising and a NATO military intervention. His ouster created a huge power vacuum, leading to chaos and the emergence of numerous militant groups. Libya is now divided between two rival governments one in the east and another in the west. Haftar is presumably loyal to the one in the east. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement on Fighting Near Gharyan, Libya Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 4, 2019 The text of the following statement on Libya was released by the Governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Begin Text: The governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States are deeply concerned by fighting near Gharyan, Libya and urge all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, which are hindering prospects for UN political mediation. At this sensitive moment in Libya's transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos. We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict. Our governments oppose any military action in Libya and will hold accountable any Libyan faction that precipitates further civil conflict. We stand united behind UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salame as the UN seeks to break Libya's political deadlock, improve transitional governance, and chart a path toward credible and peaceful elections. All Libyan actors should work constructively with SRSG Salame as the UN finalizes plans for the national conference planned for April 1416. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Libya, Guterres 'deeply concerned' by risk of fresh military confrontation, urges restraint 4 April 2019 - The UN chief has expressed his deep concern by the reported advance of forces based in the east, towards the Libyan capital, Tripoli, declaring that "there is no military solution" to restoring peace and stability to the country. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is on a visit to Libya, in support of the internationally-recognized Government's efforts to bring rival leaders across the country together, for a national reconciliation conference, ahead of democratic elections later in the year. The UN chief tweeted that he was "deeply concerned by the military movement taking place in Libya and the risk of confrontation" adding that: "There is no military solution. Only intra-Libyan dialogue can solve Libyan problems." According to news reports, Commander Khalifa Haftar, who leads a rival administration through the Libyan National Army in eastern Libya, which in recent weeks has been advancing to take control of territory in the south, has instructed his forces to move west, in pursuit of what he has reportedly described as terrorist elements. Last month, Mr. Guterres expressed hope that a solution to Libya's instability, civil conflict, and economic turmoil since the fall of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, could be found, following an historic meeting between Prime Minister Faiez Serraj, and Commander Haftar, at the end of February. The two leaders agreed to national, democratic elections, and "ways to maintain stability in the country, and unify its institutions", according to statement from the UN Mission UNSMIL. Ahead of meeting leading Government figures in Tripoli, the UN called for "calm and restraint". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Eastern Libyan Military Commander's Forces Reportedly Capture Western Town By Edward Yeranian April 04, 2019 Eastern Libyan forces have reportedly taken control of the town of Gharyan, less than 100 kilometers from the capital, Tripoli, in the western part of the country. As General Khalifa Haftar's western forces advance, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his special envoy, Ghassan Salameh, met in Tripoli with the internationally-recognized government's head, Fayez al-Sarraj. Arab media showed pictures of forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar stationed outside government buildings in the western mountain town of Gharyan, approximately 70 kilometers from the capital, Tripoli. VOA could not independently confirm the exact position of Haftar's forces but Libyan military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Almismari claims that units loyal to General Haftar seized Gharyan without a fight. He says that (Haftar's Libyan National Army forces) have units loyal to it in western parts of the country and that one of those units moved in on forces loyal to internationally-recognized Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in nearby mountains to capture Gharyan. The French news agency quoted the head of military operations for General Haftar's forces in western Libya, General Abdessalam al-Hassi, as confirming that his forces now control the town. AFP, however, indicated that other sources in the region are denying the claim and that Haftar's forces were instead in the town of Jendouba, outside of Gharyan. Arab news channels broadcast video Wednesday of convoys of military vehicles they reported were now stationed in the west of the country, not far from Tripoli. Haftar's office indicated that his forces were "preparing an offensive to cleanse the west of the country of terrorists and mercenaries." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who met with Prime Minister Sarraj in Tripoli Thursday, insisted that "there is no military solution to the conflict in Libya," and called for "calm" as he prepared to meet various Libyan leaders. Libyan analyst Abdel Sitar Sita told Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV which supports Haftar that "other forces in the west of the country, including Tarhouna, were joining Haftar, but that the eastern, western and southern military fronts are largely separate and don't coordinate their operations." Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, tells VOA that regardless of the current military situation on the ground, it is becoming a foregone conclusion that General Haftar will eventually gain control of Libya. "I would assume that the trend will continue in Libya towards the defeat of the Islamic-oriented government in Tripoli," he said. "It is only a question of time. Political Islam is being routed throughout the region, and Libya does not present itself as an exception." Khashan noted that U.N. envoy Ghassan Salameh and Secretary-General Guterres are trying to negotiate a solution to the Libyan conflict, but he insisted that "no matter what agreement is reached for Tripoli, it will have to reflect the existing balance of power and I think the balance of power is tilting in favor of (Gen.) Hafter." The U.N. was planning to hold a Libyan national dialogue conference later this month in the southern oasis town of Ghadames. The fate of that conference remains unclear. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five killed as Myanmar military chopper attacks Rohingya Muslims Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 05:22PM At least five people have been killed and more than a dozen others wounded after a military helicopter attacked a group of Rohingya Muslims gathering bamboo in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state. Zaw Kir Ahmed, a community leader, told media outlets on Thursday that the aerial raid occurred in a valley in Buthidaung township near a village that was home to Rohingya Muslim families. "A military airstrike killed five people, including one of our villagers, at around 4 pm yesterday," said Ahmed from Kin Taung village. "People in the village don't dare to go out and are frightened." Maung Kyaw Zan, a local lawmaker, said some of the wounded were brought to Buthidaung town but several died before they reached the hospital, adding five bodies had been recovered. "When I talked to the wounded people they said the shooting came from the air, there were no clashes on the ground," the lawmaker said. Rashid Ahmed, a laborer, said his elder brother, uncle and nephew had been shot while they were working at Sai Din valley. "A helicopter attacked them while they were working there, cutting and collecting bamboo." Two other villagers also said a helicopter had attacked the group. Stephan Sakalian, head of delegation in Myanmar at the International Committee of the Red Cross, confirmed that teams from the organization had visited Buthidaung Hospital where 13 people were being treated for wounds, some of them in "urgent need of surgery". A military spokesman declined to comment on the latest deadly incident, but Major-General Tun Tun Nyi, vice chairman of the Myanmar military's information committee, said the army would release "true news" about the alleged incident in time. Myanmar's western Rakhine state came to global attention in 2017, when the army drove thousands of ethnic Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh. Myanmar is facing growing international calls for accountability over the Rakhine massacre. Last year, a UN fact-finding mission, said the campaign against the Rohingya was orchestrated with "genocidal intent." It urged charging the army chief and five other generals with the "gravest crimes under international law." The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already opened a preliminary examination into the violence. The army said last month a military court in Myanmar would investigate the military's conduct during the crackdown. A previous military investigation had exonerated security forces of any crimes. About 800,000 Rohingya Muslims are living in camps in Bangladesh after they were driven out of Rakhine during the deadly campaign in 2017, which the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. Rakhine has been the scene of communal violence since 2012. Many Muslims have been killed while tens of thousands have been forced to flee as a result of attacks by Buddhists. The refugees largely live in camps in dire conditions. The Rohingya have inhabited Rakhine for centuries, but most people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar see them as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh and the state denies them citizenship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rising Mortality Rates Challenge Russia's Efforts To Kick-Start Population Growth By Matthew Luxmoore April 04, 2019 Every third region in Russia saw a spike in mortality rates in 2018, according to health officials, contributing to the country's first population decline in a decade and highlighting the challenges of fending off a protracted demographic crisis. In a speech before Russia's parliament on April 3, Tatyana Golikova, the deputy prime minister responsible for social and health policy, urged regional authorities to help counter the trend. "I should say the mortality rate rose in 32 regions in 2018. But I should also mention that the resources are there for the regions to lower mortality," she told deputies in Moscow. Russia's population fell last year by 87,000 people, to less than 147 million, putting a dent in the government's efforts to overcome the legacy of a demographic crisis that emerged in the 1990s. Alcohol has been a traditional cause of high mortality rates among Russian men, and the past 10 years have seen the longest anti-alcohol campaign in Russian history, with measures including a ban on advertising hard alcohol and plans to halve overall consumption by 2020. Quality Of Freedom? According to reports prepared for a recent Federation Council roundtable on social policy, free Russian men are likely to die earlier than those in prison. Alcohol is seen as the culprit. "This raises questions about the quality of freedom" in Russia, Interfax cited the reports as concluding. Yevgeny Andreyev, head of the International Laboratory for Population and Health at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, told RFE/RL that a modest decline in alcohol consumption has contributed to a longer-term decline in mortality rates nationwide, which is in line with global trends. He urged caution in interpreting what he described as Golikova's preliminary figures. "I think it's worth waiting for the full analysis of the annual statistics on the death rate," he wrote in e-mailed comments. The Russian government has placed major emphasis on the demographic issue. From the mid-1960s to the late 1980s, the Russian population rose steadily, but the collapse of the Soviet Union ushered in a population crisis compounded by wage arrears, mass unemployment, and alcohol abuse. Since his assumption of power in 2000, President Vladimir Putin has made reversing the trend and stimulating population growth one of his signature policies. The beginning of his fourth presidential term in 2012 coincided with the first recorded natural population growth -- subtracting the death rate from the birth rate, and not accounting for immigration -- in over two decades. Although it totaled a mere 2,000 people, it prompted cautious optimism in Russia. That December, Putin stood before a hall full of officials and religious leaders in the Grand Kremlin Palace and praised the success of his government's social policies during his annual address. "The demographic programs adopted in the past decade are working, thank God," he said. "In addition, for the first time in Russia's modern history we have recorded natural population growth for five months running: the birth rate has finally begun to exceed the death rate." The trend didn't last long, however. By 2016 natural population began dropping again, and the rate has not recovered since. Demography experts predict a steady overall population decline in the years to come. Part of the reason is that immigration, once seen as a bulwark against slumps in reproductive rates, is no longer at levels sufficient to counter population decline. Top Priority In May 2018, shortly after his inauguration for a fourth presidential term, Putin signed a decree enumerating the main priorities for his government until 2024 and the goals it should accomplish. Ensuring stable natural population growth was the first point on the list. Following her speech before parliament on April 3, Golikova appeared on Rossia television's popular talk show 60 Minutes. She said she had cited the figures on mortality earlier in the day in order to bring them to the attention of regional authorities, who she said should be doing more to counter the negative trend. "The potential in the regions to lower mortality rates exists, and those measures that will be applied as part of national projects are targeted at overcoming these negative tendencies," she said. The current downturn is in part connected with a drop in the number of women of child-bearing age, Golikova said -- those born during the precipitous slump of the 1990s. The first five months of 2018 witnessed 28 percent fewer births than the equivalent period in 2017, according to figures from state statistics agency Rosstat. The Russian government has sought to encourage reproduction by providing financial incentives to women as part of its so-called maternity capital program, which currently provides mothers with a subsidy of around 453,000 rubles ($7,000) to help support their second child. In February, Putin proposed expanding the program by giving mortgage subsidies to women who have three or more children. And there are indications more will be done. In her television appearance, Golikova said talks were under way to also begin providing such support for the first child as part of a broader demographic campaign aimed at the "preservation of the Russian nation." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/rising-mortality- rates-challenge-population-growth-decline- putin-demographics/29861882.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 Turkey hits back at Pence, says US must choose between NATO ally and 'terrorists' Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 06:34AM Turkey has hit back at the US over an ultimatum for Ankara to stop buying Russian S-400 missile defense systems or risk its NATO membership, saying it is Washington that "must choose" between remaining an ally of Turkey or siding with "terrorists." Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay was responding to comments by his US counterpart, Mike Pence, at an event in Washington marking the 70th anniversary of the NATO military alliance on Wednesday. During the forum, Pence delivered a strong warning to NATO ally Turkey against the purchase of S-400 air defense systems from Moscow. Turkey "must choose" between remaining a key NATO member or risk the security of that partnership "by making such reckless decisions," Pence said. Oktay fired back at Pence in a tweet shortly afterwards and said, "The United States must choose. Does it want to remain Turkey's ally or risk our friendship by joining forces with terrorists to undermine its NATO ally's defense against its enemies?" The Turkish official was apparently referring to Washington's support for the Kurdish militants operating in Syria near the Turkish border, which Ankara views as "terrorists" affiliated with the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighting for autonomy inside Turkey. Turkey has, since 2016, launched two military operations inside Syria against the US-backed Kurdish militants and has threatened a third if they fail to leave the east of the Euphrates. On Monday, the Pentagon halted the delivery of equipment related to the American F-35 stealth fighter jet to Turkey due to the latter's decision to purchase S-400s. Turkey has signed a $2.5 billion deal with Russia for the purchase of S-400 batteries with the delivery set to begin in July. It has, at the same time, ordered 30 of the F-35 fighters and plans to buy over 100 in total. Ankara's military deal with Moscow has angered Washington, with Pence saying at the NATO meeting that the US "will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries." "Turkey's purchase of a $2.5 billion S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia poses great danger to NATO and to the strength of this alliance," Pence said. However, speaking at the same event, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara's plan to get Russian S-400s was "a done deal," and "we will not step back from this." Ankara has long argued that Turkey, as a sovereign state, is entitled to choose its trade partners and arms supplier free from foreign intervention. Cavusoglu, Pompeo hold talks On the sidelines of the NATO meeting, Cavusoglu met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington for talks on the main sticking points in Washington-Ankara relations. In a Twitter post after the meeting, Cavusoglu said he had "constructive" talks with Pompeo "on challenges in our bilateral relations and issues on #Turkey-#US common agenda." The State Department said in a statement that the top US diplomat had warned of "devastating" results if Turkey strikes Syria. "Secretary Pompeo expressed support for ongoing negotiations regarding northeast Syria, while warning of the potentially devastating consequences of unilateral Turkish military action in the region," read the statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US joining forces with terrorists, Turkey says , voicing determination to buy Russian S-400 Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 12:22AM Turkey is ignoring threats by top US officials to buy Russia's S-400 missile system. The comments came despite threats from US officials including Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday. In an address during a meeting of NATO ministers in Washington, Pence repeated US threats against Ankara over the country's defensive cooperation with Russia. "Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" Pence said. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay pushed back at the claims on Twitter, accusing the US of support for terrorism. "The United States must choose. Does it want to remain Turkey's ally or risk our friendship by joining forces with terrorists to undermine its NATO ally's defense against its enemies?" The United States stopped shipment of equipment for F-35 to Turkey earlier to send a message to Turkey. The row over the F-35 and the S-400 is the latest in a series of diplomatic disputes between Ankara and Washington. "We've also made it clear that we will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries that threaten the cohesion of our alliance," Pence said. Turkey has said the S-400 Triumph air defense system will be delivered by Russia despite the US pressure on the NATO member. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-Turkish Tensions Rise Amid Warnings of a Rupture By Dorian Jones April 04, 2019 Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay is warning the United States of the danger of a rupture in relations, as myriad differences between the two NATO allies escalate tensions. "The United States must choose. Does it want to remain Turkey's ally or risk our friendship by joining forces with terrorists to undermine its NATO ally's defense against its enemies?" Oktay tweeted Thursday. The tweet follows a warning to Ankara from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to militarily intervene against the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia, in northern Syria. The militia is a crucial U.S. ally in the war against the Islamic State terror group, but Ankara designates the YPG a terrorist organization linked to an insurgency inside Turkey. "Secretary Pompeo expressed support for ongoing negotiations regarding northeast Syria while warning of the potentially devastating consequences of unilateral Turkish military action in the region," the State Department said in a statement after Pompeo met with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Wednesday. Cavusoglu highlighted what he called the lack of "clear strategy" in Washington over Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reeling from the loss of several key cities in local elections this past Sunday, has declared security a priority, a comment interpreted by some as code for a possible military incursion into Syria against the YPG. Turkish forces remain massed on the Syrian border. The threat of a showdown over Syria comes amid a growing disagreement between Washington and Ankara over Turkey's procurement of Russia's S-400 missile system. U.S. officials say the missiles will compromise NATO weapons systems. "Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history, or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?" U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said in comments at a Wednesday NATO event in Washington. "The purchase from Russia is a done deal," Cavusoglu said at an earlier NATO panel. "We are not choosing between Russia and any other allies. We don't see our relations with Russia as an alternative to our relations with others. Moreover, nobody, neither the West nor Russia, should or can ask us to choose," he added. Washington is offering Turkey a Patriot missile system. Ankara has indicated a willingness to buy the system but not as an alternative to the Russian S-400s. The dispute is part of broader concerns among Turkey's Western allies over Erdogan's deepening relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Next week, Erdogan is set to visit Moscow where Putin is expected to seek to bolster Turkey's resolve to buy Russia's S-400s. Russia is set to deliver the missiles in the second half of this year. Washington is warning the delivery of its latest F-35 warplanes to Turkey is at risk with the delivery of the S-400s. "There's great opportunities for the United States and Turkey to work closer together," Pompeo told reporters Thursday during a news conference at the end of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. "I had a good long conversation with the Turkish foreign minister yesterday and I'm very confident we'll find a path forward." Analysts say further measures against Turkey are now looming and that the currency, the lira, could ultimately be the most significant casualty of any U.S.-Turkish showdown. Analysts say the lira is vulnerable, following last year's collapse triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump hitting Ankara with sanctions over the detention in Turkey of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has since been released. "This climb-up has all the makings of last year's 'Father Brunson' crisis. We doubt history repeats only for those who refuse to learn from it," said Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners. Growing financial concerns about the Turkish economy saw Turkey's Central Bank forced to use unprecedented measures to support the currency earlier this month to quell heavy lira falls. The currency declines were triggered by local Turks converting savings to foreign currency, along with international investors exiting the market amid economic concerns. Despite the high economic stakes, however, analysts warn it will be difficult for either side to back down. "It's part of a much wider rift in terms of U.S.-Turkish relations," said Sinan Ulgen of the Istanbul-based Edam research institution. "This would have never have happened if there had not been a vast erosion of trust between the two NATO allies, triggered by a number and ongoing disputes," Ulgen said. In a sign of Washington's patience running out with Ankara, a new crisis could be looming. During Wednesday's talks with his Turkish counterpart, Pompeo called for "the swift resolution of cases involving unjustly detained U.S. citizens, including Serkan Golge, as well as our local staff from the U.S. Mission in Turkey," said a State Department readout of the meeting. Golge, along with three local diplomatic employees, are jailed on accusations of links to terrorist organizations including conspirators blamed by Ankara for a failed 2016 coup. Until now, Washington has sought to use behind-the-scenes diplomacy to resolve the dispute. Observers suggest Pompeo's public statement indicates the adoption of a more confrontational strategy. Some analysts say Ankara's steadfastness against growing Washington pressure stems from a belief that Trump does share concerns over Turkey. "Ankara is still not convinced that Washington is serious in its threats," Yesilada said. "More specifically, it suspects, as transpired several times in the past, the threats and warnings don't reflect Trump's viewpoint," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S., Turkey Intensify War Of Words Over Syria, Russian Missiles By RFE/RL April 05, 2019 A war of words between NATO allies the United States and Turkey intensified, with the sides disputing the readout of a meeting of the countries' foreign ministers regarding Syria Washington and Ankara on April 4 also disagreed about the formation of a "working group" to settle differences over Turkey's purchase of a Russian missile-defense system that U.S. and other NATO officials vehemently oppose. Turkey sharply criticized remarks by the U.S. State Department over a meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of NATO. The State Department said Pompeo had warned Ankara of "potentially devastating consequences" if Ankara were to launch an offensive in Syria and urged the "swift resolution" of legal cases involving "unjustly detained U.S. citizens" in Turkey. Turkey's Foreign Ministry slammed the U.S. statement, saying it failed to reflect the content of the meeting and included issues that were not discussed. "Our alliance naturally requires that such statements are prepared with greater care, while avoiding to include matters that were not raised during meetings," spokesman Hami Aksoy said. Cavusoglu later added he was "really surprised" by the U.S. readout of his meeting with Pompeo. "I was there...such language was never used, on Syria particularly they never mentioned such things about unilateral actions from Turkey," Cavusoglu told reporters. "Whether you look at the tone of the statement or the sentences it claimed Pompeo told us, we see it doesn't reflect the truth," he added. Asked about the Turkish remarks, Pompeo told reporters he stood by the State Department's readout of the meeting with Cavusoglu. "I saw the comments by my Turkish counterpart. I reread the readout of our meeting -- spot on. Stand by every word of it," Pompeo told reporters. He added, though, that "there's great opportunities for the United States and Turkey to work closely together. I had a good, long conversation with the Turkish foreign minister yesterday and I am very confident we'll find a path forward." The United States and Turkey support differing antigovernment rebels in Syria's eight-year civil war. The U.S. military has been backing Syrian Kurdish fighters in the north of the country in their battle against Islamic State (IS) extremists. Ankara considers the Kurds to be terrorists with ties to Kurdish separatists operating in Turkey and has vowed to wipe them out. Meanwhile, the two countries are also at loggerheads over Ankara's decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which are not compatible with NATO systems and are seen as a threat to U.S.-made F-35 jets. Cavusoglu on April 3 suggested a working group be formed between the Pentagon and Turkey to address the matter, but Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon on April 4 said that ""a technical working group at this stage is not necessary or a path the United States is considering as a resolution." With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and The Wall Street Journal Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-turkey- dispute-readout-over-syria-russia- missile-deal/29862593.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 UK to lead Baltic Protector drills aimed at 'supporting European security' Iran Press TV Thu Apr 4, 2019 06:15AM Britain says it is set to lead massive Baltic Sea military maneuvers aimed at "supporting European security," a move that is expected to further fuel long-running tensions between the NATO member and Russia. The British ministry of defense announced Wednesday that nearly 2,000 British military personnel were going to partake in the war game, dubbed Baltic Protector, which is scheduled for May and would feature 3,000 forces from the UK-led multinational high-readiness Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The ministry said in a press release that the drills underlined "the importance of protecting Europe at a time of increased threat." Defense ministers and representatives from JEF countries -- Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden were going to meet in London later this week to discuss the deployment. British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said the drills would underline London's leading role in protecting Europe even though it was about to leave the European Union (EU). "As Britain prepares to leave the EU, our unwavering commitment to European security and stability is more important than ever," he said in a statement on Tuesday. "Deploying our world class sailors and marines to the Baltic Sea, alongside our international allies, firmly underlines Britain's leading role in Europe," he added. Baltic Protector is maritime-focused and would put to the test a large number of JEF naval vessels, including some UK Royal Navy warships, in maritime tactical exercises, amphibious drills, amphibious raiding practice, shore landings and naval maneuvers. This is the first time that JEF tries a maritime deployment of this scale. Led by the UK, the joint force is said to be able to mobilize over 10,000 forces "to deliver rapid and far-reaching effect," according to the statement. Personnel from the British Army and Royal Air Force were also slated to take part in the drills. "Together, this UK-led Maritime Task Group will conduct a series of demanding amphibious exercises and maritime security patrols across the Baltic Sea that will serve to improve the way we operate together and our readiness to respond to crisis," said Commodore James Parkin, Commander of the Task Group. The JEF was established at the 2014 summit of the NATO alliance and launched a year later. However, it took until June 2018 for the force to become fully operational. The force's mission statement says it can cover a range of tasks, including combat operations, deterrence, or humanitarian support independently or in coordination with NATO, United Nations, EU and the Northern Army Group. Tensions with Russia The UK, as a member of NATO, has been one of the main forces behind the Western military alliance's ongoing buildup on Russia's borders. London has on several occasions sent warplanes and ground forces along with armored vehicles to protect the Baltic StatesLithuania, Estonia and Latviaagainst what it refers to as "Russian aggression." Williamson announced last year that the UK was purchasing a large fleet of US-made P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to stop what it called Russia's growing submarine activity near British territorial waters. Tensions between the two countries reached a new peak last year, when London accused Moscow of orchestrating a nerve agent attack on Sergey Skripal, a Russian double agent living in Salisbury. Despite Russia's denial and its offer to launch a joint investigation, the UK decided to fire Russian diplomats and persuade its allies to follow suit. The hostility continued last week, when the British Royal Air Force (RAF) sent fighter jets to intercept Russian nuclear bomber flying in international airspace near the UK. Russia has dismissed the UK's claims of posing a threat to Europe as part of a Western propaganda campaign to demonize the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK and Cyprus agree to closer defence and security ties Gavin Williamson and his Cypriot counterpart sign Memorandum of Understanding enhancing defence co-operation 4 April 2019 In a meeting today in London, Cypriot Defence Minister Savvas Angelides and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson penned an important agreement strengthening the existing deep defence links between the two nations. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Enhancement of Defence and Security Co-operation is designed to help address common defence and security challenges and build on existing partnerships and shared interests in areas such as training, capability development and crisis planning. The MOU will also help generate and support new opportunities for multilateral security training with our regional partners. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "Cyprus is a valued partner and friend, and through signing this agreement we have reinforced our already close ties across defence for years to come." "Our bases in Cyprus are a vital asset in our fight against Daesh with Typhoon and Tornado fighter jets that were instrumental in the territorial defeat of the terrorist group in Syria flying out of RAF Akrotiri." The UK and Cyprus have a close relationship and over the last few years have increased military co-operation and undertaken several large-scale joint exercises. The Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus is a valued security asset to both the UK and our partners, giving us the ability to act swiftly in region when required. Most recently demonstrated in the fight against Daesh where the RAF conducted more than 1700 air strikes that lead to the territorial defeat in Syria. Alongside this, the British military currently has approximately 250 people deployed on Op Tosca, the UK contribution to the UN peacekeeping force and HMS Duncan is currently visiting Cyprus and is docked in Limassol as part of the Charles De Gaulle Task Force. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Final Ukraine Results Give Zelenskiy 30 Percent Of Presidential Vote By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 04, 2019 Ukraine's election commission has released the final results of the March 31 presidential vote, giving political newcomer Volodymyr Zelenskiy just over 30 percent of the vote. With no candidate getting 50 percent, Zelenskiy will meet incumbent Petro Poroshenko on April 21 in a runoff. The Central Election Commission announced on April 4 that Zelenskiy secured 30.24 percent of vote while Poroshenko received 15.95 percent. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko came in third with 13.40 percent. The commission said 18.9 million eligible voters took part in the election. Turnout was 62.8 percent. International observers said on April 1 that the election was "well administered" and "competitive." The election came as the country struggles with a war against Russia-backed separatists, Moscow's seizure of a key chunk of its territory, a sluggish economy, and rampant corruption. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/final-results- from-ukraine-presidential-election-give- zelenskiy-30-percent-of-vote/29860319.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 From Potholes to Procurement: Ukraine's Chronic Corruption Angers Voters By Henry Ridgwell April 04, 2019 To experience corruption in Ukraine, just go for a drive. The bone-crunching, bouncing ride over the countless potholes is a daily ritual for travelers across the country. Campaigners say the local authorities' failure to repair the winter road damage is just one symptom of the myriad corruption schemes that plague the country. Tackling corruption is invariably among the issues Ukrainians cite as a top priority for the next president, as incumbent Petro Poroshenko and newcomer Volodymyr Zelenskiy face a final round runoff April 21. Anti-corruption law struck down There are growing fears that government resolve is stalling, after Ukraine's Constitutional Court in February struck down a law against officials enriching themselves. The U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch recently demanded the government get a grip on the problem. High-level corruption poses an existential threat, says Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, executive director of Transparency International Ukraine. "Schemes which are now existing in the sphere of national security or the energy sphere, it's really dangerous for not only [government] effectiveness but also it's dangerous for the existence of Ukraine, because we are a country now in war. And this corruption helps our enemy make us weaker," Yurchyshyn said. Poroshenko's bid to win a second presidential term has been caught up in corruption allegations over military procurement. He denies involvement. Yurchyshyn says Poroshenko shouldn't be singled out. "When we see other candidates in the presidential campaign, for everyone we have several questions for his or their close affiliations with different corruption schemes," he said. Journalists, lawyers investigate Many Ukrainians have had enough and are fighting back. The group BIHUS info consists of dozens of journalists and lawyers investigating corruption. Their results are put on YouTube, and they are not afraid to tackle some of the biggest scandals. One recent investigation looked into the funding of the Fatherland party, led by defeated presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko. "Three residents of these two villages were among the party's biggest contributors in 2018, donating more than $148,000 (4 million hryvnias)," according to reporter Maksym Opanasenko in a recent documentary on the BIHUS info YouTube channel. He then confronts one of the party donors as she is working at the checkout of a local village store. It is clear that she is not the real source of the money. Such schemes use a typical formula, employing intermediaries to disguise financial transactions, says founder of the group Denys Bihus. "A poor person is hired, and he or she then draws up financial documents for a silly amount of money. Then they pass the right to sign off on these documents to someone else, but formally, they remain the only one visible in [public] documents," Bihus told VOA in a recent interview. The Fatherland party denies accusations of corruption. Bihus says they pass on evidence from their investigations to law enforcement agencies. "But the problem is that, though we can initiate a case, we cannot force them to investigate it effectively. This is especially true in those cases where top politicians are involved," he said. Symbol of graft Decades of graft can even be seen along the Kyiv skyline. Construction on the vast Podilsko-Voskresenskyi Bridge, a rail and road crossing over the Dnieper River, started 26 years ago. Work has been halted repeatedly over corruption scandals. It is still not complete. Anti-corruption campaigners say fighting corruption in the system is not enough for in Ukraine, the system is corruption. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 4, 2019 News By David Vergun Defense.gov DOD Leaders Brief Congress on WMD Threats and Department's Response WASHINGTON -- The lethality of the U.S. military "depends on our warfighters' ability to deter, prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons and their effects, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for chemical and biological defense programs told Congress yesterday. "CBRN agents pose uniquely destructive threats," D. Christian Hassell said during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on intelligence and emerging threats and capabilities. "They can empower a small group of actors with terribly destructive potential," Hassell said. "Thus, countering weapons of mass destruction as far from our homeland as possible is a key mission for the U.S. military we help enable." Hassell was joined by Theresa Whelan, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security; Navy Vice Adm. Timothy G. Szymanski, deputy commander of U.S. Special Operations Command; and, Vayl S. Oxford, director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. A robust and modern nuclear deterrent has been the cornerstone of American security for more than 70 years, and "underwrites U.S. security, diplomacy and conventional military operations worldwide," Hassell said, adding that given the strategic environment, nuclear deterrence is more important now than at any time since the end of the Cold War and is DOD's highest-priority mission. Hassell outlined a number of steps DOD is taking to strengthen its anti-WMD effort. Nuclear Physical Security The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, or NCB, is rewriting physical security guidance regarding protection of nuclear weapons and nuclear command and control facilities, as well as special nuclear material, he said. NCB provides oversight of the Mighty Guardian program, a realistic force-on-force exercise against threats as determined by the Defense Intelligence Agency, he noted. CBRN Defense Efforts Through its Chemical and Biological Defense Program, DOD provides the equipment that enables service members to operate in a CBRN environment, Hassell said, whether conducting combat operations abroad or supporting first responders in a domestic incident Strengthening Partnerships The United States can dramatically improve its preparedness for and response to WMD threats through effective collaboration with its allies, Hassell said. This collaboration includes opportunities to share the cost of research and development, and the chance to improve the interoperability of systems and processes, he said. For example, Hassell told the House panel, NCB maintains a bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom to improve collective readiness to eliminate foreign chemical and biological weapons. "This cooperation has resulted in intelligence and information sharing, identification of mutual gaps in capabilities, and shared investment to develop solutions to address them," he said. Destruction of Chemical Weapons Stockpile In adhering to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Hassell said, DOD is working to safely eliminate the remaining U.S. chemical weapons stockpiles, located in Colorado and Kentucky. "We are confident that complete destruction of the remaining chemical weapons will occur by the congressional deadline of Dec. 31, 2023," he added. Monitoring WMD Threats Whelan said CBRN threats from North Korea are still a concern. DOD "must remain postured to prevent WMD and missile-related proliferation to or from North Korea, counter and respond to WMD and missile attacks from North Korea, and continue to work with allies and partners to ensure they are postured to mitigate North Korea-CBRN threats," she said. Chemical weapons use is one of DOD's top concerns, she told the panel, noting that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its citizens. The United States "remains concerned Iran is developing chemical weapons agents intended to incapacitate for offensive purposes and did not declare all of its traditional CW agent capabilities when it ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention," she said. "Iran's uncertain WMD pursuits heighten the WMD risk in an already-volatile region of the globe." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HONOLULU, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Safeway joined forces to donate more than more than 35,000 pounds of protein to Hawaii Foodbank . Smithfields contribution was part of the companys 2019 Helping Hungry Homes donation tour. Helping Hungry Homes is Smithfields signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 141,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across the Hawaiian Islands. The people of Hawaii are one ohana and we aim to ensure no one in our family goes hungry, said Ron Mizutani, president and CEO of Hawaii Foodbank. We have served the people of Hawaii for more than 35 years, and with this generous donation we will continue to help rebuild lives and give hope for a better tomorrow. We are humbled by the Helping Hungry Homes program and welcome Smithfield with a warm aloha and a heartfelt mahalo. Representatives from Smithfield Foods and Safeway presented the donation to Hawaii Foodbank at an event at the food bank this morning. Members of each organization discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation that will provide protein throughout the food banks service area, which includes about one in eight Hawaii residents who face hunger across the state. As a community-minded company, we support causes that impact our customers' lives, said George Glukfeld, manager of Hawaii district for Safeway. We are proud to put our efforts toward local donations to help strengthen neighborhoods and change lives, and were honored to participate in this donation with Smithfield that will do just that. This is the 12th large-scale protein donation made by Smithfield to food banks across the country during its 2019 Helping Hungry Homes tour. Since the programs inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided more than 120 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide. Smithfield is truly passionate about supporting our social purpose through our efforts in hunger relief, said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives for Smithfield Foods. This is why were thrilled to mark our Helping Hungry Homes programs first-ever visit to Hawaii. We hope that our donation will make a lasting impact for those in need throughout the Hawaiian Islands. For more information about Smithfield Foods Helping Hungry Homes initiative and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com . About Smithfield Foods Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathans Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cooks, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curlys, Healthy Ones, Morliny, Krakus, and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com , and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and Instagram. About Hawaii Foodbank Hawaii Foodbank, in partnership with the food industry and community, serves as a link between charities and those in need of food assistance including the elderly, families, children and those facing financial crises each week. Last year, Hawaii Foodbank distributed over 12.5 million pounds of food in Oahu and Kauai, including 3 million pounds of fresh produce. Hawaii Foodbank is a certified member of Feeding America and operates as the official food bank in the State of Hawaii. For more information, visit www.hawaiifoodbank.org or call (808) 836-3600. About Safeway Safeway is one of the most well-recognized grocery retail brands with a long-standing reputation for quality and service, proudly serving Hawaii since 1963. The company operates 22 stores on Hawaii Island, Oahu, Kauai and Maui. Safeway is a division of Albertsons Companies. Media Contacts: Dalton Agency for Smithfield Jana Beasley (904) 534-8568 jbeasley@daltonagency.com Hawaii Foodbank Vianca Cao (808) 533-4165 vianca@beckercommunications.com Safeway Wendy Gutshall (925) 467-3000 Wendy.Gutshall@safeway.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8fc05204-c884-4add-97bb-260c918207bf English French Luxembourg April 5, 2019 (07:00 CET) - Aperam announces the publication of the convening notice for its Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders (the General Meetings), which will be held on Tuesday 7 May 2019 at 11:00 hours Luxembourg time at 24-26, boulevard d'Avranches, L-1160 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. The Aperam shareholders entitled to vote at the General Meetings will be those who are shareholders on the record date of 23 April 2019 at midnight (24:00 hours) Central European Time. The convening notice, the annual report 2018, the voting forms and all other meeting documentation will be available on Aperam's website www.aperam.com under Investors, Equity Investors, Shareholders Meetings - 7 May 2019 - General Meetings of Shareholders. About Aperam Aperam is a global player in stainless, electrical and specialty steel, with customers in over 40 countries. The business is organized in three primary operating segments: Stainless & Electrical Steel, Services & Solutions and Alloys & Specialties. Aperam has 2.5 million tonnes of flat Stainless and Electrical steel capacity in Brazil and Europe and is a leader in high value specialty products. Aperam has a highly integrated distribution, processing and services network and a unique capability to produce stainless and specialty from low cost biomass (charcoal). Its industrial network is spread in six production facilities located in Brazil, Belgium and France. In 2018, Aperam had sales of EUR 4,677 million and steel shipments of 1.97 million tonnes. For further information, please refer to our website at www.aperam.com Contacts Corporate Communications / Laurent Beauloye: +352 27 36 27 103 Investor Relations / Thorsten Zimmermann: +352 27 36 67 304 Portland, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the Vietnam ERP for Retailers Market garnered 7.2 million in 2017 and is expected to $26.0 million in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 17.4% from 2018 to 2025. The report provides an extensive analysis of top impacting factors, market size & estimations, drivers & opportunities, key segments, and competitive intelligence. Increase in need for operational efficiency & transparency in business processes and rise in demand for role-based security have spurred the growth of Vietnam ERP for Retailers Market. On the other hand, high investment cost, maintenance crunches, and inadequate flexibility have happened to restrain the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, rush in the adoption of ERP among small as well as medium retailers, and the arrival of cloud-based ERP have created lucrative opportunities in the segment throughout the forecast period. Request Sample PDF of Vietnam ERP for Retailers Market Report at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5225 Based on the component, the software segment accounted for nearly three-fourths of the total market in 2017 and is expected to dominate all through 2018-2025. This is due to the rising demand for ERP software among retailers to enhance consumer satisfaction and operational efficiency of their businesses. By application, the inventory management segment contributed to nearly one-fourth of the total market in 2017and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the period. The fact that this ERP is highly used among retailers to effectively manage the inventory levels for ensuring the constant flow of units into and out of an existing inventory has fueled the growth. Based on the deployment model, the large retailer's segment held the lion share, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total market. Increase in adoption of ERP among the retail industry in Vietnam in order to enhance business efficiencies and transparencies has driven the market. Leading market players active in the global Vietnam ERP for Retailers Market include Exact, Deskera, IBM Corporation, Infor, The Sage Group plc, SAP SE, Plex Systems, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, and Epicor Software Corporation. They have adopted various strategies including partnerships, collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and others to gain a strong position and sustain in the industry. Flat 20% Discount on All License Type (*Offer Valid Till 20th April 2019) Buy Now@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout/845109 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. Kristy Dumont and her wife, Dana, had been hoping to foster a child, so they approached Catholic Charities in Michigan in 2016. The two women, however, said they were shut down due to their sexual orientation.We didnt get any farther than the first phone call, Kristy Dumont told NBC News.Kristy and Dana Dumont were two of the plaintiffs in a discrimination suit filed by the ACLU against faith-based adoption agencies.Kristy and Dana Dumont were two of the plaintiffs in a discrimination suit filed by the ACLU against faith-based adoption agencies.Courtesy of ACLUThe Dumonts proceeded to sue the state, and on March 22 the couple reached a settlement with Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel's office. Under the settlement, faith-based adoption agencies that are funded by the state of Michigan will no longer be able to turn away LGBTQ couples or individuals because of religious objections.Kristy and Dana Dumont said they are thrilled with the outcome of the case and hope to foster a child soon.But while Michigan is making it harder for agencies to deny lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender prospective parents, a number of other states are moving in the opposite direction."Adoption discrimination is snowballing toward a serious crisis for children, families and communities, Liz Welch, a faith engagement strategist at the American Civil Liberties Union, told NBC News. Once considered fringe policy in just a couple states, the push behind child welfare religious exemption bills has picked up alarming speed and momentum. More than 30,000 people in Louisiana have been booted from the Medicaid program, after an upgraded state computer check determined they earn too much to receive the taxpayer-financed health insurance.Louisianas health department sent notices to 40,000 Medicaid recipients in February, warning them they would lose the insurance coverage unless they could demonstrate by March 29 that they met the programs income requirements.Three-quarters of those who received the letters 30,500 people lost their benefits at the end of March, said agency spokesman Robert Johannessen. Nearly all of them are non-elderly adults enrolled through the Medicaid expansion that Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards enacted in 2016.Either they did not respond to the letter or they earn too much. It could be both, Johannessen said. We are still processing some paperwork so that 30,500 could change, but not substantially. It's going to get easier -- a lot easier -- for new Arizona residents to start working after they arrive there.Ducey, a second-term Republican who served as the CEO of Cold Stone Creamery before entering politics, signed a measure on Wednesday that lets new Arizona residents get occupational licenses when they move to the state, as long as they were licensed in the state they came from.The governor says the measure will encourage more people to move to Arizona and build its economy, even if it comes at the expense of other states.Were Chicagos favorite suburb, and, in my second State of the State [address], I was able to thank [then-California Gov.] Jerry Brown for being my partner [in] the economic success were having in Arizona, he says. Arizona and California have a lot in common: Were both full of Californians. Those Californians didnt lose their skills when they crossed the state border into Arizona.Arizona had the fourth-fastest growing population last year, according to Census data.But Arizona has not traditionally made it easy for newcomers to set up shop, according to the Institute for Justice , a conservative public-interest law firm. Arizona requires licenses for 68 of the 102 low-income occupations that the institute reviewed, with average fees of $612. It takes applicants in those occupations an average of two years to get their licenses, the institute reported.Those barriers made Arizonas occupational licensing requirements the fourth-most burdensome in the country, behind Hawaii, Nevada and Colorado, the Institute for Justice concluded.Ducey attributes the strict licensing requirements to bullies on state boards and commissions that draft the regulations.We have licensing for yoga instructors. I think thats insane, he says. Citrus fruit and vegetable packers also need a license in Arizona, but nowhere else. Ducey also questions the need for more common occupational licenses, such as for hair stylists. How many people go back for a bad haircut three times? he asks.A rollback of licensing requirements is in line with other Ducey efforts to reduce regulations on businesses. For five years, he has issued moratoriums on new rulemaking by state agencies. He says his administration has rolled back 1,098 regulations and saved businesses more than $79 million.Politicians dont create jobs, he says. Risk takers and entrepreneurs are the ones that create jobs. What elected leaders can create is an environment in which to do business. When this occupational licensing recognition passes in Arizona, we will have the best environment in the nation in which to live, work and do business.The new law is arguably the most sweeping rollback in the country. No other state has adopted a similar proposal.Democrats largely opposed the measure when it came before the House, where it passed on a 36-24 vote.We dont really know what the standards are in these other states, Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, a Tucson Democrat, told Reason TV , which is produced by the libertarian Reason Foundation. Why should we dumb down our standards? I see this as sort of deregulation for the sake of deregulation.Under the law, the state will recognize out-of-state licensures for new Arizonans who have been licensed in their previous state for more than a year and who didnt have a criminal conviction or disciplinary action related to their job.Ducey says the legislation will be especially useful in helping the state welcome the spouses of people who are relocating to Arizona.When I talk to business owners, they tell me [we should do] whatever we can do to make it easier on them to hire people, especially relocating spouses with a trailing spouse, to find work, he says.Businesses need workers, he says, at a time when unemployment is low and labor participation is already high.You see a lot of spouses who are moving and then choose not to reenter the workforce because of the burdens or obstacles that are in front of them, he says. In Arizona, were removing those obstacles. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Wednesday that could, someday, potentially short-circuit the Electoral College.House Bill 55 allows New Mexico to join a compact of states that would allocate their electors in a presidential campaign to the candidate who wins the most votes nationally.The idea is to ensure a president cannot be elected with fewer votes than a competitor.Donald Trump, for example, won fewer votes than Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election but won enough states to be elected president."Now, every vote in every state will count in every presidential election," Sen. Mimi Stewart, a Democrat from Albuquerque and co-sponsor of the bill, wrote on Twitter after the governor signed the bill.Under the U.S. Constitution, a state gets one Electoral College vote for each of its seats in Congress. And New Mexico allocates all five of its five Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in the state.But advocates for the popular vote argue the Electoral College system gives more weight to the vote of a person in Wyoming than a person in New York or California.Wyoming, for example, has around one quarter of New Mexico's population but has three Electoral College votes.Backers of the current system contend that only works in New Mexico's favor and ensures less populous states are not cut out entirely of presidential elections by candidates chasing votes in more densely inhabited parts of the country."These radical bills are pushed by out-of-state interests designed to ensure voters in New Mexico have less of a voice," Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, said during the session.While New Mexico might join the compact, it cannot take effect until enough states have signed on to control a majority of Electoral College votes -- 270. At the beginning of the year, only 12 states had joined, with 172 Electoral College votes. More might sign on this year.Regardless, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office warned in an analysis of the bill that such a compact would likely be subject to legal challenge, particularly if it swung an election. The state of Texas has banned all prison chaplains from its execution chamber, days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state could not execute an inmate without allowing a Buddhist chaplain into the death chamber with him.The high court last week halted the execution of Patrick Murphy, a member of the infamous "Texas Seven," after Murphy claimed that the state was violating his religious rights by not allowing him to have a Buddhist chaplain in the room with him at the time of his scheduled death. The state only allows prison employees in the death chamber, and only Christian and Muslim clerics are employed with the state. During executions, a chaplain will often stand at the feet of the prisoner and rest a hand on his leg mouthing silent prayers.The court stopped Murphys execution hours after it was scheduled to begin, ruling Texas could not execute him until his late appeal was considered unless the state provided a Buddhist spiritual adviser in the execution chamber. The ruling came less than two months after the same court decided against stopping the execution of a black prisoner in Alabama who requested a Muslim imam at his execution. Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued an opinion declaring that the exclusion of a Buddhist adviser was religious discrimination and proposed two alternatives for the Texas prison system: Dont allow any chaplains into the execution chambers, or allow chaplains of all religions.Texas has chosen the former option. New execution procedures signed Tuesday say that chaplains and ministers may "observe the execution only from the witness rooms." Currently, friends and family of the murder victims and prisoners, as well as media, are allowed to watch executions through a glass window in small rooms adjacent to the death chamber.A spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said the policy change is effective immediately."TDCJ Chaplain(s) will continue to be available to an offender until they are transferred to the execution chamber. The chaplain will also be present in the viewing room if requested," said the spokesman, Jeremy Desel.Under the policy, prisoners will still be able to meet with a TDCJ chaplain or a spiritual adviser who has the appropriate credentials on the day of execution. But religious rights advocates claim the policy change doesn't address the ruling from the court, only Kavanaugh's opinion. Luke Goodrich, a senior counsel with The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a law firm that advocates for prisoners' free exercise of religion, said Murphy's situation goes beyond discrimination among different religions and infringes on his religious freedom by not allowing a chaplain of his faith in the death chamber with him."This policy change is Texas trying to dig in its heels, but it's in a pretty weak position legally," Goodrich said.He added that the policy change still wouldn't allow Murphy's execution before appeals are considered by the U.S. Supreme Court because the order claims he can only be executed during the ongoing appeals if the state provides a Buddhist adviser.Murphy, 57, is one of seven in a group of escaped prisoners who committed multiple robberies and killed a police officer in 2000 during more than a month on the run. During a robbery on Christmas Eve, Murphy served as the lookout, and he said he left the scene on the instruction of the groups leader before any shots were fired at 31-year-old Officer Aubrey Hawkins. He used a two-way radio to warn the others to flee the scene when he heard that police were on their way.Murphy is criminally culpable for the murder under Texas' law of parties, under which accomplices and triggermen are treated alike. Six of the seven men were sentenced to death (four have been executed), and one killed himself after police surrounded the group weeks after the murder.About a month before he was scheduled to die, Murphy's lawyers requested that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice allow his Buddhist spiritual adviser into the execution chamber with him, but TDCJ declined, claiming a chaplain needed to be employed by the department. When a follow-up request was sent for any Buddhist adviser to be allowed into the room, the department didn't respond. In the days before Murphy's execution, the lawyers took the issue to the courts, claiming the policy violated his rights.The high court's decision to block the Texas execution came just weeks after it decided differently in a similar death row appeal out of Alabama. Domineque Ray, the Alabama inmate, appealed to stop his execution after he was told he could not have a Muslim spiritual adviser in the chamber with him. The high court rejected his appeal, citing the late timing of his filing, and he was executed in February.In Kavanaugh's March opinion in the Texas case, he suggested the timing of Murphy's appeal had been acceptable."As this Court has repeatedly held, governmental discrimination against religion in particular, discrimination against religious persons, religious organizations, and religious speech violates the Constitution," Kavanaugh wrote in the Texas case. Illinois Gov. Pritzker Makes April Innovation and Technology Month Washington, D.C., Forges New Ride-Share Partnership Related to Microtransit National Civic Tech Leaders Urge Support for Digital Service Act National Digital Inclusion Alliance Publishes Startup Manual Philadelphia has released a new data set that makes available almost a quarter-million lines of payment information from nearly 60 city departments, commissions, boards and government offices, the city announced this week This release of city payments data which Philadelphias former chief data officer described as the most complex data set we ever encountered in a tweet covers Philadelphias fiscal year 2017 and includes totals 238,894 lines representing $4.2 billion in payments. This heavy lift of a data release was made possible by a partnership between multiple departments: the Finance Department, the Law Departments Right to Know (RTK) Division and the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) open data team. The work, officials noted in the announcement, took place over the course of the past year and involved nearly every department within the government, all of which were asked to review data and ultimately better understand the types of payments that they make.This sort of comprehensive spending data is, of course, a big deal for civic technologists, especially when presented in a framework that enables ease of exploration. Through the citys website, users can look at and interact with transaction-level data via a visualization . If they prefer, they can also use an aggregate data visualization created by the city. Or, they can simply download the payment data set When dealing with data of this sensitive nature, privacy is, of course, a concern. To that end, the city notes that confidential data has been removed; it cannot be compared with other reports; and, the data does not include salary information the city provides to fund the First Judicial District.Prepping this type of complex data for release is hard work. The project team worked closely with the Law Department to both understand what data was sensitive and how to flag it for any future releases. These special data sets included: payments for social services, payments that could harm public safety efforts if made public, and any other payments required to be confidential by law.The project had to walk the often tricky line between maximizing information made public and protecting any and all privacy interests. The city also notes that while this project required a lot of time and effort on the part of the local government, its an investment of sorts that will ultimately lead to faster reviews and release of data moving forward.Newly elected Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has declared that April is Innovation and Technology Month, the state announced this week The move is designed to recognize the increasing importance of the tech industry for the states growth and delivery of services, officials wrote in the announcement. Pritzker noted that 1 out of every 10 computer science degrees in the United States comes from a college or a university located in Illinois. The governor also voiced an ongoing commitment to establishing his state as a competitive startup and tech ecosystem capable of attracting tech talent and entrepreneurs.This declaration comes after Pritzker named veteran technologist Ron Guerrier as the states new CIO and acting secretary for the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). The state did not release any other details about Innovation and Technology Month, however, the announcement did say that more information as well as some events will be scheduled during April, highlighting a variety of Illinois innovation and technology topics.The Washington, D.C., Department of Public Works announced a new partnership this week with Via Transportation that will support ride-sharing and invest in microtransit.The partnership involves using a system that will allow government employees to book rides for city business through Via. The costs of those rides will then be billed electronically directly to the employees agency. Via Transportation reports that more than 10 government departments have enrolled in this new program, with more to come still this week.Via has explained to District employees how the program works with a frequently asked questions page . To participate, staffers must download the Via app to their phones, create a profile using their government email address, get a letter of interest from their agency head to ensure their department has joined the program and be traveling somewhere within city limits. The program, it notes, is to only be used for official city business.Benefits of using the program include point-to-point transportation, great accessibility, and better efficiency stemming from not having to get to a car or find parking. Via Transportation uses an algorithm that also matches multiple passengers headed in the same direction, which makes the rides more affordable and has the added benefit of reducing both traffic congestion and carbon emissions on the city's streets. Via has created a video tutorial that includes more information about the system.Last month, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-CA, introduced legislation that contained a Digital Service Act that would bolster government technology efforts across the country, and now some of the nations foremost civic tech leaders are urging voters to support it by asking elected officials to co-sponsor the bill.At the forefront of the calls for support is Code for America (CfA), a national nonprofit and nonpartisan group that is already engaged in the work that the Digital Service Act would bolster finding ways to use technology to help the government better serve its constituents. CfA has even set up an easy-to-use page with benchmarks that individuals can use to support the act by asking their senators to co-sponsor it.Today, the vast majority of government technology is overpriced and under-delivers, states CfA on its web page. Too often, government programs spend millions of taxpayer dollars but dont actually help constituents because the systems they rely on are built to comply with hundreds of obscure regulations, but not to actually work for the people who are supposed to use them. And these failures have huge consequences: veterans who die waiting for their benefits, families who cant feed their children despite the availability of food assistance, and people stuck in the criminal justice system because of administrative failures instead of major crimes. This Digital Service Act changes that by bolstering the US Digital Service and empowering states and local governments to establish similar teams. It challenges the status quo in service delivery, saves taxpayer dollars, and puts the power of user-centered design to work on behalf of the American people.Other individuals and groups in the civic tech space have been sharing a link to the page online this week, ranging from a North Carolina civic tech event series called NC Open Pass to the Minneapolis-based convening body Software for Good As currently proposed, the Digital Service Act would be housed under the United States Digital Service (USDS), and its key points include giving state and local governments a pool of $15 million in annual grant funding, allocating at least half of its money to attract top tech talent, establishing federal grants to cover 80 percent of the programs overall budget, and authorizing $50 million a year to help the USDS advance and continue its work.It should be noted that while Sen. Harris is campaigning to be the next Democratic nominee for president, this sort of govtech-related legislation frequently garners bipartisan support. Indeed, theres something about using tech to enable the government to do its work better and for less money that tends to appeal to the vast majority of the tax-paying population.This week, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) hosted its annual summit in Charlotte, N.C., and while it was going on, the group also published an online version of its Digital Inclusion Start-Up Manual , which is a guide for anyone looking to increase access and use of technology in disadvantaged communities through digital literacy training, affordable home broadband, affordable devices and tech support.This new manual was authored by NDIA staff members Angela Siefer , Bill Callahan and Tianca Crocker, with help from local digital inclusion practitioners and advocates who participated in the manuals working group. These participants helped by both contributing several key sections of the manuals narrative as well as by authoring practitioner advice columns from their own experiences.The new manual has eight chapters, which aim to accomplish a wide range of objectives, from defining basic terms and concepts, to giving advice on related topics, to imparting info about existing successful community approaches to the work, which includes digital literacy training and more. The creation of the manual was supported by a grant from Google Fiber. (TNS) Grayson County is moving forward with its plan to purchase new voting machines. The Grayson County Commissioners Court gave Elections Administrator Deana Patterson permission to submit her pick for the new voting machines to the Secretary of State's Office for approval. Patterson said the machines she is considering are already approved for several larger counties in the state so she is confident they will be approved for Grayson County."Over the past six months, the elections administrations department has done extensive research on voting systems currently available in Texas," Patterson said. "We have reached out to other counties that have purchased and used these systems and we have worked with the IT department and purchasing."The county elections administrator added her staff recently invited some folks in to participate in demonstrations of two systems. One of them is made by the company behind the county's current voting machines, Election Systems and Software, and the other is made by Hart. The choice between the two, Patterson said, was based upon concerns such as maintaining voter confidence in elections, ease of use for the voters and staff, security features of the system, storage of the equipment, training and support provided by the vendor, results tabulation, cost and the trade in value on the old equipment.The equipment she is recommending, Patterson said, comes from Election Systems and Software."ES&S has supported elections in Grayson County since 2005," she said.Patterson said the new system will include express vote ballot marking devices and will allow voters to make their candidate selections in a manner similar to the machines that have recently been in use in Grayson County. The new machines will then print out a paper ballot that will be reviewed by the voter and then placed by the voter in a scanner that will scan in the vote into that polling places' votes tabulation.This system is called a hybrid because it uses both a paper ballot and an election marking device. Voters will not walk away with anything that shows the manner in which they vote, though Patterson pointed out that was also the case even when people voted with only paper ballots.ES&S, she said, will provide training and support for the county as it moves to the new system.Patterson said by going with the company that made the machines the county currently uses, Grayson County will get some money to trade in its old machines. She received permission, during the fiscal year 2019 budget sessions, to purchase the machines in this budget cycle.Commissioner David Whitlock is the only member of the commissioners court that had been elected when the secretary of state offered counties money to purchase their first round of electronic voting machines. In the meeting Tuesday, he recalled that fact and asked whether the secretary of state was going to pay for the replacements. Patterson said the county won't likely get that kind of money again for the machines but said she would keep her ears open for any grants that might be available.Patterson said she will be back fore the commissioners with further information once the state approves the contract between Grayson County and ES&S. (TNS) Philadelphia plans on Thursday to begin offering residents its new photo identification card called the PHL City ID an option meant to help Philadelphians who, due to citizenship status, poverty, or other circumstances, cant easily get state-issued IDs.The municipal IDs are designed to provide identification that people need to access social services, apply for housing and jobs, and open bank accounts. Philadelphia follows cities such as New York San Francisco ; and Detroit in offering such cards.Philadelphians will be able to use them to sign in to schools and city buildings; access recreation centers, city programs, and city services; and provide ID to law enforcement officials within city limits. Residents cannot use the cards to drive, travel, or enter federal buildings.As in other cities, Philadelphia officials also are trying to persuade businesses, banks, and arts and cultural institutions to accept the cards as proof of identity and to offer discounts through the IDs. Cities add perks to encourage all residents to get the IDs in an effort to remove stigma that might be associated with the cards.Among the businesses offering discounts and benefits in Philadelphia are the Phillies, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, Las Cazuelas restaurant in Northern Liberties, Vista Peru restaurant in Old City, the Kimmel Center, and Lyft. Philadelphias municipal IDs also can double as Free Library cards. The citys Department of Prisons plans to offer the IDs to people it releases.Advocates for people living in poverty or who are homeless have said they would like the state to make its IDs easier and cheaper to get, since those traditional IDs are more widely accepted.The citys IDs are cheaper than state IDs ranging from $5 to $10 vs. $30.50 for the states identification card. Philadelphia residents aged 13 and older can get the cards, as long as they can prove their identities and addresses through combinations of documents, such as birth certificates, letters from social service agencies, school records, and bills.Philadelphia politicians, including Mayor Jim Kenney when he was a Council member, have advocated for a municipal ID for years. Concerns over privacy and how the city would handle personal documents contributed to the delay of the program.Advocates for undocumented immigrants said they worried that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would access the personal information of immigrants to deport them. The city has said it will not keep copies of documents used to apply for municipal IDs and will keep information confidential to the extent it legally can.Residents can get municipal IDs during the day at the Philly 311 office, Room 167 of City Hall, throughout the week by appointment or by walking in on Wednesdays. The city also plans to distribute IDs at pop-up mobile sites, including at Broad Street Ministry and Prevention Point Philadelphia, with some evening and weekend hours.The cards show each residents name, address, date of birth, photo, and unique identification number. Gender is optional. The cards also include issuance and expiration dates, and residents can choose to add emergency contact information or medical conditions. What is the Digital Divide? Broadband Subscriptions by Census Tract How Streetlights Might Help (TNS) Khadija Hafidi doesnt have a computer in her home. She has a cell phone, with a data plan, but no Internet service or Wi-Fi.So most days she takes the bus or walks to the Westside Learning Center or the Onondaga County Librarys downtown branch -- treks more than a mile long. Shes learning English and studying to get a high school diploma. To do that, she needs to be online.Hafidi, an immigrant from Morocco who is in the United States on a visa, is one of tens of thousands of people in Syracuse without a home Internet subscription.Syracuse is the 10th worst city in the nation for digital connectivity. One-quarter of the citys 54,000 households have no Internet. That means people from more than 13,000 homes have to go to a library or a school or a neighbors house if they want to get online.Additionally, nearly half of the citys homes dont have high-speed broadband, the kind of Internet needed to download large pieces of content or conduct business. Several thousand households rely solely on a cellular data plan to get online, meaning people have to chew up expensive data on their phone to access the web. Those connections tend to be slower and less reliable than hard-wired broadband and usually come with data caps.A few hundred homes in Syracuse still use a dial-up modem.The gaping divide between the digital haves and have-nots in Syracuse is one of the most critical and least discussed inequities plaguing a city beset with generational poverty. The digital divide disproportionately affects people in low-income neighborhoods, who often cant afford the high cost of a broadband subscription or dont have reliable access to a cellular data network.Solutions to the problem are complex and costly. Short of creating a municipal broadband program, the city is mostly beholden to monopolistic telecommunication companies like Spectrum, which is the only operator in most of the city. Verizon once promised to expand its broadband network citywide, but backed out because it didnt want to shell out the kind of money that would take.Mayor Ben Walsh is exploring several ways to improve broadband connectivity in the citys digital deserts, mostly stemming from an ambitious plan to purchase nearly 18,000 streetlights from National Grid.Hafidi is like many people who go to extraordinary lengths to get basic Internet. Shes had access at home in the past, but her provider recently shut it off. Her husband crushed his hand at work (he works at an auto garage) and has been temporarily out of work, making it more difficult to pay some bills.Sometimes we pay the bill, but sometimes we need to wait until [my husband] gets paid, she said. Her household -- like many -- has lots of bills. And when money gets tight, the Internet bill ranks far below utilities like heat, electricity and water.For now, Hafidi is fortunate. Shes borrowing a laptop kit from the library -- part of a county-funded program to provide more access. It comes with a mobile hotspot that allows her to get online so she can study at home and practice her English.Theres a huge demand for those laptop kits throughout the county. Officials recently approved $100,000 to buy more of them in an effort to alleviate an ever-growing waiting list of people looking for a way to get online at home.For Hafidi, that home access brings her one step closer to her goals of earning her high school equivalency degree, becoming more comfortable speaking English and opening her own bakery here in Syracuse.Earlier this year, the U.S. Census Bureau released data about home Internet connections. The results outline how broadly the digital divide impacts Syracuse.Just more than 66 percent of households in Syracuse have an Internet subscription (like Spectrum), leaving us far below the national average of 84 percent. That means more than 13,000 households in Syracuse dont have access.Only 58 percent of households have broadband Internet, which provides the kind of upload and download speeds needed to stream video or quickly send and receive information. About 12 percent exclusively use a cellular data plan to get online. Fewer than one percent still use dial-up.Households without broadband are heavily concentrated in the citys poorest neighborhoods, creating digital deserts where people cant afford the high cost of a monthly broadband subscription, and are limited in their options. On the Near Westside, for example, only one in four households has broadband.That dearth of digital access is part of the vicious cycle of poverty in Syracuse. Thousands of people cant afford Internet here and, because of that, are limited in their access to services, education and job opportunities -- all things that could serve as avenues out of generational poverty. Its just one more area where Syracuse has fallen behind the rest of the state and the country.To those with regular Internet access, the problem may seem trivial: So you cant stream Netflix or leave mean comments on Facebook? Big deal.But the privilege of online accessibility is one of the more serious socioeconomic inequities of the present and the future, especially as the world embraces a digital economy.Convenient online access allows people to connect with family and friends, pay bills, read the news, search for recipes, get directions, schedule appointments, order an Uber and on and on. Its part of the fabric of most peoples lives. Its a tool for education and advancement. Its a forum for conversation and romance. Its a place to buy and sell goods. It saves users time and money.The average American spent about 23 hours a week online in 2017 (including 18 hours online at home), according to a study from the Center for the Digital Future, which tracks online usage every year. That number has nearly tripled since 2000.Mayor Ben Walshs administration is exploring ways to improve the citys access. Hes highlighted the digital divide as a critical inequality -- one he wants to fix.A report from Walshs administration that compares Syracuses economic recovery to similar cities across the state (Buffalo, Albany and Rochester) includes digital access as one of five areas where Syracuse lags behind the rest of the state.Syracuse doesnt just trail behind its New York neighbors -- its among the worst cities in America.The National Digital Inclusion Alliance, a non-for-profit that tracks connectivity and access in American cities using Census data, ranked Syracuse the 10th worst city in the nation for connectivity in 2017. Syracuse has skyrocketed up that organizations worst connected cities list in recent years and is now near the top, along with places like Laredo, Texas and Detroit, Michigan.According to the NDIA analysis, Syracuses rate of connectivity isnt worsening, but almost everywhere else in America is improving. Syracuse, it seems, is stuck in a digital rut while other cities charge ahead.1. Laredo, Texas 70,522; 22,767; 32.3%2. Brownsville, Texas 52,138; 16,105; 30.9%3. Hialeah, Fla. 77,399; 23,208; 30.0%4. Detroit, Mich. 264,360; 71,372; 27.0%5. Cleveland, Ohio 171,717; 45,652; 26.6%6. Memphis, Tenn. 246,518; 61,608; 25.0%7. Miami, Fla. 170,005; 42,208; 24.8%8. Philadelphia, Pa. 606,142; 147,627; 24.4%9. Newark, N.J. 98,678; 24,024; 24.3%10. Syracuse, N.Y. 54,062; 13,031; 24.1%Walshs team sees a path forward through a first-of-its-kind program where the city will purchase more than 17,000 street lights from National Grid and replace them with LEDs. Owning those lights will give city hall access to a connected infrastructure grid that stretches into every corner of the city.Officials plan to use that network to install technology that will improve access to Wi-Fi, 4G and emerging 5G cellular networks in the citys digital deserts. That could begin as early as this summer.In addition to preparing the new grid of light fixtures for 5G hubs to improve mobile Internet access, officials are exploring laying new fiber-optic lines in existing conduits that run under the streets, according to Chief Data Officer Sam Edelstein. Those fiber lines will expand access to services like municipal Wi-Fi and could attract more Internet service providers to the city.Part of the problem here is a lack of options when it comes to buying Internet. In most of the city, Spectrum is the only broadband provider thats laid fiber. Despite programs aimed at making the Internet affordable for low-income households, the prices can still be out of reach.In Syracuse, Spectrums high-speed plan with a 100 Mbps connection costs $65.99 per month. A spokesman said prices here are the same as any city in which Spectrum operates nationwide. Spectrums high-speed Internet is also available virtually anywhere in the city.The company has also made efforts to bridge the digital divide here for low-income families and seniors. Spectrums Internet Assist program offers a 30 Mbps package for $14.95 per month to any family with children eligible for the National School Lunch Program and seniors receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits.A spokesman said the company does not release data on how many households participate in that program.Verizon had promised to expand its FiOS fiber-optic network into the city years ago, but stopped short near the city limits, citing the high cost of laying a network. FiOS Internet, then, is available only to some neighborhoods on the citys east side and in a few suburbs.A Verizon spokesman declined comment for this story.If you want to get online in the city, for the most part, Spectrum is the only game in town. Edelstein and city hall want to change that.Thinking about more competition is certainly a consideration," Edelstein said. The infrastructure is the expensive part -- digging into the road, laying fiber, its not nothing. Part of what were looking for in this whole build-out is expanding the fiber network through the city...If that fiber is there, maybe theres an opportunity for others to use it.The idea is to build a public fiber network that any Internet provider -- large or small -- can use. The city will own the fiber and let companies use it to deliver Internet. Its part of a growing school of thought that the Internet should be treated like public infrastructure, not a private utility. (TNS) California already busts drivers for holding their phones behind the wheel but it got a call Wednesday to become the first state to ban even hands-free use of electronic devices by motorists.At the kickoff event Wednesday at Sacramento State for Distracted Driving Awareness Month and California Teen Safe Driving Week, Nicholas Worrell of the National Transportation Safety Board urged California to pass such landmark legislation.He called distracted driving a battle of self-defense for young people.The event was hosted by the California Highway Patrol, the NTSB, and Impact Teen Drivers, a Sacramento-based nonprofit. It was followed by roundtable discussions covering teen safe driving as well as media ride-alongs with CHP officers to observe distracted drivers.Hands-free is not risk-free, Worrell, who is the chief of the Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications at the NTSB, said. While no state has enacted the NTSBs recommendation of a ban for all hand-held and hands-free portable electronic devices, If California will lead, the NTSB stands ready to support them, Worrell said.The NTSB first made this recommendation in 2011, two years after texting on a hand-held device while driving became illegal in California. The most recent California cellphone law, enacted in 2017, prohibits drivers from holding cellphones at all, even at traffic stops. A bill proposed by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, in February would add a point to a drivers license for being caught on a cellphone while driving. If passed, it would go into effect in 2021.The California Office of Traffic Safety found in an observational study that 4.5 percent of drivers in 2018 used their phones illegally, up from 3.6 percent in 2017 but below 2016s 7.6 percent. Last year, the Sacramento Police Department issued more than 2,500 citations to people operating cellphones while driving.But the problem wont be solved overnight, officials said.With cellphones, its going to be generational to teach, said CHP Officer Michael Bradley. Just like seat belts when seat belts first came in the early 80s in California. people were like, Youre violating my right. But as of 2016, about 97 percent of Californians complied with seat belt laws.As generations learn and adapt to the law, then [reducing distracted driving] will become easier, Bradley said.New technology inside cars may actually be contributing to an increase in distracted driving, according to Bradley. Because newer vehicles often feature touchscreens instead of knobs and buttons with specific functions, drivers have to take their eyes off the road more often to do things like change the radio station or the temperature.I think youre actually more distracted than when you had hard buttons when you could kind of feel and look at the road. Now you have to look at the screen to find which screen youre on, Bradley said. You see a lot of people looking down towards their dash. Thats what Im seeing more than anything else.Bradley has been an officer with CHP for 24 years, and he said he most commonly notices distracted drivers during the morning commute, when stop-and-go traffic sometimes means people are eating or doing makeup behind the wheel. Distracted driving is a classification that includes not only technology use, but anything that can take a drivers eyes off the road.Distracted Driving Awareness Month and California Teen Safe Driving Week aim to change driver behavior through increased education.Throughout April, the Sacramento Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking specifically for distracted drivers, according to a press release. The authorities have gotten involved in the debate over whether the original films of Netflix and other streaming services should be eligible for Academy Award nominations. The head of the antitrust division of the DOJ recently sent a letter to the company in charge of the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences. In it he states that if the organization bans streaming services films from future award shows, it may be in violation of antitrust laws.Netflix and similar platforms recently began playing their potentially Oscar-worthy original movies in Los Angeles theaters just long enough to meet the requirements to be eligible for an Oscar nomination. Netflixs original filmpicked up three awards this year after a limited December run in theaters in order to qualify. Some, including renowned director Steven Spielberg, have criticized this practice and said that streaming services are television platforms, not cinema, and their movies should therefore only be eligible for Emmy awards. At the site of the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant in Germany, the construction of the battery factory at the Bruhl sub-plant has begun with the symbolic foundation-laying ceremony. By the end of the decade, Mercedes-Benz Cars will produce high-efficiency traction batteries for future Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles of the EQ product and technology brand on 12,000 m2 in a newly erected and carbon-neutral battery factory at Bruhl. The new battery factory is an important component in the global battery production network within the production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars comprising nine battery factories at seven locations on three continents. Mercedes-Benz Cars is investing more than one billion euros in a global battery production network within the worldwide Mercedes-Benz Cars production network. Local battery production will be a major success factor in the electric initiative of Mercedes-Benz Cars, and the crucial component when it comes to meeting the worldwide demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently, the company said. The global battery production network ensures the competitiveness of Mercedes-Benz Cars and puts the particular locations on a competitive footing. Daimler purchases the battery cells on the world market. The blocks of cells are assembled into an installation-ready overall battery system in the battery factoriesincluding housing, control unit as well as functional testing. Our powertrain production network is in the midst of the transformation. With the battery production at the Unterturkheim plant, we are further advancing the transition into a high-tech location for components of electric mobility. At the same time, we continue to produce conventional engines, axles, transmissions and components in large numbers. This flexibility of the team makes us strong. Frank Dei, Head of Powertrain Production Mercedes-Benz Cars and Site Manager of the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant As part of the negotiations on the target visions of recent years, a Project Centre eATS has been in existence at the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant since autumn 2018 in order to build up know-how for the next generation of an electronic powertrain (eATS). There is also an E-Technical Centre, where prototypes for the electric powertrain are built, amongst other things. In addition, since the beginning of 2019, the Unterturkheim plant has been responsible for the battery pilot factory. It forms the bridge between development and series production. This is where the energy storage units are tested and optimised for a production-oriented product design in order to ensure an efficient large-scale production in the worldwide battery factories. In addition to building the batteries, the pilot factory qualifies employees for the future series production at the Bruhl and Hedelfingen sub-plants. The Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant thus bundles important skills as a pilot factory, especially for the battery production. Furthermore, the company announced in 2018 that the capacity would be doubled again beyond the battery production already agreed with the works council the previous year. In addition, it was agreed that a battery factory will also be added at the Hedelfingen sub-plant of the Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant. The Mercedes-Benz Unterturkheim plant looks back on more than 115 years of tradition and is the largest location in the global powertrain production network and home to Daimler Group headquarters. With more than 19,000 employees, the plant produces engines, axles, transmissions and components. The tradition-rich plant is a hi-tech location and a center of competence for high-efficiency engines, hybrid powertrains and the production of fuel-cell systems. Research and Development is also located here with a test track for vehicle testing. The plant comprises six sub-plants in all. STAMFORD Nestle Waters North America is maintaining that its Poland Spring bottled water is authentic, after a federal judge last week largely rejected its bid to throw out an amended class-action lawsuit alleging that the company has misrepresented the products source. After dismissing the original complaint last May, Connecticut District Court Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer has allowed the revised version, with reframed claims, to proceed. The lawsuit alleges that not one drop of Poland Springs advertised 100 percent natural spring water comes from such springs in mountains and forests in Maine, but instead originated from wells drilled a few feet from the surface in saturated plains and valleys. The litigation has also asserted that at least one of the wells at each of Poland Springs six largest groundwater sites is located near polluted sites. But it said the proximity did not frequently lead to contaminated water because Nestle Waters disinfects and sometimes purifies the water. I decline to rule at this time on Nestles safe harbor defense against the statutory claims because the record is not yet sufficient to determine the facts necessary to resolve this claim, Meyer wrote, in his decision. Lastly, I decline on similar grounds to dismiss the common law fraud and contract claims. In their defense, Nestle Waters officials have cited a company-commissioned investigation last year by law firm DLA Piper that found that Poland Spring is properly labeled as spring water and meets federal standards. Poland Spring brand spring water is 100 percent natural spring water, the company said in a statement this week. Consumers can be confident in the accuracy of the labels on every bottle of Poland Spring and that Poland Spring brand natural spring water is just what it says it is 100 percent natural spring water. Water that is derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth may be spring water, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. Spring water shall be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. The FDA has not issued any warning letters to Nestle Waters, agency officials told Hearst Connecticut Media last year. Stamford-based Nestle Waters has also referenced a 2017 letter from the Maine Drinking Water Program that said all eight springs in the state that supply Poland Spring constitute spring water sources. Messages left Friday for the FDA and Maine Drinking Water Program were not immediately returned. The lead plaintiffs in the case live in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Meyers ruling allowed the plaintiffs to seek class-action relief for consumers under laws of all of those states, except Vermont. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott In this article, we reconnect with the incredible Lisa Morales-Hellebo who provided us with a profile of a disrupter who is constantly pushing the limits of the status quo by learning the beauty of expecting more from your own life and acting accordingly. Related: 3 Ways to Change the World With Your Wonder Woman Mindset Its been a year since Disrupters introduced you to readers of the book. We have seen each other since then, including an event at enterprise software giant, SAP, where I interviewed you about laying groundwork to disrupt the much antiquated and inefficient fashion supply chain. What have you been up to since? Wow. So much has happened. When we last spoke I was in the process of getting REFASHIOND fleshed out, but at the time I was largely working on it alone. I am happy to report that I now have a full-time collaborator, Brian Laung Aoaeh, CFA. Brian founded KEC Ventures -- an early-stage venture fund based in New York City. Raising a fund is incredibly difficult. As a VC, you are investing someone elses money into the unknown. Brian helped KEC grow to become a firm with $98M of assets under management and 51 investments across two funds. At the same time, weve built a supply chain community in New York City, that is now on the verge of sprouting affiliated chapters in other cities around the world. So, youve been a little busy. And you have been practicing what every Disrupter knows: No one gets to the finish line alone. Brian is a fantastic complement to your personality and your skills. Tell us more about the new developments with REFASHIOND. As you know, I have been studying and researching the fashion supply chain since 2014 when I founded and built The New York Fashion Tech Lab. REFASHIOND invests in early-stage startups creating innovations that make global supply chains more efficient. Its a largely underserved segment of the startup ecosystem. Brian and I have been studying and learning about supply chains together since 2016. Related: How to Disrupt the Way You Talk to the Person in the Mirror You werent building The New York Supply Chain Meetup when our readers first encountered you. Tell us more about that. Does that tie in with REFASHIOND? Youre gonna chuckle at this. The New York Supply Chain Meetup was originally Brians idea. He called me one night in August 2017 and said he had impulsively started the community on Meetup.com the previous morning because he could not find a community in NYC, or anywhere else, for that matter, that brings together supply chain professionals and technologists. He asked me if I would become his co-founder. I didn't even have to think about it. The mission of The New York Supply Chain Meetup is to nurture and grow the worlds foremost open, global, and multidisciplinary community of people devoted to building the supply chain networks of the future. We now have well over 1250 members thats the largest supply chain meetup in the world! Learning what worked, we are developing sister-communities in Singapore, Vancouver, Bangalore and Athens. We call the global community that is developing around this mission The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation. Together with GS1 US we celebrated the NYC launch anniversary on November 15 with an invitation-only workshop and discussion forums. The Bangalore Supply Chain Meetup will hold its public launch on November 24. We are incredibly excited about that. This has been a bootstrapped effort, so we feel very proud of how far our community has come with the hard work of our team of volunteer organizers and some corporate support from SAP.iO, Work-bench and UPS. You are a Disrupter, so I have to ask: How does what you are doing disrupt the supply chain status quo? Because supply chain processes and enabling technology are mission-critical, industry professionals become increasingly uncomfortable when disruption and supply chain are used in reference to one another. The status quo is constructed with separate elements being conjoined in global supply chains in a way that does not place people at the center - a very siloed, top-down approach. Our thesis for REFASHIOND and the New York Supply Chain Meetup is that the future of supply chains are people-centric and need more connected, collaborative, cooperative, and resilient in ways that make it easier for people to produce and consume products and information. This is a bottom-up approach to thinking about supply chain technology and innovation. Now thats disruptive! Why did you and Brian start with the fashion industry? We started with fashion because retail is a $2.4 trillion global industry that is one of the last to adopt digital technologies. Second, venture capitalists generally do not understand the fashion retail supply chain. As a result, this is an opportunity that is severely underfunded. Prevailing economic, social, and technology trends are forcing the industry to adopt new innovations at an accelerating pace. REFASHIOND will invest in that change. Finally, the fashion industry is second to oil and gas as the largest polluting industry in the world. Market trends now offer the opportunity for sustainability to drive overall industry profitability. We believe one way to accelerate the process is through innovation that is driven by an ecosystem of industry participants and technology innovators. Whats next? What will you be doing over the next 12-18 months? We have our work cut out for us. Raising a fund, even if you have as much demonstrated success as Brian does, is extremely difficult. Were formalizing our global network of enterprises, academics, investors, emerging companies and service providers under the REFASHIOND Ecosystem Coalition as the funds network of industry advisors and mentors, partners. Lastly, were working with The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation meetups organizers in other cities to help them launch soon. In addition to Bangalore, we expect Athens to launch before the end of 2018. We may have a third chapter that launches before the end of this year as well, but those plans are not as advanced. To summarize, well be busy, very busy. Related: You Don't Have to Be the Loudest Voice in the Room to Make an Impact Disrupters: Success Strategies From Women Who Break The Mold has been a best seller for Entrepreneur Press since the day it launch in January 2018. In 2019, I will catch up with many of the disrupters from the book to find out whats happened since we last caught up and how they are continuing to redefine what success looks like and how it can be achieved. Rather than telling women that they need to lean-in more in order to achieve someone elses definition of success, the women profiled in Disrupters: Success Strategies From Women Who Break The Mold help us see why women do not need to be fixed and why men do not need to be blamed and shamed in order to achieve gender equity in the workplace. Rather, true success for both genders requires a deep understanding of the embedded biases inherent in a system designed for one population to have all the power and all the glory. So much so that in order for someone to succeed, someone must fail. Disrupters know this is a flawed and dangerous status quo, one that stunts innovation and leaves trillions of dollars on the table every year. [In my next article, we will catch up with HR technology executive Brenda Reid.] Related: Catching Up with Supply Chain Expert and Disrupter Lisa Morales-Hellebo Hit The Office In Style With These Tech-Friendly Backpacks & Carry Your World Along With You The Executive Selection: Willow Stream Spa At Fairmont The Palm Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved According to a recent Washington Post article, one company accounted for roughly half of all online retail sales as of 2018. Say it with me: Amazon. Unfortunately for smaller merchants, Amazons stranglehold on ecommerce is only getting tighter, thanks in large part to a simple yet remarkably effective search strategy. Of course, Amazon has the budget to dominate paid search, display and shopping ads on Google. It casts an enormous net covering its vast keyword universe of product terms. The biggest problem for competitors, however, is that the ecommerce giant is dominating organic search as well. Amazons SEO is so good that you can basically count on the company being listed at or near the top of the search results for any product listed on its platform. Related: How Google Stacks the Deck Against Startups and Small Businesses So, what is an entrepreneur to do? Chasing a page 1 ranking. There are hundreds of factors that go into a webpages search ranking, and you cant control them all. Historically, Googles algorithm has been powered by PageRank, which ultimately determined how important a webpage was. The algorithm prioritized pages based on the quantity and quality of links that were pointing to the webpages, which reflected the way scientists measured the importance of scientific papers. Links still play a key role in how pages are ranked today, meaning a solid backlink strategy is critical for any company seeking visibility online. As the leader of a company with a long history in the SEO industry, Ive seen time after time that quality trumps quantity when it comes to securing links. Moreover, in my experience, the companies that achieve the most SEO success are the ones that incorporate backlinking into their larger business strategy. For example, if you look at the list of the top 500 domains, ranked by the number of linking root domains, youll find its heavily populated with news sites. Thats because reporting on the news tends to require linking to sources, and as news spreads, it drives more links. All of the largest social media sites are on the list, too, as users on those sites share content with one another via links. Youll also notice that sites like Bit.ly, which base their entire business models on link-sharing platforms, garner a huge amount of links. Many of these sites use nofollow tags for most links, usually because they dont want to vouch for the quality of the linked content or to prevent paid links from influencing search results. These tags tell Google not to follow the links, or to pass any clout, rank or keyword relevance to the destination URL. However, even nofollow links can help improve a sites rankings. Related: How Real Marketers Create Backlinks That Matter The bottom line is that entrepreneurs seeking to improve their companys online visibility need to deploy a creative backlink strategy. Here are three approaches for doing just that: 1. Create useful content. Creating content that other sites want to reference is arguably the most effective approach to securing quality links and improving your rankings. Useful content can take on a number of different forms. For example, one creative way is to hold a scholarship contest to secure .edu links, which typically carry more weight and clout than traditional links due to the authoritative nature of sites with the .edu domain name. You could also create valuable onsite content such as blog posts or in-depth guides that show your expertise in a particular topic. Likewise, you can develop proprietary assets in the form of research or survey results and promote them to blogs, news sites and industry publications, which will want to link to them to bolster their own articles. A recent study on the relationship between human circadian rhythms and the visibility of social media posts was recently picked up by Harvard Business Review, for example, and could serve as a useful citation for others who write about such topics in the future. If you provide similarly valuable findings, and the site includes a link to your research, that can boost your rankings. 2. Reach out to resource pages. Resource pages exist for the sole purpose of linking to outside resources, which makes them perfect link-building targets. Its a popular strategy because as you build out some of the content mentioned in the first point, you can use it to catch publishers eyes and get the link to your resources included on their pages. Take Scholastics teaching resource page, for example. Scholastic is a widely respected hub for all things learning, so it makes sense that teachers would turn to the organization for advice and trust its recommendations. This resource page naturally includes a handful of links to Scholastics own pages, but it also links out to more than a dozen other websites that all get third-party validation that their sites are valuable -- in addition to a well-placed link. Find resource pages in your industry to which you can submit your valuable content, and you can reap the same reward. Related: Backlink Strategies That Will Force Your Competitors To Link To You 3. Fix broken links. This tactic requires some detective work, but its a great way to build relationships with other content publishers. There are several tools and steps required to execute this strategy -- Ahrefs, for example, has gone through the process with successful results -- but there is a never-ending list of broken links on the web. No organization wants to have a broken link on its site, so if you can find these links and suggest a replacement (i.e., your site), that is fruitful for both parties. To implement the tactic, youll want to find websites and pages relevant to your industry and the content youve produced. Next, search those sites for any links that are outdated or turn up 404 errors. When you find one, choose a piece of your own content -- or, if you can turn out a high-quality piece quickly, create one -- that would be a suitable substitute for the broken link. Finally, email the webmaster to point out the broken link and suggest your content as a replacement. Amazon is an ecommerce behemoth -- a fact that is unlikely to change anytime soon. But that doesnt mean that as an entrepreneur, you and your business cant compete. With a strong, proactive backlink strategy, you can improve your websites ranking and do business alongside industry giants. Related: Your Website Doesn't Need Facebook Ads or SEO on Day 1 How Entrepreneurs Can Beat Amazon at Organic Search 7 Reasons Why SEO Matters for Every Startup Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved 3 1 of 3 Robert Marchant / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google map Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GREENWICH Bad luck came in bucket-loads on Fairfield Road, as a water-main break caused a daylong road-closure and traffic delays in the area. First a car hit a utility pole at about 7:45 p.m. Thursday, knocking it down, according to Greenwich police. EAST HARTFORD In an extraordinary donation aimed at training Connecticuts next generation of workers, the founder of one of the worlds largest hedge funds on Friday announced a five-year $100 million commitment that would be matched by the state and other philanthropists. Ray Dalio, founder of Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, joined his wife Barbara, who leads the couples foundation, in a rare public appearance, along with Gov. Ned Lamont and his wife Annie, in making the announcement. The funds which will be matched by $100 million from the state and $100 million from other philanthropists and business leaders will be used to benefit students in under-resourced communities with a specific focus on communities where there is both a high poverty rate and a high concentration of young people who are showing signs of disengagement or disconnection from high school. It is the largest known philanthropic donation to benefit the state in Connecticuts history. I love public education and Im always humbled and inspired by everything you do, said Barbara Dalio, after receiving a standing ovation from a packed gymnasium of students and leaders from throughout the state for her contributions to public education. Were really excited, and I know that there are not many answers, but I know that if we come together we will find them, she said. We are looking forward to start brainstorming all the possibilities and hope that there is for students. Lamont said the partnership will form an independent not-for-profit that will bring together representation from Dalio Philanthropies, state government and public schools, to shape programming and administer resources to benefit students who are at risk of not finishing high school. The goal, he said, is to get those students through high school and into jobs. This is $300 million invested in you. Invested in our urban high schools, invested in rural high schools, making sure that each and every kid gets there best shot, Lamont said, addressing the crowd at East Hartford High School. More News Connecticut teachers win $3.6 million in summer learning grants Previously, Dalio Philanthropies contributed $65 million to public education programs in Connecticut since 2008. Of that, more than $50 million was donated in the past four years alone. That does not include separate grants made to higher education. Ray Dalio, who founded the worlds biggest hedge fund and is the states wealthiest resident, credited his wife for her work in public education over the past decade and told his own story of growing up in a middle class family on Long Island. Basically all you really need is a good public school education, people who care about you, and then a very good wife, Dalio said. When you think about the best investment you can make, it has to be in the childrens education and the teachers, he added. Its fundamental. Education cant be theoretical, its got to deliver an outcome, and if you dont have an outcome in sight when youre going through high school, youre not going to have the pull to get through it and thats what were on a mission to do. It was so great that when we would discuss this with the governor, like Lets do this thing. And we can do this thing. Bridgewater, which manages $160 billion in assets, received $22 million in grants and loans from the state under former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in 2016 to expand its headquarters. Lamonts chief of staff, Ryan Drajewicz, worked at Bridgewater prior to joining the Lamont administration. Lamont said the first $20 million installment of state governments $100 million match to the Dalio foundation contribution will come from the states fiscal reserves, which could exceed $2.2 billion by the end of the year. The partnership has generated bipartisan support from legislators. We appreciate Governor Lamonts out of the box creative thinking in moving the state forward in pursuit of alternative methods of funding, such as a public-private partnership, the legislatures Republican leaders, Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, said in a joint statement. We share the goal of creating more opportunity for Connecticuts youth. This is an idea that is certainly worth exploring, but also that needs to be vetted in great detail. The wellbeing of Connecticut and all who live here is of the utmost importance to all of us and we look forward to many more in-depth conversations to ensure that all people in Connecticut have the best opportunity to succeed. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt OnePlus 3/3T are now getting beta Android 9.0 Pie in China Comments OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Thanks to the state legislatures recently-passes Transportation & Infrastructure bill, the City of Ocean Springs will receive some $900,000 in funding for upgrades to its aging water and sewer system. Although Ocean Springs consistently receives top marks for water quality from the state, old water mains and lines keep the Citys public works department scrambling to make repairs. We have aging, aging infrastructure, particularly water lines, said alderman Rob Blackman. "We have weekly or bi-weekly breaks that we have to repair and the repairs were making are basically just band-aids. Until we replace the entire system -- particularly in the older part of town -- were going to continue to be chasing problems. Blackman estimated the City is facing some $6 million in work needed for the water & sewer system. Both he and Mayor Shea Dobson said the City will likely use the state money as leverage to go after additional grant funding. Thats the tentative plan and something I hope we can do, Dobson said. The bill was just passed, so were working on exploring our options right now. Dobson also noted the Citys consistently high marks for water quality, but noted that without upgrades to the system, those high marks become more difficult to maintain. Thats something we take pride in, but this is an old city and we have a lot of infrastructure that needs to be replaced, as well as how to maintain it," Dobson said. This work will allow us to maintain that high quality of water while looking to the future so as to avoid having a crisis on our hands. Meanwhile, neighboring Gautier will be the recipient of $500,000 in funding, ostensibly for the Citys planned Town Green project -- although Mayor Phil Torjusen said that money could be shifted to infrastructure work elsewhere in town. The state money will be used as needed as the project goes along, Torjusen said. "The City has a comprehensive 12-year plan for water and sewer upgrades, so its possible we could shift the $500,000 over to that. We have a request in for some additional funding and were waiting to see the final result of that, both state and federal funding. The Town Green project is planned for 33 acres of City-owned property just north of the old Singing River Mall property. Torjusen said the project is planned over three phases. Phase I includes construction of festival grounds, an outdoor amphitheater, a water feature -- possibly a lake -- and expanded parking to accommodate events such as Cruisin the Coast. For the first phase, in addition to the state money, we have some Tidelands funds and money from City general obligation bonds, Torjusen said. Obviously, some of the money is being spent to clear the grounds. MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Parents for Public Schools of Moss Point are hosting their third annual Reading on the River 2019 on Saturday, April 6, in Moss Point School Districts Family Education Center from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Parents, along with their children are invited to bring their favorite book, blanket to read along during the event. The goal is to increase parental involvement and communication with their children through discussion of the book as it read. Ariane OPry Trammell is an author/childrens book illustrator from Ponchatoula, Louisiana is the guest presenter. After having illustrated numerous publications for other authors and guiding them through the process of self-publishing, she was encouraged to write a childrens book of her own. Her first, Where the Grass is Always Greener was released in 2013. As the mother of two young sons, Kellon and Gavin, Ariane is often inspired to create. Often featured in her illustrations, her children are depicted as the characters Boudin and T-Boy in her very successful Cajun series. She launched the first book in the series, Run! Boudin Run! in 2016, followed by Cicadas Son and Couillon the Crawfish. Trammell will be available to sign autographed copies with book purchase. Attendees will also receive a free character with the purchase of the book, including the option to purchase items individually. The event is free and open to the public. Key sponsors include The Nettles Foundation, St. Charles Masonic Lodge #130, Moss Point P-16 Council and Moss Point Excel by 5 Coalition. PFPS is a nonprofit 501-c3 community organization formed to bridge the gap between our students, parents, school district. The organizations mission is to promote and strengthen public schools by engaging, educating and mobilizing parents to build strong schools and healthier, vital communities to educate our children. Further information is available by calling 228-623-1422 or emailing info@ppsmosspoint.org. To learn more about PPS Moss Point, visit www.ppsmosspoint.org, or Facebook via Parents for Public Schools of Moss Point. Haiti - UN : Gravity of the situation of the human rights in Haiti On Wednesday, April 3, the United Nations Security Council, considered the report on Haiti, submitted by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. This report was presented by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet among others, at the invitation of the Council, commented on the human rights situation in Haiti. In her speech, Michelle Bachelet, underlined the seriousness of the human rights situation in Haiti, particularly in terms of poverty, criminal activities and weaknesses of the judicial system, pointing out that with nearly 60% of the population living below the poverty line, Haiti remains the poorest country in the Americas. She explained that social grievances, corruption and weak institutions constituted major obstacles to the realization of human rights in Haiti, adding that many basic services such as health care, water electricity and education were out of reach. She recalled that Haiti was facing considerable economic and social difficulties, that the majority of Haitians did not have access to basic services such as health care https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26383-haiti-health-all-about-the-haitian-health-system.html , water and sanitation https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26819-haiti-politic-access-to-drinking-water-and-sanitation-far-from-reality-in-the-country.html , electricity https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23305-haiti-flash-haiti-3rd-worst-country-in-the-world-in-terms-of-access-to-electricity.html and education and that job opportunities were very limited especially for young people. Bachelet mentioned that Haiti's vulnerability to major natural hazards aggravated the humanitarian situation, stating that "each earthquake and hurricane hampered development and intensified the already precarious living conditions of many Haitians" Regarding the security aspect, Bachelet said that in "deprived areas" of the capital, armed gangs took advantage of the limited presence of the state and that armed conflicts between rival gangs caused deaths, violence and destruction and looting of houses. She said that the social-political unrest had been increasing in Haiti since July 2018, and that they had killed at least 60 people, including members of the Haitian National Police, and injured many more people. On the weakness of the Haitian judicial system, Bachelet said that more than 75% of detainees were in custody on average for nearly 3 years, well beyond the limit set by national legislation (Haiti first country in the region out of 24, in number of pre-trial detention https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25697-haiti-justice-haiti-tops-the-list-of-people-imprisoned-without-conviction.html ). Temporary detention which contributes to extreme overcrowding and practices that amount to degrading and inhuman treatment. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26336-haiti-justice-the-government-recognizes-that-the-prison-situation-is-chaotic.html Concluding "Today, as Haiti stands at the crossroads of development and peacekeeping, we must recognize progress. We must also continue to take advantage of it, otherwise we risk losing it. I encourage this Council to provide the people of Haiti with the support they need to strengthen institutions, combat impunity and promote and protect human rights as a foundation for stability and development." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26383-haiti-health-all-about-the-haitian-health-system.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26336-haiti-justice-the-government-recognizes-that-the-prison-situation-is-chaotic.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25697-haiti-justice-haiti-tops-the-list-of-people-imprisoned-without-conviction.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23305-haiti-flash-haiti-3rd-worst-country-in-the-world-in-terms-of-access-to-electricity.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Jovenel Moise consults the President of the two houses On Thursday the two Presidents of the Senate Carl Murat Cantave and the Lower House Gary Bodeau were invited by President Moise for consultation on the Prime Minister's choice. "I have the honor to invite you to a consultation session on the selection of a new Prime Minister in accordance with Article 137 of the 1987 Constitution as amended. This session will be held on Friday, April 5, 2019 at 3 pm in the National Palace," says the invitation. Mexico repatriates 71 illegal Haitians The "Instituto Nacional de Migracion" in Mexico reports that 71 Haitian nationals were repatriated on Thursday (March 4th) by plane to Haiti because of their illegal immigrant status in Mexico. The flight took off from Tapachula (Chiapas) towards Port-au-Prince. Gedeon visits the Ambassador of Chile The PNH General Director Michel-Ange Gedeon paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador of Chile Patricio Utreras Diaz, during which he introduced the sympathies of the police institution and promised that arrangements are made for light is made around this regrettable incident which he suffered in the Boutin area, located between Thomazeau and Croix-des-Bouquets. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27303-haiti-flash-the-procession-of-the-embassy-of-chile-attacked-with-weapon-of-war.html OAS proud to work with ONI The Organization of American States (OAS) is proud to support and work with our partners at the National Office of Identification (ONI) as they begin their training at our office and their new registration campaign. identity (multi-biometric) https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27088-icihaiti-technology-towards-a-multi-biometric-cin-unfalsifiable-in-haiti.html . The OAS strongly believes in the universal right to identity. Cave : Did you know ? Located in the town of Port-a-Piment, about 61 km west of the city of Les Cayes, the Marie-Jeanne cave is the longest, not only of the whole country, but of all the Caribbean. The total length of all its galleries put end to end, total 5.6 km. Cindy Kierscht spoke with the DG of the PNH Cindy Kierscht, Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary for the United States for Haiti, Canada and the Caribbean who is replacing Kenneth Merten, visiting Haiti this week, spoke with Michel-Ange Gedeon, the Director General of the National Police of Haiti. Haiti (PNH) around security problems in Haiti, including the fight against gang violence. She recalled that "security and stability are essential elements in Haiti's path towards self-reliance and economic prosperity." HL/ HaitiLibre By Emily Mayer This weeks Havre Plaindealer edition 100 years ago was packed full of local news. Former Havre Mayor Louis Newman was running for mayor of Great Falls and had secured the Democratic nomination over the incumbent mayor. Louis Shorty Newman, not to be confused with Christopher Shorty Young, was elected the first time to shore up the city of Havres finances. A partially built sewer system had been constructed, but no water system existed to make it operate. Newman found the finances back east, thus ensuring Havre had an operating water and wastewater system for future growth. His second campaign was a Clean Up Havre campaign after comments about Havres appearance and vices visible to visitors, namely James Hills Great Northern Railway officials, were made for Havre to straighten up or the division point would be moved out of Havre. Hill wasnt joking. Newman listened, or at least heard enough to make sure much of the vice wasnt as visible on Main and First streets, and enacting ordinances such as no spitting on the sidewalk, which remained in the Ordinance Code Book until the 1990s, when I served as chair of the Ordinance Committee and worked to have this, and other obsolete ordinances, removed from the City Code book. The Plaindealers editor wrote a very nice editorial about Newmans work in Havre and wished him luck on his campaign to the south. The primary election results were in for the city of Havre elections. Third Ward Candidate Unopposed is Assured of Success Monday the city election will be held to select one alderman for each of the three wards of the city of Havre. There are contests in two of the wards while C. B. Cruzen is the only candidate in the Third ward. If the primary vote is any indication, the greatest interest will be in the second ward where F. O. Kaste was defeated in the primary for the nomination on the independent ticket. In the first ward, R. M. Rathbone, the candidate on the Citizens ticket received 13 votes at the primary to the 6 botes for C. S. Hanson. Opinion seems to be evenly divided as to whether this ratio will be maintained in the election Monday. In the second ward, P. C. Barrett received two more votes than Jestrab, but it is claimed that many of those votes which would have gone to Kaste, the defeated candidate, will go to Jestrab in the election. Because there will be a greater need than ever this year, for a business administration of city affairs the candidacy of Mr. Jestrab is attracting considerable favorable interest. School elections have historically been rather tame, but not 100 years ago in Havre. SCHOOL ELECTION WILL BE LIVELY CONTEST This afternoon occurs the annual election of trustees for School District 16 and considerable of a contest is promised between the factions now in control and what is regarded as the T. J. Troy forces. The terms of C. C. Brundage and A. E. Wilkie expire and opposed to them who are up for re-election, are Dan ONeill and O. L. Whitlock. Dr. Wilkie was appointed only a short time ago to fill the unexpired term of W. S. Hedge who found that the pressure of his own work prohibited him from continuing in office. Mr. Bundage has been in office several years and under the present board the schools of this district have compared most favorably with any others in the state. T. J. Troy was the former superintendent of schools but denies emphatically that his interest in the present campaign has anything to do with a desire to become superintendent again. He admitted that he dew up the petitions presenting the names of ONeill and Whitlock and the signature of E. J. Huston was the first one secured by the says it is not a non-partisan league move in any shape or manner. He appeared resigned to the persistence of rumors that his efforts were inspired by a desire to head the city schools again but he rather convincingly stated his position that he could not afford to give up other interests for the job. A feature of the campaign was a digger which appeared around town reflecting upon the present school board, which was sighed a Committee of which Mr. Troy owned to being a member. This was followed by a somewhat similar reply by the school which appeared in the morning paper and was distributed around town in the form of dodgers The statements by both sides will probably have a negative rather than a positive effect an tend to weaken instead of promoting the interest of their particular candidates, and it is not likely that any of the candidates will approve of the efforts put forth in their behalf. In other news regarding elected officials, newly elected County Attorney Stranahan found himself in a pickle, as he failed to follow state statute regarding filing information documents charging for a crime committed against the state. The lengthy article has been condensed below: CONTEMPT OF COURT STATUTORY PROVISION Attention of Court is Called to Law Which Applies to County Attorney When a defendant has been examined and committed, or admitted to bail, the county attorney must within thirty days after the delivery of the complaint, warrant, and testimony to the proper district court, or after such leave, file in such court an information charging the defendant with the offense for which he is held to answer, or any other offense disclosed by the testimony. In case the county attorney fails to file the information within the time specified he is guilty of contempt, and may be prosecuted for neglect of duty as in other cases. Reciting this statute, Attorney J. P. Donnelly startled the audience in the district court last week by calling the attention of the court to how this particular statute applied to the case just finished. It was the trial of Leon E. Johnson on a charge of grand larceny in taking mortgaged property out of the county without the written consent of the mortgagee The mortgaged property which Mr. Johnson was alleged to have taken out of the county contrary to law, was his automobile, upon which he had given an mortgage for five hundred dollars to the Farmers State bank. It is understood that another information will be filed against Johnson by the county attorney this morning. The county attorney, when asked about the contempt statute, quoted at the beginning of this article, said he had not looked into the matter and did not know. No action was taken in the matter or comment made by the court at the time the contempt statute was brought to his attention. A county attorney not filing the proper paperwork in time according to state law is guilty by state statute of contempt of court. Gee, sound familiar? Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Studying history is necessary to avoid repeating past mistakes.-George Santayana. The Havre Womens Club also held their elections. President was Mrs. G. J. Bonine, vice president was Mrs. W. C. Holt, Secretary was Mrs. F. F. Runkel and treasurer was Mrs. George Hulfish. Various committee chairs were elected, and 16 new members were voted in to this very active and progressive club. Outgoing President Mrs. Berthelotte was thanked for her work, especially due to the fact so many of their projects had been hampered by the Spanish flu epidemic. Monica Lindeen, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, speaks with Hill County Commissioner Mike Wendland, left, while visiting with local democrats Thursday at Triple Dog Brewing Co. in Havre. Lindeen has been touring the state since March, visiting with democrats to discuss and plan for the 2020 election cycle. Democrats met in Havre Thursday to talk about their prospects in the next election. The new executive director for the Montana Democratic Party, Monica Lindeen, visited with community members at Triple Dog Brewing Co. "We've got so many opportunities in 2020," she said in an interview. She took over as executive director of the state party the start of this year, taking the place of Nancy Keenan, who retired at the end of last year. Lindeen, a former state legislator, two-term state auditor and candidate for Congress and Montana secretary of state, said she started traveling around the state to speak to community members March 19, starting in eastern Montana. She said that Wednesday she was in Chouteau County and spent the night in Great Falls, before traveling to Fort Benton and Chinook. She said she was spending Thursday night in Havre then leavig for Chester and Shelby this morning. She is spending time during these trips speaking with people about the 2020 elections, Lindeen said. Next year, a seat in Congress and all five statewide seats in Montana - governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor and state superintendent - will be up for election. "Lots of great opportunities," she said. She added that it is important to get a Democrat in the governor's office, to balance out all the legislation which goes through during session. "Too often when you have a one-party rule, it causes some serious heart ache, because a bad policy may have passed," Lindeen said. The Democratic Party has a good bench of candidates wanting to run for these offices, she said, and a large number of young people are excited about the election cycle. She added that depending on what gets done in the Legislature, next year may be interesting for state legislators. This year, she said, it sounds like Medicaid expansion will be reauthorized, the infrastructure bonding bill will be passed and the education budget will be funded. "There is a lot of pretty good stuff happening right now," she said. "But things can always fall apart at the very end." Lindeen, a graduate of Shepherd High School, said that she first wanted to get involved in politics when she was younger, growing up in a community smaller than Havre. "I was just very active in my community," she said. She said she lost the first two elections in which she ran for the Legislature, but decided to run again after the Legislature passed energy deregulation, and won. She served eight years as a state representative, terming out of that office, then was elected twice as state auditor, overseeing insurance and securities in Montana. She said her tenure was interesting for her. As state auditor she was responsible for implementing and educating insurance commissioners across the state about the Affordable Care Act. She added that at the time a lot of misinformation was floating around about the act. After she termed out of that office, she made an unsuccessful campaign for secretary of state, losing to Republican Corey Stapleton. She said that, after that, she thought she was done running for office, until she began watching what was going on with the country over the past two years. "I feel very strongly about our democratic system in this country," she said. "I feel that it is important that we, as a country believe in that system and treat it with the respect that it deserves." She said people should understand the institutions are in place for a reason, and she is concerned what it means for the future if the country continues to go down the same road it is going down. She was also concerned about making sure the people in statewide offices were doing a good job for the people of Montana. Lindeen said that when Nancy Keenan announced she was retiring from the Democratic executive director position, different folks reached out to her, asking her to take the position. She said she had to think about the offer first but ultimately decided to accept. "It was time to move on and mentor other candidates and help them," she said. She said she wanted to come out to Havre because she likes the town. "Havre has it," she said. As someone who comes from a rural part of the state, Lindeen said, she understands how important it is to go to rural Montana, to talk to people about what they can do as a party to get people the resources they need, helping them elect their local candidates and also educate candidates on what issues are important in rural Montana. She added that agriculture issues are incredibly important this year with the trade issues heavily affecting farmers and ranchers. Havre Police Department A Fourth Street caller reported Thursday at 6:03 a.m. that things were stolen out of his pickup truck. -- Officers made a transport Thursday at 9:14 a.m. for Mal'luch O'Meara of Havre, 25, who had been arrested on a partner of family member assault reported Wednesday at 8:29 p.m. -- Officers provided an assist to Havre Fire Department on Second Street West at 1:15 p.m. Thursday. -- A First Street Northeast caller requested an officer standby at 3:26 p.m. Thursday. -- A Havre area caller asked to speak to an officer Thursday at 5 p.m. -- Thursday at 5:29 p.m., someone stopped at the police station to report property had been stolen. -- Tia Lorraine St. Marks of Havre, 31, was arrested on a state District Court warrant and charges of violation of conditions of release and possession of dangerous drugs, during a vehicle stop on Fifth Avenue at 7:25 p.m. Thursday. -- Jamie Lea Dowling of Havre, 21, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant, during a vehicle stop Thursday at 8 p.m. at First Street and Fifth Avenue. -- Officers performed a building check on the Montana State University-Northern campus at 12:08 a.m. today. -- Someone with the county reported a water break on 6th Street at 1:09 a.m. today, and Public Works was notified. Hill County Sheriff's Office Russell Thomas Schade of Havre, 29, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant at Hill County Detention Center at 4:14 p.m. Thursday. Havre Fire Department Emergency medical personnel responded to five calls Thursday. -- Firefighters responded to two calls Thursday - one at 12:29 p.m. on the 1000 Block of 16th Street West and the other at 9:29 p.m. on the 1500 Block of Second Street. In both calls someone reported a smoke smell, but the responding fire unit found no evidence of smoke or fire. Havre Animal Shelter The Havre shelter this morning held three medium-hair cats, one long-hair 8-month-old kitten and a medium-hair 7-month-old kitten all of unknown gender, two medium-hair male cats, one short-hair female cat and one medium-hair female cat. Another 26 cats were being held in the shelter and at a foster as part of the trap-spay/neuter-release program. -- The Havre shelter also held this morning three female mixed-breed dogs, female shepherd-Labrador retriever dog, a male mixed-breed 18-week-old puppy, a male pit bull terrier dog and a female Australian cattle dog-blue heeler-border collie dog. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation Council President Andrew Werk Jr. told the Hill County Commissioners Thursday at the Hill County Courthouse that everyone has to work hand-in-hand to assure all Milk River water users needs are met and secured for the future. It really is about sharing and trying to look down the road, Werk said. Im thinking about our grandkids, and that means all of us, and their grandkids as water becomes more scarce and more competitive. Several representatives of Fort Belknap Indian Reservation joined with Hill County commissioners to discuss the Fort Belknap Indian Communitys Water Compact and what the reservation is planning for the future of the compact and the Milk River. Werk said that they are working on completing the reservations water settlement in accordance to the laws they are set to follow. Since the Fort Belknap Water Compact passed the Montana Legislature in 2001, the reservation has been working on a Water Rights Settlement Act to introduce in the U.S. Congress. The compact passed the Legislature with overwhelming support, he said, with more than 90% in favor of the compact. The council passed a resolution to move forward with the Water Rights Settlement Act. He added that the previous council members have put a large amount of time and work into the compact and, with the implementation of the settlement, the compact will go into effect on a federal level. The reservation is taking a different approach with the settlement, stressing the urgency of the water going into effect due to its importance in the Milk River and the St. Marys Rehabilitation Project, he said. The reservation filed claims in 2015 with the state water court but the process of going through the water court system could take a long time. Werk said that even after agreements have been made with the water court, issue still might not be resolved. Well end up with a paper water right instead of a wet water right, he said. We dont want that to happen, and we are concerned about everyone that we have to share water with. By having the Water Rights Settlement Act pass, the compact would be put into effect and projects would be able to move forward, he said, adding that he is hoping to have the bill introduced in Congress before the end of the session. Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said that he agrees with Werk, and people have to look at new options to solve these issues. I think that if we get creative and find ways that we can utilize and save the water, we can utilize it downstream later on, he said. It is not taking water rights away, its just insuring water for the water rights that are downstream for the irrigators who are on the Milk River and Fort Belknap. Werk said that the reservations water rights and the water issues they are facing reaches far beyond tribal borders. The Fort Belknap reservation wants to talk to local governments, neighbors and organizations who share with the water and the tributaries about the future of the Milk River, he said. He said the tribal council wanted to speak with Hill County commissioners to initially start the conversation. We are reaching out to talk to people, make them aware of what were doing, to be neighborly and see how we can work together and help and support one another, Werk said. But also we ask for support. Joanne Harmon Curry, an attorney with the firm Fredericks Peebles and Patterson LLP, said that the Water Rights Settlement Act has not been introduced yet, but the reservation is holding discussions with hopes the Montana delegation will introduce the bill this session. We are looking at coordinating, cooperating with the St. Marys project working group, which consists of many water users along the Milk River, she said. Wanting to bring those together in a coordinated way so that the Hi-Line region, where the tribes have a significant need and the secondary state water users have a significant need. We are looking at how we can bring that together to get the delegation support to move forward and to get approval. Werk said that the settlement is going to have regional impact. We really, really have to focus on solutions here for way down the road, he said. St. Marys and the Milk River Woldezion Mesghinna, president and principal engineer of Natural Resources Consulting Engineers Inc., said he was been working with the reservation for the past 19 years with the water compact. The St. Marys Diversion transfers water from the St. Mary River into the Milk River, where the tribes are asking to draw 625 cubic-feet-per-second. He said that the request does not mean the tribe will be drawing the full amount every day, only a maximum number so the reservation can divert water primarily during the non-irrigation season. He said that the reservation wants to divert the water into a 6,000 acre ft. storage. About 20% to 30% of flow will go back into the Milk River as return flow water, he said. Peterson said that a lot of the water the reservation takes out of the stream goes back in the stream on the other end. For example, 100 acre feet of water rights results in 75 acre-feet used. They use the water, but they do put it back in. Some of it goes back into air and rain, which is unaccounted for loss. Some of the water is also spilled on the way down stream. Those are all things that you cant put numbers to, he said. But we have to understand that is part of it. We have a tremendous amount of water that passes by us that nobody gets to use. Mesghinna said that much of the water every year is lost and flows into the Missouri River. If a reservoir was constructed, he added, Indians and non-Indians would be able to take advantage of the reservoir. When the water compact was originally written, the idea was outlined and reviewed by irrigators and was approved, which was part of the reason for the overwhelming support. If the reservation implemented it, it would not impact anybody in the tributaries and is a win-win situation for everyone. He added that St. Marys is in poor condition and needs repairs. I think that everybody Indians and non-Indians should join together and work to make it happen that the St. Marys rehabilitation is done, he said. Werk said that near Three Mile, down from the tribal agency, is where the reservation is planning on developing the storage reservoir. Peterson said that several counties on the Hi-Line struggle with flooding, which makes a large amount of water unusable to irrigators and people who depend on the Milk River for water. He added that he personally calls the loss of water ghost water. Werk said that the storage facility will help with flooding. Joanne Harmon Curry said that when the reclamation law was originally passed in 1902 one of the high priority issues addressed in the law was flooding and safety. The priority of the agency at the time was to work to prevent flooding. Peterson said that in his opinion one more storage facility, to hold back water in the spring, would help reduce the issue. The facility would begin above the Fresno Dam and gradually release water into the Milk River to maintain levels for everything below such as irrigators and counties. Irrigators Peterson said that without the St. Marys Diversion, the Milk River is not a river later in the year, and the Fort Belknap Water Compact plays a large roll in the Milk River, as well as St. Marys. Peterson said that the idea is not going to take money away from St. Marys. St. Marys is the key, its number one, we all know that, he said. We need to get that done and we need to get that done soon because we dont have enough duct tape and JB Weld to fix them pipes, there is just not enough made in this country. Peterson said the irrigators should not be required to pay all the funding. We need to look at those irrigators and say, You know what, thank you, youve done a good job to this point, he said. But we need to find other ways of funding, we cant put it all on the back of an irrigator. Thats just not something that is right or feasible in my mind. So we need to look more to the recreational people. Letter of support for the water compact Werk said what the Fort Belknap Indian Communty would like is a letter of support for the Water Rights Settlement Act signed by both Hill County and Fort Belknap to help get the bill to Congress. Agriculture is a big industry on the Hi-Line and that includes the reservation, he said. Looking down the road, he said, he wants them to work together looking toward the future of water. Peterson said this was the first time the Fort Belknap Indian Community has reached out to the commission about the water compact and he was very impressed. Fort Belknap is taking the first step, but trying to get the compact passed takes time for it to move forward. He said what he would like to see the letter of support start with strong support for funding the St. Marys Diversion Rehabilitation project and end with a statement about the importance of the water compact, as well as asking for funding for the storage facility on the reservation. We gotta be creative and efficient because that is the only way that we are going to be able to have enough water down the road for all of us, Peterson said. We need to work together this is; its a very big beginning, I think its very, very huge. The more we are fractured the less efficient we are. From Customs and Border Protection Havre Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a 28-year-old Serbian man Tuesday on an Amtrak train headed for Chicago. The agents encountered the subject during a routine transportation check and discovered that he had entered the United States as a crewman with the Princess Cruise Line in San Francisco, but failed to return to the vessel. The subject was then arrested and is being held at the Hill County Detention Facility, pending removal from the country. This arrest is an excellent example of the diligence displayed on a daily basis by Havre Sector Border Patrol agents, said Havre Sector Chief Sean L. McGoffin. From MSU News Service BOZEMAN Montana State University Extension is seeking host families for 25 Japanese youth and two adult chaperones from July 22 to Aug. 17. The youth and their chaperones are part of an international exchange program with the Labo International Exchange Foundation and with LEX, or Language Experience, Experiment and Exchange. Families hosting youth can be located anywhere in Montana and should have a child at home who is between the ages of 9 and 18. Families hosting chaperones do not need to have children in the home or may have children of any age. The Japanese youth will know some English but are not fluent. The purpose of the program is for both the family and their guest to enjoy cultural immersion while learning from one another, according to Stephanie Davison, citizenship, sustainable communities and international programs coordinator with MSU Extension and Montana 4-H. The application deadline for host families is May 15. To apply, go to https://states4hexchange.org/apply/host or contact Davison at 406-994-3502 or [email protected] Out our way, there hasnt been a grizzly bear sighted in the Bear Paw Mountains for a few generations or more. Yet it hasnt always been that way. Years ago, when I was manager at the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum in Havre, however, we got in a book written at the turn of the last century about officers from Fort Assiniboine hunting grizzly in the Bear Paws and the surrounding area. Many tourist we had in the museum were surprised to learn that the Glacier Park and Yellowstone area was not their original habitats. If you check out the Charlie Russell museum or go online, you will see at least one painting of cowboys up here in the Missouri Breaks roping a grizzly. Indeed, griz have lately been spotted near Fort Benton and east of Cut Bank in recent years and have tobe rounded up and returned to the parks for they are endangered species. Now,I have seen stuffed grizzlies in museums, been up close in various zoos, and seen a few wandering wild in the national parks. They are huge and can be ferocious. But there are those more powerful than the largest griz and that is man. When my former father-in-law was a boy living near the Glacier Park, he used to wander without fear because in those days, grizzlies backed away from humans. When a bear ran amuck, the Forest Service sent hunters to track and kill marauding bears and the bears knew it. They avoided man for they knew here was a power greater than their own. Now, granted, movies about demons and devils, like the Exorcist and Amityville Horror are frightening but thats show biz and fiction. What about the real deal, if it exists? Do we have any records of real exorcisms and casting out of demons? Indeed we do - and most are not overly spectacular. There were indeed rumors of hauntings at the house in Amityville, but the folks who bought the place say they called in a priest who, in the Name of Jesus and in his strong faith in Christ simply went inside the house and told whatever spooks or haunts might be to git. Never a problem since. The Bible is obviously filled with such stories and again, Jesus says git and they go. No fuss no muss and no contest. You never read of any struggle between Christ and the devil or his minions for there is no question about Who is in charge. Folks who have the false ying-yang view of good and bad in the world have not yet discovered the truth. Yes, there is a balance between good and evil in all of us and we have to decide which way we will go to go with good or to go with evil. In our present day where the end justifies the means mentality in the pop culture and in the government, one might indeed believe there is a struggle whose issue is in doubt. For those who acknowledge no power greater than their own egos, there is indeed a struggle as the devil tempts them as he tempted Christ in the wilderness. And, as God gives us free will, the devil is able to fool many whose own egotism, pride, and self-centeredness make them deaf to the call of Christ. The individual souls of us all may be up for grabs if we are foolish enough to believe the Serpents lies as did Adam and Eve but the world itself and the human race? Not even close. I shared with you the point made by Philip Yancey in Whats So Amazing About Grace in which he reminds us of Stalins empire and his murder of far more people than Hitler managed. When confronted about the evils of his regime he pointed at all the liberal progressives in America and Europe who had swallowed his lies whole and asked, How many divisions does the Pope command? Well, he got his answer and perhaps God allowed him to see it from the other side as his empire collapsed after 70 years and the Church he had persecuted arose from the ashes in Russia and throughout Eastern Europe. Indeed, when the Czech republic was freed, the new president spoke of Christian reformations sweeping through Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Bloc. The speech was censored by the New York Times but even Pravda carried the speech in its entirety in the Soviet Union. On YouTube you can even see the Russian President Putin in Church services. He needs to read his Bible more as do all politicians but it is not Stalins atheistic Russia any more. How many divisions does the Pope have? None that I know of, but how many legions does Christ have? Beyond counting. In the text today, as we approach Holy Week, Christ told His disciples of His coming death. Indeed it did seem the powers of darkness were to triumph. But Christ knew better. There was and is a far greater power out there than death or the devil. Evil will not triumph in the long run and in the time of testing, we need to remember that. But it is not politics or even region that will triumph it is Jesus Christ. The prince of this world the devil can fool many and in the past has fooled whole governments and cultures, but has never been able to hold on for long. The griz is huge, ferocious and overwhelming. But even the griz is no match for the power of a skilled hunter with a heavy caliber rifle. The devil is terrifying and the powers of darkness overwhelming but even the darkest night has no power over a single match. Darkness thrives in the vacuum of social and moral emptiness. But kindle the light of Christ and it cannot stand. Like the griz learns to fear the hunter, so the powers of darkness fears the Light of God. The Prince of this world will be driven out. As George Santayana noted a favorite of mine, obviously Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Many in our culture and government have ignored Santayanas warning and we shall all suffer from it for a time. But the Light will dawn and those who have succumbed to its lure will either repent of it or be consumed by it. I have read my history as well as my Bible. Be of good cheer, I (Christ) have overcome the world! John 16: 33. Blessings, Brother John Bruington Caden Hilliard, a junior from Great Falls High School, uses an ammeter on the engine of a car during the automotive service technology contest April, 10, 2018, on the Montana State University-Northern campus. The contest, hosted by SkillsUSA Montana, was one of 24 that were going on that day. Montana State University-Northern is once again hosting the State Leadership & Skills Conference, Monday through Wednesday of next week. SkillsUSA is "a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure that America continues to have skilled workers joining the workforce," SkillsUSA State Chair Cassie Huntley said. SkillsUSA gives students, ranging from middle school to college, the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and readiness for careers in a variety of fields including automotive, culinary arts, welding and engineering. Students race against the clock to perform a set of tasks in front of a panel of judges, who then determine who receives the gold, silver and bronze medals. Northern comes alive with the sights and sounds of students operating robots, hammering walls, repairing engines, producing digital video, coding computer programs, welding artistic treasures and demonstrating scores of other skills. "Students will discover and grow their career passions and appreciate their own self-worth through the work and dedication of instructors, administrators and industry partners," Huntley said. SkillsUSA chapters perform community service activities each years, using their skills to benefit their communities, hometowns and the country. Career and technical education students earn public respect through this event. This year all state chapters will help construct kids picnic tables, which will then be donated. "We are addressing both the skills gap and skilled worker shortages. Our work is very much about America's future," Huntley said. During this event, students will be able to attend workshops on team building. The keynote speaker will be Devin Fly who will talk on how students can turn their dreams into a reality by helping them realize the potential of vocational skills. More than 300 students and advisors across the state will attend this event. Thirty contests are scheduled, offering competitions for high school to college students. Those who earn first place will be given an opportunity to attend the National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, and compete against students from 53 states and territories. I am a passionate defender of property rights. They are a foundational principle of our U.S. and Montana Constitutions. But as a resident and owner in a Montana community with a homeowners association, or HOA, I am both saddened and outraged that SB 300 is currently being rushed through our states Legislature. It is an affront to the principle of protecting property rights, contracts, and local democracy by its almost certain unintended consequences if signed into law. In fact, as even the lawmakers own Legislative Services Division flagged for them more than a month ago, it quite possibly would violate both the U.S. and Montana Constitutions! The bill is one of the worst types of legislation: It would insert the Legislature into an as-yet-not fully-publicly-disclosed ongoing legal dispute between two parties a homeowner and their HOA. It would put a finger on the scale of justice when what may be needed is a thoughtful look at real questions about good governance at the most basic level. In the SB 300 case it appears that the homeowner had SB 300 drafted because of the prospect of a losing lawsuit. When a person buys into a development with covenants, conditions and restrictions CC&Rs that run with the land, they agree to abide by them. Virtually all have provisions, often super-majority vote ones, that allow for updates to the CC&Rs themselves, and to bylaws, and rules. By agreeing to their real estate contracts, the buyers agree to follow the HOA rules and processes, including the upgrading of standards. By my signing my contract I made such an agreement. My neighbors did the same. My contract includes the explicit right to expect that HOA standards and update processes have been agreed-to by everyone to protect our community standards by democratic processes and we all agree that the use of our individual property will be appropriately guided and regulated, with uniform enforcement of rules. By its design, apparently SB 300 would say to homeowners who have pushed the bill that they dont have to be bound any longer to the agreed-upon CC&R provisions. And that its OK to abrogate my contract rights with respect to our CC&Rs and related standards and rules that my family and I rightfully expect to be updated periodically and enforced uniformly. This is ridiculous. Having volunteered as a leader of HOAs in three different states, including most recently for years in my home state of Montana, I can assure you that the legislation would turn upside-down the most basic democratic processes found in communities processes that benefit both homeowners and local governments by putting the most basic community services and governance closest to the people. And the residents agree to that governance by contract if they choose to live in an HOA community. There are many, many examples of real governance and legal problems that would occur under SB 300. My HOA is in the process of considering proposed upgrades to our 1999-vintage CC&Rs that govern the use of our property. We want to carefully consider how to best reflect modern building and land use practices, energy and environmental technologies, and our Board will put recommendations before our owners for super-majority vote before enacting any changes. The prospect that, under SB 300, no one would have to comply with certain amendments, and only an unknown fraction of our owners would ever have to think about complying with new standards sometime in the future, is quite chilling. This is especially sad if the state legislature is acting against a background of a legal dispute that, by its nature, indicates a belief that legal remedies for questionable HOA decisions in specific cases are already available under Montana law. It is even more-so when one realizes that if signed into law this bill would almost certainly be immediately challenged as violating Montana Constitution provisions related to contracts and ex post facto lawmaking, not to mention the Contracts Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Surely thoughtful legislators do not intend to put thousands of state HOA residents in hundreds of HOAs through such uncertainty and costs when, despite the claim that this bill protects property rights, mine and so many others are at stake because of it! If any measure deserves a step back for an interim study of real issues and potential reasonable solutions, this is it. Dr. Bill Whitsitt is a member and immediate past president of his homeowners association in Bigfork. by Heidi Hall Finding gives boost to fighting through cell metabolism NASCAR has nothing on cancer cells when it comes to exploiting the power of drafting, letting someone else do the hard work of moving forward while you coast behind. Building on the relatively new discovery that metastatic cancer cells leave tumors and travel in clusters, not singles, a Vanderbilt University team of biomedical engineers learned the process is aided by leader-follower behavior. Like racecar drivers and geese, the front cell expends vastly more energy making its way forward through tissue to establish a new tumor site. When it tires, it moves to the back of the cluster, and a cell from behind thats been saving energy begins leading. The finding gives a boost to the field of metabolomics, the next big thing in fighting cancer, said Cynthia Reinhart-King, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering. It can complement immunotherapies, which use the bodys natural defenses to kill cancer cells. So far, researchers have applied the field to slowing tumor growth, but learning about mechanisms such as the one Reinhart-Kings team found can help apply it to metastasis. Our work is the first to say, in addition to proliferation, migration is also energy-demanding, she said. That means we can also target migration through metabolism. Our experiments used breast cancer cells, but the same mechanism holds true to lung, colorectal, skin and other cancers, so the underlying research is vital to learning how we might defeat all of those. The FDA approved the first-in-class cancer metabolism drug in 2017. The Vanderbilt teams findings appear today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in a paper titled, Energetic regulation of coordinated leader-follower dynamics during collective invasion of breast cancer cells. The team worked using breast cancer cells in three-dimensional, created tissue. The lead author on the paper, postdoctoral scholar Jian Zhang, also developed computational models that demonstrated the energy needs of the leader cell vs. the followers. The leader needed up to 50 percent more energy, depending on the density of the tissue it was fighting through, and the cells switched leader-follower positions every two to eight hours, Zhang said. Reinhart-King said the development of fluorescent biosensors allowed for her teams research, because the engineers could track energy consumption and production within cells. This work was supported by National Science Foundation award 1740900, National Institutes of Health grants HL127499 and K99-CA212270, and the Cancer Research Societys Scholarship for the Next Generation of Scientists. Vanderbilt University A new UNSW Sydney study shows antibiotics and vaccines may be less effective against whooping cough as a new strain appears in China. A new strain of Bordetella pertussis the bacterium that causes whooping cough has become resistant to antibiotic treatment and may also be resistant to the vaccine used in China. A UNSW Sydney academic says the growing threat of it spreading to Australia should be taken seriously. A joint study led by PhD student Zheng Xu, between UNSW Sydney and Xian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, China examined 167 pertussis samples from China. They found that 98% of pertussis bacteria isolated were resistant to erythromycin, the main antibiotic used to treat whooping cough. The study also found that the new strain has a mutation in one of the vaccine antigen genes, which may help the bacteria evade the two-component acellular vaccine used in China. In the paper published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, co-author Professor Ruiting Lan, of UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, said the pertussis strains appear to be adapting to the acellular vaccine used in China, as well as developing resistance to the antibiotic most commonly used to treat the disease. This has rendered the antibiotic ineffective for treatment and prophylaxis, Professor Lan said. Our findings suggest that treatment with erythromycin and prevention with vaccination with the acellular vaccine used may be less effective in China. We hope that therapies and prevention strategies will adapt to these findings to reduce the public health burden of pertussis. Professor Lan said that looking ahead, the Chinese pertussis strain needed to be watched closely from within and outside China. He stressed that the potential threat of the new variant spreading globally was real. But exactly how high the threat is, we dont know at this stage, Professor Lan said. In Australia we use azithromycin, which is the same type but a newer drug than erythromycin, but the Chinese variants have also shown resistance to this antibiotic. The treatment and prophylaxis have an important role in curtailing the spread of pertussis, so if the strains are resistant to and not curtailed by the antibiotic used, there is definitely a potential to cause an epidemic in Australia. We really need to find out how competitive the Chinese strains are in Australia with a different vaccine the one used in Australia has one more antigen component. And we also need to understand the organism better. We want to know how likely it is that these strains spread globally, and how we can curtail the spread of such strains. And further ahead, we need to design more effective vaccines to control these new variants, he says. Professor Lan stressed the need to maintain our own high vaccination coverage to prevent this new strain from gaining a foothold. According to NSW Health, babies need to be immunised at six weeks of age, four months, six months and 18 months. Boosters are needed at age four and again in high school. It is important that pregnant woman get vaccinated in the third trimester of each pregnancy to protect the infant before receiving their own vaccine. Andrea Lyons was encouraged and enabled by accomplices A young woman who took part in a shoplifting gang's crime spree had been pressured by her accomplices and could "never say no", a court heard. Andrea Lyons (22) was stealing to clear thousands of euro of drug debts she had run up from taking cocaine and tablets after breaking up with her fiance. She was also caught driving for friends who were intoxicated while she was uninsured and already banned. Jailing her for 16 months, Judge John Hughes said she had a "cavalier attitude" to theft and had been involved in shoplifting on a "serious scale". He suspended another four months and banned her from driving for seven years. Lyons, of Bunratty Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty to multiple theft and motoring charges. Dublin District Court heard she was involved in thefts of more than 4,000 worth of cosmetics, perfumes and toys. One incident involved the theft of 2,315 worth of cosmetics from Boots in Donaghmede last April. Enterprise Up to five people were involved in a joint enterprise, and the court heard this was a "recurr- ing theme". Lyons was one of three women stopped last May 18 for stealing 411 of cosmetics from Lloyds Pharmacy, Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock. Last June 13, she was one of three women who went to Boots, The Pavilions, Swords, and put 2,020 of fragrances in bags in the course of 10 minutes. On one occasion when she was stopped while driving, stolen goods worth 427 were in the back of the car, hidden in a baby's buggy. Lyons had 13 previous convictions, including seven for theft. The crimes were all committed with either friends or family members who were older than the accused, defence solicitor Leonard Leader said. Her peer group was "well acquainted" with Lyons' drug habit and they were her "en-ablers and encouragers". Lyons would be asked to drive when they were intoxicated or did not want to drive and "Andrea will never say no", Mr Leader said. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal. German Chancellor Angela Merkel evoked memories of the Berlin Wall as she vowed to do everything possible to prevent a hard border. At a closed-doors meeting with members of the border community, Ms Merkel recalled how, while growing up, she was separated from her grandmother by the wall. Her first visit to Dublin in five years was described by those present as "emotional". In a public message Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hopes will carry weight across Europe, Ms Merkel said she understood why Irish people were so desperate to hold on to peace. "We simply have to be able to do this. We have to be successful and hope for a solution we can agree together," she said. Moving After what she called a "very moving" meeting with representatives of border communities, the chancellor said she would work "until the very last hour" to secure a Brexit deal. "For 34 years I lived behind the Iron Curtain, so I know only too well what it means once borders vanish, once walls fall," she said. "We need to do everything to bring about a peaceful co-operation." However, her comments came against continuing uncertainty in the UK and growing fears in Brussels that a disorderly Brexit is inevitable. A leading EU official said he could not rule out the prospect of customs points in Ireland. Asked whether border posts would be needed between the Republic and Northern Ireland, Commission vice-president Jyrki Katainen said the aim was to ensure checks were done "away from the border if at all possible". Senior officials were also warning that checks on animals and food produce, including milk, will have to take place. The potential for a "milk lake" has even been raised, as farmers who sell diary products will no longer be able to send produce across the border. The EU will not accept creamery tanks containing "mixed EU and third-country milk". At Farmleigh House, Ms Merkel was pressed on how the Good Friday Agreement could be upheld while the single market was also protected. She refused to outline a solution but said: "You have the same saying as we say in Germany, 'Where there's a will there's a way'. We are working on this and have very good partners in the Commission, with Michel Barnier and Jean-Claude Juncker who are putting everything into finding a good ending." Ms Merkel said her discussions in Dublin encouraged her "to explore ways to continue to ensure this peaceful co-existence you have worked so hard for". Her comments came two days after French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would "never abandon" Ireland. Government sources said the solidarity shown by the two superpowers meant that Ireland's standing with the EU Council is as "strong as ever". A source said they hoped the chancellor now understood the emotional aspects linked to the border, as well as the technical side of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Varadkar said it was "not possible to have a clear plan" for what happens if the UK crashes out next Friday. He said the EU was prepared to amend terms for future trade talks if Prime Minister Theresa May shifted her red lines. "Both Ireland and Germany want to have a future relationship with the UK which is close and comprehensive and as deep as possible, and we would like to see the Withdrawal Agreement ratified so that we can begin the negotiations on a new economic and security partnership without further delay," he said. However, he added: "There is very little time left." What are the most heart-warming Christmas songs of all time? music Hundreds of supporters of communities in Judea and Samaria gathered at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., to show their support. (JNS)-While the AIPAC policy conferences features panels and breakout sessions on almost every issue central to the geostrategic challenges facing the State of Israel, one key issue is repeatedly left off the schedule. That is the issue of Jewish settlements and growing neighborhoods outside the Green Line. To that end, more than 700 conference participants gathered off-campus on Sunday night to participate in an event supporting approximately 700,000 living in Judea, Samaria and periphery neighborhoods in Jerusalem. The event was hosted by the Yesha Council, the regional council of Judea and Samaria. Following a successful inaugural event at an outside venue last year, which included speeches by several Israeli ministers and U.S. congressmen, this year representatives of Judea and Samaria hosted a first-class reception at the nearby Museum of the Bible. Former Minister Gideon Saar, who currently holds the fifth spot on the Likud Party's Knesset list and who will be all but certain to become a minister again should Likud form the government following the April 9 elections in Israel, told the crowd that "the reason we came this evening is to promote a clear message strengthening Jewish presence and Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria." "It is not temporary," he said, referring to settlements and neighborhoods in those areas. "It will always be part of the State of Israel. We will never agree to establish a new Arab state in the heart of our land. The presence of Jews in Judea and Samaria is strengthening the security of Israel." Likud Knesset Member Amir Ohana called Judea and Samaria the "roots" of the Jewish nation. "Every tree can survive without a few of its branches. But no tree can survive without its roots," said Ohana. Yesha Council chief foreign envoy Oded Revivi, who is also mayor of Efrat, one of Israel's largest and most affluent communities in Judea, said "we must emphasize that the settlements are not an obstacle to peace, but the promoters of peace." Revivi highlighted a number of examples of economic cooperation and shared infrastructure that he suggests many who form opinions on Israel don't know about. On delegations that he has led, the mayor said "people were surprised to learn of shopping centers where Arabs and Jews shop together, roads where Jews and Palestinians drive together, industrial zones where both work together." "It is our mission to show a reality where Jews and Arabs can live together in peace and understanding," he said. "When that knowledge will be spread, then our people can live and be secure." Scrutinizing the strategic high ground Col. Richard Kemp, a retired British officer who is former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, went on to explain the importance of maintaining the strategic high ground in Judea and Samaria. "We need to reject the idea that Judea and Samaria could ever fall outside the security envelope of the Israel Defense Forces," said Kemp. "From a purely military perspective, it is completely impossible for the security of Israel to be maintained without Judea and Samaria." All of the speakers lauded the Trump administration's recognition of the Golan Heights, and along those lines mentioned hopefully that such a status would one day be extended to Judea and Samaria. "Before the Syrian civil war, the Israeli establishment detected promising signs of softening with [Syrian] President Bashar Assad," noted Kemp. "And they were investigating the return of the Golan Heights to Syria. Can you imagine what would have happened just a few years later if Israel would have given over the strategic high ground? Kemp said Israeli territorial withdrawals have not led to peace, but rather to further aggression against the Jewish state. "It is not even a question of whether the Palestinians say that they could have peace with Israel. Once they would take control of [strategic] territory, what is to stop any jihadist entity from controlling that? "As Gaza has been used to attack Israel, as Sinai has been used, as Southern Lebanon has been used, so, too, would Judea and Samaria be used," if Israel were to cede control of the area. Discussing the taboo given to Jewish settlement in communities central to Israel's historical narrative, event host and community spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron, Yishai Fleisher, said "if you listen to the media, we are not the startup nation, we are the occupation nation. It is a pernicious narrative." He stressed that the most important war Israel is fighting today is "the narrative war," which he says focuses on battling the worst form of delegitimization, whereby Israelis are considered "thieves" in their own homeland. Fleisher said it's time that "we retell our narrative," pointing to education and outsiders visiting the areas in question to see them firsthand. He also another crucial way "is to be strong, and to settle and live in our land." Fleisher and co-host Eve Harow noted the importance of discussing the future of the settlements, which they acknowledge is a controversial topic in the United States. Both expressed their hope that AIPAC would bring such an event out of the sidelines and into the conference itself next year. At the Epstein Hillel School in Massachusetts, each first-grader is paired for the school year with a "grandfriend"-an unrelated older adult connected in some way to the school-to foster intergenerational relationships. Middle-school students at the Saul Mirowitz Community School in St. Louis have spent a lot of time over the last year outside the classroom. They traveled to Alabama-the cities of Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma-as well as Memphis, Tennessee, to learn about civil rights. They spent a week at a Wisconsin nature preserve to learn about environmental stewardship. They went to Heifer Ranch in Arkansas to learn about hunger and poverty, spending a night without beds and with little food to give them a sense of what real indigence is like. "I've read about these things, but experiencing even a taste of how families in poverty feel makes an impact," a student, Hayley L., was quoted as saying on a school blog. "It's shocking that people live like this every day." The trips aren't just about hands-on learning. They are designed to prime the youths to take action. "They have a fire in the belly when they return from these trips," head of school Cheryl Maayan said. "It literally changes their lives." After the trips, students conducted an audit of the school's food, paper and water waste in an awareness campaign to reduce its environmental footprint. They researched local anti-poverty efforts and raised money to support poverty-related charities. They sold water bottles emblazoned with the school's name to raise funds for a bottle spout at the school water fountain to discourage single-use plastics. The Mirowitz School's immersion trips for middle schoolers, now seven years running, are one example of the innovative way that Jewish day schools are trying to impart the values of chesed (good works) and tzedakah (charity). When schools do it best, they weave social justice, tzedakah and righteous behavior into the culture and fabric of the school both inside and outside the classroom. "We see many creative examples of chesed education across the network of schools," said Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah, a network organization for Jewish day schools. "It's core to the education we seek to provide." The trips are part of a larger trend toward more experiential learning in day schools. "Our schools are moving toward experiential learning for their students, not only for chesed but for all subjects," said Melanie Eisen, Prizmah's director of educational innovation. "Students have the world at their fingertips. To make chesed projects real, our schools are taking their students into their communities and beyond to experience the learning with all their senses. These defining moments will have a lasting imprint on their lives as graduates of Jewish day schools." In Los Angeles, 10th-graders at the Milken Community Schools, a nondenominational K-12 Jewish day school, take a weeklong trip to New Orleans to rebuild homes with a local nonprofit working to repair damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The school has taken eight trips there with 10th- and 11th-graders, the first in 2006 just months after the hurricane. The students do construction tasks such as painting, sanding and installing drywall, and get to know the homeowners they are helping, said Wendy Ordower, Milken's director of service learning. They talk about Jewish themes and texts connected to their experience, such as the adage from the Ethics of the Fathers, or Pirkei Avot: "You are not obligated to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it." "I never thought we'd be doing this trip so many years later, but there's always something to do in the Ninth Ward," Ordower said. "We just keep going back. A pillar of the school is 'gemilut chesed'" doing righteous works. "We really walk the walk. Doing it as a community elevates it." At the Epstein Hillel School in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the first grade focuses on fostering intergenerational relationships. Each of the school's first-graders is paired for the school year with a "grandfriend"-an unrelated older adult connected in some way to the school. The grandfriends, who are in their late 60s and early 70s, come to the classroom every Thursday to participate in discussions and art projects. During the winter, when many grandfriends go to Florida, the students write them letters. During a class about Veterans Day, a grandfriend showed off the dog tags of his father, who was killed in World War II. Letters to grandfriends about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. elicited memories of his speeches, said first-grade teacher Emily Glore. "The program is an opportunity to pass on some experience and build a really sweet connection with the older generation," Glore said. "The kids get to see that there are people out there who are invested in their success." At the Gann Academy in Waltham, Massachusetts, an unusual Yizkor Project is being used as a lesson in chesed and history. Last year, high-school juniors worked for months to uncover the names and histories of 310 individuals buried in numbered graves at the local Metfern Cemetery between 1947 and 1979. The cemetery was literally next door, on the 200-acre property of the shuttered Fernald School. The students began by researching public and online genetic records to identify those interred, who died at Fernald and Metropolitan State Hospital-local institutions for people with physical and mental disabilities. They studied Fernald, which was the oldest publicly funded institution of its kind in America, to learn about historic attitudes toward the disabled. They created an exhibit about the history of disability in America from 1897 to 1937 that was displayed for eight months at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham, a Boston suburb. This year's juniors are completing a Yizkor book with bios of each person buried at Metfern and making permanent signs commemorating the dead for the cemetery. "We use history as a lens for thinking about the narratives of who we are," Gann history teacher Yoni Kadden said. Student Anna Kamens called the project "meaningful and important." "Definitely the coolest thing about it is getting to meet people personally affected by this history, and learning about the history of disability through the eyes of individual people, knowing that we are actually making a difference," she said. Many schools require chesed projects. At the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland, upper-school students must complete 80 hours of community service to graduate, but on average they do much more, spending 244 hours a year in such activities. Roz Landy, the school's dean of students, said the projects have changed continually since she started the program in the late 1980s because activities are chosen by students based on their interests. "This is not adult driven," she said. Students from the Saul Mirowitz Community School in St. Louis visited the Heifer Ranch in Arkansas for an overnight hunger and poverty simulation. Students work with developmentally disabled children, do EMT work, stock backpacks with clothes and school supplies for foster children, and work at a horse rescue farm, where they help rehabilitate horses and learn how to educate the public about equine abuse and neglect. Maayan of the Mirowitz School said that chesed projects are key to children's emotional and intellectual growth of children, especially in the middle-school years. "Kids at that age tend to think about things that are not important-whether people like them, how they look," she said. "We can't change that, but we can teach them meaningful thinking." This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with the Avi Chai Foundation, which is committed to the perpetuation of the Jewish people, Judaism and the centrality of the State of Israel to the Jewish people. In North America, the foundation works to advance the Jewish day school and overnight summer camp fields. This article was produced by JTA's native content team. BOSTON (JTA)Hot off the Jewish press in Vilna in 1877, a dramatic Yiddish romance novel became a surprising success, selling out its first 10,000 copies in Jewish communities across Poland and Russia. Its not hard to see why. Set in the mid-19th century in the outskirts of the Russian city of Mohilev, Yankev (Jacob) Dinezons The Dark Young Man had it all: a page-turning, ill-fated modern love story thwarted at every turn by a villainous and sinister in-law; dramatic storytelling that exposed the divide between rich and poor; and the clash of modernity against tradition. Spoiler alert: no happy ending. The best seller catapulted the Lithuania-born Dinezon, a one-time tutor and little-known writer, to become an influential leader in the Yiddish literary scene of Warsaw, where he had settled. Jewish writers of the day, from Sholem Abramovitsh, Sholem Aleichem and Isaac Leib Peretz, sought his counsel, guidance and support. Dinezon published and promoted their work, and became a close friend and confidant of Peretz. Over the years, Dinezon published eight other known novels and a collection of stories, along with essays, but none achieved the success of The Dark Young Man. With subsequent printings, it sold some 200,000 copies. When Dinezon died in 1919, thousands crammed the streets around his home in Warsaws Jewish quarter and along the route to the Okopowa Jewish Cemetery, according to several articles published in Warsaw. Despite his prominence and popularity, however, Dinezons writing was overshadowed by other Yiddish authors of his day whose work was eventually translated into English. Over timeand in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the decline of YiddishDinezon fell into obscurity. Now, for the first time, The Dark Young Man has been published in English by Jewish Storyteller Press, translated by Tina Lunson, and adapted and edited by Scott Hilton Davis. There was this Jewish writer who made a real significant contribution to Jewish literature in the 19th century, Davis told JTA in a recent phone conversation. He deserves to be recognized. Davis, a North Carolina resident who spent a career in public broadcasting, came upon Dinezons name when he was preparing a collection of Yiddish tales, but he was unable to find any of Dinezons major works in English. What began as curiosity became a passion. For well over a decade, Davis has devoted himself to all things Dinezon, determined to bring his books to a new generation and set the Jewish historical record straight about Dinezon and his role in Yiddish literature. In 2007, a few years after retiring, Davis founded Jewish Storyteller Press. Some seven years later, he published a few of Dinezons shorter works in English, including Memories and Scenes, Hershele and Yosele, as well as a translation of a 1956 Dinezon biography by Shmuel Rozshanski. Hes been eagerly anticipating The Dark Young Man, published ahead of the 100th anniversary of Dinezons death on Aug. 29. Born around 1851 near Kovno, Dinezon grew up in a comfortable home, according to the biographical timeline on JacobDinezon.com, a website developed by Davis that includes reference material, discussion questions and more. After his father died, Dinezon was sent to live with an uncle in Mohilev, where he studied in a Jewish school that exposed him to the ideas of the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment. He became a tutor and trusted business manager to a prominent Jewish family. He left for Vilna after the family arranged a marriage for one of the daughters, ending any hoped-for prospects for himself. The storyline is one that emerges in his first novel. In his mid-30s, Dinezon moved to Warsaw, where his sister lived. In addition to his own writing and publishing, Dinezon was a behind-the-scenes supporter of other authors. He paid for Peretzs first book of Yiddish stories to be published and aided Sholem Aleichem in buying back the copyrights of his books. Dinezons impact on Yiddish literature was significant, agrees Aaron Lansky, president of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. Im thrilled to see it appear, Lansky said about the English language publication of The Dark Young Man, noting that there is a sizable body of Yiddish books that have never been translatedbooks that line the shelves that Lansky walks by every day. The center now offers a program to train translators, Lansky said, but by and large, the fellows are selecting books by writers who came after Dinezon. Dinezon was at the center of promoting Peretz along with other aspiring writers who were arriving in Warsaw, Lansky said. He was one of the arbiters of this emerging Yiddish literature. Lansky noted that Dinezon was one of three giants of Yiddish literaturealong with Peretz and S. Anskywho are memorialized in a large monument at the Okopowa Jewish Cemetery. Dinezon was trailblazing, Davis said, for at least two reasons: He wrote in Yiddish, which was frowned upon as common jargon by some critics and Haskalah writers who championed literary Hebrew, and for his subject matter. Dinezon wrote about the emerging issues of the day, including the lives of urban dwellers, and most notably he had great empathy for his Jewish subjects, Davis and Lunson said. Other writers who challenged Jewish tradition wrote scathing depictions that cast Eastern European shtetl Jews as backwards and ignorant, Lunson elaborated. Dinezon treated each of his characters with tenderness, and let their actions speak for themselves, she wrote. In The Dark Young Man, Dinezons narrator invokes the voice of Jewish morality and rails against the strict tradition of arranged marriages, comparing it to the evils of the African slave trade. While Sholem Aleichem is beloved for the humor of his stories, Dinezon consoled the Jewish soul through tears, Davis said. Davis has come to admire Dinezon as a kind and humble mensch, the beloved uncle of Yiddish literature. Dinezon devoted himself to social causes: Following the outbreak of World War I, he and Peretz founded an orphanage in Warsaw for children who were fleeing the front. He wanted to help uplift the Jewish people, Davis said. Through this project, Davis hopes to shine a light on a forgotten figure who can be a role model for Jewish culture and values. Among the programs to commemorate Dinezons 100th yahrzeit is one planned for Sept. 3 at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York. I want people to remember there was a Jacob Dinezon in the world, Davis said. (JNS)-Former top Mossad spy Rafi Eitan, who led the team that captured Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann and was the personal handler of Jonathan Pollard, died on Saturday at the age of 92. Eitan, who served in the Shin Bet and the Mossad, began foreign spy work for Israel in the 1950s and is considered a founder of the Israeli intelligence community. He was born in Kibbutz Ein Harod in 1926 to Zionist immigrants from Russia who came to Palestine in 1923 and grew up in Ramat Hasharon. At the age of 12, he joined the Haganah underground militia, quickly transferring to the Palmach and was injured in the War of Independence in 1948. Eitan was the head of the eight-person team that captured fugitive Nazi mastermind Adolph Eichmann in May 1960 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The world-famous Eichmann trial took place in 1961; he was executed by hanging the next year. He is rumored to have stolen uranium from Belgium for use in an Israeli reactor, helped capture Israeli-Soviet spy Yisrael Bar and stolen designs of the French Mirage aircraft for use by Israeli military industries. In 2014, Eitan apologized on a personal level for his role in the Pollard affair. Eitan recruited U.S. naval intelligence officer Pollard to glean information for Israel from 1984-85, which is believed to include intelligence that enabled Israel to neutralize existential threats. Attempting to evade capture by American law enforcement, Pollard raced to the Israeli Embassy in Washington to get asylum, but Eitan personally ordered entrance barred to Pollard, resulting in his capture and three decades of imprisonment in the United States. Under the terms of his parole, Pollard is subject to very strict regulations and not allowed to travel to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Eitan "one of the heroes of the State of Israel's intelligence service in countless acts for Israel's security" for whom "there was no match for his wisdom, wit and endless commitment to the people of Israel and our country." President Reuven Rivlin said he was a "born fighter who stuck to his mission and to what he knew to be right," adding "our heads are bowed today in his memory, and we part from him in sorrow and thanks, and with deep appreciation for his contribution to the people and the country." In 2006, Eitan returned to public life and headed the Pensioner's party, which won seven seats in the Knesset. In the 2009 elections, the party failed to cross the electoral threshold, and Eitan lost his seat. In his spare time, Eitan was an avid sculptor, having produced more than 100 pieces of art. WASHINGTON (JTA)The American Israel Public Affairs Committee wants you to know it will not be silenced. When they try to silence us, we speak up, and when they tell us to sit down, we stand up, we stand up, Howard Kohr, the Israel lobbys CEO, said in his set-the-tone speech at the launch Sunday of this years annual conference. We. Stand. Up. Mort Fridman, AIPACs president, picked up the theme that afternoon. None of us are willing to be silenced or intimidated, he said. And Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who has had a long and close relationship with the lobby, made it the center point of his raise-the-roof speech on Sunday evening. What weakens us is when, instead of engaging in legitimate debate about policies, someone questions the motives of his or her fellow citizens or tries to silence others through exclusion, disenfranchisement or fear, the majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives said. So 18,000 activists filling the capitals streets and the halls of Congress will not be silenced. But what exactly are they saying? That was less than clear, and the mixed messages AIPAC sent this week were emblematic of the crisis besetting the lobby whose brand is bipartisan consensus: When it comes to Israel, there is no longer much of a consensus. The talk of silencing and intimidation seemed to be a response to an uprising on the left, emboldened by the controversy over Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. Weeks before the conference, the House newcomer accused AIPAC of distorting the Israel debateand Israels supporters of an allegiance to a foreign countryin ways that Republicans and a good chunk of the Democratic caucus felt sounded anti-Semitic. Omars name was never mentioned from the AIPAC stage, but the audience understood knew exactly who Hoyer had in mind when he also said, When someone accuses American supporters of dual loyalty, I say Accuse me. Its a crisis, however, that runs deeper than the rift opened up by Omar. If Omar had never uttered a word about Israel, AIPACs agenda would still be dogged by differences between Democrats and Republicanson recognizing Israeli sovereignty of lands it captured in 1967, on how best to combat the boycott Israel movement, and on the path forward, if any, for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Take the Golan Heights. At the urging of Israels ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, the AIPAC audience on Sunday rose to its feet to thank President Donald Trump for recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan. I think that deserves a standing ovation, Dermer said. But even as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were meeting Monday at the White House and Trump signed the proclamation recognizing the Golan as part of Israel, AIPACs legislative agenda lacked any reference to the issue. Its not that there isnt any congressional legislation to back: Both chambers have bills under consideration, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has been touting recognition for a year. The problem is that not a single Democrat has signed onto either bill. Democrats are concerned that recognizing sovereignty over the Golan could encourage Israel to annex the West Bank. Even AIPACs statement welcoming Trumps Golan announcement carefully avoided the word sovereignty, and linked the need for Israeli control of the plateau captured in 1967 to Syrias current status as a failed state rather than a longstanding claim. Given current political and security circumstances in Syria, we have said it was inconceivable to imagine Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, AIPAC said. Trumps statement marks a dramatic change in American policy, and we appreciate his leadership on this issue. AIPAC represents a Jewish community that continues to vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, even if Republicans and Israel hawks seem to be overrepresented in the halls and leadership of the group. That presents a difficult line for the lobby to walk, and one that Republicansand the Netanyahu governmentseem determined not to make easy. Pending Republican legislation condemning anti-Semitism and the Boycott Israel movement may come from the heart, but it is also a convenient way to taunt Democrats and exploit a split between the party mainstream (who tended to denounce Omar) and its progressives (who defended Omar and also are leading opposition to anti-boycott bills on free-speech grounds). Vice President Mike Pence was certainly in no mood for bipartisanship when he told AIPAC delegates on Monday that the Democrats were co-opted by anti-Semites. He also repeated a falsehoodone stoked by wishful thinking on the left and opportunists on the rightthat eight Democratic presidential candidates were boycotting the conference. (AIPAC, in fact, did not invite the candidates to speak, per its usual off-year protocol.) Dermer, too, flouted AIPACs conventions of bipartisanship. The Israeli ambassador took to task several Democratic presidential candidates who want to re-enter the 2015 Iran deal that Trump left last year. There are leaders who are calling to return to that deal, he said, which was unacceptable. Asked whether he believed support for Israel was bipartisan, Dermer said, Yes, I doand left it at that. The legislative package that the activists will take to Congress on Tuesday also signals AIPACs difficulties in reconciling the parties. It includes a House resolution that condemns the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel sponsored by Reps. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., and Brad Schneider, D-Ill. All three are Jewish. Its the kind of mom-and-apple pie resolution all sides can usually get behind. But the nonbinding measure is a bid by Democrats to cut off bills preferred by Republicans (and backed by AIPAC) that would help states penalize boycotters, which most Democrats believe impinge on speech freedoms. The resolution is an attempt to split the differencedenouncing BDS while not criminalizing it. Although Republicans are signed on to the resolution, they also appear determined to press ahead with the separate, punitive anti-BDS bills. (Another bill Republicans reportedly are planning to advance would expand Education Department powers to investigate and possibly penalize campuses deemed as hostile to Jewsa gambit that also unsettles civil libertarians.) The Nadler-Schneider-Zeldin bill also resoundingly backs the two-state solution, which Republicans removed from their party platform in 2016 and from which Trump and Netanyahu have retreated. AIPAC still formally backs the two-state solution, but the only mention it earned from the groups officials in the main conference hall was when three of the organizations top lobbyists briefed activists on the agenda. Even then, late Sunday evening, the hall was mostly empty. The difficulties of resolving the differences between two-state advocates and opponents were made tangible after Mondays sessions ended. Activists headed to multiple off-campus events: One, at the Renaissance Hotel across the street from the Convention Center, was for Peace Builders, attracting AIPAC activists who otherwise are involved in Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation. The event had AIPACs official imprimatur and earned a visit from Kohr; support for two states was explicit and ubiquitous in remarks that organizers and guests delivered. The speakers celebrated the revival of bipartisan legislation that would fund dialogue programs. (Notably, AIPAC is not backing the legislation, which sources say is reviled by a Trump administration that has cut all funding to the Palestinians). A few blocks away, at the Bible Museum, founded by pro-Israel Christian evangelicals, delegates gathered for the Judea and Samaria reception organized by Israels settler movement. Among those attending were top figures in Netanyahus Likud party. Here, two-state solution was spat out by speakers like a curse. A consensus remains on AIPACs bread-and-butter issue, funding for Israels defense. One ask was for lawmakers to support $3.8 billion in defense assistance next year. Except even that had a wrinkle. The three lobbyists speaking to the empty hall on Sunday night said that the activists should include in their pitch an ask for a robust overall aid bill. AIPAC for years has aligned itself with nongovernmental organizations that lobby for increasing foreign aidan increasingly difficult posture in an administration that leans isolationist. (JNS)The Young Progressives of America at Brooklyn College and the Brooklyn College Islamic Society & Muslim Womens Educational Initiative held a vigil on Friday, memorializing the 50 Muslim worshippers murdered in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15 with students chanting terrorist slogans. The Instagram account of the Brooklyn College Student Union clearly displays students chanting, Long Live the Intifada! Additionally, an unidentified student accurately mentioned that there were six Palestinians who were killed in the shootings, but blamed, in addition to anti-Muslim rhetoric, a lack of empathy that is not only in New Zealand but also in America, citing the backlash that some young activists faced in confronting former U.S. President Bill Clintons daughter, Chelsea Clinton, and blaming her for the rhetoric behind the shooting. Forty-nine people died because of the rhetoric you put out there, Clinton was told by Muslim student Leen Dweik. The unidentified Brooklyn College student also accused the media of covering up the six Palestinians killed, though numerous outlets reported it. This isnt the first time support for an intifada was witnessed at Brooklyn College. During a time of car-ramming and other attacks on Israeli civiliansand just two days after a bus was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists who then murdered two Israeli civilians in 2015Brooklyn College Students for Justice in Palestine posted a flier calling for a Third Intifada, supporting the terrorism that had ensued, stating, Respect Existence; or Expect Resistance, said Aviva Rosenschein, International Campus Director for CAMERA. CAMERA on Campus called on the Brooklyn College Student Union to remove this video calling for violence and apologize to the Jewish and Israeli community for this egregious mistake. (MEMRI via JNS)Palestinian cleric Abu Taqi Al-Din Al-Dari said in an Al-Aqsa mosque address that was uploaded to the Internet on March 12, 2019, that young people in Germany and France do not value marriage as much as Muslims do, but that this is not the reason that France will become an Islamic country. Rather, he explained, France will become an Islamic country through jihad, since Muslims must have a country that will bring Islams guidance and message to the West. He gave examples of times in history when countries in the West and Asia were ruled by the Ottoman Empire, which he described as an Islamic state, and he said that the Islamic nation is capable of returning to its former self and spreading Islam. Sheik Taqi Al-Din added that the entire world will be subject to the rule of Islam in one of three ways: People will either convert to Islam, be forced to pay the jizya poll tax, or be fought against for the sake of Allah. Abu Taqi Al-Din Al-Dari: Germany and France have begun to grow old, in the sense that their young people do not view marriage as something desirable. People there, especially the youth, have begun to shun marriage, unlike the Muslims. For example, it is said that in 2050, Muslims in France will outnumber the French. But it is not these numbers that we are counting on to turn France into an Islamic country. What we are counting on is that Muslims must have a country that will bring Islamits guidance, its light, its message and its mercyto the people [of the West] through Jihad for the sake of Allah. When people see the justness, light, guidance and mercy of Islam, they will enter the religion of Allah in droves, [as it says in the Koran], at the hands of a country that will bring them Islam through Jihad for the sake of Allah. [...] Not so long ago, only 400 years ago, at the time of the Ottoman state, Muslims conquered Poland and Austria. The Islamic state reached the walls of Vienna, the capital of Austria, and the call to prayer was recited there. All the countries of the [former] USSR were under the auspices of the Islamic Statethe countries of the Caucasus and what is beyond them. Muslim Mongols ruled China until 1644; Muslims conquered Hungary in 1526. In 1537, they conquered parts of Italy, like Otranto. In 1543, under the auspices of the Ottoman state, Muslim armies reached Toulon, in France, and they built a mosque there, in the heart of France. In 1586, India was ruled by Islam. These events portend that the Islamic nation is capable of returning to its former self and spreading Islam, Allah willing. [...] Thus, the rule of Islam will spread to the entire world, in one of three ways: Conversion to Islam, payment of the jizya poll tax, or we will ask for Allahs help and fight them, until the entire world is subject to the rule of Islam. (JNS)The Hamas rocket that shattered a village home in the Sharon district of central Israel, north of Tel Aviv early on morning of March 25, is an attack that for Israeli leadership represents a step too far. Eleven days after Hamas fired two rockets in the direction of Tel Avivin what it claimed was an accidental maintenance errorthis time, it appears as if the organizations addiction to gambling and upping the ante to extract concessions from Israel has led it to commit a serious mistake, one that will come with punishing repercussions. No Israeli leadership can ignore the fact that seven Israeli civilians were injured in the rocket strike, including six members of a single family, who narrowly escaped a fate far worse that injury in the surprise attack. The latest incident has further dented Israelis sense of security, as well as Israeli deterrence against its enemies. For the past year, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has used controlled violence tactics, like border rioting, planting bombs along the Gazan-Israeli border and sending explosives over the border attached to kites and balloons. The goal has been to pressure Israel, Egypt and the international community to allow more international funds into Gaza, as well as agree to demands for a seaport, more trade with the outside world, investment in infrastructure and job-producing projects. Such measures would allow Hamas to avoid an internal rebellion by Gazans. The Gazan population has been made desperate by its deteriorating economic situation and lack of hope for improvement on the horizonconditions created by Hamass policy of turning the Gaza Strip into an isolated terrorist-military base sponsored by Iran. Mondays rocket had a range of more than more 75 miles, and according to assessments by the Israel Defense Forces, it was manufactured in Hamass domestic arms factories. It was launched from a Hamas position in Rafah in southern Gaza. The military would not officially discuss its intelligence assessments regarding the calculations that guided those firing it or get drawn into responding to claims from Gaza that once again, someone fired a long-range projectile into Israel by accident. Instead, the IDF got busy preparing itself and southern Israel for a significant response. That response started on Monday evening local time, with the IDF striking Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Earlier, the military deployed two additional infantry and armored corps conscripted brigades to the IDFs Southern Command and conducted a limited call-up of reservesat least, for nowmainly for air defenses. We are ready for all contingencies, a defense source told JNS. The IDFs Gaza Division also closed off whole areas and roads in the south that are near the Gazan border, and ordered Israeli farmers to in the area to stop working their land. All of the signs indicate that a significant Israeli military retaliation is in the works. Usually in such cases, the Israeli General Staff draws up a range of options and the Israeli cabinet chooses one of them. What remains unknown at this time is how extensive Israels military action will be and how Gazas terrorist factions will, in turn, respond. The escalation dynamic remains unknown. The answers to such questions will in large part determine whether the region is about to enter a brief, yet intensive, exchange of fire, or whether the situation might escalate into a wider conflict that could even include a ground offensive. Another question that the Israeli cabinet will need to answer is whether, after all is said and done, it will wish to leave the Hamas regime in power and limit its strikes to the military wing, or go further and strike at the regimes survivability. Israels dilemma, ever since Hamas seized power in a violent coup in 2007, has been whether to choose a hostile radical Islamist regimeyet one that is capable of ruling Gaza and has been partially responsive to deterrenceor to topple the regime. Hamas is fully aware of Israels deep reluctance to reoccupy Gaza and its aversion to the scenario of getting stuck in the Gazan mud, an awareness it has used to keep gambling and pressuring Israel. In recent weeks, the new IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, has ordered the militarys Southern Command to review its attack plans and ensure they are up to date. Kochavi also told a new Military Intelligence targeting center to prioritize the collection of intelligence on enemy targets in Gaza. These steps are part of his keen awareness that Gaza remains the most unstable arena in Israels neighborhood and the one that is most likely to explode first. The IDF will also need to factor in the risk of Gaza setting off other arenas, particularly the West Bank, and even also northern fronts. Finally, as some in the Israeli defense establishment have been pointing out, military force is an essential but not exclusive tool to deal with Gaza. Sooner or later, the Strips economic and infrastructure woes will require treatment or the next escalation that follows this one will not be far away. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. WASHINGTON (JTA)Rep. Ilhan Omar hit back at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after they called out the first-year congresswoman at the AIPAC policy conference for her attacks on the lobby and support for the Israel boycott movement. Pelosi, D-Calif., told the American Israel Public Affairs Committees annual confab on Tuesday that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel was a form of bigotry. Americans must be vigilant against bigoted or dangerous ideologies masquerading as policy, and that includes BDS, she said to applause. Omar, D-Minn., and a fellow freshman to whom she is close, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., back BDS. Asked by reporters about Pelosis statement, Omar was quoted by The Hill as saying, A condemnation for people that want to exercise their First Amendment rights is beneath any leader, and I hope that we find a better use of language when we are trying to speak as members of Congress that are sworn to protect the Constitution. Pelosi also noted to AIPAC that the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the anti-Semitic dual loyalty canardone Omar had been accused of invoking when she said she felt pressure to pledge allegiance to Israel. Omars remarks on Netanyahu came on Twitter. On Tuesday, the prime minister mocked Omar in his address to AIPAC for suggesting lawmakers backed Israel only because it brought in campaign money. The reason the people of America support Israel is not because they want our money, its because they share our values, Netanyahu said. Omars response: This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs. (JNS)Iran could be trying to build missile factories in Syria again, according to recent reports, raising the possibility of further Israeli preemptive action. The Israeli commercial satellite company ImageSat International (ISI) published images this month showing suspicious activity at a compound in Safita in northwest Syria. The construction patterns, the compound location and the activity signs at the compound and its region increase the probability that this is a missiles manufacturing site, ISI assessed. Israel remains committed to the use of force to preemptively disrupt Irans force build-up program in Syria. For now, according to Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, former national security adviser, that policy has no alternative. Im not sure they [the Iranians] are manufacturing missiles in Syria, but if it is true, then this determination stems from the fact that the matter is very important to the Iranians, Amidror told JNS. Russia, which continues to lead the pro-Assad regime coalition, will not fight Israels wars, said Amidror. So long as our maneuvers and those of the Iranians do not destabilize [Syrian President Bashar] Assads rule, the Russians have no reason to intervene. According to the report by ISI, the site in northwest Syria has the same construction visual patterns that can be found in sites in Iran that produce surface-to-surface missiles. The site is located only eight kilometers from the border with Lebanon, in an area controlled by the Syrian regime and in the vicinity of the Russian surface-to-air deployments, the company noted. During the last months, buses and vans were detected in the site entrance within the securely fenced compound. It appears that the workers use buses and vans as in military facility common pattern. Also, a new water tower was recently built. Those two findings indicate that the compound is active and under development, it stated. In addition, nearby to the compound, satellite imagery revealed massive and extensive trails that probably belong to heavy vehicles like mobile missile launchers, it assessed. Emily Landau, head of the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said Israel stands by itself in its battle to prevent Iranian weapons proliferation and military build-up to its north. Israel has been left alone to deal with weapons transfers and missile factories, even though as far as Hezbollah is concerned, Iran is blatantly violating U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, she said. Last month, Israels Channel 12 said in a report that despite Iranian and Syrian attempts to hide the site, this information has been documented by Israeli intelligence elements. Irans takeover attempts have run into difficulties in the form of hundreds of airstrikes, the report noted. Nevertheless, the Syrians and Iranians find creative ways to supply the needed equipment to Lebanon, said Landau. The report noted that Iran and Hezbollah have, in recent years, engaged in an effort to set up precision missile-production sites inside Lebanon as well. Where is the international community on this? asked Landau. Looking ahead, Landau said Israel will likely continue to carry out operations against Iranian assets in Syria and transfers to Hezbollah, but it is hard to say whether this will encourage Iran to stop or to step up its efforts. The international community is happy to leave this to Israel, but its indifference must be highlighted and challenged. With Russia playing a dominant military and strategic role in Syria, Israel has no choice but to coordinate its military action in Syria with Russia, as the U.S. is signaling it is not interested in being directly involved, she noted. But it is a delicate balancing act because of the importance of Israels relationship with the U.S. Jewish Academy of Orlando celebrated Purim with a megillah reading, party, performances, delivery of mishloach manot (Purim baskets), and grogger sculpture creations. Third-grade students performed in the annual Purim play that tells the holidays story through music and dance. Even JAO teachers joined in the celebration with their debut performance of Im Queen E, a parody of the song This is Me, from The Greatest Showman. At the Purim party, the students participated in games, read an emoji megillah, had their faces painted, and played trivia games. The parent teacher organization was involved by preparing and delivering mishloach manot to the community. The Purim story teaches our students many Jewish values and life skills including leadership, giving, making good choices, and standing up for what is right. By integrating the story into art, music, and performing arts, these skills truly come to life. We are delighted that our students are able to participate in a program that synthesizes academic lessons, sportsmanship, Jewish values, art, music, and performance to our entire student body, stated Alan Rusonik, head of school. Jewish Academy of Orlando serves central Florida students of all faiths from grades kindergarten through fifth. The school delivers a whole-child education fostering academic excellence and character education rooted in Jewish values. Jewish Academy of Orlando is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools. Beginning in fall of 2019, the school will offer a transitional kindergarten. To learn more about Jewish Academy of Orlando, please visit: jewishacademyorlando.org or follow the school on Facebook facebook.com/JewishAcademyOrlando. (JNS)Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iraq criticized the United States for recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, following a ceremony attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. The ceremony featured the signing of an official proclamation, and was also attended by Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The pen Trump used to sign the declaration was handed to Netanyahu as a gift for the Israeli people. In a blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, the president of the U.S. has recognized the annexation of the Syrian Golan, a Syrian foreign ministry source was quoted as saying by SANA Syrian state media. The source told SANA that American support for Israel has made the United States a foremost enemy of the Arabs. Unfortunately, this could drive a new wave of tensions in the Middle East region, said Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Saudi Arabias state news agency said Tuesday the declaration could have significant consequences for the peace process. Saudi Arabia expresses its firm rejection and condemnation of the U.S. administrations declaration that it recognizes Israels sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, said a statement in the official SPA news agency. The Lebanese foreign ministry called the Golan Heights Syrian Arab land, adding that no decision can change this, and no country can revisit history by transferring ownership of land from one country to another. In a statement, Bahrains foreign ministry said it reaffirmed its position that the Golan Heights are Arab and Syrian territories, occupied by Israel since June 1967, as it is confirmed by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. Iraq strongly opposes the legitimization of the occupation of the Syrian Golan. The occupation is a crime against the security of humanity, Ahmed al-Sahaf, spokesman of the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement. Iraq confirms that the passing of time does not give the current occupying authority any right or sovereignty over the occupied territories of the Syrian Golan, or the occupied Palestinian territories, in particular Jerusalem. (JNS)Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), as part of a series of addressing fundraisers for groups that promote Islamic extremism, appeared at a fundraiser on Sunday, March 24, for a political action committee affiliated with the Council on American Islamic Relations. The private event in California was hosted by CAIR-CA PAC and only allowed the first 100 confirmed guests to attend, according to a screenshot of the meet-and-greet invite acquired by The Washington Free Beacon. CAIR has a long history of being a vicious anti-Semitic Israel-hating group. They irrationally condemn the Jewish state, but never condemn the murderous actions of Hamas or Syria, or the Palestinian dictator [Mahmoud] Abbas, Zionist Organization of America national president Mort Klein previously told JNS. By calling for the genocide of Israel, they join the moral horrors of the Nazis and Stalin, without their power, thank G-d. On Saturday, March 23, Omar spoke at the CAIR Greater Los Angeles fourth annual Valley Banquet. The chapters director, Hussam Ayloush, posted on Twitter in November that Irans regime calling Israel a cancerous tumor is like the pot calling the kettle black. All the people of that region will be better off once both murderous regimes are terminated. In his tweet, Ayloush linked to an article from Daily Sabah of Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani calling Israel a cancerous tumor. In Tampa Bay last month, Omar addressed an Islamic Relief event for assisting Yemen. The United States designated the organization as a terrorist entity in 2004 because it provided funding to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. (In 2014, the Obama administration was reported to have provided $200,000 to Islamic Relief in which the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform initiated an investigation in October). (JNS)Vice President Mike Pence blasted Democratic freshmen in the House of Representatives on Monday, in addition to certain candidates on the 2020 presidential campaign trail, for the former using rank anti-Semitic language and the latter for declining to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committees (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington. At the same time, he touted the Trump administrations pro-Israel accomplishments, including the United States withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and relocating the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018 after declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel six months earlier, As far as Congress goes, without mentioning her by name, Pence pointed to the fact that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who has repeatedly tweeted anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment, and accused AIPAC of paying members of Congress to support the pro-Israel lobbys agenda, has been traffick[ing] in repeated anti-Semitic tropes. Anti-Semitism has no place in the Congress of the United States of America, said the vice president to a thunderous applause from the crowd. Pence also called for Omar to be removed from her position as part of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. However, the committees chairman, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and the Democratic leadership has shown no interest in taking that course of action at the moment. In January, the Republican Party did condemn Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in a House resolution and removed him from his committee assignments after years of defending white supremacy and white nationalism. Pence also criticized the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who announced that they would not be attending this years AIPAC conference, even though they were not invited by the organization to address the event. Anyone who aspires to the highest office in the land should not be afraid stand with the strongest supporters of Israel in America, he said. (JNS)Daniel Wolf, whose home was hit by a long-range missile from Gaza on Monday, said although his family home was destroyed in the attack, a lot of miracles happened that ultimately spared the family from death. We are in shock, but the most important thing is that we are all OK, Daniel Wolf told Channel 13 from the hospital. It was traumatic. After the explosion, there was silence, dust and screaming. Destruction everywhere. The Wolfs, who live in Mishmeret north of Tel Aviv, faintly heard the siren just after 5 a.m. When I heard the siren, I ran and grabbed my oldest daughter, and then I got my wife and my younger daughter and dashed them to the shelter, he said. My mother was in between the shelter and the kitchen when we heard an enormous explosion followed by silence... it was terrible. Wolf said his father and sister were standing in the front yard when the rocket hit, and miraculously were not seriously injured. There were a lot of miracles that happened, he said. According to Wolf, his mother and daughters, who were injured, are expected to make a full recovery. Two family dogs were killed. Daniel said that normally, he would have been in bed. However, the night before the attack, he happened to have fallen asleep on the couch, a room with better acoustics than his bedroom, which enabled him to hear the siren. He immediately woke up and roused his wife, parents and daughters, grabbing the girls and racing with his wife to the safe room in their home. Daniels mother, Susan, didnt make it to the safe room in time and suffered the most serious injuries in the family. I nearly lost my family, said father and immigrant from Great Britain, Robert Wolf, standing outside the remains of the destroyed home, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post. If we had not gotten to the bomb shelter in time, I would now be burying all my family. That is two grandchildren, one 5 months old, one 2 years old. That would be my third child with his wife, my wife, myself and my youngest daughter. They would all have been dead if we didnt do what we had been supposed to do. Robert Wolf left the house to wake another daughter in a separate apartment unit, and the two were in the yard on their way to the safe room when the rocket hit. The rocket traveled 60 miles from southern Gazathe farthest reaching attack since the 2014 Gaza war. The family was evacuated to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba. Susan Wolf was transferred to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah in moderate condition. The force of the blast was so massive that it damaged several houses in the vicinity, blowing out the windows in the house across the street and cutting the gas line. Yet in another miracle, no explosions resulted. (JTA)-President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Here's what you need to know about the Golan Heights, the 52-year argument over the plateau and why Trump's proclamation is a big deal for Israel's upcoming election. What is the Golan Heights? The Golan Heights is a territory in Israel's northeast corner, on the Syrian border. It's rural, mountainous and mostly empty. Fewer than 50,000 people live there-less than 1 percent of Israel's population of 8.7 million. Half of the Golan's residents are Jewish Israelis who live mostly in small agricultural communities. The other half are from a religious group called the Druze, who are mostly citizens of Syria. What? Why are there Syrian citizens living in Israel? Good question! The Golan wasn't always controlled by Israel. Until 1967, it was part of Syria, but Israel took control of the area that year in the Six-Day War. Israelis began moving there almost immediately, and Israel fully annexed the Golan in 1981, treating it like any other part of the country. It offered the Syrian Druze residents citizenship, but most of them have declined. So now the Golan is part of Israel? Kind of. Israel thinks so, but no other country has recognized its sovereignty over the heights-including the U.S. until now. The international community sees the Golan as Syrian territory occupied by Israel in a war-a view shared by every president before Trump. Israel has flirted with returning the Golan to Syria a few times in exchange for a full peace treaty. In the 1990s, and as late as 2010, Israeli prime ministers considered the idea in negotiations. But Israelis don't want to part with the Golan. In the '90s, as peace talks advanced, bumper stickers that read "The Nation with the Golan" spread around Israel. In 2008, when Israel and Syria conducted indirect negotiations, nearly 60 percent of Israelis opposed returning the Golan in exchange for peace. In addition to its stunning landscapes, the Golan holds strategic value for Israel as a high ground that overlooks the country's north. And even though no country recognizes Israel's claim to the Golan, it still isn't that controversial. Most criticism of Israel relates to how it treats Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. But there are no Palestinians in the Golan, and the Druze residents there don't protest Israel. Even with a civil war raging next door, the Golan is tranquil. What's happening with the Golan now? When the civil war in Syria erupted in 2011, fragmenting and destroying much of the country, talk of Israel giving back the Golan stopped. Israelis worried that it would become a base for terror groups like ISIS, and there was no Syrian government powerful enough to sign and enforce a peace treaty. Plus, did Israel really want to negotiate with Syrian strongman Bashar Assad? Since then, a range of centrist and right-wing Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has called on the international community to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. "You can imagine what would have happened if Israel were not in the Golan," the prime minister said Wednesday in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "We would have Iran on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It's time that the international community recognizes Israel's stay in the Golan, the fact that the Golan will always remain part of the State of Israel." Now that talk has spread to the Republican Party. Last week, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, called on the U.S. to recognize Israel's claim to the Golan. Trump himself followed suit on Thursday, breaking with half a century of U.S. policy. That sounds like a big deal. It is. First, it makes clear that peace between Israel and Syria isn't happening anytime soon, even when the civil war ends. If Israel's hold on the Golan was tight before, it's airtight now. U.S. recognition gives its annexation a dose of international legitimacy, so Israel is even less likely to withdraw now. It's also a big deal for Netanyahu, who is facing a credible challenge to his premiership in the election a couple of weeks away. Trump's proclamation is a huge boost in a tight race. Netanyahu has bet heavily on Trump since he became president, and it's paid off for him politically. Trump has basically fulfilled Netanyahu's wish list on everything from recognizing Jerusalem to withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement that Netanyahu vehemently opposed. Now, in a close race and with his career on the line, Netanyahu can tell Israeli voters he's the prime minister who delivered U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights. Does this mean anything for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Maybe. After the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel took control of five territories. In the ensuing 52 years, it's withdrawn from two-the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, both in the south-with the goal of making peace. Israel has also annexed two-eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Trump recognized the Jerusalem annexation in 2017. Now Trump and his Senate allies are pushing Congress to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, too. In February, Republican House members introduced a bill to do just that. The fifth territory is the West Bank, which is way more complicated. Israel hasn't withdrawn from nor annexed it-yet. But a bunch of right-wing Israeli politicians want to do just that-declare Israeli sovereignty over part or all of the West Bank, where 400,000 Israeli settlers and some 2.5 million Palestinians live. Now that Trump recognized Israel's annexation of the Golan and eastern Jerusalem, could he recognize a West Bank annexation, too? The answer to that question used to be "no." Now it's "maybe." U.S. President Donald J. Trump, joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and administration officials, signs a proclamation formally recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, on March 25, 2019, at the White House. (JNS)-The formal recognition of Israel's sovereignty in the Golan Heights by the United States could not have come on a more sobering day for Israelis. As rockets were being launched deep into the central Israel by the terror group Hamas in Gaza, the importance of the Golan Heights for Israel's security was on full display. In his remarks at the formal signing of the presidential proclamation at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. President Donald Trump that the region was "invaluable" to Israel's defense. "Your proclamation comes at a time when the Golan is more important than ever for our security, when Iran is trying to establish bases in Syria to strike at Israel," said Netanyahu. At the same time, he highlighted Israel's historic and legal right to the region. "Your decision to recognize sovereignty is a two-fold act of historic justice: Israel won the Golan Heights in a just war of self-defense, and the Jewish people's connection to that land goes back generations." Despite the strategic and historical importance of the Golan Heights for Israel, the United States remains alone in recognizing Israel's claim of sovereignty. Many other countries view Israel's control over the region, which Israel gained in the 1967 Six-Day War, as illegal under international law. Eugene Kontorovich, director of International Law at the Jerusalem-based Kohelet Policy Forum and professor of International Law at George Mason University in Washington, D.C., told JNS that Trump's formal recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli sovereign territory "will doubtless be met by responses that it violates, or condones violation, of international law and will encourage forcible annexation of territory." But according to Kontorovich, "these international legal arguments lack merit." He pointed out that the relevant international law "only prohibits taking territory in a war of aggression." He noted that war in June of 1967, during which Israel captured the Golan Heights from hostile Syria, "was at the time generally regarded as a lawful, defensive war, in response to constant Syrian and Egyptian attempts to destroy Israel." Kontorovich warned that "if international law does not allow attacked countries to make border changes in some circumstances, it would actually invite aggression because the attacking country would be ensured against losses to the defender." A main argument among Israel's detractors is that such recognition sets a bad precedent and will encourage other countries to capture and annex territory that is not theirs. Kontorovich denounced this argument as empty, saying the notion that this move will invite aggression is absurd for another reason: "Israel's sovereignty has only been recognized after it made multiple good-faith peace efforts to return the territory; after Syria lost all legitimacy by committing mass atrocities; and, of course, after a 52-year waiting period. That is a demanding formula that will certainly not invite adventurism." The move away from an unsuccessful paradigm Another point is that U.S. recognition sends a clear and direct message to the Arab world. David Weinberg, vice president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told JNS that "Trump's move is important in that it teaches a lesson to Arab leaders: The longer you wait to make peace with Israel, the less you're going to get. Assad, the father [Hafez] and son [Bashar], blew their opportunities to make peace with Israel and regain control of the Golan. Now, Syria pays the price." And it offers an important lesson to the Palestinians. According to Weinberg, "Trump is saying: You can reject my about-to-be-presented peace plan, but know that if you do, you'll lose." Trump's actions demonstrate a clear and definite move away from the unsuccessful paradigm that existed for many years with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict. If the Palestinians continue to reject Israeli offers for peace, "the U.S. could yet recognize Israeli annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria, or step back from support for Palestinian statehood," said Weinberg. "In short," he concluded, "Trump's move changes the deleterious dynamic long in place, in which the Palestinians could safely assume that their rejectionism of plan after peace plan only intensified the pressure for greater Israeli concessions." As Trump noted when he sat down to sign the proclamation, "This was a long time in the making. It should have taken place many decades ago." Israeli spacecraft Beresheet sends new images to Earth (JNS)Fresh images and video were transmitted to Earth from the Israeli spacecraft Beresheet as it makes its way to the moon, announced SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries on Sunday. SpaceIL and IAI engineering teams, based in Israel, have downloaded new images and videos from the spacecraft. The photos and videos were taken by the spacecraft at different heights and times. One of the videos includes a sunrise from the spacecrafts viewpointthe Earth can be seen hiding the sun from the spacecraft, and then exiting the same shadow created by the Earth and the suns exposure. This process creates a kind of sunrise image. A photo of Earth taken by one of the Beresheet perimeter cameras last week showed South America. Beresheet, named after the first word and the first book in the Torah (meaning in the beginning), lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Feb. 22. If it succeeds, it will be the first Israeli spacecraft to land on the moon, as well as the first privately owned craft to do so. Wiesenthal center asks Omar to condemn district imam who spoke on Zio agenda By Aaron Bandler (Jewish Journal via JNS)Simon Wiesenthal Center associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper called on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to condemn an imam in her district who preached against a Zio-Crusader agenda in a recent sermon. The Middle East Media Research Institute reported that Imam Shaaban Aboubadria said in a March 15 sermon at the Minneapolis Masjid Al-Huda Islamic Center that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is carrying the Zio-Crusader agenda. The term Zio is an anti-Semitic slur that has been popularized by former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. Throughout history, he has been carrying out the agenda of the Zionists, and the agenda of the tyrannical and criminal Templar Crusaders, and yet he claims to be a Muslim, said Aboubadria. Aboubadria also reportedly said, Western civilization is built on shedding blood, killing and terrorism. Who is the one that is killing Muslims in Syria? Isnt it Russia? Are the Russian planes dropping chocolate on the innocent and unarmed civilians? Or are they dropping lethal and destructive incendiary bombs on them? said Aboubadria. And what about the bombs that criminal Israel is dropping on Gaza... we went to sleep with the bombing of Gaza, and woke up with the crime in New Zealand. Last week, The Washington Post published an op-ed bearing her name trying to step away from her virulent anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rants. Congresswoman Omar, now is the time to let your constituents and concerned Americans know whether you condemn or endorse these views delivered to your community from the pulpit of a Minneapolis mosque, said Cooper. House leader Hoyer slams Rep. Omars dual-loyalty remarks at AIPAC conference (JNS)House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) delivered an indirect rebuke on Sunday against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for making anti-Semitic statements. When someone accuses American supporters of Israel of dual loyalty, I say Accuse me, said Hoyer to a standing ovation at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. This came in reference to Omar, who accused AIPAC last month of paying members of Congress to back Israel. Its all about the Benjamins baby, posted the congresswoman in a now-deleted tweet. Hoyer also said, Ive been proud to help lead efforts in Congress to push back against the BDS movement. And I will push for a bipartisan resolution that puts Congress on record that BDS must be condemned. The congressional leader told JNS last month that he hopes to move along a passed Senate bill that, if enacted, would impose fresh sanctions on Syria, boost security cooperation with Israel and Jordan, and allow state and local governments the right to punish state or local contractors from boycotting Israel. [House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman] Eliot Engel and I are talking about it, and hopefully, well move something soon, said Hoyer. The anti-BDS component of the legislation has divided Democrats. At AIPAC conference, Romania announces goal of moving embassy to Jerusalem By Jackson Richman (JNS)Following the United States and Guatemalas lead, Romanias prime minister announced at the American Israel Public Affairs Committees annual policy conference on Sunday her intention to move the countrys embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. I, as prime minister of Romania, and the government I lead, will move our embassy to Jerusalem, said Viorica Dancila. Our support of the State of Israel and the Jewish community is constant. I am determined to contribute to closer relations between Israel and the entire European Union, particularly now, when Romania is holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Dancila has been met with resistance by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who would make the final decision on moving the countrys embassy. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said that Honduras will immediately open our official diplomatic mission, and this will extend our embassy to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem. According to a joint statement from the three countries released by the U.S. State Department in January, Israel and Honduras agreed to pursue a plan of action, which includes meetings in their three respective capitals, to advance the process of the decision to open embassies in both Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem. Honduras was one of just nine countries to vote against a U.N. General Assembly resolution in December 2017 condemning Americas recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital. Also present, Cape (Cabo) Verdes prime minister, Jose Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva, talked about strengthening ties between the African country and the Jewish state. He traveled to Israel this month, meeting with Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its president, Reuven Rivlin. My government is very interested [in strengthening the] political and diplomatic relationship with Israel, said Silva. Were considering to open a Cape Verde embassy in Israel as soon as possible. Gantz denounces extremism, calls for unity in AIPAC talk By Jackson Richman (JNS)Former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff and Blue and White Party leader Benny GantzIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus main rival in Israels national elections on April 9denounced extremists both inside and outside the countrys borders, in addition to calling for unity. In front of the American Israel Public Affairs Committees annual policy conference on Monday, the retired army general said that were he to win, there will be no Kahanists running our country, there will be no racists leading our state institutions, and there will be no corruption leading our waysno corruption whatsoever. Gantz was referring to the late extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane and his Kach Party, an offshoot of which is the staunch nationalist Otzma Yehudit Party. Netanyahu endorsed a merger last month of the religious Zionist Jewish Home and National Union parties with Otzma Yehudit in an effort to form a strong right-wing bloc. The move was condemned by AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups. Regarding extremists outside of Israel, Gantz insisted that he will not hesitate to use force against when necessary, particularly when it comes to Iran and its various proxies. In the aftermath of Hamas launching a long-range missile on Monday into central Israel, Gantz called for the terrorist group to cease its activities. The reality in the southas we unfortunately saw today where Israeli children spend their nights in bomb shelters while the heads of Hamas celebratemust end now, and it will, he said. Finally, Gantz called for unity amid the ongoing campaign mudslinging. The divisive dialogue tearing our strong nation apart may serveI doubt it, but it may servepolitical purposes, but is shredding the fabric that holds us together, he said. Newsweek names Israels Sheba Medical Center one of worlds 10 best hospitals By Marcy Oster JERUSALEM (JTA)Newsweek magazine named Israels Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer as one of the top 10 best hospitals in the world. Sheba was placed 10th on the list that includes the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Singapore General Hospital and Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. The magazine partnered with Statista Inc., a global market research and consumer data company, to develop the list, which was published on Wednesday. The magazine called Sheba a leader in medical science and biotechnical innovation, both in the Middle East and worldwide. The centers collaborations with international parties have advanced innovative medical practices, hospital systems and biotechnology. Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer was founded in 1948 and is affiliated with Tel Aviv University. It serves over 1 million patients per year. Millions of butterflies blanket Israel during annual migration By Marcy Oster JERUSALEM (JTA)Millions of butterflies are blanketing Israel during their annual migration to Europe. Up to a billion butterflies known as Vanessa cardui, or painted lady, are passing through Israel in search of food on their way to their breeding grounds in Europe. They have been spotted in large numbers in the southern Arava region, across the Sharon Valley, and through major city centers up to the Carmel Mountain range, Israel Hayom reported, citing the Association of Butterflies in Israel. It is reportedly the largest migration of such butterflies ever seen in Israel. A survey sample showed that many thousands per hour of the butterfly species have been seen migrating across the skies compared to just a few hundred in a similar event five years ago, according to the report, citing Noam Kirshenbaum of the association. Butterfly sightings, which began last week, continued on Sunday. Health food store employee who harassed Jewish co-worker arrested By Marcy Oster (JTA)A former employee of a health food store in New York who was fired for anti-Semitic comments and actions against a Jewish co-worker was arrested for the hate crime. William Sullivan, 21, of Saugerties in southeast New York, was charged with second-degree aggravated harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined in a press conference on Friday to announce the arrest. Its hard for me even to believe this is happening, Cuomo said of the March 11 incident at Mother Earths Storehouse in Ulster, New York. What makes it worse, frankly, is that this is not an isolated situation, he said. We have been seeing a growing number of anti-Semitic activity. In the incident, Sullivan turned the light off in the produce cooler and told a fellow employee named Sarah youre in the gas chamber, then called her a f**king Jew. The Jewish employee told her supervisors and reported the incident to police. Two days after the incident Sullivan harassed her with anti-Semitic epithets again and was fired. The Jewish employee quit the job she had been in for more than a year after the incidents. The store posted an apology on Facebook, though some comments suggested that it was too little too late. AIPAC did not invite 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to conference (JNS)The American Israel Public Affairs Committee did not invite any of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to address this years annual policy conference, a source in the pro-Israel lobby told JNS. Since 2008, we have only had presidential candidates speaking in actual election years, said the source. AIPAC does not disclose who is invited to the conference, but rather, who has confirmed. On Thursday, the following candidates stated their upcoming absence: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), former Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas), former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind., will also not be there. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is not planning to attend, but she will be meeting with her constituents, her spokesperson told JNS. JNS reached out to the remaining candidates to see whether or not they plan on attending, but has not received comment. They include Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), author Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are among the main speakers who addressed the conference, which took place from March 24-26, just weeks before Israelis go to the polls on April 9. Jewish groups providing financial support to victims of New Zealand mosque attacks By Marcy Oster (JTA)The American Jewish Committee has partnered with the New Zealand Jewish Council to provide financial support for the victims of attacks on two mosques in New Zealand and for the Muslim community. We are moved as Jews, as human beings, to respond with heartfelt compassion for the families of the victims, for all in New Zealands Muslim community hurting in the wake of this unspeakable terrorist assault, American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris said in a statement issued Tuesday. There was no word on how much money would be going to the victims and the community. The Jewish Council said it would find the appropriate agency to receive and dispense the assistance. Fifty Muslim worshippers were killed and at least 20 injured following shootings at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch on March 15. The answer to those who traffic in hate, who perpetrate violence against houses of worship, must be unity, solidarity, and linked arms against evil. The Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh has raised more than $58,800 to support the victims and their families of the shootings via a GoFundMe page set up the day after the attacks. We feel compelled to come to the aid of those communities, just as our Jewish community was so compassionately supported only a few short months ago by people around the world of many faiths, the synagogue wrote on the crowdfunding page. We recall with love the immediate, overwhelming support Tree of Life received from our Muslim brothers and sisters in Pittsburgh. A rabbi shot by a terrorist saved a woman while he was dying By Marcy Oster JERUSALEM (JTA)Rabbi Achiad Ettinger died a herothe family of a woman he helped save is keeping the rabbis name alive. The newborn grandson of the woman was named for Ettinger, who died of injuries suffered in a West Bank shooting by a 19-year-old Palestinian. Ettinger, a father of 12, still managed to fire four bullets at the attacker, and the shots diverted the gunmans attention from the woman, The Yeshiva World News reported. A video posted on YouTube shows Tuesdays bris ceremony for the baby in the West Bank settlement of Itamar. A son of Ettinger served as the sandek, the person who holds the 8-day-old boy, and was given the honor of reciting the blessing to name the child. He is seen choking back tears as he confers the name Achiad on the baby. An Israeli soldier Lt. Gal Keidan, 19, of Beershebaalso was killed in the March 17 attack. The gunman was killed three days later in a shootout with Israeli soldiers. LOS ANGELES (JTA)AIPAC has long promoted bipartisanship as the key to maintaining broad support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Members of Congress from both parties regularly attend its annual policy conference, which concluded Tuesday, and the organizations biggest legislative priority, securing foreign aid for Israel, is overwhelmingly supported in both chambers of Congress. In AIPACs worldview, every legislator is a friend or a potential friend. This approach worksuntil it doesnt. In 2016, AIPACs then-president Lillian Pinkus controversially rebuked then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, who received warm applause for his strong critique of President Barack Obamas policies. In front of 18,000 conference attendees and thousands more watching via livestream around the world, she characterized his remarks as something which has the potential to drive us apart, to divide us, and added that we take great offense against [ad hominem attacks] that are levied against the president of the United States of America from our stage. Her remarks were politely accepted by the crowd. But the incident marked a new era for AIPAC: The pro-Israel lobby had grown so nervous in recent years about offending the political left that it scolded its most loyal and informed members for their spontaneous support for the truth. Most Jewish members of Congress over the decades have been Democrats, as are a large majority of American Jews. AIPAC is naturally comfortable with that side of the political aisle and therefore has respected the role of the Zionist Organization of America, Christians United for Israel and the Republican Jewish Coalition, among other groups, cementing and celebrating relations with pro-Israel conservatives. Democrats from President Harry Truman to Sen. Henry Scoop Jackson, labor union leaders and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. were all advocates of Israeli survival and success. But Obama led a dramatic reversal. Stating that we needed daylight between the United States and Israel, the two-term president picked political fights with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over borders and settlements, including in eastern Jerusalem, tilted toward Israels hostile enemy, the Shiite regime in Iran, leaked Israeli defense actions in Syria and, in a parting shot, sided against Israel on a one-sided Security Council vote at the United Nations. When Obama endorsed Jerusalem as Israels eternal capital to an AIPAC audience, but then immediately reversed himself, AIPAC kept quiet. Whenever his secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel, who had gotten in trouble for castigating the Jewish lobby, criticized AIPAC, the lobby remained mute. When Obama spoke in the Arab world in 2009 with a pernicious narrative that Israeli sovereignty was rooted in recovery from the Holocaust, AIPAC did not answer back to argue for the 3,000-year Jewish history in Jerusalem. By 2012, Democratic National Convention delegates were booing the idea that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel. To appease these progressives, AIPAC treaded very cautiously in confronting Obama, seeking access and accommodation by choosing one of his political supporters, Lee Rosy Rosenberg, to serve as its president in 2010. AIPAC has long been aware of the anti-Israel left. But today, many Democratic organizations and activists have moved sharply toward that once minority position, creating an energy that has intimidated traditionally pro-Israel Democrats. The progressive PAC MoveOn called on Democratic presidential candidates to skip AIPAC this year. The Womens March leader Linda Sarsour tweeted in 2016 that AIPAC is anti-Palestinian, anti-human rights, and this year accused the organization of funding anti-Muslim groups. Left-wing hostility to Israel is so pronounced by now that AIPAC cannot appease it. The campus radicals have come to Congress. Six of the seven Democrat senators running for president opposed recent anti-BDS legislation in the Senate. Congressional votes against anti-Semitism are now watered down. AIPAC may have to adjust to the messy real world of an increasingly partisan Washington, D.C., which now features anti-Israel voices rapidly changing the Democratic Party. If it hopes to continue to be effective and respected, AIPAC must redouble its support for those in both parties who oppose the anti-Israel left, rewarding friends and punishing enemies. AIPAC President Howard Kohrs speech at this years policy conference certainly made it clear that AIPAC will not allow attacks on the lobby to go unanswered. But if AIPAC had confronted Democrats earlier, Obama may never have pursued his dangerous Iranian policy, which AIPAC gamely fought but lost. While AIPAC does not rate or endorse candidates, it can certainly use care not to invite as speakers those who endorsed the Iran nuclear deal or fail to condemn by name AIPACs most aggressive opponents. So, AIPAC, kindly note: Appeasement doesnt work. Larry Greenfield is a public intellectual, political commentator, wealth advisor, and columnist. He is Fellow in American Studies at the Claremont Institute in Claremont, California and the Founding Executive Director of the Reagan Legacy Foundation. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media. Dear Editor: This morning, the AIPAC Policy Conference 2019 came to a close after a highly productive weekend. We have seen our politics becoming more divided, including on the subject of Israel. This is exemplified by Rep. Ilhan Omar who, after embroiling herself in controversy by continuously and deliberately making anti-Semitic remarks, today lashed out in a gratuitous attack against AIPAC and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Nevertheless, as we saw during this years conference, AIPACs annual event remains a strong bipartisan space that unites Americans of diverse backgrounds and beliefs in the interest of supporting one of Americas closest allies. But while AIPAC strives to maintain bipartisanship, some in the Democratic Party seem intent on changing that. In particular, it is unfortunate several Democratic presidential hopefuls decided not to attend the AIPAC conference after the Ilhan Omar controversy. They might not have accepted MoveOns call to not attend the AIPAC conference or share Rep. Ilhan Omars bigoted views on Israel and the Jewish people, but they were apparently influenced by them. That is why we at the American Jewish Congress commend the actions and the composure of Democrats who refused to give into this negative pressure and chose to stand with Israel and Jewish Americans at AIPAC this year. In particular, my old friend Senator Chuck Schumer gave an impassioned speech on the ancient dangers of anti-Semitism that threaten to grow within our politics today. When someone says that being Jewish and supporting Israel means youre not loyal to America, we must call it out...When someone suggests that money drives support for Israel, we must call it out, Sen. Schumer said. He continued, You can be, all at once, completely Jewish, completely pro-Israel, and completely American, and we are. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio provided a much-needed perspective; as a self-described Progressive Democrat, he reminded us that true Progressive values lead to supporting Israel and the Jewish people, not opposing it. The anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric rising in the far-left is a corruption of those values. Progressives fight oppression, progressives shelter those in danger, we embrace inclusion, we fight against exclusion, he said. And now, here are the facts, the Jewish people have faced thousands of years of exclusion and expulsion and violence. And though he is not a Democrat, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who is considering an Independent 2020 run, said in response to the MoveOns call for 2020 candidates to not attend the conference that The unwillingness of the far left to even speak with people they may disagree with is one of the worst symbols of the dysfunction in Washington today. we should actively engage with those who support our longstanding alliance. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and N.Y. Congressman Eliot Engel were also among the Democratic politicians who attended the Conference, and both gave strong condemnations of anti-Semitism. It is good to know that we still have many friends on both sides, and that while the divides we see are greatly concerning, we often do not see how much unity we still have. Jack Rosen President, American Jewish Congress (JNS)This year, AIPAC awarded an official on-stage presence to a recognized representative of the almost half a million Jews currently residing in the areas of the heartland of the Jewish national homeland, Judea and Samaria. Not that in previous years have persons living in those beyond-the-Green-Line territories addressed the annual conference, but they havent been openly identified as such. Oded Revivi, Yesha Council Foreign Envoy, spoke on Monday, although some were not happy. This was in addition to the off-site reception, the fourth time it has been held, sponsored by the Yesha Council and other groups. But thats not the gift to which I am referring. AIPAC continues to highlight a two-state solution. Its resource page notes, Israel is committed to a two-state solution. It also underscores that BDS proponents undermine the prospects for peace and decrease the incentive for the parties to negotiate a two-state solution. More forthrightly, we read there that: Peace will be best achieved if the Palestinians are willing to join Israel in direct talks with the goal of two statesthe Jewish State of Israel living in peace and security with a demilitarized Palestinian state. A two-state solution has never worked or been realistic since it first was applied in 1922. That was when the League of Nations accepted a British alteration in the original conception of the Jewish homeland area and adopted Article 25, which read: In the territories lying between the Jordan and the eastern boundary of Palestine as ultimately determined, the Mandatory shall be entitled, with the consent of the Council of the League of Nations, to postpone or withhold application of such provisions of this mandate as he may consider inapplicable to the existing local conditions. Incidentally, there was a provision in that article which reads: No action shall be taken which is inconsistent with the provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18. Article 15 is quite relevant to our current reality in that it stipulated that: No discrimination of any kind shall be made between the inhabitants of Palestine on the ground of race, religion or language. No person shall be excluded from Palestine on the sole ground of his religious belief. If I may translate that, Jews should be able to reside in Judea and Samaria, as well as in Jordan, even if the authority of a Jewish state is limited to areas of historic Palestine, or actually, Eretz Yisrael, that do not include Judea and Samaria or Gaza for that matter. In 1937, a second two-state solution based on a partition was suggested and the Arabs rejected it. They also rejected the 1947 U.N. Partition recommendation, a two-state solution. They rejected the Israel governments June 19, 1967 offer to return almost all the territories. The Menachem Begin 1977 Autonomy Plan idea was rejected as was the Camp David version. And ever since 1993, the Palestinian Authority has proven incapable of agreeing to a two-state solution. Hamas, of course, is, literally, dead set against it. And on Monday morning, March 25, during the AIPAC annual policy conference in Washington, for the second time in two weeks, a missile was accidentally launched from the Gaza Stripand this time destroyed a civilian residential home in the middle of Israel. That was the gift for AIPAC. Its national executive can now use that gift and simply remove all references to a specific solution, two-state or four-state (Israel, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank). It can just include in its official resource material that whatever the sides agree to is what peace will be. Hamas is oppressing its own population. It was never satisfied with the 2005 Gaza disengagement, which included the removal of all Jews from the area. Hamas seeks to overthrow the Fatah rule in Ramallah. Why would AIPAC seek to tie Israel down to an unrealistic diplomatic optionnot to mention the strategic security dangers it presents. Instead of rockets from Gaza, Israel will be facing rockets from the hills of Samaria. AIPAC delegations wont be able to land at Ben-Gurion airport safely. I hope AIPAC accepts the gift that Hamas has now provided it. Yisrael Medad is an American-born Israel journalist and commentator. As reported in this newspaper several weeks ago, a number of prominent local Jewish philanthropists have pledged millions of dollars to relocate the Holocaust Memorial, Resource and Education Center from the Jewish campus in Maitland, Florida, to an expanded site in Orlando. Along with the relocation, the Holocaust Board has decided to change the name of the new facility to The Holocaust Museum of Hope and Humanity. The decision to relocate and to change the name were apparently made without broad discussion and input from the general Jewish community as to the appropriateness of both the relocation and the name change. While recognizing the contributions and service of members of the general community to the success of the Holocaust Center, and the generous offer of land for the new facility by the City of Orlando, let us not forget that the Jewish community, including the Jewish Federation, have invested millions of dollars over the last four decades to construct and maintain the existing facility at the campus in Maitland; which is also home to the Jewish Academy of Orlando and The Roth Family Jewish Community Center, as well as housing the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. The Maitland campus has been and should remain an important center of Jewish life. Unfortunately, the relocation of the Holocaust Memorial, Resource and Education Center will diminish the campus as one of the main centers of Jewish life in the Central Florida area. What is to become of the beautiful building that was designed as a memorial to the 6,000,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust? Can it be saved at the Maitland campus to remain a memorial to the great calamity that befell the Jewish people in the 20th century? Should it not remain as a constant reminder to all visitors to the Maitland campus, Jew and non-Jew alike, that despite the losses of more than a third of the Jewish world population in the Holocaust, the Jewish people have rebounded and have overcome every adversity, to be a positive influence, a good neighbor and a contributor to the welfare and quality of life in any community in which they reside? Will the new facility be able to recreate the centrality of the Jewish experience as the basis from which to build hope and a more humane society? Last year I touched on this subject when I wrote: The Holocaust Memorial, Resource and Education Center has done great work in teaching tolerance and mutual respect to the diverse communities in Central Florida, but its heart and soul is to remember the Holocaust as a unique Jewish experience from which the community can learn these lessons of tolerance, respect and other aspects of human relations. Will the Holocaust as a unique Jewish experience be of less significance or lost to future visitors at the new location in Orlando? Will the relocated Holocaust Center, founded by Jewish Holocaust survivors, lose its Jewish character as a memorial, research and education facility by removing these key words from its name? I respectfully suggest that, despite the good intentions of these major financial contributors who are financing the relocation, expansion and name change of the Holocaust Center, their respective contributions could better serve the Jewish community by retiring campus debt, maintaining, strengthening and expanding all the Jewish agencies currently located at the Maitland campus, including the Holocaust Memorial, Resource and Education Center. In you wish to comment or respond you can reach me at melpearlman322@gmail.com. Please do so in a rational, thoughtful, respectful and civil manner. Mel Pearlman holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in physics as well as a J.D. degree and initially came to Florida in 1966 to work on the Gemini and Apollo space programs. He has practiced law in Central Florida since 1972. He has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando; was a charter board member, first Vice President and pro-bono legal counsel of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida, as well as holding many other community leadership positions. (JNS)It was a day for Israelis to cheer the unprecedented degree of closeness between their nation and its sole superpower ally. Using his favorite form of communication, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted a clear intention to discard yet another longstanding U.S. policy in the Middle East. Trumps declaration that he was going recognize Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights is correctly interpreted as a blatant interference in the upcoming Israeli elections on behalf of his friend and ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the same way his predecessors opposed the Likud Party leader. But while Netanyahu called Trumps statement a Purim miracle, his election opponents were no less enthusiastic. Yair Lapid, the No. 2 leader of the Blue and White Party called it a dream come true. Moshe Yaalon, the man likely to become defense minister if Blue and White forms the next government, called it truly good news. Netanyahus opponents have good reason to resent the timing of Trumps announcement. But only the far-left parties like the Communists of Hadash opposed it. Support for remaining on the Golan is a consensus issue in Israel as virtually no one can envision a retreat from the strategic plateau that would allow it to become part of the chaos that is contemporary Syria. With Iranian and Hezbollah forces having occupied Syria as part of a successful intervention in the civil war that has torn that nation apart in the last eight years, Trumps Golan message is also sending a strong signal to Tehran about his support for Israeli efforts aimed at thwarting their efforts to create a new northern confrontation front. But the lack of support for Trumps stand on the Golan from Democrats further illustrated the growing divide on the Middle East. Democrats have been vocal in condemning any effort to make Israel a partisan wedge issue on the part of Republicans. But were seeing that their idea of preserving the bipartisan consensus in support of the Jewish state not only consists of opposition to positions that are backed by a broad consensus of Israelis, but a willingness on the part of many of their leading presidential contenders to follow the lead of radicals like Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to oppose the embodiment of the mainstream pro-Israel consensus: the AIPAC lobby. While Republicans responded to Trumps Golan declaration with the sort of enthusiasm that matched reactions in Israel, most Democrats dismissed it, with some foolishly claiming that recognizing Israeli sovereignty undermines the virtually non-existent chances for a comprehensive peace agreement. But anyone with even the slightest grasp of Middle East reality knows that these complaints are disingenuous. Politics is a zero sum game, and just as Republicans were always reluctant to back President Barack Obama on anything, the same is true for the majority of Democrats, who sometimes act as if they think as if the flawed president is the font of all evil. Their abhorrence for him explains their refusal to support Trumps move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and the same dynamic is at play here now. But theres more going on than just the usual knee-jerk reaction in which anything good that Trump does or says must somehow be blasted as wrong. And the best indication of that is the behavior of those Democrats who are seeking the votes of their partys base. The chilling contrast to Trumps statement on the Golan was news reported the same day that the leading Democratic presidential candidates were avoiding the annual AIPAC conference being held next week in Washington. Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Beto ORourke all made it clear that they wanted no part of the gathering at which thousands of pro-Israel activistsnon-Jews as well as Jewscome together to cheer as representatives of both parties voice their support for the Jewish state. Its true that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will address the conference as they normally do. But the pointed absence of those who are seeking the Democratic presidential nominationboth major candidates and lesser known ones such as South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigeg, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, who one would have thought would benefit from showing up there sends a strong message that their party is no longer comfortable being seen cozying up to the pro-Israel community. The problem is that many Democrats are listening more to left-wing anti-Israel groups. Thats why the House wouldnt pass a resolution that focused specifically on Ilhan Omars anti-Semitism. That Democratic candidates are, in essence, validating the vicious attacks on AIPAC from Omar and Tlaib, and far-left groups like Moveon.org, by staying away from what has always been a celebration of the bipartisan consensus is telling. Thats not to say that all Democrats agree. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, was the sole leading Democrat to endorse Trumps stand on the Golan. And other House Democrats have just put forward a bipartisan anti-BDS resolution. But even that effort illustrates the divide in their party since they know that the same members who blocked their effort to censure Omar for her anti-Semitism will not vote to condemn the anti-Semitic BDS movement. Just as Democrats backed President Barack Obama on the Iran nuclear deal for strictly partisan reasons, they are doing the same thing now by opposing Trump on Jerusalem and now the Golan Heights. For all of their criticisms of Republicans, neither stand is consistent with preserving bipartisan support for Israel. Democrats dont need to embrace a president they hate in order to acknowledge that Trumps positions on Jerusalem and now the Golan are worthy of support. But as their party shifts further to the left, many of their leaders are not only unable to bring themselves to endorse mainstream pro-Israel positions, but are also following the lead of anti-Israel and arguably anti-Semitic radicals in treating AIPAC as if it were radioactive. Thats bad news for those who care about Israel, no matter where their partisan loyalties lie. Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNSJewish News Syndicate. Follow him on Twitter at: @jonathans_tobin. Lets leave the Israeli election to continue brewing. The voting is next week. Nastiness rampant. Currently in the air are comments about U.S. Jews. Where are they? Whats their interest in Israel? That weve developed into two separate communities should not be a surprise. Its been more than two generations since the Holocaust and the establishment of the Israeli state. Israel is no longer in danger of collapse. It has developed good relations with a number of former enemies, and gets along with most Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. Holocaust survivors and veterans of 1948 are disappearing, but Jewish connections are prominent. Meanwhile, American Jews are diminishing due to intermarriage and concerns with things that have little to do with Judaism. There remain ties and concerns, but not as prominent as in years past. Here it is impossible to overlook ones connection with a history and identity. The State is Jewish, as are the holidays and daily concerns of media personalities. The language is Hebrew. There are daily efforts at attack, and weekend efforts to make trouble on the borders of Gaza. When one talks about intermarriage in Israel, is is usually about a Jew whose grandparents came from one country marrying a Jew whose grandparents came from somewhere else. As Im writing this note, I hear a police helicopter in the sky, and my morning walk took me by a parking lot where police vehicles were assembling for something. Settlements are a subject of dispute between American and Israeli Jews. Many Americans somehow think that the settlements can disappear, and cease hampering a two-state settlement. There are 400,000 Jews living in the West Bank, and another 400,000 in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Israelis disagree on the issue, but enough seem content with the status quo to assure the continued existence, and even the gradual growth of the settlements. Those who choose to live in the West Bank are taking a risk. There is more Palestinian action there than against Jews living in Israel itself (whatever that is). However, the settlements are not likely to be removed, except perhaps for some small ones where courts have ruled that they have been built on Palestinians land. What happens then is that Israeli officials refuse Palestinians efforts to rebuild on that land. Americans continue to support Israel by more than 70 percent, while less than 30 percent support Palestinians. However, the figures are less encouraging among young Americans, including young Jews, and Democrats. There are prominent young Democratic Congresspersons who are openly anti-Israel, and perhaps anti-Jewish. They are getting disproportionate attention from the media, as well as opposition from their party leaders in Congress. And there have been anti-Jewish symbols and statements in the cemetery where my parents and grandparents rest. At one time, Fall River had 3,000 Jews, with a grand temple and several smaller synagogues. The temples schools had several classes at each grade. Now the temple serves, occasionally, Jews from outlying towns. With a population of Portuguese, French Canadians, Poles, Irish, Italians, English, and their mixtures, its hard to imagine who in the city would scrawl MAGA in a Jewish grave. Organizations that live by signs of anti-Semitism continue to note increases in incidences of painting swastikas on walls and gravestones. The attack against a Pittsburgh synagogue was prominent, but unusual. Here we are getting along well with Israeli Arabs, who we see on the sidewalks and stores. Some of the women have their heads covered, and occasionally with only their eyes visible. But for some their Hebrew is better than their Arabic. Most pharmacists are Arab. And its often difficult to tell who is who. A hundred thousand Palestinians or more come to Israel daily for work. And while the West Bank is generally peaceful, there are nightly raids against the nasties by the Shin Bet and the army. Gaza has become a third country, which gets in the way of those still worrying about a two-state solution. Continued co-existence seems more likely than anything dramatic. Neither major Israeli party has ascribed to anything more than that. Trump has pledged a grand plan after our election, but the output from Palestinians is that the Americans are not reliable. Reform and Conservative activists here and there continue to press for more attention from Israel, and threaten distancing themselves if not heard. But here they are small minorities, with nowhere near the representation in Knesset of Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox. There has been a decision to provide them with a larger space alongside the Western Wall, but its implementation keeps being postponed. Donald Trump is a fearsome joke to most American Jews, but here hes a hero for decisions affecting the country. Benjamin Netanyahu is viewed by Americans as an extreme rightist. Here a majority would like him to depart the Prime Ministers Office, but the polls are wavering as to whether he could win the election. The question is one of personal guilt and questionable actions of his wife and child, but the policies he has pursued are widely supported. Should Israeli politicians seek alliance with American Jews? With respect to American Orthodox, its not a problem. Nor is it a problem with respect to American Jews who do not emphasize their non-Orthodox religious agenda. But with Reform and Conservative Jews, with their affinities at high profile, it could be costly with respect to the politicians support in Israel. There are lots of details here and there suggesting a mixture of rapport between U.S. and Israeli Jews, but also tension unto more. Its not a simple picture to describe. And there arent any predictions worth contemplating. Other than continued tensions. Comments welcome, irashark@gmail.com Ira Sharkansky is professor (Emeritus) of the Department of Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While there is celebration in some quarters about India being one of the most rapidly growing economies in terms of GDP, little attention is being paid by those framing and implementing macroeconomic policies to the need to provide a significantly greater quantum of fiscal support to this sector. It is true that India has made some progress in education since independence. Most of the standard educational indicators such as literacy rates, school enrolment ratios and average years of formal schooling have improved over the past seven decades of our Republic. However, this progress is both limited in extent and marked by wide, though slowly declining, disparities across caste, gender and region as well as class. Even with regard to such a basic indicator as literacy rates among the population aged seven years and above, the male-female differential was as high as 16.3 percentage points as per the 2011 population census, with male and female literacy rates at 80.9% and 64.6% respectively. Likewise, there is, as per Census 2011, a difference of nearly 7 percentage points between the literacy rate for the general population at 73% and that for SCs at 66.1%. The literacy rate for the scheduled tribes in 2011 was significantly lower at 59%. Similarly, while gross enrolment ratios (GER) have risen significantly over the years at all levels of education, the disparity in GER between the general population and the scheduled castes in higher education remains substantial. For instance, while the gross enrolment ratio for the general population aged 18-23 years in 2016-17 was 25.2%, it was lower for the Scheduled Castes at 21.1% and much lower for scheduled tribes at 15.4%. Likewise, while a state like Tamil Nadu has a GER around 47%, the figure is much lower for Bihar at a little under 15%. All available evidence makes clear that there is considerable educational deprivation in India despite relatively higher growth rates of GDP since the early 1980s. Article 45 of the Constitution of India had declared: The State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years. More than 50 years later, The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 inserted Article 21-A in the Constitution of India to provide free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to 14 years as a Fundamental Right. It took another seven years before The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, was enacted on August 4 , 2009. As with land reforms, where a plethora of legislations have resulted in little ceiling-surplus land becoming available for redistribution to the landless poor, many legislations have been passed in India but free and compulsory education is yet to be realised for a significant section of the population. While there are many factors underlying both the extent of educational deprivation and its varied incidence across class, caste, gender and region, what is strikingly clear is that the abysmally low relative levels of public expenditure on education constitute an important one. The Kothari Commission on Education had recommended in 1967 that 6% of GDP should be spent on education at all levels by the State, and this had been incorporated in a resolution passed by the Indian parliament soon after. More than four decades later, the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had, in 2004, adopted under pressure from the Left parties that provided critical outside support to it, a common minimum programme (CMP) that declared that the combined expenditure of the Central government and all the state governments would be raised to 6% of GDP, the norm proposed by the Kothari Commission. Although the CMP of the UPA became the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) on adoption by the government, the reality on the ground hardly changed. Between 1990-91 and 2017-18, the combined expenditure of the Central and state governments put together on education has hovered between 3% and 4%, rarely exceeding even 4% and that too only by a small extent. While public expenditure alone does not determine the extent to which educational deprivation can be significantly brought down, it does play a crucial enabling role. Many other relevant aspects, such as democratic decentralisation, ensuring a secular education, elimination of corruption and a serious reconsideration of indiscriminate and unregulated privatisation and commercialisation are all important. However, without adequate financial commitment by the State, the objective of ensuring Education for All cannot be achieved. Even as this article goes to press, it is encouraging to note that the election manifesto of the Congress commits that, if voted to power, it will ensure that the total public expenditure on education will reach 6% of GDP by 2023-24. The CPI (M), too, has made a similar commitment in its manifesto. One hopes a consensus can be reached to achieve this target at least during the term of the 17th Lok Sabha. Venkatesh Athreya is adjunct professor, Asian College of Journalism, Chennai The views expressed are personal Actors Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit and Aditya Roy Kapur are busy with the promotions of their upcoming film, Kalank. Alia and Madhuri who are seen sharing screen space in the dance number Ghar More Pardesiya, were spotted in ethnic ensembles during the film promotions at a radio station. Alia performed to the song and Varun followed her with a performance on his Kalank song First Class. While Alia and Madhuri were in white and red anarkalis respectively, Varun and Aditya were in casuals. The film also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay Dutt and is set to hit theatres on April 17. Varun Dhawan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Madhuri Dixit and Alia Bhatt during Kalank promotions. (Varinder Chawla) Alia Bhatt performs during Kalank promotions. (Varinder Chawla) Alia Bhatt performs during Kalank promotions. (Varinder Chawla) Varun Dhawan performs First Class during Kalank promotions. (Varinder Chawla) Varun Dhawan with Alia Bhatt during Kalank promotions. (Varinder Chawla) Kareena Kapoor has wrapped up the shooting of her next film, Good News, and took time out of her schedule to take her son Taimur to his school in Bandra. The actor was seen in shirt and cargo pants while the little one was seen walking around with a hand-drawn art in his hand. Parineeti Chopra is currently working on her next film Jabariya Jodi and is also gearing up for the Sania Mirza biopic. The actor was spotted visiting a gym in the city. Actor Radhika Madan of Pataakha fame was spotted at the airport while heading to Udaipur for the shooting of her next film, Angrezi Medium. The film is Irrfans first film after his return from London where he was undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour since a year. It is the sequel of 2017 blockbuster Hindi Medium. Kareena Kapoor with son Taimur, Parineeti Chopra and Radhika Madan spotted in the city. (Varinder Chawla) Also read: Jonas Brothers new song drops Cool Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Turner references. Watch Dhadak actor Janhvi Kapoor was also seen on her way to the gym. Her sister Khushi Kapoor was seen on an outing with cousin Shanaya Kapoor (Sanjay Kapoors daughter), who is currently working as an assistant director on Janhvis upcoming film -- the Gunjan Saxena biopic. Shanaya Kapoor with Khushi Kapoor at a restaurant and Janhvi Kapoor at a gym. (Varinder Chawla) Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Irrfan Khan has started shooting for the sequel to Hindi Medium, titled Angrezi Medium in Udaipur. The film officially went on the floors in Udaipur on Friday and the first pictures show Irrfan in a healthier avatar. The actor had returned from London last month after undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour , which kept him away from work for about a year. Angrezi Medium is his much awaited film after the success of the original 2017 film. Directed by Homi Adajania of Cocktail fame and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film will tell a new story about Irrfans onscreen daughter who goes to London for higher studies. While Kareena Kapoor is being reportedly signed opposite Irrfanc character, Pataakha actor Radhika Madan has been confirmed for the role of his daughter in the film. Irrfan (second from right) on the sets of Angrezi Medium. Angrezi Medium goes on the floors. Angrezi Medium will be shot in Udaipur and London. The original Hindi Medium was directed by Saket Choudhary with Pakistani actor Saba Qamar as the female lead . Irrfan had won several awards for his performance in the film. After being occasionally spotted with a mask, the actor was recently seen removing his mask at the Mumbai airport as the paparazzi clicked his pictures. The actor finally announced his return a few days back. He took to Twitter to share a note, Maybe somewhere in the pursuit of winning, we forget how much it means to be loved. In our vulnerability, we are reminded. As I leave my footprints onto these steps of my life, I want to pause to be grateful for receiving your immense love and support, it soothed me in my process of healing. So I travel back to you, thanking you from the bottom of my heart. Follow @htshowbiz for more RAW - Romeo Akbar Walter Director - Robbie Grewal Cast - John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff, Sikandar Kher Rating - 1.5/5 Spy movies speak their own language. British spies in the movies have confidential conversations in public parks, spilling secrets while feeding ducks. Our spy movies, mostly set between India and Pakistan, feature agents and double-agents chatting at qawwali performances, presumably thinking the wails will drown them out. Romeo Akbar Walter follows spy cliches dutifully and drowns us in minutiae, but never feels immediate or exciting. Its a slow film, and the spies at the qawwali are played by John Abraham and Mouni Roy. Abraham, possibly a shark at poker, uses expressions sparingly, as if afraid to run out of a restricted repertoire. We meet him as Romeo, a young-ish man with Arjun Rampal hair and a pockmarked face, rougher than were used to seeing him, but the flatness of tone and performance remain steadfast. Alas, blankness and inscrutability are not the same, and, given that the film is set in Pakistan, the stiff actor threatens to blend into the traditionally wood-panelled walls. Watch the Romeo Akbar Walter trailer here: Set in 1971, theres interesting ground: the Indian army training rebels in East Pakistan, Indian intelligence trying to outwit the Pakistanis via diplomatic misdirection, and Pakistani intelligence that, for once, looks efficient enough to be a threat. There is even some third-act skulduggery that could have been clever. Unfortunately, the film drags on for too long, and despite RAW chief Jackie Shroff insisting Nothing will be told to you directly every little bit is tediously spelt out. The Indian intelligence network functions like a classroom-full of kids passing elaborately hidden notes, inside oranges and padlocks. Grewal appears so pleased with these hiding places that their logic is forsaken: an old man gives a well-dressed woman a box containing a saree covering a gun, yet the sight of these people together is so anachronistic he might as well hand her a cello case with a machine gun. RAW buckles under John Abrahams efforts. Some details are good. Handbills on the wall advertise the once-popular Turkish television brand, Arcelik, we hear of Prakash Padukone winning badminton tournaments in Kuala Lumpur, and a radio cruelly taunts a Pakistani Colonel with a classic, happy (albeit racist) Hindi film song. This Colonel is played by a terrific Sikandar Kher, a menacing figure who gets the dialect right, credibly swallowing English syllables: police becomes pulce, lie detector becomes lie tector. Yet this is an Abraham show, and as he takes on three characters with three names, the film buckles under the effort. In the James Bond novels, there are pages where Bond reads a dossier. These are highly detailed pages, letting us know what Bond knows before we turn to the action and thrills. Romeo Akbar Walter is all dossier, no thrill, and its a dossier read aloud by Jackie Shroff. Pity, really. No point in pouring a drink so dry it forgets it wanted to be a martini. Follow @htshowbiz for more Just a week after Salman Khan launched Nutans granddaughter Pranutan Bahl in Bollywood with his production, Notebook, reports suggest that his niece and Alvira Agnihotris daughter Alizeh is also planning her debut in the film industry soon. Alizeh is learning dance from Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan. Saroj told Mumbai Mirror, I conduct dance classes for all young actresses, including Alizeh. She will become a heroine soon. Alizeh has joined me for a year and has already completed six months. Also read: Kangana Ranaut bonds with Panga director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari over golgappa laughters, Alu tikki chats The tabloid also quoted a source as saying, Alizeh took the Internet by storm when she recently modelled for aunt Seema Khans clothing line. She will be launched by Salmans production house next year. Salman has already started scouting for a suitable script; he wants to launch her with a romance. Alizeh, on her part, is training in Indian dance forms as well as action, with the superstar closely monitoring her progress. Earlier reports had claimed that Alizeh may find her launchpad in Salmans hit franchise Dabangg. Much before the team began shooting in Indore for Dabangg 3, reports had claimed that the film will feature Alizeh. Currently, Salman is shooting for the film on the banks of Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh and has already portions of the title track for the movie that will star Sonakshi opposite Salman. In February this year, Alizeh modelled for her aunt and Sohail Khans wife Seema and the picture was quite a hit online. Alizeh wore a shimmery lehenga by Seema. Salman also launched his brother-in-law, Arpitas husband Aayush Sharma in 2018 with the romantic film Loveyatri. The film was written by Naren Bhatt and directed by Abhiraj Minawala. Follow @htshowbiz for more Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has never been famous for nuance or civility of expression. But the CM crossed even his own line when he called the Indian Army Modis Sena. The BJP may well explain it away as rhetorical flourish about the political will that made the Balakot strike possible, but the words are not benign. Nor can they be dismissed as hyperbole. Any attempt at political ownership of the military is not just alarming; it is treacherous. The soldier owes allegiance to the Indian State and to his paltan and uniform; not to any government or political party. For a party that otherwise prides itself on muscular nationalism, the BJP, in this case, has violated the first principle of patriotism. While the Election Commission (EC) has issued notices, it would have set a stellar example had the reprimand and disassociation come sharply and swiftly from our three military chiefs. Parallels exist. Adityanaths comments erupted into controversy in roughly the same week that the Australian Chief of Defence Forces Angus Campbell interrupted the comments of the countrys defence minister so that his officers could be moved away while the minister answered political questions. Surveys routinely show that the Indian Army is the countrys most trusted institution. It remains unscathed by the cynicism and lack of trust that has plagued almost every other pillar of democracy. But while the army has always been the first frontier of protection, it must now rise to keep its own essence secure. The most moving reprimand to Adityanath came this week from Siddharth Kumar, the 20-year-old son of Pradeep Kumar, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer who was among those who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack. I was sitting with him in his village at Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh when news of Adityanaths words filtered in. Siddharth told me: The uniform does not belong to any neta; it belongs to the country. Nor was he comfortable with the prime ministers emphasis on the Hindu voter. My fathers uniform did not discriminate between Hindu and Muslim, he said quietly. It has not even been three months since his Siddharth lost his father. Yet, he was able to display the kind of maturity and sensitivity that was in sharp contrast to the coarseness of the CM. In my mind, he, not Adityanath, is the true nationalist. The military also needs to reflect on how political polarisation is in danger of splitting its community down the middle. Of course, the soldier is also a citizen and entitled to her/his voting preference. But should we be comfortable with the recent phenomenon of soldiers joining electoral politics after retirement? Two of our former chiefs, General VK Singh and General JJ Singh, have taken the plunge. Down the line, many other soldiers or their families have embraced party politics. Kargil war hero Vikram Batras mother briefly flirted with politics and, realising that neither she nor her family were cut out for it, quit soon after. More recently, soldiers such as Major Surendra Poonia or short service commission officers such as Shalini Singh have also enrolled with political parties. As citizens, this is their right. But I wonder if it sets the ball rolling for the wider party-politicisation of the military. There are no easy answers. Many of the same questions apply to other professions too: journalists, judges, lawyers and technocrats. But there is no other profession whose independence and dignity matters as much as that of the military. The stakes here are much higher. It is also time to distinguish between electoral nationalists and genuine patriots. When a political party uses nationalism to court votes that qualifies them only to be electoral nationalists. Why, for instance, is no one not even the self-proclaimed patriots of prime time TV talking about the non functional financial upgrade (NFFU) for soldiers and the paramilitary? This financial package is given to other central government agencies to offset the loss from diminished promotion opportunities. The Armed Forces Tribunal ruled in favour of this but the ministry of defence appealed against it in the Supreme Court. Worse, their representatives made snarky comments about how soldiers live in palatial houses. This led to a slew of social media posts by soldiers who shared photographs of their bunkers, modest flats and forward post experiences, with an ironic use of the phrase, palatial house. Yet no neta or TV warrior wants to talk of the issues that actually matter to soldiers. Rhetoric is lazier, easier and cheaper. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal In a joint operation by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an Algerian man was arrested at the Delhi airport on March 27 for carrying a bag made of a monitor lizards skin. According to the CISF, around 3 am on March 27, a passenger arrived to board a flight to Doha from Terminal 3. As he headed for frisking and baggage check, a CISF personnel spotted the bag. The passenger was identified as Abdelouahab Bouaziz, an Algerian national. On enquiry, Bouaziz said he had purchased the bag in Algeria, but he could not produce a document and the customs was alerted. A team of wildlife officials along with a CBI team arrived at the airport and Bouaziz was handed over, Hemendra Singh, assistant inspector general, CISF, said. A CBI spokesperson refused comment. In India, the monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) is a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, indicating that they are highly endangered and strictly protected. Varanus is a family of monitor lizards. At least two species of these lizards fall under Schedule I of the 1972 Act. A senior WCCB official said, This invokes a punishment of not less than three years in jail and a maximum of seven years. For repeat offenders, a fine of Rs 25,000 could be imposed on them, over and above the jail term. Last week, some catholic priests in Poland decided to burn books that they considered sacrilegious. This included the Harry Potter books; the priests considered those offensive because of their central theme of magic. The burning of books in either protest or to prevent people from reading them is not a new phenomenon at all; but it is surprising when it happens in 2019. As books become digitised and can be read on a screen, and as fewer and fewer people read (as opposed to watch stories), perhaps what could have been lost (alongside that glorious musty smell of old books) is the repugnant act of old-fashioned book burning. To book lovers, even imagining the burning of a book is painful. And that is probably why it has been used to great effect in the past. Deleting a file from an e-reader doesnt quite compare. The Nazi regime famously conducted an Action against the Un-German Spirit across Austria and Germany, plundering libraries and private collections, and publicly burning massive piles of books that the regime of the day considered Un-German. From Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein to Marcel Proust and Franz Kafka, May 1933 saw thousands of books consigned to flames. There was an association in New York called the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, founded in 1873, which even put book burning on their seal, in recognition of it being a worthy goal to be achieved. Its founder, Anthony Comstock, is considered responsible for the burning of 15 tonnes of books. But in the modern age, governments have found banning far more effective than burning. Burning a book, you see, still requires one to have bought it. As JK Rowling said in response to a Twitter user who threatened to burn both her books and the DVDs of the films based on them, The fumes from the DVDs might be toxic and Ive still got your money, so by all means borrow my lighter. Banning was thought to be a far more effective technique, because by simply removing it from circulation, you deny the book notoriety and fame. To be sure, books are far more dangerous than guns. Ideas that offend can often be ideas that change the world, a possibility that is far too dangerous to any sort of status quo. India has never been shy of banning books; it has banned everything from Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses (on religious grounds) to VS Naipauls An Area of Darkness (for a negative portrayal of India and Indians). But in an age of fluid boundaries of the Internet (which governments and private companies are trying their utmost to police), banning can also only be symbolic, much like burning. Because ideas dont die that easily. The Class 10th or matric exam 2019 result of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will be announced on Saturday, April 6 at 12:30 pm. BSEB chairman Anand Kishor and additional chief secretary of Bihar Education Department RK Mahajan will Jointly declare the BSEB Class 10 results. The Bihar board matric examination was held between February 21 and 28, 2019 at 1418 examination Centres in the state. This year 16,60,609 students registered for the BSEB matric examination in the state, out of which 8,37,075 were girls and 8,23,534 were boys. After grand increase in the pass percentage and first divisions in the intermediate examinations, 2019 of the Bihar school examination board (BSEB), expectations are high about a repeat in the class 10 board exam results. With nearly 25-lakh students failing in class 10 and 12 board exams in 2017-18 in the State, the teachers, the board as well as the government were under relentless attack from the opposition over quality of education in schools. Last year also, there was increase in the pass percentage, which reached 68.89 % from an abysmal 50.12% in 2017 and 53.33% in 2016. However, in 2015, the pass percentage was 75%. But phenomenal jump in the result in intermediate this year has raised hopes of a much improved performance in class 10 board also. Besides, early results would mean more opportunities to the students. BSEB was among the first to organize the Class 10 board exams in 2018, which was completed on February 28 itself, but the objective of publishing early results could not be achieved. It was published in June-end and by that time admission process for many premiere institutions had ended. The Bihar Board Class 10 result 2019 will be uploaded online at bsebonline.org and bsebonline.org Bihar Board 10th Result 2019: How to Check Log on to the any of the websites mentioned above Click on the link for BSEB Class 10 Results 2019 Key in the required details Your BSEB 10th examination results will be displayed on the screen Download and take a print out for future reference Note: Visit the official website of Bihar board for latest news and updates. Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said the government will not allow private schools in the city to hike their fee arbitrarily in the garb of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations. Sisodias comment came a day after the Delhi high court barred private schools built on public land from raising their fee until April 8, the next date of hearing on a petition challenging a March 15 order by a single judge that allowed the increase. Unjustified fee hike by some private schools has nothing to do with the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission for teachers working in private schools. These schools have also tried to spread lies against the Delhi government saying we are against the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission. It is completely baseless, he said. The Delhi government, through a circular issued on April 13, 2018, had restrained private unaided schools built on government land from hiking tuition fee without the approval of the Directorate of Education (DoE). The circular had directed private schools to meet the additional financial resources required to implement the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations from their surplus without hiking the fee. The reasons for this restriction are two: first, these schools are situated on the land allotted by the DDA and, therefore, they (schools) have certain societal obligations; second, the government is against the exploitation of parents and students in the form of a higher fee structure, Sisodia said. According to the land lease agreements of around 325 schools built on government land, they cannot increase fee without a prior approval from the DoE. Once a proposal is sent, the DoE will audit the schools finances and it will be allowed to increase the fee only if the institute is found to be struggling to manage its expenses. Of the 260 schools that applied for permission to hike fee, 32 have withdrew their applications. During audit of accounts, it was found that nearly 150 schools had sufficient surplus to implement the Seventh Pay Commission and were therefore denied permission to hike fee. There are schools with excess surplus of up to 40 crore after factoring in the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission, he said. For 23-year-old Akshat Jain, it was a pleasant surprise to find his name in the list of successful candidates of Civil Services Examination. I didnt even expect to find my name in the list, forget about getting the second rank, he said. He recalled that his interview wasnt on the expected lines. I reckon now that maybe even with my limited knowledge, I knew how to write my answers well, said son of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer DC Jain, who is the joint director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), New Delhi. Akshats mother, Simmi Jain, is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and posted as ADG of National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) in Jaipur. Akshat studied in Jaipurs India International School and scored 94% in Class 12. He did Bachelor of Design from Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and took the first attempt at CSE in July 2017, a month after he graduated from the IIT. I didnt get past the prelims that time but it was good learning experience, he said. His father says Akshat announced in his third year of IIT that he wanted to get into civil services. I chose anthropology as my optional because the syllabus caught my eye. I found that this subject had a lot of application in government and thought that I would enjoy reading and writing this subject, he said. Akshat has a younger brother, who is in college in the USA. When actor Deepika Padukone wore a red dupatta with the Sanskrit quote Sada Saubhagyavati Bhava embroidered in gold at her wedding ceremony last year, a fashionable love affair between traditional canvas and typography was kindled. And it has been a whirlwind romance ever since. From Nita Ambanis Shubharambh (translating to a good beginning) embroidered lehenga choli by Sabyasachi to Sonam Kapoor Ahujas House of Masaba sari featuring letterings in Tamil or the Anamika Khanna lehenga choli set featuring her name along with the phrase Everything is AK-OK, wearing your thoughts on your traditional sleeves, is the new big deal in the trend-o-sphere. Its not just about the slogan T-shirt or denims any longer. A while back, actor Karisma Kapoor too was seen flaunting the trend, with a typography-printed Satya Paul sari that spelt out mirchi in Hindi. Sonam Kapoor Ahujas House of Masaba sari featuring letterings in Tamil that translate to Sonam, Masaba and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. (Photo: Instagram/sonamkapoor) Stylist Rishi Raj asserts that customisations such as these help take couture to the next level. He adds, It cant get more bespoke or customised in this world which wants everything couture. A couture piece is like owning an exquisite piece of art and its exclusivity increases when you have typography or a slogan thats uniquely yours. Industrialist Mukesh Ambanis wife Nita Ambanis lehenga choli set by designer Sabyasachi had an embroidered Shubharambh in Hindi. She wore it to her son Akash Ambanis wedding with Shloka Mehta. (Photos: Viral Bhayani) A slogan is a basic way of telling the world who and what you are, what you like and dislike or what you believe in. But designer Rahul Mishra points out that not all occasions demand one to make a statement. He reveals he has been getting a lot of requests for customisation of different sorts but shares when it comes to slogans being featured on formal garments, one needs to take the understated route. Mishra says, I dont think having big slogans will work on formal garments but I love the idea of typography. Slogans of any sort, on any garment, mostly illustrate the political or social state of present times, and formal functions dont demand such issues to be highlighted. Rhea Kapoors Anamika Khanna sari featuring her name along with the phrase Everything is AK-OK. (Photo: Instagram/rheakapoor) On the other hand, designer Kunal Rawal says there are no rules. He insists that the market is more than ready now for such trends. Kunal, who loves customising his creations, shares, Go for something that resonates with you. Something you want to see again and again. He points out, This trend has also given men the apt opportunity to be as involved as women while choosing a garment. Garments featuring wedding dates are a huge hit with the fashion enthusiasts. Besides the usage of numerals, roman numbers are a great option too, and the market will see much more of the trend. Karisma Kapoor donning a typography-printed Satya Paul sari that features mirchi written in Hindi. (Photo: Instagram/therealkarismakapoor) Naturally, in such a trend explosion, one is forced to question the longevity of the garment with typography and its enduring appeal. To ensure it, celebrity stylist Isha Bhansali advises never opt for something thats in your face, and be extremely careful with the placement of the slogan or the text. She adds, Also, ensure that when the slogan is embroidered/placed on the garment, it should be in sync with the whole colour story of your ensemble. Dont make it too colourful. Dont place it near a body part where it will be too much to handle. Fashion is all about the right balance. Interact with the author at Twitter/@DiptiMudaliar Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter A Muslim student of a law college here has accused her fellow students of bullying her and misbehaving with her on board a bus while going for a tour to Agra on April 2. She was allegedly compelled to dance by wearing a scarf carrying the election symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The matter came to light after she tweeted about the incident on the same day. Within no time, many people tweeted in her support. She then lodged a complaint with her college and the matter was handed over to the college grievance cell for inquiry. Two accused students have been served termination notices and the matter has been handed over to women grievance cell for inquiry, said Vineet Kaushik, media coordinator of the Deewan Law College. He claimed that so far statements of 28 students had been recorded. They had denied the allegations of the girl and an inquiry was still underway, he added. A group of 55, including 4 faculty members, had gone to Agra as part of an educational tour. Few students allegedly consumed liquor inside the bus and started dancing, said her Twitter post. They allegedly compelled her, said the post further, to dance with them and made her wear the saffron scarf. Upon refusal, the student alleged, they misbehaved with her. Vineet said the bus was earlier hired for a political rally and students found a scarf inside the bus left by the workers who had attended the rally. The girl has not reported the matter to the police. Two inmates were injured in high security Central Jail here after police took action against rioting prisoners allegedly resisting restoration of some barracks and attempting to break open, officials said on Friday. Police and jail officials said some inmates indulged in rioting and arson on Thursday evening leading to a standoff with prison staff and later clashes with police. It was a law and order issue and police had to be called in, said senior superintendent of Central Jail Srinagar, Mukesh Kumar refusing to share further details. According to district officials, the inmates feared being shifted outside the Valley after they were moved out of their barracks for some renovation. A senior police officer said they intervened after request from jail and district authorities following attempts of rioting and arson by some inmates. The officer added that they had to lob teargas and fire pellets to control the inmates. There was large scale damage to prison property...Two inmates were injured in police action. A case of rioting, violence and arson was also filed, a senior police officer said. Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, who is also DG (prisons) , did not attend calls despite repeated attempts. He held a meeting in Jammu. A spokesperson of district administration issued a statement saying the inmates attacked jail premises and damaged vital infrastructure while attempting to break-open the jail gates. The situation turned volatile as the inmates used inflammables [LPG cylinders from the common mess ] to attack and damage the security grid of the central jail. More than 400 inmates from 10 barracks in the central area of jail broke open the internal gates and gathered to carry out damage to the entry/exit points in an attempt to escape, the statement said. The relatives of the inmates demanded to meet them and gathered outside the jail. Mehmooda, relative of one of the inmates, said that jail authorities should explain why they needed to demolish barracks at night. ...Who demolishes barracks at 9:30 in night? This is injustice... Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday dubbed the Muslim League a virus and claimed the Congress was affected by it, prompting the opposition party to retort that it was he who was a virus that would be eradicated in the election. The tit-for-tat verbal duel was sparked with a tweet from Adityanath a day after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad. Muslim League is a virus. If someone is affected by this virus, he cannot survive and today Congress is affected by it. Think, if they win what will happen? This virus will spread in the entire nation, Adityanath said on Twitter. The chief minister was apparently referring to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is a long-time member of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala, equating it with the pre-Partition Muslim League. In 1857, entire country fought against Britishers with Mangal Pandey, then this Muslim League virus came and spread in such a way that the country was divided. The same threat is looming over the country again. Green flags are once again furled. Congress is suffering from Muslim league virus, remain alert, Adityanath said. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala called the chief minister bhogi (hedonistic) and said the remarks were completely intemperate. IUML Lok Sabha member PK Kunhalikutty said, his knowledge is poor and very soon this statement will return to haunt him. IUML is a secular party and Yogi should not forget that there are green flags within the BJP-led NDA also. The Election Commission of India has appointed Rajesh Kumar, additional director general, Pollution Control Board, as the Kolkata Police commissioner, the poll panel announced on Friday night. Rajesh Kumar replaced Anuj Sharma as the commissioner of Kolkata Police. The poll panel has also made it clear that Sharma should not be involved by the state government in any election related duties. In a communication addressed to the West Bengal chief secretary, the ECI secretary Rakesh Kumar informed the government of the poll panels decision. Sharma was appointed as head of the city police in the third week of February replacing Rajeev Kumar. The letter also conveyed the ECIs decision to appoint Natarajan Ramesh Babu as the commissioner of Bidhan Nagar Police and Avannu Ravindranath as the police super of Birbhum district. Ramesh Babu replaced Gyanwant Singh from Bidhan Nagar Police. According to the EC letter, Singh, too, has to be kept away from any poll related duty. Shrihari Pandey was appointed the superintendent of police of Diamond Harbour. The direction of the commission be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of joining of above officers be sent within 24 hours, the letter said. The closure of the Kashmir highway NH 44 for civilian traffic by state government for two days a week to allow troop movement has become a poll issue in Jammu and Kashmir. While National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue in their election rallies, bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal, who launched his political party, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement, said he will seek legal recourse against the matter. We are going to challenge this order in the Honble High Court of J&K tomorrow. We could not do it today owing to Friday (prayers). This illogical order banning movement of civilians on National Highway for two days a week is totally against the spirit of Article 19 and Article 21 of the Constitution, Faesal said. Abdullah, while addressing an election rally in Baramulla, lashed out at the central government. The state is currently under Presidents rule. Today we are not even owners of our own roads. Our national highway will be closed for two days. It is a new order a Tughlaqi farmaan, he said. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, too, raised the issue during a public meeting in Baramulla. Today Delhi people decided that roads in Kashmir will be closed for Kashmiris for two days in a week. We will not allow it to happen. We will come out on roads like we came out against the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) ban. This dictatorship (tanashahi) wont work here. Will you decide in Delhi that whether a Kashmiri will walk on Kashmirs roads ? JeI is an Islamic political organisation that was banned by the Centre for five years last month. A state government notification on Wednesday said that civilian traffic will not be allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Sundays and Wednesdays to ensure safe movement of security convoys during the parliamentary elections. The move comes more than a month after a suicide bombing by a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist on February 14 killed 40 troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the highway at Pulwama in south Kashmir. The closure, of around 300-350 km of the highway, will directly affect at least seven districts of Kashmir. Hundreds of schools, colleges, banks and hospitals fall on this highway. Late on Friday, divisional commissioner of Kashmir Baseer Khan attempted to assuage concerns of people saying that there was no blanket ban on the civilian movement on the highway. There are some exceptions to the ban like medical emergencies, students or business establishments on highway, agriculture land and horticulture orchards on highway or some spontaneous emergencies..., he said. India has despatched four warships loaded with hundreds of tonnes of essential supplies, including food and medicines, and a helicopter to Mozambique to help people affected by a cyclone that tore through the southern African country last month. The Indian personnel have rescued more than 200 people and provided medical aid to more than 2,000 at medical camps set up by the Indian Navy in areas affected by Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique on March 14 and caused widespread destruction and claimed more than 500 lives. Responding to a request from the Mozambique government, India immediately diverted three warships INS Sujata and INS Shardul of the navy and Sarathi of the Coast Guard to the port of Beira for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The Indian Navy became the first responder to the evolving crisis. A fourth warship, INS Magar, an amphibious warfare vessel, is expected to reach Beira on April 11 with essential relief materials, including 500 kg of epidemic-related medicines, 400 tonnes of rice, ready-to-eat meals, clothing, repair and rehabilitation equipment and temporary shelters. The supplies are adequate to cater for about 1,000 people for a week. An Indian Chetak light helicopter has made numerous sorties for aerial surveys by disaster management officials, evacuation of people and dropping 1,430 kg of food and relief materials. The Indian helicopter crew has come in for particular praise from local NGOs; with the administrator of the Facebook page MO Info writing in a post: I must make a special mention of the Indian Navy pilots! These boys are flying an ANCIENT Alouette III and they are flying her to shreds!! They are constantly in the air carrying supplies and airlifting casualties. Their ground crew drills are slick, polished and disciplined and stand out head and shoulders above other military crews, the post added. The Indian personnel have also been providing fresh water to relief camps, clearing debris and repairing damaged roads. India is also sending aid to Malawi and Zimbabwe, which were affected by the cyclone. The External Affairs Ministry is sending 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and medicines worth $2 million to Malawi, while medicines worth 2.44 crore are being sent to Zimbabwe, officials said. . US officials have counted the F-16s in the fleet of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and found none missing, contrary to New Delhis claim that an Indian pilot flying a MiG-21 downed one of the fighter planes in a February 27 aerial skirmish, a US publication reported on Friday, citing two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the matter. The Indian Air Force (IAF) rubbished the report in Foreign Policy magazine, saying Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was at the controls of the Indian aircraft, out of which he ejected in the Pakistani side of the Line of Control before the Russian-designed plane crashed after taking a hit, had indeed shot down the plane and electronic signatures indicated that it was an F-16. Foreign Policy quoted one of the senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the count as saying Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. It quoted the official as saying some of the PAF aircraft were not immediately available for inspection because of the conflict so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the planes. Quoting the official, the report added that the count had been completed, and all F-16 aircraft were accounted for. It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit. But the count, conducted by US authorities on the ground in Pakistan, sheds doubt on New Delhis version of events, suggesting that Indian authorities may have misled the international community about what happened that day, Foreign Policy said. The IAF denied this. During the aerial engagement that followed (the interception of PAF jets by Indian fighters), one MiG-21 Bison of the IAF shot down an F-16 in Nowshera sector, said IAF assistant chief of air staff operations (space) Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor. Reading from a written statement, he said Indian forces confirmed sighting ejections at two different places separated by eight to 10 km. Two parachutes were sighted in Subzkot and Tandar in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. One was an IAF MiG-21 Bison (flown by Varthaman) and the other a PAF aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate the PAF aircraft was an F-16, Kapoor said, rebutting the Foreign Policy report. IAF officers with knowledge of the situation said on condition of anonymity that the air force had enough evidence in the form of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) radar images, radio-telephony intercepts of the PAF F-16 strike package and ground wireless intercepts to establish that an F-16 was shot down that day. This evidence has not been shared with the US. An AWACS radar image of the engagement area west of the Line of Control opposite Jhangar clearly establishes that there were a bunch of F-16s opposite Abhinandan. In a second image taken 10 seconds later, one of the F-16s has disappeared. Thats the F-16 the PAF lost, one of the officers said. Hindustan Times has seen the AWACS radar images. February 27 marked perhaps the first ever kill of an F-16 by a MiG-21 Bison, fighter jets of two different generations, experts have said. The IAF officers cited above said that radio telephony intercepts of the F-16 package revealed that one of the F-16s in the formation had not returned. On February 28, the IAF displayed remnants of an AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) that only the F-16s carry. Parts of the AMRAAM were recovered east of Rajouri. The officers said wireless intercepts of Pakistans 7 Northern Light Infantry clearly established that two pilots had gone down that day. In one of the intercepts at 12.05 pm, a Pakistani soldier says, Yeh joh enemy ke tabah hue hain doh parindeyunke donon parindey waalon ko pakad liya hai. (Two enemy fighters have been shot down and we have caught their pilots). In another wireless intercept at 12.42 pm, the 7 NLI says one of the pilots is with them while the other is with 658 Mujahid Battalion, the officers said. Yet another intercept at 3.20 pm reveals that the doosra zakhmi (the second injured) pilot has been moved to a military hospital, while Wing Commander Varthaman is in their custody, the officers said. The tweets by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on February 27 are on similar lines, the sources said. The IAF said its radars detected a package of around 24 Pakistani planes including 11 F-16s on February 27. The remaining were a mix of JF-17s and Mirages. The IAFs Su-30s, Mirage 2000s and MiG-21 Bisons intercepted the hostile fighters, guided by the AWACS and the ground radars, Kapoor said. He said the PAF attempted a riposte after the IAF bombed out a terror base at Balakot in Pakistan on February 26. The air strikes against the Jaish-e-Mohammed base were Indias retaliation for the Pulwama suicide car bomb attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men were killed on February 14. More than a month after the Balakot strikes, the air force is still in its highest state of alert and prepared to scramble fighter jets from its forward bases within minutes, officials said. On March 12, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the IAF shot down a PAF F-16 on February 27 but Islamabad would never admit it as it has always been in denial about the losses suffered by it. The Pakistani military on Friday said that it stood vindicated after a count of its F-16 fighter jets by US defence officials confirmed that no plane was missing. The director general of ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted, Allah be praised, truth always prevails. Time for India to speak truth about false claims & actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan. India needs introspection especially over atrocities in IOK. Region needs peace, progress & prosperity. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party governments at the Centre and Assam over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). Addressing a public rally in Dhubri to seek support for Trinamool Congress candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, Banerjee targeted Prime Minister Modi for playing divisive politics. The WB chief minister called NRC and CAB as two lollipops doled out by the government at the Centre for Assam and West Bengal and urged voters not to get taken in by them. Over 40 lakh people were left out of the NRC draft. It was not just Muslims, nearly 22 lakh Hindus, many Gorkhas, Bihari and even people from Tamil Nadu and Kerala were left out, Mamata said. She reminded the gathering how her government had stood by those who had been affected by the NRC and had even sent a delegation to Assam to take stock of the situation last year. We sent our leaders within two days. But they were not allowed by the Assam government to get out of the airport (Silchar) and were harassed, Mamata said. Several people have committed suicide because their names were not in the NRC draft. If you elect our candidates, we will raise these issues vociferously in Parliament, she added. The TMC leader stated that the contentious CAB which seeks to give citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan was just a ploy to make genuine Indian citizens who came to the country before March 25, 1971, from Bangladesh, foreigners. Five years ago Modi came seeking your votes as a chaiwala (tea seller), but now he has transformed to a chowkidar (watchman) and is seeking another 5 years, Mamata said. The TMC has fielded candidates in 9 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. The party has no presence in the 126-member state assembly. Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the PM has insulted his political guru LK Advani. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the PM doesnt even greet or acknowledge Advani, one of the BJPs founding members, at public meetings. Gandhi said as per the Hindu tradition, a guru is considered supreme, deserves utmost respect and honour but Modi has insulted Advani time and again. Addressing an election rally at Chandrapur, some 150 kms from here on Friday, where the Congress has fielded former Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Dhanorkar and Gadchiroli Congress nominee Dr Namdeorao Usendi, Rahul accused Modi of making a false promise to the people of the nation of depositing Rs 15 lakh in individual accounts from the supposed black money stashed abroad. On the contrary, Gandhi said, the PM has ensured that a select few get multiple times more money into their accounts. He said Modi was just a custodian of the rich whom his government extended huge loans and ensured their safe passage to go abroad after defaulting on these loans. They gave money to just 15 people. Farmer pay crop insurance money which is discreetly diverted to these select individuals and industrialists, he alleged. The Congress chiefs swipe at PM Modi over the treatment meted out to Advani follows the BJP veterans blog published Thursday where he said the BJP never considered its political adversaries as anti-national. BJP talks of Hinduism. In Hinduism, guru is supreme. It talks about the gurushishya parampara. Who is Modis guru? Advani. Modi unhe joote marke stage se utara (just kicked him out), Gandhi said. The remark was a veiled reference to Advani not getting Lok Sabha poll ticket from Gandhinagar, from where BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah instead. This election is a battle of ideologies and the Congress ideology of brotherhood, love and harmony will win against Modis hate, anger and divisive ideology, he said. While raising the issue of demonetisation, GST, employment and farmers, he said that the BJP did nothing for the farmers and unemployed youths of the country. Gandhi mocked at the Modi governments claims of creating crores of jobs. The economy is flat, people are not getting jobs, the farmers arent getting loans and the educated have no opportunities, he pointed out. Gandhi claimed it is not that financial provisions cannot be made to address the above concerns. To run MNREGA, the government needs Rs 35,000-crore per year. This means crores of people can be given employment using this money. But this Rs 35,000-crore was clandestinely siphoned off by fugitives, like Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and the other select few. If the Congress comes to power, then the money which is going to these 15-20 people will be put directly into your bank account, he said. Ridiculing Modis self-proclaimed chowkidar tag, he again cocked a snook at the PM saying he is only standing guard outside the house of the rich. I told you that I do not want to be the Prime Ministers watchman. Have you have ever seen a watchman guarding a poor persons house? On the day of the Pulwama terror attack, six airports were given to Adani for development, he said. Rahul Gandhi again reiterated the Congresss promise of transferring Rs 72,000 annually to the poorest 20 percent of the families if his party comes to power. He said the Congress will set up food processing factories in different places in the region where the farmers will be able to send their produce directly and will also provide storage facility so that the farmers get more benefits. The Congress party is committed to giving farmers the true value of their crop. Lashing out at the BJP-led government in the Centre and the state, the Congress chief alleged that the state sponsored loans waiver did not reach a single beneficiary. The Congress president also addressed another rally at Swavalambi Vidyalaya ground in Wardha where PM Modi launched his election campaign from Maharashtra on Monday. The Delhi government Friday informed a city court that it needs time to assess whether the speeches made by former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, including former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others, were seditious in nature. During a hearing, the government also said the Delhi Police had filed the charge sheet in the 2016 incident in a secret and hasty manner, without obtaining the approval of the competent authority for prosecution. The government, through assistant public prosecutor Vikas said it will decide on the grant of sanction within a month after it receives the opinion of its standing counsel, Rahul Mehra. The Delhi governments home department in a submission also informed chief metropolitan magistrate Deepak Sherawat that it needs time to assess whether the alleged speeches by the accused amounted to sedition against the state and an attack on the sovereignty of the nation by inciting violence or not. The opinion of its standing counsel is essential as any rash decision will cause a miscarriage of justice, the government said. The court has listed the matter for April 8. The court, on April 3, had sought a time frame from the Delhi government on taking a call on providing prosecution sanction in the JNU case. The court had said the grant/refusal of sanction is an administrative function and it should be performed within a reasonable time so that the trial is not held up. While calling the delay a violation of due process, the court also cited a Supreme Court judgment about having a three-month time limit on grant/refusal of sanction. The court had noted said a considerable period had already elapsed since the police filed the charge sheet. It was filed on January 14 against Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others, for shouting anti-India slogans and on the campus during an event on February 9, 2016. Kumar has denied the allegations and had accused the Delhi Police of framing him and the others. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, probe agencies have to take the approval of the state government while filing a charge sheet in sedition cases. The court had earlier pulled up the Delhi Police for filing the charge sheet without obtaining requisite sanction following which Pramod Kushwaha, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), special cell, had appeared before the court and informed it that grant of sanction was an administrative act and was not a part of the investigation. The National Investigation Agency on Friday filed a charge sheet against four Kashmiri students, including the cousin of Zakir Musa who leads Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), a valley based terror outfit having affiliations with Al-Qaeda. Musas cousin Yasir Rafiq Bhat and two others Zahid Gulzar and Mohammad Idris Shah, all residents of Awantipora in Kashmir valley, were arrested in October last year with a cache of arms and explosives including one AK-56 rifle, two magazines with 27 live rounds and 1kg explosive powder, from a hostel room of CT Group of Institutions in Jalandhar, Punjab. Later, their associate Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who was studying in another institute in Punjab, was also arrested. According to NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal, It was found that the arrested accused were cadres of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), a Kashmir-based terrorist organisation with a pan-Islamic ideology.... All four have been charged under unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA). The Congress on Friday termed the Enforcement Directorates chargesheet against Christian Michel mentioning the names of senior Congress leaders, as rehashed insinuations, lies, and cheap election stunt. The ED had on Thursday filed a supplementary chargesheet against the Michel, the alleged middleman in the 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicoper case. A panic-stricken Modi government and its puppet ED will not be able to change its exit date and fate. The Prime Minister has already been rejected by the people, Randeep Surjewala, the Congress spokesperson said. Reacting to Surjewala, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, at a press conference, hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and questioned Gandhis silence over the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Christian Michel. When no reply is given to such serious allegations then the country is entitled to presume that no reply can be given, Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi adding, Are RG, AP, FAM are imaginary persons? The supplementary chargesheet filed on Thursday evening mentions that AP stands for Ahmed Patel, while FAM stood for family. The right to silence is available to an accused not to a prime ministerial aspirant, said Jaitley targeting Gandhi. Earlier in the day, Michel told a Delhi court that he has not named anybody in connection with the deal during investigation by the ED. The central agency on Thursday filed a supplementary chargesheet that contained names of politicians of the previous UPA dispensation. But Jaitley countered the Congresss charge saying, The evidence is overwhelming. The needle of suspicion is clear and if no answer is given, it means there is no answer that can be offered. Also read | In EDs supplementary chargesheet in Agusta Westland case, Christian Michels partner named as accused Congress president Rahul Gandhis brother-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra on Friday came out in support of veteran BJP leader LK Advani and has criticised the BJP for not fielding him in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. Advani, the sitting MP from Gandhinagar, has not been fielded by the party for the upcoming general elections. The party has instead, fielded BJP president Amit Shah from Gandhinagar. This will be Amit Shahs first outing in a Lok Sabha election. In a Facebook post, Vadra, who is married to Priyanka Gandhi, posted a photograph of Advani and wrote, The true leaders with ethics & statesmanship should be rewarded & not ignored, an indirect reference to Advani being benched by the party this time. Vadras post comes a day after the veteran leader, who had been relegated to the partys margdarshak mandal by the high command, put out a blog post titled Nation First, Party Next, Self Last - his first in five years. The real leaders n messages - , Vadra wrote, referring to Advanis blog post and added, We should not let them wither away. It is disgraceful, if we cannot value their seniority and advice. I have always respected him as a good opposition leader. Sad to see that his own party has forgotten him, Vadra wrote in the Facebook post. On Thursday, immediately after Advanis blog post came out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted his praise for the veteran leader and his words. In his tweet, PM Modi wrote that Advanis words summed up the true essence of the BJP and that he was proud that greats like Advani had strengthened the party. Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of Nation First, Party Next, Self Last. Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it, Modi tweeted, while sharing the link to Advanis blog. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar ordinance, brought by the Centre, and told the petitioners to approach a high court on the matter. We would like to have advantage of view of the HC, a bench of justices SA Bobde and SA Nazeer told the petitioners counsel. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for one of the petitioners, told the bench that it was a matter of national importance and would have a pan-India effect. He contended the top court should decide the issue. But the bench said that it was not saying it did not have the power to entertain this. On this, the petitioners then sought permission to withdraw their pleas with a liberty to approach the high court. The ordinance that allows voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for obtaining mobile SIM cards and opening bank accounts was accorded Presidential assent last month. The government took the ordinance route because Rajya Sabha could not approve a Bill, making amendments to the existing Aadhaar law, after the Lok Sabha passed it. The amendments provide for stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy. It also prohibits storing of core biometric information as well as Aadhaar number by service providers in cases of individuals who have voluntarily offered the national ID as a means of authentication. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs elder son Tej Pratap Yadav received an anonymous death threat on his Whatsapp account, on Thursday night. This is the second time in one week that the RJD leader has received a threat to his life. Two days back, his personal assistant had received a call from an anonymous person threatening to kill Tej Pratap. The threats have baffled the RJD chiefs son, who made a scathing attack recently on the Nitish Kumar government for failing to nail criminals in the state. A police officer probing the case, but not authorized to speak to the media said, The message was received around 10 pm on Thursday from a Whatsapp account. The sender identified himself as a RJD youth wing leader, who had earlier threatened to eliminate him by calling on his personal assistant, Srijan Swarajs number. He said soon after the incident was reported, several senior officials swung into action and began investigation. Swaraj has recorded the threat call on his cell phone, which has been made available to us. After making the call and sending the message, the accused has switched off his cell phone. In the recorded message, the accused could be heard saying he did not fear the police and that he would do whatever it took to eliminate Tej Pratap. An FIR has been lodged with the Sachiwalaya police station in this connection against the accused. After procuring call details of the sender, we had sent a team to Aurangabad to arrest him but he could not be traced. He is a student wing leader of RJD and will be arrested soon, Patna City SP, P K Das said refusing to divulge any more information. Tej Pratap, of late, has been in a rebellious mood after his demand to field his chosen candidates in a couple of seats was ignored by the party. He was also upset by the partys decision to field his father-in-law, Chandrika Rai from Saran. Tej Pratap does not have good relations with his in-laws. He has filed for divorce from his wife and Chandrika Rais daughter, Aishwarya, whom he had married with much fanfare last year. He has recently resigned from the RJDs student wing conveners post and had moved on to announce a new political party, Lalu-Rabri Morcha soon. He also announced that he would field other candidates against his father in-law and on 19 other seats. Two soldiers were killed and half a dozen others were injured in a freak fire accident at the Indian Armys Bercha field firing range at Mhow near Indore on Thursday afternoon. Two Army soldiers were killed in a fire at the Bercha firing range at Mhow near Indore. The fire was caused due to sparks from the guns during firing practice, Army officials said, adding that a full inquiry would take place. Mhow is around 215 km west of Bhopal. Apparently, sparks flew out from the guns during practice gunfire setting on fire the dry grass that was being used as cover. All the soldiers were wearing ghillie suits and two jawans were quickly engulfed in flames. Their comrades rushed to save them and also got burnt. Ghillie suits are camouflage suits designed to resemble the background environment and help the soldiers blend in, making them difficult to spot. The Badgonda police station incharge Arun Solanki said the bodies of the two deceased soldiers - Ranjeet Singh, (27) from Rajasthan, and Akshay Kumar (25) from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh - were brought to Mhow Civil Hospital for autopsies. The six injured soldiers have been flown to the Research & Referral (RR) Hospital in New Delhi. The entire nation knows about the Balakot strike when the Indian Air Force struck a Jaish camp deep inside Pakistan in February, but none of us know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed up after the operation and surfed the Net to see if the world would react. The PM revealed this in an interview on Friday. When at 3.40 am I was told that the operation was over and our forces had returned safely, I did not sleep, I surfed the Net to see if there was any reaction anywhere in the world, PM Modi told television channel ABP News. The Prime minister added that it was only around 5.30 am that a Pakistani official tweeted about the operation. After that I called all the concerned people for a meeting, around 7 am, the PM said. In an early morning strike on February 25, IAF struck the biggest Jaish camp in Pakistan in retaliation to the terror outfit targeting a busload of jawans in Pulwama on February 14. Forty jawans were killed in the attack. Soon after the strike, at 5.36 am, spokesperson of Pakistani Armed Forces Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted about the operation. PM Modi, when asked if he got minute to minute updates of the Balakot operation, said even if there is a bus accident anywhere, I keep following it up, How can I sleep if I know the operation is going to happen? On the Opposition seeking proof of the strike, the Prime Minister said: The biggest proof is the tweet by the Pakistan official, we did not publicise the operation, they did. Pakistans problem is that they cannot rake up the operation beyond a point, because they will then have to admit that it was on a terrorist camp, the PM added. Responding to a question on whether ties with Pakistan could be improved, PM Modi said: For that, they will have to stop exporting terror. Giving an example of Indias equation with China, the PM said that we had differences and disputes with them too but otherwise we stay engaged, we discuss issues, do business. The Supreme Court on Friday served stern warning to former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh stating that they will be sent to jail if they were found guilty of contempt, news agency PTI reported. The top court decided to go ahead with the contempt proceedings against them. The apex court expressed its dissatisfaction over replies of the former Ranbaxy promoters on payment of 3,500 crore arbitral award amount to a Japanese firm. The court has fixed April 11 as the next date of hearing on the contempt petition against the promoters. You may be owning half of the world but there is no concrete plan as to how the arbitral amount would be realised. You said that somebody owed you 6,000 crore. But this is neither here nor there, the bench was quoted as saying by PTI. Malvinder and Shivinder Singh have not paid up the Singaporean arbitration award of 2,562 crore to Daiichi Sankyo. In March, the Supreme Court had asked the two former Ranbaxy promoters to apprise it how they propose to comply with the arbitral award passed against them by a Singapore tribunal. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi-headed bench of the court had asked the Singh brothers to consult their financial and legal advisors and give a concrete plan on how they will comply with the tribunals order. Also read: SC asks ex-Ranbaxy promoters to apprise how they will comply with 3500 crore arbitral award You were the flag bearers of the pharmacare industry and it doesnt look good that you are appearing in court, the bench, also comprising justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, had then remarked. Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo had approached the Supreme Court seeking to recover 3,500 crore, awarded to it by a Singapore tribunal in its case against Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. Daiichi Sankyo, in its contempt plea filed against the Singh brothers in the apex court, has said that it was promised some shares of Fortis Healthcare by them. Earlier in December last year, the top court had ordered status quo with regard to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare. The court had, however, refused to pass any interim order on pleas relating to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare to Malaysian IHH Healthcare Berhad. Also read: The billionaires and the guru: How a family burned through $2 billion The board of Fortis Healthcare had approved in July last year a proposal from IHH Healthcare to invest 4,000 crore by way of preferential allotment for a 31.1 % stake. Daiichi had bought Ranbaxy in 2008. Later, it had moved the Singapore arbitration tribunal alleging that the Singh brothers had concealed information that Ranbaxy was facing probe by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice, while selling its shares. Daiichi had to enter into a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice, agreeing to pay USD 500 million penalty to resolve potential, civil and criminal liability. The company had then sold its stake in Ranbaxy to Sun Pharmaceuticals for 22,679 crore in 2015. Cats are able to distinguish their own names from other similar-sounding words, even when said by strangers, according to new research released Thursday. While dogs ability to respond to verbal commands from humans has been known for centuries, much less is understood about how cats react to spoken cues. Researchers in Japan decided to test how well cats are able to distinguish the meanings of words that sound similar to each other. They studied 78 cats from households and a cat cafe and found most were able to recognise their own names from other words that had the same length and stress -- even when an unfamiliar person was speaking. Many cat owners know that cats understand their own names, said Atsuko Saito, from Sophia Universitys Department of Psychology, told AFP. However, there is no scientific evidence about that ability. And people who have no experience keeping cats do not know about the cats high cognitive ability. They seem to associate their name to some rewards or punishments. This is a natural and general learning ability in animals, added Saito, lead author of the study published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. In the test scenarios, Saito and her colleagues read each cat a series of like-sounding words followed by the cats name. They then measured the cats responsiveness to each, including ear, head or tail movement as well as movement towards the person speaking. Both household and cafe cats showed a similar ability in differentiating their names from general words. However the cafe cats were less able to distinguish their own names from those of other cats. This might be because they frequently heard their own name alongside others, and had learned to associate all those names with reward or punishment. There are so many studies about dog ability to communicate with humans, said Saito, who has a male cat, Okara. We think it is important to show cats ability. This will help to make both cat and human welfare better. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tamil Nadus Coimbatore district police on Thursday filed cases against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin for making defamatory comments against the state local administration (LA) minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader SP Velumani. Thondamuthur police station sources said, Stalin was booked after an AIADMK advocate T Ramachandran lodged a complaint accusing Stalin of levelling unwanted contentions against the local administration minister. We have booked Stalin under sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC, and Section 125 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, said Thondamuthur police sources. While addressing an election rally at Coimbatores Thondamuthur on Thursday, the DMK leader had alleged that AIADMK minister Velumani has allotted government contracts to his own family members and friends. Stalin also claimed that Velumani would be sent to prison after the DMK forms a government in the state. We have collected enough proof against Velumani. He tops the list of corrupt leaders in the state now. We will not submit our evidence to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) - TNs anti-corrupting wing. The DVAC will arrest Velumani when the DMK forms the government in the state. We will send him to jail, an enthusiastic Stalin said in his Coimbatore election rally. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday renewed his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid Bharatiya Janata Party leaders giving him the credit for recent air strike at a terror camp in Pakistans Balakot in the aftermath of Pulwama attack in February. Attack happened in Pulwama. The air force personnel dropped bomb in Pakistan. They showed courage. Prime Minister says he did it. Did you do this? Show that you can hold a rifle even for five minutes like a CRPF jawan doesAir force dropped the bomb, CRPF jawans were martyred. But no, (they say) Narendra Modi did it...Did (he do) it while sitting in the Race Course Road (now renamed as the Lok Kalyan Marg), said Gandhi in a speech that was filled with sarcasm aimed at the prime minister. This came in the backdrop of BJP leaders including party president Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath raising the issue in their public speeches crediting PM Modi for the IAF strike at the terror camp. PM Modi himself has referred to the Balakot strike to target the Opposition particularly the Congress saying that the armed forces were in the past denied permission to carry out a similar strike to teach terrorists a lesson. The Congress president also targeted PM Modi in his election rallies in Maharashtra over the issues of unemployment and farm distress. He reiterated his charge that PM Modi made false promises in 2014 and that he worked as chowkidar of bit industrialists. Did Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise when he came here (Wardha) for making false promises in 2014 about giving Rs 15 lakh to the poor and providing 2 crore jobs, Gandhi said. PM Modi had addressed a public rally in Wardha earlier this week, when he attacked the Congress over Hindu terror saying that the Opposition party, when it was power, coined the phrase to target an entire community. In his comeback, Gandhi accused PM Modi of ruining the economy and depriving the poor of job opportunities. Narendra Modi conducted surgical strike on the poor through demonetisation, GST (goods and services tax). He thinks media is with me. It will run what I want. He thinks India cant raise its voice. It does not. But it gives a silent shock. You will see this in 2019. India will throw the chowkidar out, Gandhi said. The Congress president said the partys poll promise of minimum income guarantee scheme will revive the economy and create job opportunities after the elections if it is voted to power. We have promised NYAY (standing for Nyuntam Aay Yojana) to the poor. We will provide cash support of Rs 72,000 to every poor familyWe will give NYAY. Men may not like it but brothers, money under NYAY will be deposited in the bank accounts of women, Gandhi said adding, Demonetisation, GST ruined Indian economy. NYAY will jumpstart Indian economy. Earlier in the day interacting with students in Pune, Gandhi said countered the BJPs allegation that the Congress plans to raise taxes to fund NYAY. The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme, he told the students. For half-a-century, elections in Tamil Nadu meant one thing: a clash of the titans. On one side was playwright-turned-politician M Karunanidhi, who helmed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and became chief minister five times. And, on the other was J Jayalalithaa, an actor who rose through the ranks of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to claim the chief ministers chair five times. But the 2019 general election will play out without either of these two political giants Karunanidhi died last year and Jayalalithaa passed away in 2016 -- for the first time in generations. Instead, it will be an unpredictable election between two jumbo alliances, one led by the DMK and the other by the AIADMK. In the last election in 2014, the AIADMK swept the polls on the back of Jayalalithaas popularity and won 37 of the states 39 Lok Sabha seats; the DMK drew a blank. But the political scenario has changed dramatically since then. Karunanidhis son MK Stalin has taken over the party, but there is disarray in the AIADMK with many claimants for Jayalalithaas legacy, including chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami , deputy CM O Panneerselvam and her confidant VK Sasikalas nephew and rebel AIADMK leader, TTV Dhinakaran. As of now, the DMK has an upper hand and appears to be ahead in the race. It is organisationally much stronger than the truncated AIADMK, said Aazhi Senthilnathan, a political analyst. The other thing of interest is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The saffron party won one seat the last time but has wrested five seats in its alliance with the AIADMK. Its opponents characterise it as a north Indian party that has no organic roots in one of Indias most culturally strident states. TWO YEARS OF CHAOS In December 2016, Tamil Nadu plunged into a political crisis when Jayalalithaa died. The same week, Panneerselvam became chief minister but was ousted by Sasikala, who anointed herself Jayalalithaas heir and took strides to place herself in charge of the AIADMK. A corruption conviction, however, upset her plans and put her behind the bars. She named Palaniswami as the next CM, triggering a rebellion by Panneerselvam. A months-long stand-off ensued, during which time governance in the state ground to a halt. Eventually, the two sides made up and expelled Sasikala and Dhinakaran, who had earlier been named deputy general secretary of the party. The Palaniswami-Panneerselvam combine won a tense floor test after the speaker disqualified 18 legislators loyal to Dhinakaran, a decision upheld by the Madras high court in October. But in December 2017, Dhinakaran bounced back by winning the by-election in the prestigious RK Nagar assembly seat, which was held by Jayalalithaa. He has since formed the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). Tamil Nadus next assembly election is not until 2021 but 18 assembly seats are going to the polls along with the Lok Sabha election, and are being billed as a mini assembly poll. In addition, the state governments reluctance in holding the local body elections for three years is being seen as a sign that the AIADMK is apprehensive of a rout. The political climate too is not advantageous to the ruling AIADMK, said Senthilnathan. But career politicians are not the only ones in the fray. After fevered speculation for months, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, on December 2017, announced his entry into politics. Shortly afterwards, his contemporary and popular actor Kamal Hassan decided to launch his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). In a state where movie stars command huge popularity through a network of fan clubs, it is unclear how much of an impact the two new entrants will have. Hassan announced his MNM will go solo in the LS polls. Rajinikanth is yet to fashion his outfit, Rajini Makkal Mandram, into a political party. And, actor Vijayakanth, who launched the Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005, has failed to keep up the momentum after successive electoral debacles. Though the party won 29 seats in the 2011 assembly election, in the company of the AIADMK, in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it couldnt open its account. It is fighting five seats as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). MAJOR ISSUES A decades-long dispute with neighbouring Karnataka over sharing the waters of the Cauvery river always flares up during elections and is expected to have a bearing this time around, too. The AIADMK government is likely to highlight its record of conducting Global Investors Meet 2019, handling of cyclone Gajas aftermath, and bringing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to Madurai, while the DMK is expected to attack it, saying that the investments from GIM are just on paper and the state debt has inflated to 3.92 lakh crore. Anger continues to simmer in southern Tamil Nadu over the re-opening of the Sterlite Copper smelting plant, which residents of the port town of Thoothukudi say is responsible for polluting groundwater. At least 13 people lost their lives in police firing during protests against the plant in May last year. Also in the southern region of the state, which has been a traditional base of the AIADMK, the Supreme Courts curbs on the manufacture of firecrackers has resulted in the closure of 1,000 units in Sivakasi, rendering thousands unemployed. In Kanyakumari district, 191 fishermens deaths and the devastation left in the trail of cyclone Ockhi in 2017 are likely to influence the polls. The proposed Salem-Chennai Greenfield expressway has also seen massive protests in the region on environmental grounds. In the Cauvery delta region, the relief work after the Gaja cyclone are likely to be used by the opposition in its campaign. In the industrial and manufacturing belt of Coimbatore and Tiruppur, the impact of the Goods and Services Tax is likely to be a poll issue. And, of course, there is the inquiry into the death of Jayalalithaa, which sees a cache of documents or a voice clip leaked to the press every few months. Tie-uPS AND DEMOGRAPHICS The DMK-led alliance comprises the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchhi (VCK) of Thol Thirumavalavan, Left parties, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) of Vaiko and the Indian Union Muslim League. The AIADMK has aligned with the BJP, the Vanniyar-focussed PMK and DMDK, Kongu Nadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KDMK) a Gounder (an other backward class sub-caste) party. Since the pro-jallikkattu protests of December 2016, there is a strong feeling that Tamil Nadu is being discriminated against by the Centre. The BJP has to confront the opposition charge that the (Narendra) Modi government is controlling the AIADMK government. So, the anti-incumbency factor would affect both BJP and AIADMK. Yet, this would not result in a sweep for the DMK, despite having formed a mega alliance. For, Dhinakaran poses a threat of eating into the traditional vote base of the DMK in the delta region as well as the southern districts, said Tharaasu Shyam, a political analyst. The capital Chennai, with three Lok Sabha seats, continues to be a citadel of the DMK, which also enjoys support in the Cauvery delta, where four LS seats are located and is dominated by the Kallars, Agamudayars, Mutharayars, Vanniyars - (OBC sub-castes) and Dalits. The AIADMK usually counts on the Gounders, who dominate the western part of the state with six Lok Sabha seats, and the Mukkulathor Thevars (Agamudaiyar, Kallarand Maravar castes), who are an OBC sub-caste and dominate the central and southern region with eight Lok Sabha seats. The Vanniyars, yet another OBC caste who dominate the northern districts with 10 Lok Sabha seats, usually back the PMK. The Dalits have a strong base in Villupuram, Chidambaram, Tiruvallur and Tenkasi. The AIADMK has lost the support of a section of the Mukkulathor castes, which have been weaned away by Dhinakaran, said Aazhi Senthilnathan. The Nadar community, a backward caste, is concentrated in the southern districts and has backed the BJP in Kanniyakumari in the 2014 election. A key feature of the states politics is the continued domination of the lower castes something experts say is rooted in Periyars movement against Brahmanism . In 1935, the lower castes started to dominate state politics in the Madras presidency. With political awareness, they (OBCs) had launched the Justice Party, the precursor of the Dravidian movement. While DMK founder CN Annadurai became the chief minister in 1967, his cabinet had a majority of OBCs. His successor M Karunanidhi also followed that strategy. Even matinee icon M G Ramachandran, who launched his own party AIADMK, toed the same plan. In 1991, Jayalalithaa, a Brahmin by birth, became CM. But, she was the only Brahmin in her cabinet and the majority was OBCs, said Samuel Asir Raj, a professor at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli. Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) concept of Hindu rashtra is all inclusive and we are committed to it, said Girish Bapat, the partys nominee for Pune Lok Sabha seat. The guardian minister for Pune district, Bapat was interacting with Team HT on Friday answering campaign questions. When asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modis slogan Sab ka saath sab ka vikas contradicted RSS-BJPs call for Hindu Rastra, he said, When we say Hindu Rashtra, it means everyone including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs living in India. My idea of Hindu Rashtra does not mean an assertion of Hindu rituals, he said. The BJP leader who has risen from the grassroots in Pune said in his 45 years of public life he has never discriminated against anyone on the basis of caste, creed or race. The Lok Sabha elections in Pune on April 23 will be Bapats 10th election. He has been Member of Legislative Assembly for five terms. Bapat said projects like Metro rail, river rejuvenation, Smart City, highway widening and LPG gas pipeline were some of the big ticket achievements of his government. While a lot has been done by our government, many things will be carried out in next five years, he said while expressing confidence of a victory. The BJP leader is locked in a straight fight against Congress nominee Mohan Joshi. If elected, Bapat said, his top priority would be to improve Punes transport situation and traffic congestion. When asked about his opposition to the police drive on helmets by two-wheeler rideers, he said, he was not against helmets but wanted an exemption on helmets in the heart of the city where vehicles move at a snails pace. Therefore my suggestion is to implement the rule strictly where the speed is normally high and leave out the Peth areas of Pune where vehicles dont move fast, he said. They complain about Nehru, but what has Modiji done?: Priyanka Gandhi They complain about Nehru, But what has Modiji done?asks Priyanka Gandhi Has PM hugged anyone from Varanasi: Priyanka Gandhi Has PM hugged anyone from Varanasi, asks Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh reaches ECI Delhi: A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh reaches Election Commission of India. BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and by-election in the state. Actor Vivek Oberoi is also included in the list. The 26 Parliamentary constituencies of the state will undergo polling in the third phase of elections on 23rd April. BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for #LokSabhaElections2019 and by-election in the state. Actor Vivek Oberoi is also included in the list. The 26 Parliamentary constituencies of the state will undergo polling in the third phase of elections on 23rd April. pic.twitter.com/PC5lKcD3mp ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 Would like to ask Rahul Gandhi, you speak loudly from stage, why dont you give an account for your 10 years of governance: Amit Shah BJP President Amit Shah in Morigaon, Assam: Mauni baba Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister for 10 years. He went to the Rajya Sabha via Assam. I would like to ask Rahul Gandhi, you speak loudly from stage, why dont you give an account for your 10 years of governance, says Amit Shah. Bricks will be answered by rocks: Amit Shah I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that talk with terrorists may be your policy, but Prime Minister Narendra Modis principle is if we are attacked by bullet, we will reply with cannon balls. Bricks will be answered by rocks: Amit Shah Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and partys candidate from the Parliamentary constituency Dolly Sharma hold a road show in Ghaziabad Ghaziabad: Congress General Secretary for UP east Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and partys candidate from the Parliamentary constituency Dolly Sharma hold a road show. Ghaziabad: Congress General Secretary for UP east Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party's candidate from the Parliamentary constituency Dolly Sharma hold a road show. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/VrkS0ambLC ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 5, 2019 Entire country celebrated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Air Force inside the neighbouring country to bust terrorist camps: Amit Shah Atmosphere of mourning prevailed in Pakistan and Congress camp, but the entire country celebrated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Air Force inside the neighbouring country to bust the terrorist camps: Amit Shah Rahul Gandhi must clarify whether he supports Omar Abdullahs statement that Jammu and Kashmir should have a separate Prime Minister: Amit Shah Rahul Gandhi must clarify whether he supports Omar Abdullahs statement that Jammu and Kashmir should have a separate Prime Minister: Amit Shah NRC is a major step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drive out illegal migrants from Assam: Amit Shah NRC is a major step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drive out illegal migrants from Assam: BJP president Amit Shah Diary is not considered an evidence if there is no other proof: Arun Jaitley The documents now recovered after the deportation of those 2 people match the ones in the documents recovered earlier. Diary is not considered an evidence if there is no other proof, says Arun Jaitley. The investigation proceeded further when the current government took steps: Arun Jaitley The investigation proceeded further when the current government took steps. And Christian Michael was deported on December 4, 2018 and Rajiv Saxena was brought back in January 2019. What kind of coincident is this that the documents recovered in Switzerland in 2013, in which there are those initials.says Arun Jaitley Documents recovered had names such as AP, RG, Fam: Arun Jaitley The documents recovered had names such as AP, RG, Fam. The CBI registered its preliminary investigation in 2013. The CBI cant be blamed. Its a matter that started in 2013. If it is part of a conspiracy, then it is considered an evidence: Arun Jaitley If it is part of a conspiracy, then it is considered an evidence. The right to remain quiet cant be turned into right to remain silent, says Arun Jaitley The case was registered in 2013. It gathered pace after 2018 and 2019 deportations of Michel and Saxena: Arun Jaitley The case was registered in 2013. It gathered pace after 2018 and 2019 deportations of Michel and Saxena, says Arun Jaitley. Did they plan a conspiracy for 18-20 years later?: Arun Jaitley Did they plan a conspiracy for 18-20 years later? The evidence is overwhelming. The needle of suspicion is clear.If they dont answer, then they dont have an answer to give, says Arun Jaitley. The more you suppress it the more it spreads. That is why they need to answer as to who were these people?: Arun Jaitley The more you suppress it the more it spreads. That is why they need to answer as to who were these people?: Arun Jaitley. Documents recovered in two different times match and the names are the same: Arun Jaitley Documents recovered in two different times match and the names are the same. Cant escape this even if they want to. The truth is very inconvenient, says Arun Jaitley. When no reply is given to such serious allegations then the country is entitled to presume that no reply can be given: Arun Jaitley When no reply is given to such serious allegations then the country is entitled to presume that no reply can be given, says Arun Jaitley. Arun Jaitley attacks Congress over chargesheet against Christian Michel Arun Jaitley attacks Congress over chargesheet against Christian Michel. I love Modi; genuinely have no hatred or anger towards the man: Rahul Gandhi I love Modi; genuinely have no hatred or anger towards the man, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Around 27,000 jobs being lost per 24 hours in India: Rahul Gandhi Around 27,000 jobs being lost per 24 hours in India, says Rahul Gandhi. Farmers wont be put behind the bars for debts: Rahul Gandhi Farmers wont be put behind the bars for debts, says Rahul Gandhi. Chowkidar is watching out for rich, Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi Chowkidar is watching out for rich: Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi. Have you got any benefit from the farm loan waiver: Rahul Gandhi Have you got any benefit from the farm loan waiver? asks Rahul Gandhi. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is in Chandrapur, Maharashtra Congress president Rahul Gandhi is to begin addressing an election rally in Chandrapur in Maharashtra. This is second election event of the day after interacting with students in Pune in the morning. Told the party I wont contest election: Sumitra Mahajan Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tells media, I have freed the party from the dilemma and told it that I will not contest the elections. Rahul Gandhi to file nomination papers for Amethi LS on April 10 Rahul Gandhi will file nomination papers for Amethi Lok Sabha seat on April 10, Sonia Gandhi for Rae Bareli LS seat on April 11, says Congress : PTI Hatred is cowardice, tweets Rahul Gandhi Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweets, saying he is not a coward and wont hide behind hate and anger. Hatred is cowardice. I dont care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 5, 2019 SP-BSP shut factories, we are reopening them: Modi Modi said: SP and BSP shut down mills and plants, we are reopening them. They did the same with sugarcane mills and wood industry in Saharanpur. Factories are being set up throughout India to produce ethanol from sugarcane. Once these plants begin production, there wont be any problems for sugarcane growers: Modi Behanji criticised me for washing the feet of cleanliness workers at Kumbh When I washed the feet of those associated with cleanliness at Kumbh and gave them respect in my own way, Behanji criticised me immediately. But she never said a word when the Congress insulted the cleanliness workers.: Modi Opposition will never allow law against triple talaq Modi said: They (opposition) give threat of boti-boti (cut into pieces) and we talk of honour of beti-beti (daughter). Muslim sisters are free from the triple talaq. I want to tell my Muslim sisters, they will continue to be exploited under Congress, SP-BSP rule, the opposition will never allow law against triple talaq and will ensure that is never passed when we bring it in the parliament. We are the ones who respect our daughters: Modi. After BJP came to power in UP, atmosphere of fear is over After the BJP govt came to power in UP, the atmosphere of migration and fear is over. That is why the (opposition) is playing the politics of vote bank. For your chowkidar, be it farmer, armed forces personnel or anyone else, we are working for everyones prosperity. PM Modi addresses election rally in UPs Saharanpur PM Modi addresses election rally in UPs Saharanpur. This is his second rally in the state after Amroha earlier in the day. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addresses rally in Dhubri, Assam West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while addressing an election rally in Dhubri in Assam, said, In the Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will be a foreigner for 6 years, then you will be given citizenship, why? What will you do in the 6 years? What about your job, school & every essential thing. This is nothing but a conspiracy.: ANI NDA govt bringing first national sports university in Manipur Amit Shah said: This is a land of players and Mary Kom brought laurels to the country. NDA govt is building Indias first National sports university in Manipur BJP president Amit Shah addresses rally in Thoubal, Manipur BJP president Amit Shah addressing rally in Thoubal in Manipur. Says, During Congress rule, there were frequent bandhs and one lasted for 160 days. It led to escalation in the price of essential commodities. However, in the tenure of Biren ji in Manipur has become blockade free. LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan says she wont contest these polls Outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker and eight-time MP from Indore, Sumitra Mahajan has said she would not contest the ensuing general elections and has freed her party from making its choice: PTI Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's letter announcing that she doesn't want to contest the 2019 elections. She also asks why a candidate has not been declared yet from Indore, appeals to BJP to name a candidate pic.twitter.com/zruHJVCBXF ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 Samajwadi Party is in favour of an absolute farm loan waiver. Releasing the partys manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, Akhilesh Yadav said Samajwadi Party is in favour of an absolute farm loan waiver. The current government claims development: Akhilesh The current government claims development; had there been development then there wouldnt have been so much unemployment, he said. Without social justice progress cant be achieved: Akhilesh Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav said without social justice progress cant be achieved. Development is confined to only handful of people. Data about social indices should be made public, he said. Want a new vision: Akhilesh Yadav releases SP manifesto Akhilesh Yadav says, We want a new vision while releasing the manifesto Akhilesh: Huge gap between rich and poor, we want to make India prosper There is a huge gap between rich and poor, we want to make India prosper says Akhilesh Yadav Akhilesh Yadav releases manifesto of Samajwadi Party Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav released manifesto for his party. Chowkidars govt has protected the interests of everyone: Modi Chowkidars govt has protected the interests of everyone, be it farmers or anyone else. Yogi govt is working towards it. More than two crore farmers families of UP are getting direct benefit every year. I have never claimed that I have fulfilled every promise but I am working day-night to make your life easy .: Modi BJP govt has reined in criminals in UP: Modi Modi says, Votebank politics has hurt the country. In SP rule, criminals were roaming freely in western UP. But today the BJP govt has put a stop to this. We have warned them to mend their ways or theyll be jailed. We have to move forward together for the development We have to move forward together for the development of the country, Some people are trying to create a divide on the basis of caste, you need to be aware of them.: Modi SP-BSP was soft on terror Modi says, It was because of the soft attitude of Congress, SP and BSP that the terrorists became bold. Adds, Attacks have stopped in past five years because you have appointed a chowkidar in Delhi. Terrorists know Modi will go after them even in hell. Taking action against terrorists wasnt liked by some people Should we talk to militants? Should we not send them to jail? Retaliating to terrorists is not liked by some people in our country, when Pak is getting exposed in the world, these people are siding with Pak. The soft attitude towards terrorism has emboldened terrorists: Modi UAE civilian award for India, not me: Modi PM Modi: Your pradhan sevak was awarded the top civilian award by UAE. I thank the government of UAE. This is an achievement for India, not me. Says a strong government is must to take India ahead in the world. PM Modi addresses rally in Amroha PM Narendra Modi addressing election rally in Amroha, UP. Have no anger towards Narendra Modi: Rahul Rahul Gandhi: I love Mr Narendra Modi, I have no anger or hatred towards him. I am wedded to my work: Rahul Gandhi Asked who should be the heroine in his biopic, Rahul Gandhi says, I am wedded to my work. Asked about celebrating Raksha Bandhan, says he keeps till it breaks. My sister is my closest friend, says Rahul Gandhi, (Congress) will create 100 million jobs: Sam Pitroda Sam Pitroda also present at the event. Says, the real challenge today is jobs. We will create 100 million jobs when we come to power Politicians need to be asked questions We dont appreciate questions in our system. I have the guts to answer your questions even if some questions might make me uncomfortable. Why is the PM not standing here? We have to move from memorisation-centric system to a question-centric system. My message is ask questions, I am a politician, so I need to be asked questions, made uncomfortable. Our politicians need to be asked questions: Rahul Gandhi Against politicisation of airstrikes: Rahul Gandhi IAF should get credit for the recent air strikes. But I am against politicisation of the air strikes, I feel uncomfortable when the PM politicises these issues: Rahul Gandhi Planning Commission was a strategic institution Asked about doing away with NITI Aayog, Rahul Gandhi says, Planning Commission was a strategic institution. we want an institution that allows us to solve problems at a large scale, that is why we want Planning Commission, for strategic thinking. NITI Aayog is a tactical institution. Demonetisation a disastrous idea, says Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi: Demonetisation was a disastrous idea, had terrible effect on economy, millions of jobs lost, economy was jammed shut. Not much can be done now about notebandi. But we want to give access to young entrepreneurs to the banking system and loans. We will do away with permissions for three years for businesses, part of our manifesto. 22 lakh govt jobs are vacant. We will increase expenditure on education and health. Once NYAY scheme is implemented, jobs will be created and economy will revive. Will ensure 33% reservation in parliament, assemblies: Rahul Gandhi Ensure one-third of parliament and Vidhan Sabha is guaranteed for women when we come to power in 2019, and 33% of jobs are reserved for women: Rahul Gandhi. Come and talk to me, well ensure you become interested in politics, says Rahul Gandhi to the student who asked the question. Plenty of money in the system: Rahul on being asked about income scheme Asked about how funds for Rs 72,000 scheme being raised, Rahul Gandhi said, how many jobs have Anil Ambani or Mehul Choksi given to the country? How many people have had their loans written off? There is plenty of money in the system, the money will come who have dominated the banking system and not given anything back, says Rahul Gandhi. Indian economy is jammed shut, the moment money is put in peoples hands, they will start buying and the economy will revive. Link between university education and businesses needed: Rahul Gandhi The Rs 72,000 promise will happen. says Rahul Gandhi when asked about Congress manifesto. Asked about educated youth being underemployed and underpaid, Rahul Gandhi says, 27,000 jobs are being lost every 24 hours in India. Because we do not respect skill, a persons capability. No link between university and businesses, such a link is needed. I am persistent, will do what I have to do: Rahul Rahul says he got courage to be what he is today from accepting the truth and works on the basis of truth. From truth comes humility, from humility comes courage. I dont like to make excuses and am persistent. I stand up for people who are weak like farmers. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi interacts with students in Pune Congress president Rahul Gandhi is in Pune and interacting with a group of students. Asked how he should be addressed, he says Rahul is fine. Modi govt has started reining in militants: Amit Shah Amit Shah said: Narendra Modi government has started reining in militants; after Pulwama attack, Modi government launched air strike on terror camp. We were given respect after that. Sam Pitroda questioned air strikes. BJPs policy is clear that whoever crosses Indias boundaries, attacks us, will be answered, we will reply with cannons. Arunachal has become financially independent: Amit Shah Arunachal Pradesh earned Rs 927 crore revenue and the credit goes to Prema Khandu ji. Its going to make this state financially independent: Amit Shah Modi govt worked to make Itanagar as Smart City: Shah Modi government worked to make Itanagar and Pasighat as Smart City, says Amit Shah. Its for the first time that BJP is fighting on all the seats of state assembly of Arunachal Pradesh. Our winning streak started with this region when three MLAs of our party were elected uncontested. Modi ji instructed his ministers to visit northeast every fortnight: Shah Amit Shah says: Modi ji instructed his ministers to visit northeast every fortnight. It was done to pay attention to the issues and resolve them. All parts of northeast are now connected with airways and railways. The government gave Rs 50,000 crore for the development of roads of Arunachal Pradesh. BJP brought peace in northeast: Amit Shah in Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Amit Shah is addressing an election rally in Arunachal Pradesh. Says, Five years ago, northeast was disturbed and there was hardly any development. After five years, BJP brought peace in the region and is on path of development. Rahul Gandhi to address public meetings in Maharashtra Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will be in Maharashtra for a students interaction in Pune, and two public meetings in Chandrapur and Wardha. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to sit on protest over IT raids on TDP candidates Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to sit on protest in Vijayawada over reported IT raids on TDP candidates and supporters Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to hold roadshow in Ghaziabad in support of party candidate Dolly Sharma Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will hold a roadshow in Ghaziabad on Friday in support of the partys candidate Dolly Sharma. The Congress supporters and party workers believe that Priyankas visit would bolster the prospects of their candidate and will also unite the party. The party unit members said western UP in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindia is also likely to hold a rally, tentatively on April 7, in Dhaulana, which is part of Ghaziabad parliamentary seat. Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah Friday said it was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government that brought peace and development to the northeast, where militant activities were rampant even five years ago. Addressing a rally here in Changlang district, he said the saffron party is committed to take action against cross-border terrorism and insurgency in the region. Even five years ago, the northeast region was disturbed, there was hardly any development owing to militant activities among other roadblocks. The BJP has brought peace to the region and paved way for its development, he claimed. Shah insisted that political stability returned to the state after the BJP formed government in the state. Terming the people of Arunachal patriots, he said that this Himalayan state withstood the Chinese onslaught in 1962 even when then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in a statement, expressed helplessness for Assam. The BJP chief also pointed out that PM Modi has instructed his ministers to visit the northeast states every fortnight and resolve the problems of the region. All parts of the northeast now have air and rail connectivity. In Arunachal alone, the government has sanctioned ~50,000 crore for the development of roads, he stated. Highlighting the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance for Arunachal, Shah said the state was the first in the northeast to get its two cities Itanagar and Pasighat into the list of smart cities under the Smart City Mission, besides air services to Pasighat and Tezu under the UDAAN scheme. Hitting out at the Congress, he said the development work had come to a halt under the grand old party. The Congress has made no effort during its tenure to root out terrorism or corruption from the country, he said. When Modi ji took action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups by ordering an air strike on their camps, post the Pulwama attack, a pall of gloom descended on Pakistan and on the face of Rahul Gandhi, he claimed. Noting that Morarji Desai was the last prime minister who attended meetings of the Northeastern Council, he said 40 years later, it was Modi who attended the convention in Shillong. It is for the first time that BJP is fighting on all assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh. Our winning streak started in this region when three MLAs of our party were elected uncontested, he maintained. A day after Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi said in Gondia that Opposition leaders will be in Delhis Tihar jail after the polls, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that all those who claim to be chowkidars will find themselves in jail after the elections. At a massive election rally in Nagpur on Thursday evening, Gandhi said if the Congress and its allies come to power, an inquiry will be conducted against Modi over his alleged involvement in the Rafale deal. The chowkidar will be behind bars and a real chowkidar will be on guard, he said, in a sharp contrast to the Congress manifesto which largely steered clear of Rafale deal. Renewing his allegation of corruption and financial misdemeanour in the deal, he said, Why couldnt someone from Vidarbha get the deal? He also gave an open challenge to Modi for a live debate on corruption, unemployment and farmers issue for 15 minutes. Why is he afraid of holding a press conference with the media, he asked. The Congress, in their manifesto, said if voted to power, they will deposit 72,000 annually in the accounts of the poor under the Nyay scheme. The scheme was finalised only after consulting experts. It will be a surgical strike on poverty. I am a man of commitment. Believe me and wait for my action, he said. Narendra Modiji had promised 15 lakh. We have committed 72,000 annually to the poor people. I am not in a hurry, like Modi. I make promises that can be fulfilled. I am in politics to build a long-standing relationship with you. Loose talk, foul language Modis habit Using loose talk and foul language is Prime Minister Narendra Modis habit, which cant change at this age, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said on Thursday. The PM has lowered the level of political dialogue. He stoops low to humiliate the opposition parties, treating them as personal enemies. He has destroyed the basic culture of democracy. Staring at defeat ahead, the PM is now bewildered and is saying anything. The Congress cant go to his level to respond to the remarks made by him, said Sharma, the deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, who was in Mumbai to release the partys election manifesto on Thursday. Calling the Congress manifesto an eyewash, the PM said the party was supporting those harming the country. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, too, questioned the feasibility of Congress ambitious Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme. In response, Sharma said, The Congress is better than the BJP in fiscal prudence When Dr Manmohan Singh became the PM in 2004, our GDP was 460 billion dollar and when the Congress-led UPA left in 2014 it was 2.2 trillion dollar. After the first industrial revolution, the UK took 20 years to double its GDP. America took 12 years to double and Japan did it in one decade. China was the first country to triple its GDP, while India was the first country to quadruple GDP from 2004 to 2014, he said Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary is trying to enter the Lok Sabha from Baghpat this time, having lost in Mathura to BJPs Hema Malini in 2014. He spoke to Hindustan Times at Khataulis Gujjar-dominated Titaura village. Edited excepts: What are your prospects in Baghpat, where your father came third in the 2014 polls? The last election wasnt a normal election. It was held in a very polarised environment. There were heated emotions -- the people had already made up their mind. It was as if there was only one candidate on the EVM. We have since worked hard to rebuild the social ties that had existed in the region. The SP-BSP alliance is working and paying dividends on the ground. I go to that region [Baghpat] with fond memories of my youth spent there, campaigning for my father. As a candidate, people see me with a different perspective. Your grandfather Charan Singh was a leader of Indira Gandhis stature in the heartland with a strong social base among Jats, Muslims and backwards. Can you recreate an equally formidable social line-up while bringing together Jats and Muslims? No caste can survive politically or socially in isolation. It is the same for Jats. They are basically farmers who work with and take along other communities. Which is why they had political success in the past. Thats the magic we have to rediscover. We have tried to rebuild confidence with small community meetings. Those measures were needed. We are the only party that did bhaichara sammelans (harmony gatherings). The BJP didnt do it. No other party did it in the aftermath of the 2103 Muzaffarnagar riots. We simply got people to sit together and talk about what happened. Thats the reconciliation process we have been doing for the last two years. Then the political alliances came through and [the 2018] Kairana election was a watershed election. It was the litmus test to know whether the alliance will work, whether votes will get transferred, will we rise above the Hindu-Muslim divide. We could successfully do all that. Given that experience, there is confidence that the trust between the two communities, whatever deficit we had, will be more than made up. It should be easier for you to replicate the Kairana template in Baghpat and Muzaffarnagar where the Congress has not given candidates, unlike in Mathura, where your party is in a triangular fight with the BJP and the Congress. Hows your fathers campaign going in Muzaffarnagar? Chaudhary sahab has worked for three decades on issues that are very close to the people here. He was instrumental in setting up the sugar industry. Numerous times when farmers were in a crisis, he came forward to help. So there is that legacy. This election is about that respect [for past work], its about taking the farmers issues to the political mainstream. Ajit Singh ji stands for all that. But our rivals are running a very negative campaign in Muzaffarnagar. Uma Bharti came here and mocked: baap bhi hara, beta bhi haara [in 2014, father and son both lost]. Yogi Adityanath talked about riots, [Narendra] Modi ji spoke about migration of Hindus [from Kairana]. These are the scars from the 2014 past. People have realised that those who talk on those lines do not want Muzaffarnagar to prosper. The combined votes of RLD and the Congress here last time were less than 20,000. In that sense, Ajit Singh has taken a huge political risk by contesting from Muzaffarnagar. What prompted him to do that? Basically because the whole country was shocked about what happened here in 2013. He had a longing that it shouldnt be his legacy. It wasnt an easy decision for him to come here from Baghpat, a constituency he nurtured for years. But it was a very well thought and considered decision. Thats how he wants to leave his mark [in Muzaffarnagar]. You are entering a Gujjar-dominated village. Whats your message for them as also the Jat youth? Is it a caste pitch or a socio-economic message? Not a caste message at all. Its a message for building social cohesion, building social ties. Its about farmer-centric policies. You asked me about the youth. The youth across castes are the same. They want jobs, economic prosperity and opportunities that have been the biggest failings of Modi ji. Weve also have taken up an issue relating to young voters of the age of 18-25 who cannot contest elections. Age of candidacy is the next issue. If they can be village pradhans at 21, then why cant they contest for assembly or Parliament at that age. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Ram temple movement started gathering momentum, religion had become the leitmotif of politics in eastern Uttar Pradesh. People from the region travelled in droves to Ayodhya, the epicentre of the temple movement, to pay homage at what Hindus believe is the birthplace of the warrior-god Ram. What was remarkable was that despite being home to a sizeable Muslim population, the region wasnt religiously polarised. The impact of the temple movement, and communal polarisation that ensued, was greater in western UP. First came the 1987 communal violence in Meeruts Maliyana that left an estimated 350 people dead. The communal feelings that kept simmering beneath the surface exploded again in 2013 in Muzaffarnagar, claiming more than 60 lives. The warring sides were Jats and Muslims. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in contrast, was calm. Traditionally, eastern and western Uttar Pradesh have been vastly different in terms of their political temperaments, demography and the economy. The success of the Green Revolution in the region in the 1960s brought prosperity to western Uttar Pradesh, where the land, too, is more fertile and land holdings are larger than in the east. As the two regions prepare for the April-May general elections, local factors will again play a key role in how they vote, forcing political parties to customise their campaigns in the two regions. The three Cs cane, caste and communal polarisation will decide which way the electoral wind blows in the west. In the east, caste, personality and national issues will be key. To be sure, if theres one common theme, its that of national security, which is at the core of Prime Minister Narendra Modis and the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack and the February 26 air strike on a terrorist camp in Pakistans Balakot by the Indian Air Force. Every party in the elections has its pockets of influence in the west. If Agra is called Bhim Nagari (after Dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar) because of the concentration of Dalits, the main support base of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),the Samajwadi Partys Yadav and Muslim vote bank is also spread across the western belt. Even Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal has influence in Jat-dominated Meerut and Baghpat. Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Manoj ji (thats how he is known), from the Saharanpur division, said: National interest and decisive leadership are the two prime poll issues in 2019. As for the temple, we have decided to do 13 crore jaaps (chanting of mantras) on April 6, 2019. April 6 marks the start of the Hindu festival of Navratri. Putting farmers upfront The Green Revolution brought prosperity to the west. Most politicians in the region tend to come from the farming community, and their issues have traditionally dominated electoral politics. Former prime minister, the late Jat leader Chaudhary Charan Singh, not only brought farmers issues to the forefront of electoral politics but also united the different castes using the issues. His son and grandson, Ajit Singh and Jayant Chaudhary, have followed the legacy, focusing their electoral politics on farmers issues, besides caste. The consolidation of so-called backward classes started in western UP much before the issue of caste-based quotas in government jobs and educational institutions flared in the late 1980s. According to Jagat Singh, a farmer in Meerut, who has observed the politics of the state since the days of Charan Singh, sugarcane is the lifeblood of the region. In the words of farmers leader Choudhury Diwakar, the 5.3 million sugarecane growers of the region influence the outcome of elections, from the local ward level to the Lok Sabha. The scenario started changing in the 1990s, when western UP it became a lab for the BJP to reinforce its Ram temple campaign. The BSPs Dalit movement, too, struck a chord first in the west. BSP leader Mayawati won her first Lok Sabha election from the regions Bijnore in 1989. Dalit activist Satish Prakash says, Dalits are economically and socially strong in west UP, which has now become a centre of the Dalit movement. While the BSP is aspiring for Dalit-Muslim unity to sail through the choppy waters of western UP, its alliance partner SP is eyeing Yadav-Muslim consolidation in the Yadav belt. Demographically, the Dalits, especially the Jatavs (Mayawatis caste) and Jats, and Muslims, dominate the region although Yadavs, Gujjars and Vaishyas make up sizeable numbers. Hindutva It was in 2014 that chief minister Yogi Adityanath was first deployed in western UP for campaigning. Prior to that, Adityanath had concentrated on Purvanchal. His Hindutva politics paid dividends as the BJP won 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and came to power in the state in 2017. Diwaker says the electoral outcome this time around would depend on the candidates fielded by the SP-BSP alliance as well as the Congress. It will be advantage BJP if Congress fields strong candidates (to cut into the votes of the alliance). However, the election in many of the constituencies will be on Hindu-Muslim lines though the candidates caste would also decide the behaviour of voters, he added. As for the Muslims, their first preference is the SP, the second is the candidate most capable of defeating the BJP and the third a Muslim. In such a scenario, the Congress will have to push hard to make its mark in the region. Neither the caste factor nor the communal polarisation is going to help the party that had won three seats in the west, 10 in central UP, one in Bundelkhand and seven in the east in the 2009 polls, when its tally of 21 was its best performance in UP since the early 1990s. Now, the East! Eastern UP has sent six prime ministers to the Lok Sabha Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Chandra Shekhar and Narendra Modi but remains the most backward region of the state. Somehow, it hasnt been able to reap its share of the dividend of economic development and punches below its weight when it comes to influencing electoral outcomes. Anjana Prakash, who was in the past associated with the SP and the Poorvanchal Banao Samiti, said: Though it is the most backward area of UP, people largely vote for national issues, personality and their ideology. Caste remains the main ingredient in electoral politics across UP. Interestingly it is the East that has the maximum number of political heavyweights in the fray Prime Minister Narendra Modi ( Varanasi), Congress president Rahul Gandhi (Amethi), United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi (Rae Bareli) and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (Azamgarh) are among the candidates fighting for election to the Lok Sabha from the region. Demographically, the area is dominated by upper castes and backward classes with Muslims, Yadavs and Dalits having a say in small pockets. Farmers, with small land holdings, have little say in the electoral politics of the region. That is why their issues hardly figure in elections. Vinod Chand Dubey of Allahabad, who hails from western UP and worked closely with socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia and later SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, said: While the politics of dharnas (sit-ins) and demonstrations run in the east, the west, which has a large farming community, avoids brawls. They are development-oriented. Political expert KC Rana, from Agra, recalls how a demonstration call given by Charan Singh to protest the infamous Maya Tyagi rape case (1980) of Baghpat had drawn bigger participation from the east than the west. Which way will they vote? Partly because of the increasing penetration of mobile handsets in rural areas, some sections of the eastern and western regions of Uttar Pradesh have started voting uniformly, as was visible in the elections of 2012, 2014 and 2017. Since the 2014 polls, social media has been a major tool of campaigning in elections. Before the 2012 assembly polls, the mufti of Muzaffarnagar Zulfiqar Ali had said lyrically, Jo hawa purab ke kheton khaliyanon se chali hai wo ab ganne ke kheton tak pahunch gayi hai (The wind that started blowing from the agricultural fields of the east has now reached the cane fields of western UP.) What will happen this time around? Will the east and west find common factors to unite on electorally? Experts say it happens only when the elections are swept by a 2014 or 2017-like political wave in favour of the BJP. Otherwise, while the west will vote on communal lines and on farmers issues, personalities and castes will hold sway in the east. What could blur the divide is nationalism, if it continues to dominate the political narrative until the voter steps into the polling booth. Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said no burden would be put on the middle class to finance the Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay), an anti-poverty scheme that the party has proposed in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi was interacting with around 7,000 students from various colleges at Laxmi Lawns, Magarpatta city. Stating that he did not like to make sweeping statements, Gandhi said, there wont be any hike in income tax for implementing the Nyay scheme. The manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where ~72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of poor people every year if the party is voted to power, said Gandhi. He said the money will come from those who have looted India with blessings from the BJP government, and mentioned diamond businessman Nirav Modi who has been accused of fraud. The Congress Party has promised to roll out the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme, under which Rs 72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of the poor families annually, a move party has termed game changer. The Congress has claimed that the scheme will benefit around 25 crore people. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) however has criticised the scheme and sought to know from the Congress how it plans to fund the programme. According to estimates, Nyay is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. Malishka Medonsa popularly known as R J Malishka and famous Marathi actor Subhodh Bhave anchored Gandhis interaction with Rahul. Gandhi said that his scheme was a result of several rounds of consultations with various experts before putting it into the manifesto. The scheme is foolproof and will be executed without bringing any burden on the middle class, he said. When asked about the retirement age for politicians, the Congress president said it should be 60 years. In a free-wheeling interaction, Gandhi said he does not have answers of all the questions. I want you to make me feel uncomfortable so that I go back and revisit the question and start looking for answers, he said. The Congress president said once party comes to power, it plans to replace Niti Ayog with the Planning Commission, an esrtwhile agency, which the Modi government converted into Niti Ayog. To another question about womens participation in politics, Gandhi said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures. Students chants Modi-Modi, Rahul says he doesnt mind it While answering a question, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that although Prime Minister Narendra Modi hates him, he has love for him. To this reply, students started shouting Modi-Modi to which Gandhi said I dont mind it. Many students appreciated Rahuls response and applauded him. The Congress president appealed to students to raise questions. Students should ask questions to teachers, and politicians. I have dared to come among you and face questions. There are chances that some questions will make me awkward but I need to face them, otherwise there will be no progress. If students wont ask questions to teachers, teachers wont upgrade their knowledge. But in India we are not asking questions. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesnt like it and does not face questions, said Rahul. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday reiterated his words and said that he had no hatred towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but at the same time called the 2016 demonetisation exercise announced by the PM as a disastrous idea. Rahul Gandhi who was addressing students at a campus interaction in Pune said that demonetisation had a disastrous effect on economy. Demonetisation was a disastrous idea. It had a terrible effect on the economy, two per cent of the GDP was lost and resulted in loss of millions of jobs. The economy was jammed shut because of it, he said. Referring to demonetisation as an injury that the country would have to carry with it forever, he said, Not much can be done now about notebandi. The damage is already done. Watch: Money for Nyay scheme will not come from middle class: Rahul Gandhi Comparing India to China, he said that where China was creating 50,000 jobs every 24 hours, India was losing 27,000 jobs every 24 hours. This he said was because, We do not respect skill, a persons capability. There is no link between the universities and businesses. Such a link is needed to help create jobs. Right now universities are functioning in silos. We need to turn the universities into networks. That is how you unlock jobs, he said. During the interaction, Rahul Gandhi, dressed in all white and walking up and down the stage, answered questions ranging from the economy to womens reservation and how to improve the education and healthcare systems in the country. Answering a question on whether politics can be devoid of love and affection, he said, I love Narendra Modi. I have no hatred or anger towards him. But he has anger towards me. Speaking about the Congresss proposed Nyay scheme, he said, The Rs 72,000 will happen. There is plenty of money in the system. Weve already calculated where the money is going to come from, how its going to happen, the pilot project, the phases in which it will be released, weve studied in detail how it will be done. He said that there was a need to kickstart the economy and that putting Rs 72,000 in the bank accounts of the poor would help give the economy that much-needed boost. The moment money is put in peoples hands, they will start buying things, jobs will be created and the economy will revive, he said. Answering a question about reservation for women, he said, that once the UPA government came to power in 2019, we will ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Vidhan Sabhas. Well also ensure 33 per cent jobs are reserved for women. Directing his answer at the girl student who asked the question, he said that if she was interested in joining politics, she should come and talk to him. Asked about the Congresss plans to do away with the NITI Aayog, Rahul Gandhi says, Planning Commission was a strategic institution. We want an institution that allows us to solve problems at a large scale, that is why we want Planning Commission, for strategic thinking. NITI Aayog is a tactical institution, he said. Speaking about the recent air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp at Balakot in Pakistan and who should take credit for it, Rahul said, The air force should take credit for it. I am against politicisation of the air strikes. I feel uncomfortable when the PM politicises these issues. He also agreed that there should be a retirement age and said that 60 years was a good age to retire for a politician. Taking note of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath referencing the Indian Army as Modiji ki sena during a political rally, the Election Commission on Friday evening advised him to be more careful in future. The UP CM had made the remarks at a political rally in Ghaziabad earlier this week. The EC has asked him to reply by April 5. Congress ke log aatankwadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modiji ki sena aatankwadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai. (Congress leaders would feed biryani to terrorists, while Modis army gives them bullets and bombs). This is the difference. The Congress people use ji to refer to (JeM chief) Masood Azhar to encourage terrorism, the UP CM was reported saying. It is learnt that in his reply to the Commission, Yogi Adityanath hailed the role of the EC in conducting polls. The EC had issued the Uttar Pradesh chief minister a show cause notice based on a video clip submitted by the Ghaziabad district magistrate which showed Adityanath making the remarks at the election rally there on Sunday. The Congress on Thursday said they are not closed to the idea of full statehood for Delhi, but there is no one-size-fits-all policy, during a press conference on the release of its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls at its Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office. Delhis case is different. We have taken a cautious approach and have also consulted all stakeholders. Also, the Supreme Court has given its verdict on the demand for statehood in Delhi, said senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, when questioned about the partys statehood policy while it promised statehood for Puducherry, it was silent on Delhi. Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit said, This can only be done after an amendment to the constitution. We had also asked for it, but the Centre did not accept the demand. Singhvi, however, said that major environmental issues such as pollution, healthcare and urban development apply as much to Delhi. Delhi will be the focus for implementation of all schemes around these issues, he said. Seven Lok Sabha seats are at stake in Delhi, which goes to polls on May 12. Alliance talk In the backdrop of several meetings between the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge PC Chacko, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, including one on Wednesday, Dikshit said, This meeting is not on the alliance. Moreover, there are no talks as such, except for those going on in the media. Chacko said that a decision on an alliance will be announced after the party president Rahul Gandhi takes a final call on it. A major section of our own party was against this alliance, but we have tried to convince them. Slowly, more and more people are coming around to the idea. We are still positive, he said. AAPs Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said the party has not received any official communication from the Congress, yet, on an alliance. If Sanjay Singh met anybody, it was in his personal capacity. No information about a meeting has been communicated to the top leadership, he said. Singh was not available for a comment. The 600-year-old Dudheshwar Nath temple in Ghaziabad touted to be one of the oldest temples of lord Shiva in western Uttar Pradesh is a favourite destination for politicians, especially during the election season. The 16th Mahant of the temple, Mahant Narayan Giri, says politicians arrive here to get blessings ahead of the elections. Spread across 12 bighas of land, the temple is located in the heart of the Ghaziabad city -- behind the MMG Government district hospital on GT Road. The temple is also famous among the devotees and kanwariyas. According to the temple management, around 20 lakh Kanwariyas offer Gangajal here during the Kanwar Yatra. Prominent leaders such as Jagganath Mishra, Rajnath Singh and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi have visited the temple. Modi visited the temple in the 1980s. People such as Narayan Dutt Tiwari and a host of other leaders have visited the temple to offer prayers. This election season, all four candidates have come to the temple to seek the lords blessings, Mahant Giri said. He added that Surendra Kumar Munni whose candidature was later cancelled by the Samajwadi Party had also come to the temple to offer prayers -- both before and after getting the party ticket. The SP, however, later gave Suresh Bansal the ticket from the area. During 2014 elections, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Shazia Ilmi had also visited the temple. All politicians make it a point to visit the temple. They may come here to attract people as the temple is highly revered among the masses. But we simply perform puja for them like all other. Even chief minister Yogi Adityanath had recently visited the temple before attending his election rally, he maintained. On March 31, minutes after landing at Ramlila Ground, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had headed straight to the temple, where he offered prayers along with BJP candidate General (retd) VK Singh. When Adityanath returned to the Ramlila Ground to address the public, the Mahant came with him and was seen seated with the CM at the venue. Adityanath is also the Mahant of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur. He requested me to accompany him and I could not decline out of respect, Giri added. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees each day who arrive to offer prayers from across the city. Politicians generally go to religious places during elections and offer prayers and seek blessings of lord Shiva for their win. Many of them offer prayers but some of them also go to such places to garners votes as religion is attached to the sentiments of people. So the politicians feel that they can garner votes and make inroads into voters of a particular community, said Veenu Baba, an elderly resident of Chandrapuri. Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said he said he was surprised by the Congresss promise in their election manifesto to scrap the sedition law. Someone threatens to destroy India, and action will not be initiated? How is it possible? I feel ashamed of people who speak these things, he said. Singh was in his parliamentary constituency Lucknow where he attended several events as part of the Lok Sabha election campaign. Speaking at an event organised by various traders organisations at the Scientific Convention Centre here, Singh said: The Congress president has no plan to eradicate poverty from the country. At one point, he talks about giving 12,000 per month to the poor and at another point he assures 72,000 per year. Singh was referring to the Congresss proposed Nyay (Nyuntam Aay Yojna) scheme. Continuing his attack on the Congress, Singh said: I do not want to give any assurances. In the past 70 years, only assurances have been given. Had these assurances been implemented, the country would have become number one in the world 25 years ago. Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and projects rolled out by the Centre, Rajnath Singh said: During the tenure of former PM Manmohan Singh, only 25 lakh Pradhan Mantri houses were constructed between 2008- 2014. But in the last five years of PM Modis governance, 1.25 crore Pradhan Mantri houses were built, Singh added. He also said the country was safe because of its brave soldiers. It is because of the brave jawans of the country that we are safe. If there is any danger to them, each and every citizen of the country will unite and be ready to protect the brave jawans, he said. As many as 126 districts of the country were affected by the menace of Naxalism. But in the five years of the BJP government, the menace has been confined to only 5-6 districts. Soon this will also be eliminated, he added. The home minister also talked about recent achievements in space, including the successful testing of A-SAT, an anti-satellite missile. Our scientists have once again made the country proud. By successfully testing A-SAT, India is now on a par with US, Russia and China in space technology, said Singh. Amarnath Mishra, senior general secretary of the traders organisation, said: Despite problems faced due to GST and demonetisation, traders are more than willing to support the government. Later in the day, Singh also attended an event organised by the Lucknow Durga Puja coordination committee. ATAL STATUE PROMISED Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured traders that a statue of former Prime Minister the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be installed in the state capital. He gave the assurance when the traders told him there was no statue of the former PM in the city. Vajpayee, who died in August last year, represented Lucknow in the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Congress saying the party leadership has special love for those who talk about boti-boti (cutting into pieces). PM Modi was referring to Congress leader Imran Masoods hate speech of 2014 for which he had been jailed ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections. The Opposition threatens us with boti-boti (cutting into pieces) and we talk of ensuring honour of beti-beti (daughters), he said at an election rally in Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh. The one who talks about chopping into pieces is here (in Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency). Shehzaada (a reference PM Modi has used for Rahul Gandhi in the past) of the Congress has special love for himDo remember, they focus on boti-boti (chopping) and we are for the honour and safety of daughters, he said. Watch: Oppositions soft attitude emboldened terrorists: PM Modi in Amroha Masood is the Congress candidate from Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat. In the run up to 2014 Lok Sabha polls, a video of Masood had gone viral in which he could be heard using objectionable language for the then Gujarat chief minister and BJPs prime ministerial candidate. The Congress had distanced itself from Masoods hate speech. The Oppositions only agenda is Modi Hatao (remove Modi). Their only intention is to promote vansvaad (dynastic politics), PM Modi said adding, The Congress mocks my efforts calling me a chowkidar (watchman) of toilets. But this also an honour for me. Terrorists know Modi will teach them a lesson Earlier at another election rally at Amroha, PM Modi hit out at the Congress and the BSP-SP grand-alliance in Uttar Pradesh saying soft approach adopted by these parties towards terror emboldened the perpetrators in the past. The soft approach adopted by these parties have not only helped the terrorists but also put your life and future in dangerDue to vote bank politics, Bua and Babua (a reference often used by him to target Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati) used to set free the perpetrators of terror attacks, PM Modi said at his public rally in western Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi said peace has been restored in the last five years. Terrorists now know that if they did something, Modi will teach them a lesson even if they hide in paataal (deep hole), the prime minister said. Without mentioning about the Balakot air strike in Pakistan or Pulwama terror attack leaving 40 CRPF jawans dead, PM Modi said, Should I have gone silent or launched strike after terror attack? Some people start crying when India enters the homes of terrorists and launches strike against them. When Pakistan is being cornered in the world, these people are trying to become hero in that country, he said upping ante against the Opposition party leaders who sought clarification from the government amid conflicting reports in the international media over operation conducted by the Indian Air Force at a terror camp in Pakistan. Dalit In PM Modis Speech The prime minister targeted the Congress accusing it of neglecting the Dalits and the leaders from the community. The Congress, to give priority to one family, even tried everything to defeat BR Ambedkar. The Congress has started speaking about BR Ambedkar now due to compulsions of vote bank, PM Modi said. The Congress dive not give credit to Babu Jagjivan Ram when India gave befitting reply to Pakistan in 1971 war even though he was the defence minister at the time, he said suggesting that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was praised for the decisive military action at the cost of the former Dalit leader. Dalits constitute about 21 per cent of Uttar Pradeshs population. The state goes to vote in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls between April 11 and May 19. Eight Lok Sabha seats in western Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in the first phase. Amroha, the venue of the PM Modis rally, votes on April 18, the second phase of the national election. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and Im committed to ensuring our LGBTQ community and all Illinoisans have access to that right, said Gov. J.B. Pritzker, in a news release. Expanding Medicaid to cover gender affirming surgeries is cost effective, helps avoid long term health consequences, and most importantly is the right thing to do. Sumitra Mahajan, the Lok Sabha Speaker, has announced that she will not contest the Lok Sabha elections. Mahajan issued a statement on Friday to this effect wondering why there is indecision in the party over announcing Lok Sabha candidate from Indore seat. Mahajan, who is turning 76 on April 12, said, The Bharatiya Janata Party has not announced its candidate from Indore till date. Why is this indecision? It is possible the party is hesitant taking a callTherefore, I announce that I will not contest the Lok Sabha elections. The party should take a decision with free heart, without any hesitation. The BJP appeared to be in a dilemma over fielding her. There had been reports suggesting that winnability of a candidate might prevail over the 75-year age bar in the BJP while giving tickets for the Lok Sabha elections. There were speculations and so I decided to end them and free the party to make its choice. I will not contest Lok Sabha elections, news agency PTI quoted Mahajan as saying over phone from Indore. The BJP has not fielded many of its veterans including LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi in the Lok Sabha elections. Earlier this week, Mahajan had said that hinted that the decision over her candidature rested with the party leadership. I did not seek ticket from the Indore seat in 1989 when I first contested the Lok Sabha elections. The party on its own made me its candidate. I have never demanded my nomination, PTI had quoted Mahajan as saying on Tuesday. Mahajan is the only second woman MP to be the Lok Sabha Speaker. Congresss Meira Kumar was the first woman MP to occupy the chair. Meanwhile, with the BJP delaying announcement of its Indore candidate, names of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, Indore Mayor and MLA Malini Gaud, another Madhya Pradesh legislator Usha Thakur, Indore Development Authoritys former chairman Shanker Lalwani and former MLA Bhanwar Singh Shekawat are doing the rounds as possible party nominee from the constituency. Indore Lok Sabha seat will to the polls on May 19, the last phase of the parliamentary polls. In 2017, Kadipur in north Delhi, adopted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from North-East Delhi Manoj Tiwari, had hit the headlines after it became the first village in the capital to get free wi-fi. However, it is still struggling to get basic amenities like regular water supply, a medical dispensary and a proper garbage disposal facility. Since 2014, when Tiwari adopted the village under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna, it got a makeover dirt roads (kuchha roads) were paved and lit with conventional as well as LED streetlights. Water, though, comes to residents for only four hours a day 4 am to 8 am and that too on alternate days. Akhil Rana, a 2 year BA (History) student at Swami Shradhanand College in Alipur, said that the free wi-fi service has helped students in their studies. We could not afford the 24/7 internet facility. The free wi-fi has helped us in accessing online notes and attempting online exams from home only, he said. When HT visited the village on Wednesday, the system was not working. Local BJP councillor Urmila Rana said that the wi-fi in the area was deliberately switched off. We received multiple complaints from parents saying that their children were spending more time on the internet than studying, she said. They requested us to switch it off for two months during the board exam season. We will restart the service by next week since board exams are over now, she said. Bimla Devi, a resident, said that the government should fix the water issue instead of spending on the internet and LED streetlights. Someone from my family has to wake up at 4 am every day to fill water. We treat water like gold. The village has got internet connectivity but there is no regular water supply. The roads are lit with LEDs but what about water? she said. Councillor Rana said that she had written multiple times to the Delhi government over the water issue but to no avail. The village has been completely transformed. We have paved all the roads and installed over 40 polls with conventional street lights and 400 LED street lights. He has provided free wifi and also built 200 benches across the village from his MP fund. We have been trying to get uninterrupted water supply and in regular contact with the Delhi Jal Board officials, she said. Kadipur comprises two small adjoining villages Kushak no-1 and Kushak no-2and has population of around 8,000. It has 6,000 registered voters. According to locals, around 100 cases of dengue were reported from the village last year. However, in the absence of any government hospital and medical dispensary, the residents struggled. There is not even a single dispensary in the area. We have to rush to the government hospital in Jahagirpuri every time some emergency happens. There are some private doctors but we cannot trust them; most of them are quacks, said Seema Kumari, a resident of Kushak 2. Tiwari, who is also BJPs Delhi unit chief, said that has been trying to get a land for the dispensary and dhalaos (community garbage dumping spaces). We have done a lot of work in the village. I have spent around 1.5 crore on its development. We have been trying to get regular water supply and build dispensaries and dhalaos in the village as well. The delay is because of the non-cooperational attitude of the Delhi government. For any infrastructural work we need land and it comes under the Delhi government. Last year we managed to get a land and built a park for the village. People are going there, he said. When HT visited the site that had a signboard indicating it was a public park it found that it was just an open field and there was not even a blade of grass. When asked Tiwari about it he said that the work is stalled because of the model code of conduct, which restricts parties in power from announcing any new projects to allow for a level playing field in the elections. We have allotted 55 lakh for the construction of the boundary wall of the park. We will soon build an open gym there. We will come in power again and transform it into a world class village, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday fired a fresh salvo at the Congress and raised the chargesheet filed in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case at a rally in Uttarakhands Dehradun. Referring to the extraditions of AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam alleged middleman Christian Michel and Rajiv Saxena from Dubai in December 2018 and January 2019, he said that the two men had been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over many weeks. Your chowkidaar got back some middlemen from Dubai. Probe agencies questioned Italys (Christian) Michel mama and other middlemen for many weeks. A chargesheet was filed in court. It says the people who have been bribed are AP and FAM. This chargesheet says AP means Ahmed Patel and FAM stands for Family. You know who is Ahmed Patel, right? He was a close associate of the former CM of Uttarakhand. Now tell me which family is he close to? Who benefitted from the chopper deal? PM Modi said. WATCH: Congress setting new graft records: PM Modi rakes up Agusta chargesheet Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam on Friday moved a Delhi court and claimed that he has not named anybody before the probe agency. Michels counsel, Advocate Aljo K Joseph, who has filed the plea on Michels behalf, claimed that he (Michel) never named anyone, news agency PTI reported. Reacting to the allegations levelled by the BJP, the Congress termed the reports about the ED chargesheet naming senior Congress leaders as rehashed insinuations, lies and cheap election stunts. A panic-stricken Modi government and its puppet ED will not be able to change its exit date and fate. The Prime Minister has already been rejected by the people, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. But Union finance minister Arun Jaitley countered the Congresss charge at a press conference and said, The evidence is overwhelming. The needle of suspicion is clear and if no answer is given, it means there is no answer that can be offered. The main accused in the case, Christian Michel was extradited by Dubai and arrested in December last year. His statement records were also submitted and mentioned in the supplementary chargesheet. The court will consider the matter on April 6. The ED, which is probing this case along with the CBI, had filed a charge sheet against Michel in 2016 and had alleged that he received 30 million euros (about 225 crore) from AgustaWestland which was nothing but kickbacks to execute the 12-helicopter deal in favour of the firm in guise of of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country. The VVIP chopper case involves a 3,600-crore contract for the purchase of 12 luxury helicopters. The helicopters were meant to be used by top leaders such as the President of India, Prime Minister, former PMs and other VIPs. The upcoming weekend is auspicious for various Indian communities. Three Indian communities including Marathis, Kashmiri Pandits and Sindhis will welcome the Hindu New Year according to lunisolar Hindu calendar on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Kashmiri Pandits will celebrate Navrez, Sindhis will welcome New Year with a grand celebration known as Cheti Chand while Marathi Pandits will ring in the Hindu New Year with festivities of Gudi Padwa. Gudi Padwa will fall on 6th April this year and will be ushered in with spring cleaning, decorations around the house and festive food in Maharashtrian households. The main highlight of this festival is the arrangement of Gudis which literally means flags erected around the household. Gudi Padwa is also associated with the arrival of spring and the reaping of Rabi crops. The Gudi arrangement is a silk cloth or scarf tied at the top of a long bamboo stick and decorated with garlands and boughs of neem and mango leaves. The structure is then capped with a kalash of copper, silver or gold. The hoisting of Gudi historically signifies the victory and happiness of Lord Ram over Ravana. It also signifies the Brahmadhvaj, as mentioned in the Brahma Purana because it is believed that Lord Brahma created the universe on this day. Gudi is also believed to bring prosperity and good luck into a household besides warding off evil. Gudi Padwa is celebrated with people cleaning their houses and decorating it with rangolis. Both men and women wear new clothes to celebrate this auspicious day while women also wear traditional jewellery called dejhor. Maharashtrians also make a number of dishes to celebrate this festival including Shrikhand, Poori and Pooran Poli. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended an Indian national, arriving from Bahrain, at the airport on Thursday, for smuggling two gold bars worth 11.12 lakh, concealed in his slippers. The accused Rahat Ali, 51, was supposed to fly to Delhi when he was caught, police said. At 7.20am, Vivek Malik, assistant sub-inspector, CISF, noticed the presence of metal in the lower part of Alis body during a security check. Ali was asked to pass his slippers through the X-ray machine. During the screening, high-density metal was detected inside the soles of his slippers, said Hemendra Singh, assistant inspector general, CISF. On inquiry, he could not produce any valid document [for the gold], said Singh. He was charged under the Customs Act for smuggling. A 33-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday night in Greater Noidas Bisrakh for allegedly impersonating as an Indian foreign service officer and demanding Noida Police send an escort vehicle with her wherever she goes. The accused has been identified as Zoya Khan, a native of Meerut. According to police, Khan allegedly posed as a joint secretary with the foreign ministry posted at the United Nations Organization Security Council. The woman was staying at Gaur City 2 society in Bisrakh, along with her husband Harsh Pratap Singh of Meerut, who was also arrested for allegedly conspiring with his wife, the police said. We raided the residence of accused on Wednesday night and recovered one fake ID card of United Nations Security Council, where her designation was nuclear policy officer stationed at Washington DC. We also recovered one fake diplomatic identification document of accused where it was mentioned Mission Afghanistan , embassy location Washington DC on it, and a fake driving licence of United States Department of State with fake stamp. We also seized two walkie-talkies, two luxury SUVS and a lighter, which appears as a handgun, Vaibhav Krishna, senior superintendent of police (SSP), GB Nagar, said. The police said that they became suspicious after the woman sent mails to the official IDs of senior police officials using the mail ID securitychief@unitednationssecuritycouncil.org on March 23. After investigation, we found that the email ID was created on Godaddy domain by Zoya Khan who had made payment for the same through net banking. The accused used to demand escort vehicle from the police by mailing to senior officials using the fake ID. Moreover, she also used a software to change her voice on phone and made calls to the police officials, posing as Anil Sharma, personal assistant to joint secretary Zoya Khan and pressurised police to send escort vehicles, Krishna said. According to the police, the woman managed to dupe police officials in Meerut on multiple occasions in the past to provide escort vehicle. The police said that prima facie, it appears that the woman conspired with her husband to form a clout in the high society of the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida. The couple had recently moved to Greater Noida from Meerut, where they had also pulled off the stunt on multiple occasions. Her husband Harsh Pratap (29) is currently preparing for civil services examination and is also part of the conspiracy which the couple hatched to show their clout in the society. In Meerut, they used to bring their luxury SUVs to the rendezvous point of police, from where they were given escort vehicles, the SSP said. The police have booked the accused under Indian Penal Code sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 for cheating by impersonation, fraud, forgery of valuable security, forgery for the purpose of cheating, and using forged document as genuine, respectively. The IT (information technology) sub-committee of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MCCIA) has prepared a 10-year strategic plan to take Punes IT sector from the current $8 billion to $15 billion annual turnover. This move will assist the IT industry in the city to break new grounds and embrace cutting-edge technologies. The proposed strategic plan is for the period from 2018-28 and it has been has been prepared with the goal of increasing Punet IT revenue in the next seven years. Commodore Anand Khandekar (retd), former head of the sub-committee is also keen to build Punes capabilities in the areas of cyber security, for which a lot of groundwork has already been done with government agencies and expert groups from within and outside the country, notably Israel. Along with IT expert Sanjay Kanvinde, Khandekar has drawn a draft Pune IT 2.0 blueprint, which envisages Punes pole-vault to the next level in IT and close collaborations with five countries, namely Vietnam, Estonia, Poland, Hungary and Israel. These nations have strengths in areas like mathematics and startups, and Khandekar is keen on strong academic and industry collaborations and faculty augmentation at the top engineering colleges in Pune to raise the capabilities of Punes engineering graduates. About the international collaborations, Khandekar and Kanvinde explained that these five nations were chosen specifically because, Vietnam, Poland and Hungary are outstanding in maths and many Vietnamese are in the electronic chip industry in the US. In the case of Estonia, it was the first country to go digital. These IT experts said, Estonia is a progressive, cultured nation with good command over English language and expertise in cyber issues. Likewise with nations like Poland, Hungary and Israel which not only has strengths in cybersecurity, but also has a strong startup culture. Khandekar played a pioneering role in Punes growth as an IT city, after a rewarding career of 25 years in the Indian Navy. A top ranking graduate in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, (COEP), he worked with top IT multinationals and also helped draft Maharashtras IT policy. While Kanvinde has 23 years experience in the field of the energy industry. He has worked on a number of international assignments in the areas of research and development (R&D), knowledge management, corporate IT management and business development. Key Initiatives -Establish a centre of excellence in data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), at Pune. Aim to become a top five data science/AI/ML city of the world. -The goal is also to explore digital business and Industry 4.0 opportunities through the SMAC stack, which comprises social, mobile, analytics, and cloud technologies (SMAC), and IoT (Internet of Things). -The draft blueprint also forays into drones/robotics applications and automation technology developments. -The goal is to use a combination of technology, entrepreneurship, and social consciousness the outstanding strands of Punes DNA to conquer new heights. Establishing a forum The MCCIA sub-committee and Pune International Centre, which is closely associated with the initiative is keen to create a consensus among all political parties and establish an All Parties Pune Development Forum. The forum will see representation from an elected member of parliaments (MPs) and members of legislative assembly (MLAs) from the city. Other key stakeholders such as academicians, scientists, industry and eminent people from art and culture will also be a part of the forum. After successfully running the Maharashtra State Certificate in Information Technology (MSCIT) for 18 years, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) has joined hands with King Saud University, a renowned university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The learning management system used in designing MKCLs MSCIT course was demonstrated to the University officials, they understood that it matches international benchmarking and so MKCL was awarded the contract, said Neel Prabhu, general manager for international business development programme, MKCL. So, a joint venture company, MKCL Arabia Ltd has been formed. MKCL has also been entrusted with conducting online exams. MKCL has enrolled atleast 20,000 learners in online mode from atleast 130 countries. Having a pet can help older adults cope with mental and physical health issues, according to a US poll which showed that owning an animal lowers stress and gives people a sense of purpose. While pets come with benefits, they can also bring concerns, and some people may even put their animals needs ahead of their own health, the poll found. In all, 55 per cent of adults ages 50 to 80 have a pet, according to the new findings -- and more than half of those have multiple pets. More than three-quarters of pet owners say their animals reduce their stress, and nearly as many say pets give them a sense of purpose. However, 18 per cent also said having a pet or pets puts a strain on their budget. Two-thirds of all pet owners, and 78 per cent of dog owners, said their pet helps them be physically active, according to the findings from University of Michigan in the US. For those who reported that their health was fair or poor, pet ownership appeared to offer even more benefits. More than 70 per cent of these older adults said their pet helps them cope with physical or emotional symptoms, and 46 per cent said their pets help take their mind off of pain. We have long known that pets are a common and naturally occurring source of support, said Cathleen Connell, a professor at University of Michigan. Although the benefits of pets are significant, social connections and activities with friends and family are also key to quality of life across the lifespan, Connell said. Helping older adults find low cost ways to support pet ownership while not sacrificing other important relationships and priorities is an investment in overall mental and physical health, she said. The poll results indicates a need for physicians and other health care providers to ask older adults about the role of pets in their lives. More than half of those who owned pets said they did so specifically to have a companion -- and a slightly higher percentage said their pets sleep in bed with them. Sixty-five per cent of pet owners said having a pet helps connect them to other people, too. Relationships with pets tend to be less complicated than those with humans, and pets are often a source of great enjoyment, said Mary Janevic, an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan. They also provide older adults with a sense of being needed and loved, Janevic said. One in six said that they put their pets needs ahead of their own health needs -- a figure that was closer to one in four among those with health issues. Later life is often a time when people have more freedom to travel, and a long list of things they want to do with their free time, and sometimes having a pet can get in the way, said Janevic. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Criminal Justice Director - Tigmanshu Dhulia Cast - Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi, Jackie Shroff Rating - 3.5/5 Its a good thing that Hotstar isnt branding its own content as Hotstar Originals anymore. Because the streaming services second show, Criminal Justice, is far from original. Not only is it literally a remake of a remake - the original UK Criminal Justice was adapted in America as The Night Of - but it is narratively similar to so many murder mysteries weve seen before, all in a good way. Three episodes were made available in advance, and this should be considered a review of those three episodes only. The hope is that Criminal Justice maintains the solid start, and doesnt derail in later episodes, as the plot becomes more convoluted, and the twists more winding. Watch the Criminal Justice trailer here It takes around 10 minutes for it to be made abundantly clear that Criminal Justice cant be compared to its ancestors - despite their common DNA. But once weve made peace with this, it can be enjoyed for what it is - an adaptation of a proven property, which makes the smart decision to retain what worked, and doesnt make needless attempts to reinvent the wheel. Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, through his unfussy handling of the material, often evokes memories of the previous shows by replicating moments - both visually and thematically. Often, Vikrant Masseys central character, Aditya, is framed in a manner similar to how Riz Ahmeds Naz was shown in The Night Of. And while there are obvious distinctions to be made between an immigrant Pakistani family living in New York, and a middle class Indian family in Mumbai - Dhulia and writer Shridhar Raghavan tap into the stories universal themes - corruption, bureaucracy, and class. It isnt clear how much acting Jackie Shroff is doing, but whatever it is, its great. I am ashamed to admit the sheer pleasure I derived from watching Jackie Shroff in his element, sat there in his trademark neckerchief, with words like bhidu and darling flowing trippingly off his tongue, almost as if he uses them in regular life. His performance is excellent, equal parts menacing and reassuring, much like Michael K Williams in The Night Of. And its a sign of Pankaj Tripathis dependability that even the shows insistence on slotting his character as comic relief - he enters scenes, more often than not, accompanied by goofy background music - doesnt get in the way of his nuanced performance. As always, Tripathi is rather understated, despite his character - the street-smart lawyer Madhav Misra - almost begging for an over-the-top portrayal, what with all his quirks, and the eczema. Misra is perhaps the shows most successful attempt at cultural translation. Unlike some of the other characters - and indeed, thematics - the amoral chicanery of Misra seems to be rooted in what some of you might have seen in our courtrooms. Pankaj Tripathi is as wonderful as always in Criminal Justice. While The Night Of, in particular, had strong political subtext - it was also a takedown of the American legal system, and a blunt critique of post 9/11 racism - Criminal Justice doesnt quite make the most of the opportunity to discuss class in India, and the appalling lawlessness of our prisons, which can sometimes house dozens of inmates in the same cells. So instead, the show is more heavily reliant on its actors than usual. While both the original UK show and The Night Of had other things going it their favour - bigger budgets, a grander scope, the honourable stamps of the BBC and HBO - the burden of maintaining Criminal Justices grip on the audience falls mostly on its trio of leading stars. Vikrant Massey and his angelic face in a still from Hotstars Criminal Justice. Its nearly impossible to imagine Vikrant Massey as a murderous psychopath - even more so than the similarly angelic-looking Ben Whishaw and Riz Ahmed - but this is not a Jekyll and Hyde story. Instead, it deals with the same themes that director Konkona Sen Sharma attempted to unpack in her debut, A Death in the Gunj. I mention that film purely because it was also told through the perspective of Masseys character, and dealt with the psychological unravelling of an introvert. It would be unfair to criticise Criminal Justice for its rather on-the-nose storytelling. I suppose that is a part of the adaptation process. There is still a long way to go, but simply the fact that were now officially remaking stuff instead of shamelessly lifting material is a win. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar An ethics committee has recommended a three-month, unpaid suspension for a New Jersey judge who told a woman she could close your legs to prevent a sexual assault. The committee released its recommendation to the state Supreme Court Wednesday in the case of Superior Court Judge John Russo, who sits on the bench in Ocean County in southern New Jersey. He has been on administrative leave since 2017. The woman appeared before Russo in 2016 seeking a restraining order against a man she said sexually assaulted her. According to a transcript of the exchange, when the woman described her encounter with the man, Russo asked her, Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you? When the woman answered affirmatively and said one method would be to run away, Russo continued, Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things? In court filings and at a hearing, Russo has disputed that he violated judicial rules, saying he was seeking more information and wasnt trying to humiliate the woman. A message seeking comment about the committees recommendations was left with Russos lawyer. Russos conduct was not only discourteous and inappropriate, but also egregious given the potential for those questions to re-victimize the plaintiff, the panel wrote Wednesday. The panel also concluded Russo violated rules of conduct on other occasions, including when he ruled on an alimony case in which he acknowledged he knew both parties. In that case, according to the complaint, Russo reversed an order by another judge who had issued a bench warrant for the man unless he paid $10,000 in back alimony. Russo ultimately reduced that to $300. In addition to the suspension, the panel recommended that Russo be required to attend training on appropriate courtroom demeanor. Russo will have a chance to respond to the panels recommendation in advance of a final hearing on the matter in July. Scotland Yard on Friday charged a man in connection with a fatal stabbing in the London suburb of Pinner on March 24. Newsagent Ravi Katharkamar was stabbed, amid growing concern over the increasing number of stabbings in the capital. Katharkamar, 54, was stabbed to death at 6am, when he opened his shop. A passerby found him inside the shop with stab injuries. The London Ambulance Service pronounced him dead at the spot. The police said: Alexander Stephen Gunn, 31, of no fixed residence was charged on Thursday, 4 April, with the murder of 54-year-old Ravi Katharkamar. He was also charged with robbery. Gunn was due to appear in the Willesden Magistrates Court on Friday. He had previously appeared at the same court on April 1 charged with burglary, theft from a motor vehicle, possession of an offensive weapon and driving whilst disqualified, the police statement added. Detective Chief Inspector Simon Stancombe said: This was a vicious and unwarranted attack on a completely innocent man. 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. Home Secretary Sajid Javid has sought increased funding for the police to deal with the growing incidents of stabbing in London and other parts of the UK. Striving to secure the opposition Labours support to pass EU withdrawal agreement, Prime Minister Theresa May again sought an extension from the European Council on Friday until June 30, a date Brussels has previously rejected, raising hackles among pro and anti-Brexit elements. The council is due to decide on the latest request on Wednesday at an emergency summit, but reports from Brussels say a year-long extension is likely to be offered with the proviso that the UK could leave the EU before its end when the withdrawal package clears parliament. As talks with Labour continue, May wrote to council president Donald Tusk that if the UK is unable to secure parliamentary approval before May 23 the date of elections to the European parliament it will make responsible preparations to participate in the elections. Seeking another extension with the possibility of holding elections to the European parliament riled many, since it goes against Mays intention in March that she is against the UK participating in the elections. The current Brexit date is April 12. Also read: Brexit rocks Labour too as talks stay deadlocked Senior Labour leader Margaret Beckett said: The good news is that the prime minister has accepted there has to be an extension to the Brexit deadline. The bad news is that yet again she has chosen the worst option and done so for the worst reason just to keep her failed strategy and her Brexit deal alive. She is taking both the British people and EU leaders for fools because we all know this is just another time-buying, can-kicking effort to hold her bitterly divided party together. Most ludicrously of all, Theresa Maywho has been saying that holding European parliamentary elections would somehow be an affront to democracy is now setting in motion plans for such a campaign. May wrote to Tusk that it has been frustrating that her government has not been able to conclude the Brexit process in an orderly fashion, adding that this impasse cannot be allowed to continue. She wrote: In the UK it is creating uncertainty and doing damage to faith in politics, while the European Union has a legitimate desire to move on to decisions about its own future. Pakistan has announced that it will release 360 Indian prisoners, who have completed their sentence, on humanitarian ground, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday. The state-controlled broadcaster quoted Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal as saying that the first group of 100 Indian prisoners will be released on Monday. Providing break up of the Indian prisoners to be released in three groups between April 8 and April 29, Faisal said 305 are fishermen and 55 others are civilians. First group of 100 prisoners will be released on Monday followed by two more batches of 100 prisoners each on April 15 and April 22. The final group of 60 Indian prisoners will be released on April 29, Radio Pakistan reported quoting Faisal. Earlier on April 2, India called on Pakistan to release and repatriate 400 Indian prisoners including some languishing in jail despite having completed their sentences about four to five years ago. India also sought consular access to five civilian prisoners, including former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, whom its officials have been unable to meet despite repeated requests. The demand for the release of 385 fishermen and 15 other prisoners and consular access to five prisoners was made through a note verbale an unsigned diplomatic correspondence sent to the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi. The alarms started sounding just seconds after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 took off on March 10 from Addis Ababa with 157 people on board. As speed and altitude readings started going haywire, a device known as a stick shaker activated on the left side of the cockpit, where the captain sits. The mechanism makes a loud noise and rattles a pilots control column to warn of an impending aerodynamic stall. But the Boeing Co. 737 Max wasnt about to stall. Instead, a computer was getting erroneous readings from a sensor mounted like a weather vane on the jets nose. The malfunction triggered an anti-stall feature that forced the plane into a dive -- the same system that was implicated in a crash less than five months before in Indonesia that killed 189 people. To counteract it, the Ethiopian Airlines pilots responded with at least some of the steps that Boeing and the US. Federal Aviation Administration recommended after the first accident. But amid a chorus of confusing alarms, they also made a critical oversight as they struggled for control, according to three pilots with experience in accident investigations: They left the engines set nearly to maximum. The thrust was full bore the whole way, said Roger Cox, a former accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, who flew earlier models of the 737 while working as an airline pilot. That is extremely curious. Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said in a press conference Thursday that the pilots followed proper procedures issued after the October crash of a Lion Air jet. She recommended that Boeing review its flight-control system. Aviation authorities should verify that the issues have been adequately addressed before the release of the aircraft to operations, she said. Ethiopian safety officials stopped short of saying the plane needs a redesign. That helped boost Boeings shares 2.9 percent to $395.86 at the close in New York, paring the decline since last months crash to 6.3 percent. Still, the two disasters in five months have pushed Boeing into one of the biggest crises in its century-long history. The crash in Ethiopia resulted in the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max, the revamped version of a plane model that accounts for a third of Boeings operating profit. The accidents also prompted multiple investigations and reviews -- including a criminal probe led by the U.S. Justice Department -- of how US regulators certified the flawed anti-stall system, known as MCAS. The groundings are piling pressure on Boeing to come up with a fix that will keep pilots from having to make such complicated, split-second decisions to keep the 737 Max aloft. The company is redesigning its software and expects to complete the work within weeks. Among other changes, the update will keep the safety system from kicking in when only one of the sensors detects a stall. We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 Max accidents, Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg said in a video. The Chicago-based planemaker blamed the accident on a chain of events and acknowledged the sensor malfunction. Near-Maximum Thrust At near-maximum thrust, the plane became more difficult to fly, multiplying the problems created by the flaw in the 737 Maxs software, according to pilots who reviewed a preliminary report issued Thursday by Ethiopias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. High speed also made it impossible to recover in the final seconds when the planes nose pointed downward into their final, high-speed dive. They exacerbated it, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, the former director of the FAAs Accident Investigation Division. The Ethiopian report clearly showed that MCAS -- the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a safety measure added to the new plane to prevent it from dangerous stalls -- had activated multiple times. That was similar to the Lion Air crash. Sensors in the aircraft that report how high its nose is pointed relative to oncoming air varied by almost 60 degrees. One of the angle-of-attack gauges read 15.3 degrees, likely an accurate reading for a plane taking off. The other erroneously read 74.5 degrees -- which would suggest a plane pointing almost straight skyward. Lost Control Even though pilots took at least some of the steps recommended by Boeing and the FAA to counteract MCAS, they were confused and ultimately lost control, according to the report. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment, Muilenburg said in his statement. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it. Every plane crash typically involves multiple contributors, and the detailed Ethiopian report chronicles many factors that occurred over a matter of minutes leading to the accident. Everyone can talk about it from a desk, but when you see it happening its another thing, said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines. What steps were taken, what steps were missed? Those are all things were going to be looking at for several weeks. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Boeing may have to pay about $1 billion to settle the multiple wrongful-death lawsuits filed against it on behalf of victims of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 crashes. Excess Speed Pilots interviewed by Bloomberg didnt agree completely about the factors. Some took issue with Ethiopias transport minister, saying the Ethiopian Airlines pilots had actually failed to properly follow the procedures. Other pilots said the flight crews actions were understandable given the chaotic situation. But they all agreed that the speed was critical. The plane took off at 94 percent of full power, according to the report. That is normal for liftoff, but pilots then typically pull back the power soon afterward. Even though the captain called for setting the speed at 238 knots, or 274 miles per hour, about a minute after takeoff, the engine thrust remained at the same level for the entire short flight, according to the report. Before it picked up speed in its final dive, the plane was flying as fast as 365 knots, or 420 miles an hour -- almost twice the usual top speed at that low altitude. In addition to the multiple warnings prompted by the MCAS failure, the pilots were also getting audible alerts indicating they had exceeded the safe flying speed, according to the report. The Ethiopian crew followed one important step required to deal with an MCAS failure when they shut off power to the motor the system uses to automatically drive down the nose, according to the report. However, at the high speed at which they were flying, it became much harder to adjust the planes pitch manually, said John Cox, president of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot. Control Column For more than two minutes during the flight with the trim system powered off, the crew had to apply strong pressure to their control column to continue flying, according to the report. Normally, pilots would adjust the wing at the tail of the plane to make the nose point upwards and reduce that pressure. During that time, the captain asked the co=pilot to try making adjustments -- known as trimming -- manually. The first officer replied that it is not working, according to the report. The two wheels that pilots turn by hand to trim would have been very hard to move or impossible at that speed, John Cox said. While its not clear from the report exactly what steps the pilots took, their struggles to keep the plane climbing apparently led them to switch power back on to the trim system. About 30 seconds before they crashed, it was activated by the pilots to slightly raise the nose. Five seconds later, MCAS engaged again, once more pushing down the nose. At that speed, they couldnt overcome the dive using their control column alone, according to John Cox and Guzzetti. For reasons that havent been explained, they didnt try to also trim the plane using switches on their control yokes. The plane eventually pointed down by 40 degrees and the plane reached speeds of 575 miles per hour. You cant read the transcript and not put yourself in the cockpit, Tajer, of the Allied Pilots Association, said. Every honest pilot says, I could see me right there, doing that, even if it was not a good thing, or saying, yeah that makes sense. Saudi-Iran tensions, war in Yemen and hostilities between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance have triggered a phenomenal increase in arms imports to West Asia, according to Stockholm-based arms trade monitor SIPRI. During 2014-2018, arms sales to West Asia have gone up by 87% as compared to 2009-2013, showed figures released in March by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in its fiveyearly report Trends in International Arms Transfers 2018. West Asia is the only region that witnessed a rise in arms imports in the 2014-2018 period while the numbers fell in the rest of the world. North and South America saw a 36% decrease, Europe 13%, Asia and Oceania 6.7%, and Africa 6.5%. But buoyed by West Asias spike, overall global arms imports went up by 7.8%. Saudi Arabias arms imports shot up by 192%, while the figures are even higher for Riyadhs neighbours. Egypt imported 206% more arms than before, Iraqs purchases went up by 139%, while Qatar recorded an increase of 225%. Israel, perpetually locked in a battle with the Hamas, saw its arms procurements shoot up by a whopping 354%. Lesser-known Oman bought 213% more arms than before, while Kuwaits imports ran up by 348%. Saudi Arabias fight against arch rival Iran for regional dominance; the Saudi-led intervention and war in Yemen; and the diplomatic standoff between Qatar and the UAE-Saudi alliance are the key reasons behind these increases in West Asias arms imports, the SIPRI report said. Interestingly, the spike in arms imports coincided with an economic slump in the Gulf region triggered by a historic oil price shock. From the highs of $115 a barrel in June 2014, the crude oil price had bottomed out to $35 by February 2016. Owain Glyndwr is the preeminent national hero of Wales. From 1400 to 1415 he led a war of independence against the English under King Henry IV. The Welsh consider Glyndwr the last truethat is, native-bornprince of Wales (tywysog Cymrupronounced TOO-a-sog CUM-ryin Welsh). Though the English had usurped the title as early as 1282, Glyndwrs followers proclaimed him prince of Wales on Sept. 16, 1400. Glyndwr was the son of a wealthy landowner who served the English as a Marcher Lord in the border region between England and northeast Wales. In his youth Glyndwr studied law at the Inns of Court in London, and he later served in the English army of King Richard II, even taking part in the 1385 invasion of Scotland. Richard was favorably disposed to the Welsh. But in 1399 the kings first cousin Henry Bolingbroke deposed Richard and assumed the throne as Henry IV. Welsh allegiance split, with Glyndwr coming down on the side supporting Richard. In Wales the opposition to Henry quickly spiraled into a general revolt against the English, with Glyndwr as its leader. The rebels were initially very successful, particularly in north Wales. Their primary weakness was a lack of artillery, necessary for besieging castles, and as they extended their control to south Wales, they encountered stiffer opposition, including economic sanctions. In the spring of 1405 the Welsh suffered an especially costly defeat at Pwll Melyn (pronounced roughly poosch MEL-in), in southeast Wales. It marked the turning point of the rebellion. The fight began just north of Newport on the Severn Estuary as Welsh rebels under Glyndwrs son Gruffudd and brother Tudur besieged the English at Usk Castle. They were beaten back by its garrison, which then sortied out in pursuit. Leading the English force were Baron Richard Grey of Codnor, Sir John Oldcastle of Herefordshire, Sir John Greyndour and Dafydd Gam. Though a native Welshman, Gam had aligned with Henry and was hostile to Glyndwr and the revolt. His knowledge of the area and noble standing made it difficult for the rebels to rally the local population to their cause. The fact Glyndwr had sacked and burned Usk a few years earlier certainly did not help. The English caught the Welsh near Pwll Melyn (Yellow Pool), a body of water about a quarter-mile northeast of the castle. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the rebels were crushed, suffering upward of 1,500 casualties, 300 of whom had been captured, marched back to the castle and beheaded. What especially hurt the rebels was the loss of many key leaders. Glyndwrs brother Tudur and John ap Hywel, influential abbot of the Llantarnam Cistercian monastery, both died on the field. Glyndwrs son Gruffudd was captured and taken to the Tower of London, where he died in 1412. Though the Welsh won a few more battles, Henry IV had all but crushed the revolt by 1409. Captured at Harlech that year, Glyndwrs wife and two of his daughters would also die in captivity at the Tower of London. When Henry died in 1413, his son Prince Henry of Monmouth assumed the throne as Henry V. Though the young king took a more conciliatory tone, offering pardons to the Welsh rebel leaders, Glyndwr remained an outlaw. Never betrayed to the English, he disappeared from the pages of history around 1412. Rumor had it he died sometime in 1415. The mystery surrounding his final years imbued Glyndwr with a semi-mythical status on a par with the 7th century Welsh warrior-king Cadwaladra sleeping hero who would someday return to liberate his people. The English, meanwhile, continued to confer the title prince of Wales on the heir apparent to their throne, a practice followed to this day. Present-day Usk Castle [uskcastle.com] is a well-preserved ruin, privately owned but open to the public. (Among its earliest builders was Anglo-Norman knight William Marshal, featured in the July 2015 Valor section.) Near the castle entrance a wooden sign points along a hiking path to the battlefield. In 2005, to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the battle, the Usk Civic Society marked the site with a blue circular plaque. For years, Apple Pay and other mobile wallets have offered customers the ability to "tap to pay" at the register. Now, U.S. credit- and debit-card issuers are hopping on the bandwagon. Contactless payments are typically speedier than transactions in which you insert a card into a chip reader. To use a contactless card, you hold it within a few inches of any terminal that accepts near-field communication (NFC) payments -- look for a symbol with four vertical curves. All newly issued and renewed Chase Visa consumer credit cards now have contactless-payment capability. Chase Visa debit cards will carry the technology starting in the second half of 2019. Capital One added contactless technology to its Quicksilver, Savor and Venture credit cards last year. American Express is actively issuing some credit cards -- including the Hilton Honors and Gold cards -- with contactless capability, and you can request a contactless-enabled version of any Amex consumer card. Pentagon Federal Credit Union is also issuing contactless Visa credit and debit cards. Among U.S. merchants that accept Visa payments, 78 of the top 100 (ranked by number of transactions) can now handle contactless transactions. Target recently announced that it would soon take contactless payments; other merchants accepting them include Costco Wholesale, CVS Pharmacy and McDonald's. A contactless card transfers unique, encrypted data when you tap to pay -- just as it does when you insert it into a chip reader -- so that thieves can't glean enough useful information in a breach to create counterfeit cards. Fraudsters could use a skimming device to steal data from your card by coming in close proximity to it. But that's not a valid concern because crooks still can't gather enough viable data to make counterfeit cards, says Randy Vanderhoof, director of the U.S. Payments Forum, an association of financial institutions, merchants and other players in the payments industry. You could buy an "RFID blocking" wallet or sleeve to play it safe, but it may not be worthwhile. Wrapping your card in foil will obstruct the signal, says Vanderhoof. For the latest savings yields and loan rates, visit kiplinger.com/links/rates. For our top rewards cards, go to kiplinger.com /links/rewards. (Lisa Gerstner is a contributing editor to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.) (c) 2019 Kiplinger's Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. F actors including high property costs have resulted in more Londoners renting their homes, and for longer. If youve ever struggled with an errant landlord or letting agent, youre not alone, which is why it is vital that you know your rights. Here is the essential up-to-date advice to help you stay informed and covered for all eventualities as a private tenant. Deposit protection explained If you rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) that started after April 6, 2007, your landlord must keep your security deposit in a deposit protection scheme. An AST is the most common form of tenancy and most new tenancies fall into this category. The Government introduced deposit protection schemes in 2007 in an effort to protect tenants and ensure they get what they are rightfully owed when moving out of a rental property. However, this is dependent on tenants meeting the terms of the tenancy agreement; not damaging the property (beyond reasonable wear and tear), and paying the rent and bills. A tenancy cannot be an AST if: It began or was agreed before January 15, 1989 The rent is more than 100,000 per year The rent is less than 250 per year (or less than 1,000 in London) The landlord is a local council Its a holiday let There are three main deposit schemes in England and Wales Deposit Protection Service; MyDeposits, and Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Scotland and Ireland have separate schemes. Tenancy deposit schemes fall into two categories: The scheme hold the deposit for free this is known as a custodial scheme The tenant or agency hold the deposit and pay the scheme to insure it this is known as an insured scheme Landlords or their agents are responsible for putting your deposit into a scheme within 30 days of a tenant signing a rental agreement. They are also required to provide the tenant with details of the scheme, such as which one they have used. When its time to leave, tenants are responsible for asking their landlord or agency for their deposit back. You can contact the scheme directly and ask for this money to be released if you fail to get a response within 10 days. In the event of a dispute regarding this final figure regarding damage to the property or rent arrears, for example the deposit remains protected in the scheme until the matter is resolved. How much can my landlord increase my rent by? Your tenancy agreement should detail how and when your rent will be reviewed. When a landlord can propose a rent increase depends on the type of tenancy you have. For a fixed-term tenancy, a rent increase usually occurs at the end of the fixed term, while a periodic tenancy (rolling on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis) can usually only see your rent increased once a year without your agreement. According to Shelter, rent increases must be fair and realistic, i.e. in line with similar local rents. If you feel your rental increase has been unreasonably inflated, you can apply to a Housing Tribunal. This is an independent, non-governmental organisation that will consider your plea and that of your landlord in the context of fair or market rates. Its worth seeking legal advice before proceeding with this. Citizens Advice and Shelter both offer free advice and support. Do private tenants have a right to housing benefit? Private tenants are unlikely to get all their rent covered by housing benefit, although this will depend on your personal circumstances / Flickr/HowardLake Private tenants eligible for housing benefit wont usually get their full rent covered. The maximum funding available is the local housing allowance (LHA) rate that applies to your household. This is based on the number of bedrooms you can claim for. There are five bands available and the rates differ depending on where in the country you live. You can find out your LHA rate here. If youre under 35 and single with no dependent children, you can usually only get the shared accommodation rate. This applies whether you share your home with other people or live alone. How much youre eligible for is also dependent on whether you are working, how much you earn, whether you are affected by the benefit cap and who else is living with you and whether they contribute to housing costs. If youre unsure what benefits youre eligible for, you can find out more here. I'm struggling to pay my rent what can I do? Struggling to pay your rent? Help is available / pixabay If you cant pay your rent, your landlord could begin legal proceedings to evict you. If youre experiencing financial difficulties and have fallen behind on your rent payments, speak with your landlord or agency. It might seem daunting, but you might be able to come to a repayment agreement with your landlord to pay back any outstanding money over time. Ignoring calls or letters wont make the problem go away. Its worth contacting a specialist organisation who can offer support and advice to anyone struggling with housing costs or debt: Depending on your financial circumstances, you might be eligible for financial assistance from the government. If youre on a low income, you might be able to claim housing benefit or Universal Credit housing costs. Determining the value of a book means considering its condition, printing, and rarity. Because there are so many factors to consider, each book needs to be valued individually. Whether you are looking to sell books from your own collection or from a collection you have acquired, determining the value of books can be a challenging and tedious task. However, there are steps you can follow to make the process easier and possibly make a good deal of money from your collection. Condition The first step in determining the value of a rare book is looking at its condition. Even with coveted older titles, damage can significantly reduce the value of the book. Most book purchasers and collectors are interested primarily in copies in good or fine condition. Some signs of wear to look for include: Cover and binding tears or marks Missing pages Stains and water damage Loose binding or pages Missing dust jacket Unfortunately, if you have books with noticeable wear, book buyers may not be interested. However, your best bet is to leave it to the professionals to determine the condition, as exceptions can be made for older books. Paperbacks are rarely worth a significant amount, unless they are particularly rare. Is it a first edition? The value of a book will increase significantly if it is a first edition, particularly if it is also a first printing. Conversely, second printings and later tend to have much lower values. What does it mean for a book to be a first edition? This means it is the first version of the text printed by the publisher. In theory, a first edition should be the very first version of a book that was printed. So what youre really looking for is the first edition, first printing the very first version of a book that existed. These often have only one copyright date listed. To identify a first edition, you should look to the copyright page. Some publishers may state first edition or first printing, often followed by a string of numbers. You are usually looking for something like this: First edition 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The 1 refers to the printing. If the lowest number is a 2, then this is probably a second printing. To make matters more complicated, many publishers indicate printing and edition differently. Your best option in determining a first edition is to look up the book you are evaluating to find examples of a first edition copyright page. Additional things to look for when determining edition In many cases, determining whether a book is a first edition is far from straightforward. There are a few other factors that can quickly rule out a book as a true first edition. Book club editions: Some books may have copyright pages that look like the copyright page of first editions. In fact, the book can be identical to a first edition book many ways. Some determining factors include: Book club edition on the inside jacket flap Any mention of a book club on the copyright page Slightly smaller size than the true first edition A dot or other mark on the back cover or spine Blurbs: If there are any blurbs that sound like they were written post-publication, you know you are not dealing with a first edition. The same goes for any mention of bestseller lists on the cover. Some blurbs may be denoted as advanced praise, which may not rule out your copy as a first edition. Advanced proof copies: Some books may be labeled as advanced proofs, which means they were released prior to the publication of the book. These are often paperbacks similar to trade paperbacks, but they may be valuable despite this. In some cases, an advanced proof may even be more valuable than a first edition. You should look up the average selling price of an advanced proof copy before you pass over it. First editions of new version: In some cases, a publisher will release a new version of a book and include first edition on the copyright page. While it may indeed be a first edition of that version, newer editions of books tend to be less valuable than the very first edition. Other factors that affect value In the case of most 20th and 21st century books, the condition and printing may be all you need before heading to a book buyer. For older books, the process may be more complicated. If the book is missing a copyright page, you should look for as much identifying information as you can. This may include: The author The publisher A city of publication A publication date Illustrations If you can identify the exact edition of your book, you may be able to determine its price by finding online sellers with the same edition. Older books will often need to be appraised to determine the value. Signed editions If your book is signed by the author, it will generally be more valuable than other books of the same edition. A first edition, first printing that is signed by the author is a book collectors dream and may be worth a significant amount, depending on its rarity. Peter McPherson is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money. BestReviews never accepts free products from manufacturers and purchases every product it reviews with its own funds. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Malevolent forces lurk behind the fairy tales, whether its the Koch Brothers in the title track or the corrupt congressman in Good Time Charlie who tells himself and the country that hes doing the right thing when hes funding a war overseas. Yet theres no lecturing going on here, no need for eye-rolling. Whether in full roar on the harrowing Control Freak or eerily muted in the spectral murmuring of Ice Cream, melodies rule. In Priests world, the tunes are the seduction. The Factory Theater has announced its 2019-2020 season, the 27th for the fun-loving Chicago theater company, which also welcomes Timothy C. Amos as managing director and Anthony Tournis as casting director. All performances take place at the theater at 1623 W. Howard St. in Rogers Park. Single tickets are $25 and three-show subscription packages are $60, on sale now at www.thefactorytheater.com. Appointment 5 April 2019 Sunny Haroon has been appointed General Manager at Hotel Verde Zanzibar - Azam Luxury Resort & Spa, the islands greenest, five star hotel. A hotel management graduate Sunny has enjoyed a successful career in the industry spanning some 18+ years with some of the world's leading luxury brands. A firm believer in sustainability the position is a perfect fit for Sunny and he is excited to be a part of putting this one-of-a-kind hotel on the map, giving him daily opportunities to contribute back to the environment. Supported by his green team, Sunny will focus on operations, service delivery and guest satisfaction, all in keeping with sustainable processes and procedures. Appointment 5 April 2019 CBRE has announced the appointment of Takashi Tsuji as Managing Director, Capital Markets. In this capacity effective Monday 1 April, Tsuji will oversee the three service lines in the Capital Markets Division: Investment Properties, Capital Advisors (Financial Services), and Hotels. Mr. Tsuji graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. He joined Mitsubishi Corporation in 1991. After spending some time in the Logistics Business Division, he was seconded to Mitsubishi Corporation's (Americas) New York headquarters in 1997 and experienced the venture investment business. After returning to Japan in 2002, he worked on the logistics real estate securitization business mainly through the development of and investment in logistics facilities. He was appointed Executive Vice President of Diamond Realty Management Inc. in April 2012 and became President and CEO in November of the same year. Press Release 5 April 2019 PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) has been recognized for its culture of inclusion by the Human Rights Campaign on the heels of reinforcing its commitment to workplace fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) team members. Within the same week of joining the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts earned a perfect score of 100 as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Advertisements "At Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all of our team members can thrive," says Mary Falvey, chief administrative officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "That's why last week we raised the bar in ensuring workplace fairness by joining the Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Our pledge put an exclamation point on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' welcoming culture that reflects the diversity of our team members, guests, owners and communities around the world." On March 26, at the Diversity and Inclusion Conference in Philadelphia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts joined the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, a group of leading U.S. employers that support the Equality Act, federal legislation that would provide the same basic protections to LGBTQ people as are provided to other protected groups under federal law. In joining the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reinforced its strong history of diverse and inclusive practices, with full leadership support, to its team members, partners and customers. As part of Wyndham Worldwide, the Human Rights Campaign named the Company as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality nine times with a perfect score of 100. "For more than ten years, Wyndham has been an employer of choice among the LGBTQ community, and one that encourages team members to bring their whole selves to work," said Patricia Lee, executive vice president of Global Learning and Development and chief social responsibility officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. "Our recognition as a Best Place to Work shows that we continue to do the right thing in ensuring the environment we're cultivating is in the spirit of hospitality." Recognizing that embracing inclusivity is good business, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts appeals to diverse consumers, cultivating welcoming environments in its hotels, in addition to supporting its team members. An important element of this culture is Pride, an affinity business group dedicated to fostering a culture of acceptance and equality within the Company. With local chapters in several corporate locations, Pride members raise awareness of LGBTQ issues, lead community support activities, and drive a positive impact on business practices and goals. The 2019 Corporate Equality Index evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. For more information on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Each member of Pivot Gang has released a solo project in the past two years and now, they're joining forces for their debut album. Today, they released their new single, "Bad Boys" featuring Smino and announced that their debut album as a group, You Can't Sit With Us, is set to drop later this month on April 19th. "Bad Boys" features Smino, Joseph Chilliams, MfnMeli and Smino who flex their lyrical muscle over the gritty production provided by daedaePIVOT. The song serves as the third single off of the project following "Studio Ground Rules" and "Jason Stratham Pt. 2." The Pivot Gang members hold down the verses on the track while Smino delivers an energetic hook. Peep the tracklist for You Can't Sit With Us below. 01. Death Row 02. Colbert 03. Mortal Kombat (ft. Kari Faux) 04. Hero 05. Bad Boys (ft. Smino) 06. Bible 07. No Vest (ft. Mick Jenkins) 08. Clark Kent 09. Studio Ground Rules 10. Edward Scissorhands (ft. Jean Deaux) 11. Mathematics (ft. Femdot) 12. Jason Statham, Pt. 2 13. Carnival (ft. Sylvan LaCue & Benjamin Earl Turner) Quotable Lyrics Back again Fabo, D-4L, ayy what's happening Adamant, I die for this shit, Colin Kaepernick Book smart, where that heart, she still act like a ratchet chick Rapper shit, knew I had a hit, so what's the etiquette But overall, you dont get enough of the arcing emotional tension of the detectives transformation, his growing realization that a kid who was different made a small but meaningful change in the world, even though it required his own sacrifice. To put that another way, the show is rather too rooted to the traditional convention, when it needs to open up more to the way in Lecesne is subverting the very style he is using. Make no mistake about it, Tyga is a west coast veteran. As such, he's likely familiar with Nipsey Hussle's importance to the community, having previously collaborated with Nip on the throwback cut "Snitches Ain't Shit." Now, T-Raww has taken a moment to honor the slain rapper's memory during a concert in Vancouver. The homage comes on the heels of a previous IG post, which found Tyga eulogizing Nipsey's memory with a heartfelt post. "Respected u so much dawg.Real legend in the city.always kept it solid and 1000 with me!" it wrote. "I wish we couldve worked and done more together. U inspired me to be my own leader and someone I truly admired. Ur soul will live forever! God got him a true King. Luv ya big dawg." https://www.instagram.com/p/BvxZi8bFblE He certainly kept the same energy onstage, when he implored fans to join him in honoring Nipsey, quieting the raucous crowd to say a few words. "West coast legend," says Tyga, while an image of Nip fills the big screen. Afterward, the DJ queues up "Last Time That I Checc'd," while Tyga leads the crowd. Once again, the hip-hop community unifies in their support for Nipsey Hussle, and respect to Tyga for holding it down. A Memphis woman won a $459,000 arbitration award from Conns last month after receiving more than 300 robocalls from the Houston-area retailer, which was trying to collect payments on her $1,682 sofa set purchase. Veronica Davis, 45, said Conns called her as many as a dozen times a day between from 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. over a period of two years, even though she said she was never late on her payments. The incessant collections calls annoyed Davis so much, she hired an attorney and took Conns to court. I was frustrated. I felt intimidated. I felt harassed, said Davis, an at-home caregiver. Every time they called, they made my good days bad and my bad days worse. Davis is not alone. Conns customers, peeved by pesky robocalls, are increasingly suing and sometimes winning six-figure payouts from the The Woodlands-based retailer, which sells home appliances, furniture and electronics in 14 states and often extends credit to buyers who have little to no credit history. In January 2018, an arbitrator awarded $311,000 to a Tennessee consumer for 424 calls Conns made in a four-month period after he told the retailer to stop calling his cell phone. In September, an arbitrator awarded $215,550 to another Tennessee customer for 431 calls Conns made in a three-month period after he told the retailer to stop calling his cell phone. Conns operates six call centers globally including in Beaumont and San Antonio to reach out to customers and remind them to pay their bills on time. The 4,500-employee company, which started in 1890, started offering credit to consumers in 1964. These lawsuits allege Conns violated federal telecommunication laws prohibiting telemarketers and debt collection agencies from calling consumers cell phones using automatic dialing systems without their express consent. Companies who violate the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act can be fined a penalty of as much as $1,500 per call. Working things out Conns, which is suing Davis to overturn the binding arbitration award, said it follows federal regulations, only calling customers that have an outstanding debt with their permission to remind them of missed payments and to inform them of late fees. The company said calls are made in an attempt to work out a payment plan to bring loans back into good standing. Over the last two years, there have been many rulings in favor of Conns HomePlus regarding compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act regulations, a company spokeswoman said. As this case is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to comment on the specifics of this customers account at this time. Federal telecommunications laws have done little to curb the onslaught of robocalls, an issue Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has often called a scourge on consumers. You-Mail, an app that blocks robocalls, has estimated that the typical American adult receives an average of 15.8 robocalls a day. The Federal Trade Commission received nearly 3.8 million robocall complaints in 2018, according to a FCC report released in February. Nationally, consumers have filed more than 3,100 lawsuits including 107 in Texas alleging Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations between August 2015 and December 2016, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Pricey violations Violations of the federal law can cost companies millions of dollars. Last year, a judge awarded a $60 million verdict in a class action lawsuit against Dish Network, which was accused of making illegal telemarketing calls to numbers listed on the national Do Not Call Registry. Frank Kerney, an attorney with Florida-based Morgan & Morgan, which has filed more than 100 TCPA lawsuits against Conns in recent years and represented Davis in her case against the retailer, said companies use robocalls to pester consumers repeatedly to get them to pay up, just to make the calls stop. Despite the risk of fines, companies often resort to robocalls, because its cheaper than operating human call centers, he said. Morgan & Morgan, which files about 400 TCPA lawsuits a year, has so far filed 200 suits against companies using robocalls in the first three months of 2019. Robocalls are a rampant problem across America, Kerney said. Consumers are being victimized by this technology. Conns, which reported profits of $73.8 million on 2018 revenue of $1.5 billion, according to its most recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing, employs as many as 800 collections agents who use a telephone system to send 600,000 calls a day to customers who are late on their payments, according to court records. The company said in court records last year that between 300,000 and 320,000 of the nearly 700,000 customers who bought goods on credit from it were at least one day late on their monthly payments. In 2018, the company reported $198 million in allowance for bad debts, an estimate of accounts that may default. Davis, however, said she was never late on her payments. Although Conns contract states her due date is on the 5th of every month, the company gave consumers a grace period until the 15th of the month before levying late fees. Davis said she paid her monthly $66.51 payment on the 15th, and ultimately paid off her furniture purchase in January 2018. Davis, who has yet to see any money from the $459,000 award, said she plans to use the money to pay off some other bills and open a homeless shelter to give back to the community. I still get letters in the mail from them, trying to offer me credit, Davis said. But I wouldnt buy a dollhouse from Conns. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Facial recognition technology was already seeping into everyday life from your photos on Facebook to police scans of mugshots when Joy Buolamwini noticed a serious glitch: Some of the software couldnt detect dark-skinned faces like hers. That revelation sparked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher to launch a project thats having an outsize influence on the debate over how artificial intelligence should be deployed in the real world. Her tests on software created by brand-name tech firms such as Amazon uncovered much higher error rates in classifying the gender of darker-skinned women than for lighter-skinned men. Along the way, Buolamwini has spurred Microsoft and IBM to improve their systems and irked Amazon, which publicly attacked her research methods. Last week, group of AI scholars, including a winner of computer sciences top prize, launched a spirited defense of her work and called on Amazon to stop selling its facial recognition software to police. Her work has also caught the attention of political leaders in statehouses and Congress and led some to seek limits on the use of computer vision tools to analyze human faces. There needs to be a choice, said Buolamwini, a graduate student and researcher at MITs Media Lab. Right now, whats happening is these technologies are being deployed widely without oversight, oftentimes covertly, so that by the time we wake up, its almost too late. Institutional biases Buolamwini is hardly alone in expressing caution about the fast-moving adoption of facial recognition by police, government agencies and businesses from stores to apartment complexes. Many other researchers have shown how AI systems, which look for patterns in huge troves of data, will mimic the institutional biases embedded in the data from which they are learning. For instance, if AI systems are developed using images of mostly white men, the systems will work best in recognizing white men. Those disparities can sometimes be a matter of life or death: One recent study of the computer vision systems that enable self-driving cars to see the road shows they have a harder time detecting pedestrians with darker skin tones. Whats struck a chord about Boulamwinis work is her method of testing the systems created by well-known companies. She applies such systems to a skin-tone scale used by dermatologists, then names and shames those that show racial and gender bias. Buolamwini, whos also founded a coalition of scholars, activists and others called the Algorithmic Justice League, has blended her scholarly investigations with activism. It adds to a growing body of evidence that facial recognition affects different groups differently, said Shankar Narayan, of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state, where the group has sought restrictions on the technology. Joys work has been part of building that awareness. Amazon, whose chief executive, Jeff Bezos, she emailed directly last summer, has responded by aggressively taking aim at her research methods. A Buolamwini-led study published just over a year ago found disparities in how facial-analysis systems built by IBM, Microsoft and the Chinese company Face Plus Plus classified people by gender. Darker-skinned women were the most misclassified group, with error rates of up to 34.7 percent. By contrast, the maximum error rate for lighter-skinned males was less than 1 percent. The study called for urgent attention to address the bias. I responded pretty much right away, said Ruchir Puri, chief scientist of IBM Research, describing an email he received from Buolamwini last year. Follow-up tests Since then, he said, its been a very fruitful relationship that informed IBMs unveiling this year of a new 1 million-image database for better analyzing the diversity of human faces. Previous systems have been overly reliant on what Buolamwini calls pale male image repositories. Microsoft, which had the lowest error rates, declined comment. Messages left with Megvii, which owns Face Plus Plus, werent immediately returned. Months after her first study, when Buolamwini worked with University of Toronto researcher Inioluwa Deborah Raji on a follow-up test, all three companies showed major improvements. But this time they also added Amazon, which has sold the system it calls Rekognition to law enforcement agencies. The results, published in late January, showed Amazon badly misidentifying darker-hued women. We were surprised to see that Amazon was where their competitors were a year ago, Buolamwini said. Amazon dismissed what it called Buolamwinis erroneous claims and said the study confused facial analysis with facial recognition, improperly measuring the former with techniques for evaluating the latter. The answer to anxieties over new technology is not to run tests inconsistent with how the service is designed to be used, and to amplify the tests false and misleading conclusions through the news media, Matt Wood, general manager of artificial intelligence for Amazons cloud-computing division, wrote in a January blog post. Amazon declined requests for an interview. I didnt know their reaction would be quite so hostile, Buolamwini said recently in an interview at her MIT lab. Doubts increase Coming to her defense was a coalition of researchers, including AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio , recent winner of the Turing Award, considered the tech fields version of the Nobel Prize. They criticized Amazons response, especially its distinction between facial recognition and analysis. In contrast to Dr. Woods claims, bias found in one system is cause for concern in the other, particularly in use cases that could severely impact peoples lives, such as law enforcement applications, they wrote. Its few publicly known clients have defended Amazons system. Chris Adzima, senior information systems analyst for the Washington County Sheriffs Office in Oregon, said the agency uses Amazons Rekognition to identify the most likely matches among its collection of roughly 350,000 mug shots. But because a human makes the final decision, the bias of that computer system is not transferred over into any results or any action taken, Adzima said. But increasingly, regulators and legislators are having their doubts. A bipartisan bill in Congress seeks limits on facial recognition. Legislatures in Washington and Massachusetts are considering laws of their own. Buolamwini said a major message of her research is that AI systems need to be carefully reviewed and consistently monitored if theyre going to be used on the public. Not just to audit for accuracy, she said, but to ensure face recognition isnt abused to violate privacy or cause other harms. We cant just leave it to companies alone to do these kinds of checks, she said. Its not uncommon for Leslie King to look out a window and see cars slowing down to gape at her home. Or shell be outside and strangers will stop to talk. They all ask the same question: What is this? In a still-developing part of First Ward, King built something to simplify her life: a building that on one side is her company, Greymark Construction, and on the other is her home internally separated by a single barn-style sliding door. Every night I sit in this chair, and the windows are open, and a car stops, King said of the unexpected nature of her 4,200-square-foot, one-story metal-clad home/office. I have people come into my driveway and ask, What is that? I have strangers come to my door all of the time I had to start closing my gate. One woman handed me her police badge and said, I have to see your house. Kings journey, both personally and professionally, has been an evolution, from engineer to aspiring restaurateur to contractor, dealing with whatever comes along including a sudden and dramatic hearing loss as it happens. Though her commute to work was never terrible, she liked the idea of merging the two into one building, so she found four lots in First Ward that would give her the space she needs, plus some extra in case her business needs to expand. To get to her home, you drive past three- and four-story townhomes, 100-year-old cottages and bungalows being restored and rentals that look like they havent been touched in a while. At the end of her street is American Statesmanship Park the David Adickes giant-head sculptures of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. There are railroad tracks, a freeway and a homeless encampment that prompts a steady stream of foot traffic back and forth. At 61, King reflects on her life and the unconventional path shes taken. She was a divorced mother of two young daughters and started her work life as a mud engineer in the oil industry back when very few women did that sort of work. Then she went into Marriotts management-training program to learn the hospitality industry but discovered that her dream of someday owning her own restaurant wasnt her dream at all. She started buying, fixing up and selling homes, and soon friends were asking if she could help them with theirs. And her home-remodeling business was born. Twenty-five years ago, being a woman-owned construction company, people just didnt hire women for that. So I wanted a name that was really strong, she said. I wanted Greystone or Watermark, and I couldnt get either one of those, so I put them together and got Greymark. It doesnt mean anything. It just sounds strong. Her design-build firm with 10 employees has won all kinds of awards, and King is quick to name various employees responsible for one trophy or another on the shelves in Greymarks foyer. In 2001, she was the first female president of the Greater Houston Builders Associations Remodelers Council. Then in 2014, she was the first woman builder to head up the GHBA. The firm does all kinds of remodeling kitchens, baths, room additions but is known for big remodeling projects on older and historic homes. Now there are a number of female contractors and builders, but back when King was getting started, her gender wasnt even her biggest obstacle. Born with severe hearing loss that was genetic her two sisters also were affected, one being profoundly hard of hearing and the other having milder hearing loss King learned to navigate life without a telephone, reading lips and adjusting the hearing aids that helped her communicate. At home, her daughters often spoke for her, and at work there were always staff work-arounds when it came to phone calls. In 2014, after she took the reins of the GHBA, King got a shingles vaccination and, just like that, lost her hearing nearly completely. It was terrifying, but it was the best thing that could happen because I didnt qualify for the cochlear implant before. I wasnt quite deaf enough. So then, when I went deaf, I qualified, she said. Before then, she had a hearing level of just 25 to 30 percent. She went through the surgery that implants a neuroprosthetic device that uses electric signals to stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing King to hear. Eight months after she lost her hearing, doctors turned on the device and she suddenly had 84 percent hearing in one ear. (The other ear does not have a cochlear implant and has just 8 percent hearing.) A couple of years ago she added a new Bluetooth device that allowed her for the first time to talk on the phone. The other day I was walking with a friend, and I said, What is that noise? She said it was a bird chirping, King said. Until four years ago, I had never heard birds. I never heard water running. Did you know that when you run your hand on the steering wheel it makes a noise? Windshield wipers make noise. Blinkers make noise. The dishwasher dings. The microwave dings. The washing machine tells you when its over. I had never heard any of this in my life. Along with all of Kings discoveries, she also had been thinking about where she wanted to live. When she went deaf, she moved into the Robinhood high-rise near Rice Village for the safety it provided, but hearing allowed her to venture back to ground floor. I knew I wanted a metal building. I could envision what I wanted. When I found the lot, it was easy to figure out how to place it on the lot. And I have really good boundaries between office and work, King said. I will tell people, I am going home now, and I walk in here and Im home. They laugh at me because its only five steps, but Im home, and I never go back in there. On the work side, King has a glassy corner office, and there are cubicles for those who work for her designers, project managers and those who handle the business side of things, including her 30-year-old daughter, Kelly Kirk, who is vice president and the office accountant, and Kellys husband, Taylor Kirk, who is now head of marketing. Kings other daughter, Casey Bemis, 28, is an architect who works for the Looney Associates interiors firm in Dallas. The open concept, concrete floors and age-in-place design also help King envision her future, when shell someday semi-retire and let Kelly take over. Originally, King thought shed leave work through the offices front door and enter her home through its own front door. But when she fell in love with two 75-pound rescue dogs 6-year-old Diva and Gibbs, who came into her life after Hurricane Harvey when their previous owner had to move into an apartment and couldnt keep them she needed an internal door so her two fur babies could move about freely. So they nap on their dog beds at home when they want or wander on over to the office when they smell the employees lunches or want to visit their mama in her office. When she was raising her children, King didnt invest in better furniture, but once she was on her own and moved into the high-rise, she called Kathy Anderson at Eklektik Interiors for help. A second round was added when she shifted into her current home in January 2018. With concrete floors and exposed ductwork, Kings home definitely has an industrial vibe, so Anderson was tasked with making it less commercial and more residential, softening up the hard surfaces with natural stone, warm wood pieces and soft rugs. The furnishings are an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional, with pieces acquired from her parents time in China, Asian tapestries, carved blackwood case pieces and even a small wood statue of a Chinese warrior that King has dubbed The General. Im not a minimalist, but what I put in a room needs to matter. Im a less-is-more person, Anderson said. The collection of Asian art and tapestries that King inherited from her parents had already been framed, so Anderson had to sort through it and decide where to hang it in Kings new home. (Her father, Hart King, spent part of his childhood in Canton, China, then took his own family her mom, Gene Red King, plus King and her two sisters to Singapore to live when King was in high school.) In the big open-concept floor plan where a kitchen and living and dining areas all blend into one, Anderson created vignettes that work together. People are emotional when it comes to their homes, Anderson said. I want them to be emotional and feel good when theyre in it. When I go to do a home, the first thing I ask is, Tell me what you cannot live without in this group. The first things I want to work with are the things that are important to you. diane.cowen@chron.com Luis Oliveira wants to build a bridge between some of the greatest minds on two continents. He envisions connecting thinkers in North and South America as they ponder humanitys greatest questions like the existence of God, the need for religion and the meaning of life. And what started as a dream for the professor of philosophy at the University of Houston has now become reality. Oliveira, 35, recently launched LATAM Bridges in the Epistemology of Religion, a three-year project devoted to organizing seminars in Brazil, Argentina and Chile and building basically an exchange program between scholars from both continents. The topic of discussion between the students and professors who are selected for the program is the epistemology of religion or the philosophy looking at knowledge and justification for belief. Its more focused than religion, Oliveira said. Its the philosophy of belief in the afterlife, the existence of a supreme being, the meaning of life, the order of the world. Thats what were interested in, the classic question of whether having these beliefs are rational. All religious traditions will come under the microscope including atheism and agnosticism. Were doing our best to involve as many viewpoints as possible, Oliveira said. We will include people of all persuasions within the group of believers. Philosophers working in the epistemology of religion in Latin America will travel to connect with the English-speaking philosophical community and share their perspectives and insights. At the same time, LATAM Bridges will be sending North American philosophers to Latin America to give talks and make connections. Summer workshops are planned over the next three years to stimulate academic interest and research in the epistemology of religion. Oliveira said the goal is to spark dialogue, connections and understanding among a multi-continental community of scholars. At the end of three years, our success will be measured by how many bridges have been established and if theres a potential for long-term success, Oliveira said. Were building an informal community, people participating in the same conversation and exchanging ideas. The exploration is possible through a $1.3 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation, awarded to Oliveira in February. Professor David Phillips, chair of UHs department of philosophy, said the foundations gift will make a meaningful difference. For various historic reasons, philosophy as a discipline has been quite Anglo-centric, Phillips said. The main centers are in the U.S., U.K., Australia and Europe. There hasnt been so much connection and interaction with other places, like Latin America, and its quite exciting to start that. The three-year program will conclude with a capstone conference at the University of Houston. Thats when, from a Houston perspective, were really going to get the results of the program and see whats happening with that dialogue right on campus, Phillips said. And it very much fits with UHs position as a international university and Houston as a gateway to Latin America. Phillips is in his 26th year with the university. He said that Oliveira, who is in his second full academic year, brings a range of interests to the campus. Hes really open and involved, Phillips said. In philosophical discussions, hes tough. Hell definitely stand his ground. Oliveira is originally from Brazil. He moved to the U.S. in 2006 to study at Calvin College, a liberal arts university in Michigan, and then received his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Oliveira wanted to stay in the U.S. to share his love of philosophy and took a position as assistant professor at the University of Houston. I knew opportunities for an academic career would be more plentiful, he said. Once I moved to the U.S., I spent a decade finding my way, benefiting from those opportunities. Oliveira noticed, however, that most of his interactions, from conferences to mentorships, were occurring in North America and Canada. He knew that students like him in South America were not benefitting in the same way. Very deserving people were not having the same opportunities, and I absolutely wanted to do something about that, he said. Ive seen how the community of philosophers there are not as well connected as here but have just as much to contribute. Oliveira went to Brazil to give a talk at a conference in 2017. I sort of lost my contacts with university life in Brazil, he said. I didnt know anyone there, but I got to know so many interesting philosophers and academicians, all interested in the same ideas and asking the same questions. Oliveira started dreaming of a way to bring philosophers from Latin America together with those he met in the U.S. That was the genesis of my idea, he said. What can I do as someone with a foot on both sides of the divide? I have contacts in both communities. He returned to Brazil last year as a collaborating professor at the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto. I was invited to give more talks, and I met more and more people, Oliveira said. I started talking about some kind of project what would be our goals, what would work and what wouldnt. He spent the rest of the year developing the idea, filling out paperwork, revising concepts and finally pitching the concept to the John Templeton Foundation, a philanthropic organization. Theyre very interested in the big questions in science and religion and the connection between them, Oliveira said. And they have a very open-minded approach to the projects they fund, which are mostly explorations. We were worried about the cost of the project we created, and we were very happy they saw the value of what we wanted to do. The grant application process took several months to complete. Now that the funding is in place, Oliveira can begin work on planning the first of three summer seminars. Weve also started receiving applications from the people who we want to participate, Oliveira said. We expect hundreds to apply, and 15 will be accepted. Its going to be an involved process. Theres a lot of work ahead. He explained that even non-believers sometimes practice their own type of evangelism. Through philosophy, he hopes to examine the roots, community, focus on authority of religious individuals and atheists alike. We want to push for a more nuanced, careful, humble approach, Oliveira said. Our purpose is not to settle any questions or come up with any conclusions. Instead, the goal is to make a connection. Our purpose is to get people who are working on the cutting edge in North America and allow equally competent Latin American philosophers to engage with them and participate in the conversation, Oliveira said. He is confident that philosophers have a unique and valuable contribution to make in a global discussion on religion and belief. As philosophers, were interested in what history and sociology can tell us, but we also see religious belief and development as no different from any other worldview or big picture belief, he said. The philosopher is interested in drawing parallels and seeing significant differences. Lindsay Peyton is a writer in Houston. I have to be honest. I live in Minnesota. Im not that far from Chicago, and I had never heard of the Haymarket affair, Wolter told the Tribune at the Fire Arts Center. But once I read the story, I became fascinated, and one of the things that really impressed me was this was a really signature moment, a defining moment in American history. Not just in Chicago history, but American history and indeed the world. So its implications were huge back then, and a lot of the issues that are part of the Haymarket affair are still with us today. That person is likely to be an aunt or an uncle, though it could be any older person who was connected to your parents, who remembers you when you were young, who knows the family stories, whose presence lets you believe there is still some small buffer between you and the end. The city has sent pink slips to 68 Houston Fire Department cadets, the first documented layoffs resulting from Mayor Sylvester Turners plan to implement Proposition B. The trainees will remain employed through June 7, according to a copy of the layoff notice sent to cadets. The City of Houston has experienced a sizeable budget shortfall due to the implementation of Prop B, the layoff notices read, referring to the charter admendent passed by voters last November. The measure requires the city to pay firefighters the same as police of corresponding rank and experience. Voters approved Prop B by a wide margin. The cadets firefighting careers had been in limbo after Turner declined to promote them following their graduation from training earlier this year. Turner had said he would not promote the cadets while the city was under a hiring freeze he imposed last September in anticipation of the vote on the Proposition B. Despite the hiring freeze, he swore in more than 60 police cadets in early March, angering the fire union, whose leaders have accused him of being vindictive toward firefighters. Throughout the lead-up to the election, Turner had warned that passage of the parity measure could mean the layoffs of hundreds of city employees including firefighters. Turner has said the measure would cost the city $100 million a year, though he recently has begun using the figure of $80 million. His plan for implementing the raises required under Prop B, unveiled last month in talks with city council members, calls for the layoff of up to 400 firefighters, including the cadets. It also calls for all city departments to cut their spending by 3 percent, which is expected to lead to the layoff of about 100 municipal workers. The layoff notice from Fire Chief Sam Pena also reads: I want to assure you that the elimination of your position was a business decision and does not reflect your work performance or the value we place on your service to the City. Turners office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In recent weeks, the mayor has said no layoffs would be needed if the raises required by Prop B could be phased in over four or five years. In a statement, fire union President Marty Lancton said the layoffs were preventable. He called on city council members to finally stand up to Turner and reject his slash-and-burn plan for HFD, predicting the mayor would soon lay off firefighters and close fire stations. Sylvester Turners layoff notices to taxpayer-funded, Houston-trained HFD cadets reflect the mayors ineptitude, egotism, and a new depth of his vindictiveness, Lancton said. jasper.scherer@chron.com twitter.com/jaspscherer Three interconnected charter school networks will remain open next year despite scrutiny of payments and loans totaling at least $17 million to a company owned by the charters highest-ranking employee. HISD board members voted 5-4 to authorize renewal of the districts contracts with the three charter networks, drawing applause from roughly 50 students, parents and teachers from the school in attendance. If trustees voted against the authorization, the three networks Energized For Excellence, Energized For STEM and Inspired For Excellence academies likely would have shuttered operations and displaced about 4,000 students ahead of the 2019-2020 school year. HISD trustees typically have reauthorized in-district charter contracts by wide margins, but the split vote Thursday reflected concerns about the deep financial ties between the trio of charters and a company owned by their head of schools, Lois Bullock. Financial records show Bullocks company has been paid $10.8 million in rent and $2 million in management fees over the past five years from the three charters. Bullocks company also received a $4.2 million loan in 2015 from Energized For Excellence. Trustees voting in favor of keeping the charters open found the unusual financial arrangements which HISD administrators have not prominently flagged or criticized did not warrant shutting down schools. Board President Diana Davila said she has seen strong academic results during multiple visits to the campuses. Trustee Sue Deigaard expressed concern about whether HISD could accommodate displaced students. Trustee Wanda Adams questioned whether the charters have been unfairly targeted, with other organizations getting less scrutiny. As I sit here and listen to the parents whose kids actually go there, they like the school, theyre doing well in their schools, they cant go back to their home schools, Trustee Jolanda Jones said. Other trustees argued the charters financial practices and their well-below-average share of students receiving special education services about 2%, compared to 7% district-wide merited closure. To continue to allow these folks to profit off the backs of our students, were actually saying its OK to continue to operate in this manner, Trustee Sergio Lira said. HISD administrators, who are responsible for day-to-day oversight of their relationship with the three charter organizations, said financial ties between the networks and Bullocks company were not unlawful. District leaders said they were not aware of why Bullocks company received a loan from her employer. Board members on Thursday directed HISD administrators to insert more specific language into charter contracts about academic performance, financial integrity and long-term viability. However, trustees did not require new conflict-of-interest requirements. District officials were not made available for comment Thursday on the upcoming negotiations. Bullock declined to comment on the vote when reached by phone Thursday night. She has not spoken publicly about her financial agreements with the charters she operates. In a statement last week, the charter schools top leaders said they adhere to the laws and regulations governing nonprofits in the state of Texas and to generally accepted accounting principles. An unnamed individual associated with the charter organizations declined to comment and directed parents not to speak to the Houston Chronicle after the meeting. The three nonprofits, founded by Bullock between 2001 and 2009, are governed by three-person boards responsible for financial oversight and hiring their top administrator. Over the past several years, the nonprofits have engaged in multiple financial transactions with Bullocks company, Educational Learning and Enrichment Center. Some of the charter campuses are located in facilities owned by Bullocks company, resulting in lease payments totaling about $2 million per year. Bullocks company also receives about $400,000 per year for her labor and job benefits, roughly equivalent to the HISD superintendents compensation. The Energized For Excellence governing board also approved a $4.2 million loan to Bullocks company in 2015, requiring no principal payments until 2030 and 5 percent loan. HISD officials said they are not aware of the reason for the loan. Neither Bullock nor Energized For Excellence leaders have commented on the loan. Supporters of the Energized and Inspired charters did not address the financial ties on Thursday, instead focusing on their positive personal experiences. One elementary-age student, Joan Cruz, told trustees that I learn so much at school from teachers who work endless hours to make sure we are prepared each and every day. A classmate, Jisel Aguilera, pleaded to trustees: Please dont shut the doors in my face. If HISD trustees opted against contract renewal, the resulting enrollment losses could have cost the district millions of dollars through an increased payment of recapture, the states method of creating equity between property-wealthy and property-poor districts. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/chronjacob Published April 5, 2019 Annie Green used to like the rain. With the first drops, she'd curl up on her queen-sized bed and flip through the TV channels. Even in storms her room stayed bright she'd painted the walls pink and put a maroon-and-white wallpaper border around the ceiling. It was her peaceful time, time she hadn't had much of while raising three children and then two grandchildren in her one-story house in northeast Houston. Now, she hates the rain. When the clouds roll in, she paces across the bare foundation that serves as her floor and checks to see if any water is seeping through the cracks in the doors. Her pink room is gone, with two walls stripped to their wooden frames. She sometimes panics. "People keep promising," she said. "I'm just surprised I'm still here breathing. I have to, if I want to get this done." Green is among thousands of Houstonians still waiting to put Harvey behind them. In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, community groups and nonprofits from around the country flooded in, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency set up trailers and distributed hotel vouchers. But as months went by, follow-up assistance lagged. The City of Houston approved a $1.17 billion contract for government recovery assistance on Jan. 2 about 16 months after Harvey after federal dollars began flowing through the state of Texas and on to localities. Just over $4 billion in federal dollars bound for Texas is still tied up in government bickering. Thousands responded to a city survey launched in mid-January to help direct them to assistance, but officials are still connecting people like Green to the funding. They could be eligible for reimbursement checks for work already done, for city-directed renovations or for private contractors to do the work if approved by the city. Some residents may be eligible to have the city buy back their properties. So Green, 66, now waits. As does Alberta Fleming, 59, who has lived in her car for the past nine months, with her house stripped to its skeleton. And Malberth Moses, 61, who can't afford to fix the house he shares with his 95-year-old mother. At this point, Green's not even sure she wants to restore her home. "I don't have the strength or the energy left," she wrote in September in her spiral notebook, where she has kept track not only of her personal feelings but also post-Harvey expenses and discussions with contractors. "My mind is all the time thinking, 'Maybe if I don't have anything, I won't lose anything.'" Annie Green looks at photos and business cards from contractors and relief organizations that she has collected since the storm. Annie Green looks at photos and business cards from contractors and relief organizations that she has collected since the storm. Photo: Mark Mulligan/Staff Photographer Photo: Mark Mulligan/Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Harveys aftermath: Houstonians still struggling to recover 19 months after the hurricane hit 1 / 8 Back to Gallery Living in a car When Fleming walks into her home of 30 years mortgage-free for 20 she smells the dust and mold. How to get help To obtain recovery money from the city of Houston, you must fill out a survey at https://recovery.houstontx.gov/survey/. Alternately, call 832-393-0550 or visit one of the city's four Housing Resource Centers at 13101 Northwest Freeway Suite 101, 77040 9551 N. Wayside Dr., 77028 11550 Fuqua St, 3rd Floor, 77034 6464 Savoy Drive, Suite 110, 77036 Note: If you want to share your story about recovering from Harvey, contact reporter Sarah Smith at sarah.smith@chron.com. The once-white walls have been torn out, and she can see from the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom through the wooden studs. She has one working toilet, installed by a nonprofit in the months after the storm. The tank drips. When Hurricane Harvey dumped 50 inches of rain on southeast Texas in August 2017, she and the four grandchildren she was raising at the time stayed inside until volunteers in boats rescued them. The water in her house didn't recede for 16 days. Fleming got a hotel voucher from FEMA, and was among about 2,500 families who managed to keep their vouchers through seven extensions. But in July, the program ended for good, and Fleming had to send the children back to their mother. READ MORE: Residents impacted by Harvey crowd opening of Houston's recovery center Now, she's learning to be homeless. She has her nightly routine down. She parks her tan Grand Cherokee in the driveway of her battered home and closes the gate. She puts a pillow against the driver's seat headrest and covers herself with a blanket and moves the seat as far back as it goes. She listens to Gospel music until she falls asleep. She lives on $192 in food stamps each month to keep her supplied with canned goods, peanut butter and jelly, and food for her two dogs, Diva and BuBlue. Her daughter chips in to keep electricity running at the home. Fleming lost her job just before the hurricane and hasn't been able to find anything since, despite carting her resume around to job fairs. Before she got laid off, she made $27 per hour as a customer service representative and could afford to splurge on jeans and cowboy hats for her grandchildren to wear to the Houston rodeo. Since the storm, she has pawned her jewelry to get by and burned through her savings. She finally broke down on Jan. 31 and called the city about her problems, saying she'd been bounced from case worker to case worker, with people promising help and never delivering. "You're trying to get it back together, right?" the city worker asked her. "I understand." Fleming started crying. "I must have a dark cloud circling me or something, because I have not heard from those people," she said. "Why can't I get my home fixed, sir? I don't understand it." He advised her to fill out the city survey and invited her to call him anytime to provide updates. Before she hung up, Fleming took him through her reality one more time. "It's kind of hard to live out of the back of a car, even to go and search for a job, you know what I'm saying?" she said. "I'm overwhelmed at this point. I am." Buckling ceilings Moses said a FEMA inspector needed just a few minutes five minutes tops to walk through his 95-year-old mother's living room and kitchen before deciding the buckling ceiling and cracks in the wood were preexisting conditions. She didn't qualify for assistance, he concluded. Moses stayed at his mother's house during the hurricane and felt the winds push the home a few inches off its brick foundation. Now, the ceiling of the Elbert Street home has started to bow probably from the weight of soaked insulation, he said. And though the water didn't get into the house, everything got wet. Mold creeps up behind a display of four glasses that spell "HOME." Cracks run up the green walls of the living room. When it rains, the roof leaks. Before the storm, Moses made a living as a handyman. His tools got swept away in the flood and he can't afford new ones, so he hasn't been able to work. The family relies on his mother's fixed income of just more than $600, most of which is eaten up by monthly $300 electric bills. Contractors sent out by a nonprofit said it would take $40,000 to fix the house. RELATED: Harvey housing aid program delayed over vacancy provision For now, Moses advocates for other seniors. He has traveled to Austin and Washington, D.C. and has a photo in front of Houston U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's office to prove it. He's spoken at Houston City Council when the floor opens for public comments. "But still I can't get no help," he said. "I've been to City Council four or five times, and still, yet, I can't get no help." Most of the people in Moses' neighborhood have been there for years, he said. Many are senior citizens. "These people want to be back in their houses," he said. "They bought this house because this is where they wanted to live and die at, you know? But they got to go die somewhere else." 'We need people to have confidence' Green and Fleming were among the dozens of people who crowded into the northeast Housing Resource Center the day it opened in mid-January, waiting to fill out the city's intake survey. The city has five years to spend the $1.17 billion in recovery dollars and plans on beginning work in 500 homes this year. "We wanted to organize the program so we were addressing the people who are hardest to reach and hardest to help but are the most vulnerable," said Sarah Labowitz, assistant director of Houston's Housing and Community Development Department. "The biggest obstacle is people lose hope. We're at the point now where there is money available and we need people to have confidence in the system and the idea that help is on the way." The city's survey sorts eligible applicants into six categories. Officials have already started reaching out to those in the top tiers lower-income households, usually with a mix of elderly or disabled members or children. And 50 canvassers are working six days a week across Houston to urge people to take the survey, which continues through May. By mid-March, about 9,000 people had filled out the survey and 3,000 including Green had been moved into the application process, said Tom McCasland, the city's Housing and Community Development director. Sometime in April, the city is hoping to win council approval to begin reimbursing homeowners for repairs already made. FEDERAL AID: Officials say delayed $4B in Harvey aid will be tied up until May Green and her husband are in the top two priority levels. Moses and his mother haven't yet filled out the survey. Fleming learned she was priority four out of six, but would have been higher if she still had her grandkids with her. "I'm desperate to have them back here," she said. "I had them here for so long." Turkey dinners and refrigerators Civic groups and nonprofits have helped fill the gap in services since the storm. For Thanksgiving, Fleming drove to the George R. Brown Convention Center for the 40th Annual Super Feast by the City Wide Club for a plate of green beans, turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and sweet potatoes, along with two slices of white bread and a small carton of 2 percent milk. It was good food the best she'd had since Harvey. The most help she's gotten, she said, was from teenagers at a local church who ripped out her moldy insulation and then prayed with her. She tried to get help from a San Antonio group, but struggled to provide the documents they needed while living in her car. She got nothing out of it, she said. Green got a dorm fridge from one nonprofit in the immediate aftermath of the storm. She has since obtained a full-sized refrigerator and washer from a local church with the help of Disaster & Humanitarian Services, a nonprofit that helps connect impacted people with services. She's still waiting for a dryer. Moses turned to West Street Recovery, a nonprofit that formed after the hurricane and works on rebuilding, case management and community organization. West Street is raising money via the website GoFundMe for Harvey relief, part of which would go to help fix up Moses' mother's house. By the end of March, the charity had raised $20,000 of its $100,000 goal. Several other nonprofits are under contract with the city or state to serve as case managers. "Nonprofits are essential to providing services and helping people with basic needs," said Labowitz, with the city's Housing and Community Development Department. "On the rebuilding side, nonprofits are able to help a lot of people but in the most extreme cases, they don't have the capacity to entirely rebuild someone's home." 'The situation that you've been through has been traumatic' In early February, Green went back to the Northeast Housing Resource Center with her husband, Melvin, in tow. Not that he's been able to help her with the recovery, she said he has Alzheimer's and sometimes wanders off for hours or days at a time. They'd married when she was 15 to his 29, and she had their first baby at 16. She had wanted to escape the noise of seven other siblings and a strict father, a pastor who was the type to preach to the pews even if nobody came to church. In retrospect, she wishes she'd listened to her mother and stayed in school. But it did her good to look at what she called the "military wall," a hallway from her living room to what used to be the kids' room, covered in pictures from top to bottom. It showed her children from babies on up and family diplomas and graduation photos of the two granddaughters she raised, one now off to join the Air Force and the other to the Army. Before she took the pictures down after the storm, looking at the wall made her feel like she'd done the right thing after all. For the 42 years she had her home, it was a neighborhood hub. Someone dropped by almost every day to say hello or stay over for dinner. In 2017, before the storm, Harris Country appraised her home at $51,202. The next year, her house's value dropped to $18,886. Nobody comes by anymore. A YEAR LATER: FEMA's Harvey home repair programs made few fixes The day after Harvey came ashore near Rockport on Aug. 25, 2017, water began coming through her backdoor. It seeped through the living room's French doors. Moisture crawled up her walls. She grabbed a bucket and tried to scoop out the water until her elder son told her it was pointless. The water came almost to her knees before it stopped. Now, one of the two French doors leans against a wall once decorated in rose-patterned wallpaper. She's worn through five pairs of rubber flip-flops on the house's uneven foundation and fallen down five times. Green was among nearly 60 percent of the applicants in her ZIP code who got money initially from FEMA $20,061.57 in total. She spent $12,465.75 on contractors who were out canvassing the neighborhood and promised to fix her entire house in four weeks. They didn't. The contractors say Green was the problem; she says the contractors started on the roof and did such a shoddy job that she told them not to come back. She got a lawyer from the University of Houston's legal aid clinic to help, and it's now up to her whether to press charges. It's not an uncommon problem in the post-Harvey rush to fix homes. "People are getting money from insurance, from FEMA, from all these places, and when you think about it, instead of benefiting the actual people who have been harmed, they're a bunch of amateurs and crooks who just take this money and do a poor job," said Ryan Marquez, who works with Green's attorney at the Hurricane Consumer Assistance Project at the University of Houston Law Center. "Or they don't do any job at all." At the Housing Resource Center, she and her husband sat across from a white-haired intake specialist working to get people through the survey and application process. He'd taken her call by chance and promised to shepherd her through the process. He could tell she'd had enough of being bounced around. "The City of Houston is not going to say, 'Well, Annie, we don't have enough money to fix your cabinets here. We don't have enough money to do your bathroom, but we will do your baseboards in this room,'" he said. "Annie, they're going to take a look at every room." She nodded. But she kept talking, about the nonprofits, the doctor's appointments and the contractor named Jeff who said he'd have to undo what somebody else did badly. The intake worker nodded. "I mean, you've got to vent," he said. "The situation that you've been through has been traumatic." At the end of their two-hour appointment, he promised someone would follow up with her soon, and that she was welcome to call him anytime. "Since this happened, so many days and nights I just lay there thinking and just wondering, 'What to do? What to do?,'" she wondered. "And those stupid decisions I made. I took my money and lost it. I gave it away. That's money I could have had. "I wasn't trying to give it away," she said. "I was trying to get my house fixed up." Sarah Smith is a reporter on the metro desk covering housing and nonprofits. Before joining the Chronicle, she worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where she investigated sexual abuse and coverups in the independent fundamental Baptist movement. Follow her on Twitter at @sarahesmith23 or email her at sarah.smith@chron.com. Mark Mulligan is a staff photographer for the Houston Chronicle where he takes pictures and flies the Chronicle's drone. A native Houstonian, he previously worked at newspapers in Virginia and Washington State before moving home to Texas with his family. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram, or reach him by email at mark.mulligan@chron.com. Design by Jordan Rubio and Jasmine Goldband *** Claims of injuries and additional environmental violations against KMCO are mounting after one worker was killed and five more were wounded during an isobutylene-fueled explosion at the Crosby chemical processing plant. At least three lawsuits including one from Harris County and two more from employees have been lodged against the production facility since Tuesday, when a tank leaking the volatile chemical ignited and caused a plume of acrid smoke to rise from the ensuing blaze. An account of the explosion and the panicked moments that followed was recalled by a lawyer for an 18-year-old contractor who was a month into his first industrial job when he was told to evacuate while installing insulation. Arturo Martinez and about 20 others were within 100 yards of the tank and on their way to what he believed was their designated safe zone when he saw a cloud of gas rising from a tank, attorney Robert Schwartz said. Martinez then watched the metal storage container expand and explode, he said. Martinez and the others bolted for the evacuation area but a gate at the access point was locked. They couldnt get out, Schwartz said. The fence was topped with a strip of barbed wire so Martinez shimmied under the barrier, causing metal to scrape against his back. Hes not a big guy but he could barely get under, the lawyer said. They lifted the gate as much as they could to help the other men go under. More injuries and claims of safety violations Schwartz argues the gate should never have been locked. The lawsuit and another court filing also accusing the company of negligence has pinned more than a dozen safety violations which took place before and during the explosion against the company. The second case was filed on behalf of KMCO boiler maker Randy Villaloboz. Both suits seek more than $1 million for Martinez and Villaloboz respectively. A co-worker warned Villaloboz, 32, a married father of three, of the leak before the blast, said Jason Itkin, Villalobozs lawyer. The worker was not in Martinezs group but described an obstacle course-like path during his escape. One minute youre going about your job and the next minute and you hear a loud noise and youre running for your life, Itkin said. Hes pretty shaken up, which is an understatement. Both Villaloboz and Martinez have since complained of hearing problems. The company on Thursday added three more workers to its list of injured, which was initially believed to be the two employees who were airlifted after the explosion Tuesday to the Texas Medical Center. Both remain hospitalized in critical condition, company officials said. Two more employees were hospitalized Tuesday evening for unspecified medical issues. One has been released while the other remains hospitalized. A third employee went to the hospital on Wednesday morning and was later released. A company spokesman declined to elaborate on the symptoms that led to their hospitalizations. Martinez and Villaloboz were not believed to be among the five injured workers. County adds to litigation KMCO officials have said the worst incidents at the 40-year-old plant happened before they bought the site in 2012, but the new owners have been involved in ongoing litigation with Harris County over several environmental violations since 2013. The county sued KMCO again Wednesday over state and local environmental law violations, including floodplain and storm water regulations. In response to the suits, the company issued a statement maintaining it is 100% focused on taking care of our team members and protecting the environment. We will address any legal claims at the proper time and in the proper forum, the statement read. The investigation into the explosion as well as the March 17 fire at the ITC plant in Deer park has also pitted federal and county agencies against each other. The Harris County Fire Marshals Office is fighting with the federal Chemical Safety Board an independent agency tasked with finding the root cause of industrial incidents, for right of jurisdiction over the investigations. The agency does not issue fines or penalties. The county contends it needs to eliminate criminal activity as a cause before the feds can investigate. CSB officials argue that the longer their presence is delayed, the less effective their investigation is. Chemical plants dont have a black box like airplanes, CSB investigator Mark Wingard said. Its usually a race against time. That ticking clock means CSB may not wait for the fire marshals investigation. CSB interim executive authority Kristen Kulinowski said their board may file its own subpoenas and proceed without the countys permission. Harris County Fire Marshals Office spokeswoman Rachel Moreno said Thursday the county has issued subpoenas related to the ITC and KMCO fires to preserve evidence. Neighbors displaced As the litigation continues through the courts, neighbors to the troubled plant are coming home to their own problems. Tammy Schultz-Young is staying with relatives in Crosby after the blast left a mess of shattered windows in her bedroom, kitchen and living room a quarter-mile from the plant. Like her neighbors, she has been unable to return home by car unless she parks on Runneburg Road and hikes more than half-a-mile through a police barricade on Ramsey Road. Thats the only way she can visit her 19-year-old dog, who is blind and depends on familiar surroundings. Fire hoses continue to cover the street and KMCO officials have told her they may stick around for at least a week. The barricade left Elsa Mazamo and her cousins with a similar problem in the hours after the fire subsided. The family on Tuesday night went back to pick up their dogs Walter and Nico who were outside their home across from the KMCO plant when the explosion happened. The only obstacle was a vacant lot and a fence. We jumped the fence. We got the dogs over the fence too, Mazano said, as she walked back to her car to stay with relatives in Mont Belvieu. She was most worried that Walter the pug had tough time breathing during the worst of the fire. Shockwaves from the explosion sent picture frames flying off their walls, Mazano said. The blast, according to Schultz-Young, was so intense, she called her insurance company to check on whether her two trailer homes jumped off the foundation. She has contacted KMCO about seeking a damage claim for her home but has not heard back. She would like better communication from her neighborhood chemical plant. Just so I know whats going, Schultz-Young said. I know they have a lot going on. In addition, the city has proposed a new Pedway ordinance, which will go before the City Councils Committee on Traffic and Pedestrian Safety on Monday. The ordinance would authorize the departments of Transportation and Fleet and Facility Management to enter into new maintenance and other agreements to operate and improve the Pedway. Past agreements have expired. A United flight headed for Houston from Knoxville was diverted to Dallas on Thursday night after a mechanical issue, officials said. ExpressJet Airlines flight 4390 had been operating as United Express, a regional branch of United Airlines, according to ExpressJet spokesman Jarek Beem. The plane landed safely in Dallas. It's unclear how many passengers were on board. "Our maintenance technicians are inspecting the aircraft to understand the mechanical issue," Beem said Friday morning. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox According to ABC News, a video posted on Twitter appears to shed more light on the issue. In the video, the pilot can be heard saying over the PA system that the plane "lost" two of its screens in the cockpit. RELATED: Worker killed by falling equipment at industrial facility in east Houston "If we kept flying, we lose them all eventually, because there's not enough cooling," the pilot says in the video. "There's tremendous heat behind those screens....eventually I'd be flying blind. He said it was unlikely the aircraft would travel that night. Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. More than 100 students protested Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Rice University Friday with words and images portraying Pence as bigoted. The students gathered across the street from the Baker Institute for Public Policy, where Pence was scheduled to speak on events in Venezuela. Various student organizations offered food and support services with opportunities to learn more about the U.S.-Venezuela relations. STAY IN THE KNOW: Get all the news you need to start your day delivered to your inbox Now Playing: Rice students gather outside Baker Hall in opposition of Vice President Mike Pence, who will be delivering remarks on Venezuela at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy. Video: Godofredo Vasquez, Houston Chronicle Many students came with rainbow flags showing their support for the LGBT community and posters bearing words such as "VICE BIGOT," "No to Pence. Yes to Peace," and "Go Away Satan!" Around 12:20 p.m., students practiced chants to prepare for Pence's arrival. "Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! Mike Pence has got to go!" "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, right-wing bigot, go away!" "Mikey, Mikey, can't you see? Your budget cuts are killing me!" Rice Left, a student organizer that helped plan the event, stated in email to the Houston Chronicle that the organizers were working with the university's police department and administration "to ensure a successful, peaceful demonstration." HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Pence touts proposed US-Mexico trade deal in Indiana "I am really excited about how all communities at Rice have pulled together in unity behind this event. There's a 1,000 different reasons in this crowd to oppose Mike Pence, but everyone is here behind the same idea," said Franz Brotzen, the president of Rice's Young Democrats. "We are protesting Mike Pence's ideologies and positions. We believe in the First Amendment right for Mr. Pence to come and speak at our university, but that also affords us the right to contest what he stands for vocally and in unison," Brotzen said. Drew Carter, a Rice freshman and the president of the university's Black Student Association, agreed. Now Playing: Vice President Mike Pence meets with a group of displaced Venezuelans before speaking at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy about the crisis in the South American country. Video: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Carter quoted former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, the founder of the Baker Institute: "Sometimes you move publicly, sometimes privately. Sometimes quietly, sometimes at the top of your voice." "Right now," he said. "We're moving at the top of our voice." But not every student agreed with the chants or method or protesting. After the official student speakers of the event completed their speeches, organizers opened the stage to other students. The first who took the stage urged students to be understanding of Pence. "But [Pence] hates us!" a student in the crowd retorted. "Perhaps, but we have to have to respect the man for who he is," he said before leaving the stage. "... If you don't respect him, why would he respect you?" N.B. Shaper, a sophomore and the great-great-granddaughter of Edgar Odell Lovett, Rice's first president, also attended the event to support her peers and vocalize her opposition to Pence. "Historically and just in terms of its current culture, Rice is complacent" on important issues, said Shaper, who acknowledged her ancestor's role in it, stating that her grandfather would likely have been "horrified" about how queer she is and would have frowned upon black people attending the school. Rice senior Sonia Torres, said while much of the conversation was about opposing Pence, more could have been said about Venezuela and the many people who are suffering due to the foreign policies in place. "It's a politically complicated situation. I do think there are some obvious things that need to be said and opposed and justifies the existence of a protest here," said Torres, adding that Pence's invitation-only event at the institute excluded Rice students, particularly those who are Venezuelan. "Why were they not invited to the dialogue with Pence? It's clearly an attempt to close off the Latino community from this very important policy discussion." brittany.britto@chron.com NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Friday is scheduled to offer remarks on the recent controversy and crisis in Venezuela at Rice Universitys Baker Institute of Public Policy, but not without some pushback. During the invitation-only event, Pence will discuss the Trump administrations policy on Venezuela and the United States efforts to restore the South American countrys freedom, democracy and law, according to a university release. The vice presidents visit comes as the country is increasingly in political distress, with the government of President Nicolas Maduro announcing last month that it had barred opposition leader Juan Guaido from holding public office for 15 years. Now Playing: Rice students gather outside Baker Hall in opposition of Vice President Mike Pence, who will be delivering remarks on Venezuela at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy. Video: Godofredo Vasquez, Houston Chronicle The topic is particularly relevant for Houston, which has the second-largest Venezuelan American community in the U.S., according to Francisco Monaldi, the interim director of the institutes Latin America Initiative. Its estimated at more than 50,000 people, said Monaldi in a statement. The overwhelming majority of them oppose incumbent President Nicolas Maduro intensely and support interim President Juan Guaido and largely also U.S. policy toward the country. Pence on Tuesday demanded that Maduros government immediately release six detained American executives of Houston-based CITGO Petroleum Corp., according to the Associated Press. The men, who have been jailed for more than a year without trial, were summoned to Caracas in November 2017 for a last-minute budget meeting but were arrested and charged with embezzlement stemming from a never-executed proposal to refinance some $4 billion in Citgo bonds, according to the report. Still, many Rice students are not enthused with the schools choice of Pence as speaker. Rice students are planning protests and demonstrations timed for Pences appearance and at least one petition has made the rounds, garnering more than 600 signatures urging university administration to dis-invite Pence. The vice president has a history of opposing gay rights as both a congressman and governor of Indiana, according to J. Peterson, the Rice senior who created the petition. This is not about muting the conversation about Venezuela, Peterson insisted. Its more about student well-being and Rices obligation to be there for minority students I dont think (Rice needs) to be inviting people who run counter to our values. Organizers of the student group Rice Left stated in an email to the Houston Chronicle that they teamed up with around 10 other student organization for a campus demonstration that would offer an opportunity for Rice students to express their discontent with Pences ideologies and beliefs, which threaten the safety and well-being of racial minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, refugees, immigrants, and women. We will continue to foster the acceptance and well-being of all current and future Rice students and refuse to let Pences positions be received without response, Rice Left organizers wrote. The ideal outcome of this demonstration would be a strong show of unity among Rice students against Pences values and positions. The demonstration is set to start around noon roughly a half-hour before Pences 12:45 p.m. start-time and is slated to include booths with informational flyers, according to the Rice Left. Student diversity facilitators will also be available to offer students a more private setting. Rice Left organizers stated that they plan to host a follow-up event that will focus solely on U.S.-Venezuelan relations. University spokesman Doug Miller said Rice President David Leebron has not responded to the petition or pending student demonstrations, but emphasized in a statement that one of this universitys core values is its commitment to free speech and the civil exchange of diverse viewpoints. Thats what we look forward to during the vice presidents visit, he stated. Hosting Pence is part of a continued tradition for Rice, which has hosted every vice president who has held office since the Baker Institute was established 25 years ago, Miller said. Pences office reached out to the Baker Institute, requesting that it host a policy speech on the situation in Venezuela, Miller said. The institute, which has hosted similar events in the past, including Venezuelan opposition ambassador Carlos Vecchio in March, agreed. Miller said the university plans to further explore U.S.-Venezuelan relations and will host a panel of experts, including Julio Borges, former president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, on April 23. brittany.britto@chron.com twitter.com/brittanybritto Not so picture perfect Charlie Wheeler and Nichol Olsen came from different worlds. He was raised amid comfort, horses and Christian faith. Her past was marked by loss and hardship. They met on Instagram and seemed meant for each other. Then tragedy struck. Not so picture perfect Charlie Wheeler and Nichol Olsen came from different worlds. He was raised amid comfort, horses and Christian faith. Her past was marked by loss and hardship. They met on Instagram and seemed meant for each other. Then tragedy struck. April 4, 2019 Nichol Leila Olsen took pride in her appearance. Her dark hair cascaded past her shoulders and was always meticulously styled. She wore outfits that highlighted her petite figure. She had warm brown eyes, an electric smile and a personality that drew others to her. Her humor was contagious if she was particularly amused, she would crinkle her nose and tilt her head as she laughed. The 37-year-old single mother doted on her daughters, leaving work by 2:30 p.m. every day to pick them up from school. She kept an immaculate home. She worked hard as a hairstylist, double- and triple-booking appointments with clients at a North Side salon. She was resolutely upbeat, having survived a string of hardships in her younger years. 2021 UPDATE: Two years later, sheriff sends case back to investigators for more scrutiny Charles Edward Wheeler spotted Olsen on Instagram and was so taken with her that he reached out with a private message. Soon after meeting, they were romantically involved. About This Story To develop a picture of the lives of Nichol Olsen and Charles Wheeler, Express-News reporter Peggy O'Hare conducted dozens of interviews and examined police, court, school and property records in Bexar, Gillespie, Kendall and Brazoria counties. News archives yielded information about Wheeler's and his father's rodeo careers and the family's involvement in the oil and gas business. Records of Olsen's two divorces and three child custody cases shed light on her life before she met Wheeler in 2016. O'Hare interviewed friends and family members of both Wheeler and Olsen, including Olsen's brother and cousin and Wheeler's mother. O'Hare also attended the visitation and funeral services for Olsen and her two daughters. Charles Wheeler did not respond to a request for an interview. Wheeler, 31, was an avid hunter and a former rodeo competitor turned successful businessman. A lifelong bachelor, he lived comfortably in a $1 million home in the gated Anaqua Springs Ranch subdivision near Leon Springs on Bexar Countys far Northwest Side. He had a Maserati and a Range Rover. Though he came from money, Wheeler aimed to make it on his own. He used his winnings from the rodeo circuit to start a security-gate company, which he sold when he was 24. He went on to establish an oil field services business. Olsen and Wheeler appeared happy and enamored with one another. They seemed to be the perfect couple. Rigid to the touch On the morning of Jan. 10, Wheeler called 911. He told the dispatcher there had been a suicide at his home. A Bexar County sheriffs deputy arrived to find Wheeler on the ground, crying, in his front yard. Bexar County sheriffs personnel went to the Anaqua Springs home of Charlie Wheeler on the morning of Jan. 10, after Wheeler called 911 to report a suicide. Inside, deputies found the bodies of Nichol Olsen and her two daughters. All three were cold and rigid to the touch, according to the sheriffs incident summary. Photo: Court Documents Inside, deputies confronted a scene of horror. Olsen had been shot dead along with her two daughters: Alexa Denice Montez, 16, and London Sophia Bribiescas, 10. Alexa was a sophomore at Clark High School and a cheerleader. London was in the fifth grade at Leon Springs Elementary School. All three were lying close together in an upstairs hallway. Blood was everywhere. The bodies were cold and rigid. A handgun was found near Olsen. UPDATE: Father of Anaqua Springs shooting victim loses patience Wheeler told investigators he found the bodies when he returned home that morning. He said hed left about 10 the previous night after arguing with Olsen and had spent the night at a relatives house. Autopsies found that Olsen and Alexa had each been shot once in the head. London suffered a gunshot wound to her head and neck. Within days, the Bexar County Medical Examiners office declared Olsens death a suicide. The younger girls deaths were ruled homicides. Nearly three months later, the killings are still under investigation by the sheriffs office and the FBI. No suspect has been identified, nor any arrests made. Sheriff Javier Salazar said Wheeler remains a person of interest, but not a suspect. At this point, were not ready to clear anybody of anything, the sheriff said. Until we are done following every possible lead, were not willing to shut the door on this case just yet. Salazar was noncommittal as to whether he believes Olsens death was a suicide. I dont have any direct evidence that would refute the medical examiners initial ruling, he said. By that same token, we dont have all the evidence back from the FBI yet. He said Wheeler has cooperated throughout the investigation and that authorities may want to talk with him again. The medical examiners office declined to make public the full autopsy reports or results of toxicology tests on the victims remains after the sheriffs office said releasing the information could interfere with the investigation and the prosecution of anyone ultimately charged. UPDATE: Anaqua Springs aunt: A plea for red flag laws Authorities have also declined to release a recording of Wheelers 911 call or records of previous calls to the sheriffs office from his home. The question of who is responsible for the shootings has sharply divided those who knew Olsen and Wheeler. Olsens family and friends reject the idea that she committed suicide or killed her children. Wheelers defenders say they cant conceive he would ever shoot Olsen or her daughters. Wheelers mother said the family is grieving. 'He loved Nichol. And he loved those girls.' Theres no way that we even saw this coming at all, Cynthia Stein Wheeler, 61, of Fredericksburg, said in an interview. My son is heartbroken. And he cant even mourn. He cant do anything because theres a target on his back." Charlie Wheeler didnt respond to requests for an interview. Patrick Hancock, one of three criminal defense attorneys representing him, declined to comment. Some of those in mourning say they doubt theyll ever learn the truth. No ones ever going to know what happened that night, besides the individuals that were there, said Justin Olsen, 30, Nichols brother. A difficult childhood Olsen and Wheeler met in person for the first time at La Cantera Resort. It was the summer of 2016. She had a business meeting at the resort, and she had invited Wheeler after he reached out to her on Instagram. Vanessa Turney, Olsens friend and business partner, was there, too. Turney recalled Wheeler, who was six years younger than Olsen, as courteous, respectful and self-assured. He definitely chased her down, Turney remembered. He made it very clear that he was very interested in her. Olsen had three children and had been divorced twice. She had just broken up with a man she had lived with for several years. Her romance with Wheeler took off quickly. Early on, the couple was featured in a promotional video and photo shoots for KeVa Col, a wristwatch and jewelry business that Olsen co-owned with Turney and another friend, Kelly Myrick. In the video, Olsen and Wheeler looked every bit the giddy couple, cuddling and smiling while gazing into each other's eyes. Yet they came from starkly different worlds. Olsen lost both of her parents when she was young. Her father, who worked for H.B. Zachry Company, a San Antonio construction business, died of a heroin overdose two days before Christmas in 1988. Olsen was just 7. His death was devastating to Nichol because she said she was a daddys girl, a social worker wrote in a 2009 report related to one of Olsens divorces. Nichol said her childhood memories revolve around her dad, not her mom. Olsen described her mother as a functional alcoholic who drank to quell her grief over her husbands death, the report said. Olsen became a mother herself at 15, when she gave birth to a son, Skylar Nobles, in 1996. She quit high school during her junior year, according to North East Independent School District records. She later obtained a GED, friends said. She married her sons father, James W. Nobles II, in 1998 when she was 16. They divorced a year later. In 2001, on the day after Christmas, Olsens mother died unexpectedly. The cause was heart disease. Olsen, then 20, became a parental figure to her younger brother, who was just 13. She didnt have it the easiest, said friend Roni Garza, 39, who lived with Olsen for three months in 2014. She was a survivor. She picked herself up, she dusted herself off and she kept going no matter what life threw at her. After her first divorce, Olsen worked at a series of low-paying jobs at places like Las Palapas and had trouble keeping up with child support for her son, who at times lived with his father, court records show. Court orders issued in 2000 and 2001 required her employers to withhold part of her wages to fulfill those obligations. Her sons father later claimed Olsen failed to make nearly $24,000 in payments. Its unclear how the matter was resolved. Olsen remarried in 2001. Her new husband was Carlos Montez Jr., a U.S. Marine. Their daughter, Alexa, was born in 2002. The family lived in Hawaii where Montez was stationed. They divorced in 2006. Olsen returned to San Antonio, where she met and became engaged to Hector Bribiescas, who worked at his fathers 18-wheeler dealership. Their daughter, London, was born in 2008. The couple never married but shared custody of the girl after breaking up. Olsen seemed to find her footing professionally when she became a licensed hairstylist in 2006. She was 25 and worked at several salons over the years, most recently Salons By JC on East Sonterra Boulevard. She also appeared to mature as a mother. The social worker who wrote the 2009 report sought to determine whether Olsens son, Skylar, then 12, should live with his mom or dad. The report concluded the parents should have joint custody, but noted that Olsen appeared to provide the more stable living arrangement. Nichol Leila Olsen is shown in a booking mugshot taken when she was arrested March 10, 2014 on a charge of misdemeanor assault after she was accused of hitting her then-boyfriend with an open hand. | Bexar County Central Magistrate "During interviews with Nichol, she admitted that she 'was not a very good mother' to Skylar when he was young because she was young and immature herself," the social worker wrote. "Nichol said she is now a good mother, that the children 'are all she has in the world' and that she 'cannot imagine' not having them in her life." Benessa Russell, a cousin of Olsens, described her as having transcended her hard-knocks upbringing. Nichol was the epitome of class, grace, elegance, beauty, love, she said. Yet relationships were troublesome. In March 2014, while living with a boyfriend in an upscale home near The Dominion, Olsen was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault. Olsen told a deputy that she and her 39-year-old boyfriend had been fighting and that he dragged me out of the house, a sheriffs report shows. She appeared very intoxicated, but spoke softly and politely, the deputy wrote. Olsen said she was mad because she had called her boyfriend for a ride, but he didnt answer. When she arrived home, she saw something on his phone about another woman. She then struck him in the face with an open hand, according to the sheriffs report. Yes, I admit, I did hit him first, she told the deputy. The boyfriend had a bruise on his left eye and an abrasion on his knee, the report states. He told the deputy he took Olsen to the ground during the altercation because she was hitting me. The assault charge against Olsen was dismissed nearly a year later because of the boyfriends lack of cooperation, records show. Rodeo and oil Wheeler was raised from age 10 in a rural area of Fredericksburg, in a home that embraced God, horses and ranching. His parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary last summer. Wheeler went to Fredericksburg High School through his sophomore year and was home-schooled by his mother after that. He later attended Schreiner University in Kerrville for less than a year. Wheelers parents have long been active in rodeo events. His father, Forrest Wheeler, 60, was a team roper. His mother is a talented horse trainer and barrel racer. Charlie followed his father into team roping. He competed professionally on the rodeo circuit for three years, beginning when he was 18, according to a 2014 article in Shale magazine, which covers the oil and gas industry. He later carved out a successful career in the oil industry, using his rodeo earnings to start On the Go, a security gate company servicing the Eagle Ford Shale area, Shale reported. When he was 24, he sold the company. In 2011, Wheeler launched OTG Services, an oil field services company based in Fort Stockton that provided safety restraints, roustabouts, plant maintenance, equipment hauling and other services to customers in the Eagle Ford and Permian shales in Texas and the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana. By May 2014, the company had 140 employees. He built this company himself from the ground up, said Joyce Adams, who interviewed Wheeler and wrote the article for Shale. By late 2016, OTG Services had ceased operations. This was around the time that oil prices bottomed out in Texas. Cynthia Wheeler said her son then worked with his father in Fredericksburg on ranching, oil and gas endeavors. The younger Wheelers image as a resourceful entrepreneur belied a turbulent personal life. On Oct. 12, 2008, Wheeler, then 21, was arrested for public intoxication at a country and western nightclub near Angleton during the Brazoria County Fair. Wheeler, still working the rodeo circuit, was dressed in a cowboy hat, a white metal necklace, a pink shirt, blue jeans, blue boots and a pair of spurs, records show. He pleaded guilty and was fined $300. A little over a year later, Wheeler was arrested by Fredericksburg police for driving while intoxicated. An officer reported seeing Wheeler in a black 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driving erratically in a restaurant parking lot at 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2009. When the officer shined a flashlight at the drivers side window, Wheeler made an obscene gesture and drove past, a police report states. The officer sprinted after Wheeler, yelling at him to stop. When Wheeler finally pulled over, the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol and noted that Wheelers eyes were bloodshot, the police report states. The officer gave Wheeler a series of field sobriety tests, at one point asking him to count backward from 31 to 10. Instead, Wheeler counted backward from 31 to zero and told the officer he did so to prove a point, the report says. Wheeler declined to give a breath sample to determine his level of intoxication, the report states. The DWI charge was dismissed seven months later. On April 13, 2013, San Antonio police arrested Wheeler, then 25, at a downtown hotel bar. An off-duty officer reported Wheeler had been cut off from buying more drinks after he became loud and caused problems. The officer said Wheelers girlfriend bought a beverage, which Wheeler began to drink, so he was ejected from the bar. Wheeler started to yell and was asked to leave the hotel. He was arrested and taken to a detoxification facility. No charges were filed. Wheeler also had been drinking when he called San Antonio police on Nov. 27, 2013, to report his vehicle stolen from a mens club called Perfect 10 at 111 Northwest Loop 410, another police report shows. OnStar, a vehicle locator service, found Wheelers truck at a shopping mall at La Cantera, 12 miles away. He declined to file a theft report. Wheeler also racked up speeding tickets in San Antonio and Boerne, municipal court records show. Boerne police cited Wheeler for speeding four times between July 2015 and August 2016, court records show. Wheeler was driving a 2015 Maserati GranTurismo when Boerne police stopped him for two of those offenses, including going 74 mph in a 45-mph zone. A Boerne police officers report on a June 2016 traffic stop described Wheeler as a habitual speed violator. Turbulent relationship About a year after Olsen and Wheeler began dating in 2016, she moved out of her apartment into his house. Olsen brought her two daughters with her. I think more than anything she was looking to have some stability, a stable relationship, something long term, said Turney, Olsens friend and business partner. Those are things that you look for as youre older. Olsens older daughter, Alexa, lived with her mother at Wheelers home on weekdays, then stayed with her father, Montez, the Marine veteran, or his family. After high school, Alexa planned to enroll at Texas A&M University with the goal of becoming an obstetrician. She attended Kingsborough Ridge Baptist Church, where she participated in the puppet ministry and volunteered in the nursery. Olsens younger daughter, London, also split time between her parents, staying with her mother Mondays through Thursday mornings, custody papers show. She loved monkeys, singing, painting and theater, her obituary said. There was plenty of room for Olsen and the girls at Wheelers house. Olsens son had reached his early 20s and lived elsewhere. The home, which Wheeler bought in April 2017, spanned 4,500 square feet, on a lot of nearly 3 acres. There were five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms and a wine cellar, real estate listings show. A swimming pool and a hot tub sat in the backyard. The house was tucked inside a gated community that had 24-hour video surveillance and a security guard monitoring the entrance. After moving in, Olsen continued working as a hairstylist. She and her daughters occasionally saw Wheelers family, and went to his parents home for holidays and Bible study. We let her in our hearts and our home, Wheelers mother said. There were signs of discord in Olsen's relationship with Wheeler. One day in May 2017, Olsen showed up for a video shoot for KeVa Col, the jewelry business she co-owned. She had a bruised eye and began applying makeup to conceal the injury, Turney said. Olsen insisted she was fine. She said she and Wheeler had argued but wouldnt go into detail, Turney recalled. In January 2018, Olsen and Turney went to a Spurs game. As they drove to the arena, Wheeler called Olsens phone and asked to speak with Turney. Vanessa Turney, one of Nicol Olsens friends and business partners, said she will never believe Olsen killed herself or her children. (Photo: William Luther, San Antonio Express-News) Hes like Youre really lucky that Im letting her go with you. I would trust you, Turney said, recalling Wheelers words. I played along because I was just glad to have my friend there. Olsen was humiliated by the call, Turney said. After the Spurs game, the friends went to Jazz Texas, a music club and restaurant at the Pearl. Wheeler began calling Olsens phone repeatedly, Turney said. The more he called, the more upset Olsen became. He knew that her location had changed and he wanted her home right now, Turney said. Olsen had ordered a drink, but didnt get to finish it. We actually at that moment, before she walked out that door, had a conversation in Jazz Texas, and (I) said, You know, this is emotional abuse. He is controlling everything youre doing. You know this, right? Turney said. Olsen left and went home. She was just very concerned to get out because (Wheeler) was blowing up her phone, Turney said. And she needed to go. Turney, 45, who owns a brand development agency in San Antonio, described her uneasiness during her one and only visit to Wheelers house last summer. I think it was there that I got a sense of how the lay of the land was, Turney said. He dictated the rules. And I was very uncomfortable. As Olsen and Turney sat in the hot tub outside, Wheeler became upset because someone had dropped pepperoni from a pizza on the kitchen floor, Turney said. He told Olsen that her daughters had probably dropped it. Then he ordered Olsen to pick it up, Turney said. Wheeler also became upset when the sound system briefly wouldnt work and blamed it on Olsens daughters, though she insisted they werent responsible, Turney said. After two hours, Turney was ready to go. Olsen walked her outside. I told her, I dont like him, Turney recalled. I said, What are you doing? She added that Olsen appeared to be a guest in the house. Olsen didnt disagree. She said, I am a guest in this house. This is Charlies home. This is not my home, Turney said. Despite the tension, Olsen assured Turney that all was well and she shouldnt worry. That was the only time I was there and honestly just didnt really care to go back, ever, Turney said. As Olsens relationship with Wheeler continued, she became more withdrawn and quiet traits at odds with her normal gregariousness. Her core group saw much less of her, Turney said. For someone who was as social as Nichol ... its a little odd, you know. Its not normal for her to just be shut in like that. Monica Patel, another friend of Olsens and a cardiologist at a Houston-area hospital, recalled a visit Olsen made to her home in July 2017. Olsen and Wheeler had been in Galveston celebrating their anniversary when they started arguing. Wheeler was asked to leave the hotel where the couple was staying, Olsen later told Patel. Wheeler argued with the security officers, who escorted him back to the couples room to collect his things, Olsen told her friend. Patel said Olsen told her that Wheeler took all of the couples belongings, including Olsens phone, and left her stranded at the hotel. Olsen took a taxi to Patels house. They stayed up and talked for 17 hours straight. Patel said she urged Olsen to get out of the relationship. She told me that theyve had lots of fights. And this time that she was done because he was really embarrassing and he left her in a whole different city. He left her stranded, said Patel, 42, who noted she never met Wheeler. She was shaking, she was crying, she was terrified about everything. It was supposed to be a good moment for them they were supposed to be celebrating their anniversary. We went over it all, and shes like, No, youre right, youre right, Im leaving. We just stayed up the whole night talking about this. The next day, Olsen flew home to San Antonio after a friend bought a plane ticket for her. Patel soon learned from mutual friends that Olsen immediately reunited with Wheeler. You cant help but feel like you just wasted your time, like you were speaking to a wall or something, Patel said. And I hate to say it like that. But I was drained. I was emotionally drained with her I stayed up the whole night, I was crying, I was horrified with her for 17 hours. Patel said Olsen texted her after returning home to express thanks for her help. Patel told her to reach out again if she ever needed anything. The two women never spoke again. He loved Nichol While Olsen has her defenders, so does Wheeler. His mother and several friends say Wheeler is a good-hearted man and nothing like the person depicted by Olsens friends. Cynthia Wheeler said her son and Olsen quarreled at times, but she observed nothing between them that isnt typical in relationships. I just know that Charlie could never do anything like that, Cynthia Wheeler said of the shootings. I just know. Because he loved those girls. And he loved Nichol. Did they have problems? Absolutely. Who doesnt? That doesnt mean that you go out there and shoot yourself and shoot your girls. Wheelers parents have been accused online of protecting him and not expressing public condolences for Olsens and her daughters deaths. Cynthia Wheeler said she and her husband havent spoken publicly before now because Charlies attorneys instructed them to remain silent. Its so hard for me to stand back and not be able to speak out and try to defend what were fighting for, his life, she said. My son is suffering, too. He still has a life that hes got to try to put back together. And, honestly, it isnt going to be easy. Several friends of the Wheelers described them as a family steeped in Christian faith, love of horses and hard work. Some asked that their names not be published to protect their own families from the public rancor surrounding the case. Its a horrible, horrible situation, what happened in his home, one friend said. But I dont feel like any of them deserve whats being said ... especially from people who have no idea who he is. Another friend, Justin Davis, 36, of Madisonville, described Wheeler as a good guy willing to go out of his way for anyone. If Charlie dated this woman for three years and allowed her kids to live in the house with him I know Charlie just would absolutely adore and love those kids, Davis said, who also hasnt seen Wheeler in a couple of years. To me, it would be impossible for him to do what they say hes done. London Sophia Bribiescas, 10, the youngest daughter of Nichol Olsen, was found dead near the bodies of her mother and older sister. She was a fifth-grader at Leon Springs Elementary School and was described as a fun-loving child who was fond of singing. less London Sophia Bribiescas, 10, the youngest daughter of Nichol Olsen, was found dead near the bodies of her mother and older sister. She was a fifth-grader at Leon Springs Elementary School and was described as ... more Photo: Elma Flores /Courtesy Of The Bribiescas Family Photo: Elma Flores /Courtesy Of The Bribiescas Family Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close A single mother, her millionaire boyfriend and how their storybook romance ended in horror 1 / 12 Back to Gallery She protected those girls Sheriffs officials havent yet determined who shot Olsens daughters one of the main questions Salazar hopes to answer. Olsens family and friends have remained adamant that she wouldnt harm her children or kill herself. 'I will never believe that it was a suicide and I will never believe that she killed her children.' She was very strong and she protected those girls with her life ... So, in my opinion, there is a lot of room for questioning the entire situation, Turney said. Kelly Myrick, another friend and business partner, said memories of Olsen surround her constantly. There will never be anyone else like her. Its ironic how she didnt like being the center of attention or even posing for pictures, and yet here we are, she said. Alexas family is relying on their faith to carry them through the ordeal, said their attorney, Paul Torres. The lives of many are forever changed by the loss of Alexa, and theres not anyone in the family who hasnt been deeply impacted by it, Torres said. The lack of any substantive answers and lingering uncertainties is perhaps the most challenging part of the ongoing investigation. Londons father, Hector Bribiescas, said his life will never be the same. She was my world, my best friend, Bribiescas said of his daughter. Every decision I made revolved around her. Wheeler and his family didnt attend the visitation or memorial service for Olsen and her daughters. Alexas family sent a letter asking the Wheelers to stay away from all services, according to one of Charlie Wheelers attorneys. During the visitation, Olsen and Alexa lay in closed caskets in the same room at Mission Park Funeral Chapels Stone Oak location. In a nearby room, London was in an open casket lined with purple trim. The lid was inscribed on the inside with the word Princess and displayed three pink hearts. Benessa Russell, Olsens cousin, walked up to see the young girl. Then she sat down on a couch, rocking back and forth, wrapping her arms around herself. So sad, Russell whispered tearfully. Thats my baby. She was going to be somebody, just like her mama. Nearly every seat was full for the memorial service the next day at Place For Life, a church on the Northwest Side. At the end, the crowd stood as the three caskets were taken slowly out of the chapel one by one. Sobs, then loud wailing, filled the room sounds of grief drowned out only occasionally by heartwrenching music. Hundreds of mourners walked outside and filled the parking lot to watch as Olsen and her daughters were placed in three separate hearses. A harrowing silence fell over the crowd. Then the hearses drove away. Peggy O'Hare has been a reporter for 25 years, covering crime, courts, health care and other subjects. She joined the San Antonio Express-News in 2013. Her recent work has focused on the Iconic Village apartment fire in San Marcos and its aftermath. Five young people died in the blaze. O'Hare holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas A&M University. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare Design by Joy-Marie Scott | Twitter: @joymariescott A version of this article appeared in print on April 7, 2019, on Page A1 of the San Antonio Express-News. | Today's Paper Subscribe Real news. Real trust. Real community. Subscribe to the San Antonio Express-News to support quality local journalism. MATAMOROS, Mexico As they have every day since last summer, a squad of graying American volunteers crossed from Brownsville to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande to dole out hot meals. They were greeted by scores of adults, teenagers and young children who have relied on food handouts for weeks or even months as they await a chance to apply for asylum in the U.S. But on this day, dozens more people than expected were lined up. The Samaritans were overwhelmed. If you arent from this bridge group we cant feed you, Mike Benavides, a Brownsville educator who is the groups leader, announced in Spanish as his companions began serving pasta and chicken on disposable plates. We dont have sufficient food for everyone. In the year since the Trump administration announced a zero tolerance policy aimed at keeping would-be border jumpers home in Central America, the migrant flow has only accelerated. Some 100,000 people were detained at the border in March, a recent record. Most were adults traveling with young children in hopes of being granted asylum. U.S. officials and migrant advocates alike expect the total number of asylum seekers and other migrants this year to be the highest in a decade. With detention centers saturated, U.S. immigration agents have been releasing migrants onto the streets of American border cities. Local governments, aid groups and private citizens have scrambled to feed, clothe and house the migrants while they await the next leg of their journey usually a bus trip into the U.S. interior to unite with family or friends. Related: Small Eagle Pass bus company charges migrants steep fares to get to San Antonio Thousands more migrants are marooned on the Mexican side of the border. Some are waiting to be smuggled across by criminal groups. Others are lined up at bridges and other points of entry. U.S. and Mexican authorities have been allowing just a few a day to apply for asylum. The Trump administration has scrapped some of its tactics intended to stem the tide. Other measures have been blocked by the courts. Still others proved impractical. Migrants keep pouring north in caravans and smugglers vehicles, by train and on foot. Everywhere, the system seems strained and crumbling. Blaming their governments for failing to stop the migrant surge, Trump has ordered a curtailment of U.S. aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. On Thursday, he backed off a threat to close immediately all or part of the U.S.-Mexico border, saying hell do so in a year if Mexico doesnt stop the flow of drugs and migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen likened the child-heavy flow to a massive CAT 5 hurricane disaster and said everything is on the table to stop the migrants. Such declarations elicit weary, knowing shrugs from many of those the Brownsville volunteers have been feeding at the bridge in Matamoros, an industrial city of 600,000 known as much for its gangland violence as its auto parts production. Nothing that lies ahead, some of the migrants said, will prove more daunting than what they left behind. It is not working and its not going to work, said Marta-Onelia Torres, 29, a Honduran who has been camping at the bridge with three of her six young children for two months. Because behind Trump is God. And with God all things are possible. We are going to get in. Torres, one of six children raised by a single mother, said she made the decision to head north after her husband was killed last year in a street robbery. She brought along her second-oldest, 11-year-old Edil Fabricio, and his two brothers, ages 1 and 3. She left her 14-year-old daughter and two middle children behind with her mother. Related: Border wait times swell amid customs officer shuffle to handle migrant crisis Torres said shes found work cleaning houses in a town near Matamoros for about $28 a week. Edil Fabricion brings in $2.50 a day selling candy to motorists stuck in the snarled lanes on the bridge into Texas. I have made so many, many sacrifices to make it this far, Torres said. I will do whatever I can to help us survive. Im only asking God that I can make a future for my children. People have been pushed out of Central America for decades by calamity, crime and the varied crises that poverty propagates. Theyve been pulled by the offer of U.S. jobs that pay more in an hour than most migrants earn in a day or two back home. Now, Torres and other migrants many of them members of evangelical churches that have taken root in Central America insist that Providence propels them. I know God is with us and is going to open the way, said Jose Alonso Lemos, a 51-year old farmer from Honduras who arrived at the Matamoros bridge with a 6-year old boy he said is his son. This is Gods will. The Brownsville-Matamoros area has been a migrant corridor for decades, although not as busy as cities further north. Although some of the recent migrant surge reached the area, the numbers were low. Thats changed in recent days as U.S. immigration agencies began releasing migrants from detention centers and bringing them to Brownsvilles downtown bus station to await private transportation north. Since last weekend, Brownsville officials have counted some 1,300 people who were sent to local homeless shelters to get a meal, a shower and sometimes a nights lodging. We are slammed, said Odee Leal, the citys director of emergency management. We have never seen these kinds of numbers. Most of the migrants are being aided by the Good Neighbor Settlement House, a donation-funded shelter near the bus station. Others have been sent to a larger homeless shelter on the citys outskirts. In addition to feeding the asylum seekers stuck in Mexico, Mike Benavidess group, Team Brownsville, posts volunteers in the bus station to dispense food, clothing and advice. Benavides, his partner Sergio Cordova and a handful of others formed the group last summer after realizing that the humanitarian crisis they had been following in the news had reached Brownsville. They started by aiding migrants passing through the downtown bus station. The group then crossed into Matamoros to help the growing clutch of asylum seekers caught there when the Trump administration slowed the processing of asylum claims from migrants lined up at the bridge. Seeing families with young children sleeping on concrete, often without blankets, under an open sky, Benavides and Cordova brought pup tents, tarps and other supplies. Soon, the group was feeding the migrants, who first numbered in the dozens, then in scores and then sometimes more than 100. Benavides has taken charge of providing breakfast, at his own expense. Rising well before dawn, he buys tacos from one restaurant and sausage biscuits from another. I cant afford it anymore, Benavides says with a cheerful voice that suggests he wont stop any time soon. My credit score is on the floor. A revolving team of three dozen volunteers pays for and prepares the evening meal. Several local restaurants donate food and supplies, in some cases anonymously so as not to anger anti-migrant patrons. Late every afternoon, Benavides and a few fellow volunteers trundle the food across the bridge in rickety wagons. Mexican border guards wave them through. The volunteers often dont return to Brownsville until well past dark. Benavides said he doesnt expect the current crush to last much longer. The political pressure on the Trump administration will prove untenable, he believes. Trumps get-tough policy started with a pen and it can end with a pen, Benavides said. My dream, he said, is I will come over one day with $180 worth of food and there will be no one to feed. AUSTIN Retired Texas teachers are poised to get a bonus check, as state lawmakers prepare to pump millions of dollars into shoring up the pension system that covers more than 420,000 former school district employees. Though the size of the so-called 13th check and the pension funding plan are still up for debate, proposals in the Texas House and Senate have widespread support among Republican leaders. There is virtually unanimous support in both chambers to get this done, said Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, who authored one of the bills known as House Bill 9. The bill is one of many this session seeking to boost pay and benefits for Texas educators. State lawmakers are also aiming to pour billions of dollars into public schools and raise teacher pay. The average salary for a Texas teacher is $54,122 roughly $6,000 below the national average, according to the Texas Education Agency. Texas Take: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday The Teacher Retirement System of Texas, one of the largest public pension plans in the country, has an unfunded liability of $46.2 billion. While not an issue right now, it means the fund doesnt have enough money set aside to pay the pensions it has promised current employees. Meanwhile, retired educators who receive pension checks that average roughly $2,000 a month havent received a cost of living increase in over a decade. The bills address both issues. Bonnens proposal would shore up the pension fund by raising the states contribution and would give retirees a one-time check of up to $2,400. The Senate plan which already cleared the chamber unanimously would give retirees a smaller check of up to $500, while boosting pension contributions by the state, active teachers and some school districts. Neither would offer a permanent cost of living increase, but retired teachers groups praise the plan. The trust fund is going to have to get some earnings built up... so over the next couple years we could be meeting or exceeding the investment projections, said Tim Lee, Executive Director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association. If thats the case, the leadership will have more options when we come back next time. For subscribers: Texas hits 5-year high in number of teachers faulted for leaving mid-year Jerrie Dooley, who retired 13 years ago from Fredericksburg ISD, said her pension benefits have remained flat while her health care costs have tripled. Last session, lawmakers made changes to help plug a shortfall in the state-subsidized health care plan that led to steep premium hikes for retired teachers. Dooley worries the financial crunches might dissuade young people from taking jobs in the classroom. The health insurance is so high and the pay is so little, she said. Without doing something, theres a huge teacher shortage looming. Changes to the teacher pension plan come with a hefty price tag. Bonnens bill would gradually raise the states contribution to the Teacher Retirement System from 6.8 to 8.8 percent of active teacher payroll, which would cost an estimated $765.7 million in the 2022-2023 state budget, according to the bills fiscal note. Meanwhile the Senate Bill 12 by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, would raise the states contribution to 8.25 percent, while also bumping up teachers contribution to 8.25 percent of their salaries. Her proposal would cost the state roughly $555.1 million in the 2020-2021 budget, between the increased state contributions and the one-time check, the fiscal note said. Huffman declined to be interviewed about the bill, but said in a statement she believes the intent of both chambers is to pass a long-term, cost-efficient plan that fits within the confines of the state budget and works towards eliminating the $47 billion in unfunded liability. I am already working with Dr. Bonnen and, even though our bills differ in a few areas, I am confident that we will be able to bring more financial stability to one of the largest pension funds in the world, while also securing the future for public educators and providing retired teachers with additional money in their pockets, she said. Allie Morris covers politics and policy in Austin. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amorris@express-news.net | Twitter: @MorrisReports But she could not describe her kidnappers, nor how she had escaped from them. Her story fell apart and after she had failed a polygraph test, she admitted her claim was false. Investigators later determined Hofman had left Bolingbrook and had driven alone to Milwaukee, where she picked up two men. Authorities said they believe the three drove to Michigan before separating near the town of Norway. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. She is our lawyer. We are her clients. We should be able to rely upon our lawyers word, the petition said. To find that Foxxs clear statement of recusal was something other than a recusal would indicate that she was being less than truthful in her handling of the Smollett case and in her statements to the public. 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. Streamer Boomplay Music Raises $20 million African based music streamer Boomplay Music has raised $20 million in Series A funding to expand across Africa. The company reports more than 44 million app downloads and is adding an average of 2 million new subscribers monthly. Boomplay is a joint venture of Chinese phone maker Transsion and Chinese consumer apps giant NetEase. The new funding is coming from Chinese investors Maison Capital and Seas Capital, with other undisclosed investors. The company has raised $25.5 million to date. Our vision is to become not only a music streaming service, but we aim to be the number one player in the whole music ecosystem for African music, said CEO Joe He. Boomplay recently signed deals with Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. Share on: iciHaiti - Politic : 3 US official visits since 1 month In the space of a month, in a context of political crisis and deterioration of the socio-economic situation, Haiti received the visit of three American officials, all with the same mission : to encourage the national dialogue between the Haitians. On Tuesday, Cindy Kierscht, Deputy Under-Secretary of the United States for Haiti, Canada and the Caribbean who replaces Kenneth Merten, was received at the National Palace by President Jovenel Moise on the possibilities of economic growth, the establishment of a national dialogue, and the state of planning of legislative and local elections scheduled for October 2019. Cindy Kierscht also met with the Presidents of the two Houses of Parliament https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27364-haiti-news-zapping.html to explain to them how a genuine and inclusive dialogue, leading to a Government transparent and responsible, can best meet the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people. She also met during her stay with representatives of several political parties and members of civil society, On March 20th, it was the turn of the Republican Senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, to visit the Head of State at the National Palace https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27241-haiti-politic-republican-senator-marco-antonio-rubio-meets-jovenel-moise.html While on March 1, it was the Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, David Hale https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27077-haiti-politic-under-secretary-david-hale-s-visit-unappreciated-by-the-opposition.html was visiting Haiti to discuss among other things how to achieve inter-Haitian dialogue... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27364-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27241-haiti-politic-republican-senator-marco-antonio-rubio-meets-jovenel-moise.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27077-haiti-politic-under-secretary-david-hale-s-visit-unappreciated-by-the-opposition.html SL/ iciHaiti Trump works for us, said Ellin, an organizer of Womens March Chicago and co-sponsor of the event. We dont work for Trump. And I think we deserve, were entitled to see the report. I dont care if it exonerates him or not. I think its our right as citizens and tax-payers to see it and to decide for ourselves. 7 projects in Seychelles that support marine areas and fisheries get funded with grants by Patsy Athanase April 01,2019 | Source: SNA Seven projects in Seychelles that support marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries will get financial assistance under the second Blue Grants Fund launched in 2018. The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) said a total of $363,000 (SCR 5 million) will be disbursed for projects that are in line with the funds strategic objectives. With funds from both the debt-swap and the blue bonds, we were able to provide grants financing for seven projects that are innovative and will provide valuable data to enhance our understanding of our marine space, said the funds chief executive, Angelique Pouponneau. SeyCCAT -- an independent trust fund -- is mandated to provide a sustainable flow of funds to support marine-related projects and other activities that contribute substantially to the conservation, protection and maintenance of biodiversity and the adaptation to climate change. One of the projects will assess the effectiveness of the Curieuse Marine National Park in the protection of the critical early life stages of sicklefin lemon sharks. The project will be led by Global Vision International. Other partners are the Seychelles National Parks Authority, University of Seychelles and the James Michel Blue Economy Research Institute. Another project will investigate marine plastic pathways, composition and recyclability. It is a post-expedition education and outreach project after the Aldabra Clean Up which started in late February 2019. The Seychelles Islands Foundation will lead the project with its partners -- the Queens College, University of Oxford. There will also be training for Blue Economy entrepreneurs, a study on the parrotfish fishery as well as the marine biodiversity baseline assessment around Fregate Island - the eastern-most granitic island. All the projects involve local and international partnership as well as the government of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, and the private sector. This year it is very encouraging to see the increased partnerships, especially between the private sector, non-governmental organisations and academics, to deliver on SeyCCATs strategic objectives, Pouponneau added. The first Blue Grants Fund was launched in October of 2017 and SeyCCAT said it is extremely satisfied with the implementation of the projects. There are many lessons learned from our ongoing projects and it is evident that the most successful projects are based on people or community-driven initiatives that bring about a change in behaviour. We have been impressed with the relationship of trust that exists between and among partners on projects that have enabled accessing of critical data, said the chief executive. Meanwhile, on April 2, SeyCCAT will be calling for the third project proposals with a total targeted amount of disbursing up to $750 000. The focus will be on one or more of its five strategic objectives. The Seychelles Conservation & Climate Adaptation Trust is a public-private trust fund, established through the Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust of Seychelles Act of 2015. Seychelles News Agency, 2019 Theme(s): Others. Gujarat fishermens landmark victory in US Supreme Court goes unreported in Indian media April 02,2019 | Source: The Wire A landmark legal victory secured by Indian fishermen belonging to the Kutch district of Gujarat in the United States Supreme Court in the last week February went completely unnoticed by the Indian media. The US Supreme Court, in a 7:1 decision, with one judge abstaining, ruled on February 27 that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, financing the construction of a power plant at Mundra, Gujarat, is entitled only to limited or restrictive immunity that foreign governments currently enjoy. Therefore, its claim for absolute immunity from suit, filed by local farmers and fishermen alleging air, land and water pollution in the surrounding area of the plant, is not valid, the court said. The plaintiffs were led by Waghers, a group of Muslim fishermen who have been fishing in the Mundra waters for generations. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion of the court, in which Justices Thomas, Ginsburg, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan and Gorsuch joined. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion. Justice Kavanaugh, the latest appointee to the court, took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. The International Organisations Immunities Act of 1945 (IOIA) grants international organisations such as the World Bank and the World Health Organisation the same immunity from suit as is enjoyed by foreign governments. At the time the IOIA was enacted, foreign governments enjoyed virtually absolute immunity from suit. Today, that immunity is more limited. Foreign governments are not immune from actions based upon certain kinds of commercial activity in which they engage. The IFC finances private-sector development projects in poor and developing countries around the world. About ten years ago, the IFC financed the construction of the coal-fired Tata Mundra Power Plant in Gujarat, by providing $450 million in loans in 2008 to Coastal Gujarat Power Limited. Under the terms of the loan agreement, Coastal Gujarat was required to comply with an environmental and social action plan designed to protect areas around the plant from damage. The agreement allowed the IFC to revoke financial support for the project if Coastal Gujarat failed to abide by the terms of the agreement. According to IFCs internal audit, Coastal Gujarat did not comply with the environmental and social action plan in constructing and operating the plant. The audit report criticised the IFC for inadequately supervising the project. In 2015, a group of farmers and fishermen who live near the plant, as well as a local village, sued the IFC in the United States district court for the District of Columbia. They were led by the lead plaintiff, Budha Ismail Jam. They claimed that pollution from the plant, such as coal dust, ash and water from the plants cooling system, had destroyed or contaminated much of the surrounding air, land and water. Relying on the audit report, they asserted several causes of action against the IFC, including negligence, nuisance, trespass and breach of contract. The district court concluded that the IFC was immune from suit because the IOIA grants international organisations the virtually absolute immunity that foreign governments enjoyed when the IOIA was enacted. The IFC argued before the US Supreme Court that affording international organisations only restrictive immunity would defeat the purpose of granting them immunity in the first place. It would expose international organisations to money damages, which would in turn make it more difficult and expensive for them to fulfil their missions, it argued. Allowing such suits would bring a flood of foreign-plaintiff litigation into the U.S. courts, raising many of the same foreign-relations concerns that we identified when considering similar litigation under the Alien Tort Statute, the IFC contended. Petitioners, who included farmers and fishermen from Kutch, Gujarat, sued the IFC for damages and injunctive relief in federal district court, but the IFC claimed absolute immunity from suit. Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Women among the fishers in Indonesia by Iqra Anugrah If you ask the Indonesian public who has made the biggest difference for Indonesian fishers, one name will keep coming up: Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesias minister of fisheries and maritime affairs. A colourful self-made entrepreneur, Susi has gained a reputation as a maverick and a bold reformer through her policies, including cracking down on illegal foreign fishing. But the focus on Susi neglects another group who have also made a lot of difference to the lives of Indonesian fishers: women in fishing and coastal communities. In my recent visits to fishing villages in Central Java and North Sumatra, I found that women in these communities have played a crucial role in advocating for fishers and womens rights. They have improved the lives of many in their communities. This achievement is particularly commendable given the governments lack of attention to issues affecting women in fishing communities and enduring patriarchal values in Indonesian society at large. Indeed, womens contributions to fishing communities often go unnoticed. According to a 2015 study conducted by Kiara, a fishers rights advocacy group, women contribute close to half (48 per cent) of income in fishing households across Indonesia. They also work long hours 17 hours per day, both in fishing activities and at home. This was true for the women I interviewed they had a major role in processing and selling fish products as well as in handling domestic chores. But as Kiara head Susan Herawati notes, womens work is often not recognised as real work. Despite facing a double burden of fishing and domestic work, women in fishing communities get involved in activism and policy advocacy in a variety of ways, including building community-led organisations and enterprises and promoting womens rights. The University of Melbourne Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today Mostly cloudy skies with some morning fog. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Areas of patchy fog. Low around 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Both officers were treated at an area hospital, where they were stabilized. One was treated for leg and arm pain and the other was treated for pain throughout the body, police said. The driver of the Honda was taken to Northwestern Hospital, and the woman declined medical treatment, police said. On Wednesday, the same man was taken away by police in a Kentucky town near Cincinnati after he appeared nervous and on the verge of collapse. He told police he was 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen and had just escaped two kidnappers who had held him hostage for several years. Feds charged Brian Rini, 23, with making a false statement after authorities said he claimed to be an Aurora boy missing since 2011. (Hamilton County sheriff's office) Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh IDTechEx Research analyse the changing trends in the robotics industry in their report New Robotics and Drones 2018-2038: Technologies, Forecasts, Players, as new and emerging firms challenge the norm. Machine makers in many established markets sell their machines directly or through dealer networks. At times, they create additional revenue streams by offering technical after-sales support. They often hope that the installed base of their machines together with limited incompatibility with competitors' products provides some lock-in mechanism. They also seek to build-in some technology obsolescence into their product cycles. Some also provide finance, directly or jointly with a finance entity, to help potential customers overcome the barrier of the upfront cost. Many traditional robot suppliers fit the description above. Integrators often install a robotic or automated solution and provide after-sale technical support. They make it difficult to integrate competitors' robots with their solutions and offer regular hardware and software updates. New and emerging robotic firms however do not easily fit this bill. They are in fact challenging the established norms. This is sometimes through will and sometimes through necessity. The trend towards alternative models is evident across all sectors that new robotics seeks to impact. This includes retail, agriculture, logistics, delivery, security, cleaning, transport, and so on. In the new few paragraphs we outline some trends and drives in each sector. To get the complete picture please see the IDTechEx Research New Robotics and Drones 2018-2038: Technologies, Forecasts, Players . This report is unique in its depth and breadth. It covers both existing as well as emerging applications. Indeed, it provides twenty-year forecasts in value and unit numbers for 46 categories, painting a comprehensive and quantitative picture of this major transformation. Agriculture Autonomous robots can provide automated precision weeding. Robotic intelligent implements can provide precision spraying or weeding too. The upfront machine or fleet costs are often high today. The technology risk for end users are also high. Users are often afraid that expert operators and repair persons will be needed. They worry that the technology is not tried and tested, especially in an agricultural environment. They fear that the technology is likely to rapidly evolve, exposing them to serious obsolescence risks. Crucially, they require seasonal services and are accustomed to paying wages and not making significant capital investments into machines with low utilization rates. To address these challenges many companies are positioning as a RaaS- robotic as a service. They essentially become weeding service providers. They operate or monitor their own machines. They charge the customer per acre, a metric with which they are likely familiar. They absorb the technology risk. Crucially, they give their robots extensive field practice and will have the chance to gather data and feedback. This is important because the design of these products and services is still in a state of flux with many further iterations anticipated. This positioning changes the nature of their business. Companies will require additional working capital and staff to absorb the service costs and to offer a sufficiently scaled service network. They cannot simple build to order to balance their cashflows. This is where partnerships will become important. This is also where early capital investments in case of start-ups becomes a necessity as most will operate heavily in the red in the early years of their operations. With time and technology maturity the model may revert back to a traditional arrangement, or will it? This is an ongoing debate because traditional heavy agricultural machine makers will also need to adapt their models. This is inevitable because as vehicles become more autonomous, in navigation and task, the machine becomes the services, blurring the boundary between equipment sales and service provision. The whole value chains will need to adjust and even the dealers will need to find their sweet spots evolving their technical support into full blown remote robot operations? To learn more please read New Robotics and Drones 2018-2038: Technologies, Forecasts, Players Last mile delivery Many small robots are appearing worldwide to solve the productivity problem present at the last stage of the delivery process: the last mile. These small slow robots autonomously deliver small payloads to their final destinations. At the level of individual machines, there are highly unproductive. However, at the level of a large fleet, without a driver overhead per unit, they can become productive and commercially viable. Here two business models have emerged. Some follow the traditional model of trying to sell their robots. Others are positioning as delivery firms staffed mainly by autonomous robots. This latter model is adopted for many good reasons. It is envisioned that the hardware will in the future become modular, standardized, and highly commoditized. Essentially the same fate as consumer drones awaits the hardware platform. Competing in such a business would not be easy for start-ups especially those based in California and similar start-up hubs. Crucially also the robot companies require practice data. This is because they will need to improve their delivery and navigation algorithms so that one day they can operate large fleets in complex environments with high speed units. The data loop would be cut if they just sold a machine and walked out. The data acquisition is a fundamental part of product improvement without which the company would likely stall. It will also open up the door to offering high value-added analytics services. The technology is still immature. As such, it will require close monitoring and likely regular manual interventions to fix issues. As such, most players will, as a minimum, be forced to add a strong 24/7 service element to their business. To learn more please see the IDTechEx Research report Mobile Robots and Drones in Material Handling and Logistics 2018-2038 . This report is focused on all aspects of mobile robotics in material handling and logistics. In particular, we consider the following: automated guided vehicles and carts (AGVs and AGCs); autonomous mobile vehicles and carts/units; mobile picking robots; last mile delivery ground robots (droids) and drones; and autonomous trucks and light delivery vans (level 4 and level 5 automation). Logistics Robotic firms are emerging to enable autonomous robotic picking. These robots combine autonomous mobility with autonomous picking skills. Here too companies are frequently positioning themselves as a service provider, charging a monthly subscription fee or a $ per pick rate. In this case too robotic companies require the data. Their picking algorithms are based on deep learning and as such without training data their product roadmap will likely stall. This would be very dangerous to their business prospects because today's generation of products only manage to slowly pick regularly-shaped known objects in simple environments. The future however is fast picking of novel randomly-shaped items in complex environments. To traverse this competency gap, data will be indispensable. The users too will require ongoing support. They too will prefer not to absorb the technology risk especially since the technology- both hardware and software- are rapidly evolving. As such, a service model can prove win-win. To learn more please visit www.IDTechEx.com/mobile Security Autonomous mobile robots are developed to perform various security related tasks. These robots are being designed for indoor, outdoor and even rugged terrain operation. They are essentially sensors-on-a-wheel. Some versions can have more than 50-onboard sensors, generating nearly 100 tera bytes of data per year per machine. These robots can be deployed wherever some type of security and monitoring is required. Here too firms are not always adopting an outright equipment sales model. It is common to seek a subscription model for giving customers access to the machine, the interface, the data plan, the 24/7 support, etc. Here too such arrangements can be win-win. The suppliers will retain that crucial data loop in their business models, enabling them to improve their products, for example, by offering specialized algorithms able to detect, recognize, and analyse specific situations, e.g., from car number plate recognition to detection of dangerous gas leakages in an industrial site. Customers too will take this arrangement because it is closer to an end solution and makes it easier for them to test the technology and the new ways of working that it might enable. To learn more please see New Robotics and Drones 2018-2038: Technologies, Forecasts, Players . This report provides detailed technology analysis, assessing the trends in performance and price of key enabling hardware and software technologies whilst considering likely technology development roadmaps. We will also profile the key companies and innovative entities working on new robotics and drones. Retail In statement signed by eight media organisation, including three IFJ and EFJ affiliates NUNS, UNS and SINOS said that citizens have the right to express their dissatisfaction with the social or political situation in the country through peaceful actions, including protests in front of any media building, if they are dissatisfied with them.* However, they strongly condemned any form of violence, verbal or physical, which is unacceptable in democratic societies. The IFJ and EFJ fully support the call and have appealed to all involved in the protests to avoid any attacks on the journalists. The two organisations, in particular, appealed to security forces to adopt a zero tolerance to violence at the protests by providing protection to all journalists, including Pink TV media staff as well as journalists covering the demonstration. Protests, threats and attacks against Serbian media are alarmingly on the rise. On Saturday 16 March, a group of protesters stormed the national broadcaster RTSs offices and N1 TV, a private broadcaster, is facing a targeted campaign of pressure and threats by state officials. The IFJ and EFJ are aware of reports about harassment and threats to other Serbian media. Both the IFJ and EFJ have repeatedly condemned the attacks and urged authorities and the opposition leaders to stop harassing, insulting and attacking media whose coverage they dislike. The IFJ and EFJ reminded all parties in Serbia of a resolution unanimously adopted in 2014 the UN Human Rights Council a Resolution on the protection and promotion of human rights during peaceful protests in which countries are urged to pay particular attention to the safety of journalists and media workers covering peaceful protests, taking into account their specific role, exposure and vulnerability. *The statement was signed by eight media unions and organisations: Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (NUNS) Journalists Association of Serbia (UNS) Journalists' Union of Serbia (SINOS) Association of Electronic Media AOM Independent Journalists Association of Vojvodina NDNV Media Association - AM Business association Local Press Pakistani authorities took Channel 24 News and its sister channels offline following a report about Prime Minister Imran Khan. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly criticized the decision and called on the Pakistan authorities not to censor the news. On March 31, journalist Najam Sethi reported that Prime Minister Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi had split after a verbal fight. Following the news, PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) without issuing any notice has forced cable operators to suspend the transmission of Channel 24 News. Channel 24 News has had a partial restoration of services in some cities. PFUJ president GM Jamali condemned this form of censorship and intolerance. Since the time the government came into power, the media have been the main target. The government began its campaign to weaken the media stopping government advertisement to media houses which then caused financial crisis for the newsrooms. Thousands of journalists and media workers in the country have been illegally shacked. Different types of threats including censoring content, kidnapping journalists are faced by the journalists in Pakistan. PFUJ, and its affiliates across the country, strongly condemn Channel 24 News and sister channels taken off air this is the worst form of censorship and intolerance. Since coming into power, PM Imran Khan and his Government have used various tactics to try to subdue the media and this will not be tolerated,Jamali said. The IFJ said: The government and authorities cannot simply block the transmission of a broadcaster because they do not like its reports. That is blatant censorship. The Pakistan authorities must immediately restore the Channel 24 News services across the country and respect the independence of the media in Pakistan. Azory Gwanda, a freelance journalist who contributed to the Mwananchi Communications Limited and Citizen Newspapers, has been missing since November 21. On that day, Gwanda left home telling his wife, Anna Pinoni, that he had an impromptu journey and would be back in a day or two. Mrs Pinoni told the media that she became alarmed after he had failed to return home and all his numbers could not be reached since the day he departed. According to reports, Gwandas disappearance could be linked to his investigations about attacks in Kibiti district in Pwani Province, which surrounds Tanzanias capital city Dar es Salaam. His disappearance came amid the deterioration of press freedom in Tanzania, where journalists faced media shutdowns, restrictive regulations and arbitrary arrests in recent years. The IFJ is alarmed by the increasing media clampdown against journalists in Tanzania. A year and a half after Gwandas disappearance, the authorities are failing to conduct a credible investigation to clarify what happened to our colleague. In July 2018, the Home Affairs Minister even suggested that the files related to his case could be closed soon, The Citizen reported. The IFJ said: We urge the government to undertake all the necessary measures to find Azory Gwanda and bring him back safe. It is its obligation and responsibility to ensure the protection of journalists. Today we want to assure the Tanzanian authorities that we will not stop pushing them until we get answers on what happened to Gwanda. Imperial Valley News Center Memorandum on Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods Washington, DC - Memorandum on Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC POLICY THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR TRADE AND MANUFACTURING POLICY THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT COORDINATOR SUBJECT: Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy and Background. (a) It is the policy of my Administration to protect American businesses, intellectual property rights holders, consumers, national and economic security, and the American public from the dangers and negative effects of counterfeit and pirated goods, including those that are imported through online third-party marketplaces and other third-party intermediaries. We must improve coordinated efforts within the Federal Government to address this challenge, which are led by the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, through the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, and the United States Trade Representative. (b) Counterfeit trafficking impairs economic competitiveness by harming United States intellectual property rights holders and diminishing the reputations and trustworthiness of online markets; cheats consumers and poses risks to their health and safety; and may threaten national security and public safety through the introduction of counterfeit goods destined for the Department of Defense and other critical infrastructure supply chains. An estimate from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicates the value of trade in counterfeit and pirated goods to be approximately half a trillion dollars per annum, with roughly 20 percent of this trade infringing upon intellectual property belonging to United States persons. A recent Government Accountability Office report examined four categories of frequently counterfeited goods, and, based on a small sample of these goods purchased through various online third-party marketplaces, found that more than 40 percent were counterfeit. (c) Preventing the manufacture, importation, and sale of counterfeit and pirated goods is a priority for Federal law enforcement agencies. (d) Existing efforts within the Federal Government to deter online trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods through third-party intermediaries should be expanded and enhanced to better address the scale, scope, and consequences of counterfeit and pirated goods trafficking. (e) Third-party intermediaries, including online third party marketplaces, carriers, customs brokers, payment providers, vendors, and others involved in international transactions, can all be beneficial partners in combating trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods. In order to build on cooperative efforts that are already underway with such partners, a coordinated approach by the Federal Government, including its law enforcement agencies, and private industry is needed. (f) Comprehensive data regarding the extent of counterfeit trafficking through online third-party marketplaces are lacking. Sec. 2. Report on the State of Counterfeit and Pirated Goods Trafficking and Recommendations. (a) Within 210 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, and in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the United States Trade Representative, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Trade and Manufacturing Policy, the heads of other executive departments and agencies (agencies) and offices as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall prepare and submit a report to the President through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Assistant to the President for Trade and Manufacturing Policy. In preparing the report, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall, consistent with applicable law, consult with intellectual property rights holders, third-party intermediaries, and other stakeholders. (b) The report shall: (i) Analyze available data and other information to develop a deeper understanding of the extent to which online third-party marketplaces and other third party intermediaries are used to facilitate the importation and sale of counterfeit and pirated goods; identify the factors that contribute to trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods; and describe any market incentives and distortions that may contribute to third-party intermediaries facilitating trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods. This review should include data regarding the origins of counterfeit and pirated goods and the types of counterfeit and pirated goods that are trafficked, along with any other relevant data, and shall provide a foundation for any recommended administrative, regulatory, legislative, or policy changes. (ii) Evaluate the existing policies and procedures of third-party intermediaries relating to trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods, and identify the practices of those entities that have been most effective in curbing the importation and sale of counterfeit and pirated goods, including those conveyed through online third-party marketplaces. The report should also evaluate the effectiveness of Federal efforts, including the requirement for certain Federal contractors to establish and maintain a system to detect and avoid counterfeit electronic parts under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.246-7007, as well as steps taken by foreign governments, such as France and Canada, to combat trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods. (iii) To the extent that certain types of data are not currently available to the Federal Government, or accessible in a readily usable form, recommend changes to the data collection practices of agencies, including specification of categories of data that should be collected and appropriate standardization practices for data. (iv) Identify appropriate administrative, statutory, regulatory, or other changes, including enhanced enforcement actions, that could substantially reduce trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods or promote more effective law enforcement regarding trafficking in such goods. The report should address the practices of counterfeiters and pirates, including their shipping, fulfillment, and payment logistics, and assess means of mitigating the factors that facilitate trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods. (v) Identify appropriate guidance that agencies may provide to third-party intermediaries to help them prevent the importation and sale of counterfeit and pirated goods. (vi) Identify appropriate administrative, regulatory, legislative, or policy changes that would enable agencies, as appropriate, to more effectively share information regarding counterfeit and pirated goods, including suspected counterfeit and pirated goods, with intellectual property rights holders, consumers, and third-party intermediaries. (vii) Evaluate the current and future resource needs of agencies and make appropriate recommendations for more effective detection, interdiction, investigation, and prosecution regarding trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods, including trafficking through online third-party marketplaces and other third-party intermediaries. These recommendations should include suggestions for increasing the use of effective technologies and expanding collaboration with third party intermediaries, intellectual property rights holders, and other stakeholders. (viii) Identify areas for collaboration between the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security on efforts to combat trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods. (c) Within 30 days of submitting the report required by section 2(a) of this memorandum, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and directed to prepare, consistent with applicable law, a public version of the report and publish it in the Federal Register. Sec. 3. Definitions. For purposes of this memorandum and the reports described herein: (a) Counterfeit means the use of a counterfeit mark as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2320(f)(1), in connection with goods, services, or labeling or packaging; or mislabeled, substandard, or fraudulently obtained goods, even when such goods do not involve a counterfeit mark. (b) Pirated means the reproduction of copyrighted works in a tangible medium in violation of the rights of the copyright owner, as defined in 17 U.S.C. 501 et seq. (c) Online third-party marketplace means any web-based platform that includes features primarily designed for arranging the sale, purchase, payment, or shipping of goods, or that enables sellers not directly affiliated with an operator of such platforms to sell physical goods to consumers located in the United States. (d) Third-party intermediaries means online third-party marketplaces, carriers, customs brokers, payment providers, vendors, and other parties involved in international transactions. (e) Traffic and trafficking have the same meaning as the term traffic in 18 U.S.C. 2320. Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals; or (iii) existing rights or obligations under international agreements. (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP I think it went well. Ive never spoken to the man before. Hes never spoken to me. He was very complimentary about the race, and extended an offer to be helpful to the city, Lightfoot said. I intend to take him up on that offer. While our politics are radically different, hes still the president of the United States. We have a lot of taxpayers in this city who deserve to get every nickel of their tax dollars that theyre entitled to from Washington, and I intend to make that happen. Imperial Valley News Center Vice President Pence at NATO Engages: The Alliance at 70 Washington, DC - Remarks by Vice President Pence at NATO Engages: The Alliance at 70: THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all. Thank you for that warm welcome. And Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison has been saying yes to America for a long time. Would you join me in thanking the permanent representative to NATO for her extraordinary service to the United States of America and those overly generous words? (Applause.) To the Ambassador, to General Jones, your excellences, to all of you who support and uphold the transatlantic alliance every day. Its a great privilege for me to be here on behalf of the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump, to join the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund, and the Munich Security Conference as we mark the 70th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The alliance at 70 has never been stronger. (Applause.) We gather today at a historic time. Tomorrow marks 70 years since the United States and 11 of our allies, in this very city, signed the North Atlantic Treaty and committed ourselves to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of [our] peoples. A heritage founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. In the 70 years since, the United States has kept our commitments and weve urged European allies to do the same all along the way. And as President Trump said yesterday when he met Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office, in the last two years, in his words, Tremendous progress has been made, and NATO is much stronger because of the progress we have made together. (Applause.) With the support of strong bipartisan majorities in the United States Congress, President Trump has taken decisive action to make the strongest military in the history of the world stronger still. Weve enacted the largest investment in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. We released a National Security Strategy advancing peace through strength. At the Presidents direction, we initiated the modernization of our nuclear arsenal and, in January of this year, unveiled our nations new strategy for missile defense. A strong military, of course, depends on a strong economy in all the nations of this alliance. And under this President, in the United States weve taken decisive action to strengthen the American economy. Weve enacted the largest tax cuts and tax reform in American history, rolled back regulation at a record pace, forged reciprocal trade deals, and unleashed American energy as never before. The results in our country have truly been remarkable. In just two years, Im proud to report, the United States has seen businesses large and small create 5.3 million new jobs. Our unemployment rate has reached its lowest level in nearly 50 years. Our stock market is soaring. Were the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the world. And theres more Americans working today than ever before in our nations history. With that renewed American strength, our transatlantic alliance is being defended and being renewed every day. (Applause.) Together with our NATO partners, we created the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force to prepare combat-ready battlegroups to be able to move into the Baltics and Poland within days. We began the Four Thirties initiative, which, by 2020, aims to ready 30 mechanized battalions, 30 air squadrons, 30 warships for deployment within 30 days. To ensure the swift movement of our troops, we are creating new NATO commands in Virginia and Ulm, Germany. And Norfolk, Virginia, is the proud new home of NATOs focus on the future, the Allied Command Transformation Center, which is tasked with assessing the latest global trends and devising the ability to meet them and match them. And just last fall, NATO conducted its biggest joint exercise since the end of the Cold War: Trident Juncture. You know, NATO is stronger today because of the support of all of our allies. As he was leaving the podium just a few short minutes ago, Secretary General Stoltenberg reached up to me at the end of his speech, took my hand, and said, I said NATO was stronger. And I said, Yes, you did. And the truth is, NATO today because of the commitment of our allies but also because of the resolute American leadership of President Donald Trump and our transatlantic alliance has made remarkable progress for our collective security under that leadership. Think about it: Weve taken the fight to radical Islamist terrorists on our terms, on their soil. In Iraq and Syria, President Trump gave American commanders in the field the authority they needed to hit ISIS and drive them back. And thanks to the courage of our armed forces and the efforts of our 78 coalition partners, the ISIS caliphate is no more. (Applause.) Beyond the Middle East, in the fall of 2017, President Trump announced our South Asia strategy. And with a renewed commitment of United States Armed Forces and our NATO Allies, weve taken the fight with renewed vigor to the Taliban, al Qaeda, ISIS Khorasan, and other Islamist extremist groups in Afghanistan. And thanks to their courageous efforts and sacrifice, we are now talking to the Taliban about a future settlement that will ensure that Afghanistan is never again used by terrorists to launch an attack against the United States, our allies, or any sovereign nation in the world. Under President Donald Trump, I promise you, the United States will seize every opportunity to achieve peace. But we will approach every challenge to our transatlantic alliance with strength. Under President Trumps leadership, weve been holding Russia accountable for its attempts to redraw international borders by force, approving the largest provision of defense weapons to Ukraine in years. The United States also expelled 60 diplomats following a chemical weapons attack on a Russian exile on British soil, and most of our allies did the same in a clear statement of resolve against such violence. And after years of Russian violations of our decades-old treaty, the United States, with the unanimous support of our NATO Allies, announced plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Last December, NATO declared that Russia had developed and fielded a missile system that poses significant risks to NATO members and was in direct violation of its commitments under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. At the urging of our NATO Allies, America remained open to an ongoing dialogue with Russia in the hopes that she could see her way clear to full INF compliance. But Russia refused to live up to its own treaty obligations refused to respond to the concerns of the United States and our Allies in NATO. And today, Russia continues to refuse to dismantle its non-compliant new missile systems. In response to Russias material breach, President Trump made the decision in fact, had no choice but to provide the requisite six-month written notice to treaty parties of our intention to withdraw under Article XV of the INF Treaty. The United States was forced to take this action due to the significant risk posed to NATO member states by Russias covert testing, production, and deployment of non-INF compliant ground-launched cruise missile systems. Unless Russia honors its INF Treaty obligations and agrees to the verifiable destruction of all the violating missile systems, Russia will bear the sole responsibility for Americas withdrawal within the next six months. (Applause.) Now, while President Trump remains open to effective international arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation, the United States will no longer agree to any measure or any treaties that force unilateral disarmament on us or our allies. (Applause.) Now, the United States is grateful for NATOs readiness to take all necessary steps to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of our great alliances deterrence and defense posture. And so weve been making historic investments in our national defense and in NATO. The truth is, America is leading on the world stage once again. But, you know, part of leadership is being as good as your word and holding your friends to their word. In 2014, at the NATO summit in Wales, all of our allies agreed, of their own accord, to spend at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense. The United States has done all that and more well more than our fair share. We make up more than two-thirds of NATO members combined defense budgets. In 2017, at the NATO Summit, President Trump was very direct with members of our alliance when he called on NATO members to, in his words, contribute their fair share and meet their financial obligations. He pointed out, at the time, that 23 of the 28 member nations [were] still not paying what they should be paying and what theyre supposed to be paying for [our common] defense. As the President said then, this is not fair to the American people or the United States of America. In fact, President Trump was hardly the first American President to make this point. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy said, and I quote, We cannot continue to pay for the military protection of Europe while NATO states are not paying their fair share. President Kennedy went on to say, We have been very generous to Europe and it is now time for us to look out for ourselves. Now, were aware that the Presidents strong leadership has caused consternation among some in our alliance. I recall meeting with the prime minister of one of our member nations, during our first year in office. He expressed his concern, and he told me how important it was that America remained the leader of the free world. And I told him what I tell you now: That when President Donald Trump calls on our NATO Allies to live up to their word, to live up to the commitments that theyve made to our common defense, thats what we call being leader of the free world. (Applause.) Even two of NATOs strongest defenders both former ambassadors to NATO under the last two administrations wrote in todays Washington Post, and I quote, Low European defense spending is indeed a problem for NATOs future. And theyre right. The good news is, at President Trumps urging, our NATO Allies have stepped up, have already promised $100 billion more in additional defense spending, and more of our NATO Allies are meeting the 2 percent commitment. The majority of NATO members now have plans in place to meet their financial obligations by 2024. As the Secretary General said just hours ago before Congress, President Trumps leadership on burden sharing is having a real impact to the benefit of NATO and the free world. (Applause.) And so, more of our allies are now meeting their commitments, but still too many others are falling short. And as we all acknowledge, Germany is chief among them. Germany is Europes largest and healthiest economy. Its a leading global exporter and has benefitted from U.S. protection of Europe for generations. But last years annual report to parliament on the state of the German armed forces revealed glaring deficiencies in Germanys military readiness. And yet, as we stand here today, Germany still refuses to make the necessary investment of 2 percent of its GDP to our common defense. After great prodding, it agreed to spend only 1.5 percent of its GDP on defense by 2024. But the draft budget for 2019 just presented to the German parliament actually falls short of even that commitment, promising only 1.3 percent. Germany must do more. And we cannot ensure the defense of the West if our allies grow dependent on the Russia. If Germany persists in building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as President Trump has said, it could turn Germanys economy into literally a captive of Russia. It is simply unacceptable for Europes largest economy to continue to ignore the threat of Russian aggression and neglect its own self-defense and our common defense at such a level. And its also wrong for Germany to allow itself to become energy dependent on Russia. NATO is a mutual defense pact, not a unilateral security agreement. We need all allies to contribute to this joint endeavor, and we honor their commitments and well keep ours. The United States expects every NATO member to fulfill their own commitments and to meet the 2 percent threshold no later than 2024. And we expect all our allies to invest 20 percent of defense spending on major new equipment. And were greatly encouraged at the progress thats being made among many of our allies to do just that. Weve also made it clear that well not stand idly by while NATO Allies purchase weapons from our adversaries weapons that threaten the very cohesion of this alliance. Turkeys purchase of a $2.5 billion S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia poses great danger to NATO and to the strength of this alliance. The fact that Turkey is moving ahead with these plans even after the United States has made available the Patriot air defense system is deeply troubling. The Pentagon made clear, earlier this week, and I repeat today: If Turkey completes its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system, Turkey risks expulsion from the joint F-35 program, which will harm not just Turkeys defense capacity, but it may cripple many of the Turkish component manufacturers that supply that program. In the meantime, this week we formally notified the Turkish government that the United States is immediately suspending shipments of all F-35 Joint Strike Fighter related equipment and materiel to Turkey. Turkey must choose: Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history of the world? Or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making reckless decisions that undermine our alliance? Perhaps the greatest challenge NATO will face in the coming decades is how we must all adjust to the rise of the Peoples Republic of China. And adjust we must. For determining how to meet the challenge of Chinese 5G technology, meet the challenge of the easy money offered by Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, is a challenge European allies must contend with every day. Whether we like it or not, the implications of Chinas rise will profoundly affect the choices NATO members will face, individually and collectively. Chinas expanding influence will necessarily demand more of Americas attention and resources. And as we meet that challenge, our European allies must do more to maintain the strength and deterrence of our transatlantic alliance with their resources. Toward that end, we are grateful that NATO members are opening their own diplomatic dialogues with like-minded Indo-Pacific countries like Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Korea. And we welcome recent steps by NATO partners, France and Great Britain, to increase freedom-of-navigation and overflight operations in the Indo-Pacific. By working together, we can maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific where independent nations boldly pursue their own interests; respect their neighbors as equals; and where societies, beliefs, and traditions flourish side by side; and where all their citizens are able to exercise their God-given liberties and pursue their dreams. NATOs 29 member states encompass almost a billion people, who together produce almost half of the worlds GDP. This extraordinary alliance is facing the next 70 years with 70 years of hard-won experience, success, and strong relationships. And so while the challenges before us loom large, with renewed American leadership on the world stage, together were demonstrating every day that we can make the future of the free world brighter than ever before. And as we rise to meet these challenges in the days ahead, we should never underestimate our power to change the world for the better. Its what weve proven over the last 70 years, and what I believe with all my heart well prove for the next 70. When were strong, when were united, weve proven theres nothing that freedom-loving nations cant achieve. Our strength, and that of this alliance, is derived not solely from a strength of arms, though. It is ultimately born of our shared principles, the principles and ideals that we cherish: freedom, democracy, justice, and the rule of law. Every member nation understands these are the wellsprings of our strength and they are the wellspring of theirs. And they come from that timeless notion of unalienable rights, of life and liberty, and a notion that theyre not granted to us by sovereigns or governments or kings, but they are, as the Americas Founders observed, endowed by our Creator. Marshaling the will to confront the challenges of the 21st century will require faith in these timeless ideals. This then is our cause. Its why NATO exists. Its why, after so many centuries of strife and division, Europe is whole and free. For seven decades, the United States has stood with our European allies to defend our way of life against an array of threats large and small. When the ravages of war left a continent in ruins, we worked together to rebuild Europe. When the specter of communism was at Europes door, we stood arm-in-arm against the Soviet menace. When the Berlin Wall fell and the old Soviet empire crumbled, we welcomed new democracies of Eastern Europe into our ranks. And of the eight countries that once made up the Warsaw Pact, seven now belong to NATO. And the eighth, the Soviet Union, doesnt even exist. Over the past five centuries, its extraordinary to think that the average alliance among nations lasted no more than 15 years. But for 40 years, NATO stood strong against the communist threat of the Soviet Union. And through the strength of our resolve and by the grace of God, we prevailed against it through those 40, and now we stand for freedom to tomorrows day of 70. The United States has been faithful to Europe for generations, and well keep the faith. Well keep the faith that drove our forefathers to sacrifice so much in the defense of freedom. We share a past. We built it together. And we share a future. Today, tomorrow, and every day, you can be confident the United States of America is now and will always be Europes greatest ally. (Applause.) As President Trump said in Poland two years ago, in his words, Our freedom, our civilization, and our survival depend on these bonds of history, culture, and memory. And they also depend on a foundation of faith. And on that faith, I know, as the President said that day, The West will never ever be broken. Our values will prevail. Our people will thrive. And our civilization will triumph. I have faith in our people and in freedom-loving people everywhere. And I also have faith that, as we advance the principles of freedom, as freedom takes hold, that where the spirit of the Lord is, theres liberty. That means freedom always wins. So thank you. Thank you for the honor of joining you on the eve of this extraordinary anniversary. God bless you all. God bless all of our allies. And may God bless the United States of America. Imperial Valley News Center Rebuilding Puerto Rico Efficiently and Accountably Washington, DC - "The Puerto Rican people have tremendous spirit. When I was there and I looked at the way that what they have to go through. They have a lot of problems. Were going to help them straighten it out." ~ President Donald J. Trump SWIFT AND HISTORIC RESPONSE: The Trump Administration acted swiftly in response to Category 5 Hurricane Maria, providing billions in Federal aid to help rebuild Puerto Rico. The Federal Government has allocated over $40 billion for Puerto Rico disaster recovery and could spend up to $91 billion, far exceeding funding for States hit by other recent disasters. Puerto Rico currently has access to $1.5 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds and the Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved an action plan for an additional $8.2 billion. The response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Hurricane Maria was unprecedented in scope. It included: The longest sustained air mission of food and water response in United States history. The largest disaster commodity distribution mission in United States history. The largest sea-bridge operation of Federal disaster aid in United States history. President Trump authorized funding for 100 percent of Puerto Ricos emergency work cost-share for nearly a yearthe third longest ever granted by a President. After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico had little to no electricity, water, telecommunications, or operational transportation systems. Thanks to the Administrations swift response and financial commitment, the island now has working electricity, water systems are operating, and transportation is up and running. The job market recovered quickly, with unemployment dropping from 11.3% in October 2017 to 8.3% to in October 2018. President Trump and his Administration have remained in continuous contact with Puerto Rico officials about the response and recovery. The President has met with Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello seven times in person, and held a video teleconference to discuss the hurricanes. White House officials have met with Puerto Rico officials dozens of times to discuss the recovery. The Secretaries of Homeland Security and Housing and Urban Development, and the FEMA Administrator have met or spoken with Governor Rossello 18 times since September 2017. James Lee Witt, FEMA director under President Clinton, graded the Trump Administrations hurricane response, including in Puerto Rico, as an A-plus. Witt stated, theyve maxed out probably how many people they could put there. PROTECTING SURVIVORS AND TAXPAYERS: The President is committed to protecting the survivors and taxpayers from mismanagement and corruption. Puerto Rico is on track to receive an historic level of aid for disaster recovery, in spite of the fact that it has repeatedly failed to manage its finances appropriately. Puerto Ricos sustained failure over many decades to manage its finances appropriately is compounded by recent concerns over management of disaster spending. Puerto Rico had already accrued over $120 billion in debt and pension liabilities prior to the storm. Puerto Rico has failed to pay contractors on time. The Puerto Rican government has failed to submit a detailed plan for rebuilding Puerto Ricos power infrastructure. To date, the Federal Government has spent about $5 billion on power restoration. During the response, it was identified that Puerto Rico was in violation of the Cash Management Improvement Act and the Administration acted to protect taxpayer funds by imposing certain restrictions to enforce compliance with Federal grant guidelines. These restrictions were put in place to ensure expenditures were allocable, allowable, and reasonable. There have been numerous reports of Puerto Rico mismanaging recovery resources. Federal officials discovered a stockpile of unused supplies sitting in a warehouse that could have been used by Puerto Rico officials to help restore power. Puerto Ricos electrical utility gave a multi-million dollar contract to Whitefish Energy Services, a small firm with two employees and little experience in responding to major disasters. The people of Puerto Rico deserve true leadership and Federal disaster support that helps them the mostnot the politicians who have used disaster spending as a political platform to further their own agendas. EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION: Puerto Rico officials has a long history of financial mismanagement and corruption. In 2016 legislation, Congress wrote that Puerto Ricos deficits, lack of financial transparency, inefficient management, and excessive borrowing had created a fiscal emergency. According to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, As a result of its fiscal emergency, the Government of Puerto Rico has been unable to provide its citizens with effective services. The United States Attorneys Office in Puerto Rico secured 375 public corruption convictions between 2008 and 2017. Just last year, a mayor and two other former local officials in Puerto Rico were indicted on separate charges related to the theft and misuse of Federal funds. In 1999, a Puerto Rico mayor was convicted of bribery and conspiracy in a kickback scheme related to hurricane recovery. Puerto Ricos former Speaker of the House was convicted of extortion and money laundering in 2003. Puerto Ricos electrical utility has been accused of overcharging locals more than $1 billion for their electricity in a scheme that included kickbacks. CONTINUED SUPPORT: The Trump Administration continues to work with Puerto Rico on a plan to spend the money that is currently available to it. Companies including Dick's Sporting Goods, Nike, and Lyft have elicited kudos and controversy for their political stances. But partisan antipathies are very high these days. (Perhaps you've noticed.) Should you speak out? We had two smart founders stake out their positions, one whose company is vocal on women's health issues, and a marketing expert who urges a more cautious approach. Won't politics alienate a big chunk of your customers? Jeff Knauss: When you take a stand, you can polarize the people who are actually keeping you in business. It could even be fatal for companies that have only a few clients or customers. Meika Hollender: From day one, we've said we give 10 percent of our profits to women's reproductive health organizations--primarily Planned Parenthood. Some people do abandon us, but we believe that issue builds a really strong consumer base. Should a company take a political stand when all employees may not agree? Knauss: We have 36 people at our agency. I don't feel it's right for the founder to say that everyone in the company believes x, y, z. I have a very diverse staff, and there are people who have opinions different from mine. Hollender: We developed Sustain around positions on women's reproductive health and their access to it. In terms of hiring, we're very straightforward: If you're not open to conversations about sex and sexual health, this is not going to be the right fit. Isn't there a risk of coming off as either inauthentic or opportunistic? Knauss: It's dangerous if the brand has not done a deep dive into its values. My theory is to protect the business no matter what so you can maintain the largest impact possible--by, say, growing and retaining jobs, and community service through nonprofits. Hollender: There are some businesses that identify with certain organizations because they think it will get them an extra 10 percent in sales. But I think consumers can tell when brands are doing that. Are there costs to staying silent? Knauss: There's a lot of pressure to get involved with local government--mayoral races, state senate campaigns--and half your clients want you to take one position and half want you to take another. Most causes that you feel pressure about are fleeting. There are more repercussions for taking a stand that you don't fully believe in than if you stay out of the fray. Hollender: Our whole team was shaken up about Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. If we'd said nothing, our customers would have noticed. Our position was, as a brand we support women and survivors. So we made a significant donation to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Advantage: Knauss Jewel Burks Solomon launched Partpic, a startup that makes it easier to find industrial parts, in 2013. She sold it to Amazon in 2016 for an undisclosed amount. Inc. spoke with her about starting the company, deciding to sell, and transitioning from owner to corporate employee. Where did the idea for Partpic come from? I started my career at Google in California, but after a couple of years there, I decided to move closer to home, to Atlanta. I got a job at McMaster-Carr, an industrial-parts distributor. We had thousands of parts, but I found working in customer service that people often didn't know what these parts were called or how to describe them. I thought there had to be a way to organize all the products so they could be searched easily. That led me to found Partpic, a way for customers to search for and order parts using computer-vision technology on their smartphone. Did you consider returning to Silicon Valley to start the company? Silicon Valley is not the be all and end all. When I was fundraising, potential investors told me I should move there, but I was firm about wanting to stay in Atlanta. In the end, we were able to go so much further with our money and take advantage of the incredible talent pool at Georgia Tech. When did you seek outside funding, and when did you decide to sell? We originally bootstrapped, and then we raised a $2 million seed round. We were trying to raise a second round but weren't happy with the conditions that investors wanted to set--I was worried about growing too fast and giving up too much control. Amazon came to us around that time and said it wanted to acquire us. We weren't looking to sell right at that point. But we had always thought about selling, and the offer was good, so we decided to do it. You stayed with Amazon after the sale. How tough was the transition from being a founder? Yesterday, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg issued an extraordinary public statement in which he apologized for the 346 lives lost in recent crashes of the company's 737 MAX aircraft -- in Indonesia and in Ethiopia. On behalf of Boeing, Muilenburg said, "All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognize the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished." In the statement, Muilenburg went on to discuss the preliminary report of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident investigation. According to Muilenburg, "it's apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information." This is the first time Boeing has publicly acknowledged that the malfunctioning MCAS led to the accidents. Now that the cause of the crashes has been pinpointed, Muilenburg believes that Boeing has the ability to fix it. In the statement, Muilenburg said, The history of our industry shows most accidents are caused by a chain of events. This again is the case here, and we know we can break one of those chain links in these two accidents. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it. Muilenburg is confident that the fix will prevent crashes of 737 MAX aircraft as a result of the faulty MCAS function. Said Muilenburg in the statement, This update, along with the associated training and additional educational materials that pilots want in the wake of these accidents, will eliminate the possibility of unintended MCAS activation and prevent an MCAS-related accident from ever happening again. It's no secret that aircraft manufacturer Boeing has been on the hot seat ever since the crashes of two of its 737 MAX aircraft. That seat just got a little hotter when earlier this week Boeing announced that fixes to its software would be delayed. In addition, a second software fix unrelated to the MCAS but critical to flight safety has been ordered by the FAA. Boeing said for the first time that an anti-stall system on its 737 Max model had played a role in two recent plane crashes https://t.co/vJGnj3MP5q pic.twitter.com/3Co6ep7S60 -- CNN International (@cnni) April 5, 2019 Lion Air Flight 610 -- a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft -- crashed on October 29, 2018, shortly after takeoff from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. All 189 passengers and crew died in the disaster. Then, on March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 -- another Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft -- crashed soon after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia. All 157 passengers and crew died in this latest disaster involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. After initially resisting calls to ground the Boeing 737 MAX, on March 13, 2019, the FAA did just that. And, a day later, Boeing suspended deliveries of the aircraft while it focused on determining the cause of the crashes and coming up with a fix. The cast of Marvels Avengers films are sending their best to their leader Robert Downey Jr on his birthday. The Iron Man star, who turns 54, has been celebrating in Los Angeles and his co-stars have come out in full force to send him well wishes. Gwyneth Paltrow kicked off the birthday love, while Thor: Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson sent him a video direct from their forthcoming film Men In Black: International. Captain America actor Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo who plays Hulk thanked the actor for his leadership and for carrying the Avengers franchise for the last 10 years. Chadwick Boseman, wholl return as Black Panther in Avengers: Endgame, also shared a birthday message for the actor on Twitter. saying: Impossible not to love this guy. Directors the Russo brothers praised him as the man while Jeremy Renner called him his brother in arms. The synopsis for Endgame reads: The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios grand conclusion to twenty-two films, Avengers: Endgame. While it doesnt reveal any details about specific plot points in the final Avengers film, it does heighten the excitement for what is sure to be one of the biggest events in the history of cinema and also promises the end of the Avengers as we know them. The film will be released in the UK on 25 April. Robert Pattinson may have signed up to star in the new film from Christopher Nolan, but he's only read the script once - and was locked in a room while doing so. The British actor, whose new film High Life will be released in the UK on 10 May, was recently confirmed to appear in the mysterious project alongside Elizabeth Debicki and BlacKkKlansman's John David Washington. Sources have described the film as a "massive, innovative, action blockbuster". Speaking to USA Today, Pattinson revealed the lengths that Warner Bros is going to in order to prevent spoilers from leaking. I got locked in a room to read the script I dont have it myself, Pattinson said. Ive been a little wary of doing big movies for years and years, but theres just something about Chris Nolans stuff. He seems like the only director now who can do what is essentially a very personal, independent movie that has huge scale. I read the script and its unreal. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Show all 47 1 /47 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination American Psycho (2000) Starring future Oscar-winner Christian Bale, Mary Harrons adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel in which the Vice star plays the psychopathic Patrick Bateman - didnt receive a single nomination. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Before Sunrise (1995) While the final two chapters of Richard Linklaters Before trilogy earned screenplay nominations, the film that introduced the world to future married couple Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) was criminally overlooked. Columbia Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Big Heat (1953) Fritz Lang had a number of films overlooked by the Academy; this noir, starring Glenn Ford, Lee Marvin and and Gloria Grahame, was one of them. Columbia Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Big Lebowski (1998) The Academys generosity to the Coen brothers peaked when No Country for Old Men beat There Will Be Blood in one of the ceremonys closest Best Picture races of all time. It remains surprising that one of their few films to evade any nominations is this endlessly quotable mistaken identity comedy starring Jeff Bridges as The Dude. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Blow Out (1981) Brian De Palma doesnt exactly make films in the hope of winning award, but his political thriller - based on Michelangelo Antonionis Blow Up would have deserved any Oscar it was nominated for. Filmways Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Breathless (1960) Breathless' failure to receive a nomination is proof that the Oscars cant be trusted. Despite being one of the most studied films in the world, Jean Luc-Godards French masterpiece has an Academy Award tally of zero. Films Around The World 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Bringing Up Baby (1938) The Academy rewarded many notable screwball comedies, though this Howard Hawks-directed standout starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn - whod go on to hold the record for most wins - wasn't one of them. Courtesy of BFI 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Don't Look Now (1973) Nicolas Roeg, who directed this Venice-set chiller, is one of the most unfairly overlooked directors in Oscars history. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Donnie Darko (2004) Richard Kellys science-fiction mind-bender, which made a star of Jake Gyllenhaal, was a festival favourite upon its debut in 2004. Many expected a screenplay nomination to manifest. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) It wouldnt be until the 1990s that western films found favour with the Academy. It was ironically thanks to Unforgiven, a film directed by Clint Eastwood whose career flourished after starring in this Sergio Leone film that many consider to be the genres peak. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination La haine (1995) Mathieu Kassovitzs black-and-white drama translated in English as Hate follows three young friends and their struggles living in the suburbs of Paris. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Halloween (1978) The Academy may not be frothing at the mouth to nominate horror films, but do have previous (see: The Exorcist and The Silence of the Lamb), which makes the absence of John Carpenters influential Halloween a glaring oversight. Aquarius Releasing 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Harold and Maude (1971) This offbeat romantic drama was a critical and commercial flop at the time of release, which probably accounts for its lack of Oscar nominations. Today, though, its cult following ensures it remains in good favour with film fans. Paramount Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Heat (1995) On paper, the big screen union of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Michael Manns cop drama was a shoo-in for awards, but no Oscar nominations manifested. Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination His Girl Friday (1940) Yet another Howard Hawks screwball comedy starring Cary Grant that criminally failed to secure a single Oscar nomination. L/Columbia/Koba/Rex/Shutterstock 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Insomnia (2002) While falling short of Christopher Nolans best, modest drama Insomnia made years before Batman Begins had enough strong performances (Al Pacino, Robin Wiliams, Hilary Swank) to warrant acting nominations. Alas, it received none. Warner Bros Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Local Hero (1983) Bill Forsyths beloved comedy-drama follows the mishaps of an American man sent to buy up a Scottish village where the oil company he works for wants to build a refinery. Forsyth won the Bafta for Best Director, but the film received no such love from the Academy. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination M (1931) Youd be mistaken for thinking the M stands for masterpiece in Fritz Langs German drama that follows the manhunt for a serial killer - not that the Academy agreed. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination A Man Escaped (1956) Robert Bressons adaptation of Andre Devignys memoirs charts the French Resistance members time as prisoner of the Germans during World War II, and is even more enthralling considering Bresson himself was held captive years before. Gaumont Film Company 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Margaret (2011) Kenneth Lonergan would go on to win an Oscar for Manchester but he Sea, but Margaret - his three-hour plus drama featuring a searing performance from Anna Paquin - failed to secure a single nomination. Fox Searchlight Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination In the Mood for Love (2000) Wong Kar-wai set the benchmark for romance in film with his acclaimed Hong Kong drama following a man and woman (Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung) who develop feelings for one another after suspecting their respective spouses of having an affair together. defd Deutscher Fernsehdienst 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The King of Comedy (1982) It may have taken him decades to win an Oscar, but the Academy has rarely balked at nominating Martin Scorsese films especially for films starring Robert De Niro. The King of Comedy was an exception. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Long Goodbye (1973) Robert Altmans superior thriller stars Elliott Gould as Raymond Chandlers private investigator Philip Marlowe in one of the directors most entertaining films. The director would go on to be the recipient of the Honorary Award in 2006. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Man With Two Brains (1983) He may have hosted several times, but Steve Martin has never been nominated for an Oscar. One film he deserved recognition for was Carl Reiner's 1983 sci-fi comedy, The Man with Two Brains. Warner Bros. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination A Matter of Life and Death (1946) The Academy Film Archive may have preserved A Matter of Life and Death in 1999, but voters failed to recognise the Powell & Pressburgers fantasy-romance at the time of its release in 1946. Eagle-Lion Films 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Mean Streets (1973) It may not be credited as his debut, but Mean Streets is very much the first true Martin Scorsese film. The director would go on to win a belated Oscar for The Departed in 2007, but hed have to wait until 1975 for his first nomination (Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore). Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Melancholia (2011) No Lars von Trier film has ever been nominated for Best Picture, though Dancer in the Dark came close (it settled for a Best Original Song nomination). He came close with Melancholia, but ultimately, the drama didn't get Canal+ 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Miller's Crossing (1990) Despite being revered as a Coen brothers favourite, not to mention its notable performances from Gabriel Byrne and Albert Finney, Millers Crossing is one of few Coen brother films not to receive a single Oscar nomination. 20th Century Fox 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Once Upon a Time in America (1984) Though it's by no means a masterpiece, its staggering to think that Sergio Leones gangster epic - starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci - didnt acquire any Oscar nominations (the film's music was disqualified from consideration after Warner Bros accidentally omitted the composer's name from the opening credits when trimming the films lengthy running time for its American release). Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Paterson (2016) Critics assumed Jim Jarmuschs Paterson would have been a shoo-in for awards recognition - most notably in the Best Actor category, thanks to a quietly fantastic performance from Adam Driver - but no such luck. Amazon Studios 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Paths of Glory (1957) Stanley Kubrick never won Best Director despite being nominated four times. One of his films that didnt make the Oscars cut in any category was his black-and-white anti-war film, Paths of Glory. United Artists 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Play Misty for Me (1971) Clint Eastwood would go onto become something of an Oscar darling thanks to Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby and Mystic River, but his directorial debut was ignored by the Academy. Univeral Pictures/Courtesy of Getty Images 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Reservoir Dogs (1992) Reservoir Dogs may not touch Quentin Tarantinos best, but it remains a surprise that the filmmakers debut didnt get recognised in the screenplay category, at least. Miramax Films 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Rider (2018) Of all the 2018 films to be snubbed at this years Oscars, Chloe Zhaos drama - which stars a real-life rodeo cowboy and his family - smacks as the most unfair. Sony Pictures Classics 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Searchers (1956) The role of Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards might be considered John Waynes best role, but the Academy didnt agree: he would win his sole Oscar for True Grit in 1970. Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Shining (1980) Another Kubrick film that was completely ignored by the Academy is the directors Stephen King adaptation, The Shining. Today, its considered one of his finest works as well as being one of the most revered horror films of all time. Warner Bros 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination The Shop Around the Corner (1953) It may have endured as one of the best loved romcoms of all time, but it has zero Oscar nominations to its name. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Still Walking (2008) Japanese director Hirokazo Kore-eda's portrait of a family over roughly 24 hours as they commemorate the death of the eldest son was a glaring oversight by the Academy. IFC Films 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Swingers Before he became Disney's go to, Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Jungle Book and the forthcoming live-action Lion King) wrote this independent film about the lives of single, unemployed actors living in Hollywood, California during the 1990s swing revival. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination This Is England (2006 The 2007 ceremony would have been far better had Shane Meadows' coming-of-drama been in contention for awards. Optimum Releasing 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Three Kings (1999) The Academy deemed Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle worthy of nominations, but not David O Russells Three Kings, which remains one of his greatest films to this day. Warner Bros Pictures 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Tokyo Story (1953) Tokyo Story is deemed Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu's masterpiece and was named Sight & Sound's best film of all time in 2012. Rex Features 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Touch of Evil (1958) Orson Welles' classic noir wasn't as well loved at the time of release as it is today. BFI 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Tyrannosaur (2011) Olivia Colman may be in contention for Best Actress at this years ceremony, but the fact she failed to earn a nomination (or Bafta, for that matter) for her role in Paddy Considines hard-hitting drama Tyrannosaur is one of the biggest oversights in awards history. StudioCanal UK 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Walkabout (1971) Another exceptional achievement in filmmaking from Nicolas Roeg that somehow failed to receive any Oscar nominations. 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination You Were Never Really Here (2018) Notch it down to bad timing, but Lynne Ramsays You Were Never Really Here - starring Joaquin Phoenix - is a sensational piece of work worthy of reward. Amazon Studio 47 brilliant films that didn't receive a single Oscar nomination Zodiac (2007) Three years later, David Fincher would go head-to-head with The King Speech's Tom Hooper for The Social Network. In truth, serial killer drama Zodiac is every bit as good as the Facebook drama. Warner Bros Pictures The film will start production this summer. Pattinson's other forthcoming credits include horror film The Lighthouse - a film whose shoot was so tough he "nearly punched" its director - and Netflix historical drama The King, in which he'll appear alongside Timothee Chalamet. Christopher Nolan's untitled new film will be released in July 2020. The first time I was described as middle-aged was in a comedy review when I was 37. I think the reviewer was in his twenties and I was complaining about parenthood so he put two and two together but I certainly didnt recognise myself by that description. Now Im 46 and the slur is well-aimed. My belly springs forward like a rottweiler smelling meat. The pigment leaves my hair by slow evaporation; I know the hair will follow, like a dandelion clock in the wind. My glands mix new cocktails: after a stressful day I can now smell like the 1970s care home of unkind caricature. Spectacles clarify text. I mellow, I pick my battles. I pick paint colours. To risk I grow averse, though the risks of inaction still carry slightly more dread, 52 to 48 say, a laughable margin. Im settling down. Lots of people are glum when they compare their newer tortoise selves to the hares they used to be. Allow me to cheer you up by pointing out the relative positives, courtesy of my kids and their biology homework. At the age of 45, my children insensitively informed me when I hit that medical milestone last year, we can, technically speaking, die of OLD AGE. Let that sink in for a moment! I could keel over right now and not inspire a coroners best work. Imagine his grunt the short grunt he would emit as he registered the timely death of a 46-year-old male. Would he even grunt? Perhaps if I caught him early enough in his career I could get a grunt out of him. Later and with more bodies under his belt he might downshift to a snort: a nasal exhalation slightly accelerated by expressive pressure, to mark the death of a clown. Theres the obituary of course but what kind of reading could it make? RIP Dan. He made some comedy audiences laugh, releasing endorphins, and some angry, which was good for their circulation. He filled his stomach and voided his bowel and tried not to throw away plastic. He drove his kids to that climate change march. He would have liked more notice of this audit. So I hope I am middle-aged, now that Death has snuck up behind me, brandishing his actuarial tables! But not just because doing my final accounts is as repellent a prospect as doing my accounts at any other time. I have places to go and people to see. I want to visit Mali, where that music I like is made. I want to visit America more, before all the gloss comes off it. I want to see my children have children and I want to see my children do a four-nappy change and laughingly refuse to help them while their infant prodigy adds surprise extra codas to its second movement. Of course, there are things I havent done and never will, like get super-buff or give up cheese. When Rick Astley sang Never Gonna Give You Up he might have been talking about me and cheese but there is still a lot to do. So I hope there is more. There should be: I got into the life expectancy market at a pretty good time, after a century of exponential advances in medicine and public health. A 45-year-old in the Britain of 1900 would have been well advised to have his affairs in order; but I will be surprised not to hit my mid-seventies, and my offspring can be confident of reaching 80, maybe 90 although I cant see them having their affairs in order, if their bedrooms are any predictor. Even the number of centenarians is becoming significant: there are more than 14,000 people in the UK older than the treaty of Versailles. The Queen must watch this mounting statistic with alarm; RSI is no joke when you are the one signing the birthday cards. By the time Prince George is on the throne, most of his time will be taken up congratulating centenarians for waking up that morning you can forget the ribbon-cutting for the new obstetrics wing. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 Show all 14 1 /14 The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 A young elephant seals looks shocked at his friends revelation in George Cathcart's "WTF?!", taken in San Simeon, California George Cathcart / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 A Green Turtle vs a Napoleon Maori Wrasse in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia Troy Mayne / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 Andrea Zampatti won the On The Land category with this precious snap in Italy Andrea Zampatti / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) mother with cub hitching a ride on mama's bum. Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, Canada Daisy Gilardini / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 A sea otter pictured cheering after sleep in early morning in Elkhorn Slough, California Penny Palmer / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 An owl struggles to keep his grip as his owl friends look the other way in Tibor Kercz's "Help!!!" in Opusztaszer, Hungary Tibor Kercz / CWPA / Barcroft Im The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 A red fox surveys his shot in Douglas Croft's "Must Have Three-Putted" Douglas Croft / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 Two mudskippers sing their hearts out on tidal mudflats, taken in Krabi, Thailand Daniel Trim / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 Jean-Jacques Alcalay was highly commended for his snap of a blue wildebeest appearing to ride a wave of hundreds of other wildebeest in Masai Mara, Kenya Jean-Jacques Alcalay/ Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 A wild rabbit seen collecting nesting material in Belgium Flanders, Bredene Olivier Colle / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 Three king penguins approach the only church on South Georgia Island appearing to be headed for services. Titled as Mom, do we always have to be the first ones at church? Carl Henry / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 The Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) tried to hide in the bush for a quick tryst, but they were surely caught in the act Bence Mate / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 A bunch of Widgeon pictured flying but one was seen flying exactly in front of a high airline plane, taken in Preston John Threlfall / CWPA / Barcroft The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017 These two monkeys broke away from their group to 'test drive' a motorbike parked near the entrance to the reserve in Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve, Indonesia Katy Laveck Foster / CWPA / Barcroft But does this movement at the top of the Longevity bell curve drag the other bell curves up with it? Are we middle-aged longer before the tricky last bit? Is life the same shape but stretched? It is not. We have indeed extended the healthy years, but not without also disproportionately extending the final chapter of sharp pain, dull discomfort and the bewildering unravelling of proficiency. Terror of non-existence is powerful, but we can look almost wistfully at those who left the party in full swing, while we watch the streamers go lank and the balloons deflate. The truth is that by design we werent supposed to hang around after genetic replication. Nature is clear: you breed, you die. You get eaten by worms, then by a fish then a king. You make a contribution. You dont hang around playing mah jong, you donate your body to the soil. Ageing is cheating! But if 80 is the new 45, then let us chortle as we cheat. And let us not outlive our capacity for enjoyment, but go at just the right time, by fire, after a last meal of popcorn kernels. And let us be middle-aged until that festive day. And let us go at least once to Mali and listen to the joyful music, drowning out natures petulant, nagging, gruesome, mundane cry: YOU OWE ME A CORPSE! Aviciis family have revealed plans to release a posthumous album by the Swedish DJ, a year after his death. At the time of Aviciis death on 20 April 2018, the musician real name Tim Bergling had almost completed a new album, according to a statement released by his family on Friday. He left behind a collection of nearly finished songs, along with notes, email conversations and text messages about the music, Aviciis relatives said. The songwriters that Tim was collaborating with on this album have continued the process to get as close to his vision as possible. The DJs family explained their decision not to keep his music locked away, but instead to share it with his fans all around the world. 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 Aviciis posthumous album, TIM, will thus be released on 6 June. A first single, titled SOS, is scheduled to come out on 10 April. The net proceeds from the album sales will benefit the non-profit Tim Bergling Foundation, launched by Aviciis family in his memory to serve several causes, including mental illness awareness and suicide prevention. For confidential support call Samaritans on 116 123. In the US call 1-800-273-8255 or chat online. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events If you have been affected by this story, you can contact the following organisations for support: https://www.mind.org.uk/ https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ The prime suspect in the killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle has been charged with his murder. Eric Holder is also facing two counts of attempted murder, after two other men were shot at the scene. The 29-year-old, who is set to appear in court, on Thursday, is yet to enter a plea. Los Angeles County prosecutors allege that Holder and Hussle, who knew each other, had several conversations on Sunday outside the rappers clothing store. They claim he then returned with a handgun and shot Hussle, who was later declared dead at a hospital, and wounded the two other men. If convicted, Holder faces life in prison. 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 Hussle, 33, was engaged to actress Lauren London, with whom he had a two-year-old son. He had another daughter from a previous relationship. The rapper had success in hip-hops inner circles for 10 years through his mixtapes, then released his first album with a major label last year. Victory Lap was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammys in February. The California State Senate adjourned in Hussles honour on Thursday. He was a manifestation, from my perspective, of the American dream, even the California dream, said Senator Holly Mitchell, a Democrat from Los Angeles. He represents a new generation of entertainer turned activist turned entrepreneur, she added, before noting the rappers activism on police brutality and gun violence. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Congresswoman Karen Bass said she planned to honour Hussle on the floor of the US House of Representatives. I will be heading to the House Floor next week to formally enter Nipsey Hussle's contributions to South Los Angeles into the Congressional Record where it will be a part of United States history forever, Ms Bass tweeted. Additional reporting by agencies In light of their apparent vested interest in the matter, we are confident that Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent Johnson will not object to providing their testimony under oath, Geragos wrote in the letter dated Thursday. Mr. Smolletts preference remains, however, that this matter be closed and that he be allowed to move on with his life. Seven environmental and human rights organisations are launching legal action against Shell for what they see as the companys inadequate efforts to tackle climate change. Friends of the Earth have been joined by Greenpeace and ActionAid, as well as 17,000 people who have signed up as co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The groups are calling for the oil giant to align its business with the goals of the Paris climate agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Their court summons will be submitted to the companys headquarters in The Hague, demanding that the company sets out plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The green groups point to analysis by the Carbon Disclosure Project that shows Shell is one of the 100 fossil fuel producers responsible for 71 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions since 1988. "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 Inaction on climate change from governments and businesses, is increasingly seeing citizens use the courts to call time on the destructive excesses of the fossil fuel industry and to force investment in sustainable energy, said Harjeet Singh, ActionAids global lead on climate change. Forcing companies like Shell to change their ways must be part of the transition to a low-carbon global economy. To accompany the launch of legal proceedings, ActionAid has examined the financing mechanisms that could be used to raise the $300bn (230bn) a year needed to repair the damage already being caused by climate change. They point to the devastation recently caused in south east Africa by Cyclone Idai. Scientists have predicted that tropical storms will become more powerful and destructive in the future as climate change progresses. Among the measures suggested by ActionAid was a climate damages tax applied to major oil, gas and coal companies. Our analysis shows that ending state subsidies for fossil fuels and introducing progressive taxes on fossil fuel companies, would provide the billions needed to adapt to and account for the harmful impacts of climate change, said Mr Singh. Responding to news of the lawsuit, a Shell spokesperson said: We agree that action is needed now on climate change, so we fully support the Paris agreement and the need for society to transition to a lower-carbon future. Were committed to playing our part, by addressing our own emissions and helping customers to reduce theirs. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events They pointed to the companys New Energies business, which they said had already invested billions of dollars in a range of low-carbon technologies, including biofuels, hydrogen and wind power, and electric vehicles. Addressing a challenge as big as climate change requires a truly collaborative, society-wide approach. We believe that smart policy from government, supported by inclusive action from businesses like ours and from civil society, is the best way to reach solutions and drive progress, they said. Tech giant Amazon is planning to set up a network of more than 3,000 satellites in order to provide a high-speed broadband internet service from space. In his latest space venture, Jeff Bezos plans to establish 3,236 satellites that will provide high-speed internet access to people around the world. In recent weeks, Amazon has been posting job adverts for the project, named Project Kuiper, after a part of the distant solar system believed to contain many comets, asteroids, and other small bodies. It was discovered by the late Dutch American astronomer Gerard Kuiper. Details of the plans were first reported by Geekwire, and based on filings with the International Telecommunications Union. The ITU oversees global telecom satellite operations and eventually will have to sign off on Kuipers constellation, the website reported. Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world, Amazon said in a statement. Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres Show all 15 1 /15 Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres One of Britain's largest centres in Dunfermline, Fife PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Peterborough AFP/Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Hemel Hempstead PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Tracy, California Reuters Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Boves, France AFP/Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Swansea PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Madrid Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Swansea PA Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Hemel Hempstead Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Hemel Hempstead Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres 'Amazon Jobs Day', a job fair, at the centre in Robbinsville, New Jersey Getty Inside the Amazon Fulfilment Centres The centre in Boves, France Reuters This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision. Mr Bezos is already spending $1bn on his Blue Origin space project, something on which he is cooperating with the US military. CNBC said Amazon was joining several other major players already seeking to provide the next-generation broadband service from space. Amazon rolls out Scout delivery robot Elon Musks SpaceX launched two test satellites for its Starlink network last year, the first step towards its goal of a constellation of 4,425 satellites. Last month, Softbank-backed OneWeb launched the first six satellites of its network, which the company plans to grow into a constellation of 650 interconnected satellites. Seattle-based Boeing, and Canadian operator Telesat, have also revealed plans for high speed internet constellations. The news came on the day that details emerged about Mr Bezos divorce settlement with MacKenzie Bezos, an arrangement that will give her $35bn and make her the third richest woman in the world. This year marks 50 years since the Equal Pay Act received royal assent in the UK, meaning employers were prohibited from paying women less than men for the same job. Although unequal pay is now illegal, the gender pay gap the percentage difference between the average hourly earnings for men and women persists. The government now requires British companies with more than 250 employees to publish their gender pay gap data, but this will not happen in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite efforts and campaigns by womens rights groups to close the gap, the results for 2019 found that it had widened in favour of men, with 78 per cent of the biggest companies in Britain reporting a gap. Confusions surrounding the pay gap are rife, however, with many conflating it with equal pay and others denying its existence completely. Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Show all 30 1 /30 Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin AFP/Getty Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures New York Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Washington Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures New York Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London EPA Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Washington REUTERS Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures New York Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin AFP/Getty Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Washington Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures New York AFP/Getty Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Washington REUTERS Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Washington Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin Getty Images Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin Getty Images Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin EPA Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin EPA Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Reuters Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin Getty Images Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures Berlin EPA Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Women's march 2019 global protest in pictures London Angela Christofilou/The Independent Read on for everything you need to know about the gender pay gap, from what causes it to how to find out whether theres one at your company. What is the gender pay gap? The gender pay gap is the average difference between hourly wages for men and women. Since changes to the Equality Act came into force in April 2017, companies with more than 250 employees have been legally required to report their gender pay gap figures by the end of the financial year. Organisations must also reveal the proportion of men and women who receive financial bonuses. The deadline for this is 30 March for public bodies and 4 April for private companies. But this was suspended in 2020 because of coronavirus. In December 2018, the World Economic Forum reported that it will take 202 years to close the gap. What is equal pay? The gender pay gap isnt the same as equal pay. Unequal pay is when women are paid less than men for doing the exact same work. Equal pay has been a legal requirement since the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970. Despite this, pay discrimination remains rife, explains Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society. We know from our equal pay advice service that it is still happening, Smethers explains. Gender pay gap reporting does not give women the information they need to challenge unequal pay. For that, they need to know what their colleagues earn. Most employers say they dont have an issue but unless they have conducted an audit and set up a transparent pay framework, how would they know for sure? How is the gender pay gap calculated? Companies must report their gender pay gap in terms of six figures, explains Dr Jana Javornik of Leeds University Business School. These include: mean gender pay gap, median gender pay gap, mean bonus gender pay gap, median bonus gender pay gap, proportion of males and females receiving a bonus payment, and proportion of males and females in each quartile band. The mean gender pay gap is an average. Its calculated by adding up the wages of all male and female employees and dividing it by the number of employees. The pay gap is the difference between the mean figures for men and women, which is reported as a percentage. Recommended Women in Berlin to receive public transport discount The median gender pay gap is calculated by listing all male and female employees wages from highest to lowest and comparing the number that sits in the middle for each gender. The difference in salary between those two people is the pay gap figure. This doesnt account for age, previous experience or differences in job roles, but its still viewed as the most representative calculation, given that the mean gender pay gap figures can be skewed if there are some particularly highly paid employees. Hence, the median gender pay gap is the figure that is more widely reported. Companies also need to provide a written statement confirming that the calculations are accurate, Javornik tells The Independent. This must be signed by a senior employee, such as a director or chief executive, and provide a narrative that will help people to understand their view of why a gender pay gap is present and what the organisation intends to do to close it. This then needs to be published somewhere accessible on their own website and placed on a designated government website. How can you find out the gender pay gap at your company? If you work for a company with more than 250 workers, you can find out its gender pay gap on the Government Equalities Office website. Companies employing fewer people than this are not legally required to report their gender pay gaps, but some smaller firms have started to do so in the name of transparency. You can find out if your company is reporting its gender pay gap by asking someone in your human resources department. What causes the gender pay gap? A gender pay gap can be caused by a multitude of things, such as having fewer women in senior or more high-earning roles or more women working part-time. Everyone is legally entitled to equal pay for equal work, but there may be a range of factors behind pay gaps and it doesnt necessarily mean that unlawful discrimination is happening, explains a spokesperson for the EHRC. The gender pay gap explained While the cause of a pay gap can differ between companies, publishing and monitoring pay gaps can help employers identify reasons for their gap and should help them develop action plans to tackle the causes, the spokesperson tells The Independent. For example, if women are mainly at lower-paid levels in the organisation, the employer might want to develop a positive action plan to encourage and support women to apply for more senior roles, they suggest. Or if women are more likely to work part-time because of childcare responsibilities, the employer might want to review their flexible working policies and ensure that part-time work and flexible work is available at all levels of the organisation. What social elements contribute towards the gender pay gap? Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for the Womens Equality Party adds that the seeds of the gender pay gap are sown from a young age. Our education system continues to influence gender norms that lead girls into lower paying jobs that are less valued, they explain. Dr Julie Davies of the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School concurs that the roots of the gender pay gap are formed early on, telling The Independent: This happens when women dont negotiate their salary in their first role due to societal pressures, and so there is a cumulative effect as they move from one job to another. Often women dont ask for more money and are just grateful to be offered a job. What is the motherhood gap? Also known as the motherhood penalty, the motherhood gap refers to the disadvantages that many women face in the workplace after having children. Many new mothers may need to work part-time to accommodate for childcare, for example, which means they might earn less and be at a disadvantage when it comes to progressing compared with their male colleagues. As outlined in a report published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 2019, many new mothers may choose to work closer to home, which can reduce their job opportunities and give them less access to productive, high-paying firms. This has been proven by research into average commuting times among women, which typically fall after childbirth, the IFS report states. Offering all jobs as flexible would remove the barriers faced by women who are more likely to have to negotiate flexible working or accept part-time jobs that are often low-paid, explains the EHRC spokesperson. Creating workplaces with flexible cultures will increase opportunities for everyone, giving people greater choice about the role they play both at work and at home. Encouraging men and women to share childcare responsibilities by making paternity leave a more enticing incentive will also help rectify the balance, they add. How can we close the gender pay gap? The EHRC website outlines its strategy for closing the pay gap. Its main recommendations are as follows: Address differences in subject and career choices, educational attainment and access to apprenticeships; Improve work opportunities for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, by investing in sector-specific training and regional enterprise; Encourage men and women to share childcare responsibilities by making paternity leave a more effective incentive and improving access to childcare; Increase diversity at all levels and in all sectors by encouraging employers to tackle bias in recruitment, promotion and pay, and introducing a new national target for senior and executive management positions; Report on progress towards reducing pay gaps by extending reporting to ethnicity and disability, and collecting annual statistics. Alexandra Anders, talent director at human capital management software company Cornerstone OnDemand, explains that closing the gender pay gap is primarily about building and maintaining a more diverse workforce. Theres work to be done with training managers who may have previously worked in a male-dominated team, Anders tells The Independent. From a leaders perspective, when you bring a diverse set of people together you must be clear how you want to be as a company. Yes, there will be local laws and cultural aspects that individuals in your organisation hold dear, but you must set the laws as a company and what it means to be at your organisation. And for many organisations, this means moving away from behaviours that stifle diversity. Anders added that companies have a responsibility when it comes to tolerating incidents that will widen their gender pay gap. For example, if you have a male candidate who asks for 90,000 per year and a woman who asks for 40,000 per year, but both of them are happy with those respective salaries should your company accept that? If you do, there will always be a pay gap between those two people as they work and grow, so its better to review the appropriate pay for that job function and level. Itll pay off in the long term and lead to better retention rates. Financial journalist and author of Money: A Users Guide, Laura Whateley, adds that implementing shared parental leave is key if we are to combat the gender pay gap. Many companies still offer women more generous maternity packages than they do shared parental leave packages for men, so it makes more sense for the woman to take time off for childcare, she tells The Independent. But this has a knock-on effect on other things, too, like womens pensions. The gender pension gap is even bigger than the gender pay gap because money that women dont pay into their pensions while theyre off work caring for children, or while they are earning less to begin with, compounds over time. Donald Trump received some good news on the economy as the US jobs market rebounded in March. Employers added 196,000 jobs in the month up sharply from a meagre gain of 33,000 in February. The latest figures indicate that Februarys unexpectedly poor showing was a blip rather than a worrying sign of a slowdown, as some analysts had feared. Unemployment remained at 3.8 per cent, close to its lowest level in 50 years, while wage growth slowed marginally. Average hourly pay increased 3.2 per cent from a year earlier down from Februarys gain of 3.4 per cent. The US president still faces a number of economic challenges however, not least the negative impact of his trade war with China on many American firms. Consumers also remain cautious, business investment is slowing and the effects of Mr Trumps $1.5 trillion (1.2 trillion) tax cut for businesses and wealthy individuals are wearing off. 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 Mr Trump said on Thursday that US trade negotiators had agreed a lot of the most difficult points on a deal with China but that we have some ways to go. The worlds two largest economies have imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each others goods over the past year. This is an epic deal, historic if it happens, said Mr Trump. This is the Grand Daddy of them all and well see if it happens. Its got a very good chance of happening. US economic growth slowed sharply in the last three months of 2018 to just 2.2 per cent from 2.6 per cent. The adjustment came after consumer spending, business investment, government spending and housebuilding all came in lower than had previously been predicted. The Federal Reserve has also downgraded its growth forecast for this year to 2.1 per cent, significantly lower than the 3.2 per cent growth forecast by the White House. During his State of the Union address in February, Mr Trump received a standing ovation from Republicans when he said: The US economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world. Not even close. Breast implants banned this week in France because of their cancer risk will continue to be sold in the UK, the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has confirmed. The macro-textured and polyurethane breast implants for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery will be banned from Friday, France's National Agency for Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has ruled. It said they came with a slight risk of developing a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But there will be no change in the UK, where the macro-textured and polyurethane implants are used for both private and NHS patients. I think womens health is a much bigger priority in France, said Jan Spivey, co-founder of the PIP Action Campaign which campaigns against unsafe breast implants. She criticised the MHRA of regulatory capture, which she called a form of corruption where it sides with the manufacturers over and above the interests of the people it is intended to protect. NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Show all 18 1 /18 NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, addresses demonstrators following the march AFP/Getty NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary EPA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary Reuters NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary EPA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary PA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary REUTERS NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary PA NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images NHS at 70: demonstration and celebration march to mark anniversary AFP/Getty Images But the MHRA defended its decision to allow manufactures to sell all types of textured implants in the UK. Based on our analysis of the latest scientific evidence and expert clinical advice our advice remains the same," a spokesperson said. "There is no new evidence of an increased risk to patients and there is no need for people with breast implants to have them removed. However, Ms Spivey accused the MHRA of failing to listen to concerns in the same way it ignored doctors initial complaints about PIP implants. The implants, which were prone to splitting due to unapproved silicone gel, were discontinued globally after the manufacturer went into liquidation the same day ANSMs predecessor removed them from circulation. A 2012 government review into the PIP breast implant scandal found MHRA, as the UK regulator, had acted appropriately and followed scientific and clinical advice. UK Health Minister Lord Howe was clear that this case was one of deliberate fraud by the PIP manufacturer which purposefully misled European regulators. However, the 2012 report said the MHRA must be able to obtain evidence from a wider and more detailed set of sources, having relied upon data provided by a fraudulent manufacturer as it was acting in good faith. The French medical and healthcare watchdog said the ban will reduce the risk of women being exposed to anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is a rare but serious risk. Because the risk is still very low, there is no recommendation that women with these implants get them removed. Less than 30 per cent of breast implants sold in France are macro-textured or polyurethane, an ANSM director, Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, told the Agence France-Presse news agency. The ANSM has been investigating the link between breast implants and this rare form of cancer from 2011. Since then, there have been 59 cases of breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) reported. Several of these women have died. The study found that the texturing of some polyurethane and macro-textured implants increase the risk of the rare lymphoma. It is thought the rough surface texture may trigger ALCL. Smooth breast implants are recommended by ANSM for those considering breast augmentation or reconstructive surgery. In December 2018, Allergan textured implants were suspended from the European market when they lost their certification, following advice from the ANSM. Health Canada also announced on Thursday it was also suspending Allergans breast implant license as part of a safety review. Lots of woman with faulty PIP implants in both France and the UK were offered Allergan textured implants as replacements. There are currently no banned breast implants in the UK, according to the MHRA Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The chair of the Independent Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Expert Advisory Group (PRASEAG) said: There is no need for people with breast implants in the UK to have them removed because there is no new evidence that the risk has changed. The situation will be reviewed regularly by the MHRA. The PRASEAG advises people worried about breast implants to see their GP or surgeon, especially if they notice swelling around the implant more than six months after surgery. Janet Jagan was white, Jewish and from Chicago, but for two years she served as president of Guyana, a Caribbean country on the mainland of South America deeply divided between communities of Indian and African origin. She was training as a nurse in her home town when she met Cheddi Jagan, a dental student whose parents had been brought from India as indentured labourers to work on a sugar plantation in what was then British Guiana, and the future course of her life was set. The couple married in August 1943, and Janet is generally held to have exercised a decisive influence on her husbands political development, steering him towards the Marxist left. But she always dismissed as a racist myth, put about by the British, any suggestion that she was the real driving force behind Cheddi Jagans career, which eventually took him to the leadership of his country. Janet Rosalie Rosenberg was born into a middle-class family in Chicago in 1920. She attended several universities, dabbling in physics and bacteriology, before enrolling in the Cook County School of Nursing but she did not complete that course, either. The politics of British Guiana/Guyana was to become her overriding interest. The young couple moved to Cheddi Jagans homeland in December 1943, to the dismay of Janets parents, and for the next 10 years she worked as a dental nurse in her husbands clinic. At the same time they both became deeply involved in left-wing political and union activities, joining the colonys first-ever trade union and founding the Political Affairs Committee, which in 1950 became the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), uniting the East Indian and black communities in the demand for independence from Britain. Janet Jagan served as PPP general secretary without a break until 1970. In 1950 she became the first woman to be elected to Georgetown city council, and three years later she was one of the first three women to win a parliamentary seat, as member for Essequibo, when the PPP won the first elections held under universal adult suffrage. But this was at the height of the Cold War, and the colonial power was unnerved by the Jagans radicalism. Prompted by a nervous US administration, London suspended the constitution in October 1953 and dismissed the government, on the grounds that the country was in danger of falling into communist hands. This obituary as it appeared on 1 April 2009 (Independent) Janet Jagan was jailed for six months in 1954, on civil disobedience charges, and was confined to the Georgetown area for two years after her release. This meant she was unable to return to Chicago to visit her dying father. After the PPP was returned to office in the 1957 elections, and she resumed her Essequibo seat, she served as minister of labour, health and housing, and later home affairs. But by that time the PPP had split along racial lines, and one of the partys founders, Forbes Burnham, a London-trained black barrister, led a breakaway to form the Peoples National Congress (PNC). Ethnic political divisions continue in Guyana to this day. With her husband Cheddi Jagan in Georgetown in 1953 (Getty) The PNC, with discreet backing from Britain, took the colony to independence in 1966, and the PPP was firmly excluded from power until 1992. The PNC rigged election after election, and turned the country into a virtually one-party cooperative republic, with Burnham serving as executive president from 1980. But the Jagans political will never wavered, and Janet turned her formidable energies to everything from organising female domestic workers to editing the PPPs publications, the Mirror newspaper and the quarterly Thunder a post she still held at the time of her death. She was a PPP member of parliament from 1973 to 1997. In 1992 Cheddi Jagan finally achieved his lifelong ambition to become president of Guyana, in what were arguably the countrys first free elections since independence. But it was a very different world by then. Jagan decided to continue the free-market policies introduced by his PNC predecessor, Desmond Hoyte (Burnham had died in 1985), and Guyana enjoyed a high growth rate for most of the 1990s. Janet Jagan had a pragmatic explanation for this policy reversal. We faced the realities and decided our job was to create a national state based on democracy and the improvement of peoples lives. On the death of her husband in March 1997, Janet Jagan honoured his last wish and took over as prime minister and first vice president. She then led the PPP-Civic alliance to victory in the general elections of 1997, becoming the first democratically elected female president in South America at the age of 77. The 1997 elections were highly controversial, and the disgruntled PNC opposition, alleging massive fraud, attempted unsuccessfully to prevent her from being sworn in. Her years in office were marked by continuing political unrest, including a long strike by public sector workers that almost brought the country to its knees. In August 1999, after she had suffered a mild heart attack, President Jagan resigned and was replaced by her former finance minister, Bharrat Jagdeo. In her later years Comrade Janet wrote childrens stories, including When Grandpa Cheddi was a Boy and Other Stories (1993), Patricia the Baby Manatee (1995) and Anastasia the Anteater (1997). She also became a noted patron of the arts, helping to found the National Art Gallery in Georgetown. Janet Rosalie Rosenberg, politician, born Chicago 20 October 1920, died Georgetown, Guyana 28 March 2009 A man has been charged after a series of knife attacks in Edmonton, north London. Jason Kakaire was charged on Friday with five counts of attempted murder. A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said officers were not seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation. The five attacks occurred between 30 March and 2 April and left one victim fighting for his life, with two others facing potentially life-changing injuries. Officers earlier said the victims were approached from behind and stabbed, describing the attacks as seemingly senseless and very unprovoked. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events At least one local school was reported to have initiated a lockdown procedure following the attacks. Mr Kakaire will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court later on Friday. The jury hearing inquests into the deaths of the 21 people killed in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings has found the victims were unlawfully killed in an IRA terror attack. The verdict prompted relatives of the victims to demand that those responsible for the bombings who are still alive be prosecuted for murder. In its verdict, the jury also said that a botched warning call by the republican paramilitary organisation, which carried out the attacks, further caused or contributed to the 21 deaths. The 11 jurors unanimously determined that the inadequate warning call cost stretched police vital minutes. The hearings were held as Article 2 inquests, examining whether the British state or its agents failed to adequately protect the victims. The jurors found there was not sufficient evidence of any failings, errors or omissions in the way West Midlands Police responded to the warning call, or in regards to the handling of two alleged tip-offs which were claimed to have given the force earlier warning of the blasts. Qualifying the jury findings in relation to the polices response, the foreman told the court: The decision was based on the balance of the evidence provided. Coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC had directed the jurors to find that the victims were unlawfully killed. But they were also told to answer specific questions, including about the adequacy of the coded bomb warning given by the attackers, the polices response to the call, and whether the authorities were tipped off about the bombings. Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures Show all 9 1 /9 Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures Firefighters search through debris following a bombing in a pub in Birmingham on 21 November 1974 PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures A man badly injured in the bombing is taken in an ambulance PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures Rescure workers carry a victim's body away from the scene of one of the bombings in Birmingham PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures Firefighters work at the scene of a bombing in a pub in Birmingham on 21 November 1974 PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures Two bodies lie in debris the day after the Birmingham pub bombings PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures The Birmingham Six - the group of men who were falsely convicted of carrying out the pub bombings and jailed until 1991. From top left to right: William Power, Hugh Callaghan, John Walker, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny and PJ Hill PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures The exterior of The Mulberry Bush pub the day after the IRA bombing PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures The exterior of The Mulberry Bush pub the day after the IRA bombing PA Birmingham pub bombings remembered: in pictures The interior of The Mulberry Bush pub after the bombing PA On the night of 21 November 1974, two massive explosions caused what one witness described as pure carnage, ripping apart the packed Tavern in the Town and Mulberry Bush pubs in Birmingham, killing 21 people and injuring 220 others. A third bomb planted at Barclays Bank in Hagley Road, a mile away, failed to go off. After the verdicts were delivered, Sir Peter, the former chief coroner for England and Wales, said: The atrocities of the night of Thursday 21 November 1974 are now etched in the history of Birmingham. Those dreadful events will never be forgotten because the people of Birmingham will never forget the 21 lives that were tragically lost. Recommended All you need to know about the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings The evidence during the six-week inquest included testimony from a convicted ex-IRA bomber, the police on duty that night, rescuers and survivors. There was a dramatic twist towards the end of evidence at the hearings, when a former IRA member named four people he claimed were involved in the bombings. The man, identified in court only as Witness O, said he had been authorised to give the four names by the current head of the IRA in Dublin. Mick Murray, who died in 1999, is said to have called in the bomb warning at 8.11pm to newspaper telephonist Ian Cropper, giving the code word Double X. However, jurors heard that the warning had only given the locations as the landmark Rotunda building and the nearby tax office in New Street, making no mention of pubs. One witness said the Birmingham pub bombings produced pure carnage (PA) In his evidence to the inquests, the then IRA head of intelligence in Ireland, Kieran Conway, described the victims deaths as accidental, in an IRA operation that went badly wrong. Jurors heard that Birmingham city centre had been denuded of police after officers were pulled away to bolster security for IRA bomber James McDades funeral procession in Coventry. There were just 15 officers covering the whole of the city centre. One of the first on the scene, retired PC Derek Bradbury, said: We were told it was the Rotunda, and he and colleagues first thought had been to clear the office block. There was no evacuation of the Mulberry Bush pub, located around the side of the Rotundas base, where eight people died. Nor was there any attempt to clear the surrounding area, or cordon off the street, which was still open to traffic. Best friends Neil Tommy Marsh, 16, and Paul Davies, 17, two of the youngest victims that night, were right outside the Mulberry Bush when the bomb went off, while a double-decker bus full of passengers was peppered with shrapnel from the blast. PC Bradbury said a perimeter would have been a brilliant idea if you had the numbers, but there were not enough officers sent to the scene to do it. The inquests also heard evidence of possible forewarnings of the bombings, including a conversation about a forthcoming attack between IRA inmates allegedly overheard in prison, and another in a pub where a customer heard men with Irish accents discussing bangs. Ex-IRA man Witness O also claimed that, while still a prisoner, he told detectives soon after the bombings that Seamus McLoughlin had planned the attacks, but he heard nothing more. McLoughlin died in 2014. Former MP Chris Mullin, meanwhile, was called a disgrace by Julie Hambleton, the sister of one victim, when he refused to name any of the still-living bombers during his evidence. Jurors also heard that key evidence is missing or was never collected. The third unexploded bomb has been misplaced and West Midlands Polices force control room call tapes from the night were recorded over. Jayne Hambleton (left), Julie Hambleton and Brian Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the bombings, arrive for the first day of the inquest (Getty) (Getty Images) Only limited written records still exist of the polices response on the night, including just three 999 logs, despite witness statements referring to numerous calls being made. CCTV from the lobby of the Rotunda, which may have shown the bombers passing by, was never collected or even viewed by police, according to evidence from the former building manager. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The inquests, which were held at the civil courts building in Birmingham, came about after years of campaigning by relatives of the dead for a full account into the circumstances of what happened that night. The pub bombings were the deadliest post-Second World War attack on the British mainland, until the 7/7 London terrorist attacks in 2005. A botched investigation by West Midlands Police led to the 1975 convictions of the Birmingham Six, but their convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1991. Julie Hambleton, who lost her older sister Maxine in the bombings, said before the hearings that bereaved families wanted truth, justice and accountability. Speaking on behalf of relatives after the verdict, she called for those responsible for the bombings who were still alive to be prosecuted. Birmingham Six outside the Old Bailey in London, with Chris Mullen MP (centre), after their convictions were quashed: (left to right) John Walker, Paddy Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter and William Power (PA) Ms Hambleton said: Today is the day for West Midlands Polices senior officers, Dave Thompson the chief constable we now put it in his court, the Gardas court in Ireland, and also at the PSNIs door for them to go ahead and prosecute those who remain living, to charge them with murder. Twenty-one of our loved ones went out one evening to meet friends and family and they never saw the light of day again. Today the inquest has found they were unlawfully killed. Speaking later, Dave Thompson, chief constable of West Midlands Police, described the pursuit of any suspects in connection with the bombings as a very active investigation. Asked if, as was suggested in the inquest, the Good Friday Agreement had blocked any realistic prospect of bringing the killers to justice, he said it would not prevent that process. He said: This is simply about the evidence. The criminal investigation will take the direction it is going to take. We will bring people to justice within our ability to do that. I dont see anything in terms of any political arrangement that prevents us carrying out that enquiry. JK Rowlings former personal assistant has been ordered to repay 18,734 to the Harry Potter author after she was found to have fraudulently used her credit card to buy toiletries and foreign currency. Amanda Donaldson spent more than 3,000 in Molton Brown, 2,139 in the Paper Tiger card shop and more than 1,619 in Starbucks and Costa coffee shops without authorisation, Airdrie Sheriff Court in Scotland heard. She was also found to have fraudulently obtained 7,742 of foreign currency, more than 1,500 in cash and Harry Potter merchandise worth 3,213. Rowling, sought damages against Donaldson, who worked as her personal assistant from February 2014 until her dismissal in April 2017, in a civil case brought under her married name Joanne Murray. Sheriff Derek OCarroll found Ms Donaldson had use of a business credit card in her name but knew and understood it was not to be used for her personal benefit. Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Show all 16 1 /16 Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Oliver Phelps and James Phelps in the Lestrange Vault PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The bank also features goblin tellers' desks PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis, the actor who played Griphook, at the opening of the new Gringotts Wizarding Bank PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Oliver Phelps and James Phelps, the actors who played the Weasley twins, in the great banking hall PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis in the Lestrange Vault PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis poses with gold galleons PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis poses with gold galleons inside Gringotts PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The newest attraction will open 6 April PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The attraction is 16,500sqft PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The main banking hall features three crystal chandeliers PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The prosthetics used for the goblins will be on display in the new attraction PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Warwick Davis at the opening of the new Gringotts Wizarding Bank PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank Visitors will be able to peer inside the Lestrange Vault PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The main banking hall is finished with real brass leaf PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The Lestrange Vault houses the Sword of Gryffindor PA Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour London: Gringotts Wizarding Bank The Weasley twins celebrate the opening of the new Gringotts Wizarding Bank PA He described the 3,629 expenditure on Molton Brown toiletries as extraordinary. In evidence, the author said she did not ask Ms Donaldson to buy them. It emerged during the hearing that Donaldson had used the business credit card to make unauthorised cash withdrawals for her own use on a number of occasions, amounting to a total of 1,160. Unauthorised purchases for her own use in a large number of retail outlets amounted to a total of 9,832. She also used her employers bank accounts to purchase foreign currency worth the Sterling equivalent of 7,742. Amanda Donaldson, former personal assistant of JK Rowling, who has been ordered to repay 18,734 to the Harry Potter author after ruling she obtained the money fraudulently (PA) At an earlier hearing, Ms Donaldson said her husband was allergic to strong perfumes so she would never buy them for home or office use. Giving final submissions on the case in January, Allana Turley, representing Ms Donaldson, said her client never intended to deceive her employer and believed she was authorised to use the card in the way in which she did. But Sheriff said he did not find Ms Donaldson to be either credible or reliable. Totting up the amount, he found Ms Donaldson obtained 18,734 through fraud and ordered her to pay it back with interest. However, he found there was not enough evidence to prove that Ms Donaldson was responsible for Harry Potter merchandise going missing. The sheriff said he found Rowling gave her evidence in a thoughtful, considered, measured, accurate, honest and reliable fashion and that where there was in her mind any doubt in favour of the Ms Donaldson, she readily gave her the benefit of that doubt. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The author said the money he awarded would be donated to her charity Lumos, which helps children in orphanages and institutions around the world. In a statement, she added that she made it clear that the decision to take this matter to court was a last resort and not for her personal benefit but rather to protect the reputation of her existing staff and to make sure Ms Donaldson is not in a position to breach the trust of another employer. Additional reporting by Press Association Brexit is on course to be delayed until next year, the attorney general has warned, as cross-party talks to end the crisis remained deadlocked. Geoffrey Cox risked blowing apart the fragile cabinet truce over an Article 50 extension by suggesting it would be more than just a few weeks or months unless Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn strike a deal. The prime minister is still clinging to the hope of carrying out EU withdrawal by 22 May, but Mr Cox acknowledged that hope was fading before a crunch summit of EU leaders next Wednesday. The problem then would be that we would be in an extension. Its likely to be a long one, by which I mean longer than just a few weeks or months, he said. Asked, by the BBCs Nick Robinson for his Political Thinking podcast, if he meant more than a year as some EU leaders have suggested Mr Cox said the EU held all the cards. 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 The prime minister would have little choice but to accept the extension that shes offered, he replied. Senior Tories have said any long extension requiring the UK to take part in next months European parliament elections would see Ms May forced out of No 10 and a Tory leadership election, with a hard Brexiteer likely to succeed her. Mr Coxs warning came after Ms May was forced to abandon plans to ask MPs to vote next Monday on a joint Brexit plan she is attempting to draw up with Labour. Recommended Angela Merkel likens Brexit Irish border question to Iron Curtain The two parties met for four and a half hours at the Cabinet Office, but without announcing any progress and No 10 was only able to express hope of further meetings on Friday. Labour has protested that the prime minister has failed to shift on her red lines, such as its demand for a permanent customs union. There are no plans for Ms May and Mr Corbyn to meet again. The earliest any vote can be held is now Tuesday the date by which the UK must inform the EU of the Article 50 extension it is seeking and the purpose of it. Amid the impasse, parliament descended into more farce when MPs were sent home two hours early after a major leak in the roof forced the chamber to be closed. The early finish briefly appeared to have prevented the government tabling a motion for a vote on Monday but the prime ministers spokesperson admitted it was not ready to make the move anyway. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The backup plan is to give MPs a choice of various Brexit options, in further indicative votes, but they are unlikely to be more successful than the ones staged last Monday. In the interview, Mr Cox insisted Ms May was flexible about a customs union, but added, confusingly: Were talking about a negotiating mandate, not signing up to one. He responded to Philip Hammonds suggestion that a Final Say referendum is a credible option by stressing the governments opposition, but said: Of course we will consider any suggestion thats made. The attorney general also urged his party to make concessions to secure withdrawal, saying: Conservatives have always known when to make a compromise. And, asked if he would accept Mr Corbyn being the midwife of Brexit, he replied: So be it. What matters is that this is born. However, neither party was able to strike a positive note, after David Lidington, the de facto deputy prime minister, Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, chief whip Julian Smith and Greg Clark, the business secretary, met Labours shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary. A No 10 spokesman said: The government and the opposition hope to meet again tomorrow for further work to find a way forward to deliver on the referendum, mindful of the need to make progress ahead of the forthcoming European Council. And a Labour spokesman said: These talks are continuing and the teams are planning to meet again. Meanwhile, both parties splits over a second referendum were laid bare, health secretary Matt Hancock slapping down the chancellor for floating the prospect. On the Labour side, pro-EU MPs protested at Mr Corbyns refusal to accept the resignation of the party chair Ian Lavery for defying an order to back a public vote but 25 backbenchers wrote a letter urging their leader to reject the idea. *Lisa Schneider-Fabes will be the transition manager. Schneider-Fabes also was on the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force. She also worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and at Chicago Public Schools where, according to a news release from Lightfoots team, she worked on special projects for the CPS CEO and chief education officer, focusing on the quality and experience of teachers and principals. In addition to crime, Lightfoot vowed on the campaign trail to improve the quality of neighborhood schools. Theresa May has written to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, to ask the EU for a further delay to Brexit until 30 June. The prime minister said she was still hopeful of leaving the bloc earlier and asked for the UK to be able to exit as soon as possible if a withdrawal deal is approved by parliament. She had been expected to request a longer delay but faced heavy pressure from pro-Brexit cabinet ministers to seek only a short extension. The UK is currently due to leave the bloc on 12 April but Ms May was forced to ask for another delay after MPs voted down her proposed withdrawal agreement three times. She will travel to Brussels on 10 April for an emergency European Council meeting at which EU leaders will decide whether or not to approve the UK's request. Mr Tusk is expected to instead propose a one year delay with the option of the UK leaving earlier if parliament ratifies an exit deal. Any further delay to Brexit would likely require the UK to take part in European Parliament elections on 23 May. Ms May said the government would prepare to hold these elections but remained hopeful of cancelling them. Writing to Mr Tusk to seek a further extension, she said: "The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the government proposes that the period should be terminated early. "The government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections." The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Show all 12 1 /12 The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day March 29 2019 - The original date for Britain's departure from the EU, what do the newspapers have to say about it? The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Express The Daily Express focuses on the fact that today was the original day for Britain's departure from the EU The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mail The Daily Mail warns MPs that they have "one last chance" to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Independent The Independent Daily Edition reports that the Prime Minister is gambling as she holds a vote today on the withdrawal agreement The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Sun The Sun reports that the Prime Minister last night sought to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster to back her deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Guardian The Guardian reports that some ministers want the Prime Minister to step down now, while Michael Gove becomes the favourite at the bookies to replace her The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The i The i reports that Boris Johnson is preparing his leadership bid for when the Prime Minister resigns The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Times The Times reports that Brexit may be delayed for a further year The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Daily Telegraph The Daily Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister is making a "desperate final plea" to pass her Brexit deal through the house of commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Financial Times The Financial Times reports on the Brexit Betrayal march that will reach London today after setting off from Sunderland with the intention of reaching London on Brexit day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror reports on the Prime Minister's difficulty passing her deal through the commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Star The Daily Star calls on its readers to shut up about Brexit The government will continue to hold talks with Labour on Friday in a bid to find a way to break the deadlock in parliament. Ministers and shadow ministers met for four and a half hours on Thursday for negotiations that No10 later described as "detailed and productive technical talks". In her letter to Mr Tusk, Ms May said "if the talks do not lead to a single unified approach soon", the government will "instead look to establish a consensus on a small number of clear options on the future [EU-UK] relationship" that would be put to the House of Commons "in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue". The government "stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same", she added. Ms May said the offer was proof that "the government is determined to bring this process to a resolution quickly". Brexit: MPs pass emergency law forcing Theresa May to seek further delay to avert no deal by one vote Her letter came hours after Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, suggested the prime minister would have to agree to whatever extension the EU offers. He told the BBC: The problem then would be that we would be in an extension. Its likely to be a long one, by which I mean longer than just a few weeks or months. The prime minister would have little choice but to accept the extension that shes offered." But Ms May had faced heavy pressure from Eurosceptic cabinet ministers and the threat of resignations from the government if she requested a long extension to Article 50. Senior ministers including Gavin Williamson, Michael Gove, Liz Truss, Andrea Leadsom and Chris Grayling reportedly held two meetings on Thursday to discuss how to persuade Ms May to seek only a short delay. Theresa May is set to be offered a year-long flexible delay to Brexit at next weeks emergency summit in Brussels, EU officials have said. A plan drawn up by Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, would let Britain stay in the bloc until 31 March 2020 more than a year after the original planned exit date. Brussels is framing the proposal as a flextension to stress that the UK could leave before the final date if MPs agreed to implement the negotiated Brexit deal before then. Ahead of next weeks summit the prime minister has formally requested a short extension to 30 June this year the same date she asked for last month and had rejected. The 27 other EU presidents and prime ministers will make the final formal decision about the UKs future at the meeting on Wednesday. Ms May will travel to Brussels on 10 April for the European Council summit, where EU leaders will discuss the request. If none is granted the UK is set to leave on 12 April. The plan is likely to enrage Tory Brexiteers who want to leave without a deal. Jacob Rees-Mogg said on Friday morning: If a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU, we should be as difficult as possible. We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macrons integrationist schemes. Ms May wrote to Mr Tusk on Friday morning to seek a much shorter extension than that being drawn up in Brussels. The prime minister requested a delay only until 30 June, and asked for the UK to have the right to leave the EU even earlier if parliament approves a withdrawal agreement. Writing to Mr Tusk to seek a further extension, she said: The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the government proposes that the period should be terminated early. The government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections. The government continued to hold talks with Labour on Friday in a bid to find a way to break the deadlock in parliament. Ministers and shadow ministers met for four and a half hours on Thursday for negotiations that No 10 later described as detailed and productive technical talks. In her letter to Mr Tusk, Ms May said that, if the talks do not lead to a single unified approach soon, the government will instead look to establish a consensus on a small number of clear options on the future [EU-UK] relationship that would be put to the House of Commons in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue. The prime ministers cabinet is divided over the length of any possible delay, too: Brexiteer cabinet ministers including Gavin Williamson, Andrea Leadsom, Chris Grayling and Michael Gove met twice on Thursday to discuss their strategy for persuading Ms May not to seek a long extension. Meanwhile Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, warned that the delay would have to be more than just a few weeks or months. Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Show all 5 1 /5 Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by Nigel Farage on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message to the EU on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Ms May has insisted she does not want the UK to have to take part in European parliament elections on 22 May. However, EU officials are insistent that Britain would have to take part of it remained in the bloc by that point. The flextension being drawn up by Mr Tusk would allow the UK to leave the EU before then if parliament passes a withdrawal agreement. He is said to have told officials in Brussels that the proposal would prevent the EU having to discuss further delays to Brexit every few weeks. The text of Article 50 already allows departing member states to leave before the end of the negotiating period, however suggesting the flextension name may be branding to help Ms May sell the delay back at home. Some European leaders are sceptical about a long extension and are likely to demand to know how Ms May will use the additional time. Any delay would need to be approved by every EU member state. Last week Ms May said she hoped that discussions with Labour would result in a cross-party proposal that could be put to parliament before she travels to Brussels next Wednesday. If they cannot agree on a way forward, the two parties will compile a list of options to be voted on by MPs. Ms May said the government stands ready to abide by the decision the Commons makes. But Mr Cox, the attorney general, appeared to suggest that a long extension was the most likely outcome. He told the BBC: The problem then would be that we would be in an extension. Its likely to be a long one, by which I mean longer than just a few weeks or months. The prime minister would have little choice but to accept the extension that shes offered. Cross-party talks to find a new Brexit plan are on the brink of collapse after Labour attacked Theresa May for failing to offer compromise or change. The opposition broke the official silence on three days of discussions with the government, accusing the prime minister of refusing to come forward with anything new. The verdict is a hammer blow to Ms Mays hopes of putting a joint proposal to parliament next week, before she seeks a further Brexit delay at Wednesdays EU summit. And it suggests the UK will be forced to accept a much longer extension to Article 50, for a year under the proposal put forward by Donald Tusk, the European Council president. It came amid warnings from EU capitals that Ms Mays proposal to delay departure until 30 June only, without providing a clear route out of the crisis, had raised the risk of a no-deal Brexit. Strikingly, Downing Street at first declined to make any comment on the talks having described the previous days meetings as constructive or even confirm who had taken part. A spokesman for Ms May later insisted the government had made serious proposals and was prepared to pursue changes to her Brexit deal. Labours decision to publicly criticise the government was prompted by a refusal to reopen the political declaration for a future trade deal that accompanies the divorce deal. Instead, the opposition was being asked to agree a memorandum that would sit alongside the binding withdrawal agreement. 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 Some Tory sources had suggested Ms May was willing to discuss a customs union a key Labour demand or even a Final Say referendum on any deal that emerges. But, speaking after the talks, Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, said: The government isnt proposing any changes to the deal. In particular, its not countenancing any changes to the actual wording of the political declaration. Now, obviously, thats disappointing; compromise requires change. We want the talks to continue and weve written in those terms to the government, but we do need change if were going to compromise. It appeared the government was only willing to say it would not stand in the way of a Commons vote on a further referendum, without pushing the idea. Responding to Labours comments, a Downing Street spokesman said: We have made serious proposals in talks this week, and are prepared to pursue changes to the political declaration in order to deliver a deal that is acceptable to both sides. We are ready to hold further detailed discussions this weekend in order to seek any such changes in the run up to European Council on Wednesday. The government is determined to work constructively to deliver the Brexit people voted for, and avoid participation in the European parliamentary elections. But Labours criticism was echoed by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, who tweeted: This is similar to when I met PM on Wednesday. She wanted to know where we could compromise, but refused to indicate any compromise she might make. It is a bizarre approach from someone who made great play of wanting to find consensus and has just wasted yet more time. Across the channel, EU leaders used similar language to protest that the prime ministers letter to Mr Tusk had failed to make the case for a further extension to Article 50. It requires the unanimous agreement of all 27 EU leaders to grant that extension without which the UK would crash-out of the bloc next Friday. Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, said: The plan was that the British would explain what they wanted from the EU. A letter was sent today which, as far as I am concerned, doesnt answer this request. And Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister, warned: If we are not able to understand the reason why the UK is asking for an extension, we cannot give a positive answer. Stung by Labours attack on the state of the talks, No 10 eventually released a statement insisting it was ready to compromise and for further talks over the weekend. We have made serious proposals in talks this week, and are prepared to pursue changes to the political declaration in order to deliver a deal that is acceptable to both sides, a spokesperson said. Rory Stewart, the prisons minister, dismissed the idea that the talks were close to imploding, arguing tensions had always been inevitable. In truth, the positions of the two parties are very, very close and, where there is goodwill, it should be possible to get this done and to get it done quickly, he told BBC Radio 4. Of course, we are looking for compromise on the political declaration, Mr Stewart insisted. The prime minister is very keen that she wants to compromise on this. A Conservative candidate standing in city council elections in Nottingham has reportedly compared the millions of Remainers who have signed the petition to revoke Article 50 to those who voted for the Nazi party. Carl Husted has deleted the Facebook post made about anti-Brexit campaigners, along with a series of other recent comments on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Yet the remarks, which Mr Husted called jokes, were screengrabbed and published by The Nottingham Post. The petition to revoke Article 50 now has the same number of signatures as the number of people who voted for Hitlers Nazi party in 1930 Germany, he wrote on 3 April. Although Hitler didnt have the benefit of petition signing bots and signatures from North Korea, Syria, Russia etc. So not quite as popular as 1930s nazism but edging closer. #godwinslaw. Mr Husted has since been suspended by the Conservative Party over the remarks. Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Show all 5 1 /5 Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by Nigel Farage on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message to the EU on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter In another post he said Jeremy Corbyn was repositioning Labour as the party of honest to goodness, hard-working jihadis. Referring to recently-revealed video footage in which Army soldiers appeared to be using an image of Mr Corbyn as target practice, he wrote: People who genuinely celebrated the actual death of a three time democratically elected prime minister getting all pissy because soldiers PRETENDED to shoot a one time (so far, more to come) losing party leader who presents an existential threat to them. #allaboardtheironytrain. Mr Husted, who is running for the Tories in the Wollaton West ward at the 2 May vote, said he believed he was making the remarks privately, even though they were posted on his public profile. Led By Donkeys beam anti-Brexit projection on the cliffs of Dover He also claimed his post about people signing the anti-Brexit petition was a satirical comment on Godwins law the online adage which states that the longer a subject is discussed online, the higher the probability of someone mentioning the Nazis. Its a Godwins law joke, its nothing to do with politics, its a joke about how every thread eventually gets to that point, he told the Nottingham newspaper. If its gone over somebodys head, and they havent understood, Id be happy to explain to that person and to send them a link explaining Godwins law. Condemning the remarks, the Labour MP for Nottingham South Lilian Greenwood said Mr Husted isnt fit to represent anyone, least of all in our city that welcomes and values its EU citizens and close links to Europe. In 2014, during a campaign to become a Conservative councillor in Wolverhampton, Mr Husted was forced to defend a Facebook post saying the city had a disproportionate number of scum as evidently a joke. A Conservative party spokesman told The Independent: Carl Husted has been suspended as a member of the Conservative party, pending further investigations. A Conservative council candidate has been suspended by the party after comparing millions of Remainers to people who voted for Hitlers Nazis. Carl Husted, who is standing in upcoming Nottingham City Council elections, wrote on Facebook that a petition to revoke Article 50 now has the same number of signatures as the number of people who voted for Hitlers Nazi party in 1930 Germany. He later deleted the post, which he said was a joke which had been taken completely out of context, as well as other comments about Jeremy Corbyn. A Conservative party spokesman told The Independent: Carl Husted has been suspended as a member of the Conservative party, pending further investigations. Mr Husted posted the comments, first reported by the Nottingham Post, early on Wednesday morning. He wrote: The petition to revoke Article 50 now has the same number of signatures as the number of people who voted for Hitlers Nazi party in 1930 Germany. Although Hitler didnt have the benefit of petition signing bots and signatures from North Korea, Syria, Russia etc. So not quite as popular as 1930s nazism but edging closer. #godwinslaw. Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Show all 30 1 /30 Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit leave the European Union supporters attend a rally in Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The protest march which started on March 16 in Sunderland, north east England, finished on what was the original date for Brexit to happen before the recent extension Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA His post referred to a petition on the UK government website which calls for Brexit to be cancelled. It has been signed by more than six million people. The Labour MP for Nottingham South, Lilian Greenwood, condemned Mr Husted's remarks and said he isnt fit to represent anyone, least of all in our city that welcomes and values its EU citizens and close links to Europe. Mr Husted, who is seeking election in the Wollaton West ward on 2 May, said the post was a Godwins law joke and nothing to do with politics. Godwin's law is an internet adage that states every online conversation will eventually lead to someone mentioning Hitler or the Nazis. If its gone over somebodys head, and they havent understood, Id be happy to explain to that person and to send them a link explaining Godwins law, Mr Husted told the Post. To choose to misunderstand a Godwins law joke is really beyond the pale, and it smacks a bit of politicking. He added he believed the posts published on his public Facebook page had been posted privately. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In another post, he suggested Jeremy Corbyn was repositioning Labour as the party of honest to goodness, hard-working jihadis. He also mocked people for getting all pissy about footage of British soldiers shooting at a picture of the Labour leader, who he described as an an existential threat to them. It is not the first time Mr Husted, a former Conservative councillor in Wolverhampton, has got into hot water over his use of Facebook. In 2014, he was warned over his conduct by the party after saying the West Midlands city had a disproportionate number of scum. The Conservatives "may be in trouble" at a general election if they elect a hard Brexiteer as their next leader, an polling expert has said. Rosie Campbell, a professor of politics at King's College London, said the Tories' lack of support among younger voters would be "exacerbated by a hard Brexiteer prime minister" and that such a candidate would also struggle to win votes among female and ethnic minorities voters. It comes after Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, suggested the Conservatives' next leader was likely to be "someone who campaigned for Brexit" and should be a minister with "the experience and resilience to get us through the immediate future". But writing for The Independent, Professor Campbell said: "Weve seen over the past weeks and months how important a stable majority in the House of Commons is, yet if May is ousted before the withdrawal agreement is passed, a new leader who is more committed to Brexit at any cost is unlikely to fare much better in uniting the House and overcoming the legislative logjam. "If May somehow gets her deal through and then voluntarily steps aside for a new leader, there are no guarantees that the leadership drama will end there. That will only have been phase one of the Brexit negotiations; the second phase is likely to be far trickier and take far longer to navigate. A general election to break another, currently unforeseen impasse in the process is therefore plausible. Recommended The Tories would be stupid to go for a hard Brexit leader "If that leader does then go to the country, they may be in trouble. Analysis of the 2017 general election shows that the Conservatives under May had a problem with several rather large constituencies of voters, namely younger people (and we can be quite loose with the term young here), ethnic minorities and women." She added: "David Camerons failure to secure a majority in 2010 might have led party members to believe they should have stuck to their guns and resisted his calls for modernisation. But to secure a stable majority the Conservatives need to take more of the centre ground moderate Remainers as well as moderate Brexiteers. "A strategy that focuses on a hard Brexit approach from the right of the party wont win the coalition of voters from diverse communities, across the sexes and generations that is needed to govern." Professor Campbell suggested that a hardline Eurosceptic would struggle to win support among young people, saying: "The partys contemporary problem with younger voters would most likely be exacerbated by a hard Brexiteer prime minister according to political scientist John Curtice, the stark age difference in the referendum vote itself is even greater now than it was in 2016." Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Show all 9 1 /9 Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Boris Johnson Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has long been hopeful, he previously stood in the leadership contest that followed the Brexit vote and has at many times since been thought to be maneuvering himself towards the goal. He remains a darling of the party's right wing, particularly those in the ERG, and is the most popular choice among Tory voters but his leadership bid would be fiercely opposed by many MPs PA Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Michael Gove Environment secretary Michael Gove is another member who has long wanted to be leader. He has lately been known for rousing his party in the commons, his recent speeches on the Brexit deal and Labour's no confidence motion have overshadowed the Prime Minister's. He has been loyal to the Prime Minister, partly to shed his reputation as a backstabber who abandoned Boris Johnson to stand against him in the 2016 leadership election Getty Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Dominic Raab Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has emerged as a favourite to be the Brexiteer candidate in a contest to succeed to Ms May. He displayed a grip on detail in his role as Brexit secretary. When asked recently if he would like to become prime minister he replied "never say never" Getty Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Rory Stewart International development secretary Rory Stewart is pitching himself as the sensible candidate, promising to rule out both a second referendum and a no-deal Brexit. He was only recently promoted to the cabinet, previously serving as prisons minister, where he caught headlines with a pledge to resign if he could not reduce levels of violence within a year PA Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Esther McVey The former work and pensions secretary announced that she will be standing for the leadership when May leaves. McVey is the first to explicitly state that she intends to stand. She resigned from the cabinet in protest over May's Brexit deal AFP/Getty Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Sajid Javid Home secretary Sajid Javid is said to have a plan in place for a leadership race. He made headlines over Christmas when he declared that people smuggling over the English channel was a "major incident" and more recently when he revoked the citizenship of ISIS bride Shamima Begum. Son of a bus driver, he wants the Conservatives to be seen as the party of social mobility PA Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Jeremy Hunt Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt was recently thought to be the favourite in the event of a leadership race as he could sell himself as the man to unite the party. Critics worry that his long stint as health secretary could return to haunt him at a general election. He has reportedly been holding meetings with Tory MPs over breakfast to promote his leadership PA Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Andrea Leadsom Following the Prime Minister's second defeat over her Brexit deal, Leader of the house Andrea Leadsom hosted a dinner party at which "leadership was the only topic of conversation", The Times heard. Leadsom ran against Theresa May in the 2016 leadership election before dropping out, allowing May to become Prime Minister AFP/Getty Who could succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader? Priti Patel Former international development secretary Priti Patel is thought to be positioning herself as a contender. One MP told The Independent "she knows she's from the right of the party, the part which is going to choose the next leader, so she's reminding everyone she's there." Patel left the government late in 2017 after it emerged that she had held undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials PA They would also fail to attract support from women and ethnic minority voters, she claimed, pointing out that 76 per cent of non-white voters backed Labour at the 2017 general election, while just 17 per cent voted for the Conservatives. She said: "A new, more eurosceptic Conservative leader would also be a failure of strategy if the party wants to win more support among black and ethnic minority voters. And if the Conservatives want to remain a party of government, this is a section of the electorate that they can ill afford to ignore." Professor Campbell said a Eurosceptic Tory leader might help attract some male voters from Ukip but risked alienated "even more women voters", who she said "are less likely to be fervently anti-European". Ms May has promised to step down if MPs approve her Brexit deal, which has been rejected by the Commons on three occasions. It is widely expected that the overwhelmingly anti-EU Tory membership will elect a successor who is more Eurosceptic than the current prime minister. Brussels has slapped down Jacob Rees-Mogg after the leading Brexiteer suggested the UK should wilfully cause chaos at the EU institutions if Brexit was delayed. A spokesperson for the European Commission suggested that the Tory MP was essentially irrelevant and not involved in negotiations. This gentleman is not our interlocutor and I would say then that the principle of sincere cooperation does apply, as prime minister May herself makes clear in her letter, the spokesperson told reporters in Brussels. I would also say that this is a hypothetical question because it supposes, or presupposed an extension, which is yet to be seen by our leaders. Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliaments Brexit coordinator, also piled in. Seizing on Mr Moggs comments, he said: For those in the EU who may be tempted to further extend the Brexit saga, I can only say, be careful what you wish for. Mr Rees-Mogg, a leading figure in the eurosceptic ERG group of Tory MPs, had said on Friday morning that if a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU we should be as difficult as possible. He suggested: We could veto any increase in the budget, obstruct the putative EU army and block Mr Macrons integrationist schemes. Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Show all 5 1 /5 Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by Nigel Farage on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message to the EU on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Theresa May requested a further delay to the Brexit date, which will be considered by the 27 remaining presidents and prime ministers at a special meeting in the Belgian capital on Wednesday. It is understood that EU officials are considering offering Britain a one-year extension until the end of March 2020, with the ability to cut it short if the UK ratifies the withdrawal agreement by then. The prime minister has requested only a short extension until the end of June, but is thought ot be unlikely to get it. A longer extension as favoured by the European Council would see the UK participate in European parliament elections if it was still in the EU by the 22 May. After last month's summit a senior EU official said the bloc was well aware of the risk posed by Brexiteers who might be minded to deliberately cause chaos in Brussels if the UK remained. On the one hand, the UK has been behaving in accordance with the obligation of sincere cooperation until now. And at the same time we do also read the British press, and we have seen some comments that maybe we should take this opportunity to break the union from the inside," the senior official said. I dont think that will be possible, and I think any British government will understand that thats not a promising way forward. We luckily have qualified majority voting on most issues these days and if we dont, Im sure wed find ways of dealing with it if these things were to happen. Various senior EU figures, including Emmanuel Macron, have said any further extension of Article 50 would require a justification, which could be time to hold a general election, second referendum, or a political process in the UK to reach a majority. The prime minister's team is currently locked in talks with Labour in an attempt to bring about a cross party consensus in Westminster. Labour has held on to the Newport West seat, winning the by-election in south Wales with a reduced majority despite a significant slump in turnout. The partys candidate Ruth Jones took 9,308 votes, giving her a majority of 1,951 over the Tories in the contest triggered by the death of veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn. Fought against the backdrop of the Brexit crisis in Westminster, UKIPs Neil Hamilton took third place with 2,023 votes as the party saw support increase from its showing at the 2017 general election. The seat has long been a Labour stronghold, but also voted Leave by a margin of 56 to 44 per cent in the 2016 EU referendum. Voter turnout was only 37.1 per cent, down from 67.5 per cent in the 2017 general election, with parties blaming poor weather, which featured squalls of rain and hail on Thursday. Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Show all 30 1 /30 Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit leave the European Union supporters attend a rally in Parliament Square after the final leg of the "March to Leave" in London AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The protest march which started on March 16 in Sunderland, north east England, finished on what was the original date for Brexit to happen before the recent extension Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA Ms Jones, who had campaigned for Remain in the lead-up to the EU referendum, said the country should not accept a damaging Tory Brexit or a no-deal outcome. The victor said: The general consensus was that Brexit had become a cloud that was on top of people and it seemed to be stopping the main issues getting up to parliament, so the people of Newport West feel their voices are not being heard at the moment. The trust in politicians is very low at the moment and I recognise that. They say Get on with it, we need to make sure we bring this to a close now, its gone on long enough. Ms Jones added: Who knows what the next few days, weeks and months will bring. But what I do know is that people have had enough after a decade of austerity. Labour victor Ruth Jones and UKIP candidate Neil Hamilton, who finished third (Getty) Conservative candidate Matthew Evans, who gained 7,357 votes, had hoped to improve on his partys performance at the 2017 general election, when the Tories finished second. He said that he had never seen such anger on the doorstep regarding Brexit. People just want clarity and Ive seen no appetite for another referendum or a general election. Mr Hamilton, the highest profile name taking part in the contest, sought a return to the Commons more than two decades after being ousted as an MP in the 1997 general election following his involvement in the cash-for-questions scandal. Brexit: MPs pass emergency law forcing Theresa May to seek further delay to avert no deal by one vote The former Tory had hoped to benefit from the Brexit effect in the Leave-voting city and campaigned saying the by-election would provide a chance to send a clear message about the UKs exit from the EU. Mr Hamilton said Brexit certainly isnt going to go away, and UKIP isnt going to go away. He added: I regard this as the start of a new era for my part and I look forward to the next election, whenever that may come. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the victory, stating: Ruth will be a fantastic successor to Paul Flynn and will take up the tireless work he carried out for this community. Tonights result sends a clear message that the people of Newport and Wales are fed up of austerity which has robbed the Welsh economy of 1bn through needless cuts, and shows support for Labours alternative. Additional reporting by PA A Fox News contributor has been ridiculed after he posed for a photograph at the US-Mexico border while dressed in what appears to be a small bulletproof vest. Lawrence Jones III, who is the editor-in-chief of Campus Reform, a conservative website, posted the photograph on Twitter on Thursday. Coming up on Fox News live from the border, he wrote alongside the image. The Twitter post was met with mockery, with journalists and public figures questioning why Mr Jones was dressed as though in a war zone while standing in a part of the US. Does live from the border mean Party City? Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a congresswoman from New York, wrote in response. The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Show all 15 1 /15 The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Texas and Mexico are connected by entry points like these. US Border Patrol in Laredo, Texas conducts daily patrols throughout the Rio Grande, snaking between the US and Mexico, where it searches for migrants and drug traffickers. The legal entry point to Mexico can be seen above the riverines frequently used by cartels to funnel narcotics into the US. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol US Customs and Border Protection oversees its side of the entry point. US Customs and Border Protection officers oversee the processing of nearly two million trucks and three million pedestrians annually at the Laredo sector, which also processes the majority of trade between the US and Mexico. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The Rio Grande snakes between Mexico and the United States. The US and Mexico have bordering coastlines in Laredo Texas, where the Rio Grande's occasionally rough currents splash onto both nations' shores. For migrants attempting to enter into either country, the swim is much more dangerous than it appears. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Drug traffickers and migrants use "highways" to cross the border. US Border Patrol agents call worn pathways like these "highways," as they are frequently used by drug traffickers and migrants entering into the US. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The journey is still far from over. If they're able to make it onto land, many obstacles still remain for migrants and drug traffickers. US Border Patrol agents are equipped with high-tech security, K-9 units and aerial camera footage surveilling 40 miles of borderlands. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Border Patrol uses classic methods and high-tech to surveil the border. A control room at the Laredo sector headquarters is fully-manned 24/7 with a team of local employees who alert agents on the ground of border crossings in real-time. Their cameras live-stream 40 miles of the 170 mile territory the sector covers. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The US provides trusted traveler programs on both its southern and northern borders. Officers lead the way to Sentri offices, which runs a trusted traveller program from US and Mexican local residents who regularly cross the border for work or leisure purposes. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The pathway to freedom. Once travellers are processed, they walk up this ramp towards the US. Many Mexicans cross the border each day with collapsable shopping carts to buy goods while visiting the country. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol But first, the wait. A dog waits for their owner to go through processing with US Customs and Border Patrol. On a good day, processing can take under an hour. On a bad day, well, there's just no telling how long one might be stuck inside the Laredo sector field offices. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The first lady of CBP. Inside the Laredo field offices, US Border Patrol agents keep a framed photo of Christine Davis, the first female agent to join the federal agency in 1975. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol "The hall of fame." US Border Patrol also honors those who have served in the agency for over thirty years. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Officers inspect a vehicle in secondary processing. Outside, officers are conducting secondary inspection on a vehicle that's been pulled aside for further investigating. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The waiting room for detained migrants. A US Customs and Border Protection officer shows the inside of a holding room where people requiring further questioning go through secondary processing. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol A man and his daughter go through processing. US Customs and Border Protection also regularly provides humanitarian visas and other temporary permissions for people with valid reasons seeking entry to the US. Here, a father and his daughter await to see whether they will be provided one of those visas. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Laredo processes over three million pedestrians annually. Thousands of legal asylum seekers, migrants and refugees seek entry to the US through the southern border annually, where they go through processing at offices like this after arriving at a legal port of entry. For many, the trip can take days, if not weeks or even months. Chris Riotta Fox is really out here doing the most on a budget to make the border look more dangerous than it is, she added. Jacob Soboroff, a correspondent for MSNBC, said wearing a vest was totally ridiculous. I have never once worn a bulletproof vest at the border, nor has [US Customs and Border Protection] ever asked me to even while on a chase with Border Patrol to apprehend migrants in remote Arizona desert in the middle of the night, he said. Because. The. Border. Is. Not. A. War. Zone." Mr Jones said the agents he was with asked him to wear the vest. He also thanked them on Twitter for keeping him safe. Other commenters on social media questioned whether the vest had plates inserted. Still more chose to mock the its apparent size, including writer Jessica Luther, who asked what is this? A vest for ants? The US-Mexico border is currently at the centre of a political firestorm in the US and anti-immigration politicians have claimed that the area is dangerous. A Fox News spokesperson pointed to Mr Jones' tweets when asked for comment. A judge could face a months-long suspension after repeatedly questioning a female rape victim about what she did to prevent her assault during a case in 2016. A judicial conduct advisory committee reprimanded Superior Court Judge John Russo for the egregious remarks he made three years ago, in which he asked a woman: Do you know how to stop somebody from having interpose with you? Close your legs? he continued. Call the police? Did you do any of those things? The judge also repeatedly asked whether the victim attempted to block the assailant. The advisory committee found the New Jersey judge displayed behaviour that was not only discourteous and inappropriate, but also egregious given the potential for those questions to re-victimize the plaintiff. 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 committee recommended a suspension for the judge spanning three months without pay. The judge should also be forced to receive training on appropriate courtroom demeanour, the committee wrote in its review. This conduct constitutes a significant departure from the courtroom demeanour expected of jurists and impugns [the judges] integrity and most notably that of the judiciary, the committee added. The woman being questioned by the judge was seeking a restraining order against the father of her child, who she claimed had raped her. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The judge told the committee he was asking about her response to the attack as part of an effort to demonstrate the element of force or coercion used during the assault. He added that he was attempting to aid the plaintiff in recounting a traumatic event. Reboyras won, and he said for the time being he plans to stay in the Latino Caucus to be part of the groups college scholarship fundraising efforts. But it wont be all campfire singalongs. Im going to try to take the high road, Reboyras said. Shame on them. Well see how it goes. I might change my mind. Tucker Carlson has been criticised by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after lamenting the fact feminists do science in America. The Fox News host, who has faced an advertising boycott over sexist and racist remarks, made the comment while discussing academic research into how men perceive environmentally sustainable behaviour to be a threat to their masculinity. Speaking to climate change sceptic Mark Steyn during his show on Thursday, Carlson said: How did we wind up with a country in which feminists do science? I mean we're sort of bound to get a study like this, right? Ms Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic congresswoman, responded on Twitter: Democracy and civil rights is how we got a country where feminists do science. She added it tells you a lot that the Fox News presenter is drumming up fear around womens rights to create suspicion around climate change policy. Lisa Murray's climate change photography Show all 12 1 /12 Lisa Murray's climate change photography Lisa Murray's climate change photography Dinka cattle herders starting their migration in South Sudan Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography A Dinka woman fetches water in South Sudan Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Veronica in South Sudan preparing tea outside her home, recently ravaged by heavy flooding Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Children playing in Vietnam. When it floods, transport to and from school is a major challenge Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Sugeng, a fish and crab farmer from Indonesia who suffers financially every time the area floods Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Tan, a vegetable farmer, learning new methods through Oxfam in Vietnam Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Maluk, a 19-year-old from Tonj South, South Sudan Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Normally this farmer in South Sudan would be harvesting sorghum, but rains are late so the hunger season continues Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Herders bringing home their cattle in Afar, Ethiopia Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Farmers harvesting chilli in Ethiopia Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography A woman in Tigray, Ethiopia, scares birds away from her crops with a slingshot Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Irula tribe woman in Tamil Nadu Lisa Murray Mr Carlson has previously attacked the New York representative over her calls for action to combat climate change, deriding her as a 29-year-old former bartender [here] to teach you about science. He devoted a whole segment on his Monday programme to Ms Ocasio-Cortez and the Democrats Green New Deal, proposals designed to tackle the impacts of global warming. During the show, he said: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a moron and nasty and more self-righteous than any televangelist who ever preached a sermon on cable access. Shes not impressive, shes awful. The Democrat responded in a tweet: You know were winning when the GOP resort to vapid, personal insults. Mr Carlsons discussion with Mr Steyn a regular Fox News commentator focussed on research which shows environmentalism is perceived to be feminine. A 2016 study by academics at five US and Chinese universities found that, as a result of this stereotype, suggested men may be motivated to avoid or even oppose green behaviours in order to safeguard their gender identity. The research, led by James Wilkie, assistant professor of marketing at Indiana's University of Notre Dame, found men were more willing to buy environmental products if they were marketed and packaged as "more masculine". Mr Steyn mocked the study, saying it was "very difficult to tell ... whether or not it's an ingenious parody", before ranting about US universities spending money on social science research. Bernie Sanders has lashed out at Donald Trump in a searing attack on his character that he says is the damn truth. Mr Sanders a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination went after the president on Twitter just hours before Mr Trump was scheduled to touch down in California to view a renovated portion of border wall. We have a president who is a racist, a sexist, a bigot and a homophobe, Mr Sanders said. I wish I didnt have to say that, but it is the damn truth. And we have to say it. The senators tweet comes just before he is set to speak at the National Action Network Convention in New York, an annual event hosted by Reverend Al Sharpton that is an important opportunity for candidates to court the support of black civil rights leaders. Mr Sharptons non-profit group has been around for nearly three decades, and the conference is an opportunity for politicians to mingle with civil rights leaders and celebrities as they make their case for support during the election. 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 Snubbing the conference is viewed as a major faux pas among those influential members who congregate, and the event has been attended by Republicans and Democrats alike. Among those who have attended in recent memory have been Donald Trump in 2002, as well as Bill Clinton in 2007 on behalf of his wife, Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama also attended the event while running for president. But, while Republicans are known to attend, the event has broader significance in the Democratic party, which relies heavily on African American voters. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The demographic is expected to make up 12.5 per cent of the American electorate in 2020, and makes up a major portion of the Democratic base. And, in early primary states like South Carolina the first to vote in the South African Americans make up nearly a third of the vote. The US has no more room for immigrants, according to Donald Trump, who made the statement during a tour of the US-Mexico border on Friday evening. Mr Trump visited a section of fencing in Calexico, California, using the opportunity to reinforce immigration as a campaign issue. He warned Mexico of economic sanctions and even threatened to close the border if the country did not do more to stop migrants crossing into the USA. The system is full. We cant take you anymore. Whether its asylum, whether its illegal immigration, Mr Trump said. Thanking Republicans for their support, Mr Trump took several swipes at Democrats for their resistance to providing border wall funding. Its very, very tough to get money from the Democrats, he said. The wall is like pulling teeth. Its pretty tough. Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Show all 20 1 /20 Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The prototypes for President Trumps border wall are being demolished. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The US Customs and Border protection had built the eight 30-foot tall steel and concrete models near San Diego on the US-Mexico border. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office found that the construction challenges presented by the four concrete models would be extensive and those presented by two of the other models would be substantial. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California It was intended that Mr Trump would choose his favourite of the designs after testing had been completed. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The President is yet to comment. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Each prototype cost $300,000 to $500,000 to build and they are being knocked down in order to make way for the San Diego Secondary Wall project which will see up to 14 miles of barrier being built to support the existing steel border fence. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new barrier will not employ the design of any of the prototypes, instead being built of the favoured steel bollards which make up the current section of the wall at San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new secondary barrier being built near San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The rubble of one of the demolished prototypes. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A digger approaches the prototype wall AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Aerial view of the wall prototypes at the US-Mexico border after they were torn down AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California An aerial view showing Tijuana, Mexico on the left and the demolished wall prototypes on the right AFP/Getty Opponents of the president argued that Mr Trumps claims about the US being full were rooted in racism, not in the United States actual capacity to welcome immigrants. What he means is America is full if you are a black or brown immigrant, tweeted Adam Best, an activist and liberal podcaster. The presidents trip has been promoted by the White House as something of a victory lap for the president, who has claimed credit for the two-mile portion as the first completed construction on his border wall even though a 3.2km (2 mile) border fence existed along the corridor previously, and plans to renovate the barrier first started during the administration of Barack Obama. Walking near the border with the 30-foot steel slat wall behind him, Mr Trump said the new construction looks great, and claimed they plan on building a new wall that is better and faster. Border officials meeting with Mr Trump promised on Friday to construct more than 400 miles of further border fencing over the next year and a half, a feat they say will be funded through the $1.4bn in border wall appropriations approved by congress and the roughly $8bn in funds Mr Trump has diverted as a part of his national emergency declaration. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events That emergency declaration has been met with legal challenges, and prompted the first veto of Mr Trumps presidency after Democrats forced a measure to terminate his declaration, with the help of a few Republicans in congress. In the month since he declared the emergency Mr Trump has considered several approaches to secure the border and to take pressure off of a system he has described as overburdened even as his administration has implemented policies that critics say has exacerbated the problem. Among those ideas was the threat to close the US-Mexico border, a move that could impact billions worth of trade between the two countries and significantly alter life in communities along that divide. But, after pushback, Mr Trump backed down and suggested there were other routes to get what he wanted. The only thing frankly better, but less drastic than closing the border, is to tariff the cars coming in, Mr Trump said on Thursday in the White House. Were going to give them a one-year warning and if the drugs dont stop or largely stop, well put tariffs on Mexico and products, in particular cars. The Trump administration has described the crisis at the US-Mexico border as one that threatens Americans across the country, but also one that is a humanitarian imperative to keep migrants safe. The president himself has made it clear that this is a humanitarian crisis, Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of Homeland Security, said on CNN on Thursday night. He recognises that humanitarian crisis and hes trying to take it to the people who can fix it. Donald Trump has threatened Mexico with a 25 per cent on autos if the country stops apprehending migrants making their way to the US, just as he is set to travel to the border. In a series of tweets, the president took a swipe at The Washington Post, and said that he would penalize Mexico in spite of the trade deal with Mexico and Canada the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that he has made a signature foreign policy goal in the western hemisphere. Mr Trump continued on to claim that $500b-worth of drugs are smuggled into the US over the Mexico border a year, contributing to the deaths of 100,000 Americans each year. "The Crazed and Dishonest Washington Post again purposely got it wrong. Mexico, for the first time in decades, is meaningfully apprehending illegals at THEIR Southern Border, before the long march up to the U.S. This is great and the way it should be. The big flow will stop," Mr Trump wrote. He continued: "However, if for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesnt work, which it will, I will close the Border." Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Show all 20 1 /20 Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The prototypes for President Trumps border wall are being demolished. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The US Customs and Border protection had built the eight 30-foot tall steel and concrete models near San Diego on the US-Mexico border. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office found that the construction challenges presented by the four concrete models would be extensive and those presented by two of the other models would be substantial. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California It was intended that Mr Trump would choose his favourite of the designs after testing had been completed. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The President is yet to comment. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Each prototype cost $300,000 to $500,000 to build and they are being knocked down in order to make way for the San Diego Secondary Wall project which will see up to 14 miles of barrier being built to support the existing steel border fence. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new barrier will not employ the design of any of the prototypes, instead being built of the favoured steel bollards which make up the current section of the wall at San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new secondary barrier being built near San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The rubble of one of the demolished prototypes. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A digger approaches the prototype wall AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Aerial view of the wall prototypes at the US-Mexico border after they were torn down AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California An aerial view showing Tijuana, Mexico on the left and the demolished wall prototypes on the right AFP/Getty "This will supersede USMCA. Likewise I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border. Over 100,00 Americans die each year, sooo many families destroyed!" Mr Trump is headed to California to review a portion of border wall that has been constructed near the Calexico Border Patrol station. "Heading to the Southern Border to show a section of the new Wall being built! Leaving now!" Mr Trump tweeted. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The section of border wall that Mr Trump is set to visit in southern California is actually a renovated portion that the president has touted as the first portion of his new wall. The fencing there was already built when he came into office, and plans to modernise the section were actually developed during the presidency of Barack Obama. Funding for the portion of wall was not made available until Mr Trump came into office. The fence that Mr Trump will encounter in Calexico will be a 30 foot high metal section, which is replacing Vietnam War-era landing mats, which are basically steel panels, according to local news station KCRW. When Donald Trump lands in California to view what is being touted as the first section of his border wall to be completed, he may be a bit let down if he gets much of a history lesson. Thats because the barrier near the city of Calexico he is visiting is not new at all, even if a plaque there says it is. In fact, the recently completed renovations that have inspired the presidents visit were not thought up during this administration, either the plans were made back during Barack Obamas presidency. The fencing Mr Trump will encounter towers 30-feet, and replaces a stretch of border barriers made out of Vietnam-era landing mats, which were essentially steel panels. Plans for replacing the two miles of landing mats were first developed years ago during Mr Obamas administration, but the Trump administration was first to assign funding for the project. Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Show all 20 1 /20 Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The prototypes for President Trumps border wall are being demolished. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The US Customs and Border protection had built the eight 30-foot tall steel and concrete models near San Diego on the US-Mexico border. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office found that the construction challenges presented by the four concrete models would be extensive and those presented by two of the other models would be substantial. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California It was intended that Mr Trump would choose his favourite of the designs after testing had been completed. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The President is yet to comment. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Each prototype cost $300,000 to $500,000 to build and they are being knocked down in order to make way for the San Diego Secondary Wall project which will see up to 14 miles of barrier being built to support the existing steel border fence. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new barrier will not employ the design of any of the prototypes, instead being built of the favoured steel bollards which make up the current section of the wall at San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new secondary barrier being built near San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The rubble of one of the demolished prototypes. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A digger approaches the prototype wall AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Aerial view of the wall prototypes at the US-Mexico border after they were torn down AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California An aerial view showing Tijuana, Mexico on the left and the demolished wall prototypes on the right AFP/Getty The president, during public appearances and in tweets that reach millions of people, has hailed the project as the beginning of the wall that he has shut the government down over and made a central part of his political identity. In spite of those claims, the City of Calexico has had a barrier in place for decades, city manager David Dale told local media KCRW. At least 45 years theres been a fence there. Now theyve obviously replaced the fence, its now higher and so now you can see through it, but the fence has been there for many, many years, he said. Mr Trump is scheduled to make a visit at a fundraiser in Los Angeles following his trip to Calexico. Attorneys representing Donald Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen have told members of congress their client has a substantial trove of documents relevant to their investigations, in a bid to keep him out of prison. In a letter sent to the lawmakers on Thursday, Cohens legal team said he had recently accessed a hard drive with more than 14 million files including emails, voice recordings and attachments from his computers and phones. The lawyers said the presidents former fixer has identified documents which will be of interest to Democrats currently investigating Mr Trump. To date, Mr Cohen has located several documents that we believe have significant value to the various congressional oversight and investigation committees, wrote lawyers Lanny Davis, Michael Monico and Carly Chocron. They also claimed Cohen would not be able to finish reviewing all the material if he reports to prison on 6 May as scheduled, asking the lawmakers to write letters explaining their client was still cooperating. 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 lawyers said he had a substantial trove of new information, documents, recordings, and other evidence to offer. Cohen, who pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion, fraud, lying to congress and campaign finance violations, has already received one delay on medical grounds while he recovered from a shoulder surgery. He has been sentenced to a three-year term in jail. The new request was sent to US representatives Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Maxine Waters and Elijah Cummings. If any lawmakers were to write such a letter, it would be useful in Cohens attempt to delay his prison report date. Cohen testified in front of the House Oversight Committee in February (EPA) In their letter, Cohens lawyers admitted they were still holding out hope that federal prosecutors in New York would not only back another delay in the start of his prison term, but agree to reopen his case and advocate for a lighter sentence. It is our hope that the authorities in the Southern District of New York will consider this total picture of cooperation by Mr Cohen, verified by your letter and the important new evidence he has made available or could make available to assist the government, and the particular facts involved here to grant Mr Cohen a reduced term following the rules and procedures of the Southern District of New York. Cohen testified before a series of congressional committees in February, including a televised hearing in front of the House Oversight Committee in which he denounced the president as a conman and a cheat. Additional reporting by agencies Attorney general William Barr is defending his handling of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Russia investigation, saying the confidential document contains sensitive grand jury material that prevented it from being immediately released to the public. The statement on Thursday came as Mr Barr confronts concerns that his four-page letter summarising Mr Mueller's conclusions unduly sanitised the full report in President Donald Trump's favour, including on the key question of whether the president obstructed justice. House Democrats on Wednesday approved subpoenas for Mr Mueller's entire report and any exhibits and other underlying evidence that the Justice Department might withhold. The disparity in length between Mr Barr's letter and Mr Mueller's full report, which totals nearly 400 pages, raises the likelihood of additional significant information that was put forward by the special counsel's office but not immediately shared by the attorney general. In Thursday's statement, Mr Barr defended the decision to release a brief summary letter two days after receiving the report on 22 March. 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 He has previously said he did not believe it would be in the public's interest to release the full document in piecemeal or gradual fashion, and that he did not intend for his letter summarising Mr Mueller's "principal conclusions" to be an "exhaustive recounting" of the special counsel's investigation. Mr Barr is now expected to release the entire report, with redactions, by mid-April. Recommended Mueller team say report more damaging to Trump than he realises "Given the extraordinary public interest in the matter, the attorney general decided to release the report's bottom-line findings and his conclusions immediately without attempting to summarise the report with the understanding that the report itself would be released after the redaction process," the Justice Department statement said. The statement also said that every page of Mr Mueller's report was marked that it may contain grand jury material "and therefore could not immediately be released." A Justice Department official, speaking on Thursday on condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential process, said summaries of the findings that Mr Mueller's team included as part of its report also contained grand jury information, making it hard for a swift release. Mr Barr has said that while Mr Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, the special counsel left open a decision on whether the president had tried to obstruct the Russia investigation. The Mueller team laid out evidence on both sides of the question in a way that neither established a crime nor exonerated Mr Trump, according to Mr Barr's letter. Mr Barr has said he and deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein determined that Mr Mueller's evidence was insufficient to support an obstruction allegation. Mr Barr said he was continuing to work with Mr Mueller's office on redactions to the report so that it could be released to Congress and the public. Associated Press Close Donald Trump taunts Biden amid sexual misconduct accusations as two more women come forward to accuse the democrat Donald Trump has attacked the late former first lady Barbara Bush in a newspaper interview a day after posting a satirical alt-right meme of ex-vice-president Joe Biden on Twitter. I see that you are on the job and presidential, as always, Mr Biden responded to the tweet, which sits pinned to the top of the presidents Twitter profile. The video in question sends up Mr Bidens apology after he was accused of inappropriate conduct towards women while on the campaign trail, and was circulated by Donald Trump Jr earlier on Thursday. Mr Trump then made a stop in Calexico, California, to inspect construction work on his US-Mexico wall after rowing back on his threat to close the border, the trip providing a timely change of focus for the president after thousands of protesters campaigned outside the White House and in New Yorks Times Square to demand the release of the Mueller report in full. While in southern California, Mr Trump heard from officials who praised his leadership and promised to build some 400 miles of border wall in the next year and a half. Mr Trump, during a round table with Border Patrol officials, said that the US has no more room for immigrants and thanked Mexican officials for what he described as new efforts to stop migrants from making it to the US-Mexico border. Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Show all 20 1 /20 Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The prototypes for President Trumps border wall are being demolished. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The US Customs and Border protection had built the eight 30-foot tall steel and concrete models near San Diego on the US-Mexico border. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office found that the construction challenges presented by the four concrete models would be extensive and those presented by two of the other models would be substantial. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California It was intended that Mr Trump would choose his favourite of the designs after testing had been completed. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The President is yet to comment. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Each prototype cost $300,000 to $500,000 to build and they are being knocked down in order to make way for the San Diego Secondary Wall project which will see up to 14 miles of barrier being built to support the existing steel border fence. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new barrier will not employ the design of any of the prototypes, instead being built of the favoured steel bollards which make up the current section of the wall at San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new secondary barrier being built near San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The rubble of one of the demolished prototypes. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A digger approaches the prototype wall AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Aerial view of the wall prototypes at the US-Mexico border after they were torn down AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California An aerial view showing Tijuana, Mexico on the left and the demolished wall prototypes on the right AFP/Getty The White House, prior to Mr Trump's visit to the border, hailed the 2-miles of fencing there as the first completed section of the president's border wall. But, Mr Trump cannot take full credit for the construction: Border barriers have existed there for decades, and plans for the recent renovations first began to develop during the presidency of Barack Obama. Follow along below for our coverage as it happened Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load The CEO of Americas largest bank touted billions in additional profits thanks to Republican tax cuts signed into law by Donald Trump in 2017 as new research reveals adverse impacts on the nations poorest communities stemming from the legislation. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon released an annual investment letter on Thursday that said the presidents tax cuts added to the banks net profits by a staggering $3.7bn (2.8bn). All things being equal (which they are not), the new lower tax rates added $3.7 billion [2.8bn] to net income, he wrote, before celebrating the GOPs tax bill. The new tax code establishes a business tax rate that will make the United States competitive around the world and frees US companies to bring back profits earned overseas, the letter continued. The cumulative effect of capital retained and reinvested over many years in the United States will help cultivate strong businesses and ultimately create jobs and increase wages. The optimistic view from JPMorgan which is considered the sixth largest bank in the world as of last year about Mr Trumps tax cuts sharply contradicts research produced by the Tax Policy Centre, Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office, which showed the poorest Americans suffering sharp declines in after-tax income. 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 Washington Centre for Equitable Growth produced a chart showcasing the harrowing impact the bill could potentially have on the nations poorest communities by 2025. While the richest Americans would see an increase of nearly three per cent in their after-tax income over the next several years, the poor will lose after-tax incomes at just about the same rate, according to the research. The loss in poor Americans post-tax income derives from the Republican leaderships decision to repeal the Affordable Care Acts individual mandate, Vox reported. Income inequality remains a prevalent issue across the US, meanwhile, as studies indicate the rich are continuing to get richer as the poor are getting poorer nationwide. A paper published by the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute last year revealed income rates for the countrys top one per cent were rising far more rapidly than that of the bottom 99 per cent in 43 states. In at least nine states, the top one per cent accounted for at least half of all income growth throughout 2009 to 2015. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic senator running for the White House in 2020, called on the CEO of JPMorgan to return the added profits in a tweet on Thursday that referred to the Republican tax legislation as a #GOPTaxScam. The White House whistleblower who accused Donald Trumps administration of supplying 25 security clearances against the advice of career officials has accused her boss of discrimination in an apparent act of retaliation. Tricia Newbold, a veteran security specialist and manager at the White House Personnel Security Office, filed a complaint last year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against her boss, Carl Kline, an appointee of the president. She described Mr Kline moving security files to an unreachable new location not once, not twice, three times in the NBC News interview released earlier this week. It was definitely humiliating, Ms Newbold said. But it didnt stop me from doing what was right. Ms Newbold has found herself at the heart of a major battle between the White House and Congress, as the House investigates alleged misconduct on the part of the Trump administration supplying clearances to the likes of Jared Kushner and other top advisers to the president, with backgrounds that troubled investigators who oversee the security application process. 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 Ms Newbold who still works at the White House Personnel Security Office alleged Mr Kline moved the files once she spoke out about the decision to supply clearances to at least 25 applicants whose backgrounds featured disqualifying issues. According to security clearance experts, those could range from foreign financial debts, to drug use or criminal misconduct. The protection of national security is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, its an American issue, Ms Newbold said. She added: We as security professionals owe it to make all our recommendations in the best interest of national security. Ms Newbold, who has worked within the government for 18 years, was suspended for a total of two weeks for reportedly defying Mr Kline, according to a suspension decision notice. Her suspension arrived within days of reports surrounding Mr Kushners unusual security clearance process, which has become the subject of the House Oversight Committees probe. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Klines lawyers have denied wrongdoing and said he is cooperating with investigators, writing: The facts will prove that he acted appropriately at all times. He no longer works at the White House, and has since moved on to the Pentagon. Mr Kushner also denied all wrongdoing in a recent Fox News interview, saying: Over the last few years that Ive been here, Ive been accused of all different types of things, and all of those things have turned out to be false. The biggest piece of legislation he has gotten is the 2017 tax cut package, which no Republican president could have botched. He signed a criminal justice reform bill and a measure to curb the opioid epidemic, but in each case he was pushing an open door. His main role was not to interfere, as members of Congress did the hard work. He didnt make deals; he merely gave his blessing to deals made by others. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has been barred from entering the US, it has been revealed. Fatou Bensouda has had her entry visa revoked by Washington. The decision is understood to be in response to her long-running investigation into possible war crimes, including torture, committed by American forces in Afghanistan. It comes just weeks after Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, warned he would withdraw or deny visas to any ICC staff involved in probing any such allegations. He said in March: If youre responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan, you should not assume that you will still have or get a visa, or that you will be permitted to enter the United States. 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 Were prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions if the ICC does not change its course. But on Friday Ms Bensoudas office said she would not be cowed by being barred from the country. It added she would continue her duties without fear or favour. Recommended ICC rules it can investigate crimes against Rohingya The 58-year-old Gambian has been investigating alleged war crimes by all parties in the Afghan conflict since November 2017, including the possible role of US personnel in torturing enemy combatants at secret detention sites operated by the CIA. ICC judges are still reviewing materials and have not yet handed down a decision on opening a formal investigation in Afghanistan. But an earlier 2016 report said there was a reasonable basis to believe the US military had been involved in such torture. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The US, which has been critical of the ICC since it was established in 2002, is among a minority of countries which has not ratified the courts authority. Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has warned he will send his troops on a suicide mission if Beijing does not lay off a disputed island in the South China Sea. The leader spoke out on Thursday after the Philippine military spotted more than 200 Chinese vessels near the Manila-occupied Thitu Island, known as Pag-asa in Filipino, between January and March. He said: I will not plead or beg, but Im just telling you lay off Pag-asa because I have soldiers there. If you touch it, thats another story. Then I will tell my soldiers prepare for suicide missions. Mr Duterte said his comments were a word of advice to the Philippines friend China rather than a warning. The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, dont go into that, even if youre a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, Kill me AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life I was separated from my wife. Im not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA He reminded China that it had closer ties with the Philippines under his leadership, but that things would be different if the country did not stay away from the islands. His comments came as the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs claimed the Chinese presence was illegal. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Six governments, including Manila and Beijing, have fought for control of territory in the disputed waters an important shipping lane where huge oil and gas reserves are believed to lie deep beneath the seabed. Tensions have risen since the beginning of 2019 as the Philippines and China claim overlapping areas of the sea and both claim Thitu as part of their territory. Mr Duterte has mostly adopted a non-confrontational approach in territorial spats with Beijing as it seeks Chinese infrastructure funds, trade and investment. While often lashing out at the security policies of the United States, a treaty ally, the president has praised China and Russia. Associated Press contributed to this report The man accused of killing 50 people in attacks on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessments. High Court judge Cameron Mander said Brenton Tarrant would be seen by experts to determine whether he was fit to stand trial or insane. The 28-year-old who has been moved to New Zealand's only maximum-security prison in Auckland, appeared at the Christchurch High Court through a video link. Handcuffed and seated, the Australian national was wearing a grey prison t-shirt as listened calmly throughout the hearing, which lasted roughly 20 minutes. He did not speak during the hearing and was not required to submit a plea. Judge Mander ordered that two assessments would be carried out to determine the state of his mental health. New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Show all 11 1 /11 New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Zakaria Bhuiyan People gather hoping to find out information about Zakaria Bhuiyan who is still missing after the mosques shootings in Christchurch. David Moir/AFP New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Mucad Ibrahim Three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim, the youngest known victim of the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 March 2019. Abdi Ibrahim via AP New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Nadeem Rasheed Nadeem Rasheed, brother of Pakistani Naeem Rashid who died alongside his son Talha Naeem, 21, who were killed in shooting at a Mosque in Christchurch, at their home town in Abbottabad, EPA New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Omar Nabi Omar Nabi speaks to the media about losing his father Haji Daoud Nabi, 71, in the mosque attack REUTERS New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Ash Mohammed Ash Mohammed, right, talks to a police officer about his father and two brothers who are missing near the Masjid Al Noor mosque AP New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Akhtar Khokhur Akhtar Khokhur, 58, shows a picture of her missing husband Mehaboobbhai Khokhar, 65. AP New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Wasseim Alsati A note is seen on a window of a door at the family home of Wasseim Alsati in Christchurch on 17 March 2019. AFP/Getty Images New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Haroon Mahmood Relatives offer condolences to nephew (centre) of Haroon Mahmood, a Pakistani citizen who was killed in Christchurch mosque shootings. AP New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Farid Ahmed Farid Ahmed (pictured) survived the Al Noor mosque shootings but his wife Husne was killed. AFP/Getty Images New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Syed Areeb Ahmed A relative shows a picture of Syed Areeb Ahmed, a Pakistani citizen who was killed the Christchurch mosque shooting. AP New Zealand shootings: Victims of Christchurch mosque terror attacks Naeem Rashid A relative looks at a picture on a mobile phone of Pakistani nationals Naeem Rashid and his son Talha Naeem (right) who died in the Christchurch shootings. AFP/Getty Images It had been reported that Tarrant wished to represent himself and legal experts had warned that he may try to use the hearings as a platform to present his ideology and beliefs. However, it later emerged that he would be represented by two Auckland lawyers. One of them, Shane Tait, said in a statement on his website, which did not include any comments on the case. Although journalists were able to attend and take notes, coverage of the hearing was restricted. Judge Mander said media could only publish pixellated images of Tarrant that obscure his face. Police added an additional 49 murder charges, as well as 39 charges of attempted murder, to the one murder charge that had been filed the day after the attack. Around two dozen family members of victims and some survivors of the attacks were present in the courtroom. "I wanted to see the man who killed so many of my friends," said Tofazzal Alam, who attended the hearing. A regular at one of the mosques, Alam was not there during the attack. "The man had no emotion," he said when asked about seeing the suspect on video. The massacre, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled terrorism, was New Zealand's worst peacetime mass killing. Dozens of representatives from around the world joined a national memorial service last week attended by Ms Ardern and tens of thousands of New Zealanders. Muslims worldwide have praised New Zealand's response to the massacre, with many singling out Ms Ardern's gesture of wearing a headscarf to meet victims' families and urging the country to unite with the call: "We are one." Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Thousands of visitors to the reopened Al Noor mosque, where 42 people were killed, have offered condolences and sought to learn more about Islam, said Israfil Hossain, who recites the daily call to prayer there. "They are coming from far just to say sorry ... although they never did anything to us," the 26-year-old said. A group of Carmelite nuns stood for the first time inside a mosque on thursday, holding back tears as they talked with worshippers about the two faiths. "Everybody has their own problems and they have their own ideas about religions, and that's fine, and we should all have that, we're all different," said one nun, Sister Dorothea. "But we're all humans and that's the most important thing, our humanity." German car manufacturers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have been charged by the European Commission with colluding to block the rollout of clean emissions technology. The companies have 10 weeks to respond to the EU antitrust regulator and could face fines running to billions of Euros if their explanations are rejected. Between 2006 and 2014, the commission suspects that the circle of five car manufacturers including VWs Audi and Porsche divisions colluded to limit, delay or avoid the introduction of selective catalytic reduction systems (SCRs) and Otto particle filters. The SCR systems are used to reduce nitrogen dioxides from diesel car emissions, a toxic particle linked to 71,000 premature deaths across Europe in 2013, according to the EUs environment agency. The Otto particle filters are used to control exhaust gases from petrol cars and limit particulate emissions, which are also associated with tens of thousands of deaths a year. Environment news in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Environment news in pictures Environment news in pictures Davos 2019: David Attenborough issues stark warning about future of civilisation as he demands practical solutions to combat climate change Sir David Attenborough has issued a stark warning about climate change to business figures gathered in Davos, telling them that "what we do now...will profoundly affect the next few thousand years". On the eve of this year's World Economic Forum, the renowned naturalist told the audience that the worlds of business and politics should "get on with the practical solutions" needed to prevent environmental damage. "As a species we are expert problem solvers. But we've not yet applied ourselves to this problem with the focus it requires. "We can create a world with clean air and water, unlimited energy, and fish stocks that will sustain us well into the future. But to do that, we need a plan," he said. The broadcaster made his speech after receiving a Crystal Award, which is awarded by the forum to "exceptional cultural leaders". AFP/Getty Environment news in pictures At least 60% of wild coffee species face extinction triggered by climate change and disease Two decades of research have revealed that 60 per cent of the worlds coffee species face extinction due to the combined threats of deforestation, disease and climate change. The wild strain of arabica, the most widely consumed coffee on the planet, is among those now recognised as endangered, raising concerns about its long-term survival. These results are worrying for the millions of farmers around the world who depend on the continued survival of coffee for their livelihoods. As conditions for coffee farming become tougher, scientists predict the industry will need to rely on wild varieties to develop more resilient strains Alan Schaller Environment news in pictures Warming Antarctic waters are speeding the rate at which glaciers are melting The Antarctic ice sheet is losing six times as much ice each year as it was in the 1980s and the pace is accelerating, one of the most comprehensive studies of climate change effects on the continent has shown. More than half an inch has been added to global sea levels since 1979, but if current trends continue it will be responsible for metres more in future, the Nasa-funded study found. The international effort used aerial photos, satellite data and climate models dating back to the 1970s across18 Antarctic regions to get the most complete picture to date on the impacts of the changing climate. It found that between 1979 and 1990 Antarctica lost an average of 40 gigatonnes (40 billion tonnes) of its mass each year. Between 2009 and 2017 it lost an average 252 gigatonnes a year. This has added 3.6mm per decade to sea levels, or around 14mm since 1979, the study shows Nasa/Getty Environment news in pictures Greater Manchester to ban fracking, paving way for confrontation with government over controversial industry Greater Manchester is to effectively ban fracking, raising the prospect of fresh confrontation with the government over the controversial industry. All of the regions 10 councils are to implement planning policies which create a presumption against drilling for shale gas in their areas, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced. Campaigners said the move was the latest sign that the tide was turning against fracking, which has been the subject of multiple legal battles across the country. Critics of fracking say it poses environmental and health risks. Drilling at the UKs only operational fracking site, run by Cuadrilla in Lancashire, has repeatedly been halted due to earth tremors. But ministers support the industry and last year unveiled plans to accelerate the development of new drilling sites Ross Wills Environment news in pictures Japan confirms plan to resume commercial whaling in its waters from next year Japan will resume commercial whaling next year for the first time in more than three decades, in a move that has provoked strong criticism from campaigners and the international community. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said his nation would leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume hunting the marine mammals in Japanese waters. However, he stated the activity would be limited to Japans territory and the 200 mile exclusive economic zone along its coasts. This means controversial scientific trips to Antarctica in which Japanese vessels killed hundreds of whales, as well as activity in the northwest Pacific, will stop in 2019 AP Environment news in pictures COP24: Environmental groups criticise morally unacceptable climate deal reached after major Poland summit Diplomats from around the world have agreed a major climate deal after two weeks of United Nations talks in Poland. But climate campaigners warned the deal effectively a set of rules for how to govern the 2015 Paris climate accord agreed between almost 200 countries lacked ambition or a clear promise of enhanced climate action. Activists cautiously welcomed elements of the plan, saying important progress had been made on ensuring that efforts to tackle climate change by individual nations can be measured and compared. But environmental groups were also highly critical of the agreement, warning it lacked ambition and clarity on key issues, including financing for climate projects for developing countries. The COP24 deal, which is aimed at providing firm guidelines for countries on how to transparently report their greenhouse gas emissions and their efforts to reduce them, was confirmed on 15 December, after talks overran Reuters Environment news in pictures Unprecedented changes needed to stop global warming as UN report reveals islands starting to vanish and coral reefs dying Greenhouse gas emissions must be cut almost in half by 2030 to avert global environmental catastrophe, including the total loss of every coral reef, the disappearance of Arctic ice and the destruction of island communities, a landmark UN report has concluded. Drawing on more than 6,000 scientific studies and compiled over two years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings, released this morning, warn enormous and rapid changes to the way everyone on Earth eats, travels and produces energy need to be brought in immediately. Though the scientists behind the report said there is cause for optimism, they recognised the grim reality that nations are currently nowhere near on track to avert disaster AFP/Getty Environment news in pictures Africas three biggest elephant poaching cartels exposed using DNA from illegal ivory shipments DNA taken from massive shipments of ivory has been used to identify the three largest wildlife trafficking gangs operating at the height of Africas elephant poaching epidemic. Ivory tends to be shipped around the world from African ports in bulk, and scientists have used genetic evidence gleaned from intercepted batches to reveal their origins. Led by Dr Samuel Wasser from the University of Washington, they traced a number of these shipments to three cartels operating out of Kenya, Uganda and Togo. Evidence collected by Dr Wasser has already helped convict ivory kingpin Feisal Mohamed Ali, and as his team joins the dots between shipments they plan to shore up the cases against more of the continents most prolific smugglers Art Wolfe The announcement comes two years after raids on the car manufacturers following an investigation by Der Spiegel alleging the companies had met in secret in the 1990s to coordinate a response to diesel emissions. The EUs competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said: Daimler, VW and BMW may have broken EU competition rules. As a result, European consumers may have been denied the opportunity to buy cars with the best available technology." Bas Eickhout, a Green MEP, added that the car makers actions put a brake on innovation. The investigations initial findings risks further denting the car industrys reputation after Volkswagen admitted to using software in diesel car engines to cheat on US emissions tests four years ago. The company has set aside 27.4bn (23.6bn) for fines, settlements, recalls and buybacks following the scandal. The EU probe is separate from other ongoing legal procedures against car makers for allegedly breaching environmental law. BMW said discussions among engineers were meant to improve exhaust gas technologies and that the whole industry was aware of these talks. It said they did not involve any secret agreements or intend to hurt customers. Volkswagen said it was cooperating with the EU and would issue a statement once it has reviewed the EU investigation. Daimler also said it was cooperating with the EU and does not expect to receive a fine. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events EU anti-trust fines can be as high as 10 per cent of a companys global turnover. In 2016 and 2017 the commission fined six truck makers 3.8bn (3.2bn) after it found they had colluded on pricing, the timing of introduction of emissions technologies and the passing on of costs for emissions compliance to customers. In response to news that the commission was investigating the four car manufacturers last year, Ugo Taddei, a lawyer for ClientEarth said evidence of the industrys central role in the air pollution crisis was building. Yet, national authorities keep folding under the pressure of the auto lobby and dragging their feet rather than ordering corrective actions," he said. These latest revelations tell us that the technology has been there for many years to reduce harmful emissions from vehicles, but the industry has been resistant to change. And this is still clearly going on. Additional reporting by agencies It is a dream shared by many to leave home and travel the world. An eight-year-old boy from Russia has now found fame online after he attempted to live that dream. The boy left a note for his mother saying he was going around the world and set off with what he apparently felt were the essentials for such a trip: a set of encyclopaedias, a toy aeroplane, money from his piggy bank and a banana for sustenance. The young explorer who has not been named but hails from the southern city of Astrakhan was eventually found by a search team after his mother called the police, Russian officials said. He had travelled on three different buses and was continuing on foot when he was located hours after leaving home. Top 10 world travel destinations Show all 10 1 /10 Top 10 world travel destinations Top 10 world travel destinations 10. Dubai, UAE Results from the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice awards 2019 Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 9. Marrakech, Morocco Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 8. Istanbul, Turkey Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 7. Barcelona, Spain Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 6. Phuket, Thailand Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 5. Bali, Indonesia Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 4. Crete, Greece Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 3. Rome, Italy Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 2. Paris, France Getty Top 10 world travel destinations 1. London, England Getty He is said to have told his rescuers he was feeling tired and ready for a rest although it has not been revealed exactly how far he had gone during his adventure. The story was detailed by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on the news section of its website. Recommended How to travel the world for free The young boys exploits were shared widely by social media users across Russia and the rest of the world, who praised his adventurous spirit. An eight-year-old boy from Astrakhan undertakes a round-the-world-trip by foot. Whereas I complain when I have to travel across town, one Twitter user wrote. Seriously, though, said another, this makes me really sad, because today for most Russians its not just an around-the-world trip that is too expensive, they cant even afford to go to another country. A group of fishermen pulled up a dead body in the trawl net of their ship while travelling across the Arctic Ocean, police said. The ship was in the Barents Sea, off the northern coast of Norway and Russia, when the fishermen made the discovery. We first thought there only were some clothes in the back of the trawl net, Kjetil Ervik, the ships captain, told the Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. Then, when we made a closer look, it turned out to be parts of a person inside. The ship is now on its way to Norways mainland where the body can be identified, Troms County Police said in a tweet posted on Thursday. 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 Karl Erik Thomassen, a police spokesperson, told the Barents Observer that there are no Norwegians missing in the area. The ship was sailing through international waters when the body was caught in its nets, in an area known as the Smutthullett (which translates as loophole). The Barents Sea is divided between Russian and Norwegian territorial waters and contain 513 per cent of the worlds untapped oil and 20-30 per cent of the worlds untapped gas. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Several people have gone missing in its remote waters in recent years, according to the Barents Observer. This includes Dmitry Kravchenko, a snow crab fisherman serving on a Latvian trawler, who went missing in the Barents Sea last year. The capital of Libya on Friday was girding for a possible full-on armed conflict pitting the countrys two major military alliances against each other as international officials sought to stave off the battle. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres struck a pessimistic tone after meeting with Khalifa Haftar, the self-declared field marshal of the eastern-based Libyan National Army, which had amassed troops and what appeared to be brand new military vehicles probably shipped from the United Arab Emirates south of the city near Gharyan. I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli, he wrote on Twitter. The UN is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the UN is committed to supporting the Libyan people. Some 15,000 of Mr Haftars forces were on the outskirts of the capital, Tripoli, planning to advance to its centre, Akram Bouhlaiga, one of the field marshals top aides, told The Independent. We do not want destruction, he said. We want to liberate the country from terrorists, to secure the people and to have dignity for the people. An alliance of armed groups protecting the city, loyal to a rival government as well as the UN-backed authority, mobilised at Tripolis entrances and prepared for war as forces from the powerful central Libyan city of Misrata flooded in on pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns to bolster the capitals defences against a man many see as a military strongman. The Tripoli-based groups rejected the idea of a military leader taking the city. Libya will only be a civil state, the Tripoli Protection Force was quoted as saying. Officials across the world scrambled to avert yet another round of armed conflict in the Mediterranean city of 1.2 million, which has been a battlefield for rival militias for years. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Guterres met Mr Haftar in Libya on Friday, a day after meeting Fayez al-Sarraj, the internationally recognised prime minister, in Tripoli. The UK called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council on Friday. A statement issued by the UK, US, France, Italy, and the UAE cited concerns about the fighting and called for a de-escalation, but did not identify any belligerents. At this sensitive moment in Libyas transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back towards chaos, said the statement. We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict. Our governments oppose any military action in Libya and will hold accountable any Libyan faction that precipitates further civil conflict. It remained unclear whether any clashes had yet begun. So far Mr Haftars forces managed to negotiate the handover or declaration of neutrality of towns on Tripolis outskirts. Reports from Tripoli and photographs posted to social media also suggested that dozens of his men had surrendered to the Tripoli militias. A witness inside the capital described long queues forming at petrol stations and growing anxiety about an impending conflict, as well as gunfire and distant rocket blasts along the citys southern periphery. After eight years of near continuous chaos and armed skirmishes between rival militias battling for turf in the capital, many Tripolitans have said they would welcome the type of stability Mr Haftar has promised, while others have vowed to fight him. Libya splintered into squabbling, armed factions following the Nato-backed uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafis regime in 2011. An armed force led by Mr Haftar and a government based in the east now vies for power with a government backed by a collection of militias in the countrys west. Mr Haftar, a one-time army officer loyal to Gaddafi, spent years in exile in the US state of Virginia before returning and eventually declaring war on the countrys interim authorities in 2014. His sudden decision to make a lunge for the capital comes ahead of 14 April peace talks, brokered by UN envoy Ghassan Salame, in the western city of Ghadames. But many wonder whether some countries are playing a duplicitous game on Libya. Russia, for example, staunchly backs Mr Haftar as a force that opposes Islamism, but claims to support the UN-backed authority of Mr Sarraj. On Thursday a leading Russian lawmaker praised Mr Haftar. If his troops bring order to Libya, stop the activities of bandit groups in the country, which terrorise the people, it will be good, Vladimir Dzhabarov, deputy chair of the foreign policy committee of the Russian parliaments upper house, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. Despite co-signing the UKs statement, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo was tepid when asked about Mr Haftars declaration of war on the capital. Weve been following the UN process, trying to do the best we can to be a positive force to deliver a good solution for the people of Libya and increase stability there, he told reporters on Thursday. Both the UAE and Egypt, which also condemned the escalation, have strongly backed Mr Haftar with weapons and military support, including airstrikes targeting the forces of the western Libyan militias. The UAE operates the al-Khadim airbase, where many of Mr Haftars new weapons have been delivered. Turkey and Qatar both publicly back the UN peace process but have been accused of supporting the Islamist-leaning western alliances of militias. Though France has invested in the UN-backed peace process, it has also been cooperating militarily with Mr Haftar in the east. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited both Mr Sarraj and Mr Haftar last month. The international community is asking for a political solution whilst refusing to hold back Haftar, said Anas el-Gomati, director of the Sadeq Institute, a think tank. The main problem is that theyre not penalising or sanctioning Haftar. The escalation in tensions comes just weeks after Mr Sarraj and Mr Haftar met in Abu Dhabi to hammer out an agreement. Insiders say the meeting ended far more grimly than publicly described, with both men refusing to shake hands. Mr Gomati said Mr Haftar had insisted on a political formula that Mr Sarraj had rejected, setting the stage for the current confrontation. Mr Haftar may have also seen an opportunity to take the capital amid regional uncertainty. Algeria, a powerful guarantor of North African stability, is undergoing massive political convulsions following the resignation of its longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. And Turkey, a patron of the Tripoli government, has been consumed by the result of local elections that have turned its gaze inward. The dwindling finances of the countrys east may have pressured Mr Haftar to act. This offensive has been in the works for more than a year now, Claudia Gazzini, Libya director at the International Crisis Group, told The Independent. The budget stream that allowed eastern authorities to fund themselves has been facing problems. They could be trying to reach Tripoli to change the rules of the game. Asked about the timing of the operation, Mr Haftars spokesperson Mr Bouhlaiga said: Now we are ready for that and now it is the voice of the people calling from Tripoli. Mr Haftar is considered a toxic, polarising figure by many Libyans, who sometimes see him as a kind of imposing strongman akin to Gaddafi. Mr Haftars war to take Benghazi, in the east, stretched for three years and destroyed much of the city. Winning Tripoli back, especially if the Misrata militias come to the capitals aid, will probably take longer and be bloodier, but he may calculate that he will be victorious in the long run. His supply chain has been refortified and replenished by the UAE, said Mr Gomati. He also has an air force. Saudi Arabia has reportedly detained eight people, including two US citizens, in what appears to be a crackdown on womens rights activists and their supporters. Seven men and one woman were arrested late on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Al Qst, a Saudi rights group based in London. The detainees are not frontline activists but have expressed support for womens rights and other reforms. A spokesperson for Amnesty International said the group reportedly included journalists, writers and academics. Some have links to a group of women who are currently on trial after campaigning for the right to drive. 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty The 11 women, whose cases have attracted international attention, had also spoken out against the kingdoms guardianship system. One of the dual Saudi-US citizens arrested this week, Salah al-Haidar, is a journalist whose mother Aziza al-Yousef is one of the women currently standing trial. The other dual citizen is Bader al-Ibrahim, a doctor and author of a book about Shiite Muslim politics. We are deeply concerned for the well-being of those detained since yesterday. The Saudi Arabian government must reveal their whereabouts, ensure they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and allow them access to lawyers, as well as contact with their families, said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty Internationals Middle East Director of Research. We call on the authorities to immediately disclose the charges brought against those detained and if they are detained for their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, then they should be released immediately and unconditionally. Amnesty International said the group also included Abdullah al-Duhailan, a journalist, novelist and advocate for Palestinian rights, and Fahad Abalkhail, who supported activists campaigning for the right to drive. Five other people close to the 11 women currently standing trial have also been placed under a travel ban since February, Al Qst added. The women were arrested last May and branded as traitors. Some allege that they have been tortured and sexually assaulted while in prison, although Saudi authorities have denied this claim. At least one of the 11 women has been charged under the kingdoms cybercrime law and faces up to five years in prison. Another US-Saudi national, Walid al-Fitaihi, has been detained since 2017 under Riyadhs anti-corruption campaign. His son told US senators last month that his father had been tortured with electric shocks and whipping while detained. The female activists trial and the latest wave of arrests will intensify criticism of Riyadhs human rights record, which has been tarnished after the death of Jamal Khashoggi. The US and other countries believe the journalist was brutally murdered last year on the orders of Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias highly controversial crown prince. The family of Loujain al-Hathoul, one of the detained women on trial, has recently spoken out about her alleged treatment in prison. We stayed silent for eight months. We thought that being silent would solve the issue, Walid al-Hathloul, the activists brother, told CNN on Thursday. We found out at the end of the day that this made the case even worse and thats why were speaking out now he said. At the end of the day we didnt have any options but to speak out. Additional reporting by agencies The captain and first officer of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 did everything they could to save the aircraft, but were unable to prevent the crash in which 157 people died. The official report into the crash of the Boeing 737 Max reveals a struggle between the two men and the technology installed on one of the worlds most modern aircraft. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Ethiopia (AIB) says that one minute after take-off from Addis Ababa, the airspeed and altitude values from the left air data system began deviating from the corresponding right side values. Before the 737 had been aloft for two minutes, a faulty sensor triggered a false warning of a potential stall, beginning a fatal chain of events. For the remainder of the flight, the pilots were battling against the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software installed as a safety measure to prevent a high-speed stall. MCAS automatically pushes the nose of the aircraft down when a sensor detects a potentially dangerous angle of attack the angle between the wing and the airflow. But if the sensor is faulty, MCAS can force the nose down and place the aircraft in danger. When a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max was lost shortly after take off from Jakarta in Indonesia, MCAS was implicated in a crash that cost 189 lives. The interim report suggested that the pilots may have failed to respond appropriately. Boeing issued updated instructions to Boeing 737 Max pilots to spell out the procedure for disengaging the anti-stall system and controlling the trim of the aircraft manually. But the AIB report into the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy indicates that the captain and first officer carried out the stipulated procedure to correct an incorrect MCAS but were still unable to save the aircraft. The anti-stall system forced the nose down four times. As they talked to air-traffic controllers, the crew correctly put the stab trim cutout switch to the cutout position. But the prescribed manual override of the tail stabiliser failed to work because the aircraft was travelling at very high speed. 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 Unable to correct the trim manually, the pilots switched the power to the stabiliser once again, to try to remedy the problem using electrical switches. But once again MCAS forced the nose down. Six minutes after take-off, the Boeing 737 Max flew at around 575mph at an angle of 40 degrees into the ground. This accident was not survivable, the investigators conclude. In line with international convention, the accident report does not seek to assign blame. The International Civil Aviation Organization says: The sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident shall be the prevention of accidents and incidents; it is not the purpose of this activity to apportion blame or liability. But the report recommends that Boeing reviews the aircraft flight control system and that aviation authorities shall verify that the review of the aircraft flight control system related to flight controllability has been adequately addressed by the manufacturer before the release of the aircraft to operations. In response to the report, the president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Kevin McAllister, said: We will carefully review the AIBs preliminary report, and will take any and all additional steps necessary to enhance the safety of our aircraft. If you happen to work for the excellent US carrier jetBlue, you probably already have an appointment on your calendar for Wednesday 10 April. A chat about jetBlues vision and strategy, is scheduled at the airlines New York headquarters. That evening, the chief executive, Robin Hayes, will fly to London ahead of delivering a speech at the Aviation Club. I dont know which airline he will use but I do know it wont be jetBlue while the carrier has an extensive international network, it does not yet cross the Atlantic. But I expect that to change by the end of this year, with links from both New York JFK and Boston where jetBlue is the dominant airline to London. Remarkably, this is the biggest destination from Boston that jetBlue does not already serve. Airlines that went bust Show all 12 1 /12 Airlines that went bust Airlines that went bust Air Berlin Air Berlin, which operated flights to and from Berlin Tegel, went bankrupt in 2017 Getty Airlines that went bust Small Planet Lithuanian airline Small Planet filed for insolvency at the end of 2018 Igor Dvurekov Airlines that went bust Monarch Airlines The airline ceased operations in October 2017 AFP/Getty Airlines that went bust VLM Antwerp-based VLM went bankrupt in September 2018 Flo Weiss Airlines that went bust Germania German airline Germania filed for insolvency in February 2019 Getty Airlines that went bust Kingfisher Founded in 2005 ceased flying in October 2012 AFP/Getty Airlines that went bust Cobalt Cobalt, based in Larnaca, Cyprus, stopped flying in October 2018 Steve Lynes Airlines that went bust Mexicana An airline that had been in operation since 1921, went bust in August 2010. It was Mexico's largest airline AFP/Getty Airlines that went bust WOW Air Icelandic Wow Air ceased operation in March 2019 Getty Airlines that went bust Primera Primera, known for its cheap transatlantic fares, went bust in October 2018 Getty Airlines that went bust Transaero A privately-owened airline founded in Russia, 1990 lasted until October 2015 Getty Airlines that went bust Malev After 66 years, Hungary's national airline went stopped flying in 2012 AFP/Getty So which of the London airports, precisely? Not Heathrow, because the current cost of a pair of slots on the grey market of inter-airline transactions is around 20m. While jetBlue certainly has its eyes on the prize of Europes busiest airport, it will start elsewhere. Stansted? Luton? Both of them have seen New York services start and then, soon after, stop. One day an airline will succeed from one or both of them. Gatwick, though, has a tradition of serving the Big Apple for decades, starting with British Caledonian and continuing with British Airways (after it took over BCal), Freddie Lakers Skytrain, PeoplExpress (ask an elderly relative with hippie tendencies), Continental and more recently Norwegian. For further confirmation that jetBlue has an eye on Gatwick, look no further than a press release from Virgin Atlantic and its 49 per cent owner, Delta. The two airlines have today announced plans to grow at London Gatwick, with the introduction of two new routes to Boston Logan and New York JFK from summer 2020. In the olden days, Virgin Atlantic flew to both cities from Gatwick, before it won slots at Heathrow and nipped around the M25 to an airport from which it could command higher fares. And Delta has shown no interest in the Sussex gateway since it followed Virgin to Heathrow eight years ago. But one of them will serve Boston and the other New York JFK (which airline flies which route has not yet been announced). Call me cynical, but perhaps there is more to it than Roberto Ioriatti, Deltas vice president transatlantic, acknowledged when he said: These new services will offer even more ways for our customers on both sides of the Atlantic to experience the products and services that set Delta and its partners apart while travelling to the destinations they value most. It looks to me like a classic spoiler aimed at stymying the new entrants progress. The aircraft used by jetBlue will be the narrow-bodied Airbus A321LR (long range). While this has done wonders for the airline on transcontinental links in the US, it is not yet proven on services from the UK to America. Mr Hayes is promising better service and lower fares than anyone, but he has to persuade business travellers to choose his smaller aircraft ahead of the Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airbus A330s that I predict will be used. The two incumbents have other advantages. I expect jetBlue to start with a maximum of two flights a day on both the New York and Boston links. While Virgin Atlantic and Delta will have only one a day each way from Gatwick, they can offer a wide range of departures from Heathrow allowing travellers based in London to mix and match flights, as they can do already with British Airways to New York. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Of course there is one more player from Sussex: Norwegian, the constant challenger. A spokesperson for the airline said: We always welcome competition as ultimately consumers benefit from more affordable travel. Our modern fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner aircraft are less than two years old on average, and weve proven there is demand for a high-quality, greater-value transatlantic customer experience. Were confident that consumers will continue to take advantage of Norwegians affordable fares on daily services to Boston and New York. I am not sure I share that confidence in the long term. But in the summer of 2020, expect a spirited battle to begin. Virgin Australia has ended a deal with Bruneis national carrier in response to the countrys introduction of inhumane anti-LGBT+ laws. The airline terminated its Staff Leisure Travel agreement with Royal Brunei, which allowed Virgin staff to book discounted tickets on Royal Brunei flights for leisure travel. The move was confirmed in an email sent to employees explaining the new Sharia code introduced by Brunei. The tiny island nation, bordered by Malaysia and the South China Sea, adopted the laws on Wednesday 3 April. They include the death penalty by stoning for adultery and those engaging in same-sex intercourse. These rules apply to Muslims, non-Muslims and foreigners even when transiting on Brunei-registered aircraft and vessels, Virgin Australia wrote in the email, reports AFP. Airlines that went bust Show all 12 1 /12 Airlines that went bust Airlines that went bust Air Berlin Air Berlin, which operated flights to and from Berlin Tegel, went bankrupt in 2017 Getty Airlines that went bust Small Planet Lithuanian airline Small Planet filed for insolvency at the end of 2018 Igor Dvurekov Airlines that went bust Monarch Airlines The airline ceased operations in October 2017 AFP/Getty Airlines that went bust VLM Antwerp-based VLM went bankrupt in September 2018 Flo Weiss Airlines that went bust Germania German airline Germania filed for insolvency in February 2019 Getty Airlines that went bust Kingfisher Founded in 2005 ceased flying in October 2012 AFP/Getty Airlines that went bust Cobalt Cobalt, based in Larnaca, Cyprus, stopped flying in October 2018 Steve Lynes Airlines that went bust Mexicana An airline that had been in operation since 1921, went bust in August 2010. It was Mexico's largest airline AFP/Getty Airlines that went bust WOW Air Icelandic Wow Air ceased operation in March 2019 Getty Airlines that went bust Primera Primera, known for its cheap transatlantic fares, went bust in October 2018 Getty Airlines that went bust Transaero A privately-owened airline founded in Russia, 1990 lasted until October 2015 Getty Airlines that went bust Malev After 66 years, Hungary's national airline went stopped flying in 2012 AFP/Getty Given the harsh (including death) penalties being introduced for activity that is legal and acceptable in Australia, the myID (staff travel) agreement between Virgin Australia and Royal Brunei has now been terminated effective immediately. A separate interline ticketing agreement that allows Royal Brunei to sell seats on Virgin Australia flights has not been changed. The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has called on Canberra to ensure the safety of Australians is protected. The penal code applies to all those who board a Brunei-registered aircraft even when in Australia, the VGLRL said. (It) will allow for inhumane and cruel punishments for queer people, such as death by stoning for consensual acts between same-sex adults. Virgin Australias decision follows TfLs announcement that it is pulling adverts promoting Brunei as a tourist destination from the Transport for London (TfL) network. The adverts promoted Brunei and its government-owned airline under the countrys tourism slogan an abode of peace. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The advertisement was considered compliant with our advertising policy when it was submitted and accepted, said a TfL spokesperson. However, given recent information that has come to light, it is clear that this is an issue of great public sensitivity and controversy so the advert will be removed from our network. Celebrities have also been vocal in their condemnation of Brunei, with Ellen DeGeneres and George Clooney both calling for a boycott of the luxury hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. These include the Dorchester and 45 Park Lane in London, the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and Le Meurice in Paris. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was set up on 10 December 1948. Now I wont be quoting the entire thing, its been a long time since my grade C essay at university. But what I will say is that it set out a number of freedoms and rights that every person on this planet deserves and which are needed to maintain what is perceived as a civil society. Throughout the years, the UK and other nations have picked and chosen when they deemed it appropriate to invoke the protection of human rights as a legitimate reason to interfere in another nations affairs. Often the underlying drive has been money rather than overall welfare for individuals. Sometimes simple economic sanctions suffice when dealing with a country that is breaking with the declaration. But how can you employ this strategy when the country you are dealing with has a ruler that is estimated to have a personal fortune of $20bn (15.3m)? This week George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John have come out to encourage a boycott of hotels across the world which are funded by the sultan of Bruneis investment agency. These include the Dorchester collection, an operator of some of the worlds top hotels like the Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. The reason? A law has just been passed by the sultan that allows for male same-sex couples to be stoned and whipped to death if they are found together. Included in the same penal code is the crime of adultery aimed at women and for thieves to have their hands chopped off. 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 Homosexuality was already deemed illegal and was punishable by 10 years in prison. Now the sultan has called for a more brutal version of Islamic law. The new code became law on Wednesday this week. For gay women the punishment is 40 lashes of the cane or 10 years in prison. So what is the boycotting of hotels which are meant for the top, top, top echelon of society going to actually do? Do those people even care? I mean, it may be that a cream tea and a comfy pillow outweighs the lashing to death of a gay man in Brunei. Any discomfort will easily be removed by a well-timed, overpriced massage. There is more to it though. If you want to hit a man hard, shame wont work, but money might talk. Essentially, as Clooney said, hit them in their wallet. These hotels are not just about their guests, but every night run events in their function rooms and ballrooms. They are deeply sensitive to damage to their reputations. Nowadays businesses are more and more aware of how important it is to move decisively away from any association that might damage their brand. I doubt in the future I will be attending another fashion or music party at the Dorchester after just one tweet from Monsieur Clooney. The University of Aberdeen is looking into removing the honorary degree awarded to the sultan, as is Kings College London. But this drip, drip effect wont stop the sultan from looking to impose the harshest interpretation of Islamic law. The influx of money coming from the Muslim world means he will continue to look strong in the face of the criticism. Will these laws be implemented? Many people in Brunei say it is very unlikely. But the more public shaming that can be done of institutions linked to Brunei, the better. Sadiq Kahn has already removed an advert for Brunei from the TfL network. These things can work and perhaps can at least allay the actual implementation of such heinous laws. My final thought, however, is for an old bastion of education, Oxford University. It too has strong links to the sultan, however, it couldnt even stretch to a cursory we will review the honorary degree awarded to the sultan. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Instead, it gave an outright affirmation that it will uphold it. It shows how backward a university like Oxford is, and how far it will go to protect its precious coffers. If we want to hit peoples wallets, perhaps we should be looking at how we can strain the finances of these sheltered mandarins at Oxford who refuse to listen to their students. Be more George Clooney, call them out and take a stand, however you can. I mean... its better than shouting about Brexit. Will Young and Chris Sweeneys Homo Sapiens podcast is out now Youre going to vote for all the Dems, right? Rana, a close friend from high school and college, asked me as the midterm elections were nearing. I need to do proper research on all the candidates before voting for them all blindly, I told her. She didnt seem satisfied with the answer. What choice do we have? she asked, bewildered. Were kinda doomed either way. Doomed? I raised my eyebrows and turn to her, confused. Yes, doomed, Tasmiha. Thing are only getting harder for us each day and observing hijab doesnt help our case. Rana and I commiserated over how it feels like to be a minority in the room wearing the headscarf and the pressure to choose a political side because of it. But I didnt want to feel pressured into voting Democrat merely because Im a Muslim, hijab-wearing woman. As someone who has been wearing the hijab for nearly two decades now, Ive noticed a new and disturbing trend in how people react to seeing it. In the age of Trump, there have been rising hate crimes and bigotry towards women wearing the headscarf because they are visibly Muslim. I have been asked by classmates and colleagues whether or not I would like to take it off for the sake of my own safety. Baffled, Ive emphatically said no. There is a deep misunderstanding about what hijab actually means in America nowadays, which leads to my friends and colleagues assuming that my headscarf is in part a political statement. So let me break it down for you. Firstly, the assumption that hijab is something that is worn only by women is false. In reality hijab is prescribed for both men and women once they reach the age of puberty. In fact, in the 24th chapter of the Quran, particularly the 31st verse provides guidance and the verse prior to this one addresses men having a similar command with regards to hijab. We have to take a look at the prophetic teachings to understand the explicit command of hijab and juxtapose that with the Quranic verse. Observing the rules of hijab involves being modest not only in clothing but also in speech and mannerisms. How hijab is observed in real life is a different story, though. Why then is hijab relegated to only a cloth on ones head in so many spheres? Many people assume a hijab is just cloth on ones head, when actually it usually involves covering a woman's entire body except their face, hands and feet. The stipulation for men is slightly different and involves coverage from the navel to below the knee. Thus, hijab is supposed to be compulsory for both men and women. I was born in the US, and although many would say that being born and raised in the States makes me very lucky, its sometimes hard to feel that way when your skin is brown and you wear the headscarf. Im constantly mistaken for foreign and commended for not having an accent by my fellow Americans. Fox host Jeanine Pirro says that Ilhan Omar's hijab may mean that she's against the Constitution Because of the bigotry so evident around us, many Muslim women are pigeon-holed into choosing a safer political party, rather than questioned about what our individual views actually are. And what if we dont want to immerse ourselves in politics at all? Is that wrong? Why should we feel pressure to put ourselves forward as poster-people for the Democrats even if we dont back their views on the economy, or on gun reform or jobs policies? What happened to the freedom that our country boasts? The Democratic party was divided after Ilhan Omar aired her personal views; we owe them nothing in return. The truth is that the hijab has nothing to do with political beliefs or ideology. Its part of my identity, of course, but my politics are my businessand my decision to observe hijab doesnt change that. I feel that as someone who wears hijab, there is an expectation that I should I automatically affiliate with either the left or the right. And there is really no difference between the right or left regarding the misconception that Muslim women have outdated views. While I may be more left-leaning myself, that doesn't mean I agree with all the policies and stances that the left takes. Yet the right is extremely hostile to people like me, leaving me with seemingly little choice even though my religion calls for me to take the middle road. Ultimately our political choices shouldnt be affected by fear of hostility but its hard not to allow that to happen in America right now when youre a visibly Muslim woman under enhanced scrutiny from her peers. Tasmiha Khan has an MA in Social Impact from Claremont Lincoln University and is a 2018-2019 American Association of University Women Career Development Awardee. Follow Khan @CraftOurStory In the spirit of almost-Easter, Id like to share a few almost-seasonal facts that my boyfriend texted me today in a fit of almost-romantic pedantry. Once upon a time, he told me, the green fields of England were covered with pretty little animals called coneys, pronounced to rhyme with money and honey. Because of the way the word sounded, it gained an extra meaning, making it awkward for people to talk about the animal, in much the same way that calling a cat a pussy is if youre not a pornstar. To get around the problem, my beloved cooed, three common strategies emerged. Some people changed the pronunciation to rhyme with "stoney", which lives on in the name of Coney Island, so called because of all the fluffy things hopping around on it. Others changed the sound of the first letter, so that coney became bunny. Finally though, everyone agreed to just call a coney by the name of its young, and a baby coney was called a rabbit. So the reason that we call rabbits rabbits is because the original name sounded a little way short of PG. On an entirely unrelated subject, a man by the name of Michael Cunnett was jailed earlier this week after assaulting and directing homophobic abuse at cabin crew on an easyJet flight to Egypt. Cunnett lost his temper after drinking lager and being asked to stop using his e-cigarette on the plane. Needless to say, there are few things more romantic than getting tanked up in an airport lounge on the first day of your honeymoon. Its every little girls dream, after all, for her Prince Charming to shower bigotry on an air steward for politely enforcing the airline rules against vaping. Alas, the killjoy squares at EasyJet did not share Cunnetts romantic spirit, and he was summarily thrown off the plane (which, sadly, had yet to take off) with his blushing bride screeching look at what youve done, youve f***** our honeymoon!. Far be it from me to insert myself into their love affair, but perhaps I WANT AN ANNULMENT YOU MELON would have been equally justified. Drunk passenger kicked off flight after ranting at three-year-old Meanwhile, in business class, Simone Burns a human rights lawyer of previously impeccable character (which, admittedly, is less of a compliment when it has to be delivered by a judge) took umbrage at being refused a fourth miniature bottle of wine on an Air India flight. Quite understandably, Burns took to charging about the place like a silverback gorilla infuriated that a zookeeper had confiscated its fourth banana. What is it about booze and air travel? I see it in airports all the time. Its 6am, and youre about to be herded into a giant metal cylinder to spend a few hours 30,000 feet up in the air. What better way to prepare than by filling yourself up to the brim with anger juice? You never know, a flight attendant might have the temerity to do his job properly and then youll have to teach him a valuable lesson. No doubt Cunnett would insist that he is significantly less of a violent homophobe before hes had booze. Burns, Im guessing, would protest that she is most certainly not a racist and that she would only ever call a flight attendant a money-grabbing Indian c*** and spit in their face after several miniature bottles of wine. But they were drunk, so it apparently doesnt count. On my 21st birthday, I was away at university and I was having a party. My father called me and said please, smoke as many cigarettes as you like, but dont drink too much. Drink changes your personality. Does it though? Or does it haul out the ugliest side of your personality from the back of your wardrobe and dress you up in it for all to see? I did drink on my 21st birthday. I didnt punch or spit at anyone but, I confess, I did get told off by a policeman at 2am for singing The Cranberries at the residents of Winchester. But I have had a tricky relationship with alcohol over the years, and am not a complete stranger to drunken belligerence. When Im sober, Im very mild mannered. I avoid disagreements and stifle feelings of irritation and so, sometimes, red wine can yank out an affronted, snarly, and weepy version of myself. One year at the Edinburgh festival, I had a rare tantrum when I was denied entry into a late-night performers bar because it was too crowded. It was 3am, I was a bit wired from the pressure of the festival and, frankly, I was absolutely bladdered. The poor guy working the door at the packed bar was nothing but friendly and professionally, and received in return a high-pitched and tearfully slurred lecture from me about the importance of allowing comedians to get blackout drunk because we work so HAAAARD and spend SOOOOOOO much money to be up here and YOU DONT UNDERSTAND. The next day, I took a tray of fancy cupcakes, some fizz, and a card to apologise for acting like an utter moron. The man was very sweet, gave me a hug, and told me it was the first time a punter had apologised for their terrible behaviour. That surprised me. I thought hed have had his bodyweight in cupcakes and fizz over the course of the festival. But, of course, I was drunk, and so it doesnt count. Except that it does, doesnt it? If other people suffer because you cant handle your booze, then thats a problem, and the responsible thing to do is to give a bit of thought to how much youre drinking in the first place. If you dont, then dont be too surprised if you wake up feeling like a bit of a silly rabbit. The huge rise in the number of children being home-schooled is really about who knows best. Thousands of parents are convinced they not teachers or experts know what a child should be learning and how to achieve a good education. These helicopter parents are turning their backs on classrooms, set books, any sort of structured curriculum. They want their kids to be educated by private tutors, learning through experiences. What sort of citizens will this produce? This week, I clashed with Stacey Solomon (whose two sons are home-schooled) on ITVs Loose Women our debate was heated, but friendly. Thousands of people commented online afterwards. My fellow Loose Woman, Nadia Sawalha, home-schools her children, and so does the musician Paul Weller. Angelina Jolie has proudly announced that her eldest son Maddox has been accepted at college this coming autumn. He was home-schooled. Advocates claim its a last resort because they cannot enrol their children at any of their first choices, and local schools have poor ratings. Across the UK, a record number (one in five) of pupils were not allocated their first choice of secondary school for next autumn. The number of appeals has doubled in the last six years. This week, EDSK, an education think tank, said that Ofsted grades are misleading and wrong in up to half of cases. Instead of focusing on the overall performance of a school, they say it would be more accurate to look at pupils behaviour, the quality of the curriculum, careers advice and out-of-school activities. The current system clearly needs improvement if so many parents dont trust it. Another reason for the boom in home-schooling is the rising number of teenagers with mental health issues. The idea is that schools are not responding adequately, so parents intervene. Home-schooling is a radical choice, but do the benefits stack up? Critics (like me) say that unless parents work together to help schools improve, we are fostering a two-tier system which favours the middle classes. Why cant these parents become school governors and classroom assistants, and work towards improving the education experience for ALL the children in their area? The number of home-schooled children has almost doubled in four years and is thought to exceed 60,000. Some are known to local authorities because they have been formally deregistered from school, but some were never registered in the first place. Others attend schools which could be illegal (Ofsted reckon that there are at least 48 of these, many offering a solely religious curriculum). There isnt a system in place to monitor or check private tutors, which is lamentable. Back to school: children attend class around the world Show all 30 1 /30 Back to school: children attend class around the world Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen A student stands in the ruins of one of his former classrooms Unicef/Clarke for UN Back to school: children attend class around the world Mali Sitan Doumbia, 5, plays with her friends at the Early Childhood Development Center in Mali Unicef/Keita Back to school: children attend class around the world Democratic Republic of the Congo Teacher Edouard Kabukapua, 28, accompanies his students as they sing on their way to their class in a temporary tent school in Mulombela village, KasaA region, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has deteriorated dramatically over the past year. A surge in violent conflict in the KasaA and Eastern regions has forced many people from their homes, including in the Kasai region. Unicef has scaled up integrated health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, education, protection in the country Unicef/Tremeau Back to school: children attend class around the world Democratic Republic of the Congo Tshiela, 10, sits in what was once her school, before residents fled the fighting Unicef/Tremeau Back to school: children attend class around the world Cameroon Students learn with the help of a computer tablet provided by Unicef at a school in Baigai Unicef/Prinsloo Back to school: children attend class around the world Syria Saleh*, 15, made the trip from his village in southern rural Aleppo to sit his final Grade 9 exams. He missed a year of schooling when violence escalated in his village Unicef/Al-Issa Back to school: children attend class around the world Malawi Students sit in their classroom at Makankhula Full Primary School in Dedza district. This outdoor classroom is not by choice, and is typical of Malawi's rural schools, where the lack of resources results in many young students learning under a tree. The primary school faces many challenges such as only having 16 teachers and a handful of classrooms for over 1,200 children Unicef/Brown Back to school: children attend class around the world Sudan Sunlight is filtered by reed walls as it streams into a classroom as students attend a mathematics class at the Upper Nile primary school in the Protection of Civilians Unicef/Hatcher-Moore Back to school: children attend class around the world Syria A child packs up his notebook at a make-shift school in rural Dar'a Unicef/anonymous Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen Students play chess in Nosaibah School for Girls in Sana'a, Yemen Unicef/Fuad Back to school: children attend class around the world Democratic Republic of the Congo Students attend a class in a temporary tent school set up by Unicef Unicef/Tremeau Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen Students sit under a tree as a teacher leads a class in Bait Al Faqueeh Unicef/Obadi Back to school: children attend class around the world Sudan Displaced children study in a tent classroom at the primary school in the Protection of Civilians Unicef/Hatcher-Moore Back to school: children attend class around the world Jordan A boy plays in the Unicef-supported Makani centre in Irbid Unicef/Shennawi Back to school: children attend class around the world Cote dIvoire Overcrowded class at a primary school in Gonzagueville. Unicef partnered with Conceptos Plasticos, a Columbian company that produces buidling materials with recyclable plastics, to build classrooms in this overcrowded preschool and primary school where in some classes there are more than 100 children, some of them as little as 3 years old In CAte d'Ivoire, many children do not access to education for lack of infrastructure in their community. Unicef/Dejongh Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen Students listen to their teacher during a class held in a Unicef tent school, after the Aal Okab school which they used to attend was destroyed in June 2015, in Saada, Saada Governorate, Yemen Unicef/Clarke for UN Back to school: children attend class around the world Central African Republic Gracia Rita, 13, is in her last year of primary school at the Combattant School in Bangui Unicef/Sokhin Back to school: children attend class around the world Mali Fatoumata Ouattara, a Mama Yeleen - a model mother trained in early childhood development (ECD), watches children during a drawing and colouring session with children at the Early Childhood Development Center in Mali. The Mama Yeleen initiative is promoted and supported by Unicef and its partners Unicef/Keita Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen Students gather outside the Nosaibah School for Girls in Sana'a, Yemen. Nearly half a million children have dropped out of school since the 2015 escalation of conflict in Yemen, bringing the total number of out-of-school children to 2 million. Unicef/Abdulhaleem Back to school: children attend class around the world Sudan Pupils sit in a classroom during lessons at the Upper Nile primary school in the Protection of Civilians site in Bentiu, South Sudan Unicef/Hatcher-Moore Back to school: children attend class around the world Malawi Binafrey Viera (center) enjoys being in class at an ECD center at Luwani Refugee Camp in Malawi Unicef/Chikondi Back to school: children attend class around the world Bangladesh Rohingya refugee Anjali, 8, attends a class at a Unicef-supported learning centre at the Balukhali makeshift settlement, in Ukhia, Cox's Bazar Unicef/Sujan Back to school: children attend class around the world Central African Republic A community teacher (centre in blue) plays with children in the playground at the child friendly space in Ndenga village. The village hosts a away from Kaga Bandoro, program for local children formerly associated with the anti-balaka armed group Unicef/Sokhin Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen Fatima Abdullah Abduoh, 12, attends a Unicef child friendly space. Fatima lost her elder sister to an illness during the conflict Unicef/Fuad Back to school: children attend class around the world Central African Republic Jospin stands in front of the blackboard in a classroom at the MINUSCA site in Kago Bandoro, Central African Republic Unicef/Sokhin Back to school: children attend class around the world Yemen A student attends class. Almost three quarters of public school teachers have not been paid their salaries in over a year, putting the education of an additional 4.5 million children at grave risk Unicef/Fuad Back to school: children attend class around the world Uganda Pupils of Bright Centre Early Childhood Development Centre, in Zone One, Block IV, Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe district in northern Uganda, sing and play in their classroom Unicef/Bongyereirwe Back to school: children attend class around the world Cote dIvoire Students in class at a primary school in Gonzagueville. less than seven children out of ten go to primary school. In Cote dIvoire, UNICEF distributes school kits to children and supports the Ministry of Education by building schools and training teachers. Unicef/Ddejongh Back to school: children attend class around the world Sudan South Sudanese refugees children playing with their locally made toys together with a caregiver at reception Bright ECD Centre, Yumbe District Unicef/Sibiloni Back to school: children attend class around the world Sudan A child points out letters of the alphabet on a blackboard in a tent for pre-school children at the primary school in the Protection of Civilians UNICEF/Hatcher-Moore This week, the government announced all home-schooled children would be registered, just the first step to protecting their interests. Militant parents are outraged insisting they are legally entitled to educate their children however they want. This is as arrogant as posting your childrens pictures on social media before they have reached the age of consent. Parent power is out of control. Another factor in the rise in home-schooling has been the imposition of fines for taking children out of classes during term time because holidays are cheaper. But why should children be entitled to go on foreign holidays anyway? Now, its regarded as tantamount to child cruelty if you cant take the family to a luxury hotel in a hot climate. Some parents are behaving like rebellious pupils determined to rail against a system that imposes any kind of rules. I can understand why teachers do not want children removed during term time. A class is a cohesive unit, why should some kids be taken out of it because their parents are prepared to pay fines? Is a fortnight on a beach a unique learning experience? Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The one part of education that these parents seem reluctant to embrace is discipline, the notion that you cant always get what you want, when you want it. Thats one of the most valuable life lessons a state school can teach, invaluable if you want to hold down any kind of a job. The UK suffers already from a two-tier education system. If I was running the country, private schools would be abolished overnight. Now, we have a third tier, and something only middle-class parents, or families where only one parent works, can afford or accommodate. The only kind of acceptable home-schooling is for people with special needs whose local authorities cannot provide alternatives without extensive travel. Some advocates of home-schooling say they have resorted to it because their kids were being picked on and bullied, but the only way to change that is to fight back, not retreat back home. School is where you learn resilience, to cope with unpleasantness, to make friends with people outside your family group. Sadly, too many modern parents want to control every aspect of their childrens lives monitoring their movements via special apps, calling them every few hours to make sure they are safe. Home-schooling is just another form of insidious control. It is 22 years since the satirist Chris Morris convinced Southend MP David Amess to raise in the House of Commons the dangers of a new but entirely fictitious drug called cake. One of cakes side effects, according to no less than Noel Edmonds, was that it stimulates a part of the brain known as Shatners bassoon, which deals with time perception. Cake, Edmonds earnestly believed, can make a second feel like a month. Sounds like fun, but not funny for the Prague schoolboy who stepped in front of a tram, thinking he had a month to cross the street. And yet, 22 years or perhaps 22 seconds later, cake really has hit the streets, except it is now known as Brexit. Theresa May has the nations Shatners Bassoon in her grasp and she is wreaking merry havoc. If I type into Google such things as Article 50 extension, I can see in front of me clear evidence that, just a fortnight ago, May wrote to Donald Tusk and asked for the Article 50 deadline to be extended to 30 June. I can see well-briefed Brussels correspondents, saying that Jean-Claude Juncker and others advised her against doing it, because they would have to say no. I can also see pictures and video clips of all the leaders of the 27 EU nations, meeting in Brussels, and telling May that the deadline was 12 April. And by then she would have to have either passed the withdrawal agreement through the House of Commons, or come up with a credible plan, with Commons support, for a new way forward. Next week, all those leaders will have to come back to Brussels again, entirely against their will. They will have read Mays letter, which, and I know were all off our tits on Brexit here, really does appear to have Friday 5 April written at the top of it, in which she says that the House of Commons hasnt passed the withdrawal agreement, she doesnt have anything like a coherent plan with Commons support for the way ahead, but could she please extend the deadline to 30 June. She also says the UK could take part in the EU elections on 22 May, though hopefully the elected MEPs may never take their seats, or they will withdraw from the parliament the moment a deal is reached. On the increasingly common occasions over the last couple of years in which May is called mad or worse for triggering Article 50 in March 2017 without any real plan on how to deliver Brexit, one defence of her actions is regularly overlooked. She was under considerable pressure, from Brexiteers at home and from European leaders, to trigger Article 50 as soon as possible. The EU had held firm, it had not allowed any kind of pre-negotiation. Goodwill was evaporating. And there was the fact that the good friend and neighbour that the UK wished to be wouldnt wish to turn the EUs parliamentary elections in May 2019 into something of a circus act. It is the very thing it is now doing. The EU has a parliament like any other. It has parties and groupings from different countries. The overall size of the number of MEPs that sit in it is important. Try to imagine a British general election, the deals that are done after it (in two of the three most recent examples), in which a whole large chunk of MPs may or may not vanish at an indiscernible point in the future. Theresa May says UK will seek 'short extension' as she reaches out to Corbyn for new deal At this point in the process, the sanest voices are the ones calling for self-harm. The French foreign minister has said no, the UK shouldnt be allowed any extension. In failing to reach an agreement with itself, it has chosen a disorderly exit. With the exception of Ireland and the UK itself, France has the most chaos to manage from a chaotic British departure. It takes the view that chaos is better than allowing Europe to be infected with British psychosis. What May hopes, of course, is that when the EU says no, which it already has done, and offers a long extension instead, her accepting it can be blamed on a combination of both the EU and Jeremy Corbyn, who she has now had three days of talks with, which have no purpose beyond both sides outwardly showing they are having them. It is yet another clear demonstration of May as quite possible the least politically skilled prime minister this country has ever had. Her manoeuvres are so transparent as to not be manoeuvres at all. This playing for position is so crass it insults the basic intelligence of both her political interlocutors and her would-be voters. Corbyn is simply not going to carry the can for the failure of Brexit. Not least as he has never cared about its consequences anyway. He, unlike her, actually is a Brexiteer. And in any event, harm only hastens her departure. And so we must wait for the worst, most dismal Groundhog Day episode yet, in Brussels next week, when yet again, nothing will have changed. There remains a chance that, via French president Emmanuel Macron, the spell might be broken in the most frightening way possible. But it is only a chance. We go on to the end. The next phase: European elections that will be almost as grim a spectacle as another referendum; a conservative leadership election, no doubt; probably a general election, but underpinning it all, a withdrawal agreement that the EU will demand the House of Commons ratify, and the House of Commons will refuse to do so. Seconds, days, months, weeks, years. Who knows? Who cares? Theyre all the same. European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier holds a news conference after a General Affairs Council on Article 50 in Brussels, Belgium March 19, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman The EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier is to visit Dublin on Monday at the start of a crucial week in the Brexit negotiations. Mr Barnier will try to plot a way forward for the EU in meetings with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. EU leaders will gather in Brussels on Thursday to decide whether the Brexit deadline should be pushed back again. The visit is a significant show of solidarity and comes hot on the heels of bilateral meetings with the leaders of France and Germany. A spokesman for the Taoiseach confirmed on Friday that Mr Barnier and his team would travel to the Irish capital. "The aim is to take stock of developments in London as well as the ongoing planning for a possible no-deal scenario," the spokesman said. The visit comes within days of Mr Varadkar holding bilateral meetings with French and German leaders. With reporting from Press Association BREXIT and wider global uncertainties are weighing on global passenger demand for air travel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). But it said that European airlines are still performing strongly in terms of passenger demand, which IATA added is a "paradox" given the imminent departure of the UK from the European Union. The association said yesterday the rate of growth of revenue passenger kilometres has slowed to its slowest level in a year, at 5.4pc in February. EasyJet warned this week that Brexit uncertainty was contributing to weaker demand and a consequent softening in ticket yields. But IATA said that the February growth figure was in line with long-term trends. It added that the global average load factor - or the percentage of available seats sold - among airlines during February dipped 0.1 percentage points to 80.6pc. European carriers were still the strongest performers globally in February, according to the IATA figures. Passenger demand in the region rose 7.6pc in the month. "Europe's continuing strong performance provides a paradox given Brexit concerns and signs of a softer economic outlook," according to IATA. Capacity in the region jumped 8pc, and while the load factor in Europe slipped 0.3 percentage points to 82.3pc, it was still the best performance of any other region. "The Brexit deadline has come and gone with no separation agreement, but with vital air connectivity between the UK and the continent maintained for the present," said IATA chief executive Alexandre de Juniac. "Temporary measures, however, are no substitute for a comprehensive Brexit package that will ensure that the business of freedom is able to play its vital role in contributing to the well-being of the region-and the world," he added. Dark clouds gathered over Farmleigh House and the heavens opened while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and German Chancellor Angela Merkel talked inside. Perhaps it was a metaphor as Europe's most powerful leader visited the capital of one of the smallest EU member states, which is caught up in the swirling tempest that is Brexit. Either way, the large contingent of German and international press were treated to some very Irish weather. They got drenched as they waited outside for a press conference with people from Border communities who had just met Ms Merkel. Perhaps it was thought the images of picturesque Farmleigh and its rolling grounds would play well on German TV and might attract a few tourists. For whatever reason, the decision was taken to persevere with the outdoor question-and-answer session. Reporters sheltered under coats while someone from the Taoiseach's office handed out some umbrellas. It was a struggle to hear the representatives of Border communities over the noise of the downpour, which intensified as the press conference continued. They can't have been too thrilled about the circumstances of their encounter with the media either, but they did have a serious message. There were people who lost loved ones in the Troubles among the 15-strong contingent that met Ms Merkel, as well as representatives of farming and business who fear the impact of Brexit. Peter Sheridan, a former PSNI assistant chief constable, said they shared their "personal lived experiences" of the Border with the German leader. It was a bid to ensure the potential human impact of the UK leaving the EU will be taken into account as the Brexit process enters its most crucial phase yet. She met Protestants and Catholics, unionists and nationalists and appeared to understand only too well what they were saying. Ms Merkel did after all grow up in Cold War-era East Germany complete with the Berlin Wall, which finally tumbled in 1989. Mr Sheridan said: "I think her own background living on one side of a wall, she understood the very personal stories we shared with her". The chancellor's later remarks suggested the message sunk in. She said that she lived behind the Iron Curtain for 34 years and knows what it means "once borders vanish, once walls fall". She spoke of the need to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement. Asked whether it's possible to protect the EU single market while ruling out a return to a Border in Ireland, she said: "We will simply have to be able to do this." Mr Varadkar will meet Ms Merkel again at next week's EU summit, two days before the next deadline for the UK's departure. If there's no plan to avoid a crash-out Brexit by then, Ireland will be hoping Ms Merkel brings an umbrella to help weather the storm. Greeting: Ms Merkel signs the visitors book at Farmleigh as Leo Varadkar looks on. Picture: Maxwells German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalled memories of her life behind the Berlin Wall as she promised to do everything possible to prevent a hard Border. At a private meeting with businesspeople and activists from the Border region, Ms Merkel told how while growing up she was separated from her grandmother by the wall. Her first visit to Dublin in five years was described by those present as "emotional". In a public message the Taoiseach hopes will carry weight across Europe, Ms Merkel said she understood why Irish people were so desperate to hold on to peace. "We will simply have to be able to do this. We have to be successful and we hope for a solution that we can agree together with Britain," she said. After what she described as a "very moving" meeting with representatives of Border communities, the chancellor said she would work "until the very last hour" to secure a Brexit deal. "For 34 years I lived behind the Iron Curtain, so I know only too well what it means once borders vanish, once walls fall. "We need to do everything to bring about a peaceful co-operation," she said. However, her comments came against a backdrop of continuing uncertainty in the UK and growing fears in Brussels that a disorderly Brexit is becoming inevitable. A leading European Union official said yesterday he could not rule out the prospect of customs points being built on this island. Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said "a hard Brexit is increasingly possible". Asked whether Border posts would be needed between the Republic and Northern Ireland, he said the aim was to ensure that checks were done "away from the Border, if at all possible". Senior officials were also briefing that checks on animals and food produce, including milk, will have to take place. The potential for a 'milk lake' has even been raised as farmers who currently sell diary products will no longer be able to send their produce across the Border. The EU will not accept creamery tanks containing "mixed EU and third-country milk". At Farmleigh House, Ms Merkel was pressed on how it could be possible for Ireland to uphold the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and protect the single market. While she refused to outline a solution to the problem, she said: "I heard that you have the same saying as what we say in Germany: 'Where there's a will there's a way'. "We are working on this and we have very good partners in the Commission, with Michel Barnier and Jean-Claude Juncker, who are putting everything into finding a good ending, finding mutual solutions, so we will find this together. "We still hope, obviously, for an orderly Brexit." Ms Merkel said her discussions in Dublin had encouraged her "to explore for ways and means to continue to ensure this peaceful coexistence that you have worked so hard for". Her comments came two days after French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would "never abandon" Ireland. Government sources last night said the solidarity being shown by the two superpowers means "Ireland's standing in the EU Council is as strong as it ever was". A source said they hoped the chancellor now understood the emotional aspects linked to the Border as well as the technical side of the Good Friday Agreement. EU leaders will meet in Brussels next Wednesday to decide whether to grant the UK another Brexit extension. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was "not possible to have a clear plan" for what happens if the UK crashes out. He said the EU was prepared to amend the terms for the future trade talks with the UK if Prime Minister Theresa May shifted her red lines. "Both Ireland and Germany want to have a future relationship with the UK which is close and comprehensive and as deep as possible, and we would like to see the Withdrawal Agreement ratified so that we can begin the negotiations on a new economic and security partnership without further delay," he said. "There is very little time left and we have to prepare ourselves for all outcomes." The Chicago ordinance brought by Ald. Brian Hopkins would require certain new construction to limit the use of glass from ground level to 36 feet or employ etched or frosted glass to avoid inviting reflections of sky or water. Nonessential outdoor lights would be automatically turned off between 11 p.m and sunrise. The law would apply to newly built large-scale buildings, not homes or residential buildings with six units or less. Theresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk requesting an extension to Article 50 until June 30. The Prime Minister said she will seek to ratify her Withdrawal Agreement before the European Parliament elections on May 23, but will make "responsible preparations" to take part if that does not prove possible. Britain is due to leave the European Union at the end of next week, but Mrs May is now seeking to delay Brexit for a second time after her deal was rejected for a third time last week. In her letter, she wrote: "I am writing therefore to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty. "The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early. "The Government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible." Mrs May said if ongoing talks with Labour do not lead to a "single unified approach soon" then the government would instead look to establish a "consensus" on options on a future relationship that could be put to the House of Commons. She wrote: "The Government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House, if the Opposition will commit to doing the same." It comes amid reports that EU officials are considering offering the PM a flexible extension - or "flextension" - to the Article 50 timetable. Mr Tusk is preparing to put the option to EU leaders at a crunch summit next Wednesday in a bid to prevent the UK crashing out of the bloc on April 12, according to the BBC. A 212ac residential property with extensive farm buildings at Kilcotty, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford sold in five lots at public auction recently, making a total of 2.78m. It exceeded its guide by a substantial 880,000, realising an overall per acre price of 13,100/ac. Expand Close The 212ac residential property at Kilcotty, near Enniscorthy, sold in five lots, making a total of 2.78m / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 212ac residential property at Kilcotty, near Enniscorthy, sold in five lots, making a total of 2.78m Located on the R744 about 6.5km east of Enniscorthy, the place has substantial road frontage. In a mix of grass and tillage it includes a solid two-storey farmhouse reached by a tree-lined avenue in a private setting surrounded by trees. The house extends to 1,765sqft and while structurally sound is in need of renovation and modernisation. The yard to the rear of the dwelling has its own entrance from the road and comprises a wide range of sheds in a mix of dated and relatively modern units, generally in good condition. At auction Frank McGuinness of Sherry FitzGerald O'Leary Kinsella offered the place for sale in five lots. The main lot, located around the house, extends to 134ac divided between tillage and grass, with 1.2km of road frontage on to the R744. Including the house and yards this opened at 1m and attracted four bidders. It went on the market at 1.45m and sold for 1.71m to a local tillage farmer. The second lot located in the townlands of Ballybeg and Baurela is about 400m from the main farm. Comprising 44ac of tillage, the parcel is laid out in five divisions; it has no road frontage but is accessed by a short laneway. This opened at 300,000 and four bidders again took to the chase. It went on the market at 360,000 and at 555,000 the gavel came down in favour of a local solicitor acting in trust. Lot three is made up of 16.5ac of tillage ground and is located in the townland of Kilpierce about 1km from the farmstead. All in one field with dual road frontage extending to 400m, this parcel opened at 150,000 and a number of local tillage farmers fought it out until it went on the market at 200,000 and the hammer dropped at 280,000. The fourth lot, an 8.42ac parcel of tillage with dual road frontage at Cooladine, sold to an adjoining tillage farmer after one bid of 80,000. The same farmer bought the final lot, also adjoining him at Cooladine. Consisting of 9.26ac of tillage in one field with extensive road frontage, it opened at 120,000 and sold for 155,000. Frank McGuinness described it as a great sale that drew huge local interest prior to auction and involved all local buyers on the day. Pay topped 10.5m each for the top bosses at housebuilder Glenveagh Properties, its first full year in business. The bulk of last years income for the top two executive directors at Irish Stock Exchange listed Glenveagh Properties was a shares windfall last July worth just under 10m each to Justin Bickle and Stephen Garvey, based on Glenveaghs share-price at the time. Its annual report published yesterday shows that in addition to those shares, Glenveagh co-founder and CEO Justin Bickle was paid salary, bonus and other benefits of 719,500 last year while co-founder Stephen Garvey, who is the chief operating officer, was paid 564,400. Glenveagh chairman John Mulcahy, a Nama executive before helping launch the firm, earned a total pay package of 419,000 at Glenveagh last year, in addition to shares valued at around 2.2m he received last August. Expand Close Glenveagh Properties three co-founders, Justin Bickle, CEO; John Mulcahy, chairman; and Stephen Garvey, COO, after the company announced half-year results last September / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Glenveagh Properties three co-founders, Justin Bickle, CEO; John Mulcahy, chairman; and Stephen Garvey, COO, after the company announced half-year results last September The company emerged as a house builder from US fund Oaktrees stock of Irish property assets bought after the crash. The private equity style founder share scheme kicked in July, a year after listing on the stock market, conditional on performance targets being met. Glenveaghs annual results in March recorded a loss of 3.5m after tax in 2018, excluding exceptional items. It is looking to sell 725 houses this year as it moves from buying land to building and selling houses. Earlier this month it announced the sale of 118 new homes in two estates at Taylor Hill, Balbriggan and Semple Woods, Donabate, both in Co Dublin, in a single deal to landlord Ires Reit. The company has said it could deploy as much as 25pc of its land bank into the private rented sector to big funds who then rent them out to tenants, and is also looking for partners to build social housing. Shares in Independent News & Media (INM) rose 30.5pc - to 9.5c each - yesterday after it announced an approach from a potential buyer. The company told the stock market that it had "received an approach in relation to a possible offer for the company". "Discussions are at a preliminary stage and there is no certainty that any offer will be made, or as to the terms of any such offer," the company said. It did not name the interested party and would not comment further. Potential buyers were also tight-lipped yesterday. German group Axel Springer and Norwegian company Schibsted have previously been speculated about as potential buyers of INM, as has Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns 'The Sun' and 'Sunday Times' titles here. Axel Springer - whose titles include 'Die Welt', 'Bild' and 'Business Insider' - said: "We in general don't comment on market rumours". The German group is understood not to be interested in a move for INM. Schibsted said: "In general, we never comment on rumours and speculations about acquisitions, regardless of whether they are true or not." A spokeswoman for News Corp subsidiary News UK said it "does not comment on speculation". INM is the largest private media group on the island of Ireland and publishes titles including the Irish Independent, 'Herald', 'Sunday Independent', 'Belfast Telegraph', 'Sunday World' and Independent.ie. Last week it reported profit before tax of 24.1m for 2018, ahead of market expectations but down 15.4pc on the prior year. INM's total revenues last year were 191m, down 2.1pc on 2017. The business had a cash pile of 81.7m at the end of December. INM's largest shareholder is Digicel chairman Denis O'Brien, who owns 29.9pc of the business. Financier Dermot Desmond is the second biggest with 15pc, held via his vehicle International Investment & Underwriting (IIU). Last week, INM chief executive Michael Doorly said speculation in the maket that the company could be a target for takeover by a larger European media business was prompted by its low share price. He said there was no indication major shareholders in the company were minded to sell. INM is moving towards introducing a paid model for some online content, potentially from the end of this year, with revenue from newspaper circulation and total online and print advertising falling last year. It has been hit by exceptional legal costs (3.5m in 2018) that are linked to the high-profile investigations under way into INM by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and Data Protection Commission. These have been prompted by whistleblower allegations about corporate governance at board level and alleged data breaches. Physicist Hedwig Kohn is being honoured with a Google Doodle on what would have been her 132nd birthday. Kohn, one of just three women certified to teach physics at a German university before World War II, was born in Breslau, which is now Wrocaw, Poland, on 5 April 1887. Throughout her lengthy career, she overcame trials and adversity to become a notable physicist during a time when opportunities available to both women and Jews were limited. The physicist's work was published in more than 20 journals throughout her life and in a physics textbook used as a standard introduction to the field of radiometry into the 1960s. Kohn was removed from her position in 1993 when Nazi Germany regulations barring Jews from government service went into place, but rather than giving up on her aspirations, Kohn continued her work by focusing on research contracts for the next few years. By 1938, it was clear that Kohn was not safe in the country, but it would take two more years before she was able to secure a visa and a job teaching in America. Her persistence and intelligence were critical in helping her escape Germany as the second World War began to take hold, as she was able to successfully prove her skills would be useful in the US. Upon arriving in the US, Kohn again took up a position as a professor first at the Womens College of the University of North Carolina and then at Wellesley College in Massachusetts - where she would continue her research into flame spectrometry while moulding the minds of other doctoral students. In her basement lab, she also focused her attentions on electromagnetic radiation and atomic and molecular spectroscopy, before later taking on a research position at Duke University. Kohn, a pioneer in her field, died in 1964 at the age of 77. While her findings in the field of physics are no longer used, her dedication is remembered years later. The drama surrounding car executive Carlos Ghosn has erupted again, with Japanese prosecutors rearresting him on fresh allegations that he used millions of dollars from Nissan for his own purposes. Authorities arrived at Mr Ghosn's Tokyo apartment shortly before 6am to detain him on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust, using company money funnelled through an intermediary for personal purposes. They're the most serious charges yet against Mr Ghosn, who had been free on bail for less than a month. "My arrest this morning is outrageous and arbitrary," he said. "It is part of another attempt by some individuals at Nissan to silence me by misleading the prosecutors. Why arrest me except to try to break me? I will not be broken." Mr Ghosn was arrested because of the risk of flight and destruction of evidence, said deputy chief prosecutor Shin Kukimoto. He was released on March 6 on bail of 1bn yen (8m). The arrest came a day after the former chairman of Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi announced he would hold a tell-all press conference. Renault and Nissan uncovered payments made under Mr Ghosn that allegedly went toward corporate jets, a yacht, and his son's startup, leading the French carmaker to alert authorities about potential wrongdoing, people familiar with the matter said. On Wednesday, Renault said some expenses "involve questionable and concealed practices and violations of the group's ethical principles". Prosecutors took Mr Ghosn's phone, notebooks and other items in his possession as evidence, as well as his wife's phone and passport, according his lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka. The rearrest was "extremely inappropriate" and designed to put pressure on his client, the lawyer said. Another lengthy stay in prison could make it harder for Mr Ghosn to prepare for his trial on charges of financial misconduct, and refocus international attention on Japan's criminal justice system. Mr Ghosn, who was arrested on November 19 and jailed for more than 100 days, has vigorously denied accusations of transferring personal trading losses to the carmaker and under-reporting his income. He was arrested just as he was preparing to tell his side of the story. He had tweeted that he planned to hold a news conference on April 11 to "tell the truth" about accusations against him. He has prepared a video statement, which will be released at some point, his lawyer said. Bloomberg Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will be reunited on screen when Britains Got Talent returns (John Stillwell/PA) Ant McPartlin will be reunited with his long-term presenting partner Declan Donnelly when Britains Got Talent returns to screens this weekend. The TV star took a step back from his work commitments following his arrest for drink-driving in March last year, and Donnelly hosted the live Britains Got Talent shows alone. Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams will also return to judge a host of variety acts at both the London Palladium and The Lowry in Manchester. A drag artist dressed as Queen Elizabeth, a ventriloquist from Devon and an unexpected strip-show from one of the judges will feature as the competition returns for its 13th series. Also auditioning in front of the panel will be a Dalek from Nottinghamshire and brothers from Russia whose death-defying act will have the judges covering their eyes. Britains Got Talent returns to ITV on Saturday at 7.15pm. Lightfoot has other ideas to clean up city government, but her position thats gotten the most attention because it takes a swipe at the culture of Chicago politics is her critique of whats known as aldermanic prerogative or privilege. This tradition, woven into Chicagos neighborhood-centric identity, gives aldermen outsize sway within their wards over zoning and regulatory approvals. Power like that over street corner deals can corrupt, absolutely. Its part of whats alleged in the Burke case: Federal authorities have charged him with attempted extortion for allegedly holding up a driveway permit for a Burger King in an effort to get a franchisee to hire his law firm. Burke has denied wrongdoing. Matt Lucas said he was often mistaken for Rebel Wilson (Isabel Infantes/PA) Comedian Matt Lucas has said he is often mistaken for his Bridesmaids co-star Rebel Wilson when out in Los Angeles. Lucas said US fans recognised him more for his part in the 2011 comedy or Doctor Who than for Little Britain, the show which shot him to fame in the UK. Between 2012 and 2015, Lucas and Wilson lived together in West Hollywood, and were often seen in public as a pair Speaking on the Graham Norton Show, the 45-year-old said some fans thought he and Wilson were at least related. Expand Close Matt Lucas said he is often mistaken for Rebel Wilson (Isabel Infantes/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Matt Lucas said he is often mistaken for Rebel Wilson (Isabel Infantes/PA) He said: People recognise me there because of Doctor Who but also for Bridesmaids, but they think I am Rebel Wilson. Its a bit weird, but they do, or they think we are brother and sister, husband and wife, the same person, or all three. Lucas, who recently returned to appear in Les Miserables, said the concert performances were his dream job. He said: Usually I wouldnt go back to something again, but I just love this show. Its a nice show and a nice bunch of people so its nice to go back and rejoin the family. The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Friday at 10.35pm. The Georgian building at 3 Henrietta Street, Dublin, for which the plans for short-let studios were submitted The some-time scourge of plans by Trump Doonbeg and other developers has lost out on his own plans to extend the number of Airbnb-style studio lettings at his protected Georgian property in Dublin. This follows An Bord Pleanala refusing planning permission to An Taisce's Heritage Officer Ian Lumley and builder Patrick Wigglesworth to convert the lower ground floor of their property at 3 Henrietta Street into three short-term-lease studio apartments. The outspoken planning expert - who doesn't receive any pay for his work for An Taisce - has previously clashed with county councillors over one-off housing and has led An Taisce objections against a number of high profile developments, including a Ballsbridge office block plan by developer Johnny Ronan. However, Mr Lumley now finds himself in the unusual role of developer and has to contend with the appeals board shooting down his and Mr Wigglesworth's plans to increase the number of Airbnb studio-style lettings at the 1750s property. In refusing planning permission, the appeals board pointed out that Henrietta Street "is a street of international importance in conservation terms". Upholding a decision by Dublin City Council to refuse planning, the appeals board stated that the plans "would result in serious injury to the special architectural character and fabric of this protected structure of international significance". The appeals board stated: "The proposed development would also set an undesirable precedent for similar developments along the street." The City Council refused planning permission last year after a conservation report stated that the provision of three apartments in the basement "is over-development from a conservation point of view". The report stated that "the proposal would have a significant and long-term negative impact on Henrietta Street and the wider context along Henrietta Street". Last June, Mr Lumley and Mr Wigglesworth secured planning permission for seven AirBnB-style studio lettings at the same building. Mr Lumley said yesterday: "The building continues to be under refurbishment. "The house has been restored from serious dereliction requiring major investment without any grant funding and is now nearing completion." He stated: "I am involved in different ways with a number of organisations, for none of which I am employed or receive any financial benefit." The appeal against the council refusal on behalf of Mr Lumley and Mr Wigglesworth argued that the two applicants are of the opinion that the works proposed will have minimal impact upon the historic fabric and allow for the ongoing use and survival of the building. The two argued that the proposed alterations do not represent an intensification of existing use, pointing out that the proposal represents a considerable reduction in terms of the intensity of use. In an objection to the plan, Cliona Buckley from Rathmines argued that the property is being developed as a totally commercial enterprise. John Downey arrives for an extradition hearing at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday January 28, 2019. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire A Donegal man who received a so-called comfort letter in relation to the 1982 London Hyde Park bombing, has been given a date to appeal his proposed extradition for the 1972 Enniskillen bombing. Northern Irish authorities are seeking to extradite John Downey (67) to face prosecution for the murder of two British Army Infantrymen as well as aiding and abetting the causing of an explosion on August 25, 1972. Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames were killed when a device exploded in a vehicle they were checking on the Irvinestown Road, Cherrymount, in Enniskillen. Mr Downey was arrested last November at his home address in Ards, Creeslough, Co Donegal on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. He told detectives he believed it was the DUP and not the DPP who decided to prosecute him. The High Court in Dublin ordered Mr Downeys extradition in March, despite objections on grounds of delay and a letter of assurance he believes amounts to a pardon or amnesty. Mr Downeys trial in relation to the 1982 London Hyde Park bombing, in which four soldiers and seven horses were killed, collapsed in February 2014 over a letter sent to him and other alleged republican paramilitaries. The so-called comfort letters", issued by the Tony Blair government, told republican paramilitaries they were not wanted for prosecution of crimes committed during the troubles. The on-the-run scheme and letters, which fully emerged following the collapse of Mr Downeys 2014 trial in relation to the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, triggered a major political controversy and lead to an inquiry. Mr Downey has lodged an appeal against his proposed extradition to Northern Ireland. During case management procedures today President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham fixed May 27 next as the date for hearing of the appeal. In the High Court, Mr Downeys lawyers said their client had recently turned 67 and it was safe to say he was not in good health. He faced the prospect of a lengthy trial process and there was no guarantee he would be admitted to bail. Garnet Orange SC, for Mr Downey, said there was doubt over whether alleged evidence in relation to the 1972 bombing actually exists anymore. Mr Downeys fingerprints are alleged to have been found on adhesive tape recovered from a battery pack used in the Enniskillen bombing, the High Court heard. However, Mr Orange said the adhesive tape was subsequently lost for a number of years and it was unclear whether it actually still existed. He said the northern Irish prosecution intended to rely on statements from two critical prosecution witnesses in relation to the tape and its analysis, who were now deceased. Ordering his surrender, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, the High Court judge in charge of extradition, said she rejected each of Mr Downey's objections. Ms Justice Donnelly said it was clear that the public interest in his surrender is extremely high in light of the offences and that this remained the case despite the delay in time. (L) Kevin Healy-Rae and his brother Jackie Healy-Rae Jr (right) pictured arriving with their solicitor Padraig O'Connell at Kenmare Court Photo: Don MacMonagle A DISTRICT Court judge accepted jurisdiction in dealing with assault charges levelled against two sons of Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae and their friend. Jackie (23) and Kevin (22) Healy-Rae, both sons of the Independent TD, and their friend, Malachy Scannell (34), appeared before Judge David Waters at Kenmare District Court today in respect of charges including assault causing harm brought over an alleged incident in the south Kerry town in December 2017. Both Jackie and Kevin Healy-Rae are grandsons of Jackie Healy-Rae Snr, the late Independent TD for Kerry South whose election in 1997 began the Healy-Rae political dynasty. Jackie Healy-Rae Snr served until his retirement from the Dail in 2011. Expand Close Charges: Jackie and Kevin Healy-Rae on their way to the Dail following their fathers election in 2016 Photo: Don MacMonagle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Charges: Jackie and Kevin Healy-Rae on their way to the Dail following their fathers election in 2016 Photo: Don MacMonagle The young men's uncle, Danny Healy-Rae, is also an Independent TD for Kerry. Judge Waters was told the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to all matters being dealt with on a summary basis before the district court. However, the judge asked to read the medical report in respect of the matters involving the charges of assault causing harm before deciding on jurisdiction. Having studied the report, Judge Waters agreed that the matter could stay before the district court rather than be referred to Kerry Circuit Criminal Court. No details of the alleged assaults was given. He also asked for details on a criminal damage charge against Mr Scannell. Judge Waters was told this involved alleged damage to a pair of glasses "knocked off following an altercation." Having accepted jurisdiction, he granted an application by defence solicitor, Padraig O'Connell, for disclosure orders in respect of all State evidence including witness statements. Mr O'Connell indicated, on behalf of the defendants, that all charges will be "vigorously and fully defended." "These matters will be fully contested so a hearing date will be required at the June court," he said. Mr O'Connell said his clients had denied all the charges from the very outset. Judge Waters adjourned all matters until the June 7 sitting of Kenmare District Court when a date for the hearing will be set. All three defendants were remanded to appear again on that date. Jackie Healy-Rae Jnr - who is a candidate in next May's Local Government elections in the Castleisland area - faces a number of assault charges arising from alleged events in Kenmare 17 months ago. One count is of alleged assault causing harm to Kieran James at Main Street in Kenmare on December 28 2017 contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. A second count is of alleged assault to Mr James at East Park Lane in the south Kerry town on the same date contrary to Section 2 of the same Act. Kevin Healy-Rae is charged with alleged assault causing harm to Mr James in Kenmare on the same date. Mr Scannell, who has an address at Inchinacoosh, Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, is charged with alleged assault causing harm to Mr James in Kenmare on December 28. He also faces a charge of alleged assault causing harm to Cornelius 'Neily' O'Sullivan on Main Street, Kenmare. Mr Scannell faces a third charge of alleged criminal damage to a pair of prescription eye glasses belonging to Cornelius 'Neily' O'Sullivan at Main Street, Kenmare contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. The Director of Public Prosecutions, having considered the case file, indicated to gardai that the matter can be disposed of at district court rather than circuit court level. None of the three defendants addressed the court beyond confirming their identities. Jackie Healy-Rae Jnr is an aspiring politician and is deeply involved in election campaigns for his father and uncle. He is a candidate in the Kerry Co Council election on May 24. His brother, Kevin Healy-Rae, operates a successful disc jockey business in Kerry. Both brothers have an address at Sandymount in Kilgarvan, Co Kerry. Mr Scannell is a close friend of the brothers. The district court can impose sentences of up to 12 months in prison for people convicted of assault causing harm. Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan has secured a High Court order requiring Facebook to provide her with information aimed at identifying those behind alleged defamatory adverts on the social media platform . Facebook neither consented nor objected to the orders, made today by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds. They require Facebook to give Ms OCallaghans lawyers basic subscriber information, payment method details and business manager account information, to the extent such information exists, about those behind the adverts. Ms OCallaghan intends to seek damages over the alleged false and malicious adverts containing her image and name on Facebook and Instagram in May 2018. She wants to bring proceedings against both Facebook, which owns Instagram, and those behind the adverts. Because her lawyers don't know who the latter are, she sought orders requiring Facebook Ireland Ltd to provide information it allegedly has about those who paid for the adverts to be placed on the platforms. When the matter was mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Friday, Paul O'Higgins SC, for Ms O'Callaghan, said progress has been made and an order was being handed into the court. He said Facebooks ordinary protocol in such applications is they will notify customers before providing details of their accounts but, in this case, his side wanted that bypassed. The account details may be phoney anyway but he did not want the account holders to be informed in advance, he said. Joe Jeffers BL, for Facebook, said it was neither objecting nor consenting to the order. The judge said she would make the order and returned the matter to April 30. Previously the High Court was told the adverts contain misleading and defamatory headlines wrongly suggesting Ms O'Callaghan has left her job with RTE's Prime Time to promote skin care products. Ms O'Callaghan says she has "nothing to do" with the adverts, linked to offers for skin care products, and is most distressed at being associated against her will with what has been described as "a scam product". She claims the adverts have exploited the trust placed in her by the Irish public and damaged her good name and reputation. The paid for adverts, known as "targeted advertisements" appear on social media users newsfeeds, and are designed to encourage the user to click on the adverts. Those who click on the adverts are offered various skin care products which she says are falsely stated to be owned or endorsed by Ms O'Callaghan. It is also claimed users who avail of an offer of free trials of the skin care products have reported they had money debited from their bank accounts which they did not authorise. Ms O'Callaghan intends to seek a permanent injunction restraining publication of the adverts, plus damages for malicious falsehood, unlawful appropriation of personality, various breaches of her constitutional rights and defamation. A MAN has appeared in court accused of nearly 400 counts of sexual abuse of children in the midlands over a six-year period. The accused (38) was extradited to Ireland from the US and brought before a court this evening. Judge Kevin Kilrane refused to grant bail and sent him forward for trial. He faces a total of 394 charges related to the alleged abuse of two boys in the 2000s. The man, who cannot be named, is charged with 210 counts of sexual assault, 177 counts of rape, three counts of assault causing harm and one count each of attempted rape, false imprisonment, harassment and criminal damage to property. Detective Garda Damien McGovern told a special court sitting in the midlands he arrested the accused by warrant at Dublin Airport at 8.32am this morning following his extradition from the US. He was formally charged at a midlands garda station at 10.15am and evidence was handed in to court by certificate given the volume of charges. Two books of evidence were served on him - he is being sent forward to the circuit court in relation to one of the alleged victims and to the Central Criminal Court on the other. Det Gda McGovern objected to bail, citing the nature and seriousness of the charges. He said they carried potential sentences on conviction ranging from five years to life imprisonment. The man's solicitor Frank Gearty applied for bail on his behalf, saying the accused was presumed innocent and was prepared to abide by conditions. The man also gave evidence in support of his bail application, confirming that he would agree to conditions if granted bail. Judge Kilrane refused to grant bail due to the seriousness of the charges and remanded the accused in custody. The books of evidence were served on the accused by a garda sergeant. The judge gave the accused the formal warning that he must provide details of any alibi he intends to rely on to the prosecution within 14 days. The court heard the judge did not need to make an order for disclosure of garda interview videos because the accused had not been interviewed. He remanded him in custody to appear before the circuit court on a date later this month on one book of evidence, and before the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court on the other. A 51-year-old man charged with the murder of his wife in Dublin last month has been further remanded in custody. Alan Ward with an address at Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin was charged with the murder of mother-of-three Cathy Ward. The 41-year-old womans body was found in the bedroom of their house on Greenfort Drive in the early hours of March 1 last. Her husband was arrested and on March 2 he was remanded in custody after he appeared at Dublin District Court charged with his wifes murder. Expand Close Tragedy: Cathy Ward / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tragedy: Cathy Ward He was remanded in custody and faced his third hearing today when he appeared before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court. He was further remanded in custody to appear again on April 17 next. A book of evidence has yet to be completed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. At his first hearing on March 2, Garda Sergeant Batt Moriarty said Mr Ward made no reply when charged. Legal aid was granted and the district court had acceded to a request for a medical assessment in custody because of concerns about his mental health. A MAN charged with murder following a fatal stabbing at a house in Dublin last weekend was unable to attend a court hearing today. Mark Whelan, 45, Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, Dublin was remanded in custody on Monday after he was charged with murder of Noel Whelan , a father-to-be who was in his twenties, at Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart on March 30 last. He was unable to come to his second hearing today at Cloverhill District Court and a sick warrant was produced. Judge Victor Blake further remanded him in custody to appear on April 16 next. A book of evidence has yet to be completed. Expand Close Noel Whelan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Noel Whelan Shortly after 6pm on March 30, gardai attended the scene of an incident in a house at Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart where Noel Whelan was discovered with stab wounds. He was treated at the scene by emergency services personnel but was pronounced dead a short time later. Detective Sergeant Shane MacCartan told a court on Monday that the accused made no reply when the charge was put to him. For his own safety and that of others he had agreed to remain handcuffed during that hearing. The district court cannot grant bail in a murder case. An order had also been made for medical attention and psychiatric evaluation of the accused while in prison remand. Legal aid had also been granted after the court heard he was not working. A man kicked his former partner in the face during an attack and told her that tonight was her execution, a court has heard. Barry O'Donoghue (38) of Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and threat to kill or cause serious harm at his address between October 20 and 21, 2016. Garda Keith O'Brien told Ronan Prendergast BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question a confrontation began between O'Donoghue and his former partner in his house. Gda O'Brien said that when the woman tried to open the front door she was knocked to the ground by O'Donoghue and pulled back inside the house. He started to punch her at the bottom of the stairs and shouted that she was only ever evil to him. O'Donoghue raised his right foot and kicked her in the face with full force. He brought her into the kitchen and continued to hit her there. Gda O'Brien said O'Donoghue told her he had been planning the attack and that she was going to die. He said that tonight was her execution and asked if she would like to be shot. He was holding a bread knife in his hand while making the threats, the court heard. The woman left the house while he was asleep and contacted gardai. O'Donoghue has no previous convictions and has been in custody since his conviction by a jury on February 7, last. He is originally from Co Carlow. In her victim impact statement, which she read out in court, the woman said she had to have surgery to repair her eye and that she had nerve damage to the left side of her face. She said she did not know how she made it out of that night alive. She said she had a recurring nightmare in which she saw her gravestone with the date October 20, which then disappears and she hears O'Donoghue's voice telling her he would bury her where no one would find her. The woman said she feared he would seek revenge due to her reporting what he did to her. After reading a letter of apology written by O'Donoghue, she said I don't buy it. Breffni Gordon BL, defending, said his client came from an impeccable background. He said the court could infer this would be O'Donoghue's last offence due to his age and his lack of any previous convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded O'Donoghue in custody and adjourned the matter for finalisation on April 12, next. Our teachers and schools in Chicago have been struggling for a long time. But the reason is really more about failed Chicago Teachers Union leadership and its chronic inability to recognize the truth about what needs to be done to put students and teachers ahead of politics. Too many opportunities have been lost because CTU leaders have placed their own interests above the needs of children and quality education. Perhaps now that voters have elected reform-minded candidate Lori Lightfoot, we can chart a new course of action that will force CTU representatives (and other elected officials) to be held fully accountable for their failed leadership and inefficient policies. Our children and their teachers have suffered long enough. Accused: Patrick Quirke (50), of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, outside court yesterday. He is charged with the murder of 52-year-old Bobby Ryan. photo: Collins Patrick Quirke was charged in 2012 with two burglaries and with possession of a key to Mary Lowry's house - however, the DPP directed the charges be dropped. A senior garda gave evidence about the charges during the trial of Patrick Quirke (50), with an address at Breanshamore, Co Tipperary. Mr Quirke has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan (52), a part-time DJ known as 'Mr Moonlight', on a date between June 3rd, 2011, and April 2013. Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes agreed under cross-examination that prior to 2011, Mr Quirke had no previous convictions or criminal history. He also agreed that "various difficulties" arose between Mary Lowry and Mr Quirke between 2011 and 2013 which resulted in him being charged with two burglaries and possession of the key to her house. The trial has previously heard evidence Mr Quirke had an affair with Ms Lowry - the sister-in-law of his wife Imelda Quirke - between January 2008 and 2010 after the death of Ms Lowry's husband. Ms Lowry ended the relationship with Mr Quirke, meeting Mr Ryan soon after and began a relationship with him which she says continued until his death. Chief Supt Hayes told the gardai charged Mr Quirke in relation to the two burglaries and the matter came before the courts. However, the DPP directed the charges be dropped. The body of Mr Ryan was found in a run-off tank on Ms Lowry's farm in April 2013. Speaking about the process of the removal of Mr Ryan's remains from the tank, Chief Supt Hayes said he was "very sure" there were no injuries inflicted on the body from falling debris when the concrete slab of the tank broke - though he conceded his right arm had subsequently become detached. He told the court that he was present when the digger was put in place, in preparation for the lid being lifted, and had removed as much as he could of the clay that was covering the tank. "Whilst some very minor debris did fall in on the tank, no large piece of debris or concrete fell on Mr Ryan," he said. Asked why he did not mention this in his statement, he said it was not possible for him to make a statement regarding questions or issues that may arise. Lorcan Staines SC, for the defence, put it to him that Professor Jack Crane, the former State pathologist of Northern Ireland, had said that he could not exclude the possibility of the fracture of Mr Ryan's leg occurring if a large heavy piece of concrete fell on his remains. However, Chief Supt Hayes said: "No, it certainly wasn't caused by any debris falling in the removal." On another issued, it was put to Chief Supt Hayes by Mr Staines that there was a "systems failure" which led to fingerprints from Bobby Ryan's van and from items found in it in 2011 not being tested until this year. Mr Staines said prints taken from the van were not checked against those of the accused until January 2019, while prints from the items - a diary and driver's licence - were not tested until last Thursday. Chief Supt Hayes said the fingerprints should have been tested before then. He said if so-called "elimination prints" were sent to Garda Headquarters, he would have expected them to be tested before this year. Chief Supt Hayes earlier told Michael Bowman SC, for the prosecution, that he observed the body of Bobby Ryan lying "in what appeared to be sludge" and was satisfied that a health and safety risk was present. When the fire brigade arrived at the scene, gardai sought their expertise in removing the body from the tank. Asked how the body appeared physically, Chief Supt Hayes said it was very badly decomposed and lying face down. "From my observation of both the body in the tank and when it was removed, it was not apparent to me that it was naked," he said. Mr Staines put it to Chief Supt Hayes that Dr Michael Curtis described the breaking of the slab as "important information" which he ought to have known about. However, Chief Supt Hayes said he did not believe it was important "in the overall scheme". He subsequently added that Dr Curtis was provided with a "full album of photographs" which showed "very clearly" that the lid broke. Mr Staines asked if gardai had been "badly let down" by then deputy State pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, who did not go to the scene despite being requested. However, Chief Supt Hayes said it had no negative impact and the best person to assist in removing the body was Detective Garda John Grant of the Technical Bureau, who advised throughout the process. Meanwhile under cross-examination, he agreed that the Heritage hotel in Portlaoise had confirmed thatPatrick Quirke and his wife Imelda had stayed there on June 3 and 4, 2011, for Imelda's birthday at a cost of 641. The package was booked on May 8, 2011. Phone records suggested Mr Quirke's phone pinged off masts in Portlaoise from 13.56pm on June 3, 2011, continuing until 16.50pm on June 5, 2011. The trial continues. The Catholic Church is delaying plans to ballot parents about switching their school to a multi-denominational ethos in a move to reduce the temperature in a controversy raging in north county Dublin. Parents of pupils in eight Catholic schools in the Portmarnock-Malahide-Kinsealy area were due to vote over the next week, but the ballots are being postponed. The decision was relayed to the schools today by the Education Secretariat in the office of the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin. No new timeline has been provided for the parents vote and it is not known how the process will continue from here. However, extending the deadline for the consultation will take some of the heat out of the frenzy gripping the community. A furious row broke out in the past week after parents, staff and the boards of managements in each of the schools was asked to consider whether they would be prepared to switch ethos. The approaches to the schools followed a survey of parents of pre-school children in the area showing a demand for greater school diversity. It was one of 16 surveys conducted around the country as part of wider moves to reduce the dominance of the Catholic Church which controls 90pc of primary schools - in education. There was a hostile reaction from school communities in the north Dublin parishes with claims that a multi-denominational ethos would mean that schools would no longer celebrate events such as Christmas, St Patrick's Day and Pancake Tuesday. Concerns were also raised about the employment conditions of teachers and other school staff under a different patron body. Many of the assertions were wildly inaccurate and the schools were accused of scaremongering. Education Minister Joe McHugh entered the fray, tweeting that schools should not be setting a bad examples by making claims that had no basis in fact. However, the row did expose shortcomings in the consultation process which allowed such a level of misleading information to be shared. Fianna Fail education spokesperson Thomas Byrne blamed a vacuum of information from the Department of Education, its lack of involvement and the absence of a divestment plan or strategy. He said the absence of guidelines from the Department allowed misinformation spread like wildfire, while, at the same time, legitimate questions were not being answered. Mary Mitchell OConnor: The minister says there is a duty of care. Picture: Frank McGrath Third-level colleges are under orders to work at making their campuses free from sexual violence and harassment through the implementation of a range of measures, including offering students classes in consent and calling out unacceptable behaviour. A drive to create campuses where everyone feels safe and supported is not a "box-ticking" exercise they have been told, and compliance with the new Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions will feature in annual funding discussions between individual colleges and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Higher Education Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor said they had "a duty of care to their students and staff and this framework is about instigating change". She said: "I want the results to be comprehensive and game-changing." Funding of 400,000 is being made available over 2019-2020 to help colleges to deliver on the aims of the 'Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive - Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions' framework. The framework was developed by an expert advisory group, led by Dr Anne Looney, dean of education at Dublin City University, and comprising academics, students, and leaders in the area of sexual health among students, and draws from international best practice and research. Classes on consent or calling out unacceptable behaviour as a bystander are not being made mandatory for students, but they will be encouraged to attend, particularly first years. As well as awareness-raising initiatives, the framework requires institutions to have supporting structures and processes in place, including a senior member of management assigned responsibility for implementing the framework, guidelines for addressing student complaints, and transparency for all involved. Colleges will also have to record statistics on sexual harassment, assault and rape and report them to the HEA, and ensure that support services are visible. Local councillors will lose the ability to reduce the Local Property Tax (LPT) in their area under recommendations in a Government report. The review of the LPT, commissioned by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, recommends that Government sets a standard rate which can only be adjusted upwards by local authorities. Currently each council has the option of increasing or reducing the tax by a maximum of 15pc. The four local authorities in Dublin, where property prices are highest, have dropped their rates for 2019 at a total cost of 28.4m. Since 2015, 15 different local authorities have used the existing system to lessen the burden on their homeowners. However, the review published this week says the 'Local Adjustment Factor' should be amended "to permit upward only adjustments to a maximum of 15pc". The recommendation contradicts a promise from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to "enhance" the discretion given to councillors. He has argued that local authorities should be given more autonomy. North Dublin Fine Gael councillor Tom O'Leary said the Government should retain councillors' power to reduce LPT. "We seem to have less and less powers and this is one we should keep," he said. Mr O'Leary raised concern that some households will face increases no matter what changes are made. "The flexibility should be retained on a case-by-case basis depending on the needs of different areas," he said. He also said "most councillors are sensible people" and pointed out that Fingal County Council, while using its power to reduce the LPT this year, did so by 10pc, not the full 15pc currently permitted. Although the report seeks to restrict councillors' ability to set rates locally, the report does advise the Government to allow money to stay in the area where it is collected. Currently, local authorities pay 20pc of their LPT income into an equalisation fund so that those with lower incomes can get top-ups. But the Review Group says that 100pc should be retained locally. "While this will help strengthen transparency and accountability, it is acknowledged that it may result in an additional cost to the Exchequer in the absence of other charges," the report states. Mr Donohoe has decided not to implement any of the report's recommendations this year. Despite the reports recommendations, Mr Donohoe said: "I support retention of the option for Local Authorities to reduce the LPT rate for their area by use of a downward Local Adjustment Factor (LAF)." Instead he wants it to be considered by the Oireachtas' Budget Oversight Committee in the hope of reaching a cross-party consensus. Homeowners currently pay the LPT based on the value of their property in 2013, but prices nationally have risen by around 80pc. The re-evaluation was due to take place in November, but it has now been postponed until 2020. Se's parents Padraig Joyce and Brenda Quirke have been left devastated by his death Gardai were last night continuing to investigate all circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a 15-month-old boy who died after apparently falling down stairs while playing at his home. The investigation into the death of the toddler, Se Joyce, in Clonroche, Co Wexford, is being conducted by Enniscorthy gardai who have set up an incident room in the case. A post-mortem examination revealed that the little boy had a cut to the jugular vein in his neck. This neck injury was the cause of the death and may been accidentally caused by a pen or a pencil, it is understood. "Following a post-mortem examination, we are continuing to investigate all the circumstances of the death of the infant," a Garda spokesman said yesterday. Gardai said they will carry out interviews of all witnesses in the case over the coming days in the investigation which is being led by a local detective inspector. The tragedy happened on Wednesday when the toddler was playing at home. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and they rushed the infant to Wexford General Hospital. However, despite the best efforts of paramedics to resuscitate the little boy, he was pronounced dead a short time later. Read More He is also survived by his three older siblings, who are aged three, 10 and 15. His parents have been left devastated by the tragic death of their youngest child and last night were being comforted by family and loved ones. Yesterday gardai confirmed that their investigations in the case were ongoing. Gardai are investigating the sudden death of an infant male who was pronounced dead at Wexford General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon after being brought there from Clonroche, Co Wexford, the garda spokesman said. The toddler was found by an adult in an unresponsive condition at the foot of the stairs. Local parish priest Fr Bernard Cushen said on Wednesday that local people would be supporting the family over the coming days. It is an awful tragedy and a freak accident, from what I can gather, he said. Baby Se was only 15 months old. He was born last year in January, and his christening was last April. It was a lovely day. He was the joy of the family, and theyre a very close-knit family. They are absolutely devastated, theyre really in a bad way. The community are excellent, the way they gel and will support the family. Today there has been people at the home the whole time. Theres that many people coming and going to give them support and if anything needs to be done. Its devastating. Local councillor John Fleming said everyone in the community was doing their best to support the family. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see a family lose a child in such a freak accident like this, he said. Clonroche is a very tightknit community and everyone will now be doing their best to support and comfort the family at this very difficult time. The whole community is under a cloud since this happened. Discovery: The family smile for the CCTV camera after they found the wifi connection allowed them to view it The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is seeking information from Airbnb after a family found a hidden camera in their letting. The Barker family, from New Zealand, were staying at an Airbnb in Co Cork on March 3 when they came upon the camera in the living room. Mother-of-five Nealie Barker took to Facebook to share the unnerving experience, writing: "We just found a camera hidden in a smoke alarm case in the private living room of a listing. "We were travelling with children. The host admitted to the concealed camera over the phone, only after presented with our irrefutable proof. "The Airbnb safety team investigated our complaint (we provided photos and snapshot of video feed)." A spokesperson for the Office of Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon told the Irish Independent: "The DPC has just become aware of the issue and we will be seeking further information from Airbnb on the matter." Ms Barker's husband, IT consultant Andrew, found they were being filmed on a live feed while trying to connect his mobile phone to the wifi at the property. Ms Barker says they viewed live footage of themselves on her husband's phone. Ms Barker claimed that several weeks after the incident, Airbnb sent a message stating it had found no wrongdoing on the part of the host and the house listing was reinstated. In reaction, the mother took to social media to spread the news of what had occurred. She said Airbnb had then got back in touch to offer a refund and said it would investigate the listing and host. The family left the accommodation on the night they arrived for a three-night stay. They booked into a nearby hotel. Ms Barker claims the host admitted he had the hidden camera to look after his "asset". Ms Barker wrote on her travel blog: "In Cork we had a spectacular Airbnb fail when (Andy) ...found a concealed CCTV camera in the lounge/dining/kitchen area of the house. "...After Andy hacked the live-feed and called the owner to ask what the fudge sticks was going on, it all blew up and we ended up leaving the house and having to find emergency accommodation. We got our money back and the guy is currently under investigation with his Airbnb listing removed." Airbnb told the Irish Independent it had "zero tolerance" on violations by hosts. "We have permanently removed this bad actor from our platform. Our original handling of this incident did not meet the high standards we set for ourselves and we have apologised to the family and fully refunded their stay," a company spokesperson said, adding such "negative incidents are incredibly rare". Debbie Byrne, Managing Directior of An Post Retail with Tara Mc Neill, mother , grandmother, Ireland footballer and former services user who helped launch new Address Point Service at the GPO in Dublin. Photo: Maxwell Photography AN POST have teamed up with a number of Irish charities to launch a free postal service for homeless people. The national postal company launched 'Address Point' today, which will provide a free personal postal address and letter collection service for people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation. The service will give those who are homeless the opportunity to arrange medical appointments, apply for jobs and keep in touch with family and friends. Homelessness charities will help users to register, and will give them a personal address based on the persons choice of local post office, which will be their mail collection point. Customers can then collect their letters on production of photo ID at the post office of their choice. Speaking at the launch today, Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail explained that An Post set out to find a solution that respected peoples privacy, and helped to make their lives a little easier. Expand Close Derek McGuire, former homeless service user who helped launch new Address Point Service at the GPO in Dublin. Photo: Maxwell Photography / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Derek McGuire, former homeless service user who helped launch new Address Point Service at the GPO in Dublin. Photo: Maxwell Photography "We are keenly aware of the difficulties which can result from people not having a reliable, secure mailing address or letter collection point to access vital services we all take for granted and in looking for a job," Ms Byrne said. "The input and support of both service users, service providers, An Post staff and postmasters was invaluable in bringing Address Point from a good idea to an easily accessible service based around a choice of almost 200 local post offices country-wide." The initiative is in conjunction with a number of groups and charities, including Dublin Simon, Focus Ireland, Peter McVerry Trust, Merchants Quay Ireland, St. Vincent de Paul, Capuchin Day Centre, Threshold, Inner City Helping Homeless, Crosscare, the Dublin City Council Homeless Executive and all local authorities. Francis Doherty, Head of Communications at Peter McVerry Trust welcomed the new Address Point service. "This is a personal and practical service that will make a real difference to peoples lives," Mr Doherty said. "From medical appointments to service applications or keeping in touch with family, having a secure address may seem like a small thing, but it brings huge benefits to people who are homeless and to others living in temporary accommodation." Distillers of Irish whiskey are raising their shot glasses to the EU, which has granted 'the water of life' a special protection status. Uisce beatha will now be protected in a similar vein to Champagne in France, Stilton cheese in the UK and Prosciutto in Italy. Irish cream and Irish poitin were also given the coveted geographical indication (GI) status by the European Commission. A GI is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess unique or reputable qualities. For years, whiskey distillers in Ireland have been calling for EU protection as the industry continues to surge in profits. Carleen Madigan, of the Irish Whiskey Association, described the EU's decision as a "momentous achievement". "It ensures that the traditions and high standards of the Irish whiskey category will be protected in the EU and globally in markets with which the EU has a trade agreement," she said. "As sales of Irish whiskey continue to boom globally, we have seen a trebling in the complaints to the association regarding fake Irish whiskey around the world. "The GI provides the strongest possible protection against these infringements and gives us the basis for enforcement action against misleading products," she said. Managing director of Teeling Whiskey Jack Teeling said a lot of time and effort went into convincing the EU that it was worthy of a protection status. "We pulled together all of the main players in the industry and worked together to help the Government put forward a GI for Irish whiskey. "It's taken a long time, but I'm sure it will be worth the effort." Mr Teeling added that the GI status of Scottish whisky was now in doubt because of Brexit. "I honestly don't know what's going to happen, but it would be an awful shame if they lost their GI because of it," he added. It is there, on the sensitive topic of revenue increases, that the poetry really gives way to the prose in politics. Preckwinkles downfall came in part because of lingering ill feelings over a county soda tax she supported from its passage in November 2016 to its death by board repeal a year later. Message: Voters can put up with a lot, but dont get in the way of their soda pop. "The government has stalled on this one," says Susan Jane White. Photo: Instagram/@susanjanekitchen Food writer Susan Jane White has called on parents to report any junk food advertising which they feel may be targeting their children to the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI). Ms White, who has written two cookbooks of gluten-free, dairy-free and cane sugar-free recipes, says the government needs to ban junk food advertising to kids outright. The Department of Health launched a voluntary code last year to ensure that foods high in fat, salt and sugar are marketed in a responsible way in Ireland, and also to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate marketing, advertising or sponsorship associated with these kinds of food and drink products, and that healthier food choices are actively promoted. Ms White says she lodged a complaint to the ASAI over a particular junk food ad that she felt targeted her two boys. She describes junk food advertising as a sick joke which the government allows to happen. My boys are so vulnerable and impressionable - they are psychologically underdeveloped and ill-equipped to make judicious decisions about their own health. It's the sheer volume of ads targeting my children that disturbs me... Every street corner we turn in Dublin city, every bus shelter, every shop, every magazine, even every play date and the branding on kid's t-shirts. My children are constantly nagging me for brands they see and for brands they recognise. It's pressure I don't welcome. She added: "When junk food ads directly target kids, I feel physically nauseous... What kind of democratic society allows unscrupulous, profit-driven marketing agencies direct access to our children's minds? Especially when these same agencies are trying to peddle food that ultimately makes children fat and sick in the long term. Sweden, Norway and Greece have already restricted advertising to children. Last year, the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) said childhood obesity was the greatest single threat to the health of this generation of Irish children and young people. Yet the voluntary code established by the Department of Health last year "remains completely unenforced", an IHF spokesperson told Independent.ie. This code is virtually worthless in any case because junk food companies dont have to sign up and will face no penalties for breaking its terms. What we need is an outright ban on junk food marketing to under-16s and we urge the Government to support the World Health Organisations position of tough mandatory regulation to protect children with penalties of up to four per cent of global turnover for companies in breach similar to fines for breaking data protection laws, the spokesperson said. Some 85,000 Irish children will die prematurely due to obesity, while children as young as eight were presenting with high blood pressure, the IHF said. Young people were also showing up with levels of heart disease normally only found among the middle aged, it said, quoting state-funded research. Yet four- and five-year-olds see over 1,000 junk food ads on TV every year, despite restrictions on broadcast ads. Expand Close "The government has stalled on this one," says Susan Jane White. Photo: Instagram/@susanjanekitchen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp "The government has stalled on this one," says Susan Jane White. Photo: Instagram/@susanjanekitchen But this pales into insignificance compared to estimates that teenagers are being subjected to over 100 junk ads a week on social media, the IHF spokesperson said. Meanwhile, in the past five years, nine per cent of complaints received by the ASAI related to food advertising. And these complaints related to misleadingness or offensive content. It hasn't received any complaints about influencer marketing directed at children, a spokesperson told Independent.ie. For children under 16, ads in Ireland, except those for fresh fruit or fresh vegetables, should not seem to encourage children to eat or drink a product for a promotional offer, and should not encourage children to eat more than they otherwise would. Ms White said: We need to band together to show our government that 'voluntary codes' are completely useless. Queen Maeve has a hole in her head. That's how she was mistaken for an umbrella stand. She stood in someone's hallway for 40 years with her skull perforated by rain repelling appendages, until someone spotted her, realising that she was in fact an historic and rather royal piece of Arklow studio pottery. The notion that something made in ceramic has to be functional runs very deep. Thomas Dunne, former employee of Arklow Pottery, tells the story: "I recently bought a statue of Queen Maeve. It's illustrated in Peter Lamb's book on John ffrench and it was designed by his wife, Prim ffrench in the 1960s. It's a lovely little figurine, just 15" high. The woman I bought it from, her mother had it in the hallway and she was using it as an umbrella stand. She used to put a brolly in it! But it's in perfect condition, apart from a little chip on the lip." Arklow Pottery was opened in 1935, the second Irish pottery producer after Carrigaline to be founded by the Free State. Audrey Whitty, writing in the Irish Arts Review (2003), describes how the factory initially employed around 200 people, including 15 young women who had taken design classes at the local technical institute, and about 30 experienced professionals from the Staffordshire Potteries. There was no strong tradition of ceramics in Ireland, so the English workers were needed to bring on a new generation of Irish designers, makers and technicians. Although the early pieces show an English decorative influence, by the 1940s Arklow Pottery had taken on a distinctive Irish style. "I love the old stuff," Dunne says. "The older the better. A lot of gold was put on the early pieces - it would all be 22 carat gold - and all of those decorators had their clothes burnt, when they were finished, to extract the gold." The factory's claim to fame was the "Dressier tunnel oven, believed to be the second largest in the world," which could produce between 20,000 and 25,000 objects every week. These were decorated by both transfer prints and hand-painting. In 1937, the Irish Press recorded that: "No one seems to paint a complete pattern themselves, but each article, cup or saucer or jug or bowl is passed from one to another down a long table. One girl does a flower, another a leaf, another a stem and so on" Once, every home in Ireland used Arklow pottery. Now, you'll often find it in the charity shops. The factory produced ordinary household china until its closure in 1985. This is collectible, but rarely valuable. In general, the backstamp on a piece of pottery - that's the mark on the base - will let you know where and when it was made, but there's no published record of Arklow pottery backstamps. The knowledge exists, but only in the memory of former workers. "If you worked there, you have an idea," says Dunne. "I worked there from 1969 to 1973. My job was casting and polishing. I've been collecting for 35 years and now I have a vast collection." He's part of a community of collectors, many of them former employees of the factory. "We're trying to get a catalogue of the backstamps. When the older generation go, the knowledge will be lost." Arklow Pottery made special editions and commemorative pieces as well as everyday pottery. In 2016, a Padraig Pearse commemorative plaque by Arklow Pottery sold at Whyte's for 400, but it's rare for Arklow pottery to make it into the auction rooms, apart from the work of the ceramist John ffrench, who ran Arklow Studio Pottery, an art pottery within the factory, between 1962 and 1969. That's where Queen Maeve came from. Plans to establish an Arklow Pottery centre and museum are ongoing. Planning permission has been approved and Wicklow County Council is currently seeking funding to complete the project. "The Chamber of Commerce in Arklow put out an open call for donations of ceramics and now their whole basement is full of tea cups!" says Arklow Pottery enthusiast Chantal Fortune. She describes herself as: "An antiques dealer by trade and a decorator by day - but when it comes to Arklow pottery I'm more of a collector than anything else. I love china and ours is Arklow pottery. That was our one! I have it on my kitchen dresser. At home. In use. All of the time!" She remembers a local festival where she and Pier Leonard of Solace Studio helped people to date their Arklow pottery. "People were bringing in their cups and plates and asking if they were worth anything. We had to say that they're not worth anything - yet! Some of the pieces might be worth 20, but then you'd find the exact same piece in a charity shop for 1." An early Arklow Pottery whiskey jug might fetch up to 200, but you can also pick up 20-piece tea sets for between 60 and 70. To find out more about Arklow Pottery, you can join the well-informed and helpful community of collectors on Facebook. See also fortunesantiques.com It isn't every day that government ministers find themselves in a tight spot when announcing a good news story. But it happened at a Budget press conference last year, when Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy found himself under pressure over the kiboshing of Shane Ross's proposed "granny flat grant" scheme. Mr Murphy asserted that the Government had a pilot scheme of its own underway to test the plausibility of dividing homes in two. This would enable older people to stay in homes that were too large for them while providing an extra income for themselves through housing a tenant in the other half. How many houses and people were involved in the pilot study? the minister was asked. "One house," he replied. "That of a grandmother in West Dublin." And so it seemed that a major solution to the housing crisis depended on the experience of one grandmother. who quickly became known as 'Eoghan Murphy's pilot granny'. How well would her converted house measure up? We'd have to wait and see she says when she's settled in, it was speculated.. Now Irish Independent Property can reveal that the minister's pilot granny is not, in fact, a granny at all. And while, thanks to Mr Murphy's statement, some media outlets conflated the scheme with that of the 'granny flat grant' concept (where homeowners accommodate a relative in a remodeled portion of a house) the Abhaile Project is something different entirelty. A collaboration between architects Ciaran Ferrie and Dermot Bannon and accountant Michelle Moore, its pilot plan set out to demonstrate how older family homes could be adapted to suit the needs of their ageing owners, while also generating income for them and providing much-needed rental accommodation. When retired accounts clerk Ann Gilsenan heard Ciaran Ferrie talk about the scheme on radio, she applied to have her house considered for the pilot. Ann (69) who has no children, lived alone in the three-bed Clondalkin semi where she previously grew up with her two brothers, two sisters and their parents. "I was very fortunate to have been left the house, but the burden of its upkeep was a real challenge," she says. "I insulated the walls, but a house this age needs a lot of work." Ciaran designed a plan to convert Ann's garage and knock the wall between it and the kitchen to create a new kitchen/dining/living room. A former breakfast room is now a bathroom with level access shower, the front living room remains as is, and what was a reception is now a bedroom. Doors were widened and light switches lowered to make it more adaptable as Ann gets older. Upstairs, the bathroom and one bedroom remain unchanged, while the wall between the other two bedrooms was knocked and Velux windows installed to create a bright living-kitchen-dining room. Sound-proofing ensures privacy for both residents. Expand Close Ann Gilsenan with Ciaran Ferrie and Michelle Moor outside her home in Clondalkin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ann Gilsenan with Ciaran Ferrie and Michelle Moor outside her home in Clondalkin The refit cost 62,000, most of which was paid for by Abhaile funds and some from Ann's savings. It was completed last November and in February a nurse working in nearby St James's Hospital moved in upstairs. "It's a comfort knowing there's somebody else in the house," says Ann. "Rent was not my main motivation - it was being able to stay in my own home and have it adapted to suit my needs - but the rent is a big bonus. It means I no longer have to live on a day-to-day basis. "I've always wanted to go on a safari, and now I can. I'm not an extravagant person - my idea of financial security is being able to turn on the heating without worrying about the bills - but now I can afford to do things that I never dreamed I could. It's given me a new lease of life." And the project also gave Ann an experience many Irish women would give their right arm for. "I had tea with Dermot Bannon! And Damien English, the Minister of State for Housing, when they called to see the house." The idea of splitting older homes came to Michelle Moore when she read the 2016 ESRI report on Housing and Ireland's Older Population. "It seemed to suggest that older people should downsize to alleviate the housing shortage, but noted the social isolation that would inevitably come with that," she says. "Having lived in London, I had seen how older homes had been split to provide independent living quarters for both the owner and a renter. DCU set up focus groups to investigate whether there would be a demand for it here and the feedback was very positive. "I emailed Dermot Bannon with my idea and he arranged a meeting. Then Ciaran came on board and the three of us set up a not-for-profit agency, Abhaile, now renamed Ava Housing, to develop the project together. "There was much talk in political circles about building new houses to tackle the homelessness crisis, but there is great untapped potential in the existing housing stock in Dublin's older suburbs," says Ciaran Ferrie. The project beat off stiff competition from over 60 entries to win the 2017 Smart Ageing Universal Design competition. "In a classic three-bed semi, we upgrade the ground floor with an accessible downstairs bathroom and bedroom," says Ciaran. "Upstairs we convert two bedrooms into a kitchen with a living/dining space and leave the bathroom and one bedroom as they are. It comes under the Rent a Room scheme, allowing homeowners to earn up to 14,000 a year tax-free. It's still a family home, and can easily revert back to a three-bed set-up." Ava Housing is piloting five more homes in Dublin, to be completed this year, and hopes to scale up in the future. "The current Housing Adaptation Grant is available only for people with a disability or special need," says Ciaran. "We'd like to see grants made available for pre-emptive works, not as a response to a crisis. We've been in talks with the Department of Housing about this and feel confident it will be addressed in the next Budget." My first thought on seeing the magazine was "about time". On the cover of British Vogue's May edition is the inimitable 81-year-old Jane Fonda with the words "The Non-Issue" written underneath. For a couple of seconds I thought that the headline meant just that; this was an edition not focused on any one particular social, political or ideological issue. "What a relief," I thought. What a brave move to go against the cultural current. Of course, upon further reading, I realised I was wrong. The magazine is, in its own words, "a groundbreaking celebration of ageless style and beauty". It is age that's the "non-issue" in this instance - the magazine says it's taking a stance against age discrimination and the invisibility of women over 50 in the fashion world and media landscape. Bravo to that. Ageism, particularly pertaining to women, is an important issue to tackle, especially coming from an institution as influential as Vogue. (Incidentally, it transpires that this is just a special supplement that will accompany British Vogue. The cover of the main magazine is a rather safer 45-year-old Kate Moss.) Much as I applaud the effort, however, I won't be buying the magazine. Call me whatever the opposite of 'woke' is (asleep?), but I liked glossy magazines when they were simply filled with eye-wateringly expensive clothes, ads for eye-wateringly expensive clothes and articles about people with creative jobs and fabulous lifestyles. Now, it seems as though every magazine has to be flying the flag of some social crusade. Is there no room for escapism any more? Sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, abuse of power, body shaming and gender stereotyping are just some of the big issues of our times that can and must be tackled. I myself have used this column to address several of them in the past. In recent months, however, I find that I've reached issue saturation point - and I'm worried that it will tip over into full issue apathy. Consider this past week alone: all male rock band Green Day came under fire for mansplaining after announcing they will be releasing a graphic novel aimed at "the rebellious everywoman", Rihanna's Fenty Beauty range withdrew a highlighter called 'Geisha Chic' after it was criticised for appropriation of Asian culture, and Miley Cyrus drew the displeasure of the internet and the US Parks Service after posting a picture of herself sitting in a Joshua tree - a protected and fragile species. Then there was Justin Bieber, who had to apologise for a characteristically stupid April Fool's prank which suggested that his wife Hailey Baldwin was pregnant. Clearly he'd missed the previous week's court of public opinion ruling that Mother's Day is insensitive to those who cannot have children or who have lost their own mother. Yes, sexism, cultural ignorance, Hallmark holiday insensitivity and the environment are all valid issues, but when everyone is shouting about being offended at the same time, they all get lost in the clamour. When everything is an issue, nothing is and we run the risk that a fatigued audience - bombarded everywhere from social media to glossy magazines - will, like myself, start tuning it all out. Of course, a significant proportion of the noise is coming from those who see commercial opportunities in embracing woke views. When corporations cannibalise the big issues to make their brand look current or to sell us more stuff, is that not an even bigger issue? While I'm sure British Vogue has good intentions in correcting a social imbalance that it helped create, it's noteworthy that the non-issue issue comes in partnership with L'Oreal Paris. In a post on Vogue's website, we're told that the magazine and the beauty brand have a shared vision about challenging stereotypes and positively shaping perceptions of age. Personally, I find that a bit rich coming from two brands who have long valued youth over all else - but right now I'm too jaded to take real issue with it. (Oh and before you take to social media to shame me for the views expressed in this piece, don't worry - I'll use next week's column either to release a public apology or to write about the very serious issue of writers who have issues with issues.) First things first to avoid potential misunderstandings. The visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel at this vital time in the rolling Brexit mess is of itself to be welcomed and applauded. Secondly, the EU solidarity Ireland has got since the start of this EU-UK divorce farrago hit us in June 2016 has been nothing short of stellar. Many of the key EU Brexit players have visited, travelled to the Border counties, and taken a keen interest in the practical fall-out from problems this country faces, which they acknowledge to be vastly greater than any other member state. These key EU people are all entitled to be taken at face value as they have expressed real concern and empathy for Ireland. And we must note that they have been steadfast. Ms Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, European Parliament Brexit leader Guy Verhofstadt and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker are among all those who have repeatedly and generously given strong support. Yes, it has to large degree suited their aim of keeping the EU together in the wake of the exit of the bloc's second-largest economy. It has also been logical for them to back "remaining Ireland" over the "exiting UK", and the real test of EU's durability hinges on treatment of the smaller member states. But, all that said, we must never undervalue the EU heavy-hitters' determined unity and generosity of spirit in a time of major turmoil. The Brexit political shambles continues to roll in Westminster and nobody can tell where it will land. With seven days to go to the new B-Day crash-out deadline, progress in London is slow and lacks any kind of political shape. Ireland's tenable Border backstop insurance policy will not apply if the UK MPs fail to avert the default outcome of a no-deal, crash-out Brexit. So, how are we fixed if that happens? Well, from Brussels yesterday came strong signals of concern about Ireland's lack of preparedness for border checks in the event of the evil outcome. Yet on Tuesday, Mr Macron quite credibly said the EU would never abandon Ireland and the Irish. In Dublin yesterday, Ms Merkel, someone who grew up on the wrong side of a very crude partition in her native Germany, impressed by meeting representatives of Irish Border communities. Ms Merkel said the EU would "simply have to" find a way of preventing a Border on this island in the event of a hard Brexit. It was genuinely heartening for many people on this island. The chancellor said she still believed there could be a Brexit deal with the UK, stressing "where there's a will, there's a way". She repeated pledges to work "until the very last hour" to prevent a no-deal scenario. It does not get much better than that. But there's the detail of protecting a 27-nation border-free market, with strong product standards, and 440 million people. Of all the things we worry about happening to our children in school, I doubt any of us ever thought they would be confronted with a shooting. That only happens in crazy America, right? Wrong. On Tuesday, as the final bell was ringing at Riversdale Community College in west Dublin, a gunman began firing shots outside the school gate. Parents waiting to pick up their kids were terrified as a gunman discharged shots from a handgun. The target was a man in his 20s who was waiting outside the school gates. Somehow the shooter missed, and the target didn't suffer any injuries. Apparently, a local gang feud was the motive and thankfully no one was injured. But students and parents were traumatised by the incident. Guns at the school gate? That's only supposed to happen in "other countries". Meanwhile, in leafy south Dublin, gardai are investigating an alleged "suspicious approach" on a child outside a school this week. The young girl was walking along a road in the Blackrock area with her grandmother following a few feet behind when a black car pulled up and a woman reached out to offer the child sweets. The woman urged the child to get into the car telling her she would bring her to her mummy. In the back seat of the car there appeared to be a man crouching. The grandmother rushed over to protect the child and the car drove off. Having just watched the Madeleine McCann documentary on Netflix, this sends shivers down my spine. I remember having the stranger danger conversation with my kids. I gave them the whole, "never get into a car with a stranger no matter what they offer you" speech. There was a pause and my then seven-year old said: "But what if they offered me a Curly Wurly?" God save us from the Church's book burners... Who knew Harry Potter carried "evil forces"? Wasn't that Voldemort's job? A Catholic priest in Poland led a public burning of the Harry Potter books. It took place on Sunday outside a Catholic church in Gdansk. It seems the priest, Rafal Jarosiewicz, was more than happy to boast about his literary bonfire. He uploaded images from the burning on the Facebook page of a foundation he founded. Jarosiewicz and other priests who follow his "unusual" methods said they encouraged parishioners to bring in things that disturbed them, so the priests could burn the evil influences. He and some of his Catholic faithful and priests think the Harry Potter books promote sorcery. God save us all. ...and thank God for Greta's climate protest Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. The amazing thing about Greta is that she is only 16 and on the autism spectrum. If you haven't seen her TED talk on YouTube, I urge you to watch it. She comes on stage looking much younger than her years, in two plaits and then proceeds to blow the audience away. She also gives the talk in flawless English. This young girl is incredible. She was named one of 'Time' magazine's most influential teens of 2019. When she was just 15, Thunberg started to skip school every Friday to protest about climate change outside Sweden's parliament. In August 2018, she caught the media's attention by starting the first school strike for climate, outside the Swedish parliament building. The global climate strike on Friday, March 15 which saw thousands of Irish students take to the street was inspired by Thunberg's #FridaysForFuture students' movement. The buzzing high pitch of a chainsaw caught the eyes and ears of many Kanturk people as some wondered just what Will Fogarty was doing over a four day period as he manoeuvred his way around tree stumps in the pollinator garden at the Canon's Wood, opposite the church. Will Fogarty, a chainsaw sculptor, is better known as 'Fear na Coillte' and it is an apt name as when he had finished the members of Kanturk Tidy Towns, along with the committee of Kanturk Arts Festival, were delighted with their commissioned work, which consisted of a fairy complex and a beehive. Kanturk Tidy Towns had commenced this project back in 2018 when they cleared trees and planted pollinator plants to support the local bee populations. And what better way to pay homage to the work of the bee than by putting in place a carved wooden beehive by a noted chainsaw sculptor. So, how did Will realise he had such a talent with a chainsaw? With a hearty laugh, he said, ironically, six years ago when the recession bit it also took a big chunk out of a construction firm he was running. "At that time I simply had to reassess my life and press re-set," he told The Corkman. He explained that his partner, Tonya, is very artistic and he firstly began carving walking sticks and staffs with a knife. "I enjoyed that work very much and was selling what I was doing at the markets but, really, I was not going to make a living out of hand carved walking sticks. I knew a bit about chainsaw sculpturing and my father had an old chainsaw, so I sat down and began to take that apart and put it back together to bring it back to life," he said. "I began working with that one chainsaw and, fast forward to today, and I have 12, which are of various sizes," he said. When asked which brand he tended to lean towards, he said his dad's old chainsaw was a Stihl and he tends to stick with that brand, but he does have other brands in his collection. The environment is hugely important to Will and he stressed that all the work is done on wood which has been felled by nature or which has been cut down in a sustainable way. "There is a huge feeling of joy and satisfaction as I see the beauty come through on the wood and know that this piece of wood will be enjoyed for years," he said. Most of Will's work is on a commission basis as well as word of mouth. His Facebook page now has over 26,000 followers and when he posts and tags photographs of his work they get a hugely positive reaction. When asked how he set about doing the Fairy Complex in Kanturk, he said he had a lot of leeway as it was not straight forward work. When other works are more taxing he will work off of Autocad and he will also revert back to his civil engineering background. The work which Will does is very physical and it certainly keeps him fit. He said on beautiful sunny days there is no better place to be than outdoors working with nature and creating a slice of magical beauty for people to enjoy and when it rains, well, that isn't so pleasant. As a large sway of Will's work is done on stumps, they can make wonderful, lasting pieces of art and that is exactly what has happened in Kanturk. Central to the works was the theme of the beehive and, importantly, the work which the bees do. Kanturk Tidy Towns chairman Eddie Walsh said: "Ireland's pollinators have suffered huge declines and 30% are at risk of extinction. Our work in the Canon's Wood commenced in 2018, where we sought to support our bee population through the creation of a pollinator space. We also sought to encourage a sense of appreciation and magic for our natural amenities and encourage more visitors to this area. These sculptures contribute greatly to these goals." This year, as part of the Kanturk Arts Festival programme, the Canon's Wood project was brought to completion with the Fairy Complex and Skep (the beehive) created by Will. The sculptures were sponsored by the Kanturk Arts Festival and Kanturk Tidy Towns through local authority grants and fundraising. Over the next few weeks the area will be seeded with wild flowers which will greatly add to the overall beauty of the area. The future of the former sugar factory site in Mallow has once again come under the spotlight after local TD Sean Sherlock said Coca-Cola could use it for a dairy processing plant. According to a report in the Irish Farmers Journal, the US soft drinks giant has held meetings with Irish dairy industry officials about the possibility of establishing its own Irish milk processing operation in Cork. Five years ago the company launched 'Fairlife', a premium milk brand in the US, part of a strategy to move away from sugary drinks in an attempt to cash in on the growing demand from consumers for healthier drinks. The drink, which retails at twice the price of normal milk, is produced using a special filtration process that can significantly reduce sugar content by 30% and double its nutrient content. Speculation is rife that the company, which recently built a multi-million dollar production plant in Canada, is seeking to bring its Fairlife brand to Europe and buy milk directly from Irish farmers. The Irish Farmers Journal reported that senior Coca-Cola officials had visited Ireland to learn about our dairy industry, with a particular emphasis on research and development. The report said that they had visited Teagasc's Moorepark research facility in Fermoy and the dairy processing technology centre at the University of Limerick during their fact finding mission. In a statement the company poured cold water on the issue saying that media reports regarding future investments in Ireland "are purely speculative." "As a long-standing and significant investor in Ireland, Coca-Cola has regular discussions with State agencies and partners to discuss different areas of our business, including our ongoing evolution to become a total beverage company," read the statement. Another location to be mentioned in speculations is the former Kilcorney creamery. However, Deputy Sherlock said that should there be some substance behind the speculation the sugar factory site, which has laid idle since its controversial closure in 2006, would be an ideal location for a milk processing plant. "It makes sense given Mallow's dairy dominance traditionally and with all the investment that has taken place at Dairygold coupled with the M20 project, it would be a perfect fit," said Deputy Sherlock. "I will be in contact with the IDA to put Mallow on the map with the executives from the US that will have to travel to Cork to look at sites," he added. A Kerry woman is among the handful of young architects to featuring in a prestigious exhibition newly returned from the world-famous Venice Biennale. Noreile Breen, from Lisselton, is one of 16 architects exhibiting in Close Encounter: Meetings with Remarkable Buildings as it returns home for a national tour. It is now being restaged at The Glucksman Gallery, University College Cork from April 6 until June 20. Each architect featured was challenged with mounting an appreciation of an historic work they considered of great inspiration, with Noreile focusing on the renowned Casa Luis Barragan in Mexico City, by revered architect Luis Barragan. She chose it for its simplicity, in a piece that deeply impressed patrons of the Biennale re-evaluating as it did the work of Barragan while bringing an upcoming architectural talent in Noreile to public acclaim beyond these shores. Noreile studied at the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, and has worked with names like Atelier Bow-Wow in Japan and with Steve Larkin Architects before going out on her own in 2016, based between home and Dublin. Noreile has taught architecture at KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm; Bergen School of Architecture; Parsons School of Design New York; Queens University Belfast. She now lectures in the School of Architecture, UL. But Foxx left an informational vacuum into which Smollett attorney Geragos then jumped. In the most recent episode of Reasonable Doubt, a podcast he co-hosts, Geragos contended that prosecutors first reached out to the defense to propose the arrangement to drop the case. He said the reason was not only that the investigation had turned up no corroborating evidence to support the hoax-based story told by the two masked men, but that there were irregularities in the grand jury process and one of the factors that suggested the attack was genuine was that one of the men did end up spending the night at Jussies house close in time to when this attack took place. Anti-vaxxers are prominent in social media, sharing articles based on fear and fiction as if they were truth. When science based data is produced to counter these views, it's dismissed as propaganda for Big Pharma. And once somebody has been convinced to believe anti-vaccination stories, it's surprisingly difficult to dissuade them. Studies show that anti-vaxxers prioritise concepts like "pure" and "natural". They have a mental block when it comes to accepting ideas that they see as "impure" or "artificial". They classify pro-vaccination articles as "Big Pharma spin". In the human world, this is causing serious public health issues, with people refusing to have vaccines against common diseases like measles. A county in New York has declared a state of emergency over a measles outbreak that has recently infected more than 150 people. The county is experiencing New York state's longest measles outbreak since the disease was declared officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. The best way to stop the disease's spread is a vaccination rate in the community of 92% to 95%., while only 73% have been vaccinated at the moment. A new emergency law over there makes it illegal for unvaccinated young people to go to public gatherings. Civil rights lawyers are currently contesting this. This anti-vaccination trend is affecting the animal world too. People who are sceptical about vaccinations are choosing not to have their pets vaccinated, and the consequence is that there is a rising proportion of unvaccinated dogs and cats. This does not cause immediate problems as with many animal illnesses, "herd immunity" kicks in as long as 70% of pets in an area are vaccinated. This ensures that fatal diseases like Parvovirus are unable to spread rapidly. So even if up to 30% of people choose not to vaccinate their pets, there will still only be rare, individual cases of animals dying from these serious illnesses. Problems start when the proportion of vaccinated pets falls below 70%, when individual cases of infections are able to pass the virus on to other unvaccinated animals in their vicinity. Rapidly spreading, uncontrollable epidemics follow. Here in Ireland, this has not yet happened, but in Australia, some towns have suffered epidemics of Parvovirus, with dozens of under-vaccinated dogs dying. It is difficult to counter this type of situation, as people's views become so entrenched: the mere repeating of science based facts does not work. One of the challenges is that while most of the fears and scepticism are unfounded, some reactions to vaccinations do happen, and exceptionally rarely, they can be very serious reactions. These serious reactions become the focus of antivaxxers, who disregard the science which explains that if you do a risk-benefit analysis, the benefits are so high, and the risk is so low, that it makes more logical sense to vaccinate your pet. Even as I write this, I know that anti-vaxxers will be thinking "he would say that, wouldn't he? He's a vet and he has a financial incentive to get pets vaccinated". It's significant that vets who work for charities speak just as strongly in favour of vaccination as private vets. They would surely choose to vaccinate fewer pets (saving the charity money) if it was scientifically justified. So what vaccine reactions are seen in pets, and what is the incidence? The most common reaction, as in humans, is mild swelling and pain at the site of the injection, which passes after a day or so. Some animals experience a small rise in their body temperature, reflecting the fact that their immune system is responding the the vaccine, so they may go off their food for 24 hours, and they may be quieter than usual. Very rarely, in around one in 30000 cases, an animal can suffer anaphylactic shock after a vaccine, collapsing and showing very dramatic signs of illness. Meanwhile, there is no evidence at all that vaccines cause the wide range of problems that are claimed, such as allergic skin disease, a wide range of cancers, and even canine autism (there is no such condition as this: it has been invented by anti-vaxxers). More seriously, it is true that there are two illnesses that may,,rarely, genuinely follow vaccination. Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia (IMHA) develops when the immune system attacks a pet's own blood cells. While vaccination is regarded as a possible trigger, there are many other triggers, and and in one recent study, the average time from most recent vaccination to the initial onset of illness was almost a year, making it hard to believe that vaccinations played a strong causative role. Meanwhile, in cats, Injection Site Sarcoma is a malignant, challenging cancer that can develop at the site of a vaccination. This happens in less than one in ten thousand cases but it is devastating when it does develop. It cannot be denied that bad reactions to vaccines can happen in exceptional cases, but neither can the immense benefit of vaccinations be denied. It's up to each owner to decide what to do but my advice is to listen to independent scientists. If they say that the benefits of vaccination vastly outnumber the potential risks, then that's enough for me. Armed gardai mounted checkpoints around Listowel over the weekend after a second feud - in which two men were attacked with hammers and hatchets - erupted. Members of the specialist Regional Response Unit, armed with submachine guns, mounted checks at all routes into and out of Listowel following the vicious attack. The attack happened in the Cois Baile estate at 12.30am on Sunday when windows of a house and car were smashed in by men wielding hammers and hatchets. Two male occupants of the home were savagely beaten when they went out to confront the armed men before the attackers fled the area. Gardai rushed to the scene when the disturbance was reported to find one of the victims suffering serious head injury. But, like the other occupant of the home who had also been injured, refused to both go to hospital and to co-operate with the investigation. Neither man made a formal complaint to the gardai. Just like that feud, the latest fracas was sparked by the sale of a property in the town and involves members of the same family. Again, social media was used but this time on apps like Snapchat where content is deleted within seconds. Gardai were taking no chances with the safety of the public or those involved in the feud, bringing in RRU officers from Limerick and Cork to aid the policing effort. Breda ODwyer and Lisa Fingleton who were promoting the Moving On programme at the NEWKD jobs fair held in the Skellig Hotel on Thursday in conjunction with INTREO and the Dept of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Businesses in Dingle are finding it difficult to recruit staff because many of the local unemployed aren't suitably qualified, and new workers are discouraged from moving to a town where rental accommodation is scarce and expensive. At a jobs fair held in the Skellig Hotel on Thursday over 30 positions, mostly in the tourism sector, were advertised and a number of local businesses also offered on-the-spot interviews to prospective employees. Many other businesses are posting separate job advertisements on their premises, but filling the vacancies is proving difficult. Meanwhile, 652 people are currently on the Live Register in the Dingle area, down from 761 on January 1 of this year and down by 124 from the figure of 776 people on the register at the start of April 2018. The Dingle Live Register area reaches from Inch and Annascaul to Brandon and all points west as far as Dun Chaoin. Camp and Castlegregory are not included in the figures, which do not include people on community employment and various other work schemes. Of those unemployed in the Dingle area, 616 are aged over 25 years and, of these, 319 are men and 297 are women. Only 36 people aged under 25 are on the Live Register and, of these, 16 are men and 20 are women. The figures break down to an unemployment rate of approximately five per cent, which is generally considered to represent almost full employment in an area. According to Dept of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) Regional Manager Kieran Barry, businesses in West Kerry are "crying out for suitable staff" and it was against this background that NEWKD hosted the jobs fair, in conjunction with INTREO and the DEASP. About 250 people attended the fair, including Pobalscoil students, and it is understood that some vacancies will be filled as a result. However, many more remain. Among those looking to sign people up for a job was Colaisti Chorca Dhuibhne, which is seeking people to provide accommodation for Irish language students during the summer. Orla Ni Shithigh and Gillian Ni Bhriain, who represented Colaisti Chorca Dhuibhne at the jobs fair, said the number of Irish language students has increased steadily in recent years but, at the same time, there has been a decline in the number of homes providing student accommodation. In an effort to overcome the accommodation problem, Colaisti Chorca Dhuibhne is encouraging people to look again at taking up the role of mna (or fir) ti, which has traditionally been a valuable source of sustainable income in gaeltacht areas. Homes can take from five to 12 students and Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne will help people meet the necessary requirements. Four of Queer Eyes Fab Five met a rising star of US politics as they discussed LGBT rights in Washington DC (Christopher Smith/Netflix/PA) Four of Queer Eyes Fab Five met a rising star of US politics as they discussed LGBT rights in Washington DC. Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk and Tan France sat down with Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has caught the eye thanks to her canny use of social media and support of a progressive platform. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House Of Representatives and one of the most powerful figures in Washington, was also in attendance while Queer Eyes culture expert, Karamo Brown, could not make the meeting. On the agenda was the Equality Act, a bill designed to end discrimination against the LGBT community. The depleted Fab Five, who are all openly gay, took to social media to document their trip to the centre of American politics. Food expert Porowski shared a picture of himself and Ms Ocasio-Cortez also known as AOC and referred to their shared previous occupation. He wrote: Both of us previously waiters. Today, one of us is championing for The Violence Against Women Act, ending the privatization of prisons, enacting gun-control policies and abolishing U.S Immigration and Customs enforcement, while the other regularly contemplates what kind of cheese to end the day with. Guess whos who! In typically flamboyant fashion, style guru Van Ness wore a colourful outfit for the occasion, teaming a pink top with a multicoloured dress. Video of the Day He posted a picture of the Queer Eye cast with Ms Ocasio-Cortez and Ms Pelosi and wrote: Never been more proud @ocasio2018@speakerpelosi. France, the only British member of the Fab Five, posted a selfie with the two female politicians, captioning it: THE FUTURE IS FEMALE. Interior designer Berk shared a series of selfies with Ms Ocasio-Cortez, writing: Spending the day with this one @ocasio2018. Ms Ocasio-Cortez, 29, shocked the nation with her entry into politics last year, by defeating a 10-term incumbent on her way to taking her seat in the House Of Representatives. Her clever use of social media she has nearly 4 million Twitter followers, far more than most politicians has seen many of her speeches go viral. She runs on a progressive platform that includes free healthcare for all and abolishing US Immigration And Customs Enforcement (Ice). Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a picture of her and Van Nesss matching pink outfits and captioned it: In Capitol Hill we wear pink TY @jvn, @bobbyberk, @tanfrance & @antoni for visiting + helping us push for the #EqualityAct, & be there to watch Congress pass the Violence Against Women Act & War Powers Resolution to end U.S. involvement in Yemen. Justice happens together. Disaster: The scene of the crash which killed 157 people on March 10 near Addis Ababa. Photo: Reuters Investigators have urged Boeing to review its flight control technology and said pilots of state carrier Ethiopian Airlines had carried out proper procedures in the first public findings on the crash of a 737 Max jet that killed 157 people. The doomed flight repeatedly nosedived as the pilots battled to control the nearly full aircraft before it crashed six minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa in clear conditions, Ethiopian authorities said yesterday. "The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft," Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said as she presented the outlines of a preliminary report, Investigators are expected to publish the report today. Boeing's top-selling aircraft has been grounded worldwide since the March 10 disaster, which came just five months after a Lion Air 737 Max crash in Indonesia that killed 189. An initial report into that accident also raised questions about the jet's software, as well as training and maintenance. Families of the victims, regulators and travellers around the world have been waiting for signs of whether the two crashes are linked, and the extent to which Boeing technology and the actions of the Ethiopian Airlines pilots played a role. Ethiopian investigators did not blame anyone for the crash, in line with international rules requiring civil probes to focus on technical recommendations for safer flight. Nor did they give a detailed analysis of the flight, which is expected to take several months before a final report due within a year. But the Ethiopian investigators cleared the pilots of using incorrect procedures and issued two safety recommendations focused on the recently introduced aircraft. They suggested Boeing review the flight control system and aviation authorities confirm any changes before allowing the back into the air. "Since repetitive uncommanded aircraft nose down conditions are noticed ... it is recommended that the aircraft control system shall be reviewed by the manufacturer," Ms Moges said. The nose-down commands were issued by Boeing's so-called MCAS software. The preliminary report into the Lion Air disaster suggested pilots lost control after grappling with MCAS, a new automated anti-stall feature that repeatedly lowered the nose of the aircraft based on faulty data from a sensor. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has come under fire over the way it decided to certify the MCAS software, cautioned the investigation was not over. "We continue to work towards a full understanding of all aspects of this accident. As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action," the FAA said. Boeing said it would study the report once it was released. Ethiopian Airlines said its crew had followed all the correct guidance to handle a difficult emergency. However, the report could spark a debate with Boeing about how crew responded to problems triggered by faulty data from an airflow sensor, particularly over whether they steadied the plane before turning off key software. Questions on whether the pilots had levelled out the plane before disengaging MCAS and how many times MCAS activated were not answered. Following a previous Ethiopian Airlines accident off Beirut in 2010, Addis Ababa authorities rejected the conclusions of a Lebanese investigation citing pilot error and suggested it had exploded in a possible act of sabotage. Officials denied reports of tensions between Ethiopian officials and US and other foreign investigators accredited to the current probe. "We don't have any reservations from different stakeholders who were engaged in the investigations," said chief investigator Amdye Ayalew Fanta. Aviation safety analyst Paul Hayes said deeper investigation would delve into the role played by software and how pilots were able to respond, and said he hoped scars from the 2010 dispute would not get in the way of a comprehensive investigation. "Pilots shouldn't have to cope with such an emergency situation. "We need to understand what are the factors that meant these two crews were overcome," said Mr Hayes, safety director at UK-based consultancy Flight Ascend. Former Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell has shared a video of himself playing bagpipes to provide a little light relief during the Brexit madness. A vocal advocate for the Peoples Vote campaign group, which supports a public ballot on the final Brexit deal, Mr Campbell said his bagpipes make a much needed intervention. At the end of the footage, he declares: That was a new tune called Oh Flower Of Flextension: Do Not Listen To The May Madness, goodbye. The satirical song title is a reference to Scottish rugby favourite Flower of Scotland, though Mr Campbell plays his bagpipes to the tune of Ludwig van Beethovens Ode to Joy. He tagged political leaders in his post including European Council president Donald Tusk, Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron, saying: This is for you. The reaction to his video has been awash with puns, with TV presenter Piers Morgan describing him as a whiny, old, puffed up windbag in response. BREAKING: Alastair Campbell is whiny, old, puffed up windbag. https://t.co/yLO8GzP3EE Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 5, 2019 Others were more encouraging of Mr Campbells playing, with some suggesting venues for his next performance. Outside the home of Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg was one popular suggestion. Can you play them outside JRMs house? Walton (@channingwalton) April 5, 2019 Some had other jokes to make about the music, with TV producer Jim Sheridan confusing the instrument with a screaming octopus. He tweeted: Good god Alastair what are you doing to that Octopus!! Cant you hear him screaming. Good god Alastair what are you doing to that Octopus!! Cant you hear him screaming .. BTW I didnt realise you could play, youll have to bring the pipes next time your in Dublin . Jim Sheridan (@Jim_Sheridan) April 5, 2019 And the performance even merited a duet thanks to one fellow Twitter user. User @lulichill shared a video of their dog listening and barking along with Mr Campbells playing. i loved it you talented man but you set my dog off! #bagpipes #AlastairCampbell pic.twitter.com/225c28xGmZ LucyC (@lulichill) April 5, 2019 I loved it you talented man, they said. But you set my dog off! A new study suggests household cats can respond to the sound of their own names. (Stock photo) Hey Kitty! Yes, you. A new study suggests household cats can respond to the sound of their own names. Which will come as no surprise to most cat owners. But Japanese scientists say they've provided the first experimental evidence that cats can distinguish between words we say. So they're kind of like dogs, whose communication with people has been studied a lot more, and who've been shown to recognise hundreds of words if they're highly trained. Sorry if the comparison offends, Kitty. Dr Atsuko Saito of Sophia University in Tokyo said there's no evidence cats actually attach meaning to our words. Instead, they've learned that when they hear their names they often get rewards like food or play, or something bad like a trip to the vet. Dr Saito and colleagues describe the results of their research in the journal 'Scientific Reports'. In four experiments with 16 to 34 animals, each cat heard a recording that slowly recited a list of four nouns or other cat's names, followed by the cat's own name. The crucial question was whether they'd respond more to their name. Sure enough, on average, they perked up when they heard their own name. Australia passed a law yesterday that threatens jail sentences for executives of social media companies that fail to take down live streams of terror attacks quickly enough. The bill, proposed in the wake of a deadly mass shooting in New Zealand last month, passed Australia's upper house yesterday, the last possible day before parliament dissolves for elections next month. The law makes it a criminal offence for social media platforms to fail to remove "abhorrent violent material" fast enough, punishable by three years' imprisonment of the executives responsible or a fine of up to 10pc of the company's annual turnover. New Zealand police announced yesterday that Brenton Tarrant, the 28-year-old Australian who stands accused of the Christchurch massacre, would face 50 charges of murder and 39 charges of attempted murder. Tarrant was due to make his second court appearance via video link today. Scott Morrison, the prime minister, said the new law would "force social media companies to get their act together and work with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to defuse the threat their technologies can present to the safety of Australians". But tech firms and Australian lawyers criticised the legislation, saying it was rushed, vague and potentially dangerous to freedom of expression. The attack on a mosque in Christchurch last month was live-streamed on Facebook for 17 minutes before it was removed. Even after that, recorded video footage spread rapidly online. Mark Drefus, Labour's law and order spokesman, called the bill "flimsy and flawed", described the deadline to pass it as "ridiculous" and promised to review it if Labour takes power, but nevertheless backed it for now. The Australian Law Council criticised the bill more harshly, saying it could lead to censorship of the media. "Media freedom and whistle-blowing of atrocities here and overseas have been put at risk," said Arthur Moses, the council's president. A Japanese court has approved the detention of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn until April 14 after his latest arrest over financial misconduct allegations. The former star executive was taken into custody on Thursday over new allegations that 3.8 million sent by a Nissan subsidiary and meant for an Oman dealership was diverted to a company effectively controlled by Ghosn. He spent nearly four months in detention and was released last month after meeting stringent bail conditions while he awaits trial over earlier allegations that he understated his compensation in financial documents, had Nissan shoulder his personal investment losses and made dubious payments to a Saudi businessman. Expand Close Carlos Ghosn (Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Carlos Ghosn (Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News/AP) Tokyo District Court on Friday approved the initial 10-day detention request from prosecutors, who can seek another 10-day extension before needing to file charges against Ghosn, release him or accuse him of new misconduct that needs investigating. Stringing out a suspects arrest for the full 20 days and then raising new accusations is common in Japan, where it is known as a rearrest. Critics say it allows suspects to be grilled by the authorities, resulting in some signing confessions to crimes they never committed. But it is rare for a suspect to receive bail and then be taken back into custody. Ghosns legal team lodged an appeal with the court on Friday, arguing against the detention, but the court rejected it. The 65-year-old was first arrested on November 19 and released on March 6 on 1 billion yen (6.8 million) bail, after two previous rearrests. He says he is innocent of all allegations. Prosecutors argue the latest accusations are different from the previous ones, but his legal team says they are part of the same scenario of wrongdoing. In demanding the latest detention, prosecutors argued Ghosn may tamper with evidence related to the new allegations. Prosecutors had earlier fought against bail for Ghosn, a citizen of France, Brazil and Lebanon, arguing he was a flight risk. Expand Close Junichiro Hironaka (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Junichiro Hironaka (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) Ghosns lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, pointed out that prosecutors have already raided his property and taken everything, leaving little to tamper with. He accused prosecutors of trying to silence Ghosn, who had tweeted he was planning a news conference next week to tell the truth about what was happening. Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades before his downfall, said he was not giving up. I will not be broken. I am innocent of the groundless charges and accusations against me, he said in a statement on Thursday. A senior Ecuadorian official said no decision had been made to expel Julian Assange from the countrys London embassy despite tweets from WikiLeaks that sources had told it he could be kicked out within hours to days. A small group of protesters and supporters of the WikiLeaks founder gathered outside the embassy in London where Assange has been holed up since August 2012. He has feared extradition to the US since WikiLeaks published thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables. Earlier, WikiLeaks tweeted: BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within hours to days using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretextand that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest. BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest.https://t.co/adnJph79wq WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 4, 2019 Another tweet said it had received a secondary confirmation from another high-level source. Ecuadors foreign ministry released a statement saying it doesnt comment on rumours, theories or conjectures that dont have any documented backing. Expand Close Media gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Media gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy (John Stillwell/PA) Later, a top official said while Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno was angered by the apparent hacking of his personal communications, he denied WikiLeaks claim and said no decision had been taken to expel Assange from the Embassy. On Tuesday, Mr Moreno blamed WikiLeaks for recent allegations of offshore corruption that appeared in local media outlets and the publication of family photos to social media. Mr Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance. He provided no evidence, but the speech reflected ongoing tension between Assange and his hosts at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. WikiLeaks in a statement called Mr Morenos charges completely bogus, saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuadors legislature investigated the issue. Then, after launching her mayoral bid following Mayor Rahm Emanuels decision not to seek a third term, there was the federal complaint filed against Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, in January. Federal prosecutors alleged Burke attempted to use his aldermanic control over zoning to shake down a business in exchange for legal work for his property tax-appeals law firm. Federal authorities also alleged Burke illegally solicited a $10,000 campaign contribution that sources said was intended for Preckwinkle. She denied having any knowledge of his actions, but said she would return more than $100,000 in campaign contributions she raised when the longtime alderman hosted a fundraiser for her at his home. European Union authorities have said German car makers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen colluded to limit the development of emissions-cleaning technology in cars. The finding adds to the car industrys woes after Volkswagen in 2015 admitted to cheating on emissions tests in the US, which led to a worldwide re-evaluation of how cars are tested and how to limit emissions to make air cleaner and fight climate change. The EU antitrust regulator said an in-depth investigation found that BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen, including its Audi and Porsche units, broke EU laws from 2006 to 2014 by illegally agreeing among themselves to limit the rollout of the technology. #EUAntitrust We have sent an Statement of Objections to BMW, Daimler and VW for restricting competition on emission cleaning technology. Our preliminary view is that they have breached EU antitrust rules from 2006 to 2014: https://t.co/rdGj0YrOlB pic.twitter.com/aKhsmf9mDs EU Competition (@EU_Competition) April 5, 2019 The technology helps eliminate nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to human health, from petrol and diesel passenger cars. The alleged actions would have limited Europeans options for less polluting cars, but not their price. The probe is separate from other legal procedures against car makers for allegedly breaching environmental laws or using illegal software in car engines. EU authorities raided the offices of the three companies in October 2017 and opened their investigation in September last year. Expand Close BMW (David Cheskin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp BMW (David Cheskin/PA) BMW said discussions among engineers were meant to improve exhaust gas technologies and that the whole industry was aware of these talks. It said they did not involve any secret agreements or intend to hurt customers. Daimler said it was co-operating with the EU and does not expect to receive a fine. Volkswagen said it was also co-operating and would issue a statement once it has reviewed the EU investigation. The EU noted that its preliminary findings do not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation. The case comes after Volkswagen admitted four year ago to using software in diesel car engines to cheat on US emissions tests. It has set aside 27.4 billion euros (23.6 billion) for fines, settlements, recalls and buybacks. Former chief executive Martin Winterkorn was criminally charged by US authorities but cannot be extradited. Audis division head was jailed. Renewed scrutiny of diesel emissions revealed that cars from other manufacturers also showed higher diesel emissions in everyday driving than during testing, thanks in part to regulatory loopholes that let the firms turn down emissions controls to avoid engine damage under certain conditions. The EU subsequently tightened its testing procedures. Anti-trust fines can be steep. In 2016 and 2017 the EU Commission imposed a fine of 3.8 billion euros (3.2 billion) after it found that six truck makers had colluded on pricing, the timing of introduction of emissions technologies and the passing on of costs for emissions compliance to customers. The House of Commons sitting was suspended yesterday due to a roof leak above the press gallery. MPs were distracted from their debate when a large leak started in the ceiling of the House of Commons, sending water pouring into the chamber. They had been debating taxation when water began pouring from the ceiling. Conservative former minister Justine Greening had been speaking when the leak began. Proceedings carried on for a few minutes, but the noise of water pouring into the press gallery soon became overwhelming. The chamber was suspended after MPs began looking nervously at the torrent from the old rafters above. A House of Commons spokesman said: "We are aware of a water leak on the estate and we're working urgently to resolve it." Following Ms Greening's speech, Labour MP Justin Madders said: "I hope I can complete my speech before rain stops play. "I think there is probably some kind of symbol about how many people view how broken our parliament is." MPs continued to cast nervous glances at the ceiling while water continued gushing in. Staff discussed whether to put out buckets, but it was decided this could make the noise from the leak even louder while MPs were trying to speak. The Commons adjourned for the day at 3.13pm, more than two hours earlier than scheduled, because of the water leak. Shane O'Brien who was placed on a world-wide most wanted Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire One of Britain's most wanted fugitives is back in the UK after being extradited from Romania. Shane O'Brien, the suspected killer of 21-year-old Josh Hanson, who was stabbed to death in a bar in Hillingdon, west London, in 2015, was arrested in Cluj-Napoca last month. Scotland Yard said he arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7.30pm on Friday and is being held in custody at a London police station. O'Brien is thought to have left the UK shortly after Mr Hanson was stabbed in RE Bar in Eastcote in October 2015, flying on a private jet from Biggin Hill Airport in south-east London, landing in Germany. Expand Close Josh Hanson. Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Josh Hanson. Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire It is believed he spent time in the Netherlands, Dubai and at least seven months in Prague. Police photos taken at the time show he had changed his appearance, having longer hair and a beard, and a new, large tattoo of an owl holding a skull that covers a large portion of his back. It covered a distinctive tattoo he had previously, which read "Shannon 15-04-06". Josh Hanson's mother, who has long campaigned for help tracking down O'Brien, thanked lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh in the wake of the arrest. She said on Twitter: "Today on the 23rd of March 2019 and after 3 and a half years of waiting today is Josh's day." A New Zealand judge has ordered that the man accused of killing 50 people at two New Zealand mosques undergo two mental health tests to determine if he is fit to enter pleas in the case. High Court judge Cameron Mander made the order during a hearing in which 28-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared via video link from a small room at the maximum security Paremoremo prison in Auckland. Expand Close Armed police in Christchurch (Vincent Thian/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Armed police in Christchurch (Vincent Thian/AP) Tarrant was wearing handcuffs and a grey-coloured jumper when he appeared on a large screen inside the Christchurch courtroom, which was packed with family members and victims of the shooting, some in wheelchairs and hospital gowns and still recovering from gunshot wounds. Tarrant showed no emotion during the hearing. At times he looked around the room or cocked his head, seemingly to better hear what was being said. The judge explained that from his end, Tarrant could see the judge and lawyers but not those in the public gallery. Tarrant spoke only once to confirm to the judge he was seated, although his voice did not come through because the sound was muted. It was not immediately clear if his link had been deliberately or inadvertently muted. Judge Mander said nothing should be read into his order for the mental health assessments, as it was a normal step in such a case. Lawyers said it could take two or three months to complete. The courtroom was filled with more than two dozen reporters and about 60 members of the public. A court registrar greeted people in Arabic and English as the hearing got under way. Some of those watching got emotional and wept. The judge said Tarrant was charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 counts of attempted murder. Police initially filed a single, representative murder charge before filing the additional charges this week. In the March 15 attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and one more person died later. The day after the attacks, Tarrant dismissed an appointed lawyer, saying he wanted to represent himself. But he has now hired two Auckland lawyers to represent him, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson. The next court hearing was scheduled for June 14, and the mental health findings would determine whether he is required to enter a plea then. Outside the courtroom, Yama Nabi, whose father died in the attacks, said he felt helpless watching. "We just have to sit in the court and listen," Mr Nabi said. "What can we do? We can't do nothing. Just leave it to the justice of New Zealand and the prime minister." The person who claimed to be Illinois teen Timmothy Pitzen, who went missing eight years ago, is a grown man with a criminal record, according to the FBI and state records. Brian Michael Rini, 23, told police in the Kentucky town of Newport that he had escaped kidnappers and was Timmothy, who would now be 14 years old, briefly raising hope the long-lost boy had been found, FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said. Timmothy was last seen after his mother pulled him out of school in Aurora, Illinois, a far-west suburb of Chicago, and then committed suicide. Lindgren, of the agency's Cincinnati bureau, said on Thursday that DNA tests conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital showed that the person who claimed to be Timmothy was in fact Rini. The story that Timmothy might have been found spread quickly online Wednesday, as users weighed in to say they prayed for the child's safe return. Police, however, were cautious throughout the investigation, refusing to discuss the case until DNA results came back. "Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family," the FBI said after the tests. "Unfortunately, that day will not be today." Speaking at a news conference posted online, Timmothy's aunt, Karla Jacobs, urged compassion for Rini. "We know you are out there somewhere Tim and we will never stop looking for you, praying for you and loving you," she said. "We hope that everyone will join us in praying for the young man who claims to be Timmothy Pitzen." A public records search in Ohio showed Rini was released from the Belmont Correctional Institution on March 7, where he had been serving 14 months for burglary and vandalism. Timmothy Pitzen disappeared in May 2011 at the age of 6, after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of school and took him on a trip to a zoo and a water park. She committed suicide soon afterward in a motel room, leaving a note that local media said made the boy's whereabouts a mystery. "Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him," she wrote in the note, according to reports by ABC7 Chicago. "You will never find him." Former couple: Amazons Jeff Bezos and wife MacKenzie Bezos last year before they split up. Photo: Evan Agostini Jeff Bezos has retained a tight grip on Amazon following a divorce deal with his wife of 25 years that makes her one of the richest women on Earth. The billionaire has finalised a settlement with MacKenzie Bezos in which he retains 75pc of their Amazon shares, worth around $97.5bn (86bn), and complete voting control. She will become the fourth largest shareholder and is now worth around $35.6bn. Writing on Twitter, Ms Bezos said she was "happy" to hand over the majority of the couple's shared Amazon stock plus voting control of her shares. She will also surrender complete control of Blue Origin, a space-exploration company, as well as the 'Washington Post', which Bezos bought in 2013 for $250m. The novelist appeared to brush off any animosity between the pair, claiming to be "looking forward to [the] next phase as co-parents and friends". The Texan tech mogul shared a separate statement on Twitter yesterday, in which he described his former wife as "resourceful and brilliant and loving" and that he was "grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process". Amazon's stock dipped by half a percent following the news. Mr Bezos, who founded the $890bn online marketplace in 1994, announced the end of their marriage on January 9, a day before American tabloid 'National Enquirer' published details of his "months-long affair" with a former newsreader, Lauren Sanchez. Blackmail Mr Bezos later claimed the paper had attempted to blackmail him with sexual pictures taken on his smartphone. His top security chief last week accused Saudi Arabia of hacking Mr Bezos's phone to obtain the pictures and texts detailing his whirlwind romance. Former FBI agent Gavin de Becker, who was told by Mr Bezos to "spend whatever is needed" to find the source, claimed the hacking was a "key part of the Saudis' 'extensive surveillance efforts'." The Saudi government's minister of state for foreign affairs denied all accusations against the state, saying it had "absolutely nothing to do" with the 'National Enquirer' story. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] A group of fishermen pulled up a dead body in the trawl net of their ship while travelling across the Arctic Ocean, police said. The ship was in the Barents Sea, off the northern coast of Norway and Russia, when the fishermen made the discovery. We first thought there only were some clothes in the back of the trawl net, Kjetil Ervik, the ships captain, told the Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. Then, when we made a closer look, it turned out to be parts of a person inside. The ship is now on its way to Norways mainland where the body can be identified, Troms County Police said in a tweet posted on Thursday. Karl Erik Thomassen, a police spokesperson, told the Barents Observer that there are no Norwegians missing in the area. The ship was sailing through international waters when the body was caught in its nets, in an area known as the Smutthullett (which translates as loophole). The Barents Sea is divided between Russian and Norwegian territorial waters and contain 513 per cent of the worlds untapped oil and 20-30 per cent of the worlds untapped gas. Several people have gone missing in its remote waters in recent years, according to the Barents Observer. This includes Dmitry Kravchenko, a snow crab fisherman serving on a Latvian trawler, who went missing in the Barents Sea last year. President Donald Trump, hammering on a favorite theme, on Friday proposed another way to crack down on what he describes as a crisis of undocumented immigration and drug trafficking on the U.S.-Mexico border. Without providing details, Trump said he was considering an unspecified economic penalty on Mexico to counter drug smuggling, apart from tariffs on imports. Praising Mexico for moving recently against drug traffickers, Trump said, "If they continue that, everything will be fine. If they don't we're going to tariff their cars at 25 percent." "Also, I'm looking at an economic penalty for all of the drugs that are coming in through the southern border and killing our people," Trump told reporters in Washington before departing for southern California where he will visit the border. In a Friday morning Twitter post, Trump said: "Likewise I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border." It was not immediately clear what other penalties he was considering. The White House did not respond to a request for elaboration. Trump said the drug-related tariff would supplant provisions of the recently negotiated U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA, which has not been approved by Congress. "If for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesnt work, which it will, I will close the Border," Trump said on Twitter on Friday. "This will supercede USMCA." Although Trump has several times linked the issues of illegal immigration and drug smuggling as he tries to tighten border security, much of the drug trade is not carried out by migrants but by professional crime gangs that send narcotics to the United States in vehicles through official ports of entry. The Republican president's latest pronouncements, issued informally in rapid succession, came amid a rising flow of migrants, many of them families with children, northward from Central America through Mexico and to the southern U.S. border. Mexico's initial approach to immigrant caravans from Central America was to freely hand out humanitarian visas with the goal of allowing people to stay and work legally in Mexico. But the government backed away from that policy after a surge in those requesting the documents and amid criticism from Washington. Mexicos foreign minister told Reuters last week that more could be done to register immigrants. Since then Mexico has taken a more rigorous approach to interviewing and registering immigrants from Central America, Haiti and Cuba. Mexicos National Immigration Institute said this week that humanitarian visas would be given out, but with a focus on the most vulnerable groups. On Thursday, a Mexican federal police plane flew dozens of Haitians home. On Friday, the Migration Institute said on Twitter that 57 Cubans were sent back to Cuba by plane in the morning. More than 60 Cubans were flown home last week. For years, Trump's go-to solution to illegal immigration was to build a wall on the border, which he originally said Mexico would pay for. After Mexico refused, he asked U.S. taxpayers to pay for it, but Congress refused to provide the money. He has since tried to circumvent Congress and seize the money for his wall from other accounts by declaring a national emergency, but that strategy is mired in the courts. Twenty states have filed a motion to block Trump's attempt to divert federal funds through an emergency declaration, the New York state attorney general said on Friday. "This wall is unnecessary, and an abuse of power that will take away resources that could be used to help Americans across our nation," New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said in a Twitter post. Democrats have generally opposed Trump's wall proposal, while pushing other types of enhanced border security that they argue would be more effective and less costly than a wall. Trump will visit Calexico, California, for a tour of the border on Friday. Mystery: A police handout of missing boy Timmothy Pitzen, who was last seen in 2011 when he was six US police are trying to confirm the identity of a teenager who told authorities he fled from kidnappers and is an Illinois boy missing since 2011. The 14-year-old boy told police in Newport, Kentucky, that he escaped from two kidnappers in the Cincinnati area and ran across a bridge. He said his name was Timmothy Pitzen. In 2011, six-year-old Timmothy Pitzen's mother picked him up at school in Illinois, took him to the zoo and a water park, and later killed herself at a hotel. She left a note saying her son was fine but that no one would ever find him. Timmothy Pitzen's aunt said police are using DNA testing and that results could be known soon. Police in Aurora, Illinois, sent two detectives to the Cincinnati area, where the FBI and local police are investigating. The boy was taken to a Cincinnati hospital, but no information on his condition was released immediately. There have been several false sightings of Timmothy Pitzen since 2011. "We hope it's true," his aunt, Kara Jacobs, told CBS2 TV in Chicago. "What's hard is the story that he escaped from captors, and your mind goes in too many directions that you don't want to think about." She said she had prayed over the years that he was with people "who would love him" and it would heartbreaking if that hasn't been the case. The body of Amy Fry-Pitzen (43) was found on May 15, 2011. Police believe she killed herself at a hotel in Rockford, Illinois. A note she left said Timmothy was fine, but that no-one would ever find him. Police said she took steps that suggested she might have dropped her son off with a friend. At the time, police searched for Timmothy in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Police in the Cincinnati suburb of Sharonville wrote in a short incident report that the boy said on Wednesday he had "just escaped from two kidnappers" he described as white men with body builder-type physiques. They were in a Ford SUV with Wisconsin licence plates and had been staying at a Red Roof Inn. Sharonville police said the information about the boy's reported escape was received by police in Campbell County, Kentucky. The boy was found just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Speaking to local TV channel WISN-TV in Wisconsin, Pitzen's grandmother said: "We just know a 14-year-old boy was found and went to the police. We don't want to get our hopes up and our family's hopes up until we know something. "We just don't want to get our hopes up. We've had false reports and false hopes before." Guests can go light or heavy at Headquarters, as the bar will offer $4 cans of its citrus IPA Dont Grow Up Its a Trap, as well as 12-ounce pours of the 2019 Founders Kentucky Bourbon stout for $12. The former is a collaboration with Brickstone Brewery in Bourbonnais, Ill. Migrants blocked the main railway station in Athens in protests authorities said were triggered by false reports on social media that restrictions on travel to northern Europe had been lifted. The protest came as migrants also clashed with police in northern Greece for a second day. Expand Close Migrants block the track in Athens (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Migrants block the track in Athens (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) In Athens, police said about 300 protesters gathered at Larissis Station, many sitting on the tracks in front of trains. Authorities did not immediately intervene to disperse the demonstrators, while officials from the United Nations refugee agency were trying to persuade them to leave voluntarily. Expand Close The protesters at Larissis Station (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The protesters at Larissis Station (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) The clashes in northern Greece occurred outside an overcrowded migrant camp where police used tear gas and stun grenades to push back hundreds of protesters carrying their belongings and trying to walk to the border with North Macedonia, about 40 miles to the north. Several hundred migrants, many having spent the night outside the camp in tents or sleeping rough, were involved in the clashes in a cornfield where police set up several blockades with buses and lines of riot police. Expand Close Clashes outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata (Giannis Papanikos/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Clashes outside a refugee camp in the village of Diavata (Giannis Papanikos/AP) Hashem Mojadam, a 36-year-old Iraqi asylum-seeker, spent the night in the field outside the refugee camp and said he hoped to join other migrants and walk to the border. Everyone is tense and no one really slept, he told the Associated Press. Were hoping to go to another country because there is nothing for us here and we need a safe place. Migration minister Dimitris Vitsas issued a plea to migrants to return to camps that are officially known as hospitality centres. Expand Close Migrants flee the violence (Giannis Papanikos/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Migrants flee the violence (Giannis Papanikos/AP) There was a false report being distributed that the border would be opened. We have informed the hospitality centres that is not the case, he told state-run ERT television. I am issuing a plea right now to these people that they should return to the centres. As refugees and as people they have rights but they also an obligation to respect and abide by the laws of the country that is providing them hospitality. Greeces border with North Macedonia has been fenced off and heavily policed for the past three years after the European Union cracked down on migration because more than a million asylum-seekers travelled to EU countries, most fleeing war-torn areas in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Malaika Arora's recent getaway at Maldives is grabbing major eyeballs for many reasons. Some it was a bachelorette trip while some call it just another mini vacation. Be it whatever, one thing is for sure that Malaika looked every bit hot and sizzling in all the pictures she had shared from the vacation. Featured Video While Malaika Arora is treating us with all the pictures from her vacation, she yesterday posted yet another amazing shot of her on Instagram. Posing in a yatch, Malaika appears to be a carefree bird in the below still. She captioned the image, "Aye aye captain ... I see u #throwbackthursday ... #seriouswithdrawlsymptoms #takemebacktomaldives" Little did she know that she would be receiving immense hate comments for the same. The comments were surprising and absolutely brutal. "Doing stupid stuff like dating young boys , destroying her family life and what not just for the sake of being in news and to revive her dead career", read one comment. Some of them commented: Meanwhile, seems like apart from her gal pals, Malaika Arora had her boyfriend Arjun Kapoor's company in Maldives as the actor recently posted a picture from Maldives. The still confirmed that the two indeed chilled together at their not-so-secret vacation. Arjun posted, "Here's to you Maldives... To many more Sunsets & Selfies... #paradiseisland#holidayvibes" About Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor's wedding, rumour has it that the couple will not tie the knot on April 19 as decided. A report in PinkVilla revealed that the rumoured date might not be the one that the couple chooses to tie the knot.Why? Because the day falls on Good Friday and according to Christianity, it is the day that their messiah, Jesus Christ was crucified and passed away at Calvary. The Trump administration has been one policy disaster after another, according to tribal leaders, and it's about to get even more rocky with a controversial nominee headed to the top position at the Department of the Interior Despite longstanding questions about his ethical behaviors, David Bernhardt is all but certain to be confirmed as the Secretary of the Interior, the government official with the most responsibility in Indian Country. Republicans who control the Senate are making sure of that, by advancing his nomination on Thursday, barely a week after his nomination hearing during which he promoted energy development on tribal lands as "sovereignty" for the first Americans. "This is what supporting self-determination looks like," Bernhardt, a longtime lawyer and lobbyist for the energy industry, told members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week. But tribes and their advocates have not been happy with Interior's agenda over the last two years. From a reorganization at the department they still have questions about to a return to the dark days of the termination era , they have seen a slew of setbacks in the nation's capital. "The very core of this relationship is being challenged," Kitcki Carroll, the executive director of the United South and Eastern Tribes , said at his organization's meeting in Washington, D.C., last month. Bernhardt, however, has been telling tribes he is turning over a new leaf. He currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Interior and he has vowed not to include the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education in the ongoing reorganization at his department, one in which other agencies and offices are being moved to a new "unified" regional system "As we listened, it was clear enough that you did not want to be part of that unified region, and you're not," Bernhardt told leaders of the National Congress of American Indians at their executive council winter session in D.C. in February. Almost two months later, tribes still don't know what that means. They must still interact with other agencies at Interior and they haven't been told how that relationship will change as the restructuring moves forward. "What is the impact on Indian Country?" Brian Patterson, a leader from the Oneida Nation and a former president of USET, asked of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney when she appeared before tribes served by the BIA's Eastern Region "There are efforts going on about reorganization and we need to know what is the effect," Patterson added as he called on Sweeney to be more transparent with details. Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt says the reorganization of the Department of the Interior will not change the regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. I can assure you that they will remain intact. #ECWS19 @DOIDepSec pic.twitter.com/I4tZbuHhRH indianz.com (@indianz) February 13, 2019 On another matter, Bernhardt has promised not to move forward with controversial changes to the way in tribes tribes restore their homelands. The Fee-to-Trust Regulations (25 CFR 151) , which were announced just two months after he joined the Trump administration , had drawn near unanimous opposition in Indian Country. I have no interest in modifying our 151 regulations unless you want them changed so we are not going to go forward with that matter," Bernhardt told NCAI. Still, tribes -- particularly those whose ancestors were among the first to welcome European settlers -- remain largely in the dark about the land-into-trust process and whether it continues to benefit them in the Trump era. During USET's meeting on March 4, the director of the BIA boasted about the number of acres that had been placed in trust in 2018, only to backtrack when Indianz.Com asked for clarification. "We had never heard that number before yesterday," Carroll said a day later, even though the number given to tribes was wrong. A BIA spokesperson has since told Indianz.Com that the correct figures have been shared with USET, whose leaders wanted to know how much of that acreage has been restored to tribes in their region, which spans from Maine to Florida to Texas. Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt is dropping a controversial land-into-trust proposal that tribes have opposed. I have no interest in modifying our 151 regulations unless you want them changed so we are not going to go forward with that matter. #ECWS19 @DOIDepSec pic.twitter.com/TahtDINtjx indianz.com (@indianz) February 13, 2019 "I've heard none," said one leader from the Narragansett Tribe , whose ability to follow the land-into-trust process has been forever curtailed as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar Carcieri has now victimized another USET member. The Trump administration, barely two months after Sweeney came on board, told the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe , whose ancestors welcomed European settlers to their homelands almost 400 years ago, that it cannot reclaim any of those lands. The decision -- which Sweeney has said she "walked into" -- reverses one made during the Obama era and marks the first time that the BIA had adopted the premise of Carcieri, that some Indian nations can have trust lands while others cannot. The result has been "catastrophic," resulting in the loss of most of the tribe's law enforcement and court staff and threatening progress at a language immersion school, Mashpee Vice Chairwoman Jessie Little Doe Baird said at a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. "This creates the very real possibility that our land will be taken out of trust altogether and our reservation disestablished, something that has not happened since the termination era," Baird told the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States at a hearing in which a bill to fix to Carcieri ( H.R.375 ) was discussed, along with a bill to prevent her tribe's lands from being taken out of trust ( H.R.312 ). The Trump administration was noticeably absent from the hearing and refused to take a stand on a prior version of the bill. No one brought up the issue to Bernhardt last week, and he did not mention whether restoring tribal homelands was one of his priorities either. "Through my work over the years at Interior, I have come to know many leading voices in the tribal community, and these interactions have enriched and enhanced my knowledge of tribal culture, heritage, and concerns," Bernhardt said in his opening statement. "True commitment to tribal sovereignty requires the recognition that tribes should be able to responsibly develop the natural resources on their lands." Besides energy development, Bernhardt pledged to focus on improving public safety in Indian Country, which has been hit hard by the opioid crisis and other dangerous drugs. He briefly mentioned the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and said Sweeney was "completely focused" on addressing that issue. He also said he was "completely committed" to ensuring tribes are consulted about decisions that affect them, singling out Sweeney (Inupiat), who is the first Alaska Native woman to serve as the Assistant Secretary, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs John Tahsuda (Kiowa) and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development Mark Cruz (Klamath) for praise. "I have an A team and I'll do whatever they ask in terms of helping them," Bernhardt said at his hearing last Thursday. Bernhardt's vow to keep Indian Country in the loop helped him secure support from at least one Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) has been concerned about energy development near Chaco Culture National Historical Park , the ancestral home of a number of tribes. "I would love to go to New Mexico and visit the site with you," said Bernhardt, who was otherwise noncommittal about reversing course about oil and gas drilling there. Navajo activist Daniel Tso speaks out against energy development in the greater Chaco Canyon area at a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 17, 2018. Photo: Niko Dellios Heinrich, in addition to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), the top Democrat on the committee, were the only members of their party who voted in support of Bernhardt's nomination, which was considered at a business meeting on Thursday. Others were far less impressed. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said Bernhardt may have "lied under oath" about his matters affecting prior lobbying clients. Considering that former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke was "forced to resign under a self-generated ethical hurricane," he called on the committee to spend more time looking into allegations against the new pick to lead the department. "I have never had to handle a nomination like this one," said Wyden, a former chairman of the panel and its longest-serving member. "I think it would be a grave mistake for the committee to move forward before the Inspector General has a chance to formally respond to my request for an investigation ," he said, referring to the Office of the Inspector General at Interior. But Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the current chair, dismissed the allegations as "new reporting on old allegations." A story in The New York Times , published on Thursday, highlighted a potential conflict in what Bernhardt told the committee about his work for a former client. "These allegations contain no new information," Murkowski asserted. "This is recycled, it's been re-packaged." She also said she contacted the Inspector General was told there were "no open investigations" into Bernhardt , who has agreed to recuse himself from matters affecting former clients. "I would be stunned if they were to be substantiated," Murkowski said of the allegations. The committee ended up voting 14-6, mostly along party lines except for the two Democrats, to send Bernhardt's nomination to the Senate floor. With Republicans in control of the chamber and eager to install as many Trump picks as possible , it will be all but impossible to stop the confirmation. During the George W. Bush administration, Bernhardt held key positions at Interior. He was a director of the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs , served as counselor to then-Secretary Gale Norton , who was the first woman in the job, and eventually became Solicitor, the highest-ranking legal official at the department. I am humbled by the President's confidence in me to lead the Department of the Interior subject to confirmation. pic.twitter.com/fdjUX1b7Od Acting Secretary David Bernhardt (@DOIDepSec) March 8, 2019 The roles gave Bernhardt a close view of a host of ethical lapses that wound up sending former Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles to federal prison in connection with a tribal lobbying scandal . Additionally, the era the escalation of the Indian trust fund lawsuit , which resulted in tribes being punished for the late Elouise Cobell's court victories, as well the reversal of a sacred site legal opinion that later derailed the federal court nomination of another one of his predecessors, former Solicitor Bill Myers Bernhardt also was on the ground for a series of politically-charged Indian gaming and federal recognition disputes, most of which ended up going against tribal interests. Yet he has managed to make it through without an overt connection to the drama, and has instead portrayed himself as a watchdog within the department. "Your integrity and ability are assets that should bolster this case for nomination, and not distract from it," Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) told Bernhardt last week. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Notices Join the Conversation Related Stories Over 12 lakh Indians died due to air pollution in 2017 and millions of them are remain vulnerable to this ever-growing problem affecting us. In a recent report, 15 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India and it is definitely a worrying trend. Pollution isnt just a problem but turning out to be a question of survival. Read More. Here's More Top News For The Day: 1) UK Lawyer Who Spat On Air India Crew After Being Refused Extra Booze Sentenced To Jail There's a decorum one needs to maintain while flying. If you're a lawyer, you seem to be more equipped and bound to follow the rules while flying given the legal knowledge they possess. However, this woman from Ireland who happens to be a human rights and criminal lawyer, is paying for her shameless act where she spat on an Air India crew during her flight from Mumbai to London last year in November. Read More. 2) This Woman Conned Everyone By Posing As An IFS Officer For 18 Months, Even Got VIP Security As unbelievable as it may sound a woman in posing as an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and a UN official made a mockery of the system and availed facilities like gunners and police escorts while she travelled around towns such as Noida, Gurugram, Meerut, Ghaziabad and Moradabad. The woman, identified as Zoya Khan was arrested by Noida Police from Greater Noida on Thursday along with her husband. Read More. 3) In Yet Another Merciless Act, 10 Dogs Beaten And Captured In Sacks In Gurugram In a recent frightening incident, ten stray dogs were brutally beaten and then taken away in sacks. In Gurugrams Uppel Southend, a CCTV footage revealed that animals were so gravely injured that the residents feared they might have been left to die. Read More. 4) Rare And Endangered Cuban Crocodile Dies Of Stress After Chennai Hotel Plays Loud Music Noise pollution concerns all of us but the authorities don't even pay lip service to it. Humans especially are always at the receiving end of this but it is now even affecting animals. In a tragic news coming from Chennai, a rare Cuban crocodile allegedly died of stress caused by loud music played in a resort. The female crocodile at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology allegedly died on March 30 after the Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort and Spa held an event where loud music was played. Read More. 5) Mumbai Man Who Went To Relieve Himself In Loo Finds A 7-Ft Long Rock Python Resting There We all have found uninvited species in our houses say, a rat hiding in the kitchen or a monkey in the balcony. Pigeons and sparrows making their nest on AC sheds is also common. Cats visiting you at the door and sometimes lizards and spiders also come to say us hello! How about spotting a snake in your sleep once you go to relieve yourself around midnight? This is exactly what happened when the reptile took a Mumbai resident by surprise when he was found resting in the commode. Vinay Dhoble stepped into the washroom and was shocked to see the snake. Read More. It is true that human beings dont deserve dogs. In the past, nerve-wracking incidents of animal cruelty have brought to the fore little or no sympathy for them. The lackadaisical approach to implementing strict rules against animal cruelty has further aggravated the situation. In the past, heinous activities like setting pups on fire, beating them to death and dumping them insensitively have come to light. Stoning dogs to death and thrashing them with sticks has become a very common thing in every Indian locality. In a recent frightening incident, ten stray dogs were brutally beaten and then taken away in sacks. In Gurugrams Uppel Southend, a CCTV footage revealed that animals were so gravely injured that the residents feared they might have been left to die. Photo: BCCL/Representative Image Times of India reported that animal activists have alleged that the security guards were involved in the incident. The residents claimed that on April 1 and April 2, dogs were beaten and taken away. The RWA has even lodged a police complaint. The RWA is also concerned about security at the premises since some unidentified people had entered the vicinity. The CCTV footage shows a group of men trying to capture a 11-year-old dog. The residents raised a complaint with People for Animals, a non-governmental organisation. However, an animal rights activist alleged that the RWA, the security guards as well as the residents took almost two days to acknowledge the incident even though they had concrete proof in the form of a CCTV footage. Photo: Facebook Reportedly, dog bites were a huge problem in the society. Though, the NGO took away stray dogs for sterilisation and vaccination, they were released into society again. This could be one possible reason for the residents to take such steps. In November last year, a heart-wrenching news of a male street dog being brutally raped by four low lives in Mumbai had sent shivers down the spine. Soon social media users started offering their heartfelt condolences for the street animals. Many people asserted that the dog had gone to a better place, expressing astonishment that how could humanity stoop to a new level with each passing day. Photo: Twitter/Srestha Das Choudhury/ 16 puppies killed in Kolkata earlier this year In another incident, four pups were set ablaze in the city of Hyderabad while they were sleeping in garbage dumps. The gruesome incident which took place in the citys Moula Ali suburb was carried out by unidentified culprits. In January this year, two women were arrested for brutally killing 16 puppies just because they had become too difficult to handle. They were found in the terrible condition from the parking lot of NRS Medical college in Kolkata. The incident came to light when a video went viral on social media. Two women could be seen thrashing the puppies. The puppies can be seen quivering and moaning with pain. There is an urgent need to crack down on inhumane incidents like these. Courses on protection of animals and their safety should be inculcated among students right from preschool. Caring for animals is the responsibility of the society. More patrolling and strict action is needed against men who carry out cold-blooded murders of innocent animals. On Thursday, Kerala woke up to the news of yet another gruesome murder, committed by a youth who had no prior criminal record but killed a young girl because she rejected his marriage proposal. The incident happened at Chiyyaram, Thrissur in the early hours of Thursday. The victim, identified as Neethu was a third-year student of a private engineering college. She was stabbed multiple times before the accused pour petrol on her and set her on fire. By the time Neethu's relatives rushed to her hearing her cry the 22-year-old had died. The murderer, identified as 32-year-old Nidheesh was caught by locals while attempting to flee. According to reports, Neethu who lost both her parents at a young age and was living with her grandparents was in a relationship with Nidheesh for two years. But she allegedly turned down his marriage proposal, which made the MBA graduate furious and resulted in the murder. This is the second such case in Kerala in less than a month. In March, a 20-year-old college student was set on fire in broad daylight by a youth in Thiruvalla. The victim, Kavitha Vijayakumar, was on her way to college, when the accused, Ajin Reji Mathew, confronted her and set her on fire. Kavitha who sustained 65% burn injuries in the attack succumbed to her injuries eight days later. Representational Image Ajin who was Kavitha's classmate from school was caught by locals while trying to flee. Even though he claims that they were in a relationship, Kavitha's family said they were unaware of it. Following the outrage over the incident, the sale of petrol in bottles were banned in Kerala. Thursday's incident is the fifth such murder that has been reported from Kerala since 2017. In all the cases the trigger for the crime was the rejection of love or marriage proposal. Commenting on the disturbing trend, Muralee Thummarukudy the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the UN Environment Programme had observed that the reason behind such acts is the fact that men can't take no for an answer. He blamed movies which glorify stalking for giving a wrong message to men. He also noted that boys are not told about "no means no" from a young age. Actors Jackie Shroff (left) and John Abraham in a still from RAW (Romeo, Akbar Walter). Abraham, who plays the lead in this spy thriller, is sincere but is handicapped by his poorly-etched character. The film, sadly, does not fit the bill. (photo provided) A recent survey by the CATO Institute summated that H-4 visa holders with work authorization benefits the U.S. economy. The data showed that H-4 visa holders come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including health care and business management, along with IT. Seven percent of those surveyed had created their own businesses. Indian American immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta told India-West: DHS has contradicted itself. This will be good basis for a court challenge to the final rule once it is issued. (representational photo-Sam Panthaky/Getty Images) GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: Chinas lithium carbonate prices down after April VAT cut Chinas domestic lithium carbonate spot market moved down this week after the lower value added tax (VAT) that came into effect on April 1 alongside the Tomb Sweeping holiday in China, while lithium prices in other global markets were stable week on week. The company will receive a pre-payment of $30 million for up to 55,000 tonnes of lithium concentrates over six years, with rights to a supplementary 25,000 tonnes, the note read. This contract is extendable for an additional five years and the first tranche of $3 million has already been paid. As per the agreement, Mitsui will support Sigma in the construction with a $7 million advance deposit, according to the mining company. This is subject to the Japanese companys approval. The deal also includes technical, logistics and marketing collaboration between the two. The installation permit needed to begin construction should be issued in June, with works at the plant to begin at the end of July, chief executive officer Calvyn Gardner told Fastmarkets. Commission of the plant is to take place nine months later, Gardner added. Sigma will explore an ore deposit with more than 50 million tonnes of resources in Vale do Jequitinhonha, a region in Brazils southern state of Minas Gerais. Sigma is currently running a feasibility study to advance with the project. The company expects to start commercial production at 220,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade spodumene, with plans to increase output to 440,000 tpy after a further study. The lithium oxide content is to reach 6-7%, with an aim to achieve the price premiums representative of those grades, the executive said. Fastmarkets last assessed spodumene with a minimum 5-6% lithium oxide content at $600-750 per tonne cif China on March 27. Prices have been stable since December 26, 2018. "We have a world-class deposit and believe premiums over the benchmark prices could be around $15-20 per tonne for each additional 0.1% grade of the product," Gardner said. Sigma is emerging as an alternative to Australian lithium miners , the CEO added. This would provide a "critically important diversification strategy" for the clients, Gardner said. "We will be able to supply potential converters coming to the United States and Europe," rather than them being mostly based in Australia and China, Gardner commented. Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic... According to Gartner Research, from now until the year 2022, 85 percent of AI projects will deliver erroneous outcomes due to bias in data, algorithms, or the teams responsible for managing them. Moreover, 85 percent of Americans currently use at least one AI-powered device, program, or service, the Gallup polling organization reports. This bias is something Ive known for a while as I followed AI systems from the late 1980s. The fact of the matter is that people program and teach AI systems, so those AI systems will tend to have the innate biases of the people who teach them. The use of the cloud to host pricey AI systems is actually making things worse, because the number of companies that can afford AI has gone up but the number of people with solid AI skills has not grown at the same pace. So, in addition to that innate bias being in AI tools used more broadly, the lack of talent also means more mistakes in how the knowledge-bases are built are going to be common for some time. What do these biases look like? Women may find that they are getting the short end of the stick. Thats because men do the majority of AI development and teaching, so their conscious or unconscious biases get encoded. For example, a 2015 study showed that in a Google images search for CEO, just 11 per cent of the people it displayed were womendespite the fact that 27 percent of the chief executives in the US are female. (While its easy to pick on Google, it moved fast to correct such issues.) Companies will have to pay for these built-in AI biases. For example, they will need to absorb the profit hit of not writing loans to enough women, who comprise about 55 percent of the market. Also, such as is bad karma at the least, and it will get you into legal hot water at the worst. What can be done about this? The reality is that biased AI systems are more the norm than the exception. So IT needs to recognize that the biases exist, or may exist, and take steps to limit the damage. Fortunately, tools are emerging to help you spot AI-based biases. Still, youll have to be on the lookout for hidden biases and take action to minimize the harm. Serbia takes big step forward in EU membership talks AP - 1 hour ago BRUSSELS (AP) Serbia on Tuesday took a significant step forward in its quest to join the European Union by opening talks on a series of policies linked to the environment, but Belgrade was warned that... $SPX : 4,610.48 (-1.25%) $DOWI : 35,490.77 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,767.27 (-1.96%) Another Inflation Twist Monica Kingsley - Tue Dec 14, 9:07AM CST S&P 500 gave up premarket gains, and closed on a weak note driven by tech while value pared the intraday downswing somewhat. Market breadth still deteriorated, though but credit markets didnt... Giving Pledge adds 14 billionaires to philanthropist list AP - Tue Dec 14, 9:03AM CST The Giving Pledge announced Tuesday that 14 more billionaires, including the CEOs of DoorDash and Pinterest, had promised in 2021 to donate more than half their fortunes, raising the total to 231 philanthropists... $SPX : 4,610.48 (-1.25%) $DOWI : 35,490.77 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,767.27 (-1.96%) ABT : 132.87 (-2.27%) PPI Brings Volatility. What Changes? Blue Line Futures - Tue Dec 14, 9:02AM CST Actionable fundamental and technical landscape for Crude, Gold, Silver and more . . . For me, one of the biggest role models in my personal life has been my mother, Hull told Insurance Business. Coming from a remote outback town, she had a challenging upbringing but always let me know I could be anything I wanted to be if I was willing to work hard. In my professional life, I have had the pleasure of working with Sarah Lyons, chief executive at Gallagher since she came to Australia and she continues to be an inspirational leader to me. Sarah sets high expectations and has pushed me outside my comfort zone many times because she believed in me. Having just returned from Chicago along with 700 of my fellow colleagues at Gallagher, looking around the room reminded me that we have such a breadth of diversity in the Australian business, Hull explained. At Gallagher Australia we have a roughly 50/50 split at multiple career levels, which we have achieved organically. This highlights that we have amazing women in our business and while other regions may be working towards achieving this, they still have a long way to go. Hull says that many young women still face hurdles when it comes to bringing their voice to the table, and that support from leadership is vital to ensure that no talent gets overlooked. Many women struggle to put themselves out there, so having strong and visible women leaders who are also mentors helps show other women how it can be done, Hull said. But the industry has definitely changed. Gender balance and salary equality has achieved a greater balance over the last 10 years, and the introduction of a more flexible working environment for women to continue their careers and still have a family has opened up new opportunities for talented female insurance professionals to thrive and grow in their chosen career path. They sell their W flags for about 500 bucks each to benefit their charity, Central Standard co-owner Evan Hughes said. So we thought offering them double and paying to replace their current L flag was a no-brainer opportunity to do some good, help a great cause and celebrate the rivalry between our two cities. A global general insurer is looking for claims consultant with a minimum two years property claims experience to join its North Sydney office, to manage a portfolio of property claims and analyse first report to determine nature of loss, coverage, provided and scope of damage. You can apply here. Business development manager insurance broker, Hays A trade credit insurance broker located in North Sydney is on the hunt for an insurance development manager with a minimum two years experience, to source new clients, grow the brand, develop effective partnerships with key internal stakeholders, and deliver first-rate customer service. You can apply here. Senior financial analyst for general insurance, EthosBC Australia A Sydney-based general insurer is searching for a senior financial analyst with strong stakeholder management skills and a background in financial analysis, management accounting, or business partnering within the financial services industry, who will deliver management reporting, support the delivery of analyst pack, and support the decision-making process for the portfolio. You can apply here. BI data analyst of life insurance data, Bluefin Resources A Sydney-based company is looking to hire a BI data analyst with 5+ years' proven experience on developing complex SQL query in multiple environments and good communication skills, critical thinking, and team work spirit, to provide data solution for reporting needs. You can apply here. Crop-hail insurance Crop-hail insurance is provided by private insurers and is not part of the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Farmers can purchase it at any point in the growing season for protection against hail, fire, lightning, wind, and other perils like vandalism and malicious theft, while many policies also cover replanting costs. Some famers use crop-hail insurance to protect themselves against crop losses that either arent insured under the federal program or fall below the federal coverage threshold. Multiple peril crop insurance Multiple peril insurance covers loss of crop yield as a result of all types of natural causes, including drought, excessive moisture, deep freezes, unusually hot weather and disease. This policy must be purchased by the farmer prior to planting in order for any potential claims to be valid. Read next: PIA praises Farm Bill passage Multiple peril insurance coverage is offered under the Federal Crop Insurance Program, which is a public-private partnership between the federal government and 15 private insurers who have been approved by the US Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (USDA RMA) to write MPCI policies. Premium rates for multiple peril insurance distributed via insurers in the Federal Crop Insurance Program are determined by the Risk Management Agency (RMA). Yield-based versus revenue-based insurance Farmers can buy yield-based crop insurance policies which pay out if the farmer suffers a yield loss relative to his or her historical or average yield. Normally, catastrophe coverage will pay out if a farmer loses 50% of normal yield, and, when that happens, the farmer will typically receive 55% of the estimated crop value. Farmers dont have to pay a premium for catastrophic coverage, but they must pay an administrative fee. Lots of farmers prefer to go for a revenue-based policy, which can cover a single crop or an entire farm. Under a revenue-based policy, the farmer selects a level of coverage, which is typically between 50% and 75% of the average yield. Crop disaster assistance The non-insured crop disaster assistance program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. Its administered by the USDA. History of the Federal Crop Insurance Program The Federal Crop Insurance Program was set up in 1938 with the passing of the Federal Crop Insurance Act. The main goal was to maintain the viability of farming and ensure the stability of the nations food supply. However, success in the early years was thwarted by high costs, low participation among farmers, and an inability to collect and maintain sufficient reserves to cover catastrophic losses. In the news: Bayer subsidiary teams up with QBE company to enhance crop insurance reporting In 1980, Congress passed legislation that expanded the program and made it more affordable. The Insurance Information Institute (III) explains: Its goals were to increase participation in the program to the point where government-funded disaster assistance programs could be abolished; raise the level of efficiency by joining with the private sector to sell, service and bear some of the risk of providing coverage (until then crop insurance was provided solely by the US Department of Agriculture); and create an actuarially sound program that would reduce federal outlays while keeping coverage affordable through subsidies. However, participation among farmers still remained low until Congress decided to mesh crop insurance and disaster assistance into one program, passing The Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994. The Reform Act radically restructured the program and it led to the creation of the Risk Management Agency (RMA) in 1996. The RMA was created in the US Department of Agriculture to administer the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Subsidies built into the program through the Reform Act dramatically increased participation in the program. The Farm Bill According to cropinsuranceamerica.org, the 2014 Farm Bill accelerated the evolution from traditional farm price and income support to risk management, solidifying crop insurance as the primary tool for farmers in dealing with production and price risk [] It strengthened crop insurance by adding several new products and requiring a number of program revisions to increase crop insurances role as the primary component of the farm safety net. Trump signs the Farm Bill On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed the Farm Bill, which passed in the Senate by a vote of 87-13 and in the House by a vote of 369-47. The bill, which included the federal crop insurance program, preserved vital crop insurance provisions and recognized the importance of independent insurance agents in delivering the benefits of the program to farmers. Jon Gentile, vice president of government relations at The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents commented: Were pleased that Congress was able to agree on a compromise Farm Bill that includes strong support for the federal crop insurance program. The overwhelming votes in favor of the bill in both the House and Senate and the presidents signing of it signal strong, bipartisan support for the key crop insurance provisions it includes. In recent news In March 2019, President Trump proposed revisions to the Federal Crop Insurance Program, including a 12% cap on underwriting gains to insurers. The cap, he said, would lead to savings of $25.7 billion over 10-years. However, this would also force farmers to pay a larger share of crop insurance premiums jumping from 38% to 52%. The White House said in its 150-page summary that through the cuts, it would optimize crop insurance and farm subsidies by eliminating subsidies to higher-income farmers and reducing overly generous crop insurance premium subsidies to farmers and payments made to private-sector insurance companies. In the US, almost 50 insurance or insurtech companies raised rounds of over $10 million in 2018, Crunchbase noted. Some of the largest global funding recipients in the region for that year included (in order of funding raised in a round) Cambridge Mobile Telematics ($500 million venture round), Oscar Health ($375 million corporate round), Bright Health ($200 million Series C), Wefox Group ($125 million Series B), Root Insurance ($100 million Series D), and Metromile ($90 million Series E). Crunchbase previously identified 13 insurance companies that are active in start-up investment; the top five insurers and/or insurance investment arms on the list were: American Family Ventures, AXA Venture Partners, MassMutual Ventures, Munich Re/HSB Ventures, and Allianz X. According to the report, these investors have become increasingly active, particularly over the last year. In 2018, the 13 company-investors participated in 42 known funding rounds with an aggregate value of about $630 million. By comparison, the group backed 34 rounds in 2017 with approximately $400 million in aggregate value. I think what it comes down to is insurance is viewed as a grand slam opportunity, commented InsureTech Connect chairman and former founding partner at QED Partners Caribou Honig. The venture community says prices are not cheap, but if we can find opportunities, this is a massive space. Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies has launched a new commercial package product in Pennsylvania. The new offering includes: commercial property with limits up to $120 million per location with an enhanced causes of loss form which includes built-in equipment breakdown and inland marine coverages as well as crime coverage; general liability with base limits of $1 million to $6 million with even higher limits considered; employment-related practices liability insurance (EPLI); and commercial umbrella for added protection. According to CEO Sy Foguel, the commercial package in product will be available in additional states soon. The new package product is designed to complement the companys current businessowners policy by addressing the insurance needs of larger, more complex operations or businesses with multiple exposures. Initial target markets include light-to-medium manufacturing, wholesalers and distributors, truck stops/travel plazas, resorts, and country clubs with plans to expand into additional markets. Discounts are available when two or more lines are purchased as well as additional discounts based on unique business characteristics. In October of 2012, GUARD was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. an international holding company with diverse interests that include insurance and reinsurance. In 2013, GUARD unveiled a new identity as Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies. GUARD offers a national footprint with a growing list of insurance products, including: workers compensation, property/liability via a businessowners policy, commercial auto, umbrella, professional liability, disability, and homeowners. Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance New Markets Pennsylvania Berkshire Hathaway Women working in the U.K.s financial-services industry are seeing little improvement in their pay parity with male colleagues, according to the latest batch of disclosures as this years reporting season comes to a close. Businesses have until midnight in London to report their gender pay gap for a second year under a law that makes it mandatory to publish a uniform assessment of the difference between what men and women in their workforce earned on average. Last Aprils disclosures provoked a swell of unease, prompting pledges by some of the countrys best-known companies to take action. Few have made progress, with the banking and finance sector posting some of the largest gaps on average. Female workers in British finance earned an average 26.3 percent less than men in the industry, according to an analysis of the filings available as of early afternoon in London on Thursday. Thats marginally worse than the 25.7 percent reported last year and significantly wider than the 14.2 percent average gap across all sectors, underscoring the challenges facing finance. Its even worse when it comes to bonuses a major component of compensation in banking. Women in finance were paid 48.1 percent less, the data so far show. Just seven of 382 finance and insurance companies that have reported figures didnt give a bonus figure. The numbers are a blunt assessment across the whole workforce, and dont measure the pay of men and women doing the same job, or adjust for other factors, such as experience or location. Companies were also asked to measure their median pay gap, which compares the man in the middle of the male earnings pack with his female equivalent. Pay for female staff at HSBC Holdings Plcs U.K. business fell further behind male colleagues in the last year, with women earning 61 percent less on a mean basis the biggest disparity in the industry and mean bonuses were less than a quarter of the average mans. At Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the difference in the hourly wage gap was 50.6 percent, although thats an improvement on the 56 percent gap the Wall Street firm reported a year ago. Both banks have public action plans aimed at addressing the issue. Barclays Plc reported a 49.3 percent pay gap, Standard Life Investments Ltd. was at 45 percent and Lloyds Banking Group Plc posted a 31.5 percent gap. Nationwide Building Society reported a 28 percent difference. Not one of the financial companies in the FTSE 100 has so far reported that its women earn more than men on average. The City is one of the worst offenders in the pay gap stakes, said Vicky Pryce, chief economic adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Women represent often the bulk of the workforce, and yet are mostly absent in senior positions in many financial institutions. To keep the talent and the pipeline going and therefore meet any quota requirements, the City needs a massive cultural shift to change the working environment. She suggests changes should include measures to discourage long hours and presenteeism that are incompatible with caring responsibilities, better maternity policies that dont endanger promotion, and easier part-time and job-share arrangements. Such policies are unlikely to yield fast results. Building and retaining a pipeline of talent to reach the top level of any company can take years or decades, meaning that firms efforts were never going to be fairly reflected in just two years of data. Theres also a lag to the data, with businesses presenting a snapshot of their workforce on April 5 of the previous year. For now, theres little financial incentive to speed change. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which oversees the process, last year said it would focus its efforts on those companies that failed to report at all, and declined to set fines for any underperformance. The government has also rejected lawmakers recommendations that firms should be required to write action plans to tackle gender inequality, something that is merely encouraged in the current rules. Some large banks, such as HSBC and Goldman Sachs, have published details of their disparity anyway, alongside strategies and targets to tackle the issue. Some firms reported limited progress. Blackstone Group LP, one of the only large private-equity groups to submit data, said hiring more women for investment and senior support roles helped reduce its mean U.K. bonus gap albeit to a still eye-watering 67.7 percent, down from 75.4 percent. I wasnt expecting to see huge changes after the first year, says Dominie Moss, who runs The Return Hub, a recruitment agency for those resuming work after a career break. Theres no silver bullet. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. A week after Swedbank AB fired its chief executive officer, the lender is parting ways with its chairman as a multibillion dollar money-laundering scandal forces top-level changes. Lars Idermark has decided to leave Swedens oldest bank and biggest mortgage lender with immediate effect, Swedbank said in a statement on Friday. That follows a March 28 announcement that CEO Birgitte Bonnesen had been fired in the wake of the dirty money allegations. Idermark is the latest top-level name in Nordic finance to have his career tainted by a growing laundering scandal that has shocked investors and the general public. A pattern is emerging in which Nordic banks, mostly via their Baltic operations, appear to have become conduits for vast sums of dirty money from the former Soviet Union trying to get into the West. The banks involved may now be facing hefty fines. Swedbank is being investigated by the financial supervisory authorities of Sweden and Estonia, as well as authorities in the U.S. In addition, Swedens Economic Crime Authority has initiated a criminal probe to look into allegations of gross fraud, amid concerns Swedbank may have misled the public about the severity of the laundering case. Best Alternative Idermark said his decision to leave came amid the recent strong debate about Swedbank and questions about the banks control of suspicious money laundering in the Baltics. He said that intense scrutiny of Swedbank was interfering with his other job as CEO of a forest-owner association called Sodra. Therefore, I have decided that the best alternative is to leave the position as chair of Swedbank with immediate effect. Idermark will be replaced by deputy chair Ulrika Francke, Swedbank said. But questions remain. Francke, like Idermark, sat on the board for many of the years during which the money laundering is alleged to have taken place. The banks nomination committee, which consists of the largest shareholders and proposes new board members, said it plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting to elect a new chairman and strengthen the board. That meeting may take place next month with the nomination committee likely to target an external candidate for chairman, along with sweeping changes to the board, according to local newspaper Dagens Industri. The trust in the bank has been seriously damaged, Alecta, one of Swedbanks biggest shareholders, said in an email on Friday. It must be restored without delay. Danske Scandal The bank is allegedly tied to the $230 billion Danske Bank A/S Estonian laundering scandal. Swedish broadcaster SVT has reported that the suspicious amounts that flowed through Swedbanks non-resident accounts in Estonia may have exceeded $100 billion between 2010 and 2016 alone. Swedbank is the years worst performing European financial stock so far, having lost almost a third of its value. Meanwhile, Danske has only lost about 3 percent this year as its drastic steps to clean up its operations following its scandal reassure shareholders. Danske removed its CEO, Thomas Borgen, in October, while the banks biggest shareholder got rid of the chairman roughly a month later. We think its a sensible move for Lars Idermark to step down as chairman of Swedbank, closely following on from the dismissal of the CEO, said Philip Richards, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence in London. Clearing the two top positions at the firm, similar to Danske, is a sign the bank is taking the escalating crisis at the bank seriously, and accepting responsibility for the banks failures, both in the alleged suspicious transactions and in the handling of the crisis. Idermark is the CEO of Sodra, Swedens largest forest-owner association. He was chairman of Swedbank in 2010-2013 and deputy chairman in 2013-2016 before he became chairman again. Bonnesen has been replaced on an interim basis by the banks former chief financial officer, Anders Karlsson. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., the Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based broker, announced the acquisition of Canadian broker Keyser Benefits Corp. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With roots dating back more than 45 years, Calgary, Alberta-based Keyser is a full-service benefits brokerage offering life, disability, health and dental, critical illness, retirement and other services to small to mid-sized businesses and individuals across Western Canada. Shane Keyser and his associates will be relocating to Gallaghers existing benefits office in Calgary under the direction of Melanie Jeannotte, national president of Gallaghers Canadian employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. Like Gallagher, Keyser Benefits is a client-focused, family-oriented business with a strong commitment to ethics, said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., chairman, president and CEO. I am excited to welcome Shane and his associates to our growing global team. Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Topics Mergers Canada A.J. Gallagher The North Dakota Insurance Department is opening a 31-day public comment period on the proposed state reinsurance program for the individual health insurance market. The comment period will run from April 5 to May 6, 2019. The proposed state reinsurance program is currently working its way through the 66th Legislative Assembly. The program would be established within the parameters of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically under Section 1332, which allows for state innovation waivers. The program would cover a large portion of health insurance claims falling within a defined dollar range and would be a significant step toward bringing certainty and stability back into North Dakotas individual market. The insurance department said North Dakotas state-based reinsurance plan will: Lower rates to keep consumers in the market and attract new entrants. The program will provide significant financial relief for those not eligible for subsidies. The estimated rate reductions will average between 8-20 percent for plans purchased on the individual market. Retain federal subsidies for individuals with incomes between 100-400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which will ensure that those with access to affordable coverage due to federal subsidies keep their coverage. Assist insurers in managing high-risk enrollees and create a broader pool of people to absorb all other risk. This will likely prevent insurance companies from leaving the states individual market in the coming years, encourage additional insurers to write business on North Dakotas individual market and improve consumer access. The Department has scheduled public hearings to discuss the proposed program and to receive feedback from the public at the following dates and locations: Wednesday, April 17 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Fargodome, Mezzanine Level, Meeting Room 202 1800 N University Dr. Fargo, ND Thursday, April 18 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, Heart/Sheyenne Meeting Rooms 800 S 3 rd St. St. Bismarck, ND The public is also invited to submit comments on the proposed reinsurance program during the comment period to Deputy Insurance Commissioner Jeff Ubben at jrubben@nd.gov. The draft application to be filled with the federal government to establish the state reinsurance program can be found at www.nd.gov/ndins/proposed-north-dakota-reinsurance-program. Source: North Dakota Department of Insurance Topics Reinsurance North Dakota Three Midwestern Republican governors of states ravaged by recent flooding are demanding more authority over management of the Missouri River system. Following a meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson were critical of the federal body that manages the river, saying it should prioritize flood control over other goals, such as protecting fish and wildlife habitat. One thing is clear: Something needs to change, said Parson, who pointed to increasing damage from flooding over the last decade with no solutions in sight. The governors said they plan to work together for that change, even if it means petitioning Congress to give states more authority in river management. Ricketts complained that even when funding for reinforcement of levees is approved, its often years before the work is actually done. In some cases, flooding repeats before the work even starts. That permitting process has got to be faster, he said. Reynolds said the governors would be presenting a united front to the federal government in demanding more authority. We cant continue to do things like build a temporary levee that would protect a community, and after the Corps deems the flood incident over, require them to tear it down, she said Asked whether the Corps indicated it would or could cede some river management decisions to the states, Parson replied, Well, they listened. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, also was scheduled to attend but had transportation problems and did not make it. The Corps has said it works to balance all its priorities and that much of the flooding was well out of its control. The agency said that much of the water that created the flooding came from record rains and melting snow that flowed over frozen ground and directly into the river downstream of its dams, all while massive amounts of water filled Missouri River reservoirs and had to be released. On Wednesday, the Corps released numbers showing record March runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, of 11 million acre feet nearly 4 million acre feet more than the previous record of 7.3 million set in 1952. The average March upper basin runoff is 2.9 million acre feet, the Corps said. Officials have estimated that the flooding caused nearly $1.4 billion in damage in Nebraska and more than $1.6 billion in Iowa. That includes an estimated $1 billion of damage to farms in both states, where flooding destroyed stored crops, tore up land and equipment and killed livestock. Thousands of homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed in Nebraska alone. The damage total is expected to grow as more assessments are made. Kansas and Missouri officials are still waiting on damage estimates, although Kansas officials say that state saw flood damage limited to about 31,000 acres of mostly farmland and some stored grain. In Missouri, the surging river caused dozens of levee breaches that inundated about 168,000 acres in Missouris two hardest-hit counties of Holt and Atchison. Officials have said the March floods could be just the beginning of a rough spring, as hefty snowpack in the northern Plains adds to already swollen rivers and streams. That includes the Mississippi River, which started falling Wednesday in St. Louis as the crest moves downstream. St. Louis closed its floodgates in advance of Tuesdays crest. Although the flooding there isnt classified as major, it closed some roads, including stretches of Missouri 94 and 67. Downstream, the flood fight continues. The Corps said it handed out more than 100,000 sandbags to communities in its St. Louis district, including Clarksville, parts of Jefferson County and Ste. Genevieve. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Missouri Iowa Kansas Nebraska Husky Energy said that it will invest more than $400 million to rebuild its oil refinery in Superior, Wisconsin, and will continue its use of a highly toxic chemical that raised fears in the community after an explosion at the refinery last April. The blast injured 36 people and required the evacuation of much of Superior largely because of the presence of hydrogen fluoride, which can be hazardous to human health. The tank containing the chemical wasnt damaged by the explosion, which was caused by a hole in a valve. Company CEO Rob Symonds told Wisconsin Public Radio that company officials explored using alternatives to hydrogen fluoride, but there is no better option. The hydrogen fluoride alkylation unit, as its called, is fundamental to making gasoline, Symonds said. This is the gasoline that we all use in our cars today. Symonds said if they didnt use the chemical, it would make the refinery nonviable. The mayors of Superior and adjacent Duluth, Minnesota, called on Husky Energy to remove hydrogen fluoride from its operations. Some community members and groups have also pushed for its removal, including the Twin Ports Action Alliance. Ginger Juel, co-founder of the Twin Ports Action Alliance, said other methods can produce high-octane gasoline, such as sulfuric acid and ISOALKY technology. Symonds said a conversion to sulfuric acid has never been done in the global refining industry and that such a transition would require taking out everything that exists. He said it also would require the use of sulfuric acid. Put in context, today we have one truck a year that brings in hydrogen fluoride, he said. If we were to go to sulfuric acid, we would go to one truck a day. Construction is set to begin this fall and the refinery expects to resume partial operations in late 2020. Company officials said the refinery employs 200 workers and it expects to create 350 jobs during construction. We very early on decided we did want to rebuild, Symonds said. We wanted to stay in the Superior area and we wanted to continue to invest in the refinery. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Wisconsin Pollution Chemicals To see how Christmas has changed over the last century, Stacker explored how popular traditions, like food and decorations, emerged and evolved from 1920 to 2020 in the U.S. and around the world. Stacker also found when some of the most popular Christmas songs, movies, and books entered the canon of the holiday season and gifts that topped many Christmas lists over the years. Read on to discover how Christmas has evolved over the past century. Visit thestacker.com for similar lists and stories. Laws intended to reduce malpractice litigation by protecting doctors who want to apologize dont work, according to a new Vanderbilt analysis of proprietary insurance data. It turns out people sue for money and an apology doesnt change that reality. In fact, apologies may raise the risk of claims. The idea is simply that if providers could just say theyre sorry, thats what patients really want. They really dont care about punishing the doctor in a financial context, they care about having them express remorse, said Larry Van Horn, associate professor of management and executive director of health affairs at Vanderbilts Owen Graduate School of Management, one of the authors of the study. But what we find is that no, people sue for money. Sorry is not enough. The study, Sorry is Never Enough, appears in the Stanford Law Review. In addition to Van Horn the authors are W. Kip Viscusi, University Distinguished Professor of Law, Economics and Management and Benjamin McMichael, assistant professor of law at the University of Alabama. The authors say their study provides the most detailed look yet at the impact of apology legislation on such claims. Reducing malpractice litigation has become a target of policymakers seeking to address the rising cost of health care. Put together, malpractice and defensive medicinethe practice of making treatment decisions to reduce the likelihood of getting suedcosts the United States billions of dollars per year. One way that policymakers have tried to achieve this is by passing laws that encourage physicians to apologize to patients for treatment mistakes. These laws make apologies inadmissible in court so doctors dont have to worry that their apologies may be used against them if a patient decides to sue anyway. Non-surgeons bear the brunt of apology laws, the researchers found. Using proprietary data from a major malpractice insurer, the researchers were able to analyze malpractice claims for about 90 percent of U.S. providers in a single specialty composed of surgeons and non-surgeonsabout 9,000 providers. Overall, about 4 percent of these physicians experienced a malpractice claim over the course of eight years. About two-thirds of all claims went to court. For surgeons, they found, apology laws made no difference in either the number of claims or the share of those claims that ended up in court. For non-surgeons, however, apology laws had a dramatic effect. While the overall number of claims was unchanged in states with apology laws, those claims were 46 percent more likely to result in a lawsuit. The researchers say thats probably because surgical errors are usually more obvious than non-surgical onesfor example, a patient will know that a sponge left inside the body is a surgical mistake, but will probably not have the expertise to know whether their worsening illness is due to bad luck or an overlooked symptom. That is, unless the doctor apologizes for it. The laws do protect providers from having their apology introduced in court as evidence that they were at fault, but apologies also alert the injured patients to the physicians errors and the possibility of making a successful claim, Viscusi explained. Even more dramatic was the change in payouts from successful lawsuits. Again, surgeons didnt see a great difference, but non-surgeons did. In states with apology laws, the payouts to patients of non-surgeons more than doubled compared to states without apology laws. Making Apologies Work There are clear psychological benefits to apologizing for both physician and patient, Van Horn said, but in order for those benefits to translate into reduced litigation, more work needs to be done. The researchers note that in some health systems that provide training to their providers on when and how to apologize, lawsuits and payouts are in fact lower. Additionally, the laws themselves could be improvedcurrently, most only protect physicians for expressions of sympathy, not an explanation of what went wrong. However, recent scholarship on apology best practices suggests that victims are more satisfied by apologies that do include that explanation. This suggests that while apology laws alone are not enough to reduce malpractice litigation, proper training and more comprehensive laws could potentially be more effective. As they stand now, however, apology laws raise, rather than reduce, malpractice claim risks. Source: Sorry is Never Enough Related: Topics Lawsuits Claims Medical Professional Liability California, Oregon and Minnesota sued President Donald Trump and several top cabinet officials over the administrations requirement that federal agencies delete two regulations for every one they add. Lodged by three Democratic state attorneys general, the lawsuit asserts that Trumps January 2017 executive order and accompanying Office of Management and Budget guidance violate the U.S. Constitutions separation-of-powers principle. It also argues the order is in breach of the presidents responsibility to faithfully implement laws and regulations. The order and guidance cannot lawfully be enforced under any circumstances, according to the attorney generals complaint, filed in federal court in Washington on Thursday. The Justice Department declined to comment on the lawsuit. Representatives of the White House and the Office of Management and Budget didnt immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Broader Impact At the center of the complaint is Trumps requirement that federal agencies fully offset the costs of any new regulation by removing existing rules that impose equal or greater cost, without regard for the broader impact of the changes. The Office of Management and Budget was granted the power to block any rule-making not in accord with the directive, according to the lawsuit. Federal regulations require that the president start each year by proposing a new budget. Those rules dont authorize the president to force government agencies to offset the cost of new rules by eliminating old ones, the states argue. The president cannot delegate authority he does not have, the complaint says. California and its allies say their case will survive where earlier litigation by good-government groups failed, because states have proprietary interests in federal rule-making on behalf of their citizens. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled in February 2018 that a lawsuit led by Public Citizen to invalidate the rule failed to show the legal harm needed to pursue the case. It was dismissed. The plaintiffs won permission to file an amended suit and did so. Chemical Explosion The states argue that multiple regulations proposed by agencies under the Obama administration havent been finalized under Trump because of the executive order. The Environmental Protection Agency cited the order when rescinding portions of the 2017 Accidental Release Prevention Requirements, including rules intended to prevent chemical accidents like an April 2013 explosion at West Fertilizer Co. in Texas that killed 15 people. Mick Mulvaney, the presidents budget director and acting chief of staff, is among the administration officials named as defendants in the case. Among the others are Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler. The case is California v. Trump, 19-cv-960, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington). Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits California Legislation USA Pollution A U.S. prosecutor portrayed Insys Therapeutics Inc. founder John Kapoor and other former executives as greedy and heartless during closing arguments in their racketeering trial over the promotion of the opioid painkiller Subsys. Kapoor and four other ex-Insys managers exploited consumers to illegally widen the market for Subsys and turn the highly addictive painkiller into a blockbuster drug, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Yeager told jurors in Boston Thursday. These patients were used. Their pain was exploited, Yeager said. The defendants were driven by greed and happy to put profits over patients, he added. The trial marks the first prosecution of a pharmaceutical company chief executive tied to the national opioid epidemic, which claims more than 100 lives in the U.S. daily, according to government research. On trial with Kapoor, 75, are former vice president Michael Gurry, ex-national sales director Richard Simon, former regional sales director Joseph Rowan and one-time stripper turned Insys sales manager, Sunrise Lee. Theyre accused of running a speakers program that the government alleges was a vehicle for bribing doctors and an organized effort to dupe insurers into covering the wave of Subsys prescriptions generated by the scheme. Drug companies can legally pay doctors to tout opioid painkillers to their colleagues at educational dinners, but prosecutors say Insys executives paid physicians to show up to speakers programs just to get them to write more Subsys prescriptions. Conceived in Arrogance Yeager told the jury that the trial wasnt a referendum on national opioid policy or insurance companies, but rather a sad tale of a crime conceived in arrogance and executed with brazen audacity. The prosecutor pointed to emails from former Insys CEO Michael Babich in which he told underlings the company owned doctors who were heavy Subsys prescribers. Babich pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the Subsys marketing case and testified against his former colleagues. The companys laser-like focus on increasing sales encouraged its representatives to target disreputable doctors whod write Subsys prescriptions for a variety of ailments that hadnt been approved by government regulators, Yeager said. Alec Burlakoff, Insyss former head of sales, boasted about how he encouraged sales reps to target so-called pill mills to bump up the numbers. Pill Mills Pill mills, for us, meant dollars, Burlakoff testified at the trial, Yeager reminded the jurors. It was not run the other way. It was run to the pill mills. Kapoors attorney Beth Wilkinson countered that her client was already so rich he didnt need more money and never sold his Insys stock. His underlings made millions selling theirs, she said. Kapoor came up with the idea of powerful painkiller after watching his wife in agony while dying of cancer, Wilkinson said. Hes kept his money in this business because he believes Subsys was a force for good, Wilkinson told the jury. He had every reason to believe that this was good for patients. Wilkinson, a former federal prosecutor, painted Burlakoff as the real villain the man who came up with the idea of shoveling money to doctors who prescribed lots of Subsys. He kept that from Kapoor and Babich, she said. The governments two star witnesses Burlakoff and Babich presented conflicting testimony on whether the speakers program was a secret way of bribing doctors, Wilkinson told the panel. They are asking you to figure out which one is lying, she said. The government doesnt seem to care. Wilkinson also sought to persuade jurors that prosecutors targeted Kapoor because of his wealth, not because he was a part of some bribery scheme. They went after the rich guy, she said. There was no agreement to pay off these doctors. Federal prosecutors called 39 witnesses in the trial that spanned two months and which featured racy testimony about how Insys lured doctors into writing more Subsys prescriptions with sexy sales reps, lap dances and lavish dinners at restaurants that Kapoor owned. The defense case took two days and featured a handful of witnesses, including a patient who vouched for the benefits of Subsys. Neither Kapoor nor the other defendants testified. Wilkinson will finish her closing argument Friday and then lawyers for the other defendants will give their summations to the jury. The key question the panel must answer is whether prosecutors proved there was an agreement among the Insys executives to bribe doctors and lie to insurers. The case is U.S. v. Kapoor, 16-cr-10343, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts (Boston). Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers USA Drugs Four African Americans can move ahead with a lawsuit seeking damages from a Louisiana district attorneys office over the racial composition of juries, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Dee Drell in Alexandria ruled April 1 in a 2015 lawsuit that alleges the Caddo Parish District Attorneys Office ensures that juries are predominantly white by using its right to reject prospective jurors. Drells order was only a partial victory for the black residents and the civil rights group that filed the lawsuit. Drell refused to grant class-action status on behalf of all black Caddo residents who are jury-eligible. And he dismissed much of the lawsuit, including a request that he block the Caddo prosecutor from using what are called peremptory challenges to reject African American jurors. But Drell said four plaintiffs could continue pursuing damages for their allegations that their constitutional rights were violated because they were excluded from juries on the basis of race. A trial date has not been set. The lawsuit was filed by the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center. It cites data analysis by the anti-death-penalty group Reprieve Australia, which studied records of 332 criminal trials from Jan. 28, 2003, through Dec. 5, 2012 a period spanning the tenures of two district attorneys, Paul Carmouche and his successor, Charles Scott, who died in 2015. Amid other findings, the study says prosecutors exercised peremptory challenges against 46% of qualified African American jurors, but only 15% of qualified jurors who were not African American. When the MacArthur Center first made the allegations of discrimination in jury selection, Dale Cox, then the acting district attorney, denied that black jurors were systematically rejected by prosecutors. James Stewart, who became the first African American district attorney in Caddo shortly after the lawsuit was filed, has continued to fight for dismissal of the lawsuit. In court filings, attorneys for his office have called the plaintiffs claims speculative, hypothetical and moot, and noted that the alleged injustices happened before Stewart took office. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Louisiana The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said it will investigate a fire at a Houston area chemical plant as the facilitys operator identified the worker killed in the blaze. James Earl Mangum was killed in the Tuesday fire at a KMCO chemical plant in Crosby, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Houston, a company spokesman said. The two other workers who were injured during the blaze remain in critical condition. Their identities were not released. An autopsy found that Mangums accidental death was caused by sharp force injuries that cut a major artery and vein in his right arm, a spokesman for Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences said. The Chemical Safety Board, an independent federal agency that investigates industrial chemical incidents, said it will join other agencies probing the cause of the deadly fire. It is also investigating the March 17 blaze at a petrochemical storage facility in nearby Deer Park. All operations at the KMCO plant are suspended indefinitely and the site is under control of Texas fire officials, according to the company. Fire investigators havent yet been able to enter the plant because of ongoing clean up and emergency operations, said Rachel Moreno of the Harris County Fire Marshals Office. County officials said Wednesday that ongoing air monitoring shows no health risks to the area around the plant. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas Chemicals The Underwater Homeowners Association sounds like a sad joke about the future of real estate in flood-prone Miami. Its actually an earnest effort to turn neighbors into climate-change advocates, block-by-block. Starting in his affluent suburb of Pinecrest, artist Xavier Cortada hopes his concept will spread, helping people nationwide understand that melting polar ice is no abstract threat. Cortada repurposes for sale signs, painting partially-submerged numbers that announce exactly how many feet above sea level each property is, for people to plant in their front yards. A growing number of members have signed on at underwaterhoa.org since Cortada launched the idea in December. Cortadas signs show his home is on relatively high ground: 6 feet (2 meters) above sea level. His studio is at 8 feet (2.5 meters). Rising seas will spare no one concerned about quality of life in Pinecrest, a village of 19,000 not far from Biscayne Bay. Like the rest of South Florida, its trapped between the ocean and the swampy Everglades, which act as a western coastline. Water also rises through Floridas porous bedrock, making seawalls and levees less effective. If your neighbor sees a number 6 in front of your house, your neighbor knows that you, too, are a number 6, Cortada said. So you are no longer a Democrat or a Republican, or an anti-science or pro-science person. Youre both literally standing at the same elevation. Cortadas signs feature his swirling paintings of melting Antarctic glaciers. Other neighbors have made their own. Students also painted the elevations of four intersections 6, 7, 9, 11 feet (2, 2.1, 2.75, 3 meters) along the citys two-lane main road, which Cortada dubs Elevation Drive. It runs along what constitutes high ground in South Florida a narrow coral ridge that appears to stay dry when models of sea level rise show much of the region inundated. Some residents arent happy about these art installations, warning on a community newspapers website that the painted signs and pavement could devastate property values. Does anyone seriously want this in front of the expensive homes in Pinecrest? Maybe they wont be so expensive once they convince the world they will be underwater in a few years, one wrote. Whether people like their neighbors politics, global warming is already affecting homebuyers here, where average seas could rise 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) by 2030, and 14 to 26 inches (35 to 66 centimeters) by 2060, compared with 1992 levels, according to the most recent data from the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. Other projections show saltwater rising another foot (30 centimeters) by the time a new 30-year-mortgage is paid off, and 2 feet (60 centimeters) by the time todays schoolchildren retire. Long before then, intruding seawater could wash away infrastructure, submerge public spaces and make even a trip to the grocery store difficult to navigate. Cortada worked with Florida International University to create Eyes on the Rise, a website that shows the elevation of any address. Then he partnered with the Florida Conservation Voters Education Fund to help people understand how they might get involved. Renters as well as homeowners are welcome in the Underwater HOA. There are no dues or other requirements. The main idea is to encourage neighbors to discuss climate change among themselves. What happens next is up to each group. Actions could include creating plans for individual households, doing climate education outreach, attending government meetings or lobbying elected officials. That kind of hyperlocal advocacy is already having an effect: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez applauded neighborhood groups last month while showing off the citys response to rising sea levels to former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Suarez said local activism was key to persuading voters to approve a $400 million bond initiative to strengthen Miamis infrastructure against climate-change effects. Theyve also persuaded the city to study what they call climate gentrification: As property values rise along higher elevations, low-income people who remain above water fear theyll be priced out of their homes by wealthier people fleeing once-desirable coastal neighborhoods. Cortadas inaugural Pinecrest group has met twice so far, led by Brian Haus, an ocean-sciences expert at the University of Miami. Their February meeting stuck to local water issues: the number of city residents still using well water, the lack of fire hydrants in some areas, whether sewer lines could extend to residents using septic tanks. Saltwater intrusion already threatens that infrastructure, but the dozen or so residents had broader worries, too. They dont want to leave Miami _ hurricanes are easier to endure than wildfires or ice storms, they said _ but some caution against sinking too much time, energy and money into shoring up what could become a waterlogged burden. Sell the house when Im gone and get out, some said they told their children. Holly Zickler is enthusiastic: She hosted a picnic in a park in neighboring South Miami, encouraging neighbors to paint their own signs and launch their own chapter. I like that the Underwater HOA is flipping the script on what a traditional HOA actually stands for, which is mostly people standing around with pitchforks at the ready, said Zickler, who lives at 9 feet (2.75 meters). I would love to see this go all the way up the East Coast, to go nationally, she said. We all need to lurch forward with this, and lurch forward thinking consciously about this. As Zicklers neighbors checked their addresses in the Eyes on the Rise app, reactions ranged from mock panic to envy. Look at that show-off at 12.8 (4 meters)! Youre kind of like gloating there, joked Mari Chael, an architect who lives at 6.5 feet (2 meters). I think I want to buy your house! Chael says this is one fight no property owner can escape. Were all South Floridians, Chael said. We live in the same kind of spongy lime rock that sort of unites us all in our misery. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Homeowners Representatives for a social justice center that trained the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders said Tuesday that a white-power symbol was spray-painted near the site of a fire that destroyed a building there. The fire at the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee, happened early last Friday morning, incinerating decades of archives in the centers main office. Highlander leaders found the symbol that day but did not make the news public until Tuesday, when they posted a news release on the centers Facebook page. Chelsea Fuller, acting spokeswoman for Highlander, said in an email that the symbol looks like a tic-tac-toe board and was painted in the parking lot near the office. Its connected to a well-known white power movement, but theyre not releasing the name at this time, Fuller wrote. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office is investigating with assistance from the state Fire Marshals Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The bureau referred questions to Sheriff Jeff Coffey, who did not return phone messages Tuesday. A news release from the center noted that the fire destroyed decades of historic documents, speeches, artifacts and memorabilia from movements of all kinds, including the civil rights movement. The office that was destroyed March 29 was one of 10 buildings on the property, and Fuller said the library, which also contains historic materials, was undamaged. Since 1932, Highlander has trained labor organizers and civil rights leaders including King and Rosa Parks. Over the years, it has been investigated by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, spied on by a segregationist Georgia governor and marched on by the Ku Klux Klan. It was started as the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee, but a campaign to brand it as a Communist training school ultimately resulted in the center losing its charter, its building and its land in 1961. It reopened under a new name in Knoxville, where it endured Klan marches, fire bombs and arrests, ultimately moving again to rural New Market in 1972. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Tennessee Elizabeth Delgado, of Pasco, Wash., was charged in Franklin County District Court with one count each of filing a false insurance claim and second-degree attempted theft after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidlers criminal investigations unit. According to the investigation, Delgado purchased an auto insurance policy for her 2011 Jeep Sahara from Multi-State Insurance Services in September 2018. Four days later, she filed a claim for damages to her boyfriends 2012 Ford Fusion totaling $4,631. She reportedly told the insurer that she backed into her boyfriends car while it was in her driveway and the spare tire on her Jeep damaged his car. The photos Delgado submitted to prove the damage to Fusion were taken the day before she purchased her policy. The insurer denied the claim and referred the case to Kreidlers office. Kreidlers CIU investigates insurance fraud and works with the Washington State Patrol and state and local prosecutors on criminal cases. Topics Auto Fraud Abuse Molestation Washington Motel 6 agreed to pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit in which Washington states attorney general said the chain routinely provided guest lists to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who announced the settlement on Thursday, said the money will go to roughly 80,000 people who stayed at seven of the chains Washington locations from 2015 and 2017. He said their privacy rights were violated because Motel 6 gave their personal information to ICE without their knowledge, and at least nine Washington residents were detained. As part of the settlement, Motel 6 also agreed it will not hand over guest information nationwide absent a warrant or other legal order, and will improve employee training, Ferguson said. Motel 6 said in a statement it was pleased to settle, and that the safety and security of our guests, which includes protecting guest information, is our top priority. The settlement came five months after Motel 6 agreed to a $7.6 million settlement of similar claims in a proposed class-action lawsuit in Arizona. That accord has yet to receive court approval, court records show. President Donald Trump has made immigration a central focus of his presidency. Motel 6 is controlled by the private equity firm Blackstone Group LP, which bought the brand in 2012. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York Editing by James Dalgleish) Topics Lawsuits USA Washington Tax Disputes image 320 x 215 Tax disputes, audit prevention and information management are no longer an after-thought for companies trying to comply with their tax obligations worldwide. They instead form part of the core tax strategy that helps a business ensure it has a robust tax policy that helps prevent unwanted audits, disputes and reputational damage. In anticipation of ITRs Tax Disputes Summit on April 30, some of the speakers and attendees talk to Anjana Haines about what trends they are witnessing across Europe. What tax dispute trends are you seeing in your jurisdiction(s)? Martin Phelan, head of tax at William Fry in Ireland I am seeing an increased number of aspect queries being raised by Irish Revenue concerning tax refunds across all tax [areas] but VAT in particular together with more timely periodic reviews of tax returns as filed. Irish Revenue is increasingly proactive in this area. Aspect queries are followed up on and escalated to audits in cases where the answers are unsatisfactory or require further review. In the VAT field, I am noticing that Irish Revenue is keeping on top of developments at an EU level and challenging any Irish arrangements that they deem anti-abusive/contrary to EU law. I am also seeing a rise in mutual agreement procedures (MAPs) and competent authority reviews and challenges. Revenue is also being more aggressive in the tax litigation area and is not afraid to issue tax assessments that might garner publicity in the media a case in point being the recent media reporting of the assessment of Perrigo for corporation tax of 1.6 billion ($1.8 billion). Stephanie Li, tax director at Acer EMEA, based in the UK Transfer pricing audits are still the focus by EU tax officers and there is no sign of abating. Damon Lambert, head of tax EMEA at Swiss Re, based in the UK Increasing focus on minor taxes, other than VAT and corporate tax Focus on accuracy of accounting If anything, less focus on transfer pricing as established agreements are left to run Tania Carvalhais Pereira head of tax at CAAD, the Portuguese Centre for Administrative Arbitration In Portugal, tax disputes, particularly stamp duty, corporate tax and VAT disputes, are increasing in both volume and complexity. We are still experiencing the consequences of the tax burden increase from the crisis period. Meanwhile, we are also experiencing new tax challenges such as the implementation of the OECDs base erosion and profit shifting [action plan], or the emergence of cases such as double VAT taxation. Erik Knijnenburg, global head of tax and transfer pricing at H&M, based in Sweden Given the new OECD developments/proposals and the business developments of going into OMNI models [omni-channel concepts], there is an increasing unwillingness for authorities to step into all-inclusive advance pricing agreements (APAs) and/or controversy settlement. Kim Boylan, partner and global head of tax, and Brian Gleicher, partner and head of the transfer pricing practice, White & Case in the US The most significant trend that we are seeing is an increase in audit activity with respect to international and, in particular, transfer pricing matters. This, in turn, is causing taxpayers to become more proactive, including by seeking APAs and appropriately documenting their transactions so that contemporaneous facts are memorialised. We also see continuing vigorous audits of purely domestic activities. Johanna Waal, head of the large taxpayers office, Finnish Tax Administration In the last few years, the biggest trend in the Finnish Tax Administration/Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) has been the strong investment in developing pre-emptive measures. The goal is to resolve tax issues in advance and avoid disputes. The LTO is offering a co-operative compliance programme for our large business customers. The LTO also promotes the possibility for a pre-emptive discussion for the large business customers. In a pre-emptive discussion, a customer discusses their tax issue with the LTO in advance to receive guidance that is binding for the LTO. In 2019, the pre-emptive discussion was extended to SMEs. Moreover, the LTO has introduced a new, international tool for resolving cross-border tax issues in advance the cross-border dialogue (CBD). In the CBD, a cross-border tax issue can be discussed between a large business and two or more tax administrations, in order to resolve the issue in both relevant jurisdictions at the same time. The CBD is a lighter and faster method than e.g. APA and suitable for all cross-border tax issues. Nina Legaard Kristensen, head of unit, Danish Ministry of Taxation In Denmark, we see an increasing number of disputes relating to cross-border transactions, including transfer pricing cases. During later years, the Danish tax authorities have, among a range of other control activities, made a considerable effort to ensure that the largest groups of companies (including MNEs) are correctly paying their taxes in Denmark. In terms of audit prevention and dispute resolution, what is keeping you busy at the moment? Erik Knijnenburg, H&M Not so much on audit prevention, but rather focusing on dispute resolution for the moment. Disputes are settled more and more using a kind of a unilateral safe harbour approach. Less attention for the content and specifics of the case at hand, but an increased negotiation attitude towards settlements. Stephanie Li, Acer EMEA Keeping abreast of new tax requirements, re-assess tax risks and necessary changes in business operations/structure. Damon Lambert, head of tax EMEA at Swiss Re Time delays in internal sign-offs in tax authorities. Also, ensuring clear audit trails simply being neat so tax authorities are presented with accurate and clear information. Kim Boylan and Brian Gleicher, White & Case In the context of international tax disputes, we remain busy in negotiating APAs and resolving issues through the competent authority process set forth in bilateral income tax treaties. On the domestic front, we continue to represent taxpayers at all stages of the dispute resolution process, with an emphasis on obtaining resolution at the IRS Office of Appeals. Martin Phelan, William Fry I am seeing an increasing level of second reviews or health checks being requested by taxpayers. Depending on the circumstances of the case, this could be a review of a tax plan or tax position taken or about to be entered into by a taxpayer. In an era where Irish Revenue is taking a more aggressive approach in tax litigation matters, i.e. the recent media reporting of the assessment of Perrigo for corporation tax, I am seeing boards of directors, CFOs and heads of tax seeking tax reviews of historic filing positions to ensure that they are as robust and defensible as the taxpayer believes them to be. Tania Carvalhais Pereira, CAAD The volume of tax arbitration cases presented before the CAAD keep me busy. The tax arbitration regime is an alternative dispute resolution mechanism available to taxpayers concerning most tax disputes organised under the CAAD. For the last seven years, the majority of cases submitted to tax arbitration are related to stamp duty (28%), corporate income tax (24.3%) and VAT (10.1%). Tax arbitration has become the fastest route to solve tax disputes in Portugal and one of the fastest routes in Europe to obtain a European Court of Justice ruling. Nina Legaard Kristensen, Danish Ministry of Taxation Taxation legislation often entails great complexity and is subject to continual amendments. Effectively ensuring legal certainty and the taxpayers rights are therefore central matters when dealing with dispute resolution in relation to taxation. This is a high priority of the Danish Minister for Taxation, which has resulted in a range of initiatives to underline and support this agenda. Those initiatives include, among others, reintroducing the reimbursement scheme covering the expenditures of companies disputing decisions made by the tax authorities. Under this scheme, individuals and companies are eligible to get a full reimbursement of their costs, should their appeal be found to be well founded by the administrative or ordinary courts. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the taxpayer is still eligible to a reimbursement amounting to 50% of the costs. How do you think tax disputes will evolve over the coming year? Johanna Waal, Finnish large taxpayers office With the heavy focus on pre-emptive measures, there are already fewer disputes in the large business sector of the Finnish Tax Administration than a couple of years before. However, situations can occur where the customer disagrees or does not follow the guidance of the LTO. In this case, tax control is needed, which can lead to tax disputes. Erik Knijnenburg, H&M Given the assumed way forward, whereby we will see a mix of apportioned calculations on top of residual approaches, this will not get easier. Combine this with a unilateral attitude of tax authorities and you a have a mix for increased scrutiny of facts and findings. Kim Boylan and Brian Gleicher, White & Case Transfer pricing is a significant area of the disputes that we handle. We expect that it will remain so for the coming year. We also believe that purely domestic issues will continue to face the same level of scrutiny in the near term. Stephanie Li, Acer EMEA Double taxation [is] on the rise, and means that resolving cross-border disputes [will] remain ineffective in practice. An increase in country-by-country reports-induced tax audits and tax data-driven VAT and TP audits. Compliance and tax disputes costs will spiral. Tax offices that fail to invest in tax technology will feel the pressure from their more advanced peers. Damon Lambert, head of tax EMEA at Swiss Re Tax authorities will grow in aggressiveness given the overall climate and need to raise funds. This may mean time-consuming challenges, not necessarily well-founded in law. Tania Carvalhais Pereira, CAAD In my opinion, tax disputes will become increasingly complex due to the nature of operations international transactions, triangular transactions, etc. and the increasing pressure on tax authorities to demonstrate theyre collecting the right amount of tax. Martin Phelan, William Fry I expect to see more tax litigation over the coming year. Because of a number of well-publicised EU state aid cases and one in particular involving Ireland on which William Fry had an advisory role the Irish Revenue has restricted the circumstances in which it will provide tax rulings. That said one cannot expect the state to provide tax opinions for clients surely that is why clients engage the services of a tax practitioner. Nina Legaard Kristensen, Danish Ministry of Taxation We will hopefully see the effects of an increased focus to limit the number of disputes. For instance, in the area of transfer pricing, the Danish tax authorities have introduced the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme in transfer pricing cases which is inspired by the success achieved in the UK in a similar scheme. The ADR scheme is an alternative measure to handling conflicts between the Danish tax authorities and the taxpayer without resorting to the administrative or ordinary courts. Rather, a third party assists the parties in reaching a solution. In 2017, four cases were successfully solved by use of the ADR scheme. Attention could also be drawn to the tax governance project, which was introduced by the Danish tax authorities in 2013. The objective of this project is to offer a possibility for the larger groups in Denmark to engage in a formalised and extended co-operation with the tax authorities. Participation in this project requires the groups to commit themselves to share relevant information relating to matters of uncertainty with the authorities. In exchange, the authorities commit themselves to respond quickly and give specific guidance to the taxpayer, where relevant. This helps the taxpayer to comply with the applicable rules and minimises the risks of mistakes. What do you think is the toughest challenge in gaining tax certainty, and why? Stephanie Li, Acer EMEA Hasty introduction of new tax laws makes planning difficult and also damaging when these tax measures lead to double taxation or additional financial burden. This problem is likely to stay much longer than one would expect. Persistent tax uncertainty is the only certainty. Erik Knijnenburg, H&M To attract the right attention and understanding for the case at hand with a fair recognition of both elements is present in the debate right now. This being a more global balanced approach of allocating income and taxation towards market countries and at the same time respecting the entrepreneurial functions and their value to the case. Damon Lambert, head of tax EMEA at Swiss Re Avoiding double taxation, in a timely basis, where there are cross-border transactions, both from a direct and indirect tax perspective. Speed of tax dispute resolution remains lengthy. Tania Carvalhais Pereira, CAAD The toughest challenge nowadays is to grant transparency and accountability at an international level. Kim Boylan and Brian Gleicher, White & Case Transfer pricing has continued to be a focus for tax authorities and it presents challenges in obtaining certainty because the rules are complex and the disputes are inherently factual. Moreover, tax authorities may have differing views, and even within a specific tax jurisdiction there may be differences in opinion as to how transfer pricing rules should be applied. For example, while the competent authority within a tax jurisdiction may be focused on how its treaty partner would view a transfer pricing adjustment, the audit team proposing the adjustment may not consider its foreign impact. Martin Phelan, William Fry A constant internal pressure is Ireland's general anti-avoidance legislation, which effectively operates such that there is no statutory time limit for the review of transactions that breach it. The number of tax rulings issued by the Irish Revenue has decreased over the last few years. However, such rulings never provided much certainty anyway as they had no legal effect in Ireland and, in any case, one would not like to be relying solely on a legitimate expectation argument before a court of law. Developments in international tax at OECD (BEPS) and EU (ATAD) levels have caused the implementing domestic legislation to be more "grey" in application, which has lead and will lead to increases in the issues to be considered and resolved. In my capacity as Secretary General of the CFE in Brussels, I see a lot more interaction with policymakers in Europe, but it is important that the policymakers understand that taxpayers require certainty in the field of taxation. A case in point is the recent OECD digital economy consultation. I inputted on Taxands response to the OECD. It is clear that the new OECD proposals concerning the allocation of profit from the digital economy seem conceptually simple but they are legally and technically complex and could lead to more uncertain tax positions and a rise in disputes and double taxation. Johanna Waal, Finnish large taxpayers office International tax legislation environment today is constantly undergoing significant changes. At the same time, digitalisation is affecting the both the businesses and the tax administrations, bringing new demands for data collection, use and analysis. It is a tough challenge for the tax administrations to keep up with these developments, ensuring both adequate tax certainty for the businesses and reliable tax collection for the state. Nina Legaard Kristensen, Danish Ministry of Taxation Based on my personal experience, I would point to combating tax/VAT fraud and evasion as the toughest and most urgent challenges. From individuals to the largest companies, everyone must pay their fair share of taxes contributing to our vital public services. The reason why this continues to be the toughest challenge - even despite an increasing awareness from policymakers and tax authorities across the world - is that organised fraud and evasion occurs not only within a country but also across countries both within the EU and globally. The increased globalisation and digitalisation unfortunately also paves the way for new types of organised fraud. It is therefore vital that the tax authorities in the EU and OECD countries continue to work closely together by, for example, sharing relevant information at the right time and developing practices to tackle tax/VAT fraud, evasion, avoidance and non-compliance. The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ. Share this article Hong Kong: Concern over elector register The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau is very concerned the Registration & Electoral Office has not recovered a Register of Electors for the 2016 Legislative Council General Election. The office is searching for the Register of Electors of a polling station in Kwai Tsing. The register contains information, including the names, genders, addresses and identity card numbers of about 8,000 electors. The bureau asked the office to complete the verification and search within one week and give a full account of the findings immediately afterwards. It instructed the office to notify the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of the incident, and to confirm that should the loss of the register be ascertained, action would be taken to notify affected electors and to mitigate any possible damage. The office said there has been no information so far showing any leakage of the relevant information and apologised for the distress to electors caused by the incident. The Electoral Affairs Commission also expressed concern over the incident and instructed the office to confirm as soon as possible whether that register is missing. It asked the office to launch a comprehensive review on the handling of voter registration information, electoral materials during election and the actual execution. According to the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) Regulation, election documents must be retained for at least six months from the date of an election. The documents must be destroyed afterwards, unless directed by a court order relating to an election petition or criminal proceedings. The Registers of Electors for the 2016 Legislative Council General Election have been kept for the ongoing investigation, while ballot papers of that election have been destroyed in accordance with the law. This story has been published on: 2019-04-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The situation with the closed meetings was brought to the attention of the Attorney Generals Office through a complaint by West Side resident David Pierce, who served as mayor of Aurora from 1985 to 1997. He had filed his complaint in November 2018, about a month after the library took part in a press conference with the city of Aurora and the West Aurora School District in which they said there had been discussions about moving the West Branch in closed sessions. This content is from: United States Media-related businesses are united in their desire to level the playing field on taxing traditional and digital companies, but they do not all agree on the best way forward. April 5, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Raymond James detailed what it expects for two of the company's business segments, domestically and internationally, in these two quarters and beyond. In an April 1 research note, analyst Praveen Narra reported that Raymond James lowered its Q1/19 domestic estimates for Halliburton Co. (HAL:NYSE), primarily reflecting weather and seasonal influences, and raised its international forecasts due to expected increased activity. In the United States, "Halliburton's Q1/19 likely represents the trough of this cycle" and the "bottom for earnings per share and EBITDA," Narra noted. Accordingly, Raymond James adjusted its U.S. expectations "slightly," but those were offset by revised depreciation, depletion and amortization estimates. Narra reviewed Raymond James' revisions to its U.S. forecasts for Halliburton. For its Completion and Production (C&P) segment in Q1/19, Raymond James lowered revenue projections by 1.3% for an 8.8% drop and a 350 basis point decrease from Q4/18. The changes were necessary due to significant snowfall in the Rocky Mountains, the Arctic freeze in the Midwest and anticipated additional price pressure. "C&P margins have likely seen the bottom if activity holds," Narra commented. As for Halliburton's Drilling and Evaluation (D&E) business, it will likely see U.S. declines in Q1/19 revenue and margins by an estimated 9.3% and about 122 basis points, respectively. This is because decreasing the number of rig counts, which has been going on for some time, is expected to continue into Q2/19. Looking further out, Raymond James expects a more positive scenario for Halliburton's domestic operations in Q2/19 and beyond into 2020, Narra highlighted. For Q2/19, it projects a 90 basis point quarter-over-quarter (QOQ) increase in U.S. C&P margins. Narra briefly addressed Raymond James' outlook for Halliburton's international business in Q2/19 and full-year 2019. In Q2, the company expects a roughly 5.4% increase in C&P revenue. For all of 2019, it raised its total international revenue growth, C&P and D&E, estimate to 7.3% from 3.4%, and noted that rate should be achieved with minimal capital input. As for free cash flow, Raymond James expects it will be "meaningful" in 2019 and 2020 due to capex reductions and the company's commitment to limiting spending. Raymond James has a Strong Buy and a $45 per share target price on Halliburton, whose stock is currently trading at around $30.09 per share. 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 billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. Disclosures from Raymond James, Halliburton Co., Apr. 1, 2019 ANALYST INFORMATION Analysts Holdings and Compensation: Equity analysts and their staffs at Raymond James are compensated based on a salary and bonus system. Several factors enter into the bonus determination, including quality and performance of research product, the analyst's success in rating stocks versus an industry index, and support effectiveness to trading and the retail and institutional sales forces. Other factors may include but are not limited to: overall ratings from internal (other than investment banking) or external parties and the general productivity and revenue generated in covered stocks. The analysts Praveen Narra and J. Marshall Adkins, primarily responsible for the preparation of this research report, attest to the following: (1) that the views and opinions rendered in this research report reflect his or her personal views about the subject companies or issuers and (2) that no part of the research analysts compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views in this research report. In addition, said analyst(s) has not received compensation from any subject company in the last 12 months.. RAYMOND JAMES RELATIONSHIP DISCLOSURES Certain affiliates of the RJ Group expect to receive or intend to seek compensation for investment banking services from all companies under research coverage within the next three months. Raymond James & Associates makes a market in shares of Halliburton Company. Additional Risk and Disclosure information, as well as more information on the Raymond James rating system and suitability categories, is available here. 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 According to a recent announcement, Japanese lifestyle retailer MUJI and Finnish autonomous driving company Sensible 4 launched GACHA, an autonomous driving bus for all weather conditions in Helsinki, Finland with a view to begin public-facing operations in April. While Sensible 4 provided the technology for the vehicle, including positioning, navigation and obstacle detection to allow year-round autonomous driving regardless of the weather, MUJI has provided the vehicles design, developing the functional aesthetic and optimum user experience. GACHAs debut test-drive took place in front of the new Oodi Helsinki Central Library, a significant site in the Finnish capital. After the preview, GACHA reportedly will begin operating for the general public in Espoo in April 2019, rolling out to Hameenlinna, Vantaa and Helsinki later in 2019. MUJI and Sensible 4 are currently planning to produce the first GACHA fleet for use on public roads in 2020 for various cities in Finland and abroad. MUJI and Sensible 4 aim for the self-driving shuttle fleets to operate as a part of the cities existing transportation systems in 2021, with a long-term objective of establishing partnerships with other pioneering cities around the world. Aside from its all-weather capabilities, MUJIs design also differentiates GACHA from similar projects, in particular the vehicles lack of a front or rear. The interior seating follows the soft rounded square shape of the bus, creating more space for passengers while the LED light belt serves as both headlights and an external communication screen. Inspiration for the design came from a toy capsule. The GACHA development got started when Sensible 4 team, working back then with the first generation of robot buses, noticed that they just dont perform at all even in light rain, not to mention the typical winter conditions in Finland. Completely autonomous self-driving technology is not here yet. Most self-driving cars can operate only in ideal weather conditions and well-marked roads. This is what Sensible 4 has managed to change through repeated tests in the harsh winter conditions of the Finnish Lapland, said Harri Santamala, CEO, Sensible 4. Greater Helsinki is a global pioneer in offering services and creating new businesses through smart mobility solutions. There are several reasons for that. One of them being the favorable Finnish legislation for new experiments the Finnish legislation not only allows automated vehicles to be used in public roads but also encourages the digitalization of all transport services. The recent heavy deregulation makes it easier for new types of transportation services to enter the market. In Greater Helsinki there are also several urban testbeds enabling the creation of new smart mobility solutions and the city hosts the first open mobility-as-a-service ecosystem in the world, said Marja-Liisa Niinikoski, CEO, Helsinki Business Hub Helsinki Business Hub has had a key role in introducing MUJI to Sensible 4. Helsinki Business Hub is the international trade and investment promotion agency whose role is to help foreign companies to set-up their business, grow and develop in Greater Helsinki. Facts about GACHA: Fullstack of autonomous driving sensors; lidars, radars, 360 deg camera vision, high precision GPS, inertia unit and control over 4GLTE/5G Max speed: 40 km/h autonomous Powertrain: 4WD electric Range: 100+ km Fast charging with wireless charging as an option Dimensions: 4.5x2.4x2.8 m Capacity: 10 seats, 6 standing Easy access for people with limited mobility Exterior displays around the vehicle for vehicle intention communicatios Future plans of GACHA bus: 2019 Pilots in the Finnish cities of Espoo, Hameenlinna, Vantaa and Helsinki. First international test-drive Development of first GACHA fleet 2020 Pre-commercial operation of GACHA fleet in selected cities in Europe and beyond 2021 First permanent commercial operations established Integration within local public transportation systems Industrial production to begin Edited by Ken Briodagh Data Centre and Air Cooling Systems manufacturer, EDPAC International, has announced the creation of 50 new jobs in Cork. Tanaiste Simon Coveney officially opened the companys newly extended manufacturing plant in Carrigaline, Co Cork today. The company has installations at Doha Airport, Qatars Al Wakra Stadium, Hong Kongs Metro, Bolivias Itaipu Dam, Copenhagens City Link Metro, the BBC in the UK, most hospitals in Ireland and Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the companys home county. EDPAC International processes multi-million euro orders from all around the world every month and is expanding the headcount in Cork to meet sustained growth over the last three years. Mr Coveney said EDPAC International exemplifies all that makes Irish companies so successful around the globe. A high-quality solution, innovative in design and execution combined with ambitious leadership and outstanding customer service to create a truly world class product. "I am delighted to officially open the newly extended manufacturing site in Carrigaline, and wish all the EDPAC team continued success. EDPAC International will continue to operate from its sites in Newmarket and from Carrigaline, where more than 80 people are currently employed. The company is actively recruiting a further fifty employees. In particular design engineers, refrigeration technicians, plumbers, electricians as well as quality engineers and logistics personnel. Meanwhile, recruiting and consulting company Oxford Global Resources, which has a base in Cork, has announced plans to create 25 new jobs. The news was announced as part of the companys celebration of 25 years at its European Headquarters in Ireland. Speaking at todays event, Oxford Vice President of European Operations, Denis Carroll, said they started in Cork in 1994 with just four employees and now have 129. Our 25th anniversary milestone is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the entire Cork team as well as the fantastic local resources. We are excited to expand our team here further, which will lead to our goal of doubling our European business over the next five years. Headquartered in the United States, Oxford focuses on connecting organisations with senior-level talent in information technology, life sciences, and engineering. Oxford has more than 850 employees worldwide. The new roles, mainly as Technical Recruiters and Account Managers are on track to be filled this year. As part of this expansion effort, Oxford will host a Recruitment Open Evening in Penrose Quay, Cork on April 15. Speaking at this mornings event, Tanaiste Simon Coveney stated that Oxford is a fantastic example of a multinational company reaping the long-term benefits of being based in Cork. I want to congratulate the entire team, as they celebrate the 25 year anniversary, and I look forward to seeing what is next for Oxford. IDA CEO Martin Shanahan said the IDA has worked closely with Oxford over the last 25 years. It has been rewarding to see its workforce grow to 129. We will continue to offer them the IDAs support. The Revenue will start talking to truck drivers at Dublin and Rosslare ports from today about the potential huge delays and disruption to trade if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal. It comes as focus continues to fall on the talks between British prime minister Theresa May and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn over a possible compromise that would at least extend the UKs departure date. Financial markets have continued to signal that a no-deal Brexit is unlikely, as sterling investors continue to prop up the currency. Betting markets are also indicating that some sort of deal will be done. But sterling traded down to 85.78 pence against the euro as Westminster politics added layers of complexity. Revenue said it will talk to truckers coming through the two ports which handle most exports and imports from and into the Republic. It is crucially important that truck drivers are aware of, and understand, what they will need to do and what paperwork they will have to provide at check-in, before boarding the ferry. This will ensure that trucks can move through our ports with minimum disruption and delay, said Lynda Slattery, head of the Revenues Brexit Policy Unit. Customs officers are available to help drivers who may have concerns or questions about what they need to do post-Brexit, and to help them understand what the changes will be for them as they move through Irish ports, she said. But Aidan Flynn, head of industry group Freight Transport Association Ireland, said Government agencies should be doing more. A holistic and effective response to the challenges raised by Brexit requires an openness and intent to work in a collaborative manner, he said. Whilst progress is being made, there is an element of a need to know philosophy from the State agencies in sharing and engaging industry. This is no doubt fuelled by the obvious complexities all are faced with in preparing for Brexit Day. This must change. Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at online broker IG, said that the markets have started to fear over a hard Brexit outcome again. The focus for markets is on talks between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, and with the pound dropping sharply, it is clear that hopes of a softer Brexit are fading fast, he said. Britain could ask the EU for a long Brexit delay next week if crisis talks between Ms Mays government and Labour fail to find a way out of the current impasse, he added. Further complicating an already murky outlook for the pound was the passage of a bill through the House of Commons on Wednesday. By potentially taking the date of extension out of Ms Mays negotiating hand, it adds an extra layer of complexity to the ongoing Brexit negotiations as she will have to secure approval from both EU officials and British lawmakers, said Thu Lan Nguyen, a currencies analyst at Commerzbank. - Additional reporting: Reuters One of Corks best-known hotels, the Vienna Woods near Glanmire, has changed ownership for an undisclosed figure. Michael Magner has now acquired full ownership of the four-star hotel, known for weddings and club functions, along with his father-in-law Brian Scully. They have bought out the Fitzgerald family. The hotel, which has undergone a 5m refurbishment since Mr Magner and the Fitzgeralds purchased it in 2006, is about to undergo a further 500,000 renovation and rebrand, Mr Magner said. The Fitzgerald family are the owners of the four-star Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare, Co Limerick. Mr Magner and the Fitzgeralds invested 5m in restoring the 18th-century property since the purchase in 2006, adding on a ballroom and eight modern self-catering villas, bringing the total bedrooms to 77. Last year, the hotel also upgraded all guest rooms and suites, as well as investing in technology and meeting facilities to meet growth in business functions and conferences. Mr Magner said following the acquisition, it would invest 500,000 in further refurbishments such as dining and conference suites. Sitting on 22 acres of mature grounds, the historic country house was once the home of the famous Crawford brewing family. It is one of Corks best-known wedding and occasion venues, located on the outskirts of the city centre. Mr Magner said existing bookings at the hotel are unaffected by the change in ownership, and that all vouchers issued by will be honoured until December 31, including those purchased for the Fitzgeralds Adare hotel. A recent survey of hoteliers by the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) found more than 11.5m was spent on renovations and improvements to hotels in the region in 2018, with more than 80% investing in capital expenditure. Most hotels spent 50,000 to 2.5m, the report found. More than a third of hoteliers said there was an opportunity to develop their business in the first six months of this year, the IHF said. However, it warned the 1,500 new hotel rooms planned for Cork could be too much for the market to bear. It said that it was concerned there would be too many bedrooms if construction of the Cork events centre does not start soon. The average room rate increased by 15% to 109 in the region, the report said. The average room rate charged in a bed an breakfast in the low season is 40 a night. The cost for a five-star city hotel rises to 215 in peak season, it said. The busiest period was from July to September. The report also found that four in five hoteliers believe Brexit will affect their business, while almost all said that they were concerned about the increase in Vat, staff shortages, recruitment legislation, and the additional capacity of rooms coming onto the market. Crude posted the longest weekly winning streak since November 2017, amid concerns over supply shortfalls from countries like Venezuela and optimism over US-China trade talks. Futures in New York rose as much as 0.9%, leading to a 4% rally for the week. The Brent crude contract added 24 cents, to $69.64 a barrel, on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, after briefly topping $70 a barrel, for the first time since November, in the previous session. Opecs production dropped for a fourth straight month, in March, while Venezuelas oil output has plunged by half, amid power failures. As for the discussions between the US and China, Chinas vice premier, Liu He, said the two sides reached new consensus on such important issues as the text of a trade agreement, Xinhua News Agency reported. Crude rose, along with US equities, after a report showed domestic hiring rebounded in March more than was forecast. The market is focused on Opec confirmation that they will continue to be disciplined. We are looking at potentially less output from shale, mess in Venezuela, and now there is risk in Libya, said Bart Melek, head commodity strategist at Toronto Dominion Bank. Weve seen people get a lot more happy about going long in this environment. The US benchmark crude climbed more than 30% during the first three months of the year, as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and its allies, trimmed production as part of an agreement to help balance global oil markets. Escalating tensions in Libya and Venezuela are also providing support for crude. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery advanced 42 cents, to $62.52 a barrel, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have rallied for a fifth straight week. Prices have also been lifted this week by signs that the US and China are on track to resolve the ongoing trade dispute that has threatened oil demand. US president, Donald Trump, said that while any trade deal with China was probably still weeks away, both sides were making progress on an accord that could be very monumental. Excluding production-sharing agreements, Russia has cut its average oil output in April by 225,000 barrels a day, energy minister, Alexander Novak, said in Moscow. US sanctions on Venezuelan and Iranian oil, as well as output cuts by the Saudi Arabia-led Opec and Opecs allies, are creating a shortage of heavy-to-medium sour crude that is sulphurous and dense. Bloomberg When the opportunity to purchase the Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff presented itself to Ray Byrne in 2016, it marked a return to his early career roots in a region that had long captivated his imagination. Buying Eccles Hotel did have a sense of something coming full circle for me, one of those life events that land on your doorstep in a way you couldnt ignore, he explains of the immediate impetus to make the legendary institution his own. My connection with West Cork goes back to the 1980s when I worked for Traditional Cheese Company. My job was driving the refrigerated van all over Ireland, but particularly into the corners of West Cork to collect cheese from the artisan cheese makers down there. I met incredible people, and developed a love for the beauty that is West Cork. The opportunity to buy the hotel came about from a casual conversation with the then owner back in early 2016: He mentioned he was thinking of selling the hotel and myself and my business partner lost no time in securing the opportunity to buy it. Ray opened Wineport Lodge in Athlone back in 1993 with his wife Jane English, the beginning of his connection to the hospitality industry that continues to this day. Weve built up a great business at Wineport Lodge, initially as a restaurant, then adding guest accommodation so people could come and stay as well as eat. I realised it was easier to make money when the guests were asleep, so that got me hooked on the hotel side of the business. His foray into the industry through Wineport Lodge eventually led on to the setting up of an associated company, Nhance Management, to work on other projects. The properties under which Nhance variously manage and co-own include The Ice House in Ballina, The Shipquay Hotel in Derry, The Kilkenny Inn, plus Stauntons On The Green and Number 31 in Dublin. We bring our experience to bear on projects in the form of expert collaborators to engineer efficient management systems designed to create more memorable customer experiences and deliver sustainable profits for all stakeholders. Nhance Management incorporates brand creation and reinvention to every aspect of operations to turnaround or improve overall business performance, realise full commercial potential and ultimately increase asset values. The company works with new developments, properties in need new vision, and hotels in receivership on behalf of insolvency practitioners, banks and institutional lenders. His own experience during the recent recession proved a telling education in rescuing dwindling turnover and maintaining customer loyalty: Our business at Wineport was growing steadily up until 2008, only to drop by double-digit figures within the subsequent twelve months. Like so many other operations around the country at the time, we owed a substantial amount to the bank. It was a time when we learned the hard way about pulling in our horns and working across all areas to bring down costs. But through it all, our primary focus was on delivering value and quality to guests. Even in the darkest days, we were always encouraged by the fact that even though people had less money to spend, they still wanted to come to Wineport Lodge for those special occasions. We eventually refinanced our debts to a sustainable level and worked our way out the other side. Over recent years, Ray has held presidencies of a number of tourism bodies, including Irelands Blue Book, the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Midlands Gateway Chamber of Commerce. Having just undergone a 1m refurbishment, Eccles Hotel represents the latest chapter in Ray Byrnes hospitality career, and one where the propertys long history will figure prominently in its future success. The Eccles Hotel is all history nearly 300 years worth. It is full of stories of an illustrious past and we are determined to give it a bright future through the refurbishment programme and boutique spa that will be ready for Easter. We know its not enough to have a great property in a stunning location, he says. What todays guests look for is great people and warm hospitality. To that end, we have retained all the loyal staff who have generations of experience, as well as bringing in new talent like general manager David Manning, himself a West Cork native, and chef Edward Atwell, who has earned an enormous following after only 12 months onsite. While frequent trips to Eccles Hotel and West Cork have offered Ray Byrne a happy return to the scenic territory of his youth, it has also resulted in a number of other hospitality opportunities to exploit. Eccles has meant lots of visits to Cork, during which time we have also spotted some exciting opportunities in the city as well. Weve created a new micro-hotel brand to cater to the millennial traveller who wants to be right in the centre of things and isnt concerned about luxury and room size, so long as the basics are taken care of. To that end, the company has also earmarked sites on Corks business thoroughfare the South Mall, as well as the developing Victorian Quarter on MacCurtain Street so as to develop a sustainable hospitality business in the coming years. The plans include a 58-bed hotel at the South Mall site of the former National Irish Bank branch, complete with its classical limestone facade and its five-bay banking hall, designed by William Caldbeck in 1855. Our aim is to retain and refurbish the impressive facade of the property that sits proudly on South Mall, Ray explains. The wonderful banking hall with its high corniced ceilings, elegant pillars and striking black and white tiled floor will form the backdrop for a buzzy cafe/bar, where locals and visitors can meet and experience traditional Cork hospitality. The current surge of economic activity within the immediate area has added significantly to its attractiveness as a dining and leisure hub: The South Mall has undergone a real renaissance in recent times with the opening of the new Maldron Hotel and a major refurbishment of the famous Imperial Hotel. It is also home to some of the citys best loved eateries such as Electric and Jacobs on the Mall. The second property, located on MacCurtain Street, already has planning permission with the building work expected to begin over the coming months. Claims that prison officers are stealing materials to sell on the internet and using other prison items to renovate their homes are being sent to the Garda Commissioner by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry made the explosive allegations after being contacted by a number of prison staff. Among the allegations made using Dail privilege by Mr MacSharry at yesterdays meeting with the Department of Justice were: Prison officers taking items from prison workshops and stores to sell on the internet Officers who are using the prison workshop to make improvements to personal, family, or holiday homes And if some staff are linked to other private enterprises and are using prison equipment to supplement their private stores Are the department or the Irish Prison Service aware of an incidence of a prison service employee, with responsibility for stores in prisons, who was selling prison items on the internet? Was this person allowed to resign? asked Mr MacSharry, before reading out a series of questions on which the Fianna Fail TD said he has sought private legal advice. However, the Department of Justice secretary general, Aidan ODriscoll, refused to respond to the claims and separate allegations from Mr MacSharry that profiles of some prison officers and their movements outside of the facilities have been drawn up by State-linked surveillance teams, saying: You might be putting certain things on the record, but Im not here today to talk about prison issues. Mr MacSharry said that he has been told of the concerns by prison personnel, with other prison officer sources telling the Irish Examiner that they are aware of a handful of such cases. In addition, prison officer sources told this newspaper last night that a circular was sent to all prisons during the past week ordering officers to no longer buy anything from prison tuck-shops. However, despite the allegations, a number of PAC members declined to support Mr MacSharrys claims, including Sinn Fein TD Jonathan OBrien who told the committee he is uncomfortable with the line of questioning. After listening to the evidence, PAC chairman and Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming said he will send the full transcript of Mr MacSharrys claims to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in the coming days. Mr Fleming said it is up to Mr Harris to investigate if any wrongdoing has occurred, adding that his role as PAC chairman means he is obliged to send allegations of wrongdoing to the Garda commissioner. But, he said, It is not OK to make false claims to law enforcement about serious matters like this. It diverts law enforcement from doing their jobs. You can see that when this kind of claim is made, law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels moved heaven and earth to try to determine if they had, in fact, found this missing child, and its not OK to do it because of the harm it causes, the pain it causes the family of that missing child. The family of a man shot dead in 1976 say they have been failed by the Irish Government and the Gardai. Seamus Ludlow, 47, a forestry worker, was killed on his way home from a local pub in Dundalk, Co Louth. His family have long maintained Mr Ludlow was an innocent victim of a loyalist death squad comprising a Red Hand Commando and two members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who travelled from the north into the Republic of Ireland to commit the murder. They are now demanding a full public inquiry into his death after they won permission from the High Court in Dublin to challenge the decision not to prosecute members of the British Armed Forces and loyalist paramilitaries identified as suspects. The family have commissioned an information leaflet to be handed out around Co Louth and South Armagh to raise awareness of the case among the public and garner support for their campaign. They claim the Irish Government are frustrating efforts to win justice for Mr Ludlow, and say the Gardai were passed the suspects' names but "put them in a drawer and closed it". The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) told the Garda in 1979 the names of four loyalists it suspected of being involved in Mr Ludlow's killing but the information was not pursued at the time. In 1998, four named suspects were arrested and questioned by the RUC and two of the men allegedly made confessions about their involvement in the murder. The family also believe Gardai were complicit in spreading false rumours that Mr Ludlow was killed for being an IRA informant, and that documents about the case, two bullets and items of the victim's clothing have been lost by state agencies. An Oireachtas committee in Dublin recommended more than 10 years ago that two commissions of investigation be held into the murder and subsequent events, after an official judge-led report damned the original botched Garda probe. Neither of the recommendations have been implemented by the Government. Screengrab taken from PA Video of Irish republican politician Gerry Adams speaking to the media, as the family of a man shot dead in 1976 say they have been failed by the Irish Government and the Gardai. Picture:PA. Gavin Booth, a solicitor for the family, said the case is strong that there have been failings on behalf of the state on both sides of the border. He said: "It's very rare a family can litigate in both states, but given what has happened to Seamus there is cases that exist in both north and south. "There is a political failure here to deal with the past in the north, and this spreads into the south, unfortunately families have been left without proper disclosure of details. "Hopefully we find out what happened to Seamus, what the background is, what role the British Army played, what role state agents played. "There's also failings within the Gardai, we want to know what role they did fully play. "The Oireachtas report said that the Gardai did fail, when people brought the case from Dundalk to Dublin, they were told to forget about it and leave it, why did this happen? Who made those decisions?" Mr Ludlow's nephew Michael Donegan said the family will not stop in their quest for justice. He said: "From day one it was always clear there's a whole lot wrong with the murder of Seamus Ludlow, and there's a whole lot going on under the surface that we don't know. I'm afraid it becomes all too obvious, all this hostility towards our family is based on a need to protect some dark secrets. "They're trying to keep us in the dark, poor Seamus did not deserve the end he got, but the impugning of his name basically made him the architect of his own death, that is shameful." The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: The murder of Seamus Ludlow was a brutal and despicable act of random violence perpetrated against an innocent man. "It is a matter of sincere regret that nobody has been held accountable for his murder. It is acknowledged that there were serious failings in the investigation at the time. "The family are currently engaged in litigation against the State regarding the establishment of a Commission of Investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time." - Press Association A recovering addict who wanted to die at the peak of her drugs and alcohol addiction says secondary treatment saved her life. Laura, who completed a Tabor Group secondary treatment programme after serving time for drugs offences, also said she has no doubt that the 4.8m expansion of the Tabor Groups Fellowship House treatment facility on Spur Hill will save more lives. Now helping others fight addiction, Laura told her story of hope and recovery at the official opening of the new facilities by Tanaiste Simon Coveney today. Secondary treatment showed me the changes I had to make. It saved my life. I know I wouldnt be here without it, she said. At the worst of her addiction, Laura was on mephedrone powder, tablets, cocaine, speed, weed and alcohol. Id use anything really. From the time Id wake up in the morning, Id have to use to get up, just to be able to get out of bed. Id have to use to stabilise myself during the day, just to keep going. "If I took too many uppers, Id have to use something to bring myself down. Id have to use in the evening to wind myself down, Id use sleeping tablets to sleep, Id smoke hash to get an appetite. "I couldnt function, I couldnt live without drugs. I was at a very chronic stage of addiction. I wanted to die. I just wanted to keep using until I died." "But when I came out of prison, secondary treatment was vital to me. It offered me a life, a way of living. "I learned coping mechanisms so that when life gets tough, as it always does, I have coping skills now. Now Im a person living in life, not an addict surviving in life, or trying to survive in life. The expansion of the Tabor facility more than doubles its residential treatment capacity from 10 to 22, and includes 11 apartments for people who have completed primary addiction treatment but need a step-down facility to prepare for independent living. The aim is to build on and consolidate the work of the recovery programme which has already begun in primary treatment, Denis Healy, chairman of Tabor Group, said. The expansion was supported by the Department of Housing through Rebuilding Ireland, Cork County Council and the HSE. In 2017, Tabor Group treated some 300 people suffering from alcohol, drugs, gambling and food addictions. That year, Fellowship House admitted 49 clients - almost half aged 18 to 24. Most presented with polydrug use, with alcohol dependency cited by 88%. 92% were unemployed and just over 60% were homeless. A judge has ordered the arrest and taking into custody of a man who told his estranged partner that she had a "nice smell of perfume" as the two exited a family law hearing. The man made his comment after the woman obtained a variation to a Barring Order against him at the Family Law Court in Ennis. The man made the comment as he walked behind his former partner and mother of their children as they left the court. The woman has previously told the court that she is in fear of the man. Solicitor for the woman, Pamela Clancy, was also leaving the courtroom at the same time and brought the comment to Judge Patrick Durcan's attention. The woman then gave sworn evidence confirming that the man had made the "nice smell of perfume" comment to her. Judge Durcan then ordered the arrest of the man for contempt of court after stating that the comment was "intimidatory" of the woman in the context of the barring order application that had just been before the court. He said: The comment is highly contemptuous of the court and very disrespectful to the woman. Judge Durcan told the man that his former partner is deserving of respect. The man was arrested by the court Garda on order of Judge Durcan and detained in custody for three hours before he was brought back before the court. In the witness box, the man purged his contempt after apologising for his remark. He said: Im sorry for what I said. I didnt mean to cause any upset. Counsel for the man, Liam Carroll BL, said that the context for the comment was that his client feels hard-done by in the relationship. Judge Durcan then ordered the mans release from custody. Ms Clancy said that her client had to go to the Gardai concerning the Barring Order and asked Judge Durcan to stress to the man not to go near the womans new address. In response, the man said: You wont see me again. I am moving out of the country. The majority view of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation strike committees is that the new nurses contract is a good deal. That is according to INMO secretary general Phil Ni Sheaghdha who spent yesterday briefing members of the committees on details of the proposals. There was mixed feedback but the majority view is that its a good deal for nurses, said Ms Ni Sheaghdha. Many nurses took to social media to roundly reject the terms, with a number of them saying that further strikes are warranted. Ms Ni Sheaghdha said the union intends to have the result of a ballot of its 38,000 members by the first week in May. The ballot begins on Monday. The union is recommending acceptance of a Labour Court ruling designed to resolve a dispute over pay and staffing issues which resulted in nurses engaging in three days of strike action earlier this year. One of the many hundreds of comments posted on the INMOs Facebook page by members criticising the proposals included one which read: As an intern nurse, we are left compromised with extra heavy workloads, a greater patient caseload than we can cope with, and ethical issues that we should never have to face. These proposals do nothing for us, and make the future of our careers look very bleak. Theyre practically flying us out of the country themselves. As one of a few intern nurses left in my hospital, none of us will be staying on as staff. Theyll have no nurses left. The INMO told members that the recommendations, among other things: Removes proposals for four-, six-, and eight-hour shifts Removes proposals for changes in workplace locations mid-shift no change to current arrangements Rules out proposals for split shifts where shifts would be divided across the day Guarantees that new nurses and midwives can reach the higher enhanced practice salary scale after one year and 16 weeks It said the deal members would be voting on would see a new enhanced practice salary scale whereby staff nurses and midwives earn up to 2,439 more each year in their career; and 5m in funding for safe staffing levels in 2019, with extra funding in 2020 and 2021. It reminded members there would be increases in allowances, including a 20% increase in location and qualification allowances, by 372 to 2,230, and by 559 to 3,350, respectively, and speedier pay increases for new nurses and midwives, who will skip the second increment. Ms Ni Sheaghdha said savings to pay for the proposed pay improvements would come from rollout of a staffing framework she said has been successfully piloted in three hospitals. The Safe Staffing Framework sets nurse and midwife staffing levels by evidence-based patient needs. If implemented, it should bring about a situation where nurses stay, said Ms Ni Sheaghdha, in reference to ongoing retention problems. It would also lead to savings in use of agency staff; down by 95% in the pilot hospitals, while patient mortality would reduce by 50%. Gardai suspected heroin was being dealt at a house in Mayfield, Cork, and while nothing was found in a search they did find that the man living there had a small amount of the drug for his own use. Denis Costello, aged 38, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, was living at a house at Ard Bhaile, Mayfield, Cork, at the relevant time. He pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of possessing diamorphine (heroin) for his own use on that date. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke stressed that the offence dated to July 2015 and that Costello had been out of trouble since that time. He also said Costello had been completely clear of drugs for the past two years and working full time. He said: Significantly, there is nothing against him since 2015. He is here by arrangement. "He went home to Abbeyfeale and got clear of heroin. He is now back working, he said. Judge Patricia McNamara noted that the accused had no conviction for drugs in the past. She convicted and fined him 200 yesterday. Sgt John Kelleher outlined the background to the case: On July 17, 2015, Garda Caitriona Molloy obtained a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act to search the defendants home at Ard Bhaile following information that alleged he had diamorphine on the premises for the purpose of sale or supply. On arrival at 4pm on July 24, gardai observed Denis Costello leaving Ard Bhaile in his vehicle. Gardai stopped the vehicle and showed Denis Costello the search warrant and he agreed to accompany them back to the property for the purpose of the search. On return to the property, Mr Costello was searched by Detective Garda Liam Finn and he was found in possession of a 50 deal of diamorphine. The house was searched under warrant and no drugs were found. The minister for defence and his officials are being asked why they did not check while visiting the UN General Assembly last week that the exit paperwork for 130 Irish troops currently stranded in the Middle East was properly completed. Concerns have been raised that there also seemed to be a failure to do this when Paul Kehoe and his staff visited Irish UN troops serving in the region during St Patricks week. They were raised after Mr Kehoe announced yesterday that he has been advised that the UN has chartered a flight that will return to Ireland from Lebanon on Sunday. Raco, the association which represents Defence Forces officers, said checks should have been made, especially as on October 18 last a similar paperwork problem also left Irish troops stranded for around a week in the Middle East. Troop rotations in and out of mission areas are very much a routine and regular event, so given the significance to Defence Forces families one would expect that such events would be prioritised by DoD [Department of Defence] officials and proceed according to plan regardless of who organises or pays for them, said Raco deputy general secretary Lieutenant Colonel Derek Priestly. The troops were supposed to fly back to Dublin yesterday morning. As efforts were made to get them back home they remain at Camp Faouar, inside the Syrian border. A contingent of replacement troops is still in Ireland awaiting news on when they can proceed to Syria. The Department of Defence was responsible for the paperwork error last October. It took a week to get soldiers back home and as a goodwill gesture, the minister ordered they be paid 1,000 each in compensation. The department maintained in the latest case the UN is responsible for organising the rotation flights to transport the current contingent back to Ireland. In a statement, it said it had been advised by the UN that the Lebanese Authorities hadnt granted approval of the landing clearance in Beirut for the aircraft scheduled to transport the 130 soldiers from the 59th Infantry Group. It added that Mr Kehoe had asked Irelands Permanent Mission in New York to engage directly with the UN to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin claimed Mr Keogh had tried to wash his hands of any responsibility during a debate in the Dail yesterday. This is not the first time the Government have failed our soldiers, said Mr Howlin. For it to happen again now is beyond disgraceful. The weak explanations from Government are not good enough, our soldiers and their families deserve better. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said he understood the frustration of many of the soldiers families, but reiterated that the UN and not the Irish Government was responsible. To be clear, there was a paperwork problem in October where there was fault on our side, said Mr Coveney. That is my understanding. That is not the case this time, however. A group of women who wrote to justice minister, Charlie Flanagan, asking him to intervene in a dispute over the dates they worked in a Magdalene laundry has received no response. A total of 14 women who were in An Grianan training centre post-1980 and worked in the attached High Park Magdalene laundry in Dublin have yet to receive a provisional offer for redress from Mr Flanagans department. A number of these women said they have been told by the Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) in the Department of Justice, which administers the redress scheme, that the reason for the delay is that the order that ran the institution the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge has stated that it stopped sending girls from An Grianan to work in the main laundry in 1980. Nine of the women wrote to Mr Flanagan at the start of March calling on him to intervene directly in the matter. To date, they have received no response. On three separate occasions, the legal team for the women has requested information on the evidence given by the order to the RJU to support this claim from the department but has been refused it. On April 1, solicitor Wendy Lyon, of criminal defence and human rights firm KOD Lyons, wrote to the principal of the RJU Noel Dowling once again seeking this information. Mr Dowling had written to Ms Lyon asking that her clients might "reconsider" a request made of the women in February to attend an interview with the RJU in respect of their time in An Grianan. Mr Dowling said the "sole purpose" of the interviews was to allow the women "to provide to us as full a picture as possible of their time in the institution". However, Ms Lyon responded by stating that it was "no good in asking them [the women] now to trust officials who, in their view, have treated them so unfairly in the past". "My instructions are that they will not consent to be interviewed, especially in circumstances where the officials appear to give credence to an unsubstantiated allegation (the details of which they have consistently refused to share with me) that no children worked in the Laundry after 1980," states the letter. Ms Lyon also expressed concern that seeking to interview women on the basis of allegations made by the Order is "entirely inconsistent with the spirit of restorative justice." "There is no suggestion, I note, that the nun or nuns who made whatever allegations have led to this impasse have been required to attend similar interviews. Further, it is not clear how the application of fair procedures is to be ensured during these intended interviews," states the letter. Ms Lyon then requests that officials forward the details of the allegation that children did not work in the Laundry post-1980 and a list of questions for her clients and that they would revert in writing. Passengers who were due to fly on Norwegians transatlantic services from Cork and Shannon will be re-routed via Dublin until the end of June. The airline had hoped to resume flying from Cork on April 9 and from Shannon on April 10. However, this has now been extended until June 30 for both airports. The rerouting is in response to the suspension of Boeing Max 737 planes by European aviation authorities. Previously, Norwegian had said it would bus affected passengers to Dublin, before accommodating them on a different type of Boeing aircraft. But the airline is now advising passengers to book their own transport and to claim expenses by producing receipts. The airline has also said passengers can rebook flights or receive a refund. A Norwegian spokesperson said: We are extremely sorry that, due to the mandatory grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX by the European aviation authorities, our flights to and from Cork and Shannon will continue to be rerouted, via Dublin, from April 11 until June 30. While we ensure our customers can continue their travel plans with minimal disruption, we are actively working to restore normal operations at Cork and Shannon. Currently, no flights are listed for booking on Norwegians website for Cork or Shannon for April, May, or June. Flights listed from July onwards are appearing for more than 600. The spokesperson said: The website appears that way because we are withholding further sales of some routes operated by the 737 MAX to ensure we can meet our customers expectations, in light of the suspended operations of this aircraft. The status of the flights had been uncertain, following the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max planes, in the aftermath of two fatal crashes in five months. A Lion Air crash in October killed 189 off the Java Sea, near Indonesia, and an Ethiopian Airlines crash, in March, killed 157. The owners of a site earmarked for Corks biggest-ever student accommodation development are facing a large tax bill, having lost a challenge to it being placed on a list of vacant sites. An Bord Pleanala has confirmed the validity of Cork City Councils decision to place the former Coca Cola bottling-factory site, on the Carrigrohane Road, on the vacant site register. The ruling makes the owners of the site, Gainstar Limited Partnership, liable for the annual levy, which is currently 3% of the propertys value, but which will rise to 7% from January 1, 2020. Planning permission for a 484-bed student accommodation development on the brownfield site, which has been unused since 2007, was granted to Gainstar in May 2017. In its appeal against the sites inclusion on the vacant site register, Gainstar argued that the 0.8-hectare site, close to County Hall, was undergoing development. The company said the former bottling plant had been demolished in 2016 and a planning application made in 2017 to amend a scheme approved earlier that year. It claimed negotiations with a UK operator, Future Generation, had forced it to seek further amendments, because of the omission of a basement car park from the plans, which were lodged last October. Future Generation has plans to build a student accommodation complex with 600 beds. Gainstar said it hoped the development could be completed by June 2021. Gainstar also expressed concern that having the site remain on the register could damage its reputation and deter future investors. The council said the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, which introduced the vacant site levy, was to deliver housing units. The developer/owner is entitled to make as many applications as necessary. Once works commences, the placement of the site on the register can be revisited, the council said. It said the placement of the site on the register was to action use and development of sites, not to influence the reputation or otherwise of landowners. Gainstar expressed disappointment that the council had not acknowledged the work it had already done to try and develop the site. It refuted any suggestion that it was a land-hoarder, as it was actively developing the former Coca Cola site. The company said it had already held a pre-planning consultation with the council in January, which would lead to a new planning application for further amendments being submitted. An inspector with An Bord Pleanala said the legislation was only concerned with the actual use of the site and that the last activity had been the demolition of the former bottling plant in 2016, although he acknowledged that Gainstar had gone through a long and exhaustive process to try and develop the site. A solicitor representing CervicalCheck victims has questioned if halting the smear test audit a year ago was an attempt to put a lid on the number of women affected by the scandal. Cian OCarroll said the audit was halted for no good reason after it emerged that more than 200 women with cervical cancer were not told that a review of their smear histories found they were incorrectly given the all-clear. The audit stopped last April for no good reason, he said. I cant see why. If you wanted to put a lid on the 221 women affected, you would stop the audit. As up to 300 women develop cervical cancer in Ireland each year, Mr OCarroll said there were now women who had developed the disease in the past 12 months whose smear histories were not being audited. They had no way of knowing if previous test results were incorrect, he said. They are not getting the benefit of the truth and they are not benefiting from supports, he said. Women in the group of 221 can avail of State supports. He said there was potentially a body of error yet to manifest itself, which is an upsetting message for women. A client of Mr OCarroll, a Cork mother of two who is terminally ill, yesterday settled her legal action over the alleged misinterpretation of her CervicalCheck smear slide. In a statement through her solicitor, she said she was left with no choice but to go to court. The woman, who is in her 40s, has Stage 4 invasive cancer and has been given a life expectancy of 12 to 22 months. The settlement of the action taken by herself and her husband is against a US laboratory in Austin, Texas which tested her smear slide in 2010 and reported it as negative. The woman was given the news that she had cervical cancer just a few days before Christmas 2015 and told the court she was crying while putting her childrens presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve 2015. She suffered a cancer recurrence two years later and in September last year was told her cancer is operable. In her statement, the woman said: We all heard declarations that no woman would have to go to court and that all the women caught up in this scandal would get support. We were under the illusion that this would happen but it was just that an illusion. Last May, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said no woman caught up in the CervicalCheck cancer screening scandal would have to go to court. He subsequently said everyone had the right to go to court. Mr OCarrolls client questioned why her case was not included in the CervicalCheck audit. Mr OCarroll said his firm knew of another four women in a similar situation to his clients who had also not being included in the audit. The HSE said in a statement that the Scally Report had identified gaps in hospitals notifying CervicalCheck of cervical cancer cases and that unfortunately, as a result, the CervicalCheck audit was not aware of many women who had developed cervical cancer. In relation to the decision to halt the audit process, the HSE said while Dr Scally had found the audit was established with laudable aims, the planning, governance and documentation were inadequate. Dr Scally made a specific recommendation that audits should be an important component of cervical screening based on good clinical practice. The HSE said: As a result, the HSE established an expert group to design the audit process. The work of this group continues and once complete, will report on recommendations for the revised audit process. This will take a number of months. A wind farm which was not built according to planning permission has been issued with an enforcement notice to cease operations. Barnafaddock Wind Farm in Ballyduff Upper, Co Waterford, was built using turbine 103m-diameter blades. It had permission for 90m-diameter blades. Last November, An Bord Pleanala ruled that the wind farm constituted an unauthorised development because of the anomaly. On March 22, Waterford City and County Council issued the enforcement notice which gives the owner of the wind farm six months to conform with the original planning permission. This would require replacing the bigger blades, but it is unclear if such an operation could be undertaken without also dismantling the turbines. The unauthorised blades were affixed to eight of the 11 turbines on the farm, which began operating in 2015. The company behind the farm, Barnafaddock Sustainable Electricity Ltd, has applied for substitute consent, a form of retention planning permission for projects that involve an environmental impact study. The longer blades were installed after the developer received a letter of comfort from the planning department in 2013 to go ahead even though it was in contravention of the planning permission. In the event of the wind farm having to cease operations, the local authority could be open to legal action on the basis of assurances given during construction. A spokesperson for the local authority told the Irish Examiner that no issues arise in relation to health, safety, or insurance while the wind farm continues to operate as an unauthorised development. The longer blades were brought to the attention of the local authority by residents who investigated the issue as a result of what they considered excessive noise pollution. One resident, Sean Harris, accused the council of dragging its heels. A spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council said the local authority will not take any enforcement action before a decision by the planning board on the substitute consent. Attempts to contact Blackrock, the current owner of Barnafaddock Sustainable Electricity, were unsuccessful. A woman returned to her Cork City home to find a man burgling the house having smashed glass in the front door to get inside. That was the allegation made yesterday in the case against Liam Hurley, of 190 Farranferris Avenue, arising out of an investigation into a reported burglary on Thursday afternoon. Hurley, aged around 30, was arrested and brought before Cork District Court yesterday where he was refused bail. Sgt Kevin ODonnell said one of the reasons for the objection to bail was the seriousness of the charge and the strength of evidence. He said it was alleged that at around 4.30pm, a woman returned to her home at Seminary Walk in Farranree and noticed that a pane of glass in the front door was smashed. She could hear noises coming from her house and suspected that there was an intruder inside. She contacted gardai. They arrived and found the accused in the house with property from the house in his possession, it was alleged by Sgt ODonnell. Judge Patricia McNamara refused bail and remanded the accused in custody on the April 4 burglary charge until April 11 at Cork District Court. On solicitor Diarmuid Kellehers application, the judge recommended that he be considered for the methadone maintenance programme in the prison. Mr Kelleher said the prosecution outline of the case was accepted by the defendant. Mr Kelleher said the accused started Thursday morning by taking heroin and drinking a bottle of whiskey as a result of a bout of depression and the next thing he remembered was waking up in the Garda station. Maria Boyles Newborn Identity is incredibly funny but does not shy away from the serious issues many mums will relate to, writes Helen OCallaghan Just watching her three-year-old identical twins grow, Maria Boyle gets to be David Attenborough. Nobodys going to let you stare at their baby as much as you stare at your own. For the 37-year-old TwistedDoodles illustrator from Donegal, its one of the best bits of motherhood. Watching my kids grow, I realise that I came from this too, that we all had to learn things. Boyle, whose funny and relatable cartoons have travelled the world, been translated into many languages and even shared by The Rock Dwayne Johnson, has just published The Newborn Identity, Revelations from the first year of parenting. Its an honest, witty, and at times poignant account of what she was going through that first year, but Doyle didnt write it for publication. I write to explain things to myself. Its like talking to someone who doesnt interrupt or who doesnt look shocked. Boyle loves motherhood but shes candid: its hard too. If you talk about it being hard or say youre not enjoying it so much, thats a no-no. Theres this unspoken idea that if you say youre finding parenting hard, someone will take your kids away, like there are secret parenting police and anybody around could report you. Yet, she says, you can feel two things: motherhoods wonderful but its hard. And meeting your baby in her case babies, Bronagh and Roisin is like meeting someone for a first date. You know so much about each other but it takes a while to get to know each other properly. When her girls were born, she didnt know what bond she felt until the nurse did the heel prick test on one of them. When the baby started crying it pained me physically. I felt I want to protect this child. Love doesnt have to be mainstream and fluffy loves a complicated thing. Babies love you, their parent, so much plus they think you know exactly what youre doing, and Boyle finds this lovely. Before I became a mum, I thought thered be this magical transformation where Id be a perfect mother and know what I was doing. I didnt realise Id be the one to manage everything [for the baby]. Like nobody tells you how to manage your childs hair I was giving them terrible fringes. And the parenting responsibility is immediate (I thought that someone might demonstrate how babies worked and when Id shown some competency in the role of mother Id be given full responsibility for them). Its also constant. When you have a job, you leave it, you can stop thinking about it, but even when Im at work Im still a parent. And having twins, she says, is like buying a video game youve never played before and starting it on expert. Written in intimate diary format and interspersed with original illustrations (Would you like to hold him? a proud new mum offers. Huh? SorryI just dropped my phone, replies her reluctant and childless friend), The Newborn Identity is an upfront, entertaining look at what modern pregnancy and parenting looks like in Ireland. Boyles diary entry early in her third trimester reads: My bump feels hard. Im asking people to feel it. I do this because this may be the only time in my life someone will touch my belly and say [it feels really hard]. Giving birth is a like doing your Leaving Cert, she says: Theres huge build-up and people like to tell you exactly how they did, but after a few years it doesnt matter. On sharing her hospital room with two other women and their babies: I felt very alone, as if I were someone drafted in to boost morale it could be worse, I could be yer wan with the twins. Breastfeeding is fun (you literally become a titty bar and you can say this baby is getting on my tits), but pumping is tough. Whoever said dont cry over spilt milk has never accidentally knocked over a bottle of expressed breast-milk. Boyles take on pregnancy and parenting is sharply observed, warm and funny. It covers the full light and shade of what it means to be a mother. Being from Donegal, where theres a very dark sense of humour, she says if something bad happens, joking about it makes her feel in control. I joke about things a lot. Humour lets you connect with people about very serious issues. If you can see the lightness in something, people can relate better to it. She has faced plenty of tough stuff in her life and needed that humour at 15, she was diagnosed with stage 3 malignant melanoma. Her oncologist told her not to have any children until shed been in remission 10 years. At her last appointment she asked if that was because the treatment shed had would put the baby at risk. It was because he didnt want a child to be left without its mother. He didnt mean to be cruel and at the time it didnt feel that way either. It was just a fact. Once married though, Boyle realised if she didnt push herself forward into uncertainty, the cancer mightnt have taken her life but it would have taken her capacity to live it and so she and husband Colm had a conversation about having children. The Newborn Identity is incredibly funny, yet covers serious themes that many mums will relate to, from postnatal depression (Boyle experienced it when the twins were four months old: I could not connect properly to the emotions I should have felt) to returning to the workplace (I needed to justify the time I wasnt spending with my kids when I was at work I was actually more productive than ever). Its a timely book, arriving on the shelves just ahead of Mothers Day. For Boyle, the book feels like an achievement. Above all, its a record of that first year. But shes not taking it all too seriously. Were going to use the money to re-wire our house. Any bit of money, youre saying: lets try and sort out our lives a bit. - The Newborn Identity by TwistedDoodles aka Maria Boyle, 12.74. By due date, you wont care if they take babies out through your ears Huffington Post UK named Maria Boyle one of 50 funny women to follow on Twitter. Heres what she says in The Newborn Identity: Munster kept the pressure on Guinness PRO14 conference leaders Glasgow Warriors as they racked up a bonus-point victory over play-off rivals Cardiff Blues in Cork last night. Johann van Graans side, which had ground out a narrow victory at Murrayfield six days earlier to win their European quarter-final at Edinburghs expense, turned the afterburners on at Musgrave Park as they ran in six tries against a side which had handed them a heavy defeat in Cardiff last September. Cardiff had arrived in Cork looking to press their own play-off claims as they started the weekend level in third place with Connacht. But with the Westerners going to Zebre today, Munster did their provincial neighbours a big favour by denying the Welsh region both a losing bonus point and limiting them to three tries. There were late changes aplenty before kick-off with Darren Sweetnam pressed into action at the last minute for the second week in a row. At Murrayfield it was in place of a sick Mike Haley but in Cork it was Keith Earls who pulled up during the warm-up with Sweetnam slotting onto the wings as Haley returned to full-back. For Cardiff, there was a more fundamental change as fly-half Jarrod Evans was withdrawn and Grand Slam-winning fly-half Gareth Anscombe switched into his favoured position from full-back. Tellingly, that was the same move deployed before these teams met at the Arms Park on September 21 and resulted in a 37-13 Munster hammering. The way Cardiff started the return fixture last night, it looked as if another mauling was on the cards as Ray Lee-Lo began to wreak havoc on the fast-paced artificial surface. Munster fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal had misjudged the swirling wind with his missed penalty in the third minute and Lee-Lo was quickly causing trouble, his break in midfield on six minutes opening up the home defence and scrum-half Tomos Williams followed suit eluding Rory Scannells tackle and then stepping Haley to score the opening try, Anscombe slotting the conversion. Bleyendaal found his range soon after with a penalty and Munster turned the tide as they gathered momentum and Cardiffs discipline began to fray, at least in the mind of referee Marius Mitrea. Lock Seb Daviess no-arms tackle on Billy Holland opened the gate as Munster advanced upfield through their lineout maul and though they were halted five metres out with a scrum turnover, a poor pass off the back of the Cardiff set-piece from No 8 Josh Turnbull put scrum-half Williams under pressure from Conor Murray and the home side regained possession, Chris Farrell powering over a couple of phases later. Bleyendaals conversion gave Munster a 10-7 lead after 16 minutes. When a Cardiff lineout misfired 10 minutes later, and Reds hooker Kevin OByrne mopped up the loose ball, Munster used another couple of penalties to return to the visitors 22, from where Jean Kleyn barged over, Bleyendaals conversion sending his side 17-7 up with 30 minutes gone. Munster lost Murray for a head injury assessment, and things got worse when Cardiff struck two minutes before half-time, Lee-Lo once again doing the damage, his break down the left flank feeding wing Aled Summerhill who sprinted down the touchline to score, Anscombes conversion pushing the scoreboard to 17-14 as the half-time whistle sounded. Murray returned after the interval having passed his HIA but his side started the second half by handing Cardiff three quick penalties leading to their third try on 46 minutes, scrum-half Williams taking a quick tap and passing to Lee-Lo for the simplest of scores and a conversion for Anscombe as the Welshmen regained the lead, if only for a short time. Three minutes later and Munster were back in front, newly-introduced replacement No.8 CJ Stander bulldozing over the line as Munster profited from another lineout play from inside the 22, Bleyendaals conversion putting them 24-21 up, three tries apiece, with 30 minutes still to play. The bonus point, for either side, seemed a matter of when rather than if, and it went to Munster on the hour as Murray scored from the back of a ruck, Bleyendaal grabbing his fourth conversion of the night and then a fifth three minutes later when Andrew Conway raced into the right corner as Munster gained separation from their rivals at 38-21. They added insult to injury with a late try from Sammy Arnold, barely a minute on the pitch for his comeback from a leg injury sustained in January, fellow replacement JJ Hanrahan nailing the left-touchline conversion to take the score to 45-21. MUNSTER: M Haley; A Conway, C Farrell (S Arnold, 75), R Scannell, D Sweetnam; T Bleyendaal (JJ Hanrahan, 64), C Murray (A Mathewson, 36-40 HIA; 63); D Kilcoyne (J Loughman, 63), K OByrne (N Scannell, 47), J Ryan (S Archer, 52); J Kleyn (T Beirne, 54), B Holland; P OMahony - captain, C Cloete, A Botha (CJ Stander, 44). CARDIFF BLUES: M Morgan; O Lane, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo (H Millard, 58), A Summerhill (G Smith, 56); G Anscombe, T Williams (L Williams, 58); R Gill (B Thyer, 54), K Dacey - captain (E Lewis, 52), D Lewis (K Assiratti, 69); S Davies (G Earle, 69), R Thornton; S Lewis-Hughes (J Botham, 67), O Robinson, J Turnbull. Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy) Seven out of 10 bed-nights are spent in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, and Clare, and this congestion diminishes the tourist value of the rest of the country, writes Paul Kelly, CEO, Failte Ireland Former US president Barack Obama was the keynote speaker at the World Travel and Tourism Global Summit in Seville this week. His message to all governments was that travel and tourism are drivers of economic growth and creators of jobs. This is our message at Failte Ireland. As Obama was speaking in Seville, I was speaking in Cork to local government workers, at a conference at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. The conference titled Tourism is Everyones Business was hosted by the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and supported by ourselves. If all politics is local, so is tourism. Tourism is an economic engine for growth and it helped pull us out of the recession of 2008. However, tourism can only grow with the practical support of local government, through city and county councils. Over the last five years, local authorities have invested 100m in developing tourist attractions, and such commitment is ongoing. Tourism is countless strands woven into the fabric of the local community and economy. Attractive towns and cities draw overseas visitors to Ireland, so improving public facilities is not just an investment in a better quality of life and local civic pride, it is an economic necessity. Its about supporting employment and communities where and how people want to live by diversifying tourism regionally and seasonally. Last year, more than 10m overseas visitors came here. That was a record. The industry now generates almost 8bn in revenue and employs 260,000 people, but if we cannot ensure a greater regional spread of tourism, the sectors potential for generating revenue and jobs will remain untapped in many parts of Ireland. This will have serious repercussions for rural regeneration and development, post-Brexit. Currently, seven out of 10 tourism bed-nights take place in just five counties Cork, Galway, Dublin, Kerry, and Clare. This regional disparity needs to be addressed. If it isnt, we face severe congestion at popular tourism hotspots, thus diminishing the attractiveness of Ireland as a destination. We are all called on to be deciders, implementers, and change-makers, not passive observers. At Failte Ireland, as the national tourism development authority, our job is to give thought leadership and to offer practical assistance to ensure our tourism industry is in-sync with both what our visitors want and who we are as a country. The most critical of our partnerships are the ones we have with local authorities. In Cork, for example, we are working closely with both the City and County Councils on a number of important projects. Cork is one of the focus points for our Maritime Visitor Experience Development Plan and we are working with both councils on developing unique visitor experiences in places such as Cork city, Cobh, Spike Island, and Youghal. We also recently launched our investment scheme, Destination Towns, which is valued at 15.5m. Every local authority in the country will be able to bid for funding of between 250,000 and 500,000 to develop up to two towns in their area that have the potential to become a destination town for tourists. Public spaces and squares, streetscapes, and markets will be enhanced in a way that will engage tourists. Local authorities will, quite rightly, be at the centre of this work. Tourism is a bigger industry than almost any other. Our attraction for visitors is a desire to know who we are and how we live. They consistently look for are experiences that are authentic. This was the message Irish tourism businesses heard directly this week from overseas tour operators at Meitheal 2019. Running since 1975, Meitheal is Failte Irelands flagship trade event, which we organise in conjunction with Tourism Ireland. This year was our biggest Meitheal yet and, as a no-deal Brexit looms, our most important. We brought together more than 600 Irish tourism businesses and 300 international buyers from 22 countries, including Britain, Germany, France, the US, the Middle East, China, and India. We stage it to give tourism businesses the opportunity to pitch face-to-face to hugely influential, international tour operators. Thousands of new business contracts were signed, worth hundreds of millions to the Irish economy. This is hugely significant and positive, at a time of great uncertainty, caused by Brexit. As we prepare for Brexit, central to our work is selling Ireland as a business tourism destination. In the case of a hard Brexit, Ireland could lose more than one million overseas tourists from Britain alone, as well as other core markets. That could cost the tourism sector 380m and 10,000 jobs in the first year. So, as we prepare for Brexit, central to our work is selling Ireland as a business tourism destination. Every business delegate is worth 1,600 to the economy, which is three times more than the average leisure tourist, so were maximising every opportunity. Since January 1, we have secured conferences worth 57m to the Irish economy, which is an increase of 15% on this time last year. We want to grow the sector, particularly in the regions, to bring the value of business tourism in the Irish economy to well over the 1billion mark. Currently, its worth 760m and supports 22,000 jobs. We have stunning scenery, interspersed with historic towns. Each has a unique hinterland and history and a specific local experience. The towns that reap the greatest benefits from tourism are those where all local tourism players pull together. Enforcement proceedings against Barnafaddock Wind Farm raise serious questions around planning, the law and national policy on wind energy, writes Michael Clifford The case of the Barnafaddock Wind Farm raises serious questions around planning, the law and national policy on wind energy. As reported yesterday, Waterford County Council has issued enforcement proceedings on the 11-turbine farm based in Ballyduff Upper in west Waterford. The farm, completed in 2015, was built using 103m-diameter blades rather than the 90m specified in planning permission. The issue only came to light following investigations by local people over what they considered to be excessive noise pollution. So far, so straightforward. Last November, An Bord Pleanala ruled that it constitutes an unauthorised development. Now, the enforcement order has been issued and the developer has six months to comply with the planning permission. As might be expected, the developer has applied to retain the structures. This is done through substitute consent, a form of retention planning permission required for projects that included an environmental impact statement (EIS). There is more at stake when an EIS is required. However, Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) has confirmed it will not take enforcement action until An Bord Pleanala rules on the substitute consent. On the face of it, this is sensible. If the consent is granted, the requirement for enforcement dies. A question does arise as to why the wind farm is allowed to continue operating as an unauthorised development until such time as the planning board rules on its status? A spokesperson for WCCC told the Irish Examiner that no issues over health, safety or insurance arise in an unauthorised development. In the unfortunate circumstance where a claim on insurance might arise, the reaction from the insurer would be very interesting. Apart from that though, it appears on the surface that this is a straight case of a developer doing its own thing and the local authority now laying down the law. Except, beneath the surface, a very different story emerges. The developer at the time of construction Element Power was of the opinion that it had the go-ahead to use the longer blades. In the proceedings that led to the current enforcement order, engineers acting for the developer pointed out: We refer to the compliance response of 2013 in which WCCC confirmed firstly that they noted the developers intent to install a 103m-diameter turbine and secondly that WCCC agreed that same was in compliance with the 2011 permission. Invited to respond to this, WCCC remained silent. Effectively, the developer had received a letter of comfort from WCCC to install 103m blades, despite the planning permission allowing for 90m. This tacit agreement was read by the developer as getting the go-ahead. The letter of comfort did not appear on the planning file. One size was on the public record, another agreed in correspondence. Fast forward to 2015 and local people begin to investigate on foot of what they consider excessive noise pollution. Sean and Catherine Harris made a complaint through their solicitor. WCCC contacted Element Power to check all was in order. In a response, seen by the Irish Examiner, a representative from Element Power emailed that the farm was in compliance with planning permission. Among the points made to illustrate this was that the turbines erected on site have a rotar diameter of 103m. As far as Element Power was concerned, this was in line with planning permission. WCCC wrote back to the Harris solicitor to the effect that following investigation including a site inspection that the planning authority is satisfied there has been no breach of the approved planning permission on site and as such the case has been closed. Yet when Ronald Krikke complained to WCCC the following year about the size of the blades he was told: There has been no agreements between the wind farm and the council that constitute an aberration from An Bord Pleanala planning conditions. But there had been an agreement, documented at least twice in correspondence, between the developer and the council that the blade diameter was 103m and not 90m. Now the issue has to be addressed. An Bord Pleanala, in dealing with the application to retain the structure, has an unenviable choice. If it agrees to retain the longer blade it makes a mockery of its own original decision to impose a shorter length. If it says the farm must be dismantled it opens Waterford County Council to the possibility of a very expensive lawsuit. While the board will undoubtedly decide purely on planning principles, the smart money says the wind farm will get a reprieve, irrespective of the concerns of local residents. Local authorities, through their planning function, are charged with implementing successive governments pro-wind energy policy. In terms of promoting clean renewable energy this policy is entirely sound. But implementing it in a country with a very high level of dispersed rural dwellings ensures major opposition. In such a milieu, local authorities have an extremely difficult path to negotiate. Imagine a life without Brexit? Hard to do, isnt it? Ah, those halcyon days, when we didnt have front-row seats to what, with each passing day, looks like the disintegration of a once-civilised society. What a dampener it all is on the mood. Theres hardly been a day recently when the stress levels havent risen, that cortisol spike as you register the Brexit countdown clock, or the Countdown to no-deal Brexit on the bottom of the screen, while you await the result of yet another Commons vote, and the inevitable tweet of reaction from some EU bigwig. Have you noticed how often the Brexit fallout is described in psychological terms: A collective mental breakdown, act of political self harm, or political suicide. If Harry Potter turned up on my doorstep and told me he could grant me a mid-level spell, I think Id opt for a Brexit-free week, to have it banished from my mind, to magic away the stress. It has infected everything, not least a recent visit to my childhood sweet shop, which remains reassuringly the same, and where I years ago spent hours deciding on penny and half-penny sweets. Only a very select few children were allowed to open the ice cream freezer. I stood there with my own two children, bathed in nostalgia, only to be Brexit-punched out of it when it was revealed that the no-longer-costing-a-penny jellies and chewies could be under threat because of supply lines. Nothing in this nightmare scenario is sacred. Or the night recently, when, yet again, we were glued to the television to watch the latest crisis unfold, and the eldest asked quietly if, as a result of all of this, there might be war in the North. The state of being in a constant climate of uncertainty does take its psychological toll. There is no fantasy paradise exit off the Brexit hamster wheel. No matter what happens now, so much damage has been done that even the least-worst options are unpalatable. Its part of what makes it so wearing on the brain: The constant influx of information, attempts at understanding complicated concepts or even votes, yet no satisfactory solution to hope for anymore. It wasnt just Brexit that melted our heads in February, but it tells its own story that consumer confidence here took a serious dip that month. That was according to figures released by KBC Bank and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The consumer sentiment index fell to 86.5 in February, from 98.8 in January, a significant drop on the 105.2 recorded during the same month last year. Were worried emotionally and economically. In the UK at the moment, the preferred mode of communication is now constant roaring, insulting, and threatening. Inside Westminster, MPs throw insults across the floor, while the Speaker of the House, John Bercow, does what we now recognise as his customary bellowing to keep order. Youd want to send in a childcare expert to give a few tips on how to quieten a ridiculously rowdy crowd of pre-schoolers without having to bellow to the point where it looks like youre going to have a heart attack. Outside the British parliament, they are shouting and pushing and shoving at each other. Protesters prowl around menacingly, on the look out for politicians or journalists they can heckle and intimidate. How could you not feel depressed and powerless, witnessing all the displays of racism and xenophobia, as the UK population turns on itself? For once, British prime minister Theresa May hit the nail on the head when she stood outside Downing Street and said: You, the public, have had enough. She was talking to her own public, but we undoubtedly deserved inclusion, for who among us is not suffering a degree of Strexit, or, if you prefer, BS, or Brexit Stress? There is a general feeling that our Government is doing a very good job in difficult circumstances. But even as we heard French president Emmanuel Macron say this week that his country will never abandon Ireland, its impossible to ditch that internal voice of insecurity that tells you he may mean that today, but what about next week, next month, or whenever the goalposts are perceived to have moved? Its not that long ago since we were in the midst of an appalling recession, when our national well-being took a serious hammering. Our consumer confidence was on the floor, but so, too, was our national sense of self. Now its coming at us from outside. Its the simple thing, isnt it, of having a neighbour who appears not to care less about how you are affected by their actions. That this all happened as we appeared to be mending fences with Britain, following our difficult history over centuries, adds complications and emotions to a now toxic mix. Am I the only one who grates my teeth as I hear an upper class English Brexiteer accent? No matter what they are saying, what I am hearing is: We are superior, we are chosen; your destiny or suffering is of no consequence to me. Is this my post-colonial, small-minded insecurity? But the British, too, are suffering. A poll of more than 2,000 people, carried out by Britain Thinks, found that a significant majority of the public are bored and confused by the Brexit process. The least surprising thing was that they had very little trust in politicians to get it sorted. Almost two-thirds of them believed that Brexit anxiety was bad for peoples mental health, not to mention the emotional strain on the millions of EU nationals who live in the UK. One of the focus group participants in the research said of Theresa May: You can admire her suffering such ritual humiliation: Its almost superhuman. No matter what your judgement of the British prime minister and her approach, it is hard to look on as someone just keeps going in the face of such gruelling circumstances; to have a human being so publicly battered for such a long period of time. Of course, some of us are more vulnerable than others. This week, the Lancet medical journal website posted an article by Siobhan ONeill, professor of Mental Health Services, Ulster University, under the headline Brexit and Northern Ireland: leaders must consider the mental health of the population. Prof ONeill said the stakes there are higher than elsewhere and the tension is palpable. Although Brexit cannot itself cause mental illness, it has the potential to create conditions under which the vulnerable will become ill and it will cause much suffering, she said. Brexit certainly ticks all the boxes on the suffering front. None of us is immune and the mental health effects are real. Right now, there is no end in sight. Business Australian Firm Seeks to Reassure Locals on Gas Drilling off Rakhine An offshore gas rig in Myanmars territorial waters in 2017 / MOI YANGONAustralian energy giant Woodside is stepping into war-torn Rakhine State with a plan to begin drilling in two oil-and-gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal. This week the company sought to reassure residents in southern Rakhine States Kyaukphyu that there was a need for the projects, citing the potential economic benefits and pledging to minimize the environmental impacts on the site, located about 52 miles offshore. Kyaukphyu resident and Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) member U Tun Lwin told The Irrawaddy that Woodside held a meeting with local residents at the Hotel Kyaukphyu on Wednesday. He said Woodside and a Chinese company will jointly drill the two offshore projects, each holding a 50-percent stake. Woodside is expected to begin drilling in two oil-and-gas blocks, AD 1 and AD 8, soon. The initial process will likely take at least 45 days. U Tun Lwin explained that company officials promised to carry out the drilling in such a way as to have the least harmful environmental impact possible on the ocean environment. It also vowed not to disrupt local fishing. Woodside has already determined that gas exists in AD 1 and AD 8, but needs to drill to assess whether extraction would be commercially viable. It was unclear whether the shareholding agreement covers only the capital investment in drilling activity or extends to profit sharing. Upper House lawmaker U Kyaw Than, who represents Kyaukphyu constituency for the Arakan National Party (ANP), attended the meeting. He said the company elaborated on the results of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)/Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report. Locals requested copies of the EIA/SIA report from Woodside but company staff did not hand any out, saying it was only available in English. U Kyaw Than said locals would not be opposed if the project brings tangible positive results. Although some local activists questioned the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) signed between the Myanmar government and Woodside, company staff avoided answering questions on this. U Kyaw Than said Kyaukphyu residents had previously had a negative experience with the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC)s pipeline project, also known as the SHWE gas project, which cuts 480 miles across Myanmar and connects Kyaukphyus Maday Island to Chinas Yunnan Province. During the pipelines construction, thousands of plots of farmland were confiscated from locals, among other rights abuses. The project has earned billions of dollars for the Union government but locals have seen little benefit in terms of regional development, critics say. All income from the SHWE gas project goes into the Union governments coffers, a source of irritation for regional ministers who say Rakhine State has not received a fair share of the annual budget allocation under the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government in recent years. We urge them to implement the project transparently. As a major Australian firm, they should act with dignity and not seek to take advantage of loopholes, U Kyaw Than said. Company representatives failure to provide precise information to meeting participants led some locals to criticize what they saw as a lack of transparency and to say they didnt trust the company. Some social activists expressed their dismay on Facebook, saying that once again a huge financial windfall from Rakhine States resources will go the to the Union government, which will allocate a large amount of money to fund the Myanmar militarys ongoing campaign against Arakan Army (AA) rebels in the north of Rakhine. The Irrawaddy contacted a Woodside employee who traveled to Kyaukphyu along with a group of international experts, but he declined to comment as he is unauthorized to speak with the media. He referred questions to the companys Australian headquarters. According to leaflets distributed by Woodside representatives at the Kyaukphyu meeting, the company entered Myanmars oil-and-gas sector in 2015 and has implemented nine projects. Its latest project, Shwe Ye Tun, is situated in Irrawaddy Divisions territorial waters. The company has been drilling for gas there since last year. It is still assessing whether gas is present in commercially viable quantities. According to U Tun Lwin, some meeting attendees raised questions about the stake to be held by the Union government as well as the investors, but the Woodside employees did not provide shareholding information. Nearly a dozen government officials from different departments in Kyaukphyu district, an ANP lawmaker and some civil society groups joined the meeting. Business Myanmar Tourism to Korea Shows Steady Increase Tourists wearing Korean traditional costumes, known as Hanbok, pose for photographs at the Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, South Korea, in October 2016. / Reuters SEOUL & YANGONWith Korean Wave popular culture attracting an ever-greater following in Myanmar, from drama to K-pop, the number of Myanmar tourists visiting South Korea continues to grow. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the number of Myanmar tourists visiting Korea has risen every year since 2015. A total of 71, 094 Myanmar tourists visited from January to November last year, an increase of 21 percent compared to all of 2015. Oh Choongsub, a director at KTO, said that given the increasing number of visitors, Myanmar is likely to be the next main target for Koreas tourism industry, which is already concentrating on attracting more visitors from Asian countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, targeting them with heavy promotions and advertisements. Myanmar will be our next target, he said. He added that while the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, pop culture phenomenon had resulted in the spread of Korean culture, fashion, cafes and general interest in the country, the trend of peace on the Korean peninsula was also helping to attract foreign tourists. Ko Naung Naung Han, the secretary general of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association, who is also the managing director of Radiant Tours, an inbound/outbound travel company, said the popularity of Korean dramas and movies has made the country a dream destination among Myanmar travelers. With direct flights now operating between the two countries and visas more easily obtained than before, more and more tour agencies are arranging trips to Korea, he said. Before, visa applications were often rejected due to concerns about people overstaying their visas or working on a tourist visa. Recently, the embassy has approved more visas for travelers and travel agencies, as they now have direct flights, he said. Outbound tourism is booming in Myanmar, with more than 500 tour agencies now offering guided trips to the country. Myanmar people are mostly traveling to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Bodh Gaya in India, Nepal, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Jordan, South Korea, the U.S. and Europe, state media reported recently. There [is] a lot of interest from Myanmar to Korea and also from Korea to Myanmar, said Oh, the KTO director. According to KTO data, 42,535 Korean Tourists visited Myanmar from January to August 2018. Oh urged tourism authorities to emulate Myanmars neighbors and boost marketing efforts to attract more visitors to the country. These days, especially for the Korea market, Japan, China, Indonesia, especially Taiwan [are] very eager to attract Korea tourists, he said. He added that some countries advertise themselves by making films starring Korean celebrities or sponsoring TV programs to shoot on locations there. He suggested Myanmar needed to do more to promote its own image. Tourism is not one-sided. It is two-sided communication. Thats why to a certain extent, to Myanmar, to Korea, we should increase more tourists. So that we can have a chance to understand each others culture. Asia Bangladesh Considers Reopening River Naf to Fishing Rohingya refugees sail past fishermen on an improvised raft across the River Naf in Teknaf, Bangladesh on Nov. 27, 2017. / REUTERS DHAKADespite concerns that it could trigger a surge in drug smuggling, the Bangladesh government is considering allowing the resumption of fishing on the River Naf in Coxs Bazar. Fishing has been suspended since an influx into the country of Rohingya fleeing a military crackdown in Myanmar that began in August 2017. Coxs Bazar deputy commissioner Kamal Hossain informed the Bangladesh Home Ministry that the situation regarding fishing on the River Naf was under review and that a decision would be made soon. The district deputy commissioner will ultimately make the decision on behalf of the government in consultation with the Home Ministry. [Fishing] has been suspended since the August 2017 incidentnow we are in discussions to resume it, the deputy commissioner said on Thursday afternoon. A meeting was held at the Border Guards Bangladesh headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday in the presence of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan but no decision was made, the official said. Ali Johor, the leader of a group of fishermen in Shah Parir Dwip in Teknaf sub-district of Coxs Bazar, told The Irrawaddy that the fishermen and their families who are dependent on the river had suffered extreme hardship in the 20 months since the ban was imposed. Many of us now are working in the salt fields for our livelihoods, said Johor. He suggested the government allow fishing at particular times during daylight hours along with BGB checks of the fishing catch. He claimed none of his fellow fishermen from the Jelepara or Campara areas of Shah Parir Dwip were found to be involved in drug smuggling, but they were suffering the most from the suspension. Fazlul Haque, an elected representative of the Sabrang union council in Teknaf, told The Irrawaddy that over 600 families who were directly dependent on the river were facing hardship. One of them committed suicide last week due to having been impoverished by the ban, he said. He said suspension of fishing was basically meant to stop drug smuggling from another bank of the river in Myanmar. But, he said, if [the fishermen] do not have an alternative option for their livelihood, they could get involved with criminal activities just for their survival. Otherwise, they will need rehabilitation; as you know there are hardly any job opportunities in the border area. The BGB commander in Teknaf, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafizur Rahman, predicted that as soon as fishing resumed, there would be a surge of yaba smuggling into Bangladesh. He also said it would be difficult for them to monitor thousands of fishing boats. In the past, the fishermen were given particular times, but they did not follow it, Mustafizur said. Despite the suspension of fishing, yabasmall tablets containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeinecontinue to be smuggled across the Bangladeshi border from Myanmar and more recently from India. On Friday, the BGB team seized 150,000 yaba tablets from a canal in Tamru of Ukhia sub-district in Coxs Bazar. The Bangladesh government has started registration of the fishing boats so that it can monitor any criminal activities or more easily rescue any fishing boat or trawler that is in danger. Regarding the registration of fishing boats, the Home Ministry was informed that 67,669 motorized and non-motorized boats were in action along the coastal belt as of April 3. According to the Shipping Ministry, more than half of the fishing boats and trawlers were registered by 2018. Burma Irrawaddy Police Investigating Lawmaker for Embezzlement Irrawaddy Region Parliament lawmaker and former Deputy Speaker U San Min Aung. / Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region Police in Irrawaddy Region are investigating the former deputy speaker of the regional Parliament for alleged misappropriation of funds. We have opened a case against U San Min Aung under Section 409 of the Penal Code. We opened the case around the end of March, and the Pathein Township Police Station is investigating, a spokesman for the Irrawaddy Region Police Force told The Irrawaddy. Section 409 addresses a criminal breach of trust and carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison. The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) launched an internal investigation into U San Min Aung in December, following a complaint from a Pathein resident accusing him of embezzling government funds in the purchase of five vehicles. The NLD expelled U San Min Aung on Jan. 15, and the partys central executive committee reported the case to the Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), asking it to take appropriate legal action. U San Min Aung resigned as deputy speaker of the Irrawaddy Region Parliament, but he remains a lawmaker representing Bogale Township. The ACC investigated him in February. The commission said that his actions did not amount to corruption, but suggested that action can be taken against him if he violated departmental regulations and other existing laws, said Irrawaddy Region Parliament Speaker U Aung Kyaw Khine. So we sought legal advice from the regional attorney-general, and he suggested opening a case. So the deputy director of the regional parliament office filed a case against him, he said. U San Min Aung led an eight-member team to arrange the purchase of the vehicles. The team bought one new vehicle and four used ones. He had the used cars repaired and overstated the repair cost, then added those repair costs to the original price of the cars, according to police records. The eight-member team was comprised of officials from the Road Transport Administration Department and lawmakers. I didnt do it single-handedly. I have explained repeatedly that we did it with the consent of all the team members. What I can assure is we didnt embezzle funds, U San Min Aung told The Irrawaddy. U San Min Aung worked as a lawyer before his successful run in the 2015 election in Bogale, after which he was appointed deputy speaker. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Kachin Activist Vows to Keep Up Work Upon Release From Prison Nang Pu, in green, accepts flowers from a supporter upon her release from prison in Kachin State on Friday. / Htoi Awng YANGON Kachin peace advocate Nang Pu was released from prison on Friday after serving four months for defaming the Myanmar military. I am not happy because I was released alone and not with the others, said Nang Pu, director of the Htoi Gender and Development Foundation and founder of the Kachin State Womens Network. Two of her colleagues are still serving their six-month sentences. The Myitkyina Township court sentenced all three Nang Pu, lawyer Lum Zawng, and Zau Jat of the Kachin National Social Development Association to six months and fines of 500,000 kyats ($333) on Dec. 7. And although they all appealed to the Kachin State court, the judge approved only Nang Pus application and reduced her sentence by two months on Mar. 29. Lt. Col. Myo Min Oo of the militarys Northern Command filed criminal defamation complaints against the trio under Article 500 of the Penal Code on May 8 for their participation in protests a month earlier. The protests were held in Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital, to urge the government to help more than 3,000 locals trapped in the Tanai area of the state who had fled fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and the military. The fighting displaced more than 6,000 villagers in all in Tanai, about half of whom were able to reach shelters in urban areas. Nang Pu told The Irrawaddy that her health deteriorated severely in prison. I feel sorry for my colleagues and I will continue working for their release, she said. She added that Myanmars judicial system needed to be reformed for the country to achieve peace and to help build a democratic state. We have done nothing wrong. These charges should not have been filed in the first place, but they did it and sent us to prison, she said. The three were recognized by the Kachin community both in the state and in exile in February for their commitment to supporting the Kachin and their efforts to promote justice and human rights. The Myitkyina News Journal also honored them with its MNJ Award last month for their commitment to community service. In February, Nang Pu herself was honored with the 2019 Schuman Award along with two other human rights advocates from Myanmar for helping some of the most marginalized members of the conflict-affected communities in Kachin State. The U.S. Embassy honored her with its annual Women of Change award last month. Nang Pu said she would continue her work on gender equality and female participation in the peace process and to support displaced women. World China Struggles to Ease Concerns Over Silk Road Project as Summit Looms A map illustrating China's Belt and Road Initiative is displayed at the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong, China, on Jan. 18, 2016. / Reuters BEIJING/BRUSSELS China is struggling to ease worries about President Xi Jinpings signature plan to build a new Silk Road as it readies for a major summit in late April, especially among Western nations wary about debt, transparency and Chinese influence. While China gained a major victory by convincing Italy to become the first G7 nation to formally sign on to the plan last month during Xis visit to Rome, others in the West have been less keen to jump onboard, though many have kept an open mind. The Belt and Road Initiative, as it is formally called, is aimed at building a vast network of infrastructure connecting China to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond, much like the ancient Silk Road. Following the first Belt and Road summit two years ago, in a luxuriously appointed convention center in hills north of Beijing, the second one is scheduled for the same location in late April. China is billing it as the countrys most important diplomatic event of the year. The countrys top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, said on Saturday that almost 40 foreign leaders would come, and also took a swipe at prejudiced critics of the program who seek to besmirch it with concerns like debt traps. The Belt and Road is open, inclusive and transparent. It does not play little geopolitical games, Yang, who runs the ruling Communist Partys foreign affairs committee, told the official Peoples Daily. The United States, locked in a bitter trade war with China, has been a particular critic of the Belt and Road, calling it an infrastructure vanity project when Italy signed on. Jonathan Cohen, acting permanent representative of the United States at the United Nations, last month slammed Chinas attempt to get Belt and Road language into a resolution on Afghanistan, saying it had known problems with corruption, debt distress, environmental damage, and lack of transparency. Wu Haitao, charge daffaires of Chinas Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said the rebuke was contrary to the facts and fraught with prejudice. In 2017, the United States sent White House National Security Council senior director for Asian affairs Matt Pottinger to the summit. This time, Washington said it will not dispatch high-level officials due to its concerns about the project. Lower-level staffers, possibly from the U.S. embassy in Beijing, might go to the summit to observe and take notes, sources familiar with the matter said, though a final decision has yet to be made. China says it always welcomes like-minded countries to take part in the project. It has not disclosed a full list of the leaders planning to attend the event. But some of Beijings closest friends have confirmed they will go, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. EU Wariness The European Union, Chinas largest trading partner, has also been in a bind about how to respond. Last week, Europes top leaders told Xi they wanted a fairer trading relationship with China, signaling an openness to engage with the project if it meant more access to the Chinese market. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking at the EU summit in March, grumbled about Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Contes decision to join the project, although she said Germany will play an active role in the Belt and Road and called for reciprocity. Conte is due to attend the summit. Rome says signing onto the Belt and Road will bring much-needed investment and boost trade and has pointed to the fact that a dozen EU countries have already signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with China, including Hungary, Poland, Greece and Portugal. Safeguarding interests The EU last year proposed its own infrastructure scheme, but it has denied it is trying to counter Chinas ambitions. For China it is a question of power projection. China is corrupting what should be a level playing field by offering loans that send country debts soaring and create a culture of economic dependency on Beijing, one EU official said. German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, a Merkel confidant, is attending the summit, along with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, with Altmaier saying they wanted to safeguard European interests in co-operation with China there. Several EU officials said the European Commission was still looking at who to send as a replacement for Vice President Jyrki Katainen, who attended 2017s Belt and Road summit and has cited a calendar clash with the EU-Japan summit for not being able to go this time. China has been on a push to show that the Belt and Road remains popular, despite cooling enthusiasm from governments including in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Maldives, where new administrations are wary of deals struck with China by their predecessors. The Chinese governments top diplomat, State Councilor Wang Yi, who ranks below Yang, last month touted the success of the $57-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a major Belt and Road scheme. Wang said after meeting Pakistans foreign minister that less than 20 percent of funding for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor came from Chinese loans, with the rest made up of direct Chinese investment and free grants. The corridor focuses on the interests of ordinary people, Wang said, citing as an example women truck drivers trained to work at a coal mine connected to the project, which he described as a touching story. Wang told reporters at Marchs annual meeting of parliament that the Belt and Road was about high quality, sustainable, green development. As President Xi has said, the Belt and Road initiative comes from China, but the achievements belong to the world, Wang said. Commentary MyitsoneDecision Time for the Peoples Leader State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attends the 71st Kachin State Day ceremony in Myitkyina, the state capital, on Jan. 10, 2019. / State Counselors Office / Facebook Myitsone Damjust another damned problem for Myanmar. Or is it? This issue in particular seems to have both constructive and destructive potential; politically, it could save or slay a leader of this country. Former President U Thein Seinwho, as a general of the former oppressive junta came to power with only limited public support in 2011saw that support grow when he suspended the Myitsone project in September of that year. The former general cleverly chose that path, though his bosses in the ex-regime had agreed with China on the project in 2006 and started it in late 2009. Myitsone saved his political popularity. Eight years later, this controversial issue inescapably confronts the countrys popular de facto leader, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It is her turn. The question is whether the Myitsone project will save or slay her politically. If she saves Myitsone, it seems, Myitsone will save her. Even now, as she prepares to travel to Beijing this month to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum, people have no clue as to what she has in mind for the project. During her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping there, the Myitsone issue will be high on their agenda, for its one of the most controversial Chinese-backed projects in Myanmar. Obviously, many people from all walks of life across the country have very strong feelings on the issue, and want to know whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her government plan to revive the suspended project, the initial agreement on which was signed with Chinas State Power Investment Corporation. On April 1, about 200 prominent environmentalists, intellectuals, civil society leaders and experienced writers from different regions of the country held a meeting in Yangon. They formed the Committee to Terminate the Myitsone Project and issued a strong statement urging the government to scrap it. In a statement, they warned that reviving the project would disrupt the countrys ongoing democratic transition and hinder national reconciliation. The Myitsone Dam project would be among the largest hydropower projects in the region, costing US$3.6 billion (5.4 trillion kyats). The dam itself, which would be built about 3.2 km south of where the confluence of the May Kha and Mali Kha rivers gives rise to the Irrawaddy River, would disrupt the water flow of the river. Environmentalists say the proposed dam site has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, and fear the project would destroy the natural beauty of the Irrawaddy River, as well as alter its flow. It could potentially flood an area the size of Singapore, destroying livelihoods and displacing more than 10,000 people. For some time, the majority of people in Myanmar had been under the impression that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would not revive the project, given the opaque nature of the deal signed by the military regime with China. She certainly sounded critical of the project before her National League for Democracy took office in 2016. On Aug. 11, 2011, she published an open letter to then-President U Thein Sein appealing to him to review the project in order to avoid unnecessary consequences and to find a joint solution that could allay the concerns of people who want to save the Irrawaddy River. Her letter may have influenced his decision to suspend the project when he officially announced the move a month later. Today, however, the public is getting mixed signals from their leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It was this ambiguous messaging that prompted the formation of the committee to prepare resistance against the project in case her ruling government decides to revive it. In a meeting with local people in Bago Region in March, when asked for her opinion on the proposed dam, she answered, I would like you to think about it from a wider perspective. She went on to say that the final decision would have to be politically, socially, economically and environmentally sound and sustainable. This sounds reasonable and pragmatic, but what she should understand is that the Myitsone project goes beyond those boundaries. Besides political, social, economic and environmental factors, Myitsone is also a sentimental and national issue for the majority of people across the country. Building a mega dam near the source of Myanmars lifeline Irrawaddy River would destroy one of the countrys national symbols. In January, U Thaung Tun, the Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and a key economic aide to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said the government and a commission studying the project were in very serious discussions and considering all possibilities, including downsizing the dam, relocating it or developing other projects instead. But many people dont seem inclined to accept any alternative to the Myitsone project other than terminating it. Apart from the factors mentioned above, they have no confidence in China at all. Many people, including critics of the Myitsone project, may be willing to tolerate other Chinese projects across the country, but they simply say NO to Myitsone. Meanwhile, the NLD governmentwhich is already engulfed in such crucial issues as the peace process; ongoing conflicts in border areas; the fallout from the Rohingya crisis of 2017 including the resultant international condemnation and economic slowdown; and intensifying clashes between the Arakan Army and government troops in Rakhine State, among other problemsfaces the dilemma of reviving the dam or saying no to China, which has shielded the government from some of the consequences of the international condemnation over human-rights violations by the Army. What Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should understand is that the Myitsone issue is categorically different from other issues. She cant only consider practical factors involving political, social, economic and environmental issues. She must also take into serious consideration less material concerns and the Myanmar peoples emotional attachment to the Irrawaddy River. Given the mounting popular opposition to the dam project, any green light for its resumption would be political suicide for the Myanmar State Counselor. With a general election looming next year, it would surely be an electoral nightmare for the NLD. Perhaps worst of all for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, she would be putting at risk her status as the Peoples Leader of Myanmara title unanimously endorsed by the people. Guest Column George Orwell and the Modern Yangon INGO Worker The sun sets behind a stone lion guarding the main stupa of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. / Reuters Recently I ran across a Western diplomat, this one from an embassy in Southeast Asia. I dream of having intellectual conversations with such people. After all they hold the levers of governmental power, particularly the big aid budgets in Myanmar, Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, the conversations are usually one sided. Usually, I get an earful of talking points generated by a distant capital (think London, Washington, New York and Geneva) which shows that they are up to dateeven ahead of The New York Times, which it seems is their main source of news and analysis. Usually they are prophesying something big, like: (A) Peace around the corner! (B) War around the corner! (C) Refugees going home! (D) Something in-between! (E) An early ticket out of Myanmar to a new posting! Then I ask my fictional diplomat how this fits with the authors my graduate students in the PhD program in Peacebuilding in Thailand might read. I usually get a blank look. Then it is my turn for the monologuethis one about the great English-language literature about Myanmar. I ask them if they have read Daw Aung San Suu Kyis essays about fear, Edmund Leach on the traditional politics of the Kachin and Shan, or perhaps U Thant Myint-Us histories? Others include James C. Scotts book on the political ecology of Southeast Asia, Mandy Sadan on the Kachin, Charmaine Craigs novel Miss Burma, and Ashley Souths books on Burmese and Mon politics. And then I add, but only to myself, that if the embassy folk spent more time reading books, and less time talking, they might make fewer mistakes, and have time to read even more! And I imagine they dismiss my monologue, with the bureaucrats favorite rejoinder: Thats all old stuff, and I only have time to read that which is up-to-date. Followed by, Were too busy to read anything longer than a couple of pages, because well, Im solving stuff! I dont read anything longer than an op-ed piece in The Irrawaddy, and certainly not a book! And thus power speaks truth to academia. And academia speaks truth to power. Really it is just a lot of noise. This is of course too bad. Besides having intractable problems, Burma/Myanmar has one of the most extensive English literaturesmuch of which can be found Saturday mornings along Pansodan Street, where cheap knock-offs of most books having to do with Burma are readily available. This is alongside a large selection of Burmese-language books, and not too much further afield, an established literature in Karen, Shan, Kachin and other languages. The street itself is one of the best English-language bookstores Ive seen in Southeast Asia! This is not surprising, since one of the English languages greatest writers, George Orwell, himself got his start in colonial Burma, with essays like Shooting an Elephant and A Hanging, both stories of the morose nature of colonialism. Most infamously, his first novel, Burmese Days, is an indictment of the pitfalls of foreign meddling on the colonizer and colonized alike. The Problem of the $52,200 Yangon Salary So what is my fictional embassy worker actually doing all day that keeps them away from books? This was in part answered by an anonymous 25-year-old program coordinator from Yangon who sent in her weekly budget to the Refinery 29 website. She let us in on some of the secrets for why a Yangon-based non-profit manager is so busy. Indeed, on a $52,200 annual salary ($48,000 take home) she manages to only save about $4,000. Guess what? It wasnt because she spent too much on Book Street, or at the airport bookstore. Reading material did not make it into her budget. (Nor was there an item on Burmese language lessons.) Rather, she apparently spent some $48,000 per year in a swirl of expatriate-focused social activity, at the center of which was expensive weekends on Singapore visa runs, accompanied by a constant consumption of food, coffee, theater and alcohol. All this somehow includes Mexican food, but not Burmese food. At least this was the case during the week she reported on. The biggest expense was food and drink on the weekend trip to Singapore after a flurry of activity in Yangon which, so far as I can tell, involved little contact with actual Burmese except at a performance of Vagina Monologues, while professionally focused on the bureaucratic requirements for accountability, measurable outcomes and transparency as reported to a nameless overseas headquarters. All presumably in the name of the rule of law, good management and civilization. The John Flory Problem and Yangons Modern Program Coordinators This is actually an old story, told best perhaps by Orwell himself, who wrote about the earlier breed of foreign program coordinator. Orwells program coordinator was a colonial police officer for the British Empire. The protagonist of Burmese Days, John Flory, also idealistically sought to bring the rule of law, good management and civilization on behalf of his superiors in Delhi and London. Flory though, like our 25-year-old program coordinator, engages in a flurry of activity with other expatriatesin his case the denizens of the European Club. There he makes friends and enemies, and whiles his days away in bouts of lust and alcoholism. Like Orwell himself, Flory picks up a bit of the local languages, and unlike our more modern program coordinator, ends up in a relationship thoroughly disapproved of by his European friends, and looked at with skepticism by the local Burmese. And of course it ends badly for Flory. The girl betrays him, and he ends up committing suicide. Just another cost of empire. As for Orwell himself, of course, this was not his personal fate. He actually quit Burma by age 25 and returned to England to pursue his dream of being a writer by wandering the streets of London and Paris. In this task he of course succeeded admirably, after penning Burmese Days which enlightened us with Florys tyranny. This was followed by his condemnation of authoritarianism, Animal Farm, and his dystopian novel about the all-seeing totalitarian state, 1984. The joke today of course is that Orwell was describing not only the tyranny of British colonialism, but also the authoritarianism of the Ne Win regime, and the totalitarianism of the 1990s SLORC regime and its successors. This is why Emma Larkin, the author of Finding George Orwell in Burma, could assert plausibly that older Burmese referred to Orwell as The Prophet. All this leads me to wonder what Orwell would write about our non-profit worker? She is not tyrant, authoritarian or totalitarian. But what is she? Does she read anything longer than a memo, or op-ed piece in The Irrawaddy? What would Orwell write? Reading and the Aid Industry So why are $52,200 program coordinators too busy to read Orwell? Why dont they buy the books found on Book Street? Orwell presumably whiled his way reading such books before quitting the colonial enterprise. Perhaps his superiors thought he was a lousy program coordinator for doing so, but I doubt that they even noticedafter all he quit his police career on his own volition. But just like Flory, our Refinery 29 program coordinator wrestles with the alcohol infused world of the modern expatriate clubs, seeking to please a boss who will perhaps send her back to HQ in London, or wherever. She is after all dealing with those problemsurgent problems which their bosses in London, Geneva and New York read about in The New York Times! Think about it: In Yangon in just the last couple of years there was the election victory of the NLD, NCA ceasefire, violations of the NCA ceasefire, ARSA came and went, 700,000 or so Rohingya were expelled, and now there is the emergence of the Arakan Army. Not to mention the accusations against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the ignoble Peace Laureate by The New Yorker. All problems that were urgent and needed to be addressed! With war, peace, refugees, who has time for old books? But none of these problems were solved with ideas from The New York Times, The New Yorker, the expatriate program coordinators whiling away time in Yangon and Singapore bars. The Rohingya still sit in Coxs Bazaar, the NCA still sputters along, Rakhine is again in revolt, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi regained at least some of her nobility in the eyes of the Western press. Who then is a better prophet800 word essays in The New York Times, or the 50,000 or 60,000 words in books published in the 1930s and 1940s? I am biased of course; I prefer books, including my own long and windy books. Still in my professorial academic view, answers to the questions raised and abandoned by powerful embassy workers, op-ed writers, and program coordinators are in fact found between the pages of books, including old ones like those of Orwell, written as a complete academic argument, whether or not it agrees with the policy wishes of your Yangon boss, or in a distant European or American capital consuming op-ed from abroad. Tony Waters is Director of the Institute of Religion, Culture and Peace at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He has been writing about the nature of refugees and development work in Southeast Asia and Africa for many years. He is also Professor of Sociology (on leave) from California State University, Chico. Last weekend, I had a fantastic time volunteering at the Georgia Death Race outside Blairsville, Georgia. In what has quickly become one of the top races in the United States, this years race featured perfect weather and a competitive field. In the aftermath of the race, stories surfaced about how many runners, some estimate as many as 40% of the field, took a wrong turn early in the race. The course section in question was in the infamous Dragons Spine portion of the course where the race traverses a series of steep nobs and gaps, a unique geographical feature in this region of North Georgia. On one of these nobs, there is a U.S. Forest Service crew working to re-route the trail around the nob and it was there that the runners made the wrong turn. It turns out that the Forest Service crew had marked their trail with pink ribbons which were the same color as the ribbons the race was using. The result was a route that was 0.3 miles longer with 400 feet less climbing. After reviewing the situation, race director Sean Blanton chose to issue a time penalty to all the runners who took the wrong turn and the results were adjusted accordingly. While I understand the sentiment of those who are calling for all of the runners who deviated from the proper course to be disqualified, I support Blantons decision to issue a time penalty rather than a disqualification. Ultrarunning is, by its very nature, an imperfect sport. Part of that imperfection is clearly on display here. Most of us know that marking trails deep in the mountains can be challenging. Indeed, some long events take as long as a month to mark their courses ahead of their races. Clearly in this case, the race is somewhat at fault as they did not more specifically block the wrong turn or provide more obvious disincentive to take the re-route. As such, for the race to take responsibility for that is the correct move as is the issuance of a time penalty rather than a DQ. What all this brings to mind for me is that it is an example of how much I enjoy and even cherish being part of this community. Here is a situation that is clearly rife with conflict and will invariably be a lose-lose scenario for the race. So, knowing that, I have to believe Blanton made the decision he thought was best, which is and always will be the race directors prerogative, and made it publicly known. Then, the community members can make their future decisions based on this information. In so many parts of modern life, we feel powerless; we feel as though life is just something that happens to us. In ultrarunning, its not that. Rather, life is what we make it. In this case at GDR, there are certainly opinions and fault and blame. But there is also a wonderful opportunity to implement change, make better decisions, and learn so that we can do better next time. But in order to do that we need to accept that there will different perspectives and move toward those rather than away from them. From my perspective, this situation is a classic spirit of the law versus letter of the law debate. In our sport, while there certainly need to be rules, we tend to be a place where the spirit of the law generally prevails. Sure, 40% of the field ran a slightly longer section of trail with slightly less elevation gain. As a result they were penalized. That seems to me to be about right. And, heres the best part, if you think its wrong there is plenty you can do about it and in that resulting dialogue we can move us collectively forward not as a divisive bunch of frustrated pessimists but as a more open and cooperative group, united by the love of what we do, even in the midst of vehement disagreement. Bottoms up! AJWs Beer of the Week This weeks Beer of the Week comes from Creature Comforts Brewing Company in Athens, Georgia. This past weekend Jason Green gave me a can of one of their limited-edition beers and it was incredible. The I Cant Fight This Feeling Anymore Hazy Double IPA is simply one of the best beers of this variety I have tasted. If you find yourself in the Athens area this spring/summer, be sure to pick some up. Call for Comments (from Meghan) Please feel welcome to share your thoughts on what happened at the 2019 Georgia Death Race. We appreciate that this is a sensitive subject for some people, and that we will also have different opinions. We welcome debate and disagreement, but our comment policy requires you to do so in a constructive way that is respectful for all members of our community. Thank you in advance. When I first got there I was so shy. Then I actually got to know them. It was so much fun meeting them. Ive learned certain things like ways to actually get more into the theme of the story or the show. We just all have the same interests so its great to get together. Its one big party. To get feedback from the adjudicators is also very helpful. Even to watch the other groups is a learning process to see what theyve chosen, how they present it and what they do. New laws that target social media platforms which allow live streaming and broadcast of violent crimes has been passed by the Australian Parliament. The laws were passed by the lower house on Thursday on what is likely to be the last sitting day before the Federal Election. Attorney-General Christian Porter said in a statement that Australia now had a penalty regime against social media companies which failed to remove abhorrent violent material in a reasonable time. "The tragedy in Christchurch just over two weeks ago brought this issue to a head," he said. Porter's reference was to the massacre of 50 Muslims at a mosque in Christchurch on 15 March. The shooter live-streamed his rampage on Facebook and it remained on the social media site for more than an hour. Numerous copies were uploaded to YouTube and linked off Twitter as well. Porter said: "It was clear from our discussions last week with social media companies, particularly Facebook, that there was no recognition of the need for them to act urgently to protect their own users from the horror of the live-streaming of the Christchurch massacre and other violent crimes and so the Morrison Government has taken action with this legislation." The Criminal Code Amendment (Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material) Bill 2019 defines two new offences: It makes it a criminal offence for social media platforms not to remove abhorrent violent material expeditiously. A failure to do so would be punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or fines of up to 10% of the platform's annual turnover. It requires social media platforms anywhere in the world to notify the Australian Federal Police if they become aware their service is streaming abhorrent violent conduct that is happening in Australia. Failure would be punishable by fines of up to $168,000 for an individual or $840,000 for a corporation. Apart from this, the e-Safety Commissioner can issue notices to bring such material to the attention of social media companies. The firms will be deemed to be aware of the material from the time they receive the notice. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the legislation brought social media companies into line with community expectations and the obligations placed on other organisations. "Mainstream media cannot live broadcast the horror of Christchurch or other violent crimes and neither should social media be able to do so," he said. "Where social media platforms fail to take action to stop the live streaming of such violent and abhorrent crimes, they should face serious penalties and that's what will now occur once this Bill receives Royal Assent. "These new laws also protect the ability of news media to report on events which are in the public interest within their existing licensing standards." Phil Kernick, co-founder and chief technology officer of cyber security specialist CQR Consulting, said Internet companies should learn to accept that their profits could not come at the expense of society. "There is a lot a hand-wringing from Internet companies about the new legislation, but its time for them to accept that their profits cannot continue to come at the expense of breaking our society," he said. "These sort of videos would not be acceptable in any other medium, and would explicitly be denied classification in Australia. Maybe this tragedy will finally end the profit-first people-last attitude that has driven Internet start-ups since the dot-com boom." Despite being one of the bigger and older US mainstream media outlets, The Wall Street Journal appears to be unable to do the small things right and manage its digital subscribers properly. A couple of months back, this writer subscribed to the newspaper as it was offering a discount for two months. All was fine until a decision was made to unsubscribe at the beginning of this month. The WSJ sets accounts to renew automatically and this writer had no desire to continue reading material that has become markedly right-wing since the publication was bought by American media titan Rupert Murdoch. But it was not possible to cancel one's subscription as the software used by the WSJ to manage its digital subscriptions refused to recognise the email address that had been used at the time of subscribing - even though the same email address was present in the customer details. An email was sent to the support address provided, only for this writer to receive a response that said: "Due to security reasons, we are unable to accept cancellations by e-mail or by any other means other than calling Customer Service. "Please kindly contact Wall Street Journal Asia Customer Service with your subscription number and/or login details. Our customer service representatives will be more than happy to assist." The catch is that Australian subscribers can only call the number provided from a landline or from BT's mobile network. Exactly why BT was specified for Australian customers is unknown. The WSJ apparently still thinks Australia is a British colony. An email was then sent, asking if the WSJ built up its subscriber numbers by preventing people from cancelling subscriptions when they wanted to. A phone call from someone who could barely speak English followed and somehow this individual was made aware of what was being requested. The WSJ seems to be stuck in the past if it expects people to have a landline these days. Sure, Australia is backward in many ways, but a landline? If a publication of this vintage cannot get its online setup right, and wastes people's time with incorrect information, why is it offering digital subscriptions at all? ANALYSIS Predicting the future is generally a game for mugs but it is possible to say with a high degree of certainty that there will be no details of any American advanced persistent threats or APTs unveiled during Kaspersky Lab's annual Security Analyst Summit that kicks off in Singapore on Monday. The company generally keeps a big story under its hat and releases it at the summit in order to squeeze maximum coverage out of it all tech conferences are held to have a good time, but publicity is the main game, so this is not unusual. Last year, Kaspersky Lab released details about Slingshot, malware that infects Windows systems via routers and which it claimed had been used for cyber-espionage from at least 2012 until February 2018. Hardly a fortnight had gone by after the announcement, when the website CyberScoop, which lives mostly on a dripfeed of leaks from the US intelligence community, claimed that Slingshot was a US military program run by the Joint Special Operations Command, a part of the Special Operations Command. It said Slingshot was used by US military and intelligence personnel to collect information about terrorists. For some, that was seen as a parting shot by Kaspersky Lab as payback for the USits software from use in the public sector and also putting pressure on outlets like Best Buy to stop selling its products. For its part, Kaspersky Lab denied it had any previous knowledge that Slingshot was a US Government operation. But now, with the company on a different trajectory and the whole US affair behind it, it is highly unlikely that it will again do what seems to have irritated American intelligence agencies in the first place: reveal APTs which the government has put in place for cyber warfare against other countries. That the US moves against Kaspersky Lab were dissimilar to its actions against companies like the Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei is evident from the fact that Washington did not try to get any country it considers an ally to ban the use of Kaspersky products. The ban was only pursued within the US. But it came after a series of events, the culmination being the leaking on the Web of a number of Windows exploits from the NSA by a group known as the Shadow Brokers in 2016. Kaspersky Lab researchers are generally accepted to be at the top of the security game and they have revealed a number of nation-sate activities, beginning with the attempted hack in 2014 by the UK's GCHQ of a Belgian telecommunications provider. In 2015, Kaspersky exposed a group it called the Equation Group, which has been long rumoured to be an internal NSA unit. The company also detailed how the Stuxnet operation was carried out to cripple Iran's nuclear reactors. Stuxnet was discovered by Sergey Ulasen in 2010; he joined Kaspersky Lab a year later. The virus was infiltrated into Iran's nuclear labs through an USB drive as the lab was not connected to any external network. Israeli Government hackers breached the Kaspersky network in 2014; after the company found out in 2015, it wrote a long, detailed analysis of the incident. In 2016, following the election of US President Donald Trump, there was general anti-Russian hysteria in the US. And then came the Shadow Brokers' leaks. Kaspersky Lab was tied to the Brokers through claims in the three main US mainstream newspapers The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post all based on anonymous sources. What happened after that is well known. The US Government banned the use of Kaspersky Lab products in the public sector and Kaspersky was gradually forced to close its Washington office. Taking legal action did not help and all Kaspersky's efforts were in vain. The big story for this year's summit a sophisticated supply chain attack which used the live update utility that comes on hardware made by ASUS was leaked to a freelancer, Kim Zetter, last month. But the gloss was taken off what was claimed as a scoop, when Kaspersky Lab published a blog post about the attack just hours after the so-called exclusive was put online. More details about this attack have been promised at the summit, but the main course has already been sampled. Given all the pain it has been subjected to since the Shadow Brokers' leaks, it is unlikely that Kaspersky Lab will ever go down the path of releasing anything that remotely looks like an American APT though its customers who pay for security news may well be told of such malware, though not of its origins. Waves of DNS hijackings over the past three months, aimed at consumer-grade routers mostly from D-Link, have been diverting traffic from a number of well-known domains and directing them elsewhere. This is being done by changing the settings on these routers with the attackers using flaws in the router firmware to gain access, according to reports from security firms Ixia and Bad Packets Report, with the latter indicating that the redirected traffic was, at least in one wave of these hijackings, being sent to a crime-friendly hosting provider and to a service that monetises parked domain names. Researcher Troy Mursch of Bad Packets Report, said in a blog post that all the exploit attempts had originated from hosts who were using the Google Cloud Platform. Three waves of these attacks had been noticed, he said - the first which began on 29 December last year, the second from 6 February and the third from 26 March onwards. Mursch noted that the first wave targeted the D-Link DSL-2640B, D-Link DSL-2740R, D-Link DSL-2780B and D-Link DSL-526B routers and the IP address of the rogue DNS server used in the attack was 66.70.173.48, hosted by OVH Canada. In the case of the second wave. the router models and hosting provider were the same. The latest wave had come from three Google Cloud Platform hosts and took aim at rather unfamiliar routers: ARG-W4 ADSL, DSLink 260E, Secutech, and TOTOLINK. Of the third wave, Mursch said: "The rogue DNS servers used in this round, 195.128.126.165 and 195.128.124.131, are both hosted in Russia by Inoventica Services. Internet access is provided by their subsidiary Garant-Park-Internet." He listed the following router models and the numbers being targeted: D-Link DSL-2640B 14,327 D-Link DSL-2740R 379 D-Link DSL-2780B 0 D-Link DSL-526B 7 ARG-W4 ADSL routers 0 DSLink 260E routers 7 Secutech routers 17 TOTOLINK routers 2265 Ixia's Mihai Vasilescu said the attacks were intended to to modify DNS settings in the routers to point to unauthorised webpages that skim user input data. "When end users try to access a targeted website, they will land on a webpage designed to look like the original, but [that] is controlled by the attacker," he added. Vasilescu said Ixia had noticed a fourth wave of similar attacks, beginning on 5 April. "The attackers seem to have three types of targets they are going after. Global Internet-based enterprises, local hosting providers and last, but not least, financial intuitions based in Brazil," he said. These were: Internet-based global enterprises: paypal.com, gmail.com, uber.com and netflix.com. Local web hosting providers: hostgator.com.br, kinghost.com.br, uolhost.uol.com.br and locaweb.com.br. Brazilian banks and financial institutions: caixa.gov.br, itau.com.br, bb.com.br, sicredi.com.br, cetelem.com.br, bancobrasil.com.br, santander.com.br, pagseguro.uol.com.br and santandernet.com.br. Vasilescu noted that the attacks seemed to have been crafted in a hurry. "...some of the targets arent even fully functional yet, which indicates either the attackers havent had the time to configure their servers, which is unlikely, considering that the latest DNS change attacks occurred just two days ago (3 April), or that the attackers simply misconfigured the Apache configuration," he said. He commented: "It's 2019 and the Internet is still a dangerous place. However, simple precautions can mitigate many of the risks we face online. Making sure that our devicesin this case routersare up-to-date and not exposing the admin interface online is important. "Also, be extra careful when accessing important websites, banking especially. Make sure that the connections are HTTPS, check the certificate. All of this is important to make sure that when you're entering your credentials, they don't get to someone else." A Google Cloud spokesperson told iTWire: "We have suspended the fraudulent accounts in question and are working through established protocols to identify any new ones that emerge. "We have processes in place to detect and remove accounts that violate our terms of service and acceptable use policy, and we take action on accounts when we detect abuse, including suspending the accounts in question. These incidents highlight the importance of practicing good security hygiene, including patching router firmware once a fix becomes available. WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange is likely to be expelled within "hours to days" from the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has taken refuge for nearly seven years. A tweet from WikiLeaks claimed: "A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within 'hours to days' using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext - and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest." The whistleblower website sent a second tweet a little later, saying: "WikiLeaks now has secondary confirmation from another high level source within the Ecuadorian state." The INA Papers are documents published in February 2019, allegedly uncovering the operations of INA Investment Corporation, an offshore tax haven created by the brother of Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno. BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest.https://t.co/adnJph79wq WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 4, 2019 The emails, phone communications and expense receipts are claimed to link Moreno and his family to corrupt and criminal dealings, including money laundering and offshore accounts. The leak has sparked an investigation by the Ecuadorian Congress. Moreno cannot be questioned during a criminal probe while he is president and would, therefore, have to be impeached in order to be questioned. Assange has said that he fears being extradited to the US if he leaves the embassy in London. Last year, US officials said arresting him was a top priority. BREAKING: WikiLeaks now has secondary confirmation from another high level source within the Ecuadorian state. WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 5, 2019 In November 2018, it emerged that the US may have already filed charges against Assange. This came to light after portions of a complaint against him were apparently cut and pasted into a complaint against an unrelated individual, Seitu Sulayman Kokayi. The Assange saga began when he visited Sweden in August 2010 to attend a conference to give a talk. During that visit, he had sex with two women and they later filed rape and molestation complaints against him later, claims that he denied. He was questioned by Swedish authorities and cleared, but did not leave the country at the time. Interpol issued a Red Notice for his arrest on 20 November 2010. On 27 November, Assange surrendered to authorities in the UK and appeared before a Westminster judge. He was granted bail in December after his backers provided 240,000 in cash and sureties. A legal back-and-forth eventuated and went on until June 2012, when Swedish prosecutors sought his extradition. Assange's lawyers, among them the world-renowned Australian Geoffrey Robertson, replied that if he agreed to the extradition request, then he could be flown to the US from there. On 19 June 2012, he jumped bail and took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy, seeking asylum in the South American country. British police surrounded the building and blocked any chance of his leaving. Ecuador granted him asylum in August 2012. He has had to stay inside the four walls of the embassy since then. He was granted Ecuadorian citizenship by a former president of the country, Rafael Correa. An artist's impression of what Federation Square would have looked like after the Apple store was built. Apple's proposal to build its first global flagship store in the Southern Hemisphere in Melbourne's Federation Square has been rejected by Heritage Victoria. The plan had envisaged demolition of the existing Yarra Building above basement level and construction of a two-storey replacement building. Apple announced its plans on 20 December 2017. The decision, published on Friday, said if the application had been approved, "it would result in an unacceptable and irreversible detrimental impact on the cultural heritage significance of Federation Square". Apple had expected to begin construction of the store in the middle of 2019 and open it by the end of 2020. The store was to have replaced the existing Yarra Building and the Koorie Heritage Trust was expected to relocate within the Alfred Deakin building at the Square. Heritage Victoria said the permit application had been advertised between 30 January and 13 February and more than 3418 public submissions were received. It said: "The demolition of the Yarra Building would result in the loss of significant original built form fabric. Only in exceptional circumstances would a permit be provided for the demolition of a heritage building. Where demolition has been approved by Heritage Victoria in the past it has usually been due to issues relating to contamination or structural integrity. These issues are not present in respect to the Yarra Building. "The proposed development adversely affects the cultural heritage significance of the Federation Square and its setting as it: "presents as a stand-alone building; "is visually dominant in relation to the existing buildings; "will detract from the design language of the existing buildings and public square; "encroaches into the public square; and "diminishes the experience of enclosure within the public square." The negative impacts of the proposal were not outweighed by the benefits, including the economic benefits, the organisation said. The Victorian Government said in a statement, that both it and Apple acknowledged that "based on Heritage Victorias decision, the proposed Apple global flagship store cannot proceed". It said it would launch a review into Federation Square in view of the determination. The Australian Labor Party has questioned why 183,000 households who have fibre-to-the-node connections on the NBN cannot get even the minimum speeds of 25Mbps as of March. NBN Co made the admission in a written reply to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications, saying: "As at 4 March 2019, of the 2.4 million active FttN services approximately 183,000, or 7.6% were reporting a Layer 1 VDSL attainable synchronisation rate equivalent to less than 25Mbps downstream rate at Layer 2." Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said this had occurred even though the government had promised that all Australia would have access to a minimum of 25Mbps by the end of 2016. "Why is a network that is $21.4 billion over budget still not delivering minimum speeds?" she asked. Rowland claimed this was one more case of a Liberal failure which accompanied the decision to abandon fibre in favour of copper. Other such "failures" she listed were: Three in four copper households unable to achieve speeds of 100Mbps; The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government failing to meet its own low-ball national NBN speed mandate in five out of eight states and territories including Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT; NBN Co purchasing and stockpiling nearly 29,460km of new copper with taxpayers' money; and A $600 million blowout in the copper remediation bill. "It is 2019 and 183,000 households arent even receiving minimum speeds. This is a concerning revelation, and confirms Labors longstanding concern that the copper network is letting down too many Australians," Rowland added. NBN Co said in its reply that cases like it had mentioned would be dealt with once the co-existence period when ADSL was running alongside FttN ended. Hopkins and Common Earn Inclusive Excellence Awards Brandon Common and Amanda Hopkins pose with President Eric Jensen after earning the second annual Presidents Award for Inclusive Excellence. April 5, 2019 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Amanda Hopkins and Brandon Common have been named 2019 recipients of the second annual Presidents Award for Inclusive Excellence at Illinois Wesleyan University. The award recipients, announced at the annual Faculty-Staff Recognition Celebration on Friday, April 5, were nominated by students, faculty and staff, and selected by The University Council for Diversity (UCD). Amanda Hopkins An assistant professor of nursing, Hopkins was described by a student nominator as a dedicated champion for diversity and inclusion. Another student said, Dr. Hopkins makes a conscious effort to be inclusive in her lectures and address issues of diversity as it applies to both nursing and our daily lives. She is constantly gaining knowledge and experience to share with us, which in turn enhances our understanding of the world around us. She has shaped the way I approach quality nursing care, it is our responsibility to treat each patient with respect and dignity. Colleagues noted Hopkins ability to use her own voice to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves or who are not heard. Dr. Hopkins passion for diversity and inclusion initiatives dominates her teaching, scholarship, and service, according to a faculty nominator. Hopkins has expertise in working with underrepresented and vulnerable populations, including children with chronic conditions and their families as a pediatric nurse and nurse educator. On campus, Hopkins has participated as a member of the University Council for Diversity (UCD) and the Faculty Committee on Diversity (FCD), and she chairs the Student Affairs Committee in the School of Nursing where she has lent her passion for inclusivity into creating a student handbook which includes more inclusive language. In addition to leading several University talks focused on diversity topics, Hopkins serves as the 2018-19 Posse Foundation faculty mentor and, according to a faculty nominator, she has attended to the Posse students with a gusto, ensuring they are mentored in such a way to ensure their successful transition to Illinois Wesleyan University. The Posse foundation is a national college access and leadership development program. Hopkins is interested in the study of providing culturally competent, family-centered care. Her research has focused on creating culturally competent healthcare work environments and mother's perceptions of the management of their children's chronic conditions, specifically sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis, within the context of the school setting. Hopkins earned a bachelors degree in 1999 from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she later received a masters (2005) and Ph.D. (2010). She arrived at Illinois Wesleyan in 2013 after beginning her teaching career at UIC. Brandon Common The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, Common was described by a nominating staff member as exemplifying inclusive excellence in many ways that have benefitted campus constituents on all levels. The nomination continued, Dr. Common brings his whole-self to work and treats everyone with respect, sincerity, and a hearty dose of humor. Social justice work can be taxing, but Dr. Common takes on each day and every challenge with a genuine love for his work and a heartfelt dedication to supporting IWUs mission of inclusive excellence." Common joined Illinois Wesleyan in 2014 as Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, Common developed the first campus-wide diversity and inclusion programming series that incorporates students, faculty, and staff, currently known as the Diversity, Dialogue, and Dignity (3D) Series. Common was named Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life in 2016 before being promoted into his current role in 2017. Among his many job responsibilities, Common has provided leadership in developing inclusive hiring policies. He also serves as co-chair for the Inclusive Excellence Education Task Force for campus-wide diversity training implementation. Most importantly, in the midst of his busy days, he finds a way to be a mentor, role model, and support system for the underrepresented student on campus, a nominator stated. Before joining Illinois Wesleyan, Common served as assistant director of fraternity and sorority affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he also earned a Ph.D. At Ohio University, where Common received a masters degree, he worked in residential life, serving as a peer mentor and advisor to the LINKS program that aids in the transition and success of first-year multicultural and disproportionately represented students. Common earned a bachelors degree from the University of Missouri. About the Presidents Award for Inclusive Excellence The President's Award for Inclusive Excellence presented to a faculty member and staff member annually is intended to recognize outstanding contributions made by individuals that champion diversity, inclusion, and sustained commitment at Illinois Wesleyan University. The Award for Inclusive Excellence is intended to recognize the commitment of Illinois Wesleyan faculty and staff who have made exceptional efforts in celebrating diversity and demonstrating a commitment to advancing inclusion to create a safe and supportive community. Recipients of The Award for Inclusive Excellence are recognized at the springtime Faculty-Staff Recognition Celebration and receive a one-time monetary award of $1,000 for their leadership. Awardees display understanding of the dynamic issues surrounding the intersectionality of race, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religious heritage, national origin, socioeconomic status, disability, and sexual orientation. Assistant professor of nursing Wendy Kooken and Senior Administrative Assistant to the Provost Sharla Brown-Ajayi were named 2018 recipients of the inaugural Presidents Award for Inclusive Excellence. Alumni, students, staff and faculty will once again be invited to submit nominations next year. Nominations submitted this year will also be considered for 2020 Presidents Award for Inclusive Excellence. The University Council for Diversity (UCD) and the previous recipient of the award will select awardees based on submitted nominations. By John Twork The union rejected this proposal on Dec. 10 and made three alternative counter-proposals, each of which involved more money for the employees, Melody said. The library evaluated the unions three counter-proposals and determined that they could not afford any of them. In addition, it was determined that layoffs would probably be necessary even if we agreed to the package that we presented. Mandisa And Matthew West To Return As Co-Hosts For EMMY Winning K-LOVE Fan Awards Nashville's Iconic Grand Ole Opry House To House Seventh Annual Fan-Fueled Awards Show On Jun. 2 - Tickets On Sale Now TBN To Air On Jun. 9 Co-hosts Mandisa & Matthew West. Credit: Getty Images for K-LOVE Co-hosts Mandisa & Matthew West. Credit: Getty Images for K-LOVE April 5, 2019 Nashville, Tenn. (Apr. 5, 2019) K-LOVE Fan Award-winners and GRAMMY noted artists Mandisa and Matthew West will return to Nashvilles Grand Ole Opry House on Sun. Jun. 2 as co-hosts for the seventh annual 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards. The hosting duo made their fresh debut last year. Listeners are at the helm of the annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, getting the unique opportunity to select the nominees, choose the winners and attend the show. Nominees, performers and presenters will be rolled out in the coming weeks. Tickets can be purchased here. TBN will broadcast the star-studded show on Jun. 9 (9pm eastern/8pm central & 9pm pacific) to its audience of more than 100 million potential households. K-LOVE Fan Awards and TBN united forces inaugurally last year to air the awards show globally. Viewers can find their local TBN channel through the networks Channel Finder at: https://www.tbn.org/watch/channel-finder. Coca-Consolidated will again participate as a sponsor, marking their fourth year of partnership. 33rd Annual Midsouth Regional EMMY Awards took note of 2018s successful K-LOVE Fan Awards bestowing EMMY trophies to the telecast and John Sanders LLC in the following categories: Special Event Coverage, Director/Program and Lighting. NATAS (The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) is a non-profit, professional organization dedicated to fostering excellence in television. The academy has 19 chapters with 15,000 members nationwide. The Nashville/Midsouth Region encompasses the States of North Carolina (except Asheville), Tennessee and northern Alabama. For the latest on the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards, stay tuned to www.klovefanawards.com. About The K-LOVE Fan Awards: The K-LOVE Fan Awards mission is to create a fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ. This years show will be hosted by K-LOVE Fan Awards winners Mandisa and Matthew West. The annual awards show is a John Sanders LLC production presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated. About K-LOVE: The K-LOVE Radio Network creates compelling media that inspires and encourages you to have a meaningful relationship with Christ. With 531 total signals in 48 states, K-LOVE is enjoyed by millions of people across the country every week in markets including New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, Miami, Denver and many more. The K-LOVE Fan Awards mission is to create a fun, unique and meaningful fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers, who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ. About the Trinity Broadcasting Network: TBN is the world's largest and most watched faith-and-family broadcaster, reaching over 175 nations across the earth with inspirational and entertaining programming 24 hours a day in 14 languages and on 32 global networks. As the world's most influential non-profit religious broadcaster, TBN has led the way in expanding the impact of faith-based television across the earth through the creation of innovative content designed to reach every viewer demographic with the life-changing message of hope and grace. To find out more about the TBN Networks, visit us at tbn.org. Get Connected with the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards: Website // KLOVEFanAwards.com Hashtag // #klovefanawards Facebook // Facebook.com/KLOVEFanAwards Twitter // Twitter.com/KLOVEFanAwards Instagram // Instagram.com/KLOVEFanAwards ### For more info on Mandisa, visit the JFH Artists Database. For more info on Matthew West, visit the JFH Artists Database. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register They know what they cannot do, but they do not necessarily know there are consequences behind them, he said. They will get the message that using technology comes with responsibility. Using technology poorly can have consequences. With all precincts from Kane, DuPage, Cook and McHenry counties reporting, newcomer Shane Nowak was the top vote-getter out of the five candidates running in the Tuesday contest. He received a total of 7,897 votes, followed by four-term board member Clare Ollayos, who netted 7,693 votes. The Rwandan genocide 25 years ago shocked the world. Yet it was only one genocide among many to have been committed last century, nor did it stem the threat of genocide today. Derived from the Greek genos, for people, and cide from the Latin for to kill, genocide is defined under a 1948 UN convention as an act committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Here is a broad overview of the Rwanda killings and other events labelled genocide: Rwanda Viciously planned and executed, the Rwandan genocide began in early April 1994 shortly after the ethnic Hutu president was killed when his plane was shot down. For 100 days militias and soldiers from the Hutu majority butchered men, women and children from the Tutsi minority. The killing ended only when the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took over in July 1994, having defeated the Hutu extremists. At least 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and some moderate Hutus, were killed, according to the UN. The UN set up the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda which issued the worlds first genocide conviction in 1998. The court tried several dozen people before it wrapped up its work in December 2015. Trials of genocide suspects have taken place in Rwanda, as well as in countries across the world including Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Holocaust The term genocide was used for the first time within a legal framework by the 1945-1946 international military tribunal at Nuremberg, Germany, to try Nazi leaders for the murder of six million Jews during World War II. The accused were eventually convicted of crimes against humanity. It paved the way for the UNs 1948 Genocide Convention which for the first time codified the crime of genocide. Convictions In November 2018 a UN-sponsored tribunal convicted the two top surviving leaders of Cambodias 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, of genocide against the Cham Muslim minority group and ethnic Vietnamese. The verdict came nearly 40 years after the Khmer Rouge were expelled from Cambodia following a four-year reign of terror that left about a quarter of the population dead from starvation, mass executions and overwork. The 1995 massacre at Srebrenica of almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces was recognised as a genocide by the International Court of Justice, the UNs top legal body, in 2007. It is the only episode in the 1990s Balkan wars that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia to have been ruled as a genocide. Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was convicted for genocide and war crimes in 2016. In March 2019 his 40-year sentence was increased to life. Claims in Armenia, Namibia Armenia says Ottoman security forces massacred up to 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1917, after the Ottoman Empire entered World War I. It has long sought international recognition of this as genocide, as agreed by around 20 countries and some parliaments. The charge is vehemently rejected by Turkey, inheritor of the dismantled empire, which admits nonetheless that up to 500,000 Armenians were killed in fighting, some massacres and from starvation. The 1904 massacre of up to 65,0000 indigenous Hereros by German settlers in todays Namibia is considered by historians to be the first genocide of the 20th century. While some German officials have acknowledged that a genocide occurred, the government has fallen short of an official declaration. Wanted The International Criminal Court in 2010 added three genocide counts to charges against Sudans President Omar al-Bashir over fighting that erupted in Darfur in 2003 and which the UN estimates has left 300,000 dead. Bashir denies the charges. More recently there have been international warnings of potential genocide but no arrest warrants issued against Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar, as well as in the carnage of the worlds newest nation, South Sudan. A Serbian court on Friday sentenced four former intelligence officers to decades in prison for the 1999 assassination of journalist Slavko Curuvija, a fierce critic of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. The heaviest sentences, 30 years, were given to former secret police chief Radomir Markovic, who is already serving time for the killing of an opposition leader the same year, and Milan Radonjic, who was in charge of Belgrades intelligence branch, Beta news agency reported. The court also handed 20 years to former intelligence officers Ratko Romic and fugitive Miroslav Kurak, who was sentenced in absentia. The four men were found guilty of having on the orders of an unknown person killed the journalist Slavko Curuvija, Judge Snezana Jovanovic was quoted by Beta as saying. Curuvija was shot dead in front of his home in central Belgrade in April 1999, during the NATO bombing campaign against Serbia aimed at stopping its crackdown on the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo. At the time, he was the editor and owner of Dnevni Telegraf and Evropljanin, two of the leading independent publications in the country. His family has accused Milosevic, who was notorious for efforts to cripple critical media, of personally ordering the killing. Milosevic died in 2006 in a prison cell while awaiting a verdict in a UN war crimes trial for his role during the 1990s wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. More than a decade later, independent journalists are again facing threats and pressure in Serbia, whose current president, Aleksander Vucic, is accused of burgeoning authoritarianism. Last year seven Serbian journalists were physically attacked and nearly 100 other media staff were threatened or put under pressure, according to the Independent Association of Journalists. Reporters Without Borders dropped the Balkan state 10 spots in its 2018 Press Freedom index, citing an alarming number of attacks on journalists as well as collusion between politicians and media. French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday launched a bid to end a two-decade dispute with Rwanda over its 1994 genocide by appointing experts to shed light on the murky subject of Frances actions in the country during the massacres. In a major development marking the 25th anniversary of the genocide, in which over 800,000 mostly Tutsi people were slaughtered, the French leader announced the creation of a commission of historians and researchers that will delve into the states archives. The eight-strong team will be tasked with consulting all Frances archives relating to the genocide in order to analyse the role and engagement of France during that period, the presidency said. Rwanda accuses France of having supported the ethnic Hutu forces behind most of the killing and of helping some of the perpetrators to escape, allegations Paris rejects. Fridays announcement was timed to coincide with a meeting between Macron and the Ibuka association of genocide survivors, the first such encounter with a French president. It comes a little over six months after Macron threw open the archives on another controversial chapter in French history relating to the 1954-1962 independence war with former colony Algeria. But it was unlikely to dispel the disappointment Macron caused among genocide survivors by turning down an invitation from Rwandan President Paul Kagame to attend this weekends commemorations in Rwanda. The presidency cited scheduling difficulties and sent a young MP of Rwandan origin instead. Marcel Kabanda, the 62-year-old president of Ibuka France whose family was wiped out in the Rwandan genocide, hailed the creation of the commission as a strong gesture. But he also urged caution. We have often been disappointed, we have often been betrayed, referring to a 2015 promise by then president Francois Hollande to open the states archives on the genocide which ended up being very limited in scope. Hunting genocide suspects The French presidency said historians would take two years to study the entire period from 1990 to 1994 to contribute to a better understanding and knowledge of the genocide of Tutsis. Their findings will be used in material used to teach children in France about the genocide, the presidency added. The moves aim to definitively turn the page on quarter of a century of acrimony and mutual recrimination between France and Rwanda. Paris has always denied being complicit in the genocide, saying that UN-mandated French soldiers deployed in Rwanda in the final weeks of the genocide did their best under difficult circumstances. The perceived foot-dragging by France on bringing genocide suspects living in France to justice also aggravated the tensions. Macron announced Friday he would boost the judicial unit in charge of investigating Rwandan genocide cases so that suspects could be tried in a reasonable amount of time. Confronting Frances past Franco-Rwandan relations hit their lowest point in 2006 after a French judge recommended that Kagame be prosecuted by a UN-backed tribunal over the 1994 killing of Rwandas president Juvenal Habyarimana, a moderate Hutu whose death triggered the start of the genocide. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who led the Tutsi rebel force that eventually overthrew the genocidal Hutu regime, promptly broke off ties with France for three years. The turning point came in 2010 when former president Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledged during a visit to Kigali that France had made serious errors of judgement in Rwanda. While falling short of an apology it was seen as a breakthrough in Rwanda, a former Belgian colony which France had jealously defended before the genocide as part of its sphere of influence in Africa. The relationship again hit turbulence under Hollande, but Macrons election set the stage for a new chapter. During a visit to Paris last year Kagame praised the 41-year-old Frenchman for taking a fresher, less paternalistic approach to Africa than his forerunners. Its a change from the neo-colonial positions of the past, he told Jeune Afrique magazine. Macron has presented himself as the representative of a new generation of politician unafraid to shine a light on Frances past. Last September he acknowledged that France had instigated a system that facilitated torture during Algerias 1954-1962 independence war, a conflict that also remains hugely emotive in France. He also announced that France would open up its archives on the thousands of civilians and soldiers who went missing during that war. Over the years Elgin has experienced a reduction in street gang crime due to proactive measures the department initiates, as well as through key enforcement, arrests and seizures of illegal drugs and firearms. These accomplishments are a direct result of officers being involved in collaborations between several different specialty and patrol units working in partnership with members of the community. With Amazon coming through and all these other deliveries, theyre going to be delivering liquor also, so we want to keep an eye on that, he said, adding Binnys will be offering deliveries, too. We put the referendum forward because we felt it was an unequaled opportunity for the village to get a modern 21st century library with facilities the library really should have at a portion of the price it would cost to build, Prokop said. Im disappointed we could not put the issue through to people and let them know the cost was certainly not so great. But thats the way it is. GRANTS PASS, Ore. A seemingly innocuous call regarding a hit-and-run crash on Thursday led officers to track down a wanted fugitive from California, according to the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS). The initial call came in around 2 p.m. from a motorist reporting that they had just been hit from behind by the driver of a purple Chevrolet Lumina on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE F Street. The caller said that the Lumina driver had then fled the scene. The caller reported that the suspect vehicle was last seen on the Parkway, headed towards SE M Street. Almost simultaneously, officers near the scene said they witnessed the vehicle run a red light at the same intersection. When police tried to stop the vehicle, GPDPS said, the driver refused to stop instead "driving recklessly" through the Parkdale and Fruitdale Drive areas. "Grants Pass Police, along with Deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office began searching the Fruitdale area, ultimately locating the suspect vehicle in the area of Mt. Baldy Rd. The suspect was able to elude officers, continuing outbound on Rogue River Hwy," GPDPS said. The suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Christopher Sovereign of Eureka California, eventually abandoned his vehicle at a mobile home park in the 3300-block of Rogue River Highway. However, residents of the park soon called police to report the "suspicious male running out the back of the park, into a wooded area." With Sovereign headed into the woods, GPDPS said that Sgt. Jeff Gaunt and K-9 Brock were brought in the spearhead the search. "K-9 Brock tracked Sovereign to an area where Sovereign had hidden himself in holes in the ground created by blown down trees. K-9 Brock apprehended Sovereign, who was in possession of a handgun and additional ammunition," GPDPS said. Sovereign was brought to Three Rivers Community Hospital for "apprehension wounds," GPDPS said, then later released and taken to the Josephine County Jail. Along with warrants out of California, Sovereign was lodged on new charges, including failing to leave name at the scene of a crash (felony), felony attempt to elude police, felon in possession of a firearm, and reckless driving. "The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety would like to thank alert citizens for updating police on suspicious activity, which assisted in the apprehension," the agency said. By JANIE HAR Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A special coroner's jury in California ruled the deaths of two women and their six adopted children was a murder-suicide after hearing testimony that one of the women had searched death by drowning online and the other deliberately stepped on the gas, sending their SUV plunging off a cliff. Jurors deliberated for about an hour Thursday before returning the unanimous verdicts that Jennifer and Sarah Hart killed themselves on March 26, 2018, in Mendocino County. The jury decided the six children, 12 to 19, died at the hands of another and not by accident. Authorities had indicated they believed the crash was deliberate but wanted a jury to make official findings. A coroner's inquest is generally used in cases involving in-custody deaths or officer-involved shootings where public interest is high and the need for transparency critical, said Mendocino County sheriff's Capt. Gregory L. Van Patten. The deaths drew national attention, partly because the women were alleged to have abused their children. The body of Devonte Hart, 15, who was black and had gained attention when he was photographed in tears while hugging a white police officer during a 2014 protest in Portland, Oregon, has not been recovered. Jurors were instructed to choose from four manners of death for each of the eight people: natural causes, suicide, accident or an intentional act by another. They sat through nearly two full days of testimony. "It is my belief that both Jennifer and Sarah succumbed to a lot of pressure," sheriff's Lt. Shannon Barney said Thursday. "Just a lot of stuff going on in their lives, to the point where they made this conscious decision to end their lives this way and take their children's lives." The crash happened days after authorities in Washington state opened an investigation into allegations of neglect. The bodies of both women were found in the vehicle, which landed below a cliff located more than 160 miles (250 kilometers) north of San Francisco. The Hart family had fled their Woodland, Washington, home March 23 after a visit from social workers that day. Sarah Hart searched suicide, drowning, Benadryl dosages and overdose methods on the internet throughout the drive to California, California Highway Patrol investigator Jake Slates said. She also queried whether death by drowning would be painful. Authorities recovered the deleted searches from her phone. "They both decided that this was going to be the end," Slates said. "That if they can't have their kids that nobody was going to have those kids." The bodies of siblings Markis, Jeremiah and Abigail were found the same day near the car. Weeks later, the body of Ciera Hart was pulled from the Pacific Ocean. Hannah Hart was eventually identified through a DNA match. Slates said that Jennifer Hart, who rarely drank, had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and may have been "drinking to build up her courage." Sarah Hart had 42 doses of generic Benadryl in her system and the children also had high amounts of the sleep-inducing drug in their bodies, he said. A neighbor of the Harts had filed a complaint with the state, saying the children were apparently being deprived of food as punishment. No one answered when social workers went to the family's home. A witness who was camping by their vehicle says he heard their car rev up and peal out around 3 a.m. March 26. Sarah Hart pleaded guilty in 2011 to a domestic assault charge in Minnesota over what she said was a spanking given to one of her children. Oregon child welfare officials also investigated the couple in 2013, but closed the case without taking any action. SACRAMENTO, Calif. For centuries, the California condor's range covered the entire West Coast of the United States, even extending north into British Columbia and south into Mexico. But by 1985, the species had dwindled to just 22 known birds. In a desperate attempt to save the species, wildlife officials took the remaining condors into captivity and began a breeding program to revive them. Today, 290 California condors live in the wild but only in the desert Southwestern U.S. and areas of the northern Baja Peninsula. The majestically soaring, entrails-eating California condor will bring its expansive wingspan and its gross appetite back to parts of the Pacific Northwest at Redwood National Park under a long-awaited Fish and Wildlife Service proposal made public today.https://t.co/MoMyXL87Sg E&E News (@EENewsUpdates) April 4, 2019 Now, the Yurok Tribe of Northern California is working with federal agencies in an attempt to return the California condor to its native lands in the Pacific Northwest. For ten years, we have been laying the groundwork to bring the condor back to Yurok Country, said Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. I am excited about the prospect of seeing the sacred prey-go-neesh soaring over Yurok skies. The Yurok Tribe is sincerely grateful for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Redwood National Parks recent partnership in this effort to fill a crucial ecological niche and restore balance in our world. Alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Park Service (NPS), the Yurok Tribe said it has helped to negotiate for a California condor release facility in Redwood National Park, "within the Tribe's ancestral territory." The new population is being given the status of Nonessential, Experimental under the Endangered Species Act giving protections to the new population while maintaining certain powers for landowners who could be affected by the reintroduction, according to the Yurok Tribe. This is an exciting time in the Condors history. After more than a hundred-year absence, this magnificent bird could once again fly high above the Pacific Northwest, said Amedee Brickey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California condor coordinator. The successful reintroductions in southern California, Arizona and Mexico have taught us a great deal, and while challenges remain, we believe we have a model for success with these northern reintroductions. The California condor boasts a wingspan of nearly 10 feet, making it the biggest "soaring land bird" in North America. Like its ubiquitous cousin the turkey vulture, it is primarily a scavenger feeding on dead animals. "Native people throughout their historical range revere them, and the Yurok people have incorporated fallen condor feathers into sacred ceremonial practices since time immemorial," the Tribe said in a statement. According to the Yurok Tribe, the redwood forests and mountains of this area remain prime territory for the California condor, and the science points toward success. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. Twice each year there are open burn windows that allow Klamath County residents the opportunity to burn yard waste. Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) just announced the 2019 Spring open burning window. It begins 8 a.m. Saturday, April 13, and ends 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Public Health officials have set the following guidelines for the open burning window: 1. The air quality advisory must be green. The daily advisory is available at 541-882-BURN (2876). 2. Only residential yard waste, such as tree limbs, brush, and leaves may be burned. 3. All burning must occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 4. No trash, plastic, rubber, tar, petroleum products, treated or painted wood may be burned. 5. The use of burn barrels is prohibited. 6. The burning of commercial, construction, demolition or industrial waste is not included in this burn window. Burning for these purposes requires a special permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; contact Bonnie Hough at the DEQ office in Bend at 541-633-2016. 7. Agricultural burning inside the Air Quality Zone is prohibited without a certificate of variance issued by Klamath County Public Health. Fire District guidelines for public safety are: 1. The wind must be between four and 10 mph. For wind speed call 541-883-8127. 2. There must be a pressurized water hose at the fire site at all times. 3. A responsible adult must be present at the fire from the first flame until the fire is extinguished. 4. The burn pile shall be no larger than six feet in diameter and four feet high. 5. There must be a six-foot clear area surrounding the base of the pile and the pile must be at least 20 feet from combustible fences and buildings. 6. The person conducting any burning is responsible for damage and the cost of an out of control burn as well as traffic problems and other hazards caused by the smoke. The open burn window may be cancelled at any time due to air quality or fire hazard conditions. KCPH reminds people that the smoke from burning yard debris is equally as harmful to lungs as cigarette smoke. The annual free Spring Clean Up day is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Klamath County Solid Waste is allowing free dumping, including yard debris, at Klamath County Landfill, Chemult Landfill and Klamath County Outlying Transfer Stations. Those include Beatty, Bonanza, Chiloquin, Crescent, Keno, Merrill, Odessa and Sprague River. No commercial loads will be accepted. During the open burn window, residents should check with their local Fire District or the City of Klamath Falls (inside the city limits) for additional restrictions. Phone numbers for these agencies include: Klamath County Fire District No. 1 541-885-2056; Klamath County Fire District No. 4 541-884-1670; Klamath County Public Health 541-883-1122; City of Klamath Falls Code Enforcement 541-883-5358. In the letter last week, Barr said he is scrubbing the report to avoid disclosing any grand jury information or classified material, in addition to portions of the report that pertain to ongoing investigations or that would unduly infringe on the personal privacy and reputational interests of peripheral third parties. 495 Shares Share As a family physician in the trenches, I routinely see blatantly poor medical care in the history of my new patients. Far too many people get unwarranted medications and tests, while important things go unrecognized or unaddressed. This paradox is maddening. We must do better. To this end, policymakers have developed programs to promote quality and performance among clinicians. The main approach has been altering payments to serve as financial incentives and penalties with the intention of leading clinicians to make better, value-based decisions. This seems logical on the surface; pay more for good care, less for bad. Here are the rubs: Objectively measuring quality on a massive scale from afar is really, really hard (particularly without creating loads of administrative work). More importantly, its a fundamentally flawed premise that misses what motivates us primary care physicians in our work. Most medical professionals me included can agree on a specific example of medical care that is not in line with the standard of care. This is the basis for morbidity and mortality conferences. I routinely discuss cases of bad patient care with medical students I mentor. However, even an individual patient case can often be difficult to analyze without context or complete medical records. Now, consider judging medical decisions en masse via millions of physician-generated codes. This is a wholly different, complex process. To date, most performance measures have focused on structure (e.g., percentage of clinicians using electronic health records) and process (e.g., number of cancer screenings completed). Despite a heavy investment of time and money, we now realize that most of these metrics have been misguided. A recent review of 86 Medicare performance measures in the New England Journal of Medicine found that just 37 percent were proved valid. Thirty-seven percent? (Gulp.) This is staggering. Nearly two-thirds of the boxes physicians have checked to demonstrate quality have not been validated with any degree of certainty. I shudder to think of how many hours physicians have wasted collecting this data throughout the past decade. Every minute took away from crucial time that couldve been spent face-to-face with a patient. Not to worry, though. To reduce the ever-expanding administrative burden, there are calls and concessions to simplify the gathering of quality metrics. CMS has even started using the mantra of Patients Over Paperwork. Although its great to see people recognizing this problem, slightly reducing unhelpful paperwork isnt going to be a game-changer for primary care physicians (PCPs) or patients. Also, in an attempt to take a broader view, measuring patient outcomes as a proxy of quality care has become fashionable. We see several examples of this in value-based payment programs already: incentive-based payments (the Physician Quality Reporting System and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System), capitation programs (the Comprehensive Primary Care program), and risk-bearing arrangements (accountable care organizations). Intuitively, turning to these programs may seem wiser than counting smaller beans. A move away from fee-for-service payments might make sense at some levels. However, in many respects, basing payments on health outcomes is more complicated and fraught with potential hazards. For starters, we know that 70 percent to 90 percent of health outcomes are determined by socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Appropriate health care, particularly primary care, can tilt the odds toward better outcomes through medical intervention, lifestyle guidance, and advocacy. Primary care can improve individual lives and help budgets by reducing the likelihood of more expensive downstream care. But remember that medical care accounts for that remaining 10 percent to 30 percent of health outcomes. The consequences of a patients genetics and environment and how those factors figure into the development of chronic diseases are decades in the making. In many circumstances, no amount of exceptional medical care can help a patient avoid bad outcomes. Should we penalize physicians or systems that decide to take care of these complicated patients when things inevitably go south? Of course not. These are precisely the type of people who need great care the most. To mitigate the potential for cherry-picking patients, we could make outcome-based payments dependent on patients risk factors, such as existing diseases and social factors, and pay higher rates for riskier patients and vice versa. You can imagine how complicated it would be to provide such benchmarks and scoring. If our goal is to reduce administrative burden, should we be introducing a new bunch of messy risk metrics for every patient? Also, the gaming of such risk scores by process (favoring intake over actual care) and paperwork (lots of it) is inevitable. Predictably, systems and clinicians will be geared toward maximizing codes to justify higher payments. Regardless of how we attempt to measure quality, I ask: By what underlying principle do these incentive programs work? It would seem that the premise in all of them is to nudge health care professionals to personally do better through financial pressures. I would be naive to say that money doesnt matter. On a systems scale, money certainly influences budgets and business decisions. Hospitals build palaces for cardiac intervention, yet relegate endocrinology to the basement. Medical students choose specialties in large part by income potential. Insurance networks are built around financial negotiations. However, does a bit more or less money significantly change the behavior of individual physicians on a day-to-day basis? Particularly at the primary care level? Being a family physician is a complicated blend of applying science and cultivating relationships. Our judgments are often made in gray areas within difficult circumstances. Even when a clear universal goal exists, for many patients and conditions, the best we can do is slowly, steadily move them to a better place. Atul Gawande brilliantly described this in The Heroism of Incremental Care in The New Yorker. Although knowing what the standards of care are is certainly necessary, the physician-patient relationship is a huge driver in achieving those standards. The vast majority of family physicians I know are capable and truly want to provide great care. They didnt choose this specialty for a fat paycheck. Yet, clearly, too many of us fall short of these standards. Why? (I will leave out the fact that many Americans no longer have any sort of actual PCP.) The list of things that hamstring PCPs from doing their best is long, but lets start with some simple math. The average full-time PCP is now responsible for a panel of 1,200 to 3,000 patients. (There is some debate on how to calculate this number in a traditional fee-for-service clinic.) Physicians are often rushed through 15 to 30 office visits per day that last 15 to 20 minutes at most. Given the complexities of modern health care and the growing prevalence of chronic illness, this is insane. A 2012 study in Annals of Family Medicine estimated that a primary care physician would (need to) spend 21.7 hours per day to provide all recommended acute, chronic and preventive care for a panel of 2,500 patients. Although not all PCPs are caring for 2,500 patients, by division, even 1,500 patients would require 13-hour workdays. In addition to sheer patient volume, physicians are increasingly distracted by a mountain of clerical and other nonclinical tasks. We can always strive for efficiency and delegation of tasks (teamwork) when appropriate, but there is no substitute for a doctors time. Its no wonder family physicians are often inaccessible to patients acute needs and feeling burned out. In this context, Ill ask again: Can financial incentives drive PCPs to do better? Imagine this in another profession: If you gave an engineer four hours to design a complex suspension bridge, could he or she get a blueprint done? Sure, but would the quality of work be the same as it would if he or she took a more appropriate amount of time? Surely not. Would giving the rushed engineer a bonus for quality and safety improve that work? In effect, this is what we are attempting to do with PCPs through pay-for-performance schemes. Some would argue that our mishmash of payers and provider organizations is what makes effective implementation of incentive programs so difficult. However, even in countries with tightly regulated, government-owned systems, such as the U.K., pay-for-performance hasnt proved to be effective at the primary care level. If you understand the puzzle of personal motivation what moves us to be better at our tasks none of this should come as a surprise. Although financial incentives can improve performance on repetitive, mechanical tasks (e.g., assembly line work), they are not what really push professionals of a cognitive nature (e.g., those engaged in complex problem-solving) to do better. This isnt just my opinion. The social science on this matter is clear and convincing. There are even a few voices in the health policy world who are coming to this realization. Rather than apply more external pressure, we must recognize that intrinsic factors are what matter most to a PCP. We need an environment that fosters a sense of autonomy, mastery and purpose to fulfill our potential. The only way to create this culture is to allow PCPs the following opportunities: the opportunity to sit and truly listen to each patient to understand his or her story; the opportunity to educate patients and allow them to ask questions; the opportunity to develop long-term, trusting relationships with patients and staff; the opportunity to utilize (not just collect) relevant and coherent patient data; the opportunity to learn and grow in our knowledge and skills; and the opportunity to stay sane and happy while doing all of the above. If a reform plan does not increase these opportunities, frankly, it is likely to be a waste of time and money. At worst, misguided pressures are driving my colleagues to anguish and retirement. So, please, policymakers, put down your carrots and sticks. They have not worked, and they will not work. Give primary care physicians the opportunity to provide better care, and we will. W. Ryan Neuhofel is a family physician and owner, NeuCare Family Medicine. He can be reached on Twitter @NeuCare. This article originally appeared in the AAFPs Fresh Perspectives. Image credit: Shutterstock.com EUGENE, Ore. -- Colleges across Oregon are facing tight budgets this year, forcing them to make cuts in everything from staff to classes. Some cite a lack in state funding and others say it's due to a lack of students. Either way, it boils down to one thing -- money. Looking around the University of Oregon, you can see and hear a lot of construction. It's a sign of growth. In reality, the university is facing a challenging budget this year and has to cut about $11 million. In a letter to the campus, University of Oregon President Michael Schill wrote: "The vast majority of construction projects and programmatic investments we are making across campus are the result of targeted donor gifts, specific state capital allocations, or auxiliary funding sources. The reality is that these projects and investmentswhich generally involve little to no general fund dollarsare the very thing that will keep the UO on a path toward excellence even as we wrestle with the volatility of state funding and international enrollment." He wrote that the university plans on applying those cuts to administration and to the schools and colleges within the university. A university spokesperson released the following statement on Thursday: "Our goal is to limit job loss as much as we can. Over the next few months, University of Oregon deans and leadership will be examining their current staffing and department priorities to develop a staffing plan that fits with the universitys financial resources. Deans and vice presidents will have the ability to exercise discretion on how these reductions are achieved, but President Schill has identified some key priorities that must be protected: student success, campus safety, fundraising and enrollment. In some cases, we may need to stop doing things that are not aligned with those priorities or the UOs teaching, research and service mission. The provosts office will do everything possible to ensure that the changes in our schools and colleges have as little negative impact as possible on academic activities and programs, including career faculty and staff." Oregon State University is in similar shape. According to a spokesperson, they have to trim their spending by $7.5 million. Each university highlighted areas that will not be on the chopping block. Steven Clark, OSU's Vice President of University Relations & Marketing, said public safety, the research office and recruitment will not be impacted. U of O President Schill said student success, campus safety, fundraising and enrollment will be protected. Community colleges are feeling the squeeze too. Officials with Linn-Benton Community College said they've been forced to make some hard, money-saving decisions like discontinuing the school's Horticulture Program, a cut that's not sitting well with all students. "That's what our community cares about is agriculture. I don't know that everyone knows that horticulture is agriculture," said Karen Canan, a student and Horticulture Club member at LBCC. "Horticulture and crop production programs are the soil cultivation and crop growing program as LBCC." A spokesperson with with LBCC said that the school has a big agriculture program, and that's not going to change. Many colleges say some of the savings will also come by not filling vacant positions. GREEN, Ore. -- Roseburg police have identified the suspect who died in an officer-involved shooting that was caught on camera in Green on March 9. Kristopher Haynes, 25, is believed to have been a transient at the time of his death, police said. He was likely traveling from Eugene to California. RELATED: Dramatic video captures Green shootout The State Medical Examiners Office confirmed the mans identity using DNA comparison. Police said the March 9 incident began around 6 p.m. when a stolen vehicle was spotted at Loves Travel Stop on Grant Smith Road. It had been reported stolen in Eugene on March 7. MORE: Investigators seeking person of interest in Green shootout When authorities attempted to contact the driver, the car sped away, and officers followed the vehicle to a ranchers field, where it became stuck. During the shooting, police said the car caught fire, and afterward human remains were found inside. Due to the fire, it wasnt possible at the time to identify Haynes. RELATED: Grand Jury finds use of force justified in Green shootout On March 20, a Douglas County Grand Jury found that officers use of force was justified in the shooting, in which Douglas County deputies and an Oregon State Police trooper exchanged gunfire with Haynes. No officers were injured. SALEM, Ore. (AP) - It's common for newsrooms not to report on suicide. The fear is that doing so may inspire others to also take their own lives. But over 30 newspapers and T.V. stations in Oregon are challenging that practice. From April 7 to 14, they will report on mental health's effect on the community and efforts to prevent tragedy. The "Breaking the Silence" project comes as the national suicide rate hits a 50-year high. The problem is even worse in Oregon, where the suicide rate is 40% higher than the national average. Oregonian/Oregonian Live Editor Therese Bottomly said the initiative is a unique opportunity for the media to provide "better information about the scope of" suicide and best practices for prevention. That, she said, has "the possibility of truly saving lives." EUGENE, Ore. -- The killing of dozens of sheep on Clear Lake Road in Eugene earlier this week has raised a lot of questions in the community. Lauren Rubin with Training Spot said it is evolutionary for animals to see, chase, kill and eat. What's not normal, according to Rubin, is for animals to commit a mass slaughter like the one that happened on Monday in Eugene. RELATED: Dozens of sheep killed in suspected dog attack Rubin has worked with animals for years, and she said it's hard to believe that dogs would cause this kind of carnage. In total, 41 animals were ripped to shreds -- some of them with holes in their skulls. "It's very abnormal for most predators to do any sort of mass killing and not consume, because it is evolutionary to eat what you kill so you survive," Rubin said. She said dogs have evolved for a plethora of purposes, but at the end of the day dogs, like people, are independent. "So we've bred dogs for all these individual purposes. The hard part is that depending on the breed you get, you end up with certain components of it or not. The other hard part is that each dog is individual," Rubin said. But, dogs or not, farmers agree that an attack like this is devastating for a family and a business. "It is extremely devastating to lose your breeding ewes, which could be prodigy and used in the years to come, so it can be catastrophic to lose the females in the herd," said Paige Boyce with the Lane County Livestock Association. Boyce also said insurance is tricky when it comes to recovering from such a loss. "It is very difficult to get insurers to actually cover the livestock because it is so prone. It is difficult, and it can be costly, but it can be done," Boyce said. Eleanor Tempin with the South Willamette Veterinary Clinic told KEZI 9 News that llamas are an effective and inexpensive way to protect herds because they will fight off dogs, coyotes and other predators. EUGENE, Ore. -- Two suspects have been arrested after a burglary at Willamette Christian School in Eugene early Thursday morning, police said. Police said they responded to 2500 West 18th Avenue at about 3 a.m. to reports that a man and a woman were inside the church threatening employees with bladed objects. They found Kaydee Kerr, 24, and Devin Frazer, 27, both of Eugene, on the west side of the building. Inside the church, investigators found extensive damage to electronics, glass fixtures, furniture and more. Two vehicles in the parking lot also had their windows broken. Kerr and Frazer face two counts of unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree burglary and two counts of menacing. They are in the Lane County Jail. VENETA, Ore. -- A public works employee is facing one count of reckless endangerment after he allegedly shot an arrow that ended up in the side of a home. Carrie Carver with the Lane County Sheriff's Office said they cited Andrew Fielder after responding to a home in Veneta on Wednesday afternoon. Hunting inside Veneta city limits is illegal, but Carver said Fielder had a permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to hunt turkeys in the area. Veneta City Administrator Ric Ingham said the man has been a public works employee for around ten years and was working to exterminate the birds, which have become a problem in city limits. Ingham said he was on private property with permission when he shot the turkey, but the arrow went through the bird and it ricocheted off a tree before hitting the house. Jani Patrick owns the house the arrow struck and said she and four young children where home when it happened. She said her daughter was standing just feet away from where it hit. "I just think it was too much of a close call to be hunting in a residential neighborhood," Patrick said. "There is another way to thin out the turkeys." Jani's husband Kevin said Fielder should have his hunting privileges taken away and the city and ODFW should also be held accountable. "This is so close to residential homes that when you are shooting a compound bow that's going several hundred feet per second using broadhead arrow tips, extremely careless," Kevin Patrick said. Ingham said they are now suspending their turkey extermination operations as they look at other options. He said they have been culling the birds for over ten years and have tried trapping and using shotguns. Ingham said this is the first time their efforts have resulted in property damage. "If they are going to be out there with a weapon that can kill someone, they should've at least told us," Patrick said. Ingham said they are working with the Patricks to get the damage to the home repaired. Banke works as a business system integration manager and looks forward to the village completing its conversion to a new accounting and administrative computer system. The system will integrate payroll, utility billing, business licensing and other records, and gives residents access to more tasks online, such as applying for building permits. 5K and egg hunt: The inaugural Bunny Rock 5K and Easter Egg Hunt will be at 8:30 a.m. (5K) and 9:45 a.m. (egg hunt) April 15 at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. All 5K race participants will receive bunny ears, neon sunglasses, a dri-fit unisex t-shirt and finishers medal. More than 3,000 eggs will be hidden for kids ages 2-10 to find. There will also be a petting zoo and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Egg hunt participants receive bunny ears, sunglasses and a basket. Tickets are $39.75-$50 (5K) and $15-$20 (egg hunt). At 122 Hawthorn Center. Call 847-829-4536 or go to bunnydash5k.com. Anglers in Kilkenny who are willing to become citizen scientists are needed for a new National Salmon Scale Project says Sean Canney TD, Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector. Minister Canney said: As we celebrate International Year of the Salmon, this project will help researchers understand the challenges which salmon are facing today. The project, which has been initiated by Inland Fisheries Ireland aims to collect vital information through scales taken from salmon and sea trout which are caught in Irish rivers and lakes and will contribute to international efforts to conserve wild salmon. Fish scales record the life history of a salmon and one scale can reveal a lot about the lifestyle and behaviour of the fish. Scales can tell scientists what age the fish is, how many winters it spent at sea, how many times it spawned, how slow or fast it grew, what it ate and how long it spent in the river before it went out to sea. Scales can also reveal the general feeding area where the salmon travelled to in the ocean, whether it went to the Faroe Islands, the Norwegian Sea or all the way to West Greenland. Scales help scientists to understand the biology and ecology of Irish salmon and sea trout. As part of the project, anglers in Kilkenny are asked to take a scale sample from a salmon or sea trout by gently scraping and removing approximately 20 fish scales using a clean knife. Anglers are then requested to post their samples to Inland Fisheries Ireland using the sample envelopes which will be made available to them. Scales can be removed from both harvested and catch and release fish. Sampling of fish for release should be handled carefully and fish should be only briefly removed from the water with every effort made to avoid injury or stress while weight should be estimated. Information from salmon scales is used in setting conservation limits for Irish rivers. Conservation limits for each river are set based on the proportion of salmon who have spent one winter at sea and those that have spent multiple winters at sea. The conservation limit for a river represents the number of spawning salmon required to produce the next generation of salmon and this information helps inform angling regulations and management. Information from scales on multi sea winter salmon entering rivers in spring is also important for managing individual river stocks. Dr Paddy Gargan, Senior Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: It is important to have anglers collecting scales as they can provide broad coverage across Ireland and collect scales throughout the fishing season. A scale resource which includes many different river systems in Ireland over several years is a great asset from a research perspective as it allows us to examine the factors affecting salmon survival at sea. We can compare how factors, such as climate change, are impacting survival by analysing todays salmon scales alongside those from many decades ago. All scales collected through the National Salmon Scale Project will be added to the National Salmon Scale Archive which is managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The archive, which consists of a dedicated storage facility and associated database, currently holds 19,300 scale samples from a total of 38 rivers representing 152 sampling years. The National Salmon Scale Project aims to increase the scale resource available to scientists for ongoing and future research. Dr Cathal Gallagher, Head of Research and Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: Ultimately the National Salmon Scale Project will help inform future salmon management policies and activities. It is fitting therefore that we are launching this campaign during International Year of the Salmon which aims to raise awareness of what humans can do to ensure salmon and their habitats are conserved and restored against a backdrop of several environmental pressures. This project offers anglers a very tangible and practical way of playing an active role in salmon conservation. For more information on the National Salmon Scale Project, including how to take a sample safely and to request sample envelopes, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie/ salmonscales. To find out more about International Year of the Salmon visit www.yearofthesalmon.org or www.fisheriesireland.ie/iys. This Easter adventure awaits for all ages at Castlecomer Discovery Park. Open from April 13 to 28, there is something to keep everyone entertained and hopping this Easter. Bounce into the holidays by taking part in one of the parks exciting activities, which include Tree-Top Walking, Irelands longest Zipline, Octagon High Ropes, Boats (brand new boats), Canoeing and Archery. For those with young children there is the Timber Tumbles Playground, Junior Woodland Course, Bouncing Net and Digital Scavenger Hunt. Back by popular demand is the annual Easter Trail, where visitors can explore the eighty acres of woodland, lakes and Elf and Fairy village in search of seasonally themed clues before collecting treats as a reward for finishing the trail. The trail is running from April 13 to 28 from 11am to 5pm and is 10 per family. Another highlight is our Harry Potter Day, taking place on Saturday,27 April. Finish off the holidays with a spellbinding day of wizardly themed events. Running from 11am to 4pm, there is a Harry Potter Themed Trail, Quidditch playing, Avery Demonstration, Crafts and Flying Lessons. The price is 10 per child. For more see www.discoverypark.ie/news The Park is also delighted to introduce exciting new activities for the 2019 season; Beginners Mountain Biking and Axe Throwing. The team at Castlecomer Discovery Park is constantly working to improve customer experience and deliver a fresh programme of events, and this year is no exception with two brand new activities on the agenda - Axe Throwing and Beginners Mountain Biking, commented Kathy Purcell, Strategic Development Officer, Castlecomer Discovery Park. The axe throwing range is located in the heart of the parks stunning woodland and presents a fun and challenging activity for team building or corporate days out too. Trained instructors will assist throughout the Easter break, to ensure visitors hit the mark. Mountain Biking for Beginners is another brand new and exciting activity available to visitors this Easter. For those new to the sport, the single-track path system is a relatively easy trail, with plenty of daring ramps and bends to navigate, and a great way to ease into the sport before attempting some of the more advanced paths, whilst trained instructors will remain on hand to teach basic skills and help increase confidence. The Park has also launched a number of early bird packages for those looking for a whole day of adventure activity at discount prices. The early bird does get the worm with discounts for a full day of activity! See www.discoverypark.ie/news To book and for pricing go to www.discoverypark.ie For more contact 056-444 0707 or see info@discoverypark.ie A local couple have appeared on RTE's Today Show to talk to Daithi and Maura about their travails and the reality of being on the transplant waiting list. Elaine Murphy, from Cuffesgrange, and her fiance Mark Kavanagh, from Freshford, were interviewed on the programme to tie in with Organ Donor Awareness Week ,which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association and continues until tomorrow (April 6). A contributor to TV3'/Virgin Media's Expose programme, Elaine of Bridal/Occasion Hair By Elaine, lives in Freshford with Mark (35), who is a dialysis patient. The couple will marry in July this year. Elaine recently posted on her business Facebook and Instagram accounts about how Mark's kidney failure diagnosis turned their world upside down. He continues on dialysis for nine hours every night while on the transplant waiting list, hoping that a donor kidney will come along. The couple live with their daughter Heidi (3), and Lily (9) to whom Mark is a step dad. Heidi was born just a few months before Mark's kidney diagnosis. Elaine had just set up her business, and Mark suddenly had to stop working, making it was a very worrying time for them all. Posting on social media, Elaine said she wanted to give people "a little snippet of our lives", and said that Mark's positivity was remarkable. She urged people to promote awareness around the Week. "Organ donation awareness is an essential part of ensuring that a sustainable transplant programme can survive and thrive, it is only because of the generosity of the public that patients can receive the LIFE SAVING treatment of an organ transplant," she said. " How can u promote organ donation? *Learn the facts *Sign up to be an organ donor *Talk about your decisions to friends and family *Support local organisations/events *Educate others about the power of organ donation." To find out more, visit www.ika.ie. Who will get hit in their squad car and survive serious injuries and go right back to patrol like Trooper Ellis did in 2009? You answer, Send me. Who will drive head on into danger to protect others? The answer was and is, all troopers, he said, referring to an incident on 2009 where Ellis was blocking traffic because of someone threatening to jump off a tollway bridge when he was hit. BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Mergers in Europes fragmented banking sector are necessary to make the sector more resilient as the euro zone seeks to protect itself from future crises, Frances finance minister told Reuters in an interview. Bruno Le Maire, who joined President Emmanuel Macrons centrist government in 2017 despite coming from the ranks of Frances conservative Republicans party, said banking sector consolidation was needed alongside a single regulatory supervisor and more integrated capital markets. I consider that today European banks are still too fragmented and we need banking consolidation, Le Maire said in Bucharest, where he was attending a meeting of EU finance ministers. Speaking with Reuters over dinner at an upmarket restaurant in the Romanian capital, Le Maire declined comment on specific deals. The biggest operation underway currently is a possible tie-up between German lenders Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank. Despite persistent speculation, sometimes involving French banks, there have been few cross-border bank mergers in recent years in Europe, even though the European Central Bank has repeatedly urged consolidation, which it believes would ensure that credit flows to where it is needed most. Le Maire, who has attended some of Frances most prestigious schools and held numerous senior posts in government, said the euro zone needed to finalize in coming months plans for a backstop for banks saddled with bad loans, and better integrate capital markets notably by agreeing to harmonize insolvency laws - a sensitive issue for some countries. If euro zone member states are not capable of taking certain steps forward in the coming months, we risk weakening the euro and seeing new fractures emerge in the euro zone, Le Maire said. Policymakers like IMF chief Christine Lagarde have warned that the euro zones financial sector remains dangerously exposed to shocks if it does not quickly complete reforms designed to keep risks contained. Le Maire also wants the euro zone to quickly thrash out plans for a shared budget aimed at encouraging convergence among the euro zones economies. In particular, details on its governance and how it sits in relation to the broader EU budget remain to be hammered out. ECONOMIC DIVERGENCE The euro zone will not survive growing economic divergences between member states. We have to equip ourselves with the instruments to reduce the divergences, he said. France, along with Germany, has championed the idea of a euro zone budget, but has had to scale down its ambitions in the face of resistance from the Dutch. The Netherlands has rejected the idea that the budget has a capacity to help member states facing economic shocks, fearing this would mean transfers from richer to poorer countries. With EU parliament elections due in May, the staunchly pro-Europe minister weighed into the debate about the future of the Union this week with a book warning that Europe must guarantee it does not fall behind China and the United States on technological progress, or risks being dominated by them. Le Maire, who alongside Germanys economy minister in February released an industrial policy manifesto calling for increased investment in technology research, revised antitrust and state aid rules and stronger defenses against foreign takeovers, said EU state aid rules needed to be more flexible. He said approval of aid for projects had to come much more quickly, otherwise companies would look beyond Europe to meet their needs. Speed is of the essence ... There are companies that need technology and they are going to get it where they find it. The minister has also called for an overhaul of antitrust rules after the European Commission blocked the planned merger of the rail businesses of Siemens and Alstom, seeing such tie-ups as necessary to build European champions. What do we want tomorrow for our telecommunications, our trains, our banks or our cars? I want that in all these fields we keep our European (industrial) capacities, which has to happen through consolidation. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed more than 1 percent on Friday as strong U.S. employment data tempered fears that global crude demand might weaken, and on expectations that an escalating conflict in Libya could tighten oil supplies. Brent crude futures rose 72 cents to $70.12 a barrel, or 1.0 percent, by 1:45 p.m. EDT (1745 GMT), on track for its second straight weekly gain. The session high of $70.41 was the highest since Nov. 12. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 97 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $63.07 a barrel, after hitting $63.18, the highest since Nov. 7. WTI was headed for its fifth consecutive weekly rise. Oil prices are rallying in reaction to the U.S. employment report, said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Signs of global economic slowdown had been a headwind for oil prices, but this mornings report seemed to dispel at least some of those concerns. The U.S. Labor Department report showed employment growth accelerated from a 17-month low in March. This data is going to be enough to keep us above the $60 level for a least a couple of weeks, said Josh Graves, senior commodities strategist at RJO Futures in Chicago. Military action in Libya, which could disrupt supply from the OPEC member, also supported prices. On Thursday, Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his troops to march on Tripoli, escalating a conflict with the internationally recognized government. Crude futures also received a boost from news of a potential slowdown in crude production out of Venezuela, as U.S. sanctions and energy blackouts hit the OPEC nations oil industry. Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA expects its crude upgraders to operate well below capacity this month, according to industry sources and documents seen by Reuters. Venezuela depends on the upgraders to convert the extra-heavy crude oil produced in the Orinoco Belt into exportable grades usable in overseas refineries. U.S. energy companies this week increased the number of oil drilling rigs for first time in seven weeks, General Electric Cos Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its report on Friday. [RIG/U] Companies added 15 oil rigs in the week to April 5. While crude production has soared in the United States to a record 12.2 million barrels per day, according to government data released on Tuesday, some signs point to a near-term easing of growth. Lingering concerns over U.S.-China trade relations limited oil price gains. The United States and China, the worlds two biggest oil consumers, could be close to ending their trade dispute, though some hurdles remain. BUCHAREST, April 5 (Reuters) - Lower capital requirements for European subsidiaries of EU banks would help encourage the emergence of more cross-border banks, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Friday. ECB officials have long called for cross-border consolidation among European banks, which they believe would help credit flow to countries needing it most, making their monetary policy more potent. But such consolidation is slow because bankers say that current regulations tie up to much capital in their European subsidiaries for cross-border mergers to make sense. "We will not achieve an effective and profitable Banking Union without cross-border consolidation in Europe: there are still too many roadblocks and not enough cross-border restructuring," Villeroy said in a speech at financial conference in Bucharest. "A useful step towards forming genuine pan-European banking groups could be to lower capital requirements of European subsidiaries, while safeguarding their financial position through credible cross-border guarantees provided by the parent company," added Villeroy, who is also head of the French central bank. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he is considering an economic penalty apart from tariffs to counter the smuggling of drugs from Mexico across the southern U.S. border. Trump threatened on Thursday to put a 25 percent tariff on cars coming from Mexico into the United States if Mexico does not continue to help Washington deal with the immigration and drug situation along the border. He repeated that warning on Friday morning and added, Likewise I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border. Trump made the comments on Twitter as he prepared to leave the White House for a two-day trip that will include a visit to the border. It was not immediately clear what other penalties the U.S. president was considering. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for elaboration. Trump said the tariff decision related to drugs would supplant provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA. If for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesnt work, which it will, I will close the Border, Trump said on Twitter on Friday. This will supersede USMCA. So today, I am asking you to keep his wife, two young daughters, and the rest of his family in your prayers as they endure what no one should ever have to endue, McConchie added. Trooper Ellis will most likely be remembered among the others that have been killed so far this year, but let us all do our very best to remember each one of these troopers individually and not just as a number that make up this years puzzling statistic. Even though the courts have blocked parts of this law on a number of occasions (14 at last count), it is time to update the law. Threats to reproductive health care coming from Washington, D.C. and the surrounding states are very real. Women in Illinois deserve the ability to decide when and if to become a parent without the supervision or compulsion of the criminal code. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 48F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 43F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. This solo demonstrates the incredibly fast technique of the euphonium, which is often mislabeled in this country as a baritone, Bough said. In orchestral literature, the euphonium is known as the tenor tuba, which is probably a better description. It has been described as the cello of the band world, and in the brass band, it plays a similar role to the cello in the orchestra. Often, the euphonium carries the melody, alongside the cornet. Last council meeting I believe it was (Councilwoman) Becky Anderson who was talking about an ethics ordinance or some sort of way for all of city council members to understand what a conflict of interest is and how we can all behave in a way that we earn the publics trust and they feel like everything is transparent and we all have that definition too, Sullivan said. So Id like to see a followup on that. If it doesnt come back, I will probably bring it back up. Just to restore that trust if any trust has been lost, and I think it has. "The most important thing we do when we're in a position of leadership is hire good people, and that's one thing I always felt confident about is the people we hired," Gibson said. "I knew that if you hired good people they'd make your job easier and more enjoyable, and that's really the thing that happened with me, and any successes we've had, any achievement we've had, it has happened because of all of us working together." Whats the most challenging thing about teaching? Being able to find balance. Teachers need to be able to use the time given to meet the individual needs of many growing minds, keep them safe, protect their emotional well-being, keep them engaged, challenged, and organized all while trying to meet expectations to ensure student success. We are consistently asked to do more with less and accept this challenge on a daily basis. Families must register to participate, and at least one adult must attend per family. For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org. It would require electricity and gas suppliers to notify customers when rates rise under contract renewals. It prohibits automatic renewal when the terms of the contract change, which has been used to flip customers from fixed rate to variable rate without their knowledge. It requires suppliers to report their rates on a quarterly basis to the attorney general and the ICC. Incumbent Park District of Oak Park commissioner Kathleen Porreca led the way with 6,259 votes, followed by newcomers Jake Worley-Hood, 5,092 votes, and Christopher R. Wollmuth, 4,710 votes, in taking the three available seats on the park board. Candidate James Gates finished fourth with 3,835 votes. Amber actually learned how to make the tutus and takes them from the beginning all the way through. Prior to her taking over the job to be the key person, we would have to spend money having them made. We definitely save money and get a more individual look very selective to what our needs are. Between Jan. 1, 2014, and April 29, 2015, Brown produced photographs of a child, who was 6 and 7 years old at the time and was diagnosed with autism, who Brown persuaded to engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Indiana. On March 13, police received a report from a person who said he was an informant who worked with Griffith police in the Ortiz homicide, a probable cause affidavit states. The informant said that Cezar and Cortez Rogers were following him and making threats, according to the affidavit. Police identified Fontaine, who also goes by Paresh Daman Paul, as a person of interest in 2011, six months after his mother went missing. It wasnt until investigators learned information last year that Fontaine was able to be charged, according to the Lake County Prosecutors office. Officials did not disclose what that information was but said itll come out at trial. The committee, before approving the bill, tacked on a $100 million fee for Spectacle should it want to build a casino near the Borman Expressway; removed provisions that would have provided a level of financial support to Hammond and East Chicago should their casinos see a loss because of the move; and put the Majestic Stars second gaming license on the open market if it goes to Terre Haute. Not Donald Trump again, Evelyn Richards moans about halfway through American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis biting satire of the Reagan 80s. Shes sick of hearing about the real estate mogul. He seems to be all her fiance, Patrick Bateman, ever talks about. Oh, God. Is that why you were acting like such a buffoon? This obsession has got to end! Its not hard to imagine Ellis repeating these exact words today to his millennial boyfriend or some Hollywood dinner companion. Like Evelyn Richards, hes sick of hearing about the real-estate-mogul-cum-reality-TV-star-cum-president. Patrick Batemans hero has become the lefts bete noire, and Ellis cant stand what he thinks is a rather unhealthy obsession. Not Donald Trump again....This obsession has got to end! White is Bret Easton Ellis first book in almost a decade and his first book of nonfiction. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Ellis, admittedly, has his obsessions too the importance of aesthetics over ideology, the danger of the reputation economy, the need to separate art from artist, neutrality, free speech, millennial whining, corporate fascism, Joan Didion, the horror films of his youth, Richard Gere in American Gigolo, etc.all of which are on display in his new book, White, out in April by Knopf. Advertisement White is Ellis first book in almost a decade, since his novel Imperial Bedrooms was published in 2010. Its also his first book of nonfiction ever which seems surprising for a guy who loves Didion as much as he does and who has made headlines and riled up social media hordes for his provocative opinions and his unapologetically Gen-X sensibility. For Ellis, its absurd to pretend that we arent all products of our generation. It doesnt erase you as an individual, of course, but there are qualities we share with those born just before us and just after us. So Ellis represents himself but also, in the words of Fyodor Dostoevsky, he represents a generation that is still living out its days among us. One of the first things his millennial boyfriend as Ellis often refers to him in his book and podcast tells me, when I arrive at their glamorous West Hollywood apartment, is that he doesnt agree with Ellis that an entire generation can be lumped together. The millennial boyfriend then as if in perfect counterpoint to his own argument turns back to his video game, which is muted so that he can listen to news about the recently completed Mueller Report, something hes not too happy about. Trump does not bother me more than what has been going on with the woke left. Brett Easton Ellis Its as if Ive walked into some White fan fiction, but this isnt fiction at all. Im at the books ground zero, standing in the midst of the milieu out of which it emerged: a relationship across political, cultural and generational divides, at a time when the country is at its most divided. Theres something endearing about that. At any rate, its good to know that the millennial boyfriend that Ellis mentions pretty regularly on his podcast and throughout White is a real person rather than some straw man and that hes more or less as Ellis sees him: handsome, constantly playing video games, politically engaged, enraged, and maybe more than a little Trump-obsessed. L.A. Times Festival of Books is back! Check out the lineup for our massive literary event launching April 13 and 14 at the USC campus. Ellis and I head back into his office, leaving his boyfriend to his video games. In the office, the windows are open. Southern Californias trademark sunlight streams in. His hair is white as the walls. He wears no shoes. Im alarmed by how approachable Ellis is. Hes friendly but not so friendly that it feels put on, an act. He often asks what I think about whatever topic we discuss, and he seems, surprisingly, to have genuine interest in my takes. He likes when I agree with him no more nor less than when I disagree with him. Hes not the angry or whiny caricature some would like to paint him as, but hes not shy with his opinions either. Hes pleasantly direct. When I ask him what he would say to critics who believe that in White he becomes what he accuses millennials of being whiny, petulant, uncharitable, intransigent he tells me that if someone thinks that Im whining about being oppressed in this, thats wrong. Ive never felt that way at all. Ultimately, though, he admits that he really doesnt care about the criticism of the book. People can say what they want. And his critics have spoken out. He often gets called a racist or a misogynist, labeled a conservative or a Republican, tossed in with the IDW (Intellectual Dark Web) or the alt-right all of which he finds somewhat puzzling. A longtime friend, he explains, recently told him casually that he felt Ellis was becoming right-wing. You really have read me wrong was Ellis response. What do you do about that? he asks me. Then he shrugs and repeats what becomes a sort of refrain throughout our conversation: I really dont care about the reactions anymore. If someone thinks that Im whining about being oppressed ... thats wrong, Bret Easton Ellis says. Ive never felt that way at all. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) The idea that White is merely some right-wing anti-political-correctness screed is disingenuous. Yes, he blasts cancel culture and has criticisms of Black Lives Matter that are likely to offend, but the book is also a memoir of sorts, if not a straightforward one. We learn about his childhood in the 1970s, watching horror movies and finding his fathers stash of pornography. We read about his relationships with various men and how he fits into the gay community. We get anecdotes about Kanye West and David Foster Wallace, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Judd Nelson. Though Ellis is clearly no fan of political correctness, he admits hes only really interested in it for the ways in which it exposes corporate fascism (one of the main targets of the book). What might be most surprising to his fans is that White at times comes across as an earnest plea for a recognition of human messiness (What gets erased are the contradictions inherent in all of us), a reconciliation with those who hold different beliefs (But if you look at everything only through the lens of your party or affiliation...doesnt that make you somewhat uncurious and oversimplifying?), a repudiation of our corporate overlords (With fewer and fewer corporations now running the show...fellow comrades might need to adhere to their new rulebook), and a renaissance of artistic idiosyncrasy (Werent artists supposed to reside anywhere except in risk-allergic safe-houses?). I confess to him: Its weird to hear an earnest plea from you. It is, he purrs. It is....But, look, its not going to work. He doesnt even need to give a reason why. Ellis famously argues for aesthetics over ideology, and I ask if theres a limit to that for him. No. Never....Style is really everything. You realize this the older you get the message doesnt matter, story and characters dont matter, its how everything is presented. There is no such thing as dangerous art for Ellis, unless its just terrible corporate art, but he even questions if that is truly dangerous. He often gets called a racist or a misogynist, labeled a conservative or a Republican... or the alt-right all of which he finds somewhat puzzling. When I push him on the fact that he seems to go pretty easy on President Trump in White, saving his sharpest barbs for the left, he admits: Youre right, reading the book, you do see me going easier on Trump, though I have nothing in the book to align myself with him or his policies. Trump does not bother me more than what has been going on with the woke left. He concedes, I think part of it has to do with the fact that Trump irritated me in the 80s. I got my Trump hatred out. I found him very annoying, and I couldnt believe that all the men that I knew on Wall Street unironically liked him, unironically liked The Art of the Deal Patrick Batemans father figure is Trump, and I thought that was kind of a criticism of the values of Trump and of that era. So I think by the time Trump really arrived on the political scene, I had had it already. White begins by discussing a novel Ellis had been thinking of writing, a novel that never comes to fruition. When I ask why he wrote this book as nonfiction instead of as an American Psycho or a Less Than Zero for this current climate, he gives a long answer about how he has been moving away from the novel for some time now for various reasons. Hes been writing more than ever before in the last decade, he claims, but its for film and TV projects (most of which hasnt come to fruition) and his podcast. I still wonder what this book would have looked like as fiction, as satire, as an American Psycho, as a Less Than Zero but we will have to keep wondering. Thats just not the book he has in him at this moment. For Ellis fans, Im sure this one will be enough for now for Ellis detractors too. :: Bret Easton Ellis at the L.A. Times Festival of Books: Ellis appears at 11 a.m. April 14 in conversation with Scott Timberg. Malone is a writer based in Southern California. His work has appeared in Laphams Quarterly, Literary Hub, the LA Review of Books and elsewhere. Modern-day readers may believe that theyll need body armor to meet the barrage of challenges awaiting them in The Iliad. Exploring Homers 3,000-year-old, nearly 16,000-line epic poem, which details events that (probably) unfolded during the Trojan War, feels appropriately like engaging in battle. Its on us to keep two names straight even if they differ by a single letter (Chryseis, daughter of Chryses). Or to accept gods as all-powerful actors as well as audience members subject to fate. Or to know that the city-states, which comprise the Greek coalition opposing Troy, get several names Achaeans, Argives, Danaans, deployed seemingly at random, all mean the same thing. Comprehending everything here is a task, but at the center of The Iliad is very clear: the horrors of war. Homers poem churns on the recklessness of murderous, egomaniacal men. They purport to celebrate the women they reduce to property, and they slaughter indiscriminately over the course of what is even by todays standards an extremely bloody work. List of characters from Gareth Hinds The Iliad. (Gareth Hinds) Advertisement The descriptions of battlefield death are astonishingly visceral and intense, wrote University of London professor Adam Roberts of The Iliad in his introduction to George Chapmans translation. Neither do the protagonists seem particularly noble or heroic figures to contemporary sensibilities; they bicker and squabble like children, and kill again and again. Unpacking The Iliad as a reader is one thing; adapting it for comics is a hurdle of a different magnitude. Enter Gareth Hinds, the Vermont-born artist who has reworked literary classics from Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe and more. His magnificently realized graphic telling of The Iliad in its wealth of muted watercolored hues and evocative landscapes condenses a more than 20-book-length poem into 251 pages of narrative comics. It follows an equally sweeping interpretation of The Odyssey, which had a loose, sketchbook-style look as compared with its spiffy successor. The Iliad glorifies courage and fighting prowess while simultaneously showing the grisly suffering inflicted on soldiers and civilians in war. Gareth Hinds The painted panels of Hindss Iliad initially scripted and penciled digitally in desktop publishing software, cleaned up and finalized, and then printed and hand-watercolored are supported with a character guide, a scene-setting prologue and copious back matter inclusive of annotations. Each serves readers well even as the visual medium on its own goes a long way in decoding this dense Bronze Age work. The Greeks are fighting a deadly plague, courtesy of Apollo, when The Iliad begins. The punishment owes to Achaean leader Agamemnons having swiped Chryseis, the daughter of Apollos priest, after sacking a Troy-allied city. Ending the plague means returning the woman to her father. This enrages Agamemnon. L.A. Times Festival of Books is back! Check out Gareth Hinds and the rest of our lineup for our massive literary event launching April 13 and 14 at the USC campus. Seized by victorious armies as spoils of war, maidens are prized as slave girls in Homers poems. King Agamemnon will send Chryseis home, but he aims to replace her with Briseis, a beautiful slave owned by Achilles, the Greeks most powerful warrior. Achilles, erupting with fury, reluctantly surrenders Briseis to Agamemnon, but in retribution (the poem launches with the Greek word menis, or vengeful wrath), the warrior refuses to support the Achaeans in battle. Achilles opts instead to weep and gaze into the ocean, calling on his sea-nymph mother Thetis to urge Zeus, the king of the gods, to side with Troy and show them all the folly of Agamemnon. When Hinds deems The Iliads era a tough time for women in his notes, its the understatement of the Bronze Age. But who better than women to amplify the costly errors of Homeric men? Gareth Hinds latest is The Iliad. (Candlewick Press) When they arent touted as receptacles of sexual desire (Shes more pleasing to me than my own wife, argues Agamemnon of Chryseis worth) or amassed as prizes of war, Homers women are blamed for ruthless physical conflicts, no matter that theyre frequently the voice of comfort or strength. When Achilles seeks consolation after Hector, prince of Troy, kills his friend Patroclus, its Thetis who stems his furor and equips him with new armor. When Achilles clashes with Agamemnon, its Zeus daughter Athena who recommends the most celebrated Greek warrior cut with (his) words in lieu of unsheathing his sword. Alas, these are angry men, cursed with egos so brittle that not even a shield adorned with constellations can safeguard them from what becomes of acting on petulant rage. Wide-angle landscapes in The Iliad comic are washed in light earth tones, while Hinds bathes the comparatively seldom-seen palace interiors in warm fireside-orange. As lengthy monologues sometimes crowd word balloons, background composite images fully visualize whats being said. Monochromatic gods, depicted in rough linework, are set off from their richly colored, polished mortal counterparts, while Book 18s chronicle of Achilles new armor, reportedly the first example of ekphrastic verse art described vividly in a poem, in Homers case, by a blind person gets a mesmerizing splash page. Hinds embellishes the massive shield, five layers thick, with fussily inked graphic forms, engravings of castles, wildlife and much more. Who better than women to amplify the costly errors of Homeric men? By way of chaotic page layouts that see irregular polygon panels charging here and there, Hindss gory war accounts recall Marvels Epic Illustrated magazine as much as they do aging frescoes. Scores of lives are lost in The Iliads thunderous confrontations more so for the Greeks, who flounder against Troy without Achilles help. When he rejoins, its all the more gruesome. Hinds figure-drawing strengths are made known when the first spears are hoisted battle sequences are awash in gouging and decapitations, with bearded, brawny warriors, in detailed scale-armor breastplates, brandishing swords and ornate shields. Teeth bared and faces bloodied, they leap and lunge at one another, encircled by single-stroke motion lines as horse-drawn chariots conjure clouds of dust. Even as Hinds excised some battles for length and clarity, its a bloodbath. Anything less would dishonor the sentiment so critical to Homers text. The Iliad as adapted by Gareth Hinds. (Candlewick Press) The Iliad glorifies courage and fighting prowess while simultaneously showing the grisly suffering inflicted on soldiers and civilians in war, writes Hinds in an afterword. Whenever a nobleman is wounded or killed, Homer tells us who he was and the exact nature of his wounds, in graphic detail. These details drive home the horror and tragedy of each death. :: The Iliad Gareth Hinds Candlewick; 272 pp., $16.99. Gareth Hinds at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: Hinds appears at 11:30 a.m. April 13, with graphic novelists and illustrators Aisha Franz, Michelle Perez and Maximilian Uriarte. Umiles writing has appeared at Hyperallergic, the Chicago Reader, the Washington City Paper and elsewhere. For more than 30 years, Terry Tempest Williams has been at the forefront of American nature writing. The Corona native, who has spent most of her life in Utah, began her career with a well-received childrens book, The Secret Language of Snow, and broke out in 1991 with her acclaimed memoir Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Her books When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice and The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks both garnered considerable critical acclaim, and her latest, Erosion: Essays of Undoing is due for release this October from Sarah Crichton Books. Williams was named the winner of this years L.A. Times Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement, given to a writer whose work focuses on the American West. Williams spoke with The Times via telephone from Cambridge, Mass., where she is writer-in-residence at Harvard Divinity School. This conversation has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Advertisement Youre the winner of this years Kirsch Award, which has previously been given to writers like Wallace Stegner and Ursula K. Le Guin and Larry McMurtry. What does it mean to you personally to be honored for your writing about the American West? Well, Im so honored. This came as such a surprise, and as you can imagine, there are those days where you think, does any of this matter? So I just feel deeply grateful and humbled by this recognition. I think so often what we do as writers, we do alone, but we know thats really not true, that we are able to find the words we find because of the words that have come before us. So to find myself in the company of my mentors, Wallace Stegner, Ursula Le Guin, Bill Kittredge, Maxine Hong Kingston, Gary Snyder, T.C. Boyle, Tom McGuane. Its deeply humbling. L.A. Times Festival of Books is back! Check out Terry Tempest Williams and the rest of the lineup for our massive literary event launching April 13 and 14 at the USC campus. The Hour of Land by Terry Tempest Williams. (Macmillan) In your book The Hour of Land, you wrote about Americas national parks. Are you concerned that our national parks have come under threat over the past few years? Not just our national parks are under threat, but all our public lands are under threat, and that 640 million acres that belong to all of us that are held in the common trust. That concerns me greatly on two fronts. One, being in Cambridge right now, away from the American West, at the Harvard Divinity School, Im so aware of how little is known or comprehended about Americas public lands, even at such a venerable place as Harvard. So I think theres a whole part of the population, on the East Coast in particular, and throughout America, that doesnt understand what public lands are. Americans dont understand that each person is land-rich, and that this is our national heritage and birthright. It concerns me that so much is happening in the American West right now with oil and gas extraction, fracking, now going back into the uranium reserves, opening up coal reserves, even in the face of climate change, especially in the face of climate change. This concerns me. And national parks are part of that heritage. Thats what the West is for me, these beautiful extended communities where we reach each other through water, through land, through history. Terry Tempest Williams Im concerned that during the shutdown of this year, places like Joshua Tree were vandalized. Im concerned about the loss of oversight and maintenance, the lack of funding for our national parks. And its not just about our species but about all species. When you look at grizzly bear protection in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. I could go on and on and on. So I think we are not only seeing an era of neglect around our national parks but an abuse. You have a book coming out in October called Erosion. Can you talk about the different kinds of erosion that you address in those essays? I know your book focuses not just on physical erosion but other kinds as well. Living in Castle Valley, Utah, where we do, erosion is part of our life, whether its suddenly you hear a rock falling, you see this pink dust flying by the time you run outside to see what happened, or road closures because of falling rocks, or a rising Colorado River. Not long ago, we had a flash flood roar through our community. So erosion is part of our life, whether its wind, water, ice or deep time, erosion is how we see the world. It occurred to me that erosion, as you say, is not just a physical process, but the corrosive process were seeing among politics, theres an erosion of democracy, an erosion of truth, an erosion of our regard for science, erosion of decency, and and on a deeper level, I think an erosion of self. Who are we becoming in this process? I also think that erosion, that our undoing leads to becoming, and one of the things about living in an erosional landscape is that the land is reduced to essence. And I feel that in the positive sense, we too can be brought to our essence if were willing not to look away, to really look at these hard questions of where we find ourselves at this moment in time. Clearing Storm, Cathedral Group, Grand Teton National Park, from Terry Tempest Williams book The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks. (Edward A. Riddell) What would you say to young people who care about the environment, and who, given all the bad news that seems to be coming out about the environment every day, are maybe tempted to give in to despair or give up? I think this is an incredibly transformative time. I have a deep commitment to the next generation, and I see a generation that is engaged, I see a generation of practical, pragmatic visionaries. Theyre wanting to make a difference, and theyre figuring out what that looks like on both a local scale as well as a national and global scale, whether its climate change, whether its growing their own food, whether its teaching in different communities. I really see that action is our way forward. Thats the job of the writer... every day we face the blank page with gratitude, with outrage, with anger, and with love. Terry Tempest Williams I was thinking about being here at the divinity school, one of the things that has inspired me is its not just what we believe, but how we behave. And I really see a strong moral imperative among our young people. I think writing is an aspect of this moral imperative, to be able to speak our truth as we see it, to be able to write out of the communities that were born from, and to acknowledge, from my point of view, why the American West is so crucial to the American imagination, that it really is the seedbed of our inspiration and national identities. Whether its Bears Ears National Monument and the five tribes who are saying these lines are sacred to us the Hopi, Navajo, Zuni and Mountain Ute Nation or when you look at whats happening in Birmingham, Ala., and the museums there that are asking us to look at our history of civil rights, or when you see whats happening at Stonewall and the LGBT history of ACT UP there. I feel like its a time of great hope, hope in our rising against an administration that has forgotten what it means to be inclusive and aspirational but more divisive and confrontational. The Great Arch, from Terry Tempest Williams book The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks. (Mark Klett) Are there any other writers who you would recommend to people who want to pursue nature writing or ecological writing? Im reading Richard Powers The Overstory. I find it so extraordinary in its resistance and insistence that we engage in the protection of the natural world. Its a tremendous novel of a coming together of various people from various walks of life in defense of the Earth. I think thats an incredibly inspiring book. Also, Robin Wall Kimmerer, her book Braiding Sweetgrass, her view both as a scientist and as a native person of what does community look like and how we can extend community. What does community look like and can we extend community beyond our own species? Being here again in Cambridge, I find myself going to Walden Pond every month just to remember the literary engagement of a person like Henry David Thoreau or Emerson or Margaret Fuller. To me, they have had, certainly, an impact. Right now, in many ways, its native people, looking at the elders in Utah that Ive had the privilege of working with, people like Jonah Yellowman or Willie Grayeyes or Mary Benally. Being on the land with them and hearing why Bears Ears matters and hearing the oral stories of their people. That inspires me. I think one of the myths we talk about or have absorbed is the rugged individualism of the American West. For those of us who live there, we know thats not true, that our identities are diverse and deep and communal. I think thats what keeps me in the West and allows me to return even if Im working elsewhere momentarily. My heart is very deep in these wild lands. Terry Tempest Williams poses outside her Castle Valley, Utah, home in 2001. Living in a remote valley in Southern Utah, the naturalist authors love of the land defines her life. (Douglas C. Pizac / AP) We recently lost your dear friend W.S. Merwin, who was a wonderful poet and a hero of literature and environmentalism. Is there anything youd like to say about the influence that hes had on writing and the environment? William, as he was alive, he was viewed as one of Americas greatest poets, and in his death he will be remembered as one of Americas greatest poets. Not only was he a great mind of language and translations and literary history, but I think his devotion on the ground and on the page to protecting the natural world, to restoring the natural world, in his own example of taking these burned pineapple fields and restoring them literally by hand, seed by seed by seed into this extraordinary palm forest to me, he wasnt just a writer, he was this extraordinary steward of the land. I think about Williams hands, what he planted by way of seeds and what he planted by way of poems. He was always present. And I think that was one of his great gifts to me as a writer, is that if we are present in place, then we will be able to hear the land and the language that rises out of the land. Ill never forget, Michael, if you dont mind me sharing this story. My brother had just passed away, Steve. My family, I think in order to try to forget the pain, we thought wed spend Christmas in Hawaii. So our family spent the first Christmas without my brother there. My father, his wife, his children, our whole family was there. It was worse, because I think we were displaced out of the very land that holds us. They left. I went to visit William and Paula, [me and my husband] Brooke. I will never forget, William met us at the airport and he took one look at me, and he said, Whats wrong? I burst into tears. He just held me. He didnt say anything. He took us to this particular overlook of the Pacific. It was this vast perspective towards the horizon with crashing waves and these beautiful folding cliffs that he wrote about. Then we went to their home. Brooke and Paula were in the living room and William took me into his study and he closed the door. I just started weeping. He said, Talk to me. I was telling him about my brother and my concerns for the natural world, all these things cascading at once. Very matter-of-factly, dispassionately, he looked at me with those clear blue eyes, and he said, Terry, this is the place we write from. Ive never forgotten that, that we write out of our grief for what were losing. We write out of our passion for what we love. We write out of our past and toward the future in the present. We do it alone. We do it in community. Thats what this Robert Kirsch Award means to me, is that its an acknowledgement of the community of Western writers that have written out of that place of grief and love and faith. We do it alone. We do it together. My heart is very deep in these wild lands. Terry Tempest Williams Look at what Ive learned from these great minds and teachers. When you look at the words of Merwin, when he said well have to learn a forgotten language. To me, this is what writing is, to retrieve this forgotten language that is inherent in the land. When I think of Wallace Stegner, working about a society to match the scenery, this is what were in the midst of. I remember Wally always saying to me, Its never about one book. Its about a life. Again, how do we behave? I think about Maxine Hong Kingston. We shared a jail cell together on International Womens Day when we were arrested in front of the White House in resistance of the first Iraq war. Being in a jail cell with Alice Walker, with Maxine Hong Kingston, with Susan Griffin, and realizing what these women stand for as writers and as Americans, to me, this is why we write. This is the resistance, the insistence thats born at a place and people and identity. This is what the open space of democracy looks like. I feel its about love. Its always about love. Thats what allows us to continue and to not despair but to realize, really, all we have to do is look at where we are. In California, youve got the Pacific Ocean, youve got Yosemite. You have all these extraordinary landscapes, the big trees. Its so magnificent. So I think, again, its this forgotten language that we have to keep remembering. Thats the job of the writer thats the work of the writer every day we face the blank page with gratitude, with outrage, with anger, and with love. Theres just so much in my heart, and I dont know how to express it all. Im so aware of the limits of language. I think there just has to be something deeper, and for me, courage comes from that sustained focus thats rooted in community. And thats what the West is for me, these beautiful extended communities where we reach each other through water, through land, through history. You know, were bound by beauty, right? That will sustain us. Terry Tempest Williams at the L.A. Times Festival of Books: Williams appears at noon April 13 in conversation with The Times Tom Curwen. Schaub is a writer in Texas. Jeffrey Fleishman is a career storyteller. In 1997, when he was a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pulitzer Prize board chose him as a finalist in feature writing, citing a vivid account of the flight of a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns fleeing Chinese soldiers (Fleishman traveled with them through the Himalayas). Hes a longtime writer for the Los Angeles Times, where he spent many years as a foreign correspondent, serving as bureau chief in Cairo and Berlin, before moving to Los Angeles for the first time in 2014 to cover film, art and culture. He published his first novel, Promised Virgins: A Novel of Jihad, in 2009. It was based a lot on my war correspondent experiences in Kosovo and was sort of autobiographical in that way, he says. But while he started in journalism, fiction was no whimsical detour. I always wanted to be a novelist and I always wanted to be a correspondent. One came first, and the experience of being overseas and covering war became the seed for my first book. His experience as a journalist has informed his craft as much as his subject matter: The thing that translated for me was the accumulation of details, he says. A thousand reporters can go to an event, but you bring your take to that event. But Fleishman has had to overcome some old habits to find his footing as a novelist. The tough thing is to break out of the box, to break out of the barriers, and find that truth in fiction, he says. In the journalists mind, you have the inclination to stay and cleave right to the facts, but you can extrapolate. The boundaries are much wider and you can pull truth from outside of the notebook the slipstream of thought, the way one character might look at a detail. So long as you have confidence and authority in your writing, you can take it anywhere you want to go. The tough thing is to break out of the box, to break out of the barriers, and find that truth in fiction. Jefferey Fleishman Advertisement Promised Virgins was a literary novel, as was his second, Shadow Man, published in 2012, about a foreign correspondent with early-onset dementia. His third novel, My Detective, is his first foray into crime fiction, as well as his first book set in Los Angeles in the land of Raymond Chandler, this is not a coincidence. Los Angeles is known as a place of noir, and nobody does noir better than Los Angeles, he says. I thought, why dont I make my protagonist a detective and pit him against a killer whose life is invested in the remaking of downtown? Fleishmans hero is Sam Carver, a homicide detective in the hard-boiled tradition: smart, brave, dogged, and haunted by plenty of demons. His father was a boxer, a misfit who kind of roamed around and died early in a very violent way, Fleishman says. The first body Sam ever saw was his fathers, when he was found beaten to death in Newport, Rhode Island. Its this thing in his head and his heart thats always there, this need to get the bottom of it. Fleishman notes that cops and journalists are somewhat alike: They have similar temperaments. Theyre distilling and deciphering all the time. But My Detective isnt just a heros tale. Half of the novel is in Sams point of view; the rest of it belongs to the killer, a woman named Dylan Cross. The two leads alternate chapters, speaking in first person and present tense. I wanted to get into their heads and tissue and see what makes them tick, Fleishman says. There is no whodunit in this book we meet Dylan in the act of killing, on the first page. She lets us watch her violence; she tells us about her romantic obsession with Sam, whom she stalks and refers to as my detective. The thrill is in learning her motives and in seeing her lead her dance with Sam. Jeffrey Fleishman, author of My Detective, and a Times writer. (Clare Fleishman) L.A. Times Festival of Books is back! Check out the lineup for our massive literary event launching April 13 and 14 at the USC campus. Dylan is an architect, one of the makers of the new Los Angeles. That grew out of seeing the city changing, all these cranes swinging across the skyline, all these buildings going up it was changing around me in very real time, Fleishman says. I was putting together the fact that I wanted to write a noir novel and thought I wanted to make the architect a killer, and I wanted to make a comment on what was happening in L.A. aesthetically. Through the architect, we have beauty and purpose, we have the lines and angles that are making the city. Architecture is also one of the most discriminatory professions around. Fleishmans killer might agree; she seeks vengeance against a group of male architects. Fleishman lives in downtown Los Angeles, across from the Grand Central Market. In four years of living in downtown I became struck by how this city was changing at hyperspeed, he says. Its a curious and fascinating social experiment because you have progressive politics, and you have developer money and the young sort of hipster crowd coming in and then you have the homeless. I thought I would love to tell a story centered in this neighborhood. My Detective is the first of a trilogy featuring Sam Carver. The second book, which will be out next year, also takes place in downtown Los Angeles it centers on the murder of a famous Russian ballerina who lives on Spring Street. I wanted to make Los Angeles its own character, and I wanted to do that because Im not from L.A., Fleishman says. You hear so much about this city, you read so much about this city, its mythology, and now Im here in it. :: My Detective Jeffrey Fleishman Blackstone Publishing; 288 pp., $25.99 Jeffrey Fleishman at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: Fleishman appears at 2:30 p.m. April 13 in conversation with Steph Cha, Lou Berney, Tod Goldberg and Joe Ide. Cha is a novelist, editor and attorney. She has been a member of Mystery Writers of America since 2013. A day after handing in his resignation from Tesla Inc., a senior leader returned to work last September to tie up loose ends and say goodbye to his colleagues. Word spread that the employee had resigned, leading Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk to accost the worker, swearing at him and telling him to leave immediately, according to people with direct knowledge of the incident who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution. Musk made physical contact with the staffer in a confrontation that drew the attention of other employees and spilled into a hallway and later the parking lot, the people said. The employee told people that Musk had pushed him, an account corroborated by others with knowledge of the incident. Another person described it as a tap or light touch. Advertisement In either case, the incident got the attention of Teslas board, which said in a statement that it reviewed the matter and compiled accounts from witnesses. The board concluded there was no physical altercation, though it didnt specifically address the allegation of physical contact or verbal haranguing. Musks history of outbursts and rage firings are well documented, but the incident last September is a rare glimpse into how the board has had to grapple with his behavior. The directors are under pressure from the Securities and Exchange Commission and investors to increase their oversight of the CEO, though it risks alienating the man whose cult of personality is closely linked to Teslas maverick image. The worker in the September incident declined to comment. He is not being named because other people agreed to talk about the episode if his name was withheld to protect him from retribution. The events took place at Teslas delivery hub in Fremont, Calif., a few miles from its lone auto assembly plant. September was the final sprint in a frenzied third quarter during which Musk declared the company was in delivery logistics hell getting cars to customers. He had drawn regulatory scrutiny for a tweet suggesting he was taking Tesla private, then smoked pot during an appearance on a popular live-streamed podcast. Executives were leaving in droves, and the boards patience with its chairman, Musk, was being tested. On at least two other occasions within that 30-day period, Tesla dispatched workers after tongue-lashings from Musk. So Musk was already under pressure when word got out that Friday that the worker planned to leave Tesla. The departure was one of several to roil the team that month, and one former colleague said the employee was one of our best problem solvers and a great business mind. Musk had set aggressive goals and was unhappy with the pace of deliveries. Getting a backpack In response to Musks shouts, the worker moved to get his backpack, but Musk physically blocked him, the people said. Musk told the worker to just get out, using a vulgar word, they recalled. Outside, Musk again confronted him and continued to berate him, warning the employee that if he harmed Tesla, I will nuke you, according to one of the people with direct knowledge of the incident. Other people said the warning was meant to keep the employee quiet about what had transpired that day. Teslas board declined to comment when specifically asked whether Musk threatened the employee. Eventually, Musks chief of staff fetched the backpack and gave it to the employee, who left Tesla for good that day. The employee contacted human resources, which led to the investigation into Musks actions. It is the boards responsibility to take seriously any potential issues that come to our attention involving senior executives, no matter how small or how large, the board said in an emailed statement. In this instance we conducted a thorough review, which proved that there was never a physical altercation, a fact confirmed by multiple people who were present at the time. In a statement, Tesla said no physical altercation took place. Like the board, the company didnt specifically address the allegation of physical contact or verbal upbraiding of the employee. Elon did exit an employee at our Fremont delivery center last year due to concerns about his performance, however there was no physical altercation whatsoever, the company said. Those reports are simply untrue as confirmed by numerous people that observed the incident first-hand. Its not clear who led the investigation on behalf of Teslas board or when the review was completed. Other firings Word of the incident, which several people witnessed, has traveled among current and former Tesla employees, several of whom say they remain afraid of their former boss. Although the September incident is an extreme example, it reflects a description of Musk that is notorious among current staff and the growing diaspora of Tesla alumni: an inspiring but sometimes volatile leader, often driving employees to a breaking point. Earlier in September, Musk confronted another employee. The CEO, standing close to the worker, loudly yelled at him in front of customers. Another manager, an Army veteran, stepped in to defend the visibly shaken employee, according to a person familiar with the matter. Later, on an internal call attended by dozens of Tesla employees, Musk announced that the employee had been fired. The company had yet to alert the employee himself of his termination. That same month, Tesla fired the Army veteran after she told Musk that the company would deliver only 80,000 vehicles in the third quarter instead of Musks desired 100,000, according to a person familiar with the matter. Musk had lambasted her as well. Tesla later announced that it delivered 83,500 vehicles that quarter. In 2014, the U.S. Labor Department formally inducted the Chinese workers who helped build the transcontinental railroad into its Hall of Honor, giving them a place in American labor history alongside union leaders such as Eugene V. Debs and A. Philip Randolph and champions of worker dignity such as Mother Jones and Cesar Chavez. What was remarkable about that moment was that it took the nation 145 years to recognize Chinese immigrants role in building the nation. From 1865 to 1869, as many as 20,000 Chinese laborers worked on the Central Pacific Railroad, which ran from Sacramento to Promontory Summit, Utah, where it was united with the Union Pacific Railroad in the golden spike ceremony marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Those workers accounted for as much as 90% of the Central Pacific workforce. The Central Pacific could not have been built without them and without the Central Pacific, the history of the American West and California in particular might have been very different. Thats a fact to be considered as the 150th anniversary of the golden spike ceremony looms just a month away, and as immigration again roils American politics. Advertisement Chinese workers were acknowledged as ubiquitous and indispensable, but they were accorded no voice. We cannot hear what they said, thought, or felt. Gordon H. Chang, Stanford University For the experience of the immigrant Chinese workers in America bears lessons for us today: Their importance in building the nation, the West and California is incontestable, yet has been obscured by racism and xenophobia that made it easy for subsequent generations to forget their role. They were low-paid laborers, denied a path to citizenship, victimized by violent reaction, yet without them America would be a different and a poorer place. As Stanford historian Gordon H. Chang writes in his forthcoming book Ghosts of Gold Mountain, these workers have been rendered all but invisible. In fact, in some instances Chinese are written out of the story altogether. Chang began a concerted effort to redress the balance in 2012, when he and his Stanford colleague Shelley Fisher Fishkin organized the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford and put out a call for documents, including family papers, here and in China. The prospects were not auspicious. Through the years, with other colleagues, I tried to locate documentary material, but never with success, Chang, a fourth-generation Californian, told me. So I knew the chances of unearthing something that no one had found before were slim. But there were tantalizing leads, he says a mention by another historian of a taped interview with a railroad worker in the 1930s, for instance. But we looked for the tape and couldnt find it. In 2012, he and his colleagues began a systematic search of repositories around the country, identified descendants of railroad workers whose families might have documentary material, and reached out to colleagues in China, especially in Guangdong (Canton), the region northwest of Hong Kong from which the railroad workers came. Indeed, the dearth of material was bewildering. Many of the workers were literate; tens of thousands of letters were known to have crossed the Pacific in the mid- to late 19th century, according to records of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Yet, remarkably, not a single message from or to a Railroad Chinese in this vigorous traffic has been located, Chang writes. He blames arson, pillaging, and the willful destruction of Chinese belongings by hostile 19th century mobs in America, as well as political upheavals in China and events such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Bit by bit, however, a picture emerged. There were Chinese-language material in the U.S. and China that had not been consulted before, archeological artifacts from the railroad route that revealed much about the Chinese workers daily lives, poetry and folk songs that told more about the workers hopes, fears and feelings, and family lore handed down through the generations as oral legacies. Then there was the context of their employment, skated over by historians with little interest in the Chinese immigrant experience. In public, Chinese immigrants were denigrated as interlopers by political leaders. Among the latter were Leland Stanford, Californias first Republican governor and the president of the Central Pacific. In his inaugural address as governor in 1862, Stanford disdained the settlement among us of an inferior race a degraded and distinct people exercising a deleterious influence upon the superior race. Yet Stanford employed numerous Chinese workers at his home, some of whom were treated as almost family, and even had his wife, who was suffering a serious infection, treated by a Chinese healer, who brought her back to health after Western medicine had failed. When railroad construction began, Charles Crocker had to fight a battle with Stanford and his other partners to hire Chinese laborers, even though white European laborers were so scarce that the progress of the railroad was in question. As Chang relates, James Strobridge, the fearsome, eye-patched field superintendent, declared, I will not boss Chinese. He was overruled by Crocker with the words, Did they not build the Chinese wall, the biggest piece of masonry in the world? Strobridge found his workers at first in Auburn, a community in the Sierra foothills with a large Chinese population dating from the gold rush. There he met a Chinese labor contractor identified as Hung Wah almost certainly not his real name, for it translates as working together harmoniously and might refer to his position as a labor agent, Chang writes. Chang mined payroll and census records to assemble a glimpse of Hung Wahs life emigration to the U.S. in 1850 at perhaps 19, occupied initially as a miner but with an entrepreneurial streak that made him a valued intermediary between the Chinese workers and the railroad bosses. The Chinese workers showed their worth quickly. They took on the lowliest and most dangerous tasks, were paid 30% less than their white co-workers the whites received higher pay and board, the Chinese lower pay and no board and were banned from managerial roles on the project. They were effective and disciplined workers, not given to drinking or carousing, and complaisant until June 24, 1867, when the entire Chinese workforce stopped work, demanding pay parity with white workers. The standoff lasted eight days, broken by a cutoff of goods and food by the company (or possibly the Chinese labor contractors), and the companys hard-nosed refusal to negotiate. Eventually, Chang reports, the company quietly raised the Chinese workers pay, though not to parity. Changs work fills in many of the blanks left by standard histories of the transcontinental railroad by Stephen Ambrose and David Haward Bain. Both mention the role of the Chinese laborers how could they not? but fail to give them an individual voice. Bains accounts of the golden spike celebration at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869, for example, mentions that Strobridge introduced his Chinese foreman to the celebrants, without identifying Hung Wah by name. Chang names three of the other workers likely to have been introduced that day, but observes that news accounts of the ceremony dont mention whether the Chinese workers even spoke. This was and remains typical of their treatment in history. Chinese workers were acknowledged as ubiquitous and indispensable, Chang writes, but they were accorded no voice. We cannot hear what they said, thought or felt. They were silent spikes or nameless builders. The most dispiriting part of the story of the Chinese railroad workers is their treatment after the railroads completion, when they were subjected to racial discrimination and violence. The 1870s and 1880s were a time of political reaction throughout the country, Chang says. The turning away from Reconstruction meant the resurrection of Confederate racial attitudes. The Chinese, he adds, were radically different racially, culturally, and in terms of the work style from Europeans. A depression that started in 1873 added economic conflict to the mix. The racist pandering in which Stanford engaged in 1862 found a ready audience. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 barred Chinese immigrants from entering the United States, Chinese resident aliens from citizenship and Chinese workers from working on government projects; in 1931 the companies building Hoover Dam were forbidden by their government contracts to employ Mongolian [i.e., Chinese] labor. That raised few objections from labor organizations of the time, which were anxious to preserve job opportunities for their own, typically Caucasian, members. The Chinese Exclusion Act wasnt repealed until 1943, when Congress recognized that such official discrimination gave the Japanese enemy a wedge to drive between the U.S. and its nationalist Chinese allies. Even then, visas were limited to 105 a year. Chang writes that the railroad descendants family accounts echo with a varying mixture of pride, anguish, celebration, and resentment. Many see their ancestors labor on the railroad as the purchase of, and the irrefutable claim to, American place and identity. But thats weighed against the ignorance and prejudice that demeaned the Railroad Chinese, who despite their sacrifice were tossed aside after the railroad work was done, their stories marginalized or omitted from the histories that followed. In 1969, at a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the golden spike, then-Transportation Secretary John Volpe infuriated Chinese Americans in the audience by declaring, Who else but Americans could drill ten tunnels in mountains 30 feet deep in snow? Who else but Americans could have laid ten miles of track in 12 hours? Some 45 years after that, the Labor Department recognized the contributions of the railroad workers, and one year later, when President Obama welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House, he observed that Chinese immigrants helped build our railroads and our great cities. Now, Chang says, We may be at a turning point of Chinese Americans confronting the past and demanding a change. The 150th anniversary of the golden spike ceremony beckons a month from now, marking an ideal opportunity to bring the workers who made it happen out of historys shadows. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. If it were something that benefits the city, youd be eager to brag about all its benefits, he said. Instead, youre trying to slip this through. Its probably something that only benefits the business and does nothing for the city. Senior U.S. Treasury official David Malpass has been appointed president of the World Bank Group, placing a loyalist of President Trump at the helm of the development lender. Malpass was unanimously selected to serve a five-year term starting April 9, the World Banks executive board said in a statement Friday. Trump nominated Malpass in February, choosing a loyal supporter who had been sharply critical of China and called for a shakeup of the global economic order. Critics including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz questioned the selection, pointing to Malpass doubts about international cooperation. But no other countries proposed any candidates to challenge Malpass, making his selection by the board all but assured. Advertisement Before his nomination, Malpass portrayed the World Bank as too big, inefficient and reluctant to cut funding for developing countries that grow into dynamic emerging markets. He pushed the bank to lend less to China, arguing that the worlds second-biggest economy has the financial resources to support itself. Since being nominated, Malpass has adopted a gentler tone, noting he was Americas lead negotiator on a package of reforms under which the bank will receive a $13-billion capital increase. Under the plan, the bank will focus more lending on lower-income countries. Malpass succeeds Jim Yong Kim, who stepped down Feb. 1 to join an investment firm. Kristalina Georgieva, chief executive of the bank, has been acting as the interim president. The position of World Bank president has historically gone to an American, while a European has led its sister organization, the International Monetary Fund. Some observers have called for the bank to break with tradition and appoint a non-American in recognition of the growing clout of emerging markets such as China and India, and the lenders focus on development. Malpass, 63, had served as Treasury undersecretary for international affairs under Trump. In that role, he represented the United States at international economic gatherings including Group of 20 summits and IMF and World Bank meetings. He previously held senior posts at the Treasury and State departments under Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He served as chief economist at Bear Stearns, an investment bank that collapsed during the global financial crisis. U.S. pistachio growers like Jim Zion braced for the worst last year when the nut got caught up in Americas escalating trade tensions with China complete with potential tariffs of as much as 45%. We were concerned that, with the trade war, we were going to see a dramatic reduction in shipments, said Zion, managing partner of Meridian Growers in Fresno. China is one of our largest markets. But that didnt happen. U.S. pistachio exports to China rose 7% to a record 108 million pounds in the crop year through August, according to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, and another 10% in the six months since. Turns out that a bit of luck the second-largest producer, Iran, had a bad crop coupled with Chinas big appetite for pistachios, sustained demand, price threat and all. Chinese consumers really want these nuts and the U.S. has them, said Roland Fumasi, an analyst for RaboResearch. They dont have a lot of choices. Thats what is driving this. Advertisement The new tariffs on pistachios were announced in April as part of Chinas retaliation to President Trumps steel and aluminum levies, with additional taxes announced in June bringing the potential tariff rate to as high as 45% up from just 5% originally. But with the nut a popular gift for holidays such as the Chinese New Year, buyers havent curbed their demand from the U.S., the worlds biggest supplier. About two-thirds of American pistachio shipments went to international markets last year, with China and Hong Kong the biggest customers by far. There could also be more at play including lower-than-expected tariffs being collected. With China and the U.S. still in talks about potentially ending their trade war, China has since rolled back some U.S.-specific agricultural tariffs. China may also not be collecting the full tariffs while the talks on a potential deal are ongoing. Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday the two sides had reached new consensus on issues including the text of a trade agreement, according to Xinhua. Trump said a deal was probably still weeks away. Theres also some confusion about how to classify some kinds of pistachios, giving a leg-up to exporters of roasted nuts. According to Richard Matoian, executive director of American Pistachio Growers, roasted pistachios were supposed to be part of the highest tariffs, but because of a clerical mistake, they didnt receive the full brunt. Zion, the grower, said hes also received reports that, in some cases, the Chinese tariffs that buyers there would be responsible for paying havent been enforced. The back-and-forth rounds of tariffs and reprieves have left exporters confused but pleased that the full tariff has not seemed to come to pass in many cases. Its either been a blessing, or weve been extremely lucky for everything to occur when it did, and how it did, Matoian said. However, the future remains to be unseen. If Irans crop recovers, or if China begins collecting the same tariffs on all pistachio imports, Americas farmers could be due for a rude awakening. If that occurs, Chinese purchases are likely to decline this year as importers look for alternative sources. That might hold back an industry that has come a long way since the mid-1970s when less than 5,000 acres in California produced the first crop. Over the past four decades, as pistachios, and other nuts, morphed from salty snacks into a protein-rich health food, production boomed. Now, U.S. pistachios are a $1 billion industry with more than 330,000 acres. The negative effect on the U.S. pistachio industry was partially offset by the poor Iranian crop. If the tariffs continue and with a reasonable Iranian crop, there will be negative impacts on the U.S. pistachio industry, a spokesman for the Wonderful Co., a pistachio producer and seller, said in an email when asked about the situation in China. Wonderful says the pistachios it produces and buys from other growers make up about half of the U.S. crop. Meanwhile, China accounted for about 17% of the total U.S. industry in the last fiscal year. But there may already be some signs of trouble. Shipments to China fell by about a third in February. Its too early to tell if that February dip is concerning or just a blip. For now, American farmers are hoping its business as usual. The addition of the tariffs and the trade dispute has added a layer that we have absolutely zero control over, Zion said. We are kind of waiting on the edge of our seat. Despite hopes that a U.S.-China trade deal is at hand, President Trump said Thursday that some key issues have yet to be resolved and that they are not close enough for him to announce a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said that he should know over the next four weeks whether there is summit or not, quelling speculation throughout the day that he was ready to name the date of a meeting with Xi. If we have a deal, well have a summit, he said. Now a summit could come closer to the end of May, or possibly June, when Trump and Xi are expected to attend a global leaders summit in Japan. The president spoke during an Oval Office meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and the Chinese delegation that arrived this week for the latest round of talks with the American team, led by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Advertisement The two sides met last week in Beijing, and negotiations have picked up recently amid indications that they are making solid progress in an effort to end a yearlong trade conflict between the worlds two biggest economies. Some of the toughest things have been agreed to, Trump said. But he also cited tariffs and intellectual property rights as two sticking issues. Trump last year slapped tariffs on about $250 billion of Chinese imported goods, and Beijing retaliated with penalties on about $110 billion of American products. Chinese officials have pressed for the removal of all or a substantial portion of the tariffs as part of a trade deal in which China would make big purchases of U.S. goods and address long-standing concerns about Chinas market access for foreign firms, intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer policies. The Trump administration has sought to maintain at least some tariffs on Chinese goods as leverage. There also have been discussions about allowing a snapback of U.S. penalties should China fail to live up to its promises, with Beijing promising to not retaliate. Analysts doubt China will agree to something that ties its hands. At the same time, U.S. officials know that once tariffs on Chinese imports are removed, it will be harder for Washington to reassess penalties later, especially with the U.S. campaign for the 2020 election. Trump will find it difficult to do something that would hurt farmers and other constituents who would feel the pain from a renewed trade fight with China. Both sides are going to have to address tariffs as part of the endgame, said Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of international affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Trump has twice backed off a threat to increase tariffs on Chinese goods, and also spoke about the possibility of meeting last month with Xi at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. The president has repeatedly said that the trade deal would be comprehensive and unprecedented. He said Thursday, This is the granddaddy of them all. Well see if it happens. But it remains to be seen how strong of a monitoring and enforcement mechanism the U.S. side will come away with. While China will almost certainly promise to buy hundreds of billions of dollars of American farm goods and energy products, among other things, its unclear over what period those purchases will be made and how much capacity American companies have to meet the additional demand. The proof of the pudding is how its going to be implemented, Brilliant said. Trump insisted that there will be strong enforcement. I think well get that done, he said. Apart from the substance of any possible deal, the Chinese and U.S. sides also appear to be at odds on the specifics of a summit between Trump and Xi. Trump previously said he would like to have Xi return to Mar-a-Lago to put the finishing touches on a trade deal, but the Chinese do not like those optics. Xi already has been to Mar-a-Lago, and the Chinese do not want to give the impression that Xi was in some way being summoned by Trump, said David Loevinger, a managing director at TCW Emerging Markets Group in Los Angeles and a former senior Treasury Department official for China affairs. Brilliant, the Chamber of Commerce executive, said the Chinese would prefer a meeting at a neutral site. That could point to a Trump-Xi summit in June when the two leaders are expected to attend the Group of 20 economic summit in Japan. Last winter Trump and Xi met for dinner on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires, where they announced a truce in their tit-for-tat trade war. If the two sides can reach agreement, it would mark a breakthrough after more than a year of escalating tensions. It could help lift a big cloud of uncertainty in the global economy and also provide some ballast to bilateral relations that have become increasingly fraught over Beijings broader geopolitical and economic activities. The latest from Washington More stories from Don Lee If you cant get out to see Southern Californias super bloom before tourists trample it flat, dont despair: L.A. theater has its own spring fever, with productions celebrating love, youth, discovery, transformation, second chances and late-life rebirths. Here on the 99-Seat Beat, our weekly look at the small-theater scene, we have three picks that could be fun outings for the whole family: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at the 24th Street Theatre, The Root Beer Bandits at the Garry Marshall Theatre, and Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe at Plaza de la Raza. The fourth, The Things We Do, by politician-turned-playwright Grant Woods, reminds older folks that foolish passion isnt just for the young. Edward Tulane on 24th Street The essentials: Kate DiCamillo is one of only six writers to have won two Newbery Medals, the most prestigious honor in childrens literature. Her 2006 novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, in which a self-centered porcelain rabbit learns how to love, may be her best, according to a New York Times review. A porcelain rabbit may not be the most promising leading man. (A snarky review would write itself: His acting is stiff.) But Dwayne Hartford, playwright-in-residence at Childsplay, a theater for young audiences in Tempe, Ariz., brings Edward to vivid life in his popular stage adaptation. Why this? The 24th Street Theatre specializes in productions for all ages, and that doesnt mean puppet shows that have parents gritting their teeth or opera that sets toddlers squirming in their seats. Director Debbie Devine sets out to create shows that genuinely engage everyone. If the companys track record isnt incentive enough, then be tempted by this hopeful story about a narcissist learning to feel empathy. The details: 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., Los Angeles. 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, extended to June 2. $24. (213) 745-6516 or 24thstreet.org Advertisement Rachel Weck in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Jennie McInnis) Root Beer Bandits at Garry Marshall The essentials: The late Garry Marshall couldnt be contained. He directed movies. He created TV sitcoms. And he founded the Falcon Theatre, renamed for him after his death in 2016. Marshall brought together daughter Lori Marshall with Joseph Leo Bwarie and songwriter Rachel Lawrence 15 years ago to create a family musical set during the time of the Pony Express. The result, The Root Beer Bandits, a Rootin Tootin Wild West Musicale, had two wildly successful runs at the Falcon. Now, a new generation will get to experience the spirited vaudeville-style romp. Why this? Marshalls crowd-pleasing credo which his protege Matt Walker once summed up as Faster! Funnier! doesnt go out of style. The Times praised Root Beer Bandits in 2004 for its effervescent, unsugary book and lyrics. The new production has a stellar cast and the lure of Christine Lakins choreography. The details: Garry Marshall Theatre, 4252 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank. 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m. Sundays, through April 28. $22. (818) 955-8101 or garrymarshalltheatre.org Cloie Wyatt Taylor in a new revival of The Root Beer Bandits at the Garry Marshall Theatre. (Lorenzo Hodges) Evangeline at Plaza de la Raza The essentials: Is any historical era more evocative of spring than the late 1960s? Think earthy young iconoclasts inventing wild new forms of self-expression. The musical Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe uses the songs of the East L.A. rock band Los Lobos as the soundtrack for a coming-of-age story set in 1968 Hollywood. Co-creators Theresa Chavez and Rose Portillo of About Productions and Louie Perez of Los Lobos have honed Evangeline through previous runs into a taut, rocking, psychedelic evocation of an incomparably fertile era, seen through the eyes of a teenage Latina. Why this? The tagline Dutiful East L.A. daughter by day, Hollywood go-go dancer by night is a tough sales pitch to top. If anybody in your party needs more persuading, cue up a Los Lobos album. The track that inspired this musical, Evangeline, might be a good place to start. The details: Plaza de la Razas Margo Albert Theatre, 3540 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, through April 14. $15-$35. aboutpd.org Nina Diaz performs the songs of Los Lobos in a new production of Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe at Plaza de la Raza. (Alysse Gafkjen) Things We Do at the Odyssey The essentials: Grant Woods, who was Arizonas attorney general in the 1990s, turned to writing relatively late in his career. His first play, The Things We Do, is a sex comedy about middle-aged people. A pair of adulterous lovers come up with a scheme to get out of their marriages without looking like the villains. Their plan: Set up their spouses to fall for each other. L.A. THEATER: Last week on the 99-Seat Beat Why this? Transformation and rebirth arent just for the young. Nothing personal to millennials, Woods said on an Arizona TV morning show, but this play is not about their little angst problems. Its more like real problems and real people, who have had a little experience. Elina de Santos directs this guest production at the Odyssey. The details: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 12. $35-$40. (310) 477-2055, Ext. 2, or OdysseyTheatre.com Blake Boyd and Marlene Galan in The Things We Do at the Odyssey Theatre. (Jeff Lorch) The 99-Seat Beat appears every Friday. Our reviewers shortlist offerings with an emphasis on smaller venues. Some recommendations are shows weve seen; others are based on the track record of the company, playwright, director or cast. Support our coverage of local artists and the local arts scene by becoming a digital subscriber. See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. The hills of Griffith Park are lush and green, and a wildflower superbloom is just a day-trip away, but down in the bed of the L.A. River, a different remnant of winter rains lingers: trash. Clinging to the branches of willow trees and large reeds in the riverbed by Elysian Valley, a.k.a. Frogtown, thousands of strips of plastic bags and tattered clothing flutter in the breeze. When heavy rains carried litter down the storm drain, the water may have continued into the ocean but the trash stayed. For the last six months, Cal State Northridge students in art, music, anthropology, interior design and dance left their campus studios and rehearsal spaces for occasional trips here. They gathered some of that trash, as well as some of the rivers more natural materials, such as rocks and reeds. Back on campus Friday, those students will play musical instruments made from their scavenging, and they will dance in costumes made from river detritus. Its all part of Future Currents: L.A. River, a daylong festival designed to engage students and visitors with the river through creative projects. Presented by the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, the free event will take place throughout the centers indoor and outdoor spaces on the CSUN campus. Advertisement Future Currents is a part of Soraya Executive Director Thor Steingrabers desire for sustainability-themed programming. He and his team turned to Brooklyn eco-artist and choreographer Lynn Neuman and Los Angeles artist and river advocate Steve Appleton. Steve Appleton with Cal State Northridge students at L.A. River. (Lindsay Morrison / The Soraya) CASTING COUP: A Madama Butterfly like never before Appleton owns a small plot along the river in Frogtown. There he runs a kayak touring business and creates artworks out of trash and natural materials collected from the riverbed. One material that Appleton has worked with a great deal recently is Arundo donax, a tall, bamboo-like reed that is native to the Middle East and Africa. Appleton has watched the Army Corps of Engineers wage a battle with the invasive species, trying to clear it out so it doesnt impede the flow of the river. Whether and how to remove Arundo donax is just one of the many complex questions engineers, city planners and environmentalists face as they contemplate the rivers future. When we first started working on this project, people in the various river communities told us that there can be a lot of contention from opposing sides of different issues surrounding the river, Steingraber said. But I told them I think artists have a unique opportunity to be agnostic about those issues. We can do a project that brings attention to the river without taking sides, without being pro-development or anti-development, for example. And so CSUN students have gotten to know Arundo donax, learning about its history. For millenniums the reed has been used to make music. The ney, a popular Persian, Turkish and Arabic end-blown flute and one of the worlds oldest instruments, is made from carefully treated and prepared Arundo donax. Western reed instruments like the oboe and clarinet also rely on the uniquely structured material. Northridge student Genevieve Hilburn makes instruments with Arundo donax. Students will perform a Hilburn-written composition using river-sourced instruments. (Lindsay Morrison / The Soraya) GMCLA: Why the Gay Mens Chorus of L.A. is singing for survival With the help of a local ney player and an ethnomusicologist, the students have built their own original percussion and wind instruments drums, bonkers, pan flutes and more from reeds they gathered with Appleton and Neuman. Using Arundo donax instruments, they will perform a work composed by percussion student Genevieve Hilburn. Festival attendees can make their own reed instruments as well. Neumans Artichoke Dance Company dancers, wearing costumes made out of plastic bags, perform Visioning Bodies. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Wearing costumes made out of plastic bags, six dancers from Neumans Artichoke Dance Company will premiere Visioning Bodies, a roving, 45-minute work designed to move across the Soraya campus. Were used to navigating crowds, Neuman said of her dance company, which is known for site-specific eco-choreography and activism. At the Soraya, her dancers will perform at a grove of trees, a fountain and Appletons Alluvial Wave, a gently bending, woven sculpture made from stalks held together by fasteners that were 3-D printed using plastic from the river. Neuman said her artistic engagement with the river is designed to draw attention not only to the river itself, but also to how decisions about its future are made, and who makes them. A lot of times a big engineering solution that tackles one or two problems is what gets implemented, hence the reason the L.A. River looks the way it looks now, Neuman said. With this piece I want to look at things more holistically and creatively. Visioning Bodies does some modeling of things Ive observed. There are causes and effects in the river. Youll see that mirrored through our movements. One dancers movement has an effect on the rest of the group. Like the river, Visioning Bodies is organic, flowing and changing. Neumans advice to anyone attending the Friday performances: Wear comfortable shoes, she said, because youre not going to be sitting down. Future Currents: L.A. River Where: The Soraya, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge When: Liquid State performed with Arundo donax instruments at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Visioning Bodies performed at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Admission: Free Info: thesoraya.org Support our coverage of local artists and the local arts scene by becoming a digital subscriber. See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. Although he has long championed daring work, veteran director Bart DeLorenzo takes a walk on the tame side in Too Much Sun, Nicky Silvers comedy-drama staged as a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre. DeLorenzo has assembled a superb cast and an exceptional design team for this West Coast premiere, and he doesnt miss a trick in his well-paced show. Silver, a popular playwright produced off and on Broadway, is known for scathingly funny and absurdist comedy-dramas about urban families in crisis. Yet even DeLorenzos best efforts cant redress the deficiencies of Too Much Sun, which contains clunky subplots of a foreseeable ilk and never quite forges a cathartic connection among its characters, much less with the audience. The action opens on a wonderfully farcical scene, as moderately renowned stage diva Audrey Langham (Diane Cary), now on the down side of her career, has a spectacular meltdown during rehearsals for a Chicago production of Medea. She flees the theater for Cape Cod, where daughter Kitty (Autumn Reeser) and son-in-law Dennis (Bryan Langlitz) have a summer house. Advertisement Included in this somewhat self-consciously Chekhovian milieu are Winston (Clint Jordan), the year-round Cape resident who lives next door; Winstons teenage son Lucas (Bailey Edwards), a deceptively laid-back drug dealer, still ravaged by his mothers recent suicide; and Gil (Joe Gillette), the nervous agents assistant dispatched to bring the recalcitrant Audrey back to Chicago. MORE THEATER: Our weekly column on Southern Californias stage scene. Its been more than two years since Audrey has been in touch with Kitty, and time has only exacerbated Kittys blazing resentment against her mother, whom she blames for deliberately keeping her away from her father. With her career on the skids and a lawsuit for breach of contract filed against her, the six-times-married Audrey sets her snare for the well-to-do neighbor Winston, who falls for Audrey like an overripe peach. During Audreys unwelcome visit to Kitty and Dennis house, tensions build, secrets are concealed and tragedy ensues. Silver knows his way around a one-liner, and he sets up some delightfully silly situations. However, the unfolding disaster is so predictable that it lacks emotional impact, and the characters verge on stereotype. Despite that, the actors are terrific, particularly Cary, whose Audrey is so narcissistic and self-involved we should detest her rather than root for her every step of the way as we do. If Audreys semi-redemption seems a bit unlikely, its through no fault of Cary, who hard-sells her character like a wily hawker at a street bazaar. Too Much Sun Where: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles When: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $32-$37. (310) 477-2055 x2. OdysseyTheatre.com Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes. Support our coverage of local artists and the local arts scene by becoming a digital subscriber. See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. A couple of weeks ago, after viewing an architectural schematic that featured a pair of elevated glass catwalks, I posted a tweet that invited male architects to navigate their own designs in a skirt. Idea: All male architects should be required to navigate their own buildings in a skirt. Carolina A. Miranda (@cmonstah) June 26, 2018 The post ignited a flurry of responses from women, including Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times assistant managing editor and former television critic, who suggested adding heels to the mix. and heels. which would put an end to all those slippery staircases. https://t.co/u14i8Ss37O mary mcnamara (@marymacTV) June 26, 2018 Advertisement To that challenge, design writer Alissa Walker of Curbed added babies. Also with a toddler, and while holding an infant https://t.co/F56C8sr6nJ Alissa Walker (@awalkerinLA) June 26, 2018 The tweet reignited a debate about an ongoing design issue in many public spaces that some of them simply do not keep women in mind. I took the picture at the top of this post at the Nicanor Parra Library at Diego Portales University in Santiago, Chile, in 2015. The building was designed by Chilean architect Mathias Klotz and was completed in 2012 in other words, at a point in time when male architects should know better. Yet the library features glass floors in locations throughout the building. (Naturally, I was wearing a skirt on the day I visited.) And, in reply to my tweet, writer John Hill, who writes the blog A Daily Dose of Architecture, pointed out the use of see-through walkways in Rafael Vinolys building for the architecture school he designed for the City College of New York which he completed in 2009. Now I'm imagining a skirt-clad Rafael Vinoly traversing the catwalks of the architecture school he designed for @CityCollegeNY pic.twitter.com/F6Kw9dStDo John Hill (@archidose) June 27, 2018 City College isnt the only school of architecture to employ transparent walkways. The Southern California Institute of Architecture, known as SCI-Arc, in downtown Los Angeles has similar elevated walkways. (At a recent gala dinner I attended, some women including myself gathered their skirts as they moved across the elevated metal grates.) This not only affects the women who work and study in those buildings according to the Assn. of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, 42% of accredited architecture degrees were awarded to women in 2013 but it normalizes the idea among architecture students that transparent walkways are just a benign architectural feature. They are not. But the most notorious, and consistent, example of ill-thought building transparency remains Apples various stores, as noted by Times book editor Carolyn Kellogg. Apple store glass stairs, Im looking at you. Carolyn Kellogg (@paperhaus) June 26, 2018 Apples Instagram-friendly glass staircases are a subject that has been raised by various female critics over the years. In 2010, technology writer Joanne McNeil wrote about this very topic in a post that ran on her blog Tomorrow Museum, later reprinted by Mediaite. If I were commissioning the interior of any kind of store and someone brought me blueprints including glass staircases, Id tell him to take a hike, she wrote then. I wouldnt give him a second shot. If hes not intuitive enough to grasp that women in skirts will be uncomfortable walking upstairs, clouded glass or not, then what other errors has he made in his design? Like, maybe, placing womens bathrooms in architectural exile. Or explain why mens toilets are always right near meeting rooms, while women usually need a swipe card or code because they have to walk outside the entire space. Natasha Coster (@NatashaCoster1) June 27, 2018 So, if there are a few good men out there (within driving distance of Los Angeles) willing to walk around one their own or someone elses buildings in a skirt while wearing high heels and holding a purse and a baby my lines are open. In lieu of licensed architects, I will also take a class of male architecture students. (Ahem, SCI-Arc?) You all have some walking to do. ALSO How architects are using virtual reality to walk through buildings that dont yet exist What the dismantling of the Berlin Wall can teach us as Trump tries to build his wall Seven of the most intriguing national pavilions to see at the Venice Architecture Biennale Sanctity and sex in installations devoted to chapels and cruising at Venice Architecture Biennale Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter carolina.miranda@latimes.com | Twitter: @cmonstah For his Broadway production of King Lear, built around the one and only Glenda Jackson, director Sam Gold has decided to make use of every luxurious resource at his disposal sometimes simultaneously. A more hectic palette would be hard to imagine for Shakespeares greatest tragedy without the addition of a fire truck siren. Gold doesnt need to call the fire department. He has Philip Glass, who has composed original music performed by a string quartet tucked away in a corner of the gilt casino-resort palace that is Miriam Buethers set. Shakespeares language doesnt require cinematic underscoring. King Lear provides its own accompaniment, but this verbal music is often drowned out by the musicians sawing away in the background. Gold directed a lavishly praised Othello at New York Theatre Workshop with David Oyelowo and Daniel Craig that was bracing to look at and frustrating to listen to. A Hamlet at the Public Theater starring Oscar Isaac was emotionally powerful in a circumscribed way that ditched politics for Freudian frenzy. Advertisement King Lear, which had its official opening on Thursday at the Cort Theatre, incorporates a number of Golds auteur touches. Theres the casting of non-classical actors with distinctive contemporary lineaments alongside practiced Shakespeareans; the creation of a pastiche time period thats recognizably modern in its mood and mores; and the cavalier tweaking of plot points through a rambunctious staging that has the characters packing guns and copulating on the floor. The production flows with confidence and is never for a moment dull. But if this revival represents a step forward for Golds career, it is a step backward for Shakespeares play, which has lost much of its excruciating pathos in the directorial hubbub. Jackson, whose career took a 23-year swerve into parliamentary politics, made her return to the stage in a different production of King Lear at Londons Old Vic in 2016. She is not reprising that performance, though its still King Lear (not Queen Lear) whom shes portraying. Broadway theatergoers who caught her Tony-winning performance last year in Edward Albees Three Tall Women will certainly recognize the vituperative dazzle. Making her entrance in a tuxedo with a smart boyish haircut, Jacksons Lear roars with authority and rebuke. The imperious manner resounds in the way Jackson theatrically rolls her Rs. Her Lear clearly relishes the pomp and circumstance that is, until a recalcitrant Cordelia throws a monkey wrench in the ceremonial plans. Much of Jacksons performance takes place on the elocutionary level. She doesnt so much speak her lines as seethe them. Vowels are stretched for whooshing emphasis; consonants are crashed upon with the force of a speeding car against a highway divider. The diction is so pyrotechnical that it may come as a surprise to learn that Jacksons Lear is more personalized this time around, more human. In London, she was a stylized archetype waging war against the gods. Here, shes a declining father whose dictatorial temperament is making for a rough ending. Unfortunately, the production and her performance often seem at loggerheads. Jayne Houdyshell and Sean Carvajal in Sam Golds production of King Lear at the Cort Theatre. (Brigitte Lacombe) REVIEW: What the Constitution Means to Me supremely argues the case for women Jackson tunes out the more boisterous antics of Golds staging while doing her best to tune into her fellow cast members. The production has an especially potent roster of actresses in male and female roles, including Tony winner Jayne Houdyshell as Earl of Gloucester, Lears parallel paterfamilias, whose egotistical rashness similarly paves the way for a crash course in suffering. Ruth Wilson (Constellations on Broadway, Showtimes The Affair) plays both Cordelia and the Fool, the characters closest to the kings irascible heart. The jesters role extracts more original color from this vibrant English actress. Wilsons Cordelia gloomily follows her conscience in not vomiting up her filial affection on command while her Fool is an affectionate smartass who cant take a bite of a carrot without first turning it into a phallic gag. Elizabeth Marvel, grand veteran of Ivo van Hove deconstructions, gives us an increasingly debauched Goneril while the electric Irish actress Aisling OSullivan portrays a brooding Regan pinched with resentment. These daughters will say or do anything for a greater chunk of their fathers kingdom, but Golds production curiously takes their side in the early family squabbles. The rich ambiguity in Shakespeares plays makes it possible to read against the interpretive grain. The psychology is usually both/and rather than either/or. But in stressing the legitimate grievances Goneril and Regan have toward their wrathful, capricious father, the production underplays what Cordelia knows about her sisters natures long before they reveal the full extent of their depravity. Goneril and Regan may not start off as melodramatic villains, but Gold makes it seem as if Lears demand to retain his train of riotous knights despite the bankrupting cost is what turns them into such marble-hearted fiends. As a result, when Lear describes himself as a man more sinned against than sinning, these words represent not the dawning of tragic awareness in a complicated protagonist but more self-pity from a cranky old narcissist. While it is undeniable that Lear acts abominably, the loyalty that is shown to him by Kent (a golden-voiced John Douglas Thompson), despite being banished in a royal tantrum, is a testament to what is worthy in the character of protection. Lear challenges sympathetic identification. But if you dont care about him, as the noblest characters do, the play itself becomes an ordeal. Thats not the case with this tantalizing production. But the laughter in the audience, a steady stream of sitcom tittering, is a sign that something is amiss in the way the tragic path has been worked out. If this revival represents a step forward for director Sam Golds career, it is a step backward for Shakespeares play. Jacksons performance is thunderous in sorrow as well as in indignation. A look of acute regret passes on Lears face when he considers the way he has conducted his life. Deeper connections, however, are blocked by the busyness of the staging. Jacksons Lear movingly bears witness to the mercilessness of old age. But the plays metaphysical sweep the collective tragedy of our frail and fallible condition is missing. Recent productions of King Lear have been stylistic grab bags. Perhaps theres no other way to reconcile modern and Jacobean traditions, but shouldnt directors aim to coalesce their visions? Gold, who deservedly won a Tony for his direction of the musical Fun Home, doesnt seem to mind the babel of accents or the hodgepodge of acting approaches. As Edgar, Sean Carvajal, celebrated for his performance in the Signature Theatre revival of Jesus Hopped the A Train, hammers away with the emotional insistence of a character in a Stephen Adly Guirgis play. Pedro Pascal smiles diabolically as Edmund but has trouble finding the characters twisted charisma that has sexually ensnared Goneril and Regan. Golds commitment to inclusive casting extends to actors with disabilities. In his Othello, an actor playing a soldier (Michael Lopez) removed and reattached his prosthetic leg. In Golds Broadway production of The Glass Menagerie, the actress playing Laura (Madison Ferris) relied on a wheelchair. In King Lear, Russell Harvard, who was in Deaf West Theatres sensational revival of Spring Awakening, communicates largely through sign language as a kilt-wearing Duke of Cornwall. Michael Arden (the director of that Spring Awakening production) serves as Cornwalls interpretive aide and has a key role in the infamous eye-gouging scene that is staged here with a twist. Even relatively minor characters have been given a novel update. As Oswald, Gonerils criminally faithful steward, Matthew Maher, an Obie-winning actor of indissoluble originality, is dressed like a concierge at a Scottsdale resort. In the role of the more consequential Duke of Albany, Dion Johnstone is almost alarming in his straightforward normality. MARYS SEACOLE: Jackie Sibblies Drurys conceptual brilliance Theres an awful lot to take in, including all that Glass music (which at last finds a purpose in the storm scene). It was satisfying to see amid the wreckage of Buethers set, a casualty of the spiraling violence, the cracked ceramic animals that figured with tacky prominence in the first act. But I was surprised that Gold and his accomplished set designer resorted to such a trite trope. Didnt the characters in Lyndsey Turners 2015 production of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch at Londons Barbican have to pick their way across an Elsinore castle similarly reduced to rubble? Its time for a fresh scenic coup, auteurs. Havoc reigns in King Lear, but as the Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello once noted theres a difference between depicting chaos and depicting chaotically. Gold doesnt always observe the difference, though theres a moment of powerful stillness late in the production when all that happens is a harrowing act of listening. Houdyshells Gloucester, whose empty eye sockets are covered in a bloody bandage, has been left alone to await the outcome of the war that is underway between Cordelias forces and those of her malign sisters. The sound of distant explosions will determine the fate of the king and all who still love him. But the duke, who has already suffered so much, can only listen with the solemn impassivity of someone who has outlived his life. Jacksons Lear, made of more ferocious mettle, wails to the bitter end. No one in my experience has ever done a better job of handling the repetition of the word never as Lear struggles to comprehend the permanence of Cordelias death. Its a shattering ending, yet my eyes were dry. Did virtuosity overpower emotion? No matter. The audience leaped to acknowledge a triumphant Jackson. But to borrow a line from Kent, the wonder is that she hath endured Golds production so long. SPRING THEATER: Dianne Wiest, Lucas Hnath, Nia Vardalos and more My favorite scene in my favorite Claire Denis movie, 35 Shots of Rum (2008), unfolds at a Paris restaurant where a few locals have taken shelter from the rain. The mood is warm, inviting, spontaneously celebratory. A university student is dancing with her father when a young man, who has quietly loved her for ages, asks to cut in. The father obligingly steps aside, not entirely liking what he sees. As the Commodores heavenly Motown elegy Nightshift croons and soars in the background, Denis choreographs a wordless, piercing suite of emotional revelations among a group of people we have come to know and love. The 72-year-old Denis has long been one of the worlds greatest narrative filmmakers. You can find several reasons why in the American Cinematheques forthcoming mini-retrospective of her work at the Aero Theatre (April 12-14), but you can also find a few of them in that Rum sequence alone. Theres the way she uses faces and bodies to convey fluctuations in mood and character that mere dialogue could not. Theres the subtle movement of the camera, which drifts and sways as if it were adopting the perspective of a nearby dancer but remains unerringly precise in what it shows you. Theres her unfailingly perceptive ear, which can take a seemingly incongruous piece of pop music and tailor it perfectly to the dramatic contours of a scene. But the sequences most Denisian quality may be its willingness to leave more than the obvious unspoken. The director takes it on faith that you, the viewer, will be able to read the image the feeling behind a gesture, the significance of an abrupt cutaway even as you succumb to its intoxication and heartache. Denis approach to narrative is often described as elliptical, and while thats not inaccurate The Intruder (2004), her most convulsive, fragmentary and enigmatic picture, more than fits the bill it runs the risk of making her work sound more inscrutable than it is. Stories, her films remind us, are more than clusters of incident and exposition. More often than not the real stories are transpiring in the silences, in the margins and ellipses that another filmmaker might be inclined to fill in. Advertisement Alex Descas in the movie 35 Shots of Rum. (The Cinema Guild) RELATED: Why Claire Denis cast Robert Pattinson in the sensual science-fiction fable High Life 35 Shots of Rum, one of her most effortlessly moving films, was inspired by Yasujiro Ozus 1949 drama Late Spring, which is to say its a masterpiece made in celebration of another. Happily, its one of the seven Denis features screening in the Cinematheque series, which includes early gems like her 1988 debut feature, Chocolat, and Nenette and Boni (1996), a moving, rough-and-tumble portrait of an estranged brother and sister who are reunited when the latter becomes pregnant. Here is also where you can see Denis 1999 international triumph, Beau Travail, in all its searing celluloid glory. (All but one of the films, Let the Sunshine In, are screening in 35 mm prints; Denis will be in attendance the first two nights.) The series would be welcome programming on any occasion, but it arrives in conjunction with the theatrical release of Denis High Life, an art-house space opera starring Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche. A tale of life and death, physics and biology, existential dread and sexual violence set aboard the grimiest, kinkiest spaceship youve ever laid eyes on, High Life is a must-see and a prime example of just how easily Denis gets under your skin. Like her disquieting 2013 crime thriller, Bastards, a movie not screening in the retrospective, it finds Denis pairing her seductive, enveloping aesthetics with a grimly repellent and, you suspect, completely honest vision of humanity and its capacity for evil. Theres no contradiction there. More than most other European art filmmakers of her generation, Denis rejects the usual dichotomy of humanism versus nihilism; elements of both recur throughout her filmography, often in the same film. For instance: Trouble Every Day (2001), her shocking, widely loathed ode to carnal cannibalism, is both her most viscerally abhorrent movie and one of her most acutely, tenderly felt. Wonderfully, this lusty horror picture is being shown on a double bill with Let the Sunshine In (2018), an amusingly loquacious romantic comedy starring a radiant Binoche as a Parisian artist drifting haplessly from one man to the next. Call them two very different but equally heroic movies about looking for love in all the wrong places. Beatrice Dalle in the movie Trouble Every Day. (Lot 47 Films) If Denis work can vary wildly in tonal and emotional effect, her formal intelligence and aesthetic adventurousness have never wavered. This is a testament, in part, to the closeness of the filmmaking company she has kept over the years, the storytelling intimacy she has cultivated with her regular collaborators and transferred to the audience. Again and again in her work, you will see the beautiful faces of actors like Gregoire Colin, Beatrice Dalle, Alex Descas, Vincent Lindon and Michel Subor, all loyal members of her company. You will be borne aloft by the exquisite images of her frequent cinematographer, Agnes Godard, and by the melancholy compositions of her regular composer, the British band Tindersticks. Denis is a great director, but shes also a mood. And the viewer coming to her work for the first time will be forgiven for feeling thrown a little off balance. A certain wooziness is the only sane response to Beau Travail, her stunning film about a group of French Foreign Legion soldiers stationed in Djibouti. A daringly free-form interpretation of Billy Budd that displaces the dense tangle of Herman Melvilles words into a succession of ravishing images, the movie is predicated on an extraordinary tension between formal austerity and rapturous sensuality. Day after day, scene after scene, we watch these beautiful male soldiers run through their outdoor training drills and exercises, routines that can feel by turns like performative masculinity, intense fraternal bonding and sacred ritual. Its an astonishing spectacle, and it becomes the very medium through which Denis tells her story, about a sergeant (Denis Lavant) who becomes intensely suspicious, and possibly desirous, of a younger soldier (Colin). The films beauty is complex and irreducible: Denis and Godard are justly transfixed by their subjects, but also too unflinching not to suggest the punishing severity and asceticism of their way of life. Juliette Binoche in the movie Let the Sunshine In. (Sundance Selects) Nearly 20 years after it premiered at festivals, Beau Travail is still widely hailed as Denis career-crowning achievement. (A 2012 international critics poll conducted by the British film magazine Sight & Sound ranked it among the 100 greatest films ever made.) It is also one of three exceptionally strong movies the others being Chocolat and White Material (2009) that Denis set and shot in Africa and which are to varying degrees informed by her early years living on that continent as the daughter of a French diplomat. Chocolat takes place in 1950s Cameroon, during the final years of French colonial rule, and turns on the close, complicated friendship between France (Cecile Ducasse), the young daughter of a white district officer, and Protee (Isaach De Bankole), her familys black servant. Although Denis has said in interviews that the movie is not autobiographical, its perspective speaks to a strong vein of personal experience and, remarkably, an ability to both fully inhabit that experience and approach it from an analytical distance. Never less than clear-eyed in its portrait of systemic exploitation and racialized injustice, Chocolat is also a sharp example of how a work of art can be empathetic, can bridge divides between experiences that are worlds apart, without simplifying tough realities or sentimentalizing its characters. Protee isnt the storys central figure, but the most wrenching, revealing moments are rightly shown from his point of view. In Alice Gregorys 2018 profile on Denis for the New Yorker, the director Barry Jenkins nailed the incisiveness of the filmmakers approach: Its not a foreign world to her, in a way it might appear to be when you look at her and see a white Frenchwoman, he said. You watch Chocolat, and its remarkable. This is a first movie by someone who has not one question about what her rights are as a storyteller. Isabelle Huppert in the movie White Material. (IFC Films) Jenkins, whose Oscar-winning films Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk bear rich stylistic echoes of Denis work, is getting at something especially crucial at the present moment, when the representational rights of artists are being increasingly called into question. Who is permitted to tell whose story? What if that story is about an African-born French immigrant and his biracial daughter, as in 35 Shots of Rum as clear a testament as any to the power of sympathetic imagination? What if that story is about the systemic oppression of black Africans suffering under colonial and post-colonial regimes? An answer to that question can be found, I think, in White Material, a logical companion piece to Chocolat De Bankole makes a sly return appearance and one of Denis strongest, most unshakable works. Set in an unnamed West African nation, this tense and terrifying drama stars Isabelle Huppert as a coffee-plantation owner named Maria, who stubbornly refuses to flee as her adopted home country is plunged into revolutionary chaos. As government troops and child soldiers descend, Maria becomes a symbol of willful blindness and clueless privilege, a woman whose ostensible devotion to Africa has taken on the all-consuming quality of an addiction. One shudders to think what the Hollywood version of White Material would look like; presumably it would strain to vindicate and valorize Maria, perhaps focusing on her suffering to the exclusion of those around her. Denis does none of these things. She acknowledges her protagonists otherness and, by extension, her own. She splinters individual scenes into experiential fragments, manifesting Marias moral confusion in visual terms. She turns bleak headlines into bleak art, leaving us, at the end, with blood, tears and no shortage of questions. She trusts us not to answer but to keep asking. ------------ Salt, Sweat and Sunshine: The Cinema of Claire Denis Where: Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica Price: $15, $13 for members Contact: americancinemathequecalendar.com April 12: Chocolat, White Material April 13: Beau Travail, Nenette and Boni, 35 Shots of Rum April 14: Trouble Every Day, Let the Sunshine In Robert Pattinson stars in French director Claire Denis first English-language film, High Life, an erotic space odyssey co-starring Mia Goth and Juliette Binoche. Pattinson, Denis and Goth discuss the film at the Los Angeles Times studio at the To justin.chang@latimes.com First published in 1983, Stephen Kings supernatural chamber tragedy Pet Sematary was a dark tale of terror Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch both devoured growing up separately as budding filmmakers and horror fans in Long Island, N.Y. Like scores of King devotees around the globe, theyd read the book as youngsters and pored over the 1989 film adaptation directed by Mary Lambert, which sealed a frighteningly adorable psycho toddler and a cat named Church into the horror cinema lexicon. Kolsch remembers seeing its cult sequel Pet Sematary II in theaters in 1992, a few years before mutual friends would introduce him to Widmyer. They were the only two guys in their circle of friends so utterly obsessed with making movies, theyd type out screenplays on word processors at parties. Maybe theyd get along? Cut to a year ago this month: After making a splash with their 2014 indie thriller Starry Eyes, the directing duo had landed their first studio job remaking Pet Sematary, based on the King classic. Naturally, they felt a mix of pressure and excitement as they headed to Montreal to scare up their own telling for Paramount, which releases the R-rated film this weekend 30 years after the first hit theaters. Advertisement Thats because, in addition to being a story horror fans already know inside and out, Pet Sematary is also famously the most frightening story the bestselling author says he ever wrote. And nobody wants to let Stephen King down. He appreciated that we kept all the family stuff and he found it really scary. And then he tweeted about it the next day, which was really crazy. Pet Sematary director Kevin Kolsch on Stephen Kings reaction The Creed family cat undergoes a dark transformation in Pet Sematary. (Kerry Hayes / Paramount Pictures) I think Stephen King likes to let people take liberties, Kolsch said appreciatively of the author during a chat inside Burbanks Dark Delicacies horror bookstore. But its a really nerve-wracking thing to go off and make something based on somebody elses material without them having any say, and then when youre done, presenting it like, Heres what we did! He and Widmyer flashed back to the day they heard King was in the middle of watching their film, their nerves rightfully jangled. Scripted by Jeff Buhler (The Prodigy) from a screen story by Matt Greenberg, Pet Sematary closely follows Kings original novel with a twist. The story inspired by an incident that happened to King begins when a doctor named Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) and his wife, Rachel (Amy Seimetz), move with their 8-year-old daughter Ellie and 2-year-old son Gage to a sleepy Maine town populated by friendly neighbors like Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) and the occasional fast-zooming semi-truck, hurtling down an adjacent highway. In the woods on the edge of their property resides a makeshift pet cemetery frequented by local children, hence the Pet Sematary spelling of the title. And just beyond the cemetery lies an ancient burial ground pulsing with an immense and terrible power, tempting lost souls to make irrevocable choices. The film follows the events of the book in similar fashion to the pared-down narrative path of the 1989 film. But Buhler, Widmyer, Kolsch and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, best known for producing Paramounts Transformers and G.I. Joe blockbuster franchises, made the arguably risky move of changing one major plot turn, subtly altering the dynamic of how the Creed tragedy unfolds. Jason Clarke as Louis, left, discovers the terrifying secrets of a local burial ground in Pet Sematary. (Kerry Hayes / Paramount Pictures) Later that night after watching the film in a private screening in Florida, King passed along his seal of approval. He appreciated that we kept all the family stuff and he found it really scary, said Kolsch. And then he tweeted about it the next day, which was really crazy. In true King style, his tweets of support have been short but sweet: This is a scary movie, he posted in February. Be warned. The Pet Sematary remake spent nearly a decade in development before getting the studio greenlight, although Di Bonaventura estimates that they came close to getting it going twice amid various executive shuffles. The success of Warner Bros. record-breaking 2017 horror hit It, part of a wave of King adaptations sweeping TV and film, helped push Pet Sematary over its final hurdle, he said. One of the things about the new Paramount management is their willingness to try new, he said, which I think has been sorely lacking both at Paramount and in Hollywood. And in a marketplace that is saturated with material, streaming or otherwise, one of the ways to stand out is [by being] bold and new. In a post-It marketplace where studio horror and more mature R-rated genre fare are commercially proven, he added proudly, the Pet Sematary remake was better positioned to bring not just dark, but the darkest of subject matter to a hopefully receptive movie-going audience. The material goes beyond scares and bloody violence to achieve under-the-skin frights that seep into your soul and ask deep, troubling questions. We never would have gotten that ending through many different incarnations of studio executives, partly because its the darkest version you could possibly come up with, he said with a laugh, teasing the spoilery secrets of this latest Pet Sematary. I guess we could have killed [character name redacted] on screen, but, you know. R-rated films for whatever reason tend to be a closer approximation to life, in some respects. Lifes tough, you know what I mean? Pet Sematary producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura John Lithgow is Jud and Jete Laurence plays Ellie in the 2019 adaptation of Stephen Kings Pet Sematary. (Kerry Hayes / Paramount Pictures) The resurgence of the R-rated studio horror film is a boon for filmmaking, said former Warner Bros. executive di Bonaventura, who produced Pet Sematary with Mark Vahradian and Steven Schneider and calls Hollywoods thinking that younger viewers cant handle more challenging fare puritanical. I feel we have let down the younger audience by not making more R-rated films, period, whatever genre, said Di Bonaventura, whose films include Constantine, Stephen King adaptation 1408, five Transformers movies and the recent hit spinoff Bumblebee. R-rated films for whatever reason tend to be a closer approximation to life, in some respects, he added. Lifes tough, you know what I mean? The movies I grew up with, whether its French Connection or Apocalypse Now were tough movies, and you were seeing life in a very extreme way. It was the projects embrace of difficult themes death, loss, grief and guilt that drew filmmaker and actress Seimetz to the role of Rachel, who spars with Louis over how to talk to their kids about death and harbors deep traumas of her own. Shed read Pet Sematary at the age of 8, and loved Widmyer and Kolschs Starry Eyes, which brought to its genre thrills a sense of humor and self-awareness. They didnt want to ignore how gut-wrenching losing a child is, said Seimetz. Thats what grief looks like and also, it doesnt go away. Alongside Clarke and Lithgow, Seimetz anchors the intimate ensemble drama, filmed in Canada with cinematographer Laurie Rose (Kill List) lensing the Montreal countryside for rural Maine. Production then moved to a massive soundstage that housed the mythical burial grounds where Jud shows Louis the inexplicable place that will be his undoing. On set Seimetz found herself sharpening her linguistic skills with the twin toddlers, Hugo and Lucas Lavoie, who played her son and only spoke French. They were 2 when we started and they turned 3 while we were shooting, so Id do a lot of, Quest-ce que? Le nez? Le bouche? she laughed. My French got really good when we had to get into emotional scenes. I would say to the crew, How do you say, Grab my neck? Or Were playing! Je ne suis pas triste Im not sad! Kids are such sponges for tone and mood, said Seimetz. Its chaos on set and suddenly someone goes, Action! Try to explain that shift in energy to a kid. Its playtime! Lucas Lavoie plays Gage and Amy Seimetz is Rachel in Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolschs Pet Sematary. (Kerry Hayes / Paramount Pictures) Portraying the other Creed sibling, meanwhile, was 11-year-old phenom Jete Laurence, whose portrayal of curious and precocious young Ellie has earned critical raves. Everybody says never work with animals or kids, but we worked with both and we had a better experience than we thought going in, said Kolsch. Also crucial: Finding the right Church, or, rather multiple Churches to play the family pet whose untimely demise is central to the events of Pet Sematary. They say you cant train a cat, Ive got two and Dennis has three and we thought that to be true, because look at my furniture, joked Kolsch. Modeling their Church after the cat on the novels book cover, one of their many nods to the source material woven into the new film, the directors cast two Maine coon cats named Tonic and Leo, respectively, as pre- and post-transformation Church. All members of the Creed family, including its beloved four-legged member, play a crucial part in the events that transpire. Kings metaphor for what happens when we suppress and deny grief and his terrible, personal meditation on the lengths we all might go to save the ones we love are what the filmmakers ultimately hope follow their audiences home. The theme of the film was communication, said Widmyer of the Big Talks the main characters are constantly putting off. Everything has a chain reaction. Everyone continually pushes the conversation away, and it just grows into its own beast. ... Theres something almost Shakespearean about Pet Sematary, and its kind of an ageless theme. To that end the Pet Sematary remake remains true to the lessons and tragedy of Kings story, even if Widmyer and Kolschs approach and changes from previous iterations lend this version a different flavor from the book, the 1989 film and its sequel. Thursday night, another tweet from the King of Horror himself underscored that truth: Pet Sematary opens tonight. They dont come back the same. RELATED: Original Pet Sematary director Mary Lambert on Madonna and Stephen King meetings at Dennys jen.yamato@latimes.com @jenyamato Im looking at all the beautiful evergreens and trees along the trail, and I heard the buzzing of the saws one day... and thought someone was doing maintenance. Then I heard them the second day and the third, so by the fourth day, I knew this huge. Now, instead of the beautiful evergreens, I see the back of the factory and all the garbage back there, and I want to cry. A couple of possible interpretations arise out of the sonic effects superstar producer T Bone Burnett uses to tweak his vocals on his first new studio album in a dozen years, The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space. The distanced quality of a voice immersed in richly atmospheric soundscapes that Burnett, 71, has created suggests some extraterrestrial terrain light-years away, or perhaps an inner voice from deep within struggling to be heard against the noise of the outer world. I didnt want it to be naturalistic, Burnett explained while seated at a broad, elegant wood dinner table at his home in Brentwood. I wanted it to be electronic and from another place like it was coming from this other land where all this stuff is happening. Itopia thats what Ive been calling it. Wherever that voice might originate from, its sounding both a warning of looming dangers and offering possible responses to those perils, which reflect Burnetts thinking two decades into the 21st century, as the world moves into an era dominated by behemoth tech monopolies and the dawn of life in the age of artificial intelligence. The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space is billed as the opening third of what Burnett, who has recorded with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello and more, says will be a trilogy of releases representing my final statement as a recording artist. Advertisement Hes tapping a lifetime of thinking on a plethora of subjects for something of an epic poem of his own, now running about 5,000 lines, he said. Thats the source of the material for The Invisible Light and its forthcoming successors, a creative outpouring he considers lyrically and musically a culmination of everything Ive learned. He also said he expects hell publish the poem in its entirety at some point and call it quits as a recording artist. Rather than discrete conventional songs, Burnett and his two longtime musical collaborators percussionist Jay Bellerose and keyboardist and ambient music experimentalist Keefus Ciancia have crafted a half-dozen extended tracks, all upward of six, seven or eight minutes long, heavy on improvisational interplay among the threesome, with Burnetts lyrics serving as the equivalent of sheet music. They call it a trilogy, he said of publicity and marketing efforts surrounding the April 12 release of The Invisible Light: Acoustic Space. I dont really call it that. I think of it as a long poem that were releasing in three editions. Ive been writing like crazy for years, and so it has been a kind of gradual evolution. On one level, the album is a master-class showcase for Bellerose, whom Burnett describes as the most musical drummer in the world today, and Ciancia, whom he cites as one of the three most arresting electronic music composers today, along with Nine Inch Nails Atticus Ross and Englands Bobby Krlic from the Haxan Cloak (Theyre all taking that whole medium of electronic music to some other place thats less machine-like, he said, and more human and more far-out). We call it Trip Visualist music, he said with a light remnant of Texas drawl reflecting his upbringing in Fort Worth. In a way, its music that weve composed for a film that hasnt been made yet. And were scoring it to these lyrics. He plans to release the other two volumes of The Invisible Light roughly at six-month intervals, to be followed not by a conventional tour, but what he envisions as a series of sonic-visual installations that can expand on the immersive quality of the music. I never really saw myself as a performer anyway, he said. For most of my life Ive been helping other people make records and I preferred to be offstage, he said of his sporadic output of about a dozen solo albums over 47 years and three more in the mid-1970s as a member of the Alpha Band. But now I felt it was time for me to dance or get off the floor. If I didnt have anything to say by now, I should probably just hang it up. Burnett, however, still has plenty to say, and the lyrics that are at the heart of The Invisible Light come off as part poetry, part town crier, part Sermon on the Mount. The albums opening cut, High John, includes this image and idea-rich scenario: High John The Conqueror/ Down by the border/ Fording the river/ Walking cross the water/ To the very gate of hell/ Where anyone can buy and sell/ Anything on which one can dwell/ Where the Celebrity in Chief/ Comes to grief. He also goes up-to-the-minute topical with the first video connected to the project, visualizing the song Being There (a nod to Jerzy Kosinskis classic novel and subsequent film In Washington now, you know, we see people in positions of great power who watch television all the time and are basically idiots). The video is a collaboration between Burnett and the French artist-photographer who goes by the initials JR. It was filmed near the U.S.-Mexico border town of Tecate outside San Diego, and shows the raising of a massively enlarged photo of a young Mexican boy, making it appear that he is peering over the top of one section of border fencing. Its not a significant departure, thematically, for this lifelong seeker of larger truths, whose grandfather served as secretary for the Southern Baptist Convention. A larger-than-life character who has long projected the air of an Old West preacher, thanks in part to his penchant for band-collar shirts, elegant black waistcoats and dusters, Burnett briefly attended Texas Christian University before abandoning academics for a career in music in a variety of roles. Theyve spanned record label talent scout, recording artist, key member of Bob Dylans Rolling Thunder Revue in the mid-70s, Grammy-winning producer and, in recent years, composer of music for HBOs crime-drama anthology series True Detective. Burnett also produced the new album from Sara Bareilles, Amidst the Chaos. I started studying this philosophy in the early 1960s when I was a kid and Marshall McLuhan was writing about this, he said. He was writing about media in a kind of visionary way and [French political and social scientist] Jacques Ellul was writing about technology in a visionary way. I began to read their stuff and begin to study those ideas. Basically thats all Ive written about my whole life: this same subject that has to do with behavioral modification, electronic programming and conditioned responses. He sees those same issues playing out in the years and decades ahead as a crucial battle between individual freedom and the increased intrusion of tech giants such as Google, Apple and Amazon. That provided the central theme of his recent keynote speech at the South By Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas, a talk often described in reports as disruptive. Burnett calls musicians the canaries in the coal mine who were the first to experience in a tangible way how tech giants have co-opted and profited from their intellectual property, often with little or no remuneration to the creators. Now, he notes, Im hearing about YouTube stars, so to speak, who are now quote-unquote getting ripped off by up-and-coming YouTube stars and theyre complaining about it: I made this up and now this other guy is getting all the action from the very thing I made up. Oh really? Burnett said. Is that happening to you, YouTube star? Im so sorry to hear that. That happened to us 20 years ago. Where were you then? Still, he thinks skepticism and scrutiny increasingly directed toward the tech giants reflects a growing acceptance of ideas hes been espousing for years. Ten years ago when I went out and I would say the same thing that I said at South by Southwest, people would try to shout me down, he said. Now, no one is taking exception to what I said. His ultimate remedy, also not surprising given his long track record: art, which offers an answer that cant be found in other endeavors. The artists are the only ones who ultimately can tell the truth, he said. Politicians certainly cant tell the truth. They cant tell the whole truth; neither can priests, and scientists dont seem to be able to do it either. Im optimistic, he said, that human beings can make the right choices if were alive to whats going on. Thats why Im talking about this stuff, because I believe human beings have never been better-positioned than we are at the moment to survive. randy.lewis@latimes.com Follow @RandyLewis2 on Twitter.com For Classic Rock coverage, join us on Facebook The master himself, Stephen King, has said Pet Sematary is a scary movie. Be warned. It explores grief, emotion, guilt and love. You could say its a family film in a terrifying, dont bring your little ones kind of way. LA Times film writer Mark Olsen (@IndieFocus) is joined by one of Pet Sematarys stars actress and filmmaker Amy Seimetz who talks about elevating a horror picture to an art film, creating female characters typically not seen on screen, and finding your own people in the indie film world. Advertisement Subscribe to The Reel FOSSE VERDON -- Pictured: (l-r) Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon, Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse. CR: Pari Dukovic/FX (Pari Dukovic /) Then, fans of iconic Broadway and the movie musical: We have your number. Olsen talks to Andy Blankenbuehler, the choreographer of Hamilton, who also choreographed Fosse/Verdon, the new FX miniseries that chronicles the creative and romantic partnership between Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. The city of Chicago says Jussie Smollett has refused to pay more than $130,000 to reimburse costs of investigating what authorities say was a staged racist, anti-gay attack. The citys law department also says in a statement Thursday that it would be drafting a lawsuit in response and would sue the Empire actor in Cook County Civil Court. The city will file the suit in the near future. FULL COVERAGE: Jussie Smollett Mayor Rahm Emanuels law chief sent Smollett a letter March 28 demanding the Empire actor pay $130,106 plus 15 cents within seven days. Advertisement A suit could lead to a drawn-out battle in civil court that could end in a trial focused on the question of whether Smollett did or didnt orchestrate the Jan. 29 attack. Smollett, who is black and gay, maintains he has told the truth since reporting to police that two masked men assaulted him, shouting slurs and wrapping a rope around his neck. The new high-end head-shop concept that opened inside Barneys New Yorks Beverly Hills flagship last month is about more than $950 blown-glass bongs, $1,575 herb grinders and a concierge to help you order THC-containing vaporizer pens and pastilles for home delivery. Its a high-profile harbinger of where cannabis-related retail and most likely the luxury department store space is headed in the era of legal marijuana. The 300-square-foot space that opened March 21 on the fifth floor of the department store at 9570 Wilshire Blvd. its dubbed the High End is elegantly appointed and stocked with a range of upscale smoking accessories such as hand-crafted stash jars from Siemon & Salazar; imported French rolling papers by Devambez (a gift set, complete with matchbooks, rolling tray and vermeil joint-packing tamper, will set you back a cool $8,850); functional jewelry (necklaces from Good Art Hlywd that double as vape-pen lanyards and a lip-shaped Carole Shashona ring that converts into a stylish joint holder); hemp-derived CBD beauty and wellness products; and an assortment of vintage Hermes and Gucci ashtrays. Most notably, it also features an on-site representative from Beboe, the Los Angeles-based luxury-level cannabis brand and partner on the project. That person will explain the companys products to the canna-curious and help him or her place an order for home delivery. (And no, you cant use your Barneys credit card we made sure to ask because the orders are actually placed through a third-party delivery service called Emjay, which launched in L.A. with the Barneys/Beboe partnership.) At left, a display of Beboe cannabis products at the High End at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills. At right, Beboe co-founders Scott Campbell (left) and Clement Kwan (right) with Barneys creative director Matthew Mazzucca at the grand-opening celebration in the Hollywood Hills. (Barneys New York, left, Billy Farrell / BFA.com) Advertisement Retail focused on the discerning dope-dabbler demographic has been part of the Southern California landscape for a while. Mister Green an East Hollywood boutique where $319 vintage Tiffany Elsa Peretti lighters, $95 crystal-shaped ceramic pipes and $149 bottles of Hippie fragrance sit cheek by jowl with coffee mugs and Nalgene water bottles emblazoned with the words bong water opened two years ago this month. Then theres Higher Standards, an elevated take on the traditional head shop that opened in New Yorks Chelsea Market in late 2017 and recently opened its third in-dispensary pop-up shop in the Los Angeles area, offering a tightly edited mix of smoking accessories and gifts ($379 USB-powered dab rigs, $128 joint-rolling machines and $98 Jonathan Adler jars labeled ganja among them). Catering to the well-heeled, deep-pocketed, luxury-loving cannabis consumer at the major department-store level in California and elsewhere is novel and symbolically important. Non-medical cannabis use has been legal here since the November 2016 passage of Proposition 64 (it remains illegal under federal law), and a January forecast by New Frontier Data projects that total statewide cannabis sales estimated at $2.5 billion in 2018 will nearly double (to $4.9 billion) by 2025. That means high-profile efforts like Barneys are likely to cause a retail and cultural ripple effect. After all, thats essentially what happened in with dispensaries. When MedMen made them a brightly lit, inviting sea of blond wood more like Starbucks than the dicey dope dens of old, it was front-page news. And today, that look is more the norm than the exception. To that end, the postage-stamp-sized spot on the top floor of Barneys is an elegantly appointed space that takes inspiration from the work of Richard Neutra and Paul Fortune, with a warm olive green and autumn-leaf brown color palette with marble accents, custom-crafted display cases and meticulously placed merchandise. At first glance the space could easily be mistaken for a shoe salon, but for the row of smoke-gray blown-glass Caleb Siemon bongs standing at attention along the top shelf. On a pre-opening tour of the space, Barneys New York-based creative director Matthew Mazzucca explained that the seed of the idea was planted last year when he was spending a lot of time in Los Angeles. (Recreational cannabis is currently illegal in New York.) I noticed that many of my friends, whether they personally engaged in cannabis or not, were starting to curate their homes to be cannabis-friendly, he said. This one super-chic woman I know her house has this beautiful Paul Fortune kind of interior, and on her table was a tray with an Hermes ashtray, three jars of weed, two pipes and all that stuff. I said, You dont even smoke pot. And she said, But I always have guests that do, and that was sort of the trigger for me. I really wanted to address this cultural shift thats happening. Higher Standards, which opened its Chelsea Market flagship in New York in late 2017, is among the retail concepts catering to the high-end cannabis consumer. (Kevin Tydlaska-Dziedzic / Higher Standards) RELATED: Cannabis, fashion brand cross-pollination turns over a new leaf Scott Campbell, celebrity tattoo artist and co-founder of Beboe (which he launched in 2017 with fashion industry veteran Clement Kwan), described the dedicated space at Barneys as a coming-out party for cannabis. I grew up in Texas and Louisiana, where possession of the smallest amount of marijuana is a felony offense, and I remember getting pulled over by a cop in Texas one time and basically having to eat all the roaches out of the ashtray before the cop got to my window, he said. So, to go from that to having this beautiful installation in a top-tier retail experience makes me excited to just be a part of that movement. Campbell thinks the High End is as big a game-changer for luxury department stores as it is for cannabis culture. Its basically announcing that luxury retail culture can participate in cannabis culture and vice versa, he said. It signifies that cannabis doesnt have to hide under the rug anymore and that retail can participate in this culture thats been there all along but just couldnt outwardly acknowledge. This is definitely just the door cracking open. It opens up so many possibilities of where it could go from here. Although Mazzucca was bullish on expanding the High End to additional Barneys locations that was even before the Beverly Hills space was up and running the bigger question is whether or when other major department stores might enter the arena, especially given that current legalization efforts in New York and Rhode Island may add to the number of U.S. states (currently 10) where adult-use recreational cannabis is legal. Representatives for Canadian retail group Hudsons Bay Co., which owns Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, declined to comment, and a representative for Nordstrom said cannabis-related accessories were not currently a focus for the Seattle-based retailer. Also, a representative for Neiman Marcus told The Times that the Dallas-headquartered retailer didnt currently have any plans to expand from CBD beauty and wellness products into smoking accessories, jewelry, trays or the like. Exclusive products at the High End include, clockwise from left, Caleb Seimons bongs, Jan Leslie pipes, limited-edition Barton Perreira sunnies and a Carole Shashona hot lips ring that can be used as a joint holder. (Barneys New York) According to Sasha Kadey, co-founder and creative director of the not-dissimilar Higher Standards retail concept, which late last month opened its second standalone store (this one in Atlanta) and has plans to open three more doors before years end, those no comments from major luxury retailers arent necessarily indicative of no interest. Without divulging the names of the retailers some of which you may have just mentioned we have had people reach out to us over the last six months, Kadey said. They generally do a good job of monitoring the landscape and seeing what the trends are, and were right there in New York[s Chelsea Market]. So naturally weve had a number of folks from those companies their innovation teams handing me their business cards and saying they may be interested in doing something. Although other major department stores embrace of upscale cannabis culture may be as cloudy and unformed as a plume of freshly exhaled smoke, the upside for Barneys cannabis-brand partner Beboe has been immediately apparent and absolutely crystal clear. The orders have been great, Campbell said. I dont have the actual numbers, but our sales team told us that [the first] weekend at Barneys we moved more products through that space than any dispensary we work with California-wide. Basically its our bestselling dispensary and its not a dispensary. adam.tschorn@latimes.com For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn Winter is coming and so is plenty of merchandise. To celebrate the final season of Game of Thrones, which premieres April 14, HBO signed off on a series of licensing deals, expanding the Westeros universe for fans to enjoy and, more important, to shop. Last month, Adidas unveiled a collection of six limited-edition Ultraboost sneakers, each in a different colorway to reflect the shows warring factions. The Lannister style features a crimson upper with golden stripes. The Whitewalker comes in a chilling white and translucent ice-blue iteration. This collection is the first sneaker deal for Game of Thrones. The other big merchandise offering is a Games of Thrones-inspired menswear collection from John Varvatos, marking the shows first designer fashion collaboration. The 11-piece range has been in stores since mid-March and includes Westeros-inspired garb such as graphic tees for $98 and a hand-dyed leather jacket for $2,698. Pieces from the Game of Thrones collection by John Varvatos. (John Varvatos) Advertisement HBO is no stranger to licensed merchandise collaborations that go beyond the usual fan gear, T-shirts and hoodies, said Jeff Peters, vice president of licensing and retail for HBO, adding that consumer products are meant to feel natural and organic to HBOs shows. [Licensing] is definitely a growing business and an increasingly lucrative business for us, Peters said. In 2007, there was a collection of Entourage jeans from AG; in 2008, Sex and the City and Cosabella created lingerie sets named after each of the shows four leads; and in 2013, Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin released a $10,500 limited-edition Game of Thrones timepiece, a marine diver cheekily named the Nights Watch. The $10,500 limited-edition Nights Watch by Ulysse Nardin. The watch was a collaboration piece with the HBO show Game of Thrones. (Ulysse Nardin) For the six-episode final season of Game of Thrones, Peters saw an opportunity for new licensing opportunities with brands for which HBO hadnt previously collaborated a hunt that began nearly two years ago. The strategy was really about the celebration of this last season, the culmination of this amazing story, he said. We did go with some projects that were different. Aside from wardrobing Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky as well as providing clothes for several Mission: Impossible and James Bond movies, Varvatos has largely stayed out of Hollywood until now. Dean DAntuono, from left, Dillon DAntuono, John Varvatos and Joyce Varvatos at the John Varvatos Game of Thrones launch event in New York on March 13. (Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images for John Varvatos) As a fan of the show since Season 1, Varvatos said answering HBOs call required very little convincing. Ive been super-intrigued with the show and their work, he said. For me, the direction in terms of wardrobe is the best ever in television. Its so artisanal and crafted-looking. Everything looks so beautifully done. The leathers are so burnished and feel so authentic all things that if someone asked me about my brand, I would talk about those features. Along with the John Varvatos and Adidas deals, HBO has confirmed two other licensed projects. One is with Newport Beach-based cosmetics brand Urban Decay and the other with Nabiscos Oreo. Sneakers from the Adidas X Game of Thrones collection. (Vince Sirico) Clothing from the Game of Thrones collection by John Varvatos. (John Varvatos) This month, Urban Decay will unveil several products inspired by the strong women of the Seven Kingdoms, according to the brands website, which also features a countdown clock for the makeup launch. The limited-edition collection will offer a Game of Thrones-inspired eye shadow palette a pop-up palette with 20 shades, including four holographic transformer shadows and other makeup. Although an Oreo representative wouldnt confirm details about whats in store, clues have been turning up online and on social media in recent days. This week, the cookie brand released a title sequence video related to the HBO show featuring 2,750 Oreo cookies. According to online reports and the new video, fans can expected the limited-edition Game of Thrones cookies, which have black packaging and feature the logos for House Lannister, House Targaryen, the Night King and House Stark, to arrive on store shelves starting April 8. image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. When it comes to luxury apparel brands tapping into the growing popularity of pot, there hasnt been much movement beyond the enthusiastic embrace of the marijuana-leaf motif. One need look no further than the diamond- and emerald-encrusted, 18-karat white-gold Happy Leaves necklace Bulgari introduced last year or the green gown from Viktor & Rolfs spring and summer 2019 couture collection with the instantly recognizable seven-point cannabis sativa leaf emblazoned across the front. The founders of Sundae School, a fledgling apparel brand based in New York, want to change that. Following on the heels of the labels second cut-and-sew collection, co-founder Dae Lim has decided to branch out beyond fashion into branded cannabis products, which are expected to hit California dispensaries sometime in the middle of next month. A dress from the spring and summer 2019 Viktor & Rolf couture show, left, and a Bulgari necklace, right, are among high-end brands efforts to tap into cannabis chic. (Victor Boyko / Getty Images (left), Bulgari (right)) Advertisement His upscale unisex smokewear line, which is carried locally by Barneys New York in Beverly Hills as well as online, looks from afar like any number of laid-back, loungewear-meets-workwear labels, but up- close it reveals its nods to the cannabis consumer, including hats with hidden spliff holders, jackets with dedicated pipe pockets, intarsia-knit crew neck sweaters that declare smoking chills, and toile patterns splashed across sweatpants and shorts that depict cross-legged, robe-clad scholars brushing up on how to roll joints or make bongs. Lim, 26, explained that the decision to grow from cut-and-sew into cannabis came out of visiting California to research the labels fall and winter 2019 Green Rush collection, which is themed around the recent legalization of medical marijuana in South Korea (where Lim was born) and the prospect of legal recreational cannabis in New York. (The statement piece of that collection is an immense, cocoon-like puffer jacket inspired by a blunt a type of joint thats rolled in a tobacco-leaf wrapper.) The cannabis business was so exciting, Lim said, and it wasnt too long before we realized that only two kinds of people can really play in that market: the people who have the most money and the people who can tell the most amazing stories and can authentically communicate [their brand story]. Looks from Sundae Schools fall and winter 2019 presentation during the Feb. 4 mens shows at New York Fashion Week. (Jeannie Sui Wonders) Fashion and apparel is where you [currently] see the highest forms of branding, he said. You go to the Chanel show or the Y-Project show, and theyre exuberantly telling their stories not directly, though, but through images [and] through garments. That sort of brand development and narrative development hasnt really been taking place in the cannabis industry because its a new, growing industry. What were most excited about is the branding landscape in cannabis. To Lims point, the recent mainstreaming of marijuana has seen businesses rooted in the cannabis space growers, dispensaries and paraphernalia retailers making a concerted effort to become full-fledged lifestyle brands. Approaching the fashion/cannabis convergence from the opposite direction, they are increasingly moving into the high-end apparel and accessories space. San Francisco-based Sherbinskis, which made its name as a cannabis-strain creator and cultivator, sells everything from $4 co-branded Sharpie pens to $160 hoodies and $5,000 ashtrays, and near-ubiquitous dispensary MedMen, which has eight Southern California doors including ones near Beverly Hills and LAX, recently rolled out a capsule collection of apparel and accessories that puts its logo and red-and-white color scheme on varsity jackets ($129), chenille-logo hoodies ($79) and yoga mats ($29). RELATED: Why Barneys high-end head shop may be the future of cannabis-related retail At left, recently launched branded wares from MedMen. At right, Higher Standards efforts include co-branded catch-all trays with Jonathan Adler (top) and its logo on Zippo lighters (bottom). (MedMen (left), Higher Standards (right)) Higher Standards, an upscale purveyor of smoking accessories with stores in New York and Atlanta, not only moved into apparel and accessories (including logo-stamped Zippo lighters and Victorinox Swiss Army knives), it also collaborated with home-goods designer Jonathan Adler on an 11-piece, soon-to-launch collection that includes stash boxes, coasters, trays and ashtrays. To expand beyond clothes, Lim tapped the expertise of college chum Jun S. Lee (We both studied applied mathematics at Harvard, Lim said), who also happens to be president at Oakland-based cannabis distributor Nabis. The result of their effort is two Sundae School-branded, THC-containing products pre-rolled joints and vaporizer pens set to roll out to a handful of California dispensaries. The first products to be offered under Sundae Schools expansion into branded cannabis include vaporizer pens, at top, and tiny but mighty pre-rolled joints, bottom, that contain .3 grams of cannabis each and eight to a pack. (Beatrice de Gea / For The Times) The pre-rolled joints, in keeping with the scholarly theme, have been dubbed Honor Rolls and will be offered in two sizes: .3 gram mini joints (eight to a pack) and full-size 1 gram joints (offered in an indica, a sativa and a one-to-one THC/CBD blend). Also, the single-use disposable vaporizer pens packaged in a pencil-case-like box will be available in flavors Lim described as matcha or yuzu. Lim said the cannabis is sourced from a handful of farms from around the state, including Caliber in Salinas (for outdoor-grown flower) and L.A.-based THC Design (for indoor-grown flower). We hope to change what [cannabis] we use seasonally, Lim said, so we can get the best of whatever flower is available. People eat vegetables seasonally and people should be smoking weed seasonally. The ultimate synergy, Lim said, will come when theyre able to pair the apparel-collection drops with the cannabis-product drops. Lim, a marijuana enthusiast himself, has another hope: that his expansion into cannabis will help highlight and cater to a lesser-known segment of the cannabis industry. There are so many Asian American stoners [and] wakers and bakers, he said, and [along the way] weve met a lot of Asian Americans in the business, which is an amazing thing because in fashion its kind of expected. These stories are authentic to us, and my hope is we can grow into a solid family of products that includes diverse, Asian-culture-inspired offerings. Given how far Lim has taken Sundae School in such a short time, that might not be a pipe dream. adam.tschorn@latimes.com For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn Acacia Friedman takes a break from the Dawn of Cannabis event at EAZE L.A. headquarters in Venice on April 18, 2018. EAZE is the states biggest cannabis delivery business and has just expanded into Venice from San Francisco. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Former Secretary of State John Kerry, the man who negotiated and signed the landmark Paris climate accord on behalf of the United States, is working on a new initiative that will seek to punish President Trump and other politicians for failing to combat climate change. Regrettably, President Trump has eliminated American leadership and replaced it [with] know-nothing denial, Kerry said in an interview Thursday. He lambasted the presidents pledge to pull the U.S. out of the Paris deal and called the administrations moves to undo Obama-era pollution-cutting regulations criminal, basically. Kerry said he was working with former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and others to develop a new international initiative to hold politicians accountable for undermining the fight against climate change. Advertisement The primary solution to climate change, Kerry said, is clear: to transform the energy system so that it no longer relies on carbon-emitting fossil fuels. And that task is becoming easier as renewable technologies improve. The biggest single thing that is lacking today is political accountability, Kerry said. People can mock the concept of climate change with impunity and there is no cost to pay. Thats got to stop. The details of the new climate accountability initiative are still being worked out and could be announced within the next few weeks. But Kerry said it would include actions aimed at the 2020 election, which he called a moment for people to be held to the test. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kerrys remarks. Kerry made the comments at a conference hosted by USC where leaders from government, business and academia discussed ways to overcome the political obstacles to combating climate change. As the nations top diplomat during President Obamas second term, Kerry devoted considerable effort to the 2015 Paris agreement forged by nearly 200 countries. Signatories pledged to slash greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to keep global temperatures well below a ceiling of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. Trump, who frequently attacks climate science and has moved to undo a host of emissions-cutting rules, announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris treaty during his first year in office. Kerry said he found it deeply frustrating to watch Trump step away from the commitments made in Paris because it has emboldened other world leaders to do the same. Without the United States, you have a lot of other countries starting to back off. Today, few nations are on track to meet the Paris targets and greenhouse gas emissions are rising. The United Nations says that to keep global warming within levels tolerable to humanity, governments will have to go far beyond their Paris pledges and reduce planet-warming pollution by nearly half in the next decade alone. Without swift action, Kerry said, the world is headed toward 4 degrees C or more of warming by the end of this century. Thats beyond catastrophe, he said. Its unacceptable. Kerrys appearance as a keynote speaker at USC is just one indication of his emergence as a vocal critic of Trumps actions regarding climate change. Last month, he co-signed a letter to President Trump that raised concerns about reports that the National Security Council might form its own committee to undermine the judgment of military and intelligence officials who say climate change is a serious threat to U.S. national security. Such a committee will weaken our ability to respond to real threats, putting American lives at risk, Kerry and more than 50 other former national security officials wrote in the March 5 letter. Next week, Kerry will join another Obama administration Cabinet member, former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, in testifying to Congress about the national security threats from climate change. It will be Kerrys first formal congressional testimony since leaving his Cabinet post in 2017. tony.barboza@latimes.com @tonybarboza The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization, officials announced Friday. Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison, the top commander of the 4,700-member air guard, was dismissed for being unable to maintain a positive command climate, said Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan, spokesman for the California Military Department. Keegan said the department had lost faith, trust and confidence in Garrisons ability to lead. In a report released after the ousters of Garrison and Col. Dan Kelly, the commander of the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, the Military Department inspector general cited findings of a Times investigation two months ago that detailed the whistleblower allegations. The complaints disclosed by The Times focused on the leadership of the Fresno base and included an alleged cover-up of an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard members boots. Based on this article, and in addition to other evidence collected, it would appear that there is a culture of reprisal, or at a minimum the perception of reprisal, that has a long stemmed history within the 144th, the inspector general report states. Advertisement Brig. Gen. Gregory F. Jones, who has served as an assistant adjutant general in the Guard since December 2017, was appointed to replace Garrison. Col. Jeremiah Cruz was named Kellys interim replacement. Jones was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. Garrison and Kelly did not respond to interview requests. Keegan said Garrison will retire in the coming weeks. Kellys future in the Guard has yet to be determined, Keegan said. Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, who oversees both the air and army branches of the California Guard as adjutant general of the Military Department, was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. In interviews with The Times, several current and former members of the Guard have described a climate of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the organizations inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. 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 urine incident and its aftermath fueled suspicions that high-ranking officers, including Garrison, mishandled two investigations to find the perpetrator and tried to bury the episode to protect someone who may have been involved, according to interviews and Guard records obtained by The Times. Some in the wing refer to the scandal as Pissgate. The saga dates to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the Guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. Reached by phone Friday, Pineda said, At this time, I dont have a comment. Maj. Dan Woodside, a retired 144th fighter pilot who is a witness in an inspector generals Pineda investigation and has complained about how she was treated, said Guard members were afraid to approach Garrison with any reports of wrongdoing, fearing they would be punished. Pissgate was just one example, Woodside said. Gen. Garrison did not act alone in this.... It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen. After The Times began asking questions about the Pineda episode, the military department asked the U.S. Air Force Inspector Generals Office to conduct an investigation the third into the Pineda incident. Keegan said Friday he did not know the status of the probe. That inquiry is part of a broader investigation into whether whistleblowers at the 144th suffered reprisals for questioning the actions of their superiors on a range of matters. 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 their respective governors. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. A spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom referred questions about Fridays shakeup back to the Guard. Someone urinated in a female sergeants boots. Now the California Air National Guard faces cover-up allegations Members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations into the Pineda incident, according to internal investigative records obtained by The Times. Both were inconclusive and the case was closed. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared shed be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention. A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. The following year, officers at the 144th destroyed the evidence collected from the crime scene, saying it was old and no longer needed. The evidence included Pinedas boots and a vial of urine collected from the bathroom floor that was never tested for DNA. Col. Dave Johnston, a commander who signed off on the evidence destruction, said in statements provided to The Times that he had consulted with Garrison before doing so. Garrison ran the base at the time of the incident. Garrisons only guidance, Johnston wrote, was that he first confer with the 144ths judge advocate general at the time. She also signed off on the request to discard the evidence. Dave Bakos, a retired general who served in the Guard for 32 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, was among those who said Garrison should have demanded a more thorough investigation from the start. Its unfortunate that the young people in the California Air National Guard, our citizen soldiers, have to witness this type of activity thats occurring at the top, Bakos said Friday. They deserve better. He said the Guard now has an opportunity to get a fresh start with new leadership. Jones began his career as a jet engine mechanic in the Nevada Air National Guard. In California, he held various positions at the 146th Airlift Wing at Port Hueneme before heading the 129th Rescue Wing in the Mountain View area. In a statement Friday, Keegan said, The Guard is committed to providing a transparent, respectful and positive command climate. I am confident that Brig. Gen. Jones will be able to lead the organization effectively and with the utmost integrity. A civil jury sided with the city Friday in a lawsuit filed by a Los Angeles Police Department criminalist who alleged she suffered retaliation after raising concerns of a possible cover-up of a cold case murder. A jury of nine men and three women decided unanimously after a three-week trial that Jennifer Francis did not report a violation of state or federal law, and therefore was not entitled to damages. She suffered no harm, Reginald Roberts, an attorney representing the city, told the jury Thursday during closing arguments. Later, he added, She still works at the LAPD, was promoted and given a raise. The retaliation lawsuit stemmed from the 1986 killing of Sherri Rasmussen, a nurse who was found by her husband bludgeoned and shot in their Van Nuys townhouse. Advertisement Francis took on the cold case in 2004, when she was a new DNA analyst in the LAPDs crime lab. She discovered early the next year that DNA from a bite mark on the victims arm belonged to a woman and questioned the theory that the brutal slaying was the work of two male burglars. Perhaps, she suggested at the time, it was a love triangle. Francis said the cold case investigator at the time shut her down, insisting it was a male-female burglary team. The case stalled for four years until it wound up on the desk of a homicide investigator in Van Nuys who found out the killer was an LAPD detective. After Det. Stephanie Lazarus arrest, Francis raised concerns about why the case wasnt solved earlier. She said the cold case investigator, Det. Cliff Shepard, knew Lazarus had dated the victims husband. In 2005, she said, Shepard told her that the former girlfriend wasnt involved in the killing. Shepard, who is retired, told The Times this week he was juggling a massive caseload at the time and had never heard of Lazarus until the day she was arrested. Francis said she was hesitant but felt an ethical obligation to come forward. What I said was going against what the department was saying, what the chief of police was saying, she testified. I was afraid of what would happen to me. After she raised concerns of a cover-up, Francis said she was forced to undergo a mental health evaluation on a bogus claim that she slept with a gun, was labeled a problematic witness by a deputy district attorney and blocked from testifying in the high-profile Grim Sleeper trial. Francis sued the city in 2013. They crushed this woman. They took her hope, the most important thing she had in her life: her work, her attorney John Taylor told the jury Thursday during his closing arguments. Who will police the police? He said Friday that he disagreed with the verdict and plans to file an appeal. Roberts, the citys attorney, told the jury during his closing arguments that Francis, by her own admission, was not reporting misconduct or a crime when she came forward about Shepard. He argued that the mental health referral was justified and didnt hurt her career. Sometime before, he said, Francis told a supervisor about a dream shed had in which Shepard drove her somewhere and shot her. That raises a red flag in my mind, Roberts said. Francis was not demoted or denied pay, he argued, but in fact was praised for her work in the case. She and several others received a Police Meritorious Service Medal, the highest award for a civilian employee, and she remains a criminalist in the LAPD. The only person who committed a crime in the case, Roberts said, is now in prison. Lazarus was convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to 27 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The department got it right, Roberts told jurors. You cant lose sight of that. Taylor, Francis attorney, said his client was promoted before she blew the whistle and was given positive performance reviews because her supervisors still needed her to testify in Lazarus trial in 2012. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Its not just about who and what you are looking for, but the methodology you use to find this information, he began. There are many ways to research and everything is not online. You can find many things in the library, courthouse, historical society records, etc. Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said Thursday he has completed an internal review of legal settlements involving a law firm that provided income last year to one of his top lawyers and concluded that each of those payouts was handled properly. Feuers team examined nine settlements paid by the city in cases involving Panish Shea & Boyle since 2014, as well as a 10th settlement that has been proposed but not yet approved, said Rob Wilcox, the city attorneys spokesman. The Panish firm provided between $10,000 and $100,000 in referral fee income to Thomas Peters, who was until recently Feuers chief assistant city attorney, according to his 2018 financial disclosure report. Peters submitted his resignation March 22 after The Times inquired about his outside income. At the time, Wilcox said in a statement: When [The Times] raised these issues ... I brought them to Mr. Feuers attention who had not been previously apprised of them. Mr. Peters has resigned. This is now a personnel matter and I cannot discuss it further. Advertisement Since 2014, the year Peters was hired, the City Council has approved more than $19 million in settlements stemming from eight cases involving the Panish firm, which represented the plaintiffs, according to the citys online council file system. In a ninth case examined by Feuer, the settlement paid by the city did not result in a payment to Panish, according to the firm. Feuer said his team looked at each settlement, examining such issues as whether a plaintiff in a case experienced pain and suffering, lost wages or sizable medical expenses, and determined that the public was well served in each case. Im very confident in the analysis weve gone through, he said. Hours after Feuer made his remarks, the Panish firm issued a statement saying its lawyers were pleased that Feuers review reaffirmed its reputation as a successful and ethical law office. Every case we have had against the city of Los Angeles resulted favorably to our clients because we worked hard to prove that our clients suffered tremendously and that the city was clearly at fault, the statement said. We obtained these results because we are good lawyers with good clients. Not because we paid a referral fee to former Assistant City Attorney Thomas Peters on an unrelated matter. Peters, who was chief of the civil litigation branch in Feuers office, could not be reached for comment. Feuer said his office is continuing to examine settlement proposals that were handled by Peters that have not yet been approved by the citys claims board or the council. That review should be completed within two weeks, Feuer said. Referral fees are typically paid to a lawyer who passes a case on to another attorney and may be paid years after a referral is made. Neither Feuer nor lawyers with the Panish firm would say how much the referral fee was or which case it involved. In their statement, lawyers from the Panish firm said Peters referred one case to the firm that was between private parties and had nothing to do with the city. After the case was resolved, Mr. Peters informed us that under the city attorneys office rules, he was allowed to accept a referral fee, the firm said. Payment of such fees, the firm said, are expressly authorized by the rules of professional conduct. Wilcox said city lawyers are now developing an explicit policy on such income. The issue of referral fees in Feuers office, he said, never came up before this incident. Feuers handling of the matter has drawn concern in recent days from several members of the City Council, who prepared a motion Wednesday calling on the city attorneys office to report its findings. The lack of oversight that allowed this to happen in the first place is unacceptable, said Councilman Joe Buscaino. I am not comfortable signing off on any city business that the city attorneys office has either approved or vetted until the investigation into this matter is completed. The council approved more than $4 million in payouts on Wednesday, settling five cases, none of which involved Panish. Buscaino asked to be counted as a no vote in all five. In his disclosure forms, Peters reported that he received more than $100,000 in referral income in 2017 from the law office of Anthony M. DeMarco. The following year, he reported receiving between $10,000 and $100,000 in referral fees from both the DeMarco firm and the Panish firm. Wilcox said the city has not identified any cases involving DeMarco from the period when Peters was in Feuers office. Since 2014, the Panish firm has handled 17 cases that involved the city, a majority of them resulting in settlements, Wilcox said. The largest of those payouts stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Peter Godefroy, who suffered severe injuries in 2015 after his bicycle hit a pothole in Sherman Oaks. The council voted two years later to pay $6.5 million to resolve his case, spreading the payments over two years. A year later, the council agreed to spend $6 million in another case handled by Panish, one involving a traffic death in Highland Park. In that case, a 17-year-old boy was struck and killed by a city truck driven by a city worker. Times staff writer Emily Alpert Reyes contributed to this report. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser Documents released Thursday by Los Angeles airport officials call for an expansion and reorganization of the nations second-busiest airport, including changes to existing runways and the construction of a passenger terminal east of Sepulveda Boulevard. In a 142-page environmental document, city airport officials said the expansion would bring more sophisticated facilities for travelers, improve runway safety, and add at least 21 gates for domestic and international flights. The new and expanded terminals should open before Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, Los Angeles World Airports spokesman Heath Montgomery said. More precise timing and a cost estimate will be determined during a future environmental analysis, he said. The expansion plans come on the heels of the citys ongoing $14-billion effort to overhaul the aging airports road network and terminals. Airport officials are adding a $1.6-billion midfield concourse west of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, and terminals used by Delta, American and Southwest airlines are undergoing costly face-lifts. Advertisement The plans released Thursday call for a new terminal east of Sepulveda Boulevard, currently home to airline hangars, maintenance facilities and a concourse for American Eagle, an American Airlines regional carrier. The facility, long discussed with airline executives, would add 12 gates that could accommodate wide-body jets for international flights, or as many as 19 for narrower planes that fly domestically. To accommodate the new terminal, LAX would add a fourth stop to a long-awaited airport train that will carry travelers and workers between a consolidated car rental facility, a Metro light-rail station and the airports central terminal area. The circulator train, called a people mover, broke ground last month and is scheduled to open in 2022. The new terminal would have its own security processing, drop-off area and parking garage, and would be connected to the rest of the central terminal area with a pedestrian bridge over Sepulveda, the documents said. An artists rendering shows a possible design for an expansion of Terminal 1, which is home to Southwest Airlines, and the elevated walkways and tracks of the future airport circulator train, called a people mover. (Los Angeles World Airports) The plans also lay out a four-level, nine-gate expansion of Terminal 1, home to Southwest Airlines. The airport would build over a parking lot just east of the existing terminal, west of Sepulveda, to expand the facility by 745,000 square feet, the documents said. The environmental documents call for safety improvements and reorganization along the runways on the northern side of the central terminal area, but those changes would not require moving the runway closer to homes to the north, the study says. In 2016, as part of a settlement agreement with neighborhood groups, airport officials indefinitely shelved longtime plans to move the northern runways 260 feet closer to Playa del Rey and Westchester. Officials to the south voiced concerns Thursday that the LAX expansion would expose residents to more noise, traffic, pollution and nearly a decade of construction. For now, we dont see any benefit to our residents, who already deal with some of the worst airport ramifications in the nation, El Segundo Mayor Drew Boyles said a statement. City leaders, he said, will use any strategy necessary to protect our residents. laura.nelson@latimes.com For more transportation news, follow @laura_nelson on Twitter. Security officials are intensifying their search for an American tourist and her local guide kidnapped this week after armed men ambushed them on a game drive in a national park in southwest Uganda. Four gunmen held a group of three tourists and their guide at gunpoint Tuesday evening, then grabbed two out of four ... before disappearing with them, police said in a statement. The other two tourists escaped unharmed. The kidnappers have since used one of the victims phones to demand $500,000, police said. A U.S. State Department official said that federal authorities are aware of reports that an American citizen was kidnapped in the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park and that Ugandan security forces are responding to the area. Advertisement The State Department has not identified the American woman, but news reports have identified her as Kimberley Sue Endecott of Costa Mesa. Kimberly Endicott is shown in a photo posted on her Facebook page in September 2012. (KTLA) Earlier this week, at an event unrelated to the Uganda incident, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo addressed the families of American hostages and stressed that any payment to a terrorist or a terrorist regime gives money so that they can seize more of our people. We cannot accept that risk. You wouldnt ask that of us, Pompeo said. Even a small payment to a group in, say, Africa can facilitate the killing or seizure of tens or even hundreds of others, including Americans or foreign nationals in that region. Ugandan police said Wednesday that they had dispatched an elite group of police officers, military personnel and wildlife authority officials to assist in the search. The parks Ishasha Wilderness Camp area, where the ambush occurred, is a popular tourist destination close to the border with Congo. On Wednesday, police said in a statement that they strongly believe the kidnappers and the victims could still be trapped within our search area, and we are hopeful that our efforts will lead to their successful recovery. But on Thursday, CNN quoted a police spokeswoman, Polly Namaye, as saying, Joint security teams have cut off all exit areas on the border between Uganda and [Congo] in search for the victims. Last May, Ugandan police said that more than 40 kidnappings had been reported in recent months, causing growing anxiety in our society. In June, Ugandans took to the streets to protest what they call government inaction in confronting the problem, which disproportionately affects women. After several kidnapping victims were killed, activists left coffins in front of parliament in protest. The Ugandan ambassador in Washington, Mull Katende, stressed Thursday that it is very unusual for a tourist to be kidnapped in Uganda, which has a thriving tourism industry based largely on its national parks and wildlife. Katende said this incident is the first time Im hearing of a tourist kidnapping. Bashir Hangi, a spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, told Reuters that tourists in the park are not supposed to partake in game drives without an armed ranger but that this group went out on their own without a guard. From their camp in the park, they just got into a vehicle and went out, he said. They should have notified us and informed us that theyre going out for a game drive, and then we would have availed them a guard, but they didnt do this. Authorities on Saturday continued to search for an Orange County woman and her driver who were kidnapped at gunpoint by a group of men who ambushed them this week in a national park in Uganda. Kimberly Sue Endicott, 56, an aesthetician from Costa Mesa, was traveling in a car on an evening game drive with a Ugandan guide and two other tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park on Tuesday when four men held them at gunpoint. The other tourists, an elderly couple, escaped, but the gunmen took Endicott and the driver, said Uganda deputy police spokeswoman Polly Namaye. The tour vehicle, which belongs to Wild Frontiers Uganda, was left parked and the kidnappers took the key, Namaye said. Endicott, who has had an aestheticians license since 1998, runs a skin care business in Costa Mesa. A review from a customer posted on the business website highlights Endicotts professional talent and also describes her as a wonderful and caring person. Advertisement Pam Lopez, who met Endicott through her work as an aesthetician, said it was her friends lifelong dream to go on safari in Africa to see gorillas. I know she was planning this trip for a while, because its something that shes always wanted to do, Lopez said. This was always a big trip she wanted to take. Lopez had been following Endicotts trip through photos her friend posted on Instagram. One image she posted showed four armed soldiers who were guarding the group. Im sure she felt like she was safe, Lopez said. I just cant even imagine whats happening right now to her. Endicotts family declined to comment Friday. The kidnappers have used Endicotts phone to demand a $500,000 ransom, which police suspect was the reason for the abduction. Authorities have said the ransom demand will not be paid. Earlier this week, at an event unrelated to the Uganda incident, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo addressed the families of American hostages and stressed that any payment to a terrorist or a terrorist regime gives money so that they can seize more of our people, according to the Washington Post. We cannot accept that risk. You wouldnt ask that of us, Pompeo said. Even a small payment to a group in, say, Africa can facilitate the killing or seizure of tens or even hundreds of others, including Americans or foreign nationals in that region. Ugandan police said Wednesday that they had dispatched an elite group of police officers, military personnel and wildlife authority officials to assist in the search. The parks Ishasha Wilderness Camp area, where the ambush occurred, is a popular tourist destination close to the border with Congo. Joint security teams have cut off all exit areas on the border between Uganda and Congo to search for Endicott and the tour guide. Police said in a statement that they strongly believe the kidnappers and the hostages could still be trapped within our search area, and we are hopeful that our efforts will lead to their successful recovery. Uganda recorded a surge in kidnapping cases last year, prompting street protests by activists who said security agencies werent doing enough to protect residents. However, officials this week stressed that it is unusual for a tourist to be kidnapped in Uganda, which has a thriving tourism industry stemming from its wildlife and national parks. The northern part of the park remains open to tourists, but the U.S. Embassy has warned Americans in the area to be careful. Bashir Hangi, a spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, told Reuters that tourists in the park are not supposed to go on game drives without an armed ranger but that this group went out on their own without a guard. From their camp in the park, they just got into a vehicle and went out, he said. They should have notified us and informed us that theyre going out for a game drive, and then we would have availed them a guard, but they didnt do this. KTLA contributed to this report. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry A Tijuana man pleaded guilty in a San Diego federal court in connection with his role in an international drug-money-laundering system connected to the notorious Sinaloa cartel that smuggled $13 million from the United States into Mexico. Cesar Hernandez-Martinez, 29, admitted Thursday that he owned and operated currency exchange houses in Tijuana that received smuggled proceeds from narcotics trafficking in the U.S. For the record: A previous version of this article said three other defendants who had pleaded guilty in the case have been sentenced to serve up to 11 months in prison. They were sentenced to serve up to 11 years. Hernandez-Martinez also said he managed couriers involved in smuggling the money, making sure they picked up the currency from sources primarily located in Southern California. The scheme went on from about April 2013 to November 2015. The narcotics including cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin were trafficked into the U.S. from Mexico by a drug trafficking organization Hernandez-Martinez acknowledged had ties to the notorious Sinaloa cartel, once headed by Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Advertisement Meth and murder: A new kind of drug war has made Tijuana one of the deadliest cities on Earth Hernandez-Martinez was extradited from Mexico to the United States in September 2018 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $26 million. The defense attorney representing Hernandez-Martinez declined to comment Friday. Three other defendants, also from Mexico, had previously pleaded guilty in the case and have been sentenced to serve up to 11 years in prison and pay fines ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, respectively. alexa.diaz@latimes.com Twitter: @alexalucina Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday that she will ask the board to approve a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever burned two swastikas into the synthetic front lawn of a San Dimas home. These are blatant symbols of hate and violence that have a serious and troubling impact on everyone in our community, Barger said in a statement. Those responsible should be held fully accountable for their actions. Either late Wednesday or early Thursday someone branded Ted Ferris property in the 1400 block of Greenhaven Street with two swastikas by pouring a corrosive substance into the synthetic turf. Authorities say the same person or group is thought to have also burned two other swastikas on the pavement of West Tudor Street, about a block from Ferris home. Advertisement Ferris is not Jewish and was puzzled why anyone would vandalize his yard in such a way. He and his family have lived in the home at Greenhaven Street and South Valley Center Avenue for 34 years. Theyve dealt with drivers hitting their concrete fence, and some occasional graffiti to that fence, but never anything this hateful or offensive. My first reaction? said Ferris, a 69-year-old retiree. If I knew who did it, Id choke em and thats [saying it] politely. Ferris switched to synthetic turf about seven years ago, when the drought made it too costly to keep a lush lawn. Now he hopes insurance will cover the $6,000 it will probably to take to replace the damaged spots. L.A. County Sheriffs Sgt. Peter Shupe of the San Dimas station said that because Ferris isnt Jewish authorities werent investigating the act as a hate crime, but he said a felony vandalism report had been taken. Shupe said it was probably teenagers just being little jerks. Regardless, the reported uptick in swastika graffiti across the country is worrisome to local Jewish and anti-hate leaders. Jason Moss, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, said that not only is the frequency of reports of swastika graffiti concerning, but so is the cavalier nature of vandals defacing a range of places with the symbol. In January, a group of students at an Ojai middle school lay down in a field, forming the shape of a swastika. Last month, students in Newport Beach made national headlines when they were seen posing around a swastika made of Solo cups, some with their arms raised in a Nazi salute. The Anti-Defamation League found the number of anti-Semitic incidents rose 57% in the United States in 2017. Theres no other symbol like it, Moss said. What symbol exists that evokes that kind of hatred and fear, and provocation as well? As the executive director of the Jewish federation in this area, Im always concerned when I hear there are swastikas, no matter where they are. In the days since rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle was gunned down outside of his clothing store Sunday, his loved ones have taken comfort in each other, huddling, as they have for years, at Hussles grandmothers house in South L.A. On Thursday, Hussles mother, Angelique Smith, paused in the middle of a story about how her son once hounded his school counselor to test him for the gifted program. He recognized at an early age his own capability, she told The Times. His own potential. He has always known. Advertisement Heres what those closest to Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, had to say about him, his legacy and how they are coping with his death: Nipsey Hussle and longtime girlfriend Lauren London arrive at the Nomad Hotel Los Angeles in February. (Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images) Lauren London, his girlfriend: He was a protector and wanted us to be our best at all times. He was a truth seeker and truth speaker. She added: Im going to keep my head high and always represent for my king to the fullest. He loved his kids. He was a family man. His family came first. Dawit Asghedom, his father: It was like he was sent by God to give some love to bring us together because thats what his lyrics were saying, always. Hes not shy to tell the truth even though it might not look good. He wasnt scared of anything. [God] sent him to send a message. It looks like, Your time is up because you have completed what I sent you to do. We all have a plan, but God has his own plan. So he had completed what he needed to be doing and he did it early so [God] probably want to take him early too. Angelique Smith, his mother: I would like for him to be remembered as a humble, spirited, respectful man who had, since his childhood, had an extraordinary and unlimited intellectual capacity. Mourners have been arriving since Sunday to offer their condolences, but Smith said she finds herself comforting them and chasing away the spirit of fear and grief ... retaliation and anger. Ive been at perfect peace, she said. Samiel Asghedom, his brother: Theres a lot of politics within the area that we grew up in, but he stayed the course and showed what he was about. He made something work in an area that was run-down, that people were scared to come to, and he turned it into a landmark. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has reinstated at least six deputies who were previously discharged, according to county documents obtained by The Times. Villanueva has previously defended his departments decisions to rehire two deputies fired for misconduct one accused of assaulting and harassing a woman and lying about it, the other for using unreasonable force during an arrest. But The Times found four additional rehires, a revelation that is likely to stoke more scrutiny from county supervisors and department watchdogs who have called on the sheriff to stop the practice. Villanueva has argued that previous sheriffs were too harsh in punishing deputies and that he wants to be fairer. But critics fear the sheriff is rolling back crucial reforms imposed in the wake of a major corruption scandal several years ago. Advertisement In December, Villanueva reinstated one of his campaign volunteers, Caren Carl Mandoyan, who was fired in 2016 for violating department policies regarding family violence and dishonesty. The sheriff also gave another deputy, Michael Courtial, his job back in February, after a review by the department determined the deputy should not have been terminated for using unreasonable force, The Times reported Wednesday. In addition to Mandoyan and Courtial, the list, compiled at the request of the Board of Supervisors and obtained by The Times through a public records request, shows that Deputies Justin Seman, Omar Chavez, Jason Goss and Brian Mayfield have been rehired in recent months after previously being discharged. The county on Friday provided The Times with an updated list, which included the names on the original roster and 16 additions. But the updated list redacted the column that shows whether the deputy had been previously discharged. In a statement, Villanueva said the reinstatements of Seman, Chavez and Mayfield happened after the Civil Service Commission overturned the deputies discipline. Goss was brought back to work through a settlement agreement, he said. The procedure to reinstate or modify the discipline of a county employee has been long-established process, and may include settlement agreements, Villanueva said. Whenever a case is put before the Civil Service Commission, the panel strongly encourages the parties to resolve the matter, he said. The Sheriffs Department declined to answer questions about the circumstances of the four deputies dismissals. The emergence of the list is the latest development in an unusual battle dominating Villanuevas fledgling term over whether he has the authority to reinstate fired deputies. He faces an unprecedented legal fight from the county Board of Supervisors, which took him to court last month to try to block him from reinstating Mandoyan. The supervisors, who control the countys budget, have stopped paying Mandoyan and say he is not an employee, though the deputy remains on duty. A longtime underdog during his decades on the department and during his campaign, Villanueva triumphed over then-incumbent Sheriff Jim McDonnell last year on a promise to correct the wrongs of the past, including ending cronyism and addressing the cases of deputies whod been unfairly disciplined through a truth and reconciliation panel. Supervisors approved a motion March 12 directing the countys auditor-controller, chief executive, director of personnel or county counsel to notify the board of all requests to rehire or reinstate former Sheriffs Department employees. The first list provided to The Times includes 27 former employees who were put back on the county payroll since Dec. 3, when Villanueva took office. Four of the names, including Assistant Sheriff Robert Olmsted and former Undersheriff Ray Leyva, are tagged as being retirees who were rehired. Several others, including Villanueva as well as security officers, custody assistants and deputy trainees, are simply described as rehires. The list shows that Seman was reinstated in December, Chavez in January, and Goss and Mayfield in February, according to the document. It is unclear why the deputies other than Mandoyan and Courtial were discharged or whether they were found to have committed misconduct. Custody Assistant Stephen Miramontes is also listed as being rehired after being terminated. Multiple efforts to reach the deputies, and Miramontes, were unsuccessful Friday. At a public meeting March 12, Villanueva told the supervisors that as of that date, he had reinstated only one deputy Mandoyan and that all other reinstatements were on hold. Nishida confirmed to The Times that day that no other reinstatements had occurred. She said Friday that at that time, she was not privy to information about any other rehirings and that Villanueva had been referring to reinstatements under the truth and reconciliation panel. Supervisors directed the sheriff on March 12 to stop reevaluating discipline previously imposed on Sheriffs Department employees, including discontinuing the work of his truth and reconciliation panel, which cleared the path for Mandoyans reinstatement. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said this week that Villanuevas comments to the board display an emerging pattern of inconsistencies and even blatant misrepresentations about the deputy reinstatements. It makes it hard to do business with someone when you cant trust what theyre saying, Ridley-Thomas said. Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said that beyond the questions about the sheriffs authority, she is growing more troubled about whether the reinstated deputies are good for public safety. We have to be concerned about whether they are qualified and whether they can keep the public trust, she said. My concern is deepening about the judgment of the sheriff. Villanueva told The Times on Thursday that Courtials case was flagged by former Sheriffs Department Chief John Benedict, who originally approved the deputys firing but later had doubts about the decision. Villanueva said the county counsels office reviewed the case and found errors in the investigation, leading officials to strike a settlement with Courtial to reinstate him and impose less severe discipline. The agreement, approved by an outside attorney contracted by the Sheriffs Department, was struck before Courtials case could be heard by the Civil Service Commission. Benedict, now retired, told The Times on Friday that he did not raise an alert about Courtials case and did not have second thoughts about the decision to discharge him. He said he complied with a request by Villanuevas transition team to supply a list of terminations that had not been adjudicated by the Civil Service Commission, which included Courtials. The investigation (into Courtial) was solid. It was a good investigation. I had no issues with it, Benedict said. He added that he was later transferred to another division and did not play a role in Courtials settlement. He said any reinstatements of fired deputies would have to be brought to the attention of the sheriff. The department has said Courtials case followed a long-standing policy of division-level review that involved the county counsels office, and was not the work of the truth and reconciliation panel. Villanueva has said he was not involved in the decision to settle. Nishida, the department spokeswoman, said 14 similar settlements that restored the jobs of fired deputies were agreed to under McDonnells administration. Retired Chief Stephen Johnson, who served in the Sheriffs Department for 41 years including under McDonnell, said that from his experience, people at the division level such as himself did not have the authority to approve settlements to bring fired deputies back. Johnson, who most recently oversaw the Detective Division before being removed by Villanueva, said that although he could review low-level cases, reinstatements involving deputies who had been discharged would have to be approved by a representative for the county counsel and a Sheriffs Department official above his level, probably the sheriff. McDonnell did not respond to requests for comment. Villanueva told The Times on Thursday that the cases of about 68 deputies who were terminated under McDonnell but whose cases were not adjudicated by the Civil Service Commission are under review for reinstatement. An additional 70 cases that are already in the Civil Service Commission process are not being looked at. Over the course of the past five years, the department engaged in a mass firing scheme that was illegal, that was based on the denial of due process to employees and based on the systematic exclusion of exculpatory evidence, Villanueva said in an interview with The Times on Thursday. Det. Ron Hernandez, president of the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union that represents rank-and-file deputies, said it has been common practice for disciplinary cases, including terminations, to end in a settlement. He said that for discharges, this could come in the form of a back-to-work agreement that might restrict the employees rights or duties and involve some disciplinary measures. County Counsel Mary Wickham, in a letter to Villanueva dated April 1 that was reviewed by The Times, told the sheriff that only her office can handle settlements and directed him not to enter into any more settlements related to discipline. She also told him not to employ outside attorneys for those agreements. Villanueva said Thursday that Wickham has gone rogue by claiming that she has power over legal settlements involving disciplinary decisions. Thats put a lot of cases in limbo, he said. Wickham typically does not field requests from the media and did not respond to requests for comment Friday. A county spokeswoman, Lennie LaGuire, declined to comment on the list. The boards motion last month directed Wickham to instruct the sheriff to discontinue work on the truth and reconciliation panel and any other similar processes or actions related to the reevaluation of the discipline of department personnel. Wickhams office is also preparing a report to the board about the legality of the disciplinary review panel, due later this month. maya.lau@latimes.com Twitter: @mayalau President Trump arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday for a fundraising event and a dinner that are expected to cause some afternoon rush-hour delay. First stop on the L.A. agenda is a a fundraiser in Beverly Hills. A source told The Times he also plans to have dinner at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. Its unclear what route he will take to get there. The city of Rancho Palos Verdes announced that parks and trails adjacent to the Trump golf course were closed at 1 p.m. Advertisement Live coverage: Trump in California His trip has prompted a series of traffic advisories. Sunset Boulevard is scheduled to be closed from 1 to 7 p.m. between Foothill and Hillcrest roads in Beverly Hills. Foothill, and Elm and Maple drives are to be closed between Sunset and Elevado Avenue during this period as well. Here are additional advisories: 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Bundy Drive around Pico Boulevard. This advisory probably involves Trumps arrival through Santa Monica Airport. 3-4 p.m.: Sunset between Sepulveda Boulevard and Hillcrest. 6-7 p.m.: Sunset between Hillcrest and Sepulveda. 6:30-7 p.m.: Bundy around Pico. The dinner in Rancho Palos Verdes would probably occur after the Beverly Hills fundraiser. President Trump embarked Friday on his third trip to California since entering the White House, a day after backing off his latest threat to seal off the border between Mexico and the United States. Trump had been threatening to close the border for a week, leading some to believe he would use Fridays visit to a section of fencing in Calexico to announce at least a partial closure. After inspecting the wall at the Calexico-Mexicali border, Trump flew on to Los Angeles, where he attended a private fundraising event and had dinner with his son Eric at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course. Advertisement President Trump departs Los Angeles for Las Vegas Marine One landed back at LAX around 10 p.m. and President Trump boarded Air Force Once about five minutes later, according to the White House Travel Pool report. At 10:12 p.m. Air Force One was departing on the runway headed for Las Vegas. Protesters are few as President Trump arrives at his golf club Gina Gualeni was on her way home when she saw about a dozen supporters gathered outside the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. So she made an anti-Trump sign and headed out with her daughter. I couldnt just drive by and do nothing, Gualeni, 50, said. These are the people who Im sick of. Gualeni said she was surprised that she didnt see any other protesters. I think people are getting tired, she said. Adriana Barba of West Carson was heckled by Trump supporters as she stood alone across the street holding a sign that read, Not my president. I was hoping there would be more protesters more than just me because theres safety in numbers, Barba, 29, said. Barba said Trumps visit was too close to home. She looked on as his supporters danced with American flags in the middle of Palos Verdes Drive. I needed to at least do something by coming here, Barba said. I dont have that much political pull or lobbying power at least not yet so this is step one. A crowd of about 50 supporters of President Trump clapped and cheered as Marine One circled the golf club about 7:45 p.m. As the crowd started to disperse, supporters broke into chants of U.S.A. 8:50 p.m. | Alexa Diaz Adriana Barba of West Carson was heckled by Trump supporters as she stood alone across the street holding a sign that read, Not my president. (Alexa Diaz / Los Angeles Times) Angry Angelenos rant about Trump traffic as the president makes his way through L.A. Residents in some neighborhoods, including Santa Monica, lined the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of the president as he made his way through West Los Angeles. And in Rancho Palos Verdes, Trump supporters got wind that Trump would visit his golf course to have dinner with his son. Virginia Padilla, 71, waved two American flags outside Trump National Golf Course. The honks are hopeful because California is so liberal, Padilla said of the honking cars passing by. Were sinking. If we were a ship, we would have already gone under. Were praying for reelection. Virginia Padilla waves an American flag proudly as she awaits Trumps arrival in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Alexa Diaz / Los Angeles Times) Padilla said Secret Service agents on the property told her that Trumps helicopter would land on the side of the club opposite from the main road, out of sight to the public. She has seen Trump in person three times before twice at the golf club, and once in L.A. Harbor, before he was elected, when he came right up to her and signed her Make America Great Again sign, she said. Wendy Yen, 73, lives across the street from the golf club and joined the group of about a dozen supporters eagerly awaiting Trump. The closest Ive ever been to Trump is the television, Yen said. Yen, once a Democrat, said that if anyone wasnt a supporter of Trump before, they should be after seeing what he has done for the economy and for illegal immigration. She said she thinks its important to show her support of Trump because conservatives often are attacked. We cant say anything [in public], but were just going to vote, Yen said. Elsewhere in Los Angeles, residents were dreading Trumps arrival Friday afternoon, some because of his political agenda and many for the chockablock traffic he was expected to generate as he made his way through the city. Angelenos vented their anger on social media, declaring that the president was unwelcome in liberal L.A. One user said, Oh yeah thanks for the extra traffic. Forgot he is here in Beverly Hills asking money to the Hollywood elite and liberals!!! 5:25 p.m. | Alejandra Reyes Velarde and Alexa Diaz I'm in Santa Monica watching a small crowd of people waiting to express themselves, uniquely, as the #POTUS motorcade passes by. pic.twitter.com/SQWQwJMf9j Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) April 5, 2019 Trumps coming to Beverly Hills today & now I have to deal with super traffic on my way home. No one wants you out here !! Yuriluchiss (@YuriNohelia) April 5, 2019 Greattttt. Our wonderful president is gonna be in Beverly Hills/ century city today & I work out here & the traffic gonna suckkkk even more m. (@mssmacmiller) April 5, 2019 President Trump has just arrived at LAX. Prepare for some bad traffic on top of the horrible 4:00 traffic here in LA as he heads to a Beverly Hills fundraiser. Kambree Kawahine Koa (@KamVTV) April 5, 2019 Air Force One lands at LAX; Trump boards helicopter for Beverly Hills Running nearly an hour behind schedule, President Trump arrived at Los Angeles International Airport shortly before 4 p.m. He greeted and shook hands with a crowd of supporters and reporters before boarding a helicopter that would take him to a Beverly Hills fundraiser. According to several news outlets, the fundraiser will take place in the private home of healthcare executive Lee Samson. His travels throughout Los Angeles are expected to cause delays on major roads. 4:30 p.m. | Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Trump wraps up Calexico border visit, expected to have dinner at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course The president arrived at the Calexico-Mexicali border wall about 1:55 p.m. He was joined by several law enforcement officials from Californias Central Valley and Arizona who spoke about how illegal immigration affects their communities. It looks great, Trump said. Its better and much more effective than the previous wall. Its pretty sharp up top, too. If you want to climb that you deserve whatever you can get. After the brief visit, Trump was scheduled to make his way to Beverly Hills for a fundraising event in a private home. According to CBS, the home belongs to healthcare executive Lee Samson. Then, for his last stop in California, Trump is expected to have dinner with his son Eric Trump, local officials and supporters at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course, the Washington Post reported. Though officials wouldnt confirm Trumps stop there, the golf course was barricaded by 3 p.m. Several police vehicles drove onto the property throughout the afternoon, and attendants told people trying to enter the venue that it would be closed for a private event but would not comment further. 3:35 p.m. | Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Alexa Diaz Heres the view from Trump National Dr. outside President Trumps golf club in Rancho Palos Verdes. Attendants at the barricades said the venue is closed for a private event, but wouldnt comment further. Trump is expected to visit the club this evening: https://t.co/2JCvulRlWO pic.twitter.com/tSSvKrG9AZ Alexa Diaz (@alexalucina) April 5, 2019 Head of ACLU in San Diego and Imperial counties says Trump is creating fear and chaos with border agenda The American Civil Liberties Union in San Diego and Imperial Counties released a statement Friday reacting to what they called Trumps anti-immigrant agenda. Executive director of the ACLU branch, Norma Chavez-Peterson, said Trump made no public plans to meet with Imperial Valley residents or community leaders about concerns over how his policies will affect local resources. Border communities are among the most peaceful and prosperous in our country, she said. Its time for President Trump to stop this extremist pandering to his base and listen to border residents the people affected by his anti-immigrant agenda. A protester awaiting the arrival of president Trump in Calexico. (Dania Maxwell/ Los Angeles Times) Trump jam: Heres where to expect traffic gridlock from the presidents visit Obamajam became a term of foreboding for greater Los Angeles when President Obama came to town. His motorcade often caused major traffic tie-ups that frustrated many. President Trump has visited L.A. less often than Obama, but on Friday, hes set to attend a fundraiser in Beverly Hills. His stop comes after a visit to the Mexican border at Calexico. Hes also scheduled to attend a fundraising event and speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition on Saturday in Las Vegas. His trip has prompted a series of traffic advisories. READ MORE Trump and border officials tout the effectiveness of walls, announce plans to build 450 miles of barrier At his round-table discussion on border security, which began at the El Centro Border Patrol station at about 12:35 p.m., Trump reiterated his belief that a border wall is the most effective solution for overwhelmed ports of entry. The system is full, he told a room full of reporters and local officials. We have to say, Im sorry we cant take you. Weve been trying to take people and you cant do it. The president commended the work of border agents as well as Mexican officials, who he said have been apprehending Mexican and Central American immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border by the thousands in the last few days. Mexican officials say they havent changed their strategy or enforcement operation at the border. Border Patrol agent Michael Sullivan poses for a picture next to a plaque adorning a newly fortified border fence in Calexico, Calif. (Gregory Bull / AP) Mexico is bringing them back to where they came from, he said. Thatll help us 90%, 80%. What do you think, fellas, pretty close, right? Theyve never done that before, in 30 years theyve never done like theyre doing it right now. Gloria Chavez, chief of the El Centro Border Patrol sector, echoed Trumps statements about the need for a wall. The 58-mile stretch in that area is more than 20 years old, she said. Its very easy for them to cross, she said. But since construction of a portion of new barrier in the two-mile area, illegal entries decreased by 75%, according to Chavez. Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite with the Army Corps of Engineers then made statements about the progress made so far on the border and plans for the near future. According to Semonite, 82 miles of border wall have been built so far, and by the end of the year officials expect 97 miles of the wall to be constructed. In 2020, another 277 miles of barrier is planned to go up for a total of 450 miles made up of about 33 different projects along the southern border. Trump is also expecting more funding for port of entry security measures, including drug detection equipment, he said. 1:40 p.m. | Kate Morrissey and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Trump arrives in El Centro Air Force One landed in El Centro at 11:37 a.m. With him were several members of Congress, including GOP Reps. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, Ken Calvert of Corona and Mike D. Rogers of Alabama, as well as Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. Trump stepped out of Air Force One and was greeted by cheers. The president walked toward the crowd of reporters and supporters, giving them a thumbs up and shaking hands with some. He spent several minutes speaking to the crowd and took time to sign MAGA hats and other items. He clapped and saluted his supporters before boarding a black SUV for a short ride to his destination in Calexico. -- From White House press pool reports Mexican spectators catch glimpse of protesters ahead of Trumps visit Just a little before 11 a.m., about 100 local officials and officers, many dressed in Border Patrol uniforms, began filing into the El Centro Border Patrol station to hear the president speak. Border Patrol Agent Daniel Hann, who is in charge of the station, said the moment is particularly special because its the first time a president has visited Calexico. As Trump was en route, a large crowd of demonstrators had gathered in a dirt lot near Calexicos airport and what the Trump administration is calling the new border wall. A huge Baby Trump balloon floated above them. Organizers had raised $2,600 to be able to display the protest symbol. Im happy people showed up, said Maribel Padilla, co-founder of the Brown Bag Coalition, a non-profit organization that feeds the homeless, as she snapped a photo of the crowd. Padilla said she was worried that if Trump ever does close the border, more immigrants may get stuck in the U.S. and would need to be fed. Even then if that wasnt the case, she said, there would likely be a severe shortage of field workers, which would affect the cost of agricultural produce. Standing near her, Margarita Sauza, director of the nonprofit Sure Helpline Crisis Center, said she came out to support the movement. Sauza has handled refugee cases of mothers from Central America and Mexico, women who have suffered from domestic abuse and have lost children to violence. She said she hopes that people can stop for a second and feel some compassion for refugees trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. We need a little more of that, and what pains me the most are Latinos who dont care about this enough, she said. On the other side of the steel border wall, Mexicans popped their hands through the barriers poles and took their own photographs of the American demonstrators. A satirical balloon of a baby US President Donald Trump is seen through the US-Mexico border fence during a demonstration against him prior to his visit to Calexico, California. (GUILLERMO ARIAS / AFP/Getty Images) Among them was 49-year-old David Villanueva, who was heading home from work when he heard the echoes of chants and cheers on the other side. This thing is massive, he said, looking at the new barrier. Feels like a prison wall. Villanueva said hes not a fan of Trump, mainly because of the presidents many derisive comments about Mexicans and his country. Hes a racist, thats all there is to it, he said. No one likes him. But, mingled with protesters and Mexican spectators were Trump supporters who approved of the actions he has taken. Its all about safety for me, there are too many drugs coming through the country, said Joe Rivas, 60, of El Centro. Rivas said drugs have taken some of his friends and torn families apart. People are overdosing everyday, he said. He believes that most of the drugs are coming from Mexico and that some but not all, immigrants cross the border illegally and commit crimes. So its about safety, and thats why Im out here supporting him, he said. There was one thing both sides could agree on: No one liked the razor wire lining the steel wall. It looks ugly, Rivas said 11:25 a.m. | Ruben Vives and Kate Morrissey Supporters and protesters turn out for Trumps arrival In downtown Calexico, near the citys water tower, dozens of people planning to march and protest Trumps visit began to gather early Friday. They came with signs that read Dump Trump and Trump keep the border crossings open, as well as signs about issues such as pollution. Most demonstrators wore white shirts in support of international friendship and solidarity. Among them was Suzie Newell, 64, who held a small sign with a picture of two hands, tattooed with the Mexican and American flags, shaking hands over a barbed-wire fence. It read, Two Countries and One community. A resident of El Centro just north of Calexico, Newell said she came out to oppose closing the border. I dont think hes thinking about how its going to affect both sides, she said. It will hurt the economy. We have a lot of farm workers who cross the border doing jobs that Americans wont do, she added. Newell, who worked as a teacher in Calexico for 24 years, said she didnt agree with how the border town was being portrayed by Trump. We dont have a border problem, she said. Covered in hearts pinned to her shirt, Frederica Luke, 72, drove 30 minutes from Brawley to participate in the demonstration. Luke pinned a heart on Eduardo Olvera,a 17-year-old who was on his way to school when he stopped to speak with demonstrators. Luke said she came out to protest Trump and spread a little love in the process. I didnt vote for him and I initially gave him a chance, she said. But I think hes incompetent. Im horrified some people havent seen what a fraud he is. Olvera, who lives in Mexicali with his dad but whose mother lives in Calexico, said a border closure would be devastating for both the cities he calls home. The farmworkers who cross to work the fields wont be able to work, he said. People come here with the intention to work and have an opportunity at a better life, not to commit crimes, he said. At least two Trump supporters Linda Jung, 71 and her husband Keith Wood, 80 stood by watching for a few minutes. Keith Wood, 80, holds a sign in support of President Trump while waiting for Trump to a arrive for a visit to the California-Mexico border in Calexico. (Ruben Vives / Los Angeles Times) We came to support our wonderful president, Wood said. The couple said they support a closed border in order to spur Congress to pass better immigration laws. If we have to suffer some economic shortcomings then so be it, Wood said. 10:10 a.m. | Ruben Vives 5 misconceptions about the U.S.-Mexico border Is Trump able to shut down the southern border with Mexico? Will building a wall stop the flow of drugs? Is there an actual crisis at the border? We separate misconception from fact. (Los Angeles Times Graphics) READ MORE 8:45 a.m. | Molly OToole, Melissa Gomez, Kyle Kim, Jon Schleuss and Lorena Iniguez As Trump makes border visit, leaders from California and Mexico will discuss pollution As President Trump makes his third visit to California on Friday to tour the border in Calexico, state lawmakers and Mexican leaders will meet at another end of the states southern boundary to discuss what they see as a crisis in the border region: high levels of air and water pollution. READ MORE 8:45 a.m. | Jazmine Ulloa From the Archives: Trump has never been able to conquer Southern California On Jan. 13, 1990, Donald Trump arrived at the once-glamorous Ambassador Hotel for a major announcement: Here on Los Angeles Wilshire Boulevard, Trump said, he would build the tallest building in the world. It was the New York developers first major deal on the West Coast and a potentially skyline-redefining project for L.A. The 125-story, $1-billion-plus residential and commercial complex would overshadow everything else in the neighborhood, a towering testament to Trumps ambition. READ MORE 8:37 a.m. | Matt Pearce In Calexico, people are dreading Trumps visit Inside Edi Fashion, a discount clothing store in this border city, 42-year-old Tere Guerrera and 38-year-old Marcela Valle waited for Mexican shoppers to walk in and make last-minute purchases. The survival of businesses such as Edi Fashion has long been tied to Mexican citizens who cross the border on a daily basis to work in the fields of Imperial Valley. Those same workers come to shop for clothes and food. So when the women heard that President Trump was visiting on Friday, they were frustrated. People are going to be scared to come here, Valle said. Were going to suffer economically. Were going to see a 60% drop in revenue. She added: Frankly, no one wants to see him here. His visit doesnt benefit us at all, Guerrera said. The women based this on past experience. Last year, when the National Guard was sent to help secure the border and install razor wire on the border fence, it had a costly impact on businesses. For 15 days, Valle and Guerrera said, the number of people who came to town from Mexico was down. People were just afraid to cross over, Guerrera said. You saw military soldiers all over with guns. But it wasnt just financial worries that made locals dread this visit. They also worried that Trump in his remarks would portray the city as if its under siege by criminals who crossed the border illegally. He only says negative things, Valle said. The fact is, people stand around for more than an hour trying to cross the border. They go through heavy security before coming here. Trumps visit was to include a roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials before a trip to the border to view a 30-foot steel bollard barrier that replaced a fence last October. A plaque on the newly constructed fence says the 2.5-mile steel barrier is the first section of the border wall that Trump has repeatedly promised. But border and elected officials in Calexico said efforts to replace that specific portion of the fence were already in the works when President Obama was in office. Trumps visit also comes after he had announced his intention to shut down the border entirely, a threat he abandoned Thursday. Claudia Gonzalez, 42, who lives on the other side of the border in Mexicali, said she was worried her husband would not be able to go to his job if the border were shut down. Sitting next to her on a concrete bench, Baltazar Castellanos, 75, told her that if the president decided to close off the border it probably wouldnt last long. Before Trump made his announcement that he was backing off on the threat of closing the border, the Calexico City Council on Wednesday night approved a proclamation opposing Trumps plan. Mayor Lewis Pacheco said he was relieved to learn that Trump had changed his mind. He said closing the border would not only hurt his city but the country. During 2017, California exported an average of $127 million a day of merchandise to Mexico and imported an average of $73 million a day of goods. The money involved in the economy is tremendous, Pacheco said. Shutting the border is not a viable solution. We have ties next door by culture, by language. Were connected by the hip. 7 a.m. | Ruben Vives Chasing danger: How border patrol chases have spun out of control, with deadly consequences A ProPublica-L.A. Times investigation finds dangerous car pursuits have happened more frequently under the Trump administration, often endangering lives. In the last four years alone, along the U.S. side of the border, at least 250 people were injured and 22 died after a Border Patrol pursuit. READ MORE 9 a.m. | Kavitha Surana, ProPublica; Brittny Mejia and James Queally, Los Angeles Times "The only winner here is coal," said Kerwin Olson, the group's executive director. "This is absolutely a decision to slow down, if not stop, the planned retirement of multiple coal-fired power plants in Indiana and directly interferes in decisions Indiana utilities have already made to transition away from coal." Cousins Maine Lobster has arrived. The lobster roll chain now has its very own Orange County-roving food truck, operated by O.C. natives Roshan Patel and Yatrik Bhatt. Judging by the line at the trucks grand opening March 29 at the Bruery Terreux in Anaheim, theyre going to be busy. Cousins Maine Lobster specializes in food accompanied by authentic Maine lobster, a commonplace food in New England but relatively rare in Southern California. There are very few establishments where you can get this quality of lobster in a semi-quick-serve fashion, Bhatt said. Its something that people love to eat on a regular basis, but its made with a delicacy. Advertisement O.C.s truck has a specialized menu featuring the most popular items, including lobster rolls, tacos and bisque. All the lobster is indeed from Maine. Its a wild-caught, sustainably-harvested product from wharfs along the Pine Tree State coastline with names like Casco Bay, Boothbay Harbor, Port Clyde and Vinalhaven. The O.C. truck sells two kinds of rolls. Maine style is chilled lobster with mayo on a New England roll. Connecticut is warm lobster with butter and lemon, also on a New England roll. There are also lobster tots, which are a mix of tater tots topped with lobster, cilantro lime sauce and pico de gallo. You can also try their shrimp tacos, lobster quesadillas, Maine Root brand sodas and whoopie pies (chocolate cookie sandwiches with filling). Cousins Maine Lobster started in 2012 with a single food truck in Los Angeles. Founders Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac wanted to re-create the magic of eating steaming hot lobster in Maine, as they did as children with their families. Fortunately for them, producers of the hit ABC show Shark Tank visited their truck during its initial run and encouraged them to go on their program, which places budding entrepreneurs in front of shark investors with the goal of convincing the sharks to invest in a business. In 2012, Tselikis and Lomac appeared on the show and struck a deal with shark Barbara Corcoran, who invested $55,000 and provided mentorship. Now, Cousins Maine Lobster has 22 food trucks and nine brick-and-mortar restaurants. Patel and Bhatt have known each other since high school. Patel went to Cal State Fullerton and Bhatt attended Fullerton College. Though not food industry veterans Patel is a former business development manager for Charter Communications and Bhatt was the general manager of a 24 Hour Fitness they liked the idea of starting a unique O.C. business. Theyre the youngest franchisees in the Cousins Maine Lobster chain. Theres a huge sense of satisfaction of doing something for our community where we know were going to make people happy, Patel said. Were here to stay, Bhatt added. Thats the most exciting part for Orange County. IF YOU GO What: Cousins Maine Lobster Where: For the most up-to-date location of their O.C. truck, visit cousinsmainelobster.com/truck/orange-county-ca Contact: (714) 602-1123; orangecounty@cousinsmainelobster.com Bradley Zint writes about food for TimesOC. Follow him on Twitter at @bradleyzint, and follow @timesocofficial for more news and features about Orange County. Federal immigration officials dropped the first group of several dozen asylum seekers all Central American parents with children at the downtown bus station here just before it opened at 5 a.m. Thursday. They dropped more throughout the day, all of them Spanish speakers in need of food, medicine and guidance from local volunteers. Jose Manuel Velasquez, 24, cradled his squirming 3-year-old-daughter, Sofia, as volunteer Susan Law advised him how to reach Oklahoma City, where he hoped to join his cousin. He was one of thousands of asylum seekers trying to leave the border region this week to reach friends, family and immigration court hearings in other parts of the country. Across the border this week ahead of President Trumps Friday visit to California, volunteers helped hundreds of asylum seekers who had been released from U.S. custody. Cities are pitching in, but helping the migrants has mainly fallen to volunteers whose resources were already at a breaking point from responding to a slew of new immigration policies. Advertisement On Thursday in McAllen, the U.S. released 700 migrants to crowded nonprofit shelters and dropped others directly at the bus station. Some arrived at the station with confirmation numbers to claim tickets paid for by relatives. Many arrived confused. Law, one of half a dozen regular volunteers with the group Angry Tias and Abuelas of the Rio Grande Valley, said the constant arrivals this week made volunteers work more overwhelming. The 73-year-old, a retired human resources director for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, sat with one parent after another Thursday. She explained each step of their bus trip, highlighting connections on a stack of U.S. maps she keeps tucked in a clipboard. She reviewed their paperwork, reminded them to keep their addresses updated and attend immigration court, and shared a list of free legal services at their destinations. 1 / 10 MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Eulogio Erazo Varela, 28, from Honduras, comforts his ill daughter Kimberlin Erazo, 3, while joining recently released migrants who wait to catch a bus at the McAllen Central Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Varela was planning to travel to Memphis, Tenn. to stay with a friend. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus or airplane to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 10 The Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center offers migrants a temporary home in McAllen, Texas. Those who work with immigrants in this border town are facing new challenges as U.S. authorities release of thousands of detained asylum seekers. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 10 Recently released migrants fill the hallways Wednesday at the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas. Volunteers with Catholic Charities provide food, a place to sleep and transportation to the bus station or airport. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 10 Recently released migrants leave the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center on Wednesday en route to the McAllen, Texas, bus station. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 10 MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Susan Law, left, and Rafael Mendoza, far right, volunteers with Angry Tias and Abuelas, assist migrants, who were recently released from custody, where they are going in the U.S. and how to deal with upcoming legal activities at the McAllen Central Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 10 MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Volunteer Luis Guerrero, 64, foreground, with Catholic Charities, answers questions for recently released migrants at the McAllen Central Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 10 Volunteer Luis Guerrero, left, helps out recently released migrants Wednesday at the bus station in McAllen, Texas. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 10 Emily Yoany Martinez, 3, sticks close to father Luis Alonso Martinez of Honduras at the McAllen, Texas, bus station on Wednesday as Dilian Escalon Alberto, right, holds her itinerary to Springfield, Va. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 10 MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Roland Garcia, 60, right, with Angry Tias and Abuelas, gives bags of food to recently released migrants at the McAllen Central Bus Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus or airplane to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 10 Susan Law, right, advises recently released migrants Wednesday at the McAllen, Texas, bus station. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Many eastbound buses arriving in McAllen on Thursday were already packed with those released in El Paso and San Antonio. The wait time for migrants released to shelters to make it onto a bus has stretched to two days, according to Eli Fernandez, a volunteer at a nonprofit shelter. Migrant advocates have suggested that recent mass releases at the border were intended to create chaos and give Trump something to point to when he argues that there is a national emergency. Border Patrol officials have said their resources were strained by people crossing into the U.S. and asking for asylum. The officials have asked for millions more in funding to run temporary holding areas in Texas Rio Grande Valley. A Federal Emergency Management Agency team arrived in the valley this week, meant to support Border Patrol operations and nongovernmental groups, according to a FEMA spokeswoman. But many volunteers in the Rio Grande Valley said they hadnt been contacted by the agency. Should activists aid migrants in the desert, or leave their fate to the Border Patrol? Trump policies blocking asylum seekers led volunteers to found Angry Tias and Abuelas about a year ago, after U.S. officials blocked asylum seekers at a border bridge south of McAllen. They brought food and supplies to the bridge and kept helping migrant families once Border Patrol started separating them. As immigrant parents were released, the volunteers shifted to the bus station to assist Catholic Charities, which runs a nearby shelter. Most of the volunteers in Angry Tias and Abuelas are local, some are winter Texans, and others out-of-state visitors. Luis Guerrero, a retired firefighter, remembers a 4-year-old Salvadoran girl explaining, as her parents looked on, why they had to flee to the U.S.: Armed men, one in a ski mask, had broken into their house and demanded money. The house was clay, with a dirt floor, she said. If you stay here, Guerrero told the couple, make sure your daughter gets therapy. A Border Patrol agent drops off Suteig Hernandez Flores, 24, and sons Peter, 8 months old; Stanley, 4 years; and Neri, 3; at the McAllen bus station. Roland Garcia, right, with Angry Tias and Abuelas, prepares to guide them to their bus. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Many of the migrants are from poor, rural areas and need the most basic help, volunteers said. A young Honduran mother paid close attention Thursday as Law traced the route she would follow to join her sister, a legal resident who had migrated years ago and settled in Memphis, Tenn. Olga Lara had brought her 3-year-old, Alva, but left her 13-year-old daughter, Lilia, behind in Honduras with her mother. Lara, 29, said she hoped to learn to read, as her sister had, in the U.S. She doesnt know how to spell her name. She has never attended school, she said, because her family couldnt afford it. Law ensured the woman was traveling with another migrant who could read, write and look out for her. Law also warned Lara and other female migrants about the risk of trafficking, advising them to stay in main bus terminals and avoid anyone who might try to persuade them to leave. Lara tucked her ticket into her bra and her paperwork into a bag next to Alvas Elmo doll. She was wearing a donated puffy jacket and sneakers stripped of shoelaces in Border Patrol detention. Law ran to grab her some of the laces she keeps stashed at the bus station. Lara threaded them through her shoes and thanked the volunteer. Last week, a family of five arrived at the station shoeless. Law bought them new pairs at a store she took them to up the street before their bus left. On Thursday, good Samaritans from local churches dropped by with books, toys and hot breakfast tacos for the migrants. But there were not enough tacos to go around. A van from the nearby shelter was delayed when it ran out of gas. A few families boarded buses without eating. Volunteer Roland Garcia, a former U.S. Marine, loaned his cellphone to a single Salvadoran mother of three, a domestic violence victim, so she could contact family in Houston and book her bus ticket. If we could just get more volunteers to help these people, he said. To them, everything is new. Some of them dont even know how to work the Coke machine. U.S. border authorities hold migrant families in a pen under an El Paso bridge Garcia, 60, who used to be a truck driver, started volunteering after he ducked into the bus station a few months ago to wait during a delivery and saw the crowds. He had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and felt the need to do something meaningful. Hes already recruited other volunteers. His friend Rafael Mendoza said volunteers counter misinformation some asylum-seeking families receive from staff in Border Patrol facilities: Youre wasting your time, youre going to lose your case, youre not welcome here. Our own agents are telling them that, said Mendoza, 59. Its very discouraging. Recently released asylum seekers fill the hallways at the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, on Thursday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The Catholic Charities shelter was packed Thursday, even after opening a second site when the Border Patrol started releasing large groups of families two weeks ago. The shelters halls were full of parents with small children who had not bathed in days, held in chilly Border Patrol cells where they said they caught colds and fevers. Honduran Eulogio Erazo Varela said his 3-year-old daughter developed a fever while they were held for almost a week, first in a Border Patrol holding cell what migrants call a hielera, or icebox then behind a chain-link fence in a converted warehouse. He was relieved to meet volunteers at the bus station Thursday, who he said treated him kindly as he prepared to catch a bus to Memphis unlike Border Patrol agents, he said, who didnt provide much treatment or help. Many of the volunteers, including Law, had caught the migrants colds. But they were determined to keep helping. Law has driven a few migrants whose families could afford tickets to the airport, and hoped to recruit more volunteer escorts to help them navigate air travel in coming weeks. Law recalled a migrant mother she met Wednesday, confused by her bus itinerary until the volunteer walked her through it in Spanish. Afterward, the woman said she would have been lost without Laws help. Thats what keeps me going, Law said. The tiny oil-rich nation of Brunei implemented a particularly brutal version of Sharia law this week under which men who engage in gay sex or adultery or women who have abortions may be stoned to death. Lesbians may be whipped and imprisoned. People who steal may have their limbs hacked off. Its difficult to believe such barbaric and anachronistic punishments still exist in the 21st century, and that theyre being applied, in most of these cases, to behavior that shouldnt be considered criminal in the first place. Brunei, a country in Southeast Asia with fewer than half a million people, is not the only nation that interprets Islamic law to allow for the execution of homosexuals or adulterers. So do Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, among others. But even those countries dont employ such heinous punishments. Stonings are rare. This new law ought to be reversed before it is enforced. There has been a forceful outcry from around the world. The United Nations said, perhaps stating the obvious, that stoning people and chopping off their body parts amounts to torture and a violation of basic human rights. Human rights organizations and world leaders have called on Bruneis Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to immediately halt implementation of the order. Celebrities including George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John have joined the fray, urging people to boycott hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, including the Beverley Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air as well as establishments in London, Paris and Rome. Too bad the voice of President Trump was not among the throng of critics. Advertisement Too bad the voice of President Trump was not among the throng of critics. Not even a quick tweet, though his thumbs were otherwise busy all week as he commented on topics as varied as Puerto Ricos ungratefulness to him and the border crisis he insists is underway. Instead, the administration has been oddly quiet on Brunei other than a weak statement issued by the State Department on Tuesday that said Bruneis decision to implement Phases Two and Three of the Sharia Penal Code and associated penalties runs counter to its international human rights obligations, including with respect to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Really? Thats awfully brief and tame from an administration that just weeks ago promised a global campaign to go after countries that criminalize gay people. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute While the sultan is one of the richest men in the world and may not care if his hotels lose money, he seems to care about his countrys reputation in the U.S. and abroad. In 2013, when Brunei first announced that it had plans to implement stoning and amputations, the news was met with opposition from around the world. Hollywood in particular snubbed the Beverly Hills Hotel and bookings dropped off noticeably. Brunei then delayed the phased-in implementation of the law, which Human Rights Watch suggests was in response to the outcry. Then late last year the attorney general of Brunei quietly published plans on its website for the April 3 implementation date. Brunei defends the new code, saying apart from criminalizing and deterring acts that are against the teachings of Islam, it also aims to educate, respect and protect the legitimate rights of all individuals, society or nationality of any faiths and race. Thats baloney. If Brunei hopes to educate, respect and protect peoples legitimate rights, it will reverse this odious law immediately. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook. If you werent already convinced that the blanket federal prohibition on marijuana is illogical, counterproductive and confusing, consider this: Despite the ban, all but three states have legalized some form of cannabis. That creates a serious and obvious conflict. To address it, the federal government under President Trump as well as President Obama has for the most part opted not to enforce its own prohibition, so that marijuana growers and sellers in California and elsewhere are effectively permitted to violate federal law. At the same time, though, they cant do business with most banks. Their legal status remains ambiguous. Medical research on marijuana is still stifled by restrictions. Tax collection is hindered. And the Department of Justice could change course and begin wide-scale prosecutions at any moment. This is an untenable situation and an affront to the rule of law. For the second year in a row, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed legislation in Congress that would address the problem by ending the federal prohibition in states that have chosen to permit medical or recreational marijuana under their own laws. As more and more voters choose to legalize pot products, it should be apparent that it is the federal law that is woefully out of date and out of step with public sentiment. The only question is how much longer Congress can keep its head in the sand. Advertisement Democrats now control the House and are more amenable to moving legislation that would ease up on prohibition. The legal conflict between the federal prohibition and the legalization movement in the states creates real problems. Most marijuana businesses cant open bank accounts or accept credit card transactions because financial services companies refuse to serve them for fear of being penalized by federal regulators. That means marijuana transactions are typically done in cash, which is dangerous for employees and makes it harder to collect taxes. Health officials are also hamstrung. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug with no medicinal value and a high potential for abuse. The federal governments strict limits make it hard for researchers to get access to cannabis for the kind of in-depth research necessary to understand both the benefits and dangers of marijuana use. The bill in Congress, known as the States Act, would amend the Controlled Substances Act so that it would no longer be a crime for people to buy or sell marijuana, as long as they were following state laws. It also would extend the right to legalize marijuana to U.S. territories, federally recognized tribes and to Washington, D.C. (Voters there passed an initiative in 2014 to allow adult recreational use of marijuana, but Congress has blocked the district from permitting its sale.) The lead sponsors of the bill are lawmakers from states that have legalized recreational and medical marijuana including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio). The bill was drafted last year after drug warrior and then-Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions rescinded the Obama administrations hands-off approach to states that had legalized marijuana. That raised concern that the Trump administration would start to prosecute businesses and people involved in the nascent legal market. Advocates, however, got a boost when President Trump said he probably will end up supporting the bill. Still, the proposal didnt get very far. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute This year could be different. Democrats now control the House and are more amenable to moving legislation that would ease up on prohibition. In fact, the House Financial Services Committee last week overwhelmingly advanced a bill that would let banks provide services to legal marijuana businesses without running afoul of federal law. It was the first time the House had ever held a hearing on the topic. The States Act will have a hard climb in the Senate; Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been wary of marijuana legislation. And Trump whose words are often not backed by action is not a reliable supporter. Nevertheless, the bill appears to be the most promising effort to end the contradiction between state and federal law. That contradiction becomes more frustrating every year as more states, like California, vote to move marijuana sales out of the shadows into a regulated, controlled and taxed marketplace. The federal government should not continue to make it difficult for states to fulfill the will of the voters. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook. You dont have to be Catholic to take an interest in the announcement this week that Pope Francis has chosen the Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, the longtime archbishop of Atlanta, as the new head of the archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Gregorys appointment is interesting from several vantage points: He will be the first African American archbishop of the nations capital and he also was a leader in the American churchs early response to sexual abuse by clergy an issue that tripped up his immediate predecessor, Cardinal Donald Wuerl. (Wuerl was preceded as archbishop by Theodore McCarrick, the former cardinal who was defrocked this year after being found guilty by a church tribunal of sexual misconduct with children and adults.) Gregorys appointment is notable for another reason: He was born on Dec. 7, 1947, meaning that he is 71. It might seem odd that the pope would appoint a septuagenarian to this important post in the American church, especially in light of the fact that bishops must submit their resignations at age 75. But at least one commentator thinks that the choice of an older archbishop is part of a pattern. Writing in the Catholic publication La Croix International, Robert Mickens notes that Francis has often tapped older prelates for important assignments because of their wealth of experience and because they share his vision for church reform and his interpretation of the Second Vatican Council. Advertisement Its also true that, in the church as in politics, leaders are living longer. If Joe Biden (76) and Bernie Sanders (77) can contemplate running for president, why cant a 71-year-old cleric assume spiritual authority in Washington? That said, the Roman Catholic Church isnt entirely consistent about when bishops and cardinals are considered too old to serve. Members of the College of Cardinals who turn 80 before a vacancy occurs in the papacy may not participate in the conclave to elect the next pope. But 80 is not too old to actually be pope. Francis is 82, and unlikely to retire while his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, is still alive. (Benedict will turn 92 on April 16.) Rome may be big enough for two popes, but three would be pushing it. Another oddity: Although bishops obviously not including the bishop of Rome must submit their resignations to the pope when they turn 75, the pope is free to reject a resignation if he wants a particular bishop to stay on. For a secular analogy, imagine if Supreme Court justices had to submit their resignations at 75 but the president could keep justices he agreed with on the bench. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute That is what Francis has done, to the consternation of church conservatives. Wuerl, considered an ally of the pope, remained in office almost three years past his 75th birthday in 2015. He pressed the pope to accept his resignation last year because he said he wanted the archdiocese to be led by someone without the baggage of controversy. By contrast, the now disgraced McCarrick stepped down as archbishop of Washington shortly before his 76th birthday. So how long will Gregory last in Washington? Mickens suggests that if Francis is still pope when Gregory turns 75, Gregory will probably stay on past retirement age. If its another pope, he adds, all bets are off. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Every day that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump hold the highest security clearances in the land, it insults current and former members of the U.S. intelligence community those of us who made personal sacrifices and successfully cleared multiple hurdles to gain access to our nations secrets. I joined the Army in 2002, and that summer, after I finished basic training at Ft. Jackson in South Carolina, I went into the Army intelligence program. But first I was sequestered at the base; my security clearance had been held up for unclear reasons. While others in my class headed for sunny and dry Arizona, this Montanan was stuck in the muggy, damp heat of the South. There were several of us whose paperwork was delayed. Because we were technically still recruits, drill sergeants gave us menial work to do. We picked up rocks from sidewalks and raked debris from lawns for eight hours a day to earn our paychecks. By August we were exhausted from waiting. We researched other Army jobs that didnt require a security clearance. I was thinking, maybe, veterinary technician. Advertisement In Washington, my work made me privy to some of the most sensitive secrets in all of government. Finally, in early September, when I should have been nearly half done with my intelligence training, I received word I was heading for Arizona. Shortly after I got there, I was pulled into a room where a man with a badge waited for me. He was an investigator working for the Department of Defense. I was nervous, but he put me at ease. My mind was racing. What hadnt I declared on my initial clearance form? Should I have mentioned my Soviet pen pal from the 1980s? I once got a speeding ticket I hadnt cited, was that the problem? It was none of those things. And, instead of, say, significant disqualifying factors related to foreign influence, private business interests and personal conduct the concerns that a whistleblower says earned Kushner a denial last year the investigator asked me about my student loan debt. I owed enough, he told me, that Americas adversaries might use it as leverage against me. How was I planning to pay it back? I was silent for a minute, but relieved. The answer was right there in my papers, I told him. When I joined up, the government had agreed to pay off my student loan. Now it was his turn to be silent. He shuffled through my file and then said, Fine. I would get my clearance. In December 2002, I heard my daughter being born over a telephone line. Had I not been the victim of a bureaucratic mix-up, I could have been present at her birth. I barely had my final, full clearance before they sent me to war. Every five years after that, I faithfully endured reinvestigation filling out all the forms again and again, then being interviewed. By then I was stationed in Britain, and traveling across Europe. I had to account for every trip, every foreign contact. That was the policy to keep a clearance, and I always did the work in detail, even though I was going to the Christmas market in Prague to shop, not to meet Russian operatives, and even though my British friends were cooking me dinners, not providing me with leaked emails. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute When I went to work at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, I got a better understanding of why the government demanded so much. In Washington, my work made me privy to some of the most sensitive secrets in all of government. My word and the accounting of my life on those forms were the bond that allowed me into that amazing world. So I was aghast when the news first broke that the presidents daughter and son-in-law and other White House aides had received their clearances over the objections of security professionals. They had skated through and gained access to a level of secrets that even I was never allowed to see. Their clearances had been denied by experienced national security investigators. But the administration overruled those decisions, in about the time I was building character by picking up rocks in South Carolina. We need to locate and fix the holes in the clearance system. The president should not be able to hand out clearances like candy to his kids or to others with demonstrable risks. No one should have imperial power over our national security apparatus. I took my clearance seriously. I detailed every misstep I could think of, answered every question fully, waited patiently and not so patiently for the investigators and the professionals to pass judgment on my fitness. To abandon this protocol on one mans whim is a betrayal of my commitment, and its a danger to our country. Joshua Manning is a combat veteran and former counterterrorism analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency. He ran for the state Senate in his home state of Montana in 2016. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook To the editor: Last weekend, El Salvador was called one of 3 Mexican countries by a major news network. A day later, columnist George Skelton suggested that Gov. Gavin Newsom should forget about traveling to El Salvador next week and focus instead on California. For decades the U.S. has created an incentive to forget when it comes to El Salvador. After U.S. taxpayers funded the war there in the 1980s at a rate of $1 million per day a war that took the lives of thousands we were asked to forget. Hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans have lived in California for decades. Forgetting that our lives are linked with communities outside the U.S. is unacceptable. Any implication that Salvadorans are not part of the real California is offensive. Immigration is not just a domestic issue, and Newsom is spearheading a refreshing new politics. This may be the first time a governor visits El Salvador, but it shouldnt be the last. Advertisement Martha Arevalo, Los Angeles The writer is executive director of the Central American Resource Center, Los Angeles. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: What a stunning contrast in the approach to migrants and humanitarian need. Pope Francis in Morocco said, The issue of migration will never be resolved by raising barriers, fomenting fear of others or denying assistance to those who legitimately aspire to a better life for themselves and their families. Compare that to President Trumps statement that he cut aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador because they havent done a thing for us. To escape crime, violence and poverty in their countries, families are exercising their right to seek safe haven in the United States. Cutting off aid to the three countries fails to solve the real problems that the funded programs sought to address. Advertisement It is unwise and unjust to block the entry of refugees at the border. It is immoral and self-defeating to cut off aid to countries that need funds to protect life, provide jobs and relieve suffering. It is a sad commentary on this administration that builds barriers as migrants leave their homeland, seeking the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a country that no longer welcomes refugees. Lenore Navarro Dowling, Los Angeles .. To the editor: While many migrants cite the threat of gang violence, most are fleeing poverty as well. Less aid from the United States will exacerbate the situation. Increasing, not decreasing, assistance would be logical; however, Trump seems to lack compassion and reason. Arline Spindell, Laguna Woods Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook For the last several months, former Vice President Joe Biden could enjoy floating above the Democratic presidential field, a potential front-runner shielded by not yet having announced his candidacy. But as that announcement has neared, scrutiny has begun. This last week, Biden hit the first truly rough patch as a series of women stepped forward to say that his famously touchy-feely style of personal interaction had made them uncomfortable. Bidens camp responded, first with testimonials from female supporters, then with a written statement, followed by a video in which the putative candidate promised to be more mindful of personal space, as Janet Hook reported. Sign up for the Essential Politics newsletter Advertisement BIDENS TURN IN THE BARREL The story is still developing Biden plans a speech Friday to members of the electrical workers union in Washington and ultimately, voters will have their say. But what do we know so far? Three facts seem key: First, none of the women who have stepped forward has alleged conduct that would be considered an assault or harassment. Biden said in his first response to the controversy, the written statement on Sunday, that it was never my intention to make anyone uncomfortable. That denial had the air of a non sequitur: No one has alleged intentional misconduct on his part. This isnt a case like that of former Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, who resigned his seat under pressure from Senate colleagues after several women alleged inappropriate conduct, including aggressive kissing and groping. Theres also no allegation that Biden retaliated against anyone for rebuffing him or damaged anyones career. And, of course, Bidens conduct doesnt come close to the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against President Trump. What Lucy Flores, the former Nevada assemblywoman, and subsequently several other women have described in Bidens case is a powerful man invading their personal space in ways that made them uncomfortable. In a party committed to advancing womens equality, that matters. Second, Bidens actions took place in public view much of it on camera. One of the most striking aspects of Bidens situation is that anyone who has followed politics has seen his conduct for themselves. Bidens putting his hands on nearly everyone he comes across men and women, old and young has formed part of his lore for decades, as Michael Finnegan and Melanie Mason wrote. The statements from women over the last week havent introduced new facts so much as they have demanded people think about old facts in a new light. As Biden said in his video Wednesday, Social norms have begun to change; they have shifted. To a great extent, both Bidens supporters and his detractors say the same thing: This is Biden being Biden. The question is what to make of that. As Doyle McManus wrote, the risk for Biden is that the allegations will remind voters that he sometimes sounds outdated and old-fashioned, a throwback to another era. Third, although we dont yet know how voters will respond, we do know that the controversy has attracted their attention. Some political storms register on social media and among activists but come and go without most voters even noticing. This one, voters have noticed. The clearest evidence comes from a YouGov survey conducted for the Huffington Post in which 60% of Democrats said they had heard something negative about Biden in the last two weeks. Thats a strikingly high number. By comparison, for most of the Democratic field, fewer than 60% had heard of them at all. That includes the current sensation, Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., whose burst of stardom in recent weeks has pushed his name recognition among Democrats in the YouGov survey almost up to 50%. Bidens name recognition, by contrast, is nearly universal. Of the current Democratic candidates, only Sen. Bernie Sanders shares that level of familiarity. And at least so far, that widely familiar image has been a positive one. Biden still seems set to formally enter the presidential race sometime after Easter, his advisors say. Assuming he does, his image almost surely will grow less favorable that happens to nearly everyone in a lengthy campaign. The issue for him will be how fast and how steep the decline. TRUMP RETREATS The president and his aides have enjoyed Bidens travails Trump on Thursday tweeted a video mocking the former vice president. That glee, however, has only given some respite from an otherwise difficult week. As Eli Stokols, Jennifer Haberkorn and Noah Bierman reported, Trump spent the week in retreat on several fronts. The most notable came on his highly publicized threat to close the damn border. After Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called that idea potentially catastrophic and experts warned of billions in economic damage, Trump backed away. He partially covered his retreat by issuing a new threat to put tariffs on Mexican auto imports sometime next year if Mexicos government doesnt do more to block migration by Central Americans seeking asylum in the U.S. That threat seemed only slightly more credible than closing the border since the revised NAFTA that Trump is pushing would prevent it. Trump plans to visit the California-Mexico border on Friday. Trump also retreated on healthcare after saying Republicans should reopen the debate this year on repealing Obamacare. McConnell and other Senate Republicans made clear they would do no such thing. The administration continues to undermine the healthcare law, however. As Noam Levey wrote, skimpy health plans that the Trump administration has allowed on the market have begun to bring back some familiar problems for consumers who discover the coverage theyve paid for doesnt cover much when they need it. WOMAN IN THE HOT SEAT Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has one of the hardest jobs in Washington, made more difficult by a president who frequently undercuts her and threatens to fire her. As Molly OToole wrote in an excellent profile of Nielsen, the secretary has managed to hang onto her job, but at a very steep price. MONEY REPORTS SHAPE THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD Sunday brought the deadline for first-quarter financial contributions. Democratic candidates will publicly report their money raised and spent to the Federal Election Commission later this month. As is typically the case, however, those with a good story to tell moved quickly to put out their fundraising numbers in advance of the public reports. Sanders big haul, $18.2 million from 525,000 donors, set the pace for the rest of the field, as Evan Halper and Hook wrote. While Sanders first three months didnt set a record, they did show that his base of support from 2016 has remained very much intact and ready to give. Buttigieg has also capitalized on his sudden burst of media attention, raising $7 million from more than 158,000 donors. Sen. Kamala Harris also reported strong fundraising, $12 million from 138,000 donors. Former congressman Beto ORourke reported raising $9.4 million. His campaign noted that all came in just 18 days, implying he could outpace his rivals in the months to come. Detractors raised doubts about that, noting that the rate of his fundraising slowed notably after his first day. One big source of money for Democratic candidates has been Silicon Valley. The candidates are still coming through, but theyre keeping a much lower profile than in the past. Their reticence highlights the fact that Silicon Valley has become much less popular among Democrats, Halper wrote. EMBRACING BLACK IDENTITY Harris and Sen. Cory Booker have set a new standard for black candidates in a presidential campaign, Jaweed Kaleem and Melanie Mason wrote. In the 2008 cycle, candidate Barack Obama downplayed race. Harris and Booker have celebrated their identities, reflecting the way the Democratic Party has changed. Another example of the partys greater openness to minority concerns came this week as the candidates flew to New York to embrace the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has reinvented himself as a kingmaker in the party, Halper wrote. Meanwhile, labor unions have taken a cautious approach to the primaries. Many unions moved quickly in 2016 to endorse Hillary Clinton, only to face revolts among rank-and-file members. This year, some of the biggest unions may sit the primaries out, Halper reported. TRUMP CHALLENGERS? The White House has taken several steps to squelch possible primary challenges to Trump, Mark Barabak and Stokols reported. But a few Republican prospects still eye possible challenges, notably Marylands Gov. Larry Hogan, whose criticisms of Trump have only helped his already high popularity at home. LEARNING TO DEAL WITH PELOSI Trump has a bit more than 90 days to get his proposed new trade deal with Mexico and Canada through Congress. Its the administrations biggest legislative priority practically the only one, in fact. As they ponder how to get the deal passed, White House officials have started to come to grips with the reality that their fate depends on making a deal with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who controls what comes to the House floor. As Bierman, Haberkorn and Don Lee reported, administration officials remain divided about whether to negotiate directly with Pelosi and, if so, how to keep the president from blowing up any talks. Elsewhere in Congress this week, House Democrats prepared subpoenas to demand the full Mueller report. Atty. Gen. William Barr is expected to provide Congress a redacted version of the report late next week or early the following week. McConnell changed Senate rules to allow Trump to win confirmation of judges even faster. And the House voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act, but Democrats made the vote difficult for Republicans by including a provision that would ban gun sales and ownership by a person convicted of stalking, Sarah Wire wrote. Gun-rights advocates oppose that, and prospects in the Senate remain uncertain as a result. LOGISTICS That wraps up this week. Until next time, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. David.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter President Trump argued Friday that the nation is suffering an immigration emergency, visiting the town of Calexico and inspecting a reconstructed border fence a day after he abruptly backed down from his threats to seal the lengthy border between Mexico and the United States. With those threats behind him, Trump shifted gears and promised to construct 400 miles of border wall in the next two years, an unlikely benchmark for a president who has yet to build a single new mile of wall along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico. The section Trump visited Friday was a replacement of existing barrier planned during the Obama administration and paid for during Trumps first year in office. Its better, faster and less expensive, he said as he stood before a slatted 30-foot-high fence. Advertisement Trump nonetheless conceded that getting money from congressional Democrats for any new wall construction was like pulling teeth even as he projected victory in his bitter funding battles with Congress. The trip to California was intended to persuade the public that his declaration of emergency was necessary to circumvent Congress and to combat what the administration calls a national crisis. The Democratic-controlled House challenged the declaration in federal court in Washington even as Trump was in Calexico. Were really making progress in letting people know that this is an absolute emergency, Trump said during a roundtable discussion with local and national officials in Calexico. Its a colossal surge and its overwhelming our immigration system and we cant let that happen, he said. He said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has separately sued Trump over his emergency declaration and said the states national guard would not be deployed at the border, is living in a different world a dangerous world and he accused Newsom of creating lots of problems for the people of California. Trump, who made his third trip to California since entering the White House, has railed against Mexico for not stopping thousands of Central American families who have crossed Mexico in an effort to seek asylum in the United States. The system is full, cant take you anymore, Trump said, referring to migrants who are seeking asylum or crossing the border illegally. So turn around. Thats the way it is. Trump repeated his claims that most asylum seekers are lying about fearing persecution at home. He argued further without any evidence that many are gang members who are coached by attorneys and engaged in a hoax. Rough, tough people with criminal records are asking for asylum, he said. Trump has often sought to conflate illegal immigration and asylum, which has been enshrined in U.S. and international law for decades. Several of the administrations attempts to curb asylum claims have been reversed by federal courts. Trump had repeatedly threatened to close the border in recent days, raising expectations that he would use his visit to a section of recently upgraded fencing in Calexico to announce at least a partial closure. But White House advisors, some prominent Republican senators and key business leaders warned that shutting some of the 47 official entry points could quickly cripple U.S. auto manufacturing, agricultural exports and other cross-border trade, creating havoc in the U.S. economy and in states that Trump would need to win reelection in 2020. Trump thus arrived in Calexico in full retreat, left to argue his case for a border emergency and additional funding for his wall immediately after withdrawing a dramatic threat of reprisal against the Mexican government. Trump nonetheless sought to portray his brief stop at the border as a victory lap. While visiting the fencing in Calexico, Trump said to television crews, Through your camera, I want to thank him, the president of Mexico, referring to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Over the last few days, Mexico has been very nice, he said at another point, repeating his claims that that Mexican officials had suddenly started removing thousands of Central American migrants due to his threats. But bewildered Mexican officials say they havent changed their strategy or their enforcement operation. In recent years, in part at the behest of U.S. officials before Trump took office, Mexican authorities have deported more Central Americans than the U.S. government has. In the three months since Lopez Obrador took office, his government detained more than 25,000 migrants. Thats less than the 27,000 detained during the same period a year earlier, according to the University of Texas Mexico Security Initiative. The administration touted the section of border fence Trump visited as a newly completed section of the promised border wall. In fact, Trump has not completed any new sections of wall on the border. The 30-foot bollard fencing posts placed too close together for a person to pass between but far enough apart to allow agents to see the other side in Calexico is a replacement of a dilapidated barrier that was first built in the 1990s. A plaque along the barrier calls it the first section of President Trumps border wall. The spending bill passed by Congress that Trump signed into law in February to avoid a second shutdown appropriated $1.375 billion for 55 miles of barrier. He then declared a national emergency to pull $6.6 billion more from other federal accounts to build or repair more than 230 miles of border wall. Most of the money $3.6 billion would come from military construction projects. Congress passed a resolution to terminate the emergency declaration, drawing Trumps first veto, but failed to override it. The issue is now in court. U.S. officials have long warned that an immigration system designed decades ago for primarily single, adult Mexican men who could be swiftly returned is now being overwhelmed by near-record numbers of mostly asylum-seeking Central American families. Customs and Border Patrol estimates apprehensions of border-crossers topped 90,000 in March, more than almost any month in the last decade. The numbers will likely continue to rise as warmer weather brings a seasonal uptick in migration. Critics and immigration advocates argue that the Trump administrations policies are exacerbating the crisis at the border. Administration officials are intentionally limiting the number of asylum seekers entering the U.S. at ports of entry, reducing processing to a trickle. That, and a new policy requiring certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their cases are adjudicated in the United States, are encouraging them to cross between official ports of entry, according to the Homeland Security inspector generals office, and potentially contributing to the rising apprehension numbers. In his first presidential visit to California last March, Trump viewed a set of eight border wall prototypes, each of which cost between $300,000 and $500,000. Rather than building any of the solid, concrete wall structures Trump often described during the campaign, the administration so far has used fencing to replace older barriers, much as the Obama administration did. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced in February that the prototypes Trump visited would be taken down to make way for a secondary barrier. Bierman and OToole reported from Washington and Vives from Calexico. San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kate Morrissey in Calexico contributed to this report. The educational aspect of the maple sap season, which is one of the first signs of spring, was discussed to dozens of visitors throughout the morning. Using a 1-inch drill, an insert is made into the tree and a spigot-type of apparatus is connected. A silver bucket hangs underneath this, catching the sap as it discharges. In the first significant challenge to Californias open cannabis market, 24 cities that restrict pot sales sued Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration Thursday, arguing that by allowing home deliveries in their city limits, the state is violating 2016s Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. The lawsuit, which was filed in Fresno County Superior Court against the California Bureau of Cannabis Control and its chief, Lori Ajax, comes in response to a regulation adopted by the agency in January that permits state-licensed firms to deliver cannabis in cities that have banned pot shops. Officials from cities with prohibitions on pot sales objected to the rules, voicing concerns that home deliveries of cannabis would lead to robberies of cash-laden vans and an influx of illegal sellers blending in with licensed delivery fleets. To avoid opposition from city leaders and police chiefs, backers of Proposition 64 offered assurances in 2016 that the measure would preserve local control of pot sales. The lawsuit notes that the ballot propositions introduction said that it safeguards local control, allowing local governments to regulate marijuana-related activities. The cities behind the suit contend that the bureau lacks legal authority to allow deliveries in conflict with local ordinances because Proposition 64 and a law signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown guarantee local governments veto power over pot sales in their jurisdictions. Advertisement Read the lawsuit 24 cities filed against California over home delivery of cannabis We dont want deliveries in our city because of the concern over criminal activity, said Walter Allen III, a city councilman in Covina and retired police officer. The problem we have is the state has taken it upon itself to bypass Proposition 64 and supersede our local ordinances, and we are really upset about that. Plaintiffs including the cities of Covina, Downey, Riverside and Beverly Hills are among the 80% of Californias 482 municipalities that have banned stores selling cannabis for recreational purposes. Other cities that have joined the lawsuit allow retail stores but want to ensure that only businesses they have screened and licensed are able to make home deliveries within their city limits. Beverly Hills bans cannabis stores while limiting deliveries only to medical marijuana provided to patients. But the state rule means recreational cannabis can also be delivered, said Mayor John Mirisch, who called the states interpretation of Proposition 64 a bait and switch. One year of legal pot sales and California doesnt have the bustling industry it expected. Heres why Riverside Mayor Pro Tem Mike Soubirous said his city should be able to regulate when deliveries are made and who makes the deliveries, but said he believes the state rule has rendered him powerless to make those decisions. The council should be able to run interference for the residents and protect their quality of life, said Soubirous, a former lieutenant commander in the California Highway Patrol. The lawsuit could jeopardize ongoing state efforts to expand cannabis sales as delivery services compete with retail storefronts in California over a legal market estimated last year to be valued at nearly $1 billion. The negative impact delivery bans would have on the industry and the state cannot be understated, said Josh Drayton, a spokesman for the California Cannabis Industry Assn. By taking away many state consumers only legal way to purchase product, jurisdictions would not only miss out on beneficial local tax revenues, but would drive down state revenue by forcing consumers into the illicit market. Proposition 64 provided for state licensing of marijuana growers and sellers, allowing purchase and possession of up to 28.5 grams of cannabis by adults 21 and older for recreational use. With supporters of legalization arguing home delivery is important to providing safe access to the legalized drug, the state cannabis bureau said its regulation is in keeping with the intent of the ballot measure as long as deliveries are handled by state-licensed firms. The lawsuit asks the court to rule that the state regulation is invalid because it is inconsistent with the statutory authority of local jurisdictions to regulate or prohibit the delivery of commercial marijuana to a physical address within their boundaries. The cities behind the lawsuit said they are not opposed to deliveries in cities where they are welcomed. In approving home delivery in all cities, Ajax cited a provision of a law approved by the Legislature that says, A local jurisdiction shall not prevent delivery of cannabis or cannabis products on public roads by a state licensee. Police chiefs warn of increased crime if California allows pot deliveries statewide The lawsuit, which also includes Santa Cruz County as a plaintiff, argues that provision does not allow deliveries to the doorsteps of private homes, citing a memo from the Legislative Analysts Office. Driving through a local jurisdiction on a public road, as the Legislative Analyst noted, is not the same as conducting a recreational marijuana transaction in the doorway of someones house, the lawsuit says. The cities legal challenge notes that the official voter information guide for Proposition 64 said the initiative would create a governing system that allows local governments to regulate marijuana-related activities. A 2016 report on the initiative by the Legislative Analysts Office also told voters that the ballot measure allowed cities and counties to completely ban pot businesses. The promise to the voters and to the cities and counties who went neutral on Prop. 64 was that they would be able to decide what types of commercial cannabis would be available within their community, said Douglas L. White, an attorney for the cities. And we now have a state agency effectively undermining and breaking that promise that was made. The lawsuit is also supported by the League of California Cities, which said in a statement that the home-delivery rule undermines the voters intent. Drayton acknowledged that Proposition 64 gives local governments authority over commercial cannabis activity, but he said his group and the state believe it does not give jurisdictions express authority over consumer access in general, which is what we are talking about when it comes to delivery. A response to the lawsuit was not immediately available from Newsom. Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), a leading architect of laws behind Californias cannabis system, said he supports medical marijuana delivery for patients and said there is a compelling case for delivery in general. Still, he has concerns about how the rule was adopted. I have long believed that the issue of statewide delivery should be addressed by the Legislature, not via regulations, he said. Proposition 64 clearly promised a strong degree of local control over cannabis-related activities. California is awash in cannabis cash. Some is being used to bribe public officials A representative for Ajax said the bureau chief declined to comment. Khurshid Khoja, vice chairman of the National Cannabis Industry Assn., said the cities are overreaching with a lawsuit. Theyre trying to redefine the constitutional rights of individual adult consumers to engage in activity that is customary, traditional and incidental to being in a residential zone, said Khoja, a Sacramento attorney who represents licensed cannabis retailers. They are couching this power grab as a reasonable restriction on commercial businesses, but they cant ban all deliveries without affecting individual rights now guaranteed under Prop. 64. Those that stand to benefit from the state rules allowing home deliveries include 311 state-licensed delivery firms, as well as companies such as Weedmaps, which help consumers find and evaluate delivery businesses. Eaze, an online platform that arranges deliveries, has a database of 450,000 cannabis consumers. Licensed retail firms working with Eaze have made deliveries to just under half of all cities in California since Jan. 1, 2018, said Elizabeth Ashford, a spokeswoman for the company. Theres a clear appetite for legal cannabis in jurisdictions that wont zone businesses, Ashford said. But make no mistake, without access to legal delivery in these places, these consumers will turn to the illegal market. There are still more storefront sellers in California 915 have been licensed so far than firms that hold delivery licenses. Assemblyman Ken Cooley (R-Rancho Cordova) has introduced legislation that would clarify that cities have veto power over home deliveries. The home delivery rule is contrary to the language of Proposition 64. Its a unilateral act in violation of law, said Cooley, a former mayor of the city of Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento. City officials, he said, are the ones who are most attuned to what will add to the communitys quality of life. Downey Mayor Rick Rodriguez said residents in his city are concerned that pot businesses will be a magnet for crime. We dont want marijuana in our city. Our residents are clear about that, he said. This skirts that original agreement in Prop. 64. We feel lied to. Its a broken promise. Sign up for our Essential Politics newsletter patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com Twitter: @mcgreevy99 Toni Atkins is one of Californias most powerful lawmakers, ascending to leadership roles in the Assembly and Senate the last five years. As Atkins clout has soared, so too has the consulting businesses of her spouse, Jennifer LeSar. The clientele for LeSars two affordable housing and economic development firms has grown nearly fourfold since 2013, the year before Atkins became Assembly speaker, according to Atkins economic disclosure forms. In 2018, the year that Atkins colleagues elevated her to Senate president pro tem, her spouses firms had contracts with 86 public agencies, developers, nonprofits and other clients, the forms indicate, which was more than in any previous year. The year before, LeSar had received a lucrative contract from a Bay Area agency without going through a competitive bidding process a rare step allowed in emergencies, when a company offers a unique service or when the agency can justify a compelling reason to do so. Advertisement LeSar is now in a position to potentially garner even more business as Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders, including her spouse, propose increasingly bold responses to the states housing affordability crisis. In the last three years, LeSars firms have received $1.3 million from state agencies alone, including contracts to implement one of the states largest low-income housing programs, which Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego, supports. Additionally, over the last 18 months, LeSar worked on a plan that calls for a package of state legislation that would rewrite major California housing policies. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, a Bay Area public agency, is paying LeSars firm more than half a million dollars for the effort, through the no-bid contract. Agency executives said LeSars relationship with Atkins had no bearing on their decision to hire her, and the Senate leader said she wouldnt treat the bills any differently than any other proposals from her colleagues. Atkins and LeSar, who has worked in affordable housing for nearly three decades, both said they are concerned about a perception of conflicts of interest and, as a result, consult with attorneys about possible intersections in their work. We spend a lot of time trying to make sure in our very busy days that were following the letter of the law, Atkins said. These questions have been asked and answered before by the press and have largely been accepted as a nonissue, LeSar said in an email response to The Times. She declined an interview request. Rey Lopez-Calderon, executive director of the government ethics group California Common Cause, said the dramatic increase in LeSars clientele could raise concerns from the public that outside groups are trying to curry favor with a powerful politician by hiring her spouse. Thats really obviously a number thats eyebrow raising, Lopez-Calderon said. It definitely runs the risk of the public thinking something shady is going on. Still, he said, absent evidence LeSar or Atkins used their relationship to leverage new business, there wasnt anything illegal or unethical about LeSars consulting work. Source: State Sen. Toni Atkins Annual Statements of Economic Interest (Kyle Kim / Los Angeles Times) Lawmakers have faced questions about potential conflicts involving a spouse and development issues before. In 2011, opponents of redevelopment agencies, which provided significant funding for low-income housing, criticized then-state Sen. Bob Huff about his efforts to save the program, noting that Huffs wife was a paid consultant for a developer with a financial stake in the issue. Political rivals have alleged Atkins relationship with LeSar is also a conflict, given Atkins outsized role in housing debates. In 2015, Atkins, then in the Assembly, proposed legislation to impose a fee on real estate transactions, such as mortgage refinancing, to fund low-income housing development. A version of the bill passed in 2017. When she first introduced the measure, Atkins requested an opinion from the Office of Legislative Counsel, which assured her that the bill presented no conflict of interest because the funding was not tied to any specific company or project. LeSar has vowed not to bid on funding directly tied to the bill. Assembly leader Toni Atkins denies conflict of interest in funds proposal The couple married in 2008 after meeting while running in housing, LGBT advocacy and political circles in San Diego, where Atkins once served as a city councilwoman. Just before her election to the Legislature, Atkins worked for LeSar Development for about 18 months. While there, she wrote a report on development near transit and handled other housing work across the state. As of last month, Atkins was pictured on the business website, listed as an alumna of the firm. She no longer appears on a redesign of the site that became public Wednesday. In 2011, after Atkins had been elected to the Legislature, LeSar opened a second firm, Estolano LeSar Advisors, with Cecilia Estolano, an attorney who worked in housing and economic development for the city of Los Angeles. Last year, Atkins abstained from voting on Estolanos appointment to the powerful UC Board of Regents, which governs the states flagship university system. Recent clients for the two firms, according to Atkins economic disclosures, have included the city and county of Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, USC, the California Endowment, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, for-profit and nonprofit developers and the Open Society Foundations, the organization founded by billionaire George Soros. Rick Gentry, president of the San Diego Housing Commission, praised LeSar. Among other work, he said, she guided his public housing agency in 2014 into expanding its portfolio to provide homelessness services. She knows as much about the industry as anyone Ive ever met, Gentry said. Officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission cited LeSars experience as their reason for hiring her. The agency was finishing an effort to plan for growth in the Bay Area through 2040 and realized that project was futile without a comprehensive attempt to deal with the nations worst housing affordability challenges. Jennifer LeSar is extremely qualified and well-positioned to take on multiple roles for this project, wrote Vikrant Sood, a senior planner with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, in a June 2017 memo justifying her hiring. LeSars firm researched prior studies on the regions housing problems and planned and attended the groups meetings. The result of the effort was a proposal, known as the CASA Compact, which said the Bay Area could fix its housing problems only through a suite of state legislation. The CASA Compact calls for new state laws to boost protections for tenants, increase apartment construction near transit and help raise more than $1 billion to build low-income housing, among other things. Bay Area legislators have introduced more than a dozen bills that align with the plan, nearly all of it affecting the entire state. Metropolitan Transportation Commission officials said LeSar did not recommend any of the policies the region decided to pursue but, rather, packaged together the conclusions into a final report. LeSar also said she declined additional work with MTC once it became clear that the CASA Compact was going to advance state bills. She said she sought a legal opinion in January after the agency discussed offering her a new contract to help implement the plan. LeSar initially told The Times that her attorney had advised her that the second contract would be a potential conflict so she declined the work. But in later correspondence with The Times, she said that she had been mistaken. The attorneys advice, LeSar said, was that the new contract wouldnt pose a conflict, but she decided to forgo the work to avoid any appearance of a problem. Commission officials anticipated the CASA Compact process would lead to state legislation from the beginning. Sood said in the June 2017 memo that originally justified LeSars hiring that CASA will yield a package of legislative and funding solutions at the state and regional level. Despite that, agency officials decided to pursue LeSar directly rather than putting the initial contract out to a competitive bid, a process designed to ensure an agency receives the best services for the lowest cost and without bias. The agency said it could do so because it had a compelling reason LeSars background and the ambitious nature of the project to hire her without first seeking out other firms. No MTC officers publicly opposed hiring LeSar. Following agency rules, then-Executive Director Steve Heminger signed off on the first $200,000 of the contract himself. The agencys administrative committee, which is made up of Bay Area elected officials, voted unanimously and without comment in December 2017 to increase the amount to $450,000. (The contract value rose to $511,000 when it was extended again at the beginning of this year.) Some local government officials in the Bay Areas smaller cities oppose the CASA Compact because they believe it takes away their power. Michael Barnes, a councilman in the city of Albany a community that borders Berkeley said LeSars extensive work with the MTC over the last 18 months adds to fears that lawmakers, out of deference to Atkins, will overlook local leaders concerns when evaluating the legislation. We have very strict guidelines for our ethical behavior, Barnes said. For me, as someone who has lived under these guidelines as an elected official, this doesnt seem ethical. LeSars businesses also have seen an increase in contracts with state agencies, per Atkins economic disclosures. Since February 2016, the two firms have received at least nine contracts from four state departments. All but one a $5,000 contract to advise housing department employees on evaluating loan documents were awarded through competitive bidding processes. Much of the contract work has come from the Governors Office of Planning and Research, which is responsible for administering housing and planning efforts funded by the states cap-and-trade program, which taxes polluters. The state has provided roughly $400 million annually through Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, one of the largest budget allocations for low-income development and one that Atkins has said she led the effort in the Legislature to fund. Estolano LeSar was hired to help applicants from disadvantaged communities write grants and provide other support for their projects. Newsoms office declined to comment, but Ken Alex, who was OPR director under former Gov. Jerry Brown, said he was unaware of Atkins and LeSars relationship. I have heard from staff that the work was good and would have been advised if it was not, Alex said. Atkins said she has sometimes voted in ways that have hurt her spouses business. In 2011, she supported ending the states redevelopment program, the property tax set aside for local governments that funded local affordable housing and economic development. I was part of a vote that actually almost killed her business for a period of time, Atkins said. Atkins said she doesnt plan to write any of the bills recommended in the CASA Compact proposal. She said she wouldnt abstain from voting on them or otherwise handle them differently than any other piece of legislation because the bills address broad policy matters and therefore dont present a conflict. But if CASA Compact measures pass, it could be a signal to outside groups that hiring LeSar could be beneficial to getting similar efforts through the Legislature, given Atkins substantial influence over the fate of legislation at the Capitol, said Lopez-Calderon of Common Cause. I definitely think that some businesses will imagine that exact scenario and act accordingly, he said. liam.dillon@latimes.com @dillonliam Hours before President Trumps visit to the border fence in California, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Friday he is seeking a preliminary injunction challenging Trumps national emergency declaration that seeks funding to expand the barrier. Becerras action, coordinated with the attorneys general of 19 other states, comes two months after he and the other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration that alleges the presidents declaration is unnecessary and unconstitutional, and will jeopardize public safety by diverting money from programs including one aimed at intercepting drugs. Becerra said the injunction is necessary to block improper diversion of federal funds to the wall project while the courts weigh the merits of the larger lawsuit. The attorney general said, Trumps action to divert funding to a vanity project is illegal because Congress, not the president, has the power of the purse. Advertisement President Trump is not above the law and we will continue to hold him accountable, Becerra said. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is on vacation, issued a statement supporting Becerras action. California stands united against President Trumps money-grab to fund his expensive and ineffective wall, which he promised would be paid for by Mexico, Newsom said. This funding should be spent as it was intended: to support local law enforcement agencies and to fight drug trafficking. The latest court filing was criticized by Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). Gov. Newsom is heading to El Salvador to learn about the migrant crisis. Atty. Gen. Becerra just filed a lawsuit because he insists there is no crisis, Gallagher said. The attorney general must have missed the memo. While we are unfortunately all too used to political stunts, you think they could at least get on the same page. In announcing his national emergency declaration in February, Trump said Walls work 100%. Trump was scheduled to visit a section of the border fence in Calexico on Friday to highlight his efforts to expand security amid an increase in asylum requests from Central American immigrants. Trumps third visit to California as president comes just after he retreated from a threat to close the border out of concern that immigration facilities have reached capacity because of the influx. Sign up for our Essential Politics newsletter patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com Twitter: @mcgreevy99 John Muir Middle School unofficially set the world record Thursday for the largest Japanese fan dance with 1,392 students and faculty participating to conclude its fifth annual Japan Day festivities. Photographs and video documenting the event are being sent to Guinness World Records to hopefully receive a certificate of the accomplishment, though it may take months to receive official approval, said Ted DeVirgilis, English teacher and organizer of the event. If officially recognized by the Guinness, he said Muir Middle School would replace the record set by 250 people participating in a Japanese fan dance. In the center of the campus field were multiple taiko drums and a traditional yagura tower. On the blacktop were tables showcasing a plethora of Japanese fans and 1,500 hachimaki headbands made by Muir students. Shortly after a calligraphy class and interactive lesson on anime, hundreds of students including 11 Japanese students visiting the Burbank campus as part of the Rebun International Exchange Program flooded onto the schools lower field in preparation for the fan dance. Soon after finalizing details, music streamed through speakers and the students and faculty began the Shin Hokkai Bon Uta dance taught by Christine Inouye, a dance instructor and choreographer who teaches at local community centers. Prior to the event, the fan dancers rehearsed the choreography for two weeks. They practiced every day for 15 minutes during their physical education classes, said Greg Miller, the schools principal. For five minutes and 55 seconds, 50 independent stewards watched the dancers, making sure everyone moved in unison and kept dancing the entire time.Among them was Gankyo Nakamura, the first non-Japanese citizen accepted in Kabuki theater in Japan. This form of drama includes stylized dance, elaborate costumes and intricate makeup. Muir Middle School students, teachers and community members attempted to set the Guinness World Record for the largest Japanese fan dance with 1,400 people, at the school in Burbank on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. (Raul Roa / Burbank Leader) Unlike past years, where only a limited number of students could participate in events such as tea ceremonies and sushi-making classes because of financial costs, DeVirgilis said he wanted the entire student body to be involved in one activity to feel a new culture through song and dance. This is the first time Im seeing something like this. Its remarkable, Nakamura said. Its not only about moving the body, its about discipline. For sixth-grader Zachary Garland, 11, who recently moved to California from New York, the event marked the highlight of his time in his new home. If this big and special stuff only happens in California, then Im happy. This was fun to do, he said. priscella.vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella Anyone whos ever imagined what it would have been like to be a passenger on the Royal Mail Ship Titanic will get their chance on April 11. Thats when the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton will create and host a historically accurate reenactment of the unsinkable ocean liner whose maiden voyage ended in tragedy when it struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Guests will have the opportunity to see recreations of various areas of the doomed liner, including the deck, the bridge and the lower workings. They will be able to visit the Marconi wireless cabin to converse with its operator, John Phillips, and experience a re-creation of the Titanics orchestra. Theyll also be able to meet and rub elbows with characters playing White Star Line Managing Director J. Bruce Ismay, Chief Engineer Joseph Bell, 5th Officer Harold Lowe and illustrious passengers such as John Jacob Astor and the Unsinkable Molly Brown. The event is the brainchild of Adam England, the venues tall, bearded chief programs officer. Hell portray Edward J. Smith, the ships captain. Muckenthaler Cultural Centers Adam England, a lifelong Titanic enthusiast, created the special reenactment event for the historic Fullerton venue and will portray Edward J. Smith, the doomed ships captain. (Photo by Danny Torres) A lifelong enthusiast of the ill-fated ship, England saw the 1953 movie Titanic in first grade. It was quite remarkable, he said, and something about it has always had a draw for me. England was one of thousands who participated in the April 2012 Titanic Memorial Cruise, which duplicated the vessels route: Exactly 100 years to the day, hour and second she foundered, we were above her grave in the middle of the North Atlantic. The idea for transforming the historic 1924 Muckenthaler House into a small-scale replica of the Titanic came to England from the 1957 movie All at Sea and Monty Pythons 1983 comedy The Meaning of Life. In both, everyday settings a pier and an office building are converted into ships, he said. As a young boy with an overactive imagination, the very idea of converting my house into a ship, notably the Titanic, fascinated me. As he got older, he began re-creating historic regions in everyday settings and hosting interactive-themed events. In recent years at Muckenthaler, he has engineered, among others, a re-creation of a Prohibition-era rum-running cruise and a 1930s Egyptian archaeological dig. Adam England (third from left) and actors drawn from the historical reenactment community will portray the ships crew and some of its more illustrious passengers at Muckenthaler Cultural Centers An Evening Aboard The Titanic event on April 11. (Photo by Kathy Williams) He called converting the 4,800-square-foot mansion into a 46,328-ton Edwardian ocean liner a bit of a stretch, but said props, a few set pieces and other nuances help create the illusion of being on the Titanic. The choice was made early on, England said, to enhance the events authenticity with a live orchestra rather than canned music. England noted that the standard playlist of all White Star Line ships of the era, which included classical chamber music, waltzes and ragtime, is readily available and will be re-created by musician Joan Kennedy and her quartet, The Festive Strings. Attendees are encouraged to wear period attire. To further enhance authenticity, theyll experience the faint-grinding jar passengers felt at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912 and will be given life jackets as theyre instructed to abandon ship. A brief memorial service will pay tribute to those who perished. England encapsulates the evening as reflecting the antithetical qualities of mirth and reverence. Guests will have a good time, he said, and well be celebrating, but well also be commemorating and revering the lives and legacies of those who were lost. As the tragedys magnitude changed forever the way people travel by ship, England expects the special event to prompt some introspection. I think many of us ask ourselves, `what would we do if were were in the same situation? Would we abandon ship? Would we stand aside to let others live? Would we create another means of escape? But England is also able to joke about Muckenthalers upcoming reenactment: No matter how successful it is, its going to be a disaster. IF YOU GO What: An Evening Aboard the Titanic Where: Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton When: April 11. Boarding begins at 7 p.m.; ship departs at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $30 ($15 for Muckenthaler members) Information: (714) 738-6595, themuck.org Eric Marchese is a contributor to TimesOC. Follow TimesOC on Twitter @timesocofficial for more news and features about Orange County. A convicted burglar accused of letting one of his partners in crime bleed to death after being shot by a homeowner during a break-in gone bad in Costa Mesa is expected to be sentenced to four years in prison, police announced Thursday. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Brent Buckner, 36, of Villa Park pleaded guilty in June to three counts of burglary and one count of attempted robbery, according to court records. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped a felony count of conspiracy to commit acts injurious to the public. Buckners sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7 in Orange County Superior Court. Buckner was part of a crew of burglars targeting houses in Orange County in 2012, according to authorities. In May that year, Buckner and the crew pried open the front door of a home on Elden Avenue in Costa Mesa, police said. Buckner and his co-conspirators thought the house was empty for the night, but they discovered the resident was home when they got upstairs, police said. The burglars pepper-sprayed the man, who grabbed a handgun from his headboard and fired five rounds at the intruders, according to detectives testimony at a preliminary hearing last year. The gunfire hit one of the burglars, Steven Simmons, 33, and the group fled to an SUV waiting outside, police said. Instead of heading to a hospital, the group drove to a home in Villa Park. Simmons died along the way, detectives testified. Police believe at least one member of the burglary crew took Simmons body to a West Hollywood art gallery owned by Simmons stepbrother, Jacob Anthonisen, who was driving the SUV that night, according to police. There, the body was wrapped in plastic and canvas and loaded back into the SUV, police said. Authorities found Simmons decomposing corpse almost two weeks later after someone reported a foul smell coming from the SUV that was left parked on a street in Los Angeles Fairfax District. Police believe Anthonisen fled to Mexico and Buckner kept burglarizing homes in Orange County. Police said Thursday that they had linked Buckner to break-ins in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, Villa Park and Anaheim Hills. Authorities arrested Buckner in April 2013. About six months later, Mexican authorities found Anthonisen in Ensenada and turned him over to Costa Mesa detectives at the border, police said. Anthonisen, now 41, pleaded guilty in June 2015 to one count of first-degree burglary. He was sentenced the following month to two years in prison. No charges were brought against the homeowner who shot Simmons. Police said authorities ruled it a justifiable homicide. jeremiah.dobruck2@latimes.com Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck According to a report commissioned by the Associated Students of UC Irvine, 8% of 2,017 UCI students surveyed have experienced housing insecurity at some point in college and 30% reported overcrowded housing conditions. The data was collected through a 36-question survey that asked where students live, the number of times theyve moved and whether theyve reached out to campus staff for help. For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly defined overcrowding, per the report, as two or more people sharing a bedroom or one or more people sleep in a common area. In fact the report defines it as more than two people sharing a bedroom or more than one person to a common area. The report was presented in a town hall meeting at the university Thursday night. Izzak Mireles, the graduate student who compiled the report, said the sample was not wholly representative of the student population females were underrepresented and Asians overrepresented but came close to campus demographics. Cassius Cash Rutherford, chief of staff for ASUCI President Annie Le, said the need for the report emerged when student leaders appealed to campus administrators and Irvine City Council members for affordable housing but lacked campus-specific data to support requests for city resources. Le said the University of California system performs a survey every two years but the data is too broad to be applied to UCI. One of the local studys most significant findings, Le said, was that a large percentage of students who responded lived in situations that could be considered overcrowded. The report defines overcrowding as any housing situation in which more than two people share a bedroom or more than one person sleep in a common area. Overcrowding, Le said, is likely because of housing costs and lease terms in Irvine. Apartments in Irvine rent for an average of $1,993 to $3,207 a month, depending on the floor plan, according to apartments.com. The cost is always a challenge ... for students to decide between the options they have, Le said. So a lot of students have to rely on sharing the common areas to reduce the cost. Not because its the most comfortable way of living, but just what many have to do to survive here. Izzak Mireles, a graduate student at UC Irvine, compiled a report on UCI student housing conditions from data collected in a survey. The chart behind him lists the hours a student would need to work to afford an apartment near the campus. (Courtesy of ASUCI Housing Security Commission) The report, which began last spring, coincidentally came a little less than a month after the Irvine council voted March 12 to approve the first reading of a zoning ordinance amendment that would tighten restrictions on boarding houses and short-term rentals, much to the chagrin of UCI student leaders. The proposed amendment would define a household as a single housekeeping unit, meaning residents share living expenses, chores, meals and social, economic or psychological commitments. Otherwise, property owners would have to apply for a conditional use permit to operate a boarding house. Rutherford said the ASUCI was alarmed by the proposed change, which was in response to homeowners concerns about noise, trash and parking shortages. For us, this is a fundamental issue of where were going to live and students having an affordable bed space vs. homeowners where they already own a house and made it in life, Rutherford said. [Homeowners] know where theyre going to sleep at night. Students dont know that. Mireles said in an interview before the town hall meeting that he is one of the students who would be directly affected by the proposed change. I think theres a misunderstanding on what the students mean for the community, Mireles said. We dont just come for four years. Some of us stay here after and this is our home. Councilwomen Melissa Fox and Farrah Khan attended the meeting to field questions from students. Fox voted against the amendment on first reading and condemned it at the town hall, calling it immoral. How are we going to police an ordinance that talks about chores and household units? Fox said. Why are we as a city going to be asking very intrusive questions about whos living with who and why? This is not the goal of the city. Khan said she felt the move to adjust the definition of boarding houses in city code is a bandage to the affordable housing crisis that students are facing and others are facing. Both agreed that an increase in affordable housing in the city is necessary but added that civic participation by students is needed to make the change. Final adoption of the amendment has been delayed after the city heard from the California Department of Housing, which had concerns that the language in the ordinance would result in constrained housing choice for people with disabilities, according to Alicia Murillo, a spokeswoman for the department. City spokeswoman Melissa Haley said city staff is communicating with the Department of Housing and expects to receive a formal letter from the state by next week. The amendment proposal is expected to return to the City Council with revisions in November. For many years, local parents have signed their young daughters and sons up for the Gollatz Cotillion. Its been around since 1932, when a young woman, Virginia Gollatz, taught her first class at the Huntington Sheraton Hotel in Pasadena. Her brother, Robert, became her dance partner in 1940. When Virginia Gollatz retired, her brother and his wife, Dorys, became dance partners. Later, the couple began teaching Glendale and Burbank youngsters at the Tuesday Afternoon Club. According to the Glendale News-Press edition of Nov. 16, 1992, their goal was to provide a setting in which students learned how to act gracefully in social situations. Pat Spencer recalled that her daughter, Michele, and son, Collin, attended cotillion at the Tuesday Afternoon Club on Central Avenue in the early 1980s. Spencer was part of a carpool and often picked up several northwest Glendale students, then sat with other parents while their children danced. After chatting with both of her children by phone this week, Pat Spencer emailed me highlights of their conversations. The No. 1 memory that first came to mind for both was Mrs. Gollatz and her castanets. She used them constantly throughout the evening, both to get their attention and for discipline purposes, she said. Also, Collin Spencer recalled wearing a costume at Halloween. Thats the most they could come up with, Pat Spencer added. As they both reminded me, It has been 35 years, Mom. She added that she didnt have to coax them to attend, perhaps because their friends were going, too. Cotillion members were expected to adhere to a strict dress code coats and ties, not jeans or school cords, for the boys; and party dresses, neither strapless nor revealing, for the girls, according to the Glendale Burbank Section of the Los Angeles Times on March 27, 1983. Thick- or rubber-soled shoes were forbidden because they were believed to be dangerous for dancing. And gloves? Well, no. Expecting girls to wear white gloves was a double standard, Dorys Gollatz told the interviewer in 1983. Boys dont wear them. Melinda Gillman, a 1960 graduate of Glendale High, went to the Gollatz Cotillion for its Thursday Club, along with other students living in La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge. It was very popular and crowded. All the boys had to ask a girl for a dance, so everyone got to dance. She always had her castanets. We sat around the room and waited until the boy came over and asked you to dance. She had a ship-wreck party at the end of the sessions, Gillman wrote in a recent email. Despite the dress stipulation, Gillman and her friends sometimes didnt toe the line. My friend and I had sailor suits, with very short skirts. We wore them in hopes of shocking Mrs. Gollatz. The only thing she said was, cute outfits, girls ... I dont think we were allowed to wear shorts. Her husband, Art, who grew up in Sparr Heights and also attended Glendale High, signed up for the cotillion but would sneak out the back door and walk to the movies. He figured out how to get back in time to be picked up by his mom, Melinda Gillman said. All three of the Gillmans children continued the cotillion tradition. Daughter, Kim, started in 1981 at the Thursday Club and her two sons in 1979 and 1983, respectively. They loved it, their mom said. Son Craig only remembered one dance, which involved, Oh ya, side, step, side, arch, but he also remembered the stress of having to go ask girls to fill up a dance card even though the girls werent allowed to say no. Both he and brother Mark recalled that the costume night was fun. Mark Gillman had vivid memories of wearing a corduroy suit and memories of Mrs. Gollatzes castanets. The Gollatz Cotillion continues in La Canada and at other sites throughout Southern California, with the fourth generation of the Gollatz family teaching social skills and Essential Life Skills for Success, according to their website. Katherine Yamada can be reached at katherineyamada@gmail.com. or by mail at Verdugo Views, c/o Glendale News-Press, 453 S. Spring St., Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Please include your name, address and phone number. On Feb. 12, one day after the city of Los Angeles abandoned its plan to rebuild three coastal power plants, environmentalist Dan Brotman urged Glendale city officials at the end of a five-hour council meeting to take heed. We all understand this is going to be very challenging for Los Angeles, and no doubt there are risks, but the challenges and risks theyd face if they didnt take this path are even greater, said Brotman, founder of the Glendale Environmental Coalition. So where does that put Glendale? he added. Officials have been grappling with what to do with the citys ailing Grayson Power Plant for more than five years. Glendale utility officials have consistently said they need to rebuild some of the plants aging gas infrastructure in order to keep the lights on, while environmental groups think green and renewable solutions can fill the energy gap once the current machinery is retired. Im sure Glendale Water & Power will argue that Glendale is different, but I challenge that, Brotman said during the February meeting. If Los Angeles can do it, so can we. Glendale Water & Power officials are currently reviewing roughly 30 proposals the city requested last spring from outside firms to draft a plan for Grayson and expect to have a recommendation for City Council members by late May or early June, according to Steve Zurn, general manager of Glendale Water & Power. Zurn said Glendales situation is different from Los Angeles plants in several ways. For one, Graysons equipment is older. Aside from a relatively new gas-fired turbine, known as Unit No. 9 and installed in 2004, the other units are from the 1940s through the 1970s, Zurn said. The older units could stop functioning at any time, Zurn said. One of Los Angeles plants, called Scattergood, is tentatively set to retire in 2024. Two others, named Haynes and Harbor, are slated to shut down in 2029. Zurn said Glendale has less time than Los Angeles to wait for advancements in green and renewable-energy technology. Ten units spread across the three Los Angeles plants were already ordered to close in coming years because they rely on a sea-water-cooling method that harms marine life. Los Angeles also has other power plants with functioning units that are not facing closures, he added. At the end of day, Zurn said he doesnt have the luxury of taking a gamble with the citys immediate energy needs based on technology that may be available in the future, although he thinks currently obtainable technology is reducing the citys dependence on fossil fuel and will continue to do so. Its difficult, for me, to be able to say we can forego everything, hoping that something comes together, Zurn said You can see the dilemma Im in. Los Angeles Department of Water & Power seemed to be taking the same stand just prior to the Feb. 11 announcement made by L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. The ultimate decision by Garcetti marked an abrupt departure from top L.A. DWP top staffers, who, like Zurn, had in recent months argued they needed the gas plants to continue providing the city with reliable electricity, the Los Angeles Times reported. Luis Amezcua, with the Sierra Club, a nonprofit environmental organization that opposes rebuilding gas plants, said Garcetti should serve as an example for other local elected officials to speak up. For us to push for these clean-energy solutions, there needs to be political will, because that provides support for the staff that are doing a lot of this work, Amezcua said. On the other side, utility staff needs to be open to having this conversation. Brotman agreed that if the politicians lead, the technocrats will follow. Political leaders need to set the direction for [utility officials], Brotman added. Its not really fair to ask them to set a new direction for the community. According to Brotman, Garcettis announcement essentially turned the utilitys priorities upside down, with sustainability taking the top slot over reliability despite the risks. I dont take Garcettis statement lightly, Glendale City Councilman Vrej Agajanian said when asked what he thought about the L.A. mayors statements. Echoing Zurn, Agajanian said the situations in Los Angeles and Glendale are different. As the responsible party for the city, he said he would rather err on the side of caution rather than pursue sustainability as a top priority at all costs. We have to be concentrating on both reliability and renewable energy together, said Agajanian, who previously worked as an engineer. I dont think one is independent of the other. Agajanian has three times rejected the Glendale utilitys vision for the plant, which he said first included 250 megawatts of gas about a year and a half ago, before dropping to 191 megawatts, and finally reduced to 130 megawatts this past winter. While Agajanian said he doesnt know what the plants exact energy mix will be, he wants to see a maximum of 100 megawatts of gas, with about half of that amount provided by the plants newest turbine. At this time, he does not think sustainable energy is reliable or affordable enough to fulfill all of the citys energy needs, even with the gas contributions from the new turbine. Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan responded affirmatively to a request by email for comment after the meeting, but could not be reached directly before press time. Other council members did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Jan Smutny-Smith, chief executive of the Independent Energy Producers Assn., said the environmental groups are overstating the impacts plants like Grayson have on the environment. In California, every molecule of carbon and nitrogen is accounted for, Smutny-Jones said. Facilities that emit those pollution-causing molecules buy credits to do so known as cap-and-trade which are meant to reduce the release of the same molecules elsewhere. As a result, he considers the plants to be net-zero in terms of emissions. Smutny-Jones also dismissed the notion of simply reordering priorities to achieve a greener tomorrow. Our modern economy is dependent on reliable electricity, Smutny-Jones said. Often, these are life-and-death kinds of issues. Many environmentalists see climate change as an equally motivating life-and-death issue, with Brotman describing it as an existential crisis. After the Feb. 12 council meeting, Brotman acknowledged that the predicaments faced by Los Angeles and Glendale are different in some respects. But that doesnt mean that they cant achieve the same result as Los Angeles, he said. Like Agajanian, Brotman envisions a role for Graysons newest turbine, with the idea that it will be ramped down over time, but he thinks no new gas is needed. Stakeholders now await Glendale Water & Powers recommended plan. While no details about the plan have emerged, Zurn said it will likely comprise a patchwork of the proposals the city received. No matter what plan shakes out, a state law passed last year requires all of Californias electricity to come from clean-power sources by 2045. lila.seidman@latimes.com Twitter: @lila_seidman Cutbacks whether immediate or done over a few years appear to be in the offing for the Glendale Unified School District, with the potential for layoffs in the future. District staff presented an updated solvency plan to slice $10 million out of budgets for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, with the goal to close two years of deficit spending during a school board meeting last week. While no layoffs were specifically outlined, the proposal presented by Stephen Dickinson, the districts chief business and financial officer, called for several budget reductions. Administrative and management staff levels are to be trimmed by $600,000 either this school year or spread out over the next two years, while classified staffing levels are to be cut by $800,000. Certified staffing or teachers would also be reduced by $1.5 million because of declining student enrollment in the district. If you decline, you have to make roughly the same percentage of staffing cuts as the enrollment loss, Dickinson said. If you lose 1%, you probably need to lose 1% of the teaching [staff] to keep up. Interim Supt. Kelly King, participating in her first regular board meeting in her new role since taking over for dismissed Supt. Winfred B. Roberson, said district staff members are working with department heads to see what cuts can be made, but fell short of saying there would be no job losses. What is the percentage of staffing we give based on the number of students? King asked. If we are overstaffed in those areas, we may need to look at options with personnel in the management side of it. This years enrollment is estimated to be 25,790 students, according to data from the California Department of Education, which is the lowest for the district in at least 10 years, and represents a drop of nearly 1,000 students compared to the 2008-09 school year. At best, Glendale Unifieds enrollment will remain flat in 2019-20, though district staff members are saying a 2% decline, or a loss of 550 students, is possible. School officials estimate the district will receive $9,759 per student from the state for the 2019-20 school year, so every student Glendale Unified loses could result in almost $10,000 hit. School officials also plan to decrease the districts health-and-wellness benefit rate from 9% to 8%, which will save $300,000. Another proposed cut is the termination of the middle school summer program, which would save the district $317,867. The programs possible elimination is part of the slashing of $2.1 million in services and supplies that includes $1.1 million in office supplies, along with $150,000 worth of copier and printer equipment services. To be clear to the community, we shouldnt say were saving money, board member Armina Gharpetian said. These are not savings, but, literally, theyre cuts. Dickinson presented three approaches for cutting, labeled as conservative, middle and least conservative. The conservative option calls for roughly $8.6 million in cuts during the 2019-20 school year and an additional trimming of $1.4 million in 2020-21. The middle option would mean about $5 million in cuts each year, while the least conservative model calls for $3.3 million in reductions during 2019-20 and then $6.7 million in 2020-21. Dickinsons plan is an update of the districts qualified budget filed with the L.A. County Office of Education on Dec. 11 that called for $5 million in cuts for the 2019-20 school year. The district has been deficit spending or spending more money than its bringing in for two years, and school officials indicated in December the district may not be able to meet its financial obligations for the current and subsequent two fiscal years. While the updated plan is gloomy, there were a couple of silver linings because of Gov. Gavin Newsoms revised state budget. Newsoms budget proposal includes an increase in per-student funding by 3.46%, which is higher than Glendale Unifieds estimate of 2.57% and could result in an additional $2 million in the local districts 2019-20 budget. The state is also investing $3 billion that is generally earmarked for districts as one-time funding to help lower the contribution rate that districts pay into the State Teachers Retirement System, commonly known as STRS. In 2019-20, the districts rate will drop from 18.13% to 17.13%, for a savings just under $1.28 million. Lower STRS rates are expected to save the district roughly $3.75 million over the next three school years. District staff members are expected to present a more formalized plan during the next school board meeting on Tuesday. andrew.campa@latimes.com Twitter @campadresports Thomas Pitman, the town's bond counsel, said the town could ask for commitments from lenders to make sure Tri-Land has the money in place. He said the town should only offer money if the project won't happen without an incentive. More than 700 retired city employees will soon no longer have their insurance policies subsidized, a move that will potentially save Glendale hundreds of millions of dollars. Retirees have historically paid the same rate for their healthcare as active employees, a practice known as blending. But with a 5-0 vote, City Council members voted to end the benefit by the end of 2016. A two-party PPO plan under Anthem, for example, costs $2,454 per month with the city covering $1,049. The decision means retirees would pay the full amount. Some former workers complained to the council that the move would cost them between $6,000 and $12,000 per year, costs that are difficult to bear on a fixed income. In addition, some said they were explicitly promised the benefit for life. Former Assistant City Manager Bob McFall said blending was around when he first starting working for the city back in the early 1970s. There was never a time that this benefit was expressed to say as long as we have money, as long as things continue to go right, McFall said, who received more than $154,000 in pension benefits last year. It was expressed as an obligation that the city has and will continue to make. But the blending of rates has never been stated in a labor contract, which would have to be adopted by the City Council, City Manager Scott Ochoa said. Council members said they dont know who made the promise. Mayor Ara Najarian said he had gone over labor agreements with McFall years ago, and blended rates were never mentioned. Its just not fair to put it on the council and for everyone out there to think the council knew about this, he said. I take issue with that. The change comes about during the impending arrival of a new standard established by the Governmental Accountant Standards Board. Beginning in 2017-18, cities will be required to start listing the unfunded liability of retiree insurance premiums on their balance sheets. For the city of Glendale, the estimate is $240 million because the amount must encompass the subsidies over all retirees lifetimes. City officials say having an unfunded liability that big would hurt the local bond rating and impair chances of receiving government grants. In order to pay it off, the city would have to shift about 20% of the annual payroll budget. Other services and departments such as parks could take a big hit to cover the cost, said Ochoa. There has to balance all of those interests; the retirees, the active employees and again, most importantly, the taxpayers as to how best safeguard community resources, he said. Halting the insurance subsidy would eliminate nearly all of the unfunded liability, Ochoa said. But in an effort to ease the transition for the retirees, the change wont be enacted until next June so they can either decide to stay with the same coverage with an unblended rate or find a plan elsewhere. Through end of 2016, the city will also pay $200 subsidy a month for retirees with household incomes of more than $100,000 and $300 a month for those earning less than $100,000, according to a staff report. The item was brought once to the council in 2009, where it was rejected. Councilwoman Laura Friedman voted against it at the time, but said since then, the arrival of Affordable Care Act has been a game changerits the only reason she said shes entertaining the discussion again. The one thing I will not do is to jeopardize the health of our employees, she said. I will never put an ex-employee in a situation where they have to jeopardize their health because of us trying to balance our budget. The citys health benefits broker, Keenan & Associates, has already started working with retirees to help find a plan and continue to do so over the next 14 months. This will give you more time to make your decision, said Councilwoman Paula Devine. She said while the choice was the difficult one, she had to take all residents into consideration and unblending would have a positive impact on long-term municipal sustainability. But for retired police captain Mark Distaso, the transition, he says, wont be very easy. According to the website Transparent California, Distaso received more than $160,000 in pension benefits from CalPERS in 2014. He said his wife suffers from non-life-threatening medical conditions and has doctors that know her and are familiar with treating her. Its not just a matter of changing plans, its a matter of reinitiating your whole course of treatment, he said. Scott Peterson was in ninth grade when the pastor of his church wrote him a letter suggesting he might make a good pastor himself someday, if that was a line of work he wanted to consider. At the time, the young student had more pragmatic concerns. I filed the letter away and thought about how can I make the most money by doing the least amount of work? Peterson recalled, laughing. I was thinking at that time about pursuing psychology because I understood an hour for a psychiatrist is only 50 minutes long. But as the years progressed and Peterson whod grown up in a church-going Lutheran family just outside Minneapolis grew more deeply into his faith, he came to think maybe his pastor had been onto something. His decision to study religion and philosophy in college, and later seek an advanced degree from Minnesotas Luther Seminary, would begin a spiritual path that would lead Peterson to work first among remote, rural churches in Montana and later spend 17 years at Prince of Faith Lutheran Church in Calgary, in the Canadian province of Alberta. Pastor Scott Peterson is the new minister at the Lutheran Church in the Foothills. (Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer) Last week, that path brought Peterson, wife Gina and 13-year-old daughter Sophie to La Canadas Lutheran Church in the Foothills. The church celebrated his first worship service to a full audience Sunday, ending a 22-month search for a permanent leader. Anita Stoker, president of the Church Council and a member of the call committee charged with the task of selecting a new pastor, said church officials interviewed several candidates in the process of replacing longtime Pastor Bruce Johnson, who retired in 2014. While the search was on, Interim Pastor Jim Bullock led Sunday services. Working with a list of preferences and requirements collected from a congregation-wide survey, the call committee was looking for a solid preacher who could convey complex spiritual teachings in a way that resonated with the general public. Over the course of 22 months, we interviewed 11 different pastors, Stoker said. We wanted someone whod be able to work well with both the older members of the church but would also be welcoming and inviting to young families that might be interested in joining our congregation. Though hed become close to his congregants in Calgary, Peterson requested to be considered for a church opening in the Southwest, because he wanted to be closer to his father, who winters in Arizona. When the family heard from the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommending a Los Angeles-area church, they were taken aback. Southern California wasnt even in our thought process because we knew this is one of the more difficult places for a pastor to get into, Peterson said, explaining how most senior leaders opt for churches in sunny climes. After a remote video interview via FaceTime, and an in-person visit, Stoker said Peterson fit the committees list of qualifications. In addition to having a strong background in Lutheran theology, the youthful candidate had a good sense of humor and natural way with people. Now, the Petersons are in the process of finding a home and seeing that Sophie settles into classes at La Canada High School 7/8. The pastor is learning the ropes at Lutheran Church in the Foothills and finding that the congregations proliferation of native Midwesterners is making his arrival seem like a bit of a homecoming. We may be in Southern California, but theres a bunch of Minnesotans in the church so thats sort of calmed our culture-shock fears, he said, adding, This will be home for the next while. -- Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine Hello, my name is John Cherwa as we continue our countdown to Saturdays big card at Santa Anita. Before we get to Jon Whites Derby rankings there a couple of stories that we need to call your attention to. --First, my colleague David Wharton wrote this great overview of the problems going on at Santa Anita. Its one stop shopping for those that feel they are a little behind on whats been going on. Just click here. --Second, just to show you that not all we are writing are about horses dying, is this preview of the Santa Anita Handicap, focusing on the Sadler-Hronis horse Gift Box. Just click here. Like I promised you a few days ago, we realize there is also racing going on amid the horse death crisis. Clearly, the fatalities are our top priority, but were also trying to provide some relief and write about the races. Jon Whites Kentucky Derby rankings Time to turn our attention to the Kentucky Derby. As always, were lucky to have the top expert Jon White take a look at whats happening there. Jon makes the morning line at Santa Anita, hes a licensed steward, and hes the pre-eminent historian on racing. Were lucky to have him. So, heres his Kentucky Derby rankings, brought courtesy of Xpressbet.com. Three biggies are on tap Saturday in terms of races on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail. They are the $1 million Santa Anita Derby, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. A fourth biggie, the $1 million Arkansas Derby, is coming up at Oaklawn Park on April 13. These four races are always important. But it seems they are especially significant this year inasmuch as there is no clear-cut Kentucky Derby favorite at this time. A slew of qualifying points will be up for grabs in these four 1 1/8-mile races. Each offers a total of 170 points (100-40-20-10) toward the May 4 Kentucky Derby. It generally takes around 30 points to get into the Kentucky Derby field. Eclipse Award winner Game Winner, ranked No. 2 on my Top 10, heads a field of five in the Santa Anita Derby. I have installed him as the 4-5 morning-line favorite. Roadster is 5-2. Instagrand is 3-1. Trained by Bob Baffert, Game Winner won all four of his starts last year, highlighted by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. In Game Winner's only start so far this year, he finished second as a 1-2 favorite in a division of Oaklawn's Rebel Stakes on March 16. He lost by a scant nose to another Santa Anita-based horse, Omaha Beach, who is No. 1 on my Top 10. Roadster, like Game Winner, hails from the powerful Baffert barn. Game Winner and Roadster have met once before. That was in last year's Del Mar Futurity when Game Winner won at odds of 8-5. Roadster finished third as the 3-5 favorite. Roadster had a breathing problem when he lost the Del Mar Futurity, an issue that subsequently was addressed through throat surgery. Roadster did not race again until he returned with a sparkling 2 1/4-length victory in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming contest at Santa Anita on March 1. Baffert won last year's Santa Anita Derby with Justify, who like Game Winner was a 4-5 morning-line favorite. Backed down to 4-5 favoritism by the bettors, Justify won the Santa Anita Derby by three lengths before going on to sweep the Triple Crown. Instagrand, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, makes his second 2019 start Saturday after finishing third in Aqueduct's Gotham Stakes at one mile on March 9. Instagrand certainly has a right to improve on his Gotham effort due to it being his first start since he won Del Mar's Best Pal Stakes by a little more than 10 lengths last Aug. 11. Both the Blue Grass and Wood have much larger fields than the Santa Anita Derby. The Blue Grass has attracted a field of 14, while 11 are entered in the Wood. Longtime oddsmaker Mike Battaglia (the person responsible for crafting the Kentucky Derby morning line for many years) has pegged Vekoma as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Blue Grass. Trained by George Weaver, Vekoma finished third, behind Code of Honor and Bourbon War, in Gulfstream's Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 2 in his 2019 debut. Vekoma won the Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct last Nov. 4. Vekoma goes into the Blue Grass having made just three career starts. No horse with fewer than four prior lifetime starts has won the Blue Grass since Coaltown in 1948. Coaltown had raced only three times before winning the Blue Grass by 4 1/2 lengths. He would go on to finish second behind stablemate Citation in the Kentucky Derby. The great Citation not only swept the Triple Crown, he amazingly won 19 races in 1948. Tacitus is the 5-2 favorite on oddsmaker David Aragona's Wood Memorial morning line. Tacitus is coming off a 1 1/4-length win in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 for trainer Bill Mott. In the wake of Maximum Security's front-running 3 1/2-length victory in last Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream, he debuts on my Top 10 this week all the way up at No. 3. He has won all four of his races by a combined 38 lengths for an average margin of victory 9 1/2 lengths. Jason Servis trains Maximum Security, who is owned by Gary and Mary West. The Wests also race Game Winner. Plus Que Parfait won last Saturday's $2.5 million UAE Derby by three-quarters of a length at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for trainer Brendan Walsh. The UAE Derby essentially was a win and you're in race for Plus Que Parfait in that won and now he's in the Kentucky Derby, thanks to the 100 points he earned in Dubai. Last Nov. 24 at Churchill, Plus Que Parfait finished a close second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. But in two starts early this year at Fair Grounds Race Course, he ran fifth in the Lecomte Stakes and 13th in the Risen Star Stakes. While it is a plus for Plus Que Parfait that he almost won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill last November, one of the reasons he did not crack my Top 10 this week after his UAE Derby triumph is the field for that race this year did not appear to be all that strong. Here are this week's rankings, courtesy of Xpressbet: 1. Omaha Beach (1) 2. Game Winner (2) 3. Maximum Security (NR) 4. Improbable (3) 5. Long Range Toddy (5) 6. Anothertwistafate (6) 7. Cutting Humor (7) 8. Roadster (9) 9. By My Standards (10) 10. Code of Honor (4) NOTE: Last week's rankings in parentheses Santa Anita review It was a pretty pedestrian card on Thursday. Mr. Chairman, we will give all our words to Saturdays monster card wirh seven stakes races. Santa Anita preview The news from Santa Anita is it is taking all the races off the downhill course through this weekend. It was precipitated by the death of Arms Runner on Sunday, who apparently broke his right front leg on the 80-foot dirt crossing on the downhill turf course. On Friday, there are eight races, three on the turf. Once again, we are not going to preview the feature, because there really isnt one. But, if you are looking for the top race on the card, the seventh is a six furlong allowance/optional claimer for 3-yrear olds. It only has a field of five. Here are the field sizes, in order: 10 (4 also eligible), 5, 10 (4 ae), 6, 10 (1 ae), 7, 5, 10 (2 ae). Bob Ikes SA pick of the day FIFTH RACE: No. 6 Out of Balance (4-1) Coming off a pair of runner-up efforts over this course earlier in the meet, the David Hofmans-trained filly looks to be sitting on her maiden diploma. She finished five lengths clear of the third horse in her most recent start and should get a good trip with her balanced running style under top turf rider Flavien Prat. Thursdays result: If exactas paid off for running fourth and fifth, then I hit it with my two selections in the sixth race. My Mandate got the easy trip we envisioned but tired late and Order and Law just ran evenly the entire way. Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy). Los Alamitos weekend preview Its time to turn things over to marketing and meda guru Orlando Gutierrez, who will tell us about the upcoming weekend at Los Alamitos. Orlando, the floor is yours. Just Walk By and Time To Leave, who raced evenly on the way to finishing first and second in the Danville Station Handicap on March 5 will square off again, this time in Friday's featured $11,525 allowance at 330 yards. First post for the eight-race card is 6 p.m. Dr. Steve Burns homebred Just Walk By is out of the stellar broodmare Babe On The Fly, who is the dam of Grade 1 stakes winners Rock You and Little Talks and of stakes winners Fly Thru The Fire and Carne Vino. Just Walk By finished second in last years Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity and had to fend off a game Time To Leave to win in the Danville Station. Time To Leave entered that race following an upset win in the Denim N Diamonds Handicap on Feb. 16. In the feature event on Saturday, Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes finalists Mayas Signature and Miss Montielita will meet in an $11,825 allowance. Mayas Signature, the daughter of Fast Prize Cartel, began her career by hitting the board in five of her first six races. She led the Maiden Stakes early on, but eventually gave way, finishing fourth. She enters this race after a forgettable out of the money finish in her La Primera Del Ano Derby trial. Miss Montielita enters this race after a second-place finish against allowance competition a much better result than when she was disqualified from fifth and placed 10th for interference in the Maiden Stakes final. Sundays card is headed by the $20,000 James Smith Memorial Handicap, named in memory of this tracks general manager in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A full field of 10 will go in this 350-yard dash for 3-year-olds, which will be headed by the multiple stakes winning filly Striver. Striver has been a dream come true for owner Juan Carlos Chavez, who purchased the Foose filly for $17,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale in October, 2017. Striver has since become a multiple stakes winner and was the runner-up in the prestigious Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity held last year. Shes truly been a dream that has become a reality, said Chavez, who is the assistant of trainer Scott Willoughby. Striver has helped me out a lot and the dream continues in 2019 because she helped me buy another horse last year. Singles Cruise, who raced in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, Callender, who finished third in the Dreaming Sweet, and Cavuto, the runner-up in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, are among the other top contenders in the James Smith. Dominic (Bud) Alessio, a long-time quarter-horse owner and breeder who was also President of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Assn. Board of Directors since 1993, passed away on Tuesday. He was 77. A businessman and head of a real-estate investment firm in San Diego, Alessio was an active breeder and owner of quarter horses since 1979. He was majority owner of Ruidoso Downs and Sunland Park racetracks in New Mexico from 1972 to 1978. He began his service to the PCQHRA in 1992 and was elected president the following year. His father, John Alessio was a California entrepreneur who was the executive director of Caliente Race Track in Tijuana from the late 1940s through the 1960s. John Alessio came up with the 5-10 bet, the precursor of todays Pick 6, and the 1,2,3 bet or the trifecta as it is known today. Recapping last weekends derbies, Powerful Favorite continues to be the top 3-year-old on the grounds after outfinishing Apollitical Pence to win the $211,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby on Sunday night. In the $210,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby on Saturday, fastest qualifier Terrific First Down won his second straight victory in this race. Ed Burgarts LA pick of the day SIXTH RACE: No. 5 Commando Dynasty (2-1) He runs his best races when drawn near the outside as evidenced by last handy head victory over prior $10,000 runnerup One Cool Winner. He lost his path and shifted to the far inside after rough start from post two in prior outing. He looked very strong winning three outs ago over third-place Fly N Away, who second for $12,500 last Saturday. Final thought If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter you can click here and sign up. Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. Tell your friends, or even people you dont like that much. Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa. Now, the stars of the show, Thursdays results and Fridays entries. Santa Anita Charts Results for Thursday, April 4. Copyright 2019 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Santa Anita, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. 58th day of a 61-day meet. Cloudy & Fast FIRST RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $55,000. Maiden Special Weight. 3 year olds and up. Time 22.50 46.31 1:12.92 1:20.14 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Sir Eddie 124 4 6 4hd 3hd 21 12 Prat 1.40 11 Appreciated 118 8 3 21 21 1 21 Gryder 3.20 3 Sidepocket Action 119 2 9 3hd 51 4hd 3 Espinoza 11.50 13 Jen Go Unchained 118 9 5 5 4 31 4 Delgadillo 57.00 4 General Mo 118 3 10 10 10 63 59 Franco 9.60 2 Bob's Sniper 119 1 1 1hd 1hd 54 67 Blanc 36.40 9 Gooch Express 124 6 2 8hd 91 10 71 Roman 33.30 14 Juggles 119 10 7 61 6 85 8 Mn Garcia 7.10 6 Hit the Seam 124 5 4 98 72 7 93 Gutierrez 5.00 10 First in Show 120 7 8 71 83 93 10 Pereira 101.70 5 SIR EDDIE 4.80 2.60 2.20 11 APPRECIATED 3.80 3.20 3 SIDEPOCKET ACTION 5.60 $2 ROULETTE (RED) $2.40 $1 EXACTA (5-11) $10.80 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-11-3-13) $129.76 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-11-3) $34.90 $1 X-5 SUPER HIGH FIVE (5-11-3-13-4) Carryover $845 WinnerSir Eddie Grr.g.4 by Square Eddie out of Gypsy Friday, by In Excess (IRE). Bred by Frank Mermenstein & Edward Freeman (CA). Trainer: Dan Blacker. Owner: Helm Enterprises, LLC, My Way Racing LLC, Radley Equine, Inc., Compton, Lewis, Crews, John, Gold, Ri. Mutuel Pool $180,228 Roulette Pool $173 Exacta Pool $106,563 Superfecta Pool $46,607 Trifecta Pool $59,549 X-5 Super High Five Pool $1,107. ScratchedElusive Flame, Flicflac, Play Money, Unusually Handsome. SIR EDDIE stalked between horses, came out some in the stretch, bid outside the runner-up to gain the lead in the drive and inched away late under a strong hand ride. APPRECIATED between rivals early, angled in and dueled outside a foe, took the lead into the stretch, inched away then fought back just off the rail, could not match the winner late but held second. SIDEPOCKET ACTION bobbled at the start, saved ground stalking the pace, split horses nearing midstretch, angled in and gained the show. JEN GO UNCHAINED stalked three deep between foes then three wide on the turn and into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. GENERAL MO broke slowly, settled off the rail, went around a rival on the turn, cut the corner into the stretch, came out in midstretch and put in a late bid at a minor share. BOB'S SNIPER had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. GOOCH EXPRESS bobbled some at the break, was between foes early, chased off the rail, angled in on the turn, came out into the stretch, angled in again past midstretch and lacked a rally. JUGGLES had speed four wide then stalked outside, dropped back alongside a rival on the turn and weakened. HIT THE SEAM chased off the rail then between foes, continued just off the fence on the turn and also weakened. FIRST IN SHOW settled outside then off the rail on the turn and gave way in the stretch. SECOND RACE. 7 Furlongs. Purse: $22,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 22.42 45.50 1:11.93 1:26.33 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Monydontspenitself 122 3 7 53 2 12 15 Talamo 5.80 5 Little Scotty 115 5 1 1 1hd 32 21 Velez 4.30 2 Papa Turf 122 2 5 21 31 2hd 3 Figueroa 15.20 7 Harrovian 115 7 2 62 62 51 42 Diaz, Jr. 42.80 8 Finallygotabentley 122 8 6 8 8 71 52 Quinonez 141.20 4 Baby Bear's Soup 119 4 3 3hd 54 42 6 Espinoza 2.10 1 Midnight Soot 124 1 9 74 74 8 7 Fuentes 44.70 6 Burn Me Twice 122 6 4 4hd 41 6 8 Pereira 3.10 9 Run Macho Run 124 9 8 dnf Franco 4.50 3 MONYDONTSPENITSELF 13.60 6.20 4.80 5 LITTLE SCOTTY 5.60 4.60 2 PAPA TURF 9.60 $2 ROULETTE (BLACK) $3.20 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-3) $28.20 $1 EXACTA (3-5) $43.10 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-5-2-7) $272.90 50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-5-2) $191.95 $1 X-5 SUPER HIGH FIVE (3-5-2-7-8) Carryover $2,941 WinnerMonydontspenitself Ch.g.5 by Street Boss out of Precious Princess, by Horse Chestnut (SAF). Bred by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Sally S.Humphrey (KY). Trainer: Mark Glatt. Owner: Where We At. Mutuel Pool $181,825 Roulette Pool $150 Daily Double Pool $32,371 Exacta Pool $124,146 Superfecta Pool $54,395 Trifecta Pool $75,183 X-5 Super High Five Pool $2,746. Scratchednone. MONYDONTSPENITSELF stalked four wide then bid four wide leaving the backstretch and three deep into and on the turn, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under left handed urging, drifted to the inside in the final furlong and won clear. LITTLE SCOTTY dueled outside a rival then between foes into and on the turn and into the stretch and held second. PAPA TURF sent inside, pressed the pace along the rail on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and just held third. HARROVIAN settled off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. FINALLYGOTABENTLEY unhurried off the inside early, angled in leaving the backstretch, found the rail on the turn, continued inside in the stretch and improved position. BABY BEAR'S SOUP had speed between horses then stalked off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. MIDNIGHT SOOT broke a bit slowly, settled inside, came off the rail on the turn and four wide into the stretch and did not rally. BURN ME TWICE had speed between foes then stalked, bid between horses a half mile out, dropped back and angled in a bit on the turn and weakened. RUN MACHO RUN was pulled up shortly after the start but walked off. THIRD RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $32,000. Maiden Claiming. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 22.62 46.58 59.39 1:12.78 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Railman 124 5 4 2hd 12 15 13 Bejarano 0.40 4 Mica Bay 119 4 5 6 51 41 21 Espinoza 16.80 3 High Five 117 3 2 31 3 21 3nk Diaz, Jr. 17.80 2 Drink 124 2 6 5hd 41 31 49 Pedroza 3.40 6 Shared 124 6 3 4 6 6 54 Franco 14.00 1 Red Valor 124 1 1 1hd 21 53 6 Flores 11.50 5 RAILMAN 2.80 2.10 2.10 4 MICA BAY 7.20 5.40 3 HIGH FIVE 4.20 $2 ROULETTE (RED) $3.00 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-5) $18.40 $1 EXACTA (5-4) $9.70 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-4-3-2) $20.48 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-4-3) $41.40 WinnerRailman Ch.c.3 by Overanalyze out of Cat Tango, by Regal Classic. Bred by Pam Davis (IL). Trainer: Peter Eurton. Owner: C R K Stable LLC. Mutuel Pool $207,997 Roulette Pool $334 Daily Double Pool $17,978 Exacta Pool $111,160 Superfecta Pool $52,361 Trifecta Pool $80,929. ScratchedPalaleo. 50-Cent Pick Three (5-3-5) paid $11.00. Pick Three Pool $49,894. RAILMAN stalked a bit off the rail then bid inside to duel for the lead, inched away on the turn and won clear under a couple taps of the whip and steady handling then a snug hold late. MICA BAY stalked a bit off the fence then between foes leaving the backstretch, continued just off the inside on the turn, came out some in the stretch and gained the place. HIGH FIVE had speed outside a rival to duel for the lead, continued three deep leaving the backstretch, stalked outside a foe on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and just held third. DRINK broke a bit slowly, saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside on the turn and in the stretch and was edged for the show. SHARED stalked outside then three deep leaving the backstretch, dropped back off the rail on the turn and weakened. RED VALOR had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then between foes, stalked just off the inside on the turn and also weakened. FOURTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $55,000. Maiden Special Weight. 3 year olds and up. Time 23.25 46.75 1:10.93 1:22.96 1:35.23 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 1 Lomu 124 1 1 1 1 1hd 1 1 Van Dyke 1.70 6 Keystone Field 124 4 6 2 2 22 23 2 Prat 1.20 7 Pointed 124 5 3 53 53 52 3hd 3 Fuentes 14.00 2 T Bones Trick 118 2 4 6 6 6 6 41 Bejarano 7.50 8 Calabasas 124 6 5 31 31 31 41 51 Franco 9.70 4 American Camp 120 3 2 4 4 4hd 5hd 6 Pereira 8.30 1 LOMU 5.40 2.60 2.20 6 KEYSTONE FIELD 2.60 2.20 7 POINTED 3.40 $2 ROULETTE (RED) $2.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-1) $11.00 $1 EXACTA (1-6) $5.90 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-6-7-2) $7.72 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-6-7) $12.35 WinnerLomu Dbb.g.4 by Denman (AUS) out of Miss Chestervalley, by Chester House. Bred by Gaulstown Stud, LLC & Richard Hoffberger (KY). Trainer: Neil D. Drysdale. Owner: Duic, John and MacKinnon, Lloyd. Mutuel Pool $170,714 Roulette Pool $76 Daily Double Pool $16,542 Exacta Pool $99,026 Superfecta Pool $47,610 Trifecta Pool $64,903. ScratchedCaribbean (AUS), Hackberry. 50-Cent Pick Three (3-5-1) paid $17.20. Pick Three Pool $21,638. LOMU had speed inside, set a pressured pace then inched away briefly along the rail early on the backstretch, fought back inside into and on the second turn and through the stretch and held on gamely under urging. KEYSTONE FIELD prompted the pace between horses on the first turn, bid again between foes leaving the backstretch and alongside the winner on the second turn and through the stretch and continued willingly but could not get by. POINTED stalked outside a rival then pulled and steadied in a bit tight between foes midway on the backstretch, continued alongside a foe on the second turn and into the stretch, came out some and also went on willingly late. T BONES TRICK saved ground off the pace, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch and finished with interest late. CALABASAS a bit washy at the gate, hopped slightly then bobbled some at the start, pressed the pace three deep, angled in and stalked a bit off the rail leaving the second turn and lacked the needed response in the stretch. AMERICAN CAMP angled in and saved ground stalking the pace throughout and lacked a rally in the drive. FIFTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $22,000. Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $10,000. Time 22.00 46.19 59.81 1:13.43 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 7 Cinnamon Twist 115 7 5 4hd 53 2hd 1nk Diaz, Jr. 2.20 2 Todos Santos 122 2 8 8 71 51 22 Bejarano 2.20 5 Blooming Hannah 122 5 6 5 4 41 31 Pereira 18.60 8 Party Hostess 122 8 1 35 2 31 4nk Roman 3.90 6 Smart Rachel 122 6 4 61 6 6 51 Flores 3.20 1 Asem 122 1 2 1hd 11 1hd 62 Martinez 55.60 3 Dragon Flower 122 3 7 71 8 8 75 Quinonez 22.50 4 A Filly Can Dream 122 4 3 2hd 31 71 8 Vergara, Jr. 66.90 7 CINNAMON TWIST 6.40 3.00 2.40 2 TODOS SANTOS 3.00 2.40 5 BLOOMING HANNAH 5.60 $2 ROULETTE (RED) $2.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-7) $19.80 $1 EXACTA (7-2) $8.10 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (7-2-5-8) $14.83 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (7-2-5-8-6) $390.20 50-CENT TRIFECTA (7-2-5) $21.35 WinnerCinnamon Twist Ch.f.4 by First Samurai out of Way to Go, by Gone West. Bred by St. George Farm, LLC (KY). Trainer: Jorge Periban. Owner: M Racing Group, LLC. Mutuel Pool $177,670 Roulette Pool $95 Daily Double Pool $15,827 Exacta Pool $104,236 Superfecta Pool $65,253 Super High Five Pool $9,058 Trifecta Pool $84,923. ClaimedCinnamon Twist by Roddy Harrison. Trainer: Martin Valenzuela, III. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (5-1-7) paid $9.10. Pick Three Pool $35,777. 50-Cent Pick Four (3-5/7-1-7) 1440 tickets with 4 correct paid $50.90. Pick Four Pool $96,153. 50-Cent Pick Five (1/5/7/8/12-3-5/7-1-7) 2276 tickets with 5 correct paid $131.90. Pick Five Pool $349,142. CINNAMON TWIST bobbled slightly at the start, chased three deep then outside a rival on the turn, was fanned four wide into the stretch, bid four wide in midstretch to gain the lead past the eighth pole, inched away under urging and held. TODOS SANTOS broke slowly, settled off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and finished well to just miss. BLOOMING HANNAH broke a bit slowly, chased between horses then inside, split rivals into the stretch, bid along the fence in the drive and gained the show. PARTY HOSTESS sped to the early lead, dueled three deep, stalked off the rail on the turn, was fanned four wide into the stretch, bid again three deep between horses in midstretch and was outfinished for third. SMART RACHEL bobbled at the break, chased off the rail then between horses, angled to the inside on the turn and lacked the needed rally. ASEM went up inside rivals and dueled just off the rail, inched away on the turn, drifted out into the stretch, fought back between horses in midstretch and weakened late. DRAGON FLOWER a bit slow to begin, was between foes early then saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. A FILLY CAN DREAM dueled between horses, angled in and stalked inside leaving the turn, continued along the rail in the stretch and weakened. SIXTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $57,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $80,000. Time 24.06 48.42 1:12.03 1:23.77 1:35.68 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 6 Rijeka 124 5 8 7 51 21 1 1ns Desormeaux 3.10 8 Shining Through 124 7 4 41 6 71 4hd 2 Prat 5.50 9 Irish Heatwave 124 8 2 21 2 41 31 31 Bejarano 6.20 4 My Mandate 122 3 1 11 11 1 21 4nk Van Dyke 4.40 5 Order and Law 122 4 5 51 72 5hd 6hd 5nk Franco 9.00 3 Urban Light 124 2 7 8 8 6hd 76 61 Pereira 15.40 1 Vantastic 122 1 6 61 3hd 3hd 51 711 Smith 2.40 7 Forestation 119 6 3 3 4hd 8 8 8 Espinoza 64.90 6 RIJEKA (IRE) 8.20 4.20 3.00 8 SHINING THROUGH 5.80 3.60 9 IRISH HEATWAVE 3.60 $2 ROULETTE (RED) $4.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-6) $27.00 $1 EXACTA (6-8) $29.70 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (6-8-9-4) $77.76 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (6-8-9-4-5) $2,809.40 50-CENT TRIFECTA (6-8-9) $74.70 WinnerRijeka (IRE) Ch.g.3 by Roderic O'Connor (IRE) out of Pelican Waters (IRE), by Key of Luck. Bred by Ms A. Sammon (IRE). Trainer: Richard Baltas. Owner: Slam Dunk Racing and Nentwig, Michael. Mutuel Pool $199,716 Roulette Pool $178 Daily Double Pool $18,963 Exacta Pool $119,503 Superfecta Pool $55,137 Super High Five Pool $2,761 Trifecta Pool $77,982. ScratchedContagion. 50-Cent Pick Three (1-7-6) paid $24.50. Pick Three Pool $26,830. RIJEKA (IRE) a step slow to begin, settled outside a rival, moved up four wide on the backstretch, bid alongside the pacesetter on the second turn, took a short lead in midstretch, edged away in deep stretch and held on gamely under some urging. SHINING THROUGH stalked outside, went up four wide on the second turn and three deep into the stretch and finished well. IRISH HEATWAVE three deep early, stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail, was between foes into the second turn, continued inside, came out for room in midstretch and continued willingly between the top pair late. MY MANDATE sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back on the second turn and in the stretch and was outfinished. ORDER AND LAW between rivals early, chased a bit off the rail, split horses on the second turn, continued inside into the stretch then went around a rival late. URBAN LIGHT (IRE) chased inside then off the rail, went up three deep between foes on the second turn, angled in between horses into the stretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. VANTASTIC steadied inside into the first turn, went up three deep on the backstretch and into the second turn, angled in outside a rival leaving that turn and into the stretch and also could not offer the necessary late response. FORESTATION pulled between horses then angled in and stalked inside, dropped back on the second turn and weakened. SEVENTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $32,000. Maiden Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 23.63 47.73 1:00.19 1:13.64 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 1 Hard to Come Home 111 1 6 3hd 3 32 1hd Diaz, Jr. 5.10 3 Sea's Journey 124 2 1 1hd 1hd 1hd 21 Franco 1.70 10 Pig Iron 124 9 2 21 22 22 32 Figueroa 4.60 7 Tak'in the Red Eye 124 6 4 4hd 61 4hd 41 Roman 15.20 5 Friday's At Shady 118 4 8 7 4hd 51 51 Fuentes 3.70 9 King Parker 120 8 5 51 5hd 62 65 Pereira 44.70 6 Soul Owner 119 5 7 61 75 75 75 Espinoza 6.30 4 Sterling's Temple 124 3 3 8 8 8 8 Quinonez 57.40 8 Indi Luck 124 7 9 dnf Ocampo 36.40 1 HARD TO COME HOME 12.20 5.20 3.40 3 SEA'S JOURNEY 3.20 2.40 10 PIG IRON 3.80 $2 ROULETTE (RED) $2.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (6-1) $77.60 $1 EXACTA (1-3) $16.30 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-3-10-7) $48.67 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (1-3-10-7-5) $1,478.10 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-3-10) $44.05 WinnerHard to Come Home Ch.g.3 by Hard Spun out of Come Home Lady, by Came Home. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams (CA). Trainer: Clifford W. Sise, Jr.. Owner: Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D.. Mutuel Pool $211,514 Roulette Pool $147 Daily Double Pool $17,928 Exacta Pool $124,211 Superfecta Pool $66,133 Super High Five Pool $3,874 Trifecta Pool $88,417. ScratchedPerfect Tale. 50-Cent Pick Three (7-6-1) paid $80.55. Pick Three Pool $21,446. HARD TO COME HOME saved ground stalking the pace, came out in upper stretch and rallied under urging to get up nearing the wire. SEA'S JOURNEY had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then inside on the turn, fought back in the stretch, edged away past midstretch but could not hold off the winner. PIG IRON angled in and dueled outside the runner-up, fought back on the turn and until deep stretch and bested the others. TAK'IN THE RED EYE close up stalking the pace between horses to the stretch, lacked the needed late kick. FRIDAY'S AT SHADY chased outside, went four wide on the turn and into the stretch and could not summon the necessary response. KING PARKER stalked three deep then three wide between foes on the turn and into the stretch and also lacked the needed rally. SOUL OWNER chased just off the rail, swung four wide into the stretch and did not rally. STERLING'S TEMPLE settled a bit off the rail then angled in and saved ground, came out into the stretch and weakened. INDI LUCK refused to break and stood in the gate. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the start before ruling INDI LUCK was the cause of his own trouble. EIGHTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $57,000. Allowance. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Time 23.02 46.54 1:10.67 1:22.86 1:35.52 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 8 Charmingslew 124 6 1 11 1 1hd 2 1nk Smith 17.20 11 An Eddie Surprise 124 8 5 41 4 3hd 1hd 21 Bejarano 3.30 1 Moonshine Annie 124 1 3 5 51 52 31 31 Desormeaux 3.00 4 Drop the Mic 124 2 7 8 8 8 8 4nk Pereira 17.30 7 Shylock Eddie 124 5 8 31 3hd 4hd 52 5hd Gryder 12.10 6 Thalia 124 4 4 62 62 74 71 6nk Franco 2.70 5 Be Lifted Up 118 3 6 72 73 6hd 6hd 71 Prat 5.50 9 Miss Voluptuous 124 7 2 2 21 21 4hd 8 Van Dyke 8.50 8 CHARMINGSLEW 36.40 15.60 6.40 11 AN EDDIE SURPRISE 5.40 3.40 1 MOONSHINE ANNIE 2.80 $2 ROULETTE (GREEN) $32.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-8) $220.20 $1 EXACTA (8-11) $76.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (8-11-1-4) $299.20 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (8-11-1-4-7) $13,955.40 50-CENT TRIFECTA (8-11-1) $145.70 WinnerCharmingslew B.f.4 by Roi Charmant out of Afleet Slew, by Afleet Alex. Bred by Bob Frear (CA). Trainer: Neil French. Owner: Bob Frear. Mutuel Pool $283,565 Roulette Pool $154 Daily Double Pool $89,930 Exacta Pool $159,439 Superfecta Pool $77,283 Super High Five Pool $18,285 Trifecta Pool $106,905. ScratchedHot On the Trail, Square Peggy, Wandering Patrol. 50-Cent Pick Three (6-1-8) paid $358.95. Pick Three Pool $65,457. 50-Cent Pick Four (7-6-1-8) 94 tickets with 4 correct paid $1,863.35. Pick Four Pool $229,729. 50-Cent Pick Five (1-7-6-1-8) 19 tickets with 5 correct paid $5,622.65. Pick Five Pool $140,713. 20-Cent Pick Six Jackpot (5/7-1-7-6-1-8) 21 tickets with 6 correct paid $3,912.18. Pick Six Jackpot Pool $150,125. Pick Six Jackpot Carryover $779,630. CHARMINGSLEW bobbled at the start, angled in and sped to the early lead, set the pace inside then dueled along the rail, fought back under left handed urging to regain the advantage in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. AN EDDIE SURPRISE stalked outside a rival then three deep into and on the second turn and four wide into the stretch, drifted in and took a short lead outside the winner in midstretch and was outgamed late. MOONSHINE ANNIE saved ground stalking the pace, went between foes into and on the second turn and three wide into the stretch, bid between foes then drifted in and steadied in midstretch and saved the show. DROP THE MIC steadied in tight early, settled inside, came out in upper stretch and went on four wide on the line. SHYLOCK EDDIE a bit slow to begin, angled in and chased inside, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. THALIA angled in early and chased outside a rival then off the rail leaving the backstretch, continued alongside a foe on the second turn, came out into the stretch and was between horses on the wire. BE LIFTED UP pulled and steadied between horses early, saved ground off the pace, came out nearing midstretch and also went between foes late. MISS VOLUPTUOUS stalked outside a rival then bid outside the winner on the backstretch and second turn, fell back some and was in a bit tight in midstretch and weakened. Attendance Handle On-Track 2,415 $407,982 Inter-Track N/A $1,125,282 Out of State N/A $4,332,565 TOTAL 2,415 $5,865,829 Saturday is the biggest day of the year for the 85-year-old Santa Anita track, not just in terms of the racing, but also its survival. Talk would normally be about who will emerge from the Santa Anita Derby to join the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. Four of the last five winners have been stabled in Southern California and two were victorious there after winning the Santa Anita Derby. The talk will remain steadfast on the 23 horse fatalities since Dec. 26. There were six deaths between Jan. 18-25, and six more between Feb. 17-25. As the public pressure to shut down Santa Anitas race meet has grown, the fatality rate has dropped. There has been one fatality in the last 22 days of training and five days of racing. Arms Runner was euthanized after injuring its right front leg on Sunday during a 6 furlong turf race down the hill. Santa Anita has taken all races this week off the unique hillside course, which has an 80-foot dirt crossover entering the stretch. Advertisement The 22-day stretch has included 2,863 timed workouts and 357 race starts, for a total of 3,220. Still, people in and out of racing agree the tolerance for racing deaths remains at zero. Animal rights groups, politicians, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and the media have called for a halt to racing until an investigation can be conducted and answers discovered. The California Horse Racing Board and the L.A. County District Attorney have investigators looking into the deaths. The board has called a special meeting for next Friday to discuss its ability to move race days to other venues should Santa Anita elect to do so. The CHRB is a regulatory agency and doesnt have the sweeping power of a league or commissioners office and a 10-day public notice period impedes its ability to move swiftly. Im concerned with the publicity we are getting when you come out here and see all these cameras, trainer Bob Baffert said earlier in the week. When we had [Triple Crown winners] American Pharoah and Justify, I would have loved to see five cameras out here to cover him before he went to the Derby. Everywhere I go, I have to explain myself. Hey, whats going on out there? Well, were just having a bad roll. But its going to get better. It can happen to anyone. Everybody is feeling like were under the gun, but we need to feel like were under the gun. Double check. Dot your is and cross your ts. I feel pretty good well get through this. We need to get to Saturday and have a wonderful day. There are seven stakes races Saturday, five of them graded (a status given to superior races) and three are Grade 1 (the very best races). Baffert, who has spent a fair amount of time in front of the camera talking about the crisis, is happy when asked to actually talk about the racing and his horses. He has the top two favorites in the $1-million Santa Anita Derby, a race in which the the winner and runner-up qualify for the Kentucky Derby based on a weighted points system. Game Winner, who has already qualified with 45 points, is the 4-5 top choice and Roadster at 5-2. Getting to this point has also been affected. Game Winner was originally scheduled to run in the San Felipe at Santa Anita until racing was suspended and the race was canceled. Instead, he and stablemate Improbable were shipped to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas a week later and both suffered their first defeat, finishing second in separate divisions of the Rebel Stakes. Improbable will run next week in the Arkansas Derby. I was really happy with the race, Baffert said of Game Winner in the Rebel. He made a very gallant run at [winner] Omaha Beach [to lose by a nose]. He looks really good training here. So, Im really looking forward to this weekend. Coming back in three weeks [after the Rebel] can be a little tough but now Ill have four weeks after this [until the Kentucky Derby], so that will really help. Leading up to the Kentucky Derby, trainers generally use four weeks spacing between races. Justify won off of four, Always Dreaming and Nyquist off of five and American Pharoah off of three. Sign up for our horse racing newsletter Bafferts other horse, Roadster, was his top 2-year-old last year before a breathing issue comprised his running and he was given a long rest. He needs at least a second-place finish to make the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field. Also given a shot is Instagrand, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, after winning his first two races by a combined 20-plus lengths, but he looked flat with a third place in the Gotham Stakes in New York. The other big races on the card are the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies and the $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap. Each race will have a winner, that much is sure. The track will only win if every horse makes it back to the barn safely. We can help make travel more eco-friendly based on the choices we make the cars we rent, the hotels where we stay, the airlines we fly, even the countries we visit can make a difference. For anyone hoping to reduce the carbon consequences of travel, here are some suggestions for greener trips: Choose a green hotel The Hofgut Sternen, a hotel in the highlands of southwest Germanys Black Forest, produces all its electricity and heating with renewable sources, such as hydro, solar and wood chips, in its own power plant. Not all hotels that claim to be green are as ambitious, but to find ones that make a sincere effort, you can search at the Green Hotels Assn. and Book Different. The current measurement standard is an LEED score, although hotels (including Hofgut Sternen) can be eco-friendly and not be LEED-certified. Advertisement And yes, hanging up your towels when staying in a hotel, indicating you dont want them replaced, saves millions of gallons of hot water every year. And yes, skeptics, hotels love washing fewer towels because it saves them money too, as does eliminating those little plastic bottles of shampoo, replacing them with refillable full-sized pump bottles. Offset your flights carbon A KLM plane prepares to land at Humberto Delgado airport in Lisbon. KLM and other airlines let you buy carbon offsets. (Patricia de Melo Moreira / AFP / Getty Images) Because much of the Netherlands lies below sea level, its not surprising that KLM, its national airline, takes climate change, which leads to rising seas, seriously. It has already lowered carbon emissions-per-passenger flown by 16% since its carbon-reduction effort began, partly by purchasing more fuel-efficient planes and using sustainably sourced, renewable bio-fuels; it hopes to reach a 20% reduction by 2020. KLM passengers can make their flight carbon-neutral for a small donation, which varies depending on route about $1.60 for a trip from Amsterdam to Aberdeen, Scotland, for example which goes to sustainability efforts, such as replacing wood-burning household stoves in Africa with ones that use gas. Other airlines also offer offsets. The International Air Transport Assn., an industry trade group, reports that more than 30 member airlines allow passengers to buy offsets, including Lufthansa, Delta, JetBlue and United You can search for eco-conscious airline rankings at Alternative Airlines or consult the International Council on Clean Transportation. Try the train Where practical, though, traveling by train produces far less carbon than flying, and with high-speed rail available throughout Europe and China, its often faster than flying. Give your business to a country that cares A motu in the Cook Islands. The country wants to be carbon neutral by next year. (sorincolac / Getty Images/iStockphoto) Start your search for your next vacation at the Susantainble Top 100, a guide to which countries are making the effort to be green, and consider making travel plans there. Costa Rica recently set a goal of weaning the country from fossil fuels by 2050. The Maldives has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2020, and by the same year, the Cook Islands aims to be the first country with an electrical grid powered entirely by renewable sources. Choose an electric car Jaguars I-Pace is an all-electric crossover thats available in some locations to rent. (Jaguar) Many major companies rent hybrids, but youll need to hunt a little harder to find an electric car. In London, Avis Zipcar unit rents 325 VW e-Golfs, and Sixt offers e-cars such as the BMW i8 and i3, Tesla Model 3 and Jaguar I-Pace in various locations worldwide. Blacklane, the black car transportation provider, lets customers choose a Tesla or other electric luxury vehicle in many cities. Back across the pond, Blue Indy in Indianapolis rents e-cars (membership required); and car-sharing platforms such as Turo do as well. Little things do count The days of plastic stirrers, garnish picks, condiment packages, cups, bags, and other disposables are numbered. Celebrity Cruises and its Royal Caribbean and Azamara divisions are eliminating all plastic straws in 2019 and plan to banish all single-use plastic fleet-wide as soon as replacements can be sourced. CruiseCritic offers a rundown on lines green initiatives. Before saying bon voyage, its probably a good idea to find out about the measures to become better environmental citizens. travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Its been almost a month since torrential rains caused widespread flooding and a mountainside to collapse on the outskirts of Sierra Leones capital, Freetown, sending a blanket of mud into several communities. Life is gradually returning to normal, but residents of the devastated regions face a slog toward recovery. Were getting there, but the pace is still slow, said Ramatu Jalloh, director of advocacy and communications for Save the Children in Sierra Leone. Some 500 people were killed, more than 600 are believed missing, and almost 2,000 homes have been lost as a result of the Aug. 14 mudslide, according to humanitarian aid workers. All told, almost 6,000 people were affected by the disaster in some way, the International Organization for Migration said in its Sept. 4 situation report. In this Aug. 17 photo, volunteers handle a coffin during a mass funeral for victims of heavy flooding and mudslides in Freetown, Sierra Leone. (Manika Kamara / Associated Press) Advertisement The disaster marks another grim chapter in the recent history of the poverty-stricken West African nation that has endured more than a decade of civil war and a deadly Ebola crisis that claimed almost 4,000 lives. Experts said poor infrastructure, massive deforestation and the construction of shoddy informal settlements on eroded hillsides contributed to the death toll. While flooding is a natural disaster, the scale of the human tragedy in Freetown is, sadly, very much man-made, Makmid Kamara, Amnesty Internationals deputy director of global issues, said in a recent statement. The authorities should have learned lessons from previous similar incidents and put in place systems to prevent, or at least minimize, the consequences of these disasters. Destructive floods are a common annual occurrence in Freetown, but due to a lack of regulation and insufficient consideration for minimum standards and environmental laws, millions of Sierra Leoneans are living in dangerously vulnerable homes, the Amnesty official said. This picture shows flooded streets in Regent near Freetown, on Aug. 14, 2017. (AFP/Getty Images) A mountain of needs A massive relief effort is underway, with the primary focus on the hardest hit areas, Jalloh said. But other communities that were less affected by the mudslide but were still inundated with water, such as the densely populated slum community of Kroo Bay, were still in dire need of help, she said. Many roads in the mudslide zone remain impassable, getting food is tough, and structures many of them shanties that once provided shelter in the port city of around 1 million people are now buried in the muck-covered landscape. The government had initially decided to house displaced residents with host families whose homes remained intact, but that proved to be impractical, said Zynab Kamara, emergency response manager in Sierra Leone for the international charity ActionAid. Most people are struggling with livelihoods right now so to put more people into a family thats already crowded has its own dynamics and its implications, Kamara said. Tent camps have since been erected to temporarily house the displaced, many of whom initially sought refuge in a schools, mosques, churches and community centers, as well as with friends and family. Lack of access to potable water is great concern, aid workers said. The floods affected the water infrastructure and contaminated existing water sources, said Phebeans Oriaro Weya, Oxfams acting country director for Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization warned that residents of affected areas were particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of pre-existing infectious diseases, such as malaria, typhoid and cholera. The last major cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone was in 2012, according to WHO. The international health agency said it was working with local health authorities to distribute cholera response kits, including tools used to quickly test for the disease. On Tuesday, the agency confirmed cholera vaccines from the global stockpile were being shipped to Sierra Leone, providing half a million people with access to the life-saving preparation in the coming weeks. Weya said Oxfam was working with partners, including Save the Children, Concern Worldwide and Action Against Hunger, to provide drinking water to hundreds of those in need, including supplying bottled water and trucking water to communities. In this Aug. 19 photo, children displaced by floods and mudslides wait for food ration in Freetown, Sierra Leone. (Manika Kamara / Associated Press) A hygiene awareness campaign was launched and community volunteers recruited to spread the word about not drinking tap or well water, said Kamara of ActionAid, which has been distributing food, water, clothing and hygiene kits to those affected by the disaster. Along with the hundreds of homes lost in the sludge were peoples livelihoods their small businesses and jobs. Now they have nothing to support their families, Weya said. They cannot afford the basic necessities of life. While were focusing on the short-term necessity of keeping them alive, we also need to think about the interim, and how to help them restart their lives. The lingering trauma As the reality of the scope of the disaster sets in, so does the enduring stress of the ordeal. In general Sierra Leoneans are very strong people, but its not easy, said Kamara of ActionAid. Some of them who were affected were just barely picking up after the Ebola crisis. Even if they didnt contract the virus, every single persons livelihood got affected. So some people were barely just grappling and now this has happened. The United Nations childrens agency is providing immediate trauma counseling and therapy and psycho-social support to families and children in communities struck by the mudslide. But Jalloh, of Save the Children, said she worried that the perception that Sierra Leoneans are tough and hardy would lead to less attention being paid to providing much-needed long-term psychiatric and social services. There is this overestimation that we are resilient, Jalloh said, noting that years of persistent trauma had taken their toll, especially on the nations most vulnerable, such as children. We understand that we are strong, but we also need to understand we have a breaking point. Said Kamara: The scars of disasters such as this are long term. ann.simmons@latimes.com For more on global development news, see our Global Development Watch page, and follow me @AMSimmons1 on Twitter British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday sought to delay Brexit until June 30 to avoid a crash-out in one weeks time, but a key European Union leader suggested an even longer pause in the difficult divorce proceedings. In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, May seeks an extension until June 30 and agreed to make contingency plans to take part in European Parliament elections in late May if necessary. Tusk proposed a longer time frame. He urged the 27 remaining EU nations to offer Britain a flexible extension of up to a year to make sure the nation doesnt leave the bloc in a chaotic and costly way. Two EU officials, who requested anonymity because they werent authorized to disclose information before it was made public, said that Tusk wants a one-year flextension and hopes to get it approved at Wednesdays EU summit. Advertisement Such a move would mean that Britain needs to take part in the May 23-26 European elections, something which the British prime minister has long argued would not be in either sides interest. The elections pose a substantial stumbling block because Britain would be expected to take part, if it is still an EU member, so its people have representation in the European Parliament. Officials worry the legitimacy of European institutions could be jeopardized if the population of a member state is not involved in the process. Any extension to the deadline will need unanimous approval from the 27 remaining EU nations. French President Emmanuel Macron has thus far seemed cautious about giving Britain more time, saying the EU cannot be held hostage by Britains political deadlock over Brexit. If any EU nation refuses to back an extension, Britain will be expected to leave as scheduled on April 12. The complex maneuvering comes as Britains Parliament considers legislation designed to prevent such a no-deal departure. There are concerns that an abrupt exit without a withdrawal deal could lead to economic slowdown and a breakdown in the supply of food and medicine as border checks and tariffs are added overnight. Massive traffic jams would also be expected on highways leading to ferry ports as previously open borders were tightened with more identity and passport checks. Britains House of Lords is set to resume debate on the measure Monday. It was endorsed earlier by the lower House of Commons by just one vote. Despite the apparent support in Parliament for a new law to prevent a no-deal exit, the decision is in the EUs hands, not Britains. Britain is the first country to try to leave the EU bloc, and the formal Article 50 exit procedure has never been tested before. EU leaders agreed late last month to prolong the Brexit date from March 29 until April 12 unless May could push their mutually agreed divorce deal through Parliament. The Europeans would prefer that Britain not take part in the European Parliament elections if it is going to leave. April 12 is the last day for Britain to signal whether it will field candidates. May said in her letter that Britain is reluctantly ready to begin preparations for the European elections if no Brexit deal is reached in the interim. She said she is making these preparations even though she believes it is not in Britains interest or the EUs interest for Britain to take part in the elections because it is a departing member state. May says she accepts the EU position that if Britain has not left the 28-nation bloc by May 23 it will have a legal obligation to take part in the elections. The prime minister says she is still hopeful of reaching a compromise that could take Britain out of the EU before that time. May says it is frustrating that Britain hasnt yet resolved the situation. Her withdrawal plan, agreed to by the EU over more than two years of delicate negotiations, has been rejected by Parliament three times, leading to the current political and legal impasse. She is now seeking a compromise in a series of talks with Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his deputies with hopes of winning opposition backing for a new divorce plan. If that doesnt work, May plans a series of votes in Parliament to see if a majority-backed plan can emerge. Ideas being discussed include keeping Britain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves the bloc, as well as the possibility of a second referendum. There is fierce opposition from Conservative Party Brexit-backers to these options. Britain voted by a 52% to 48% margin in 2016 to leave the bloc. The Trump administration has revoked the U.S. visa of the International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor, who has reported that American personnel may have committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Prosecutor Fatou Bensoudas office emphasized in a statement Friday confirming the revocation that she has an independent and impartial mandate under the courts founding treaty, the Rome Statute. The Prosecutor and her office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favor, the statement said. The State Department confirmed that Bensoudas U.S. visa had been revoked and said, The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people from unjust investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said last month that Washington would revoke or deny visas to ICC staff seeking to investigate allegations of war crimes or other abuses committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan or elsewhere and that it may do the same with those who seek action against Israel. Bensoudas office said the revocation of her visa shouldnt affect her travel to the U.S. for meetings, including regular briefings at the United Nations Security Council. The prosecutor is expected to brief the Security Council next month on her investigations in Libya. After the U.S. confrontation with the global tribunal, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: We expect the United States to live up to the agreement to allow for the travel of ICC staff members to do their work here at the United Nations. The U.S. has never been a member of the ICC, a court of last resort that prosecutes grave crimes only when other nations are unwilling or unable to bring suspects to justice. The ICC prosecutor has a pending request to look into possible war crimes in Afghanistan that may involve Americans. The Palestinians have asked the court to bring cases against Israel. Only Africans have been tried at the court for the worst crimes on Earth Bensouda asked in 2017 to open an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Afghan national security forces, the Taliban and Haqqani network militants, as well as U.S. forces and intelligence officials in Afghanistan since May 2003. The request says theres information that members of the U.S. military and intelligence agencies committed acts of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, rape and sexual violence against conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, principally in the 2003-2004 period. In 2000, the Clinton administration signed the Rome Statute that created the Hague-based court. However, President Clinton had reservations about the scope of the courts jurisdiction and never submitted it for ratification to the Senate. The George W. Bush administration then passed the American Servicemembers Protection Act, which sought to shield U.S. troops from potential prosecution by the ICC. In 2002, John Bolton, a Bush aide at the time who is now the White House national security advisor, traveled to New York to ceremonially unsign the Rome Statute at the United Nations. In a speech to the American Society of International Law late last month, ICC President Chile Eboe-Osuji paid tribute to American involvement in previous international courts, from the post-World War II trials of Nazis in Nuremberg to U.N. tribunals on the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He urged Washington to support the ICC, whose values and objectives are entirely consistent with the best instincts of America and her values. Hands in his pockets on a cool, windy Tehran night, Behnam Hedayat was engaged in a seemingly benign activity, something tens of millions of people do every day: walking a dog. In this case it was his terrier Shika, who he says is as dear as my child. But under a ban announced this week by hard-line authorities, walking a dog in public or transporting it by car could put the authorities on Hedayats tail. The police have many other things to deal with like muggers, burglars and car robbers, he said. If the police hassle my dog, I will resist and fight for my dog with the police. Advertisement Despite their rising popularity among Iranians, the pet seen in the West as mans best friend is perceived by religious hard-liners here as an example of corrupt Western culture. Owning a dog should be forbidden, they say, because Islamic teachings say that dogs are najes or untouchable because they are dirty. In announcing the public prohibition, Tehran Police Chief Hossein Rahimi claimed Tuesday that dogs cause fear and anxiety in public spaces. Police have received permission from the judiciary branch to crack down on people walking dogs in Tehran, Rahimi told the Young Journalists Club news site, a mouthpiece for Irans political establishment. Carrying dogs in cars is also banned and if a dog is seen inside the car, police will confront the owner of the dog. Nezakat Alouloj was walking her small terrier in a park west of Tehran shortly after learning of the ban and was among those who reacted with fury about the possibility of becoming an outlaw for escorting a pooch in public. He is toilet trained and is my soulmate, Alouloj said of her tiny companion. The 60-year-old former Turkish-language radio host predicted that authorities wont succeed in enforcing a ban because dog ownership is becoming increasingly popular in the capital of the Islamic Republic. More pet dogs are being adopted by families, she said. Authorities will soon forget the ban. Homa Arderoudi, 65, owns a German shepherd named Sita. She also criticized the announcement and said that authorities should be adapting themselves to the changing tastes and lifestyles of Iranians. Arderoudi plans to ignore authorities because her dog is more than a pet. Its her one and only companion. I have two grown-up sons, one in asylum in Sweden and one seeking asylum and now based in Istanbul. I have nobody except my dog, she said. The government has lot of more important problems to deal with. Shafagh Divanpour, 33, walks three dogs at a park in Tehran on a recent evening. The professional dog walker has lost business since Iranian authorities announced a ban on dogs in public spaces. (Ramin Mostaghim) Several weeks before the ban was announced, Shafagh Divanpour gripped the leash of three dogs Charlie, Rouko and Bonti as they bolted ahead. The two cocker spaniels and cavalier mix were a surprising sight for people who caught a glimpse of them walking in the park. Stunned pedestrians stopped Divanpour to ask him what he was doing with three dogs. The 33-year-old took advantage of his newfound popularity to encourage onlookers to pet the pooches. Please be responsible parents, he told them. If you cannot afford to be long-term friends with your dog, dont adopt. Dogs are sensitive and faithful, and if you abandon them they suffer. Financially strapped and unemployed, Divanpour is one of a growing number of young professionals turning toward a new industry in Tehran thats raising eyebrows: dog walking. Dogs, Deepak Chopra, Instagram weddings and other signs of change among Irans middle class For Tehrans professional dog walkers, the gig represents both a passion and a source of income. The unemployment rate among university graduates in Iran is more than 35%, according to Irans Labor and Welfare Ministry. But Divanpour said that on the days he works 12 hours, he earns nearly $100. Still, fears of a crackdown already are affecting dog walkers such as Divanpour. Some dog owners, worried about police seizing their beloved canines, are canceling service. My dog walking assignment has been reduced to half since the announcement was made, Divanpour said Wednesday. Divanpour became a dog walker after he saw an ad on Petchi, a website dedicated to connecting dog owners with trained dog walkers. Dog ownership has been a contentious topic in the decades after Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since then, Iranian authorities have confiscated dogs and lawmakers have threatened to punish with 74 lashes those owners who walk their dog in public. Yet to the dismay of conservatives, Iranians from the middle and upper class have been increasingly embracing dogs as loyal companions in recent years. For instance, in 2017, animal activists called for legislation to punish animal cruelty. According to Petchi, there are around 1.2 million pet dogs across Iran and about 350,000 of them are in Tehran. Divanpour remains hopeful that the cultural shift toward owning a dog will prevail. I believe this issue will be forgotten, he said. Dog owners must be brave and assert their own rights and their animals rights. Times staff writer Etehad reported from Los Angeles and special correspondent Mostaghim from Tehran. In Israeli politics, Benjamin Netanyahu has long been known as the ultimate survivor. But now, a leader who has so often seemed invincible faces grave legal and electoral peril. With crucial parliamentary elections set for Tuesday, the smooth-talking, American-educated prime minister faces a vote that is widely seen as a referendum on him making controversial moves. On Saturday he pledged to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected, a dramatic policy shift apparently aimed at rallying his nationalist base. If the election keeps him in power, Netanyahu, 69, will hit a political milestone later this year, becoming Israels longest-serving prime minister, a distinction held until now by founding father David Ben Gurion. But with a criminal indictment on corruption charges hanging over his head, that historic marker might carry a very large asterisk. A polarizing, paradoxical figure, Netanyahu is the sort of politician whos sometimes down but never out at least not for long. Hes a onetime elite commando in a state whose military might is still central to its identity. Hes admired by many as a canny political operative, but unreservedly trusted by few. Advertisement He has long been willing to form alliances across the political spectrum to maintain power. That fluidity considered raw opportunism by some is once again at play in Tuesdays elections, analysts say. It is true that Netanyahu changes with every term in office, said Reuven Hazan, a political science professor at Hebrew University. He is not the same Netanyahu. On Thursday, five days before facing voters, the Israeli leader was on what amounted to a campaign stop in Moscow, where he thanked Putin personally for Russian troops assistance with the repatriation of the remains of an Israeli soldier, Zachary Baumel, killed almost 37 years ago in the first of Israels two wars with Lebanon. Such homecomings of remains are rare, and tend to resonate very strongly with the Israeli public. It was in some ways a rerun of last month, when Netanyahu, reprising a familiar role, played the grateful beneficiary of a political gift from President Trump this time, the White House declaring that the United States would reverse decades of policy and recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau seized from Syria in 1967. Although Netanyahus rightist Likud party has long been the countrys dominant political force, its main rival the new centrist Blue and White party, spearheaded by former military chief Benny Gantz has also been polling strongly throughout the campaign. The final preelection polls, released Friday, showed Blue and White with a slight lead over Likud, but also suggested that a bloc of right-wing parties would be better positioned than the centrists to form Israels next government. Experts urged caution. The polls are simply not right, said Hebrew Universitys Hazan. The only thing we know is that in every Israeli election, we get a surprise. Camil Fuchs, the veteran pollster for the Haaretz newspaper, said this was the most difficult election to predict since 1996, when Netanyahu first came to power. He served for three years, then returned to office in the spring of 2009 and has held the job ever since, surviving four elections. Israeli politics are rarely a pretty sight, but this campaign has been distinctive for its divisive tone. In the final days before the vote, a Likud video highlighted a shaky interview performance by Gantz, sarcastically captioning wild-eyed shots of him as completely stable. That was reminiscent of an election-day video in 2015, when Netanyahu warned of Israeli Arab voters turning out in droves to support his rivals. Gantz, in turn, has hammered Netanyahu as fatally tainted by the graft scandals for which he faces imminent indictment. The whiff of scandal has for years been a constant in Netanyahus public life, but only now is he facing what appears to be genuine legal peril. In February, Atty. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit announced that Netanyahu would be indicted on corruption charges pending a July hearing in which he will be given a final opportunity to present any exculpatory evidence. The prime minister stands accused of improperly accepting expensive gifts for political favors, ordering government action aimed at hurting one newspaper in exchange for favorable coverage from one of its competitors, and helping his friend get regulatory concessions for his telecommunications company. But unless he is convicted, Netanyahu could remain in office. No law prevents him from serving while under indictment or on trial, but Israel has never faced such a situation, and he would almost certainly face legal challenges over his fitness to serve. In language familiar to American political watchers, he has proclaimed innocence and denounced the legal steps against him as a witch hunt. How ordinary people feel about Netanyahu who is widely known by his nickname, Bibi has overshadowed debate of actual policy issues such national security, growing income inequality and whether Arab Israelis have the same rights as Jewish ones. Netanyahu is doing terrible things to this country, said Rachel Laskar Feldman, who teaches French at Hebrew University. For the past 10 years, I feel that my mission has been my students, Arab students, Jewish students, all my students, and through language we all open our hearts to each other. Hes a wrecking ball. Asher Turgeman shows a picture of himself with Blue and White party candidate Benny Gantz in their youth. (Noga Tarnopolsky / For The Times) Asher Turgeman, 60, has known Gantz since they attended boarding school together and still keeps his private cellphone number handy. But he still planned to vote for Netanyahu. Look at what he has done for Israel, said Turgeman, who drives a taxi. Look at the economy, diplomacy, look at the heights hes brought us to. He called the prime minister the most persecuted leader in human history. The vote is something of a free-for-all, with more than 6.3 million voters eligible to cast ballots for more than 40 parties, an eclectic mix of established blocs and fringe movements. The number of representatives each party sends to the 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, depends on its total share of the vote. The field is expected to be drastically winnowed parties with less than 3.25% of the vote get no seats but no one party is expected to garner an outright majority, meaning the bigger parties have to ally themselves with smaller ones in order to form a coalition. With Likud holding 30 seats, Netanyahu currently leads through such an arrangement. Israeli analysts believe that if granted a winning hand at the polls, Netanyahu will attempt to establish a new coalition with politically weak extremist parties who will help pass a law granting him immunity from prosecution as long as he remains prime minister. In February, Netanyahu brokered a deal between three extreme right-wing parties that include candidates advocating Jewish supremacy. But if he tries to bring them into any new government, he could face a rebellion in the Likud ranks. I am afraid well awaken Wednesday morning with Bibi in place, with a very, very, very, very right-wing government, said Christoph Schmidt, a philosophy professor at Hebrew University. Netanyahus political persona has traditionally centered on security; he likes referring to the Mideast a tough neighborhood. That translates into a consistently hard line toward the Palestinians that has only hardened in the run-up to this vote. Throughout the campaign, he has warned Israelis of the Arabs, including a constant jingle that featured the line Its Bibi or Tibi, a reference to veteran legislator Ahmad Tibi, a leader of the Arab Movement for Change party. Israeli Arabs make up a fifth of the population. I dont take it personally, Tibi said. It is his way of dividing between an Arab and Jew and its another awful, racist statement meaning that in his eyes we are not only second-class citizens but second-class voters. Feverish media coverage in Israel depicts these elections as deeply consequential. But Schmidt, the philosophy professor, said a similar sense of urgency has hovered over almost all Israeli polling. Every time, he said, we think that everything is at stake. Special correspondent Tarnopolsky reported from Jerusalem and staff writer King from Washington. The National Park Service is seeking comments on a proposed reservation system for 11 picnic shelters and 34 campsites at Indiana Dunes National Park that will allow visitors to plan their camping trips and picnics up to six months in advance. Currently, all picnic shelters in the park and all campsites at Dunewood Campground are on a first-come, first-served basis. Under this proposed system, half of the campsites will be reservable and half on a first-come basis. All campsites will remain $25 per night. However, there is a proposed fee for reserving picnic shelters. Comments can be sent electronically to INDU_Communications@nps.gov or by writing to the Superintendent at 1100 N. Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304. In addition, comments and questions will be taken by park staff at an Open House from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, 1215 N. State Highway 49, Porter. All comments must be received by April 30. Militias in western Libya clashed with a rival military leader who has declared an offensive to seize Tripoli, the capital of the oil-rich nation, raising fears of another civil war. The violence came as the United Nations chief, who had come to the country in an attempt to avoid an expanded conflict, ended his visit with a heavy heart and deep concern. Pro-government militias battling rival army commander Khalifa Haftars forces captured 100 of his soldiers and waged an airstrike on one of his positions, according to the combatants. Haftar, who runs the self-styled Libya National Army based in the countrys east, brought his troops closer to Tripoli, which is controlled by the United Nations-backed Presidential Council and Government of National Accord and supporting militias. Advertisement A showdown between Haftars army and the militias could plunge Libya into another spasm of violence, possibly the worst since the 2011 civil war that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Kadafi. It would also put at risk U.N.-brokered peace talks later this month between rivals aimed at drawing a road map for new elections. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting Friday afternoon at Britains request to discuss the unfolding developments. Haftars troops on Thursday captured the town of Gharyan, 30 miles south of Tripoli, without a fight, putting them closer to the militias than ever before. Haftar then ordered his forces to march on the capital, saying in an audio recording posted online: We are coming, Tripoli. We are coming. He also urged his forces to enter the city peacefully and only raise their weapons in the face of those who seek injustice and prefer confrontation and fighting. 7 years after it was liberated, the only thing certain in Libya is the uncertainty But militias from the western cities of Zawiya and Misurata said they had mobilized to confront Haftar. A group of allied militias called the Joint Tripoli Protection Force based in the area around Tripoli announced they would also deploy to repel Haftars offensive. In the capital, council member Mohammed Ammari spoke from the city center saying that Libya will not become a hostage in the hands of a military dictator once again. There were conflicting reports during the day as where exactly and how much Haftars fighters were advancing. The renewed fighting came a day after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived on a rare visit to Libya. On Friday, Guterres went to the eastern region, the seat of a rival administration and parliament aligned with Haftar. I am leaving Libya with a heavy heart and deep concern, Guterres told reporters at the airport shortly after meeting with Haftar. I still hope, if possible, to avoid armed confrontation around Tripoli, he said. The United Nations remains available to facilitate any political solution. Since Kadafis ouster, Libya has been split between rival governments in the east and the west and an array of militias fighting over power and oil fields. Haftar has seized much of southern Libya without fighting. A New Zealand judge on Friday ordered that the man accused of killing 50 people at two Christchurch mosques undergo two mental health assessments to determine if hes fit to stand trial. High Court Judge Cameron Mander made the order during a hearing in which 28-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared via video link from a small room at the maximum-security Paremoremo prison in Auckland. Mander said nothing should be read into his order for the mental health assessments, as it was a normal step in such a case. Lawyers said it could take two or three months to complete. The judge said Tarrant was charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 counts of attempted murder. Police initially filed a single, representative murder charge before filing the additional charges this week. Advertisement Tarrant was wearing handcuffs and a gray sweater in the video feed projected on a large screen inside the Christchurch courtroom, which was packed with family members and victims of the shooting, some in wheelchairs and hospital gowns and still recovering from gunshot wounds. Tarrant had stubble and close-cropped hair. He showed no emotion during the hearing. At times he looked around the room or cocked his head, seemingly to better hear what was being said. The judge explained that from his seat in the prison room, Tarrant could see the judge and lawyers but not those in the public gallery. Tarrant spoke only once to confirm to the judge he was seated, although his voice didnt come through because the sound was muted. It wasnt immediately clear if his link had been deliberately or inadvertently muted. The courtroom audience included more than two dozen journalists and about 60 members of the public. A court registrar greeted people in Arabic and English as the hearing got underway. Some of those watching became emotional and wept. In the March 15 attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and one more person died later. The day after the attacks, Tarrant dismissed his court-appointed lawyer, saying he wanted to represent himself. But he has now hired two Auckland lawyers to represent him. His next hearing was scheduled for June 14, and the findings of his mental health evaluations will determine whether he will enter a plea then. MORE: A father and son are buried as New Zealand mosque funerals begin Outside the courtroom, Yama Nabi, whose father died in the attacks, said he felt helpless watching. We just have to sit in the court and listen, Nabi said. What can we do? We cant do nothing. Just leave it to the justice of New Zealand and the prime minister. Tofazzal Alam, 25, said he was worshipping at the Linwood mosque when the gunman attacked. He felt it was important to attend the hearing because so many of his friends were killed. Alam said he felt upset seeing Tarrant. It seems he dont care what has been done. He has no emotion. He looks all right, Alam said. I feel sorry. Sorry for myself. Sorry for my friends who have been killed. And for him. Saudi Arabia detained eight people, including two dual U.S.-Saudi citizens, in a new round of arrests in the kingdom targeting individuals supportive of womens rights and those with ties to jailed activists, a person with knowledge of the apprehensions said Friday. It marks the first sweep of arrests to target individuals perceived as critics of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. The arrests come despite global outcry over Khashoggis grisly killing by Saudi agents in an operation directed by former top aides to the crown prince. The arrested individuals, nearly all of whom were detained Thursday, are not seen as front-line activists. They are writers and advocates who quietly supported greater social reforms and most had ties to the group of womens rights activists currently on trial. Those detained include a pregnant woman and seven men, among them two U.S.-Saudi nationals: Badr Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah Haidar, whose mother is prominent womens rights activist Aziza Yousef, who was recently temporarily released from prison. Advertisement Haidar has a family home in Vienna, Va., and lives with his wife and child in Saudi Arabia. A third U.S.-Saudi national, Walid Fitaihi, remains imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since late 2017, when the crown prince detained more than 100 businessmen, princes and officials in a purported anti-corruption sweep. Fitaihi, whose family alleges that hes been tortured in prison, worked as a physician in the Boston area before he returned in 2006 to his native Saudi Arabia, where he helped found a hospital built by his family. Nearly all of those detained Thursday were taken from their homes in the capital, Riyadh. One individual was arrested in the eastern city of Dammam, according to the person with knowledge of the arrests, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The individuals were not active politically on Twitter and were not widely quoted in foreign media. The group loosely had ties to one another, some as friends and others through intellectual circles, including with Saudi activists living abroad. Those arrested include: Khadijah Harbi, a feminist writer who is pregnant; her husband Thumar Marzouqi, also a writer; Mohammed Sadiq and Abdullah Dehailan, both writers; and Fahad Abalkhail, an activist who supported the right of women to drive. Anas Mazroui, a lecturer at King Saud university, was believed to have been detained last month. He was not known to be actively involved in human rights work and appears to have been detained shortly after he merely mentioned the names of some of the detained womens rights activists during a panel discussion about human rights at a book fair in Saudi Arabia. The person with knowledge of their arrests said the group is among 13 people placed under travel bans since February. Meanwhile, the siblings of Loujain Hathloul, a female activist detained since May, stated on Twitter this week that they are being pressured to remain silent about her arrest and her claims of torture. The siblings live outside Saudi Arabia, but their father, who resides in Saudi Arabia, was previously briefly detained after tweeting about his daughters imprisonment. Hathloul and Aziza Yousef are among nearly a dozen women on trial for charges related to their activism, which included campaigning for the right to drive before the ban was lifted last year and calling for an end to guardianship laws that give men final say over a womans right to marry or travel abroad. Yousef, a grandmother and former university professor, was released from prison last week along with two other women. Hathloul and at least 10 other female activists remain imprisoned. The women some of whom have been held in solitary confinement for months have told the court they were abused during interrogations, including being waterboarded, caned, electrocuted, sexually assaulted and threatened with rape and death. A series of escalating video challenges between the two remaining candidates in Ukraines presidential election led Friday to the two men one a comic and political neophyte, the other the incumbent having doctors draw blood from their arms as cameras rolled. Less than a week into the second round of campaigning for the leadership of this post-Soviet nation, the Ukrainian election has come to resemble a reality show. On Friday morning, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his opponent, Volodymyr Zelensky, gave urine, blood and hair samples for an alcohol and drug test, part of a challenge from Zelensky. The challenger put the idea to Poroshenko in a slickly produced video challenging the incumbent to a debate before April 21, when voters go back to the polls to determine who will lead this nation of 43 million for the next five years. Advertisement The 41-year-old Zelensky is well-known for a TV sitcom in which he stars as a schoolteacher who becomes president and takes on the political elite. The actor won 30% of the vote in the first round on Sunday, beating out 38 other candidates. Poroshenko, 53, Ukraines president since 2014, received 16% of the vote. Zelenskys supporters said they are looking for a new face in Ukrainian politics to weed out the oligarchs and entrenched corruption that have dominated the nations political elite for decades. Poroshenko, whose campaign highlights his role as commander in chief against Moscow-backed separatists in the countrys war in the east, has criticized the comedian for lacking a clear policy agenda and political experience. Less than a week into the second round of campaigning, the Ukrainian election has come to resemble a reality show, with parrying video challenges from each side. It culminated Friday with the very public drug tests. Drenched in euphoria after the surprise upset on election night, Zelensky told reporters at his campaign headquarters Sunday that he was ready to debate the president. On Wednesday, Zelenskys campaign followed up with a video challenging Poroshenko to a debate. The video showed the political newcomer confidently walking into the center of Kievs Olympic stadium, telling the president he would face him not as the clown Poroshenko has labeled him, but as a candidate for the presidency of Ukraine. Im not you in 2014, Zelensky said, taking a stab at Poroshenkos refusal then to debate Yulia Tymoshenko, when Ukraine held snap elections after the Maidan square mass protest movement led to the ouster of Kremlin-friendly President Viktor Yanukovich. Tymoshenko ran again this year, coming in third behind Poroshenko with 13% of the vote. Zelenskys challenge had list of conditions: The debate should be held at the 70,000-seat Olympic stadium in central Kiev, not on the national public broadcaster. All Ukrainian television networks and journalists must be allowed to cover the debate, Zelensky said. In Ukraine, which channel airs the debate holds significance. Oligarchs own most of Ukraines top television networks, and their owners frequently use the popular medium to push their own political agendas. Poroshenko owns one of the countrys biggest networks, Channel 5. Zelenskys popular television show, Servant of the People, and Kvartal 95, his comedy troupe, air on 1+1 Channel, which is owned by Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky. The big loser in Ukraines presidential election? Vladimir Putin Critics and skeptics of Zelenskys presidential run have accused the comic of being a puppet of Kolomoysky, who fell out of favor with Poroshenko. But Zelenskys most unusual demand was for each candidate to undergo a medical examination and drug and alcohol test. The country needs a healthy president, Zelensky said. Zelensky gave his opponent 24 hours to respond. Poroshenko came back even sooner with his own video, shot in front of the presidential administration building, saying hed happily debate his challenger. This is no joke, Poroshenko said. Then, turning to the camera to address Zelensky by his formal name and patronymic, he said: Ill be waiting for you, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych. , . . , . , . pic.twitter.com/O0e9AInEO5 (@poroshenko) April 4, 2019 The comedian came back the next day with another video, this time suggesting Tymoshenko should moderate the debate. Poroshenko said that was taking things too far. The Debate is not a show, Poroshenko tweeted. Zelenskys suggestion that Tymoshenko act as debate moderator was disrespectful of [Ukraines] politics and its voters, he wrote. It really is fantastic theater, said Balazs Jarabik, a nonresident scholar with the Carnegie Endowment, a think tank. From Zelenskys point of view, the show must go on. And he needs to keep the voters motivated, particularly young voters. But now that Poroshenko has accepted the challenge, Zelensky must face the reality and hype of the debate he sought. Zelenskys upset win on Sunday was a referendum on Poroshenkos five years as president and Ukraines political elite, Jarabik said. Poroshenkos quick acceptance of the debate challenge could now easily be spun into a referendum on Zelenskys policy incompetence, he said. On Friday, Poroshenko took his drug test at Olympic stadium. More than 100 reporters showed up at the arena. Im here, Poroshenko said into cameras after his test, addressing Zelensky. You are not. Zelensky, meanwhile, was at a private Kiev clinic. He said he didnt trust the state labs that work with the doctors at the Olympic stadium. His doctors visit was streamed live on his campaigns social media accounts. Poroshenkos express lab results came back clean. So, too, did Zelenskys test, the results of which he posted on his campaigns Instagram account. The debate is scheduled tentatively for April 19, two days before the polls open. sabra.ayres@latimes.com Twitter: @sabraayres Ayres is a special correspondent. Snyders defense attorneys filed a request for a new trial and made a renewed push for a judge to acquit the former mayor of bribery and obstructing the IRS. The defense argued that by not calling two men who paid Snyder $13,000 for what Snyder said was consulting services, after a deal to sell Portage garbage trucks, the jury did not get to hear a full telling of the events, according to court documents. Editor's note: Comrade Peter Esele, a former president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, takes a look at the recent armed robbery incident in Dubai allegedly carried out by five Nigerians and how its effects on the rest of the people. Esele, in this piece, asks many questions as he analyses the response of Abike Dabiri, a presidential aide, to the incident. The recent report of five Nigerians arrested for armed robbery in Dubai and the response by the senior special assistant on foreign affairs and diaspora to the president has brought upon me the above caption. Indeed robbery and drug trafficking are despicable acts that deserve unequivocal condemnation. Time and time again we often wonder why people would persevere with perpetrating crimes abroad knowing the ultimate price of jail terms and even death in some cases. However, making haste to offer banal official statements ridden with diplomatic cliches and moral sentiments do not offer much by way of solutions. We know this does not help because the problem persists. Condemnation tempered with critical thinking that raises key questions for a productive national conversation might be the way to go. Between the presidential statement and the ethnic debate that polarised Nigerians on social media, where are the deeper questions we should be asking? How many countries disparage their citizens the way we do here? Let us flip the coin for a second. If five foreign nationals were caught in a robbery scandal in Nigeria, it is the laxity of our security agencies and judiciary that will frame the debate. The errant foreign citizens will be condemned by their governments in a roundabout, convoluted language that still preserves the dignity of what it means to be an American or British citizen. The denials and all out condemnations are, of course, reserved for dual-nationals quickly rejected. Mrs. Abike Dabiri- Erewa the presidents aide, should have known that her primary responsibility is to defend and support Nigeria and Nigerians in foreign countries come what may. Rebuke with diplomacy. That is the art of her office. Therefore, initiate a consular visit to these Nigerians to ensure their rights are protected. Investigate the broader context. Did the Dubai five enter the UAE with weapons from Nigeria? If no, how were the arms procured? How easy is it to buy weapons there? Were these Nigerians contracted by locals to carry out this raid? Could it be another attempt to humiliate Nigerians? On the other hand, could there be an emerging ring of Nigerian gangs resident in the UAE making it easy for those coming to travel light? This could open up deeper issues that might lead us to understanding what is actually going on beyond all Nigerians should be good ambassadors abroad. Where do such cliches leave us? Does it tell us how fair and equitable the UAE justice system is? How many Nigerians have been murdered in the past in the UAE? Was justice served? We must never forget this Nigerians are innocent until the court of law says no. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa herself has in the past admitted to the shoddy treatment and possible innocence of some Nigerians caught up in alleged heinous crimes abroad. It is the responsibility of our government to stand by any Nigerian anywhere as it is done in other climes. Recently a British national was accused of spying abroad. His government fought tooth and nail to get him home while also carrying out their own investigations and vigorous diplomatic engagements on his behalf. The point is, ride or die, when one too many nationals start falling through the loop, the value of what it means to be a British citizen will be diminished abroad both for the innocent and guilty. After all, if their government does not value them, why should any other? I am not justifying crimes. I am simply making the point that the Nigerian government should stand for its people abroad and conduct a critical analysis of the situation. They should act in accordance with laid down processes and rule of law. When you name, shame and humiliate the so-called guilty, you make it harder for others, even the innocent to be respected and treated with dignity abroad. The sad part is that as with everything Nigeria, the 'D5 saga' has been buried under ethnic debates in the media, particularly social media platforms. There is a bigger picture here we should be looking at and that is how it affects us all. What can be done to mitigate such incidents and equally ensure no Nigerian is maltreated anywhere in world? How do we also stop those with criminal intents from this perennial crises of national image defamation regardless of their tribe and creed? I am neither Igbo nor Yoruba. I am Nigerian and I care what happens to us all and this is why I have decided to cry rather than laugh at the fallout from this saga. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Twitter. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Unemployed graduates are too many in my ghetto | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng The major headlines in mainstream newspapers, today, Friday, April 5 are focused on Nigerias rising debt profile; the NJCs recommendation on acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, and a report showing why many Nigerians may die of diet-related diseases. Punch kicks off the review, reporting that as of December 31, 2018, Nigerians total debt profile now stands at N24.387tn; swelling by 12.25 percent from N21.725tn in 2017. The Debt Management Office (DMO) said the debt rose by N2.66tn from December 31, 2017, to December 31, 2018. The countrys public debt rose from N21.73tn in 2017 to N24.39tn within the one year period, statistics provided by DMO in Abuja showed on Thursday, April 4. According to the DMO, the year-on-year growth of public debt show a 12.25 percent within the one year period. The director general of the agency, Patience Obiha, while speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, said the funds were borrowed to fund projects, to finance budget deficit and to refinance maturing obligations. Front page of Punch, Friday, April 5 Source: UGC READ ALSO: 9-year-old boy wins national mathematics competition Mirroring the previous publication, Vanguard reports that in 2018, the nations total debt stock escalated to N24.387 trillion ($79. 437 billion), about N2.7 trillion or 9.1 percent higher than the N21.725 trillion recorded at end of 2017. The disclosure was made by the director general of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Patience Oniha, during a press briefing on Thursday. The publication notes that the huge addition was perhaps recorded in the fourth quarter of 2018 which came with N1.96 trillion or 8.03 percent increase against the N22.428 trillion recorded at end of September 2018. Oniha said that domestic debt accounted for 68.18 percent of the figure which consisted of debts owed by both the federal and state governments. Front page of Vanguard, Friday, April 5 Source: UGC Still on the subject, ThisDay reports that the Debt Management Office revealed that Nigerias aggregate public debt grew 12.25 percent or N2.66 trillion year-on-year as at December 31, 2018, totaling N24.387 trillion ($79.437 billion), compared to N21.7 trillion posted over the same period in 2017. The publication reports that a breakdown of the debts showed that external debt stood at N7.759.23 trillion ($22bn), while domestic component stood at N16.627.84 trillion ($56bn). Briefing journalists in Abuja, the DMOs DG, Patience Oniha, said the debt figure comprised those owed by federal, states and Federal Capital Territory administrations. She disclosed that the share of domestic debt dropped to 68.18 percent from 73.36 percent as at December 31, 2017 thereby achieving a mix of 68.18 percent and 31.82 percent in the debt stock. Front page of ThisDay, Friday, April 5 Source: UGC On to a different issue, The Nation reports that the coast seems clear for Justice Tanko Muhammad, acting chief justice of Nigeria, to become substantive CJN following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC). According to the publication, President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to accept the recommendation from the NJC that Justice Muhammad should be CJN. The president is, however, weighing if to accept the councils recommendation on Justice Walter Onnoghen, the suspended chief justice of Nigeria. Buhari is said to be seeking legal opinions on the NJC s decision and reportedly met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the matter before flying out to Jordan on Thursday. Front page of The Nation, Friday, April 5 Source: UGC PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Ending the review, The Guardian reports that more Nigerians may die of diet-related disease. The publication notes that a study published in The Lancet on Thursday by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimates that one in five deaths globally equivalent to 11 million deaths are associated with poor diet, and that diet contributes to a range of chronic diseases in people around the world. Nigeria ranks 42nd out of 195 countries with the highest rate of diet-related deaths, with low intake of whole grains being the leading dietary risk factor for mortality and disease in Nigeria, United States (US), India, Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, Germany, Iran, and Turkey. The study tracked trends in the consumption of 15 dietary factors from 1990 to 2017 in 195 countries. Front page of The Guardian, Friday, April 5 Source: UGC NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! What is working well and what needs improvement in Nigeria? - on Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng - The Chief of Defence Staff said deployment of the military during 2019 general elections was constitutional - According to Olonisakin, if the military was not deployed during the elections, the security situation of the country would have been worsened - According to the defence chief, the deployment helped in preventing Nigeria from being thrown into war General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), on Thursday, April 4, disclosed that if the military was not deployed during the 2019 general elections, the security situation of the country would have been jeopardised. Olanisakin who made this known in Abuja during the orientation programme for senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect, said the deployment of the army during the election was constitutional, The Nation reports. According to him, the success of the electoral process during the just concluded general elections was almost hampered by the security in some parts of the country. He said security agencies manned crises prone areas to ensure that the electorate were secured enough to carry out their civic duties of electing candidates of their choices. READ ALSO: Appeal Court sacks Gombe PDP lawmaker-elect On the legality of military deployment during elections, he said: "There have been various arguments by different positions of political parties and other stakeholders of the legality and otherwise of the military in support of the civic authority in the election process. A critical area of support that was provided, and perhaps, not very visible to the public, is the deployment of military logistics capabilities, especially naval and air access to support the movement of materials across the country. I need to reiterate that this deployment is in line with constitutional role of the armed forces of Nigeria as earlier stated. Even in the last general election 2019, the security situation in the country during the election process is better imagined if the military had not been deployed to perform their secondary responsibility thus the effect of security on governance is an important aspect that lawmakers, military personnel and the civil public need to understand in other to make the right decisions." PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The defence chief said the armed forces must be funded outside the ritual budgetary allocation, adding if the military must do what it ought to do, it must be funded appropriately." He said the major challenge of the capacity of the armed forces of Nigeria is the limited budgetary allocations to meet its needs. I have often maintained that well-trained and well equipped and adequately motivated armed forces of Nigeria cannot be funded through budgetary allocation alone. Accordingly, the Defence Headquarters had proposed that we need to consider alternative funding options for the armed forces of Nigeria in addition to the budgetary allocation," he added. Olanisakin said the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to count on the support of the National Assembly to enact appropriate legislations that will support capability development of the military, security sector reform, appropriate funding and other initiative. He said this will enable the armed forces support national security and good governance. Recall that Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Army on Saturday, March 2, said its activities in the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly polls were within the ambit of the law and rules of engagement. Reacting to allegations of partisanship, coercion and shooting of voters in some areas across the country during the elections, it said that soldiers deployed on election duty were professional and proactive in their conduct. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng Same great journalism, upgraded for better service! Frustrated Nigerian man says 'nobody cares about you' | Legit TV: Source: Legit.ng A 21-year-old Zambian pilot named Kalenga Kamwendo is the latest internet sensation. Many social media users have come to fall in love and admire the hardworking young man who is actively chasing his dreams. Success stories are often encouraging and that is why the internet has come to love the pilot, Kamwendo, who at 21 has clocked in 1,000 hours of fly time and has earned the title of the youngest pilot in Zambia. How is that for a record? Not only is Kalenga a commercial pilot, he is insanely handsome and is also a recording artiste. There is obviously no limit to the hard work and dedication that the young pilot pours into his passion. Photos of him were shared on social media and as you must have guessed, they instantly went viral with most people praising the handsome pilot for being a source inspiration on social media. READ ALSO: World's richest man Jeff Bezos agrees to record-breaking divorce of N12.5tr Here are photos below: READ ALSO: Power Couples Who Are Still Adored By The Public Decades After PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Meanwhile, William Chandler, a senior South African Airways pilot, has reportedly been forced to step down. This comes after the South African Airways discovered the pilot had been operating for 20 years with a forged license. The discovery was made after an incident over Swiss air space had caused an investigation into the matter. 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 Nigerian Air Force wings 2 Liberian and 12 Nigerian pilots in Abuja on Legit TV Source: Legit One of South Bethlehems newest luxury apartment buildings is about to get a high-end restaurant and wine and bottle shop. The developer behind Five10 Flats revealed it has locked in a tenant for another of its storefronts during the Bethlehem Revitalization and Improvement Authoritys meeting Thursday afternoon. The building at 528 E. Third St. sits in the citys CRIZ zone, which allows certain future state and local tax revenues -- including sales and liquor -- created by CRIZ projects to pay off construction loans. Peron Developments Rob de Beer said he wished he could name who the restaurant tenant will be, but it is still subject to a confidentiality agreement. The tenant is only listed as Shelby Brothers 2 LLC in paperwork. The five-story building on East Third Street has 95 one and two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors and is anchored by a Starbucks and El Jefe Mexican Restaurant and Grill. The 3,100-square-foot restaurant will sit next to El Jefe at 514 E. Third St. and then the 800-square-foot high-end wine and bottle carry-out shop will be next to the restaurant, de Beer said. The bottle shop plans to carry products not found in your typical six-pack shop and it will offer a new amenity to the neighborhood and the building, he said. The restaurant and shop are expected to employ about 30 people and generate roughly $120,000 in annual CRIZ increment. This restaurant leaves two retail spaces left to lease in Five10Flats, including the marquee space at the corner of the building closest to Social Still, Bethlehems first completed CRIZ project, de Beer said. Five10Flats is approaching 80 percent occupancy and rents are exceeding expectations, he said. Starbucks and El Jefe are doing a robust business, de Beer said. These successes are allowing Peron to take its time securing the right tenants for the remaining vacant storefronts, he said. Peron sees all of this as continued validation that the Southside is a cool place to live and be, de Beer said. On Thursday, BethWorks Greenway A, LP, a Peron-affiliated company, was before the CRIZ board to notify members it plans to draw down $600,000 from a $3.25 million loan to fit-out construction of the restaurant. The developer hopes Boyle Construction can start work in May with the restaurant moving into the space by September. The authority took out the loan on behalf of BethWorks and acts as a pass-through conduit for the money. The developer backs the loan and is on the hook for payments if the projected CRIZ increment does not materialize. Bethlehems Director of Community and Economic Development Alicia Miller Karner explained to the board it didnt need to take any action on the loan draw down because it was just a courtesy update. Peron took out the loan to fund the refinancing of Social Still and build out the retail spaces. BethWorks Renovations leases the Social Still building to the distillery and restaurant. In September, Bethlehem City Council approved a liquor license transfer for Shelby Brothers LLC, of which de Beer is one of the owners, for the new unnamed restaurant. Perons John Callahan said in January that they obtained the liquor license to make the space more attractive for a restaurant to open in the building. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. These three colors of compromise continued from our slavery days through the Civil War, the civil rights movement, and now into the Black Lives Matter movement. Greed, power and bloodshed have followed us into the 21st century, and too many people of faith keep looking the other way, I say. A corrections officer who worked at New Jerseys only womens prison was arrested Friday on charges she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, authorities said. Ciera Roddy, 32, faces a range of official misconduct charges and one count of criminal sexual contact, the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office, which brought the charges, confirmed Friday. She was arrested at the Adult Diagnostic Treatment Center in Avenel, where she had recently transferred. She was being held at the Somerset County Jail Friday afternoon awaiting a court hearing, and it was not immediately clear whether she had retained an attorney. The charges are the latest development in an ongoing scandal over conditions at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. Since 2016, prosecutors have accused eight Edna Mahan employees seven of them sworn law enforcement officers of criminal conduct, most of it related to sex abuse and the illegal exchange of contraband. Former Officer Joel Mercado pleaded guilty to official misconduct charges in February, striking a deal with prosecutors that would allow him to avoid registering as a sex offender. Officer Brian Ambroise was acquitted by a Hunterdon County jury in November, while another officer, Jason Mays, was given a 16-year sentence for sex assault in July. At a public hearing last year, former inmates and some officers testified the state was not doing enough to stem the abuse. A federal civil rights inquiry launched in May is ongoing, and state corrections officials say theyve installed more surveillance cameras, improved training and enacted other reforms to deal with the problem. Under state law, any sexual contact between inmates and staff is a crime because prisoners cannot legally consent due to the power imbalance. Roddy who joined the corrections department in 2017 and made $45,000 annually, according to state payroll records faces an additional charge of engaging in a pattern of official misconduct. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The young woman before Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta said she was raped for hours straight, forced to take drugs, burned with a lighter and held against her will for more than a day. If that werent bad enough she needed weeks to overcome her injuries and still grapples with the mental baggage of enduring such an unspeakable ordeal. But shed do it again for the right to stand where she stood Friday: arguing to keep her attacker, Seth Mull, from ever victimizing a woman again. I would go through this horrific, grueling process 75,000 more times if it means getting to see him put away for the rest of his life, the woman said. She got her wish. Baratta sentenced the 31-year-old Lower Saucon Township resident to 72 years to life. Mull was convicted at trial of of raping three women, holding two of them against their will and making them his sex slaves. He was acquitted of raping a fourth victim, although he was convicted of indecent assault, sex trafficking and involuntary servitude for that victim. The crimes were in September and October 2017 at hotels in Bethlehem; Hanover Township, Northampton County; and Philadelphia. Rape wasnt enough for Mull, Baratta said. He sought gratification through completely degrading and debasing women. Your depravity is probably the most disturbing and sickening in a defendant I have ever seen, Baratta said. Mulls sex offenses began at age 13, the judge said, and continued through to the present. He is charged with more sex trafficking crimes in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, San Diego, Chicago and Honolulu. The judge said Mull has no boundaries. He clearly hated women, Baratta said. He showed no signs of stopping his pattern of victimization. In fact, the judge believes the day would come when Mull would grow bored with just raping and enslaving women. I believe if you hadnt been stopped by law enforcement it was a matter of time before you were going to kill someone, Baratta said. Assistant District Attorney Laura Majewski said one of the victims relapsed as a result of her ordeal and is in prison for drug crimes. Another victim called her ordeal the most traumatic event in her life and asked for the maximum sentence allowed under the law for Mull. The victim who was raped, enslaved and burned with the lighter said she was so scarred after escaping from Mull she couldnt eat, could barely drink more than a teaspoon of water and lost 15 pounds. She also asked for a life sentence. I want him to spend the rest of his life replaying over and over in his mind where he went wrong, she said. I want him to go insane with regret and to constantly think about all the things hes permanently losing. Baratta said his sentence in effect will keep Mull in prison for life. He wont be eligible for parole until hes 103 years old. There were enough convictions on enough serious charges that the judge could remain within sentencing guidelines and reduce the risk for any successful appeal. Mull was convicted of about 30 charges, including multiple counts of rape and human trafficking. Baratta apologized to the victims for not imposing a straight life sentence. Even though the sentences for their individual crimes differed, he didnt take any of their stories of victimization less seriously than another ones story. Mull denied doing anything wrong. He called reports of his conviction fake news. He said his Constitutional rights were violated during the trial, said he was denied a request to take a polygraph test and vowed to appeal. Throughout the trial process you have made me out to be a monster. Your detectives did not seek the truth but a good story, Mull said. I will prove my innocence to these charges for as long as it takes. His denial of responsibility further proves Mull is a psychopath, the judge said. Even incarceration didnt stop Mull from allegedly victimizing women. He was charged with coercing a woman to sign a sex slave contract while he was in prison. He allegedly communicated with the woman on an electronic tablet. If anything positive came out of the ordeal, it was the bond that the victims shared with each other and the confidence they gained in themselves when they stood up to Mull. These are all special women. None of them deserved this, said one victims mother. Majewski praised the courage of the victims for standing up for themselves. So did Baratta. My heart goes out to you guys. You suffered at the hands of a depraved man. It was horrific and I doubt that you will ever fully recover, Baratta said. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Downtown Easton has seen it share of historic buildings renovated into upscale apartments. In the last decade theres been the Penn Building, Gov. Wolf Building, Pomeroys and One 6 Flats. All of them will take a back seat to Carriage House Lofts, according to developer Lou Pektor, the head of Ashley Development of Bethlehem. This should be, we think, an iteration above anything else thats been built so far, Pektor said Wednesday after the project gained approval from Eastons Planning Commission. The 14 apartments are slated for Sixth and Pine streets behind the former Mount Vernon Ale House. The now-vacant building was once a horse stable, one of the finest appointed liveries in the country, the former proprietor Edwin A. Jacoby boasted in 1893. The new residents in the former stable will have on-site parking in a secure basement. Theyll get kitchens designed by Long Island-based Furniture Design Studios, expansive windows and elevator service to all floors. Pektor said hes studied his competitors projects to pick and choose what works for his project. Its not your typical loft job. This would be a very high-end finish," Pektor said. View of Carriage House Lofts in Easton from Pine Street. (Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com)Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com Plans call for eight two-bedroom apartments and six one-bedroom apartments on two floors. Interior demolition has begun. Pektor hopes the apartments will be move-in ready in a year. He said rents will range from $1,700 to $2,900 a month. The planning commission appreciated his adaptive reuse of the historic structure. The exterior brick will be repointed, not torn down. Its a beautiful building, Planning Commission Chairman Charles Elliott said. The building at one time served as storage for Dykes Lumber Co. across Sixth Street. Ashley Development got permission from the planners to consolidate 16-26 S. Sixth St. and 521 Pine St. into one address for the project. Architect Jeff Martinson told the commission plans call for a first-floor exercise room. In a fact sheet handed out after the meeting, Pektor says Eastons historic structures and its proximity to New York and Philadelphia are making the city a place to be for young professionals. Eastons pet friendly downtown vibe, cultural events, alfresco dining, boutique shopping and prize-winning State Theatre venue are all part of its alluring charm, he said in the handout. View of Carriage House Lofts in Easton from Sixth Street. (Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com)Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. The property that was known as the Stine stump dump may be back in operation soon. On March 5, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection received a Municipal or Residual General Waste Permit application from Gerald DiDomenico, owner of Gravel Hill Enterprises Inc. The application is seeking to begin a mulching and compost facility on Gravel Hill Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township. Many neighbors of the property have told tales of years of woes with previous property owners Clayton and Michael Stine. The former stump grinding operation was notorious in the neighborhood for violating DEP regulations, cacophonous grinding machines running all night, and several fires, including one that smoldered for months. DiDomenico bought the property on Gravel Hill Road in 2008 at a U.S. Marshals' sale. The township reached a settlement agreement with DiDomenico in 2015 that placed restrictions on any new stump grinding operations. There is a limit of 300 trucks per week coming in and out of the property; operation hours are confined to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and six sound meters are to be placed in various spots on the property, according to the agreement. Quarterly reports of data collected by the sound meters are to be submitted to the township. Noise that rises above 65 decibels at the property line would be a violation of the agreement. Several people appealed the validity of the agreement but the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in 2017 that the agreement may stand. The March permit application states that Gravel Hill Enterprises will adhere to all conditions of the agreement. Eighteen acres of the 132-acre property will be used for the new operation, which will bring in stumps, tree limbs, untreated wood and pallets to be ground into mulch and sold wholesale for landscaping purposes, according to the application. Existing tree stumps and debris will be cleaned on an additional 30 acres on site. Clean up will be phased over several years, according to the application, and the area will be seeded and restored to open fields once cleared. On March 15, DEP informed DiDomenico that it deems the application administratively incomplete. DiDomenico has 90 days from that date to provide the requested information and resubmit the application. The Lower Mount Bethel Township Board of Supervisors has asked the township engineer to review the application. A phone call Wednesday to DiDomenico asking for comment was not immediately returned. John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Charges filed against former junior firefighter accused of Lehigh Valley barn fires Arson and related charges have been filed against a woman who was allegedly part of a duo who purposefully set at least three recent barn fires in northern Northampton County. Samantha Rose Keeney, of the 400 block of East 11th Street in Northampton Borough, was arrested Thursday and charged with three counts each of arson, causing a catastrophe, agricultural vandalism, reckless burning, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and a single count of reckless endangerment. Keeney, who turns 24 on Saturday, was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail. Investigators allege Keeney and Justin Emmons set the fires. Charges against Emmons were filed later Friday. Pennsylvania State Police, which is investigating the blazes, said that the investigation is continuing Friday with more arrests possible. State police have been investigating the following fires: March 15th at 3646 Cedar Drive, Lehigh Township. March 23rd on 786 Fir Drive, Lehigh Township, a mile away from Cedar Drive. March 24th at 1352 Clearview Road, North Whitehall Township March 29th at 4413 Cherryville Road, Allen Township. Keeney is charged in connection with the two Lehigh Township and Allen Township blazes. Troopers said Emmons previously worked and lived with the Heiny family on Cedar Drive, and the family stores crops and equipment in the Cedar Drive and Fir Drive barns. Emmons was kicked off the property a week before the first blaze, trooper said. A barn burned late the night of March 24, 2019, at 1352 Clearview Road in North Whitehall Township. (Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor) Emmons was also terminated about one year ago from the Northampton Borough Fire Department, said Chief Keith Knoblach. Emmons was a junior firefighter when he was fired, but would still frequent the department, according to investigators. Knoblach, who has been chief for four years, said the Northampton department responded to help with the Lehigh Township fires. Surveillance video, a police body camera and a quick-thinking freelance photographer helped state police connect the pair to the fires. A patrolman who responded to the March 15th fire had video footage from his body camera that captured Emmons at the scene. Emmons allegedly told the officer that he and his friend, Keeney, were heading to a friends house when they saw the flames. Emmons reportedly said he turned on his scanner, heard the fire was on Cedar Drive and they drove to it. Video surveillance from a neighbor of the Fir Drive fire showed a dark colored SUV driving by the address 13 times March 23rd, before and after flames could be seen, state police said. The victims son discovered the blaze, and saw the SUV at the top of the driveway. Glen Heiny later told state police that the nights of the first two fires, Emmons and Keeney came to their home, said the barns were on fire and asked if he wanted to head to the scenes. At the North Whitehall Township fire, a freelance photographer was walking to the scene when he passed by a young man, troopers said. The man told the photographer he had been at the two Lehigh Township fires. Photographer Mike Nester, whose work often appears on lehighvalleylive.com, felt the circumstances to be odd, and took a photo of the man, who was wearing camouflage overalls with holes on the side. It just didnt seem right. Everything about it seemed really off, said Nester, who is also a member of the Whitehall Township Fire Department. Being a firefighter, you get that click when something doesnt seem right. Nester said it wasnt a long conversation, and the man was wearing all camouflage. State police said Emmons was wearing clothing the night of March 15th that looks remarkably similar to the clothing of the man photographed. In the Allen Township barn fire, the blaze was seen by a passerby in its early stages, and extinguished by another passerby, troopers said. Investigators initially asked to interview Emmons on March 29th, but he did not show up. Emmons was interviewed Monday, and allegedly confessed to the Fir Drive and Clearview Drive blazes, as well as a vehicle fire in Northampton also under investigation. In his interview Monday with Lehigh and Northampton police, Emmons reportedly said Keeney lit the fires. Emmons does not have a valid drivers license, and state police said he would typically drive or ride with Keeney. Investigators said Keeney at the time worked at Lehigh Valley International Airport, and a photo of her black Hyundai Santa Fe from her now-former job matches the SUV seen on surveillance video and by witnesses. In an interview Thursday with detectives, Keeney allegedly said she and Emmons collectively had the idea to burn down the barns, and that she only set the Fir Drive blaze. Keeney went on to say they used no accelerants, but used storm-proof matches bought at the Whitehall Walmart, some of which were found at the fire scenes, according to state police. Several storm-proof matches were also found near the site of a March 29th brush fire on Quince Road, near Timberland Road, in Lehigh Township, and are the same matches the pair allegedly used in the barn fires, troopers added. Trooper James Welsh, the state police fire marshal out of the Bethlehem barracks, searched the SUV and found storm proof matches in the drivers side door, the dashboard, and an opened box of the matches in the glovebox. Overalls similar to those of the man photographed at the March 15th fire were also found in the SUV, troopers said. Lehigh Township Police are investigating a suspicious barn fire that occurred on Fir drive last night between the hours... Posted by Lehigh Township Police Department on Saturday, March 23, 2019 Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Global warming is opening the Northwest Passage to the navies of the world and commercial shipping. Will the United States be able to rescue U.S.-flagged vessels that become stranded while in transit? What is to happen to the United States polar research program? Who will ensure freedom of passage for U.S.-flagged vessels? The Coast Guard is the only U.S. military service branch with icebreakers -- a total of three. One polar, one medium and one heavy/Great Lakes. Congress provided funding for initial design of a new polar-class icebreaker to replace the Polar Star, first commissioned in 1978. The U.S. cannot provide a reasonable response to emergencies faced by U.S. military and commercial shipping (research and otherwise) that become icebound. China has five polar-class icebreakers, with one under construction. Russia has four, with four under construction. Russia has more than 40 icebreakers of various capabilities in its navy. With oceanographic studies being of paramount importance to understanding global climatic change, the United States must fund and build at least the new polar-class icebreakers with, as in the past, extensive research laboratories and adequate housing for research staffs. John J. Marks Captain, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (Retired) Palmer Township TROPHIES Animal shelters in the Lehigh Valley are scrambling to care for more than 120 cats discovered in a duplex house in Catasauqua. According to a volunteer for the Sanctuary at Haafsville, the homeowner initially took in about 25 cats, some of which were roaming around Lehigh Valley International Airport. The man did his best to care for them, but didnt keep up with spaying and neutering to prevent them from multiplying, according to the volunteer. Eventually the number grew to about 150. Several shelters are cooperating to get the cats examined, spayed and neutered, and adopted, including the Sanctuary at Haafsville, Brindle Buddies and Friends, and the Center for Animal Health and Welfare.The shelters are seeking adoptive homes, along with dry and wet cat food, kitten milk replacement and donations to offset the cost of to spaying and neutering. Their house was gutted by fire, but the Flegler family of Bushkill Township was able to get everyone to safety, thanks to the alertness of one family member. Christopher Flegler said his 14-year-old son, Nathan, noticed something was wrong around 4 a.m. March 29 -- the back of the house was aglow. They discovered the deck, the rear of the house and a soffit were on fire. They had enough time to evacuate everyone, including Fleglers 4-year-old daughter, Cora, three cats and a chinchilla. Even though the house was heavily damaged, Flegler said he is thankful to everyone for his familys safety and the effort of firefighters. They got here as soon as they could, did what they had to do,he said. Everybody did good. Fear of flying is overwhelming for many people with autism or other developmental disabilities. This year Lehigh Valley International Airport is renewing it effort to help people who have difficulty traveling by air, with its Wings for All event. The program is part of a national airport rehearsal program produced by The Arc of the United States. Participants practice checking in at a ticket gate, going through TSA screening and waiting to board. Family are encouraged to experience crowds, so they might be able to spot potential triggers in planning a trip. The event will begin at 9 a.m. May 11. A potential security threat to the Easton Area Middle School was thwarted this week when school officials learned about it beforehand, allowing police and school representatives to work through the night and make an arrest. Superintendent John Reinhart said a student at the school, who was not identified because of his age, was turned over to Northampton County juvenile authorities to face serious charges. No weapons were confiscated. Reinhart said it was unknown whether the student had the ability to carry out the attack. TURKEYS A New Jersey Supreme Court advisory panel has recommended a three-month suspension for a judge who asked a rape victim if she could have closed her legs and questioned if she knew how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you. The panel said Superior Court Judge John Russo Jr. exhibited "an emotional immaturity wholly unbefitting the judicial office and incompatible with the decorum expected of every jurist. The state Supreme Court will make final ruling on the case later. Russo, a family court judge assigned to Ocean County, was on paid administrative leave since May 2017 before returning to work at in Burlington County civil court earlier this year. A Romanian national who drove while disqualified has been given a suspended jail sentence and put off the road for eight years. At last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Gavril Anghel, 37, with an address at 32 Rossdarragh Glen, Portlaoise, was charged with no licence or insurance, at Clonenagh, Mountrath, on February 18 this year. Sgt JJ Kirby gave evidence that the accused had ten previous convictions, including recent driving disqualifications. Judge Catherine Staines noted that the accused had been driving while disqualified twice. Defence, Mr Philip Meagher said the accused, a Romanian national with three children who has been living in Ireland for a number of years, had obtained the loan of a vehicle on the day as his wife had serious personal issues and had to attend an appointment. Judge Staines asked why did he get the loan of a car when he was disqualified. Mr Meagher replied that the accused had an arrangement with a neighbour to get a lift to the hospital, but at the last moment the neighbour couldnt make it so rather than miss the appointment he rang a friend and very foolishly got the loan of a car. He was driving into town when the gardai stopped him. Mr Meagher said the accused was a qualified barber who had lost his job a few months ago. He is also doing community service for a previous criminal conviction. Handing in a heartfelt letter to the court from the accused expressing his shame and concern, Mr Meagher said that the offence was not due to any disrespect towards the court orders by the accused, he had just made a very foolish decision to drive. The accused himself addressed the court, saying he would not drive again. For no insurance, Judge Staines imposed a six-month sentence, suspended for one year, and disqualified the accused from driving for eight years. A former solicitor who pleaded guilty to giving a mobile phone to a convicted rapist serving a sentence in Portlaoise Prison failed to turn up in court this morning for sentencing, as she apparently missed her flight from Europe due to one of her children being sick. Joanne Kangley (41), formerly of Bailieborough, Co Cavan, but now residing outside of Ireland, pleaded guilty to supplying a mobile phone to an inmate of Portlaoise Prison on November 6, 2014. When evidence in the case was heard on Tuesday, April 2, State barrister, Mr Sean Gillane SC, along with Detective Garda Daniel Treacy, of Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, outlined that on November 6, 2014, the prisoner was transferred to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise where he was put in a room in a supervised capacity, with prison officers in attendance. Ms Kangley attended at the hospital for a private visit with him while the prison officers waited outside. On February 10, 2015, the prisoner spoke to an assistant chief officer at the prison, informing him that he had a mobile phone hidden up his rectum. The prisoner said he had been given the phone by his solicitor in hospital. The court heard that the prisoner used the phone to make threats against certain individuals. The phone was also used to make regular contact with a number belonging to Ms Kangley. When arrested and questioned, Ms Kangley told gardai that the prisoner had threatened her and her family. The court heard that the prisoner threatened to fillet Ms Kangley and rape her child and so she gave him her work phone for her own protection. Ms Kangley told the gardai that during visits with him he would drop in bits of information about her, or her family, and there was fear on her part. She said he had asked her for phones before and she said no, which had angered him. On this occasion, he asked her for a phone and she said no. To this, the prisoner told her to remember what he was serving a sentence for and then mentioned her child, so she handed the phone over. She also admitted buying him the SIM card and topping up the phone. Ms Kangley has now moved abroad. She has no previous convictions. Judge Keenan Johnson said this was a serious and unusual case and he wanted time to consider the matter, so sentencing was adjourned to Friday, April 5. When the case came back before the court this morning for sentencing, barrister, Mr Colm Hennessy said that the accused was not present as she had missed her flight from the European country where she now resides due to one of her children being sick. Judge Keenan Johnson said this was not very satisfactory and remarked he was surprised she had gone back to the country. Mr Hennessy explained that the accused had returned home to get her two children, with arrangements made for her to bring them with her to Ireland. The matter was adjourned to this Tuesday, April 9. As hard as the region snowflakes try to degrade president Trump supporters with their fancy name-calling, just remember that we Trump supporters are on the winning team, and Russian collusion is a fairy tale used by the losing team. Now off to the next fairy tale and losing strategy, that the haters just can't resist. Whoops, the House of Representatives is still stuck on that Russian collusion fairy tale and wasting the taxpayers money. Imagine that! The public should be consulted on new telecoms masts according to Laois County Councils' chief executive. The company Cignal is erecting 10 masts in Laois , to provide signal to phone and broadband service. The 15 metre masts can been erected without public notice or planning permission because they are classed as infrastructure on a public road. Licences are required from a local authority. A mast that went up in Durrow is now to be moved following meetings between Cignal CEO Colin Cunningham and Durrow Development Forum. The company has also met local people in Mountmellick who are also concerned at the location of the mast that appeared there on Bank Holiday Monday, March 18. John Mulholland, the council CEO, said consultation was a good idea. These transmitter masts are exempt from planning permission but it makes sense if the local community are going to be the customers, that consultation is a good idea, he said. He did say the design was improving. The design is far better than the previous generation. The development of technology for 4G and 5G is coming on rapidly, Mr Mulholland said. He said there was a choice to be made between masts or underground fibre. There is a dilemma, whether to place masts for wireless transmission, or place fibre in the ground. The department of communications is considering the pros and cons, and value for money. Eir continue to roll out fibre. We are obliged to prepare a local digital strategy, and see how local communities can access broadband, the council CEO said. A number of Laois councillors also urged public consultation by Cignal. While most of the councillors agreed that broadband services in rural areas in Laois were not adequate. Cllr John Joe Fennelly said it was a big concern for residents. Ive been canvassing in Shanahoe and Raheen and its the biggest discussion on the door. They are missing areas of 500 and 600 metres. In one area three people are trying to work from home to stop travelling to work in Dublin daily. Why do they come so far on one road and another and leave people in the middle, he said. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agreed that broadband in rural areas was an issue but said a mast that went up in Portlaoise had residents worried. There is a big fear, people raised concerns about health issues. Maybe they have nothing to worry about, but to get up one morning and see this big yoke outside your house, out of respect, Cignal should be coming in and informing us. We need to be able to tell people relevant information. I propose the company come in and talk to us, she said. The Cathaoirleach Cllr John King seconded. There is a clear message the company should come before us and do a presentation. There are bad feelings in towns over this, he said. The company which is pulling out of rural bus stops on the Dublin to Limerick bus service in Laois says the number of people using services dwindled to single figures. JJ Kavanagh and Sons also pointed to new State subsidised local services which operates in Laois in the villages where its buses will no longer stop as contributing to its decision. A spokesperson for the Kilkenny-based company confirmed to the Leinster Express that it would be ending its services from Tuesday, April 16 after being given the go-ahead by the National Transport Authority. Under the terms of the new licence, Kavanagh's will only serve Portlaoise, Roscrea and Nenagh from April 16. There will be no transition arrangement involving the company to stop at Borris-in-Ossory, Mountrath, Castletown or the Pike of Rushall. A spokesman said it had operated on the route serving these smaller communities sine 1995 when it took over from another firm which had been set up a private service in the 1980s. "We have made this decision for commercial reasons. The old route is not profitable any more - people want to travel on the motorway. "Bus Eireann went off the route four years ago. The reason they went off it is the same as the reason we are going off the route. We tried to stay but to make matters worse, Local Link came in. They are doing three or four runs a day from Borris-in-Ossory, Mountrath and into Portlaoise," he said. The National Transport Authority says there is no Local Link service on the route but Town Link does operate in Laois. Kavananagh's spokesperson said nobody is being abandoned. He said people affected can go to Portlaoise or Roscrea to pick up a service. "Our figures are showing us that there are not that many people travelling. We are also losing customers from the main commuter towns that we go through because they decided to travel with the opposition as they don't want to go through these areas (off the motorway)," he said. He said the number of people getting on in the Laois village can vary but over has dwindled significantly. "You are probably talking single numbers each time we go through," he said. JJ Kavanagh and Sons claim to be the biggest private bus company in Ireland with 180 services. The company is celebrating 100 years in business this year. The spokesman said the decision to cut service had not been taken quickly. He said the route was very competitive and Limerick and other commuters were not travelling with Kavanaghs because of the number of stops. "It is not something we take lightly but we have to survive. We have done this on other routes such as Waterford to Dublin where our numbers went up fivefold and hopefully the same thing will happen on the Dublin Limerick route," he said. He said the terms of the new licence do not allow the company to carry on serving the villages in a transitionary phase after April 16. The National Transport Authority confirmed that the licence has been granted. It said it has no legislative powers to refuse an application from a commercial operator to reduce or withdraw services from the licence. Bus company, Go-Ahead Ireland is today announcing the creation of a further 100 jobs and additional 4.5 million investment in its second bus depot, located in Naas. This is in addition to 425 jobs created and 12.5 million invested in its Dublin business since 2018. Go-Ahead Ireland began operating bus services across the capital in September last year after the National Transport Authority (NTA) awarded the company the contract to run 10% - 24 routes - of the Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area (ODMA) Public Service Obligation routes. All the ODMA routes have been operational since the end of March 2019. In a separate competitive tender, Go-Ahead Ireland, was awarded the contract to operate six Dublin commuter routes and this latest bus and investment announcement, is to facilitate that contract, as well as ongoing growth across the Go-Ahead Ireland business. The new roles include bus drivers, engineers, maintenance and operational support, supervisors and admin personnel - the majority of which will be based in the new Naas depot, although there is some flexibility on location. Ed Wills, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland said, "We are delighted to expand our investment, support the economy and create jobs in Ireland. It is important for us to grow talent locally and we look forward to engaging with the communities these new routes will operate in. Bus driver roles are great for those who enjoy working with the public and relish being part of a busy environment. The NTA has indicated switchover dates from Bus Eireann to Go-Ahead Ireland in the last quarter of 2019. Exact dates and timetables will be issued over the coming months. Route information is as follows; Route 120 Dublin to Edenderry Route 120c (new) - Tullamore to Enfield Route 123 Dublin to Kilmeage Route 124 Dublin to Portlaoise Route 126 Dublin to Newbridge (extensions to Kildare and Rathangan) The 4.5 million investment will be spread across driver training, depot fit out and mobilisation. Arthritis Ireland Kildare Branch Exercise Activities Athy Yoga for Arthritis A seated yoga course with Daisy at 11am-12 noon Tuesdays in Athy Parish Centre. Admission 5 per class. Contact Daisy at 0864141113 ( school holidays) Athy K leisure aqua class Fridays 12 noon. Phone K Leisure Athy Phone (059)8641522 Newbridge Beginners Seated Exercise classes for people with arthritis take place in Newbridge Daycare Centre every Monday at 11am sharp. Admission 5 . Phone Eva 0876321833 Newbridge Gables Swimming Pool Aqua exercise for people with Arthritis Wednesdays. Time 2-3 pm Admission 5 Phone Eva at 0876321833 Newbridge Circuit Training in Newbridge Parish Centre Tuesdays 7-8 and 8-9 until April 9th, led by physiotherapist Meadhbh O Sullivan Admission. Admission 5 Newbridge Walking Group for People with Arthritis. Meet at Lumville Hse Car Park every Tuesday at 10.30am sharp for walk on the Curragh. Contact Johnny at 431399 or Claire at 433803 for further details. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear and bring rainproof gear! Kilcullen Beginners Seated Exercise classes for people with arthritis take place in Kilcullen Parish Centre every Tuesday at 10.30am sharp. Admission 5 Phone Eva at 0876321833 Suncroft Beginners Seated Exercise classes for people with arthritis take place in Suncroft Community Centre every Tuesday at 2.30pm sharp. Admission 5 Phone Eva at 0876321833 Kildare Town Beginners Seated Exercise classes for people with arthritis take place in Kildare Parish Centre every Wednesday at 10.30 am sharp. Admission 5 Phone Eva at 0876321833 Clane Swim & Aqua exercise for people with arthritis in Westgrove Hotel. Wednesdays 11am Fridays Time: 12noon Admission 5, participants will also have access to the pool, jacuzzi and steamroom facilities. Maynooth Glenroyal Hotel Swimming Pool Aqua exercise for people with Arthritis Thursdays. Time 9am Admission 5 Celbridge Warm Water pool, Swim & Aqua Classes for people with Arthritis takes place at St Raphaels Pool, Celbridge Every Wednesday:5pm-6pm. Cost 5 includes instruction and use of warm water pool. No need to book class. Maynooth Walking Group for People with Arthritis. Meet on Mondays at 12 noon at Maynooth Community Space (near Post Office) in Tesco Car Park Contact Michael at 0876622740 Arthritis Ireland Helpline 1890 252846 or 016618188 helpline@arthritisireland.ie Craft beer manufacturer Carrig Brewing Company which is based in the Food Hub, Drumshanbo, is to move its operation to Trim, Co Meath. The company will merge production with BRU Brewery which is based in Trim. Manager of the Food Hub, Fergal McPartland, told the Leitrim Observer they were "surprised" to learn of the move this week but said a number of other companies have already expressed an interest in taking the soon to be available space in The Food Hub. It is understood that there are eight full time and part time staff members affected. Mr McPartland said there will now be a period of transition with the move expected to take place next June. The Food Hub, since its establishment in 2004, has emerged as Irelands premier artisan multi-tenant food production enterprise centre, established by a social enterprise. It houses a number of different food and drinks companies including The Shed Distillery, McNiffe's Bakery, The Cheese Hub, Bo Peep preserves and Chef in a Box. A SENIOR manager at a multinational company who orchestrated the fraudulent payment of more than 300,000 for overtime has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Brendan Sheehan, aged 45, of Skoolhill, Fedamore has been ordered to present himself to gardai by midday on April 25, next. The married father-of-four had admitted multiple theft offences which were carried out to fund a chronic gambling addiction. Three other former employees of Flextronics also pleaded guilty to theft charges relating offences which occurred between December 2009 and April 2014. They are Tom Collins, aged 59, of Danesfort, Corbally; his son Alan Collins, aged 33, also of Danesfort, Corbally and Laszlo Szlatki, aged 37, of Holycross, Bruff. During a sentencing late last year, Detective Garda Fiona OConnell said a total of 190 charges were preferred by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to payments totalling 362,081. She said the company launched an internal investigation in April 2014 after rumours began circulating within the Raheen facility. A formal complaint was made to gardai some time later. All four defendants were employed by Irish Express Cargo a subsidiary of Flextronics to support the activities of one its biggest clients medical devices manufacturer Stryker. Mr Sheehan was responsible for all overtime payments associated with Project Styker. The payments averaged in the region of 400 to 600 per week, said John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, who added that only minimal amounts of overtime was carried out. Detective Garda OConnell said while seven other employees also received payments, gardai are satisfied they did not retain any of the monies for themselves as they gave it all to Mr Sheehan. Judge Tom ODonnell was told the defendants were dismissed by Flextronics in November 2014 and that the company, which is headquartered in Singapore, subsquently repaid 274,202.81 to Stryker in January 2016. All four defendants made admissions when they were interviewed by gardai in 2016. Mr Sheehan, who was earning more than 70,000 at the time, told gardai he suffered from a chronic gambling addiction and that things had spiralled out of control and that he was living in a fantasy world. Lorcan Connolly BL said since his dismissal, his client has attended a residential treatment centre and has completed courses at both LIT and UL and is now helping other gambling addicts to address their problems. Imposing sentence, Judge ODonnell said there was a sinister element to Mr Sheehans actions given the way he had isolated employees under his supervision and put pressure on them. He was the architect, executioner and enforcer of the scheme, he said adding his actions were an enormous breach of trust for which he had to be jailed. He imposed a four year sentence, suspending the final two years. His co-accused each received 18 month sentences which were suspended in their entirety. Judge ODonnell commended Detective Garda OConnell for her extraorindary diligence during what he said was a painstaking and lengthy investigation. TWO Shannon Estuary villages have been given a boost following the allocation of government funding. Minister Patrick ODonovan welcomed 234,000 in funding for flood relief works on Marine Cove Road in Foynes. Glin Pier, meanwhile, is to be modernised following the allocation of 111,000 to Limerick City and County Council by the Minister of Agriculture Food and Marine, Michael Creed TD. Glin will be one of the developments to benefit under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marines 2019 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The programme will see a 2.2m package assist 12 Coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 39 development projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. Welcoming the announcement, Minister ODonovan said that this is funding will go a long way towards the modernisation and improving safety on the pier. It is a welcome announcement which will benefit the community and many visitors to the area, said the minister. Cllr John Sheahan said that he, as the local councillor, is delighted that the application was successful and it is great news for Glin. This is part of an ongoing programme in the restoration of piers in the county, Cllr Sheahan added. Regarding the Foynes works, Minister ODonovan said, I have been working with Minister Kevin Boxer Moran on a number of flood related issues in Foynes and I am delighted to have been able to secure this funding for the Marine Cove area. The allocation will allow for works that will channel the water away from the road to the river, said Minister ODonovan. He added that he is continuing to work with Minister Moran on securing further funding for works in Foynes. Now these heavy thinking, amazingly smart snowflakes are demanding the unredacted Mueller report, knowing perfectly well that William Barr would be breaking the law to hand it over unredacted. Just watch Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who got his subpoena power passed in the House, sit on those subpoenas because he knows turning them over to the courts will be breaking the law. And then a commenter wonders why a Trump supporter calls them lowlife, stupid haters. Robert Mueller went from hero to zero when he didn't give the snowflakes what they so desperately needed to satisfy there hate for the president. Don't blame Rush Limbaugh and Fox News for reporting the story, put your faith in Rachel Maddow, and Chris Mathews. Your the only one still watching them. Organisers of this years Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival are helping to bridge the gap between all communities in Limerick through learning. Bridging the Gap, this years theme, links young and old, rural and urban, returning to learning and welcoming new communities, and runs alongside the festivals annual tagline of Communities, Connecting, Learning. The theme also symbolises the 3 Bridges walking route in Limerick. The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival makes an inspirational ninth return to the city and county in April with over 200 free events and activities taking place for the enjoyment and learning of all. There promises to be something to entertain and involve people of all ages, interests and backgrounds during the week long festival. This years festival takes place Monday 08 to Sunday 14 April. Events this year include: Three Billy Goats Gruff with Limerick Childcare Committee across the Limerick Library Network Irish Union Workhouses The Impact on Irish People with Merriman Research in King Johns Castle Spanish and Latin Dancing in the University of Limerick Seo E Mise - This is Me with Northside Family Resource Centre in Ballynanty An All-Ireland Seminar for the Festival will take place on Wednesday 10 April in King Johns Castle, where delegates from the Learning City-Regions of Cork, Dublin, Belfast and Derry Strabane will attend and participate with the focus on Green and Healthy Learning, Digital Inclusion, Intergenerational Learning and Employability/ Entrepreneurship. Speaking at the launch in Adare Heritage Centre, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr James Collins said: Learning is never a wasted experience. It helps us to grow intellectually as well as physically. It allows us to broaden our horizons. The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival brings together the joy and wonder of learning for all those who participate. It is done in a way that eases the learner in, making them feel involved in the whole process. I would encourage everyone to take a look at the programme of events. There is something there for everyone. I would also like to say thank you to the steering group, who have worked tirelessly down through the years to make the Festival such a success. Im particularly proud of the key achievements of Learning Limerick in recent years including the UNESCO Learning City Award 2017 which has underpinned and endorsed the work that is being carried out. The week long festival is organised by the Learning Limerick Steering Group, which represents the main stakeholders involved in promoting learning across Limerick City and County. Learning Limerick is a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, which is an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practice. Limerick was honoured to receive the UNESCO Learning City Award in 2017 and to build upon this dedication shown by Learning Limerick, the Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN) will launch Limerick Learning Neighbourhoods on Wednesday 10 April during the festival. The Learning Neighbourhoods initiative aims to benefit residents by taking the learning city concept to the neighbourhood level. Eimear Brophy Chairperson of the Steering Group, from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board said: The international recognition for Limerick by UNESCO is a testament to the collaborative work of the partners in Limerick, which includes the success of the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival. The festival supports our work in promoting access to lifelong learning and brings providers from all sectors together to promote both formal and informal learning activities. All events throughout the week are again free of charge and available to everyone! Learning is promoted as something that is fun and enjoyable, with events including performances, taster sessions, tours, displays, lectures, walks, demonstrations and workshops. The events take place right across Limerick in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, including in libraries, museums, castles, colleges, resource, family and community centres, parks and on the streets. There are hundreds of events on varied topics ranging from drama, business and entrepreneurship, maths and science to guided tours, exhibitions and workshops, all across the city and county. Learning Ambassadors is another recent initiative brought to life by Learning Limerick to spread enthusiasm and love for learning all over the learning region of Limerick. Our Ambassadors will work with Learning Limerick and the Festival and help promote and celebrate learning opportunities. They will act as role models and help inspire learners. We are looking forward to meeting and hearing more from our Ambassadors at Festival events this year! Free copies of the 2019 Festival Programme will soon be available throughout Limerick and on www.limerick.ie/lovelearning, with daily updates also on Facebook, Twitter @LimkLearnFestand Instagram @limerickllfestival. FINE Gaels hopes of winning a third seat in City West have suffered a blow after it emerged Patrickswell publican Fergus Kilcoyne is to run as an Independent. Mr Kilcoyne remained tight lipped this week about his involvement in the May election, but he will launch his bid for the local authority this Saturday evening in his own Dark Horse pub. It comes after the long-serving Fine Gael member was left off his partys ticket for City West, with bosses in Dublin instead favouring 20-year-old student Daniel McSweeney. While he will run alongside metropolitan mayor, Cllr Daniel Butler, Raheen and Cllr Elenora Hogan, South Circular Road, the move left many in the Patrickswell branch of the party deeply unhappy. It was Mr Kilcoyne who received the original nomination from his branch, but Mr McSweeney decided to instead go and seek the nod from Young Fine Gael. With just two candidates being picked by Fine Gael locally, it was then a toss-up between Mr Kilcoyne and Mr McSweeney for the last place, with party headquarters plumping for the younger candidate. Some 14 members of the branch wrote to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urging him to intervene, pointing out Mr Kilcoyne ran for the party in the last local election and came within a whisker of being elected. The members say the move to put Mr McSweeney on the ticket is undemocratic and an injustice. Meanwhile, metropolitan mayor Cllr Butler launched his own election campaign this week at the Verona Coffee Shop in St Nessans Road. Among the people who turned up in support were former Finance Minister Michael Noonan, plus Senators Kieran ODonnell and Maria Byrne. THERE are a wide variety of events taking place in city over the next three weeks to mark the 100th anniversary of the Limerick Soviet. From bus tours to book launches, and even a panel discussion chaired by respected Broadford journalist Vincent Browne, Limerick will be a hive of activity for the festival. The Soviet is a largely-forgotten episode in history which saw local workers take control of the city which at the time was facing martial law from the British military. But its hoped by this major series of events, there will be heightened awareness of the episode, with the festival officially launched this week at the Commercial Bar in Catherine Street. Between Friday, April 5 and Sunday, April 28, there are a number of civic events, including book launches, screenings of documentaries commemorating the era, as well as a major public play, Bread not Profits, in the former Cleeves factory written by top local playwright Mike Finn. The president of the Limerick Council of Trade Unions Mike McNamara said: Its an important piece of Irish history, our labour history, our national history and our national identity. We are commemorating the great men of 1919, who took on the might of the British military and their redundant World War One tanks that were turned upon the people of this city when martial law was imposed. This Saturday at 1.30pm, a Trade Union parade will take place from the Mechanics Institute in Hartstonge Street, followed by the raising of a red flag outside City Hall to launch the festival proper. After this, former councillor Cian Prendiville will launch a podcast he has been producing on the story of the Limerick Soviet. And the following day, there will be a wreath laying at the grave of murder victim and trade unionist Robert Byrne, followed by the launch of a book on the subject by Sinn Fein councilor Seighin O Ceallaigh. Almost every night between April 16 and 27, Bread not Profits will take place at the Old Cleeves Factory. On Sunday, March 14, a bus tour of the sights of the Limerick Soviet will take place, in the company of historian Liam Cahill widely considered the authority on the topic and Mr McNamara. Siptu activist Mary ODonnell said the message of the Limerick Soviet remains relevant to this day. In a world where working people have no agency, are not allowed to be members of a union, you have a situation where capital is gaining all the value of labour and workers are not. We are just looking at this from the point of view that this was a situation which showed that people can run a city, run a country and run the world in our own way as we would wish to do so, she said. The festival concludes on April 28, with the unveiling of a Limerick workers memorial plaque at the Mechanics Institute. For more information on the events, call 061-953400. THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick has agreed to purchase the vacant Dunnes Stores site for 8m to provide a new riverside city centre campus. A spokesperson for the university said that its governing authority sanctioned the purchase this Friday. UL president, Dr Des Fitzgerald said he was "very happy" to have the support of the UL governing authority "in our commitment to bring UL closer to the city centre". "I am also very pleased to have the opportunity to revitalise a site in the city that has been lying vacant for so long. It is fitting that ULs presence in the city will be on the water front mirroring our magnificent riverside campus just four kilometres away, he explained. He said its city campus will aim to bring together law, business, and entrepreneurship in technology and "create a hub for developing and supporting enterprises in the city". I am very happy to have the full support of the UL Governing Authority to purchase the vacant Dunnes Stores site at Sarsfield Bridge - it is fitting that ULs presence in the city will be on the water front mirroring our magnificent riverside campus just 4 kilometres away. Dr Des Fitzgerald (@ULPresident) April 5, 2019 Dr Fitzgerald added: It will allow for the further development of existing collaborations with the practitioner base in business, law, education, health and the growing number of technology companies." Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr James Collins said this will remove one of the biggest eyesores in the city centre. Im delighted as Mayor of Limerick and as a member of the University of Limerick Governing Authority to see UL agreeing to buy the vacant Dunnes Stores outlet at Sarsfield Bridge. I have been working closely with both Limerick City and County Council and the University of Limerick to facilitate this purchase by UL of the vacant Dunnes Stores shopping centre, which will now be replaced with a state of new riverside city centre campus for UL students. This vacant site has been discussed at a political level for a number of years, and has been the subject of protests by local pressure groups in recent weeks. Now, by replacing it with a new UL campus, we are opening up the entire riverside area between Sarsfield Bridge, Arthurs Quay, the Potato Market and City Hall. The new campus should be looked at now in the context of possible redevelopments at the Potato Market, the Opera Centre development, pedestrianisation of nearby OConnell Street and a future education, tourism and retail plan for that area of the city between Sarsfield Bridge and City Hall, the Mayor stated. He added that the public have been very clear in their support of Limerick City and County Council in their efforts to have this site placed on the Vacant Sites Register. The Council offered to buy the site in the past, and I have been outspoken in highlighting the need for this site to be used or developed. I welcome the decision of UL to agree to buy the 0.81 acre Dunnes Stores Sarsfield Bridge site . The agreement provides that the site will be for University use and ancillary services. This marks a very significant day for Limerick cityits a win-win for UL, the Council, Dunnes Stores and the people of Limerick, said Mayor Collins, who is running for Fianna Fail in the next general elections. ALL staff at University of Limerick, LIT and Mary Immaculate college have received communication this Friday from the three presidents informing them that an Oxford professor is to help the three colleges facilitate maximum co-operation. Prof Simon Marginson, Professor of Higher Education, University of Oxford has agreed to advise the colleges on the structures that would best facilitate maximum co-operation and joint action between our three institutions. This follows on a story from the Limerick Leader which revealed plans for new links between the colleges were being explored. "To be clear, the goal here is not a merger. Rather, the purpose is to establish how we can deliver the maximum impact for the region and the country, as a City Region of 26,000 Higher Education Students, with scale and impact. As the three Presidents, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, the statement to staff stated. This is all part of the Shannon Consortium, a regional cluster for higher education in Ireland which began in 2006 and continues to be a strategic priority for University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology and Mary Immaculate College. In recent months, the Shannon Consortium Steering Group (SCSG), which comprises the presidents of the three institutions, has reflected on how best to take forward the work of the consortium. The statement continued: As the three presidents, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. We believe that now is the time for us to take the steps that will ensure that higher education in the Mid-West can make a vital contribution regionally, nationally and internationally. We look forward to working with you all, within our institutions and our partners externally, with the support of our local and national authorities, and have sought meetings with the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority to advance this work. We would take this opportunity to thank everybody, staff and students, involved in the journey of the Shannon Consortium to date. A controversial prophet has cautioned those who accused him of using his children for sacrifice after all three of them died in an accident. The prophet named Madzibaba Masango in Zimbabwe lost his three children in a fatal car accident. He also lost his mother's sister in the same accident but others in the car survived. Following their deaths, social media users began accusing the pastor of sacrificing his kids for rituals. Others asked why he didn't foresee their death yet he claims to foresee other people's future. Madzibaba Masango set the record straight in the short interview on Star FM radio. He said: I was at a crusade in Kwekwe on a Friday. My wife was home and unbeknown to me she decided to go to our kids boarding school in Rusape to collect them. It was late when they drove to Rusape; maybe she was worried about Cyclone Idai because reports were saying it may affect those areas. She did not tell me. Our plan had been to go together on Saturday for visit. She says she left around 3pm for Rusape and it was on the return journey that they were involved in the accident. If I was aware that my wife had gone to visit the kids I could have prayed about the trip. In most cases I was the one who used to go and collect the kids. My wife says she failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the vehicle leading into an accident that claimed all my three children and one of my mothers young sister. She says instead of breaking on the curve, she mistakenly stepped onto the accelerator leading to the accident. When I got home my family was not there and I called my young brothers that were there and they told me my wife had gone to get the kids. I said it wasnt a problem but when I tried her number and the numbers of the other people she had gone with, all the phones were not available. That is when I was told that my wife had been in an accident and I went to the scene in Marondera. He added that he discovered that his three children and his mothers sister had died in the accident. His wife and another aunt (younger sister to his mother) survived but are still in the hospital. The prophet said: "There was another pupil from my childrens school that they had given a ride and that pupil also survived." Madzibaba explained that he was not immune to misfortune and he is not the first or last man of God to suffer such. He said: The trial of a former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola, continued on April 4, 2019, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos with a prosecution witness, Abdulraheem Jimoh, a former Chief Inspector with the bank, revealing how loans granted by the defendant to certain individuals and companies were waived. The defendant was arraigned on an amended 22-count charge bordering on abuse of office, conversion of funds belonging to Intercontinental Bank and stealing. Jimoh, while being further cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, counsel to the defendant, told the court that his investigations and findings into the alleged fraud lasted about four months. He said cheques were issued and authorized by the defendant in favour of Tropics Securities Limited, Tropics Properties Limited and Parkinson to the tune of N10 billion. He also added that Remi Adewumi, a Chief Inspector with the bank and Abel Osuji, Head, Invesigation and Business Risk Monitoring of the bank, were the signatories to the letter authorizing the issuance of the cheques. The witness further told the court that he was not aware if the bank made any request from Tropics Securities Limited. Under further cross-examination, the witness said the payments were made to those companies. He stated that the query was carried out under the management and watch of Laide Alabi, a former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, who succeeded Akingbola. When asked if he engaged any stockbroker during his investigations to ascertain if the monies allegedly paid to the companies were for shares or not, the witness responded that he did not consult or seek the advice of any stock broker. He added that he did not know if Intercontinental Bank bought shares on behalf of the bank's customers. The witness said the defendant granted loan worth N2.1billion to a company called ICML. But the loan granted to ICML has not been repaid, he added. The defence counsel confronted the witness with the documented testimony he gave at the Ikeja High Court in respect of this case on the February 28, 2010, where he said that ICML had repaid the loan from Intercontinental Bank on the authorization of Akingbola. The Placement with Other Financial Institution (POFI) was shown to the witness by the defence, where debit entries were made from ICML regarding the loan to the tune of N871.6million. The witness further told the court that he knew a company called United Alliance Company of Nigeria Limited that was also granted the sums of N14.5billion, N14.27billion and N10.97billion in tranches, which were not repaid. The witness affirmed what the defence said that the directors of the United Alliance Company of Nigeria Limited were Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, the Managing Director of Access Bank and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. The witness also confirmed that Alabi, who succeeded Akingbola, wrote off loans amounting to billions of Naira in favour of those close to him, including a former governor and current Senate President of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki. The witness said: "I remember that loans granted to Dr. Bukola Saraki was written off by Laide Alabi". The witness also said he was aware of a company called Joy Petroleum Limited, adding that the loan of N3.9billion was also written off by Alabi. "I also know of a company called Limcers Limited whose loan of N3.6billion was written off", the witness added. The witness, however, said the loans were not written off but were waved, which implied that the customers granted loans would pay an agreed part of the outstanding loan. The witness was also cross-examined on the fact that Saraki was granted a loan of N1.8billion to one of his companies called Dicetrade Limited, which was also written off by the Alabi-led management. When he was told that Alabi was a managing director of Songa Farms Limited owned by Bukola Saraki, the witness said he was not aware of that. When it was also put to him that Alabi was appointed the MD of the bank in order that he would write off loans of the people connected to the "power that be" at that time, who were indebted to the bank, he denied any knowledge of that. The witness also said he never knew if collaterals for the loans were returned to those granted loans as put across by the defence to the witness. However, Olanipekun told the court that all the loans that were written off by Alabi are what his client is being charged with. However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, re-examined the witness on his MBA certificate which he told an Ikeja High Court he obtained from University of Ilorin but also told Justice Olatoregun he did not obtain due to incomplete payment of certain fees. When Jacobs sought to tender the statement of result obtained by the witness from the University of Ilorin, the defence objected to its admissibility on the grounds that the prosecution could not tender any document at the stage of re-examination. The court sustained the objection of the defence. Consequently, the prosecution counsel informed the court that he would not want to continue with the case and that he needed to consult his employer on his decision. The defence team told the court that it did not know what necessitated the decision of the prosecution. Justice Olatoregun held that she "observed that Mr. Jacobs has not been serious about moving this case forward. "He must be ready to bring his witness at the adjourned date." Last night, Presidential media aide, Bashir Ahmad shared these new photos of police officer, Abba Kyari and his team hunting down kidnappers along Abuja-Kaduna expressway. He captioned it, 'one of the Nigerias most brilliants Police officers, Abba Kyari and his team storm bushes along Abuja-Kaduna expressway to hunt kidnappers, bandits and other criminals hiding in the bushes. On the other hands, Nigerian Army continues with their Ops Harbin Kunama III in Zamfara'. While many NIgerians appalud the passion and zeal of the policemen, others simply feel it was a photoshoot session with no real value.... See all the reactions below... These pictures were taken by Abba Kyari of the IGP IRT team . Another rogue unit of the @PoliceNG that specializes in extra-judicial murders and extortion and armed banditry. This is a supposed Operation in search of kidnappers along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. ???? pic.twitter.com/YbJNP4f9Oo Nimrod (@GhenhisKhan) April 4, 2019 After Elrufai shot his video yesterday, Abba Kyari and his team are doing paparazzi today. Who is next tomorrow? https://t.co/2DiZ1haJkc Badema? (@HassanBadema) April 4, 2019 Abba Kyari is a typical example of what a Nigerian Policeman should be. No one should join Nigerian Police without passion for it. People who join police because of unemployment with Otedola and Dangote dream are the bad eggs. This is me thanking all good @PoliceNG officers.. pic.twitter.com/hrOJ3q97aE iRetweet ?? (@BreakinglimitNG) April 4, 2019 Can anybody tell me who is this Abba Kyari of a man? Is he like the Jack Bauer of the @PoliceNG? Abu~Hafiz (@AminuFaragai) April 5, 2019 I've been trying so hard not to respond to your baseless tweets. With the tiny sense you have, this clustering of your Brilliant Police officers led by your wonderful Abba Kyari is a good formation for such operation right? And they can survive ambush they way they clustered abi? pic.twitter.com/AHzCUn3nlj Mr. Ikenna (@c_alisi) April 4, 2019 Abba Kyari is the officer who was implicated by witness in court for torture, to force him to implicate senate president for Offa robbery; here is President Buharis media aide calling him brilliant officer. Abba Kyari hasnt answered for those accusations. Sleep well Nigeria. https://t.co/BmTEZSYYG1 Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) April 4, 2019 I don't really care if Abba Kyari is a good policeman or not but my question is how did they get to snap when they are hunting down kidnappers. like who snapped them ? Nigeria is a movie I don't seem to get pic.twitter.com/3KkwLJ4T4h Uncle Chu (@Chubiei) April 4, 2019 Abba Kyari went into the bush with professional photographer to hunt kidnappers. The Photographers were actually in the war front taking pictures of the supposed battle ready policemen. This country is a joke Engr. Xyoung ?? ??(MEng. NEBOSH. ISO 45001) (@xyoung7123) April 5, 2019 Nigerians will do anything for media to carry. Yes, Abba Kyari is a fearless police officer. Lately, he has been off the Headline, so yesterday he had to enter the nearby bush, snap some pictures and share online. Now he is trending. Mission accomplished. Praise God pic.twitter.com/LXE784cG1M Ak (@ak_cute115) April 5, 2019 Dr. Urueye Stephen aka Sarutobi, a House Officer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, who graduated from the University of Lagos on Tuesday April 2nd, has died after he was stabbed by some robbers. According to reports, Stephen was walking along Idi Araba road where LUTH is situated when he was accosted by the robbers who stabbed him before carting away his properties found on him. His friend and former UNILAG SUG president, Adeyeye Olorunfemi, who took to Facebook to mourn him, wrote; The CEO and founder of SevenFriday, an edgy Swiss brand that makes watches, bracelets and sunglasses inspired by an industrial aesthetic, has opened his first space in Mumbais historic Fort business district. Its signature items challenge perceptions of Swiss luxury and heritage. Expect anything from steampunk-inspired timepieces to futuristic shades in leather, wood and chrome. Edited excerpts: View Full Image Daniel Niederer How did you come up with a disruptive brand in a country synonymous with luxury watchmaking? While we are a Swiss brand by definition, I think we are more global in outlook. I dont like standards even though I like culture and history and I want to learn from this history. In fact, for me the biggest gift is that we dont have much history as a brand as we are only seven years old, so we are completely free to build the future. How is your brand perceived in Switzerland? The cost of doing business in Switzerland vis-a-vis the population doesnt make for a good business strategy for a new brand. We never had any investors and our thinking had to be different, so we tapped into Instagram in a big way as well as online sales and basically let the consumer decide what he liked. The first market that reacted was the Philippines, followed by other parts of South-East Asia. It was only after we opened a store in the central Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich that we started developing our brand in the country. Just like Bahnhofstrasse, your Mumbai outlet is in the midst of the historic financial district. Why did you choose this over a more edgy neighbourhood? It is interesting because our store looks like nothing else on Bahnhofstrasse and you can play with that contrast and it works well for us as people are curious. I like the atmosphere of this neighbourhood and this little space is a good billboard for us which will grab eyeballs. What design aesthetic defines SevenFriday products? We were quite clear that the watch industry doesnt need a new brand and we wanted to create something entirely different. Its basically like putting in very modern furniture into an 18th century apartment and that contrast is something we want to introduce into our designs. This constant play between classicism and modernism forms the basis of all our products. DK The SevenFriday Space is at 22, Oriental Building, 65, MG Road, Fort, Mumbai. Watch prices start at 88,300. View Full Image The interior of Raw Mangos new store; and (below) a hand cast in bronze supports a pomegranate tree at the entrance. (Raw Mango) Just arrived: Fashions new zen room At first glance, you may not recognize Raw Mangos new flagship store in the Capital. Conceptualized by the brands in-house design team as a tribute to Lutyens Delhi, the 4,750 sq. ft space in Lodhi Colony is cocooned from its surrounding cacophony with white walls marked by an arched doorway and minimal signage. No window displays here. The zen-like white interiors, punctuated by wood and glass, keep the real treasures hiddenopen the cupboards across the rooms and corridors to find the labels signature saris and stitched garments colour-coded and gracefully organized. The display is a recurrent element across the stores, reminiscent of the way clothes are traditionally organized in homes and clothing shops. The store is also an exhibit space where Sanjay Garg, the designer behind the brand and an avid collector, has displayed sculptures and selections from RM 10, a series of collectibles launched by him earlier this year. Seating spaces in the front yard invite guests to linger after their shopping under the cooling shadow of trees. SD Raw Mango, 31, Lodhi Colony Market; Rawmango.in. View Full Image Face the music: Wheres the party tonight? Online community radio station Boxout.fm turns 2 with a celebration in Delhi featuring some of Indias most exciting DJs and live musicians. The Boxout Weekender, on till Sunday, is taking place at two venuesAuro Kitchen & Bar and Summer House Cafe. The line-up includes producer and Skip-A-Beat label head Spryk, activist and reggae musician Delhi Sultanate, London-based percussionist Sarathy Korwar and bass music crew Sub-Z. BK Tickets, priced at 499, are available at Boxout.fm/weekender. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The Hinsdale Oasis over the tollway has been completely in Hinsdale and one of the top sales tax revenue sources for the village. But plans call for the 60-year-old existing oasis to be taken down, though service stations on each side would remain, and possibly some oasis restaurants built near them. It's a little too quiet in California, seismically speaking. The state is experiencing a century-long lull in large, ground-rupturing earthquakes, temblors that actually offset the earth at the surface. The 7.9-magnitude Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 was a ground-rupturing quake; photographs taken in its aftermath show roads and fences with new bends and twists. Now, new research finds that this 100-year earthquake gap is very unlikely to be a statistical fluke. Instead, something geological is probably causing the peaceful period. "We're unusually quiet," said study co-author Glenn Biasi, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Pasadena, California. "The biggest faults and the faults carrying most of the slip have not ponied up." [Images: Rare Footage of the Devastation of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake] Eerily quiet Slip refers to the movement of strike-slip faults, which are prone to produce ground ruptures if they're large enough. That's because strike-slip faults feature two chunks of crust moving alongside each other in opposite directions, like two trains passing each other on a set of north-south tracks. After a strike-slip quake, the surface can be shifted. The centerline of the highway, for example, could stop abruptly and pick up again a foot to the left. In a 2014 conference in Alaska, David Jackson, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that the Golden State hadn't seen one of these quakes since 1918. That century-long gap looked improbable when compared to previous quake patterns in the state. In his talk, memorably titled, "Did Someone Forget to Pay the Earthquake Bill?", Jackson wondered if something was wrong with scientists' data on historical earthquakes. That's where Biasi and his co-author, USGS paleoseismologist Katherine Scharer, came in. The two are experts on long-ago earthquakes and knew that they could figure out whether the seemingly weird gap was just a fluke in the data. The pair analyzed seismic records going back 1,000 years from 12 sites on five branches of California's major fault system: The northern San Andreas Fault, the Hayward Fault, the southern San Andreas Fault, the San Jacinto Fault and the southernmost San Andreas Fault. The system spans from well north of San Francisco all the way to the border with Mexico. Shaky future? By comparing time gaps in ground-rupturing activity at all the faults in two different data sets, the researchers found that the likelihood of all five branches quieting down for a century all at once just by chance was slim to none. In fact, the researchers put the likelihood at 0.3 percent that the quiet period is just a quirk of statistics. Sometimes, a single branch could be relatively quiet, the researchers found, but all of them quieting down at once for 100 years was unprecedented. "We do not think it's happened in the previous thousand years," Biasi told Live Science. The team reported its findings Wednesday (April 3) in the journal Seismological Research Letters. The findings could have implications for the future. The average number of ground-rupturing earthquakes per century is about three or four, Biasi told Live Science. This century has had zero, so a good bet is that the next century will be busier. "Six would be reasonable and has a precedent," Biasi said. That precedent is the 1800s. Between 1800 and 1900, California experienced six ground-rupturing quakes. Then, between 1900 and 1918, the state experienced two more, the 1906 quake and a magnitude-6.7 temblor on the San Jacinto Fault in southern California. That doesn't mean that a huge quake is necessarily imminent, Biasi said, just that the statistical dice are loaded in favor of a number of ground-rupturing quakes. And ground-rupturing earthquakes are not California's only concern. The Bay Area's 1989 Loma Prieta quake, for example, killed 63 people but was not a ground-rupturing temblor. Neither was the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which killed 57 people in the San Fernando Valley. Quakes don't have to rupture the ground to be dangerous. Nevertheless, understanding why the hiatus is happening could help clarify the future threat to California. Unfortunately, Biasi said, scientists aren't yet sure how to explain the lull. One possibility, he said, is that above-average activity of the late 1800s and early 1900s "wrung the system out," releasing seismic tension all at once. The faults might just need more time to build up stress before breaking again. Another possibility, he said, is that there's something synchronizing the activity across these five major faults. What that would be, though, remains a mystery. Researchers will need to experiment with computer models that simulate earthquakes to determine what factors calm California down and which ones make the state shudder. Originally published on Live Science. Today's Google Doodle celebrates the 132nd birthday of physicist Hedwig Kohn, who escaped Nazi Germany and is known for, among other things, her work on flame spectroscopy, a technique that allows scientists to chemically analyze elements by burning them. The Doodle, drawn by Hamburg-based guest artist Carolin Lobbert, shows us Kohn in her lab, where she took samples of elements, set them on fire, and determined the type, characteristics and quantity of the elements, based on the wavelength and intensity of the flame. Kohn's many other claims to fame include being one of three women certified to teach physics at a German university before World War II; contributing more than 200 pages to a leading textbook that became the standard introduction to radiometry (the science of measuring electromagnetic radiation, including visible light); and filing one patent. [Top 10 Inventions That Changed the World] Kohn was born in Breslau (today Wrocaw), Poland, in 1887. The young woman's thirst for education was so strong, that she entered the local university to audit classes in 1907 a full year before women were allowed to enroll, according to the Jewish Women's Archive. In 1913, she earned her doctorate in physics. At the start of World War I, her advisor, Otto Lummer famous for his work on precision radiation measurements, which contributed to the creation of Planck's radiation law recognized her intelligence and drive; he promoted her to assistant. Kohn soon took on a large share of teaching and advising. In 1918, when Kohn was just 31 years old, she received a medal for her service, according to the Jewish Women's Archive. When the Nazis came into power in 1933, however, Kohn was barred from teaching because she was Jewish. She managed to stay afloat by taking on research contracts, but after the 1938 Kristallnacht event when German Nazis attacked Jewish people and property it became clear that she had to leave the country. The scientist's colleagues stepped up to the plate and found ways for her to get job offers abroad. Kohn managed to flee to the United States in 1940. A year later, her only brother, Kurt, was deported to Kovno (a Lithuanian city first occupied by the Soviets and then by the Germans) and murdered. In the United States, Kohn taught at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, and at Wellesley College in Massachusetts until 1952. By the end of her career, Kohn had published more than 20 papers and hundreds of textbook pages on radiometry. Germany didn't forget her, either. In 1952, the Federal Republic of Germany awarded her a pension and the title of professor emerita. She died in 1964. Originally published on Live Science. "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," CW's whip-smart, unabashedly wacky musical comedy, will air its final episode Friday night. And while we're going to miss Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) and her West Covina cohorts, we're especially going to miss the show's musical numbers. Even if you're not familiar with every single episode of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," you can appreciate the original songs, which showcase the show's frank, often vulnerable approach to Rebecca's (very relatable) issues in life and love. The show's musical catalogue leaves its own legacy - one the CW will honor, post-finale, with the aptly named concert special "Yes, It's Really Us Singing." Ahead of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's" final bow, we've ranked the top 10 best songs from the show's four-season run. 10. "I Gave You A UTI" Despite the wince-inducing title, there's a discernible charm about this song, performed in Season 1 by Rebecca's unexpected love interest, Greg (Santino Fontana), as he celebrates the sex that ostensibly caused her urinary tract infection. Fontana delivers the song with the energy of a TV game-show host as Rebecca looks on incredulously. Pass the popcorn - and the cranberry juice. 9. Research Me Obsessively" In Season 2, Rebecca's ex-boyfriend, Josh, begins dating someone else. This ensuing song perfectly captures the uncontrollable urge to pore over the social media accounts of an ex's new girlfriend. The rite-of-passage becomes oddly seductive in the hands of guest star Brittany Snow as her character, Anna, purrs her way through lyrics like: "You know you wanna dig for me, relentlessly, uh huh." Bloom told Vulture that the song was inspired heavily by Selena Gomez's 2015 video "Good For You," and it does a good job of recreating its sultriness. Which helps explain why Rebecca and Josh's other ex, Valencia, are so transfixed by Anna and her multiple Instagram accounts. 8. "Fit Hot Guys Have Problems Too" Toward the end of Season 3, Rebecca's work bae, Nathaniel (Scott Michael Foster), and Josh's cross-cultural doppelganger, White Josh (David Hull), are fed up with being objectified and not taken seriously. The hilarious solution is shirtless go-go dancing, in this gem of a song. "Don't look at us, we're not dancing for you," the duo sings onstage as dozens of clubgoers dance along. "This is our quiet, personal time to reflect, flect, flect, flect, flect." 7. "The Sexy Getting Ready Song" This slow jam - about the great (and often painful) lengths women go through to get ready for a night out - is a classic "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" song and its first to go viral. The song takes a visceral approach to beauty rituals including plucking eyebrows, curling hair with a hot iron and, in a particularly graphic moment, anal waxing. "At first I make everything shiny and smooth because I want my body to be so soft for you," Rebecca sings as a group of backup dancers, in satin robes, chime in: "Bye-Bye, skin. "Let's see how the guys get ready," Rebecca says at one point as the show flashes to an already-dressed Greg sleeping on his couch. The song, which appeared in the show's pilot, also features a cameo from Nipsey Hussle, the rapper who was shot to death Sunday in South Los Angeles. "This is how you get ready? This is horrifying, like a scary movie or something," the rapper says. The end of the episode finds him apologizing to various women who had danced in his music videos. "Denise, I'm sorry that I showered you with Cristal. I didn't ask if you like champagne," he tells one dancer. "And it probably messed up your blowout." 6. "Strip Away My Conscience" This "Chicago"-inspired number, which Rebecca employs to seduce Nathaniel, is so rife with innuendo that the chorus actually just sings the word "innuendo" at one point. "Strip away my conscience, peel away my values, rip off my compassion with your teeth," Rebecca begs Nathaniel, while reminding him that she doesn't exactly like him. "Stop hitting yourself," she hisses after one particularly sensual verse. 5. "Friendtopia" Based on the title alone, you might expect this to be a song about a utopia that places a high value on friendship. But there's a dark turn ahead: the topia refers to a dystopia because this deceptively cheerful song is actually about a group of girlfriends staging a coup in the nation's capital. Bloom and her co-stars Vella Lovell and Gabrielle Ruiz pay homage to the Spice Girls while celebrating their loves of mimosas, rose and ... world domination. The song escalates quickly - about 35 seconds in - when the women sing that they're "gonna braid each other's hair / then cut each other's braids / connect the braids to build a rope / to hang all of Congress." 4. "The Math of Love Triangles" Rebecca channels a 1950s-era Marilyn Monroe as she tries to navigate her complicated love triangle with Greg and Josh. A bevy of attractive math professors show up to walk her through a quick geometry lesson. "This triangle's squalene," the professors croon. Rebecca smirks before taking us back to 8th grade geometry: "That's astute, so I need to decide which man's more acute!" 3. "Love Kernels" There are clear odes to Beyonce's "Lemonade" in this power ballad, which subverts the typical he's-just-not-that-into-you narrative into a song about being so thirsty for someone you settle for whatever you can get. In Rebecca's case, it's "love droplets" - the bare minimum effort of an ambivalent boyfriend - that she eagerly collects "like a hamster in a cage, slurp, slurp." Rebecca tells us the love droplets, combined with her tears, make a full glass of water. But she's still seems pretty thirsty. Toward the end of the video, which is at once ridiculous and brilliant, Bloom breaks the fourth wall to inform us that the shoot used up the show's entire production budget and that Rebecca's boss, Darryl (Pete Gardner), "is now played by a broom on a stand." 2. "Let's Generalize About Men" "Don't get me started on men," Rebecca and her friends say at the beginning of this tongue-in-cheek song that is exactly what it sounds like. "Let's generalize about men," the women sing. "Let's take one bad thing about one man and apply it to all of them!" An '80s-inspired montage follows with the women springing up from salon hair dryers in vibrant electro-pop color robes and triangle earrings. "And why do men never listen and only think about themselves," Rebecca asks before directing a proverbial wink at viewers: "As opposed to women, who always listen and never think about themselves!" "Maybe our spirits will rise if we generalize about men," the women tell us before offering more "blanket statements" about the opposite sex. At the end of the song, Rebecca's best friend Paula remembers that she has sons - prompting a hilariously dark response from the group. 1. "JAP Battle" There were some tough choices in this ranking, but the No. 1 spot pretty easily goes to this stunningly self-aware rap battle between Rebecca and her longtime frenemy, Audra Levine. The two Scarsdale natives (and self-described Jewish American Princesses) trade barbs over their academic credentials ("I put the O.G. in 5.0. GPA," Rebecca boasts), their physical appearance and progressive alliances - with a few Yiddish phrases and a Birthright Israel reference thrown in for good measure. --- The series finale of "Crazy-Ex Girlfriend" airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET on CW. On this date in ... 1919: Four sudden deaths in one day a suicide and three accidents, two due to asphyxiation overwhelmed the Albany coroner's office. Motion picture projectionist Theodore P. Matthews, 33, shot himself in the chest at his Elm Street rooming house, and letters found at the scene indicated he was despondent over an unrequited love. Peter Malone, 36, was asphyxiated by illuminating gas in his N. Pearl Street rooming house, shortly after the gas was turned off to the building because of a leak. Joseph Corellis, 14, of Cedar Hill died when he collapsed from exhaustion after chasing a horse, and in the fall a rib punctured his lung. Mr. and Mrs. Myron Storm were taken to the hospital suffering from asphyxiation from a gas leak in their Elm Street home. She died, but he was farther away from the leak so suffered less of the effects and survived. 1969: Thirty five black students, members of the Afro-American Society at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., seized Hopkins Hall, the college's administration building, to press for acceptance of 15 "non-negotiable" demands made on college officials earlier. Participants on both sides of the dispute were gentlemanly. A small group of white students showed support by sitting on the front steps of Hopkins Hall. A spokesman for the college's FM radio station reported students who had barricaded themselves had a supply of food on hand and that the administration had offered additional food to tide the students over if needed before an end to the impasse. 1994: Baby strollers full of stuffed grocery bags were wheeled into the offices of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Ralph Marino and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. No, the state's political leaders weren't suffering from nutritional deprivation. It was just the way a group of organizations who ran food pantries and Meals on Wheels programs for the elderly chose to demonstrate what they saw as a desperate need for increased funding of the programs in this year's budget. Actually, the bags were stuffed with newspapers, to which a list of food items was attached. Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/ Border Patrol agents from the Hebbronville station arrested nine undocumented immigrants including two with connections to a gang affiliation, according to authorities. On Tuesday, agents responded to a report of several migrants near Bruni. Agents apprehended nine individuals including two individuals, both from Guatemala, who had visible gang affiliation tattoos. The man accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl was found guilty Thursday following a four-day trial in the 111th District Court. Jurors deliberated for almost three hours before convicting Edgar Mario Moreno on three counts of indecency with a child and one count of sexually assaulting a child. The child, Maria, is now 18 years old. Jurors deliberated another two hours to determine Moreno's sentence. He was sentenced to 10 years for one count and three and two years, respectively, for two counts of indecency with a child. 111th District Court Judge Monica Zapata Notzon assessed a five-year probated sentence for the remaining count of indecency with a child. The sentences will be stacked and served consecutively. Moreno will be deported after his sentence is served. In her closing arguments, Webb County Assistant District Attorney Julia Rubio asked the jury to not get distracted by the strategies defense attorneys used because they were trying to manipulate them. Rubio said Maria's story remained consistent throughout the investigation and trial. She said Maria had no motive to lie. READ MORE: Laredo man accused of sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl denies claims "She hasn't seen most of her family in three years. (She lost) her privacy. Her dignity. Her peace of mind," Rubio told the jury. "She started wetting the bed at 16. She had nightmares. She was depressed. She was angry without controlling it. All of these issues didn't exist before the abuse happened." Defense attorney Claudia Balli told jurors the prosecution's story was not consistent. She said it made no sense for Moreno to sexually assault Maria in a room full of people. She said the family did not abandon Maria; it was law enforcement that told Maria that she couldn't keep in contact with her family. "Maria didn't realize the extent of where this (story) was going to take her," Balli said. "She didn't realize the consequences of the allegations. Maria knew that making false allegations is illegal." Balli asked the jury to find Moreno not guilty. In her rebuttal, Rubio told the jury that defense attorneys were trying to manipulate the facts of the case. "Ms. Balli wants to talk to you about the holes in our case, the only hole we have in this case is the hole in Maria's hymen that (Moreno) caused," Rubio told the jury. She said to jurors that they have the power to convict Moreno and by doing so they'd be sending a message to Maria and the community. Victim, defendant, relatives testify Roberto Balli, Moreno's attorney, told the jury during the punishment phase that although they were crushed by their verdict, they respected their decision. "This is one of those cases with no winners," he said after the hearing. "We will be appealing this case to a higher court." He asked the jury to consider probation for Moreno because of the lack of criminal record and his compliance with his bond release requirements. The first to testify on behalf of the prosecution was Christina Carreon, Maria's mother. She stated that she lost everyone in her family from one day to the next. With tears in her eyes, she described to the jury how much her daughter, Maria, has changed. "Maria has tried to hurt herself," Carreon said. "About a week ago, she told me that she had intentions to hurt herself by taking pills just to do away with everything." Maria took the stand after her mother and told the jury that she decided to speak up about the abuse because she didn't want it to happen to any of her siblings. She told the jury she misses spending time with her family. She said she wishes more than anything to reconnect with her family. "I changed as a person," Maria said. "I don't trust people the way I used to. I have my walls up because I'm scared to be attached. I'm scared to get isolated again." She told the jury she was afraid to confront her family in the courtroom after not having seen them in three years. Maria said Moreno took her innocence. RELATED: Jurors hear premise in trial of Laredo man accused of sexually assaulting child "I had never kissed anybody," she said. "It's just something that I can't get back." Steven Carreon, Maria's father, testified that he had trusted Moreno around his kids. "Maria was bubbly, outgoing, tremendous, adventurous, spirited and light-hearted," he said. "She changed. She became shelled, concealed, guarded, frustrated. Became sort of like a loner. She boarded up." He said he will always love Moreno, but he feels betrayed and that Moreno should have never done what he did to his daughter. Nobody ever expects something like this, he said. Defense attorneys then called Veronica Molina, Webb County probation officer, to the stand. She testified that she works with 62 sexual offenders. She outlined the requirements that convicted sex offenders have to go through in order to comply with their probation. Molina said offenders with lengthy criminal backgrounds are the ones who usually reoffend. During cross-examination, Molina said there is no way to guarantee that someone on probation will not reoffend. Angelica Moreno, Moreno's sister, testified that she never knew Moreno to be the type to get into any kind of trouble. She said he was never a drug user or alcoholic. She said Moreno has always been responsible and that he has her support. Edgar Moreno then took the stand and said he was crushed by the jury's verdict. He said that for the past three years, no motions were ever filed to revoke his bond, he's complied with every requirement, he reports with pretrial services every Monday and hasn't committed any crimes. "I am innocent ma'am," Moreno told Rubio during cross-examination. He continued to maintain that he never touched Maria or forced her to touch him. In his closing argument, Roberto Balli asked the jury to consider probation for two years on each count. Balli reiterated Molina's testimony in that he will need to fulfill the requirements of his probation by not being near children, reporting once a month and registering as a sex offender. "This will keep the community safe," Balli said. "He's never been in a courtroom. He is never going to be in a courtroom again because he's never going to get in trouble. Consider giving him this opportunity. He is still going to comply. Just like he did with bond." Moreno feels he was wrongly convicted, Balli said. Rubio told jurors in her closing argument that Moreno still refused to take responsibility for what he did. "We are asking for 15 years on each count," she said. "The defendant determined his prison sentence when he molested (Maria) at age 15. This is not the case for probation." She told jurors they have the ability to send a message to children like Maria and the citizens of Webb County that if someone molests a child, they are going to face the consequences. Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz said he was happy with the verdict and the sentence. He said that this was a difficult case but the verdict is a validation for the victim and her parents. "You have a family divided with the entire family of the suspect taking the suspect's side and isolating and basically blaming the child victim," he said. According to online court records, the Webb County District Attorney's Office offered Moreno a plea offer of five years to serve. He denied the offer, Alaniz said. "Typically in most criminal cases, you look at some sort of resolution without having to re-victimize the child," he said. "There was an offer made given the difficulties of the case. That's normal. In this case, the offer had been rejected by the defendant. What is also important in these cases is the acceptance of responsibility. The defendant was not accepting responsibility." He said he was proud of the effort put forth by his team and Maria's courage. "It made me so happy when she told me and (Rubio) that even though she knows that (Moreno's) family never believed her, it was important for her that a jury in Webb County believed her," Alaniz said. "That's the first step in healing." A man was arrested Wednesday because he allegedly caused damages to a woman's vehicle in August 2017. Jose Angel Vega, 28, was served with an arrest warrant that charged him with criminal mischief. He was released on bond on Thursday, according to Webb County Jail records. Laredo police officers responded to a criminal mischief at about midnight on Aug. 8, 2017, in the 4400 block of Exodus Drive. READ ALSO: LPD: Man accused of causing laceration to girlfriend's forehead after hitting her with phone Officers arrived to find a couple arguing. The female alleged that her common-law husband, Vega, had slashed the tires to her vehicle and broken the windows with a pipe. She stated they were arguing over finances and Vega being unemployed, authorities said. Investigators gathered enough evidence to secure an arrest warrant for Vega. In August 2012, Julian Assange emerged from the red brick Ecuadoran Embassy in London, and stepped onto a small white balcony decorated with the Ecuadoran flag. Dressed in a blue shirt and red tie, and clutching prepared remarks, the Australian whistleblower called on the United States to "renounce its witch hunt against WikiLeaks." For two months before that public appearance, Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, the organization that published hundreds of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables and military documents in 2010, had been holed up inside the embassy, where he sought political asylum after Sweden tried to extradite him to face allegations that he had raped one woman and molested another. He said those charges were a ploy to get him extradited to the United States. And for nearly seven years since, that balcony is about as far as Assange has ventured outside. But on Thursday, WikiLeaks tweeted that a high-level Ecuadoran official told the organization that Assange would soon be expelled from his haven. There was confusion over how accurate that assertion was. On Tuesday, Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno had told Ecuadoran radio that Assange "has violated the agreement we reached with him and his legal counsel too many times." But on Friday, Ecuador's foreign minister, Jose Valencia, tweeted that WikiLeaks' claims were no more than "unfounded rumors." Assange has long feared that even though Sweden has dropped its investigation into him, if Ecuador kicked him out, he would immediately be arrested in Britain, where he is wanted for skipping bail in 2012. And if that happened, he has expressed fears that U.S. authorities would use the opportunity to extradite him to face charges over his WikiLeaks publications. So how did he get to this point? In November 2010, the same year WikiLeaks published hundreds of thousands of leaked U.S. documents, Swedish officials issued an arrest warrant for Assange. Two women in Sweden had come forward and accused him of rape and molestation. The next month, British police arrested him on a European warrant and he was released on bail soon after. But the legal battle continued, with Swedish prosecutors demanding that he be extradited to face the allegations in Sweden and with Assange arguing against his removal from Britain. After much back-and-forth, in May 2012, Britain's Supreme Court ruled in favor of returning him to Sweden. His lawyers requested a brief delay, and the next month, desperate to avoid extradition, Assange showed up at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London and asked for asylum. After spending two months in limbo in the embassy, Ecuador approved his request that August. Three years later, in August 2015, as the diplomatic and legal standoff continued, Swedish prosecutors dropped part of their investigation into Assange but held on to the rape investigation. British police had remained stationed outside the embassy at all times in case Assange left the property, but in October 2015, they backed down, saying the response was "no longer proportionate," even as they continued to pursue his case through other means. Throughout his time at the embassy, Assange remained largely connected to the outside world through the internet. In 2016, he even adopted a kitten, named it Michi, and started a Twitter account for it, with a bio that states, "I live in the Ecuadoran Embassy with Julian Assange: Interested in counter-purrveillance." He told British media that his children had gifted it to him, but The New Yorker later called that narrative into question, reporting that a contact close to Assange said "Julian stared at the cat for about half an hour, trying to figure out how it could be useful, and then came up with this: Yeah, let's say it's from my children." In 2017, Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny announced that Sweden would drop the investigation into Assange. She said Sweden was "not making a statement about his guilt," but that it didn't seem possible to get Assange to Sweden "in the foreseeable future." Britain wasn't willing to back down. In February 2018, British Judge Emma Arbuthnot dismissed requests from Assange's lawyers that Britain drop its arrest warrant for him, calling him "a man who wants to impose his terms on the course of justice." Instead, she upheld Britain's arrest warrant for Assange and said that if the United States sought to extradite him, he would have the chance to argue against his extradition through official legal proceedings. Assange didn't budge from the embassy. And there was some indication that the burden of his presence was growing. At one point, Ecuador limited his internet access. And in November 2018, the embassy issued new house rules for Assange, including that he take care of his cat's "well-being, food and hygiene" - or risk losing the right to have the cat. He was also told that he had to ask permission in advance for outside visitors to come in and should be responsible for his own food and laundry. On Friday, Nils Melzer, U.N. special rapporteur on torture, urged Ecuador to continue protecting Assange. In a statement, he said that if Assange is sent to the United States, he could be exposed to "a real risk of serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." Running a campaign was completely new for me, and I had no idea what was involved, said Plunkett, an attorney and stay-at-home mom. But I was able to connect and interact with so many people, and I really appreciate how wonderful the residents in this community are, and how much they love living in Wilmette. SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Democratic White House hopeful Beto O'Rouke said Thursday that some of President Donald Trump's inflammatory remarks on immigration are reminiscent of language used in Nazi Germany. Speaking at a town hall meeting at a college here in a heavily conservative enclave in the far western corner of Iowa, O'Rourke criticized "the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as 'rapists' and 'criminals' but as 'animals' and 'an infestation.'" "Now, I might expect someone to describe another human being as 'an infestation' in the Third Reich. I would not expect it in the United States of America," the former congressman from Texas added, drawing an enthusiastic response from a crowd of about 150 people, including dozens of young people. In his presidential announcement speech in 2015, Trump famously referred to some Mexicans crossing the U.S. border as "rapists" and as "bringing crime." At a White House event last year, Trump described immigrants as "animals," later clarifying that he was referring to members of the MS-13 gang, most of whose members are from Central America. Trump also went on Twitter last year to decry what he termed an "infestation" of certain parts of the United States by MS-13. And he later tweeted that Democrats "want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13." Speaking to reporters here after the event, O'Rourke doubled down on his comparison of Trump's rhetoric to Nazi Germany when asked if it was consistent with his call to elevate the dialogue in the campaign. "If we don't call out racism, certainly at the highest levels of power, in this position of trust that the president enjoys, then we are going to continue to get its consequences," O'Rourke said. "Silence is complicity in what this administration is doing, so let's call it out. Let's also define a better future for this country, and that's what I've been trying to do in this campaign." In his remarks to reporters, O'Rourke also criticized the Trump administration's policy of family separations at the southern border and its travel ban aimed at several majority-Muslim countries, as well as Trump's comments following a white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017. In the aftermath of a deadly clash between attendees and protesters, Trump said that there were "some very fine people" on both sides. "You draw your own conclusions, but this is not something that I expected to hear the president of the United States of America ever say," O'Rourke said. On the campaign trail, O'Rourke rarely criticizes Trump by name, but he frequently criticizes his immigration policies and the language he uses to talk about the issue. Washington Rejecting a plank of President Donald Trump's foreign policy, the House on Thursday invoked never-before-used powers to demand that his administration withdraw support from the Saudi-led war in Yemen The Senate passed the same resolution in March with bipartisan support. Trump is expected to issue a veto of the measure , his second as president, and Congress does not have the votes to override him. But the action was nonetheless a milestone for lawmakers, who have shown a renewed willingness to assert their war-making powers after letting them atrophy for decades under presidents from both parties. "The president will have to face the reality that Congress is no longer going to ignore its constitutional obligations when it comes to foreign policy," said Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Yemen was plunged into a civil war in September 2014, when rebels known as Houthis swept into the capital and overthrew the country's internationally recognized government. The Saudi-led coalition began fighting the rebels months later in a campaign that Saudi Arabia said was aimed at curbing Iranian influence. At the time, the Houthis were allied with forces backed by Iran; in the years that followed, Iran's role in the conflict has grown. The conflict has been a bloody stalemate for years. Thousands have been killed in Saudi airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, and millions are on the brink of starvation. The war has devastated the economy of Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country. The vast majority of the population cannot afford food to eat. Two lawmakers who have led the charge for the war powers resolution, Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have displayed photos of emaciated Yemeni children when they have given speeches on the Senate floor. "This is a moral stain on this nation, every day that we continue to take part in this war," Murphy said after Thursday's vote. Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican who championed the measure, said it "is long past time that we end U.S. involvement in this unauthorized, unjustified, and immoral war that has caused immense human suffering." While the U.S. has trained Saudi soldiers and sold the kingdom arms for decades, direct support to the Saudi coalition began in 2015, during the Obama administration, with intelligence sharing, logistical support and inflight refueling. The Pentagon ordered an end to inflight refueling last November. Support for the coalition carried over into the Trump administration, which has made Saudi Arabia a central ally in efforts to disengage from the Middle East and take a hard line on Iran. On his first international trip as president, Trump visited Riyadh, where he emphasized business ties between the two countries. Home to key American military bases, Saudi Arabia also remains one of the top buyers of American arms and Trump has made it a priority to loosen weapons export controls. As it has done in the past, his administration on Thursday defended the alliance with Saudi Arabia as a foreign policy imperative. Navy Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokeswoman, warned that curtailing U.S. military support could make the country's problems worse. "New restrictions on the limited U.S. military support could still increase civilian casualties, jeopardize cooperation with our partners on counterterrorism, undercut UN-led peace negotiations at a critical point, and embolden Iran to increase its support to the Houthis which raises the risk for regional conflict," Rebarich said. "We need to continue to work with our partners to minimize civilian casualties and expand urgent humanitarian efforts throughout Yemen. The White House statement threatening a veto said the bill raises "serious constitutional concerns." It also argued U.S. support for the Saudis coalition does not constitute engaging in "hostilities," meaning the War Powers Act doesn't apply. Those arguments were echoed by House Republicans. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the measure "does nothing to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen" and argued the lawmakers were abusing the authority under the War Powers Resolution, which was enacted in 1973. WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi questioned whether a health-care proposal embraced by several Democratic presidential candidates would be too expensive and fail to provide the same coverage as theAffordable Care Act. Instead, Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested Thursday that she would rather build on the 2010 law and is yet to be convinced the Medicare-for-all proposal pushed by many liberals would achieve its purported goals. "I'm agnostic. Show me how you think you can get there," Pelosi said in an interview with The Washington Post. "We all share the value of health care for all Americans - quality, affordable health care for all Americans. What is the path to that? I think it's the Affordable Care Act, and if that leads to Medicare-for-all, that may be the path." She also suggested that Medicare-for-all had become more of a buzzword among political activists in the run-up to the 2020 campaign, a loosely defined concept that few people understood in concrete terms. "When most people say they're for Medicare-for-all, I think they mean health care for all. Let's see what that means. A lot of people love having their employer-based insurance and the Affordable Care Act gave them better benefits," said Pelosi, who shepherded the ACA through Congress in 2009 and 2010 during her first time as speaker. Her comments come as President Donald Trump abandoned plans to press for a vote on a bill to replace the increasingly more popular ACA, often called Obamacare, ahead of next year's elections, as Republicans have had little appetite to take on an issue that benefited Democrats politically. Pelosi's remarks served as the strongest words of caution from a senior Democrat about a policy proposal that is serving as an ideological fault line on the campaign trail and among her own caucus. Republicans also have sought to use Medicare-for-all as a cudgel against the Democrats. Once seen as a far-off hope of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in his 2016 presidential campaign, more than 100 House Democrats co-sponsored Medicare-for-all legislation at an unveiling on Capitol Hill in early February. Rising stars such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have linked arms with veteran liberals in the caucus to promote the legislation. Sanders is again touting Medicare-for-all in his second presidential bid, this time followed by other top contenders such as Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who have expressed support for the plan. But Republicans, and more cautious Democrats, have warned the proposal would end the health-care plans for 180 million Americans whose insurance coverage comes from their private employers, most of whom like their current plans. Just days after announcing her bid, Harris had to backtrack from a comment that she was ready to "move on" from private insurance and "eliminate all of that." Pelosi said Thursday that there would need to be a long runway to move toward Medicare-for-all and that the ACA is a key mechanism to starting a national insurance plan. "I don't think you can say, 'Let's get rid of the Affordable Care Act so we can have Medicare-for-all,' because you can't get to Medicare-for-all unless you have some of the resources of the Affordable Care Act," she said. "So we'll have hearings, again, let's see what it is. Right now it's a $30 trillion price tag. What do people get for that in terms of care, and what do they pay for that along the way?" Pelosi this year promised the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus hearings on single-payer health care in the Rules and Budget committees - but liberal lawmakers want more and have lobbied her for hearings in the powerful Ways and Means Committee - even a floor vote - leading to frustration in some corners. "I, myself, am more concerned about getting a vote for Medicare-for-all," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters last week. Liberal leaders have also confronted Pelosi about her top health-care staffer, Wendell Primus. In meetings with health industry officials, Primus has opposed the idea of Medicare-for-all, according to reports at the Intercept and Politico. Pelosi defended her veteran staffer in the interview. "Wendell is not a member of Congress; Wendell is probably the most progressive staff person on Capitol Hill," she said, noting that Primus left the Clinton administration "because they passed the so-called welfare reform bill, which I voted against." Pelosi has powerful allies on her side in her bid to focus the party on the ACA, not Medicare-for-all. Last month, she orchestrated a meeting between the massive class of freshman Democrats and former president Barack Obama, who cautioned members about the price tag associated with some of the "bold" policy ideas popular in their ranks. Obama didn't specifically name Medicare-for-all, but people in the room said his warnings were clearly aimed at the proposal. He argued that such policy ideas could require tax hikes, and he encouraged those members to think carefully about those costs and be transparent about them with voters. At a low political moment in early 2010, as some Obama advisers recommended pulling back from the ACA, Pelosi served as the leading advocate to go full speed ahead and pass the law. It is her greatest legislative accomplishment in either tenure as speaker, but the ACA was unpopular nine years ago and contributed to the 2010 midterm debacle in which she lost the majority. Last year, after Republicans failed to repeal the law and it grew more popular, Pelosi rallied Democrats around the ACA and its protections for essential benefits such as protecting those with preexisting conditions, leading to a net gain of 40 seats and the majority. On Thursday, Pelosi said Medicare as it exists does not provide enough coverage and would need to undergo a costly overhaul before it could replace many of the private insurance plans. "Medicare is not as good a health benefit as the Affordable Care Act," she said. "So, if you are to do Medicare-for-all you have to improve the package - and when you improve the package, you have to have more money." CAIRO - Libya edged closer to full-blown civil war on Friday as forces of an eastern commander clashed with pro-government militias near the capital Tripoli and an effort by the U.N. chief failed to stop the offensive. A battle for control of Tripoli would mark the most significant escalation of violence in oil- and gas-rich Libya since the toppling of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 following a populist rebellion backed by NATO bombings. After meeting Friday with the renegade warlord, Gen. Khalifa Hifter, in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a tweet that he was leaving Libya "with a heavy heart and deeply concerned." Hifter reportedly told Guterres that his offensive on Tripoli will continue, according to the al-Arabiya TV network. "I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli," Guterres wrote in his tweet. That hope has dimmed. Hifter's forces, which calls itself the Libyan National Army, pushed forward toward the capital and clashed with militias who support the U.N.-installed and Western-backed government. By nightfall, Hifter's forces claimed to have taken an area near Tripoli's international airport, but there was no independent confirmation. With dozens of militias in the heavily populated capital, urban warfare could cause heavy civilian casualties. It also would deepen the chaos and lawlessness that has already turned Libya into a smuggling hub for migrants to Europe and allowed the Islamic State to establish a former foothold in the coastal city of Sirte. More insecurity could pave the way for the militants' to reground, and set off another rush of people fleeing to neighboring countries or over dangerous sea routes on the Mediterranean. Hifter's army is aligned with a separate eastern government. The internationally recognized government is based in Tripoli and only controls parts of the west. But a constellation of well-armed militias in Tripoli, as well as in cities such as of Misrata, view Hifter as another potential dictator in the mold of Gadhafi and have mobilized against him. Hifter was a former general in Gadhafi's army who defected and then spent years living in northern Virginia. He returned to Libya to take part in the revolution against Gadhafi. The offensive took the country and the international community by surprise. Guterres had traveled to Libya this week in the hopes of bring the warring sides to a national reconciliation conference scheduled for later this month. It's main goal was to set up a play to hold long-delayed elections. On Thursday, though, Hifter's forces overran and swiftly captured the town of Gharyan, about 60 miles south of Tripoli. The commander then sent out a recorded message to his troops that was posted online, urging then march forwards toward the capital. "We are coming Tripoli, we are coming," said Hifter, whose forces have pushed toward the city since Thursday. It remained unclear whether Hifter's advance was intended to gain a stronger negotiation position in any talks over the future of Libya. On Thursday, the United States and other countries called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions. France and the United Arab Emirates are widely said to be Hifter's key backers. Fearing a spillover of refugees, neighboring Tunisia has tightened its control over its border, said its defense ministry. The U.N. Security Council has also taken up the issue. "The U.N. is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the U.N. is committed to supporting the Libyan people," said Guterres in his tweet. The independent state agency that regulates Maryland's insurance industry announced Friday that it is conducting a review of insurers that gave money to Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh's "Healthy Holly" children's book company. Pugh, a Democrat, is facing accusations of self-dealing, calls for her resignation and an investigation by the state prosector after revelations that she received nearly $800,000 for her books from groups with ties to state and local government. The Baltimore Sun reported that Kaiser Permanente paid Pugh more than $100,000 for copies of "Healthy Holly" at the same time it was seeking a $48 million contract from a city board controlled by the mayor; CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield said it donated $14,500 to Associated Black Charities to buy 2,000 books; the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund gave a $7,500 donation when Pugh was a state lawmaker sponsoring legislation it favored. The Maryland Insurance Administration said it had expanded its initial review from those three insurers and will not be releasing further information until the inquiry concludes. Mark McCurdy, the director of the Maryland Automobile Insurance Funding, said the quasipublic company "is comfortable" with the review and has forwarded the agency its related documents. McCurdy said the donation was "inconsistent with what we've been doing here since 2015," when he became the director. "I don't know what motivated it," he said, adding that the company, to his knowledge, has never distributed books. CareFirst spokesman Michael Sullivan said the company is aware of the agency's review and will cooperate fully. Kaiser did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Kaiser spokesman Scott Lusk said previously that Kaiser's relationship with Baltimore long predates its contract with Pugh and that the company is reviewing the process through which the books were selected and procured. The Maryland Insurance Administration also said that it is "cooperating with other investigations being done by the state and city related to the University of Maryland Medical System board transactions." The UMMS paid Pugh $500,000 for Healthy Holly books, beginning in 2011, when she was a state senator. She was one of nine board members with lucrative contracts with the system they oversaw. Those board members, including Pugh, have either resigned or have taken leave since The Sun reported the contracts. The UMMS is a private nonprofit organization that operates a network of 13 hospitals and is one of the largest employers in the state. It has received nearly $25 million in public funds in the past two years. Former state Sen. Francis Kelly disclosed that his insurance company made $2.8 million in deals with the hospital system last year and more than $1.6 million in 2017. He had already taken a leave from the UMMS board. Kelly, who served in the Senate from 1979 to 1990, and his sons took leave from all hospital boards affiliated with the UMMS this week. The Maryland General Assembly advanced legislation this week that would dissolve the UMMS board in stages, bar elected officials from serving on the board, require stringent financial disclosures and prohibit board members from making single-source contracts with the system. Baltimore's ethics board voted unanimously Wednesday to investigate whether deals made by Pugh, who has taken an indefinite leave of absence, violated city ethics rules. Associated Black Charities sent a letter to the ethics board, stating that five companies - Grant Capital Management, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, Ariel Investments and Frederick Frank Trust - donated $87,180 to pay for 10,000 Healthy Holly books. J.P. Grant, who heads Grant Capital Management, told The Sun that he gave a separate $100,000 donation to Pugh's Healthy Holly company in 2016. Grant, who said he wanted to support Pugh's efforts to promote healthy living for children, said he received one copy of the book and no documentation that others were printed. He did not respond to requests for comment. Nigeria's movie industry, also known as Nollywood, is open for foreign investments in order to have a wider outreach, according to industry stakeholders. Nollywood is perhaps the largest movie industry in the world in terms of quantity of movies produced every week. However, the stakeholders said funding is one of its major challenges and the industry is in dire need of increased collaboration with foreign investors who can take it to the next level. In an interview with Xinhua, Segun Arinze, a top Nollywood actor and former national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), said the movie industry has opened itself up and is looking for ways to invite more people, including foreigners, to come and invest in it. "One of our major challenges is funding. It is always a major challenge when it comes to filming," Arinze recently told Xinhua in Lagos. With overwhelming popularity, Nigerian movies started to dominate television screens across the African continent and by extension, the diaspora, since the early 2000s. The movie industry also has a strong following in the African diaspora community in Europe, especially in Britain. Arinze, who described Nollywood as "a multi-billion dollar industry that provides employment," said foreign investments are not going to have any negative impact on the industry. In terms of technicalities, the industry has grown in leaps and bounds amid daunting challenges, the former AGN president said. "China, for instance, can go into partnership with Nollywood in terms of technology, finance, and expertise. China and Nigeria have one thing in common: population. Let us have a synergy by working together and pushing the industry forward," he said. Gabriel Afolayan, another actor whose father Ade Afolayan is a pioneer of the Nigerian theater, said stakeholders are currently working hard to maximize every opportunity that they have with support from external bodies and corporate bodies. "We have managed to keep the industry moving and to help with the paradigm shift of how things are. I pray we get better over time," he added. Salt Lake City The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday repealed rules banning baptisms for children of gay parents and making gay marriage a sin eligible for expulsion marking a reversal of policies condemned as jarring detours from a push by the faith to be more compassionate about LGBTQ issues. The 2015 rules that were approved by global church leaders had prohibited baptisms for children living with gay parents until the children turned 18 and disavowed same-sex relationships. With the change, children of gay parents can now be baptized as long as their parents approve the baptisms and acknowledge that the children will be taught church doctrine, the church said in a statement from its highest leadership group called the First Presidency. The faith widely known as the Mormon church said in a statement that it is not changing its doctrinal opposition to gay marriage and still considers same-sex relationships to be a "serious transgression." But people in same-sex relationships will no longer be considered "apostates" who can be kicked out of the religion, the statement said. That label given to same-sex couples in the 2015 policy was widely condemned by LGBTQ members and allies as being demeaning and hurtful to people who already struggle to find acceptance in the faith. "The very positive policies announced this morning should help affected families," church leaders said in the statement. "In addition, our members' efforts to show more understanding, compassion and love should increase respect and understanding among all people of goodwill. We want to reduce the hate and contention so common today." The faith that counts 16 million members worldwide did not apologize for putting the previous policy in place. Troy Williams with the LGBT-advocacy group Equality Utah called the announcement a big step forward for the faith. "Clearly this is a great development for the church," he said. "I think this will go a long way toward healing Latter-day Saint families that have LGBT members." Erika Munson, co-founder of the group Mormons Building Bridges that advocates for LGBTQ members of the faith, said there's a "great feeling of being heard" because the change came after an outcry from church members, including a public mass resignation by several hundred people shortly after it was announced. "We saw the church correct a mistake in record time," Munson said. "Usually these things take maybe 100 years or more." But emotional trauma caused by the policy still lingers, said Lisa Dame, a member of a mothers group called "Mama Dragons" that advocates for parents with LGBTQ members of the faith. Dame said the policy did not affect large numbers of church members, but carried an implicit unwelcoming message. She is a heterosexual Mormon who has five children, including a 33-year-old daughter who is a lesbian. "Especially in the LGBTQ community that are Mormon, it was like a bomb had gone off," Dame said. "There would have been so much more healing to have had an apology that acknowledged the damage." The change marks the biggest move yet by church President Russell M. Nelson, who became the leader of the faith in January 2018 and has made a flurry of changes to how the church functions since taking over, including a campaign to eradicate well-known nicknames for the faith and severing the faith's longstanding ties with the Boy Scouts of America. The announcement came two days before Saturday's twice-yearly church conference in Salt Lake City. It was unknown if church leaders will speak more about the changes during the two-day conference, where church leaders give speeches about spirituality and sometimes unveil new church initiatives. The move marks a reset for the faith on LGBTQ issues, undoing the one major detour from a decade-long path by the faith to carve out a more open and compassionate position on LGBTQ issues while sticking to doctrinal opposition of gay marriage and intimacy between people in same-sex relationships, said, Patrick Mason, a religion professor at Claremont Graduate University in California who studies the faith. "That policy always seemed out of step," Mason said. The policy triggered displeasure and protests from liberal and conservative members alike and hurt the church's image from within, Mason said. National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins has apologized to two graduate students who were blocked from campus after they were asked to disclose their citizenship amid growing opposition to the new security protocol by scientists and others. In an email Friday to all NIH personnel, Collins said he is "deeply troubled" that a Georgetown University graduate student was interrupted during a presentation that was part of an application for a postdoctoral fellowship and escorted from the Bethesda, Maryland, campus. He said he has "extended a personal apology to this individual. "I also have learned of another non-U. S. citizen who had to miss the first day of a two-day meeting because of visitor clearance issues. I am also reaching out to that person to express regret," Collins wrote. In the email, Collins said the visitor clearance process "was mishandled by security staff" and that officials are reviewing recent changes to the way visitors, patients and others are screened to "ensure that all of our guests, regardless of where they are from, are treated with the utmost respect and consideration." Collins' apology followed a Washington Post report that NIH scientists were alarmed by the unannounced start of security measures that require guards to ask visitors to disclose their citizenship. Those who come from countries classified as state sponsors of terrorism - Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea - were told they needed to get advance clearance 10 days before arriving. Those measures are associated with a 2011 policy that covers all facilities run by the Department of Health and Human Services, including the NIH, and requires standard credentials to access buildings, networks and computer systems. In an interview Friday afternoon, Collins said he learned about the incidents as a result of The Post's inquiries. "I was deeply disturbed and felt I needed to get personally involved and reach out to them for how they had been treated," he said. The scientists described what happened to them as "troubling experiences," Collins recalled. "One of them said, 'when you're a scientist, you don't get to choose your country of birth,' " he said. Collins said the problems were triggered by a "software update" that required security guards to fill out the citizenship of everyone receiving a visitor pass at the NIH security building, known as Gateway Center. But there was no announcement of a policy change and few at the biomedical research center were aware of it until several visitors with Iranian citizenship started being turned away. Neither the NIH's website nor that of the Clinical Center mentions that visitors or patients must disclose their citizenship, specifying only that "visitors over 15 years of age must provide a form of government-issued ID such as a driver's license or passport." "It was not communicated in a systematic and effective way," Collins acknowledged. He also said that recent incidents show the NIH is "erratic" in complying with the 2011 HHS policy. "We need to straighten that out," he said. In response to criticism that enforcing the policy would discourage talented scientists from collaborating with the agency, Collins said: "We do want to get the best people, including those not born in the United States." At the same time, he said, NIH is a federal institution that must adhere to federal rules. "We believe we can do that in a way that doesn't result in onerous or painful consequences to people whose contributions we deeply value." Another person affected by the policy was Kaveh Farhadi, a 31-year-old engineer from Yakima, Washington, who said Friday that security guards called NIH police and detained him for 10 or 15 minutes when he tried to donate blood at the campus about two weeks ago. Farhadi, an Iranian citizen, said he had given blood four or five times when he lived in the District of Columbia in 2016 and 2017 and continued to receive requests for his blood type when he moved away. On a visit last month, he decided to donate once more. He said security guards brusquely informed him that because he was from a country designated as a terror sponsor, he could not enter without advance clearance. An NIH police officer made the same point, saying, " 'You are from Iran. You are not allowed to come to NIH like this. We need to check your background any time you want to come over here.' " Groups representing scientists have criticized the policy and questioned whether it amounts to racial and ethnic profiling. David Jentsch, a neuroscientist at Binghamton University in New York tweeted that he would no longer visit NIH for any reason, including to attend conferences or conduct grant reviews, until NIH stops "this inhumane profiling behavior." He said Collins' apology needs to be shared more broadly. "The policy itself affects the entire scientific community," Jentsch said. "We as scientists include as our closest colleagues people from everywhere in the world, including those who had no choice as to where they happened to be born. But they made the choice to come to the United States and contribute to our scientific profession." Crowdfunding feels like a great idea. Its a way to help a startup get off the ground by contributing money in exchange for a gift. Lots of people would love to have known Bill Gates at the start of Microsoft or been best friends with todays equivalent of the Wright Brothers. Today, crowdfunding, which allows entrepreneurs to pitch to the grassroots masses, and avoid bank loans and angel investors, has raised $34 billion globally with 191 platforms in the U.S. alone and is expected to grow to $300 billion as an industry by 2025, according to research by Fundly.com. Any crowdfunding platform will happily tout its successes. Kickstarter links to them on its front page, as does Indiegogo. Crowdfunding even made the movie Veronica Mars possible, with 91,585 donors raising $5,702,153 on Kickstarter back in 2013. And yes, people use crowdfunding all of the time for personal reasons like travel expenses, funds for weight loss programs and skin tightening treatment, and help with legal bills for divorces. But theres a nastier underbelly to crowdfunding: Fraud. Fraud occurs when a business fails to deliver promised gifts to donors (or those gifts turn out to be just plain lemons) or when donor money is misused. State and federal authorities are starting to get wise and catch up to crowdfunding abuses, but in many respects, the industry needs a new sheriff in town. Crowdfunding platforms and legal liability. Crowdfunding platforms are how project creators reach a wider array of possible backers than they might otherwise. Often a project creator has three duties: Follow the crowdfunding platforms Terms of Service, complete the project, and provide all promised perks. At that point, most platforms feel their involvement ends. The University of Pennsylvania conducted a study of Kickstarter, surveying almost 500,000 backers. The study looked at failures and found: 9 percent of Kickstarter projects did not deliver rewards; 8 percent of dollars pledged went to failed projects; 7 percent of backers did not get a chosen reward; and 65 percent of backers agreed or agreed strongly that the reward was delivered on time. Also, the study found that the projects most likely to fail wanted $1,000 or less. While the study did not go into why, that may have to do with tiny projects not getting enough exposure or the inexperience of the project runners. Furthermore, project runner behavior mattered. Backers reported less dissatisfaction if they got a refund or at least a really good explanation for the failure. Related: Beating the Odds and Avoiding Failure When Crowdfunding Kickstarters Terms of Service, part 4, states: When a creator posts a project on Kickstarter, theyre inviting other people to form a contract with them. Anyone who backs a project is accepting the creators offer and forming that contract. A backer is party to a contract. Hence, its a legal agreement subject to legal action if breached. First legal actions. On April 30, 2014, Washington State Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, brought the first enforcement action in the nation against Altius Management, court documents show. This was to pay for irregularities arising from the 2012 Asylum Playing Cards Kickstarter campaign, they said. Ferguson won his case, and the defense had to pay $54,851, according to the attorney general's office. In June of 2015, the Federal Trade Commission intervened in a case involving a misuse of crowdfunding money, suing for $122,000, the FTC said. A part of the verdict involved the defense having to honor all stated refund policies, court documents show. In September 2016, the Oregon Justice Department confirmed that it was investigating the Coolest Cooler, according to The Oregonian newspaper. Although some backers had never received their perks, the product was being sold on Amazon, it reported. In 2017, the company settled with the Oregon Department of Justice, where they were required to deliver to over 800 people who still hadnt gotten coolers, The Oregonian reported. Related: 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Running a Crowdfunding Campaign The sheriff. The Federal Trade Commission protects consumers from scams. And it should be handling crowdfunding. There are some responses to FOIA requests. However, the last one on the FTCs website dates back to 2017. Otherwise, the FTC seems to have been rather hands-off unless funds are misused, as in the 2015 case. But the sheriff may have, after a few years, come back to town, because on August 29, 2018, The Verge reported the FTC is back investigating crowdfunding. After campaigns on both Indiegogo (2015) and Kickstarter (2016), the iBackPack netted over $700,000, it reported. But the backpacks havent shipped yet, The Verge reported, and iBackPack's website no longer works. The campaign runner last updated in 2017, according to the product's Kickstarter campaign page. Its a situation ripe for an investigation by the sheriff. And maybe there will be justice. The deputy. But the FTC doesnt seem to intervene if a product is delivered but doesnt perform as expected. Who handles that? It would appear no one. Where is the Lemon Law for crowdfunded products? Related: In Landmark Move, FTC Takes Action Against Kickstarter Campaign Fraud And which agency is going to handle crowdfunded rewards, perks, and products which injure or kill someone? The deputy, it would seem, has been sleeping on the job. If the crowdfunding industry grows as it is predicted to, we need law enforcement to keep up with it at a similar pace. Related: Perpetrators of Crowdfunding Fraud Can't Hide From The Law Forever Five Ways to Use Other People's Money to Finance Your Growth Como invertir en una franquicia desde 10 mil pesos Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Recently, entrepreneurs Josh Wais and Lauren McDevitt watched one of those little urban comedies New York is famous for unfold on a bench outside a restaurant in Manhattan: A Great Dane, apparently wanting to get closer to his favorite human -- a (much smaller) female -- jumped up beside her, but didn't stop there. "The owner was sitting on the bench outside a restaurant, and the Great Dane" -- a male can weigh up to 200 pounds -- "was trying to sit on her lap," Wais reported, laughing. "He just parked himself on her lap, like it was the most normal thing in the world." Related: Amazon's Dog-Friendly Seattle Headquarters Is 6,000 Pups Strong Notably, the woman didn't shriek, didn't shove, didn't squeal; she actually seemed content with the enormous chunk of canine weighing her down. Metaphorically, it was the kind of ideal canine-human match McDevitt and Wais envisioned when they founded their company Good Dog, and proceeded to attract $6.7 million in investments. The young startup, whose website launched this week, helps people find the right four-footed addition for their family, by connecting them with reputable breeders, shelters and rescue groups. Call it Match.com for canines. "The idea came from our own search for a dog," McDevitt, 29, told Entrepreneur, describing both a personal and professional relationship with Wais, 30. "Both of us -- it's our first dog -- were shocked by how difficult the process is. What kind of dog was right for us?" Especially difficult, McDevitt added, was the "quality" aspect. How do you know you're dealing with a provider who's trustworthy, honest and humane? How not to get a dog Typically, Wais said, the dog-acquisition scenario involves a wannabee owner seeking information from someone on the street holding a cute puppy, or asking a friend for breeder references. Those routes, however, are dicey. In 2017 there were 89.9 million dogs in the United States, according to Statista; that number has spiked from 68 million, in 2000. Related: The Couple Behind 'Dogs of Instagram' Started It as a Pet Project and Now Have 4 Million Followers and a Successful Ecommerce Business And there's no telling how many of those dogs came from disreputable, even cruel sources, including puppy mills, so-called "backyard breeders" and commercial breeding farms, infamous for producing sickly, overbred and emotionally stressed puppies. "Unfortunately, it's the Wild West," Wais said of the market gap he and McDevitt were determined to fill. "It's been, frankly, a very broken process, and it shouldn't be this way." Just last week, he said, friends asked about two breeders the couple hadn't heard of. But because Wais and McDevitt already had experts lined up, and a vetting process ready to go, they quickly steered those friends away from those breeders. "They were scams, and we were able to tell them that," Wais said. An entrepreneurial background Good Dog's founders didn't decide on the fly to start a pet business; they plotted and planned it, based on a solid financial base and corporate backgrounds. Both had worked as customer experience execs at Jet, the ecommerce site. Wais reported to the chief revenue officer; McDevitt led the product management team building the company's website and mobile apps. Both joined relatively early after Jet's 2014 founding, when there were only 30 employees (the company grew to 2,500). But, then, surprise! The company sold to Walmart, in 2016,for $3.3 billion. So, not even two years in, Wais and McDevitt each walked away with "a nice outcome in a very short period of time," as Wais put it. In other words: He's not divulging their good fortune. What Wais-McDevitt did next. The Walmart acquisition left Wais-McDevitt sitting pretty. So they put their experience in entrepreneurship, and especially scaling, to good use for the market need they'd identified: the lack of a central resource for the dog-acquiring market. "We're tech people; we come from that world," Wais said. "And what we found was, there is no answer." Not even major groups such as the American Kennel Club were active in any major way in that sector. "Health and temperament are ultimately what companion animal owners care about, and what folks care about, who are bringing dogs into their homes," Wais said. "And nobody was doing that." Others agreed there was a need, notably venture capitalist David Tisch, of the Loews Corp. family. Tisch injected angel capital and became chairman of the board. Two dozen other investors jumped in as well, allowing Wais and McDevitt not to have to exhaust that Jet.com pot of gold. "We're not financiers," Wais explained. How they and their team 'vet.' "Vet" here, of course, means screening and appraising good sources of dogs. ("Our name is 'Good Dog' because we deliver a really good product," Wais quipped.) Notably, the website vets all sources of dogs, from low-cost shelters and rescue groups to pricey breeders -- in order to accommodate multiple preferences and budgets. "The criteria," Wais noted, "is different not only for every type of source ... but also for every breed. So, we've worked with a group of advisors." Those advisors offer expertise in puppy care, dog temperament (fact: Shiba Inus tend to be stand-offish), dog environments, the health of breeding dogs and shelter/breeder policies (e.g., can dogs be brought back?). Particularly important, on the shelter side, is transparency (does the shelter release its recidivism rate?) Good Dog's advisors include: Of course, three experts can't handle the tsunami of contacts that Good Dog will eventually draw, so Wais-McDevitt set up a screening team in Salt Lake City, headed by Cat Matloub; the entire team has about 20 people. Patrons who actually get a dog from a breeder through the platform will pay about $100 but otherwise information about breeds and breeders is free, as are its many photos of adorable dogs needing forever homes. So, you're getting a dog. What should you know? 1. Are you ready for a dog? Is a dog right for you? "People tend to think about the aesthetic elements: 'What is my dog going to look like?'" McDevitt pointed out. "And at the end of the day, there are temperament and energy level and things you might not even think about." Like coat care: "How often you'll be brushing and taking the dog to the groomer are things that might make a big difference in the match between a person and a dog, beyond the superficial things." 2. Are shelters a bad place to get a dog? "Oftentimes, people think dogs are in shelters mostly due to behavioral issues," McDevitt said. "A lot of time, they're there through no fault of their own: An owner passed away. Someone had an allergy. Financial issues came up where they couldn't afford care. Or they might be moving to a smaller apartment." In fact, Wais-McDevitt urge people to consider shelters and rescue groups first. "We ask that people look there first," Wais said, noting that even kill shelters are on their referrals list. "Shelters and rescues are a symptom of the system," he said. "We want to solve for the problem that's causing the need for shelters and rescues, by helping people only get a dog if they should be getting a dog -- and get the right dog." 3. Is it best to get a puppy? "There are a lot of advantages to getting an adult dog," McDevitt said, listing, for example, their lower level of rambunctiousness and previous house-training. 4. What's important to know about a purebred? "The first thing to consider," McDevitt said, is to think about the health issues that come with your chosen breed. "A lot of times, people see French bulldogs on the street and think they're so cute. But [Frenchies] do tend to have some breathing issues." Related: To Celebrate 'Take Your Pet to Work Week,' Dogs Eat Free at Einstein Bros. Bagels Above, all, the two entrepreneurs said, to attain the perfect match with a dog, you need to manage your expectations. "A dog is a living, breathing creature, and it's going tp grow, and you're going to love it," Wais pointed out. "But it's not going to be perfect. They have their own temperaments. So, know what your own is." As for the dog he and McDevitt are going to get: They've decided: A Havanese. Really, really cute. Woof. Related: These Entrepreneurs Recognized a Gap in the Wonderful World of Dogs -- and Filled It Pet Food Brand Mollybox Gulps $13 Million In Series B Funding Ford Created a Noise-Canceling Doghouse Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Washington Abandoning his threat to immediately seal the southern border, President Donald Trump warned instead on Thursday that he'd slap tariffs on cars coming to the U.S. from Mexico unless the Mexicans do more to stop the flow of migrants and drugs to the U.S. In his latest backtrack, Trump told reporters he would try the "less drastic measure" before resorting to his standing border-closure threat. "Mexico understands that we're going to close the border or I'm going to tariff the cars. I'll do one or the other. And probably start off with the tariffs," Trump said. He added later: "I don't think we'll ever have to close the border because the penalty of tariffs on cars coming into the United States from Mexico, at 25 percent, will be massive." It was the latest, seemingly sudden attempt at new leverage by a president struggling to solve what his administration has called a border "crisis." And it was a dramatic departure for Trump, who last week tweeted that he would close the border or large swaths of it this week unless Mexico immediately halted "ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States" a seemingly impossible task. President Donald Trump has a new argument meant to dissuade people from trying to migrate to the United States. "As I say, and this is our new statement: The system is full," Trump said during an immigration round table in California on Friday. "We can't take you anymore. Whether it's asylum, whether it's anything you want. It's illegal immigration? We can't take you any more. We can't take you." His argument, in generously broad strokes, was that the system was overwhelmed, a function of a surge in migrants seeking entry to the country and that many of them seek asylum upon arrival. But Trump, never one to leave a bole un-hypered, raised the stakes. "Our country is full, our area is full, the sector is full," Trump added. "We can't take any more. Sorry. Can't have it. So turn around. That's the way it is." Our country is full! That's a remarkable phrase that will no doubt alarm pregnant women the country over. Sorry, ladies! You need to either head to Canada or the ocean because that baby simply can't fit anywhere within our great nation's boundaries. This is a joke (for now). Look out of any nearby window and, assuming that you're not currently living in a house set in the middle of a Jay-Z concert, you'll probably notice a bit of space in which someone could stand. Maybe even stretch out for a nap. Clearly we're not full full. But Trump's phrasing nonetheless raises an interesting question. If we wanted to, how many more people could we squeeze into the U.S.? - - - We will start by noting that, on any given day, there are a lot of existing homes that are sitting vacant. The Census Bureau tracks this, in fact. Last year, there were about 3.4 million rental properties that were vacant, along with about 9.8 million year-round homes that sat empty and another 4.2 million empty seasonal properties -- lake houses and ski chalets and such. Let's assume that we fill all of those up, meeting the national average of 2.6 people per household. (Don't spend a lot of time thinking about how these millions of homes will each contain an object that constitutes slightly more than half a person.) With that baseline, we have the ability to immediately house 8.8 million people in those rental properties, 25.5 million in the year-round houses and 10.9 million vacation-home people who will suffer through very cold winters or very hot summers. In total, in other words, we still have space for a bit over 45 million more people before America's really full. - - - At least if we only consider existing housing stock. We could obviously fit a lot more people if we also built a lot more housing. After all, the United States is one of the less-densely populated countries in the world, with slightly fewer people per square mile than Venezuela. What if the U.S. were instead as densely packed as, say, the Gulf nation of Bahrain? Bahrain is the most densely packed country that isn't also a city, with 5,582 people per square mile. That's not as horrible as it sounds; New York City is about five times as densely packed. So how many people could we fit if we built out the U.S. to that same density? There are about 3.5 million square miles in the U.S., meaning that we could have a total population of 19.7 billion people without becoming the mostly densely populated country in the world. In other words, everyone in the world could move here and then spontaneously clone themselves and the U.S. would still be more spacious than Bahrain. Of course we already have 327 million people living here, so we really only have enough space for another 19.4 billion people. - - - Again, though, that's setting a standard for habitation that isn't exactly pushing the envelope. What if, instead of housing everyone, we wiped the entire surface of the U.S. clean and simply packed in as many people as we possibly could? Believe it or not, we've actually considered this question before, at least for a limited area. In 2016, we speculated about how many people could actually fit in Times Square in New Year's Eve, given the regular claims that 14 bajillion people watched the ball drop. To answer the question (about 120,000), we spoke with Dr. Keith Still, professor of Crowd Science at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. Still provided us with the results of his research which, at one point, included tying together a group of men to see how closely people could be and still walk as a group. Still's baseline for manageability is five people per square meter, a density that looks like this. Why five? "When you exceed five, both the psychological and physical limits are reached," Still told us. "It begins to feel cramped and the risk of trips slips, falls and crowd surges increases exponentially above six or seven per square meter." So, in the interest of public safety, let's set our upper limit on how densely packed the New United States will be is at five people for each of the country's ... 9.2 trillion square meters. Meaning that we could eventually see a total of 45.8 trillion people standing on the bare earth of this refurbished nation. How many people is that? Well, about 417 times the total population of humanity over the entire course of history. So just take everyone who's ever lived, clone them 417 times, and welcome them across the border. (Please do not clone Hitler or Pol Pot, among others.) Granted, this would not be a terribly enjoyable existence, everyone standing around bumping into each other until everyone just died. Have a good weekend. China's COSCO Shipping has confirmed on Wednesday it will call at the port of Liverpool after a successful trial last October to offer its clients more efficient services between Britain and Canada. COSCO Shipping is to ship via the port of Liverpool, taking slots on an existing Canadian service via Montreal with Hong Kong-based shipping and logistics company OOCL. Alan Newell, Marketing and Sales General Manager of COSCO Shipping Lines (UK) Limited, said:"Our trial at the Port of Liverpool last year was very successful. On the strength of that we are looking to market slots to our customers with a view to growing traffic on the route." "It's clear that Liverpool has a lot of potential as a gateway for many cargo owners in the north of the UK and we are confident that we are capitalizing on this growing demand at the right time," Newell said. Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports, operator of Liverpool port, said: "Hundreds of cargo owners have already given their backing to the port as their natural trade gateway, and now more shipping lines are coming on board too." "In these uncertain times, one thing that is sure is Liverpool's prime location for serving the heart of the UK marketplace. We're confident that this is just the start with COSCO Shipping, especially with the recent success of our new MSC service," Whitworth said. President Donald Trump will visit a stretch of border wall in California on Friday, capping a week of heated threats against Mexico over undocumented migration and the flow of illegal drugs. In his third trip to the border this year, Trump will view a portion of border wall in the city of Calexico and meet with local law enforcement, a setting he typically uses to reiterate his promises to crack down on undocumented immigration. The visit comes at the end of a tumultuous week that laid bare Trump's growing frustration and limitations in controlling the U.S. southern border. The administration's botched efforts have ranged from an attempt to deter migration by separating migrant children from their families to ultimatums against Mexico that have proved too costly to enforce. One such threat came at the end of last week, when Trump said he would immediately close the border unless Mexico stemmed the flow of migration from Central and South America. But by Thursday -- after an outcry from lawmakers and businesses alike that closing the border would bring economic calamity -- Trump had changed course. Instead, he abruptly said he'd likely impose tariffs on cars imported from Mexico if the country didn't stanch the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the U.S. within a year. "I don't think we'll ever have to close the border because the penalty of tariffs on cars coming into the United States from Mexico at 25 percent will be massive," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. Trump has hammered on immigration since the day he launched his presidential campaign in 2015. It has remained one of the most divisive issues of his presidency and will certainly feature prominently in his 2020 re-election campaign. That's been foreshadowed by rising tensions in recent weeks, as increasing numbers of migrants -- including an unprecedented number of families and unaccompanied children -- have sought to cross into the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nieslen said Monday that the administration will expedite the return of migrants to Mexico and speed up plans to deploy additional personnel to the border. Nielsen, who visited the border and met with officials in Texas and Arizona this week, canceled plans to attend security meetings in France this week in order to accompany Trump to Calexico, an official said. "Next step is to close the Border!," Trump tweeted March 29, calling on Mexico to stop migrants trying to reach the U.S., where "detention areas are maxed out." But by Tuesday, he suggested on Twitter that Mexico was heeding his demand: "Mexico is apprehending large numbers of people at their Southern Border." Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told reporters he didn't know what prompted Trump's message. Mexico's migration policy has been consistent under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and there are no plans to change it, Ebrard said. The number of migrants Mexico has returned to their home countries in January and February hasn't changed much since last year. But Trump said that Mexico had refused entry to 1,000 U.S.-bound migrants per day since Tuesday. "Mexico in the last four days has really done a great job on their southern border with Honduras, with Guatemala, with El Salvador, of grabbing and taking and bringing people back to their countries because they're not gonna come to our country, we're not going to allow it," Trump said. Closing U.S. entry points would have far-reaching economic consequences and hinder $1.7 billion in daily cross-border trade. Supply chains are closely integrated between the two countries, particularly in the auto industry. Car makers and farmers, who have already been hit by Trump's trade war with China, would suffer. The price of avocados already spiked this week. The U.S., Canada and Mexico last year concluded a revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement that would limit U.S. auto tariffs against Mexico. The agreement is pending congressional approval. Trump indicated that he didn't care whether the tariffs he threatened would violate the new trade deal, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, saying Mexico would have to "live with it." Putting tariffs on Mexico-built autos would risk hurting companies including General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which import key models from the country including Chevrolet, GMC and Ram full-size pickups. The U.S. imported 41 percent more vehicles last year than in 2014, according to Commerce Department data. Trump has also sparred with Congress on border security and is calling on lawmakers to revamp what he calls the worst immigration laws in the world. In February, he declared a national emergency to fund the construction of a border wall, after causing a 35-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, in a failed bid to get Congress to allocate the money. Lawmakers voted to oppose the declaration, prompting Trump to issue the first veto of his presidency. Last summer, Maureen Costello, a senior leader at the Southern Poverty Law Center, decided that she had had enough. Several interactions over the years with the organization's co-founder, Morris Dees, had left her uncomfortable, she said. To people outside the organization, Dees had built a reputation over more than a half-century as a leader in the fight for equality - from suing the segregated YMCA in Montgomery, Alabama, to providing legal help to defendants on death row across the Deep South to pursuing the Ku Klux Klan and White Aryan Resistance. But inside the organization, Costello and others said, his reputation was more complicated. Costello said in an interview with The Washington Post that she had already taken her complaints about Dees to members of the board and to the president of the storied civil rights organization. Other senior leaders had done the same, she said, to no avail. On July 30, she turned again to the president, Richard Cohen. "Why is he still here?" Costello said she asked Cohen, an exchange she documented that day in an email to a colleague. "People see him as racist and sexist." "Or an anachronism," Cohen responded, according to Costello. "That would be kinder." Dees, 82, was fired last month for unspecified misconduct, igniting a rush of speculation about what had come between him and the organization he built into a legal and fundraising behemoth. The nonprofit said that Dees had acted in ways that did not reflect "the mission of the organization." Internal documents reviewed by The Post, along with interviews with current and former employees, suggest that the celebrated civil rights organization had been bitterly at odds with its founder for several years. Those battles have centered on his refusal to retire, his behavior toward women and his comments regarding race, according to the documents, the employees and Dees himself. Within days of his ouster, on March 13, the center's longtime legal director abruptly resigned, and Cohen announced that he, too, would step down. Cohen wrote in an email to the organization's employees that "whatever problems exist at the SPLC happened on my watch, so I take responsibility for them." In a series of emails and an interview with The Post, Dees, who is white, strenuously denied any racist or sexist behavior and said he was not fired for misconduct. Dees said that SPLC leaders have been pushing him to retire since 2016, when he was hospitalized with serious injuries after a fall. After several board members confronted Dees last year with complaints about his behavior, and he refused to retire, his pay was cut by $100,000 and he was placed on emeritus status, he said. The nonprofit's most recent tax filings show that Dees made about $375,000 in 2017, more than Cohen. Dees accused the board and Cohen of falsely suggesting he was guilty of misconduct and scapegoating him for what he called their own mismanagement of the center. "I built the Southern Poverty Law Center out of nothing," Dees said in an interview last week in Montgomery, where he lives and the SPLC is based. "This stuff that they're after me about is just total crap." Dees acknowledged a number of previously unreported instances - separate from those involving Costello - in which his conduct with employees had been called into question. For example, he said, the organization's counsel called him early this year to ask if he had hugged a woman at one of the center's legal retreats. The nonprofit declined to comment on his descriptions of these incidents or on his other allegations but in a statement this week said that "many of the assertions Morris Dees has put forward are false." Cohen said in a statement that he fired Dees after a recent investigation into misconduct. He did not respond to questions about the conversation Costello said they had about Dees last summer. "Morris was well aware that his conduct was under investigation and that he had been disciplined in the past for workplace misconduct," said Cohen, who declined to detail the allegations against Dees. "I fired Morris for the good of the Center because of his misconduct." Dees' firing marked a stunning fall for a man long regarded as a civil rights icon. He got his start selling mail-order cookbooks, tractor cushions and other items. He later harnessed his expertise in direct-mail marketing to raise millions of dollars for several presidential candidates and eventually for the Southern Poverty Law Center. The civil rights organization Dees co-founded in 1971 now boasts a six-story building in Montgomery and satellite offices across the country. Its endowment topped $470 million last year, and contributions more than doubled to $132 million in the year after Donald Trump's election. Yet as the center's prominence reached new heights amid national concern about the resurgence of hate groups, its leadership was grappling with how to manage Dees, documents and interviews show. In late 2017, the organization investigated a complaint from a female employee about Dees' behavior after a fundraising event in Atlanta. Dees said that at a social gathering, he approached the woman, put his hand on her shoulder and asked her about a visible tattoo on her arm. He said that, after she asked if he had any tattoos, he pointed to the front of his clothed right thigh, where he said he had one. The Post was unable to reach the woman or others who attended the event to learn their accounts. After the investigation, Dees said he was asked by a human resources official to stay out of the Atlanta office for six months. "No one has ever suggested that you harassed someone," Cohen wrote Dees in a December 2017 email. "But the reality is that you made a young woman feel uncomfortable, and she complained to a supervisor." Dees said three board members came to his home in May 2018 to discuss other concerns. They worried that his clashes with a senior executive over fundraising strategy might have contributed to her decision to resign, he said. They chided him over his interactions with the human resources official who investigated the Atlanta incident. And they brought up two allegations of racially insensitive comments. The first of those complaints concerned remarks Dees had allegedly made about black voter turnout. According to Dees, a senior employee complained that he had said low black voter turnout in Montgomery ensured no black candidate would be elected mayor. He said he could not recall making the remarks ascribed to him. The board members who went to Dees' house did not respond to messages seeking comment. The other complaint that the board members brought up, Dees said, stemmed from a lunch in 2015 with Don Terry, a journalist who at the time was a senior writer for the nonprofit. According to Dees, the men were discussing a recent car accident, and he remarked that he had heard black teenagers in Montgomery are more likely to run red lights. Dees emailed Terry later about a study he'd found online showing that black drivers were not more likely to violate traffic laws. "I stand corrected," Dees wrote. "Thank you for being open-minded about my challenge," Terry, who is black, wrote back. Terry declined to comment on the exchange. According to Dees, the meeting at his home, which has not been previously reported, ended with him agreeing to the pay cut and the move to emeritus status. But some senior leaders still wanted Dees gone, Costello said. Costello, 64, who leads the organization's efforts to combat bias in education, provided emails showing other directors echoing her concerns about Dees and supporting her decision to confront Cohen. One of those people declined to comment, and the other did not respond to messages. "There was not a member of senior leadership who wasn't bringing it up with Richard and talking to board members privately," Costello said. Several other people who were then directors declined to comment or did not return calls. By the following year, Cohen was prepared to force Dees out. On March 11, Cohen told Dees that if he would not resign, he'd be fired. In a text message two days later, Cohen again offered him the chance to "convert the termination into an unconditional voluntary resignation" by agreeing to retire. Dees had less than two hours to decide, the message said. Dees did not accept the offer. Cohen announced his termination the next day. Hours later, more than a dozen staff members signed an email to senior executives that applauded Dees' firing and demanded accountability from "those individuals in leadership and on the Board of Directors who, for years, were aware of and covered up or ignored" allegations of misconduct by Dees. Among more than two dozen people who have worked or socialized with Dees, some described him in interviews as a generous and thoughtful leader, but others said he acted at times in ways that seemed antithetical to the center's mission. At least a dozen people said that they witnessed Dees acting inappropriately with women, including subordinates, or making racially insensitive comments. "Morris made overtures to women who worked for him," said Deb Ellis, one of the first female lawyers hired by the center who worked there from 1984 to 1986. She recalled that one morning she came into work to find a Victoria's Secret catalog on her desk, with a note from Dees on top saying, "maybe your boyfriend would like to order something for you." Dees denied Ellis' account and said he has never made advances toward women who worked for him. Ellis said she warned other women in the office at the time that Dees might approach them. Women who worked there more recently said they, too, exchanged similar warnings. Costello detailed her own discomfort around Dees in a March 11 memo to a human resources official, which she provided to The Post. Although Costello did not know it then, Cohen had threatened that morning to fire Dees if he wouldn't resign. She wrote that at a group dinner she attended in Washington several years ago, Dees turned his attention to a younger female employee and "engaged in an inappropriately sexualized banter" and, as he spoke of his fondness for oysters, "licked his lips in a suggestive way." She also said that once, about four years ago, when she was wearing a sundress, Dees placed his hand on her exposed upper back and let it linger there, after which she tried to avoid him. The incident she detailed most thoroughly involved a group dinner at Dees' home. He asked where her husband was and, hearing he was away, encouraged her to drink heavily and offered to drive her home, Costello wrote. A few minutes later, she said, Dees brought a board member, Elden Rosenthal, into the conversation. "Sure, we can take her home, especially if her husband isn't there," Rosenthal said as both he and Dees laughed, according to Costello. Costello said that she complained the next day to Rosenthal, and that he dismissed the incident as a "joke." She said she talked to Cohen about it and later to Bryan Fair, the chairman of the center's board. Rosenthal, Fair, and Cohen did not respond to requests for comment. Dees denied all of Costello's allegations and said he would never act suggestively with a woman employee. Dees said his wife had expressed concern at the dinner that Costello was too drunk to drive. Dees said she grew angry when he suggested that one of the SPLC security guards drive her home. Costello denied Dees' account. Several former staff members and others who socialized with Dees recalled times when he had made remarks about race that they considered offensive. Almost none were willing to be quoted by name, citing Dees' influence in the small Southern city or, in some cases, nondisclosure agreements they had been required to sign. Jessamine Starr, the daughter of Dees' ex-wife Susan Starr, said she once heard Dees use the phrase "colored people time" when referring to people who were late. She added that given the era and the place he grew up in, "that would be a normal thing to say." Dees denied ever using the term "colored people time" or making any racially insensitive remarks. "Anybody saying I'm a racist is almost a joking matter," he said. Some former employees and longtime friends disagreed with the portrayal of Dees, a recipient in 2016 of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize, as insensitive. "As much as I was around Morris, I never saw him act inappropriately," said Danny Welch, who was working as a police officer when Dees hired him in 1975 as one of the lead investigators for the SPLC's "Klan Watch" project. Welch worked under Dees for a decade. Montgomery lawyer Doyle Fuller, who said he has known Dees for 60 years, said that "to say or imply that Morris Dees has a racist bone in his body is laughable." Fuller added that Dees "spent most of his adult life putting the Southern Poverty Law Center together. That entitles him to a little deference." News of Dees' firing comes in the wake of a string of other controversies that the center has dealt with in recent years. The nonprofit apologized in 2015 after calling Ben Carson an extremist. Three years later, it apologized for including the former British politician Maajid Nawaz, a Muslim and a known critic of Islamic extremism, in a publication called "A Journalist's Manual: Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists," and agreed to a $3.4 million settlement with Nawaz's foundation. The organization has also been dogged by questions, including from former employees, about whether it has been focused on fundraising at the expense of work that would further its mission. Dees' termination also brought to light significant turmoil among staff, much of it described in internal emails reviewed by The Post. On March 8, the nonprofit's associate legal director, Meredith Horton, a black woman, resigned, writing that the SPLC must to do more "to ensure . . . values we are committed to pursuing externally are also being practiced internally." She did not respond to messages seeking comment. On March 14, more than 20 staff members signed an email to the legal department and senior leadership team expressing "widespread alarm and concern" at Horton's departure. "We are deeply concerned about the working conditions," the email continued, adding that "allegations of mistreatment, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and racism threaten the moral authority of this organization and our integrity along with it." Minutes later, Cohen announced that Dees had been fired. In the days to come, Rhonda Brownstein, the center's longtime legal director, abruptly resigned, and Cohen announced that he, too, would step down once an interim president was named. Brownstein declined an interview request, and efforts to reach Horton were unsuccessful. Dees said he had not been active in management or day-to-day operations for more than 15 years and works in the office only two days a week. He said the staff turmoil is evidence that Cohen is responsible for the problems at the SPLC, not him. Some employees saw a 2007 episode as an indication the organization sometimes operated in ways that were in tension with its purported values. Two former employees said in interviews that they quit that year over the way the nonprofit's leaders handled an unusual personnel matter. The employees said that the immigrant wife of a paralegal they worked with approached them to say that her husband was sexually abusing her and had taken away her travel documents. One of the employees, an attorney who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said she sheltered the woman in her apartment and helped her flee to California. Court records provided by the woman show that she later obtained a temporary restraining order against her husband. But the employee said that Brownstein, the legal director, chastised her for her actions. According to the attorney, Brownstein asked, "Why would I get involved in my co-workers' marital matters?" Angeline Echeverria, a paralegal in the same department, said she complained to supervisors, including Brownstein, and pointed out that the Immigrant Justice Project was itself suing companies for taking travel documents away from immigrant employees, a practice associated with human trafficking. "It felt to me very hypocritical that we were suing employers for exhibiting the type of behavior that this co-worker was exhibiting toward his wife," Echeverria said in an interview. Brownstein denied the account in a statement, saying she was aware only of "marital difficulties" between an employee and his wife. "Had I been aware of these serious allegations, I would have taken action immediately," she said. The man could not be reached for comment, and his family members did not return phone messages. He no longer works at the SPLC. The nonprofit has promised that change is underway. It has hired Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama's former chief of staff, to review its "workplace culture and its past practices and policies." And on Tuesday, board member Karen Baynes-Dunning, a black woman and former juvenile court judge, was named interim president to succeed Cohen. The shake-up put to rest what had long been a point of contention between Cohen and Dees. "As I've told you many times, I do not think you (or I) can be the face of the Center as we move into the next 50 years," Cohen told Dees in a March 6 email, adding that working with Dees was "an increasingly thankless job." "You say you plan to leave in a few years," Dees wrote back. "Doesn't mean I have to leave with you." Dees was on his way out a week later, with Cohen not far behind. --- The Washington Post's Julie Tate contributed to this report. A San Antonio man caught trying to leave the country for what he had been told would be a sexual encounter with a minor has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for receiving child pornography and attempted coercion or enticement of a minor. Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia imposed the sentence Thursday on John Edward Reichmuth, a former real estate agent who ran a development company, Reico Enterprises, that he transferred from California to Texas. Reichmuth, 68, was arrested in June 2016 as part of an FBI sting operation stemming from a lead provided by the Simi Valley Police Department in California. Police there had arrested a man named Phillip Schwarz, 46, who had emailed images to Reichmuth and at least one other person of children he had molested, according to court records and news releases. Related: FBI stops mans alleged sex tourism attempt According to court records, Reichmuth expressed an interest in sex with young girls, so the FBI used a confidential source who posed as a businessman and reached out to Reichmuth about a potential business deal overseas. During negotiations, Reichmuth expressed an interest in having sex with a 14-year-old girl in the Bahamas, according to court documents. Arrangements were made for him to meet with Symphony who turned out to be another confidential source working with the FBI, records show. After speaking on the phone with Symphony, Reichmuth bought an Oakley backpack and Nike shoes for her, according to records. He was arrested when he showed up to meet with the businessman to board a private jet at the San Antonio International Airport. Riechmuths wife dropped him off at the airport. After his arrest, he admitted to officers that he was heading to the Bahamas for business and to meet with Symphony, although he denied he would have gone through with having sex with a minor, an FBI agent testified at a previous hearing. I did believe her name to be Symphony, and I believed her to be underage and somewhere ... in the realm of 13ish, the agent quoted Reichmuth as saying. Reichmuth pleaded guilty in September 2018 as part of a plea deal. Schwarz, meanwhile, is serving 40 years to life in prison after pleading guilty in 2016 to numerous charges related to child molestation, records show. Guillermo Contreras covers federal courts in San Antonio and international legal issues. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland UPDATE: Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said the remains found near Government Canyon Natural area were not those of Andreen McDonald. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Friday he hopes to know more about the charred remains found near Government Canyon Natural Area by the end of the day, as the medical examiner's office works to identify them. He also reiterated he was "cautiously optimistic" the remains may belong to Andreen McDonald, 29, the San Antonio businesswoman who has been missing since March 1, though authorities have to be ready for other possibilities. A hiker alerted authorities about the remains Thursday afternoon in the 13000 block of Texas Highway 211. The trail is a heavily wooded area, but cars can reach it through a small clearing off the highway. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Salazar said he is hoping to get a preliminary identity on the remains "that could come in at any time now," he said Friday morning. The remains were so charred that investigators are still unable to determine whether they belonged to a man or a woman. "We've got to handle this as if it's a completely unknown person to us," he said. Salazar also said the remains appeared to be burned there, and they are planning on conducting full-scale searches to find any other evidence. McDonald's husband, 40-year-old Andre Sean McDonald, is a suspect in her disappearance. On March 3, the Air Force Reserve major was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence. He was released from jail on bail earlier this week. READ ALSO: San Antonio man charged with tampering in wife's disappearance released from jail According to court records, investigators found blood and hair in Andreen McDonald's bathroom after her disappearance. A fresh burn pit also was found in the home's back yard, as well as a shovel, heavy-duty trash bags, an ax and gasoline canisters. Salazar said Thursday he hopes dental records could prove to be a breakthrough, but results on that examination has not been completed as of Friday morning. Otherwise, the remains will have to be DNA tested, which could take several months. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA A mother was charged with kidnapping her daughter after authorities scoured two counties for more than seven hours before finding the missing child. Kala Sheffield, 35, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of kidnapping, Bexar County Jail records showed. On March 28, the 7-year-old girl's father and stepmother called police shortly before 5 p.m. to report the girl missing after she was last seen playing with puppies. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The stepmother told police that she was heating up food for the girl and went inside to check on it. When she came back out, the girl was missing and the stepmother saw a white sedan speed away from the street, according to Sheffield's arrest affidavit. Sheffield's relatives informed the couple that the girl was in her mother's custody and that she had intentions of taking the girl to a tribal reservation in Arizona. Police searched for the girl in San Antonio, Leon Valley, New Braunfels and Comal County before they tracked down Sheffield near the 600 block of Lonesome Street in Canyon Lake shortly before midnight. RELATED: Gunman at large after 2 girls shot, S.A. police say Sheffield had contacted the child's father and stepmother before the alleged kidnapping and requested to have a supervised visit with her daughter through their assigned Child Protective Services caseworker, police said. The father denied Sheffield's request, saying he wanted to stick to the court-ordered child custody agreement, according to the affidavit. Police said Sheffield was increasingly agitated after authorities found her, and that she did not want to leave her daughter's side. Sheffield posted her $10,000 bail and was released from jail on Wednesday, jail records showed. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA With belly dancers, gunslingers, reptile wranglers and rodeo entertainers, the allure of the Poteet Strawberry Festival transcends a basket of berries and a plate of fluffy shortcake. Dating back to 1948, this signature springtime affair has drawn crowds by the thousands to the dusty, small town of Poteet, Texas, thirty miles south of San Antonio. You cant turn on cable news or log on to social media without being told what you should be outraged about. Its usually something trivial. And the voices that dominate national discourse often seem more interested in condemning the mistakes of other people than in coming up with practical solutions to serious problems. But heres something we should all be outraged about: We have an epidemic of child sexual abuse in this country. Its not just human traffickers. Its not just clergy. Its everywhere. And we are not doing nearly enough about it. I started as the U.S. attorney in Central and West Texas 15 months ago. Having argued Supreme Court cases for the Department of Justice in a previous job, I thought that I had a pretty good grasp of the scope of the departments criminal work. But I had no idea about the sheer scale and horrific fact patterns of the child abuse cases that DOJ prosecutes. Our offices prosecutions have involved, for example, defendants who assaulted numerous children over the course of years; men who impregnated young girls; and the sexual assault of children as young as 8 months old. Thats not a typo. Weve prosecuted a man who attempted to use cocaine to coax a girl into sex. Weve prosecuted an Army sergeant who abused children on base and convinced a woman to send him pictures of her own children yes, her own children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Another case involved a man who was sexually assaulting his daughter and offering her to others. In a large number of cases, moreover, the predators upload images or videos of the abuse to the internet so that the childrens torture can be viewed over and over by other people, forever. Our office has managed to obtain substantial punishment in these cases, such as a 60-year sentence in El Paso. (Under a 2008 Supreme Court decision, child rapists may not be put to death, no matter the frequency or brutality of the abuse.) And my colleagues all across the country are devoting major resources to sex abuse cases under DOJs Project Safe Childhood Program. But its not enough. These federal cases, as heartbreaking as they are, encompass only a tiny fraction of child abuse nationwide. Federal authority to prosecute child abuse is limited. Most child abuse cases are prosecuted by resource-strapped state authorities. And worse still, an intolerably large amount of abuse undoubtedly goes unpunished. Children, especially very young ones, are less likely to report sexual assaults than adults (and are in many cases totally unable to do so). When child predators upload images or videos to the internet, we often receive critical assistance from the big tech companies. They work through the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help law enforcement stop predators. But when images of sexual assaults are not uploaded to the internet and incidents are not reported by the child victims, detection is very difficult. Rapes and other assaults take place behind closed doors, often involving victims too young to understand that what is happening to them is wrong. Indeed, in many cases that my office has prosecuted, the abuse occurred in the home. For that reason, it is the fundamental responsibility of every American to remain vigilant for abuse of children in their communities, schools, religious institutions and even families. In a nation where ultimate sovereignty rests with the people, keeping the next generation safe is nothing less than a core duty of citizenship. So if you think something seems off in a relationship between an adult and a child, dont push it out of mind. Ask questions. Go to the police if warranted. And take children seriously when they tell you that an adult makes them uncomfortable, whoever it is. At the same time, we desperately need a greater focus by policymakers at all levels on combating child sexual abuse. Is whatever we are spending tax dollars on more important than devoting more resources to preventing child abuse and incarcerating child rapists? And does our criminal justice system prioritize the protection of the most vulnerable over leniency for criminals who torture children? If you agree that the answers to those questions are no, get policymakers talking constructively about things that actually matter. So much public indignation is feigned or exaggerated. But our chronic failure to prevent thousands upon thousands of children from being raped and brutalized warrants our collective moral outrage. John F. Bash is the United States attorney for the Western District of Texas. Flash The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU), has hailed China's efforts in Africa's health sector, in particular its anti-malaria endeavors. Benjamin Djoudalbaye, head of Policy and Health Diplomacy at the Africa CDC, told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday that China has been in a range of interventions in terms of health in Africa, especially in the endeavors of holding back lethal diseases such as malaria on the continent. Reiterating that malaria is one of the leading deadly diseases in Africa, Djoudalbaye said the China-discovered artemisinin-based combination is "a very efficient" drug against malaria, which he said is now the common good of the world. The anti-malaria drug, which is now globally used, is a recommended drug by the World Health Organization (WHO) for malaria, Djoudalbaye said. Artemisinin is China's good contribution to the world, especially to Africa where malaria is the leading lethal disease, said the official. Ahead of TB, malaria is the leading cause of death on the African continent, especially for pregnant women and children under five, he said. "So, this combination is something that we applaud, because it is an effective medicine," he said, adding "It is now something (that) belongs to everybody... It is now the common good for everybody." China is bringing a lot of support to African countries, including in the health sector, within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), he said. As part of its support to Africa's health sector, China has its medical teams deployed in different countries of the continent, he said. Djoudalbaye noted that China, since its intervention against the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been by the side of African experts in terms of preparedness and response of Ebola outbreak. Maxi Zoo is helping pet owners in Longford to protect their pets and homes from seasonal tick and flea infestations by hosting two Take Care Advisory Days at its store at the N4 Axis Centre this month. The free events have been arranged to take place on Friday, 19th April and Saturday, 20th April and the stores pet experts will be on hand throughout each day to talk to pet owners who want to learn all they can about the matter. Ticks and fleas thrive in rising temperatures with one female flea capable of laying up to 50 eggs a day. Each one can develop into a fully grown flea within two to four weeks, with the capability to reproduce daily. Maxi Zoo is urging pet owners to educate themselves about the steps they can take to protect their pet and their homes from the pests, including learning how to identify the tell-tale signs that their cat or dog has fleas. A flea comb is a great investment. Running one through your pets fur will help to find any black specs. You need to take action should those specs become red when moistened with a white cloth, which is a clear sign of infestation, said Emma Fanning, Training and Livestock Manager/Brand Ambassador at Maxi Zoo Ireland. Pet owners should watch out for other typical symptoms of flea infestation such as intensive licking, intensive scratching and restless behaviour. Skin changes, including hair loss and damage to their pets fur, may also occur with infestation. Maxi Zoos range of Take Care products can help to get rid of fleas and includes a flea comb for 6.99 which can also be used to remove fine dust and dirt from your pets coat after they have been outdoors. Long haired dogs need special care during the tick and flea season and a good shampoo will help to ensure that their coat is easy to comb and shine. The Take Care Longhair Shampoo costs 10.49. It is adjusted to the pH of the dogs skin and has a nourishing effect on their skin and hair. Maxi Zoo is also set to reward customers who shop and spend in store between April 8th and 20th. Those who do so will receive a 5 voucher when the spend over 30, a 10 voucher when they spend 50 and two 10 vouchers when they spend 100. All such vouchers must be redeemed in store between April 22nd and 4th May. Anglers in Longford who are willing to become citizen scientists are needed for a new National Salmon Scale Project says Sean Canney TD, Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector. Minister Canney said: As we celebrate International Year of the Salmon, this project will help researchers understand the challenges which salmon are facing today. The project, which has been initiated by Inland Fisheries Ireland aims to collect vital information through scales taken from salmon and sea trout which are caught in Irish rivers and lakes and will contribute to international efforts to conserve wild salmon. Fish scales record the life history of a salmon and one scale can reveal a lot about the lifestyle and behaviour of the fish. Scales can tell scientists what age the fish is, how many winters it spent at sea, how many times it spawned, how slow or fast it grew, what it ate and how long it spent in the river before it went out to sea. Scales can also reveal the general feeding area where the salmon travelled to in the ocean, whether it went to the Faroe Islands, the Norwegian Sea or all the way to West Greenland. Scales help scientists to understand the biology and ecology of Irish salmon and sea trout. As part of the project, anglers in Longford are asked to take a scale sample from a salmon or sea trout by gently scraping and removing approximately 20 fish scales using a clean knife. Anglers are then requested to post their samples to Inland Fisheries Ireland using the sample envelopes which will be made available to them. Scales can be removed from both harvested and catch and release fish. Sampling of fish for release should be handled carefully and fish should be only briefly removed from the water with every effort made to avoid injury or stress while weight should be estimated. Information from salmon scales is used in setting conservation limits for Irish rivers. Conservation limits for each river are set based on the proportion of salmon who have spent one winter at sea and those that have spent multiple winters at sea. The conservation limit for a river represents the number of spawning salmon required to produce the next generation of salmon and this information helps inform angling regulations and management. Information from scales on multi sea winter salmon entering rivers in spring is also important for managing individual river stocks. Dr Paddy Gargan, Senior Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: It is important to have anglers collecting scales as they can provide broad coverage across Ireland and collect scales throughout the fishing season. A scale resource which includes many different river systems in Ireland over several years is a great asset from a research perspective as it allows us to examine the factors affecting salmon survival at sea. We can compare how factors, such as climate change, are impacting survival by analysing todays salmon scales alongside those from many decades ago. All scales collected through the National Salmon Scale Project will be added to the National Salmon Scale Archive which is managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The archive, which consists of a dedicated storage facility and associated database, currently holds 19,300 scale samples from a total of 38 rivers representing 152 sampling years. The National Salmon Scale Project aims to increase the scale resource available to scientists for ongoing and future research. Dr Cathal Gallagher, Head of Research and Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: Ultimately the National Salmon Scale Project will help inform future salmon management policies and activities. It is fitting therefore that we are launching this campaign during International Year of the Salmon which aims to raise awareness of what humans can do to ensure salmon and their habitats are conserved and restored against a backdrop of several environmental pressures. This project offers anglers a very tangible and practical way of playing an active role in salmon conservation. For more information on the National Salmon Scale Project, including how to take a sample safely and to request sample envelopes, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie/ salmonscales. To find out more about International Year of the Salmon visit www.yearofthesalmon.org or www.fisheriesireland.ie/iys A man jailed for distributing tens of thousands of child porn images and videos was "well advised" to drop an appeal against the severity of his sentence, according to the President of the Court of Appeal. Sylvio Rose (51), of Knockloughlin, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography which included 35,000 images and 1,700 videos. The Circuit Criminal Court heard that experienced detectives from the garda Cyber Crime Unit found some of the material so disturbing they were unable to look at it. Rose, a German national, who has been living in Ireland with his wife since 2006, was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson on May 31, 2018. He was due to appeal the severity of his sentence on Monday. However, after a brief consultation with his barristers, Delia Flynn SC and Niall Flynn BL, Rose applied to withdraw his appeal. Ms Flynn told the court that she had explained the implications of proceeding with the appeal to her client. The three-judge court has the power to increase sentences, as well as decrease them, even in severity appeals moved by criminals themselves. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said it was a realistic approach and Rose had been well advised. He said the facts of the case were extremely serious and it appeared to be a singular case. Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Brian McGovern and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, permitted the late withdrawal of Roses appeal. The maximum sentence for distribution of child pornography is 14 years. A man who crashed head on into another vehicle while being three times over the legal limit has been put off the road for three years and hit with a 500 fine. Saulius Vilkys (40) 49 Silver Birches, Longford lost control of the car he was driving while attempting to maneuver around a sweeping bend at Farnagh, Longford on November 21 2018. The court was told Mr Vilkys had crossed over a continuous white line and straight into an oncoming vehicle which was travelling in the opposite direction at approximately 5:45pm. Sgt Paddy McGirl said both drivers were fortunate to escape with only whiplash injuries due to the excellent condition both vehicles had been kept in. His solicitor said the incident was largely caused as a result of Mr Vilkys drunken state and had been attempting to turn right up Farnagh Hill when the collision occurred. Judge Hughes was asked to consider reducing the charge to one of careless driving, a request which was swiftly rejected. No, not when you are three times over the legal limit, he said. The court, in Mr Vilkys defence, was told the incident was very much out of character for a man who had spent the past 14 years in Ireland. Judge Hughes said such was the gravity of the incident, he was considering imposing a custodial sentence on Mr Vilkys. If you had fought the case you would definitely be going to prison, he told him. Judge Hughes disqualified Mr Vilkys from driving for three years and fined him 250 for the Section 53 dangerous driving charge. An additional 250 fine was issued for a Section 4 drink driving charge. A former GAA administrator has been sent forward for trial charged with almost 400 alleged sex offences. The 38-year-old appeared at a special midlands court sitting this evening where details of the 394 charges were relayed before Judge Kevin Kilraine. They include 177 alleged counts of Section 4 rape, 210 sexual assaults, three assaults causing harm and one count each of alleged attempted rape, harassment, false imprisonment and criminal damage. All of the offences allegedly made against two separate victims, took place between 2004 and 2009. Two books of evidence relating to the charges were served on the accused prior to this evening's court sitting. Detective Garda Damien McGovern said he executed 394 arrest warrants on the defendant at Dublin Airport shortly after 8:30am. Later that morning at approximately 10:15am he said he formally arrested and charged the man. State solicitor Mark Connellan said it was the State's application to return the defendant for trial to the Central Criminal Court for trial in relation to the larger book of evidence. A separate application concerning 21 charges in a more condensed book of evidence was made for the defendant to to be returned for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court on April 30. An application for bail was made by the defendant's solicitor Frank Gearty, a request which was denied by Judge Kilraine due to the "extremely serious" nature of the charges which were before the court. A further order, compelling the media to refrain from identifying the defendant in the event such a move could possibly identify both, or either alleged victims in the case, was also made. The defendant, who was wearing a black jumper and trousers and appearing unshaven, was also given the alibi warning-that he must provide to the state within 14 days details of any alibi he intends to rely on in the course of his trial. Judge Kilraine granted a request made by Mr Gearty for his client to receive "general medical attention" while in custody in Castlerea Prison. Flash Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko denied Thursday NATO's accusations that Moscow has deployed nuclear-capable missiles in Europe in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). "There is no evidence that Russia allegedly violated the INF Treaty and we were not presented with such despite our persistent appeals to the United States to provide facts," TASS news agency quoted Grushko as saying. On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an address to the U.S. Congress that Russia has violated the INF treaty by deploying mobile, hard-to-detect nuclear-capable missiles in Europe. Grushko noted that Russia has taken "unprecedented transparency measures" to prove it has not violated the treaty, while NATO ignored Moscow's legitimate concerns regarding many years of violations of the treaty by the United States. He said that the United States is deploying in Romania and Poland installations capable of launching nuclear-capable missiles, using intermediate-range missiles for testing missile defenses, creating a whole class of drones with strike weapons, as well as starting to produce an entire class of weapons capable of carrying out the functions of nuclear weapons, he added. These are real factors that increase the risk of any conflict escalating into a nuclear phase, said Grushko. Russia reserves the right to give a military-technical response, however, wishing to maintain peace in Europe, it will not deploy intermediate-range missiles in Europe and elsewhere until U.S. missiles appear there, according to the diplomat. Russia, in line with its military strategy, may take the decision to use its nuclear weapons outside the nuclear context only in one case when "the very existence of the state is threatened," he said. There have been calls for interim safety measures to be introduced on stretches of the N5 following another serious collision in the Tulsk area earlier this week. Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy was speaking in the Dail chamber under Topical Issues when he raised major road safety concerns on the N5. We know that a by-pass from Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue Cross, is being progressed but we cannot wait for the by-pass. If we do not do something in the meantime, there will be carnage. There are so many near misses and so many people have been injured. Many have been killed over the years on the route from Tarmonbarry to Ballaghaderreen. Over the past 40 years since the N5 was built, more than 30 people have lost their lives on it. If that had occurred in any other part of the country, there would be a significant outcry, said Deputy Murphy. The Fianna Fail TD said that people going about their everyday business in the villages and towns along the road are facing ongoing dangers. This issue affects parents bringing their children to school, people alighting at halls and older people going to day care centres. There has been a big increase in the population of Tarmonbarry in recent years-It is probably one of the fastest growing areas in the county. However, very few new traffic control measures have been put in place in the village. Scramogue Cross is a well-known point in County Roscommon. A regional road cuts through it and there have been several accidents there through the years. Strokestown has not been by-passed and a significant amount of business comes to the town as a result. However, there are now two major housing estates on the Tulsk road on the edge of the town. On numerous occasions in recent weeks, lorries have almost hit cars going into or coming out of those estates. People live in fear of such situations. In Tulsk village, a major regional road cuts through the national primary route. There was a serious accident at that junction earlier this week. There are similar issues in places such as Bellanagare village and Frenchpark, said Deputy Murphy. In his reply, the Minister of State referred to the by-pass and how it is progressing. It will not be in place for a significant number of years - three, four or possibly more. If something is not urgently done in the meantime, there will be loss of life. There are measures that can be taken and which will not cost the Government or Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, a lot of money. A measure that has worked on other parts of the route is a roadside sign on which a driver's speed flashes up. That is one of the best ways of controlling traffic and the signs are working very well across the country, said Deputy Murphy. Deputy Murphy called for immediate contact to be made with TII with a view to establishing what can be done in the short term. An example of an issue that could easily be addressed is the lack of a double continuous white line on the Tulsk road in Strokestown. Many large trucks go through the town and onto that road. It is a threat to people's lives. I ask that the Minister of State, please, bring this message back to the Minister and immediately request that TII carry out an assessment of that issue without further delay, concluded Deputy Murphy. Over the past few days a number of countries have hinted that they are more than willing to help the UK resolve the Brexit mess, apart from France, but for a while now, in public, Spain has said very little to give visitors from the UK and UK residents living here some form of assurances that it is prepared to do all it can to make sure disruption is kept to a minimum. We have been led to understand that behind closed doors Spain are onboard; it even agreed in parliament in Madrid that it will be as sympathetic as possible to UK residents. However, since then it has been more obsessed with Gibraltar, winning its campaign yesterday, and now it has emerged that Pedro Sanchez has compared Brexit to the problem he faces in Catalonia. The prime minister has been quoted as saying that the rhetoric in both cases is based on lies, which lead societies down a blind alley. In a joint interview with The Guardian, La Repubblica, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung he pointed the finger at far-right parties, such as UKIP, for creating the debacle and misleading the general public at the referendum. He even went as far as saying how he would have worded the question - "Do you want to stay in a better Europe?" is how he would have put it. He did say that he and Theresa May have a "very close" relationship, but the EU has made it clear that no unilateral deals can be made until The Deal has been approved. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may be inching closer to signing a trade agreement, but a few obstacles remain. WSJ takes a look back at how the worlds two largest economies got to this point. Photo: Getty After meetings in Beijing last week, Trump administration officials are holding talks with a Chinese delegation in Washington this week. Will U.S. and Chinese negotiators soon reach an end to the trade dispute? WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains. Photo: Getty Flash Ugandans and the Chinese community on Thursday remembered the Chinese construction workers who died during the building of the country's national stadium in 1996. Donned in dark colors, they laid wreaths at the grave site in one of the corners of the imposing 42,000-seater National Stadium, in the central region district of Wakiso. Four Chinese workers were killed during the construction of the stadium at Namboole. Three of the workers were killed due to burning after a bus crushed at the site where they were working. The bus burned instantly leaving them dead. Another one died on a crane. "These four respected experts and technicians themselves are the embodiment of the lofty spirit of China-Uganda solidarity, China-Africa friendship, as well as internationalism," said Chen Huixin, Charge d'Affairs of the Chinese embassy. Chen said China and Uganda would continue to strengthen their bilateral relation to bring more benefits to the people of both countries. Jamil Sewanyana, managing director of Uganda National Stadium hailed the service of the deceased experts. "These men left their home and country for Uganda. They left to serve their country in a foreign land. They left their country to support the people of Uganda," he said. This is the second time the event was organized to remember the departed. This year, the event was held one day before China's traditional tomb-sweeping day. The spectre of a national strike of teachers has been looming over Poland for some time now. But despite the lukewarm attempts by the right-wing PiS government to alleviate the situation with half-hearted concessions, the strike date has been set for 8 April. This day will definitely go down as an important event in the history of the National Teachers Union (ZNP, formed in the course of the 1905 revolution), and perhaps of the Polish working class as a whole. This isnt just a strike accepted by union leaders to let off pressure from the rank and file. This has the potential to become the most important movement of a whole section of the working class since the re-establishment of capitalism in 1989. Strike committees have been organised in all cities. More than 7,000 of them have sprung up in every corner of the country, as they spread even to the smallest towns and villages. New strike committees are being registered every day, completely ignoring nervous warnings from some local labour leaders about legality and associated dangers. The rank-and-file of two rival trade union confederations, OPZZ and Solidarnosc, are breaking the mould of division in an unprecedented way, expressing their natural desire for unity. Especially the cowardly leadership of Solidarnosc, which has been coat-tailing the PiS and has already sold the teachers down the river in a treacherous sell-out, is being shaken up by the strike, as motion after motion is being passed by rank-and-file teachers affiliated to Solidarnosc, displaying their lack of confidence in the leadership. Councils involving teachers, parents and students are popping up across the whole country. The farmers, organised in their own union, have already been emboldened into action, and several other sections of the working class have proclaimed solidarity with the strike and will without a doubt observe it carefully, as they draw conclusions for their own struggles. It is a well-known law that the working class learns a hundredfold faster during strikes than in normal times. This strike will transform the situation in Poland more than any other event in recent memory. It will embolden all other workers to follow suit and begin a new chapter as they move to take their destiny into their own hands. Background For me, the atmosphere is a little similar to the time after 1968 in Europe. I can feel, maybe not a revolutionary mood, but something like widespread impatience. When impatience becomes not an individual but a social experience of feeling, this is the introduction for revolutions. I think some circumstances are also similar to 1968. Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister 2007-2014, current President of the European Council On the surface, this strike might seem completely unexpected. After all, the 2015 parliamentary elections saw the right-wing, fanatically Catholic Law and Justice party (PiS) win the largest majority of any party since the reinstatement of capitalism in 1989. But this paints an entirely incomplete picture of the real situation. The real reason behind the victory of the PiS, which promised a generous series of social reforms, was the deep mistrust and anger against the status quo, especially in extremely destitute and depressed smaller towns and villages, atomised by the privatisation and closure of state industry and collective farms (PGRs). This is where the PiS draws the bulk of its support from. This mood of discontent was brewed by the 30-year long experience of what capitalism really means for the masses. Despite the economic growth experienced by Poland for a whole historical period, it is here where words inscribed by Marx in Capital are more relevant than ever: It establishes an accumulation of misery, corresponding with accumulation of capital. Accumulation of wealth at one pole is, therefore, at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation at the opposite pole. Importantly, this was strongly exacerbated by todays, liberal so-called opposition, which is as responsible as the PiS for making Poland the most-unequal country in Europe by income share of the top 10 percent of earners, according to the World Inequality Database report published earlier this month. The election of the PiS was a very general and confused expression of this anger, which in any case only brought to the fore all contradictions that were already accumulating in Poland over the course of decades. This isnt obvious only to those upper-class liberals who led quiet, peaceful and prosperous lives in houses gated away from the real world of working-class Poland. These statistics, are for them, abstract and baffling. This is why, despite their current hooah of support for the strike, they will prove to be organically incapable of playing any positive role within it. They have nothing in common with the teachers on poverty wages, who are struggling to make ends meet. The reality for millions of people, that both the PiS and PO are so detached from, was emotionally described by an old worker, who gave a speech a while ago in support of striking glassworkers in Zawiercie to the north of Krakow, and which went viral on social media. In the rare breakthrough of a workers voice into the mainstream, we heard the following words: These people working here dont have a penny in their pocket. Can you imagine a working man unable to bring any money home? To tell his child I cant afford to buy you this or that? How can something like this happen in this country? The journalists come here, then they go away, but these workers are down here every day, sometimes I see people running in because their train was late So I ask you, whats this for? Im sorry for the steel workers here, the mortality rates are tremendous. These people are malnourished, these people cant afford to see the doctor, they dont want to watch your television programmes! Do you know why? Because they get home, and they sit in the corner, despairing [about] when theyre going to get any money at all for their hard work. Yes, this year I turned 80. But Ill tell you that I regret growing old and witnessing what is going on in this country. I remember this glassworks since I was little, I grew up here Nothing is the same anymore. This area, Szklarskie Domy, doesnt exist anymore. Almost all the glassworkers, wonderful people, used to live here, they used to be happy, but they had money see Do you know when? Under motherf*cking Communism! Does it have to be the way it is now?... And do you know what else? It really makes you think! That the man responsible for this is not even here! You all come here, but this bastard doesnt! Why doesnt he come to the gate and listen to us?! This movement of teachers proves that the Polish working class is preparing to move onto the stage of history / Image: archive The reader may have heard of the Tale of Two Cities. For decades, the only voice heard in Poland was that of rich bankers, monopolists, clergymen, politicians and other wealthy speculators. The majority of the working class was entirely excluded from politics. This strike is giving real hope and voice to the majority, because it is spearheaded and powered by people like the one quoted above. The movement understanding that this anger stems from the accumulation of poverty, misery and desperation since capitalism was reinstated and endorsed by one government after another, is key to its victory. It is an unfortunate fact that the top leadership of ZNP holds illusions in various pro-democracy campaigns led by these same liberals who attacked education so ferociously, but in this strike, and perhaps at the pressure of the rank-and-file, the leadership of ZNP is openly and correctly denying the liberals a leading role. Indeed, the balance sheet of the eight-year rule by the Liberal Civic Platform (PO) seems to be a book closed by seven seals for these respectable ladies and gentlemen. In fact, the situation is so fragile that the father of PO and current EU bureaucrat-in-chief, Donald Tusk, is preparing a return to Polish politics. But no matter how inflated his ego and saviour complex, his return will not solve anything for the working people of Poland. It cannot be forgotten that he himself helped prepare the emergence of PiS, as he brewed up this bitter discontent with privatisation, job losses and liberalisation of labour laws, required by the capitalists. While the bureaucratic regime of Wladyslaw Gomulka in 1966, thanks to the planned economy, was able to build 1,000 schools to commemorate the millennial anniversary of the baptism of Poland by Mieszko I (which is seen as the countrys birth year), Tusk and co. when in government affirmed that there was no other way but to close down schools en-masse. This record has not been forgotten by the teachers, and judging by the scale of this strike, it is likely that the Liberals are going to become completely sidelined and isolated, although the existing labour leaders will try their best to prevent this. On the eve The strike wont officially begin until Monday, 8 April. However, its preparation is heavily underway, encouraged by a very sympathetic mood from students, parents and other workers. Indeed, it takes place just weeks after the Youth Climate Strike, which in itself was an enormous display of the willingness to fight by the students, as tens of thousands came out on the streets of all major cities. Where the teachers gave support for the students in their walkouts, their students are now displaying solidarity and active support towards the strike, despite it taking place during the exam period: Modziezowy Strajk Klimatyczny pod Ministerstwem Energii. NIE ZABIERAJCIE NAM PRZYSZOSCI!!! #StrajkDlaKlimatu pic.twitter.com/GbzE2qrb5C Piaskiem w oczy (@piaskiemwoczy) March 15, 2019 Youth Climate Strike in Warsaw: Dont take away our future! For several months leading up to talks, the government was only promising more of the same, which is implementing part of the pay rise, months down the line, and the rest of it at an even later date. Over the past few days, the government delegation headed by Minister of Education, Anna Zalewska held intense discussions with the labour leaders. This has caused the ZNP to back down from some of its demands, but there is still no compromise, as the main demands remain unsatisfied. One of the flagship demands is the urge for an immediate pay rise of 1000 zlotys per month, which would raise the living standards of many teachers, whose pay averages at the bare minimum of 1800-2400 zlotys. The government attempts to calm the situation through daily meetings with the labour leaders, yet it continues to offer nothing substantial. For this reason, the ZNP is expected to go ahead with the strike on Monday. For this purpose, strike committees have been formed all over the country, engulfing a huge number of teachers who hitherto had not been involved in any union or political activity. Many of them have never seen a shop steward in their lives. The map below portrays the spread of those strike committees that have been officially declared, and which currently number 7,821 schools and nurseries (79.5 percent of the total). The first, least-populated map represents the number of committees as of Sunday 17 March. The last, most-populated map was drawn up on Saturday 30 March. Strike committees across Poland / Image: fair use The divide between ZNP and Solidarnosc The initiative to call the strike, taken by the ZNP, has had a tremendous impact on the competitor teachers branch of Solidarnosc. It must be said that todays Solidarnosc is not comparable to that at the time of the revolutionary mass movement of 1980/81, when it had 10 million members around the country. Its treacherous and reactionary leadership reduced Solidarnosc to a rump and a mockery of its former self. The leaders are openly sympathetic with the PiS government, regularly betray the workers and openly shake hands with the bosses. To give a hint of their reactionary character, around this time last year, behind the backs of its rank-and-file, the leadership secretly allowed the far-right National Radical Camp (ONR) to hold a rally in the historical building of BHP, where the Gdansk Inter-District Strike Committee of 1980/81 a soviet in all but name used to meet. Surprisingly, this same leadership was drawn into the strike, mainly due to the pressure from the rank-and-file of the teachers branch. However, it quickly went on to conciliate and seek agreement with the government, and it sold out its members on 1-2 April. Although this was expected, this marked an important breakthrough for the government, which can now point fingers at the ZNP and ask Solidarnosc is satisfied, why arent you? However, this move by the leadership has achieved nothing but to infuriate the Solidarnosc rank-and-file, as open dissent is taking place within its membership. Motions of no confidence in the leadership have been passed in Gogow and Wrocaw, calling the leaders saboteurs for their shameful actions. In many other cities, the Solidarnosc teachers simply ignore the leadership and continue to work with the ZNP teachers. In this situation, the ZNP and the entire labour movement should fully expose the class-collaborationist nature of the Solidarnosc leaders and make an appeal to the Solidarnosc membership that their actions will be wholly supported by the entire movement. This could lead to the vomiting out of the reactionary Solidarnosc leaders into the dustbin of history where they belong, and the beginning of the end of the historical divide between the two main trade union confederations: the OPZZ, which the ZNP is affiliated to, and Solidarnosc. This would strengthen, not just the teachers strike, but the future of the entire labour movement in Poland. Class against class One of the main reasons for the strength of the teachers movement and the powerlessness of the government is that this strike is not confined to one or two demands. Its energy and scale meant that it acquired a logic of its own. Through this, it became a point of reference for all the frustrations of the teachers, which are inflicting serious damage on the government. Despite the lies of the PiS politicians and their lackeys in the media, the momentum for the strike only continues to increase. The state-owned TVP (Polish Television), for instance, broadcast a clip where a teacher of a primary school in Szczecin said that she is satisfied with the concessions. This clip was one of many examples of scandalous manipulation by the TVP. The same teacher complained in a Facebook post that the video was shot last year, in relation to a previous agreement, but that this time around she and her colleagues are all going on strike. Citizens Councils / Image: fair use Many Polish workers identify with the teachers grievances and demands, as more and more of their voices come to the surface. This has been coupled with an immense show of solidarity from the parents and the students who are standing hand in hand with the teachers. To express this, a network of Citizens Councils (Narada Obywatelska) have been popping up all over the country. This has been launched by a group of teachers called JaNauczyciel (I, the teacher), which claims to represent 32 thousand members. This has been officially supported by the ZNP, the Solidarnosc teachers, parents support groups, various academic groups and foundations, and also the Union of Polish Cities, representing 300 local city and town councils. The website includes practical advice on how to organise and lists its aims, which include direct communication between students, teachers and parents, getting broader layers involved with the teachers movement, and going beyond simple wage dispute, to underline the broader (systemic) and deeper character. Although the first meetings of these committees are yet to take place, the Citizens Councils have been or are in the process of being formed in most of the main cities, such as Warsaw, Gdansk, odz, Biaystok, Wrocaw, Krakow and Lublin. It is not clear whether these Citizens Committees will play a leading role in the strike, because of their heterogeneous composition and, at the time of writing, a lack of mass involvement compared to the strikes committees. However, depending on how the strike unfolds, this development can potentially gain a logic of its own, in the same way as the strike committees did. If these gain the same kind of momentum we saw on the map of strike committees, it will begin to become a movement that goes beyond the teachers dispute. Already, on the 3 April, Warsaw witnessed a protest of thousands of farmers wearing yellow vests and blocking one of the main roads. Their grievances are connected to the reforms that farmers see as damaging to their industry. But without a doubt, the mood of militancy and anger that the teachers feel affects all sections of the working class. On top of the recent actions by the farmers, messages of solidarity have been passed inside university unions and individually from other workers. This is what the Citizens Councils may begin to express as the movement snowballs. The banner reads: Polish farming is collapsing, we have the government to thank for this / Image: fair use This shows that the struggle of the teachers for better working conditions can potentially become a catalyst for the struggle of the entire working class in Poland. In this scenario, the question of which class holds power in society will become a daily discussion in shop floors, bus stops, pubs and on the streets. Over the past years, we have often heard the disparaging brigade of the liberal-left lament an imminent rise of fascism in Poland. While, as Marxists, we do not underestimate the danger posed by the extreme right wing, we have pointed out in the past that the situation among the masses was different, and the contradictions would explode in terms of heightened class struggle. This movement of teachers proves that the Polish working class, with its incredibly rich revolutionary traditions from 1905, 1917, 1970 and 1980, is preparing to move once more onto the stage of history. Sharp turns and sudden changes are implicit in the situation, and many illusions will be shattered overnight as the workers, through their experience, become conscious of their power as a class. A 37-year-old Dartmouth police officer is on paid administrative leave after being charged with the rape of one child and the indecent assault and battery of another child, officials said. Shawn Souza, a Dartmouth resident, was arrested at the Dartmouth Police Station Thursday by a Massachusetts State Trooper assigned to the office of Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn III, according to a statement from Quinns office. Souza is charged with rape of a child by force, rape of a child aggravated by age difference and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person under 14 years old by a mandated reporter. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Dartmouth, Quinns office said. Souza was held overnight and arraigned in New Bedford District Court Friday morning, where a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf and he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing, which is scheduled for Monday. Police said Souza is on paid administrative leave, consistent with the departments collective bargaining agreement. His department-issued firearm and badge have been seized. The investigation began after Dartmouth police received a report from the state Department of Children and Families, Quinns office said. Dartmouth police reached out to Quinns Special Victims Unit, which conducted the investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of the case and the need to protect the identity of the alleged victims, the court this morning ordered all reports associated with the case impounded, the statement read. Therefore no further information about the facts of the case can be disseminated at this time. The Dartmouth Police Department recently learned about the allegations, according to Police Chief Brian P. Levesque. The alleged incidents did not occur while Souza was on duty, police said. Souza was hired in October 2008 and has served at the rank of patrol officer. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said on Thursday that Elaine Wynn was surveilled in an undercover operation arranged by Wynn Resorts head of security. That was news to Elaine Wynn, her attorney said. He said the developments in the report and at Thursdays hearing were disturbing. My attorneys never like me to editorialize, but I will say that in the world that we live in, gossip is always around, and people would speculate," Elaine Wynn said when Massachusetts gaming commissioner Gayle Cameron asked if she ever recalled being surveilled. I think somebody suggested that maybe I was being surveilled, and I found that difficult to believe," Elaine Wynn said. It wasnt until this morning that I learned that perhaps that was accurate. Cameron first suggested Elaine Wynn was surveilled Thursday morning when discussing Wynn Resorts launching undercover operations. The commissions investigatory report refers to an undercover operation surveilling a former employee, Jorgen Nielsen, after the Wall Street Journal published a story about sexual assault allegations against founder Steve Wynn. The report did not mention, however, surveillance of current employees or shareholders such as Elaine Wynn. Cameron asked Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox if he would have known that Elaine Wynn was surveilled. He said no. Cameron also asked James Stern, the companys head of security, when he testified Thursday afternoon. He confirmed that he arranged the surveillance of Elaine Wynn. Stern said he used company funds to pay investigators to surveil Elaine Wynn when she was around Kazuo Okada, the co-founder who was ousted after being accused of bribing gaming officials in the Philippines. He said he was trying to see if she was tied to the criminal allegations against Okada. Thats what you thought was a good use of company resources, said Cameron, a former undercover operative. A spokeswoman for Elaine Wynn, however, told MassLive that she never met with Okada. The development adds a bizarre twist at the end of the three-day hearing where Massachusetts regulators weighed whether Wynn Resorts and each of its board members should keep the lone casino license in eastern Massachusetts, following allegations of sexual misconduct against founder Steve Wynn. The fate of the license is being determined just two months before the companys scheduled opening of its Everett casino, Encore Boston Harbor. Elaine Wynn worked with Steve Wynn to develop Wynn Resorts. The twice-married couple divorced in 2010 and entered into a shareholder agreement. Under that agreement, Elaine Wynn was awarded half of their shares in stock, but she was not free to execute them in any fashion. Only Steve Wynn could. Their bitter legal and corporate battles lasted for years, but Elaine Wynn became the largest shareholder in March 2018 after Steve Wynn left the company amid harassment allegations. Steve Wynn sold his $2.1 billion stake in the company and returned voting rights to his ex-wife. The details surrounding the Elaine Wynn surveillance claim remain unclear. James Stern did not give a specific timeline about when and how the arrangements to surveil the shareholder were executed. He said only general counsel Kim Sinatra and outside counsel knew about that surveillance plan. Stern said he didnt recall discussing the matter with Maddox or Steve Wynn. The Massachusetts Gaming Commissions Investigations and Enforcement Bureau looked into what Elaine Wynn knew, when other board members knew and how they responded to allegations of sexual misconduct against Steve Wynn. Elaine Wynn recalled feeling run down by her bitter divorce from Steve Wynn or in the fog of war when she received an email in 2009 alleging that her soon to be ex-husband had raped an employee in 2005. She recalls telling Steve Wynn, then-counsel Arte Nathan and Sinatra, but she didnt press the matter when she was told the allegation was an extortion attempt that was handled by outside counsel, suggesting the matter was a private concern, not a company one. Elaine Wynn told Massachusetts regulators on Thursday that she let it go, leaving the allegation out of her suitability application for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in 2013. She said she started questioning the general counsels advice over the next few years when her follow-up questions about allegations were dismissed. I started to sense that there was a bit of a change of tone and mood at the board, and I do believe that I was being referred to as a bitter, cynical ex-wife," she said. That was frustrating for me because I obviously believed that some of the questions I was asking were legitimate questions to be asked by a director, certainly as a shareholder. She said that led to her removal from the board in 2015. It was at that point that I understood there was an interference with our contract." Sinatra, then-general counsel, told investigators that she disputes Elaine Wynns timeline and believe she learned of the allegations from Elaine Wynn by 2012, according to the report. Still, Elaine Wynn insisted on Thursday that the conversations occurred in 2009. In 2016, Elaine Wynn filed a cross-claim regarding a 2005 settlement agreement. That agreement was the $7.5 million settlement between Steve Wynn and an employee who alleged that he raped and impregnated her, which included a retraction order and confidentiality agreement, according to the commissions investigatory report. A day earlier, Elaine Wynn sat two rows behind the other Wynn Resorts board members, hearing Pat Mulroy describe how the board didnt believe her back in 2016. 7 Wynn Resorts board members testify before Massachusetts Gaming Commission Pat Mulroy, who joined the board in late 2015, said she learned months after joining that Elaine Wynn said Steve Wynn had had a non-consensual relationship, though she stopped short of calling it a rape allegation. Mulroy said the general counsel had described the settlement as part of the years-long bitter legal battle between the Wynns. When Stern testified on Thursday, he explained the undercover operation he arranged involving surveillance of Nielsen and Elaine Wynn. He said he arranged to surveil Nielsen because he worried that the former employee had gotten ahold of a list of employees names, numbers and addresses. Stern called it a data breach, though commissioners Cameron and Eileen OBrien questioned that characterization. The report states that Stern wanted to see if Nielsen had made any statements about the allegations against Steve Wynn and whether there was a connection between the allegations and Elaine Wynn. When the Journal article first came out, the company initially dismissed the misconduct allegations as part of Elaine Wynns litigation strategy. Cameron said she couldnt understand how Stern, a former FBI agent, thought the tips he had warranted an undercover operation, especially one in the middle of ongoing investigations into the companys response to the Steve Wynn allegations. She asked Stern if he thought about the potential chilling effect his operation could have caused if employees found out they were being surveilled while being asked about misconduct allegations. Did you think at all about how that could impact those investigations? Im thinking about that now, Stern said. Authorities arrested 27-year-old Victor Mariscal, of Everett, in connection to one of two recent stabbings on Bradford Terrace. Everett police and Massachusetts State Police arrested Mariscal around 6 p.m. in Cambridge on Thursday in connection to the stabbing of a 28-year-old man on Saturday, March 16. Mariscal faces charges of armed assault with the intent to murder and assault, as well as assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. He will be arraigned in Malden District Court on Friday. Ryan said a member of the public identified Mariscal based on a hand-drawn sketch shared by her office, which helped investigators locate him in Cambridge on Thursday. After two stabbings in 10 days on Bradford Terrace in Everett, authorities released a sketch of the suspect, described as a man in his late 20s, about average height with a tan complexion, narrow nose and thin build. On March 16, authorities said a 28-year-old man was walking home on Bradford Terrace in Everett when he was stabbed around 9 p.m. He survived serious injuries and was later released from the hospital, Ryan said. Authorities are investigating whether the stabbing on March 16 is connected to the fatal stabbing of 54-year-old Michael Starr on the same street in Everett on Tuesday, March 26. Starr was walking home on Bradford Terrace after stopping at a convenience store shortly after 9 p.m. when he was stabbed, Ryan said. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Ryan said the attack appeared to be random, ruling out robbery as a likely motive. The investigation into this incident and its possible connection to the fatal stabbing that occurred in the same area is still ongoing, Ryan said in a statement. She added that Mariscals booking photo will not be shared because of the ongoing investigation into the stabbing death of Starr. Following Starrs death, Everett police increased patrols in the Bradford Terrace area and warned residents to remain vigilant." While we continue investigate, we hope this arrest will restore some comfort to the residents of the Bradford Terrace neighborhood, Everett Police Chief Steven Mazzie said in a statement. Louis D. Coleman III, the Providence man accused of kidnapping and killing 23-year-old Jassy Correia after she celebrated her birthday at a nightclub in February will be arraigned in a Boston federal court on Tuesday. On Thursday morning Coleman, 32, was indicted on a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death that could carry the death penalty. Police say Correia, who left behind her 2-year-old daughter Gabriella and a large Cape Verdean family in Dorchester, crossed paths with Coleman while celebrating her birthday at the Boston nightclub Venu on Feb. 24. Authorities believe Coleman kidnapped Correia early that morning and took her to his Providence apartment. Footage from outside his residence showed Coleman carrying Correias limp body - still dressed in the orange romper she wore to the nightclub - inside just before 4:30 a.m. On Feb. 26 Correias father reported her missing to the Boston police, prompting a massive search for the young mother. Authorities quickly zeroed in on Coleman, who was seen walking toward his red sedan with Correia before she disappeared. The same day, Coleman was caught on video surveillance entering his apartment building with Walmart shopping bags. Authorities obtained a receipt from a Providence Walmart, which revealed that Coleman bought three protective suits, duct tape, candles, electrical tape, one mask, surgical gloves, two pairs of safety goggles, an odor respirator and CLN release bleach bath, officials said. A few days later, on Feb. 28, Coleman was pulled over by troopers in Delaware. Shes in the trunk, he allegedly told state police when they asked if someone else was in the car. Correia was found in Colemans trunk wrapped inside a sofa cushion cover. Coleman was arrested and has remained in federal custody since. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said Correia died from strangulation and blunt force trauma. At his initial appearance in the Moakley Courthouse in Boston March 11 Coleman was represented by two court-appointed attorneys, Jane Peachy and David Hoose. Hoose is a Northampton attorney who has previously defended suspects facing the death penalty in federal court. Hoose is known for his experience on the Kristen Gilbert case, in which he convinced a jury to reject the death penalty for Gilbert, who was convicted in 2001 of killing four patients inside a Western Massachusetts veterans hospital. Coleman, who was employed by Waltham-based defense contractor Raytheon prior to his arrest, has not spoken about the case, but agreed to have have no detention hearing and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He also waived his right to have detention and preliminary hearings in the District of Delaware, where he was arrested with Correias body in his trunk, prosecutors said. Coleman also faces multiple charges in Rhode Island, including kidnapping, refusal to report a death with intent to conceal, and mutilation of a dead body, according to the states attorney general office. Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said that while the case is being handled by federal officials, her office is actively involved in the case. Jassy is ours, shes from here. Her family lives here and we take this very seriously, Rollins said. We are not talking about jurisdiction ... were talking about making sure Jassys family has answers. Correia was the second woman to be kidnapped from a Boston nightclub this year. In January a 23-year-old woman went missing after a night out at Hennessys bar on Union Street, and was found alive three days later inside Victor Penas Charlestown apartment. A Suffolk County grand jury indicted Pena, 38, on one count of kidnapping and 10 counts of aggravated rape in March. A Massachusetts State Police trooper was injured early Friday morning when his cruiser was rear-ended by an allegedly distracted driver on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Authorities said the trooper was shielding a highway crew from traffic in his marked cruiser in Boston around 4:40 a.m. when he was rear-ended by another vehicle. The crash happened in the eastbound lane of the highway near the Prudential Tunnel. State police said the driver was distracted and believed to be looking at his GPS at the time of the crash. Authorities said he will be cited. The trooper was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital with minor injuries, treated and released, state police said. The states top public safety official expressed concern over policies rolled out by Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, including her intention not to prosecute most drug distribution charges and many misdemeanors. In a letter released to the State House New Service Thursday night, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Secretary Thomas A. Turco warned that Rollinss recent policy memo could put at risk the Commonwealths ongoing efforts to combat the ongoing crisis of the opioid epidemic. Some of her policies could substantially restrict governments ability to protect victims threatened with serious crimes, Turco wrote in a two-page letter. In a 65-page document released by Rollins in March, the district attorney outlines the ways she will change traditional criminal justice system outcomes such as arrest, detention, prosecution, probation and incarceration." A few of those areas - including her campaign promise of declining to prosecute 15 low-level offenses - have created friction between her office and Gov. Charlie Bakers administration. In her memo, Rollins pledged not to prosecute offenses like 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 others, even when attached to another charge. Turco wrote that a rule declining to prosecute dealers of heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs would interfere with statewide efforts to stop drug distribution networks. Each case will be examined in context, she said, but ultimately Rollins says these charges should be declined or dismissed pre-arraignment without conditions. Rollins also restricts the period of time prosecutors may examine for prior offenses to 36 months. In situations where the line ADA may want to consider charges or convictions older than 36 months, they must first consult with their supervisor, get their approval, and then make a specific note in the case file, Rollins wrote. Turco said this will allow offenders with the worst criminal histories to be treated as first-time offenders. A person who commits a serious crime, receives a lengthy state prison sentence, is released, and promptly commits a new crime is unlikely to have any criminal history during the previous 36 months, most of which will have been spent behind bars, he wrote. Rollins also wrote that she would discourage requests for pre-trial conditions, like stay away-orders, GPS monitoring and substance abuse testing in many cases, unless the person is a specific threat. Turco said this could preclude people charged with crimes against children from being ordered to stay away from playgrounds, or gang members being told to stay away from rivals territory. I appreciate your efforts to think differently about criminal justice, accountability, and public safety, Turco wrote. I urge you, however, to review the concerns I have outlined above and to consider appropriate revisions to the memorandum. Rollins, took office in January, after being out a competitive field of candidates in a September primary. She has laid out a set of priorities that starkly contrast her predecessor Dan Conley. Conley was the district attorney for the cities of Boston, Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea from 2002 until his departure for lobbying firm Mintz Levin and ML Strategies in October. LUDLOW - All 21 cats rescued from an abandoned home in deplorable condition have survived and will eventually be put up for adoption. Police responding to a neighbors complaint entered a home at 237 West St. on March 23 and found 21 cats inside. The house was unlivable with floors and other surfaces covered with cat urine and feces and has been condemned, Police Lt. Daniel Valadas said. The first officers to arrive found a back door open and entered the home to verify no one was injured or deceased. They then secured the house for about 28 hours until they could get a warrant to search the property and remove the cats, Valadas said. On Sunday Police returned with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Dakin Humane Society they captured the cats, Valadas said. Several days later police arrested Carrie A. Douthwright, 42, the homeowner, on a warrant issued from Palmer District Court charging her with animal cruelty. Neighbors told police they had not seen anyone living in the home for months. The cats are believed to have survived because they could go in and out of the house. All 21 cats have now been taken to the MSCPA Nevins Farm adoption center and are recovering, said Rob Halpin, society spokesman. "They are comfortable and safe and we're addressing some very common and minor health issues, such as upper respiratory infections," he said. Society officials expect all the cats will be able to be adopted, but it is too early to know what types of homes will be suitable, he said. They are still very scared and recovering from their ordeal, which includes being rescued, moved by van and being resettled, he said. Flash Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui released an article in Indian media entitled Dragon-Elephant Tango Creating the Asian Century Thursday on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. Although China-India relations have experienced ups and downs, friendly cooperation has always been the general trend and the mainstream, Luo stressed in the article carried by The Indian Express. In his view, China-India relations can be divided into four phases since the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 1, 1950. The first phase was the "honeymoon period" immediately after the establishment of diplomatic relations. In the second phase, after the conflict in 1962, China-India relations fell into a "frozen period." The third phase, from the 1990s to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was the "recovery period" of China-India relations. The fourth phase, from the CPC's 18th National Congress in 2012 until the present, is the "acceleration period" of China-India relations. With great vision, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held their first historic informal meeting in Wuhan in April 2018, Luo said. China-India relations have upgraded and entered the fast track of development, becoming a highlight of China's neighborhood diplomacy, said the Chinese envoy. "This represents a successful practice of Xi Jinping's Thought on Diplomacy." The current sound momentum of development has not come by easily and should be cherished, he said. The two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2020. The ambassador expressed his belief that as two ancient civilizations, China and India have the ability and wisdom to find path for major emerging and neighboring countries to get along with each other, join hands to realize "Dragon-Elephant Tango", create the Asian century and achieve greater glory in the next 70 years. SPRINGFIELD -- An Easthampton lawyer accused of stealing $453,695 from two clients and lying to federal agents pleaded not guilty to a variety of charges in federal court Thursday. Philip R. Williams, 49, was released on a number of conditions, which were not immediately available, during the hearing, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said. He was indicted on March 21 by a grand jury on three counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, two counts of tax fraud, making false statements to a federal official and two counts of engaging in financial transactions greater than $10,000 of proceeds derived from criminal activity, according to court documents. He was arrested on March 31 at Bradley International Airport, in Connecticut on a warrant. In his first hearing on Monday, a judge ruled that Williams be detained, according to court documents. Court records show Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow asked Williams be held because there is a serious risk the defendant will flee. According to the indictment, Williams maintained an Interest on Lawyers Trust Account in a Massachusetts bank to hold funds for the benefit of clients. Investigators allege between Jan. 29 and Dec. 31, 2014 he stole money from a total of $950,000 which two clients transferred into the fund. As part of that scheme Williams stole $453,695 of these funds for his own benefit, his family members, and two associates, according to a statement from Lelling. The indictment also alleges that Williams failed to report the money that he took from the trust account to the Internal Revenue Service. In September 2015 he did amend his tax return and increased his adjusted gross income from $44,439 to $282,000. In addition, it alleges in July 2015 he told federal agents he reported $300,000 of the stolen funds on his tax return. For every type of marijuana offense such as buying, selling, cultivating and possessing black people are more likely to be arrested than would be expected based on their share of the population, according to a study released Thursday by the Cannabis Control Commission. The study does not suggest why this is the case. But researcher Samantha Doonan noted that the literature shows that blacks and Latinos are more likely to experience drug-related legal consequences compared to whites, despite similar use rates. Under state law, the Cannabis Control Commission is tasked with making sure that communities that were disproportionately harmed by enforcement of marijuana laws are now encouraged to participate in the legal industry. The commission is collecting baseline data, which will eventually be used to track how racial disparities change now that marijuana is legal in Massachusetts. These data were not new. They were stark, said Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Steven Hoffman. They reinforced my perspective on the challenge and the wrongs were trying to rectify. The data shows major racial disparities. Blacks represent 5% to 7% of the Massachusetts population, based on census data from 2000 and 2010. According to a national data set, which does not include information from Boston and state police, blacks were arrested for 14% of marijuana crimes in Massachusetts between 2000 and 2013. The most common marijuana offense is possession, followed by sales. Blacks made up 22% of arrests for marijuana sales and 13% for marijuana possession. Hispanics made up 6% to 10% of the Massachusetts population during that time, but were 12% of marijuana-related arrests. Hispanics were arrested for 19% of marijuana sales violations and 11% of possession violations. Those arrested for marijuana violations were almost always 87% of the time men. Data from the state and Boston police reflect similar disparities, with blacks making up a disproportionate share of marijuana-related arrests, compared to their prevalence in the population. Hispanics were disproportionally represented in state police arrests. Data on Hispanics was not available for the Boston police. The only category where whites were disproportionally likely to be arrested was for cultivating and manufacturing marijuana. Overall, the data show there was a sharp drop in arrests for marijuana possession after Massachusetts voters decriminalized small amounts of marijuana on the ballot in 2008. In 2008, the federal database tracked nearly 5,600 arrests for marijuana possession in Massachusetts, compared to 750 arrests in 2009 (not including arrests by the Boston and state police). There were only 230 arrests for marijuana possession in 2017, when it became legal to possess up to two ounces. The number of arrests for sales has fluctuated widely since 2000, ranging from around 400 to 1,200 arrests a year. Doonan and Cannabis Control Commission Research Director Julie Johnson stressed that there are gaps in the data. While there is data on arrests, there is no easy way to track prosecutions, incarcerations and sanctions because there is no central database. There is no data on enforcement of civil penalties the fine levied on people who possessed less than one ounce of marijuana when it was no longer a criminal offense, before it was fully legalized. The study writes that there have been racial dimensions to drug policy since Prohibition, when cannabis was rebranded as marihuana and linked to Mexican laborers. Campaigns during the War on Drugs, a movement started in the 1970s to reduce illicit drug use, tended to tie drug use to black men. Minority groups have historically been subjected to more surveillance and harsher penalties for drug use than whites. Racial profiling has at times been used to identify drug offenders. Today, research continues to find that blacks and Hispanics are arrested at higher rates for drug offenses than whites, despite similar rates of drug use and sales, according to the report. There have been very few studies focused exclusively on marijuana. Some researchers attribute the difference to racial bias, but there have been a variety of explanations given, ranging from differences in drug use behaviors to police practices. Some studies have also found that racial gaps in arrest data persist even after marijuana legalization. Thirteen current and former Springfield police officers are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, April 11, in connection with the alleged off-duty beating of four men in 2015 and subsequent coverup. The officers, who were indicted last week by a statewide grand jury convened by the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, will be arraigned Thursday at 2 p.m. in Hampden Superior Court. They are facing the following charges: -Springfield Police Officer Daniel Billingsley, age 30, of Springfield: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery and conspiracy. -Springfield Police Sgt. Anthony Cicero, age 29, of Hampden: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery and conspiracy. -Springfield Police Officer Christian Cicero, age 28, of Longmeadow: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery and conspiracy. -Springfield Police Officer Igor Basovskiy, age 34, of Springfield: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery and conspiracy. -Springfield Police Officer Jameson Williams, age 33, of East Longmeadow: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery and conspiracy. -Springfield Police Officer Jose Diaz, 54, of Springfield: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with serious bodily injury, assault and battery, conspiracy and misleading an officer/investigator. -Springfield Police Officer Darren Nguyen, age 40, of Holland: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report -Springfield Police Officer Shavonne Lewis, age 29, of Springfield: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report -Retired Springfield Police Sgt. Louis Bortolussi, age 57, of East Longmeadow: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report -Springfield Police Officer Derrick Gentry-Mitchell, age 29, of Springfield: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report -Springfield Police Officer James DAmour, age 42, of Hampden: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report -Springfield Police Officer John Wajdula, age 34, of Springfield: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report -Current Massachusetts State Police trooper and Former Springfield Police Officer Nathaniel Perez, age 27, of West Springfield: Perjury, misleading a police officer/investigator, filing a false police report. Because the case was heard by a statewide grand jury, arraignments will be held in both Springfield and Worcester. All assault-related charges and charges of filing a false police report will be heard in Hampden County, while charges of perjury and misleading an investigator will be held in Worcester, the AGs Office told MassLive. The Worcester arraignment dates have not been set. Diaz, Wajdula, DAmour, Gentry-Mitchell, Perez, Bortolussi, Lewis and Nguyen are expected to arraigned again in Worcester on their remaining charges. Nathan Bills Bar and Restaurant co-owner John Sullivan, bar manager Joseph Sullivan and Officer Melissa Rodriguez were also indicted in connection with the incident, and are expected to be arraigned in Worcester. Billingsley, Cicero, Cicero, Diaz, Williams, Basovskiy and John Sullivan are accused of assaulting Paul Cumby, Jackie Ligon, Jozelle Ligon and Michael Cintron in the early morning hours of April 8, 2015 following a verbal argument at Nathan Bills, a popular Springfield watering hole and off-duty police hangout. They are all already facing charges in Springfield District Court and have pleaded not guilty. Shawn Allyn, Billingsleys defense attorney, has said that his client was a victim in the fight and alleged that Cumby and his group were the actual aggressors. The other defendants in the case, who include uniformed officers who responded to the scene after the altercation, are accused of lying to investigators and the grand jury in an effort to cover up the alleged attack. All the current Springfield officers indicted in the case have been suspended without pay. Walpole police say armed assault suspect Ian Crowley, 31, was captured in Vermont on Friday. Crowley was wanted by Walpole authorities in connection to an attack on Wednesday night. The alleged assault took place around 7 p.m., in the area of 500 Common Street, according to Walpole police. Walpole police initially said the attack involved a knife, but authorities reportedly told NBC Boston that Crowley attacked his mother with a meat cleaver. Police shared a photo of Crowley, who they said fled the area after the attack. A reverse 911 call was sent out to Walpole residents Wednesday warning them of a suspect at large. It is unclear where in Vermont the suspect was captured, and what charges he may face. Walpole police announced his capture shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday. SPRINGFIELD - Twenty-four of the states newest firefighters were sent off on their careers on Friday but not without some last-second advice from those who have gone before. In a ceremony at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academys Springfield campus, the recruits, 23 men and 1 woman, were celebrated on Friday for their successful completion of the 10-week course. They will now report to 12 different fire departments in Western Massachusetts. You entered here as recruits; you are leaving as members of the proud tradition of firefighting, said Peter Ostroskey, Massachusetts Fire Marshal. The 10-week course provided the basics, a foundation, for firefighting, but their real education begins the moment they report to their first firehouse, he said. He urged them to keep learning and training and improving their skills. You learn something new every day. Thats not just a saying. Thats the reality in our business," he said. The main speaker was Lt. Dennis Foley, a 19-year veteran of the West Springfield Fire Department. He relayed a story from his past, when as a fifth-year firefighter, his company was dispatched to a four-alarm fire at a Park Street six-family apartment on June 16, 2002. Two residents were killed and 10 others injured, and firefighters were catching people from the upper floor windows. He said that with every firefighter on scene engaged in life-saving efforts, it was left to him to multitask several other roles in their place, from running lines to the hydrant, operating the pumper truck, and directing water on flames in the room adjacent to where he knew some firefighters were. He said he was still new on the job, and no one was there to give him commands, but he said he instinctively knew what to do. That was because he had been been properly trained at the academy, and he had continued learning on the job. Every firefighter in the room has a story that will tell you who they are and what they do, he said. Take pride in what you do. Be ready. You never know what is going to come, he said. The graduates are the 10th class to complete training at the Springfield campus since it opened in 2016 The graduating class, by community: PHOENIX, Ariz. For the first time, Alex Cora is facing adversity as Red Sox manager. His club is 2-6 after losing three of four games in Seattle and three of four games in Oakland. The Sox open a three-game series in Arizona today (Friday) at 7:10 p.m., eastern time before heading home for Opening Day at Fenway on Tuesday. I love paying attention to details and thats something I took pride (in) last year, Cora said after Bostons loss Thursday in Oakland. And right now were not paying attention to details. So thats on us. Thats on me. Thats on the staff. FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 7:10 p.m., EASTERN: RHP Rick Porcello (0-1, 13.50) vs. RHP Zack Godley (0-1, 11.81) TV: NESN Radio: 93.7 FM (Boston) / 1440 AM (Worcester) / 105.5 FM (Springfield) SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 8:10 p.m., EASTERN: LHP David Price (0-1, 6.00) RHP vs. Luke Weaver (0-0, 8.31) TV: NESN Radio: 93.7 FM (Boston) / 1440 AM (Worcester) / 105.5 FM (Springfield) SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 4:10 p.m., EASTERN: TBD vs. RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0, 4.50) TV: NESN Radio: 93.7 FM (Boston) / 1440 AM (Worcester) / 105.5 FM (Springfield) LIVE STREAM: NESNgo and MLB.tv FIVE THINGS TO WATCH 1. J.D. Martinez dominated when Chase Field was his home ballpark Martinez batted .302 with a .366 on-base percentage, .741 slugging percentage, 1.107 OPS, 29 homers, 13 doubles, one triple and 65 RBIs in 62 games (257 plate appearances) for the Diamondbacks in 2017 after being trade there from the Tigers. He has a career .345/.424/.813/1.237 line with 18 homers, 11 doubles and 40 RBIs in 38 games (158 plate appearances) at Chase Field. 2. Two worst starting rotations in the majors The Diamondbacks own the majors second worst starting pitching ERA behind the Red Sox. Arizona starters have allowed 29 earned runs in 35.2 innings for a 7.32 ERA. Red Sox starters have posted a 9.08 ERA (35.2 innings, 36 earned runs). 3. Springfield native Nick Ahmed plays for Arizona Ahmed, a graduate of East Longmeadow High, won the 2018 NL Gold Glove at shortstop. Hes 7-for-28 (.250) with five RBIs and three doubles so far in 2019. 4. Torey Lovullo in the other dugout Lovullo served as Red Sox interim manager late in the 2015 season when John Farrell left the club to receive treatments for lymphoma. He guided Boston to a 28-20 record after the team went 50-64 under Farrell. Lovullo won 2017 National League Manager of the Year in his first season with the Diamondbacks. 5. Diamondbacks offense has slugged The Diamondbacks lead the majors in doubles (22). They rank third in slugging percentage (.526), fourth in homers (14) and runs (41), and fifth in OPS (.850), The longtime owner of Worcesters Midtown Mall told the city that he will clean up the property by improving its facades, signage and aesthetics, and is considering turning some of buildings upper floors into apartments. Dean Marcus, who has owned the blighted property since 1980, spoke before the Worcester Redevelopment Authority Thursday night as it held a public hearing to solicit input about the future of the building, which the city is considering taking by eminent domain. The board told Marcus to return with a detailed, written plan within 30 days, including which developers hes partnering with, how the work will be financed and a timeline for when the work will be started and completed. I think it is essential that we see in writing what you propose to do, Redevelopment Authority member Michael Angelini said, adding, Your credibility is an issue. The meeting, originally scheduled to solicit the community's vision for the future of the building, quickly turned into a conversation about whether the Midtown Mall is an adequate incubator for small, minority-owned businesses. While some argued that the building is an important space for primarily minority-owned businesses to grow, others said the property is underutilized and unsafe. According to a report by city inspectional services and the police department, there have been 602 police calls to the building over the past decade and 21 code violations since 2014. Michael Traynor, the citys chief development officer, previously told the Redevelopment Authority that there have been multiple instances of overflowing trash, mold, a lack of occupancy permits, broken glass, accessibility issues, significant fire safety issues, faulty emergency lighting and blocked egresses, among other problems. Despite the building's condition, many tenants spoke before the board to describe the close-knit community that exists within the Midtown Mall, with some offering to band together to fix up the space themselves. Businesses in the mall range from small retail stores to churches. We are willing to work with (Marcus) to get to where the city wants us to be at, said one pastor, who identified himself as Rev. William. Many who spoke acknowledged that some investment in the building is needed, but said the mall has created an affordable incubator. I believe Worcester is moving toward the right direction and once were moving toward that direction, we have to take everyone along, said tenant Michael Agbortoko, adding that he wants the building to be a place where immigrants and minorities can jumpstart their businesses. Ive never seen anyone come to us, the villagers, and talk to us as business owners, as humans. He said the Midtown Mall is a local landmark, comparing it to Boston's Faneuil Hall, that should be preserved. "The important thing is Mr. Marcus is willing to work with us, we are willing to work with him and we'll be fine," he said. Marcus told the board that he spoke with an architect who said the third, fourth and fifth floor could be converted into small, affordable apartments, and said offices are being renovated on the second floor. He also said he plans to use the citys facade program to improve the buildings appearance and will upgrade the malls floors and bathrooms, and clean out debris that has piled up in many of its vacant storefronts. Dean and Judith Marcus, owners of Worcester's Midtown Mall, speak before the city's Redevelopment Authority on Thursday, April 4, 2019. I feel bad for the tenants Others said while the malls rents may be affordable, it doesnt mean that tenants are getting a good opportunity. I dont think its OK to say, Im offering an opportunity for people thats affordable if the opportunity youre presenting is not a good opportunity for the people," Redevelopment Authority member Jennifer Gaskin said. If the building is in disrepair, if the building has issues, those need to be addressed. Craig Blais, president and CEO of the Worcester Business Development Corporation, said he would never call the Midtown Mall an incubator. "I feel bad for the tenants," he said, "for the code violations, for the crime." Blais said there are incubators all over the city, adding that some of the WBDC's tenants pay as little as $200 a month for clean, safe spaces. District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera said she believes something needs to be done with the property, but hopes to avoid the unintended consequences of driving out minority-owned businesses. She said the improvements should not just be about revitalizing downtown, but also about the people and stories behind each storefront. In the process we need to make sure that these businesses are not penalized in any way, she said. For some of them, relocation might be an option but for others, relocation might be more harmful than good. If they city takes the property by eminent domain, it is obligated by law to provide relocation assistance to tenants. Several people who spoke during the meeting asked the board to clarify what that assistance would look like. Sue Mailman, who owns Coghlin Electrical Contractors, said her former building was taken by eminent domain for the construction of Saint Vincent Hospital 20 years ago. "I do think when we were taken, it was very difficult to find a new place to go and some of our business went to Westborough and some stayed in Worcester, and I want you to be really mindful of these tenants and coming up with viable options for these places to go," she told the board. Mailman and others said they hope the Midtown Mall building will retain its retail roots. Troy Siebels, president and CEO of The Hanover Theatre, said he envisions a multicultural marketplace in the space with vendors from across the globe. He said that plan wouldn't necessarily displace the mall's current tenants, but would create a vibrant space that contributes to the downtown's renaissance. I think that it needs to be a building that participates in the neighborhood and respects the businesses that are in it, he said. Flash China firmly opposes official contact and military connection of any forms between the United States and Taiwan and urges the U.S. side to correct its wrong practices and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday. The remarks came as a spokesperson with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) revealed on Wednesday that since 2005, U.S. government personnel detailed to AIT had included active duty military personnel. A U.S. State Department spokesperson responded to this issue on the same day, saying the United States adheres to the one-China policy and the security of the AIT is jointly taken charge of by a small group of U.S. personnel and a larger number of local employees and local authorities, according to media report. The U.S. side had made an explicit pledge to China on maintaining non-official relations with Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a press briefing. "China firmly opposes official contact and military connection of any forms between the United States and Taiwan, and has previously lodged solemn representations with the United States over relevant issues repeatedly." The one-China principle serves as the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, Geng said, adding that the deployment of military personnel to Taiwan by the United States under any pretext is a violation to the one-China principle and the three joint communiques between the two countries, and inevitably has a negative impact on bilateral ties. "We urge the United States to keep its promise, abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiques, correct its wrong practices, and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues to avoid serious damage to bilateral ties as well as to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," said Geng. Flash China on Wednesday donated more than 6,000 tonnes of rice and at least US$300,000 as humanitarian aid to Malawi victims of flood disaster. Speaking during the symbolic presentation of the items in the capital, Lilongwe, Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Liu Hongyang said Chinese people share the same grief with Malawi. About 2,000 tonnes of rice had been transported to the disaster-hit country. The donation came in the wake of the disaster which killed 60 people and displaced thousands of others. Malawi's Minister of Homeland Security and Disaster Management Affairs, Nicholas Dausi, hailed the Chinese government for the thoughts of kindness during the grieving moment. He said the aid would go a long way to support displaced households and those who were injured during the disaster in March. "When one gets hit by such a disaster and gets displaced, the immediate need is food for survival," said Dausi, adding that the rice from China will cater to that need. He added that the aid would help in buying some temporary shelter while some of it would be channeled toward reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure. Malawi is one of the three African countries, along with Zimbabwe and Mozambique, that have been highly affected by floods due to Cyclone Idai. Statistics from the country's Department of Disaster Management Affairs indicate that about 869,000 people have been affected while some 87,000 people have been completely displaced and are in need of help. In addition, the Chinese ambassador announced that Chinese medical team in Malawi will visit some of the disaster-hit areas in the country's southern region to attend to the injured victims. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office on Thursday. Liu He is in Washington for the ninth round of high-level economic and trade talks between China and the U.S.. Liu He first conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings and message to President Trump. In his message, Xi called for early conclusion of talks on the text of a bilateral economic and trade agreement in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. Liu He also said that over the past two days, the two sides conducted fruitful consultations and reached new consensus on the text of an economic and trade agreement. Osteoarthritis Market Research Report, By Type (Hip Osteoarthritis, Spinal Osteoarthritis) By Diagnosis (Imaging, Joint Fluid Analysis) By Treatment (Medication, Surgery, Therapy) By End Users (Hospitals, Medical Institutes) Global Forecast till 2023 Osteoarthritis Market Overview Osteoarthritis is a musculoskeletal condition which involves the thinning of cartilage in joints. It causes bones to rub together and create stiffness, impaired movement, and pain. Osteoarthritis is a major disability among the elderly population and is mostly associated a variety of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, age being the foremost one. Growing elderly population is proving to be vital for the growth of the Global Osteoarthritis Market. As per the analysis of Market Research Future (MRFR), the Global Osteoarthritis Market is poised to capture a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period of 2017-2023. Get Free Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1609 The incidence rate of osteoarthritis is increasing with the rise in global geriatric population, especially in developed countries. The trend is likely to continue with support from additional risk factors such as obesity, genetic predisposition, trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, bone density, and occupational injury. Various drugs are available in the market which can help to alleviate the pain associated with osteoarthritis and improve function in patients. However, no therapy has been yet discovered which can reverse the progression of osteoarthritis. This has long been the subject of research for many researchers. Various studies are being conducted to come up with effective therapies which can curb the succession of the disease and reduce the economic burden of osteoarthritis. Advancement in diagnostics methods purveyed by extensive R&D activities has resulted in timely and effective measure of the condition of the disease which is expected to further catapult the growth of the market. Rise in level of awareness among patients and improvement in reimbursement scenario are other factors substantiating the growth of the market. On the other hand, high cost of medications is a major limiting factor to the growth of the market. Unavailability of treatment options in certain regions and side effects aligned with osteoarthritis treatment are also impeding factors. In addition, lack of valid biomarkers is a obstruction in the pharmaceutical development. Meanwhile, stem cell treatment is increasingly emerging as a promising therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis which is likely to augment the growth of the market in the coming years. Key Players Pfizer Inc. (U.S.), Regeneron (U.S.), Ampio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (U.S.), ABIOGEN PHARMA S.p.A (Europe), Abbott. (U.S.), Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (U.S.), Novartis AG (Europe), Eli Lilly and Company. (U.S.), TissueGene Inc. (U.S.), and others are the eminent players in the global osteoarthritis market. Industry Updates March 2019 Researchers from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the University of Oxford, and Jenner Institute have collaboratively developed a vaccine that could be used to treat chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis. The virus-like particle vaccine is capable of triggering the immune system to produce antibodies which would help to block naturally-occurring NGF and alleviate osteoarthritis pain. Segmental Analysis The Global Osteoarthritis Market has been segmented based on type, diagnosis, treatment, and end user. By type, the Global Osteoarthritis Market has been segmented into hip osteoarthritis, wrist osteoarthritis, spinal osteoarthritis, and others. By diagnosis, the Global Osteoarthritis Market has been segmented into imaging, joint fluid analysis, and others. The imaging segment is sub segmented into X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and others. By treatment, the Global Osteoarthritis Market has been segmented into medication, surgery, therapy, and others. The medication segment has been further segmented into analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and others. The analgesics segment has been further segmented into acetaminophen, duloxetine, and others. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs sub-segment has been further segmented into aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and naproxen, and others. By end user, the Global Osteoarthritis Market has been segmented into hospitals & clinics, medical institutes, research organization, and others. Regional Analysis By region, the Global Osteoarthritis Market has been segmented into the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA.) The majority of the market share is held by the Americas. massive patient population, high healthcare expenditure, and a robust healthcare sector are factors supporting market growth. Besides, availability of advanced treatment options and favorable reimbursement scenario is also supporting the growth of the market. Browse Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/osteoarthritis-market-1609 Europe is the second largest market for osteoarthritis. Increasing incidence rate of arthritis, well-developed healthcare sector, and availability of funds for R&D are factors projected to augment the growth of the market. The Europe osteoarthritis market has been segmented into Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Western Europe, led by the UK, Germany and France, accounts for the foremost share of the market while Eastern Europe is expanding at a relatively faster rate. The untapped markets of Eastern Europe hold huge growth potential. APAC is poised to showcase the fastest growth over the forecast period. Presence of a broad base of patients suffering from arthritis coupled with surging healthcare expenditure in the emerging economies of the region such as China, India, and others presents scope for market expansion. In addition, favorable government policies and increasing awareness is also fostering the growth of the market. The MEA market accounts for the minimum share of the global osteoarthritis market. Poor economic conditions and low healthcare expenditure in the African region is hampering the growth of the MEA market. However, the market is showcasing significant progress in the developed economies of the region such as Kuwait, Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia where healthcare expenditure is considerably high. 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 Global Beauty Devices Market Competitive Dashboard The prominent players operating the global beauty devices market comprises Nu Skin Enterprises, LOreal S.A., Syneron Medical Ltd, Panasonic Corporation, TRIA Beauty Inc, Home Skinovations Ltd, PhotoMedex Inc, Procter & Gamble Co, and Tria Beauty Inc. Industry Updates Mar 28, 2019: Nu Skin has recently launched the ageLOC LumiSpa IdealEyes and ageLO LumiSpa Accent, which is a latest targeted treatment and has been clinically proven to enhance the appearance of skin around the eyes. Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/562 Global Beauty Devices Market Segmental Analysis The Global Beauty Devices Market has been segmented on the basis of application, technology, type, and end-user. By mode of type, the global beauty devices market has been segmented into acne removal devices, hair growth devices, skin derma rollers & hair removal devices, rejuvenation devices, oxygen, cleansing devices, steamer devices, light/LED therapy & photo rejuvenation devices, cellulite reduction devices, and others. Among these, light/LED therapy & photo rejuvenation devices are likely to gain prominence during the appraisal period due to the advanced features provided by these devices for treating blemishes, wrinkles, and sagged skin. By mode of application, the global beauty devices market has been segmented into ultrasonic infuser and instrumental cosmetics. By mode of technology, the global beauty devices market has been segmented into wearable devices, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) technology, lasers invigorate, and others. By mode end-users, the global beauty devices market has been segmented into personalized and professionals. Among these, the professionals segment is likely to gain significant prominence as they have experience and knowledge regarding such devices. Global Beauty Devices Market Regional Insights Geographically, the beauty devices market span across regions namely, Europe, Asia Pacific, America, and the Middle East & Africa. Considering the global scenario, the beauty devices market is dominated by the American region due to a well-developed technological base, growing geriatric population, increased patients suffering from PCOS, and rising support from the government for R&D activities in this region. The European region is considered to occupy the second spot in the global market and is likely to retain its growth. The growth is credited to the increased government support for R&D activities coupled with the high availability of funds for research. For instance, economies like France and Germany are constantly increasing investments in the healthcare sector which is likely to influence the market growth. The Asia Pacific region is estimated to expand at the fastest rate due to the presence of rapidly developing healthcare technology, surging expenditure on healthcare, and presence of huge patient population in this region. With the surging demand for beauty devices and new treatment methods especially in economies like China and India are likely to foster the market growth in this region. China is predicted to command the largest market share due to growing aging population and immense economic development. Browse Complete 115 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with Tables and Figures @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/beauty-devices-market-562 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. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Contact: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com The report proves to be a highly useful resource for players to secure a strong position in the global Berberine market. With deep analysis about the competitive landscape and segments of the global, it equips players with the most accurate and comprehensive market information and data. It includes PESTLE, Porters Five Forces, qualitative, and quantitative analysis that help players to create powerful business strategies to build strong portfolios and increase sales in the global Berberine market. The authors of the report have assessed key regional markets with great attention to detail. The regional analysis section unveils hidden market opportunities available in different regions and countries. In 2018, the global Berberine market size was million US$ and is forecast to million US in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2018. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Berberine. Our primary and secondary research sources are exceptional and highly reliable. We use advanced research techniques and tools for preparing our reports. The global Berberine market is segmented according to three categories, viz. product, application, and region. Each segment of the global Berberine market is thoroughly examined as per crucial factors such as market share, revenue, production, and CAGR. Talking about the global Berberine market, we have provided statistical analysis for it, where its revenue, production, CAGR, and other factors are clearly presented. Other aspects of the global Berberine market, including value chain, manufacturing cost, prices, gross margin, drivers, restraints, opportunities, threats, and trends are also deeply analyzed. Request a PDF of this report on the global Berberine market: https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/783809/global-berberine-industry-research-report-growth-trends-and-competitive-analysis Key players of the global Berberine market: Ayush Herbs, Inc. Hangzhou Gosun Biotech Co., Ltd HerbaKraft Kingherbs Limited Nutraveris Global Berberine Market Segment by Product Type: Reagent Grade Pharmaceutical Grade Food Grade Global Berberine Market Segment by Application: Functional Food and Nutrition Beverages Other Global Berberine Market: Regional Segmentation The chapter on regional segmentation details the regional aspects of the global Berberine market. This chapter explains the regulatory framework that is likely to impact the overall market. It highlights the political scenario in the market and the anticipates its influence on the global Berberine market. The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia) Market Forecasting: Besides short-term and long-term estimations related to the global Berberine market, we provide you with demand, consumption, growth, and various other forecasts. We take your specific requirements into consideration and provide you the most applicable forecasts for the global Berberine market. You can simplify your critical decision-making process using our forecasts on the global Berberine market. Our unbiased insights into critical aspects of the global Berberine market will assist you to strengthen your market position and ensure lasting success in the long run. They will also help you to address the challenges you face in the global Berberine market when reaching your milestones. Get Full Report Now at USD 4,900: https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/c7a122ba2159d094deb6e57e2b3bb513,0,1,Global%20Berberine%20Industry%20Research%20Report,%20Growth%20Trends%20and%20Competitive%20Analysis%202018-2025 Strategic Points Covered in TOC: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global Berberine market Chapter 2: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global Berberine market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products Chapter 3: Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales Chapter 4: Presenting global Berberine market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions About Us: QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become the brand of quality assurance in consulting industry. Contact QY Research, INC. USA: +1 626 428 8800 China: +86 1082 945 717 Japan: +81 9038 009 273 India: +91 9766 478 224 Emails enquiry@qyresearch.com Web www.qyresearch.com It is reported that the growing demand for organ transplantation is expected to push the growth of the market. Also, rising occurrences of organ failure owing to accidents, diseases, and old-age have created a massive gap for the functioning of organs. The emergence of 3D bioprinting can fill-in the gap by producing them on a massive scale. Furthermore, the cost-effective nature of the technology is expected to drive the market demand as well. Opportunities related to the manufacturing of pills for the pharmaceutical sector and for producing prosthetics and implants is anticipated to augment the market too. The rising investment for R&D activities is expected to broaden the potential of the technology and subsequently the market growth. Competitive Landscape The Global 3d Bioprinting Market holds several key and prominent players, including FUJIFILM Wako Automation Corporation (U.S.), Regenhu Ltd. (Switzerland), Cyfuse Biomedical K.K. (Japan), Organovo Holdings Inc. (U.S.), Stratasys Ltd. (U.S.), EnvisionTEC GmbH (Germany), Cellink AB (Sweden), Allevi (U.S.), Regenovo Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (China), Aspect Biosystems Ltd. (Canada), Nano3D Biosciences Inc. (U.S.), and Poietis (France). Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/869 March 25th, 2019, CD3D, a Poland-based 3D printer company, announced the launch of the largest open 3D bioprinting cluster in Europe. Located in Lodz, Poland, the cluster consists of 21 SKAFFOSYS bioprinter units. The units will be leveraged upon to pursue R&D activities in the biomedical arena. March 22nd, 2019, Allevi, a Philly-based 3D bioprinting company, introduced the innovative Skin Bioink Kit. The kit needs to be used in conjunction with its 3D bioprinters to create skin patches. The launch of the product is aimed at allowing tissue engineers to design multi-layered skin patches that are similar to natural human skin. Global 3D Bioprinting Market Segmentation The Global 3d Bioprinting Market segmentation is classified on the basis of material, application, end-user, and technology. By technologies, the market includes magnetic 3D bioprinting, inkjet 3D bioprinting, laser-assisted bioprinting, and microextrusion bioprinting. The microextrusion bioprinting is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period. Additionally, Inkjet 3D bioprinting segment is also anticipated to hold a significant share of the market due to its compatibility with living cells. By material, the market includes living cells, extracellular matrices, hydrogels, and others. The living cells segment hold a major portion of the share due to its manufacturing using in-air microfluidics. Hydrogels segment is too expected to garner high demand in the forthcoming years. By application, the market divides into clinical and research applications. It is expected for the clinical applications segment to pose a higher market share due to the demand of organ transplantation. By end-user, the market segments into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies and research organization & academic institutes. Both the segments are expected to grow in numbers in the forthcoming years. Global 3D Bioprinting Market Regional Analysis The geographical segmentation of the global 3D bioprinting market is focused upon regions like Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East & Africa. As per the last conducted study in 2017, the Americas held the highest share of the market due to considerable increase in research & development activities, existence of a large patient pool, development of healthcare infrastructure, and increasing budget expenditure of healthcare in countries like the US and Canada. The European region held the second position in the global standings in terms of market share. This is primarily due to the surging investment in 3D printing and a high demand in countries like the UK, France, and Germany. Additionally, increasing application of the 3D bioprinting technology in the cosmetic sector alongside the band on animal testing are key factors that can further push the market growth in this region. The Asia Pacific region is expected to garner the highest growth percentage over the forecast period due to the developing healthcare industry in China and other emerging economies. Also, collaboration among leading companies to set-up units, and increasing funding for research and development activities are expected to push the growth of the region further. Browse Complete Premium Research Report Enabled with Tables and Figures @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/3d-bioprinting-market-869 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. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Contact: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) or healthcare-associated infection (HCAI), are critical to threat and sometimes are dangerous too which can cost hugely. HAI also includes occupational infection among the staff of the hospital. Each year, these hospital-acquired infections result in higher mortality rates than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.Hospitals without automated technologies and a central repository of infection information can have a difficult time detecting infections promptly, causing them to progress and spread. Few of the recent studies indicate the effectiveness of implementing proper systems and genomic sequencing in infection control.The global Hospital-Acquired Infections Market is growing pervasively owing to the availability of effective treatment procedures. The increasing prevalence of hospital-borne infections during hospital admissions are escalating the market on the global platform. Acknowledging the colossal traction, the market perceives currently, Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published study report states that the global hospital-acquired infections market will touch a valuation of USD 36.16 BN by 2023, registering approximately 7.3 % CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023). Additional factors propelling the growth of the market include spreading awareness towards this kind of infection and the availability of novel medications and treatment procedures. Improving economic conditions worldwide that enable access to quality and improved healthcare fuel market growth. Downlaod Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2576 Moreover, technological advancements in the medical science backed by the substantial investments made in the R&D activities foster the market growth of Hospital-acquired Infections treatments excellently, bringing about innovative treatments and medicines. On the flip side, incidents of unmet clinical needs, drug resistance, complications occurring during treatments, and side effects of the treatment are some of the factors expected to impede the market growth during the forecast period. Nevertheless, factors such as the increasing government support for research & development are expected to support the growth of the hospital-acquired infections market. Global Hospital-acquired Infections Market Segments For enhanced understanding, the report has been segmented into four key dynamics. By Pathogen Types : Viral, Bacterial and Fungal among others. By Method of Treatment : Sterilization, Chemical, and Radiation By Infection Type : Urinary Tract Infections, Blood Stream Infections, Surgical Site Infections, Gastrointestinal Infections, and Respiratory Infections among others. By Regions : Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World. Read Complete Report With Toc @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/hospital-acquired-infections-market-2576 Global Hospital-acquired Infections Market Regional analysis The North America region heading with the well-established healthcare sector accounts for the dominating market for hospital-acquired infections, globally. Furthermore, factors such as the higher per capita health care expenditures and growing investments into R&D to develop new techniques to cure hospital-acquired infections act as major growth drivers. The U.S. and Canada led by the large hospital admissions, patient population, and increasing prevalence hospital-acquired infections, contribute to the growth of the regional market majorly. Moreover, broadening insurance coverage alongside the expanding private healthcare sector and improving overall healthcare infrastructure are fostering the growth of the regional market. The hospital-acquired infections market in North America is expected to reach around USD 12 BN by 2022. On the other hand, the hospital-acquired infections market in the European region accounts for the second-largest market, growing with strong healthcare penetration. Moreover, factors such as the availability of advanced treatment facilities, skilled medical professionals, and government support for research & development drive the growth of the regional market. The Asia Pacific hospital-acquired infections market is rapidly emerging as a lucrative market, globally. Countries such as India and China backed by the vast population and the low-cost medications and procedures available to treat the hospital-acquired infections foster the growth in the regional market. Furthermore, the rapidly growing healthcare sector coupled with the large unmet needs will provide impetus to the market growth over the forecast period. Global Hospital-acquired Infections Market Competitive Analysis Highly competitive, the hospital-acquired infections market appears to be fragmented characterized by the presence of several large and small players. Well-established players incorporate strategic initiatives such as acquisition, collaboration, partnership, technology launch, and expansion to gain a competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position. Focusing on therapeutic areas with a high unmet medical need, these companies assess areas that require further innovation over the progress that has been made. High growth potential that the market demonstrates attracts several new entrants to the market which further results in intensifying the competition. Substantial investments are transpired in R&D and clinical trials by the top players to develop effective treatments for these infections. These players are holding significant market share while other small and medium-sized companies are growing as well. Major Players: Key players leading the global hospital-acquired infections market include 3M Company, Advanced Sterilization Products, Becton Dickinson and company, Getinge AB, STERIS Corporation, Cantel Medical Corp., and Belimed AG among others. Check Discout @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2576 Industry/Innovations/Related News: February 12, 2019 - Royal Philips (the Netherlands), a global leader in health technology launched IntelliSpace Epidemiology, a solution that optimizes the detection of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Philips IntelliSpace Epidemiology is the only decision-support solution in the U.S. that combines clinical informatics and genomic sequencing information from pathogenic bacteria, aiming to assist infection control prevention teams in identifying infection transmissions efficiently. February 12, 2019 - Medline Industries, Inc. (the US), a leading global manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies providing products, education, and services launched its new FDA-approved ReadyPrep CHG cloths to battle post-operative hospital-acquired infections. ReadyPrep CHG cloths are pre-saturated with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate, an antiseptic known for its ability to remove infection-causing bacteria from the skin. ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) TENDER TITLE : SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF ICT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TANZANIA MERCANTILE EXCHANGE PLC TENDER NUMBER: PRQ20180757 Tanzania Mercantile Exchange Public Limited Company PLC (TMX) with support from TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) wishes to engage a reputable firm/consortium to supply and install their ICT infrastructure. Terms of reference for this consultancy and the Request for Proposals (RFP) document can be obtained at https://www.trademarkea.com/get-involved/procurement/. All queries quoting the above Tender Title and Number should be emailed to procurement@trademarkea.com. The closing date for submission of this tender is on Wednesday, 8 May 2019 at 4.00 p.m. (Tanzania Time). Interested and qualified firms/consortiums must submit their bids through TMEAs mail box using the email address, procurement@trademarkea.com, clearly indicating the tender number and description. All attachments must be 5 MBs or less. TMEA cannot answer any query relating to this tender 7 days or less prior to the submission deadline by Sara Guaglione , April 4, 2019 Morris Media Network has rebranded Where magazines in the U.S. to WhereTraveler. The new look and size of the April issue gives tourists local travel information and recommendations. This is one of the first major changes to the publication since its founding in 1936. WhereTraveler has over 50 editions, covering 25 markets in the U.S. and 28 markets overseas. (They have different publishing schedules based on market needs.) The ad-supported, free magazine is available at hotels, airports and other popular tourist venues. "The publication along with our lineup of platform extensions continues our tradition of offering the best insider information about local markets, but with a dynamic new design that speaks to todays traveler, stated Morris Media Network chairman William S. Morris III. advertisement advertisement The magazine offers a modern look in a smaller, more portable size. Previously the standard magazine size (8 38 x 10 78), WhereTraveler now measures 6.875 x 10. The name change represents a more cohesive brand identity across the publishers print and online platforms: the website, WhereTraveler.com, now matches the name of all the American print editions. Travel is such an important part of the Where brand. We wanted to include the name in the print product, Donna Kessler, president of Morris Media Network, told Publishers Daily. As we transition into more of a print-digital, multiplatform relationship, we want to make sure the products complement one another. WhereTraveler's biggest markets are New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Washington, D.C, and Philadelphia. Kessler, who has been at Morris Media Network since 2003, said the company works closely with concierge at hotels, so it asked them for feedback on what travelers want from the magazine. The answer: a more portable size, quicker reads and more listings. Now we are presenting content in a much clearer and concise way, with quick hits and easy reads, with less long-form, feature articles, making the magazine easier to use, she notes. WhereTraveler has more listings, too, with added information on shopping, dining and attractions in each citys edition. The covers previously had full-bleed images and a logo that spread across the page. The new design has the cover image wrapped in white, with a logo that hangs to the left. The changes to the magazine have not impacted the print publications page count, she says. The rebranding and redesign will roll out throughout the year in WhereTravelers other platforms, including WhereTraveler GuestBooks, Quick Guide, Maps and the website. Except for Australia, all the international editions of Where will remain the same. Modern science brings us endless possibilities to help our bodies and our minds stay healthy, but some recent scientific pursuits have also been the center of controversy. One of these is researchers interest in manipulating memories. Is this feat possible, and if so, why would we want to achieve it? Share on Pinterest In this Spotlight feature, we explore whether scientists can achieve memory manipulation, and how they might do it. Our memories make up so much of who we are, and the things we remember can often define our experience of the world. And while positive memories can help us grow and thrive, negative memories do not always have such welcome effects. Sometimes, unpleasant memories can be part of a learning curve getting scalded with boiling water means that next time we will be more careful when handling the kettle. However, there are also memories that are truly traumatic, and recalling them can lead to distress and serious mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study of memory formation, recall, and forgetting attracts a lot of attention and curiosity among neuroscientists, psychologists, and even researchers from the humanities, as there is still so much we do not fully understand about the processes surrounding memory. And, while we still need to find out more about how memories form in the brain, researchers in recent years have started investigating the possibility of manipulating memories particularly negative ones to see if they can weaken or remove them altogether. In this Spotlight feature, we look briefly at why we remember and why we naturally forget. We also explore some studies that have delved into memory manipulation, explaining how researchers aim to achieve it, and why. Memory recall and forgetting When the brain encodes information, those data become stored in groups of neurons that synapses or links that allow brain cells to communicate connect together. Scientists typically associate stronger synapses with a better memory, and the brain constantly updates synaptic connections, forming new ones or strengthening old ones, as new memories build or we update older ones. However, synapses can also become weaker if they are not activated often enough, and the brain often loses some of these connections altogether. Thus, forgetting can occur naturally and, indeed, researchers argue that forgetting is a crucial part of learning and creating new memories. Medical News Today spoke to Sam Berens, Ph.D., who is currently a research assistant at the University of York in the United Kingdom, and he explained to us that natural forgetting can be due to a few different reasons. Forgetting occurs because it would not be energy efficient to indefinitely maintain all the memories that we form each day, he explained, adding that it also seems to be a natural consequence of neurogenesis the process that creates new brain cells in support of future learning. Because of this, clearing old and unused memories may be directly related to our ability to learn new things, he told MNT. But scientists continue to explore the many complications that riddle memory recall and formation. For instance, not all our memories are correct, and sometimes our brains implement forgetting as a defense mechanism. Memory conformity and distortion Past research has shown that social interactions can influence a persons memory of an event, as can what other people remember or claim to remember about the same event. Share on Pinterest What other people tell us can influence our memories. According to a report in the journal Science , conformity may present in two forms, which initially convey similar, explicit behavior but are fundamentally different. These are: Private conformity, in which an individuals recollection may genuinely be altered by social influence, resulting in long-lasting, persistent memory errors. Public conformity, in which individuals may choose to outwardly comply, providing an account that fits that of others, but inwardly maintain certitude in their own original memory. However, while public conformity does not actually affect an individuals own memory perception, engaging in this process could lead to that person influencing others memory of the event. At the same time, the reports authors note, memory conformity may also serve an adaptive purpose because social learning is often more efficient and accurate than individual learning, which is not always reliable. For instance, as studies have shown, the process of memory retrieval can mean that the original memory is rewritten with the memory of that memory so that the original memory becomes warped. A study appearing in the Journal of Neuroscience calls this retrieval-induced distortion, and explains that the distortion could occur either because the retrieval process modified the memory, or because it led to the formation of new [] associations that got stuck, so to speak, to the original memory. A memory is not simply an image produced by time traveling back to the original event it can be an image that is somewhat distorted because of the prior times you remembered it, says Donna Bridge, one of the study authors. Memories arent static. If you remember something in the context of a new environment and time, or if you are even in a different mood, your memories might integrate the new information. Donna Bridge Forgetting as an adaptive mechanism On top of the issues surrounding how we remember the things that we remember, there is also the problem of why we forget, and some researchers note that forgetting sometimes occurs as an adaptive mechanism. One way in which forgetting can be adaptive, Berens told MNT, is that, by letting go of irrelevant details, our brains are then better able to recall important information. [M]y own work suggests that forgetting specific details of an event allows us to focus on the bigger picture and pull out general patterns that can predict the future, he explained. For instance, remembering exactly which trees in the forest bear the most delicious fruit is only useful until you have eaten all of that fruit. Instead of remembering the specifics trees, it may be best to remember the general area of a forest that has the best trees. Sam Berens, Ph.D. This sometimes involves forgetting specific details [] and blurring together many experiences in order to pull out a general pattern, Berens continued. The researcher also noted that another way in which forgetting can be a helpful process is by placing negative memories out of reach so that they are less distressing to the person they affect. Memories for emotional or traumatic events lose their emotional tone over time, said Berens, and this can help us reappraise and learn from past experience without the need to reexperience all the associated emotions at the same time. Disrupting intrusive memories But what happens when traumatic memories persist and resurface unbidden? Experts call this the intrusive reexperiencing of trauma , and it is a core feature of PTSD. Share on Pinterest Memories are vulnerable during a specific time window. Individuals who experience PTSD may spontaneously recall a traumatic memory, or feel as if they are going back into the context that produced the trauma. This effect can cause the person severe distress and lead to erratic behaviors as a coping strategy. For this reason, some scientists have wondered what approach they could take to weaken or manipulate negative memories and lessen their effect. And, we already know that it is possible to interfere with a memory and stop it from solidifying. [M]emories can be actively weakened after formation, Berens told us, explaining that this is a process distinct from forgetting. Firstly, there seems to be a time window after memory formation where memories are particularly weak and sensitive to interference where conflicting information can overwrite the contents of a memory. [] Memories can also be weakened by the simple act of retrieval Yes, simply recalling a memory makes it more susceptible to being weakened, distorted or erased. Sam Berens, Ph.D. Berens further explained that the drug Propranolol, which doctors can prescribe for PTSD, already goes some way towards weakening distressing memories to dampen their effect. This is how Propranolol is being used to help patients with PTSD, he explained, adding that [f]irst the patient recalls the trauma, which weakens the memory, then the Propranolol is given, which stops the emotions from being re-encoded as a new memory. Nevertheless, researchers are still on the lookout for other ways of interfering with memory formation and recall. Such studies could help not only find novel treatments for PTSD and other phenomena such as phobias, but they might also reveal new information about how memory-related brain mechanisms work. Studying memory manipulation To try and understand whether or not we can artificially manipulate memories, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge first tried to instil false memories in mice. This initial study, which appeared in Science in 2013, used an optogenetic technique to manipulate the formation of a hybrid memory in the mices brain. This method requires the use of light beams to activate neurons that researchers have engineered to respond to this stimulus. In the study, the team led by Prof. Susumu Tonegawa used optogenetic methods to synchronize two groups of neurons one in the hippocampus, which activated a spatial memory, and one in the amygdala, which activated a fear memory. The experiment was successful the mice started associating fear with a space where they had never actually had a bad experience. In a further study by the same team which they published in Nature in 2014 Tonegawa and colleagues managed to use the same technique to switch off negative associations in the brains of mice. Another study, appearing in PLOS One in the same year, found that researchers could stop bad memories from reconsolidating in the brains of rats by administering xenon gas an anesthetic at just the right moment. Flash Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh held talks in Ulan Bator on Thursday with a delegation of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to enhance non-governmental exchanges and relations between the two countries. Khurelsukh welcomed the visit headed by chairman of the foundation Wang Jiarui on the important occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Mongolia-China diplomatic ties. Khurelsukh, who paid an official visit to China in April, 2018, said he has reached important consensuses with Chinese leaders on bilateral ties during the trip. He called on both sides to strengthen non-governmental communication to make people feel closer with each other, and actively implement the consensuses of two countries' leaders. Khurelsukh, who is also chairman of the Mongolian People's Party, hoped the foundation would take the visit as a chance to establish contacts with Mongolian institutions and do more practical work to promote exchanges between his party and the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as the two countries. Under the leadership of the CPC with Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, at the core, the Chinese people have made remarkable achievements, the prime minister said, adding that the CPC's experience in governance is worth learning by Mongolia. Wang said that China highly values China-Mongolia ties and the consensuses reached by the two countries' leaders on exchanges and cooperation in various fields give a clear direction to the development of bilateral ties. The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is willing to work with people from all walks of life in Mongolia to push forward non-governmental exchanges, especially in such fields as medical treatment and public health, as well as cultural, sport and youth exchanges, so as to enhance the two peoples' mutual understanding and friendship. During the visit, the delegation held a series of social and cultural events with Mongolian medical institutions and a school to promote friendship. 'People expect you to have, as if you don't', writes Joaquin Phoenix, who has suddenly seized the world's attention, as his personification of the Joker saw the light of the day. via GIPHY People are calling it the darkest film that has ever been made on a DC Comics character. The teaser trailer of Todd Philips's 'Joker' which dropped on Wednesday is already topping the trends. The film's first glimpse is darkly magnificent and the 165-second teaser trailer has taken the internet by storm. Netizens are going gaga about the iconic character's newest version. via GIPHY As the world goes on and gets ready to acknowledge Joaquin Phoenix's career-defining moment, for a fact, one gets reminded of Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance in 'The Dark Knight'. 'Joker's' return is intoxicating, nostalgic and heart-breaking at the same time! It has just become irresistible for us to not draw comparisons between the two actors in contention. via GIPHY We hate to call it a 'Heath Ledger vs Joaquin Phoenix' phenomenon; however, we are well aware of the fact that with the film's release in October this year, fans would surely pick sides. Also, there are surely going to be many differences between the 2019 film and 'The Dark Knight'. Let us delve into some analysis and throw light on Todd Phillip's 'Joker', which is largely being compared to the Christopher Nolan film: The Lead Before Heath Ledger, it was Jack Nicholson who played Joker in the 1989 film 'Batman'. Earlier, Heath's performance was compared to Nicholson's and the audience became accepting of the fact that with time, a character has to keep evolving, no matter how many times it has already been played. via GIPHY People have always wanted to see more coming from the new actor playing the role. As much as people have valued Nicholson's performance and then that of Heath Ledger's (more because it was his last role), another actor must take the beacon ahead. Joker will die a death at the hands of the audience if they remain unwilling to accept him in a new face. We are sure Joaquin Phoenix's act would be loved as much as Ledger's. The Script 'Joker' is a film that burrows more into how the Joker came into being. The script of the film is written emphasizing the rise of the criminal mastermind and how he became the ultimate terror wrecking figure in the city of Gotham. Where on one hand in 'The Dark Knight' we saw the Joker in a fight with Batman, Todd Phillips's film is more of a 'Joker' origin story. via GIPHY The scripts of these two films are entirely different, though in bits and pieces one may find some similarities between the two. The audience will get to see 'Joker' in a more cinematic pre-modern look. There is also a difference between the colour gradations of the two films due to a difference in their timelines. Unlike 'The Dark Knight Trilogy', 'Joker' is contemplated to be a standalone story without any sequels. The Direction 'The Dark Knight' has remained one of the finest films that have ever been made by Christopher Nolan. The film is not only known for Christian Bale and Heath Ledger's quintessential performances, but much credit behind the film's record-breaking success has also been given to Nolan's directorial finesse. via GIPHY On the other hand, Todd Phillips is mostly known for his work in the 'Hangover' franchise and films that have remained flak holders of warn-out masculinity. It is simply not a great idea to compare Christopher Nolan's direction with Todd Phillips's. 'Joker' can turn out to be a game changer for Phillips, fans are not going to leave the director's efforts unanalyzed especially when it is being compared to Christopher Nolan. Till now, we only had some great vibes coming from the teaser trailer of 'Joker', it will be rather interesting to see if Phillips would be able to break the glass ceiling created by the Christopher Nolan film. via GIPHY Our hopes from 'Joker' are really high and it would not be right to straightaway pass any judgments about the film without even watching it. There is going to be a good amount of critical analysis, particularly about the two actors. For us, it is not going to be a Heath vs Phoenix! The Joker as a character is deep to understand and unfathomable to play on screen. When there can be infinite possibilities about what the Joker can feel and do, the very question of 'who plays better' is inconclusive. We only get to realise how uncertain life really is when we come across incidents like these. While our thoughts go out to the family members of the army soldiers who lost their lives in the bizarre fire in Mhow, we can't help but ponder the odds of something like this happening. On Thursday, a team of snipers of the Indian Army were target-practicing in Mhow, a cantonment in the Indore district in Madhya Pradesh. Like any other regular day practice, the soldiers were wearing their gille suits, an outfit made up of dry leaves and grass to help the shooters camouflage with the surroundings. Suddenly, a wildfire wrapped the shooters around out of nowhere taking away the lives of two while severely injuring nine others. Army Sources: Two Indian Army soldiers killed in fire incident at the Bercha and Hema ranges in Mhow near Indore today. Fire was caused due to spark during firing practice. #MadhyaPradesh ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019 Two Indian Army soldiers were killed in a fire incident at the Bercha firing range in Mhow near indore. The fire was caused due to spark during firing practice, ANI reports Army officials saying. According to Additional SP Mhow Dharmraj Meena, Ranjit Sumer, 27, Jhunjhunu resident in Rajasthan and Akshya Ramsingh, 25, a resident of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, were the two soldiers who died dousing the flames. Meena also mentioned that some of the injured soldiers were also airlifted to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. However, three out of the remaining nine have been deemed to be in critical condition and have been moved to Delhi for better care. Joining the family in the mourning of their loved ones, people showed their respect for the soldiers: Tragic. RIP braves @adgpi. Condolences to family & friends. Hindustaniyat (@NonLutyensSpin) April 4, 2019 RIP_Indian_Army Mritunjay Yadav (@ymrityunjay65) April 4, 2019 India's Mission Shakti has become a huge topic of discussion over the past few days, and rightfully so. There has been a lot of banter surrounding it ever since PM Narendra Modi made the announcement. First, a former ISRO engineer called the mission a complete waste. It was followed by NASA administrator Bridenstine's comments, who didn't really seem happy about the mission. Twitter Now the chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, has joined the discussion by calling out NASA's comments on the mission. Now, Anand Mahindra, in case you don't know, is very active on the micro-blogging site. He's also known to be very opinionated about all the current happenings. A case of the pot calling the kettle black. From a nation that created most of the debris in space over decades, this is an audacious statement.... https://t.co/QFqCnES2gt anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 2, 2019 In his tweet quoting NDTV, Anand defended Mission Shakti and called NASA's statement 'audacious'. A case of the pot calling the kettle black. From a nation that created most of the debris in space over decades, this is an audacious statement,' he said. Anand's tweet is essentially a response to NASA chief Bridenstine's comments on the space debris. Earlier this month, Bridenstine said that India's move to destroy a defunct satellite a 'terrible thing' as it left 400 pieces in space. He also claimed that the debris has put the lives of astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) under massive risk. Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sia Anagnostopoulou, spoke today on Alpha 989 Radio. In reference to, among other things, the prevailing climate during the first formal visit by a Greek Prime Minister to North Macedonia, she stated that the climate was that which the journalist conveyed in the best possible way. Most media, at least, conveyed this climate of joy, enthusiasm, and above all, emotion. I think that all Greek men and women would be proud. There was a climate of enthusiasm on the part of North Macedonia. They regard Greece as a friendly country which can provide them with prospects for the future, as well as to stabilise their country in the region, without the interference of foreigners, without dependence, to protect it from problems, the power struggles in the region, as well as more widely, the Alternate Minister stated. With regard to the participation of 140 Greek entrepreneurs in the Business forum that was organised in North Macedonia's capital, she was questioned on the issue of commercial designations. The Alternate Minister said: what I received from the entrepreneurs was their will to find solutions. I didnt hear any complaining. I witnessed a spirit of solidarity". Sia Anagnostopoulou added that problems had accumulated for 30 years which, due to inaction, and also because they were swept under the rug, we thought they did not exist. The Prespa Agreement comes to resolve them. Referring to the specific steps being taken to resolve the issue of commercial designations, she stated: There are specific steps. As early as Monday, we will have a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the establishment of the committee that will deal with the issue of commercial designations. The Committee will be established by mid-May. The competent ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Development, and Rural Development will be represented, as well international experts on the European Union and International Trade Law. The Committee will be coordinated by our Ministry. The two Prime Ministers, Mr Zaev and Mr Tsipras, gave us the orders yesterday, and they told the business world too, to proceed very quickly. Each side, Greece and North Macedonia, will create its own Committee, and these two Committees will meet. The international actors, who are very familiar with European law and International law, will be mutually accepted. This is proceeding very quickly, given that the Prespa Agreement provided for the establishment of the said Committee by the end of 2019, but Mr Tsipras and Mr Zaev gave us the orders to speed things up, and this is what we shall do. All these things do not exist in a legal vacuum. There is European and international law. The problems have piled up due to non-resolution of the name issue because most countries had recognised the country with its former constitutional name, as the Republic of Macedonia, and this led to huge problems and distortions. Sia Anagnostopoulou referred to the example of the situation prevailing with China: In China, relating to which New Democracy tried to create an issue, since 2000, at least ten Greek companies were unable to obtain the trade name Macedonian, due to Chinas national law which has not been harmonised with international law (Paris Convention, Madrid Protocol etc), and also due to North Macedonia's former constitutional name. New Democracy speaks as if these issues have just arisen, now that we are headed towards resolving all of them based on European and International Law, and of course, above all, we are improving communication between the entrepreneurs of the two countries. With regard to the Greece-North Macedonia defence cooperation agreement, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs stated: We continuously say as a country that we dont want Turkish policy to have an effect in our neighbourhood, but how can this be achieved in practice? When Greece takes control of the airspace of the neighbouring country, who does it displace from the region? It displaces Turkey. Our neighbouring country regards Greece and the Greek people as its most friendly ally, and as its support in proceeding towards the future. 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 CARO A Juniata Township official may be ousted from office for allegations of malfeasance in office. The township board will host a hearing at 7 p.m. Monday regarding the possible termination of planning commission member Ione Vyse. Numerous citizens have contacted members of the Juniata Township Board of Trustees voicing displeasure of your conduct, and feel that your actions warrant removal from the Juniata Township Planning Commission," the complaint states. Taking termination action is outlined in the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act in Michigan Complied Laws. A letter was sent to Vyse explaining that she faces possible termination. The reasons listed for the proposed termination were: The theft of a board members personal documents on March 11, 2019, witnessed by a member of the public. The negligent cancellation of the Jan. 7 special meeting, costing the township unnecessary money for attorney travel fees, publication of notices, and planning commission stipends. In addition, there were lost wages for those commissioners who had to take the day off for the 10 a.m. meeting. Intentional mistruths spoken at the July 16, 2018, planning commission hearings, when questioned about inadequate newspaper notice of said hearings, which the notice did not include a place/time to review documents. It's alleged she blamed the missing information on the Tuscola County Advertiser. It was sent to the paper. Im not responsible for what they do or do not print. It was sent to the paper, she allegedly said. On July 17, 2018, the Advertiser responded to an email questioning your claim. Mr. (John) Schneider wrote, 'I just looked at both Iones email in which she sent the notice, and the actual notice that appeared in the paper. They are the same word for word, no information was left out of the newspaper notice, states the letter about the proposed termination. Exhibition of inappropriate conduct in the commissioner role; in particular, aggressive behavior toward township counsel and the general public. This was particularly evident at the March 26, 2019, special land use revocation hearing. At the March 26 meeting, the planning commission approved revoking the special use permits issued to NextEra Energy Resources LLC for the Pegasus Wind Energy Center in January 2018. During the revocation hearing, the commission cited continued and ongoing violations of the special use permit and the townships zoning ordinance and failure to comply with all applicable local, county, state and federal requirements of the special use permit; failure to obtain all required federal, state, and local approvals, licenses, permits or variances for the proposed wind project prior to the date of construction; and failure to obtain all required federal, state, and local approvals, licenses, permits or variances for the proposed wind project prior to the date of construction. NextEra allegedly has been constructing roads to the sites and building the bases that support the turbines without all of the necessary paperwork/permits in place, but have not yet erected turbines. The plan for the Pegasus wind farm, which goes on into Huron County, calls for 63 turbines, of which 31 are slated for Juniata Township, with the rest being placed in Gilford and Fairgrove townships. NextEra officials filed a lawsuit in Tuscola County Circuit Court against the township regarding the special use permit cancellations. The termination hearing will be held at the Tuscola Technology Center, located at 1401 Cleaver Road in Caro. MIDDLETOWN In 2017, Connecticut Magazine praised 0 Degree for its unique process of customizing Thai ice cream in a mixing and rolling process prepared on the spot. Now co-owner Ivan Lin is working his magic at Prince House, a new poke bowl luncheon spot at 116 Court St. The magazine noted Lin brings a style of ice cream to the discerning palates of Middletowns Main Street straight from Thailand via New York City. With Thai ice cream, customers can watch the transition from fresh cream to ice cream happen before their eyes. After more than a year of market research, Lin, who owns 20 percent of the business, and Kelly Wang, the other 80, discovered a need for a poke (pronounced poh-kay) shop. This place is exactly what Middletown needed, Thai food devotee Kristin L. of Cromwell posted on Facebook. Whenever she is downtown, she passes the storefront and gawks like a raw fish-crazed maniac. Finally, the day that I had been waiting for came, and Prince House opened! The now Prince House regular appreciates the way toppings are laid out, and labeled on the glass partition for customers. She orders a pick-your-own bowl with salad as a base (rice is the other option) and has chosen salmon, tuna and shrimp for her proteins. I have tried a whole array of fun toppings, like seaweed salad, pineapple, mango and pickled veggies. The ingredients are super fresh and there are many sauces to choose from. You can even try them before you order. The quality and quantity of poke you get is a great deal for a healthy, satisfying lunch. But what exactly is poke? Food & Wine magazine calls poke a raw tuna salad, though these bowls can contain much more. In Hawaii, where poke rivals pizza in popularity, the word means raw fish cut crosswise into pieces. In Hawaii, the dish is sold off food trucks, in cafes and restaurants, said Lin, 32. A poke bowl might be cubed raw ahi (yellow fin tuna) with a bit of shoyu (soy sauce). At Prince House, customers might decide on tofu, chicken, shrimp, tuna or salmon mixed with chili paste, limu (vitamin-packed algae), crushed kukui nuts, avocado, sesame oil, chopped seaweed and green onions over white or brown rice. The dish can be served raw, marinated or fried. At Prince House, only salmon and tuna are offered raw. Lin, who is of Chinese descent his great-grandfather was Thai grew up in Brooklyn. He came to the United States from Suzhou, China, at 12. Lin, who has lived with his family in Middletown for four years, said he gained experience working in several restaurants. Our food is all fresh, no fries, nothing greasy served by a staff of three. Its mostly fish, but we have chicken and tofu for vegans. Prince Houses appeal is mainly to younger customers, many of them Wesleyan University students. People are met with an array of dining tables, which line the left side of the room. The food bar is at the back of the shop. The most popular bowl is one built around tuna and salmon. American soda brands are available, as well as boba ice tea, sweetened with milk, raisins, coconut, tapioca or other flavorings. Though sales have been strong, Lin expects them to become brisk this spring. People tend to connect with our food during warmer weather, he said. Prince House sells 40 pounds of tuna a week. Fish is shipped fresh from supply houses in Japan and Massachusetts. In April, he hopes to serve local draft beer and will feature deserts of Japanese crepes with fresh fruit. Patrons can choose to eat in, take out or have their meal delivered. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The restaurant is currently closed Saturday and Sunday, but later in April will open on weekends. For more information, call 860-849-8118. Order online at princehousect.com. Holding the baton in Seoul Updated: 2019-04-05 06:50 (HK Edition) HK's own music prodigy Wilson Ng recently became the first Chinese associate conductor at the prestigious Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Neil Li caught up with the young maestro. Arising young musician from Hong Kong is all set to take one of Asia's top orchestras to new heights. In January, 29-year-old Wilson Ng became the first Chinese person to be appointed as associate conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO). "It feels very strange but (I'm) also very honored to be chosen as the associate conductor," says Ng. "I'm very excited because the SPO is very established and known as one of the best orchestras in all of Asia." Ng received his first flute lesson at the age of 11. He went on to study the flute in France and Switzerland, performing in concerts and recitals around the world. At 15, he got his first taste of conducting when he was asked to step in for his mentor during an orchestral rehearsal. After that he gained conducting experience by working with leading orchestras in Europe. "Conducting is a little bit like living in a luxury hotel," he explains. "Once you've stayed in one, it's hard to stay anywhere else. As a flutist, you're one important component of a painting, but as a conductor, I can see the entire painting. There's no other job in the world where there are 100 individuals in front of you that can't speak except only for you." Ng describes his conducting style as "together we make something happen". He enjoys creating an atmosphere of teamwork where he suggests different ideas or methods rather than making specific demands of his musicians. A conductor's vocation, he feels, is less about exercising control than bringing out the best in each orchestra member's performance. "Like with many leaders, conductors have the ability to make everyone stronger," says Ng, and, in turn, the orchestra comes up with "something amazing". Leading the finest When he was asked to travel to Seoul for the second round of auditions as one of four candidates, Ng wasn't very confident about getting the job. He knew he would have to compete with a number of talented Korean conductors. On reaching Seoul, he found that two of his competitors were Korean and all three were much older than him. It had looked like the associate conductor's job would go to a more experienced person than Ng. "And if I did get selected, it would most likely be for the assistant conductor position," he had thought. So getting selected for the top job was as surprising as it was humbling, says Ng. He is conscious of the fact that there will be people doubting his abilities on account of his young age. However, he believes youth has its own advantages and will allow him to bring other intangibles like passion and energy to the role. In his first year, he hopes to become indispensable to the orchestra as he looks forward to working with and learning from the world-class musicians of the SPO. He anticipates being under pressure to work in sync with the orchestra, but says he's ready for the challenge. "The funny thing with conducting is that when an orchestra is not in its top quality, you always have to ask yourself 'what can they do?," says Ng. It doesn't make sense to be overly ambitious if the musicians lack the wherewithal to achieve it, he adds. However, when it's an orchestra such as the SPO - capable of executing the toughest of projects envisioned by the conductor, "then you have to start thinking 'what should you (the conductor) do?'. It's a new experience for me to try to learn where the limit is when you're working with such an outstanding orchestra." Taking music to the masses Besides working with professional musicians, Ng is keen to encourage appreciation of classical music and nurture young classical musicians. In 2014, he founded Gustav Mahler Orchestra (GMO) to provide more opportunities to younger Hong Kong musicians to perform. He also wanted to introduce classical music to audiences who don't normally go to concerts. GMO takes classical music to the public, for a change. The orchestra has performed in live venues, shopping malls and even a temple. GMO also runs a program called "Musicians Without Borders" where they make the musicians sit among the audience rather than perform on a stage. This allows the audience to closely experience the variety of sounds and learn what it feels like to be part of an orchestra. At the end of the day synchronicity forms the basis of an orchestra "so it's amazing for people to experience and appreciate teamwork in a form of art," Ng says. "It's like society (in miniature) - everyone has their own voice and thinking, but with one source of direction, they all go the same way, speak the same language and sound unified with harmony." Ng sees a bright future for classical music in Hong Kong. "(The scene) is quite healthy because there are a lot of young people who are curious about the music at performances," he says. "The audience overseas usually comprises older people." Still, Hong Kong could do with some more classical music events, he feels. "Hong Kong is not a big place. Classical music can create an imaginative space for people to go to and enjoy." Wilson Ng believes his energy and passion for music will stand him in good stead when he leads the world-class musicians of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. (HK Edition 04/05/2019 page7) AUSTIN, Texas A Fort Hood-based pilot program that pays for soldiers to get civilian licenses and professional credentials could expand beyond Texas by the end of September, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey said recently during congressional testimony. Speaking to a House Appropriations Committee subpanel, Dailey said the Credentialing Assistance Program, which is now only offered to roughly 36,000 soldiers of the regular Army, Army Reserve and Texas Army National Guard at Fort Hood, is expected to expand to all installations across the service in fiscal year 2020, which begins Oct. 1. The test phase of the program launched at Fort Hood in September 2018. During the announcement of the program in the fall, officials said the central Texas base was chosen because of its education center, the availability of soldiers in a diverse realm of jobs, and partnerships within the community and nearby Central Texas College. Dailey said the plans for expansion, which was always expected but not given a timeline, come after seeing positive results, even after just a few months in operation. "I'm happy to report that that limited-user test is going well," Dailey said in February speaking to the House subcommittee on military construction, veterans affairs, and related agencies. He did not elaborate during the hearing on what made results positive, but much of the feedback stems from conversations among soldiers involved in a focus group that meets directly with the post's top command sergeant major. Data on the program is expected to be available following the end of the one-year test period. The House hearing focused on quality of life at military installations and Dailey was joined in testimony by his counterparts at the other military branches. The discussion of the credentialing program followed a request to share information about it from Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, whose district includes Fort Hood. "The U.S. Army has almost 150 military occupational skills, much of which directly translate to necessary high-skilled training jobs out in the civilian sector," Dailey said. "What (soldiers) lack is the civilian credentials in order to obtain those jobs." Credentialing assistance is similar to tuition assistance, but opens the door to the professional certificates associated with many technical trades and jobs that require a license. It gives soldiers up to $4,000 a year toward earning one of the 28 different civilian licensing and certifications preselected as part of the pilot program. Certificates in the fields of fitness, food service, human resources, information technology, logistics, management, manufacturing, medical, trade and transportation were chosen because of job availability in Texas and the ability to complete them within the one-year test period. Spc. Michael Picado, a network administrator with Fort Hood's 11th Signal Brigade, was an early user of the program, beginning his first course in November. His goal is to earn three civilian credentials each year through the end of his enlistment contract in 2021. Right now, he's focused on earning credentials in his field of information technology and has already completed the IT Fundamentals certificate. In the coming years, Picado said he will branch out into credentials related to business and project management. "I've noticed management-type certificates appeal to a lot of individuals," he said. Data from Fort Hood shows that, too. Since the program was started, Fort Hood has seen more than 800 soldiers visit the base education center to receive individualized counseling about the Credentialing Assistance Program, said Mike Engen, the post's education services officer. Because the program is new, Engen said his team has really focused on awareness. Soldiers have to know the program exists to take advantage, he said. The most popular credential is the certified personal trainer certificate, Engen said. Other popular certifications include ones related to project management, human resources and the commercial driver's license. Pamela Raymer, chief of Army Human Resources Command's Army Continuing Education System, said the rollout as incremental. The Army is developing a plan to expand the limited user test to other installations and states beyond Fort Hood and Texas, by the end of September. From there, she said the ultimate plan for Army-wide expansion is sometime in fiscal year 2020. The program's expansion Army-wide also will expand the credentials offered from the 28 in the test program to all listed in the Army's Credential Opportunities On-Line program, or Army COOL. There are more than 1,650 credentials in the COOL database. Dailey said the program not only prepares soldiers for civilian employment, but also builds a force with more knowledge, capability and readiness. "Soldiers are excited for this to expand all around the Army," he said. "Of course, we've got to get all our facts together and make sure we fix all the problems before we do so." Dailey said one concern is ensuring the Army is using credentialing partners that provide quality educational opportunities for a fair price. "The Army values professional credentials. They improve military readiness by increasing the competence of our individual soldiers," Raymer said. It also helps "by retaining quality soldiers, enhancing their career progression, and providing the skills and qualifications that will make them competitive for post-service employment." Two years ago, when Picado was choosing which military branch to join, the 30-year-old chose the Army because of these type of educational opportunities. "All branches offer the same tuition assistance, but I chose the Army because I had the assumption that as a bigger branch, it would have more specialized programs," he said. "I'm glad I found the Credentialing Assistance Program over here. This is one of those programs that are the gems. It really has a lot of opportunity for me." As Picado earns credentials, he said he can see it improving his work in the Army. As a network administrator, he ensures everyone who needs it has access to the internet. "It supports my job in terms of me viewing it more as an apprenticeship," Picado said. "I'm learning the same stuff about my industry while I'm working. I absorb why I'm doing what I'm doing in my job." The Navy's former top enlisted leader failed to set a good example for other sailors by yelling at his staff, making jokes at their expense, and having other enlisted personnel get his food and coffee, an investigation found. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven Giordano "failed to exhibit exemplary conduct," the Navy's Inspector General found, after complaints were made that he mistreated his staff and didn't disclose a gift he had received from subordinates. Giordano resigned from his position as the top enlisted sailor in June, less than a month after someone filed an IG complaint alleging he had created a toxic work environment. Several allegations of wrongdoing were substantiated by the service's top investigative office, according to a 35-page report obtained by Military.com on Thursday through a Freedom of Information Act request. Thirteen witnesses -- including current and previous MCPON staff members, a chief, two fleet master chiefs and two command master chief petty officers -- were interviewed as part of the investigation. Giordano, who retired after stepping down, could not immediately be reached for comment about the report, but the investigator ultimately recommended that he face corrective action for violating Navy regulation article 1131, which calls on leaders to set a good example and protect those in their command. "All commanding officers and others in authority in the naval service are required ... to promote and safeguard the morale, the physical well-being and the general welfare of the officers and enlisted persons under their command or charge," the article states. Giordano "would get easily irritated, was always frustrated and ... was difficult to work for," one person testified. "A single irritation would be a cause for a distraction for the rest of the day," the witness said. When he resigned, Giordano called it an honor to have served for 29 years. "My love for our Navy and our Sailors is absolute," he said. "For that reason, I seek to avoid any distraction from the success of our Sailors and our mission." 'Demeaned the MCPON Position' Giordano was so irritated by a slew of command master chief firings that he began yelling, according to the investigation, putting his hand in front of someone's face. That incident, which several people said they'd seen, "demeaned the MCPON position," one witness said. "This guy is f---ing crazy," the witness recalled thinking. "And I cannot understand why he can't just listen for a second and why he feels so -- such a need to control, and he's so, so angry." Giordano denied that he had putting his hand in anyone's face and said that, while he recalled the conversation about the reliefs, he couldn't remember yelling at anyone. "I don't believe I would ever shout at another, you know, senior enlisted leader or anything like that," Giordano said, according to the report. "You know, may my voice be raised or be perceived as being raised? Possibly because, I mean, you listen to the tone of my voice just sitting here, I got a pretty loud voice as it is." Despite the denial, the Inspector General's Office substantiated the complaint, saying evidence revealed his actions "failed to exhibit exemplary conduct." "MCPON yelling at sailors, using profanity towards them and making jokes at their expense is not a good example of virtuous behavior, does not promote the general welfare of the enlisted persons under MCPON's charge, and has the capability to erode any trust and confidence that the sailors may currently possess for the MCPON office." Giordano was also so incensed by his staff members telling him they were having computer problems that one person testified they used the code line "I don't like the salad bar" to prevent him from losing his cool, according to the report. The former MCPON also joked about firing certain staff members at staff meetings and all-hands calls, according to witnesses. Giordano denied doing so. Giordano was also found to have misused his staff on several occasions by having them fetch his coffee or food. While riding in a government vehicle in and around the Washington, D.C., area in early 2018, Giordano on more than one occasion said he wanted coffee and, according to the report, the driver was expected to go inside to purchase the coffee and bring it back to MCPON, who waited in the vehicle. During a visit to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, in March 2018, MCPON was also seen asking a subordinate to get his coffee even though others -- including Rear Adm. Michael Bernacchi, head of Naval Service Training Command -- were serving themselves. "MCPON was the only person in the room that did not obtain their own coffee," the report states, adding that Bernacchi got his own beverage. "[He] actually did it right after [redacted] got MCPON's coffee," one witness said. "I don't know if that was intentional or not." Giordano said he couldn't recall whether he'd had coffee at that meeting but said he didn't direct anyone to pour it for him. Two months later, Giordano was at the Sailor of the Year barbecue, where he had someone fix him a plate of food and bring it to him. The person "was a little embarrassed" and "not comfortable preparing the plate, but still did it," the report states. Giordano said he recalled the event but denied asking anyone to fix his plate. The Inspector General found it was likely "more true than not" that MCPON had directed someone to get his coffee and food "based on a 'preponderance of the evidence' standard," the report states. "The evidence reveals that MCPON used the MCPON position to treat his staff in an unauthorized manner," the investigator wrote. An Unreported Gift and New Recommendations When Giordano visited the National Reconnaissance Office, which is part of the Defense Department's intelligence community, in Virginia in January 2018, he received a challenge coin in the shape of a "charge book vessel," the IG report states. Charge books date back to World War II and are part of a chief's initiation. The Pentagon requires officials to report any gifts they receive that total $10 or more in value, and policy states that gifts exceeding that amount given to superiors during command/site visits "should not be accepted." But when he was back in the government vehicle, Giordano told someone not to report it, and to put it in MCPON's office. Thinking he was joking, the person laughed, according to the investigation. MCPON again said the item should be placed in his office and never asked whether anyone had reported it. A logbook for gifts the MCPON received did not reference the charge-book coin, though other gifts were listed, ranging in value from just over a dollar to $390. When asked why MCPON didn't have a record of the gift, Giordano said, "I can't explain it." He didn't recall the conversation about displaying it, he said, adding that when he instructed someone to take it back to MCPON's office, he meant for processing the gift -- not just to place it somewhere without reporting it. MCPON took responsibility for it not being processed, saying it was "in my lane of responsibility to make sure we're all doing them right." But Giordano also argued that the gift was not from a subordinate because the command from which he received it is led by a rear admiral. The Inspector General disagreed. "The 'Goat Locker' notation on the gift indicates that the gift is from the Chief's Mess at [Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command], whose members are subordinate to the MCPON; and not a gift from the SPAWAR Commander," the report states. Giordano had received ethics training less than two months prior to his stop at the National Reconnaissance Office, according to the IG. Slides from that training from the vice chief of naval operations' office show topics covered included giving, solicitation and acceptance of gifts, along with requirements for gift disposition forms. Aside from recommending Giordano receive corrective action, the Inspector General's Office made the following three recommendations to the Navy: That the MCPON establish official written roles, duties and responsibilities of his/her staff members. That the MCPON consult with the vice chief of naval operations legal team regarding appropriate tasks that the MCPON can direct his/her staff to conduct, and that these tasks be placed in writing. That the vice chief of naval operations' "Annual Standards of Conduct Guidance" include language to clearly state its application to the MCPON staff. All of those recommendations have now been implemented, said Senior Chief Mass Communications Specialist Hendrick Simoes, a spokesman for MCPON's office. Giordano was replaced by MCPON Russell Smith, who officially became the service's top enlisted leader in August. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins. U.S. Army brigade combat teams will deploy this summer to Afghanistan, Iraq and Korea to participate in ongoing rotations, according to recent Army announcements. The 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will deploy to Afghanistan to replace 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, a March 29 news release states. "Our great paratroopers are honored to answer our nation's call to deploy overseas," Col. Art Sellers, commander of the 3rd BCT, said in the release. "We stand eager and ready to work alongside our Afghan and coalition partners toward mission success in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel." The Army will deploy the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to replace the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, according to another news release. "We are privileged to be joining the international coalition that will defeat ISIS and set conditions for increased regional stability," Col. Matthew Brown, commander of the 1st SBCT, said in the release, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. "The Arctic Wolves are trained, equipped and exceptionally well led. ... The brigade has readied itself for any mission." Meanwhile, the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, will replace the 1st Armored Division's 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team in Korea. "The Greywolf brigade is a highly trained and professional team of soldiers, always ready to answer our nation's call," Col. Kevin Capra, commander of the 3rd ABCT, said in a news release. "We look forward to once again working with our Korean partners and strengthening our nation's alliance. After months of intense training, I know our troopers are ready and able to support this mission." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said Friday that Congress has agreed to provide $400 million in funding to repair storm damage to family housing and other structures at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, a down payment on the $3.5 billion he says is necessary. On Twitter, he wrote, "We have received word that Congress has agreed with the administration's request to reprogram $400 million to help Marines and their families recover from damage inflicted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael." Neller had warned that unless Congress and the administration came up with funding for Lejeune recovery, the service would have to dip into its existing budget to pay for repairs, impacting overall readiness. Marine officials told Stars and Stripes Friday that about two-thirds of the funding found by Congress would go to roof and interior building repairs on the base. The remainder, the outlet reported, would be used to repair external infrastructure, ranging from flight lines to fences and training roads. Stripes also reported the $400 million reprogramming request was part of an effort to reallocate a total of $600 million for hurricane recovery, a move noted in the Pentagon's fiscal 2020 budget request. The other $200 million requested, if approved, would go to the Air Force to repair damage caused by Hurricane Michael at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, last October. Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas last September and lingered for days as a tropical storm, dropping record amounts of rain in coastal areas. Florence was followed by Hurricane Michael in October, which hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm and moved to the northeast to dump more rain on the Carolinas and Georgia. Related content: "We have a very clear stated requirement for repair at Camp Lejeune. The total bill is about ... $3.5 billion," Neller told U.S. Naval Institute News in February at the WEST 2019 conference in San Diego. "We don't have money for that. If we have to pay that ourselves, it'll take the [entire military construction] budget of the Marine Corps for probably the next four years," he said. Damage from Hurricane Florence exposed long-term needs at Lejeune, Neller said. The storm's initial impact tore roofs off older buildings, and the following downpour compounded the damage, he added. Patchwork repairs have been made to the older buildings, but they eventually will have to be replaced, Neller said. The need for repairs and replacements for aging housing at Lejeune and throughout the military, and calls by Neller and other top commanders for added funding to address the problem, were complicated by President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to build new sections of the southern border wall. Trump initially proposed to take $3.6 billion from military construction projects, for which funds had already been appropriated by Congress but not spent, as part of a package of more than $8 billion for the border wall. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has said that none of the money for military construction projects will come from funding for military family housing. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. 'Truly Not Alone': Air Force Spouse Trying to Improve Mental Health for Military Families on Okinawa Mental Health Peer Alliance meets at Kadena twice a week for activities like art therapy, exercise for mothers and small... The Navy and Marine Corps appear to be testing a concept that would turn an amphibious assault ship into a mini-aircraft carrier -- and they did so while sailing through the contentious South China Sea. The amphibious assault ship Wasp made its way to the Philippines last weekend with at least 10 F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jets aboard. That's nearly twice as many F-35s than typically deploy with amphibs. Navy photos show that four MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft were also on the Wasp. The National Interest was the first to report on the ship's larger-than-normal F-35 detachment. "In sailing with nearly twice as many vertical-landing fighters than is normal for an assault ship, Wasp is helping to prove a concept the Marine Corps seriously has been mulling over for years now -- transforming amphibious ships into light aircraft carriers," the magazine reported. "It's an idea that's gaining credibility as the Navy considers cutting the number of large carriers in the fleet." The ship sailed through the South China Sea on its way to Subic Bay in the Philippines. The Navy has been making regular transits through the waterway, just west of the Philippines, since China began militarizing artificial islands there. The Marines and sailors will now conduct amphibious operations; live-fire training; and urban, aviation and counterterrorism operations, according to a Navy news release. It's the first time the Wasp with the F-35B Lightning II aircraft will participate in the training exercise, the release states. "Together, they represent an increase in military capability committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region," according to the Navy. The Marine Corps' 2017 aviation plan includes a section on the "Lightning Carrier." While the amphibious assault ship will never replace the aircraft carrier, the plan states, it can be complementary "if employed in imaginative ways." "A Lightning Carrier, taking full advantage of the amphibious assault ship as a sea base, can provide the naval and joint force with significant access, collection and strike capabilities," according to the aviation plan. "An amphibious assault ship ... equipped with 16-20 F-35Bs with an embarked, organic aerial refueling capability will create opportunities for the naval and joint force commander." The model could become more common as the Navy looks to retire one of its aircraft carriers, the Harry S. Truman, years before originally planned. The Wasp's presence in the region comes as Filipino officials protest hundreds of Chinese boats swarming the Philippine-occupied Thitu island in the South China Sea. The island, which is called Pag-asa by Filipinos, is in the Spratlys, the most hotly contested region in the busy waterway, The Associated Press reported. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. The Alcatraz Lighthouse not only guides mariners through the San Francisco Bay but also welcomes tourists to the island that used to house America's most notorious inmates. Lit in 1854, the Alcatraz Light was the first of seven west coast lighthouses built during the California Gold Rush. The original Alcatraz Light shined over the bay until it was damaged by an earthquake in 1906. It was replaced by the current 84-foot-tall light that shines from 214-feet above sea level, the highest point on the island known as "The Rock." Located 1 1/2 miles offshore, Alcatraz Island was first used for a fort and military prison before becoming the most famous and formidable federal penitentiary in the nation. The prison closed in 1963. Today, the National Park Service manages the island as a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Alcatraz NPS Ranger John Cantwell said the lighthouse is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the 22-acre island. "We get many lighthouse aficionados coming out to see the location of the first lighthouse on the west coast," said Cantwell. Cantwell said the scenic island has also been featured in 12 movies, among them the 1979 Clint Eastwood film "Escape from Alcatraz" and the 1996 Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage film "The Rock." NPS Spokesperson Shalini Gopie said approximately 1,750,000 tourists visit Alcatraz every year. Gopie added that there are many other attractions on the island, including guided tours and bird watching. Members of Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) San Francisco keep the famous Bay Area light shining. "Alcatraz Lighthouse is unique because it's located in the center of San Francisco Bay, only accessible by boat," said Chief Petty Officer Marcelino Ortiz, the officer-in-charge of the Yerba Buena Island, California-based ANT. According to Ortiz, the view from the top of the 124-step spiral staircase is worth the hike. "The lighthouse has a 360-degree view of San Francisco and its neighboring cities, views of Golden Gate Bridge, a famous prison and a great tourist attraction," said Ortiz, who is from Queens, New York. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains more than 48,000 lighthouses, beacons and buoys that mark more than 25,000 miles of navigable waterways. This system of coastal, intracoastal and inland waterways, known as the Marine Transportation System, facilitates more than $4.6 trillion in economic activity a year. The Coast Guard recently released its Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook to chart the way ahead for its MTS missions. From the Point Reyes Light in Marin County to the Point Sur Light to the south in Monterey County, ANT San Francisco covers 569 Aids to Navigation, including 13 lighthouses, 35 buoys and 521 fixed ATON. Ortiz says maintaining the Alcatraz Light and his team's other buoys and beacons gives him a sense of satisfaction and pride in knowing that they help to keep mariners safe. "At the end of the work day, leaving Alcatraz and observing the main light watching properly gives the crew and myself peace of mind," said Ortiz. He was one of the founding air commandos assigned to World War II's China-Burma-India theater, the first American to photograph Hiroshima after the atomic bomb attack, an Army retiree -- and 'Mr. Fixit' to James Bond. Retired Lt. Col. Charles Russhon left his mark on the film industry as a military adviser to the Bond films in the 1960s and 1970s, earning the title of "Mr. Fixit" on the Bond sets. Among the gadgets Russhon procured for filmmakers were the Bell-Textron Jetpack and the Fulton Skyhook, both featured in the 1965 "Thunderball," as well as the explosives that were used to blow up the Disco Volante ship. He arranged for exterior access to Fort Knox, Kentucky, coordinated filming locations in Istanbul, Turkey, and facilitated film participation by Air Force pararescuemen in "Thunderball." "Roger Moore called him 'Mr. Fixit' because he seemed to be able to do or get anything in New York City," Russhon's wife, Claire, wrote in an email. "For example, suspending traffic on FDR Drive for a Bond chase scene (and that isn't done in one take)." As special associate to the producers, Russhon, a native New Yorker, researched new technologies, locations and permissions for whatever the scripts required, she said. Russhon, who passed away in 1982, worked on "From Russia With Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "You Only Live Twice," and "Live and Let Die." 'Mr. FixIt' Christian Russhon remembers his father's business card read "catalyst -- agent that brings others together." For him, there was never a dull moment, he said. "He was larger than life," Christian said. The film crew commemorated the colonel's penchant for life on the set of "Goldfinger" in which they promoted him to the rank of general. In the film, a banner hung on the Fort Knox airplane hangar reads "Welcome, General Russhon." Christian Russhon said he also remembers seeing his dad on film in "Thunderball" in which he appeared as an Air Force officer at a conference with other agents. According to the International Movie Database, Russhon is sitting to the right of "M" in the scene. Russhon's connections with movers and shakers made him the right man for the Bond job after his retirement from active-duty service in the Air Force. His acquaintance with film producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli predated Broccoli's work on the Bond films, Claire Russhon said. He was available when Broccoli needed a man stateside to work on the films. Russhon relied on his acquaintance with President John F. Kennedy's press secretary Pierre Salinger for access to film at Fort Knox in "Goldfinger." He worked with his military connections to get approval for filming in Turkey in "From Russia with Love" and to arrange for pararescuemen conducting a water training jump to be featured in "Thunderball." He was also there for a young Sean Connery when he arrived in New York City, Claire Russhon said. "Connery was a stranger in New York, and Charles took him in tow." When Connery was at odds with the producers, Russhon would serve as the go-between, she said. "Despite his reputation with the girls, Sean was a man's man," she said. "They kept in touch long after working together, and Sean called me when Charles died." Christian Russhon, who has also worked in the film industry for 30 years, remembers Sean Connery stopping by their New York apartment all the time. "I called him Uncle Sean," he said. The BSA Lightning motorcycle from "Thunderball," complete with rockets, also left an impression on young Christian Russhon. The motorcycle was gifted to his dad who gave it to his godson. Christian was not old enough to drive yet, so he missed out on the BSA Lightning, he recalled. Some real spy work Russhon not only had the connections, but he had the credentials to advise Bond filmmakers. He conducted his own top secret special operations work with the 1st Air Commando Group during World War II. The group, led by co-commanders and then lieutenant colonels John Alison and Philip Cochran, assisted one of the fathers of irregular warfare, British Army Maj. Gen. Orde Wingate, and his ground forces, the "Chindits," as they penetrated the Burmese jungles in the fight against the Japanese. Their mission was to provide air support to British ground forces through infiltration and exfiltration, combat resupply and medical evacuations in hostile territory using a wide variety of aircraft flying low-level, long-range missions. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Russhon worked as a sound engineer for NBC in New York City and for Hollywood-based Republic Pictures, which specialized in Westerns. Claire Russhon said her husband's deep patriotism and education at Peekskill Military Academy, Peekskill, New York, motivated him to join the U.S. Army Air Corps following the attack. As a young lieutenant, he was sent to Burma where he led the 10th Combat Camera Unit, a small group of cameramen supporting the 1st Air Commando Group. Alison and Cochran built a rapport with Russhon based on his exemplary work as a cameraman. He later became permanently attached to the Group, said Air Force Special Operations Command historian William Landau. "They became fast friends," Claire Russhon said. "Gen. John Alison was later best man at our wedding." Russhon became critical to mission success in the days leading up to Operation Thursday when he was cleared by Cochran to defy Wingate's orders and conduct last minute photo reconnaissance of the three landing strips Allied forces were to use during the mission, Landau said. Operation Thursday, a mission in which gliders were used to drop the Chindits deep behind Japanese enemy lines, marks the first time in military history that airpower was the backbone of an invasion, Landau said. "The photo reconnaissance was used to survey and select the landing sights," he said. "By cutting it off, Wingate basically left himself open to the possibility of a nasty surprise upon landing." Russhon got in the air with his camera. The first airstrip, Broadway, was clear. Chowringhee airstrip was clear. Piccadilly, which was to be used in the first night of operations, was strewn with teak logs locals had dragged out to the clearing to dry, he said. "Russhon was so taken aback, he actually forgot to photograph the area," Landau said. The pilot doubled back. He rushed to develop about 30 photographs at the nearest base of operations and had them delivered to Cochran, Alison and Wingate. "(Russhon's photo reconnaissance) not only saved many lives. It saved the operation itself," Landau said. "If they had landed with logs and debris at Piccadilly, the mission had the potential of being a catastrophic failure." Russhon received the British Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in August 1945. An excerpt from the citation reads: "This officer has displayed exemplary keenness and devotion to duty and was personally commended by General Wingate for his courageous action." Russhon continued to serve as a photographer through the end of World War II. After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he was among the first Americans on location documenting the destruction. A 1945 article from the San Francisco Examiner interviewed Russhon about being on the ground in both cities within 24 hours after each bomb dropped. "A strange, rusty-looking haze hung over Nagasaki when I flew above the city at 3,000 feet the day after it was hit by the atomic bomb," Charles Russhon told the Examiner. "It was unlike anything I've ever run into before or since. I got out of there in one hell of a hurry." Following his active-duty career with the Air Force, Russhon entered the Air Force Reserve and began his work bringing life to Ian Fleming's Bond on the big screen. Claire Russhon said her husband enjoyed working on all of the Bond films but that one of the most interesting was "You Only Live Twice," because it required him to return to Japan where he recalled some of his World War II experiences. "In preparing for the Bond filming, there was a reception for the Japanese officials at which a gentleman greeted Charles and said 'you have gained weight,'" she said. "It was a Japanese general who explained that he was on the welcoming committee at Atsugi Air Base, (Japan,) when that first plane arrived (after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and Charles stepped off." Russhon's legacy is extensive. Not only has he been immortalized on screen in the Bond films, but friend and celebrated American cartoonist Milton Caniff crafted "Charlie Vanilla" from his "Steve Canyon" comic strip after his person. The "Charlie Vanilla" character was a mister fix-it with an affinity for vanilla ice cream who always managed to save the day, Claire Russhon said. "The ice cream cone was fashioned after Charles's addiction to chocolate ice cream, but Caniff decided that 'Vanilla,' with the dangling vowel sounded more ominous," she said. Beyond the life he breathed into Bond by supplying filmmakers with the cool gadgets and locations viewers remember when they watch classic movies like "Goldfinger," Russhon is immortalized in Air Commando history through his photos and his leadership. "I get a sense of adventure. I get a sense of cunning," the AFSOC historian said. "To me, he embodied what an Air Commando more or less should be. He was fearless." -- Military.com contributed to this report. PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP -- A 36-year-old man accused of sex trafficking from a motel just outside of Ann Arbor last summer plans to represent himself at his upcoming trial. Derrius L. Thurmond fired his state-paid attorney in March, although hes still being assisted in preparation for trial by a Washtenaw County Public Defenders Office attorney. Police arrested Thurmond on the evening of July 20, 2018 after police pulled over a man who was leaving the Motel 6 Ann Arbor, 3764 S. State St. in Pittsfield Township, about 6:45 p.m., according to court testimony at an August 2018 preliminary examination. The man led police to a hotel room, where they found the victim, a 20-year-old Jackson woman, a visibly shaking in a flowered, black sundress, Pittsfield Township police Officer Adam Hess said at Thurmonds preliminary examination. Derrius Thurmond Courtesy Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety Police found Thurmond hiding in the shower and arrested him, Hess said. The woman said in court that Thurmond invited her to the motel room, offering to take her out for a birthday dinner and shopping, but that several hours after it became apparent a night of leisure wasnt in store. Instead, the woman said Thurmond informed her a man was coming by in 15 minutes and she would be doing what was expected of her. Thurmond had offered her up as a prostitute multiple times before, threatening violence if she wouldnt comply and keeping nearly all of the money she earned, the woman said in court. The witness said Thurmond raped her on multiple occasions. They also had some consensual sex in the past, she said. Thurmond is charged with prostitution/pandering, human trafficking and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. MILAN, MI -- A Milan couple lost everything when a fire destroyed their home and killed their dog, Buddy, about 6 p.m. March 31, according to Milan Area Fire Chief Bob Stevens. In under three days, more than $7,000 was raised by 100-plus donations to a GoFundMe online fundraiser started by friend Leigh ReBeau to help the couple recover. Milan firefighters responded to the fire on Gay Street and upon arrival, discovered the house owned by Andy and Kelly Paniwozik engulfed in flames, Stevens said. There was a family pet that didnt make it, the fire chief said. While the fire appeared to be heaviest in the rear of the two-story home, Stevens said on Thursday the cause and total value of the loss remain under investigation. Youre going to want to keep your eyes open for this one. Josh Malerman, the author of the novel-turned-hit-Netflix movie Bird Box, will be the keynote speaker at the 2019 Night for Notables celebration, the Library of Michigan announced on Thursday. Malerman, a 2015 Michigan Notable Book recipient, will speak at the Library of Michigan in Lansing on Saturday, April 27. Twenty Michigan-related books are selected to be listed as a Michigan Notable Book each year, and the Night for Notables event is a celebration of the authors. It is always important for us to have a Michigan Notable Book author provide the keynote for the event, said State Librarian Randy Riley. Authors talking to other authors about the significance of Michigan in their work hits the right note. Malerman, of Ferndale, published Bird Box to critical acclaim in 2014, but became a household name after Netflix released a film adaptation starring Sandra Bullock in 2018. The book and film take place in a post-apocalyptic world and follow a woman who must find a way to guide herself and her children to safety despite the potential threat from an unseen adversary. We had heard rumors of Sandra Bullock being in the lead role for the Bird Box movie, but when we saw the billboard in Times Square, we knew that Bird Box was going to hit it out of the park Riley said. It is always exciting when a great book goes on to reach even larger audiences. Previous keynotes have included Michigan graduate Jesmyn Ward, Michigan State graduate Richard Ford, poet Thomas Lynch, Ordinary People author Judith Guest and director Michael Moore. Malerman is part a select group of Michigan authors whose books have gone on to be made into movies. The Night for Notables is hosted by the Library of Michigan Foundation. A record turnout is expected, so reservations are required. Details may be found at www.libraryofmichiganfoundation.org or by calling Darlene K. DePeel at 517-335-1488. The FBI says the man who falsely claimed to be an Illinois boy missing since 2011 has twice previously made claims that hes been the victim of human trafficking, according to the Associated Press. Brian Rini of Medina, Ohio, was arrested and taken to a Cincinnati jail Thursday after a DNA test proved he was not Timmothy Pitzen -- the missing boy -- despite making claims that he was in fact the boy. Rini was taken to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Emergency Room, Wednesday after he claimed to be Pitzen. However, he refused to be fingerprinted Wednesday and Thursday but agreed to a DNA test Thursday. Agents warned Rini about the consequences of lying to law enforcement, but the 23-year-old Rini continued to claim he was Pitzen. Rini allegedly told agents hed escaped from a hotel where hed been forced to have sex with men against his will. After he was shown the DNA results, Rini eventually admitted he was not Pitzen. Rini has made claims of being a victim of sex trafficking twice in the past according to the FBI. In both of those cases, fingerprinting eventually revealed his true identity. Rini was released from an Ohio prison on probation less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism. Pitzen has been missing since his mother died by suicide in May 2011 after taking the boy on a trip to the zoo and a waterpark. She let behind a note saying Pitzen was safe but would never be found. He was six years old at the time of his disappearance. Police in Pitzens hometown of Aurora, Ill. will continue the investigation, while the FBI and other law enforcement agencies will only provide assistance when needed. Plans for an ORV park in Metro Detroit have been given the green light. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 20-year operating agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on April 2. The agreement includes a 10-year additional option and says that the Oakland County Parks and Recreation will operate the park located in Groveland and Holly townships. The park will consist of sand and gravel mines across Dixie Highway from Groveland Oaks County Park and Campground. It features easy access along Dixie Highway and off I-75 at the Grange Hall Road exit. This park has been a long time in the making, OCPRs Executive Officer Dan Stencil said. Weve been talking with the MDNR about this for 20+ years and working hard on this particular property for the past seven. The stars finally aligned, and we have a location with easy access, very few neighbors and the property is surrounded by recreation land. Planning for the park is underway with a design expected later this summer. OCPR will complete construction in early spring 2020 and plans to have the park open to the public by July 2020. Approximately 113 acres are expected to be open next summer, with additional acres coming online as mining is completed on the remaining property. The full 235-acre park is expected to be operational by 2023 The park has yet to be formally named, although the lease agreement refers to it as Holly Oaks ORV Park. However, a new name will likely be selected later this year, according to Oakland County staff. We know people are chomping at the bit, Stencil said. We are too we cant wait to open the gates and invite people in. Its going to be a tremendous asset for the county parks system, as well as the local economy here in Groveland and Holly townships. There are currently no legal ORV riding areas in southeast Michigan, with the closest available riding at The Mounds in Genesee County. The park will not be open to the public in 2019, but clubs and corporations can use it through the DNRs special use permit process. The test events will help OCPR plan and design the site by getting feedback on what currently exists on the property. Talking with ORV operators who use the site will also help staff plan official park layout, according to a news release. Any clubs or businesses interested in holding an event at the site this summer should email Jon Noyes, Principal Planner with Oakland County Parks and Recreation at noyesj@oakgov.com. A public meeting will be held later this spring to discuss the plan for the park, much of which is outlined here. MONROE, MI -- Police say a Monroe woman has been arrested and charged with one count of concealing the death of another after it was discovered she was living with her dead boyfriend for several weeks. According to a press release from the Monroe Police Department Friday morning, officers discovered the dead man inside the home he shared with the woman in the 600 block of Harrison Street. Police were called to the house Wednesday afternoon for a well-being check of the 61-year-old man whose family said they had not heard from him in weeks. When officers arrived at the house, they were unable to make contact with the man, but did contact the property owner to help officers gain entry. When they returned a second time, the woman in question greeted them at the door. Police quickly determined there was a dead body in the home. The woman also confirmed the man had died. Based on the conditions in the home, statements from the girlfriend, it appears that resident had passed away several weeks earlier and she continued living there, the press release reads. The woman was initially taken to a local hospital for an evaluation before being released and interviewed by police Thursday. After interviewing the woman and collecting evidence from the scene, she was arrested and lodged in the Monroe County Jail. Police have not identified the woman under arrest or the deceased man found in the home. As negotiations over the states annual budget pick up the pace, fissures are already developing between the Republican-led legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over the perennial problem of road funding. Whitmers budget recommendation hinges on a 45-cent gas tax increase to pay for them, a suggestion House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, have so far rejected on its face. Chatfields described the plan as a nonstarter in the House, recently suggesting he prefers an approach that directs every penny thats paid at the pump to our roads" and said House Republicans are in the process of drafting their own budget plan. Spokesperson Gideon DAssandro said theres not currently a set timeline on when that plan might be released, adding conversations are ongoing. In the Senate, leaders are considering splitting road funding talks from the budget process entirely. Shirkey does not necessarily tie road funding needing to be complete or fully fleshed out with the budget process moving forward," spokesperson Amber McCann said. We obviously acknowledge the fiscal impact of any road plan that we might do, but the majority leader is not willing to hold up progress on the budget on any particular policy item, McCann continued. Whitmer came out strongly against that option this week, saying in a recent podcast interview with MIRS News that she wouldnt sign a budget unless theres funding for the roads. The budget is absolutely interlinked - our ability to fund our education system, to clean up drinking water, is linked with our ability to rebuild roads in this state, she said in the interview. Im not signing anything unless its all done together. Hey Michigan: tired of phony political fixes and half-measures? Me too! Time to fix these damn roads. I have a solution. Got an alternative? #FTDR pic.twitter.com/6AFS24fh1B Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) March 28, 2019 On social media, the governor posted a flow chart of considerations that should be taken before coming to her with an alternative plan, including whether the alternative raises $2.5 billion dedicated to roads, is a real solution or a temporary fix and if it prioritizes high-value and highly traveled roads. Whitmers budget plan as introduced would raise the fuel tax by 45 cents per gallon by Oct. 1, 2020 in three, 15-cent increments. The budget also increases money for schools, gives the tax structure a second look and puts money toward clean drinking water. The move would come after the 2015 road plan passed by lawmakers, which is expected to generate $1.2 billion by 2021. But it would also alter that plan, taking $500 million of it slated to come from the general fund this year and sending that to the higher education budget instead. The current disputes over the direction of the state budget could mean a departure from the early budgets set by former Gov. Rick Snyder, who set a goal of signing budgets a few months ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline. But Snyder was a Republican governor working with a Republican legislature. Now, the divided government means lawmakers should prepare to be working all summer long on a compromise instead of taking a summer break, Whitmer quipped in the MIRS interview. UPDATE: These crashes were cleared as of 1:30 p.m. Friday. PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI - Multiple crashes were blocking I-94 near Ann Arbor on Friday morning. A crash was blocking the eastbound I-94 entrance ramp from U.S. 12 about 10 a.m. April 5, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation traffic map. A crash also was impacting traffic westbound I-94 at U.S. 23, exit 180, according to MDOT. Police were on scene in the area as of 8:45 a.m. for an overturned semi-trailer on eastbound I-94, according to a tweet from Michigan State Police First District. Traffic might be a little slow this morning down in the Ann Arbor area. This is E/B I-94 just east of Michigan Ave. Brighton Post troopers are out with an overturned semi trailer. Seek an alternate route or allow yourself more time if traveling in this area. pic.twitter.com/Lpc2qjljYQ MSP First District (@MSPFirstDist) April 5, 2019 Further information was not immediately available. YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - Ypsilanti Township is moving forward with a ban on recreational marijuana establishments, at least until theres more information from the state on how those businesses will operate. Michigans Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is currently developing a process for licensing recreational marijuana businesses, after voters passed a statewide ballot proposal in the November 2018 election that legalized recreational marijuana. Individual municipalities can decide to prohibit those types of businesses or to impose their own regulations and zoning requirements in addition to state licensing requirements. LARA has a Dec. 6 deadline to have the licensing rules in place, and officials expect to have a draft done by June. The Ypsilanti Township board unanimously passed a first reading of the proposed ordinance banning recreational marijuana businesses Tuesday, April 2. A second reading and final vote on the ordinance is scheduled for May 7, said Deputy Township Clerk Lisa Stanfield. The townships recreational marijuana ordinance would not impact medical marijuana establishments, patients or caregivers. As of mid-March, 322 Michigan communities have banned recreational marijuana businesses, according to LARA. The dilemma is if were not proactive and say were going to ban these until we know what the rules are then they could technically be licensed without any idea of how they should be zoned, said attorney Doug Winters, who is working with Ypsilanti Township on its proposed recreational marijuana ordinance. Were hitting the pause button until we see what these (state) rules and regulations are going to be. In Washtenaw County, Saline, Lima Township, Webster Township and Northfield Township have banned recreational marijuana businesses. Sixty-eight percent of Washtenaw County voters supported the ballot proposal to legalize recreational marijuana. Ypsilanti Township trustees began discussing an ordinance to ban recreational marijuana establishments in February, and public opinion on the issue has been divided. Some think the township should welcome new businesses, and others worry an influx of recreational marijuana businesses will lead to increased drug use among teens. Ypsilanti Townships proposed ordinance notes six types of recreational marijuana businesses that will be allowed under state law: Growers and sellers with up to 2,000 marijuana plants; Safety compliance facilities that test potency of recreational marijuana; Recreational marijuana processors; Micro-businesses that cultivate, process and package up to 150 marijuana plants; Recreational marijuana retailers; and Recreational marijuana transporters that deliver products to and from other establishments. The township board resolution states: Before the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees can consider the salient issues of whether commercial recreational marihuana businesses are in the best interests of the Township, and if so, the types of businesses that may be suited to the Township based upon the zoning district(s) for such businesses and whether other local regulations and requirements should be adopted, the Township Board needs to be fully apprised prior thereto of all of the rules and regulations that will be promulgated and adopted by LARA governing commercial recreational marihuana businesses. The ordinance would ban all types of recreational marijuana establishments, under penalty of a $500 fine plus expenses related to prosecuting the ordinance violation. To say its a permanent ban, I cant say that because I dont know what the township may in the future do, Winters said. Theres a lot of unknowns right now. ... Its hard to have an ordinance in place until you know what the (state) rules are going to be. FLINT, MI -- Former emergency manager Gerald Ambrose was charged with crimes related to the Flint water crisis more than two years ago, but his pre-trial hearing in Genesee Circuit Court has been postponed for the fourth time. A spokesman for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday that the most recent adjournment is due to the illness of an attorney involved in prosecuting the case, and the courts docket shows the pre-trial has not been rescheduled. Ambrose, 69, of Mason, faces criminal charges of false pretenses, conspiracy to commit false pretenses, willful neglect of duty and misconduct in office. Prosecutors have claimed he was involved in a scheme to enter into a contract on behalf of the city that was based on false pretenses and was aware that Flints water treatment plant was not able to produce safe water but allowed it to operate. After the charges were filed in December 2016, the former emergency manager waived his preliminary examination in Genesee District Court and special prosecutor Todd Flood said he was working to nail down the terms of a plea agreement with Ambrose in exchange for his cooperation in other prosecutions. In addition to working as an emergency manager for the state in Flint, Ambrose spent years as the citys finance director. His case is the most recent that has been postponed since Flood was replaced by Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud as the Attorney Generals Office chief of Flint water prosecutions. Earlier this week, state attorneys did not appear in court for a status conference on criminal cases pending against another former emergency manager -- Darnell Earley -- and former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft. In all, eight current and former state and city officials still face charges related to the water crisis and only three have advanced past preliminary exams. Seven cases have been resolved by plea deals, none of which has resulted in a fine or jail sentence. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Police say a Hope College documentary helped solve a 17-year-old mystery involving a badly burned body found in a foot locker in Grand Haven Township. Police in Eaton and Ottawa counties, during a joint press conference, said the body identification and subsequent investigation also has led to murder charges against three people. The body is that of 37-year-old Roberto Caraballo and police say he was killed in the basement of a home on Horatio Street in Charlotte. Murder warrants have been issued against his wife, 58-year-old Beverly McCallum; her daughter, 38-year-old Dineane Ducharme; and 40-year-old Christopher McMillan of Grand Rapids. McMillan, who knew Ducharme, is in the Eaton County Jail. Ducharme was arrested in Texas and McCallum is being sought and may be Pakistan, police said. The bodys identity was a mystery for at least 13 years. But in 2015, family members of Caraballo were searching the Internet and came across the Hope College student-produced video Jack in the Box about the discovery of the foot locker and body. The name Jack was a moniker sheriffs investigators called the John Doe body when the foot locker was initially discovered in 2002. Someone then called Ottawa County Detective Bob Donker and police began to investigate. It led to the body identification, but also a joint investigation with Eaton County sheriffs detectives into the homicide. Its good to have the result we have today, with charges being issued, especially for the victim and the victims family, Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker said. EATON RAPIDS TWP., MI Police are hoping a pink shoe will help identify a homicide victim whose body was found in the woods north of Eaton Rapids last week. The Eaton County Sheriffs Office released the photo of the size 10 Nike shoe on Thursday, April 4. The victim also was wearing an extra-large fur-lined, black Faded Glory hooded coat and a black or dark gray hooded long sleeve Vanity shirt, police said. The womans body, which was in an advanced state of decomposition, was found March 27, near the intersection of Wilber Highway and Spruce Road in northern Eaton Rapids Township. Detectives and evidence technicians, assisted by the Michigan State Police Crime Lab and Michigan State University Anthropology Department, processed the scene and recovered the womans remains which were turned over to the Medical Examiners Office, police said. The case remains under investigation. Anyone who knows of a missing person who might have been wearing these shoes or clothes can call Eaton County Sheriffs Office Det. Rick Buxton at 517-323-8484. KALAMAZOO, MI -- A parole absconder shot and killed by police has been identified as 37-year-old Thomas Verile Jr. of Scotts. State police released the identity about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, and say Verile near struck two officers with a vehicle two days earlier as they tried to arrest him. Members of a fugitive arrest team were trying again Thursday to take him into custody when he was shot and killed in a home in the 2800 block of East G Avenue in Kalamazoo. Verile was wanted for violating parole on previous convictions for breaking and entering and felony firearm. Police say he also had warrants against him after failing to show in court on charges involving a short-barreled shotgun and child neglect. During Thursdays arrest attempt, about 10 a.m., Verile allegedly made threats at officers and stated he had a weapon. Police said they found no weapon on him after the shooting, however. Several members of the fugitive team fired shots at Verile. Thursdays deadly encounter came after Verile escaped an arrest attempt Tuesday. Fugitive team officers had him under surveillance for several days. State police said he fled in a vehicle and nearly struck two detectives Tuesday morning. The vehicle then crashed through two gates and became disabled, but Verile jumped out and ran. Police called in a tracking dog but he was not found. In a release issued Thursday evening, state police said the involved officers with the fugitive team are from the Battle Creek Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Michigan Department of Corrections and the state police Fifth District Special Investigation Section. Any state police officers who fired weapons have been placed on administrative leave, per department protocol. Its not clear if officers from the other departments also are on leave. GRAND HAVEN, MI Its been a long road for a Grand Rapids-based distillery to find the right location in Grand Haven. Long Road Distillers is expected to open a location this summer in the space currently known by Grand Haven locals as The Pav. The distillery previously had eyed two different locations in Grand Haven, but has settled on the location at 18 Washington Ave. currently occupied by The Pavilion Wharf Deli & Grill. The Pav, recognizable for its red and green facade and known for its food, karaoke, and Jell-O and pudding shots, will close Saturday, April 6. Owner Melissa Muskoven announced the closure via Facebook on Saturday, March 30, calling it a very difficult decision" based on a careful review of all my options. That decision opened up a new option for Long Road Distillers, which plans to purchase the building and open its tasting room and restaurant with a pop-up shop feel after minimal upgrades, said co-owner Kyle VanStrien. It is the third space that Long Road has formally considered for its Grand Haven location. First, the business was turned down by the Grand Haven City Council for a lease at the city-owned, now-vacant Grand Trunk railroad depot on the downtown waterfront. Next, it planned to occupy a portion of The Copper Post restaurant, 102 Washington Ave., but those negotiations fell through. The distillery wouldnt have had its own kitchen at The Copper Post, which was one factor that led to the parting of ways, VanStrien said. A kitchen comes with the 18 Washington location. Long Road expects to offer handcrafted cocktails, spirit samples, special tasting events, merchandise, bottles and food. Im really excited about 18 Washington because of the fact that well be in our own the building," VanStrien said. "And we have a long-term stake in downtown that way. Long Road is aggressively aiming to be open for Grand Havens busy summer tourism season, he said. There wont be time for much in the way of renovations before then, but there will be some refreshes. A more complete revamp is expected before summer 2020. The Pavilion building was already on the radar when The Copper Post was chosen, VanStrien said. Ultimately, 18 Washington is where we belong, he said. Pavilion Wharf Deli & Grill, 18 Washington Ave., will close on Saturday, April 6. The building is being sold to Long Road Distillers, and is expected to be converted to a tasting room and restaurant. Long Road already obtained the Grand Haven City Councils endorsement for a liquor license at The Copper Post location. It will go to the council again on Monday to request the same at the new address it will be the fifth consecutive council meeting agenda that Long Road has been on. If approved by city council, the license application would still need state approval through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. The city council narrowly rejected leasing the historic depot space to Long Road, with some members objecting to the idea of a distillery so close to the recently renovated Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium. During summers, customers flock to the waterfront and business in Grand Rapids slows, which makes Grand Haven a perfect complement, VanStrien said. The company has been working for two years to open in the beach town. Long Roads distillery, main tasting room and restaurant are in Grand Rapids. Theres also a tasting room in Boyne City. MUSKEGON, MI The Crue fills a man salon-sized hole in downtown Muskegon. The barbershop, located in the Heritage Square development at 934 Second St., playfully displays the words Welcome to the Man Salon on its service menu blackboard. The board also lists Looks That Kill: A damn good haircut including a shampoo for $25, among other services. For a solid city downtown, you need a barbershop and a bakery, said The Crue owner Emily Prow, a 2011 Orchard View graduate who attended Booker Institute of Cosmetology while in high school. Morats Bakery recently filled one of those slots. Several years ago, a downtown barbershop went out of business and since then, there have been many successful womens salons but nothing specific to mens hair care, said Downtown Muskegon Now executive director Dave Alexander. The Crue offers a much-needed service, he said. Prow worked for more than two years toward opening a barbershop in downtown Muskegon. On Monday, April 1, her dream came true. The Crue is not a typical barbershop; the business offers complimentary beer, a hot towel and neck shave with every service, and takes appointments. The experience and vibe is a lot different than what you get anywhere else, Prow said. Prow, a cosmetologist, and her employees Brenan Hoffman, a barber, and Logan Hartman, a cosmetologist, are going for a relaxed, comfortable, modern barbershop vibe at the establishment, they said. Mens hair is getting longer, not shorter my cosmetology spin will make this a more modernized barbershop, Prow said. Complimentary coffee from neighboring Drip Drop Drink Cafe and beer, including Pabst Blue Ribbon, are part of the ambience. Prow plans to eventually serve Rake Beer Project brews, but what will be Muskegons third brewery isnt open yet. The Crue features a black, gray and white color palette accented by black leather furniture, a decorative wood-plank wall and creative touches like spray bottles made from Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey bottles. They also plan to hang a buck mount and antlers. The barbershop is the final commercial tenant of the recently erected Heritage Square Commons, which meant Prow was able to customize it to her needs after spending years searching for the perfect downtown storefront. Heritage Square Commons, by Gary Posts Port City Construction, is also home to Drip Drop Drink Cafe and Skye Blu Boutique, which both opened in 2018. The three commercial spaces are below apartments on Second Street and attached to the Heritage Square Townhomes on Clay Street between Second and First streets. The development recently turned the corner onto First where the final townhomes are being built. During April 2017, Prow was a finalist in a competition for $15,000 of business services and six months free rent at 1144 Third St., which was recently demolished. At the time, Prows proposed business name was The Occidental, after the former Muskegon hotel; the new name is after her 5-month-old son Crue. Prow didnt win the competition, but didnt give up on her dream either. Next, she considered the space at 557 W. Western Ave., but the long, skinny storefront wasnt quite right, Prow said. That address is now the home to 557 Cafe. I just wasnt going to give up, Prow said. In the end, it was Post - with the help of Alexander - who sought out the barbershop, she said. The Crue is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Appointments are encouraged. Heritage Square is part of the ongoing redevelopment of downtown Muskegon that accelerated in the past few years with projects like Highpoint Flats, NorthTown 794, Berkshire Muskegon senior living and Lake View Lofts. Theres also been ongoing renovations at the Holiday Inn and L.C. Walker Arena. The city will soon begin construction of a convention center. There are plans for the Leonard building and Foundry Square. Along with the development, many businesses opened recently, including Rad Dads Tacos & Tequila Bar, 18th Amendment Spirits Co., Vintage Redefined, The TISH salon, Dr. Rolfs BBQ, Health Hutt, Hamburger Mikeys, Third Coast Vinyl, The Griffins Rest and The Humidor. More are on the way, including Aldea Coffee, Redmons Kitchen & Bar, Capones Speakeasy and Pizzeria, Nipotes Italian Kitchen, a credit union and a convenience grocery store. Political life in Kiev was invigorated this week with a promise of a debate between two presidential election frontrunners in a stadium. Less amusing were vibes of a potential coup coming from the camp thats lagging behind. Sport venues and debates between presidential hopefuls dont usually mix, but Ukraine is set to become an exception. Incumbent President Petro Poroshenko and frontrunner Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to have a verbal bout sometime before the second round of presidential race at the Olympiysky stadium, one of Ukraines biggest arenas. Or it can be used by the Poroshenko-loyal henchmen to slaughter supporters of his opponent in their dozens and hundreds. At least thats the implication of a picture posted by one of the presidents aides after Zelensky made a public challenge for a debate on Wednesday. The picture shows the face of Poroshenko photoshopped over that of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. His government notoriously used the national stadium in Santiago to execute political opponents in the aftermath of the 1973 military coup. The words written under Poroshenkos smiling face paraphrase his actual video response to Zelenskys challenge and roughly translate as Let it happen at the stadium then. One may take it as harmless jesting the post, by Yuri Biryukov, is still on his Facebook page at the time of publication. But the same cannot be said about another person firmly in the pro-Poroshenko camp, journalist Ayder Muzhdabaev, who expressed a similar sentiment in a far less humorous manner. In his Facebook post after the first round of the election he said supporters of Zelensky and some other candidates were traitors who should be simply shot. He added that a civil war and partitioning of Ukraine were the only chance for our survival left by the pro-Russian majority. The remark was suspended by the network and the journalist had to apologize after a public outcry over his incendiary words. The upcoming event has become a focal point of the run-up to the second round of the election, which is scheduled for April 21. Both candidates ignored their chance for a public debate with each other and the third front-runner, Yulia Tymoshenko, just before the first round. Poroshenkos campaign started goading Zelensky into a public face-off against their candidate on Monday an apparent ploy to undermine the less-experienced contender, who nevertheless scored twice as many votes than the incumbent president. Zelenskys campaign pulled the rug from under their opponent by challenging him to a stadium appearance, which inevitably changes the format of the event to that of a show, which is far more familiar to Zelensky, a veteran comedian. Poroshenko had to either accept or completely lose face. Also on rt.com Laugh all you like at Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky - but your countrys next leader might be a comic On Thursday, both men passed medical tests to prove neither is a drug addict or alcoholic, which was part of Zelenskys terms for the upcoming political battle. Meanwhile Tymoshenko said she would consider his invitation to serve as the moderator of the debate. Tymoshenko, who scored a mere 3.6 percent points less than Poroshenko, earlier accused the Ukrainian president of basically stealing her spot in the second round through voter manipulation and fraud. However she refused to challenge his campaign in court. Neither would she endorse Zelenskys candidacy, distancing herself from what would happen between the two. With her as a moderator, the upcoming debate may become the political show of the decade in Ukraine. Like this story? Share it with a friend! The Russian military is upgrading its Arctic infrastructure, creating new bases and modernizing those already in place. A fresh video shows the technologically-advanced Northern Trileaf facility in Yakutia. The base became operational in 2015 and is manned by 250 troops, supporting military operations on Kotelny Island, one of the New Siberian archipelagos off the northern coast of Russia. There is also the Temp military airfield and a radar station on the island. Northern Trileaf is the less-flashy cousin of the Arctic Clover, a base located some 1,900km (1180 miles) to the west of it on the Franz Josef Land. It doesnt feature the pod-like auxiliary structures like the other facility, but otherwise shares the trilinear layout. It is based on the same underlying technology, which allows for comfortable living in the Arctic conditions with minimum impact on its fragile environment, and if necessary can remain in full autonomy from supply lines for a year. Previous reports showed Northern Trileaf from air, but this is the first to give a more detailed look into how the extraordinary base operates day-to-day. If you like this story, share it with a friend! Stunning video footage has emerged of a potentially catastrophic accident that occurred during a recent rally in Argentina, in which two drivers had to make a quick exit as flames and thick smoke engulfed their car. Ezequiel Castanon and his co-driver Julian Arzeno were forced to abandon their car after a fire broke out in the back seat of their vehicle in the 'La Pepita' stage of the Rally de Ranchos race in Buenos Aires, Argentina recently. READ MORE: Keepy-uppy queen - Meet Harriet Pavlou, the freestyle juggler on heels The drivers noticed the fire within seconds as they traveled at high speed, forcing the pair to bring the car to an immediate halt and undo their seatbelts to make a hasty escape before the noxious smoke and flames fully took hold. Footage of the dramatic incident was captured on Castanon's in-car camera. Neither driver was hurt in the incident, and Castanon later praised the quick thinking of on-site fire personnel who minimized the damage to their vehicle. Writing on Instagram following the incident, Castanon said: "I want to thank the authorities of the La Pepita special event, above all the firefighter who was at the end of the track, as well as Sergio Centorame and my navigator @julianarzeno. "Without them the car wouldn't have been saved. "Secondly I want this to be useful for drivers and navigators, how I drove in the dangerous situation, reaching the end of the stage knowing that there is always a firefighter there, I was lucky there was at the end." German lawmaker Alexander Neu lambasted NATO for conducting aggressive wars and raking up defense spending, suggesting Germany should quit its military command, and the bloc be dissolved altogether. NATOs 70th birthday is not a reason to celebrate, but rather an occasion to finally rethink it, before its too late, Neu wrote in Die Freiheitsliebe blog on Thursday. The lawmaker from the opposition Left Party slammed the US-led military bloc as an organization that poses significant security risk to the world and systematically violates international law. NATO revealed its true colors when it waged an aggressive war against Yugoslavia without the UNs approval, and carried out numerous interventions, which claimed the lives of countless victims, Neu argued. He pointed out that last year NATOs member states spent more than $1 trillion on defense, which is far more than the defense budgets of its rivals, China and Russia, combined. The imperialist competition and the fear of losing economic and ideological supremacy drive NATO towards more rearmament and confrontation. In order to avoid global escalation, the lawmaker proposed that Germany should leave the alliances military structures, and then NATO itself should be dissolved and replaced by a new collective security system, which would include Russia. Also on rt.com 70 years of NATO charts 70 years of brute force and hard power Berlins contribution to NATO has caused a rift with Washington in recent years, as President Donald Trump repeatedly accused Germany, along with other EU nations, of not spending its fair share on the blocs collective security. German officials rebuked the criticism, but admitted the country wont reach NATOs spending target until 2024. Founded in 1949, NATO was primarily seen as a bulwark against the Soviet Bloc during the Cold War. The alliance continued its existence after the Soviet Union collapsed, and expanded eastwards, despite vehement protests from Moscow. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Washington has annulled the entry visa of Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, after the State Department vowed to shield Americans from unjust prosecutions of possible war crimes in Afghanistan. We can confirm that the US authorities have revoked the prosecutors visa for entry into the US, Bensoudas office told Reuters in an email. However, the move should not restrict her travels to the UN headquarters in New York City. Less than a month ago, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made clear that the US would not allow Americans to live in fear of unjust prosecutions just because thousands of citizens were sent to defend their country on the other side of the globe, some 7,000 miles away. If youre responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan, you should not assume that you still have, or will get, a visa or that you will be permitted to enter the United States, he warned in mid-March. Over the last two years, the Gambian lawyer has been probing US-led war crimes in Afghanistan but has not yet opened a formal investigation into alleged atrocities conducted over the last 18 years. For now, the preliminary inquiry remains in Pre-Trial Chamber, even though Bensouda found a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in connection with the armed conflict in Afghanistan. Only the American military system can judge the servicemen, Pompeo said, warning the ICC to drop their inquiry. We are prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions, if the ICC does not change course, Pompeo warned. The ICC is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by various parties in the protracted conflict, including US forces, as detailed in a 2016 report. The part concerning unidentified members of the US military and intelligence relates to dozens of cases in 2003-2004, and alleged crimes like torture, cruel treatment, and sexual assault. Also on rt.com Billions in US funds & equipment lost to out of control corruption in Afghanistan The ICC says those crimes may have been committed in furtherance of US policy in the freshly occupied country, rather than a set of individual unrelated atrocities. In light of this, Washingtons resistance to the probe may be more than a sign of principled rejection of any international authority over US nationals. US courts have not been very forthcoming in prosecuting Americans for such crimes. A notable exception is the case of retired US Army Ranger turned CIA civilian contractor David Passaro. Over two nights in 2003, he tortured to death an Afghan man named Abdul Wali, who turned himself in after being accused of taking part in a rocket attack on a US base. Passaro was sentenced to serve eight years and four months in prison, and later said he was a scapegoat for the US government, which wanted to show the public that it was holding the CIA accountable in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Supporters of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange are making their voices heard, despite the institutions united to silence them, after reports that the WikiLeaks founder will be expelled from the Ecuadorean embassy in hours to days. A live feed of the front of the Ecuadorean embassy in London shows several tents pitched around the entrance as supporters stand vigil for the besieged journalist, who has become little more than a prisoner in the embassy in which he sought political asylum seven years ago. NO EXPULSION is spelled out in LED lights on the sidewalk in front of the embassy, while numerous cameras are positioned across the street. WikiLeaks tipped the public off to Assanges pending expulsion within hours to days, according to a high-level Ecuadorean source on Thursday, confirming that the Ecuadorean government would use the release of the INA Papers, which implicate President Lenin Moreno and his family in extensive corruption, as a pretext for revoking his asylum. Also on rt.com Assange may be expelled from Ecuadorean embassy within hours to days, govt source tells WikiLeaks While WikiLeaks did not publish the documents, Moreno has blamed the outlet and Assange for his flagging support at home, complaining to anyone who will listen that the journalist has violated his asylum agreement. A second Ecuadorean government source has since confirmed the original report. Assange was granted Ecuadorean citizenship in January 2018 and, while it is assumed that after being arrested by UK authorities for jumping bail on charges which have since been withdrawn he would be extradited to the US, where an indictment with his name on it was accidentally exposed last year, the Ecuadorean constitution would seem to stand in the way, as one astute commenter pointed out. Prominent supporters flocked to Twitter to post their support and urge Londoners to stand watch over the embassy. While others called US, UK and Australian authorities out on their hypocrisy. WikiLeaks has posted white papers to each involved government and debunked the linking of Morenos domestic misfortunes to any action by Assange, pointing out that Fidel Narvaez the former Ecuadorean consul to London has said Moreno is merely seeking a false pretext to end the journalists asylum and yield to US pressure. If you like this story, share it with a friend! We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Image: Twitter live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Indian IT major HCL Technologies has been accused of discrimination in its hiring practices in the US, months after Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) faced the same issue. AUS law firm has filed a class-action suit against HCL, The Economic Times reported. Allegedly, HCL did not hire Gregory Handloser because of its 'systematic and continuous discriminatory scheme' even though the company considered him for employment five times between 2017 and 2018. The suit was filed by Kotchen and Low in the Northern District of California-San Jose division. "On October 19, 2017, Mr Handloser spoke with former colleague Ralph Billington, associate vice-president at HCL, about a sales position with HCL's UTC Aerospace Systems account, for which he was the hiring manager," according to the suit. Billington explained during the interview that seven of the nine people in his sales team were Indian or South Asian. According to the suit, Billington subsequently told Handloser that he was interested in hiring Handloser, but his superiors directed him to hire an Indian candidate for the position. In August 2018, Kotchen and Low filed another case against HCL on behalf of Reese Voll, who worked with the company. HCL came out victorious in the case in January and said it would 'vigorously' defend itself against such allegations. HCL boasts of a diverse team in the US, employing 15,000 people in the country, 63 percent of whom are locals. The law firm Kotchen and Low has been on the opposite side of many Indian IT companies over the years including Infosys, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra and TCS. "This law firm has a history of going after Indian IT companies. It is easy to file a case in the US, and sometimes it costs more to fight the case than to settle," a senior executive at a leading Indian IT firm said on condition of anonymity. TCS won the case against the same law firm in November when the jury quashed the claim that the IT company had displayed a bias while hiring Americans. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More AirAsia India and Vistara are benefitting from the Jet Airways crisis. The Tata Group-owned airlines have announced 11 new flights from Mumbai after the airport operator released unused slots of Jet on a temporary basis, Business Standard reported. Vistara announced five new flights between Mumbai and Bengaluru on April 4 and one flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad and Kolkata. These flights would operate between April 16 and July 15. The carrier will reduce the frequency of other flights to boost these additional flights. Currently, it flies from Mumbai to Delhi and Amritsar. AirAsia announced three flights to Bengaluru and one flight to Kochi from April 15. The capacity shortage in Delhi and Mumbai airports due to the grounding of Jet Airways' fleet has been a cause of worry for private operators and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It has led to hiked ticket prices for flyers but also impacted the revenue for airports as fewer flights in the airports means less landing fees and less passenger footfall. Only a third of Jet's fleet is operational which led to thousands of flights getting cancelled. The airline's departures from Mumbai airport have come down from 140 to 24. The Delhi airport would soon make the final decision on the carrier's slots. Other budget carriers have also been given Jet's unused slots from Mumbai, but they are yet to announce their new flights. This is because new schedules depend on other factors like aircraft utilization and pilots' availability. A source told the paper that airlines had been advised to operate flights on the same routes as those of Jet before the crisis hit to have uniform capacity on routes. This is not the first time such a thing has happened. During the SpiceJet crisis, its unused slots were temporarily given to other airlines, aviation expert Ameya Joshi said. Amazon is back in the news, not for its services and customer relations, but the plight of its employees. An investigative report by The Guardian revealed that many workers in the Jeff Bezos-led company are left to suffer after they sustain injuries in the workplace. They are reportedly left unable to work, without income and have to agonisingly wait for months to get health benefits and medical attention. Michelle Quinones, 27, joined the Amazon Fulfillment Center located in Texas in July 2017 as an order picker. She had overnight shifts at the warehouse. She developed symptoms of a carpal tunnel. The in-house clinic for employees, Amcare, sent her back to work at least 10 times. By November 2017, the symptoms drastically aggravated to the point that Quinones needed surgery to cure her tendons. She was asked to come back to work in December 2017 as a picker against her doctor's orders. The company did not change her department to accommodate her medical problems. After intense court battles, she only got the Amazon's workers' compensation for the surgery in February 2019. The workers' compensation insurer Sedgwick had reportedly hired a private investigator to prove Quinones's claims false. According to Sedgwick's official document, surveillance was ordered on Quinones in February 2018 to determine her 'activity level'. Amazon responded saying that it follows all Texas state workers' compensation laws. Quinones' lawyer, Kim Wyatt, said that she has represented many employees from Amazon. "A lot of the cases we see with Amazon are repetitive injury cases. Basically, people are just a component to machine industry of mass production," Wyatt told the paper. The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health listed Amazon in the list of most dangerous places to work in the US in April 2018. Amazon is one of the most profitable companies in the world, making him one of the wealthiest people in the world. On the other hand, the company has been in the news for brutal working conditions for its employees for a while. Another employee of Amazon, Lydia York joined as a subcontractor in Rockville, Maryland. She slipped on ice while on a routine and bruised her knee. She was cleared to work a month later but her workers' compensation was held off. She was sacked for finishing her route late, even though her truck was faulty. She dragged Amazon to court and won the case to get her medical cover and compensation. In February 2016, Ronald Ashley took the company to court for a wrongful death lawsuit. While on an official trip, Ashley fell and fractured his spine. Despite this diagnosis and his previous records of HIV, Amazon denied Ashley short-term disability benefits and a work-from-home request. Ashley wrote directly to Bezos in November later in the year, who responded with assurance that the problems would be fixed and Ashley would be reinstated as an Amazon employee. Unfortunately, Ashley died later that year from a heart attack. "It's not just the warehouse workers who are being mistreated. Ronald was an HR executive. This was a high salary position. He had to go out of pocket for his expenses when he was entitled to benefits," said Michael Kapin, Ashley's attorney. Amazon has responded with an official statement. Employees are the heart and soul of our operations and we work hard to ensure they are provided a safe, comfortable, and modern work environment as well as opportunities for upward mobility. For anyone who wants to see what its like to work in a fulfillment center, come take a tour and we encourage anyone to compare our pay and benefits to other retailers. In a dramatic change in its stance, Etihad Airways is again back in the thick of things around Jet Airways, the distressed airline for which lenders have called for expression of interest from bidders. Sources told Moneycontrol that senior advisors from the Abu Dhabi-based airline met officials from the State Bank of India, the lead lender, on April 4. These include Cramer Ball, an Etihad veteran and former Jet CEO, and Rangesh Embar, a senior finance official from the airline. While the agenda is not known, officials from the industry said that the meeting is a sign of Etihad's renewed interest, and that it is expected to submit its EoI for Jet. It currently holds 24 percent in the Indian airline. In a statement after a meeting between SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar and senior officials of Civil Aviation ministry, lenders said they will invite EoI on April 6 and set a deadline of April 9. "The lenders intend to pursue the Bank-Led Resolution Plan for sale of stake in the company in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework and intend to invite expressions of interest," said the statement. Important for Etihad Since its investment into Jet Airways in 2013, when Etihad took a 24 percent stake for Rs 2,060 crore, the Abu Dhabi had made the most of its shareholding. Jet Airways flights from India to Abu Dhabi, fed Etihad's services to Europe and beyond. But since the present crisis began, Jet Airways curtailed its operations as its aircraft got grounded after defaults on payments to lessors. Many of its flights to Abu Dhabi, Etihad's hub, were also cancelled, and by March, Jet Airways suspended its service to the UAE emirate. "For Etihad, Jet is like a lifeline. It needs Jet to feed its flights," said a senior executive from the industry. But it almost looked like Etihad would exit Jet Airways, as one of its conditions to invest further was the ouster of Naresh Goyal. Though the Jet Airways founder initially resisted, the increasingly precarious condition of the airline, later forced him to step down. Earlier this week, Goyal said he had has agreed to sacrifice "every control and interest" in the distressed airline and signed on the "dotted lines" to ensure the lenders transfer emergency funds to the company. With Goyal ceding control, Etihad is again back to the negotiating table. Home stretch? While Tata Sons may be among others who could also submit EoIs for Jet Airways, Etihad will continue to play a crucial role in the rescue plan. The airline had been in the look out for a local partner, given the FDI cap of 49 percent. This is where National Investment and Infrastructure Fund could play a crucial role, especially given that it has an investor in Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The sovereign wealth fund is owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Etihad is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. The government link is important, given the close ties that New Delhi has with Abu Dhabi. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with UAE's highest civilian award, by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. LG Electronics Inc's operating profit likely fell by a smaller-than-expected 19 percent in the first quarter, even as losses in its mobile business and rising competition in the television segment pushed its revenue down to below consensus. Shares of the South Korean firm trimmed earlier gains after the news and turned down as much as 1.5 percent on April 5, in a broader market that was up 1.2 percent. The second-biggest TV set maker in the world, after Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, estimated an operating profit of 899.6 billion won ($792.77 million) for the January-March period, versus 1.1 trillion won a year earlier. That compares with an average estimate of 808 billion won from 21 analysts polled by Refinitiv I/B/E/S. Revenue likely fell 1.4 percent to 14.9 trillion won, the South Korean firm said, below a 15.3 trillion won consensus. LG did not disclose further details of first-quarter operations and will announce full results in late April. Analysts said LG's longtime loss-generating smartphone business, in the red for seven quarters, and intensifying price competition in the global TV market likely weighed on earnings. "LG's competitor Samsung recently cut prices for its TV products in a bid to get ahead as Chinese television makers have been rapidly catching up," said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at BNK Securities. Analysts also have a dim view of LG's smartphone business and expect it to continue generating losses. LG held a 3 percent share of the global smartphone market in terms of shipment last year, according to a report from market tracker Counterpoint Research. The company plans to release its 5G-enabled smartphone in South Korea later this month. Mobile carriers in the country, which has one of the world's highest smartphone penetration rates, rolled out the latest wireless technology this week on Samsung's new 5G-enabled handset Galaxy S10. Samsung flagged earlier on April 5 that it was heading for its lowest quarterly profit in more than two years as a glut in memory chips, slowing panel sales and rising competition in smartphones hit margins. The world's biggest smartphone and memory chip maker Samsung Electronics warned on April 5 of a more than 60 percent plunge in first-quarter operating profits in the face of weakening markets. Operating profits for January to March would be "approximately 6.2 trillion won", the firm said in a statement, down 60.4 percent on-year. Sales were about 52 trillion won, it said, marking a 14 percent drop. The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung Group, by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in the world's 11th-largest economy, and it is crucial to South Korea's economic health. It has enjoyed record profits in recent years despite a series of setbacks, including a humiliating recall and the jailing of its de facto chief. But now the picture has changed, with chip prices falling as global supply increases and demand weakens. Samsung Electronics warned investors last week to expect weak operating profits, citing "unfavourable market conditions" for displays and memory chips. "Amid weak demand for memory business, a drop in price for signature products is expected," it said then. "The company will seek to improve cost competitiveness through effective resource management," it added, "while enhancing product quality in the short term". Samsung was also launching the 5G version of its top-end Galaxy S10 smartphone on April 5, after South Korea this week won the global race to commercially launch the world's first nationwide 5G networks. But the company has to contend with increasingly tough competition in the smartphone market from Chinese rivals such as Huawei -- which in 2017 surpassed Apple to take second place -- offering quality devices at lower prices. Samsung supplies components to other manufacturers such as Apple as well as making its own devices. But market prices for liquid crystal displays have fallen 10 percent quarter-on-quarter, said Sanjeev Rana, an analyst at investment firm CLSA, while demand for smartphones in China -- the world's biggest market -- has been weak. Prices for NAND memory -- used in smartphones and other devices -- fell 20 percent in the first quarter, according to market tracker DRAMeXchange, which pointed the finger at consumers taking longer to replace their smartphones, and lower-than-expected sales for Apple's new devices. DRAM chips, used in computer servers, fell by similar levels, it added. Samsung's earnings estimate was below analyst forecasts of 6.9 trillion won, according to Bloomberg News. It would represent the firm's lowest operating profit since the third quarter of 2016, and comes after it reported its first fall in quarterly profit for two years in January. Samsung shares were down 0.4 percent in morning trade. Markets have been buoyed in recent weeks by optimism over China-US trade talks and positive Chinese factory data. South Korean semiconductor exports also rose for the first time in six months in March, according to government figures. Samsung is also set to release the world's first bendable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold. CLSA's Rana predicted a "slight" rebound in the April to June period, saying: "This quarter is the bottom in terms of earnings." Samsung Electronics once had a 20 percent market share of China's smartphone market but has seen that tumble to less than one percent. Its reputation suffered a major blow after a damaging worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices over exploding batteries in 2016, which cost the firm billions of dollars and shattered its global brand image. It also took another hit after the bribery conviction of Lee Jae-yong -- the son and heir of the group's ailing current chairman Lee Kun-hee. The 50-year-old scion was a key figure in the scandal that ousted former South Korean president Park Geun-hye following nationwide street protests, and was sentenced to five years in jail. But he was released in February last year after several of his convictions were quashed on appeal. Samsung withholds net profit and sector-by-sector business performance data until it releases its final earnings report, which is expected later this month. Zomato will allow engineers to work with them for one week in its programme called Trial Week, as part of the food delivery and dining out platform's attempt to use alternate methods to attract talent. This initiative will allow these candidates to eventually join its engineering team. As the first step, Zomato will shortlist registered candidates on the basis of their profiles. The selected candidates will be divided into three groups and will be called to work at Zomatos headquarters at Gurugram in April (8-12, 15-19 and 22-26). The company said this programme presents a skill-building opportunity for participants and works as a platform for Zomato to test, engage and onboard some of the most talented engineers in India. Trial Week will also help candidates get familiar with Zomatos culture and work ideologies. These engineers will be assigned a few projects, which will test their practical knowledge and proficiency. Candidates will also have mentors from Zomatos engineering team to guide them. The participants who are able to prove their mettle and impress Zomatos engineering team during the week will be offered a role to work full-time with Zomato, said the company in a statement. Each year, about 1.5 million people graduate out of engineering schools. Those passing out from smaller institutes find it difficult to secure a job due to skill inadequacy. Gunjan Patidar, Chief Technocrat at Zomato, said, A traditional interview gives both sides too short a time to arrive at a decision. This method allows a candidate to experience the work environment, people and challenges and also gives the company an opportunity to get an all-round perspective of the candidate's strengths. We opened registrations on April 2 and have already received over 900 applications. Zomato has a limited number of slots on offer and interested candidates can apply through the company's website. The platform offers information about 1.4 million restaurants across 24 countries and serves more than 65 million users every month. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) council may consider multiple price thresholds for defining `affordable housing across states rather than setting a uniform nation-wide classification. The move was aimed to better reflect prevailing property prices in different locations. Currently, a residential apartment with a carpet area of up to 90 square meters, in non-metropolitan cities and 60 square meteres, in case of metros priced at up to Rs 45 lakhs will be defined as affordable houses for purposes of GST calculations. Some states such as Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat wanted the price cap to be raised for house to qualify as `affordable in their states, given property were costlier in these regions. In the last GST Council meeting held on March 19 these states had raised the matter, but the issue could not be considered because the Model Code of Conduct was in place. The Council will have its next full-fledged meeting after the new government assumes office. In the first meeting that will be held after the new government is formed, the Council might consider this matter, a senior government official who did not wish to be identified told Moneycontrol. States might be allowed to fix the ceiling for taxability, the official said. The Maharashtra government wants the ceiling to be in the range of Rs 60-70 lakh or even Rs 75 lakh, especially in and around Mumbai. Gujarat is also learnt to have supported the suggestion. Some states have also asked for freedom to fix the ceiling instead of a uniform ceiling as the cost varies in different states. All the options will be considered in the next meeting of the GST Council, the official said. Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR (limited to Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Faridabad), Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai (the whole of Mumbai Metropolitan Region) are considered as metropolitan cities for purposes of GST calculations. In the last meeting held on February 24, 2019, the Council had lowered the GST rate to 1 percent from 8 percent for 'affordable houses' and to 5 percent from 12 percent for other houses, but without input tax credit (ITC) benefits. In the next meeting on March 19, the Council allowed builders to choose between higher rates with input tax credits (ITC) on raw material or lower duties without any such benefits for unfinished projects. The Council decided that builders can pick between paying 12 percent for non-affordable houses with ITC benefits or 5 percent without the tax rebates for under-construction houses. Likewise, for 'affordable housing projects', builders can choose between 8 percent with tax rebates or 1 percent without it. The new rates, without ITC benefits, will apply for all projects that begin construction only after April 1. Affordable housing presently has multiple definitions. In July 2014, the Reserve Bank of India had defined affordable housing loans as eligible under priority sector lending, as also housing loans to individuals up to Rs 50 lakh for houses of values up to Rs 65 lakh in the six metropolitan cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad and Rs 40 lakh for houses of values up to Rs 50 lakh in other centres for purchase/construction of dwelling unit per family. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, however, defines affordable housing on the basis of carpet area which could be between 30 square meter and 200 square metres. India is planning to host the second informal meeting of trade ministers from about 20 member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) next month amid growing challenges for global trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has said. This meeting assumes significance as several countries are raising questions over the relevance of the global trade body. Many countries are also taking protectionist measures, impacting global trade. "We are planning this (meeting) in May. We will be inviting about 20 WTO member countries this time," he told PTI. The US had imposed high duties on imports of certain steel and aluminium products, which triggered a major trade tariff tussle. Recently, the WTO cautioned that the global trade will continue to face strong headwinds this year and in 2020 after growing slower-than-expected in 2018 due to rising trade tensions and increased economic uncertainty. India has time and again stressed the importance and relevance of the WTO for promoting global trade. In March last year, over 50 nations participated in a meeting here which was convened by India to explore options for resolving various issues and re-invigorating the WTO. That meeting was organised in the wake of talks collapsing at the Buenos Aires ministerial conference in December 2017. India had appealed to the WTO members to identify common ground for strengthening the multi-lateral trade body amid challenges being faced by it following the deadlock at the Buenos Aires ministerial in December. Talking about the proposed national ecommerce policy, the minister said the draft is in the public domain and the ministry would look at all suggestions and views. "Every objections raised by small or big traders, we will take it on board," he said. Concerns have been raised by certain quarters over some proposals of the draft policy related with data localisation and cross border flow of data. Representative Image Walmart competed with mom and pop stores in the US for years and put them out of business as it grew. However, with a change of landscape, comes a change in strategy. For its business in India, the retail giant has found unlikely friends in these local stores as it attempts to succeed in the huge consumer market of the country. The Indian government was reluctant to open its markets to foreign entities, fearing its impact on the business of over 12 million neighbourhood businesses that control 90 percent of the retail sales in India. Therefore, Walmart has devised a plan to double its retail chain in India by supplying the local stores instead of competing with them. "Our single biggest agenda is: How can they become loyal to us?" Krish Iyer, CEO of Walmart's India unit, told Bloomberg. "The expansion phase will continue because the opportunity in India is huge," he said. Relentless efforts Walmart started its wholesale business in India in 2009 since it was not allowed to open retail stores in India due to government regulations. It recently acquired a majority stake in homegrown e-commerce company Flipkart for $16 billion. To its dismay, the government unveiled new regulations in the e-commerce sector to protect small businesses in the country. The company faces tough competition from Reliance Retail and Amazon. The retail industry of India is one of the fastest growing in the world. It is expected to be valued at $1,200 billion by 2021 from $672 billion in 2017, according to a report by India Brand Equity Foundation. Amazon is also working hard to get local kirana stores on board to expand its network beyond tier I and II cities. The Jeff Bezos-led giant aims to arm small shopkeepers with smartphones to place orders of goods for local residents. They would also be delivering the products. It is unclear how much Walmart intends to invest in this. But, Iyer said the company is planning to set up 26 more Best Price wholesale stores by 2023. Each location would cost between $8-10 million. According to him, there is no integration planned with Flipkart. The e-commerce entity has a separate board while Walmart India is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US company. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Indian market created history this week as Sensex and Nifty both hit record highs. The S&P BSE Sensex surpassed 39,000 to hit an all-time high of 39,270 whereas the Nifty50 surpassed 11,700 to hit a life high of 11,761 on April 3. History suggests that whenever the market makes highs, it is the high beta pack that rallies the most. But in a well-diversified portfolio, investors should have some dividend-paying stocks too, suggest experts. High dividend paying stocks are usually considered as safe options in the times of high volatility. Markets will not always remain at highs and will find itself surrounded with sellers, it makes sense for investors to get into quality dividend stocks to minimise losses. Dividends are part of profits that are given to shareholders of the company as a reward for being part of the business. Dividend income of up to Rs 10 lakh is exempt from tax. These companies are usually well-established enterprise with a robust business model, large balance-sheet, higher market share, and prevailing in the field for a very long period of time. Volatility in the equity market is likely to prevail for a period till election outcome, and thus auguring a need for a portfolio that is able to withstand this short-term noise. Needless to say, apart from capital appreciation or growth, dividends are also a part of overall returns on investment, which becomes an essential catalyst in the portfolio to compound wealth on a long-term basis, Dinesh Rohira - Founder, CEO - 5nance.com told Moneycontrol. With inherent risk in the equity market with constant swings and volatility on a short-term basis, having a diversified portfolio backed by both growth and dividend-paying stocks with defensive traits becomes an ideal strategy to minimise overall fall in the portfolio, he said. IDBI Capital in a report released names of top quality dividend stocks that include Coal India, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Hero MotoCorp, Castrol, Infosys, Bajaj Consumer Care, and Hindustan Zinc. What should be the percentage of dividend stocks? Experts suggest exposure in dividend-paying stocks should be in matured names which have stood economic downturns coupled with the consistent payout on a periodic basis, and the right allocation could be about 25 percent of the total equity portfolio. One should consider 25 percent allocation towards high dividend paying stocks as the dividend income up to Rs 10 lakh is totally tax-free. Dividend income is more predictable whereas capital appreciation is less certain, Prakash Pandey, Head -Research, Fairwealth Securities told Moneycontrol. High growth rate is a priority for the majority. But, investors need to have a balanced portfolio. Before buying any high dividend paying stock, always consider the consolidated debt of that company, and dont forget to do due diligence, he said. What to buy? Investors should consider only those stocks that have a consistent record of paying dividends on a long-term basis and should be supported with robust financials. A company which manages to pay dividend consistently on a periodic basis, and with high dividend yield can form a part of the dividend paying portfolio. This name includes Coal India, ONGC, HPCL, HUL, ITC, IOC, and so on, said Rohira. These stocks form an important part of the portfolio that gives stability during difficult economic condition, diversification in the portfolio, and timely inflow that enable to create wealth on a long-term basis, he said. Pandey of Fairwealth Securities likes quality companies with decent dividend yields include names like Infosys, Hero Moto, Coal India, NMDC, REC and Castrol. : The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Rushabh Maru Crude oil prices have been rising in the last couple of days since OPEC is committed to re-balancing the crude oil market. A recent update shows that OPEC's March crude oil production fell to its lowest since February 2015. Saudi Arabia has cut more than it had pledged under the output-cut deal. Venezuela's crude oil output continued to decline due to US sanctions and a major blackout. The US plans more sanctions against Iran, which could be announced in coming days. In November last year, the US had permitted eight countries to continue buying crude from Iran. Waivers of such extensions, however, may not be granted now as the US' goal is to bring Iranian oil exports to zero. On the other hand, base metals slid this week as a sharp decline in the Euro zone and Germany's manufacturing PMI data reiterate concerns about a global economic-growth slowdown. The IMF chief warned that the global economy is in delicate equilibrium and has been losing momentum since the start of the year. However, base metals recovered later as China's manufacturing PMI showed improvement. This eased concerns about a slowdown in the Chinese economy. Sentiment has improved after the White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, expressed optimism about a trade deal between the US and China. Copper rose on concerns about supply disruption after an indigenous community in Peru refused to negotiate with the government. The outlook for crude oil is bullish. OPEC is fully committed to rebalancing the market. It has hinted that the production cut would be extended till end-2019. Russia, the world?s second-largest producer of crude oil, is on track to reach its pledged output cut of 228,000 b/d by end-April. So far, it has made good progress. US president Donald Trump continued to ask for greater production by OPEC to curb prices. However, it seems unlikely that OPEC would comply. The Baker Hughes rig count is sharply declining. For the week ending 29th March, it fell to 1,006, from a multi-month high of 1,083. There is much optimism regarding the trade deal between the US and China. The US continued to maintain a hard stance on Iran. It plans to impose additional sanctions on that country. The tense situation in Venezuela persists. Nevertheless, concerns about global economic growth may contain gains in crude-oil prices. (The author is Research Analyst - Currency and Commodity, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers.) The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. - Leader in the wire and cable industry- Proven track record of financial performance- Growing presence in the electrical goods segment- Volatility in commodity prices and currency fluctuations could impact margin ------------------------------------------------- Polycab India's (Polycab) initial public offering (IPO) provides investors with a unique opportunity to be a part of India's largest wire and cable manufacturer. The total issue is pegged at Rs 1,345 crore, which consists of primary as well as secondary sale of shares, valued the company at nearly Rs 8,000 crore at the upper end of its price band of Rs 538 per share. The company is the largest wire and cable manufacturer in India with an estimated market share of 12 percent. The product suite includes a wide range of offering -- power cables, solar cables, building wires, communication cables and specialty cables -- which find use in a range of industries such as power, petrochemicals, metal and mining, communication and railways. While cable and wires remains its core business (90 percent of revenues), the company also a small presence in the engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) space through which it provides electrical turnkey solutions to its clients. In 2014, the company forayed into the fast moving electrical goods (FMEG - fans, lighting and luminaire products, switchgears, switches and pumps) segment to leverage its existing brand as well as distribution channel. The company was established as Sind Electric Stores in 1964 by Thakurdas Jaisinghani and is currently promoted by the second as well as third generation of the Jaisinghani family (promoter group) who together hold around 79 percent stake in the company. After the IPO, stake of the promoter group will reduce to 69 percent. While the family holds majority stake, the company is professionally managed through key management personnel such as Ramakrishnan Ramamurthi (CEO), Gandharv Tongia (CFO) and Manoj Verma (COO). What are the key positives? The domestic wire and cable market is growing 10-12 percent per annum and the current market size is estimated in excess of Rs 52,000 crore. Polycab is the largest player with a double-digit market share. Havells Finolex and KEI follow with an almost equal share of 5 percent each. The historic revenue growth of Polycab has been in-line with the industry and the same is expected to continue as the cables and wires market continues to expand on the back of governments focus on power, infrastructure and housing. The company is also exploring export opportunities through strategic tie-ups in the international markets (US, Europe, Middle East and Africa). The company has a consistent track record and has delivered a topline growth of over 12 percent in the last four years. Earnings growth has outpaced topline on the back of richer product mix and expansion in its operating margin. Leverage remains comfortable at 0.2 times and debt mainly comprises short-term loans for its working capital requirements. Despite being an asset heavy business model with in-house manufacturing, the company has generated healthy return ratios through prudent working capital management. Its return on capital stood at nearly 20 percent in FY18 and 9M FY19. While the company has a strong B2B (business to business) focus, its B2C (business to consumer) presence (total 25 percent of revenues) continues to improve with expansion in the FMEG segment. The segment achieved breakeven in FY17 and turned around in FY18 as it generated around Rs 500 crore in revenue with a operating margin of 3.3 percent during last fiscal. While the competitive intensity remains high in this segment, further scale-up of this segment could act as margin lever on the back of operating leverage and pricing power in the retail channel.Polycab has 24 manufacturing facilities spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Daman and Diu. The business has a high degree of backward integration (design, manufacturing etc.) which allows the company to control the product quality as well as costs across the value chain. In 2016, the company entered into an equal joint venture with Trafigura (multinational commodity trading company) to set-up a 225,000 million tonne copper wire rod manufacturing facility in Waghodia (Vadodara). This plant is expected to commence operations from Q1 FY20 and will reduce Polycabs dependency on copper sourcing from external parties. For the nine months period ended December 31, 2018, Polycabs distribution network across India comprised over 2,800 authorised dealers and distributors. The company caters to more than 100,000 retail outlets through its distribution network, which is well diversified across product as well as geography. What are the key business risks? Metals such as copper, aluminium along with PVC compounds and steel form an important constituent of Polycabs raw material basket. Raw materials are sourced on the basis of average London Metal Exchange (LME) monthly rates. The management follows a pass through mechanism to protect its margin. So, a high degree of fluctuations in prices of these raw materials could affect its profitability over the short to medium term. As the company imports majority of its commodities, depreciation of the domestic currency against foreign currencies has an adverse impact on margin.Polycabs FMEG business is still in nascent stages and advertising, selling and distribution expenses would continue to remain at elevated levels in the medium term as the company is scaling this segment through aggressive brand development and dealer expansion. FMEG is a very crowded market with a large number of players present in each product category. Certain products such as lighting have witnessed a steep price erosion due to technology obsolescence and fever pitch competition. Other products such as switchgears and pumps have a high degree of correlation with new construction activity and monsoon, respectively. The issue is primarily an offer for sale with majority of proceeds going to selling shareholders (about Rs 946 crore) and only Rs 400 crore going to the company for retiring working capital debt and other expenses. As the company is operating at nearly 70 percent capacity utilisation, the timing of the IPO raises questions about the need for tapping funds through capital markets. Valuations are at a minor discount to its core peers (KEI and Finolex Cables) and offers value to prospective shareholders. Investors, be it short or long term, should look forward to subscribing to this IPO as its valuation should be at a premium to other listed players considering its market leadership position, sound fundamentals and healthy growth prospects. Read: Future Supply Chain: A lucrative investment opportunity Follow @Sach_Pal For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page Moneycontrol Research analysts do not hold positions in the companies discussed here Consumer electronics maker Panasonic introduced residential air conditioners under its online brand Sanyo and expects to corner around 10 per cent market share in the e-commerce segment, said a top company official. Panasonic is also considering introducing brand Sanyo in appliances category after LED and ACs. "Our intention is to command 10 per cent market share in the overall online AC market place this year and in the inverter segment of AC, we are aiming 15 per cent market share," Panasonic India President and CEO Manish Sharma told PTI. The online AC market in India is estimated to be around 4 lakh units, which is 12-15 per cent of the total AC market, he added. "Under brand Sanyo, we would be selling only inverter range of ACs and not the traditional fixed speed, which is now an outgoing technology," Sharma added. When asked if brand Panasonic and Sanyo would compete each other in the segment, he said value proposition for both brands are different. "Brand Sanyo would be below Panasonic, value for money brand...it would be an exclusive online brand with features and affordable price for consumers," he said. Panasonic has introduced Sanyo Inverter AC range in five models, which would be available on Amazon. Earlier, Panasonic had introduced TV panels under brand Sanyo in India. When asked whether Panasonic would introduce more products under brand Sanyo, Sharma said, "we have a long term strategy for Sanyo...We have established TV and AC supply line and we would consider more appliance in future." Sanyo entered India in 2016, with a new line of televisions to be sold through e-commerce platforms only. Ratan Tata said on April 4 that not all the policies that had been promised towards making a new India were delivered. The former Chairman of Tata Sons said: "A new India was promised to us. We were promised forward looking policies, but not all of the promised polices were implemented. Whether there was adequate time or capital is a different thing. However, what my view is that we need to unite ourselves to deal with the new India that is promised to us." Tata also said that, before beginning a partnership with another company or a businessman, one should think about whether they could make that business successful. One should also know when to give up if the business is in trouble. He acknowledged that the Tatas have been accused in the past of holding on to an (unprofitable) business for much too long, and that it was mainly to do one's best to make the company better rather than give up on it. "Deep down inside it is difficult to give up the enterprise, and the people you have worked with," he said. When asked about which industry has the most potential for growth, he said tourism industry has not been fully tapped. He also said that has no intention of joining politics. Answering a specific question on qualities he looks while choosing a candidate to run one of the companies, Tata said, initially, there is a scope for generating admiration for someone, but one gets to know the individual only after working with the person. "...it takes a long time for you to really know the person you are working with," Tata said, speaking at the Hotel Investment Conference South Asia. Among the over 100 companies in the group, Tata picked up the automobile business as his favourite. "When I was the chairman of the group, I think there was a disproportionate amount of time that I expended in the automobile business because it was at that time the most exciting thing we were doing in terms of trying to indigenise the product that we would use for transport," he said. Tata added that he has been a pilot all his life and still has a "great deal of interest in aviation". Giving a peek into the businesses he admires, Tata said speaker company Bose was initially a favourite, but the affinities shifted to tech giants Apple and Google now. (With inputs from PTI.) Representative image Commercial shipments coming as gifts at the Mumbai port have reduced by almost 60 percent as the Mumbai customs authority has clamped down on many Chinese e-commerce companies, according to a report by the community media platform Local Circles. The department has taken note of companies sending products as gifts to customers in India and avoiding duties. However, many products are still entering India through Delhi, Bengaluru and Kochi. In a letter written to DPIIT, LocalCircles has requested the government's intervention to initiate enforcement exercises at these locations as well and ensure that the gift route is not misused by Chinese e-commerce companies. The development happens a few months after the government had a discussion to remove the exemption provided on 'gifts' bought from other countries through online commerce sites. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Standing Group of Secretaries on e-commerce which was chaired by Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, DPIIT, Moneycontrol had reported in January. Currently, the customs rules are violated particularly by the gifting route. As per one of the other recommendations, the government is also expected to look at limiting the existing limit of Rs 5,000 to a single consignor or to a particular KYC/Aadhaar account. All goods that are imported into India from abroad are liable custom duties. However, "gifts" worth Rs 5,000 received from abroad are exempted from this. Shares of Vodafone Idea gained nearly 9 percent intraday on April 5 despite the disruption in services in parts of Mumbai on April 4. India's largest telecom player said that disruption was due to unforeseen occurrences and it managed to resurrect the services later on in the same day. "Due to unforeseen occurrences, there was a temporary disruption in services in parts of Mumbai today. Our prompt response action ensured full restoration within a short time. We regret any inconvenience caused to our customers", the telecom company said in a statement. At 1119 hrs, Vodafone Idea was quoting Rs 16.45, up 8.58 percent on the BSE. Shares of Zensar Technologies rallied 4 percent intraday on April 5 after the software company commenced operations in Mexico and Latin American market. The company in its BSE release said, Mexico is a strategic choice for us due to its proximity to our key customers based in the US and the availability of local talent. We are committed to investing in geographies that add to our global business growth and customer convenience. The share touched its 52-week high of Rs 352.40 and 52-week low of Rs 186.60 on 7 September 2018 and 6 April 2018, respectively. At 0954 hrs, Zensar Technologies was quoting Rs 240, up 3.92 percent on the BSE. BJP president Amit Shah, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar, will start his campaign with two road-shows here on April 6, his party's foundation day. The road-shows will cover several areas of western part of Ahmedabad city which falls in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, said Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani. The first road-show will start from Sarkhej on the outskirts of Ahmedabad Saturday morning and will end at Haveli in Vastrapur. In the evening, Shah would take part in another road-show which will pass through Sabarmati area. Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also slated to address poll meetings at Anand, Vadodara and Ahmedabad Saturday, Vaghani said. Lobo, Batangas (CNN Philippines, April 5) The Chinese-manned dredging ship that alarmed residents of Lobo town in Batangas has left the area Friday morning - eight days after it docked at a mangrove forest there. MV Emerald, the dredging ship with nine Chinese and one Filipino crew, left the area after the Philippine Ports Auhority canceled its anchorage permit. This order came after the Environment Department suspended the environment compliance certificate (ECC) of Seagate Engineering and Buildsystems, the company linked to the dredging vessel. But the vessel's departure could just be temporary as Seagate said it has no plans of backing out of the project. The dredging vessel remains close by - at another Batangas anchorage, where it awaits a better time to return to the town. "Gagampanan ko lang kung ano yung napirmahan kong memorandum of agreement with the municipality of Lobo Itutuloy namin. Wala naman kasing revocation na nangyari, wala namang expiration 'yan and the contract through this MOA which is supported by appropriate sangguniang bayan resolutions," Seagate CEO Leo Campos said. A document obtained by CNN Philippines shows the purchase order to Seagate for dredged sand. The company also confirmed for the first time that the dredged materials will be used for the construction of the Hongkong International Airport. "We informed the appropriate government agencies about the destination of the material," Campos added. Seagate maintained the project will benefit residents of Lobo, who have experienced flash floods in the past when the river would overflow. But Lobo Mayor Gaudioso Manalo won't change his mind as he reiterated that the MV Emerald, which arrived in the country on March 28, did not have a permit to operate. "Hindi naman ako papayag ever since kahit pumunta sila ng sampung beses," he said. DENR had previously granted the company two ECCs on May 17, 2018 to operate in Lobo, Batangas, on condition it would submit to the department all the required permits and clearances from other concerned government agencies within 60 days before it could begin any project. The ship personnel had presented to the mayor a contract in 2008 between the local government and Seagate Engineering and Buildsystems with head office in San Pascual, Batangas. But the mayor insisted the local government has the final say. "Ang purpose daw nila ay mag-dredging at desilting dito sa amin; ibig sabihin, huhukayin yung buhangin. Sabi ko'y wala naman kayong authority from LGU (local government unit) kaya hindi namin kayo papayagan," the mayor told CNN Philippines Thursday. Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court here. The agency, in its supplementary chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. The chargesheet said according to the "budget sheet, 30 million euros were paid to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians" to swing the deal in the favour of AgustaWestland for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country. "Christian Michel James has further disclosed various abbreviations used in the budget sheet, which contains the details of the payments made to Air Force officials, bureaucrats and political persons. "The recipients of the kickback include several categories of persons namely Air Force officials, bureaucrats including defence ministry officials and top political leaders of the then ruling party. As per Christian Michel James, 'AP' means Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' means Family," the ED said. At another place in the chargesheet, Michel said, "I cannot say what Haschke was thinking. As a guess, I would think he was talking about Ahmed Patel." Regarding "Fam", he said it "could mean family". While the identity of the said Ahmed Patel is not clear, it is understood that it refers to the senior Congress leader. The veteran leader has not been named in the PMLA FIR of the case. In the same chargesheet, Rajiv Saxena, another accused arrested in the case, has been quoted by the ED as saying that "AP" was a "reference" to Ahmed Patel. Patel in the past has denied any wrongdoing in the case. The ED said the kickback paid by the Anglo-Italian firm in the case was "at least about 12 per cent of the contract amount" and around 70 million euros were paid through the two middlemen involved in the case -- Michel and Guido Haschke. It added that this was an "undisputed fact" that the two middlemen had received kickbacks worth 70 million euros. The agency said this fact could be corroborated with the receipt of kickbacks in the bank accounts of companies "controlled and beneficially owned" by Michel and Haschke. It said the company "enlisted" the two as agents for the VVIP choppers deal in India as it wanted to promote its product and ensure that it became a a frontrunner to bag the deal. The central probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary chargesheet with 52 main pages, also named David Syms, Michel's alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them -- Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE -- as accused. In its first chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, the ED had alleged that he and others had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he would decide on whether to take cognisance of the ED's supplementary chargesheet and summon the accused on April 6. RJD leader and former deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Prasad Yadav is leading from Raghopur constituency against the BJPs Satish Kumar. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejaswi Yadav on Friday said the party would contest from the Chatra and Palamau Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand. Yadav was here to take part in RJD candidate Subhas Yadav's filing of nomination for the Chatra seat. He said consensus on seat sharing among Mahagathbandhan allies in Jharkhand could not be reached, "(so) RJD will contest Palamau on the basis of Mahagathbandhan seat sharing formula while there will be a friendly contest in Chatra." As per the Mahagathbandhans seat sharing formula, the Congress got seven seats, including the Chatra seat, the JMM four while the Jharkhand Vikas Party (Prajatantrik) got two seats and the alliance left Palamau seat to the RJD. However, the RJD announced to fight from Chatra as well and Subash Yadav received the party symbol from RJDs vice president and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi in Patna recently. Apparently disappointed with the RJD leaderships decision, senior RJD leaders in Jharkhand, Annapurna Devi and Girinath Singh joined the BJP. Yadav accused the BJP of trying to break the RJD in Jharkhand and claimed that "the committed RJD workers have not left the party." "The main objective is to defeat the BJP," he said. He alleged that the BJP is a party for capitalists. Later during a public meeting, former Jharkhand minister Satyanand Bhokta joined the RJD in the presence of Tejashwi. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on April 5 lashed out at the Congress alleging that "deep-rooted" corruption was a "gift" of the grand old party, which had ruled the state for several decades. Addressing a rally in Changlang district, Khandu claimed that the situation has "changed" after the BJP came to power in the state. "Our government is already on the job to weed out corruption.. we will not spare anybody found indulging in unlawful activities," he said. The recent arrest of a businessman and two government officials allegedly involved in a compensation scam on the ambitious Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) project is a "clear example of our resolve against corruption", Khandu said. He said, the Northeastern region and Arunachal Pradesh , in particular, got its due importance after the NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014. There were no airports in Arunachal and "it is the Modi government which gifted airports and Advance Landing grounds (ALGs) to the state," the chief minister said. The Greenfield Airport at Hollong, nearItanagar, has been sanctioned and PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the project in February, Khandu said. The NDA government also sanctioned three sainik schools in the state and the first one at Pasighat in East Siang district is already operational, he said. Khandu said, in order to provide a clean and transparent government, the BJP has fielded 24 new faces for the assembly polls this time. Arunachal Pradesh is going to simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on April 11. Union minister V K Singh was in the midst of a controversy over his reported "Modi ki army" comment to a foreign media outlet, even though he denied making the remark. BBC India reported that BJP leader Singh had said in an interview to it that "anybody who calls Indian Army Modi's army is a traitor". Singh, however, strongly denied making the comment, saying the reporter concerned did a "cut-paste job", and took to Twitter to ask the media house as to "how much money did he get" for doing so. BBC India released a full video of its conversation with Singh on its Twitter handle to bolster its claim and said the Minister of State for External Affairs had even used the word "presstitute" for it. Congress leader Ahmed Patel also tweeted, saying, "Gen VK Singh is right, those insulting the Indian Army by calling them the soldiers of an individual or "Modi ji ki Sena" are traitors. I hope BJP takes suitable action against these anti-nationals." Singh was asked about certain comments made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath referring to the Army as "Modi ki sena" that triggered a controversy with opposition parties hitting out at him. Singh said the armed forces did not belong to an individual but to the nation, even as his cabinet colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was caught on camera referring to the Army as "Modiji ki sena". Naqvi's purported remark came amid a controversy over a similar comment made by Adityanath recently. However, Naqvi later maintained that he had not said it in as many words. When contacted for comments over the controversy triggered by Adityanath's remark, Singh, a retired Army chief, said the Army belonged to the nation. "Sena kisi ki nahi hoti hai. Sena sirf desh ki hoti hai. Is mein Modi sena kahan se aa gayi (the Army does not belong to an individual, it belongs to the nation. Where did the Modi army come from?," he said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the 'Nyay' minimum income scheme for the poor will be implemented without raising income tax or burdening the middle class. The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty. "Money won't be taken from the middle class and income tax won't be raised," Gandhi said when asked how funds will be raised for the Nyuntam Aay Yojna (Nyay) scheme. Interacting with students here, the Congress chief said all calculations have been done to fund the scheme. He said the Congress manifesto was prepared after taking inputs from all sections of the society, including farmers and the poor. "The Congress poll manifesto was prepared after speaking to all stakeholders," Gandhi said. Asked about employment scenario in the country, he said around 27,000 jobs are being lost per hour in India. The Congress chief promised to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament, assemblies for women if his party is voted to power. As Telangana heads for Lok Sabha elections on April 11, one stark feature that emerges is how much the political stock of the Congress and the TDP has taken a beating. Once dominant parties in the state, the Congress and the TDP have seen their political fortunes on the downswing in Telangana with the latter not even fielding candidates this time. The Congress is facing a crisis of sorts in Telangana with as many as 10 of its MLAs among the total 19 announcing their decision to leave the party and join the ruling TRS during the past one month. Several other key leaders, including former MLAs, have also joined the TRS. The Congress and the TDP had formed an alliance for the assembly elections held in December but ended up with 19 and two seats respectively in the 119-member house. The TRS bagged 88 seats. While the TDP chose not to field candidates in the Lok Sabha polls in Telangana, the Congress is going it alone. Senior Congress leader and former MLA Marri Shashidhar Reddy said he is not worried about the party's future in Telangana. He said the Congress did well in the panchayat elections and hoped that it would fare better in the Lok Sabha polls. "The Congress high command will definitely take stock of the situation and take necessary steps to strengthen the party," he told PTI. On Congress MLAs leaving the party, Reddy, a former vice-chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said there is a need for a re-look at the anti-defection law. There are lot of loose ends in the law as the presiding officers of legislatures acted in a way that suited the ruling party, he said. The TDP said it needs to strengthen itself organisationally as it has cadred and well-wishers in the state. According to TDP politburo member Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, the party has strategically chosen not to contest the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana. A poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls would have an adverse impact on the party for the coming local body polls, he said. "We are confident that our party would win in Andhra Pradesh and our say would increase in Delhi. The BJP would lose at the national level. We feel we can strengthen ourselves in Telangana on that basis," he said. He said defections hurt his party in a big way, adding 13 of 15 TDP MLAs had left the party during 2014 to 2018. He termed the anti-defection law as toothless in its present form and suggested that a member should cease to be so, the moment he resigns from the party on whose ticket he is elected. TDP had an alliance with the BJP for the 2014 elections and the latter unilaterally decided to end the alliance, Ravula Reddy said. Though TDP had contested only 13 seats in 2018 (in alliance with Congress), it won two seats and stood second in almost all the constituencies, he said. He also claimed there was a massive negative campaign against the TDP during the statehood agitation. "The (TDP) leaders who are supposed to condemn such campaign and send the correct version to people have switched parties," he said. The TRS had systematically targeted the TDP (that it is pro-Andhra and anti-Telangana), he claimed. Political analyst Telakapalli Ravi claimed the Congress would not go down like the TDP in Telangana though it has suffered setbacks. The internal differences among party leaders and lack of proper direction from high command are among the reasons for the poor show of Congress, he said. The party had made strategic mistakes like playing second fiddle to TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao during separate Telangana agitation and failing to take him along with it (with the formation of separate state), Ravi said. "The survival also depends on how it would do at the national level. Still, it will not go down like TDP," he argued. Like in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal where YSR Congress and Trinamool were formed by party leaders, Congress in Telangana does not face such a threat, he said. Talking about the TDP, he said regional parties in the country are more or less confined to a single state. The TDP is in power in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Though the TDP won 15 seats in the assembly polls in 2014, it could not build on it, he said. The party lost grip with the alleged cash-for-vote scandal which also led to the exit of its chief N Chandrababu Naidu (from Telangana), he claimed. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the statement of veteran BJP leader L K Advani and said opposition parties who raise their voices are indeed not "anti-national". Advani said his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-national" or "enemies" but only as adversaries. "As the senior most politician, fmr Dy PM and founding father of BJP, the views AdvaniJi has expressed about extending democratic courtesies, is significant. Of course, all Opposition who raise their voices are not anti national. We welcome his statement & convey our humble regards," Banerjee said in a tweet. Advani's views assume significance at a time when the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah have made the issue of national security a key plank for the general elections and have often accused its political rivals of speaking the language of India's enemies like Pakistan. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati accused the BJP-led central government of failing on all fronts and claimed that people from all sections, including the poor and traders, were unhappy with its governance in the last five years. Addressing a rally here in support of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BSP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Telangana, she said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not fulfilled its promises made ahead of the last general election and was again coming out with new assurances. She also attacked the Congress, saying it too did not fulfil its earlier assurances and was now coming out with "tempting promises" such as the promise to eradicate poverty. "Under the BJP regime, people all over the country are unhappy. People from all sections, be it the poor, farmers, unemployed, small traders-- all are unhappy. Not only the SC/ST and OBC communities, but the poor from the upper castes and religious minorities are also unhappy," she said. Pointing out that the BJP had come to power at the Centre with its "acche din" promise and the assurance of giving Rs 15 lakh to all the citizens of the country, the BSP chief said, "The Narendra Modi government has completed five years, but did any one of you get Rs 15 lakh? You should ask them (BJP) to give an account of their previous promises." Mocking the Congress's "Nyay" minimum income guarantee scheme, she said they should have first implemented the "formula" of Rs 72,000 annual payment to the poor in the Congress-ruled states. "When they are unable to implement it in those states, how can they implement it in the entire country?," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister asked, adding, "You should not get misled and fall into the traps of the BJP and the Congress." She said the BSP had got an opportunity to serve Uttar Pradesh under her leadership and they gave "good governance to all people". "In Uttar Pradesh, we will definitely do well and following the BSP-SP-RLD alliance, the situation of the BJP is bad," Mayawati said, adding that the prime minister of the country was always chosen from the northern state. The BSP chief said if there was a change and "if we are given a chance to form the government at the Centre, the way welfare schemes for all were launched during my tenure, they will be implemented in the entire country". The JSP and the BSP have forged a pre-poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and have launched a joint campaign. Stating that the people in the two southern states also wanted a change, Mayawati appealed to the voters to give them a chance. She said only because the Telangana region was neglected during the Congress regimes, the separate state demand was made and realised. "Now also, despite Telangana becoming a separate state, there is not much development here and the people are still neglected," she added. The BSP chief said SCs, STs and OBCs together constituted 70 per cent of the population in Telangana, but TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had become the chief minister, despite his community's strength being "just 1.5 or 2 per cent". JSP chief Pawan Kalyan requested Rao not to meddle in Andhra Pradesh's politics, to remain neutral and not support YSR Congress Party leader Jaganmohan Reddy. "As the leader who led the agitations for Telangana, I respect you a lot. We want you to be neutral," the actor-turned-politician said. He also wondered how KCR supported Reddy when the latter was "rejected outright" during the Telangana agitation. Kalyan, who is the younger brother of top actor Chiranjeevi, formed the JSP in 2014. Sujata Anandan Prakash Ambedkar, despite his name (he is the grandson of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar), has not had much support on the ground. The only time he ever won an election was in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections as an ally of the Congress party from Akola in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Since then he has lost every election and so have those who contested on his party ticket. Ambedkar moved his faction of the Republican Party of Indiaset up by his grandfather, and which has 13 fragments today to form the Bharip-Bahujan Mahasangh, hoping to attract more than just Dalits to his party. Now, days before the Lok Sabha polls, he has floated the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (deprived masses front) with the hope he would bring all deprived sections of the society, including groups like shepherds, nomadic tribes and others under one umbrella. The Congress and the NCP hoped for an alliance with Ambedkar, but he was too ambitious. In this crucial Lok Sabha polls where it is important for both the Congress and the NCP to win every seat possible, Ambedkar demanded 22 Lok Sabha seats out of 48 in Maharashtra. The Congress is contesting 24 and the NCP 20. The allies left four seats for smaller parties, including the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, representing the all-important farmers' section. They could have at the most given two seats to Ambedkar. His intransigence has led Congress leaders to believe that he is a puppet, swinging on the BJPs strings, particularly as he has teamed up with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi. AIMIM has long been described and believed to be the flip side of the BJP. Owaisi experimented in October 2014 with putting up at least two dozen candidates out of the 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly. Among these were a fair number of Dalits, though all of them lost. Only two Muslim candidatesone from Aurangabad and one in Mumbaiwere successful. Owaisi is now extending that experiment, hoping an official alliance with Ambedkars broad-based front will help him gain a bigger footprint in Maharashtra. The experiment of Dalits and Muslims coming together is not new to Maharashtra. In the turbulent years of the late 1980s and early 1990s, former gangster-turned-politician Yusuf Patel had set up the Dalit-Muslim Suraksha Mahasangh, which fought several elections with little success. The party soon disappeared. In this election, though, Dalit-Muslim unity is crucial to all mainstream parties. These are sections that are sorely disappointed with the ruling BJP, having been subjected to various atrocities including lynching, both in Maharashtra and elsewhere in the country. They are unlikely to vote for the Shiv Sena-BJP combine and the BJP is hoping that the VBA-AIMIM alliance will split their vote, and draw it away from the Congress. Ambedkars decision to contest from Solapur which, by and large, has not been on his radar over the years, is lending credence to the feeling among Congress leaders that he is only out to defeat former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. That could be sweet revenge for the BJP, which utterly dislikes Shinde for having coined the term saffron terrorism when he was union home minister. Ambedkar is, however, also contesting from his old seat of Akola where there is a large Dalit and Muslim population. However, in 2014, he came third behind even the Congress candidate in that constituency who was a Muslim. The Congress is thus repeating Hidayat Patel. The BJP is represented by Sanjay Dhotre, its three-time MP, in the hope that their offer of reservation to Marathas will neutralise the Dalit-Muslim vote bank in favour of their candidate (Dhotre is Maratha). On the other hand, Ambedkar is hoping that his alliance with AIMIM will bring him substantial minority votes. But there can be no cast-iron guarantees. The Congress-NCP alliance is pretty convinced that the two communities will vote tactically in their favourin normal times Ambedkar needed a leg up from the Congress to win even in Akola. Also, Muslims today are less enamoured of the Owaisi brothers than they were five years ago. Although Ambedkar now describes the Congress as Manuwadi after seeking its support for a bandh following the Bhima-Koregaon riots in January 2018 and says that he aims to defeat the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, the VBA and AIMIM are likely to cut into the Congress-NCP votes without accruing much gains to themselves despite fielding candidates all across Maharashtra. Whether this experiment falls by the wayside like Patel's Dalit Muslim Suraksha Mahasangh or it cuts a new pathway in Indian politics will be keenly watched. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on April 5 accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of humiliating BJP veteran L K Advani, saying disrespecting one's guru is not Hindu culture. Gandhi's swipe at Modi over the treatment meted out to Advani follows the BJP patriarch's blog published on April 4 where he said the BJP never considered its political adversaries as anti-national. "BJP talks of Hinduism. In Hinduism, guru is supreme. It talks of guru-shishya tradition. Who is Modi's guru? Advani. Modi just kicked Advani out ('Joota marke stage se utara')," Gandhi said. The remark was a veiled reference to Advani not getting Lok Sabha poll ticket from Gandhinagar, from where BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah instead. "2019 (polls) is a battle of ideologies and the Congress ideology of brotherhood, love and harmony will win against Modi's hate, anger and divisive ideology." The Congress chief also said he was not bothered by the criticism of the Nyay minimum income scheme promised in the party manifesto. The Congress was committed to give Rs 72,000 per year to the poor in the country and it will be "a surgical strike" on poverty, he said. Gandhi said he was inspired by the prime minister's "false" promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's bank account. "I felt direct bank transfer was a good idea. Only the Rs 15 lakh promise was false and I am giving you a true number, Rs 72,000 per year will be deposited in the bank accounts of poor people," he said. "Rs 15 lakh in bank account could not have happened since the economy would collapse. But Nyay can be implemented," he said. If bank loans of a few rich can be waived, loans of farmers and the needy can also be waived, Gandhi said. Targeting industrialist Anil Ambani over the Rafale offset contract, he said, "A person who is not able to make even paper planes bagged the biggest defence contract with Rs 30,000 crore going directly to him. The entire budget of MNERGA scheme was given to a single person." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) The opposition hit back at President Rodrigo Duterte who threatened last night to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and have his critics arrested. "Instead of threatening his critics with arrest he should arrest the bigtime druglords and his Customs appointees who have repeatedly brought in tons of shabu worth billions," Liberal Party President and Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Friday. Pangilinan said the arrest of "recidivist drug lords" would prove that his war on drugs is legitimate and would quiet criticism of it. Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said that Duterte should suspend "onerous contracts" his administration entered in with the Chinese government instead of suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, which safeguards against warrantless arrests. "Those who should be arrested are not our countrymen and women but foreign encroachers who illegally occupy our territories, threaten our small fisherfolk, smuggle illegal drugs and rob our workers of their jobs," Hontiveros said. Robredo takes over? Duterte on several occasions has said that he would suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, only to back down from this statement after a while. READ: Duterte warns of revolutionary gov't if destabilization plots escalate He revived this threat yet again last night, after going on a tirade against Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon who cautioned the government in reviewing its contracts with China. Duterte also threatened to declare a "revolutionary war" which will last until the end of his term. Vice President Leni Robredo, who is Liberal Party chair, said she was surprised by Duterte's threat. "Abogado siya, at alam niya na labag ito sa Konstitusyon. Iyong pagdedeklara ng revolutionary government, hindi siya naaayon sa Konstitusyon," Robredo told reporters in Bohol. [Translation: He's a lawyer and he knows that this is against the Constitution. The declaration of a revolutionary government, this is not in accordance with the Constitution.] She added, "Kaming dalawa, pareho kaming nanumpa na ipagtatanggol namin ang Konstitusyon ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Kapag nagdeklara siya ng revolutionary government, ang gusto ba nito sabihin inaabandona niya iyong kaniyang pinanumpaan?" [Translation: Both of us swore to protect the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. If he declares a revolutionary government, does this mean that he is abandoning what he swore to?] Her election lawyer, senatorial candidate Romulo Macalintal, said that Robredo would take the helm of the country if Duterte declares a revolutionary government, as he would effectively be stepping down from office. "Declaring a revolutionary government would mean that President Duterte becomes the leader of a revolutionary government while Robredo becomes the leader as president of a duly constituted government," Macalintal said in a statement. In response, Robredo said she is ready to assume the presidency, just like any other vice president. Frustrated Duterte Allies of the President chalked up his threats last night to his frustration. "I'm sure he will have a better outlook once his programs versus criminality becomes more successful," Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said. This was echoed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who said that Duterte is getting incensed with the "endless roadblocks" to his attempts to protect the people's interest. "As a lawyer the president knows the scope and limitations of his constitutional powers and he will always act in accordance therewith," Guevarra said in a statement. But Integrated Bar of the Philippines President Abdiel Fajardo pointed out that "revolutionary war" is not mentioned in the Constitution and that the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is only possible when there is rebellion or invasion. "I don't really understand what that means. If the intention or the context is that there is a revolution in the effect that the Constitution is suspended, is there a revolution?" Fajardo told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon. Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution states that the president may suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the entire country or any part of it under martial law "in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it." Tamil Nadu is very important in the 2019 general elections. It elects 39 MPs to Parliament and TN chief ministers have played kingmakers in Delhi more than once. All 39 constituencies vote on a single day - April 18. It will be the first election without the towering presence of bitter rivals J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. It is widely known that political awareness is quite high in Tamil Nadu. In a survey by Twitter Indias #Powerof18 youth engagement initiative, nearly 98% of Tamil Nadus youth said that they will vote in the upcoming elections. The Hindu claimed that was an indication that Tamil Nadu had the highest proportion of youth voter interest compared to other states in the country. It reported that more than 8.98 lakh voters between the ages of 18 and 19 have been included on the electoral rolls from Tamil Nadu as of January 31. Home to around 70 million Indians, Tamil Nadu has mostly careened between two shades of Dravidianism - the DMK, or Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the AIADMK, or All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam - for several decades, and neither party has won consecutive elections in that time. Thats right, for 34 years, every government has been voted out. One could perhaps be forgiven for thinking that its the people of the state that dangle the carrot for politicians who sway to public whims. Tamil Nadu is a state where hero (and heroine-) worshipping has assumed dimensions well beyond the 2D of the silver screen. CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi were both successful screenwriters who, with just as much success if not more, translated their messaging in films into political messaging for the voter. MG Ramachandran played many a character with an explicit political message, and turned that experience into being real life politician. J Jayalalitha, his protege, followed suit. And now we have Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth in the fray. The money spent in Tamil Nadu on elections has also been a huge talking point, what with the state being the poster child of election season doles. The cash seized by the Election Commission of India's expenditure observers saw record levels in the last elections, with more than 150 crore rupees seized from just Tamil Nadu. Whatever the case may be, Tamil Nadu politics can be maddening and fascinating at the same time. Pundits and psephologists are desperate to spot a trend - any trend - that indicates what this politically aware but unforgiving electorate has in mind for May 2019. A brief history of Tamil Nadu politics The time has come, the walrus said, "to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings. - Lewis Carroll Tamil Nadu is a place where the usual rules dont apply in the sphere of politics. In a country where leaders of every hue promise utopian futures, the great land of the Tamils goes a step further, giving the lie to the fatuous claims of our politicians. Or, you know, they bought into the evocative oratory of their leaders entirely, but only ended up revealing the futility of following political leaders with implicit trust. To paraphrase a slice of modern wisdom, if the service is free, you are the product. What Im getting at is, Tamil Nadu is equal parts brilliant and puzzling, rational and absurd. A strident atheism drives the politics of a land steeped in unapologetic religiosity; movie stars can transcend Tamil identity politics and inexplicably find success in politics; and freebies like TVs and laptops are a regular feature as politicians attempt to swing votes in one of the most urbanised and productive states in India. Tamil Nadu has no use for the big Amazon and Flipkart sales, apparently. Also, actor Kamal Hassans party Makkal Needhi Maiam has thrown its hat into the ring, hoping to make a start in electoral politics. Which is fitting. Salvador Dali, an artist Hassan admires ardently, once said, It is not necessary for the public to know whether I am joking or whether I am serious, just as it is not necessary for me to know it myself. Or what Kurt Vonnegut Jr once said, "We are what we pretend to be, so it is important to know what we pretend to be." You do you, Kamal Haasan. There was a time, not too long ago, when Tamil Nadu seemed a frontier too far for national parties. The Congress party, despite regularly finding stalwarts from that state in its upper echelons (Kamraj, Chidambaram etc.), never amounted to much in TNs political landscape. The BJP? Well, for a Hindu party, they were utterly non-existent in a state where the culture is inextricably interwoven with its Hindu origins. The reason for that is, in the main, the Dravidian movement. That movement, essentially the outcome of the Aryan InvasionTheory and a repudiation of Hinduism distilled into politics, is still proclaimed the primary driving force in Tamil Nadu, 46 years after Periyars death. The saffron party is viewed, at least according to political rhetoric, as a clique of upper caste Aryans seeking to impose their will over Tamilians with their wily machinations. Though, to be fair, machinations do have to be wily if they are to have any chance of succeeding. However, contrary to this mainstream narrative, it required more than promises of righting historical wrongs to win elections. C Lakshmanan, associate professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, told Quartz in 2016, The freebie culture in Tamil Nadu dates back to the 1960s when C Annadurai announced a kilogram of rice for Re1. Subsequently, the DMK government under Karunanidhi gave free spectacles, cycle rickshaws. Even the MG Ramachandran government offered free dhotis and sandals to woo voters. Quartz reported that in 2016 the DMK promised free smartphones, 3G/4G connections, and loan waivers, besides complete prohibition. The AIADMK has been no different. In 2011, it doled out free laptops and television sets. Jayalalithaas government also set up a string of government-run facilities such as eateries and pharmacies that gave away subsidised food and medicines. These establishments often carried the prefix Amma, or mother, a term often used for the former chief minister herself. For instance, Amma Unavagams or canteens charged Rs3 for a plate of curd rice; the Amma brand of cement, launched by the AIADMK government, cost Rs190 per bag while the price in the open market was, at the time, Rs370 per bag. Such doles have, instead of firming up the hold of the political parties, led to what A Narayanan, editor of the Tamil magazine Paadam, described as the depoliticisation of citizens. According to Quartz, he told The Hindu in 2014, There is no doubt that the culture of freebies has resulted in the depoliticisation of citizens in Tamil Nadu...By providing candies to the voters in the form of free this and that, the masses have become dependent on the ruling class with the result that there is no true empowerment. This has resulted in the people not being able to critically evaluate their own leaders. The cost of such freebies doesnt make for a pretty read either. One estimate puts the DMKs spend between 2006-2011 at over Rs 3,340 crore across five years, on 15 million television sets, with each costing an average of Rs 2,456. The AIADMK spent Rs 2,000 crore on gifting mixers, grinders and table fans to over 3.5 million beneficiaries in 2013. In the next financial year, approximately Rs 1,250 crore was spent on the scheme to extend it to more voters. A few days ago, Outlook magazine reported that Income Tax raids on the associates of DMK Treasurer Durai Murugan in and around Vellore led to the seizure of nearly Rs 20 crores cash that left the DMK red faced. Outlooks report stated, ...the brand new Rs. 200 notes were packed in plastic covers with names of the wards of the assembly segment marked on them. Also found in the godown were lists of voters - ward and booth wise clearly pointing that the money was to be used as bribes. The IT officials also found Rs.5 crores in cash in the house of Durai Murugans secretary. The report also observed that the discovery of such cash turns the spotlight on the role that money plays in elections in Tamil Nadu as voters now expect to be paid for votes. This became something of a norm after the DMK made it popular during an Assembly byelection in Thirumangalam in 2009 with its infamous Thirumangalam formula - handing cash to voters along with morning newspapers and milk sachets. Further, as 2.98 crore women in TN get set to cast their votes this year, the DMK promises 30% reservation for women in Central government jobs; free supply of sanitary napkins for women by installing vending machines in government offices, schools, colleges and public places; and self-defence classes in schools and colleges. Outlandish? Dont bet against it. Dravidian sunset? All that expenditure inevitably points to one thing: Dravidian rhetoric, which once swayed millions, was perhaps reduced to a mere veneer which obscured the real dynamic on the ground - that the electorate demanded progress, by hook or by crook. The theory that Dravidian politics is ceding ground to a new politics is gaining currency. One question that is discussed more frequently these days is whether the saffron party can make serious inroads into southern Indias politics. While the BJP swept the general elections in 2014, it won just 21 seats in the five southern states, or 19% of the 112 seats contested. In the rest of the country, the BJP won 60% of seats on offer. Not for lack of effort, mind you. Livemint reported that the last time it won a meaningful number of seats in Tamil Nadu was in 1999, when it was in alliance with the DMK and the MDMK, or Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. BY meaningful, I mean four seats. Since then, the party has been blanked out completely, winning only a solitary seat in 2014 in Kanyakumari. This time around, following the overt gestures from Narendra Modi after Jayalalithaas passing, the BJP probably has reason to be more optimistic about its prospects. The national party has secured a pre-poll deal with the AIADMK, the current ruling party in the state assembly and the winner of 37 seats in 2014. A Livemint analysis claims that with the BJP itself competing in five seats, it could mean a marked improvement for the party in Tamil Nadu. But even such potential gains could be hindered by competing alliances. In keeping with the outsized bluster that seems to be a norm in regional politics across India, the DMK-Congress separation in 2014 was followed by party stalwart M Karunanidhi bitterly lamenting, kooda natpu kedaai mudiyum, meaning a bad friendship will only end in disaster". In that Lok Sabha election, the Congress shocked no one when it lost in all seats, garnering less than 5% of the vote. The only candidate to salvage some pride for the grand old party, H Vasanthakumar, is likely to give the lone sitting BJP MP from Tamil Nadu, union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, a run for his money if they face-off in Kanniyakumari this year. Shrugging off the denigration in 2014, the Congress cozied up to the DMK once more in 2017. And it wasnt just one way traffic. Earlier this year, DMK president, and son of Karunanidhi, MK Stalin declared Congress president Rahul Gandhis candidacy for Indias top position. As Livemint explained, Though moderation has characterized his (Stalins) later pronouncements, the DMK has surprisingly conceded 10 out of the states 40 Lok Sabha seats to the Congressan indication less of the Congresss ground strength and more of its chances to do a repeat of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) I & II (at least according to Stalins calculations). On the rival side, united by their fear of TTV Dhinakaran, nephew of the imprisoned VK Sasikalas, current chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (referred to as EPS), and OPS, or O Panneerselvam - who was the interim CM after Jayalalithas death - have both relied on the BJP to keep him in check. The two are viewed as puppets on a string that is controlled by the centre. An analysis by AR Venkatachalapathy in Livemint inferred that with the BJPs support, it has been a steady downhill ride for Dhinakaran. His houses and property were raided, and he was jailed on charges of bribing an election commission official in a bid to win the official electoral symbol of the AIADMK. Most political pundits seem to concur that TTV can seriously dent the AIADMKs chances come election day. Since this is Tamil Nadu, bluster and subsequent irony are never far away - BJP president Amit Shah once called the AIADMKs tenure in office the most corrupt government in India, and spoke of a kazhagangal illa Tamilagam or a Tamil Nadu without the Kazhagams, the Tamil Nadu version of Congress-mukt Bharat. Then theres the fact that Narendra Modi simply isnt as popular in Tamil Nadu. Anti-Modi slogans are popular, as the gobackmodi campaign demonstrated. As Venkatachalapathy explained, Inexplicably, everything that goes wrong in Tamil Nadu is attributed to him...In the hugely popular pro-Jallikattu protests in January 2017, anti-Modi slogans were legion though he had little if anything to do with bullfighting. It was a repeat during the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) controversy (the national common medical exam was seen as Delhis imposition against the wishes of Tamils). Every slight to Tamil pride, every perceived threat to Tamil identity gets associated with Modi. Strangely, the Dravidian parties took a backseat during the Jallikattu protests. The AIADMK is in the throes of a power struggle. It is widely believed the party has one main objective - to neutralize Dhinakarans challenge and establish itself as the true inheritor of Jayalalithaas votebank. Meanwhile, Stalin is the undisputed leader of the DMK, having taken over fully after the demise of his illustrious father. Venkatachalapathy observed that If the DMK lost all seats in the 2014 elections, in the 2016 assembly elections, it managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. With a massive presence in the opposition (98 out of the 234 seats), Stalin has proved not up to the task of putting a government devoid of all popular consent on the mat. Even party faithfuls feel stumped by the distinct lack of proactive strategies. 2019: the year of reckoning The run up to the general election in May poses some tough questions to the politicians of Tamil Nadu. How will the two major Dravidian parties fare after the demise of their popular leaders? What will be the shape of the DMK in this new era? How many of AIADMKs traditional voters will remain with the official party? How many will be cleaved away by Dhinakaran? Comedic relief As the bitter fight for power gathers force, there are people like Election King K Padmarajan to lend some levity to the proceedings. The man from Salem district in Tamil Nadu has found his way into the Limca Book of Records three times. (Yes, Limca Book of Records is still around.) Padmarajan has been contesting elections since 1988. He has a rare credit to his name - he has failed every election that he has contested in. From local panchayat elections to the presidential elections, Padmarajan has participated in every one of them, and been defeated 178 times between 1988 and 2016. In 2019, Padmarajan is contesting as an Independent candidate from Dharmapuri, and told India Today, If Rahul Gandhi contests from Wayanad I will contest from there...My defeat number is going to be 200 soon and I am really happy about it. Most importantly, speaking about his defeats, Padmarajan said unabashedly, If I win, I will get a heart attack. I doubt you will come across a more likeable candidate this summer. File Pic: (Left to right) Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Time was when Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the two largest states as far as Lok Sabha elections were concerned, accounted for 139 seats more than a quarter of the strength of the Lok Sabha. After the bifurcation of both the states, UP remains the largest state, whereas the mantle of the second largest state has gone to Maharashtra, with 48 seats. In every national election, these two states, along with other large states, such as West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu play important roles. All of these states also happen to have strong regional parties, and the result often depends on the electoral arrangements that the national parties reach with them. As far as Lok Sabha 2019 is concerned, the lines are clearly drawn in most of these states. In UP, the Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party and Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party got together for the March 2018 byelections, and have continued the arrangement. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress is about the only large player, and is going it alone, trusting its strength in the state. Bihar is seeing the continuing partnership of the BJP and Nitish Kumars Janada Dal (United), with the BJP surprisingly accommodating the JD(U) to a much greater extent that anyone imagined. In Tamil Nadu, the focus is again on the two large regional parties, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and we have the Congress partnering with the former, and the BJP with the latter. What about Maharashtra, the state we shall focus on here? Happy and unhappy alliances For the elections of 2004 and 2009, the Congress-NCP coalition had the upper hand in Maharashtra. In the Modi wave of 2014, the situation was reversed, with the BJP getting 41 out of the 48 seats. So, what are we likely to see happening in Maharashtra this time around? What are the issues and what is the general mood? Whats happening with the parties and partnerships? The alliances in Maharashtra, though along expected lines, have had interesting short histories that led to the final resolution just before the elections were announced. The two strong regional parties in the state are the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, which have traditionally aligned with the BJP and the Congress respectively. The Shiv Sena, which was founded by Bal Thackeray on the back of a movement to protect the interests of the locals, had an anti-migrant approach that resulted in harassment of and attacks on migrant South Indians. A few years later, the party moved from this plank to that of Hindutva, allied with strident Maratha pride and a mix of traditional religious and nationalist values. The Shiv Sena first allied with the BJP in 1989, and since then the two parties have been allies in elections to both the Maharashtra assembly and the Lok Sabha, whether in government or in opposition. The Assembly elections in 2014 saw the first sign of fissures when they could not agree on seat sharing and ended up competing. After the BJP formed the government, they managed to get the Shiv Sena to move from being the opposition to become part of the government. For the Lok Sabha earlier, they had fought together, but the Assembly election unease endured, and the Shiv Sena ended up making jibes at the BJP and Narendra Modi continually. Before the alliance was announced a few days ago for the 2019 polls, the Shiv Sena had been going at the BJP and Modi, it seemed with a vengeance. But the lack of an aggressive retort from the BJP indicated that this was possibly muscle flexing by the Sena for a favourable deal, and thats what it turned out to be too, in the end. Anyway, the posturing doesnt seem to have paid off, with Amit Shah striking a hard bargain, and the Sena probably realized that it doesnt have a way out, with going it alone not being a viable option. The two parties have agreed to a seat sharing of 23 for the Sena and 25 for the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections. Much more galling for the Sena probably is the fact that it ended up agreeing to an equal seat share for the Assembly elections that are slated for a few months later. The Shiv Sena has come out of the deal looking a bit sullen, not having got what they were angling for, which was a bigger piece of the pie in Maharashtra, where it has traditionally seen itself as the senior party. Some of the cadre apparently have expressed unhappiness about it, comparing it to a bad marriage where divorce is not an option. While the BJP and Shiv Sena seem to have solved their problems in time for the elections, In the case of the NCP and the Congress, there have been unforeseen difficulties. Sure, both the parties have reached an understanding and are fighting the polls together, but a number of leaders of the party have walked away to join the BJP ahead of seat distribution. For the Congress, the biggest embarrassment has come in the form of Sujay Vikhe Patil, the son of the leader of opposition in the Assembly, joining the BJP in March. In addition, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, one of the biggest leaders and political forces in the state, has decided not to contest this year, saying he did not want three people from his family to contest. Pawar will continue to hold his Rajya Sabha seat till the term ends. His place will be taken by his grand nephew and Ajit Pawars son, Parth, though from a different constituency. Pawar has dismissed suggestions that this shows his tentativeness about a good showing. He had initially planned to contest from Madha, which will now go to senior leader Vijaysingh Mohite Patil, who had won from there last time by a margin of over 2 lakh votes, or his son. There is also the suggestion that Pawar stepped back,perhaps practically and prudently, in the face of resentment from Mohite Patils supporters in the sugar belt of Solapur. Ground situation So, what is the situation like? Well, the main issues in the state continue to be jobs and agrarian crisis, like in the rest of the country, too. In parts of Maharashtra, there is also the issue of drought, which has affected not just the farmlands but the cities too. Though a water problem should more affect the Assembly elections, the fact that both central and state elections come so close to each other could mean that the sentiment of one could reflect in the other. Moreover, the same party is in power in both cases. The farmer issue and the drought mean that the sugarcane farmers are likely to go with the NCP or UPA, in this case. The NCP has traditionally been a strong force in western Maharashtra, which is the sugar belt. The BJP has trying to break into the area, and its success in 2014 was also because it had on its side Raju Shetty, leader of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana. However, this time Shetty has decided to ally with the UPA, which gives them a fillip in the region. Shettys move also indicates the overall mood of the sugarcane farmers. However, what could spoil it for the UPA in Solapur is the realignment of caste equations. Solapur is a reserved constituency, and the UPA has fielded senior Congress leader, Sushil Kumar Shinde. The potential problem this time round is the presence of Prakash Ambedkar in the fray. Ambedkars party, the Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi, is expected to take Dalit and minority votes away from the Congress in this reserved constituency, and the BJP is banking on Ambedkars ability to change the equation here. In the last few years, the ground has also shifted in Maharashtra. The BJP has always been a party of urban areas and the middle class, while the Congresss traditional strength has been its appeal among the rural and farming communities, and among the minorities and disadvantaged. However, this seems to have changed somewhat. In 2014, for instance, the BJP did better than ever before in the UPA strongholds while the showing of the Congress-NCP combine was better than expected in some of the BJPs well tested constituencies. Will the equation perhaps be reset this time? Another thing to consider is the Congresss election manifesto, which has shaken things up. The manifesto definitely seems to return to the party some of its space that it had ceded to the opposition over the last five or more years. It has some clear messages, especially for the disadvantaged, promising a robust universal basic income, farmer loan waivers, increased allocations for education and health, and a streamlined GST system. The important points seem to have been thought out to blunt the BJP narrative as far as the social agenda is concerned. While some of the details are unclear or unrealistic, the BJPs initial response at least has been tangential at best, going back to the issues of patriotism, national security and the majoritarian narrative rather than a rigorous examination of the manifesto. Whether this approach will pay dividend or not has to be seen. But what is clear is the two almost parallel narratives that the two fronts have. Vote share and swings So, how could the situation in Maharashtra be read? If we look at the vote share, the heavy tilt in the NDAs favour in 2014 becomes evident. The BJP-Sena had about 48 per cent to the Congress-NCPs 34, a huge difference of 14 percentage points. This gave the NDA a huge seat advantage in 2014 of 41-6. This time It all depends on the swing factor how disaffected are the people of Maharashtra with their current position vis a vis their expectation post-2014? How much is the perceived gulf between promise and delivery? Or, are they dissatisfied at all? How much are the issues of farmer distress and unemployment going to impact voter behaviour? Are demonetization and the clumsy GST implementation still relevant? What will be the extent of the influence of leaders crossing over to the other side? What does the ultra nationalistic slant of the BJP mean as far as Maharashtra is concerned? Will the incident-based issue of national security trump the more immediately pertinent and longlasting one of unemployment? Down south, Hindutva and nationalism are not headlined as much as they are in the north. Maharashtra falls in the middle. Also, Maharashtra is a good mix of urban and rural areas, of industry and farming. So this elections Big Two of agrarian crisis and unemployment are likely to be equally important. In many ways, Maharashtra could truly reflect what the concerns of the people are across the country. Both sides have expressed confidence over their performance in the coming election. The NDA has said that they will improve their performance from 2014, which is not a statement they have made in the states that they swept. In turn, the UPA has said it is certain of a massive bounce-back. That could all be taken as talk as usual, and only one side could be right at best. Both cannot be right, while both could be wrong! In Maharashtra, polling is scheduled to be held in four phases in different parts of the state. The dates are April 11, 18, 23, and 29. Counting will be on May 23. This time, too, it is going to be an extremely interesting election.We will know by then. And finally, please do go out and vote! Congress President Rahul Gandhi reiterated his love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In conversation with students in Pune, Maharashtra, he said, I love PM Modi. Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the man, but he (Modi) has anger towards me. When Rahul expressed his love for the PM, the students broke into laughter and raised their voices, to which he repeated, "I genuinely do not have anger towards him. It is not the first time, Rahul Gandhi talked about having affection for PM Modi. Earlier in March, he recalled the day he had hugged Modi and said he could not hate him since love "is in the country's grain, every religion, and the Tamil people". He was interacting with female students of a city college in Chennai. When a student asked him why he chose to hug the prime minister, Gandhi said he had watched a 'very angry' Modi in Parliament running down his party, his late father Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia. However, deep inside, he said he felt affection for Modi and he thought Modi was angry "because he is not able to see the beauty of the world". "So I thought that at least from my side, I should show him some affection." During the event, Rahul interacted with students and replied to their questions related to his political and personal life. He targeted the ruling governments policies and reiterated his partys poll promises. Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the future of the country should be better for all sections, including farmers and Muslims, as he released the party's vision document for the Lok Sabha polls. "It is our vision document for party leaders and workers and will be utilised for answering the BJP," he said at the party headquarters here. Alleging that NDA government's decisions have robbed the youth of employment opportunities, he said, "They talk of giving money but have snatched it from the people". Asked whether the document is an election manifesto, Yadav said, "If I say it is a manifesto, you will ask are you going to form a government. This is a vision document or message to party cadre with which they will reply to the BJP and understand the party's stand on various issues. Our party candidates and workers will take it to people." "We feel the future of the country should be better for all sections - be it farmers, youth or Muslims. The chasm between rich and poor has become very wide," he said. The 16-page vision document carrying the photographs of Akhilesh, his father and SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, read - 'Samajik nyay se Mahaparivartan: Ek Nayi disha, ek nayi Ummeed' with Ram Manohar Lohia's quote, "The fight against poverty is a farce till there is discrimination on basis of caste and sex." The multi-colour pictorial vision document, in its last page, carries an appeal - vote for 'mahaparivartan'. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant an interim stay on the operation of electoral bonds scheme and asked an NGO to file an appropriate application for it. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the issue requires detailed hearing and, therefore, it will be taken up on April 10. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), alleged that thousands of crore are anonymously being given to political parties. He alleged that 95 percent of electoral bonds are being given to one party that is the ruling party. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said electoral bonds scheme was brought to check the flow of black money into political funding. He said Bhushan was giving an election speech that 95 percent of the electoral bonds have gone to ruling party. The bench in lighter vein said, "it's election time. We will hear on April 10". ADR' application seeks stay on the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, which was notified by the Centre in January last year. The BJP-led NDA government had announced electoral bonds in the earlier budget, claiming that the scheme would clean up political funding. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy CNN News18 In an exclusive interview with CNN News18 Political Editor Marya Shakil, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief Jagan Mohan Reddy talks about special status for Andhra Pradesh, his plans beyond the state and his connect with people. Q: Your father YSR was the tallest leader of united Andhra Pradesh. He governed AP for 5 years. Today as you fight to claim his legacy, would your father have allowed bifurcation of AP? A: My father was the CM for 5 years 3 months. He passed away within 100 days of winning his second term. When he passed away, things changed. In 2009, before the elections he actually TRS, C Naidu were all in an alliance the Congress was fighting alone. So, it was a fight against bifurcation. He strongly believed in developing Telangana. He did so in 5 years. The neglected feeling in Telangana was dispelled by his government. Irrigation projects, welfare schemes in Telangana he was connected to the people of the region. Even though the TRS-TDP were in alliance and he was alone in 2009, the majority of seats were won by the Congress under my fathers leadership. Q: At the time of bifurcation, there was talk that AP would have no resource constraint, but it wasnt the case. Do you think Andhra was cheated in this bifurcation? A: No one believed that Andhra would have revenues. Since people believed that we wouldnt have sufficient revenues and opportunities, special status to the state of Andhra was promised during the bifurcation. This is the first time in the history of the country that the state demanding a separate state took away the capital. This was acknowledged. The capital constitutes the majority of the revenues for any state. Be it Bombay, Chennai or Hyderabad. Also job opportunities. Our children graduate from schools and colleges and are attracted to big cities to start their livelihood. So because of these factors, they knew bifurcation would not lead to justification for AP. Which is why on the floor of the house it was promised by Congress and BJP and all other parties in parliament as a pre-condition that Andhra would be given special status. Q: The Centre says the special status is not constitutionally viable and that a financially equivalent package was given. PM Modi said the Centre gave much more than asked in special status and that AP CM acknowledged the package, but took a U-turn as they couldnt utilize the package funds and failed to develop the state. A: Its a Parliament given word. The Parliament broke the state with a pre-condition that special status would be given to the state. In Lok Sabha, people who were against bifurcations were suspended from the House. In RS, the entire opposition and ruling parties acknowledged that injustice was done and accepted special category status. Who is Chandrababu Naidu to accept anything? How is it fair for someone else to say that theyve given a package when later the CM said on record that he hadnt received anything? Q: So who is lying? A: You should find that out. The fact is none of the people have the moral right to cheat our people. It is AP thats been betrayed. What special category means to SP? Today kids who graduate need jobs. Special category ensures special incentives and tax exemptions. Income tax and GST exemptions will bring in more businesses like hostels and hospitals and factories. Why would anyone set up business in Andhra versus a Bangalore, Chennai or Mumbai which has infrastructure readily available? Q: You have to be on the right side of Centre if you come to power. Will you be comfortable dealing with Narendra Modi or doing business with Congress? A: We dont trust any of them. Theres an element of mistrust. Both have cheated, betrayed our state. Congress against majority sentiment broke our state and didnt incorporate the special status promise into the AP Reorganization Act. The BJP being in power promised in Parliament that they would grant special category status. They had in their manifesto. Modi in Tirupati spoke of special category. Both have betrayed state. There is mistrust in national parties. Once we have the numbers we will pressurize the central govt. they incorporated the special status into the act we couldve approached the Supreme Court. Q: How do you rate PM Modis performance? A: Maybe Modi has done well. I dont know. After the (Balakot) attack, he has emerged as a strong-willed leader. But as far as AP is concerned, both Modi and Rahul do not score well. Q: So youre saying Modi is not a factor in AP? A: Both Modi and Rahul are non-factors. Both betrayed AP on special category. Q: You have been in perpetual election mode for the last three years criss-crossing the state. What is the difference between 2014 and 2019? What is giving you confidence this time? A: What happened in 2014 was Chandrababu Naidu had no anti-incumbency on him as he wasnt in govt. People believed in his false promises in his manifesto. People believed he would deliver better as he was experience. The Modi euphoria around the country also helped him. Pawan Kalyan factor also helped him. All these factors helped him get that 1% gain. We were 44.5% vote share vs they has 1% more all of them put together. Difference between us and them is just that 1%. Q: You were at your weakest when you lost the bypolls in nandyal which was a prestige battle. You also accepted that Naidu had hit you hard. From that day in August 2017 to now what has changed? A: By-elections is always a different story. Any party in ruling has a huge advantage over opposition. Q: ...Didnt happen in Uttar Pradesh. A: no its a foregone fact weather we accept it or not. The kind of police support that the ruling party has during a bypoll, for one state for one seat for one assembly seat. Imagine the kind of influence the police will have, the influence his corrupt money could have, the influence the peoples mindset would have. Even though they dont vote for the TDP, TDP will still continue to be in power even if they vote against it. All these factors play a huge role when its the ruling party vs the opposition party. Q: Do you accept that there was something amiss in your organization, there was disconnect between the MLAs and the workers? A: Theres just one seat. Chandrababu Naidu took our MLA, gave him a ministry and they were fighting against us in that particular seat. No sorry, their relative was fighting in the Nandyal after our MLA who switched to their side, passed away. So, we fielded a new candidate. Q: So lets talk about the mass exodus that we witnessed. The YSRCP won 67 seats in 2014 and went down as 20 MLAs shifted. Were seeing a lot of homecomings again. A: Its a mockery of democracy. We won 67 seats and lost the opportunity to form the government by 21 seats. The margin was thin. We won 67, they won 100. Had 20 MLAs come to us, we would have been in govt and they would have been in opposition. How can anyone mock democracy like this and still get away with it? Huge amounts of money was exchanged. Each MLA was paid 20-30 crores. It didnt stop there. They were given assurance they wouldnt be disqualified. 4 of the poached MLAs were made ministers. How can someone from your party without being disqualified or re-elected become ministers in another party? Q: Money power A: Not just money power, look at the abuse of speakers office. Look at the abuse of ruling partys power. Q: Interestingly in 2014, Naidu had an alliance with the BJP and Pawan Kalyan which meant they got extra votes. This time theres no alliance. How does it help you? A: Theres a tacit understanding between the two. When Pawan Kalyan filed his nomination there were a lot of TDP flags flying around. The way Naidu distributed tickets also showed very clearly that he wanted to damage our interests rather than be a neutral party. There is a tacit understanding between the two. Its a vote against anti-incumbency. Everyone who was in favor of Pawan Kalyan, last election voted for TDP. Even though there is a tacit understanding between the two it will only split the votes that were in favor of TDP earlier. Q: Youve also been accused of having a tacit understanding with KCR and the BJP. A: Both of them are insignificant in my state. Theres nothing they can do in my state for a tacit understanding to happen. There is a broad understanding that both these states will come together and work together. Im thankful to KCR for hes come forward and pledged his support for special category. We have 25 MPs in my state. God willing we win majority of these seats and they win a huge majority of seats in Telangana. Just imagine 17 and 25 MPs coming together as one bloc. Q: So its a federal front. A: Whatever you name it. Its 42 MPs coming together and demanding special category status for AP. This promise was made in parliament and is now being mocked. Q: Do you plan to go beyond Andhra if you win? A: Absolutely not. Im happy with my state and I want to serve my people to the best of my ability. Q: Your father sent the maximum contingent and formed the UPA and UPA II in many ways. Today as you stand against the Congress do you remember your grooming days? A: I wasnt a politician. I didnt know anyone in Congress. I became an MP for the first time in 2009 and after that within 100 days my father passed away. I was neither an MLA nor an MP when my father was CM. I never spoke to a Congress leader, IAS officer nor was I in Hyderabad. So theres no political connection to any of these people. Q: Do you think you fathers legacy should have come naturally to you? A: My father was a tall leader. Naturally he was one man who had lot of credibility. When he promised something he always delivered. Its been over 9 years now that people have seen me as a politician and they see a lot of my father in me. In 2014 everyone kept asking me about Naidus promise to waive off all agricultural loans all 87612 crore of loans saying why dont you make the same promise? I refused. I went on stage at every meeting and said that the state level bankers union said no state govt has the resources to waive off such a massive loan. I was candid enough to say that this thing that Naidu promised was false. He is cheating you. I may have lost an election because of that but today my credibility is much stronger than his. Q: On October 22, 2009 you met Sonia Gandhi and after that meeting you declared that you had full faith and trust in her and that you would abide by any decision she took. A week after that Rosaiah was made CM. Why do you think you candidature wasnt acceptable to the high command? There was another meeting between your family and Mrs. Gandhi soon after. What happened in that meeting? A: The first meeting was 6 months before It was at the time that Rosaiah ji was to be made CM. I seconded his name and the second meeting youre talking about was 6 months after all this. I had vowed at my fathers crash site that I would visit every house who has given their lives for my father. It was 15-20 days after his death that I happened to be at the crash site on a hillock. There was a huge condolence meeting at the foothill of the hillock. I still see parts of the crashed chopper when I think about the incident. As we were walking down, we discussed how so many people died of shock over my fathers death some died of shock, some committed suicide the number was huge. 700-800 people passed away. In that condolence meeting I said I would visit every house who gave up their life for my father because they were family to me. It was an emotional, spur of the moment decision. Somehow the Congress High Command did not want me to do that. Q: Why? A: I dont know. Ask them. I met Ahmed Patel ji at least 6-7 times in 6 months and Sonia ji at least 3 times and every time I asked for permission they asked me to postpone it. So after 6 months of waiting Q: You undertook that yatra A: I pushed I lose myself as a human being. This was a vow I took at my fathers crash site and these people did not want me to do it. For 6 months, I tried to convince them and then when they didnt concede I pushed with my padyatra. The Congress stopped MPs and MLAs from attending my Odarpu yatra. The journey took that name. There were houses all over the state and a number of villages between the houses we visit. We were stopped in every village. There were statues of my father being erected in every village. I would travel and 3-4am in the morning to get to a village and even at that hour people were waiting. Q: Was the Congress leadership threatened by your popularity? The Odarpu yatra was a significant step in your political career. A: Its destiny. I just chose to do what was right. People visiting me, expressing their solidarity its all part of the journey. Q: There were criminal cases against you. Your mother famously said the harder you hit a ball on the ground, the higher it will bounce. A: How difficult is it to book a case when youre in opposition? I was an honorable man till my father was alive. I was honorable till I was in Congress. My father and I became less honorable after I left the Congress. TDP and Congress leaders are petitioners in that case. Its nothing but abuse of power. See the dates, see the petitioners, and see how the TDP supported the Congress during those 5 years. Chandrababu Naidu issued a whip to protect Kiran Kumar Reddys government when though he was the principal opposition leader. That was the understanding with which they functioned to hit somebody just because they rivaled against them politically. How fair is it? How difficult is it to file cases against someone fighting against the Centre and state? Q: Its political vendetta. A: Absolutely is political vendetta. As far as CBN is concerned, you should ask him how hes gotten away with having 17 criminal cases against him. And how is it that a CM caught on cam with black money, distributing money to buy MLAs could get away without resigning. Q: Can there be different rules of engagement with the next generation of Congress? A: I dont have any vengeance or grievance against anybody. I believe in God and vengeance isnt for me. I have forgiven them in my heart. As far as Im concerned my state is priority and special category status is priority. Q: What do you think will happen on May 23 in AP and at the Centre? Only God can decide that. I cant be the judge of that. God and people willing hopefully I will be CM of Andhra soon. Foxconn Technology Group is reportedly gearing up to begin production of the latest iPhones in India. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple will soon start manufacturing iPhone X models in India. Foxconn, Apples primary global component manufacturer, will begin production of iPhone X models temporarily and could scale production in its Chennai production facility if initial trials are successful. While Apples iPhones are already quite expensive, import duties in India take the asking price up by 20 to 30-percent. Take for example the budget iPhone XR, that launched for around Rs 75,000 (Approx. $1100) as compared to its $750 release price in the US. While Apple is slashing the prices of its devices, it simply isnt enough. The Cupertino-based tech firm currently holds less than 2-percent of share in Indias smartphone market, mainly on account of its cost-competitive market. Apple manufactures the Apple iPhone 6 and SE in India and the new move is targeted towards eliminating import duties so as to reduces the prices of their offerings in Indias massive smartphone market. The expansion might also include the iPhone 7 as the Indian government has approved Rs 5000-crore proposal by Wistron, to increase the capabilities of its production facilities in the country. With Apples market share on the decline in China due to several restrictions imposed on the tech giant, diversifying its business to Indian markets seems like the next logical conclusion. Last year alone, India saw the sale of over 140 million smartphones with Apple only accounting for a meagre 1.7 million as compared to the lions share held by the affordable Chinese brands. Apple will also be looking to add another major production centre for US iPhones amidst the worsening US-China trade war. Representative Image Mexico's economy minister urged US President Donald Trump on April 4 not to mix the issue of illegal immigration into the two countries' trade relationship, after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican cars. "For the Mexican government, it is very important to keep migration issues and trade issues separate," Economy Minister Graciela Marquez Colin told a press conference. Her comments came after Trump threatened to put tariffs on cars imported from Mexico if the United States' southern neighbour didn't do more to stop the flow of undocumented migrants and illegal drugs. "The United States sometimes mixes the two issues. To us, it's very important to keep the ratification of the trade agreement (the newly negotiated United States-Mexico-Canada deal) on one track and migration-related issues on another," said Marquez. "In terms of any new tariffs, we would have to discuss them in terms of a relationship between two trade partners who are in the process of modernizing a trade agreement," she added, referring to NAFTA, the existing trade agreement that the new USMCA deal seeks to update. Trump called on Mexico earlier to "do what they can do very easily, apprehend these people coming in" -- referring to the hundreds of thousands of mostly Central American migrants who have arrived at the US-Mexican border in recent months. He also gave Mexico one year to curb the flow of narcotics across the border, saying "we're going to put tariffs on them" if not. However, he retreated from his threat to close the border this week, saying he would "tax the cars" first. Mexico, which sends more than 80 percent of its exports to the United States, has been nervously watching Trump's every tweet in recent days as he has alternately praised the government's efforts on curbing irregular migration and threatened it for failing to do enough. Representative image Out of the 91 seats going to polls in the first phase of polling on April 11, seven belong to Maharashtra. These seven seats fall under the important Vidarbha region of the state. Observers state that Vidarbha has gradually attained importance as the power centre of Maharashtra. Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister, hails from the region, as does Union minister Nitin Gadkari. This is a shift from the Maratha-dominated politics of the state, which saw at least 10 chief ministers from the community. The seats The seven seats which will be going to polls during the first phase include Wardha (BJP), Ramtek (Shiv Sena), Nagpur (BJP), Bhandara-Gondiya (NCP), Gadchiroli-Chimur (BJP), Chandrapur (BJP) and Yavatmal-Washim (Shiv Sena). During the 2014 polls, BJP had won the Bhandara-Gondiya seat. However, BJP MP Nana Patole resigned in 2017 and subsequently joined Congress. Patole reportedly helped the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) win the ensuing bypoll. The leaders Congress has now fielded Patole as its candidate from Nagpur. Patole is known as a giant killer, having won from Gondiya against NCP candidate Praful Patel in his backyard. This is significant, considering that this time around he is pitted against Gadkari, sitting MP from Nagpur. Hansraj Ahir, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, also hails from the region. He will be contesting from Chandrapur against Congress' Suresh Dhanorkar, who was earlier a Shiv Sena legislator. In Akola, which will vote in Phase Two on April 18, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) chief Prakash Ambedkar will be in contest with Congress' Hidayat Patel and BJP's Sanjay Dhotre. Senior leaders in the state cabinet, including Fadnavis and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, also hail from Vidarbha. The issues Vidarbha has traditionally been known as a region troubled by drought resulting in farmer suicides. While Chandrapur and Nagpur are more urban than the others, issues such as the 2018 flooding in Nagpur and unavailability of water in Chandrapur has affected both the urban as well as agrarian population. In 2018, 1,297 of the total 2,244 farmer suicides in Maharashtra were from Vidarbha. In three years from 2015 to 2018, more than 2,000 farmers have committed suicide in the region. While the state government blames previous governments for the distress, according to reports, it may become harder for the BJP-Sena candidates to convince people on the ground. In the cotton-producing Bhandara-Gondiya and Yavatmal regions, farmers are facing pest attacks on cotton produce. This has hit their production, and while they had sought relief from the government, none was forthcoming, according to reports. This has also resulted in a number of farmers committing suicide in the region. Apart from that, for the youth, non-payment of the Samaj Kalyan Scholarship, a feature of previous governments, is also an issue. There is also discontent with the way the government handled the Assistant Motor Vehicle exam. The exam was conducted and results were declared, but since the notification was wrong, the candidates selected were denied an appointment letter. The BJP-Sena had swept through the region's 10 seats the other two being Buldhana and Amravati during the 2014 polls, but might find it tough to repeat the performance. However, locals believe that at least in Nagpur, it would be difficult to displace Gadkari from his 'Gad' (fort). State-run news channel Doordarshan News drove itself into trouble after it violated the Election Commission's Model Code of Conduct by telecasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at an election rally in Kolkata from the Brigade Parade ground on Monday. Doordarshan being a government-run channel owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, isnt supposed to have any political agenda by rule. Clause 4 in Article VII of the Model Code of Conduct laid down by the Election Commission asks the ruling party to avoid the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power.... The coverage showed the PM speaking from a podium with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys two lotus symbols on the front.Speaking on the same, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury questioned the Election Commissions work ethics and "its mandate to conduct free & fair polls". Days before this, on April 1, members of the Congress had moved the Election Commission to speak against the live coverage of a "Main Bhi Chowkidar" event by DD News. Congress claimed that not only was the event telecast on the news channel, it was put up on its YouTube channel and also promoted via social media handles. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) Three soldiers were killed and 13 others were wounded in a firefight with around 80 members of the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu Friday morning, the military said. The 30-minute firefight in Sitio Atol in Batangay Latih also left four Abu Sayyaf fighters dead and nine wounded, the Joint Task Force Sulu said, citing intelligence sources. Lt. Col. Gerald Monfort, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Sulu, told CNN Philippines the soldiers were conducting pursuit operations against bandits who ambushed a convoy of elementary school teachers last Tuesday. He said around 200 soldiers encountered the group led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan on Friday. Sawadjaan is the known successor of Isnilon Hapilon,a slain Abu Sayyaf leader who was the so-called "emir" of international terror group ISIS in Southeast Asia. The military believes Sawadjaan is also the mastermind in the deadly twin blasts at a Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, which left 23 people dead and about 100 wounded on January 27. Monfort said government forces are hunting the group of Sawadjaan which is not holding any captive unlike other Abu Sayyaf sub-groups. "Ongoing ang pursuit operations kasi nagsitakas ito, nagwithdraw ang grupo nitong si Sawadjaan (Pursuit operations are ongoing as the Sawadjaan group withdrew)," he said. The Abu Sayyaf, notorious for kidnappings and beheadings, is among terrorist groups cited by President Rodrigo Duterte in justifying the need to impose martial law in Mindanao until December 31 this year. Shatrughan Sinha Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who will be joining the Congress soon, has had an illustrious career as a silver-screen performer, but the same may not hold true with regard to his stint as a Lok Sabha MP in the past five years. As per an India Today report, based on Lok Sabha records, in the past five years, Sinha had not asked a single question, or participated in any House debate. He had also not introduced a single private member's bill either; his attendance was poor too, to be precise, he was present on only 67 percent of days the Lower House was in session. As against this, the average attendance of other Members of Parliament was 81 percent in the same period of time. However, it was not always like this. Past records show that in the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14), Sinha had asked some 67 questions and taken part in nine debates. One must note here that the two-time Lok Sabha MP from Patna Sahib has also served two terms as a Rajya Sabha MP, from 1996 to 2008. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was PM, he had served as the Union cabinet minister for health and family welfare for a year and Union minister for shipping for another. Asking questions in the House is one of the key ways MPs seek information from the government about the work done in their constituencies and the country. It is basically a tool to make the party in power be accountable for its work. This apart, it is also very important for MPs to participate in House debates since everything said by an MP makes it to Lok Sabha records. These are also referred to by MPs and the public later to gauge what MPs at a given point of time thought of an issue. On the contrary, Sinha judiciously utilised his MPLAD funds, the amount allocated to Members of Parliament for development of their areas/ constituencies. His on-ground records show he utilised 106.83 percent of the MPLAD funds released by the central government for his constituency, whereas the all-India utilisation percentage stands at 91.84 percent. Notably, he had grown more inclined towards the LK Advani camp within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the past five years. In fact, he has also openly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah several times. When he was refused a Lok Sabha ticket from Patna Sahib this time, he decided to quit the party and join Congress. Representative image A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a leading American magazine reported Thursday. Two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told the Foreign Policy magazine that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," the report said. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit," the report said. The report said that evidence also suggests that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air Force and only the F-16 can shoot a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile. When the incident occurred, India asked the US government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. According to the magazine, Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, one US official said. But now the count has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," the official said. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the report. The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. The US State Department and the Indian and Pakistani embassies declined to comment, the report said. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. But on April 1, Pakistan military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor for the first time indicated that F-16s might have been used to hit Indian fighter jets during the aerial combat on February 27. In a statement, he said Pakistan had the right to use "anything and everything" in its self defence. He further said: "Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets in self defence." The report said the remnants of a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile was found near the site; out of all the aircraft involved, only the F-16 can shoot such a weapon. "As details come out, it looks worse and worse for the Indians," Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Vipin Narang told the Foreign Policy magazine. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," he said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot Wing Commander Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1 in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. Prime Minister Theresa May on April 5 wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk seeking a further extension to the UK's Brexit deadline until June 30 to try and find a solution in Parliament to the current impasse over the terms of Britain's exit from the 28-member economic bloc. Under the current terms agreed with the European Union, the UK is due to leave the bloc by May 22 if the British Prime Minister's repeatedly-rejected divorce bill clears the House of Commons or crash out without any deal in place by April 12. In her letter, which comes ahead of an EU summit next Wednesday, May told Tusk that while it is "frustrating" that there has been no "orderly" conclusion after her withdrawal agreement was rejected three times by the House of Commons over the controversial Irish backstop clause, the UK remains "strongly committed" to finding a Brexit resolution as soon as possible. "This impasse cannot be allowed to continue Therefore having reluctantly sought an extension to the Article 50 period last month, the government must now do so again," she writes. "The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on June 30, 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the government proposes that the period should be terminated early," she notes. This further extension to the Article 50 mechanism, first extended from the March 29 deadline last month, means that the UK may now have to contest the European Parliament elections scheduled for May 23. In her letter, May notes that it is not in the interests of the UK or the EU to go down this route, but accepts it as an inevitable "legal obligation". She confirms that the UK would begin "contingency" preparations to field candidates for European Parliament polls but will keep working towards getting a withdrawal deal ratified by May 22 in order to avert such a move. Her letter reads like a long explanation of why Britain has been forced to seek yet another extension and points the finger of blame on British MPs who have not only rejected her withdrawal agreement but also failed to come up with a credible alternative. "The House has, however, continued to express its opposition to leaving the European Union without a deal. The government agrees that leaving with a deal is the best outcome," she notes. In her update, May adds that if ongoing cross-party talks with the Labour Party could not establish "a single unified approach" in the UK Parliament MPs would be asked to vote on a series of options instead which the government "stands ready to abide by". The cross-party Brexit teams are set to continue their talks on striking a Brexit compromise, with Thursday's technical talks described as "productive" according to a statement released after four and a half hours of negotiations between the Tory and Labour frontbench ministers and shadow ministers. It remains to be seen what kind of a compromise may be worked out amid Labour's demand for a so-called soft Brexit with a permanent Customs Union with the EU, with many in the party also in favour of a second referendum. Meanwhile, reports coming out of Brussels indicate that the EU is preparing to offer the UK so-called "flextension" of around a year until March 2020, with a break clause to end the extension as soon as a withdrawal agreement was in place. The move is intended to give the economic bloc some breathing space from having to delve into repeated short extensions every few weeks. Chinese President Xi Jinping Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said that "new substantial progress" has been made on the China-US economic agreement, generating optimism for an end to the trade war between the world's two largest economies. Xi's remarks were part of a message conveyed to US President Donald Trump at the White House by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, Beijing's lead negotiator to resolve the nine month-long trade war. The US and China are locked in a trade war since Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items from China in March last year, a move that sparked fears of a global trade war. In response, China imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on billions of dollars worth of American imports. China is the world's second largest economy after the US. Liu, who is in Washington to continue the trade negotiations, met President Trump on Thursday and conveyed Xi's message. The Chinese President said that new substantial progress has been made on the text of the China-US economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month. Xi encouraged the two sides to keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible. Under the current situation, a healthy and stable development of China-US relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, Xi told Trump, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Xi also said that he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means, and believes that the China-US relations will make new and greater progress under their joint guidance. Top trade officials of the US and China have been holding a series of talks to end the trade war. Trump is demanding China to reduce the USD 375 billion trade deficit and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. The US increased tariffs on over USD 250 billion worth of Chinese imports and threatened to extend 25 per cent tariffs on USD 200 billion Chinese imports. China too slapped reciprocal tariffs on some US products. Trump held back his threat to impose additional tariffs on the rest of Chinese imports as both sides stepped up talks to finalise the text of the deal. Liu, after meeting Trump, said the Chinese and US negotiation teams have over the past two days conducted fruitful consultations and reached new consensus on important issues such as the text of the economic and trade agreement. During the meeting, Liu said that the two sides, guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, will continue with the consultations to achieve more progress on issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible, Xinhua reported. Separately, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson Gao Feng announced reciprocal suspension of additional tariffs slapped by both the countries on each other's goods since last year, saying the move would "undoubtedly" create a conducive atmosphere for the China-US economic and trade negotiations. China's State Council or central cabinet said last Sunday that China would continue to suspend additional tariffs on US vehicles and auto parts after March 31, in a goodwill gesture following a US decision to delay tariff hikes on Chinese imports. China said in December it would suspend additional 25 per cent tariffs on US made vehicles and auto parts for three months, following a truce in the trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. Following the arrest of Hari Sankaran, a top executive scam hit Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) group, Ramesh Bawa, former chief executive of IL&FS Financial Services Ltd (IFIN), has approached the Bombay high court (HC) seeking to quash entire criminal proceedings launched against him by the Serious Fraud and Investigation Office (SFIO), says a report. As much as 90% of the loans advanced by IFIN, the lending arm of the infrastructure conglomerate IL&FS have turned bad. According to a report from the Times of India , Mr Bawa filed his petition on same day when the SFIO arrested Hari Sankaran, former vice chairman and managing director (MD) of IL&FS. "(Mr) Bawa, who is likely to be represented by former attorney general for India Mukul Rohatgi before the HC for the hearing, has sought the quashing of entire proceedings initiated by the SFIO and ministry of corporate affairs as being 'illegal and void'. He is claiming that 'mandatory procedures under the criminal procedure code have not been followed'. Mr Bawa has also challenged the bail conditions for offence of fraud under the Companies Act as being unconstitutionally harsh and discriminatory," the report says. The SFIO, which is probing the massive scam has been issuing summons to various fomer senior executives of IL&FS, including Mr Bawa. Quoting the investigation agency, the ToI report says, "Approximately Rs17,000 crore has been raised by IFIN from public through bank loans debentured, commercial papers and corporate deposits." As reported by Moneylife , almost 90% of the loans advanced by IFIN have turned bad underlining the deep corruption and culpability of the previous management. Of its loan book of Rs18,805 crore, Rs10,656 crore was lent to third-party borrowers and nearly Rs7,000 crore to group companies, N Sivaraman, chief operating officer at IL&FS group, has revealed. According to Kaushik Modak, who now heads IFIN, the company has recovered Rs931 crore since the new board led by banker Uday Kotak took over the IL&FS Group. Australian start-up and payments innovator Afterpay Touch Group Ltd [ASX:APT] shares are on the move this morning, tacking on another 4%, to trade at $24.43 per share. Its been a bumper first quarter in 2019, with Afterpays share price more than doubling since January. The fintech start-up made waves when it first launched in June 2017 and has seen its Price share price grow by around 320% over the past 12 months. Must read: Sam has already bagged 1,431% in the last 18 months. Could his next four picks be just as lucrative? Click here to download your free report now to find out. Afterpays share price to continue trend As Afterpay continues to expand its business to more retailers, luring in more and more customers both here and abroad, any doubts its innovative online payments system is just a fad has all but faded. The momentum in the share price has been spurred on by an uplift in investor sentiment, as more and more retailers rush to Afterpay in order to attract millennial buyers. Afterpays success is largely derived from co-founder Nicholas Molars philosophy that millennials are more willing to spend if payment can be deferred into four fortnightly payments, but still receive the product immediately. And it seems many brokers share his philosophy. After a strong start to business in the US market, broker Goldman Sachs has given a particularly bullish appraisal of Afterpay, after releasing a new note this morning. According to a note out of the investment bank, it has retained its buy rating and lifted the price target on its shares by 29% to $27.00. Goldman increased its price target on the companys shares after revising its valuation approach and upgrading its estimates following a review of the latest indicators in the US market. The note reveals that early signs of success in the US remain strong. This includes a record month of US app downloads, growing website visit numbers, and an increase in US retailers on its platform. Goldman Sachs estimates that if the company can achieve a 25% penetration rate of the millennial user cohort in the US and UK, APT could generate a per share value of around $35.30 per share by FY21. Goldman has largely based its valuation on what it believes is a strong correlation between share price and additional user numbers. Goldman also upgraded its customer number estimates significantly. It now expects 1.85 million customers in the US at the end of FY 2019, which was previously forecast at 1.4 million. This figure is then expected to blow out to 6.6 million US customers by FY21. Whats next for Afterpay? Afterpay posted its half-year result in February. The results proved the company could scale its technology successfully and transition into international markets successfully. Its active users have increased by 118% to 3.1 million over the same corresponding period and active merchants grew by 101% to 23,200. Net income grew alongside customers and merchants, rocketing up 124% to $107.1 million in comparison with the previous corresponding period, while gross losses improved to just 1.1%. It looks likely Goldman Sachs valuation will be on the money if APTs current trend continues, the US offers an exponentially larger online retail market compared to Australias $590 billion larger. Afterpay expects to launch for the first time in the UK within H2 FY19, already receiving commitments from retail giant Urban Outfitters to partner for the launch. The UK online retail market is estimated to be worth $130 billion. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, For Money Morning PS: If youre thinking this is the right time to get into Afterpay, make sure you first read this 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. Click here to get your free report. Australian Economic News Updates Enjoy a contrarian outlook on the Australian economy and how movements beyond our borders could affect your stocks, retirement fund or the value of your home. Go here for more. Daily Chinese Economy News Chinas economy has been a powerhouse in recent years. But times are a changing and China, for better or worse, is a subject of heated debate. Are there investment opportunities to be still had from China, and how will they affect your wealth at home? Find out here. US Economy News The US economy is drowning under the weight of its public and private debt. But is it too soon to call the end of this financial, military and political empire? Only time will tell. Either way, you need to make sure your investments are on the right side of the trade. Eurozone Economy The Eurozone is in a huge mess right now. Can it hold it together or will, one-by-one, member states leave the Euro and go at it on their own? More importantly, what consequences will this have for Australia and your investments? More on that here. Global Economy News Dont just follow the news on the global economy get an inside peek into whats happening in developed and emerging economies around the world and what it could mean for your investments. Go here for more. At time of writing, shares of lithium miner Orocobre Ltd [ASX:ORE] are sitting at $3.76, which is up 1.35% from yesterday. The past week of trading has seen no drop in the companys share price, with Tuesday showing a notable 4.7% increase. Today, the company announced an update on the Cauchari Lithium Project in Argentina their joint venture with Advantage Lithium Corp [TSX:AAL]. Related: Whats Driving This Green Energy lithium stock Frenzy? Cauchari in next stage Orocobre owns about a third of Advantage Lithiums issued capital, and 25% of the joint venture. About a month ago, Caucharis resource estimate was doubled due to positive results in the phase 2 and 3 drilling programs. Orocobre MD and CEO Martin Perez said at the time: Our joint venture partners, Advantage Lithium have delivered a well-designed and executed resource definition program that has more than doubled the total Cauchari resource. This result provides an opportunity to reassess future development options to maximise value for shareholders. Today, such future development was confirmed, with an announcement that Advantage Lithium will undertake a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on Cauchari. As per the announcement: Given the significant increase in resource size, the PFS will examine various alternatives to unlock additional value compared to the results from the 2018 Preliminary Economic Assessment. A key outcome of the PFS is expected to be the delivery of a mineral reserve backed by an economic analysisdemonstrating the viability of the project. The PFS will consider all production alternatives and will select an optimal development path. The PFS is expected to be completed by Q3 FY19. The future climate for lithium stocks Demand for lithium continues to grow, while a new supply is yet to come about. Also, average prices on the mineral are up year-on-year if excluding China. Higher cost hard rock lithium is expected to be the target material of most consumers in the next couple of years, which could shoot up lithium miners profits. The current market share of hard rock lithium is 48%, and is expected to grow to 68% by 2025. That said, financial brokerage firm Canaccord Genuity believe supply will be in constant struggle to keep up with demand in the long-term. This could only be helped with higher prices to lift equities, which may not happen. Thats why Canaccord Genuity prefer low-cost projects, like Orocobre, over pure-play concentrate producers, as they are less affected by pricing pressure. However, it may be worthwhile to watch this stock a little while longer to see if the company can regain some ground on one-year returns, which is currently down around 20%. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, For Money Morning PS: For a more conclusive guide on the lithium frenzy that is in prime position to hit Australia, check out this free report on the Battery Boom. Download now. Many traders struggle to change their minds. They do all the research, they study the charts, and they form a view. But what happens when that view is wrong? The biggest problem for many everyday traders is their exit plan. Rather than selling when a trade isnt working, they doggedly hold their shares in the hope their view could still be right. All too often though, its not. The ability to change your mind is critical for a trader. Your willingness to accept a mistake could make the difference between a small loss and a wipeout. I knowIve been there myself. The story I have for you is about this very situation. Fire Up Your Portfolio In 2019 With These Ten Aussie Miners. Free Report. My defining moment as a trader Im going to tell you about a defining moment in my career. It involves a trade that would have a lasting influencea trade that gave me confidence that Id make it as a trader. Let me set the scene The year was 1999, and I was now a senior trader at Bankers Trust. This was my dream job. I could trade just about any financial market currencies, bonds, stock indices, and precious metals. There was just one rule: make the bank money. Now, the story Im going to tell you is about two trades in the precious metals market. It was a time when sentiment towards gold was near an all-time low. You see, the yellow metal had been in a crushing bear market for three years. The price had sunk to US$275 per ounce its lowest level since the 1970s. This was a time when gold producers were selling gold they were yet to mine. Central bank selling was also weighing on the market (the Reserve Bank of Australia was a seller). Needless to say, the outlook for gold was awfuljust about everyone was bearish. Now, extreme negativity is an interesting thing. There comes a point when the bears have nothing left to sell. And this can lead to some of the best buying opportunities. The key to profiting from these situations is patienceits about waiting for prices to start turning higher. Only then will I consider buying. Pre-empting a reversal often proves costly. So I waitedand waited some more. Gold finally began to grind higher during April. It was a promising sign, but I still wasnt ready to pull the trigger. I wanted to see prices gain some momentum. Then in early May, there was a surge. Prices shot to a six-week high in overnight trade. This was the confirmation I was patiently waiting for. I got a call from the night desk in the early hours of the morning. The voice said Jason, youre filled on your gold order. The exact size of my position is blurred by time. Although, I remember thinking that Id bought more gold than some producers mine in a year. Quite simply, I was long on a lot of gold! But my timing wasnt good. Within hours a shock announcement came out of London. The Bank of England was planning to sell a huge chunk of its gold reserves. Prices plummeted in an instant. My trade was going to hell in a handbasket, FAST! One of the first rules of trading is to always have an exit point a stop-loss. Now, my stop-loss was live when the announcement was made. The problem was the price instantly gapped lower there were no buyers to fill my sell order. Gold was in freefall. Eventually, some buying emerged, but it was at a much lower level. The fill price for my stop-loss was ugly. I lost more than three times what I was expecting. It was a total disaster. What happened next was my defining moment as a trader. Gold had now broken below key support and was trending lower. My trading rules were clear: Go short if prices break to the downside. There was no time to re-consider the rules. I reversed my position without hesitation. (Going short means to sell something you dont own. The aim is to buy it back at a lower price.) For weeks I had been waiting to buy my view was that gold would trade higher. But within a few minutes, I had sold two large parcels of gold The first sale was an exit of my long positionthe second was a new trade that would profit if gold fell further. This was the exact opposite of what I was expecting. Over the next two months gold fell hard, and I held on for the ride. Staying with the trend is a key part of my trading strategy. Its the single most important rule for maximising profitsand this time was no different. I finally closed my position after about seven weeks. It was just days before gold made a final bear market low of US$252.80. My second trade made back the initial loss many times over. Why was this a defining moment? So why was this trade a defining moment? Well, I was able to hold my nerve and make good decisions. This gave me confidence that Id go the distance as a trader. I knew this was the career for me. But its what made this possible that really matters You see, having a set of proven trading rules was the key. This is how I was able to quickly make good choices under pressure. It was my plan for buying and selling that won the day. Following a set of rules wasnt new to me Id been trading this way for a while. But what made this situation different was the speed in which it was unfolding. There was no time to think. It was a case of following the rules without freezing up. Heres the thing: you create your trading plan while in a calm, level-headed state. You then rely on your plans rules when clear thinking is all but impossible. The trader with the right trading formula always knows what to do. This is a big advantagethey can be decisive and take opportunities many people would miss. This experience gave me an unwavering confidence in systemised trading. I knew that consistently following a well thought out set of rules was the key to long-term success. I now fully understood why so many traders fail. It all comes down to preparation. The rules-based trader has a plan for everything, while many traders have a plan for nothing. My trading formula gave me a real edge. It was my blueprint to making a lot of money. I hope Quant Trader can give you that same edge. Until next week, Jason McIntosh, Editor, Quant Trader PS: In this free report, Kris Sayce reveals his five-step booster system you can use to potentially super-charge your retirement pot in 2019 and beyond. Download now. The Australian Big Four Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Limited [ASX:ANZ], National Australia Bank Limited [ASX:NAB], Westpac Banking Corporation [ASX:WBC] and Commonwealth Bank of Australia [ASX:CBA] are all seeing declines today, an unusual trend to see all at once. NAB and ANZ are the worst performing at time of writing, down 1.51% and 0.95% respectively. These four all being in the red may come as disheartening news for followers. It has dragged the rest of the market down with them. But with no correlating news to the drop, there should be no need for panic. That being said, lets analyse this deeper Related: Discover the next generation of Aussie income super stars revealed. Hint: its not the banks. Click here to claim your copy now. A closer look at the big four Maybe this is a sign of something much more sinister. If youve been paying attention to what weve been reporting here at Money Morning, youd know that we believe the declines we are seeing in the economy are far from over. And with the recent unfolding of the royal banking commission, maybe these drops are the start of something more to come. That being said, the banks didnt drop nearly as much as was expected on the day of the reports release. In fact, they bounced higher with some premature investors kicking themselves for exiting just a few days too early. Aussies tend to love to badger the big banks but perhaps this is the time for investors to jump on a bargain buy. Because of course, we havent seen the end of traditional banking yet they wont be going anywhere for a long time. Theyre still connected to the lifeblood of our financial system they make up more than a quarter of the S&P/ASX200 Index. And while we may rave on about the fabulous opportunities attached to crypto, we wouldnt suggest throwing any of the four away too quickly. At the same time, dont be naive. Things are changing. And besides dividend yields have not been greater than they are today. Theyre great for anyone looking to add something stable to their portfolio. When this is the case, it usually means the stock market is anticipating the companys profits falling and the dividend levels with them. And with NABs current dividend paying Australian shareholders a reliable 11.27%, maybe this is what is currently happening. After all, according to The New Daily, Morgan Stanley predicted NAB dividends to drop this year by 16%. If so, it may be time to move elsewhere. Yarra Capital Management has an overweight position on ANZ after the distilling of the royal commission which clears the uncertainty pervading the industry and should alleviate pressure, enabling ANZ to generate above system credit growth. Perhaps this is reason enough to give the stocks a second look. If you choose to take advantage of the drop At time of writing, NAB shares are sitting at $24.79 (-1.51%), Westpac at $26.11 (-0.46%), Commonwealth at $71.07 (-0.22%), and ANZ at $26.01 (0.95%). Westpac, in particular, has seen its share price drop by over 24% in the last five years. Based on the last 12 months, the dividend yield is sitting at 10.2%. Not a bad way to make up for the decline. These prices are fluctuating, so perhaps watch them over the next few days before you make your decision. And keep in mind that while the investigation is over, many are still having to clean up the damage caused like the bank levy that cost Westpac $378 million. That being said, if worse times are coming, the big four could be one of the strongest holds. But in a time of uncertainty, do your research, and use this drop as a road map for more to come. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, For Money Morning PS: Not interested in bank shares, but still looking to pick a winner? Download this free report, on us at Money Morning: The Four Best ASX Stocks for 2019. Click here to download. April 05, 2019 Ethiopian Airline Crash - Boeing Advice To 737 MAX Pilots Was Flawed The preliminary report on the March 10 Ethiopian Airline crash shows that the advice given by the FAA and Boeing to 737 MAX pilots was incomplete. The pilots followed the advice but it was phyisically impossile for them to bring the plane back into a stable flight. In October 2018 a brand new Boeing 737 MAX airplane, flown by the Indonesian Lion Air airline, crashed into the sea shortly after take off. 189 people died. An investigation found that Boeing had added a 'maneuver characteristics augmentation system' (MCAS) to the MAX that could directly influence the stabilizer, a primary flight control surfaces, but based its decisions on the input of only one sensor. When the sensor failed the system went wild and destabilized the airplane. Neither the pilots nor the airlines knew about the system. The regulators. which certified the plane as safe to fly, were misinformed about it. They had directed Boeing to include the new system into training material for the pilots which Boeing, for commercial reasons, did not do. After the Lion Air crash the Federal Aviation Administration issued an Airworthiness Directive 2018-23-51 which adviced 737 MAX pilots how to handle an MCAS failure. full picture The FAA told 737 MAX pilots to use the Stabilizer Trim Cutoff switches to interupt the power supply for the system's actuator, a motor driven jackscrew in the back of the airplane. The pilots should then use the manual trim wheels in the cockpit, which move the jackscrew and stabilizer via steel cables, to righten the aircraft. On March 10 a 737 MAX flown by Ethiopian Airline crashed shortly after take off. 157 people died. Radar data and debris found showed that the cause was likely a similar MCAS failure as had happened on the Indonesian Lion Air flight. All 737 MAX planes were grounded with the U.S. being the last country to order it. Some U.S. pilots, as well as some commentators here, publicly blamed the darker skin pilots for not using the simple procedure the FAA had put out: "Why didn't they just flip the switches? Stupid undertrained third-world dudes." It now turns out that the well trained and experienced pilots on the Ethiopian Airline flight did exactly what Boeing and the FAA told them to do. From the Ethiopean Airlines press release (pdf): The preliminary report clearly showed that the Ethiopian Airlines pilots who were commanding Flight ET 302/10 March have followed the Boeing recommended and FAA approved emergency procedures to handle the most difficult emergency situation created on the airplane. Despite their hard work and full compliance with the emergency procedures, it was very unfortunate that they could not recover the airplane from the persistence of nose diving. The procedure Boeing and the FAA advised to use was insufficient to bring the aircraft back under control. It was in fact impossible to recover the plane. The possibility of this to happen was discussed in pilot fora and on specialized websites for some time. The MCAS system moves the front of the stablizer up to turn the nose of the airplane down. The plane then decends very fast. The aerodynamic forces (the "wind") pushing against the stabilizer gets so strong that a manual counter-trim becomes impossible. Avionics engineer Peter Lemme details the physics involved in this. via Seattle Times - full picture Lemme concludes: With the 737MAX cutout switches, MCAS runaway is stopped by throwing both switches, losing electric trim altogether. In this case, the flight crew must rely on manual trim via turning the trim wheel/crank. As discussed above, the manual crank can bind up, making flying much more difficult. Bjorn Fehrm, a senior engineeer and pilot now writing at Leeham News, came to a similar conclusion: [We] can now reveal how its possible the aircraft can crash despite using the Cut-Out switches. To verify, we ran it all in a simulator together with MentourPilot Youtube channel over the last days. ... At a miss-trimmed Stabilator, you either have to re-engage Electric trim or off-load the Stabilator jackscrew by stick forward, creating a nose-down bunt maneuver, followed by trim. Stick forward to trim was not an option for ET302, they were at 1,000ft above ground. According to The Wall Street Journal, the ET302 crew re-engaged electrical trim to save the situation, to get the nose up. It was their only chance. But too late. The aggressive MCAS kicked in and worsened the situation before they could counter it. On the FAA's Airworthiness Directive Fehrm writes: Nowhere is it described the trim could be impossible to move if the Cut-Out switches were cut at the slightest miss-trim at the speeds flown. And there is no warning on when to move the Cut-Out switches, the checklist says Cut, then trim manually. This is not the whole truth. An detailed analysis of the flight recorder data as documented in the preliminary crash report confirms the conclusions: The high speed of 340kts indicated airspeed and the trim at 2.3 units causes the Stabilator manual trim to jam, one cant move it by hand. The crew is busy trying to hand trim the next two minutes but no trim change is achieved. via Leeham News - bigger The pilots then do the only thing possible. They reengage the electric stabilizer trim to righten the aircraft. But the aggressive MCAS, trimming with a speed 50% higher than the pilot and for a full nine seconds, kicks in at 8 with a force they didnt expect. Speed is now at 375kts and MCAS was never designed to trim at these Speed/Altitude combinations. Dynamic pressures, which governs how the aircraft reacts to control surface movements, is now almost double it was when last MCAS trimmed (Dynamic pressure increases with Speed squared). The Pilots are thrown off their seats, hitting the cockpit roof. Look at the Pitch Attitude Disp trace and the Accel Vert trace. These are on the way to Zero G and we can see how PF loses stick pull in the process (Ctrl Column Pos L). He can barely hold on to the Yoke, let alone pull or trim against. His reduced pull increases the pitch down further, which increases the speed even more. At 05.45.30 the Pilots have hit the seats again (Accel Vert trace and Ctrl Columns force trace) and can start pulling in a desperate last move. But its too late. Despite them creating the largest Control Column movement ever, pitch down attitude is only marginally affected. The pilots and their passengers lose the fight: Its easy to say Why didnt they trim then?. Because they are going down at 20 degrees nose down (which is a lot, a normal landing approach is 3) and at 400kts. Then you just pull for all you have. And the aircraft is not reacting to the largest Control Column displacement since takeoff. This makes them pull even harder, the aircraft is unresponsive and they are fighting for theirs and all the passenger lives. A diligent safety anlysis would have predicted this outcome. Neither Boeing nor the FAA seems to have done such after the first 737 MAX crashed. They provided an Airworthiness Directive with procedures that were insufficiant to correct the system induce misbehavior. Moreover their description of the MCAS was incomplete. It is only now known that the MCAS trims the stabilizer at a speeed of 0.27 units (degrees) per second while the pilots electric trim moves the stabilizer at only 0.18 units per second: "It's like a Tasmanian devil in there," says Dennis Tajer, a 737 pilot and communications chair for Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines' pilots. ... If MCAS keeps tripping, and if pilots do not shut off electric trim entirely, the result is what Tajer describes as a two-steps-back, one-step-forward scenario, with MCAS maintaining an edge. "The MCAS knows but one speed, which is 0.27, which is the most-aggressive speed," Tajer says. "If you look at the balance sheet on it, MCAS is winning, and you are losing." The insufficient advice to pilots given after the first crash only adds to the long list of criminal mistakes Boeing made and which the FAA allowed to pass. Today the Washington Post reports of another software defect which the FAA demands to have fixed: Boeing confirmed to The Washington Post that it had found a second software problem that the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered fixed separate from the anti-stall system that is under investigation in the two crashes and is involved in the worldwide grounding of the aircraft. That additional problem pertains to software affecting flaps and other flight-control hardware and is therefore classified as critical to flight safety, said two officials with knowledge of the investigation. The criminals at Boeing again offer no explanation and play down the issue: In a statement, Boeing called the additional problem relatively minor but did not offer details of how it affects the planes flight-control system. We are taking steps to thoroughly address this relatively minor issue and already have the solution in work to do that, it said. What other 'features' were secretly implemented into the 737 MAX without sufficiant analysis about their side effects and consequences? --- Previous Moon of Alabama posts on the 737 MAX crashes: March 12 - Boeing, The FAA, And Why Two 737 MAX Planes Crashed March 17 - Flawed Safety Analysis, Failed Oversight - Why Two 737 MAX Planes Crashed March 29 - Regulators Knew Of 737 MAX Trim Problems - Certification Demanded Training That Boeing Failed To Deliver Posted by b on April 5, 2019 at 9:53 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Abnormal Activity In 2006, Congress passed the Pension Protection Act, which, among other provisions, encouraged 401(k) plan sponsors to offer automated-enrollment programs and expanded the use of target-date funds. Since that bills passage, though, Congress has effectively ignored retirement issues. At long last, that is changing. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill out of the Ways and Means Committee. The Senate followed suit, releasing a similar proposal from its Committee on Finance, co-sponsored by Republican Chuck Grassley and Democrat Ron Wyden. With the House and Senate operating in unison and prominent members of both parties in support, passage seems likely. Forced Decisions Mutual fund critics often argue that mutual funds are undermined by their shareholders. Cash flows from sales, or redemption requests, force managers to make transactions that they otherwise would not. Even if those trades prove to be sound, they generate costs. The concern about transaction costs is overstated. It does apply to funds that invest solely in illiquid bonds, which have large gaps between their bid and ask prices. With other funds, that rationale dissolves. Brokerage fees for stock trades have effectively gone to zero, and spreads aren't far behind. Trading investment-grade bonds is cheap, too. Two years ago, Liz Smith, director of nursing at Franciscan Children's hospital in Brighton, Massachusetts, was headed toward the elevator at work when she saw her: a tiny girl with bright blue eyes and a single soft brown curl swept across her forehead. "Who's this beautiful angel?" Smith asked the nurse who was wheeling the infant down the hall. "Her name is Gisele," the nurse told her. The infant, a ward of the state, had been at the hospital for five months, but Smith had never seen her before. Smith learned that Gisele, then 8 months old, had been born premature at another hospital in July 2016, weighing just under 2 pounds. She had neonatal abstinence syndrome - a result of her birth mother using heroin, cocaine and methadone during pregnancy. The state of Massachusetts took custody of Gisele when she was 3 months old and transferred her to Franciscan Children's because her lungs needed specialized care, and she had a feeding tube. The baby did not have a single visitor in her five months at the hospital. Social service workers were trying to place her in foster care. "Gisele," Smith told herself all the way home that evening. "Gisele." It was at that moment, said Smith, that she knew: "I'm going to foster this baby. I'm going to be her mother." Life often interferes with well-planned intentions, and for Smith, who grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, it was no different. When she lost her mother at age 19 to liver cancer, Smith decided the best way to honor her was to live a good life and follow her selfless example. "My mom was a pediatric nurse who always put others first," recalled Smith, a middle child with two brothers and two sisters. "So I grew up wanting to be a nurse, too." She also wanted to nurture in a more personal way. For decades, Smith, now 45, always thought she would marry and raise a family as her mother had. After her parents divorced when she was 9, her mom put a lot of effort into keeping the house full of laughter and joy, Smith recalled. When several of her siblings married and started to have children of their own, Smith said she naturally thought that she would one day do the same. But it didn't happen. "I never imagined becoming a mom would be a challenge," she said. "It's a desire you can try to push away and fill with other distractions, but it never goes away." As Smith threw herself into being "the world's greatest aunt" for her 13 nieces and nephews, her siblings picked up on her pain. "I always pictured Liz as a mom, since she's a nurturer by nature," said one of her sisters, Elly Smith, 40, a homeland security analyst with three boys. Liz Smith, who had hoped to conceive through in vitro fertilization, found out her health insurance wouldn't cover the treatment, and she couldn't afford it on her own. Her sister suggested adoption or fostering, but Smith didn't want to consider it. Then she saw Gisele. "Since the moment I met her, there was something behind her striking blue eyes capturing my attention," she said. "I felt that I needed to love this child and keep her safe." After putting in a request to foster Gisele, Smith went to the baby's hospital room every day after work to sit next to her crib and talk in a soft voice. "She was behind developmentally, and I wanted to get her out of the hospital and get her thriving," Smith recalled. Three weeks later, in April 2017, when Gisele was 9 months old, she received permission to take Gisele home with the stipulation that every effort would be made by the state to reunite the infant with her birth parents. Her friends at work threw her a baby shower and helped to set up a crib in her bedroom. "Leaving the parking lot of the hospital with Gisele and a car full of baby stuff, I was in shock that it was happening," said Smith. She took two weeks off to settle into her new role. "I was excited but nervous, realizing that I was committing everything I had to this child who might not be in my life forever," she said. Although Gisele's birth parents were initially granted supervised weekly visits, ultimately the state determined that they were incapable of caring for the infant, and their parental rights were terminated. No other family members were found who were able to take the baby. Smith was thrilled that she could apply to adopt Gisele, but she understood the sorrow of the situation for the birth mother and father. "The day I got the call that their parental rights were terminated was very sad," she said. "My gain was another's loss. It's a feeling difficult to describe when you are experiencing this life-changing moment that someone else is as well, in the opposite way. The bottom line is: It's devastating for another family." With plenty of nurturing from Smith, her brother, Phil Smith, who lived with her at the time, and other trusted caregivers, the infant was soon meeting milestone after milestone. By Halloween of 2017, when Gisele was 15 months old, she was walking, and she knew several words. "Her first word was 'badoon,' for balloon," said Liz Smith. "Today, we still call it that." Then last year on Oct. 18, in a courtroom in Brockton, Massachusetts, that was filled with family members, co-workers and friends, Liz Smith's dream became official: A judge signed off on Gisele's adoption and presented Liz Smith with legal documents certifying that she was now the girl's mother. "This is the mother-daughter relationship my sister has waited a long time for," said Phil Smith, 44. "It's plain to see that they have brought a completeness to each other." Although Gisele, who is now 2, still needs to use a supplemental feeding tube, said Liz Smith, her daughter now weighs 23 pounds and has an appreciation for cheese, avocados and pizza. She is also energetic, loving and often bursts spontaneously into song. "Her new favorite song is 'You Are My Sunshine,' " Smith said. "And every time she sings it, I think to myself, 'You have no idea.' " West Texas law enforcement agencies have joined the Marfa Police Department in the search for a missing woman and her 4-year-old daughter. Zorayma Lackey, 43, and her daughter, Lena Lackey, were last seen on Sunday dining at the Jett's Bar and Grill in the El Paisano Hotel in Marfa, according to a press release from the FBI El Paso Division. Illinois College will host the first year of a daylong conference to engage casual and dedicated Civil War and history scholars. Organizers hope to make the event, a collaboration between Mr. Lincolns Hometown Civil War Roundtable in Springfield and IC, an annual event. The Benjamin P. Thomas Civil War Conference will be May 18. Chuck Murphy of the Springfield Roundtable said conference speakers will include national and local historians, experts and Civil War authors. Our conference speakers are passionate and knowledgeable about the Civil War. We are honored and excited to bring them to Jacksonville for the first Benjamin P. Thomas Civil War Conference at Illinois College, Murphy said. The roundtable and Illinois College share a mutual interest in academic excellence and a passionate commitment to public history. Terry Winschel, former chief historian of Vicksburg National Military Park, will give the opening presentation. Winschel is the author of several works, including The Civil War Diary of the Common Soldier, Vicksburg: Fall of the Confederate Gibraltar and Triumph & Defeat: The Vicksburg Campaign. James Davis, IC professor emeritus, will present a talk titled Understandings from Letters and Memoirs of Mid Western Union Soldiers. Samuel Wheeler, Illinois state historian, will present Willie Lincolns Civil War: The Presidents Son Surrounded by War. Mark Flotow and Mac Crawford also will present their work on local history and genealogy. The Paul Findley Congressional Office Museum and Schewe Library are co-sponsoring the event. The conference is named for Benjamin Thomas, a historian and writer. Samantha Sauer, Illinois College archivist, curator and assistant professor of history, said the college is home to the Thomas Civil War Library Collection, originally given to the college in June 1958 in memory of Benjamin Thomas. Thomas authored a 1934 text, Lincolns New Salem, and a 1952 biography of Abraham Lincoln. Thomas was awarded an honorary degree from Illinois College and later served as a trustee. The Thomas family and the Springfield Civil War Roundtable partnered with the college in May to rededicate the collection. Yesterday, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein spoke on the need for Attorney General William Barr to provide the Judiciary Committee with the complete, unredacted Mueller report. Feinstein was Fridays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words: I want to begin by briefly addressing two reports that came out in the Washington Post and the New York Times about Special Counsel Muellers report. We now know that this report is approximately 400 pages and that the supporting evidence could cover over a million pages. Special Counsel Mueller spent nearly two years investigating. He had a team of 19 lawyers and 40 FBI agents. His office issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses. Ive said from the outset that the full report must be provided to Congress. This work was undertaken on behalf of the American people, no more, no less, and for the sake of our democracy and it cannot remain hidden from Congress or the citizens we serve. To date, we have only received a four-page letter from Attorney General Barr giving his perspective on what the principal conclusions show. Now, we learn from the Times and the Post that members of Muellers team are frustrated with the limited information Attorney General Barr has provided and his characterization of the report. In fact, according to the Post, members of Muellers team have complained to close associates that the evidence they gathered on obstruction was alarming and significant. It was much more acute than Barr suggested. Thats precisely why this committee needs to receive the full, unredacted Mueller report as soon as possible. Press reports state that summaries were prepared by the special counsels office for the different sections of the report so they could be made public. Specifically, the Post reported, The report was prepared so that the front matter from each section could have been released immediately or very quickly, the official said. It was done in a way that minimum redactions, if any, would have been necessary, and the work would have spoken for itself. I find these press reports concerning and they demonstrate even more clearly why Congress has to get the full report. If there are sections that should be redacted from the public, thats fine, but Congress should be given the full information. As Ive pointed out, Congress has already demanded and received considerable classified and law-enforcement sensitive information even while the investigation is on-going. Theres no reason to withhold information once the investigation is closed. I hope that the attorney general meets the mid-April deadline and that he is forthcoming with Congress and the public. These summaries should be provided as well as the full report. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. CHP Sgt. Randy Matyshock, Sonora Police Chief Turu VanderWiel, OES Coordinator Liz Peterson and Sheriff Bill Pooley View Photos Sonora, CA Especially in light of the devastating fire in Paradise, California last year, local emergency officials are urging Mother Lode residents to be aware of the various roads, and potential evacuation routes, ahead of the coming fire season. Some populated subdivisions of the county have only one major road in and out, so it is important to know about any side roads. This weekends Mother Lode Views will focus on evacuations, and the guest panel will include Tuolumne County Sheriff Bill Pooley, Sonora Police Chief Turu VanderWiel, Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services Coordinator Liz Peterson and CHP Sgt. Randy Matyshock. They will talk about what the various levels of evacuations mean, what should be done ahead of fire season, and the challenges of moving a large number of people at one time. This is the second part of a four part series focused on fire resiliency and preparedness. You can hear last weeks show focused on the Tuolumne County Fire Initiative by clicking here. The Caprock Genealogy Conference is set for Saturday at the Plainview Country Club. Marynell Anderson Bryant, a retired journalism teacher and graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce, will be the guest speaker. She is a past three-term president of the Texas State Genealogical Society and has served in several capacities on the Hopkins County Genealogical Society. The event will be from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Plainview Country Club, 2902 Fourth St. The cost to attend is $50 and includes snacks and a catered lunch. Registration is available online at https://spgstx.org/ Those interested can also pay via check to be mailed to South Plains Genealogical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 6607, Lubbock, Texas, 79493-6607. An anonymous donor has given a $10 million grant to a Houston-Austin consortium focused on learning disabilities in children. The Texas Center for Learning Disabilities, based at the University of Houston, investigates the diagnosis, treatment and causes of learning disabilities. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas at Austin also are part of the center. "We have first-hand knowledge of this need and recognize this program is a rare opportunity in this country that must be preserved and enhanced," the benefactor's family said in a news release. RELATED: University of Houston System exceeds $1 billion fundraising goal The center is one of three National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)-funded national learning disability centers in the United States. Founded in 2006, it is mostly funded by grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. It was instrumental in revising special education legislation to identify students at risk, based on kindergarten screenings, rather than waiting to find discrepancies in scores between IQ and achievement tests. UH President Renu Khator said in the release that the gift was the one that took UH's "Here, We Go" campaign over the $1 billion milestone. Todd Ackerman covers medicine for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at todd.ackerman@chron.com or twitter.com/ChronMed. NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. You might think that family portraits with dogs in the field is the most adorable thing you've ever seen. But have you ever seen Texas law officers pose in a bluebonnet field? Here's your chance to see some Texas cops shed their tough guy persona. More than 100 students protested Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Rice University Friday with words and images portraying Pence as bigoted. The students gathered across the street from the Baker Institute for Public Policy, where Pence was scheduled to speak on events in Venezuela. Various student organizations offered food and support services with opportunities to learn more about the U.S.-Venezuela relations. STAY IN THE KNOW: Get all the news you need to start your day delivered to your inbox Many students came with rainbow flags showing their support for the LGBT community and posters bearing words such as "VICE BIGOT," "No to Pence. Yes to Peace," and "Go Away Satan!" Around 12:20 p.m., students practiced chants to prepare for Pence's arrival. "Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! Mike Pence has got to go!" "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, right-wing bigot, go away!" "Mikey, Mikey, can't you see? Your budget cuts are killing me!" Rice Left, a student organizer that helped plan the event, stated in email to the Houston Chronicle that the organizers were working with the university's police department and administration "to ensure a successful, peaceful demonstration." HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Pence touts proposed US-Mexico trade deal in Indiana "I am really excited about how all communities at Rice have pulled together in unity behind this event. There's a 1,000 different reasons in this crowd to oppose Mike Pence, but everyone is here behind the same idea," said Franz Brotzen, the president of Rice's Young Democrats. "We are protesting Mike Pence's ideologies and positions. We believe in the First Amendment right for Mr. Pence to come and speak at our university, but that also affords us the right to contest what he stands for vocally and in unison," Brotzen said. Drew Carter, a Rice freshman and the president of the university's Black Student Association, agreed. Carter quoted former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, the founder of the Baker Institute: "Sometimes you move publicly, sometimes privately. Sometimes quietly, sometimes at the top of your voice." "Right now," he said. "We're moving at the top of our voice." But not every student agreed with the chants or method or protesting. After the official student speakers of the event completed their speeches, organizers opened the stage to other students. The first who took the stage urged students to be understanding of Pence. "But [Pence] hates us!" a student in the crowd retorted. "Perhaps, but we have to have to respect the man for who he is," he said before leaving the stage. "... If you don't respect him, why would he respect you?" N.B. Shaper, a sophomore and the great-great-granddaughter of Edgar Odell Lovett, Rice's first president, also attended the event to support her peers and vocalize her opposition to Pence. "Historically and just in terms of its current culture, Rice is complacent" on important issues, said Shaper, who acknowledged her ancestor's role in it, stating that her grandfather would likely have been "horrified" about how queer she is and would have frowned upon black people attending the school. Rice senior Sonia Torres, said while much of the conversation was about opposing Pence, more could have been said about Venezuela and the many people who are suffering due to the foreign policies in place. "It's a politically complicated situation. I do think there are some obvious things that need to be said and opposed and justifies the existence of a protest here," said Torres, adding that Pence's invitation-only event at the institute excluded Rice students, particularly those who are Venezuelan. "Why were they not invited to the dialogue with Pence? It's clearly an attempt to close off the Latino community from this very important policy discussion." brittany.britto@chron.com NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. A North Side standoff that began Thursday afternoon continued into Friday as a man holed up in a back yard shed and believed to be armed refused to surrender. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said police responded to the scene of a family disturbance at about 5 p.m. in the 100 block of Laurelwood Drive. When officers arrived, they confronted a 35-year-old man armed with a handgun. The individual who was causing the disturbance was in a shed in his back yard, McManus said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The man threatened to hurt himself and the responding officers. Police then heard the slide of a gun racking and retreated to safety, he said. Shortly afterward, negotiators arrived to talk to the suspect and SWAT surrounded the home. Police removed the mans wife and two children from the home to safety, McManus said. There are no hostages. Its simply him in the back shed refusing to come out, and we believe he has a weapon, McManus said. RELATED: Mother charged with kidnapping after large-scale search for 7-year-old girl in San Antonio area As of 7 a.m., the man had yet to surrender to officers. It is unclear what charges he will face once he is in police custody. During the standoff, police evacuated surrounding homes and asked people to avoid the area. Our goal here is to get him out safely. Nobody gets hurt, McManus said. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA A man was robbed and shot late Thursday on the far West Side, according to authorities. Deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office responded to the shooting at about 10:20 p.m. in the 8000 block of Stalemate Cove. Live Oak police arrested a man Thursday accused of sexually abusing a woman since 2008. John Allen Liberatore, 47, is charged with prohibited sexual conduct, jail records showed. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The woman came forward to police on Jan. 5, 2019, according to Liberatore's arrest affidavit. She told them Liberatore, who is a relative, began the abuse when she was 14-year-old, the affidavit says. She recalled sleeping on the couch and waking up to him sexually assaulting her. "She pretended she was asleep because she was scared to confront him, in fear he will harm her," police wrote in his affidavit. The abuse continued and got worse over the course of a decade, according to the affidavit. It did not stop until she moved in with her brother in late 2018, she told investigators. Her brother told police that Liberatore had confessed to sexually abusing his sister several months ago, according to the affidavit. Liberatore posted his $75,000 bail and was released from jail on Thursday, jail records showed. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | fsabawi@mysa.com|@FaresInSA A driver fled after crashing their vehicle into a South Side home early Friday, police said. Police said the driver was speeding in the 900 block of Deely Place when they hit a speed bump, lost control of their car, hit a mail box and then veered across the street into a home. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The collision caused significant damage to the home, police said. The driver fled on foot after the crash. They have not been apprehended. 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 Yves here. The fact that meritocracy is a useful illusion ties into the discussion in the Michael Hudson interview today by John Siman of how in antiquity, Stoicisms emphasis on resignation helped citizens accept iniquities that they otherwise might have opposed. By Clifton Mark. Originally published at Aeon We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else Barack Obama, inaugural address, 2013 We must create a level playing field for American companies and workers. Donald Trump, inaugural address, 2017 Meritocracy has become a leading social ideal. Politicians across the ideological spectrum continually return to the theme that the rewards of life money, power, jobs, university admission should be distributed according to skill and effort. The most common metaphor is the even playing field upon which players can rise to the position that fits their merit. Conceptually and morally, meritocracy is presented as the opposite of systems such as hereditary aristocracy, in which ones social position is determined by the lottery of birth. Under meritocracy, wealth and advantage are merits rightful compensation, not the fortuitous windfall of external events. Most people dont just think the world shouldbe run meritocratically, they think it ismeritocratic. In the UK, 84 per cent of respondents to the 2009 British Social Attitudes survey stated that hard work is either essential or very important when it comes to getting ahead, and in 2016 the Brookings Institute found that 69 per cent of Americans believe that people are rewarded for intelligence and skill. Respondents in both countries believe that external factors, such as luck and coming from a wealthy family, are much less important. While these ideas are most pronounced in these two countries, they are popular across the globe. Although widely held, the belief that merit rather than luck determines success or failure in the world is demonstrably false. This is not least because merit itself is, in large part, the result of luck. Talent and the capacity for determined effort, sometimes called grit, depend a great deal on ones genetic endowments and upbringing. This is to say nothing of the fortuitous circumstances that figure into every success story. In his book Success and Luck( 2016), the US economist Robert Frank recounts the long-shots and coincidences that led to Bill Gatess stellar rise as Microsofts founder, as well as to Franks own success as an academic. Luck intervenes by granting people merit, and again by furnishing circumstances in which merit can translate into success. This is not to deny the industry and talent of successful people. However, it does demonstrate that the link between merit and outcome is tenuous and indirect at best. According to Frank, this is especially true where the success in question is great, and where the context in which it is achieved is competitive. There are certainly programmers nearly as skilful as Gates who nonetheless failed to become the richest person on Earth. In competitive contexts, many have merit, but few succeed. What separates the two is luck. In addition to being false, a growing body of research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that believing in meritocracy makes people more selfish, less self-critical and even more prone to acting in discriminatory ways. Meritocracy is not only wrong; its bad. The ultimatum game is an experiment, common in psychological labs, in which one player (the proposer) is given a sum of money and told to propose a division between him and another player (the responder), who may accept the offer or reject it. If the responder rejects the offer, neither player gets anything. The experiment has been replicated thousands of times, and usually the proposer offers a relatively even split. If the amount to be shared is $100, most offers fall between $40-$50. One variation on this game shows that believing one is more skilled leads to more selfish behaviour. In research at Beijing Normal University, participants played a fake game of skill before making offers in the ultimatum game. Players who were (falsely) led to believe they had won claimed more for themselves than those who did not play the skill game. Other studies confirm this finding. The economists Aldo Rustichini at the University of Minnesota and Alexander Vostroknutov at Maastricht University in the Netherlands foundthat subjects who first engaged in a game of skill were much less likely to support the redistribution of prizes than those who engaged in games of chance. Just having the idea of skill in mind makes people more tolerant of unequal outcomes. While this was found to be true of all participants, the effect was much more pronounced among the winners. By contrast, research on gratitude indicates that remembering the role of luck increases generosity. Frank cites a study in which simply asking subjects to recall the external factors (luck, help from others) that had contributed to their successes in life made them much more likely to give to charity than those who were asked to remember the internal factors (effort, skill). Perhaps more disturbing, simply holding meritocracy as a value seems to promote discriminatory behaviour. The management scholar Emilio Castilla at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the sociologist Stephen Benard at Indiana University studied attempts to implement meritocratic practices, such as performance-based compensation in private companies. They foundthat, in companies that explicitly held meritocracy as a core value, managers assigned greater rewards to male employees over female employees with identical performance evaluations. This preference disappeared where meritocracy was not explicitly adopted as a value. This is surprising because impartiality is the core of meritocracys moral appeal. The even playing field is intended to avoid unfair inequalities based on gender, race and the like. Yet Castilla and Benard found that, ironically, attempts to implement meritocracy leads to just the kinds of inequalities that it aims to eliminate. They suggest that this paradox of meritocracy occurs because explicitly adopting meritocracy as a value convinces subjects of their own moral bona fides. Satisfied that they are just, they become less inclined to examine their own behaviour for signs of prejudice. Meritocracy is a false and not very salutary belief. As with any ideology, part of its draw is that it justifies the status quo, explaining why people belong where they happen to be in the social order. It is a well-established psychological principle that people prefer to believe that the world is just. However, in addition to legitimation, meritocracy also offers flattery. Where success is determined by merit, each win can be viewed as a reflection of ones own virtue and worth. Meritocracy is the most self-congratulatory of distribution principles. Its ideological alchemy transmutes property into praise, material inequality into personal superiority. It licenses the rich and powerful to view themselves as productive geniuses. While this effect is most spectacular among the elite, nearly any accomplishment can be viewed through meritocratic eyes. Graduating from high school, artistic success or simply having money can all be seen as evidence of talent and effort. By the same token, worldly failures becomes signs of personal defects, providing a reason why those at the bottom of the social hierarchy deserve to remain there. This is why debates over the extent to which particular individuals are self-made and over the effects of various forms of privilege can get so hot-tempered. These arguments are not just about who gets to have what; its about how much credit people can take for what they have, about what their successes allow them to believe about their inner qualities. That is why, under the assumption of meritocracy, the very notion that personal success is the result of luck can be insulting. To acknowledge the influence of external factors seems to downplay or deny the existence of individual merit. Despite the moral assurance and personal flattery that meritocracy offers to the successful, it ought to be abandoned both as a belief about how the world works and as a general social ideal. Its false, and believing in it encourages selfishness, discrimination and indifference to the plight of the unfortunate. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at DownWithTyranny! Jon Stewart as Biden: Hey girl, you seem tense. Is it the stress of me groping you for 28 straight seconds? An interesting thing is happening around Joe Bidens #MeToo moment. Even though Al Franken was almost immediately rousted from the Senate by now-presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and others for unwanted touching and kissing, handsy kissy Joe Biden is being held to a very different standard. Why? The Democratic Party Reaction to Joe Biden Lets start with Kirsten Gillibrands reaction. Recently I asked, Does Kirsten Gillibrand Consider Joe Bidens Behavior Disqualifying? We now have an answer. Heres Gillibrand on Hardball speaking with Chris Matthews (link; skip to 4:38 to listen to the entire Biden conversation). When Matthews asks What should he do? Gillibrand responds (my emphasis): Gillibrand: Well you know, Chris, [sexual assault] is something Ive taken very seriously over the last seven or eight years, fighting against sexual assault in the military, sexual assault on college campuses, and actually changing the rules in the House and Senate on harassment, so I think with these allegations specifically, I think its something if Vice President Biden intends to run, hes just going to have to address directly with the American people. And there you have it: Even though Ive made it my brand to care about sexual assault, Biden can stay in the presidential race, so long as he explains himself. She continues with this: Matthews: What should he say? Gillibrand: Theres a conversation about do we value women. And when you allow the space for women to tell their truth and what they experienced, you have to not only receive and believe them, you have to investigate. Think back to Franken, who was forced out without any real vetting of the allegations facing him, as Politico put it. Apparently, the you have to investigate rule applies only to Biden. Quite the inconsistency. So Matthews asks about Gillibrands position on Al Franken relative to her position on Biden. Gillibrand says the cases were very different because there were eight credible allegations corroborated in real time against Franken (whatever real time means). Then she repeats what shes said many times, that she needed to not stay silent about the Franken accusations because she had a duty to make sure her sons knew that its not OK to grope a woman anywhere on her body without her consent (emphasis added). This is a good time to watch the clip above. Not the Sam Bee part; the uncomfortable-to-watch Biden-groping-women part. Clearly some of those people do not consent. Matthews then closes: Matthews: Should he quit? Gillibrand: Its something hes going to have to talk about and understand whats happening. Matthews: Do you call on him to leave the race? Gillibrand: No, I do not, and what Im saying now is that its something hes going to have to address. And the truth is, we as a country have to decide if we value women at all. Read the two sentences immediately above. This is beyond shameful, and way beyond stupid. Does she think no one has ears? Gillibrand is not the only Democrat to come to Bidens rescue. Nancy Pelosi: I dont think its disqualifying. Sen. Tammy Baldwin: Theres a failure to understand how ones actions impact others. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: I was surprised by the allegation. All of us, including the vice president, need to continue to work on changing our culture. From all of this, the path to forgiveness for Biden is clear: Say you understand and move on. The voters may not forgive him for his misdeeds, but the leaders of the Democratic Party already have. Why Is Biden Defended? Explanation 1, Its Generational Which leads us to ask, why is Biden so well defended by Party leaders and insiders? The reason most often offered is its generational. Lets call this Explanation 1. Heres how EJ Dickson put it in Rolling Stone: To an extent, this line of debate [I dont think its disqualifying] is to be expected from old-school, establishment Dems like Feinstein and Pelosi, who have clear-cut reasons for standing behind a peer like Biden. But their refusal to outright condemn his alleged behavior is also representative of a generational gap in the #MeToo movement, between those who take quote-unquote less egregious violations seriously, and those who do not. Although the allegations against Biden are not of a criminal or even overtly sexual nature, they still involve the issue of consent, and whether or not a man invading a womans personal space qualifies as a career-ending transgression. This generational gap is not specific to the political realm; indeed, there is substantial data to suggest that a chasm exists between the views of older and younger women across the board. A BuzzFeed survey in partnership with Ipsos, for instance, found that while 42% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 said that the #MeToo movement changed the way they thought about consent, only 29% of people over the age of 55 agreed. Similarly, while 64% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 said that women who accuse men of sexual assault and harassment should always be believed, 38% of people over the age of 55 said the same. An NPR poll found a significant gap between older and younger respondents who agreed with the statement that the #MeToo movement had gone too far, while nearly half of older Americans said they didnt understand what crossed the line in terms of sexual harassment. While these survey results didnt differentiate between older and younger women specifically, anecdotally, many younger women report a stark contrast between their own views and the views their mothers and grandmothers share on the movement. In a Time piece on the so-called #MeToo generational divide, a 25-year-old woman says that the women in my generation have been drawing a much harsher line for anything they consider even slightly inappropriate, while her mother is quoted as saying that she believes Gen Y and Gen Z feminists like her daughter are losing the high ground and allies through their absolutism. Similarly, when discussing the allegations against Biden with her mother, a friend told me that her mother had responded exactly the way I thought she would: by saying, I think men of that age just do that and dont mean it to be weird or sexual (essentially, the Feinstein/Pelosi school of thought toward inappropriate workplace conduct). Shorter Rolling Stone: The rules have changed for younger women. (Note the element of criticism of this view in the article as this view: Gen Y and Gen Z feminists like her daughter are losing the high ground and allies through their absolutism.' In other words, holding men to this standard is a mistake.) Explanation 2, Hes Our Only Hope The its generational may explain some voters responses to Biden, but I dont think it explains the defense of Biden were reading about. Note that most of his defenders inhabit the same corner of the world they are people with power and influence in the Democratic Party and their strongest supporters within the media. Reaction from those who are less Party-aligned has been more mixed. The Atlantic: Dont Defend Him as a Flirt. Gawker: Joe Biden, We Need to Talk About the Way You Touch Women. Even the New York Times: He is a product of his time, but that time is up. So why the defense coming from Party officials? The Gawker piece linked above provides a hint: Try this, Sam Biddle writes, look at all of those photos and imagine, say, Paul Ryans face instead of Bidens. Or Bernie Sanders face. So lets be plain. Were coming into the 2020 election season and on the Democratic side theres a lot at stake in effect, control of the Democratic Party itself from its very top. As he did in 2016, Bernie Sanders is threatening a palace coup, a takeover of the Party that bypasses all the layers below the presidency the Speakers chair, Senate caucus leadership, chair of the DNC, all of it. As the Partys presidential candidate, he will have nominal control of the levers of Party power. As president he will have as much control of the country as he wishes to exercise, even if the leaders of both parties try to block him. In the past, progressives and by that I mean real reformers in the Bernie Sanders mold have been remarkably ineffective in their own #resistance to Party leadership. At every turn, in every local election through 2016 and into 2018, every contest that threatened to put an actual progressive in power was fought bitterly by Party leadership via their control of the donor network, the DCCC, the DSCC, and their allies in other institutions of mainstream Party power, including the media. Some of these resistance candidates succeeded, a great many did not. The single strongest breakthrough occurred in 2018, when a small group of aggressive progressives, reformers like Occasio-Cortez and others, defeated Party-approved candidates then showed themselves capable as a group of challenging its leaders on their own turf from inside the halls of power. Thanks to those victories and their continued opposition to leaders, progressive office-holders have gained some momentum, but not nearly enough. The Green New Deal is now a thing being discussed by voters, as is Medicare For All. But the pushback by Nancy Pelosi and other entrenched Party leaders has been fierce, corrupt and underhanded. Even Barack Obama is getting into the act. Even with a Democratic Senate, neither of these proposals is likely to be enacted soon. The message in all this to progressives is simple: Dont threaten the status quo. The reason: The status quo enriches and empowers us.Were inside and youre not. We mean to stay in charge. Go away. Seen this way, a Sanders or Warren presidency threatens forty years of entrenched, neoliberal, insider-led and inbred Party power, the very power a great many voters want freedom from, if only they could manage it. So where is Joe Biden in all this? If you examine all of the Democratic presidential candidates (including Biden himself, who hasnt declared yet), they fall neatly into two groups those opposed to the Obama-era status quo, rebels or change candidates; and those whose future depends on returning to that status quo, faux-change or no-change candidates. If youre a change voter this time around, none of the non-rebels is even close to a choice, at least in the primary. Beto ORourke? He wanted to cut Social Security. Kamala Harris? She sent poor mothers to prison because their kids skipped school. Pete Buttigieg? Hes an all lives matter kind of guy. Also this. Joe Biden? Theres too much wrong with him to begin to list. Its a very neat grouping Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on the one hand, all the rest on the other and the 2020 Democratic primary will be, as it already is, an epic battle between the forces behind these two groups. The forces behind the change candidates are mainly outside the Party voters and a handful of rebellious elected officials. The forces behind all the others are inside the Party and close to its center mainstream Democratic leaders and those who keep them in power. It should therefore be obvious that mainstream Party forces badly need a Sanders (or Warren) stopper or, to borrow their own language, a kind of Sanders killer: As Axios writes, One prominent [Biden] backer thinks Biden will run, and is ready to kill Bernie.' If you accept all this, now consider the polling: Results of a March 5, 2019 Morning Consult poll (source) One can almost hear their cries: Who will save us from these meddlesome candidates? The choices, at least so far, arent promising. To date the only person positioned to knock off Sanders, or Warren should she surge, is Joe Biden. Kamala Harris, the nearest to either, is polling a quarter of what Sanders is polling, with the rest of the field well behind her. Joe Biden, it would seem, is their strongest hope, perhaps their only one. Are mainstream Democrats protecting him for that reason? From their lockstep defense of him, and the genuinely existential threat they face in the next election, Id bet on it. If you doubt me, put Bernie Sanders face on those Biden photos and imagine what Nancy Pelosi would be saying then. By John Siman, who is also the author of Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 in this series John Siman:I want to spell out the implications of the points that Socrates brought up, and with which you and I agree. That leaves the question facing us today: Is the American oligarchy and state as rapacious as that of Rome? Or is it universally the nature of oligarchy in any historical setting to be rapacious? And if so, where is it all leading? Michael Hudson: If Antiquity had followed the free market policies of modern neoliberal economics, the Near East, Greece and Rome would never have gained momentum. Any such free market avoiding mutual aid and permitting a wealthy class to emerge and enslave the bulk of the population by getting it into debt and taking its land would have shrunk, or been conquered from without or by revolution from within. Thats why the revolutions of the 7thcentury BC, led to reformers subsequently called tyrants in Greece (and kings in Rome) were necessary to attract populations rather than reduce them to bondage. So of course it is hard for mainstream economists to acknowledge that Classical Antiquity fell because it failed to regulate and tax the wealthy financial and landowning classes, and failed to respond to popular demands to cancel personal debts and redistribute the land that had been monopolized by the wealthy. The wealth of the Greek and Roman oligarchies was the ancient counterpart to todays Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (FIRE) sector, and their extractive and predatory behavior is what destroyed Antiquity. The perpetuation of this problem even today, two thousand years later, should establish that the debt/credit dynamic and polarization of wealth is a central problem of Western civilization. JS: So what were and are the political and social dynamic at work? MH: The key is the concept of wealth addiction and how it leads to hubris arrogance that seeks to increase power in ways that hurt other people. Hubris is not merely over-reaching; it is socially injurious. The wealthy or power injure other people knowingly, to establish their power and status. That is what Aristophanes meant when his characters say that wealth is not like bananas or lentil soup. Wealth has no object but itself. Wealth is status and also political control. The creditors wealth is the debtors liability. The key to its dynamic is not production and consumption, but assets and liabilities the economys balance sheet. Wealth and status in the sense of who/whom. It seeks to increase without limit, and Socrates and Aristotle found the major example to be creditors charging interest for lending barren money. Interest had to be paid out of the debtors own product, income or finally, forfeiture of property; creditors did not provide means of making interest to pay off the loan. This is the opposite of Austrian School theories that interest is a bargain to share the gains to be made from the loan fairly between creditor and debtor. It also is the opposite of neoclassical price theory. The economics taught in universities today is based on a price theory that does not even touch on this point. The liberty that oligarchs claim is the right to indebt the rest of society and then demand full payment or forfeiture of the debtors collateral. This leads to massive expropriations, as did the Junk Mortgage foreclosures after 2008 when President Obama failed to write down debts to realistic market values for real estate financed on loans far beyond the buyers ability to pay. The result was 10 million foreclosures. Yet todays mainstream economics treats the normal tendency to polarize between creditors and debtors, the wealthy and the have-nots, as an anomaly. It has been the norm for the last five thousand years, but economics sidesteps actual empirical history as if it is an anomaly in the fictional parallel universe created by the mainstreams unrealistic assumptions. Instead of being a science, such economics is science fiction.It trains students in cognitive dissonance that distracts them from understanding Classical Antiquity and the driving dynamics of Western civilization. JS:This gets us back to the question of whether universities should just be shut down and started up all over again. MH:You dont shut them down, you create a new group of universities with a different curriculum. The path of least resistance is to house this more functional curriculum in new institutions. Thats what Americas Republican and pro-industrial leaders recognized after the Civil War ended in 1865. They didnt shut down Harvard and Yale and Princeton and the Christian free-trade Anglophile colleges. They created state colleges funded by land grants, such as Cornell in upstate New York, and business schools such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, endowed by industrialists to providing an economic logic for the states steel-making and related industrial protectionism. The result was an alternative economics to describe how America should develop as what they saw as a new civilization, free of the vestiges of Europes feudal privileges, absentee ownership and colonialist mentality. The Republicans and industrialists saw that Americas prestige colleges had been founded long before the Civil War, basically as religious colleges to train the clergy. They taught British free trade theory, serving the New England commercial and banking interests and Southern plantation owners. But free trade kept the United States dependent on England. My book Americas Protectionist Takeoff describes how the American School of Political Economy, led by Henry Carey and E. Peshine Smith (William Sewards law partner), developed an alternative to what was being taught in the religious colleges. This led to a new view of the history of Western civilization and Americas role in fighting against entrenched privilege. William Drapers Intellectual Development of Europe, and Andrew Dixon Whites History of the Warfare of Science with Theologysaw the United States as breaking free from the feudal aristocracies that were a product of the way in which antiquity collapsed, economically and culturally. JS: So business schools were originally progressive! MH: Surprising as it may seem, the answer is Yes, to the extent that they described the global economy as tending to polarize under free trade and an absence of government protectionism, not to become more equal. They incorporated technology, energy-use and the environmental consequences of trade patterns into economic theory, such as soil depletion resulting from plantation monocultures. Mainstream economics fought against such analysis because it advocated markets free for polluters, free for nations to pursue policies that made them poorer and dependent on foreign credit. JS: So this is how the Wharton Schools first professor of economics, Simon Patten, one of the founders of American sociology, fits into this anti-rentier tradition! That is such a revelation to me! They developed an analysis of technologys effects on the economy, of monopoly pricing and economic rent as unearned income that increases the cost of living and cost of production. They explained the benefits of public infrastructure investment. Today that is called socialism, but it was industrial capitalists who took the lead in urging such public investment, so as to lower their cost of doing business. MH: The first U.S. business schools in the late 19thcentury described rentiers as unproductive. That is why todays neoliberals are trying to rewrite the history of Institutionalism in a way that expurgates the Americans who wanted the government to provide public infrastructure to make America a low-cost economy, undersell England and other countries, and evolve into the industrial giant it became by the 1920s. JS: That was Simon Pattens teaching at the Wharton School government-subsidized public infrastructure as the fourth factor of production. MH: Yes. Americas ruling political class tried to make the United States a dominant economy instead of a rentiereconomy of landlords and financial manipulators. JS: How did the robber barons fit into this story? MH: Not as industrialists or manufacturers, but as monopolists opposed by the industrial interests. It was Teddy Roosevelts trust-busting and the Republicans that enacted the Sherman antitrust act. Its spirit was continued by Franklin Roosevelt. JS:Is todays economy a second age of robber barons? MH: Its becoming a second Gilded Age. An abrupt change of direction in economic trends occurred after Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were elected in 1979/80. The result has been to invert what the 19th-century economists understood to be a free market that is, a market free from a privileged hereditary class living on unearned income in the form of land rent, monopoly rent and financial extraction. JS: I was in my first few years of college when Thatcher came in in 1979, and when Reagan was elected in 1980. I asked my economics professors what was going on, but I could not find a single professor to coherently describe the U-turn that was occurring. It certainly wasnt in Paul Samuelsons textbook that we were given. MH: Theres little logic for neoliberalism beyond a faith that short-term greed is the best way to optimize long-term growth. It is natural for the wealthiest classes to have this faith. Neoliberalism doesnt look at the economy as a social system, and it excludes as externalities concerns with the environment, debt dependency and economic polarization. It only asks how to make a short-term hit-and-run gain, regardless of whether this is done in a way that has a positive or negative overall social effect. Realistic economic logic is social in scope, and distinguishes between earned and unearned income. That is why economists such as Simon Patten and Thorstein Veblen decided to start afresh and create the discipline of sociology, to go beyond narrow individualistic economics being taught. Todays mathematical economics is based on circular reasoning that treats all that has happened as having been inevitable. It is all survival of the fittest, so it seems that there is no alternative. This policy conclusion is built into economic methodology. If we werent the fittest, we wouldnt have survived, so by definition (that is, circular reasoning), any alternative is less than fit. Regarding the fact that you had to read Samuelson when you were in college, he was famous for his Factor Price Equalization Theorem claiming to prove mathematically that everybody and every nation tends naturally to become more and more equal (if government stands aside). He denied that the tendency of the global economy is to polarize, not equalize. The political essence of this equilibrium theory is its claim that economies tend to settle in a stable balance. In reality they polarize and then collapse if they do not reverse their polarizing financial and productivity and wealth dynamics are. The starting point of economic theorizing should explain the dynamic that lead economics to polarize and collapse. That is the lesson of studying antiquity that we have discussed in our earlier talks. Writers in classical antiquity, like Bronze Age Near Eastern rulers before them and the Biblical prophets, recognized that a rentier economy tends to destroy the economys productivity and widespread prosperity, and ultimately its survival. In todays world the Finance, Insurance,and Real Estate [FIRE] sector and monopolies are destroying the rest of the economy, using financial wealth to take over the government and disable its ability to prevent their operating in corrosive and predatory ways. JS: Why arent more people up in arms? MH: Theyre only up in arms if they believe that there is an alternative. As long as the vested interests can suppress any idea that there is an alternative, that matters dont have to be this way, people just get depressed. In our third interview you spoke about Socrates and the Stoics producing a philosophy of lamentation and resignation. By his day there seemed no solution except to denounce wealth. When matters got much worse in the Roman Empire, wealth was abhorred. That became the message of Christianity. What is needed is to define the scope of the alternative that you want. How can the economy grow when households, business, and government have to pay more and more of their revenue to the financial sector, which then turns around and lends its interest and related income out to indebt the economy even more? The effect is to extract even more income. Rising government debt and tax cuts for the rentiers lead to the privatization of public infrastructure and natural monopolies. Higher prices are charged for tolls to pay for public healthcare, education, roads and other services that were expected to be provided for free a century ago. Financialized privatization thus creates a high-rent, high-cost economy the opposite of industrial capitalism evolving into socialism to finally free society from rentier income. JS:Wouldnt that be based on the insatiable desire [, aplestia] for money and the super-rich [,hyper-ploutoi] oligarchs in Book 8 of Platos Republic? So we get back to my question: Is the behavior of the super-rich a constant in human nature? MH:Money-love [, philochrematia] has always been extreme because wealth is addictive. But their dynamic of credit other peoples debts increasing at compound interest is mathematized and the economy is put on automatic pilot to self-destruct. Its business plan to create wealth by making financial gains at somebody elses expense, without limit. This kind of financial wealth is a zero-sum activity. The wealth of the creditor class, the One Percent, is achieved by indebting the 99 Percent. JS:Why is it a zero-sum activity? MH:A zero-sum activity is when one partys gain is anothers loss. Instead of income paid to creditors being reinvested in means of production to help the economy grow, its spent on buying more assets. The most wasteful examples are corporate stock buyback programs and financial raids. And the largest effect of financialization occurs as loans and Quantitative Easing simply bid up the price of real estate, stocks, bonds and other assets. The effect is to put housing and a retirement income further out of range of people who have to live by working for wages and salaries instead of living off absentee ownership, interest and financial asset-price gains. JS: Why is this being done instead of investing in the economy to help the population live a better and more prosperous life? MH:The tax and regulatory system is set up to make financial gains or create monopoly privileges. That is quicker and more certain, especially in an economy shrinking as a result of financialization and the austerity it imposes. Its hard to make profits by investing in a shrinking economy suffering from debt deflation and a squeeze on family budgets to pay for health care, education and other basic needs. JS:So it becomes more about extraction. Lets come back to Global Climate Change and rising sea levels as a foundation of American foreign policy. MH:Since the 19th century, American policy has been based on the recognition that GDP growth reflects rising energy use per capita. Rising productivity is almost identical with the curve of energy use per worker. That was the basic premise of E. Peshine Smith in 1853, and subsequent writers, whom I describe in Americas Protectionist Takeoff: 1918-1914. The policy conclusion is that if you can control the source of energy which remains mainly oil and coal then you can control global GDP growth. That is why Dick Cheney invaded Iraq: to grab its oil. It is why Trump announced his intention to topple Venezuela and take its oil. If other nations are obliged to buy their oil from the United States or its companies, then its in a monopoly position to turn off their electricity (like the United States did to Venezuela) and hurt their economies if they dont acquiesce in a world system that lets American financial firms come in and buy out their most productive monopolies and privatize theirpublic domain. Thats why Americas foreign policy is to monopolize the worlds oil, gas and coal in order to have a stranglehold on the rate of growth of other countries by being able to deny them energy. Its like denying countries food in order to starve them out. The aim isto exploit Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America what Rome exploited its Empire. JS:Would you be comfortable using words like evil to describe whats going on now? MH: Evil essentially is predatory and destructive behavior. Socrates said that it ultimately is ignorance, because nobody would set out intentionally to do it. But in that case, evil would be an educational system that imposes ignorance and tunnel vision, distracting attention from understanding how economic society actually works in destructive ways. On that logic, post-classical neoliberal economics and the Chicago Boys are evil because their ideology breeds ignorance and leads its believers to act in ways that are injurious to society, preventing personal fulfillment through economic growth. Evil is a policy that makes most of society poorer, simply in order to enrich an increasingly wealth-addictive rentier layer at the top. Werner Sombart described the bourgeoisie as floating like a globules of fat on top of a soup. JS: This is now happening on a path that follows an exponential extreme. I guess global warming makes it particularly evil. Were not simply talking about taking advantage of other people within a society, were talking about destruction of the planet and its environment. MH: Economists dismiss this as an externality, that is, outside the scope of their models. So these models are deliberately ignorant. You could say that this makes them evil. JS: That is what Ive suspected since we started the Iraq War in 2003. MH: Americas military buildup, its anti-environmental policy and global wars are part of the same symbiotic strategy. The reason why America will not be part of a real effort to mitigate global warming is that its policy is still based on grabbing the oil resources of the Near East, Venezuela, and everywhere else that it can. Also, the oil industry is the most tax-exempt and politically powerful sector. If it also happens to be the primary cause of global warming, that is viewed as just collateral damage to Americas attempt to control the world by controlling the oil supply. In that sense the environmental impasse is a byproduct of American imperialism. JS:Whats hopeful in the United States right now? What is a possible good outcome? MH:T he precondition would be for people to realize that there is an alternative. Starting with wiping out of student debts, they can realize that the overall debt overhead can be wiped out without hurting the economy and indeed, rescuing it from the financial rentier class inasmuch as all debts on the liabilities side of the balance sheet have their counterpart on the asset side as the savings of todays financial oligarchy, which is doing to the U.S. economy what Romes Senate did to the ancient world. JS: How can people proceed from here? MH: Understanding must come first. Once you have to have a sense of history, you realize that there is an alternative. You also see what happens when a creditor oligarchy gets strong enough to prevent any public power from writing down debts and to prevent attempts to tax it. You have to do to America today what the Republicans did after the Civil War: You have to have a new university curriculum dealing with economic history, the history of economic thought and the real worlds long-term development. JS: And what would be the premise for such economic history? MH:T he starting point is to realize that civilization began in the ancient Near East, and made a turn to oppose a strong public regulatory sector in Classical Greece and Rome. The long-term tension is the eternal fight by the oligarchy of creditors and large land owners to reduce the rest of society to serfdom, and to oppose strong rulers empowered to act in the economys long-term interest by creating checks against this polarization. JS: So how much longer does this go on for months, for years, for decades? MH: It always goes on longer than you think it will. Inertia has a great elastic self-reinforcing power. Polarization will widen until people believe that there is an alternative and decide to fight for it. Two things are required for this to happen: First, a large proportion of people need to see that the economy is impoverishing them, and that the existing picture of what is happening is misleading. Instead of wealth trickling down, it is defying gravity and sucking income up from the base of the economic pyramid. People are having to work harder just to stay in place, until their life style breaks down. Second, people must realize that it doesnt have to be this way. There isan alternative JS: Right now most people think that government regulation and progressive taxation will make things worse, and that the wealthy are job creators, not job destroyers. They think that the system needs to be bolstered, not replaced, because the alternative is socialism that is, what the Soviets did, not what Franklin Roosevelt was doing. But today bailing out the banks and giving subsidies to new employers is said to be for our own good. MH: Thats what the Romans told their provinces. Everything they did was always to preserve good order, meaning open opportunities for their own wealth grabbing. They never said they were out to destroy and loot other societies. Madeline Albright followed this rhetorical pattern in describing as being, like the Romans and Frances brutal mission civilisatrice, a program to uplift the world free-market efficiency. For performing this service, the imperial power takes all the money that its colonies, provinces and allies can generate. Thats why the U.S. meddles in foreign politics, as we have just seen in Ukraine, Libya and Syria. JS: Youve described the greatest meddling as distorting the narrative of history to depict creditor and rentier drives toward oligarchy as being democratic and helping to raise living standards and culture. Your books show just the opposite. MH: Thank you. Nature has manufactured the perfect machines. Only the fastest, toughest, and most cunning creatures have endured. We examine how animals have evolved and how we can benefit from their evolution. Sundays from 8:30pm AEDT. (Natural News) A vitamin D deficiency can place you at higher risk for seven life-threatening diseases. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and overall health. Our bodies naturally synthesize the vitamin when we are exposed to sunlight but we can complement the production by eating the right foods or supplements. Research has shown that a vitamin D deficiency can cause several conditions: High blood pressure There is a 32 percent increased risk of developing a cardiac condition if you lack vitamin D. One study even claims that those with vitamin D deficiency are 20 percent more likely to have a more severe form of the condition, wherein multiple vessels are affected. Vitamin D is said to control inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is a recognized health risk. Asthma A 2014 study found out that a remarkable number of children with asthma were also lacking in vitamin D. Studies show the vitamin D helps clear airways. Cavities Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium and phosphorus essential nutrients for bone development. Your body goes through a number of chemical processes to activate the vitamin; but in short, vitamin D manages the calcium levels in the blood, gut, and bones. A deficiency of vitamin D, therefore, can lead to weaker enamel. Twenty-four clinical trials done on 2,827 participants concluded that vitamin D prevents tooth decay and cavities. Parents should ensure that their children spend a good portion of their day outdoors. Cancer Vitamin D can reduce the risk of cancer. Reviews suggest that it helps cells from mutating and multiplying. Moreover, research proves that cancer patients with higher levels of vitamin D remain in remission longer. A 10-point increase in vitamin D is linked with a four percent improvement in survival. Vitamin D was seen to be particularly advantageous for patients suffering from colorectal and breast cancer. Breast cancer patients with a healthy vitamin D levels are twice more likely to survive the disease, research says. Flu Studies suggest that vitamin D helps fight off colds and flu. Vitamin D kills off the bacteria and viruses associated with this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis A new study showed that almost half of rheumatoid arthritis patients suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. Similarly, 62 percent of patients with psoriatic arthritis were seen to lack vitamin D as well. Doctors believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Irritable Bowel Disorders (IBS) A study reveals that close to 30 percent of people suffering from irritable bowel disorders have a vitamin D deficiency. IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. In the United States, around 2.4 to 3.5 million annual physician visits are prompted by an IBS complaint. The best sources of vitamin D The main source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight. Your skin immediately produces vitamin D and sends it to your liver. It is here where the vitamin D changes to its activated form and sent all over the body. This form of vitamin D is used by different tissues to perform. Take care though not to spend too much time in the sun. Overexposure is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. You may also choose to get a good supply of vitamin D through the food you eat. Dairy products, fish, and eggs are recommended. Sources include: Healthy-Holistic-Living.com Prevention.com EverydayHealth.com AboutIBS.org VitaminDCouncil.org (Natural News) Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, which affects more than 18 million Americans, may be something that is all in the mind, a new study claims. Australian scientist Peter Gibson, who ironically confirmed in a 2011 study that patients without Celiac Disease can otherwise be sensitive to gluten, now refutes his previous findings with his new research. Gibson examined 37 self-identified patients with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) who were given gluten-containing meals at varying levels for two weeks. Research data revealed that gluten-specific effects were observed in only 8% of respondents. However, these gluten-specific effects were not reproduced, suggesting that there is no evidence linking dose-dependent gluten intake and gastrointestinal discomfort in self-identified patients with NCGS. In contrast to our first study we could find absolutely no specific response to gluten, Gibson said. Glyphosate-contaminated wheat might be behind gastrointestinal issues While current research debunks the correlation between gluten consumption and NCGS-related discomfort, the bigger issue at hand might be the culprit for such occurrence glyphosate contamination. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) classifies glyphosate as an herbicide and is used to help promote plant growth. It was first registered in the U.S. in 1974 and has since become the most widely-used herbicide on the market. According to the NPIC, glyphosate is not likely to evaporate after being sprayed. It is considered a probable human carcinogen according to the World Health Organizations Agency for Research on Cancer. Glyphosate is sprayed directly on crops including soy, corn, canola and sugar beet that are genetically modified to resist it. The toxic chemical is also being sprayed on staple crops such as wheat, barley and oats, ahead of harvest. Wheat in all its forms such as cold cereals and bagels is a readily available breakfast fix for most parts of the world. Alarming reports of glyphosate contamination has been raising food safety concerns for years. An April 2016 report by the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) USA revealed that 10 of 24 breakfast foods examined tested positive for some levels of glyphosate. Included in these breakfast items were whole-wheat bagels and oatmeal, as well as eggs, yogurt and coffee creamers. The ANH said the results show that the toxic herbicide is entering the market in many ways, either being sprayed directly on crops like wheat or through livestock feed. The fact that it is showing up in foods like eggs and coffee creamer, which dont directly contact the herbicide, shows that its being passed on by animals who ingest it in their feed, Gretchen DuBeau, executive and legal director of ANH-USA stated. Nonprofit organizations Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project also released a report in November 2016, which compiled a list of food products that contain glyphosate residue. Included on the list are wheat-based products such as a cold cereal and whole-wheat crackers. The testing was carried out at Anresco, an FDA-registered laboratory. Frankly, such a high level of glyphosate contamination [is] alarming and should be a wake-up call for any parent trying to feed their children safe, healthy and non-toxic food, said Dave Murphy, executive director of Food Democracy Now! Herbicide-resistant wheat growing in more states In previous years, the USDA confirmed the propagation of Monsantos genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant wheat plants: First in 2013 when news broke out that Monsantos GMO wheat was being grown in Oregon, and the other one in 2016 where reports indicated GMO wheat propagation in Washington. Monsanto said the GMO wheat strains used were similar on both occasions. Monsantos rogue GMO wheat is shown to resist glyphosate. Propagation of genetically engineered wheat is not allowed for commercial or production use in the U.S. and around the world. Sources include: WakingTimes.com NPIC.edu IARC.fr EcoWatch.com 1 EcoWatch.com 2 HuffingtonPost.com (Natural News) Democrats are going all-out to deny POTUS Donald Trump the resources he and his administration have been demanding in order to deal with the burgeoning illegal immigrant and humanitarian crisis along our southwest border. Left-wing judicial activists placed on the federal bench by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are ignoring statutory and case law in order to thwart the Trump administrations efforts to enforce all immigration laws. Meanwhile in states, cities, and other jurisdictions they control, Democrats are refusing to assist federal immigration agents or are preventing them from doing their jobs outright quite simply because Democrats see millions of new immigrants as their way to perpetual power. And this, despite the fact that nearly 20 percent of the worlds migrant population already resides in the United States. According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, the U.S. has allowed more foreign nationals in than any other country in the world and is now at about 18 percent of the global migrant population. Citing the study, Breitbart News said that roughly 44.5 million foreign nationals reside in the U.S. now, far above Germanys 12.2 million and Russias 12 million. Combined, however and to put the figures in perspective the number of foreign nationals living in the United States exceeds the number living in Germany, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom combined. Also, the 44.5 million figure is the highest number of foreign-born living in the U.S. in nearly 108 years, Pew noted. The last time our foreign-born population was so high in comparison to our native population was 1910; then, immigrants made up some 14.7 percent of our population. And for the record, though most immigrants back then were white Europeans, native-born Americans were not very accommodating to them. Irish were depicted as trolls or apes and denigrated in the same manner as blacks, and others including Germans and Italians were frowned upon and openly called derogatory names. For Democrats, we will never have enough immigrants until the Left controls everything The Democrat Party, in particular, was harsh on new arrivals. Period political cartoons dominated by Democratic newspapers often depicted white immigrants as slovenly, ape-ish, monster-like, ill-mannered, poverty-stricken, and needy (as in on the public dole). Today, however, the Democratic Party uses immigrants as a means of changing the political dynamic in the country away from the constitutional republic of our founders to a socialist/Marxist nightmare in which they control all levers of power (and the masses). As Breitbarts John Binder notes: Mass immigration has come at the expense of Americas working and middle class, which has suffered from poor job growth, stagnant wages, and increased public costs to offset the importation of millions of low-skilled foreign nationals. Four million young Americans enter the workforce every year, but their job opportunities are further diminished as the U.S. imports roughly two new foreign workers for every four American workers who enter the workforce. Even though researchers say 30 percent of the workforce could lose their jobs due to automation by 2030, the U.S. has not stopped importing more than a million foreign nationals every year. It should be noted that once upon a time, this very demographic working and middle-class Americans was the Democratic Partys political power base. Increasingly, this group has swung towards Republicans, which have (once again) become the real party of the American worker under POTUS Donald Trump. (Related: Democrats claim compassion for illegal immigrant children ravaged by sexual predators but do NOTHING to protect American children from vaccine predators.) Corporations have played a role in the importation of cheap labor via immigration illegal and otherwise. But rather than bastions of conservatism, most large companies, especially in the tech industry, are more often run by Democrat-aligned Leftists who engage in crony capitalism to move into the elite. There are far too many Republicans who refuse to see the dangers inherent in limitless immigration. But for the most part, whenever we see political support for open borders, importation of cheap labor, and pushback against any attempt to Americanize our immigrant population, the Democratic Partys filthy hands are all over it. Read more about Democrats open borders plan for immigrants to invade the USA at OpenBorders.news and InvasionUSA.news. Sources include: PewGlobal.org Breitbart.com TheHill.com TheNationalSentinel.com/a> RTHK: US Secretary of State snubs G7 summit Foreign ministers from the world's seven most developed nations met on Friday in northern France to push the fight against global inequality and cyber-crime despite the conspicuous absence of US top diplomat Mike Pompeo. The two-day Group of Seven (G7) meeting took place under cloudy skies in the Breton resort of Dinard against the background of a litany of global troubles ranging from Libya to Brexit. But the ministers from Britain, Canada France, Germany, Italy and Japan will not be joined by their US counterpart Secretary of State Pompeo, who is sitting out the meeting in what analysts see as yet another sign of American suspicion towards multilateralism. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan is representing Washington at the meeting. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, who like her counterparts had met Pompeo at a NATO meeting earlier this week, expressed regret he was not attending. "I think we all regret that Mike is not here with us, but his very able deputy is here with us," adding Pompeo was "very engaged" at the NATO meeting. Britain's top diplomat Jeremy Hunt, before leaving for France, said that "what we will be talking about are the threats to democracy" including "cyber attacks, interference in democratic processes from hostile states." "We don't have a proper strategy to deter those attacks," he added. France, whose President Emmanuel Macron will host a summit of G7 leaders in Biarritz in late August, is pushing the fight against inequality as the central theme of its year-long presidency. Macron is desperate to avoid a repeat of the fiasco of the last G7 summit in Canada last year, which ended in acrimony when US President Donald Trump refused to sign the final communique in a bitter spat over trade. The G7 was founded in the 1970s under the presidency of former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, but analysts say its clout may have dwindled with the creation of the G20 in the late 1990s. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-04-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Czech Republic to ratify Armenia-EU agreement soon Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan on April 5 received Ambassador of the Czech Republic Petr Mikyska on the completion of his diplomatic mission in Armenia, the Armenian Parliament reports. The Speaker of Parliament highly valued the Ambassadors almost seven-year diplomatic activity in Armenia and stated the current level of the Armenian-Czech close cooperation is also a result of his work. Ararat Mirzoyan attached importance to the further expansion of the inter-parliamentary cooperation at different levels and formats. It was stated that it is necessary to strengthen the close political ties. The officials also touched upon the ongoing reforms in Armenia. The Speaker also highly appreciated the Ambassadors efforts aimed at the ratification of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), expressing hope that the process will end soon. In his turn the Ambassador assured that after the ratification of the Agreement by the Czech Senate, the process is also underway in the Chamber of Deputies, and it can be expected that the final approval will take place soon. The Czech Ambassador introduced his activities carried out during his tenure and assured that his future actions will also contribute to developing the bilateral relations. He informed that he will continue his diplomatic activity in Georgia and added that he will use all chances to visit Yerevan. The Speaker wished the Ambassador success and productive work in his future activities. (Natural News) In a major victory against the worlds most evil corporation, warehouse giant Costco has decided to pull from its store shelves not just Roundup but all weedkiller and herbicide products that contain Monsantos deadly glyphosate chemical, which has been shown through independent scientific research to cause cancer. Following a recent court ruling awarding 70-year-old California man, Edwin Hardeman, an $80 million judgment for a cancer he developed as a result of exposure to glyphosate the second victory of its kind in recent months Costco made the decision to pull all glyphosate-containing products from its stores. Zen Honeycutt from Moms Across America had prior to this started a petition calling on Costco to stop selling Roundup, which garnered some 150,000 signatures on the Change.org website, which got the ball rolling. I called the headquarters, and after two days of messages and calls, I did finally confirm with three people that Costco was not ordering Roundup or any glyphosate-based herbicides for the incoming spring shipments, Honeycutt wrote on her blog. Natural News was also able to confirm this with Costco during a recent conversation with a representative from the company, who indeed stated that Costco will no longer be selling Roundup or any other product that contains glyphosate. For more related news about the dangers of Roundup and glyphosate, be sure to check out Roundup.news and Glyphosate.news. Bayer, which acquired Monsanto last year, doubles down on safety of Roundup and glyphosate after losing more than 40 percent of its value After it was announced that the Germany-based Bayer corporation, the new owner of Monsanto as of last June, had lost this second court ruling, the companys stocks plummeted. According to Bloomberg, Bayer has lost in excess of 40 percent of its value since the ruling was issued with plenty more to come, it would appear, seeing as how there are thousands of additional lawsuits against the company waiting in the wings. Hilariously, Bayer-Monsanto continues to double down on the alleged safety of both Roundup and glyphosate, which it claims are perfectly safe. Christian Hartel, a spokesman for the company, told Bloomberg during a recent phone call that his employer plans to not only vigorously defend the reputation of the herbicide, but also appeal the recent verdict. But many suspect that Bayers efforts to fight back will ultimately be futile, and that the writing is already on the wall in terms of where the company is headed. You cant keep trying case after case after case and keep losing and say, Were not going to settle,' stated trial lawyer Thomas G. Rohback of the New York-based Axinn group about Bayer-Monsantos failing strategy. The more cases that Bayer loses, Rohback contends, the more the company has to put the possibility of a settlement of these cases into the mix. Third lawsuit pending against Bayer will likely lead to yet another victory against chemical giant In addition to the thousands of other lawsuits currently being filed against Bayer, theres a third specifically in California, which is where the two prior lawsuit victories were won, that appears to also be an eventual shoe-in for plaintiffs and the potential death knell for Bayer, one can only hope. Set to be heard in Oakland the prior two were in nearby San Francisco this third lawsuit reportedly puts Bayer at a disadvantage right out of the gate because, unlike the prior two, it wont allow the company to set the narrative in its own favor by splitting the case into two parts. Instead, the Oakland trial will permit lawyers to present jurors at the outset with their narrative about Monsanto Co.s secret campaign to manipulate public opinion and bury evidence of Roundups cancer risks, Bloomberg explains. Jurors in Hardemans case first sat through weeks of scientific testimony to decide whether Roundup was a substantial factor in causing his illness before they heard any evidence that Monsanto ghostwrote influential studies and improperly leaned on regulators. Bayer countered that scientific studies showed the herbicide is safe and argued to the jury that damning emails were taken out of context. Since Bayer will not be permitted to engage in this manipulative propaganda campaign at the outset of this third lawsuits hearings, in other words, chances are the jury will even more overwhelmingly side with the cases plaintiffs, resulting in a third major victory for folks injured by glyphosate and Roundup. Its no wonder Costco dropped glyphosate and Roundup like a hot potato With a strong reputation for carrying only the highest quality products, it only makes sense that Costco would side with science and reason on this important matter in axing both glyphosate and Roundup from its product lineup. It remains to be seen if other major retailers decide to follow its lead. Its important to remember that its not just glyphosate itself thats dangerous, but also the many other so-called inert ingredients that, believe it or not, actually make up the bulk of the Roundup formula. This is why Moms Across America is calling on other major retailers who still sell Roundup and other glyphosate-based products to follow Costcos lead and immediately pull them all from store shelves. We call on Home Depot and Lowes today to step up as Costco has to protect us, your customers, and stop selling Roundup (and all glyphosate herbicides) now, due to its carcinogenic effects and lack of labeling, Honeycutts petition has since been updated to state. Everyone deserves to know! These products should not be sold to the public! Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Bloomberg.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Whether it is bats, wildebeest or whales, millions of mammals move over thousands of kilometres each year. How they navigate during migration remains remarkably understudied compared to birds or sea turtles, however. A team of scientists led by the Leibniz-IZW in Berlin now combined a mirror experiment simulating a different direction of the setting sun and a new test procedure to measure orientation behaviour in bats to understand the role of the sun's position in the animals' navigation system. The results demonstrate for the first time that a migratory mammal species uses the sunset direction to calibrate their compass system. Furthermore the experiment, which is published in Current Biology, indicates that this capacity is not inherited and first-time migrating young bats need to learn the importance of the solar disc at dusk for nightly orientation. The experiment that scientists Oliver Lindecke and Christian Voigt from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) designed and conducted together with colleagues from Latvia and the United Kingdom was based on two steps: First, several Soprano pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) were randomly assigned into two groups. At nightfall during their migration period, one group could watch the natural sunset at the Latvian Baltic Sea shore. The other group however watched the sun going down via a large mirror which was reversing the direction of the natural sunset exactly 180. For the latter animals, the real sunset was blocked from vision by the taped sidewall of their holding cages. Later at night, animals of both groups were transported inland, away from the beach of the Baltic Sea, for the second step of the experiment: On a forest meadow, one bat after the other got released remotely from a specially designed circular release box. By the help of this box, the very direction an animal took when it left it, could be recorded. Prior studies showed that take-off orientations could be used as a proxy for departure flight orientation in these bats. "The new orientation assay, the circular release box for bats, ruled out any visual influence at takeoff and allowed us to compare the directions bats of both groups where taking", explains Lindecke. "The results show two fundamental aspects in bat navigation: Firstly, the setting sun's direction plays a crucial role because there is a significant difference in the bats' orientation with the group which experienced the mirrored sunset departing in opposite direction compared to the control group. And secondly, only adult bats showed directional preferences", Lindecke summarizes the results. "Subadults displayed random orientation in both groups, which suggests to us that young bats need to learn long-distance navigation during migration from older conspecifics", concludes Christian Voigt, senior author and head of the Department of Evolutionary Ecology at the Leibniz-IZW. How this learning process works and which social factors and practices contribute to it remains unknown and needs further investigation. Mammals remain remarkably understudied with regard to navigation during migration. One of the reasons I a lack of experimental assays that measure a correlate of migratory orientation such as those that exist in birds and sea turtles. The larger migratory mammals, for example wildebeest or whales, are challenging to handle for any experimental work. Bats could fill this void as they have emerged as an important study model in movement ecology. They combine high ecophysiological diversity with a variety of movement behaviours. Bat eyes evolved to sense a wide range of light and a broad spectrum of wavelengths. Presumably, insectivorous bats rely heavily on vision like fruitbats when orienting over long distances since echolocation and path integration are ineffective and error-prone at distances larger than a few dozen meters. The results of this study are the first empirical evidence for the specific cues and mechanisms a migratory mammal uses for navigation. Think you live next door to the neighbors from hell? A felon in Contra Costa County is accused of threatening to kill his neighbor as he forced the man at gunpoint to dig his own grave. The incident was reported on Lambert Road in El Sobrante. Some residents who live nearby say they havent felt safe since the last time the suspect was let out of jail. Hes in jail for a while, then hes out, one neighbor said. Its the cycle that several neighbors fear will keep repeating itself. Forty-year-old Jason Crain is accused of breaking into a couples home and threatening to shoot the man execution-style. Police also arrested Maria Rincon, who authorities say helped Crain with the kidnapping. A neighbor agreed to talk to NBC Bay Area about Crains past, without showing her face, because shes afraid of him: He was trying to steal somebodys pot plants and got into an altercation and was shot. I thought for sure that was it for him but dude has more than nine lives. The details of this latest incident are chilling. Court documents show that Crain put a gun to the victims head, handed him a shovel and told him start digging your grave. He dug for an hour before his wife allegedly confronted Crain, and he left. NBC Bay Area spoke to that woman who confirmed what happened but said she was too shaken up to talk on camera. Court documents show Crain has a criminal history that includes assault, injury on a spouse and gun possession. His whole mind set is bringing danger to the rest of us and thats scary, the neighbor said. Jason Crain is still in the Martinez Detention Facility. NBC Bay Area was not able to reach him for comment. NBC Bay Area's Melissa Colorado has more in the video report above. Fish are apparently dying as a result of foam used to put out a garbage truck fire making its way into a nearby creek in Berkeley. Conservationists and neighbors are concerned, but the Berkeley Fire Department said it had a good reason to use the foam. Firefighters used "Class A foam" to put out a dangerous garbage truck fire in North Berkeley. "It's really disappointing and frustrating, and sad," Ben Eichenberg with the San Francisco Baykeeper said of foam getting into Codornices Creek. Eichenberg is surveying the impact and taking samples to determine what species of fish have been affected. He said the Berkeley Fire Department has some explaining to do. "Maybe this is an event we can use to get the message out," Eichenberg said. "This type of pollution really needs to be taken care of." Berkeley Fire Battalion Chief Brian Harryman acknowledges the foam can be toxic to wildlife, but said the garbage truck's natural gas tanks were at risk of exploding. Firefighters were in a position of weighing the risk versus the gain. "The garbage truck was on fire in a residential neighborhood close to school," Harryman said. "And if those natural gas cylinders had exploded, we probably would be looking at a much more possibly deadly situation." Fire department officials say they are taking steps to clean the foam. Meanwhile, neighbors and conservationists want to make sure a similar incident impacting wildlife does not happen again. NBC 7 has live team coverage of the presidential visit on air, in app and at the top of this page. President Donald Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico, California, Friday and touted the effectiveness of a recently renovated stretch of border fence, calling it "better, faster and less expensive," than the portion of fence it replaced. The president flew into Naval Air Facility El Centro aboard Air Force One and was greeted to cheers from border patrol agents, military troops and their families before boarding a motorcade en route to the border town. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was the first to greet the president and traveled with him south to Calexico, where he will tour a 2.25-mile section of recently renovated border fence Trump was joined for a quick media briefing by law enforcement agency officials from border jurisdictions from San Diego to Arizona. Trump repeated previous claims that San Diegans were "begging me for a wall." Were very appreciative of this wall. These men and women out here in the area of two miles were experiencing a high number of assaults and use-of-force incidents. This was prior to this wall being built," El Centro Sector CBP Chief Gloria Chavez said. Chavez said the see-through design of the new fence gives agents a huge advantage because they can now see what's on the other side. "We can see the adversary, we can see the threat," she said. Chavez said agents would have rocks and other items thrown at them on a daily basis, but those threats have stopped since the new fence was erected. According to Chavez, assaults on agents have dropped 65 percent in that two-mile stretch and illegal entries have decreased by 75 percent. Trump said the majority of breaches in the area happen at points along the border still lined with the old fence. When the entire area is lined with the new style fence, he predicted illegal entries in Chavez's area would be down 99.9 percent. If you want to climb that its pretty sharp up top, too If you want to climb that, you deserve whatever you can get," he said. Three sheriffs from counties in California's central valley were also at the briefing, saying they feel the impact of porous border defense from 400 miles away. "I just want to take this opportunity to thank this president for doing the right thing and standing up for law enforcement in this country. It is greatly appreciated," Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said. Trump criticized political leaders in California, and in San Diego, for their apparent complaints regarding Trump's border barrier project. "Its interesting about California, theyre begging me for the wall in San Diego, you know that, because the people were pouring in through San Diego, going over the front lawns, going into peoples houses, so they want the wall done in San Diego, and we did it and then you hear they dont want the wall; they want the wall. If you ever took it down, they wanted that one so badly, and we did it, we did a great job. We stopped everybody, virtually everybody actually, everybody from coming over. It was a tremendous success but California is always the first one to complain." Sherrif representatives from Arizona who joined the president also thanked him for his commitment to border security, and said they neutralize threats from the other side of the southern border every day. Anyone who would suggest that we do not have a crisis on our southern border is being intellectually dishonest to the point of being dishonest with malice. We have a humanitarian crisis which is very clear and compelling, we have a compelling crisis of public safety with human trafficking, drug trafficking, sex trafficking coming through the border. This is not make believe, this is something that we live with every day as border sheriffs, so we applaud the efforts of the current administration to secure our border, Pima County Sheriff Mark D. Napier said. Ahead of the tour, the president first sat down for a roundtable with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security officials. CBP Chief Chavez said that the renovated section of wall accounted for a drop in illegal entries by 75 percent in fiscal year 19. "We need the border barrier, we need to provide the requirements that meet our need, in this case for us its 30 feet high," Chavez said. "That's what we asked for and that's what was provided, so thank you on behalf of the border patrol here for allowing that to happen." With the renovation, the section became the tallest border barrier along the southern United States, standing at 30 feet tall, according to Chavez. The White House says it's the first section of his proposed border wall to be built, though the repairs were made with 2018 appropriations as part of a long-planned replacement project, and was in construction from Feb. to Oct. 2018. "There is indeed an emergency on our southern border," Trump said at the briefing, adding that there has been a sharp uptick in illegal crossings. "It's a colossal surge, and it's overwhelming our immigration system. We can't take you anymore. Our country is full." Meanwhile, both protesters and supporters gathered at the Gran Plaza Outlets next to the Calexico Port of Entry in anticipation of Trump's arrival. Nearby, the barbed wire fence separating the two countries was lined with Department of Homeland Security vehicles. Protesters floated next to the port a 20-foot tall balloon of a cartoonish Trump wearing a diaper, hopeful that the president's motorcade would pass the giant inflatable while en route to the border. "We hope our words our real worries are heard. And we can reach a solution," said protester and Calexico resident Maria Surtado. Trump supporter and El Centro resident Omar Vega positioned himself next to the baby Trump balloon and alongside protesters to represent the other side, he told NBC 7. Vega is hopeful that the president can make change along the border. "Hopefully he actually does something productive today, and hopefully helps the economy, in this city, right now," Vega said. "With building the wall, hopefully the crime rate goes down, especially in this city, because its very bad right now." Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that during President Trump's visit to the border city, he will be briefed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on "exactly what is taking place at the border." "Hes going to get a briefing when he first arrives there from a number of law enforcement officials, the CBP folks the people that are on the front lines there on the ground," she told Fox News. The president has threatened to close the southern border if demands to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking are not met. On Thursday, the President walked back the immediate threat to close the border and instead said the closure could come next year if the Mexican government or Congress does not make significant progress on both issues. Trump also said he would slap tariffs on Mexican automotive imports at that time. The possibility of a border shutdown was first made last Friday due to a surge of Central Americans migrants who are seeking asylum in the U.S. Trump administration officials have said the influx is straining the immigration system to the breaking point. While Vega is in favor of Trump's border wall plan, he admits shutting down the border wouldn't be good for El Centro because the city's economy relies on people crossing over the border to spend money, he explained. "This is certainly not the presidents first choice but Democrats at this point, they're unwillingness to do anything has left the president with very little options. Thankfully Mexico has stepped up over the last few days," Sanders said. When asked what Mexico has done, the press secretary said they've added additional checkpoints within the country to stop migrants before they reach the U.S. border. Second, Mexico increased to 300 the number of asylum-seeking individuals allowed to be sent back to Mexico as part of a new U.S. policy. Mexico's cooperation with U.S. officials last December marked a historic one as the country has traditionally refused to accept into their country the return of any migrants who are not Mexican. Elected leaders from border communities stretching from San Diego to cities across Texas warned that havoc would ensue on both sides of the international boundary if the ports were closed. They were joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which said such a step would inflict "severe economic harm." The San Diego and Imperial County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union released a statement Friday voicing concerns that the president was not meeting with civilians of the border communities. The statement read in part, "To our knowledge, the president has no plans to meet with Imperial Valley residents or community leaders to hear their concerns. He has no intent to learn how his policies strain limited local resources and put lives at risk. He is unmoved by the harmful effects his threats to close the border has on businesses, families and civic life in the region." Calexico, part of Imperial County, is home to the second busiest commercial port on the California border and processes tens of thousands of vehicles daily. Also on Friday, House Democrats filed a lawsuit preventing Trump from spending more money than Congress has approved to erect barriers along the southwestern border. Congress approved just under $1.4 billion for work on border barricades. Trump has asserted he can use his powers as chief executive to transfer an additional $6.7 billion to wall construction. What to Know A boy appeared in Newport, Kentucky, on Wednesday, claiming to be missing child Timmothy Pitzen Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since his mother took him out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks in 2011 She was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room and had left a note that the boy was safe but would never be found The family of missing Aurora boy Timmothy Pitzen urged the public to "reserve all judgment and pray" for a man who falsely claimed he was the child who disappeared from the Illinois town more than seven years ago. "Unfortunately this child is not our beloved Timmothy," Kara Jacobs, Timmothy's aunt, said. "We know you are out there somewhere Tim and we will never stop looking for you." A person claiming to be Pitzen, who would now be 14 years old after he disappeared in 2011 at the age of 6, was actually a 23-year-old man from Ohio, police said Thursday. "I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was someone else," Timmothy's grandmother Alana Anderson said. "And hope that they can find his family." Investigators ran a DNA test on the person who appeared in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area on Wednesday. Authorities confirmed Thursday that results indicated "the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen." Newport, Kentucky police told an NBC affiliate station in the area that the person claiming to be Pitzen is actually 23-year-old Brian Michael Rini of Medina, Ohio. NBC 5 Investigates has learned Rini was just released from an Ohio prison less than a month ago after serving time for burglary and vandalism. Rinnis criminal record also includes an arrest and guilty verdict for passing bad checks, a probation violation, and a conviction for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. His estranged brother, Jonathan Rini, said Brian stopped getting treatment for his mental health issues. "I'm not surprised, I mean, he's nuts," he said. Jonathan Rini added that he'd "tell the family Im sorry for what hes done." Kara Jacobs said the development that Pitzen hadn't been found was "devastating." "It's like reliving that day all over again," she said. "And Timmothy's father is devastated once again." Police said an investigation into Timmothy's case remains ongoing. "Although we are disappointed that this turned out to be a hoax, we remain diligent in our search for Timmothy, as our missing person's case remains unsolved," Aurora Sgt. Bill Rowley said in a statement. The family of missing Aurora boy Timmothy Pitzen spoke out and made a public request after a man falsely claimed he was the child who disappeared from the Illinois town more than seven years ago. Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since Amy Fry Pitzen took her son out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks before she was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room on May 14, 2011. A note left behind in the motel room said that Timmothy was safe and in someone's care, but that he would never be found. "To be clear, law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today," police said in their release. The man claiming to be 14 years old was spotted standing near an intersection in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, and told witnesses that he was the child missing from Illinois. He said he had slipped away from two kidnappers who had held him for the past seven years, the police report on the incident states. He told investigators he had escaped an unknown Red Roof Inn, according to the police report, and "kept running across a bridge" into Kentucky. "Timothy [sic] described the two kidnappers as two male, whites, body-builder type build," the police report states. "One had black curly hair, Mt. Dew shirt and jeans & has a spider web tattoo on his neck. The other was short in stature and had a snake tattoo on his arms." The kidnappers' vehicle, according to the report, was described by Timmothy to officers as a newer model Ford SUV with unknown Wisconsin plates and a second row. The Ford is white with yellow transfer paint and a dent on the left back bumper, the report states. All surrounding police agencies with Red Roof Inns in their jurisdictions were contacted and nothing was found, according to the report. The FBI confirmed he was in safe custody but did not give an update on his condition. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Pitzen is the only child missing from west suburban Aurora. The family of missing Aurora boy Timmothy Pitzen urged the public to reserve all judgement and pray for a man who falsely claimed he was the child who disappeared from the Illinois town more than seven years ago. Natalie Martinez reports. Anderson said Wednesday she heard that a boy claiming to be her grandson was in a childrens hospital in Kentucky after escaping his captors. We never forgot, never stopped thinking about him everyday, stayed in touch with the police, she said. It just went cold, and I just prayed that when he was old enough that he would remember us and contact us that was kind of the best I could hope for for a long time. The last time she saw her grandson he was just over 6 years old. The last boost in the case came in 2014, when a woman in the northern Illinois town of Rockton contacted police saying she saw a boy that resembled Timmothy at her garage sale, according to the Chicago Tribune. The tip came after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released an age-progression image showing what Timmothy would have looked like at the age of 9. It remained unclear if the boy the woman saw was in fact Timmothy. Fry Pitzen's cell phone, I-Pass and the clothing she was seen wearing on other surveillance videos, as well as Timmothys Spider Man backpack and his toys from the SUV, remained missing years after the boy disappeared, according to police. In a press conference, Rowley said, despite the fact Pitzen was not found, the department is optimistic that the case is now so prominently back in public discussion. It created a renewed awareness in the case, So I think thats probably good, its good that its got people thinking about the case again, and perhaps has people looking at the case with new eyes. Rowley said he does not believe anyone has ever claimed to be Pitzen before. Over the years weve had, I would say, thousands of tips on where Timmothy may have been, or what may have happened to him and of course we diligently followed up on all of those, he said. Rowley also spoke briefly on the man authorities say claimed to be the missing boy. Folks who do things like this typically dont get away with their actions, he said. Im sure that if we follow this further were gonna see that the person down there is probably going to have some consequences for his actions down therealthough I wouldnt speak to that personally. Anyone with information about the case is being asked to call Aurora police at (630) 256-5000 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678. Venezuelan authorities on Tuesday deported a Univision news crew led by anchor Jorge Ramos hours after they were briefly detained at the presidential palace following an interview with President Nicolas Maduro, which was abruptly terminated over their line of questioning. Ramos said authorities told the Univision news team to arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Vargas at 7 a.m. ET and board a midday flight to the U.S. Univision said the team was already scheduled to return to their base in Miami on Tuesday. The news crew, accompanied by U.S. and Mexican diplomats, was escorted to the airport by members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), the repressive Venezuelan police force, according to Carlos Correa, who heads the Caracas-based free-speech NGO Espacio Publico. Speaking from Caracas Monday night, Ramos told Univision anchor Patricia Janiot during a phone call that aired on the networks broadcast that he asked Maduro to comment on the fact that millions of Venezuelans don't consider him a legitimate president because of questions surrounding the validity of the results of the 2018 elections. He also said he asked Maduro whether he was a president or a dictator and to respond to accusations from opposition leader Juan Guaido that he was a usurper of power. 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! Ramos said when he questioned Maduro about accusations of abuse and torture and then showed him video on an iPad he had taken a day earlier of young Venezuelans eating food scraps out of the back of a garbage truck, the leader cut short their interview after 17 minutes. The seven-person team was then held for more than two hours in the Miraflores palace and had their camera equipment and phones seized. They were eventually released, but without having their equipment and footage returned, Ramos said. "They stole my work," Ramos said. "My job is to ask questions." A spokesman for the union of journalists in Venezuela, known as SNTP, said the Univision news crews' equipment, which included four cameras, four monitors, microphones, lamps, and a satellite instrument, had not been returned as of the moment they were processed through immigration at the airport. The Univision journalists boarded an 11 a.m. ET flight bound for Miami and it wasn't clear if the plane departed without the equipment. Venezuela's government denied Ramos' account. They accused him of trying to stage an international incident after a senior State Department official and Sen. Marco Rubio relayed reports on social media of what they called Ramos' detention at the same time an interview shot earlier in the day with U.S. network ABC was being aired. "Hundreds of journalists have passed through Miraflores and received the same decent treatment we give all those doing journalistic work," Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Twitter. Ramos, who interviewed Maduro's mentor, Hugo Chavez, three times, said Maduro accused him of siding with the government's opponents in the political fight for power now raging in Venezuela. More than 50 governments around the world have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader after Maduro was sworn in for a second term last month following what the critics say was an illegitimate election. Ramos has previously angered one of Maduro's strongest critics: U.S. President Donald Trump, who famously had the journalist removed from a news conference on the campaign trail in 2015 when he asked about his anti-immigrant views toward Mexicans. 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. A teen claiming to be an Aurora boy who disappeared in 2011 when he was 6 years old has apparently escaped two kidnappers who have held him for the past seven years, according to an Ohio police report. Now, the missing boy's grandmother hopes the long-lost boy remembers her and they will be reunited. The 14-year-old boy told police in Newport, Kentucky, that his name is Timmothy Pitzen and he had just fled from a Red Roof Inn in Ohio and "kept running across a bridge" into Kentucky. Alana Anderson, Pitzens maternal grandmother, said Wednesday she was told a boy claiming to be her grandson was in a childrens hospital in Kentucky. We never forgot, never stopped thinking about him everyday, stayed in touch with the police, she said. It just went cold and I just prayed that when he was old enough that he would remember us and contact usthat was kind of the best I could hope for, for a long time. However, Anderson said she's cautiously optimistic, telling The Associated Press "there have been so many tips and sightings and what not and you try not to panic or be overly excited." Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since Amy Fry Pitzen picked him up at school, took him to a zoo and water park in the Midwest before she was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room on May 14, 2011. A note left behind in the motel room said that Timmothy was safe and in someone's care, but the boy was never found. This year would mark his 14th birthday. Anderson told the AP that her daughter was having problems with her fourth marriage and had battled depression for years. The last time Anderson saw her grandson he was just over 6 years old. Asked if Pitzen would recognizer her, Anderson responded I hope so. Pitzen's family has had many emotional days over the last several years but nothing like this. His aunt, Kara Jacobs, told NBC 5 all they can do now is pray until a DNA test confirms the boys identity. "Regardless of what anybody said I knew he was alive," she said. That thought has carried Jacobs and her family through seven years of pain and uncertainty. For seven years, a heartbroken family waited for the call from detectives that finally came Wednesday. Weve always felt strongly this day would come," Jacobs said. "When it comes, its hard to realize whats happening when it does come, and we are still waiting to see if it is actually Timothy." Now that the shock is wearing off, the family says the emotions are settling in. Theyve experienced false alarms before, but this lead is the most solid yet. We hope its true," Jacobs said. "What is hard is the story that he escaped from captors and your mind goes in too many directions that you dont want to think about. Hesitant to get their hopes up, the family says it is relying on faith. "I would ask for anyone out there to please pray for Tim," Jacobs added. Earlier Wednesday, two Aurora detectives traveled to the Cincinnati area to investigate the teen's story, the Aurora Police Department said. The department said the FBI was also investigating and they hope confirm the boy's identity Thursday. The last boost in the case came in 2014, when a woman in the northern Illinois town of Rockton contacted police saying she saw a boy that resembled Timmothy at her garage sale, according to the Chicago Tribune. The tip came after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released an age-progression image showing what Timmothy would have looked like at the age of 9. It remained unclear if the boy the woman saw was in fact Timmothy. Fry Pitzen's cell phone, I-Pass and the clothing she was seen wearing on other surveillance videos, as well as Timmothys Spider Man backpack and his toys from the SUV, remained missing years after the boy disappeared, according to police. When he went missing, Timmothy stood about 4 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed about 70 pounds, officials said. Anyone with information is asked to call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or Aurora Police at 630-256-5500. Join NBC Bay Areas Cheryll Hurd at East Bay State of Mind 2019 for a fun and inspiring evening in support of Rubicons vision of an East Bay without poverty. This year, Rubicon is continuing to do something special: celebrating the community leaders who have made real change happen -- all while demonstrating our core values of hope, humility and justice for all This year, Rubicon is continuing to do something special: celebrating the community leaders who have made real change happen - all while demonstrating Rubicon's core values of hope, humility and justice for all. The 2019 Annual Values Awards will be given to State Senator Nancy Skinner for her pioneering social justice work and steadfast advocacy on behalf of the community. Her leadership has propelled criminal justice reform to the top of the legislative agenda in California and has brought forth concrete changes that have moved us closer to an East Bay without poverty. In 2018 alone, Senator Skinner authored successful legislation to increase police transparency and expand affordable housing, and repealed an unjust piece of the criminal code that contributed to mass incarceration. She also provided key votes for "Ban the Box" and bail reform, and has been an outspoken advocate for environmental justice. WHEN: Thursday, April, 2019, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. WHERE: Starline Social Club, Oakland, CA Lori Lightfoot's victory in the Chicago mayor's race signaled hope among voters that the nation's third-largest city may someday move beyond long-entrenched divides, racial and otherwise, that have left large parts of the metropolis feeling ignored by people in power. Lightfoot became the city's first black female and first openly gay mayor when she defeated another black woman, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, in Tuesday's election. She joins Chicago's top prosecutor and police chief as black leaders in a city that continues to struggle with race relations. But the significance of her win also transcended race or gender. Lightfoot was the outsider, a little-known former federal prosecutor who grew up in Ohio and had never been elected to public office, much less climbed through the ranks of Chicago's Democratic machine. Yet she toppled some of the biggest political names and most powerful leaders in the city with a promise to end political corruption and be a voice for low-income and minority people and neighborhoods. "Today is April 3, a new day for all of Chicago," Lightfoot said Wednesday at a news conference called by the Rev. Jesse Jackson to promote postelection unity . Preckwinkle stood beside her. Chicago has long struggled with issues of segregation, housing discrimination mostly targeting blacks and Hispanics and a generationally engrained mistrust of the city's mostly white police department. The tension between police and residents exploded in protests following the 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by a white police office. Jason Van Dyke was sentenced earlier this year to fewer than seven years in prison for second-degree murder. Chicago also has seen its population drop, due largely to thousands of black residents leaving neighborhoods on the South and West sides areas South Side resident and political consultant Delmarie Cobb describes as "gutted." At the same time, downtown and predominantly white neighborhoods on Chicago's North Side have been growing and glistening with new investment. For black residents, "you can't help but feel that the city and the city leaders have turned their backs on you," Cobb said. "When you see hundreds of thousands of black people leaving" a city that once had a reputation as being the land of opportunity for black people, "people want to know that somebody is going to speak for them," Cobb added. Joyce Ross, 64, supported Lightfoot and said one of the reasons she's most excited about her taking office stems from her own unsuccessful efforts to get a city job decades ago. She recalled it as a time when who she knew seemed more important than what she knew. Then came the election of Harold Washington, the city's first African American mayor, who also was on the outs with the Democratic establishment. "I got three calls really quick about jobs I could apply for," recalled Ross, who lives on Chicago's West Side. She did apply, and soon she was working for the city. John Allison, a 64-year-old dog catcher, also compared Lightfoot with Washington, and said he believes she has a better chance of bringing the city together. "She had more of a unity-type thing that kind of reminded me of Harold Washington, where she would let everybody in," Allison said. Finley Campbell, a spokesman for the Chicago-based Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Racial Unity Action Council, said part of what makes Lightfoot's win historic is also that she reached out successfully to white voters. She earned broad support, receiving about three-fourths of the total vote and winning all 50 Chicago wards. Her margins of victory ranged from about 8 percentage points in a largely black South Side ward to as high as 75 percentage points in predominantly white wards on the North and southwest sides. "It is historic because a black, openly gay sister is out there," Campbell said. "What's also historic for me is she reached out very successfully to the white ethnic community, where you have traditional Polish, German, Irish-type people. There's also a connection to the firefighters and police department, and working-class people." "Her ability to say 'I will represent you, too,' accounts for it being successful." Lightfoot said she took Tuesday's results as a mandate for change, and that she plans to "take full advantage of it." But she noted there is much difficult work ahead. She said her priorities upon taking office will be to get a handle on violence, rebuild the public school system, ensure Chicago is welcoming to immigrants and confront the city's deep financial problems. "Honeymoons come and go, and I want to make sure we're doing all we can to really breathe life into the historic nature of this election," she said. What to Know Meek Mill and several state lawmakers unveiled new legislation aimed at reforming Pennsylvanias probation and parole system. The bill would reduce probationary periods and minimize restrictions on technical violations. A local lawmaker said they hope to have the legislation written and filed within the next few weeks. Philly hip hop star Meek Mill and several state lawmakers unveiled new legislation aimed at reforming Pennsylvanias probation and parole system. Mill, along with 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, news commentator Van Jones, state Reps. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) and Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) announced the proposed bill Tuesday afternoon outside the municipal services building in Center City. "I'm only here to use my platform and my voice to speak for the people who dont have a voice," Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, said. "It's a lot of young men actually locked behind the walls and stacked up with probation and trying to do well with themselves and move forward, but they cant because the odds are so great against them. The legislation would prevent the courts from sentencing a person to consecutive probation sentences, prevent the court from extending a persons time on probation or parole due to nonpayment of fines and fees and establish a system of incentives that would reward good behavior. The bill would also ensure that people under supervision wouldnt be re-incarcerated for testing positive for marijuana, associating with someone with a criminal history or traveling outside their jurisdiction, unless it was proven they were trying to escape supervision. Mill was jailed for violating his probation and has become one of the most famous faces behind the criminal justice reform movement since his release. Both he and Rubin are co-chairs of the REFORM Alliance, a collective aimed at passing probation and parole bills at the state level to reduce the number of people under the criminal justice system. With this proposed legislation, we want to put people on probation and parole in positions to succeed not to wind up back in prison and perpetuate an ongoing cycle, Jones, the CEO of the REFORM Alliance, said. The issue of how long those convicted of a crime should spend in the justice system outside of prison has received scrutiny across the country. Its an issue all too familiar with Philadelphia native Darrell Briddell. If you go and do how many years you have to do, that should be your debt to society, Briddell said. Briddell is under supervised release after serving time in federal prison for bank robbery. He told NBC10 it could impact his job with a demolition company. Lets say my job says weve got a job in Pittsburgh. I cant just pick up and go with the job to Pittsburgh, Briddell said. Now I have to call my PO. Listen, I have a job in Pittsburgh, this that and the third. Shes going to have to do her diligence for me to be able to go to Pittsburgh, and to her it might be like, Its not worth it. No, you cant go. Now that eliminates me from working at this job. A local lawmaker supporting the bill told NBC10 they hope to have the legislation written and filed within the next few weeks. NBC 5 Investigates has learned that Brian Michael Rini the man who allegedly claimed to Kentucky authorities that he was Timmothy Pitzen, a boy who vanished from west-suburban Aurora several years ago was just released from an Ohio prison less than a month ago after serving time for burglary and vandalism. Authorities also tried to serve the 23-year-old Rini with a bill for unpaid fines, involving a separate criminal conviction, just last week. According to court records, that bill was returned when Rini could not be located, exactly eight days before he showed up in Kentucky. Records from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction show that Rini was sent to prison at the Belmont Correctional Institution, in Clairsville, Ohio, following his conviction in Medina County in January of 2018. He was released after serving most of an 18-month sentence on March 7, 2019. Records indicate that he was supposed to immediately begin three years of supervision. But last week, when officials in Stark County, Ohio tried to serve Rini with a bill for unpaid fines in a separate case, they couldnt find him at his address of record in Medina, Ohio. The bill was returned to court not served on March 26, 2019 exactly one week before Rini was discovered in Kentucky. Rinis jail term stemmed from an incident in August of 2017 in Brunswick Hills Township, Ohio. According to local news reports citing authorities, Rini and a group of friends held a "tattoo party" at a $400,000 model home, where they broke in and trashed the house. "The plan was very obvious," Brunswick Hills Township police chief Tim Sopkovich told local news outlets at the time. Sopkovich quoted the mens Facebook posts as saying "Come on over; it's a $400,000 home. Were going to party, bring your own drugs." Rini ultimately plead guilty to burglary and vandalism in that incident, in Medina County Court, in January of 2018. While that case was in progress, Rini was found guilty in another case this one in nearby Stark County. Hed been arrested in Massillon, Ohio, in April of 2017 and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to court records. In November of 2017 after his arrest involving the house party records show that he pled guilty in the Stark County case, and was sentenced to three years of probation, 200 hours of community service, restitution of $1,750, and other court costs. However, Rini did not pay up, before he headed to jail on his burglary and vandalism convictions, according to court records. But documents in the Stark County case show that the court did not forget about the bill. The day after Rinis release from the Belmont prison on March 7 of this year, county officials began trying to serve him again with a bill now totalling $3,231.36 for the accrued amount of his fine, court costs, and restitution. On March 26, the courts "Notice of Delinquency for Court Ordered Cost" was according to court records "returned not served." NBC 5 Investigates has also found that Rini was also convicted in an incident from August of 2015. Back then he pled guilty to passing bad checks, and was sentenced to three years of intensive supervision, according to Medina County court documents. He was brought back to court in 2016, and again in 2017, each time for violations of his probation. The final entry in that case occurs in March of 2017, just a month before Rini was arrested in Stark County. A Chicago attorney who specializes in Freedom of Information and open records lawsuits has filed suit against multiple defendants, including the United States Department of Justice and the office of the attorney general, seeking release of the full report of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Lawyer Matt Topic filed the suit in the United States District Court in Washington, on behalf of reporter Jason Leopold and Buzzfeed News. The lawsuit states that on March 21, Leopold and Buzzfeed requested a final copy of the Mueller report, and sought expedited processing of their request. The Department of Justices Office of Information Processing reportedly granted the request for expedited processing, but asserted that due to unusual circumstances, they would have to extend the time permitted by the statute to comply. According to the DOJs FOIA guide, the lawsuit continues, several courts, including this court have held that there is a rebuttable presumption that when expedited processing is granted, the request will be processed within 20 business days. That would put the deadline at April 18, the suit notes. But Attorney General William Barr has already said he intends to release the report by mid-April, if not sooner. Thus, there is no reason Defendants could not immediately have issued to Plaintiffs a substantive determination on the request, and then produced the report, the lawsuit continues, subject to any permissible redactions, within the presumptive 20 day deadline. Topic is well known in Chicago media circles, but perhaps best remembered as the attorney who successfully sued the city of Chicago for release of the police dashcam video depicting the shooting of teenager LaQuan McDonald. He was joined in the suit, by attorney Joshua Burday. A Chicago attorney filed a petition Thursday requesting a special prosecutor be assigned to the recently dismissed charges against Jussie Smollett. Saani Mohammed confirmed over the phone that he filed the petition with the Cook County Clerks office. The way the case was dismissed, it was not appropriate, he said. It makes it appear there are two separate justice systems, one for the wealthy and one for we the people. He said everything from the false recusal to the emergency nature of the dismissal of charges prompted him to file. Mohammed left his post with the Cook County States Attorneys office last month and now has his own practice. Meanwhile, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said she has no plans of stepping stepping down amid calls for her resignation over her involvement in the case. I was elected by the people of Cook County to pursue community safety, prevent harm, and uphold the values of fairness and equal justice. Im proud of my record in doing that, and I plan to do so through the end of my term and, if the people so will it, into the future," she said in a statement Thursday. A group of suburban Chicago police chiefs called on Foxx to resign in the wake of her office's decision to drop charges against Jussie Smollett that accused him of staging a racist, anti-gay attack. Some 30 police chiefs attended a joint news conference Thursday with the Chicago police union president, Kevin Graham, to support that call. Steven Stelter, of the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association, told reporters it wasn't only about her handling of Smollett's case. He also pointed to broader Foxx policies to not prosecute many lower-level felonies. He said residents needed to know Foxx "is letting them down." Asked why there were no African-American police chiefs at the event, Graham said only that all county police chiefs had been invited. The county includes Chicago and more than 130 other communities. Foxx's office told a local news station earlier that the chiefs' criticism was "an excuse to justify" resistance to reform. Note: You can watch the funeral service for Trooper Ellis live in the video player above beginning at around 10 a.m. CST. An Illinois State Police trooper who was killed when a wrong-way driver struck his squad car will be honored in a funeral service Friday. State police say the funeral for 36-year-old Trooper Gerald Ellis will be Friday morning at the College of Lake County's James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake. Ellis will have a private burial. Ellis died early Saturday in a crash along Interstate 94 in northern Illinois. He is the third state trooper to die in a traffic crash so far this year. State police say Ellis grew up in Macomb and graduated from Western Illinois University. He served with the U.S. Army Reserves and joined the state police in 2008. He is survived by his wife and two young daughters. A man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison after pleading guilty to mailing a pipe bomb that exploded in northwest Indiana. Eric P. Krieg, of Munster, Indiana, was sentenced Thursday on charges of making an unregistered destructive device, mailing a destructive device, malicious use of explosive materials and mailing a threatening communication, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Indiana. The bomb exploded Sept. 6, 2017 and injured a woman who worked at a U.S. Post Office branch at 901 E. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago, Indiana, the FBI said. She was treated for minor injuries, and the post office was closed for two days. Krieg, 47, was arrested more than a month later when he mailed another suspicious package on Sept. 29 that led authorities to him, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, Krieg mailed the bombs in retaliation for a lawsuit that claimed he made disparaging statements on his online blog. After filing for bankruptcy and failing to dismiss the charges, Krieg agreed to pay $45,000 and post an apology. Prosecutors said Krieg made a pipe bomb and mailed it to the address of the attorney who represented the person who sued him. That bomb detonated prematurely at the East Chicago post office. Another package sent on Sept. 29 was addressed to another person, along with a threatening message, prosecutors said. The package contained a bullet wrapped in tape with the message, The next one will be in the back of your head. Krieg entered a guilty plea in November 2018 and agreed to serve 29 years in prison, prosecutors said. The case against Krieg involved the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; United States Marshals Service; East Chicago police; Hammond police; Indiana State Police; Munster police and the Porter County sheriffs department. What to Know A boy appeared in Newport, Kentucky, on Wednesday, claiming to be missing child Timmothy Pitzen Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since his mother took him out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks in 2011 She was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room and had left a note that the boy was safe but would never be found A person claiming to be a 14-year-old boy who went missing from Aurora, Illinois, at the age of 6 was actually a 23-year-old man from Ohio, police said Thursday. Investigators ran a DNA test on the person who appeared in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area on Wednesday, claiming to be the child who disappeared from the Illinois town more than seven years ago. Authorities confirmed Thursday that results indicated "the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen." "A local investigation continues into this person's true identity," police said in a release. Newport, Kentucky police told an NBC affiliate station in the area that the person claiming to be Pitzen is actually 23-year-old Brian Michael Rini of Medina, Ohio. Further information on him was not immediately available. "Although we are disappointed that this turned out to be a hoax, we remain diligent in our search for Timmothy, as our missing person's case remains unsolved," Aurora Sgt. Bill Rowley said in a statement. Aurora police react after DNA tests showed a man claiming to be a boy missing from the Illinois town was not actually Timmothy Pitzen, the FBI said. In a press conference, Rowley said, despite the fact Pitzen was not found, the department is optimistic that the case is now so prominently back in public discussion. It created a renewed awareness in the case, So I think thats probably good, its good that its got people thinking about the case again, and perhaps has people looking at the case with new eyes. Rowley said he does not believe anyone has ever claimed to be Pitzen before. Over the years weve had, I would say, thousands of tips on where Timmothy may have been, or what may have happened to him and of course we diligently followed up on all of those, he said. Rowley also spoke briefly on the man authorities say claimed to be the missing boy. Folks who do things like this typically dont get away with their actions, he said. Im sure that if we follow this further were gonna see that the person down there is probably going to have some consequences for his actions down therealthough I wouldnt speak to that personally. Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since Amy Fry Pitzen took her son out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks before she was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room on May 14, 2011. A note left behind in the motel room said that Timmothy was safe and in someone's care, but that he would never be found. "To be clear, law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today," police said in their release. Pitzen's family urged the public to "reserve all judgement and pray" for the man who falsely claimed he was the child. The family of missing Aurora boy Timmothy Pitzen spoke out and made a public request after a man falsely claimed he was the child who disappeared from the Illinois town more than seven years ago. "Unfortunately this child is not our beloved Timmothy. We know that you are out there somewhere, Tim, and we will never stop looking for you, praying for you and loving you," Kara Jacobs, Pitzen's aunt, said. "We hope that everyone will join us in praying for the young man who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen." The man claiming to be a 14-year-old boy was spotted standing near an intersection in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, and told witnesses that he was the child missing from Illinois. He said he had slipped away from two kidnappers who had held him for the past seven years, the police report on the incident states. He told investigators he had escaped an unknown Red Roof Inn, according to the police report, and "kept running across a bridge" into Kentucky. "Timothy [sic] described the two kidnappers as two male, whites, body-builder type build," the police report states. "One had black curly hair, Mt. Dew shirt and jeans & has a spider web tattoo on his neck. The other was short in stature and had a snake tattoo on his arms." The kidnappers' vehicle, according to the report, was described by Timmothy to officers as a newer model Ford SUV with unknown Wisconsin plates and a second row. The Ford is white with yellow transfer paint and a dent on the left back bumper, the report states. All surrounding police agencies with Red Roof Inns in their jursidictions were contacted and nothing was found, according to the report. The FBI confirmed he was in safe custody but did not give an update on his condition. Earlier Wednesday, two Aurora detectives had traveled to the area of Cincinnati for an investigation into a missing child, the Aurora Police Department said, but could not confirm the investigation was related to Timmothy's disappearance. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Pitzen is the only child missing from west suburban Aurora. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Louisville tweeted Wednesday afternoon that it was coordinating, alongside the FBI in Cincinnati, with police in Aurora, Cincinnati and Newport, Kentucky, as well as the Hamilton County sheriff's office, on a missing child investigation. The FBI also declined to confirm that the investigation was related to Pitzen's case. Alana Anderson, Pitzens grandmother, said Wednesday she heard that a boy claiming to be her grandson was in a childrens hospital in Kentucky after escaping his captors. We never forgot, never stopped thinking about him everyday, stayed in touch with the police, she said. It just went cold, and I just prayed that when he was old enough that he would remember us and contact us that was kind of the best I could hope for for a long time. The last time she saw her grandson he was just over 6 years old. The last boost in the case came in 2014, when a woman in the northern Illinois town of Rockton contacted police saying she saw a boy that resembled Timmothy at her garage sale, according to the Chicago Tribune. The tip came after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released an age-progression image showing what Timmothy would have looked like at the age of 9. It remained unclear if the boy the woman saw was in fact Timmothy. Fry Pitzen's cell phone, I-Pass and the clothing she was seen wearing on other surveillance videos, as well as Timmothys Spider Man backpack and his toys from the SUV, remained missing years after the boy disappeared, according to police. Anyone with information about the case is being asked to call Aurora police at (630) 256-5000 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678. A 23-year-old Ohio man was federally charged Friday, with authorities saying he impersonated Timmothy Pitzen after watching a television show about the boy from Aurora, Illinois, who has been missing since 2011. Brian Michael Rini was charged with making a false statement or representation to a department or agency of the United States, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The offense is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison because it involved lying about matters related to the sex trafficking of children, the U.S. attorney's office said at a news conference Friday. "On behalf of the United States, my heart goes out to the family of Timmothy Pitzen," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Benjamin Glassman said, adding, "I can only imagine the kind of pain that they have been through and that this episode has caused for them." Rini was ordered held without bond in his initial court appearance Friday morning. He was expected to appear in court again Tuesday for a detention hearing, prosecutors said. Federal court records dont list an attorney for Rini. Authorities said police in Newport, Kentucky, found Rini "wandering the street and looking confused and in need of assistance" on Wednesday. He told investigators he was Timmothy and that he had been abducted when he was 6 years old and "just wanted to go home." Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since Amy Fry-Pitzen took her son out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks before she was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room on May 14, 2011. A note left behind in the motel room said that Timmothy was safe and in someone's care, but that he would never be found. [[508136462, C]] Investigators said Rini told them Wednesday that he had slipped away from two kidnappers who had held him for the past seven years, the police report on the incident states. He told investigators he had escaped an unknown Red Roof Inn, according to the police report, and "kept running across a bridge" into Kentucky. Rini then complained of abdominal pain, prosecutors said, and was taken to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital emergency room, where he continued to claim to be Timmothy and said that he "had been sexually and physically abused for years while in captivity." He refused to be fingerprinted, officials said, but agreed to a cheek swab that was then tested against DNA from Timmothy's parents. The results indicated that Rini could not be related to the boy's parents and in comparison with the FBI's known samples, identified him as Rini, according to the complaint. [[508127312, C]] "FBI agents returned to talk again to the individual claiming to be Timmothy Pitzen, they identified themselves to him as FBI agents, they administered Miranda warnings, they warned him that lying to a federal agent is a violation of federal law," Glassman said. "Nevertheless he again repeated that he was Timmothy Pitzen and had escaped from a hotel where he had been held captive." But once confronted with the DNA results, prosecutors said Rini told officers that he was not Timmothy but had watched a television program about the boy. Rini told investigators that he "wanted to get away from his own family," the complaint reads, "and that he "wished he had a father like Timmothy's, because if he went missing, his father would just keep drinking." Prosecutors alleged that Rini had pretended to be a sex trafficking victim on two prior occasions and in both instances had been identified once he was fingerprinted. Rini had been released from an Ohio prison less than a month before, records obtained by NBC 5 Investigates show. [[508136202, C]] Records from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction show that Rini was sent to prison in January 2018 after he pleaded guilty to burglary and vandalism in connection with a "tattoo party" held at a model home. After serving most of an 18-month prison sentence, Rini was released on March 7. Investigators from the Aurora Police Department had traveled to the Cincinnati area in hopes that the person was in fact Timmothy, the only child missing from the western suburb, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "Although we are disappointed that this turned out to be a hoax, we remain diligent in our search for Timmothy, as our missing person's case remains unsolved," Aurora Sgt. Bill Rowley said in a statement. At a news conference, Rowley said that despite the fact Pitzen was not found, the department is optimistic that the case is now so prominently back in public discussion. It created a renewed awareness in the case, So I think thats probably good, its good that its got people thinking about the case again, and perhaps has people looking at the case with new eyes. [[508131152, C]] Rowley said he did not believe anyone has ever claimed to be Pitzen before. Over the years weve had, I would say, thousands of tips on where Timmothy may have been, or what may have happened to him and of course we diligently followed up on all of those, he said. What to Know A boy appeared in Newport, Kentucky, on Wednesday, claiming to be missing child Timmothy Pitzen Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since his mother took him out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks in 2011 She was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room and had left a note that the boy was safe but would never be found The brother of the man who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen--a boy from Aurora who's been missing for nearly eight years--told a reporter Thursday he wants to apologize to the vanished child's family. Brian Rinni has a long criminal history. He is from Ohio and was just released from a prison less than a month ago, after serving time for burglary and vandalism. Rinni told authorities in Newport, Kentucky he was the missing boy and escaped captivity. But, DNA test results ruled out that possibility and the FBI confirms the person in question is actually Brian Michael Rinni. His estranged brother says he stopped getting treatment for his mental health issues. Jonathan Rini said he hasn't spoken to his brother, Brian, in four years. "I'm not surprised, I mean, he's nuts," he said. Brian Rini started parole in late March, just weeks before authorities say he claimed to be Pitzen. Clearly frustrated, Jonathan Rini said his brother had gone down a bad path and suffers from mental health issues. "He has Asperger's, bipolar disorder, ADHD, the list goes on, he said. Brian Rinnis criminal record also includes an arrest and guilty verdict for passing bad checks, a probation violation, and a conviction for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. "I'd tell the family Im sorry for what hes done," Jonathan Rini said. As for his brother? "I wouldnt even speak to him," he said. A man who was allegedly punched by a famous Mexican soap opera star during a reported road rage incident in Miami has died. Pablo Lyle, 32, was arrested Monday on a felony battery charge in the Sunday night incident in the area of Northwest 27th Avenue and Northwest 14th Street, according to an arrest report. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the 63-year-old victim died at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He was identified as Juan Ricardo Hernandez. Miami Police confirmed Thursday it was now a homicide investigation. According to the report, Lyle was involved in the alleged road rage incident with the man and later admitted to punching the man once. The man fell to the ground and fractured his skull, and suffered from internal bleeding, the report said. Lyle fled the scene in a car driven by another person, but a witness was able to get the license plate, the report said. Lyle was later detained at Miami International Airport. Lyle told detectives he was in fear for the safety of his family during the incident, and said he thought the victim was going to strike first, the report said. Police booked Lyle into jail and he was later released on bond. Attorney information wasn't available. Court records showed Lyle was allowed to return to Mexico after posting bond. He told reporters there that he couldn't comment on the incident. Lyle is one of the stars of "La Sombra del Pasado" and made the "50 Most Beautiful" list by People en Espanol in 2015. Abandoning his threat to immediately seal the southern border, President Donald Trump warned instead on Thursday that he'd slap tariffs on cars coming to the U.S. from Mexico unless the Mexicans do more to stop the flow of migrants and drugs to the U.S. In his latest backtrack in recent days, Trump told reporters he would try the "less drastic measure" before resorting to his standing border-closure threat. "Mexico understands that we're going to close the border or I'm going to tariff the cars. I'll do one or the other. And probably start off with the tariffs," Trump said. He added later: "I don't think we'll ever have to close the border because the penalty of tariffs on cars coming into the United States from Mexico, at 25 percent, will be massive." It was the latest, seemingly sudden attempt at new leverage by a president struggling to solve what his administration has called a border "crisis." And it was a dramatic departure for Trump, who last week tweeted that he would close the border or large swaths of it this week unless Mexico immediately halted "ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States" a seemingly impossible task. Trump said at the time that he was "not kidding around," and his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said in a television interview Sunday that it would take "something dramatic" for Trump not to close down the crossings. Since then, however, White House advisers, border city leaders and U.S. economists have warned that such a move would have enormous economic consequences on both sides of the border, interrupting supply chains and boosting U.S. consumer prices on everything from avocadoes to autos. Trump in recent days has also backtracked on his push for Republicans to again take on health care and surprised his own education secretary by reversing a plan to ax federal aid for the Special Olympics. Those actions have only added to longstanding concerns about whether Trump's words can be trusted. Trump, who has long said his unpredictability is one of his greatest negotiating assets, has also followed through with some of his most bombastic threats, including forcing the country's longest-ever government shutdown over border funding. Trump had already appeared to be easing off his border threat earlier this week. Though he said Tuesday all options remained on the table, he shifted his goal posts, calling on Congress to pass immigration legislation to avert a closure and praising the Mexican government for doing more to apprehend migrants traveling through the country from Central America though it's unclear anything has changed. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's foreign relations secretary, said Tuesday his government had not changed its policies. And on Thursday, Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. Martha Barcena told The Associated Press the country was working to make its own border "more orderly" but "migration will never be stopped." Jesus Seade, the Mexican undersecretary for North America, also brushed off the threat of new tariffs, saying officials were "not concerned" and noting the tariffs are not part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement that the countries have agreed to but not yet ratified. On Thursday, Trump also threatened tariffs if Mexico doesn't halt the flow of illegal drugs across the border, saying he'd give the country "a one year warning" to comply. "But if in a year from now drugs continue to pour in we're going to put tariffs on," he said, adding: "I don't play games." As for concerns his actions might interfere with the trade deal he fought for, Trump said the border was "more important to me than the USMCA." Trump has wide-ranging power to impose tariffs on national security grounds, which he has repeatedly used as leverage against other countries. But the USMCA was worded to protect Mexico against auto tariffs based on national security concerns, and trade lawyer Daniel D. Ujczo said those provisions are already in effect under a side letter. "In short, this is the exact scenario that the Mexican negotiating team predicted and secured protections from in the USMCA," he said. "Mexico 'Trump-and-Tweet-proofed' its auto sector," and the White House "would need to get very creative to impose auto tariffs on Mexico." In addition, despite what Trump suggests, Mexico, China and other American trading partners don't pay U.S. tariffs directly. American importers pay the tariffs at the border and then must decide how much of the higher cost they can pass along to U.S. customers. Tariffs do squeeze the manufacturers who export to the U.S. from foreign countries by making their products more expensive in the United States. But there again, that can hit U.S. companies, such as General Motors, which is a major car-maker in Mexico. Trump has been increasingly exasperated at his inability to halt the swelling number of migrants entering the U.S., including thousands who have being released after arriving because border officials have no space for them. Arrests along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months and border agents were on track to make 100,000 arrests or denials of entry in March, a 12-year high. More than half of those are families with children, who require extra care. The president's "pretty frustrated," said Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who spoke with Trump this week and offered to work with the administration "to try to come up with some more targeted ideas," including changes for remittances to Mexico. Trump suggested he work with the Treasury secretary on the idea, Cornyn said. Trump has invoked other executive powers, including declaring a national emergency in an effort to secure more money for his long-promised border wall. Congress voted to block the emergency declaration, but Trump vetoed that measure. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats would file a lawsuit aimed at preventing Trump from "stealing" billions from federal programs and diverting the money to building barriers along the border. Administration officials had been studying ways to minimize the economic impact of a potential border closure in case Trump went through with his threat, including keeping trucking lanes open or closing only certain ports. But even absent that extraordinary step, delays at border stations have been mounting after some 2,000 border officers were reassigned from checking vehicles to deal with migrant crowds. Each spring, the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors trying to catch the pink petals at peak bloom. Climate change could have an impact on future visitors' plans. Over the last century, temperatures have shifted peak bloom defined as when 70 percent of Yoshino cherry blossoms are open approximately five days earlier since 1921, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A National Park Service climate change scientist determined that climate change has increased the temperatures around the tidal basin at a rate of about 1.1 degrees Celsius per century (a rate of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit), park service spokesman Mike Litterst said. Thats a statistically significant rate, Litterst said. Higher daily temperatures make peak blooms arrive sooner, and the long-term trend shows earlier and earlier blooming, he said. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+t);e&&(e.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px")}})}(); When people plan their visits months in advance to see the trees in bloom, they look at climate data for when they would typically see peak bloom, NBC Washington meteorologist Amelia Draper noted. But day-to-day temperatures ultimately determine when peak bloom happens on a given year, she said. The cherry blossoms are a great example of the difference between weather and climate, Draper said. Freezes are also detrimental to the cherry blossoms and climate trends are a factor there as well, Draper said. A cold snap killed off half the blossoms that were set to bloom in March 2017. One of the concerns about the shift to earlier bloom dates is that it puts the cherry blossoms at more of a risk to a late season frost or snow, as happened in 2017, Litterst said. Peak bloom arrived April 1 this year, the park service said. Its the unofficial arrival of spring when they reach peak bloom, Litterst said. The excitement, the murmur starts to build when we make the peak bloom announcement, usually in the first couple of days of March. Especially now with social media, the way people can follow along as they go through the stages and as we get closer to it. Warming temperatures are not the only problem the Tidal Basin area faces, with more frequent high tide flooding and a sea wall thats dropping by about an inch or so each year, Litterst said. The wall is sinking because its original timber pilings were not placed on bedrock when installed in the 1930s, according to the park service. Tides undermine that infrastructure, too, Litterst said. There are places where, at high tide, its almost guaranteed that water is up over the wall, covering a segment of the parks sidewalk and roots of some trees. The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced Wednesday plans to partner with the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service to update infrastructure at the Tidal Basin. News4's Cory Smith spoke with cherry blossom visitors about the importance of the Tidal Basin and climate change. Over the long term, the District could see sea level rise of about 2 feet by 2100, according to Climate Central, which analyzed projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This puts the area at a 60 percent risk of seeing at least one flood over 8 feet in the next 50 years, according to Climate Central. Cherry blossoms arrived in Washington as a gift from Japan in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan, according to the park service. First lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Iwa Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees along the Tidal Basin on March 27, 1912. In Kyoto, Japan, which is about the same distance from the equator as Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms have also seen a shift toward earlier blooming due to warmer temperatures over time, according to research by Yasuyuki Aono, a professor of environmental sciences at Osaka Prefecture University. Aono was able to estimate peak blooms for about the past 1,200 years. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+t);e&&(e.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px")}})}(); The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which brings some 1.5 million visitors each year is now underway and will run until April 14. Its an enormous economic engine and has a tremendous impact on the local economies, Litterst said. Its one of those things that brings the whole city together. I like to say this time of year, theres no blue, theres no red, its just all pink as far as everybody in town is concerned. The festival is a launching pad for tourism season, when its also peak convention season and Congress is in session, said Elliot Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, which handles tourism outreach and programming for the area. "I think people would still want to come to D.C. during the peak blooming season, Ferguson said of unpredictable bloom periods. There are a lot of things to do in the region. The goal for us is to influence potential travelers coming to Washington to come for four days instead of one or two." Beyond blooming season, the festival itself, which lasts three to four weeks, also influences travelers decisions, he said. Nina Lin contributed to reporting What to Know A Bronx resident who talked about joining ISIS and attacking random people to avenge the New Zealand mosque shooting has been arrested Fabjan Alameti, 21, told an informant he moved from his home in the Bronx to Bozeman last month because he hated his life in New York "I will attack random people to avenge the blood," Alameti told the informant after the Christchurch mosque attack An Albanian national who talked about joining ISIS and attacking random people to avenge a shooting at a New Zealand mosque was arrested at a gun range in Montana, authorities said Thursday. Fabjan Alameti, 21, who moved from the Bronx to Montana last month, appeared before a U.S magistrate judge Thursday on charges of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and making false statements involving international and domestic terrorism. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch ordered him detained for further proceedings. The NYPD on Thursday said the department "is aware of the case and has been involved in the investigation working through the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force." Alameti's federal public defender, John Rhodes, said he is working on a proposal for his client's release. He declined further comment. Authorities first interviewed Alameti in 2018, and he later made pro-ISIS comments on Facebook, FBI Special Agent Matthew Duermeier said in a sworn statement filed with the court. Starting in January of this year, Alameti spoke with a federal informant about fighting with the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria and plotting an attack in the U.S. against a military facility, recruitment center, government building, "gay club" or Jewish temple, Duermeier said. But Alameti also later said he would not carry out an attack on U.S. soil because the country had granted him citizenship, the FBI agent's statement said. Alameti told the informant he moved from his home in the Bronx to Bozeman last month because he hated his life in New York City, he was having family issues and he had a job interview in Montana, where it was easier to buy a gun, Duermeier said. Alameti was traveling to Montana by bus on March 15 when a gunman opened fire in a Christchurch mosque and killed 50 people. He asked the federal informant to send him a link to the video of the shooting because it would fuel him. "I will attack random people to avenge the blood," Alameti told the informant, according to Duermeier. Once in Bozeman, Alameti looked at guns in pawn shops and Wal-Mart, and he bought an air rifle. He was kicked out of a hotel for smoking marijuana and hospitalized on March 25 for apparent acute alcohol intoxication, Duermeier said. After he was released, he went to the Bozeman police department to pick up his belongings, where was interviewed by an officer. In that interview, Alameti denied being linked to anyone who asked him to travel overseas, said he never expressed a desire to harm Americans, never expressed a desire to fight the U.S. military overseas and never expressed a desire to fight for ISIS, Duermeier said. On Tuesday, another federal informant recorded Alameti saying while buying marijuana that he could die the following day and said he wanted to "shoot up" the hotel that he had been kicked out of. He said he wanted to go to a gun range the following day and shoot a rifle that he had seen in a pawn shop, the FBI agent's statement said. On Wednesday, Alameti showed up at the firing range, paid $35 to rent an M1A rifle and was arrested when he took possession of it, Deurmeier said. The federal charge on which he was arrested says it's illegal to possess a weapon while using drugs, and the false statement charge apparently is related to the answers he gave Bozeman police during his interview. "This is yet another reminder of the ongoing threat posed by domestic Islamist extremists, and the need for law enforcement to take every threat seriously," an Anti-Defamation League spokesman said in a statement. "This case also exemplifies the role social media can play in giving would-be attackers access to extremist content and propaganda, which can further move them to violence." A Grand Prairie police investigator is taking her oath to serve and protect to a new level. Samantha Chandler said the department took a call recently from a woman who was trying to get out of a domestic violence situation with her 3-month-old child in tow. Chandler said in the short conversation she had with the woman, she realized she didnt have some of the basic needs to keep a child healthy. "After the call, I went home and it was messing with me a little bit," Chandler said. "So I posted on Facebook to see if some of my friends would donate or you know, give their extra stuff from their children and I could even come pick it up." Samanthas friend, Vanessa Fillingim, saw her Facebook post and shared it with her friends. The post had so much attention in just three days that the women were able to raise more than $3,000 and collect donations such as diapers, wipes and formula. The donations directly benefiting the victims services unit at the police department. Fillingim has set up a GoFundMe account for the cause. "I myself, had problems having children," Chandler said. "When it comes to the fact of these people who get abused and or don't have places to live, it just kind of hits home a little harder. So when you see a baby who is crying because they need milk or need a clean diaper, it just touches you in a different way and I just really wanted to help." The Grand Prairie Police Department is always accepting donations. Click here for more information. Thousands of students across North Texas are preparing for a big week of testing. STAAR testing begins Monday for 3rd through 12th graders and some school districts are also prepping parents to set students up for success. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD offers parent information sessions in the six weeks leading up to the STAAR test. "It was wonderful," said Kristy Broussard whose son attends the 4th grade at Freeman Elementary. "The sessions would be before school from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and there would be standing room only. It really helped us understand what was expected and how the children were expected to learn the material." According to a district spokesperson, the parent sessions are available six weeks before the STAAR test begins, to brief parents on their childs new unit of study. Broussard believes it has also helped her entire household to remain stress free when it comes to test-taking time. The father of an 8-month-old boy whose body was found buried in a backpack in a San Antonio field earlier this year has been indicted on a charge of injuring the child. The Bexar County district attorney's office announced the indictment Wednesday against 34-year-old Christopher Davila. Prosecutors say Davila struck King Jay Davila on Jan. 3 with an unknown object and then failed to seek medical treatment, resulting in the child's death. Christopher Davila initially claimed the child had been abducted. Davila, his mother and a cousin are charged with tampering with evidence for concealing the child's car seat. Davila is also charged with tampering with evidence by concealing a body, as well as drug and weapons charges. Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday made light of his recent controversy about crossing physical boundaries with women, and he signaled in a resolute speech to union activists that's he's ready to run for president as a moderate Democrat in party that has been drifting left. Biden, 76, opened his speech to a conference of electrical workers joking that he had "permission" to hug the union leader who introduced him. He later repeated the quip about a boy he invited up on stage. The remarks won cheers from the overwhelmingly male audience, but angered some of the activist women Biden has sought to convince he "gets" their concerns about his famously touchy-feely, and some say dated, style. During his speech at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference and afterward to reporters, Biden defended his focus on the "personal connection" in politics. "I'm sorry I didn't understand more. I'm not sorry for any of my intentions," he told reporters. "I'm not sorry for anything I've ever done -- I've never been disrespectful, intentionally, to a man or a woman." Biden all but declared he intended to join the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, telling reporters he's "putting everything together, man." He noted his lawyers had warned him to speak carefully about his intentions but said he expected to "be standing before you all relatively soon." He also suggested his strategy. In a nostalgia-soaked speech, Biden made clear he would position himself outside the progressive wing of the party and seek support from traditional Democrats and the working-class voters who backed Donald Trump in 2016. Biden said criticism of his bipartisan leanings was coming from the "far left" and reupped his appeal for compromise a sometimes unpopular view in the Trump-era. He bemoaned modern politics that's "gotten so damn elitist." "The vast majority of the members of the Democratic party are still basically liberal to moderate Democrats in the traditional sense," Biden said. As to where he falls on ideological lines, he said, "I'm an Obama-Biden Democrat, man. And I'm proud of it." But signs of changes in the party have been evident in recent complaints about Biden's history of publicly affectionate behavior with women. Nevada politician Lucy Flores said she was uncomfortable when Biden kissed her on the back of the head backstage at a 2014 campaign event. Her account was countered by scores of women from prominent lawmakers to former staffers who praised him as a warm, affectionate person and a supportive boss. But several other women have also come forward to recount their own awkward interactions with him. Flores panned Biden's remarks Friday, tweeting: "To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have." Ultra Violet, a women's rights group that initially urged Biden to do better, also reacted sharply: "Joe Biden's 'jokes' were shameful, and not how a so-called 'champion of women' should act," the group posted on Twitter. "He sent a very clear signal to women today - he just doesn't respect them." Biden did say the controversy "is going to have to change somewhat how I campaign." That controversy aside, Biden's address seemed intended to highlight how he could win back white, blue-collar workers like those who supported Trump in 2016. He seemed to criticize his own party for walking away from the demographic. He recounted a time when, he said, the dignity of teachers, sanitation and electrical line workers was treasured and the nation felt it had a common purpose. Saying his father, a salesman, told him to respect everyone, Biden alluded to various "sophisticated friends" who don't get the significance of treating blue-collar laborers as equals. "All you're looking for is to be treated fairly, with respect, with some dignity," Biden said. "Because you matter." Biden also noted he'd gotten criticism from the left for saying Democrats should work with Republicans to get things done, and in defending President Barack Obama's signature law, the Affordable Care Act, which some Democratic presidential aspirants want to replace with a single-payer health care system. "We need to build on it," Biden said of the law. "What we can't do is blow it up." Shortly after Biden was finished speaking, Trump hit back. "I've employed thousands of Electrical Workers," the president tweeted as his plane flew toward the Mexican border with California. "They will be voting for me!" However, the IBEW endorsed Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. Biden's advisers had signaled ahead of the speech that he was not going to mention the physical-touching controversy. But he attempted to defuse it by embracing the union's male president and kidding about it. While that may have landed with a thud to some outside the room, the labor leaders rose to their feet and applauded. The criticism of Biden's form of affection is a symptom of what ails not just politics but American life, said Denise Johnson, an attendee from Mechanicsville, Maryland. "He's a warm and affectionate person. He's sincere and he speaks from his heart," said Johnson, who works for the IBEW in Washington. "But in the society we live, we're losing that warmth. We need to get it back. This could actually rally for him." Friday was the second time in two days that President Trump attacked Biden on Twitter. Despite more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, on Thursday the president posted a doctored version of a cellphone video Biden released addressing the controversy over his touching. In Trump's version, a Biden avatar approaches Biden from behind and appears to grab his shoulders. Trump has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, and on Friday he told reporters he saw no reason to avoid going after Biden on the issue. "Yeah, I think I'm a very good messenger and people got a kick out of it," Trump said. None of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates commented on Biden's appearance. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, when asked after an event thanking small donors if she had ever felt uncomfortable around Biden, said, "I've said all I'm going to say about Joe Biden." AP writer Alexandra Jaffe contributed to this report. As President Donald Trump threatens to shutdown the U.S.-Mexico border, industries and facilities that would be affected are coming to light. One of those is the Cross Border Express (CBX), a pedestrian bridge at the border that pedestrians in Otay Mesa can use to walk to the Tijuana International Airport. "Last year we used the CBX five times," Belen Maldonado, a traveler, said Wednesday. "It's super convenient. We don't have to wait four hours to cross the border." CBX opened the bridge in 2016 for ticketed airline passengers only. "It is in compliance with US Customers and Border Protection regulations and international safety standards," said Nancy Gudino, International and Public Affairs Manager for CBX. Gudino said if the border is shut down, the CBX bridge will also shut down. That makes Julio Doria nervous. His wife walked from Otay Mesa to Tijuana for a week long trip in Mexico starting Wednesday. "I think my wife will just have to stay in Mexico until they open the border again," Doria speculated. "Because there won't even be walking across." Gudino said last year, more than 2.2 million passengers crossed through the facility (about 6,000 people per day.) "If Trump closes the border it will be total chaos," said traveller Eliezel Martinez coming back from a trip to his home in San Diego. President Trump said on Tuesday, "Sure its going to have a negative impact on the economy but security is more important to me than trade. CBX is currently open. If any changes happen in operations, staff will update pedestrians here. President Donald Trump is expected to attend a fund-raising event Friday evening in Beverly Hills, prompting a traffic advisory for drivers in the area and West Los Angeles. The President arrive Friday afternoon at Los Angeles International Airport after visiting the California-Mexico border in Calexico. He is scheduled to leave Los Angeles Friday night, bound for a speech Saturday in Las Vegas. The following streets in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills should be avoided, Los Angeles police said. Friday, April 5 2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m.: The area around Bundy Drive between Airport Avenue and West Pico Boulevard. 3 p.m. 4 p.m.: The area around Sunset Boulevard between South Sepulveda Boulevard and North Hillcrest Drive (Beverly Hills). 6 p.m. 7 p.m.: The area around Sunset Boulevard between NorthHillcrest Drive (Beverly Hills) and South Sepulveda Boulevard. 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.: The area around Bundy Drive between West Pico Boulevard and Airport Avenue. Closures and Restrictions 1 p.m. 7 p.m.: Sunset Boulevard between Foothill Road and Hillcrest Road will be closed. 1 p.m. 7 p.m.: Foothill, Elm and Maple Drives will be closed between Sunset Boulevard and Elevado Avenue. Note: No bus routes will be affected by the closures. A look at where President Trump will visit on his stop in the Los Angeles area. Rick Montanez reports for the NBC4 News at 11 a.m. on Friday April 5, 2019. Ugandan security forces are searching for a U.S. citizen from Orange County and a local driver who were abducted in a wildlife park and their kidnappers demanded a ransom, authorities said Wednesday. The missing people were taken in an ambush by four gunmen on Tuesday in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a protected area near the porous border with Congo, according to Ugandan police and a government spokesman. Citing Ugandan police, City News Service identified the woman as Kimberly Sue Endecott, 35, although her Facebook page is under the name Endicott. The driver was identified as senior guide Jean Paul. The kidnappers held up a group of foreign tourists at gunpoint, grabbed two of them and disappeared into the bush. Later the kidnappers, using the phone of one of their victims, demanded a ransom of $500,000, said a statement issued by police. "We strongly believe this ransom is the reason behind the kidnap," the statement said. "Their vehicle was left parked and the kidnappers went away with the key." The kidnapped American is a 35-year-old woman, police said. "I think of a lot of terrible things that could be happening," said Michelle Ansdell, a friend of Endecott, "and those things, that does not help." The four other tourists were "left abandoned and unharmed" and later were taken to safety after reporting the incident to authorities, according to a separate statement from the Uganda Media Centre. A rescue party of police, military and game rangers has been sent to find the abducted people, that statement said. Kidnappings in Uganda's protected areas are rare. "It's obviously a little scary, I hope things work out okay," said Timothy Smith, a former neighbor of the abducted woman. "I guess it depends on who took her, whether or not, even paying the $500,000, would do any good." Queen Elizabeth National Park, in southwest Uganda, is a popular safari destination in this East African country. Rep. Tim Ryan announced Thursday that he is running for president, adding to the growing 2020 field of Democratic candidates, NBC News reported. The Ohio congressman made the announcement online as he was set to appear on daytime talk show "the View." According to his campaign, he plans a kickoff rally with local union leaders in Youngstown, Ohio, highlighting his longstanding ties with the area's working class community. Ryan is known for having challenged then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is now speaker of the House, for the leadership of the Democrats in Congress after the 2016 election. The attempt was unsuccessful, but he became a fixture on cable news. His message is progressive and worker-friendly, and he's already made several trips to New Hampshire and Iowa. Pope Francis named Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as the new archbishop of Washington, D.C., the Vatican announced Thursday. Gregory, who served as archbishop of Atlanta, will be the seventh archbishop of Washington and the first African American to lead the Catholic Church in D.C. I am deeply grateful to Pope Francis for this appointment to serve the Archdiocese of Washington and to work with all of the members of this faith community, Gregory said in a news release. I look forward to encountering and listening to the people of this local Church as we address the issues that face us and continue to grow in the Love of Christ that sustains us. The 71-year-old succeeds Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who served as archbishop of Washington from 2006 to October 2018, when he resigned after a Pennsylvania grand jury report was released alleging the Wuerl who was then bishop of Pittsburgh did little to stop predator priests. Wuerl and many of his supporters vehemently deny that accusation. I have known Archbishop Gregory for many years, Wuerl said in a statement. In working with him on a range of pastoral initiatives and programs, I have come to recognize how generously he shares his talents and his love for the Church. Gregory headed the U.S. bishops conference when it adopted a "zero-tolerance" abuse policy in 2002 to respond to the first wave of the scandal. He has run the Atlanta archdiocese since 2005 and is seen as a pastor very much in line with Francis' progressive vision of the church. It is the third major move by Francis to reshape the U.S. hierarchy, which over the previous two papacies took on a culture war-influenced conservative tilt. Francis began elevating more moderate pastors in 2014, when he named Cardinal Blase Cupich as Chicago archbishop and followed up two years later by moving Joseph Tobin to Newark, New Jersey, and making him a cardinal. Gregorys installation will take place May 17. Pope Saint John Paul II appointed Gregory as the sixth archbishop of Atlanta Dec. 9, 2004. The Auxiliary Bishops of Washington released statements in support of Gregory, saying they receive the news with great joy. "This appointment reflects the Holy Fathers love for our local church, for each one of us, and, especially, for our immigrant families in the Archdiocese," Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville said in a statement. Archbishop Gregory will be able to identify with, and compassionately serve all of the people of this archdiocese, who represent very diverse ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds," Bishop Roy E. Campbell, Jr. said. The archdiocese became embroiled in the abuse crisis since its previous two leaders Wuerl and his predecessor Theodore McCarrick have been implicated in the scandal. Francis in February defrocked McCarrick after a Vatican-backed investigation concluded he sexually abused minors and adults over his long career. It was the first time a cardinal had been dismissed from the priesthood for abuse. Francis reluctantly accepted Wuerls resignation in October after he lost the trust of his priests and parishioners in the months following the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report. The report accused Wuerl of helping to protect some child-molesting priests while he was bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006. Simultaneously, Wuerl faced widespread skepticism over his insistence that he knew nothing about McCarricks misconduct, which was an open secret in U.S. and Vatican circles. Gregory, by contrast, is still credited for his leadership of the U.S. church during a moment of crisis, when as president of the U.S. bishops conference he persuaded church leaders to adopt toughened penalties for abusers in 2002. Gregory has impeccable credentials for dealing with the sex abuse crisis, which is essential for healing the church, the Rev. Thomas Reese, an expert on the American church, said in a column Thursday at Religion News Service. What to Know A boy appeared in Newport, Kentucky, on Wednesday, claiming to be missing child Timmothy Pitzen Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since his mother took him out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks in 2011 She was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room and had left a note that the boy was safe but would never be found DNA test results showed a person claiming to be missing Aurora boy Timmothy Pitzen is not actually the missing child, according to the FBI. Investigators ran a DNA test on the man who appeared in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area on Wednesday, claiming to be a child who disappeared from Aurora, Illinois, more than seven years ago. Authorities confirmed the results indicated "the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen." "A local investigation continues into this person's true identity," police said in a release. The family of missing Aurora boy Timmothy Pitzen spoke out and made a public request after a man falsely claimed he was the child who disappeared from the Illinois town more than seven years ago. Newport, Kentucky, police told an NBC affiliate station in the area that the person claiming to be Pitzen is actually 23-year-old Brian Michael Rini of Medina, Ohio. Further information on him was not immediately available. "Although we are disappointed that this turned out to be a hoax, we remain diligent in our search for Timmothy, as our missing person's case remains unsolved," Aurora Sgt. Bill Rowley said in a statement. Timmothy's disappearance has remained a mystery since Amy Fry-Pitzen took her son out of school and traveled to multiple Midwest water parks before she was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Rockford motel room on May 14, 2011. A note left behind in the motel room said that Timmothy was safe and in someone's care, but that he would never be found. "To be clear, law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today," police said in their release. Pitzen's family urged the public to "reserve all judgement and pray" for the man who falsely claimed he was the child. "Unfortunately this child is not our beloved Timmothy. We know that you are out there somewhere, Tim, and we will never stop looking for you, praying for you and loving you," Kara Jacobs, Pitzen's aunt, said. "We hope that everyone will join us in praying for the young man who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen." The man claiming to be 14 years old and Timmothy Pitzen was spotted standing near an intersection in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, and told witnesses that he was the child missing from Illinois. He said he had slipped away from two kidnappers who had held him for the past seven years, the police report on the incident states. He told investigators he had escaped an unknown Red Roof Inn, according to the police report, and "kept running across a bridge" into Kentucky. "Timothy [sic] described the two kidnappers as two male, whites, body-builder type build," the police report states. "One had black curly hair, Mt. Dew shirt and jeans & has a spider web tattoo on his neck. The other was short in stature and had a snake tattoo on his arms." The kidnappers' vehicle, according to the report, was described by Timmothy to officers as a newer model Ford SUV with unknown Wisconsin plates and a second row. The Ford is white with yellow transfer paint and a dent on the left back bumper, the report states. All surrounding police agencies with Red Roof Inns in their jursidictions were contacted and nothing was found, according to the report. The FBI confirmed he was in safe custody but did not give an update on his condition. Earlier Wednesday, two Aurora detectives had traveled to the area of Cincinnati for an investigation into a missing child, the Aurora Police Department said, but could not confirm the investigation was related to Timmothy's disappearance. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Pitzen is the only child missing from west suburban Aurora. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Louisville tweeted Wednesday afternoon that it was coordinating, alongside the FBI in Cincinnati, with police in Aurora, Cincinnati and Newport, Kentucky, as well as the Hamilton County sheriff's office, on a missing child investigation. The FBI also declined to confirm that the investigation was related to Pitzen's case. Alana Anderson, Pitzens grandmother, said Wednesday she heard that a boy claiming to be her grandson was in a childrens hospital in Kentucky after escaping his captors. We never forgot, never stopped thinking about him everyday, stayed in touch with the police, she said. It just went cold, and I just prayed that when he was old enough that he would remember us and contact us that was kind of the best I could hope for for a long time. The last time she saw her grandson he was just over 6 years old. The last boost in the case came in 2014, when a woman in the northern Illinois town of Rockton contacted police saying she saw a boy that resembled Timmothy at her garage sale, according to the Chicago Tribune. The tip came after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released an age-progression image showing what Timmothy would have looked like at the age of 9. It remained unclear if the boy the woman saw was in fact Timmothy. Fry Pitzen's cell phone, I-Pass and the clothing she was seen wearing on other surveillance videos, as well as Timmothys Spider Man backpack and his toys from the SUV, remained missing years after the boy disappeared, according to police. Anyone with information about the case is being asked to call Aurora police at (630) 256-5000 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678. Former Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged Wednesday that his tendency toward physical displays of affection and encouragement has made some women uncomfortable, and he promised to be "much more mindful" of respecting personal space. "Social norms have begun to change. They've shifted," the 76-year-old Biden said in a cellphone video posted to Twitter. "And the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset. And I get it. I get it. I hear what they are saying. I understand." Wearing a suit and open-collared shirt, Biden also teased an announcement of his political plans, promising to "be talking to you about a whole lot of issues." Shortly after the video was released, a union announced Biden would speak at their conference in Washington on Friday. The video was Biden's first direct comment on what has tripped up his preparations to enter the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign. He did not directly apologize but seemed to be seeking to ease some people's discomfort, which has raised questions about whether he could wage an effective campaign. On Friday, former Nevada politician Lucy Flores wrote in New York Magazine that Biden approached her from behind, touched her shoulders and kissed the back of her head in 2014. Since then, another woman has said Biden grabbed her face when he was thanking congressional staff at a 2009 event. On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported that three additional women had recounted uncomfortable encounters with Biden. One of them, Vail Kohnert-Yount, said she was a White House intern in the spring of 2013 when she met Biden in the West Wing and, as they chatted, he put his hand on the back of her head and pressed his forehead to hers and called her a "pretty girl." NBC News has not verified the report. Biden, a former longtime U.S. senator from Delaware, first said in a statement that he did not recall the episode that Flores initially described in the magazine piece and then in subsequent weekend interviews. In the video Wednesday, Biden insisted that what he described as the compassion from where the affection comes will not change and again nodded to the steps he's taking toward running. "But I'll always believe governing life, for that matter is about connecting, connecting with people," he said. "That won't change." Biden also said that he would be more careful about his actions in the future. "And I'll be much more mindful. That's my responsibility, my responsibility, and I'll meet it," Biden said. And in so doing, Biden was tacitly acknowledging a nagging concern for some voters: that he cannot adapt. "The idea that I can't adjust to the fact that personal space is important, more important than it's ever been, is just not thinkable," he said in closing. "I will. I will." President Donald Trump, who has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct (which he denies), was asked Wednesday whether Biden should apologize for the ways he has interacted with women. The president replied, "No, he's going to make his own decisions. He's very capable of making a decision, I assume." A day earlier, Trump taunted Biden at a National Republican Congressional Committee fundraiser, saying, "Our former vice president, I was going to call him. I don't know him well. I was gonna say, 'Welcome to the world, Joe. You having a good time, Joe?'" In November, Floridians approved the restoration of voting rights to more than a million former felons. But state lawmakers are now proposing a bill that would limit the number of people who get to vote. The measure would require former felons to pay all their court fines and fees before they can participate. That's something Betty Riddle says she can't afford to do. "I will lose my right to vote because I'm unable to pay," said Riddle, a 61-year-old former felon. She was first convicted of a felony at 17 years old. She registered to vote for the first time in January. "When you sign that paper you don't feel like you're a convicted felon because you're a part of society now. Your vote will make a difference in how this country is ran," Riddle said. "I can't explain it, it's like butterflies." The amendment's language said felons' voting rights would be restored "after they completed all terms of their sentence." Now, the question has become: what exactly does that mean? Some Florida Republicans say court fines and fees are part of a felons' sentence, and they're pushing a bill that puts it in writing. "People thought when you finish your sentence, you finish your sentence. And I think most people were thinking of a felon finishing their sentence if they served a period of incarceration," Larry Eger, a Sarasota public defender, said. He said this move from the state will disenfranchise poor voters. "I see this constantly, and I see that we have continued to criminalize poverty," Eger said. "And this is just one more example where your rights are dictated, not by your culpability, but by your wealth." Critics from as far as New York, like congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are calling it a 'poll tax,' the fee that was historically used to keep African Americans from voting until the 1960s. The author of the Florida bill takes offense to that. "To suggest that this is a poll tax inherently diminishes the atrocity of what a poll tax actually was," Rep. James Grant, a Tampa Republican, said. The stakes are high. Under Amendment 4 more than 1 million people regained the right to vote in Florida, where President Donald Trump won by some 112,000 votes. While politicians debate, volunteers are still registering voters. They're taking their word for it when they say they're eligible, but not without concerns. "It makes me a little bit nervous," Deanie Bergbreiter, a member of Progressive Sarasota, said. When people register to vote, they do it under oath that they meet the requirements. Submitting false information is a third degree felony. "We certainly don't want to cause any problems for anybody," Bergbreiter said. Some Florida prosecutors have publicly said they will not go after voters who registered thinking they could. But some worry the confusion alone will dissuade potential voters from engaging. "All of these things will keep people from participating," Eger said. Riddle said she still hopes she gets to participate, but can't help but feel disappointed "I feel like they gave us a right and then, they took it," she said. NBC 6 reached out to Representative James Grant for comment and did not hear back. The bill was approved in the State Affairs committee on Thursday and is headed to the Judiciary committee next. Some people say it is getting harder to get their hands on commonly used prescription drugs. A consumer reached out to the NBC 6 Responds Unit after he says he was unable to fill his prescription for medication to treat attention deficit disorder. A search online brings up several forums where people are complaining about not being able to fill prescriptions for medication to treat ADD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder across the country. One person wrote, "In West Coast Florida, have called 6 pharmacies this morning, all are out." Another person wrote, "South Florida definitely has a shortage." When we looked on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage database, we did not see several of the medications consumers complained they couldn't find. An FDA spokesperson sent us the following statement, "The FDA has contacted the manufacturer of Adderall and generic manufactures of Adderall. The brand Adderall has been reported as available. At this time, generic manufactures are reporting sporadic back orders of various strengths, with sustained normal market supply expected to resume within April/May timeframe. We continue to communicate with manufactures of these drug products for market supply availability." Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr. David Rube says patients shouldn't panic or immediately switch their prescription. "This is not an indication to switch up medication profiles because these things to tend to be temporary," Dr. Rube said. He says these types of back orders happen from time to time. "Controlled substances are being extremely controlled and there are only X amount being made. So more kids that come up the rank, and the more adults that get diagnosed with ADHD there are more prescriptions of these medications being used," Dr. Rube said. He encourages patients to do what they can to stay on their prescribed treatment plan. Some patients may need to reach out to their insurance provider. "Some insurance companies only allow you to take brand, some insurance companies only allow you to take generic, the real issue is trying to find a medication that most closely fits what the child is taking," Dr. Rube said. He also suggests visiting a locally-owned and operated pharmacy because he says they have access to more drug distributors. Pharmacist and pharmacy owner Steven Pressman explains why. "It's much easier for me to have multiple resources, than be one big company and maybe only have one resource," Pressman said. He says locally-owned pharmacies order from several manufacturers, making it easier to keep medications in stock. If they can't find a particular medication, he says they have the option to compound prescriptions for patients. "If a manufacturer is no longer making this drug, but people still need it, we reach out and we get the chemicals, to make it, and we can actually compound it," Pressman said. He says it can be hard to tell when a backorder or drug shortage will end, but the FDA says supplies of medication to treat ADD and ADHD should be back to normal levels sometime in April or May. CVS Health is expanding same-day prescription deliveries nationwide in the latest push by drugstores to keep customers who don't want to wait and are doing more shopping online. The drugstore chain says it can deliver medications and other products within a few hours to homes or offices from 6,000 locations. The company started this service, which comes with a fee, in late 2017 in New York and expanded it to several cities last year. Rival Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. also offers same-day deliveries in major cities and plans to expand this year. It has a partnership with FedEx Corp. to provide next-day deliveries as well. Drugstores have been dealing with competition from online giant Amazon.com, which offers its Prime customers same-day delivery for detergent, toothpaste and 3 million other products nationwide. Amazon also bought last year the online pharmacy PillPack, which provides home deliveries. But the retailer has yet to detail what it plans to do with that business. CVS and Walgreens built thousands of drugstores nationwide to get closer to customers before online shopping exploded in popularity and started hurting their in-store business. They've since pivoted to adding more health care services and higher-margin beauty products to their stores while also trying to make their business more inviting to shoppers who buy online without leaving home or work. Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS Health Corp. said Thursday that customers will be able to order the same-day service through the company's app, or by sending a text or calling the pharmacy. Aside from prescriptions, customers also can have items like cold remedies, vitamins and baby products delivered. CVS will provide the service through the delivery company Shipt in 36 states and Washington, D.C. It costs about $8, or a few more dollars than an option the company also offers nationally to have things delivered in one to two days. For same-day deliveries, orders have to be placed a few hours before the store closes. A CVS Health spokeswoman said Shipt will deliver the prescriptions in secure packaging to assure privacy. Aside from running drugstores, CVS Health also fills more than a billion prescriptions annually for employers, insurers and other clients as one of the nation's biggest pharmacy benefit managers. The company also spent about $69 billion to buy Aetna, a health insurer that covers more than 22 million people. AP Retail Writer Joseph Pisani contributed to this report. When she entered the race in May 2018, Chicago's new Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot was a long shot, even by her own admission - and relatively unknown in comparison to some of her opponents. Now, Lightfoot has a low profile no longer. After a resounding victory in which she swept all 50 wards, Lightfoot will be sworn into office in May as Chicago's first black female mayor and the city's first openly-LGBTQ mayor as well, an historic election by several measures in the country's third-largest city. A native of Massillon, Ohio, Lightfoot will also be the first elected mayor since Anton Cermak, in office in the 1930s, who was not born in Chicago. Lightfoot touched on her upbringing in her victory speech Tuesday night, giving a brief but emotional glimpse into the people and experiences she said made her who she is today. "My parents didn't have it easy," Lightfoot said. "My dad got really sick and slipped into a coma for a year, a whole year, and woke up without the ability to hear anything." "He lived the rest of his life with his disability," she continued. "He worked as a barber and a janitor and put up with the racism in our small, segregated steel town." Lightfoot had previously said that her father's disability and its impact on her family "profoundly shaped" her views on social justice. "My mom worked low-wage jobs in mental hospitals and nursing homes. My parents didn't have much money but they had their dignity and their dreams. Dreams for their children. Dreams for me," Lightfoot said. "They taught me the value of honesty, decency, hard work and education and they gave me faith - the faith that put me where I am today." "My mom is watching this tonight, with more than a little pride in her little girl," she added. After Lightfoot finished first in the Feb. 26 election to make the runoff, she told reporters that her 90-year-old mother had called her the next morning to share her hope that her daughter would open doors for others. "She said, and I agree, I hope that my candidacy demonstrates to young people, particularly young people of color who look like me, maybe growing up in circumstances like me, that with hard work, anything is possible," Lightfoot said the morning after the February election. As for her father, Lightfoot grew emotional Tuesday night. "My dad isn't with us anymore, but Dad," she said, pausing seemingly to collect herself, voice wavering ever so slightly. "Wherever you are, look at your daughter. And look at everyone here. And look at our great city." "Thank you, Dad. Your sacrifices have been born anew. We made it," Lightfoot continued. Lightfoot left Ohio to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, then after two years working as a legislative aide in Washington, D.C., earned a full ride to attend law school at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Chicago since 1986, save for a one-year clerkship on the Michigan Supreme Court, and since she moved to the city she's been a federal prosecutor from 1996 to 2002, and held various roles in city government, including as chief of staff for Chicagos Office of Emergency Management and Communications in 2005. Lightfoot is the former president of the Chicago Police Board, a position to which Emanuel appointed her in 2015, and which she resigned before launching her mayoral bid. Emanuel also tapped Lightfoot to chair the Police Accountability Task Force in 2016, in the wake of the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald that rocked the city and sparked a U.S. Department of Justice investigation in the Chicago Police Department. Most recently, Lightfoot worked as a senior equity partner at Mayer Brown LLP. Celebrating the new chapter in her career and for the city on Tuesday night, Lightfoot credited her wife and 11-year-old daughter - featured prominently in her light-hearted closing television ad - for her victory. "I sure wouldn't have made it without my wife Amy and our daughter Vivian," she said, gazing at her family onstage as the crowd chanted her wife's name. "I want to thank you both for your endless inspiration, your support at the toughest times and your undying love. You are my all, my everything." What to Know Jeanine Cammarata, 37, was reported missing Monday night, the NYPD said; she had last been seen Saturday on Staten Island The mother of three worked two jobs -- as a public school elementary school teacher and a Dollar Store clerk -- and hadn't shown up Sources said Friday that her estranged husband and his girlfriend had been charged with second-degree murder in the case The estranged husband of a missing Staten Island, New York teacher and mother of three, as well as his girlfriend, were arrested on murder charges Friday, a day after a body charred beyond recognition was found in a storage facility a few miles from where she lived, NYPD sources tell News 4. Jeanine Cammarata, 37, had been missing for nearly a week before the burned body was found in a garbage bag, surrounded by air fresheners, at a sprawling storage center in her home borough. Ayisha Egea, the girlfriend of Jeanine Cammarata's estranged husband Michael, was the one who pointed investigators to the site, a senior law enforcement official told News 4. The husband was also captured on surveillance footage at the facility, the senior official said. Now both are accused of second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence, according to a criminal complaint. The murder charges come as the medical examiner's confirmed Friday that the body found was "positively identified as Jeanine Cammarata, with a positive identification made through dental records." Investigators previously said that the body had been burned so badly it was completely unrecognizable. Jeanine Cammarata, a public elementary school teacher on Staten Island, hadn't been seen publicly since Saturday night at her home on Staten Island. Eric Gansberg, who is representing Cammarata in ongoing divorce proceedings against Michael Cammarata, told News 4 the missing woman had been heading to her husband's Queens home to see their children the night she disappeared. The NYPD confirmed at a briefing Thursday afternoon that Jeanine Cammarata had last been seen en route to Rockaway, Queens, from her home. Cops said they're still looking for Jeanine Cammarata's vehicle, a 2017 white Chevy Cruz. Gansberg said Jeanine Cammarata was "terrified" of her estranged husband, and that if something nefarious happened to the woman, it was likely at his hands. Gansberg said Michael Cammarata had custody of the children because Jeanine was living in an apartment she felt wasn't suitable for them. Jeanine Cammarata worked two jobs -- one at an elementary school and one at a Dollar Store -- and hasn't shown up for either of them this week, which prompted a missing persons report. The couple had no legal custody agreement involving the children. According to Gansberg, they had lived together but started having problems in 2017. They fought, had orders of protection against each other that were later rescinded and were in the middle of getting divorced. Gansberg said he and Jeanine Cammarata had talked about an upcoming court hearing about a week ago -- and that she wouldn't have missed it for any reason within her control. That court hearing was Monday. Jeanine Cammarata did not show up. "When Jeanine did not appear in court, I couldn't figure out why, and it was very upsetting," he said. "We tried to reach her on her cell phone, it went directly to voicemail, text and email. And there was nothing." Gansberg described her as a dedicated educator, hard worker and loving mom. Jeanine's Staten Island landlord couldn't reach her either. Michael Cammarata was initially arrested Tuesday on charges of assault, harassment and stalking in connection with an earlier confrontation in which he allegedly hit Jeanine Cammarata multiple times. He also allegedly stalked her on several previous dates, law enforcement sources tell News 4. Information on attorneys for Michael Cammarata and Egea wasn't immediately available. This story was originally published on April 5, 2019 by THE CITY. People in East Harlem know theres a new train coming eventually. They know about the train stops planned on Second Avenue at 106th and 116th streets, with another at 125th Street and Lexington. But what many residents are just starting to realize is that preliminary MTA plans to build those new Second Avenue stations require taking over dozens of properties and displacing hundreds of people along the Q trains future path. The exact number of properties and displacements is up in the air, as is the future of the project. When asked when construction may begin, the MTA points out the project still needs billions in funding to start in earnest. And the Trump administration has included zero dollars for the project in this years budget. Despite that uncertainty, the MTA has begun preparing for possible construction while keeping many of the people who could be directly affected by it in the dark about what, if anything, they can plan on. There are as many as 41 properties that may be seized by eminent domain to make way for the second phase of the Second Avenue subway, according to plans in the MTAs latest environmental assessment of the project. On the 23rd page of the sixth section of the 230-page document (which got federal approval in November), the MTAs plan is laid out in black and white: The subway construction is slated to permanently displace 505 workers and 140 residential tenants. That far eclipses the seven property seizures and 56 residential tenants displaced in the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway on the Upper East Side and triples what the MTA estimated in a preliminary plan for the East Harlem portion of the train project in 2004. The properties slated to be partially or fully taken by the MTA are diverse, from large development lots on East 125th Street to hair salons, bodegas and small apartment buildings farther south. Lived Here All Our Life Among them is 2128 Second Ave., a four-story brick building owned by Carlos Hernandez Jr., a longtime East Harlem resident who inherited the property from his father, who bought the place in 1981, deeds show. Hernandez, 60, said the thought of selling the building is emotional for him because his family lived here all our life. But Hernandez is in treatment for cancer of the thyroid and lymph nodes, and cashing out and leaving is precisely what hes trying to do. If it were up to him, he told THE CITY after a recent surgery, hed have sold already and moved to North Carolina to be closer to his 83-year-old mother. Yet because of the MTAs plans, Hernandez is stuck. He doesnt know if or when the agency would buy him out, and hes having a hard time finding a buyer because investors interested in the building get spooked once they find out about the MTA. For me, personally, its affected me big time, he said. Physically and mentally, its bothering me. Getting more specifics from transit officials has been tough, he said. One MTA representative told his real estate broker a final design with a concrete list of property condemnations was imminent while another said in an email that the MTA couldnt project with any degree of certainty, if we will need to acquire your clients property at this time. Should They Stay or Go? Next door, Julian Hoyos is trying to plan for the future, too. His familys restaurant, Cascalote Latin Bistro, has been open for five years after he, his wife and their three daughters used most of their savings more than $200,000, he said to gut renovate the ground-floor space. Now, the Hoyos are staring at a lease thats up in two years. Should they stay and roll the dice with the MTA, or leave now? I dont want to go out of business with nothing, he said, prepping ingredients in the restaurants tidy kitchen. He has heard commercial tenants are entitled to compensation. He is correct federal eminent domain rules requires the state to reimburse losses caused by moving the business, among other things. But he hasnt heard any details from the MTA. They havent said anything, he said. In fact, the only reason the Hoyos knew theyre on the map of potential property seizures is because a friend heard about it at a community board meeting. I was pissed off, said Julians 28-year-old daughter, Nereyda. I was like, What? What do you mean? I thought we werent going to be affected at all because the station was going to be on 106th. Officially, the MTA says any relocations are years away and could be fewer than whats listed in the environmental assessment documents, according to Janno Lieber, the authoritys head of Capital Construction. In a statement to THE CITY, Lieber emphasized the benefit to the neighborhood that the new train would bring. This project is hugely important to the East Harlem community the most transit-dependent neighborhood in NYC and the residents deserve better access to jobs, education and healthcare, he said. Lieber contended the authority is working extremely closely with all communities along the new route, including communicating about the project through a storefront community information center on East 125th Street, hosting public meetings and a dozen popup community conversations. Communication Gap Cited The MTA has alerted property owners about the possibility it would take their properties in letters sent as early as May of last year, according to two such letters obtained by THE CITY. But many residents, particularly rental tenants, have heard nothing. When told about the MTAs plans by THE CITY, several business owners, workers and residents who work and live in the buildings targeted by the subway plans said they had never heard of the possibility that they were on the chopping block. Cheikh Diop, 63, had not known of the plan before seeing the MTA document where his luggage and clothing shop, Touba African Store, is outlined in yellow on a map and labeled Ancillary 1. Its one of four properties just north of East 115th Street slated to become a ventilation facility. I have nowhere to go to turn, he said. I have no choice. There is no set timeline for when construction may begin or when buildings may be seized, but those on the map should expect theyll have to leave eventually, experts say. It could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more, said attorney Michael Rikon, who specializes in eminent domain law and represented several of the property owners and tenants displaced in the first phase of the Second Avenue construction some of whom are still arguing over settlements with the MTA. Michael Horodniceanu, who was president of MTAs Capital Construction division from 2008 to 2017, oversaw much of the first phase of the Second Avenue subway construction. He said if the MTA has identified a property to acquire, people ought to expect that that will happen. While people in the trains path wait on edge, the MTA has started some construction preparations, including drilling and testing soil along the route and inspection of tunnels built in the 1970s that will be used to complete the East Harlem stations. In the MTAs latest plan, the authority says the next phase could be complete in 2029 assuming construction starts in mid-2019, the environmental assessment says. How likely is that? Its really all about whos going to pay for it. Its a question of money, the MTAs Lieber said in a WNBC report on the subway from December. Whether the Trump administration will underwrite New Yorks transit projects is anyones guess, according to Horodniceanu. If you can actually predict the federal funding, probably someone will give you an award, he said with a laugh. Without much information to plan on, the Hoyoses at Cascalote are considering preemptively moving their restaurant. I usually have everything planned out, Nereyda told THE CITY. But the way things are going at the moment, Im not sure what can happen. Additional reporting by Claudia Irizarry Aponte This story was originally published by THE CITY, an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York. California suffered the worst wildfire devastation in the country last year, according to a new federal report. The annual Wildland Fire Summary report released this week by the National Interagency Coordination Center said 1.8 million acres burned in 2018 in the Golden State - more than in any other state. "Thats the worst in recorded history" for California, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spokesman Scott McLean. The next most geographically destructive year in California was 2008 when nearly 1.6 million acres burned, he said. Neighboring Nevada, meanwhile, saw 1 million acres burn in 2018, putting it in second place among states for acreage destroyed, according to the federal report. The White House has touted a two-mile stretch of fencing President Donald Trump is visiting Friday as the first section of his proposed border wall to be built. In reality, the newly fortified structure commemorated with a plaque bearing his name and those of top immigration and homeland security officials was a long-planned replacement for an old barrier. It is one of a handful of projects that total $1 billion to replace existing barriers and build new ones across the border. As Trump touts his signature campaign promise as the solution to the recent surge of migrant families crossing the border, here are questions and answers about the various barriers along the border and those that are in the works. WHAT'S ALREADY THERE? The southern border is nearly 2,000 miles long and already has about 650 miles of different types of barriers, including short vehicle barricades and tall, steel fences that go up to 30 feet high. Most of the fencing was built during the administration of George W. Bush, and there have been updates and maintenance throughout other administrations. WHAT HAS TRUMP DONE? Trump has yet to complete any new mileage of fencing or other barriers anywhere on the border. His administration has only replaced existing fencing, including the section he is touring Friday. Construction for that small chunk of fencing cost about $18 million, began in February 2018 and was completed in October. Plans to replace that fence date back to 2009, during the beginning of former President Barack Obama's tenure. Contractors have been doing site and preparation work for 13 miles of barriers in the Rio Grande Valley that will be Trump's first new fencing. The administration said construction could begin as early as this week. The administration is also in the process of replacing 14 miles of fencing around San Diego. "The wall is under construction, by the way, large sections. We're going to be meeting, I think on Friday, at a piece of the wall that we've completed, a big piece, a lot of it's being built right now," he told reporters Thursday. "It's moving along very nicely. But we need the wall." WHAT ABOUT THOSE PROTOTYPES? Early in his term, Trump called for prototypes of border walls that were built in the San Diego area at a cost of about $300,000 to $500,000 each. Eight prototypes went up, and Trump traveled to the border to inspect them last year. But they were demolished in February. The nearly $3 billion that Congress provided for barriers during the first half of Trump's term requires the money be spent on designs that were in place before May 2017, which meant the prototypes couldn't be used. The prototypes became a spectacle at various times since Trump took office, drawing tourists, protesters and artists who projected light shows on the walls from Mexico. WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY? Trump shut down the federal government for more than a month the longest shutdown in U.S. history and later declared a national emergency to free up billions of dollars to build his wall. Congress had voted to block the emergency declaration but Trump vetoed the measure. Several organizations brought lawsuits over the declaration, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats also planned on suing to prevent Trump from "stealing" money from federal programs and diverting the money to build a wall. But the national emergency money has not yet been spent in part because the government has to first spend existing border wall funding. A lawsuit could eventually derail the plan. Still, various plans for more border barriers are moving along. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security requested that the defense department build 57 miles of 18-foot fencing near Yuma, Arizona and El Paso, Texas, which have seen enormous increases in the number of border crossers, especially families. Navy officials say a female sailor was wounded in a "domestic" shooting in a Virginia base parking lot and security fatally shot the shooter, a male sailor. Navy mid-Atlantic region officials said in a statement that the shooting took place early Friday morning in a Strike Fighter Squadron 37 hangar parking lot at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. Officials say security responded to the shooting and fatally shot the male sailor. They say the female sailor was taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds that aren't thought to be life-threatening. The shooting happened at 6:45 a.m. and "the situation was resolved" within five minutes, the Naval Air Station said on its Facebook page. The station, the Navy's master jet base for fighters on the East Coast, had tweeted at 7:18 a.m. that it was on lockdown, saying "this is not a drill." It announced the lockdown was lifted about an hour later. Officials say normal base operations have resumed. Naval Air Station Oceana is home to 18 F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet squadrons. The base has about 10,500 active Navy personnel, 10,000 family members and 4,500 civilian personnel, according to its website. Officials say the base has a "no weapons policy" and the shooting is under investigation. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+t);e&&(e.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px")}})}(); 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. Regional leaders representing both the United States and Mexico will gather in Imperial Beach, California Friday for a rare discussion between the two countries about a flow of sewage crossing the border in the South Bay region of San Diego. Elected leaders and non-government representatives from both countries hope the meeting at the Dempsey Holder Safety Center Friday afternoon will begin a dialogue as to how to solve the sewage seepage. San Diego-area residents have complained for years that their health and wellbeing is being affected by pollution to the Tijuana River Estuary. Polluted runoff likely comes from a Tijuana sewage treatment plant in need of upgrades that would likely cost upwards of $370 million, a study by Mexican officials found. The Tijuana River Estuary and shorelines from Imperial Beach to Coronado are often closed to the public after spills on the Mexican side of the border cross into the United States via the Tijuana River, especially following heavy rainfall. The meeting aims to go over what work has been done so far to address the problem and provide an overview of current plans, as well as addressing what hurdles remain. The long-standing problem has become a source of contention between leaders on both sides of the border as to who is responsible for a solution. The issue reached the courts last year when Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued the International Boundary Water Commission. The suit alleges millions of gallons of waste, including untreated sewage, trash, pesticides and heavy metals have been discharged from the IBWC's treatment facilities in violation of the Clean Water Act. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Board and the city of San Diego have also joined the suit. It asks the court to force the IBWC to comply with the Clean Water Act and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. But the IBWC argued in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit that the agency is not responsible for the millions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage that flow into the Pacific Ocean from the Tijuana area. The last time a sewage spill caused long-lasting beach closures in San Diego County was in December 2018. That's when officials with Mexico's IBWC told the U.S. that an estimated 6 to 7 gallons of sewage per day was flowing into the Tijuana River Valley due to a failure at their plant. The Tijuana River crosses the U.S.-Mexico border just west of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and travels northwest, through the Tijuana River Estuary and into the Pacific Ocean south of Imperial Beach. NBC 7 has live team coverage of the presidential visit on air, in app and at the top of this page. President Donald Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico, California, Friday and touted the effectiveness of a recently renovated stretch of border fence, calling it "better, faster and less expensive," than the portion of fence it replaced. The president flew into Naval Air Facility El Centro aboard Air Force One and was greeted to cheers from border patrol agents, military troops and their families before boarding a motorcade en route to the border town. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was the first to greet the president and traveled with him south to Calexico, where he will tour a 2.25-mile section of recently renovated border fence Trump was joined for a quick media briefing by law enforcement agency officials from border jurisdictions from San Diego to Arizona. Trump repeated previous claims that San Diegans were "begging me for a wall." Were very appreciative of this wall. These men and women out here in the area of two miles were experiencing a high number of assaults and use-of-force incidents. This was prior to this wall being built," El Centro Sector CBP Chief Gloria Chavez said. Chavez said the see-through design of the new fence gives agents a huge advantage because they can now see what's on the other side. Heading to the Southern Border to show a section of the new Wall being built! Leaving now! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019 "We can see the adversary, we can see the threat," she said. Chavez said agents would have rocks and other items thrown at them on a daily basis, but those threats have stopped since the new fence was erected. According to Chavez, assaults on agents have dropped 65 percent in that two-mile stretch and illegal entries have decreased by 75 percent. Trump said the majority of breaches in the area happen at points along the border still lined with the old fence. When the entire area is lined with the new style fence, he predicted illegal entries in Chavez's area would be down 99.9 percent. If you want to climb that its pretty sharp up top, too If you want to climb that, you deserve whatever you can get," he said. Three sheriffs from counties in California's central valley were also at the briefing, saying they feel the impact of porous border defense from 400 miles away. "I just want to take this opportunity to thank this president for doing the right thing and standing up for law enforcement in this country. It is greatly appreciated," Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said. Trump criticized political leaders in California, and in San Diego, for their apparent complaints regarding Trump's border barrier project. "Its interesting about California, theyre begging me for the wall in San Diego, you know that, because the people were pouring in through San Diego, going over the front lawns, going into peoples houses, so they want the wall done in San Diego, and we did it and then you hear they dont want the wall; they want the wall. If you ever took it down, they wanted that one so badly, and we did it, we did a great job. We stopped everybody, virtually everybody actually, everybody from coming over. It was a tremendous success but California is always the first one to complain." Sherrif representatives from Arizona who joined the president also thanked him for his commitment to border security, and said they neutralize threats from the other side of the southern border every day. Anyone who would suggest that we do not have a crisis on our southern border is being intellectually dishonest to the point of being dishonest with malice. We have a humanitarian crisis which is very clear and compelling, we have a compelling crisis of public safety with human trafficking, drug trafficking, sex trafficking coming through the border. This is not make believe, this is something that we live with every day as border sheriffs, so we applaud the efforts of the current administration to secure our border, Pima County Sheriff Mark D. Napier said. Ahead of the tour, the president first sat down for a roundtable with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security officials. CBP Chief Chavez said that the renovated section of wall accounted for a drop in illegal entries by 75 percent in fiscal year 19. "We need the border barrier, we need to provide the requirements that meet our need, in this case for us its 30 feet high," Chavez said. "That's what we asked for and that's what was provided, so thank you on behalf of the border patrol here for allowing that to happen." With the renovation, the section became the tallest border barrier along the southern United States, standing at 30 feet tall, according to Chavez. The White House says it's the first section of his proposed border wall to be built, though the repairs were made with 2018 appropriations as part of a long-planned replacement project, and was in construction from Feb. to Oct. 2018. "There is indeed an emergency on our southern border," Trump said at the briefing, adding that there has been a sharp uptick in illegal crossings. "It's a colossal surge, and it's overwhelming our immigration system. We can't take you anymore. Our country is full." Meanwhile, both protesters and supporters gathered at the Gran Plaza Outlets next to the Calexico Port of Entry in anticipation of Trump's arrival. Nearby, the barbed wire fence separating the two countries was lined with Department of Homeland Security vehicles. Protesters floated next to the port a 20-foot tall balloon of a cartoonish Trump wearing a diaper, hopeful that the president's motorcade would pass the giant inflatable while en route to the border. "We hope our words our real worries are heard. And we can reach a solution," said protester and Calexico resident Maria Surtado. Trump supporter and El Centro resident Omar Vega positioned himself next to the baby Trump balloon and alongside protesters to represent the other side, he told NBC 7. Vega is hopeful that the president can make change along the border. "Hopefully he actually does something productive today, and hopefully helps the economy, in this city, right now," Vega said. "With building the wall, hopefully the crime rate goes down, especially in this city, because its very bad right now." Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that during President Trump's visit to the border city, he will be briefed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on "exactly what is taking place at the border." "Hes going to get a briefing when he first arrives there from a number of law enforcement officials, the CBP folks the people that are on the front lines there on the ground," she told Fox News. The president has threatened to close the southern border if demands to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking are not met. On Thursday, the President walked back the immediate threat to close the border and instead said the closure could come next year if the Mexican government or Congress does not make significant progress on both issues. Trump also said he would slap tariffs on Mexican automotive imports at that time. The possibility of a border shutdown was first made last Friday due to a surge of Central Americans migrants who are seeking asylum in the U.S. Trump administration officials have said the influx is straining the immigration system to the breaking point. While Vega is in favor of Trump's border wall plan, he admits shutting down the border wouldn't be good for El Centro because the city's economy relies on people crossing over the border to spend money, he explained. "This is certainly not the presidents first choice but Democrats at this point, they're unwillingness to do anything has left the president with very little options. Thankfully Mexico has stepped up over the last few days," Sanders said. When asked what Mexico has done, the press secretary said they've added additional checkpoints within the country to stop migrants before they reach the U.S. border. Second, Mexico increased to 300 the number of asylum-seeking individuals allowed to be sent back to Mexico as part of a new U.S. policy. Mexico's cooperation with U.S. officials last December marked a historic one as the country has traditionally refused to accept into their country the return of any migrants who are not Mexican. Elected leaders from border communities stretching from San Diego to cities across Texas warned that havoc would ensue on both sides of the international boundary if the ports were closed. They were joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which said such a step would inflict "severe economic harm." The San Diego and Imperial County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union released a statement Friday voicing concerns that the president was not meeting with civilians of the border communities. The statement read in part, "To our knowledge, the president has no plans to meet with Imperial Valley residents or community leaders to hear their concerns. He has no intent to learn how his policies strain limited local resources and put lives at risk. He is unmoved by the harmful effects his threats to close the border has on businesses, families and civic life in the region." Calexico, part of Imperial County, is home to the second busiest commercial port on the California border and processes tens of thousands of vehicles daily. Also on Friday, House Democrats filed a lawsuit preventing Trump from spending more money than Congress has approved to erect barriers along the southwestern border. Congress approved just under $1.4 billion for work on border barricades. Trump has asserted he can use his powers as chief executive to transfer an additional $6.7 billion to wall construction. Norwegian officials have opened an investigation into why a cruise ship carrying more than 1,370 people set sail along the country's often wild western coast despite storm warnings, forcing a major evacuation by helicopter. One person is in critical but stable condition in an intensive care ward, hospital officials said, adding eight others are still hospitalized after the Viking Sky had engine problems off the Norwegian coast and issued a mayday on Saturday afternoon. The Viking Sky had left the northern city of Tromsoe and was headed for Stavanger in southern Norway when it ran into trouble. 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 winching 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 Norway's 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 passengers were taken off, the captain made the decision 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. Liseth said investigators were headed to Molde on Monday and declined to speculate as to why the Viking Sky captain had decided to sail to Stavanger in the first place despite the weather warning. He couldn't immediately say how long the 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 Norway's 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. On Sunday, the operator said the Viking Sky's next scheduled trip, to Scandinavia and Germany, which was to leave on Wednesday, has been canceled but no other trip cancellations for the ship were foreseen yet. Calls to Viking Ocean Cruises on Monday were not immediately returned. Traffic came to a standstill on eastbound Interstate 66 in Fairfax County, Virginia, during the Thursday evening rush due to a multi-car crash and vehicle fire. Drivers going eastbound on I-66 swerved to avoid a crash involving two vehicles near Exit 60. But when they moved over, 12 vehicles got into a chain reaction crash, Virginia State Police said. Video showed flames engulfing the last two vehicles in the chain reaction crash. The fire has been extinguished. Police said one person had a minor injury and medics treated them at the scene. All lanes were back open by about 9 p.m. Traffic was backed up for at least about 2 miles on eastbound I-66 as crews worked to extinguish the fire, and there were also significant delays on westbound I-66 in the area. British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday again sought to delay Brexit until June 30 to avoid a chaotic withdrawal from the European Union in one week, although a key leader of the bloc suggested an even longer pause in the difficult divorce proceedings. The question over timing is vital because Britain is set to leave the EU without a withdrawal deal in place on April 12 unless an agreement is reached at a Brussels summit set to take place two days earlier. In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, May asked for an extension until the end of June and agreed to make contingency plans to take part in European Parliament elections on May 23-26 if necessary. An earlier British request for a delay until June 30 was rejected last month, amid rising irritation from EU leaders about the political chaos in London. There also have been increasing fears that the longer the U.K. stays, the more it will obstruct EU policies and plans. Tusk proposed a longer time frame Friday and he urged the 27 remaining EU nations to offer the U.K. a flexible extension of up to a year to make sure the nation doesn't leave the bloc in a chaotic way that could undermine commerce and hurt many EU nations. Two EU officials said Tusk wants a one-year period, which has been dubbed a "flextension," and hopes to get it approved at the EU summit on April 10. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to disclose information before it was made public. Such a move would mean that the U.K. would need to take part in the elections to the European Parliament, something May has long argued would not be in either side's interest. The elections pose a substantial stumbling block because Britain would be expected to take part, if it is still an EU member, so its people have representation in the European Parliament. Officials worry that the legitimacy of European institutions could be jeopardized if the population of a member state is not involved in the process. EU nations already have watched nearly three years of political anxiety over Brexit. French President Emmanuel Macron has thus far seemed cagey about giving Britain more time, saying the bloc cannot be held hostage by Britain's political deadlock over Brexit. There are also concerns in Europe that some British politicians who want to provoke a "no-deal" Brexit might try to make trouble from inside the bloc, a course that outspoken Brexit advocate Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested Friday. He tweeted that "if a long extension leaves us stuck in the EU, we should be as difficult as possible." The Conservative Party lawmaker suggested using Britain's positon to veto any EU budget increases, block the establishment of an EU army, and make it impossible for Macron to push further EU integration. One EU diplomat said that there was rising concern among member states that they would not get "sincere cooperation" from Britain, which could hurt how the bloc functions. "There are important decisions to be taken after EU elections," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on closed-door meetings preparing for next week's summit. There also were fears about a chaotic Brexit on April 12. There are concerns that such an abrupt exit without a deal could lead to economic slowdown and a breakdown in food and medical supplies as border checks and tariffs are added overnight. Massive traffic jams could also be expected on highways leading to major ferry ports. The complex maneuvering on dates comes as Britain's Parliament considers legislation designed to prevent such a "no-deal" departure. Britain's upper House of Lords is set to resume debate on the measure Monday. It was endorsed earlier by the lower House of Commons by just one vote. Despite the apparent support in Parliament for a new law to prevent a no-deal exit, the decision is in the hands of the EU, not Britain. It is the first country to try to leave the bloc, and the formal "Article 50" exit procedure has never been tested before. All 27 nations have to agree unanimously on an extension. The Europeans would prefer that Britain not take part in the European Parliament elections if it is going to leave. April 12 is the last day for Britain to signal whether it will field candidates. May said in her letter that Britain is reluctantly ready to begin preparations for the European elections if no Brexit deal is reached in the interim. She said she is making the preparations even though she believes it is not in the interest of either Britain or the EU for her country to participate because it is leaving the bloc. May's withdrawal plan, reached with the EU over more than two years of negotiations, has been rejected by the U.K. Parliament three times. She is now seeking a compromise in a series of talks with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and his deputies, with hopes of winning opposition support for a new divorce deal. The talks do not seem to be advancing. The Labour Party said in a statement Friday it is "disappointed" that May's team is not offering real change. "We do need change if we're going to compromise," said Keir Starmer, the party's Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, said, adding that Labour wants the talks to continue. If the talks don't work, May plans a series of votes in Parliament to see if a majority-backed plan can emerge. Ideas being discussed include keeping Britain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves the bloc, as well as the possibility of a second referendum. There is fierce opposition from Brexit backers in the Conservative Party to these options. Associated Press writer Lorne Cook contributed. A 23-year-old ex-convict accused of pulling a cruel hoax by pretending to be a long-missing Illinois boy was charged Friday with making false statements to federal authorities. The FBI said Brian Rini had made false claims twice before, portraying himself as a juvenile sex-trafficking victim. The Medina, Ohio, man was jailed in Cincinnati on Thursday, a day after telling authorities he was 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in 2011 at age 6. The FBI declared Rini's story a hoax after performing a DNA test. The charge should send a message about the damage such false claims can do, said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman. "It's not OK to do it because of the harm that it causes, the pain, for the family of that missing child," Glassman said. Rini's story had briefly raised hope among Timmothy's relatives that the youngster's disappearance had finally been solved after eight long years. But those hopes were dashed when the test results came back. "It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again," said Timmothy's aunt Kara Jacobs. Rini was jailed for a bail hearing on Tuesday. His public defender did not immediately return a message. Rini could get up to eight years in prison. Rini was found wandering the streets on Wednesday and told authorities he had just escaped his captors after years of abuse, officials said. He claimed he had been forced to have sex with men, according to the FBI. When confronted with the DNA results, Rini acknowledged his identity, saying he had watched a story about Timmothy on ABC's "20/20" and wanted to get away from his own family, the FBI said. Rini said "he wished he had a father like Timmothy's because if he went missing, his father would just keep drinking," the FBI said in court papers. A message left with Rini's father for comment was not immediately returned. Glassman said authorities were skeptical early on of Rini's claim because he refused to be fingerprinted, though he did agree to a DNA swab. Rini also looks older than 14, but Glassman said investigators wanted to make sure "there was no opportunity missed to actually find Timmothy Pitzen." Rini's DNA was already on file because of his criminal record. He was released from prison less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism. He twice portrayed himself in Ohio as a juvenile victim of sex trafficking, and in each case was identified after being fingerprinted, authorities said. In 2017, Rini was treated at an Ohio center for people with mental health or substance abuse problems, according to court papers. Timmothy, of Aurora, Illinois, vanished after his mother pulled him out of kindergarten, took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, and then killed herself at a hotel. She left a note saying that her son was safe with people who would love and care for him, and added: "You will never find him." After Rini's account was pronounced a hoax, Timmothy's grandmother Alana Anderson said: "It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting." She added, "I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else." Associated Press reporters Carrie Antlfinger, Don Babwin, Caryn Rousseau and Corey Williams contributed. Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations arrested more than 280 people at an Allen business Wednesday, ICE officials say. HSI officials told NBC 5 that a search warrant was executed at the business as part of an ongoing criminal worksite investigation. In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, ICE officials said the employees were unlawfully working in the US and were arrested on immigration violations. "As far as immigration related arrests, this is the largest ICE worksite operation at one site in the last 10 years," said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, HSI Dallas. HSI said the investigation began after officials received multiple tips dating back about a year that the company, which repairs and refurbishes electronics used in telecommunications, may have knowingly hired people living in the country illegally and that many of the employees were using fraudulent identification documents. An audit undertaken in January of the company's I-9 forms indicated numerous hiring irregularities, officials said. From Texas Sky Ranger, ICE agents could be seen searching and handcuffing a number of people outside CVE Group on Enterprise Boulevard and placing them onto one of five large buses. "Businesses that knowingly hire illegal aliens create an unfair advantage over their competing businesses," said Berger. "In addition, they take jobs away from U.S. citizens and legal residents, and they create an atmosphere poised for exploiting their illegal workforce." Wednesday night, dozens of families impacted by the raid took advantage of legal advice offered by LULAC at United Methodist Church in Allen. Dora Hernandez said her daughter-in-law has worked at CVE for more than a decade. She was arrested when about 200 federal officers executed a search warrant at the business this morning. "[I'm] very sad because she is like a daughter to me," Hernandez said. "Some of these people have family members that have been working here for 10 and 15 years. So these are not people who have not just arrived. These are people who have been with this company for years, and have been in this country for years. It's sad because I understand that most of the people here are women and they are leaving behind their children," said Hilda Ramirez-Duarte, LULAC representative. "I talked to a young lady who is a teenager and she says, 'My mom is leaving myself, my brother, and two younger babies.' She's the only breadwinner in the household, so what's going to become of this family of four? We have similar situations all across the board." The raid sparked protests in Allen and Dallas, where about a dozen people chanted and held signs outside an ICE field office. "These are hardworking people. These are not criminals, rapists, or anything of that nature. They are hardworking people earning a living," Ramirez-Duarte said. In Garland, Wendy Armas arrived home after spending hours in ICE custody. Armas, a Guatemalan national with two teenaged children, said she's worked at CVE since arriving in the U.S. five years ago. She was arrested, but released Wednesday night after making a promise to appear in court in May. "The hardest thing was when the bus started taking off. It reversed out and then there was a long moment of silence, people crying, people saying, 'I'm going to leave this country and go back to my own,'" Armas said. HSI said all of those arrested and detained Wednesday were interviewed by ICE staff to determine if they remain in custody or considered for humanitarian release. In all cases, HSI said, all people living in the country illegally will be fingerprinted and processed for removal from the United States. Consulates for Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador, as well as ICE, have set up numbers for people to call if they believe their family member was arrested. A 24-hour toll-free detainee locator hotline is available for family members of those arrested. The hotline is designed to answer questions, in both English and Spanish, about those detained, their location and status. That number is 1-888-351-4024. Mexican Consulate -- 1-855-463-6395 Honduran Consulate -- 214-424-9679 or 214-650-4175 Salvadoran Consulate -- 469-441-3556 NBC 5's Courtney Gilmore contributed to this report. Over the past 20 years, Americans have been twice as likely to sweat through record-breaking heat rather than shiver through record-setting cold, a new Associated Press data analysis shows. The AP looked at 424 weather stations throughout the Lower 48 states that had consistent temperature records since 1920 and counted how many times daily hot temperature records were tied or broken and how many daily cold records were set. In a stable climate, the numbers should be roughly equal. Since 1999, the ratio has been two warm records set or broken for every cold one. In 16 of the last 20 years, there have been more daily high temperature records than low. The AP shared the data analysis with several climate and data scientists, who all said the conclusion was correct, consistent with scientific peer-reviewed literature and showed a clear sign of human-caused climate change. They pointed out that trends over decades are more robust than over single years. The analysis stopped with data through 2018. However, the first two months of 2019 are showing twice as many cold records than hot ones. That's temporary and trends are over years and decades, not months, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate monitoring chief Deke Arndt. "We are in a period of sustained and significant warming and over the long run will continue to explore and break the warm end of the spectrum much more than the cold end," Arndt said. Former Weather Channel meteorologist Guy Walton, who has been studying hot and cold extreme records since 2000, said the trend is unmistakable. "You are getting more extremes," Walton said. "Your chances for getting more dangerous extremes are going up with time." No place has seen the trend more clearly than the Southern California city of Pasadena, where 7,203 days (more than 19 years) went by between cold records being broken. On Feb. 23, Pasadena set a low temperature record, its first since June 5, 1999. Vermont native Paul Wennberg felt it. He moved to Pasadena in 1998 just before the dearth of cold records. "Even with the local cold we had this past month, it's very noticeable," said Wennberg, a California Institute of Technology atmospheric sciences professor. "It's just been ever warmer." In between the two cold record days, Pasadena set 145 hot records. That includes an all-time high of 113 degrees last year. "Last year was unbelievable here," Wennberg said. "The tops of a lot of the hedges, they essentially melted." Scientists often talked about human-caused global warming in terms of average temperatures, but that's not what costs money or sends people to the hospital. A study this month found that in just 22 states, about 36,000 people on average go to the hospital because of excessive summertime heat. "The extremes affect our lives," Arndt said, adding that they are expensive, with hospital stays, rising energy bills and crop losses. National Center for Atmospheric Research climate scientist Gerald Meehl, who has published peer-reviewed papers on the rising hot-to-cold ratio, said people pay more attention to climate when records are broken. The AP counted daily records across 424 stations starting in 1920 and ending in 2018. The AP only considered daily not all-time high maximum temperatures and low minimum temperatures and only used stations with minimal missing data. Temperatures that tied previous records were counted in addition to temperatures that broke previous records. More typical than Pasadena is Wooster, Ohio. From 1999 on, Wooster saw 106 high temperature records set or broken and 51 cold ones. In the previous eight decades, the ratio was slightly colder than one to one. At MW Robinson Co., people are lining up for air conditioning installation as the climate seems to get have been getting hotter over the years, said Lori Bowersock, who coordinates the firm's HVAC installations. "It's more and more every year," Bowersock said. "Usually we don't have them lined up like this." The AP's other findings: Since Jan. 1, 1999, just under half the stations had at least twice as many hot records set than cold ones, including Wooster. In all, 87 percent of the weather stations had more hot records than cold since 1999. There have been 42 weather stations that have at least five hot records for every cold one since 1999, with 11 where the hot-to-cold ratio is 10-to-1 or higher, including Pasadena. All nine of NOAA's climate regions have seen more hot records set than cold ones since 1999, with the West, Southwest and Northeast having a 3-to-1 ratio. All four seasons have had more hot records broken than cold for the same time period. Most decades in the 20th century had close to an even ratio of hot to cold. The 1930s, driven by Dust Bowl summers, had about 1.4 hot records for every cold. The 1960s and 1970s had about 1.5 cold records for every hot. The 21st century has a 1.9-to-1 hot-to-cold ratio. "As a measure of climate change, the dailies (temperature records) will tell you more about what's happening," said climate scientist Chris Field of Stanford. "The impacts of climate change almost always come packaged in extremes." Firefighters battled a 2-alarm house fire in Reading, Massachusetts. The North Reading Fire Department said the blaze was at a home on High Street. Emergency road closures are in effect in wake of the fire, according to Reading Police. High Street by Vine Street has several detours, police warn. They urge the public to take Lowell Street to access the train depot. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Injuries were not immediately reported. This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates. Police in Maine have arrested a woman in connection to the death of a 2-year-old girl in 2017. Savannah Smith, 21, was arrested by Maine State Police and Bucksport Police on Thursday at Spring Fountain Motel shortly after 6 p.m. Smith was indicted earlier Thursday by a grand jury in the death of Kloe Hawksley. Smith was the partner of the child's father, Tyler Hawksley. On Oct. 18, 2017, the young girl was found dead inside of a home at 264 Central St. in Bucksport after a 911 call for an unresponsive child. Smith was taken to Hancock County Jail and is set to appear on court on either Friday or Monday, according to authorities. It is unclear if she has an attorney Massachusetts lawmakers have sent Gov. Charlie Baker a bill banning LGBTQ conversion therapy, which critics decry as a harmful and medically-discredited attempt to change a person's sexual identity. The measure passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins in votes last week and received final enactment in both chambers on Thursday. Baker, a Republican, has said he is leaning toward signing the bill. The conservative Massachusetts Family Institute has threatened to challenge the conversion therapy ban in court if it becomes law. The Legislature on Thursday also sent Baker a bill that abolishes a state welfare rule that has denied benefits to children born into families which are already receiving welfare. Baker vetoed a similar measure last year, arguing it should be tied to other changes in welfare eligibility rules. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Bakers team is reportedly not happy with a proposal on how to manage the ongoing opioid crisis in the state. Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins proposed the state refrain from prosecuting some drug possession crimes and certain minor crimes. Her proposal came one day after Bakers top public safety official, Thomas Turco III, also criticized Rollins suggestion to have pretrial release conditions include GPS monitoring and orders to stay away from certain areas or people. "Not everyone gets the benefit of the Baker family when they have interacted with the criminal justice system," said Rollins on Friday. "They don't get to not get arrested, have the state police that reports to them handle the investigation etc." NBC10 Boston asked Rollins if she was referring to an incident last year when Baker's son was accused of inappropriately touching a woman on a plane. "I don't know if that's what I said," Rollins answered. "But I'm simply saying there's certain people that benefit with the system the way it is right now." In a letter Rollins received Thursday, Turco expressed concern over some of her more controversial reforms including a no-prosecute list for "low-level crimes" like shoplifting and drug possession and prioritizing diversion over incarceration. NBC10 Boston asked Rollins if she was offended by the letter to which she responded, "As your new DA, and the first woman to have this job, it has been very apparent to me that the men that were in this position before me were treated with quite a bit more respect." Rollins outlined her proposals in a 65-page memo a week ago. She reportedly responded to Turcos comments by saying she was "excited" he shares her commitment to finding a way to resolve the crisis. When Baker was asked Friday if Turco should have called Rollins instead of sending a letter he said that when people sometimes talk, key elements of conversations can be missed. "If you put something in writing, it gives people sort of something to work off of," Baker said. Later on Friday, the Baker Administration issued a statement on Rollins. "The administration does not engage in personal attacks, and raised specific and legitimate public safety concerns that could affect the residents of the Commonwealth," Communications Director Lizzy Guyton said. "We hope for an ongoing, productive dialogue on the important issues raised by Secretary Turco." Elaine Wynn didnt pull any punches in her much anticipated testimony before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Thursday. The co-founder of casino giant Wynn Resorts and ex-wife of disgraced former CEO Steve Wynn testified how she confronted her then soon-to-be ex-husband about the email she received in 2009 detailing the rape allegations from 2005. Elaine Wynn said, He denied that anything of a sexual nature took place, he claimed he was being extorted by this individual. The hearing is the culmination of a months-long investigation into who knew what and when -- amid the fallout of the sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn, and the subsequent cover up by top executives. Elaine Wynn has maintained that she alerted both outside counsel and Wynn Resorts then-general counsel Kim Sinatra of Steve Wynns multi-million dollar settlement to cover up the 2005 rape allegation. Sinatra denies that. "She reported back to me that the matter had been turned over to outside counsel and that a determination had been made that since Mr. Wynn took care of this personally that it was not a company matter and that it had been handled appropriately," Elaine Wynn said. But gaming commissioners pressed her further about legal filings that suggest she knew before the multiple sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn became public last year, that his conduct could expose Massachusetts Gaming regulators to risk. One commissioner asked Ms. Wynn, Did you believe Massachusetts regulators were misled? She responded, I did not know the veracity of the claims, but I did believe that there should have been an investigation. Now that this hearing has wrapped up, the Gaming Commission will take what it has learned from its investigation and this hearing and deliberate in private. They will issue their decision in writing as to whether Wynn Resorts gets to keep its Boston-area casino license. Encore is slated to open in Everett in June. NBC10 Boston, necn and the Stone Zoo asked you to help us name two bush dog puppies one female and one male born last year. We received more than 100 name suggestions from viewers. The zoo then narrowed them down to three female names and three male names and asked you to cast your votes. And the winners are... Izzy and Milo! The newly-named pups made their exhibit debut April 12 at the Stone Zoo, just in time for school vacation week. They were born on Nov. 25, 2018, and had been bonding with their parents behind the scenes. The Stoneham, Massachusetts, zoo first welcomed bush dogs to their animal family when the Caribbean Coast exhibit opened in June 2018. The female, named Valentia, came from the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic, while the male, named Mato, arrived from Sequoia Park Zoo in California. PHOTOS: Meet the Bush Dog Pups The pups birth is a first for Zoo New England, and is the result of a recommended breeding by the Bush Dog Species Survival Plan, a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Species Survival Plans help to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered, and enhance conservation of these species in the wild. Listed as a near threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, these small mammals can be found in extreme eastern Central America and northern South America, south to Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. A New Hampshire elderly couple with dementia that had been reported missing has been found in Upstate New York after they were involved in a minor crash, according to authorities. Bedford police say Bedford residents Norman Lepine, 79, and his wife, Shirley Lepine, 77, had been last seen traveling east on Interstate 90 in Waterloo, New York, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Credit card transactions show that the couple traveled as far west as Corfu, New York, a total of 460 miles from home, according to Bedford police. The couple was involved in a minor crash, but were not injured, according to police. They are currently being evaluated at a local hospital and will be met by family later today, who will assist them home. The couple was last seen by their daughter at their home on Kensington Drive in Bedford around 3 p.m. Wednesday. They had plans to drive themselves to a restaurant in Tamworth, New Hampshire, shortly after their daughter's visit. Police said they do not believe the Lepines reached the restaurant and there was no indication they returned to their home after leaving for their dinner plans. Maine State Police have announced funeral services for a detective who was killed while assisting a motorist on Interstate 95. State police say services for Detective Ben Campbell will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Campbell was at the site of a disabled vehicle Wednesday morning when he was struck and killed by a wheel that had separated from the axle of a logging truck trailer. He lived in Millinocket and leaves behind his wife and a 6-month-old son. Campbell was a former baseball star at Westfield State University in Massachusetts. He holds the record for most hits in a season at the school at 62. The Vermont Senate has approved a proposal to amend the state constitution to preserve a woman's right to an abortion. The Right to Personal Reproductive Liberty was approved Thursday by a vote of 28-2. To continue the process of amending the constitution, it must now be approved by a majority in the House. The proposal would then have to be approved by the Legislature elected in 2020 and, if approved a second time, go before voters in a statewide referendum. Supporters want to protect abortion rights in case the U.S. Supreme Court reverses its Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Separately, the Vermont House earlier this year passed a bill to guarantee a woman's access to an abortion. Abortion opponents say the measures could expand access to abortion. A Vermont couple is recovering from bite wounds they suffered when a coyote attacked them on their property. The homeowner shot and killed the animal. Scientists confirmed through tests on its brain that the coyote had rabies, so the victims will be receiving shots to protect them, according to the warden who handled the case. This is unheard of, said Game Warden Dale Whitlock of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The coyote attacked a couple in their 70s while they were in their yard in Salisbury, Whitlock said, snapping at thembiting and puncturing skin on their legs and forearms. The coyote sort of circled around them and went after them multiple times, Whitlock said, recounting the experience described to him by the bite victims. The couple asked the warden to help protect their privacy, so necn and NBC 10 Boston are not reporting their names or address in this story. The couple told the warden they immediately backed away from the lunging animal, defending themselves with kicks and swats until they made it to the safety of their farmhouse. There, the husband got his gun and went outside to kill the coyotebut not before it tried attacking one last time. It actually bit the end of the gun barrel right before he shot it, Whitlock said. According to a Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department spokesman, lab tests confirmed rabies. The department said it was Vermonts first-known rabies case in a coyote, noting the animal would typically tend to stay far away from humans if it were healthy. Whitlock said the couple is already receiving medical care. While the warden said the bite victims did nothing wrong, in other cases, he wants people to always leave a good distance between themselves and wild animals, whether or not they appear sick. Always give them a wide berth, Whitlock said of encounters between humans and wildlife. Milwaukee will host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, party leaders announced Monday, highlighting the battleground state of Wisconsin that helped elect President Donald Trump and now will launch an opponent who could oust him. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez chose Milwaukee over Houston and Miami after deliberations lingered longer than party leaders or officials from the three finalist cities had expected. "This choice is a statement of our values," Perez said in a statement. "The Democratic Party is the party of working people, and Milwaukee is a city of working people." The convention is scheduled for July 13-16, 2020. It will be the first time in over a century that Democrats will nominate their presidential candidate in a Midwestern city other than Chicago. Instead, the political spotlight will shine for a week on a metro area of about 1.6 million people. Once dubbed as "The Machine Shop of the World," the working-class city also is known for its love affair with beer and as the birthplace of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Republicans are set to gather in Charlotte, the largest city in battleground North Carolina, on Aug. 24-27, 2020. Democrats see plenty of symbolism in Milwaukee after a bitter 2016 election defined by Hillary Clinton being nearly swept in what her campaign aides had confidently called a "Blue Wall" across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. That band of states twice sided with President Barack Obama, but Clinton held only Minnesota, ceding Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania a combined 64 of the necessary 270 electoral votes as white working-class voters flocked to Trump. The president won Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes by about 23,000 votes out of almost 3 million cast, the first time since 1984 that Republicans claimed the state in a presidential election. Afterward, Clinton took withering criticism for not once visiting Wisconsin as a general election candidate. Since then, Wisconsin voters have re-elected Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin and ousted Republican Gov. Scott Walker in favor of Democrat Tony Evers and the state's first black lieutenant governor, Mandela Barnes. "There is no better place to showcase the Democratic Party's vision for the future than in Wisconsin," Baldwin said in a statement. Wisconsin Democrats pointed to those midterm election results as they lobbied Perez and DNC officials, and presidential candidates already are paying attention. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota came to Wisconsin in one of her first trips as a declared candidate. In a political twist, Milwaukee officials have credited Walker for supporting the convention bid. Democratic Party proceedings will play out in the new 17,500-seat arena that Walker helped build for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks by securing public financing from state lawmakers. Walker later lobbied GOP-leaning business leaders and donors to support Milwaukee's effort to land the DNC. "When it comes to a big convention like this, it's not red, it's not blue, it's green," Walker told The Associated Press. "It's the money that will come into the state." While Democrats expressed enthusiasm, Walker said hosting the convention may result in previously complacent Wisconsin Republicans paying more attention and getting motivated to vote for Trump. "I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who leans Democrat who wasn't already motivated in the city or the state against the president," Walker said. Wisconsin's Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson concurred with Walker, saying having the convention in his state will help motivate GOP voters by revealing Democratic "socialist tendencies." Democratic officials in Washington said picking a host city is as much about logistics as anything else, even as they acknowledge political optics. On logistics, Milwaukee may have pulled somewhat of an upset, given its small footprint compared to Houston and Miami, cities long accustomed to hosting major events. Houston hosted the Super Bowl as recently as February 2017. Milwaukee organizers pitched their city the Democratic stronghold of Wisconsin as resurgent. Known for some of the country's biggest brewers, including Pabst, Schlitz, Miller and Blatz, the metro area has a redeveloped downtown, a hotel capacity exceeding 17,000 rooms and a new downtown streetcar line that opened in November. Still, the city had to prove it has the overall capacity for tens of thousands of delegates, party activists, donors and media. DNC officials have said that the question wasn't about hotel rooms but about whether Milwaukee has requisite venues for other convention staples, from daily sit-down breakfast meetings for 57 state and territorial delegations to evening events put on by state parties, corporations, lobbyists and donors. Even as Milwaukee officials insisted they have the venues, some deep-pocketed Democrats in nearby Chicago a 90-minute drive stepped in to note their proximity. Houston and Miami, meanwhile, faced their own challenges. Miami has an impressive concentration of luxury hotels, but many are in Miami Beach across bridges from downtown. That raised the prospect of delegates spending hours in traffic. The city's arena also is not as new as Milwaukee's. Houston had few if any logistical barriers. But according to party officials with knowledge of the process, the city's organizing committee struggled to come up with the necessary financing without resorting to oil and gas money. That industry is the city's bread and butter, but it's become anathema in Democratic politics because of its part in climate change. The city's Democratic mayor also is embroiled in a labor dispute with Houston firefighters. Whos Running for President in 2020? The race for the 2020 presidential election is underway, and the field of Democratic candidates is packed. Those who have announced presidential bids include a vice president, senators, House members and three mayors. As for the GOP, a single Republican has announced his bid to challenge President Donald Trump for the party nomination: former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who ran for vice president (and lost) in 2016 on the Libertarian party ticket. Click the photos to learn more Also, though Houston and Miami are Democratic anchors in their states, Texas and Florida have no Democratic governor or senator between them. Hear from missionaries to Asia in North Norfolk Come and hear from missionaries about reaching out to the people of Asia spread around the world at a half day event organised by OMF in East Runton on April 13. Tony Rothe reports. Three missionary speakers will share their experiences in a presentation entitled Never a Dull Moment - Lives In Mission before everyone enjoys a fish and chip lunch. The speakers are: Tim Walker, who spent 8 years planting a church in Nyoro, Japan and now works to share Christ with East Asians in the UK. He will speak on Reaching the Asian population in the UK. Tim Jenkins, pictured right, OMF's East UK representative, seeking to serve churches in sending missionaries. He will talk about the Biblical basis for Mission. Guido Braschi, whose talk is entitled New Horizons. Guido and his wife Linda, pictured above have just retired from a ministry that took them around the world, establishing partnerships with emerging mission organisations to work with them in ministry to East Asian people. This is an excellent opportunity to hear such an experienced missionary talk about how God works in lives internationally. Tim Jenkins says Becoming dependant on God is vital in life and in missions. Gods Word is there to equip us to become fishers of men. This is an opportunity to hear from missionaries about reaching out to the people of Asia spread around the world, and also a little closer to home. You will also find out how you can be involved. OMF is a missionary organisation which seeks to serve the church and to bring the gospel to all the peoples of East Asia. Their work is as diverse as the places and people they work in and amongst. From church planting to missional business, student work to medical practice, they aim to present the gospel, in a culturally relevant way, through word and deed. The event will run from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday April 13. The venue is the old East Runton Methodist chapel, situated on the main road through the village, and currently used by Cromer Baptist Church. NR27 9NZ. For more information, please e-mail: tim.jenkins@omfmail.com Or phone 07557 237 039 Visit : https://omf.org/uk/ Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk? DANBURY March was a bad month for two big-name American food brands doing business in Danbury. The 7-Eleven store on Clapboard Ridge Road and the Haagen Dazs store in the Danbury Fair Mall both failed their health department kitchen inspections last month, according to records posted this week on the citys municipal website. Both stores have subsequently passed re-inspections and are open for business. 7-Eleven failed because of a food temperature violation. We were having a problem in our cooler room, but that problem has been fixed, said Foysal Miah, a store employee, when reached on Friday. Haagen Dazs failed its inspection for having inadequate hand washing equipment, according to the health department. The store could not be reached on Friday for comment. 7-Eleven and Haagen Dazs were among six commercial kitchens that failed health department inspections last month. The other kitchens were Bambu, Ki Asian, Michaels II Cafe and Trellis a restaurant that has failed its health inspection three times in the last six months. City inspectors check kitchens for health and safety in 60 categories, ranging from proper employee hygiene to the storage and preparation of food. While a kitchen does not need to be perfect in every category to pass inspection, it must score at least an 80 on a 100-point scale. For that to happen, a kitchen cannot afford to rack up too many minor demerits for violations such as improperly thawed food, the presence of vermin, or the improper disposal of waste water. A kitchen with a passing score can still fail its health inspection if it is cited for a serious four-point demerit such as a food temperature violation or inadequate hand-washing stations. A serious violation carries a $250 fine and requires the kitchen to correct the violation in 24 hours or be closed. Bambu and Michaels II Cafe both failed inspections in March because of food temperature violations, their reports show. Ki Asian failed because it had too many demerits. Trellis failed in March both because it had a serious food temperature violation and because it earned a failing score of 73, with 19 demerits. The same restaurant failed its inspection in October and November. The owner of Trellis was not available to comment on Friday. A woman who identified herself as the manager said the restaurant has invested thousands of dollars in new equipment and new employees. The woman said the goal is to score no lower than 90 from now on. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 BETHEL The town has met the states demands to improve Bethels water quality, a few years after one of its reservoirs violated drinking standards. The state last month lifted the consent order that required the town to embark on various projects to upgrade its system. Our water is in fine shape, First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said. Our water customers should be very happy that we have an excellent system. One of the states biggest concerns outlined in the 2016 consent order was the Chestnut Ridge Reservoir, where excessive amounts of trihalomethane, a byproduct of disinfection, were detected in a handful of monitoring periods between 2014 and 2016. Trihalomethane has shown some cancer-causing activity in lab animals, according the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But the town no longer relies on Chestnut Ridge Reservoir after a $990,000 project to refurbish wells on Maple Avenue, said Thomas Villa, public utilities director. Its almost a back-up source at this point, he said. The new wells produce more water than the old ones, which had clogged since they were built around 50 years ago, Villa said. After the new wells went online in summer 2017, the town boosted the amount of groundwater, rather than reservoir water, it could provide, he said. Groundwater is cleaner than reservoir water because it requires fewer chemicals to treat. Trihalomethane levels have stayed within legal limits since the town was put under the consent order. The reservoir was tested monthly, with results sent to the state quarterly, Knickerbocker said. The state also demanded the town increase water pressure to the Briar Cliff Manor area, where pressure was below state standards. This was fixed in September after an $863,000 project to upgrade the Briar Cliff pump station and extend the water main on that road to Long Meadow Lane. Officials had already promised to repair water systems after voters rejected a 2013 a proposal to sell town water to Aquarion Water Company, but the consent order kicked those plans into gear. Over the last few years, the town has borrowed more than $3 million from the state Department of Health for various projects. Water users will pay back these loans. About half of households are on town water, while others use Aquarion or private wells, Villa has estimated. Among the projects was a $1.3 million upgrade to the 1959 Hoyts Hill pump station. That station, which provided water to fire departments and to customers on the hill on the east side of town, was failing. The town also spent $2.8 million to build the 750,000-gallon Eureka Lake water tank in Danbury. Knickerbocker has credited this tank as one of the reasons the town is able to extend Clarke Business Park because it increased Bethels water capacity. Bethel had been trying to build the water tank years before the consent order or the failure of the Aquarion proposal. A court battle with Danbury, which had opposed the tank, held up the plan. Other efforts to improve water quality are still in the works. That (end of the consent order) doesn't mean our capital plan is over with by any stretch of the imagination, Knickerbocker said. Were going to be continuing to make improvements over the next years. The town is in the early stages of attempting to build a second storage tank in the Chestnut Ridge area, Villa said. This would allow it to take that reservoir completely offline, he said. Even though water from the reservoir is not used, it still runs in case of an operational issue, Villa said. The town is also applying with the state to install a well on the Bergstrom property, he said. Construction could start between nine months to a year, Villa estimated. That will provide additional supply to our system, he said. That will enable us to meet all our future demands for average day and peak day going forward for a 50-year planning period. A man wanted by Connecticut authorities for 29 years was taken into custody Wednesday with the help of U.S. Marshals, police in South Carolina said. Ted Lee Livingston, 49, had changed his birth date and identifying information on his South Carolina driver's license to avoid capture for decades, Horry County, S.C. police said. Livingston has been wanted by Connecticut authorities since April 1990 on a escape charge. He was finally taken into custody Wednesday in South Carolina by members of a U.S. Marshal's Task Force working with a Connecticut Parole Fugitive Investigations Unit and Horry police. He was charged as fugitive from justice and being held in South Carolina as he is awaiting extradition to Connecticut, local officials said. On the Horry County Police Facebook page, Rea Marie Livingston, who identified herself as Ted Lee Livingstons wife. posted Ok world please don't judge my husband, yes he's been incarcerated for 7 years and came home. Got and has a job pay taxes and also has been back to prison to see family members we have lived in the same area for 30 years so how has he been hiding... Milton Gause II posted, Been my neighbor for 29 years. Best person you ever want to meet. Denise Barfield asked, How'd he get his information at DMV changed ? My boyfriend tried to change his because they printed it wrong and they refused without him having to get a copy of birth certificate from NC .. Yet, when he moved here they passed him a SC license no problem and he's been a license driver since age of 15... He's held prior license in SC and in NC .. Ridiculous, considering it was their error. Crystal Taylor, commented, How in the heck did he change his Birthday n ID info at the DMV? It took an act of Congress and the blood of a lamb to change my VA DL to SC. Following are some of the scholarship funds currently accepting applications from students in Greater New Milford this year. Bridgewater Grange Scholarship: Deadline, April 8. Open to full-time residents of Bridgewater, Roxbury, Washington, New Milford or Woodbury and have a plan to attend, or are currently attending, a recognized program of study to further their agriculture-related education. Award will be made to a student who demonstrates hands-on knowledge of and interest in farming through extra-curricular activities, work experience, family background, or other, and who embodies the Grange values of character, citizenship, and community service. Applications available at www.bridgewatergrange.org. Completed applications, including reference letters, must be received by April 8. For more information, email info@bridgewatergrange.org, attention Peggy Zottola. Greater New Milford Board of Realtors Jay Solomon Memorial Scholarship: Deadline: April 10. Open to high school seniors who reside in New Milford, Sherman, Kent, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Washington and Warren. Applications available at guidance offices and at www.gnmbr.com. Washington Environmental Council scholarship -- the Ken Williams Memorial Scholarship: Deadline: April 12. Grants of up to $1,000 to middle, high school and college students who live in Washington, Roxbury and Bridgewater, provided they attend or attended school in Washington, and who would like to attend environmentally oriented programs during the summer. Washington residents will have preference, but all other application factors will be equal. For more information, visit www.wec-ct.org/scholarships. Applicants will be notified by May 1. Washington Environmental Council scholarship -- Mary Anne Erichsen Memorial Scholarship (college scholarships): Deadline: April 12. Grants of up to $2,000 available to students from Washington, Roxbury or Bridgewater who are in sound scholastic standing, provided the student attended or has attended high school in Washington, and are interested in pursuing environmental studies in college. Residents of Washington will have preference, all other application factors being equal. Applications available at www.wec-ct.org/scholarships. Applicants will be notified by May 1. Roxbury scholarships: Deadline: April 22. Open to those who are Roxbury who have been accepted into an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or state approved school for trade instruction or special occupational training that offers a degree or certification. Part-time students with extenuating circumstances will be considered. Applications available at town hall, Minor Memorial Library, the guidance office at SVS and online at www.roxburyscholarshipfoundation.com. For more information, email roxburyscholarshipfoundation@gmail.com. Applications must be returned to Roxbury Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 106, Roxbury, CT 06783. Gaylordsville Historical Societys Alan S. Farnham Memorial Scholarship: Deadline: May 1. A $500 scholarship is open to a graduating senior who lives within the Gaylordsville fire district. Scholarship is in memory of Alan S. Farnham. Lt. Farnham, who attended the one-room schoolhouse in Gaylordsville and died in combat in Vietnam. Applications are available Gaylordsville Post Office and at New Milford High School, Henry Abbott Tech and Nonnewaug. Roger Sherman Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship: Deadline: May 1. Open to New Milford High School seniors who will graduate this year and plan to go to college. Applications available at NMHS Career Center, through Naviance or by emailing merryall@sbcglobal.net. To have a scholarship listed, mail or drop the information off to Deborah Rose at The Greater New Milford Spectrum, 45B Main St., New Milford, CT 06776; fax it to 860-350-6794; or email drose@newstimes.com. With the Transportation Budget this week being signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Transportation now has the authority to establish variable speed limits to all highways by removing prior restrictions. Currently, only three existing highways are affected by variable speed limits, other than in school and construction zones: Interstate Route 90 east of state Route 44 to the Pennsylvania border; Interstate Route 670 in Columbus; and Interstate Route 275 near Cincinnati. ODOT press secretary Matt Bruning confirmed that two yet unidentified areas could also be affected in the future. State Rep. John Rogers, D-Mentor-on-the-Lake, said the governor did not exercise his line-item veto authority in signing the budget. The Transportation Budget provisions, which include a gas tax increase and the state regulation of traffic cameras, will take effect July 1. The goal is not to constantly shift speed limits or install new speed limit signs on all of Ohios roads throughout the state, said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. Instead, ODOT wants the ability to study specific stretches of roadway. We would analyze crash data, look at any peculiar weather phenomena and see how congestion affects travel time to determine if a variable speed limit, one that changes only in certain conditions, such as bad weather, would improve safety along that specific stretch of road. This is part of ODOTs efforts to protect drivers and passengers on our roads. Variable speed limits dont make sense in every location, but they can have a huge impact on travel safety in some areas. We want to ensure were picking strategic locations where weather, or traffic congestion, create a frequent hazard to motorists. We only want to use it where we believe it will make a difference in safety. According to the department, Ohios first variable speed limit pilot, a 12-mile stretch of I-90 in Lake County where lake-effect snow regularly causes whiteout conditions that can lead to multi-vehicle pileups, has been an amazing success. Since the variable speed limit signs were installed, Bruning said, there have been no fatalities on that stretch of interstate during snowfall and only one serious injury. Just examining preliminary results, weve seen a 58 percent reduction in crashes, overall, and 63 percent in secondary crashes, which include backed-up traffic. Weve also reduced incidence clearing time. We havent had a major pile-up, and the last two winters have been relatively intense. Bruning added that variable speed limits, particularly in Northeast Ohio, can also be implemented for fog, intense rainstorms and gridlock traffic patterns due to failing infrastructure. While the use of variable speed limits is a relatively new concept in Ohio, they have been very successful in other states, and other parts of the world, at reducing crashes. Its really apples and oranges addressing the myriad of potential traffic issues in such heavily used corridors, Bruning said. The fact is, even in varying locations, lower speeds easily help harmonize traffic, period. Blood pressure and stroke risk increase steadily with increasing alcohol intake, and previous claims that 1-2 alcoholic drinks a day might protect against stroke are dismissed by new evidence from a genetic study involving 160,000 adults. Studies of East Asian genes that strongly affect how much alcohol people choose to drink show that alcohol itself directly increases blood pressure and the chances of having a stroke, according to a new study published in The Lancet. It was known that stroke rates were increased by heavy drinking, but it wasn't known whether they were increased or decreased by moderate drinking. Although people who have one or two alcoholic drinks a day had previously been observed to have a slightly lower risk of stroke and heart attack than non-drinkers, it was not known whether this was because moderate drinking was slightly protective, or whether it was because non-drinkers had other underlying health problems (eg, being former drinkers who had stopped because of illness). At least for stroke, the genetic evidence now refutes the claim that moderate drinking is protective. In East Asian populations, there are common genetic variants that greatly reduce alcohol tolerability, because they cause an extremely unpleasant flushing reaction after drinking alcohol. Although these genetic variants greatly reduce the amount people drink, they are unrelated to other lifestyle factors such as smoking. Therefore, they can be used to study the causal effects of alcohol intake. As the genetic factors that strongly affect drinking patterns are allocated randomly at conception and persist lifelong, this study is the genetic equivalent of a large randomised trial, and can therefore sort out cause-and-effect relationships reliably - a method called "Mendelian randomisation." Lead author Dr Iona Millwood, from the Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit at the University of Oxford, UK, says: "Using genetics is a novel way to assess the health effects of alcohol, and to sort out whether moderate drinking really is protective, or whether it's slightly harmful. Our genetic analyses have helped us understand the cause-and-effect relationships." Researchers from Oxford University, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences led a large collaborative study of over 500,000 men and women in China who were asked about their alcohol intake and followed for ten years. In over 160,000 of these adults the researchers measured two genetic variants (rs671 and rs1229984) that substantially reduce alcohol intake. Among men, these genetic variants caused a 50-fold difference in average alcohol intake, from near zero to about four units (drinks) per day. The genetic variants that decreased alcohol intake also decreased blood pressure and stroke risk. From this evidence, the authors conclude that alcohol increases the risk of having a stroke by about one-third (35%) for every four additional drinks per day (280 g of alcohol a week), with no protective effects of light or moderate drinking. Professor Zhengming Chen, co-author from the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, says: "There are no protective effects of moderate alcohol intake against stroke. Even moderate alcohol consumption increases the chances of having a stroke. The findings for heart attack were less clear-cut, so we plan to collect more evidence." Of the men with genetic measurements, about 10,000 had a stroke and 2,000 had a heart attack during about ten years of follow-up, so more information is needed on heart attacks. Few women in China drink alcohol (less than 2% of women in the study drank in most weeks, and when they did drink they consumed less than men), and the genetic variants that cause alcohol intolerance had little effect on blood pressure or stroke risk. Women in this study therefore provide a useful control group, which helps confirm that the effects of these genetic variants on stroke risk in men were caused by drinking alcohol, not by some other mechanism. The authors highlight that it would be impossible to do such a study in Western populations, where almost nobody has the relevant genetic variants. However, these findings about the effects of alcohol in Asia should be applicable worldwide. Because the study was conducted in China, the alcohol consumed was mainly spirits, but they expect the findings to apply to alcohol in other drinks. In China, more years of life are lost to stroke than to any other disease. This study estimates that, among Chinese men, alcohol is a cause of 8% of all strokes from a blood clot in the brain and 16% of all strokes from bleeding into the brain. Co-author Professor Liming Li, from Peking University, says: "Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. This large collaborative study has shown that stroke rates are increased by alcohol. This should help inform personal choices and public health strategies." Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Tai-Hing Lam and Dr Au Yeung, from the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, call for a WHO Framework Convention for Alcohol Control (FCAC), similar to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): "Alcohol control is complex and stronger policies are required. The alcohol industry is thriving and should be regulated in a similar way to the tobacco industry." Researchers have discovered that a family of lipids (fats) contribute to the development of a serious aortic disease, by driving clotting in the blood vessel wall. The findings could lead to the development of new treatments for this potentially life threatening condition. The team, led by researchers at Cardiff University, in collaboration with colleagues at Oxford and Erlangen, discovered that the lipids, called eoxPL, promote the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) - a disease of the aorta where inflammation causes damage and can ultimately lead to rupture. When AAA ruptures, uncontrolled internal bleeding can lead to death within minutes; only about 2 in 10 people survive. Many aneurysms are not detected until they rupture, and for those that are, treatments to stop them progressing are limited. Men aged 65 and over are most at risk of developing AAAs. Professor Valerie O'Donnell, Co-Director of Systems Immunity Research Institute at Cardiff University, who led the research, said: "After discovering new lipids that promote blood clotting we wondered if they also played a part in AAA, as we know the condition is linked to blood clotting. "Our research found that these lipids in circulating blood cells did promote AAA formation in the vessel wall, because they directly regulate blood clotting. "Unexpectedly, when administered into the blood system, the same lipids were also found to have preventative properties because rather than being made by circulating blood cells in the vessel wall they instead mop up clotting factors, causing them to be removed from circulation and preventing disease." Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, added: "An AAA is not usually found before a life-threatening rupture occurs, and there is no routine treatment to prevent them. However, screening is offered to men from 65 years of age, which involves a simple 10-15 minute ultrasound scan. "This research gives us a new understanding of the biological links between blood clotting and the development of an AAA. The findings also suggest that to stop blood clotting from happening, whether directly or by blocking the formation of these lipids, could be an effective way to reduce the risk of rupture in people where screening reveals an AAA." The study 'Phospholipid membranes drive abdominal aortic aneurysm development through stimulating coagulation factor activity' is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and a review article on the new lipids was also published this month in Science Signaling. New research recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery found that post-operative success rates of pediatric thyroid patients, particularly children who require a thyroidectomy, correlate with the institution's patient volume. The study, conducted by a team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), reviewed nearly 500 cases. The findings underscore how a highly experienced clinical team can make a big difference when it comes to patient outcomes. Since thyroid disease is less common in children than adults, pediatric surgery specialists often have less experience in managing thyroid disease. Other studies have reported an increased risk of complications for children undergoing thyroid surgery, with patients about 3.5 times more likely than adults to be readmitted and receive care that does not conform to national guidelines. For many patients, surgery is often a necessity, as is the case for patients with thyroid cancer where surgical removal of the thyroid and regional lymph nodes is the most important initial step in care after the diagnosis is confirmed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Surgery is also commonly performed for patients with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), since less than 30 percent of pediatric patients with Graves' disease achieve remission. "The Pediatric Thyroid Center at CHOP is the busiest center of its kind in the United States," said N. Scott Adzick, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief of CHOP and senior author of the study. "Our highly skilled team performs at least 80 thyroid surgeries each year, along with the evaluation and management of care for hundreds of patients. We wanted to measure the advantages of being in a high-volume center and examine what that means for patient outcomes both before and after surgery." The study team reviewed medical records of 464 pediatric patients undergoing thyroid surgery at CHOP between 2009 and 2017. Data collection focused on pathologic diagnosis, surgical technique, and surgical complications. The patients were diagnosed with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer (n=168), benign modules (n=151), Graves' disease (n=124), medullary thyroid cancer (n=14), and seven patients underwent a prophylactic thyroidectomy for multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2A (MEN2a), which is characterized by medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Surgery for papillary thyroid cancer included lymph node dissections based on the extent of disease. Complication rates after thyroidectomy in 464 pediatric patients are the lowest ever reported. Only two patients demonstrated a persistent recurrent laryngeal nerve deficit at 6 months postoperatively (0.4%), and two patients had persistent hypoparathyroidism 6 months after total thyroidectomy (0.6%). There was no significant difference in either hypocalcemia or hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy based on the patient's age or diagnosis. "We reported extremely low complication rates after surgery, underscoring that a high-volume center with specialized pediatric surgeons well-versed in these procedures should be considered for children and adolescents who require surgery for thyroid disease," said Andrew J. Bauer, MD, an endocrinologist and Medical Director of the Pediatric Thyroid Center at CHOP and one of the co-authors of the study. "By seeing a higher volume of patients, our team is extremely skilled at ensuring an accurate and complete pre-operative evaluation, and selecting the best surgical plan for each patient based on their diagnosis. This approach is associated with optimizing outcomes while at the same time reducing complications for our patients and families." A currently approved epileptic drug to treat seizures has been modified by a University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus professor and is currently being used in a clinical trial in Australia for medically refractory epilepsy. Tom Anchordoquy, Professor at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dan Abrams, M.D., CEO of Cerebral Therapeutics have developed a proprietary reformulated specialty pharmaceutical, which bypasses the blood brain barrier using a chronic implantable infusion system, to improve the lives of patients with severe medically refractory epilepsy. The two have worked together for over a decade developing drug formulations to be injected directly into the brain where it is needed. Cerebral Therapeutics is currently conducting a proof of concept study in adult patients at Australia's University of Melbourne using its proprietary anti-epileptic specialty formulation via direct intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration. This proof of concept study has demonstrated potentially enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity in patients with medically refractory epilepsy. Proceeds from the financing will be used to file an IND with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial. "It is well established that getting drugs into the brain is very difficult," said Anchordoquy. "Typically, patients have to take high doses of drugs that distribute all throughout the body in order to get some drug into the brain. As a result, most of the drug that the patient takes does not end up in the brain, and therefore cannot effectively treat the disease. For this reason, conventional treatment often causes adverse effects in other parts of the body. This technology allows the drug to be delivered directly into the brain where it is needed, and avoids exposing the rest of the body to the drug. This is a very clever idea that makes sense. While the advantages of using pump technology are clear, the formulation challenges associated with implementing this approach are significant. We need to be very creative and think outside of the box." "Patients who have multiple seizures every day cannot be left alone. They can't work, drive, or even walk to the mailbox by themselves. This technology enables them to have the potential to do all these things and resume a relatively normal life. I am grateful to be a part of it," said Anchordoquy. "There are so many reasons why the pump is the most effective way to get the drug to the seizure area in the brain," he continued. "It eliminates the patient taking multiple pills every day and doesn't saturate the entire body with the drug minimizing adverse side effects. Their lives are changed dramatically." Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological problem in the world. Approximately three million people in the United States are living with epilepsy with one million people experiencing uncontrolled seizures; medications and surgery have not been an option for the majority of these patients. Cerebral Therapeutics' therapy uses a specialized implanted, refillable catheter pump infusion system to deliver a continuous micro dose of its proprietary specialty formulation of valproic acid called CT001 for which Cerebral Therapeutics has an exclusive license agreement from the University of Colorado. The dark skin pigment melanin protects us from the sun's damaging rays by absorbing light energy and converting it to heat. This could make it a very effective tool in tumor diagnosis and treatment, as demonstrated by a team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. The scientists managed to create melanin-loaded cell membrane derived nanoparticles, which improved tumor imaging in an animal model while also slowing the growth of the tumor. Nanoparticles are considered a promising weapon in the fight against tumors due to the fact that tumor tissue absorbs them more readily than healthy cells because their vascular system is more permeable. A good example is provided by outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), which are basically small bubbles surrounded by bacterial membrane. These 20- to 200-nanometer particles are of interest because they are biocompatible, biodegradable and can be easily and inexpensively produced in bacteria, even in large volumes. Once loaded with medicinal active agents, they are easy to administer. Nanoparticles carrying a black cargo The huge potential of OMVs in tumor diagnosis and treatment has been demonstrated by Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos, Professor of Biological Imaging at TUM, and his team. Their work builds on the characteristic properties of OMVs and melanin. Dr. Vipul Gujrati, first author of the study, explains the principle: "Melanin absorbs light very readily - even in the infrared spectrum. We use precisely this light in our optoacoustic imaging technique for tumor diagnosis. It simultaneously converts this absorbed energy into heat, which is then emitted. Heat is also a way to combat tumors - other researchers are currently exploring this method in clinical trials." Optoacoustics, a method which has been significantly advanced by Ntziachristos, combines the benefits of optical imaging and ultrasound technology. Weak laser pulses gently heat the tissue, causing it to briefly expand very slightly. Ultrasound signals are produced when the tissue contracts again as it cools down. The measured signals vary depending on the tissue type. The scientists record them with special detectors and "translate" them into three-dimensional images. Sensor molecules or probes (such as OMVs) can improve the specificity and accuracy of the technique even further. Heat build-up reduces tumor growth The scientists initially had to overcome a problem specific to melanin: It is not very water-soluble and therefore difficult to administer. This is where the OMVs came into play. The researchers engineered bacteria in such a way that they produce melanin and store it in their membrane derived nanoparticles. They then tested the black nanoparticles in mice which had tumors in their lower back region. The particles were injected directly into the tumor, which was excited with infrared laser pulses as part of the optoacoustic procedure. OMVs proved to be suitable sensor probes for this diagnosis technique because they delivered sharp, high-contrast images of the tumor. They are also well-suited to photothermal therapy approaches, where the tumor tissue is heated with stronger laser pulses in order to kill the cancer cells. The melanin in the nanoparticles caused the temperature of the tumor tissue to rise from 37 C to up to 56 C. Control tumors with no melanin only reached a maximum temperature of 39 C. In the ten days following the treatment, the tumors grew at a significantly slower rate than those in the control group that had not received melanin OMVs. This heat effect was amplified by another positive effect of the particles: By causing a slight non-specific inflammation in the tumor tissue, the immune system was triggered to attack the tumor. "Our melanin nanoparticles fit into the new medical field of theranostics - where therapy and diagnostics are combined. This makes them a highly interesting option for use in clinical practice," says Ntziachristos. The scientists will now develop their OMVs further to bring them into clinical use in the future. It wasn't the rash covering Meliza's feet and legs that worried Dr. Jose Manuel de la Rosa. What concerned him were the deep bruises beneath. They were a sign she could be experiencing something far more serious than an allergic reaction. Meliza's mom, Magdalena, told the doctor it started with one little bump. Then two. In no time, the 5-year-old's legs were swollen and red from the knees down. De la Rosa noticed a bandage-covered cotton ball in the crook of Meliza's elbow, a remnant of having blood drawn. During their time at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility, Meliza had been sent to a hospital, Magdalena explained, cradling the child with her 5-foot frame. They had run tests, but she had no way to get the results. Through tears, she begged for help. "My daughter is my life," she told him in Spanish. The doctor would see nearly a dozen patients that March evening at his makeshift clinic inside a warehouse near the El Paso airport. That week, similar ad hoc community clinics would treat hundreds of people, some with routine colds and viruses, others with upper-respiratory infections or gaping wounds. Like Meliza, all were migrants, mostly from Central America, a river of families arriving each day, many frightened and exhausted after days spent in government detention. De la Rosa, an El Paso pediatrician, is one of dozens of doctors volunteering on the U.S.-Mexico border as the flow of migrants crossing without papers and asking for asylum climbs to a six-year high. Unlike previous waves of immigration, these are not single men from Mexico looking to blend in and find work. Most are families, fleeing gang violence, political instability or dire poverty. President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency on the southern border to free up billions of dollars in funding to construct a wall as a means of stemming the tide of asylum seekers. He was expected to make an appearance in Calexico, Calif., on Friday to tour a 30-foot section of fence that was rebuilt last year. But the federal government isnt covering the cost of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in border communities like El Paso. In the absence of a coordinated federal response, nonprofit organizations across the 1,900-mile stretch have stepped in to provide food, shelter and medical care. Border cities like El Paso, San Diego and McAllen, Texas, are used to relying on local charities for some level of migrant care. But not in the massive numbers and sustained duration they're seeing now. As the months drag on, the work is taking a financial and emotional toll. Nonprofit operators are drawing on donations, financial reserves and the generosity of medical volunteers to meet demand. Some worry this "new normal" is simply not sustainable. "The care we are providing we could never have foreseen, or imagined spending what we are spending," said Ana Melgoza, vice president of external affairs for San Ysidro Health, a community health system providing care for migrants crossing into San Diego. She said her clinic has spent nearly $250,000 on such care since November. An Emotional And Financial Toll In October, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency drastically changed how it handles migrant releases from its detention facilities. Families seeking asylum no longer would get help coordinating travel to live with relatives or sponsors while claims were processed. Since the policy shift, thousands of migrants have found themselves in border cities without money, food or a way to communicate with family. From Dec. 21 to March 21, 107,000 people were released from ICE detention to await immigration hearings. In El Paso, which has seen a 1,689% increase in border apprehensions of migrants traveling with family members compared with last year, volunteer doctors are staffing a network of clinics. Kids with coughs and colds, diarrhea and vomiting are common. Some migrants have severe blisters on their feet that need cleaning, or diabetes that's out of control because, they say, their insulin was thrown away by border patrol agents. For de la Rosa, this is just the latest work in a career tied to border health. Born and raised in El Paso, he has served on the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission since President George Bush appointed him in 2003. He was founding dean of the city's Paul L. Foster School of Medicine when it opened a decade ago as one of the few programs in the country that require all students to take courses in "medical Spanish," designed to bolster communication with Spanish-speaking patients. As he entered the warehouse-turned-shelter that evening in late March, he pulled off his signature bow tie and draped a stethoscope around his neck. He thinks it's a gift to be able to help people who would otherwise have no way to get care. "Sometimes I don't know if I'm doing it for me or for them," he said. "It is so fulfilling." But cases like Meliza's are frustrating. (She and other patients are referred to by their first or middle names in this story because of their concerns that speaking to the news media could affect their asylum cases.) After passing an initial screening to claim asylum, Meliza and her mother had been taken to the warehouse, where volunteers gave them food and a bed, and helped arrange travel to South Carolina, where they could live with a family member as their asylum claim proceeds. Meliza's rash began while they were in detention, Magdalena told de la Rosa, and four days in, she was sent to a hospital. But they were released from custody before getting the test results. De la Rosa called the hospital, hoping the labs would offer clues as to whether the girl might have leukemia; Henoch-Schonlein purpura, a disorder that can cause kidney damage; or just an allergic reaction. The hospital asked de la Rosa for a privacy waiver from the mother, but by the time he could return to the shelter for her signature, she had boarded a bus for South Carolina. That would be the last he saw of her. 'The Best We Can Do' Dr. Carlos Gutierrez, another El Paso pediatrician, is also desperate for communication with the doctors who work inside the detention facilities. When people are released with complicated health issues like a man who recently showed up with a flesh-eating bacterial infection and a wound so big they could see his bone the volunteer doctors often have to start from scratch, trying to determine what a patient has and what treatment they've been given. For most of the past five months, Gutierrez has used the lunch break from his private pediatric clinic to see migrants. He works in one of several hotels being rented out by Annunciation House, a nonprofit that runs the area's main shelter network. The organization, which is funded through donations from religious organizations and individuals, has dug deep, spending more than $1 million on hotels in the past four or five months, its executive director said at a city council meeting. It struggles to accommodate everyone Annunciation House recently scrambled to open a temporary shelter so that 150 people wouldn't have to sleep in a city park. On his way to the hotel, Gutierrez reviewed the day's text message from the organization's director outlining how many refugees would be arriving that day: 510. The first patients to his "clinic" a hotel room bathroom were 9-year-old twins from Guatemala. They were traveling with their mother, Mirian, who said she fled her hometown after local men threatened to kidnap one daughter if she didn't pay protection money to operate her tortilla stand. Mirian and her daughters had crossed a small river to reach what she believed was New Mexico, she said, imagining that the authorities they surrendered to would be like the U.S. tourists she'd met in her hometown. "There, when the tourists arrive, they are so nice. Even doctors come to help us," she said in Spanish. But it was not a warm welcome. During the six days they spent in custody, one of her daughters contracted bronchitis, she told Gutierrez. They were healthy when they entered, she said, but sleeping on cold concrete floors and eating skimpy ham and cheese sandwiches broke them down. "They treat you like youre trash," she said. Mirian showed Gutierrez an inhaler she had been given in the detention facility and asked what it was for. Her other daughter had developed a deep cough and needed attention, she said. After examining both girls, Gutierrez showed Mirian how to use the inhaler. The girls would be fine, he told her, but with their lungs as congested as they were, it might be weeks before they recovered. "I mean, this is the best we can do," Gutierrez said, after prescribing an antibiotic to a little girl with an ear infection. "We could be doing it better. But when they are in our care, nobody is dying." Necessary Work More than two dozen people have died while in immigration custody under the Trump administration, according to a recent NBC News analysis. The government says it added nurses and doctors to its facilities after two children died in December. Immigration authorities are now taking 60 children a day to the hospital and doing medical screens for every child under 18, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said during a March news conference. But many people still have serious needs upon release. When Gutierrez and his colleagues started these clinics, they were meant to temporarily fill a gap caused by the change in government policy. Asked if he thinks the volunteer work is sustainable, he shook his head and sighed. "I'm so tired." The financial model relying on donations and volunteers also has its limits. Asylum seekers generally don't qualify for social services, including Medicaid, before they have been granted asylum. In California, negotiations are underway to make some of the $5 million in emergency funds the state is spending at the border available to reimburse clinics for care, according to the office of state Sen. Toni Atkins. Physicians in Texas and Arizona were not aware of similar conversations in their states. Dr. Blanca Garcia, another El Paso pediatrician, has been volunteering a few days a week since October. Like many of the doctors, she cites a moral and financial argument for providing care to the migrants, who are in the country legally once they apply for asylum. These are vulnerable people who might not otherwise seek care, and for every diagnosis of strep throat, she is likely preventing an expensive emergency room visit, she said. Still, there are limitations to what they can provide. Cristian, 21, and his 5-month-old baby, Gretel, arrived at an El Paso shelter in a former assisted living facility early one afternoon. He'd never been alone this long with his daughter, he said. His wife a minor had been separated from them at the border, put in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cristian didn't know when she might be released. While in detention, he had spent several nights with Gretel on a concrete floor in a room with more than a hundred other men, he said. He asked a guard for a better sleeping situation. Instead of receiving help, he said, he was punished by being forced to sit and stare at a wall for over an hour as Gretel cried in his arms. Still breastfeeding before she was separated from her mother, she would suck on his nose and at his shirt. He was worried that she wasn't getting enough to eat, and that the formula he was giving her wasn't as good for her as breast milk. Dr. Garcia told him the baby looked healthy. Still, Cristian was anxious, and grew increasingly distressed as he recounted their history. "Will the baby be OK?" he asked in Spanish. She assured the young father he was doing everything he could. This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. Antimicrobial and antifungal resistance, which describe the ability of bacteria and other pathogens to resist the effects of drugs to which they were once sensitive, is a major public health problem worldwide. A study published recently in the journal Nature Communications suggests that the solution may come from the tiny bodies of insects, or more accurately, from the microbiota that they host. This innovative hypothesis was first proposed by Brazilian and US researchers as part of a collaborative project begun in 2014 with support from FAPESP and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The idea was to isolate bacteria that live in symbiosis with leafcutting ants of the genus Atta and to look for natural compounds with the potential to yield new drugs (read more at: agencia.fapesp.br/19498). By pursuing this strategy, a research group led by Monica Tallarico Pupo, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Sao Paulo's Ribeirao Preto School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCFRP-USP), and Jon Clardy, Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School in the US, discovered cyphomycin, which, when tested in vitro and in vivo, was shown to be capable of killing fungi that cause diseases in humans and are resistant to currently available drugs. "It was an exciting discovery because it confirmed our hypothesis that the insect microbiota is a promising source for the isolation of compounds with antibacterial and antifungal activity. Of course, it's too soon to know whether cyphomycin will become a drug, but we've made sufficient progress to apply for a patent," Pupo told Agencia FAPESP. Many antibiotics, she added, originate from compounds produced by bacteria found in soil. Most of these bacteria belong to the genus Streptomyces. The researchers decided to investigate this same group of filamentous bacteria in insect bodies. Their hypothesis was that if the bacteria help insects defend against pathogens, they might play the same role in humans. "Soil was thoroughly explored at the time the first antibiotics were discovered and produced," Pupo said. "We wanted to find a new ecological niche. We set out to confirm whether evolutionary pressure made the bacteria hosted by insects even more effective against pathogens." Broad sample Specimens were collected by collaborators from the US, Costa Rica and Panama. In addition to leafcutting ants of the tribe Attini, butterflies, wasps, bees and moths were included, for a total of 1,400 insects. "In Brazil, more than 300 ant colonies were collected in the Cerrado [Brazilian savanna], Atlantic Rainforest and Amazon biomes. Cyphomycin was isolated in one specimen of the genus Cyphomyrmex collected on the University of Sao Paulo's Ribeirao Preto campus," Pupo said. After the insects were collected, the bacteria found in their bodies were isolated, purified in the laboratory, and tested in vitro against microorganisms that act as pathogens in humans. The species that proved most effective against these pathogens were selected for metabolomic analysis to characterize the metabolites they produce and identify the most active of these and for phylogenetic studies, in which gene sequencing indicated to what extent the insect-associated bacteria resembled the strains of Streptomyces that live in soil. "We combined chemometrics and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to profile the compounds produced by the insect microbiota. The aim was to identify the Streptomyces strains that produce a distinctive chemistry in other words, to find compounds quite different from those synthesized by soil bacteria. In this way, we increased the likelihood of finding a genuinely innovative molecule," Pupo explained. The compounds shown to be most effective by these rigorous methods were tested again, in vitro and in mice, against pathogens resistant to the drugs used in clinical practice. According to Pupo, cyphomycin was not effective against bacteria but proved capable of combating infection by Aspergillus fumigatus, the fungus most frequently found in hospital-acquired infections and the cause of aspergillosis, a disease with an attributable mortality as high as 85% even after antifungal treatment. When administered to laboratory animals, cyphomycin also combated infection by Candida glabrata and C. auris, fungi that cause candidiasis in humans and are resistant to existing drugs. "Cyphomycin wasn't the first compound with antimicrobial action identified in our project, but no others displayed this level of activity," Pupo said. The part of the study that developed the chemical profile of the bacterial compounds was performed during the PhD research of Humberto Enrique Ortega Dominguez with FAPESP's support and supervision by Pupo at FCFRP-USP. During a postdoctoral research internship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, with supervision by Tim Bugni and a scholarship from FAPESP, Dominguez focused on metabolomic studies and isolated cyphomycin, finalizing its structural determination after his return to Brazil. The trials with mice were conducted by David Andes and his group at UW-Madison. Weilan Gomes da Paixao Melo, a postdoctoral researcher with a scholarship from FAPESP, participated in insect collection and in microbiota isolation and identification. She also performed phylogenetic studies during a research internship in Cameron Currie's laboratory at UW-Madison. Women with HIV were once advised against having children for fear that the infection could be passed on to their babies. But medical advancements are not only allowing people with HIV to live longer and fuller lives -- but to grow their families, too. Timed vaginal insemination is a safe, effective way to help HIV-affected couples conceive, finds a new pilot study in Kenya led by a Michigan Medicine researcher and published in the PLOS ONE. Among 23 couples, in which the woman was HIV-positive and the man was not, timed vaginal insemination led to six live births without a case of HIV transmission. "People who are living with a stable HIV infection are focused on fully integrating into their communities and living productive lives," says lead author Okeoma Mmeje, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan Medicine. Mmeje conducted the study while at the University of California, San Francisco. "HIV does not change an individual's desire to have children," she says. "Our study describes a feasible, safe and effective method for women living with HIV to achieve pregnancy." HIV-serodiscordant In sub-Saharan Africa, women disproportionately represent the majority of new HIV infections. An estimated 44 percent of couples in Kenya are HIV-serodiscordant, in which one partner is infected by HIV and the other is not. But about 20 to 50 percent of HIV-infected people still want to have children, according to previous research. Current guidelines recommend antiretroviral treatment in HIV-serodiscordant couples -- the therapy helps keep HIV at low levels, keeping people healthy for longer and reducing the risk of spreading HIV to others. But the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy may not be routinely assessed or guaranteed with an undetectable HIV viral load, authors say. "We know there's a strong desire among many HIV-affected couples to have children but that current strategies to suppress the virus may be inadequate," says Mmeje, who is also a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. "More options to support safely becoming pregnant should be offered to these couples and integrated into HIV prevention programs," she says. Mmeje says health care providers caring for HIV-serodiscordant couples should also consider offering them a fertility evaluation before attempting to conceive or after several unsuccessful attempts. Study participants were recruited from eight HIV care and treatment clinics in the Kisumu area of Western Kenya and included women ages 18 to 34. Instructional aids were used for the procedures, education and counseling sessions. Couples were observed for two months before timed vaginal insemination and were tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections. Timed vaginal insemination was performed for up to six menstrual cycles, and a fertility evaluation was offered to couples who did not become pregnant. Mmeje notes that the method and best practices described in the pilot study could be implemented by HIV prevention programs globally. "Our findings are applicable to low-resource environments throughout the world," she says. "This strategy could have high impact on empowering HIV-affected women with an affordable and readily accessible reproductive option that supports their desire to have children." File photo of former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj. Continuing his attack on Congress, BJP chief Amit Shah questioned former PM Manmohan Singh's contribution to his Assam seat. Calling Singh "mauni (silent) baba", Shah said, "He went to the Rajya Sabha via Assam. Why doesn't he give an account of Congress's 10 years of governance here." Congress president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Modi at Chandrapur rally for "disrespecting his guru" LK Advani. "Advani was forced out of BJP. Which student treats a guru like this? Where is the Hindu philosophy in this treatment?" he asked. After it came to light that Christian Michel had named senior Congress leader "Ahmed Patel" in VVIP chopper deal case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up the issue at his Dehradun rally. "We know now who was involved in the helicopter scam," he said. Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court in Delhi. The Samajwadi Party today released its manifesto for the upcoming general elections, with party supremo Akhilesh Yadav saying the move was now towards Mahaparivartan. Yadav promised to release figures of caste census, while blaming the government for hiding figures of unemployment and farmer suicide. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today said money for the Congresss proposed NYAY scheme would come from the pockets of crony capitalists who had the support of the current government. Gandhi, during an interaction with students in Pune, also called demonetisation a disastrous idea, saying it not only hit the economy but also rendered many jobless. Tejashwi Yadav today defended his father and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad who stirred a controversy with his claim that Nitish Kumar made several attempts to return to the alliance after walking away to join hands with the BJP. Tejashwi said, I say this with full responsibility, Nitish Kumar made many attempts to get back and ally with us, he tried many different approaches, that also within 6 months of returning to NDA. JD(U) leader Prashant Kishor lashed out at Prasad, saying his claims were poor attempts to stay relevant. With less than a week left for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, campaigning is on in full swing across the country. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing election rallies in Amroha, Saharanpur and Dehradun, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is in Maharashtra today. He will address election rallies in Chandrapur and Wardha. Rahul Gandhis visit to Maharashtra comes a day after he filed his nomination from Wayanad, his second seat, in Kerala. His move to pick Wayanad is being hailed as a safe bet by political experts. Rahul Gandhi is also contesting the Amethi seat against BJPs Smriti Irani. On Thursday, Irani hit out at the Congress chief, saying his decision to contest from Wayanad was an insult to Amethi. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will be in Ghaziabad today to campaign for Dolly Sharma. BJP chief Amit Shah is in Arunachal Pradesh and will proceed to Manipur and Assam. His visit comes just days after PM Modi visited the region and lashed out at the Congress for its manifesto of lies. In a virtual face-off, TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will also be addressing rallies in northeast. On an action-packed Friday, the Election Commission will also take a final call on the release of PM Modis biopic, which many opposition leaders have termed a poll code violation. The release of the PM Narendra Modi biopic has been delayed as it awaits the clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification. The biopic was earlier scheduled for an April 5 release, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. How did Venom become Venom? Find out in the new prequel series Lethal Protector Time to go back to the early days of Venom Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: Amid clashes among inmates at the high-security Srinagar Central Jail, two inmates were injured and at least three barracks and a building were damaged. There were rumours that some inmates were being shifted out of the Kashmir valley. This triggered protests. The officials said that the jail inmates were also protesting against the construction of new barracks. During protests, the inmates also burned a temporary shelter. The authorities have imposed restrictions on the movement of people around the jail located in Downtown Srinagar. Internet speed in Srinagar, Anantnag and Kulgam districts have also been reduced. "There were no casualties or injuries," the police added. Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, who is also DG Prisons, said that some inmates instigated others to stop the repair and reinforcement works inside a barrack, according to the local media. The inmates also tried to come to the outer cordon of the jail located in the downtown area of the city, officials said as reported by India Today. Senior police officers and additional companies of the CRPF were rushed to the jail to bring the situation under control, the officials added. New Delhi: The Noida Police on Thursday arrested a woman who posed as a fake Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, and her former banker husband for duping multiple agencies and enjoying government gunners and police escorts across NCR towns such as Noida, Gurugram, Meerut, Ghaziabad and Moradabad for as long as 18 months. A masters in political science from Delhi University, 35-year-old Zoya Khan always wanted to be a civil servant. She failed the exam in 2007 but that didnat deter her from getting what she wanted. When she was with her government security, police personnel and others used to salute her, it has been learnt during the police investigation. On March 23, Khan phoned Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) SSP Vaibhav Krishna and yelled at him for delaying police escorts. The cop got suspicious and ordered an investigation and a raid. Her cover was blown. They were arrested from their rented 3-BHK apartment in Noida Extension's Gaur City-2. Khan, 35, is a Meerut-based doctor's daughter. Singh, 40, is a Kanpur police officer's son, the India Today reported. Two of the fake identity cards recovered from Khan showed she was also posing as a UNSC nuclear officer and a US diplomat in Afghanistan. The police also seized two luxury cars (a black Mahindra XUV 500 with Delhi registration number plate and blue beacon, and a grey Mercedes with Haryana number plate), laptops, phones, walkie-talkies and a fake pistol from them. It was also reported that Khan was provided security at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Meerut last week. Some reports also claimed that she was in the PM's security team, adding that she has sent information to Afghanistan and some other nations. However, Noida Police denied the claims, with Noida SSP Krishna saying that no such evidence exists. "No evidence of these two arrested accused going to the PM's rally in Meerut. The so-called 'Afghanistan' connection has not been found. Please do not sensationalise things. This is a cheating/forgery case only," Krishna tweeted. Krishna said that she used a mobile app that made her sound like a male and created fake e-mail addresses. "The duo made fake ID cards. In one of her forged cards, she posed as Nuclear Policy Officer of United Nations Security Council. She also had a fake United States Department of State card. Another of her card mentions Afghanistan Embassy," SSP Krishna said. During the investigation, it was found that she had made a fake email ID - securitychief@unitednationseciritycouncil.org to drop mails to senior police officials demanding government gunners to escort her. To avoid being caught, she registered the fake ID with Godaddy domain and paid the registration fee via net banking, it has been learnt. We are investigating the matter from all possible angles, the police said. For all the Latest Crime News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission today declared the UPSC Civil Services Final Results 2018. While Kanishak Kataria, a B Tech from IIT Bombay, has topped the civil services final examinations, Srushti Jayant Deshmukh is the topper among women candidates securing an overall fifth rank. Deshmukh, who will be the first civil servant in her family, is an M.Phil in chemical engineering. She said she had faith in herself and that helped her clear the prestigious examination in her first attempt. Daughter of an engineer father and a pre-school teacher mother, Srushti hails from Bhopal. "I think it is the consistency and the faith in yourself that make one achieve all goals," she told PTI. In an interview with ANI, Srushti said, ''UPSC exam is a long journey where you are committed for 1-1.5 years. My parents, family, friends & teachers supported me, so the credit goes to them. I had decided that my first attempt is my last attempt and I was determined to clear it in one attempt.'' Madhya Pradesh: Family of Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, all India rank 5 and topper among women candidates in #UPSC final exam, celebrate at their residence in Bhopal. This was her first attempt at taking the exam. She says, "It was my childhood dream." pic.twitter.com/z6iKGTsGF0 ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 The second rank holder Akshat Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Guwahati, told PTI he was elated and one of the reasons why he appeared in the civil services examination was to serve the society. Read | Who is Sreedhanya Suresh - the FIRST tribal woman from Kerala to clear UPSC exam? Hailing from Jaipur, Akshit's father is an IPS officer while the mother is an Indian Revenue Service officer, who also motivated him to join the civil services. A total of 759 candidates, comprising 577 men and 182 women, have been recommended for appointment to Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and Central Services, Group 'A' and Group 'B'. The top 25 candidates have graduated in subjects like Engineering; Sciences; Economics; Law; Mathematics; History; Political Science; Public administration and Commerce from premier institutions of the country such as IITs, NIT, NLU, BITS Pilani, DU, Mumbai University, Anna University, Pune University. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi over the reported revelations made in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. "Rahul Gandhi talks on several subjects without even having a nodding acquaintance with it. He makes wild and unsubstantiated allegations against all and sundry. Now, who are RG, AP and FAM mentioned in the chargesheet in the AugustaWestland case," Jaitley said while addressing the media. As per the supplementary chargesheet filed by the ED against Michel on Thursday, the alleged middleman is believed to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel, "FAM" as Family and one "Mrs Gandhi". "AP" and "FAM" are the initials mentioned in the diary seized from Michel in February. On Wednesday, the ED had told the court that it was trying to identify one "RG" whose name has appeared multiple times during the VVIP chopper case probe. Asked about whether the diary seized from Michel was admissible as evidence in the court, Jaitley said it is permitted as admission in writing against the maker as well as the co-conspirators. "There is an erroneous belief among Indian politicians that a diary is never admissible as evidence. A diary constitutes an admission in writing and is admissible against the maker of that admission. It is admissible against the other co-conspirators as well," he said. "Arguments of probity in the public space demand more answers. Are RG, AP and FAM fictional characters or were they in a position to influence the deal?" he added. Jaitley further said he wondered how names associated with the Congress party emerged in every controversial defence deals. "How come every time there is a controversial defence deal and evidence is collected, names close to the Congress Partys first family start appearing? Who are these RG, AP and FAM? Are they fictional characters who influenced the deal?" he asked. "Alphabet Q appeared in Martin Ardbos diary in the Bofors Case with a comment that Q must be protected at all cost. It is only when the Swiss authorities in 1993 disclosed the names of one of the beneficiaries of the kickbacks of Bofors being paid as Ottavio Quattrocchi," the finance minister added. The chargesheet revealed that Michel, during questioning revealed that 'AP' stands for Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' stands for Family. Michel also acknowledged knowing 'Mrs Gandhi' and revealed that he was in touch with her and knew her since 1986-87. However, the chargesheet did not elaborate what was the context in which 'Mrs Gandhi' was named and what was her full name. The 52-page chargesheet, filed before Special Judge Arvind Kumar who has listed the matter for Saturday, also mentions meetings with 'the Italian lady's son' who 'will be the next Prime Minister' of India.The dispatch published by the ED also talks about 'son's power growing in the party and mother unaware of full facts'. New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday issued a stern warning to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his alleged reference to the Indian Army as Modiji Ki Sena (Prime Minister Narendra Modis Army). Be careful in your utterances in the future, news agency PTI quoted the poll panel as saying. The warning by the EC came on a day when the Congress urged the former to take cognisance of Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's "Modi ki Army" comment and take a "decisive" action to deter others from making such a statement. They said the EC also told Adityanath that since he is a senior politician holding an important position, his remarks should reflect his stature. The commission was not satisfied with his reply in which he is learnt to have hailed the role of the EC in conducting polls. Addressing a rally in Ghaziabad on Sunday, Adityanath had said: Congress ke log aatankvadiyon ko biryani khilate the aur Modi ji ki sena aatankvadiyon ko goli aur gola deti hai (Congress fed terrorists biryani while Modis army feeds them bullets and bombs). Congress people use "ji" for terrorists like Masood Azhar but under the leadership of PM Modi, the BJP government is breaking the backs of terrorists by striking their camps. Three days later in Lucknow, Naqvi was caught on camera making a similar comment. He, however, tried to wriggle out of the controversy that had been raging, saying he did not make the comment in as many words. The Election Commission had issued a show-cause notice to Adityanath for his controversial comment and sought his response. Amidst the opposition attack on Adityanath for his remark, the poll panel had also asked the district magistrate of Ghaziabad to submit a report so that it can be checked whether there was any violation of Model Code of Conduct as it has already asked political parties to "desist" during their Lok Sabha poll campaigns from indulging in any propaganda involving defence forces. Apart from angry reactions from opposition leaders, the chief minister's remarks also did not go down well with the military with sources indicating that it was "upset". Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas also said he was "upset" over the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's remarks. "The armed forces do not belong to any individual, but to the nation and he will approach the EC over the remarks made by the BJP leader". Lt Gen (retd) H S Panag also said,"such comments lead to the politicisation of the Army." New Delhi: In yet another blistering attack at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said, Chowkidar Modi has only served the interests of his industrialist friends, adding that contract for 6 airports were given to Adani when the nation was reeling under the aftermaths of Pulwama terror attack. Addressing a public gatehring at Maharashtra's Chandrapur, he further assured Rs 72,000 annually to the women of the families under the NYAY scheme if the Congress voted to power in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. "Women of the families will receive Rs 72,000 annually under NYAY scheme. We are doing this because Modi govt has givenA Rs 3,50,000Cr to a handful of industrialist friends, whereas, farmers in Vidarbha were ignored," the Gandhi scion was quoted as saying. Moving on to farm loan waivers, the Congress chief said, "Modi government is misleading our farmers by saying there is no money for loan waivers, whereas Anil Ambani gets a30,000 Cr worth Rafale deal". Early in the day,A interacting with students in Maharashtra's Pune,A he reiterated his love for Modi but bemoaned that the latter has only anger towards him. "I love PM Modi. Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the man, but he (Modi) has anger towards me," he said. "I genuinely do not have anger towards him, he added. There were brief chants of "Modi, Modi" soon after this comment, to which Gandhi responded," Its fine.. its OK". This was not the first time Gandhi spoke of having 'affection' for Modi. In March, he recalled the day he had hugged Modi and said he could not hate him since love "is in the country's grain, every religion, and the Tamil people". He made those remarks while interacting with students of a college in Chennai. When a student asked him why he chose to hug the prime minister, Gandhi had said he had watched a 'very angry' Modi in Parliament running down his party, his late father Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia. After a fiery speech in Parliament in October last year, Gandhi had done something unprecedented: He had walked up to Modi and hugged him, leaving the PM bewildered for a moment. Shortly after his interaction with students in Pune, Gandhi tweeted he loves everybody, including those 'temporarily blinded by hatred'. "Hatred is cowardice. I dont care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred," the tweet reads. Hatred is cowardice. I donat care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred. a Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 5, 2019 Maharashtra, which is a representative of 48 Lok Sabha seats, will go to polls in 4 phases on April 11, 18, 23, 29. Seven-phase Lok Sabha Election is scheduled to take place between April 11 and May 19. The counting of votes for all phases will be taken up on May 23, 2019. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the Congress party for promising to scrap an 1870 sedition law in its manifesto. This Congress party put over 6000 people behind the bar on sedition charges. Why? Now they are preaching the world, PM Modi said in an interview to ABP news channel. "Do you want to encourage things like 'desh ke tukre tukre'. Do you want someone to trample India's flag, insult India's national anthem...continue to break Baba Saheb Ambedkar's statue? What will you do to stop such things," asked PM Modi. Talking about Congress manifesto which also mentions reviewing of AFSPA, PM Modi said that it has insulted country's Army in its manifesto. "You (Congress) want to remove it but it's you who implemented it. You should have reviewed it but decided to keep your eyes closed. No one in the world wants that nation should be converted into a jail. But you should try to improve the situation as we did in Arunachal Pradesh. But removing the law, changing the law, speaking the language of tukde-tukde gang... how will the country run," he told the news channel. The Congress in its manifesto, released earlier this week, promised to amend Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and repeal sedition law. The BJP has upped its ante against the Congress after it released the manifesto. Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code deals with sedition against the state and attracts three years to life imprisonment. Not too long ago, the law commission recommended doing away with the Colonial era. In August 2018, the commission invited public opinion on the repeal or restructuring of Section 124A saying the right to free speech and expression was an "essential ingredient of democracy". Interestingly, the Congress - which is talking about scrapping the law - faced severe criticism when it jailed cartoonist Aseem Trivedi under the sedition law in 2012 under the UPA government. Seven years later, the party in its manifesto has said the sedition law has been misused and, in any event, has become redundant because of subsequent laws. New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday accused the Election Commission (EC) and Income Tax Department (ITD) of harassing him and his family on "mere suspicion". The EC officials have reportedly stopped and checked the Karnataka chief minister's vehicle 13 times in the last 20 days after the model code of conduct came into effect. "Election Commission and Income Tax Department are literally harassing me and my family. Let the EC officials perform their duties, but dont harass us on mere suspicion," news agency ANI quoted the Karnataka chief minister as saying. On Thursday, Kumaraswamy's SUV was checked twice between Gokarna and Karwar while he was on his way to Karwar to attend the JD(S) candidate Anand Asnotikar's nomination filling. "On Thursday, after I left having my breakfast, my vehicle was checked twice. What are they trying to prove?" the JD(S) asked. He also questioned the regular transfers of officials in the middle of the model code of conduct. Kumaraswamy also blasted the Income Tax Department for conducting "politically motivated" raids on Congress and JD(S) workers. In pre-dawn raids on March 30, I-T sleuths had carried out coordinated searches at many locations across Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Kanakapura, Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan and Shivamogga. The state-wide raids, which were carried out days before the Lok Sabha elections triggered a backlash from the Congress and JD(S) leaders. They termed the raids a "shameful attempt" to threaten and generate fear among party workers. Former Prime Minister and JDS chief HD Deve Gowda had even claimed that the BJP had tried to persuade his son HD Kumaraswamy, who runs the Karnataka government in alliance with the Congress, to form a government in the state with their help before the assembly elections. "The BJP had requested Kumaraswamy to come to Mumbai before the election and promised to give big money for JDS electoral expenses. I was aware of this," Deve Gowda said. However, Kumaraswamy had rejected the BJP offer, the former prime minister said. Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday accused coalition partner Congress and others of hatching a 'chakravyuha', a deadly formation in epic Mahabharata, to defeat his son and JDS nominee Nikhil in Mandya Lok Sabha seat. Bringing to fore again deep fissures in the ruling front, the JDS leader lashed out at Congress and others for 'colluding' with independent candidate and multi-lingual film actress Sumalatha, wife of late Congress leader and actor Ambareesh, in Mandya, instead of working for Nikhil. "There are developments that have gone out of hand in Mandya. The independent candidate has got widespread support. She may appear as an independent but she has got the support of Congress, BJP and Raita Sangha (farmers' association). All of them have joined hands to trample JD(S)," he told reporters in Chikkamagalur. He was replying to the queries on JD(S) supremo and his father H D Deve Gowda's remarks Thursday that things have gone out of hand in Mandya, which goes to polls on April 18, and even former chief minister and Congress strongman Siddaramaiah cannot reverse it. Kumaraswamy said "He (Gowda) has only uttered the facts... Somewhere someChakravyuha has been hatched but the people of Mandya, those toiling populace, have already taken a decision (to elect Nikhil)," the chief minister said. He added he was making the statement clearly without hiding anything. 'Chakravyuha' is a deadly battle formation narrated in the epic Mahabharata in which Arjuna's son Abhimanyu was trapped and killed by the Kauravas. Reacting to Kumaraswamy's outbursts, Sumalatha told reporters that Congress "workers are indeed with me". Seeking to turn the tables on the chief minister for his 'Chakravyuha' attack, she said what he would call "activities of the entire government machinery, ministers and MLAs" allegedly aimed at defeating her."Which Vyuhais that? They (JD-S) are playing dirty tricks. They have fielded three other candidates with the name Sumalatha against me. Thosethree candidates are wearing glasses, necklace and attire likeme in the photograph submitted in their affidavit," she claimed. The JD(S) leadership always considered Mandya as its citadel given the huge population of dominant Vokkaliga community, which Deve Gowda belongs to, in the constituency, represented by Ambareesh for three terms. However, upsetting the equations, Sumalatha decided to contest the election from Mandya as an independent after failing to get ticket from the Congress. The BJP is backing Sumalatha instead of fielding its candidate. There is widespread resentment within the local Congress over JDS being alloted the seat under an electoral arrangement between the coalition partners. Disgruntled JD(S) leaders are also reportedly working against the third generation of themighty Deve Gowda clan. Deve Gowda's another grandson Prajwal Revanna, son of minister H D Revanna, is contesting from Hassan, where also a similar situation prevails with the Congress at the grassroot level openly expressing opposition to the JDS. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the Congress over the reported revaltions made in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate against Christian Michel in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam. You may remember this chowkidar had brought middlemen of the helicopter scam from Dubai. Italys Michel mama and other middlemen have been questioned. The chargesheet filed on the basis of it reveals that those who have been given bribe by middlemen include AP and FAM, said PM Modi, while addressing a rally in Dehradun. "In the same chargesheet, it has been revealed that AP means Ahmed Patel and FAM means Family. You tell me which family is Ahmed Patel close to, he added. Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, is understood to have identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before Delhi's Patiala House Court on Thursday. The code names 'AP' and 'FAM' were used in Christian Michel's diary which was seized by the ED. However, Michel told the court on Friday that he never named anyone during the interrogation, and alleged that the central government was using agencies for political agenda. He claimed the copy of the charge sheet, which was filed on Thursday, was provided to the media before it was provided to Michel. He has questioned as to how the charge sheet was leaked to the media even before its cognisance was taken by the court. As per the chargesheet, Michel also acknowledged knowing 'Mrs Gandhi' and revealed that he was in touch with her and knew her since 1986-87. However, the chargesheet did not elaborate what was the context in which 'Mrs Gandhi' was named and what was her full name. The probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary charge sheet had also named David Syms, Michel's alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them-- Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE -- as accused. Michel, extradited from Dubai in December last year, was one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Italy-based Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. New Delhi: With less than one week left for 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released a list of 34 star campaigners for Gujarat. The list features Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi along with several prominent figures from the BJP such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and many others. "BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and by-election in the state. Actor Vivek Oberoi is also included in the list," the news agency ANI tweeted along with a list of 34 star campaigners in the state. BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for #LokSabhaElections2019 and by-election in the state. Actor Vivek Oberoi is also included in the list. The 26 Parliamentary constituencies of the state will undergo polling in the third phase of elections on 23rd April. pic.twitter.com/PC5lKcD3mp a ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 MEA Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are also among the leaders who will lead the electioneering in the state ahead of the General Elections 2019. Apart from them, veteran B-town actress Hema Malini, Union Minister Smriti Irani, Uma Bharti and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje will also come to the state to support the BJP candidates. So far, the BJP has declared candidates on 25 out of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The saffron outfit has dropped its sitting MPs on nine seats and renominated 16 Members of Parliament, who were elected in 2014. In Mehsana, the BJP has given ticket to Shardaben Patel, the wife of late BJP leader Anil Patel, replacing its sitting MP Jayshree Patel. Mehsana is a crucial seat for the BJP as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthplace Vadnagar is located in the district. The BJP retained sitting Surat MP Darshana Jardosh, who has won from the seat two times. Ahmedabad East is the only Lok Sabha seat, where the party is yet to declare its candidate. Veteran actor Paresh Rawal is the sitting MP from Ahmedabad East and he has decided not to contest polls this time citing his busy acting schedule. Among prominent MPs, the party has dropped patriarch L K Advani (91) from the Gandhinagar seat and Union minister Haribhai Chaudhary from Banaskantha. The BJP has fielded its president Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, a prestigious seat held by Advani since 1991. Shah filed his nomination papers from the Gandhinagar seat last Saturday after taking out a massive rally and road show in the constituency. Elections to 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will take place in a single phase on April 23. Seven-phase Lok Sabha Election is scheduled to ne held between April 11 and May 19. The counting of votes for all phases will be taken up on May 23, 2019. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha and Saharanpur. He will then head to Uttarakhand's Dehradun. At 8 am today, the prime ministers second interview of the poll season will be aired on ABP. This comes a week after PM Modis last interview to another private news channel. Here are the highlights: # PM Modi gives health advices while going to vote. He asks the people to make this festival of democracy a success. # I have been fasting during Navratri for years now. I will also observe it this year. This Navratri not as tough as September-October Navratri. During that time, I don't eat anything. This Navratri, I eat one fruit: PM. #Lutyen's Delhi didn't accept me and I also didn't accept it: PM Modi. # Vijay Mallya and the rest were scared of us, so they fled: PM. # This year the wave is stronger. I feel the government should be formed with a full majority: PM Modi. # On Amit Shah likely to be given No. 2 position in the party this year with him contesting Lok Sabha polls: Do you want to bring a rift within my party?, PM Modi quipped. # On Mamata Banerjee's "Expiry Babu" comment, PM Modi says, " Every person on this earth comes with an expiry date. I don't know mine. If she knows, well and good." # On NaMo TV, Modi says: I haven't had the time to see the channel. # I am sure the people of the country have started believing now that Modi doesn't favour the corrupt. # It was a step taken by huge courage which resulted in the betterment of the country's economy in the long run. PM also said that demonetisation helped in tracking black money and undisclosed income: PM. # I have explained the merits of demonetisation time and again, and I will explain it again: PM # When I was the Gujarat CM, I was asked what your government has done for Muslims? I said, 'My government has done nothing for Muslims but also my government did nothing for Hindus too. My government worked for the people of Gujarat.' I work for all the people irrespective of religion. My mantra is "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas": PM. # Interviewer to PM Modi: What is Narendra Modi's relation with India's Muslims? Why can't Muslims trust BJP. # I have always completed any task given to me with full dedication and commitment: PM. # I have worked in as many as 450 districts in the evening, says PM Modi. I have always been a wanderer. I have always been hard-working. # I meet people, I interact with people: PM. # Democracy should be vibrant. There should be challenges. Challenges should increase for a healthy democracy, says PM Modi. # The interviewers asked PM if he is strong because the Opposition is weak, asks PM Modi. # I come from a very simple family. How can I take names of such "Naamdaar people"? says PM as a reply to the previous question. # Why don't you ever take Rahul Gandhi's name? You call him 'Shahzaada', 'Raja': interviewers to the PM. # Even father of the Constitution BR Ambedkar had said that dynastic politics is dangerous for democracy, says PM Modi. # On why he contested from Varanasi in 2014, he says, "I only listen to the party. The party chief thought I should contest from Varanasi, so I did." # Democracy gives the right to everyone to contest elections from wherever they want, says PM on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's chances of contesting against him in varanasi. # Why is this party, which is almost 125 years old, facing a crisis to elect a good leader: PM Modi. # Those making such baseless allegations must give proofs. All the cases against these people were there before I came to power. All the cases against them were supressed and now if those cases reopen, what is my fault: PM. # Congress indulging in drama to gain sympathy, says PM Modi. # It is shameful that some people think like this, I was not aware that something like this will happen, says PM Modi on the allegation of him busy in photoshoot when Pulwama attack took place. # At 3.40 am, I was told mission was successful. I could have slept, but I didn't: PM # On Balakot air strike, PM Modi said, the biggest proof was given by Pakistan itself by tweeting about the attack. Those who are putting allegations or asking for numbers can keep on doing that. # We are following the path of former PM Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee who believed on Jamuriyat (democracy), Kashmiriyat and Insaaniyat (humanity), says PM Modi. # We only targetted terrorists in non-military operations, says PM Modi. # We have differences with China but also have good relations, says PM Modi. # We have completed work of providing electricity, toilets in every household of Jammu and Kashmir. # No point being soft on separatists. This will not help the country in any way, says PM Modi. # Due to the difference in thoughts, we asked PDP for a re-election in Kashmir but they started threatening that if elections will be conducted they will be a revolt. This is when we decided to part ways from the party: PM # I have travelled across Kashmir when terrorism was at its peak, says PM Modi. # Do you want to embolden "Tukde-tukde gang", says PM Modi on sedition law. # Want AFSPA-free India: PM Modi. # We don't play with the law of the land, says PM. We abolished 1,400 archaic laws, says PM. # Non-political people should judge Congress' poll promises. # Track record of Congress' poll promises poor: PM # The Congress has insulted our armed forces in their manifesto, says PM Modi. # It is possible to expect a mature manifesto from an experienced party like Congress, but their manifesto has brought a lot of disappointment. The Congress has looked for shortcuts in its manifesto, says PM. He says, "Shortcut will cut you short." # Only 2 PMs till now who are not of Congress 'gotra' --- one Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the other Narendra Modi, says PM. # I took big as well as tough decisions, says the prime minister. # Aspirations have aroused in country's common man during my tenure: PM Modi. # During the previous government's tenure, people did not have aspirations from the government. We instilled hope in the people in these 60 months: PM Modi. # I had asked the people for 60 months against the 60 years of misrule, says PM Modi. Pune : Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was his "best friend", adding there can be no fights with her. Interacting with students here, Gandhi said he has seen a lot of violence affecting his family and referred to the assassinations of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Interacting with students in Pune, he gave an insight into his rapport with his younger sibling, who formally entered politics a few months ago, and childhood memories. Asked if ever has fights or arguments with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said, "There would be fights earlier. But not now. Since I was small, I have been through a lot of violence with the assassinations of my grandmother and father. My sister has been my friend and we understand each other well. If there is a situation of argument, sometimes she backs off and sometimes I do." The Congress chief described his sister as his "best friend" and added, "We have been through life together." Talking about celebrating Raksha Bandhan, a festival that signifies the brother-sister bond, Gandhi said he follows an uncommon rule and wears the 'rakhi' (a protective thread tied on the right hand) till it breaks on its own. He said he loves Prime Minister Narendra Modi and harbours no ill-will or hatred towards him. "Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the PM. He doesn't feel the same way," he said. There were brief chants of "Modi, Modi" soon after this comment, to which Gandhi responded," Its fine.. its OK". Asked about his childhood memories, he said," I would hide behind the curtains in my grandmother's room (Indira Gandhi) and scare her when she entered. But, she would know I am in the room and just pretended to get scared." About a wish he would want from a genie, he said, "I would ask that all people I care for do well." To a question on retirement age for politicians, Rahul Gandhi said 60 years was a good age for them to call it quits. New Delhi: In a shocking and insulting allegation, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of humiliating BJP veteran L K Advani, saying the former had kicked the latter out. BJP talks of Hinduism. In Hinduism, guru is supreme. It talks of guru-shishya tradition. Who is Modi's guru? Advani. Modi just kicked Advani out ('Joota marke stage se utara'), said Rahul. The Congress presidents swipe at PM Modi over the treatment meted out to Advani follows the BJP patriarch's blog published on April 4 where he said the BJP never considered its political adversaries as anti-national. Responding to Advani's blog, PM Modi had said that the former has perfectly summed up the "true essence" of the party, particularly the mantra of 'Nation First, Party Second, Self Last'. The remark was a veiled reference to Advani not getting Lok Sabha poll ticket from Gandhinagar, from where BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah instead. Advani, 91, who has served as Union home minister and deputy prime minister, has won from Gandhinagar six times. Credited for orchestrating the BJP's rise to a pre-eminent position in the late 80s and 90s along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee after it won only two Lok Sabha seats in 1984. Advani was moved out of the BJP's highest decision-making body, Parliamentary Board, in 2014 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the party to victory and Shah was made its president. He was made a member of Margdarshak Mandal (group of mentors), a body which has never met. He did not make any representation to stake claim for Gandhinagar seat before the BJP observers. The BJP veteran won from Gandhinagar for the first time in 1991, and retained the constituency in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. In 1996 he did not contest, citing the Babri Masjid demolition case against him. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant interim stay on the electoral bonds scheme and asked the petitioner NGO to file an appropriate application for it. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the issue requires detailed hearing and, therefore, it will be taken up on April 10. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), alleged that thousands of crore are anonymously being given to political parties. He alleged that 95 percent of electoral bonds are being given to the ruling party. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said the electoral bonds scheme was brought to check the flow of black money into political funding. He said Bhushan was giving an election speech that 95 percent of the electoral bonds have gone to ruling party. The bench in lighter vein said: "It's election time. We will hear on April 10". ADR's application has sought stay on the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, which was notified by the Centre in January last year. It said the amendments carried out in the relevant Acts have "opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate donations to political parties and anonymous financing by Indian as well as foreign companies, which can have serious repercussions on the Indian democracy". The matter holds importance as the Centre and the Election Commission (EC) have taken contrary stands, with the former justifying the decision saying it would promote transparency in political funding while the latter maintaining that the changes made in the law would have "serious repercussions". In its affidavit filed on one of the petitions filed by the CPI(M) and its general secretary Sitaram Yechury, the Centre defended its decision to issue electoral bonds, saying it aimed at ensuring "enhanced accountability" and pushing electoral reforms "to defeat the growing menace of black money". The Centre said the bonds were introduced on January 2, 2018 to promote transparency in funding and donations received by political parties and that these can be encashed by an eligible political party only through their authorised bank accounts. It said the bonds did not have the name of the donor or the receiving political party and only carried a unique hidden alphanumeric serial number as an in-built security feature. Only a political party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which had secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last election to the Lok Sabha or a legislative assembly, would be eligible to receive the bonds, the Centre had said. On March 27, the poll panel had informed the apex court that it had written to the Centre saying that the changes made in several laws relating to political funding will have "serious repercussions" on transparency. It had also said that the changes in the FCRA, 2010 would allow unchecked foreign funding of political parties, which could lead to Indian policies being influenced by foreign companies. The poll panel said on May 26, 2017, it had written to the Ministry of Law and Justice about its views that the changes made in the Income Tax Act, the Representation of the People Act and the Finance Act would be against the endeavour to have transparency in funding to political parties. Referring to the EC's communication with the ministry, it said: "It is evident that any donation received by a political party through an electoral bond has been taken out of the ambit of reporting under the contribution report as prescribed under section 29C of the RP Act. "In a situation where electoral bonds were not reported, it cannot be ascertained whether the political party has taken any donation from government companies and foreign sources." On February 2 last year, the apex court had sought the Centre's response on a plea moved by the CPI(M), which had termed the issuance of electoral bonds by the government as "arbitrary" and "discriminatory". New Delhi: Who is better Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra? From masses to political leaders, this question has been on peoples mind for longest time possible. Things got interesting this year when Priyanka formally joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In an interview with news channel ABP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday revealed what exactly he thinks about top leadership of the Congress party. When asked about the brother, sister duo, the Prime Minister said that, I dont know them personally. I never got the chance to have any sort of discussion with them. Hence, I dont have any right to judge them. He also added that, this is an internal matter of the Congress party. They can make anyone their leader. When asked about why he never addresses Rahul Gandhi directly or takes his name, PM Modi said that, Why is media so pained if I take his name (Rahul Gandhi) or not? Secondly, I come from a very simple family. A tea-selling family. These people (Gandhi family) are naamdars. I cant dare to take their names. On the Congress chief contesting from Keralas Wayanad, PM Modi said that, anyone can contest from any part of the country. This is not my concern. The nations Constitution has given them this right. But it was media that started the discussion on the way he (Gandhi) left Amethi. He also added that nobody is question Gandhi on contesting from two seats. But why he had to abandon Amethi is a question that the BJP can raise had discussion from political point of view. New Delhi: Vivek Oberoi starrer PM Narendra Modias biopic is finally all set to release on April 11. Director Omung Kumar took to his Twitter account to share the new release date and wrote, ''Thank you everyone for your support. Hereas the date when our film #PMNarendraModi will be releasing. 11th April. Jai hind.'' Thank you everyone for your support. Hereas the date when our film #PMNarendraModi will be releasing. 11th April. Jai hind pic.twitter.com/rY08rUhv7W a Omung Kumar B (@OmungKumar) April 5, 2019 The film was supposed to hit the theatres on April 5, but now the film will release on April 11. The film ran into trouble for allegedly violating the model code of conduct in view of the Lok Sabha elections. In an interview with ANI, Omung Kumar had said, ''Suspense! The film isn't releasing tomorrow, not on 5 April. But it'll be done soon, you'll get to know. We don't want to tell you the date now. Opposition had come forward, tried things. It's late but we know what date to release it on.'' The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections begins on April 11. The opposition raised objections to the release of the film on April 5 as it was just a week before the elections. In an interview with India Today, Vivek Oberoi had said that it is not a propaganda film and its release would not affect the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. ''It is just a coincidence that the film is releasing ahead of the election. It is not a propaganda film. I am an individual who has a credible body of work over the last 18 years, more than 45 films and more than 26-27 awards. So I stand my ground there. I don't need to make him appear as a hero. He is a hero to billions of people across the world,'' he had said. Apart from Vivek Oberoi, the film also stars Manoj Joshi, Boman Irani, A Barkha Bisht Sengupta, Suresh Oberoi, Darshan Kumaar, Prashant Narayanan and Zarina Wahab in prominent roles. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A week before India votes for the crucial Lok Sabha Elections, a supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case has created ripples in the politically charged atmosphere. News Nation has the explosive details of the chargesheet, which talks about AP and Fam. Sources say that alleged middlemen Christian Michel James has revealed during the investigation that 'AP' stands for Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' stands for Family. The code names 'AP' and 'FAM' were used in Christian Michel's diary which was seized by the ED. Now, fresh details have emerged that show how Michel tried to influence public opinion. According to the chargesheet, in order to influence public opinion, Christian Michel James has used important personalities in the field of media . The chargesheet mentions names of three journalists - Raju Santhanam, Shekar Gupta and Manu Pubby. According to the chargesheet, "as per Casana sheet, a payment of Euro 205860.40 was made to Ashwin Santhanam, son of Raju Santhanam in addition to booking an air ticket for him and his family for a total amount of Rs 26.50 lakh". It also reveals that Michel had hired a media advisor to get his side of story to the public. Michel reportedly hired Guy Douglas to influence the media. This fact is further corroborated by act of influence on Manu Pubby and Shekhar Gupta to tone down the article in Indian Express, the chargsheet said. The media advisor hired was in touch with several journalists in India, Michel told the probe agency. According to reports, Michel also acknowledged knowing 'Mrs Gandhi' and revealed that he was in touch with her and knew her since 1986-87. However, the chargesheet did not elaborate what was the context in which 'Mrs Gandhi' was named and what was her full name. Earlier on December 29, 2018, the ED had told the Patiala House Court that Christian Michel named one 'Mrs Gandhi' during his interrogation. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) sources have claimed that they have evidence that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman indeed shot down Pakistan Air Force F-16 aircraft 7-8 km inside Pakistan Occupied Area in Sabzkot area there during a dogfight on February 27. The response came after a US report has raised doubts over Indias claims of shooting down one of Pakistans F-16 fighter jet planes in an air skirmish between the two nations. IAF sources confirmed that radio communication of Pakistan Air Force intercepted by it confirms that one of the F-16s that attacked India on February 27 did not return to its base, news agency ANI reported. The IAF has also confirmed sighting ejections at two different places on that day. The two sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km. One was an IAF MIG-21 Bison, which was being flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and the other a PAF aircraft. "Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate PAF aircraft was a F-16," the IAF said. When the incident occurred, India asked the US government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements. (F-16 fighter jet. Representative image) The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. According to the magazine report, Pakistan had invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. Two senior US defence officials told Foreign Policy (FP) that US personnel counted Islamabads F-16s and found none missing. Pakistans military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor, however, denied that any F-16 had been shot and added that in the Pakistan Air Force operations that day, no F-16 had been deployed. "Allah be praised, truth always prevails. Time for India to speak truth about false claims & actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan. India needs introspection especially over atrocities in IOK (Indian Occupied Kashmir). Region needs peace, progress & prosperity," Asif Ghafoor, spokesman for the Pakistani military, tweeted. Vipin Narang, an associate professor of political science at MIT told FP that this may affect Indias efforts to deter Pakistan in the future. It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process, Narang told FP. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a major step, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn security cover from 919 undeserving persons, including 22 separatist leaders, since the governors rule on June 20, 2018 in the state, said the Ministry of Home Affairs. The move freed 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles, the MHA added. The MHA said it gave a clear message to those who are involved in anti-national activities. It has resulted in availability of 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles, it said. The move follows strict stance by the Home Ministry on inappropriate usage of scarce police resources in the state. It was observed by Centre that many undeserving persons managed to get security cover resulting in lack of state police resources for public at large, it added. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the Union Home Ministry directed the state government that a case by case in-depth review may be taken on merits. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A criminal defamation case has been registered against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri on the charges of defaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by allegedly linking it to journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder. A Mumbai court has listed the matter for further hearing on April 22.A Though Gandhi was exempted from appearing before the court on Friday, his lawyer argued that they have not received any summons in this regard so far. Summons will be re-issued to Sitaram Yechury since the CPM general secretary has recently changed his address. "A criminal defamation case has been registered against Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechuri by RSS activist Dhrutiman Joshi in Mumbai Court. Next date of hearing is 22 April," the news agency ANI reported. "Rahul Gandhi was exempted from appearing today, though his lawyer argued that they haven't received summons. Sitaram Yechury's address has changed so summons will be re-issued to him," it added. Rahul Gandhi was exempted from appearing today, though his lawyer argued that they haven't received summons. Sitaram Yechury's address has changed so summons will be re-issued to him. https://t.co/Hezh5cjO35 a ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 In the criminal defamation case, complainant Dhrutiman Joshi, an RSS worker and lawyer, has cited some purported remarks made by Gandhi and Yechury against the RSS after the killing of Lankesh, a strong Hindutva critic. "Statements made by the accused and their respective political parties are in utmost sense defamatory and belittle the RSS in the eyes of common public. There was a definite move by the accused to tarnish the image of the RSS without citing any proof," Joshi had said in his complaint. Speaking to a journalist outside Parliament hours after Lankesh's death, Gandhi said, "Anybody who speaks against the ideology of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), against the ideology of RSS is pressured, beaten, attacked and even killed". Yechury also made a similar statement, saying that it was the RSS ideology and RSS men who killed Lankesh. Lankesh was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru in September 2017, allegedly by the members of a right-wing extremist group. The Congress chief is also facing another defamation case in a court at Bhiwandi in Thane district over his alleged comments against the RSS regarding Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : The finding of a US ground report has rejected Indian claims that its air force had shot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a day after the Balakot air strike. According to a report published in a leading American magazine, the US ground report has found that none of the F-16 jets with Pakistan Air Force were missing and all the fighter planes were "present and accounted for". The Indian Air Force on February 28 had claimed that Pakistan had deployed US-made F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid and that one of them was shot down by an Indian MIG-21 jet during the aerial battle. The IAF had also displayed pieces of AMRAAM missile, fitted in the Pakistani F-16s as evidence to prove its claims. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," the magazine reported on Thursday. Pakistan had also denied the Indian claims and categorically said that it didn't deploy F-16 fighter jets. According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan had invited the United States to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the magazine. The Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. MIT professor Vipin Narang said that after the report, it looks like India not only failed in the mission but also lost a plane and a helicopter in the standoff that saw the air forces of the countries indulging in a battle for the first time after Kargil war. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," Narang said. According to an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was, the US requires the receiving country to allow its officials to inspect the equipment regularly to ensure it is accounted for and protected, the news report said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the suicide bomber of JeM killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was later released in a "gesture of peace". (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Pakistan's ISI has collaborated with terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Laskhar to carry out a major terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir between April 5 and 9 to disrupt the polls, according to sources. The security agencies have issued an alert regarding this, asking security forces to remain extra vigilant during the election time. The sources said that Pakistan is also involved in hatching the conspiracy and helping Jaish-e-Mohammed to carry out the attack in Kashmir. Notorious for its involvement in terror attacks in India, the Pakistani intelligence agency has made three groups with Jaish and Lashkar. Their plan is to target polling booths and Lok Sabha candidates in Jammu and Kashmir. The ISI has sent Jaish and Lashkar terrorists to Afghanistan, where they were trained to use the explosives. The alert has come just seven days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The entire country, along with Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls in seven phases starting from April 11. In Jammu and Kashmir, elections will be held in the first five of the seven phases. While Baramulla and Jammu will go to polls on April 11, Srinagar, Udhampur will vote on April 18. Polling in Anantnag and Anantnag (Kulgam district) will be held on April 23 and April 29. Rest of the state, Anantnag (Shopian and Pulwama district) and Ladakh, will vote on May 6. This development has come at a time when tensions are high between India and Pakistan - two nuclear-armed neighbours over February 14 Pulwama attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Indian Air Force's strike in Balakot. The countries even came at the brink of a full-fledged war in February as after India's air strike, Pakistan also target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : At least two soldiers were injured after a 'mysterious' blast inside an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara on Friday. The blast occurred inside 15 RR camp in Lachampora Rajwar of Kupwara district's Handwara area. The injured jawans were rushed to a hospital where they were undergoing treatment. According to sources, the incident was not a terror attack and the blast occurred accidentally. The authorities, however, said that they were ascertaining the details and reasons behind the blast. The incident has come at a time when military establishments in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country are on a high alert in the wake of terrorist attack threat. On February 14, at least 42 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 30 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded. Following the attack, India launched an anti-terror operation and conducted an air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed camps in Pakistan's Balakot. After the strike, the two nuclear-armed neighbours came on the brink of a full-fledged war. Since then, all the three branches of Indian Armed Forces are on operation alert. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a big relief to the Congress party, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Delhi High Court order asking the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) to vacate the National Herald House building - now owned by Young India. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued a notice to Land and Development Office on an appeal of Associated Journal Ltd (AJL) against the High Court order. Supreme Court stays Delhi High Court order of February 28 which ordered vacation of 'Herald House'. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issues notice to Land and Development Office on an appeal of Associated Journal Ltd against the High Court order. pic.twitter.com/HebPrGUNiP a ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes are majority shareholders of Young India which acquired AJL's 90 crore laon liability to All India Congress Committee on a mere payment of Rs 50 lakhs. Earlier in February, the Delhi High Court dismissed National Herald publisher AJL's plea challenging a single judge order to vacate its premises at ITO. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao rejected the appeal of Associated Journals Ltd in which it had challenged the Centre's decision asking it to vacate the ITO premises. AJL had appealed against the single judge's December 21, 2018 order that directed it to vacate the premises at ITO within two weeks, after which eviction proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, would be initiated. The single judge had also said that by transfer of AJL's 99 per cent shares to Young India (YI), the beneficial interest of AJL's property worth Rs 413.40 crore stands "clandestinely" transferred to YI. In its order, the single judge had said that AJL has been "hijacked" by YI, in which the Gandhis are shareholders. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Two Army men were killed and at least nine others suffered serious burn injuries in an accidental fire at an army range in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, an official said. According to reports, three of the injured have been shifted to Delhi and are in critical condition. Initial reports suggest that fire was caused due to sparks from the firing of the sniper rifles which burnt the dry leaves and grass surrounding the hideout from where soldiers were practicing. Army Sources: Two Indian Army soldiers killed in fire incident at the Bercha and Hema ranges in Mhow near Indore today. Fire was caused due to spark during firing practice. #MadhyaPradesh a ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019 "Two Indian Army soldiers were killed in a fire incident at the Bercha firing range in Mhow near Indore. The fire was caused due to spark during firing practice," Army official was quoted as saying by ANI. The incident took place at the Army's Bercha Range at Mhow, a cantonment town near Indore. Reports claim that few soldiers got injured when they went to rescue them as they were wearing gille suits which is the camouflage worn by snipers. A court of inquiry to probe the incident has been ordered. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Allegations stating Indian School of Bahrain will implement a fee hike in the upcoming academic year have been refuted by school officials. The concerned officials revealed that the false information was spread by former administration and came to light following circulation on various social media platforms including Whatsapp and Facebook. Parents have been urged to ignore the allegations and approach the school for clarification regarding such concerns. With a student population of over 12,000, the Indian School is one of the largest co-ed schools in the Persian Gulf. Brave Combat Federation had a historical start to 2019 as the biggest MMA promotion in the Middle East put on a show to remember in front of a huge audience in Manila, the Philippines for Brave 22. While in the country to oversee the final preparations and meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa talked about the organization's worldwide reach and its continued growth in and out of the MMA world in a special interview with ESPN5, partner of TV5, the biggest network in the Philippines. Sheikh Khalid reinforced the global aspect of the promotion and guaranteed that Brave Combat Federation will continue to go to new places in order to expand the vision proposed for MMA. "Brave will never stop. We'll be travelling to each country and having events in most of them, and continuing until we are the best in the world", said His Highness. Brave CF has already visited 15 countries in little more than two years since its inception and will make its much-anticipated return to Jordan next, as Brave 23 will take place in Amman, on April 19th. With regards to the strong Filipino contingent in the Brave roster, His Highness mentioned the friendship between the Philippines and Bahrain as crucial to the development of those warriors, and the reason why Brave CF decided to host a show in Manila. "The Philippines is a country that is our friend. We have a long relationship with them. It is a pleasure for us to bring Brave to the Philippines. The standard of the Filipino fighters is very high. They have a good training base, they are improving in Brave". Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron (Photo: VNA) Invited by IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron, and Chairman of the Consultative Assembly of Qatar Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the top legislators attendance at IPU-140 aims to affirm Vietnams commitment to proactively engage in multilateral diplomacy. It will help Vietnam not only enhance its international position by participating in the settlement of regional and global challenges, but also capitalise on international support for and attention to regional security issues that involve the Southeast Asian nation. Established in 1889 in Paris, France, the IPU comprises 178 members and 12 associate members. It aims to enhance exchanges between parliaments and contribute to protecting human rights worldwide. Since Vietnam joined in April 1979, its active participation has been acknowledged by other members. Over the years, relations between the Vietnamese legislature and other parliaments have been strengthened. In October 2007, at the 117th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, the Vietnamese NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forums highest body - for the first time. In 2009, a representative from the Vietnamese National Assembly was designated as IPU Vice President. In April 2015, Vietnam hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly, where the Hanoi Declaration was adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. In October 2016, at the 135th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, Chairman of the NAs Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau was elected to the IPU Executive Committee for 2016-2019. In May, 2017, Vietnam hosted the IPUs regional seminar for the -Pacific on responding to climate change and actions of parliaments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ho Chi Minh city. At the 138th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, NA Chairwoman Ngan delivered a speech, making recommendations and initiatives to address challenges of migration, and affirmed the need to maintain peace for sustainable development. She also proposed IPU member countries effectively implement the the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and called on IPU member parliaments to review legal policies concerning education, healthcare, jobs and equal treatment for refugees. At the plenary session of the 139th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu stated Vietnam is willing to work with other countries, the IPU, UN and other international organisations on collaborative programs and projects in science and technology./. NEW MILFORD A traditional seder encourages Jews to envision themselves as the slaves who fled Egypt thousands of years ago, but on Thursday the women at the seder table were able to see themselves. Temple Sholom held its first womens seder, changing the words to honor the women in the Exodus story and connect it to modern Jewish women. A change from the traditional Haggadah that focuses on the men, such as Moses. The traditional Haggadah asks us, Why is this night different from all other nights? Debbie Heckmann, a committee member, told the 25 women seated around a long table. Tonight is different from all other nights because tonight we join as one community of modern women, together as one group, as women at the table. At Thursdays womens seder, the traditional four sons became four daughters; the four questions examined what the Exodus story means for women today and Elijiahs cup of wine was replaced with Miriams cup of water. Miriam, Mosess sister, is often associated with water and even is believed to have had a well that followed her as the Israelites left Egypt and crossed the desert. She is considered to be a central part of the story, though never mentioned in the traditional Haggadah. The traditional song Dayenu, which translates to it would have been enough, listed ways for women to lighten their load, including only serving on one volunteer committee, working 45 hours a week instead of 60 and buying a dessert instead of making one from scratch. The 10 plagues were adapted to take on modern symbols, including a lack of affordable housing, climate change, gun violence, childhood hunger and domestic violence. We have these 10 contemporary plagues that very often affect women, Breznick said. The Haggadah built on the women who came before, including Miriam, the midwives Shifra and Puah, the daughters of Zelophehad who demanded their inheritance rights and the suffragettes of the early 1900s. Womens seders have been around since the 1970s. Joan P. Ivler, a committee member for this event, had participated in one on Long Island about 20 years ago and suggested Temple Sholom have one, building on the popularity of womens events. She suggested it after services one day in January and Heckmann and Cantor Laura Breznick readily agreed. Breznick then spent the next three months or so crafting the Haggadah with the committee so that it would speak to the group of women. It was a journey, to say the least, Breznick said. It was a labor of love. Heckmann said the event is designed to open the table to not only members of the synagogue but the surrounding community, including to those who arent Jewish. Its really about building community, she said. Thats what were trying to do. The organizers said the events attendance exceeded their expectations. Gretchen OShea, of New Milford, said she came because Ivler is her neighbor and the two had been planning to attend each others services for a while. OShea, an Episcopalian, said she appreciated learning about Passover and the corresponding traditions, as well as a deeper exploration of the Exodus story, which is in the Old Testament of the Bible. She attended a seder years ago at a Catholic church in Washington, but this was her first Jewish seder. It was a great experience, but it wasnt the real thing like this is, OShea said. I feel like Im at the authentic thing. The womens seder is designed to compliment the traditional family seder, which will happen in two weeks when Passover begins. Hannah Schear, one of the other guests at the womens seder, said she enjoyed adding this to the mix with the traditional seder. Its great, she said. Its nice when we get together. She said the woman-centered twist also inspired reflection. Ive been thinking about the women who need our help and dont have the advantages we have in the U.S., Schaer said. The organizers are already looking ahead to the possibility of another womens seder. Normally, we say Next year in Jerusalem, but I say Next year, here, Breznick said at the end of the night. Let this be the beginning of our womens seder journey. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 RIDGEFIELD Free public Wi-Fi wireless Internet access for cellphones and other mobile devices in downtown Ridgefield has received tentative support from the Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC). You have one hub which would be in town hall and then you have a series of booster-receivers that go around, so we could do all of the village as well as Ballard Park, said John Devine, vice chairman of the ECDC. The system would cost about $25,000 to install, and then $10,000 per year in upkeep, Devine said. Devine said he was inspired by a recent trip to Waterville, Maine, which installed free public Wi-Fi a year ago. It makes a difference, and once you do it you have marketing capabilities that you can start leveraging, said Devine at the ECDC meeting Monday. 5G, privacy ECDC member Gus Ryer asked whether the advent of 5G networks the next generation of cellphone networks that promise faster Internet connections would make the investment obsolete. If Verizons offering that, and eventually you realize its going to come here and AT&T is going to follow why spend the twenty-five grand for Wi-Fi in the village that people are going to be more and more skeptical of? said Ryer. I dont sign onto strange Wi-Fi networks, theyre not secure, and why spend $10,000 a year on something that might be obsolete in five? Devine argued the system would still attract users, because it would offer speeds similar to a 5G network without eating into users data allowance from their cellphone carriers. It will have the same bandwidth as 5G What youre offering is unlimited free data, he said. Even for a small town like Waterville, public WiFi attracts users. The median income of Waterville is $40,000, they had a 127,000 users, Devine said. Chairman Arnold Light seemed in favor of the idea, but didnt think the town would support the cost. Itll be a tough sell for the Board of Selectmen, he said. Well, we should stay ahead of it, said Devine Advertising ECDC member Amanda Duff said she was also concerned about the security of a public network, but asked if there would be an opportunity for marketing through popup ads when users login. Most public Wi-Fi at coffee shops and other venues have a popup that forces users to agree to the networks terms and conditions before they can connect. Those popups also typically include some advertising for the business. Duff suggested that if businesses supported the cost of running the Wi-Fi network, they could own the landing page that users see when they log on and accept the terms and conditions of using the network. The login could also allow restaurants or other businesses to acquire email addresses, which users would use to sign in. Email addresses are gold these days or Facebook likes, said Duff. Most hotels, in order to connect you have to like their Facebook page or leave a review. Lets just keep working on it, said Devine, who suggested there might be grants available from Eversource or wireless carriers that would offset the cost. Its happening with or without us, Devine said, other towns are implementing it. A pet pig named Princess wandered away from her California home last month and met an ugly demise. "It's just a really bizarre case," said Arcata police Lt. Todd Dockweiler. Princess wasn't one of those teacup pigs that you can carry around like a Chihuahua. She was a big girl, nearly 400 pounds, according to the Lost Coast Outpost. The fact that she wandered away wasn't out of the ordinary at all. "Believe it or not, that's not a super uncommon call for us. We have a lot of loose livestock calls," said Dockweiler. "It is very common to have loose cows, loose horses, loose goats. it's still a neighborhood environment, but a lot of folks have a few acres." An officer responded and found Princess hanging out in someone's yard. The officer asked the property owner if he wouldn't mind keeping the pig in his yard until they could track down its owner, a practice Dockweiler says is common for these kinds of loose livestock issues. The neighbor happily obliged, and the officer went off to track down Princess's owner. Her owner was already looking for her, too, so she was easy to identify. But when the officer went back to retrieve Princess from the yard about an hour later, he stumbled upon something shocking: a butchering in progress. "Obviously that was a bit of a shock to everyone involved. ... Given the stage of the butchering process he was in, he must have slaughtered the pig very shortly after the officer left," Dockweiler said. The man police say is responsible wasn't the homeowner but "a man who was known to them" who was on the property with the owner's permission. Thankfully, Princess's owner, identified as Carrie Hogan by the Lost Coast Outpost, wasn't there to see the gruesome scene for herself. But when she heard the news, she was devastated. Hogan told the local news site she bottle-fed Princess since she was a piglet and considered the pet a part of her family. According to Arcata police, slaughtering a pig that doesn't belong to you is a crime. Officers are expecting to forward a criminal charge to the district attorney's office after their investigation is complete. "It's just not clear what the thought process was. He obviously knew the pig didn't belong to him and he didn't have the right to slaughter it." While Hogan considered Princess a family member, under the law, she's still considered livestock, so Dockweiler expects the suspect to be charged with "theft of livestock." Hogan told the Lost Coast Outpost she thinks the man responsible still has her pet's meat. She wants to get it back to keep him or anyone else from eating it. "I think that the hardest part of this is knowing that there's somebody out there that's this kind of a savage," Hogan said. Animal Care Services cruelty investigators in Texas are seeking more information concerning two unrelated cases where dog owners sliced off part of the ears of pit bull puppies instead of taking the dogs to a licensed veterinarian for the surgical procedure. A resident called ACS about the first case that took place on March 14 in the backyard of a San Antonio home. Officers said the dog owner used pruning shears to allegedly cut the ears of his dog Jefe after watching an instructional video online. Gov. Ned Lamont, you need to hear this: Lots of people are embarrassed to say they live in Connecticut. This is not because of high taxes, not because of bumper-to-bumper highway traffic during rush hours, it has nothing to do with the quality of education or job opportunity or even our silly Still Revolutionary marketing slogan. They are embarrassed about the decidedly unwelcome highway Welcome Centers that are closed more hours than they are open. It stinks, they say. Literally. Listen to Paul W. Looney of North Haven, who writes: Our rest areas belong in Bangladesh. They are a disgrace and cripple economic development in our state. ... We are the gateway to New England and millions have to drive through CT to get to other states. We can live without the rest stops, but road travelers need them and they will remember them forever. He was one of the many people who emailed me in response to my column last week on the closed Welcome Centers and Rest Areas, Welcome to the land of bathroom penny pinchers. I described the plight of a Maryland couple who, after crossing from New York into Connecticut on I-84, had to use dirty porta-potties because the Welcome Center was closed even though it was still daylight. Connecticut residents care about the welcome we give, and the consequences. They offered ideas, and shared their horror stories. Listen to Harold Newman of New Fairfield: We were returning from New Hampshire on Sunday evening, March 24, and stopped at the I-84 westbound rest area after entering CT from Massachusetts at around 8:30 p.m. to use the bathrooms. They were closed of course, so the only available option was the porta-potties. Normally that would be no big deal. Weve used many porta-potties over the years at national and state parks, but the port-potties at this rest area were utterly disgusting! They were filthy beyond description with toilet paper and who knows what scattered everywhere. The only way to even see in them after dark is to hold the door open so the parking lot lights could cast a dim glimmer in them. Two of them were so disgusting I wouldnt use them. The third one was only marginally better, but as soon as I closed the door it was totally dark in there. I could only imagine what was there that I couldnt see! My wife refused to use them at all. How we got to this Seven rest areas and Welcome Centers in Connecticut were closed or reduced to limited hours in 2016 by the state Department of Transportation to save money, an estimated $1.1 million a year. DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick explains it this way: When the Legislature passed the budget earlier that year, it defunded the ongoing operation of the seven rest areas. The DOT sees the value and importance of the rest areas, and though defunded scraped up money from inside the agency to keep them open, he explained to me in a phone call this week. But a few months later then-Gov. Dannel Malloy ordered spending reductions and the rest areas were left with only one shift for maintenance. Thats why they are open only from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The rest area hours were restricted at a time when the Malloy administration was looking specifically for budget cuts that people would see and feel. Well, that was three-and-a-half years ago. It doesnt have to remain a way of life. Any cost savings are overshadowed by the inhospitable image of our state. Listen to Mike McGorty of Brookfield: I often wonder how many people considering moving here for a job relocation or just to live in CT are turned off by this first impression. I was traveling with a colleague from Colorado recently who needed the restroom. We stopped at the one on I-84 on the Southington-Cheshire line. It was in the off hours you know 4 p.m. He was forced to use the portables. When he got back into my car he said well that was interesting. I have wondered since what he said to his family, friends or worse our co-workers about his experience. Listen to Jen Tucci of Guilford, who emailed about the closed rest area in Westbrook: We have frequent conversations in the car about what a missed opportunity it is for CT to show itself off and what a black eye it conveys that its closed. Its a disgrace. ... I cant understand why anyone would think its better to shutter these places than staff them, at least through the summer. There is so much traffic that drives by, that even if only 1 percent stopped, Im sure that would be a lot of business and worth the effort. The Blue Ribbon Panel on Tourism gets it. Among the recommendations in a Feb. 15 report, is to keep the restrooms in those seven rest areas open 24/7. Is anyone listening, besides our readers? The General Assemblys Commerce Committee is getting the message. It introduced House Bill 7306, To require the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to develop a plan to implement recommendations from the speaker of the House of Representatives Blue Ribbon Commission on Tourism. On Wednesday the bill moved to the House calendar. It would get the state Department of Economic and Community Development involved in tourism staffing Welcome Centers in Danbury, Darien, North Stonington and West Willington, and subject to funds in Greenwich and Westbrook. Contact state representatives and senators to vote yes on the bill because get this: The restroom facilities located at each visitor welcome center shall be open twenty-four hours a day. Hallelujah! Make it happen. What will it take Several readers, such as Bill Carbone of Madison, John Apple of New Fairfield and Mike Zilinek of Newtown, suggested leasing the Welcome Centers to private operators with the state getting a percentage of the revenue. Thats the deal with the 23 Service Centers on I-95 and the Merritt Parkway, which have been refurbished or rebuilt with about $200 million from the private sector. Why cant the Welcome Centers and rest areas get the same arrangement? Turns out it would take an act of Congress. The Highway Beautification Act prohibits commercialization of states rest areas, Nursick said. Some were grandfathered in. Nicknamed Lady Birds Bill, the 1965 act was designed to limit billboards on the nations nascent interstate highway system. So it would take one of our senators or representatives to amend that act so the rest areas could be leased as so many others are. Readers wrote of memorable welcome centers, such as one in Vermont with a fireplace, hundreds of brochures, coffee and cider, and people to recommend local sites. Listen to Charlene and Angelo Dalessio of Stratford: We travel north often up to Maine. We travel frequently down to Maryland & Georgia. Those states are very welcoming with their Visitors centers and nice bathrooms and facilities. However, they all charge tolls on their roads. And we dont mind paying their tolls because their Visitors Centers, their Rest Stop Facilities and their roads are superior to ours. Connecticut should be charging some tolls on routes 95, 15 and 84. Then we would have more money available to make our roads and our visitors centers open and more hospitable to travelers. Yes out-of-state drivers probably get a negative welcome here but they are driving through our state FREE. They should be paying tolls as we do in their states to help keep up our roads and our visitors centers. Did you hear that, governor? These residents are saying they would be OK with tolls if it meant better roads and visitor centers. People care about our state and want to make a good impression. Lets put the welcome back in Welcome Centers. What is aging? We can define aging as a process of accumulation of the damage which is just a side- effect of normal metabolism. While researchers still poorly understand how metabolic processes cause damage accumulation, and how accumulated damage causes pathology, the damage itself the structural difference between old tissue and young tissue is categorized and understood pretty well. By repairing damage and restoring the previous undamaged young state of an organism, we can really rejuvenate it! It sounds very promising, and so it is. And for some types of damage (for example, for senescent cells) it is already proved to work! Today in our virtual studio, somewhere between cold, rainy Saint-Petersburg and warm, sunny Mountain View, we meet Aubrey de Grey, again! For those of you who are not familiar with him, here is a brief introduction. Aubrey de Grey is the biomedical gerontologist who researched the idea for and founded Research Foundation. He received his BA in Computer Science and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Cambridge in 1985 and 2000, respectively. Dr. de Grey is Editor-in-Chief of Rejuvenation Research, is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organizations. In 2011, de Grey inherited roughly $16.5 million on the death of his mother. He assigned $13 million of his inheritance to fund SENS research. If you have not read Ending Aging yet I suggest you do it as soon as possible, and to be more comfortable with the ideas we are discussing below I highly recommend you to read introduction to SENS research on their web page. Also if you are interested in recent news and up to date reviews about anti-aging and rejuvenation the best place to look for is Fight Aging! blog. Finally, if you are an investor or just curious, I highly encourage you to take a look at Jim Mellons book Juvenescence. Ariel Feinerman Interview of Aubrey de Grey Ariel Feinerman: Hello, Dr Aubrey de Grey! Aubrey de Grey: Hello Ariel thanks for the interview. Ariel Feinerman: How do you feel 2018 year? Can you compare 2018 to 2017 or early years? What is changing? Aubrey de Grey: 2018 was a fantastic year for rejuvenation biotechnology. The main thing that made it special was the explosive growth of the private-sector side of the field the number of start up companies, the number of investors, and the scale of investment. Two companies, AgeX Therapeutics and Unity Biotechnology, went public with nine-digit valuations, and a bunch of others are not far behind. Of course this has only been possible because of all the great progress that has been made in the actual science, but one can never predict when that slow, steady progress will reach critical mass. Ariel Feinerman: In 2017 SENS RF received about $7 million. What has been accomplished in 2018? Aubrey de Grey: We received almost all of that money right around the end of 2017, in the form of four cryptocurrency donations of $1 million or more, totalling about $6.5 million. We of course realised that this was a one-off windfall, so we didnt spend it all at once! The main things we have done are to start a major new project at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, focused on stem cell therapy for Alzheimers, and to broaden our education initiative to include more senior people. See our website and newsletters for details. Ariel Feinerman: What breakthroughs of 2018 can you name as the most important by your choice? Aubrey de Grey: On the science side, well, regarding our funded work I guess I would choose our progress in getting mitochondrial genes to work when relocated to the nucleus. We published a groundbreaking progress report at the end of 2016, but to be honest I was not at all sure that we would be able to build quickly on it. Im delighted to say that my caution was misplaced, and that weve continued to make great advances. The details will be submitted for publication very soon. Ariel Feinerman: You say that many of rejuvenating therapies will work in clinical trials within five years. Giving that many of them are already working in clinical trials or even in clinic (like immunotherapies, cell and gene therapies) do you mean first maybe incomplete rejuvenation panel, when you speak on early 2020? Aubrey de Grey: Yes, basically. SENS is a divide-and-conquer approach, so we can view it in three overlapping phases. The first phase is to get the basic concept accepted and moving. The second phase is to get the most challenging components moving. And the third phase is to combine the components. Phase 1 is pretty much done, as you say. Phase 2 is beginning, but its at an early stage. Phase 3 will probably not even properly begin for a few more years. Thats why I still think we only have about a 50% chance of getting to longevity escape velocity by 2035 or so. Ariel Feinerman: Even now many investors are fearful of real regenerative medicine approach. For example pharmacological companies which use small molecules, like Unity Biotechnology, received more than $300 million, in much more favour than real bioengineering companies like Oisin Biotechnologies, received less than $4 million, even though biological approach much more powerful, cheap, effective and safe! Why in your opinion, and when can we see the shift? Aubrey de Grey: I dont see a problem there. The big change in mindset that was needed has already occurred: rejuvenation is a thing. Its natural that small-molecule approaches to rejuvenation will lead the way, because thats what pharma already knows how to do. Often, that approach will in due course be overtaken by more sophisticated approaches. Sometimes the small molecules will actually work well! Its all good. Ariel Feinerman: Do you agree, that small-molecule approach is generally wrong way in the future rejuvenation therapies? Because they have many flaws especially their main mechanism via interference with human metabolism. Unlike them SENS bioengineering therapies are designed to be metabolically inert because they just eliminate the key damage, they do not need to interfere with metabolism, so it is much easier than usual to avoid side effects and interactions with other therapies. They just eliminate the key damage, which means they are easier to develop and test and much safer. Aubrey de Grey: Ah, no, thats too simplistic. Its not true that small molecules always just mess with metabolism whereas genetic and enzymatic approaches eliminate damage. Small molecules that selectively kill senescent cells are absolutely an example of SENS-esque damage repair; the only thing against them is that it may be more difficult to eliminate side-effects, but thats not because of their mode of action, its because of an additional action. Ariel Feinerman: In recent years many countries show green light for regenerative medicine. Fast-track approval in Japan, for example, which allows for emerging treatments to be used so long as they have been proven safe. The similar approach works in Russia. What about EU or USA? Aubrey de Grey: Theres definitely a long way to go, but the regulatory situation in the West is moving in the right direction. The TAME trial has led the way in articulating an approvable endpoint for clinical trials that is ageing in all but name, and the WHO has found a very well-judged way to incorporate ageing into its classification. Ariel Feinerman: Do you think of working with USA Army? As far as we know they make research on regeneration and are very interested in keeping soldiers healthier for longer. Then they have much money! Aubrey de Grey: The Department of Defense in the USA has certainly funded a lot of high-impact regenerative medicine research for many years. Im sure they will continue to do so. Ariel Feinerman: Is any progress in the OncoSENS programme? Have you found any ALT genes? Is any ongoing research in WILT? Aubrey de Grey: No in the end that program was not successful enough to continue with, so we stopped it. There is now more interest in ALT in other labs than there was, though, so Im hopeful that progress will be made. But also, one reason why I felt that it was OK to stop was that cancer immunotherapy is doing so well now. I think there is a significant chance that we wont need WILT after all, because we will really truly defeat cancer using the immune system. Ariel Feinerman: Spiegel Lab has recently published an abstract where they say they have found 3 enzymes capable of breaking glucosepane. Very exiting info! When can we hear more on their research? Revel LLC is very secretive company. Aubrey de Grey: They arent really being secretive, they are just setting up. Ariel Feinerman: When can we see the first clinical trial of glucosepane breaker therapy? Aubrey de Grey: I think two years is a reasonable estimate, but thats a guess. Ariel Feinerman: What do you think of the Open Source approach in rejuvenation biotechnology? Computer revolution in early 2000 has taken place only because Open Source caused an explosion in software engineering! We have many examples when Big Pharma buys small company which has patents on technology and then cancel all research. In Open Source approach you cannot close any technology, while everyone can contribute, making protocol better and everyone can use that without any licence fee! Anyway, there are countries where you cannot protect your patents. Maybe there will be better to make technology open from the beginning? Famous biohacker Josiah Zayner say: In the gene therapy world most treatments are easy to replicate or pirate because you can reverse engineer the DNA from scientific papers or patents. Same exact treatment, same purity and quality I could give to someone rejected from the clinical trial. The cost? Hundreds or a few thousand dollars at most. Same deal with immunotherapy. Aubrey de Grey: I think youve pretty much answered your own question with that quote. The technologies that will drive rejuvenation are not so easy to suppress. Ariel Feinerman: Are SENS RF going to begin new research programmes in 2019? Aubrey de Grey: Sure! But we are still deciding which ones. We expect that our conference in Berlin (Undoing Aging, March 28-30) will bring some new opportunities to our attention. Ariel Feinerman: What are your plans for 2019? Aubrey de Grey: Id like to say less travelling, but that doesnt seem very likely at this point. Really my goal is just to keep on keeping on to do all I can to maintain the growth of the field and the emerging industry. Ariel Feinerman: Thank you very much for your answers, hope to see you again! Aubrey de Grey: My pleasure! If you like Ariels work, you can help out at PayPal: arielfeinerman@gmail.com NORTH BRANFORD It was a win for public safety officials as the Town Council unanimously voted to allocate $100,000 toward repairing an unreliable communications system during the next fiscal year, a move Fire Chief William H. Seward III had urged they make at a budget hearing Tuesday. But for the time being, town representatives have opted not to fund a new fire truck and tower. Over 50 people crowded into the Town Council Chambers Thursday evening to learn about these decisions and more. Though the Council has not yet finalized the budget, it made some changes to the version proposed by Town Manager Michael Paulhus. Capital improvements saw some of the biggest changes. Originally, Paulhus had recommended approximately $2 million go toward a new fire truck and tower, though he emphasized the recommendation was a flexible one, with the item representing more of a placeholder to draw attention to money in the towns fund balance, which North Branford might use to invest in capital. The council struck the items and reassigned $937,000 to different capital improvements. New allocations included $50,000 for a new police vehicle, an additional $200,000 for the Fire Departments equipment reserve, $400,000 to help Public Works acquire a snow fighter truck and Vacall truck, and $100,000 for the aforementioned communications improvements. In other parts of the budget, the council made decreases, removing, for example, $10,000 allocated to police overtime, $25,000 from litigation and $50,000 from the ambulance subsidies. Councillors also also voted to add a highway worker as well as a part-time Building Department employee. The latter should help the town keep up with a more demanding workload that has resulted from code changes, according to Director Thomas Cowell. Though most changes passed unanimously, points of disagreement and uncertainty await further discussion at the April 16 meeting. A recommendation that the town increase the hours for the Economic Development Commissions coordinator, Roger Salway, from 19 to 25 hours a week sparked passionate debate when Deputy Rose Marie Angeloni moved to eliminate the increased hours. Salways goal is to help grow North Branfords economy by retaining and expanding existing businesses, and by drawing in new ones. Councillor George Miller said commission reports about progress associated with Salways work have been stellar and beyond any of our expectations. Councillor Marie Diamond expressed a similar view. I am appalled that we would do that, she said in regard to the motion to prevent the extra hours. Diamond noted that Salway is also a grant writer. Hes extending himself in so many ways to put North Branford on the map, she said, adding that he already puts in more hours than the 19 for which the town pays him. Salways increased hours would cost an estimated $25,000, said Mayor Michael Doody, though a large chunk of the increase is associated with benefits. Angeloni asked whether Salway would even take those benefits, given that hes a retiree and may be otherwise insured. With the answer uncertain, Angeloni withdrew her original motion and the Town Council decided to gather more information and revisit the issue at its next meeting. Councillor Alfred Rose asked for reports that show precisely what Salway has accomplished. Growing sunflowers is not going to help our tax dollars, Rose said, referring to an initiative Salway has undertaken to draw tourists to North Branfords sunflower fields. What can we put his name on? Others, like Diamond and Miller, believed Salways position a worthy investment. I think its small potatoes compared to what this is going to bring, Miller said. The town managers proposed budget called for $55.2 million of spending. As of Thursdays meeting, total budget spending would be approximately $54.1 million, Finance Director Anthony Esposito said Friday. However, the changes would bring the tax rate to 33.91 mills, an increase of 0.52 mills from last years rate, said Esposito. A slightly smaller increase of 0.50 mills was associated with the managers budget; that increase grew because although the Town Council eliminated a large chunk of fund balance spending which does not come directly from tax revenue it increased the operating budget by around $32,000, Esposito said. Though the council canceled next weeks meeting, it will continue budget deliberations April 16. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN Theres a lot going on at Gateway Community College. On Saturday, for instance, (April 6) the college will hold its annual Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. GCC said in a release. The event will offer prospective students and families the chance to get to know more about the academic community, campus, and programs. Prospective students can tour the campus, meet faculty and learn about academic departments, and meet professors and staff, the release said. GCC offers courses in liberal arts and sciences, technical, career associate degree and certificate programs, and courses leading to transfer, employment, and lifelong learning. Student success is supported through stimulating learning opportunities, innovative teaching, support services, and co-curricular activities. The school serves local businesses and the workforce through the GREAT Center, which provides classrooms and labs for customized training programs to meet the needs of the region, the release said. Related: Gateway Community College physics professor transforms the textbook The Gateway Garage and Temple Street Garage offer free parking. GCC is within walking distance from Union Station with access to Amtrak. GCC is within a quarter mile of multiple bus stops. Secure bike racks are located within the Gateway Garage, which is on Crown Street. Further, the college will hold three summer sessions: Session one runs for three weeks, from May 28 to June 13; second session is five weeks long and runs from May 28 to June 26; session three runs for five weeks, from July 1 to July 31, the release said. Also in the release: GCC offers affordable summer classes for students looking to transfer credits to their college or university and new students should apply today. Students can visit www.gatewayct.edu/GCCSummer for more information. Those interested in transferring credits should check with their home institution prior to registration. For more information, call (203) 285-2010 or visit www.gatewayct.edu. Related: New Haven, Bridgeport youth shed stigmas for higher education Related: Gateway Community College commencement sees parents graduating with children Related: The Gateway Community College dean of student affairs is retiring GCC also recently opened Faces of New HavenImages in Black and White, a show of East Haven photographer Michael Dabbraccios portraiture in the NewAlliance Foundation Art Gallery at Gateway. Faces of New HavenImages in Black and White will be on display until May 1. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call at (203) 376-7770 or email to peterb219@sbcglobal.net. Attention Stop & Shop customers: you can all feel more secure, now that Marty the robot is patrolling the aisles to report spillage and to improve your shopping experience. If you recently shopped at one of those ubiquitous stores, youve probably been wondering: whats up with those weird mechanical creatures that have begun to sprout up? I encountered my first Marty at the Stop & Shop on Amity Road in New Haven about six weeks ago. I didnt know what I was seeing but the thing had creepy, googly eyes and was taller than I am (every Marty is 6 feet, 5 inches tall). I have since learned Marty weighs in at 130 pounds. He was moving around and I wasnt sure if he was following me. I noted a message on his front: Hi, Im Marty. Im here for your safety. I came up against my next Marty when I was at the Stop & Shop in Madison a couple of weeks ago. He was hanging out in aisle 17. Then I heard this message on the store intercom: Spillage in aisle 17. Within a minute or two, an employee arrived there and cleaned up the little spill with a broom and pan. Marvelous! But do you really need a robot to report that? In olden times a customer or employee would report it and the clean-up followed quickly afterward. I went up to the Marty in Madison and pulled out my trusty reporters notebook. No, I was not trying to interview him; I wanted to write down his entire message. And here it is: Marty is an autonomous robot that uses image capturing technology to report spills, debris and other potential hazards to employees to improve your shopping experience. Thanks, Marty! Wanting to know so much more, I contacted the Stop & Shop public relations people. My questions were bounced over to Kerry Harrington, senior manager of integrated media at Weber Shandwick. Harringtons response to my why were they installed question was this: The purpose of Marty is to improve in-store safety. The robot is designed to identify hazards such as liquid, powder and bulk food items spills, so that associates can take corrective action. When I followed up to ask if Marty might have other duties, such as blowing the whistle on customers who are shoplifting, Harrington replied: Marty does not monitor customers and he has no on-board video cameras. Marty is equipped with cameras that enable him to collect still image photographs, but those cameras only scan the floors looking for spills and other hazards. Harrington attached a news release from Retail Business Services about the wonder of Marty. The release touted these robots as easily recognized by customers in stores by their friendly appearance. Moreover, the robots enable associates (employees) to spend more time serving and interfacing with customers. Harrington said we are still in the deployment stage for unleashing the robots. The plan is to have more than 300 robots in locations across the brand (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York). Upon completion, about 80 Stop & Shop locations in Connecticut will have Marty the robot. I also asked how much it costs to build one of these robots. Harrington: We are unable to provide specifics on the financials. When I asked how come, Harrington said: We dont release specific financials of that nature. Financials for the U.S. brands are released as part of the parent company, Ahold Delhaizes, financial reporting. The cost of these robots is an issue because Stop & Shop is amidst a labor dispute with the union for its employees, United Food and Commercial Workers. The contract expired Feb. 23 and many of the local unions have voted to authorize strikes. The unions cite the contract offer provisions, including hour cutbacks, elimination of Sunday premium pay, decreased health and pension benefits and, yes, increased automation. Jennifer Brogan, a spokeswoman for Stop & Shop, has stated: We are working hard to reach strong new contracts that will continue to provide highly competitive wages, comprehensive health care coverage and, unlike any other area food retailers, a defined benefit pension. Amy Ritter, a spokeswoman for the union, has said it feels like the robots are a way to reduce the number of workers. She added: Stop & Shop has restated its intention to continue reducing the number of cashiers and instead rely more on serve yourself checkout machines, which will further cut customer service and force customers to do more work with less help. Yes, I have noticed the lines getting longer, at least at the Stop & Shop on Skiff Street in Hamden. I refuse to use the self-checkout area because it sure does seem like a company strategy to put its customers to work and thus hire fewer employees. *** Benjamin A. Brown was just 16 on March 26 when his gallant two-year battle with cancer ended. On Tuesday hundreds of his friends joined family members to celebrate his life at Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church in New Haven. I never met this exceptional and charismatic guy but I know his family, including his loving sister, Brianna, his mother, Alder Kimberly Edwards, D-19, and his grandmother, Alfreda Edwards, a former alder. My wife and I were at the crowded service, sitting among Bens grieving classmates from New Haven Academy. Their emotional reactions showed how much he was loved. The obituary in the program noted he was a comical, witty young man with a unique sense of humor. He loved to converse and was known as a jokester. ... Family and friends will fondly remember his mischievous acts, his strange interpretation of events and how dapper he looked wearing a bow tie. (Ben liked to tell people he was a Ralph Lauren model.) He leaves us with moments of joy and laughter that will carry us forward, the obituary added. Prince Rizzo or Big Daddy Ben (his self-imposed titles) will remain a source of joy and laughter through precious memories. Editor's note: After this column was first posted, Kerry Harrington asked that the quotes he provided to the New Haven Register be attributed to Jennifer Brogan, a spokeswoman for Stop & Shop. randall.beach@hearstmediact.com CLINTON Morgan School students from years gone by are likely to remember the requisite trips to Lupones Department Store: There were the gym outfits, purchased by the girls freshman year, and the letter sweaters for the athletes. All the girls would hate going there, because Auntie Vi was an employee who worked there her whole life and was part of the family and she would fit all the girls in a gym suit that had to last four years, so it was huge when you bought it, said Peg Lupone, wife of Mario Lupone, a grandson of the founder of the department store. Everybody hated those. This recollection, about longtime employee and Clinton native Violet Blauvelt and many more, are part of a lecture that Lupone will present, with photos and stories that span generations, at Lupones Clinton Department Store: An American Dream, at 6 p.m. April 9 at Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike (Route 81). The free event is co-sponsored by the Clinton Historical Society and the Henry Carter Hull Library. Main Street in the 1900s was the center of commerce and the social hub of the town. For more than 100 years, Lupones Department Store was a mainstay, attracting townspeople for its variety of merchandise and family atmosphere The store traces back to Angelo Lupone, who emigrated from Italy to the Shoreline in the early 1900s with his brother. Upon arriving here, they opened the first Lupones in Madison. He then revisited his homeland of Italy, married, and returned with his bride, Battista, to set up a home in Clinton. In 1906, he opened a cobbler shop. It was an American dream, said Peg Lupone. Angelo was blind. So we have kind of a blind cobbler coming to America and working and building up this business that lasted three generations. The couple had two sons, Vincent and Mario. Vincent Lupone married Rose and had one son, Angelo. Mario Lupone married Helen had two children, Mario and Louise. The store passed through all these hands over the years and grew to become a department store that carried merchandise including shoes, shirts, ties, jeans, socks, girdles and sleepwear. To me, it was a powerful story of determination and dedication to family and just the will of wanting to do well, she said. To be part of the American dream. Come over here and make it in the country and do a good job. The presentation was originally produced as the thesis for Lupones masters degree in Oral Tradition, which she earned 2008. She explained that the proper term for the project is a family ethnology. Gathering of the pictures was to spur memories and get people to remember what happened and get family stories, so that you have a history of your family, she said. Lupone chose to focus on the family business because it was part and parcel of the familys life. The store was housed in a brick building on Post Office Square and Angelo and Battista Lupones home was above the store. Information was gathered via personal interviews, pictures and newspaper articles. A picture tells a story, she said. I went searching through all the family photograph albums, scanned everything I could find of pictures in the store. While photos of the interior of the store were sparse, Lupone found one of herself and her husband taken inside the store just before they went to their first prom together. Most people go to their parents house and take photographs of you all dressed up, she said. Well, we went to the store because thats where their parents were. They werent home, they were at the store. We went to the store and got pictures taken in front of the dressing room at the store. Interweaving her own memories, those of other family members and community members tells a story of how a thriving family business was important to the community and the family, alike. Programs like this one, which help us remember how a family-run business could be the heart and soul of a small town, and how it evolved over many decades, are an excellent way to preserve Clintons history and pass along a sense of the past to future generations, said Megan Stine, Clinton Historical Society board member. At the conclusion of Lupones presentation, she encourages attendees to share their own personal stories and memories of Clinton. Bringing those memories to light, its magical, she said. Clinton Historical Society, 103 E. Main St., Clinton, 860-669-2148; Facebook Clinton Historical Society; chsoldbrick@gmail.com. These are trying times, to say the least, or in the words of Shakespeares Hamlet, The time is out of joint. Our country is lurching toward fascism. Democracy is imperiled. Greed is rampant. Hate crimes are on the rise. White supremacists are emboldened. Its as if all the ills and evils in Pandoras box have been let loose. The moral test of a government, Hubert Humphrey once said, is how the government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the [disabled]. Similarly, Nelson Mandela asserted, There can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children. In yet another variation on this theme, Cesar Chavez argued, History will judge societies and governments and their institutions not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and powerful but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and helpless. And in still one more variation, the writer Dostoevsky said this: The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. By all of these measures our nation is flunking the moral test. Its soul is besmirched. When a president leads with cruelty and crudeness, as the current occupant of the White House does, absent any compassion, but replete with venom and lies, arrogance, and self-dealing, the consequences are dangerous. As the writer of the Letter of James predicted, where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind [James 3:16]. Contempt breeds contempt; hatred breeds hatred. So what are antidotes for such a time as this? What is required of people of faith? Mincing no words, the prophet Micah offers one response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God [Micah 6:8]. Fred Rogers has advice equally as cogent, Look for the helpers. Which is to say, look for those who lead with compassion and integrity, who are replete with generosity and love. Look for those who hear the cries of Gods people, all Gods people, and respond with action, comforting the afflicted and righting the wrongs of injustice. New Haven recently lost one such helper: the Rev. Dr. Samuel Nathaniel Slie, who died in February. A New Haven son, born and raised in the former Oak Street neighborhood, a graduate of Hillhouse High School, a Buffalo soldier with the 92nd infantry division during WWII, Sam experienced the indignity of racism and the horrors of war. Sam returned to New Haven, questioning the value of human life in the context of war, power, and race. These questions led him to Yale Divinity School. Immediately after his graduation in 1952, he was ordained at the Dixwell Congregational Church, and dedicated the next six-plus decades of his life to a ministry of service and justice-seeking. For Sam, no person was an other. All of whatever race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religious, age, ability were neighbors; Sam held all, prayerfully and lovingly, within the circle of his embrace. No one was to be excluded, ever. Familiar New Haven organizations like the Columbus House Shelter, the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, the Black Church at Yale are fruits of Sams ministry in our midst. He helped with their launch and through them countless folks have been supported and helped. Sam was the epitome of the servant leader, leading from behind, quietly, faithfully, and always with compassion. It was as if Sam channeled through every fiber of his being wisdom from above, which the writer of James describes as being first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy [James 3:17]. He understood in a profound way that the marks of being a helper are not the beliefs we espouse, the words we profess, or the identities we embrace, but the actions we take, the works of compassion we do, and the love we share. I can think of no better primer for being a helper than Jesus parable of the great judgment [Matthew 26:31-46]: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger; give clothing to the naked, shelter to the homeless, visit the sick and those in prison. Sam Slie took this primer to heart and lived it. As people of faith, so should we all. And if our country is to find its moral compass and regain its soul, so must we all. The Rev. Allie Perry is the worship coordinator of Shalom UCC, New Haven. allie.perry@gmail.com. Gov. Ned Lamont wants to carry former Gov. Dannel Malloys mantle of criminal justice reform. He said so at a symposium at Quinnipiac University recently where he met with CNNs Van Jones and formerly incarcerated people to seek ways he can continue Malloys Second Chance Society initiatives of smart decarceration and the savings potential in optimizing rehabilitation. Part of Lamonts own plan for reform is SB 880-An Act Increasing the Fairness and Transparency in the Criminal Justice System, which would require the state to publish statistics every year about prosecutors decisions. Improving prosecutorial transparency is key to a fairer criminal justice system, but its not enough. Curbing at least some prosecutorial power is essential to achieving the reform that Lamont envisions. At the very least we need to curtail the absolute power prosecutors have when it comes to sentence modification applications, the court proceedings whereby rehabilitated inmates can get their sentences reduced. For the most part, criminal sentences are final in Connecticut unless theyre changed during some type of post-conviction review, like an appeal or a hearing before the Sentence Review Panel. The General Assembly understood that initial sentencing decisions might need to be modified outside the context of these hearings, either because the defendants circumstances had shifted or she had dedicated herself so diligently to rehabilitation that continued punishment was no longer warranted. To this end, the Legislature passed General Statute 53a-39 in 1979 which specifically authorized judges to modify sentences after they had been imposed. In 1982, the General Assembly amended the law by limiting judges authority on reducing sentences by requiring any inmate sentenced to three years or more to get the prosecutors approval before a judge could even decide their application. If the prosecutor said no, the judge had no discretion or power to overrule him. Because of that 1982 amendment, the very statute that expanded judges discretion in changing sentences has ended up taking that discretion away since its the prosecutor who decides whether or not people serving longer sentences get them modified; judges can play no role in the proceedings but to rubber stamp the prosecutors position. In 2012, a paralegal for Judge Roland Fasano wrote a letter to an inmate and informed her that the judge was obligated by statute to concur with the prosecutor. Even if Judge Fasano wanted to grant the modification, he was beholden to prosecutorial whim. We have no idea how many deserving applicants see their bids to modify sentences denied without due considerations because a prosecutor their adversary in a criminal case wouldnt allow a judge to review and rule on it. Reporting the number of sentence modification bids denied by prosecutors isnt specifically called for in Lamonts bill but, as someone whose application was denied and who witnessed others being denied during six-plus years of incarceration, I predict that number is high, probably in the thousands every year. With the 1982 amendment still in effect, the statute essentially bars as many as 5,000 prisoners, about one-third of Connecticuts prison population, from accessing a judge with a sentence modification request. Legislators know that the current sentence modification statute is a problem. In April 2011, after Second Chance Governor Dannel Malloy was inaugurated, state Rep. Gerald Fox introduced HB 6539-An Act Concerning Sentence Modification, which sought to repeal the language in the sentence modification statute so that all applications would be decided by judges without prosecutorial interference. Fox s bill was never voted on, most likely because the fiscal note attached to it predicted the bill would cost between $600,000 to $850,000 to implement. The fiscal analysis from eight years ago didnt calculate any projected savings from releasing prisoners properly rehabilitated ones at that. Judges, if they were allowed to decide all applications, are unlikely to grant ones from inmates with discipline histories or little to no evidence of extensive rehabilitative programming. Removing the absolute and final authority over so many sentence modification applications from prosecutors would save a lot of money long term. We just dont know how much because, back in 2011, the concept of reducing spending and increasing savings from reduced prison populations as a reform measure was just gaining traction. The Office of Fiscal Analysis never projected exactly how much money could be saved by simply letting judges do their jobs. If it had, the fiscal note on Rep. Foxs bill would have looked very different. Removing the prosecutorial approval requirement would make it more likely that inmates who have served long terms of incarceration and had more time to think about the circumstances that landed them in prison would finally get their at-bats and get their sentences justifiably reduced and the state could keep the money spent needlessly keeping them in custody. Amending the statute wouldnt grant early release to every applicant. It would guarantee that every person who seeks modification gets a fair shot, due process, where states attorneys can object to applications but not adjudicate them. The fact that the General Assembly authorized non-neutral decision maker to have the final say over certain sentence applications is likely unconstitutional even purported terrorists get unbiased deciders to review the charges against them but the Connecticut Supreme Court refuses to take up the issue. Thats why the Legislature needs to act. Part of the prosecutorial transparency bill should include taking prosecutors self-interested decision-making out of the process of sentence modification. Doing so would give better-behaved prisoners a chance at release and go a long way in achieving our new governors criminal justice reform goals. Chandra Bozelko is a nationally syndicated columnist and vice president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. ANSONIA When you eat at Massiminos Ristorante on Main Street, youre treated like family. Thats the motto of owner Massimo Andretta and his family, where even the menu boasts the words Si Mangia in Famiglia we eat with the family. The Andretta family, surrounded by staff, city officials and patrons, celebrated the long-awaited grand opening Friday of the Italian eatery, located downtown at 85 Main St. Using a giant pair of scissors, courtesy of Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell, Andretta cut a bright red ribbon to signify the restaurants official opening, even though its been open for business since mid-January. Andretta bought the property back in 2012 and construction of the brand-new, 1,700-square-foot building began in 2017. A much smaller version of Massiminos was located across the street from the new place since 2004. According to Mayor David Cassetti, Massiminos is the first new building constructed downtown in about 30 years, the last one back around 1987, which housed a doctors office. The new and improved two-story Massiminos features tons of decorative stone work, an outdoor balcony and private banquet room to accommodate about 75 guests for weddings, bridal and baby showers and birthday parties. John Behun of Seymour served as the projects general contractor and Ilir Vorfi handled all the masonry work. For Andretta, whos been working in restaurants in his native Italy since he was just 14 years old, opening his own authentic Italian restaurant has been a dream many years in the making. Its a lot of hard work, but I love it, Andretta said. And when you come here, we treat you like family. Cassetti, who has a background in construction, actually dug the foundation for the new and improved Massiminos. He couldnt be more thrilled to welcome the bigger and better Massiminos to an ever-growing restaurant row downtown. It took a few years, but its a fabulous building and a great restaurant, Cassetti said. Purcell said some things are worth waiting for, and Massiminos is no exception. Massimo came to the United States 25 years ago with a dream of opening his own business and were so glad he did, Purcell said. The crowd who gathered for Fridays grand opening was treated to an impressive spread of stuffed breads, pizza, pasta, cannoli and more. Aldermanic President Lorie Vaccaro, on hand for the festivities, has frequented Massiminos a few times already and has been impressed with the quality of the food, the friendly staff and the family atmosphere. Some of his favorite dishes so far have been the Tortellini al Massimino and the linguini with clam sauce. Delicioso, Vaccaro said of the food. They give very generous portions, I couldnt finish it. Andretta and his wife, Isabella, said theyre excited to welcome both familiar and new faces to their new downtown digs for lunch and dinner and to the private banquet facility upstairs, which is one of the few places in the Valley with private space large enough for smaller weddings, engagement parties and other special occasions where the food is cooked right on the premises. Massiminos is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. They can be reached at 203-732-2000 or at massiminos.ristorante@gmail.com and on Facebook. jean.sos@snet.net A Cumberland County man who was one of four teens who escaped from a New Jersey detention center in 2017 after attacking a staff member, stealing a car and breaking into two homes while on the lam pleaded guilty Thursday to multiple charges and now faces up to 18 years in state prison, authorities said. Michael Huggins, 20, of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree burglary and a charge of second-degree escape, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said. Huggins was 18 and being held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center when he escaped with three other teens on Nov. 15, 2017. They crashed the stolen car while being pursued by police and fled on foot, authorities said. The four teens broke into an unoccupied home in Egg Harbor City and stole a rifle and clothes, authorities said. Armed with the gun, they broke into a second residence, where a woman was home with her two children, authorities said. Three of the teens were caught that morning in Bridgeton. Huggins remained on the run for a day before he was arrested in Atlantic City, authorities said. Officials later determined the four teens planned their escape from the detention facility in Egg Harbor City. As a part of his plea agreement, Huggins will serve up to six years for each count, for a total sentence of 18 years in state prison, Tyner said. Earlier this month, Huggins was sentenced to nine years in prison after a jury convicted him in December on reckless manslaughter and weapons charges in the 2016 shooting death of another man during a drug deal. 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. Gov. Phil Murphy says American Dream at the Meadowlands is actually going to open -- despite more than 16 years of delays. And the proof of that is amusement park rides are being tested inside the mega-malls Nickelodeon Universe theme park. The update was shared during a 20-minute interview on Facebook Live by 1010 WINS reporter Glenn Schuck. He asked Murphy about congestion pricing, marijuana legalization, property taxes and presidential candidates before the conversation turned to the $5 billion development along the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3. A spokesperson for American Dream did not respond to a request for comment. Murphy last spoke publicly about American Dream on, March 8, when a NJ Advance Media reporter asked the governor, at an unrelated press conference, about the opening date. Murphy said American Dreams promised Spring 2019 opening had slipped closer to June." Almost two weeks later, the developer admitted the opening is actually delayed until late summer. In the Wednesday interview, Schuck said that people at the Bergen County Executives Office wanted him to ask the governor about American Dream. I know this has been in the pipeline, said Schuck, a Bergen County resident. There have been a lot of jokes about American Dream. The two then talked about how the project had been around since James McGreevys administration. I dont see any scenario where it doesnt happen. So thats an important point, Murphy said. Because there were many years where we couldnt answer that question. And, while he said he doesnt have information on the late summer opening date, "they are testing the amusement rides. And thats probably a good sign. Theyre encasing, as we speak, the waterpark, Murphy continued. Youre starting to see some of the retailers put their names up. Saks Fifth Avenues name is now up on the side of the building. Murphy said he thinks there are about 2,000 workers at the site daily. Citing something like $1.2 billion of payroll eventually for New Jersey and probably $140-something million in taxes, the governor praised the project, though he admitted its slower than probably any of us wouldve wanted. Representatives from Nickelodeon Universe said during a gathering of rollercoaster enthusiasts, called EastCoaster, in February that the record-breaking rollercoasters at American Dream will be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-themed. The TMNT Shellraiser will hold the record for steepest plunge when it pauses at the top of a 122-foot drop, giving riders a quick look at the New York City skyline across the Hudson River. The other record-setter, The Shredder, will be the tallest and longest free-spinning coaster. The other two rides unveiled at EastCoaster are Sandys Blasting Bronco and Slime Streak. Theres no word on which rides are being tested, although American Dream did post this photo to its Instagram account March 12. Beside the ride is a sign that reads, Finished Product Do Not Touch. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. 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. Police investigating the discovery of a sliced-up womens clothing in a wooded area near a home in Bergen County say theyve received several missing persons tips from around the country. None of the tips, however, have proved a match for the garments found several hundred feet from Route 208 in Fair Lawn last week. The main problem, police said, was the clothing brands worn by those reported missing didnt match what was found off the highway and near a residential area. The garments, a pair of size 28 Goldsign jeans, a 36D bra, a Ralph Lauren Polo-brand T-shirt and underwear, were found by Dave Carotas wife and young daughter while they were out in the woods next to their house. Every single article was clothing had been cut in a way to suggest it was cut off whoever was wearing it, Carota said last week. The clothing was balled up and appeared to have been placed where it was found he said. Fearing that the discovery might be linked to a crime, Carota contacted police and shared photos of the clothing on Facebook. We have received multiple calls from police departments from around the country, along with tips from citizens through phone calls or social media posts, Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Brian Metzler said. Our detective bureau has been following up on every call and tip, but so far have not found a match. Those tips have come from other towns in New Jersey, as well as from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, Virginia and South Carolina. Fair Lawn police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 201-796-1400. In the meantime, the department will keep the clothing in case more is learned. The items cannot be tested for DNA since they arent associated with any known crime, police said last week. Carota took to Facebook this week to say the mystery has even drawn the attention of people in other countries. He expressed his hope that, given the growing public interest, authorities will make an exception and allow for DNA testing of the clothing. 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. She looks like no King Lear youve ever seen before a small, thin woman in a black suit, her silver pageboy combed neatly to the side. Yet when the legendary British actress Glenda Jackson begins to speak and then to fulminate and rage as only the narcissistic, aggrieved Lear can she mows down men three times her size. The contrast is thrilling, and a key to the success of Sam Golds smashing new production of the Shakespeare chestnut, now playing at the Cort Theatre on Broadway. This is a King Lear that wholly captures the complexities and contradictions of its title character, a still-roaring lion who refuses to accept that winter has dawned. That this King is a she adds another delicious layer. Golds production, which also features a woman (Jayne Houdyshell) playing Lears friend Gloucester and a partially deaf actor (Russell Harvard) playing the Duke of Cornwall, is at once a clever reflection of a culturally diverse modern world and a renunciation of the way ossified power structures are sustained. Which is to say: In this King Lear, the white male patriarchy is collapsing at every turn. Jackson, of course, made an astonishing return last year to the New York stage, after a three-decade absence. Her Tony-winning, cool-as-ice portrayal of an aging matriarch in Edward Albees Three Tall Women was transfixing. What she pulls off here, at age 82, is at another level entirely. She displays a flawless command of one of the most linguistically and physically demanding of all Shakespearean roles, the easily-insulted ruler who casts his youngest daughter Cordelia (Ruth Wilson, from The Affair) out of England and divides his kingdom evenly between his two other daughters, Goneril (the terrific Elizabeth Marvel, channeling any number of Real Housewives) and Regan (the Irish actress Aisling O'Sullivan). Jacksons androgynous presence also complicates a part that has traditionally been understood in Oedipal terms this Lear is as much a hubristic and arrogant father as s/he is a pitiable and attention-deprived mother. The other heavy-hitter here is director Gold, whose recent tinkering with Shakespeare setting Othello in an Army barracks; having Hamlet run around in his underwear has been striking, if sometimes ridiculous. As with those earlier productions, Gold sets this one in what appears to be the present-day, and he isnt afraid of provocation at one point, for instance, Goneril and Edmund (Pedro Pascal) have a highly convincing sexual encounter onstage. But never before has Golds vision of Shakespeare seemed as coherent or as inventive. The set is a gilt-walled room, with reflective gold mirrors on top the similarities to photos of President Donald Trumps New York City penthouse cant be entirely coincidental. (The design is by Miriam Buether.) The presence of an onstage string quartet playing a Philip Glass score lends a cinematic majesty to the proceedings, but also a deeper sense of foreboding and tragedy. (Wasnt there also a band playing when the Titanic went down?) The famous storm sequence as Lear wanders the hearth alongside his Fool (also played by Wilson) and Gloucesters outcast son Edgar (Sean Carvajal) is here rendered with the help of a dazzling light-and-sound show and a clanging metallic curtain. (The lighting and sound were designed by Jane Cox and Scott Lehrer, respectively.) You could quibble with a few things here: Matthew Maher is a touch overemphatic as Oswald; the second half doesnt quite reach the propulsive, intense heights of the first. But Gold and Jackson have given us a production that feels timeless in its sweep, yet right of this moment a portrait of the ways wealth corrupts and ego blinds; a chilling cautionary tale of how one power-drunk family can ultimately bring down a nation. Long live this King. King Lear Cort Theatre 138 West 48th St., New York. Tickets: $35-$159; available at www.telecharge.com. Through July 7. Christopher Kelly may be reached at ckelly@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chriskelly74. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. Q. Are there possible tax implications if I move my current 529 plan from NJBEST to another financial institution? Are there any specific benefits to leaving it with NJBEST besides the $1,500 scholarship? Planning ahead A. Youre in luck. The IRS allows you to move your 529 account from one plan to another for the same beneficiary, tax free, once in a 12-month period, said Deva Panambur, a certified financial planner with Sarsi, LLC in West New York. There could be many reasons to move a 529 plan, he said, including: moving to a new state that gives income tax benefits on rollovers from another state, consolidating 529 accounts or finding a different states plan offers other benefits. Since New Jersey does not give tax benefits for 529 contributions, there is no risk of recapture of state tax benefits, he said. Panambur said the New Jersey plan may charge a fee as much as $75 for rollover distributions, although no fee is listed in the December 2018 Investor Handbook. As you mention, depending on the amount of contribution and how long the account has been open, eligible beneficiaries of the New Jersey 529 plan can receive a scholarship of up to $1,500 for attendance to an eligible New Jersey higher education institute, Panambur said. You will lose that benefit if roll over your account to a different states plan. Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com. Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has showcased some starry guest soloists this season. Recently, however, in a canny move by Music Director Xian Zhang, the orchestra had more than one. For the record, the program listed five. The first four soloists were horn players, engaged to perform the NJSO Premiere of Robert Schumanns Konzertstuck for Four Horns in F Major. Chris Komer, Andrea Menousek and Lawrence Dibello are members of the NJSO Horn Section who got to step into the spotlight, and they were joined by New York City-based horn player Eric Reed. The four made their entrance wearing matching corsages on their lapels. They took their places at the lip of the Richardson Auditorium and then tore into Schumanns 1850 confection. It was an instant delight. Within a few bars, it was impossible not to feel the warm glow of the horns and ask yourself: Why isnt this piece performed more often? Maestra Zhang clearly enjoys the piece. Under her baton, the piece surges and glides in fun ways, the five other brass instruments at the back of the stage melding their sound smoothly with the four soloists at the front. The horns may not have always been golden, but they were always good. A diverting way to start a concert. Up next was the canny move by Zhang. Usually, with a guest soloist on hand to perform a concerto, they go second on a program like this, followed by a longer symphony. But here, Zhang had Schuberts Symphony No. 8, Unfinished, before the intermission. The NJSO music director came out for this piece in her usual black Nehru jacket and slacks, approaching the podium that lacked a score in front of it. Zhang clearly knows this piece inside and out and did it ever show. Schubert may have left the piece unfinished for 30 years, but the maestra made it sound as complete as possible. Not necessarily finished or fully coherent; no, she just made it sound like a perfect calling card for an orchestra. The oboes and clarinets played tautly at the start, the cellos then entered strongly, then the band as a whole. Schuberts 1822 score (or at least the two movements he finished) is very forward looking. It points toward the free expression of emotion that became in fashion later in the 19th century with composers like Wagner, Berlioz and Verdi. No wonder Zhang likes this piece. She tore into this piece of early century Viennese elegance and made it sound like a late-century Russian potboiler. Dramatic turns in the score were expert: Sunny phrases transitioned into stormy passages with hair-tingling turns. And Schuberts episodic scenes and bold orchestrations play to the strengths of her band. The NJSO sounded as good as an ensemble (sans soloist) as theyve sounded all season. After intermission, it was time for the main guest soloist, Johannes Moser. The German-Canadian cellist was engaged by NJSO to perform the East Coast premiere of a co-commissioned cello concerto by Andrew Norman; but since it wasnt finished in time for its Seattle premiere last year, it remains to see when anyone will ever hear it. So Moser performed a piece many have heard before, Dvoraks Cello Concerto in B minor. He performed it well, as did Zhang and the NJSO. But after hearing the maestra and her musicians play so cozily together in the first half of the program, Moser often felt sort of like a third wheel. His playing was elegant in his solo passages, and the final cry of the cello at the end of the third movement was lovely (preceded by beautiful muted trumpet playing just before the end) but the result as a whole felt more workmanlike than wonderful. The Dvorak concerto is a masterpiece, generally considered the best cello concerto written, if not the greatest piece written for the instrument. There was nothing wrong with Moser and the NJSOs interpretation, just nothing exceptional. The Norman premiere we are told will come. Thanks to Zhang and the orchestra for making the Konzertstuck and Schubert sound like revelations. A farebeating bust. At 14th St. and 6th Ave,. believe it or not. @NY1 pic.twitter.com/qzSVW3QiyK Joel Siegel (@joelmsiegel) April 4, 2019 It looks like the animal kingdom is not safe from New Jersey jokes (also not safe in general). In a photo tweeted by Joel Siegel on Thursday, a police officer appeared to have nabbed a raccoon in a New York subway. A farebeating bust, mused Siegel, an editor at NY1. At 14th St. and 6th Ave., believe it or not. A video shows a group of officers surrounding the raccoon after it was trapped in a garbage can and put in a cage early Wednesday morning. Siegels tweet was widely shared, spurring another observation if this is how we treat Subway Raccoon, what of Rocket, who is famously an integral part of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise? The character, voiced by Bradley Cooper, managed to survive the deadly snap from villain Thanos in the last Avengers movie and can be seen in the forthcoming Avengers: Endgame. What are yall doing? Hes go to help the Avengers defeat Thanos and restore order in the universe. https://t.co/l2X5AS9P3Q Nicole (@NicoleJade525) April 4, 2019 Bradley Cooper has fallen on hard times Northside Baseball (@nsbbcom) April 4, 2019 But when an NYPD official weighed in on the raccoon arrest," he felt the need to do something quintessentially New York and resort to a New Jersey joke. If the sign in the background is any indication, it looks like Rocky is desperately trying to avoid Jersey, tweeted Edward Delatorre, chief of transit for the NYPD. Delatorre was referring to the PATH sign visible in the background of the photo. Geddit!? Geddit? If the sign in the background is any indication, it looks like Rocky is desperately trying to avoid Jersey https://t.co/D3rW8UjVjf NYPD Transit (@NYPDTransit) April 4, 2019 Ultimately, when all the fun and games were over, there was one less raccoon in New York City. Whatever you think of Delatorres joke, all of this did not end well for the animal, which was killed ... in case it had rabies. How would Subway Raccoon have fared on the Jersey side? We may never know. RIP. Update: Animal Care and Control of NYC says it euthanized the raccoon "as required by law" because of the possibility it was rabid. https://t.co/RKnPd8RVAR Joel Siegel (@joelmsiegel) April 4, 2019 Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the noise from wind turbines causes cancer, which is not true. (He also said that his father was born in Germany. Again, not true. Fred Trump was born in the Bronx. Heres his birth certificate.) If you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations, your house just went down 75% in value," Trump said as part of his remarks at the spring dinner of the National Republican Congressional Committee (see clip below at the 3:30 mark). And they say the noise causes cancer ... you told me that one, OK. Trump then proceeded to make turbine (?) noises, something approximating RWWWRRR RRWWRR, as he drew circles in the air with his finger. Late night hosts gobbled up the precious gem for their comedic pursuits. Of course windmills cause cancer, Stephen Colbert said on The Late Show Wednesday. Thats why everyone in Holland is dead. Also, noise does not cause cancer, although I believe listening to Donald Trump might cause brain damage." Social media minted the hashtag #WindmillsCauseCancer. Members of the tweeting audience were happy to offer their own takes, contributing to the still-surging gust of windmill satire. Here are some highlights from Thursdays brisk trade in windmill memes and jokes. The commentary ranged from a map of all the Americans at risk (attn: Atlantic City) to riffs from actual scientists, more jokes about Holland and even a song for windmill cancer awareness. This map shows all the Americans at risk. When will we declare a national emergency? #WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/5yEOfgFzCN Mark Strauss (@MarkDStrauss) April 4, 2019 Caught my son doing windmills. Claimed he was just dancing. But now I think he trying to kill me for my life insurance. lol #WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/5VkJyaM6Ch Blackual facts (@OOOhTwit) April 4, 2019 I'm a cancer biologist, and I've dedicated my whole life to researching if #WindmillsCauseCancer. pic.twitter.com/WH2bHlilo9 Cordite Wolf (@ThatManedWolf) April 4, 2019 Posting this for Windmill Noise Cancer Awareness Day. #WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/eoY3VSsoo6 murray valeriano (@murrayv) April 4, 2019 Does anyone know how many people have been diagnosed with noise cancer from this windmill? Asking for a friend. #WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/aX9Zc4yek2 David Gottesman (@dgotte75) April 4, 2019 In Holland, your only choices are earplugs or cancer. #WindmillsCauseCancer amber ruffin (@ambermruffin) April 4, 2019 #WindmillsCauseCancer Will pinwheels cause cancer too because they are mini-versions of windmills? pic.twitter.com/eNVZ1rKiP2 PositivePyramids (@PositivePyrami1) April 4, 2019 Haven't been feeling great the past week. At first I thought it was due to pollen, but now I know that it's probably cancer I got from this Lego windmill my niece made. #WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/CLuUosgDVo L.A. Warren (@Ellelayye) April 4, 2019 I lost many friends in the Bowling Green Massacre and can't stand to count the amount I've lost to windmills. #WindmillsCauseCancer Jeff Dwoskin - Hashtag Roundup (@bigmacher) April 4, 2019 I left my fan on in the bedroom all night. Should I get a cancer screening?#WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/RSVOdnGwHC Daniel Modell (@dmnyc) April 4, 2019 Wrote this song for Windmill Cancer Awareness #WindmillsCauseCancer pic.twitter.com/32e3ZVUsRA Springbo (@SpringboLives) April 4, 2019 To all my friends living in areas where there are windmill farms - please get yourself screened for windmill cancer. I heard the test is a real breeze. #WindmillsCauseCancer Martini Cartwheels (@mcartwheels) April 4, 2019 #WindmillsCauseCancer & its totally safe to stare directly at the sun. pic.twitter.com/QwRKgSuXRc Matt Collin (@mattdcollin) April 4, 2019 Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The measles outbreak in New Jersey has spread to a second county and the number of confirmed cases this year has climbed to 11 as health officials nationally continue to express concerns about the rapid rise in infections. Seven of the cases are in Ocean County with two more in Monmouth County, health officials said. Two other cases were reported previously in Bergen and Essex counties. Health officials have listed a dozen locations including Newark Airport, Monmouth Medical Center and locations around Lakewood where people could have been exposed to measles. An unidentified adult male from Ocean County visited locations in Lakewoods houses of worship, a wedding venue and yeshiva while infected with measles between March 9 and March 14 and may have exposed others, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. The state declared an outbreak on March 15. The most recent outbreak is the second in the state over the past six months. The first outbreak sickened 33 people in Ocean and Passaic counties starting in October before it was declared over in January. The continued spread in New Jersey comes as national cases of measles through the first three months of 2019 has already exceeded last years total, according to the Centers for Disease Control. There have been 387 cases through March 28, the CDC reported. (Centers for Disease Control) Officials in Rockland County, New York, just north of Bergen County, have banned unvaccinated minors from public places as they attempt to fight a measles outbreak that has infected more than 150 people since October. The county is experiencing New York states longest measles outbreak since the disease was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. Health officials say the best way to stop the diseases spread is a high vaccination rate in the community. A federal judge last month denied a request from parents to let 44 unvaccinated children return to the Waldorf School in Rockland County. People can become ill from measles from 5 to 21 days after being exposed to the virus. Measles symptoms vary, but can include high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes and a rash. If contracted, the virus can result in ear infections, pneumonia, swelling of the brain, miscarriage in pregnant women, and even death, particularly for children, according to health officials. For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die. If you received the two recommended doses of the measles vaccine as a child, you are considered protected for life and do not need a booster, according to the CDC. Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles: Congregation Bais Tefilla, 33 East 8th St, Lakewood (March 9, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.; March 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; March 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; March 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; March 14 from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.) Beth Medrash Govoha, Bais Yitzchok Hall, Lakewood (March 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; March 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m; March 13 from 12:45 p.m. to 4 p.m.) Beth Medrash Govoha, Yoshon Hall, Lakewood (March 10 from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; March 11 from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; March 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Beth Hamedrash Zichron Binyomin, 701 Princeton Ave, Lakewood (March 9 from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; March 10 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight; March 11 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight; March 13 from 10:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. March 14) Lake Terrace Hall, 1690 Oak St, Lakewood (March 11 from 10 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. (March 12) Kol Shimshon, 323 Squankum Rd, Lakewood (March 12 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.; March 12 from 9 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.) Bais Medrash Tiferes Pinchos, East 5th St and Negba S.t, Lakewood (March 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal B (March 14 from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (March 15) Tottini Kidswear, 204 Clifton Ave, Lakewood (March 10 from 12 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Clover, 115 Clifton Ave., Lakewood (March 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Kidichic, 251 2nd St, Lakewood (March 10 from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Monmouth Medical Center, Emergency Department, Long Branch (March 13 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.) 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. As more and more newspapers become digitized, genealogy research gets a bit easier. With the advent of full text search, names and places can be searched directly rather than a user having to consult an index. Its technology at its finest, but full text search can also be frustrating for genealogists. Most search engines and databases allow for exact string searching by taking a string of words and enclosing them in double quotation marks (i.e., John F. Kennedy in most cases capitalization and punctuation wont matter). Thats all well and good if the researcher is looking for a news or feature story where the name will likely appear that way. But genealogists often arent searching for news or feature stories. In most cases, finding obituaries can be accomplished by searching in a first name last name format or by reversing first and last name. But sometimes middle names or initials can get in the way. This is where a little-known tool called a proximity operator can be of help. A proximity operator looks for two search terms within a certain number of words of each other. How would it be of use? Lets take the following actual death notice from The Jersey Journal as an example: HUELSTER Of 519 32nd Street, Union City, on Tuesday, September 24, 1963, Frank, in his 61st year, beloved husband of Anna There are 11 words in between Huelster and Frank. Anyone searching for Frank Huelster or Huelster, Frank would certainly be out of luck. Using a proximity operator will find those search terms separated by words. NewsBank, the database the holds the online Jersey Journal archives, allows proximity search two different ways. Using the above example in NewsBank, one could search for frank ADJ2 huelster, meaning that it will look for these terms within two words of each other in the order they are written (frank coming before huelster). In this example, even if you changed the ADJ2 to ADJ11, the search would still be unsuccessful because the surname Huelster appears before the given name Frank. The second way to use a proximity search in NewsBank, would be to format the search like this: frank NEAR15 huelster. Here, the search engine is looking for the terms frank and huelster within 15 words of each other no matter which term appears first. Yes, this is an extreme case. Not many Jersey Journal death notices are written this way and not many of your search terms will be more than four or five words away from each other at most. But I use it to show the power of proximity operators and to show just how easy it might be to pass by an important piece of genealogy information if you only search by first name, last name or vice versa. A search like this on Google uses the format: term1 AROUND(x) term2. Here, term1 and term2 are the search terms and the x is the maximum number of words in between the search terms. They do not have to be in order. Please note that not all databases or search engines have the same commands. If youre using another database, check their help section for search commands. And Happy Hunting! Danny Klein is a librarian at the Jersey City Free Public Librarys New Jersey Room and a founding member of the Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society. He can be reached at hudsongenealogy@gmail.com or @HudsonGenealogy on Twitter. Firefighters responded to a pair of multi-alarm fires Thursday evening in the southern half of Jersey City, one of which displaced approximately 20 people, an official said. Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said firefighters went to 112 Clendenny Ave. at around 7:10 p.m. where a two-alarm blaze had spread to an adjacent building. One occupant was evacuating when firefighters arrived and was treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire but while they were working to put it out, power lines came down from the home and landed on the street and one apparatus. PSE&G responded and disconnected power. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Wallace-Scalcione said. In the 5 p.m. hour, firefighters responded to a brush fire in Liberty State Park. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the spokeswoman said. The brush fire reached a second alarm due to the difficulty that firefighters had accessing the area, Wallace-Scalcione added. Hamilton police say they arrested a township man Thursday on charges he committed a home invasion robbery last fall in which a person was stabbed. Jose R. LeBron, 41, is charged with robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and a weapon possession charge. Police allege hes one of three masked men who wore all black clothing and forced their way into an apartment in the Warner Village community at 1 a.m. on Oct. 30 last year. They held the residents at knifepoint and ransacked the place, police said. One resident was stabbed during the crime, requiring medical attention. Police did not elaborate on the stabbing victim, or say if they suspect LeBron inflicted the injury. After the robbery, the masked men darted to the rear of the complex at East State Street and Nottingham Way and left the area in a white Dodge Durango, police said. Police are still searching for the other two robbers, and anyone with information about the crime can contact Detective Jason Aspromonti at 609-581-4030 or jaspromonti@hamiltonpd.org. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend in jealous rage at a Subway sandwich shop, paralyzing her and causing injuries that killed her 18 months later, has been found guilty of her murder, authorities said. A Mercer County jury found Yoon Choi, 52, of Silver Spring, Maryland, guilty of murder and two weapons offenses late Thursday afternoon, according to a prosecutors office spokeswoman. The stabbing took place Dec. 9, 2014 in a Subway on Sunnybrae Boulevard in Hamilton, when Choi stabbed Myung Jeon in the back of the neck five times, authorities said. Choi testified at the trial, and admitted to hitting Jeon in the neck, but not to stabbing her, Assistant Prosecutor Stacey Geurds said Friday. She said the case was unusual, because the victim died from pneumonia while fighting back from her traumatic injuries so long after the attack. It was our position but for the defendant stabbing her, she would be alive Geurds said. She was a relatively healthy young woman. He believed they were meeting to run away to Korea, but she told him she had married another man. She met him in a public place thinking she would be safe, Geurds said. You think, what could go wrong? A UPS employee and a construction worker both came to Jeons aid in the Subway that day, Geurds said. They likely saved her life. The former couple had not seen each other in about two years, and Jeon had met him that day to repay $40,000 she owed him. The attack left Jeon paralyzed and with severe nerve damage. She died in July 2016, leading officials to charge Choi with murder. Choi told police later he had threatened to kill her if she ever married someone else. He had live in North Jersey from around 2002 to 2013. His sentencing is scheduled for June 14. Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. UPDATE: N.J. district that closed schools Friday due stomach bug expected to re-open Monday All five schools in a Monmouth County district will be closed Friday after a stomach bug apparently caused scores of students to stay home. The decision to close schools in Ocean Township was made "out of an abundance of caution based on widespread reports of students with the stomach sickness at the towns intermediate school, Superintendent Jim Stefankiewicz said on Twitter Thursday. We are closing as a precaution and to conduct a thorough cleaning of all facilities, he said. Due to the health issue at TOIS and out of an abundance of caution, the OT School District will be closed on 4/5/19. The issues seen @ TOIS have not been seen in our other schools. However, we r closing as a precaution and to conduct a thorough cleaning of all facilities. Jim Stefankiewicz (@jimstefank) April 4, 2019 About 45% of students at the intermediate school were out Thursday, according to Stefankiewicz. Fifth graders were among the hardest hit by the illness, which has not impacted other district schools. Rumors that students were vomiting at (the high school) were completely unfounded, Stefankiewicz said in a letter to parents. Absentee rates have been significantly higher at the intermediate school since at least Wednesday, officials said. The school generally sees about 6% of students out on a given day. "We are working together to make sure we are making the appropriate decisions for our schools based on county and state health guidelines, the superintendent said. Township of Ocean Intermediate School Principal Christopher Amato said after school activities were canceled Wednesday. Out of an abundance of caution TOIS is cancelling all after school activities; extra help, detention, clubs, and sports. Project Extend - will be relocated to the recreation center. In addition our PTA meeting and Social Media presentation have been postponed to May 9th. Christopher Amato (@camatotois) April 3, 2019 Crews cleaned district schools and buses Tuesday and Wednesday, the letter said. Stefankiewicz urged parents to keep their children home if they are showing symptoms of being sick and practice good hygiene, including washing hands. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. 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 One of the ringleaders in a muti-state dogfighting ring that often resulted in the death of the animals was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday in federal court in New Jersey, officials said. Robert Arellano, 65, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his cohorts arranged for significant numbers of dogs to fight and had dog fighting equipment, including dog treadmills, intravenous drug bags and lines, breeding stands used to immobilize female dogs and chains weighing up to several pounds, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said. The case is part of a larger crackdown on dogfighting nationwide. In all 11 people from five states have been sentenced to almost 14 years in prison. Authorities have rescued 113 dogs in all. "Dog fighting is vicious and cruel, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement. Beyond the needless suffering it inflicts on animals, it exacts a toll on local animal shelters, humane organizations, and the taxpayers of New Jersey. If you fight dogs in New Jersey, you will face prosecution and imprisonment. Arellano, who pleaded guilty to combined felony dog fighting counts in New Mexico and New Jersey last fall, also received three years of supervised released at his sentencing Thursday in a federal courtroom in Trenton. The cases were combined for sentencing purposes. Arellano is one of four defendants to plead guilty. The other three will be sentenced in late May. Authorities said Arellano kept dogs at his home in Albuquerque for dog fighting purposes from 2012 to 2016, bringing in dogs from New Jersey and Indiana so they could be used to fight. He also had dog fighting videos, records, how-to materials and photographs. Arellano also maintained meticulous records of the dogs previous fights, kills and injuries they inflicted on other dogs, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Mexico. He also kept veterinary drugs and equipment to shield the dogs from professional veterinary scrutiny and care, including a used intravenous line containing canine DNA, injectable horse steroids and injectable veterinary medicines manufactured in Mexico. 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. An Atlantic City police officer, who was arrested by federal authorities for his role in a brutal K-9 attack that left a Linwood man with nearly 200 stitches, is suing the city over not being paid while suspended. Sterling Wheaten filed the lawsuit in Atlantic County Superior Court on Thursday. During a suspension hearing, the lawsuit says, Chief Henry White stated that Wheaten should be paid while on leave for an indefinite amount of time. According to the lawsuit, White thought Wheaten should be paid because an Atlantic County grand jury did not bring charges against him. White made his decision because he was familiar with the case and the investigations surrounding it, according to the lawsuit. Since the chiefs oral decision was made at the October 26, 2018, hearing, the city has refused to respond with any written decision, result or determination that differs from Whites, even though they told Wheatens attorney, Lou Barbone, they would, according to the lawsuit. The city did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the lawsuit. Wheaten is seeking back pay from October 2018 and to be paid moving forward as he serves the suspension, according to the lawsuit. Wheatens annual salary is $84,027, according to state records. While a county grand jury did not indict Wheaten, a federal one indicted him on charges of violating an individuals civil rights and one count of falsifying a record for submitting a false police report about the assault. The assault happened in June 2013 outside of the Tropicana involving 20-year-old David Castellani and a group of Atlantic City police officers. An intoxicated Castellani got into a contentious argument with the officers before being detained. After Castellani was subdued and had one hand in handcuffs, Wheaten arrived and emerged from his vehicle with his K-9 partner. Wheaten released the dog, and it mauled the back of Castellanis head, his neck and his chest, as officers, including Wheaten, continued to punch and kick Castellani, according to the lawsuit Castellani filed. According to the indictment, Wheaten submitted false and fraudulent police reports, including that Castellani was fighting my K-9 partner and that he had violently assaulted uniformed law enforcement officer[s] with hands and fists. Castellani was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. He eventually had his record cleared after he entered into a pretrial intervention program. The high-profile case eventually settled for $3 million. Sterling Wheaten is a family man who has served his community with pride and honor his entire career. We support him and are confident the facts will see him cleared of these charges, Patrick Colligan, the president of the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement after the indictment. The incident was not the first time Wheaten found himself at the center of a lawsuit. During his tenure, he has been sued numerous times and has been involved lawsuits that have cost the city $4.5 million. Before being arrested by federal authorities and then suspended, he had never been disciplined by the Atlantic City police department, according to previous reporting by NJ Advance Media. Wheaten, who accumulated 33 internal affairs complaints 23 of which were for excessive force or assault in the first seven years of his career, never had a complaint sustained by internal affairs investigators and was never ordered to any type of remedial training. During his first year with the department, he had the sixth most use-of-force incidents, and by the second year, he led the department in the category, according to an analysis done by a police expert on behalf of a plaintiff who was suing the city. When Wheaten applied for one of three open K-9 positions in 2012, he received the prestigious position despite having the highest number of internal affairs complaints against him of the 24 applicants, according to court documents. After the Castellani incident, Wheaten returned to policing Atlantic City with a K-9 dog, White said in a 2016 deposition. Since Officer Wheaten has come back to full duty, hes been nothing but a model employee, White said. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage. 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. Easter falls on April 21 in 2019. The religious holiday marks the date on which Jesus Christ was resurrected and always lands between March 22 and April 25. Easter is always observed on a Sunday, 46 days following Ash Wednesday, which this year was on March 6. Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the start of spring also known as the vernal equinox. The church always observes the first day of spring on March 21 and this year it coincided with a full moon. The next full moon, known as the Pink Moon, is April 19. As a result, Easter is April 21 in 2019. The determination to use that system was made at a gathering of Christian bishops in the year 325, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Legend has it the men wanted to come up with a more organized way to determine when the holiday would be marked. Easter is one of several so-called moveable feasts, meaning the date changes every year, according to FarmersAlmanac.com. The week preceding Easter is known as Holy Week. It is marked by the following three notable dates: Palm Sunday April 14 Holy Thursday April 18 Good Friday April 19 Easter is April 12 in 2020 and April 4 in 2021. This years April 21 date is the latest Easter will arrive for the next several years, according to TimeandDate.com. Easter Sunday marks the end of the 46-day period of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday, March 6. Those observing are not permitted to eat meat on Ash Wednesday or on any Friday until Easter. Observing Christians also give up a vice for lent such as a favorite food or activity. 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. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events, with prompts from Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. Joe Biden released a video Wednesday promising a new effort to respect the personal space of others, in response to criticism from women who says he inappropriately touched them. Is this issue serious enough to derail his campaign? DuHaime: The question is whether uncomfortable, awkward and repeated violations of womens personal spaces will be treated as if it was equal to Bill Clintons actions by Democrat primary voters and the media. Im more interested in what Julie thinks, but I do think he is smart to try to address it before he gets in the race. If it goes poorly, he may just decide to forego running. Roginsky: Mike is right that this is a good test of whether Vice-President Biden's campaign will have the agility to address difficult issues thrown in his direction, whether it is this or other parts of his four-decade record. While I would never dismiss any other woman's experience, I can only speak about my own in this particular regard. I have been on the receiving end of affectionate shoulder squeezes from Vice President Biden. I never took them to be a violation of my personal space or found them to be sexually suggestive in any way. There are many reasons both to support and question a Biden candidacy. Speaking purely for myself, this isn't one. Other women -- and men -- obviously have a legitimate right to disagree. Q. How about the boomlet for Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, an openly gay 37-year-old who served in Afghanistan and has a name no one can pronounce? He raised an impressive $7 million in his first quarter and rose to third place in recent Iowa poll. Whats his appeal, and what does it signal? DuHaime: He is a fresh face, a new generation and comes across as measured and extremely smart. He speaks foreign languages with ease and is conversant in literature. He can just as easily speak with great specificity about foreign policy as he can about attracting jobs for low-income families in his hometown. Frankly, I wonder if he is liberal enough for the left wing of the Democrat party right now. Being a mayor and a military vet, he has a pragmatic streak that will appeal to the middle. Roginsky: Wow, Mike. It sounds like you are ready to drive to South Bend and sign up with Mayor Pete. Buttigieg is the antithesis of Donald Trump: young, erudite, intellectual, a veteran. All of that is appealing to those looking for a very clear contrast to Trump -- and, judging by Mikes reaction, not just to Democratic primary voters. DuHaime: Lets not get crazy; I dont need a bus ticket to South Bend just yet. I just understand his appeal. Q. The New York Times reported this week that members of Robert Muellers team feel their report contains more damaging information about Trump than was indicated by Attorney General William Barr. Meanwhile, Trump is backing off his earlier calls to release the report. How do you see this unfolding? DuHaime: It will be released. I dont believe Congress or the public will allow anything less. President Trump should want it released. As we saw with the investigation, the speculation was worse than the conclusion, so just get it out, get it over with and go on to other issues. If it is not released, we will never put it behind us. Roginsky: The Trump administration will want this tied up in court until after the 2020 election. If it were really as harmless as Attorney General Barr would want us to believe, he would have released the full report to Congress by now. I dont, for even one second, buy the need to preserve the secrecy of grand jury testimony as the reason for the delay. A judge forced the Nixon Administration to turn over the unredacted Watergate special counsels report to the House Judiciary Committee, though it contained grand jury testimony. By statute, both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees are entitled to receive the unredacted report, including grand jury testimony. And Monica Lewinskys and President Clintons grand jury testimony was released to the public two weeks after Special Prosecutor Ken Starr delivered his report. This has nothing to do with the law and everything to do with a partisan attorney general protecting his boss, the president. Q. Gov. Phil Murphy supported massive tax breaks for Amazon to build in New Jersey, and this week he went to Hollywood to pitch tax breaks for movie producers. At the same time, a task force he appointed questioned the propriety of tax breaks handed out for projects in New Jersey. Is he stepping on his message? Is he being inconsistent? DuHaime: Gov. Murphy seems to like his tax breaks for Hollywood but not Gov. Christies tax breaks for Newark, Paterson and Camden. He was against the Christie tax breaks before he was for them, when he thought they could bring in Amazon, and now hes against them again. Couple the muddy waters on incentives with his calls for higher income taxes again and you have a recipe of bad signals to businesses who hope to invest in the state. Roginsky: I understand the nuance in policy, but nuance doesn't always translate into good messaging. The governor's press shop should work on distilling the message, so that reporters like you don't ask questions about hypocrisy. Tomorrow, @FirstLadyNJ and I will meet with film industry reps in CA to make the case for choosing NJ over anti-choice states like GA. States that claim to be a good value for business need to demonstrate the right values, including standing up for womens rights. #HB481 Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 1, 2019 Q. Senate President Steve Sweeney noted that his push to cut benefits for public workers and fight the millionaires tax is offending Democratic base voters and proves that he has no plans to launch a primary fight against Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021. Do you buy that? DuHaime: I only know of one political party that fully supports Sweeneys attempts restore fiscal sanity to the state budget, and its not his. Sweeney is a realist. The state cannot afford to keep going down this path of escalating pensions and health benefits. Some compromise must happen. This isnt a political ideology. It is a math equation. There arent enough taxes to raise to pay for it all. I am glad he has the political courage to take on his own party to force them to confront reality. Roginsky: I have no reason to believe that Senator Sweeney has any plans to challenge the governor in a primary. Q. Finally, I want to surprise you both and offer praise of former Gov. Chris Christie. His bail reform is providing to be a smashing success, freeing thousands of poor defendants who couldnt afford to pay bail while awaiting trial, with no increase in crime and no rise in the number skipping court appearances. Christie for president in 2024? Seriously, does he have another act on the big stage? DuHaime: Let me take a moment to savor your rightly-deserved praise. Okay, Im done. I have learned with Christie one should never say never. He will go down in history as a very effective and consequential governor. My career in politics had just started in Morris County right around the same time many said his was over. Since the time he was marked for politically dead, he has been a seven-year US Attorney, won an upset victory for governor over an incumbent Democrat in a blue state, won a historic landslide re-election and is now a confidante of the President of the United States and governors and senators of both parties around America. Gov. Christie should never be counted out for anything. Roginsky: I dont know that bail reform is the panacea for what ails the Republican base ideologically, but I would never count anyone out after Donald Trump got Republican voters to support his candidacy. WASHINGTON Protesters gathered at hundreds of sites throughout the country including five in New Jersey to demand that U.S. Attorney General William Barr release the entire report from special counsel Robert Mueller. The demonstrations, organized under the banner Nobody Is Above the Law, came as the House Judiciary Committee prepared to subpoena the report and supporting information if Barr did not voluntarily release the documents. Barr, named to the post by President Donald Trump, issued a four-page summary about the report that said Mueller did not find criminal collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign and did not make a determination as to whether the president tried to obstruct justice. Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein then determined there wasnt not enough evidence to support obstruction charges. Barr said he would release a redacted copy of the report later this month. That wasnt good enough for the protesters, who assembled at more than 300 locations, including five in New Jersey and across from the White House on Thursday. The American people deserve to know everything that is in the special counsels final report, said David Sievers, campaign director for Moveon.org, an advocacy group helping to organize protests. We are not happy, and do not see as sufficient, a four-page summary. Lisa Flythe of Lawrence Township was one of the Moveon.org members attending a rally in Trenton. I hope to raise public awareness and support our politicians in their effort to have the full Mueller report released immediately, Flythe said. Joyce Trotman-Jordan, left, holding sign, joins other activists on April 4, 2019, during a rally in Trenton in front of City Hall in response to Attorney General William Barrs failure to release Robert Mueller's report by an April 2 deadline set by House committee chairs. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media Besides Trenton, demonstrations were scheduled in Montclair, New Brunswick, South Orange and Woodbury. We, the concerned public, have a brief window of opportunity to demand full transparency and to ensure that Attorney General Barr and the Trump administration see that the American people will not stand for anything less than the release of the full report, said Laura Zurfluh, founder and group leader of Indivisible Cranbury and an organizer of the Trenton rally. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., tweeted his support for the protesters demands. The Mueller report needs to be made public. The Mueller report needs to be made public. The Mueller report needs to be made public. The Mueller report needs to be made public. The Mueller report needs to be made public.#ReleaseTheReport Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) April 4, 2019 House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and the chairs of five other House committees initially demanded that Barr submit the full report and all supporting documents by Tuesday. The House last month unanimously called for the full release of the report. This committee requires the full report and the underlying materials because it is our job, not the attorney generals, to determine whether or not President Trump has abused his office, Nadler said. Trump initially said he would support releasing the full report, but pushed back against congressional Democratic efforts to get the documents earlier on Thursday. There is nothing we can ever give to the Democrats that will make them happy. This is the highest level of Presidential Harassment in the history of our Country! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2019 According to polling, few people seem to care about the Russian Collusion Hoax, but some Democrats are fighting hard to keep the Witch Hunt alive. They should focus on legislation or, even better, an investigation of how the ridiculous Collusion Delusion got started - so illegal! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2019 About 84 percent of U.S. voters favored making the entire report public, including 75 percent of Republicans, in a Quinnipiac University poll released March 26. Only 9 percent wanted to keep the report under wraps. And by a better than 2 to 1 margin, 55 percent to 26 percent, voters said Mueller conducted a fair investigation. 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, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll. The survey of 1,358 voters nationwide was conducted March 21-25 with a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. 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 The Republican tax law signed into President Donald Trump was so unpopular with large swaths of the American public that it contributed to the party losing its House majority last fall. It still is. A poll released Thursday by the Pew Research Center found that almost half of Americans, 49 percent, disapproved of the law. Just 36 percent approved of the law, one of the major accomplishments of two years of Republican control of the White House and Congress. In January 2018, shortly after Trump signed the bill, 46 percent disapproved and 37 percent favored it in a Pew survey. The measure favored corporations and wealthy Americans while capping the federal deduction for state and local income, property and sales taxes, a break overwhelmingly used by middle-class homeowners in New Jersey and other high-tax states. Most of those states send billions of dollars more to Washington than they receive in services. The lions share of those losing part of the tax break were the 860,000 New Jersey households with income between $75,000 and $200,000 whose average state and property tax deduction exceeded $10,000, according to Internal Revenue Service statistics. In addition, large majorities of Americans said they were bothered a lot by the feeling that corporations (62 percent) and the rich (60 percent) apparently did not always pay their fair share of taxes. Just 16 percent said they felt the same way about the poor. The poll said that support for the tax law was divided along party lines, with 71 percent of Republicans approving of the measure and 79 percent of Democrats disapproving. House Democrats captured 40 seats and a majority n November, with big gains coming in New Jersey, New York and California, three states disproportionately affected by the GOP tax law. The only New Jersey representative to support the measure, Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-3rd Dist., was ousted by Democrat Andy Kim. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist., the New Jersey members of the congressional tax-writing committees, have introduced legislation to restore the full state and local tax deduction, to be partially paid for by restoring the top income tax rate to 39.6 percent. And Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., said he was working on legislation to block the Internal Revenue Service from moving ahead with plans to sharply limit the amount that taxpayers could claimed if they donated to a charitable fund in lieu of paying state and local taxes. The IRS, which previously approved such funds to allow taxpayer subsidies of private schools, proposed in August to disallow most of the tax benefits of accounts set up to get around the state and local tax deduction cap. The agencys ruling came only after top Trump administration officials intervened in the decision, according to the Treasury inspector general for tax administration. Simply put, Congress didnt give the IRS permission to interpret the tax law as they see fit, which they are trying to do by dismantling the charitable tax deduction," Gottheimer said. Their new, proposed cap is not in last years tax legislation no one told them to do it. Yet, now, theyve gone ahead and punched us in the gut." The poll of 1,503 adults was conducted March 20-25 and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. 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. A man charged with detonating a bomb near a lake after threatening a woman with it is now facing federal charges. And authorities say guns, more bombs and bomb-making materials were found in the mans home. Christopher Faschan, 31, of the Landing section of Roxbury Township, faces three federal counts related to explosives, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement Thursday. On Feb. 1, Faschan went to the womans home in Byram Township and showed her a bomb, cops say. He said this may be a good area to let this thing off before leaving. Not long after, he allegedly detonated the bomb near Lake Lackawanna, a small community in Byram. The explosion rocked the community but no one was injured. Faschan called the woman after and said: Thats something that could easily be put under someones car, not that I would do that or anything, federal prosecutors say. Law enforcement agents interviewed Faschan and he explained to them how he built and ignited the bomb, which he said was two pounds. Authorities searched his home and found several containers of chemicals including aluminum powder and potassium perchlorate, an salt commonly found in fireworks and ammunition. Faschan was initially charged in February by the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, but federal authorities took over the case. Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms investigated. In a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Newark, prosecutors describe in detail what else was found at Faschans home. The list includes five guns, including a shotgun and a long rifle. Faschan was convicted in 2010 for drug possession and was barred from owning firearms. But according to excerpts from his diary included in the complaint, Faschan started buying guns in late 2011. The diary includes entries about other gun and chemical purchases. i've finally learned how to use a remote detonator for explosives and fireworks, Faschan wrote in December 2014, according to the complaint. Also recovered were several fuses and other explosive precursor chemicals used in making bombs. Two homemade explosives were found, including a container filled with BB fragments and another with several containers of lighter fluid fixed to a fuse. Faschan is scheduled to appear in Newark federal court Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk. He faces charges of unlawful possession of destructive devices, unlawful possession of explosive materials by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 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. An 18-year-old man and four younger teens are accused in a rash of car burglaries after police responded late Wednesday (April 3) to a report of a group breaking car windows in the Audubon area, according to New Orleans police. Police could not give exact dates or locations for the rash of burglaries because, as of Thursday, investigators were still determining the total number of break-ins tied to the group, said NOPD spokesman Gary Scheets. As of Thursday night, 18-year-old Joshua Hobley had been booked with 17 counts of simple burglary, four counts of attempted simple burglary, 21 counts of simple criminal damage to property and one count each of illegal possession of a stolen vehicle and illegal possession of a stolen firearm, Orleans Parish court records show. Hobley, who was booked into the Orleans Justice Center jail, is also accused of four counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. The juveniles range between 13 and 17 years old, NOPD 2nd District Commander Doug Eckert, who was recently appointed to that role, told our news partners at Fox 8. The four juveniles were booked into the Orleans Parish juvenile jail. Their specific charges were not available, but police said they are also believed to be responsible for multiple incidents of criminal damage, attempted burglary of vehicles, and burglary of vehicles. Police arrested the five while responding to a call regarding a group breaking vehicle windows in the 6000 block of Constance Street, the NOPD said. The call came in about 10:30 p.m. Eckert told Fox 8 that upon reaching the neighborhood, officers spotted a tan-colored SUV believed to be involved in the burglaries. Investigators think the group in the SUV saw the marked police cars in the area and took off, ultimately crashing into a utility trailer near Loyola and State streets, Eckert said, according to the Fox 8 report. 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 Hobley and the four younger teens then ran from the car into a backyard, where officers caught up to them. Police learned that the SUV had been reported stolen earlier that day from the 4700 block of Gawain Street in New Orleans East. The 13-year-old is suspected of stealing the vehicle, Eckert said. The group could face additional charges as NOPD 2nd District investigators look into other incidents reported around the same time, in the same area, police said. Hobley remained in jail Thursday night with no bond set. His next hearing is set for Friday afternoon, court records show. Anyone with information on the car burglaries is asked to call the NOPDs 2nd District at 504-658-6020 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 and toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and can be reached at 504-655-6571 and lmcknight@nola.com. New Orleans police are looking to interview a person of interest in their investigation of an unclassified death last week in the Central Business District. Police released photos of the person they believe may have information related to a death that occurred March 30 near the river on Poydras Street, NOPD said Friday (April 5). The pictured person is not a suspect, police said. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080, or to call anonymously to Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP. New Orleans Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a 15-year-old boy who struck a McDonogh 35 High School student with a handgun near the school on Tuesday, according to authorities. The unidentified teen is wanted by the NOPD for aggravated battery and aggravated assault, according to NOPD spokesman Gary Scheets Thursday morning (April 4). Tuesdays altercation occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of Cadillac Street, Scheets said, which is where the school is located. Police said the 15-year-old perpetrator accused another 15-year-old male of implicating him in a shooting. The perpetrator subsequently produced a gun and pointed it at the teen. A fistfight soon ensued between the two teens, and the perpetrator struck the teen in the head with the gun during the altercation, police said. New Orleans Crime Map by District At that point, a 16-year-old girl attempted to intervene to stop the fight, police said. The perpetrator pointed the gun at her chest and ordered her away before he fled the scene, police added. The girl wasnt injured during the fight, and police said the injured teen was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released. The Orleans Parish School Board told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune in a statement Thursday that the unfortunate incident occurred between a teen who does not attend McDonogh 35 and a McDonogh 35 student after school hours. A school employee intervened immediately to stop the altercation and the school administration contacted the NOPD for assistance, the district stated. 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 OPSBs number one priority is to keep students safe. OPSB is monitoring the situation and will continue to work with the NOPD, students, and families involved, the district stated. Enrollment data from the Louisiana Department of Education shows McDonogh 35 enrolls 445 students. The D-rated school is one of the last public schools directly operated by the OPSB, which oversees and authorizes the citys charter schools. News of the crime was first reported Wednesday by WWLTV. Anchell Lee, the mother of the injured student, disputed the districts statement in an interview with the station and said the school didnt initially report the attack or stop it. New Orleans hopes to address school discipline via community meetings Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles. The fifth season of the CBS series NCIS: New Orleans will film in the 2400 block of Willswood Lane in Westwego Friday (April 5). The sequence filming will involve intermitted traffic control between 10 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., a press release says, excluding rush hours, and will be conducted under the supervision of the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. All filming is done with the knowledge and cooperation of the Jefferson Parish Film Office, the release said. Meanwhile, the Hulu series Looking for Alaska will be filming stunt driving scenes in the 5000 block of Live Oak Boulevard in Waggaman on Friday and Saturday. Preparations for the shoot will result in the full closure of both lanes of South Kenner Avenue at 950 Kenner Ave. through 9 p.m. Monday and the full closure of both lanes of Live Oak Boulevard, from Rivet Boulevard to South Kenner Avenue, also through 9 p.m. Monday, according to the Jefferson Parish film office. As Mike Scott reported previously for NOLA.com, other projects currently filming in New Orleans include: Alabama receiver Kris Abrams-Draine announced his decommitment from LSU on Thursday, dropping LSUs 2020 signing class down to nine commitments. Abrams-Draine, a four-star recruit from Spanish Fort, Alabama, had been committed to LSU since March 2018, but he told 247Sports last month SEC schools like Tennessee and Arkansas have been recruiting him hardest. He also has offers from Oregon, Georgia Tech and Florida. The 6-foot, 167-pound prospect is ranked as the No. 358 player and No. 69 receiver in the country, according to 247Sports Composite. LSU now has nine commitments in the 2020 class, and Abrams-Draines decommitment drops LSUs wide receiver commitments down to just New Iberia star Kayshon Boutte, the No. 1 player in Louisiana. LSUs 2020 class is ranked No. 4 in the country by 247Sports. After getting dropped by its first consultant, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has settled on someone new to redraw the boundaries of its election districts but not before a rancorous vote and mudslinging by the two consultants still in President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2020 budget blueprint a visionary document includes what some call a good omen for a long-awaited and seemingly mercurial Aiken-area project: the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative. Trump's budget request, now about three weeks old, includes $50 million for the AMC. More specifically, the money, if appropriated, would be used for AMC design and construction. The AMC at a 30,000-foot level represents a partnership between the Savannah River Site the U.S. Department of Energy more generally and the outside world. At a 15,000-foot level, the AMC represents a confluence of the Savannah River National Laboratory and both the future of education and manufacturing. What is it? At its core, the AMC will "provide some laboratory space, testing kinds of space, available both for industry and academia," according to SRS deputy manager Thomas Johnson Jr. Johnson discussed Trump's budget request and answered questions about the AMC on Monday during a Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board meeting. Trump's budget request, including DOE's related justification, describes the purpose of the AMC in great detail: "The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility will provide accessible, modern, commercially viable and flexible laboratory space for SRNL to collaborate with industry and academia to translate a range of proven and potential advanced manufacturing technologies from the commercial chemical and manufacturing sectors into DOE processes, plans and missions to significantly improve risk management, enhance worker and public safety, reduce costs and shave years off the legacy waste cleanup schedule." The AMC was pitched about three years ago. It's hit snags, in one way or another, since. Where would it go? The 60,000 square-foot facility is planned for the USC Aiken campus, according to both DOE documents and Dr. Sandra Jordan, the chancellor of USCA. "We've been very patiently and supportively waiting," Jordan said Thursday. Trump's 2020 budget pitch includes multimillion-dollar boost for SRS cleanup President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2020 budget request includes a noteworthy raise for the Savannah River Site. The chancellor believes USCA is the best fit for the facility because the university has invested in related curriculum and hirings. The university, she continued, would also offer the AMC all the right kinds of exposure. Jordan described the proposed $50 million as an "excellent sign." Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon and Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Will Williams had similar things to say. "I think this is a signal that they agree that this is a good thing for the nation, and certainly it's a good thing for our city and our region," Osbon said Friday. "We started hearing a few weeks ago, 'Pay attention to the budget, pay attention to the budget,'" Williams said during a sit-down interview with the Aiken Standard. "I get down in the dumps about it sometimes," Williams said, "but then when I see something like this happening, I'm like, 'Alright, they are still trying.'" Williams has been more or less involved with the the AMC venture from the beginning. What could it do? Both Jordan and Williams painted the AMC if and when it gets done as a flash point, an economic development engine for at least Aiken County. Jordan said things happen around industry. South Carolina, she added, has built an economy with manufacturing and skilled labor in mind: Bridgestone in Graniteville, Kimberly-Clark in Beech Island and Boeing near Charleston, for example. So, she continued, it only makes sense to foster that sort of workforce and encourage that sort of learning. Savannah River National Lab, U.S. Army Cyber School pen new partnership The Savannah River National Laboratory and the U.S. Army Cyber School have a new agreement promoting training and education. "This is a knowledge-based economy that we're in," Jordan said, referencing North Carolina's famed Research Triangle and California's legendary Silicon Valley. Placing the AMC at USCA will "create an environment that can develop the best and brightest next generation workforce," DOE's budget documents read in part. Williams specifically used the word "catalyst" in reference to the AMC. "This could be, you could see some very high-tech, positive growth along the University Parkway corridor," he said. Osbon believes the AMC could piece-by-piece mirror if not directly connect Aiken to the cyber and technology corridor that exists across the river in Augusta. The mayor further said he would expect the AMC to draw "independent and private manufacturers" to the surrounding area. Verizon has started generating 5G service, surprising many in the industry as its launch date had been set from about a week from now. On the other hand, it is only available in either Chicago or Minneapolis, and in restricted areas of these 2 cities. Nevertheless, it means that the Moto Z3 is technically the world's first 5G phone. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker The blog Tom's Guide has recently reported that Verizon has rolled 5G services out in the United States. However, it is reportedly confined to 2 specific locations - Minneaplois and Chicago - as yet. Nevertheless, the carrier's unexpected move means it has beaten a handful of South Korean networks to the title of 'world's first 5G provider'. As the Moto Z3 is also sold through Verizon, this also means that this phone, and not the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, can be considered the first phone to use the new radio standard. This is due to the Moto Mod that confers the new generation of connectivity on the device. However, owners of both necessary components of this set-up may be out of luck unless they find themselves in very specific areas of the 2 cities. These 5G-compatible spots are reported to include the Art Institute, Millennium Park and Willis Tower in Chicago, as well as Minneapolis' US Bank Stadium. Nevertheless, South Korea's eventual 5G experience may be less restrictive, as not 1 but 3 carriers are preparing to launch their respective systems. They are SK Telecom, KT and LG U+. However, their new services are not likely to come cheap: reported examples of their prices include the equivalent of US$49 for 8GB to $110 for 300GB (SK Telecom) or $49-84 for 9 to 250GB (LG U+). Add the price of a 5G S10, and that may become very pricey very fast. The information was released at the 2019 ASEAN Trade and Investment Forum in Brussels, Belgium, on April 4. At the forum, investment and trade potential and advantages in Vietnam were introduced to enterprises from ASEAN, Belgium and Europe, in the context that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) are signed and ratified in the near future. Speaking at the forum, Nguyen Canh Cuong, Minister Counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Belgium and the EU briefed those present on Vietnams import-export activities with the EU in general and Belgium in particular, as well as the countrys major competitive advantages. The forum was organised by the ASEAN-Brussels Committee, bringing together almost 200 representatives, from leading Belgian and EU companies. Many representatives of investors and traders from ASEAN also presented the latest developments in ASEAN towards the direction of economic integration and informed the participants on investment and trade opportunities in Southeast Asian nations. Before the meeting, Mr. Trump said the U.S. and China were headed toward an agreement that might be the biggest deal ever made. There had also been hints that a summit meeting would be announced between Mr. Trump and President Xi Jinping. None was. The talks are expected to continue for weeks. Points of contention: Mr. Trumps advisers prefer to keep tariffs in place as long as possible, an arrangement the Chinese oppose. The U.S. also wants more foreign intellectual property protections. Ethiopian crash report casts doubt on Boeing Boeing dismissed concerns about a powerful new anti-stall system on the 737 Max for months, saying pilots could avoid problems by following a checklist. Now, preliminary findings in a new crash report from Ethiopian investigators cast doubt on whether Boeings guidance was enough. Investigators found that pilots in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in March initially followed Boeings safety procedures, but were unable to regain control. Boeing dismissed concerns about a powerful new anti-stall system on the 737 Max for months, insisting that pilots could deal with any problems by following a checklist of emergency procedures. Now, the preliminary findings from the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have cast doubt on whether those instructions were sufficient, adding to the scrutiny over Boeings and federal regulators response to two deadly crashes involving the same jet model. The findings, released Thursday in Ethiopia, suggest that the pilots on the Ethiopian Airlines flight initially followed the prescribed procedures after the anti-stall system malfunctioned. They shut off the electricity that allows the automated software to push the planes nose down and took manual control of the jet. They then tried to right the plane, with the captain telling his co-pilot three times to pull up. But they could not regain control. About four minutes after the system initially activated, the plane hit the ground at colossal speed, killing all 157 people on board. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] He had wandered onto the Brooklyn subway tracks near Hoyt Street Station on Thursday morning, a boy of about 12, unattended and willing to test fate. He managed to amble over the rail that carries 600 volts of electricity and wedge himself between the columns that separate the local and express tracks. It was about 9:15 a.m., and a northbound train was barreling his way. The response was swift. A customer hurried to a call box and pushed a button for help. The station agent who got the call notified the rail control center. All train operators in the area received an alert and were told to be on the lookout. By then Hopeton Kiffin, a 51-year-old operator for the No. 5 train, had already spotted a flash of red on the tracks ahead of him in an area his express train would normally rush through. He slowed the train down. Someone on the platform pointed. There stood a boy in a red shirt, staring straight ahead, clapping his hands. The building means to set itself apart from the arid glass and steel towers in its proximity. Designed by the firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with David Rockwell, the Shed is a low-rise structure encased in a quilted retractable shell that slides back and forth on enormous wheels, allowing for the expansion of theatrical space as well as the provision of metaphor a rare sense of mobility and accommodation in an expansive development otherwise defined by the stagnancy and self-isolation of elites. Observing the Shed from the High Line, you see that it emerges from the orifice of a soaring building, filled with offices and condominiums. Two different readings are available to us. From one perspective, the larger building is virtually giving birth to the smaller, coaxing us toward the suggestion that you cannot nurse creativity without capital, that money is the mother of any serious artistic effort. But when the exterior casing of the Shed is pulled back and the structures look like rail cars, another narrative is easily entertained a train pushing its way into a terminal, an invasion. Unlike so much of Hudson Yards, the Shed indeed extends itself to those beyond the payrolls of private equity professions. Tickets to events are well-priced, some as low as $10. A restaurant from Danny Meyer called Cedrics is soon to appear in the lobby with nothing on the menu costing more than $18, including tip. The lobby, for that matter, has an earnestness and utility that other analogous spaces in the city tend to forfeit for grandeur. When you walk through the doors of the Metropolitan Opera, you imagine seeing people familiar to you from stippled drawings of The Wall Street Journal; at the Shed you foresee standing in line behind Scandinavian academics. In its conception and programming, the Shed is ultimately an act of repentance for the sins that surround it an attempt at making amends for all the greed and ostentation embodied in the $23 billion playpen in which it has been sunk. To this end, an aesthetics of resistance has been cultivated. One night next month, for example, the McCourt, a major theatrical space in the multilevel facility, will feature a presentation titled Art and Civil Disobedience with Boots Riley. Boots Riley is the activist rapper and filmmaker who was very involved in the Occupy movement in Oakland, California, someone who joined the Progressive Labor Party at the age of 15. His recent comedy, Sorry to Bother You, follows a young black telemarketer struggling to pay the rent who is courted by the temptations of selling out. They spend a year learning about poverty in their area, talking with the community. They launch a different kind of conversation. First, they dont want better poor; they want fewer poor. That is to say, their focus is not on how do we give poor people food so they dont starve. It is how do we move people out of poverty. Second, they up their ambitions. How do we eradicate poverty altogether? Third, they broaden their vision. What does a vibrant community look like in which everybodys basic needs are met. After a year they come up with a town plan. Each towns poverty is different. Each towns assets are different. So each towns plan is different. The town plans feature a lot of collaborative activity. A food pantry might turn itself into a job training center by allowing the people who are fed do the actual work. The pantry might connect with local businesses that change their hiring practices so that high school degrees are not required. Businesses might pledge to raise their minimum wage. The plans involve a lot of policy changes on the town and provincial levels improved day care, redesigned transit systems, better work-force development systems. By the time Canadas national government swung into action, the whole country had a base of knowledge and experience. The people in the field had a wealth of connections and a sense of what needed to be done. The two biggest changes were efforts in city after city to raise the minimum wage and the expansion of a national child benefit, which can net a family up to nearly $6,500 a year per child. Canada essentially has guaranteed income for the young and the old. The process of learning and planning and adapting never ends. The Tamarack Institute, which pioneered a lot of this work, serves as a learning community hub for all the different regional networks. Paul Born, the head of the institute, emphasizes that the crucial thing these communitywide collective impact structures do is change attitudes. In the beginning its as if everybody is swimming in polluted water. People are sluggish, fearful, isolated, looking out only for themselves. But when people start working together across sectors around a common agenda, its like cleaning the water. Communities realize they can do more for the poor. The poor realize they can do more for themselves. New power has been created, a new sense of agency. Born doesnt think you can really do social change without a methodology, without creating communitywide collective impact structures. But in many American communities were mostly scattershot. Thats the problem with our distrust and polarization. We often dont build structures across difference. Transformational change rarely gets done. 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. As baseless public health scares go, the one about police officers and nurses purportedly overdosing from passive fentanyl exposure should have been easy to dispel. Emergency workers across the country have reported dozens of such incidents in recent years, but their symptoms are often inconsistent with opioid poisoning. In some cases, officers have administered the overdose-reversal drug Narcan to themselves a feat that would be impossible in the midst of an actual overdose. In 2017, the nations two leading toxicological societies published a joint statement explaining that for emergency medical workers, the risk of accidental opioid ingestion is extremely low. Gloves almost always provide enough protection; masks are necessary only in exceptional cases . Fentanyl is indeed one of the most powerful opioids ever created: It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And its true that even very small doses can be fatal. But merely touching the substance is not dangerous. Opioids have to enter the bloodstream to exert an effect, and not even the strongest ones can penetrate the skin quickly enough or in sufficient quantity for that to happen if they could, people who are addicted to opioids would have no use for needles. As several journalists have pointed out, it took many years and many millions of dollars for scientists to develop patches capable of delivering pain medications through the skin, and those patches are still very slow and inefficient. The risk of accidental inhalation is only slightly more plausible: Fentanyl can enter the bloodstream through the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, but it is not easily aerosolized . According to the toxicologists joint statement, at the highest airborne concentrations found in industrial production facilities, an unprotected worker would need more than two hours to passively ingest even a medical dose of fentanyl, let alone a toxic one. Senate Republicans this week adopted rule changes that could make the august upper chamber something like a miniature version of the raucous and deeply partisan House. In a bid to speed confirmation of President Trumps nominees, Republicans voted Wednesday to cut the debate time for lower-level judicial and administration picks from 30 hours to two. Ordinarily, such a rule change requires the backing of a two-thirds supermajority. But the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, detonated the so-called nuclear option, lowering the threshold for passage to a simple majority a move Mr. Trump had been clamoring for. Only two Republicans joined with Democrats to oppose this latest erosion of the minority partys ability to advise and consent. This may sound like parliamentary arcana, but the impact should be clear to anyone unnerved by the Senates newish practice of ramming through Supreme Court picks with a bare majority another Trump-era innovation by Mr. McConnell. The Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, charged that the move risks turning this body into a colosseum of zero-sum infighting, a place where the brute power of the majority rules, with little or no regard to the concerns of the minority party, and where longstanding rules have little or no meaning. Could we please have a little quiet? Theres a great actress onstage at the Cort Theater, and Id like to hear what shes saying. That was the way I felt during much of Sam Golds production of King Lear, which opened on Thursday night with the extraordinary Glenda Jackson in the title role. It should surprise no one that Ms. Jackson is delivering a powerful and deeply perceptive performance as the most royally demented of Shakespeares monarchs. But much of what surrounds her in this glittery, haphazard production seems to be working overtime to divert attention from that performance. That includes a perfectly lovely string quartet playing original music by Philip Glass, no less that under other circumstances I would have enjoyed listening to. Here, though, this intermittent concert seems to be competing with, rather than underscoring, Shakespeares bleakest tragedy. The same might be said of Miriam Buethers blindingly gold set (lighted to sear the eyes by Jane Cox), which blazes with nouveau riche vulgarity. WASHINGTON Lawyers for Michael D. Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer and fixer, told congressional lawmakers in a letter on Thursday that Mr. Cohen can best help their oversight inquiries if he remains out of prison to sift through millions of his documents and they asked the help of Democrats in persuading prosecutors to help him do so. The lawyers told Democratic members of congressional committees who have either subpoenaed his testimony or have asked him to appear voluntarily over the course of the past year that Mr. Cohen has been essential to their investigations, and they reminded them of the help they have sought from him even after his public hearing in February. The lawyers Lanny J. Davis, Michael D. Monico and Carly Chocron wrote that Mr. Cohen was recently given access again to his files, which had been seized by federal investigators during a search in April 2018. The files include voice mail messages and recordings, as well as 14 million other documents, they said. With Mr. Cohen expected to begin serving a three-year prison sentence on May 6, the lawyers asked the committee members to provide documentation of his help, in the hopes of showing that he is still needed to assist them with their investigations and of postponing his incarceration or even reducing the time he will spend behind bars. Here is a selection of our readers responses, which came from emails sent by On Politics readers, as well as comments across our site. They have been lightly edited for clarity. Many of you defended Mr. Biden, saying he was from an older generation when social mores around physical contact were different. I am 68, a bit younger than Joe Biden. But I am from a big Irish family and we are always kissing and hugging people. It was an expression of welcome and warmth. Now I understand in this MeToo movement that there are those who are uncomfortable with such intimate physical expressions. So now that Joe has been called out on it, it is up to him to show his changed behavior if indeed he runs for president, which I hope he does. Sally Ziegenfuss, Pennsylvania Im a 70-year-old woman who has always thought that male attention that might involve non-intimate touching was something to be pleased about, even proud of. This is definitely a generational issue and younger women need to have perspective and understand that what was very acceptable in the past, even a couple of years ago, should not and cannot be judged by todays standards. Ellen Goodman, Massachusetts Back in the 60s this issue didnt exist. It was a different time. When will we stop looking back over our collective shoulders, and move forward? Whitney Devlin, 74, New York But many others said Mr. Bidens age was no excuse for his actions. I am in my 60s. Regardless of age or habitat, Joe Bidens touchy feely actions with women (and men, allegedly) are disgusting and inappropriate. I dont believe they arise out of innocent affection, though he may have himself convinced. They arise out of unconscious male privilege and are demeaning and distressing to those on the receiving end. Joan Weis, California Men of his generation assumed that the affection being given would be welcomed and appreciated, particularly since it was being given by a man in power. The problem has been that nobody bothered to ask the women or girls. Lori Abbott Moreland, Sacramento, Calif. This is not a generational misunderstanding. Bidens licentious behavior (lets call it what it is) was never the norm and not what most women wanted or expected. Dwight Dekeyser, 63, Cherry Hill, N.J. Joe Biden is facing a moment of white man privilege. Just because HE didnt think that gently rubbing shoulders and kissing the back of her head wasnt inappropriate doesnt mean this incident can be dismissed as paternal or innocent. It is the womans feelings about the kiss/touch that matter. He lives in a different era and is no longer relevant to most generations. He needs to step aside. Sandra Mathews, 51, Madison, N.J. Some readers said they worried the #MeToo movement risked going off course. Is this where were heading, to ban jokes, hugs and kisses from the public sphere? Early on we baby boomers rejected the stiff formalities of an earlier generation for an easy physicality, an appreciative give-and-take across gender lines that graced daily life with moments of lightness and warmth. Do we really want to push the Joe Bidens and Al Frankens from our lives? Maybe its generational, but I fear were losing something Ive long cherished. #MeTooMuch. Millie Olson, California As a college student warned constantly about the dangers of life on campus, I worry that the legacy of the MeToo movement will not be empowerment for women, but a generation of women terrified of interaction with males, who see any physical intimacy as a threat. When men kiss me on the head or squeeze my shoulders, it does make me uncomfortable. But does it make me uncomfortable because it is creepy or because I have been told I should find it creepy? I hope the pendulum will soon swing back to a more reasonable and thoughtful, less knee-jerk political and cultural climate. Meg Edwards, Ohio This story personifies exactly what is wrong with the #MeToo movement. It started off as a positive force, bringing to light predatory behavior, and now weve gotten to the point where a squeeze or a nuzzle is horrific. This is exactly why the Democrats (who I am one of) will lose the 2020 election. We are eating our own, and to what end? Monica Evenson, 47, Los Angeles Special thanks to Lela Moore from The Timess Reader Center for help with todays newsletter. To add your own response, visit our story in the Reader Center here. ____________________ Drop us a line! It was March 2015, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., recognized that the country was having what he called a painful dialogue about how people of color and law enforcement were coexisting in their communities. The Black Lives Matter movement was growing in influence after several high-profile killings of black men by police officers. Mr. Buttigieg was also facing a crisis at home. He had demoted the citys black police chief after the chief was accused of having recorded officers conversations without their consent. The chief had sued, contending that he had been demoted because he was black. And rumors were swirling that the recordings had captured racist remarks by some of the officers. In his State of the City address that March, Mr. Buttigieg said it was time for South Bend to begin talking about racial reconciliation. There is no contradiction between respecting the risks that police officers take every day in order to protect this community, and recognizing the need to overcome the biases implicit in a justice system that treats people from different backgrounds differently, Mr. Buttigieg said, according to a transcript of the speech published by The South Bend Voice. [Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping American politics with our newsletter.] Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio, who announced his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, is less known than many other candidates in the race. But he is hoping to carve out the lane Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio might have filled had Mr. Brown chosen to run: the left-leaning populist who can speak simultaneously to an increasingly liberal Democratic base and to the Midwestern workers who voted for President Trump in 2016. Heres a brief look at where Mr. Ryan stands on some prominent issues. Economic policy Job creation and the dignity of work a phrase Mr. Brown frequently uses and, on Thursday, encouraged Mr. Ryan to focus on are almost certain to be the centerpiece of Mr. Ryans campaign. In an interview a few hours after he announced his candidacy, Mr. Ryan said he wanted to address the economic disorientation caused by the decline of traditional manufacturing. Mr. Ryan said he had decided to enter the race in part because of the recent closing of the General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which is in his district. In places like Ohio and Michigan, where the auto industry was long the cornerstone of the economy, he said he envisioned jobs in electric vehicle construction and other renewable energy industries. WASHINGTON President Trump, ignoring his own troubled history with women and bragging about sexual misconduct, went after Joseph R. Biden Jr. via Twitter on Thursday, posting a video that mocked the former vice president for his handsy approach to politicking. The 15-second clip tweeted Thursday by Mr. Trump accompanied by the text, WELCOME BACK JOE! doctored a homemade video that Mr. Biden had released the day before, in which the former vice president addressed his history of physical contact with women, some of whom have come forward in recent weeks to say his intimate behavior made them uncomfortable. As Mr. Biden speaks to the camera, a pair of hands appears on his shoulders, and then a cartoonish image of Mr. Bidens head pops up from behind a couch and intimately nuzzles the back of the former vice presidents head. [Joe Bidens hugs and kisses were well known in Washington. Now he faces a generational reckoning.] For a week, Mr. Trumps advisers have been watching the spectacle surrounding the accusations that Mr. Biden has touched women inappropriately with something like glee. President Trump earlier this year asked Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, to prioritize a confirmation vote for his nominee to be the chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, indicating that it was a higher priority than voting on the nomination of William P. Barr as attorney general, a person familiar with the conversation said. White House aides insisted for months that the confirmation of the nominee, Michael J. Desmond, a tax lawyer from Santa Barbara, Calif., was a top priority after passage of the tax bill in 2017. But the request by Mr. Trump, made to Mr. McConnell on Feb. 5, raised questions about whether the president had other motivations. For months, the president has seethed over vows by congressional Democrats that they would move to obtain his tax returns from the I.R.S. And this week, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman, Representative Richard E. Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts, formally asked the I.R.S. for six years of the returns, using an obscure provision in the tax code to do so. On Thursday, asked if he would direct the I.R.S. not to disclose his tax returns, Mr. Trump said Democrats would have to talk to his lawyers. Since it was proposed in the early 1990s as a bill to protect women on the streets and in homes, the Violence Against Women Act has been argued over by lawmakers, the Supreme Court, civil rights groups and the National Rifle Association, among others. The bill, which President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1994, was designed to protect victims of domestic crimes and reduce the stigma associated with domestic abuse. It must be renewed every few years by Congress, and on Thursday the House approved a bill that would reauthorize the act for a fourth time. The act has established the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice, and myriad programs to train victim advocates, police officers, prosecutors and judges on gender-based violence. Since it was created, more than $7 billion in federal grants has been given to programs that prevent domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. It has also funded shelters, community programs and studies tracking violence against women. Addressing gender-based violence seems like it would be a bipartisan issue, said Carol Baldwin Moody, president and chief executive of Legal Momentum, one of the organizations that has spent the last two years drafting language for the latest reauthorization of the act. When Brunei put harsh new laws in place this week that made adultery and gay sex punishable by stoning, it focused international attention on the countrys sovereign, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, whose vast wealth and family spending have landed his name in the tabloids for decades. The sultan, as the main enforcer of religion in the Southeast Asian country, has in recent decades advocated a hard-line vision of Islam that is at odds with the royal familys opulent lifestyle. Here is a look at his powers, his background and the international condemnation of Bruneis new laws. Sweeping Authority In Brunei, a tiny sultanate on the island of Borneo, Sultan Hassanal has many more roles than monarch. He is, according to his official biography, also prime minister, defense minister, finance minister and foreign minister. He became crown prince at 15, in 1961, and was crowned Bruneis 29th sultan in 1968, the year after his father abdicated. Sultan Hassanal ascended to the throne while Brunei was still a British protectorate, and he studied at a military academy in Britain before becoming sultan. (He also studied in Malaysia.) MADRID A painting from Peru on loan to the Prado Museum here captures an extraordinary moment in Spains colonization of the Americas. The anonymous 18th-century canvas portrays the wedding of an Inca princess and a conquistador, witnessed by Inca royals in gold regalia, and black-cloaked Spanish clerics. Behind the apparent harmony lies a tale of defeat and devastation. Yet the union the painting depicts also signals the birth of a mixed culture, whose art is only now receiving its due. This is the first time were showing a painting from colonial America, Miguel Falomir, the Prados director, said in a telephone interview. The Prado owns between 15 and 20 paintings made in Spains former colonies, he said, but they are kept by the ethnographic Museum of the Americas. They have never been shown alongside European old masters. For centuries, weve considered this art as second-class, Mr. Falomir said. That, thank God, has changed. He would not talk about the method of his sons death. Its not even a year since it happened, he said. The family is very traumatized. We want peace. To help achieve it, he and his wife take Tim timeouts from dwelling on their grief. It sounds a bit military, but you have to be military to handle this, he said. We are very vulnerable. He said it helps, as well, to speak the word suicide, something he could not do before. I use the word as often as I remember to use it, he said. I have to get used to the word. The next day, three of Aviciis closest friends gathered to offer their own memories. They visited the middle school where they all met, pointing out where they used to sneak cigarettes and alcohol. They talked, too, about the computer games that obsessed them. We were nerds, Von Bahder said. We went into music to interest girls. It didnt work. Strolling the neighborhood, the friends advanced to Ciao Ciao Grande, a favorite spot for pizzas over the years. Directly across the street from their table lies the musicians final resting place. He didnt have far to go, Von Bahder joked. Its on the grounds of Hedvig Eleonora Church, where the name Tim Bergling appears on a plain plaque not much bigger than a playing card, one of 48 such demarcations on a grid hung on a wall. The stars exact burial spot isnt indicated, to stress modesty and to maintain privacy. Its very Tim, Frederik Boberg, another friend, said. The friends didnt linger long. In that same vein, they have chosen not to speculate much on the motivations behind his death. And while theyve heard the new lyrics, theyre loath to look too closely at them for clues. Falk, on the other hand, remains haunted by them. Now, when I listen, I hear a lonely person with a lot of big emotions that he didnt have enough people to talk to about, he said. I feel this music was his way of getting some of that out. That makes this a really important record. Whatever Tim wanted to say is here. Its a film as much about Bergmans love of the opera as it is a film of the piece itself. The director sets it in a theater, presenting both his vision for a staging and the experience of putting on a performance. During the overture, you never see the orchestra; instead, the camera settles on the face of a young girl experiencing Mozarts magical score for the first time. Then you see other faces: young, old, male, female, white, brown. This is music for everyone. Throughout the show, Bergman moves fluidly between onstage action and backstage humor. Papageno nearly misses his entrance because he is napping. He rolls out of his dressing room and runs to the wings, where is outfitted with his birdcage backpack and pan flute just in time to play the flutes famous upward scale. During intermission, the Queen of the Night is seen smoking under a sign that says Smoking strictly forbidden, while the dragon walks awkwardly down the corridor and Tamino and Pamina play chess to pass time. This is nothing like the opera films of Franco Zeffirelli, which are lavishly literal-minded. Its much stranger and smaller, and endlessly endearing. JOSHUA BARONE In the summer of 1917, the composer Leos Janacek met Kamila Stosslova. Both were married, and Stosslova was nearly 40 years younger, but they developed an intimate more-than-friendship: Janacek sent her more than 700 letters, increasingly intense, over the final decade of his life. The relationship almost completely, and agonizingly, unconsummated immediately inspired a late-in-life creative flowering. Janacek started writing his smoldering song cycle Diary of One Who Disappeared shortly after meeting Stosslova. The connection is obvious between that fateful meeting and Janaceks guilty passion and the subject of Diary, which is playing through Saturday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in a busy yet listless staging by Ivo van Hove. In the cycle, a young farmer abandons his home and family to go off with Zefka, a Gypsy woman he falls in love with. Janacek, no surprise, connected Zefka with Stosslova, whose dark hair and features he described as Gypsy-like. In early March, the techno and house-music collective Sublimate posted a listing for its latest all-night event, featuring D.J.s from Detroit and London at an unnamed historic Bed-Stuy locale. To some Brooklyn night-life devotees, however, the cryptic venue was obvious: Sugar Hill Restaurant & Supper Club. In the past year alone, Sugar Hill, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, has hosted two tapings of Boiler Room a streaming platform that broadcasts D.J. sets around the world as well as underground parties about every other week, many of which go until sunrise. And although the clubs owner, Eddie Freeman, who opened it in 1979, couldnt recall the word techno and wished event producers wouldnt keep the lights so low, he has always shared their love of night life. Freeman, born outside of Kinston, N.C., said that he left for New York in 1957 on a Trailways bus with $40 and a box of chicken. The son of sharecroppers, he left behind a segregated rural community. White-owned businesses occupied one side of Kinstons Main Street. Across the road, black-owned restaurants, grocery stores and nightclubs thrived in a section called Sugar Hill. Down at Sugar Hill was where everybody hung out, Freeman said. Settling in Bedford-Stuyvesant, he found work, first at factories and driving gypsy cabs, then at the post office with a burglar-alarm business on the side. Using his retirement savings, he purchased a building on DeKalb Avenue and opened a discotheque. Nostalgic for the clubs back home, he named it Sugar Hill. Three Kills I have three kills that I feel set Villanelle off. The one in Tuscany, because thats the first one that we see, and we really see the journey; shes hiding in the suitcase. She chooses the dress. She asks for the name of the designer of the sheet before she kills this guy. We get a sense that this woman, she has a taste for the finer things in life, and shes like, Before I kill this guy I need to get the name of this designer. It just shows so much self-importance, and it was a very creative kill. The kill with Bill in the nightclub was a huge turning point, because I think even new [viewers] were scared of her. I dont think that they ever thought she would do that, and that really shifted the energy of the show, because [viewers] felt like she overstepped her mark. Villanelle knows at that point just how to get to Eve, and its too easy for her to do it. She completely lures this guy in, whom she knows is very close to Eve she wants to get to Eve emotionally. She wants to affect this woman and bring this woman closer to her. Bill is the easiest way to do that. Its like a power thing. And that power and control is what she feeds off, ultimately. My favorite kill was the one with Inga in the prison cell, where she bites her neck. When Villanelle went back to prison, that was a huge moment because you see Oksana. I dont know if you get Kinder eggs in America, but its like her outer chocolate shell is Villanelle, and inside, the surprise is: Thats Oksana. Thats the person whos bubbling away underneath. I think thats the real version, the real person, and when she goes back to Russia and to prison thats the person were really dealing with. That kill was so feral and brutal. When shes in the prison, her control is taken away from her. Her biggest fear is lack of control, and thats when its fight or flight. Her life is ultimately the most important thing to her and nothing will get in the way of that. Mindless and irresistible as chain letters or online surveys, most internet challenges are like Michael Corleones mob in The Godfather: Part III. You imagine youve given them the slip and they suck you back in. As a rule, I avoid these seductive time traps. Yet there I was recently, scrolling through Instagram for the 10th time that day, when I stumbled on the Seven Day Book Cover Challenge and was instantly hooked. Actually, thats a misstatement. This innocuous game, which asks users to post a photo of a book cover on a social media platform every day for a week, requires an invitation; it is a challenge, after all. Since no one had actually tagged me, I figured Id ask. The person I approached was the fashion illustrator and stylist Bill Mullen, whose droll feed equal parts memoir, style commentary and grim account of a renovation from hell conducted by an upstairs neighbor he refers to as Minnie Castavet has become digital catnip for those of us hooked on a growing trend for using Instagram to write long. Some Literary Show-and-Tell Mullen himself had been challenged by @thebookmarc, the bookselling branch of the designer Marc Jacobss empire, and his daily book posts skewed irresistibly toward oddball obscurities. Levy begins and ends his book with the story of the Kurds, who joined with the United States and its allies to fight ISIS but then never got the backing they hoped for in support of their own independence. Despite his own efforts to rally American and European policymakers, the Kurds sister democracies uttered not a word as Kurdish houses in Kirkuk were gassed and ransacked, women raped, people tortured. In recounting this tragedy, Levy reflects not at all on the last time he made himself a player in such a cause: his effort, in 2011, to persuade the United States and Europe to intervene in Libya. That action stopped a possible massacre in Benghazi and helped bring about the murderous Muammar el-Qaddafis downfall, but it also stoked a bloody civil war that continues today. Levy is less interested in weighing consequences than he is in celebrating the purity of intent, the nobility of the cause, the heroism of the stand. That, to Carpenter, is exactly where American foreign policy has gone wrong. Since the 1980s, as he tells it, the United States has repeatedly fallen for the charm offensives of foreign actors insurgent groups, protest movements, dissidents who con Washington into reckless action. What Levy sees as a virtuous hegemon, Carpenter sees as a naive and hapless superpower playing the sucker to foreign factions adept at exploiting Americans sincere desire for the spread of enlightened liberal capitalist ideals. Carpenter marshals example after cringe-inducing example of American politicians and commentators hailing unsavory foreign movements as the moral equal of our founding fathers as Ronald Reagan said of a Nicaraguan contra army led largely by officers loyal to a fallen dictator. In various Cold War proxy battles, in the Iraq war, in the debate over Syria, in the Libya intervention again and again, predictions of a peaceful democratic future have yielded dismal results. Image Yet by focusing on the gauzy myths that tend to dominate speeches and newspaper columns, Carpenter evades the harder questions and more cold-blooded calculations that lie behind them. (He also has the same fondness for overstatement and overreliance on sketchy evidence that he lambastes in others.) As often as not, high-flown rhetoric is deployed in the service of some other foreign policy goal; an American leader may have led with talk of democracy or human rights even when they are secondary to, or mere covers for, other, less idealistic considerations. Indeed, Carpenter concedes of several of his cases that a strategic rationale for some action existed, even if the exalted language used to sell it could not withstand scrutiny. For all their dissimilarity, Levy and Carpenter share an unstated conviction that runs through most American debates about foreign policy: that all good things should come together. Like Levy, we want every moral cause to also be strategically smart; like Carpenter, we want to believe that a choice made on prudential grounds wont involve costs to ideals or values we hold dear. We want always to do well by doing good, and good by doing well. Unfortunately, in foreign policy, only in rare circumstances do all good things actually come together and even less in a time of contested power than in a time of primacy. The trade-offs to come will be both wrenching and inescapable. In the early days of the Cold War the last time the American foreign policy establishment converged around a broad objective one of the most influential committed intellectuals, to use Levys term, was the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. Niebuhr was famous for his Serenity Prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. If we are in fact entering a new era of great power competition, determining what we can and cannot change will be the most important, and the most difficult, task ahead. Carpenter makes a pointed case for serenity. Levy issues a fervent call for courage. Neither offers much of the wisdom well need to know the difference. The girls friendship begins to fray when their marriages are arranged, beautiful Mi-jas to the wealthy son of a Japanese collaborator who lives in the more urban Jeju City rather than the hardscrabble countryside, Young-sooks a humbler marriage to a neighbor boy, Jun-bu. As in many of Sees plots, we have little hope that the men will bring happiness. Mi-ja quotes a proverb that all but guarantees bad times ahead: When a woman gets married, she has the best food for three days. That must last her a lifetime. Image Abuse of male power is indeed as much a through line in Sees fiction as are female bonds by bosses, fathers, brothers, husbands, lovers. Sees heroines are uniformly resilient in facing these misdeeds, although she does allow rare periods of marital bliss between Young-sook and Jun-bu: Sometimes we went to the waters edge. Sometimes we strolled through the olles. Other times wed climb an oreum, stare out at the view, talk, and sometimes do nighttime activities in the broad daylight. Sees meticulous research is perhaps most apparent in the magical, strange passages when Young-sook and Mi-ja, both married and pregnant, go for leaving-home water-work, a.k.a. contract diving jobs, in Vladivostok: The moment of submersion into that cold seemed to calm my baby, put him to sleep, freeze him in place. As the months passed and our bellies grew, water offered new comforts. As soon as I was submerged, my aches were massaged, and the weight of my baby was buoyed. I felt strong. Mi-ja gives birth on the job, climbing out of the water only to deliver her son on the deck, and once Young-sooks daughter is born they take care of the infants together during breaks on the boats, the cradles tied to the rocking deck. Less successful are Sees treatments of larger historical moments, during which the characters are often reduced to mouthpieces for exposition. On the heroines return from Vladivostok to Jeju City, dockworkers clunkily inform them of the impending Allied invasion: Ten Japanese army divisions are here many of them hiding! In caves! In lava tubes! And in special bases theyve built into the cliffs right at the shoreline! The second half of the novel chronicles the largely unknown, horrific violence of the 4.3 Incident (named for the date it began, April 3, 1948, three years after Japan surrendered occupation of Korea), in which a communist insurgency was suppressed by the United States-installed government and the police in a campaign that killed tens of thousands of people. See dramatizes atrocities committed by the military during the Bukchon massacre in a harrowing scene in which Young-sook loses both the majority of her family and her friendship to Mi-ja. Character includes ambiguity and defects. There is abundant evidence of Boswells habit of abusing girls, many of them orphans and desperate for sixpence. Yet Damrosch rightly keeps the focus on Boswell the impresario, who drew on his training as a lawyer to spark new topics of conversation, and, of course, on Boswell the avid recorder. His Journal is astonishingly candid about his failings and humiliations, as when Rousseaus partner, Therese, who once slept with Boswell while en route from France to England, tells him how clueless he is as a lover. (She advises him to use his hands.) Image The Club, eventually renamed the London Literary Society, has continued to this day but never again lived up to its glory years. Johnson died in 1784. Toward the end, he attended only about three times a year. Its telling that by 1783 membership had swollen to 35. Many of the members were highly gifted, including the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, author of The School for Scandal, and the historian Edward Gibbon. No doubt the intimacy of the earlier, smaller group worked better for Johnson. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Clubs members were largely politicians and other public figures. The poet laureate Tennyson was there, but not Dickens. The election of T. S. Eliot, in 1942, came rather late in his career as a poet. And then, too, as Damrosch points out, there was no George Eliot, no Virginia Woolf: It never ceased to be a club for men. He compensates for this exclusion by focusing on the women who formed what he calls a shadow club. The artist Frances Reynolds (Joshuas able but suppressed sister) affirmed that Johnson set a higher value upon female friendship than, perhaps, most men. Among such friends were the bluestocking Elizabeth Carter and the novelist Fanny Burney. Johnson offered to teach Burney Latin, but her father (a member of the Club) refused. Burneys friend Hester Thrale said that Burneys father thought Latin too masculine for Misses. Thrale became Johnsons closest confidante and therapist when spiritual terrors came to torment him. Aware how unbearable it was for him to be alone, Thrale took him to live with her and her wealthy husband, Henry, at Streatham Place, south of London. There, for the last 15 years of his life, listened to, respected and revered, Johnson could count on Thrale, who was, like him, a passionate moral being and literate companion. He was soothed by domestic affection and enjoyed the stimulus of mixed company, an alternative to the Club. Looking at this books list of chapters, I wondered at first why the portrait of Gibbon comes toward the end. He was elected to the Club in 1774, while writing the first volume of his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The book was recognized at once as a classic, combining extraordinary breadth with what Gibbon calls the art of narrating. As Damrosch puts it, Gibbon broke with tedious chronicles of fact, maintaining a storytelling momentum that is constantly enlivened by memorable incidents and characterizations. This could be a description of Damroschs own achievement. The best historians, he goes on, invite readers to accompany them behind the scenes. Damrosch does precisely that here, and the chapter makes a fitting near-finale to a book that sustains a shared conversation, a terrific feat in keeping with that of the Club itself. KADDISH.COM By Nathan Englander There are reportedly no atheists in a foxhole, but do any exist beside the grave of a beloved, devout father? Jewish law requires the Kaddish prayer to be recited at three services daily, for the 11 months following a parents death, in order to elevate the deceaseds soul. Thats a problem for Larry, a believer in neither prayer nor the soul. When we meet Larry the hero of Nathan Englanders third novel, Kaddish.com, and a defector from his Brooklyn familys Orthodox Judaism he is sitting shiva for his father. After the long days spent observing the prescribed mourning rituals, Larry lies awake, contemplating the fate of his fathers soul, with only internet porn for company, earning him a place in the lineup of Jewish male literary heroes who defile the sacred. Englanders trademark humor is on display, but most striking and moving about Kaddish.com is the unabashed sweetness of a sons longing for a father, who saw his true nature, loving Larry for exactly who he was. What haunts Larry isnt guilt but love. The internet can, of course, outsource all needs, not just the carnal, and with a few clicks, Larry discovers a website that for a fee will match dead relatives with pious students who will recite the prayers thrice daily on their behalf a JDate for the dead. Image While this mercenary transaction might seem like the kind of fantastical plot twist that Englander, with his eye for irony, might invent, Jewish law does allow an emissary to be thus hired. Dont spread it around, but it really is halachically the same, one of the books many rabbis says. In this novel brimming with Talmudic references and biblical allusions, Jewish legal principles and Yiddish-inflected dialogue, Englander mines the tension between the letter and spirit of the law. Kaddish.com reads like a modern-day Hasidic tale in which religious characters are bedeviled by the challenges of upholding Gods word in an all too human world. The much-lamented death of Philip Kerr means that METROPOLIS (Marian Wood/Putnam, $28) is the last well see of his cynical antihero, Bernie Gunther, an honest policeman whose life is a daily struggle to preserve a shred of human decency in the decadent world of Berlin between the two world wars. Kerrs 14th novel in this series proves to be Gunthers origin story, which makes it feel imperative as well as poignant. Ive been lucky, says Gunther, who saw action in the trenches of the Great War. Ive come through the worst of it with my soul still intact. That sense of hopeful optimism would be ground down in the years that followed, but now its only 1928 and he still believes he can stand up for the miserable and the mistreated, for people like the prostitutes being murdered while they ply their trade, then ceremoniously scalped. Kerrs studies of the wounded veterans populating the streets of Berlin are as arresting as his portrait of Hans Gross, the police photographer known as Cecil B. DeMorgue. Metropolis, the Otto Dix triptych that illustrates the text, must have been under Kerrs nose when he wrote the novels vivid night-life scenes, as observed in underground clubs like the Topkeller, a lesbian cabaret known for staging Black Masses, and the Cabaret of the Nameless, a place all respectable people should avoid, according to Gunthers scandalized landlady. Avoided by all but the artists, that is. As George Grosz tells Gunther, My themes as an artist are despair, disillusionment, hate, fear, corruption, hypocrisy and death. Of all the sights of this jaded city, none are more appalling than the stark images of amputee veterans rolling along on wooden cripple-carts. Ten years after the armistice, Berlins disabled veterans were still so ubiquitous that nobody myself included gave them a second thought, Gunther confesses. They were like stray cats or dogs always around. No wonder he chooses to disguise himself as one of them in order to catch the killer. No one will notice him, mores the shame and the pity. Subscribe: iTunes | Google Play Music | How to Listen To research his new history of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, Adam Higginbotham visited the site enough times to lose count, he says. And I never really stopped being afraid of it. On this weeks podcast, Higginbotham talks about what sets the accident apart in our collective memory. This is the biggest and most devastating nuclear accident in history, he says. Even Fukushima cannot really compare in the amount of radioactivity that was released into the atmosphere. The biggest difference is the number of people whose lives were upset, overturned or destroyed by what happened. Image Nellie Bowles, who covers tech and internet culture from San Francisco for The Times, visits us this week to discuss Clive Thompsons Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World. Its a big subtitle, but I dont think its overstating the role that coders have had in our world in the last few years, Bowles says. Countless picture books follow the same narrative structure, in which a character faces a challenge and then at the end of approximately 500 words overcomes that challenge, or doesnt. We call this story. Read me a story, a child might beg, and so we do. But not all picture books are stories in the traditional sense, and often poetry is the tool that frees an author from the expectations of conflict and resolution. By trusting language, form, rhythm or sound to hold the readers focus, a poet is able to slow down or speed up, to observe or reflect. Picture books in verse can meditate or meander, imagine or reminisce, examine one small aspect of the world carefully, or elicit deep emotion. One thing that sets picture books apart from titles for older readers is that we often share them with another person. In BOOM, BELLOW, BLEAT: Animal Poems for Two or More Voices (WordSong, 32 pp., $19.95; ages 3 to 6), Georgia Heards text leans into this interactive experience, creating the space for distinct speakers in each poem. Each is intended as a sort of duet, with the text set in different colors to differentiate the alternating parts. The book relies heavily on the humor and child-friendly simplicity of animal noises, but the noises animals make are not always what youd expect. In We Dont Say Ribbit, a frog and toad offer the less expected noises they might actually make in the wild, from quonk to errrgh, almost certain to entice laughter from young readers. What an audacity to build a novel around a character preoccupied with self-erasure! But, for a nobody, the main character of Scibonas novel is a compelling somebody: Vollie is a nickname of a nickname (the eponymous Volunteer), but why his parents call him this remains a mystery, as does his real name, as does his very character. At 17 he shocks himself when he signs up with the Marines, an acte gratuit that prompts his mother to remark, Im surprised they let a person just take himself away like that. This is neither the first nor last instance of Vollie taking himself away; he has already experienced a hallucinatory vision of self-loss when, as a small boy, he watched his parents burn his clothes as a precaution against an outbreak of meningitis. To Vollie, it seems that its him theyre burning. Afterward, a revelation: His self was a who who had burned away in the flames; but the creature was a what that could endure even this. The self that had seemed all of him was only a part; it could be shed and left behind. When he contracts the illness nonetheless, its his first almost-death of many. Later, as a Marine in Cambodia in the 70s, he kept on unaccountably not getting killed. Scibona is a savage coiner of similes, one wholl cut sublimity with bathos to snatch a readers breath away: In the night, he went out to piss, and the stars were like a kitchen mess across a dark floor. There are also roving, lyrical long shots of Queens streets that, in their grit and dazzle, recall the boyhood Bronx of Don DeLillos Underworld. Like DeLillo in that book, Scibona wreaks an epic from the lives of ordinary, supposedly negligible men. His lens zooms in and out of streets, rooms, consciousnesses. It becomes kaleidoscopic during those moments in which, with sickening inexorability, a life can go wrong. Appropriately for a novel of the anti-self, much of this wrongness is passively accomplished: A man fails to prevent a murder, a man fails to father his son, another father fails to defend himself against another son. Here is a masculinity not of muscular exertion but baleful inaction. A particular American violence seems refracted among these men, and its such violence that induces one character to think, A person was a world that walked through the world. By paying grave attention to both worlds, both the self and everything beyond it, Scibona has built a masterpiece. Despite President Trumps promises to bring jobs back to the U.S., most of the work is moving to countries with lower costs. China will remain a vital manufacturing hub, but chief executives say the trade war has prompted a fundamental reassessment. Yesterday: Mr. Trump said that an epic trade pact could be weeks away and that he may soon meet with the Chinese president . Related: The U.S. economy added 196,000 jobs in March, suggesting that an unexpectedly weak showing in February was an anomaly in a record run of hiring. The unemployment rate remained unchanged, at 3.8 percent, the Labor Department reported today. Ethiopian crash report casts doubt on Boeing For months, the aircraft manufacturer dismissed concerns about the anti-stall system on its 737 Max jets, saying pilots could avoid problems by following a checklist. BEIJING Whatever deal Washington and Beijing reach over the trade war, President Trump has already scored a big victory: Companies are rethinking their reliance on China . The two sides are nearing an agreement, with Mr. Trump saying on Thursday that an epic trade pact could be weeks away and that he may soon meet with President Xi Jinping, Chinas top leader. But already, spurred by tariffs and trade tensions, global companies are beginning to shift their supply chains away from China, just as some Trump administration officials had wanted. The move, known as decoupling, is a major goal of those who believe the world has grown far too dependent on China as a manufacturing giant. As Beijing builds up its military and extends its geopolitical influence, some officials fear that Americas dependence on Chinese factories makes it strategically vulnerable. Now companies in a number of industries are reducing their exposure to China. GoPro, the mobile camera maker , and Universal Electronics, which makes sensors and remote controls, are shifting some work to Mexico. Hasbro is moving its toy making to the United States, Mexico, Vietnam and India. Aten International, a Taiwanese computer equipment company, brought work back to Taiwan. Danfoss, a Danish conglomerate, is changing the production of heating and hydraulic equipment to the United States. David Malpass, President Trumps pick to be president of the World Bank and a longtime critic of the influence wielded by the bank and other multilateral institutions, was unanimously approved by its executive board on Friday. Mr. Trump nominated Mr. Malpass, the Treasury under secretary for international affairs, in February. He will begin his five-year term on Tuesday, the executive directors said in a statement. He succeeds Jim Yong Kim, who stepped down abruptly in January to join an investment firm. In a note to World Bank employees on Friday, Mr. Malpass, 63, said the organization was capable of measurable successes like raising median incomes, improving debt transparency and increasing private-sector development. He urged the banks staff to work tirelessly toward a stronger, more stable global economy for all. The mission of the bank, which was created in 1944 and is collectively owned by nearly 200 countries, includes reducing global poverty, providing financial aid to needy countries and fighting the effects of climate change. Last year, it provided $20.5 billion for projects involving renewable energy, agriculture and emissions management. Every day for over two and a half years, and sometimes twice a day, immigration agents arrived at several Motel 6 locations in Washington State and, without warrants, were able to obtain the names, birth dates, identification data, room assignments and license plate numbers of every guest. The agents, with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, would sometimes circle the names of guests that sounded Latino before targeting them for questioning, detainment and deportation, according to a settlement agreement announced this week by the states attorney general, Bob Ferguson. Over the period in question, employees at seven motels gave information related to 80,000 guests to the agents, violating the companys privacy policy, Mr. Fergusons office said on Thursday. To resolve a lawsuit the office filed against Motel 6 last year, the chain agreed to pay $12 million, much of it in damages to guests who were affected. Motel 6, which is owned by the private equity firm Blackstone Group and has 1,400 locations in North America, also signed a legally binding commitment to stop volunteering guest information absent a warrant anywhere in the United States. FRANKFURT A money-laundering scandal that has upended the world of Scandinavian finance ensnared another executive on Friday, when the chairman of Swedbank, one of Swedens largest lenders, resigned amid investigations into the activities of its subsidiaries in the Baltics. The chairman, Lars Idermark, departed less than a week after the bank fired its chief executive, Birgitte Bonnesen, who had previously supervised Swedbanks operations in the Baltic countries of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Mr. Idermark said in a statement that he could not deal with the money-laundering allegations while also performing his day job as chief executive of Sodra, a processor of forest products. Following recent strong debate about Swedbank and questions about the banks control of suspicious money laundering in the Baltics, I have concluded that the media attention is not compatible with my C.E.O. role at Sodra, Mr. Idermark said, adding that he would leave his Swedbank role immediately. Although the pay gap narrowed slightly over all in Britain, the slow pace of change and the regression at some workplaces have prompted calls for companies to be clearer about how they intend to do better. In some cases, employers will have a wider gap because they have taken on new female junior staff to build their pipeline, said Sam Smethers, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, a womens rights and equality organization. But unless they can demonstrate that, it is more likely that theyve failed to make changes. The penalties for companies that do not set out a long-term strategy and follow through should be tougher, Ms. Smethers said. Government needs to require employers to publish action plans that we can hold them accountable to, with meaningful sanctions in place for those who do not comply, she said. That idea has received some backing in Parliament. We need to start taking the next steps and ensuring that companies have action plans that are part of the reporting procedures, and that if they do not try to close their gender pay gap that they face additional fines, Dawn Butler, the shadow secretary of state for women and equalities for the opposition Labour Party, said in the House of Commons on Wednesday. At War is a newsletter about the experiences and costs of war. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Each year since the late 1990s, public surveys have found that Americans have a high confidence in the countrys armed forces, often higher than for any other American institution. This public confidence largely endured even as American plans in Afghanistan and Iraq repeatedly failed, and as thousands of men and women in uniform died and tens of thousands more were wounded in wars that did not achieve what the military and its leaders set out to do. For many people who served in these recent wars, living within the services stifling bureaucracies or laboring in operations or circumstances that eroded their confidence in the Pentagon and the brass, these results can feel both familiar and odd. How do the services seemingly get a pass? Is public support reflexive, a species of approval as automatic as some of the thank-you-for-your-service gestures that are a feature of life as a service member or veteran? The disconnect between public support and military performance extends beyond the failures in the wars. Its a feature as well in how the military handles issues away from the battlefields, including, as presented this week in At War, in cases of sexual harassment and public health. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] He has traveled to three early presidential primary states, held $5,000-a-plate events for donors and hired a small-dollar fund-raising consultant. He spoke at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group, and is now on another trip to raise money in Boston, after which he will meet with Democratic activists in Las Vegas. These are the concrete steps of a man preparing to run for president. But thus far, that man, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, would prefer that his words speak louder than his actions. When asked if he plans to run for president, he gives the same answers. He is not ruling anything out, and will consult with his family before making a decision, one that he says will come sooner than later. Bank on sooner. Mr. de Blasio has had two City Hall aides working on his tentative campaign on their own time; one of them, Mike Casca, is a veteran of Senator Bernie Sanderss 2016 presidential campaign, and worked in the senators office. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] Four years ago, Eric Kinariwala woke up with a throbbing headache from a sinus infection. So he did what most New Yorkers do. He called his doctor, got a prescription for a Z-Pak, and walked to the Duane Reade near his apartment on the Lower East Side. When he got there, the elevator to the basement pharmacy was broken, and 40 people were in line ahead of him, he said. After waiting for an hour, the pharmacist told him they were out of stock. His phone had died, so he couldnt ask his doctor to send the prescription elsewhere. It was so miserable, said Mr. Kinariwala, 36, who left the drugstore that day without antibiotics. Im a pinball in the middle of this thing. Shortly after this experience, Mr. Kinariwala, who has a background in finance, introduced Capsule, an app-based service that delivers same-day medicine throughout all five boroughs. Since it started in 2016, Capsule has grown to 260 employees, most of whom work at the companys headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. The company works with 31 pharmacists who verify prescriptions and field customer phone calls, which range from concerns about a lost birth control pill to frequent urination. Though Capsule is designed to be mobile-first, it has a storefront pharmacy in Chelsea, which stocks 5,100 different medications and uses technology to track inventory. They receive deliveries from wholesale suppliers several times a day. The light sentence recognized Mr. Howes turn as the star witness in the case. (He had faced up to 14 years in prison for his eight felonies.) Testifying during Mr. Percocos trial, Mr. Howe had offered an intimate, unvarnished and damning view of the highest levels of state government. He described setting up a fund-raising breakfast for Mr. Cuomo with developers who wanted state business, arranging a paid fishing trip between developers and Mr. Percoco, and ultimately facilitating more than $300,000 in bribes to Mr. Percoco for his help in securing state deals. Judge Caproni said before imposing her sentence that Mr. Howes actions had fed the cynical view that state government was all about who knows who and whos greasing whose palm. Howe knew how to get someone in the good graces of Andrew Cuomo, she said. Mr. Howe, asking for leniency, described the atmosphere in Albany that he said drove him to corruption. I had to stay relevant, and I had to stay successful, he told the judge. It was a tough environment to be in, but I did the things I needed to do to be relevant. Mr. Howe earned little sympathy during the trial itself. Prosecutors and defense lawyers revealed unsavory behavior ranging from embezzlement to doctoring emails to lying to his dog walker. He was even thrown into jail in the middle of Mr. Percocos trial, when he admitted that he had tried to defraud his credit card company at the same time that he was cooperating with the government. Jonathan Baumbach, who upended traditional ideas of narration, linear progression and more in his novels and short stories and helped found a collective that gave experimental writers the ability to publish their own works, died on March 28 at his home in Great Barrington, Mass. He was 85. The death was confirmed by his son Noah Baumbach, the film director. Mr. Baumbach had already published two of his 12 novels when he and Peter Spielberg created the Fiction Collective, a publishing house run by authors, in an effort to give avant-garde works a clearer path to publication. His novel Reruns, about a man reinventing his life through real and imagined past events, was among the first three the collective published. Compared to the other books, Michael Mewshaw wrote in reviewing all three in The New York Times in 1974, Jonathan Baumbachs Reruns looms above the landscape like Mount McKinley. It too is non-narrative, inconsistent in point of view, and structurally askew, but with reason and frequently to good effect its intelligent and often funny. Dr. Brenner made a decisive contribution to solving the code with an ingenious series of experiments in which he altered the DNA of a virus that attacks bacteria. He showed that by making a series of three mutations, the virus would first lose, then regain, its ability to make a certain protein, as if the cells reading of the DNA tape had come back into correct phase. The experiment showed that DNA is a triplet code, with each group of three DNA letters specifying one of the 20 kinds of amino acids of which proteins are composed. Dr. Brenner gave these triplets the name codon. Other researchers were then able to figure out which codon specified each of the 20 amino acids. It fell to Dr. Brenner to identify two of the three triplets that signal Stop to the cells protein-making machinery. Dr. Brenner was also the first to conclude that there must be some means for copying the information in DNA and conveying it to the cellular organelles that manufacture proteins. That intermediary, now known as messenger RNA, was discovered in 1960 in an experiment devised by Dr. Brenner and others. With the fundamental problems of molecular biology solved, as they saw it, Dr. Brenner and Dr. Crick looked for new areas of inquiry. Dr. Brenner decided to approach the brain, but he realized he needed a simpler animal to study than the fruit fly, a standard organism used in laboratories. He settled on Caenorhabditis elegans, or C. elegans, a tiny, transparent roundworm that dwells in the soil, eats bacteria and completes its life cycle in three days. That worm has spun off many developments, starting with the decoding of the human genome. I watched Joe Biden at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year. We will be back, we will be back, he declared. He meant the United States after the moral abdication of the Trump years. He also meant himself, the president-in-waiting who would wait no longer to reach the Oval Office. That became obvious as he took a few questions. The Biden Ive observed over the years is garrulous, expansive, engaging a glad-handing, old-school Democratic politician in whom sentiment always overrode precision. Here, however, was another man. Biden read his answers from cards of typed notes. He tiptoed. He was running in an unforgiving age, and he was already scared. If he got it wrong, the thought police might airbrush him from history. Its mean out there in this America of the culture, gender and race wars. A phrase misspoken, a hand misplaced, and all hell breaks loose. Social media is instantaneous judge and executioner. Pariah is a life sentence. There is no margin for error; retrospective judgment makes no allowance for changed mores or expectations. Sensibility of an exquisitely indignant strain often trumps sense. Sure enough, even before Biden makes a formal decision to run, along comes Lucy Flores, a former candidate for lieutenant governor of Nevada, to say Biden planted a big slow kiss on the back of my head at a campaign rally nearly five years ago. Other women have followed, saying Biden had touched them inappropriately that what he viewed as expressions of encouragement, affection, solidarity were received as plain creepy, or worse. There will be more. To the Editor: Re School Shootings Leave a Long Trail of Trauma (front page, March 29): The long trail of trauma sadly doesnt just affect survivors of school shootings. It is affecting an entire generation of children who are growing up in the shadow of mass school shootings and lockdown drills in ways that we cannot yet know or measure. It is also creating a generation of anxious and fearful parents. Im the mother of a 9-year-old girl. A few months ago I was driving my daughter to school when we saw a police car racing ahead of us and turning into the street on which her school is located. Mommy, is someone shooting people at my school? she asked. My heart in my throat, I responded, No, sweetie, someone is probably just being pulled over for speeding, but inside, I was thinking the same thing. My child has come home from school worried and scared about having to hide quietly in a corner with her classmates because they are practicing safety drills in case a wild animal comes into school. To the Editor: In How to Make Trumps Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan Work (Op-Ed, nytimes.com, April 2), Michael Singh calls for the United States to restore aid to Palestinians, including its historic humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees. Since the United Nations established its mandate in 1949, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has been the only organization charged with providing critical health, educational and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, until there is a just and lasting solution to the conflict. Mr. Singhs vague and unsubstantiated criticism tha t our organization fosters extremism is an old repetition of an untruth. As a United Nations organization, we operate on the principles of neutrality, impartiality, independence and humanity. In our 715 schools, our conflict resolution, tolerance and human rights curriculum is unique in the region. Staff members are prohibited from engaging in political activities. Violations, where established, result in disciplinary measures, including termination. Its not hard to see why the White House could be drawn to General Hifter. Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa, and the Trump administration reportedly sees Libyas oil production as important in keeping global prices low. In the past year, General Hifters forces have secured oil facilities in Libyas central and southern regions, boosting output. He has highlighted his role in fighting terrorists, garnering favor among parts of the American military and intelligence agencies. He allowed the C.I.A. to establish a base in the eastern city of Benghazi, which he controls. General Hifter also has Libyan supporters. His promise to establish order has been welcomed by Libyans exhausted by years of chaos and outraged at the failings of the weak Government of National Accord. Despite this allure, he does not serve American interests. Nor is he the national savior he purports to be. He claims to be eradicating militias and building a professional army, but his forces depend heavily on militias, some of whom have committed war crimes. His common labeling as an anti-Islamist is belied by his backing of Salafist armed groups. But most alarming is his apparent disdain for electoral politics: He has said that Libya is not ripe for democracy. The recent history of the Arab world shows that such absolutism is not a formula for stability. In General Hifters case, the danger of more conflict is made even worse by the fact that he is not as strong as he seems. For all his aspirations, the general is unlikely to fully unite or subdue the countrys factions and militias. His rise to power could provoke resistance by groups that fear reprisals and a return to dictatorship. To avoid an escalation, American diplomatic intervention is needed now. Many Libyans actually want more American involvement: In our conversations over the years, it is clear that the United States still retains credibility in Libya as a relatively honest broker, especially when compared with the Europeans and Arabs pursuing competing and narrow interests. In the summer of 2018, when General Hifters forces seized oil facilities in central Libya, American diplomats, working alongside the U.N. envoy, prevented these vital assets from falling out of the control of the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. In the current crisis, similar American resolve is needed again. The Trump administration should issue a public censure of General Hifter and press for sanctions both its own and through the United Nations against the general for subverting efforts at a peaceful settlement and violating Security Council resolutions. In the past, such punitive measures have been applied to other militia leaders who have attacked the capital. To end mass incarceration, however, exempting nonviolent offenses from jail time isnt enough. People convicted of violent crimes make up more than half of the countrys state prison population. But the image of prisons overflowing with murderers and rapists is wrong. In many states, violent felonies include offenses like breaking into an empty house or snatching a purse or iPhone on the street. Reducing sentences for these offenses and changing what counts as a violent felony to begin with can lower this share of the prison population. And that fits in with a second theme for candidates: People deserve a second chance, because many grow and change. They robbed to feed an addiction and then got sober. They assaulted someone because they were mentally ill and then got treatment and stabilized. They mature as they age beyond their teens and early 20s. Thats why it makes sense to reconsider how long a person should stay in prison after doing some time. At last, a few prosecutors are doing this and are moving to correct the heavy sentences handed down in the past. The elected prosecutor in Seattle, Dan Satterberg, has won 21 commutations or resentencings for people serving life or decades. Three of the people released brothers are back in prison for new crimes, including one for a killing, but the other 18 are taking full advantage of their freedom, Mr. Satterberg put it. Our obligation to do justice continues to go backward as well as forward, he said. Yes, we'll have failures, but one way to manage that is more re-entry support for people. Parole offers another opening for second chances. In Texas, says Scott Henson, an activist who blogs at the site Grits for Breakfast, our parole rates have gone from 15 percent to the high 30s in the last decade, He said the increase is having more impact than any bill weve passed even through the legislature. He thinks the reason for the rise is a humdrum logistical one: The state unofficially uses parole as a way to reduce prison overcrowding. We should also focus on redefining the terms of the public safety debate. Ending mass incarceration, and ensuring fairness throughout the criminal justice system, arent in tension with public safety. It is integral to it. People tend to uphold the law when they believe its reasonable and applied evenly. When people have that faith, they are more likely to help the police solve crimes. With only about 60 percent of murder cases resulting in arrest or other resolutions that percentage is even lower for other crimes disillusionment may be our biggest safety threat. After Baltimores district attorney, Marilyn Mosby, announced in January that her office would stop prosecuting marijuana possession, a group of mothers whose children were killed in the city mounted a mobile billboard. Stop Pot Arrests, it read. Solve Murders Instead. So even if conservatives lose a seat next year, they will keep their majority for the redistricting process after the 2020 census. That process draws boundaries for both congressional and state-legislature districts, which means it will play a big role in shaping future Wisconsin politics. Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Tory Gavito and Adam Jentleson write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Ross Douthat writes that the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial race shows Democrats need a new way to talk about progressive ideology and education. Hagedorns apparent win, as the Daily Kos Elections newsletter explains, almost certainly means the Wisconsin Supreme Court wont act as a check on the extreme gerrymanders that Republicans have perpetrated for years. (My colleague Emily Bazelon wrote about the ridiculousness of Wisconsin gerrymandering in a 2017 Times Magazine piece.) Blue blues The second bit of bad news for Democrats was the outcomes political signal. Wisconsin Supreme Court races are statewide, and Hagedorns win suggests that Wisconsin remains up for grabs heading into President Trumps re-election campaign. Republican voters now seem quite energized, and turnout was high in conservative areas, like Waukesha County, just west of Milwaukee. The GOPs win in Wisconsin Supreme Court race showed a base thats waking up, Reid Wilson of The Hill noted. Conservative writers were celebrating the victory. In The Washington Post, Henry Olsen wrote: Simply put, if Trump wins Wisconsin, he is almost certain to win re-election. Thats because a win for Trump in Wisconsin would likely mean victories for him in swing states that he carried that are more Republican than Wisconsin such as Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Iowa. The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote: The lefts unexpected defeat in the high-stakes and relatively high-turnout election is a notable turn from the last two years in the bellwether state Perhaps the emerging radicalism on the left is causing voters to think twice about returning them to power. [Want to get this by email? Heres the sign-up.] Theo here, filling in for Michael. You might know my name from the credits of the show Im the executive producer of The Daily. A year ago this week, our producers and editors huddled in a room one day to listen to that days episode. Instead of scrolling to find it in our podcast feed, we pulled up the homepage of a public radio station and heard those first hits of The Daily theme singing out strong. We were on the radio. When we first started the show, we hadnt envisioned it living anywhere but a podcast feed. But when American Public Media came to us and asked, What if The Daily came to radio stations? we thought, thats brilliant. We have public radio in our DNA. Our founding team is full of former public radio folks: Lisa Tobin from WBUR, Andy Mills from Radiolab at WNYC, and me from All Things Considered at NPR. And we want to bring the news to as many people as we can, in as many places as we can. We currently make two versions of our episodes one for the podcast, and one for radio. When Michael Simon Johnson, a producer for The Daily and The New Washington, and I were figuring out how to make the show work for broadcast, the biggest challenge we had was time. The time constraints on public radio are no joke: 20 minutes, 18 seconds. Everything we do has to fit in that window. Last year, I published an article that changed my life. I was a few weeks into my job at The New York Times when I realized I was never taught how to love another gay, black man. I mean, Id done it. Ive had fulfilling relationships and Ive said I love you and meant it. But did I really know what I was doing? Did any of us? Its hard to do something youve never seen. For most of my life, the most visible queer couples in media have been white. Id always been aware of this, but I didnt realize what it was doing to my head. So I made a list of all the things in my life I started to question soon after working here. The truth is hard. So hard that The Times, where Im a digital storytelling and training editor, built an entire advertising campaign around it. Is it too hard for me? Do I even know how to do journalism? Do I have a basic grasp of the English language? How do I single-handedly reverse over a century of problematic representation and erasure of minority communities by the media? Will it make me Twitter-famous? How do I learn to love other gay men? When I figure this out, how do I teach the rest of the gay community? I got to thinking. Six months earlier, I had been in Orlando, at a gay bar with a young man named Josean, whose two best friends were murdered in the Pulse Nightclub shooting 357 days earlier. We were searching for Khia, rapper of My Neck, My Back fame, who was performing a benefit show for survivors of the shooting and their families. (We never found her.) Charles de Lisle Age: 50 Occupation: Designer Location: Sonoma County, Calif. Favorite Room: After looking for land in the area for 20 years, Mr. de Lisle and his partner, Ralph Dennis, who live mostly in Mill Valley, Calif., bought a kit house on six acres. The living room of their weekend retreat is, like the rest of the house, designed for laid-back living. No electricity, no cell reception, Mr. de Lisle said. We liked the humble nature of everything here. No electricity or Wi-Fi are you tweaking out? It takes a bit to decompress. Its usually a half-day exhale. We put in solar. But the house is not connected to the grid. It was built by a survivalist. Bad ideas first! is how Jessica Pels began a session brainstorming cover lines for the May issue of Cosmopolitan. She was named editor in chief at the Hearst Magazines publication last fall. Ms. Pelss legs dangled as she perched on a credenza on one end of the long conference room and revealed to some 40 staff members from various departments, including video and social media, that Yara Shahidi, a star of the sitcom Black-ish, would be appearing on the cover, alongside Charles Melton, who plays Reggie on Riverdale. They are both in the forthcoming movie The Sun Is Also a Star. Cosmopolitan, which has the highest circulation of any Hearst magazine, was taken from a sleepy literary journal to a sensational pro-sex feminist magazine by its longtime editor, Helen Gurley Brown, who worked there from 1965 to 1997. She stepped down at age 74 and became editor in chief of Cosmos international editions until her death in 2012 at 90. Cover lines, long thought to compel buyers to pluck a magazine off a crowded newsstand, were always a main ingredient of Ms. Browns success. Hers (often written by her husband, the Hollywood producer David Brown) were especially breathy and enticing: Worlds Greatest Lover what it was like to be wooed by him! YOKOHAMA, Japan When the skin care company Shiseido opens its 76,000-square-foot global innovation center in this city 20 miles south of Tokyo to the public next week , there will be a grand S-shaped staircase for the taking of selfies; a terrace on the 15th floor, also ideal for selfies; and a theater for lectures and demonstrations, which, presumably, will show up in the background of many selfies. A global innovation center tailored for social media, or S/PARK, as Shiseido is calling this complex of research labs and public space, is part of a many-layered rebranding underway for the 147-year-old maker of skin care, makeup and perfume. While the West has gone mad for Koreas K-Beauty, deploying snail serum face masks at sleepovers and on #selfcaresundays, J-Beauty isnt exactly a global phenomenon. Shiseido, which has 46,000 employees around the world and is aiming for sales of $11.6 billion by 2020, would like to change that. Japanese beauty has more to do with, if I may get a little philosophical, searching for the truth, said Daniel Bruzzone, a senior vice president of marketing for the company. You will find the Japanese more scientific and concerned with technology than the very cool, attention-grabbing, colorful and playful K-Beauty. The guiding principle at Petit H, the innovative atelier that transforms discarded materials from the workshops of Hermes into one-of-a-kind objects, is to work with what you have. For Godefroy de Virieu, the studios creative director, the most readily available materials are usually scraps of printed silk twill and calfskin leather two hallmarks of the French luxury house which he and his team refashion into everything from multicolor shoelaces to eye masks to animal-shaped shoe brushes. Given this knack for crafting treasures from unlikely components, we invited de Virieu to take part in our Make T Something series, for which a person must create something in under one hour using only basic crafting supplies, a copy of The New York Times and one wild-card item of their choosing. The object de Virieu makes in the video above, he says, was inspired by a story he heard as a child and later told his own children: the tale of a sea captain, often attributed to the American origami pioneer Lillian Oppenheimer, which the teller illustrates by folding a piece of paper into a series of different shapes. I really like it when there is a story behind an object, he explains. His magic ingredient is a roll of Hermes textile tape, a length of patterned silk with an adhesive backing that he developed specially for this project. He hopes to perfect this prototype and sell versions in future collections though because he will reuse fabrics from across the company, he says, there will never be two rolls the same. [Coming later this spring: the T List newsletter, a weekly roundup of what T Magazine editors are noticing and coveting. Sign up here.] Each week, we review the weeks news, offering analysis about the most important developments in the tech industry. Want this newsletter in your inbox? Sign up here. Hi, Im Jamie Condliffe. Greetings from London. Heres a look at the weeks tech news: Mark Zuckerberg has a vision that hed like Congress to share. Lawmakers seem to agree that there are too few tech companies with too much power, and that Big Tech needs to be regulated. What they cant agree on is how do it: Break companies up, tax them more, apply privacy rules, remove liability protections. The list goes on. There are lots of options, none particularly well developed, and little consensus on what might work. Mr. Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, appeared to take advantage of this when he made his own proposal for regulation in a Washington Post op-ed. According to Corynne McSherry, the legal director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group, Mr. Zuckerbergs proposals were an effort to get ahead of the many suggestions already on the table and shape what happens down the pike. The proposals were not earth-shattering; most had been suggested by policymakers already, or even put into effect in other parts of the world. But Mr. Zuckerberg fleshed them out into one of the more actionable calls for tech regulation that weve yet seen. IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM JOHNSON BORN 1809 IN NATCHEZ MISS. DEPARTED THIS LIFE JUNE 17, 1851 He was murdered, Ms. Miller said of the man buried beneath this very large, flat rectangular stone slab, also in Plat 1. Over a land dispute. The Natchez Courier denounced a horrible and deliberate murder that was committed upon an excellent and most inoffensive man who held a respected opinion on account of his character, intelligence and deportment. It noted: We observed very many of our most respected citizens at his funeral Johnson left a wife, nine children, and quite a handsome property; probably twenty to thirty thousand dollars. He owned plantations, a thriving barbershop, and slaves. And he was black. He was born a slave. The man who owned him, also presumed to have been his father, emancipated him at age 11, an act Mississippi made very difficult and later banned. William Johnsons status as a free man of color, as one of Natchezs more respected and successful businessmen and as a slaveholder are remarkable, but not unique. What really makes him special is that he kept a meticulously detailed diary. Its a record of loans he made and game he bagged, local events (lots of brawls) and gossip (lots of feuds). In that regard, its about as scrupulous an eye-level account of antebellum Natchez as you will find. But it can also be a harrowing read, knowing what fate had in store for its author, and contemplating the peculiar existence of a black slaveholder. He had tried to train one of his slaves, Steven, as a barber, but it didnt take: To day has been to me a very Sad Day; many tears was in my Eyes to day On acct. of my selling poor Steven I felt hurt but Liquor is the Cause of his troubles; I would not have parted with Him if he had Only Let Liquor alone but he Cannot do it I believe Mr. Johnsons significance to history is confirmed by the fact that his house in town is today a museum run by the National Park Service; his significance to his contemporaries is confirmed by the fact that his and his familys graves are surrounded by those of other prominent families of Natchez, all of whom were white. Natchezs cemetery was, like others throughout the South, racially segregated but unlike those others, Ms. Miller explained, in Natchezs it wasnt always adhered to. Other African Americans are buried throughout the cemetery, too. Good morning. (Heres the sign-up, if you dont already get California Today by email.) How Californians get power has been in the news a lot lately, between Pacific Gas & Electrics woes and Mayor Eric Garcettis recent announcement that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would phase out three natural gas power plants on its way toward 100 percent renewable energy sources. We have an obligation to end dependence on fossil fuels, embrace the technologies of tomorrow, and prioritize renewable energy, Mr. Garcetti said in a statement to The Times this week. The question now is how to do that. Today, the residential solar power provider Sunrun released a report with what its leaders said could be the answer: a mass deployment of residential solar panels, along with batteries, that collectively form a kind of virtual power plant operated by a utility. If one of the challenges is that we want to decommission three of these gas plants, we believe that with rooftop solar and storage, we could pretty easily replace one of them by 2030, said Lynn Jurich, Sunruns chief executive and co-founder. [For more coverage of race, sign up here to have our Race/Related newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox.] Rarely does Chicago have a political earthquake. But Michelle V. Agins has witnessed two of them through her camera lens. A staff photographer at The New York Times since 1989, Ms. Agins covered the votes that sent the first African-American man and woman, Harold Washington and Lori Lightfoot, to the top spot at Chicagos City Hall. The Times sent Ms. Agins, who lives in Brooklyn, to her native Chicago last month for what promised to be a historic vote: a contest between two black women, who bested 12 other candidates in the primary. Gosh, youre asking the wrong guy, because this is the first time Ive been in that processing center. It felt crowded. Can you describe it? Its a metal building thats insulated. Each one of the holding areas had a bathroom and a sink. Theyre held by sex, of course. And then the families were held in different steel cages, basically. Everybody had a blanket that wanted one, Mylar blankets. Most of them were laying down on mats. Some of them were standing up. Some of them were sitting on benches. What were Border Patrol officials saying about all this? They said they were processing them through as quick as they could. They said the manpower they were using here was manpower that theyd rather have on the border, but nonetheless they had to process these folks. Look, I mean, I dont like prisons. I dont like holding people up. But the bottom line is that I dont have any better idea than the way they were doing it, and I asked them if they did and they didnt either, although they were tasked with trying to find a better way to do it. They were providing food and water and baby formula, and were treating these folks as good as they could treat them, in the conditions that were there. Im simply just not critical of Border Protection in this situation because I dont know what the solution is. Some Democrats were calling the mass releases a manufactured attempt to fuel the crisis-at-the-border narrative. Do you agree? I dont think I can agree with it. Look, Im not a conspiracy theorist. I think I have to go with what I saw, and what I saw literally was a bunch of families in this facility and I think it is what it is right now. The direction I would take it is, what are the push factors in these countries that are pushing these families to our southern border? Was Border Patrol cooperative during the tour? They were absolutely cooperative. Ive been on these trips before, and I know for a fact they show you want they want you to see. But they were very cooperative. Were the conditions horrible? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I dont think they were horrible, but by the same token it was gut-wrenching to see mothers and children sitting there in cages. Some migrants face additional delays from immigration judges who insist they find legal counsel before their cases can move forward. Denis Rostran, of Honduras, said he called 10 lawyers who were listed on a document that Department of Homeland Security officials gave to him when he was sent back to Tijuana. None answered. Mr. Rostran said he has slept some nights on the street and has been robbed twice. A Department of Homeland Security official said it was committed to ensuring migrants have legal assistance at no cost to the government. The agency also is not forcing migrants to return to Mexico who would more likely than not be persecuted or tortured there, the official said. Twenty shelters and churches in Tijuana are housing around 3,000 migrants and have almost reached their limit, said Esmeralda Siu, the executive coordinator of the Migrant Defense Coalition, in the Mexican state of Baja California. Many of the migrants are awaiting their court dates, she said, and do not expect to leave soon. That means that newly arrived and future migrants will have few, if any, options for shelter. Theres no city, no state, that has sufficient resources to prepare for this, said Gustavo Magallanes Cortes, the director of migration affairs for Baja California. Theyve allowed these people to return, but cut the resources for migrants, which has led to chaos. Every day a shelter calls me and says, Ive run out of food. But many of the waiting migrants are determined to keep hope. Many people say theyre doing this just so we get tired and give up on our cases, said Daniela Diaz, 19, who said she left El Salvador after a member of the MS-13 gang threatened to rape and kill her. She has been living in a shelter in Tijuana since late January. She is frustrated that following the rules and asking for asylum at a legal port of entry instead of sneaking into the United States have resulted in a system of immigration purgatory. Theres a lot of people throwing themselves over the wall, Ms. Diaz said, and were doing this the fair way. For a two-hour stretch in a packed Times Square hotel ballroom on Friday morning, the full spectrum of the Democratic Partys stances on racism and racial justice was on display. Kamala Harris, the California senator who is seeking to become the first black woman to be elected president, electrified the crowd by declaring that when not if shes elected president she would sign a bill to study reparations for black Americans. This is an inflection moment in the history of our country, Ms. Harris said. This is a moment of time where we must restore the significance of truth and justice in this country. John Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado, and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, said they would also support such a bill. Mr. Hickenloopers backing showed how even the most moderate members of the Democratic Party have now adopted the explicit language of racial justice activists, and how the issue of reparations continues to roil the 2020 Democratic primary in ways that few could predict. Seventeen-and-a-half years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, and a decade after President Barack Obama ordered the C.I.A. to dismantle any remnants of its global prison network, the military commission system is still wrestling with how to handle evidence of what the United States did to the Qaeda suspects it held at C.I.A. black sites. While the topic of torture can now be discussed in open court, there is still a dispute about how evidence of it can be gathered and used in the proceedings at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. By law, prosecutors cannot use evidence gained through torture or any other involuntary statements at the war court, where eight of Guantanamos 40 prisoners are accused of being complicit in terrorist attacks. Prosecutors have made clear that nothing the defendants said at the black sites will be used as evidence. But defense lawyers have continued to press for details of what happened to their clients and to be able to use the information either to fight the charges or to win more lenient sentencing. And they have been aided by changing circumstances, not least the governments declassification of some details of how the prisoners were interrogated by the C.I.A. The issue has been most intensely debated in Guantanamos two death-penalty cases: the 9/11 terror attacks that killed 2,976 people and the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 in which 17 American sailors died. Defense lawyers in those cases have sought for years to get access to eyewitnesses and graphic details from the C.I.A. sites. The lawyers want to use descriptions of torture to ask the judge to exclude some of the defendants own statements after they left the black sites. The defense lawyers also have said they would cite torture to seek dismissal of the charges on grounds of outrageous government conduct, an extraordinary legal defense that is used in civilian courts but is seldom granted. In fact, the small section of wall that Mr. Trump stood in front of next to a field of solar panels is not evidence that the president is building the wall he repeatedly called for during his 2016 presidential campaign but merely an upgrade to an existing section of fencing. The two-mile section was completed in October. [Sign up for Crossing the Border, a limited-run newsletter about life where the United States and Mexico meet.] Weeks after declaring a national emergency at the border because Congress refused to fund construction of his border wall, Mr. Trump recently threatened to close the legal ports of entry between Mexico and the United States potentially disrupting billions of dollars worth of trade and halting the travel of a half-million people each day. But on the eve of his trip here, Mr. Trump backed down in the face of hard criticism from the business community and top officials in his own party. Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, predicted that a complete border shutdown would have a potentially catastrophic economic impact on the country. Mr. Trump responded on Thursday by initially saying he would give Mexico a year to stop Central American migrants from traversing Mexico on their way to the United States. He added that if Mexico did not do its part, he would first impose tariffs on Mexican cars before shutting down the border. Later in the day, Mr. Trump denied that he had put off a border shutdown for a year, saying that it could still happen if he decided that Mexico was not doing enough to keep migrants from traveling to the United States. Well start with the tariffs and see what happens, he said. In his visit here, Mr. Trump thanked Mexico for deporting migrants at its southern border, which he said they have never done before in three decades, and suggested he had delayed closing the border because of their heightened efforts. Giesenfeld has been awarded three medals by the Vietnamese Government in recognition of his contributions to boosting solidarity and friendship among the people of the two countries as well as for the introduction and promotion of Vietnamese literature to Germany and German-speaking communities around the world. Most recently in September 2018, he returned to Vietnam with a special attention being attached on the rapid change in Vietnamese lifestyle and culture. During his visits to Vietnam, in addition to attending literary workshops, meetings and gatherings with writers, he also spends time wandering streets in the old quarters and enjoying street foods, such as pho and bun (Vietnamese noodles), com rang (stir dried rice), and milk coffee. He is also interested in exchanging in talks with locals and visiting watch shops in order to enrich his own hand watch collection. Not only working as a translator of Vietnamese literary works, Giesenfeld has also produced three documentary films: on Vietnams post-war education, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and his train travel across Vietnam on the main south-north line. Recalling his memories about the production of these films, he said his meeting with General Vo Nguyen Giap was the most impressive. Although the meeting was scheduled to last for only 30 minutes it was extended to two hours. The documentary on the north-south train also left deep impressions on him. In 1984, Giesenfeld and cameraman Luong Dung made the documentary on a train, and they invited passengers to their carriage for interviews. Many interesting stories were told, which surprised both passengers and the film crew. When the train reached Hai Van pass, Giesenfeld had to hold Dung tightly so that the cameraman could reach out of the door train to record the scene when the train made a tightly spectacular curve up to the pass. Meetings with Vietnamese writers and intellectuals have provided Giesenfeld with valuable reference about Vietnamese history and strengthened his connection with the Southeast Asian country. The meetings also brought him an opportunity to work as a coordinator of a project on the compilation of a book on history of Vietnamese literature. In 2000, as the Chairman of Germany Vietnam Friendship Association, Giesenfeld invited a delegation of Vietnamese writers to Germany to introduce their books. The delegation had 20 meetings with readers in 15 German cities and provinces. He has also come into contact with Vietnamese writers and poets, whose selected works have been translated and published in Vietnam Kurier magazine in Germany. His work has offered German readers a look into Vietnamese contemporary literature and writers, as well as the countrys culture and lifestyle. Since he first visited Vietnam more than four decades ago, Giesenfeld has fallen into Vietnamese land and people and he has found a wonderful way to express his attachment to the country through introducing and advertising Vietnamese literature to German and German-speaking readers. In 2019, he and his translation group are translating literary works by acclaimed Vietnamese writer Duong Huong. He plans to return Vietnam in order to visit Huongs hometown, where the writer was born and spent his childhood. The village was also set as the background for Huong to pen his 1991 novel Ben Khong Chong (The Habour of Husbandless Women), which was awarded the Vietnamese Writers Association award the same year. WASHINGTON After denying allegations last month that United States airstrikes had killed civilians in Somalia, the American military said on Friday that an April 2018 attack left two people dead. The announcement comes after Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the head of Africa Command, ordered a review of all airstrikes conducted in Somalia since 2017. The internal assessment was prompted by pressure from lawmakers and an Amnesty International report released last month that found evidence of five strikes in Somalia that had killed more than a dozen civilians. The two civilians were killed in an April 2018 airstrike against the Islamist extremist group Shabab near El Buur, a town in central Somalia. In a statement on Friday, Africa Command said it found credible evidence of the deaths shortly after the strike, but the casualties were not reported to senior officials until last week. My heart goes out to the family of Timmothy Pitzen, Benjamin C. Glassman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said, announcing the charge against Mr. Rini, which can carry up to eight years in prison. I can only imagine the kind of pain that they have been through and that this episode has caused for them. Image Timmothy Pitzen, of Aurora, Ill., has been missing since May 11, 2011, when he was 6 years old. Credit... National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, via EPA, via Shutterstock A lawyer for Mr. Rini did not respond to phone and email messages. The odd events, which played out over two days amid intense media attention, at first raised the possibility of a happy ending for Timmothys extended family, which had waited years for just such a moment. But it soon spiraled into a new layer of misery, as word of a hoax filtered out and the police and relatives in Illinois, where Timmothy had lived, were sent reeling once more. Its been awful, Alana Anderson, Timmothys grandmother, said. All along, parts of Mr. Rinis story were peculiar. On Wednesday, he emerged, agitated and bruised, along a Newport, Ky., street, seeking help from passers-by and saying that he was Timmothy, the missing boy, and that he had escaped from captors and was trying to get home. The authorities soon took him to an emergency room at a childrens hospital in Cincinnati, court documents say, but he declined to let the authorities take impressions of his fingerprints, raising early suspicions and complicating efforts to quickly identify him. Mr. Rinis age might have seemed to be a tipoff: He is 23, far from the 14 years of age that Timmothy would now be. Images of Mr. Rini suggest someone beyond adolescence, with a 5 oclock shadow. One can imagine that if you were actually a child who had been abducted since 2011 and subjected to who knows what if those allegations were true who knows what kind of condition that person would be in? Mr. Glassman said. So its incumbent on law enforcement in doing the investigation, this one or any others, to make sure that if this person does turn out to be the victim, youre giving them the care that they need. LONDON Talks on a compromise Brexit plan between Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain and the opposition Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, hit a snag on Friday, just as Mrs. May sought a nearly two-month delay in the deadline for leaving the European Union. Labour leaders said Mrs. May had so far refused to budge from her original plan, but the government said it was still prepared to propose changes. The developments illustrated the challenges confronting the leaders in reaching an agreement for Britains withdrawal, with both Mrs. May and Mr. Corbyn facing difficulties within their parties if they compromise. News of the deadlock came on the same day Mrs. May asked for a second extension of the deadline for departure, to June 30. The original March 29 deadline had been extended once, to April 12 one week away. PARIS France has banned several types of textured breast implants that have been linked to a rare form of cancer. The ban, which covers macro-textured and polyurethane implants, took effect on Friday. It was announced this week by Frances National Agency for Safety of Medicines and Health Products, or ANSM, in a letter to manufacturers. The implants, characterized by a textured, Velcro-like surface that adheres to the breast tissue, are suspected of being linked to anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. Since 2011, 59 cases have been recorded in France, according to the ANSM, and most women affected by the disease had textured breast implants. Although the safety agency did not find a causal link between the cancer and the implants, it said it was imposing the ban as a precautionary measure. BERLIN As the host of an Arabic-language talk show in Germany, Jafaar Abdul Karim is supposed to be the man with the answers. But his answers are not always what viewers want to hear. In an episode from January 2017 exploring the rights of a single, unmarried Muslim woman with a child, Sheikh Ahmad Karimah, a scholar at Al Azhar University in Cairo who was a guest on the show, accused Mr. Abdul Karim of stirring chaos and encouraging inappropriate relationships. Why dont you listen to the perspective of Shariah on this? the professor said, before stalking off the set. It is not only delicate issues that prove uncomfortable. On a recent broadcast of Mr. Abdul Karims talk show, Shabab Talk (shabab is Arabic for youth), an Egyptian woman complained that, even after living as a student in Germany for a year, she had made no German friends. Greeces migration minister, Dimitris Vitsas, struck a similar note. Its a lie that the borders will open, he said, and urged migrants to return to the state-run camps from which they had come. Not all those at the station had somewhere to go, however. Ali Elmishal, 11, from the Syrian city of Raqqa, was there with his parents and five siblings. He said the family slept in parks in central Athens and that he sold tissues at traffic lights. We want to go to Germany, he said in English. Mohamed Ali Al Khalid, 25, who arrived in Greece three months ago, fleeing poverty and strife in Idlib, Syria, also wants to travel to Germany, to join his sister in Frankfurt, he said. Theres no work for me here, theres nothing here, he said, standing on the train tracks with a suitcase at his feet, saying his wife and two children were back in Idlib, awaiting an update. MADRID Angel Hernandez adjusted the purple blanket covering his wife, Maria Jose Carrasco, before asking her whether she was ready to die. The sooner, the better, she replied. On Wednesday, Mr. Hernandez released a video of his last conversations with his wife, who had multiple sclerosis, shortly before helping her swallow a deadly substance. He then handed himself in to the police in Madrid and spent the night in custody, appearing the next day before a judge, who released him pending a trial for homicide. While Mr. Hernandez may now face a prison sentence for assisting in his wifes death, his heart-wrenching recording of their last moments together has put euthanasia and assisted death at the heart of the political debate in Spain, where a national election is scheduled on April 28. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who leads a minority government, promised on Thursday that he would legalize euthanasia if his Socialist party secured a parliamentary majority. He accused the main opposition parties, the Popular Party and Ciudadanos, of repeatedly blocking any attempt to overhaul Spanish legislation to allow people suffering from terminal illnesses to have what he described as a dignified death. PARIS The United States has revoked the visa of the International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor because of her attempts to investigate allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, including any that may have been committed by American forces. The visa revocation confirmed on Friday by the office of the chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and the State Department in Washington was assailed by rights advocates as unprecedented interference by the United States into the workings of the court, established nearly two decades ago to prosecute war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Ms. Bensouda, a Gambian lawyer for the court, which is based in The Hague, formally requested an investigation more than a year ago into war crimes in Afghanistan. The inquiry would mostly focus on large-scale crimes against civilians attributed to the Taliban and Afghan government forces. [Read: The I.C.C. has allowed Afghanistan war crimes inquiry to proceed.] But it would also examine alleged C.I.A. and American military abuse in detention centers in Afghanistan in 2003 and 2004, and at sites in Poland, Lithuania and Romania, putting the court directly at odds with the United States. BEIRUT, Lebanon Brushing back pressure from Washington, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia escalated his crackdown on even the mildest forms of dissent with the arrests this week of at least nine intellectuals, journalists, activists and their family members, according to rights groups and a Saudi associate of the detainees. Among those held are two dual Saudi-American citizens and two women one of them pregnant, the groups said. Many of the detainees are suspected of having complained to Western journalists and rights groups about the treatment of imprisoned womens activists, according to a Saudi national briefed on the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss confidential information. The arrests come as Prince Mohammed, the 33-year-old de facto ruler of the kingdom, is under intense scrutiny over the killing last fall of the dissident Jamal Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and Washington Post columnist who was ambushed and dismembered by Saudi agents in Istanbul. American intelligence agencies have concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the killing. In the aftermath, a chorus of American lawmakers from both parties have urged the crown prince to loosen his iron-fisted grip by releasing some of the nonviolent activists. Many lawmakers have focused attention on a small group jailed for campaigning for reforms to the kingdoms austere social code including the right for women to drive, which Prince Mohammed has granted. KIRYAT GAT, Israel The surprise candidate shaking up the last days of the campaign before Israelis head to the polls on Tuesday is a far-right nationalist libertarian who advocates small government, legalizing marijuana and a free-market economy. While the candidate, Moshe Feiglin, the leader of the Zehut party, remains on the fringes in the election, his message is attracting enough young and disaffected voters that he could emerge as kingmaker in a close race between the two main contenders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, a former army chief. Under Israels parliamentary system, even a few seats could be enough to give one side or the other a majority coalition. While the pro-marijuana stance has received some notice, it is his economic message that is resonating with young voters who are fed up with Israels same-old politics and exorbitant cost of living. I dont smoke, said Dor Thaler, 24, who runs an e-commerce business and was attending a recent town hall meeting in Kiryat Gat, a working-class town in southern Israel. But I like everything else about his platform. General Hifter initially portrayed himself as battling against political Islam in all its forms. But he has also struck alliances with certain Saudi-style ultraconservative Islamist militias as well, muddying any sense of a battle between secular and religious forces. Now, beginning on Thursday, his forces have launched a similar campaign aimed at capturing Tripoli. The city has been under the ostensible rule of a powerless United Nations-sponsored unity government and under the practical control of various autonomous militias. Many are also engaged in extortion, migrant smuggling and other criminal activities, and some have had ties to powerful regional militias in the cities of Zintan and Misrata. With those forces now forming a loose alliance to stop General Hifter, Tripoli residents raced to stock up on food and fuel in anticipation of a prolonged struggle. Lines outside fuel stations stretched for 100 yards, and drivers often waited more than an hour and a half to fill up their tanks. There were reports of scattered fighting in several places outside the city on Friday. But unusually heavy rain on Friday afternoon flooded streets and slowed troop movements. In the most significant shift in the battle lines, General Hifters forces announced that they had occupied Tripolis defunct international airport, destroyed by fighting in 2014. One resident confirmed in a telephone interview that General Hifters troops had taken the area, which is less than 30 miles from the central square of the city. But some local militia members appeared to be massing for an attempt to recapture the area. By the end of the night the interior minister of the United Nations-backed government said on television that it had been retaken already. Flat and open terrain makes it difficult to defend, and the airport changed hands often in battles over the past eight years. This is going to be slow, said Emad Badi, a London-based Libya scholar who is tracking the fighting. We are going to see more shifting alliances, and any location you control, you might not control it for more than day, he said, recalling the capture of General Hifters forces at Zawiya. Does he really, truly understand why the breach made people so mad? I think its because the data was so personal, he said. It was the scale of it. And I think a lot of consumers still dont today understand the data that credit bureaus have. And we know we have to win back their trust. On that note, I issued him a series of challenges opportunities, really to make good on his word. He did not quite agree to any of them outright, though I hope to get him to yes on at least a few over time. Heres what I asked for. Can we please have unlimited free credit reports? We havent talked about whether it would be positive from a consumer perspective to go beyond the three you get for free each year, he said, referring to the reports available from each company via annualcreditreport.com. But well certainly take it under advisement. That would be positive from a consumer perspective, but the real question is how much revenue Equifax might give up from selling those reports. I couldnt get a clear answer in the interview or in a follow-up email. Why cant we have one place to go to press one button with one password to freeze or thaw our credit files with all three credit bureaus simultaneously? When the bureaus chief executives appeared before the House Committee on Financial Services recently, Representative Sean Duffy, Republican of Wisconsin, asked them why they couldnt just get this done over a cup of coffee. Mr. Begor wouldnt make any promises. As you know, getting three people to dance is always challenging, but there is definitely a discussion going on, he said. Does Equifax actually want this to happen? We want it to happen, Mr. Begor said, without hesitation. And its the right thing to do, right? Why would you have to freeze three times? 1 of 11 President Trump ordered the State Department to cut off aid to three Central American countries that he said had not done enough to curb the number of migrants headed north. Known as the Northern Triangle, the three countries are Guatemala, Honduras and what? The United States cannot erect a wall and expect women to resign themselves to being slaughtered. The United States cannot erect a wall and expect women to resign themselves to being slaughtered. The murder of Sherill Yubissa Hernandez Mancia explains why Central American women are fleeing north. Ms. Hernandez was a 28-year-old agent for the Agencia Tecnica de Investigacion Criminal, or ATIC, Hondurass F.B.I., the agency charged with investigating the killings of women. She was having an affair with Wilfredo Garcia, who was the head of the agencys office in San Pedro Sula, Hondurass second-largest city. According to people involved in the case, at some point Ms. Hernandez seems to have come to believe that instead of working to take down MS-13, the nations largest gang, her lover was married to the sister of an MS-13 leader, and was aiding the criminals. On June 11, 2018, Ms. Hernandez was found dead in her bed. Karla Beltran, who works at the San Pedro Sula morgue, told me that in an unprecedented move, ATIC barred Forensic Medicine officials, along with the police and the prosecutor, from the crime scene. ATIC officials went alone and pronounced the death a suicide. But when Ms. Hernandezs body arrived at the morgue, Ms. Beltran and her colleague, America Gomez, saw the obvious. Yes, a bullet had shattered her cranium. Yes, photos taken by ATIC showed her lying on her bed, holding a pistol to her temple. But there was no gun residue on her hand. Her tongue was sticking out, and there was froth around her mouth, signs of asphyxiation. There were two marks under her chin, suggesting she had been strangled by someone expert in cutting off oxygen without leaving bruises. Blood had defied gravity; instead of flowing toward the back of her head, it had poured over the front of her pink pajama top and down shorts emblazoned with the word love. The crime scene photos showed that Ms. Hernandezs cellphone had changed location three times while the scene was being investigated, finally landing in a jar of water. The morgue leaders announced that month that Ms. Hernandez had been murdered. Soon after, they realized they were being followed and got multiple warnings that ATIC had a team of sicarios assassins. In August, along with the director of Forensic Medicine, Semma Julissa Villanueva, and another colleague, they petitioned the Honduran government for protection and were assigned police officers to take them to and from work. But they still feel like sitting ducks. Dr. Villanueva has been granted a visa to travel to the United States, and Dr. Gomez and Ms. Beltran have applied for asylum. Mr. Garcia, who did not respond to a request for comment, has been reassigned to an administrative post pending an investigation into the death, said a spokesman for the Public Ministry in San Pedro Sula. Nearly 10 months later, no one has been charged. We want to be emphatic and forceful that no one in ATIC belongs to a criminal group nor are they tied to the criminal acts you refer to, the spokesman said. But Dr. Villanueva says she is afraid, adding that she is certain that Ms. Hernandez was executed and they are trying to cover it up. Police and soldiers investigating a crime scene on the outskirts of the Lopez Arellano neighborhood of Choloma. Its so rotten, said Karol Bobadilla, the head of investigations for the nonprofit group Womens Forum for Life in Honduras, when I met her at her office. How, she asked, can the leaders of an agency entrusted with investigating womens deaths be killing women themselves? She was executed and they are trying to cover it up. President Trump calls immigrants criminals drug dealers and rapists intent on plundering America. But the truth, as I saw so clearly over a monthlong reporting trip in Honduras, is that migrants are fleeing a society controlled by criminals. President Trump keeps threatening to shut off the southern border to prevent Central Americans from crossing. On March 29 he announced he was halting aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador about $450 million a year that we now spend on strengthening civil society and chipping away at the power of gangs and drug cartels. Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, defended the decision by arguing that the money made little difference: If its working so well, why are the people still coming? Well, some of them are coming because they dont want to die. This is particularly true of women, who make up a greater proportion of border crossers every year. This latest announcement comes on top of moves by the Trump administration to bar victims of domestic violence from applying for asylum. In June, Jeff Sessions, the attorney general at the time, sought to reverse a Board of Immigration Appeals decision from 2014 that added domestic violence to the list of horrors that could qualify someone for asylum. In December, a federal court ruled that he didnt have the authority to do that. But the Trump administration has persisted and is appealing the decision. Its wrong to turn our backs on vulnerable women under any circumstances, but especially when they are coming from countries like Honduras, where the government is doing virtually nothing to protect them and is sometimes itself the predator. Honduras is one of the worlds deadliest places to be a woman a 2015 survey ranked it in the top five countries, with El Salvador and Syria. According to official statistics, 380 Honduran women were murdered last year (slightly fewer than in recent years), in a country with roughly the population of New York City. But no one believes the governments numbers. The number of women who have disappeared continues to rise. Unlike in much of the world, where most murdered women are killed by their husbands, partners or family members, half in Honduras are killed by drug cartels and gangs. And the ways they are being killed shot in the vagina, cut to bits with their parts distributed among various public places, strangled in front of their children, skinned alive have women running for the border. Understanding what is going on in Honduras is crucial to understanding, and solving, what is going on at the United States border, where 268,044 migrants were stopped in the first five months of fiscal 2019, nearly twice as many as in the same period last year. A growing proportion half were families with children. They cut off everything. They strip them down, like they are a chicken. The state of Cortes is by far the worst. Nearly one in three women murdered in Honduras in 2017 were killed here. And this city, Choloma, is probably the deadliest. At least 262,000 people live in Choloma, which sprawls across hills and rutted roads on both sides of Hondurass main north-south freeway, a half-hour from Central Americas largest port. Starting in the 1980s it became a hub for tax-free industrial parks where American, Canadian and Korean textile factories produced products for Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, Nike and Adidas. Women streamed into Choloma for a rare commodity in Honduras jobs. It is also a hub for the drug trade; product moves through here on its way from Colombia to the United States. Most neighborhoods are controlled by gangs or criminal organizations 18th Street, MS-13 or La Rumba, named after a disco in Cholomas most troubled area, Lopez Arellano. La Rumba has paid for trash pickup there, paved the main street (in part to enable faster getaways) and bribed the police. It also kills women. One night, a woman at La Rumbas disco said it was nice but another club was nicer. She was found dead the next morning, shot in the mouth. Last year, 23 women were murdered in Choloma; some say the toll is a third more. But its the growing cruelty with which women are killed that has most frightened women here. In 2017, 41 percent of women and girls killed in Honduras showed signs of mutilation, disfigurement and cruelty beyond what was needed to kill them, according to the Violence Observatory at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Thanks to the contra war, when the United States secretly funded right-wing militia groups in Central America, there are an estimated 1.8 million guns in Honduras. And yet one in 10 female murder victims are strangled to death. The sadism is the point. It sends a message to other women, to rival men that the killer is all powerful and never to be trifled with. Its about machismo the culture of which goes back to colonial times, when conquering Spaniards came without wives and treated the indigenous like slaves. Today, in a world ruled by gangs and narco groups, its about engendering maximum terror in your enemies, and you do that by showing how macabre you can be in the way you torture or kill. Honduras is locked in a war of grisly one-upmanship, and womens bodies are the battlefield. Melania Reyes, a leader of a womens aid group called the Womens Movement of the Neighborhood of Lopez Arellano and Surroundings, has spent decades fighting against domestic violence but feels stunned by the new brutality. They cut off everything, she said. They strip them down, like they are a chicken. Maria Luisa Regalado, the director of the Honduran Womens Collective, another local group, told me, What we are seeing in Choloma has never been seen before. She didnt let them. So they killed her. Men, of course, still make up a vast majority of murder victims, largely because they are more likely to be involved in gang conflicts or targeted for recruitment. But torture and mutilation arent as routine an aspect of these killings as they are for women. Women and girls are also increasingly being recruited by gangs and criminal organizations to sell drugs in Honduras. An estimated two in 10 gang members in the San Pedro Sula area are now female, something unheard-of not long ago. The gangs believe that men are more likely to buy drugs from a flirting woman and that the police are less likely to target her. Some join willingly; since 2012 many of Cholomas factories have left for lower labor costs in Nicaragua, and people are desperate for work. Theres such a glut of workers that factories advertise they wont hire anyone over 35. Buses ferry workers to and from their jobs at a clothing factory in Choloma. Others are forced into it. Girls tell Ms. Reyes they are warned, If you dont get into it, we will break you. But they are broken anyway. They are killed for not meeting drug sales quotas, for not paying back money they owe to the cartel, for spurning the advances of a criminal or because they are the girlfriends of criminals who tire of them. They see women as property, Ms. Regalado said. Of the 115 women killed in Choloma between 2013 and Oct. 2018, half were 20 or younger, according to the Violence Observatory. Ms. Reyes ticked off some of the girls murdered in Lopez Arellano last year: a 14-year-old who sold lottery tickets and was abducted by a drug seller who raped her and shot her in the head five times; two 15-year-olds killed by MS-13 gangsters when they resisted an order to sell drugs; two 17-year-old cousins whose breasts and buttocks were cut off before 18th Street gangsters shot them in the head. Katherine Nicolle Bonilla Carranza, just 14 years old, was another victim. She is buried under an almond tree in a cemetery near the apartment of her mother, Norma Adeli Carranza. Ms. Carranza sobbed as she described what happened on Dec. 19, 2017. Nicolle had been helping her mother wash clothes. She said she would be back in 10 minutes; she just wanted to chat with her friends at the corner. Be careful, Ms. Carranza told her. She was shot five times in the head right next to the Catholic church down the street, probably by gangsters. They wanted to take her, she told me, her face contorted by grief. She didnt let them. So they killed her. Denis Daniel Flores Carranza, 9, at the grave of his sister, Katherine Nicolle Bonilla Carranza, who was murdered in 2017. Do I have to bring you a corpse for you to actually do your job? Sometimes the deaths have nothing to do with the gangs. But the impunity for violent men is the same. Heidy Hernandezs husband, Marcio Amilcar Mateo, was an alcoholic and a control freak. She says she needed his permission to even step outside their home. After he slashed her lip with a broken rum bottle, she says, her sister insisted she report the abuse to the Choloma police, but they did nothing. Do I have to bring you a corpse for you to actually do your job? her sister said to them. According to Ms. Hernandezs account, Mr. Amilcar made $81 a week and brought home less than that. One night, the cupboards bare, she slipped out to get food at her aunts a few blocks away. She ran into her husband, drunk. You dog!, he said. Begging food from strangers! He locked his wife inside and ordered her, their 3-year-old son, and their 6- and 7-year-old daughters to their knees. He grasped Ms. Hernandezs hair, yanked her head back and put his machete to her throat. Im going to kill you and your children, he said. If you arent with me, you wont be with anyone. He finally put the blade away with a warning: Dont go to the police. One day she got home half an hour late from her fathers house. Who were you with? he demanded. He pulled the machete out from under their bed and swung the blade into the back of her legs. One of their daughters, Nadia Mabel, then 8, started screaming: Papa! Dont kill her! At 28, Ms. Hernandez awoke from surgery with her right leg amputated below the knee. Most of her left foot was gone. Her heart had stopped twice. Heidy Hernandez lost her feet and part of her right leg after her husband attacked her with a machete. Mr. Amilcar, who had swung his machete into his wifes legs 10 times, was charged with inflicting light lesions, carrying a sentence of 15 years. Only after their oldest daughter visited him in jail, and heard him vow, When I get out Im going to kill her, did a judge add attempted femicide charges and tack on 20 more years. My dad took off her feet, Nadia Mabel told me, nervously. I thought he was going to kill her. You like getting hit, dont you? In 2013 the Honduran government passed a law imposing harsher sentences for femicides gender-motivated killings in which the perpetrator was a partner, a family member, an ex, or had committed domestic violence; in which sex preceded the death; or in which the victims body was degraded or mutilated. The label can increase a homicide sentence to 30 or 40 years. But almost no one is actually charged with femicide. The Violence Observatory says that more than 60 percent of womens murders are femicides, but the charge has been used only 33 times during a period when 1,569 women and girls died violently. Domestic violence laws, which didnt exist here until 1997, also remain weak. Beating someone the first time is a fault, not a crime. A court or prosecutors office can issue restraining orders for up to six months, but the police largely dont enforce them. Sometimes the police are so afraid to even go to a violent neighborhood that they tell the woman she has to serve her abuser the restraining order on her own. If you put a machete to your wifes throat, all the police can do is lock you up for 24 hours, and they often dont even do that on weekends, said Saida Martinez, a leader of the Lopez Arellano womens group. Choloma women are asking for help: Each year, about 1,400 seek out the Choloma Womens Office, a city agency that helps women with their domestic violence cases, and another 500 go directly to Cholomas courts. Some 5,000 went to San Pedro Sulas four judges last year for domestic violence issues. Melania Reyes speaking with a woman seeking help at the Womens Movement of the Neighborhood of Lopez Arellano and Surroundings. But their first recourse, the police, are often less than helpful. Women tell me some of their responses: You like getting hit, dont you? Why dont you resolve it between your bedsheets? Maybe you didnt give him what he needed last night? They mock them, Ms. Reyes said. Elena Garcia, who is 38, asked me not to use her full name. She told me what happened to one of her friends three years ago, after she went to the police, covered in bruises. She got a restraining order against her partner and was told to deliver it herself. She disappeared that day and was later found burned, inside a bag, on the banks of the Chamelecon River. Last Jan. 27, Norma Lilian Avila Hernandez, a 29-year-old hair and makeup stylist, had an argument with her husband, Hugo Daniel Cruz Cabrera, 38, over her wearing makeup. According to Ms. Beltran at the morgue, who also worked on this case, he grabbed a machete and started to cut grass around their home, looking at her menacingly. Ms. Avila went to her local police station. Two officers were dispatched to look into her case, but they ignored their orders. When she returned to her house, her husband strangled her to death, police officials said. There is a warrant out for his arrest. Women like her have no place to hide: There are no domestic violence shelters in Choloma or nearby San Pedro Sula. The nearest is a six-hour bus ride away. That man is free, he will kill us all, and the authorities will do nothing. Even after they are killed, most women dont get any justice. Nine in 10 murders of women never go to court or result in a sentence. Nearly half of these murders happened in public. I spoke to one woman, Sonia Fuentes, who survived being shot 12 times by her ex in front of a factory just as a shift was ending and workers were pouring out the gates. By chance, two police officers happened to be turning down the street right as it happened. If they hadnt, who knows if he would ever have been charged. Sometimes, even when prosecutors and police know exactly who killed a woman, they still dont arrest him. Glenis Vanessa Ramirez Hercules was 17 when she met Jairo Mauricio Claro Burgos, and 26 when he killed her, her family says. He was with 18th Street, and though he beat her, she didnt trust the police to help. Mr. Claro had a cousin on the Choloma police force, and most of the officers were too afraid to even enter the neighborhood, Ms. Ramirezs aunt, Danelia Hercules, told me. When they drive here, theyre always blaring their sirens or honking their horns, she said. Its like they are announcing to the gangs: Were coming! Eventually Ms. Ramirez moved out and rented her own room nearby, but one night, on Oct. 30, 2016, she returned to find her husband waiting. A local drug addict later told Ms. Hercules that Mr. Claro had strangled Ms. Ramirez in front of their three young sons. He broke her legs so that he could stuff her into a nylon bag used to sell dried corn. Two neighbors heard her cry for help, but the owner of the house said he thought it was just another fight, and all were afraid to call the authorities. Ms. Ramirezs family noticed she was missing the next day. They believe Mr. Claro hauled the sack out Sunday night and left it, covered in grass and trash, on the side of the road a few blocks away. On Monday, their boys told their father that some were accusing him of killing their mother. Mr. Claro bolted. Thats when the eldest, who was 9, dared to tell another aunt that he had been warned by his father that if he told anyone what he had witnessed, he would do to me what he did to my mom. Irma Rosa Herculess daughter Glenis was 26 when she was murdered by her husband. When Ms. Ramirezs mother went to file a missing-person report, she said she learned that Mr. Claros father had already gone to the police, to report that his son had confessed the murder to him. Tuesday morning a young man collecting firewood found the 110-pound sack with Ms. Ramirezs decomposing body. At a family wake that night, someone spotted Mr. Claro lurking nearby, and two dozen men gathered their guns and machetes to kill him, because they were sure the police would not pursue him. But he escaped. Denis Avila Maradiaga, head of the homicide unit at the Directorate for Police Investigations in San Pedro Sula, told me the police had put out an order to arrest Mr. Claro. But Ms. Ramirezs mother said they did nothing to find him. Mr. Claro has been spotted over the past two years in the nearby 18th Street strongholds of Japon and Kilometro. Ms. Hercules shook with anger when she told me that man is free, he will kill us all, and the authorities will do nothing. When I spoke with her this week, she said she saw him again in February. She is so frightened, she is thinking of leaving for the United States. Jose Daniel Sandivar Rios near the place where the discovery of Glenis Hercules was made. He was there when she was found. Theres a lack of interest in doing the work. Womens murders arent investigated or prosecuted because of a toxic stew of corruption, incompetence, and a lack of both resources and interest. A 2018 study of cases in San Pedro Sula found that more than 96 percent of womens murders go unpunished. The prosecutors office blamed this largely on family members being afraid to testify in a place where you can buy a hit on a person for $50 and no one believes the police can or will protect them. Of 783 killings of women in Cortes between 2013 and 2018, prosecutors here say that just 17 percent have begun a court process and an estimated 12 percent will get a verdict statistics they trot out as an improvement. Government entities work with police and narcos and gangs to hide cases sometimes, said Belinda Dominguez, the coordinator of Cholomas Womens Office. She described prosecutors purposefully losing files or slow-walking cases, and corrupt cops tipping off accused criminals as soon as a complaint is filed. Prosecutors who actually did their jobs have ended up dead. A worker at the San Pedro Sula morgue said he was offered $16,300 to change an autopsy report. Criminal organizations pay the police to look the other way, to help them get out of jail when they are arrested and to even kill for them. Two years ago, a Choloma police officer who was also working as a sicario killed a 20-year-old woman who had refused a narcos advances. Four months later, the narcos paid to have the officer murdered, to cover their tracks, Virginia Marta Velasquez, the founder of the Lopez Arellano womens group, told me. Residents of Choloma making their way past the headquarters of the Womens Movement of the Neighborhood of Lopez Arellano and Surroundings. In 2017, in Cholomas Cerro Verde neighborhood, a bus company was refusing to pay an extortion tax to the 18th Street gang. The bus stop was always guarded by the police. One night, several people told me, the police abandoned the stop and eight bus riders were gunned down. The bus company now pays the tax. Theres a lack of interest in doing the work, said Ms. Dominguez, who has an image of the North Star on the wall of her cramped office. The morgue does an autopsy and an investigation, but four out of five times, according to employees at the San Pedro Sula morgue, their report isnt even picked up by prosecutors. Forensic Medicine has the ability to lift fingerprints from the nylon bags in which women are so often disposed, but the person who would do the test cannot recall police investigators ever requesting one. Last November, when Cholomas Womens Office held a training, funded partly by U.S.A.I.D., about how to better handle domestic violence, the police were invited but didnt come, Ms. Dominguez said. I saw a demon in his eyes. As a result, most advances for abused women in Choloma have come through nonprofit groups whose leaders risk their lives to teach women their rights and find workarounds to government inaction. At the offices of the Womens Movement of the Neighborhood of Lopez Arellano and Surroundings, a steady stream of women arrive each day to ask for help with domestic violence claims or child support. Ms. Velasquez, a regal mother of nine with short black hair, founded the group in 1992. She got into organizing after a Belgian labor rights organizer she washed clothes for suggested she attend a womens meeting in the capitol. She and a friend ended up training for a year in womens legal rights. Then they began training other women about self-esteem, sex education and the cycle of domestic violence (he hits you, he brings roses, he hits you). Long before there were any domestic violence laws, Ms. Velasquez and her friend would knock on the doors of abusers. We are the authorities to stop domestic violence! If you dont cut it out, we will put you in jail! they would shout. It often worked. Ms. Velasquez marched through the streets with a bullhorn: We want to notify women that if your husband is hitting you, come put in a report. Virginia Marta Velasquez, one of the founders of the Lopez Arellano's women's group, doing needlework at the office. Men called them sick and crazy. They said a foreigner had brainwashed them. They barred their wives from coming to meetings. And worse. In 1996, the wife of a police officer was stabbed to death in front of her 4-year-old daughter after she put in a domestic violence complaint at the groups office. In 2002, another abusive husband poured gasoline on his own house and lit a match with his wife and three children sleeping inside (they woke up and escaped in time). Nonetheless, the women kept coming. The group helped provide 50,000 signatures to prod Hondurass congress to pass the 1997 domestic violence law. It helps women fill out forms to take to the police or courts asking for an arrest or temporary restraining order. It lobbied for funding for a walking bridge over the freeway, potable water, a kindergarten. It has provided documents to women applying for asylum in the United States. Today it has 680 members. The group reels nervous women in by teaching them how to make things they can sell, like crocheted tablecloths. Ms. Martinez, one of the leaders, talks to women about looking at themselves naked, loving their bodies, while they crochet. Almost every surface of her house, including the toilet and the stove, is covered in doilies. Women were afraid to talk, to express themselves, Ms. Martinez said. Now they talk. She also says that domestic abuse has declined. In the early 1990s, an estimated seven in 10 men beat their wives in the area; now its two or three of 10, she said. But the murders they keep happening. Virginia Marta Velasquez, a mother of nine, founded the womens group in 1992. Zoila Lagos, one of the groups founders, now runs another womens organization in a nearby neighborhood. The night I visited her, she was trying to keep Rosa Concepcion Castellano Coello alive. Ms. Castellanos husband, a 230-pound private security guard, had been beating her for 19 years, Ms. Castellano told us. The night before, he had squeezed her throat and lifted her off the ground. He was on crack, Ms. Castellano said, which always makes him more aggressive, and he was angry that she wouldnt let his lover move in. When the youngest of their three children, 4-year-old Jose Daniel, ran into the street for help, Ms. Castellano ran after him. Her husband followed, put the muzzle of his gun against her forehead and said, Im going to kill you, bitch, before firing four shots next to her and their sons feet. I saw a demon in his eyes, she told us. For the first time, she felt he might finish her off. Ms. Lagos had helped her get a restraining order, but the authorities wouldnt deliver it until the next day. Ms. Lagos urged her not to go home. Im afraid he will kill you, she said. We will follow your case and help you. But Ms. Castellano doesnt trust the authorities to do anything. She wondered whether her only real chance at safety was to leave in the next caravan north. Just because you are a woman, you feel hatred. Like someone is always trying to kill you. Everyone in Choloma knows about the woman who was skinned alive here in June 2017. Edelsa Munoz Nunez, 47, lives in an apartment near the two murder victims, Irma Quintero Lopez, 21, and Dunia Xiomara Murillo Reyes, 34. They were tortured and killed in their home, most likely by gang members. They peeled the skin from Ms. Murillos legs. Like you skin a pig, Ms. Munoz told me, shaking. The womens body parts were found strewn around the feet in one place, the heads in another. One torso was missing. Although four MS-13 members were arrested, the suspected ringleader of the crime remains at large. Now Ms. Munoz leaves her home only to buy food or go to work. On her $285-a-month salary, she can afford to take public transportation only one way, in the morning, when the mototaxi fares are half-price. At night she has to walk through a neighborhood where MS-13 and La Rumba are battling for control. Ms. Munoz says the police blame murder victims for going out to drink a beer, or wearing short skirts. Why dont they do their work and actually investigate? she demanded. The government has to care. When we go out, we dont know if we will come home, said Ms. Regalado of the Honduran Womens Collective. Even as an outsider visiting Choloma for two weeks, I came to understand that deeply. One night, a teenager was shot dead on the street a block away from me. One of seven colleagues at my drivers taxi stop was murdered while I was in town. Ms. Garcia, the woman whose friend was killed, has been gang-raped not once but twice in her 38 years. When she was 13, someone drugged her drink at a wedding and she was discovered a dozen hours later in a garbage dump, naked, unconscious, bound at the feet and hands, teeth marks and bruises all over her body. She became pregnant with her now 23-year-old daughter. She says the police never investigated anyone at the wedding to determine who kidnapped her. Then, on July 16, 2013, she was walking home at 4 p.m. from a meeting at her childrens school in Choloma when two men with black masks materialized in the drizzle. Too bad you passed by the wrong place at the wrong time, one of them said, throwing her to the ground. They dragged her into tall grass and, with one holding a machete to her throat, took turns raping her from behind. For six months, she washed her body with bleach to try to remove the stain of the trauma. She later heard that the same thing had happened to another woman in the same spot. Last year, she went to the police to ask about her case, but she says she was told they were closing it without charging anyone. I am in constant fear, Ms. Garcia said. I leave my house, but I never know if I will return. Just because you are a woman, you feel hatred. Like someone is always trying to kill you. I dont want that to happen to me. So what can be done? The United States cannot erect a wall and expect women to resign themselves to stay put in Honduras and be slaughtered. President Trumps plan to cut off foreign aid is exactly the wrong thing to do. We could use that money to fund programs like sex education in schools, which can help break the cycle of domestic abuse, in which children who witness abuse grow up to become abusers. We could use it as a bargaining chip to force reforms. Some Honduran womens groups have suggested that the United States, as a condition for its aid, require that Honduras commit a percentage of its budget to holding abusers and killers accountable. Government workers who dont do their jobs should be fired; those on the take should be fired. The rot starts at the top, with Hondurass president, Juan Orlando Hernandez. The Organization of American States questioned the validity of his 2017 election and his brother, Tony, was arrested last year by the United States for large-scale drug trafficking. Instead of accepting him, the United States should push for a change in leadership. Cutting off the border and trying to stop victims of domestic violence from applying for asylum are even greater mistakes. During World War II, the United States blocked a ship with hundreds of Jewish refugees from docking at our shores, sending many back to their deaths. After the war, the United States declared never again and became a leader in the modern-day refugee movement. This is at the core of who we are: We dont send people who arrive at our borders back to die. We incorporated that ideal into international treaties and our own immigration laws. If we turn our backs now on Central American women who are running for their lives, we will be failing to meet the lowest possible bar for human rights. These women are being targeted just for being women. They are fleeing countries where the government does little to protect them and is sometimes even complicit in the killings. Whatever the Trump administration says, the women are not criminals; they are victims. And we are perfectly capable of saving their lives. In the last fiscal year, 97,728 migrants had a credible-fear interview, the first step in the asylum process for people who fear being returned to their own country. Only a small percentage will ultimately be approved. There is no public breakdown on asylum applications by gender, but if even half of those were domestic violence cases, it would be an entirely manageable number of people for one of the richest countries in the world to take in. Honduran migrants joined a caravan for a journey to the United States in January. For now, women keep running. At 9 p.m. on Jan. 14, at a bus terminal in San Pedro Sula, I watched one of the latest caravans leave for the United States. It was pouring rain but they couldnt afford to wait for morning; police officers were arriving, and the migrants were afraid of being detained. They went on foot down the dark road north, about 1,500 people, pushing carry-on luggage, strollers, a shopping cart, carrying babies in their arms. Lilian Johann Mercado Sorian, who is 26, stopped to let her 7-year-old daughter, Andrea Johana Bardales Mercado, sleep for a bit under an empty food stand along the road. There was much pressing her and her husband to leave Honduras, she said: no stable jobs, the rising cost of food, corruption, the fact they lived in a shack. But at the top of her list was a neighbor who once sold Ms. Mercado sandals. That neighbor was raped and murdered three weeks earlier. She had been kidnapped and cut up with a machete. The police had laughed at her husband when he reported his wife missing. They told him she had probably run off with another man. I am afraid, Ms. Mercado said, pressing forward into the night. I dont want that to happen to me. Sonia Nazario is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Enriques Journey: The Story of a Boys Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite With His Mother and a board member of Kids in Need of Defense. Amy Klobuchar 2 cities in N.H. Minn. Wis. N.Y. Kirsten Gillibrand 2 cities in Mich. N.H. Mich. Iowa Calif. Bernie Sanders 4 cities in Calif. Penn. N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ill. D.C. Beto ORourke 16 cities in Iowa Cory Booker 6 cities in S.C. Tenn. S.C. Ala. Miss. Ga. Julian Castro 3 cities in Tex. Kamala Harris 1 city in Ga. Elizabeth Warren 3 cities in Miss. Tex. Places Visited by Democratic Presidential Candidates in March Fla. The candidates, shown above, are sized by the number of cities visited in each state. Amy Klobuchar 2 cities in N.H. Minn. N.H. Wis. N.Y. Kirsten Gillibrand 2 cities in Mich. Mich. Iowa Calif. Bernie Sanders 4 cities in Calif. Penn. Nev. N.J. Neb. Ohio Ill. D.C. Beto ORourke 16 cities in Iowa Cory Booker 6 cities in S.C. Tenn. S.C. Ala. Miss. Ga. Julian Castro 3 cities in Tex. Kamala Harris 1 city in Nev. Tex. Elizabeth Warren 3 cities in Miss. Places Visited by Democratic Presidential Candidates in March Fla. The candidates, shown above, are sized by the number of cities visited in each state. Amy Klobuchar 2 cities in N.H. Kirsten Gillibrand 2 cities in Mich. Bernie Sanders 4 cities in Calif. Beto ORourke 16 cities in Iowa Cory Booker 6 cities in S.C. Julian Castro 3 cities in Tex. Kamala Harris 1 city in Ga. Elizabeth Warren 3 cities in Miss. Places Visited by Democratic Presidential Candidates in March The candidates, shown above, are sized by the number of cities visted in each state. Places Visited by Democratic Presidential Candidates in March The candidates, shown below, are sized by the number of cities visited in each state. Amy Klobuchar 2 cities in N.H. Kirsten Gillibrand 2 cities in Mich. Bernie Sanders 4 cities in Calif. Kamala Harris 1 city in Nev. Cory Booker 6 cities in S.C. Beto ORourke 16 cities in Iowa Julian Castro 3 cities in Tex. Elizabeth Warren 3 cities in Miss. Visits by Democratic Presidential Candidates in March The candidates, shown below, are sized by the number of cities visited in each state. Bernie Sanders 4 cities in Calif. Beto ORourke 16 cities in Iowa Elizabeth Warren 3 cities in Miss. Though the first votes are still 10 months away, Democratic candidates for president are zigzagging across America like Super Tuesday is almost upon them. The New York Times tracked the public appearances of eight Democrats for the month of March, as well as those private fund-raising events that could be found, to try to illuminate how they are spending their most precious resource: their time. The results reveal the often-opposing imperatives of running for president in 2020: fund-raising where the wealthiest Democrats live (chiefly in California and New York) vs. visiting the crucial early primary states; casting votes in Congress vs. introducing themselves to voters beyond the usual stomping grounds of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. As ever, Iowa, the first state to vote, remains the political and physical epicenter of the nomination process. But the candidates visited no fewer than 20 states in March as the geography of running for president has widened in search of money, votes and support. For Senator Bernie Sanders, the contest so far has involved the same kind of big rallies and speeches that defined his 2016 run. Beto ORourke, the former Texas congressman, has done the opposite: a flurry of voter interactions in smaller settings, hopping on cars in Nevada and coffee shop counters in Iowa, often driving himself between events. Mr. ORourkes dizzying itinerary appears an effort, in part, to emphasize his relative youth (hes 46). But it also displays an unusual potential advantage: being unemployed. Those who serve in Congress must fly back to Washington for votes, and other candidates must manage a city or a state. The travel patterns make plain just how much a constraint serving in the Senate can be, keeping candidates off the trail and confined to Washington for as many as four days a week. Cities Visited By Each Candidate in March Cory Booker 28 cities Julian Castro 18 cities Kirsten Gillibrand 17 cities Kamala Harris 13 cities Amy Klobuchar 25 cities Beto ORourke 42 cities Bernie Sanders 17 cities Elizabeth Warren 22 cities Several of the senators are also spending significant time at private fund-raisers. In March, Senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand and Amy Klobuchar all devoted days to such events, including time-consuming cross-country travel. But Senator Elizabeth Warren has made her refusal to attend private fund-raisers a core part of her message about a broken political system. Mr. Sanders avoids the fund-raising circuit, too. Mr. ORourke did so in his first 17 days, though he has not ruled out attending high-dollar events later. The itineraries also show just how many candidates appear to be banking on a lift from a strong showing in Iowa. Ms. Warren began and ended March in Iowa, with a total of nine events there, the most she held in any state. Iowa was also the most popular destination for Ms. Klobuchar, who hails from neighboring Minnesota. Of the eight candidates, only Ms. Harris, who held among the fewest public campaign events, did not visit Iowa in March, though she did go in February. Here are the candidates travels, excluding trips to and from Washington for official duties: If most candidates seemed particularly focused on Iowa, Mr. Bookers three trips to the early primary state of South Carolina made plain its importance in his political strategy. He kept up a busy schedule of fund-raisers and public appearances, also traveling twice to California while stopping through Iowa and New Hampshire. Like Mr. ORourke, Julian Castro, the former federal housing secretary, does not bear the burden of a day job. He made stops in the first four states, but he also held events in Texas, where his campaign is based, and in California two of the biggest prizes of the primary that will vote on the same day in March 2020. Ms. Gillibrand visited the first two states to vote Iowa and New Hampshire the most. She also held a kickoff rally in Manhattan and a televised town hall-style event in Michigan. She carved out time for a weekend of fund-raisers in both New York and California while balancing the need to be in Washington for Senate business. Ms. Harris mixed fund-raisers on both coasts with early-state appearances, though she forged a different travel path than others in March. She went to Florida to raise money. She was the only candidate with a public event in Georgia. And she was the only candidate included in the analysis not to appear in New Hampshire or Iowa last month. Ms. Klobuchar made two trips to Iowa, touching down from Dubuque to Sioux City, and one trip to New Hampshire, as she also stopped through some of the usual destinations to raise money: New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois and California. She mixed in some public events, such as climate change round tables in Tampa and San Francisco, to her fund-raising trips. Mr. ORourke joined the contest in mid-March, and he raced through his first 10-plus days (including, literally, a 5K race in Iowa, which he finished in a respectable 24:29). He drove from Iowa to New Hampshire, making stops in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania a set of key Rust Belt states that Democrats lost in 2016. He ended the month with three kickoff rallies in Texas. Mr. Sanders began with rallies in Brooklyn and Chicago (where he grew up and went to college) and then methodically made his way through the first four states and California, with large-scale rallies anchoring each visit (he was not slowed by cutting his head on a glass shower door in South Carolina, which required stitches). He held no fund-raisers and no events in the last week of the month. A team of scientists has utilized new technologies for mapping gene expression that provide a fuller picture of the mechanisms that contribute to disease onset and progression in ALS patients. The paper, published in the journal Science, describes how the spatiotemporal gene expression atlas uncovers early changes in ALS disease not observable using traditional sequencing methods. The scientists also developed novel computational approaches that reveal disease-driven changes in the activity of many signaling pathways across all cell types in the central nervous system and may offer target opportunities for designing therapeutics and diagnostics. Most prior methods for researching this affliction involved breaking tissues to get at cells, explains Richard Bonneau, a professor of biology and data science at New York University and one of the studys co-authors, which appears in the journal Science. With this advance, we can now see cells as they exist naturally and in 3D. As a result, we now potentially have new ways to more closely examine ALS and without destroying tissue. The global collaboration also included scientists at the New York Genome Center (NYGC), the Simons Foundations Flatiron Institute, the Science for Life Laboratory, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Researchers at the NYGCs Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease (CGND) used spatial transcriptomics, combined with a novel computational approach, to obtain gene expression measurements over time and space for close to 12,000 genes in the spinal cord. The result is a new, multi-dimensional gene expression atlas, providing unparalleled detail and scale and offering a previously unavailable view of disease progression in ALS. The researchers believe that the study can provide a framework for further mapping of the central nervous system and its modes of dysfunction, possibly aiding research into not just ALS but also other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and Huntingtons disease. What makes this study different from previous transcriptome profiling research is the method used by the scientists, spatial transcriptomics, which generates RNAseq profiles at many locations in a tissue section simultaneously, with the team able to record precisely where in the tissue each profile came from. The researchers examined four time points along disease progression from earliest adulthood to end stage in a mouse model of ALS and applied the method to postmortem tissue samples from ALS patients. Spatial transcriptomics allows us, for the first time, to gain important insights into gene expression in individual cell types while in their natural multicellular context, explains Hemali Phatnani, director of NYGCs CGND and senior author of the study. It enables unprecedented interrogation of cell-to-cell interactions so that we can now examine and explore specific pathways in ALS where things are going wrong, where and in which cell types dysfunction is first seen, and how this spreads through the spinal cord. The scientists have made this multidimensional gene expression atlas available as a resource to the research community via the interactive data exploration portal https://als-st.nygenome.org/. Bonneau, also group leader for systems biology at the Center for Computational Biology at the Simons Foundations Flatiron Institute, led the team in devising novel computational methods for analysis of atlas data. He and his colleagues note that the ongoing insights to be gleaned from this comprehensive, spatiotemporal, transcriptome-wide gene expression dataset will be crucial to advancing understanding of ALS, a complex neurodegenerative disease with no clear cause or known cure. More than 200,000 people worldwide are living with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, which typically manifests at first in distal muscles of a single limb, and then spreads throughout the body, leading to total paralysis and death. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is about two to five years from the time of diagnosis. In their paper, the team collected 76,136 spatial gene expression measurements (SGEMs) from 1,165 mouse tissue sections and 61,031 SGEMs from 80 human tissue sections. By combining the data from many tissue sections, the researchers were able to interrogate the expression of close to 12,000 genes simultaneously across the tissue region under examination. This is the first time that such a spatially resolved approach has been used to study ALS at this depth and scale. Even though it is the motor neurons that are most vulnerable in ALS, the neighboring cells that surround the motor neurons also play a role in the disease, observes co-first author Silas Maniatis, staff scientist at NYGCs CGND. Our research focuses on understanding how disease-causing mutations disrupt the function of both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and how disrupted interactions between the various cell types of the nervous system drive motor neuron loss in ALS. Spatial Transcriptomics and the associated computational tools we developed in this study give us a superb view of these processes. Perhaps more importantly, this combination of technologies and experimental approaches provide a framework for understanding other diseases of the nervous system. Other authors on the study include: Joakim Lundeberg, whose lab developed the spatial transcriptomics method and who is head of the division of Gene Technology at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and scientific director of the genomics platform at SciLifeLab; Tarmo Aijo, research scientist, systems biology, Center for Computational Biology at the Simon Foundations Flatiron Institute; and Sanja Vickovic, of NYGCs CGND, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The study was supported by Target ALS, the ALS Association (15- LGCA-234), the Tow Foundation, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and the Simons Foundation. For over a year a couple angered their neighbors by keeping around 10,000 bees in the balcony of their high-rise apartment in the Chinese city of Ningbo. Police were recently called to a residential building in the coastal city of Ningbo after a couple living there ignored numerous complaints from their neighbors about the thousands of pet bees they kept on their balcony. About a year ago, the unnamed couple installed a small beehive in their high-rise apartment with the intention of using them for bee sting treatment, a form of alternative medicine believed to help alleviate the symptoms of painful conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. However, the insects kept breeding and their number swelled to around 10,000, becoming a nuisance to the other residents. Photos: RPN/Pixabay Neighbors started complaining about the bees swarming outside their windows on sunny days and staining clothes left out to dry with their droppings. Property management complained to the couple several times about the bee situation, but they refused to move their pets, so on March 29th police were called to set things right. To other residents in the complex, this is a ticking bomb. What happens if someone gets stung, have you thought about that? a police officer told the wife, but she apparently didnt think being stung by a bee was a big deal. Being stung is not a big deal. Ive been stung a few times, and nothing happened, the woman reportedly told the officer. We have grown attached to these bees, we dont want to move them. Although the couple reportedly regarded the bees as pets, they eventually agreed to move them out of the apartment after being threatened with a fine of between 200 and 500 yuan ($30 and $74). The couple was criticized on social media, with most users accusing them of being selfish and ignorant for disregarding their neighbors well-being. You can even keep dinosaurs if you want, but only on the condition you do not affect other people, one person commented. Personally, I think the strangest thing about this story is that other residents complained about the bee droppings staining their clothes and not the danger of getting stung. This isnt the first time weve written about people sharing their home with bees. Back in 2017, we featured another Chinese family that had a giant open beehive in their living room for 12 years because feng-shui experts told them to keep it for good fortune. I take it these people never heard of the BEEcosystem A 19-year-old woman from the UK went from having no idea she was pregnant to giving birth to a healthy baby girl, literally overnight, after going to bed with a flat stomach and waking up with a full-on baby bump. On the morning of July 17, 2018, 19-year-old Emmalouise Leggate got the shock of her life. She woke up with a baby where there hadnt been one the night before. Alarmed, the teenager called her mom, who in turn contacted her grandmother Louise to see if she could make sense of the bulging belly. Louise could tell it was a baby bump the moment she saw it, so she drove Emmalouise to the hospital and had her wait in the car while she went in to find a midwife. Only by the time she came back, the teen had given birth in the backseat. She had only noticed the baby bump 45 minutes earlier. Photo: TC-TORRES/Pixabay The midwife came out thinking I was about to give birth and it was an unknown pregnancy. She asked how long I thought I had and was I timing it, the 19-year-old recalled. But then opened the car door and she was already there. I had already given birth to her. Except for missing her periods, which she assumed had something to do with being on contraceptive pills, Emmalouise had experienced no pregnancy symptoms. She had no morning sickness or unexplained cravings, never felt the baby kick and had no noticeable baby bump, so she never even considered getting a pregnancy test. I had no bump. I had put on a bit of weight, so my mum was suggesting we go out walking and do different things to burn it off because I kept going on about my weight, Emmalouise said. The weight was across my full body, more in my arms, legs and face than anywhere else. My stomach never grew. The teen claims that she just woke up the morning she gave birth to her second baby, Ciara, and the bump had just popped up out of nowhere. Doctors told her that the baby must have been sitting in her lower back, which apparently is quite common. Although she considers Ciara a blessing, Emmalouise told Kennedy News and Media that she would rather have such surprise pregnancies in the future. She has replaced the birth-control pills with a coil and regularly gets pregnancy tests, just to be sure. Two Arkansas men were arrested this week for taking turns shooting each other with a semi-automatic rifle while wearing a bulletproof vest. 50-year-old Charles Eugene Ferris was admitted to a Benton County hospital late last Sunday with a red spot on his upper chest. Doctors there notified police about the suspicious wound and in an interview with a deputy from the Benton County Sheriffs Office, the man tried to come up with a plausible explanation. He claimed that an asset had paid him $200 for protection and after they met with a third individual at around 10 p.m. on Sunday, a gunfight ensued. The 50-year-old told police that he had been shot several times and returned fire before escaping in a car. Luckily, he had been wearing a bulletproof vest, but the asset brought him to the hospital anyway. Unfortunately, Ferris forgot to tell his wife his version of the story, so she spilled the beans on what really happened. Photo: SimmeD/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) According to Leslie Ferris, her husband Charles and his friend Christopher Hicks, age 36, had been drinking with Charles Hicks, 36, outside their home when gunfire erupted. She didnt know the details, but after being confronted by investigators, Charles Ferris changed his story. In an affidavit obtained by the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ferris admitted that he and Hicks had been drinking when they decided to play around with a bulletproof vest. He put on the vest and asked his neighbor to shoot him with a .22mm semi-automatic rifle. Hicks agreed and shot him in the chest, which is how he got that red spot that doctors found suspicious. Pissed-off by the pain caused by the gun shot, Ferris grabbed the rifle and proceeded to unload the clip into his friend, who had put on the bulletproof vest. He shot him in the back five times, but by some miracle none of the bullets pierced the vest. One of Ferris neighbors told 5News that the man and his friends regularly shoot guns outside his home and that he fears for her childrens safety. I have three kids, two of them still live at home here right next to them. They shoot as many as 50 to 100 rounds at a time. I just want to make sure its not just left hanging, no charges, the concerned man said. There has to be something done about it. If nothing is done it could escalate into someone getting seriously injured. Maybe somebody that is not on their property. The gun-loving neighbors were arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, but later released on $5,000 bond. They face charges of aggravated assault and face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. They are scheduled to appear in a Benton County court on may 13. Talk about burying the lede. The Rockefeller Foundation announced April 1 that it was donating $30M to the Atlantic Council to support its work in helping cities meet the environmental and climate change threats facing cities, which will account for 75 percent of humanity by 2050. The press releases headline played it up straight: "The Rockefeller Foundation Announces a $30M Grant to the Adrienne Arsht Center for Resilience at the Atlantic Council. Hats off! The Rockefeller Foundation has been in the forefront on climate and resilience over the past decade. It has invested about $500M to help urban areas address the physical, social and economic challenges facing global communities. The release headline read like the Foundation was bolstering an ally. Under its 100 Resilient Cities initiative, the Foundation provided funds for more than 80 cities to hire chief resilience officers, according to its April 1 release. The 100RC has forged a network of city leaders/partners and guided areas in post-disaster phases to rebuild with resilience in mind. More than 2,600 projects and initiatives have been proposed with more than $3B leveraged to implement them. And now the kicker. In paragraph seven of the release, the Foundation informs readers that it has a long history of incubating projects and entities that have matured to become independent organizations in their own right. In order to sustain and institutionalize 100RC, the Foundation is kicking in $12M to allow continued support and transition time to the 100RC network through much of 2019." Hammer time arrived in paragraph eight: With a new grant in place to the Atlantic Council and new structures within the Rockefeller Foundation to carry forward its resilience work, the grant that funds 100RC will conclude in 2019. See ya, 100RC. The result: New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and overseas cities threatened by climate change are left high and dry (pun intended) by the Rockefeller Foundations decision to pull the plug on the 100RC. This morning our staff of 86 was informed that their last day would by July 31, 2019myself includedwith severance following, 100RC spokesperson Andrew Brenner told Bloomberg via email. The Rockefeller exit from 100RC comes as the Trump administration, which doubts global warming, has reversed Obama policies designed to prepare communities for global warming. The April 1 release could have been a not-so-funny April Fools' Day prank. If only that was true. Qorvis has a draft agreement to provide PR support for the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Center, which is based in Riyadh. The mission of KSrelief is "to manage and coordinate relief activities to ensure the provision of external aid is in line with the national interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," according to the federal filing of the MSLGroup unit. Qorvis will handle PR training, media relations, events, op-ed pieces and conduct seminars for journalists or think tanks. Founded in 2015, KSrelief has provided aid to 37 countries. As of March 13, KSrelief counted 996 completed/ongoing projects (food security, emergency aid, logistics, health, education, camp coordination, protection) worth $3.3B. The group has is allied with 141 partners, including the Red Cross/Red Crescent, World Health Organization, UNICEF and United States Agency for International Development. Qorvis has been Saudi Arabia's go-to PR firm since the aftermath of 9/11. In March, it disclosed an $810K one-year contract with the Saudi-based Muslim World League to clarify the true message of Islam. France's Publicis Groupe owns MSLGroup. The U.S. operations of Germany-based pharmaceutical giant Bayer has engaged government relation firm Forbes-Tate Partners to communicate health issues on Capitol Hill. Bayers U.S. unit has specifically retained FTP to discuss issues related to 340B, the federal drug pricing program that requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs at discounted rates to eligible healthcare organizations and various covered entities serving the countrys most vulnerable patient populations. A five-person team handles the Bayer account, including founding partner Jeff Forbes, who formerly served as chief of staff to former Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), staff director to the Senate Finance Committee and deputy political director to President Clintons 1996 re-election campaign. Hell be joined by Libby Greer, former chief of staff to Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL); Derrick White, former deputy communications director to former U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT); Francesca McCrary, former legislative assistant to Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD); and Zach Williams, who worked as a top advisor in then-Lt. Governor Lucy Baxleys 2006 campaign for Alabama Governor. Forbes-Tate is the bipartisan public affairs consultancy previously known as Cauthen, Forbes & Williams. A fantastic Offaly design is currently leading the public vote in the Grand Final of Junk Kouture. The brilliantly named '2B or not 2B' is the creation of Sacred Heart School students Niamh Conroy, Aoife Kavanagh and Rose Dunne. It is made almost entirely of pencil parings and has certainly caught the imagination of the voting public. At the time of writing, it has 6,630 votes, just narrowly ahead of the second place design however that gap is closing. Today is 'Super Friday' for voting and you can click here to vote for the Offaly design. The Grand Final takes place on Thursday May 2nd at the 3Arena, Dublin. Bank of Irleand Fun in the Foyer starts at 3pm and the live show starts at 7pm. The public vote is worth 10% of the marks which is then added to the overall scores at the live Grand Final show. Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture is an all island competition for secondary school students which takes elements such as fashion, design, engineering and environmental sustainability and transforms them into a creative contest like no other. Inspiring young designers in second level education to use everyday junk materials to create striking works of wearable art, the competition calls on all budding fashionistas to see if they have what it takes to be crowned King or Queen of the upcycled catwalk. Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has said that she welcomes commitments given to her by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Older People, Jim Daly, with respect to the introduction of reforms to the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal Scheme). Deputy Nolan went on to say however that the government was "already significantly behind the delivery of its commitments to reform the scheme as outlined in the programme for Government and that any further delay would be totally unacceptable." The failure to reform the Fair Deal Scheme is continuing to result in inaction that is having immediate, dramatic and totally avoidable consequences for farming families in particular," Nolan said. "There is particular anxiety around the delay in implementing urgent reforms aimed at ensuring that the applicants principal private residence will only be included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three-year cap." "What I am concerned about, however, is that while the Minister told me that he expects to bring the Heads of a reform Bill to Cabinet in May; he also says this is subject to legal advice." "That is very far from the kind of solid commitments that farming families in Laois/Offaly need at this time of massive agri-sector uncertainty." "In fact, it sounds very much like government speak aimed at justifying further delay. That is something we must have absolute clarity on if the reforms are to have any impact at all." "We have already waited long enough." "Commitments to reform the huge inequalities in the Fair Deal Scheme for farmers have been repeated every year since 2016 and still nothing concrete has happened," Carol said. "The Minister in his reply says that delays are down to the focus on Brexit." "At best that is a partial and weak excuse given that work on the legal basis for the reforms should have started 3 years ago when commitments were provided in the Programme for Government." "Otherwise, the government is simply saying that it promised all kind of things without doing any kind of legal analysis as to whether they could, in fact, be delivered. Some people would call that spin." "If the government thinks it can string farmers and service users of the Nursing Home Support Scheme along for another three years then it is in for a rude awakening because rural Ireland, in particular, has endured enough inequality in treatment to last a lifetime, concluded Deputy Nolan. A former midlands based GAA administrator who is facing almost 400 sex offence charges has been extradited back to Ireland from the United States. The man, who is accused of sexually abusing two minors in Ireland between 2004 and 2009, was arrested at Dublin Airport this morning. This morning's latest development comes after detectives in the Midlands together with Interpol, UK authorities and Homeland Security in the US managed to track down the man earlier this year. The accused is believed to have moved to the United States in 2013. He was arrested on January 17 in New York by the Department of Homeland Security, with assistance from Guilderland police and has remained in custody ever since. According to court documents at his extradition hearing in the US earlier this year, the man came into contact with his alleged victims through his involvement with the GAA in the Midlands. Punjab: Shiv Sena leader shot dead in Gurdaspur Chandigarh pti-PTI Chandigarh, Apr 5: A Shiv Sena leader was allegedly shot dead in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Friday evening by three youths over a dispute, police said. Ajay Thakur, 25, was about to board a bus from near a bus stand in Purana Shalla area. Three youths, who have been identified, came on a motorcycle and one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire at Thakur. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the police said. Madhya Pradesh: Bike borne assailants fire at petrol pump in Indore "There is no terror or any other angle behind this incident. The only thing which has come to the fore so far is that the assailants had a dispute with him over some issue," district Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swarndeep Singh said. [Stay up to date with our election coverage here] The accused are at large, but will be nabbed soon. A case has been registered and an investigation is on, the SSP said. Family members of the deceased have alleged that Thakur was facing threats to his life from the assailants, but the police failed to act on time. PTI Corruption on accelerator and development on ventilator was hallmark of Congress rule: Modi AP stands for Ahmed Patel: ED in explosive chargesheet against James Michel India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 05: The AP in the notes prepared by alleged AgustaWestland middleman James Christian Michel means Ahmed Patel, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has said in an explosive chargesheet. "The recipients of the kickback include several categories of persons namely Air Force officials, bureaucrats including defence ministry officials and top political leaders of the then ruling party. As per Christian Michel James, 'AP' means Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' means Family," the ED said. Rajiv Saxena to turn approver in AgustaWestland case The agency, in its supplementary chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. The chargesheet said according to the "budget sheet, 30 million euros were paid to Air Force officers, bureaucrats and politicians" to swing the deal in the favour of AgustaWestland for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country. "Christian Michel James has further disclosed various abbreviations used in the budget sheet, which contains the details of the payments made to Air Force officials, bureaucrats and political persons. At another place in the chargesheet, Michel said, "I cannot say what Haschke was thinking. As a guess, I would think he was talking about Ahmed Patel." Regarding "Fam", he said it "could mean family". While the identity of the said Ahmed Patel is not clear, it is understood that it refers to the senior Congress leader. The veteran leader has not been named in the PMLA FIR of the case. In the same chargesheet, Rajiv Saxena, another accused arrested in the case, has been quoted by the ED as saying that "AP" was a "reference" to Ahmed Patel. Patel in the past has denied any wrongdoing in the case. The ED said the kickback paid by the Anglo-Italian firm in the case was "at least about 12 per cent of the contract amount" and around 70 million euros were paid through the two middlemen involved in the case -- Michel and Guido Haschke. AgustaWestland case: Court directs Tihar to move Christian Michel out of solitary confinement It added that this was an "undisputed fact" that the two middlemen had received kickbacks worth 70 million euros. The agency said this fact could be corroborated with the receipt of kickbacks in the bank accounts of companies "controlled and beneficially owned" by Michel and Haschke. It said the company "enlisted" the two as agents for the VVIP choppers deal in India as it wanted to promote its product and ensure that it became a frontrunner to bag the deal. The central probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary chargesheet with 52 main pages, also named David Syms, Michel's alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them -- Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE -- as accused. In its first chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, the ED had alleged that he and others had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he would decide on whether to take cognisance of the ED's supplementary chargesheet and summon the accused on April 6. Attack on CRPF jawans in Jammu and Kashmir: One martyred, four injured in terror attack Chhattisgarh: CRPF jawan martyred, another injured in Naxal encounter in Dhamtari India oi-Madhuri Adnal Raipur, Apr 05: At least one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed on Friday morning and another sustained injuries in an encounter with Naxals in forests in Saleghat area in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari on Friday. According to ANI, heavy loss has been inflicted to Naxals. The CRPF personnel are from the 211 battalion. The martyred has been identified as Harish Chandra Pal, a resident of Madhya Pradesh. The health condition of the injured, identified as Sudhir Kumar is said to be stable. He suffered a bullet injury in his left leg. This comes a day after four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and two others injured on Thursday in an encounter with Naxals in Kanker district. NIA unearths deposits into shell companies by naxalites Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu paid tribute to the four BSF personnel who lost their lives in the encounter. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences to the families of four BSF personnel who were martyred. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker. They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation. My deepest condolences to the families of these martyrs and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured." Singh also said he had spoken to BSF DG Rajni Kant Mishra over the incident and informed that he will be visiting Chhattisgarh to assess the ground situation. "I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation," read a second tweet from Rajnath. The incident occurred after the domination patrol of 114 Battalion of BSF deployed in Pakhanjur in Kanker district was targeted by the Naxals with IEDs and fire, the BSF said in a statement. After forces kill four naxals, their chief appeals for justice Since last few days, police have intensified anti-naxal operations in the forests falls on the tri-junction of Rajnandgaon, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh) and Gondia (Maharashtra) in view of nexth month Lok Sabha elections. Chhattisgarh will vote in three phases on April 11, April 18 and April 23. Voting in Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund and Kanker seats will be held on April 18. The black sheep clean up in IT dept continues: 15 officials sacked by government Corruption on accelerator and development on ventilator was hallmark of Congress rule: Modi India oi-Vikas SV Dehradun, Apr 5: In the wake of claim by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the AP in the notes prepared by alleged AgustaWestland middleman James Christian Michel means Ahmed Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Dehradun on Friday, said the Congress has established new records in corruption. AP stands for Ahmed Patel: ED in explosive chargesheet against James Michel The ED, filing its fourth supplementary charge sheet in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, had informed a Delhi special court on Thursday that "kickbacks were paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, media persons and important political persons of the ruling party. The ED reportedly told the court: "As per Christian Michel James, 'AP' means Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' means Family." "Congress aur corruption mil karke corruption ke naye record karte rehte hain. Congress ke raj ki pehchaan hai ki usmein bhrashtachar accelerator par rehta hai aur vikas ventilator par rehta hai. Yahi Congress ki pehchaan hai. (The Congress has been establishing records in corruption. The hallmark of Congress rule is that corruption would be on accelerator and development on ventilator. This is the hallmark of Congress)," PM Modi in Dehradun said on Friday. Attacking the alleged corrupt practices of the Congress party, the Prime Minister said "this chowkidar", stands like a wall in front of the Congress' tukde tukde gang and its supporters. 'Taking action against terrorists wasn't liked by some people', says PM Modi in Amroha Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised several questions on Gandhi family's alleged the involvement in the AgustaWestland scam. "Christen Michel was interrogated for weeks, and then a charge sheet was filed. In the charge sheet names were mentioned. "AP" meant Ahmed Patel and "FAM" meant family.... so now you know who is involved in helicopter scam," PM Modi said. AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive Jaitley questions Rahul Gandhi's silence on AgustaWestland scam after ED charge sheet India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Apr 5: Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday questioned Congress president Rahul Gandhi's silence over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chargesheet which says that term 'AP' which appears in James Christian Michel's diary indeeed means Ahmed Patel. Jaitley said the right to silence is available to an accused, but not to a prime ministerial aspirant. "When no reply is given to such serious allegations then the country is entitled to presume that no reply can be given," Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi adding, "Are RG, AP, FAM are imaginary persons?" The Enforcement Directorate, filing its fourth supplementary charge sheet in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, had informed a Delhi special court on Thursday that "kickbacks were paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, media persons and important political persons of the ruling party. The ED reportedly told the court: "As per Christian Michel James, 'AP' means Ahmed Patel and 'Fam' means Family." [Corruption on accelerator and development on ventilator was hallmark of Congress rule: Modi] "The evidence is overwhelming. The needle of suspicion is clear and if no answer is given, it means there is no answer that can be offered," Jaitley said. The agency, in its supplementary chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said "a part of kickback was paid to defence officials, bureaucrats, mediapersons and important political persons of the ruling party" when the deal was being struck. [Stay up to date with our election coverage here] Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland scam, is understood to have reportedly identified the initials "AP" as Ahmed Patel in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before a court. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2019, 18:56 [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 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: On National Voter's Day, Voter-ID cards to go digital as EC targets 5 state elections National Voters Day an occasion to appreciate contribution of EC: PM Modi Maximum complaints on ECs app have come from Kerala India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, Apr 05: The Election Commission (EC) said as many as 10 lakh voters were added to the electoral rolls across the country last week, including four lakh first timers. It also said that "all preparations" are being made for a smooth conduct of the first and second phases of the Lok Sabha polls, in which over 2,900 candidates are in the fray. Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh's poll violation report sent to Home Ministry "We have added 10 lakh voters to the list, including four lakh new voters who are in the age group of 18-19," Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena told reporters here. When the EC announced the polls on March 10, it had said that there are a total of about 90 crore voters in the country. He added that preparations for conducting polls in the first two phases on April 11 and 18 are in full swing and all facilities would be provided to all categories of voters. For the first phase, he said, there are a total of 1,280 candidates in the fray, 1,188 men and 92 women, while for the second phase (April 18), there are 1,674 candidates, 1,549 male and 125 female. The number of candidates trying their luck in these two phases is 2,954. Saxena said there were a total of 61 lakh voters in the "persons with disabilities" category. He added that the 'cVigil' app has been a "big hit" and the commission has received 40,116 complaints through it till now. A pioneer step in poll reforms, Centre says on electoral bonds The cVIGIL mobile application was launched by the Election Commission last year and complaints on violations of poll code can be uploaded on it. Almost 99 per cent or 39,900 complaints have been disposed of and 68 per cent of these were found to be correct, Saxena said. The maximum complaints on this app have come from Kerala, he added. NRC Citizenship Bill,lollipops to fool people of Assam, says Mamata Banerjee India oi-PTI Dhubri, Apr 05: The National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Bill are "two lollipops" being doled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "fool" the people of Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday. The NRC had left out the names of 40 lakh people and it was only the Trinamool Congress that stood beside these people irrespective of their religion, Banerjee said while addressing an election rally here. No political party supported the people whose names were left out from the list, but "we were always with them", she said. 'Badi der kar di mehrbaan aate aate': Mehbooba Mufti reacts to LK Advani's blog "It was not only Muslims, but the names of 22 lakh Hindus and also Gorkhas, Biharis, Tamils and people from Kerala and Rajasthan have been left out from the NRC. We are fighting to get all of their names included," she said. "Within two days after the NRC list was announced, I sent a team of my party to Assam. We were not allowed to go out of the airport and harassed," she said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is another "lollipop" doled out by the BJP to "fool" the people of Assam and deprive them of their rights, the TMC supremo said. "All those who have come to the country before March 25, 1971, are citizens of the country and have voting rights. What is the BJP saying now? They will bring the Act and make you a foreigner...you will be deprived of basic rights, including education, health, visiting your places of worship and even voting rights," she added. Prime Minister Modi is a "liar who is always fooling the people", she said. "Five years ago he called himself a 'chaiwala', but now he has forgotten how to make tea and become a 'chowkidar' to siphon the poor peoples' money and give it to the rich," she alleged. The West Bengal government was considering to take over Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's home in Kolkata and rename a road after the maestro to keep his legacy alive. "I and the people in West Bengal remember all his songs and we have offered to procure his home which is a private property", Banerjee added. The Trinamool Congress is contesting nine of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, which is set to go to polls in three phases from April 11 to May 19. PTI PAF's F-16 was shot down, asserts IAF; Refutes US media reports India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, Apr 5: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday refuted US media reports claiming that none of the PAF's F-16 fighters was downed after an aerial dogfight on February 27, and said "electronic signatures" gathered on that day indicate that F-16 went down. A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a leading American magazine reported on Thursday. "Indian Forces have confirmed sighting ejections at 2 different places on that day (Feb 27). The 2 sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km. One was an IAF MIG 21 Bison and other a PAF aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate PAF aircraft was an F-16," ANI quoted IAF as saying today. The ANI report further quoted a source as saying that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down Pakistan Air Force F-16 aircraft 7-8 km inside Pakistan Occupied Area in Sabzkot area there. [None of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets missing after US count: Report] Two senior US defence officials with direct knowledge of the situation told the Foreign Policy magazine that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit," the report said. The report said that evidence also suggests that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air Force and only the F-16 can shoot a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile. When the incident occurred, India asked the US government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2019, 19:41 [IST] For me, my family & wife come first, worried husband Robert Vadra on Priyanka Gandhi's arrest 'Sad that BJP has forgotten its own', Robert Vadra tweets on L K Advanis blog post India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Apr 05: Businessman and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Vadra on Friday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not giving a seat to the party's senior leader L K Advani in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. Calling him the 'most important pillar of the party', Vadra said the leader had been long lost and forgotten. The real leaders pic.twitter.com/cuSusznwIe Robert Vadra (@irobertvadra) April 5, 2019 Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also spoke out in support of Advani. 'Badi dair kar di mehrbaan aate aate': Mehbooba Mufti reacts to LK Advani's blog "Never regarded those who disagreed with us politically as enemies or anti-national, only adversaries," Sibal wrote on Twitter. He hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "Under Modi ji BJP's thought processes have been both: Changed and Maimed. Listen Modi ji to one who helped you in your journey to Delhi!" Earlier on Thursday, L K Advani had in his blog said that his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-national" or "enemies" but only as adversaries. L K Advani is the current Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, he has been the Gandhinagar MP for the last five terms. However, his seat was given to BJP party president Amit Shah who will be contesting for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Gandhinagar. Not in BJP's founding principle to regard political opponents as 'anti-national': LK Advani L K Advani's prominence within the BJP reduced in 2014 when Narnedra Modi and Amit Shah assumed leadership roles in the saffron party. His performance in Parliament in the last five years is also a pointer to Advani's diminished role in the BJP. In the last five years, L K uttered just 365 words in Parliament despite a 92% attendance, as our in-depth analysis in February this year had showed. Todays events: Opposition to hit the streets and counting for MLC polls to be held 'Taking action against terrorists wasnt liked by some people', says PM Modi in Amroha India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Apr 05: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at the Congress and the BSP-SP grand-alliance in Uttar Pradesh at an election rally in Amroha. Modi said the "soft approach" adopted by these parties towards terror emboldened the perpetrators in the past. Speaking at Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, Narendra Modi turned the nationalism pitch up another notch. Modi said the fact that a fitting response has been given to terrorists in Pakistan has scared many people in India who want to be heroes in Pakistan. 'Modi ji ki Sena' row: Now, minister Naqvi uses the controversial phrase "You all have placed a chowkidar in Delhi. You know that if someone harms anyone in India, the chowkidar will go to hell and punish him," he said. "The soft approach adopted by these parties have not only helped the terrorists but also compromised your security...Due to vote bank politics, Bua and Babua (a reference often used by him to target Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati) used to set free the perpetrators of terror attacks," PM Modi said at his public rally in western Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi said peace has been restored in the last five years. "Terrorists now know that if they did something, Modi will teach them a lesson even if they hide in paataal (deep hole)," the prime minister said. Modi also accused the Congress of insulting BR Ambekar. He said that the grand old party fielded candidate against him during elections because he opposed 'one' family rule in the country. Bringing up Zayed Medal, Modi said that the UAE civilian award is for India and not for him. "Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates honoured your prime servant with the greatest honour, Zayed Medal. This honour is not mine, this for you and for crores of Indians working in the Gulf countries, " said PM Modi to the crowd of Amroha after recieving the highest civilian award of the UAE. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2019, 13:42 [IST] Will BJP's traditional trader lobby vote against it? India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, April 05: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long been carrying the tag of a 'baniya' (traders') party. The traders, however, have started giving such impressions just before the Lok Sabha elections that if they are approached by other parties with a promise to resolve their issues then they may shift allegiance. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the apex body for traders in the country, National President B.C. Bhartia says that it is ironic that traders are considered as core vote bank of the BJP and that is why the other political parties keep distance from the traders whereas on the other hand BJP also never gives due importance to its core vote bank. "The traders feel themselves like an orphan child in the political spectrum of the Country despite their strong presence. There are about 7 crore traders across Country and nearly 30 crore people are dependent upon these traders for their livelihood and if their votes are converted into a vote bank, the election scenario can be changed completely," says Bhartiya. The CAIT is trying to consolidate the trading community across Country into a Vote Bank andorganisded National Traders Conference at Puducherry in which a large number of trade leaders from 26 states participated. [Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu: Stakes high for AIADMK, DMK] The outcome of the conference is that the trading community can impact 195 Lok Sabha Constituencies in 19 States. According to the CAIT, these 195 seats include 33 seats in UP, 21 seats in Maharashtra, 16 seats each in West Bengal and Tamilnadu,15 seats in Bihar, 14 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 13 seats in Gujarat, 11 seats in Rajasthan, 10 seats in Karnataka, 07 seats each in North East region and Odisha, 06 seats in Jharkhand, 05 seats in Kerala, 04 seats each in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, 04 seats in Haryana, 03 seats each in Telangana, Punjab and Delhi. The Confederation has also given a warning to the political parties, particularly BJP, that by launching a whisper campaign, the traders can influence the mindset of voters. "Shops are the best venue for a whisper campaign for or against any political party. If traders start whispering good or bad about any political party with their respective customers it influences the mindset of the consumer. In earlier days it was a shop of paanwala, tea vendor or sweet maker shop where people used to discuss politics during elections and form an opinion," says the CAIT. However, a political analyst says it is unlikely that the large chunk of the trading community will vote against the BJP. "Most of the traders are Rajasthani, Gujarati, Sindhis, and Punjabis who are ideologically connected with the BJP. This connection is hard to break. Though the CAIT claims its diktat will be followed by the traders and people associated with them, it seems difficult. The whisper campaigns at tea stalls or paanwala shops have lost significance to an extent as the social media platforms have become the biggest source of whisper campaigns," says the analyst. The trader lobby is also running its national campaign "One Nation-One Trader-Ten Votes" across Country more vigorously to make traders aware about the importance of their vote. The traders' body also released a National Charter on Thursday at Puducherry wherein important demands like a robust e-commerce policy to clean current highly vitiated e-commerce business in India, a National Trade Policy for Retail Trade and creation of a separate Ministry of Internal Trade, formation of a Retail Regulatory Authority and a Regulatory Authority for e-commerce on the pattern of SEBI, simplification & Rationalisation of GST Tax Structure, scheme to upgrade & modernise existing retail trade in India, incentives for adoption & acceptance of digital payments by traders including waiver of bank charges on digital transactions, introduction of a balanced Model Tenancy Act, overall review of Food Safety & Standards Act, amendments in procedure of Mudra Yojana by including Non Banking Finance Companies & Micro Finance Institutions as loan disbursement Agencies instead of Banks, and formation of a National Board of Internal Trade comprising representatives of Trade. [Stay up to date with our election coverage here] The Charter also include Redefining of credit norms for small businesses, Better Infrastructure facilities in Commercial Markets , Augmentation of safety & security of traders and commercial markets with help of Trade Associations, Food grains & essential items should be taken out from Commodity Exchanges and abolition of Toll tax payers in Jammu , Mandi Tax & Professional Tax across Country to make GST as one tax regime , only one license for conducting any business in India and representation to traders from Gram Panchayat to State legislative council. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2019, 19:49 [IST] Till when does a father have to take responsibility of his child: SC clarifies Will send former Ranbaxy promoters to jail if found guilty of contempt: SC India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Apr 05: The Supreme Court on Friday warned that former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh would be jailed if they failed to clear the dues of Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo. The top court decided to go ahead with the contempt proceedings against them. "We will go into the issue - why you violated our orders. We will send you to jail. We have given you a chance but you are unable to pay," the court said. A year of corporate legal cases in Delhi High Court The top court said it would hear the contempt petition against ex-Ranbaxy promoters on April 11. The apex court expressed its dissatisfaction over replies of the former Ranbaxy promoters on payment of Rs 3,500 crore arbitral award amount to a Japanese firm. The court has fixed April 11 as the next date of hearing on the contempt petition against the promoters. "You may be owning half of the world but there is no concrete plan as to how the arbitral amount would be realised. You said that somebody owed you Rs 6,000 crore. But this is neither here nor there," the bench was quoted as saying by PTI. Malvinder and Shivinder Singh have not paid up the Singaporean arbitration award of Rs 2,562 crore to Daiichi Sankyo. In March, the Supreme Court had asked the two former Ranbaxy promoters to apprise it how they propose to comply with the arbitral award passed against them by a Singapore tribunal. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi-headed bench of the court had asked the Singh brothers to consult their financial and legal advisors and give a concrete plan on how they will comply with the tribunal's order. Did Pakistan use F-16s in the aerial dog fight with India: There is ample proof Pakistan owns up on F-16 used in dog fight with India Pentagon rejects US media report on Pak's F-16 count, says 'not aware of any investigation' None of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets missing after US count: Report International oi-Madhuri Adnal Washington, Apr 05: A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are missing, contradicting India's claim that one of its fighter jets shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight on February 27, a leading American magazine reported Thursday. Two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told the Foreign Policy magazine that American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none of the planes missing. "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," the report said. Pakistan owns up on F-16 used in dog fight with India "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit," the report said. The report said that evidence also suggests that Pakistan's F-16s were involved in the aerial battle with the Indian Air Force and only the F-16 can shoot a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile. When the incident occurred, India asked the US government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. According to the magazine, Pakistan invited the US to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. Some of the aircraft were not immediately available for inspection due to the conflict, so it took US personnel several weeks to account for all of the jets, one US official said. But now the count has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," the official said. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the report. The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. The US State Department and the Indian and Pakistani embassies declined to comment, the report said. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. But on April 1, Pakistan military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor for the first time indicated that F-16s might have been used to hit Indian fighter jets during the aerial combat on February 27. In a statement, he said Pakistan had the right to use "anything and everything" in its self defence. Did Pakistan use F-16s in the aerial dog fight with India: There is ample proof He further said: "Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets in self defence." The report said the remnants of a US-made AIM-120 air-to-air missile was found near the site; out of all the aircraft involved, only the F-16 can shoot such a weapon. "As details come out, it looks worse and worse for the Indians," Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Vipin Narang told the Foreign Policy magazine. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," he said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot Wing Commander Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1 in an effort to de-escalate the crisis. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2019, 16:10 [IST] US talking to Pakistani leaders to shut down safe havens for Taliban along Pak-Afghan border: Pentagon Pentagon backs India, says ASAT debris expected to burn up in space International oi-Madhuri Adnal Washington, Apr 05: The Pentagon said on Thursday that it stood by its assessment that debris from an Indian anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons test would eventually burn up in the atmosphere, even after NASA's administrator warned of the danger the debris posed. India used an indigenously developed ballistic missile interceptor to destroy one of its own satellites at a height of 300 km (186 miles), in a test aimed at boosting its defenses in space. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on Monday that more than 400 pieces of orbital debris from the test had been identified, including debris that was traveling above the International Space Station - something he called a "terrible, terrible thing." US denies spying on India's ASAT test, but experts believe otherwise His statement came a day after NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said that the test had created 60 pieces of orbital debris big enough to track and 400 pieces of debris in total. Of these, 24 pieces rise higher than the International Space Station's orbit around Earth, Bridenstine had said. "That is a terrible, terrible thing, to create an event that sends debris in an apogee that goes above the International Space Station," Bridenstine had said. "And that kind of activity is not compatible with the future of human spaceflight that we need to see happen." Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the test, known as Mission Shakti, was successful. His announcement, however, was criticised and described as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct by many. The International Space Station was launched way back in 1998 and has been seen over 54 crewed missions. Jim had said that a similar test conducted by China in 2007 had posed greater risk than the recent Indian test. In 2007, China destroyed a satellite in a polar orbit, creating the largest orbital debris cloud in history, with more than 3,000 objects, according to the Secure World Foundation. Since the impact altitude exceeded 800 km (500 miles), many of the resulting scraps stayed in orbit. Omicron 1st case in Maharashtra: What we know about it so, far? 12 facts Prakash Ambedkar calls Modi a 'blackmailer' Mumbai oi-PTI Mumbai, Apr 05: A day after he was booked for his remarks against the Election Commission (EC), Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being a blackmailer. Addressing a poll rally at Akola in Maharashtra, Ambedkar alleged that Modi blackmailed the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her party saying if she did not want her son-in-law Robert Vadra to be in jail, they should refrain from joining hands with any other party. "Can anyone tell me why Congress did not have an alliance with any other party across the country? Modi had put a condition that if Congress party wants Rabert Vadra not to be in jail, then it should refrain from forging an alliance with any other party," he claimed. 'Sad that BJP has forgotten its own', Robert Vadra tweets on L K Advani's blog post "That is why Congress did not have an alliance with any party. Modi is a blackmailer. He is blackmailing Sonia Gandhi and everyone else. "This is Modi's style of functioning that Congress party did not have an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal," Ambedkar alleged. Ambedkar, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Akola and Solapur constituencies in Maharashtra as a candidate of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). VBA is an alliance of Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBA) and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM. The VBA is contesting all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Ambedkar was in talks with the Congress-NCP for the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress-NCP combine had been trying to bring Ambedkar, who has pockets of influence in the state, in its 'maha agadhi', a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties. However, talks in this regard remained inconclusive. On Thursday, Ambedkar had said at an election rally at Digras in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district that he will jail the EC for two days if voted to power for not letting political parties speak about the Pulwama terror attack. Later, a case was registered against him under IPC sections 503 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 189 (threat of injury to public servant). PTI Stay up to date with our election coverage here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 5, 2019, 17:08 [IST] Politburo member Minh made the call while hosting a reception for newly appointed Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam, Deborah Anne Paul, in Hanoi on April 4. He congratulated Anne Paul on her appointment and voiced his belief that with her abundant experience, the diplomat will contribute to further deepening relations between the two countries on both bilateral and multilateral aspects. The deputy PM stated that Vietnam-Canada ties are growing finely across all spheres, especially since the two countries established a comprehensive partnership in November 2017, on the occasion of Canadian PM Justin Trudeaus official visit to Vietnam to attend at the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting. Speaking highly of the outlook of bilateral relations, he suggested that the two sides strengthen the exchange of high-level delegations and work towards higher two-way trade revenues in 2019 on the basis that both are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is already in effect, and that Vietnam is currently the largest trading partner of Canada in the ASEAN bloc. Deputy PM Minh voiced his thanks and wish that Canada will continue providing official development assistance for Vietnam, contributing to promoting sustainable development, especially in social areas. For her part, Ambassador Deborah Anne Paul expressed her impression and highly appreciated Vietnams development achievements as well as the countrys role and position in regional and international arenas. Canada particularly speaks highly of Vietnams responsibilities in international issues, she said, pledging to continue supporting Vietnams bid to become a nonpermanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. The diplomat thanked Vietnam for successfully taking over the role as coordinator for ASEAN-Canada relations, contributing to accelerating ties between the two sides. She also affirmed Canadas support for Vietnam in its assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020. Red Tiger Gaming Slots Added to 888 Casino Published April 5, 2019 by Mike P Vicky Ventura and Pirates Plenty are two of the many Red Tiger slots that will be playable on HTML5 devices across 888 iGaming sites in 2019. 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For instance, the U.S. government has set up the MD Anderson Cancer Center Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy in Texas to support preclinical research and clinical trials for targeted therapy for particular genes.Get PDF Sample Copy of this Report @Such government initiatives are encouraging researchers to develop more effective personalized gene therapy treatments for different types of cancer, thus boosting growth of the cancer personalized gene therapy treatments market. However, high costs associated with these treatments and the unavailability of personalized gene therapy treatment for some types of cancers is the major factor that is projected to restrain growth of the personalized gene therapy treatments for cancer market.Targeted treatments are focused on cancer specific genes, tissues or the protein environment that contribute towards the cancer survival and growth. Researchers identify new targeted cells and develop and test new drugs and medications for such targets as per patient needs. In targeted treatments, the tumor cells themselves are targeted to cure cancer. Breast cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, brain cancer, multiple myeloma, certain childhood cancers and lymphoma, and leukemia are the common types of cancers for which targeted treatments are applied.Pharmacogenomics, on the other hand, affect the processes occurring in the body and drug responses. The difference in the processes influences the safety and efficacy of a drug. The basic principle behind the treatment is to activate the immune system cells that could attack and destroy the cancerous cells. Moreover, in this case, if the patients body does not respond to a medication, the drugs stay in the blood stream for longer period of time and may cause severe side effects. 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The major players in the customized gene therapy treatments for cancer market include Amgen, Inc., SynerGene Therapeutics, Inc., Chengdu Shi Endor Biological Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Cold Genesys, Inc., Takara Bio, Inc., Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ziopharm Oncology, Inc., OncoSec Medical, Inc., Sevion Therapeutics, Inc., and Burzynski Clinic.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.1001 4th Ave,, #3200, Seattle, WA 98154 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Insights, Industry Player Adobe Systems, Autodesk, Corel, Electric Image), Key County Analysis (North America, United States, Europe, Japan, India) and Forecast 2019-2025 Market Research Hub https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=2226782 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-3d-animation-simulation-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2025-report.html This research report titled Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025 has been added to the wide online database managed by Market Research Hub (MRH). 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The study objectives are to present the 3D Animation Simulation Software development in United States, Europe and China.The key players covered in this studyAdobe SystemsAutodeskCorelElectric ImageMaxon ComputerSide Effects SoftwareCorastarCorus entertainmentMagixNewTekSmith Micro SoftwareMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoThe Standard versionProfessional versionMarket segment by Application, split intoConstruction fieldAnimation fieldMedia fieldOther fieldsMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaBROWSE Full Report NOW @Table of Contents1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2014-2025)1.4.2 The Standard version1.4.3 Professional version1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Share by Application (2014-2025)1.5.2 Construction field1.5.3 Animation field1.5.4 Media field1.5.5 Other fields1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Global Growth Trends2.1 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size2.2 3D Animation Simulation Software Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size by Regions (2014-2025)2.2.2 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Share by Regions (2014-2019)2.3 Industry Trends2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Opportunities3 Market Share by Key Players3.1 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size by Manufacturers3.1.1 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Revenue by Manufacturers (2014-2019)3.1.2 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2014-2019)3.1.3 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2 3D Animation Simulation Software Key Players Head office and Area Served3.3 Key Players 3D Animation Simulation Software Product/Solution/Service3.4 Date of Enter into 3D Animation Simulation Software Market3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application4.1 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size by Type (2014-2019)4.2 Global 3D Animation Simulation Software Market Size by Application (2014-2019)More Information@@@About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports of different sector like software market research and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.com Comprehensive Study of Music Box Market: Global Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2019-2025 Music Box Market https://inforgrowth.com/sample-request/1632767/music-box-market https://inforgrowth.com/enquiry/1632767/music-box-market This market research report categorizes the global Music Box market by top players/brands (Reuge/Romance (Swiss), Sankyo, Rhymes, Yen Sheng), region, type and end user. 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To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.FOR MORE QUERIES OR FOR CUSTOM REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT US ATMAJOR POINTS FROM TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Study Coverage2. Executive Summary3. Breakdown Data by Manufacturers4. Breakdown Data by Product5. Breakdown Data by End User6. North America7. Europe8. Asia Pacific9. Central & South America10. Middle East and Africa11. Company Profiles12. Future Forecast13. Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis14. Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis15. Research Findings and Conclusion16. AppendixABOUT INFORGROWTH:We are a market-intelligence company formed with the objective of providing clients access to the most relevant and accurate research content for their growth needs. At InForGrowth, we understand Research requirements and help a client in taking informed business-critical decisions. Given the complexities and interdependencies of market-intelligence, there is always more than one source to explore and arrive at the right answer. Through our smart search feature and our reliable & trusted publishing partners, we are paving way for more simplified and relevant research.FOR ALL YOUR RESEARCH NEEDS, REACH OUT TO US AT:Address: 6400 Village Pkwy suite # 104, Dublin, CA 94568, USAContact Name: RohanEmail: sales@inforgrowth.comPhone: +1-909-329-2808UK: +44 (203) 743 1890 Know the latest trends in Screw Type Chip Conveyor Market by top key players like PRAB, National Conveyors Company, Govoni Handling Systems Screw Type Chip Conveyor https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/89415 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/89415 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/reports/screw-type-chip-conveyor-industry-market-research-report-2019 www.upmarketresearch.com The latest report on the Screw Type Chip Conveyor market closely surveys, examines and offers vital statistics on the Screw Type Chip Conveyor market for the forecast period 2019 - 2025. This market intelligence assessment report weighs up on the potential region that reserves greater opportunities for this industry. Importantly, subject matter experts have taken into account every critical aspect right from the market size, share, and growth to the dramatic shift in the consumer behaviour and their growing spending capacity. The industry assessment study depicts a perfectly clear picture of both the past and the future trends to offer the stakeholders, business owners, and marketing executives an opportunity to zero in on an effective marketing strategy and boost sales.The research on the Screw Type Chip Conveyor market further validates other prime factors including investment feasibility, production capability, product pricing, production volume, demand and supply, import and export status to help business evangelists make the multi-dimensional marketing strategy more robust. Comprehensive data on the current and future business environment is showcased through self-explanatory info-graphics, charts, and tables and can be integrated with any business presentation.Premium Sample Copy of Screw Type Chip Conveyor market report Available on @The major industry players covered in this Screw Type Chip Conveyor report are:PRABNational Conveyors CompanyGovoni Handling SystemsKobo ECO>PROCESS GmbHFongei IndustryHennigMetal Gennari s.r.l.JPC CO.RUIAOLNS JapanJorgensen ConveyorHebei Ruiao Machine ToolScrew Type Chip Conveyor Market split by Type, can be divided into:Type A: with helical screw core and chip collection troughType B: with helical screw core without chip collection troughType C: without helical screw core with chip collection troughScrew Type Chip Conveyor Market split by Application, can be divided into:Application 1Application 2Application 3Knowing the trends influencing the Screw Type Chip Conveyor industry performance Stakeholders, marketing executives and business owners planning to refer a market research report can use this study to design their offerings and understand how competitors attract their potential customers and manage their supply and distribution channels. 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Screw Type Chip Conveyor enables entrepreneurs to determine the regional market for their business expansion.Ask for discount on Screw Type Chip Conveyor report@Geographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, covering:- United States- Europe- China- Japan- Southeast Asia- IndiaWe can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & AfricaIn this Screw Type Chip Conveyor study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Screw Type Chip Conveyor are as follows:History Year: 2014 - 2018Base Year: 2018Estimated Year: 2019Forecast Year 2019 to 2025Browse complete report description with full TOC @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Up Market ResearchThe Up Market Research 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 MathewsOrganization: Up Market ResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.Phone: +1 (347) 985-7777Email: Alex@upmarketresearch.comWeb: New Development For Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market 2018: BM Corporation, Google, Inc., NVIDIA Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, iCarbonX, Next IT Corp., CloudMex Inc., Carescore, Atomwise Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/436 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/436 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/436 Increasing application of AI technologies, from pharma drug development to patient care is expected to support growth of artificial intelligence in healthcare market. 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Artificial intelligence holds major potential in medical imaging and diagnosis of the diseases. Therefore, government organizations are increasing research in this field. For instance, In October 2017, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer (NCRCC) in China signed a deal with the Institute of Computing Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in order to use artificial intelligence in medical imaging.Artificial intelligence systems are mainly categorized into machine learning techniques and natural language processing. Machine learning techniques involve analysis of structured data such as genetic data, and imaging data, whereas, natural language processing involves extracting information from unstructured data such as clinical notes, and medical journals. Microsoft Corporation and Adaptive Biotechnologies partnered to combine artificial intelligence with human immune system sequencing (from Adaptive Biotechnologies) in January 2018.Inquire about Discount on this Report @The University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Data Science partnered with Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) in January 2018 to accelerate healthcare research and development using artificial intelligence. Furthermore, January 2018, Wilfrid Laurier University researchers and health researchers in Waterloo University collaborated to study the use of artificial intelligence for early detection of Alzheimers.Owkin France raised US$ 11 million in January 2018, to develop artificial algorithms for speeding up drug development process. Biotricity, Inc. a medical diagnostic and consumer healthcare technology company is expanding research and development, to include artificial intelligence into its product offerings. Furthermore, Ubenwa a Nigerian Artificial Intelligence health startup founded in 2014 developed a mobile app to detect asphyxia in newborn babies using machine learning.Key players in the market are focusing on collaborations in order to expand its presence in the market. For instance, in 2017, Nvidia Corporation collaborated with GE Healthcare to speed up the adoption of AI in healthcare. 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At InForGrowth, we understand Research requirements and help a client in taking informed business critical decisions. Given the complexities and interdependencies of market-intelligence, there is always more than one source to explore and arrive at the right answer. Through our smart search feature and our reliable & trusted publishing partners, we are paving way for a more simplified and relevant research.For all your Research needs, reach out to us at:Address: 6400 Village Pkwy suite # 104, Dublin, CA 94568, USAContact Person: RohanEmail: sales@inforgrowth.comUS: +1-909-329-2808UK: +44 (203) 743 1890 By 2024, Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market Growth Drivers: Abbott Molecular, Becton Dickinson, Biomerieux, BioRad, Danaher, Johnson & Johnson, Roche Diagnostics Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market https://www.graphicalresearch.com/request/1142/sample https://www.graphicalresearch.com/industry-insights/1142/europe-molecular-diagnostics-market https://www.graphicalresearch.com/request/1142/customize-this-report https://www.graphicalresearch.com/ Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market Size By Application (Infectious Disease, Blood Screening, Genetic Testing, Oncology Testing), By Technology (In Situ Hybridization, PCR, Chips And Microarrays, Mass Spectrometry, Sequencing, Isothermal Amplification), Industry Report, Growth Analysis & Forecast, 2018 2024, predicted to exceed USD 3.3 Billion By 2024, as per the latest report by Graphical Research.Some of the prominent business competitors operating in the Europe molecular diagnostics market include Abbott Molecular, Agilent (Dako), Alere, Analytik Jena, Becton Dickinson, Biomerieux, BioRad Laboratories, Danaher, Johnson & Johnson, Roche Diagnostics and others. Major business players adopt strategies such as collaborations, novel product launch, mergers and acquisitions to sustain their position in the industry. For instance, in October 2017, Roches cobas Zika test used along with cobas 6800/8800 systems received U.S. FDA approval. The approval of cobas Zika test expands companys product portfolio for screening blood-borne diseases.Request for a sample of this research report @Rising demand for point of care diagnostics coupled with favorable R&D initiatives will drive Europe molecular diagnostics market growth. According to Future Medicine journal, till now around USD 3.6 billion has been capitalized in personalized medicine research across the medical innovation cycle. Moreover, rising demand for personalized medicines in Europe should boost business growth over the coming years.Technological advancements in PCR and DNA sequencing methods will foster Europe molecular diagnostics industry growth over the forecast timeframe. 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As per CDC data in the U.S. nearly 47,135 individuals were diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 that comprised of around 19,646 women and 27,489 men.Isothermal amplification technology segment accounted for 16.9% revenue share in 2017, as a result of recent acknowledgement of proteins that has assisted novel in vitro isothermal DNA amplification techniques growth, that mimics in vivo mechanisms. Furthermore, isothermal amplification is widely used for analysis and detection of tiny amounts of nucleic acids thereby, should propel segmental growth over the forecast timeline.Browse key industry insights from this report in detail along with the table of contents @UK molecular diagnostics market was valued at USD 156.7 in 2017 due to increasing R&D coupled with presence of sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and higher disposable income. Moreover, growth in personalized therapy as well as diagnostics sector should result in opportunities for molecular diagnostics business growth over the coming years.Segments we cover:Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market Statistics, By ApplicationMeningitisHIV marketHepatitis CHepatitis BHPVInfectious diseaseFluRSV virusTuberculosisSTDDengueH. pyloriTORCHOthersBlood screeningGenetic testingOncology testingMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Europe Molecular Diagnostics Market Growth, By TechnologyPCRIn situ hybridizationChips and microarraysMass spectrometrySequencingIsothermal amplificationOthersThe above information is provided for the following countries:GermanyUKFranceItalySpainPortugalDenmarkNorwaySwedenRussiaAbout Graphical Research:Graphical Research is a business research firm that provides industry insights, market forecast and strategic inputs through granular research reports and advisory services. We publish targeted research reports with an aim to address varied customer needs, from market penetration and entry strategies to portfolio management and strategic outlook. We understand that business requirements are unique: our syndicate reports are designed to ensure relevance for industry participants across the value chain. We also provide custom reports that are tailored to the exact needs of the customer, with dedicated analyst support across the purchase lifecycle.Contact Us:Parikhit B.Corporate sales,Graphical ResearchEmail: sales@graphicalresearh.comWeb: Soybean Protein Market to peak demand by 2024 at a CAGR of 5.6% - Cargill, Devansoy, Wilmar International, Ruchi Soya Industries Soybean Protein Market https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/69250-global-soybean-protein-market-1 https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/69250-global-soybean-protein-market-1 https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/69250-global-soybean-protein-market-1 https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=69250 https://www.linkedin.com/company/advance-market-analytics https://www.facebook.com/AMA-Research-Media-LLP-344722399585916 https://twitter.com/amareport A new business intelligence report released by Advance Market Analytics with title "Global Soybean Protein Market Insights, Forecast to 2025" has abilities to raise as the most significant market worldwide as it has remained playing a remarkable role in establishing progressive impacts on the universal economy. The Global Soybean Protein Market Report offers energetic visions to conclude and study market size, market hopes, and competitive surroundings. The research is derived through primary and secondary statistics sources and it comprises both qualitative and quantitative detailing. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Cargill Incorporated (United States), Archer Daniels Midland Company (United States), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (United States), Wilmar International (Singapore), Devansoy Inc. (United States), The Scoular Company (United States), CHS Inc. (United States), FUJI OIL CO., LTD (Japan), Shandong Yuwang Ecological Food Industry Co., Ltd (China) and Ruchi Soya Industries (India) etc.According to AMA, the market for Soybean Protein is expected to register a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period to 2024.Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ :Market Drivers Health Benefits of Soy ProteinMarket Trend Healthy eating is increasing on consumer's agendasRestraints Demand Supply Imbalance Creates Inconvenience for ManufacturersOpportunities Increasing Awareness in Asia Pacific and Latin AmericaMarket Overview of Global Soybean ProteinIf you are involved in the Global Soybean Protein industry or aim to be, then this study will provide you inclusive point of view. Its vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Type, Application, Function, Form and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.This study mainly helps understand which market segments or Region or Country they should focus in coming years to channelize their efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. The report presents the market competitive landscape and a consistent in depth analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market.Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2013-2017Base year 2018Forecast period** 2019 to 2025 [** unless otherwise stated]**Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.Enquire for customization in Report @:The titled segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:The Study Explore the Product Types of Soybean Protein Market: Soybean Protein Isolates, Soybean Protein Concentrates, Soybean Protein HydrolysatesKey Applications/end-users of Global Soybean Protein Market: Functional foods, Meat alternatives, Dairy alternatives, Infant formula, OthersFunction: Nutrient, Emulsifier, Fat & Water Absorption, Texturants, OthersForm: Dry Soy Protein, Liquid Soy ProteinTop Players in the Market are: Cargill Incorporated (United States), Archer Daniels Midland Company (United States), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (United States), Wilmar International (Singapore), Devansoy Inc. (United States), The Scoular Company (United States), CHS Inc. (United States), FUJI OIL CO., LTD (Japan), Shandong Yuwang Ecological Food Industry Co., Ltd (China) and Ruchi Soya Industries (India) etcRegion Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & AfricaCountry Level Break-Up: 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.List of players also available in Coverage: Gushen Group (China) , Shandong Wonderful Industrial Group (China) , SINOGLORY (China) , Burcon NutraScience Corporation (Canada) , Crown Soya Protein Group (China) , Kerry Ingredients Inc. (United States) , MGP Ingredients Inc. (United States) , Puris Proteins, LLC (United States) , FRANK Food Products (Netherlands)Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report: Market Data Segmentation with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and Price Analysis Detailed overview of Soybean Protein market Changing market dynamics of the industry In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape of Soybean Protein market Strategies of key players and product offerings Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth A neutral perspective towards Soybean Protein market performance Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprintRead Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Major Highlights of TOC:Chapter One: Market Overview1.1. Introduction1.2. Scope/Objective of the StudyChapter Two: Executive Summary2.1. IntroductionChapter Three: Market Dynamics3.1. Introduction3.2. Market DriversChapter Four: Market Factor Analysis4.1. Porters Five Forces4.2. Supply/Value Chain4.3. PESTEL analysis4.4. Market Entropy4.5. Patent & Trademark AnalysisChapter Nine: Methodology and Data Source9.1. Methodology/Research Approach9.2. Data Source9.3. DisclaimerBuy the Latest Detailed Report @Key questions answered Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global Soybean Protein market? What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global Soybean Protein market? What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Soybean Protein market? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.About Author:Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues.Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)AMA Research & Media LLPUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@advancemarketanalytics.comConnect with us at Ultra Slim TV Global Industry Report - History, Present and Future 2025 Ultra Slim TV Global Industry Report 2025 https://www.research2reports.com/report-machinery-equipment/ultra-slim-tv-market/72424 https://www.research2reports.com/sample-report-machinery-equipment/ultra-slim-tv-market/72424 https://www.research2reports.com/enquiry-before-buy-machinery-equipment/ultra-slim-tv-market/72424 https://www.research2reports.com/category-machinery-equipment The global market size of Ultra Slim TV is $XX million in 2017 with XX CAGR from 2013 to 2017, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2023 with a CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2023.There are 3 key segments covered in this report: geography segment, end use/application segment and competitor segment.For geography segment, regional supply, application-wise and type-wise demand, major players, price is presented from 2013 to 2023. This report coverss following regions:*North America*South America*Asia & Pacific*Europe*MEA (Middle East and Africa)Access more details about this report at:The key countries in each region are taken into consideration as well, such as United States, China, Japan, India, Korea, ASEAN, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, CIS, and Brazil etc.For end use/application segment, this report focuses on the status and outlook for key applications. End users also can be listed.For competitor segment, the report includes global key players of Ultra Slim TV as well as some small players. The compnaies include:LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sceptre, Seiki, Sharp, Sony, TCL, Upstar, Vizio, Hisense, Hair, Philips, Toshiba et al.Purchase a copy of this premium research report at:The information for each competitor includes:*Company Profile*Main Business Information*SWOT Analysis*Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin*Market ShareInquire further details about this report at:About Research 2 Reports:Research2Reports Market Research Company offers custom syndicated market research reports with market analysis, consulting services Market research reports by Research2Reports depends on survey analysis covers a magnitude of factors, industry research, market size, forecasts, financial growth, pricing trends, competitive insights of market segmentsContact Us:Organization: Research2reportsOffice No. 212/213, B Block 2nd Floor,Parmar Chambers,Sadhu Vaswani Road, Pune 411001Phone Number: 020 - 2612 6969Email: info@research2reports.comRead More Industry News:Research 2 Reports offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.Office No. 212/213, B Block 2nd Floor,Parmar Chambers,Sadhu Vaswani Road, Pune 411001 Forensic Technology Market 2023 | Revenue, Share & Growth Analysis by Players like 3M, Agilent Technologies, Belkasoft, Eurofins Medigenomix Forensik Forensic Technology Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2369?utm_source=openpr_ss https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout/216231?utm_source=openpr_ss https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/forensic-technology-market?utm_source=openpr_ss https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com According to Allied Market Research the global forensic technology market was valued at $9,458 million in 2015, and is projected to reach $22,905 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2017 to 2023. Biometric devices segment held more than one-third share of the total market in 2016.Forensic technology involves the use of data/sample collected from the crime scene. The market has witnessed significant growth in the recent past due to development of new types of technologies to solve crimes.Download Sample @Advent of new technologies such as alternative light photography, ballistic photography and DNA sequencer and rise in incidence of crime are the key factors that drive the market growth. In addition, rise in government initiatives to support forensic research such as funding availability are anticipated to fuel the demand for forensic technologies globally.However, lack of results obtained from these technologies restrict the market growth.The drug analysis service segment generated the maximum revenue, accounting for more than one-fourth of the global forensic technology market in 2016. However, DNA profiling segment is estimated to exhibit the highest growth rate of 17.1% during the forecast period.Key Market Players: 3M Company Agilent Technologies Inc. Belkasoft Eurofins Medigenomix Forensik GmbH GE Healthcare LGC Limited MorphoTrust USA NMS Labs Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Ultra Electronics Holdings plc.Flat 20% Discount on All License Type...* Offer Valid Till 20th April 2019Key Findings of the Forensic Technology Market: The services segment is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 15.4%, during the forecast period. The chemical analysis segment accounted for more than one-fourth share of the global forensic technologies by services market in 2016. Biometric devices accounted for nearly two-fifths share of the global forensic technologies market by product in 2016. France and Germany collectively contributed for nearly one-third share of the European forensic technology market in 2016. Japan is the major shareholder in the Asia-Pacific forensic technology market, accounting for more than one-fourth share in 2016.Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period, owing to surge in crimes such as homicide, sexual harassment, and thefts. In addition, technological advancements to develop cost-effective technologies such as automated fingerprint identification, alternative light photography, and link analysis software present lucrative opportunities for market players in the near future.Browse More Details @About Us:Allied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Allied Market Research provides one stop solution from the beginning of data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company amplies clients insight on the factors, such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligent support to aid the clients to turn into prominent business firm.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free (USA/Canada):+1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: ePayment System MarketCompetitive Analysis by 2025 : Wipro, LightPointe Communications, VLNComm, General Electric, pureLiFi, Philips https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3140 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3140 Global ePayment System Market: OverviewePayment is basically a form of digital monetary transaction that takes place between buyers and sellers on an online platform. The monetary exchange occurs with the help of a digital financial device, which is supported by an intermediary such as a bank. The process of ePayments can be completed with the use of bank transfers, debit cards, or credit cards. These payments are characterized by their instantness, which saves buyers and sellers ample time along with the ease of payment. ePayments enable a fast and secure way to initiate payments. This enables it to steal a march over conventional payment options. The growing popularity of internet shopping coupled with online and mobile banking is substantially propelling the demand for ePayment systems.Request Sample Copy of the Report @This report offers a deep analysis of the market competition that could be witnessed by players in the coming years. The report puts forth possible strategies for new participants to enter the market and various business paths that existing players could take. The report is an all-encompassing study of the ePayment system industry its drivers, challenges, and key trends.Global ePayment System Market: Key TrendsConsumer behavior is changing fast with the high penetration of internet and mobile phones across the globe. Changing government policies, which indirectly encourage transparency in payment systems leading to demand for phone-to-phone (P2P) payments, are also impacting the global ePayment system market. The boom in e-commerce further provides an impetus to the use of online payment systems, with digital platforms, mobile wallets, and online bank exchanges enticing customers with discounts and offers. The progress in digital infrastructure in emerging economies is offering a robust ecosystem for the development of the digital payments industry, thereby fuelling the ePayment system market.Request TOC of the Report @Global ePayment System Market: Market PotentialRecently, the Wall Street Journal reported the active consideration of the eCommerce giant Amazons voice assistant in online payments. Amazon plans to use its patented Alexa to try and enter the online payment market, actively competing with Paymos Venmo and other large banks which offer payment services. Using Alexas voice-based instruction inference system, the users will be able to transfer money using their voice.Global ePayment System Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geographical segmentation, the global ePayment system market has been segmented into five major regions of Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.Global ePayment System Market: Competitive AnalysisLeading vendors in the global ePayment system market are Wipro, LightPointe Communications, VLNComm, General Electric, pureLiFi, Philips, Nakagawa Labs, Oledcomm, Nakagawa Labs, LVX System, and Velmenni.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050 Market Research News 2019: Virgin Coconut Oil Industry is in the state of Booming Production and Consumption on Global Scale Virgin Coconut Oil Industry https://inforgrowth.com/sample-request/1039837/global-virgin-coconut-oil-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 https://inforgrowth.com/enquiry/1039837/global-virgin-coconut-oil-market-insights-forecast-to-2025 The global Virgin Coconut Oil market is valued at 650 million US$ in 2018 and will reach 780 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 2.3% during 2019-2025. The objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Virgin Coconut Oil market based on company, product type, end-user and key regions.Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is growing in popularity as a functional food oil and the public awareness of it is increasing. It is expected that VCO will experience dramatic growth in the market.Almost all Virgin Coconut Oil products in Europe, North America and China are imported from other countries, such as Philippines, Indonesia. On a global scale, currently, the coconut oil industry is in the state of production and consumption booming.REQUEST FOR A FREE COPY OF SAMPLE PDF ATVirgin Coconut Oil Market provides a detailed market overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications, challenges, competitive scenario and industry chain structure. The report also analysis the Virgin Coconut Oil Market verticals and horizontals, Market Size and CAGR comparison by region. The key players in NMK HOLDINGS PRIVATE LIMITED, Greenville Agro Corporation, P.T. Harvard Cocopro, Naturoca, SUN BIO NATURALS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, Celebes, Sakthi Exports, NATURE PACIFIC PTY LTD, Cocomate, Manchiee De Coco, KKP Industry, Genius Nature Herbs Pvt Ltd, Keratech, Harin Bio-Tech International Private Limited. The market analysis done by Product types like Virgin Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and by Application like Food, Beauty and Cosmetics, Medical. It also provides analysis by Region such as the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central & South America.THE STUDY OBJECTIVES OF THIS REPORT ARE: To study and analyze the global Virgin Coconut Oil market size (value & volume) by company, key regions, products and end user, breakdown data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of Virgin Coconut Oil market by identifying its various subsegments. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). Focuses on the key global Virgin Coconut Oil companies, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape and recent development. To project the value and sales volume of Virgin Coconut Oil submarkets, with respect to key regions. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.FOR MORE QUERIES OR FOR CUSTOM REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT US ATMAJOR POINTS FROM TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Study Coverage2. Executive Summary3. Breakdown Data by Manufacturers4. Breakdown Data by Product5. Breakdown Data by End User6. North America7. Europe8. Asia Pacific9. Central & South America10. The Middle East and Africa11. Company Profiles12. Future Forecast13. Market Opportunities, Challenges, Risks and Influences Factors Analysis14. Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis15. Research Findings and Conclusion16. AppendixABOUT INFORGROWTH:We are a market-intelligence company formed with the objective of providing clients access to the most relevant and accurate research content for their growth needs. At InForGrowth, we understand Research requirements and help a client in taking informed business-critical decisions. Given the complexities and interdependencies of market-intelligence, there is always more than one source to explore and arrive at the right answer. Through our smart search feature and our reliable & trusted publishing partners, we are paving way for more simplified and relevant research.FOR ALL YOUR RESEARCH NEEDS, REACH OUT TO US AT:Address: 6400 Village Pkwy suite # 104, Dublin, CA 94568, USAContact Name: RohanEmail: sales@inforgrowth.comPhone: +1-909-329-2808UK: +44 (203) 743 1890 Global Pharmacy Automation Systems Industry 2018 Industry Analysis, Top Players, Revenue and Market Share Report Pharmacy Automation Systems Industry https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/1363 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/healthcare-medical-devices/global-pharmacy-automation-systems-market www.infiniumglobalresearch.com We have produced a new premium report Pharmacy Automation Systems Market. The report covers the analysis of global as well as regional markets of Pharmacy Automation Systems. The objective of the study is to identify market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values for the next six years. The report also deep dives into the sub-segments of Pharmacy Automation Systems Market by product type (medication dispensing cabinets, packaging & labelling machines, IV pharmacy, robotic dispensing machines), application (drug dispensing & packaging, drug storage and inventory management) through main geographies in the Global Market such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and RoW.The report covers market changing aspects including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends expected to encourage the expansion of the Pharmacy Automation Systems Market during the said period. The report also provides market attractiveness analysis, by geography, and market share analysis, by key players respectively. Some of the prominent participants in the Global Pharmacy Automation Systems Market are McKesson Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Health Robotics SRL, CareFusion Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Omnicell Inc, Kirby Lester, Baxter International Inc., ScriptPro LLC, and Yuyama Co., Ltd.For More Details Get Free Sample Pages of this Report@North America to remain influential in the pharmacy automation system market throughout 2018-2024North America held the largest market share in 2017 while Europe is the second largest market for pharmacy automation system market. North America has the highest market share and is expected to remain influential throughout the forecast period, owing to heavy investments done in pharmacy automation in order to minimize medication errors. Errors in medication prescription dispensing was a leading cause of death in North America after cancer, heart attack and stroke. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR on account of rising awareness and investment in healthcare infrastructure.Adoption of pharmacy automation system to increase the productivity and efficiency of the pharmacyUse of pharmacy automation system helps in improving efficiency and productivity of the pharmacy is a primary driver for the pharmacy automation system market. Productivity and efficiency of the pharmacy is improved through the help of various pharmacy automation such as medication dispensing cabinets, packaging & labeling machines, IV pharmacy, robotic dispensing machines, carousel storage, and tablet splitters. The implementation of these systems helps in minimizing the medication errors as well as reduces drug wastage and medication cost, minimizes time-consuming labor and improving work and enhances patients experiences. Beside this, rush in pharmacy centers, reduce inventory and space saving design of the machine are also some of the factors leading to increasing demand for pharmacy automation systems.Developing new automation solutions for pharmacies to create lucrative opportunitiesContinually developing new solutions according to the requirements to aid pharmacies in increasing throughput while improving accuracy and controls in a very cost-conscious pharmacy market. This customization services provided by the automation companies can create a demand for pharmacy automation systems in the near future. Besides this automation system in pharmacy is only limited to developing countries, developing such an automation system in emerging countries can further create growth opportunities in the near future.Expansion into new regions is the major focus of leading players of the pharmacy automation system manufacturers.Some of the prominent players catering into this market include McKesson Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Health Robotics SRL, CareFusion Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Omnicell Inc, Kirby Lester, Baxter International Inc., ScriptPro LLC and Yuyama Co., Ltd. These companies are continuously looking for expansion strategies to boost the companys revenue. Also these companies are looking forward to offer more customized solutions in order to gain a competitive advantage among its peer.Browse Detailed TOC, Description and Companies Mentioned in Report @The Leading Companies Identified In the Market as:The report provides profiles of the companies in the global pharmacy automation systems market such as, McKesson Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Health Robotics SRL, CareFusion Corporation, Cerner Corporation, Omnicell Inc, Kirby Lester, Baxter International Inc., ScriptPro LLC and Yuyama Co., Ltd.Report Highlights:The report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the global pharmacy automation systems market. Moreover, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider. The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porter's five forces analysis and DRO analysis of pharmacy automation systems market. Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2018-2024. We also have highlighted future trends in the pharmacy automation systems market that will impact the demand during the forecast period. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of the pharmacy automation systems market to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.Infinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being a business partner of the first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Infinium Global ResearchOffice No. 04, 06, Ganadhish Empire,Rahatani Corner, Pune, MH 411027Email: info@infiniumglobalresearch.comWebsite: Vaccines Market to Exhibit A Lucrative Growth Of 9% CAGR| Top Players: AstraZeneca, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Vaccines Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2186 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2186 Global Vaccines Market is set to exceed USD 65 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Introduction of innovative technologies in vaccination, rising government support for product development will stimulate global vaccines market growth over the coming years. Growing awareness towards preventive vaccination in pediatric and increasing adoption of therapeutic vaccines in cancer treatment will fuel industry growth.Increasing disease prevalence in underdeveloped countries coupled with growing incidence of cancer & HIV will serve as high impact rendering factor for the Vaccines Market growth. High cost and inadequate reimbursement coverage for vaccines will hamper industry expansion. Moreover, stringent government regulations for product approval will further restrain business growth. Pediatric segment will witness 9.1% CAGR during the forecast timeframe owing to CDC recommendation for immunization schedule to protect children and infants before getting exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.Request for a sample of this research report @Currently, it has been observed most of the pharmaceutical giants have been striving to come up with innovative vaccination products for influenza, which seems to be raging across the globe in seasonal intervals. Recently, one of the prominent UK-based suppliers of seasonal influenza vaccines, and a renowned giant in vaccines industry, Seqirus invested USD 52.5 million in its plant at Liverpool to increase the production capacity of Fluad, its adjuvanted seasonal flu vaccine. The company also plans to recruit more workforce to increase the production rate, so that the vaccines can be shipped in readiness in case of a pandemic. Seqiruss investment is likely to encourage regional vaccines industry players to follow suit, which would subsequently help stimulate UK vaccines market trends over the coming years.Regulatory organizations have been making continuous efforts to generate awareness among the global populace regarding the advantages of vaccination. For instance, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has inked guidelines to encourage people to take seasonal influenza vaccines for controlling and preventing the virus from spreading, especially in young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. In fact, CDC reports that post the implementation of vaccination programs, the percentage of people afflicted with influenza had decreased significantly across the U.S. As per estimates, U.S. covered a major share of the regional vaccines market revenue in 2016, pertaining to the numerous efforts undertaken by regulatory bodies.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: AstraZeneca Abbott Bristol-Myers Squibb Merck Sanofi Pasteur Pfizer GlaxoSmithKline Pharma GmbH Emergent BioSolutions Astellas Pharma CSL Behring NOVAVAX INCConsidering the myriad advantages that vaccines provide to improve an individuals immunity system, researchers have been striving to conduct eminent study programs involving the methodology of combining vaccines with other cancer treatment methods such as radiations, chemotherapy, and Herceptin to enhance patient survival rate. Recently for instance, APAC vaccines market had witnessed an Australian company developing vaccines for breast and gastric cancer, the trials of which have depicted an affirmative result. The approval of this vaccine is likely to prove highly beneficial for cancer afflicted patients, and subsequently, is expected to provide a positive impetus to the regional vaccines market.Some of the companies operating in industry are Abbott, AstraZeneca, Astellas Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CSL, Emergent BioSolutions, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Novavax, Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur. New product launches and expansion of existing product portfolio will mainly drive the business growth. Major industry participants will endeavor to fortify their market position by adopting these strategies.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Market, By Age Group (USD Million)PediatricAdultMarket, By Technology (USD Million)AttenuatedToxoidConjugateInactivated & subunitRecombinantGlobal Market Insights Inc. is a global market research and management consulting company catering to leading corporations, non-profit organizations, universities and government institutions. Our main goal is to assist and partner organizations to make lasting strategic improvements and realize growth targets. Our industry research reports are designed to provide granular quantitative information, combined with key industry insights, aimed at assisting sustainable organizational development.Global Market Insights, Inc.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USAPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email:sales@gminsights.com Breast Cancer Screening Market is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period 2025 |Siemens Ltd,Hologic Inc,Agendia BV https://www.amplemarketreports.com/sample-request/global-breast-cancer-screening-market-480012.html https://www.amplemarketreports.com/report/global-breast-cancer-screening-market-480012.html https://www.amplemarketreports.com/buy-report.html?report=480012&format=1 www.amplemarketreports.com This new report on the Breast Cancer Screening market is committed to fulfilling the requirements of the clients by giving them thorough insights into the market. An exclusive data offered in this report is collected by research and industry experts. The research study offers complete analysis of critical aspects of the Breast Cancer Screening market, including competition, segmentation, geographical progress, manufacturing cost analysis, and price structure. We have provided CAGR, value, volume, sales, production, revenue, and other estimations for the global as well as regional markets. Companies are profiled keeping in view their gross margin, market share, production, areas served, recent developments, and more factors.Global Breast Cancer Screening Market valued approximately USD xxx million in 2017 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than xxx% over the forecast period 2018-2025. The Breast Cancer Screening market is developing and expanding at a significant pace considering the global scenario. Breast cancer is considered as out of control growth of cells in the breast which could form a tumor or lump. These lumps or tumors in the breast are precisely detectable via an X-ray. Breast cancer can occur or form in the duct, nipple, glands, or other tissues. The Breast Cancer Screening market is mainly driven owing to surging awareness considering early detection of Breast Cancer, rising incidence of Breast cancer in both the developed and developing countries and escalating government investments and initiatives considering breast cancer on the global scenario.The regional analysis of Global Breast Cancer Screening Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the fastest growing region across the world in terms of market share. Whereas, owing to the countries such as China, Japan, and India, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to be the dominating region over the forecast period 2018-2025.Get a PDF sample of this research study atKey players of the Breast Cancer Screening market are profiled on the basis of various factors, which include recent developments, business strategies, financial strength, weaknesses, and main business. The Breast Cancer Screening report offers a special assessment of top strategic moves of leading players such asA&G Pharmaceuticals, IncMyriad GeneticsAgendia BVMetabolomic Technologies IncSiemens LtdHologic IncAccess Full Comprehensive Industry Insights:One of the important factors in Breast Cancer Screening Market report is the competitive analysis. The report covers all the key parameters such as product innovation, market strategies of the key players, market share, revenue generation, latest research and development, and market expert views.Breast Cancer Screening Market By Screening Tests:MammographyMagnetic Resonance ImagingUltrasoundBreast Cancer Screening Market Split by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Breast Cancer Screening in each application can be divided into Identity Access Management System Secure Web Gateway Secure E-Mail Gateway OthersMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Breast Cancer Screening in these regions, from 2015 to 2025 (forecast), like North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Rest of the WorldHighlights of TOCExecutive SummaryBreast Cancer Screening Market Definition and ScopeBreast Cancer Screening Market DynamicsBreast Cancer Screening Market Industry AnalysisBreast Cancer Screening Market, by TypeBreast Cancer Screening Market, by ApplicationBreast Cancer Screening Market, by Regional AnalysisCompetitive IntelligenceResearch ProcessBuy this research reportTarget Audience of the Breast Cancer Screening Market in Market Study: Key Consulting Companies & Advisors Large, medium-sized, and small enterprises Venture capitalists Value-Added Resellers (VARs) Third-party knowledge providers Investment bankers InvestorsIn conclusion, the Breast Cancer Screening report offers wide-range of information both in term of qualitative and quantitative. It provides in-depth analysis of the Breast Cancer Screening market, including dealers, distributors, and contributors along with research findings, appendix and data sources.About Ample Market ResearchAmple Market Research provides comprehensive market research services and solutions across various industry verticals and helps businesses perform exceptionally well. Attention to detail, consistency, and quality are elements we focus on. However, our mainstay remains to be knowledge, expertise, and resources to make us industry players.Our end goal is to provide quality market research and consulting services to customers and add maximum value to businesses worldwide. We desire to delivery reports that have the perfect concoction of useful data.Our mission is to capture every aspect of the market and offer businesses a document that makes solid grounds for crucial decision making.Contact UsAmple Market Research & Consulting Private LimitedWilliam JamesMedia & Marketing ManagerAddress: Jamuna Tower, 501, MIDC Road, Miragaon, Mira Road East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 401107Call: +1 (530) 868 6979Email: sales@amplemarketreports.comWebsite: Global Robotic Paint Booth Market 2018 Industry Demand, Segment, Statistics Report 2024 Robotic Paint Booth Market https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/1218 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/automotive/global-robotic-paint-booth-market www.infiniumglobalresearch.com We have produced a new premium report Robotic Paint Booth Market. The report covers the analysis of global as well as regional markets of Robotic Paint Booth. The objective of the study is to identify market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values for the next six years. The report also deep dives into the sub-segments of Robotic Paint Booth Market by product type (paint booth, paint robot), end-user (automotive sector, non-automotive sector) through main geographies in the Global Market such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW.The report covers market changing aspects including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends expected to encourage the expansion of the Robotic Paint Booth Market during the said period. The report also provides market attractiveness analysis, by geography, and market share analysis, by key players respectively. Some of the prominent participants in the Global Robotic Paint Booth Market are ABB, Eisenmann SE, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Durr AG, FANUC Corporation, Giffin, Kawasaki, and Staubli.For More Details Get Free Sample Pages of this Report@Improving productivity in discrete manufacturing promote growth in the robotic paint booth market over 2018 to 2024Automated systems such as paint booths and paint robots can deliver output with optimum quality along with speed and accuracy. Adoption of automated production techniques that make the process fast and reduce errors are the factors driving the growth of the robotic paint booth market. Additionally, paint robots hold safety standards by minimizing exposure of human workers to paint fumes and other environmental risks. Moreover, rising applications of robotics technology increase in expenditure on healthcare and significant industrial developments in the countries such as India and China are expected to provide huge opportunities for the key players in the robotic paint booth market in the years to come.The Asia Pacific to contribute to growth in the global robotic paint boot market over the next 6 yearsAsia Pacific dominates the robotic paint boot market due to a large number of automotive industries and use of automated technology in a large number of plants. Additionally, rising investment in defense and aviation industries is expected to boost the growth of the global robotics paint booth market in the Asia Pacific region. Due to better product quality and superior technologies of the established international players, the regional and local vendors are finding it difficult to survive in an extremely competitive environment. The emerging economies of China, India, and South Korea are expected to have significant investments in robotics technology.Mergers and Acquisitions to remain key expansion strategies of the leading players in the robotic paint market between 2018-2024The leading companies identified in the market are Durr AG, FANUC Corporation, ABB, Eisenmann SE, and Yaskawa Electric Corporation. Moreover, ABB provides automation and power technologies products and solutions to diverse industries, including automotive, manufacturing, utilities, transport, and infrastructure industries. Moreover, AB-Techno Holding B.V., the Holding Company of the Airblast Group of Companies and Blastman Robotics Ltd. have completed a merger whereby AB-Techno Holding acquired a major part of the shares of Blastman Robotics.Major Key Players Mentioned in this ReportThe report provides profiles of the companies in the global robotic paint booth market such as, ABB, Eisenmann SE, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Durr AG, FANUC Corporation, Giffin, Kawasaki, and Staubli.Browse Detailed TOC, Description and Companies Mentioned in Report @Report Highlights:The report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the global robotic paint booth market. Moreover, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider. The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porter's five forces analysis and DRO analysis of robotic paint booth market. Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2018-2024. We also have highlighted future trends in the robotic paint booth market that will impact the demand during the forecast period. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of the robotic paint booth market to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.Infinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being a business partner of the first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Infinium Global ResearchOffice No. 04, 06, Ganadhish Empire,Rahatani Corner, Pune, MH 411027Email: info@infiniumglobalresearch.comWebsite: Europe Organic Fertilizer Market to assure $3,260 Million Value by 2023 | Organic fertilizer is the highest contributor Europe Organic Fertilizer Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4582?utm_source=opr_sank https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout/343558 www.alliedmarketresearch.com The Europe organic fertilizer market was valued at $2,451 Mn in 2016, and is expected to grow at $3,260 Million by 2023, with a growing CAGR of 4.2% during forecast period 2017 to 2023.Organic fertilizers are derived from organic compounds such as animal and vegetable waste. These fertilizers are a rich source of primary nutrients, which include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and help maintain the health of the crops. Furthermore, they increase the organic & humus content in the soil, provide nutrients for microorganisms in the soil, and restore the physicalchemical properties of the soil.Download Sample Report @Large-scale use of synthetic fertilizers has reduced the fertility of the soil in the European region. Thus, the adoption of organic fertilizers has increased considerably to restore the fertility of the soil.Increased awareness regarding the benefits of organic fertilizers majorly fuels the growth of the Europe organic fertilizer market. Also, the strict guidelines by the governing bodies on the usage of inorganic fertilizers augments the demand for organic fertilizers. However, continuous R&D activities on inorganic fertilizers restrict the market growth. Nevertheless, the upsurge in demand for organic products offers numerous growth opportunity for the market.Based on source, the market for Europe organic fertilizer is divided into plant, animal, and mineral. The mineral-based source for organic fertilizer is projected to be the highest growing segment during the forecast period. Manure and others are the further bifurcation of animal-based organic fertilizers. Based on crop type, the fruit & vegetable segment is expected to witness highest growth owing to the initiatives from European Union, which supports the producers through the common market organization (CMO) for the use of eco-compatible cultivation and production techniques for the cultivation of fruits & vegetables.Based on country, the market is analyzed across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, and rest of Europe. Germany generated the highest revenue in 2016, accounting for $729 million, owing to increased adoption of organic farming in the country. The profits earned by organic farmers were 38% more than that of conventional farmers.Key Findings of the Europe Organic Fertilizer Market: Germany is expected to continue to lead the market throughout 2016 to 2023, followed by France. Spain is projected to register the highest growth rate from 2017 to 2023. The animal-based organic fertilizer segment contributed approximately 50% of the market revenue in 2016. The fruit & vegetable segment is projected to dominate the Europe organic fertilizer market. Liquid form is projected to register the highest growth rate from 2016 to 2023.The top Key players profiled in this report include ILSA S.P.A, Italpollina SPA, Fertikal N.V., Uniflor Poland Ltd, Protan AG, Plantin SARL, Novozymes A/S., AGRIBIOS ITALIANA S.r.l, Viano, and E.B.F. EURO BIO FERT S.r.l.Flat 20% Discount on All License Type..*Offer Valid Till 20th April 2019About usAllied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small & medium enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.Allied Market Research provides one stop solution from the beginning of data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients to understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company amplies client's insight on the factors, such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligent support to aid the clients to turn into prominent business firm.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1(855)550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb: Waste Heat Recovery System Market Analysis and Forecast to 2023 by Key Players General Electric, Echogen Power Systems Inc, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, Ormat Technologies, ABB, Amec Foster Wheeler, Cool Energy Inc https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/sample/EnP/QBI-CMR-EnP-54305 https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/enquiry/EnP/QBI-CMR-EnP-54305 https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/buy/EnP/QBI-CMR-EnP-54305/ https://www.qurateresearch.com/ The Waste Heat Recovery System Market is expected to reach approximately USD 74.72 billion by 2023, while registering itself at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.83% during the forecast period. A waste heat recovery unit (WHRU) is an energy recovery heat exchanger that exchanges heat from process yields at high temperature to other sections of the procedure for some reason, usually expanded efficiency. The WHRU is a tool engaged with cogeneration. Waste heat might be derived from sources, for example, steam from cooling towers, hot flue gases from a diesel generator, or even waste water from cooling procedures, for example, in steel cooling.Get Free Sample Copy@The major players in the market are General Electric, Echogen Power Systems Inc, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, Ormat Technologies, ABB, Amec Foster Wheeler, Cool Energy Inc, Thermax, Econotherm Limited and Siemens. The major players in the market are profiled in detail in view of qualities, for example, company portfolio, business strategies, financial overview, recent developments, and share of the overall industry.Application Outlook and Trend AnalysisThe steam & electricity generation application section commanded the WHR system market in 2015. The market in this application is likewise anticipated that would encounter significant CAGR over the forecast period inferable from developing requirement for energy in several regions.End User Outlook and Trend AnalysisMake an enquiry before buying this Report@The WHRS market is characterized in light of end-use industry into metal production, petroleum refining, chemical, cement, paper & pulp, and others. The market is commanded by the petroleum refining end-use industry. In this industry, WHRS is used for different procedures, for example, catalytic, distillation, thermal cracking, and treatment.Regional Outlook and Trend AnalysisNorth America is anticipated to witness a direct development rate. Asia-Pacific is foreseen to be the quickest developing WHR system market, which is sponsored by appeal from WHR system in the bond business in light of the developing development segment. The existence of real creating nations, for example, China, India, and South Korea additionally drive the WHR system market in the locale.Competitive InsightsThe Waste Heat Recovery System Market is segmented as follows-By Application:Steam & electricity generationPreheatingOthersBy End User:Metal productionChemicalPetroleum refiningCementPaper & pulpOthersPurchase Direct Report@By RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyRest of EuropeAsia-PacificChinaJapanSouth KoreaIndiaSoutheast AsiaRest of Asia-PacificSouth AmericaBrazilArgentinaColumbiaSouth AfricaRest of South AmericaMiddle East and AfricaSaudi ArabiaUAEEgyptNigeriaSouth AfricaRest of MEAAbout Us:Qurate Business Intelligence delivers unique market research solutions to its customers and help them to get equipped with refined information and market insights derived from reports. We are committed to providing best business services and easy processes to get the same. Qurate Business Intelligence considers themselves as strategic partners of their customers and always shows the keen level of interest to deliver quality.Contact Us:Nehal ChinoyRunwal Platinum,Ramnagar Colony, Bavdhan,Pune, Maharashtra, India-411021IN +919881074592info@qurateresearch.com Global Chlor-Alkali Market: Detailed Analysis by Latest Trends, Emerging Size, Share, Sale and Forecast to 2023 Chlor-Alkali Market https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample-request/78 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/request-discount/78 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/chemical-material/global-chlor-alkali-market www.infiniumglobalresearch.com Our latest research report entitled Chlor-Alkali Market (by-products (causticsoda, chlorine, and soda ash), application(application, caustic soda, chlorine and soda ash )) provides complete and deep insights into the market dynamics and growth of Chlor-Alkali. Latest information on market risks, industry chain structure Chlor-Alkali cost structure and opportunities are offered in this report. The past, present and forecast market information will lead to investment feasibility by studying the essential Chlor-Alkali growth factors.Ask for Sample Copy of Research Report with Table of Content @The forecast Chlor-Alkali Market information is based on the present market situation, growth opportunities, development factors, and opinion of the industry experts. An in-depth analysis of the company profiles, Chlor-Alkali on a global and regional level and applications is conducted. The analysis of downstream buyers, sales channel, raw materials, and industry verticals is offered in this report. The global market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% over the forecast period of 2017 to 2023 to surpass USD 127.46 billion. In terms of volume, the global chlor-alkali market is expected to surpass 291797.2 kilotons in 2023 growing from 227919.7-kilo tons in 2016, expanding at a CAGR of 3.6% over the forecast period of 2017-2023.Chlor-Alkali Market: Industry InsightThe chlor-alkali industrial process is used in the manufacture of chlorine, hydrogen, caustic soda, and sodium hydroxide (caustic) solution. Caustic soda, Chlorine and soda ash are primary products in the chlor-alkali industry. Caustic soda and chlorine are produced simultaneously whereas soda ash is produced during a different process.Chlor-Alkali Market: Driver and RestraintsThe chlor-alkali products such as chlorine and caustic soda are progressively used across numerous end-user industries such as paper, food, soaps and detergents, textiles, automobile, and many other industries. The growth in the end use industries of PVCs, papers, food and many others worldwide are anticipated to boost the demand for chlor-alkalis. Moreover, the demand for chlor-alkali products in inorganic and organic chemicals is also strengthening the growth of the chlor-alkali market. The rapidly growing aluminum industry contributes to the growth of the chlor-alkali market. However, environmental effects associated with chlor-alkali manufacturing may restrain the growth of the chlor-alkali market. Furthermore, government institutions in several countries endorse membrane cell technology for the manufacturing of chlor-alkali. This, in turn, is anticipated to provide more opportunities for the chlor-alkali manufacturers in the coming years.Request a Discount on Standard Prices of this Premium Report @Chlor-Alkali Market: SegmentationsThe global chlor-alkali market is segmented into products and application. The products include caustic soda, chlorine, and soda ash. Caustic soda segment is expected to hold a considerable share in the chlor-alkali market. The global demand for caustic soda is growing at a substantial pace owing to growing industrial applications such as aluminum, soap, and detergents among others. In addition, it is widely used in the manufacture of aluminum, newsprint, viscose yarn, cotton, pulp and paper, staple fiber, textiles, toilet and laundry soaps, dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals, vanaspati, and petroleum refining.Chlor-Alkali Market: Regional AnalysisOn the basis of region, the global chlor-alkali market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Row. The Asia Pacific region dominated the chlor-alkali market in 2017. The huge consumption of caustic soda, chlorine and soda ash in construction, food& beverages, metal refining, paper, plastics and others in China, India and South East Asian countries escalates the Asia-Pacific chlor-alkali market. China is the largest and fastest-growing region in the chlor-alkali market. North America is anticipated to hold the second largest region in Chlor-Alkali Market. Growing consumption of chemicals derived from chlor alkali is boosting the growth of the Europe region. Moreover, augmented demand for PVC and EDC in developing countries such as Africa and the Middle East is expected to drive the chlor-alkali market during the forecast period.Browse Detailed TOC, Description, and Companies Mentioned in Report @Chlor-Alkali Market: Competitive AnalysisThe Chlor-Alkali Market is a concentrated market. The companies covered in the chlor-alkali market report are Akzo Nobel NV, Axiall Corporation, Bayer Material Sciences Ag, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Solvay Chemicals, The Dow Chemicals, Tata Chemicals Ltd, Hanwha Chemical Corporation, Tosoh Corporation, and Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co. Ltd. Merger & acquisitions and expansion are the key strategies adopted by many key players to increase their market share.Infinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being a business partner of the first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Infinium Global ResearchOffice No. 04, 06, Ganadhish Empire,Rahatani Corner, Pune, MH 411027Email: info@infiniumglobalresearch.comWebsite: Mortuary Refrigerator Market 2019 Global Key Leaders: LEEC, Hygeco, Paragon scare Ltd., Thalheimer Kuhlung, Barber Medical, CEABIS, EIHF Isofroid, EVERmed, Fiocchetti and Funeralia Mortuary Refrigerator Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7437 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/mortuary-refrigerator-market-7437 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/7437 Mortuary refrigerators are the largely used equipment in the whole mortuary equipment market. These refrigerators have available with several features such as temperature adjustable knob, multiple chambers. Mortuary refrigerators are available in both positive and negative temperature facility. The positive temperature refrigerator slows down the degradation process of dead bodies for a period of time, and the negative temperature mortuary refrigerators are used to storage the body by freezing it and prevent degradation for longer duration. The increase in technology and rising demand for automation in mortuary procedures is one of the reasons for the larger share of the market.Get Free Sample Copy @The global mortuary refrigerator market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2023.Mortuary refrigerators are used to keep dead bodies as a solution to maintain hygiene requirements in hospitals. The key factors contributing for the market growth are growing number of cancer patient and cancer-related research, increasing organ transplant, and growing demands for automation in mortuary procedures. Also, the increasing geriatric population, is contributing to drive the market. According to the United Census Bureau, the global-female-geriatric population is estimated to reach 4,139 million by 2030 from 3,601 million in 2015. However, the minimal awareness about mortuary equipment and fluctuating prices of raw materials and substituting products for mortuary refrigerators hinders the market growth.There are several companies involved in manufacturing of mortuary refrigerators with advanced features and ease to use. However, the cost of mortuary refrigerators compare to other mortuary related products and presence of alternative products in the market are hindering the market growth.Global Key Players LEEC Hygeco Paragon scare Ltd. Thalheimer Kuhlung Barber Medical CEABIS EIHF Isofroid EVERmed Fiocchetti and FuneraliaSegmentationThe global mortuary refrigerator market is segmented on the basis of product type, application, application, end user, and region.On the basis of product type, the market is segmented into positive temperature, negative temperature refrigerators.By application, the market is categorised into corpses storage and forensic investigation. On the basis of end-user, the global mortuary refrigerator market is categorised into forensic labs, research and academics, funeral homes, hospitals and clinics, and others.Regional Market SummaryThe Americas dominates the global market for mortuary refrigerator owing to the increase in cancer and cancer-related research activities, increasing number of geriatric populations with health-related problems and presence of major market players within the region boosts the market growth. According to the Administration for Community Living in 2016, the number of older women within the region was estimated to be 26.7 million. Furthermore, the presence of developed economies and regulations by various authorities in healthcare sector within the region boosts the market growth.In 2017, it was estimated that Europe stood second in the global mortuary refrigerator market. The increase in demand for mortuary refrigerator by forensic labs and hospitals to store the dead bodies for investigation increases the market growth. These equipments are also, used to store the entire body donated for medical research purpose, which are used in medical colleges to teach human anatomy.Asia Pacific was the fastest growing region for the global mortuary refrigerator market in 2017. Factors such as increasing awareness about the advanced and innovative mortuary refrigerator, growing regulations and policies by various authorities regarding the hygiene in hospital drives the market growth.On the other hand, the Middle East and Africa holds a least share in the global mortuary refrigerator market due to the lack of awareness about the advanced mortuary procedures and mortuary refrigerator hinders the market growth in this region.Browse Complete 110 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with Respective Tables and Figures @Detailed Table of Contents:Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers5.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers5.1.3 Threat Of New Entrants5.1.4 Threat Of Substitutes5.1.5 Intensity Of RivalryTOC Continued!Send an Enquiry @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Market Competitive Analysis By 2024 : IBM, AgriChain, TE-FOOD, Ripe Technology, Pavocoin https://www.researchformarkets.com/sample/global-blockchain-in-agriculture-and-food-market-380821 https://www.researchformarkets.com/inquiry/global-blockchain-in-agriculture-and-food-market-380821 https://www.researchformarkets.com/buy-now/global-Blockchain If you want to make better decisions, generate maximum revenue, and enhance business profit, then Blockchain in Agriculture and Food market research report is the key. This top-notch market report is generated with the proficient capabilities and excellent resources in research, data collection, development, consulting, evaluation, compliance and regulatory services for Blockchain in Agriculture and Food industry. Here, the method of SWOT analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis are used which are also preferred by businesses. Besides this, market drivers, market restraints, opportunities and challenges are evaluated under market overview which gives valuable insights to businesses for taking right moves.Blockchain agriculture can solve some of the governance, distribution and shareholding challenges of operating a community-sponsored agriculture initiative.The global block chain in agriculture and food markets is estimated at US $ XXX million in 2018 and is projected to reach US $ XXX million by 2024, with an annual average of +40% over the forecast period. Block chains in the agriculture and food supply chain market are driven by factors such as increased demand for supply chain transparency, increased food fraud incidents in emerging Asia Pacific economies, and increased concerns about food waste.Global food supply too complicated these days, food manufacturers and retailers have had difficulty ensuring the source of their products. Past food fraud incidents, including the UK's scandalous scandals in 2013 and miscalculations of Chinese pork in 2011, have affected consumer confidence in these products and manufacturers. Therefore, the company is investing in block-chain technology that can provide transparency to customers.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow in the region with the highest CAGR for 2019-2024.The Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing region in the block chain in the agricultural and food market. Asia Pacific is one of the major producers of agricultural products and food. This means that the possibility of food contamination and fraud in the supply chain is higher in this region. Most Asia-Pacific countries export food to other countries. For example, most Asian countries export fruits and vegetables to European countries because the region has seen the highest requirements for food traceability. The Asia Pacific food industry is exploring block chain technology to meet the traceability requirements of an importer.The global Blockchain in Agriculture and Food market will reach xxx Million USD in 2019 and CAGR xx% 2019-2024. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Blockchain in Agriculture and Food by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.The report also presents the market competition landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/manufacturers in the market.The key manufacturers covered in this report: IBM AgriChain TE-FOOD Ripe Technology PavocoinSegmentation by product type: breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2024 Public Blockchain Private BlockchainSegmentation by application: breakdown data from 2014 to 2019 and forecast to 2024 Supply Chain Tracking Finance Management Data Management Land and Property Ownership OthersIn this competitive age, a comprehensive knowledge about the competitive landscape, product range of the competitors, their strategies, and future prospects are very important. A market study in this Blockchain in Agriculture and Food market report also tells about the market status in the forecast period of 2019-2024. The report helps describe the commerce strategies for the businesses of small, medium as well as large size. This market research report also offers insights into revenue generation and sustainability initiative. To achieve significant business growth and maximum return on investment (ROI), businesses must adopt such finest Blockchain in Agriculture and Food market research report.Segmentation by Region : breakdown data from 2014 to 2019 and forecast to 2024North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.)South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.)Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.)Make an Enquiry before Buying @Table Of ContentSection 1 Blockchain in Agriculture and Food DefinitionSection 2 Global Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Market Major Player Share and Market OverviewSection 3 Major Player Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Market Segmentation (Region Level)Section 5 Global Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Market Segmentation (Type Level)Section 7 Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Market ForecastSection 8 Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Segmentation TypeSection 9 Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Segmentation IndustrySection 10 Blockchain in Agriculture and Food Cost AnalysisSection 11 ConclusionBuy This Report @in Agriculture and Food-market-478188/oneReasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsAvailable Customizations- With the given market data, Research for Markets offers customizations according to client-specific needs.About Research for Markets:Research for Markets indulges in detailed and diligent research on different markets, trends and emerging opportunities in the successive direction to cater to your business needs. We have established the pillars of our flourishing institute on the grounds of Credibility and Reliability. RFM delve into the markets across Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.Contact:Mr. A NaiduResearch for MarketsTel: +44 8000-4182-37 (UK)Email: alan.naidu@researchformarkets.com Global In Vitro Fertilization Market Analysis 2025 By Top Vendors like Groupe Clinique Ambroise Pare, amedes MVZ Cologne GmbH, AMP Center St Roch, AVA International Clinic Scanfert Global In Vitro Fertilization Market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-in-vitro-fertilization-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-in-vitro-fertilization-market The Global In Vitro Fertilization market is increasing the forecast years of 2018-2025 and pulling the Healthcare industry with it. The company profiles of all the key players and brands that are dominating the In Vitro Fertilization market with moves like product launches, joint ventures, merges and accusations which in turn is affecting the sales, import, export, revenue and CAGR values are mentioned in the report. The report is generated based on the market type, size of the organization, availability on-premises and the end-users organization type, and the availability in areas such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa.The Global In Vitro Fertilization Market is expected to reach USD 847.8 billion by 2025, from USD 465.2 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 10.0 % during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for the historic year 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Download Free PDF Sample Copy of Report@Global In Vitro Fertilization Market, By Product (Reagents, Equipment),Type of Cycle (Fresh Non-Donor IVF Cycles, Frozen Non-Donor IVF Cycles, Frozen Donor IVF Cycles, Fresh Donor IVF Cycles), End User (Hospitals & Research Laboratories, Cryobanks ),Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Major Market Competitors/Players: Global In Vitro Fertilization MarketSome of the major players operating in global in- vitro fertilization market are Groupe Clinique Ambroise Pare, amedes MVZ Cologne GmbH, AMP Center St Roch, AVA International Clinic Scanfert, Bangkok IVF center, Betamedics, Biofertility Center, Bloom Healthcare, Bourn Hall Fertility Center, , Cardone & Associates Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cloudnine Fertility, Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado, Cyprus IVF Centre, Dansk Fertilitetsklinik, EUVITRO S.L.U., , Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, Fertility First, IVF Centers Prof. Zech, Flinders Reproductive Medicine Pty Ltd, Genea Oxford Fertility Limited, IVF Spain, IVI Panama, KL Fertility & Gynaecology Centre, Lifesure Fertility and Gynaecology centre, Manipal Fertility, , Medfem Fertility Clinic, Monash IVF, OVA IVF Clinic Zurich, Procrea, RAPRUI S.r.l., SAFE FERTILITY CENTER, SANNO HOSPITAL, SIRM Fertility Clinics, Stork IVF Klinik, ARC-STER S.r.l., The Montreal Fertility Center, Thomson Medical Centre, TRIO Fertility, Virtus Health, VivaNeo, Die Kinderwunsch and among others.Competitive Analysis:The global In- Vitro Fertilization market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of In- Vitro Fertilization market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Market Definition:In vitro fertilization is a procedure in which egg from women ovary are removed and after that the egg is fertilized with a sperm in a laboratory procedure, and then the fertilized egg is transfered into the women uterus. In vitro fertilization is used in the management of female infertility. In 2018, the Cooper Companies was announce that the Cooper Surgical acquired the assets of The Life Global Group and its affiliates which is a leading provider of invitrofertilization devices. In July 2018, Merck launched new product Geri Assess 2.0.This product is useful in automatic detection of embryo and blastocyst development, improving efficiency in assessment.According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016, approximately 263,577 ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) cycle was performed in US. As per the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority in 2016, more than 68,000 IVF treatments were provided in U.K. In 2016 Birth rate from IVF has been increased to 85.0% in U.K. In 2016 around 20000 childrens were born by IVF. As per the published news IVF Success Rates For Fertility Clinics in the United States in 2016 and around 263,577 ART cycle was performed in U.S. Due to the increasing rate of infertility amongst the population, patients are opting the IVF Fertilization which is fuelling the growth of market.To Avail 10% Discount On This Report Mail Us on: - sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.comMajor Market Drivers and Restraints: Rising rate of infertility Increasing in delayed pregnancies and rising awareness on personalized medicine. Surge in IVF success rate Unfavourable Reimbursement Scenario. Rise in disposable income worldwide. High cost of treatment which is restraining this market. Less awareness level for IVF in developing countries which is another restrain of this market.Market Segmentation:The global In vitro fertilization market is segmented based on product, type of cycle, end user and geographical segments.Based on product, the market is segmented into reagents, equipment.Based on reagents, the market is further segmented into embryo culture media, cryopreservation media, sperm processing media, OVUM processing media.Based on equipment, the market is further segmented into imaging systems, sperm separation systems, cabinets, OVUM aspiration pumps, incubators,micromanipulator systems, gas analysers, laser systems, accessories, cryo systems, anti-vibration tables, witness systems.Based on type of cycle, the market is segmented into fresh non-donor IVF cycles, frozen non-donor IVF cycles, frozen donor IVF cycles, fresh donor IVF cycles.Based on end user, the market is segmented into fertility clinics & surgical centers, hospitals & research laboratories, cryobanks.Based on geography, the market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and, Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and, Brazil among othersInquire Regarding This Report @Key Developments in the Market: In July 2018, Merck launched new products QBOX IVF. This product useful in data transfer between lab instrument and electronic medical record provider. It isprovide support healthcare professionals in fertility. In February 2016, Adelaide biotech company, a reproductive health science company expanded IVF expertise into other DNA testing area by the launch of new product. This screening kits count the number of chromosomes in embryo to transfer in an IVFcycle.About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Future Scope of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market 2018-2023 | Top Key Players are Innospec, Clariant International, BASF, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Shisiedo, L'Oreal Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/19523 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/19523 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/19523/single Global Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market Report 2018 offers elaborated knowledge on the market parts like size, Key Regions, growth, trends, dominating firms, Major Manufactures. The Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) report introduces market competition situation among the vendors, revenue, product & services, latest developments and business strategies.Global Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market Overview:According to market analysts, Global Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market is projected to grow at a high CAGR value from 2018 to 2023.Sample Copy of Global Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market Report Available @The Global Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market research report is the study prepared by analysts, which contain a detailed analysis of drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with their impact on the Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market growth.Sodium Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) widely used in the personal care industry. Owing to its properties such as more foam formation, mildness, good moisturizing effect, and less skin irritation, SCI considered crucial in products such as soaps, shampoos, and a variety of baby-care products. It is available in powder, needle, and granular forms.Rising consumer preference for SCI with less skin irritancy and Key players are performing wide-ranging R&D in order to develop novel mild anionic surfactant systems are some of the key factors fuelling the market growth.The Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market is segmented based on Type, Application and Regions. Based on type, the market is sub-segmented into Needles and Powder Granules. By application, the market is divided into Hair Care, Skin Care, Oral Care, Baby Care and Others. Skin Care segment is to Continue to Remain Leading Consumers of SCI during the forecast period.Regionally, North America and Europe, together, accounted for more than 40% of the global market for SCI in 2016. This is due to the high awareness regarding and close attention paid to the effectiveness, safety, and other qualitative aspects related to the ingredients used in personal care ingredients in these regions.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @Key Regions:1 North America Country (United States, Canada)2 South America3 Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)4 Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)5 Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Top global key service provider companies covered in the study include:1 Innospec2 Clariant International3 BASF4 Huanggang Yongan Pharmaceutical5 Galaxy Surfactants6 AkzoNobel N.V.7 Jeen International Corporation8 KIYU New Material Co., Ltd and More..Purchase this report online along with table of contents @Key Questions Answered in this Report:1 How has the Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?2 What are the price trends of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI)?3 What is the structure of the Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) industry and who are the key players?4 Who are the key vendors in the global Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) market?5 What are the latest market trends?Table of Content:1 Industry Overview2 Industry Environment3 Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) Market by Type4 Major Companies List5 Market Competition6 Market Demand7 Region Operation8 Marketing & Price9 Research ConclusionAbout us:BusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. 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.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940 Health Supplements Market Set for Exquisite Growth with Globally Leading Players at 7.8% CAGR till 2023 - Alticor Inc., The Nature's Bounty Co., Abbott Laboratories, etc Health Supplements Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1646 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/health-supplements-market-1646 Health Supplements Market Information: By Type (Dietary Supplements, Eye Health Supplements), By Application (Cardiology, Allergy), By Ingredients (Vitamins & Minerals, Botanicals, Amino Acids), By End User (Hospitals, Clinics) - Global Forecast till 2023Global Health Supplements Market OverviewHealth supplements are a diverse group of products that consumed for the purpose of supplementing the diet as well as enhancing health. Health supplements typically made up of ingredients derived from natural sources. However they are not meant to prevent, cure, treat, or alleviate the symptoms of medical diseases or conditions.According to the report by Market Research Future (MRFR), the global health supplements market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period (2017-2023).Get Free Sample Copy @Drivers and RestraintsOne primary factor that the growth of the health supplements market could be chalked up to is the increased marketing toward women by supplement manufacturers. Growing awareness regarding the importance of taking preventative measures related to health, coupled with the increasing size of the aging population worldwide is highly instrumental in the growth of the health supplements market. Also, the continuously growing influence of media advertising about pharmaceuticals along with the significant advancements in the products are are having a tremendous influence on the health supplements market.While the market for health supplements is experiencing positive growth, factors such as negative publicity and false claims made by marketers and manufacturers could deter the said growth in coming years.Latest Industry UpdatesOctober 2018 The customized vitamin brand, Persona, has recently launched two dietary supplements along with a mobile app, aimed at consumers who prioritize their health and capitalizing on the growing consciousness regarding health improvement.Jan 2017 Galaxy Scientific Nutrition in India launched prebiotic soluble fiber dietary supplements, MyFy.Industry TrendsA key trend permeating the market for health supplements is the growing popularity of organic supplements. Organic diets are outpacing regular food at a steady pace, with millennials accounting for a sizeable portion of the consumers across the world. Hence, a number of companies are now focusing on producing more organic certified supplements to gain a competitive advantage in the health supplements market.Key PlayersBASF SE (Germany), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Alticor Inc. (U.S.), The Nature's Bounty Co. (U.S.), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Herbalife International (U.S.), GlaxoSmithKline Limited (U.K), Bayer AG (Germany), Glanbia plc (Republic of Ireland), are few of the players in the health supplements market.Market SegmentationThe global market for health supplements is segmented on the basis of types, application, ingredients and end user.By type, the market is segmented into dietary supplements, bodybuilding supplements, eye health supplements, specialty supplements, and others. The market for dietary supplements is growing at a health rate due to rising alertness regarding calorie reduction among athletes and gym professionals, promoting the application movement, especially in sports nutrition industry.By application, the market is segmented into cardiology, rheumatic disorders, allergy, and others.Ingredients-wise, the market is segmented into vitamins & minerals, amino acids, botanicals, enzymes, and others. Growing consumer awareness about the importance of vitamins & minerals, amino acids, botanicals, enzymes, as well as other components present in health supplements is expected to bolster the development of all these segments during the forecasted period.Based on end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, research centers, and other.Regional AnalysisThe Americas is leading the global health supplements market backed by the strong presence of major players in the region, who are introducing quality products that capture maximum market share. Also, the government support for research & development along with the availability of funds for research is fostering the health supplements market as well. Countries such as the United States (U.S) and Canada are increasing their investments in the healthcare sector, thereby, propelling the overall growth of the health supplements market in the region.Browse Complete Report @It is predicted that Europe is holding the second position in the global health supplements market owing to the availability of advanced products, growing awareness about the benefits of health supplements, high health care spending, and strong government support for research & development. Apart from this, increased R&D activities coupled with the concentration of major companies is proving to be highly beneficial for the growth of the health supplement market in the region.However, it is the region of Asia Pacific that is growing at the fastest rate in the health supplements market, as a result of the presence of rapidly developing healthcare technology, massive patient population, along with high healthcare expenditure. Further, because of the elevating demand for quality products in countries such as India and China, the regional market is flourishing at a significant rate.The region of the Middle East and Africa observes a lack of funds and relatively less healthcare awareness. Therefore, under the circumstances, the market in the region will experience a lackluster growth in the conjectured period.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 FutureHadapsar, Pune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Luxury Hotel Market By Analysis , Growth , Trends And Business Need Forecast To 2023 | Top Key Players Marriott International,Hilton,Starwood Hotels & Resorts (Marriott),Hyatt Hotels,Four Seasons Holdings Inc Luxury Hotel https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2555090?utm_source=op&utm_medium=Srbh https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2555090?utm_source=op&utm_medium=Srbh https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2555090?utm_source=op&utm_medium=Srbh The business hotels segment is expected to dominate the luxury hotel market, throughout the forecast period. These hotels primarily serve business travelers; many tour groups, individual tourists, and small conference groups. Business hotel provides their guests with unified communication capabilities that enable the guests to conduct meetings, group discussions, and connect with associates around the world.The luxury hotels industry is one of the major customer service industries globally. Growing travel and tourism industry is one of the key reasons behind the growth of luxury hotels industry. In order to meet the increasing demand for unique customer services, luxury hotels are constantly striving to improve their services by focusing on changing consumer preferences.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Luxury Hotel 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 application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversMarriott InternationalHiltonStarwood Hotels & Resorts (Marriott)Hyatt HotelsFour Seasons Holdings Inc.Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd.InterContinental Hotels Group PLCMandarin Oriental International LimitedThe Indian Hotels Company LimitedJumeirah International LLCKerzner International Resorts, Inc.ITC Hotels LimitedGet Purchase Inquiry @Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversBusiness HotelSuite HotelAirport HotelResorts HotelMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoRoomF&BSPAOthersThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Luxury Hotel market.Chapter 1, to describe Luxury Hotel Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Luxury Hotel, with sales, revenue, and price of Luxury Hotel, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Luxury Hotel, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Luxury Hotel market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Luxury Hotel sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceGet Purchase Discount @About Us:Big Market Research has a range of research reports from various publishers across the world.Our database of reports of various market categories and sub-categories would help to find the exact report you may be looking for.We are instrumental in providing quantitative and qualitative insights on your area of interest by bringing reports from various publishers at one place to save your time and money. A lot of organizations across the world are gaining profits and great benefits from information gained through reports sourced by us.Contact Us:Mr. Abhishek Paliwal5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United StatesDirect:+1-971-202-1575Toll Free:+1-800-910-6452email help@bigmarketresearch.com Chocolate Packaging Market to 2023 Global Industry Overview By Leading Players Amcor, Bemis, Mondi, Smurfit Kappa, AS Food Packaging, Benson Box, Brow Packaging Chocolate Packaging Market https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2777995?utm_source=RK-OPR https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2777995?utm_source=RK-OPR https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2777995?utm_source=RK-OPR Packaging is an integral part of the food industry due to its role in maintaining the hygiene and quality of the food products during transportation and storage. Chocolate packaging makes use of aluminum foil, tin, paper, and cardboard for packaging. The packaging designs have a significant influence on the purchase decisions of customers hence, vendors are expected to innovate packaging material as well as designs in the forecast period.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The Chocolate Packaging Market research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically-supported and industry-validated market data and projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. It provides analysis and information by categories such as market segments, regions, and product type and distribution channels.By Market Players: Amcor, Bemis, Mondi, Smurfit Kappa, AS Food Packaging, Benson Box, Brow Packaging, Genpak, Sydney Packaging, Unger, WestRock, WipakThe report firstly introduced the Chocolate Packaging basics: Definitions, segment classifications, outlook and market overview, product specifications, manufacturing processes, company profile analysis, cost structures, raw materials and so on. Moreover, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.The regions North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America have been studied in depth to gain better market penetration and assure exact analysis. Top manufacturers have been given prime importance to make sure their strategies are understood and their position in this particular market can be elucidated.Market Segment by Type, covers Rigid Packaging Flexible PackagingMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Dark Chocolate Milk Chocolate White ChocolateThis study provides an evaluation of aspects that are expected to impact growth of market in an undesired or constructive method. The Chocolate Packaging market has been consistently examined with respect to the corresponding market segments. Each year within the mentioned forecast period is concisely considered in terms of produce and worth in the regional as well as the global markets respectively.The report also includes a detailed overview of the competitive scenario and regulatory framework of the Global Chocolate Packaging Market. This will provide readers a clear understanding of the state of drivers, threats, major opportunities, and the major principles, guidelines, plans, and policies impacting the market. The report provides both, qualitative and quantitative research of the Global Market.Get a discount on this research report @Table of Contents1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Global Chocolate Packaging Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Competition by Manufacturer (2016-2017)4 Global Chocolate Packaging Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Chocolate Packaging by Countries6 Europe Chocolate Packaging by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Chocolate Packaging by Countries8 South America Chocolate Packaging by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Chocolate Packaging by Countries10 Global Chocolate Packaging Market Segment by Type11 Global Chocolate Packaging Market Segment by Application12 Chocolate Packaging Market Forecast (2018-2023)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and Conclusion15 AppendixPurchase Enquiry@:About Us:Big Market Research has a range of research reports from various publishers across the world. Our database of reports of various market categories and sub-categories would help to find the exact report you may be looking for.We are instrumental in providing quantitative and qualitative insights on your area of interest by bringing reports from various publishers at one place to save your time and money. A lot of organizations across the world are gaining profits and great benefits from information gained through reports sourced by us.Contact Us:Mr. Abhishek Paliwal5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United StatesDirect:+1-971-202-1575Toll Free:+1-800-910-6452email help@bigmarketresearch.com Wine Packaging Market 2019-2023 | Competitive Landscape By Amcor, Ardagh, Multi-Color, Avery Dennison, Ball, CCL Industries, Encore Glass, Owens-Illinois, Smurfit Kappa and G3 Enterprises Wine Packaging Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1327 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1327 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/wine-packaging-market-1327 Global wine packaging market, container (glass bottles, plastic bottles, bag in box container and others), bulk packaging (ibcs, flexitanks, drums), closure (natural corks, aluminum screw caps, synthetic corks) accessories (boxes & carriers, labels), global forecast to 2023.Market Scenario:The packaging manufacturers across the globe are highly concentrating on improvising the distribution process, via economies of scales. These economies of the scales are primarily monitored across the wine packaging manufacturers, to optimize the assets available to the manufacturers. Globally, the wine packaging manufacturers are immensely concentrating on providing eco-logical solutions such as sustainable packaging and environment-friendly packaging. Moreover, the growing need to increase the packaging safety concerns among the consumers is propelling the demand for ancillary wine packaging such as carton partitions, trays, racks, boxes and barrels among others. These factors are highly fueling the demand across the wine packaging manufacturers operating in the prominent wine producing countries across the globe.Get a FREE Sample Report with Complete TOC @The wine packaging industry is unswervingly allied to the wine manufacturing industry. The wine market has witnessed phenomenal growth over the recent years and is expected to retain this over the forecast period, owing to several benefits associated with the wine, namely taste and health aids. The health-conscious inhabitants have emerged as one of the largest consumers across the globe, leading to a larger wine production, consistently driving the wine packaging market. Moreover, wine is recognized as the favored drink on numerous occasions, owing to the high availability of its extensive selection catering to assorted audience groups. However, the growing stringent government regulations and environmental concerns related to some of the packaging raw materials might act as restraints to the market growth. In contrast to these factors, companies along the packaging and wine producers are highly focusing on new material innovation to comply with the modern ecological standards.Global wine packaging market is segmented based on container, bulk packaging type, closure, accessories and region. Based on containers the market is segmented into glass bottles, plastic bottles, bag in box container and others. Among these, the glass bottles, is projected to dominate the wine packaging market through 2023. Extensive use of glass bottles for wine packaging owing to benefits such as, glass in non-reactive to wine and is an ideal material for longer duration shortage. Based on the bulk packaging type the market is segmented into IBCs, flexitanks, drums others. Flexitanks dominated the market in 2016 and is projected to be the fastest-growing bulk packaging type segment for wine packaging. Flexitanks are the perfect medium for high distance transport and high volume storage. Based on the closure, the market is segmented into natural corks, aluminum screw caps, synthetic corks, and others. Natural cork demand from high-end wine producers and stronger cultural preference for natural cork over other closure system is expected to boost natural cork closure segment in the global wine packaging market. Based on the accessories, the market is segmented into boxes & carriers, labels, and others. Considering the value of packaging, boxes & carriers segment holds a maximum share in the global wine packaging market and will grow at an exponential rate in the coming years. Boxes & carriers segment finds maximum use in the final packing of the wine container. The growing consumer preference for elegant exterior packaging is creating a lucrative market for boxes & carriers in the global wine packaging market.Wine packaging manufacturers are highly converging towards reducing the cost and diminishing the weight as well, through making numerous exertions at producing multiple designs and will implement new technologies to please various consumer preferences. These progressions are creating openings for innovative wine packaging industry. Wine packaging manufacturers have been recognized to utilize various packaging materials, to cater to a broad spectrum of audience while not compromising on the eminence of the wine stored inside the package. All these factors are expected to pave the path for modernization in the manufacturing process and product differentiation, which in turn is likely to drive the wine packaging market over the forecast period.Global wine packaging market is expected to grow at ~5.5% CAGR during the forecast period.Global Wine Packaging MarketThe global wine packaging market is segmented into prominent regions such as, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. The global consumption of wine packaging raw material, so as manufacture of wine containers is highly intended across North America and Europe. The growing wine consumption across North America and Europe economies is propelling the subsequent wine packaging market. Whereas, the growth in wine consumption across major Asia Pacific countries with changing lifestyle and alcohol consumption patterns, acts as a key driver for an increase in wine packaging in this region.Early Diners Are Offered Free Customization- Up to 20%Get Attractive Discount @Key PlayersThe key players of global Wine Packaging market are Amcor Limited (Australia), Ardagh Group SA (Ireland), Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.), Ball Corporation (U.S.), CCL Industries Incorporated (Canada), Encore Glass Incorporated (U.S.), Exal Group (U.S.), and G3 Enterprises Incorporated (U.S.). Hoover Container Solutions Incorporated (U.S.), Enoplastic SPA (Italy), Maverik Enterprises Incorporated (U.S.), Multi-Color Incorporation (U.S.), Owens-Illinois Group Incorporated (U.S.), Smurfit Kappa Group (Ireland), and Gerresheimer Moulded Glass GmbH (Germany) are among others.Table Of Content1 Executive Summary2 Scope Of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Definition2.2.2 Research Objective2.2.3 Assumptions2.2.4 Limitations2.3 Research Process2.3.1 Primary Research2.3.2 Secondary Research2.4 Market Size Estimation2.5 Forecast Model3 Market Landscape3.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis3.1.1 Threat Of New Entrants3.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers3.1.3 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers3.1.4 Threat Of Substitutes3.1.5 Segment Rivalry3.2 Value Chain/Supply Chain Analysis4 Market Dynamics4.1 Introduction4.2 Market Drivers4.3 Market Restraints4.4 Market Opportunities4.5 Market TrendsContinued..........List Of TablesTable 1 Global Wine Packaging Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2 North America Wine Packaging Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3 Europe Wine Packaging Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 4 Asia-Pacific Wine Packaging Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 5 RoW Wine Packaging Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 6 Global Wine Packaging Market, By Container, By Regions, 2017-2023Table 7 North America Wine Packaging Market, By Container, By Country, 2017-2023Table 8 Europe Wine Packaging Market, By Resin Type, By Country, 2017-2023Continued.......List Of FiguresFIGURE 1 RESEARCH PROCESS OF MRFRFIGURE 2 TOP DOWN & BOTTOM UP APPROACHFIGURE 3 MARKET DYNAMICSFIGURE 4 IMPACT ANALYSIS: MARKET DRIVERSFIGURE 5 IMPACT ANALYSIS: MARKET RESTRAINTSFIGURE 6 PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSISFIGURE 7 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSISContinued......Ask for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports.Get More Information on Wine Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023 @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 Edibles.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528Amanora ChambersMagarpatta RoadHadapsarPune -411028Maharashtra, India Ceramic Composites Market 2019 Witness Highest Growth In Near Future Leading Key Players General Electric Company, Rolls-Royce PLC., COI Ceramics Inc., SGL Group, Etc. Ceramic Composites Market https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/94862 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/94862 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/94862 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/94862 www.upmarketresearch.com Up Market Research published a detailed report on Ceramic Composites Market. The report provides an in-depth overview of industry and competitive landscape, covering multiple market segments and elaborates market outlook and status to 2026.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The report contains 109 pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Ceramic Composites 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 Ceramic Composites 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 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 Ceramic Composites Market analysis & forecast 2019-2026 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Global Ceramic Composites Market Segmentation Includes:Region-wise Analysis covers:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players include:General Electric CompanyRolls-Royce PLC.COI Ceramics Inc.SGL GroupUnited TechnologiesCeramtecLancer SystemsCoorstek Inc.Applied Thin Films, Inc.UltrametComposites HorizonsStarfire Systems Inc.Graftech International Ltd. (Fiber Materials Inc.)Pyromeral SystemsProduct Type Analysis:Oxide/OxideSiC/SiCCarbon/CarbonOthersApplication Analysis:Aerospace and DefenseAutomotiveEnergy and PowerElectrical and ElectronicsOthersGet Sample Copy Of This Report @Ceramic Composites 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 Ceramic Composites Market 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 Ceramic Composites 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. 2019-2026 Luxury Hotel Design Market Growing Massively with Key Players- HBA, Rockwell Group, Gensler, Wilson Associates, Leo A Daly, Daroff Design, Perkins Eastman https://www.itintelligencemarkets.com/request_sample.php?id=651 https://www.itintelligencemarkets.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=651 https://www.itintelligencemarkets.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=651 www.itintelligencemarkets.com Luxury Hotel Design includes hotel planning, drawing creation, design and development. The concept of Luxury Hotel Design is rooted in the tradition of hospitality for travelers dating back to ancient times and the development of various types of hotels in many cultures.The report, titled Luxury Hotel Design market research, provides actionable insights that supplement the growth strategies of market players. This market research report provides growth estimates, forecasts, and an in-depth analysis of all key factors at play in the global Luxury Hotel Design market.Ask for Sample copy:Top Key Players Included in This Report: HBA, Rockwell Group, Gensler, Wilson Associates, Leo A Daly, HKS, Pierre-Yves Rochon, ForrestPerkins | Perkins Eastman, Stonehill Taylor Architects, Daroff Design.There are many kinds of Luxury Hotel Designs in the world. Examples of Luxury Hotel Design are no-frills, which offers basic amenities at affordable rates, including guest palaces throughout Asia, America, UK. Another types like Country inns, hotel casino resorts, designer and art hotels, hotel-spa resorts, boutique hotels, the hotel offers a refuge, a monastery and an extra bedroom for rent in a typical home. Another type of capsule hotel is offered in Japan as an option for those who need basic necessities during their stay.Key Questions and Answers Covered in This Report: What will be the market size in 2026 and what will be the growth rate? What are the key market trends? What is driving the Global Luxury Hotel Design Market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the major suppliers of Global Luxury Hotel Design Market space? What are the key market trends that affect the growth of the Global Luxury Hotel Design Market? What are the market opportunities and threats that vendors face in the Global Luxury Hotel Design Market?Get Discount on this Report:Across the globe, different regions such as North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Africa have been examined on the basis of productivity and manufacturing base. Researchers of this report throw light on different terminologies. The competitive landscape section of the report covers the solution, products, services, and business overview. This Global Luxury Hotel Design Market research report covers several dynamic aspects such as drivers, restraints and challenging factors. Different leading companies have been profiled to get a clear insight into the businesses.This research report represents a 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the Global Luxury Hotel Design Market. Furthermore, it offers massive data relating to the recent trends, technological advancements, tools, and methodologies. The research report analyzes the Global Luxury Hotel Design Market in a detailed and concise manner for better insights into the businesses.The report additionally defines the various marketing channels prevailing in the Global Luxury Hotel Design Market and delivers information about some of the imperative distributors operating in the market. The report serves as a helpful guide for the new as well as existing players in the market.If You Have Any Query, Ask Our Experts:Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Global Luxury Hotel Design Market Overview Chapter 2: Economic Impact on Industry Chapter 3: Market Competition by Manufacturers Chapter 4: Production, Revenue (Value) by Region Chapter 5: Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions Chapter 6: Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Chapter 7: Market Analysis by Application Chapter 8: Manufacturing Cost Analysis Chapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Chapter 10: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Chapter 1: Market Effect Factors Analysis Chapter 12: Global Luxury Hotel Design Market ForecastAbout Us:We at IT Intelligence Markets conduct intensive market research and generate detailed reports about the products and services offered in the IT domain. Our team is devoted to providing custom reports that are taylor-made to suit the customers requirements. We make sure to keep our customers updated with the latest market dynamics as IT industry is undergoing sea change intrinsically & extrinsically by forces such as regulatory fluctuations, rapidly evolving consumer preferences, and newer technologies. Not only do our market research analysts scrutinize market requirements but also track competitors relentlessly for obtaining the most updated scenario of the market.Contact Us:IT Intelligence MarketsErika Thomas(Sales Manager)Address: US 76 AT US 19 & HWY 129 Murphy Highway, Blairsville, GA, USAContact No: +1 (888) 312-3102sales@itintelligencemarkets.com Dear Sam: Im a sophomore in college studying business administration. My mom keeps insisting that I need to find a summer internship in order to ensure I get a great job following college. I am not even sure what an internship is. Do I really need one? If so, how do I go about finding one? Thanks! Zach Dear Zach: Your mom is correct! An internship can not only provide you with career-relevant experience, but it communicates your career readiness to a potential employer. In addition, it can validate, for you, that you are pursuing a career field that holds your interest beyond what you have perhaps learned about in the classroom. Given your general business degree, an internship one, two, or three! can help define your chosen career path, showing a potential employer that you are carving a niche in a key area of interest. Internships provide the opportunity for you to gain real-world experience, experience that can often lead to a full-time job offer from the company upon graduation. At a minimum, the experience and the letter of recommendation you will ask for, upon completing the internship, will go a long way toward telling a potential employer of your potential to add value to their organization. So, having reinforced your moms recommendation to secure an internship, how do you go about identifying opportunities? There are many ways to source internships including the Career Services office at your college or university, by attending career fairs often hosted by industry organizations, by networking with peers and alumni, and by searching through company websites for their internship opportunities. I do want to mention that you are looking at just the right time. As a rising junior in college for the 2019-2020 academic year you have the opportunity to engage in not one but two internships! After completing your sophomore and next your junior years, you can spend your summers acquiring the real-world experience that will absolutely differentiate you in a sea of graduates. Those two summers may push you over the edge and qualify you for roles requiring experience I cant tell you how many times I have seen that happen when an entry-level candidate has a strong brand overcoming the dilemma of needing the experience to get the job, but also needing the job to get the experience! While completing your internship, do everything you can to go beyond the expectations of the position; after all, this could be your potential employer upon graduation. Ask for additional responsibilities, volunteer for projects, work hard, and show that employer you are committed to your role and their organization. Upon leaving, ask for a letter of recommendation and use that in your search; just as important, build relationships you can leverage in the future. I have worked with many clients who actually have interned two and three times for the same organization in different areas which has truly set them apart from their peers, given the employer obviously saw so much value in the candidate they invited him/her back. I also have worked with clients who did not fully engage in their internships and did not get much out of it, so I really encourage you to use an internship as a proving ground of sorts. Remember, an internship will help validate that you are selecting the right career path for you, provide you with a robust environment in which to learn from those around you regardless of their roles, and offer the potential to build relationships that could be critical in facilitating your career journey and rapid trajectory. All the best! Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@nolanbranding.com. For information on Nolan Brandings services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442. By Leah Douglas, Food & Environment Reporting Network An estimated 30 million gallons of cow manure awaited cleanup on the former site of Lost Valley farm, a mega-dairy in Boardman, when it was sold in February. The mess was an apt symbol of the yearlong, beleaguered tenure of what had been the states second largest dairy. Lost Valley was shut down by the state earlier this year after repeated violations of environmental rules, and in the aftermath of its sale, farm and environmental advocates are urging passage of a bill that would issue a temporary moratorium on similar operations. They argue that the state has failed to consider the broader economic and environmental impact of these large-scale producers. The bill would make Oregon the first state to take such an action. The states dairy industry a powerful economic force which accounted for more than $500 million worth of milk production in 2017 opposes the measure. The industry has donated over $1 million to state lawmakers in the past decade. And Oregon dairy production has been rising, largely due to the arrival of mega-dairies like Lost Valley. The debate over the moratorium reveals a state in flux over which direction to steer its dairy industry. In addition to establishing a moratorium on new dairies with more than 2,500 cows, Senate Bill 103, which was introduced in January, would require studies on the economic impact of mega-dairies on small and midsize dairies; set up an animal-welfare task force; and mandate more stringent air-emission and water-use rules for large dairies. It also would classify such dairies as industrial operations, which would eliminate their protection from nuisance lawsuits under the states right-to-farm law. Two other bills that would modify oversight of mega-dairies are also being considered by the Legislature. We need some serious reform so something like [Lost Valley] doesnt happen again, says Ivan Maluski, policy director for Friends of Family Farmers, an Oregon farm-advocacy group. When Lost Valley was shut down, pictures showed cows standing up to their knees in manure. Nearby residents were concerned that their drinking water could be contaminated by the waste. At a March 21 hearing on the proposed legislation, many people testified in opposition. The opponents, including several farmers associated with the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, argued that plenty of regulations already apply to dairy operations. They said Lost Valley was just a case of one bad operator who was ultimately pushed out of business as a result of mismanagement. Every dairy operator is required to comply with a myriad of regulations, said David Yamamoto, a Tillamook County commissioner, who testified against the bill at the hearing, conducted by the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The cost of regulatory compliance is not free. The Tillamook County Creamery Association, which produces Tillamook brand dairy products, is located in Yamamotos district. Opponents also argued that the bills represent an enormous threat to the economy of Tillamook County and to the vibrant dairy economy, according to state Sen. Betsy Johnson, whose district covers part of Tillamook County. Thousands of jobs depend on the dairy industry. Moratorium advocates argued at the hearing that something must be done to reform the system that permitted Lost Valley owner Greg te Velde to go into business in the first place. When Lost Valley opened its doors in 2017, te Velde hadnt yet secured all of the necessary permits. Soon after it began operation, manure from the dairys 15,000 cows overflowed from storage lagoons and flooded into the cows stalls. Though state Department of Agriculture regulators threatened to sue te Velde and shutter the farm, they allowed the dairy to continue operating after the incident, as The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last year. Ultimately, te Velde racked up $200,000 in fines and more than 200 environmental violations. Many Oregonians vocally opposed Lost Valley well before it opened. During a public comment period in 2016, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Quality received thousands of comments opposing the mega-dairyof 4,147 comments, just 15 supported permitting the operation. Residents were concerned about water contamination, especially given that the farms site was located in a region that the DEQ has given a special designation due to nitrate pollution. Commenters were also concerned about air quality, animal welfare, and worker safety, among other issues, but department officials deemed these concerns to be beyond of their scope. Despite public concern, regulators moved Lost Valley through the permit process quickly. Emails among state officials demonstrated that they were aware of the gaps in te Veldes paperwork and aided in fast-tracking his application despite his missing permits. Environmental and other advocates say this series of events shows that systemic reforms are needed to adequately regulate Oregons mega-dairies. This is not just an issue of one bad actor, Maluski says. The agencies bent over backwards to give [Lost Valley] a permit in a highly suspect manner. Asked to respond to the call to reform the permitting process, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Agriculture only confirmed that state regulators consulted frequently during the Lost Valley permitting process. The department also said that the sites cleanup process is still underway: 30% of the manure solids and 40% liquid manure, process wastewater and collected stormwater generated by Lost Valley Farm has been land applied or exported. The moratorium proposal comes as Oregon dairy farms are in sharp decline. In 1992, Oregon had 1,900 farms with dairy cows, according to USDA data. By 2006, that number was 720. Today, the state has 228 dairy farms. This trend is mirrored in many other states. Maluski says that 20 dairies have shuttered just in the past two years. He links these closures to the rise of large-scale dairies in Oregon and elsewhere in the Northwest and Midwest. Theres a glut of milk on the market in part because weve got this new wave of mega-dairies all over the country, he says. Theyre overproducing and theyre driving small farmers out of business. Meanwhile, milk production in the state has risen dramatically in the past two decades, signaling that the remaining dairy farms house many more cows. The states largest dairy, Threemile Canyon Farms, in Boardman, has 70,000 cows. Such large-scale operations have the potential for a greater environmental impact. Advocates also have sought more rigorous regulation of air emissions from these increasingly large dairy farms. The state legislature considered a bill in 2017 that would have regulated air emissions from dairies something that had been called for since 2008 but it failed. Meanwhile, federal and local reporting requirements for air emissions from large livestock farms have been effectively dismantled in the last two years by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Congress. The issue of water and air contamination was a major discussion point at the March 21 hearing. [Concentrated animal feeding operations] are the biggest source of [nitrate] contamination, said Amy Van Son, an attorney with the Center for Food Safety. Air-emissions controls are something that are desperately needed. Yet the dairy industry remains opposed to any legislative changes that would rein in the expansion of mega-dairies in the state. In part, the spike is linked to the growth of the states dairy exports, which totaled $88 million in 2015. The U.S. exported nearly 15 percent of its milk production in 2017. The dairy industry is a major donor to political candidates in Oregon. Threemile Canyon alone has donated $218,000 to candidates since 2006. As The Oregonian/OregonLive reported in February, Oregon ranks sixth in the country for political donations from the farming sector, as well as first in the country for donations from the soda and grocery industries, second for the restaurant industry, and third for food processing. Because of its lax rules on corporate giving, Oregon ranks first in the country in per capita corporate money in politics. The idea of moratoriums on new or expanded large-scale livestock operations has been floated in other states. A coalition of farming and environmental groups support a moratorium on new large-scale animal operations in Wisconsin. A county in Indiana passed such a moratorium in 2018. In Iowa, 70 organizations signed onto a letter urging the states legislators to pass a moratorium, but the bill died March 8. As for Senate Bill 103, it will have to move out of committee by April 9 or it will be dead for this session. Another operator, Washington-based Easterday Farms, has already purchased the Lost Valley site for $66.7 million. This story was produced by the Food & Environment Reporting Network, a non-profit, independent news organization, where Leah Douglas is a staff writer. The Naito-Campbell family will donate $1 million from the sale of two Portland landmarks to ensure the continued operation of suicide prevention hotline Lines for Life. Anne Naito-Campbell, the daughter of real estate developer Bill Naito, said the gift is the first of a broader $5.5 million plan to invest in some of the biggest social issues facing Portland. The nine other recipients include the Portland Audubon Society, the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, Central City Concern, the Oregon Historical Society and Raphael House of Portland. Naito-Campbell said her cousin who has stage-four pancreatic cancer will also use some of the money for a medical foundation. The family is using proceeds from its sale of historic buildings Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland and the Galleria in Southwest Portland. "103 years ago my grandfather came to Portland from Japan and opened Naito Japanese Goods, Naito-Campbell said. Today, my brother, my cousins and I are continuing the legacy my grandfather and my father began. She said investing in mental health services is part of that work. Naito-Campbell, a longtime board member at Lines for Life, chose the organization in part because she said she watched her daughter struggle with mental health issues after reporting a sexual assault. A Multnomah County judge found two men not guilty in the cast last month. I am so blessed to give the gift to Lines for Life to help others with a mental health crisis, Naito-Campbell said. Bill Naito, prominent Portland real estate developer, invested in buildings that remade the city's downtown. Lines for Life runs a 24/7 hotline for people considering suicide. The nonprofit also works to prevent substance abuse and advocate for mental health resources. The Naito family donation will start an endowment to ensure the organization is financially stable long term. Dwight Holton, who runs the organization, said the money will be invested and the interest used to innovate ways to prevent suicide and substance abuse. He called Naito-Campbell, whose family helped shape the physical skyline of the city through real estate development, an early adviser to his work at Lines for Life. She will be leaving a legacy for the skyline of social change for Portland, Holton said. Lines for Life raised about $8 million last year, Holton said, a drastic increase from about $1.6 million when he started in 2014. Oregon has one of the highest suicide rates in the country -- more than 750 people on average per year. Last year, that number was 825. According to Lines for Life, workers are able to deescalate 95 percent of the people who call its hotline. Lines for Life fielded more than 110,000 calls, texts and emails last year -- double the amount in recent years. Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran, an emergency room doctor, said she was happy to see money go toward prevention -- before someone comes into the hospital after a crisis. This investment in Lines for Life is meaningful and truly life-saving, Meieran said. Its not often you can make that statement. She and Mayor Ted Wheeler both pointed to data that shows suicide is the second-leading cause of death for Oregonians between ages 10 and 34 to illustrate why Lines for Life, which runs youth-specific programs, is so important. "Lines for Life is a valuable partner in our fight against mental health stigma and suicide, and we look forward to working together to make sure the Naito investment helps Oregonians for generations to come Wheeler said. If you are considering suicide, there is help available: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Multnomah County: 503-988-4888 or 1-800-716-9769 Clackamas County: 503-655-8585 Washington County: 503-291-9111 Southwest Washington: 1-800-626-8137 or 866-835-2755 Note: This story was updated to correct the buildings that the Naito-Campbell family sold: It was not the Tiffany Center but the Galleria in addition to Montgomery Park. The erroneous information came from the source. A pyramid scheme is a con. Its unsustainable. It ultimately will come to no good for everybody. Just ask Bernie Madoff, the notorious financial adviser who defrauded investors of billions and is now sitting in prison. Or ask the eminently respectable Steven Chu. Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and former U.S. secretary of Energy, said the world economy is a pyramid scheme, Forbes magazine contributor Jeff McMahon reported Friday morning. Increased economic prosperity and all economic models supported by governments and global competitors are based on having more young people, workers, than older people, Chu said during a University of Chicago lecture. Two schemes come to mind. One is the pyramid scheme. The other is the Ponzi scheme. Im not going to explain them both to you, you can look it up. A pyramid scheme and a Ponzi scheme, the latter named after 1920s swindler Charles Ponzi, are quite similar. Theyre both a kind of securities fraud that involves paying investors not with profits from growth but with the contributions of new investors. The difference, for the most part, is whether or not the participating investors are aware its all a scam. Depending on a pyramid scheme or a Ponzi scheme, theres no such thing as sustainability, Chu said of how the world economy works. The economists know this, but they dont really talk about it in the open, and theres no real discussion in government. Every government says you have to have an increase in population, whether you do it through immigrants or the home population. So, this is a problem." Chus views on the subject arent exactly novel, though his comparing the world economy to well-known scams puts the issue in unusually stark relief. We all know, for example, that Social Security and Medicare face long-term financial challenges because current workers pay, to a growing extent, for the benefits of retired workers. "The world needs a new model of how to generate a rising standard of living thats not dependent on a pyramid scheme," Chu said. And what might that model be? He says it involves, for starters, green technologies and better education opportunities worldwide for women. But thats a whole different lecture. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his soon-to-be-ex-wife, MacKenzie Bezos, announced Thursday a divorce settlement that will leave him with 75 percent of their Amazon stock and voting power over all of the Amazon voting shares the former couple own together. The announcement from the Bezoses - coming in a tweet from MacKenzie that was retweeted by Jeff - settled a closely watched matter of corporate governance affecting one of the world's richest companies, with a market capitalization of $890 billion, and the world's wealthiest person. The record divorce settlement, which also will award Jeff Bezos all of the former couple's joint holdings in The Washington Post and a space-flight company, Blue Origin, is likely to remove uncertainty over the extent of his continued control over Amazon - a company he founded in 1994 and for which he remains CEO and has the most stock of any shareholder. Their marriage lasted 25 years, and they have four children. MacKenzie Bezos, 48, will be awarded about 4 percent of the company, a stake worth roughly $36 billion, based on Amazon's market value Thursday. She will become one of the wealthiest women in the world, after such heiresses as the women who own giant stakes in L'Oreal and Walmart. Bezos, 55, will retain the remaining 12 percent of the company. He will, however, have sole voting power over the shares the two once jointly controlled, which together amount to 16 percent of Amazon's total shares. Jeff Bezos is worth at least $107 billion, based on his Amazon holdings alone. Forbes estimated his worth earlier this year at $131 billion before the divorce settlement. The world's second-richest person at the time was Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a neighbor of the Bezoses, with about $96.5 billion, according to Forbes. The divorce should be settled in roughly 90 days, according to an Amazon regulatory filing Thursday. Investors shrugged off the news Thursday afternoon, with the stock, which was down slightly for the day, showing little obvious change after the tweets, suggesting that investors expected a divorce settlement that left Bezos firmly in control. It wasn't immediately clear how the Bezoses may divvy up their various holdings in companies such as Airbnb and Uber. His Bezos Expeditions venture firm has invested in tech firms, including trucking startup Convoy and human resources software firm Workday, as well as Business Insider. He has also financed a multimillion-dollar project to build a clock that could run for 10,000 years, located on a Texas ranch the former couple own. Also undisclosed is how the Bezoses may divide their real estate holdings, which include mansions in Bellevue, Washington, and Beverly Hills, California; the largest private home in Washington, D.C.; the Texas ranch; and condos in New York. Together, those holdings are worth tens of millions of dollars. A spokesman for Jeff Bezos didn't respond to a request for comment. MacKenzie Bezos' literary agent declined to make her available for comment. MacKenzie Bezos, author of the 2013 novel "Traps," was the first to speak on the divorce settlement on Thursday, in what appeared to be a carefully choreographed announcement. The tweet was her first, from an account created this month. Jeff Bezos follows her on Twitter - and nobody else - making it easy to know when her tweet had been made public and to immediately retweet it, as he did, to his 882,000 followers. Her tweet disclosed the terms of the divorce and added in a personal note, "Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness, and looking forward to the next phase as co-parents and friends Excited about my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look forward to what comes next." Jeff Bezos' tweet echoed hers and praised MacKenzie Bezos, saying, "She has been an extraordinary partner, ally, and mother. She is resourceful and brilliant and loving, and as our futures unroll, I know I'll always be learning from her." They didn't disclose custody terms of their children on Thursday. The public exchange of affectionate respect between the former couple came after months of revelations about Jeff Bezos' relationship with a former news anchor, Lauren Sanchez. Their intimate text exchanges and photographs were published by the National Enquirer in January. Bezos later accused the tabloid of attempting to blackmail him by threatening to publish more intimate photos unless he publicly said the Enquirer's reporting was not politically motivated. He responded in the blog post by including copies of Enquirer emails detailing the alleged threat, in the process revealing graphic descriptions of what the images showed. The National Enquirer has said it was engaged in "good faith negotiations to resolve all matters with him." MacKenzie Bezos worked in Amazon's early days as an accountant and helped to negotiate contracts. The two of them met as employees of hedge fund D.E. Shaw in New York and were married in 1993, about a year before Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookseller in Seattle, where they settled. She has not had a prominent or public role in Amazon in recent years. She has occasionally defended her husband in public. She wrote a lengthy one-star review on Amazon after the release of "The Everything Store" in 2013, saying the book chronicling Amazon's rise was filled with inaccuracies. Thursday was the second time the Bezoses used Twitter to announce information about their marriage. "As our family and close friends know, after a period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends," they announced in January. The tweet, which appeared under the signature of "Jeff & MacKenzie" said nothing about their assets, fueling speculation over how they would divide more than $130 billion of assets accumulated during their marriage. Peter Walzer, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, said shortly after the announcement that dividing assets can prove complex when the bulk of a couple's wealth is tied up in a single company. "These do get very complicated," Walzer said. He said Thursday that the deal announced on Twitter left key details unanswered, including whether there was a prenuptial agreement or other factor that kept MacKenzie Bezos from getting half of the assets. Divorce law in Washington state - the Bezoses live in a Seattle suburb - treats property accumulated during a marriage as shared equally between the two spouses, unless there are prenuptial or postnuptial agreements that make different arrangements contractually. "Any deal is a good deal if they agree to it," Walzer said. "She's one of the wealthiest people in the world, but . . . why wouldn't she get half of everything?" Thursday's announcement also resolved questions about the future of The Washington Post, which Jeff Bezos bought for $250 million in 2013, and Blue Origin. Jeff Bezos' ownership of The Post has drawn the famously private technology titan into public view. President Donald Trump has regularly criticized Amazon, The Post and Bezos on Twitter, sometimes intentionally misspelling his name. After news broke of the looming divorce - and during a period of questions about the future of his various holdings - Trump tweeted, "So sorry to hear the news about Jeff Bozo being taken down by a competitor whose reporting, I understand, is far more accurate than the reporting in his lobbyist newspaper, the Amazon Washington Post. Hopefully the paper will soon be placed in better & more responsible hands!" Blue Origin, based south of Seattle, has long been one of Jeff Bezos' main passions. As a child, he was a "Star Trek" devotee, and he founded Blue Origin in 2000 with the hope of eventually having "millions of people living and working in space." He has said that attempting to lower the cost of access to space is "the most important work I'm doing." He's referred to Amazon as a winning "lottery ticket" that has allowed him to indulge his passion for space by starting Blue Origin, and he has pledged to spend $1 billion a year of his own money on the venture. - - - The Washington Posts Christian Davenport and Renae Merle contributed to this story. A romance mystery novelist charged with murdering her chef husband in Portland is suspected of swapping the parts of different guns to carry out and later cover up the alleged crime, a source with knowledge of the evidence gathered by authorities told The Oregonian/OregonLive. The new details follow a trail of elliptical clues parceled out in charging documents and court hearings in a case shrouded in mystery after a judge sealed most of the records since Nancy Crampton Brophys arrest last fall. The latest revelations, if proved to be true, would add a remarkable twist to an alleged murder where even a possible motive has not been made public in court. Police had revealed during their initial investigation that they obtained a gun from Crampton Brophy, 68, a self-published author who also penned a 2011 essay titled How To Murder Your Husband. Her spouse of 27 years was killed in what had been a baffling early-morning shooting last June at the Oregon Culinary Institute. Then last month, a prosecutor said during a court hearing that the gun police found was the exact make and caliber of the 9mm pistol used to kill Daniel Brophy, 63. But he said ballistics testing couldnt tie that weapon to the murder. He added, though, that the novelist had also purchased additional gun parts online sometime before her husband was shot. He offered no other details and has declined to elaborate. But someone else familiar with the evidence said investigators believe Crampton Brophy took the slide and barrel from another gun and put those pieces in the 9mm she owned. Brophy is suspected of removing the pieces after the shooting, ditching them and reinstalling the original slide and barrel, the source said. Heres how the information of the gun parts trickled out. Crampton Brophys public defender, Kathleen Dunn, asked a judge during a March 22 hearing to close an upcoming bail hearing to the public and press and also moved to exclude certain evidence from being presented by the prosecution. The hearing wasnt scheduled and didnt appear on the case docket in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The Oregonian/OregonLive obtained an audio recording of the hearing through a public records request. Arguing against the defenses motions, which are under seal, Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet said: We know not only that a gun was used, we know the make of the gun that was used, based on the impressions it leaves on a shell. We know the caliber because of the shells left at the scene. We found that same caliber and same make of gun, which Ms. Brophy gave to the police. He added: Yes, it was test fired. Yes, its not the gun. At least its not the slide and barrel. Overstreet then began speaking about other gun parts authorities say Crampton Brophy bought online. Before he could continue, Judge Kenneth Walker cut off the prosecutor. The judge later ruled against the motions to close the bail hearing, scheduled for April 19, or to exclude evidence at it, citing that he had neither the statutory nor constitutional authority to do so. Overstreet declined to comment on the hearing or how the slide and barrel factored into the case against Crampton Brophy. Daniel Brophy, a beloved instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute, was found gunned down in a kitchen at the school June 2, 2017. The early morning killing yielded no immediate suspects, though investigators eventually zeroed in on his author wife, whose novels include The Wrong Husband and Hell on the Heart. Police arrested Crampton Brophy in September, and a grand jury later indicted her on one count of murder. The case garnered national and international headlines after The Oregonian/OregonLive found a copy of Crampton Brophys How To Murder Your Husband archived online. The widespread publicity is why Crampton Brophys lawyers say theyre determined to keep details surrounding her case confidential until trial. From the moment of Ms. Brophys arrest, this matter has generated intense media attention. Court proceeding in this case will trigger worldwide media coverage, with stories on television and the internet as well as in newspapers and magazines, Dunn wrote in court filings this week. This case cannot proceed without the world and the likely jury pool absorbing the coverage. Dunn did not respond to a request for comment. Crampton Brophys next hearing is scheduled for Friday. Her lawyers will seek to waive the bail hearing altogether and move to keep under seal records that likely lay out the case against her, arguing that any such disclosure will jeopardize their clients right to a fair trial, court records show. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. WILLITS, CALIF. -- Jennifer and Sarah Hart killed themselves and their six children when Jennifer Hart aimed the familys SUV straight off a California cliff and into the sea, a unanimous Mendocino County jury determined Thursday. Jurors reached their verdicts in just 57 minutes, ending a two-day coroner's inquest during which police for the first time made public evidence that the women had planned the crash. The evidence centered on information collected from three digital devices: the familys GPS device, the SUVs black box-style computer and Sarah Harts cell phone. Police found searches on Sarah Hart's phone about death by Benadryl, the effects of over-the-counter medications, drowning and hypothermia. The searches began as the family drove south from their Southwest Washington home through Oregon toward California, said lead investigator Jake Slates, a California Highway Patrol officer. The computer in the familys SUV indicated Jennifer Hart drove straight toward the cliff with the cars gas pedal at full throttle. She never touched the brakes. The jurors ruled that both Jennifer and Sarah Hart died by suicide. They also decided each of the six children died from their mothers intentional act. As the jury of eight women and six men filed back into the hearing room for the final time, one female juror wiped tears from her eyes. After the hearing, juror Tony Howard said reaching the decisions was not as hard as processing the tragic information investigators detailed over the previous two days. The testimony left jurors in pain, he said. Its kind of hard on the whole group, he said. A second juror, Steve Greenwood, said the jurors agreed from the start about most of their decisions, a fact that he felt was reflective of the investigative work and the way in which it was presented. The person whose death required the most discussion was Sarah Hart, he said, but ultimately all jurors concluded that it had been by suicide. We made all of our decisions unanimously, he said. WILLITS, CALIF. -- California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Slates, right, speaks about his investigation in the Hart family crash as Mendocino County Sheriff Thomas Allman looks on. (Molly Young/The Oregonian) Slates testified that Jennifer and Sarah Hart packed their children into their SUV and left their Woodland, Washington home three hours after a case worker arrived to investigate reports of child abuses. Slates said he believes the women left home without a clear plan. But by the time they drove to the scenic lookout point two nights later, they had agreed on what would come next, he surmised. Sarah Hart took at least 42 doses of Benadryl, he said. Jennifer Hart, who rarely drank, consumed the equivalent of five shots of alcohol. The women administered Benadryl in some form to their children. Their oldest son, Markis, had the equivalent of 19 doses in his system, Slates said. Markis, 19, Hannah, 16, Devonte, 15, Jeremiah, 14, Abigail, 14, and Sierra, 12, all died in the crash. No one in the Yukon was wearing a seat belt, another California Highway Patrol officer testified. "They both decided that this was going to be the end," Slates said. Slates' testimony provided jurors the most comprehensive picture of the family's final days before the crash. Eight other people also testified, including a forensic pathologist who performed autopsies and several people involved in the search for children whose bodies were not immediately found. Devonte's body remains missing. A Garmin GPS recovered weeks after the crash allowed police to piece together an incredibly detailed timeline of the familys journey from their Woodland, Washington home to the Mendocino Coast, Slates said. Stops included a Walmart in Longview, where authorities believe Jennifer Hart bought the generic version of Benadryl, sold by Walmart under the brand name Equate, he said. Police learned Jennifer and Sarah Hart often gave their adolescent children Benadryl on long drives just so they would sleep, Slates said. Police found diphenhydramine-containing Equate medicine in liquid and pill forms in the wreckage found the afternoon of March 26, 2018. Slates listed off several of the Google searches conducted on Sarah Harts phone: Can 500 mgs of Benadryl kill a 120-pound woman? Is death by drowning relatively painless? How long does it take to die from hypothermia while drowning in a car? No-kill shelters for dogs The family often traveled and always took their two dogs with them, Slates said. Since the family fled Washington, no one has found their dogs. Slates said there is no evidence they in fact stopped at an animal shelter. Slates said the searches on Sarah Harts phone began at 12:30 a.m. the morning after the family drove away from their Woodland home. Sarah Hart texted co-workers at 3 a.m. that she was sick and would be unable to work that day. Slates said Sarah Hart deleted the searches from her phone but that a forensic search was able to find them anyway. Slates said after testifying that others of the Harts electronic devices, such as Jennifers phone and the laptops collected at the familys home, mainly contained family photos and emails not relevant to the inquest, he said. A tourist from Alaska camping near the crash site told police that he heard an engine revving and tires squealing, then a loud sound, at around 3 a.m. that morning, Slates said. The account matched with testimony from another California Highway Patrol officer trained to analyze crash scenes said. Computer readings from the SUV showed the vehicle idled, then accelerated at full throttle over a protective grass berm and off the cliff. Within two seconds, the vehicle landed upside down at the base of the cliff. Based on all the evidence his crash investigation team collected, he said, they reached an inevitable conclusion about the cause of the crash: intentional. When youre at a cliff edge with your family inside, how often do you apply 100 percent throttle? asked Officer Timothy Roloff. -- Molly Young Assembling backpacks of food for students to take home in Flint, Mich. Kathleen Payton/Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, CC BY-SA By Sarah Riggs Stapleton, University of Oregon One in 6 American children faces hunger and 3 out of 4 teachers report regularly seeing hungry kids in their classrooms. In response, school meals make up a large fraction of federal food assistance. The National School Lunch Program is the second-largest federal food assistance program, serving 30.4 million children. It is complemented by the School Breakfast Program, the Afterschool Snack Service and the Summer Food Service Program. Though these programs are essential, they are not enough. On a local scale, organizations such as food banks assist food-insecure children and families, but their work within schools is typically limited. In my roles as a researcher of food in schools and as a food bank board member, I often see opportunities for more collaboration between schools and communities to help fill the gaps in feeding kids whose families face economic hardship. Local efforts are limited In some communities, food banks and K-12 schools already work together as partners. One way this occurs is through backpack programs that give students easily prepared foods, like boxed macaroni and cheese and canned beans, for the weekend. Backpack programs, such as those in Northeast Michigan and Arlington, Virginia, are highly local. Often these initiatives exist because someone, such as a high school teacher I collaborated with on a study, Melissa Washburn, sees a need and reaches out to local food banks for support. Washburn, a health teacher at a public high school in Lansing, Michigan, partnered with a nearby food bank to initiate a backpack program that delivered shelf-stable items. Wanting to improve the quality of the food in the packs, Washburn secured grants from a local nonprofit and the schools alumni association to include locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Food pantries located in schools are another source of support for hungry students and their families. These efforts also often depend on one or a handful of dedicated people who see a need and amass volunteers for the task. Local efforts are important and should be the norm rather than the exception. School-based food pantries and weekend backpack programs should be a routine feature at all public schools. Bringing in the village While school food pantries and backpack programs are important, we need to welcome more ideas to the table to feed children in schools. Because funding for public education is limited and teachers are overextended, the village needs to help support these endeavors. There are countless models for marshaling communities to feed students. Service organizations, faith-based groups and local clubs can step in to help. Food banks, in particular, are in excellent positions to foster connections between schools and these groups. For example, a network of churches in Junction City, Oregon, works with the food bank to supply items, such as peanut butter, for backpack programs in local schools. Partnerships between businesses and nonprofits, such as the Cereal for Youth program in Lane County, Oregon, are another model. This program brings three local businesses together with the food bank to provide free high-quality granola to kids 18 years and under in schools or afterschool programs. Another important initiative is lobbying for better federal or state school food assistance. In Oregon, nonprofits, food banks and other organizations have formed the Hunger-Free Schools Coalition to encourage state legislators to make Oregon the first state to provide universal free school meals. Food can also provide a gateway to building community in and around schools. For example, our food bank nutrition educator teaches family cooking classes at a local elementary school. Free evening or weekend meals for school communities with food provided by food banks and partners are another possibility. Schools are places where food assistance can have great impact on vulnerable members of society. Community organizations, businesses and food assistance agencies all have roles to play in this effort. Sarah Riggs Stapleton, Assistant Professor, Education Studies, College of Education, University of Oregon This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Virginia Beach, Va. A U.S. Navy sailor was shot and killed at a base in Virginia on Friday after he shot and wounded another sailor. Security at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach killed the male sailor after he shot a female sailor several times in the bases parking lot, according to NBC News. The female sailor was hospitalized. Her injuries are not considered life-threatening. Both sailors were assigned to the base. Officials described the incident as an "isolated domestic shooting," NBC said. The shooting remains under investigation. The Navy has not released the identities of the shooter or the victim. Authorities locked down the base after the incident, but normal operations have resumed, according to The Associated Press. The shooter was armed with handgun, according to WRIC in Virginia. The incident was over in about five minutes. Weapons are not allowed on the base and authorities are investigating how the shooter got the gun onto the property, WRIC said. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Subscribe to get the Morning Briefing newsletter delivered to your email inbox weekdays at 7 a.m. Todays stories HART FAMILY DEATH RULING: Both mothers died by suicide and intentionally killed their six children, a jury finds. Read more. HART INVESTIGATION: Sarah Harts horrific Google searches suggest she prioritized saving the lives of her dogs, not her children. Read more. CHEF KILLED: Gun parts bought online are at the center of an Oregon romance novelists suspected spouse slaying. Read more. BEACH BATTLE: Rockaway Beach must pay $200,000-plus for its fight with a beachfront owner over a home battered by waves. Read more. KILLER CANINES: Dogs kill 41 sheep at Eugene-area farm. Read more. ABOUT TIME: Oregon moves one step closer to permanent daylight saving time. Read more. GO FISH: Winter steelhead have staged a comeback on the Willamette since the lethal removal of sea lions, officials say. Read more. PUBLIC TRANSIT: No more paper tickets or mobile app in 2020, TriMet says. Read more. PERS REFORM: A business group files two PERS reform ballot initiatives. Read more. JOHN CANZANO: Heres hoping Oregon Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu makes the WNBA wait. Read more. DRAMATIC WRECK: A car flies through the air and smashes into a Beaverton-area assisted living facility, deputies say. Read more. WELFARE WORKERS: Oregon leaders want to remove the college degree requirement for child welfare workers. Read more. PORTLAND CONCERT: Celine Dions heart will go on stage in Portland next year. Read more. BRIDGE BUILDING: Whither CRC? Gov. Kate Brown suggests a new name for the Interstate Bridge effort. Read more. REAL ESTATE: Get inside new modern homes and rentable accessory dwelling units through the AIA tour during Design Week Portland. Read more. More news Bigfoot returns to spotlight in new Laika movie, 40 years after Sasquatch search riveted Northwest Fate of push to loosen Portland renter restrictions wont be known for weeks Ask Amy: Violent, undisciplined child turns neighborhood parties into absolute nightmares Dear Abby: Disagreements over religion and birth control threaten 5-year relationship Carolyn Hax: Surely, there is a way to politely disinvite these incompatible people from our vacation Find more at oregonlive.com Todays comics Click here to see today's comics Todays obituaries Click here to find area deaths reported recently Today in history AROUND THE WORLD: On April 5, 1986, two American servicemen and a Turkish woman were killed in the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque, an incident which prompted a U.S. air raid on Libya more than a week later. In a stunning loss for Rockaway Beach, a judge has ruled that the Oregon coast town must pay $213,000 to a beachfront property owner who has fought for years to stop his vacation home from getting washed away by winter storms. In an order Wednesday, Tillamook County Circuit Judge Jonathan Hill cited a state law that allows him to award legal costs to homeowner Tai Dang if the city acted in ways that were reckless, willful, malicious, in bad faith or illegal. The judge found that the city wasnt objectively reasonable in its prolonged fight against Dang. He awarded Dang about $201,000 in fees for his attorneys and $12,000 in other litigation costs. The judge cited glaring problems with the way Rockaway Beach handled Dangs case -- first by granting Dang permits to build the house on that precise spot of beachfront property in 2008, then years later flipping its position and saying Dang couldnt repair damage to the home from winter storms because the city now believed he built too close to the ocean. The judge noted the city brushed off the impassioned warnings of then-City Council member Mardi Wing, who in 2016 emailed the city manager at the time, Lars Gare, that the continuing battle was wrong. (F)rankly I am shocked that it has even gotten as far as it did, Wing wrote. ... The real issue is that the city issued a permit and then refused to stand behind it. By then, Dang had already been trying for a year to install a permanent wall of riprap to form a protective buffer between the ocean and his home. But because the city wouldnt sign off on the barrier, the state -- which has the final word on riprap installation -- said no. Riprap often is a pile of rock. Wing wrote: If he loses his home, no one is going to want to invest in RB. There will be a negative impact on the surrounding property owners value and anyone in this city that has ever received a permit should run. Buyer beware. You cant trust the city. Wing then shared a prediction that has, at least in light of the rulings so far, turned out to be true. If this goes to court, the city will lose. I guarantee it, Wing said. And the public needs to be made aware that we are the ones that are going to pay for it. Attorneys representing Rockaway Beach, John Putman and Gerald Warren, didnt respond Thursday to a request for comment or a question about whether the city would appeal the judges award. The city had argued Dangs Portland area attorneys, Wendie Kellington and Jonathan Radmacher, were charging too much at $365 per hour and $390 per hour respectively. But the judge disagreed, saying thats the median rate for attorneys who specialize in real estate, land use and environmental law. Radmacher told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Rockaway Beach did things that escalated the costs. For example, Radmacher said Kellington drove from the Portland area to Tillamook County to attend a court hearing for the case only to learn upon arrival that the hearing wasnt going to happen because the city attorneys had decided they wanted a different judge. Dang and two other co-owners -- Hue Le and Tue Nguyen -- built the six-bedroom house as a place for their families to gather. But as their children grew older, they turned to renting it out to cover their expenses. The sand bluff between the home and the ocean started eroding in the 1980s, possibly earlier, according to a geologists report. Dang said when the trio built the home in 2008 and 2009, there was still a sizable bluff that wasnt eroding fast. But by 2014, a geologist wrote in a report that the erosion had rapidly accelerated to as much as 10 feet per year. Dang, on behalf of his interests and those of Le and Nguyen, began his long struggle to install riprap in 2015. This past winter, Dang won a pair of victories. In December, the judge ruled that the city must allow Dang to repair his home. The back decks had been on the verge of collapsing from recent winter storms. Waves also washed out the basement walls and sent seaweed and sand onto the floors. In January, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees the states beaches, agreed to give Dang a one-year permit to install 81 feet of riprap. Dang still has a pending federal lawsuit against the city for the cost of damages to his home and lost rental income. His suit, which seeks at least $1.8 million, claims that the city discriminated against him based on his race. Dang immigrated from from Vietnam when he was 14. The judges order that Rockaway Beach pay $213,000 doesnt include what Dang has spent so far on his federal lawsuit. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. An Oregon State Police veteran and former executive director of the union that represents troopers and sergeants pleaded not guilty Friday to accusations of official misconduct and theft for allegedly stealing from the organization over a period of several years. Darrin S. Phillips, 52, a former senior trooper and 29-year State Police veteran, is accused of multiple counts of first-degree official misconduct, aggravated theft, identity theft and first- and second-degree theft. He pleaded not guilty to each of the 25 charges he faces. Those charges include 14 felonies. He was fingerprinted in the Marion County Courthouse after the hearing, but his mugshot was not taken, said Marion County Sheriffs Lt. Chris Baldridge. He said the decision about whether a defendants mugshot is taken is up to the court. Prosecutors say Phillips stole from the union between 2012 and 2018. He is accused of stealing an estimated $70,000 from union coffers. He is also accused of stealing the personal identity of Sgt. Mark Banks, union president, as part of the alleged scheme, according to court records. Chris Mascal, the lawyer representing Phillips, said she was unable to comment on the allegations when reached Friday afternoon. A plea hearing is set for May 9, records show. -- Jim Ryan and Noelle Crombie A man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in March has been identified as Kristopher Angel Haynes, the Roseburg Police Department said in a statement Thursday. Officials believe at the time of his shootout with police, Haynes, 25, was transient and was traveling from Eugene to California. On March 9, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and the Oregon State Police responded to a call at the Loves Travel Stop at 280 Grant Smith Road about a vehicle reported stolen from Eugene two days earlier. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled the scene and a chase ensued, which ended with the vehicle in a field. Officials said that the driver of the vehicle, which contained weapons including a semiautomatic rifle and ammunition, then opened fire on authorities, and multiple officers returned fire. The stolen vehicle began to smoke and soon after became consumed in flames, Roseburg police said at the time. Because of the fire, officials werent able to immediately determine the identity of the driver. The state medical examiner was able to use DNA comparison to determine the man killed was Haynes. A Douglas County grand jury was convened on March 20 to determine if use of force by the officers was justified, according to Thursdays statement. The grand jury ultimately determined it was. SALEM Gov. Kate Brown and Democrats in the Oregon Legislature are looking at undoing one of the anticipated cost-saving initiatives they passed two years ago: ending double health insurance for couples who both work for the state or a school district. Chastened by blowback from public employees, the governor and Democratic lawmakers now say it might have been a mistake to pass that and some other cost-trimming health insurance changes. Those changes were predicted to save $178 million per biennium starting in 2019 and more in future budgets. Democrats have since touted the savings in the 2017 cost containment bill, with the governor pointing to it in her January inaugural address as an example of spending every taxpayer dollar wisely. But lawmakers have also heard from state employees and teachers about the hardships they would face if spouses can no longer sign up for double coverage which cuts their out-of-pocket medical costs starting this year. And Democrats are questioning whether savings estimates were overblown when they were made two years ago. I had heard from a number of families that have been extremely negatively impacted by the removal of double coverage, even though it has yet to take place, Gov. Kate Brown said in a call with reporters on Thursday. I think it makes sense if this is modified, that we need to find savings elsewhere. Brown doesnt appear to be looking for those savings on public employee health insurance. Instead, she pointed the states efforts to improve its system for buying goods and services which she said could save hundreds of millions of dollars. A state audit released in December found Oregon was wasting hundreds of millions of dollars per biennium by using an outdated procurement system. The governor also wants to do away with the 2017 laws requirement for annual checks of spouses and other dependents eligibility, instead conducting them only every 5 years. That bill is House Bill 2039. Since Oregon government employees pay relatively little for health insurance compared with workers in the private sector, it has been a no-brainer for many double-public-employee households to sign up for double coverage. A 2018 state compensation report found that Oregon state employees paid $17.47 a month on average for family insurance plans, compared with $470.76 a month for workers in the private sector. Annual out-of-pocket maximum costs are also lower on state employees plans: $4,500 on average for a family, compared with $6,782 for family insurance through a private employer, the same study showed. This year, state employees pay 1 percent to 5 percent of the total cost of their health insurance, depending upon the plans they select. For an individual, that means $7 to $39 a month while insuring a family costs an employee $3.43 to $91 a month. Teachers costs vary by school district, with Portland Public Schools charging employees 7 percent of the total cost of premiums. The state also pays full-time employees who opt out of coverage $233 a month, and school districts pay incentives set in local labor contracts. After eliminating those incentives in the 2017 law, legislators now want to bring them back. Oregon is on track to spend $862.9 million this year on state employee health insurance and $736.0 million on health insurance for educators, according to the Oregon Health Authority. If the 2017 health insurance law remains unchanged, the first time state employees and teachers would be denied double coverage and opt-out incentives for declining coverage is during open enrollment this summer and fall. Provisions to limit annual cost increases for the health plans to 3.4 percent are also set to take effect later this year. But Democrats plan to bring back double health insurance House Bill 3075 would also repeal the cost increase cap. Supporters of reversing the health insurance changes have cast doubt on legislative analysts 2017 estimate of how much it would save. We think we got inflated budget savings (estimates) when we did that in 2017, so we want to go back and look at it, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said in a March 11 briefing with reporters. We certainly are hearing from folks who have been individually affected that maybe the unintended consequences dont make up for the savings. On March 11, the director of the two boards that handle state employee and educators health insurance, Ali Hassoun, told lawmakers that the boards recently re-did the cost analysis and determined it would likely save at least $158.7 million in the next two-year budget that begins in July. That figure does not include the potential budget impact from school districts ending opt-out incentives, which Hassoun said the state has been unable to calculate. However, Hassoun said the savings would mostly come from the one efficiency Democrats want to leave intact: capping the charges that state and schools insurance plans will pay most hospitals at 200 percent of the Medicare rate. Multiple states are trying the strategy to rein in costs, NPR recently reported, and Kotek was adamant that lawmakers leave it in place. Governments including school districts would save $6.8 million a year by ending double health insurance for employees on the educators health plans, state analysts now say. But state employees insurance would cost $500,000 a year more because families with the option of choosing either plan would opt for the more generous state health insurance. Hassoun did not estimate the price tag to the state or schools from eliminating the 3.4 percent annual cost control for the insurance plans, as proposed under House Bill 3075. In 2017, legislative analysts said it would save $69.2 million per biennium for state employees insurance alone. One of the sponsors of House Bill 3075 is Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego. Before she was appointed to the Legislature in fall 2017, Salinas was a lobbyist for the public employee unions SEIU Local 503 and AFSCME Council 75 and other groups at the firm Strategies360. This can be a vital benefit for a middle-class family, particularly one with chronic or other high-cost medical needs, Salinas said of the opt-out incentives currently paid to public employees. Brad Collins, who works for the Department of Human Services, is one of the employees who made a conscious choice to work for the state because of the generous health benefits. Collins wrote in testimony to lawmakers that as a paraplegic, he structured his education around his plan to work for the state. Through my employment with the state, and the benefits it has afforded me, I have been able to maintain my employment along with my health, Collins wrote. Darin Torres told lawmakers during a March hearing and he and his wife both work at the state penitentiary in Salem, which allows them to have the health insurance they need for their four children. Two of my children have conditions that just arent going to go away, Torres said. The double coverage helps us. A lot of these things require specialty and outsourcing. This story has been updated to reflect the following clarification: The Oregon Educators Benefit Board has not determined what the fiscal impact would be if opt-out incentives are eliminated at the same time as double health insurance coverage, as currently required under state law. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Oregonians are closer to not having to switch their clocks twice a year. The state Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would potentially establish year-round daylight saving time. The 23-4 vote on Senate Bill 320 sends the measure to the Oregon House. The bill enjoyed broad support from both Republicans and Democrats. Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, noted that bi-partisan support for abolishing the semi-annual time change extends beyond the state Capitol. I would like us to take a moment to recognize that our governor, Kate Brown, and our president, Donald Trump, agree on something, she said. Both Brown and Trump have publicly supported the idea of remaining on daylight saving time year-round. If lawmakers in the House agree, and Brown signs it into law, it would not automatically mean the end of standard time in Oregon. The bill would only take effect if both California and Washington make the same decision. It would also require congressional approval. Opponents, including Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Beaverton, warned of unintended consequences. If the state remains on daylight saving time year-round, sunrise in Portland for several weeks each winter would not come until nearly 9 a.m. That would make like difficult for observant Jews who wait until sunrise to say their morning prayers, said Steiner Hayward, who is Jewish. She said shed prefer to stay on standard time year-round. This will significantly impede the ability of people to participate in group prayer and get to work on time, she said. The future remains cloudy for sweeping tenant screening changes intended to make Portland housing more accessible by pushing landlords to overlook older criminal convictions, credit problems and other flags. The City Council took in nearly six hours of testimony Wednesday and Thursday during hearings for the proposal brought forward by Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, which also would overhaul security deposits often required to rent a home. A vote is still weeks away, scheduled for April 25, but it could be delayed if additional tweaks are proposed. Commissioners offered few remarks during the hearings, but Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty signaled she would likely join Eudaly in supporting the proposal. Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Nick Fish, meanwhile, raised questions about the cost to administer the program -- $500,000 in its first year and $400,000 in subsequent years, according to Eudaly staffers. Wheeler, who oversees the housing bureau, suggested on Wednesday that money isnt assured in the coming budget, though he hastened to say he raised the same caveat for any fiscal requests coming before the council in what could be a difficult budget season. Those who testified Thursday, when members of the public were invited to speak, came down along mostly expected lines. Landlords said the policy would inhibit their ability to protect their homes and other tenants by limiting their ability to screen new renters based on their criminal, rental or credit history. Instead, some said they would sell their properties and get out of the business altogether. Nancy Greiff, who rents out a unit in a duplex in Sellwood, said she would pull her rental home from the market over concerns about tenants past convictions. Ill be afraid to even sell it to someone who will rent it out, she said. There are two little girls living next door. Im not going to put someone whose background is a mystery to me next to those two little girls. The rules set out rental screening criteria that are more forgiving than those typically used by private-market landlords today. Landlords may also set their own screening criteria, but at greater expense. Greiff said the rules would require her to hire a lawyer. Renters and housing activists, meanwhile, said the rules would help protect renters against discrimination and give renters a second chance after mistakes they made years ago. Jolene Aiken, a housing specialist with the Urban League of Portland, said she works with formerly incarcerated renters. One, she said, is currently homeless despite being sober and having no criminal history since completing drug treatment in 2009, and many have found themselves facing similar obstacles. Theyre working on to turn their lives around, but finding stable housing continues to be a struggle for them, Aiken said. The ordinance would give landlords two options for screening tenants: A low barrier option, with its criteria specifically outlined by the city; And an individualized assessment, where landlords can set their own criteria but must accept supplemental evidence from tenants and justify any rejection in writing. The more lenient criteria prohibit landlords from considering felonies older than 7 years and misdemeanors older than 3 years. Renters wouldnt be rejected for credit scores above 500, a court eviction order older than 3 years or insufficient credit history. In all cases, landlords would have to advertise vacancies 72 hours before they begin accepting applications and to evaluate applications in the order theyre received, both new requirements. They also cant require tenants to earn more than two times the monthly rent in income. A companion would restrict how landlords account for security deposits when the tenant moves out. They would have to reduce any charge for damage based on the age of a fixture or appliance and maintain original receipts for the items. It would also allow tenants to pay security deposits in installments over three months rather than entirely up front. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com; 503-294-5034; @enjus Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Despite some minor setbacks, the renovation project at Upper Emerson Park in Midland is still on track to conclude by a July 31 deadline. Earlier this week, Director of Public Services Karen Murphy gave an update of the project, which will include a new ADA-accessible boardwalk, to the Midland Parks and Recreation Commission. The renovation project is currently in its second phase and when complete, will include a boardwalk along the Tittabawassee River, a bright red, metal trellis above an overlook deck, a new parking area, a new sidewalk and a connecting path to the Rail Trail. Last year, the city received a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to complete the project, along with other donations. Currently, the city is working with J.R. Heineman and Sons Inc. contracting company to install a boardwalk and railing along the river. However, recent flooding of the river caused some concern for the lower part of the boardwalk, Murphy said. While the flooding was anticipated, and the boardwalk itself remained intact, part of the railing was wiped out by debris and chunks of ice floating along the river, Murphy said. "This flood was particularly rough in this area because there was so much ice on the river," she said. However, Murphy noted that every flood is different and that trees and other debris can cause problems as well. She said it was a good lesson to learn and a good time to learn it, before the project was completed. The recent damage expenses will be covered under the sub-contractor's insurance, since it is still an open construction site, but plans had to be re-designed. What they came up with was a removable section of railing that can be removed seasonally, Murphy said. A locked gate will close off the area to pedestrians. Commissioner Nancy Carney expressed her concerns about pedestrians jumping the locked gate. "Every single time I go down the Rail Trail it's really tempting for me to just climb over the thing and go down and take a look," she said. Murphy mentioned that is has been difficult keeping people away from the open construction site. "We develop things the best we can to be vandal resistant and to be the safest possible for visitors and then you always have people who misuse regardless of how you design it," Murphy said. In addition, the contractor's on-site trailer was recently broken into and damaged, according to the Midland Police Department. Lt. Mike Sokol said $3,500 worth of construction equipment was stolen. Final touches to the project will be completed this spring, after the ground dries and thaws, Murphy said. Midland Barstow Aviation Camp is an exciting adventure for those entering ninth through 12th grades this fall. In one week you will be introduced to the many facets of the aviation and space world. From airplanes and aerodynamics to weather and flight navigation, you will gain first-hand knowledge and hands-on experience. Paducah, KY (42003) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya have agreed to facilitate consular assistance that in turn will enable easier access to irregular migrants in prisons, after a three-day high-level inter-governmental consultation in Dar es Salaam Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) Tunisia has expressed deep concerned with regard to the tragic developments in Libya where armed groups might trigger a new war, a communique issued by the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday Last September Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple's new Federation Square Apple Store in Melbourne Fails to Impress Some on City Council as Protests Mount." The report noted that there was a massive backlash to the initial design and Apple's presence in Federation Square by a vocal part of Australia's citizenry. The protests forced Apple to submit a new store design to appease the very same city council that was "thrilled" initially in 2017 at Apple's first proposal. The Sydney Morning Herald report today that Apple Store plans have been shelved after heritage authorities refused an application to demolish part of the existing square where the Apple Store was to be built. Heritage Victoria on Friday issued a refusal to Federation Square management, which had applied to knock down the Yarra Building to make way for an 'Apple Global Flagship Store.' Heritage Victoria's ruling found the Apple store would have been 'visually dominant,' and that demolition of the Yarra Building would have "diminished" the public square. Heritage groups and a Melbourne City Councillor who had vehemently opposed the Apple plan welcomed the decision, saying the Apple plan had been inappropriate for Melbourne. An Apple spokeswoman said the company was disappointed, and would no longer pursue its Federation Square plan. For more on this, read the full report here. Back in 2018 Melbourne's Tourist Minister John Eren was hopeful that City Council would vote for the new Apple Store knowing that a negative vote would be a big win for Sydney. Hopefully Sydney will open their arms to a grand new flagship Apple Store to rub it in Melbourne council's face for passing up on a great investment in Australlia. Hopefully near Sydney Harbor About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. A year ago exactly Patently Apple posted a report titled "Bingo! Apple Hires Google's AI Chief, a move that should translate into Siri Catching up with Leading Digital Assistants." One year later and the new headline is Apple hires Ian Goodfellow who is listed on LinkedIn as "Director" of Machine Learning in the Special Projects Group. He was a "Senior Staff Research Scientist" at Google. Goodfellow had also worked at OpenAI, an AI research consortium originally funded by Elon Musk and other notables. CNBC reports that "Goodfellow is the father of an AI approach known as general adversarial networks, or GANs. The approach draws on two networks, one known as a generative network and the other known as a discriminative network, and can be used to come up with unusual and creative outputs in the form of audio, video and text. Goodfellow got his Ph.D. at the University of Montreal in 2014, and since then he has worked at OpenAI and Google. At OpenAI he was paid more than $800,000, according to a tax filing. His research is widely cited in academic literature. At Google Goodfellow did work around GANs and security, including an area known as adversarial attacks. People working on AI at Apple have previously done research that drew on the GAN technology." About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. In January Patently Apple posted a report about Samsung Electronics' Q4 operating profit took a nose-dive close to 40%. On March 6th we reported that Galaxy S10 sales were tepid. On March 20th we further reported that Samsung had admitted that they were in crisis mode with global smartphone stagnation, even though it was really about how Huawei, Oppo, OnePlus and Xiaomi were attacking Samsung's key markets and winning. With a dark cloud like that hanging over their head it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that Samsung is now warning that profits will drop 60% in Q1. CNN is now echoing a Korean report today that Samsung has stated that "it expects operating profit for the first quarter to plunge by 60% compared to the same period year ago. Samsung warned last week that its earnings would be hit by slowing demand for memory chips and display panels, a sign that device makers and their suppliers are coming under pressure. The company estimated Friday that operating profit for the first three months of 2019 will total 6.2 trillion Korean won ($5.4 billion), lower than analysts' already downbeat expectations. It expects to report a sales decline of roughly 14% when full earnings are published later in April. Samsung is the world's biggest seller of smartphones. But it also has a huge business making key components for rival handset manufacturers." For more on this read the full CNN report here. Patently Apple posted a report late yesterday titled "If Apple needed 5G Chipsets, Samsung's System LSI Business is now open for Business and Mass producing them." With sales in such a slump, as being reported today by CNN, it's clear that Samsung would go out of their way to earn Apple's 5G modem business for a 2020 iPhone, contrary to a rumor this week that Apple would have to delay a 5G iPhone until 2021. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Patna: Police on Thursday arrested two bike thieves from Patna Junction and recovered three stolen bikes, master keys, steel cutting and other tools used in breaking locks and stealing motorcycles. Arrested men who were caught red handed while attempting to steal bikes outside Patna Junction were identified as Shahjad of Sabzi Bagh and Shahrukh of Dariapur. Following their arrest, police searched their homes and recovered three stolen bikes and tools required to break in and steal motorcycles. According to the police report, the two had stolen a bike earlier from near Patna Medical and Hospital (PMCH) and arrived together at Patna Junction to steal another bike. However, a patrolling team of the railway police spotted them and became suspicious. During their questioning, they admitted they were stealing the bike and the bike they were riding was also a stolen vehicle that they had lifted earlier from area under Pirbahore police station. In this episode of The Full Nerd, Gordon Mah Ung and Adam Patrick Murray host Foo VR CEO and Maximum PC/Tested alum Will Smith, who stops by to talk about his latest company, whether VR is dead, and the state of the PC. Also: If you like Linux, you dont want to hear what Will says about VR gaming on Linux. Cover your ears. You can witness it all in the video embedded above. You can also watch The Full Nerd episode 89 on YouTube (subscribe to the channel while youre there!) or listen to it on Soundcloud if you prefer the audio alone. Speaking of audio, you can also subscribe to The Full Nerd in iTunes (please leave a review if you enjoy the show). Were also on Stitcher, Google Play, or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader to: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:226190044/sounds.rss Have a PC- or gaming-related question? Email thefullnerd@pcworld.com and well try to answer it in the next episode. Be sure to follow PCWorld on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch to watch future episodes live and pick our brains in real time! Were taking the holidays off but well catch you in the new year. A major student sex scandal involving a high school band director just keeps getting worse in northern Pa. According to WNEP-TV, the accused band director, Brendan Carter, 29, who worked in two high schools in Luzerne County, is now believed to have sexually assaulted up to eight boys in various ways. According to WNEP, the now-former band director for Pittston Area High School allegedly exposed himself to band members there. Investigators also say Carter asked for and possessed naked pictures of band members at Pittston Area High School. Carter is accused of sexually assaulting one student at that school, and Carter allegedly encouraged male students to sexually assault other male students there, as well, police tell WNEP. These new allegations and charges come on top of charges against Carter stemming from his stint as percussion instructor at Wyoming Area High School. Carter was arrested and charged in October 2018, accused of having inappropriate contact with five students at that school. In addition, nude photos of students were found on his cell phone. Investigators say the crimes date to 2015. (Story continues below) MORE CHARGES have been filed against a former band director accused of sexually assaulting students. Police say there are three more victims. https://t.co/DsSNuuYoZl WNEP (@WNEP) April 4, 2019 Carter remains jailed in Luzerne County. A federal judge in Pennsylvania has denied a motion by the Food and Drug Administration to dismiss a lawsuit centered around the definition of skim milk. Northern Maryland farmer Randy Sowers of South Mountain Creamery wants to sell all-natural skim milk. The only problem is FDA regulations say that in order for skim milk to be labeled as such, it must contain added vitamins A and D. Sowers would have to label his milk imitation skim milk, something he said he does not want to do. "From the beginning we just wanted to supply all-natural milk products for the consumers, and we found out pretty quickly from the beginning that's not possible with skim milk or any milk modified from whole milk," Sowers said last year. So, he filed a lawsuit against the FDA. Sowers is represented by the Institute for Justice. Recently U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane denied the FDA's motion to dismiss the suit, clearing the way for further arguments. Sowers farm sells its milk in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and is expanding sales in Pennsylvania. The 3,000-acre farm includes a creamery with 500 cows. Last month, Adams County Winery released Wandering White, a semi-sweet white wine, and Razzberry Red, a bright and fruity red wine. Both are canned wines. On Saturday, the farm winery in Orrtanna, west of Gettysburg, will roll out its spring seasonal wine called Lavender Riesling. This version of Riesling will have a floral aroma followed by notes of citrus and honeysuckle, much like its award-winning Riesling, but has been blended with lavender, according to a press release. Believed to be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, it was made with an infusion of real lavender and is light with a subtle sweetness. The winemaking process for the Lavender Riesling is similar to our traditional Riesling, said Bernard Cannac, the winemaker at Adams County Winery, in the release. The difference is that we steeped the lavender in a stainless-steel tank of Riesling and allowed it to happen naturally. The aroma reminds us of freshly bloomed flowers and the notes are reminiscent of a country field in the springtime. Originally from southern France, Cannac has made wine at several wineries in Virginia and New York before coming to Adams County Winery in summer 2018. While he has been making some of Adams County Winerys most popular wines such as Rebel Red and Tears of Gettysburg for almost a year, the Lavender Riesling is among the first wines he has handcrafted from the beginning. Besides the farm winery, Adams County also has tasting rooms in downtown Gettysburg (25 Chambersburg St.) and Mechanicsburg (906 W Grantham Road). Heres a link to Adams Countys Facebook page and to its website. Other recent PennLive stories on regional wineries: Lancaster Countys Grandview Vineyard: Heres whats ahead for Year 6 Ever try wine made from Counoise grapes? NJ winery is offering a chance Lancaster County winery expands hours, wine list Naylor Wine Cellars founders receive lifetime achievement award as family works to continue their legacy Lancaster County winery among top winners in Pa. competition Allegro Winerys owners recognized as York Countys top farm family To the list of Hilde Kate Lysiaks accomplishments in her 12 years crime reporter, publisher, author, the subject of a television series add university commencement speaker. The young journalist is scheduled to address the graduates of West Virginia Universitys Reed College of Media at their commencement next month in Morgantown, W.Va., the college said Thursday. Hilde first came to national attention at age 9, when she covered a homicide in her hometown of Selinsgrove, Pa., for her self-published newspaper and website, the Orange Street News. When residents criticized her, and her parents, for covering such an adult topic, Hilde fired back with a video dismissing her naysayers: If you want me to stop covering news, then you get off your computers and do something about the news. There, is that cute enough for you? More recently, at 12 years old, she stood up to a local police chief in Patagonia, Ariz., who threatened to arrest her for filming him while he was on duty. The town issued an apology after Hildes video of her insistent questioning of the town marshal went viral. Maryanne Reed, dean of the media school at West Virginia University, said she saw stories about Hilde's run-in with the police chief and started reading about her work as reporter, photographer, editor and publisher of the Orange Street News, in which Hilde regularly covers crimes big and small with light guidance from her father, author and former New York Daily News reporter Matthew Lysiak. Reed didnt have a commencement speaker lined up for the media school which will have about 250 graduates and an expected audience of about 2,000 and wanted something different. "What an amazing person to relate to future journalists and communicators," Reed recalled thinking. "If you want inspiration, look to somebody who's just starting out, but who is so concerned and passionate about what she does." She spoke to Matthew Lysiak, who told Reed he drew new motivation from his daughters relentless drive, and made the decision. "It's really about bringing someone to inspire," Reed said, "who's different, who's inspirational and a speaker our students will always remember." University officials said Hilde would be the youngest commencement speaker in the institution's history, and perhaps at any American college. Teenagers and preteens have graduated from college before, but it's not clear whether any spoke at their graduations. Each college at West Virginia University has its own commencement, rather than one schoolwide event. "I was shocked," Hilde said. "It's such an amazing honor, and I'm really excited." The young journalist said she already has her speech written, and her father said she has been rehearsing. "I like to be prepared," Hilde said. What will she talk about? "I'm going to keep it a surprise," she said. Since the first burst of publicity around Hilde in 2016, she and her father have signed a book deal with Scholastic for a children's book series called "Hilde Cracks the Case," about a 9-year-old crime reporter. Five have been published so far. She is also the subject of an Apple TV streaming series being filmed about a 9-year-old crime reporter who moves from Brooklyn to a small town (as the Lysiaks did) and uncovers a big story. Paramount Television is producing the show, which will star Brooklynn Prince and Jim Sturgess. Hilde said Thursday she was "working on a new project that I'm pretty excited about." What about? "I can't say," she said. The commencement, scheduled 9 a.m. May 10 at the WVU Coliseum, is open to the public. (c) 2019, The Washington Post Tom Jackman A 5-month-old baby suffered second and third degree burns while in a womans care last fall, police said Thursday. Katiria Nicole Suliveras, 20, from Guayama, Puerto Rico, was caring for the infant on Nov. 7, 2018 in the 600 block of Wyncroft Lane, Manheim Township police said. During that time, police said Suliveras allowed the child to be scalded" by hot water on 8% to 10% of her body. The burns were second and third degree burns, police said. Suliveras then waited 90 minutes to call 911 for medical care, police said. Police filed charges of felony child endangerment and aggravated assault of a person younger than 6, according to online court dockets. Suliveras surrendered to police on March 7 and bail was set at unsecured $20,000. She is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on April 22, according to court dockets. Wondering what Pennsylvania would look like if recreational marijuana was legalized here may only require looking at Colorados experience to see how it has worked out there. Lets just say it was described as less than desirable at a session Friday at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, an annual gathering of conservatives. Five years into his states legalized pot experiment, Luke Niforatos, a senior policy advisor for the Denver-based Smart Approaches to Marijuana, told the audience in a room at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg in East Pennsboro Township the data suggested the societal costs far surpass the tax revenue marijuana generates. He identified his organization as the nations leading organization opposing commercialization and legalization of marijuana. After spending most of his life living in Colorado, he said he has seen his state go from being a place known for its outdoorsy activities to one that has great weed. When you hear your lieutenant governor going around saying we want to go full Colorado, well I got news for him. Our former Gov. John Hickenlooper whos now running for president, even he and hes pro legalization even he would say you dont want to go full Colorado, said Niforatos. Pennsylvania has engaged in a pot legalization discussion in Pennsylvania when Gov. Tom Wolf directed Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in January to go on a statewide tour to take the pulse of citizens on the issue. Polls have shown a majority of voters support legalization of pot for recreational purposes. Niforatos discredited polls that limit the responses to yes or no on legalization, saying the issue is more complex and support for decriminalization and legalization can become conflated. Policy alternatives to marijuana legalization that his organization advocates include looking at drug treatment, removing criminal penalties for low-level use, discouraging pot use and raising awareness of science-based research as to its effects. But instead of going that route, his state chose to legalize and now is a place he said where you can find pot shops galore. Its become so normalized there that Girl Scouts set up tables lined with their boxes of cookies right outside of pot shops. Kids gather outside pot shops during their lunch break. Theres 1,014 pot shops in Colorado, compared to 600 McDonalds and Starbucks combined. Its getting to the point now where its just reality. Theres pot shops are everywhere and our kids are seeing that and they see them as kind of just normal part of everyday life and that is probably one of the things I am most saddened by as a dad and as somebody from Colorado, he said. States that have legalized it looked at it as a new revenue source. Pennsylvanias Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has estimated legalizing cannabis here could generate as much as $500 million or 1.5% of the current years state budget. But he said in states that have legalized, marijuana tax revenue has been even more negligible. Colorado generates about three-quarters of 1% of its revenue from marijuana taxes. In Washington and Oregon, the percentage is even less. The money is not even close to what is promised and the question becomes is the money worth all the problems if its so little, Niforatos said. About those problems Supporters say legalizing marijuana will help with the opioid problem and reduce the number of opioid deaths. But initial research suggests people who smoke marijuana are 2.7 times more likely to use prescription opioids while continuing their cannabis use, Niforatos said. Whats more, Niforatos said the number of opioid and heroin-related deaths in Colorado have risen from 377 in 2012, the year before legalization took effect, to 560 in 2017. As the science continues to develop, the answer seems to be that this is really not going to be the solution for the opioid crisis, he said. How it impacts young people is another of the many issues Niforatos addressed during his presentation. Since his state has legalized it, studies and surveys show there has been massive increases among our youth in terms of using marijuana. Marijuana offenses are by far the number one offense happening in Colorado schools. The higher use among youth is not just a phenomenon observed in his own state either, he said. Statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health that he shared indicate one in five youth and one in 10 young adults in states that have legalized marijuana have been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder in the past 12 months. Its very, very concerning what were seeing in legalized states, Niforatos said. A recently released report by the Colorado Health Department indicated 400 percent increase in children zero to nine exposed to high potency pot products, meaning poisoned by them, ingesting them, going to the hospital. Hospitalizations have risen 200 percent since legalization happened there. The report also found children ages 1 to 13 in 32,800 homes were exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke. Part of the youth attraction to marijuana is the form it takes. Despite those states claims of not allowing child-friendly pot products, pot shops sell products like Pot Tarts, Kush Pop, and pot-laced gummy bears and candy bars, along with vaping devices. Edible and drinkable marijuana products are becoming the direction the marijuana industry is going, which is disturbing given their appeal to children, said Luke Niforatos of Smart Approaches of Marijuana, an anti-marijuana legalization group. How many people think this is for 21 and up? he said, pointing to a picture featuring pot-laced candy and soda. This is where the industry is going. Pennsylvania Family Institute President Michael Geer, who led the discussion, said his group typically doesnt delve into this issue but it doesnt intend to stay quiet as the support for legalizing pot in Pennsylvania is no longer a sleeper issue. This was not something we thought, oh good another fight but just hearing these stats and seeing the impact on families and children and parents and society, we dont think we can sit on the sidelines with this, Geer told the audience. Were building a coalition. We want to work with any of you and all of you. Theres money to be made The industry has attracted the attention of tobacco, beer, and pharmaceutical companies looking to cash in on the lucrative marijuana market. The industry is making billions of dollars. What do you do if you are a billion-dollar industry? You hire the best lobbyists and you go to the Hill and get self-serving regulations. Thats exactly whats going on in Colorado and elsewhere, Niforatos said. He noted the state of Washington last year tried to curb the sale of pot-laced gummy bears but legislation ran into opposition in the eleventh-hour from the marijuana lobby, stopping that bill in its tracks. Attempts to cap THC levels in pot products failed in Colorado as did efforts to limit the location and number of stores. Joe Peters, a former state and federal drug prosecutor, who also was a presenter at the session, said seeing the results of Colorados experience should serve as enough of a deterrent to Pennsylvania. He said, With this opioid and fentanyl crisis killing 70,000 people a year, 13 people a day in this state, why in the world would we want to layer on another drug problem. He said he has evolved to accept legalization of medical marijuana but thats where it stops with him. Despite the libertarian in him and not liking to have the government tell him what to do, Peters said sometimes sacrificing that libertarianism is necessary. There is a line," he said. "If there is a line where we know way more harm than good is going to come of something, then even with that little libertarianism in all of us we have to do something good as a community and as a society. Call me naive, but isnt the job of legislators to make laws that the majority of constituents want? Ive been following the tale of Bob Quarteroni, a former columnist and editor at the Centre Daily Times. He has ALS, a fatal disease with no cure. His body is shutting down. He is becoming paralyzed. Eventually, he will suffocate. Before that final horror, he wants someone to show him the mercy they would provide the family pet. Hed like a pill or a shot that would bring about a peaceful death. About 70 percent of Americans say a doctor should be able to provide that. The law in Pennsylvania and many other states wont allow it. I traveled this road with my father. My Dad, who could open any jar and hammer any nail, who routinely rode a bicycle in his 70s, began feeling numbness in his feet. Within months, he couldnt feel his feet at all. As the weakness spread up his legs, he was forced into a wheelchair. For months, I pushed his wheelchair into this doctors office and that doctors office. He had tests to rule out ALS, Lyme disease and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Eventually, doctors diagnosed a nerve disease. The prognosis was bleak. That summer, I took him to New Jersey to a family gathering where the stairs leading to the deck stopped our progress. Young men jumped up and carried Daddy in his wheelchair to the deck and his sister, who sobbed at the sight of him. One of my worst moments came in a hospital room when I realized the rock of my childhood no longer had the strength to change TV channels with the remote control. They moved him to another facility and attached him to a ventilator. His fate was to lie there, unable to move, listening to a machine breathe for him, his mind as sharp as ever. He asked me once only once why this happened to him. I had no answers, but I speculated. Maybe it was the time he spent in uniform in Japan after we had dropped two atomic bombs. Maybe it was all the years he worked in factories, two of which became EPA clean-up sites. Mostly I said I just didnt know why bad things happen to good people. My Dad, a marginal Catholic at best, asked to speak to a priest. After they talked, he told me he wanted to put an end to it. When he informed the doctors, they sent in a psychiatrist. After a few days, everyone agreed. Daddy dictated a letter. Tears flowed as I typed it, copied it and distributed it to his siblings, grandchildren and the oldest of his great-grandchildren. In it, he proclaimed how much he loved us all. He didnt want to leave, but he was no longer living, just existing. On the appointed day, medical staff removed the ventilator and administered morphine, which suppresses breathing. I held his hand as he passed peacefully later that day. Eight years later, I walked a long road with my son as he traveled toward death from cancer. His last three days can be best described as a living hell. I brought him into this world with love, but I would have taken him out gladly if someone had given me something anything to end his pain. I read that Bob Quarteroni is trying to arrange a trip to Switzerland, where doctors can provide the peaceful end he wants. As someone who has walked the path with my loved ones, I consider it an outrage that he has to leave the country to find that peace. Arent legislators supposed to give people what they want? Then, why arent they doing it? NANCY ESHELMAN: columnist1@verizon.net State police in Franklin County are investigating allegations of animal cruelty made against Martin Farms, in Guilford Township. After becoming aware of the allegations on March 27, state police and the agencys animal cruelty liaison have made contact with the farm. Staff members have been fully cooperative, and the investigation is ongoing, according to a news release from state police. It is not immediately clear what the allegations are or who made them. State police said they would not provide any further information at this time. Martin Farms could not be reached for comment. Anyone with information is asked to call state police in Chambersburg at 717-264-5161. Pennsylvania confronts a vital decision about the place nuclear power will have in the states future. Today, five nuclear plants supply nearly 40% of the states electricity generation. Importantly, they supply about 90% of the zero-carbon generation. However, structural problems in the market for electricity are forcing the imminent closure of two of the plants. The Three Mile Island plant is scheduled to close this September. The owner of the Beaver Valley plant is currently in bankruptcy and has announced a 2021 closure; others are projected to follow. A bill has now been circulated in the Pennsylvania Legislature that would recognize the zero-carbon value of these plants and preserve them for the states future. At MIT, together with a team of colleagues and students, we recently completed a two-year study on The Future of Nuclear Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World. The study looked at the situation of the existing nuclear power plants in the U.S., as well as the opportunities for nuclear technology innovations to help secure a low-carbon future while providing access to low-cost electricity. The first of our findings is immediately relevant to Pennsylvanias current decision. Preserving the existing fleet of nuclear reactors is the least costly approach to avoiding an increase of carbon emissions in the power sector. That fact has driven several U.S. states including Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to take action to preserve their nuclear plants as part of a larger decarbonization strategy. Each state has tailored its own solution to fit its particular needs, but the central thrust has been the same. The current proposal in Pennsylvania is similarly targeted. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Pennsylvanias nuclear plants operate at very high standards of safety. Public data on their operation shows their current performance is simply excellent. Wise intervention by the state should be able to preserve the value of these assets for Pennsylvanias future. Our other two findings look beyond the existing reactors, but are still relevant to Pennsylvanias economic future. In looking forward to an economy that is dramatically lower in carbon than todays, we find that a mix of technologies which includes nuclear power plants provides electricity at the lowest overall cost. We also report on a suite of technology innovations that have potential to lower the cost of nuclear and to provide improvements in design and operation, thus making it an even more attractive option for the future. Pennsylvania already played an important role in pioneering nuclear power six decades ago: the first commercial reactor in the U.S. went into operation at Shippingport, where the Beaver Valley plant is located. The strong commercial nuclear presence has made the state home to a global leader in nuclear engineeringWestinghouse, and many other nuclear companies, which can lead the development and commercialization of the aforementioned innovations. As Pennsylvania considers how to advance its own economy, its long tradition of nuclear energy leadership and innovation might very well be a valuable asset to build on. John Parsons is a Senior Lecturer at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. Email: jparsons@mit.edu Jacopo Buongiorno is a Professor and Associate Department Head of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. Email: jacopo@mit.edu Plans continue for more housing options in Petoskey zoning ordinance Multiple zoning changes intended to encourage housing availability continue to move forward in Petoskey. Is there a wrong reason to have a semi-naked couple rolling around in bed during a Kimmel Center concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra? Not on Thursday at Verizon Hall, when the subject was Romeo and Juliet, with the Prokofiev ballet about Shakespeares sexual outlaws in a special presentation featuring the physical theater company Brian Sanders JUNK whose members dont keep their clothes on very long. The audience was warned on the orchestras website that partial nudity was in store. Was the Sanders/Prokofiev coupling the start of a relationship, or just a one-night stand? As someone who went for the music (and who will leave choreographic discussions to others), Id call it an entertaining but only intermittently successful hookup. Originally dismissed as undanceable when completed in 1936, Prokofievs score is sometimes staged and often excerpted in symphonic programs. Music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin said hes been dying to conduct the entire ballet for years, but on Thursday, the 140-minute score was about 75 percent there. >> READ MORE: Brian Sanders JUNKs aerial Romeo and Juliet feels surprisingly in sync with Philadelphia Orchestra Sanders 11-member company positioned in the Conductors Circle overlooking the orchestra, with more space allowed by a specially built extension and cables enabling aerial effects with the dancers didnt perform the entire piece. Also, a choreographer of Sanders unconventional bent is more apt to comment on the narrative rather than to carry it. Was the listening experience enhanced by the visual element? Not for me at least compared to the revelations Ive experienced upon rediscovering Stravinsky and Bernstein ballets with the original choreography. And I cant say I enjoyed watching Juliet (Julia Higdon) dangled in midair with safety measures masked in ways that made me fear for her well-being. (In the theater, I prefer fake danger.) Then again, Prokofievs score doesnt need accoutrements. Though modern in its extremes of heart-melting lyricism, long-breathed melodies, and walls of abrasive harmony, the ballets format harks back to Tchaikovskys era, with 52 sections all distinctive unto themselves but related to one another that take breaks from the story and that are about nothing but dance. Nezet-Seguin relished the score, employing the Philadelphia sound at its most seductive, though with a slightly grainy edge that felt genuine and intense. Also, the lack of conventional choreography meant the conductor wasnt held to steady-pulse ballet tempos. He was free to shape phrases as rhapsodically as he liked. With a score that tests any orchestra in nearly every possible way, the musicians had their eyes glued to their music (as opposed to the scantily clad dancers), though understandably there were still bits of audible struggle. Cuts in the score seem to have been made with an ear for thematic progression, as the music often has a what-will-happen-next? quality. Conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas have made their own arrangements with a more sensitive ear for key relationships. Without that, cuts can create musical non sequiturs. Something like Romeo and Juliet the Scratch Mix? CLASSICAL REVIEW Romeo and Juliet The Philadelphia Orchestra repeats the program with Brian Sanders JUNK at 2 p.m. Friday, April 5, and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St. Tickets: $79-188. Information: 215-893-1999 or philorch.org. Once a week in 2015, retired postal worker Carmelita Deleon would wake up at 7 a.m., lace up her sneakers, and hop into her Honda SUV, in which shed drive to a commercial kitchen in the Magnolia Fire Department station to help her son, Jake, make almond milk for his line of flavored almond-based beverages. Jake Deleon, 37 of Laurel Springs, has come a long way from pressing almonds at a fire station. A bottle of his cold-pressed Origin Almond juice now retails for $4.99 and is sold by 60 retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods and Moms Organic. By his account, Origin Almond moves up to 5,000 units per month nationwide, with sales totaling around $300,000 in 2018. Jake Deleon said the company expects to increase sales by 500 percent this year. Last month, Origin Almond was one of five companies selected out of 200 by food giant Kraft Heinz to participate in the second class of its Springboard Incubator. The Chicago-based program, which ends on June 26, provides mentorship, training, and access to investors, among other perks. In Origin Almond, we saw a line of cold-pressed almond juices with the fresh taste and functionality of other juices, but with far less sugar and carbs, said Eduardo Luz, global brand officer and chief marketing officer at Kraft Heinz, in a statement. Further, Jake Deleon has an impressive story on how hes been systematically optimizing his product. Since the bottles hit the shelves of supermarkets in 2016, the original formula has been tinkered with to create a distinct sweet, tangy, and mildly-spicy flavor, as described by a handful of Inquirer staffers who taste-tested the beverage. Jake Deleon said that the high sugar content in some of his favorite beverages prodded him to create an alternative. Nutritionally, Origin Almond is solid, according to Philadelphia nutritionist Olena Zinshtein. The almond juices range from 90 to 120 calories and one to four grams of sugar per 12-ounce bottle. She appreciates the variety of flavors (such as Thai Coconut Pina Colada and Super Green) and the wholeness of the ingredients. I like that sprouted almonds are used in the product, which increases bioavailability, the rate at which a substance is absorbed into the body, Zinshtein said. Almonds are considered sprouted when the nuts have been allowed to germinate and are more easily digested. Zinshtein complimented the use of spices rich in antioxidants, like black pepper, chai, cinnamon, and turmeric, but warned that the beverage shouldnt replace meals. Theres nothing bad in the drink, to be honest. But its not enough calories, protein, or carbs to be satiating. It would be a good afternoon boost for someone whos looking to get through the day. Aside from nutritional value, Origin Almonds next biggest asset is timing, said Wayne W. Williams, assistant professor at Temple Universitys Fox School of Business. Williams said the rising demand for almonds helps enlarge production and lowers wholesale prices, making it more accessible for companies that depend on the nut as the main ingredient. The popularity of health food, particularly almonds, has risen in recent years, according to a research study by the Agricultural Marketing Research Center. In the United States, nut flours are expanding as an alternative to regular wheat flours in the gluten-free market. ... The non-dairy alternative market of almond milk is expanding, offering a low-fat, high-protein option for consumers." Williams said that to remain viable, the company should be agile enough to respond to shifts in consumer preference. If the market shifts to mangoes, they should be able to pivot. Not becoming too niche is a blind spot for most entrepreneurs, Williams said. Even Kraft Heinz has recently had to face difficult questions for selling too much junk food in a health-driven food market. Some analysts criticize Kraft Heinz for products that are too processed and for not innovating enough. Partnering with Origin Almond could help remedy this. Whats next for the upstart? "Getting our product in more stores, Deleon said. Were in great stores right now, but there are so many regions where people have yet to experience Origin Almond. At the Kraft Heinz incubator, Deleon starts his day with a 5 a.m. workout and is then swept into meetings with marketing teams and potential investors. He also still has to run his own business remotely, by checking in with his team of 15 people (who include part-timers, brand ambassadors, and contractors), tracking orders and email correspondence. Networking with Bob Gillespie, executive director at Second Century Ventures, has been one of the most rewarding parts of the incubator for Deleon. Companies founded by Gillespie have gone on to raise over $60 million in venture funding with an enterprise value of over $150 million, according to Gillespies LinkedIn account. Kraft Heinz is not going to fix your company, Deleon said. They make their resources available and we, as entrepreneurs, maximize it. Before starting Origin Almond, Deleon worked in Asia as a marketing executive for companies like Starbucks and on brands such as Pringles. His mother was glad when he moved back to South Jersey because in Asia, he was alone. His parents are Philippine immigrants who moved to the U.S. in 1984 when he was 18 months old. Since then, Carmelita said, shes done her best to instill a work ethic in her son. Thats why she put on her apron and hair net to help him press almonds during the early stages of his business. Pina Colada is her favorite flavor, followed by Ginger and Turmeric Golden-Mylk. I drink a bottle every day," she said. "Im so proud of what my son has done. Sam Lin, owner and chef of Sakana, torches fresh fish in Queen Village. Sakana is an omakase counter that is more affordable than most omakase dining experiences. Read more You can savor a silvery raw slice of rare needlefish Da-Wa while the Market-Frankford El rumbles into Girard station, which sits directly overhead. You can nibble Hokkaido scallops and foie gras hand rolls at a food court kiosk in University City, where DK Sushi serves a multicourse omakase feast for $35. You can find budget omakase tastings in Queen Village, too, at an understated new neighborhood BYOB called Sakana. The fresh-to-Philly chef-owner there, who is steeped in the far more luxurious sushi culture of New York, where omakases routinely range into the hundreds of dollars, offers tastings for a fraction of that price. We are the first restaurant here to do only omakase! said Sakanas Xiang Yu Sam Lin, just one of the many little boasts he dishes up alongside his ever-changing A-list fish, implying that competitors might be distracted by broader menus and bars. Anything to help distinguish his six-month-old tasting counter from Phillys increasingly busy sushi scene which is finally having its own brand of omakase moment, rolling on offbeat locations and competitive prices. The term budget, of course, is the most relative of discussions when it comes to serious omakase, a chefs choice of top-notch sushi bites that are the purists antidote to the naive days of our crazy maki roll youth. A $58 meal is an indulgence by any standard, especially the 12-bite 45-minute signature suite at Sakana that went by in a hamachi flash and that landed so lightly my generous guest offered to treat us to a post-meal bagel. But in the ingredient-dependent world of sushi, where the best places serve rarities imported from Japan, and tuna grades can vary from $6 a pound for frozen loins to $75 a pound for ranch-raised bluefin, a triple-digit dinner bill for the good stuff is neither uncommon nor out of line, considering food cost. Philadelphians have been reluctant to pay the astronomical rates far north of $200 that are common in Manhattan, where the spaces are high-design, the master chefs world famous, and the real estate so dear that it drives menu prices just as much as whats on the plate. When it comes to Philadelphias current gold class of omakases, theyre using pretty much the same fish, said Shinobu Habauchi, the Japanese fish buyer for purveyor Samuels & Son Seafood. That includes the sublime $130 tastings at four-bell Royal Sushi & Izakaya (made by Jesse Ito, a 2019 finalist for Americas rising star chef by the James Beard Foundation). Double Knot, Zama, and trailblazer Morimoto use a similar caliber of fish. Until recently, though, our high-end sushi scene beyond those stalwarts remained fairly dormant while almost every other aspect of Phillys dining world was booming a subtle gauge that perhaps the citys culinary maturity was outpacing its economic wherewithal. But Samuels Japanese import sales have grown sixfold in the last five years, Habauchi said. And a noticeable rise in quality new neighborhood spots like Tuna Bar, Tomo Sushi & Ramen, and Kinme, along with this new crop of omakase specialists, suggest some sushi fun money is finally shaking loose. Cutting corners to keep prices accessible has had some gritty Philly hiccups. At no-frills Da-Wa (1204 N. Front St.), where it can be coat-weather drafty and the mismatched stools wobble, a run-in with the city Health Department in late February shut it down for 48 hours. Some impressive recent visits, though, highlighted by a luscious buri collar sliced into soy-glazed shingles of buttery fish, convinced me that a future return is merited, perhaps once its expansion through to Girard Avenue is complete. Sakana and DK Sushi, however, are ready for prime time. I considered their two very different approaches to the budget omakase experience one a fair value for stellar fish; the other a dollar value by any measure and decided each has its distinct merits. Sakana The fish may be aged but the sushi smack talk is fresh at Sakana, where chef Lin cant help himself from digging at the competition with a litany of precision boasts. Hes the only one in town, he claims, who uses akazu red vinegar to give his warm rice its special sour profile. Sakana is the only place, he says, that exclusively does omakase, allowing all of its chefs to focus their piece-by-piece ministrations on just a few customers at a time. (Not true if you consider Royal Sushi, inside Royal Izakaya, a distinct restaurant which I do). He also has access to all the best recipes from friends at the hottest sushi bars in New York, where he worked for a decade at places like Masa, Momoya, and Sushi by Bou, whose 30-minute timed $50 omakases were a model for his own seat-churning bargain concept. Turns out Philadelphians eat slowly and like to hang out with their friends, he said. (Unlike busy New Yorkers, who eat fast because they like to go shopping.) That explains the extra 15 minutes hes allotted for his $58 tasting. But, really, plan on the $108 unabridged tasting for dinner if you can swing the extra dollars and time (its 70 minutes). Because, despite the tiresome self-promotion, minimalist service, and simple space lighted by a faux candle wall, Sakana really does deliver one of the most sophisticated sushi experiences for the money in Philly right now. I cannot verify that Lin really is, as he claims, the only one locally who carefully ages certain fish through curing to intensify flavors and maximize tenderness. But it pays off with a five-day-aged hamachi that melts like lemon butter beneath the delicate crunch of chives; and a deep-purple maguro bluefin firmed by a quick poach, then turned meaty in a sake-soy marinade. A brief torching of kinmedai golden-eye snapper liquefies the thin fat layer beneath its crispy skin to a smoky gloss for white flesh that snaps from its three-day kombu cure. The earthy spark of charcoal salt amplifies the sweetness of a Japanese scallop. Kumamoto oysters float in a sweet-tart yuzu foam. Silver-skinned gizzard shad, lightly pickled in vinegar and topped with sesame and shaved shiso mint, is like the most sublime chunk of pickled herring. So many other bites landed on our ceramic plates before disappearing swiftly in complex little gulps: the gilded double-toro belly with caviar; the king salmon perked with pepper jam; the fleshy and weird mantis shrimp and minuscule whole firefly squids belted to a nub of Sakanas pleasantly tart rice with a tiny ribbon of nori. I was fully convinced even full! after a kaiseki midcourse of four plates, including a foie gras duck tostada, snow crab salad and citrusy ceviche. Sakana had made its case for sushi substance over flash, and its memorable dishes spoke far more convincingly than the owners bluster. Sakana Excellent 616 S. Second St., 215-922-2149; phillysakana.com Its all about the rare fish and red vinegar rice at this Queen Village sushi counter, which specializes in omakase tastings that offer the typically luxe experience at a relatively accessible price. Its still a splurge if you aim to fill up on fish, and both the service and space at this BYOB are minimalist. But chef-owner Xiang Yu Sam Lin has brought his best recipes from a decadelong tour of Manhattan sushi hot spots, along with some smack talk for his new competition. More important, he delivers solid spins on quality fish that make him one of Phillys new sushi players to watch. MENU HIGHLIGHTS Oyster in yuzu foam; aged hamachi; cured maguro tuna; scallop with charcoal salt; sayori needle fish; kohada gizzard shad; double chu toro; king salmon with pepper jam; kinmedai with white kelp; albacore with ponzu and radish; anago sea eel; Peking duck foie gras taco; ice cream monaka. BYOB A high-quality sake is the obvious choice, or a Japanese craft beer like Hitchino Nest. With the noticeably tart profile of Sakanas rice, however, the sour funk of a wild yeast Belgian Oude Geuze, like Lindemans (seriously underrated) Cuvee Rene was a surprisingly fantastic match. WEEKEND NOISE With the faint soundtrack of electronic pipe tunes wafting like sonic wallpaper, its so quiet youll have to whisper to keep conversation private. IF YOU GO Lunch Tuesday through Friday, noon to 2:15 p.m. Dinner Tuesday through Thursday, 5-9:45 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, until 10:15; Sunday, 4:30-9:45. Closed Monday. Dinner omakase, $58 (12 courses); $108 (21 courses, including 14 ngiri); $4-$12. All major cards. Reservations suggested, especially weekends. Wheelchair accessible. Street parking only. DK Sushis omakase At first glance, DK Sushi is just a food court sushi kiosk dressed up, and priced up, for perpetually long lines of Ivy Leaguers with Canada Goose style and generous food budgets. Compared with the food truck options outside offering a world of lunch options for $10 and under, a solid lunch at this stall in the Franklins Table food hall is a modest splurge, with boxes ranging from $16 into the mid $20s. And the craftsmanship has not always been up to snuff. The maki rolls, which range reasonably from $4 to $7, can be disappointingly pedestrian. A recent salmon roll was too loosely wrapped in rice that was overly soft and sticky. That said, there is a noticeable hike in the quality of the core fish here compared with most quick-serve sushi counters which Id expect from the casual sibling of Double Knot. The pristine tuna makes a satisfying $9 snack diced over a rice bowl glazed in chili-soy sauce with rice pearl crunchies and sprouts. And the Eat Your Fancy Fish box, though the most expensive item ($26), is actually a bargain for the share-worthy quantity (26 pieces) and quality, including sweet scallop nigiri alongside a melty rich albacore-edamame roll, a yellowtail-scallion roll and others. This stand is at its surprising best, though, when asked to tap its more ambitious restaurant DNA for a sit-down omakase a very fair $35 that seems all the more luxurious for its hour-long pause amid the lunch rush. While a blur of backpacks, faculty meetings and falafel salads swirled around us, chef Yun Fuentes carefully crafted nearly a dozen courses, then slid them our way beneath the tall glass partition. Three thick-cut sashimi slices of luscious hamachi, marbled salmon and tuna fanned over ponzu. Rich chu-toro belly dabbed with garlicky soy. A cucumber cup piled with orange jewels of salmon roe. Soft sweet eel balanced atop a crispy tot of fried rice. The spice-crusted slice of roasted-to-order Wagyu beef with uni was more impressive in concept than it was to eat, due to an awkward chew. But tuna tartare layered with guacamole over a chicharrone-like cracker Fuentes made from sushi rice that he kneaded into a dough, then flash fried, was a counterside drama that delivered. Even better: the seared foie gras that sizzled in a pan with miso caramel just beyond the glass emerged warm and melty atop a nori-wrapped plug of rice topped with scallions. As omakases go, there are sushi bars using far more rarefied fish. But DK Sushi gets props for creatively transforming some familiar ingredients into a meal that was both satisfying and entertaining for the genuine bargain of $35. If this was a Restaurant Week special, it would have been one of the highlights of my week. As a twist on food court dining, it was the definition of an experience that exceeded expectations. DK Sushis omakase Very good Franklins Table, 3401 Walnut St., 215-359-3600; eatyour.fish Its pricier than a typical food-court sushi kiosk, but also serves the step up in fish quality expected from the quick-serve sibling of three-bell Double Knot. The a la carte craftsmanship isnt always consistent. This rating applies specifically to the hour-long omakase meals served by chef Yun Fuentes, which are a tremendous value at $35 for a multicourse tasting that is a study in creative twists with familiar fish and also a fine way to a secure counter seat in bustling Franklins Table. MENU HIGHLIGHTS Omakase: miso soup; mixed sashimi; tuna over rice; chu toro; eel over fried rice tot; tuna-guacamole rice cracker; miso foie gras hand roll. The Eat Your Fancy Fish or tuna boxes. DRINKS Alcohol not served; BYOB not permitted. WEEKEND NOISE The food court roars during the lunch rush, but close quarters at the counter make conversation possible. IF YOU GO Menu served Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Omakase $35. Sushi, $3-$9; Chef boxes, $16-$26. All major cards. No reservations. Wheelchair accessible at tables (not counter), where staff will serve omakase. Street parking only. Heather Thomason, owner of Primal Supply Meats, at her new location in Brewerytown. Read more At the sprawling Brewerytown building that is now the headquarters for Primal Supply Meats, butcher Heather Marold Thomason is going back to her roots. The light-filled building at 1521 N. 31st Street, which Thomason plans to open to the public May 4, isnt just a new home for her fast-growing business, which connects chefs and customers with locally sourced, sustainable meats. Its also a place where Thomason will host classes, dinners and events to showcase those products, similar to what was possible when she worked at Kensington Quarters in Fishtown, which regularly holds such events. The building we were in before, it wasnt a place we could invite people to come and see what we do, she said of Primal Supplys previous facility in Yeadon. Ive always loved hosting. The 6,000-square-foot space, which the company moved into last month, will also include Thomasons second retail location. She opened a shop on East Passyunk Avenue last May. A spacious room at the front of the building will feature a meat case and a market with local cheese, produce and pantry items, similar to her South Philly location. The room is decorated with butcher blocks and a scale from Fiorellas Sausage in the Italian Market, which was bought by Primal Supply partner Marc Vetri after it closed last year. From the front of the building, interior windows look into a bright room where the meats are cut. Next to that is a full-service kitchen where Thomason will host courses like her Whole Hog butchery and sausage-making classes. It will also be a setting for collaborative chef dinners. Classes in the new building start in May. The retail shop will be open on Saturdays only at first, Thomason said, with expanded days and hours to follow. The front room could also be used to host larger events or parties. I would love to have people walk in and ask for what they want, she said. This is a flexible, hospitality-forward space, and to some extent I will let the market dictate how its used. The scientific consensus is that implants with roughened surfaces not smooth surfaces cause lymphoma, and the risk increases with highly textured brands. Read more Health authorities in Canada and the Netherlands this week announced plans to suspend sales of rough-surfaced breast implants that are tied to a rare form of lymphoma. The actions came just days after France became the first country to ban sales of numerous brands of textured and polyurethane-coated implants and a week after U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers rejected the idea of sales restrictions. Health Canada is suspending sales of Allergans Biocell brand of textured implants because 24 out of 28 confirmed reports of the cancer in that county involved Biocell. The malignancy is technically called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BI-ALCL). To protect Canadians from the rare but serious risk of BI-ALCL, Health Canada is advising Allergan that the department intends to suspend its licenses for Biocell as a precautionary measure," Health Canada said on Thursday. The release said Allergan had been asked to provide new evidence of safety within 15 days. If a satisfactory response is not received by then, Biocell will be ordered off the market. Allergan emailed that it intends to respond within the deadline provided by Health Canada. Similarly, the company is evaluating a request made by Dutch regulators to local surgeons that they temporarily suspend use of Biocell textured breast implants. In December, Allergan halted sales and withdrew inventory of textured implants in European markets after the French agency that oversees medical devices in the European Union suspended its approval, called a CE mark. In the Netherlands, Health Minister Bruno Bruins sent a letter Thursday to Parliament explaining that he was temporarily asking plastic surgeons to stop using textured products while regulators do their own safety assessment, due by May. Depending on the results of that assessment, further appropriate measures will be taken, Bruins wrote. Implant-related lymphoma is a recently recognized cancer of the immune system that is caused by implants used for cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. The scientific consensus is that implants with roughened surfaces not smooth ones cause the disease, and the risk increases with highly textured brands. Since the first report of implant lymphoma in 1997, almost 700 cases and 17 deaths have been tallied worldwide, including 270 cases and nine deaths in the United States, according to the latest count from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Late last month, an FDA advisory panel revisited the issue of implant safety, spending two days hearing from manufacturers, researchers, plastic surgeons, and scores of women who say they suffer from autoimmune problems, now referred to as implant illness. The panel endorsed a stronger informed-consent process for women getting the devices, but did not support banning any textured brands. Stephanie Sena, 39, clears up a stack of medical bills from a foot amputation she had last fall. Sena is an adjunct professor at Villanova University with $20,000 in medical debt after learning her health plan didn't offer adequate coverage. Read more Stephanie Sena was about to have half her foot amputated, an urgent procedure to keep a blood infection from spreading to the rest of her body. But the surgeon required payment up front and the insurance plan that the 39-year-old Villanova University adjunct professor bought months earlier was refusing to pay. She had less than 24 hours to come up with $1,920. Senas insurance plan, it turned out, was not real health insurance. It was an accident and sickness hospital indemnity plan that paid a set dollar amount for certain services. This surgery was not on the list. She has since gotten a $1,725 refund for seven months of premiums, after The Inquirer contacted the company, but that will barely put a dent in the $19,000 medical debt shes accumulated since enrolling in a plan that covers virtually nothing. The Affordable Care Act restricted skimpy health plans that can deny coverage for basic services and preexisting conditions, but they are making a comeback under the Trump administration, which has made them more available and recently renewed its push to abolish the ACA entirely. Emboldened by the national rhetoric, these plans are being marketed to look more and more like full health insurance and aggressively pushed to people shopping for plans that meet the health laws standards. People who realize their mistake only once they use the plan can fall fast and deep into medical debt. State-level consumer protections are generally weak and rely on a complaints-based approach to pursuing bad actors quicksand cases of he-said-she-said, fine print, and technicalities. This is a disaster waiting to happen, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown Universitys Center for Health Insurance Reforms. After the problems occur is when regulators step in and, of course, at that point the consumer is left with huge medical bills, untreated conditions. Its sort of too little too late. Not real health insurance Sena, who lives in Philadelphia with her two children, turned to the internet for health insurance in August, after separating from her husband and losing coverage under his employer-sponsored health plan. Shes not eligible for Villanovas health insurance because her position is part time, but going without insurance wasnt an option. Sena has neuropathy in her foot, a legacy of nerve damage from a bad fall years ago. The condition is common among diabetics who, like Sena, are prone to infections from wounds that dont heal. She has already lost three toes. So she Googled health insurance. She found Health Insurance Innovations. Through the website, independent brokers sell short-term medical plans that do not meet the minimum coverage standards set during the Obama administration, such as pregnancy, preventive care, preexisting conditions, and other basics. But Senas plan was even worse, an indemnity plan that pays only a set rate for a limited list of services. Theyre not what we would call real health insurance, Linda Blumberg, an economist and fellow at the Urban Institute, said of indemnity plans. Individual health plans subject to the ACA must spend at least 80 percent of the money they collect in premiums on members care. Limited-benefit plans spend as little as half their premiums revenue on actual care, said Gary Claxton, a vice president with the Kaiser Family Foundation. Republicans argue that such options should be available to people who dont want to pay for more coverage than they believe they need. But skimpy health plans are increasingly being pushed to people shopping for comprehensive coverage with keywords such as ACA enroll and Obamacare plans, according to a study by the Center for Health Insurance Reforms. Theres a lot of deceptive and misleading marketing going on to consumers," Corlette said. "Even sophisticated consumers are likely to be misled into buying something they werent expecting and that leaves them exposed if they have a significant medical event. I was deceived When Sena signed up for her plan, a broker told her it was not ACA compliant. The letter she got from the insurance company, Federal Insurance Co., notes that the plan does not cover emergency services or preexisting conditions. But the insurance broker didnt fully explain the plans limitations, she said. She was told only that the plan wouldnt cover pregnancy, drug treatment, or gender reassignment none of which she needed. I absolutely thought it was going to cover me for what I needed, as long as I didnt get gender reassignment, drug treatment, or pregnant, Sena said. I was deceived. Health Insurance Innovations did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Chubb, the parent company of Federal Insurance Co., said in a statement that it requires brokers to provide customers with disclosures describing the coverage and stating that the plans dont meet ACA coverage requirements, but it declined to say how it ensures those standards are being met. After The Inquirer contacted the companies, Sena was refunded the $1,724 she paid for seven months of premiums for the indemnity plan, as well as an add-on pharmacy plan and life insurance policy she was sold. But all told, Senas bills for her most recent hospitalization in October and the subsequent amputation came to $22,500: $15,508 for an ER visit at Pennsylvania Hospital for sepsis, which is when an infection spreads to the bloodstream. $3,533 for the ambulance that transferred her from Pennsylvania Hospital to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for more specialized care. $3,512 for the amputation days later by her foot surgeon at Rothman Orthopedic Institute. Her plan paid nothing. When Rothman required payment before the surgery, Senas ex-husband agreed to pay for the amputation. Rothmans director of compliance, Nicole Coleman declined to elaborate on Rothmans policy of requiring payment up front but said in a statement that the institute works with patients who express concern about cost and that it would never allow financial considerations to jeopardize a patients welfare. Doctors commonly require partial advance payment as a way to reduce the amount of unpaid bills and administrative resources spent tracking down delinquent payments, said Jolene Calla, a vice president of health-care finance with the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. Patrick Norton, the vice president of public affairs at Penn Medicine, said in a statement that the hospital system has seen an increase in the number of patients surprised by high out-of-pocket costs, which he attributed to limited-benefit and high-deductible health plans. Sena isnt sure where the rest of the money will come from. The hardest part of all of this all of it is dealing with the bills, she said. Its a growing problem that state regulators are struggling to control. Candidly, its difficult when you get into some of the gray areas you didnt say this but should have, said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman. There are not a lot of rules specific to these types of products. Since 2016, the state has revoked licenses from 12 brokers found to be misrepresenting the plans they were selling. And in December, Pennsylvania was part of a 43-state, $3.4 million settlement with Health Insurance Innovations. Without admitting wrongdoing, the company must improve sales-call monitoring and periodically submit monitoring reports, establish a disclosures plan to make customers fully aware of policy details, and train all sales representatives on insurance law. As of Jan. 1, Sena is enrolled in a health plan from Independence Blue Cross that meets all the ACAs requirements for coverage. Yet shes still having trouble getting what she needs. After her amputation, Senas doctor prescribed therapeutic sneakers that accommodate an insert made to fit her new foot shape and that offer extra protection against injuries. The shoes are most commonly prescribed to diabetics, who are prone to nerve damage in their feet, wounds, and amputations. Blue Cross only pays for the shoes for diabetics, so Sena paid for the $214 sneakers herself. After being contacted by The Inquirer, Blue Cross connected Sena with a health educator, who helps members access benefits based on their medical condition. Sena may be able to avoid denials in the future and is now getting medications shed been skipping because of the price. But even with better insurance, Sena knows the bills will keep coming and she worries whether shell have the stamina to keep up. If the sickness doesnt break me, its the bills that will, she said. Dont get caught with coverage you didnt want Limited-benefit health plans are becoming more available, and they can be difficult to tell apart from traditional health insurance. Here are six tips to shop smart if you are looking for full health insurance: 1. Know whats what. Comprehensive health plans are required to meet these requirements under the Affordable Care Act: Coverage for essential health benefits, such as pregnancy, mental health, primary care, mammograms, colonoscopies, and other preventive screening tests. Cannot deny coverage or charge higher rates because of preexisting conditions. Limit the amount members can be required to spend out of pocket. Must spend 80 percent of money collected in monthly premiums on patient care. Limited-benefit plans are not required to follow these rules. They have much lower premiums in exchange for fewer benefits they often do not cover pregnancy or preexisting conditions, have smaller doctor networks, and do not have to cap out-of-pocket spending. Learn more about your options here. 2. Shop at healthcare.gov. The best way to be sure the plan you are buying is a comprehensive health plan is to buy it at healthcare.gov, an online insurance exchange that exclusively sells plans that meet the ACAs coverage rules. About 80 percent of people who buy plans through healthcare.gov are eligible for income-based tax subsidies to offset the cost of insurance. 3. Go to a local broker. People who do not qualify for a premium tax credit may be able to save money on an ACA-compliant plan outside of the exchange. Local brokers can help you compare options, but be sure to go to someone you trust. Ask for personal recommendations or use the Pennsylvania Insurance Departments search tool, check their license status with the state and meet in person, if possible. You can also compare on- and off-exchange plans yourself through the Insurance Departments website. If you know what plan you want, you can also sign up directly through an insurer. 4. Be clear about what you want. ACA compliant, coverage for preexisting conditions, and no lifetime limits are some keywords to help you make sure youre getting a full coverage plan when shopping outside the government marketplace. Insurance is complicated and it can be hard to tell exactly whats covered by a plan that isnt required to meet ACA standards. For example, short-term health plans may cover hospital services, primary care, and doctors visits, but there may be caveats a limit on payments for hospital services and doctors visits only when not related to a preexisting condition. 5. Beware of unsolicited insurance offers. The only time you can enroll in an ACA-compliant health plan is during the fall open enrollment period or if you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a life event, such as marriage, divorce, birth, or job loss. Insurers selling ACA marketplace plans generally wont cold call you to try to get you to sign up. 6. Report problems. Pennsylvanias Insurance Department relies on consumer complaints to identify and investigate bad actors. Complaints are up: The Insurance Department recorded 21 complaints about non-ACA plans in the first three months of this year, compared with 53 in all of 2018. The department has revoked licenses from a dozen bad actors since 2016, stemming from problems raised by consumers. You can file a complaint online at insurance.pa.gov or by calling 1-877-881-6388. This story is a collaboration between The Inquirer and WHYY Health + Science. Stephanie Lee spent most of her 20s and 30s raising her first son. When he moved out of her house, she had her independence again. I was like poppin. I felt like Stella got her groove back. I got my groove back, like Im free in a sense, Lee said. Even when she got pregnant at age 37, Lee thought she could keep that momentum going. I thought I was going to be able to work out until my ninth month, and work up until my ninth month. I was like, Im gonna be in labor at work. But about five months into the pregnancy, Lee had a procedure to prevent her from going into an unsafe, early labor. It forced her to stay on bed rest. She had to stop working her job as a bus driver. She was worried about money. And she was lonely. Even after Santeno, her son, was born healthy, Lee felt anxious and depressed. Nursing was hard, and her hormones were all over the place. She felt unsupported her family was spread out, and she and Santenos father didnt live together. Most of her close friends had children five or 10 years ago they were pretty far removed from what she was experiencing. It was so rough, like I was a mess, I was crying, Lee said. I dont know, I just felt like nobody understood me. Nationally, postpartum depression affects one in seven mothers, and it can be hard to diagnose. Women of color are even less likely to be diagnosed, some research indicates, often out of fear they'll be judged as unfit mothers by child-welfare workers. Even among women who recognize that they have depression, getting help is rare. Treatment is expensive, wait times are long, and coordinating such things as transportation and child care can be difficult, especially for someone struggling with depression. Meanwhile, the consequences of untreated postpartum depression are serious for both mothers and their babies. So a consortium of health groups is working to bring mental-health treatment to moms who need it, instead of expecting them to seek it on their own. A home remedy While she was on bed rest, Lee asked her insurance company for any extra help it could offer. The insurer connected her to the Maternity Care Coalition, which sent a community health worker, April McNeal, to her house in Lansdale once a week someone to talk to, and connect Lee with financial help. When Lees anxiety and depression continued for months after Santeno was born, McNeal tested Lee for postpartum depression using the 10-question Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. And then she recommended Lee for a new program: free, in-home therapy. The Maternity Care Coalition integrated screenings for postpartum depression into its home-visit program more than a decade ago. But its community health workers found, anecdotally, that even if they referred moms to mental-health services after screening, the women wouldnt necessarily go. A recent study by researchers at Policy Lab of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia looked at Medicaid claims for all mothers who screened positive for postpartum depression at CHOPs urban practices. In the six months after screening, researchers found, only one in 10 women sought any kind of treatment. In the Policy Lab study, the single reliable predictor of whether a mother would seek help was whether she had a history of depression. But the research on this is mixed. A 2013 study of New Jersey Medicaid claims, for instance, found white women to be nearly twice as likely to receive treatment than women of color. Stacey Kallem, the lead researcher of the Policy Lab study and a pediatrician at CHOP, is a new mother herself. She gets why its hard for women to seek treatment. The system is not set up to make finding care easy, she said. Literally just bundling up your child and leaving the house is an accomplishment in that immediate postpartum phase," Kallem said. "And then, on top of all that, you might have depression, which makes your activation energy to do any of those things, its just so much harder. Lee didnt have to do any bundling to get her treatment. The Maternity Care Coalition program pairs mothers with Drexel University graduate students training to be marriage and family counselors. The student counselors visit the women an hour a week, for as long as the women need the services. Still in a pilot phase, the program is currently serving 12 clients. Through 2018, it served 30. It kind of eliminates, Oh, I dont have a ride to go to the doctors, McNeal said, adding that most of the women she works with dont have cars. Because the in-home program is free, it sidesteps copays for therapists covered under insurance, as well as the long wait times typical of free therapy. Plus, its discreet at a time when a depressed new mother might fear being viewed as unfit, or losing face with her relatives. You dont have to tell anybody, said McNeal. Theyre not coming here with their therapist super hat it just looks like, oh, my girlfriend is coming over, and lo and behold, theyre giving you therapy. That was a plus for Lee. Though it was hard to raise Santeno on her own, she wanted to prove she could do it independently this time. She felt shame asking for help, especially when her mother had helped care for her older son when she was a teenage mom, and many members of her family had raised multiple kids close in age. The black community dont know postpartum, Lee said. Theres this expectation on us as women of color that we have to be superhero strong, that were not allowed to be vulnerable. Im not allowed to have postpartum because Im black? Therapy, and more In-home therapy is just one new tactic being explored by a consortium of Philadelphia providers to increase womens access to care for postpartum depression. The working group, called the Community Action Network, is led by the city Department of Public Health, the Maternity Care Coalition, and Einstein Health. It emerged from an effort to lower infant-mortality rates across Philadelphia. The network receives no outside funding, but pools member resources. To date, it has made an informational video that is screened in waiting rooms and online to debunk myths about postpartum depression, and has petitioned Philadelphia officials to include maternal mental health in its citywide mental-health first-aid training, which is available to any interested resident. The network also is exploring a specialized peer counselor certification for maternal mental health. Treatment for postpartum depression cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants is reliable, if it is used. A national maternal-mortality review committee lists mental-health issues as one of the leading causes of maternal deaths nationwide, though such deaths are relatively rare. In addition to their personal misery, women suffering from postpartum depression are less likely to be engaged and attuned to the needs of their babies, said CHOPs Kallem. That can harm childrens cognitive and behavioral development. Research shows that mothers with postpartum depression are less likely to breastfeed, which has a host of benefits for babies. They are less likely to follow such safety practices as using carseats and placing babies to sleep on their backs, increasing the risk for sudden infant death syndrome. Stephanie Lee doubts she would have gotten help at all if she hadnt been set up with therapy at home. It helped her get back to work and learn how to take some time for herself even if its just a few minutes in the morning. I was like, OK, say a prayer, do some positive affirmations right now, Lee said. If this is the only time I have from the time I get the shower, the time to do my hair, quiet time to myself use it. Just use it. Nina Feldman is a reporter with WHYY. Finding Help for Postpartum Mental Health Philadelphia/Southeastern Pennsylvania Maternity Care Coalition: Perinatal Therapeutic Services; 267-514-6679 Philadelphia Health Department Community Action Network: Support groups, home visits, online resources and more Einstein Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group: Wednesdays at 10 a.m. (Drop-ins welcome); 1200 W. Tabor Rd., Philadelphia; 215-456-9431 Foundation for Delaware County: In-home treatment for clients with Major Depressive Disorder; (610) 497-7344 Delaware Delaware State Perinatal Mental Health: Support Coordinator Julie ONeil; 302-584-8249 South Jersey Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative; Postpartum Wellness Initiative for South Jersey; 856-675-5295 A pair of Philadelphia lawyers were sentenced in federal court Thursday to probation for failing to pay hundreds of thousands in taxes. Edward Millstein and Susan Halpern, who are married but estranged, were about to go to trial in November when they admitted their guilt before U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe in Philadelphia. Millstein pleaded guilty to one felony count of tax evasion and Halpern pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay taxes. Rufe sentenced Millstein to five years probation with the first six months to be served under house arrest. He was ordered to pay $344,225.33 in restitution and perform 50 hours of community service in each year of his probation. Halpern was sentenced to five years probation, and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution and perform 50 hours of community service for each year of her probation. U.S. Attorney William McSwain said in a statement that he was disappointed with the sentences. He had accused the couple of spending the money they owed in taxes on a luxury lifestyle. These are serious crimes that clearly merit jail time, and the courts decision today sends the wrong message to the public, McSwain said. William J. Brennan, Millsteins lawyer, said the judges decision allows Millstein an opportunity to pay off his restitution. Brennan said his client had led an otherwise exemplary career and life, and the sentence shows that theres a lot more to Ted Millstein than one very unfortunate criminal problem. Halperns lawyer, Jeffrey M. Miller, could not be reached for comment. In a sentencing memorandum, Miller wrote that while Millstein was accused of a felony charge relating to a multi-year, alleged criminal tax-fraud scheme, the defendant Halperns accusations narrowly pertain to two years and alleged failures to pay taxes and owing (tax returns were jointly filed by the two co-defendants as husband and wife but funds to satisfy the tax obligation were not forwarded to the IRS)." HELENA, Mont. (AP) An Albanian national who talked about joining ISIS and attacking random people to avenge a shooting at a New Zealand mosque was arrested at a gun range in Montana, authorities said Thursday. Fabjan Alameti, 21, appeared before a U.S magistrate judge Thursday on charges of possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and making false statements involving international and domestic terrorism. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch ordered him detained for further proceedings. Alameti's federal public defender, John Rhodes, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday. Authorities first interviewed Alameti in 2018, and he later made pro-ISIS comments on Facebook, FBI Special Agent Matthew Duermeier said in a sworn statement filed with the court. Starting in January of this year, Alameti spoke with a federal informant about fighting with the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria and plotting an attack in the U.S. against a military facility, recruitment center, government building, gay club, or Jewish temple, Duermeier said. But Alameti also later said he would not carry out an attack on U.S. soil because the country had granted him citizenship, the FBI agent's statement said. Alameti told the informant he moved from his home in the Bronx to Bozeman last month because he hated his life in New York City, he was having family issues, and he had a job interview in Montana, where it was easier to buy a gun, Duermeier said. Alameti was traveling to Montana by bus on March 15 when a gunman opened fire in a Christchurch mosque and killed 50 people. He asked the federal informant to send him a link to the video of the shooting because it would fuel him. "I will attack random people to avenge the blood," Alameti told the informant, according to Duermeier. Once in Bozeman, Alameti looked at guns in pawn shops and Walmart, and he bought an air rifle. He was kicked out of a hotel for smoking marijuana and hospitalized on March 25 for apparent acute alcohol intoxication, Duermeier said. After he was released, he went to the Bozeman police department to pick up his belongings, where was interviewed by an officer. In that interview, Alameti denied being linked to anyone who asked him to travel overseas, said he never expressed a desire to harm Americans, never expressed a desire to fight the U.S. military overseas, and never expressed a desire to fight for ISIS, Duermeier said. On Tuesday, another federal informant recorded Alameti saying while buying marijuana that he could die the following day and said he wanted to "shoot up" the hotel that he had been kicked out of. He said he wanted to go to a gun range the following day and shoot a rifle that he had seen in a pawn shop, the FBI agent's statement said. On Wednesday, Alameti showed up at the firing range, paid $35 to rent an M1A rifle, and was arrested when he took possession of it, Deurmeier said. The federal charge on which he was arrested says its illegal to possess a weapon while using drugs, and the false statement charge apparently is related to the answers he gave Bozeman police during his interview. A stunning decision to abandon a vote on legalizing marijuana last month was reached because New Jersey lawmakers needed just a few more yes votes to get the historic bill passed. That was the explanation Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin provided March 25 to a throng of media. The three Democrats stood together and promised the bill would be reworked and approved. But now, patience is running thin among lawmakers, lobbyists, and medical-marijuana advocates. There are divisions among supporters over how to change the bill. Opponents are also ramping up their arguments, with one senator, Michael Doherty, a Warren County Republican, boldly calling the nearly 200-page bill a deal with the devil. All eyes are now on May, with Murphy and legislative leaders saying they are optimistic they can court more votes and get the bill passed. I want to believe it will happen this summer, but I dont see whats changed. I think theres a 50-50 chance well have to start from scratch in January, said Jay Lassiter, a longtime marijuana activist and outspoken political lobbyist from Cherry Hill. The legal-weed bill has been the subject of fiery debate, hearings, and committee votes over the last year, and if it is put up for a floor vote and fails, lawmakers would have to wait until January and start the whole process over because of legislative rules. Sweeney, a cosponsor of the bill, has said he wont call for a vote until he has enough votes for it to pass 21 in the Senate and 41 in the Assembly. We dont have a specific timetable because we are all still working to gain the needed votes and we still need the Governor to do his part to get that done," Sweeney said in a statement emailed to The Inquirer. "Legalizing marijuana is a significant change in public policy so legislators are being very thoughtful in making their decisions. Once we have the 21 and 41 votes needed we will move forward. Meanwhile, opponents say legalization would send the wrong message to children, increase drug use, and lead to drugged driving and more accidents. Some lawmakers support the concept of legalization but are holding out, saying towns should receive more of the tax revenue from cannabis sales. Others object to a companion bill that would clear the criminal records of small-time drug dealers. Ken Wolski, the longtime executive director of Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, sighed when pressed for his opinion on whether the bill will pass before the summer. I would say theres an outside chance. I want to put the best spin on it that I can. Hope springs eternal, and I think some fence-sitting legislators might be induced to change their minds given accurate information. But a significant number opposes it and their remarks at the hearing were distressing and outrageous. Ten years ago, the state legalized medical marijuana for patients who obtain a doctors permission. Wolski, who worked to pass that law, said he thought the stigma surrounding marijuana had faded because of patients compelling stories and polls that show a majority now favor legalization. He was shocked to hear some state senators describe marijuana as pure evil. If New Jersey passes the legalization bill, it would become the 11th state to do so. The measure is broad and would go beyond most states legalization laws in its scope. The bill is part of a package linked to a companion bill that would make significant changes to the medical marijuana program. The package is also inseparably tied to a racial and justice bill that would allow for speedy expungements, or clearing minor criminal convictions for marijuana possession. That bill also calls for minorities to be included in the cannabis industry to reverse the discriminatory effects of the war on drugs. Sweeney has said the bills were linked for strategic reasons, but some supporters now want them to receive separate votes. Mike Honig, whose 7-year-old son, Jake, died of brain cancer a year ago, last week urged Murphy and lawmakers to press forward with the medical-marijuana bill. Cannabis alleviated Jakes pain more than other medications he was prescribed in his final days, but state law limited him to two ounces a month, not enough to get him through the month, said Honig, of Howell Township. The medical bill would allow terminal patients to obtain three ounces a month. Theres a moral problem here, he said in a March 27 Facebook video. Were withholding medication from people like Jake in order to twist the arms of people who might not be inclined to vote for recreational marijuana. Days later, Murphy said that he spoke with Honig, who also supports recreational legalization, and decided to set a deadline of the end of May to get the bill package passed. If that fails, Murphy said he would move forward with expanding the medical-marijuana program without the legalization bills passage. Im prepared to hold off for a short amount of time. Im open-minded and supportive for the legislature to go back at it and find those last few votes we couldnt get, the governor said in a statement. Lassiter, a medical-marijuana patient who uses cannabis to alleviate symptoms of HIV, said the medical-marijuana bill and the expungement bills would easily sail through if they were not tied to the legalization bill, which he said is complicated and seems to require further debate. We should not be holding sick people hostage for strategic purposes, thinking medical will give recreational a sort of halo effect, he said. Sweeney addressed the issue of separating the bills in an emailed response to The Inquirer on Thursday. "The three bills have been part of a package because there is an interconnection between adult-use marijuana, medicinal marijuana and the reform of failed drug laws. The Governor, the Speaker and I also believe there is a greater chance of gaining legislative approval if we act on all the bills together. Greatly expanding medical marijuana by itself could be de-facto legalization, absent the social justice reforms that are so important. Some bill supporters see momentum and anticipate that the package will survive intact. The three most powerful folks in Trenton are supporting it and are unified around it, and all the advocates the ACLU, the NAACP, the Latino Action Network and the Drug Policy Alliance are all for it. Theres a robust, comprehensive network behind this bill, said Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLUNJ. The vote cancellation, he said, was a setback. But look at the trajectory, Sinha said. Bill Caruso, a Haddonfield attorney and board member of the nonprofit New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, said lawmakers are closer than they have ever been. He said lawmakers have said that theyre only one or two votes short. There also are five to seven senators in play, and theres some horse-trading that is changing some senators minds, he said. I think they [lawmakers] will try to get this done in May, and there seems to be enough support for it, Caruso said. But this is contingent on so many different things coming together. Well know like a month from now. Geoffrey Partridge, 36, had been missing since Dec. 5, when his Jeep Grand Cherokee was found abandoned on the banks of the Schuylkill River in Gladwyne. Read more Geoffrey Partridge, 36, was found dead in the Schuylkill late Thursday, almost exactly four months after his SUV was found abandoned on one of the rivers banks. A fisherman discovered Partridges body about 6:30 p.m. along River Road near Hollow Road in Gladwyne, according to Tom Walsh, a spokesperson for Lower Merion Township. Officers from the township police department recovered the body with the help of Philadelphia police. Partridge was identified early Friday by the Montgomery County coroner. Partridges cause of death was ruled to be drowning, and its manner was ruled to be suicide, according to a spokesperson for the Coroners Office. Holly Morrison, Partridges mother, said Friday that her heart is broken and that she and her family were struggling to process the news. Morrison and her neighbors in Gladwyne had spent weeks searching the river and its surrounding areas, some organizing pre-dawn boat trips. Partridge vanished after leaving his home to run errands, telling his wife, Jill Turanski, that he would be back shortly. Instead, all communication with Partridge suddenly ceased, and a passerby spotted his Jeep Grand Cherokee partially submerged in the river near Flat Rock Park. Inside, officers found his cell phone and the keys to the vehicle. In a December interview, Turanski said Partridge suffered from bipolar depression and Lyme disease, which often left him weak and exhausted. But she said the last few months of their 15-year relationship had been bright, with Partridge feeling more energetic and social. CEO Cathy Malkemes with her dog, Maggie, at the Women's Animal Center in Bensalem. Malkemes adopted Maggie five years ago after the two bonded at the center. The organization, founded 150 years ago, now includes a veterinary hospital and an animal shelter. Read more In 1869, the Womens Branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opened in Philadelphia as the nations first animal shelter. Now, 150 years later, it still stands in the form of the Womens Animal Center, a modern, airy shelter in Bensalem. Yet the backstory of the shelter and its founder has largely fallen into obscurity. That will change, said Catherine Malkemes, the shelters chief executive officer, and Suzanne L. Bush, president of the shelters board of directors. On April 14, the Womens Animal Center, recently renamed from the Womens Humane Society, will celebrate its 150th anniversary a significant milestone, shelter management says, and one that will highlight the organizations roots. "We wanted to focus on the women because of the history and the fact that these women were so courageous and innovative, Bush said. To celebrate, there will be parties. A ribbon-cutting. A National Animal Shelter Day of Service, during which shelter officials hope people will volunteer, donate supplies or money, or adopt a pet. A ceremony around the shelters newly granted historical marker, to be staked this fall at either the Pennsylvania Womens SPCAs original meeting site at 923 Walnut St., or its first office, at 1320 Chestnut St. They hope it will amplify the shelters history. Consider the way the shelter started, Malkemes said, sitting in her office, as she carefully opened the organizations first annual report, dated 1870. On April 14, 1869, she said, a little more than two dozen women clustered in the parlor of a Philadelphia home to talk about a troubling issue. They saw that carriage horses were beaten, overworked, and malnourished. Stray dogs and cats roamed the streets. Others were corralled in the citys pound and left to flounder. The women saw an opportunity. Led by the activist Caroline Earle White, they took over the pound and barred doctors from performing medical experiments on dogs. White and her allies also raised money to build watering stations for horses and small animals, all the while encouraging people to report animal abuse. Now, 150 years later, the shelter, relocated from an aging building in Philadelphia to a sprawling complex in Bensalem, houses more than 200 animals, a full-service veterinary hospital, physical therapy for animals, an education center, and a space for dog training. One of the things Caroline Earle White did was she made a connection, said Suzanne L. Bush, president of the shelters board of directors. "... She made a connection between compassionate care of animals and compassionate care of people. That remains the mission of the Womens Animal Center, which in addition to dog, cat, and small-creature adoptions, provides affordable veterinary care for pets and educates the community about proper care of animals. These women never got credit for what they did. I think today people look back and they say, Oh wow, that was nice, but they dont really think about it in terms of It was more than nice, Bush said, sitting at a table where historic photos of White had been placed. They had to be relentless and stand up for themselves and stand up for the animals. Security officer Rogelio Burton, left, watches as students leave school at the end of the day from Mathematics Civics and Sciences Charter School in Philadelphia. The school does not use metal detectors. Read more The Philadelphia School District moved last month to mandate the use of metal detectors and X-ray equipment in all of its high schools. But the compulsory use of scanning equipment is far from universal in Philadelphia, or even in big-city school systems around the country. Thousands of the citys public high school students arent bound by the order. They attend one of Philadelphias 32 charter high schools, and for many of those schools, its a point of pride that they dont scan students. Metal detectors assume the worst in kids, said Jim Higgins, CEO and principal of Multicultural Academy Charter School, which educates 275 students in Hunting Park. Theres never been a serious push for it from our school community. Were just such a small school, theres a presumption of goodwill among all, and were just reluctant to ruin that. Among the citys 32 charter high schools, thats a common sentiment. (Of the 32, 11 said they did not use detectors, one said it did, and the rest did not respond or declined to answer.) The School District said it had student safety in mind when mandating metal detectors and X-ray scanning equipment. For the 2017-18 school year, three guns, five BB guns, and 87 cutting instruments were found and confiscated at district schools, spokesperson Lee Whack said. Nationally, just 4 percent of public schools use metal detectors, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Fewer than 100 of New York Citys public schools have permanent metal detectors; Miami public schools employ random metal detection. In Los Angeles, all middle and high schools are directed to carry out daily searches of random students, though a blue-ribbon panel said the practice was unproductive and recommended discontinuing searches until an audit could be conducted. Researchers say metal detectors are not an especially effective strategy for preventing violence. Metal detectors detect metal, said Beverly Kingston, director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado. They dont necessarily prevent violence. If you want to prevent violence, theres a lot more effective, evidence-based strategies, and we recommend using them. Among those strategies are creating positive school cultures and making sure schools have effective threat-assessment processes in place, Kingston said. Kenneth Trump, a school-security expert, said that metal detectors are no panacea and are often deployed after school shootings or stabbings as security theater a visible symbol to concerned parents that leaders are concerned about safety. In reality, Trump said, metal detectors do not offer that 100 percent guarantee that you want. The number-one way we find weapons in schools is not through a metal detector; its through students coming forward and telling adults that they trust. The Philadelphia School District first purchased metal detectors for some high schools at Superintendent Constance Claytons behest in 1992, after one student shot another at South Philadelphia High School. Metal detectors and X-ray scanning equipment were given to all high schools in 1999, in the aftermath of a student shooting an assistant principal inside Bartram High School. The backlash was swift. A few months later, more than 100 students from Masterman, the elite Center City magnet, marched from their school to district headquarters, holding signs that read: City kids get metal detectors. Suburban kids get counselors. Similar themes are being echoed now. Youth opposed to the policy made their feelings quite clear at a school board meeting last month, bitterly decrying the culture of mistrust they said scanning equipment creates and ultimately disrupting the proceedings out of anger. They said metal detectors criminalize students and further the school-to-prison pipeline. Though charters operate with public money, they are privately run and so are free to make their own calls about whether to use metal detectors. The Mathematics, Civics, and Sciences Charter School on North Broad Street does have security measures, founder and chief administrative officer Veronica Joyner said, including cameras and security personnel, including parents and other people who care stationed at doors, in hallways, and outside the school at dismissal time. Everybody knows theyre responsible for safety, even the students, teachers, and office staff, Joyner said, adding that if you set up the right culture in the school, its not snitching, its reporting. For some schools in neighborhoods where crime is common, the choice to not use detectors is deliberate, but not without risk, one operator said. The charter official said his school does not regularly use metal-detecting equipment but asked not to be named because he feared telegraphing the schools lack of equipment might make us a target to the unstable element that might be out there looking to make a point or meaning to do harm to others. The school, the official said, relies on relationships to keep students safe. Combined, in my opinion, these contribute more positively to safety and a conducive learning environment than metal detectors, said the administrator, who believes that whether a school has metal detectors has long-term implications on kids and how they view the norms of their working and living environments. For some charters, there are logistical issues to consider. At MaST, a K-12 school in the Northeast, there are no detectors and students use a single entrance. Youd have to have everybody go through it, said John Swoyer, the schools CEO. While I dont think we would take anything off the table, moving over 1,000 elementary, middle, and high school students through scanning equipment would be a challenge. Some charters do opt to scan students. At Preparatory Charter School, a high school in South Philadelphia, metal detectors and screening equipment have been in place for three years, said Chuck Pearsall, the schools head of security. The school wanted "an extra layer of protection based on the climate with regard to school shootings, lockdowns, and intruders, Pearsall said. The school started with one metal detector, then added a second and an X-ray machine. Students who may be running late and get caught up in the screening process get a little aggravated with the scan, Pearsall said, but he said he had not heard complaints that the security measures were a bad idea. Pearsall said he was not at liberty to disclose whether students had brought weapons to Prep Charter. But asked whether he thought detectors have served as a deterrent, he was unequivocal. Without question, he said. The School District has said that it will hold discussions on how scans are carried out now and how that affects students, and that it will require employees who scan students to undergo training. Penn's Carl June was the most productive single CAR T-Cell researcher ranked by patents Read more Around Philly, a new factory, new cash, a new home, new owners, and lots of patents. Penn leads in gene patents The University of Pennsylvania leads the race to patent cancer-fighting CAR T-cell research in an attempt to extract profits from commercial therapies based on doctors research, according to an article by Bjorn Jurgens and Nigel S. Clarke in the science journal Nature Biotechnology. Penn and its scientists have filed for 428 patents for 54 separate CAR T-cell inventions, according to the article. University College, London, has 117 patents for 14 inventions; the National Cancer Institute, 98 patents for 14 inventions; and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 80 patents and 11 inventions. The most productive [single researcher ranked by patents] was U.S. researcher Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania, with 315 patents (almost three-quarters of Penns total) for 31 inventions. Among corporations, Novartis, the Swiss drug-maker that has worked closely with Penn, had the largest number of patent applications, followed closely by Clellectis (France) and then by Suzhou Puluoda Biological Science & Technology of China. Worldwide, China trailed the United States but was ahead of Western Europe in T-cell patent applications. Will that translate into fat payouts for Penn? Although CAR T-cell immunotherapy may be about to enter the mainstream and has already been the subject of legal scrutiny," the technique remains "an emerging technology, Nature Biotechnology noted. Robo-juice by Sofresco A European juice company plans to open a highly automated 17,000 square foot plant at Universal Pures cold-storage and cold-processing complex, 7 Lee Blvd. in the Great Valley corporate center north of Malvern to bottle juices at temperatures just below freezing, a process the companies say avoids taste-damaging heating. So sealed containers can sit on store shelves for two months or longer without added preservatives, sugar or water. Plant capacity is two million gallons a year. The company, Sofresco, the U.S. arm of Portugal-based multinational juice maker Sonatural itself an arm of Grupo GL, SA recently won a Walmart supply contract. Besides shipping juice to U.S. stores starting this week, the plant will export to Mexico and parts of Central America, starting in May, Sofresco co-owner Doug Gilman said in a statement. High-pressure processing is a cheap way to make juice safe from bacteria and impurities over a long shelf life, Universal Pure chief executive Mark Duffy said in a statement. The company says it will buy apples and other fruit from farms in Pennsylvania and nearby states. South-central Pennsylvania, South Jersey and the northern Delmarva Peninsula are home to commercial orchards. The company plans to hire up to 20 local workers for what it called highly skilled management and factory jobs. Plans call for bottling juices that include tropical and vegetable flavors avocado, banana, beet, ginger, lemon, mango mixed with common apple juice. Sofresco says it avoids genetically-modified fruit and BPA plastics. The price is higher than cheap convenience-store juice; the company suggests around $4 for a 12-ounce bottle. It also offers wellness shots including Purifying Charcoal; Turmeric & Cayenne; and Ginger, around $3 for a shot-glass-sized 3.7 ounce serving. Both products contain around 70 calories, the company said. Universal Pure, LLC, a division of Chicago-based Tilia Holdings, is based in Villa Rica, Ga., where it has a cold-storage and cold-processing plant similar to the one in Malvern, where it employs around 40. It also has cold-storage and cold-processing plants in Lincoln, Neb. and Coppell, Tex.| $25M for HealthVerity Health-care consumer data manager HealthVerity Inc., of Center City has raised $25 million in third-round (Series C) funding from investors led by San Francisco- and New York-based Foresite Capital and including Flare Capital, Greycroft Partners, and other previous investors who support our long-term executives, said Andrew Kress, HealthVeritys CEO and cofounder. HealthVerity will use the money to develop products including HealthVerity Census (aggregating customer data), Marketplace (finding and licensing consumer information), and HealthVerity Consent (a blockchain-driven platform for managing patient and consumer permissions). The company says its clients include more than 100 large drug makers, drug distributors, insurers, and hospitals. Foresite managing director Jim Tananbaum will join the HealthVerity board. Philadelphia law firm Blank Rome LLP advised HealthVerity in raising the cash. www.healthverity.com. SUMO Heavy is back SUMO Heavy Industries, a 16-person (some remote) digital-commerce consulting firm started by Bart Mroz and Bob Brodie in 2010, moved to a coworking space in New York three years later. But its staff has returned to Philly, leasing the firms first dedicated office space in the Creative Arts building on Second Street in Old City and the N3RD St. tech district, Mroz reports. Nothing beats having your own place with your name on the door," with a kitchen, bathroom, and shower, too. Carlyles CFGI buys Pine Hill CFGI, a Boston technical accounting and financial advisory service owned by buyout giant Carlyle Group, says it has acquired Pine Hill Group, a 70-employee, 13-year-old accounting and deal advisory firm with offices in Philadelphia, Princeton, and New York. The price was not disclosed. Marie Antoinette McCray, 82, of Wynnewood, a human resources manager and workforce development specialist in Philadelphia, died Monday, April 1, of pneumonia at Lankenau Medical Center. Born in Philadelphia, she was the only child of Conrad and Frances Espinosa. She was raised by her grandparents Joe and Marie Penir in the Carroll Park section of the city. She graduated from West Catholic Girls High School and earned an associate degree in business and human resource management from Peirce College, Philadelphia. Ms. McCray began her career in the late 1960s at the Insurance Co. of North America (INA). At the time, it was the nations largest insurance company. In 1982, INA merged with Connecticut General Corp. to form Cigna, and Ms. McCrays career flourished in the new corporate environment. She became manager of community relations, a member of the human resources team, and the face of Cigna in the community. She sat on various local corporate boards to represent Cignas interests, and managed several community-based employment programs for young people, offering co-op and internship opportunities. Marie excelled in this role and became a mentor to many young adults in the city of Philadelphia, opening doors and providing career opportunities for many high school and college students, said her longtime friend Barbara Stanford-Allen. As part of her job, Ms. McCray served on the Mayors Commission on Aging; the Mayors Commission on Technology; the Metropolitan Collegiate Center; and the program evaluation committee for the Private Industry Council of Philadelphia. She retired from Cigna in 1996 and took two years off before reentering the workforce in 1998 as a human resources manager with Philadelphia OIC, the industrial opportunities center founded by the Rev. Leon Sullivan. In 2000, she began a second career as a case manager at the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation. With the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, professionals were needed to help transition former welfare recipients into the work world, and she embraced the task. "For the most part, this was a second chance for those who didnt have access to a lot of opportunities that college graduates did, Stanford-Allen said. It gave her a sense of gratification. In 2002, she retired from full-time employment and began volunteering at the Belmont Mansion in Fairmount Park. She was a docent at the Underground Railroad Museum that is housed in the mansion. She oversaw many of the museums day-to-day activities and found joy in supervising young adults in the summer docent program. She continued volunteering until 2015. Three years later, Ms. McCray joined the staff of Philadelphia Works, the workforce development board for Philadelphia, as a part-time employee to help in the summer youth employment program. She never stopped working. Ms. McCray enjoyed reading and preparing gourmet dishes. Her Ethiopian greens, baked with spices, onion, and peppers, were legendary. She traveled widely, visiting the Panama Canal, Mexico, South America, Central America, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Ms. McCray was charming, generous, and supportive of her friends. She epitomized both style and grace and was a lady in every sense of the word, Stanford-Allen said. She is survived by two cousins. A viewing from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Monday, April 8, will be followed by a noon funeral at the Christopher G. Kent Funeral Home, 6506 Haverford Ave., Philadelphia. Burial is private. A general view of protest against violence against women in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. A nationwide strike in protest of violence against women and commemorating the 24 victims of domestic violence with thousands of men and women calling on the government to take action against domestic abuse. Read more My family moved to a new apartment in Tel Aviv when I was in the fourth grade. As the youngest of three siblings, I knew I would get the short end of the stick when the time came to choose our new bedrooms. I didnt put up much of a fight. The room that I wanted was the smallest in the house just a bit larger than a walk-in closet. It was our in-unit bomb shelter. In Israel, all apartment buildings built after 1992 are required to have them rooms with thick walls, a large metal door, and a heavy metal window. I wanted that because it made me feel safe. If there was ever a red alert siren at night that didnt wake me up, I knew I would be safe in that room. Those were constant thoughts growing up in Israel during the second intifadah a period of armed resistance of various Palestinian groups against Israeli occupation in the form of terror attacks against civilians. My school had an armed bodyguard, every shopping mall and public building that I entered had a metal detector, and my room was a bomb shelter. My childhoods built environment told me at all times: You are under attack. I thought about that environment a lot, especially in the last year. In my second week working for The Inquirer, a gunman entered the newsroom of the Annapolis Capital Gazette and murdered five staffers. The conversation around the country was about the role of President Donald Trumps rhetoric against the media in galvanizing the shooter. Inside newsrooms, the conversation was about safety. The results of that conversation were new bulletproof glass in our lobby, and live-shooter trainings. Newsrooms are not unique in barricading themselves. Just last week, the Philadelphia Board of Education voted to require all district high schools to use metal detectors. After the massacres at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C., and the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, some called for armed guards and metal detectors in houses of worship. Fortifying schools, newsrooms, and houses of worship comes at a cost. There is a growing body of literature on the negative impacts of stress on health. Turning our landscape into a monument of existential threats adds a lot of stress to our society which is already overburdened, isolated, and ridden with despair. I called my Ima (the Hebrew word for mother) in Tel Aviv this week to ask if she thinks that growing up in this hyper-security-oriented environment impacted me. Saray Gutman, a book publisher in Tel Aviv and my Ima, told me in Hebrew: From a very young age, you were primed to think that at any moment something can happen. Primed to look for the enemy. Where will be the bomb? Where will be the next terror attack? In the context of Israel, that priming means you learn that people who look Palestinian are the enemy. She remembered that when I was a kid, every time a guard in the entrance to a public space skipped inspecting me I would say: Why didnt he check me? I dont look tough enough? It was very funny, Ima told me, but at the end of the day, what you were saying is Why dont I look like the enemy?, and that shows a demonization of those considered the enemy. Being constantly inspected also made me more suspicious and, in hindsight, normalized racial profiling. Every inspection was a reminder that people who look like me arent the ones they are looking for. Thats how cultural racism is ingrained by small daily reminders that discrimination is necessary for the overall good, even though thats just not true. Just like mass shootings in the U.S. are a fact of life, it is undeniable that these security measures are in place for a reason. In 2012, when the first red alert siren since Desert Storm was sounded in Tel Aviv after two rockets were shot from Gaza, my family and I ran to my childhood bedroom for shelter. But fortifications alone wont stop terror attacks in Israel or mass shootings in the United States. They are a Band-aid. In both cases, to ensure safety, we have to address root causes. In Israel, that means ending the occupation. In the U.S., that means addressing the childhood trauma, availability of firearms, and social isolation that motivate and allow a person to pick up a weapon and commit a mass shooting. The worst part of all of this is that it became our normal, Ima told me. When we come to visit you in Philadelphia and go into a bookstore, we are shocked that we are not inspected. There is nothing normal about being inspected over and over again. Violence is a reflection of our societal ailments, and we wont be able to barricade our way out of this problem. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, sits in front of the Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte ahead of the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding at Rome's Villa Madama, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Italy signed a memorandum of understanding with China on Saturday in support of Beijing's "Belt and Road" initiative, which aims to weave a network of ports, bridges and power plants linking China with Africa, Europe and beyond. (Giuseppe Lami/ANSA Via AP) Read more As NATO celebrated its 70th anniversary in Washington, one compelling security issue received insufficient attention: Chinese acquisitions of critical European infrastructure, especially ports. Chinese state-controlled firms now hold stakes in more than a dozen European ports on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, from Belgium to Spain to ownership of the legendary Greek port of Piraeus. Already, one-tenth of Europes container terminal capacity is under Chinese control. A week ago, defying allies, Italy became the first major European nation to officially join Chinas vast Belt and Road initiative infrastructure project to link Asia to Europe by sea, road, rail, and pipeline; this could open the ports of Trieste, Palermo, and Genoa to major Chinese investment. Farther east on the Mediterranean, in Israel, a Chinese firm will soon start managing Haifa port, where U.S. naval ships have long made calls. Another Chinese firm won the contract to build a port in the south of Israel at Ashdod. Beijing is now positioned in ports all around the eastern Mediterranean, including in Egypts Suez Canal region, where China is the largest investor. Add to this that Russia is now well-established on the eastern Mediterranean coast with its expanding naval facility in Tartus, Syria. Russia and China conducted a joint naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean in 2015. So, is the Mediterranean, once the uncontested home base of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, on the way to becoming a China-dominated sea? The eastern Mediterranean is becoming somewhat contested, says Erik Brattberg, head of the Europe program at the Carnegie Endowment. Russia and China are vying for influence. "The example of a close ally like Israel accepting and welcoming China investment can create complications that Europe should study. The U.S. military is certainly taking notice. Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, recently warned that Chinas Belt and Road initiative including port investments in the Arabian Gulf, Djibouti in East Africa, the Suez Canal, and the port of Haifa could mask longer-term military and political objectives." Of course, China claims its infrastructure investments are purely economic, part of its new Silk Road strategy to facilitate commerce with Europe. Yet in Asia, where Beijing has also acquired a string of ports in strategic locations, the Chinese have revealed their intention to use some for military or political purposes. Belatedly, European Union leaders are recognizing the long-term risks. Last fall, the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, cautioned: If a foreign, state-owned company wants to purchase a European harbor this should only happen with scrutiny and debate so that we can protect our collective security if needed." The EU is trying to find ways to screen foreign investments in strategically sensitive sectors. But with its huge purse, construction experience, and relatively cheap costs, China has found ready takers in Europe. Washington also has urged Europe to limit Chinese inroads in strategic sectors, including telecoms, but has offered little incentive to wean struggling countries such as Greece from Chinas economic temptations. Its not enough for the U.S. to tell allies they cant do business with China, says Brattberg. This requires a level of statesmanship using economic incentives. Washington needs to provide alternatives for countries like Greece which need foreign investment. Not likely any time soon. Chinas move on Israels Haifa port shows how Beijing can make surprising inroads. Israels Transportation Ministry gave a state-run Chinese company a 25-year contract to run the port without involvement of its National Security Council, according to Haaretz. Yet the port abuts the exit route from an adjacent navy base. (Israels nuclear-capable submarine fleet is stationed nearby.) U.S. naval ships call there. The Chinese port operators will be able to monitor closely U.S. ship movements, be aware of maintenance activity, and could have access to equipment moving to and from repair sites, said former U.S. chief of naval operations Gary Roughead at a conference in Haifa last year. Chinese investment is essential for our economy, but we have to limit it to things that will not affect our national interest or national security, says retired Rear Adm. Shaul Horev, a former Israeli navy chief of staff and now director of the Research Center for Maritime Policy at the University of Haifa. Yet the Haifa deal exemplifies how swiftly and strategically Chinas Mediterranean plans are moving. Meantime, NATO designed to contain Russia is still struggling to figure out how to deal with China, while EU members are split on the issue and American leadership is strikingly absent. Whats ironic, says Brattberg, is that a lot of U.S. concerns about Chinas Belt and Road initiative and the lack of reciprocal access to markets are shared with European countries. China ought to be one issue where U.S./Europeans could work together. But that identity of views hasnt translated into cooperation in dealing with Beijing. Such cooperation would require the United States to galvanize a common position from NATO, European allies, and Israel. Otherwise we may wake up in five years and find that much of the Mediterranean has become a Chinese- (and Russian-) dominated sea. Aqua America workers rebuilt a water main Upper Darby, Pa. recently. The Bryn Mawr company has agreed to buy a group fo Pittsburgh-based gas utilities for $4.3 billion. Read more Aqua America Inc. of Bryn Mawr, the nation's second-largest water utility, on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious expansion into the energy distribution business with a deal to buy a group of Pittsburgh gas utilities for $4.3 billion. Aqua will acquire Peoples, which operates Peoples Gas Co. LLC, Peoples Natural Gas Co. LLC, and Delta Natural Gas Co. Inc. The utilities are now privately owned by investment firm SteelRiver Infrastructure Partners of Sausalito, Calif. "The deal creates a major regulated utility force in Pennsylvania, which we believe is the nation's most attractive regulatory jurisdiction," Ryan M. Connors, a utilities analyst for Boenning & Scattergood Inc. in West Conshohocken, told investors Tuesday. Aqua, a 132-year-old utility known previously as Philadelphia Suburban Water, will pay about $3 billion in cash for Peoples, which it will finance by selling new stock and issuing about $600 million in debt. It also will assume about $1.3 billion in Peoples' debt, bringing the total value to $4.275 billion. Wall Street was not enamored of the deal. Aqua's shares fell 7.6 percent in trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, closing at $35.01, down $2.87. Christopher Franklin, Aqua's chief executive who will remain as head of the yet-to-be-renamed parent company, said in an interview Tuesday that the combined companies each are replacing about 150 miles of pipe a year, upon which state regulators allow it to recover a steady income from customers. "This is almost a perfect fit for us," he said. "It's in Pennsylvania, a state where we're already a pretty big company. It's a great regulatory climate, and it's in a business that's very close to what we do, installing and replacing water mains or gas mains." The combined company would have 1.7 million customers, including about one million water or wastewater customers. Nearly all its $7.2 billion in revenue would come from regulated utility operations, with about 70 percent in water and wastewater and 30 percent in natural gas. The new company will keep its headquarters in Bryn Mawr, where water and wastewater operations will remain based. Aqua has 1,600 employees and serves customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Indiana, and Virginia. Morgan O'Brien, Peoples' chief executive, will lead the natural gas company, which has about 1,500 employees and will remain headquartered in Pittsburgh. Its gas distribution systems are in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. For utility customers, the merger is likely to go unnoticed: The operating companies will continue to operate under their established brand names. The merger is not expected to result in workforce reductions or to impact rates, Aqua said. Although the merger of gas and water utilities might seem to be an unorthodox mix, Aqua's leadership presented the deal as strategic alignment of growth companies that build and reconstruct infrastructure. Franklin said the company expects to continue growing its dividend annually by about 7 percent from regulated utilities, where states incentivize private operators to invest by allowing them to earn a guaranteed profit on their investments. Franklin was unconcerned about the stock market's negative reception Tuesday. "We would expect to go out and tell the story: It's something new, and we'd expect that stock price will rebound nicely," he said. "Our view is pretty positive," said Connors, of Boenning & Scattergood. While Aqua's core strength is the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure, he said, "in reality, we believe the core competency is in regulatory management and infrastructure development." Aqua's effort to reinvent itself as a player on a bigger stage began in 2016, a year after Franklin took over for his longtime mentor, Nick DeBenedictis, who is now Aqua's chairman emeritus. The company has accelerated its acquisition of municipal water and wastewater systems, aided by new state laws that encourage the privatization of government systems. But it also began looking for new opportunities to acquire regulated utilities beyond the water and wastewater world. "We see ourselves as part of a broader solution for declining infrastructure in the country, at least in the 10 states where we operate," said Franklin. The Peoples merger might put Aqua in a stronger position to expand into Western Pennsylvania, where Peoples earlier this year offered to take over the financially troubled Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority in a public-private partnership. Pittsburgh officials have resisted selling the PWSA, and it remains in public ownership. "Aqua's endgame is to wrest control of PWSA," Food and Water Watch, an advocacy group that opposes utility privatization, said in a statement Tuesday that urged regulators to reject the merger. Franklin acknowledged the Pittsburgh water utility might present a growth opportunity, but deflected a suggestion that the new company might also have its eye on the city-owned Philadelphia Gas Works, which underwent a contentious privatization process in 2014 that was killed off by Philadelphia City Council. "I can't even begin to talk about Philly gas," Franklin told analysts. "There's a lot of history there, and it's not even on our radar screen." The merger is expected to close in mid-2019. It requires approval of state regulators in three states where the gas utility operates: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Local 98 leader John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty (left), Councilman Bobby Henon (center) talk with Jim Kenney after he officially stepped down from City Council in January 2015. Read more The Democratic primary election is still more than six weeks away and all the available polls show Mayor Jim Kenney with a sizable lead over two competitors. But his allies in the citys building trades unions arent taking any chances. Philly 2019, a new independent expenditure political action committee, on Wednesday launched a week of broadcast and cable television ads, paying $130,732 to push for Kenneys reelection. Philly 2019s chairman is Anthony Gallagher, business manager for Steamfitters Local 420 and an ally of John Johnny Doc" Dougherty, leader of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council. Dougherty, of course, is also leader of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He, along with City Councilman Bobby Henon and several other Local 98 officials, was indicted on Jan. 30, accused of embezzling more than $600,000 from the union from 2010 to 2016. Dougherty and the others have pleaded not guilty and vow to fight the charges. Gallagher confirmed that Philly 2019 is a building trades effort but said others are getting involved as well. Jordan Marks, a Philly 2019 spokesperson, said Local 98 has not invested any money so far in the effort. Asked if the union would contribute in the future, he said: Thats up to Local 98. Local 98 spokesperson Frank Keel, in an email, said only that the union will be involved in every aspect of the electoral process. It has money to spare. Local 98s own political action committee ended 2018 with nearly $7.2 million in the bank. Local 98 gave more than $500,000 in 2015 to another independent expenditure PAC, Building a Better Pennsylvania Fund, which spent $1.8 million to help Kenney win the primary election for mayor. Building a Better Pennsylvania Fund also paid for polling in the race in January, releasing the results when they looked strong for Kenney and not so great for challengers State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams and former City Controller Alan Butkovitz. And Dougherty, despite the federal indictments, remains politically plugged in as ever. He sat in last week as the policy committee of the citys Democratic Party interviewed candidates seeking endorsements. Dougherty later said he was warmly welcomed by party leaders. A spokesperson for Kenneys campaign declined to comment on the ads. But Kenney, on the day the indictments were released, said he would continue to accept political and financial support from Local 98. The new television ads will certainly help Kenney, who has been running an undercover campaign, steering clear of public political events. Speaking of independent expenditures There is a curious line about City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell in campaign literature circulating in West Philadelphia. It says she has built strong relationships with Phillys real estate developers. That was paid for by Philadelphia 3.0, an independent expenditure PAC that has endorsed Blackwells Democratic primary challenger, Jamie Gauthier. A little history about Philadelphia 3.0: The PAC was born in late 2014 in the boardroom of Parkway Corp., a real estate developer. It has accepted big-dollar donations from developers. But we cant say where all the money comes from. Philadelphia 3.0, which pitches itself as reform-motivated, spent more than $500,000 in the 2015 City Council races. But seven of every 10 dollars it raised were dark money," donated to an affiliated nonprofit that doesnt disclose donors, which then transferred it to the PAC. Ali Perelman, the PACs executive director, said the literature was neutral and expressly designed not to promote either candidate," but to raise awareness about the race. Blackwell isnt buying it. Gentrification is a controversial topic in the 3rd District, where she is seeking a seventh term. Still, she shrugged off the PAC painting her as cozy with developers. People say what they want, Blackwell said. Its America. Theyre just trying to make that up, trying to put me down." The dis-invitation of Daylin Leach State Sen. Daylin Leach continues to receive the persona non grata treatment, this time from the Lower Merion School District, which invited and then disinvited him from a legislative forum Monday. Melissa Gilbert, president of the school board, asked him not to attend so the focus could be on education and was not derailed by the controversy surrounding Sen. Leach, a spokesperson said. Leach has been drawing protesters at events since a Lehigh County woman accused him of luring her into performing oral sex on him in 1991 when she was 17 and he was a lawyer representing her mother in an attempted-murder case. The Senate Democratic caucus is investigating. Leach denies the allegations and in February sued his accuser, Cara Taylor, along with two Philadelphia-area activists, saying they had defamed him. Leach, in a statement, said Gilbert did a disservice to the community" with the dis-invitation. After all, I am a member of the Senate Education Committee and have long been a champion for education issues in the state legislature, he said. The Montgomery County Democratic Committee last month called on Leach to resign, saying his behavior since he was accused has created a divisiveness that threatens party harmony. The Delaware County Democratic Committee in February also called for Leach to resign and declared him ineligible for future endorsements. Leach is up for reelection next year. Staff Writer Julia Terruso contributed to this report. Accents on candidates names will appear on the May 21 primary ballot. Read more Latinos are a growing political force in Philadelphia politics. And a record number of them are running for City Council this year, with five Democratic candidates among the dozens vying for at-large seats and two for the heavily Hispanic 7th District. It will also be a momentous year for another reason: All their names will be spelled correctly. Ever since switching to the current voting machine system in 2002, Phillys ballots havent displayed accented characters, hyphens, or apostrophes. Maria D. Quinones-Sanchez, the city councilwoman in the 7th District? QUINONES SANCHEZ, no N, no A, no hyphen. The problem didnt affect only Latinos, either Brian J. ONeill, city councilman in the 10th District, has for years shown up on the ballot as O NEILL. It has an accent over the O, she said Wednesday after raising the issue with staffers from the city commissioners office. Im asking for my name to be representative of who I am. And culturally, as a Latina, thats very important to me, Almiron said. Almiron without the accent on the o feels a little bit like an erasure. Deputy City Commissioners Nick Custodio and Seth Bluestein, speaking with Almiron after Wednesdays city commissioners meeting, said they didnt believe it was technically possible to use accented characters that they would cause problems with the tallying of absentee, provisional, and machine votes. Theyd look into it, they said, but they didnt think it could happen. Almiron urged them to find a way: Its an equity issue. Thursday night, after testing the system, city commissioners staffers figured out a fix that, while not a systemic solution, will be good enough: Theyll manually change the way names are stored. Voters will see the accented characters on the ballot, while the actual names will be stored electronically without them in the results. It only fixes the problem for one election, but thats all the commissioners needed. The city is buying new machines that will allow accented characters on their touchscreen; the old machines will be retired after the May 21 primary. Im super excited that my name is going to be reflected exactly how it should be which is my name, Almiron said Friday morning after learning the commissioners had figured out a workaround. Accents represent much more than small marks, candidates said they signal to Hispanic candidates and voters that they are included in the city and its politics. If we really want to be a global city, if we really want to be an inclusive city, we should take care of the little details, said Trevino, who is also the only immigrant running. Its not only about the tilde on my last name or the accent on Erikas. This is about making sure immigrants from all over the world that speak a different language can actually vote. Elections officials called him Friday morning. "They asked if I wanted my last name spelled Trevino, he wrote in an email. I said yes, of course. Staffers are reaching out to candidates who may want accented characters, apostrophes, or hyphens to appear with their names, Custodio said. Its unclear how often the accent question has been raised in the city. Quinones-Sanchez said she brought it up when she first ran for Council in 1999, but the commissioners shrugged her off. Plus, the lever machines were so old she wasnt sure they could be fixed. When she ran again successfully in 2007 and for reelection the last two cycles, she chose to let it go. It was just another exclusionary signal, she said, even in the United States first World Heritage City, where one in seven residents is Latino. Were not really global yet, Quinones-Sanchez said. Were struggling with that. Diaz, the former city solicitor and Common Pleas Court judge, said it becomes tiring to correct others over and over again on how to properly spell or pronounce a name. His name was accent-less on ballots three times for judge and once for mayor in the 2015 primary. He recalled how his predominantly Irish classmates and teachers would mispronounce his name, often turning it into Dee-ass. How many times am I going to correct you on how to pronounce my name? he said. But it really is pretty offensive. Its like I was an ass instead of Diaz. Diaz pointed out the city now has bilingual ballots, with English and properly-accented Spanish parties, offices, instructions, ballot questions and now, candidates. It may require work, Diaz said, but its simple: Its just a matter of respect. Our names are tied to our identities, our culture, our ethnicity, and that makes it important, said Deja Lynn Alvarez. For someone to dismiss that in any form is disrespectful. Identity is a big thing in 2019. It plays a big part in who we are and what we do. Ken Trujillo, a former city solicitor, said growing up hearing his name mispronounced, he understands the importance of proper accentuation. The conversation shows an evolution in Latino politics in Philly, Trujillo said. He recalled Latino friends running for office 20 years ago hopeful the lack of an accent might help them. They hoped to confuse South Philly voters that they were Italian, Trujillo said. Now theres a push for accentuation, a flex of Latino political power. Candidates are increasingly courting the Latino vote, he said. The Latino vote is becoming a major difference-maker in elections. Outside of a few jokes, former Vice President Joe Biden largely avoided complaints from women during a speech to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Friday in Washington, D.C. Read more Former Vice President Joe Biden, speaking publicly for the first time since several women said his hands-on approach made them uncomfortable, cracked a joke about the complaints at the start of an event Friday. I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie, Biden said after embracing International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers president Lonnie Stephenson as he began a speech to IBEW workers in Washington. Later in the speech, the Delaware Democrat invited several children on stage and shook their hands. As they were leaving, the former vice president put his arm around a young boy and joked to the crowd, He gave me permission to touch him, all right? Everyone knows I like kids better than people," Biden added. Biden didnt otherwise address the womens claims of unwanted touching in the half-hour speech, instead talking about labor unions and the economy, and saying Wall Street exploits workers. Following the event, Biden was asked if he felt he owed the women who have come forward a direct apology. Im sorry I didnt understand more. Im not sorry for any of my intentions, Biden said. Ive never been disrespectful intentionally to a man or a woman. Thats not the reputation Ive had since I was in high school, for Gods sake. Biden also hinted at his widely expected 2020 presidential run, telling reporters he was close to making a decision. My intention from the beginning, if I were to run, would be to be the last person to announce. Give everybody else their day, then I get a shot, then off to the races, Biden said. Several women have objected to the affectionate and hands-on personal style that has become his trademark. Former Nevada lawmaker Lucy Flores accused Biden of inappropriately smelling her hair and kissing her on the back of her head in 2014. Caitlyn Caruso told the New York Times that Biden put his hand on her thigh and hugged her just a little bit too long during an event about sexual assault in 2016. Other women have come out in defense of Biden. Stephanie Carter, wife of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, said a viral photo of Biden whispering in her ear in 2015 was misleadingly extracted and taken out of context. Margaret Aitken, who served as Bidens press secretary for 10 years, wrote in an op-ed in the Wilmington News Journal that she never once saw anything that even came close to resembling something inappropriate. Ill always believe governing, and quite frankly, life, for that matter, is about connecting, is about connecting with people," Biden said in a video earlier this week. That wont change, but I will be more mindful, respectful of peoples personal space. And thats a good thing. I worked my whole life to empower women. I worked my whole life to prevent abuse. The video was quickly mocked on Twitter by President Donald Trump, who has been accused of various degrees of sexual misconduct and admitted to grabbing women without their consent on a now-famous Access Hollywood tape from 2005. On Friday morning, ahead of his trip to the southern border, Trump was asked by a reporter if he was the right messenger when it came to criticizing Biden. Yeah, I think Im a good messenger, Trump said, claiming people got a kick out of his Twitter post mocking Biden. "Hes going through a situation lets see what happens. Youve got to sort-of smile a little bit, right? READ MORE: As 2020 decision nears, Pa. insiders line up for Joe Biden READ MORE: As Biden mulls 2020 run, his Scranton hometown asks: Can his family go through all this? A construction crew works near the intersection of Broad Street and Girard Avenue, with City Hall in the distance. Experts expect more construction to occur on North Broad as a result of the new Opportunity Zones located along the corridor. Read more The stretch of Broad Street from Susquehanna to Allegheny Avenue is just one mile long approximately a dozen blocks of North Philadelphia asphalt punctuated by gas stations, fast-food drive-thrus, and crumbling homes. Its an expanse that Shalimar Thomas, executive director of the nonprofit The North Broad Renaissance, sees as one of the most troubled along Philadelphias major artery. Real estate investors and developers, however, may soon see it as one of the most promising. The corridor and the blocks that surround it is a small piece of the 300 Pennsylvania census tracts that were selected this year to be part of the Opportunity Zones program, a new federal initiative that gives investors lucrative tax breaks for backing real estate projects in low-income communities. Tucked last year into the tax bill that President Trump signed into law, the program while still being worked out has already been billed as a way to curtail inequality across America. In Philadelphia, where the poverty rate hovers around 26 percent, 82 census tracts were designated as part of the program with at least 19 directly abutting North Broad Street. The area, once known for the opulent mansions that lined the 100-foot-wide corridor, is now home to some of the deepest poverty rates and most violent crime in the city. The per-capita income of residents who live in census tracts near North Broad is estimated to be $15,183, with an unemployment rate of 14 percent. Compare that with the area around Society Hill and Old City, two of the citys wealthiest neighborhoods, where income levels top $100,000 and unemployment stands at 3.3 percent. The Opportunity Zone program aims to level the playing field for communities such as those that, like many nationwide, have experienced uneven economic recovery. While investors and developers have flocked to red-hot neighborhoods in Philadelphia and across the nation, other areas Rust Belt communities, rural swaths, and neighborhoods with large minority populations are still waiting for prosperity. By giving wealthy investors the chance to reduce their capital gains taxes by investing in opportunity zones, the idea is that economically depressed census tracts will get the cash infusions they need. Already in Philadelphia, developers, brokers, and officials say, there is unprecedented investment interest in some census tracts. Ryan McManus, a broker for Agent PHL, a Philadelphia company associated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, said his firm is now devoting almost half of [its] time on a daily basis to opportunity zone developments. Keith Burke, a real estate agent at MPN Realty Inc., said he recently has had bidding wars for North Broad Street parcels including one far north of Temple University that previously had minimal interest. Eric Blumenfeld, the developer who in December completed a renovation of the Metropolitan Opera House, recently swapped his plans for a North Broad strip mall with a high-rise tower full of apartments and commercial space. And Anne Fadullon, director of Planning and Development for the city, said Philadelphia officials are sitting down and having conversations with interested developers. I would not say the floodgates are opening, Fadullon said. ... But there is definitely activity. There are a lot of conversations happening around them. Local stakeholders and residents from low-income communities say the prospect of development is exciting and many are already forecasting how their communities could change. Many have envisioned new grocery stores, small businesses, and housing that longtime residents can afford. Everyone wants North Broad to be more of a job creator, Thomas, from the North Broad Renaissance, said. How can we make sure we attract the right jobs to the area? The only problem: There is no guarantee that Opportunity Zone development will directly improve the lives of neighborhood residents. There are no rules that say, You have to hire people from the local community.' There are no rules that say, If you build condos, you have to set aside a certain number of low-income units, " said Adam Looney, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. Its a big experiment, and I dont think we know what the answer is going to be until we see whats happening in these neighborhoods." The optimistic story is the one in which private capital flows in and builds new businesses, rehabilitates residential real estate, and improves the quality of the neighborhood in a way that creates more economic activity and that provides jobs for the local community, improves the safety of the neighborhood, and improves home values for local residents who own their property, Looney said. But there is clearly a potential for displacement. If investors come in and basically flip houses ... or local residents can no longer afford their rents, then its not clear that they would be better off. While the Opportunity Zone program was made law last year, investors, regulators, and local officials are still trying to figure out how the program will work. In October, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service finally released guidelines to better explain the tax-break regulations, but questions still loom. On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order creating a council with representatives from 13 federal agencies to oversee the program, aimed at streamlining federal programs to benefit the zones, in addition to collecting data to measure the programs results. (The October regulations from the Treasury Department, in short, allow investors to roll capital gains from other investments into Opportunity Funds, which developers can tap to build projects in opportunity zones. The taxes on those initial gains can be reduced depending on the amount of time that an investment is held. Separately, any gains from the opportunity zone investment itself can be avoided entirely if the investment is held for at least 10 years.) The federal government, however, has issued no guidelines thus far regulating the types of development that can occur in zones. Fadullon said the city can help shape some of that. We need to make sure that the investment is good for all of our residents, whether they are new or existing but particularly if they are existing, Fadullon said. So when we are sitting down ... with those developers, we want something in return or something out of this. Practically, Fadullon said, that will likely mean that when a developer seeks the citys or states help in getting a project off the ground whether that means they are buying city-owned land, seeking zoning approval, or asking for some kind of supplemental financing the city would try to negotiate a social impact piece of development in return. For different census tracts, that social impact component will mean different things, Fadullon said, but a developer could be asked to generate job creation, access to early education, or access to fresh food. Even if we are not involved, we would really like investors to take to heart the mission of this, which is to spur investment in these areas and to lift up these entire areas, including the residents, Fadullon said. ... But I think the reality is that a relatively large percentage of projects need something from us, so we can have a very intentional conversation about this. In Harrisburg, a spokesperson for the Department of Community and Economic Development said in an email that the state is exploring the effect that possible incentives and/or state policies" may have in enticing developers to build projects that will support longtime residents, on top of the state programs already in place to help low-income communities. As for North Broad, Thomas said she is scheduling a January meeting with existing and potential developers, during which she plans to pitch them on boosting Broad Street jobs. (The North Broad Renaissance, which Thomas leads, is a special service district" and provides improvement services, including cleaning and job creation.) If you decide to invest on North Broad, and that leads to commercial tenants, how do we work with you to help you get the right tenants [from our community] in place? Thomas said. The hope is that this can be a win-win. Thomas said a strong example of local job creation is Blumenfelds Met Opera House. The developer said this week that the project created roughly 400 jobs about half of which employed neighborhood residents. I think theres a formula out there where everybody thrives, Blumenfeld said. ... Honestly my hot button should be about making money, but its not. Its about creating positive change, and the most exhilarating thing that has happened in the last two years was when we were filling those lines around the corner creating jobs. *** (Updated) 250M Drone Order for Piaggio Aerospace Put on Hold The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. Germany Acts to Protect Naval Shipyards The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. Tanya, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, has been working at Tick Tock Early Learning Center for about 12 years. She, her husband, a construction worker, and three children, ages 11, 5, and 4, were struggling financially... Trofimov Leads the Way After Day 1 of PAPC Main Event; Crazy 100/100 PLO Cash Game Breaks Out April 04, 2019 Yori Epskamp The first day of the four-day Patrik Antonius Poker Challenge Main Event has wrapped up after eight levels of 60 minutes each. A total of 128 players showed up for the only starting day of the 1,500 buy-in tournament and about half the field made it through to Day 2. Leading the way is Dragos Trofimov, who became the only player to spin his 30,000 starting stack up to over 200k. The Moldovan pro bagged 220,700 and distanced himself already from the pack, as nearest challenger Ville Jantunen will be back with 158,000. Kasper Mellanen (152,300), Hassan Sey (142,600), and Joris Ruijs (132,200) rounded out the top 5. Plenty of notables showed up, including Patrik Antonius' friends such as David "Chino" Rheem (91,300), Robert Mizrachi (83,200), and Noah Boeken (25,900). High-Stakes PLO Cash Stream Antonius himself was kept occupied by a wild 100/100 PLO cash game with a 200 big blind ante that was live streamed throughout the night. It was one of those rare games that will likely have tons of crazy hands spreading across poker twitter in the upcoming days. As could be expected with a game including catalysts such as Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, Sampo Ryynanen, and Joni Jouhkimanen, action was kicked into high gear soon enough with the alcohol flowing freely. At the time of writing, Dan "Jungleman" Cates is the big winner with a stack of over 150,000, coming off a 30K starting stack. On Friday, a 100/200 No Limit Hold'em cash game will be live streamed as well from the Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn. Dan "Jungleman" Cates was splashing around in the 100/100/200 PLO Cash during the PAPC Main Event. Registration Still Open at Start of PAPC Main Event Day 2 The second day of the Main Event will commence at noon local time, and players will have one more level of 60 minutes before late registration is closed. The total prize pool and payouts will be announced once registration closes. Friday will also feature a player's party as well as the official launch of the anticipated First Land of Poker (FLOP) app. The seat draw for the second day can be found here. Keep following along with PokerNews for more exciting action out of Tallinn as the Patrik Antonius Poker Challenge rolls on. NATO Ministers Agree to Enhance Security in Black Sea Region The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. In February 2019, during a news conference at The Villages, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed importing Canadian prescription drugs to the state as a way to cut health care costs. While it is currently illegal to import unapproved prescription drugs into the United States, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the power to approve programs that would allow drugs to be imported from Canada. Last year, Vermont become the first state in the country to enact a prescription-drug importation law, but it is still in the process of developing its plan and it has not yet submitted an application to HHS to allow international importation. DeSantis Announcement According to DeSantis, a drug importation program would save Florida residents money in addition to saving the state millions of dollars on prescription drugs for prisoners. Once we get this in place, you as a citizen will have access to more affordable drugs, the governor said. The 2003 Medicare Modernization Act gave the HHS Secretary the authority to permit importation of prescription drugs from Canada if the agency certifies there is no health risk to the public and it will result in reductions in the costs of prescription drugs. So far, because of concerns over safety, no secretary has ever given such approval, a Congressional Research Service report noted last December. DeSantis is confident in his ability to get the job done, however, as he stated his reliance on his relationship with President Donald Trump, Im ready to act. I will continue to work with President Trump to make sure this process works. Florida House of Representatives The Health and Human Services Committee and Representative Tom Leek introduced House Bill 19 earlier this year. The bill would create programs for the purpose of safely importing cost-effective prescription drugs into state from Canada & other foreign nations under specified conditions and includes eligibility criteria for prescription drugs & program participants. The legislation also notes that implementation of International Prescription Drug Importation Program is contingent on federal arrangement or obtaining federal guidance. Representative Leek told committee lawmakers the proposal would shift cost savings to consumers, citing the high cost of prescription drugs nationwide. In response to some lawmakers questions that there were no specific price controls built into the bill, he acknowledged that whats built into this bill is the free market Its a simple economics philosophy that we know will work here. In a hearing held in the House, pharmacists and pharmaceutical officials questioned the proposal and how effectively and safely it would address what they agreed was a rapid rise in prescription drug costs. John Clark, a vice president and chief security officer for Pfizer, also raised concerns about the potential for counterfeit drugs, saying the pharmaceutical company had seen an increase in in its own drugs being copied over the years. On March 12, 2019, the legislation was voted to advance by the House Health Quality subcommittee. The legislation is likely to pass through the Florida House with no issues; but the Florida Senate is a different story. Florida Senate President Bill Galvano previously stated that the governors plan to allow the state to import drugs from Canada was something he was interested in exploring, but that he worried the portion that would allow individuals or private entities to receive imported drugs from abroad might run afoul of Congress jurisdiction. In addition to Florida, there are twelve state legislatures considering adoption of a similar program this year, though in order for any of them to go into effect, HHS would have to approve the program. 509 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard WASHINGTON (Reuters) The author of a deeply critical book about Donald Trumps first year in office said on Friday he had spoken with the president while working on it, contradicting Trumps assertion that he had never talked to the writer for the book and had authorized Zero access to the White House. Michael Wolffs book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House went on sale on Friday, its release pulled forward after published excerpts this week set off a political firestorm, threats by Trump lawyers of legal action and an effort to halt publication. The book, dismissed by Trump as full of lies, depicts a chaotic White House, a president who was ill-prepared to win the office in 2016, and Trump aides who scorned his abilities. Wolff told NBC on Friday that he stood by his reporting and had talked to the president for the book. I absolutely spoke to the president. Whether he realized it was an interview or not, I dont know, but it was certainly not off the record, he said on NBCs Today program, adding that he had spoken to people who spoke to Trump on a daily, sometimes minute by minute basis. Asked to clarify what he meant when he wrote that Trumps entire circle questioned his fitness for office, Wolff said, Let me put a marker in the sand here: 100 percent of the people around him They all say he is like a child. And what they mean by that is he has a need for immediate gratification. Its all about him. On Thursday evening, Trump tweeted that, I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that dont exist. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Trump added. The early excerpts have also caused a deep public rift with Trumps former chief strategist and top campaign aide, Steve Bannon, over his comments in the book about Trump and his family, shaking the presidents populist movement. Lawyers for Trump had called on the books publisher, Henry Holt & Co, to halt the books release, originally scheduled for Tuesday. Instead, it began sales early. As of Friday, Fire and Fury was the top-selling book on Amazon.com. Customers in Washington queued up in sub-freezing temperatures to purchase a copy at KramerBooks, which began selling copies at midnight. The bookstore had sold out of copies as of Friday morning at 9 am (1400 GMT). The White House has said the book is riddled with errors. Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, who has called the book trash, said again on Friday that Wolff had talked only briefly to the president and did not have wide access. This is a guy who made up a lot of stories to try to sell books, she said in an interview on Fox News. Charles Harder, Trumps personal lawyer, in a legal notice provided to Reuters, warned on Thursday of possible claims including libel against Wolff and Henry Holt & Co and threatened to try to block publication of the book. Harder also told Reuters that legal action is imminent against Bannon. Henry Holt said it had received a cease-and-desist letter from Trumps attorney but would go ahead with publishing the book. Bannons reaction to the controversy has been muted. In interviews after the news broke with the conservative Breitbart News website, he called Trump a great man and pledged continued support for the presidents agenda. (Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Susan Heavey and Frances Kerry) 1.8k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) The author of a book that is highly critical of Donald Trumps first year as U.S. president said his revelations were likely to bring an end to Trumps time in the White House. Michael Wolff told BBC radio that his conclusion in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House that Trump is not fit to do the job was becoming a widespread view. I think one of the interesting effects of the book so far is a very clear emperor-has-no-clothes effect, Wolff said in an interview broadcast on Saturday. The story that I have told seems to present this presidency in such a way that it says he cant do his job, Wolff said. Suddenly everywhere people are going oh my God, its true, he has no clothes. Thats the background to the perception and the understanding that will finally end this presidency. Trump has dismissed the book as full of lies. It depicts a chaotic White House, a president who was ill-prepared to win the office in 2016, and Trump aides who scorned his abilities. Trump took to Twitter late on Friday to renew his attacks on Wolff, and on his former top aide Steve Bannon who was quoted in the book. Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book, Trump said. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! Bannon, formerly Trumps chief strategist, is chairman of the so-called alt-right Breitbart News website In his interview with the BBC, Wolff was asked if he believed that Bannon felt Trump was unfit to serve as president and would try to bring him down. Yes, Wolff replied. He also hit back at claims that the book was untruthful. This is whats called reporting. This is how you do it. he said. You ask people, you get as close as you can to the event, you interview the people who were privy to the event, you interview other people who were privy to the event, you come to know the circumstance as well as anybody and then you report it. (Additional reporting by Brendan OBrien in Milwaukee; Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) By Rinat Sagdiev, Anton Zverev and Maria Tsvetkova MOSCOW (Reuters) Behind the perimeter of a defense ministry base in southern Russia stand three barrack buildings where two witnesses say they have seen private fighters being billeted before they are dispatched to fight in Syria for President Bashar al-Assad. Yet on paper, the barracks have nothing to do with the Russian defense ministry: court documents list them as a childrens vacation camp. And the construction of the buildings was commissioned by an obscure private company, Megalain, without the publicly available paper trail that is legally required for projects funded by public money. Megalain is a firm linked to Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has appeared on a U.S. sanctions blacklist for his dealings with the Russian defense ministry. Reuters was unable to establish Prigozhins role, if any, in the construction project and could not determine how Megalain was selected to build the facility or who paid for it. But the secrecy surrounding the purpose of the buildings erected on defense ministry land is an example of how companies involved in the covert campaign in Syria, where private fighters support Russias military, camouflage their activities. That military intervention has been decisive in turning the tide of the war in favor of Moscows ally, Assad. A significant part of the fighting is conducted by private military fighters who operate in coordination with the Russian defense ministry, dozens of people familiar with the deployment of Russian fighters to Syria have told Reuters. The barracks near the village of Molkino in southern Russia were a staging post for these fighters, according to one person close to them who stayed in the buildings, and a second person who visited the site. The person close to the fighters also said that a photograph shown to him by Reuters, which appeared on the website of one of the companies involved in the construction project, was of a building used by the fighters. Russian military officials did not respond to a request for comment on the purpose of the facilities in Molkino. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the presidential administration knows nothing about the construction of the barracks and that it was not our issue. Megalain did not respond to a written request for comment and there was no answer on any of the phone numbers listed for the firm. Concord Management and Consulting, Prigozhins main business, said questions submitted by Reuters have no relation to reality. We consider the agency itself to be a biased media outlet, it said. PRIVATE FIGHTERS AND DENIALS Reuters has documented over several years how private combatants are fighting and dying in Syria, and that they are using logistical support and infrastructure provided by the Russian defense ministry. Russian officials have previously denied that these fighters have any connection to the state. They have said any Russians fighting in Syria on the government side are private citizens who are there as volunteers. The buildings, completed in 2015, are on the territory of a Russian military intelligence base, and to gain access to it vehicles have to pass through a checkpoint manned by armed soldiers in defense ministry uniforms, Reuters reporters observed when they visited the site. The existence of the buildings is disclosed in court documents seen by Reuters which describe a legal dispute between Megalain and a contractor called Sevzapstroi involved in the construction. In its ruling, the court describes one of the buildings as a pioneer camp a reference to Soviet-era summer vacation camps for children and the other two buildings as temporary accommodation for the vacationers. It cites an agreement between Sevzapstroi and TD Vivahaus, a sub-contractor on the project, as the source of the descriptions. A manager from Vivahaus, a construction firm which court documents show was hired by Sevzapstroi to carry out some of the work, told Reuters it was required to fake the purpose of the buildings in official paperwork it filed relating to the project. We had an agreement with the client that wed write it would be a beautiful pioneer camp near the Black Sea, said the manager, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. He did not specify whether he was referring to his direct client Sevzapstroi or the ultimate client Megalain. According to the court documents, Megalain transferred 86 million rubles ($1.4 million at the time) to contractor Sevzapstroi to construct the three buildings at Molkino. Sevzapstroi has since ceased to exist and no one connected to the firm could be reached for comment. At the time of the payment, Megalain was 50 percent owned by a company called Lakhta and 50 percent held by Concord Management and Consulting, according to Spark database, which collates official data on businesses from the tax service and the state statistics agency. Concord Management and Consulting was majority-owned by Prigozhin from 2003-2011, according to the database. At the time of the transaction with the Molkino facility, Concord was owned by Prigozhins mother. She is not listed any more. From 2017, Prigozhin himself became the owner again, the database showed. The second Megalain co-owner, Lakhta, was founded in 2003 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who at the time was the sole owner, the database showed. Lakhta was owned from 2013 to 2018 by Svetlana Sobirova. She was sales manager of the Lakhta Park real estate project, which, according to Spark, is owned by Yevgeny Prigozhins wife, Lyubov. Reached by telephone, Sobirova said she no longer works for Lakhta Park and declined to comment further. An employee of Lakhta Park said he could not comment and the firm did not respond to a written request for comment. A manager for Vivahaus said on Thursday the firm could not comment because all the staff working in the company in 2015 had since left. Reuters received no response to requests for comment sent to Prigozhins wife and mother, via Concord. PICTURE OF BUILDING Prigozhin was put on a U.S. sanctions blacklist in 2016 for extensive business dealings with the Russian defense ministry. A U.S. federal grand jury last year indicted Prigozhin and 12 other Russians, alleging that he funded a conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Prigozhin has in the past told Russian media he was not worried about the U.S. measures against him because he has no business interests in the United States and does not plan to travel there. The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Treasury Department, which administers sanctions, did not respond to questions about Prigozhin. TD Vivahauss internet site, in a section showing off its portfolio of work to prospective clients, had a picture of a building exactly matching one of the structures in the court documents. The site said only that it was a residential building in Molkino, without giving details. Reuters showed the photograph to one of the two witnesses, a person close to the group that organizes the private combatants and who has stayed at the groups camp in Molkino. He told Reuters the building in the photograph was part of the camp used for the fighters. The second person visited the camp on two occasions last year when he was looking for information about his son, who left for Syria to fight with private combatants. Later the father learned that he had died. The father also had a friend working for military intelligence at the camp adjacent to the barrack buildings. The father described to Reuters the exact location of the facilities, and his description matched the location of the buildings paid for by Megalain. Childrens camp on a Russian military base: https://tmsnrt.rs/2I4cXHN (Editing by Christian Lowe and Mike Collett-White) 1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Democratic leaders on three committees in the House of Representatives reportedly asked Capital One to hand over documents related to the Trump Organization, his trust and other subsidiaries of his financial empire. According to Politico, the request was made on March 11 and it came from House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff. The report notes that Capital One was already preserving documents but needs a subpoena in order to comply. More from the report: In a March 21 response to the committee leaders, Capital One executive Brent M. Timberlake said the corporation is preserving the documents and materials, but could only turn over the information if the committees issue a subpoena. Given the confidentiality obligations we have as a financial institution, including under state and federal law, we respectfully request that any production of materials be made pursuant to a subpoena rather than an informal request, Timberlake wrote. In their letter to Capital One CEO Richard D. Fairbank, Cummings, Waters and Schiff said their request was related to their committees investigations centering on Trumps potential foreign conflicts of interest, compliance with the foreign and domestic Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, and any counterintelligence threats arising from links or coordination between U.S. persons and other foreign entities, including any financial or other compromise or leverage over the president and his business interests. They specifically named the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., as a focal point of their investigation. Democrats are about to bust Trumps financial cover-up All along, one of Donald Trumps biggest fears was that the American public would get a glimpse behind the curtain of his shady financial dealings. With Democrats in control of Congress, his fears may finally be realized as House committees do what Republicans refused to do for two years: Use their oversight responsibilities to dig into the presidents businesses. This week, the House Ways and Means committee fired the first shot in the battle to get Trumps tax returns. As even Fox News admits, the committee has the power to obtain and publicize the tax documents and Trump is basically powerless to stop them. The news that Capital One is seemingly cooperating with Democrats on a request to hand over documents related to his businesses is likely to anger Trump even further. The days of Donald Trump covering up his sketchy business dealings are over. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter 3.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Robert Muellers team is frustrated and speaking out because the Mueller report is said to contain compelling and alarming evidence on collusion and obstruction of justice. NBCs Ken Dilanian reported: He said that was a factor in his decision NBC news has not only confirmed these reports, but I think weve taken it a little further. There are members of Muellers team are frustrated that William Barr stepped in and cleared the president of obstruction when Robert Mueller didnt do that. It was unclear his intent that he didnt do that. The intent was to allow Congress and the public to make their own decision about the evidence. You know, Mueller didnt make a call, and he left the field clear for William Barr to come in there and pronounce there was no prosecutable case for obstruction we dont know to what extent Barr consulted with Robert Mueller about this decision. We are told that members of Muellers team are frustrated and as the post and the times are reporting, how Barr depicted the state of the evidence on obstruction theres compelling evidence once we see the report is. Were hearing from a separate U.S. Official that says the evidence on collusion while not establishing a criminal conspiracy is compelling. Some of it may be classified, to the extent we get to see it Muellers report talks about those contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia and whether the trump campaign was manipulated by a sophisticated Russian operation. Video: Robert Muellers team is frustrated and speaking out because the Mueller report is said to contain compelling and alarming evidence on collusion and obstruction of justice. https://t.co/rdjhePWrIq pic.twitter.com/czYt6l7qr8 PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) April 4, 2019 Trumps Mueller cover-up is crumbling The Mueller people are speaking out, and what has long been suspected is turning out to be true. Trump created a fantasy version of the Mueller report that totally exonerated him. The real Mueller report is likely loaded with damaging information that might be enough to launch Democrats toward the path of impeachment and even turn some Republicans against him. The report and the truth are going to come out. One way or another the American people will find out the truth. Trump is living on borrowed time, and his stall tactics are beginning to run out. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Jan Pytalski WASHINGTON (Reuters) Several hundred people gathered outside the White House and in New Yorks Times Square in small rallies organized by liberal advocacy groups demanding the release of Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on Russias role in the 2016 presidential election. U.S. Attorney General William Barr, who received the confidential report last month at the close of Muellers 22-month investigation, has said he intended to release a redacted version to Congress and the public by mid-April. But Barr did not meet a demand by Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide the unredacted report to lawmakers by April 2, prompting the liberal advocacy group MoveOn to press ahead with the rallies. The rallies were thinly attended, with about 250 people outside the White House and about 300 in New Yorks Times Square waving signs, singing and demanding the report, which is nearly 400 pages long excluding appendices. Release the report, release the report, the crowd chanted in Times Square. Were here because we care about small-d democracy, which this president has undermined at every turn, said Betsy Malcolm, a 63-year-old retired lawyer from Manhattan. We have a right to see the information in the Mueller report. In Washington, the crowd was addressed by U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who won a committee vote on Wednesday allowing him to subpoena the attorney general for the full report. The Constitution gives Congress the power to take the appropriate action to hold the president accountable, the Democrat said. To do our job we need the Mueller report. Barr, a Trump appointee, has made public what he described as the principal conclusions of Muellers report. Muellers team did not establish that Trump or his campaign conspired with Russia during the 2016 election, according to Barrs four-page summary, an accusation Trump and his associates have long denied. Mueller left unresolved in his report the question of whether Trump obstructed justice by impeding the Russia investigation. In his letter to Congress, Barr said he and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, had determined there was insufficient evidence to establish the president committed that offense. Russias government has denied interfering in the U.S. election. Barr told Congress in a letter last week that he must redact material presented to a grand jury, as required by law, as well as information that could reveal U.S. intelligence agencies sources and methods. Congressional Democrats have indicated they will fight those redactions in court if the subpoena is ignored. (Reporting by Jan Pytalski in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; Additional reporting by Barbara Goldberg; Writing by Jonathan Allen; editing by Frank McGurty, Jonathan Oatis and Richard Chang) Editors Note: Updating with additional information: dont forget about all the small corners of the country like here in Hyannis, on Cape Cod in MA which is rather red, despite Kennedy-influence. 50 people standing in the cold wind across the road from the airport. #ReleaseTheReport pic.twitter.com/HHvnbwKB0V Resisting PerSister (@51PercentofUS) April 5, 2019 Photos: 3.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trump is quickly becoming a laughingstock in Iowa following his claim that noise from windmills causes cancer. Iowas Republican Sen. Joni Ernst shot down the presidents claim on Thursday, calling it ridiculous. I have church bells that ring across from my office here in D.C., she said, according to an NBC News affiliate. I know that noise doesnt give me cancer, otherwise Im sure Id have church bell cancer. Trump made the bizarre claim earlier this week, adding that if you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations. Your house just went down 75 percent in value. During a recent rally in Michigan, Trump claimed that wind energy only works when its windy outside. If it doesnt blow, you can forget about television for that night, said the ignorant president. Iowas other GOP senator, Chuck Grassley, also lambasted Trump for his ignorance on alternative forms of energy, calling the suggestion that wind turbines cause cancer idiotic. I wish his staff would tell him Im the father and now the grandfather of wind energy tax credits, Grassley said, according to Politico. I dont think he knows it, or I dont think hed make those comments that arent quite appropriate. To make matters worse for Trump, Iowas Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and business leaders in the state announced Thursday two days after the presidents comments that they plan to further expand wind energy in the state. Trump is becoming a laughingstock in Iowa The majority of the country has long thought Donald Trump is unfit to be president. He has no grasp of the issues something he seems proud of and he has repeatedly demonstrated that he is temperamentally unstable. But it should give the president pause that even Republican leaders in Iowa a state he carried by 10 points in 2016 are speaking out against his ignorance. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter 246 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard (Reuters) Racist graffiti was painted in the parking lot of a Tennessee social justice center that hosted giants of the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, it said on Tuesday. The Highlander Research and Education Center, whose main office burned down last week, was home to innumerable documents, recorded speeches and artifacts from the movement that were lost in the fire, it said on its website. It described the graffiti only as a white power symbol painted on the parking lot. While we do not know the names of the culprits, we know that the white power movement has been increasing and consolidating power across the south, the center said in a statement on Tuesday. Now is the time to be vigilant. Fridays fire was less than a week after another fire police say was race-driven arson at a Southern California mosque, where racist graffiti was left in the parking lot. No one was injured in either fire. The Jefferson county sheriffs office is investigating the Highlander Center fire as a possible crime, broadcaster NBC and other media have said. A sheriffs spokesperson was not immediately available to comment to Reuters early on Wednesday. The Highlander Center helped organize the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycotts of 1955 that were among the first major civil rights protests of the movement in the United States. Protesters, mostly black residents, refused to ride city buses in a bid to defy racial segregation, after Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person. The center also helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a youth movement that worked with Martin Luther King Jr.s efforts to ensure voting rights and social justice for minorities, it said on its website. (This version corrects centers name to Highlander throughout, deletes incorrectly described quote, paragraph 9) (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) 108 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard In a major policy speech, Senator Elizabeth Warren is calling to end the Senate filibuster. She is the first major presidential candidate to endorse ending the Senates historic rule which requires 60 votes to pass legislation. Elizabeth Warren is calling to end the legislative filibuster, the first major presidential candidate to explicitly endorse ending the Senate's longstanding 60-vote threshold https://t.co/gIRTGr8Ods POLITICO (@politico) April 5, 2019 Warren made her announcement at the National Action Network today. It came just two days after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell used the nuclear option to reduce debate time of presidential nominees. This allowed Republicans to railroad through huge numbers of conservative judicial picks made by Donald Trump. Now, according to Senator Warren, its time for Democrats to fight back. Im not running for President just to talk about making real, structural change. Im serious about getting it done. And part of getting it done means waking up to the reality of the United States Senate, Warren said, before adding: So let me be as clear as I can. When Democrats next have power, we should be bold and clear: were done with two sets of rules one for the Republicans and one for the Democrats. That means when Democrats have the White House again, if Mitch McConnell tries to do what he did to President Obama, and puts small-minded partisanship ahead of solving the massive problems facing this country, then we should get rid of the filibuster. Warren said before that eliminating the Senate filibuster should be a topic of discussion. She wants to have a debate in the 2020 presidential campaign about whether to keep it or not. But with Democrats like Warren talking about big ideas like the Green New Deal, Medicare for All and new tax plans, its become more and more clear that a minority of GOP senators could stop them, even if Democrats sweep the 2020 election, taking the House, the Senate and the presidency. Republicans have this power because theres no way for Democrats to put together 60 seats in next years elections. This has led progressive groups to more realistically strategize about how they might be able pass an agenda over the resistance of Senate Republicans. Historically, conservatives have used the filibuster to stop cap and trade legislation and gun control, while liberals blocked new abortion legislation from Republicans as recently as last Congress with the filibuster. For generations, the filibuster was used as a tool to block progress on racial justice. And in recent years, its been used by the far right as a tool to block progress on everything, Warren said. Ive only served one term in the Senate but Ive seen whats happening. We all saw what they did to President Obama. Ive watched Republicans abuse the rules when theyre out of power, then turn around and blow off the rules when theyre in power. Other presidential candidates have not supported Warrens position. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dont want to change the filibuster. But Warrens endorsement today of ending the filibuster in the Senate will be sure to add it to the debate in the 2020 presidential campaign. Boeing, Ethiopian Air Respond to Interim Accident Report The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 20%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. 632 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Attorneys for Michael Cohen have given documents to Congress which accuse Donald Trump and his team of lawyers of directing Cohen to lie to Congress about when negotiations ended for a major real estate deal in Moscow. The new information, reported today in Buzzfeed News, adds another layer to the Cohen controversy and makes it more likely that Trump may be charged with committing a crime. According to Buzzfeed, there was a memo sent to top House Democrats setting forth the allegations, and offering proof. They now want the House committees to further investigate Trump and use the information in possibly bringing charges against him. The document submitted to Congress states that Trump encouraged Cohen to lie and say all Moscow Tower project contacts ended as of January 31, 2016 using code language telling Cohen during various conversations that there was no collusion, no Russian contacts, nothing about Russia after the start of the campaign. The memo also deals with significant issues that have been at the heart of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation. As Mueller looked into coordination between the Russian government and individuals in Trumps campaign, Cohen believes he now has something important to add. Even though Muellers probe is over, House Democrats will be continuing their own investigation. Attorney General William Barr wrote a letter saying that the Mueller report did not find that the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. Of course, nobody has seen the Mueller report except Barr, and he could be lying, or telling only part of the truth. Cohens memo included over 100 pages of supporting documents. It says that the former Trump personal attorney will lay bare a conspiracy to collude with the Russian government during the campaign. Cohen also says he can provide proof of other crimes committed by the president. Cohens memo seems to confirm earlier reporting from BuzzFeed News which said that Cohen had told investigators Trump had directed him to lie about the timing of real estate negotiations in Moscow. In January, BuzzFeed News reported that Cohen had described being instructed by the president to say the project was terminated long before Trump became the frontrunner in the Republican primary. In response to the story at that time some Democrats in Congress demanded Trumps impeachment. A few hours after BuzzFeeds report, a spokesperson for Muellers office stated, BuzzFeeds description of specific statements to the Special Counsels Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohens Congressional testimony are not accurate. Although BuzzFeed was accused of faulty reporting, they never backed down or withdrew their original article, saying the information had been confirmed by reliable sources. The new memo from Cohens attorneys says that Trump encouraged him to lie to Congress, alleging the president suborned perjury while in office. This Could Finally Be the Smoking Gun Which Provides Irrefutable Evidence of Trumps Crimes Michael Cohen has been saying all along that Trump committed crimes, and he should be going to prison also. Many people agree. If Cohen was found guilty of committing crimes which Donald Trump told him to commit, then Donald Trump is just as guilty as Cohen. The only reason Trump has not been indicted, arrested, and brought to trial, is because he happens to be President of the United States. We dont now why the information proving Trumps crimes in Cohens memo is coming out now. But as this story develops we will find out a lot more details. And we also will find out if there is enough evidence here to finally bring down the president. 601 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard MSNBCs Joe Scarborough opened his show today with a blistering attack on Donald Trump and how his 2016 campaign was manipulated by Vladimir Putin and Russian intelligence agents. Speaking with a great deal of anger and passion, the Morning Joe co-host pointed out how Attorney General William Barr had let down the American people by issuing a misleading non-summary summary of Bob Muellers report. The lawyer and former congressman said that even if Trump didnt commit the crime of conspiracy (or collusion), if he was compromised and infiltrated by Russian intelligence, then America needs to know that. And the only way we can know that is for us to see the full Mueller report. But Barr has been working for Donald Trump and not the American people. Scarborough pointed out that Trump has always wanted a Roy Cohn, type of lawyer who put his personal interests ahead of the interests of the country. And Barr is doing just that. But according to the Morning Joe host: There are far more important standards than just legal standards. There is a standard of what is best for the public interest. There are standards that involve what the public mass a right to know. If the president coordinated with Russia, it could be legal. It could be morally wrong, but more important than that, it could be dangerous. We Americans . . . are you listening, Mr. Attorney general? Are you listening, Mitch McConnell? We Americans have a right to know if our president was compromised in any way and we have a right to know the nature of the relationship between the government of Russia and oligarchs outside of Russia and attorneys connected with the Russian government and our and just because it doesnt reach a certain legal threshold does not mean for one moment that every single American has a right to see that report. Scarboroughs comments came the day after it was reported that members of the special counsels team have been publicly expressing significant concerns that Barrs short, poorly-written summary did not accurately represent the report, which is 400 pages long and represents nearly two years of intensive investigative work. Several media outlets, including NBC News, the New York Times and the Washington Post all published reports from anonymous sources which say that the full Mueller Report contains a great deal of strong evidence that there was a conspiracy to collude with Russian election interference efforts. They say it also contains evidence of obstruction of justice by the president. Scarborough has joined the chorus of influential Americans who are now demanding that the full Mueller Report be released. Even Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted I support release of the Mueller report I support release of the Mueller report ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 4, 2019 There is nowhere left to hide for either Bill Barr of Donald Trump. The full Mueller report must be released. The full Mueller report WILL be released. And when it is, we will learn the truth about how Donald Trump betrayed his country and how his attorney general betrayed the American people. CLICK HERE to see the Morning Joe video, courtesy of MSNBC. 763 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Its happening again. The media is paving the way for Donald Trump to win 2020 with lazy, or perhaps purposeful, false equivalencies aimed at the top Democratic possible for 2020. As they embrace Mark Halperins apology tour after he was accused by multiple women of things like putting his penis on their shoulder, grabbing their breast, and trapping them in a bathroom, theyre snarking on Joe Bidens heartfelt video apology for hugging people who might not want to be hugged. I spoke with a trauma therapist about this topic who said that the way this is being covered in the media is serving to minimize the impact of sexual trauma. This has led the far left and right into a frenzy of PizzaGate accusations against Joe Biden, because you see, the people who support Bernie Sanders, even after he wrote about typical fantasies abused women and had a campaign full of sexual harassers and at least one assaulter, and people who support the p*ssy grabber in chief and many others are trying to co-opt the MeToo movement to propel their candidates ahead of the guy who is polling ahead of theirs, and he hasnt even announced yet. They tell people to google creepy Joe to drive the Google results so that this will be the first thing people see, and now theyre mentioning vague videos theyve seen of Joe being creepy around kids. So, yeah, theyre not afraid of a little Russian Redux. Whatever wins, even if it hurts the womens movement, even if it hurts MeToo, even if it conflates dangerous, violent sexual assault with a hug someone didnt want. And the voices defending safe touch are drowning out sexual abuse survivors, in order to take down the guy who co-authored the original Violence Against Women Act. You know, back when no one cared about women. Pundits are breathlessly recounting the times Joe Biden has made someone uncomfortable. super glad #mitchellreports has plenty of time to cover every detail of allegations of "discomfort" that are speculative while never mentioning the details of 23 women who say #feralhitler sexually molested them. #ReleaseTheReport NichtMeinFuhrer (@TheRiverWanders) April 3, 2019 In the spirit of a hot take hit job, they are even speaking for a young girl whose parents say Biden is like her grandfather and women who say that was not their experience with Biden at all. Stephanie Carters photo has been used by pundits, comedians, and more as an example of Bidens bad behavior. She writes in Medium, By the time then-Vice President Biden had arrived, he could sense I was uncharacteristically nervous- and quickly gave me a hug. After the swearing in, as Ash was giving remarks, he leaned in to tell me thank you for letting him do this and kept his hands on my shoulders as a means of offering his support. But a still shot taken from a video misleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends sent out in a snarky tweet came to be the lasting image of that day. AFTER she wrote that, Trump used a still from Biden comforting her in a video mocking Biden for touching women. So the actual woman being used as the prime example of this problem does not matter. Want to guess how many people called Trump out for being a predator in the face of HairGate, or even bothered to go through the countless women who say he groped them, assaulted them, spied on them, threatened them, or raped them? No, you really dont. Because the media was silent. A deafening silence that trickled down into a general sense in the public that Biden is the same as Trump. This is feeding into the idea that the MeToo movement was really always about a womans preference to not be touched. Its feeding into the notion that MeToo is extremist and reactionary, instead of the horrific truth that actually, every 92 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. One out of every six women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape. ONE OUT OF SIX. This matters. And no, personal touch preference doesnt get to suck all of the air out of the room and false equivalence its way to the top of the line to make room for men who have actually committed acts of violence against women or have written about dreaming about doing so. Those people being sexually assaulted will often suffer their entire lives, with depression, suicide, PTSD, inability to be intimate, sleeplessness and more. So its a BFD and it should never be minimized or conflated with not wanting someone to touch your shoulders, which is a legitimate preference that deserves respect but NOT THE SAME THING AT ALL as sexual assault. Yelling over sexual assault victims and using the MeToo movement to make it all about defending candidates who have their own problematic history of misogyny and actual assault against women is the be all end all of using women. Hair smelling shouldnt be conflated with someone who touches people like George H.W. Bush did, and he didnt have the motives of harming women. He was simply out of the current times. It wasnt okay but it also was not the same thing. What the media is missing is a predator is someone who takes pleasure hurting his victim. A monster who abuses her when she speaks up finally, who uses all of his power to silence her and intimidate her like our president. Why the desperation to recount and even invent problems with Biden, when so many of these same folks didnt want to hear from Donald Trumps twenty plus accusers and certainly arent spending time recounting their accusations? In the rush to make a story out of this and even make more hay out of it than was made of the now Presidents caught on tape confession to routinely sexually assaulting women, people are using women and speaking for them, like you do when youre a fake, raggedy ally of systemically disempowered survivors of sexual violence. No, sniffing hair as Joe Biden is accused of by Lucy Flores is not sexual harassment. Yes, everyones preferences for touch should be respected, but that is A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. It applies to everyone. We want our children to grow up having bodily autonomy. Yes, yes, yes. But that is not sexual assault or harassment. Bodily autonomy empowers us to move away, to say I prefer not to be hugged. It helps teach our children not to be prey. Flores herself acknowledged this by writing that Biden did nothing illegal but she wanted to have a conversation. She deserves to be heard and to be believed. But the media has turned her conversation into conflation with sexual harassment and assault, and then turned into calls for Biden not to run. Even hardcore, right wing Townhall sees this as what it is a knee jerk reaction taking out the guy that most political experts know can beat Trump. Biden, the guy who brought us the Violence Against Womens Act. Biden, the guy who clearly loves his family and respects his wife. Does he have something to learn about the MeToo era? Yes. But people have made montages of him hugging and holding women (like every politician does), and theyve tried to make Creepy Biden happen. This comes across a lot like when conservatives try to convince black people to vote Republican because they are still being discriminated against. Only people whove never been sexually assaulted or harassed could equate publicly smelling hair as sole transgression with either of the aforementioned horrors. Having our hair smelled in public is not what has driven the women of this country into fitful rage. That doesnt mean its appropriate, but it is not on par with grabbing them by the p*ssy and it does NOT belong in the same conversation. We are angry because as Anita Hills experience detailed so perfectly, sex is weaponized in the work place and used against us at every turn. We are angry because for years no one took this as seriously as we deserved, including in part, at that time, Joe Biden. But the very people trying to make Bidens (bad) choices during Anita Hills testimony against Clarence Thomas into a current political hit job were also along for the ride of treating women at work like objects. So this is not the political win with women that they think it is. Its insulting, as if we dont know that EVERYONE turned their backs on our humanity and now they want to ride on our backs to victory. We are angry because we kept all of this inside for years, only to finally be empowered by the MeToo movement, and now its being co-opted by people with an agenda to use our voices, our pain, for political gain. As if we havent been used enough. The rule is, you ask the people who actually experienced x to discuss x. Minimizing sexual harassment and assault like this is usually done by people who have a motivation to do so. But no matter the reason or intention, the result is it helps to enable sexual predators. Co-opting a movement to raise awareness about violence against women to make touch preferences the most important issue, the one that deserves to override every other issue, is not an act that will help empower MeToo. It does the opposite. It is easy to mock, it is everything conservatives accused it of being, and it false equivalences being hugged when you didnt want it with being violently raped at work or having your breasts grabbed by your boss. The oppression is coming from inside the house this time. Note: This is not about Lucy Flores. Please dont go on a witch hunt against her. She is entitled to her feelings and to speak about her comfort level. She deserves that respect. It is about the general rush to conflate and thus minimize what she said with sexual harassment and assault. 1.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Because the press wont help him sell his propaganda disguised as MAGA, Trump tweeted that the free press is the enemy of the people. Trump loves to toss around the enemy of the people phrase, but in this tweet he was specific as to why the press is his enemy: The press is doing everything within their power to fight the magnificence of the phrase, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! They cant stand the fact that this Administration has done more than virtually any other Administration in its first 2yrs. They are truly the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019 The free press wont unquestioningly push Trumps lies as truth, so they are the enemy Trump believes that the role of the press is to dutifully write down or broadcast every statement that he makes as the truth. The press is to never question or fact check him. Trump doesnt want any checks on his statements. It has long been this White Houses goal, according to Kellyanne Conway to control the information that is presented to the American people as news. Trump is beyond spin or narrative control. He wants to shape the information that is presented to the American people so that it is always favorable to him. When viewed in this context, it is easy to see the intention of what Trump was doing with William Barrs memo on the Mueller report. Trump was trying to present a Barr memo as the only information that the public would be given on the Mueller report. The press isnt pushing his propaganda, so instead of trying to tell the truth, Donald Trump has labeled the free press as the enemy of the people. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. You are the owner of this article. A lot of doors could be opening with the launch of the luxury home-selling season as Charleston-area agents believe early interest will translate into upbeat sales. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District is drilling a test well for groundwater desalination. (Union-Tribune file photo) Construction starts this month on a $1.5 million test well to show whether desalinated groundwater could supplement the drinking water supply for 86,000 customers of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District. The district serves parts of Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Diego, San Marcos, Solana Beach and neighboring communities, and relies almost entirely on water imported from the Colorado River and Northern California. Like agencies throughout Southern California, its looking for ways to diversify its water supply. Drilling will begin in about two weeks on a 120-foot-deep well in the San Dieguito River watershed, water district officials said. Beginning around May, the well will be pumped for a year or longer at different rates to determine its effects on the water levels and quality in nearby existing wells on private property within the aquifer. The district would have to produce at least 1 million gallons of water per day for the project to work, which probably would require a minimum of two wells. Feasibility studies show the project could be cost-competitive with other water sources and that it would have no negative effects on other wells or the environment, district General Manager Joey Randall said in a recent presentation to the Del Mar City Council. Groundwater was pumped heavily for agricultural irrigation through the 1970s in the area and some of those wells remain in use, Randall said. Construction of the complete desalinization project, should the pilot well prove successful, would cost about $30 million, he said. That would include the wells, water filtration equipment and pipes linking to the water supply and for the concentrated brine removal. Most of the money is expected to come from government grants. Groundwater desalinization is rare in Southern California, but the Oceanside municipal water district has been doing it for 20 years. Oceanside announced earlier this year it will receive a $2.6 million grant to add two more wells, that will bring the citys total to 10, all in the Mission Basin aquifer near the citys airport along the San Luis Rey River. With the additional wells, the city expects to get about 15 percent of its water from the Mission Basin aquifer. Pushed by the increasing cost of imported water, agencies throughout the region also are increasing their reliance on recycled water. Phil Diehl is a reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. A bill in the SC Senate would make it more likely that background checks could prevent criminals from purchasing guns, as Dylann Roof did before slaughtering nine parishioners in 2005 at Emanuel AME Church. 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. 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. 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. WASHINGTON The hurdles for a government-run, single-payer health care system are amplified at the state level, where universal coverage ambitions are hampered by politics, costs and federal restrictions. These realities ultimately undercut efforts in two of the nations most liberal states Vermont, which ended its attempts to institute a single-payer system in 2014, and California, which is expected to fall short again this year. One major reason is cost. Its politically difficult to sell the public on massive tax increases to pay for shifting coverage costs to the government, and experts disagree on whether such a system is financially sustainable. Another barrier to a true state-run, single-payer system is federal law, such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, which regulates self-funded insurance plans like those offered by large employers. States have little sway over those plans. Trish Riley, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, says that ERISA stands for "every roadblock for innovative state action." "At the core of this issue is how costly the health care system is," Riley said. "Unless and until we can figure out the cost issues, and unless and until we can figure out the ERISA issues, a state has not a lot of options." Under the law? William Hsiao, a Harvard University economics professor who designed Vermonts original plan, said its possible to design a single-payer system without violating federal law. Hsiao consulted a number of legal scholars who believe that a state could establish a single-payer system by regulating organizations other than the health care plan itself, such as rates or fees that medical providers or insurance plan administrators charge. But the final proposal championed by Peter Shumlin, Vermonts Democratic governor at the time, left self-insured plans and Medicare untouched. Shumlins version also deviated from Hsiaos plan by initially withholding tax increases to finance the system over concerns they could tank the proposal politically. Gubernatorial terms last just two years in Vermont, so Shumlin had political calculations to consider for himself as well. In 2014, he failed to capture more than 50 percent of the vote, which sent the decision about who would be governor to the General Assembly. The legislature confirmed him in January 2015, after Shumlin announced in December he would abandon the push for single-payer health care. The bungled rollout of Vermonts state health insurance exchange under the federal health care law in late 2013 and early 2014 had further destroyed trust in the governments ability to implement a single-payer system. Problem: money Shumlin said in a discussion at Harvard in 2017 that an 11.5 percent payroll tax and 9.5 percent income tax that would have been needed to finance the system were too high. The state would have needed to build up reserves, just as insurance companies do. The final bill was too much for the state to bear, he said. "The biggest problem was money," Shumlin said at Harvard. And he couldnt promise lawmakers that they wouldnt need to hike taxes again later to accommodate rising health care costs. "I couldnt with a straight face turn to them and say, no, weve got this figured out," he said. "Theres going to be so much cost containment immediately." Shumlin was out of the country and unavailable to comment for this story. Hsiao dismissed Shumlins financial concerns, instead placing the blame on the political factors at play. "To me, its an accident of history," Hsiao said. Hsiao, who has worked on single-payer systems around the world, said he has declined a number of opportunities to design programs for other state governments since then, citing politics and industry opposition as insurmountable roadblocks. Vermonts proposal would have used a public-private partnership to run the program, which helped temper industry backlash, but Hsiao said the resistance often can be powerful. "The private insurance companies and pharma really mobilize and oppose you," he said. Similar struggles have played out several times in California. In 1994, voters rejected a state ballot measure to implement a single-payer system. The following decade, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed two single-payer bills in 2006 and 2008. Advocates maintain that the country as a whole is already spending the amount needed to finance a government-run system. A single-payer bill moving through Californias legislature last year was estimated to cost $400 billion, the same amount spent on health care in the state in 2017. "The cost is there. Its just currently being shared by multiple payers," said Andrew Bindman, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and a former congressional aide who helped write the 2010 health care law, known as the Affordable Care Act. "The issue is, is there a means by which to redirect the money to a public pool to give the state the money it needs?" But Robert Graboyes, a senior research fellow with the Mercatus Center, a libertarian think tank, disagreed that the money could simply be shifted to the public side of the equation because the necessary tax increases would upend the system. Thats because states would likely move from a largely flat-rate system, where everyone pays the same amount for a certain insurance plan regardless of income, to an income-based scale that would create "massive inefficiencies" through decreased work incentives resulting from higher taxes, he said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to expand coverage to undocumented immigrant youth up to the age of 26, while a plan from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio would extend the citys public option to all New Yorkers, including undocumented immigrants. But those Democratic initiatives fall short in the eyes of true single-payer advocates like Hsiao. Any overhaul should show the public that it will save the nation money, he said. "Thats the appeal," he said. "A public option does not do that. The Affordable Care Act doesnt do that." Still, Hsiao said he is considerably more optimistic about lawmakers passing a single-payer bill at the national level within the next decade, although he predicts it will be considerably less generous than what progressive Democrats are currently proposing. "When the American public acknowledges we have a broken system, then public support will ask, what will be a better system, rather than putting a Band-Aid on whatever wound we have?" he said. "Our problem is not a cut here or a bruise there. Its a fundamental system weakness." Kristen Hansen , a 2016 John Marshall High School graduate, has recently been named a Peace Scholar, a program which is an offshoot of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. A junior with a major in women and gender studies and minors in English and Africana Studies at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Hansen is currently spending her spring semester studying abroad in Rabat, Morocco. In addition to learning Arabic, she is also studying multiculturalism and human rights and researching "neocolonialism within the NGO sphere in Morocco." As a Peace Scholar, Hansen will spend six weeks this summer in Norway with other students engaging in dialogue and the study of war, conflict and peace. She was drawn to the program as few opportunities of this nature are available for undergraduate students. Additionally, she is eager to work with Dr. Steinar Bryn at the Nansen Dialogue Center. "He has done amazing work in the Balkans, and I want to learn from someone who has experience invoking real, sustainable change within societies in conflict," Hansen said. Luther College is currently becoming a "Sustained Dialogue campus," which, as Hansen explained, "Luther is working towards a system of nonjudgmental listening to different perspectives. I want to be involved with this program to help current and future students have a supportive and accepting undergraduate experience." Hansen already has certifications in Restorative Justice facilitation and has worked in small group conflict resolution. When she returns to campus in the fall, Hansens resume in the areas of peace and conflict will be even stronger. She said, "I want to use my new skills as a tool to open new spaces for dialogue amongst the Luther community." The physician is a musician While Dr. Beth Hillebrandis currently completing her family medicine residency training at Mayo Clinic, medicine is not her only career. Perhaps you saw her last month as a vocalist performing with the Rochester Symphony. Hillebrand, who hails from Wisconsin, grew up surrounded by "amateur" music. Her parents sang and played instruments, so it was no surprise when Beth took piano, guitar and clarinet lessons. Middle school found her singing in the school musical. A high school science teacher receives credit for "fostering my love of the natural world," she said. As an undergraduate at Lawrence University, she majored in biology and voice performance. Hillebrand then went on to New York to perform, continue music training, and earn a degree in marine environmental science. She said, "During my graduate school years, I was a terrible voice student, rarely practiced, but it was the best thing for me because it allowed my voice to heal." Between studying and performances, Hillebrand recalled a college friend who performed with the Philadelphia Philharmonic and then went on to become a radiation oncologist. "I said to myself, whenever Im ready to move from singing, I want to do that. I learned through my singing a supreme empathy for my patients and was honored to transition to medicine." Beth has been thrilled to perform here in Rochester, whether she is singing with the Rochester Symphony, the Mayo Chamber Orchestra, or in the Gonda Atrium. And she has found the balance in music and medicine, saying, "If Ive got my head in my books or lost in a patients case and getting overwhelmed or cranky, a bit of vocalizing works wonders to bring me back to my center." Del Mar Union School District students have been racing laps and raising unprecedented funds at school jogathons to support specialists in STEAM + curriculum that includes the subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts, music, PE and more. DMSEF President Samantha Madhosingh and daughter Sofia. Courtesy Sycamore Ridge, Del Mar Hills, Torrey Hills, Del Mar Heights, Carmel Del Mar all reached their fundraising goals. Sage Canyon Schools jogathon raised over $152,000 while Ocean Air raised over $115,000. DMSEF has never raised over $100,000 during any jogathon so this is historic for us, said Samantha Madhosingh, president of DMSEF. We are hoping to raise more than $600,000 from the eight jogathons at all schools. One jogathon remains at Ashley Falls School on April 26. Madhosingh said she is really proud of the tireless efforts of volunteers to put on these jogathon events, which have all been a bit unique at every school site. While our fundraising efforts have been amazing this jogathon season, we still have a lot more money to raise to get to our $1.8 million goal for STEAM+ credentialed specialists at all eight schools next year. Torrey Hills DMSEF director Aracely Forrester with her family. Courtesy Argentina's China-revived beef trade looks to The East Chinese consumers ate 12% of Argentina's 2018 beef output and a free-market government made cattle farming profitable for the first time in decades. Trade agreements with high-quality beef buyers are the next step. An eFeedLink Hot Topic Has Argentina's once world-leading beef cattle sector finally shaken off its fifty-year sickness? Partly due to free-market reforms, partly due to China and helped by a coincident trade war, the prospects for a sustained, export-driven Argentine beef revival have not looked this good since the mid-20th century. From 2015 through 2019 inclusive, export volumes will have tripled. From number 15 in the world beef export rankings five years ago, Argentina may overtake New Zealand to become the world's fifth largest beef supplier this year. Last year, high Chinese demand boosted both beef export prices and cattle slaughter rates. The latter increased a whopping 6.4% or 800,000 head, from a USDA estimated 12.6 million head in 2017 to 13.4 million in 2018. This more than ate up an otherwise healthy 3.5%, 500,000 head increase in calf production, from 14.2 million head in 2017 to 14.7 million last year. As a result, cattle inventories will stay constant, closing 2019 at the same 53.815 million head level that they started the year, with slaughter falling back 0.7%, to 13.3 million head. As a result, after rising 7.2% in 2017 to 2.84 million tonnes and 7.4% to 3.05 million tonnes last year, 2019 will see beef production level off, falling back a marginal 0.7%, to 3.0 million tonnes. The 50,000-tonne drop in output will be more than offset by a 3% 127,000 drop in domestic consumption, to 2.415 million tonnes With harsh economic conditions making consumption fall by 77,000 tonnes more than production does, exports will rise a steep 15.2%, to 585,000 tonnes. It will be Argentina's highest beef export volume since 2009. It reminds one of Argentine beef's glory days back in the late 1960s to late 1970s when it would export anywhere from 500,000 to 750,000 tonnes of beef annually and a quarter of its production but there's a big difference now. While the proportion of beef production exported has tripled from 6.8% in 2015 to a USDA 19.2% this year, Argentina's share of world beef trade has risen from 2.9% to 5.4% over this time. But that's a far cry from the 24% to 38% of world beef exports Argentina accounted for in the 1960s or even the 10% it accounted for in 2005. Moreover, Argentina has had temporary sharp export 'revivals' before; the most recent being from 2001 through 2005, when they jumped 349% over four years to peak at 754,000 tonnes in 2005. On one hand, as was the case during those previous upturns in Argentina's export trade, a severe recession caused domestic consumption to drop, making more beef available for export. On the other hand, a quick look at the accompanying graph confirms that this ongoing upturn is not based on falling domestic beef consumption alone: The past three years have seen consumption fall 3.3%. This is compared to a 7.1% fall in the early 2000s when exports boomed, or a 16% fall in domestic consumption from 2009 through 2011, when exports and consumption both fell. Maurizio Macri is the first Argentine president elected in nearly a century that was neither a leftist radical nor from the Peronist political party. The USDA noted that for decades prior to Macri's December 2015 election to the presidency "Adverse conditions/policies lowered investment and provided little incentive for the export of higher-quality cuts." Macri's economic liberalization policies included the abolition of both export taxes and quotas on Argentine beef exports. In combination with the peso's subsequent devaluation, this made Argentine beef more competitive than before while boosting beef cattle farming returns. The three years that followed Macri's liberalization of Argentine beef cattle farming featured skyrocketing Chinese beef demand, a contraction in the volume of exportable beef available from Australia and India and China's imposition of heavy import tariffs on US beef. This combination of stimulative supply-side policies and strong foreign demand is profoundly turning around Argentina's beef cattle sector. From 2000 through 2015 inclusive, production stagnated, falling at an average -0.4% annual rate over these years. Based on USDA statistics, even after this year's lower beef production, the years 2016 through 2019 saw beef output increase an average of 4.2% annually. Exports have fared even better: After falling at -4.2% annual rate for the first fifteen years of this century, beef exports will have increased by an average of 39.4% annually from the start of 2016 through the end of 2019 inclusive. For 2018, initial expectations of approximately 470,000 tonnes gave way to a finalized USDA export figure of 508,000 tonnes. No country has done more to bring Argentina's beef trade back to life than China. In May 2018, China further liberalized its Argentine beef trade, allowing the importation of frozen, boned beef and chilled beef. This is an improvement on the previous situation, where China only imported frozen boneless beef from Argentina. From under 10,000 tonnes five years ago, China's imports of Argentine beef jumped to 50,000 tonnes in 2016 and 200,000 tonnes in 2017. Based on the most recent USDA estimates, 60% or at least 303,000 tonnes of Argentina's 2018 beef exports were shipped to China or Hong Kong, with the latter smuggling in a large proportion of its beef shipments into China's market. The USDA also reported that from August through the end of 2018, the proportion of Argentine beef exports purchased by China or Hong Kong increased to 65%, with the EU (10%), Russia (10%) and Chile (5%) accounting for most of the remainder. For 2019, the proportion of beef exports destined for China is expected to exceed 405,000 tonnes or 70%. The proportion of beef exports going to China could rise to around 75% if the resolution of a trade dispute between Brazil and Russia results in fewer beef exports going to the latter. When Russia temporarily banned the import of Brazilan beef, Argentine beef was substituted in its place. Exports to Russia jumped from 6,000 tonnes in 2017 to over 50,000 tonnes last year. Should massive quantities of Brazilian beef re-enter the Russian market, up to 30,000 tonnes of Argentine beef exports could be diverted to China. In all, Chinese consumers ate 12% of Argentina's beef production last year and this proportion should rise into the 13% to 14% range in 2019. For 2019, there are indications that the USDA's 585,000 tonnes Argentine beef export forecast may be exceeded and over 600,000 tonnes of beef could be exported this year: Meat & Livestock Australia report that for January and February of this year, Argentina's beef exports to Asia increased by 42% over the same two months of 2018, with China and Hong Kong collectively purchasing nearly 90,000 tonnes. The increase was led by an 80% increase in shipments to China and the recent opening of Japan's market to Argentine beef. This is not to say that Argentine beef doesn't face challenges, as excessive dependency on China's market also creates problems. Historically a seller of some of the highest quality beef in the world, Chinese demand is pulling Argentina's beef downmarket. Rather than expensive steak, Chinese and Russians primarily use beef in stir-fries and stews that demand fattier or less expensive cuts. Whereas high-quality cuts can sell for over US$10,000/tonne, the USDA reports that "The downward price trend for Argentine beef exports is linked to demand for lower quality frozen cuts in the key China and Russian markets. China is expected to continue importing primarily frozen cow meat with an average price in January 2019 of $4,060/tonne." At the present time, Argentina's main export "valve" for high-quality beef cuts is the European Union. Under the terms of its respective EU Hilton and 481 quotas, it is expected to export 29,500 tonnes of superior quality cuts at an average price over US$12,000/tonne and 6,500 tonnes under its 481 quota averaging US$9,000/tonne. Chile, its next best customer for expensive beef, paid an average export price of US$5,364/tonne in 2018. Argentina's inability to export higher-value cuts is also due to the fact that it lacks market access to large Asian markets including Indonesia, South Korea and until recently, Japan and the United States. It did however, recently acquire a new customer for its higher quality beef cuts: Several months ago America agreed to allow the limited import of Argentine beef into the United States for the first time since it was banned due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001. Under the new agreement, ten Argentine beef processing plants have been approved to export up to 20,000 tonnes of beef to the United States duty-free, with any amount above this quota subject to a 26.4% tariff. Analysts expect 2019 exports to the United States to total 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes and mostly consist of chilled high-end, grass-fed or kosher prepared steak cuts. Similarly, Japan previously only allowed cooked or heat-treated Argentine beef but as of August 2018, permits the importing of chilled frozen higher end cuts. Here it is expected to possibly gain market share from higher priced Australian beef and from US-beef. The latter is losing its competitive edge in the Japanese market due to the fact that tariffs on Brazilian and Australian beef are being steadily reduced. As much as Chinese demand breathed new life into Argentina's cattle sector, it must leverage this current time of robust expansion into moving its export profile into upmarket, higher value cuts. While recent trade agreements with America and Japan are a good start, it needs to expand its quota for the US market beyond 20,000 tonnes: Australia and New Zealand both have US beef import quotas well above ten times this quantity. It also needs to negotiate a trade liberalization agreement with Asia's second largest market for high-quality beef, South Korea and achieve the entry of its beef into the large, fast-growing Indonesian market. With its population growing by 1% annually and per capita beef consumption among the highest in the world, Argentina has no choice but pursue export-led expansion of its beef cattle production and to diversify both the export destination and product profile of its export trade. The bad news is that after years of neglect and underinvestment, Argentina does not currently have the infrastructure to expand beef cattle exports into the 1.5 to 2.0 million tonne range of leading world exporters such as Brazil or Australia. The good news is that it if it plays its cards right, Argentina can become the leading tier 2 exporter very quickly. In just three years, Macri's reforms have proven that all Argentina needs to re-emerge as a world-leading beef exporter is free market capitalism and a few strategic trade agreements. It now has the former and just needs to sign a few of the latter. All rights reserved. No part of the report may be reproduced without permission from eFeedLink. POTTSTOWN Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly shooting into an occupied vehicle during a March 6 argument on North Franklin Street. When they arrested him, police found crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, they said. Courey Tinsley was arrested Monday without incident on the first floor of 31 E. Third St. Tinsley, who police said has an extensive criminal history, was charged with aggravated assault; possession of firearm prohibited (felons are not to permitted to possess firearms); firearms not to be carried without a license. All those charges are felonies. He was also charged with five other related misdemeanors, that include simple assault, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the shooting incident. The incident occurred at 7:50 p.m. on March 6 when Tinsley allegedly shot into an occupied vehicle after having a brief argument with the occupant. No one was injured as a result of the shooting, according to police. Police said when a search warrant was executed at the Third Street location, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found. Tinsley was also charged with drug-related felonies including manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and criminal use of a communication facility. Misdemeanor charges include possession of a controlled substance and use of possession of drug paraphernalia. Tinsley was arraigned by District Judge C. Edward Kropp Sr. and committed to Montgomery County Correction Facility after being unable to post $250,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing before Kropp is scheduled for April 15 at 9:30 a.m., according to court records, which list his home address as Philadelphia. UPPER POTTSGROVE The saga of the crumbling pedestrian bridge at Pottsgrove Middle School ended happily Tuesday with the snip of a giant pair of scissors. Student Morgan Maxey, who volunteered for the job, cut the ribbon on the newly repaired bridge. Last fall, what was thought to be a quick repair job of $35,000 soon ballooned into an estimate as high as $350,000 as further investigation revealed structural decay in the bridge crossed by hundreds of students every day. Luckily, the prediction by Facilities Manager Jeffrey Cardwell that he could probably reduce the price turned out be true. Officials said the final tally on the project was only $121,826.94. The project was begun in January and completed in April. According to Mike Miller, the project manager for Old Philadelphia Associates, Inc., also known as Building Maintenance and Restoration Co. out of West Chester, the project required: Cement 30 yards of cement, eight inches thick, throughout the entire surface area. Rebar Half-inch steel rebar reinforced through the entire decking area every 12 inches on center. Sealer 3 coats of deck sealer to protect the cement surface. A new drainage system that will not allow water to seep on to under decking. On hand for the ribbon-cutting, in addition to Maxey, were students Kelsie Rohrbach, Chelsea Wasdick, Sarah Yaccarino, Lily Guerrette, Sabrina Ganime, Cooper Simon, Mathew Sambrick, Nicole Lockey, Isabella Kerlin, Jess Carroll. Adults on hand were Pottsgrove Schools Superintendent William Shirk, Assistant Superintendent Robert Harney, school board member Charles Nippert, Business Administrators David Nester and Mr. Ron Linke, Miller, Middle School Principal Matt Boyer and Assistant Principal Kevin Kirby. POTTSTOWN Its not hard along the 60 miles of roadway the borough must maintain to find places that need some work, particularly at this time of the year. Potholes and cracked pavement prevail. So Borough Council Vice President Carol Kulp, who also heads up councils Infrastructure Committee and has been fielding numerous complaints from residents, thought it might be a good idea to outline Pottstowns limited resources, and the way in which they will be used to keep this year for road repairs. The primary source of funding for roadwork in Pottstown is the liquid fuels fund, the boroughs share of revenue from Pennsylvanias fuel tax, she said. This year it will work out to about $930,000. That might sound like a lot until you realize that is costs about $250,000 to pave one mile of roadway, said Borough Manager Justin Keller. That money will help pave about 3.7 miles of road in 2019, said Public Works Director Doug Yerger. Another way roads get paved is when the Pottstown Borough Authority, or PECO, digs up a road to replace a water, sewer or gas pipe. When those planned projects are added in, the total amount of roadway being planned for paving this year rises to 5.05 miles. As for fixing potholes, the borough budget only allocates about $25,000 a year for that task. Full curb-to-curb paving decisions are made by the interaction of the condition of the roadway, and the plans by the utilities. Yerger has a five-point scale he uses to classify borough streets and which need the most work, with five being the worst. Unfortunately, more than 14 miles of roadway in Pottstown are classified as fives under Yergers system. Obviously, this means that whatever gets paved this year, some of the worst roads in town will remain un-repaired. But a roads rating is not always the sole deciding factor. For example, Keller said a road that is rated as a five may not be paved one year while a four or a three is. That is often because utilities in the ground are being replaced and the paving follows that work. We dont want to pave a road and dig it up two years later to replace a sewer line, Keller explained. Its a constant game of chasing your tail, and we try to stay on top of it. This year, .61 miles of road will be paved as the result of sewer pipe projects and another .63 miles will be paved as the result of water line projects. No word yet on how much PECO will dig up, although plans for North Hanover Street have already been announced. Also, several major roads in town, like High Street, Farmington Avenue, Charlotte Street, Manatawny Street, Armand Hammer Boulevard, West King Street from Manatawny to Route 100 and, obviously, State Street, are PennDOTs responsibility. What About the Alleys? Yerger said that many of the 19 miles of Pottstown alleys are not ordained, making it more difficult, legally and practically, to spend taxpayer money fixing them up. Even the ordained alleys rank lower in his priority list than the more traveled streets. Keller said most alleys are jointly owned by the property owners with frontage on them and suggested that neighbors can band together to jointly pay for them to be repaired and repaved. As for ordained alleys, Yerger said the borough is currently piloting two different less expensive ways of treating alleys. One is to use left-over millings scraped off roads before they are re-paved. The borough has put millings down, and pressed them, on two alleys as an experiment and after a year, they are holding up very well. Another method is using a substance called aggregate, which has no binding oil or tar to hold it together. Pottstown has received a $230,000 grant from the Montgomery County Conservation District to use this on an alley off Airy Street as a way to fight water pollution. The benefit of using this material is it is less expensive than paving, and using it helps the borough to meet more stringent federal Clean Water Act regulations, Yerger explained. >>> NA Chairwoman meets with Belgian Senate President >>> NA Chairwoman meets Belgian Lower House leader At the meeting, the top legislator made a brief on Vietnams socio-economic development over the past time, saying the country has reaped achievements across spheres, from economy to social, domestic and external affairs, especially in economic growth, international integration, and social welfare. Ngan said her visit aims to further enhance cooperation between Vietnam and the EU as well as the EP, and deepen the traditional friendship and collaboration between Vietnam and Belgium and the Belgian parliament. Talking about her meetings with leaders of the European Commission (EC), the EP and Belgium, she said the hosts committed to supporting the promotion of relations between Vietnam and the EU and Belgium, particularly the prioritisation of the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) right at the beginning of the EPs new tenure, she said. Lauding efforts of the embassy and the mission, the chief legislator said the Party, State and National Assembly always create favourable conditions for Vietnamese representative offices abroad to operate, contributing to national construction, defence and development. The top legislator applauded the Vietnamese community for maintaining traditional culture, especially organising Vietnamese language teaching classes, saying there should be a mechanism to support the work. Ngan noted her hope that the community will continue to work as a bridge contributing to enhancing and consolidating the all-round cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Belgium. Lots of interest right now in a New Yorker article, The Day the Dinosaurs Died, about a paleontological find in North Dakota that purports to encapsulate the moments and hours after the dinosaur-killing meteor struck 66 million years ago. Its a fun read, though some scientists have been expressing skepticismperhaps borne of jealousy? The research hasnt been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal! Whatdo we need to replicate an asteroid strike to be sure? But beyond scientific nit-picking, you just knew some liberal fossils would give the dinosaurs a run for their money in the going-extinct department. Todays Nature magazine summary offers this short item about the article: Scientists greeted the news with astonishment and scepticism, reports Science partly because the big claims about dinosaurs made in the New Yorker piece have yet to be published in a scientific paper. Some have raised concerns about cultural sensitivity, saying the story has been reported as one of a white Indiana Jones-like character in the lonely expanses of North Dakota, obfuscating the existence and knowledge of the Indigenous people whose ancestral territory it is. So now we cant even dig for dinosaur bones without upsetting the Wokerati. In Villainy at Villanova I wrote about the Wall Street Journal column by Villanova Professors Colleen Sheehan and James Matthew Wilson as well as the response by the Villanova president and provost. The president and provost were big on the truth, unity, and love the new diversity questions in the student evaluation would bring to Villanova. Professors Sheehan and Wilson decried the enforced conformity they threatened. Sociology Professor Rory Kramer wanted it to be known that he disapproved of the Sheehan/Wilson column. Hes all in for diversity as we have come to know it. He emoted on Twitter (below). the hot takes about the Villanova student survey thanks to that B's WSJ op ed on here are pretty turrible (from many sides)a little local knowledge is really, really useful. Rory Kramer (@rory_kramer) April 2, 2019 I wrote him to ask if the B in that Bs column stood for bitchs. Professor Kramer responded: it was autocorrect for BS as in bullshit. Do not quote this but get it correct. I told him I couldnt agree not to quote him in that he is the only source I would have for the explanation. I know its hard, but remember: this guy is an associate professor of sociology at Villanova. He responded in a second email: Lol, wut? Further: It was a phone autocorrect. End of story. I stand behind the tweet and calling the article BS, but your assumption was 100% wrong. You can quote that[.] Well, thanks. I intended to quote him, as I had already advised. I wanted to get it straight. I cant help but wonder, however, how autocorrect rejiggered BS but missed turrible. Professor Kramer then reiterated his email messages to me for public consumption on Twitter. So, to be clear B's was an autocorrect for BS Rory Kramer (@rory_kramer) April 4, 2019 And now a certain conservative blog is going to claim my autocorrect wasn't an autocorrect. Lmfao Rory Kramer (@rory_kramer) April 4, 2019 Good to know that we inspired gales of vulgar laughter in roarin Rory. Left to his own devices, he is probably a little short in the humor department. In good Mao-man style, the Villanova Department of English has united to condemn the Sheehan/Wilson column. They have issued a statement avowing their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the style to which we have all become accustomed (see tweet below). Students of good writing may note that the commitment to diversity requires the inclusion of needless words, the incantation of diverse shibboleths, and the repetition of mind-numbing cliches. It is somehow inimical to decent writing. The Villanova Department of English uniformly supports diversity in aspects including the new student evaluations. There is no diversity in this commitment. As seems frequently to be the case in large university groups, the commitment to diversity does not extend that far. Last night the English Department protested the Sheehan/Wilson column with a reading by acclaimed playwright and poet Claudia Rankine. The Ghostbusters team was apparently unavailable. A House panel voted yesterday to authorize subpoenas to obtain Robert Muellers full report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The vote was strictly along party lines. Democrats arent going to issue the subpoena yet. First, they will negotiate with the Justice Department. But Democrats are holding a losing hand. This subpoena, like all the others House Democrats are thinking about issuing, cannot, in all likelihood, be effectively enforced. The normal enforcement mechanism for a subpoena is to cite for contempt the party that refuses to comply. But its up to the Justice Department to prosecute that case. The DOJ isnt going to prosecute its head. Theres precedent for not prosecuting in these circumstances. The Justice Department declined to prosecute when then-Attorney General Eric Holder refused to comply with a congressional subpoena seeking documents related to the Fast and Furious scandal. Indeed, the Justice Department is most unlikely to bring an action for contempt against any part of the Executive branch. Congress can proceed without the Justice Department by bringing its own action in federal court to compel compliance. But the judicial process doesnt move quickly enough for this option to bring about the result Democrats desire. For example, Holder refused to comply in 2012. It wasnt until 2016 that a district court ruled in favor of Congress. Holder was out of office by then. The parties proceeded to settle the dispute (though it still hasnt fully been resolved). Had they not settled, the matter would have dragged on through the appellate process. One can imagine liberal judges moving faster in the case of the Trump presidency than they did during the Obama administration. Even so, time is not on the Democrats side. If Trump loses in 2020, the new Attorney General could authorize release of the full, unredacted Mueller report. But with Trump out of office, few will care about the Mueller report. If Trump wins and the GOP recaptures the House in 2020 (or 2022 if the matter is still being litigated), the House would almost certainly relent in the dispute over the subpoena. If Trump wins, and Democrats keep control of the House, and they prevail in the litigation (very unlikely, given the likely existence of classified information in the report), the full report might see the light of day in, say, 2023. But few will care about it in the context of a lame duck president. Recognizing the likely futility of proceeding in court, Democratic attorney/operative Neal Katyal suggests that if Barr wont turn over Mueller Report to Congress in the form Democrats desire, the House should defund the Office of the Attorney General and Barrs salary. I doubt that Barr needs his salary, and I dont think the Democrats would be well-advised to incapacitate the Department of Justice over redactions in the Mueller report. If Democrats try this move, we can expect Republicans to behave similarly when they control the House. We will be well down the road to becoming a banana republic. Meanwhile, I hope Republicans remember Katyals recommendation when, almost inevitably, some Democratic president nominates him for a job requiring Senate confirmation. Dont get Ammo Grrrll angry unless you want to laugh really hard. Thats the conclusion I draw from CHEWING THROUGH MY RESTRAINTS. She writes: I once saw a joke t-shirt in the Mall that I related to. It said: Some days it doesnt even seem worth it to chew through my restraints. I am generally a very happy if somewhat-high strung person. I experience the usual bouts of anxiety and grief over loss and pain as any normal person would, but I try to stay upbeat most of the time. But every once in awhile certainly not more than twice a day something is so mind-blowing, so upsetting, that, as the tired expression goes, I cant even For example, the THIRD bogus Kavanaugh accusation the letter clearly copied straight from bad porn that had both Kavanaugh and his pal in a car with a woman taking turns doing things nearly anatomically-impossible. The woman later confessed that she made the whole thing up for attention. And we never heard if she suffered the slightest consequence. It was, after all, no more un-credible than the clinically insane idea that a group of high school boys could have regularly scheduled gang-rape parties with spiked punch and drugs and NOBODY not the victim girls nor the proud perps told a soul. Yes, friends, many many people were alleged to be involved and not one word leaked! For the love of God, sign them up for the intelligence agencies! Those folks leak like an incontinent geezer laughing, coughing, or sneezing! Probably just coughing or sneezing. Those Deep State guys seem to have no sense of humor at all. Well, except for John Bucket O Laughs Brennan. But millions MILLIONS of idiotic women celebrities, keening feminists screeching and scratching on the Supreme Court door, and even a few sorta-men celebrities and activists claimed with straight faces to believe it! Women must be believed! Women never lie! Only a person who has never known a woman or never BEEN a woman believes that. Are YOU a woman reading this right now? Have YOU ever lied? Yeah, me neither. Show me the listed weight on your Drivers License while standing on a scale. Show me your Food Log at Weight Watchers. Let me listen to you tell your dental hygienist how regularly you floss. Let me hear you phone your employer from the beach to say you are sick. Let me see ID on every single person claiming to be celebrating a birthday at any free-birthday dessert restaurant. Just sayin. Moving on. We talk a lot about Unity, Reconciliation, Coming Together black and white, men and women, gays and straights, conservatives and psychotics (haha, I kid the psychotic leftists). And, finally, we may have that issue that brings us all together, Kumbaya style: No, its not the tedious conversation about race weve been hearing about for 60 years. Its The Jussie Smollett Obama-Connected Fix Being In. Yeah, its old news, but I want to do my part to keep it on the front burner. The judge who sealed the material accidentally assures us he can get to the unsealing, probably, by May. In every such corrupt event, the miscreants count on the 3-day Attention Span of the American people. Dont let it drop! The cops are livid. Chris Rock, no Republican, mocked Jussie. Even the cast of Empire is divided. Obama stalwarts Rahm Emmanuel and David Axelrod at least pretended to be upset for a couple of minutes before pivoting rapidly and reflexively to Trump caused it. I dont know when Trump found the time when he was so busy causing the New Zealand massacre. Is there anything that guy cant do? I have to admit to being stunned by the Jussie outcome. I have lived long and seen many amazing things. I generally feel immune to being shocked or blindsided about anything. But this really took the cake. Sixteen counts, an absurd, evolving tale that stunk from Day One, and proof positive that the little racist me-monster arranged the whole hoax. And he walks! Friends of friends make a few phone calls and the problem disappears for Jussie. Thats some kind of friends! Who has that kind of juice? Rachel, Brian, Morning Joe, Van, Ana? Calling all journalists! Heres a real poser for you to investigate. Hey, you might even be able to recycle some of your Collusion chyrons! If I were the Chicago PD, I would release every SCRAP of evidence against Jussie. Stand in a solid phalanx thousands strong in uniform while passing out the information to random passersby have it dropped from Police helicopters and DARE some corrupt black robe and the whole DAs office to arrest you all, if they can find a law enforcement agency to do so. I bet 98 percent of Americans will agree with me when I say that I have no interest whatsoever in seeing this narcissistic little hate-monger spend a lot of time in jail at taxpayer expense. What I want is for him to have to CONFESS on television that he committed the hoax and apologize to all white people, especially MAGA supporters. And then, since at least one of his motives besides the standard Trump-hatred and racist white-hatred was to get attention and leverage for a higher salary, I want a SUBSTANTIAL fine that would actually hurt. Heck, he can always have a GoFundMe campaign in which Soros and all the celebrity haters who bought and spread the original preposterous tale can pitch in. But he should not be able to claim vindication and even yak about suing the police department. Ya basta. Enough! Since I wrote part of this column a good while back near St. Patricks Day, I end with a limerick. Pour yourself a morning beer okay, a Mimosa and enjoy. For most people, black, brown or white Whose criminal acts come to light Our friends in low places Cant dismiss our cases When the Grand Jury votes to indict. But Jussie isnt just black, He also likes men in the sack, He committed a crime But will not do his time Cuz Obama and friends got his back. PR-Inside.com: 2019-04-05 14:41:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 780 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / After a widespread industrial reshuffle, the entire blockchain sector is now ushering in a new phase of development. As we understand, all our persistence and hard work will ultimately bring us the best return.In a recent move, Deloitte, one of the "Big Four" accounting organizations and the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of professionals, shared with us an exclusive report for market study, which is a good news to i-House.com , who has been working hard to innovate and develop. This positive report has brought us in the global limelight and heralds a global recognition over what we've achieved.In this 83-page report for market study on i-House.com , Deloitte worked out a detailed analysis and explanation regarding our project backdrop, overall performance of real estate market investment, real estate market assessment, as well as the application of blockchain technology in the real estate industry. This report recognizes the value of i-House.com , saying we will create more favorable possibilities for the entire industry in the near future.Global real estate has a market of 270 trillion US dollars. The industry possesses a broader development space in that even with a 1% change, the market value will be totaled at 2.7 trillion US dollars.Established in Hong Kong in 2017, i-House.com integrates the blockchain with emerging technologies, and breaks the ''bottle neck'' of traditional real estate market, which helps promote innovation of the real estate market.As mentioned in the report by Deloitte: " I-House.com has made huge achievements after two years of unremitting efforts. Now, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing and other places all have i-House.com partners and projects." The report explains in the first place the propensity of real estate investment, and divides investment into direct investment and indirect investment.Under the backdrop of the global macroeconomic environment, Deloitte analyzes the trends of real estate market. With detailed analysis and evaluation over national population level, GDP growth rate, unemployment rate, consumer confidence, and 10-year bond yield, the report highlighted the importance and inevitability of making innovation in the real estate industry.Based on the regional differences between the European and US real estate markets as well as the Asian real estate market, this report takes several important real estate markets into consideration, and worked out a detailed analysis.Among them, it highlights a comprehensive explanation of the Asian real estate market.In the market study report, Deloitte sums up the emerging trends in real estate investment. In particular, it's noted that reform and development in information technology have led to the rise of Space as a Service (SPAAS).The report also touches upon the application of the blockchain technology in the real estate sector. By analyzing the i-House.com business model, it comes to the conclusion that we have been playing a key role in today's real estate market.In addition to the analysis of macro market, this report makes a clear comparison between traditional and token investments. In particular, it makes analysis and comparison over transaction time, equity requirements, transparency level, data analysis, regulatory requirements, local knowledge and asset liquidity.It's noteworthy to mention that Deloitte cites three trends in support of the i-House.com business model in the report, namely, the investor evolution, real estate demand evolution, and payment option evolution. In fact, the three trends serve as the fuel to further boost the development of i-House.com Since its inception in 2017, i-House.com has adopted a down-to-earth manner to develop it business. We've always kept our mission in mind: ''Let everyone have the opportunity to own and share their assets, and profit from the new model of ''sharing the economy.'' Given the recognition from Deloitte's report, especially after a multi-dimensional in-depth analysis over our business model, we have gained a clearer knowledge on where we are, and we are dedicated to adhering to a path of innovation.We are grateful to all the community investors of i-House.com , for their continued support. This recognition is not only for i-House.com , but also for the sensible choice of every community investor.With challenges and opportunities ahead, we're well prepared to make more efforts to create value for the entire real estate industry, so that more and more users will benefit from the industry's blockchain ecosystem.After going through all the test of time, let's now embrace a brighter future together.About DeloitteDeloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, commonly referred to as Deloitte, is a multinational professional services network. It provides audit, tax, consulting, enterprise risk and financial advisory services with more than 286,200 professionals globally.CONTACT: media@ pressreleaseemail.com SOURCE: IHT PR-Inside.com: 2019-04-05 14:31:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 658 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 INCLINE VILLAGE, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2019 / LithiumOre ( http://lithiumore.net) (the ''Company''), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), a lithium resource exploration and development company, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Doug Cole was recently interviewed by Proactive Investors, a UK-based online investor services company that provides analytics, market reports, and company and industry profiles.During the interview Chief Executive Officer Doug Cole discusses that the lithium company is beginning its drill program a week early, starting today. Cole says the Company should have the first hundred feet of the drill program underway in the next few days, taking two to three weeks to drill and another 60 to 120 days for chemistry results on the samples.To see the video interview in its entirety, please visit:Made in America, LithiumOre holds 1,300 lithium mineral claims, totaling 26,000 acres, located in Railroad Valley of Nye County, Nevada. Railroad Valley is approximately 112 miles northeast of Clayton Valley and can be accessed by paved highway directly from U.S. Route 6. Railroad Valley is one of Nevada's largest trapped basins and is noted to hold all the necessary commercial and engineering prerequisites for a massive lithium brine deposit. The Company's claims have been evaluated by experts and the BLM and are in planned on-site exploration.LithiumOre, Corp.LithiumOre ( http://lithiumore.net) , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), is a lithium resource exploration and development company, whose primary focus is the establishment of a low cost production base to supply the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery industry for both mobile devises and laptops, as well as the burgeoning EV (electronic vehicle) industry. LithiumOre is focused on becoming a substantial, profitable lithium producer via the timely development of valuable production-grade lithium brine deposits in Nevada.For more information, please visit: http://lithiumore.net Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to the expected project economics for Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), including estimates of life of mine, average production, cash costs, AISC, initial CAPEX, sustaining CAPEX, pre-tax IRR, pre-tax NPV, net cash flows and recovery rates, the impact of self-mining versus contract mining, the timing to obtain necessary permits, the submission of the project for final investment approval and the timing of initial gold production after investment approval and full financing, metallurgy and processing expectations, the mineral resource estimate, expectations regarding the ability to expand the mineral resource through future drilling, ongoing work to be conducted at the Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), and the potential results of such efforts, the potential commissioning of a Pre-Feasibility study and the effects on timing of the project, are ''forward-looking statements.'' Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information, unfavorable exploration results, inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices, final investment approval and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2018. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release.Contact Informationp775-434-4744info@ lithiumore.net SOURCE: Oroplata Resources, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2019-04-05 01:02:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 506 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 4, 2019 / ParcelPal Technology Inc. (''ParcelPal'' or the ''Company''), (CSE: PKG) (FSE: PT0) (OTC: PTNYF) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting an investor update conference call on May 1st, 2019 to review the Company's recent progress. The Company would also like to inform shareholders that it will be releasing its quarterly financial statements for Q4 FY2018 (October 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018) by April 30, 2019.Conference Call Information:When: May 1st, 2019, 8:00 am PST / 11:00 am ESTDial in Canada: +1 647 558 0588Dial in United States: +1 929 205 6099Meeting ID: 142 555 258You do not require a participant ID when entering the call.About ParcelPal Technology Inc.ParcelPal is a technology-driven logistics company that connects consumers to the goods they love. Customers can shop at partner businesses and through the ParcelPal technology receive their purchased goods within an hour. The Company offers on-demand delivery of merchandise from leading retailers, restaurants, medical marijuana dispensaries and liquor stores in Vancouver and soon in major cities Canada-wide.ParcelPal Website: www.parcelpal.com The Canadian Securities Exchange (''CSE'') or any other securities regulatory authority has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release that has been prepared by management.CSE - Symbol: PKGFSE - Symbol: PT0OTC - Symbol: PTNYFContact:Peter HinamDirector-Investor Relationspeter@ parcelpal.com Forward Looking InformationThis news release contains forward looking statements relating to the Proposed Transaction, and the future potential of ParcelPal. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", ''intends'', "anticipates", "expects", ''plans'' and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risk that the Proposed Transaction will not be completed due to, among other things, failure to execute definitive documentation, failure to complete satisfactory due diligence, failure to receive the approval of the CSE and the risk that ParcelPal will not be successful due to, among other things, general risks relating to the mobile application industry, failure of ParcelPal to gain market acceptance and potential challenges to the intellectual property utilized in ParcelPal. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.The Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will only update or revise publicly any of the included forward looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities laws.SOURCE: ParcelPal Technology Inc. Quoting the words of one local missionary, the Time magazine cover of May 1994 reads: There are no devils left in Hell, They are all in Rwanda. As many as 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi, were killed in a 100-day orgy of brutal murder and rape by members of the majority Hutu in Rwanda. Times evocation of hell presents the genocide as an unimaginable phenomenon. Its also a theological framing of the violence as a product of pure evil. This vision of the Rwandan genocide as hell is not incidental. Similar iconographies of hell define popular imagination and understanding of the genocide. Consider, for example, the title of Canadian Romeo Dallaires memoir, Shake Hands with the Devil. The book provides details of General Dallaires experience as the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda during the genocide. Also, a short documentary film produced on Dallaire by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2002 was titled _A Good Man in Hell. The distinct impression these accounts give of the genocide in Rwanda is that its, as the American diplomat and political critic Samantha Powers book aptly suggests, A Problem from Hell.. The imagining of genocide as hell conveys the impression that the horrors are not fully imaginable. They can only be witnessed in symbolic forms. In addition, such imaginings encourage a moral or theological response to an otherwise violent phenomenon spurred by political events. The examples I explore constitute the pivot of Western media and artistic representation of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Yet such iconographies are not exclusive to Western representations of the atrocities. As I point out, they are also part of a central feature in major stories on the genocide written by African authors. Coming into awareness Genocide, understood as hell in several other literary projects, is profoundly marked by immense horror. The Rwandan hell figures as a site of unqualifiable cruelty. There, brutal rape is prevalent. Violence is inflicted with extreme sadism and decadence is the normal order of things. A notable representative work of the kind is Canadian Gil Courtemanches celebrated novel, Un dimanche a la piscine a Kigali [A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali]. In the novel, the encounter by a Canadian journalist with the Rwandan mass atrocities presents as a descent into hell. The examples from Africa include Boubacar Boris Diops celebrated novel, Murambi, le livre des ossements [Murambi, the Book of Bones]. The novel relies heavily on the Biblical story of the Gentiles conversion to Christianity. Corneliuss conversion and meeting with apostle Simon Peter is central to understanding Diops thematic concerns in this novel. The main story of Murambi is about Cornelius Uvimana, a Rwandan exile returning from Djibouti. Cornelius arrives four years after the genocide to witness what he believes to have been the extermination of all members of his own family, and to write a play about the genocide. His journeys through massacre sites are presented as a descent into different parts of hell. Within this hell, Corneliuss main guide is his uncle Simeon Habineza, who, like Biblical Simon Peter, baptizes Cornelius into ideas and helps him find new insights into human cruelty. Corneliuss journey to his hometown of Murambi could symbolise a process of coming into awareness. His ignorance about the genocide and his sense of self-righteousness disappear as he delves deeper into the hell of post-genocide Rwanda. He realises while inside this hell that the massacre of over 50,000 people including his mother and siblings has been planned and executed by his own father, Dr Joseph Karekezi. Descent into hell Just like Diops Murambi, some other accounts of the genocide present encounters with atrocity as descent into hell. These include Veronique Tadjos memoir, Lombre dImana: voyages jusqau bout du Rwanda (The Shadow of Imana: Travels in the Heart of Rwanda). Theres also a genocide survivor memoir Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by [Immaculee Ilibagiza], Benjamin Sehenes novel, Le Feu sous la soutane [Fire Beneath the Cassock]. Finally, the novel, Le Passe devant soi (The Past Ahead) by Gilbert Gatore. All differently and in fascinating ways represent the 1994 genocide in Rwanda in some form constituting descents into hell. The prevalence of the hell narrative suggests that stories about the 1994 genocide have been evolving as descent narratives. These narratives represent the sites in which one encounters the casualties of genocidal violence as hell and the journey there as a descent into hell. In such narratives, the protagonist usually descends into an infernal underworld that looks like an afterlife. After a tour of the infernal underworld, he or she emerges bearing a new moral awareness put into the service of bearing witness to the unspeakable horrors and evil he or she saw there. Understood in this way, the Rwandan Genocide narratives are a legacy of cautionary tales in which the damned bequeaths to posterity the moral truths about its genocidal past. Chigbo Arthur Anyaduba, Assistant Professor, University of Winnipeg This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The conversation Boeing says it will review the preliminary investigation report on the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 by the Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) released on Thursday in Addis Ababa. A statement by Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Kevin McAllister, on Thursday, said that understanding the circumstances that contributed to the accident was critical to ensuring safe flight. According to Mr McAllister, we will carefully review the AIBs preliminary report and will take any and all additional steps necessary to enhance the safety of our aircraft. He said that safety was a core value for everyone at Boeing and the safety of its airplanes, customers, passengers and crews was always a top priority. Boeings technical experts continue to assist in this investigation and company-wide teams are working to address lessons from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident in October. The preliminary report contains flight data recorder information indicating the airplane had an erroneous angle of attack sensor input that activated the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) function during the flight, as it had during the Lion Air 610 flight. To ensure unintended MCAS activation will not occur again, Boeing has developed and is planning to release a software update to MCAS and an associated comprehensive pilot training and supplementary education program for the 737 MAX. As previously announced the update adds additional layers of protection and will prevent erroneous data from causing MCAS activation. Flight crews will always have the ability to override MCAS and manually control the airplane, he said. McAllister said that Boeing would continue to work with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and other regulatory agencies worldwide on the development and certification of the software update and training program. He added that the manufacturer would also continue to work closely with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as technical advisors in support of the Ethiopian AIB investigation. According to him, as a party providing technical assistance under the direction of investigating authorities, Boeing is prevented by international protocol and NTSB regulations from disclosing any information relating to the investigation. In accordance with international protocol, information about the investigation is provided only by investigating authorities in charge. I will like to reiterate that our deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the accident. We thank the Ethiopias Accident Investigation Bureau for its hard work and continuing efforts, he said. Ethiopian Airlines had on Thursday disclosed in its preliminary report, that the pilots of the ill-fated aircraft followed instructions that Boeing recommended and FAA approved emergency procedures to handle the most difficult emergency situation created on the airplane. (NAN) Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in the UK under the age of 35 after breast and skin cancer. In the majority of cases, the cancer only develops if the patient is infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 or 18. This virus is mainly transmitted between people having vaginal, anal or oral sex. At some point in their lives, four in five people will be infected by HPV strains as many as 14 can cause cancer in total. According to recent studies, other cancers heavily linked to HPV infections include head-and-neck, vulvo-vaginal and anal. In an effort to reduce rates of cervical cancer, a number of countries launched immunisation programmes in the late 2000s, starting with Austria in 2006. The UK and its devolved governments launched a school immunisation programme in 2008 to vaccinate all girls aged 12-13. To speed up the time lag associated with achieving the benefits of vaccination, they also kicked off a three-year catch-up programme for girls aged up to 18 years. A decade on, we are finally able to publish the first results. The data relates to Scotland, since it was cervically screening women from the age of 20 until 2016 before falling into line with the minimum age of 25 used in the rest of the UK. This meant that Scotland obtained screening data for the 2008-09 cohort before the change in screening age. Scotland also has very detailed information about take-up rates, which have been very high: running to approximately 90% in Scotland for the routinely vaccinated girls and 65% for the older girls vaccinated as part of the catch-up programme. For the first time, we can now confirm that the vaccination programme has begun to profoundly alter the prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 among Scottish women and presumably elsewhere as well. The study My team performed an eight-year study of the women eligible for the Scottish national vaccination and cervical screening programmes. We looked at their vaccination status, year of birth, indicators of deprivation and whether they lived in urban or rural areas. Using complex statistical modelling, we were able to calculate the effect of vaccination on cervical pre-cancer. Though not all pre-cancer becomes cancer, all cancer requires pre-cancer. Cervical pre-cancer occurs quicker than cancer and therefore this focus has allowed us to see the impact of the vaccine earlier. Among women born in 1995-96 the first group to go through the regular vaccination programme in 2008/09 there has been an 88% reduction in rates of cervical pre-cancer. This is a fall in incidence from 1.44% to 0.17%. Not only that, women born in these years who had not received the vaccine were also less likely to develop cervical pre-cancer. This was because the high vaccine uptake meant that HPV incidence was much lower in their age group, thanks to a phenomenon known as herd protection. This is particularly good news, since this group is also less likely to attend cervical screenings. The findings clearly show that the routine HPV vaccination programme for girls aged 12 to 13 has been a resounding success. This is consistent with the fact that we have also seen a big fall in high-risk HPV infection in Scotland in recent years. The obvious conclusion is that we are going to see far fewer cases of cervical cancer in years to come. From September, the UK is going to extend the vaccination programme to boys becoming one of numerous countries to do so. This is in response to the fact that rates of head and neck cancer are rising in men: approximately 60% of head and neck cancer is associated with HPV16 infection, and should therefore be mostly preventable through vaccination. This programme should also mean that high-risk HPV infections among the population should be eliminated more quickly, which should have knock-on benefits for rates of HPV-driven cancers. Meanwhile, in parts of Canada, HPV vaccinations are now being offered to uninfected women as part of the cervical screening process. This may protect older women from developing cervical cancer. This process may be adopted internationally, including the UK. When we look at the picture as a whole, eliminating the HPV virus, and making huge inroads into the various cancers that it helps develop, is now becoming a realistic possibility. Kevin Pollock, Senior Research Fellow, Glasgow Caledonian University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The conversation The Peoples Democratic Party has directed all members of the party that instituted court cases against the party to withdraw them or face sanctions. The deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, said in a statement on Thursday that the party considered myriads of cases instituted against it by its members as inimical to the successes it has achieved in the last few years. The party is apparently disturbed by the ruling against the candidacy of the governorship candidate of the party in Osun, Ademola Adeleke, by a high court in Bwari, Abuja and other outstanding litigations. Mr Adeleke, a serving senator, was recently declared the winner of September 22 governorship election by the Osun governorship election petition tribunal, which conducted its sittings in Abuja. But the contest of the partys governorship ticket for the Osun election by Akin Ogunbiyi has remained an internal concern which had further compounded the challenges of Mr Adeleke. Mr Ogunbiyi had earlier denied any involvement in the travails of Mr Adeleke at the courts, with particular reference to the Tuesdays court judgment nullifying his candidature as PDPs flag bearer in the last governorship election. Mr Odeyemi however, said any PDP member with genuine interest in the party must not make himself available to be used by elements that wanted to slow down its progress through needless litigation. We consider it inimical to our progress as a vibrant political party the myriad of cases instituted against PDP by members who are expected to be part of the concerted efforts towards being the ruling party in Nigeria, he said. We cant continue to struggle under the yoke of needless litigations when we intend to return to power both at federal level and in other states that are out of control of PDP at the moment. Mr Odeyemi reminded members of the decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) to sanction any member, no matter how highly placed, who, through court cases constitute themselves as a cog in the wheel of progress of the party, adding that some members had been expelled from the party in the recent past for same reason. We are monitoring situations in Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos and other states across the country regarding court matters instituted by our members, he said. He assured that those aggrieved would get justice using the partys internal mechanism and not through the court. Mr Odeyemi reiterated the decision of the PDP to sanction any member who failed to comply with the directive. The umbrella body for Nigerian Christians, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called for religious balancing in the incoming leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly. The group made the call through a statement by Adebayo Oladeji, the spokesperson to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle. The call came days after the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress anointed current majority leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as its preferred candidates for Senate presidency and House speakership respectively. See full statement by CAN below. LET THE INCOMING LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REFLECT RELIGIOUS BALANCE CAN The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) congratulates all the newly elected members of the National Assembly on their victory at the recently conducted general election. It is our prayers that God who granted you the victory will not let you down. You will experience a successful tenure of office. You will not disappoint God and the people who gave you the mandate. As you prepare for your inauguration, CAN urges you to balance the appointments of your Principal Officers across religious divides to avoid domination and marginalisation of any kind in the interest of equity, justice, and fair play as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). We, from the Christian Association of Nigeria, recognize the importance of the National Assembly to the stability and growth of our polity. It is in this regard that we call for ethnic and religious balance with depth in picking the leadership of that great institution of democracy. To ensure that this happens is to remove any apprehension and suspicion harboured towards the leadership of this country. Although both the Senate and the House of Representatives have several principal officers but our focus here are the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. As it has been the practice since 1999, whenever the Senate President is a Christian, the Speaker of the House has always been a Muslim and vice- versa. And the same thing happens to their deputies. Our quest becomes imperative due to the existing order in the two other arms of the government. Today, both the President and the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria are Muslims and our appeal is to let either the Senate President or the Speaker be a Christian to address the religious dichotomy. This will give all Nigerians a sense of belonging irrespective of their religious affiliations. And a critical study of Chapter 14 (13 and 14) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) underscores this truth (3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies. (4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation. CAN calls on the 9th National Assembly members to address both the religious and the North and South dichotomies in the interest of equity, justice and fair play. We assure our lawmakers of our prayers as they make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation. We also urge both the Presidency and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to support the position of the Association in its quest to find an enduring peace, unity and development for our Fatherland. Doing this will go a long way in fixing some of the problems confronting our country today that are rooted in religious, tribal suspicion, domination and marginalisation at every level of the government. In as much as we agree that merit should not be sacrificed in every appointment, but there are Christians who are equally credible and capable of running the affairs of the National Assembly and other key positions in the government if given the opportunity. Those who had and still serving in one office or the other are our living proofs. Once again, we rejoice with you and congratulate you all. We give you the assurance of our spiritual support to this all-important arm of the government. CAN is also willing and ready to collaborate with the Leadership of the National Assembly when the need arises. God bless Nigeria. Signed Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant, (Media & Communications), to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle. 1 April, 2019. Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, has resigned, the News Agency of Nigeria is reporting. Mr Onnoghens resignation follows the recommendation of the National Judicial Council for his early retirement. The recommendation was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday. In its public statement, the NJC said that it had reached a decision on allegations of fraud against Mr Onnoghen and the acting chief justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko. But multiple sources confirmed to this newspaper that the decision reached by the council included a recommendation for Mr Onnoghens compulsory retirement. The sources also said the NJC recommended a confirmation of Mr Tankos appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria. I can confirm that what the NJC have sent to the President includes a recommendation for Onnoghens compulsory retirement and the confirmation of Tanko as Chief Justice, said a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES. Other sources who also did not want to be mentioned confirmed the information to this newspaper Friday afternoon. Mr Onnoghens retirement was first published by the Cable Newspaper on Friday. When contacted, Mr Onnoghens spokesperson Awassam Bassey, said he was out of town and could not confirm the details. I am not in Abuja and I have been trying to confirm that, but I have not gotten the details yet, Mr Bassey said. A lawyer representing Mr Onnoghen, Adegboyega Awomolo, also did not confirm the information when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Onnoghen is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over allegations of false declaration of assets. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also accuses the former CJN of receiving illicit payments and bribes from lawyers. He denies all the allegations. Presidency keeps mum The News Agency of Nigeria says Mr Onnoghen submitted his resignation letter to the chief of staff to President Buhari. The Presidency has yet to confirm the receipt of the letter. NAN said a Presidency source confirmed that President Buhari had, before his departure to Jordan on Wednesday, received the National Judicial Councils recommendations on the petitions written against Mr Onnoghen and the acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad. The report was submitted to Mr Kyari, who was accompanied by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubalar Malami, at about 2:20 p.m on the day. Profile Mr. Onnoghen, 69, was born in Kruiku Town, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State. He got his Law degree from the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1977 before his BL certificate at the Nigerian Law School in 1978. He started his career as a Pupil State Counsel in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, in 1979, after which he ventured into private practice. In 1989, he returned to public service as judge in the High Court of his native Cross River State. He joined the federal judicial service in 1998 as Justice of the Court Appeal, a position he held until 2005 when he was elevated to the Supreme Court. He was the first of 20 CJNs, with an origin from the Southern part of Nigeria in 32 years. After his recommendation in October, 2016, Mr Onnoghen was not confirmed by the Presidency till February 2017 when the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo confirmed his appointment. He was later sworn in on March 7, 2017. He was billed to resign on December 22, 2020, upon the attainment of the age of 70. At least 550,000 are said to have died as a result armed conflict between 2013 and 2017 in Nigeria and nine other affected countries according to a new analysis. Save the Children, a non-governmental organisation which conducted the analysis, also said an average of well over 100,000 die every year. The affected countries are Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Syria, Iraq, Mali, Nigeria, and Somalia. This was contained in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night by Save the Children, to commemorate their 100 years anniversary. The organisation also held an event in Abuja on Thursday to launch the Stop the War on Children campaign in Nigeria. In the statement, Save the Children said infants succumbed to indirect effects of conflict and war such as hunger, damaged infrastructure and hospitals, lack of access to health care and sanitation, and the denial of aid. They probably would not have died if they hadnt been living in areas affected by conflict, it said. The total deaths from indirect effects jump from 550,000 to 870,000 when all children under the age of five are included. In the statement, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International, said, Our report shows that the way todays wars are being fought is causing more suffering for children. Almost 1 in 5 children are living in areas impacted by conflict more than at any time in the past two decades. The number of children being killed or maimed has more than tripled, and we are seeing an alarming increase in the use of aid as a weapon of war. It is shocking that in the 21st century we are going backward on principles and moral standards that are so simple children and civilians should never be targeted. Our analysis clearly shows the situation is getting worse for children and the world is allowing this travesty to happen. Every day, children come under attack because armed groups and military forces disregard international laws and treaties. From the use of chemical weapons to rape as a weapon of war, war crimes are being committed with impunity. Meanwhile, speaking at the event, the head of advocacy and campaign, Save the Children, Amanuel Mamo, said the organisation is doing its best to see that childrens rights are protected and that they realise their potentials in the society. Globally, millions of children are actually living in complex situations. Some people are campaigning and advocating for their protection. Most importantly those affected by Boko Haram and conflict disaster. According to him, they are not only sponsoring children in those horrible situations but also when the child is not in school, when the child is suffering from pneumonia and many other diseases, such a child is under attack. Similarly, the Save the Children acting director, Wilfred Okanda, said the organisations programme are based to ensure that children survive and lives are protected. Three years ago, we launched a campaign on protecting every last child and as we celebrate 100 years, more and more campaigns will be launched. The children affected by conflict are the ones who suffer the most, Mr Okanda said. He said Save the Children research across the world shows that one in every five children lives in conflict affected places and Nigeria is one of the countries affected. So, as we kick off the campaign today, and as we celebrate 100 years of our existence, well like to call on all stakeholders to make sure that our international roles and activities are respected globally so that we can be able to protect the rights of children, Mr Okanda said. Meanwhile the current child ambassador of Save the Children, Purity Oriaifo said children in Nigeria are facing lots of challenges which has the probability of leading to their death before their fifth birthday. Children who suffer from physical and mental deficiencies are often victims of discriminating practices. Children living in rural areas are exposed to high risk of death due to poor sewage system, poor portable water and malnutrition which stunts their growth, she said. Ms Oriaifo, who is a student at the Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada, said Save the Children and its partners will ensure that the voice of children are heard globally. The voice of every last child should be heard all over the world, she said. The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization that promotes childrens rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries. It was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 in order to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts. The Save the Children Fund was founded in London, England, on April 15, 1919 by Eglantyne Jebb and her sister Dorothy Buxton as an effort to alleviate starvation of children in Germany and Austria-Hungary during the Allied blockade of Germany of World War I, which continued after the Armistice. The organisation promotes policy changes in order to gain more rights for young people especially by enforcing the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The Executive Directors of the World Bank on Friday unanimously selected David Malpass as the new president of the World Bank Group. Mr Malpass five-year term will begin on April 9. A statement by the group said the Board expressed its deep gratitude to Interim President, Kristalina Georgieva, for her dedication and leadership in recent months. The executive directors followed the selection process agreed in 2011. The process included an open, transparent nomination where any national of the Banks membership could be proposed by any Executive Director or Governor through an Executive Director. The process was then followed by a thorough due diligence and a comprehensive interview of Mr. Malpass by the Executive Directors. The Board said it looked forward to working with Mr. Malpass on the implementation of the Forward Look and the capital package agreement as articulated in the Sustainable Financing for Sustainable Development Paper. Mr. Malpass previously served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for the United States. As Under Secretary, Mr. Malpass represented the United States in international settings, including the G-7 and G-20 Deputy Finance Ministerial, World Bank-IMF Spring and Annual Meetings. He was also represented the US in meetings of the Financial Stability Board, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. In his role as Under Secretary, Mr. Malpass played a crucial role in several major World Bank Group reforms and initiatives, including the recent capital increase for IBRD and IFC. He was also instrumental in advancing the Debt Transparency Initiative, adopted by the World Bank and IMF, to increase public disclosure of debt and thereby reduce the frequency and severity of debt crises. Prior to becoming Under Secretary, Mr. Malpass was an international economist and founder of a macroeconomics research firm based in New York City. Earlier in his career, Mr. Malpass served as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Developing Nations and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Economic Affairs. In these roles, he focused on an array of economic, budget, and foreign policy issues, such as the United States involvement in multilateral institutions, including the World Bank. Mr. Malpass has served on the boards of the Council of the Americas, Economic Club of New York, and the National Committee on USChina Relations. He earned his bachelors degree from Colorado College and his MBA from the University of Denver. He undertook advanced graduate work in international economics at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. The World Bank President is Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The president is also ex officio Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Another Nigerian has been arrested in Jeddah airport, Saudi Arabia for allegedly smuggling about 1,138g of cocaine, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said on Friday. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa in an interview with journalists in Abuja expressed disappointment that this was coming shortly after a Nigerian lady was executed in the same country for a related offence. The sad thing is that in the midst of talking of about 20 Nigerians on death roll, even as eight had been executed, just yesterday another Nigerian, Wahid Somade, was arrested at Jeddah airport with about 1.138g of cocaine. The latest one would be added to those that could be executed. We keep appealing to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the trial is fair, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said. On the execution of a Nigerian for drug-related offences on Monday, the presidential aide appealed to Nigerians to obey the laws of countries they go. After informing her family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially released the name of the lady that was executed in Saudi Arabia a few days ago and her name is Kudirat Afolabi, a widow and a mother of two. We pay our condolence to the family and keep begging Nigerians to obey the laws of other countries and Saudi has replied us officially, saying their law is their law. However, diplomatic engagement will continue at the highest level. It does not matter where you come from, you hold a green passport. Do not let a few people denigrate every one of us, she said. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, however, stressed on the need to celebrate the success stories of Nigerians in the diaspora. We have Nigerians doing great things all over the world; we are going to focus on them, she said. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also called on concerted efforts on compulsory baggage identification at airports as well as more security surveillance and cameras at screening points at the airports. Meanwhile, a statement from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja clarified that all legal and judicial procedures were followed regarding the accused person. The embassy stated that death sentence is only carried out after all proofs and legal evidence have been exhausted regarding the accused. Specifically on Ms Afolabi, the Saudi Embassy reaffirmed that all legal and judicial procedures were followed regarding the accused person and she was accorded every legal right before the death sentence was carried out on her. The death sentence is only carried out in the Kingdom after all proofs and legal evidence have been exhausted regarding the accused, and the process goes through various legal stages until the allegations against the detained persons have been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs was always in consultation with foreign embassies and consulates in the kingdom and facilitated visits from nationals of detainees, the statement read in part. The embassy also reiterated that the penalty for drug trafficking is death sentence and applied on all persons convicted without any exceptions. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not neglect the enforcement of penalties in terms of matters of drug trafficking and is determined to apply the law on any person against whom evidence is established in order to combat drug trafficking and protect its citizens from this dangerous menace. (NAN) An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has voided the sale of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd (EMTS), managers of 9mobile to Teleology Nigeria limited. The court presided over by a judge, Binta Nyako, took the decision in a ruling which reversed the state of affairs concerning 9mobile to what it was before an initial order by the court in April 2018. The judgement followed an application by investors in the Telecommunications Company namely Afdin Ventures Limited and Dirbia Nigeria Limited who had approached the court after they alleged that decisions were taken without their due involvement Mrs Nyako who had ordered parties in the matter to refrain from proceeding with further actions regarding the planned sale of the companies ruled that any action that has been taken concerning the res (property) of this litigation from 25th day of April, which is earlier in time should revert to the position as of the res to its 25 day of April, 2018. The term, res, in law refers to a movable property, which may include company interest or status that has formed the subject of a given litigation in a court of law. According to the court, the sale of the company ought not to have proceeded since the defendants were all served with the processes for that order, based on evidences before the court. Implication The courts ruling implies that actions concerning the company, including the processes taken by the National Communications Commission to resolve the dispute by selling over the company; are null and of no effect, since parties had been ordered to maintain status-quo from April 25, 2018. In a reaction, however, the management of EMTS on Thursday denied the nullification by the FHC. According to the company; the court only decided on the issue of locus standi. The statement was signed by the companys legal adviser, Ore Orilade. EMTS however noted that it would appeal the ruling. The Management of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (trading as 9mobile) is aware of the news publication being circulated on online news platforms that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the sale of EMTS to Teleology Nigeria Limited. EMTS hereby states that these news reports are incorrect, misleading, mischievous and a total falsehood. The Federal High Court, Abuja did not nullify the sale of EMTS; the court on 1st April 2019 made an order for parties to maintain status quo as at April 25, 2018. As at the said date, EMTS (9mobile) was not a party to the suit before the court. The action before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court is not about the sale of EMTS (9mobile) but rather, the transfer of the license even without locus standi. EMTS (9mobile) has however appealed the order and also sought an injunction pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, the statement said. The senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Kabiru Gaya, has formally declared his intention to contest the office of deputy president in the ninth Senate, which is scheduled for inauguration in June. Mr Gaya, a four-time senator and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made his declaration on Thursday. He said he is contesting because he is the most ranking senator from the North-west geopolitical zone, Punch newspapers reports. The lawmaker is currenttly the chairman of the Senate committee on works. He was a governor of Kano State during the General Ibrahim Babangidas aborted transition programmes in the early 1990s, and served as minority whip in the sixth Senate. His declarations comes amidst speculations that the APC is contemplating zoning the position to the South-east. Mr Gaya, who debunked the speculations, told journalists that based on information available to him, the APC leadership is considering zoning the Speaker, House of Representatives to the South West, Deputy Speaker to North Central, while it had already zoned the position of the Senate president to the North-east. He also said the North-west zone ought to produce the deputy senate president since the zone gave the highest votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections. If the six zones are accommodated in the sharing formula for the National Assembly leadership positions, four of them contributed tremendously to the election of Mr President. The South-west, which has now got the position of the Speaker, North-east which has not got the position of Senate president, North-central has the position of deputy speaker. Considering the zoning arrangement, it is clear that the North-west has been left behind and I am a ranking senator from the North-west. That means the deputy Senate president position should go to North-west, he said. He added that there was nothing wrong with the North producing the president and deputy Senate president, nor will it be out of order for Mr Buhari to come from the same zone as the deputy senate president. Speaking on the fate of the South-east and South-south zones in the position sharing of the leadership of the ninth Senate, as far as the principal officers of the Senate is concerned, Mr Gaya said the remaining positions in the leadership of the Senate would certainly be conceded to the two zones left out in the presiding officers positions. The lawmaker has been in the National Assembly for the past 12 years and has occupied key positions in the Senate such as minority whip (2007- 2011), vice chairman, local and foreign debts, chairman states and local government and is currently the chairman, Senate committee on works. A special military court in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Tuesday dismissed a Flight Lieutenant, Martins Enwerem, for raping a 14-year-old internally displaced person. The soldier raped the girl, Zara Ali, while she and her friends were out searching for firewood at the outskirts of Maiduguri. Due to harsh conditions at the camps, most of the displaced persons fend for themselves especially in the area of cooking meals. The victim was on an errand to help her family prepare the days meal when the soldier raped her. The officer was also demoted to the rank of flight officer and will have to serve a jail term as soon as a superior military authority approves his sentence. According to the ruling of the president of the court, Yakubu Auta, a major-general, Mr Enwerem, was found guilty in all the three count charges brought against him. The counts are defiling, assault and disobedience of standing order. This special court marshal at this moment sentence(s) you, Flight Lieutenant M.I Enwerem NAF 5771 as follows; Count One; dismissed from the armed forces, reduction in rank from Flight Lieutenant to Flight Officer; three years loss of seniority on the new rank Landmark judgment This judgment came at a time concerns are being raised in Borno about the increasing cases of rape and sexual harassment of females in schools and IDP camps. Just last week, a Maiduguri based NGO, Kalthum Foundation for Peace, raised concerns about increasing cases of sexual abuse of young girls. Before now, there has been the rumour of how security personnel in IDP camps, as well as those in host communities, rape and abuse vulnerable women and girls. According to the summary of the trial as delivered by the Court Martial Judge Advocate, Aminu Mairuwa, the accused defiled a 14 year IDP on September 29, 2018, and was brought before the tribunal on three-count charges of defiling, assault and disobedience of standing order. The accused, (who) was on a special patrol in Dalwa unit was said to have seen the victim, Zara Ali and her friends, who went to fetch firewood. On sighting them, he ordered his soldiers to arrest them, accusing them of being suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers, and asked them to lie down, despite, not finding anything incriminating. During the body search of the teenage females, the accused officer chose one of the girls, whom he may have been sexually attracted to and dragged her into the bush. He dragged the victim into the bush and inserted his hands in her vagina where his eventuality defiled and assaulted the victim, said the official. PREMIUM TIMES gathered from persons familiar with the case that the soldier, after committing the crime asked the girls to leave at once with a stern warning never to mention (rape) it to anyone. But the victim, despite her age, was not only smart enough to report the case but also had a vivid facial knowledge of the rapist, the advocate said. It was gathered that Mr Enwerems action against the poor girl also irritated some of his soldier colleagues who openly testified against him during the trial. Mr Enwerem, 39, is from Imo State and had served in various air force units before he was posted to Borno State. The defence counsel, Abbas Alhaji, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, as going by the records of the accused he was a first offender. He also wanted the Special Court Martial to consider his contributions to the armed forces. Welcome Development The ruling has drawn applause from certain quarters. Kalthum Foundation for Peace, one of the local NGOs championing the advocacy and campaign against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), said the trial and conviction is a welcome development. We must commend the courage of Zara Ali and her family for agreeing to go public with the matter so that perpetrator of the crime can be punished, said Muhammed Bulama, a director at Kalthum Foundation for Peace. The group also said they have mapped out strategies of taking the campaign against rape to schools. We are also going to launch an SGBV whistleblower website where victims and concerned members of the public can either report, drop a hint, make complaints or give proofs of rape cases or other related offences. The website is at an advanced stage of hosting, and we are officially launching it on the March 1st 2019, Mr Bulama said. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed satisfaction with the resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen. The party said this vindicates its call for the resignation of the CJN following the allegations of false asset declaration brought against him. The national publicity secretary of the party, Lanre Issa-onilu, made this known while briefing journalists at its secretariat in Abuja on Friday. Events have proven the party, APC, right. Events have proven those Nigerians who believe Nigeria first and any other things after events have proven them right, Mr Issa-Onilu said. Mr Onnoghen is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for allegations of false declaration of assets. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also accuses the former CJN of receiving illicit payments and bribes from lawyers. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the suspended CJN resigned today. Mr Onnoghens resignation comes after the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) for his early retirement. The APC said the resignation was a sign that the nations democracy is slowly growing and no one is above the law. Now, you have seen the head of National Assembly, Senate President, you have seen him in the dock. Now, you have seen the CJN in the dock, the partys spokesperson said. So, one day, we will see a President that will also misbehave, in the dock, which now shows that nobody is above the law of this country that we are all equal before the law. So, anybody who finds himself in any position, should now begin to look closely at his own actions knowing fully well that today may protect him but tomorrow may expose him. The party said the CJNs action was not a surprise as it was expected, following the case brought against him. Nigerians knew from the word cooked that those allegations were not cooked up and if they were real, the next thing for the CJN to have done was to have stepped aside and the question, he said. The Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Sanusi Rikiji, on Friday said no fewer than 50 persons including members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed in Zamfara on Tuesday. Mr Rikiji, who revealed this during a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda emirate, attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state. The Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state. We were told that the members of Civilian JTF have mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50 persons including members of CJTF, he said. Mr Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional, saying confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members. Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits, he added. He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domain to avoid taking laws into theirs hands. This is the directive from Governor Abdulaziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel. We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at assisting them. The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon, he added. Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palaces continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem. He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allahs intervention over the security challenges in the state. We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumuat Mosque and Ulamas to offer special prayers in this regard during Jumuat prayers, the emir said. The Chairman of the council, Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims. Mr Abdullahi assured of the councils continued support to the state and federal government in fighting insecurity in the area and the state. (NAN) The police on Friday announced the commencement of a new operation to check banditry and kidnapping. Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu said Operation Puff Adder will tackle violent crimes, especially banditry and kidnapping in Kogi, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara. The Abuja-Kaduna Highway, which has witnessed several kidnappings in recent days, will also see massive deployment of personnel as part of the operation, police said. Mr Adamu said the armed forces and the State Security Services are also expected to contribute well-trained, well-equipped and well-motivated personnel towards the exercise. Mr Adamu launched the exercise in Katari Bishin District, Abuja Kaduna Expressway, where cases of kidnapping were reported throughout this week. Dozens of motorists were feared kidnapped in a string of ambushes, including the one that held the travellers to a standstill on Monday. On Tuesday, travellers were attacked at the same portion of the dual carriageway, during which a top Nigerian Meteorological Agency official was seized. Many of those kidnapped in both Monday and Tuesdays attacks had not been freed as of Friday night, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. On Thursday, the convoy of Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna ran into an active kidnapping operation along the highway. Mr el-Rufais office said in a statement the governors security detail help thwart the attack. Public support needed Mr Adamu said the police understood the severity of the crisis, but might not be able to successfully curb it without the support of locals. No Police Agency anywhere in the world, no matter how well-trained, equipped or motivated, can solely achieve its community security and safety mandate without the support of the community, the police chief according to a Friday night statement by police spokesperson, Frank Mba. He asked road users to be patient when they come in contact with officers deployed in the operation, saying that they should anticipate search of vehicles and passengers by uniformed men. Mr Adamu launched Operation Puff Adder barely four days after the Nigerian Army deployed its personnel for the phase three of Operation Harbin Kunama to tackle bandits in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto. The police did not explain how long the exercise would last. Mr Mba did not return PREMIUM TIMES requests for clarification Friday night. It was also unclear whether the polices exercise would run in parallel with others already underway, especially Operation Sharan Daji that was launched last year to combat bandits in Zamfara and other parts of the North-west. Although the operation has been led by the military since its launch, the police also regularly contribute personnel, and recorded personnel casualties alongside the Nigerian Army. The Adamawa State Government is to set up a Special Court to handle the growing cases of rape and sexual assault in the state. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bala Sanga, made this known Friday in Gombi town while inaugurating Gombi High Court Complex. The complex was rehabilitated under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme, funded by European Union (EU) through British Council. Mr Sanga said the court, coming up few weeks time, became necessary to address the disturbing raising rape incidents in the state. The commissioner said there was a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in the state, set up with support from EU and British Council, to attend to victims of rape. The Attorney-General said the victims would be given necessary support, including gathering evidence to prosecute suspected rapists. He said report from the centre was disturbing and expressed concern old women, children and even men had become victims of rapists. Statistics coming out are mind boggling; old women of 70 to 80 years were being raped! Babies of two to three years, and even men are being raped and the figures are staggering and unbelievable! It is, therefore, necessary that we take whatever remedial action to contain it, Sanga said. The attorney-general, who observed that there must be an underlying social problem, particularly drug abuse that promoted such bestial behavior, said government was also committed to look into that. According to him, more courts will be established as the need arises, to ensure speedy dispensation of Justice. The commissioner lauded EU and British Council for their support to the reforms in the judicial sector in the state and assured them of sustained support and cooperation from the state government. Mr Sanga also lauded the state Chief Judge, Ishaya Banu, for his commitment and support to the ongoing reforms in the judiciary. The Coordinator of RoLAC in the state, Hapsatu Abdullahi, said the RoLAC programme in the state had four components, comprising implementation of Nigerian Criminal Justice Reform agenda. Others, she said, were: access to justice for women, children and persons with disabilities and strengthening the fight against corruption. According to her, the component also include enhancement of citizens civic and public engagement in criminal justice sector reforms and the fight against corruption. Mr Banu also lauded the management of RoLAC programme and urged them to sustain the good work in boosting the capacity of the personnel of the judiciary in the state. He commended Gov. Muhammadu Bindow-led administration for its support to the judiciary, adding that in spite of its lean purse, the administration had been addressing the demands of the judicial sector. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that another highpoint of the occasion was the formal introduction of the would-be president of the proposed court, Justice Fatima Tafida, by the Chief Judge. (NAN) A civil society group, Federation of Lawyers In Active Democracy (FLAD), has condemned the Kogi State House of Assemblys resolution demanding the removal of the states Chief Judge, Nasir Ajanah, from office. The State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for the sack of Mr Ajanah for alleged financial breach. Reacting to the development through a statement signed by its president, Arome Husseini, the group on Friday in Abuja condemned the resolution and described it as null and void and of no effect whatsoever. The group alleged that the state governor, Yahaya Bello, was behind the plot to remove the chief judge and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the governor to order. They accused the state Assembly of acting as a puppet of the governor. This is another instance of the state governors intolerance of democratic institutions, the separation of power and the checks and balances guaranteed by the constitution, it said. The group said the provisions of the amended 1999 Constitution on the removal of a chief judge was ignored by the state House of Assembly. The I999 Constitution as amended Section 271(1) 292(1) (ii) (a) and the third Schedule paragraph 21 part 1 of the same constitution which provided for the removal of a Chief Judge of a state was totally ignored by the House of Assembly which they alleged has been degraded to a puppet theatre by the State Governor Mr Yahaya Bello. Certain conditions must exist and must be proven to be existing before a house of Assembly can even contemplate the exercise of passing a resolution to remove the Chief Judge of a state in the status sited supra Any government with even the most inferior of legal advice ought to know that you do not wake up, actuated by either malice or anger or inducement, to announce that you have passed a resolution to remove the CJ is if its some casual enterprise. The group alleged that the travails of Mr Ajanah started when he resisted interference by the governor in a criminal case involving a controversial federal legislator who he allegedly demanded must never be granted bail. Almost immediately after this story came to town a bitter, deliberate and sustained programme of hounding the judiciary and the CJ began to unfold in Kogi State. As a result of this, the staff of the state judiciary is been owed almost 10 months salary arrears. All allocations due to the judiciary since May/June last year have been illegally and unconstitutionally withheld by the said State Governor all in an effort to muscle the judiciary, FLAD said in the statement. The governor, however, debunked the claims of the group as incorrect. Mr Bello, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, on Friday said he respects the doctrine of separation of powers, adding that doctrine means all the three arms of government in the state are expected to operate independently without any interference. He has no interference in what is happening in the state House of Assembly between the Chief Justice and the Judiciary. The government of Kogi state would never interfere in what happens in the legislature and the judiciary, the governor said, through his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed. At least four persons and several goats and chickens were killed on Thursday by an overspeeding vehicle in Kano. Ten people are also currently receiving treatment at Gaya General Hospital due to injuries sustained in the crash. A witness said the accident happened at around 2 p.m. at Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State. It involved a truck with registration number, HA 369 DRZ, and a Mercedes Benz C class. The police have impounded the Mercedes. A PREMIUM TIMES correspondent who visited the scene of the accident saw carcasses of goats and chickens. Gaya Local Government Area in Kano shares a border with Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The driver of the truck, Yushau Ibrahim, told reporters that he was coming from Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State, conveying the livestock to Asaba, Delta State. He identified the deceased as Nasiru Usman, Abdullahi Ado, and one Mr Ahmed. He said the identity of one other is yet to be ascertained. All the deceased are residents of Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi. He said the vehicle was loaded with 550 goats and over a 1000 chickens housed in a locally made cages. He added that some of the livestock escaped to a nearby bush. He said the Mercedes Benz attempted to overtake him but saw an oncoming vehicle, then crashed into the side of the truck in the process. The driver of the Mercedes reportedly fled the scene, abandoning his car. The vehicle is currently at a police station in Gaya Division, Kano State, the trailer driver, told reporters. Road accident claims four, livestock in Kano When contacted, the police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the report. He told PREMIUM TIMES that the driver of Mercedes Benz who allegedly caused the accident fled the scene, probably to avoid mob action. Its a normal thing for a suspect to run away from an accident scene. He will come back to the station to report. The police have impounded his vehicle, he said. The Zamfara State Government says it will introduce numbering of lands and houses in the state as part of measures to address security challenges in the state. The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Dankande, stated this in Gusau, the state capital on Friday during a security meeting with Village Heads. Mr Dankande, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Haruna Sallau, said his ministry was working with the Ministry of Lands and Housing to come up with a policy on the issue. He said the policy would help government in tracing hideout of criminals, thus checking criminal activities in the state. We learned that some of these criminals are living in our communities. Some of our people give them houses to rent, while some sell lands and houses to them to serve as their hideouts. This policy will help us know the number of such houses and lands, as well as their owners, across the state, he said. He said the purpose of the meeting with traditional rulers was to exchange ideas on how to address the security challenges in the state. Earlier, the Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, had described the meeting as timely and a welcome development. Mr Bello noted that traditional rulers, as fathers in the society, had greater role to play in addressing challenges in the society. He said Zamfara was known to be one of the most peaceful states in the country in the past, but regretted that the situation had now changed. The most unfortunate thing is that some ward and village heads are supporting criminals in their areas; some are even giving information about their people to kidnappers and other criminals. This is very regrettable and disheartening, he said, warning that any of them caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law. (NAN) Ibrahim Abdul, the Commander, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State, says the rate of drug abuse in the state has reduced from three per cent to one per cent. Mr Abdul, who quoted a recent report, disclosed this on Friday when the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) paid a courtesy visit to Shehi Abdullahi, the Chairman of Fagge Local Government Area. He said the report indicated that Lagos has now taken over as the number one followed by Ogun then Kano State now dropped to number three. He said the success was recorded in the last few months after his resumption as the new Commander of the agency in the state. Since I resumed office, we inaugurated a special operation team tagged Operation Sharar Miyagu aimed at checking drug abuse in Kano state. With this effort, we have realised that the drug peddlers are the suppliers of fake drugs, which we are also doing everything possible to tackle it. We have arrested so many fake drug dealers in Sabon Gari area of the metropolis, Abdul said. Mr Abdul explained that the cases of drug abuse and the supply of such drugs have reduced following the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against the menace in Kano and other parts of the country. In his remark, the Committee Chairman, Buba Marwa, a retired brigadier general, said the fight against drug abuse is a great challenge to Mr Buhari, adding that this gave him the courage to set up the committee. According to him, the responsibilities of the advisory committee was to find the major causes of drug abuse from the grassroots and also suggest for solutions to the problems. Mr Marwa expressed confidence that the President would take serious actions on the report and its suggestions, adding that the committee will tell the president the suggestions of the public. One of our targets is to ensure the drastic reduction of the drugs supply into the country, which I believe this will contribute to the end of its abuse. We are ready to suggest for a serious punishment to the drug dealers and suppliers if found guilty, therefore, we need the support of the Religious, Community, and Traditional Leaders, he said. Mr Marwa added that the provision of more rehabilitation centres where the drug users would be rehabilitated and train them on skill acquisition programme will help in reducing the illicit drugs use. He said one of the major challenges in fight against drug abuse is the issue of arrest by the NDLEA and released by the court. He called for the amendment of law that established the agency to enable them arrest and prosecute the criminals without any hitches in judicial processes. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee had interface with traditional, religious, community leaders and over 500 youth in the local government area. (NAN) The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, is planning to zone the post of Deputy Senate President to his state, party sources have told PREMIUM TIMES. Top members of the ruling party familiar with the scheme said the chairman is working to favour Francis Alimikhena, the senator from Edo North, his senatorial district. The party had announced the endorsement of Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and decided to zone other principal positions. Mr Oshiomhole denied this when asked on Tuesday. Who said so? his media aide, Simon Egbebulem questioned on Tuesday. Nothing has been done. Nobody has said this is the person for that position. But the party is working on how to share the position so that every part of the country will have a sense of belonging. They have started the process and the party is backing Gbajabiamila and Ahmed Lawan for the position of speaker and Senate president but other position, the party is still working to sort out these positions. But it is believed that the position may be zoned to the South-south but nobody has been pinpointed. For two days, PREMIUM TIMES tried to reach Mr Alimikhena. He did not return calls or reply text messages. Sources insist zoning done However, some APC stalwarts who spoke to this newspaper said they are aware of efforts by the party helmsman to influence the position to his senatorial district. We saw a report in newspaper which earmarked positions to regions, a top official in the APC secretariat who asked not to be named to evade discipline said Tuesday morning. When we got to office, we asked around and the conclusion was that since it didnt come officially, it is only a rumour. But since Friday last week, the news has been flying around. Before now, it was Omo-Agege but this time around, the new thing is that Oshiomole wants to favour Alimikhena. All these things have caused a lot of reactions from people that noEven if that would be done, it should be on consensus. A top aide to a senator who is privy to information on the scheming criticised both the chairman and the senator. The aide, who also did not want to be identified, said Mr Oshiomholes move was already tending towards imposition. Now, there is tension in the party, because of the rumour that the chairman wants to zone the office of the Deputy Senate President to his state. He wants the senator representing him to be the next DSP. If youve been following developments, Alimikhena is supposed to be serving the interest of the party because hes deputy whip but he just got lost for four years. Its not even zoning, he wants to impose. Its going to cause crisis within the APC caucus in the Senate. They are not going to accept him, the source said. Mr Alimikhena, a second-time senator, is qualified to contest the position according to the ranking rule. Some of the ranking senators who have declared interest in the position include three-time senators; Oluremi Tinubu of Lagos Central, Ajayi Borrofice of Ondo North, Kabiru Gaya of Kano and Teslim Folarin of Oyo Central who is returning to the Senate after two terms served in 2003 and 2007. Mum is the word Asked about the scheme on Tuesday, APC Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, declined comments. I cannot speak for the chairman, I only speak for the party, he said. At a leadership meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and senators-elect last week Monday, the party had announced the endorsement of Ahmed Lawan to be the next Senate president. Also on Monday, Mr Oshiomole had said the APC would not share power with the PDP in the 9th National Assembly to avoid the 2015 scenario. He was speaking to new Rep members-elect in the party. In 2015, the APC endorsed Mr Lawan following zoning of the position of the president of the Senate to the North-east. However, he did not make it as the incumbent, Bukola Saraki, emerged Senate President against his partys wish. Mr Saraki was able to secure the loyalty of PDP senators and paid back by ensuring an opposition member became his deputy. He would later dump the APC in 2018, in the build-up to party primaries ahead of the recently concluded 2019 elections. Mr Sarakis reign was characterised by a constant face-off between the executive and legislature even before he dumped the APC. Broaden search for Senate President Group Meanwhile, a civil society group, Partners for Legislative Agenda for Nigeria (PLAN), a coalition of civil society and youth groups in Nigeria, has called for the broadening of the search for the Senate President in the North-east. The body made the call at a press conference addressed by its chairman, Charles Ibiang, in Abuja. According to PLAN, the search for a Senate President must be broadened to get the best man for the job. It pointed out that the idea of a handpicked Senate President is as undemocratic as it is undesirable. It noted that the Senate must choose a Senate President that can build bipartisan and nationalistic bridges. Mr Ibiang also said such Senate President should be able to stabilise the polity and bridge the unity gap. PLAN also explained that it was shocked and disturbed that in order to impose a candidate, the name of President Muhammadu Buhari was being dragged into the agenda of a few, under the guise of the vague term. According to the chairman, it must be clear that President Buhari has not shown any sign of supporting any project that undermines participatory democracy. The president openly stated that the electorate in states where supplementary elections are held are wiser now, and should make their choices. During the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries and contrary to APC National Working Committees threats, President Buhari encouraged aggrieved aspirants to approach the court for redress, and disagreed with the party on its undemocratic stand then, the group added. Godswill Akpabio, a senator from Akwa Ibom, has dismissed as fake, a news report alleging that he claimed to have the connection to influence the outcome of his petition before the election tribunal in the state. Mr Akpabio, who lost his bid to return to the Senate for a second term, is at the tribunal to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)s declaration of his opponent, Chris Ekpenyong, as the winner of the just concluded senatorial election for the Akwa Ibom North-west. The attention of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to a malicious piece of fake news titled: I will win at Appeal if tribunal judges refuse to perform Akpabio, with an equally malicious rider, says Appeal Court President in his palms. We want to state categorically that Distinguished Senator Akpabio never at any forum or private discussion uttered any of these words mischievously ascribed to him. The article is political propaganda manufactured from the pit of hell, Mr Akpabio said on Wednesday in a statement from his media aide, Anietie Ekong. Mr Akpabio said those who produced and circulated the story wanted to use it to intimidate and blackmail the members of the Akwa Ibom State election tribunal and sway them from the course of justice. The senator said, Our suspicion is that having accessed the quantum of unassailable evidence at the disposal of the election petition tribunal of how Senator Akpabio was robbed of his victory in the February 23, National Assembly election, these devious characters have resorted to underhand tactics to overawe the Judges from dispensing justice without fear and intimidation. We are of the belief that the sickening brazenness and impunity with which the election of Senator Akpabio as Senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) was rigged cannot be left unchallenged. It is not just about Senator Godswill Akpabio. The right of the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District to freely choose their leader cannot be mortgaged on any account. The senator said his opponents were jittery because of his confidence of victory at the tribunal. What the authors of this fake news seek to do is the desecration of the judiciary on the altar of propaganda. Treating an arm of government with such disdain must be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy. Once again we are confident that justice will be done as no judge worth his onion will bow to childish propaganda, the senator said. An Ebute Meta Magistrates Court, Lagos, on Friday ordered the remand of Olalekan Ogunyemi, ex-police inspector charged with murdering 36-year-old Kolade Johnson. The magistrate, A.O. Salawu, ordered that Mr Ogunyemi, be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons, pending advice from State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Earlier, the prosecutor, Kehinde Olatunde, a police inspector, had told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 31, at 5.10p.m., at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos. Mr Ogunyemi, 45, who resides at No. 17, Alhaji Ede St., Igando, was docked on a count charge of murder He said Mr Ogunyemi used his Ak47 rifle to gun down Mr Johnson. The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Section 223 stipulates a death sentence if convicted. Mr Olatunde, informed the court that he had a remand application order by the police to remand the defendant for the next 30 days. The plea of the defendant was not taken by the court. Counsel to the defendant, Sola Adeyemi, had urged the court to instead remand the defendant for the next 14 days as against the application of the prosecutor. Mrs Salawu granted the application of the prosecutor and ordered 30 days remand and adjourned the case until May 6. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Kolade, father of one, was shot dead by Mr Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti Cultism Unit of Lagos State Police Command. (NAN) Pobierz zdjecie Przeczytaj o zasadach pobierania zdjec Inauguration Address by the President at the opening of the Conference: The Downfall of Communism. 1989 in Central and Eastern Europe Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ambassadors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Professors, All Distinguished Guests! Above all - our Dear Guests from abroad, our Distinguished Foreign Guests, friends from the countries which at that time, like Poland back then, were behind the Iron Curtain. The countries which then, in 1989 and later, in subsequent years, won freedom, independence and sovereignty for themselves; everything that we enjoy so much today, the attainments which later led most of us into NATO, into the European Union, led us to become, not only in cultural and identity terms, but also in political terms, members of Western community. I would like to emphasize that we have always been members of Western community in cultural sense, in terms of our tradition, our mentality. This has never been taken away from us, and we have never allowed to be deprived of it - I want to stress it very emphatically. This was one of the factors that have just led us to become free and independent states, thanks to whom we have managed to break free from the Iron Curtain. I am delighted to welcome you today to the Presidential Palace in Poland; precisely in the Hall where the agreement concluding the Round Table's Talks was signed, on 5th April 1989, the occasion whose 30th anniversary will be marked tomorrow. But earlier, in May 1955, also here, in this very room, the Warsaw Pact was signed. Whereas in July 2016, the NATO Summit was also held in this Hall. These are the meanders which history takes. Of course, as we have just heard in the announcement, one can come up with various assessments of that time today. I am delighted, however, that those who took part in those events at that time and were shouldering the responsibility for what was happening at that time, are with us today. Likewise, I am extremely pleased with the presence among us of those among who, as experts and historians, examine those events, reflect on them, analyse those processes today. Of course, as I said, opinions and positions vary both among the participants of those events and among those who are investigating them: It was possible to do it another way", "it was only possible to do it this way", "they missed the opportunity ", "they tapped the opportunity", etc., and so on. It is easy to make such judgements today, especially for those who did not make decisions at the time. Speaking for myself, when I am confronted with the need to take different kinds of political decisions, I can claim with all responsibility that I know how difficult these processes are. Obviously, not every decision is ingenious, and not every decision leads to best results. I am in a position to evaluate those events from the Polish point of view, referring to those that unfolded in my country, which I could then observe as a 17-year-old, and then as an 18-year-old boy. My feeling at the time was that of great, immeasurable joy, great excitement and a great feeling that we have just approached something we had been dreaming of - that we have approached the freedom in which we can live and develop, that from now on everything will be different. I have already said here in this Hall that I was asking my father then: "Dad, when will it be with us like in the West? In five years' time? He said: "In five, maybe not, but in 10-15 years, there is a chance it will be the case. Today it is almost like in the West, but we still have a lot of work to do. Thirty years have passed, so today we can certainly assess these actions differently. Today we can recall the great figures of that time, who certainly made history and whose role at that time was absolutely groundbreaking. I am thinking of the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, the later President of the United States, and then Vice-President George Bush Sr.,about Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the then leader of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev. And I think, of course, of the Pope of that epoch, our Holy Father John Paul II, whose role certainly cannot be overestimated here, obviously the role that is most touching and moving for us, Poles. But when we look at the historical photographs, when we see Him talk to either Ronald Reagan or to Margaret Thatcher, we know that He participated in important arrangements and great decisions made at the time, and ultimately led us to our freedom. That is one point. Freedom would not have been possible without the mindset, without articulated will, without the sense that freedom is needed. In this connection, of course, I will look at it from the Polish point of view, because naturally closest to me are the events in our country. That being said I would like our friends from Hungary to know that we remember very well their 1956 uprising. I want our friends from the Czech Republic and Slovakia to know that we remember fully well the Prague Spring and everything that happened in Czechoslovakia in 1968. I hope that everyone remembers the Poznan Uprising of 1956 in Poland and the events of 1968 - events unfolding mainly here, in Warsaw, but also in other cities. I am referring here to the students' protest. That they remember 1970 mainly on the Coast, where ordinary people going to work were murdered, when for a few days there was a suppression of protests, involving the workers of the Coast back then. I am thinking of the year 1976 in Radom, Ursus, Pock, when workers once again rebelled against the authorities. And, of course, I think of 1980 - preceded by the Holy Father's first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979 - when Solidarity was born. Then 1981, martial law - the black night of martial law, tragic for our nation, involving deaths of many people again. Strikes of 1988 unrelenting attitudes. Finally, the Round Table talks, which today are judged in so many different terms. Recently, some of the public, some of commentators were outraged when I said that I thought the Round Table was needed. What I did was to reiterate the words once uttered by the President, Prof. Lech Kaczynski, who participated in these Round Table talks as a member of the Solidarity movement and as a lawyer of the Solidarity movement, discussing changes concerning freedom of association, i.e. trade unions - trade union matters, discussing issues related to labour law. And, of course, many others that were on the agenda at the Round Table at the time. In brief, he was not only a witness, but also a participant in those events. Today, the participants of those events are also here in this Hall, for which I would like to express my wholehearted thanks. Ladies and Gentlemen, Should the Round Table talks have been held? I reiterate: in my opinion, yes. They were of great importance. We can debate it today, but it is certain that they have led to one thing : to a bloodless revolution in Poland, in principle. They led to the fact that political transformations occurred in their wake: they led to the elections of 1989. And here I agree with the critics of the developments that later evolved in our country. I will put it this way: in 1989, on 4 June, elections were held that were not yet fully free, free to the Upper House, to the Senate, which was then reborn, but unfortunately only semi-free to the Sejm, the Lower House of the Polish Parliament. But it' is not the point whether they were completely free or semi-free. It is about what the Poles demonstrated back then. The Poles went and decisively, in an absolutely spectacular way, rejected the entire communist elite. In a spectacular way, de facto abolishing the national list of candidates, de facto breaking the Round Table agreements. And this was a moment that should have been a turning point, but unfortunately it was not. Because one can say that the Poles, going to the elections, voting with their feet and pen in hand, changed the decisions of the Round Table, and destroyed them. In principle, at that moment, they should have been null and void, putting an end to any compliance with them later, unfortunately, the compliance which continued in Poland for years, and proposed by the people originating from the Solidarity movement in the broad sense of the word. Then we should have started a real revolution and real changes in Poland, real democratic changes - as the public demanded, expressing its will in those elections. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Then came the black day, also on 4 June, only in 1992, when the government of Prime Minister Jan Olszewski was overthrown. Unfortunately, to a large extent this was done by people who also came from this broadly understood Solidarity movement. These events are extremely painful and tragic in our history, although they did not cause bloodshed, nothing like that, but they certainly substantially delayed the process of transformation in Poland. These changes - economic, honest, reliable, that would let us quit what was later called post-communism in Poland. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased that you will be discussing these topics. This is how I see it from my own perspective: the time of the Round Table, June 4, 1989, was for me the time when Andrzej Duda was running around Krakow with the leaflets of the Civic Committee of "Solidarity". For the first time are given a choice. Chose "Solidarity". I remember the slogan, I was wearing such a T-shirt at the time: vote for Jan Rokita. I was running in Krakow in a T-shirt at the time: vote for Jan Rokita, and encouraged people to vote - in front of the polling station, I remember as if it were today, in Krowoderska Street - even on the very day of 4 June, because there was no election silence. It was really a big time and it was a time when we felt the wind of change. These changes were coming. Today we, the Poles, are proud to be the first society, the first nation, which then, in 1989, so clearly said No to the communists. But, of course, we do not forget about our neighbours and those who shared the same fate with us at that time. We do not forget about the triangular Hungarian table, we do not forget about the extraordinary official funeral of Imre Nagy, we do not forget about the Velvet Revolution, about the attitude of Czechs and Slovaks, then still in Czechoslovakia. We do not forget about the attitude of the Germans from the GDR at that time, who actually demolished the Berlin Wall later on, and dismantled it with their bare hands. But we are very proud of the fact that it was thanks to those decisions, enabled by the Round Table taking place, twe can claim that we were the first. Those who initiated what was later often referred to by commentators and historians as the Autumn of Nations. Another time of great changes on the map of Europe and great political changes in Europe, which were the result of a great movement of social masses. We do not forget the Baltic chain, how the Balts fought for their independence, so that they can live in independent, sovereign states. We do not forget all those who lost their lives then fighting for freedom, whether in Vilnius, the Television Tower, or in Bucharest, where Romanians took to the streets against the Ceausescu regime, against the Securitate troops who remained loyal to him. Very many people died. Of course, we can assess these changes differently in our respective countries. Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, one thing is certain - what I said at the beginning - we are in NATO, we are in the European Union; we are certainly, in a political sense, members of the West. It is up to us how we wish to proceed with our own causes. I only want one thing - that we should continue to be together and that we should cooperate with each other well, in a friendly manner. And I am glad that today we have formats such as the Visegrad Group, such as V4, and that we have cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative today. So that we have the formats of regional and Central European cooperation that bind us here - we often recall that we share the same fortunes of history. It is also the Round Table in Poland, which is why I would like to thank you very much once again for taking part in this debate. I hope that these panel discussions and today's meeting will be very interesting for everyone and that we may be able to draw various new conclusions - after all, this is what research is for. Thank you very much. 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. POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH, an international leader in Breast Aesthetics, released today its official response following the ANSM decision to ban several textured implants and polyurethane implants from the French market DIEBURG, Germany, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics, an international leader in breast aesthetics and the only German manufacturer of breast implants, released today its official response following the French Agence Nationale de Securite du Medicament (ANSM) recent decision to ban what it considers macro-textured implants and polyurethane-coated implants from the French market. The decision is based on a possible association between textured breast implants and the development of BIA-ALCL (breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma).1 The new directive indicates that moving forward, smooth implants and those implants that according to the ANSM's own classification are micro-textured - to which POLYTECHs MESMOsensitive counts - is approved for use in France.2 The company will continue to sell their POLYsmoooth and MESMOsensitive surfaces in France. POLYTECH has officially expressed its objections to the conclusions of the ANSM despite the fact that microtextured and smooth implants are an integral part of the company's portfolio. The ANSM decision is not based on any scientific proof and surgeons and their patients in France will now be offered very limited options, that may not allow them to achieve a safe and optimal surgical result. The company does completely agree with the findings and statements of more than 22 international Plastic & Aesthetic European Societies in more than 20 countries. POLYTECH has recently broadened its product range and now offers the BLite lightweight implant with a smooth surface, as a unique and excellent alternative for surgeons and patients. The company will also continue to offer their textured and PU coated implants, which according to numerous scientifically valid clinical studies are safe, and allow for lower rates of the most common complications. "As a leading manufacturer of breast implants, it is our obligation to educate both surgeons and patients on the subject of BIA-ALCL, with evidence-based information, recent medical publications and our gathered knowledge," stated Wolfgang Steimel, POLYTECH's CEO, at the official ANSM hearing. "Even as it is a very rare complication, we take the appearance of BIA-ALCL very seriously. However, we believe that a ban of textured and polyurethane-coated implants is a false decision in terms of the overall patient safety, when it is based on the currently available facts" Mr. Steimel adds. POLYTECH also had the opportunity to present its position through the official industry representative of the Federal Association of Medical Technology e.V. Germany (BvMed), Mrs. Elke Vogt. "As we review the information gathered to date, there is no clear scientific evidence of an association between BIA-ALCL and a specific implant surface", Mr. Steimel continues. "According to the available information, it is impossible to rule out any implant type, including smooth implants, from a possible association with the occurrence of BIA-ALCL". This is confirmed by a recent update from the FDA dated February 6, 2019, that recorded a number of BIA-ALCL cases with smooth only implants. 3 According to the FDA, there are approximately 660 recorded cases of BIA-ALCL, with a seemingly higher occurrence in textured implants. However, in thirty percent of the recorded cases there is no information on the type of implant concerned.4 A study by Loch Wilkinson et al. is often quoted as reporting fifteen cases of BIA-ALCL with polyurethane implants.5 However, these cases occurred with polyurethane-implants manufactured by a different manufacturer, that lost its CE mark in 2015. While the current BIA-ALCL risk is calculated by the FDA as between 1:3,000 and 1:30,000 6 the risk with POLYTECH implants is of 3:1,100,000 implants sold, and the specific risk related to Microthane is less than 1:160,000. The overall data on BIA-ALCL to date, is based on the reported cases and not on prospective, controlled trials, as required by evidence-based medicine. "The ban on textured implants will, in our view, lead to a significant increase in the number of reoperations due to higher capsular contracture rates. Even though the French authority does not recommend, nor even suggest the explantation of the banned implants, patients may feel compelled to undergo reoperation and exchange their textured implants with smooth implants for fear of potential consequences - for which there is no scientific proof. The risks implied by a re-operation, or by anaesthesia, are per se higher than the BIA-ALCL risk according to published data." Mr. Steimel added. "We believe that patient education should be transparent, not only in regards to BIA-ALCL, but for all possible complications. Patients education will enable them to make informed choices about their procedure and implant type" Mr. Steimel concluded. "The different European authorities expressed their expectation that patient education and transparent information regarding BIA-ALCL and other possible complications, will become a priority primarily for the surgeons, but also for manufacturers. We are already taking steps to make evidence-based information available to the public." About the POLYTECH Portfolio The POLYTECH breast implant portfolio includes a wide variety of shapes and sizes, in four different surfaces: smooth, two different types of textures and implants coated with polyurethane-foam (PU): marketed since the beginning of the 1970's, the PU-foam that coats the implant is a three-dimensional matrix that has a different mechanical and biological interaction with the surrounding tissue compared with textured implants. Historically, textured implants were developed in the 1980's to mimic the shape and benefits of PU-coated implants. It is a very common conceptual error to consider PU-coated implants as textured implants. The mechanisms related to tissue adhesion and fibrous capsule formation are fundamentally different from textured implants: this tissue interaction with the polyurethane fibres is key to the low rates of capsular contracture.7 About POLYTECH With a global footprint in over 75 countries, POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH is an international leader in the development and production of silicone implants. Founded in 1986 in Dieburg, Germany, the company focuses on breast implants, used in both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery. POLYTECH is the only German manufacturer of soft tissue implants. All products are developed exclusively at the company headquarters in Germany, and are manufactured under clean room conditions. The company employs over 250 people. For more information visit https://polytechhealth.com/en * POLYTECH products are not sold in the US. Sources: 1. https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm239995.htm 2. https://www.ansm.sante.fr/S-informer/Actualite/L-ANSM-decide-par-mesure-de-precaution-de-retirer-du-marche-des-implants-mammaires-macrotextures-et-des-implants-mammaires-a-surface-recouverte-de-polyurethane-L-ANSM-ne-recommande-pas-d-explantation-preventive-pour-les-femmes-porteuses-de-ces-implants-Communique 3. https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/LetterstoHealthCareProviders/ucm630863.htm 4. https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm481899.htm 5. Loch Wilkinson et al., "Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Australia and New Zealand: High-Surface-Area Textured Implants Are Associated with Increased Risk", Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, 2017 Oct;140(4):645-654. 6. https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/implantsandprosthetics/breastimplants/ucm239995.htm 7. Szycher M. 1991 "Polyurethane-Covered Mammary Prostheses: A Nine-Year Postimplant Assessment", Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 5(4):282-322 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/847144/Polytech_Health_Logo.jpg SOURCE POLYTECH Health & Aesthetics GmbH NEW YORK, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Terry Bookman announces the upcoming release of his new book titled, "Beyond Survival: How Judaism Can Thrive in the 21st Century." The 184-page book is set to hit the shelves in May of 2019 by the publisher Rowman & Littlefield. It will also be available in eBook format as well as a hardcover on Amazon. "Beyond Survival: How Judaism Can Thrive in the 21st Century" Beyond Survival is said to challenge the current agenda, assumptions, mindset, and sacred cows of the Jewish establishment, which has largely accepted and become resigned to its communal decline. The book offers an alternative vision for the Jewish future. This includes the concept of the paradigm shift in which individuals can find an open and accepting community that joyously and creatively celebrates their sacred way of life. The book explains a future in which society can all grow and thrive. In this, his fifth and latest, soon-to-be-released book, Rabbi Terry Bookman takes on the establishment. He writes: "For the past two millennia, the Jewish people have become the world's experts at survival. Virulent anti-Semitism, pogroms, expulsions, exile, even genocide have honed our skills in this regard and made us strong. After all, who would have predicted that against all the odds of history, this tiny people would still be around? Yet here we are, both alive and well." A new challenge, power and acceptance, according to Terry Bookman, calls on society to develop new skills as well as a new agenda, to change from merely surviving to thriving. Meet Terry Bookman: Terry is a nationally known Jewish leader, author, educator, and co-founder of Eitzah: The Center for Personal and Community Transformation. Through his teaching and writing, he has reached thousands of community leaders nationally and internationally. Rabbi Bookman holds a Doctor of Divinity as well as numerous academic degrees and distinctions. He was voted one of the "Top 25 Pulpit Rabbis in America" by Newsweek. Rabbi Terry Bookman terrybookman.com 305-794-0442 Related Images meet-terry-bookman.png Meet Terry Bookman "Beyond Survival: How Judaism Can Thrive in the 21st Century" Related Links Contact Us SOURCE Rabbi Terry Bookman HATBORO, Pa., April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Azzur Group today announces the appointment of long-time Azzur veterans, Chris Mansur and Ryan Ott, to two new executive leadership roles within the organizationChief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, respectively. These appointments come after a year of growth in both service offerings and solution diversification among the Group's eight practices throughout the country. According to Michael Khavinson, Azzur Group CEO, 2019 is showing great growth potential for the company. "I am honored to have Chris and Ryan working together with me and all of our partners to support the progress of the companyespecially the execution of our mission," he said. Headquartered outside Philadelphia, Azzur Group is a nationwide network of companies working hand-in-hand with the world's leading life science companies to provide efficient, innovative quality and compliance solutions across the GxP manufacturing continuum. As one of the fastest growing private companies in America, Azzur Group provides clients with the guidance and solutions they need to remain innovative and competitive. Mansur joined Azzur Group in 2013 and since then, he and his business partner Ravi Samavedam have overseen all operations at the Group's Waltham, Mass. office, leading them to steady growth year over year. As COO, Mansur will partner with practice leaders to de-risk national operations and standardize processes and procedures in support of operational scalability. Mansur is also a representative to the Azzur Group Board of Directors. Ott joined Azzur's leadership team following the merger of CimQuest and Validation, Inc., which led to the organization's founding. As CAO, he will ensure the smooth and efficient management and execution of Azzur Group's business support platform, as well as identification and development of new business support capabilities required for continued growth and sustainability. Ott is a representative to the Board of Directors, serving as Secretary. These appointments follow a year of immense growth for Azzur Group, including the opening of a new branch of Azzur Labs in Cary, North Carolina, as well as expanded capabilities, such as facility solutions and on-demand clean rooms, IT advisory services, information technology recruiting solutions, and technical services. For more information about the Azzur Group family of companies, visit Azzur.com. About Azzur Group A nationwide network of companies delivering professional services across the life sciences industry, Azzur Group is dedicated to providing customers with practical and proven solutions from "Discovery to Delivery." Azzur Group has more than 250 industry partners, including 80 percent of the top pharma/biotech manufacturers in the U.S. As one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America, Azzur Group provides customers with the project management, consulting, facility solutions, engineering, validation, IT, calibration/maintenance, learning, and laboratory services. For more information, visit https://www.azzur.com. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Media Contact: Katie Kiley Brown, Azzur Group [email protected] 610.573.3893 Related Images azzur-group-logo.png Azzur Group Logo Azzur Group Logo chris-mansur-chief-operating.png Chris Mansur, Chief Operating Officer, Azzur Group ryan-ott-chief-administrative.png Ryan Ott, Chief Administrative Office, Azzur Group SOURCE Azzur Group Related Links http://Azzur.com Also returning this spring and just in time for the Easter holiday, Boston Market will serve up a delicious array of dinner ideas for a hassle-free holiday spread. For $119.99, families can enjoy a Heat & Serve Easter Meal for 12 that features a spiral-sliced ham or either a boneless honey-glazed ham or boneless roasted turkey breast (or a combination of both). Each meal also include an array of home style sides such as mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed spinach, cinnamon apples or sweet potato casserole, plus fresh-baked cornbread and two apple pies. All Easter Heat & Serve Meals can be picked up chilled in restaurants nationwide April 19 through April 21, then taken home to heat and serve while supplies last. "With multiple ways to dine and celebrate together this Easter season, guests can find everything they need at Boston Market to serve a truly special, seasonally-inspired holiday meal this spring," stated Frances Allen, Boston Market Chief Executive Officer. "Not to mention that when you let Boston Market do the cooking, you get to spend more time with your loved ones especially important during the holidays." The Boston Market Easter menu also includes: Heat & Serve Meals for 4 or 6 : Complete Easter meal include ham, turkey or both starting at $69.99 and consist of everything a host needs to serve a complete feast, including entrees , sides, cornbread and dessert. Essential Easter dinner for 4 or 6 is also available and contains an entree , sides and cornbread. Complete Easter meal include ham, turkey or both starting at and consist of everything a host needs to serve a complete feast, including , sides, cornbread and dessert. Essential Easter dinner for 4 or 6 is also available and contains an , sides and cornbread. Feast for Three: For only $34.99 , enjoy a boneless ham with three large sides, three pieces of cornbread and a whole apple pie. For only , enjoy a boneless ham with three large sides, three pieces of cornbread and a whole apple pie. A La Carte : Enjoy chilled, fully cooked main dishes, individual sides or desserts, which can be picked up in restaurant between April 19 and April 21 . Enjoy chilled, fully cooked main dishes, individual sides or desserts, which can be picked up in restaurant . Individual Easter Meals : Join Boston Market on Easter Sunday ( April 21 ) for a honey-glazed, hand-carved ham meal served with a choice of two sides, fresh-baked cornbread and a slice of apple pie for $12.99 while supplies last. For additional information on Boston Market Easter meals, a la carte selections, or to view the holiday schedule at your nearest location please visit BostonMarket.com. Follow us @BostonMarket. About Boston Market At Boston Market, dinner is always ready. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Boston Market Corporation has given time back to busy families and individuals for more than 30 years with quality, home style meals at a convenient value in more than 450 U.S. locations. Known as the experts in rotisserie cooking, the company prepares fresh chicken, turkey and USDA choice Prime Rib in signature rotisserie ovens and features an extensive selection of home style sides and made-from-scratch cornbread. As one of the country's largest providers of catering services, Boston Market offers convenient, same-day orders and delivery for corporate and personal events of all sizes. In January 2017, Boston Market officially launched its "Quality Guarantee," which acts as a continued commitment to all guests that Boston Market will serve all-natural and fresh, never frozen, gluten-free, whole chicken with no added hormones, steroids, antibiotics or MSG. For more information, visit the company's website at www.bostonmarket.com. For the latest news and deals, follow @bostonmarket on Twitter or join us on Facebook. Media Contact Seth Grugle, ICR 646-277-1200 [email protected] SOURCE Boston Market Related Links https://www.bostonmarket.com SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM, at an official event featuring the participation of the Government of Costa Rica and the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), announced the expansion of its Global Security Services Center, located at Heredia in the America Free Zone, from which it monitors security events for hundreds of clients in more than 130 countries. The expansion triples its operating capacity and will entail an investment of US$21 million over the course of 2019, underscoring the success it has had to date, as well as the international demand generated by the service it provides from Costa Rica for cybersecurity professionals. With this expansion, President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, stated that "we thank IBM's trust in Costa Rica's human talent." "We celebrate this good news and we reiterate our commitment to keep working to optimize conditions so that multinationals, as significant as IBM, will keep on growing and helping to reactivate our country's economy," he added. Matias Haidbauer, leader of Cybersecurity at IBM Costa Rica, commented: "With this investment, we will continue to consolidate the commitment to this country and our collaborators throughout the past 15 years. Our strategy is keyed to market trends, with considerable increases in worldwide cyber-attacks and to the quality of the service we provide from Costa Rica to our clients." Dyala Jimenez, Minister of Foreign Trade, noted that: "2018 was a record year for attracting new Foreign Direct Investment to Costa Rica, with 48 projects from a variety of companies. Of these, 28 were reinvestments by companies already established here. Today, we're celebrating IBM Costa Rica's reinvestment, which has chosen our country for the expansion of its Global Security Services Center. This great news challenges us to keep on improving as a country, in terms of human talent and connectivity, and as a Government, we are working on this. I congratulate IBM for their performance and thank them for their work that helps grow Costa Rica." In Costa Rica, IBM began its cybersecurity operations in 2014 and today, this center is the company's largest of its kind in Latin America, placing Costa Rica on the international map as a center of expertise in this field. The expansion will make it possible to keep on satisfying its clients all over the world for cutting-edge cybersecurity services. Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director at CINDE, observed: "We are immensely pleased with IBM's announcement, it demonstrates the potential we have as a country to become a global hub for operations of this kind, driven by its human talent." The expansion is also adding new services such as incident response and forensic analysis, administered managed detection and response and X-Force Threat Management to hundreds of clients all over the world on a 24x7 footing. The investment also includes the physical expansion of current facilities, as well as world-class training for local talent. The worldwide increase in cyberattacks on companies and their platforms, in recent years, has boosted the demand for professionals to protect them, and the professional association ISC, which keeps track of global figures on the talent gap, has established that the global shortfall of such professionals comes to 2.93 million people. The high level of skills found in Costa Rica and the talent positions Costa Rica as one of the countries with a big supply of cybersecurity personnel. Bilingual professionals and geographic location offer competitive advantages. About IBM: For more information about IBM, please visit https://www.ibm.com/cr-es/ SOURCE Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency Related Links http://www.cinde.org CLEVELAND, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon kicked off McDonald Hopkins' Leaders in Education Lunch Series on Tuesday, April 2, with a candid discussion covering the past, present and future of Cleveland schools. While he admits the CMSD still has a long way to go to reach its goals, Gordon shows how the school district has moved the needle since his installation as CEO in 2011, providing a blueprint for other at-risk urban school systems in the state and throughout the nation. The first edition of the Leaders in Education Lunch series was streamed live in front of a full house at the LoPresti Conference Center in McDonald Hopkins' Cleveland office. The video can be viewed at McDonaldHopkins.com. Topics covered by Gordon included: The academic emergency CMSD found itself in at the start of the decade CMSD's decision to partner with rather than compete against charter schools How CMSD and its partners changed state laws for municipal school districts in Ohio Demonization of Common Core Taking the lead in Social and Emotional learning standards Say Yes to Education and College Now of Greater Cleveland Gordon broke news by revealing a spectacular jump in scores for students who had to retake the state's English I and II tests in December. He also offered a compelling answer to an online viewer from Midland, Texas wondering what his city's school district should consider first in trying to go from the bottom 10 to the top 10 percent in its ratings. One of Gordon's suggestions: Be bold and "implement aspirational learning and teaching" and "not aspire to the low bar of the test." Building on the success of Gordon's appearance, McDonald Hopkins is excited to announce the second installment of the Leaders in Education lunch series featuring Cleveland Indians President of Business Operations Brian Barren at noon on June 25. Reservations will be available soon at McDonaldHopkins.com/Events. 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 KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohen-Esrey Development Group, an Overland Park-based housing development firm, today announced the kick-off of the conversion of a seven-story office building in Kansas City, MO into a luxury apartment project. When complete in early Summer 2020, Midtown Plaza Phase 1 will add 107 luxury 1 and 2-bedroom apartments to the rapidly growing Midtown area. The project owner is Kartel Capital of Beverly Hills, CA. Cohen-Esrey is the project developer and an affiliated company, Construction Technologies, is the general contractor. Construction financing is being provided by Arvest Bank and was arranged by John Perlik and Don Coleman of CBRE|Capstone, Kansas City. Construction is slated to begin next week. Midtown Plaza, Phase 1, is located at 3420 Broadway Blvd. in Kansas City, MO and represents the first phase of a multi-phased project that will eventually include Phase 2 consisting of commercial retail, office space and a rooftop restaurant, Phase 3 additional luxury apartments, and Phase 4 townhomes. Phase 1 will include 107 apartment units consisting of contemporary 1 and 2-bedroom floor plans, an on-site fitness facility, ample parking for all units and an outdoor activity space. The project is within a few minutes and walking distance to a variety of amenities, such as Metropolitan Community College, retail stores, restaurants, supermarket, hospital/medical facilities, public transits, and local parks. The project's proximity to Downtown Kansas City, The Country Club Plaza, and Westport will allow residents to easily access all attractions in neighboring cities. "This project has been a vision of mine over the years," said Joseph Kashani, CEO of Kartel Capital, "and now it's finally coming to fruition. We're excited to start the first phase and are equally excited about the long-term future of all four phases of this project." Tom Anderson, Managing Director of Cohen-Esrey Development Group, also expressed enthusiasm about the project: "The Midtown area is the next logical Kansas City neighborhood for multi-family development and this project fills a really important niche in the market. We're honored to have been selected by Mr. Kashani to help him develop Midtown Plaza." Kashani purchased the property in 2008. Plans began to be laid for an apartment conversion in 2016. Kashani and Anderson met soon after. After several iterations, the current plan finally came into clarity and the closing on the construction loan occurred this week, enabling the project to proceed. "I truly believe that local residents will connect with this project as it will serve the community with quality residential apartments and cutting-edge retail in subsequent phases," said Kashani. "It's been a long road but, in about a year, we'll have our first residents moving in." Cohen-Esrey Development Group is the development arm of multi-family housing company, Cohen-Esrey. Based in Overland Park, KS, Cohen-Esrey is actively engaged with the acquisition, management, ownership, and development of market rate and affordable housing in over 15 states and growing. More information: Tom Anderson, (913) 671-3363 Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE Cohen-Esrey Related Links http://www.cohenesrey.com SEOUL, South Korea, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Daily Associated News will host an exhibition of Park Soo-Bok, a notable performing artist in the world, at the National Assembly Hall on April 18-19, 2019. This exhibition will be held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Korean Independence Movement, 3.1 Movement. The exhibition are also co-hosted by National Assemblyman Kim Sung-chan and artist Park Soo-bok, and jointly sponsored by the Haein Art Museum and Daily Union, which consults not only art communication but also art products that combine works of famous writers with product designs of companies. Daily Associated News is currently working on the development and growth of the Korean art industry by linking to eBay auction systems in 25 countries. In this sense, it is more meaningful because the exhibition of the artist Park Soo-Bok, which is displayed at the invitation of the National Assembly, is one of the process for the development of the Korean art industry. Park Soo-Bok has held more than 130 exhibitions abroad and in Korea, and awarded numerous times. His constant challenge to overcome difficult time and hardship in Europe and Asia shows great impression and endurance to us. The philosophy of life and the energy he puts in the canvas can simply tell us why he is receiving attention from many people. "As if a new life were born in a global village, I would like to lead to the power of the paint brush and hope that the precious lives will be united in peace and love around the world," he said. As previous artist did, artist needs to practice the philosophy of life, which requires constant creation. The trait that always yearns for something new and tries to approach the expression of enlightenment is living and breathing is his work. His brushwork is free and bold. Sometimes heavy and rough, soft and relaxed, and the spread of color is sharp while gentle. Various touches contain a world of their own that no one can imitate. He wants to be an artist who expresses and seek changes what he misses and shed. And much of what he needs to realize in his life and saying, "We're thirsty for passion for the realization of our lives." He speaks of the world through self-introspection, and questions a lot of what humans should think through canvas. Painter Park Soo-Bok has a strong artistic performance that he appreciates with music in a momentary, fast sketch through inspiration. So, his name was Per-hamming Action Performance. His ability to complete works in a short period of time and shift instantaneous epiphany to the canvas is attracting media and galleries around the world. Very soon, Park Soo-bok will be an artist from 25 countries on eBay and will prove his skills worldwide with digital exhibitions and art products. In this addition, we also expected to see new focus from art world. Combining Oriental painting with the traditional Western painting method of filling, piling and scraping, the aesthetic of the East and West is capturing on one canvas, and he has earned a reputation in Europe as a prominent artist. His work is drawn in a single motion, so it cannot be modified. The question of "How is this painting suitable for Western painting?" But people have to admit that when they look at the work of artist Park Soo-Bok. Artist Park Soo-Bok is expected to be a new recognition of many of the problems that this era has forgotten and missed, and to be remembered as a pioneer in the flow of art and art field around the world, with many traces of the Per-hamming action performance. He was invited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement in Korea, he has a plan to have invitation art exhibit in April 18th to 19th in Korea National Assembly building on the 2nd floor to honor our ancestor's love of our own nation, their dream of wellness and world peace by inviting Japan, United States of America and Korea's artist. SOURCE Daily Associated News OKLAHOMA CITY, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Donna J. Jackson is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Lifetime Achiever in the field of Law in recognition of her role as Partner and Owner of Donna J. Jackson & Associates. Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC is a nationally serving entity that specializes in providing optimal legal counsel to those they serve. Dedicated to providing their clients with quality legal service, the firm specializes in the areas of guardianship, probate, durable power of attorney, trusts, estate planning and more. Comprised of a team of well versed legal professionals, the firm is stanch in their efforts of providing the finest legal counsel to their clients in both an efficient and timely manner. With over thirty illustrious years of experience in the field of Law, Donna J. Jackson is revered for her remarkable contributions to the industry. Establishing herself as a prominent professional in the legal profession, throughout her career, Attorney Jackson has attained extensive expertise in the areas of estate planning with an emphasis on Medicaid, VA Benefits, and special needs planning, including revocable, irrevocable and special needs trusts, wills, durable power of attorneys, and living wills. Attorney Jackson's scope of practice also includes taxes, probates, and business organizations. A CPA, while pursuing her educational endeavors, Attorney Jackson attained her Master's Degree (L.L.M.) in Elder Law. To further enhance her professional development, Attorney Jackson is a distinguished fellow of several organizations including currently serving on the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and committees including, the American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Society of CPAs, and many more. In recognition of her professional accolades, Attorney Jackson was honored red as one of the 2011-2015 Five Star Wealth Managers in Estate Planning in the Oklahoma Magazine, Go Pokes! When she is not working, Attorney Jackson is an animal lover and loves spending time with her four dogs. For more information, please visit http://okcestatelawyer.com/. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com "Russia's automobile market has maintained double-digit growth over the past two years. We believe the surging demand for cars needs to be satisfied with diversified products and services. That is why we are here; GAC Motor is committed to creating better products of higher quality that offer a pleasant mobile lifestyle for global consumers. We hope that Russian people enjoy the fine design and good quality of GAC Motor's products," noted Yu Jun, President of GAC Motor. GAC Motor is steadily laying out its strategic plan for the Russian market. The automaker first announced that it would enter Russia during its debut at the Moscow International Automobile Salon (MIAS) in August 2018. Its overseas subsidiary in Russia, GAC Motor RUS, is now in operation to prepare for product releases and the opening of new stores. Ever since its establishment, GAC Motor has been adopting a path that is "led by brand building, driven by high standards and defined by high quality", and has been ranked No.1 in J.D. Power Asia Pacific's China Initial Quality Study (IQS) for six years in a row. With a world-class car design and manufacturing system, GAC Motor's stand-out designs, convenient driving experience and cutting-edge technologies were highly praised by Russian dealers and consumers. During the Motor Show, GAC Motor signed cooperation intention agreements with several Russian dealers. GAC Motor exhibited the brand's comprehensive vehicle product lineup at the Motor Show, including the new energy SUV GE3 version 530, the GM8 and GM6 MPVs, GA4 and GA8 sedans, as well as four SUVs the GS8, GS5, GS4 and GS3. The GM6 and GS5 were shown to the Russian audience for the first time. GAC Motor will introduce the GS8 this year, and other star models in the near future, which are now being evaluated and certified by relevant Russian government departments: The GS8, the flagship luxury 7-seat SUV, and the first model to the Russian market, will have a special edition for Russia that offers an all-terrain driving mode, smart safety configurations, a state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system, fully-independent suspension system and high-performance chassis shock filters that offers an all-terrain driving mode, smart safety configurations, a state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system, fully-independent suspension system and high-performance chassis shock filters The GM8, GAC Motor's first MPV product that showcases GAC Motor's industry-leading technologies in its spectacular design, luxurious VIP seating, smart features and worry-free safety guarantees The GS5, a trendy SUV with an advanced engine and exclusive function which achieves the perfect balance between stability and comfort After 4 days at the Motor Show, GAC Motor will also join the Russian Association of Auto Dealers (ROAD) annual meeting and host brand promotion events on April 10 to welcome and communicate with more interested dealers. About GAC Motor Founded in 2008, Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor CO., LTD (GAC Motor) is a subsidiary of GAC Group which ranks 202nd among Fortune Global 500 companies. The company develops and manufactures premium quality vehicles, engines, components and auto accessories. GAC Motor has now ranked first among all Chinese brands for six consecutive years in J.D. Power Asia Pacific's China Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), demonstrating the company's quality-centric strategy from innovative research and development (R&D), manufacturing to supply chain and sales & services. For more information, please visit: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GACMotor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gac_motor Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/gac_motor SOURCE GAC Motor First launched in 2016, Haier's independently-developed COSMOPlat digitally integrates the entire factory process and supply chain, including interaction, R&D, and procurement, to better serve individual customers. This year's upgrade combines a diverse range of advanced intelligent manufacturing technologies and 5G to open up a new chapter of mass customization, pioneering the world's first "smart + 5G" customization verification platform with profound application possibilities for industries as diverse as ceramics, agriculture, motor home manufacturing, molds, and machinery. In addition to a large number of enterprise customers, Haier attracted several industry-leading experts to its booth, including Henning Kagermann, the father of the Industry 4.0 movement to digitize industrial production, and Francisco Betti, head of Advanced Manufacturing Industry in World Economic Forum's (WEF). "I'm thrilled to see the progress achieved by the latest iteration of COSMOPlat, now integrated with advanced technologies such as 5G and AI," said Kagermann following his tour of the Haier booth. "Not only is Haier serving large enterprises, but it is empowering SMEs to transform and upgrade as well. Thanks to the real-time updates and optimization, a larger number of customers can enjoy greater efficiency and a more user-centric experience." As the first Chinese enterprise to be selected to the WEF's network of "Manufacturing Lighthouses", a community of leading manufacturers that are integrating Industry 4.0 technologies, Haier leveraged the exhibition to co-host the WEF Lighthouse Factory Forum with Bosch, Phoenix Contact, Rold, Sandvik, and Tata Steel. Together, the companies announced the Lighthouse Program Hannover Initiative, which seeks to set and implement industry norms for standards, technology, talent, security, and more. As the leader of this cooperation, Haier's COSMOPlat will draw on its open ecosystem to promote and cultivate the initiative. Thus far, COSMOPlat has developed 15 sub-platforms for different industries, with 12 demonstration bases across six regions, including eastern China and northern China. The model has been further implemented in 20 countries, transforming clothing, food, housing, travel, health, education, and other industries so that global users can enjoy the enhanced lifestyle experience opened up by mass customization. *** About Haier Haier Home Appliance is the world's No. 1 home appliance brand, with a 10.5% global market share. Its brands include Haier, Casarte, and Leader in China, GE Appliances in the US, Fisher & Paykel in New Zealand, and AQUA in Japan. Aiming to provide interconnected smart home experiences for customers everywhere, Haier continuously enhances its products and services while making the transition to an open entrepreneurship platform. For more information, visit: http://www.haier.net/en/ SOURCE Haier Home Appliances "Karen has long been greatly admired and respected by leaders in the fashion industry and elsewhere, having carved out a niche as a thought leader, shaping fashion law," said Katten Chairman Roger P. Furey. "Because of her extraordinary skills and experience in all aspects of intellectual property, she is known as the best in the business, and rightly so. We are all very proud of her." A fixture in the multibillion-dollar fashion industry for more than 30 years and a regular attendee of some of the shows during New York Fashion Week, Ash has an enviable book of clients, representing luxury brand designers, apparel manufacturers, retailers and other clothing businesses in addition to her clients in the publishing, banking, financial services and consumer electronics industries. Ash has successfully and creatively guided matters involving intellectual property law, ranging from strategic trademark licensing to international distribution agreements. Ash has fiercely protected valuable intellectual property assets and handled the fine-print details when it comes to establishing holding companies and trusts, advising on complex corporate transactions such as the acquisition and disposition of major designer properties and businesses, and counseling clients in securitizations, financings and joint ventures. She assisted top designers in pioneering brand diversification, helping them branch out beyond clothing lines to other products and distribution. "I'm extremely honored to receive this award. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity and pleasure of working with a dedicated and talented team of attorneys and creative minds behind some of the most innovative companies and iconic fashion labels known throughout the world," Ash said. "I've been very fortunate to combine my love of fashion with my passion for the law." Among her many achievements was the groundbreaking work on a fashion brand worldwide sale, in the mid-1990s, which resulted in shared ownership of the trademarks and insulated assets from any potential bankruptcy in the future. Once unheard of, similar types of structures are commonplace today across industries. Ash writes a monthly column for Managing Intellectual Property, has been a contributing author for three books and pens a quarterly newsletter, The Katten Kattwalk, for her clients. Ash also has been a panelist and sponsor for legal and fashion industry events as well as an adjunct professor at New York Law School, where she teaches a course on fashion law and has been honored as a distinguished alum. Ash is Katten's pro bono committee chair for the New York office as well as the chair of the board of directors for the Volunteers of Legal Service, an organization that provides pro bono legal assistance to low-income residents in New York. Additionally, she serves on the panel of mediators for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Katten is a full-service law firm with nearly 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include corporate, financial services, insolvency and restructuring, litigation, real estate, environmental and workplace safety, commercial finance, intellectual property, structured finance and securitization, and trusts and estates. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, including a third of the Fortune 100, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit www.kattenlaw.com. SOURCE Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Related Links https://www.kattenlaw.com CENTREVILLE, Va., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Avenu Insights & Analytics has launched a holder reporting web portal for the Kentucky State Treasurer's Office that enables online filing of unclaimed property reports. The deployment of the holder-reporting website assists the State Treasury in improving its methods of managing holder reports. "I am continually working to improve efficiency at the Kentucky State Treasury," Treasurer Allison Ball said. "The launch of the online web portal is an important step toward simplifying the reporting process for unclaimed property holders." Upon taking office in 2016, Treasurer Ball eliminated a 30-day backlog in the Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division. To date, she has returned over $73 million in unclaimed propertymore than any state treasurer in a three-year period in Kentucky history. The holder reporting tool is Treasurer Ball's most recent move to improve efficiency of the Kentucky Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division. The holder reporting portal ensures that all holder reports are accepted free of errors. Files uploaded by holders are validated online in real time to confirm the required format. In addition, the holder reporting portal has the added expediency of secure online payments. For the 2018 holder reporting season, more than 4,652 holder reports have been filed online at the Kentucky State Treasury, representing 447,429 properties and owners, and totaling more than $38,462,989. "Kentucky is a great example of a state treasurer's office making the right use of technology to process unclaimed property reports," says Avenu CEO Paul Colangelo. Beginning with the 2019 reporting season, Kentucky will require all holders of unclaimed property to register and file reports using the Avenu tool. About Avenu Insights & Analytics Avenu Insights & Analytics has a long history of helping state and local governments boost revenue, optimize operations, and deepen community trust. Avenu's revenue enhancement and administration solutions enable jurisdictions to provide truly digital government that meets expectations of citizens, employees and elected officials. Avenu is a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital. About Mill Point Capital Mill Point Capital is a middle-market private equity firm focused on control-oriented investments in the business services and industrial sectors. The firm works with executive partners to leverage its investment professionals' experience, while providing strategic and operational guidance designed to drive long-term value creation in its portfolio companies. Mill Point is based in New York, NY. SOURCE Avenu Insights & Analytics Related Links http://www.avenuinsights.com NEW YORK and JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- KinerjaPay Corp. (OTCQB: KPAY) (the Company) today extended its warm welcome to Ms. Angela R. Wong as its new Chief Corporate Strategist. The Company strongly believes that this unparalleled appointment of Ms. Wong to its core Management team will help transform the Company into World class business structure. Ms. Wong is a seasoned and professional financial advisor, legal practitioner, business woman, as well as a one-of-a-kind investment strategist. With her almost two and a half decades of diverse professional experience in the field, Ms. Wong has consistently demonstrated her vision, passion and diligence necessary to be successful in the business world. Over the past decade, she has helped structure several funds both close-ended and on global scale for Impact Investments, Agriculture, Real Estate, Infrastructure and Winery. Recently, Ms. Wong also represented multiple Centennial Million category families within Asia region in Corporate and personal succession and wealth planning, which has led her reputation to burgeon into extreme value of her already-distinguished career. Ms. Wong is also an active collaborator with a leading legal office for Malta corporate listings and other corporate commercial collaboration for investment with families from China, India, Africa, European and Middle East. Ms. Angela also focused on asset and wealth management, capital markets and securities laws. Her previous experiences showed her practices at Allen & Gledhill, Arfat Selvam & Gunasingham (ASG Corporation), Tan Kok Quan Partnership, Deutsche Bank AG and the French law firm of Cotty Vivant Marchisia and Lauzeral in capital market and wealth management field. The Company's Chairman & CEO, Mr. Edwin W. Ng, commented about this breakthrough appointment saying, "We couldn't be more thrilled to have such as esteemed individual such as Ms. Angela Wong to be our Chief Corporate Strategist. I believe that good organization is built by good individuals, not just by a single man. With Ms. Angela by our side, the sky is our limit, meaning many doors will be opened for us to explore to our wildest imagination. However, my role is to keep everything as rooted as possible to the ground, making sure that the business of KinerjaPay remains strong and growing. We are extremely proud and happy to welcome Ms. Angela to KPAY family." When asked about her appointment as KinerjaPay Corp Chief Corporate Strategist, Ms. Wong commented that, "KinerjaPay Corp is at its most exciting period in its growth journey as it steps up its game to expand and poised itself into Asia Pacific & European market. With KinerjaPay's presence in Europe and Asia Pacific, an insurgence of corporate commercial collaboration counterparts and investors will see huge potential for the value of KinerjaPay Corp to exponentially soar. I am thrilled to be working with Edwin at its helm and his very dynamic team at KinerjaPay. It is a privilege to be contributing to Edwin and his team at KinerjaPay Corp as it stakes its presence to be the next online phenomenon to watch." About KinerjaPay KinerjaPay enables consumers to "Pay, Play and Buy" through its secure web portal and mobile applications. Based in Indonesia, the Company provides easy and convenient payment solution while shopping online at its marketplace platform. With its current omni-channel platform, users can perform various payment services such as credit card bill payment, utility, phone bill, healthcare insurance and direct transfer to anyone at their convenience. KinerjaPay is also planning to launch other eCommerce verticals such as travel market, delivery services, and online gaming in the near future. The Company's services are available through its mobile applications and on its website at www.kinerjapay.com. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about KPAY's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, KPAY or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by KPAY with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of KPAY's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause KPAY's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause KPAY 's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors summarized in KPAY 's filings with the SEC. In addition, KPAY operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. KPAY does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please see the risk factors associated with an investment in our securities which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on April 20, 2018 and most recently in our Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on December 21, 2018, pursuant to which we are offering 300,000 Shares of 11% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock at $25.00 Per Share. For more information, please visit our website http://www.kinerjapay.co . There you will find access to all of our past press releases and SEC filings regarding the activities discussed in this letter. Media Contact: KinerjaPay Corp. Email: [email protected] +62-21-2918-1336 SOURCE KinerjaPay Corp. Related Links http://www.kinerjapay.com/ CHICAGO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Law attorney Jeffery M. Leving will explain how he reunited a Chicago dad with his infant daughter after the mother campaigned to cut dad out of his baby girl's life forever, Saturday, April 6th on Power 92.3 FM or power92chicago.com at 9:00 am CDT. Before retaining Leving, the mother of the infant daughter had obtained a false Order of Protection against the dad. She then fled Illinois with the baby, changed the baby's name on official documents by forging the father's signature, and purchased a home with cash in another state. This desperate dad did not know where his little girl was and did not know what to do. He sought legal help from Dads Rights attorney Jeffery M. Leving to bring his baby girl back to him. Leving put together his legal team, led by attorneys James Hagler and Michael Ochoa, with investigative assistance from Detective Wayne Halick. The Leving Legal Team jumped into action. Through Detective Halick's determination, he located the baby in a distant state, despite the mother's multiple efforts to avoid being found. At the same time, Leving filed for emergency relief in Court to order the mother to immediately return the infant back to dad. The Judge agreed that this father's little girl was in grave danger with the mother. The Judge entered an Emergency Order requiring the immediate return of the baby to dad, awarding him custody, prohibited the mother from removing the child from dad's care or the U.S., and denied the mother any visitation with his infant daughter. Leving went to trial and the Judge awarded this loving dad everything he asked for. The Judge denied the mother's request to give her joint custody, and gave this wonderful dad sole custody. Without the Leving Legal Team's commitment and persistence, this great dad would likely have lost his baby girl forever. This little girl will grow up in a loving and safe home, and will always have her strong and courageous dad by her side to care for and protect her. To learn more about Jeffery M. Leving and his legal advocacy, follow him on Twitter and Facebook . Contact: Jennifer Whiteside [email protected] 312.296.3666 SOURCE Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd. Related Links http://dadsrights.com "I am pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Marandos. Tony has been with Pinnacle Bank since September 2009 and has contributed to the banks growth and success. In his new role, Mr. Marandos will be leading relationship managers from both Gilroy and Salinas," stated Jeffrey D. Payne, President and Chief Executive Officer. "With this promotion we are continuing to strengthen the Bank's position to grow within the markets we serve." Mr. Marandos began his career at Wells Fargo Bank as a credit analyst and loan examiner before joining Pacific Capital Bancorp in 1995 where he rose to Senior Vice President/Private Banking Division Manager of their Wealth Management Group. Tony received his M.B.A. from Monterey Institute of International Studies in 1992. Tony is an avid volunteer. He is currently the Treasurer for GoKids, Inc., President of the Gavilan College Educational Foundation and was previously President of Gilroy Sunrise Rotary. Tony is an avid bike rider and served as Commissioner of the City of Gilroy's Bicycle Pedestrian Commission. Mr. Marandos resides in Gilroy with his wife and son. "I am very excited to be taking on this new role as Regional President. Pinnacle Bank is the areas leader in community business banking and I am proud to be a part of the Pinnacle Bank team," stated Mr. Marandos. "I look forward to working with our clients and team of experienced bankers as we continue to build on the Bank's success." About Pinnacle Bank Pinnacle Bank is a full-service community business bank dedicated to providing quality depository and credit services in Santa Clara, San Benito, and Monterey counties. The bank focuses on commercial banking services for small to medium-sized businesses, offering a variety of products and services that combine the best of personal touch with convenient technology-based client service. Pinnacle Bank has locations in Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Salinas. For more information, visit www.pinnacle.bank Media Contact: Pinnacle Bank Jeffrey D. Payne, President & CEO 408-762-7146 SOURCE Pinnacle Bank Related Links https://www.pinnacle.bank BENGALURU, India and BLUE BELL, Pa., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Unisys Corporation today announced the winners of the 10th annual Unisys Cloud 20/20 contest, one of India's largest and most popular annual student innovation programs. This year's contest featured more than 270 colleges and over 300 projects, as students were challenged to think outside the box and develop innovative ideas. The project titled Vesa Blockchain Based Supply Chain Management by Sarang Parikh, Amith K K, Swathi R and Deeptha M of the Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, was picked as the winner. Eniyanilavan R, Hemachandiran S, Eathindhar M and Gautham A of Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, Puducherry College, earned second place for their project titled su PILVI. Third place was awarded to Amogh A Rao, Sana Parveen Salar, Suchithra Devadiga and Sharadhi Arun Patil of Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering, Mangalore, for their project, Smart Telematics System. The contest aims to bridge the gap between academia and the IT industry and encourage the participants to create innovative projects with practical application. Disruptive technology trends featured in this year's competition included cloud-based applications and microservices, cloud computing infrastructure, security and multimodal biometrics. After entries opened in July 2018, Unisys shortlisted the top 113 teams and provided them each with a mentor for guidance in project development. Winning teams were awarded cash prizes up to 4.25 lakhs and a trophy. In addition, Unisys has offered more than 20 internships and eight job placements to the finalists and winners of this year's competition. "Technical contests help build creativity and thinking capacity in students, and I am extremely happy with the impact that Cloud 20/20 has gained over the last 10 years. We are proud that Unisys has played a key role in creating and supporting talent from across the country," said Vishal Gupta, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Unisys. "Cloud 20/20 serves as a platform to equip students with the requisite skills to drive innovation in an ever-competitive industry like the IT industry." Sumed Marwaha, managing director, Unisys India and regional vice president, Services, Unisys added, "Unisys has been a torchbearer in technical and innovation led contests. In the last 10 years, Cloud 20/20 has been a platform for thousands of students across India to unveil their talents in some extraordinary projects and innovative ideas around disruptive technologies. This year our focus is on molding ideas to real life solutions. This recognizes that the Indian IT industry is constantly changing and requires these bright minds to create the technology of the future." Launched in 2009, Cloud 20/20 has traditionally been a collaboration between Unisys and academia. Over the last decade more than 25,000 teams have participated, making it one of India's most popular technical contests for engineering students. Under the Cloud 20/20 umbrella, Unisys has also conducted various programs created for different strata of the IT industry including annual hackathons for freshers, developers and programmers, Tech Series and Tech Connect for experienced professionals across the industry to meet and share ideas and construct a framework for future technologies. These programs also incorporate various trending themes such as virtual simulation, biometrics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Click here for further information on Cloud 20/20. About Unisys Unisys is a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions for the most demanding businesses and governments on Earth. Unisys offerings include security software and services; digital transformation and workplace services; industry applications and services; and innovative software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing. For more information on how Unisys builds better outcomes securely for its clients across the Government, Financial Services and Commercial markets, visit www.unisys.com. Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn. RELEASE NO.: 0405/9664 Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder. UIS-C SOURCE Unisys Corporation Related Links http://www.unisys.com WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergency visits climbed to a record high of 145.6 million patients in 2016, the most recent year available, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is an increase from more than 136.9 million visits in 2015. And, only 4.3 percent of emergency patients went to the emergency department with nonurgent medical symptoms, a decrease from 5.5 percent in 2015. Wait times continue to improve, notes the American College of Emergency Physicians. More than one-third (39 percent) of patients wait less than 15 minutes to see a provider and nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of patients are seen in less than one hour. "Emergency physicians are uniquely qualified to provide essential care that patients can't get anywhere else," said Vidor Friedman, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. "Nearly two-thirds of visits occur after business hours, when other doctors' offices are closed. Millions of patients rely on emergency physicians for rapid diagnosis and treatment of acute illness, while emergency departments are increasingly viewed as a hub for care and care transitions." Illness continues to outpace injury as a reason people seek emergency care and the most frequently seen patients are children or senior citizens. Patients age 15 or younger made up 18.8 percent (27.4 million) of emergency visits. Patients age 65 or older made up 15.9 percent (23.1 million) of emergency visits. Stomach pain (12.5 million visits, 8.6 percent) and chest pain (7.5 million visits, 5.2 percent) top the list of the most common reasons patients seek emergency care. Injuries accounted for 42.2 million emergency visits (29 percent). The leading causes of injury were falls (10.5 million visits, 23 percent of injury visits) and motor vehicle crashes (3.7 million visits, 8.1 percent of total injury visits). Heart disease was the leading principal diagnosis group among the diseases that most commonly resulted in hospital admission from the emergency department. Almost 60 percent of emergency care was delivered outside of traditional "business hours" (8am-5pm). And, 69 percent of hospital inpatients are processed through the emergency department. There was no change in the percentage of care delivered during traditional business hours (41 percent). "Emergency physicians are proud to provide care to anyone, anytime," said Dr. Friedman. "Emergency care is growing more complex and some of the larger trends that will impact emergency department planning and resource discussions include the rising number of elderly patients, preventing and treating opioid abuse, and the role of the emergency department in treating and managing patients with mental illness." Other highlights: Median time to see a physician or other provider decreased to 17 minutes. The median visit length is about 180 minutes, which includes time with the physician or other provider, or other clinical services. In 2016, 15.8 percent of patients arrived at the emergency department by ambulance, representing about 24 million ambulance transports. Hospital admission or transfer resulted from 17.4 million visits. A patient admitted to the hospital from the emergency department will stay in the hospital an average of 4.5 days. There were 2.2 million emergency visits by patients living in nursing homes, one-third of which resulted in hospital admission. More than 5.5 million patients visited the emergency department with a primary diagnosis of mental disorder. Of those, 2.4 million visits involved a mental health professional seeing a patient in the emergency department. Patient visits resulting in hospital admission for mental health issues reached more than 2.1 million, which is 5,930 patient visits every day. The number of homeless patients increased from 0.6 percent to 1 percent of total emergency visits. The most frequent source of payment was Medicaid or CHIP (37.7 percent of visits), followed by private insurance (31.8 percent), Medicare (21.6 percent) or no insurance (8.4 percent). The CDC data does not include freestanding emergency departments or urgent care centers. The CDC National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey is available here. ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Related Links http://www.acep.org NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization, today announced that it earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for its 13th consecutive year. According to Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator, this top distinction demonstrates Action Against Hunger's sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. "Action Against Hunger's exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers," said Michael Thatcher, President & CEO, Charity Navigator. "Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive our 4-star rating. This adds Action Against Hunger to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world's most pressing challenges. With its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they support Action Against Hunger." "We're honored to again receive Charity Navigator's highest rating," said Andrea Tamburini, CEO, Action Against Hunger. "Our careful financial stewardship and the generous support of our donors allows us to deliver lifesaving malnutrition treatment to millions of people, across nearly 50 countries. As the world's hunger specialist, we are committed to creating better ways to deal with hunger. Our goal is to double the number of children who receive urgent hunger care, from three million to six million, by 2020." About Action Against Hunger Action Against Hunger is the world's hunger specialist and leader in a global movement that aims to end life-threatening hunger for good within our lifetimes. For 40 years, the humanitarian organization has been on the front lines, treating and preventing hunger across nearly 50 countries. It served more than 20 million people in 2017 alone. About Charity Navigator Charity Navigator is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of more than 8,000 charities. Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501(c)(3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America's charitable givers. SOURCE Action Against Hunger Related Links https://www.actionagainsthunger.org TORONTO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Adventus Zinc Corporation ("Adventus") (TSX-V: ADZN;OTCQX: ADVZF) and Salazar Resources Limited ("Salazar") (TSX-V: SRL) (collectively the "Partners") are pleased to announce the completion of helicopter-supported, airborne Mobile MagnetoTellurics ("MobileMT") regional geophysical survey for its Santiago and Pijili projects in Ecuador. The Santiago project is a single 2,350-hectare mining concession located in Loja Province, adjacent to a project that is the subject of an option and farm-in Heads of Agreement between Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. and Newcrest Mining Limited that was announced on February 19, 2019. The Pijili project is comprised of three concessions totaling 3,246-hectares and is located 150 kilometres southeast of the major port city of Guayaquil. The survey blocks for Santiago and Pijili and projects were flown in a systematic grid pattern to ensure full coverage and depth penetration. A 150-metre line spacing was planned for both projects that resulted in a budgeted total of approximately 1,830-line kilometres. Field crews successfully completed 94.2% of line-kilometres at Santiago and 91.4% line-kilometres at Pijili. Christian Kargl-Simard, President and CEO of Adventus, commented: "The completion of the airborne geophysical program is a major milestone for our Exploration Alliance with Salazar on these two prospective copper-gold porphyry and epithermal gold-silver projects. Our exploration team continues to generate data on both projects through surficial geochemistry and prospecting that will be interpreted in conjunction with the geophysical results in order to define high priority drill targets for 2019 and beyond." Data acquired from the MobileMT system is now being processed for inclusion in a target generation initiative for the Santiago and Pijili projects. Geophysical results from the MobileMT survey will be merged with all available geoscience data to create a priority listing of targets for follow-up in the field. Once validated, the Partners will select their final high priority targets for drilling. The MobileMT equipment is now being moved to the Curipamba project where a 2,379-line kilometre survey, covering the entirety of the nearly 22,000-hectare land position, is planned. Once the geophysical results have been interpreted and integrated with other exploration survey results, the Partners have budgeted and plan to complete 6,000 metres of exploration drilling at Curipamba later in 2019. Qualified Person The technical information of this news release has been reviewed and verified as accurate by Mr. Jason Dunning, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration for Adventus, a non-Independent Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101. About Adventus Adventus is a well-financed exploration and project development company, focused primarily in Ecuador. Its strategic shareholders include Altius Minerals Corporation, Greenstone Resources LP, Resource Capital Funds, and Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. The focus of Adventus is the advancement of the Curipamba copper-gold-zinc project in Ecuador as part of an earn-in agreement to obtain a 75% ownership interest. In addition, Adventus is engaged in a country-wide exploration alliance with its partners in Ecuador, incorporating the Pijili and Santiago projects to date. Elsewhere globally, Adventus owns a large prospective mineral land package in Ireland, part of which is subject to a transaction involving BMEx Limited and, through its ownership interest in Canstar Resources Inc., is actively participating in the exploration upside of a prospective mineral land package in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Adventus is based in Toronto, Canada, and is listed on the TSX-V under the symbol ADZN and trades on the OTCQX under the symbol ADVZF. About Salazar Salazar is a mineral resource company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in Ecuador. The company has a proven Ecuadorian discovery team led by ex-head of Newmont Ecuador, Fredy Salazar; a team of 40 people including 15 geologists; three drill rigs and an unrivalled Ecuadorian 'grass roots' network. The Salazar team has been involved with many discoveries in Ecuador, including Aurelian's Fruta Del Norte discovery, the Mozo deposit, ex-Newmont's Cangrejos Project and International Minerals' Rio Blanco and Gaby Deposit. Salazar aspires to be Ecuador's leading project generator with the right partners at the right time making the company self-funding. Salazar has a joint venture with Adventus on the Curipamba VMS discovery, whereby Adventus can earn 75% of the project by funding exploration and development expenditures of US$25 million before 2024. A feasibility study is expected to be completed during 2020, after which Adventus is required to fund 100% of the development and construction expenditures to commercial production. In addition, Salazar has a funded exploration alliance with Adventus on two other projects, Pijili and Santiago, within a defined area of interest. Salazar is advancing its 100% owned Ruminahui, Macara Mina, Bonanza and Tingo projects with the aim of making Ecuador's next significant copper-gold discovery. 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 news release. This press release contains "forward -looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any 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, identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending", "intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that Adventus and Salazar expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Although Adventus and Salazar have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, 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 information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Adventus and Salazar undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE Adventus Zinc Corporation Related Links www.salazarresources.com DALLAS, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") today announced details for the release of its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. Ashford Trust plans to issue its earnings release for the first quarter after the market closes on Thursday, May 2, 2019, and will host a conference call on Friday, May 3, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (323) 794-2423. A replay of the conference call will be available through Friday, May 10, 2019, by dialing (719) 457-0820 and entering the confirmation number, 2702349. The live broadcast of Ashford Trust's quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company's web site, www.ahtreit.com on Friday, May 3, 2019, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue for approximately one year. Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing opportunistically in the hospitality industry in upper upscale, full-service hotels. Ashford has created an Ashford App for the hospitality REIT investor community. The Ashford App is available for free download at Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store by searching "Ashford." SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.ahtreit.com OLD BRIDGE, N.J., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC today announced that Asian Food Markets, a chain of grocery stores focusing on East Asian packaged, fresh and prepared food, has signed a lease for a 43,152-square-foot anchor space at Plainsboro Plaza Shopping Center in Plainsboro, N.J., which is owned by Onyx Equities. The store is projected to open in the next several months. R.J. Bruneilli's Pete Nicholson brokered the transaction on behalf of Asian Food Markets in his capacity as exclusive leasing representative for the chain in NJ, NY, and PA Asian Food Markets' store in Marlboro Township, NJ Plainsboro Plaza, located at the intersection of Schalks Crossing and Scudders Mill Roads, is a 220,000-square-foot center currently anchored by Planet Fitness, CVS and Lightbridge Academy. Asian Food Markets, which is relocating from a smaller Plainsboro store at Princeton Meadows Shopping Center where it has served the Plainsboro market for over 15 years, will occupy the property's anchor space that previously housed SuperFresh. Asian Food Markets was founded in 1992 with a single location in Edison, N.J. and has expanded throughout New Jersey. The company currently operates five locations in Jersey City, North Plainfield, Piscataway, Marlboro and Plainsboro. The chain is currently looking for additional sites in northern New Jersey and New York City areas with a high concentration of Eastern and Central Asian residents, notes R.J. Brunelli Senior Sales Associate Pete Nicholson, who brokered the Plainsboro Plaza transaction on behalf of Asian Food Markets. R.J. Brunelli serves as exclusive leasing representative for the chain in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. About R.J. Brunelli & Co. R.J. Brunelli & Co. serves as exclusive broker for 37 existing retail properties with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of approximately 2.0 million square feet, and six properties for sale. The properties are located throughout New Jersey. The firm also serves as exclusive or preferred tenant representative for approximately 20 retail, restaurant and service chains. These include representation in various New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania counties for such major companies as Dollar Tree, Sally Beauty Supply, TCC Verizon Wireless, Jersey Strong, Urban Bricks Pizza, Modern Acupuncture, and European Wax Center. Press contacts: At R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC, Danielle Brunelli, President, (732) 721-5800; at Parness & Associates Public Relations, Bill Parness or Lisa Kreda, [email protected] SOURCE R.J. Brunelli & Co. Related Links http://rjbrunelli.com Company Submitted Best Overall Concept, Paving Way to Establish Local Production TSX |NYSE: ACB EDMONTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora" or the "Company") (TSX: ACB) (NYSE: ACB) (Frankfurt: 21P; WKN: A1C4WM) announced today that the Company has been selected by the German Bundesinstitut fur Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) as one of three winners in the public tender to cultivate and distribute medical cannabis in Germany. The contract will be formalized at the earliest on April 17, 2019, pending the outcome of an appeal procedure on which a ruling is anticipated by April 10, 2019. The tender saw 79 companies participating, with the winners able to establish production in Germany upon the completion of the contract associated with the tender. The selection process was based on the submission of a concept for domestic cannabis production, delivery and pricing. Aurora's concept, judged on criteria such as facility design, quality, security and logistics, received the highest ranking out of all concepts submitted, validating the Company's leadership in integrated cultivation, production and delivery. The Company was awarded the maximum number of 5 of the 13 lots in the tender over a period of four years with a minimum supply of 4000kg total. The cannabis produced will be sold to the German government and supplied to wholesalers for distribution to pharmacies. "We are very proud to have been selected as one of only three companies by the German government, which is a great achievement by our team," said Neil Belot, Chief Global Business Development Officer. "Having the highest rated concept is a strong validation of the Aurora Standard cultivation philosophy, as well as of our track record in the delivery of safe and high-quality medical cannabis products to the German system. We commenced delivering dried cannabis flower from Canada to the German market in 2017, and recently added cannabis extracts to our offerings for German patients. Winning the tender reflects a natural evolution for Aurora, establishing a more prominent local footprint in this important international market with over 82 million people." Dr. Florian Holzapfel of Aurora Deutschland GmbH, added, "Being one of the winners in this tender reflects our ability to work with international governments and establish ourselves as a trusted partner in multiple global jurisdictions. Upon finalization of the allotment we will commence with our project to construct a state-of-the-art cannabis production facility to further service German patients with safe, high-quality cannabis." Facility The Company's concept focused on the construction of a highly secure, state-of-the-art, EU GMP compliant indoor cultivation facility with flexibility for future growth. The new facility will be located at the industrial park in Leuna, Saxony Anhalt, near Leipzig. The Leuna industrial park provides all required industrial and logistical infrastructure required for the operation of the facility, with a considerable labour market to draw from. The facility is designed to have capacity in excess of the tendered amounts to provide flexibility in meeting future growth. About Aurora Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with funded capacity in excess of 500,000 kg per annum and sales and operations in 24 countries across five continents, Aurora is one of the world's largest and leading cannabis companies. Aurora is vertically integrated and horizontally diversified across every key segment of the value chain, from facility engineering and design to cannabis breeding and genetics research, cannabis and hemp production, derivatives, high value-add product development, home cultivation, wholesale and retail distribution. Highly differentiated from its peers, Aurora has established a uniquely advanced, consistent and efficient production strategy, based on purpose-built facilities that integrate leading-edge technologies across all processes, defined by extensive automation and customization, resulting in the massive scale production of high quality product at low cost. Intended to be replicable and scalable globally, our production facilities are designed to produce cannabis of significant scale, with high quality, industry-leading yields, and low per gram production costs. Each of Aurora's facilities is built to meet EU GMP standards, and its first production facility, the recently acquired MedReleaf Markham facility, and its wholly owned European medical cannabis distributor Aurora Deutschland have achieved this level of certification. In addition to the Company's rapid organic growth and strong execution on strategic M&A, which to date includes 15 wholly owned subsidiary companies MedReleaf, CanvasRX, Peloton Pharmaceutical, Aurora Deutschland, H2 Biopharma, Urban Cultivator, BC Northern Lights, Larssen Greenhouses, CanniMed Therapeutics, Anandia Labs, HotHouse Consulting, MED Colombia, Agropro, Borela, and ICC Labs Aurora is distinguished by its reputation as a partner and employer of choice in the global cannabis sector, having invested in and established strategic partnerships with a range of leading innovators, including: Radient Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RTI), Hempco Food and Fiber Inc. (TSXV: HEMP), Cann Group Ltd. (ASX: CAN), Micron Waste Technologies Inc. (CSE: MWM), Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO), Capcium Inc. (private), Evio Beauty Group (private), Wagner Dimas (private), CTT Pharmaceuticals (OTCC: CTTH), Alcanna Inc. (TSX: CLIQ) and High Tide Inc. (CSE:HITI). Aurora's Common Shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "ACB", and are a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index. For more information about Aurora, please visit our investor website, investor.auroramj.com Neither the TSX, NYSE nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX and NYSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Terry Booth, CEO Aurora Cannabis Inc. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"), including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the performance of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, but are not limited to statements regarding the formalization of the contract associated with the tender, the outcome of the appeal procedure, the construction and completion of the Company's production facility in Germany, and the production capacity of the facility. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are 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 projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc. Related Links https://auroramj.com/ FRANKLIN, Tenn., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- John Giffen, a real estate broker, multi-million-dollar REALTOR, educator and author, published "Do You Have a Minute? An Award-Winning Real Estate Managing Broker Reveals Keys for Industry Success" in November 2018. "Do You Have a Minute?" is a resource guide for both the new and experienced real estate professional. Readers will find indispensable insight and advice from one of the real estate industry's most passionate brokers. The book's content covers a wide array of topics, including starting a real estate business, client management, assisting clients in selling and purchasing properties, managing the transaction from "contract to close," professionalism and expertise, and how to survive in an ever-changing real estate world. Giffen also provides more than two dozen charts, checklists, scripts and forms that agents may adapt for their use. There is already great praise for the book. Gennifer Mallard, REALTOR, writes, "Fantastic book for all real estate agents. Over 35 years in the industry, and I still found this book to be packed full of valuable information. Enjoyed the author's humor and especially fresh perspectives on difficult situations. I have already seen an increase in my business by implementing what I learned. More importantly, reduced my stress level by having a new approach to many of the situations we encounter daily. It's a must read!" Giffen is director of broker operations for Benchmark Realty LLC, one of the fastest-growing independent real estate companies in North America. He is also a Tennessee Real Estate Commission-approved course provider and instructor, as well as the author of several continuing education courses on real estate. In 2014, Giffen was named REALTOR of the Year by the Williamson County Association of REALTORS. "Do You Have a Minute?" is available on Amazon in paperback, audiobook and for Kindle. It also can be ordered through most retail booksellers. For more information about the book and Giffen, visit DoYouHaveaMinuteBook.com. About John Giffen John Giffen, an award-winning real estate broker, manager, multi-million-dollar REALTOR and educator, holds numerous industry designations and certifications in the real estate industry. He is the author of "Do You Have a Minute? An Award-Winning Real Estate Managing Broker Reveals Keys for Industry Success." For more information, visit JohnGiffen.com. Media Contact: John Giffen Phone: 615.308.5900 Email: [email protected] Related Files Praise for Do You Have a Minute.docx Related Images do-you-have-a-minute.jpg john-m-giffen.jpg marketing-flyer.png Related Links Book Website John Giffen's Blog Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pes3NIM45kY SOURCE John Giffen Related Links https://johngiffen.com PANAMA CITY, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Date and time: Wednesday, April 17, 2019 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Presenting for Bladex: Mr. Gabriel Tolchinsky, Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Ana Graciela de Mendez, Chief Financial Officer To participate, please dial: (800) 311-9401 (U.S. Participants) (334) 323-7224 (From outside the U.S.) Conference ID: 8034 This event will be webcast live at www.bladex.com Bladex's First Quarter 2019 Earnings Release will be announced on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 before the market opens and will be available on the Bank's corporate website, along with the webcast presentation. Contact Information: Monica Cosulich VP, Finance and Investor Relations E-mail address: [email protected] Tel: +507 210-8563 SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex) Related Links http://www.bladex.com MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Editorial Advisory and Securities Review Committee of BetterInvesting Magazine today announced Microsoft Corporation (NDQ: MSFT) as its June 2019 "Stock to Study" and Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) as its June 2019 "Undervalued Stock" for investors' informational and educational use. "The committee selected Microsoft for its continuing growth opportunities after reinventing itself coupled with a reasonable current valuation," said Adam Ritt, editor of BetterInvesting Magazine. "For the Undervalued selection, the committee cited Southwest Airlines' growth opportunities, such as the new California-Hawaii routes, and ability to overcome current headwinds." Check BetterInvesting's June/July issue for more details about these selections. Go to the trial version of BetterInvesting's online tools to study the investment potential of Microsoft and Southwest Airlines by viewing their fundamental data and applying judgments. Committee members are Robert M. Bilkie, Jr., CFA; Daniel J. Boyle, CFA; Marisa Bradbury, CFA; Philip S. Dano, CFA; Maury Elvekrog, CFA; Walter J. Kirchberger, CFA; and Adam Ritt. As stated, the BetterInvesting committee's Stock to Study and Undervalued Stock choices are for the informational and educational uses of investors and are not intended as investment recommendations. BetterInvesting urges investors to educate themselves about the stock market so they can make informed decisions about stock purchases. About BetterInvesting BetterInvesting is a national nonprofit organization that has been empowering individual investors since 1951. Founded in Detroit, the association (formerly known as National Association of Investors Corporation) was borne of the conviction that anyone can become a successful long-term investor by following common-sense investing practices. BetterInvesting has helped more than 5 million people become better, more informed investors by providing webinars, in-person events, easy-to-use online tools for analyzing stocks, a monthly magazine and a community of volunteers and like-minded investors. For more information about BetterInvesting, visit its website at www.betterinvesting.org or call toll free (877) 275-6242. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE BetterInvesting Related Links https://www.betterinvesting.org NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Branford Castle Partners, LP ("Branford Castle"), a New York City-based private equity firm, today announced that its portfolio company, Earthlite LLC ("Earthlite"), has acquired Tara Spa Therapy, Inc. ("Tara Spa") from Tara Grodjesk. This is the ninth transaction for Branford's fund, which closed in late 2016. Based in Carmel, CA, Tara Spa Therapy is a well-known brand in the lotions and creams segment of the spa industry. The Company's end-customers include many luxury hotel chains and high-end day spas. Tara Spa Therapy was founded by Ms. Grodjesk, who has been a pioneer in Ayurvedic Medicine and Aromatherapy in the Spa industry. Ms. Grodjesk will now serve as Vice President of the Consumables Division and Chief Wellness Officer of Earthlite and will be an Earthlite shareholder as well. "Branford's rapid acquisition pace continues, focused on acquiring leading businesses. The acquisition of Tara Spa strengthens Earthlite's position as a global leader in health and wellness and will allow us to significantly ramp up our growth in the consumables segment of the spa products market," said Laurence Lederer, Managing Director at Branford Castle. "We look forward to continuing to support Earthlite's management team as they carry on their impressive growth trajectory." "We have known and admired Tara Grodjesk and her company for many years, and we are delighted to welcome her as Earthlite's first female Corporate Officer," said CEO Jim Chenevey. "We believe that Tara will make great contributions to Earthlite's future direction, and her line of innovative spa products should absolutely thrive under the Earthlite umbrella." Branford Castle was advised by its legal counsel, Akerman LLP. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Branford Castle Partners Building from the foundation of its affiliate, Branford Castle, Inc., Branford Castle Partners is an active investor in small-to-medium-sized private companies. With each new investment, Branford builds on its 30-year history of helping to grow businesses. The firm typically makes control investments in companies with up to $100 million in total enterprise value and a leadership position in a niche industry. Branford Castle Partners has particular experience in the industrials, consumer goods & services and transportation & logistics industries. (www.branfordcastle.com) About Earthlite Earthlite is a pre-eminent manufacturer and supplier of health and wellness equipment. Headquartered in Vista, CA, Earthlite's most prominent products are its massage tables, which garner the industry's leading market share. The company has a family of five proprietary brands of massage tables that are among the longest-standing and most-respected in the market, including Living Earth Crafts, Stronglite, Earthlite and Inner Strength. (www.earthlite.com) The company offers over 300 active SKUs of massage tables, alternative beauty and wellness equipment, supplies and accessories, oils and creams, manicure and pedicure equipment and medical exam equipment. Earthlite serves a diverse customer base of more than 3,700 customers in over 120 countries. SOURCE Branford Castle Partners Related Links http://www.branfordcastle.com ROCKVILLE, Maryland, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Currently, the most common type of cancer in women is observed to be breast cancer. At the global level, the count of breast cancer cases is likely to surge, thereby increasing the need for efficient and initial detection. Hence, the global market for breast cancer diagnostics is experiencing development with rising incidence of patients as well as introduction of high-end technological assistance to provide conclusive test results. Fact.MR has smartly compiled a new research study titled "Breast Cancer Diagnostics Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking: Global Market insights 2017 to 2022", which discusses the different trends and innovations expected to impact the breast cancer diagnostics market in the coming years. According to this Fact.MR study, the global breast cancer diagnostics market is anticipated to register a modest CAGR of 4.7% during the period between 2017 and 2022. In addition, the assessment estimates the concerned market might surpass US$ 2,000 Mn in revenues by the end of the forecast period. Readers are enlightened in-depth through the presentation of vital market factors such as market dynamics, supply chain, Y-o-Y growth, market size (US$ Mn) and market share comparison. Overall, this examination is aimed at delivering a clear picture about the various perspectives observed in the global breast cancer diagnostics market, along with knowledge associated to manufacturer profiling. Request For Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=55 BRCA Retains Its Spot as the Dominant Test Type Talking about the test type, BRCA is likely to remain as the central revenue provider in the target market. Interestingly, sales are poised to exceed US$ 500 Mn by 2022-end. Further, CA test for breast cancer are projected to exhibit the greatest CAGR in the concerned market through 2022, which is trailed by ER & PR test. It is further observed that, HER 2 test would stabilize its place to remain as the second largest test type segment around the global breast cancer diagnostics market. Moreover, revenues acquired from EGFR mutation test would continue to stay low in the global market. Browse Full Report on Breast Cancer Diagnostics Market with TOC- https://www.factmr.com/report/55/breast-cancer-diagnostics-market North America Takes Lead among Prime Geographical Marketplaces North America has showcased its highest revenue share across the global breast cancer diagnostics market. The region will continue to sustain its leading status as revenues are expected to surpass US$ 800 Mn by 2022-end. On the other hand, Europe manages to place itself at second spot in the overall breast cancer diagnostics market. Conversely, the regional markets in Japan, and Middle East & Africa (MEA) are projected to witness a lethargic expansion during the stated forecast period. Hospital-associated Labs Provide the Highest End-User Revenue Hospital-associated labs are expected to remain the largest end-users of breast cancer diagnostics in the global market. It has been analyzed that breast cancer diagnostics in hospital-associated labs would acquire the major revenue by 2022-end, trailed by independent diagnostic laboratories. Request Methodology of this Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=55 Competitive Scenario The final section of the report is a transparent description about the key market players operating in the global breast cancer diagnostics market. This section focuses on providing information such as product overview, company overview, key financials, SWOT analysis and key development. Some of the prime companies mentioned in the report are Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fischer Scientific, Inc., Roche Holding AG, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Siemens AG, Biocept, Inc., Illumina, Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Epigenomics AG, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Myriad Genetics, Inc. Popular Healthcare Industry Market Reports from Fact.MR Peptide Based Cancer Therapeutics Market- In terms of revenues, North America is expected to dominate the global peptide based cancer therapeutics market in 2017 and beyond. The region's potency in healthcare and a strong presence of various peptide based cancer therapeutic drug manufacturers is supporting the growth of the market in North America. During the forecast period, the market in the region is expected to surge at a robust CAGR. Cell Lines Market- According to Fact.MR's research report on the global cell lines market, the market is anticipated to show a moderate growth rate during the forecasted period of 2017-2022 and expected to reflect a value of more than US$ 140 Mn. Home Diagnostics Market- Developed countries are witnessing rising adoption of advanced technologies to develop highly-efficient home diagnostics with the increasing focus on R&D Consumers are becoming more aware of the availability of home diagnostics that can enable them to conduct in vitro diagnosis tests at home without the need for any professional assistance. About Fact.MR Fact.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 Us Rohit Bhisey Fact.MR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.factmr.com/ SOURCE Fact.MR DENVER, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC) today announced it plans to report first quarter 2019 financial results on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, after market close. The company will host its quarterly conference call at 11:00 AM ET on Thursday, May 9, 2019. The call will be webcast and is accessible via the Cimarex website at www.cimarex.com. To join the live, interactive call, please dial 866-367-3053 ten minutes before the scheduled start time (callers in Canada dial 855-669-9657 and international callers dial 412-902-4216). A replay will be available on the company's website. About Cimarex Energy Denver-based Cimarex Energy Co. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with principal operations in the Anadarko and Permian Basins of the U.S. SOURCE Cimarex Energy Co. Related Links http://www.cimarex.com TORONTO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Citron Hygiene has expanded its global footprint and entered the European market with its acquisition of Admiral Cleaning Supplies Limited in Leicestershire, England. This is Citron Hygiene's first acquisition outside of North America, making it an especially significant one. Admiral has been in business for 34 years and is one of the United Kingdom's largest distributors of the HORECA market (Hotel/Restaurant/Cafe). They have two locations in the U.K., approximately 80 employees and 7,500 customer locations. "This is an exciting time for Citron Hygiene! In March 2017, we entered into the U.S. market, and having this transaction closed July 2018, we are now in a new country and new continent. Breaking into the European market has been a big step for our global growth strategy" Peter Farrell, the President & CEO stated. Since establishing a partnership with Birch Hill Equity Partners, Citron Hygiene has acquired six companies (now seven) in an effort to increase its corporate footprint. The acquisitions in the United States and Canada have enabled strong market expansion of Citron Hygiene's core service platforms of washroom hygiene, pest control, ware-washing and chemical services, to the most sophisticated of commercial buildings, public spaces, and local eateries. Citron Hygiene plans to implement their washroom services platform in the U.K. in relatively short order. According to Peter Farrell, "Much like how Citron strives in 'building healthy spaces,' Admiral focuses on creating the clean, professional environments that support the health and wellness of building occupants. Our businesses align and I look forward to this being a successful introduction to the U.K." Going forward, Citron Hygiene intends to invest significant capital into the U.K. market. Andy Bottrill will continue to be the Managing Director of Admiral. Both he and Richard Adams will stay with the business and remain as part of the investment. Citron Hygiene looks forward to future acquisitions in North America and the United Kingdom. In the meantime, Admiral customers can expect the same quality services they have been receiving while also seeing new products and services becoming available. To learn more about our expansion, visit the U.K. section of our website here: http://citronhygiene.com/uk/. SOURCE Citron Hygiene NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Confirmation, the leading online platform to verify sensitive financial data, today announced the company's global rollout of its new brand and website. The rebrand reflects the evolution of the company into a global fintech service provider. "At Confirmation's core is our belief that truth in financial data should be easy to find that's why we exist and why we invented electronic confirmation technology nearly 20 years ago," said Erik Carlson, CMO of Confirmation. "While our platform has helped auditors, bankers, lawyers, and credit managers worldwide to quickly and securely verify trillions of dollars in financial data, it was time to modernize our brand and website as a clear reflection of what we believe and who we are committed to serving." The new Confirmation brand includes a name change (from "Confirmation.com" to "Confirmation"), new logo, and new website. The triangle element within the logo represents three parties in the electronic confirmation process: requesters (e.g., auditors and credit managers), responders (e.g., banks and law firms), and authorizers (e.g., audited companies and borrowers). The pattern of small triangles represents Confirmation's global network of requesters and responders, which is the largest in the world. Additionally, the illustrated scenes represent Confirmation as a brand that faithfully helps its customers reduce stress and increase efficiency in the confirmation process. The company's brand rollout began in November 2018 with the initial launch of its new website. To complete the brand rollout, Confirmation today launched nine translated and regionalized versions of its website to support markets across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In the past year, Confirmation has grown its global bank network to over 4,000 banks and departments, added a European data center in Dublin, Ireland, added a reseller in Saudi Arabia, added Carlson to the leadership team as its first chief marketing officer, and promoted Elizabeth Fuller to the leadership team as the VP of Human Resources. About Confirmation Confirmation is the digital platform and global network trusted by audit firms, banks, law firms, and credit managers to quickly and securely verify financial data. Confirmation invented electronic confirmations nearly 20 years ago, reshaping the audit confirmation process. Today, Confirmation helps 1.5 million users across 170 countries confirm more than $1 trillion in financial data every year. Learn more: confirmation.com SOURCE Confirmation Related Links https://www.confirmation.com HOUSTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Newchip, one of the top investment platforms in the world, has a track record of helping companies get funded with over $20M+ in investments into its companies in 2018 alone. This week, they accepted Consumer Affinity, Inc. into their online accelerator program. Participation in Newchip's Accelerator program is limited. Out of 600 applicants, only 50 companies were selected for the April cohort. Custom Social Media application used to educate and protect people from scams, fraud, and identity theft. Use topics of interest to monitoring specific threats to your online digital life. Consumer Affinity is an all-in-one service helping protect user information with security tools while acting as a resource for what needs to be known about proper information security. "We are very excited to have Consumer Affinity join the Newchip family," remarked Ryan Rafols, CEO of Newchip. "The team impressed us from the startwe are eager to see how they take Consumer Affinity to the next level. They have a unique perspective on their market and what they've built so far shows great promise." Launched in late 2018 by founder Steve R. Smith, Consumer Affinity entertains, educates, and protects consumers with a social platform designed to provide a seamless and unified information security solution. Consumer Affinity solves problems related to scams, fraud, and identity theft by combining consumer-oriented awareness training with valuable tools that includes credit monitoring, a password manager, backup/recovery solution, VPN, and a hardware token. "Cybercriminals continue to find new and innovative ways to target innocent people. The number of victims and amount of money stolen, billions of dollars, is staggering the problem gets worse year after year" says Consumer Affinity's Founder and CEO, Steve R. Smith. "Consumer Affinity aims to reverse the trend of victimization by creating an informed, aware, and enabled public. We feel like people need to be educated instead of just being handed software to use." The company looks forward to its first social software release targeted for late April 2019. With newsfeeds, discussion forums, blogs, and videos the platform will provide multiple ways for users to interact with a variety of content types. The Premium service is expected in Q3 2019. "Everyone needs access to something like this we security professionals usually focus on enterprise security but I'm glad to see a company out here in Cyberspace focusing time and effort on everyday problems people in our modern society face," says David Nestor, Director of Security Solutions at Aporeto. Visit www.consumeraffinity.com to learn more. Take a look at the other companies accepted into the Newchip accelerator at https://www.newchip.com For more information, please contact: Steve R. Smith, Founder and CEO, Consumer Affinity [email protected] www.consumeraffinity.com 833-333-1337 SOURCE Consumer Affinity, Inc. Related Links http://www.consumeraffinity.com CLEVELAND, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Disability Rights Ohio is pleased to announce a new partnership with law firm McDonald Hopkins LLC to expand its existing Medicaid Pro Bono Program, which provides legal services to Ohio families and children with disabilities. The program, which started when DRO teamed up with Nationwide Insurance in 2017, will now be able to reach more people struggling to obtain access to adequate healthcare services and medical equipment. The process starts when clients call DRO for help with a Medicaid appeal. DRO then connects volunteer attorneys and paralegals from McDonald Hopkins and Nationwide with eligible clients and works collaboratively with the volunteer teams to train, screen and refer eligible clients and provide case preparation and ongoing support. To be eligible for referral, individuals must have a disability and live in one of the following counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Geauga, Greene, Hardin, Hocking, Huron, Knox, Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Portage, Ross, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Union, Wayne. "We are excited to expand this successful program," says DRO Executive Director Michael Kirkman. "In an area where there is more demand than our office can meet, our partnerships with Nationwide and now with McDonald Hopkins result in better outcomes for people with disabilities who are trying to navigate the incredibly complicated Medicaid system." "Providing pro bono legal assistance is very important to us at McDonald Hopkins," said Maria Carr, the McDonald Hopkins attorney who is leading this initiative for the firm. "We are eager to help DRO's clients get appropriate access to Medicaid and receive the medical care they need." Individuals interested in speaking with a volunteer about a Medicaid administrative case, or those who want to learn more about eligibility requirements for this program, are encouraged to contact Disability Rights Ohio at 800-282-9181 and select option 2 for intake. About Disability Rights Ohio Disability Rights Ohio is the federally and state designated Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program for the state of Ohio. The mission of Disability Rights Ohio is to advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of people with disabilities in Ohio. Disability Rights Ohio provides legal advocacy and rights protection to a wide range of people with disabilities. 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. Media Contact: Stacy Brannan-Smith Communications and Outreach Manager Disability Rights Ohio 800-282-9181, ext. 101 [email protected] David Carducci Communications Specialist McDonald Hopkins LLC 216-348-5814 [email protected] SOURCE McDonald Hopkins Related Links http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com CRETE, Ill., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Louvell A. Anderson, D.D. is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Achiever in the field of Ministry in recognition of his role as CEO & Apostle of Ministry at Old Camp Ground International Ministry, Inc. A seasoned professional revered for his remarkable contributions to the industry, Dr. Louvell A. Anderson, D.D. has served in his current capacity as CEO & Apostle of Ministry for the past fifty years. A former public school teacher and consultant in California and Louisiana, Dr. Anderson has acted as a bishop and overseer of Old Camp Ground for more than 25 years. Throughout his career, Dr. Anderson has attained extensive experience as a conference speaker on a global platform, including traveling across the United States and overseas to Russia, the Republic of Korea, France, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Greece where he has contributed to religious and adult education. A proud affiliate of Bridge Network Ministry, Dr. Anderson serves as a Professor at CBII and a Civil Leader. While pursuing his educational endeavors, Dr. Anderson earned his Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) from Trinity Hill College. Thereafter, Dr. Anderson would go on to obtain his Ph.D. in Theology and Philosophy from Logan. A distinguished scholar, Dr. Anderson has authored three books: "Two Women to Avoid in the 21st Century and One Woman to Embrace Into Eternity" in 2010, "The Adventure of Prayer & Forgiveness Through Spiritual Warfare" in 2010, and "The Test Of The Anointed Leadership In The Pulpit To Combat the Wolf, the Dog and the Pig and the Little Foxes that Spoil the Vines" in 2012. In recognition of his many professional achievements, Dr. Anderson is the recipient of several awards including being honored as one of 3,000 Noted American Businessmen in 1993. A featured member in Who's Who in California in 1989, Dr. Anderson was named one of the Nation's Top Public Speakers by the American Banking Institute in 1972. When he is not working, Dr. Anderson enjoys collecting elephants, and reading and researching history. For more information, please visit http://www.chicagobaptistinstituteintl.org/ Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com BOGOTA, Colombia, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL;NYSE: EC) ("Ecopetrol") announced today the filing of its annual report under Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). With the filing of its annual report under Form 20-F the Company complies with its reporting obligations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), its bondholders and lenders. The annual report includes, among others, the financial statements of Ecopetrol in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board that were audited and certified in compliance with internal control over financial reporting by the auditing firm Ernst & Young Audit S.A.S. for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Investors may receive a hard copy of Ecopetrol's 2018 Form 20-F free of charge by requesting a copy from the contact below: Investor Relations Officer Andres Felipe Sanchez Phone: +571-234-5190 E-mail: [email protected] The 2018 Form 20-F can also be accessed by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or Ecopetrol's website at www.ecopetrol.com.co . ----------------------------------------- This release contains statements that may be considered forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend, and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For further information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Maria Catalina Escobar Phone: (+571) 234 5190 E-mail: [email protected] Media Relations (Colombia) Jorge Mauricio Tellez Phone: (+ 571) 234 4329 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. Related Links http://www.ecopetrol.com.co Backed by the world's fastest growing LNG market, the Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal and a strong non-pipeline LNG storage and distribution network, ENN has been able to empower LNG suppliers at home and abroad to seamless connected to clients, and offers economical, clean, efficient, safe and reliable energy services with its advantages in resources, technologies, logistics and digitalization. During the exhibition, Zhang Yesheng, CEO of ENN Group visited the booths of ENN's partners such as Chevron, Santos, CNOOC, Shenergy Group and had an in-depth exchange with their management teams. Kevin Gallagher, the CEO of Santos visited ENN's booth. Santos is an independent supplier of oil and gas to Asia Pacific and Australia. ENN has become the biggest shareholder of Santos through its strategic investment via ENN Ecological Holdings. On April 4th, ENN CEO Zhang Yesheng delivered a keynote speech at LNG2019 forum. "The fast growing LNG demand in China is consistently driven by the 'coal to gas' policy, the requirement for quality industrial development and the call for actions to protect blue sky, clear water and clean soil," he said. "For a long period of time in the future, China will be the market with the highest LNG growth in the world." Regarding the increasing reliance of China on LNG imports, Zhang Yesheng responded that the Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal would continually build up its capability of LNG receiving, storage, diversion and LNG bunkering, and align with LNG receiving terminals in Ningbo, Yangshan, Wenzhou and Rudong to form a LNG marine transport network serving the Yangtze River Delta and even the entire east China region. "China is at the center of global LNG development, and Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal will play an important role to link up the global resources with the Chinese market". In October 2018, the Phase I project of ENN Zhoushan LNG Receiving Terminal, also the first large-scale LNG receiving terminal invested and operated by a private corporation in China, was completed and put into operation, with annual LNG throughput up to three million tonnes. The Phase II project has commenced and is expected to deliver annual LNG throughput of five million tonnes in the short-term and ten million tonnes in the future. "We will gradually develop the Zhoushan Index, an LNG price index that can reflect the entire northeast Asia market. This will be made possible by our LNG marine transport network and the existing Zhoushan LNG trading market, Shanghai and Chongqing LNG trading centers, and by giving full play to our advantages in policies, geographical location, resources and industry chain", Zhang Yesheng noted. The International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas, presented by the International Gas Union (IGU), Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), is the only LNG event conducted by the industry for the industry. With themes covering the entire value chain, it is called "The Olympics of the LNG industry". The LNG series of events started in 1968 and have been hosted by LNG importer and exporter countries in turn for every three years. It is the first time for this event to be hosted by China, and the 2019 LNG is the biggest LNG event ever held in China. ENN takes LNG2019 as an opportunity to showcase its strategic layout and strengths in clean energy value chain and to seek recognition widely among its partners at home and abroad. Aiming at building a modern energy system, ENN will cooperate with all partners globally to achieve win-win results. SOURCE ENN Group SHANGHAI, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ENN has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with Woodside Energy for the procurement of 1.0 million tonnes of LNG per annum from Woodside's portfolio for a period of 10 years, commencing in 2025. ENN Group CEO Mr. Zhang Yesheng and Woodside Energy CEO Peter Coleman attended the signing ceremony. The HOA remains conditional upon the negotiation and execution of a fully termed Sales and Purchase Agreement and obtaining all necessary approvals and a Final Investment Decision on Scarborough. ENN is one of the largest private clean energy distributors in China, with 187 urban gas projects covering a population of 94.57 million. In 2018,the sales volume of natural gas of ENN reached 23.3 billion cubic meters, accounting for 8% of China's market share. In the same year, the first large-scale LNG receiving terminal invested and constructed by private enterprises in China Zhoushan LNG receiving terminal was commissioned and started commercial operation. Meanwhile, based on the rapid development of the downstream market in China, ENN has entered into a number of medium and long term LNG supply agreement with international suppliers, and has formes its trade network initially. China's natural gas consumption has been growing rapidly. In 2018, China consumed 280 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and imported 54 million tonnes of LNG, making it the world's largest natural gas importer and the second largest LNG importer and Australia ranks among the top sources of LNG imports to China. Woodside Energy is Australia's largest independent oil and gas company with a global portfolio, recognized for its world-class capabilities as an integrated upstream supplier of Energy and Woodside has delivered over 5000 LNG cargoes to international customers since 1989 from its portfolio, including NWS, Pluto, Wheatstone, etc. For more details, please contact: Wang Jiecong, Tel.: +86 13810801163 SOURCE ENN Group FARRELL, Pa., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FarmaceuticalRX, a therapeutics company focused on the medical marijuana sector with a multi-state operational platform, today announced that it has received certification to commence its cultivation operations in Pennsylvania. FarmaceuticalRX was awarded a Grower/Processor license last summer from the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Office as part of Round Two of the Medical Marijuana Program. FarmaceuticalRX's Grower/Processor facility, located in Farrell, PA, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to develop high-quality medical marijuana products for patients in Pennsylvania. The Company anticipates that it will commence medical product sales in Pennsylvania later this summer. "We are excited to be a Grower and Processor certified to operate in Pennsylvania and the first to be certified in Round 2," stated Rebecca Myers, Founder and CEO of FarmaceuticalRX. "We continue to demonstrate our capacity to develop and open every aspect of our vertically integrated multi-state platform efficiently and on time. Our Pennsylvania Campus houses our Research & Development Lab where we will take a leadership role in the advancement of science in this important new industry, Myers commented. We will differentiate ourselves in the market with our suite of medicinal, high-quality therapeutics. We are grateful to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for their trust in us and we are excited to serve the patients of Pennsylvania," Myers commented. FarmaceuticalRX is the first Phase II Grower/Processor to be certified to commence operations, only 7 months after receiving their license award. This makes FarmaceuticalRX the 13th Grower/Processor certified to provide medical marijuana products to patients in Pennsylvania. FarmaceuticalRX is focused on advancing the knowledge base around medical marijuana therapies. The Company's formulation and branding engine is powered by its R&D relationships with premier academic centers. FarmaceuticalRX is committed to offering the highest-quality products to patients in the Pennsylvania market. "Our team has created one of the most extensive and research-based medical marijuana genetic inventories in the country," says FarmaceuticalRX's Vice President of Cultivation, Cassandra Maffey. "We are thrilled to offer the patients of Pennsylvania the best cannabis strains, grown utilizing the purest cultivation methods, with the cleanest and most advanced extraction techniques." A core component of FarmaceuticalRX's mission is drive economic development and job creation in the communities in which it operates. The Company's Pennsylvania Campus is located on the site of a former steel manufacturing facility in the industrial corridor in Farrell, PA. FarmacueticalRX is bringing a new and fast-growing industry to a community with a tremendous history of manufacturing strength. "The City of Farrell and all of Council are excited to welcome FarmaceuticalRX and its team of dedicated professionals to our community and look forward to many years of a mutually beneficial relationship. I am greatly impressed to see that they have become operational so quickly, despite the challenges that they faced in tailoring the facility to their needs," stated Michael Ceci, City Manager of Farrell. About FarmaceuticalRX. FarmaceuticalRX is a leading therapeutics company focused on bringing innovations through research and development to the medical marijuana sector. FarmaceuticalRX has a vertically integrated multi-state operational platform. FarmaceuticalRX and its affiliated companies are licensed to offer high quality medical marijuana therapeutics to more than 26 million patients through its multi-state platform including Ohio and Pennsylvania. FarmaceuticalRX is led by a world-class team of scientists and driven by the discovery, development, and manufacturing of revolutionary, high quality products through its vertically integrated platform. Our innovation is your future health. Learn more at www.FarmaceuticalRX.com. Media contact: Kyle Morse [email protected] 407-919-9470 SOURCE FarmaceuticalRX Related Links http://www.FarmaceuticalRX.com Pioneer Award Mary Pavek, executive director of the Antigo Housing Authority, is the recipient of the pioneer award. The Antigo Housing Authority develops and maintains affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families to improve their quality of life and self-sufficiency. Ms. Pavek dedicates herself to this mission every day and does so with the highest level of professionalism, compassion, and respect for the community she serves. Her colleagues describe her as committed, progressive, humble, hard-working, compassionate, ethical, intelligent, and focused. The Boys and Girls Club of Langlade County accepted the $10,000 award on behalf of Ms. Pavek. Ms. Pavek successfully completed the first Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) project in Wisconsin, recapitalized and rehabilitated two rural development projects owned by the housing authority, and rehabilitated two public housing projects both of which received FHLBank Chicago competitive Affordable Housing Program (AHP) funds. A proud supporter of Ms. Pavek and her work with the Antigo Housing Authority, CoVantage Credit Union sponsored the AHP application for one of the public housing rehabilitation projects, the Antigo Depot Apartments, which received $510,000 in funding. CoVantage Credit Union also provided permanent financing to the project. "Ms. Pavek puts her community first; her ongoing perseverance to improve the Antigo community is what makes her a true pioneer," said Suzi Thackston, FHLBank Chicago Community Investment Officer. "We are honored to celebrate the lasting impact Mary, the Antigo Housing Authority, and CoVantage Credit Union have made in Wisconsin." "One of the most rewarding aspects of working with Mary was knowing that by helping her obtain funding to improve the Antigo Depot Apartment, we were helping her positively impact the lives of people living in our small community and in particular a group who may otherwise have had less than desirable living conditions," said Stacy Bouche, SVP, Chief Mortgage Lending Officer, CoVantage Credit Union. "What a wonderful way to give back to those in need." The FHLBank Chicago named the first Community First Award recipient on March 20, 2019, at its member meeting in O'Fallon, Illinois, and will announce the remaining 2019 awards today at its member meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago To learn more about FHLBank Chicago and its full range of Community Investment programs, please visit fhlbc.com or @FHLBC. "Community First" is a registered trademark of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Related Links http://www.fhlbc.com Said Davpart Inc. President and CEO David Hofstedter, "From 1910 to the 1980s, 481 was the location of Maclean Publishing and later Maclean-Hunter with several buildings added to become one of the most recognized structures on University Avenue." During the 20th century, Maclean-Hunter grew to become the largest Canadian publisher of trade journals and the home to flagship Maclean's Magazine, Chatelaine and the Financial Post newspaper. "The existing structure is an example of a commercial building from the interwar era and is the result of many bold design influences, from Beaux-Arts to Modern Classical. While restoring the exterior, we will complete the interior to the highest standard of contemporary office and retail available today, so their current uses can continued," Hofstedter added. The UNITED design team includes B+H Architects as prime consultant and design architects; heritage consultants ERA Architects Inc. and Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting Inc. Baker Real Estate will manage sales activities. "The UNITED is a realization of our vision," said Hofstedter. "It's a massive undertaking which started within the context of preserving and restoring the existing building. The complexities are enormous and it has taken lots of teamwork and patience to make it happen." Mark Berest, B+H Architects Principal said, "The design of this building draws from the energy of its location at the intersection of the city's primary cultural, institutional and retail anchors as well as its preserved architectural cultural heritage. It is a tribute to Toronto's cosmopolitan character and considers a new convergence of live, work, and play." Said ERA Architects Principal Graeme Stewart, "Our heritage work includes retaining, restoring and enhancing two large and significant buildings. The first is a noteworthy 1930s collegiate gothic building by Toronto architect Murry Brown, designed with New York's Schultze & Weaver. The second, designed by Marani & Morris architects is a midcentury example of modern stone office towers that contribute to the distinctive character of University Avenue." The UNITED includes 224,245 sq. ft. of commercial office space and 39,320 sq. ft. of retail space up to the 10th floor where the 759 residences units begin. The front door to 481 University leads to the offices and retail; the residential condominium entrance will be at 88 Centre Street, offering direct access to the TTC's St. Patrick Station from inside the building. Added Hofstedter, "481 has a grand and iconic presence on University Avenue from Dundas to Centre Streets and is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and listed on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties." The UNITED will include studio to one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom designs, some with a den, flex or media room; some will have two storey plans. Suites sizes start at 300 sq. ft. to 1,400 sq. ft. SOURCE DAVPART Inc. On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Ambassador Hung expressed best wishes to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and handed him the New Year greetings letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The diplomat availed himself of the occasion to thank the Lao minister and his staff for their constant support, help and facilitation for the Vietnamese embassy to accomplish its tasks. He said he is glad to see the practical fruits of the special Vietnam - Laos relations, and affirmed that Vietnam is actively realising bilateral high-level agreements. For his part, the Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith thanked the Vietnamese diplomat and asked him to convey his gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh for sending the letter. This reflects the relations of brotherhood and comradeship between the two ministries in particular and the two countries in general, the minister stressed. He also affirmed the Lao Foreign Ministry will continue closely collaborating with the Vietnamese embassy to effectively implement the agreements and commitments of high-ranking leaders of the two countries, pushing up and broadening cooperation opportunities, thus helping further strengthen the relations of great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries. SARASOTA, Fla., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Ordnance LLC ("Global Ordnance") announced it has completed the acquisition ("Acquisition") of Chemring Military Products Inc. ("CMP"), a subsidiary company of Chemring Group PLC. Global Ordnance is a veteran-owned small business that responds to the needs arising from critical missions of the US Government and its allies around the world. Since its inception in 2013, Global Ordnance has earned a reputation as a trusted and reliable partner of its customers, to include the US Special Operations Command and the US Army. CMP procures and delivers worldwide US-standard and non-standard ammunition and weapons systems. In FY2018, CMP generated revenues exceeding $111M with an operating profit of $10.5M. Both Global Ordnance and CMP have been long-time suppliers of non-standard ammunition (NSA) and non-standard weapons (NSW) to US and foreign government entities. Today's acquisition of CMP by Global Ordnance marks the synergy of two well-established organizations with complementary strengths and expertise. By absorbing the staff and contracts of CMP into its organization, Global Ordnance aims to improve its already stellar reputation as a reliable and dependable US Government business partner and a leading supplier of NSA and NSW. On a larger scale as a result of this purchase, the focus for Global Ordnance going forward remains on providing unmatched service and products to its current customers. While today's Acquisition magnifies the depth and breadth of an already strong NSA/NSW team and places Global Ordnance atop the NSA/NSW partner spectrum, it also allows Global Ordnance to broaden the extent of activities in the commercial space which the company entered in earnest within the last two years. Since then, Global Ordnance has become an exclusive US distributor of already established brands, such as Grand Power of Slovakia and Australian Outback Ammunition of Australia. The company plans to continue growing its presence and strengthening its competitive impact in the commercial US market. For more information about defense sales, visit www.global-ordnance.com or inquire at [email protected]. For additional details regarding commercial sales, visit www.globalordnance.com or inquire at [email protected]. Contact - Marc Morales, 941-896-2251, [email protected] SOURCE Global Ordnance LLC Related Links http://www.globalordnance.com DUBLIN, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2018 To 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global rice cultivation equipment market is likely to witness steady growth, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. Increased consumption of rice is one of the most important factors driving the growth of the rice cultivation equipment market worldwide. A larger part of the population across the globe is reliant on rice as their staple food and as a result, it is critical to enriching the agricultural methods to yield the production of the same. Rice cultivation is a complex activity that involves a series of procedures to achieve the finished and final product. Consequently, increasing demand for improved productivity and operational efficiency coupled with growing mechanization is expected to drive the rice cultivation equipment market in the years to come. The global rice cultivation equipment market, based on equipment type was dominated by the rice transplanting equipment segment in 2017. Rice transplanting equipment works efficiently in planting paddy seeds and is helpful in improving both the quality and efficacy of rice transplanting process. The growth of this segment is mainly accredited to its growing demand for this equipment worldwide. Further, based on geography, Asia Pacific led the rice cultivation equipment market in 2017. The growth of this region is due to the growing adoption of rice cultivation equipment in countries such as China, Japan, India, etc. Rice is a staple food for several countries in the Asia Pacific region and therefore the demand for rice cultivation equipment is high in this region. The growth is mainly driven by China as the consumption of rice is high in the country and also it is amongst the leading producers of rice in the region. The presence of several big players has made the market competitive in nature. The manufacturers are focused on adopting advanced technological methods for manufacturing the equipment. Moreover, several strategies such as new product developments, partnerships are adapted to thrive in the competitive environment and gain an edge over others. Players are progressively focusing on distinguishing their product offerings through unique and clear value propositions to succeed, survive and endure with their counterparts. Key Topics Covered: 1. Preface 1.1. Report Description 1.2. Research Scope 1.3. Research Methodology 1.4. Market Segmentation 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Snapshot: Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market 2.2. Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market, by Equipment Type, 2017 (US$ Bn) 2.3. Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market, by Sales Channel, 2017 (US$ Bn) 2.4. Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market, by Geography, 2017 (US$ Bn) 3. Market Dynamics 3.1. Introduction 3.1.1. Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market Value, 2016 - 2026, (US$ Bn) 3.2. Market Dynamics 3.2.1. Market Drivers 3.2.2. Market Restraints 3.3. Attractive Investment Proposition, by Geography, 2017 3.4. Market Positioning of Key Players, 2017 3.4.1. Major Strategies Adopted by Key Players 4. Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market, by Equipment Type, 2016 - 2026 (US$ Bn) 4.1. Overview 4.2. Rice Transplanting Equipment 4.3. Rice Harvesting Equipment 4.4. Rice Threshing Equipment 4.5. Rice Milling Equipment 5. Global Rice Cultivation Equipment Market, by Sales Channel, 2016 - 2026 (US$ Bn) 5.1. Overview 5.2. Online 5.3. Direct Retail 6. North America Rice Cultivation Equipment Market Analysis, 2016 - 2026 (US$ Bn) 7. Europe Rice Cultivation Equipment Market Analysis, 2016 - 2026 (US$ Bn) 8. Asia Pacific Rice Cultivation Equipment Market Analysis, 2016 - 2026 (US$ Bn) 9. Rest of the World Rice Cultivation Equipment Market Analysis, 2016 - 2026 (US$ Bn) 10. Company Profiles 10.1. Kubota Corporation 10.2. ISEKI & CO. LTD. 10.3. Yanmar Agricultural Equipment (China) Co., Ltd. 10.4. CLASS KGaA mbH 10.5. Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. 10.6. CHANGFA IMP & EXP CO., LTD. 10.7. Shandong Fuerwo Agricultural Equipment Co., Ltd. 10.8. Changzhou Dongfeng Agricultural Machinery Group Co., Ltd. 10.9. Amisy Machinery 10.10. Redlands Ashlyn Motors PLC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zh9qlj/global_rice?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 NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In wake of the passage of New York's Child Victim Act, Hach & Rose, LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, today announced its strategic partnership with Stanley J. Spero, formerly Spero & Jorgenson PC, an expert and thirty year veteran of fighting for justice on behalf of sexual abuse victims who will act as counsel to the Firm. Hach & Rose is proud to announce this huge step in continuing to provide its clients specifically, survivors of childhood sexual abuse representation by another zealous, experienced and passionate litigator. Stanley Spero is recognized as a top rated professional liability attorney in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Spero was selected to Super Lawyers in 2018 and has been licensed in the profession of law since 1973. Super Lawyers is an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys in specific practice areas who were chosen after thorough evaluation of numerous criteria. Mr. Spero has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in professional malpractice law and for more than three decades has dedicated his career to representing hundreds of victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. After 43 years of experience in the legal profession, Mr. Spero has represented victims of child abuse and victims of professional misconduct and malpractice cases which involve sexual exploitation by psychotherapists, clergy, educators and health care providers. Mr. Spero intimately understands that litigating these types of cases is about far more than just obtaining financial compensation for suffering. It is also about holding the abuser and the church or other organization accountable as well as getting a predator off the street so that no other potential victims will have to suffer. Stanley Spero has been specializing in representing victims of sexual exploitation by professionals since 1985 and is revered nationally for his focus and industry savvy. He has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent Attorney. Mr. Spero has also obtained a Superb 10.0 rating from AVVO for his experience, industry recognition and professional conduct. Mr. Spero is the President and Director of Advocate Web, a nonprofit corporation providing support and educational services to victims of professional exploitation. Both Mr. Spero and Hach & Rose are focused on the individual needs of every client. Mr. Spero understands the harm that is caused as a result of abuse by psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, educators, pastoral counselors and clergy. He is committed to continue his current role of supporting and helping victims of professional exploitation. Mr. Spero knows what needs to be done in order to obtain restitution and justice on his clients' behalf. Mr. Spero's verdicts and settlements further portray his credibility as a highly trained attorney. After commencement of numerous cases against the Catholic Church, a settlement process was initiated which resulted in individual awards to plaintiff totaling $10 Million Dollars. Each case involved sexual abuse of minors by catholic priests. More importantly, Mr. Spero has been a pioneer in paving the way to justice. He has been published extensively in national professional journals, law reviews and other national publications like Psychiatric Times and Lawyers Weekly, the Boston Globe, the New York Times and the Washington Post. It is this expertise and success that drew Hach & Rose to Mr. Spero and Mr. Spero to Hach & Rose. The New York personal injury lawyers of Hach & Rose, LLP, are dedicated to vigorously protecting the rights and interests of those who have been harmed due to the negligence or recklessness of another party, and the firm consistently achieves the top results in the State of New York. Hach & Rose is passionate about giving a voice to those who have been silenced too long. At Hach & Rose, LLP, our lawyers are committed to working diligently and zealously to represent those who could not protect themselves. Hach & Rose, LLP and Stanley Spero understand the suffering that comes from surviving childhood sexual trauma can be emotionally and financially devastating for victims and their loved ones. The alliance between Stanley Spero and Hach & Rose, LLP will strengthen our ability to help those injured as a result of sexual predators and the institutions who have long protected them. SOURCE Hach & Rose, LLP Related Links https://www.unionlawfirm.com OCALA, Fla., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HiBid.com is hosting a webcast estate auction this month featuring 366 unique items, including high-value Asian artwork, paintings, sculptures, statues, antiques, and miscellaneous collectibles such as bowls, vases, and figurines. Ontario-based A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals will hold the live webcast auction on April 15th at 7 p.m. (EDT), and accept online bids from bidders registered through HiBid.com as well as live, in-person bids. Bidders can browse the online catalog for this auction to view all of the lots for sale. Auction Highlights Three Chinese Painted Fans featuring landscapes, flowers, birds, and calligraphy Two Framed Chinese Pith Painting Triptychs with Chinese New Year theme from the 19th century Tibetan Copper Monk's Hat Ewer (jug) from the 19th century Two Chinese Silvered & Enamelled Birds including statue depicting cranes and another depicting a cockatoo with jadeite and pearl flowers Persian Silver Kashkul Beggar's Bowl featuring birds, deer, trees, flowers, and vines Indo-Persian Khanjar Knife with Horn Handles and leather-covered wooden guard Thai Silver Ceremonial Bowl Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Planter featuring dragons, pearls, white cranes, and plants Japanese Bronze Okimono Figure of a Painter holding sterling silver brush Group of Six Yixing Clay Teapots with various designs and calligraphy engravings Bidders interested in attending the auction in person are invited to a public preview from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 14th, and from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 15th, at the auctioneer's main gallery on 1 William Morgan Drive in Toronto. Interested in receiving updates from HiBid? Sign up to receive newsletter emails, and follow HiBid Auctions on Facebook and LinkedIn. About HiBid & Auction Flex Auction Flex is the market-leader in auction software for live auctions, with capabilities that include cataloging, clerking, cashiering, accounting, mailing list management, inventory management, multi-parcel, and more. Auction Flex also provides a seamless solution that enables auction houses to upload auction catalogs online and accept internet absentee bids, conduct internet-only auctions, or offer webcast live internet bidding through its integrated web service and internet bidding solutionHiBid (both a private-label solution and a portal). Auction Flex and HiBid were built from the ground up to function together seamlessly. Contact Auction Flex (352) 414-1947 [email protected] SOURCE HiBid & Auction Flex NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Fashion Week participating fashion brand, HIROMI ASAI, (www.hiromiasainy.com) has always been trying to revive the essence of the Japanese Kimono for modern fashion. HIROMI ASAI develops menswear all made of Japanese Kimono textiles, which were presented at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy and other major trade shows in USA every season since 2017. HIROMI ASAI menswear collection won accolades and received lots of international media coverage. HIROMI ASAI Shirt and Vest, made of Ise Momen Cotton and Premier Kimono Silk HIROMI ASAI at Flying Solo NYC, all made of Kimono textiles Flying Solo NYC is a unique boutique located on the prime street in SoHo, New York, which introduces and sells independent and emerging fashion brands, and produces fashion shows to demonstrate the newest collection of the participating brands during New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. During the recent New York Fashion Week 2019 Autumn-Winter, HIROMI ASAI presented and sold the representative collection. Because that appearance at Flying Solo NYC met with a favorable public response, HIROMI ASAI decided to sell the collection continuously at Flying Solo NYC, starting in the beginning of April, 2019. In addition, HIROMI ASAI provides collection samples to stylists and editors at the show room of Flying Solo, The Copper Room. For the spring-summer collection, HIROMI ASAI presents comfortable and sophisticated shirts and jackets, made of the finest Kimono cotton textile, Ise Momen. Ise Momen has more-than-350-year history, woven by 100-year-old looms. HIROMI ASAI asks this workshop to weave premium cotton textiles for the collection with unique but modern patterns. All these clothes were tailored with highest quality by Sanyo Industry Inc. and Fashion Kobo Kuroishi in Japan. Subsequently, HIROMI ASAI is planning to present various men's collection including jackets, suits, vests, shirts, pants and ties, all made of various Kimono textiles, woven and dyed at workshops all over Japan. HIROMI ASAI will demonstrate the newest men's wear collection on runway during both New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week with Flying Solo NYC in September - October, 2019. HIROMI ASAI plans to show the brilliant marriage between modern styles and traditional arts in New York and Paris in autumn. DETAILED INFORMATION For Retail Retail Shop Name: Flying Solo, The Store Location: 434 West Broadway, New York, NY 10012 Opening: Monday - Sunday 11AM 7PM https://flyingsolo.nyc/ For Show Room Show Room Name: Flying Solo, The Copper Room Location: 76 Wooster, New York, NY 10012 Opening: Monday - Sunday 11AM - 7PM https://flyingsolo-designer.com/ HIROMI ASAI appears at both locations in the beginning of April, 2019. HP: http://www.hiromiasainy.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiromi.asai Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modeandclassic ABOUT HIROMI ASAI Hiromi Asai is a New York-based fashion designer. Hiromi Asai established New York based fashion brand, HIROMI ASAI, in 2016. HIROMI ASAI creates simple and sophisticated styles, all made by finest Japanese textiles, which are produced by traditional Kimono manufacturing techniques. HIROMI ASAI first presented a womenswear collection on the runway during 2016 Fall/Winter New York Fashion Week. HIROMI ASAI expanded her collection to menswear and debuted the first menswear collection at Pitti Uomo in January, 2017. HIROMI ASAI presented men's collection at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy and at Capsule Shows and Liberty Fairs in New York and Las Vegas since 2017. HIROMI ASAI collections were covered by international media including NBC News, Newsweek, AFP, and SOMA Magazine. Media Contact: HIROMI ASAI - Mode & Classic LLC Hiromi Asai 646.242.4156 [email protected] SOURCE HIROMI ASAI - Mode & Classic LLC Related Links https://www.hiromiasainy.com WARSAW, Va., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Menokin Foundation announced today that the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded them a $500,000 Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant for the Glass House Project. Menokin is one of only 22 cultural institutions in the nation receiving an infrastructure grant. The 3:1 challenge - which seeks to leverage federal funds against private investment -- requires Menokin to raise $1.5 million over the next four years. These funds will ensure the stabilization of the remaining portions of the 18th century structure as a backdrop for educational programming. "These new NEH-supported projects will help shore up the nation's most valuable assets: its history, literature, historic sites, regional traditions, and cultural institutions," said NEH Chairman Jon Parrish Peede. "NEH is proud to support the advancement of learning and sharing of knowledge nationwide." Menokin's Glass House Project, adopted in 2011, completes parts of the collapsed house with walls and a roof of architectural glass supported by a steel armature. The glass house structure will protect what remains of the existing ruin. Traditional restoration methods cover up evidence of the human story that historic structures present. In preserving the remains of this National Historic Landmark in an innovative way, Menokin places the emphasis on the deconstructed architectural elements of the house and the people who built it. Menokin Executive Director, Sam McKelvey notes, "The NEH grant will have an extraordinary impact on our site and the region as we move this engaging and forward-thinking project into the national spotlight. Through research projects and visitors, Menokin will play an active role in local economic development." "Early support from the Virginia General Assembly, and a National Park Service 'Save America's Treasures' grant got the ball rolling for Menokin," says Hullie Moore, President of the Menokin Foundation Board of Trustees. "Validation of The Glass House Project and the mission and vision of Menokin by NEH provides a welcome and respected lift to our Raise The Glass capital campaign to save Menokin. We are humbled by the recognition." Defying the downward trend for visitation to historic sites, Menokin had a 19% increase in visitation in 2018. Continued curiosity about the "glass house" and interest in the stabilization work on the ruin boosts tourism and engages the community in educational and recreational programming. "This Challenge Grant will allow Menokin to finally do the work of marrying their absolutely unique approach to preservation with thoughtful and resourceful programming," explains Lydia Mattice Brandt, Ph.D. and Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina. "The questions of how and why people make choices and the material evidence of those choices will become more interesting and complicated with a stabilized building to interpret. This structure will attract more funding, visitors, and attention to the relatively isolated site, ensuring its growth and longevity." About Menokin Menokin is a National Historic Landmark: the 1769 home of Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Francis Lightfoot Lee and Rebecca Tayloe Lee. The Menokin Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that is supported by philanthropic contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Menokin's mission is to use the historic ruin and the surrounding built and natural environments to transcend the traditional house museum experience. Menokin uses contemporary methods to create opportunities for the public to contemplate and explore the building of America. About the Glass House Project Menokin's Glass House Project is called the "most engaging preservation project in America." Architect Jorge Silvetti developed a unique treatment plan for the existing historic house structure. The architectural firm of Machado Silvetti assembled a multidisciplinary team with impressive expertise, including Robert Silman Associates for structural engineering, Eckersley O'Callaghan for glass design and Consigli Construction for project management. The stabilization portion of the $8.5 million project began in 2015.The plan is not to reconstruct a traditional historic house museum, but instead to create a new paradigm in conservation and heritage management. About the National Endowment for the Humanities Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov . HI RES PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST SOURCE Menokin Foundation Related Links menokin.org NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospice Savannah will be recognized by Mutual of America for its We the Living program during a special hometown luncheon and award presentation at the Perry Lane Ballroom in Savannah today at 12:00 p.m. The program was named a Merit Finalist Award recipient in the Mutual of America 2018 Community Partnership Award competition, which received entries from organizations nationwide. In 2016, when Savannah's homicide rate spiked due to gang-related violence, Hospice Savannah which provides hospice care and bereavement services to families in Greater Savannah took the lead in creating We the Living, a children's grief and violence support network that addresses the unique needs of children who have lost a loved one to violence. We the Living support groups are led by master's-level counselors trained in childhood trauma. Their work is supported by a music therapist, who teaches children how music can be an effective tool for channeling emotions. Partners include Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, the Chatham County Victim Witness Assistance Program and the Savannah Metropolitan Police, who provide essential help in identifying youth impacted by violence, advocate on behalf of grief counseling, and encourage parents and caretakers to take steps toward healing for their children. "Together, our partnership is helping to ensure our community is equipped to address trauma related grief," said Jamey Espina, Vice President, Development and Community Services. "To-date, we have trained nearly 100 staff members, school counselors, social workers and volunteers to provide support. Our program outcomes are significant, measurable and meaningful, with participants demonstrating improvement in key areas such as feeling supported, decreased fear and a reduction in loneliness." About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 230 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube. About Mutual of America Mutual of America is a leading provider of retirement products, offering personalized service at a competitive price to help plan participants and individuals build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. Integrity, prudence and reliability are the values that have guided us since our inception in 1945 and that continue to serve us well. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com, and connect with us via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. SOURCE Mutual of America HOUSTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, April 9, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Houston area McDonald's restaurants will provide free breakfast to students taking the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test and their teachers. Children in third through eighth grade are invited to visit a participating Houston area McDonald's restaurant with a parent or legal aged guardian to receive a free breakfast that includes: Choice of: Egg White Delight McMuffin or Fruit and Maple Oatmeal Choice of: 1% Low Fat Milk or Apple Juice Apple Slices "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it's essential on testing days," said Carla Moore, President of the Greater Houston McDonald's owner/operators. "We are proud to offer a nutritious breakfast to both teachers and students to ensure everyone is ready to do their best during STAAR testing." Houston Area McDonald's restaurants are also offering the same free breakfast to teachers grades three through eight with a valid school I.D. No coupon necessary. Limit one breakfast per student or teacher only. Dine-in only. Student must be present and accompanied by a parent or legal aged guardian. To learn more, please visit the Facebook event page here, or the digital press kit here. ABOUT McDONALD'S GREATER HOUSTON OWNER/OPERATORS The McDonald's Greater Houston Owner/Operators Association (GHOA) is a co-operative of local business owners who own and operate more than 300 McDonald's restaurants in Greater Houston. GHOA-owned McDonald's restaurants employ more than 15,000 people in the Greater Houston community. Follow local McDonald's on Facebook /McDonaldsHouston and Instagram @McDonaldsHouston. CONTACTS Julia Davis, CKP (832) 930-4065 x102 / [email protected] Madison Sowell, CKP (832) 930-4065 x120 / [email protected] SOURCE McDonalds Greater Houston Owner/Operators NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- iCapital Network, the financial technology platform that is improving access and efficiency in the alternative investment marketplace, today announced it has been recognized in the 2019 FinTech Breakthrough Awards as the Best Banking Infrastructure Platform. The FinTech Breakthrough Awards recognize the FinTech innovators, leaders and visionaries from around the world in a range of categories, including wealth management, personal finance, lending, payments, banking, investments, RegTech and InsurTech. This year's winning products and companies were selected from over 3,500 nominations based on their innovation, design, user experience and overall technological advancement. iCapital was awarded for its white-label technology program, which allows the asset and wealth management industry to integrate a customized version of iCapital's end-to-end technology solution with an existing legacy platform to help manage operations and administration of alternative investments. "iCapital takes an innovative approach to powering the alternative investment industry with unique, modular solutions and we are pleased to be recognized for our efforts to modernize the space and ease the process for advisors and their high-net-worth clients," said Lawrence Calcano, chief executive officer of iCapital Network. "In a landscape where technology has disrupted the status quo in many industries, we take pride in supporting asset and wealth management firms as a partner and an enabler." Award winners are selected by a panel of senior-level FinTech experts from within the financial services space, including technology startup leaders and veteran technology executives with experience in a range of information security positions and perspectives. iCapital's modular platform is powered by a premier technology solution that fully automates the unique subscription, administration and reporting processes of alternative investments, and it facilitates access to private investment opportunities through an independent origination and due diligence process that prioritizes quality offerings from an array of managers. The platform was designed to meet the continually evolving needs of all industry participants, the advisors who need simplified, tech-enabled investment processes to help incorporate alternative investments in their clients' portfolios, the asset managers looking to scale their fundraising efforts and the wealth management firms seeking a state-of-the-art technology platform to enhance or replace existing systems. In September 2018, iCapital announced its acquisition of Bank of America's alternative investment feeder fund operations. With the close of this deal, and the completion of a similar transaction with Morgan Stanley in March 2019, the iCapital platform now services approximately $40 billion in invested capital for nearly 100,000 accounts. Additionally, iCapital has secured strategic investments from some of the largest firms operating in the asset and wealth advisory industry, including BlackRock, Blackstone, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, The Carlyle Group, and UBS, among other strategic investors. About The FinTech Breakthrough Awards FinTech Breakthrough, part of the Tech Breakthrough Awards organization, is an independent awards and recognition platform devoted to honoring excellence in Financial Technologies and Services companies and products. The FinTech Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of FinTech companies and products in categories including Payments, Personal Finance, Wealth Management, Fraud Protection, Banking, Lending, RegTech, InsurTech and more. For more information, visit http://www.FinTechBreakthrough.com. About iCapital Network iCapital Network's mission is to power the world's alternative investment marketplace. Its financial technology platform has transformed the way alternative investments are bought and sold through the development of tech-based solutions for advisors, their high-net-worth client base, asset managers and banks. The firm's flagship platform offers advisors and their clients access to a curated menu of private equity and hedge funds at lower minimums with a full suite of due diligence and administrative support in a secure digital environment. Asset managers and banks leverage iCapital's tech-enabled services to streamline and scale their private investments operational infrastructure. iCapital was recognized in the 2018 and 2019 Forbes FinTech 50 which highlights the top 50 innovative financial technology companies that are transforming finance through technology. As of March 31, 2019, iCapital services approximately $40 billion in invested capital across more than 100,000 underlying accounts. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.icapitalnetwork.com | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icapital-network-inc | Twitter: @icapitalnetwork | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icapitalnetwork/ Disclosures: This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as, and may not be relied on in any manner as legal, tax or investment advice, a recommendation, or as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a recommendation of any interest in any fund or security offered by iCapital. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Alternative investments are complex, speculative investment vehicles and are not suitable for all investors. An investment in an alternative investment entails a high degree of risk and no assurance can be given that any alternative investment fund's investment objectives will be achieved or that investors will receive a return of their capital. The information contained herein is subject to change. Awards, rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he or she will experience a certain level of results if Institutional Capital Network Inc. ("iCapital") is engaged, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of iCapital by any of its clients. Securities may be offered through iCapital Securities LLC, a registered broker dealer, member of FINRA and SIPC and subsidiary of Institutional Capital Network, Inc. iCapital is a registered trademark of Institutional Capital Network Inc. All rights reserved. For iCapital Network media inquiries, please contact: Emma Murphy Tel 718-875-4545 Cell 347-968-6800 [email protected] Morgan Cretella Tel 718-875-7606 Cell 919-602-2806 [email protected] SOURCE iCapital Network IFSEC Philippines is the leading security, fire, and safety event in the country established since 2017, and the latest edition of the globally recognized IFSEC brand with security exhibitions in the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Africa, and Saudi Arabia. Due to last year's successful edition with 78 exhibitors from 14 countries and almost 4,000 attendees from 22 countries, IFSEC Philippines 2019 targets to increase the number of exhibitors and good quality visitors that are beneficial to the business, and exceed high level of expectation in providing a trade show that caters to the right market in the security, fire, and safety industry. "In relation to this year's theme, IFSEC Philippines aims to serve as the best platform to showcase and know the latest news and trends, innovations and product insights, and other services related to the security here in the Philippines and other countries from the ASEAN region. Let us support our nation's efforts to make our communities a safe place for our work and families," shared by Mr. DEXTER DEYTO, General Manager of UBM Exhibitions Philippines. IFSEC Philippines is a one-stop-shop of exhibitions with more than 200 world-renowned brands expected to participate and technology seminars with the most relevant security and fire safety topics from prominent speakers in the industry. Furthermore, IFSEC Philippines highlights a Business Matching program to connect exhibitors and buyers. With Business Matching, international companies can meet their local counterparts from prospective markets beneficial to their business and vice versa. IFSEC Philippines is also supported by its strategic partner associations in the industry such as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Asian Professional Security Association (APSA), Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators (PADPAO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Mall Security Managers Association of the Philippines (MSMAP), Philippine Society for Industrial Security (PSIS), Safety Organization of the Philippines (SOPI), Hotel & Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), Campus Security Safety Management Alliance of the Philippines (CSSMAP), Philippine Association of Certified Security Risk Management Specialist (PACSRM), and Chartered International Institute of Security and Crisis Management (CIISCM). These associations have contributed to the continuous success of IFSEC Philippines through their presence at the event and knowledge sharing of their reliable members. Meet hundreds of manufacturers, distributors, security professionals, decision-makers and quality visitors under one venue at IFSEC Philippines on 13 15 June 2019 in SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Save the date and see you there! You may also visit the official website on www.ifsec.events/philippines to view the complete list of exhibitors and register online. ABOUT IFSEC PHILIPPINES IFSEC Philippines is one of the organized events of UBM Exhibitions Philippines Inc. established since 2013. Visit www.ubmphilippines.com to know more about the company. ABOUT UBM ASIA UBM Asia recently joined forces with Informa PLC to be the leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B event organizer across the globe. You may visit www.ubm.com.asia for more information about our presence in Asia. SOURCE IFSEC Philippines DALLAS, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Insgroup, Inc. ("Insgroup"), one of Texas' largest privately held, independent property & casualty insurance brokerage firms is growing its' footprint with a new office in the Galleria area of Dallas. This expansion enhances Insgroup's ability to serve its' growing roster of successful Dallas/Fort Worth area commercial and private clients, and to accelerate its' growth in North Texas. In connection with this expansion, Insgroup has appointed two industry veterans, Kirk Hodgson and Hoyt Utay, as partners in its' local affiliate, Insgroup Dallas, LLC. Mr. Hodgson will have overall responsibility for management and growth of the office. Kirk began his career with Chubb where he held positions of increasing responsibility. He later held field management roles with Fireman's Fund, and more recently with AIG Private Client, where he served as Regional AVP for the last fifteen years. "Kirk has been a friend of our firm's for many years and we are pleased to have him on the Insgroup team. Our Dallas office will benefit from his leadership, character, and marketplace knowledge as we continue to attract talent and build our practice in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area," said Brian Kapiloff, Insgroup's President and CEO. "I am excited about the opportunity to help lead Insgroup's expansion in North Texas and beyond. I look forward to combining Insgroup's resources and expertise in the Agency business with my decades of experience on the carrier side of the industry to build a leading independent brokerage in the DFW Metroplex. With all of the consolidation occurring in our industry, it is great to see firms like Insgroup double-down on their commitment to independence and reinvest in future leaders and organic growth. Together, we will build a great independent practice by pairing top talent with the tools, resources, and technologies that smart clients are increasingly demanding" said Mr. Hodgson. Mr. Utay brings more than twenty-eight years of property/casualty brokerage and claims handling expertise to the Insgroup Dallas team. Prior to joining Insgroup, Mr. Utay produced business and managed the personal insurance practice for Marsh Agency (formerly MHBT) for eight years. For the past four years, he served on the management committee of another independent agency in Dallas. Hoyt chose to partner with Insgroup because he believes his clients will be better served by a Texas-based, independent firm with capabilities across all lines for local, regional, and national accounts. Mr. Utay said, "I am excited to partner with Insgroup and show my clients the difference that our client-centric, resource-rich independent firm platform can make for their family and their business. When it comes to serving the risk management needs of family offices and affluent families, Insgroup is a proven leader. On the commercial lines side, their well-established specialties in Real Estate, Construction, Manufacturing, and Transportation line up very well with the needs of my clients and prospects. They also have a strong Employee Benefits Consulting practice that many of my clients will enjoy working with." Mr. Kapiloff continued, "Hoyt's character, his deep knowledge of the insurance agency business, his expertise in the private client space and serving the needs of family offices, and his track record of creating custom-tailored programs and providing personalized service to his clients, is the reason we chose to partner with him. Hoyt is the kind of guy people want to work with and work for, and we are confident that together we will have great success building a leading independent practice across all lines in Dallas." This expansion is the latest example of talented practitioners recognizing the unique opportunity that Insgroup offers. Since its founding over 40 years ago in Houston, Insgroup has grown to become one of the 100 largest independent property/casualty agencies in the United States, and the largest such firm in Texas. The firm maintains offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston and practices in the following areas: Risk Management, Commercial Insurance Brokerage, Private Client Insurance, and Employee Benefits Consulting & Brokerage. Insgroup Dallas' office will be temporarily located at 5050 Quorum Drive, Dallas, Texas 75254. SOURCE Insgroup, Inc. Related Links www.insgroup.net "Though four decades have passed since the 'Mikey Likes It' commercial, Life Cereal still has a great taste kids love and the nutrition parents want, just as it did when Mikey first tried it many years ago," said Robbert Rietbroek, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Quaker Foods North America. "Through this nationwide contest we're excited to build enthusiasm for Life among the next generation and remind their parents of its great nutritional benefits." Parents of all children between the ages of 4 and 8 are encouraged to participate. To enter, parents can simply upload a video of their child reading a prepared script to LifeCastingContest.com now through April 27, or attend a live contest casting call that will be held at five Walmart locations in the following metro areas: Charlotte, North Carolina, Dallas and Los Angeles on Saturday, April 6; and Chicago and Orlando, Florida on Saturday, April 13. Following are the exact addresses for each event: Saturday, April 6 th from 10am 2pm Charlotte : 5825 Thunder Rd., Concord, NC , 28027 : 5825 Thunder Rd., , 28027 Los Angeles : 9001 Apollo Way, Downey, CA , 90242 : 9001 Apollo Way, , 90242 Dallas : 7401 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX , 75228 : 7401 Samuell Blvd., , 75228 Saturday, April 13 th from 10am 2pm Orlando : 3250 Vineland Rd., Kissimmee, FL , 34746 : 3250 Vineland Rd., , 34746 Chicago : 2500 W 95th St., Evergreen Park, IL , 60805 Entries will be judged on acting ability (40%), ability to articulate clearly and convincingly (40%), and on-camera presence (20%). Up to three finalists will be announced in May and receive a trip to Los Angeles for a chance to audition and potentially be part of a Life Cereal advertising campaign. Each tasty square of Life Cereal is made with the whole grain goodness, offering at least 19 grams of whole grain oats and wheat per serving. It is available in Original and Cinnamon at retailers, including Walmart, nationwide. For the Official Rules and more details about the contest casting call events or online submissions, visit LifeCastingContest.com. No purchase necessary. For information on Life Cereal products visit QuakerOats.com. About The Quaker Oats Company The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 140 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Quaker Oats, Quaker Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Quaker. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $64 billion in net revenue in 2018, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com. SOURCE The Quaker Oats Company Related Links http://www.QuakerOats.com A limited-run version of the Jeep brand's return to the pickup truck market the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition has sold out in the limited pre-order opportunity. The unique Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition was offered for pre-order to the general public on Jeep 4x4 Day, April 4. The pre-order process, including selecting a Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition and connecting with a dealer, allowed buyers to start the ordering process online through a dedicated Jeep Gladiator Concierge. "There has been significant interest in the all-new Jeep Gladiator since it was first revealed late last year," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Jeep Brand North America. "This was made further evident by the incredible response of the 4,190 soon-to-be Gladiator Launch Edition owners, who pre-ordered their vehicles yesterday. The response has inspired both us at the Jeep brand and U.S. Army veteran Noah Galloway. So, while the details are still to come, we plan to 'pay it forward' together in a special way with Noah in May during Military Appreciation Month." Consumers who pre-ordered a Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition model are now exclusively eligible to enter the "Find Your Freedom" contest, where they will have the opportunity to win what Gladiator offers: Jeep Freedom. More specifically, one person can win one-year's salary of $100,000, so they can take the time off to enjoy the Jeep lifestyle of pursuing any outdoor adventure. To enter, they will submit their personal "Gladiator" video to be judged by the Jeep brand along with wounded warrior and U.S. Army veteran Noah Galloway, who will choose the winner. Galloway shares more details in this video. The all-new Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition will feature unique wheels and interior accents, as well as a "One of 4,190" forged aluminum tailgate badge. The number is a tribute to Toledo, Ohio, and its 419 area code where both Gladiator and the Jeep Wrangler are proudly assembled. Manufactured at the Toledo Supplier Park in Toledo, Ohio, the all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator arrives in Jeep showrooms this spring. All-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition Joining the Gladiator lineup for a limited run, the Launch Edition features a unique forged aluminum tailgate badge, 17-inch Mid Gloss Black aluminum wheels, 33-inch Falken Wildpeak All-Terrain tires, a wrapped instrument panel mid-bolster painted in Monaco silver and black leather seats with red accent stitching. Available in Black, Bright White, Billet Silver Metallic, Firecracker Red and Granite Crystal Metallic, the Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition features a body-color hardtop and fender flares. Standard features include LED head and taillights, an 8.4-inch touchscreen, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, keyless entry, Forward Facing TrailCam camera, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, ParkSense rear park assist system, Advanced Brake Assist, Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning With Active Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Trail Rail Cargo Management System, spray-in bedliner and Trailer Tow. Gladiator Rubicon models are capable of towing 7,000 lbs. The Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition features a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, rated at 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic transmission. All-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator The all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator - the most off-road capable midsize truck ever - builds on a rich heritage of tough, dependable Jeep trucks with an unmatched combination of rugged utility, authentic Jeep design, open-air freedom, clever functionality and versatility and available best-in-class towing and 4x4 payload. Available with three different powertrain combinations and equipped with a versatile cargo box, Gladiator is built to handle the demands of an active lifestyle while delivering an open-air driving experience in a design that is unmistakably Jeep. Combining traditional Jeep attributes with strong truck credentials, the Jeep Gladiator is a unique vehicle capable of taking passengers and cargo anywhere. A multitude of technology features, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and safety features, such as Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection, adaptive cruise control and Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, further Gladiator's appeal. All Gladiator models are Trail Rated with a badge indicating that the vehicle is designed to perform in a variety of challenging off-road conditions identified by five key consumer-oriented performance categories: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation and water fording. Gladiator Rubicon models are equipped with signature red tow hooks, Rock-Trac 4x4 system, featuring a two-speed transfer case with a 4:1 low-range gear ratio, front and rear heavy-duty Dana 44 axles, Tru-Lok electric front- and rear-axle lockers, segment-exclusive electronic sway bar disconnect, cab and bed rock rails and standard 33-inch Falken Wildpeak All-Terrain off-road tires. Jeep Brand Built on more than 75 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence. The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Follow Jeep and FCA US news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.fcanorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.fcanorthamerica.com Jeep brand: www.jeep.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep or https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep or www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep or www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica SOURCE FCA US LLC Related Links http://www.fcanorthamerica.com The national relic pilgrimage was announced by Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson in an Aug. 21 letter to K of C chaplains and members. The tour has been dubbed "Heart of a Priest," which refers to the physical heart of John Vianney that has resisted decay for more than 150 years and to the good character that should belong to every priest. Vianney was famous for his tireless work on behalf of his people, especially in the confessional, and for the holiness of his life. The term "incorrupt" refers to a human body that has avoided the normal process of decomposition after death. It is a sign but not a proof of the person's holiness. Relics are a physical object associated with a saint that may be offered to the faithful for veneration not worship. The relic pilgrimage began in November and New York will be the 29th state to receive a visit. The Knights estimate that 115,000 people have viewed the relic, including 17,000 attending a gathering in Indiana of young adult Catholics earlier this year. The relic will make stops at these New York area locations: St. Patrick's Cathedral, 50 th St. and Fifth Ave., Manhattan , over the weekend of April 6-7 . Veneration will take place in the Lady Chapel and in the main sanctuary for the 10:15 Mass on Sunday, April 7 , which will be celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan . St. and Fifth Ave., , over the weekend of . Veneration will take place in the Lady Chapel and in the main sanctuary for the 10:15 Mass on , which will be celebrated by Cardinal . Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 5411 Amboy Road, Staten Island , from 7 to 10 p.m. on Sunday , April 7, and from 7 to 8:45 a.m. on Monday , April 8. of the Sea Church, 5411 Amboy Road, , from , April 7, and from , April 8. Church of the Cure of Ars, 2323 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY , from noon on Monday, April 8 , through an all-night vigil into Tuesday, April 9 , culminating in a 7:30 p.m. Mass. The relic will return to Cure of Ars on Thursday, April 11 , beginning at 7 a.m. and will include adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a reflection by Rockville Centre Bishop John Burres . , from noon on , through an all-night vigil into , culminating in a Mass. The relic will return to Cure of Ars on , beginning at and will include adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a reflection by Bishop . Cathedral Prep School and Seminary, 56-25 92nd St., Elmhurst, NY , on Tuesday, April 9 , beginning with a 10:30 am . Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez and continue to 2:30 p.m. , on , beginning with a . Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop and continue to Veneration will continue Tuesday, April 9 , at Immaculate Conception Center, 7200 Douglaston Pkwy, Douglaston, NY , from 5 to 7:30 p.m with a Mass at 5:30 led by Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto . , at Immaculate Conception Center, 7200 Douglaston Pkwy, , from 5 to 7:30 p.m with a Mass at 5:30 led by Auxiliary Bishop . Veneration will be held at Xaverian High School, 7100 Shore Road, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday , April 10. Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio will celebrate Mass with the relic present that evening at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1550 Hendrickson St., at 7:30 p.m. Veneration will begin at 7 p .m. and continue after the Mass until 9:30 p.m. "The possibility of a pilgrimage was offered to us by the Shrine at Ars some months ago," the Knights' Anderson said recently. "We now welcome as providential this opportunity to invoke the intercession of the patron saint of parish priests, whose holiness and integrity is a singular model for clergy." To learn more about the relic pilgrimage, visit kofc.org/vianney About St. John Vianney St. John Vianney popularly known as the Cure of Ars, is revered as a model of priestly generosity, purity and prayerfulness. Born in France in 1786, he grew up in a time of open hostility to the Church in the wake of the French Revolution when the faith was attacked, churches destroyed, and the clergy martyred. Assigned to lead the parish in the small farming community of Ars. Father Vianney excelled at both prayer and work. He was famous for hearing confessions for up to 18 hours a day as people from across Europe and beyond came to see him. His notoriety throughout the Catholic world grew even after his death in 1859 and he continues to inspire a quest for holiness by both priests and the laity. His incorrupt heart a major relic normally resides at the shrine named for him in Ars. About Relics In Catholic tradition, Neither the relic nor the saint are to be worshipped, but are rather venerated as holy objects in recognition of the fact that God has worked through the saint. A major or first-class relic was part of the saint's body as opposed to something that the saint touched or wore. Bodily incorruption is sometimes seen in Catholic saints and blessed. SOURCE Knights of Columbus OAKLAND, Calif., April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Chuck Bachman, Senior Corporate Counsel of Menke, will discuss everything you need to know about The 2018 Main Street Employee Ownership Act and its Impact on SBA Lending on Tuesday, April 9th. The act was signed into law in 2018, and provides government backed financing for employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, buyouts. As a CPA and attorney, Chuck specializes in the design and installation of ESOPs. He has over 20 years of experience and has been involved in hundreds of ESOP transactions. Chuck is a member of the California Bar Association, AICPA, ESOP Association advisory committee, the NCEO, and the steering committee of the California/ Western States Chapter of the ESOP Association. Visit the Menke Booth Stop by booth #22 to talk ESOPs with us. Whether its ESOP administration, ESOP valuation, share repurchase obligations, a feasibility study or a second stage transaction, we love to talk ESOPs with you. Learn how you can leverage our deep ESOP expertise to your benefit while saving cost. About ESOPs ESOP is an acronym that stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The purpose of an ESOP is to enable employees to acquire a beneficial ownership in their Company without having to invest their own money. As such, they are primarily used for business succession or employee benefit purposes. ESOPs enjoy several tax advantages over their non-ESOP counterparts. According to the NCEO, there are currently around 7,000 ESOP plans in the U.S. According to several studies, ESOP's often enjoy higher productivity and lower turnover compared to non-ESOP companies. About Menke Menke & Associates was formed in 1974, upon the passing of ERISA. John Menke, President of Menke, co-authored the ESOP legislation under ERISA, which codified them into law. Menke has enabled over 3,500 companies to successfully transition to employee ownership. The only single source ESOP advisor, we proudly call ourselves The Nation's Premier ESOP Advisor. Our comprehensive ESOP platform provides everything you need to setup and maintain an ESOP, including Structuring, Legal & Tax Compliance, Valuation, Repurchase Obligation Studies, Documentation, Debt Capital Raising, Employee Communication, and Administration. Learn more at www.menke.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12763179 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Menke & Associates, Inc Related Links https://www.menke.com/ To be released May 17 by Blue Note/UMe, The Complete Birth of the Cool chronicles the brief yet monumental importance of the Miles Davis Nonet. Honoring the 70th anniversary of the initial Birth of the Cool sessions, The Complete Birth of the Cool presents together all the music created by this collective. Available now for pre-order in 2LP vinyl and digital formats, the collection includes the twelve sides they recorded in 1949/'50, as well as the ensemble's only extant live recordings, recorded at the Royal Roost. The new release marks the first time since 1957 that the recordings have been remastered for vinyl and the first time all the Birth of the Cool performances studio and live are available together on LP. The 2LP vinyl package includes a booklet filled with archival photographs and an extensive new essay by GRAMMY-winning American music historian Ashley Kahn . Pre-order Miles Davis' The Complete Birth of the Cool: https://lnk.to/BirthOfTheCool The Complete Birth of the Cool stands as an important reminder of the enduring stature of trumpeter Miles Davis, whose career famously shifted from one phase to the next, serving a Pied Piper role each time his intrepid musical spirit brought on a change. In 1949, Davis was a determined 22-year-old -- Birth of the Cool saw him helm a creative project for the first time, his name in the titular spot, assuming bandleader duties: calling rehearsals, booking gigs. In one sense, the music turned him away from the small-band, unfettered energy of bebop -- the style founded by Charlie "Bird" Parker and Dizzy Gillespie which first drew him to New York City. In another, Birth of the Cool was Davis' (and the group's) determined attempt to mutate the language of bebop, mixing with a wider palette of sounds and sophistication. The seeds of Birth of the Cool were planted in the Manhattan basement apartment of the arranger/composer Gil Evans, who hosted informal musical meetings in which ideas about arranging, jazz, and classical music were shared and explored among a younger generation of musicians. The meeting of Evans and Davis in this humble location led not only to the triumph of Birth of the Cool, but predicted future collaborations, as well, for albums that are regarded as cornerstones of modern jazz -- Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess, and Sketches of Spain. The cross-racial and intergenerational friendship of Miles Davis and Gil Evans is one of the stories told in Kahn's The Complete Birth of the Cool liner notes essay, as well as the big band leader/pianist Claude Thornhill and his role as a source-point to Birth of the Cool. Also explored is the perceptive support of Capitol Records producer Pete Rugolo, who recorded the group initially, and who in 1957 oversaw the album's reissue and was credited for coming up with the title Birth of the Cool. The importance of Davis' fellow soloist, alto saxophonist Lee Konitz is also covered in the essay, with new comments from the jazz legend. The Complete Birth of the Cool is an invitation to understand the music within the context it was born. To the ears of music fans in 1949, the sound of Birth of the Cool was as entrancing as it was strange: intricate in its big band arrangements, but with solos and rhythm section breathing the fire of bebop. There's the flavor of modern classical music on some ensemble passages, and at times musical devices -- like counterpoint -- one would not expect to hear in popular music of the day. There are instruments then-familiar and unfamiliar (French horn, tuba) to the jazz world. The melodies are fresh and hummable, but with unusual titles like "Move" and "Godchild," "Deception" and "Venus De Milo," "Jeru" and "Rocker." Birth of the Cool was music that focused on arrangements -- the Miles Davis Nonet began as an arranger's band. Even though different composers and arrangers created the music (Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, John Carisi), Birth of the Cool has a remarkably consistent sound. It's about a collective, not an individual. Seventy years later, why is this music still so relevant and revered? As Kahn writes in his essay, the Birth of the Cool story is about bold beginnings and debuts "Birth of the Cool was a proving ground of instrumental talent and of approaches. Each of its participants would develop ideas that came from the project in their own disparate way, collectively leading jazz into a brave, postbop world in the years that followed." In fact, as jazz historian Dan Morgenstern writes, "There can be little doubt that these records triggered the advent of a successor style to bebop." That's a lot of historical responsibility for a mere dozen studio tracks and a few club gigs to carry, yet that has become the majority opinion, further evidenced by The Complete Birth of the Cool. The proof is in what followed those sessions: through the 1950s, the advent of "cool" jazz with its subdued feeling and understated energy, and the continuing romance between jazz and classical music (the so-called "Third Stream Music" of Gunther Schuller and others), all traced their beginnings to the Birth of the Cool sessions. Yet, as one record producer asserted, Birth of the Cool was the sound of arguably the most important voice in modern jazz reaching its first stage of maturity. "Here was a chance for all his sensitivity, compared to Bird's savageness and deep fire and emotion," said Bob Weinstock, founder of Prestige Records. "Here was an outlet for Miles Davis to let out the sensitivity that he had as a musician." Asked about the Birth of the Cool title, Miles Davis once said: "I think what they really meant was a soft sound. Not penetrating too much. To play soft you have to relax" He later added in his autobiography, "Birth [of the Cool] was not only hummable but it had white people playing the music and serving in prominent roleswe shook people's ears a little softer than Bird or Diz did, took the music more mainstream." milesdavis.com Miles Davis: The Complete Birth of the Cool [2LP vinyl; digital] LP ONE: The Studio Sessions SIDE A 1. Move 2. Jeru 3. Moon Dreams 4. Venus De Milo 5. Budo (Hallucinations) 6. Deception SIDE B 1. Godchild 2. Boplicity 3. Rocker 4. Israel 5. Rouge 6. Darn That Dream LP TWO: The Live Sessions SIDE C 1. Birth of the Cool Theme 2. Symphony Sid Announces the Band 3. Move 4. Why Do I Love You 5. Godchild 6. Symphony Sid Introduction 7. S'il Vous Plait SIDE D 1. Moon Dreams 2. Budo (Hallucination) 3. Darn That Dream 4. Move 5. Moon Dreams 6. Budo (Hallucinations) SOURCE Blue Note/UMe CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2008 financial crisis was a catalyst for change and advancement in the finance field. To discuss the lasting impact of the financial crisis and the future of finance, the MIT Sloan School of Management will host an MIT Sloan Idea Exchange alumni conference on April 25, 2019 in New York City. The event, "Finance Beyond Crisis," will feature MIT Sloan faculty, alumni and other thought leaders in finance. The keynote speaker at the conference will be MIT Sloan Visiting Prof. of Finance Chester Spatt, who is also a distinguished senior fellow at the MIT Golub Center for Finance and Policy and the Pamela R. and Kenneth B. Dunn Professor of Finance at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon. His talk will focus on current open policy issues in equity market structure and the role of exchanges, including issues that have developed or increased over the past decade since the financial crisis. The structure and potential distortion created by the prevailing systems of fees and rebates on different orders will be discussed along with the impact of volume discounts for rebates. The conference will also feature a fireside chat with MIT Sloan Dean David Schmittlein and John A. Thain, former chairman and chief executive officer, CIT Group, Inc. and Merrill Lynch. Thain will speak about his experience managing a major financial institution at the height of the financial crisis and his perspective on the future of finance. Additional sessions during the one-day conference include: SeLFIES: A Globally-Applicable Bond Innovation to Improve Retirement Funding, Support Infrastructure Development, and Lower Government Financing Cost and Risk MIT Sloan Prof. Robert C. Merton will discuss how increased longevity of the population and the decreased prevalence of pensions has made funding retirement a global challenge and how SeLFIES could help ease the pressure. The Role of Housing and Mortgage Markets in the Financial Crisis The great misnomer of the 2008 crisis is that it was not a subprime crisis, but rather a middle-class crisis. Inflated house-price expectations led households across all income groups, especially the middle class, to increase their demand for housing and mortgage leverage. MIT Sloan Prof. Antoinette Schoar will share her research on the impact of mortgage lending and the supply of mortgage credit before the crisis. MFin Ten Years and Counting When the finance world was tested by the crisis, MIT Sloan responded with the Master of Finance Program (MFin). Heidi Pickett, assistant dean of the Master of Finance Program, will reflect on the program since its launch and discuss its future as well as how the degree has positioned alumni for long-term success in this changing global landscape. Technological Innovation and Creative Destruction of Human Capital MIT Sloan Prof. Lawrence D.W. Schmidt will discuss his research examining the link between innovation and individual earnings risk. His findings suggest that innovation is associated with a substantial increase in labor income risk and can potentially explain a nontrivial fraction of recent increases in income inequality. Fintech Beyond the Crisis MIT Sloan Senior Lecturer Gary Gensler, senior advisor to the director of the MIT Media Lab, will look at finance's long symbiotic relationship with technology and explore how the markets and public policy are adjusting to this generation's innovations and disruptions around AI, blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, mobile payments, and fintech. Matthew Rothman, MIT Sloan senior lecturer and managing director of Goldman Sachs, will moderate the alumni panel discussion that will focus on panelists' first-hand experience during the crisis, how it impacted careers, and the forward thinking that these individuals implement in the post-crisis landscape. Alumni participants include: Armen Avanessians , SB '81, chief investment officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management , SB '81, chief investment officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Cheryl M. Duckworth , CFA, SM '94, partner and senior managing director at Wellington Management , CFA, SM '94, partner and senior managing director at Wellington Management Joseph Naggar , MBA '96, partner and head of structured products at GoldenTree Asset Management , MBA '96, partner and head of structured products at GoldenTree Asset Management C.S. Venkatakrishnan, SB '86, SM '89, PhD '91, group chief risk officer of Barclays For more information about the conference, please visit: http://bit.ly/mitsloanfinancebeyondcrisis The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu. For further information, contact: Paul Denning Patricia Favreau Director of Media Relations Associate Director of Media Relations (617) 253-0576 (617)-253-3492 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE MIT Sloan School of Management Related Links http://www.mitsloan.mit.edu King will participate on a discussion panel focusing on "building an economic and social world that benefits everyone." He will specifically be speaking on the topic of "How do we give the next generation better assets to succeed (where we've failed)?" "MUSE School, and ultimately MUSE Global, were founded with the idea that building a better world begins by teaching children both inner and outer sustainability at an early age," King said. "Many people are just now coming to the realization the earth is in dire straits, and that climate change, deforestation, pollution and other issues are truly ravaging this planet. We believe, however, that the next generation can be taught early on how to live more environmentally conscious lives and remain aware of how their actions affect the world around them." MUSE Global schools are the first in the U.S. to offer a 100 percent organic, plant-based lunch program, and they offer specialized courses such as Seed-to-Table, Climate Change and Sustainability to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle among students. "In 2006, we started this journey with one campus in California," said Rebecca Amis, cofounder and chief innovation officer of MUSE Global. "We realized, though, that the mission and impact of the MUSE education is vitally important and we want it to be shared not only with our future generations but thought leaders around the world. Saving the planet is a worldwide endeavor, and every single one of us can play a part. Conferences like this offer a great opportunity for leaders in this field to come together, brainstorm ideas and learn how to take action. Jeff will be able to offer valuable insights to others and will also be able to walk away with ideas that could impact how we operate at MUSE. It's a win-win for everyone involved." Sustainable Brands has been building its network of 1,500,000 members worldwide since 2006 and holds 13 international events each year, with two major conferences in Detroit and Paris. For more information about Sustainable Brands Paris, visit https://www.sbparis.eu/. For more information about franchise opportunities or enrollment at MUSE Global School, please visit https://www.museglobal.org/. About MUSE Global MUSE Global is an international child-centered educational system offering effective, innovative and passion-based learning experiences within a plant-based, sustainable environment. Founded in 2006 as MUSE School by James Cameron, Suzy Amis Cameron and Rebecca Amis, the school quickly grew to two campuses and has now relaunched as MUSE Global, an international franchise system dedicated to sharing its vision of educating and inspiring our future leaders to live consciously with themselves, with one another and with the planet. To learn more about MUSE Global, enrollment and franchise opportunities, please visit https://www.museglobal.org/. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Orange Orchard 865-977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE MUSE Global Related Links http://www.museglobal.org WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Roy Cooper, Governor of the State of North Carolina, proclaims April 7 - 13, 2019 as National Prosthodontics Awareness Week (NPAW) in North Carolina. The weeklong celebration seeks to raise public awareness about restoring healthy smiles. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 120 million Americans are missing one or more teeth and 36 million are without any teeth. Prosthodontists specialize in the restoration and replacement of missing or damaged teeth. They utilize prosthetic solutions including dental implants, dentures, crowns, and bridges to help patients improve their oral health and quality of life. A healthy smile is a wonderful thing. It can play a significant role, not only in how a person functions, but in boosting confidence and self-esteem as well. "A Prosthodontist is the architect of a new smile. My goal is to help people achieve a healthy smile and to improve their quality of life," said University Dental Associates (UDA) Prosthodontist and President of the North Carolina Section of the American College of Prosthodontists, Hunter Dawson, DMD, MSD. In honor of National Prosthodontics Awareness Week, Dr. Dawson will provide a complimentary consultation by appointment only, the week of April 7th. He will also hold an Open House by registration only, on May 16th from 6 to 8pm at the UDA Dental Implant Center, located at 131 Miller Street in Winston-Salem. Those interested in scheduling a complimentary consultation or attending the Open House can call 336-283-5990 to register. Additionally, Dr. Dawson will appear on WGHP FOX8 studios to discuss National Prosthodontics Awareness Week. About UDA Dental Implant Center The UDA Dental Implant Center provides full mouth restoration services, dental implants and implant dentures, conventional dentures and esthetic dentistry. To learn more about University Dental Associates Implant Center, visit udadentalimplantcenter.com. SOURCE University Dental Associates Related Links http://www.udadentalimplantcenter.com SEATTLE, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Steven Huebner of Bellevue, Wash., a volunteer leader who has supported Northwest Kidney Centers for more than three decades, will receive the organization's highest honor, the 2019 Clyde Shields Award for Distinguished Service. Huebner has shared volunteer time, talent and philanthropic gifts with Northwest Kidney Centers over the years, becoming a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team. Steve Huebner He has been a member and chair of the board of trustees, and chair of the finance committee, having joined the board 35 years ago. As a volunteer leader, he led the update of strategic plans several times, helped to recruit key talent to the board and advised on executive team recruitments. He co-chaired Northwest Kidney Centers' first capital campaign, raising funds to renovate its flagship building at 700 Broadway in Seattle. "Although he completed his board chair role 2011, even today he regularly provides advice, makes connections, provides board nomination ideas, facilitates strategic collaborations, fosters fundraising goals and makes substantial financial and in-kind gifts all in his emeritus role," said Northwest Kidney Centers president and CEO Joyce F. Jackson. "He is only one phone call away sharing background, wisdom and connections. "Truly Steve has made a significant difference in advancing our organization's mission of patient care, education and research over the past 30+ years and it is appropriate to honor him," Jackson said. The award presentation is scheduled for a board dinner April 25. About Clyde Shields. The award is named for machinist Clyde Shields, who in March 1960 was the first person in the world to begin dialysis that would sustain his life long-term. He was a patient of the University of Washington's Dr. Belding Scribner, who had just invented the hardware that allowed repeated connections to the bloodstream. Mr. Shields' diagnosis of kidney failure would have been fatal, had he not received the first Scribner shunt. With the shunt and regular dialysis, he survived another 11 years. His courage as a research subject made possible great advances in kidney treatment. About the Clyde Shields Distinguished Service Award. Northwest Kidney Centers bestows the Clyde Shields Distinguished Service Award on a living individual who has contributed significantly to the welfare of kidney patients through advocacy, clinical care or research. Factors considered are length of service, number of people impacted, awards or citations, humility and perseverance. Past awardees include patients, volunteers, staff members, scientists and supporters. About Northwest Kidney Centers. Northwest Kidney Centers is the nation's 8th-largest dialysis provider, and it ranks at the top of the industry in Medicare quality ratings for its services, earning 4.46 out of 5 stars. Founded in Seattle in 1962, Northwest Kidney Centers was the world's first dialysis organization. It remains the provider of choice because of its high-quality services, community connections and generous donor support. www.nwkidney.org CONTACT: Cynthia Flash, 425-603-9520 [email protected] SOURCE Northwest Kidney Centers Related Links https://www.nwkidney.org Written by ACM *Strasbourg/CoE+City Hall/Angelo Marcopolo/- PanEuropean CoE's President for Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE), Experienced ChristianDemocrat/EPP Swedish Delegate, Anders Knape, in a brief but Topical and Multifacet Interview to "Eurofora", Highlighted several Issues related to the current top level Reflexion on "CoE's Future", "70 Years after" it was created (1949 - 2019), due to be on Focus at the Forthcoming 47 Member States' Summit at Helsinki, on May 2019, at the conclusion of Finland's rotating Presidency, when it will be succeeded by France. Knape was speaking shortly after a Public Debate by his CLRAE (Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe), during its Plenary Session of Spring 2019 in Strasbourg (2-4 March 2019), specially dedicated to that "Helsinki Process" on CoE's Future, and CLRAE's contribution. On that occasion, inter alia, Russia's Representatives had expressed their Gratefulness to the CLRAE's co-Rapporteurs : Xavier Cadoret and Gunn-Marit Helgessen, Presidents of the Chambers for Cities or Regions, respectively, because they accepted to take into account, and integrate inside the overall CLRAE's relevant Recommendation, also the suggestions that Russian Delegates had proposed recently. In addition, President Knape had just chaired a special Ceremony in the CoE for the Award of CLRAE's "Medal of Honorary Member" to the well known, Long-Time former Head of the Russian Delegation and vice-President of the CLRAE, Miss Svetlana Orlova, (Comp. various Orlova's Replies to "Eurofora"'s Questions, f.ex., among others, also at : ..., etc). This Contrasted with the notoriously Problematic and Harmful Division inside CoE's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), where a Part of MEPs has managed to practicaly Exclude the Russian Delegation of MEPs from all PACE's activities, (by Depriving them from their Vote, Participatop, a.o. Rights, and Refusing to Guarantee them at least for the Future), already Since the 2014 Conflict provoked in Ukraine also by some Non-Elucidated yet factors, (See, f.ex., : ..., ..., etc), as "Eurofora" reminded. An Issue which has Recently pushed Russia to Suspend its Financial Contribution due to CoE's Budget by all its Member States, with Hard Economic Consequences on the PanEuropean Organisation's functionning, and a subsequent Risk for some to ask to Suspend Russia's CoE Membership, throwing Europe Back towards its "Cold War" Past, with UnKnown repercussions, particuarly Against Peace. Meanwhile, such a prolonged and wider series of various unprecedened "Sanctions", by EU and/or CoE, USA, etc, against Russia, on that same pretext, impacts Negatively Europe's Economic Growth, as the Experienced OCDE's CEO, Angel Guria, had already Warned in Statements to "Eurofora", earlier in Srasbourg, (See : ..., etc). => Some Consequences of such Hardships were also reflected Nowadays also in a Debate about Budget and Ressources of the CLRAE during the Next Biennium (2020-2021), where currently persisting Financial UnCertainties incited even the Experienced Head of France's Delegation, ChristianDemocrat/EPP Delegate Jean-Luis Testud, (former President of CLRAE's Committee on Governance), to launch a Call to Warn all CoE's Member States' Governments that CLRAE Delegates, recently facing more and more Pressing Demands to Limit even more their expenses, risk to be Obliged to Stop their Activities for Local and Regional Democracy, if they don't have, no more, the Necessary Funds enabling them to continue working properly... - On this regard, "Eurofora" asked CLRAE's President Knape how he has succeeded to keep Relations with elected Russian delegates in Good terms vis a vis the CLRAE, despite the problems that the Ukranian issue has provoked inside PACE , (Comp. Supra). - As far as the Ukranian Issue is concerned, we (CLRAE) have already made clear our position, with a special Statement, reminded Knape from the beginning of his Reply to our above-mentioned Question. - Moreover, certain Committees' Meetings initially scheduled also in Russia, have been, in consequence, cancelled, he added. - But, at the Same Time, we (CLRAE) do Not have so Heavy Sanctions as the PACE (Comp. Supra), President Knape observed. - Thus, we can keep going Dialogue with, and Participation of Elected Representatives, as well as to Organise several other Committees' Meetings even in Russia, which allow us (CLRAE) also to Raise Questions, in addition, on what is going on inside that (CoE's Member) Country, (f.ex. on Local/Regional Democracy, etc), he observed. (He didn't yet go as far as to point to the fact that CLRAE might, eventually, play a Key Role for Peace in Ukraine, according to the Minsk Agreement, by helping to design a Compromise on the Future Status of pro-Autonomy Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk, as one of his predecessors, former President Jean-Claude Frecon, had agreed with "Eurofora": See, f.ex., http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/clraepresidentonukraine.html, etc). + This naturally becomes even more Important in Nowadays' Wider Socio-Political Context, where the notorious Recent "DisTrust" of a Growing number of Citizens vis a vis all Public Authorities in general (i.e. National States included), trends to give to Local and/or Regional Authorities (as Closer to Citizens) a Bigger than before Responsibility and Role in order to Develop "Greater Dialogue and Involvement" (Participation) "of Citizens" in Public Decision/Policy Making procedures, as part of an "Open Government", (against also "Corruption", etc), or "Good Governance", (in a way which, at least Partly, matches "Eurofora" co-Founder's own 1997-2019 Project) : - Since the Beginning of his CLRAE Presidency, from October 2018, (Comp., among others, also, f.ex. : ..., etc), Knape has, indeed, organised Debates and Votes on the Main "Principles" of "Good Governance" by such an "Open Government", through "Transparency", "Participation", and "Accountability" in "Public Action", resulting in the Official Adoption of a relevant CLRAE Resolution (435/2018) and Recommendation (424/2018). => So that, Starting from this Spring 2019 CLRAE Plenary Session, CoE's services have begun to Publish and Widely Distribute from Strasbourg a relevant handy Booklet on "Public Ethics", concerning particularly "Transparency and Open Government" according to its Headlines, which contains in full the above-mentioned Officialy Adopted Texts, as well as a comprehensive Explanatory Report, (See Photo+). ---------------------------------- + This touches upon anOther Key Issue for CoE's Role in the Current Situation and the foreseable Future, which is the Struggle against the Causes of "Populism" so-called Phenomena, which often provoque relevant "Problems" particularly in "Rural" Areas, as President Knape told further "Eurofora" : - Indeed, Questioned by "Eurofora" on the Main Reasons for which CLRAE has chosen, for its Spring 2019 Session, this April in Strasbourg, to add in its Agenda also the organisation of 2 Debates on "Rural" policy, (one in Plenary's Start, about "Mayors safeguarding Democray", with the paticipation also of Vanic Berberian, President of the Association of "Rural Mayors of France", and anOther on "Addressing the Urban/Rural Divide : Solutions for territrial renewal", with 3 specialists of Rural Areas), Knape gave a straightforward Reply : - It's mainly because we have also a "Problem" with the Causes which provoque Growing phenomena of "Populism" particularly "in Rural areas" : After the problems earlier faced in Urban spaces, at present we have to address also the causes of such Populisms spreading in Rural space CLRAE's President told us. + And this is "Not at all" an eventual Reaction Only to the notorious Recent series of unusual social Events in France about the so-called "Yellow Vests" ("Gilets Jaunes"), Knape insisted, simply Because Similar Problems, mutatis-mutandis, are Currently Spreading not only in France, but Also, almost Everywhere in Many Other Countries in Europe, f.ex. in Germany with the "AfD", in Sweden with the "SD", in Austria with the "FPO", at the Netherlands, etc, and even in the USA (with the Famous "HeartLands" allegedly Dominated mainly by various Hard-Core "Conservative" Populations), etc., as he observed. => So, inter alia, we should Help those People to be able to "Live and Work in Rural Areas", f.ex., also by Extending there too those Modern Internet Networks which will allow them to do so, CLRAE's President stressed, in Reply to another relevant Question by "Eurofora" : - Indeed, "Expand G4 and/or G5 Digital Networks throughout all such Rural Areas is now a Must !", Knape strongly underlined, in this regard. - Already, f.ex., "in Sweden, the (National) Government is very Heavily Investing" in such Digital Networks' extension to Rural Territories, as he pointed out. + However, he Acknowledged also the Fact that, anOther practical Problem Often Denounced by many People Living (or who would Like to live) in Rural Areas, is that several among them are felt to be, more or less, a kind of "Medical Deserts", i.e. Under-Equiped in Medical Doctors and/or Infrastructure, at least in their close Neighborhood, as "Eurofora" reminded. - Indeed, there is often also a Problem of "Access to Health" there, President Knape observed. But this is Not always Specific to the Rural Areas, because, in Fact, some Similar Problems of current Lack of "Sufficient Doctors" are, Today, found "also inside certain Urban Areas, sometimes even in Big Cities", he denounced, (apparently pointing at an even more Fundamental Issue of nowadays Societies). - At any case, if such, and some other (f.ex. Public Transports in certain Rural spots), current practical problems are Solved, then, as various Examples in Europe, USA and elsewhere, recently show, at least the "Quality of Life" at a Natural Countryside, etc, to which Many People are Attached, may really Find Practical Ways for a Territorial "ReVival" in Rural areas, Anders Knape agreed in fine. (../..) Same Day ACH transfers from OnDeck provide qualified OnDeck Term Loan and Line of Credit customers with funds up to the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) cap of $25,000 by 5:00 pm local time on the same business day the customer books or makes a draw on their line of credit.* Qualified customers are also debited via the same day ACH service, providing them additional predictability in transaction clearing times and offering better clarity around day-to-day cash flow management. An ACH transfer is the electronic movement of money between banks through the Automated Clearing House network, one of the largest U.S. payment systems. Up until now, delivery and posting of ACH fund transfers to customers took several business days. For small business customers facing payrolls or other financial obligations, the delay in obtaining needed funds coupled with slow posting times was often problematic from a cash management perspective. "Today's announcement marks an important step forward in how small businesses access capital online and subsequently deploy those funds on behalf of their business," said Shaleen Prakash, Vice-President of Product Management, OnDeck. "Same Day ACH transfers are a game changing option for small businesses because they provide access to needed capital by the end of the business day and offer better visibility and certainty into the timing of the transactions clearing in their bank account, which in turn leads to better cash management." How it Works Created by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), Same Day ACH is a service designed to move payments faster within the ACH Network. The approach unlocks the ability for users to post ACH credit and debit transactions up to $25,000 by 5:00 pm local time. The implementation of the Same Day ACH Transfer service marks another step by OnDeck to fund approved small businesses either instantly or on the same day. OnDeck already provides real-time instant funding of loan proceeds for its line of credit customers via their existing business debit cards. Instant funding of a business owner's debit card from OnDeck is enabled through a partnership with Ingo Money and Visa Direct. "At OnDeck we take pride in leveraging the best technologies that exist in the ecosystem to provide a superior experience to our customers," said Noah Breslow, Chief Executive Officer of OnDeck. "We were the first online small business lender in North America to offer instant funding using the Visa debit network. And, with our Same Day ACH service, we have demonstrated again our commitment to relentlessly innovating on behalf of small businesses to provide our customers with faster service." * If loan is booked or draw is completed by 10:30 am on a business day. About OnDeck OnDeck (NYSE: ONDK) is the proven leader in transparent and responsible online lending to small business. Founded in 2006, the company pioneered the use of data analytics and digital technology to make real-time lending decisions and deliver capital rapidly to small businesses online. Today, OnDeck offers a wide range of term loans and lines of credit customized for the needs of small business owners. The company also offers bank clients a comprehensive technology and services platform that facilitates online lending to small business customers through ODX, a wholly-owned subsidiary. OnDeck has provided over $10 billion in loans to approximately 100,000 customers in 700 different industries across the United States, Canada and Australia. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is rated 5 stars by Trustpilot. For more information, visit www.ondeck.com. SOURCE On Deck Capital, Inc. Related Links http://www.ondeck.com NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pembrook Capital Management LLC ("Pembrook") announced the closing of a $33,000,000 financing package for the acquisition of 189 units at Cobblestone on the Lakes, a fractured condominium complex located in Ft. Myers, Florida. The financing consists of a $24,900,00 first mortgage bridge loan and an $8,100,000 preferred equity investment. The sponsor, ESG Kullen, is active in the distressed and value-add multifamily investment space. A portion of the Pembrook financing was used to complete the acquisition, which gives ESG Kullen majority ownership of the 290-unit complex, and the remainder of Pembrook's commitment supports the sponsor's business plan focused on selling 40 existing vacant units and completing construction of 42 partially constructed units and acquiring additional units as they become available. "One of the opportunities for private lenders today is to provide financing solutions for residential condominiums," noted Stuart J. Boesky, CEO of Pembrook. "This is an area where banks and other traditional lenders may not be able to play in the current regulatory environment, and yet there are quality deals available that work well for alternative lenders like Pembrook." Pembrook is a real estate investment manager that provides financing throughout the capital structure. The firm has originated or participated in investments totaling over $1.3 billion since it began investing in 2007. About Pembrook Capital Management, LLC Founded in 2006 by Stuart J. Boesky, Pembrook Capital Management invests in a variety of commercial real estate with a core emphasis on impact investing and affordable housing across the country. This firm's strategy involves commercial real estate debt, including first mortgages, mezzanine, bridge loans, note financings, and preferred equity. http://www.pembrookgroup.com/ Media Contact Great Ink Communications, (212) 741-2977 Tom Nolan ([email protected]) Eric Waters ([email protected]) SOURCE Pembrook Capital Management Related Links http://www.pembrookgroup.com SOMERVILLE, N.J., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HouseMaster, the first national brand in the home inspection industry, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. While appreciating the many customers and partners who have helped the company grow over the past four decades, HouseMaster reflects on the evolution of the home inspection business and an industry its founder jumpstarted. The Story Behind Home Inspections HouseMaster HouseMaster In the early 1970s, the late Ken Austin, HouseMaster's founder, met a builder who was trying to get the concept of home inspections off the ground. Austin was looking to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams and thought the concept had merit, and the two became fast friends and partners. By 1979, he was ready to launch the first home inspection franchise and mainstream the concept. Forty years later, his original concept HouseMaster has over 322 locations in the U.S. and Canada, led by President and CEO Kathleen Kuhn, Austin's daughter. Carrying on the Legacy "We are very proud of achieving this milestone during National Home Inspection Month," Kuhn said. "For 40 years, we have committed ourselves to helping consumers make informed real estate decisions. We have evolved and seen the industry come into being. Today, we are committed to helping consumers use the information we provide to better navigate the sales process and help them as they transition from home buyers to homeowners." Kuhn shared that when her father launched the company, only about 2 percent of all home purchases received an inspection prior to sale. In general, the information provided to consumers was limited. Today, inspection reports, such as those prepared by HouseMaster, are considered an essential part of home buying. Post-inspection reports provide highly detailed information, and HouseMaster's include instant repair estimates. Adding More Value for the Consumer "As our service expands, consumers now use the information and tools we provide to not only make a smart purchase decision, but also save money on major purchases, connect their utilities and maintain their homes," Kuhn said. "All of this comes in a digital format -- in our home inspection platform." A standard home inspection often includes an evaluation of all the accessible major elements according to local standards, such as the heating and cooling system, plumbing, electrical, foundation and roof, among others. It often takes between two and three hours to complete. After that, the inspector generates a written report summarizing the conditions. The Digitization of Home Inspection Reports Completed inspection reports today often come in a convenient digital format. In the case of HouseMaster, reports go into a special HouseMaster Cloud Account. This allows customers to simply view their inspection reports in the cloud and create a list of repairs to ask the seller to fix. With the click of a button, this information goes to the seller or their advisors. "So much has changed over the past 40 years," Kuhn added. "We're grateful to celebrate April as National Home Inspection Month and our place as the first company to franchise the concept." Then and Now: What Services are Now Available from Home Inspectors Here is a list of unique services that are now available from many leading home inspection companies that weren't available 40 years ago: Appliance recall information and ongoing alerts Home management platforms to help manage home maintenance Savings on key services and products commonly needed by a home buyer Repair list generation tools to help buyers document their repair requests for the seller Inspection guarantees to give home buyers peace of mind Repair estimates that let consumers generate localized cost estimates to help them either negotiate the repairs or budget for them For information about HouseMaster and the home inspection industry, visit housemaster.com . About HouseMaster Founded in 1979 and Headquartered in Somerville, N.J., HouseMaster is the oldest and one of the largest home inspection companies in North America. With more than 322 franchised areas throughout the U.S. and Canada, HouseMaster is the most respected name in home inspections. For 40 years, HouseMaster has built upon a foundation of solid leadership and innovation with a continued focus on delivering the highest quality service experience to their customers and providing HouseMaster franchisees the tools and support necessary to do so. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of HM Services, LLC. For more information please visit www.housemaster.com or call 732-469-6565. Media contact: Bob Spoerl (773) 453-2444 [email protected] SOURCE HouseMaster Related Links http://www.housemaster.com NEW YORK, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform EXPERT ALERTS Stress Awareness Month: Stressed? Try These 5 Mindfulness Tips Stress Awareness Month: 6 Stress-Reducing Tips Self-Deprecating Humor Linked to Greater Psychological Wellbeing MEDIA JOBS OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES Blogger Conferences: Top Events to Attend in April Updating Your Portfolio: 6 Steps to Help Creatives Stand Out Blog Profiles: Marketing Blogs ------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPERT ALERTS: Stress Awareness Month: Stressed? Try These 5 Mindfulness Tips Julie Potiker Author, Mindfulness Expert Mindful Methods for Life Potiker offers these five mindfulness tips: "1) Up your meditation practice: Try 10 minutes twice a day. Or 20 minutes twice a day if you can make time. Look for guided meditations on Insight Timer or the free Balanced Mind podcast on iTunes. Mix it up so that your mind is relaxing into the practice. 2) Take self-compassion breaks throughout the day: Place your hand on your heart or where you find it most soothing. Acknowledge what's going on. For instance, say to yourself, 'This is a moment of suffering; this is hard.' Then connect yourself to the multitudes of humanity that are also suffering, knowing in your bones that you are not alone in your existential angst. Then tell yourself something helpful. My mom used to say, 'This too shall pass.' I tend to say, 'You're going to be okay,' or something along those lines. 3) Ground yourself through the soles of your feet: No kidding; put your feet on the ground and send your attention down to the soles of your feet. How do they feel? Are you in socks and shoes? Barefoot? Cold or warm? Moist or dry? The act of doing this breaks the discursive loop of thoughts and emotions. 4) Don't bathe in the bad news: Try to stay away from television news or video news. You can read or listen to the news so you have an idea of what's going on, but stay away from graphic visuals. 5) Take time to laugh: Watch comedy (but not political satire if it gets you activated). Any funny movies from the Marx Brothers, Mel Brooks, or Woody Allen are good bets for getting you laughing. Laughter really is good medicine!" Potiker, an author and mindfulness expert, is an attorney who began her serious study and investigation of mindfulness after graduating from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of California, San Diego. She was trained by Kristin Neff, Christopher Germer and UCSD as a Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher. She went on to study with Rick Hanson, becoming a graduate of his Positive Neuroplasticity Training Professional Course. Potiker also completed Brene Brown's Living Brave Semester. Now, she shares these and other mindfulness techniques with the world through her Mindful Methods for Life trainings and her new book: "Life Falls Apart, but You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm In the Midst of Chaos." She holds a B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from George Washington University. Online Press Kit: www.JuliePotiker.OnlinePressKit247.com Website: www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected] Stress Awareness Month: 6 Stress-Reducing Tips Dr. Bradley Nelson Holistic Physician and Author Dr. Nelson offers these stress-reducing tips: "1) Control what is in you. Eat healthy, live whole foods. The shorter the time from tree to tasting, from ground to gourmet, the more positive energy you will receive. 2) Control what is around you. Stay away from chronically toxic people and situations. Stay off of negative social media. 3) Eliminate clutter, physical and spiritual. Clean lines and open spaces in your living area can provide calmness and serenity. Purge yourself of emotional clutter like trapped emotions. 4) Literally 'ground' yourself. This concept is also known as 'earthing.' You know that great feeling you have after a day at the beach? That is about more than a day of relaxation. Standing or walking in bare feet in grass, sand, or even on a concrete surface that is immediately above the soil can rid your body of ever-so-damaging negative energy. 5) Embrace joy. As they say, 'laughter is the best medicine.' Share random hugs and smiles. Think about all you have to be grateful for and share that gratitude. Keep negative energy at bay with positive thoughts and acts. 6) Slow down and love the little things. Humans have adopted the rat race as a way of life, and it need not be that way. There is nothing and no one more important than YOU. Make sure you have sufficient alone time and use it to enjoy what makes you content. A walk in the woods, smelling fresh-cut grass, watching children play, a day of reading -- the possibilities are endless." Dr. Nelson, a veteran holistic physician, is one of the world's foremost experts in the emerging fields of bioenergetic medicine and energy psychology. He has certified thousands of practitioners worldwide to help people overcome unresolved anger, depression, anxiety, loneliness and other negative emotions and the physical symptoms associated them. His bestselling book, "The Emotion Code," provides step-by-step instructions for working with the body's healing power. A newly revised and expanded edition of "The Emotion Code" is coming May 7, 2019, from St. Martin's Press. For more information and a free Emotion Code Starter Kit, visit www.emotioncodegift.com. Online Press Kit: http://drbradleynelson.onlinepresskit247.com Websites: www.DrBradleyNelson.com and www.DiscoverHealing.com Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected] Self-Deprecating Humor Linked to Greater Psychological Wellbeing Dr. John Huber Chairman Mainstream Mental Health According to a recent study from the University of Granada, frequent use of self-deprecating humor has been linked to a better overall psychological wellbeing. When you hear someone making fun of themselves, you would usually assume that they're doing so to conceal their insecurities. However, the study found that the opposite may be the case -- that making yourself the butt of your jokes actually demonstrates greater levels of happiness and self-assurance. Says Dr. Huber: "When an individual can joke about themselves, they are taking away the power of being hurt from another who would cast them with vulgarities. Life can be pleasant or painful, and we are constantly responding internally to our external reality. If we make the conscious choice to laugh at every possible measure, we can transform logically intended painful external stimuli into internal peaceful stimuli. People who do this tend to be happier, and with happiness comes tranquilly and improved psychological well-being." Dr. Huber is the chairman for Mainstream Mental Health, a nonprofit organization that brings lasting and positive change to the lives of individuals that suffer from mental health issues. A mental health professional for more than 20 years, Dr. Huber is a clinical forensic psychologist and a practitioner with privileges at two long-term acute-care hospitals. He has appeared on more than 300 top-tier radio shows and 30 national television programs, and is the host of "Mainstream Mental Health Radio," which is heard nationwide and features interviews with today's top mental health professionals. Website: www.mainstreammentalhealth.org TV Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE5d3daJnAQ Contact: Ryan McCormick, [email protected] **************** MEDIA JOBS: Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://www.cisionjobs.com/jobs/united-states/ ***************** OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES: Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected] BLOGGER CONFERENCES: TOP EVENTS TO ATTEND IN APRIL. Blogger events is a monthly compilation of what's happening in the blog world. Here are our picks for the top events to attend in April: https://prn.to/2VkzVx7 UPDATING YOUR PORTFOLIO: 6 STEPS TO HELP CREATIVES STAND OUT. Updating your portfolio -- an exciting yet daunting task that challenges creatives to put their best work on display. It may sound straightforward, but there are many factors to consider when making changes to make your portfolio stand out. Here are some things to think about when it comes to refreshing your body of work: https://prn.to/2HJpBvB BLOG PROFILES: MARKETING BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at marketing blogs: https://prn.to/2UqxBaP **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1 SOURCE ProfNet Related Links http://www.profnet.com LEHI, Utah, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- RainFocus , the leading event marketing software platform, announced their move to Innovation Pointe in Lehi, Utah. With a larger, ultra-efficient workspace, along with the recent JMI Equity partnership, RainFocus is equipped to hire the best possible team members and continue its rapid growth. Over the past year, the company has nearly tripled in size and more than doubled its client base. RainFocus "Our new office is another strategic advantage helping us accelerate our market-disrupting event management platform," said JR Sherman, RainFocus CEO. "Our core values, tenacity to innovate and our culture of client success all remain the same. We now have an office that supports focus and collaboration across our teams and with our clients." RainFocus is the first company to have moved into Innovation Pointe, which is located at the center of the "Silicon Slopes," the heart of the Utah technology scene. The surrounding companies include a growing array of technology companies, including Oracle, which leverages RainFocus to drive significant visibility and ROI for their flagship events. "People create all value. We are proud of our employees and the culture they create at RainFocus," said Robert Buckley, RainFocus SVP of HR. "Our new space allows for employee collaboration, client events and community activities. People make all the difference, and our new building facilitates the creativity we need to keep delivering for our clients." With more working space, RainFocus is continuing to expand its badge printing and onsite services. The larger conference rooms will be used for customer training events and strategy sessions. RainFocus attributes its rapid growth to the value it unlocks in face-to-face marketing and to its many accomplished and client-focused employees. About RainFocus RainFocus is an event marketing platform that simplifies event management, personalizes experiences and consolidates data for significantly better events. Unlike legacy systems, RainFocus solves for an entire events portfolio from one dashboard and seamlessly integrates with sales and marketing to drive engagement. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Lehi, Utah. Learn more at RainFocus.com. Media Contact RainFocus Brian Gates [email protected] Related Images rainfocus-logo.png RainFocus Logo innovation-pointe.jpg Innovation Pointe SOURCE RainFocus Related Links http://RainFocus.com PHOENIX, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Reconstruction Partners proudly announces celebrated restaurant designer and brand consultant Kathy Diamond Ulepic has joined the firm as senior associate in the Phoenix office. Kathy Diamond Ulepic Ms. Diamond Ulepic and her firm, Kathy Diamond Design Associates, will be a valuable resource available to Restoration Partners clients. Before forming her own firm in 1999, she was director of restaurant and retail design at AM Partners in Santa Monica and, prior to that, director of design at Babcock & Schmid (now L/P Design & architecture), Bath, OH. Widely known nationally, Ms. Diamond Ulepic has worked with over 30 restaurant chains and several retail chains in assessment and planning, strategic development, brand identity, trade dress, exterior and interior design, space planning, packaging, specifications, prototype implementation and concept roll out. Lee Cohn, co-founder and partner of RP, notes, "Kathy is a one-of-a-kind talent. She's obviously enormously creative, but more than that, she understands how restaurants operate things like flow, kitchens and the efficiencies which, especially, chain operators look for. It's very rare for a creative designer to have that insight." Wallace Hite, RP co-founder and managing partner in Nashville, remarked, "Kathy is a highly functional designer who always provides a clear business perspective in her design presentations. She really speeds up the process of solving problems or seizing opportunities." She will collaborate with clients and RP business and finance experts on concept creation, refinement and execution, restaurant design and redesign and all forms of environmental and brand visioning. Ms. Diamond Ulepic is a graduate of Kent State University and is a former board member of ASID and a board member of the Northern Arizona University School of Hotel & Restaurant Management. She and Mr. Cohn will be attending the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Phoenix, April 7-11 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and will be meeting and networking with senior finance and restaurant management attendees. About Reconstruction Partners Reconstruction Partners, Nashville and Phoenix, is full service advisory company focused on chain restaurants, emerging restaurant brands, troubled companies and franchising. The principals of the company have over 100 years of combined industry experience, nearly 80 of which are at the C-level. The partners consult, manage, raise capital and lead the purchase and sale of companies. For more about Reconstruction Partners visit www.Reconstructionpartners.com or call Lee Cohn (602-405-0353) or Wallace Hite (615-218-1521). SOURCE Reconstruction Partners Related Links http://www.Reconstructionpartners.com "Sea Giraffe AMB is a highly capable and efficient radar platform that can be easily adapted and evolved to meet the specific operational needs of the Royal Canadian Navy customer; now and in the future," says Simon Carroll, President of Saab Canada. The Protecteur-class ships are a key part of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy and will be a flexible, multi-role, globally deployable and combat capable military platform able to conduct missions in both open-ocean and littoral environments. They will provide re-supply of fuel, ammunition, spare parts and other supplies between ships at sea and will be capable of transporting cargo, supporting operations ashore, and responding to threats in uncertain security environments. Saab has previously delivered naval radars to the Canadian Halifax-class frigates. www.saab.com www.saabgroup.com/YouTube Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defense and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers' changing needs. SOURCE Saab WALLDORF, Germany, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced that Executive Board Member and President of the Cloud Business Group Robert Enslin has elected to resign from the company to pursue an external opportunity. SAP Executive Board Member Jennifer Morgan will succeed Enslin as president of the Cloud Business Group (CBG). SAP Executive Board Member Adaire Fox-Martin will take sole responsibility of Global Customer Operations (GCO) as president. These leadership changes are effective immediately. Learn more about Jennifer Morgan here. Learn more about Adaire Fox-Martin here. Enslin, who first joined SAP in 1992, departs following a long and successful career at the company. He was named to the Executive Board in 2014, initially as president of Global Customer Operations. A respected technology leader with a unique global perspective on business and economic trends, he earned a highly favorable reputation with customers and industry analysts. His two-year stint as president of the company's Cloud Business Group resulted in an aggressive build-out of SAP's cloud portfolio, including the recently closed acquisition of Experience Management leader Qualtrics. Comments from Professor Hasso Plattner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SAP "We are very grateful for the many significant contributions Robert Enslin has made to SAP. The Supervisory Board has immense confidence in Jennifer Morgan and Adaire Fox-Martin as they assume broader responsibilities on our Executive Board." Comments from Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP "Let me first congratulate Rob Enslin for everything he's done in his distinguished SAP career. He'll be a great champion for SAP in his new opportunity and a lifelong friend to me personally. With Jennifer Morgan and Adaire Fox-Martin moving up, we have two dynamic leaders who will help us take SAP to the next level. Our market-leading core ERP and high-growth cloud application portfolio make SAP a rarity in the enterprise software industry. This transition gives us a clear path to continue simplifying the company. SAP's leadership team will drive greater operational efficiency, faster time to market, higher product quality and superior market fit, all while significantly improving margins. 'The Best Run SAP' is our motto, our maxim and our strategy to run the company with greater discipline and focus. I could not be more optimistic about SAP's road map to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders a true Best-Run SAP." Comments from Robert Enslin "I am truly grateful to Hasso Plattner, Bill McDermott and all my SAP colleagues for the opportunity to be part of such a special company. As I leave SAP for a new journey, I do so with unrivaled respect for the company and its amazing customers around the world." Comments from Jennifer Morgan "I am very honored by this opportunity to work with the outstanding team in SAP's Cloud Business Group. I have never been stronger in my belief that SAP's best days are yet to come." Comments from Adaire Fox-Martin "For the entirety of my career at SAP I have focused on our customers and their success. I could not be more energized to continue this exciting journey as president of Global Customer Operations." SAP will report its financial results for the first quarter as planned on April 24, 2019. Visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews. About SAP As the cloud company powered by SAP HANA, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world's transaction revenue touches an SAP system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables more than 425,000 business and public customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. 2019 SAP SE. All rights reserved. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. Note to editors: To preview and download broadcast-standard stock footage and press photos digitally, please visit www.sap.com/photos. On this platform, you can find high resolution material for your media channels. To view video stories on diverse topics, visit www.sap-tv.com. From this site, you can embed videos into your own Web pages, share video via email links, and subscribe to RSS feeds from SAP TV. Please consider our privacy policy. If you received this press release in your e-mail and you wish to unsubscribe to our mailing list please contact [email protected] and write Unsubscribe in the subject line. For customers interested in learning more about SAP products: Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24 United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727) For more information, press only: Rajiv Sekhri, +49 6227-7-74871, [email protected], CET Marcus Winkler, +49 6227-7-67497, [email protected], CET SAP News Center press room; [email protected] For more information, financial community only: Stefan Gruber, +49 6227-7-44872, [email protected], CET Follow SAP Investor Relations on Twitter at @sapinvestor SOURCE SAP Related Links https://www.sap.com MECHANICSBURG, Pa., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical") (NYSE: SEM), will release the financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2019 on Thursday, May 2, 2019 after the market closes. Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its first quarter results, as well as its business outlook, on Friday, May 3, 2019, at 9:00am ET. The domestic dial in number for the call is 1-866-440-2669. The international dial in number is 1-409-220-9844. The conference ID for the call is 6581679. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website www.selectmedicalholdings.com. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available until 12:00pm ET, May 11, 2019. The replay number is 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID for the replay will be 6581679. The replay can also be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website, www.selectmedicalholdings.com. Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on the number of facilities. Our reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, rehabilitation hospital segment, outpatient rehabilitation segment, and Concentra segment. As of December 31, 2018, Select Medical operated 96 critical illness recovery hospitals in 27 states, 26 rehabilitation hospitals in 11 states, and 1,662 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical's joint venture subsidiary Concentra operated 524 occupational health centers in 41 states. Concentra also provides contract services at employer worksites and Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinics. At December 31, 2018, Select Medical had operations in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com. Investor inquiries: Joel T. Veit Senior Vice President and Treasurer 717-972-1100 [email protected] SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation Related Links https://www.selectmedical.com WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of World Politics, an independent graduate school of national security and international affairs, has received several significant gifts within the past year that are advancing the school's mission to educate principled, well-rounded leaders in national security and international affairs. Recently, IWP received significant funding from Ned and Carol Spieker from the Silicon Valley area to support its Cyber Intelligence Initiative (Ci2). This program is focused not on technological vulnerabilities, but instead on human vulnerabilities, such as ignorance of how hostile intelligence organizations operate, poor cyber hygiene, and inadequate analysis of cyberattacks, their patterns, and their targets. The program is under the direction of IWP's Senior Vice President for Cyber Intelligence, Dean Lane, retired Navy Captain and retired Silicon Valley CIO and CEO. "We are pleased to contribute to the Institute's Cyber Intelligence Initiative," Mr. Spieker commented. "We know some cyber threats can be costly or existential to financial networks, power and communications grids, and even civil society. This is a strategic investment, because it addresses a critical, non-technical aspect of cyber security that few other educational institutions are equipped to offer. IWP seems to be leading the way in cyber intelligence and counterintelligence." This gift for Ci2 is one of several big gifts that IWP has received over the past year. IWP also recently received a $2 million gift from its Vice Chairman, John Lovewell, and his wife Cynthia. "Cynthia and I believe the success of IWP is critically important to the future of the United States," said Mr. Lovewell. "There are many worthy community causes competing for our support. But these community charities lose their relevance if the political economy on which they depend is overcome by external threats or fails from within. For this reason, we cannot think of a higher or more urgent priority than supporting those institutions dedicated to preserving the American experiment." He added: "After 14 years as a Trustee, I know IWP offers far and away the best and most comprehensive graduate education in our field. It is not even close. No other institution offers the complete curriculum of integrated, full-spectrum, hard and soft power statecraft; a clear-eyed view of human nature and the global strategic environment; a study of the American founding and the political economy of our Republic; and an in-depth emphasis on ethical, selfless, courageous, and prudent leadership. Leaders who master this knowledge possess keys to national security and 'winning without war,' as John Lenczowski says." Last June, the Sarah Scaife Foundation gave a sizable gift to support the Doctor of Statecraft and National Security program at IWP. This grant allowed IWP to market this program and to cover costs related to the administration of the program, including faculty salaries. As a result, several new doctoral students joined IWP in January. Additionally, a $1 million matching challenge for the Kosciuszko Chair of Polish Studies was met, thanks to a $75,000 gift from the Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union and another $75,000 gift from Adam and Ava Bak. This gift unlocks an additional $1 million for an endowment for the Kosciuszko Chair from the American Institute of Polish Culture, made possible by Lady Blanka Rosenstiel. This match has enabled IWP to put a total of $2 million into the Kosciuszko Chair endowment. The Kosciuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including teaching, researching, and writing about Poland's history, culture, government, and foreign policy and relations between the United States and this strategic country in NATO's Eastern flank. This Chair, originally established at the University of Virginia in 1998, was inaugurated at IWP on November 7, 2008. The Chair is held by Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz, a professor of history at IWP and expert on the Intermarium region. The Kosciuszko Chair holds an annual Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka to show gratitude and appreciation for her dedication to the study of this strategic region. This run of success is welcome to John Bergholz, who began as Vice President for Institutional Advancement late in the fall of 2017. Mr. Bergholz said: "When I came on board, we were behind on our totals, down a couple of staff, and had our work cut out for us. President Lenczowski and I went on what we would later call a 'development surge' as we crisscrossed the country and contacted our supporters in personal meetings. New major donors came forward, and old friends stepped up generously." The results of the "surge" included a gift this past summer of half a million dollars to the Institute for general operations from the WEM Foundation, thanks to Betty and Whitney MacMillan. Other significant support included an anonymous gift of $100,000 from a new donor to close the fiscal year. Fundraising activity has not let up, as the "surge" continues via personal approaches to donors, a new planned giving program, and a new and innovative direct mail and social media schedule to which donors are responding as IWP pushes forward in 2019. IWP is enormously grateful to these most generous supporters, and to all of the supporters who enable its faculty to teach its students all of the arts of statecraft and their integration, American founding principles, and the Western moral tradition. If you are interested in supporting IWP, please contact [email protected] or visit www.iwp.edu/support. You may wish to read Dr. Lenczowski's essay, "Leaving a Legacy for the Defense of Western and American Civilization." For more on the Ci2 program, please contact Dean Lane at [email protected] or visit www.cyberintelligenceinitiative.org. The Institute of World Politics is a graduate school of national security and international affairs, dedicated to developing leaders with a sound understanding of international realities and the ethical conduct of statecraft, based on knowledge and appreciation of the founding principles of the American political economy and the Western moral tradition. https://www.iwp.edu/ SOURCE Institute of World Politics Related Links http://www.iwp.edu LOS ANGELES, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- To promote National Safe Digging Month, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) will bring a 30-foot-tall shovel to the Angel Stadium of Anaheim to raise awareness about the importance of contacting 811 at least 72 hours prior to the start of any excavation project. When residents or contractors dial 811 before any project that involves digging, utility companies will mark the locations of underground lines to prevent them from being damaged, which could cause injury or service outages. SoCalGas will take the giant shovelpopular for selfiesto inform area residents about pipeline safety, customer assistance programs and the company's vision for California's Clean Energy Future. The shovel will be at displayed at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim from April 5-7. The partnership includes radio spots on Angels Radio AM830 and an in-stadium video that will air for fans. On April 8, SoCalGas is partnering with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Bakersfield Fire and Kern County Fire to raise awareness about National Safe Digging Month and remind customers to contact 811 before digging in the yard or on the job. Both utilities and fire departments will show paint markings in the street for the approximate location of buried utility lines at SoCalGas' regional base on McMurtrey Avenue near Highways 99 and 65 in Bakersfield starting at 10 a.m. An underground utility line is accidentally damaged once every nine minutes nationwide. Those accidents can lead to significant safety hazards or result in costly repair bills for homeowners. Across SoCalGas' service territory, about 60 percent of pipeline damage due to digging is caused by homeowners, contractors, and excavators who did not call 811 before digging. "Last year, SoCalGas recorded close to 3,000 cases of damage to underground infrastructure caused by customers who did not call 811 prior to digging, but we know that number can be drastically reduced by practicing safe digging," said Rodger Schwecke, senior vice president, gas operations and construction for SoCalGas. "Data shows that when customers call 811 before digging, the likelihood of hitting a utility line is decreased by 99 percent." In addition to the big shovel being at Angel Stadium, Schwecke will be throwing out the first pitch at the Angels game on Sunday, April 7 at approximately 1 p.m. to bring awareness to calling 811 before you dig. SoCalGas encourages customers to take the following steps when planning any digging project this spring: Mark out your proposed work area in white (paint, chalk, flour, flags, etc.). your proposed work area in white (paint, chalk, flour, flags, etc.). Call 811 or submit an online location request to Underground Service Alert at least two working days prior to when you'll start digging. or submit an online location request to Underground Service Alert at least two working days prior to when you'll start digging. Wait to hear from us . We'll either come mark our natural gas lines, indicating pipe material and diameter, or let you know that the area is clear. . We'll either come mark our natural gas lines, indicating pipe material and diameter, or let you know that the area is clear. Remember that SoCalGas' uses yellow paint to mark its lines. to mark its lines. If you need to dig within 24 inches of a marked utility line, use only hand tools to carefully expose the exact locations of the line before using any power excavation equipment in the area. of a marked utility line, to carefully expose the exact locations of the line using any power excavation equipment in the area. Report any pipe damage no matter how big or how small by calling us immediately at 1-800-427-2200. 811 is the national phone number, designated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), that connects professionals and homeowners who plan to dig with a local call center. The call center collects information about the planned dig site and communicates with the appropriate utility companies, which then send professional utility locating technicians to identify and mark the approximate location of lines. Once lines have been marked, the caller may dig safely around the marks. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californiansabout 45 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants. SoCalGas' vision is to be the cleanest natural gas utility in North America, delivering affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. In support of that vision, SoCalGas is committed to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2014 through 2018, the company invested nearly $6.5 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. SOURCE Southern California Gas Co. QUAKERTOWN, Pa., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Solution Net Systems, a leading warehouse automation solutions company, announced today the expansion of its automated sortation portfolio with a new product offering, the SNS Modular Sortation System. "This is an exciting time for SNS as we continue to grow and build a comprehensive solutions portfolio, said Stan Sroka, President. "With each new solution we introduce, our goal is to design systems that help streamline processes, are sustainable in businesses, and can be integrated easily into current systems." SNS Modular Sortation System and other warehouse solutions will be exhibited at the ProMat meeting in Chicago, Illinois April 8th 11th. SNS invites meeting attendees to Booth N-6133 to experience their innovative warehouse automation advancements with the company's product experts. The SNS Modular Sortation System Benefits: Provides sortation solutions for a wide range of material including polybags, padded envelops, small and large parcels. This quiet, scalable solution can handle multiple divert points on a single belt providing performance flexibility while be energy efficient utilizing 24-volt motor driven rollers. All electric design provides savings on operational costs by eliminating the reliance on inefficient pneumatic solutions and the associated costs of installing, operating and maintaining compressors. A safe divert mechanism that is able to deliver high perform without exposing personnel to large mechanical pushers. With the use of our proven enterprise FAST software , this comprehensive portable and modular sortation solution can quickly integrate into your system and easily expand to meet your growing needs by helping to streamline workflow, aid in product visibility, and optimize production efficiency. Optional Features: Automatic Induction Dimension Weigh Multi-Side Scan Tunnel Applications: The SNS Modular Sorter solution can help with Order And Inventory Accuracy Reverse Logistics Receiving Shipping Order Fulfillment Picking and Packing To learn more about the complete line of Solution Net Systems, Inc. products visit https://solutionnetsystems.com/solutions/ or click on our press kit link : http://technology-event-news.vporoom.com/SolutionNetSystems-ProMat. About Solution Net Systems, Inc. Solution Net Systems, Inc., wholly owned by Datalogic, is a global leader in developing warehouse automated logistic solutions. SNS specializes in upgrading warehouse management systems giving you real time information, connectivity of a fully integrated system, and developing solutions of all sizes. Over the past 45 years, our unique approach allows for custom systems in the transportation, e-commerce, retail, postal, food and pharmaceutical industries. Solution Net Systems, Inc. is wholly owned by Datalogic. The Datalogic Group is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange and it is a global leader of bar code readers, mobile computers, sensors, vision systems and laser marking systems. Contact Solution Net Systems Alicia DiDomenico, Marketing Specialist [email protected] SOURCE Solution Net Systems, Inc. DUBLIN, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Spain Animation, VFX & Games Industry: Strategies, Trends & Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Spain's animation industry is also known as Spanimation. Spain's animation industry consists of small and large firms. Spain's animation sector is the fourth largest in Europe and consists of about 200 companies. The main Spanish markets for animation are Malaga, San Sebastian and Cordoba. Today, most Spanish animation producers are based in Barcelona, although some are based in Madrid and Valencia. Globally Spanish animation is well accepted and is exported to over 150 countries. Spanish animation is a well-respected global brand known for its high-quality output, talented professionals and creative excellence. This has helped Spanish animation production houses to clock majority of their revenues from overseas markets, with many of the production houses generating about 50% to 80% of their annual revenue from overseas markets as against production houses in other countries in Europe which generate about 30% of their overall revenues. Spain's animation industry is fuelled by the growth in 3D work and new markets, abroad and at home, such as digital TV, cable and multimedia. The cost of Spanish animation remains relatively cheaper than other major European competitors. This competitive edge coupled with skill has Spain's animation companies increasingly working on an international level. Spanish producers have been collaborating with foreign co-producers. Spain's animation studios are also well versed in merchandising. The industry is seeing an increasing demand for content from the Asian market. Correspondingly the animation exports to Asian countries such as China, Korea and Japan have grown exponentially. Asian demand for animation content is a function of growing exposure of Asian audiences to overseas animation. The demand from Asia accounts for about 8% of the revenues of the industry and is expected to grow at double-digit rates in the near future. This makes Asia an important market for Spanish productions, coming after Europe, USA, and Latin America. The Spanish games market is growing at a fast pace and revenues touched US$ 2.13 billion in 2018. Spain has over 23 million active game users. Key Topics Covered: European Animation Industry DEMAND FOR TV CONTENT Feature Film Industry in Europe MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING Trends in Europe COLLABORATION AMONG EUROPEAN STUDIOS DRIVERS FOR SUCCESS ANIMATION COST STRUCTURES IN EUROPE Animation Movie Budgets in Europe Strategies and Models for Animation financing in Europe ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES CENTRALISED ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES IN EUROPE Television Series Development in Europe PITCHING TELEVISION SERIES TO BROADCASTERS Copyright Chain in Europe Co-Production Strategies in Europe CONTRACTUAL ISSUES KEY RIGHTS IN CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENTS CO-PRODUCTIONS AND OUTSOURCING Distribution Strategies in Europe PRODUCER-DISTRIBUTOR CO-FINANCING PATTERNS 3D Market in Europe ADVANTAGES OF 3D DISADVANTAGES OF 3D Industry Constraints and Challenges Market size of European Animation, VFX & Games industry Animation Content demand by TV Channels in Europe European Animation & VFX industry Market Size European Games industry Market Size Animation, VFX & Games industry in Spain Recent Movie Trends in Spain Value of Animation Industry in Spain Size of Animation Industry in Spain Government Support PUBLIC FUNDING SYSTEM IN SPAIN Role of Television Channels TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION CABLE TELEVISION Animation Co-Production in Spain Challenges Strategies for Animation Studios in Spain Key Statistics about Animation Studios in Spain Animation Studios in Spain Spanish Video Games Industry KEY TRENDS IN THE SPANISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY SPANISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY STRUCTURE VIDEO GAME BUSINESS MODELS IN SPAIN ONLINE VIDEO GAMING BUSINESS MODELS IN SPAIN SPANISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN MOBILE GAMES INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN IN SPAIN Key Opportunities & Strategies for Spanish Video Games Industry Video Games Market Segments in Spain MOBILE VIDEO GAMES SEGMENTS & GENRES IN SPAIN Spanish Video Games Market Size & Opportunity For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/mkp6r6/spain_animation?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 CHICAGO, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As we work closely with customers and global regulators to return the 737 MAX to service, we continue to be driven by our enduring values, with a focus on safety, integrity and quality in all we do. We now know that the recent Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accidents were caused by a chain of events, with a common chain link being erroneous activation of the aircraft's MCAS function. We have the responsibility to eliminate this risk, and we know how to do it. As part of this effort, we're making progress on the 737 MAX software update that will prevent accidents like these from ever happening again. Teams are working tirelessly, advancing and testing the software, conducting non-advocate reviews, and engaging regulators and customers worldwide as we proceed to final certification. I recently had the opportunity to experience the software update performing safely in action during a 737 MAX 7 demo flight. We're also finalizing new pilot training courses and supplementary educational material for our global MAX customers. This progress is the result of our comprehensive, disciplined approach and taking the time necessary to get it right. As we continue to work through these steps, we're adjusting the 737 production system temporarily to accommodate the pause in MAX deliveries, allowing us to prioritize additional resources to focus on software certification and returning the MAX to flight. We have decided to temporarily move from a production rate of 52 airplanes per month to 42 airplanes per month starting in mid-April. At a production rate of 42 airplanes per month, the 737 program and related production teams will maintain their current employment levels while we continue to invest in the broader health and quality of our production system and supply chain. We are coordinating closely with our customers as we work through plans to mitigate the impact of this adjustment. We will also work directly with our suppliers on their production plans to minimize operational disruption and financial impact of the production rate change. In light of our commitment to continuous improvement and our determination to always make a safe industry even safer, I've asked the Boeing Board of Directors to establish a committee to review our company-wide policies and processes for the design and development of the airplanes we build. The committee will confirm the effectiveness of our policies and processes for assuring the highest level of safety on the 737-MAX program, as well as our other airplane programs, and recommend improvements to our policies and procedures. The committee members will be Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., (Ret.), former vice chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who will serve as the committee's chair; Robert A. Bradway, chairman and CEO of Amgen, Inc.; Lynn J. Good, chairman, president and CEO of the Duke Energy Corporation; and Edward M. Liddy, former chairman and CEO of the Allstate Corporation, all members of the company's board. These individuals have been selected to serve on this committee because of their collective and extensive experiences that include leadership roles in corporate, regulated industries and government entities where safety and the safety of lives is paramount. Safety is our responsibility, and we own it. When the MAX returns to the skies, we've promised our airline customers and their passengers and crews that it will be as safe as any airplane ever to fly. Our continued disciplined approach is the right decision for our employees, customers, supplier partners and other stakeholders as we work with global regulators and customers to return the 737 MAX fleet to service and deliver on our commitments to all of our stakeholders. SOURCE Boeing The Edison Awards, known as the "Oscar Award in Innovative Technology", has been around for 33 years. Every year, the judging panel of the Edison Awards selects and praises outstanding scientific research achievements of the year that exhibit the spirit of innovation, making the Awards one of the highest honors in the innovative technology industry around the world. Technology leaders like Apple, Tesla, GE, Lockheed Martin, etc. have been granted with the Awards. With battery being a fundamental science technology, it has significant impact on the whole vehicle performance, such as safety and mileage, thus next-generation battery tech is crucial to EV industry. Therefore, the focus of this industry is to create a safer battery with high energy density. And this is why ProLogium, the only company in the world with the capability of mass production of solid state lithium ceramic battery, becomes the industrial benchmark and the hot topic of investment sector. On top of that, in addition to successful mass production of solid state battery, ProLogium is the first company to integrate the battery pack with BiPolar+ technology and the mechanism tailor made for solid-state battery, thus creating a solution that has greatly simplified the cooling system, BMS system, and protection mechanism of battery pack to increase the space utilization rate of battery cell (assembly efficiency) to 75%, which is 35% higher than conventional battery pack. As a result, the volume of battery pack is reduced to 50% of conventional battery pack, weight is reduced by 30%, and the cost is reduced by 30% as well. This means that the driving distance of electric vehicle could be multiplied, EV can be a better replacement for gasoline car. Currently the samples of ProLogium's solid-state battery have been sent to first-tier car makers in the world and tested for the planning of cooperation. The sample car will be introduced in Q4 this year. This ambitious corporate doesn't stop here. ProLogium is opening up technology license to auto companies, battery makers and other related enterprises interested in investing in solid-state battery, aims to build the "Solid-State Lithium Ceramic Battery Alliance", approaching the highly competitive automotive battery market in short time by generating powers from licensee worldwide. In the end of March, ProLogium has signed an advanced licensing agreement with China's leading energy storage system manufacturer Narada Power Source, short-term goal is building 1Giga Wh plant. During the Ceremony, Vincent Yang said at the scene: "The BiPolar+ battery pack has gathered ProLogium's achievements in solid-state battery R&D over the past 12 years as well as the mechanism design created based on the characteristics of solid-state batteries. Our effort aims to improve the efficiency of battery pack through optimizing the stability and safety of solid-state battery. Currently, our proposed solution has been tested by several first-tier companies worldwide. The recognition from the judging panel of the Edison Awards further strengthened ProLogium's belief that our R&D achievements are disruptive and EV pack solution has high potential in commercialization. The Executive Managing Partner of SBCVC, Chauncey Shey, said in an interview: "In the field of new energy, most of the innovative technology R&D was led by national research institutions or laboratories. Now, startup companies like ProLogium who have led the industry in terms of battery technology, mass production and business operation are very rare. Therefore, we are hoping that ProLogium can be a leader in innovation not only for the solid-state battery industry, but also for the entire new energy industry." When talking about the entrepreneurial process, Vincent Yang mentioned that: "It is very difficult to make solid-state batteries. In the past few years, many people doubt that we can be successful. However, I know that we are on the right path. Even if I was laughed by 99% of people, I still have to move on. Now, as a startup company, ProLogium Corporation's technology and products have been recognized and won Gold Awards with these top industrial giants. Our next step is to keep going, realizing the industrialization and commercialization of solid-state battery." Contact: Abby +886-3-4521991#18803 SOURCE ProLogium Technology OWINGS MILLS, Md., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- United Urology Group has announced the consolidation of its Denver area group practices - Advanced Urology, Alpine Urology, and Foothills Urology under a single brand, Colorado Urology. The newly-named practice, with 17 physicians and more than 130 employees, serves patients in 11 offices located throughout the Denver metropolitan and Front Range areas, including Boulder, Aurora, and Golden. United Urology, the nation's leading urology group practice organization, is the management services arm for its member groups of urology practices, which currently includes Chesapeake Urology Associates in Maryland and Delaware, Tennessee Urology Associates in Tennessee, and now Colorado Urology. "We are very pleased that the three groups have been brought together under the Colorado Urology brand. We are committed to building Colorado Urology as the premier urology practice in this area, and to continuing to provide exceptional urologic care to our patients," said Steve Bass, Chief Executive Officer of United Urology Group. "With our dedicated physicians and staff, and a culture focused on patients, employees and the community, Colorado Urology provides us with a solid platform to expand the existing patient care footprint in Colorado." John Kefer, MD of Alpine Urology, David Cahn, MD of Foothills Urology and Damian Sorce, MD of Advanced Urology, on behalf of their physician colleagues, each expressed their excitement about the consolidation of the practices under the new Colorado Urology brand, and look forward to both expanding their range of clinical services to patients and to extending their geographic reach within Colorado. The 17 physicians will continue to care for patients in their existing offices: C. Cragin Anderson, MD; David J. Cahn, MD; Jim Clark, MD; Thomas M. Facelle, MD; Michael Glass, MD; Jason Greenfield, MD; Diane Hartman, MD; Nancy Huff, MD; John Kefer, MD; Geoff Ledgerwood, MD; Steven Luke, MD; Sam Melouk, MD; Ali Sarram, MD; Jonathan Seidlin, MD; Damian Sorce, MD; Christopher Webster, MD; Derek Zukosky, DO. About United Urology Group United Urology Group is a management services organization whose member groups of urology practices today include: Chesapeake Urology, with 23 offices located throughout Maryland and Delaware; Tennessee Urology, based in Knoxville, TN with 11 offices; and Colorado Urology, located in the greater Denver and Front Range areas with 11 offices. United Urology Group members' collective staff today number more than 1,100 employees, including 120 physicians. United Urology's vision is to support the creation of a national network of urology affiliates, through acquisition and organic growth, which will enable urologists to better meet the needs of their patients by leveraging the financial and operational strengths of United Urology. Contact: Patricia Schnably, United Urology Group 25 Crossroads Drive, Suite 306, Owings Mills, MD 21117 443-738-8107 [email protected] www.ColoradoUro.com SOURCE United Urology Group Related Links http://www.ColoradoUro.com NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese and US company executives are cautiously optimistic on future prospects for their businesses, but have mixed views on whether commercial relations will return to where they were prior to current tensions. These sentiments come as negotiators from both countries continue work to reach an agreement addressing an array of trade issues that have strained bilateral relations and roiled world markets. The executives also worried that the agreement would not address all of their major concerns and trade relations would follow a rocky path for the foreseeable future. Chinese executives were more optimistic than their American counterparts. The CEO snap survey of top executives whose companies are committed to doing business in both the US and China was conducted by the US-China Business Council (USCBC) and the Committee of 100 (C100). USCBC represents American companies that do business with China. C100 is a non-profit US organization of prominent Chinese-American leaders advancing constructive dialogue between the world's two largest economies. USCBC President Craig Allen said the survey results reflect a mostly pragmatic outlook on the future trade relationship. "Businesses in both countries plan to stay engaged with most planning to maintain or increase investments," he said. "However, a minority of US and Chinese companies are planning to curtail investments, believing that business conditions aren't likely to improve enough." C100 Chairman H. Roger Wang, speaking from the 30th anniversary annual conference of C100 in New York City attended by over 600 top influencers in business, government and academia, noted the survey results indicate that more should be done to stabilize the business environment for American and Chinese companies. "The challenges for these companies in each other's market are reflected in the survey outcomes. While Chinese companies are more confident that business will return to normal after an agreement, fewer are prioritizing the United States than their American counterparts are in their approach to China." Key Findings: Over three-quarters of executives think that the ongoing negotiations will ultimately result in a partial agreement on trade issues. Most executives view frequent presidential summit meetings are imperative for US-China relations. Executives are almost evenly divided about prospects for "business as usual" returning after an agreement, with more Chinese than American executives expecting a return to the previous business environment. More American executives are prioritizing China's market in the next five years compared to Chinese executives' views of the US market. While 68 percent of CEOs said they will prioritize each other's market, those not sharing that prioritization were all Chinese executives. market in the next five years compared to Chinese executives' views of the US market. While 68 percent of CEOs said they will prioritize each other's market, those not sharing that prioritization were all Chinese executives. Just over half of executives report that the trade war has not affected their ability to do business with partners in each other's countries, but more Chinese executives than American reported such problems. Only 27 percent of respondents indicated their brands had been negatively affected by US-China tensions, but two-thirds of those who have been impacted were Chinese. Most companies indicated they will maintain or accelerate their investments in each other's markets in the next year, but most who indicated they would curtail such investments were Chinese. The Committee of 100 (C100) is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent and extraordinary Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts. Founded by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei and internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, among others, it is an institution of U.S. citizens of Chinese heritage. For 30 years, C100 has served as a preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. www.committee100.org The US-China Business Council (USCBC) is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of approximately 200 American companies that do business with China. Founded in 1973, USCBC has provided unmatched information, advisory, advocacy, and program services to its members for over four decades. Through its offices in Washington, DC, Beijing, and Shanghai, USCBC is uniquely positioned to serve its members' interests in the United States and China. www.uschina.org USCBC Contact: Doug Barry ([email protected]; 202-429-0340) C100 Contact: Christina Lu ([email protected]; 212-371-6565) SOURCE Committee of 100; US-China Business Council (USCBC) Related Links https://committee100.org WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. tech sector added 16,000 new jobs in March, its strongest month for hiring so far this year, according to an analysis by CompTIA, the leading technology industry association. New hiring in technology services, custom software development and computer systems design led the way, growing by an estimated 11,500 new hires, CompTIA's analysis of today's Bureau of Labor Statistics "Employment Situation" report finds. "Employer demand for these skills aligns with investments in technology," said Tim Herbert, senior vice president for research and market intelligence. "Technology services and software account for nearly half of spending in the U.S. tech market. As cloud computing continues to expand its footprint, along with advances in edge computing, 5G wireless networks and other infrastructure technologies, expect to see continued strong demand for technology professionals in the services, application and software development realms." Employment in the category of computer and electronic products manufacturing increased by 2,100 jobs in March, a bright spot in a month where overall durable goods manufacturing was down 7,000 positions. Job gains were also reported in the categories of data processing, hosting and related services (+ 1,600); and other information services, including search portals (+ 900). Telecommunications employment declined by an estimated 100 jobs. Across the entire economy IT occupations declined by 155,000, offsetting some of the gains from February. There tends to be a higher degree of variance with monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics data at the occupation level, so the monthly occupation figures should be viewed as directional. The unemployment rate for IT occupations was 1.9 percent in March. The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged last month at 3.8 percent. Looking ahead, employers increased the number of job postings for core IT positions by an estimated 62,433 in March over February. Software and application developers were the most in-demand, with 90,500 job postings. Other tech positions companies were looking to fill included computer user support specialists (24,700), computer systems engineers and architects (21,900), computer systems analysts (18,300) and IT project managers (17,700). The CompTIA IT Employment Tracker report is available at https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/comptia-it-employment-tracker-april-2019. About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than 50 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world's economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Contact: Steven Ostrowski CompTIA +1 (630) 678-8468 [email protected] SOURCE CompTIA Related Links https://www.comptia.org SAO PAULO, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitacon, the Real Estate Development and Construction Company, has just signed a private equity deal with the American fund 7 Bridges Capital Partners. The formation of this joint venture in partnership with the foreign investment platform calls for the construction of 3,500 units in the city of Sao Paulo, and ensures for Vitacon a R$ 2 billion intake in Overall Sales Value (VGV Valor Geral de Vendas) in coming months. But prospects for expansion may go as high as R$ 10 billion in VGV. "The plan is that within 18 months the structure will be ready for a VGV of up to 10 billion reais," says Alexandre Frankel, company founder and CEO. Famous for its compact units, which prioritize the sustainable urban lifestyle, Vitacon is aiming to transform the economy for the construction market with production at scale, offering the industry new models for financing, and a new culture for this segment. The announcement of the joint venture encompasses five construction projects located in the key regions of Sao Paulo, but in the next 18 months, Vitacon intends to branch out to other cities in Brazil. "In the next phase we are going to evaluate startups in Curitiba, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and Florianopolis." With this action during the year when it is celebrating its 10th anniversary Vitacon is consolidating its position as one of the leading companies in Brazil's real estate segment. The management and development of 3,500 units constructed with 7 Bridges will be carried out through Housi, a brand launched by Vitacon for its real estate management activities. Currently, this arm of the business is managing 2,500 units and has the goal of reaching 15,000 by the end of this year, including real estate developments by other companies in a number of Brazilian cities. "This joint venture shows the company's strength in this industry. We're ready to look for market opportunities. And we want to expand our landbank, in addition to which, we are creating innovative hybrid models, and they are true urban hubs," he concluded. Vitacon 55 11 3039-7101 SOURCE Vitacon VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- WAT Medical will be partnering with VIKAND to attend the Seatrade Cruise Global (SCG) fair April 8-11. WAT Medical is a company that develops safe, effective, and user-friendly wearable medical products. With a team of devoted staff leading in the field of medical research and development, an efficient and convenient medical service is being provided for individual customers worldwide. The mission is supplying innovative self-care medical devices. WAT Medical has two products on the market that they will be demonstrating at the show: EmeTerm: an anti-nausea and vomiting wristband. It is effective for motion sickness (carsickness & seasickness), morning sickness and other types of nausea-induced vomiting. It is easy to use and can be worn on the wrist like a watch. Without the use of drugs or negative side effects, the wristband allows users to easily enjoy the journey as well as the scenery. side effects, allows to easily enjoy the journey as well as the scenery. HeadaTerm: an anti-migraine headband. It is effective for migraines and any kind of primary headaches including cluster headache and tension headache. WAT Medical's partner at the fair will be VIKAND. VIKAND, named from the Swedish expression "vi kan" or "we can," is a company that is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and provides medical service solutions to 170+ cruise vessels, impacting 14,000,000 guests and 120,000 crew annually, as well as numerous other maritime and remote industry clients worldwide. VIKAND Medical Solutions, managed by a world-class medical team, is the leading provider of solutions, including medical management and consulting services to the cruise, yachting and offshore industries. The VIKAND team has extensive experience in the medical field as well as in the marine industry and offers a 24/7 on-call service to clients. Their team has a depth of experience in the maritime industry, both onboard ship, and shore-side, ensuring that they understand the complexities of a shipboard medical operation and air quality issues. The VIKAND team is continually innovating, researching and partnering to bring the most advanced, cutting-edge technology to meet their clients' healthcare and hygiene needs. The team was founded to address a growing need for outsourced comprehensive maritime medical services. Seatrade Cruise Global (SCG) is the world's largest fair in the cruise industry. It is hosted by UBM Exhibition Group of the United Kingdom. Founded in 1985 and having a history of 34 years, the event is globally recognized in the cruise industry. Synonymous with cruise since 1970, Seatrade Cruise has seen the cruise industry through nearly 50 years of growth, development and change. Every year, nearly 1,000 industry leaders, experts, entrepreneurs, ship owners, government officials, researchers, investors and industry associations from around the world attend the exchange. WAT Medical's partnership with VIKAND will shine through the Seatrade show from April 8-11, 2019, and everyone is welcome to visit our show on the booth. References: www.watmedical.com www.vikand.com/ www.seatradecruiseglobal.com/ SOURCE WAT Medical Enterprise Ltd. Related Links http://www.watmedical.com Raipur, April 5 : A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper was killed on Friday and another injured in a gun battle with the Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari area, the paramilitary force said. Head Constable Harish Chandra Pal, 44, a resident of Bhopal and Constable Sudhir Kumar were evacuated to a city hospital. During operation, Pal succumbed to his injuries, a CRPF statement said. Kumar is stable. The two sustained bullet injuries when Maoists opened fire on the paramilitary patrol party moving in the forested area as part of their area domination operation that started on Wednesday, the statement added. The gunfight began around 4 a.m. in deep forest of Saleghat in the Borai area, in which the Masoists also faced "heavy loss", the statement said. The incident took place a day after four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush in Kanker district of the state. Los Angeles, April 5 : A man suspected of killing Grammy-nominated rapper and community advocate Nipsey Hussle was charged with murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said. Eric R. Holder Jr., 29, was arrested on Tuesday, two days after Hussle was fatally shot while standing outside his store in South Los Angeles with two other men. Holder was charged with murder on Thursday, New York Times reported. He was charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and felony. If convicted, he could spend his life in prison. Holder though has pleaded not guilty, a spokesman for the district attorney's office said. Defence lawyer Chris Darden declined to comment. Video evidence showed Holder walking up to Hussle and others several times, then returning with a handgun. He fired several rounds before fleeing in a white car with an unidentified woman at the wheels. Police believe the shooting was rooted in a personal dispute between Hussle and Holder. Hussle's death prompted grief and outrage among residents in the Crenshaw neighbourhood, where the rapper grew up, and among his fans, who saw him as a symbol of hope and self-improvement. New York, April 5 : Humanitarian work is an important element of India's diplomacy, although it is often overshadowed by its strategic and defence aspects, according to India's Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Humanitarian assistance plays an important role in India's diplomatic outreach to other countries, he said on Thursday here at a seminar on "India for Humanity", held as part of the year-long commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. The seminar was centred on the example of the 'Jaipur Foot' in promoting the humanitarian element of Indian diplomacy through a collaboration of the External Affairs Ministry and an NGO behind the prostheses. The Jaipur Foot prostheses, which some have called a "marvel of Gandhian engineering" for their simplicity yet effectiveness, were developed in the Rajasthan state capital by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, which continues to finance their manufacture and distribution. "Jaipur Foot extends Gandhi's message of compassion", Shringla said referring to the organisaton's work of providing free prosthetic limbs to victims around the world. Diplomats from Bangladesh and Malawi acknowledged the Jaipur Foot's humanitarian work in their countries and elsewhere. Malawi's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lot Dzonzi, said that while celebrating Gandhi, "one of the greatest human beings", it is fitting to recall that "Jaipur Foot is the arm that India extended to my country to touch 500 people". It has changed the lives of those who came crawling or stumbling with canes to the camps but walked out straight, he said. Bangladesh Consul General Sadia Faizunnesa said that the Jaipur Foot organisation is changing the lives of underprivileged people in her country. India as a neighbour, she said, is also giving her country humanitarian help with the problem of Myanmar refugees. Shringla said that India had flown plane-loads of aid packages and other supplies for families of Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh and was setting up a hospital for them. He recalled that after the end of the Sri Lanka conflict, India had sent teams to defuse and remove mines planted there and held camps for those who had lost their feet or legs to be fitted with Jaipur Foot prostheses. The chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, Prem Bhandari said that 1.8 million people around the world have benefited from the prostheses programmes since 1975, and 73 camps have been held in 20 countries to help people regain their mobility. During the year of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, Jaipur Foot will be holding 12 international camps, he said. Five of them have already been held in Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Iraq and Malawi, and three are underway in Tanzania, Egypt and Senegal, he said. Mahatma Gandhi's great-great-grandson Paritosh Prasad said that there was no better way of demonstrating his lessons of compassion than the work of Jaipur Foot organisation. India's Consul-General Sandeep Chakravorty said that Jaipur Foot "was India's only international brand" because it is geographically distributed so widely and it brings together diplomacy and philanthropy. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) India has a national election in April-May. This election is critically important because of the climate change consuming the country. Most people think of that change as being the sorry condition of Indias environment. And, it is. It also includes, however, several other important areas -- most notably the economy and the electorate. India's current environmental, economic and electoral climates are extremely problematic. These three climate change areas must be addressed holistically and with an increasing sense of urgency over the next decade if India is to maintain the trajectory it has established to moving from being a developing country to be a developed country. Environmental climate change is not unique to India. To date, 196 world leaders have acknowledged that global warming is an international problem by signing the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the UN's Framework Convention in December of 2015. In October last year, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC) warned that the environment is worsening at a faster pace than originally projected and that unless major changes are made by 2040 there will be disastrous consequences. The compressed timeline for climate change is scary for the world. The timeline for India is even scarier. The World Bank observes that "India is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change". It asserts that, "by 2020, pressure on India's water, air, soil and forests is expected to become the highest in the world". This is a frightening picture. More frightening is the effect that pressure will have on the Indian people and its economy. A World Bank Report released in June 2018 said that climate change could reduce India's GDP by 2.5 per cent and lower living standards of nearly half the country's people by 2050. The UNIPCC report states that a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase in the global temperature would have the most serious impact on "disadvantaged and vulnerable populations" in areas such as food insecurity, lost livelihood opportunities, and adverse health impacts. India's disadvantaged and vulnerable population is huge in size. They and India in general are already experiencing serious consequences. As Dr. Arvind Kumar, a surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi notes: "Newborns in many of our cities become 'smokers' from their very first breath." Because of increasing floods and droughts, numerous poor farmers no longer have the small plots on which to toil and earn a living. Almost one-half of the Indian workforce is self-employed and over 80 per cent work in the informal sector which provides no security or benefits if income is lost or reduced due to climatic factors. The indisputable fact is that the fate of India's environment and economy going forward are inextricably intertwined. Up until just a few years ago, the Indian economy at the macro-level was growing steadily and successfully. This growth has slowed substantially but more importantly has never trickled down to the poor. This, along with other factors, has caused India to rank 133 out of 156 countries on the UN's 2018 World Happiness Index -- 11 spots lower than 2017. The stagnant economic milieu and general unhappiness of so many in the rural and poor regions where almost two thirds of Indians live is also no doubt partially responsible for this year's combative and competitive electoral climate. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi swept to power in 2014, it appeared that he would be unbeatable in the future. This perspective was reinforced as Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) increased the number of Indian states that it ran from six to 21 out of 29 states between 2014 and early 2018. Then, in elections held in December, the Congress party won three key states. Now, it looks as if the race for Prime Minister is up for grabs. What should not be up for grabs is the need to develop an integrated master plan for changing and dramatically improving India's environmental, economic and electoral climate. This should and must be a top priority for whoever wins the elections. Because time is absolutely of the essence. The climate change master plan must be developed quickly. Fortunately, there are numerous ideas and individuals that can be called upon to create that plan. Among the best that I have seen is the following set of five opportunities for India's growth and transformation put forward by the McKinsey Global Institute in 2016: 1. Acceptable living standards for all. 2. Sustainable urbanization. 3. Manufacturing for India, in India. 4. Riding the digital wave. 5. Unlocking the potential of Indian women. Add to that a proposal to build a clean energy future from the bottom up and you have a good starting point for the race to change India's climate in a meaningful and measurable way. It is a race that must be won for the future of India, its people and indeed the world. "The question which remains to be answered is whether there is enough political will to aggressively fight the health emergency India faces today and move away from polluting fuels and practices," said Pujarini Sen, spokeswoman for Greenpeace in India. (The author is an Indian-American entrepreneur, civic and thought leader based in Washington DC. The views are expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ffislam@verizon.net) BOARD XUELONG, March 6, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on March 5, 2019 shows the evening glow seen from China's research icebreaker Xuelong on the South China Sea. China's research icebreaker Xuelong, carrying members of China's 35th research mission Image Source: IANS News MANILA, Aug. 6, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during the ceremonial presentation of the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region at the Malacanan Presidential Palace in Manila, the Philippines, Aug. 6, 2018. (Xi Image Source: IANS News Manila, April 5 : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to send his troops on a "suicide mission" if Beijing doesn't "lay off" a Manila-occupied island in the South China Sea, the media reported on Friday. Duterte's speech at a rally in the city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan came days after the Philippine government claimed as many as 275 Chinese boats and ships had been spotted in recent months around Manila's Thitu Island in the Spratly Island chain, CNN reported. "Let us be friends, but do not touch Pagasa Island and the rest," Duterte said using the Philippine word Pagasa for Thitu. "If you make moves there, that's a different story. I will tell my soldiers, 'Prepare for suicide mission'." Duterte said his words were not a warning, but rather "advice to my friends". "I will not plead or beg, but I'm just telling you that lay off the Pagasa because I have soldiers there," he said, according to CNN Philippines. A small Philippine military garrison as well as about 100 civilians are based on Thitu, which lies about 500 km from Palawan, one of the islands that make up the Philippines. Tensions have risen since the start of 2019 in the South China Sea, one of the world's most disputed regions and an important shipping lane. The Philippines and China each claim overlapping areas of the vast sea, along with multiple other countries including Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. The area where Thitu is located is also claimed by China as part of its territory. The latest arrival of Chinese vessels around Thitu Island has provoked a stern response from Manila. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement Thursday said their presence was "illegal" and a "clear violation of Philippine sovereignty". Srinagar, April 5 : A day after prisoners and jail authorities clashed inside the Srinagar Central Jail, police on Friday imposed restrictions in Srinagar's old city areas, police said. Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who delivers the Friday sermon at the Jama Masjid, has been placed under house arrest at his residence in Nigeen area on the city's outskirts. Additional police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in the old city and other sensitive areas. Barricades have come up in Nowhatta area around the historic Jamia Masjid to prevent congregational Friday prayers. Clashes broke out inside the Srinagar Jail on Thursday after rumours spread that some inmates were being shifted to jails outside the Kashmir Valley. Additional security forces were rushed to help the jail authorities bring the situation under control. Two prisoners were injured in the clashes while a temporary shelter inside the prison was torched by the protesters. San Francisco, April 5 : Following a week of controversies surrounding its composition, Google's external advisory board designed to monitor its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been dissolved after just one week of its formation. The AI ethics board, called the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC), included a number of prominent academics. While over 2,300 Google employees signed a petition to remove board member Kay Coles James over her controversial comments against the LGBTQ and immigrant communities in the past, the inclusion of drone company CEO Dyan Gibbens re-opened old divisions in the company over the use of Google AI in military applications. "It has become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC can't function as we wanted. So we're ending the council and going back to the drawing board," Vox quoted a Google spokesperson as saying on Thursday. Earlier on Saturday, a board member and Carnegie Mellon Professor Alessandro Acquisti stepped down from ATEAC tweeting that the forum was not right for him. The committee was formed following criticism about Google's involvement in a US military's drone project that required Google technologies for AI-enabled weaponry and spy systems. Founded with eight members to guide "responsible development of AI" at Google, the short-lived ATEAC was put together to focus on whether to work on military applications of AI and more. The panel was supposed to add outside perspectives to ongoing AI ethics work by Google. Srinagar, April 5 : Two soldiers were injured on Friday in a mysterious explosion inside an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. Police said the explosion took place at the Lachampora camp of the counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles in Handwara area. "Both soldiers have been shifted to the Army's base hospital in Srinagar. An FIR has been registered and investigation has been started to find out the exact cause of the explosion," a police officer said. Patna, April 5 : Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Renu Kushwaha on Friday quit the party after she was denied ticket to contest from the Khagaria Lok Sabha seat in Bihar. A former Minister, Kushwaha said she felt insulted and humiliated in the BJP. "There is chaos in the BJP and I was not comfortable. When I was not given ticket to contest the election, why should I remain in the party?" she asked while speaking to the media here. BJP ally Lok Janshakti Party has fielded its sitting MP Mahboob Ali Qaiser from Khagaria. New Delhi, April 5 : More than 600 theatre artistes from across the country have urged the electorate to vote for "equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism". A joint statement issued by them urged the voters to "help safeguard the Constitution and our syncretic, secular ethos". The signatories include Amol Palekar, Arundhati Nag, Astad Deboo, Arshia Sattar, Danish Husain, Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah, M.K. Raina, Kavitha Lankesh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Lillette Dubey, Mallika Taneja and Navtej Johar. The appeal said: "Theatre makers in India have a long and proud tradition of standing against forces of religious sectarianism, chauvinism, narrowness and irrationality... We have imagined a secular, democratic, inclusive and just India. "Today, that very idea of India is under threat. Today, song, dance, laughter is under threat. Today, our Constitution is under threat. The institutions that have to nurture argument, debate and dissent have been suffocated." The appeal described the coming general elections as the "most critical in the history of independent India". The theatre practitioners requested voters to elect "love and compassion, for equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism". "Our appeal - vote bigotry, hatred, and apathy out of power. Vote against the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its allies... Vote for secular democratic, inclusive India... Vote wisely." New Delhi, April 5 : In a big relief to the Gandhis and the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha battle, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the eviction of the Herald House that houses the National Herald office. The apex court stayed a February 28 order by the Delhi High Court. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to the Land and Development Office on an appeal of the Associated Journal Ltd (AJL) against the High Court order. AJL is owned by Young India (YI), in which Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are majority shareholders. On December 21, 2018, the Delhi High Court's single bench had dismissed a petition filed by the AJL, challenging the Centre's decision to cancel its lease and ordering it to vacate the Herald House. In October 2018, the Centre passed an order on the eviction of the Herald House stating the violation of lease conditions by the AJL and had said that its 56-year-old lease to the AJL had ended. The publisher then moved the High Court in November 2018 against the eviction order of the Union Urban Development Ministry. In its petition, it stated that the central government's decision to cancel the lease was "politically motivated". Dhaka, April 5 : An estimated 19.4 million children in Bangladesh, including half a million from the Rohingya Muslim minority, are exposed to the most detrimental and hazardous consequences of climate change, the Unicef said on Friday. In a report released in Dhaka, Geneva and New York, Unicef said more resources and innovative programmes were urgently needed to avert the danger that climate change posed to poor Bangladeshi children, reports Efe news. "Climate change is deepening the environmental threat faced by families in Bangladesh's poorest communities, leaving them unable to keep their children properly housed, fed, healthy and educated," said Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore, who visited Bangladesh last month. The results of the report, titled "A Gathering Storm: Climate Change Clouds the Future of Children in Bangladesh", were based on "existing available data" and focus group discussions, Sakil Faizullah, a Unicef spokesperson in Dhaka, told Efe. "We analysed the data to see the impact of climate change on the children. Our experts interacted with families in Dhaka, Barisal, Cox's Bazar," he said. Unicef found that Bangladesh's flat topography, dense population and weak infrastructure make it uniquely vulnerable to the powerful and unpredictable meteorological forces that climate change is exacerbating. Unicef concluded that a combination of extreme weather events, such as flooding, storm surges, cyclones and droughts, and longer-term phenomena directly related to climate change, like rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion, are pushing families further into poverty and displacement. Around 12 million of the worst-affected children live in and around rivers, which flow through Bangladesh and regularly burst their banks. Another 4.5 million, including almost half a million Rohingya refugee children living in fragile bamboo and plastic shelters, live in coastal areas that are regularly struck by powerful cyclones. Another three million children live further inland, where farming communities suffer increasing periods of drought. The report said that climate change is a key factor pushing poorer Bangladeshis to abandon their homes and communities as they try to rebuild lives elsewhere. Lucknow, April 5 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the people of India were suffering under his government's "undeclared Emergency". "During Indira Gandhi's regime, India faced Emergency. But under the Modi government's undeclared political Emergency as well as economic Emergency of demonetization, the country's 130 crore people are suffering and want to get rid of it," Mayawati tweeted. New Delhi, April 5 : British national Christian Michel, the middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, has known "Mrs Gandhi" since 1986, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in its fourth supplementary chargesheet. Sources confirmed that besides "Mrs Gandhi", the names of other Congress leaders were also mentioned in the chargesheet filed before a city court on Thursday, but not as accused in the case. However, it was not clear who "Mrs Gandhi" was and in which context her name was mentioned. The chargesheet has listed a series of "dispatches" between February 2008 and October 2009 by Michel, including one dated March 15, 2008, that mentioned "Mrs Gandhi" as the driving force behind the V.I.P. informing that she will not fly any more in the Mi-8. The ED recovered these dispatches from a hard disk seized from the custody of J.B. Subramanian, who was Michel's employee and was allegedly carrying out various illegal activities of the British national. It is learnt that the correctness of the contents of the dispatches were admitted both by Michel and Subramanian. "However, Michel has displayed selective loss of memory with reference to some of dispatches even when he acknowledged knowing Mrs Gandhi since 1986/87 and the explained identity of the party elite who had used to put pressure on Prime Minister," the chargesheet said. Michel has told the ED that his father was also a middleman in various defence deals and he took over the business when his father was denied a visa to India in 1986-87. The ED said that Michel has incorporated several companies across India, Dubai and Singapore through which kickbacks were routed. It added that Michel was confronted with these dispatches. A dispatch dated October 1, 2009, read: "Meeting at the beginning of week with regards to the Italian lady's son. "The gentleman confirms that the son will be next Prime Minister as his power in party is growing day by day." These dispatches has revealed that Michel was privy to the confidential information which was used well in advance to influence the deal, the ED has alleged, adding that the influencing helped Agusta to bag the deal. In early 2003, Agusta failed to achieve favourable order as it could not meet operational requirements but later they took the services of Guido Haschke and Michel to get the contract. Michel was in touch with Air force officials, bureaucrats, ministers and top political leaders of the ruling party and had used their influence to procure the order. It is learnt that kickbacks were paid separately under different agreements between companies of Michel, Haschke and AgustaWestland. The agency also said in the chargesheet that kickbacks worth 70 million euros were paid to important political persons of the ruling party, media persons, defence officials and bureaucrats" directly or through middlemen who helped Michel and Haschke in influencing the decision of the government. The chargesheet named Michel's partner David Syms and his company Global Services Ltd and Global Trading Ltd as accused in the case. Michel had used the companies as a conduit for receiving money. The ED said that the bribe from AgustaWestland was routed through Global Services and Global Trading. The agency said that further investigation was going on over the role of politicians and bureaucrats in the case. Michel was extradited to India on December 4, 2018, from the United Arab Emirates. (Amiya Kumar Kushwaha can be reached at amiya.k@ians.in) Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019 Chennai, April 5 : Tamil Nadu's picturesque Theni Lok Sabha constituency is set to witness an interesting poll battle with two experienced politicians and debutants fighting it out. The two politicians are Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan and Thanga Tamil Selvan of the AMMK, while the electoral debutants are P. Raveendranath Kumar, son of AIADMK Coordination and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, and S. Radhakrishan from Kamal Haasan's MNM party. While Thanga Tamil Selvan is part of the AMMK floated by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, he will be termed as an Independent candidate as per a Supreme Court order. A total of 30 candidates are in the fray seeking votes from 15,32,240 voters (male 758,557, female 773,506, others 177). "The issues placed before the people by me are mainly related to water-drinking and irrigation, banning neutrino project, rail connectivity for Theni and others," Radhakrishnan told IANS. "Theni is the only district in Tamil Nadu not connected by rail." Alleging the use of money by big rival candidates, Radhakrishnan said: "The money they are spending to buy votes can be used to provide rail connectivity to the district." The people in the Theni constituency are mainly involved in agriculture. The belt is famous for coconuts and grapes, Radhakrishnan added. Radhakrishnan said the issues of the constituency is mainly water disputes, adding that he would fight to increase the water storage level of the Mullaperiyar Dam to 152 ft which would solve the water problem in the constituency. "We are opposed to the neutrino project. Projects that are rejected in other states are being dumped in Tamil Nadu," he added. The other water related issue is the desilting of the Vaigai Dam to improve the storage capacity. According to Thanga Tamil Selvan, the response from the voters for his candidature is very good and he is confident of a victory. He said the poll symbol "gift pack" is easy to remember for the people and also easy for him to canvass. He had earlier represented the Andipatti Assembly constituency as a member of the AIADMK. He was later disqualified by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal for anti-party activities after he extended his support to Dhinakaran. On his part, AIADMK's Kumar promises broad gauge rail link between Madurai-Bodi, road network, tourism promotion and promotion of sports. The constituency has voters belonging to Mukkulathor, Dalits, Naidus and others. According to Radhakrishnan, first time voters will be between 100,000 to 200,000. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, R. Parthipan of the AIADMK won the Theni seat. Lucknow, April 5 : They are children of political leaders and have now taken over the responsibility of serving as quintessential backroom boys while their fathers contest the elections. Neeraj Singh, the younger son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, is managing the campaign of his father along with a dedicated team of workers. "I am interacting with booth level workers and the people at the grassroots levels to apprise them of the development work done by my father in his constituency. It is my duty to carry his work to every household," says Neeraj. Since Rajnath Singh will be campaigning in several other constituencies as well, his elder son Pankaj Singh, an MLA from Noida, will also campaign in his father's constituency. Both the sons are confident of their father's victory in Lucknow. "We only want him to better his margin this time," says Neeraj Singh. Mayank Joshi is the son of Uttar Pradesh Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi, the BJP candidate from Allahabad. He gave up his job in the UK to help his mother in her political career. After helping her win the Lucknow Cantonment seat in the 2017 Assembly elections, Mayank Joshi is now camping in Allahabad. "Allahabad is my home city and I have grown up here. I know the city and its people and I am responsible for planning my mother's schedule so that she gets to cover every part of the constituency," he says. Abdullah Azam is a first time legislator and is presently working overtime for his father Mohd Azam Khan, the SP-BSP candidate from Rampur. Mohd Azam Khan is pitted against actor-turned -politician Jaya Prada of the BJP. "These are tough times for us. The BJP government is victimizing us with a vengeance and we are being targeted with FIRs almost every other day. However the people are with us and party workers are working with me to ensure the victory of my father<" he says. Aditya Yadav is the eldest son of Shivpal Singh Yadav and, apart from campaigning for his father who is contesting the Ferozabad Lok Sabha Sabha, he also faces an unpleasant situation. In Ferozabad, Shivpal Yadav is contesting against his own nephew Akshay Yadav and Aditya Yadav has been assigned the task of campaigning against his cousin. "It is an unpleasant situation but we are not responsible for it. My father tried to broker peace in the family but finally things did not work out. This is politics and there are no relations in politics. It is a battle that has to be won and we are working for it," he says. The normally reticent Aditya Yadav is finally taking the centre stage in his party's politics. Apart from managing his father's campaign, he is also meeting party workers from all over the state and addressing issues related to the party. The youngest is Samrat, son of Jaya Prada who is campaigning for his mother in Rampur. He terms his first election experience as "interesting" and says he has already made friends with many in the constituency. --IANS amita/mr Amroha : , April 5 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for honouring him with the nation's highest civilian honour -- the Order of Zayed -- for boosting bilateral relations between the two countries. "I would like to thank the government of UAE and people of UAE for honouring me with the Zayed medal. This is not an award given to Modi but to the Indian people," he said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha. The announcement of the award was made by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday. The Crown Prince described Modi as a "dear friend" and said he had played a pivotal role in enhancing bilateral ties. Modi is expected to visit the UAE to receive the award. He has already been conferred with Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour -- the King Abdulaziz Sash. Thiruvananthapuram, April 5 : It was this day exactly five decades back that the erstwhile Hindustan Latex Ltd, now known as the state-run HLL Lifecare Ltd, produced the first condom in the country at its factory near here. As it celebrates its golden jubilee, condom production at HLL Lifecare has crossed two billion pieces, matching global standards, and it is the only company in the world which is a one-stop shop offering everything in birth control solutions. Over the years, this company has come to be referred to as the "safest" companion of many a bedroom and has taken the 'pleasure' business to new heights, through innovations and new products. The company's flagship brand "Moods" comes in more than 19 variants and the marketing portfolio of the company currently has more than 70 brands in its kitty. A peep into the history of the company shows that the Central government set up its National Family Planning program in the 1950s. With condoms, then, being mainly imported and heavily priced, their availability at low cost to the common man turned out to be vital for the success of the governmenta's "Small Family Happy Family" campaign. In the 1960s, the Centre decided to start a company for the manufacture of condoms at affordable rates in Kerala where rubber is the principle cash crop. On March 1, 1966, Hindustan Latex Ltd was incorporated as an undertaking under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The foundation stone for the first manufacturing plant, with a production capacity of 144 million pieces, was laid at Peroorkada, near here on th January, 14, 1967. Thereafter, on this very day in 1969, commercial production began with the technical collaboration of Okamoto Industries of Japan. The year 1976 witnessed the first phase of development with an increase in the production capacity to 288 million pieces a year. Later, to meet the growing need of condoms for the national family planning programme, the company expanded its production units here and at Belgaum in Karnataka in 1985. In the 1990s, the company diversified into various other products and services and the dream goal of becoming a Rs 1,000-crore company was successfully accomplished when HLL notched up business worth Rs 1,296 crore in 2010. Through this long journey, HLL has floated seven institutions, besides foraying into Research and Development and has a opened 60,000 sq ft state-of-the-art R&D centre here. New Delhi, April 5 : The RBI is likely to adopt a more accommodative approach towards resolution of stressed assets when it issues a revised circular sometime in the next few days, against the February 12 circular quashed by the Supreme Court. Sources said the major contention in the controversial February 12, 2018, circular that got challenged in the court leading to its quashing, will be done away with in the new circular. Instead, banks will be given more time to identify and qualify an account as bad debt and also be given more time to resolve the same. The Reserve Bank of India is likely to retain the main contours of its February 12, 2018 circular while making the referral to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) non-compulsory, sources told IANS. It might, however, be guided by suggestions earlier given by the Indian Banking Association (IBA) for debt resolution for classification of Non-Performing Asset (NPA) and resolution of bad assets. Bankers had suggested qualifying a loan as bad debt if the default was for a period of at least 90 days and not one day as was the case in the February 12 circular. A bank-led resolution should start only after that, according to the bankers. Moreover, it had suggested a 60 day incubation period post this time for identifying the default. After this, banks would resolve a case within 180 days and consider referring the case to NCLT post that period if the majority of the lenders agreed. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down a February 12, 2018 circular of the RBI that asked banks to initiate insolvency process against companies even if there was a day's delay in payment of dues. As per the circular, banks were told to start the resolution process as soon as a borrower defaulted on a term loan and were given 180 days to cure it, failing which the account would have to be referred to the NCLT. It also said that any company that defaulted on its loan repayment obligation even by a day should be declared a defaulter. Further, under the new norms, lenders can decide on the resolution if 66 per cent of the lenders agree to take this recourse. This is similar to the adoption of a resolution under IBC where 66 per cent of votes is required. The revised circular on NPAs is unlikely to include the pre-IBC restructuring tools like Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR), Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets or S4A. In the previous circular the RBI had withdrawn all existing debt restructuring schemes -- S4A, CDR, JLF, and SDR -- and asked banks to draw resolution plans for all assets where the banking sector's exposure was more than Rs 2,000 crore. On Tuesday, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that the recent Supreme Court ruling did not take away the powers of the central bank, nor would it impact the major default cases undergoing insolvency proceedings. "We will soon get the revised circular. There will not be any undue delay in that," Das said. On whether the recent instances of the RBI being taken to the court have impacted its actions, Das said: "It's always the democratic right of any person, individual or corporate entity to challenge the decision of any authority in the court of law. The RBI cannot be an exception to this." San Francisco, April 5 : Joining the league of other tech giants and their big fancy annual conferences like Facebook's "F8", Google's "I/O" and Apple's "WWDC", photo-messaging app Snapchat hosted its first "Partner Summit" in California. The motive of the event was to unveil new products - some for users, some for developers - and encourage potential partners to build features or products that work with the Snapchat app, Recode reported on Thursday. During the event, the platform announced new Facebook app-inspired "Stories" option, in-house built multi-players games and more Augmented Reality (AR) filters which are not just restricted to faces. Snapchat, in a statement, said: "'Stories' feature allows people to share videos, photos shot from Snapchat's in-app camera on dating app Tinder and social networking app Houseparty as 'Story'". A new filter called "Landmarks" also made its place on Snapchat, bringing AR filters for iconic landmarks from around the world, like the Eiffel Tower, the report said. These apart, in partnership with media companies like Dakota Pictures, NBC and Insurrection Media, Snapchat announced eight new shows including a comedy show, a zombie apocalypse show and a docu-series about race in America, the report said. Snapchat also floored its new ad network, called the "Snap Audience Network" . "The plan is for Snap to sell ads that will appear inside other companies' apps, a move that will help Snap advertisers reach a larger group of people than just those who use Snapchat," the report noted. Itanagar, April 5 : Indian Army soldiers along with a police representative found the wreckage of a World War II US Air Force aircraft in Arunachal Pradesh, an official release said on Friday. A 12-member Indian Army patrolling team along with a police representative recovered the wreckage in Roing district on March 30, it said. "The discovery of the vintage aircraft and other warlike stores will definitely lead to revelation of some historical inputs," it added. The aircraft debris was covered by a thick undergrowth and was buried under five feet of snow. On the information given by local trekkers of Lower Dibang district, an Army team was sent to locate the wreckage in a remote location, 30 kilometres from Roing in northeast Arunachal Pradesh. The team moved cross country for 30 kilometres in thick jungles and snow covered areas for eight days to trace the wreckage. In 2018, India's Culture Ministry built a museum at Nampong in Changlang district bordering Myanmar at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore to commemorate those who laid down their lives in World War II. The museum is located adjacent to the historic 1,726-km long Stilwell Road which was a vital lifeline for the Allied Forces during World War II. New Delhi, April 5 : The Congress on Friday termed as "rehashed insinuations, lies, and cheap election stunt" the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) act of mentioning names of some party leaders in their supplementary chargesheet in the AgustaWestland case and said a "panic-stricken" Modi Government will not be able to change its "exit date and fate." The Congress' communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said "a single un-certified page leaked by the ED of a purported chargesheet is a cheap election stunt to divert attention from imminent defeat of the Modi government". "ED has become 'Election Dhakosla' of a government manufacturing a lie a day," he said. Surjewala said the Modi government has lost all litigations against the Italy-based Finmeccanica and its British subsidiary AgustaWestland. He said on January 8, 2018, an Italian appeals court acquitted Giuseppe Orsi, Former Chief Executive and Bruno Spagnolini, former head of the Helicopter Unit from the charges of any wrongdoing in the sale of 12 helicopters to India. "On September 17, 2018, a higher court in Milan, Italy affirmed the order in a 322-page detailed judgement and upheld the finding of 'no graft or wrong doing' by any Indian official. Modi government was a party in the case and lost. Modi government has chosen to not file an appeal in the matter," he said. "All these rehashed insinuations and lies were bundled out earlier too through a set of pliable media. Ultimately, they failed in an international court and were rejected as trash. A panic-stricken Modi government and its puppet ED will not be able to change its exit date and fate. The Prime Minister has already been rejected by the people," he added. The ED on Thursday filed a supplementary chargesheet against British national Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal , in which it has mentioned "Mrs Gandhi", but not named her as an accused in the case. The chargesheet said that Michel knew "Mrs Gandhi" since 1986. Names of other Congress leaders were also mentioned in the chargesheet, but not as accused in the case. The chargesheet has listed a series of "despatches" between February 2008 and October 2009 by Michel, including one dated March 15, 2008, that mentioned "Mrs Gandhi" as the driving force behind the V.I.P. informing that she will not fly any more in the Mi-8. Amroha : , April 5 (IANS) Accusing the Congress of insulting Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the author of the Indian Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that Babasaheb had challenged "the family" and paid for it because its generations continued to avenge him. Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Vijay Sankalp Rally here, Modi said: "It is the compulsion of the vote bank that has forced the Congress to remember Babasaheb now. Otherwise, this party did not allow even a photograph of him in the Parliament for decades." Elaborating on the BJP government's achievements, the Prime Minister said: "The vote bank politics has done great damage to the country. Goondaism was rampant and law and order absent in western Uttar Pradesh till a few years back. "Criminal elements were free to roam around during the Samajwadi Party rule, but they have been reined in after the BJP came to power." According to Modi, it was because of this goondaism and high rate of crime, as well the problems of electricity and bad roads, that people were scared of setting up industry in Uttar Pradesh. "But we are making an honest attempt to change things to increase investor confidence in the state," he said. The Prime Minister also thanked the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) for selecting him for the prestigious Zayed Medal, the UAE's highest civilian honour. "This is not an honour for Modi, but for the people of India. You are the reason for India's growing respect in the world, not Modi," he said. The Prime Minister added that to maintain the country's high repute, a strong government was vital. "Only a strong government can take the country forward by taking big and tough decisions," Modi said. Islamabad, April 5 : US special envoy for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad met Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi here on Friday after holding delegation-level talks on the Afghan peace process. The delegation-level talks between Pakistan and the US were held at the Foreign Office. The Pakistani delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua while Khalilzad led the visiting team, Geo News reported. Khalilzad will also hold separate meetings with the top civil and military leadership during his visit to the country. A day earlier, the US Afghan peace envoy said relations between the US and Pakistan would not improve until Islamabad reconsiders its policies pertaining to Kabul. US President Donald Trump's special envoy was travelling from Kabul where he held discussions with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other prominent leaders on "joint efforts to meet the Afghan peoples' compelling desire for peace". Meanwhile, Tolo News reported that the US envoy supported an agreement between Islamabad and Kabul based on which Pakistan should play a constructive role in Afghanistan. New Delhi, April 5 : The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) on Friday announced the formation of a "Political Steering Committee" to create awareness among the public, media and decision makers on "Kashmiri Pandits' genocide" and their sustainable resettlement in the Valley". The committee will be headed by Moti Kaul, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit leader who would kick off a nationwide tour and interact with community members, media, representatives from all political parties and other stakeholders, a statement from the GKPD said. "This mobilization of support is designed to create a mass movement against the cover-up of Kashmiri Pandits' genocide and the denial of their basic rights under international and domestic law," Kaul said. He added that the governance stakeholders over the last 30 years had "failed abjectly" to address the community's demands for justice. Kaul said the National Conference's call for pre-1953 Constitutional status had already been declared by the interlocutor's commission as "leading to a dangerous constitutional vacuum". "At the same time, (the) Congress manifesto is a defacto abdication to the genocidaires in Kashmir. What Kashmir needs is strong, clean governance founded on the rule of law and order and based on the tenets of the Constitution," he said. Surinder Kaul, the founding member of GKPD, said the Political Steering Committee was a logical outcome of the GKPD conclave necessitated by the "alarming, current political discourse". Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits fled the Kashmir Valley when militancy broke out, leading to violence directed against the community. New Delhi/Mumbai, April 5 : More trouble seems to be in store for financially-challenged Jet Airways as the country's largest oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) refused to provide jet fuel to the airline over non-payment of dues. According to a senior Indian Oil official, the company stopped fuel supply to the airline on Friday. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 26 aircraft. The development comes a day after the lenders to the cash-strapped airline said that they intend to pursue the bank-led resolution plan for the airline under the present legal and regulatory framework. However, the lenders did not divulge any information about the present funding needs of the airline. Under the debt resolution plan, the lenders would inject up to Rs 1,500 crore working capital into the airline and convert their debt into equity, to revive the airline and then sell their stakes in it. The airline owes over Rs 8,000 crore to its lenders, led by the State Bank of India (SBI). At present, the airline is hard-pressed for funds. It is expected to receive the first tranche of the Rs 1,500 crore promised by banks as part of the debt resolution plan. Industry sources informed that the first tranche of fund is expected in a day or two. But in the absence of any more funding, the airline's fleet size is expected to shrink further. It has already shrunk to 26. The airline 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. On Wednesday evening, the airline informed employees that salaries for March would be delayed. Salaries are pending since January. Seoul, April 5 : Amid falling memory chip prices and weak demand for display panels, Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday said its operating earnings went down by more than 60 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier. The operating profit was estimated at 6.2 trillion won ($5.45 billion) in the January-March period, a 60.4 per cent drop from a year ago, Yonhap news agency reported citing earnings guidance. The tech giant expected overall sales to have fallen 14.1 per cent on-year to 52 trillion won in the three-month period. Samsung did not break down the performances of its respective business divisions, saying it will announce detailed earnings later this month. The operating profit margin of the company stood at 11.9 per cent, the lowest since the third quarter of 2016. Earnings from memory chip sales accounted for over 70 per cent of the total last year. Market watchers expected downbeat earnings from its semiconductor business and losses in the display panel division for the first time since 2016. Samsung is the world's biggest producer of DRAM and NAND flash chips and supplies smartphone panels to Apple, which has suffered tepid sales of iPhones in China. The IT and mobile business were expected to have posted robust earnings on the back of the Galaxy S10, which went on sale last month. The flagship phone's 5G model was launched in South Korea earlier in the day, targeting the premium segment. New Delhi, April 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected the claims of anti-incumbency against his government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and said that for the first time there is pro-government sentiments in the country. In an interview to ABP News, the Prime Minister also said that as a result of the measures taken by his government, fugitives like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi had to land in jails of the countries where they fled. "I can't find anti-incumbency against the government. For the first time, I can see there is pro-incumbency. There is a wave," Modi said. The Prime Minister said that in the last seven days, he had travelled around 70 per cent of the states and what he was claiming was based on his experience. "I am the one who loves to be among the public. I can see there is a pro-government wave. This itself is a happy moment for the democracy," he said. Asked about fugitives like Nirav Modi, Mallya and Choksi fleeing the country in the last five years, the Prime Minister said it was because of the measures taken by his government that these people had to flee the nation. "It is because of the measures taken by us that these fugitives had to land in jails of the countries where they fled. It is because of us that their properties are being seized," Modi said, adding that the nation was run by law and his government was making full use of it. The Prime Minister said these fugitives cheated the country with so much money in a span of 10 years, but not after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. "They (fugitives) didn't know that a government like this would come and take actions against them. Therefore they got scared after we came to power and fled," he said. To a question that Muslims didn't believe in the BJP, the Prime Minister said he didn't believe in doing anything for the Hindus or the Muslims specifically. Instead, he believed in doing things for the people of the country. "During Manmohan Singh's tenure as the Prime Minister, a Sachar Committee was formed. The committee members came to Gujarat when I was the Chief Minister and asked me what did my government do for the Muslims? "To which I responded that my government didn't do anything for the Muslims and nor will it do anything in the future. In fact, my government didn't do anything for the Hindus either, because my government worked for the welfare of the people in general," he said. Citing "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas" as his mantra, the Prime Minister asserted that there was no place for religion in his government. New Delhi, April 5 : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea by Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik challenging the extension of the ban on his entry into Goa by the state government. The bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Navin Sinha declined to entertain Muthalik's plea and asked him to move the High Court. The Goa government had banned the entry of Muthalik in 2014 and the orders prohibiting his entry were extended every 60 days. Muthalik's Sri Ram Sene had caused outrage across the country after some of its members had stormed into a pub in Karnataka's Mangaluru city on January 24, 2009, and assaulted the women and men there alleging that they were insulting the country's culture and values. Later all of them were acquitted by a Mangaluru court citing lack of evidence. New Delhi, April 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular politician in India in terms of online search with 7.24 million and 1.82 million searches for the year 2018 and 2019 respectively, according to a new study. But the Indian National Congress (INC) managed to steal the limelight after two years as the most searched political party during December 2018, said the study by the US-based online visibility management platform SEMrush. The results showed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi emerged as the second most searched Indian politician on online platforms with 1.5 million searches in 2019. However, it is Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi who gained popularity most rapidly between 2018 and 2019. Priyanka Gandhi registered a search volume of 1.22 million in 2019 in comparison with a search volume of 701,000 in 2018. "We also studied trending keywords and popular questions related to leading politicians and found that the most searched question was 'Who is Narendra Modi'," Fernando Angulo, Head of International Partnership, SEMrush, said in a statement. The results also revealed Modi as the most active politician on Facebook with a record profile growth of 68.22 per cent between February 2019 and March 2019. For the study, SEMrush analysed eight politicians and checked how many times people in India searched for them on Google from January 2018 till February 2019. They also looked at the top 10 related keywords and the top 10 related questions for each politician. On social media, the firm analysed the official pages on Facebook and Twitter of the politicians and compared three factors - audience, activity and engagement. They checked the engagement trend from February 12 to March 13, 2019. Dhubri : , April 5 (IANS) Accusing the BJP-led government in Assam of trying to convert genuine Indian citizens to foreigners in their own country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that only the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has stood by the 40 lakh people of Assam whose names were left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Banerjee said this while addressing a huge public rally at Dhubri which is located along the Bangladesh border. She said that both the NRC and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) are mere lollipops used by the BJP to fool the people of Assam. "There was a conspiracy being hatched by the BJP to turn genuine citizens to foreigners. I was hurt when I was told that over 40 lakh people were left out from the NRC. I immediately sent some of our party legislators and MPs to Assam to take stock of the situation here. Our members were stopped in the airport and tortured but still we protested against this," Banerjee said. "Now the Assam government needs central forces everywhere. They (BJP) have destroyed the country and now they are coming to seek the vote once again," she said. "We are not in power in Assam but we raised our voice against the NRC and stood behind you when you were in trouble. You have not voted for us but still we stood behind you in times of distress," she said. She said that while some did not find their mothers' names in the NRC, others found their children's names were missing. "People resorted to committing suicide after failing to find their names in the NRC due to fear. The names of Muslims were left out from the NRC and people, including children, were kept in detention camps," she said. "The CAB is nothing but a lollypop doled out by the BJP. The BJP is differentiating between the Hindu Bengalis and Muslim Bengalis. I am a Hindu and I know that being a Hindu does not give the right to attack Muslims. I have read the CAB, the amendment will make you a foreigner for 6 years, then you will be given citizenship, why? "What will you do in the 6 years? What about your job, school and every essential thing. This is nothing but a conspiracy," she said. Terming the BJP a corrupt party, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that although Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, no action was taken against him. "Modi Babu knows only to lie. He has been lying all along. He is doing all sorts of corruption in the name of chowkidar," she said. Saying that Assam and Bengal have always shared a close bond, Banerjee appealed to the people of Assam to vote for the Trinamool Congress. "Vote for us for one time and we are going to raise the issue of the people in Parliament," she said. Mumbai, April 5 : A two-part television feature will commemorate the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, marking a centenary since the April 13, 1919 incident which stirred the conscience of millions. The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Punjab Government entrusted EPIC Channel with the creation of the film "Jallianwala Bagh - Punjab Ka Dil", produced as an EPIC Original for the Punjab government, read a statement. Its first part will air on Saturday, and the second part will be telecast on April 13. In 1919 on the same date, General Reginald Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed people at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Hundreds of people lost their lives and many more were injured as they were trapped in an enclosed area, under relentless, unprovoked firing, with the only exit from the park blocked. The feature examines the events leading up to the incident and analyses the far-reaching impact of its fall-out. It has interviews with scholars, rare archival footage, meetings with descendants of the victims, along with an exploration of those who visit the spot to pay homage. The hour-long narrative explores the various facets that make the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy an extremely significant event in India's history. Akul Tripathi, Head - Content and Programming, EPIC Channel added, "We are honoured and proud to be the vessel of choice to tell the story of such an important moment in India's history. The feature is a homage to generations of martyrs and freedom fighters from the brave land of the Punjab. The Jallianwala Bagh incident and its sacrifices must not be forgotten, today and by generations to come." Bhubaneswar, April 5 : Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Friday promised to provide 25 lakh farmers in Odisha two instalments of Rs 10,000 each under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, the day his party forms a government in the state. Odisha faces Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously. Addressing an election rally in Jeypore, the Odisha Chief Minister said the welfare of farmers had been the number one priority in the BJD election manifesto. "So far, 40 lakh farmers have been benefited from the KALIA scheme. A list has been prepared of 25 lakh more names for the scheme," said Patnaik. The BJD has alleged that the Chief Electoral Officer stalled the implementation of the KALIA scheme in the state due to enforcement of the election model code of conduct. Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on the other hand, accused the state government of benefitting relatives of BJD leaders in the scheme. Addressing an election rally in Kalahandi Parliamentary constituency, Pradhan said, "Naveen Patnaik boasts of providing money to 40 lakh farmers under the Kalia scheme. But it's the relatives and family members of BJD Ministers and MLAs who are actually enjoying the money, while the farmers are left out." "Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana to benefit small and marginal farmers who have less than 5 acres of land. The scheme would have benefitted 40 lakh farmers in Odisha. But the state government has deliberately delayed its implementation by not providing the Centre details of the farmers," he alleged. Odisha will face Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats. Washington, April 5 : The US has revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor in response to her intention to probe potential war crimes by American soldiers in Afghanistan, the media reported. The Guardian cited a statement from the office of Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian national, saying she would continue to pursue her duties for the court, in The Hague, "without fear or favour". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in March announced restrictions on any ICC staff who investigated US or allied personnel. Washington has refused to recognise the ICC since its inception in 2002, weakening the court's authority and providing an excuse for other countries, most notably in Africa, to also pull their support. In 2017, Burundi became the first nation to leave the ICC. Pompeo's move came as he delivered another snub to multilateralism by refusing to attend a meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in France. He earlier said that the ICC was "attacking America's rule of law" while announcing a policy of imposing visa restrictions on "individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel". "If you're responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan you should not assume that you still have, or will get, a visa or that you will permitted to enter the US." Bensouda's office said she had an "independent and impartial mandate" under the Rome statute governing the ICC. "The prosecutor and her office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favour," it added. The ICC said the US decision was not expected to affect Bensouda's trips to the UN in New York, where she gives regular briefings to the Security Council. The UN office is seen as covered by a form of diplomatic immunity, the report said. Bensouda asked ICC judges in November 2017 for authorisation to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan government forces and international forces, including US troops. The investigation is also expected to examine the Central Intelligence Activity in detention centres in Afghanistan. The court has not yet decided whether to launch a full-blown investigation that would cover events after 2002, according to the Guardian. Bengaluru, April 5 : The Indian IT industry's apex body Nassccom on Friday said WNS Global Services' Chief Executive Keshav Murugesh will be its new Chairman for the fiscal 2019-20. "Murugesh takes the executive post from his previous role as the Vice Chairman of the National Association of Software and Services Companies," said the representative body in a statement. Global software major Infosys Chief Operating Officer U.B. Pravin Rao will be the new Vice Chairman of Nasscom for FY20. Murugesh succeeded Wipro board member and Chief Strategy Officer Rishad Premji, who was the apex body's Chairman for fiscal 2018-19. Rishad is the eldest son of Wipro Chairman and billionaire Azim H. Premji. "It was a honour to be Nasscom Chairman when the software industry is at the cusp of a digitally transformed industry with opportunities to leverage," said Murugesh in a statement on the occasion. The new Chairman said he would work with the industry verticals and pursue endeavours to foster development in national and international arenas. "It was a privilege to work with Nasscom, align with the industry and help curate it's future course," said Rishad on the occasion. Sharing her thoughts on the occasion, Nasscom President Debjani Ghosh said Murugesh is an accomplished leader and his experience in the multi-billion dollar global industry speaks for itself. "With a clear perspective and contemporary outlook towards the industry, Murugesh is the right leader to drive the sector with developments and constant innovation," said Ghosh. Keeping in line with the changing industry landscape, the focus of the new executive council will be on "Think Digital, Think India" by driving attention towards embracing new technologies, skilling and reskilling and keeping pace with global digital transformation. Another area of attention will be evangelizing open innovation and facilitating the global movement of talent and help the industry enter newer geographies and domains, the statement added. Kolkata, April 5 : The Election Commission (EC) has released merchandise with the catchline 'Veni, Vidi, Vote' -- an improvisation on Julius Caesar's "Veni, Vidi, Vici" -- urging people to be a proud voter in the world's biggest democratic exercise. "Veni, Vidi, Vici" is a Latin phrase which means "I came, I saw, I conquered". Caesar had used these words in a letter to the Roman Senate after easily winning a war. "To spread awareness about voting, the EC has sent some merchandise like key chains and badges which will be distributed among voters before the elections," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters here on Friday. The quirky merchandise, includes bags, coasters, mugs, caps and T-shirts with slogans like 'Ready to vote, proud to be a voter' and 'Let's get inked'. "We are also planning to use Bangla phrases in some of these items for West Bengal," Basu added. Basu also informed about the awareness initiatives undertaken by District Electoral Officers across the state. 'Somanubhuti Jatra' (Journey of Equality) is a bus with election-related information moving around East Burdwan district. "This bus has been launched under Awareness on Wheels to answer the election-related queries and encourage people with disabilities to cast their vote," he said. Dehradun, April 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a scathing attack on Congress and the Gandhi family claiming they were involved in all the corruption scandals rocking between "the earth and the sky" and called for "punishing" the main opposition in the election. "Be it Bofors or helicopters, you will not find any arms deal, where there is no news about the commission being taken by Congress," he said at an election rally here. Referring to new "evidence" and chargesheet in the scrapped AgustaWestland helicopter deal, he said the names of Ahmed Patel and the Gandhi family have now surfaced. "There is one 'AP' (Ahmed Patel) and there is other 'Fam' (family). You have all heard the name of Ahmed Patel. You tell me with which family Ahmed Patel is closely associated. Who got the commission in helicopters?" he asked. The Prime Minister said Congress leaders have not left any place where they have not indulged in corruption. They even did not spare the armed forces, he said. "From earth to sky and from Bofors to helicopters, they are involved in all corruption scandals," he said. He said the Congress leaders were "exposed" after the government succeeded in bringing back British national Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the helicopter deal, from Dubai for interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Modi said all these people are now trying to evade jail terms through bails. "There was a time no one could dare to touch them (the helicopter deal accused) at airports. Even vehicles will take them right up to the aircraft. Everybody will salute them. But now they are out on bail. They want to escape from jail through various maneuvering," Modi said. Besides corruption, Modi said Congress is also trying to appease Pakistan and anti-nationals. He referred to the Congress manifesto, saying the party was trying to protect anti-nationals by promising to scrap the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). "if we don't protect our forces, then no mother will send her son for the highest sacrifice of his life for the country," Modi said, charging the Congress with siding with separatists and terrorists. The armed forces are in Kashmir because they are being protected, he said. "We are bound to give protection to our armed forces," he said. "Politics is being played for getting votes. This is a sin. To hell with such politics," he said. "Anybody can file a fake case against the armed forces if AFSPA is revoked," he said. He also slammed Congress saying it wants to hold talks with all those who take money from Pakistan and throw stones at armed forces. "Will you like to see such faces?" he asked. He said only he can provide all freedom to the armed forces. "For this, you need to punish Congress. Should Congress be punished or not," he asked. He also said all those people who work against the interests of the country must face sedition charges. He lambasted Congress for advocating the repealing of the sedition laws. Referring to the IAF's air stikes at Balakot in Pakistan, he said the 'chowkidar' launched strikes inside Pakistan to destroy terrorists. "Now you decide you need 'chowkidar' or those who extend help to the patrons of terrorists," he said. The divisive elements are happy with the manifesto of Congress, he said. "Even people in Pakistan are happy," he said. He also criticized the idea of advocating a prime minister for J&K in the country. Without naming Sam Pitroda, Modi called him a 'guru' of the Gandhi family from the US who wanted their victory in the election. "But his man has now started demeaning the middle class by calling them as greedy and selfish. This reflects the conspiracy of Congress," he said. New Delhi, April 5 : The Bimal Jalan panel examining the RBI's policy of distributing its reserves may suggest a guiding principle for surplus transfers as well as a specific timeframe for its application while keeping in mind the public policy mandate of the RBI, an official source said on Friday. The Jalan panel is expected to sunbmit its report later this month. A senior Finance Ministry source said that the central bank's profit distribution policy as suggested by the Jalan committee report, if accepted, will be applicable on the current as well as future surplus reserves of the RBI. These surplus reserves account for about 28 per cent of the central bank's total assets. As per the ministry source, the committee may also look at past unrealised gains, alongwith the contingency reserves, and consider the extent of reserves the Reserve BanK of India (RBI) should hold and transfer to the government. While many central banks hold 2-3 per cent of their total assets as contingency fund, for the RBI the quantum on this account stands at 7.05 per cent. Last year, the Ministry sought a transfer a surplus of Rs 3.6 lakh crore, which amounts to more than a third of the RBI's total reserves worth Rs 9.59 lakh crore' leading to a series of confrontations between the government and the central bank. The government believes that, when compared with global central banks, the RBI holds much higher level of total capital as a percentage of its total assets (at about 28 per cent). Countries, including the US, the UK, Argentina, France and Singapore maintain much lower capital reserves as a percentage of total assets, while for countries such as Malaysia, Norway and Russia the reserves are much higher than India. For the central bank's accounting year ending June 2018, the RBI had total reserves of Rs 9.59 lakh crore, comprising mainly of currency and gold revaluation account (Rs 6.91 lakh crore) and contingency fund (Rs 2.32 lakh crore). The government has claimed that RBI has been extremely risk averse and conservative in its assessment of capital buffers. Wayanad : , April 5 (IANS) Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who has filed his nomination from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, will have to fight it out against -- apart from the main rivals -- two namesakes and another with Gandhi surname. The last date for withdrawal of nominations in Kerala is Monday and the polling takes place on April 23 to elect 20 Lok Sabha members. The namesakes are: Independent candidate, 33 year old K.E. Rahul Gandhi, who hails from Kottayam district; 30-year-old K. Raghul Gandhi from Coimbatore and is a member of the Agila India Makkal Kazhagam party; and the third person, also an Independent candidate, is 40-year-old K.M. Shivprasad Gandhi from Thrissur. According to the affidavits they have filed, K.E. Rahul Gandhi has an M.Phil degree in Linguistics and a social worker with no PAN, while his wife, although a housewife, has a PAN. Both of them have no liabilities but have Rs 5,000 cash in hand and just Rs 515 in the banks. They have no immovable assets. K. Raghul Gandhi from Coimbatore works as a reporter and his wife is a dental technician. While both are income tax payers and have filed their return that shows that he has a total income of Rs 1,99,000, while his spouse shows Rs 2,00,000 for 2018-19 and the two have reported a liability of Rs 1,45,000. Coming to K.M. Shiva Prasad Gandhi, he is a Sanskrit teacher and his wife is a computer operator and both are IT payees and own assets and have liabilities too. Varanasi, April 5 : Three persons have been arrested and sent to jail while two others are absconding in connection with the murder of a Banaras Hindu University (BHU) student, police said on Friday. On Tuesday, four bike-borne men shot dead Gaurav Singh, who was pursuing Masters in Computer Application, in front of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hostel in the campus premises. Among those absconding are the university's Chief Proctor Royana Singh. Three others in the killer gang are yet to be identified, a police officer said. Among those who are jailed are Ashutosh Tripathi and Kumar Mangalam, who admitted they were earlier friends with the victim, Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Singh said. They identified student leader Ashutosh Singh as one of those responsible for the killing. Shillong, April 5 : The Congress in Meghalaya on Friday suffered a setback after its Vice President John Filmore Kharshiing resigned from the party ahead of the Lok Sabha election. "I have resigned from the primary membership of the Congress as there has been widespread appeal for a change as the incumbent Shillong Lok Sabha MP (Vincent H. Pala) has been there for the last 10 years. They want somebody to lead and take new initiatives," he said. Pala, 51, seeking a third straight term in the Lok Sabha, is pitted against United Democratic Party's (UDP) Jemino Mawthoh, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sanbor Shullai and three Independents -- T.H.S. Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Ranee. "I am yet to decide who I will support but there have been communications from the UDP as well the BJP," Kharshiing said. Meghalaya has two Lok Sabha seats: Shillong and Tura. They will go to the polls on April 11. Agartala, April 5 : With an aim to ensure a violence-free Lok Sabha elections, the Tripura Police would publicly display the names and antecedents of criminals against whom arrest warrants were pending, the state police chief said here on Friday. "To hold a free, fair and violence-free Lok Sabha elections, the police would publicly display the names and antecedents of criminals against whom arrest warrants were pending," Director General of Police (Tripura) Akhil Kumar Shukla told the media. He said: "Besides online platforms, the names and antecedents of the criminals would also be displayed in gram panchayat offices, markets, transport stands and other public places so that the people can identify them and help the police arrest the wanted people." The DGP said that so far around 1,400 people were arrested against whom arrest warrants were pending and efforts were on to nab 4,200 more offenders. Shukla said that over 64 companies of additional Central paramilitary forces have arrived in Tripura to assist the Tripura State Rifles, the state police and the existing paramilitary forces in the state to ensure an incidence-free, smooth elections. "Static, flying and foot patrolling squads of security forces would move in every direction, especially in the sensitive areas, to foil any untoward incident before and during the polls," Shukla said, adding that all the eight district police chiefs have been directed to take stern actions against the law violators. There are 13 candidates in fray in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat and 10 in the Tripura East (reserved for tribals) constituency. In all, three women candidates are contesting the elections this time. Tripura West goes to the polls in the first phase on April 11 and Tripura East in the second phase on April 18. A total of 26,05,325 electorates, including 12,85,618 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Tripura. Dublin, April 5 : A family from New Zealand vacationing in Ireland discovered they were being livestreamed by a hidden camera in the living room of their Airbnb accommodation. Nealie and Andrew Barker were in the midst of a 14-month trip around Europe in March when they arrived at the Airbnb property in Ireland with their four children and niece, CNN said in a report on Friday. Once the family unpacked, Andrew Barker, who works in IT security, scanned the house while trying to connect his phone to the Wi-Fi network at the accommodation and saw a device labelled "IP camera". The scan unearthed a camera and subsequently a live feed. From the angle of the video, the family tracked down the camera, concealed in what appeared to be a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. "He scanned that device's ports and found the live video feed," Nealie Barker said. "It was such a shock. It was just a really horrible feeling." The camera was in the lounge, positioned so it had a view of the dining and kitchen area as well. Nealie Barker said her children were frightened after they realized the host could be watching them. "We looked at one another mortified as the realization of the situation sunk in." She called Airbnb to report the camera. "They had no advice for us over the phone. The girl just said that if you cancel within 14 days, you won't get your money back." The family then called the owner of the property who hung up. Later, he called back, insisting the camera in the living room was the only one in the house, said the woman. The family relocated to a nearby hotel. Nealie Barker said Airbnb's response was initially "hopeless" as it took weeks to hear back about the outcome of the investigation. An Airbnb spokesperson said: "We have permanently removed this bad actor from our platform. "Our original handling of this incident did not meet the high standards we set for ourselves and we have apologized to the family and fully refunded their stay. There have been over half a billion guest arrivals in Airbnb listings to date and negative incidents are incredibly rare." Jammu, April 5 : Authorities have withdrawn personal security of 919 persons, including separatists, so far in Jammu and Kashmir since the Governor's rule was imposed, a Union Home Ministry statement said on Friday. The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn includes 22 separatist leaders. "In a major step, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn security cover from 919 undeserving persons in the state, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles," the statement said. It said the decision follows strict stance by Union Home Ministry on the usage of scarce police resources in the state. "It was observed by the Centre that many undeserving persons managed to get security cover resulting in lack of state police resources for the public at large. Accordingly, the Union Home Ministry directed the state government that a case-by-case in-depth review may be taken on merit," the statement said. The J&K State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC) has held regular meetings to examine all the cases to ensure strict compliance as per norms, it said. Hyderabad, April 5 : The joint military training exercises of the United States Special Operations Forces with the National Security Guard (NSG) concluded here, preparing the soldiers for a wide range of challenges. The forces from the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) completed an extensive military training exercise with the NSG, the US Consulate in Hyderabad said on Friday. The month-long exercise included emergency medical training as well as combat marksmanship, urban close-quarter combat and integrated full-mission training. The exercise provided soldiers with hands-on experience in real urban settings, such as hotels and transportation hubs, in preparation for the possibility of terror attacks on vulnerable soft targets, said a statement from the consulate. "Knowing how to respond to complex emergencies in urban areas is a vital skill that can save lives and protect our people. Knowing how to respond together, with enhanced capabilities shared by both the Indian and US armed forces, is even better," U.S. Consul General Katherine Hadda said at the closing ceremony. These training events are part of US Indo-Pacific Command's Theater Security Cooperation Programme, conducted by the US military with a select group of nations in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance coordination and capabilities. The US military works alongside India to increase interoperability, build partner capacity, prevent conflict, and promote regional strength and peace throughout the Indo-Pacific. The overall aim of the programme is to enhance professionalism and the ability to operate together during times of a crisis. The United States has recognized India as a major defence partner. "Military collaboration between the two countries is a result of growing, high-level trust and both sides' consistent efforts to broaden the ways in which the United States and India can work together," it said. Hyderabad has become a hub of US-Indian defence manufacturing, including joint-venture facilities, technology centres, and skill-development, it added. Ghaziabad, April 5 : With hundreds of activists holding Congress flags and shouting "Chowkidar Chor Hai", Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday urged people to get "serious about politics" as it was a serious issue. Gandhi's road show in support of party's candidate Dolly Sharma here started from Jawahar Gate and continued for about two kilometres before ending on Ambedkar Road in Nehru Nagar. "It is in your hand if you want to do politics of caste or politics where your representatives work for you earnestly," she said. "A representative who will help you to raise your voice or one who will beat you up for speaking. "Those in power (right now) have never let people raise their issues, be it farmers or others." Priyanka Gandhi asked people to question those who come to them seeking votes. "No one is doing a favour by working for you... You are superior, not the leaders... Those in power have forgotten that you have the power. You have let them forget that you are superior." She slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not talking to people even in his constituency Varanasi while "he roamed around the world hugging people". "Every time he went to Varanasi, he gave only speeches, never went to a single house to meet people." Speaking to IANS, Priyanka Gandhi said the Modi government has repeatedly lied to the people on various fronts. "He (Modi) always says Nehru did this, Indira did that. Can he speak about what he has done in the five years? After being in power for five years, he has nothing to count as his achievement," she said. Gandhi received a boisterous welcome during the road show. Gandhi, the party in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, stood with Dolly Sharma in her car with the sunroof open, while constantly waving at people. She stepped out of her car to meet a group of women standing outside their house. One of them was 18-year-old Shivangi Gupta. "I told her about the congestion in the area and lack of security. I also told her that the area is not usually this clean. It was only because she was coming that it is clean," Gupta told IANS after speaking to Gandhi. The Congress is campaigning hard to give a tough fight to BJP's sitting MP and 2019 candidate from Ghaziabad V.K. Singh, a former Army chief, for the elections to be held on April 11. Mumbai, April 5 : Filmmaker Ronnie Screwvala on Friday said he stands by his complaint to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) issue, following PVR Limited's letter to SEBI on it. Last month, Screwvala had reportedly filed a complaint against the four leading multiplex operators including PVR, Inox Leisure, Carnival Cinemas and Cinepolis with the CCI. "I stand by all stated on our complaint to the CCI and there is nothing slanderous or malicious," Screwvala said in a statement. He added: "The discriminatory action of the multiplexes in giving preferential treatment to the Hollywood movies as against the Marathi, Hindi and Indian movies, or why consumers are forced to sit through 15 minutes and more of advertising even though they paid for their ticket, is still unexplained by the multiplexes and this is not in the interest of the nation or consumers. "And till the penny drops with the multiplex owners that the ultimate risk takers are the content creators and they are only a service provider and so cannot take the lion's share of the revenue, it would be fair to state that their action is in collusion and to divide and rule. Time is running out." His statement comes just a day after PVR Limited requested the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for action against Screwvala for "indulging in propagating false information to the detriment of the investors and the securities market". The bone of contention is Screwvala's complaint with the CCI against PVR and a few other multiplex chains regarding the revenue earned by multiplexes from the levy of VPF. In Screwvala's words, VPF is a "draconian discriminatory charge that the multiplexes are forcibly imposing on producers of Indian films". It was a fee decided for Indian film producers and distributors to share the cost of digital projection for multiplexes. Screwvala has claimed that multiplexes made the producers and distributors pay a "sham charge" of Rs 20,000 per film. However, in its complaint, PVR has urged SEBI to issue appropriate directions to Screwvala to cease and desist from providing misleading and false information on the business of PVR, which could result in price volatility and adversely impact the shareholders of the company. New Delhi, April 5 : Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet will commence a daily direct flight connecting Mumbai with Bangkok from May 17, 2019. According to the airline, Bangkok is the second international destination after Dubai that it will connect with a direct flight from Mumbai. The airline already operates non-stop flights from Bangkok to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Delhi and Kolkata. On the domestic sector, the airline will introduce six domestic flights connecting Mumbai with Kolkata, Chennai and Varanasi, effective from April 18, 2019. Besides, it will commence a new daily regional connectivity UDAN flight between Hyderabad and Kishangarh from April 25, 2019. New Delhi, April 5 : In a video that has gone viral on social media, the granddaughter of Kiran Bedi is seen accusing the Puducherry Lieutenant Governor of misusing "police influence" apparently to separate her from her father. Bedi told IANS on Friday: "The court has directed all such videos to be removed forthwith. And the one mentioned has already been removed. Also a direction to the YouTube officials (has been sent) to do so (sic)," she said, adding the matter is sub judice, Bedi told IANS. "I am very ashamed to be the granddaughter of Dr Kiran Bedi... the only one that too," the little girl said in the video which appears to have been shot by herself. "When I called and told you (Kiran Bedi) that my mother is hitting my father with chappals and spitting on him, you had said that it is between a husband and a wife. Nani (grandmother), why are you using police influence now?" The child repeatedly pointed out that she was safe and happy with her father and that there was no case of kidnapping. The video was posted on Twitter on Thursday by Deepika Bhardwaj, a film-maker. "Madam Bedi has apparently claimed her kidnapping when she is happy with her father and wants to be with him only," Bhardwaj said in a tweet. In another tweet, she shared a link of the original video posted on YouTube. But YouTube has removed the video. "I am appalled that Kiran Bedi told her granddaughter that it's a matter between husband and wife when her daughter beat up her husband with chappals, spit on him and thrashed him. I wonder if you'd say the same if a husband did this to his wife. You would book him under Section 498A." The video has so far been viewed over 77,500 times on Twitter. New Delhi, April 5 : A juvenile stabbed his friend for telephoning him repeatedly, police said on Friday. The incident occurred on Thursday night when the 17-year-old accused received umpteen phone calls from his friend, Robin, in Ghazipur village in east Delhi. Angry over being disturbed, the juvenile got into a fight with Robin and stabbed him and also his brother, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jasmeet Singh said. The brothers were warded in a hospital, police said. New Delhi, April 5 : The Election Commission (EC) should treat social media like any other media and all rules that apply to the media during the model code of conduct should also apply to social media, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said on Friday. Quraishi was speaking at an event where a group of former bureaucrats and organisations, like Common Cause, Free Internet Foundation, Association for Democratic Reforms and Free Software Movement of India, came together advocating regulations for digital media platforms, saying the threat posed by them to the integrity of elections had assumed "alarming proportions". Quraishi said that even beyond the elections, the disastrous consequences potential of the social media was quite significant. "We have seen how rumours floating in the social media can cause havoc on law and order situation, security, and communal and caste strife. Therefore, we have to find some solution," he said. He added while a few years ago, everyone would be up in arms against any attempt to regulate social media, now even the Internet companies had come on board. "Initially, there used to hue and cry saying the Election Commission is threatening free speech. But free speech does not give freedom to dis-inform, misinform, provoke, incite and create riots in the country," the former CEC said. He said as far as the EC was concerned, social media was also media and whatever applied to media should also apply to it. "So, first you have to account for every penny spent on any media including social media. Second, you are accountable for the content that goes in any media including all political campaigns, speeches, advertisements... Every campaign material has to be pre-approved by the EC. Therefore, social media content should also be pre-approved," he said. Representing Common Cause, retired IAS officer Krishna Kant Jaswal said the general elections of 2014 gave clear indications of the way things could go wrong and how the social media could influence the outcome of elections at a time when use of smartphone was not even as widespread as today and when apps like WhatsApp did not have much traction. "It is estimated that social media had a decisive role in about 116 parliamentary constituencies at that time. Nowadays, when the number of smartphones has doubled and number of WhatsApp users has gone up by more than five times, potential of mischief through misuse of social media platforms is mind-boggling," he said. Jaswal added that the group had earlier met the EC and submitted its recommendations and that it was assured that appropriate steps would be taken by the poll panel. But the progress was stalled "under the new dispensation", with not much done except the voluntary code of ethics adopted by digital companies and mediated by the Internet and Mobile Association of India. "It is a case of too little, too late. We welcome it as a good beginning but it leaves too much to be desired as it is not legally binding on the Internet companies," he said. Apar Gupta from Internet Freedom Foundation said there was need for the EC to monitor the online spending of political parties for election campaigns and not just the spending by candidates. He added that the political parties should also disclose their official handles in all major social media platforms. Amaravati, April 5 : In a major development only days before the polling in Andhra Pradesh, the Election Commission of India (EC) on Friday shunted out Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha for allegedly defying its order to transfer three top police officials. The poll panel has appointed L.V. Subrahmanyam, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of 1983 batch, as the new Chief Secretary. The EC directed that Punetha, who is due to retire next month, should not be given any election-related posting. The move came four days after the EC summoned Punetha and reportedly pulled him up for defying its order to transfer three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, including State Intelligence chief A.B. Venkateswara Rao. On March 26, the EC had ordered transfer of Intelligence Director General Rao, and Superintendents of Police of Srikakulam and Kapada districts. The same night, the Chief Secretary issued an order transferring all the three officials. However, the next day he issued an order cancelling the transfer of Intelligence chief and notifying transfer of two other officers. Punetha, also issued another order the same day listing the police officers to be designated for election-related duties. The list included officers from police constable to the Director General of Police but exempted the DG, Intelligence. The state government had also challenged the transfer of police officials but the Andhra Pradesh High Court refused to intervene in the EC order. Elections to the 175-member state Assembly and all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state are scheduled on April 11. Gurugram, April 5 : A Gurugram court on Friday sent a man to three days police custody after he was arrested for allegedly abusing and assaulting a Delhi Police constable on Thursday evening. During interrogation, it was also revealed that the accused Sandeep Sharma used to pose as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Gurugram to dupe people. Shamsher Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gurugram said: "Sandeep was involved in several cases of cheating including a 2002 incident when he had concluded an agreement for a plot in Karnal and cheated the actual landowner. An FIR in this connection is registered against him and his mother in Karnal." "In 2007, Sharma had made false documents of a flat located in an upscale condominium in sector 56 area of Gurugram and tried to sell it to other buyer," said Singh, adding that he had also physically assaulted domestic helps and exploited them. Moreover, he used to misbehave with security guards of the Ambience Island society where he was living, the ACP said. Sharma also physically assaulted a Delhi Police constable Ankit on Thursday evening when he was waiting for his relative outside Ambience mall on the Delhi-Gurugram expressway around 5 p.m. "Sharma who was accompanied by another person reached the place and started abusing Ankit. He claimed that he was the DCP of Gurugram. The accused also threatened him with dire consequences if he registered a complaint with the local police," Singh said. Constable Ankit registered an FIR with the DLF phase-3 police station. Acting on the complaint the police arrested Sharma on Thursday. "During interrogation, the accused confessed that he beat up Ankit without any reason," Singh said. Los Angeles, April 5 : DJ Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was working on new music before his death in 2018. Now, his family plans to release what he had been recording. "When Tim Bergling passed away on April 20, 2018, he was close to completing a new album. He left behind a collection of nearly finished songs, along with notes, email conversations and text messages about the music," read a statement from his team, reports pagesix.com. "The songwriters that Tim was collaborating with on this album have continued the process to get as close to his vision as possible. "Since Tim's passing, the family decided not to keep the music locked away - instead they wanted to share it with his fans all around the world," the statement said. The first single, "SOS", will be released on April 10, followed by the full album titled "Tim" on June 6. The net proceeds from album sales will go to the non-profit Tim Bergling Foundation that focuses on mental illness and suicide prevention. He committed suicide last year in Muscat, Oman. He was 28. New Delhi, April 5 : The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected to grant any interim relief on a plea alleging violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) by the Andhra Pradesh government. The court was hearing a plea filed by an organisation Jana Chaitanya Vedika which alleged that the Chandrababu Naidu-led Andhra Pradesh government had violated the model code. The organisation made two representations to the EC on March 12 and March 30 seeking action against the state government to keep the transfer of amounts in abeyance till the date of polling. Justice Yogesh Khanna said there was no need to interfere in the issue. The order came after the court was informed that the Election Commission has taken a decision on the representations of Jana Chaitanya Vedika. The EC said the scheme in question was announced prior to enforcement of MCC and that the commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andhra Pradesh through an April 2 letter to follow the instructions and that no publicity should be given on the fund release. The court on April 3 asked the commission to dispose of the two representations by passing a speaking order by Thursday evening. Representing the Jana Chaitanya Vedika, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran and lawyer Ashish Virmani told the court that the Andhra Pradesh government on January 25 launched a new scheme named "Pasupu Kumkuma", which was implemented in February. Under this scheme, financial help was provided to women registered with self-help groups to improve their lives and the state government was providing Rs 10,000 cash and a smartphone to every eligible applicant. "According to the scheme, about 93 lakh women will benefit (from thew scheme) and the financial aid was to be paid in three instalments within three months." Two more schemes were launched in January -- one was to enhance old age pension amount from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month, while the other AP Annadatha Sukhibhav scheme was for farmers. The counsel has questioned the imminent disbursal of the amounts under the schemes to the public days before the state goes to polls. The counsel said that the action of the AP government to transfer the funds under the garb of schemes just prior to the polling is ex-facie mala fide and a deliberate attempt to influence the voters using public money. If the Andhra government is permitted to proceed with disbursal, it would amount to a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Besides, it would impede a clean and fair electoral process, the counsel said. Gurugram, April 5 : In a horrific incident on Friday, a security guard at a private hospital in Gurugram stabbed to death another guard inside the hospital, police said. The incident took place at Sheetala Hospital here around 5.15 a.m on Friday morning. The CCTV footage showed the accused guard, identified as Naufil Anwar, committing the crime in a fit of rage, said Sumer Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), West Zone. Singh said: The motive of murder is yet to be clear now as Anwar is at large. We have informed the victim's family and taking their statement to find some lead. Questioning of other guards and hospital employees is also underway." According to the senior police officer, Anwar was deployed at the entrance gate of the hospital, while victim Jugal Kishor was performing duty outside the ICU located on the third floor. As per the CCTV footage, Anwar went out from the hospital at 5.15 a.m, but returned to the hospital four minutes later and went straight to the third floor. "Anwar repeatedly stabbed Kishor in chest, face and stomach until he died on the spot," the DCP said. After committing the crime, Anwar ran away. "The accused attacked the victim from front side. It shows how angry he was at the time of committing crime. Kishor's lung and hurt were damaged in the attack leading to his death on the spot," said forensic expert Dr Youdhvir Singh. Anwar is a native of Uttar Pradesh's Ferojabad district, while Kishor hails from Bulandshahr. Both belonged to same security agency and were deployed at the hospital for the last one year. Guwahati, April 5 : More than four years after the brutal killing of five adivasi people, a National Investigating Agency (NIA) court in Assam recently convicted one Gautam Mahalia for his involvement in the attack in December 2014. The Special Judge, NIA Assam, after allowing the petition of the accused for pleading guilty of the offences sentenced Mahalia to four-and-a-half years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000. The court said the sentences would run concurrently. This is the first conviction in this case and third in a series of cases registered after the ethnic killings carried out by National Democratic Front of Bodoland (anti-talks faction) terrorists at various places in Assam in December 23, 2014. In Kokrajhar incident, the NDFB(S) terrorists attacked innocent people of Pakiriguri village under Serfanguri Police Station and killed five persons while seriously injuring five others. The accused has been in judicial custody since his arrest in January, 2015. GUEST OBSERVATION On the night the 2016 census was taken, more than 116,000 Australians were homeless. This was a 30% increase from the decade before. What has driven this increase is difficult to pin down, but research points to a lack of affordable housing, poverty and personal vulnerabilities such as trauma, mental illness and substance misuse as key factors. We recently published a paper in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, exploiting a rich dataset derived from tracking 1,600 disadvantaged respondents over approximately three years. And we found people who have been incarcerated are at a greater risk of becoming homeless. But interestingly, the reverse isnt true homeless people are not at greater risk of incarceration. Identifying similarities Like the homeless population, Australias prison population has increased by 56% in the past decade, from 25,968 to 40,577 people. Social researchers and policymakers have long been aware of a strong association between incarceration and homelessness. Local and international studies consistently report the homeless are over-represented in prison and ex-prisoners are over-represented among the homeless. That such a strong association exists should come as no surprise. Both populations share many similar characteristics lower education levels, high rates of mental and physical illness and substance misuse, as well as high rates of economic disadvantage. Yet, despite numerous studies, the question of whether this association reflects causal relationships has proven surprisingly difficult to answer. One reason for this is that researchers have had to rely on samples of either prisoners or the homeless, and these samples are not suited to addressing questions of causality. Are homeless people more likely to be imprisoned? Our paper used data from Journeys Home, a study uniquely suited to shedding light on the relationship between incarceration and homelessness. Launched in 2011, Journeys Home not only tracks people exposed to homelessness and housing insecurity over time, but also it captures important information on their housing circumstances and contact with the justice system. There is no universally agreed definition of homelessness, so we tested two different approaches broad and literal. Our broad definition included people sleeping rough, people in emergency accommodation, in boarding houses, couch surfing and people staying temporarily in a hotel or caravan park. This aligns with the way homelessness is commonly defined in Australia. We found that homelessness, broadly defined, does not increase the risk of incarceration. Being literally homeless is a more limited definition commonly used in the USA. It restricts the definition to those who were on the streets, in squats or staying in emergency or crisis accommodation. Based on previous research, we expected this form of homelessness would be linked to a higher risk of incarceration. To our surprise, it wasnt. Being literally homeless also has no effect. Why might this be the case? When we examined forms of contact with the justice system, we found being homeless does not increase the risk of being apprehended or held overnight by the police or sent to court. This suggests homelessness does not lead to incarceration because it does not increase any type of contact with the justice system usually preceding incarceration. Are ex-prisoners more likely to become homeless? The answer is yes, but the immediate effect is modest. Our research shows the risk of ex-prisoners becoming homeless increases significantly six months after release, and this increased risk persists for nearly another year. Responding to the delayed and persistent effect of incarceration is important. Policy interventions such as Reconnect, a transition and post-release support program, provide assistance for a short period (up to 12 weeks) following discharge. While this is clearly warranted, our results suggest the need to broaden and extend existing interventions. Many ex-prisoners rely on family and friends in the immediate period following release. Many appear to enjoy a honeymoon period of six months or so. At that point, ex-prisoners housing starts to breakdown. Many start to couch surf or live in boarding houses, where there is limited housing security and they are exposed to poor living conditions. Clearly, families provide important social support to ex-prisoners, but they often have limited resources. Based on our research, we feel that policy initiatives should consider ways of engaging and supporting ex-prisoners families, as well as funding extended settlement support programs delivered through a range of supported housing arrangements. A focus on assisting families and extending settlement support programs is the next step in developing policy approaches. These would more effectively mitigate the extended risk of homelessness and housing instability that our research shows ex-prisoners experience. Guy Johnson, Professor, Urban Housing and Homelessness, RMIT University Julie Moschion, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute, University of Melbourne This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. GUEST OBSERVATION Youre smiling as your e-scooter whispers along the riverside path. Without the helmet, the wind can blow through your hair and it looks good! You hear a shout, Pull over!, and turn to see police heading towards you with your helmet in hand. Police conducted a blitz on safety breaches by eletric scooter riders in Brisbane over the weekend. And employees of operator Lime tell us safety issues have been persistent in Australias first trial of a shared e-scooter scheme. How do we educate users about helmets and safe riding behaviour? And how can helmets be distributed cost-effectively? As with other disruptive tech companies with mass appeal, the safety and regulatory issues raised by e-scooters including rider and pedestrian safety and being left in inappropriate places are attracting attention. A closely related issue is helmets and their role in rider safety. Scooter operators have come under pressure to encourage riders to wear helmets. The RACQ has called on Lime to ensure every scooter put out has a helmet attached. A day in the life of a helmet Ultimately, responsibility for public safety and compliance with civic cleanliness rests with the individual mobility provider. Lime accepts this and has announced it will distribute 250,000 helmets worldwide. Each day fully charged scooters, with helmets, are placed on footpaths. At the end of each day, the tally of scooters and helmets does not add up. This is known in the industry as helmet churn the constant loss and replacement of helmets. Unlike the scooters themselves, which have smart tracking technology, helmets are kept cheap to minimise the cost of these losses. Lets try to unpack the issue of helmet churn. It is agreed that not wearing a helmet plays a part in the problem. Some riders simply leave it behind. Aside from being unsafe, this separates the helmet from the scooter, so it becomes unavailable for the next scooter user. New insights are emerging as we begin to study this phenomenon. Reasons for helmet churn are linked to a reluctance to share them we believe some riders worry about hygiene and it being a disposable product. It seems there may even be feelings of ownership, with some perceiving the helmet to become their property through paying for the ride. Peter Townson/QUT Chair in Digital Economy Limits of deterrence Two main compliance mechanisms are in place to discourage riders from contributing to helmet churn: police and Lime. In Queensland, the fine for not wearing a helmet is A$130. In other states and territories fines range from as little as A$25 to as much as A$337. Research into deviant consumer behaviour tells us this tactic of appealing to fear of punishment extends only to riders wearing helmets. It does not have an effect on the broader issues of vandalism and theft. Peter Townson/QUT Chair in Digital Economy The research also suggests the fear of punishment approach makes two critical assumptions: that people agree the behaviour is wrong (yes, this is dangerous) riders think there is a real risk of being caught (catch me if you can). Given this is not always the case, a risk-based approach to deterrence is limited. Lime also plays a part in curbing helmet noncompliance. Its current strategy, aside from providing the helmets, is the Respect the Ride education program. It aims to foster a community and culture of safe mobility, underpinned by a personal pledge each rider is encouraged to make. This approach is appropriate for trying to change the behaviour of not wearing a helmet. It does not target people who are taking advantage of publicly available helmets. These measures still do not fully solve a pervasive problem. You have a disruptive mobility company in the spotlight because of safety concerns. The company has a duty of care to supply helmets and ensure riders are safe. Riders are disregarding, disposing of, defacing and destroying helmets. How do we solve this tough, intractable, social problem? A shift in thinking ecosystem view If helmet churn exists for Lime scooters, then it exists for all other ride-share operators in that area. If a helmet isnt available, riders will often borrow from other services such as share bikes. Helmets are sometimes considered free for grabs across different mobility providers. Should the duty of care that requires helmets be provided rest on each mobility service operator, when the noncompliance of one undermines them all? While these personal transport providers are in competition with one another, they have an opportunity to relinquish their individual burden of helmet churn by working together on the problem. A shift in thinking personalised view If the one constant across various mobility services is the rider, we should also consider a bring your own helmet approach. This approach possibly started in technology companies (bring your own device, allowing employees and customers to use their own devices to interact with an organisation) and has spread to other areas. For instance, environmentally conscious coffee lovers bring their own cups, while still having the option of using a paper cup. Could a similar option work for helmets? Disposable helmets made of cardboard are being tested as a concept. And personalised helmets that look and feel like a beanie can be pre-purchased from a start-up created by QUT students. Cyclists still carry their own helmets when they commute on their own bikes, so the acceptance of this BYO approach should be simple. The difference is users need only provide a helmet, without having to worry about finding safe parking and storage places for the day or overnight. Adapting to disruption The meaning of a helmet has shifted significantly from individual property to a shared utility, as has the meaning of many modes of transport, including bikes and scooters. There are two paths from here: ecosystem, with ubiquitous helmets available for everyone; and personalised, with riders bringing their own helmets. Either of these is different from the world we know today. The bigger picture is a collaborative effort to achieve the goal of rider safety. Peter Townson, Senior Designer, Chair in Digital Economy, Queensland University of Technology Marek Kowalkiewicz, Professor and Chair in Digital Economy, Queensland University of Technology This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Main photo: Lime is working on ways to overcome the problem of helmet churn on its e-scooters. Marvin Fox Photography, Author provided Bill Shorten, in his budget reply speech last night, reaffirmed Labors commitment to restrict negative gearing to investors who purchased new housing if elected. He claimed the current system gives investors "loaded dice" putting younger generations at a disadvantage. It's a bias in the tax system that is shutting young people out of the housing market, Mr Shorten said. Getting together a 20 per cent deposit plus stamp duty is so much, much harder than it was 20 or 25 years ago, the opposition leader said. It is even more difficult when your government uses your taxpayer money to subsidise the property investors bidding against you. Mr Shorten said his negative gearing rule changes were part of Labors plan to stop intergenerational unfairness in our tax system. A government must be brave enough and decent enough to stop the bias against first home buyers and young Australians and we will be that government, Mr Shorten said. He added lectures about cutting back on smashed avo were patronising to young people. You cannot have property investors playing with loaded dice against our young people, Generation Y and the Millennials, Mr Shorten said. However, according to recent HIA research, only 34 percent of Australians are aware of the proposed changes and understand it at some level, while others have no understanding. While 52 percent of people believe rents will rise as a consequence of the changes. HIA Managing Director, Graham Wolfe said, "with 92 percent of all renters aspiring to buy their own home, Labors proposed changes will weigh heavily on their savings plans. "If these changes are made, rents will rise as supply dries up due to a lack of investment in new housing. This will make renting a home less affordable." If rents rise, renters saving for a deposit for their own home will take a backward step." We cant solve the housing affordability challenge by taxing housing. This policy seeks to do just that, he concluded. But Bill Shorten's 2019-20 Federal Budget reply headlines the overarching support of future housing in the previously announced National Housing Supply Council, national Housing Ministerial and National Housing Strategy, Nicholas Proud, CEO of PowerHousing Australia said. It represents 32 of Australias largest Tier One and scale-growth Community Housing Providers. Mr Proud said, The Federal Opposition has shown a real commitment here to seeing the jobs, economic multipliers and adequate supply of housing become a national priority if they come to Government at the next election. "A commitment to delivering a massive 250,000 affordable rentals over a 10-year period with 20,000 to be built in the first three years with Community Housing Providers proponents of the task is a challenge CHPs are ready to take on. This 10-year subsidy combined with other elements such as build-to-rent, a Housing Minister, National Housing Strategy and reinstatement of a National Housing Supply Council, as promised, will tackle a housing downturn to preserve jobs, support state economies and deliver more dwellings. A focus on delivering expediting new NDIS investment is welcomed to capitalise on the recent momentum gained by the Agency if this shadow budget is eventually delivered. Whilst there is much to praise, there are tens of thousands of families in non-CHP properties who, over the next five years, are set to see the loss of the NRAS One incentives which started to lapse in December 2018. "A response to support these non-CHP managed NRAS homes is critical and our CHP members will look to take up this challenge to seek a pragmatic solution here," Mr Proud concluded. Mr Shortens budget reply speech also mentioned plans to support build-to-rent schemes. Presenting the insignia to the ambassador at a ceremony held in Hanoi, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga spoke highly of Vardanyans efforts, as the first Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam, in bolstering the bilateral relations built on trust and mutual understanding. Nga added that the two countries cooperation has been deepened in various spheres, including economy, trade, science-technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges. The Armenian diplomat has paid due attention to and worked with the Vietnam-Armenia Friendship Association to organise external activities and celebrations of the countries major events, she added. For her part, Vardanyan thanked the VUFO and the Vietnam-Armenia Friendship Association for their support for the Embassy of Armenia in Vietnam to arrange activities which helped foster the traditional bilateral friendship and multifaceted cooperation, particularly people-to-people diplomacy. Recalling notable achievements of the bilateral friendship and cooperation over the years, the diplomat voiced her hope that the Armenia-Vietnam relations will continue to thrive in the coming time. 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. New South Wales-based property developer Capital Bluestone is set to align itself with global development firm Aoyuan International. Headed by Steve Grant and Ben Fairfax, Capital Bluestone has been operating for more than 28 years. Capital Bluestone have completed six projects across five sites including the award-winning Woolooware Bay Town Centre. The move will see them continue as a division of Aoyuan International, working together across a portfolio of 16 projects in metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW markets. Aoyuan International has built 10 projects including apartment and land sub-division sites in Sydneys CBD, East, Inner West, North Shore and Southern Highlands since arriving in Australia It most recently delivered the $380 million, 138-apartment luxury development One30 Hyde Park (pictured above) overlooking Hyde Park at the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets in the Sydney CBD. Aoyuan International also has interests in Canada and Hong Kong. Capital Bluestone Executive Chairman Steve Grant said: "the beauty of this arrangement is that in a challenging time with the banking sector and accessing finance, Aoyuan Internationals capital markets expertise and strength puts us in the box seat to become a highly competitive, major force in the Australian property industry for a long time to come." We have a high regard for Capital Bluestones capability and reputation in the market and feel theyre a very good fit for our current portfolio and team, he added. Capital Bluestone Managing Director Ben Fairfax said cultural fit and focus had been a key consideration for both businesses. Seventy-one years ago, in 1948, Ernie Wright and Joe Rich met when they enrolled in the Department of Architecture at the University of Texas in Austin. Both had previously served in World War II as combat aviators. Ernie and Joe started architecture school at the University of Texas. By 1950 they decided to form a partnership after graduation. And because Ernie, before his military service, had already earned a degree in education, they decided to specialize in designing schools. Wright-Rich & Associates Architects opened for business on April 4, 1954, sixty-five years ago. Now branded WRA Architects, the company has grown to over fifty employees and continues the original specialization in K-12 school design. The firm announced the addition of six new partners in January 2019 to continue to expand their portfolio of over 1,100 projects in K-12 education in Texas and Oklahoma. WRA Architects was also named Dallas Business Journals No. 5 company in the Small category for Best Places to Work in 2018. "From being a firm of twelve in my early days," says Keith Anderson, AIA, Partner, "we now have a team of over fifty. Our new partners' contributions to our clients and our work have given WRA an even stronger foundation to continue our tradition of high-quality service." Going paperless with DocLink integrated to Key2Act allows users to connect their people, process and data by streamlining job costing processes AND automating AP for significant benefits including faster approvals and less data entry. Altec, a leader in enterprise document management and process automation solutions, is sponsoring the Key2Act Synergy conference next week, April 8-10 in Phoenix, AZ. Synergy is a conference designed to help KEY2ACT users learn how to get the most out of their solutions, providing attendees with an assortment of educational and networking opportunities. Altecs expert team will be presenting Automate Your Job Costing Process and AP by Going Paperless, highlighting DocLink, Altecs industry-leading document management solution. During the presentation, Altec customers Herman Goldner and Shumate Mechanical will be participating in a roundtable discussion based on their companys successes with DocLink, providing attendees with their real-world experiences using DocLink to help them make a digital transformation. DocLink allows Key2Act users to connect their people, process and data to obtain faster approvals, minimize data entry and eliminate paper. Lori Corbino, Customer Care Manager for Altec states, Im really looking forward to being at Synergy next week and getting the chance to connect with our over 20 attending DocLink customers. At the same time its always exciting to share with attendees the value that DocLink can provide them with their Key2Act solution. Going paperless with DocLink integrated to Key2Act and Dynamic GP Job Cost and Equipment Manager modules allows users to reap significant benefits with measurable results. For instance DocLinks integration with Key2Acts Advanced Document Management provides immediate visibility of and access to DocLink documents from within Key2Act. And once users experience how their job costing processes can be streamlined, DocLink can help them automate AP for further efficiencies. We cant wait to see everyone in Phoenix and share with attendees how they can utilize DocLink and start their digital transformation journey. Altecs presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11th at 11:00am. Attendees can visit Altec at table #15 to speak with the Altec team and see a DocLink demo. About Altec Altec is a leading provider of integrated document management and process automation solutions. Its flagship product, DocLink, helps companies connect people, processes and data providing them with the ability to store, search, retrieve and send any document securely. DocLink effectively eliminates the need for paper while automating processes that improve organizational efficiency and reduce costs associated with human errors. With thousands of customers globally, Altec enjoys collaborative partnerships with Sage, Microsoft, Acumatica, Intacct, Key2Act, SAP B1, AmTech, and Epicor to deliver flexible, comprehensive solutions that adapt to an ever-changing global market. Learn more at http://www.altec-inc.com. Peter and Paul are two of the top experts in the industry and were excited for them to share their insight and best practices in data collection technology so ProMat attendees can take home ideas and solutions to help drive improvement and growth within their own organizations. Barcoding, Inc., the leader in supply chain efficiency, accuracy and connectivity, will exhibit the companys innovative solutions and host two educational on-floor seminars at ProMat 2019, held April 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Presented by Barcoding experts Peter Zalinski, supply chain architect, and Paul Baboian, IoT and RFID enterprise solutions manager, the seminars will explore how data capture and IoT solutions can benefit an organization by creating a more efficient, accurate and connected supply chain. In addition, Barcoding will exhibit how RFID can drastically improve cycle counting processes with a live demo. At booth #S5526, Barcoding will demonstrate the companys latest mobile computer usage agent application, Get Smart (part of the MHI Innovation Award nominees). The application is designed to capture and report user and device usage information to provide real-time insight into when activities are performed throughout the day, on which devices and by whom. With a global supply chain that continues to grow and increase in complexity, Barcodings mission is to identify, create and provide solutions to better promote enterprise-wide efficiency, accuracy and connectivity for businesses across a multitude of industries, said Shane Snyder, President of Barcoding, Inc. Peter and Paul are two of the top experts in the industry and were excited for them to share their insight and best practices in data collection technology so ProMat attendees can take home ideas and solutions to help drive improvement and growth within their own organizations. Seminar #1 Details: What: From Barcodes to Blockchain: Leveraging GS1 Standards for your Enterprise Who: Peter Zalinski, supply chain architect When: Monday, April 8 from 1:30 p.m. 2:15 p.m. Where: Theater C Key Takeaways: How to use strategic enterprise labeling to drive your organization forward, best practices in GS1 barcode standards, understanding the impact of new technology like blockchain and future-proofing your supply chain. Seminar #2 Details: What: Leveraging Industrial IoT to Automate Business Processes Who: Paul Baboian, IoT and RFID enterprise solutions manager When: Wednesday, April 10 from 2:15 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Where: Theater H Key Takeaways: Learn how to best collect data using modern mobile technology and RFID, hear real-life use cases and stories on digitization using IoT and understand how efficient and accurate data collection can transform your business. Barcoding is also a proud supporter of MHI and MHEDA's Student Days on Wednesday, April 10. Students will get to test out the RFID cycle counting application as well as gain access to #SupplyChainGeek thought leadership and education. For more information about the seminars and Barcodings participation at ProMat 2019, please visit: https://www.promatshow.com/listing.aspx?ref=attendees&id=45462 About Barcoding, Inc. Barcoding is a supply chain automation and innovation company that helps organizations be more efficient, accurate and connected. With extensive subject matter expertise in data capture, labeling and printing, and mobile computing, we are trusted to build and manage solutions for some of the best IT and operations teams in the world. Founded in 1998, Barcoding is headquartered in Baltimore, Md., with offices across North America (Chicago, Houston, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver). For more information, visit http://www.barcoding.com. BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy (BioPlus), one of the nations leading innovative specialty pharmacies, in a continued time of strong growth, proudly announces the promotions of two long-term BioPlus employees. Nicholas Maroulis, Pharm.D. will now serve in the position of Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Services. Angie Houck is promoted to be the Vice President of Inside Sales. In his new role as Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Services, Dr. Maroulis will manage the clinical operations at BioPlus, while also remaining involved in developing and driving innovative pharmacy program strategies to ensure excellence for BioPlus specialty pharmacy customers. During the more than two decades that Dr. Maroulis has worked at BioPlus, his dedication and expertise have shaped the evolution of our specialty pharmacy and brought healing to countless patients, as well as outside recognition from nominations for several service and innovation awards. There is not a better candidate for this new position of Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Services and were lucky to have him to fill this role, shares Elvin Montanez, Pharm.D., Chief Operations Officer at BioPlus. In the newly created position of Vice President of Inside Sales, Angie Houck will continue to manage her team of inside sales representatives, as well as ensure the smooth operation of BioPlus' inside sales department. Over the past 12 years, Angie has been a steadily rising star at BioPlus through a series of positions: from her start in Oncology Sales, to Director of Inside Sales, then Senior Director of Inside Sales, and now her latest promotion to Vice President of Inside Sales, notes Bill Cook, Executive Vice President of Sales at BioPlus. As a team leader she consistently aligns sales and operations staff to achieve unprecedented growth for the company and this promotion is recognition of the quality work she is already and will surely continue to deliver for sales, he adds. About BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy is a leading independent, national specialty pharmacy and the first and only specialty pharmacy to offer a two-hour turnaround from referral to patient acceptance. Our company celebrates 30 years of innovative excellence in specialty pharmacy, working closely with payers and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as with prescribers to get prompt treatment for patients, and directly supporting our patients nationwide to achieve optimal health outcomes. We provide a complete range of specialty services, including for cancer, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, and other complex, chronic conditions. BioPlus, a privately-held, pharmacist-owned company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, is accredited by URAC, VIPPS, and ACHC with a Distinction in Oncology. For information: http://www.bioplusrx.com or Contact: info@bioplusrx.com Phone: 1-888-292-0744 ### Brandon Ford sold more certified pre-owned Ford models during the month of March than any other dealership has ever sold during a month. Crushing the previous record, which the dealership set itself back at the beginning of 2014, Brandon Ford sold more certified pre-owned Ford models during the month of March than any other dealership has ever sold during a month. Brandon Ford, a dealership in Tampa, Florida, had a very impressive 2018 fiscal year that saw it finish second to Los Angeles-based Galpin Ford in the race to be the number one volume Ford sales dealer of the year. And now the dealership is starting off the 2019 fiscal year with a bang by setting a new Ford certified pre-owned sales record during March. Crushing the previous record, which the dealership set itself back at the beginning of 2014, Brandon Ford sold more certified pre-owned Ford models during the month of March than any other dealership has ever sold during a month. But thats not the only achievement Brandon Ford is celebrating during the early months of 2019, as the dealership is also celebrating two other landmark first-quarter of 2019 achievements. Thanks to its impressive start to the new fiscal year, Brandon Ford is now the worlds largest volume new Ford dealership and the worlds largest volume certified pre-owned Ford dealership. But when a dealership has as many models on the lot as Brandon Ford does, it has to work extra hard to ensure its customers know all they need to know about the models available. Thats why Brandon Ford regularly updates its blog and model research page so that all information is always up-to-date. More information about Brandon Ford and all of the new and certified pre-owned models it offers can be found on the dealerships website at http://www.brandonford.com. Customers can direct any questions they may have to the friendly and knowledgeable Brandon Ford staff by calling 813-246-3673 or by emailing Tom Murray at tmurray@brandonford.com. Brandon Ford is located at 9090 Adamo Drive in Tampa. 2019 Clean Cooking Industry Snapshot Innovation and private sector investment are driving the industry forward, with a growing number of scalable business models capable of meeting the cooking energy needs of developing markets. The Clean Cooking Alliance (Alliance) released its 2019 Clean Cooking Industry Snapshot (Snapshot), a first-of-its-kind publication that highlights investment and business model innovation in the clean cooking sector. The Snapshot, launched today at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Accelerating Toward SDG7 event, gauges progress toward a sustainable and inclusive clean cooking industry, based on investment, operational, and financial performance data provided by more than 40 companies. Despite a multi-billion-dollar funding gap that continues to hinder growth, the clean cooking sector has come a long way since the Alliance was founded in 2010, said Dymphna van der Lans, CEO of the Alliance. Innovation and private sector investment are driving the industry forward, with a growing number of scalable business models capable of meeting the cooking energy needs of developing markets. The Snapshot identifies a number of emerging trends that illuminate progress toward a private sector-led industry that delivers affordable, appropriate, high-quality clean cooking products. Innovative business models, including those that integrate fuel sales and pay-as-you-go solutions, have the potential to meet consumer needs while also producing positive health, climate, environment, and social impacts. Investment in the sector has increased but remains inadequate; this applies both to seed-stage and mature companies, as well as across the spectrum of investment instruments, including debt, equity, concessional funding for technical assistance, and de-risking tools. In 2017, financing for clean cooking companies totaled about one percent of the USD 4 billion required to achieve universal access by 2030 just one cent for every dollar needed. As the Industry Snapshot shows, there is increased momentum toward more coherent and intentional efforts to first prove, then scale, high-impact solutions through high-growth business models. Public-private partnerships that utilize both concessional and commercial capital are critical, said Peter George, Senior Director for Private Sector & Investment at the Alliance. As you would expect, we are seeing the majority of impact investment and development finance flowing to businesses with the most experienced management teams and business models that demonstrate the greatest potential for growth and profitability, in addition to impact. One company featured in the Snapshot, Sistema.bio, manufactures prefabricated biogas systems and has been operating in Mexico for eight years. The company raised USD 12 million in 2018 alone, funding its expansion in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. We are very encouraged by the additional investments, support, and partnerships that have been attracted to biogas as a promising clean cooking alternative, which can support energy access as well as nine other Sustainable Development Goals, said Alex Eaton, CEO and Co-Founder of Sistema.bio. The Snapshot also notes the importance of government policy in supporting or inhibiting the growth of clean cooking solutions in particular taxes and tariffs, quality standards and labeling initiatives, and financial incentives including subsidies. Kenya is highlighted as a historical leader in this area, contributing to East Africas position as a hub for investment and social enterprise innovation. Thanks in part to earlier enabling policies and conditions, 12 companies headquartered in East Africa attracted more than 50% of the total investment tracked in the Snapshot. Cookstove manufacturer BURN, which has received Alliance funding and technical assistance, also reported new investments during the reporting period. BURN is raising upwards of USD 10 million to expand our Kenya factory, launch into new African markets, and expand our product mix across a range of biomass and non-biomass cooking products, said Peter Scott, CEO of BURN. About the Clean Cooking Alliance The Clean Cooking Alliance works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the three billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, the Alliance is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping families save time and money. Learn more about our work at http://www.CleanCookingAlliance.org. Construct-A-Lead is an online construction lead service that helps contractors, service providers, manufacturers and suppliers gain information on all large scale construction projects. The service features apartment construction, hotel construction, retail construction, medical construction, school renovations & more, including those hard-to-find private project leads, to help bid on construction, from planning stage- completion. Construct-A-Lead, the industrys most comprehensive construction lead service, announces the following Florida projects will go forward. Construct-A-Leads advanced search feature allows the user to find their leads or key contacts by project type, location, bid stage, dollar value, company, or keyword. Users are able to track projects status, save searches, put personalized notes on projects, email a project to a colleague or customer, reach out directly to the decision maker and download construction leads with a one-touch feature. Interested parties are invited to visit Construct-A-Lead.com and sign up for a no obligation test drive, where they will be able to experience these newly integrated features. Users will be able to receive regular alerts on new and updated construction projects, in accordance with the individuals preference. An example of the Florida construction leads available within the database is listed below. Reference the Project ID to utilize the new site features and to obtain direct contact information for each construction lead: Miami, FL Magic City Innovation District - Proposed plans call for 2,630 residential units totaling 2.64 million square feet, 2.21 million square feet of office space, 520,970 square feet of commercial space, 201,600 square feet of hotel space with 432 hotel rooms, 119,610 square feet of expo space, 6,061 parking spaces, and 3.8 acres of civic/open space. Construction start: Q4, 2020. $1,000,000,003. Project ID: 1432154 West Palm Beach, FL Forte - Plans call for building a new 24-story, 42-unit condominium tower. Construction start: Q4, 2019. $20,000,000. Project ID: 1431302 Jacksonville, FL Memorial Hospital Jacksonville Medical Office Building - Plans call for construction of a medical office building that will provide multispecialty centers and physician offices as well as an adjacent emergency room. Construction start: Q2, 2019. $45,000,000 Project ID: 1431987 Orlando, FL S. Orange Avenue and W. Taft Vineland Road - Plans call for more than 977,400 square feet of flex industrial space. Construction start: Q1, 2020. $78,100,000. Project ID: 1432392 Naples, FL Rivergrass Village Plans call for a 1,000-acre residential development. It will feature 2,500 spec homes, between 62,500 square feet and 80,000 square feet of retail and office space, and 25,000 square feet of civic, government or institutional space. Construction start: Q1, 2020. $1,000,000,000 Project ID: 1432351 Tampa, FL - Skyview Plaza- Cambria Hotel - Plans call for construction of a 13-story building with 100,000 sf of Class A offices, retail, a restaurant. The hotel will have 138-rooms, an infinity pool, covered outdoor lounge areas and a conference center. Construction start: Q2, 2020. $30,000,000 Project ID: 1432210 Construct-A-Lead is an online database that connects users to large-scale commercial construction projects, including those hidden, private project leads. The service features hotel construction, office buildings, retail construction, medical facilities, school renovations and much more, to help bid on construction including those hard-to-find private project leads, from planning stage through completion. Construct-A-Leads daily updates of commercial construction project leads are an ideal solution for those who want to put their product or service into commercial, government and religious structures. For more information, visit Construct-A-Lead.com online or call 855-874-1491. The investment will enable us to support our existing branches abroad, our business partners and to increase our team of experts in Israel. Simultaneously we will be investing in developing more solutions to our SOC, based on our extensive experience and research in the field. CyberHat, an Israeli Cyber-Security Start-Up announced today, the completion of a $6 million investment round by "Mangrove" investment fund. The company currently provides the world's most professional Managed SOC (Security Operations Center) called "CYREBRO with a unique background and expertise from the offensive and post mortem investigative side of state and private sectors. The investment will enable the company to continue expanding its existing business operations in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, CyberHat will continue its development of products and solutions for CYREBRO. CyberHat is a leading cyber company that designed, built and operates the world's most professional Managed SOC (CYREBRO) platform. CYREBRO monitors, identifies and responds to cyber events in real time. CyberHat is the ONLY company offering a truly professional Managed SOC platform, accessible to businesses of any size, industry or technology in the most advanced and efficient manner. CyberHat currently employs 60 employees in Israel and in the USA. The company's teams are comprised of cyber experts with a variety of cyber warfare backgrounds, such as: Law Enforcement Organizations, Military, Intelligence Agencies, Private Sector, Computer Crime Investigators, and more. Nadav Arbel, CEO of CyberHat, said: "In recent years, CyberHat has established its position as the only company providing clients with a truly professional and holistic Managed SOC solution. With additional Value-Added services such as Advanced Hacking Simulations, Cyber Readiness Assessments, and other cybersecurity solutions. CyberHats clients include organizations of all sizes and fields, from fortune 500 companies, private companies compromised of thousands of employees to small businesses of dozens of employees and less. Among CyberHat's clients are international Financial Institutions, Technology Development Companies, National Power and Gas Infrastructures, Private Offices, Hedge Funds and more." Arbel Added, "The investment will enable us to support our existing branches abroad, our business partners and to increase development in scaling technology in Israel. DQEs Firefighter Health & Wellness line contains products that reflect the best practices for reducing exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens through Zone Establishment, Gross Carcinogen Decontamination (PPE and Skin), and Post-Decontamination. DQE is committed to supporting the health of firefighters with a new line of Firefighter Health and Wellness products. Hundreds of firefighters are being diagnosed with cancer annually, and according to the Firefighter Cancer Alliance, it has become the second leading cause of death for firefighters in the United States. Research demonstrates that chronic exposure to heat, smoke, and toxic flame retardants through inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption place firefighters at increased risk of cancer. DQEs Firefighter Health & Wellness line of products is based on the latest research related to firefighter cancer prevention. This line builds on DQEs popular 37C firefighter rehabilitation line that supports the NFPA 1584 Rehab Standard and continues our dedication to firefighter safety. DQEs Firefighter Health & Wellness line contains products that reflect the best practices for reducing exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens through Zone Establishment, Gross Carcinogen Decontamination (PPE and Skin), and Post-Decontamination. Zone Establishment Zones indicate where decontamination and rehabilitation procedures should occur. DQE has a variety of colored ground tarps, zone tape, and privacy screens to visually indicate where procedures take place, making it easier to enforce established protocols. Gross Carcinogen Decontamination -Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Decon - Following exit from the fireground area and while still on air, immediate gross decontamination of PPE using soapy water and a brush takes place. DQE has a variety of brushes, sprayers, and pools that assist in decon measures. -Skin Decon - The exposed areas of the body (neck, face, arms, and hands) should be wiped off immediately following the removal of PPE. DQE reviewed numerous different types of wipes and found Responder Wipes to have an excellent extra-large size (12" x 24), thick fabric, and a non-offensive odor. Post-Decontamination - Complete the decontamination process by changing out of clothes and into DQEs change-out clothing after exposure to products of combustion or other contaminants. DQEs goal is to make a difference in the lives of firefighters by providing practical products that make them safer. Through knowledge, making cancer prevention routines a priority, and the right supplies, firefighters can minimize their exposure to carcinogens. More information on DQE Firefighter Health & Wellness products is available at https://www.dqeready.com/FirefighterHealth. About DQE Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, DQE designs and sells essential products that emergency responders depend on to enhance their jobs while saving lives. Learn more about DQE and its family of products at https://www.dqeready.com. Members of the Encore Electric team accept the 2019 CSEA Grand Award from the AGC during an event on April 3, 2019. Encore Electric was named the 2019 Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) Grand Award Winner by the Associated General Contractors of America on April 3, 2019. The Associated General Contractors (AGC) holds the safety awards program every year to recognize the safest contractors in the United States in multiple divisions, including building, specialty, highway and transportation, and more. According to the AGC, the purpose of the awards program is to recognize construction firms who are the best of the best with regards to safe working practices. Each application is reviewed for company management commitment, active employee participation, safety training, work site hazard identification and control and safety program innovation. Encore Electric was selected because of the companys culture of safety, as well as the innovative safety programs undertaken by the team in the past few years. More than 50 companies made it to the national competition out of hundreds who submitted written applications with their local chapters. The finalist companies were then expected to present to a panel of nationally recognized safety experts during the week of April 1. We are grateful to the AGC and to sponsor Willis Towers Watson for this recognition. Congratulations to all of the very strong and committed organizations who were nominated - we are proud to be included in this group, said Willis Wiedel, president of Encore Electric. This confirms the core values that we at Encore Electric live every day. By placing people first, putting the team ahead of the individual and empowering everyone to be personally responsible for safety, we do the best job for our company and our customers. I couldnt be more proud of our tradespeople in the field, said Jack Cain, director of health and safety at Encore Electric. Working safely is embedded in the culture of Encore Electric. We talk about safety and live safety every day. We have learned from our past experiences and prepared our team for the unexpected. Every action counts when it comes to making sure everyone goes home from our jobsites every day. During the event, Encore Electric was also named the first place award winner in the category of Specialty Contractors, 1.25-4 million man hours. Encore was recognized during the CSEA Luncheon held during the National Associated General Contractors Annual Conference, held on April 3, 2019 at the Colorado Convention Center. About Encore Electric: Founded in 2003, Encore Electric, Inc. was established to serve clients in the Rocky Mountain West to address complex and technical projects for developers and top consumer brands with electrical construction, technology solutions and maintenance services. Recognized for safety, design and quality by industry organizations and customers, Encore credits the talent and work ethic of its more than 800 team members. Encore Electric is a privately held, employee-owned company based in Lakewood, Colorado. For more information, visit http://www.encoreelectric.com. Ethel Cushing Brants granddaughter, Ethel Virginia Brant Bauer and great-granddaughter, Virginia Bauer Pontzer have completed their book Following the Drum: Memoirs of an Army Bride, 1904-1919: a candid memoir of military family life for a young couple at the dawn of the last century. Come along on the adventures with a young army wife in the early 1900s. From the Wild West to the Philippines to the Mexican border, Ethel Cushing Brant (18821941) describes the rigors and gaieties of traveling with the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Regiment, known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Using colorful descriptions and witty insights, she tells interesting, historical, and humorous events, all along showing the caliber of the army wife to patiently and unwearyingly adapt to the many hardships of following the drum. Ethel grew up as an only child in a privileged, high-society family in New York City. Her life dramatically changed after marrying Gerald Brant immediately following his 1904 graduation from the US Military Academy at West Point. Ethel Virginia shares, When I close my eyes and think back to that little, untried person, who stepped out of her warm, sheltered, cotton-wool existence into the most adventurous, hand-to-mouth, catch-as-catch-can life she could have chosen, I realize, oh so poignantly, that experience is certainly the best teacher, but she is like a tigress teaching her cubsshe cuffs them about a lot, especially in the Army. Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Ethel Cushing Brants book is a spellbinding autobiographical work and a must-read for fans of all aspects of military history. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Following the Drum: Memoirs of an Army Bride, 1904-1919 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. John Benson, Frankenmuth Insurance Chairman & CEO; Brent Neal of Frank E. Neal & Co.; Fred Edmond, Frankenmuth Insurance President & COO; and Craig Alarie, Frankenmuth Insurance Regional Director. We are proud to award Frank E. Neal & Co. and its staff with our highest honor for the second year in a row, says Fred Edmond, President & COO of Frankenmuth Insurance. Its a true pleasure to work with their team, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership for many decades. Frankenmuth Insurance has named Frank E. Neal & Co. as its 2018 Agency of the Year. The award is presented to one agency that is the top performer in profitability, growth and policy retention. This is the second consecutive year that Frank E. Neal & Co. has earned this honor. Additionally, Frank E. Neal & Co. has also been named a Premier partner for 2019, which is the highest and most elite classification offered by Frankenmuth Insurance. Premier agencies must meet a variety of rigorous criteria to earn this distinction, including profitability, growth and their length of partnership. We are proud to award Frank E. Neal & Co. and its staff with our highest honor for the second year in a row, says Fred Edmond, President & COO of Frankenmuth Insurance. Its a true pleasure to work with their team, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership for many decades. Frank E. Neal & Co. is located in Nashville, Tennessee. To learn more about their agency, find them on Facebook or visit http://www.feneal.com. Frankenmuth Insurance has been providing peace of mind for families and businesses for 150 years. Because insurance is both complicated and critical to peoples lives, we work exclusively with independent agents to provide business, home, auto and life insurance policies. With more than 600 employees, we are headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and offer insurance products in 15 states. Frankenmuth Insurance is financially sound, with more than $1 billion in assets and an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent). The Warsaw office of international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP was awarded by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) with the Most Innovative Law Firm of the Year 2019 Award for Poland. For the second year in a row, Greenberg Traurig was recognized as the Most Innovative Law Firm in Poland. It is worth to mention two other awards granted to us by Chambers and Partners the Law Firm of the Year in Poland 2017 and the Law Firm of the Year for Client Service in Poland 2016. These four exceptional awards granted to us in recent years by the most prestigious legal rankings in the world, confirm that we are able not only to gain the leading position, but more importantly we are able to maintain it, which is definitely more challenging, said Lejb Fogelman, the Senior Partner of the Warsaw office of Greenberg Traurig. Emerging technologies are beginning to have a major impact on the legal profession in Poland. Greenberg Traurig is anticipating changes in the market and adapts through implementing new technologies as well as by leading the expansion of key departments in terms of size, but above all in terms of the quality of services provided. The recent IFLR award, together with the Law Firm of the Year awards received from Chambers and Partners in previous years, proves that our approach is working, said Jarosaw Grzesiak, the Warsaw office Managing Partner. The awards ceremony was held on April 4 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. IFLR is the market-leading financial law publication for lawyers in financial institutions, corporates and private practice. IFLR was first published in 1982. Today, IFLR offers practical, actionable insight on the latest deal structures and regulatory developments as well as interviews with regulators and in-house counsel worldwide. The IFLR 1000 is a guide to the world's leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers and currently covers over 120 jurisdictions worldwide. Greenberg Traurig LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 2000 attorneys serving clients from 39 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak sp.k. was named the 2018 Most Innovative Law Firm of the Year for Poland by International Financial Law Review (IFLR) and the 2017 Law Firm of the Year in Poland by Chambers and Partners. Greenberg Traurig was ranked as number one in the Mergermarket Global & Regional M&A Report 2018 with respect to the value of M&A transactions handled in Poland in 2018. The total value of the transactions on which Greenberg Traurig advised its clients amounted to USD 2.807 billion. Greenberg Traurig in Poland provides legal services to the largest Polish and international companies and institutions in Central Europe and beyond. The Warsaw office has over 100 lawyers considered to be the leading lawyers in Poland. Team members are regularly recognized as leaders in numerous practice areas. Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, IFLR1000 and EMEA Legal 500 consistently rank them among the top tiers in the areas of Corporate/M&A, Capital Markets, Private Equity, project financing, competition law, court and arbitration proceedings, tax as well as such fields as: Real Estate, Energy, Banking and Finance, Insurance and TMT. For additional information, please visit http://www.gtlaw.com Labor & Employment Shareholder Kelly Dobbs Bunting of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP will speak at the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Laws Spring Meeting April 11 in Washington, D.C. Bunting will speak on a panel titled, The Accidental Tourist: How Domestic Laws may Affect Global Employment Policy and Practice, which will examine the challenges and pitfalls of exporting standardized employment policies and practices. The panel plans to focus on expat employees, equity compensation plans, and other benefits and compensation that may be difficult to localize, as well as differing rules affecting termination. Key Issues will include: International Employment Law & Practice International Practitioner Insight Equity Compensation Plans Compensation & Benefits Other Than Wages The ABA Section of International Law focuses on a full range of international legal issues and is involved in a wide variety of substantive legal activities. Bunting is a member of Greenberg Traurigs Labor & Employment Practice and co-chair of its Workforce Compliance & Regulatory Enforcement Group. She handles a variety of employment litigation and counseling matters on behalf of employers around the world, including wage and hour class and collective actions; discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and whistleblower litigation; non-competition, non-solicitation, FCPA, and compliance issues; and L&E due diligence, employment, and secondment agreements. About Greenberg Traurigs Labor & Employment Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Global Labor & Employment Practice serves clients from offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Members of the practice have had numerous trial wins and are frequently called upon to handle complex, bet-the-company, and large high-stake cases, including nationwide class and collective actions. On the labor side, a leading group of lawyers regularly represents management with labor-relations matters. Labor & Employment team members assist clients with complex employment issues, and design practical, proactive strategies that can be readily implemented by todays human resources professionals. In addition, the practice is recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the areas of Labor and Employment Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, ERISA Litigation, Workplace & Employment Counseling, and Trade Secrets Litigation. Visit Greenberg Traurigs Labor & Employment Blog for insights and analysis of the latest labor and employment developments, including legislation, regulations, cases, policies, and trends. 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. GSI Press Release GSI will be providing expert resources in our booth and throughout the conference to address questions from the JD Edwards community GSI is pleased to announce it will be exhibiting in Booth 445 at Collaborate 19, which is being held this year at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas on April 7-11. GSI will be hosting eight (8) JD Edwards educational sessions at the conference. GSIs educational sessions: Leveraging UX One UDO's and Orchestrator as Part of Upgrade Project Security: Company and Business Unit Access Demystified JD Edwards: How to Use Health and Safety Incident Management Module JD Edwards: Orchestrator for Techies Top 8 Technology Trends in Supply Chain for 2019 & Beyond JD Edwards Database Security It's in the CNC's Hands Now What's New in JD Edwards EnterpriseOne 9.2.3 Tools Release JD Edwards: Moving Media Objects and Print Queue Files to the Database For more details on GSIs sessions, times and locations, please visit GSI Collaborate 19 Schedule or stop by the GSI booth 445. "GSI is delighted to participate in the Collaborate 19 Conference, and like in years past, we will be focusing our efforts on educating decision makers and users on how to get the most out of JD Edwards and the Cloud. GSI will be providing expert resources in our booth and throughout the conference to address questions from the JD Edwards community, said Kevin R. Herrig, President and CEO of GSI, Inc. About GSI, Inc. GSI, Inc. (GetGSI.com) specializes in providing a broad spectrum of business, functional, and technical consulting services for Oracle JD Edwards, Oracle NetSuite, Oracle Cloud, Salesforce, ServiceNow, BMC and other enterprise applications. They also offer an extensive array of cloud/hosting solutions for Oracle Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and JDE Cloud9. GSI's comprehensive suite of solutions include AppCare, a 24/7 managed service; GENIUS AI, an Application Intelligence Platform (AIP) for creating application health and user experience monitors; GENISYS, a solution for optimizing system performance; gShield, a comprehensive security solution; RapidReconciler, its inventory reconciliation software; and RapidApproval, a Salesforce AppExchange solution for streamlining the approval request process. GSI consulting services are backed by its signature 100 percent guarantee. Founded in 2004, the rapidly growing company is headquartered in Atlanta with locations nationwide. GSI, Inc. has been named to Inc. Magazines Inc.5000 list of fastest growing companies for two consecutive years. Meknes is one of Morocco's four great imperial cities. No country in the world offers the cultural mix and multi-sensory experience of Morocco. The colourful souks and medinas of Morocco are calling travellers, with savings of up to US $500 per couple on Goways Imperial Morocco trip. No country in the world offers the cultural mix and multi-sensory experience of Morocco. From admiring the worlds second largest mosque, to wandering the organised chaos of the Fes medina, to the energy of Marrakechs Djemaa El Fna square, Morocco harbours a surprise around every corner. Moorish influences, Roman history, European colonisation, and Arab culture all come together to give Morocco that unique quality that enchants travellers today This classic Morocco itinerary includes international flights from North America, plus 7 nights first class accommodation, transfers, an English-speaking guide, touring in air-conditioned vehicles, some meals, and local guides in destinations such as Volubilis, Fes, and Marrakech. Passengers will visit the four imperial cities of Morocco, Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat, along with smaller destinations in the magnificent Atlas Mountains. The itinerary is a round-trip from Casablanca. Departures are available from a range of US and Canadian cities at competitive rates. Passengers who book by March 31, 2019 will enjoy a saving of up to US $500 per couple on selected departures. Since 1970, Goway has been providing unforgettable travel experiences to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Central & South America, Idyllic Island destinations and Europe. Today Goway is recognized as one of North America's leading travel companies for individuals, families and groups to select exotic destinations around the globe. Goway has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Manila, and Sydney, Australia. For reservations and information, visit http://www.goway.com, or call 1-800-387-8850. MXC Co-Founder Aaron Wagener signing the agreement at the Hannover Messe By adding this data to the MXC Parachain, JD has a logistics tracking solution compatible with any system; either connected with blockchain or built with an API JD.com, a kind of company Amazon hopes to ultimately become (Wired), and the biggest company you may not know much about (DC Velocity), signed an agreement with the Berlin-based non-profit MXC Foundation on stage during the Hannover Messe. As part of this agreement, MXC will be responsible for enhancing JDs logistics and live product tracking with LPWAN and blockchain technologies. Logistics and product tracking is a complicated process often involving multiple companies, each with their individual way to process data. Blockchain offers a trustworthy solution to store this data, making it nearly impossible to corrupt or modify. The MXC Foundation offers JD the opportunity to use the blockchain API and parachain technologies built into the MXC Data Market. By adding this data to the MXC Parachain, JD has a logistics tracking solution compatible with any system either connected with blockchain or built with an API, said Aaron Wagener, Co-Founder at MXC. We are excited that such a massive partner has chosen MXC for their blockchain integration. MXCs partnership with JD will begin immediately as we work together to connect their tracking technologies with MXCs data management solutions. JD will evaluate LPWAN technologies for asset management and tracking within their warehouses. Full rollout of the solution is expected to take place in early 2020. ### The MXC Foundation is a purpose-built Blockchain Foundation, based in Berlin. Its mission is to inspire fast, efficient, decentralized data exchanges using LPWAN and Blockchain technology. MXC is currently working on projects in New York City, South Korea, and Shanghai. For further information and enquiries: Aaron Wagener - Co-Founder at MXC Hannover Messe, Hall 9, Stand A8/02 Jeff Stahlnecker - Growth Manager Mobile: +49 15678 662108 We care deeply about the wellbeing of our employees at JSC and understand happy employees are essential to the growth and prosperity of any company." Jordan Search Consultants (JSC), a St. Louis-based executive healthcare recruitment firm, announced it has been named as a Best Staffing Company to Work For winner for 2019. The award is given annually by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions, and recognizes employers for their top performance in engaging and deploying talent. The winners were recognized at SIAs 28th annual Executive Forum North America, held February 25th 28th at the JW Marriott in Austin, TX. The winners represent companies who scored in the top quartile in each of the award categories. The categories comprise North American firms with 10 to 20 internal employees, firms with 21 to 50 internal employees, firms with 51 to 200 employees, firms with 201-500 employees, and firms with over 501 employees; smaller and larger UK firms; and Best Staffing Company to Temp/Contract for. The Best Staffing Firms to Work For awards are sponsored by Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW). We care deeply about the wellbeing of our employees at JSC and understand happy employees are essential to the growth and prosperity of any company, says Founder and CEO Kathy Jordan. Thats why this award means so much to us. Its great validation that the top tier workplace we strive to create every day is producing highly engaged, happy employees. Approximately 400 firms sought participation in the program this year, which was conducted by SIA in conjunction with Quantum Workplace, an Omaha, NE-based company. Internal employees at each firm were asked to complete a 40-question online survey that measured 10 key engagement categories focusing on items including teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation and benefits. There is no charge for participation and companies completing the survey receive a report highlighting their firms results. In order to gather statistically sound results, participating companies must have reached a minimum level of employee participation, based on their total number of employees. Companies were ranked in each size category according to their overall score. Winners were chosen based entirely on the survey results. Congratulations to the winners of this years Best Staffing Firm to Work For Awards, said Barry Asin, President of SIA. These high-performing companies stand out for their quality of leadership and as organizations that prioritize culture and employee engagement. There is a strong correlation between employee engagement and growth. These firms have made that connection and use it to excel in their business and drive outstanding results. About Jordan Search Consultants Founded in 2003, Jordan Search Consultants provides healthcare, executive, and higher education recruitment services to clients throughout the nation. By understanding the unique culture of each client organization and the professional and personal goals of each candidate, the professionals at Jordan Search Consultants are able to develop effective solutions to recruitment needs. With solutions that range from candidate sourcing services to complete outsourced recruitment models, Jordan Search Consultants provides a customized level of support. For more, visit http://www.jordansc.com, call 866-750-7231, or email kjordan@jordansc.com. About SIA Founded in 1989, SIA is the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. The organizations proprietary research covers all categories of employed and non-employed work including temporary staffing, independent contracting and other types of contingent labor. SIAs independent and objective analysis provides insights into the services and suppliers operating in the workforce solutions ecosystem including staffing firms, managed service providers, recruitment process outsourcers, payrolling/compliance firms and talent acquisition technology specialists such as vendor management systems, online staffing platforms, crowdsourcing and online work services. SIA also provides training and accreditation with a unique Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) program. Known for award-winning content, data, support tools, publications, executive conferences and events, SIA helps both suppliers and buyers of workforce solutions make better-informed decisions that improve business results and minimize risk. As a division of the international business media company, Crain Communications Inc., SIA is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in London, England. Apprenticeship programs are being expanded to grow the economy, retool and expand the workforce, and help businesses reach a larger, more diverse pool of workers including veterans, Kessler Foundation has awarded a two-year, $350,000 Signature Employment Grant to Cornell Universitys Yang-Tan Institute (YTI) to support Combat to Careers (C2C), which will assist 100 veteran students with disabilities at the State University of New York Oswego and East Central Community College in obtaining full- or part-time employment through apprenticeships with emphasis on meeting the needs of female veterans. The grant is part of $2.5 million in grants awarded by Kessler Foundation in 2018 to organizations across the U.S. to support initiatives that create and expand job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Apprenticeship programs are being expanded to grow the economy, retool and expand the workforce, and help businesses reach a larger, more diverse pool of workers including veterans, said Kathleen Lee, Business Outreach Consultant at YTI. Through C2C, we can demonstrate how the proper support and training can improve employment outcomes for veterans with disabilities in general and female veterans by testing and validating new employment methods with that population. Over 2.6 million post-9/11 veterans ages 18-32 have returned to civilian life. They often face significant military to civilian transition challenges including physical and mental disabilities, military sexual trauma, and translation of their military skills for success in college and civilian employment. They are entering college in record numbers, using their GI Bill as nontraditional students. They are generally older, with more life experience, and often need to work to support their families while attaining additional credentials and education. Approximately 15% of these veterans are female. C2C includes services for female veterans with disabilities who often resist male-oriented veteran services. Female veterans face unique challenges and generally have unemployment rates higher than their male peers. C2C will study how targeted outreach and female veteran-specific employment and supportive services help veterans identify and achieve their job and career preferences while overcoming their disability-related employment barriers. Younger veterans have higher unemployment rates than the national average, explained Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, senior vice president for grants and communications at Kessler Foundation. Females have higher unemployment rates than non-veteran women, making housing and getting enough food potentially a daily challenge. One of the outcomes of this grant will be detailed method for attracting, engaging, and supporting female veterans in job and career preparation programs including methods to create college and business partnerships to better facilitate their combat to career transition. By the end of the two-year grant period, YTI anticipates that East Central College in Missouri and SUNY-Oswego in New York will have sufficient data and resources to commence making improvements in their own veterans career development services and that YTI will have enough information to help other institutions implement successful employment programs for post 9/11 veterans. About Cornell Universitys Yang-Tan Institute For 50 years, Cornell Universitys Yang-Tan Institute (YTI) has advanced policies and practices to enhance equal opportunities for all people with disabilities. Our focus maximizes full inclusion in society with research and knowledge translation/diffusion activities in employment, workforce development, youth, income, and engaged learning. Our multi-disciplinary team augments opportunities through coursework, materials and resources, consultation and demonstration. Recognized as a leading resource in employment and disability, YTI promotes inclusive workplaces. Utilizing projects, training, technical assistance, and education, YTI has assisted employers, labor, government agencies, schools and communities in disability and veteran inclusion by disseminating leading-edge knowledge to solve human problems, manage and resolve conflict while establishing best workplace practices. For more information, visit http://www.yti.cornell.edu About Kessler Foundation Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit http://www.KesslerFoundation.org. Stay Connected Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/KesslerFdn Facebook | http://www.facebook.com/KesslerFoundation YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/user/KesslerFoundation Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/kesslerfdn iTunes & SoundCloud | http://www.soundcloud.com/kesslerfoundation For more information, contact: Kessler Foundation Carolann Murphy, PA; 973-324-8382 CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org Kessler Foundation Rob Gerth 973-323-3675 RGerth@KesslerFoundation.org Marlboro Development Team, Inc. (MDT) is pleased to announce the development of a new 125,000 square foot build-to-suit for Multi-Pack Solutions (Multi-Pack). Multi-Pack, a leading contract manufacturer and corporate citizen in Greenville County for over two decades, will consolidate existing production and distribution operations into the new facility. The Greenville operation, which will also serve as the companys headquarters, will be FDA and EPA compliant, and manufacture products for the personal care, OTC, and medical device markets. Scheduled for delivery in Q4 2019 and located on a 21-acre site within the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC), the new facility will house production, testing, assembly, distribution, and corporate offices. The building will feature 32 clear height, fully conditioned production and warehouse space, ample dock positions and employee parking, as well as significant expansion capabilities. We are very pleased and excited about the opportunity to partner with MDT in the expansion of our operations, said Multi-Pack President, Steve Crass. We have been part of the Greenville community for more than 25 years and believe this investment will be beneficial for us, demonstrating our commitment to the community. We are excited to be making this new investment in the Greenville area and look forward to building on our past successes, walking into a bright future together. Design team members include THS Constructors, GPN Architecture, and Thomas & Hutton. Both Multi-Pack and MDT received tremendous support from the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), and SCTAC. We are pleased to partner with Multi-Pack on the development of their new headquarters in Greenville, SC, said Brian Nash, Senior Vice President of MDT. As with all economic development projects, there are numerous allies who have assisted us in bringing this project to fruition and we are grateful for all of them. About Marlboro Development Team, Inc. Marlboro Development Team is a South Carolina based real estate developer focused on single tenant build-to-suits, value-add acquisitions, and strategic investments throughout the United States. The senior management of MDT has a proven track record of 100+ years of development experience with successful delivery of over 10 million square feet across a broad spectrum of development projects including industrial, retail, and commercial. We are very excited to partner with Rick Najera and Latino Thought Makers to bring legendary actor/comedian Cheech Marin to our conference, said Mayra Padilla, Ph.D., Vice President of AHSIE and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, Contra Costa College. In collaboration with The Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE), Rick Najeras Latino Thought Makers will present A Conversation with Cheech Marin on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) at Riverside City Colleges Coil Auditorium located at 3890 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501 as part of the 11th Annual 2019 AHSIE Conference taking place April 14-17th. Conference ticket packages vary from student price to general admission and can be purchased here: http://www.ahsieconference.org/register.aspx Admission to the Latino Thought Makers celebrity event is included in the registration fee for AHSIE conference attendees, who upon registration, will be promoted to select if they would like to attend Latino Thought Makers. Following the special event is a Private VIP dessert reception with both Rick Najera and Cheech Marin at Riverside City Colleges Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties, 3855 Market St., Riverside, CA 92501, a 3-minute walk from Coil Auditorium. The cost is $75 per person with tickets limited exclusively to conference participants that can be purchased at the time of registration. We are very excited to partner with Rick Najera and Latino Thought Makers to bring legendary actor/comedian Cheech Marin to our conference, said Mayra Padilla, Ph.D., Vice President of AHSIE and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, Contra Costa College. Latino Thought Makers is an inspirational program and a great example of the culture, diversity and leadership we embody at AHSIE. Special guest Cheech Marin is an actor, writer, director, musician, art collector, humanitarian, comedian, cultural icon and multi-generational star. To this day, Cheech and Chong films remain the number one weekend video rentals. Cheech is the author of Cheech is Not My Real NameBut Dont Call Me Chong! by Hachette Book Group. Cheech Marin contributes a considerable amount of time and energy to promoting Chicano art. Since the mid-1980s, he has amassed a phenomenal and renowned private collection of Chicano art, the largest in North America. Following his success in touring selections from the Cheech Marin Collection to some of the nation's top art museums, in 2017, the City of Riverside, CA, and the Riverside Art Museum proposed a partnership to create the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry of the Riverside Art Museum. Scheduled for completion in 2021, The Cheech will provide a home for more than 700 works from his personal collection, which includes paintings, sculptures, and photography by Chicano artists throughout the United States. Latino Thought Makers is a nationally recognized interview series hosted and created by comedian and award-winning writer-director-author Rick Najera. The show is geared toward Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and showcases the successes and career paths of influential Latino and Latina role models. Previous guests have included Edward James Olmos, Dolores Huerta, Danny Trejo, Luis Guzman, Esai Morales, and more. The Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) supports the work of the nations Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) as they seek to provide quality, relevant educational opportunities to large and growing numbers of underserved populations, particularly Hispanic students. All of the Alliances activities directly benefit practitioners and educators at HSIs through measures that involve cooperation, networking, partnerships, information-sharing, technical assistance and collaboration. Conversation between Rick Najera and Cheech Marin will be centered on the importance of education for the Latinx community and the role of art in promoting a sense of pride in Riverside, in California and nationwide. Rick Najeras Latino Thought Makers: A Conversation with Cheech Marin will take place on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) at Riverside City Colleges Coil Auditorium, 3890 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501, as part of the 11th Annual 2019 AHSIE Conference. Tickets to the VIP reception after Latino Thought Makers event can be purchased during the conference registration by attendees for $75. Tickets to the conference can be purchased here: http://www.ahsieconference.org/register.aspx. Parking for both locations will be in the Riverside City College District parking structure adjacent to both facilities. There is a charge of $5 for parking. Conference Registration/tickets: http://www.ahsieconference.org/register.aspx More info: http://www.ahsieconference.org/latino-thought-makers.aspx Latino Thought Makers Official Site: http://www.latinothoughtmakers.com Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators: https://www.ahsie.org/conference-2/ Attendance Matters - When We Attend, We Achieve Banner. Our teachers and staff do a remarkable job of designing and delivering high-quality instructional programs, and students who attend school regularly benefit immensely, shared TVUSD Deputy Superintendent McClay. In an effort to address chronic absenteeism, the Temecula Unified School District has established a goal this year to maintain an attendance rate of 96% or higher. In order to do this, they have developed a strategic plan to assist each student in having no more than seven days of absence during the school year. The California Department of Education recently released the first statewide data on chronic absenteeism and it showed that 1 in 10 California students was chronically absent last year, with foster children, homeless students, African-American students, and Native American students posting the highest rates. Interesting to note, kindergarten students are the most likely of elementary school students to be chronically absent. This is particularly problematic, shared Deputy Superintendent McClay, as kindergarten is a critical year for learning early reading skills, number sense, and social skills. We know that attendance at school is directly tied to increased student achievement, shared McClay. In fact, eighty-three percent of chronically absent California kindergartners and first graders were unable to read proficiently by the end of third grade. So the District has initiated a campaign to remind parents and students of the importance of being in class, every day, McClay added. The plan involves a three-tiered approach, with the Tier I strategies being universal and low-cost and increasing to individual plans and higher cost in Tier III. Examples of Tier I strategies, aimed at at-risk students who are missing 5-9% of school, include creating positive relationships, ensuring a positive school climate, and building the understanding of the impacts of absenteeism among parents. Tier III strategies, which target students who are missing 20% or more of school, involve interagency support from throughout the county. While all 27 schools within the TVUSD are mindful of their attendance rates and working to improve levels of absenteeism, the district identified eight schools to serve as pilot schools for an attendance campaign this year. The schools were selected after an in-depth analysis of absenteeism at the sites, broken down by student groups, shared McClay. The pilot schools are utilizing an Attendance Toolkit, which provides campaign materials like attendance letters, marketing brochures, school site incentives, and other resources. Personalized attendance banners and posters were also created for each TVUSD school site to proudly display on their campuses. As part of the program, monthly reports are pulled to review each sites data, including a specific review of individual students who have struggled with attendance. When a student continues to have high levels of absenteeism, shared Deputy Superintendent McClay, a Student Review Attendance Team (SART) meeting is convened, which includes a counselor, psychologist, teachers, social/emotional staff member, and district office administrator. McClay went on to share that the district believes the inclusion of a social/emotional expert on the team has become a valued component, as these staff members are able to provide emotional and behavioral supports as well as help parents access outside resources. 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. A key part of National Library Week is the American Library Association's annual release of the top 10 most challenged books. But this year's list, which will be revealed on Monday, April 8, apparently goes to 11. Maybe, as Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnel once explained, ALA felt this year's list needed that extra push over the cliff? We'll find out Monday, when the 2019 National Library Week celebrations begin. The release kicks off a week of events for this years National Library Week, which officially runs from April 7-13, the 61st celebration since ALA debuted the event in 1958. This years honorary chair will be Melinda Gates, who gave an excellent talk at this years ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, and who, on April 23, will publish The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, which PW praised as a "thoughtful and empathetic" memoir that addresses the "thorny issues that hold women down." Among other highlights to look for next week: on Monday, April 8, The annual State of America's Libraries Report will be released which includes the Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2018 (which this year goes to 11). Tuesday, April 9 is National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. #nlwd19. Wednesday, April 10 is National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobilesand those who make bookmobile outreach possible in their communities." It is also Library Giving Day, a one-day fundraising event with the goal of encouraging people who depend on and enjoy public libraries to donate to their individual library system. #LibraryGivingDay; #BookmobileDay2019. Thursday, April 11 is Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to speak up for libraries and share your library story. #MyLibraryMyStory. And, Saturday, April 13 is Citizen Science Day. SciStarter has a free guide for how libraries and library workers can get involved. And, while youre celebrating libraries next week, ALA officials also remind you to contact your Senators about signing on to this years Dear Appropriator letters in support of federal library funding. The deadline has been extended to April 11. As weve previously reported, the Trump administration once again is proposing to eliminate all federal funding for libraries. Reserve Reading On the topic of challenged books, The upstart Colorado Sun this week reports that a conservative group called Heritage Defenders is continuing to take aim at what it sees as a conspiracy to give porn to children, a conspiracy that includes the American Library Association. The motive? "Porn is a billion-dollar industry, Heritage's leader told the Sun. That and "a desire among liberals, gays and Muslims to indoctrinate children that bad sexual behavior is OK." Last Fall, a group of Cherry Creek (Colorado) School District parents sued EBSCO Information Services and the Colorado Library Consortium alleging the database provider was promoting pornography to schoolkids. As the Denver Post reported, the suit was swiftly dismissed in February. But according to the Sun, the fight is not over. Are books contraband? From the Seattle Times, state corrections officials in Washington have apparently barred prisoners from receiving books through the mail. The policy, which was posted the new policy online last month, says the ban is necessary "to reduce contraband flowing into the prisons." The ban was discovered by a Seattle nonprofit, Books To Prisoners. Great news for school librarians in Texas. The Austin American Statesman reports that the Texas House has passed a bill that will see all educators get a $5000 raise, including school librarians. Librarians were initially left out of the bill, an oversight that the Texas Library Association quickly sought to rectify. Governor Greg Abbott, a supporter of the bill, praised its passage. This should add a little extra momentum to the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, which convenes in Austin, April 15-18. And if you're planning to be at TLA, be sure to stop by the Publishers Weekly booth (#2742) to say hello, and to enter to win one of many prizes our sponsors will be giving away at the show. Prizes include a set of ALA award-winning titles; the entire collection of titles from the Rick Riordan imprint; a Fujifilm Instax camera; a collection of highly anticipated ARCs; and a backpack stuffed with surprises including a Kindle Fire 7 loaded with e-books, and more. On the eve of National Library Week, another reminder of all that libraries do in our communities,via American Libraries: This week ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo spoke at the Census Bureaus one-year-out national press conference in Washington, D.C., and, the American Library Association (ALA) joined an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court in a case opposing the last-minute addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. The brief argues that the addition of the citizenship question threatens the integrity of census data. Accurate and reliable census information features in an astonishing array of decisions, from where voters cast their ballots, to where small businesses choose to invest, to how the federal government allocates money, to how emergency responders prepare for natural disasters, among many others, the brief states. The case will be heard April 23, with the Court expected to rule before census forms are scheduled to go to press, in June. On a less serious note, while you're visiting American Libraries, check out their roundup of April Fool's pranks... Remember that old trope about how e-books last forever, and never wear out like paper books? Yeah, not so much. ZDnet this week reports that Microsoft is getting out of the e-book game, with previous customers losing their libraries. Microsoft will offer refunds to customers, who will no longer be able to access their books after July. Unless, of course, they jailbreak them. But that would require some technical ability and would surely be against the terms of service customers were forced to accept when they bought the books, and who would do such a thing? Oh, and if you annotated or marked up your e-book, you get an extra bump in your refund, you know, for the inconvenience. On one hand, it's hard to imagine anyone buying e-books from Microsoft. But that's not really the issue. "Thats one point in favor of physical books," notes The Verge, "which cant be deleted from a server after youve bought them." This feels like a moment of some kind: Springer Nature announced this week that it has published its first "machine-generated book in chemistry." The book is described as a collaboration between Springer Nature and researchers from Goethe University, in Frankfurt, Germany, using a state-of-the-art algorithm called Beta Writer. On the Open Access front, more signs that the pace of change in academic publishing is shifting. Cambridge University Press this week announced another "a major Open Access agreement," this one with the Bavarian State Library (BSB) on behalf of higher education and research institutions across Germany, a three year "read and publish" agreement that allows researchers to both access Cambridge journals, and covers Article Processing Charges for authors wishing to publish in Cambridge journals. In addition, via STM News, De Gruyter this week announced a read and publish deal with CzechELib, the National Centre for Electronic Information Resources of the Czech Republic." The New York Times, meanwhile, has a story on The Federal Trade Commission winning a $50 million judgment against India-based Omics International, a prominent player in the shady world of predatory journal publishing. " Another week, another controversy involving a Drag Queen Story Time, this one from Atlanta. From AJC.com, Steven Igarashi-Ball, who performs in drag mostly for charity as Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker, says "he was invited to perform by the staff at the Alpharetta library branch after they saw how successful the story time was at the Ponce de Leon Avenue branch," but the event has since been removed from the library's events calendar. But in a twist, it seems the library hasn't canceled the event, just stopped promoting it. Variety reports that Susan Orlean's The Library Book, described as a "love letter to libraries" that tells the story of a fire that devastated Los Angeles' Central Library in 1986, is in development as a TV series. Queens Library (NY) President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott this week launched the Librarys Renewed Promise to the Public, a long-term initiative "to honor and serve the diversity of the Librarys customers and communities that includes changing its name to Queens Public Library." Walcott said the library "added public back to our name to reinforce who is at the center of our work and to whom the Library belongs. Via The Associated Press, James Patterson is at it again: giving away money (up to $1.25 million this time around!) to support readers. "On Tuesday, the bestselling author announced the fifth installment for his Patterson Partnership, formed in coordination with Scholastic Book Club. Patterson is giving $250 each to 4,000 teachers around the country to help purchase books. He is also distributing $500 each to 500 teachers with three years or less experience. Scholastic will match Patterson with gifts of 250 and 500 bonus points for its book club. Teachers can apply for grants through www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership. The deadline is July 31. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdues College of Engineering has announced a new leader for the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Mung Chiang, the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering, announced Thursday (April 4) that the next Michael and Katherine Birck Head of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering will be Dimitrios (Dimitri) Peroulis. His selection came after a thorough international search with a large and strong applicant pool and input from many stakeholders. Peroulis joined Purdue in 2003 as an assistant professor and served from 2014-2017 as the director of graduate admissions for ECE as well as the deputy director of the Birck Nanotechnology Center. He currently is the Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the associate dean for external affairs in the College. In addition to the headship, Peroulis will serve as the special adviser to the dean on online learning, working with Gerry McCartney, executive vice president for Purdue Online, on behalf of the College. Dimitri has been an outstanding researcher, teacher, and innovator. He has also demonstrated leadership success in a variety of settings and a deep appreciation of the unique conditions of Purdues ECE, Chiang said. Peroulis came to Purdue directly after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, where he also received his masters degree. His bachelors degree is from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Most recently, Peroulis became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for contributions to MEMS-based tunable filters. He also is the recipient of the Outstanding Young Engineer Award of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society, and in 2013, was inducted into the Book of Great Teachers at Purdue. Peroulis will assume his duties on May 1. While I have been at Purdue for over 15 years, it is my earnest desire to start by listening to my colleagues, students, staff, alumni and everyone inspired by our mission. I also look forward to discussing new first, best, and only growth opportunities for ECE Boilermakers, Peroulis said. Purdue ECE is one school with the pinnacle of excellence in both the physical and the virtual, Chiang said. As head of the largest school in the College and one of the largest in the nation, Peroulis will lead more than 100 faculty members and 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students. I believe this is a moment for all of us to think strategically of the opportunities lying ahead and reaffirm our commitment to empower everyone to move upward. I feel deeply honored to be part of such a moment, and I approach it with humility and genuine desire to help our students realize their dreams. Peroulis succeeds Venkataramanan Ragu Balakrishnan, who left in 2018 to become dean at Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Media contact: Brian Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu Sources: Dimitrios (Dimitri) Peroulis, dperouli@purdue.edu Mung Chiang, chiang@purdue.edu Startup receives support from two environmental accelerator programs WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. A startup is advancing a unique way to transform algae used to purify municipal wastewater into specialty bio-based chemicals such as biofuels or bioplastics that could help reduce the risk of toxic algae blooms that often kill fish and surrounding wildlife. Algae from wastewater treatment facilities is typically disposed of in a landfill, which can be costly and environmentally challenging. There is a better way to repurpose this algae. We use our patented enzyme technology to break open the algae and take out the sugars, fats and proteins, and convert those into specialty chemicals, said Kelvin Okamoto, founder and chief executive officer of Gen3Bio, a startup commercializing the technology. Its a way to keep the carbon cycle going by renewing the use of the algae into useful and safe products. After the extraction of nutrients, various specialty chemicals can be made and sold. For example, the proteins and lipids can be dried into products such as agricultural fish food. With Gen3Bio, a portion of the revenue generated from the specialty chemicals is given back to the facilities. Gen3Bio has been accepted into two accelerator programs focused on advancing new environmentally friendly technologies the BREW in Milwaukee and Carbontech Labs in San Francisco. Its a great opportunity for us to get guidance from mentors, network with people in the wastewater treatment industry and ultimately pitch our technology to interested investors and customers, Okamoto said. The BREW accelerator, sponsored by The Water Council, focuses on fresh water, wastewater treatment and water treatment technologies. Currently, five companies, including Gen3Bio, are involved in the BREW accelerator. The BREW accelerator offers those selected $50,000 in funds, connections to office and research space, and access to mentors. At the end of the program in June, Gen3bio, along with the other participants, will pitch their technologies to a panel of investors. Carbontech Labs is sponsored by Carbon 180, which is working toward a carbon-neutral society in hopes of rolling back carbon levels in the atmosphere. Gen3Bio is in the first cohort of this virtual accelerator program. As part of its participation in the Carbon Tech Labs accelerator, Gen3Bio has been assigned a resident entrepreneur to provide guidance. Gen3Bio is based in the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Indiana, and has received assistance from the Purdue Foundry, a startup accelerator based in the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship that works with any Indiana-based company. The technology is patented and exclusively licensed from the University of Toledo. Okamoto also works out of the Purdue Railyard Coworking Space located in the Kurz Purdue Technology Center. The technology also aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration of the universitys global advancements made in health, space, artificial intelligence and sustainability as part of Purdues 150th anniversary. Those are the four themes of the yearlong celebrations Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues. About Purdue Research Park The Purdue Research Park is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation and is the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The Purdue Research Park manages the Purdue Technology Centers in five sites across the state of Indiana with locations in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany. The more than 260 companies located in the park network employ 5,000 people. In 2016, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities co-named the Purdue Research Park a top recipient for an Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Designation for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about leasing space in the Purdue Research Park, contact 765-588-3470 or click Purdue Research Park. Writer: Zeina Kayyali, zmkayyali@prf.org Purdue Research Foundation contact: Tom Coyne, 765-588-1044, tjcoyne@prf.org Kelvin Okamoto, The European Commission is investigating Valve and five other major PC game publishers for allegedly breaching EU competition rules. The group is concerned that Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media, and ZeniMax have all treated consumers unfairly by geo-blocking games to prevent cross-border sales from other EU countries. While the fact six major companies are under investigation is notable news in itself, if the Commission eventually finds sufficient evidence of infringement, it could fine offending parties up to 10 percent of their annual worldwide turnover. As it stands, the Commission claims each company agreed to use region-specific activation keys to deny EU consumers the benefits of the Digital Single Market, which lets them shop around EU member states to find the most attractive offer. The group's preliminary view is that all six entered into bilateral agreements to prevent consumers from purchasing and using PC video games anywhere but their country of residence, thereby breaching EU antitrust rules. "In a true Digital Single Market, European consumers should have the right to buy and play video games of their choice regardless of where they live in the EU," commented Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who's in charge of competition policy. "Consumers should not be prevented from shopping around between Member States to find the best available deal." Now that the Commission has informed each company about its concerns with a Statement of Objections, all six will have a chance to examine the case, reply in writing, and request an oral hearing to present a defense. There's no legal deadline for the Commission to compete its investigations, so the process could last some time, but it's a situation that's well worth keeping an eye on. Can Washington expedite Americas usage of renewable fuel through legislation that mandates the transition from the status quo? That is what Congress thought when it created the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2005. It even doubled down by expanding and extending it two years later. But has their plan worked? If you ask some of the legislators that pushed the plan, the answer is an emphatic no. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said we made a mistake and that the law hasnt worked out as we intended. Even Al Gore, once one of ethanol-based fuels leading proponents, has soured on the idea, adding that Its hard once such a program is put in place to deal with the lobbies that keep it going. The intention of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when designing the RFS was for consumers to bear the cost of subsidizing the blending of renewable fuel into the nations gasoline, while requiring oil refiners to meet the RFS ever-increasing annual Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) the total amount of biofuel required to be blended into the nations fuel supply by the law. Refiners comply with their obligation by providing to the EPA a sum of government-issued credits they earn for each gallon of biofuel they blend (called Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs) that equals their respective portion of the RVO. Every refiner must either generate the RINs they need by blending their own fuel or by purchasing RINs in a secondary market, where other market participants sell their excess RINs. In a perfect world, the blending obligations imposed on refiners by the RFS would ensure that renewable fuel is blended into the nations fuel supply at a rate sufficient to ensure that both the U.S. is less dependent on foreign oil and is a leader in moving towards a more sustainable energy policy. In a perfect world, this process will not be distortionary for any party involved in the production and sale of gasoline, and the cost of the RIN obligation is passed onto the retail consumers who bear the brunt of subsidizing the production of biofuel (typically corn ethanol). In the real world, which is decidedly less than perfect, the implementation of the RFS compliance regime has been woefully insufficient, and the economic evidence that consumers are bearing the cost of the biofuel subsidy is inconclusive at best. Instead, as the amount of biofuel required to be blended by EPA begins to exceed the amount that can be feasibly blended and sold in gasoline, the price of compliance has skyrocketed. What was intended to be a relatively low cost way to both subsidize the burgeoning biofuel market and monitor compliance with the RFS has become big business in its own right, and the secondary market in which RINs are bought and sold has seen prices climb quickly over the past several years. As RIN prices have risen the ability of the fuel market to pass the cost of compliance onto the consumer has been curtailed, and the evidence suggests that a larger portion of this cost is being shifted back on to the refiners upon whom the burden of complying with the RFS mandate has been placed. The rising cost of RIN compliance has resulted in a significant financial burden for refiners of all sizes, but particularly for small independent refiners who, unlike their larger integrated peers (e.g. Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil), cannot generate RINS via their own blending capacity and thus must buy their RINs in the open market. For some small refiners the RFS obligation has led to significant financial distress, with some refiners reporting that RIN costs now exceed labor costs, and at least one refiner citing the distortionary cost of RFS compliance as a major reason behind its recent bankruptcy. Writing at The New York Times, Clifford Krauss detailed this problem well, stating that, Unless the price of credits falls significantly, refinery executives warn of a wave of consolidation that could concentrate refining in fewer hands, leading to higher prices for drivers at gasoline and diesel pumps. While reform of the biofuel mandate is certainly needed, some absolutists are balking at the EPA alleviating some of the pain by using its statutory authority under the 2005 bill to issue hardship waivers. Perhaps in part because of the recent distress of small refiners, the EPA has begun to grant a series of exemptions from the RVO because the RFS allows refiners with less than 75,000 bbd of throughput to be exempted from their obligation if they can show that compliance causes them undue financial hardship. The amount of these Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) has resulted in a de facto reduction in the total amount of biofuel that is required to be blended under the RVO. Which has caused some in the ethanol industry to complain to regulators that SREs are against the spirit of the RFS, and will cause ethanol production and consumption to decrease. They claim that this might negatively affect Americas goal of energy independence as well as decrease the incentive to continue to integrate renewable fuel into the broader fuel marketplace. However, despite concerns that the physical consumption of ethanol would decrease due to EPAs granting of SREs, the evidence suggests that there has been at most no change in ethanol consumption. In fact, limited evidence shows that there might have been an increase in ethanol consumption since the first slate of exemptions were granted in late 2017. Why then is there still such concern from the ethanol and integrated oil lobbies? It seems likely that the provision of small refinery exemptions has affected these stakeholders in a significant way; it has reduced the outsize cash flows these companies were being provided via the sale of RINs. Instead of facing a reduction in demand for their actual product, they are instead experiencing a reduction in RIN tax revenue from the small refiners who receive exemptions from EPA. These small refiners, are in turn, experiencing lower RIN compliance costs, which is likely to lead to less financial distress in the sector. In short, the captive marketplace works better for RINs traders business interests, so they oppose any effort to suppress the price of these credits. Perhaps the PES bankruptcy had a silver lining for the rest of the industry. It signaled to regulators that the current RFS compliance regime was unsustainable for small independent refiners and small gasoline retailers. While its critical that Washington craft a long-term reform solution to the RFS problems, in the short term the EPA must continue providing relief where it can. Doing anything less would do a disservice to the security of the American energy sector. Dr. Alex Holcomb is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Texas at El Paso. PALO ALTO, Calif. -- There was an overflow crowd last month at Stanford Universitys Pigott Hall as 120 or so students listened to Professor Dan Edelstein lecture on how cities shape culture, states, and people. Journalist Richard Bernstein's 1994 book was among the first on the rise of political correctness. Twenty-five years later, he returns to Stanford University to take stock of the forces unleashed -- and those kept in check. Edelstein's course has a global reach, but in this lecture on the lost city Atlantis, he evoked a panorama of writers from what used to be called at Stanford and elsewhere Western civ. Ranging from Plato to Thomas More, the 16th century author of Utopia, to the Nazi propagandist Alfred Rosenberg, Edelstein showed how the imaginary metropolis shaped thinking about the origins of Europe and its essential nature. (Rosenberg used it in ugly fashion to prove Europe's Nordic superiority.) Two things struck me as I listened raptly to Edelstein's talk: First, it was a creative, novel approach to the study of Western civilization, warts and all. And, two, it was largely devoid of the stock references to race, class, gender, intersectionality or any of the other identity-politics trends that, to the chagrin of both conservative and liberal critics and frequently in the eyes of the media, seem to dominate academic life. That came to me as reassuring news. I was visiting Stanford 25 years after publishing a book, Dictatorship of Virtue, that chronicled what I saw as the rising, intolerant power of political correctness. Stanford struck me then, as now, as providing a microcosm for assessing the ideological state of liberal education. It's a national bellwether, widely considered the preeminent institution of higher education in the American West. It was also the site some 30 years ago of an epochal moment in the Great American Culture Wars. A group of students led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson marched across the Eden-like campus shouting Hey hey, ho ho, Western culture's got to go! The 1988 march was among the early salvos in a movement that transformed higher education. Soon, the study of Western culture as a requirement did go at universities across the country. Out went the idea that an educated person needed to be familiar with the classic works of what were pejoratively called Dead White Males. In were new programs of study emphasizing race, class and gender that purported to give voice to those minorities, women, gays and lesbians who had been left out of the former, now discarded curriculum. Expanding the curriculum made sense to me in 1994, and yet I was skeptical of some of these trends, which made little educational sense. There was, for example, the decision at the University of Texas to replace essays by George Orwell in mandatory freshman composition with readings exclusively about racism and sexism in America. More generally, I found that the call for diversity was really a disguise for an angry, intimidating, demagogic demand for conformity to radical, leftist politics. The movement certainly opened the academy to fresh ideas. But it also reflected both a narrow-minded resentment toward Western liberal democracy once only found on the extreme left and a reflexive tendency to quell open debate with those who questioned their ideas by casting them, in tones of righteous indignation, as racist or sexist. In the decades since, there's been plenty of righteous indignation expressed: the campus thought police demanding (and often getting) protection from anything they deem to be offensive; informal limits on free speech; reckless accusations of racism, sexism, and homophobia; violent demonstrations against conservative speakers. It goes on. Such episodes and events often get wide attention. And I was expecting to find a deeply fraught atmosphere at Stanford. Instead, what I found there, 25 years after my book's publication, was not the brute triumph of a narrow, politically correct orthodoxy but a far more subtle and peaceful outcome to those battles. To be sure, the liberal-left, identity-politics forces for change have scored great gains. They are now established in the departments whose creation they demanded, while things like the Western-civ requirement remain discarded. But I also found that things have calmed down. The day-to-day mood is less explosively acrimonious than it was a quarter-century ago, in part because those who want to concentrate on identity politics now have their places. But they are contained there. They haven't shut the rest of the place down, and the rest of the place perhaps a not silent but discreet and quiet majority goes about its business delivering a pretty good education to students. As Edelstein's and many other classes show, even Western civ remains alive at Stanford, where it is treated with rigorous respect and not generally viewed through the Manichean lens of identity politics as a perpetual veil of tears for women and minorities. True, the words Western civ are rarely spoken, but it's there, hidden in plain sight, able to breathe on its own. In what resembles a kind of stealth operation, it's been cultivated and adapted by faculty, and it can still be used to satisfy undergraduate requirements, and a lot of students do just that. Russell A. Berman: The claim that the universities are overrun by political radicals is incorrect. Academic radicalism is limited to humanities fields, and even there it is a minority viewpoint ..." There's an enormous array of offerings at Stanford, whether it be the foundations of liberal thought or post-modern feminist analysis, said Andrew Friedman, a junior majoring in history and economics and the editor of the right-leaning Stanford Review. I'd asked him, sitting in one of the campus's outdoor terraces, to sum up his feelings about the education he was getting at the school. You can read John Stuart Mill, he said, or make presentations about your demographic background. It's up to you. Significantly, this broadly accepting view was shared by Russell A. Berman, a professor of the humanities and the director of the freshman program that's now in the place where the Western-civ requirement used to be. He put it this way: The claim that the universities are overrun by political radicals is incorrect. Academic radicalism is limited to humanities fields, and even there it is a minority viewpoint, which serious scholars view as eccentric and marginal. What's more, he continued, the real life of universities today takes place elsewhere in medical schools, in STEM fields, in computer science and in a resurgent interest in traditional humanities. Radical faculty capture headlines but are barely a sideshow to the real business of education. This doesn't mean that calm always prevails at Stanford, or that some members of the overwhelmingly liberal faculty don't protest the presence of conservatives in their midst. A recent incident had to do with the Hoover Institution, the archive and research organization, and reputedly a haven for moderately right-of-center politics, whose 250-foot Romanesque tower is Stanford's most visible landmark. Its current fellows include some of the university's best-known faculty, from Berman himself, to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to the political scientist Larry Diamond, to William Perry, secretary of defense during the Clinton administration. Ex-Secretary of State and current Hoover Institution fellow Condoleeza Rice in 2018 with then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Sixteen members of the faculty, unhappy with what they see as the imprimatur that Hoover's association with Stanford gains for it, signed a letter that charged that Hoover's apparent mission is to produce knowledge that reconfirms its predetermined ideological point of view. They called for a robust discussion about the precise role that Hoover should play at Stanford in the future. The Stanford Review, the conservative paper, responded quickly, accusing the 16 faculty of hypocrisy, or, at least, intellectual inconsistency. Leavng aside whether the faculty members' description of Hoover is accurate, there are plenty of institutes at Stanford, most of them promoting what could be called a predetermined liberal, third-wave feminist, multi-culturalist agenda, and the 16 faculty members uttered not a peep against them. The Review specifically mentioned the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford whose website brandishes slogans like Jumpstart the Gender Revolution, and whose mission statement proclaims, We conduct research using a gender lens, through which we discover novel approaches to advancing equality. This debate will go on, and the important thing is that it can go on, reflecting the presence of two contrasting worldviews at Stanford and other elite institutions, two worlds that occasionally engage in public clashes but most of the time live their separate lives. It can be a divided, fractured place, Matthew Wigler, a senior majoring in political science, told me. The university is very loosely coupled and some of the departments are far apart from each other. He meant far apart ideologically, not geographically. Depending on what part of the school you're in, one point of view will seem ubiquitous to you. There can be very little communication between people with different points of view. Exercising Choice Stanford of course is fabulously rich, enormously prestigious, its campus sprawling across a lush California landscape a bike ride from Silicon Valley. To be part of each year's undergraduate class of roughly 1,700 is to gain a kind of automatic entry into the American elite, and, not surprisingly, it's extremely hard to get in. In 2018, Stanford accepted just 4% of the more than 47,000 high school seniors who applied, nearly double the number from 10 years earlier. A detail from the gender news page of the Clayman Institute at Stanford. The composition of its student body, moreover, is very different from decades past. About 36% of undergraduates are listed as white. Half of the 7,000 or so undergraduates are women; 11% are foreigners; nearly 18% are first gens, the first in their families to attend college. The arithmetic of this suggests that only a little more than 21% of the undergraduate student body is made up of the type of student that dominated in the era of mandatory core courses in the Western canon white males whose parents were college educated. Surely this explains at least in part the non-existence of an explicit Western-civ requirement. If in the past there was a yearning for a single grand narrative namely the Western invention of the concepts of freedom, individual rights, and democratic self-government now feminist narratives, African American narratives, and others have been added in. In that sense Stanford and other elite institutions reflect what's happening in the surrounding liberal culture, whether it's the mainstream press or the Democratic Party. This isn't going to change. Two years ago, the Stanford Review, adopting its customary dissenting position, proposed that the university reinstate the Western-civ requirement, arguing, as its editor at the time put it, that students should know the literature and ideas that have created rational thought, economic prosperity, and personal liberty for billions. The student body voted down the proposal by a resounding 6-to-1 ratio, and it is entirely possible for undergraduates at Stanford (as at most elite universities) to go through their entire four years there without coming into close contact with the foundational works of our American democracy. But, as both students and faculty told me, there's a choice. At the moment, the main freshman requirement is the program that Berman directs called Thinking Matters, whose course offerings illustrate the stealth survival, even a modest flourishing, of the old Western canon. Every freshman at Stanford takes a single quarter-length course from a menu of 21 options, all of them, according to the catalog, aimed at acquiring the tools of critical inquiry, and they are certainly diverse. Among them are Race in American Memory, What Makes Classical Music, Understanding China Through Film, What Is Love? and others, including one simply called Evil. Stanford's conservative newspaper, whose founding editor was Peter Thiel, the tech entrepreneur. It's not clear from the titles, but a typical reading list for some of these courses contains plenty of texts from the dead white male canon, Plato's early dialogues, Tolstoy, Montaigne, Locke, and others. There will be one or two courses at the liberal extreme, where the professor will want you to talk about feminist representations in the Middle Ages, or something like that, Yasmin Samrai, a sophomore majoring in history who writes for both the Stanford Review and the main student paper, the Stanford Daily, told me. But you can make sure that most of your classes are rigorous and informative, and you can get an excellent education. There's also a year-long program under the Thinking Matters umbrella called Structured Liberal Education, available for 100 freshmen; the curriculum, as the catalog puts it, is drawn largely, but not exclusively, from the Western tradition. Students read a selection of authors, including the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, Descartes, Flaubert, and Nietzsche. It appears to be the only program at Stanford where the Western canon is explicitly invoked. For Samrai, Thinking Matters was a brilliant introduction to college; it taught me to think more critically, confront challenging ideas, and value my liberal arts education. But, she continued, many students fulfill their freshman requirement in something called PWR, for Program in Writing and Rhetoric, which, she said, has a flagrant political agenda and where you can wax lyrical about micro-aggressions, do scant reading, and still get an A in the class. Intellectual Monocultures? But in addition to their single Thinking Matters class, which is just a fragment of an undergraduate's time at Stanford, students have to take 11 quarter-length classes in what's called Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing, aka WAYS, and here is where the fashionable trends in identity politics, race, gender, sexuality, class, and their intersectionality, as the current term has it, become thick and heavy. There are dozens and dozens of courses in WAYS, and the diversity theme is omnipresent -- Race and Gender in Silicon Valley, Ethnicity, Race, and Identity in Performance Cultures, Introduction to Comparative Queer Literary Studies, Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Contemporary American Film, and Introduction to Intersectionality (readings drawn chiefly from black feminist scholars). There's Gay Autobiography, Gendered Representations in Science, Health and Medicine, Engineering, and Environment, and Introduction to Interdisciplinary Approaches to Gender, Sexuality, Queer, Trans, and Feminist Studies. A detail from a Stanford undergraduate course description. There's even an engineering course called Engineering Limits: Culture, Diversity, and Equity, during which, according to the catalog, [w]e consider how cultural beliefs about race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, abilities, socio-economic status, and other intersectional aspects of identity intersect with beliefs about engineering, influence diversity in the field, and affect equity in engineering education and practice. Why do I suspect that this identity-politics boilerplate reflects a not-very-well-hidden political agenda, a kind of compulsory chapel whose purpose is to inculcate correct thinking? Or, as a former Stanford provost, John Etchemendy, said in a speech, the universities are threatened by a political one-sidedness, a set of intellectual monocultures that have taken over certain disciplines. It's to appease the many people who are demanding ever more requirements for diversity, one student told me, his wish not to be identified itself a reflection of the sensitivity of the topic. But the student also acknowledged that such requirements could be useful in preparing us for a more diverse society, and more important, he said, there's enough on offer in WAYS that those who want to can avoid what appears to them to be leftist indoctrination. There are plenty of ways to get around the requirements, he said. Among those ways are courses that might have been found at Stanford in past decades. There's The History of South Africa, The United States in the Twentieth Century, War and Peace in American Foreign Policy, Colonial and Revolutionary America, Nineteenth Century America, and others. And it would seem from course enrollment figures and the choice of majors that while courses in Engaging Diversity may be required, they're not where students are putting their main effort. According to the Office of the Provost, in the graduating class of 2017 (the last for which these statistics are available) 274 students got computer science degrees, 382 in one or another engineering program, 40 in English, nine in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and two in Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies. It should be noted here that while I was able to interview a dozen or so faculty and students during my stay at Stanford, many others, including almost everybody on the identity-politics side of the academic spectrum, did not reply to my emails requesting an interview. One person who did reply declined my request saying it was too risky to say anything at all. Still, among those who did talk to me, almost none of them characterized Stanford in the way some of its outside critics describe it -- as highly politicized, its curriculum dominated by a politically correct leftist program. Berman, the Thinking Matters director, noted the irony that while fierce ideological conflicts get most of the ink, the real problem now may be the lack of intellectual passion among students. Over lunch at the student union, sitting at an outdoor terrace looking over Stanford's hacienda-like sandstone campus, he told me, There's a growing belief among students and their parents alike that a college education is direct preparation for a job, rather than an opportunity to deepen one's personality or to create engaged, thinking citizens. The challenge is to entice students largely interested in other things back into the humanities. The right question isn't 'Why aren't our students reading the Federalist Papers?' It's 'Why are our students primarily doing problem sets without reading much of anything at all?' " he said. Caricaturing PC Culture One of my themes in Dictatorship of Virtue was the intimidating power of political correctness, the cowing effect on students and faculty who did not accept its assumption that racism and sexism were the dominating characteristics of Western civilization. Is this worry still justified? Earlier this year, Sam Wolfe, a comparative literature student at Stanford, wrote in the Wall Street Journal: When one's peers and professors are overwhelmingly leftist, students reasonably fear that they could be ostracized for sharing their beliefs. Hoover Tower on the Stanford campus. Professor Diamond of the Hoover Institution told me, A lot of the students involved in identity issues tend to be more politically active than others and they're better organized. They are seen by many of their peers to be at the center of the moral universe here, and to oppose them is to feel kind of retrograde. Many faculty members feel that they have to tread very carefully when discussing these issues. But people are probably no more nervous at Stanford than they are at many other elite institutions, academic and non-academic, including much of the mainstream press and the Democratic Party. And in that context, Diamond argues that some of the portrayals of university life, especially in the right-wing media, are exaggerations. It's easy to caricature the PC element, he said, but actually there's more pluralism on campus than is visible to the outside world. He gives the example of Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration whose arrival in the Stanford Political Science Department in 2010 was greeted with student protests. She was made to feel like a pariah at first, Diamond said. But students discovered that she was a person of great intellect and experience. Her course on national strategy is one of the most difficult to get into. You wouldn't have that if students weren't transcending ideological preconceptions. Introducing Sessions a way to clip with friends in real time - and the most powerful game clips editor on PC and mobile 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 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! Porterville, CA (93257) Today Rain likely. High 48F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Couture a la Cart has grown significantly since its rebirth in 2017 and the business has already had some of its greatest success within its f Designated Dawgs is a nonprofit organization completely run by students of the University of Georgia. The organization offers free, non-judgmental and safe rides home from downtown Athens on Thursday and Friday nights during the fall and spring semesters. Linda Davis has relatives buried in Brooklyn Cemetery her grandparents, born into slavery but she doesnt know exactly where they are. The names on the grave markers were lost from years of neglect. When Davis returned to Athens after over 25 years living elsewhere, she recognized how overgrown the cemetery had become. For many living in Athens, the gradual process went unnoticed. Every week, we select the best police reports from Athens and the University of Georgia for our website and newspaper. Today, were selecting the best of this year so far. From alien abductions to a nude dude, here are our favorite blotters from January to now. Naresh Goyal, after being ousted with his wife from the board last week, and with his shareholding halved to 25 per cent, can still make a comeback by partnering a new investor and win back majority control. Photograph: Kind courtesy Bangalore Aviation/Flickr Will India's aviation business change fundamentally if Jet Airways is sold to a strategic buyer? The answer depends on who wins the auction, planned by lenders to sell their 51 per cent stake. It is 'yes' if the new strategic investor does not only buy out the lenders' stake but also that of promoter Naresh Goyal and, maybe, even Etihad's. It's 'no' if Goyal, after being ousted with his wife from the board last week, and with his shareholding halved to 25 per cent, can make a comeback by partnering a new investor and win back majority control. Looking at the airline business from the angle of passenger growth, it is on a roll among the fastest-growing markets in the world. But from the point of view of six major airlines with red ink splashed over their ledgers, the story is different. The solution is consolidation, similar to what happened in telecom, where the number of players has halved from eight to four in two years after Reliance Jio's price war made the business unsustainable for some. Jet Airways suffered the same problem: Of a fierce price war that eroded the margins. The finance ministry has even tried to intervene by asking the airlines to stop selling fares below cost, but the fear of losing market share prompted them to ignore the warning. There has been apprehension that Goyal, with 25 per cent, can baulk at any decision of the board through his two other nominees when a new investor comes in. However, SBI Chairman Rajneesh Kumar said in a TV interview the choice to buy Etihad's or Goyal's stake would be solely with the new investor and not with the promoters or its former airline partner. He also made it clear the potential new player would face no bottleneck. However, Goyal, like anyone else, can bid for the stake alone or with a partner. The lenders have preferred to go for the sale of the company rather than an easier option of asset sale, but that would mean job loss. But analysts say companies like Tata and IndiGo, both of which had considered buying Air India's for its international routes and domestic slots, could be interested. So could Indian big houses like that of Mukesh Ambani, who, through the acquisition, could get a firmer foothold in the lucrative aviation turbine fuel business. Or Adani, which have bid aggressively to win bids to run six airports. Consolidation is necessary for airlines. Domestic passenger growth, according to CAPA, is expected to grow 14-16 per cent in FY20. That is over and above the 16-18 per cent growth in FY19, say industry despite the grounding of planes by IndiGo, SpiceJet and Jet Airways. Image: Jet Airways Founder Naresh Goyal who stepped down as the airline's chairman on Monday, March 25, 2019. This photograph was taken in May 2007 after Goyal signed a memorandum for Jet Airways's then European hub at Brussels's Zaventem airport. Photograph: Getty Images Yet the six airlines are expected to lose over $1.7 billion in FY19, partly because of high fuel cost (which cooled only in the second half of the year) and overcapacity, forcing yields to come down (Jet grounding its flights in March could push fares up and lessen losses). But despite stringent cost control, the big three non-frills carriers -- IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir -- are projected to move from a profit of $330 million FY18 to a loss of $200 million FY19, a swing of $500 million for a full year, says CAPA. Experts don't see the scenario changing much. In FY20 the planned capacity expansion, led by IndiGo, would be around 20 per cent per annually, much higher than passenger growth. As many as 90 new planes are expected to be added to airlines' fleet in 12 months with IndiGo, leading the group. To fill capacity in these planes, airlines will have only one option -- offer cut-throat fares. That is why CAPA projects airlines to lose $700 million in FY20 -- if oil prices don't shoot up again. If the banks had decided on a quicker asset sale, which many Indian carriers prefer, the routes and slots as well as whatever remains of the plane leases could be distributed among the existing players. And that would mean quicker consolidation. But that is clearly not happening. But analysts say that they expect that Jet sale could kick off consolidation -- from six players down to three or four -- with IndiGo and Tata getting bigger. Goyal, with 25 per cent, can try and rope in new global partner replacing Etihad and bid together to get Jet back. Of course he could tie up with one of the Indian business houses, even if it means being the junior partner, as the government is keen to see an Indian business house running the airline. This could offer opportunities to players like Adanis or the Ambani's to join the race say analysts. But these businesses houses are also likely to bid on their own and take control. And Goyal would find it very difficult to arrange finances after the debacle of the company which he ran. Buying the airline as well as the two other shareholders in Goyal and Etihad and take control could be an option also for the Tatas. The group has already put together a long term aviation strategy in place. It already has a JV with Singapore Airlines in Vistara to run its FSC business for which it has got permission now to fly abroad recently. It has now taken majority stake in its LCC business Air Asia India where it is firmly on the saddle and are finalising plans for its expansion to the international skies sometimes this year. Buying Jet assets would give Vistara a big head start in the international skies for which they have received permission just a few days ago as it will give them ready made slots to fly. The executive also says that it would give Vistara also a larger domestic network, where their share is still very small. "In the end Tatas could find ways to consolidate the airlines FSC and LCC business," he points out. They might not be the only ones say some aviation analysts -- after all, IndiGo had earlier shown interest in buying Air India's international business despite its large employee base and debt. And it is also now focusing on flying mid haul direct flights across Europe, south east Asia among others. Also with bilateral seats between India and west Asian countries more or less exhausted from India too, Vistara could well use Jet's rights to get over the problem. Over 70 per cent of Jets fleet has been grounded, leading to massive cancellations. Tata-group owned airlines AirAsia India and Vistara have announced 11 new flights from Mumbai after the airport operator released unused slots belonging to Jet Airways. The slots have been released to the airlines on a temporary basis. Private airport operators in Mumbai and Delhi and the Airports Authority of India have held several rounds of discussions with other airlines to fill up the capacity shortage caused due to grounding of Jet Airways fleet. While reduction of flights led to a hike in fares, it affected airports too. Fewer flights means lower revenue by way of landing fees and less passenger footfalls. Over 70 per cent of the airlines fleet has been grounded, leading to massive cancellations. Jet has been a dominant carrier in Mumbai and its daily departures are down to 24 from the earlier 140. Delhi airport, too, is finalising the issue of slots belonging to Jet. Other private airlines also have been offered slots by Mumbai airport but are yet to announce new flights. Schedule changes depend upon aircraft utilisation and availability of pilots among other things. A source said airlines were advised to operate flights on routes flown by Jet prior to its crisis with a view to maintain capacity on routes. On Thursday, Vistara announced launch of five flights between Mumbai and Bengaluru and one new flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad and Kolkata. These would operate from April 16 to July 15. Currently, Vistara flies to Delhi and Amirtsar from Mumbai and its market growth has been stunted due to non-availability of slots. Vistara will be reducing frequencies on other routes to operate these additional services from Mumbai. AirAsia India announced three additional flights to Bengaluru and a new flight to Kochi from Mumbai, beginning April 15. The airline did not mention until which date these flights would remain in operations. There is precedence for grant of slots on a temporary basis. During SpiceJet crisis, its unused slots were temporarily given to other airlines and IndiGo was the main beneficiary that time, said aviation expert Ameya Joshi. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Trump is demanding China to reduce the $375 billion trade deficit and protection of Intellectual Property Rights, technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com The US and China are close to striking a "monumental" trade deal in the next four weeks, President Donald Trump has said, a view concurred by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, generating optimism that the bruising trade war between the world's two largest economies may end soon. Trump's positive comments came as top Chinese and US officials are meeting in Washington to reach an agreement after the two trading powers entered into a trade war and imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade. Trump has been accusing China of indulging in unfair trade practices, like the theft of US technology and massive state intervention in markets, contributing to the huge trade deficit amounting to $375 billion. Trump is demanding China to reduce the $375 billion trade deficit and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets. Last week, negotiators from both the countries met in Beijing to resolve the nine month-long trade war. "The deal is coming along really well. We'll probably know over the next four weeks. It may take two weeks after that to get it papered, but I really think that, over the next fairly short period of time, we're going to know," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House during his meeting with the visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. "It's looking very good. A lot of really good things have been negotiated and agreed to. I would really say, and I say it again, a lot of the most difficult points that we didn't think we could ever do or we wouldn't agree to, on both sides have been agreed to," he said. The two sides, he said, have negotiated some of the toughest points, but there are still some ways to go. "I think we have a very good chance of getting there." Responding to a question if he was looking forward to meet Chinese President Xi, Trump said the summit would take place only if the trade deal is finalised. "I look forward to seeing President Xi. It will be here. If we have a deal, then we're going to have a summit. If we don't have a deal, we're not going to have a summit. But there's a very good chance that we'll have the summit," Trump said. When asked what is coming in the way of the deal, he said, "It is enforcement. We have to make sure there's enforcement. I think we'll get that done. We've discussed it at length. I think we're going to get that done." "We're getting very close to making a deal. That doesn't mean a deal is made, because it's not, but we're certainly getting a lot closer. I would think within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more -- whatever it takes -- something very monumental could be announced," the US President said. Chinese Vice Premier Liu said that the two countries have made great progress. "I do think that because we got direct guidance by two great President Xi and President Trump," he said. In Beijing, President Xi said on Friday said that "new substantial progress" has been made on the China-US economic agreement. Xi's remarks were part of a message conveyed to US President Trump at the White House by Vice Premier Liu. The Chinese President said that "new substantial progress" has been made on the text of the China-US economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month. He encouraged the two sides to keep up with the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible. Under the current situation, a healthy and stable development of China-US relations concerns the interests of both Chinese and American people, as well as the interests of people of other countries around the world, and it needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, Xi told Trump, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Xi also said that he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means, and believes that the China-US relations will make new and greater progress under their joint guidance. Separately, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson Gao Feng announced reciprocal suspension of additional tariffs slapped by both the countries on each other's goods since last year, saying the move would "undoubtedly" create a conducive atmosphere for the China-US economic and trade negotiations. China's Cabinet said last Sunday that Beijing would continue to suspend additional tariffs on US vehicles and auto parts after March 31, in a goodwill gesture following a US decision to delay tariff hikes on Chinese imports. China said in December it would suspend additional 25 per cent tariffs on US made vehicles and auto parts for three months, following a truce in the trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden in a statement asked for a strong trade deal with China. "We've had nearly two decades of broken promises from China. Any deal that fails to address the core trade cheating by China - theft of intellectual property, forced tech transfer and state-owned enterprises - will be a loser for American workers. Trump must not settle for a short-term political deal that doesn't include real, enforceable ways to hold China accountable for its promises, he demanded. Closure of tanneries pulls down domestic finished leather exports and local price of raw-skin. The Rs 12,000-crore finished leather industry in Kanpur has seen closure of about 250 tanneries over the past four months. Kanpur tanneries were ordered to close between December 15, 2018 and March 15, 2019, for ensuring a cleaner Ganga during the Kumbh Mela at downstream Prayagraj (Allahabad). However, even after the Kumbhs culmination, barely a tenth has resumed operations, since the UP Pollution Control Board has not issued the necessary clearances, say owners. UP comprises three major leather industry hubs, of Kanpur-Unnao, Agra and Noida. Of the Rs 20,000 crore estimate of its annual worth, half is accounted for by the export market. The state accounts for almost a third of Indias annual leather trade and export. As a result of the Kanpur shutdown, the finished leather segment is witnessing a severe beating in export volume, even as other segments continue to grow. Finished leather commands the third largest share of 14 per cent in the broader leather industry sphere, topped by leather footwear and leather goods at 38 and 25 per cent, respectively. The tanneries had started to shut from November 18 onwards. This industry has almost come to a standstill, Small Tanners Association member Nayyar Jamal told Business Standard. He said hed even met the state chief minister but without respite. The price of rawhide has dwindled over recent months, from Rs 2,000 a piece to about Rs 700, since processing of these had almost stopped since mid-November, he added. Since, the rawhide is now being sent to other places, mainly Kolkata, its price had also crashed in the Kolkata market to Rs 500 or less, Mohammad Ibrar, managing director of Kolkata-based Adiba Leather, said over the telephone. For, in Kolkata, supply has increased beyond the processing capacities. Javed Iqbal, chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) central region, said the drop in the domestic finished leather space was largely due to the tannery shutdown in Kanpur, which was among the major processing hubs (Jalandhar, Kolkata and Chennai are among the others). Mukhtarul Anin, a former CLE chairman and leading Kanpur-based exporter, said buyers had already started looking at other markets such as Brazil, Bangladesh and Thailand. Especially for heavy buffalo processed leather, for which Kanpur is noted. We are in touch with the state government authorities, chief secretary and the pollution department in this regard and hope things get sorted soon, he said. He estimates the Kanpur industrys loss at almost Rs 6,000 crore from the indefinite closure, especially in the Jajmau industrial area. The closure continues to bleed the tanneries heavily and most of them are already financially drained, he said. The Kanpur leather cluster (this includes adjacent Unnao district), is estimated at Rs 12,000 crore a year, half of this being exported to places like the Gulf, Europe and China, providing livelihood to 200,000 people directly. Satyadev Pachauri, UPs minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (also the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys candidate for the coming Lok Sabha contest from Kanpur), says the government will not compromise on the issue of pollution and a cleaner Ganga. The leather industry will have to follow the pollution control norms and regulations, he said. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters 'What the interview with Modi told me was that now he is open to granting interviews.' 'And in this connection let me offer our credentials for being considered in this election season,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera for Rediff.com IMAGE: Then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Damodardas Modi during his interview to Rediff.com at his office in Gandhinagar, April 2, 2009. Speaking trees With election season well and truly upon us, the interview season too is here, headlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interview to ABP News on Friday morning. But on to other things first. Former colleague and legend among journalists Sheela Bhatt on Thursday night interviewed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on L K Advani, who had hours earlier broken his silence and blogged to the party cadres, sending shockwaves through the political establishment. While the founder of the BJP, who has been superannuated from electoral politics, said nothing damaging to the current regime, what stood out was how the latter responded, showing its resolve to leave nothing to chance. Immediately, Modi tweeted his appreciation of the man he had shepherded as campaign in-charge during his 2009 prime ministerial bid, saying, 'Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last'. Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it'. Speaking to Sheela, Jaitley was effusive in his praise for Advani, crediting him for pulling the BJP up from the two Lok Sabha seats it had won in 1984 to emerging as the single largest party in 1998 and 1999. He gave the BJP's core issues acceptability among the middle classes, which was his biggest contribution, Jaitley pointed out. Which, if you shed the ideological glasses and see impartially, is 100 per cent correct. NDTV too was discussing Advani's blog post, and had got his former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni to shed light on why the senior leader went public when he did. Sudheen, a former journalist, took the opportunity to speak on how much the BJP under Modi and Amit Shah had moved away from the Vajpayee-Advani days. I had mentioned earlier that the BJP did not send its saner voices to TV studios, unlike the Congress, but on Thursday night it had. Raghav Awasthi began well, before taking a swipe at Sudheen's political journey from the left to the right and was promptly shushed into silence. On Times Now, Navika was getting the better of Milind Deora, the Mumbai Congress chief and the candidate from tony Mumbai South. The focus was clearly on the internal dissensions in the city Congress unit, given that Deora led the rebellion against Sanjay Nirupam before replacing him city chief. When Milind said there was no bad blood between the two, despite the past, and they remained friends, Navika asked why, in that case, Nirupam abruptly left an event in Colaba being addressed by him. 'Sanjay had told me about a prior commitment in Goregaon, took my permission and left,' Milind clarified, but Navika was not buying it. When Milind spoke about the decline in Mumbai under the BJP-Shiv Sena, and how the citizens would not even know who the mayor was or who represented them in Delhi, unlike when the Congress had its MPs and everyone knew who he was, Priya Dutt was, etc. Ah, but that's because you are all naamdaars, whereas the BJP-Shiv Sena MPs are kaamdaars, Navika scoffed, but Milind refuted it. 'Even Poonam Mahajan is a naamdaar then, why are you only talking of us alone?' Overall, the exchange was evenly matched. March of the shouting brigade A quick detour to DD News for its show in Hindi, Do Took, showed how the negative influence of a free-for-all increasingly passes for a TV debate, with even the anchor here seeming to have modelled himself after the king of them all. Thankfully, there were only three studio guests, with all of them speaking, make it yelling at the same time, and then the anchor taking his turn to yell at them. Thankfully, Tamil news TV seems immune to this syndrome so far. DMK chief M K Stalin was addressing a rally, criticising the Election Commission for its 'one-sided' crackdown on illegal cash transfers in poll season, in the wake of the recovery of a huge stash from one of the party candidates's homes. And Pon Radhakrishnan of the BJP was on another channel, castigating the use of money power, saying it was 'like buying cattle'. By the time the next round of elections comes around, possibly they will both be on the same channel, shouting at each other, like how we do it in English. The prime minister opens up Just the other day I had pointed out, apropos Amit Shah's interview on air, that we will never know how he fared compared to his boss as the latter doesn't grant interviews, and woke up to Friday morning to the surprise announcement that Modi's interview was being telecast at 8 am. An unusual time, as conventional TV wisdom has it that the best broadcasts make it to the prime time show at 9 pm. That ensured that you got the post-dinner audiences at home, as well as make it in time for the next day's newspapers. Telecasting a major newsbreak like the prime minister's interview at 8 am meant you missed out on most of the office-going crowd, who would either be leaving home or getting ready to leave. But there's an upside, too. The 8 am telecast got you the full day's online news cycle and social media discussions plus WhatsApp fwds, all of which would whet the viewers's appetite enough to catch the interview on its re-run during prime time in the evening, plus make it to the next day's newspapers. A clever propagation strategy, indeed. What the 75-minute interview with Modi told me was that now he is open to granting interviews. And in this connection let me offer our credentials for being considered in this election season. Not many know that Modi and Rediff go back a long, long way. Over the last two decades he has given us many interviews, the first being one in 1998, when he was a BJP general secretary. Speaking to the veteran journalist V Gangadhar, Modi had said then, 'I am just a humble party worker. Nothing more than that.' In the winter of 1998, before the Madhya Pradesh assembly election, the then BJP general secretary had spoken to my colleagues Archana Masih and Vaihayasi Pande Daniel, revealing his deep understanding of MP politics. In July 2001, following the India-Pakistan summit, Modi revealed to my colleague Onkar Singh what then prime minister Vajpayee had told then Pakistan dictator Pervez Musharraf during their meeting in Agra. Four years later, in August 2002, in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots, Modi, then chief minister, granted a two-part interview: here and here to Sheela Bhatt, and here's an excerpt: A few of your supporters think you are a potential candidate for the country's top post. I never imagined that one day I would become chief minister. I am not the right man for this. I am a person who belongs to the organisation and the cadre. I am a person who would like to work behind the scenes. On April 2, 2009, 10 years ago, when he was the charioteer behind prime ministerial candidate Advani, Modi had granted Nikhil Lakshman and me a three-part interview here, here and here in the CM's office in Gandhinagar. Here's an excerpt: If an opportunity is given, will you lead the nation? I believe that the chief ministers of even the smallest Indian states are major instruments of powering the nation. And I, as a chief minister, am part of running the nation. Will you deny that you have no ambition whatsoever to become the prime minister? I have a mission, not ambition. I was not born to become something, I was born to do something. I did not have a desire to become somebody when I was a child, I don't have it now, nor will I have it in the future. I have a dream, to do something. I want to do something for the nation. I am part of the mission, not ambition. Ambition doesn't inspire me, mission does. Saying all this is to point out that while we have interviewed Modi many times -- you can see a complete list here -- we are yet to interview Prime Minister Modi, and hope that our roster of interviews burnishes our claim. Tailpiece Since I began with L K Advani, let me end it with a short video from January 2009 of my question to him about what he thought of Modi as a potential prime minister, and Advani's answer. You can see it here. 'Kerala will witness a lot of fireworks in Wayanad and a kind of fight that it has not witnessed so far.' IMAGE: Thushar Vellapally, left, the National Democratic Alliance candidate in Wayanad, with his father, Vellapally Natesan, general secretary, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, centre. Vellapally Natesan is the general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, that claims to represents the backward Ezhava community in south Kerala. Ezhavas and their toddy tapper brethren in Malabar -- Thiyyas -- constitute approximately 20% of Kerala's Hindu population. Natesan, also the founder of the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, a political party, was the first politician in Kerala to make friends with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BDJS fought the 2016 Kerala assembly election as part of the National Democratic Alliance. The BJP opened its account for the first time in the Kerala assembly and its vote share increased to 15%. Differences soon cropped up between Natesan and the BJP, but he cooled down after his son Thushar Vellapally was appointed as the NDA convenor in Kerala. During the Sabarimala agitation, while Thushar aligned with the BJP, his father sided with the Left a few times. BJP national President Amit Anilchandra Shah nominated Thushar Vellapally as the NDA candidate to contest the Lok Sabha election in Wayanad against Congress national President Rahul Gandhi. One expected Thushar's father to be happy with Shah's decision, but Natesan says he has nothing to do with the BDJS, which he founded, and insists he is associated only with the SNDP now. "50% of the voters in Wayanad are Hindus and the minority communities constitute around 40% to 42%. If the minority votes get consolidated and the Hindu votes get divided, it will be difficult for the NDA," Natesan tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com. When the first list of NDA candidates came out, Thushar was the candidate from Thrissur. But when Rahul Gandhi decided to contest from Wayanad, he has been nominated to contest against him. Was it to give a tough fight to Rahul Gandhi that your son's constituency was changed? I am not the right person to answer the question. You have to ask Amit Shah as he was the person who declared Thushar as the candidate for Wayanad. Are you not satisfied with the change in the constituency? It is not a question of my satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Since the BDJS is a part of the NDA in Kerala, it is a decision taken by them, and I have nothing to do with it. Thushar Vellapally thanked Amit Shah for making him the NDA candidate in Wayanad. It is but natural for him to thank Amit Shah as a big leader like him praised Thushar a lot in the tweet. When someone praises you, you thank the person back. Is that not normal practice? When we spoke in 2017, you complained that the BJP did not act on the promises it had made. Has your opinion changed now? I still maintain that they did not give us adequate importance at that time. You are talking as if you are not happy with the BJP even now... I am not part of the NDA right now. I am not a member of the BDJS also. I am not involved with the activities of the BDJS. I take care of the social activities of the SNDP only. Members of the SNDP have affiliation with all parties, not just the BDJS which is a political party. But you started the party... Yes, I started the party and we had organised a yatra throughout Kerala at that time. The objective of the yatra was to give social justice to all those who were denied it all these years, and unite people from all social classes -- from Nayadi to Namboodiri. Why did you decide to move away from the BDJS? Of course, I started the party, but let the new blood take over what I had started. You are confident that your son will take the party in the right direction? He is an adult with his own political views and he will do what he thinks is right. I am not one to comment or decide on whether or where he has to contest the elections. It is purely his decision. You said your intention was to unite all Hindus -- from Nayadi to Namboodiri. Do you think the Sabarimala issue united the Hindus of Kerala? Nobody has been able to unite all the Hindus even today. When Sabarimala became an issue, some political leaders started prayers (naama japam) and tried to take this up as a major political plank alienating those who have been working towards achieving such a unity for years. Yes, people like us were sidelined by them. In fact, they did not even have any discussions with us. Are you talking about BJP leaders in Kerala? Not all BJP leaders, but some BJP leaders. That was when I decided to speak. I said, 'We are not against prayers (naama japam) and we are also not against the Sabarimala issue'. But I warned them not to make it political. On the Sabarimala issue, you took a stand that was different from what was taken by your son, Thushar Vellapally. While you supported the Left, he was with the BJP. Does that mean both of you looked at the issue from different perspectives? While he looked at it from a political angle, I could only look at it from a social angle. That was the difference. State BJP President Sreedharan Pillai openly said it was a political issue, but you should understand that the SNDP cannot play politics and we cannot look any issue from a political angle. Did the Sabarimala issue help any political party? I would admit that the BJP was able to get some advantage because of Sabarimala. The Congress has not been able to do so. It is a fact. Will it be a pollical issue in this election? In some areas, it will have an impact, but not all over Kerala. In places like Pathanamthitta, it will be a major issue, but in Alapuzha, it will not have an impact. In certain areas, it has even united the Hindus. Let me say again that it is not an all Kerala phenomenon. But this will help the BJP and not the Congress. I am sure the BJP and the NDA will get more votes this time. There is no doubt about that. Whose votes will be going to the NDA? Though they will capture votes from both the Left and the Congress, they would eat from the UDF (the Congress-lef United Democratic Front) more. For example, if they take 5% votes from the Left, they will take at least 15% from the UDF. Does that mean the Left will not lose many seats because of the way they handled the Sabarimala issue? When you have three cornered contests, the beneficiary will be the Left. We saw that in the 2016 assembly elections also. In a three-cornered contest, when the NDA captures more votes, the front that gets benefitted will be the LDF (the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Democratic Front). Do you think the NDA will win any Lok Sabha seats this time? It is very difficult to predict as you will see very strong contests in many seats. It can go any way in those seats. The 2019 election is not like the 2014 elections. This time, the (Narendra Damodardas) Modi effect will play a very big role. It is not the BJP effect; only the Narendra Modi effect. I would say this: The BJP is zero while Narendra Modi is a hero. The Modi-Shah combination is deadly. If the NDA looks to be strong everywhere, it is only because of the impact of the Modi-Shah combination. There is no such combination like them on the other side, they do not even have a man who can be projected as a prime minister. More than that, the BJP workers are working quite systematically everywhere. That will result in more voting percentage. With Rahul Gandhi deciding to contest from Wayanad, how do you see this constituency right now? While M I Shanawas of the Congress got more than three lakh votes, the BJP candidate could get only 80,000 votes. 50% of the voters in the constituency are Hindus and the minority communities constitute around 40% to 42%. If the minority votes get consolidated and the Hindu votes get divided, it will be difficult for the NDA. Why did they bring Rahul Gandhi all the way from the north to the southern end? Not because they love him; everybody knows that he got scared there. The question will be: Why all the way down here? Do you think the voters of Wayanad will ask this question? You should understand that there is a lot of difference between the politicians of the north and the south. There, the voters will vote for a person who visit them like Maveli. Even if they do not have roads or electricity or any such amenities, they still do not question the politician. But here, the voters expect the leaders to be accessible all the time. They don't like anyone who comes once in five years to ask for votes. They want someone who is there in their constituency to listen to their problems. I do not want to talk about how Rahul Gandhi is going to fulfil the wishes of the voters of Wayanad. When there is an understanding between the Left and the Congress everywhere, and here they are fighting against each other, you can expect the result to be advantageous to the third front. One thing I can confidently say: Kerala will witness a lot of fireworks there (Wayanad) and a kind of fight that it has not witnessed so far. The Election Commission on Friday expressed 'displeasure' over NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar's remarks against the Congress' proposed minimum income scheme 'NYAY' and said the comments violated the model code of conduct norms. In a communication sent to Kumar, the EC asked him to be cautious in future while making statements. The EC asserted that the public servants should not only be impartial in their conduct but also in their public utterances, 'which was found wanting in the instant case'. On March 27, the poll panel had sought Kumar's response on his remarks in which he had attacked the Congress over its minimum income guarantee promise. The EC had felt that since Kumar is a bureaucrat, his remarks were prima facie violative of the model code. Kumar is learnt to have told the Election Commission that he spoke against Congress's Nyuntam Aay Yojna (Nyay) scheme as an economist and not as part of the policy body. The commission, in its letter, said that it considered his reply and has not found it to be satisfactory. At a press conference here on March 25, Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced that 20 per cent families belonging to the poorest category will be given Rs 72,000 each annually as minimum income if his party comes to power. ***** EC replaces AP Chief Secretary, CM dares Centre to arrest him The Election Commission on Friday removed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha from the post and appointed senior-most Indian Administrative Service officer L V Subrahmanyam of the 1983 batch in his place. The EC stated this in a communication to the Andhra Pradesh government. Earlier, the EC had removed two top bureaucrats from their posts during election time. The EC also directed that Punetha, scheduled to retire from service May-end, be posted to a 'non-election' position.' Punetha had filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh high court on March 27 challenging the EC order, transferring the Director General of Intelligence A B Venkateswara Rao. He contended that the EC did not have any 'untrammelled powers' to interfere with the course of administration that is unconnected to polling. "The EC cannot engage in unchecked, arbitrary and uncanalised exercise of power. The EC order suffers from the vice of lack of jurisdiction, suffers from being a colourable exercise of power and is based on alien purposes or oblique motives which have nothing to do with the conduct of polling duties," state Political Secretary (General Administration Department) N Srikant had said in the petition, filed on behalf of the chief secretary. Punetha had complied with the EC order on Tuesday midnight and transferred the Intelligence DG, along with two district SPs, but cancelled the Intelligence chiefs transfer order Wednesday morning, after the Chief Minister allegedly raised a hue and cry. The High Court had rejected the chief secretary's petition last Friday, forcing him to issue an order shifting the DG intelligence. Reacting to the removal of the chief secretary, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrabau Naidu dared the Centre to arrest him and demanded that the Election Comission give reasons for the removal of the chief secretary. "First they (ECI) transferred a district Collector. Then the Intelligence DG and two district SPs and now the CS. Why? They did not give any reasons," he said, addressing a road show in Visakhapatnam. Naidu went to add that he too might be arrested. "They may also arrest me tomorrow or day after. I am prepared to go to jail.I will fight from there itself," he said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party MP G V L Narasimha Rao said the Chief Secretary became a 'scapegoat' of Chandrababu Naidu. ***** EC replaces Kolkata police commissioner, 3 other Bengal top cops The Election Commission of India on Friday night transferred Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Dr Rajesh Kumar, ADG, Pollution Control Board, was made the new Kolkata top cop, while the poll body named Natarajan Ramesh Babu, Additional Director General and Inspector General of Police, Operations, as the Bidhannagar police commissioner, an EC letter addressed to the West Bengal chief secretary said. It also named Avannu Ravindranath, DC (Airport Division) of Bidhannagar, as the new superintendent of police of Birbhum and appointed Srihari Pandey, DC KAP, 3rd Battalion as the superintendent of police of Diamond Harbour. The direction of the commission was to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect to the joining of the transferred officers was needed to be sent within the next 24 hours. The EC, in its letter to the chief secretary, also directed that the present incumbent officers being shifted should not be involved by the state government in any election-related duty. Sources said there is a strong view in the EC that it should not restrain the release of the biopic and should leave it to the CBFC to take a call on the issue. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launches the official poster of PM Narendra Modi, biopic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in presence of actor Vivek Oberoi in Mumbai. Photograph: Courtesy @Dev_Fadnavis/Twitter The Election Commission on Friday decided to consult its legal experts before taking a final decision on whether to restrain the release of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi till the Lok Sabha polls are over. "The matter is now in the Supreme Court where it is listed for April 8. Since the EC has been made a party, the commission will discuss the situation with its legal experts on way forward," a functionary explained. Sources said there is a strong view in the EC that it should not restrain the release of the biopic on the prime minister and should leave it to the Central Board of Film Certification to take a call on the issue. Opposition parties, including the Congress, had alleged that the film will give undue advantage to the Bharatiya Janata Party in electioneering and its release should be delayed till the polls are over. The seven-phased Lok Sabha polls begin on April 11 and end on May 19. The model code of conduct, which among other things, calls for an even-playing field for all parties and candidates, came into force on March 10 when the elections were announced. PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to be released on April 11, film's producer Sandip Ssingh announced on Twitter on Friday. A functionary cited at least two Supreme Court rulings about movies. In one of the rulings, the Supreme Court had directed the West Bengal government to ensure satirical film 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot' is screened without obstruction. The movie was critical of the state chief minister. "We also have to see the latest Delhi High court ruling which said the biopic screening should be decided by the EC," he said, adding that the model code is silent on flims and it was a grey area. He said the EC has to keep the court verdicts in mind. The commission had earlier sent a notice to the makers of the film following a meeting with a Congress delegation, which sought a ban on its release ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. On Monday, the Bombay High Court disposed of a plea filed by a petitioner against the release of the biopic. The court had said that the EC will deal with the issue. DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy Reddy is the first Indian to be appointed Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Ajai Shukla reports. Scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation are basking in the limelight after being publicly lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi for successfully conducting an anti-satellite or ASAT test, a capability that only the United States, Russia and China had demonstrated so far. A key role in this achievement has been that of DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy. An acclaimed navigation specialist, Reddy personally led the development of systems that guide a missile, itself travelling at hypersonic velocity, to a satellite 300 km away that is travelling through space at almost 30,000 km per hour. Even so, the achievement remains a collective one, shared by hundreds of scientists and technologists who participated over decades in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The IGMDP was kicked off in 1983 by the talismanic DRDO chief (and later President of India) A P J Abdul Kalam, and spearheaded by talented and hardworking young scientists that he personally selected. Amongst those were propulsion specialist Vijay Kumar Saraswat, who headed DRDO from 2009 to 2013; and navigation systems specialist Avinash Chander who followed Saraswat as DRDO chief from 2013 to 2015. Like Reddy, these pioneers masterminded the Prithvi and Agni programmes and the many strategic missile systems that flowed from the IGMDP, including the ballistic missile defence programme and now the ASAT system. Reddy is, in a sense, a child of the Modi government's shake-up of the DRDO. In August 2014, three months after coming to power, Modi publicly criticised DRDO's endemic delays, which he ascribed to a 'chalta hai' (lackadaisical) attitude. Four months later, he sacked then DRDO chief Chander, terminating a service extension that had recently been granted. Of the three posts that Chander held -- DRDO chairman, secretary defence R&D and scientific advisor to the raksha mantri (SA to RM) -- the first two went to radar specialist S Christopher, while Reddy was given the prestigious job of SA to RM. In being elevated to that post, Reddy, then less than 55 years old, superseded an unprecedented number of seniors. When Christopher retired last August, Reddy was given both his posts, making him the top defence R&D czar. Even after taking over as SA to RM in June 2015, Reddy retained the crucial DRDO appointment of director general (missiles and strategic systems), overseeing the development of navigations systems by the research centre Imarat, the secretive laboratory he had earlier headed. With propulsion systems development having more or less stabilised, most key advances in strategic and tactical missiles, guided bombs and drones are now taking place in the precision of navigation systems. Many of the DRDO's key projects, such as guided glide bombs, guided rockets in the next Pinaka rocket launcher system, and the next-generation of strategic missiles such as the unacknowledged Agni-6 and the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile, fall squarely in Reddy's sphere of expertise. The DRDO chief, savvy in New Delhi politics, clearly understands the imperative to share credit with the government. Even though Saraswat had repeatedly stated, from as early as 2010, that the technology for an ASAT test was ready and developed, Reddy has prudently allowed credit to the Modi government. "While we have been working on the technology for a while, as you know, serious work on it started about two years ago in 2016-2017. We went into mission mode only six months ago, from when we worked day and night. This is a new missile that has been developed although we have used some existing technology as background," Reddy told an interviewer. Asked who he would credit for the test, Reddy replied: 'The national security advisor (Ajit Kumar Doval) whom we report to on strategic matters gave direction to go ahead with the test and he had the concurrence from the prime minister." In the often staid Indian scientific community, Reddy is a youthful star. In 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Institution of Engineers (India) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers award. The same year, he was awarded a medal by the prestigious Royal Aeronautical Society, London, which has recognised aerospace excellence every year since 1909, when Wilbur and Orville Wright came to London to receive the first gold medal. Reddy is the first Indian to be appointed Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation in London, and of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is a foreign member of the Academy of Navigation and Motion Control, Russia, a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, an Honorary Fellow of the Computer Society of India, and of the Sensors Research Society. LITCHFIELD Litchfield Bancorp was selected as one of 18 community banks and credit unions throughout New England as a Community Hero by American Business Media, publisher of Banking New England and Centerpoint magazines. In the category of economic development, Litchfield Bancorp was selected and was awarded gold standing for its Community Cash Mobs, held monthly to help increase different business brand awareness and create potential repeat business by supplying employees with a stipend to spend at selected local businesses. Litchfield Bancorp employees mob the business of the month with sales and promote the activity on social media to bank customers and followers alike. An awards gala was held March 28 at The Armory at MGM Springfield, and featured keynote speaker Monica Lewinsky. An award was presented by John Leonard, CPA, MBA & Principal of Wolf & Company, P.C. to several Litchfield Bancorp employees who attended the event, including Donald Mayland, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Thomas Villanova, President and CEO and Paul McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and COO. We are so thankful and proud to have received this tremendous award. One of our fundamental missions here at Litchfield Bancorp is to give back to the businesses and communities we serve. Hopefully this award represents that, while also pointing out all of the LBC heroes we are so grateful to work with each and every day, said Paul McLaughlin after receiving this award. Thomaston Savings Bank receives community award THOMASTON Thomaston Savings Bank was recently recognized as an award winning philanthropic community bank in New England Thomaston Savings Bank received the Gold Award in the asset size category and was named Best in Show for community banks during the American Business Medias Community Bank Heroes Awards Gala. American Business Media, publisher of Banking New England and Centerpoint magazines, has selected 18 community banks and credit unions from across New England to honor as Credit Union Heroes and Community Bank Heroes for their creation of unique community partnerships and going beyond the call to aid their communities in a special time of need. Vincent M. Valvo, American Business Media publisher and CEO, said, We sought out the banks and credit unions that are doing things that are interesting, impactful and innovative. Credit unions and community banks were chosen in categories based on their asset sizes: less than $500 million, $500 million to $1.5 billion, and more than $1.5 billion. Thomaston Savings Bank was honored to not only win the gold in overall philanthropy of community banks in the $500M - $1.5B asset size but to be selected as the overall Best in Show for community banks. I am so proud of our employees, Directors and Corporators, who have worked so hard to ensure we make a positive philanthropic impact in all of our communities, said Steven L. Lewis, Thomaston Savings Bank, President & CEO Pet Assistance named a top-rated nonprofit Pet Assistance, Inc., a Connecticut based non-profit, has been named a 2019 Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits.org. This is the sixth consecutive year that PAi has been nationally recognized for its work of helping needy people and their pets. The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on the rating and number of reviews that Pet Assistance, Inc. received from aid recipients. Ruth Pearl, a New Milford resident, founder and president of Pet Assistance, Inc. said, As emergency veterinary prices continue to soar, more and more people call us saying: I never thought I would have to ask for help' And every year PAi helps hundreds of suffering pets that may have died or been euthanized solely because their owners did not have sufficient funds for emergency vet care. With our subsidies, most are still happily living in their own homes where they belong. Pet Assistance, Inc. gives more than financial aid to those in need. They also provide advice and emotional support to pet owners..a combination of social work and education. Many pet owners have saved hundreds and even thousands of dollars by taking advantage of the organization's free 'estimate analysis' and referral network. Read the reviews on http://www.greatnonprofits.org/org/pet-assistance-inc or go to www.petassistanceinc.org Software development company finds home in Barkhamsted BARKHAMSTED Barkhamsted is now the home of Gozynta, LLC, a software development startup, with headquarters out of a 1790s colonial home in the center of town. CEO Brian Johnson, of Southwick, MA, founded Gozynta in September of 2018. The company specializes in copying data between larger software products and recently launched Tixt, software that helps IT companies fit texting into their workflow. The company is developing a new project that will help all businesses to share data between their siloed software systems together, eliminating the need for expensive custom software development. Johnson came up with the name for Gozynta from a memory he had of his grandfather when he was a boy. His grandfather would ask him to pass the gozynta. When Johnson asked what he meant, his grandfather would say, The gozynta, the thing that goes-inta the other thing. The name fit this company which makes data go from one program into another. The year 2018 was a busy time for Johnson and his family. Johnson and his fiancee Heather Valenti, of New Hartford, moved to Pleasant Valley in January with their four children. They got engaged in February, started the business in September, and got married at their Pleasant Valley home in October. Heather Johnson received her MBA in December of that year and left her senior leadership position at Hartford Seminary and joined the company as COO in January. Since moving to town, the Johnsons have been involved with the Barkhamsted Business Connection and the Lions Club. Gozynta has remote workers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and France. This year, Gozynta has plans for large-scale growth of existing products, MobiusConnect and Tixt, and the launch of their new product in 2020. They also are continuing to expand the reach of their podcast for IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) the iMSPirational Podcast and their blog. Learn more at https://www.gozynta.com/ xxx The layoffs at Community may come in stages, the hospital said, depending upon the need for staff. Cambodia drew fresh criticism this week from both a major human rights organization and the leaders of several trade organizations over Prime Minister Hun Sens refusal to release opposition leader Kem Sohka from house arrest, and other rights abuses. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement on Thursday calling for Kem Sohkas immediate release, saying the criminal case against the president of the now outlawed Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) was politically motivated and violates statutes that limit detention of felony suspects to 18 months. For a year and a half, Cambodian authorities have imprisoned Kem Sokha, first in a remote jail and now in his own home; denied him visits from colleagues, diplomats, and journalists; and conducted a baseless investigation with no end in sight, said Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director. The government should immediately end Sokhas arbitrary detention and release him. The statement detailed the timeline from Kem Sokhas arrest in Sept. 2017, the dissolution of the CNRP that November, the arduously long detention in which Kem Sokhas health deteriorated. The NGO pointed out that even though the CNRP president was released from pretrial detention a year after his arrest, the highly restrictive conditions of judicial supervision that Kem Sokha is subject to effectively mean he is under house arrest, which is illegal by Cambodian law. Prime Minister Hun Sen has used every unlawful trick in the book to solidify his one-party authoritarian rule and remove the one viable opposition party, Adams said. Cambodias donors and trade partners should insist on Kem Sokhas unconditional release as a first step to stop Cambodias precipitous human rights slide. Cambodias Ministry of Justice secretary of state Chin Malin told RFAs Khmer Service in an interview that HRWs statement was inaccurate and disregards Cambodian laws. Kem Sokha is not being detained, so to say his detention beyond 18 months is illegal is incorrect, said Chin Malin. The statement by Human Rights Watch is political, he said. Its an attack against the government. In response to Kem Sokhas arrest as well as a wider crackdown on media and civil society, the EU announced in February that it was launching a six-month monitoring period to determine whether Cambodian exports should continue to enjoy tax-free entry into the European market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme. Hun Sen then unveiled his strategy to offset the loss of the preferential trade agreement, saying he is done taking orders from other countries. The measures proposed by the Prime Minister included reducing unofficial payments in his government, decreasing transportation fees, and cutting the number of national holidays from 30 to 23 days. Following the announcement of this plan, an analyst told RFA that Cambodias government doesnt care about losing the EBA because its loss would only affect average Cambodians, not officials. Buyers arent buying it Concerned with how an EU withdrawal from the agreementand the possible U.S. withdrawal from a similar agreementwould affect business, the leaders of several international garment, footwear and travel goods buyers issued a joint letter to Hun Sen calling for concrete steps to be taken so that the countrys preferential trade statuses could be preserved. It describes the EUs review, and the legislation-pending U.S. Congress review as worrying developments for companies that value sourcing from Cambodia. The statement lauded the success of Cambodias garment industry, noting how sales to the U.S. and E.U. represented more than one-third of the countrys GDP, and how 80 percent of the countrys exports were from the garment industry. They said they shared an interest in further growth in the countrys manufacturing sector, but not at the expense of ethics. Because of this shared interest, we remain deeply concerned with the lack of progress that has been made in addressing these important issues. Criminal charges and convictions remain in place against many labor leaders, the Trade Union law of 2016 continues to restrict the establishment of unions and union activity and the diminished role and reduced independence of the Arbitration Council continues to undercut what was a very effective dispute resolution mechanism, the statement said. The buyers urged the prime minister to address their concerns with a detailed plan of action, while offering their assistance in resolving the issues. RFA attempted to reach government spokesman Phay Siphan for comment on the buyers letter but he was not available. The Cambodian Confederation of Unions president Rong Chhun said that so far, at least six union leaders were convicted of crimes related to their activism. There is a [lack of] freedom for unions. [The situation] is not improving, he said, citing concerns about union laws which restrict union activities including the establishment of unions. The president hoped Hun Sen would take all necessary steps to maintain the EBA and avoid an economic crisis. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Cambodias government on Friday approved a hydropower dam and solar energy plant projects in a bid to ease the strain on the countrys electricity grid, which has been unable to meet supply demand, leading to nationwide outages over the past several weeks. In a statement, the Council of Ministers said SPHP (Cambodia) Co. Ltd. had been approved to invest in an 80-megawatt hydropower dam in Pursat province, while Cambodian firm SchneiTec Co. Ltd. was given permission to build three 60-megawatt solar energy plans in Pursat, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces. The U.S. $231 million hydropower dam will be built as part of a 39-year concession, while the solar energy plants will each cost U.S. $58 million and be built as part of 20-year concessions, the statement said. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan told a press briefing that the power projects would benefit Cambodia technically, economically and socially. Cambodia will have local sources of energy and reusable fuel consumptionclean and at affordable prices, he said. The projects will also employ thousands of people during the construction phase and as a result of ecotourism, he added, without elaborating. Phay Siphan said that the government expects the plants to generate U.S. $292 million annually. While the projects will help to ease Cambodias power shortages in the future, they will do little to alleviate widespread blackouts over the past several weeks that the government has attributed to high temperatures affecting the ability of dams to generate power and high levels of public consumption. Officials said recently that the grid is around 400 megawatts short of what is needed to supply the country during the dry season. The power cuts are expected to last through May and have caused some to question whether they are being orchestrated by the government to drum up public support for proceeding with the controversial Stung Cheay Areng hydropower dam in Koh Kong province, despite environmental concerns that shelved the project in 2015. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday told officials to cut off electricity to the homes of those who claim the government is behind the outages, adding, Let them light torches. Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, founder of local environmental watchdog Mother Nature, told RFAs Khmer Service he is concerned that construction of the dam announced Friday will destroy the forest in Pursat like they have in Koh Kong and Stung Treng provinces, because the government will use the project as an excuse to log the area. He called on officials to provide details of the proposed dam, noting that past projects have lacked transparency. Meanwhile, Hun Sen announced Friday that the government has canceled plans to lease a Turkish floating power plant that would have produced an additional 200 megawatts of electricity for Cambodia, saying the vessel would not arrive in time to alleviate the nations power shortages. The Khmer Times quoted Ty Norin, secretary of state at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, as saying that Thailand and Laos will sell us more power instead. Ty Norin said Cambodia will increase imports of electricity from Thailand to 200 megawatts from 120 megawatts, while Laos will deliver 50 megawatts instead of 40 megawatts. So, in total, we get 90 megawatts more, he said. Cambodia currently imports 170 megawatts from Vietnam. Cambodias Mines and Energy Ministry has said that Cambodia produced 2,650 megawatts of energy in 201850 percent of which came from hydroelectric dams. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. The U.K. should "recalibrate" its China policy in the light of the power held by President Xi Jinping, who began an indefinite term in office in , a parliamentary report has said. In a report titled "China and the Rules-Based International System," the House of Commons foreign affairs committee said that the U.K. should "fully take into account the consolidation of power in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party under President Xi," and remember that Beijing's foreign policy serves the aim of the ruling party. "In the realm of human rights, the evidence suggests that China does not intend to reform the rules-based international system but rather intends to subvert it, by promoting an alternative version of human rights which stresses economic development at the cost of the universality of individual civil and political freedoms," the report warned. "The U.K.s approach risks prioritizing economic considerations over other interests, values and national security," the report warned, citing the mass incarceration of at least a million ethnic minority Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang, and Beijing's attempts to subvert international protections for human rights. "We are extremely concerned by the treatment of the [Uyghur] Muslim population and other minorities in Chinas Xinjiang [Uyghur Autonomous Region]," the report said, calling on the government to support efforts to investigate the situation via existing mechanisms, including the United Nations. The U.K. government believes that "over a million Uyghurs and other minorities have suffered oppression in Xinjiang, through detention in political re-education camps, extensive cultural restrictions, and monitoring through extensive use of sophisticated technologies supported by a heavy police presence," the report said. It added: "The experts we spoke to found the allegations of the scale and severity of Chinas repression of the Uyghur population to be credible." The report came amid growing criticism of the European Union's efforts to engage China in an annual dialogue on human rights, which took place on and , just days after a state visit to several European countries by President Xi Jinping. "The dialogue remains a weak diplomatic tool," a statement from five human rights groups said this week. "Chinese authorities consistently fail to demonstrate concrete progress on human rights issues raised by the EU." Empty rights dialogue The letter, signed by Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, the International Campaign for Tibet, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the International Service for Human Rights, said that Chinese officials had canceled a scheduled session to meet with independent civil society organizations for the second year running. "The dialogue has become a dumping ground for human rights concerns and criticism, letting EU and Chinese leaders off the hook from confronting these issues directly at a high level," the groups said, calling on EU leaders to press their Chinese counterparts on the deteriorating human rights situation in the country during the EU-China Summit in Brussels on . U.S.-based legal scholar Teng Biao agreed. "The EU-China human rights dialogue has been going for so many years now, and yet there has been no progress made whatsoever by the Chinese Communist Party with regard to the rule of law," Teng said. "If anything, things have gotten worse." "China loves to manipulate these dialogues, saying one thing in public and another in private," he said. "But the dialogue has become cosmetic now, in the absence of follow-up measures, and there have been no limits on the worsening human rights situation in China." Fellow U.S.-based legal scholar Chen Guangcheng said the entire international community needs to recalibrate its strategy towards Beijing. "It's pretty pointless to have a dialogue with a bunch of bandits and robbers, because they will never do what they say they're going to do," Chen said. "The international community should entirely reinvent its strategy, because there needs to be some kind of viable international system of redress, if China continues to violate human rights and international law in that way," he said. Meanwhile, the U.K. report's authors said they were also "deeply concerned by the evidence that Hong Kong's autonomy is at risk, especially in the area of the rule of law." It quoted former colonial-era Hong Kong governor Chris Patten as saying: "The [Communist Party's] United Front became more active, the Joint Liaison Office became more active and there was a general tightening of control over all those aspects of Hong Kongs system [T]he rule of law, free speechall the freedoms we associate with pluralism." Hong Kong concerns The United Front Work Department is tasked with developing allies and influence outside party ranks, including overseas, and has been linked to a number of reports on growing Chinese influence in liberal democracies. Across the Atlantic Ocean, Hong Kong's situation is drawing strong concern from U.S. lawmakers and diplomats. "The State Departments 2018 Human Rights Report on China documents reports of human rights violations and abuses enabled by the Mainland legal system, as well as general deterioration of respect for the rule of law," said a spokesperson for the department. "Hong Kong's success is predicated on the "one country, two systems" framework and underpinned by its commitment to rule of law and its independent judiciary," said a statement, issued in response to an RFA query about legislation under debate in Hong Kong that would allow renditions to mainland China. The proposed amendments to Hong Kongs extradition laws, if approved, will erode Hong Kongs reputation as a center of commerce governed by the rule of law. The people of Hong Kong and foreigners residing in Hong Kongincluding 85,000 Americansmust be protected from a criminal justice system in mainland China that is regularly employed as a tool of repression," said a statement by Congressional-Executive Commission on China co-chairs Rep. James P. McGovern and Sen. Marco Rubio. But Hong Kong wasn't the only target of Chinese government attempts to wield power and influence overseas, the British report found. "In the course of this inquiry, we have also heard troubling allegations concerning attempted Chinese interference in the U.K.s domestic affairs, especially in academia," it said, calling for "strategy, rigour and unity in place of hope and muddling through." It quoted University of Nottingham professor Steve Tsang as saying that he was aware of specific instances of Chinese interference, including one at a university in the prestigious Russell Group. "A pro-vice chancellor was spoken to by someone in the Chinese embassy and as a result he stood a speaker who was already invited down," Tsang told the committee. "I am also aware of a vice-chancellor again under pressure from the Chinese embassy asking one of his senior academics not to make political comments on China at a specified period of time," Tsang said. Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Lin Ping for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in the Chinese capital stepped up security and surveillance ahead of the traditional tomb-sweeping festival of Qingming this weekend, dissidents and their relatives told RFA. "I didn't go out today," Beijing-based pro-democracy activist He Depu told RFA on Friday. "There are people watching me; there are police, security guards and residential committee officials out there." He said this year's tomb-sweeping festival is more politically sensitive than in previous years, as this year will see the 30th anniversary of the 1989 student-led democracy movement on Tiananmen Square, which ended on the night of June 4 with a massacre of civilians by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). "They told me that this year's Qingming is very important from the point of view of stability, and that I shouldn't go anywhere," He said. "If I want to go anywhere, I'd have to tell them first and get a ride in their car." You Weijie, spokeswoman for the Tiananmen Mothers victims' group, said she and other relatives of people who died in the massacre had paid their respects in advance of the traditional festival, when families visit ancestral tombs and pay respects, tidying up and making offerings to the dead, sometimes eating a communal meal at the grave site. "This has been going on for 30 years now," You said of the heightened security around Qingming and June 4. "There has been no change." "I don't really understand why the government has to do this; they needn't bother. They could just talk to me," she said. "I don't want to go and visit the grave in your car." Fellow Tiananmen Mothers member Zhang Xianling, whose 19-year-old son died in the military assault on Beijing, said she had run into serious traffic jams in her attempt to visit his grave, and would pay her respects once Qingming was over. Late premier Meanwhile, well-wishers converged on the former Beijing home of late liberal premier Zhao Ziyang, who was ousted from power after showing sympathy for the students, spending the rest of his life under house arrest. His daughter Wang Yanan said security around the family home was far tighter than in previous years. "This year's security operation is much bigger in scope," Wang told RFA. "It used to begin at the entrance to our alleyway, but now it starts all the way back at the intersection on Dengshikou Street West. So, yes, it's much tighter." Wang said she still hopes for an official inquiry and reappraisal of the events of June 1989. "I think that one day the truth will emerge about this injustice," she said. "One day, they will clear the names of all of those victims, their loved ones, all of those students, my father and the Chinese people. It's just a matter of time." Li Sui, daughter of the ruling Chinese Communist party's late party secretary for Sichuan province Li Ziyuan, said she had visited the Zhao residence to pay her respects, as her father was a childhood friend of Zhao's. She called for a re-evaluation of the official verdict of "counterrevolutionary rebellion" on the Tiananmen democracy movement, and the political rehabilitation of those associated with it. "It's pretty clear in the hearts and minds of ordinary people what justice is," Li Sui said. "The government continues to suppress the issue and refuses to resolve it, but I think there will come a day when it is resolved." Seeking rehabilitation The ruling Chinese Communist Party has yet to approve the family's application for a burial plot for Zhao, a liberal-minded and well-loved leader who rose to the top of the ruling party at the 13th Party Congress in 1987. Zhao's name rarely appears in the official record, although he has a loyal following of former officials seeking to rehabilitate him as a figurehead of the reform era that began in 1979. In a conclusive break with the reformist thinking of the 1980s, China's current supreme leader Xi Jinping is now serving an indefinite term as president following constitutional changes nodded through in March 2018 by China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC). The government styled the 1989 student-led democracy protestssparked by Qingming memorials on Tiananmen Square in 1989 for much-loved liberal premier Hu Yaobanga "counterrevolutionary rebellion." Public memorials and discussions of the events of June 1989 are banned, with activists who seek to commemorate the bloodshed often detained, and veteran dissidents placed under police surveillance or detention during each anniversary. Victims' families are permitted to make private memorial ceremonies at the graves of the victims, usually under escort by the state security police. Reported by Wen Yuqing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A Myanmar border guard policeman stands near a group of Rohingya Muslims in front of their homes in a village in Buthidaung township, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Jan. 25, 2019. Myanmars military said Friday that the army used helicopters in war-torn Rakhine state two days earlier to prevent armed Arakan separatists from launching offensives, and claimed that six Rohingya Muslim civilians killed by a chopper attack at the time were working with the Arakan Army (AA). Military spokesman Major General Tun Tun Nyi told RFAs Myanmar Service that the army used helicopters on April 3 to deter the AA from firing at its troops. Yes, we used helicopters and necessary equipment during the fighting, he said. The military-run Myawady newspaper said the army acted after it had received a confirmed report that about 150 AA troops were positioned around Sai Din Creek in Buthidaung township, and that the helicopter assault killed six Rohingya and injured nine others during the fighting. The six Rohingya reported dead by the military were from Thayet Pyin, Dabyu Chaung, King Taung, Hteik Htoo Pauk, and Hpon Nyo Leik villages, and were with AA terrorist troops while the battle was taking place, the newspaper said. We have been questioning the injured and people who had been involved [with the AA] during the fighting, Tun Tun Nyi said. They are not from one place. It is obvious to conclude that they could be AA members because people from four or five villages were all together in the same [combat] place with the AA. The other reason is they are AA members or ordinary people whom the AA asked to help them, he said. Some people could have been forced by the AA to go with them. We are questioning them. Tun Tun Nyi did not explain how the Muslim Rohingya could possibly work with the AA, a group of Rakhine nationalists and Buddhists historically hostile to the Rohingya. Local Rakhines were seen helping the Myanmar army during its 2016-2017 campaign that drove 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh. Effects of war Local residents told RFA on Thursday that at least 10 Rohingya working at the Sai Din bamboo production site died and more than a dozen others were injured by the Myanmar militarys aerial attack during fighting between the two armed forces near the Sai Din mountain range. But AA spokesman Khine Thukha denied that Arakan forces engaged in combat with Myanmar troops in the area where the helicopter attack occurred and said that government forces have routinely fired artillery and arms indiscriminately. When RFA contacted asked Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun of the Myanmar military's information team on Thursday, he confirmed that a battle took place in Buthidaung north of Yae Soe Chaung village. But he referred questions about the Rohingya killed during a helicopter attack to Colonel Win Zaw Oo, spokesman for the militarys Western Command responsible for Rakhine state. RFA could not reach Win Zaw Oo because his mobile phone was switched off. Hostilities between the government army and the AA, which is battling Myanmar forces in several Rakhine townships in its quest for greater autonomy in the state, reignited in late 2018 and exploded in early January after Arakan soldiers conducted deadly attacks on police outposts in northern Rakhine. In response to the attacks, the Myanmar government branded the AA a terrorist group and instructed its forces to crush it. Between Jan. 4 and March 28, the fighting claimed the lives of 58 AA soldiers, 27 policemen, and 12 civilians, according to the Myanmar government. The number of Myanmar soldiers who have died has not yet been disclosed. The Rakhine state government estimates that more than 26,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting, while a Rakhine ethnic NGO puts the number at nearly 28,700 as of April 2. Though the central and state government has provided relief assistance and supplies to the displaced civilians, Rakhine NGOs have said some temporary camps lack enough drinking water and food and that security issues have made it impossible to travel to certain areas. The Myanmar government has prevented almost all humanitarian aid groups from accessing the region as of January. OHCHR condemns military Also on Friday, the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) expressed concern about attacks on civilians as fighting has escalated in Rakhine state, saying that the Myanmar militarys helicopter assaults could amount to war crimes. As the international community is taking steps towards accountability for the crimes committed against civilians in previous years, the Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians attacks which may constitute war crimes, said a statement issued by OHCHR spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. The consequences of impunity will continue to be deadly. Sources on the ground in Buthidaung told the OHCHR that two military helicopters flew over Hpon Nyo Leik village tract an area that has seen the large-scale displacement of Rohingya civilians in recent days and fired on civilians tending cows and paddy fields, killing at least seven and injuring 18 others. Roughly 4,000 Rohingya were displaced between March 25 and 30 from villages along the road connecting Buthidaung and neighboring Rathedaung township, forcing them to flee west to seek shelter in areas, including Hpon Nyo Leik village tract, the OHCHR said. The OHCHR called on the Myanmar military and AA to immediately end the hostilities and to ensure that civilians are protected. We are deeply disturbed by the intensification of the conflict in Rakhine state in recent weeks, and condemn what appear to be indiscriminate attacks and attacks directed at civilians by the Myanmar military and armed fighters in the context of the ongoing fighting with the ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army, the statement said. Rohingya refugees gather near a fence in the 'no-man's land' zone between the Myanmar and Bangladesh border as seen from Maungdaw district, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Aug. 24, 2018. Credit: AFP Not allowed to come here Meanwhile, a top official at Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday that a new U.N. Human Rights Council envoy will not be allowed to visit the country to conduct investigations of human rights violations in Rakhine, focusing on atrocities committed against the Rohingya and other minority groups. Chan Aye, the ministrys director general, told RFA that Myanmar will turn away U.S. attorney Nicholas Koumjian, appointed as head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar by the U.N., and his team members. They will not be allowed to come, he said. This is an issue of our sovereignty. They would conduct one-sided investigations, he added. From the very beginning, there was bias in their missions and purposes, so they were banned from coming here, Chan Aye said about other U.N.-appointed human rights envoys. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Koumjian as the first head of the mechanism, established by the Human Rights Council in September 2018. The independent investigative panel will collect and analyze evidence of serious international crimes and international law violations committed in Myanmar since 2011 and prepare files that will facilitate criminal proceedings against perpetrators. We strongly objected to it at the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva in September 2018, Chan Aye said. He said that Koumjians team could gather the necessary information from other U.N. organizations operating inside Myanmar. Although the investigation team is not allowed to come here, they could ask U.N. officials who have visited the conflict region, Aye Chan said. There are also employees from agencies working in the area. We have allowed them to. They can get information from these sources. Plenty of other resources Thar Aye, a Rohingya activist and political analyst on the Rakhine issue, agreed that the independent investigative team could gather information on human rights violations and conduct its probe without entering Myanmar. Even without entry, they will have plenty of other resources from which to gather data for their investigation, he said. They have their networks spread across the world. But Thar Aye added that keeping the investigators out of Myanmar would complicate the situation. Denying them entry will damage the countrys credibility in the eyes of the international community, he said. Aung Myo Min, director of Equality Myanmar, a domestic NGO that focuses on human rights education and advocacy programs, said that rejecting the investigation panel would come at Myanmars expense. They will try to get the required information from whomever they can, he said. They will go to places like the Bangladeshi border for their investigation. What happens next is the Myanmar government no longer has the opportunity to confirm the validity of the information they get from somewhere else. We will lose the opportunity to prove our side of the story. Some officials and politicians in Myanmar said they objected to the new investigative panel. Military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, Myo Nyunt, spokesman of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), and Nanda Hla Myint, spokesman of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said they oppose the U.N.s decision and will not accept the teams investigations. A previous U.N. fact-finding mission established by a Human Rights Council mandate investigated atrocities committed against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine state during a military-led crackdown in 2017, and in Kachin and Shan states where the Myanmar military is engaged in fighting with ethnic armed groups. A report the mission issued in September 2018 found that the Myanmar military had committed serious human rights violations against civilians and had violated international humanitarian law in all three states. It also called for the prosecution of top commanders before The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) for ordering atrocities against the Rohingya. The Myanmar government, which has largely denied that its forces committed atrocities against the Rohingya and were responsible for driving 740,000 of them across the border to Bangladesh, rejected the report. Other U.N. rights officials, including former U.N. rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein, and Yanghee Lee, the U.N.s special envoy on human rights in Myanmar, have called for the prosecution of those responsible for committing suspected acts of genocide against the Rohingya. In late 2017, the Myanmar government barred Lee from visiting the country to assess the rights situation after it deemed a previous mission report she issued was biased and unfair. Reported by Thiri Min Zin and Wai Mar Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar and Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The U.S. envoy seeking a peace deal with the Taliban to end nearly 18 years of war in Afghanistan has arrived for talks in neighboring Pakistan. Zalmay Khalilzad met on April 5 with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who "reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the peace process," a Foreign Ministry statement said. Pakistan, which Washington and Kabul have long accused of harboring the Taliban leadership, is seen as playing a key role in securing a peace agreement. Khalilzad is also expected to hold meetings with Pakistans top civilian and military leaders during his visit. The veteran, Afghan-born diplomat has been shuttling back and forth to the region in a bid to garner support for a peace deal. Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with Taliban negotiators in Qatar, saying after the latest rounds of talks in March that the sides had made "real strides." Before his Pakistan trip, Khalilzad visited Britain, Belgium, and Afghanistan. He is expected to travel to Uzbekistan and Jordan before an expected new round of talks with the Taliban in Qatar's capital, Doha, reportedly due to begin in mid-April. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa In an Albanian hillside, a former air base lies hidden behind a huge steel door. The tunnels are a tomb for dozens of communist-era fighter jets that are gathering dust in the darkness. Albania now wants to sell off some of the Soviet and Chinese-made MiG fighter jets. BRUSSELS -- The foreign ministers of the European Union and six former Soviet republics will meet next month to endorse an extension of the Eastern Partnership Program. The program aims to encourage Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to undertake reforms, in return for closer relations and economic benefits. The foreign ministers will pledge "to develop the Eastern Partnership agenda beyond 2020" when they meet in Brussels on May 13 in a gathering that will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the partnership. An early draft of the statement the sides will endorse, seen by RFE/RL, states they will "continue to work jointly and in a spirit of close cooperation to ensure our societies can fully reap all the benefits, from increased prosperity to democracy, stability and security that come from such a partnership." The draft statement is likely to change, but EU sources told RFE/RL that the text is unlikely to give any clear indications of future EU membership for the six countries, nor will it mention Russia. Moscow has expressed strong misgivings about the program, arguing that closer economic ties between the EU and its main trading partners could harm Russian interests. The statement states that "reform implementation and delivery of the agreed commitments must remain the main focus in the years to come." Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine have all struck association agreements with the EU under the Eastern Partnership program and Azerbaijan is expected to initiate an updated partnership deal with the bloc at the event in May. A summit that brings together EU leaders and the presidents or prime ministers of all Eastern Partnership countries has been held annually since the inaugural meeting in Prague in 2009. But it was decided there would not be a summit in 2019 due to Brexit, European parliamentary elections in May, and changes in personnel in the European Commission and the European Council. The next summit is expected in 2020. In place of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk will host the leaders of the six countries for dinner on May 13. The European Commission will also have a high-level event dedicated to the partnership on May 14. BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has accused the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) of whitewashing a press release about the Ukrainian presidential election by watering down critical wording about Russia, according to a sternly worded letter seen by RFE/RL. The letter, dated April 4 and signed by two senior members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on behalf of the European Parliament, describes "an unprecedented and unacceptable incident" involving the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR), which monitors elections. According to the letter, ODIHR's press service urged the head of the European Parliament's delegation to the March 31 election, Polish MEP Dariusz Rosati, to tone down the delegation's contribution to a joint press release by removing wording about "the ongoing Russia-waged war against Ukraine" and replacing it with a reference to "the ongoing conflict in the east." "Rosati made it clear that he understood the constraints faced by the OSCE...but stressed he would not depart from his original text," the letter said. "He therefore agreed that the European Parliament would not be quoted at all in the joint press release prepared by the ODIHR." Despite reassurances from ODIHR, it said, copies of a joint press statement with the "unacceptable" watered-down wording were made available throughout the joint press conference by the monitors in Kyiv on April 1 and were "distributed to the numerous journalists present." The letter was addressed to Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, the director of ODIHR in Warsaw. It was signed by British Labour Party MEP Linda McAvan, who chairs the European Parliament's Development Committee, and German center-right MEP David McAllister, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee. The "issue at stake is extremely serious. It infringes on the right of the European Parliament, as an independent and sovereign international organization, to express its own views on a specific topic," the letter said. It asked ODIHR to provide an explanation ahead of the April 21 runoff vote between incumbent President Petro Poroshenko and comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Reached by telephone on April 5, ODIHR spokesman Thomas Rymer told RFE/RL the organization would respond directly to the European Parliament, saying that "the proper way is to respond to their concerns directly to them." "As I understand we've received the letter, and in any case with any partner organization of course we would send a reply and we would...work with them," Rymer said. He did not comment on the substance of the accusation. Russia seized control of Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014, after sending in troops and staging a referendum dismissed as illegitimate by at least 100 UN members states. Moscow also encouraged separatist sentiment across much of Ukraine around that time and backs separatists who hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, where the UN says the five-year-old war between the militants and Ukrainian government forces has killed some 13,000 people. Both Russia and Ukraine are members of the 57-nation OSCE. L-R: Eric Holder with attorney Christopher Darden; Patrick Fallon-Pool/Getty ImagesEric Holder, the man charged with the shooting death of rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle last Sunday, pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance in Los Angeles Thursday. Bail for Holder, 29, was set at $5 million. At last word, he remained in custody. Holder was officially charged Thursday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. His attorney is Christopher Darden -- if that name sounds familiar, it's because Darden was part of the team that prosecuted O.J. Simpson during his notorious 1995 murder trial. Grammy-nominated rapper Hussle, 33, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was shot multiple times and killed March 31. Holder was taken into custody Tuesday. If convicted, he faces possible life in prison. He's due back in court May 10. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Co.op Mart Vietnam, Big C Da Nang and Big C Hanoi have used banana leaves to wrap foods in an effort to slash plastic waste. In his letter sent to these supermarkets on April 4, PM Phuc called on the business community, supermarkets, restaurants and hotels to join in efforts in reducing plastic bags and waste. He suggested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Information and Communications, relevant branches and local authorities encourage the use of environmentally-friendly goods while cutting the production of plastic bags. Appearance at the Lanxess Arena : Barack Obama celebrated like a pop star in Cologne Cologne Barack Obama may no longer be in office, but he's still attracting the crowds. On Thursday evening he spoke at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne and was celebrated like a pop star. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Finally he arrives. 70 minutes after the lights in Cologne's Lanxess Arena go out at 7 pm, Barack Obama enters the stage, greeted by his older sister Auma Obama, who lives in Germany, while 14,000 people in the nearly full stadium celebrate the former U.S. president like a pop star. Obama, with visibly greying hair, dark blue suit and light blue shirt, still appears boyish. The crowd, who cheered at every mention of his name, hangs on his every word. It is the "World Leadership Summit" in Cologne. Obama is the only participant who can actually lay claim to such a lofty title. And through his Obama Foundation and appearances like the one in Cologne on Thursday evening, he is fulfilled, even without being able to exercise the power he enjoyed while in office. Now he is an ambassador for his political message, which is positively received in Germany, especially in light of his successor, who has been observed very critically in this country. But the name Donald Trump is not mentioned once this evening. Obama adheres to the unwritten rule that a former U.S. president does not speak ill of his successor. This does not mean that there are no clear words. "One of the biggest dangers for democracy today is that we can no longer agree on the basic facts," says the ex-president, alluding to "alternative facts" and fake news. "People only accept the facts that reinforce their opinions." Or: "We never had a scandal in our government. Nobody went to prison." And: "We preserved our integrity. In the afternoon Obama landed with his private plane at Cologne-Bonn Airport. From there he went to the Hyatt Hotel on the banks of the Rhine in Cologne, directly opposite the cathedral. The hotel is used to being visited by celebrities: pop stars and other celebrities regularly stay here - also because of its proximity to the Lanxess Arena. The presidential suite of the hotel, 180 square meters in size and equipped with piano, steam bath and whirlpool, could not be occupied by the former president - according to reports from several media, it had been rented to a TV station on a long-term basis. But that didn't spoil his mood in the evening. With a boyish smile, he described his experiences after leaving the presidency. The first surprise: "I had to make my own coffee! And compete with his wife Michelle Obama and his daughters for space in the wardrobes. "That wasn't a problem in the White House." Obama made a declaration of love to his wife on stage: he said she was "unique: clever, strong, beautiful - and a good dancer". He explained that their success arose from their growing up in humble circumstances: We could not expect the world to give us anything". Michelle Obama did not hear the praise from her husband as she was not in Cologne. Cologne police relaxed But of course the ex-president also talked seriously about the challenges, the office, doubts and difficult decisions. For example, about the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden: "We knew our chance was 50/ 50, but we decided to take the risk." When in office, one has to live with the problem that there is usually no clearly right or wrong decision. The Cologne police were relaxed about the visit of the former U.S. president. "We have a lot of experience with such situations," said a spokesman, probably thinking of the G8 summit in Cologne in 1999 when Chancellor Gerhard Schroder invited world leaders to attend. Back then, it was not only the then U.S. President Bill Clinton who drank half a Kolsch in the Brauhaus Malzmuhle (to wash down his sauerbraten with dumplings and apple sauce). British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russia's Boris Yeltsin and President Jacques Chirac (France) also attended that summit. In comparison, Obama's short visit was manageable. The main focus of the Cologne police was to ensure safe and smooth transfers to the city and to secure the streets over long distances. Traffic obstructions were limited. Late in the evening, a police spokesman stated: "Everything went as smoothly as we had hoped for. He added that the former president came with his own security detail as well. Speaking fee kept confidential Alexander Muller, Managing Director of the Cologne event and seminar agency "Gedankentanken", which brought the former president to Cologne, explains. "We asked ourselves two years ago: Who is the best speaker in the world? Eight weeks ago, the former U.S. president confirmed he would come. "You can imagine that Obama has a lot of offers to speak in Europe," says Muller. "He was convinced by our concept." Muller remained silent about the former presidents speaking fee but American media report that Obama appearances cost up to 400,000 dollars. "But he certainly didn't come because of the money," organizer Muller is sure. Frank Thelen, a Bonn businessman known for financing start-ups, said he found Obama to be a very inspiring speaker and was part of an exclusive group of guests who dined with the president before his appearance at Lanxess Arena. Those who paid full price to be included at the dinner had to fork out 5,000 euros. On Friday, Obama is expected in Berlin - for a townhall meeting with teenagers and young adults from all over Europe who are expected to occupy leading positions in the future. He will also be received in the office of Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he calls his friend. BISHKEK -- A bill that had initially been drafted amid calls to prosecute former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev preserves immunity from prosecution for former presidents, but also states that prosecution could be possible if the person in question loses the status of ex-president. According to the bill, which was given final approval by parliament in a 111-3 vote on April 4, the legislature can strip a former president of that status if they are suspected of "especially serious crimes" by the Prosecutor-General's Office. It is not clear what the bill, which will become law if it is signed by President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, defines as an "especially serious crime." One of the authors of the legislation, Iskhak Masaliev of the Onuguu-Progress party, said he opposed the final language of the bill. Masaliev said the original intention of the bill was to remove immunity for former presidents, but the language upon its final reading had been altered in a way that, "on the contrary, increased the immunity." The bill was drafted after the Constitutional Chamber ruled in early October that the law providing former presidents with lifetime immunity from prosecution for their activities during their presidential terms contradicted the constitution. The legislation was approved in its first reading in December amid calls by some lawmakers and other politicians for an investigation into decisions made by Atambaev while he was in office. It was later amended with several proposals by other lawmakers. The discussions of the issue of annulling former presidents' immunity from prosecution have been under consideration amid a standoff between Jeenbekov and Atambaev. Limited to a single six-year term by the constitution, Atambaev tapped Jeenbekov, his former prime minister, as his favored successor in the October 2017 presidential election. But the two have had a public falling out and have criticized each other for more than a year. Several associates of Atambaev have been arrested on corruption charges. Former Russian oil tycoon and Kremlin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky says political and business circles close to President Vladimir Putin want him to remain in power after his fourth term ends in 2024. Taking via video-link from London on April 4, Khodorkovsky told RFE/RL that Putin's inner circle feared for their "safety" and were trying to convince him to stay in power. Khodorkovsky said it was "very likely" that Putin could decide not to seek another term or some in his circle could "push him out" if his health deteriorated. But Khodorkovsky added that others in the president's circle understood that their "safety could not be guaranteed" and "therefore those people will talk Putin into a new term, either by Belarus joining [Russia] or something else." In recent months, Putin has held talks with Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka on the countries' "further integration" through the Union State of Russia and Belarus -- the alliance established in the 1990s that exists mostly on paper. Khodorkovsky also said the recent leadership transition in neighboring Kazakhstan, for example, was not possible in Russia. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev on March 19 abruptly resigned after nearly 30 years in office, but will continue to head the ruling party and keep his lifetime post as chairman of the influential Security Council. Khodorkovsky, the founder of the Open Russia civic movement, said the transition in Kazakhstan was made possible because Nazarbaev's "clan" and family have a chokehold on the political and economic system. "Putin's circle has learned how to manipulate him and shape his views and ideological approaches," Khodorkovsky said. "They are driven purely by business interests -- either to rip off a market competitor or to acquire an official position that gives them access to economic resources." He added: "For those [Russians] who are in their 40s, to say nothing about those who are in their 30s or 20s, Putin is very archaic, obsolete, and surely none of them want to live their whole lives under him." He added that it was important that leaders stood down at the right time, saying Russia must be ready when Putin is no longer in power so the country avoids mistakes of the 1990s, when Russia lost its chance to become a European democracy. Khodorkovsky also cited recent data from independent opinion polls in Russia that suggested Putin's popularity had reached near-record lows amid ongoing economic woes. He also said the Russian president was "interested in entrenching the state of a frozen conflict" in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting government forces since 2014. Khodorkovsky said if the war ended, Putin would face "thousands of armed people who will seek refuge in Russia," a prospect he said the president "cannot allow to happen." Khodorkovsky said political newcomer Volodymyr Zelenskiy's victory against President Petro Poroshenko in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election illustrated a "global trend that brings good and bad populists to power." Zelenskiy faces the incumbent in a runoff on April 21. Khodorkovsky said that although "Ukraine's political system is far from perfect," it was more "efficient than what exists in Russia after 20 years of Putin's reign." Once Russia's wealthiest tycoon, Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003 and served 10 years in prison after being convicted of tax evasion and other financial crimes in two trials widely seen as politically motivated. Khodorkovsky now lives in Europe after leaving Russia when he was pardoned by Putin and released from prison in 2013. Russian police have detained a man suspected of spray-painting a homophobic slur about President Vladimir Putin on the Interior Ministry building in the city of Yaroslavl, local media reported. The suspect was detained on April 5 after police studied CCTV footage from the area, local media reported. The graffiti, which was painted on March 31, appeared to read "Putin is a f****t" in Russian. It has since been painted over. The graffiti was written weeks after Putin signed legislation enabling Russian authorities to block websites and hand out punishment for "fake news" and material deemed insulting to the state or the public. The new legislation allows the authorities to block websites or Internet accounts that publish what they deem to be "fake news" and penalizing those who post material found to be insulting to state officials, state symbols, or Russian society. Russia's media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, ordered all media outlets that carried pictures of the graffiti in Yaroslavl to delete them, citing the new law. Several online news portals followed the order and deleted the pictures, but some did not, saying it was censorship. Based on reporting by TJournal, 76.ru, and Yarcube A Serbian court has sentenced four former intelligence officers to lengthy prison terms for the 1999 killing of a prominent journalist who was critical of Yugoslavia's late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. Slavko Curuvija, the owner and editor of two independent newspapers at the time, was gunned down outside his home in Belgrade on April 11, 1999, just days after the start of NATOs bombing campaign that helped end Belgrade's crackdown against ethnic Albanians in its then-province Kosovo. The Belgrade court on April 5 sentenced the former head of state security Rade Markovic and Milan Radonjic, who was in charge of Belgrade's intelligence branch, to 30 years in prison each. Markovic is already serving a 40-year sentence for other political murders. The court also handed 20 year prison terms to former intelligence officers Ratko Romic and fugitive Miroslav Kurak, who was sentenced in absentia. Judge Snezana Jovanovic was quoted by local media as saying that the four men were found guilty of having "on the orders of an unknown person killed the journalist Slavko Curuvija." Curuvija's family has accused Milosevic of personally ordering the killing. Milosevic was arrested in 2001 and held at the UN court in The Hague for genocide and other war crimes committed during the conflicts that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The former Serbian president died in the tribunal's detention unit in 2006 before a verdict was reached. Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa Afghan officials say hundreds of Taliban militants stormed a district in the northwestern province of Badghis, killing dozens of government soldiers and police. Waris Sherzad, the district governor of Bala Murghab, said at least 30 security personnel have been killed since the Taliban launched the attack late on April 3. He said fighting was ongoing. Abdul Aziz Baig, head of the Badghis provincial council, said Taliban fighters captured several security checkpoints outside the government headquarters in Bala Murghab. He said only the district police headquarters and a base of the Afghan National Army remained in the control of the government. The Defense Ministry said in a statement late on April 4 that government forces chose to "tactically retreat" from the checkpoints to prevent civilian casualties. The ministry said it called in multiple air strikes on Taliban positions. Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi said the militant group attacked from four directions, capturing five checkpoints. The attack comes less than three weeks after 50 government soldiers were killed during a weeklong battle in Bala Murghab. Nazari said 100 Afghan soldiers fled their posts and tried to cross into neighboring Turkmenistan during the battle in mid-March. Many were captured by Taliban fighters after Turkmen government forces prevented them from crossing the border safely into Turkmenistan's territory. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa Editor's Note: To receive Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia each week via e-mail, subscribe by clicking here. Moscow watches as Ukraine holds a presidential ballot that seems less like a Russian election every day, and the Kremlin gives an almost extravagantly modest reception to Kazakhstan's new interim president. Meanwhile, a survey shows that one in five Russians would vote with their feet and leave the country if they could, including 44 percent of those under 30. Ukraine's Election Volodymyr Zelenskiy got more than 30 percent of the votes cast in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election, almost twice as many as the incumbent he'll face in a runoff on April 21. But how are his numbers in Russia? That question was raised by journalist Leonid Ragozin in a tweet a few days after the 41-year-old comedian and TV personality outperformed predictions and outdid the 38 other candidates on the ballot -- by a long shot. "One thing I'd be very keen to watch from now on is [Zelenskiy's] approval ratings in Russia," Ragozin tweeted. "This kind of political product sells there, too." That's something that seems unlikely to have escaped the attention of the president "there" -- Vladimir Putin. For Putin, there's not a lot to like in Ukraine's presidential election -- and one thing not to like, for various reasons, is Zelenskiy. True, critics claim he'll be soft on Russia. And while he has made assertive statements about standing up to Moscow, some of them -- such as his suggestion that Putin will simply hand Crimea back to Kyiv if he is elected -- might sound more like part of a stand-up routine than a realistic plan. Also, Putin and the Kremlin -- whatever their desires and dreams -- have stated clearly that they hope the elections will usher out President Petro Poroshenko, whom they have portrayed as a junta leader and who has portrayed them as a slavering serial aggressor out to destroy Ukraine. But Zelenskiy has a number of qualities that together amount to one thing: He is not Putin. Some of these qualities are very basic. They include his age, 41 -- Putin is 66 -- and his profession, showman -- Putin is a former KGB agent and, for the last quarter-century or so, a state official, something Zelenskiy has never been. Until recently, he was not even a politician, except on TV. Now, before the runoff vote is held, he might be debating the incumbent at a 70,000-seat stadium in the capital -- a showdown that would be impossible to imagine Putin engaging in at say, Moscow's Luzhniki stadium, unless it were choreographed as closely as a New Year's show on Russian state TV in advance. 'De Facto Referendum' There's also the matter of why a political novice did so well in the first round: A big part of it is trust, or lack thereof, in the non-novices he faced -- former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, for one, and most of all Poroshenko, the president for almost half a decade. A Gallup poll found that 9 percent of Ukrainians had confidence in the government in 2018 -- the lowest level in the world for the second year in a row. The poll result was noted in an article in The Guardian by Ukrainian sociologist Volodymyr Ishchenko. The second-round vote, Ishchenko wrote, "will be a de facto referendum on Poroshenko and everything he symbolizes: corrupt oligarchy, the lack of economic prospects for the majority of Ukrainians, aggressive nationalism, and authoritarian attacks on dissent and freedom of speech." Sound familiar? With minor adjustments -- or maybe without -- that could refer to Putin. Comedy And Choice Russian authorities kept Aleksei Navalny -- a politician who in 2013 got about the same proportion of votes as Zelenskiy, albeit in a Moscow mayoral contest, not a nationwide one -- off the ballot in the March 2018 election that handed Putin a new six-year term. That ballot was a lot shorter than the one used in Ukraine on March 31 -- it had eight names on it, not 39. And even if few of those listed in Ukraine had any chance of success, it sent a signal that for someone who spent time in the Soviet Union would be as dazzlingly clear as rows of colorful fruit at a grocery store on a visit home: look at the choice. The main difference between Ukraine's presidential election and the last few in Russia, or course, is that it's not entirely clear who will win. If Poroshenko pulls it out, Putin will presumably continue blaming Kyiv for lots of things, including the rock-bottom state of bilateral relations and the lack of progress toward peace and a political settlement in the Donbas, where Russia-backed forces hold parts of two Ukrainian provinces. If Zelenskiy wins, the Kremlin may look for ways to benefit -- or simply be hoping he fails spectacularly, enabling Moscow to take advantage of any ensuing disorder. Meanwhile, it seems inevitable that pro-Putin pundits and Kremlin-controlled media would continue to sling mud at the election in Ukraine and portray the winner -- a comedian -- as the punch line of a dirty joke. Ukraine, of course, has not had a Moscow-friendly president in office since Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia more than five years ago in the face of the Maidan protests, Russia's subsequent seizure of Crimea and involvement in the conflict it helped start in the Donbas have unified many Ukrainians and tarnished Moscow's reputation there for what seems likely to be a long time to come. But on top of that, a Zelenskiy presidency would be another fresh brushstroke on a changing post-Soviet political landscape in which one of the slowly dwindling number of constants is Putin. The runoff in Ukraine comes almost exactly a year after Armenia's longtime leader stepped down in the face of protests led by opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian, who soon afterward became prime minister at the age of 42. Double-Digit Deputies There's a new head of state now in Kazakhstan, too, where Nursultan Nazarbaev abruptly resigned last month after nearly two decades as president -- a job he held even before the Soviet Union fell apart. But you might not realize Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev is interim president if you watched the welcome he got in Moscow, his first foreign destination since he took office: Instead of Putin or Sergei Lavrov, Toqaev was met at the airport by Aleksandr Pankin, one of Russia's 10 deputy foreign ministers, and by two lower-level diplomats. The modest reception suggested that for whatever reason, the Kremlin wanted to emphasize that the interim president is a temporary figure who may be out of a job after an election in April 2020. It could also have been meant to signal that to Moscow, Nazarbaev -- who still heads the ruling party, is lifetime chairman of the influential Security Council, and holds the status of Elbasy, or "leader of the nation" -- is still No. 1 in Kazakhstan. That's intriguing in light of the possibility that Putin could try to employ a similar strategy to retain powerful influence past 2024, when he is constitutionally barred from seeking another presidential term. To pull off something like that, Putin would need -- arguably, at least -- the trust of the people. While nowhere near the 9 percent level recorded by Gallup for Ukraine's government, Putin's trust rating has dropped during the first year of his new term. A poll released on March 7 by the state-funded Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) found that it had fallen to 32 percent, its lowest level since 2006. Other recent numbers have brought what may be unwelcome news for the Kremlin. Would If I Could U.S.-based Gallup reported on April 4 that given the opportunity, a record 20 percent of Russians -- including 44 percent of those aged 15-29 -- would move permanently to another country. Of those who would leave, 40 percent said they do not support Putin's actions as president, while 12 percent said they do. One of Putin's main goals over nearly 20 years in power has been to ensure there are more people in Russia in the first place. In 2017, he declared that the country had overcome its demographic crisis, and in an annual address this February, he called for a return to natural population growth by 2023-24 -- the end of his current term. But Russia's population fell last year for the first time in a decade, despite immigration. A statistic cited on April 3 by Tatyana Golikova, the deputy prime minister responsible for social and health policy, provided one reason why -- and underscored a hurdle on the path to Putin's goal: She said that the mortality rate rose in one-third of Russia's regions in 2018. Two activists from the Agit Russia group who allegedly installed a mock gravestone with the name Vladimir Putin on it have been detained by police in Russia's second-biggest city, St. Petersburg. The group said on April 5 in a post on its Telegram social-network account that Andrei Zheksimbayev and Grigory Kudryavtsev were charged with violating the law on the organization of public events for placing the tombstone near the iconic St. Isaacs Cathedral. They face up to 10 days in jail if found guilty. The group insists the two had nothing to do with the stunt, as it was actually done by other members. Another group called Help the Detained in St. Petersburg said the two men were detained late on April 3, the day the mock gravestone appeared in Putin's native city. Agit Russia then published a picture of the site on the Internet and said on Twitter that it was behind the mock headstone. The tombstone features a picture of Putin, his name, and an inscription reading, "He betrayed the people of Russia." It also says "1952-2019" -- the former a reference to the year Putin, who has held power as Russia's president or prime minister since 1999, was born. "We wanted to say this: Because of the antipeople laws that have been adopted, the constant lies, and the disgusting [method of] rule, Putin is dead to the citizens of Russia," the group said in a tweet with a photo of the poster in front of St. Isaac's. The cathedral is one of the most recognizable buildings in St. Petersburg, where longtime Soviet KGB officer Putin was born, raised, and began his political career in the 1990s before his move to Moscow and his rise to the presidency. The tweet said that St. Petersburg was "taking the baton" -- apparently a reference to similar political pranks carried out in Moscow and the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, in the Tatarstan region, in the past month. Two activists in Naberezhnye Chelny were sentenced to jail terms of 28 days and six days in March after they put up a mock Putin gravestone there. Reuters is reporting that the United States is considering expanding sales of Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighter jets to five new countries, including Romania, Poland, and Greece. The news agency reported on April 4 that Vice Admiral Mathias Winter, who is chief of the militarys F-35 office, said that "future potential Foreign Military Sales customers include Singapore, Greece, Romania, Spain, and Poland. The comments came in written testimony by Winter submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives and seen by the news agency. Belgium in 2018 was the first new customer for the F-35 in several years, deciding on the U.S.-made warplane in a $4.55 billion deal over the Eurofighter Typhoon. Nine other countries have signed up to buy the fighter-jets -- Britain, Australia, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Turkey. However, Washington has suspended Turkey's participation in the F-35 program over Ankaras decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile defense systems against U.S. and NATO opposition. Other U.S. allies, including Finland, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, have also considered purchasing F-35 jets. The United States has revoked the entry visa of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, who is investigating possible war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that Washington would withdraw or deny visas to ICC staff investigating such allegations against U.S. forces or their allies. Bensouda's office on April 5 confirmed U.S. authorities revoked her visa but said the ICC prosecutor would continue her duties "without fear or favor." The move was criticized by the United Nations and the European Union. A 2016 report from the ICC said there was a reasonable basis to believe that the U.S. military had committed torture at secret detention sites in Afghanistan operated by the CIA, and that the Afghan government and the Taliban had committed war crimes. The United States does not recognize the court as having jurisdiction over U.S. citizens, but Americans can be charged with crimes that are allegedly committed in countries that are members of the court and Afghanistan is a member. ICC judges have not yet handed down a decision on opening a formal investigation in Afghanistan. The ICC is a court of last resort with 122 member states. It acts only when countries within its jurisdiction are found to be unable or unwilling to seriously investigate war crimes, genocide, or other serious atrocities. Based on reporting by Reuters and the BBC The U.S. Embassy says officials have visited Paul Whelan at a notorious Moscow jail, and complained that Russia has yet to offer evidence to back up espionage charges filed against the former U.S. Marine more than three months ago. The embassy made the statement in a Twitter post on April 5, but gave no further information about the visit. "Yesterday, there was a consular visit to U.S. citizen Paul Whelan at Lefortovo," the tweet said. "Days and weeks have passed, but Whelan still remains under arrest without any sort of formal evidence." "Everyone is hearing the statements from Russian bureaucrats that he was 'detained red-handed.' So wheres the evidence?" it added. A former U.S. Marine, Whelan was arrested on December 28 in Moscow and charged with spying. He was working as a global security director for a U.S. auto-parts manufacturer at the time of his arrest. Russian officials have released few details of the allegations. His defense lawyer, however, has suggested his client was set up, saying he was handed a flash drive that he believed contained harmless personal material such as photographs but allegedly contained classified information. U.S. officials have complained in the past that Russia was interfering with standard diplomatic protocol regarding consular access to Whelan. In February, an embassy spokeswoman said that Russian authorities had not allowed Whelan to give a signed Privacy Act Waiver to the embassy, which was preventing the release of any information regarding the case. If convicted, Whelan could face up to 20 years in prison. His family has said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding. U.S. media are reporting that the United States will soon designate Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organization, which would be the first time Washington has given that label to the military unit of another country. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, citing U.S. officials, reported on April 5 that that Washington could add the IRGC on its Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) list as early as April 8. The issue has been the subject of speculation for several years. The United States has designated the IRGCs external branch -- the Quds Force -- and a number of individuals and entities associated with the organization as terrorist, but not the IRGC as a whole. The IRGC has been involved in enforcing Islamic codes and crushing dissent at home, experts say, while taking part in covert operations, arms smuggling, and other efforts aimed at expanding Iran's influence abroad. It answers directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The WSJ said national-security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are strong proponents of the move, asserting that it would help Washington crack down on businesses in Europe and elsewhere controlled by the IRGC. But critics and some Pentagon officials have said the move could open U.S. military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly foreign governments. The WSJ said General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the CIA oppose the move, although there were no comments from either. A senior Iranian lawmaker said on April 6 that in response Iran may put the U.S. military on its own terror list. "If the Revolutionary Guards are placed on America's list of terrorist groups, we will put that country's military on the terror blacklist next to Daesh," Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the head of parliament's national security committee, said on Twitter, using an alternate name for the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. IRGC chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari made the same warning in 2017 when he said Tehran would "consider the American army to be like [the extremist group] Islamic State all around the world" if Washington blacklisted the IRGC. At the time, Iranian President Hassan Rohani said that a blacklisting of the IRGC would be a "mistake beyond mistake." The WSJ quoted Jason Blazakis, who served until last year as director of the State Departments Counterterrorism Finance and Designations Office, as saying that the designation of IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization [FTO] is precedent-setting. Never before has the FTO sanctions tool been directed at a state body. The future ramifications of this decision will be profound, he said. The IRGC has a force of some 100,000 personnel and runs Tehrans ballistic missile programs, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service has said. The IRGCs powerful Quds Force, which conducts foreign operations in the Middle East, has arranged weapons deliveries and advised pro-Iranian militias in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and elsewhere. Last October, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain -- both bitter rivals of Iran -- added the IRGC and senior officers from the Quds Force to their lists of people and organizations suspected of involvement in terrorism. Saudi security services said Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, was on the list together with Quds Force officers Hamed Abdollahi and Abdul Reza Shahlai. In 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the three amid allegations that Soleimani, Abdollahi, and Shahlai were linked to a failed plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia's former ambassador to the United States, Adel Al-Jubeir. Iran at the time dismissed the accusations as false and demanded an apology from Washington. With reporting by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters Malcolm Allsopp in hospital COUNCIL officials have moved to head off criticism about road safety at the spot where an elderly man suffered a painful trip by revealing it plans to install a new crossing. Rotherham Borough Council came under fire after 80-year-old Malcolm Allsopp (80) suffered a broken wrist and a broken nose in the incident on the Morthen Road in Wickersley on Saturday. Mr Allsopps son Richard said his father had tripped on the crumbling road surface and he planned to complain to the council about the state of the road and traffic on and around the roundabout. He said he would also be raising concerns with Yorkshire Ambulance Service after it took an hour for paramedics to arrive at the scene. The council said this week that it was aware of road safety concerns and planned to install a crossing within the next year. Reacting to the accident, Richard Allsopp said: This is the second time its happened to my father he fell 18 months ago at the same spot but this time he has a compound fracture and a broken nose. Hes complained in the past about the state of his own road (Moss Close) and the pavements around the area and this is an issue Ill be taking further. My parents have lived here since the 90s and the roundabout has got worse. People dont signal and they come off it too quickly. I think there should be more road-calming measures. I live off Northfield Lane (on the other side of Wickersley roundabout) and the state of driving on the roundabout is ridiculous. There should be lights on the roundabout or a crossing towards the top of Morthen Road at least. Mr Allsopp, of Magna Crescent, said he had been alerted to the accident by his mother, who had been told about it by a neighbour, and they had both rushed to the scene. On behalf of the family I want to say we are so grateful to the folk of Wickersley who came to his aid, he said. My father was on the ground for an hour but he was tended to by a doctor, a pharmacist and a nurse. Without them we dont know what might have happened. A police officer who stopped at the scene called and escalated the call for an ambulance but we still had to wait another 40 minutes for it to come, after which it was another hour before he got to hospital. He will be recovering for six months and will not be able to drive. My mother cannot drive so obviously that will have an impact on the family. News of the accident spread on social media, with many users of the Wickersley Now Facebook page wishing Mr Allsopp well but also calling for a crossing to be installed and pointing out the number of drivers exiting the roundabout too quickly. One said: It is a nightmare crossing there. Something definitely needs to be done. Another added: Cars go so fast and dont always indicate coming off the main road. Even when the school crossing lady is there you wonder if cars are going to stop. The councils cabinet member for waste, roads and community safety, Cllr Emma Hoddinott, said: We were sorry to hear about Mr Allsopps accident, and wish him a speedy recovery. We know that road safety is important to residents, and the council has made additional capital investment funding available to deliver schemes as a result. Because of this investment, work was already being prepared for a pedestrian crossing on Morthen Road and we expect it to be installed within the next twelve months. CUTS to police support officers hours will give a green light to criminals and drived dedicated officers out of the force, union officials have warned. The Advertiser revealed last week how South Yorkshire Police proposed to restrict PCSOs to nine-to-five shift pattern in a move neighbourhood watch members said would severely restrict their impact on crime and anti-social behaviour. Following last weeks story, we asked in an online poll if PCSOs did an important job, with 85 per cent of readers saying they did. Trade union Unite this week spoke out about the plans, saying visible police presence could disappear and PCSOs hit by a pay cut could decide to look for a different job. Branch secretary Andrew Whysall said: These changes will effectively slash visible policing in areas which have already been severely hit due to government cuts. By reducing PCSOs to office hours Monday to Friday, South Yorkshire police are effectively giving a green light to criminals to break the law and commit anti-social behaviour outside these hours. These proposed cuts will cause huge financial misery to our members and will force many to vote with their feet and leave their jobs, further damaging policing in South Yorkshire. The senior command team in South Yorkshire need to understand the key role that PCSOs play and preserve their roles for the good of local communities. Last week, assistant chief constable David Hartley said the review currently being consulted on aimed to ensure the police made the best use of their resources and insisted if any PCSOs positions were lost through resignations and retirements, rather than redundancies they would be replaced by police officers. Unite said cutting PCSOs patrolling hours would not only give carte blanche to criminals outside office hours but also see them losing an average of 450 a month. A spokesman said the impact would be so severe existing officers will be forced to seek alternative employment, which will further damage community cohesion. Our online story prompted a wave of comments praising PCSOs and saying they would be missed if their hours were cut. One reader said: They do a fantastic job, keeping a presence, making communities safe and residents peace of mind. They are important and needed on our streets. Another said: They do an amazing job dealing with anti-social behaviour and low level crime. They are visible to the public whilst officers are tied up with prisoners and paperwork. Mr Hartley denied the review was aimed at cost-cutting but said it was to build a service that is modern, fit for purpose and based upon clear roles and responsibilities. He said a final a decision would be made in the coming weeks on PCSOs future role. Irrfan Khan Mumbai, Apr 5: Actor Irrfan Khan has commenced shooting for the much-anticipated sequel to his 2017 blockbuster "Hindi Medium". The 52-year-old actor recently returned to the country. He went abroad last year after he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour. Maddock Films, the production company behind the original film, shared on Twitter that the sequel, titled "Angrezi Medium" and to be directed by Homi Adajania, started shooting in Udaipur. "What better start to this Friday than starting something that you all have been waiting for! Our power team, Producer #DineshVijan, Director #HomiAdajania, DOP #AnilMehta, @deepakdobriyal and the man himself @irrfank straight from the sets of #AngreziMedium in #Udaipur," the banner tweeted. The 2017 original was directed by Saket Chaudhary and also featured Pakistani actor Saba Qamar. The sequel will reportedly follow a fresh storyline. Advertisement Irrfan starts shooting for 'Angrezi Medium' in Udaipur Irrfan recently made a comeback to Twitter and in a statement, he expressed his gratitude towards his fans for standing by him during his health crisis. "Maybe somewhere in the pursuit of winning, we forget how much it means to be loved. In our vulnerability, we are reminded. "As I leave my footprints onto these steps of my life, I want to pause to be grateful for receiving your immense love and support, it soothed me in my process of healing. So I travel back to you, thanking you from the bottom of my heart," Irrfan wrote. The National Award-winning actor first spoke of his health on March 5, 2018, when he revealed that he was suffering from a "rare disease" but was yet to get a conclusive diagnosis. He later revealed he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of cancer that can target various parts of the body Prime Minister Narendra Modi Mumbai, Apr 5: A day after he was booked for his remarks against the Election Commission (EC), Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being a blackmailer. Addressing a poll rally at Akola in Maharashtra, Ambedkar alleged that Modi blackmailed the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her party saying if she did not want her son-in-law Robert Vadra to be in jail, they should refrain from joining hands with any other party. "Can anyone tell me why Congress did not have an alliance with any other party across the country? Modi had put a condition that if Congress party wants Rabert Vadra not to be in jail, then it should refrain from forging an alliance with any other party," he claimed. "That is why Congress did not have an alliance with any party. Modi is a blackmailer. He is blackmailing Sonia Gandhi and everyone else. Advertisement Prakash Ambedkar "This is Modi's style of functioning that Congress party did not have an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal," Ambedkar alleged. Ambedkar, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Akola and Solapur constituencies in Maharashtra as a candidate of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). VBA is an alliance of Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBA) and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM. The VBA is contesting all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Ambedkar was in talks with the Congress-NCP for the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress-NCP combine had been trying to bring Ambedkar, who has pockets of influence in the state, in its 'maha agadhi', a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties. However, talks in this regard remained inconclusive. Advertisement Sonia Gandhi On Thursday, Ambedkar had said at an election rally at Digras in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district that he will jail the EC for two days if voted to power for not letting political parties speak about the Pulwama terror attack. Later, a case was registered against him under IPC sections 503 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 189 (threat of injury to public servant). Rahul Gandhi Pune, Apr 5: Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was his "best friend", adding there can be no fights with her. Interacting with students here, Gandhi said he has seen a lot of violence affecting his family and refereed to the assassinations of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Interacting with students here, he gave an insight into his rapport with his younger sibling, who formally entered politics a few months ago, and childhood memories. Asked if ever has fights or arguments with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said, "There would be fights earlier. But not now. Since I was small, I have been through a lot of violence with the assassinations of my grandmother and father. "My sister has been my friend and we understand each other well. If there is a situation of argument, sometimes she backs off and sometimes I do." The Congress chief described his sister as his "best friend" and added, "We have been through life together." Advertisement Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Talking about celebrating Raksha Bandhan, a festival that signifies the brother-sister bond, Gandhi said he follows an uncommon rule and wears the `rakhi' (a protective thread tied on the right hand) till it breaks on its own. He said he loves Prime Minister Narendra Modi and harbours no ill-will or hatred towards him. "Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the PM. He doesn't feel the same way," he said. There were brief chants of "Modi, Modi" soon after this comment, to which Gandhi responded," Its fine.. its OK". Asked about his childhood memories, he said," I would hide behind the curtains in my grandmother's room (Indira Gandhi) and scare her when she entered. But, she would know I am in the room and just pretended to get scared." About a wish he would want from a genie, he said, "I would ask that all people I care for do well." To a question on retirement age for politicians, Rahul Gandhi said 60 years was a good age for them to call it quits. Rahul Gandhi Kalpetta (Ker), Apr 5: With sister Priyanka Gandhi by his side, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday filed his nomination from Wayanad in Kerala and said he is fighting the Lok Sabha polls from a second seat in the south besides the party bastion Amethi in the north to send a message of unity and that "India is one". In a bid to reach out to the Left, Gandhi, 48, also said he wouldn't say a word against the state's CPI(M)-led LDF government during his campaign and that he would "absorb all its criticisms with happiness". The Left is is miffed with Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad. Wayanad will witness a triangular contest with Left Front constituent CPI's P P Suneer and BJP-backed NDA candidate Thushar Vellappally also in the fray. Gandhi, who was also accompanied by senior Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik, submitted the nomination papers before district collector A R Ajayakumar at Wayanad district headquarters in Kalpetta. Advertisement Hundreds of workers of Congress and other allies in the party-led UDF assembled outside the district collectorate as Gandhi filed the nomination. Wayanad, a scenic hill area in the Western Ghats of Kerala, has a presence of various ethnic tribal groups. It is a Congress stronghold in South India. Braving the scorching heat, thousands of party workers--both men and women--gathered in Kalpetta town and its suburbs to have a glimpse of Rahul Gandhi. After completing the nomination procedures at the collectorate, Rahul Gandhi along with Priyanka Gandhi and senior leaders of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala undertook a roadshow to greet the voters of the constituency. The narrow lanes of Kalpetta town were packed with excited onlookers waiting in anticipation for the Congress chief and other party leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi Advertisement Talking to reporters after filing his nomination, Rahul Gandhi said he was fighting the polls from down south to send a message that India was one. "I have come to Kerala to send a message that India is one. South, north, east, west, centre... all are one... There is an assault taking place across the country by the RSS and BJP. I just want to send a message and I will stand from south India and north India. My aim was to give a message," he said. "There is a feeling in south India that the way the Narendra Modi government is functioning, their (south) culture, language, history all are being attacked. "So I wanted to give a message that I will fight from north and south," the Congress chief said, in response to his main opponent in Amethi, Union minister Smriti Irani, who had alleged that his decision to fight from Wayanad was an insult to the people of Amethi. Priyanka Gandhi appealed to people of Wayanad to take care of her brother and assured he would not let them down. "My brother, my truest friend, and by far the most courageous man I know. Take care of him Wayanad, he won't let you down," she tweeted after the roadshow. Party workers shouted that they would ensure a thumping victory for Gandhi. "We all are excited. All sections of people gathered here to greet our prime ministerial candidate. Advertisement We will ensure a thumping victory for Rahul ji from the soil of Pazhassi Raja," said Ashraf, a UDF worker, who came from Vandoor assembly constituency. Gandhi said he would "absorb all the criticisms" of the ruling LDF which is miffed over his Wayanad candidature, and made it clear he will not speak against the Left parties during his campaign. The CPI(M) and Congress have been locked in a fight in Kerala and it will go on, he told reporters, adding he wanted to send a message of unity. Lok Sabha polls 2019 "The CPI(M) and Congress have been locked in a fight in Kerala. This will go on. I understand that the CPI(M) has to fight me. But I am not going to say a word against them. "I am here to send a message of unity that south India is important and I fully understand that the CPI(M) has to attack me. So I will absorb all their attacks with happiness, but from me you will not hear a word against them in my campaign," Gandhi said. Advertisement He also said there were two main issues before the country--lack of jobs and agrarian crisis. "Farmers are unaware of what the future holds for them. Youngsters are running from state to state searching for jobs and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi has failed on both the fronts," he said while attacking the PM. Attacking Modi on the issue of corruption, the Congress leader said, "The country had faith on the prime minister when he said he would be the Chowkidar. But the Chowkidar himself has given Anil Ambani Rs 30,000 crore of Air Force money." The Centre and Anil Ambani have denied allegations of irregularities. As the massive crowd of supporters gathered on both sides of the narrow roads of Kalpetta, security personnel had a tough time controlling the people to clear the way for vehicles. Priyanka Gandhi, wearing a mustard and red border saree, and Rahul Gandhi waved to the crowd. As the vehicle inched forward, the Congress president shook hands with many elated supporters. People were seen clicking photos with their mobile phones and waving flags of Congress and its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). According to state Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi has an emotional link with Wayanad. An urn containing the ashes of Rahul's father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was brought to Wayanad in 1991 and they were immersed in Papanasini, a stream connected to a famous temple dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu in picturesque Thirunelli village, recalled Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala. Has someone coughed on your cornflakes this morning or are you always this annoyed with the state of things? Why is the world so wound-up? A few weeks ago, I penned an article about 'Sheeple'. About how there's a lack of free-thinking these days and that if 'it' is written 'it' is, by default, true. For the most part, people took it for what it was. A slice of semi-spiteful railing against the phone-zombies that we are fast becoming. There were a few that took exception at mixed-metaphors (intentional, believe it or not) or even the use of 'sheeple', and I couldn't help but smile. I refer to snowflakes later on. That should be fun. There's an old African saying... "If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm. Of late, and of numerous lattes, I've come to notice that a great many people, with whom I interact regularly - like particles zipping about the galaxy - are increasingly prone to impromptu outbursts. Not the red-faced, vein-bulging, spittle-flecked, vitriolic releases that can often be cathartic but rather the more passive aggressive, slunk-shouldered sigh. The apathetic rage dilemma is very real. There's no clear sign that one of your colleagues is going to catch a mild to mid level strain of 'offended'. The symptoms are hard to gauge. Patient - 'Doctor, doctor, I'm simply galled by anything that does not fit my way of thinking!' Doctor - 'Ah, I see, you have a case of the me, me, me's'. Patient - 'That offends me.' Doctor - 'Of course it does, that's the first symptom.' Patient - 'What do I do about it?' Doctor - 'I have no idea, stop digesting things that upset you?' Patient - 'How, very dare you!' You will have noticed the above has no punchline...I could write one, but it would be a 50/50 split on being funny/offensive. Pixabay The thing is, despite the fact that people are working towards equality in many areas (gender fluidity, women's rights, racism, cultural appropriation), avenues from which folk can toss off abuse in darkened rooms and watch as their bile-grenade explodes in binary, mean there is a greater chance to come across material that causes offense. Yesteryear, when I were a lad, you avoided the mentalist spouting off about aliens, you crossed the road when the no-pants-cyclist (naked from waist down) was on the way (this was a sleepy seaside town, not Royston Vasey) and, you didn't join the far-right groups for their weekly pints of Scrumpy (Somerset faction) - unless, of course, your ideology met with theirs. Along with diversity and acceptance there's also a scent of certain people feeling that they no longer have to merely suck it up and 'deal with it' when someone says things they don't like. So to, there are more platforms to voice dissatisfaction. Multiculturalism, is another aspect to consider. Great for the future of all people all together and altogether together but not so for those who have relied on bigotry, bile and bluster to have made it this far in life. Thus, for these and them (very much, possibly we), there are new rules to learn. Things that are okay for one group are not okay for another. It is very easy to simply stand with balled up fists and gritted teeth and say "it's political correctness gotten out of hand." When the truth is, were either one of two categories: We are offending someone Or We are being offended by someone. This is starting to tear the world apart one individual at a time. Why is it, though, that some people never seem to be offended by anything at all and others are so sensitive theyre offended by the way another breathes, chews, smells? It has gotten to the point that a certain subsection of the population are priming themselves to be upset. That they actively seek material that will have them sputtering and muttering from the moment they wake till the moment they sleep. Presumably also grumbling and mumbling through disturbed circadian rhythms. Why can't we all just get along? Can we not agree to disagree and Just. Move. On. Maybe the doctor described above could prescribe group therapy....a giant collective hug, perchance. Nope. Just ask Joe Biden. So, you can argue that you choose to be offended: you see, hear, taste, smell, experience something. You process it through your own unique filtering system and out of the end of said synapse filled mechanics you like it or you don't. How you react is your choice. Voice your opinion or hold it in. 'Which is for the best?' 'How will others react to my view?' 'If I don't say something, then this person will think it is ok to act/speak/behave this way!' If, being offended is fundamentally a choice, why are so many of us offended by so many different things? Just as one person likes chocolate, another prefers cashews. There are those that like chocolate covered cashews, but they are weirdos. Plain and simple. The snack, not the people. Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right. Ricky Gervais Snowflakes versus right to speak The term Snowflake, is, according to the Cambridge dictionary: a way of referring to the type of young people who are considered by some people to be too easily upset and offended. I'm teetering on being offended by the reference to 'young', which in some ways breaks the above statement in half. What would happen, though, if instead of being enslaved to this need to walk through a world where everyone agrees with us, just in case our feelings get hurt, what if we decided to live and let live? Would it be, as Agent Smith once said, a case of our basic programming rejecting a status quo. Do we need, at some primal level, something to react against? A catalyst that, however hackneyed, sets us to realizing our differences from each other. Are we so self-righteous to assume that what we find to be offensive is to be banned. Are vices or principles for one to be considered negative for all? And this is the meat of it, right (no offense intended, vegans, so no lynching needed)? There are far too many areas that are clearly outlined with predetermined boundaries of taste. This quote from a Quora user (Daniel Shai) is a neat summing up of the right to be offended against the use of offense as a means to stop A.N. Other's point getting across: "Theres this thing about individuality these days. Its in to be yourself, but we are not really being ourselves or being individuals. Were being defensive pricks, by not letting others be themselves. Its not a respectful and truly open and authentic case of Im expressing my individuality and you are expressing yours, in an energy of openness, and there is no judgment. Its more like Dont express your individuality too freely because it gets in the way of me expressing mine. Ill stop you from doing that by getting offended, because I know you dont want to offend. Its not a conscious doing, though. If it were conscious it would immediately be dropped because it would be seen how nonsensical it is to think this way." To offer an example, I found the sharing of the recent Christchurch Mosque Massacre to be inherently disgusting. An affront to the pain and suffering of the families and communities affected by such an atrocity. I was appalled at how quickly news agencies shared the footage, desperate for clicks. Frenziedly feeding off the shock and horror. RTL did not carry the footage. And rightly so. Millions of people did. Smaller groups made fun of the images and posted memes minutes after the headlines broke! How soon is too soon? Common sense and decency should be the barometer. But as the old adage goes, there's is no greater censorship than that which is in your control. I have not sought out the footage, nor will I choose to in the future. In much the same way as I choose not to partake in activities that I don't want to. 'Ahhh, but, yes, Stephen, forcing yourself to view something difficult and challenging encourages you to learn and makes you a better person." No it doesn't. Not necessarily. I know what a person being killed looks like. I can comprehend the devastation of real-life footage. I can read a book, an article or whichever media that can ascribe the circumstance and the likely aftermath of such things. And while the term snowflake is most-often used as a derisory term, surely a generation of people saying aloud what they think and feel and actively seeking to understand the subject they are raising, is a million times better than simply folding your arms and shaking your head. And, if this article offends you...I offer zero apology. Worried that you may be a 'snowflake'? Take a Snowflake Test, right here. (2017 version, created by Kyle Reyes) Stephen Lowe is a freelance journalist, editor with RTL Today, a freelance DJ on Eldoradio and a short film director/producer. California is home to about one out of every five charter schools in the United States, but state oversight of them is far from a national model. Since the Charter Schools Act of 1992 was passed more than a quarter-century ago, a political standoff in Sacramento has made it almost impossible to repair even the parts of the charter law that no one disputes are broken. Even though Democrats have a firm grip on the Legislature, they are not united on charter schools. Torn between allegiances to pro-charter philanthropists and the powerful teachers union, lawmakers have for years begun each legislative session by introducing a handful of bills favorable to one side or the other. Many have died in committee. Those that have made it to a governors desk often have been vetoed. With the arrival of Gov. Gavin Newsom, there are signs that the gridlock is ending. Advertisement Part 1: How a couple worked charter school regulations to make millions Part 2: Small districts reap big profits by approving charter schools with little oversight Shortly after he was sworn in, Newsom instructed lawmakers to fast-track charter legislation that politicians had been arguing over for years. The law he signed earlier this month makes charter schools subject to the same public records, open meeting and conflict-of-interest laws that apply to traditional public schools. Leadership matters. Who is at the top matters, said state Sen. Connie Leyva (D- Chino), who chairs the Senate Education Committee. We have a new governor who is interested in transparency, hes interested in these issues and he wanted to make it happen. How far Newsom will go to tighten regulation of charters remains to be seen, however and theres reason to be cautious in predicting legislative support. For 27 years, the teachers union and pro-charter advocates have been fighting a custody battle over Californias public schoolchildren and the state funding that follows them. Although the California Teachers Assn. and the California Charter Schools Assn. insist that they are willing to negotiate with each other, there has been scant evidence of cooperation. Both organizations have spent millions to sway public opinion far beyond Sacramento. In charter-packed L.A. and Oakland, school board elections have become proxy wars. The result mostly has been policy paralysis. With the exception of a few tweaks around the edges, charters regulatory framework has remained frozen in amber a reflection of ideas that made sense more than two decades ago, when the schools were new and rare. The two sides have rejected even each others most modest suggestions for change. At times, each has pushed aggressive measures wholly unacceptable to the other when compromise might have been possible. Neither has fought for the kind of change that experts say could be most meaningful stronger regulations that are already in place in many other states. Theres been almost no political action to think about how we can do this better, said UCLA education professor John Rogers. Of the 44 states that have charter school laws on the books, at least half have enacted quality control measures that dont exist in California, according to a recent analysis by Harvard University researchers. Many states hold authorizers to a set of performance standards. Some sanction authorizers or dont let them approve new schools if they are negligent, sponsor charters with poor track records or try to block every applicant. Six states and Washington, D.C., have created independent chartering boards on the theory that forcing state education agencies to act as authorizers distracts them from their main jobs and often leads to weak oversight. The good news, and frustrating news, is we know how to do this. You can go to places and see good authorizing. Its not like were trying to put a person on Saturn, said Greg Richmond, president and CEO of the National Assn. of Charter School Authorizers, citing New York, Washington and Boston as examples of success. As the founder of a nonprofit that helps launch new charter schools, Dirk Tillotson knows the problems with Californias charter law. Tillotson has spent more than 20 years bouncing between Oakland and New York City, where he helped open 17 charter schools. Both cities have experienced astonishing charter booms, which have been followed by backlashes led by progressives alarmed by the influence of ultra-wealthy charter school backers. Dirk Tillotson, founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Great Schools Choices, has helped open charter schools in Oakland and New York City. He says New York has a stable system for authorizing schools whereas the politics in California are unpredictable. (Mason Trinca / For The Times) New York, Tillotson said, is a far better place to open a charter school, and not just because state funding is more generous. Rather than deputizing every school district to approve, deny and supervise charters, New York reserves that job primarily for the State Board of Regents and the State University of New York Board of Trustees. Though neither of the institutions can claim to be completely impervious to shifting political winds, they have developed expertise, consistent methods and scale. New York is much better than here because theres predictability, Tillotson said. Theres a set of standards that are relatively equally applied across the board.... But in California, the politics of it make it a crapshoot. Here, its the Wild West. Over the years, study after study has come to a similar conclusion that Californias system of charter authorizers needs an overhaul. Fifteen years ago, in 2004, the Legislative Analysts Office called for the Legislature to build checks and balances into the process by creating basic criteria for authorizers and empowering the state to bar those that failed to meet those standards from future charter supervision. In 2010, the nonpartisan Little Hoover Commission called the system dysfunctional and urged lawmakers to assign charter-oversight duties to an independent state commission. In 2016, the National Assn. of Charter School Authorizers, in a report on Californias law, said that the state allowed far too many authorizing bodies. There are some advantages to local oversight, including direct familiarity with student needs and relationships with social services, the association said. But the current policy has produced a crazy quilt of charter oversight characterized by extreme variances in authorizing attitudes, practices, and quality from one district to the next. Neither the states labor unions nor charter proponents have been eager to embrace and push legislators to embrace the prescriptions for how to solve these well-documented problems. Teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School district rally during their strike in January. Attempts to change California charter school policy often fall into a debate between teachers unions and wealthy charter school benefactors. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The problem is that making changes requires those who have certain powers and freedoms to be willing to give them up. The California Teachers Assn. has opposed the rapid expansion of charter schools, which are mostly not unionized. But if those schools keep multiplying, then the union would prefer keeping regulatory authority at the local level, where the association has been able to forge relationships with and help elect school board leaders. As a result, the teachers union has become a defender of local control, arguing that school districts are the best gatekeepers of charter schools and that they need more power to make decisions, not less. We believe that charter schools should be authorized by local school boards. Those are the ones accountable to the voters, said California Teachers Assn. President Eric Heins. To those who argue that local control leads to inconsistent regulation, Heins says: Its like saying democracy is chaotic. Well yeah, but democracy is the best system we have. The argument for local control resonates in districts like Oakland, where about 26% of the 50,000 students enrolled in charter schools last year, and Inglewood, where 29% did. Students leaving their local schools for charters have helped push those already financially struggling districts to the brink of fiscal crisis, and have led to calls for a moratorium on new charters. Without such a step, supporters say, the districts will never recover financially or academically. Lawmakers aligned with the union have repeatedly proposed legislation to allow districts to reject charters if they pose a financial hardship to traditional public schools. They also have argued for reducing appeals, giving districts final say on most charter petitions. Many charter supporters, however, say that a system that allows school districts to authorize charter schools is like putting the taxi industry in charge of regulating Uber and Lyft. Because school districts view charter schools as competition, they argue, they have an inherent conflict of interest. There was supposed to be a dynamic tension, and a certain amount of it is healthy and good, said Myrna Castrejon, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Assn. But often in a highly politicized environment, without clear guardrails, it can really easily devolve. Some in the pro-charter movement suggest that it would be better to create a system that left charter authorization decisions to county boards, which are not direct competitors. But others counter that charter school proponents would then just try to stack the county boards of education with pro-charter people. Former state Sen. Gary Hart, the author of the original charter school law, said in an interview that after the 1992 law passed, he quickly realized that it was wrong to assume that school board members would have the time and inclination to monitor charter schools properly. He still believes that districts should play a role but now tends to think that California needs authorizers insulated from day-to-day politics. If I had to do it all over again, Im not sure granting chartering authority to school boards makes a lot of sense, he said. It was a little bit of a pipe dream. Hundreds of charter supporters turn out to protest as Los Angeles Unified School District board members consider a resolution in January calling on state officials to support a moratorium on new charter schools in Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Newsom was not many charter advocates favorite candidate for governor. Though he was supportive of charter schools as mayor of San Francisco, he did not share Gov. Browns personal connection as a former charter school founder. On the campaign trail, Newsom was endorsed by the California Teachers Assn. and called for a moratorium on new charters. Also, charter supporters spent $23 million in the gubernatorial primary to try to elect former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. But Newsoms election isnt the only reason those who want to change the charter law now see opportunity. Hed been in office just about a week when L.A. teachers staged their first strike in 30 years. In the national spotlight, they called for higher pay, smaller class sizes, more funding for public education. They also spoke out forcefully about charters schooling the public about the financial consequences when charter schools woo away traditional public school students and the funding that goes with them. The teachers union asked for a cap on new charters. It asked for tougher regulation. After the strike ended, the L.A. school board voted to call for a temporary moratorium on new charter schools in the district while it studies their effects on traditional schools. The next month, striking Oakland teachers won a pledge from their district to put opening new charters on pause. Even if Newsoms preference might have been to push off charter school issues in favor of other projects, Rogers said, he doesnt have the luxury of not attending to it because of the political dynamics. Charter advocates know theyre on shaky ground. They have tried to ally themselves with striking teachers calls for more public school funding, while rejecting the premise that charters contribute to district schools money woes. Meanwhile, a package of union-friendly bills that would cap charter school growth, restrict charters right to appeal and allow districts more latitude to reject their petitions has been introduced in the statehouse. Other proposed legislation would bar charters from opening schools outside their authorizing districts. These combined proposals would have the effect of concentrating power in the hands of school districts. Castrejon claimed they would force the closure of the majority of charter schools within five years. To me, that seems like their end goal, she said. California lawmakers could, of course, remain paralyzed, trapped between opposing sides, fearful of incurring either the unions or the charter backers wrath. The system could default to doing what it has done in the past: addressing peripheral issues and leaving the core problems in the charter law unresolved. Last summer, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson convened a panel of experts to consider ways to improve the law. The group disbanded without agreeing on a set of recommendations. Newsom has requested a new task force to study the fiscal impact of charter schools on school districts. Its supposed to report back in July. anna.phillips@latimes.com Twitter: @annamphillips The warning signs appeared soon after Denise Kawamoto accepted a job at Todays Fresh Start Charter School in South Los Angeles. Though she was fresh out of college, she was pretty sure it wasnt normal for the school to churn so quickly through teachers or to mount surveillance cameras in each classroom. Old computers were lying around, but the campus had no internet access. Pay was low and supplies scarce she wasnt given books for her students. She struggled to reconcile the schools conditions with what little she knew about its wealthy founders, Clark and Jeanette Parker of Beverly Hills. When Kawamoto saw their late-model Mercedes-Benz outside the school, she would think: Look at your school, then look at what you drive. That didnt sit well with us teachers, she said. The Parkers have cast themselves as selfless philanthropists, telling the California Board of Education that they have devoted all of our lives to the education of other peoples children, committed many millions of our own dollars directly to that particular purpose, with no gain directly to us. But the couple have, in fact, made millions from their charter schools. Financial records show the Parkers schools have paid more than $800,000 annually to rent buildings the couple own. The charters have contracted out services to the Parkers nonprofits and companies and paid Clark Parker generous consulting fees, all with taxpayer money, a Times investigation found. Presented with The Times findings, the Parkers did not respond to multiple requests for comment. How the Parkers have stayed in business, surviving years of allegations of financial and academic wrongdoing, illustrates glaring flaws in the way California oversees its growing number of charter schools. Many of the people responsible for regulating the couples schools, including school board members and state elected officials, had accepted thousands of dollars from the Parkers in campaign contributions. Like other charter operators who have run into trouble, the Parkers were able to appeal to the state Board of Education when they faced the threat of being shut down; the panel is known for overturning local regulators decisions. A Times analysis of the state boards decisions has found that, over the last five years, it has sided with charters over local school districts or county offices of education in about 70% of appeals. California law also enables troubled charter operators to escape sanction or scrutiny by moving to school districts more willing to accept them. The Parkers have used this to their advantage, keeping one step ahead of the regulators. Theyre like cats, said Kawamoto, who began working at one of the couples charter schools in 2006. They have so many lives. Yanin Ardila, left, and Denise Kawamoto are former teachers at Today's Fresh Start in Los Angeles who were dismayed by poor classroom conditions. Christina House / Los Angeles Times California now has more than 1,300 charter schools more than any other state. Twenty-seven years ago, when California became just the second state to enact a law establishing charter schools, state leaders framed the experiment as a modest one that would allow only 100 schools at first. Free-market advocates saw charters as a way to empower all students to choose from a variety of schools. Other supporters envisioned them as laboratories for testing new teaching methods and then bringing successes back to traditional public schools. The new, privately operated schools would be government-funded and tuition-free. They would unleash creativity by liberating schools from many of the state education codes rules. But to ensure that they lived up to their promises and spent public money properly, they would have to be vetted and overseen by governmental bodies, beginning with the school districts in which they were located. That was sufficient check and balance for the civic-minded individuals who ran many charter schools. But as the number of charters in the state grew, the same law that allowed many founders to try new ideas with great success created opportunities for others. The law allowed for a multitude of different bodies to serve as authorizers, watching over the new schools. It gave oversight power not just to the state board, but also to each of the states many school districts and county boards of education regardless of whether they had the ability or inclination to properly police the independently run schools. About 330 government entities have the authority to authorize and supervise charters in California. By contrast, Texas, the state with the second-largest number of charter schools, has 18, according to its state education agency. New York has two active authorizers. Los Angeles Unified, the nations second-largest school district, has an entire division devoted to overseeing the charters it authorizes and is considered one of the states most robust monitors. But the roster of charter authorizers also includes school districts with colorful histories of corruption and financial mismanagement. Some are so small that they have fewer than a dozen employees in all, with insufficient resources to be effective watchdogs. The system has given rise to many well-respected charter organizations across the state, including KIPP and Green Dot Public Schools, which reach students in neighborhoods desperate for better options. But it also has allowed unscrupulous entrepreneurs to profit from a fragile and fractured regulatory patchwork. In L.A., the founder of the charter school network Celerity Educational Group recently pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to misappropriate and embezzle public funds. Federal prosecutors found that Vielka McFarlane had used her charter schools credit card to pay for expensive clothing, luxury hotel stays and first-class flights for her and her family. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Oxford Preparatory Academy, a Chino charter, was forced to close in 2017 after an audit determined that the schools founder had been laundering state funds through her private company. Another audit found that a charter network CEO in Livermore had misspent $67 million in tax-exempt bonds and tried to mislead auditors. When the network filed for bankruptcy and closed its four charter schools, 1,500 students were displaced. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation earlier this month requiring more transparency and stricter conflict-of-interest rules for charter schools. Those reforms could lead to changes when they take effect next year. But they are unlikely to fix the structural issues that have allowed problem charter school operators to circumvent oversight. There are wildly different levels of attention being paid to these schools, and charter schools are finding ways to shop around for the weakest oversight, said Greg Richmond, president of the National Assn. of Charter School Authorizers. As long as Californias authorizing structure stays fragmented across more than 300 different entities, youre going to keep having these problems. The Parkers live in a 7,700-square-foot home in Beverly Hills with an estimated value of about $15.3 million. Jeanette Parker is a past president of the Beverly Hills Republican Club, author of the self-published book Will You Marry Me? Jesus Christ Proposes to You! and a regular contributor to L.A.s largest black newspaper, the Los Angeles Sentinel, which publishes her columns on topics such as single motherhood and why eggs come in many colors. As superintendent of Todays Fresh Start, she is paid an annual salary of about $285,000. Her husband, Clark, is a businessman, a vendor of security devices and a real estate developer who, in an online biography, says he has developed hundreds of commercial and residential properties in Southern California. He sits on the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District and lists among his accolades the title of honorary consul general of the Central African Republic. The Parkers are in their 70s. Between them, they have two PhDs and a doctorate of theology from the University of Central Arizona (a two-man operation forced to stop conferring degrees in 1980, according to contemporaneous reports in the Arizona Republic), St. Charles University, and Pacific International University. Both St. Charles and Pacific International are listed in Degree Mills: The Billion-Dollar Industry That Has Sold Over a Million Fake Diplomas, a book about unaccredited for-profit colleges accused of selling degrees co-written by Allen Ezell, a former FBI agent who ran a task force on diploma mills. Jeanette and Clark Parker, founders of Todays Fresh Start, pictured in 2015. (L.A. School Report) The Parkers live in this 7,700 square-foot home in Beverly Hills, with an estimated value of about $15.3 million. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Jeanette and Clark Parker, founders of Todays Fresh Start, pictured in 2015. The Parkers live in this 7,700 square-foot home in Beverly Hills, with an estimated value of about $15.3 million. (L.A. School Report; Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) In examining Todays Fresh Start, The Times interviewed 11 current and former teachers and administrators; reviewed hundreds of pages of financial and legal records; and spoke to those responsible for overseeing the organizations schools. It found that there were plenty of reasons to be wary of the Parkers well before the couple opened their first charter school. The couples first foray into education was in 1968, when they opened a collection of day-care centers in South L.A. under the name Golden Day Schools. As director, Clark Parker won lucrative state contracts to enroll children from low-income families until 2011, when state officials cut him off, citing serious, chronic, and systemic program violations. Two state audits of the day-care program accused the nonprofit of falsifying records, padding attendance figures and spending public money to pay above-market rent for properties owned by the Parkers. The organization, which the state said Clark Parker oversaw, had also used public funds to reimburse itself for parking tickets, Clark Parkers personal property taxes and vehicle registration fees for his Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz costs that state investigators determined had nothing to do with child care. In 2003, the Los Angeles County Office of Education approved Jeanette Parkers petition to open a charter school. Over the next 16 years, Todays Fresh Start expanded from a single campus to the three sites it currently operates in Los Angeles, Compton and Inglewood. Enrollment swelled from 282 students to 1,150 in grades K-8 last school year. The vast majority of its students are African American or Latino children from financially struggling families. As soon as we approved them, we started getting signs they werent really operating in the best interests of students and teachers, said Darline Robles, a USC professor of education who was superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education when it authorized Todays Fresh Start. In 2007, a Todays Fresh Start teacher tipped off Robles staff to the possibility that the charter was tampering with the states standardized tests. An investigation ultimately found that something had gone wrong students had been asked to revisit portions of the exams they had already completed. No one could say how many children had participated, or at whose direction, but it was serious enough that county officials proposed sending monitors to oversee testing. Jeanette Parker refused, writing, There is no state law requiring proctors. In response, the county widened its inquiry. Officials learned that Todays Fresh Start was renting buildings owned by the Parkers and paying Golden Day Schools, their state-funded child-care business, to provide food for the charters students. The charter network had also spent most of a $50,000 state grant to hire an unaccredited university to recommend ways to improve its charter schools. That university was founded by Jeanette Parker. Accused by the county of self-dealing, financial conflicts of interest and wrongly administering the state tests, Jeanette Parker rejected the countys findings. She said she already had addressed her financial interest in contracts and leases by recusing herself from voting on them, leaving those decisions to the charter networks governing board. That was an argument that could stand up only if the networks board was independent. But county officials found that more than half of its members who included the Parkers had a financial stake in the schools. Thus, it appears that Jeanette Parker approves her own actions, evaluates her own performance, sets her own salary and single-handedly decides what will occur at TFSCS, county officials wrote in a report laying out the case for revoking the charter. In late 2007, the L.A. County Board of Education voted to close Todays Fresh Start, citing more than 50 legal and regulatory violations. One of three Todays Fresh Start charter school campuses, this one located in Inglewood. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Todays Fresh Start Charter School in Los Angeles, one of three campuses overseen by Jeanette Parker. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) One of three Today's Fresh Start charter school campuses, this one located in Compton. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Each of Todays Fresh Start campuses, located in Inglewood (top), Los Angeles (bottom left), and Compton (bottom right). (Mel Melcon and Christina House / Los Angeles Times) In states such as New York or Massachusetts, where the power to authorize and oversee charter schools is concentrated in the hands of a select few regulatory bodies, that might have marked the end of the Parkers journey. In California, it was only the beginning. The Parkers sued the county to try to get its decision overturned and keep their schools open. While that case was pending, they appealed to the State Board of Education, an 11-member body appointed by the governor that has the power to overrule decisions by school districts and county boards. The board often grants appeals to charters that have been rejected elsewhere, sometimes for serious financial and academic failings. Though it is supposed to be a standard-bearer of sorts for other authorizers, the state board has a reputation for leniency. Charter schools approved by the state board win by losing, said Thomas Saenz, a civil rights attorney who sits on the L.A. County Board of Education and voted to revoke Todays Fresh Starts charter. They lose in front of the school district or the county, but they win because they get the state as an overseer, and that means they get less oversight. In 2010, the year they made their case to the state board, the Parkers spent $15,000 on lobbyists. An NAACP representative came out to support them, as did former Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally, who in the course of his political career had received tens of thousands of dollars from the Parkers. I might have been lobbied for Todays Fresh Start more than any other vote I cast on the state board, said former state board member Ben Austin, who had misgivings about allowing the charter to stay open. Austin said he was especially troubled by the charters academic performance. Its test scores swung wildly, from lows that landed it on a state list of persistently lowest-achieving schools to large increases in the span of a year. The pressure to approve the charter was intense, he said. Im white. And I was getting lobbied by African American leaders to vote in a way they perceived would serve the African American community, Austin said. Thats a fairly uncomfortable position to be in. Recordings of state board meetings show there was little discussion of the L.A. County Board of Educations findings of self-dealing, regulatory violations and testing irregularities. Problems at the Golden Day centers didnt come up. State Supt. of Instruction Jack OConnell led department staff in recommending that the board keep Todays Fresh Start open, which the board including Austin unanimously approved. The new school year was only weeks away and if the vote had been no, hundreds of students would have had to scramble to find a new school. During OConnells two terms in office, campaign finance records show, the Parkers had donated more than $73,000 to his various political committees. OConnell said the money played no role in his decision. In the case of Fresh Start, it was one of those occasions where I agreed with the state board, he wrote to The Times. The charter served an overwhelming number of low-income, minority kids that I believed would contribute to my overarching focus on closing the achievement gap. Austin wasnt as confident. In retrospect, he said, Im not sure it was the best outcome for kids. Several months after the state board voted to renew Todays Fresh Starts charter, a teacher contacted county and state education officials. I would like to report on a school in Los Angeles that is run poorly and is a danger to their students, wrote Andrew Goudy on the first of nine pages that detailed problems including cracks in classroom walls, broken air-conditioning and heating systems, and cafeteria food served spoiled or undercooked. He had, he wrote, maybe one textbook for every three students. Goudy wrote that hed overheard an administrator call several students a total waste and speak of the opportunity to get rid of those with disabilities. Years later, in an interview with The Times, he said he had never worked at a school that showed so little regard for students well-being. Every day, it was like, what should I do? Goudy said. Should I run in there and call 911? Should I just get out and work at Starbucks? The choice, he said, was made for him. Shortly after he sent the emails, he said, he was fired. A state employee emailed back, promising to address his concerns. Its unclear if anyone did. As years went by, Goudy lost hope that there would ever be consequences. He died in October 2018 at the age of 48. In interviews, former and current Todays Fresh Start teachers echoed his concerns. The more experienced among them said they knew the charter was receiving millions of dollars in government funding each year an amount tied to its enrollment but they could not see evidence of where the money went. When Yanin Ardila was hired in 2009, she arrived to find no workbooks, notebooks or crayons for her students, she said. Half a dozen kindergartners had been plopped into her first-grade class because they didnt have a classroom or a teacher of their own. On a few occasions, she said, she had to intervene to stop the staff from serving children bread that was past its expiration date. When Yanin Ardila was hired at Todays Fresh Start in 2009, she arrived to find no workbooks, no notebooks or crayons for her students. They didnt care about students, it was just about the money, she said of the schools leaders. Christina House / Los Angeles Times In a 2014 interview with Beverly Hills Weekly, Jeanette Parker said her motives for opening Todays Fresh Start were charitable. I wanted to start the charter school personally because I saw the need to educate the inner-city youth, she told the weekly newspaper. She had grown up in Birmingham, Ala., with little money, she said. She wanted to reach students like herself. Ardila saw it differently. They didnt care about students, it was just about money, she said of the schools leaders. After spending a year in a cockroach-infested classroom, she said, she was moved into a nicer space. But the school remained a chaotic place. She left after three years for a job at another charter school. Kawamoto, the former Todays Fresh Start teacher who wasnt given books for her students, said she was suspicious of the odd way in which she was paid. She said she was told to fill out two sets of time cards, making it seem as though she divided her time between the charter school where she worked and one of the Parkers day-care centers, which operated out of the same location. At the end of each month, her salary was split into two paychecks, she said. Goudy and Ardila who had never worked for Golden Day said they also were paid in this way. While Todays Fresh Start was under the county education boards oversight, officials there tried to interest the L.A. County district attorneys office in investigating the Parkers financial practices. Prosecutors began an inquiry but closed it after interviewing two teachers, according to a memo the office provided to The Times. There does not appear to be any fraud involved, they wrote. In its 2011 audit of the Parkers day-care operations, the state reached a different conclusion. It found that as Golden Days director, Clark Parker had been systematically overbilling the state Department of Education and using money meant for his day-care centers to pay the salaries of Todays Fresh Start employees. In court filings, Parker disputed the states account. He said that some of his employees had worked for both the day-care centers and the charter schools. The audit is flawed and it should be dismissed because it is written by Biased Auditors and it is based on speculation, he wrote in a request for an appeal. State officials were not persuaded; they stopped funding the day-care centers. The state Department of Education is currently suing Golden Day and Clark Parker to recover more than $19 million it says the nonprofit misspent. State officials had decided they could no longer trust Clark Parker to run a day-care business, but they allowed his wifes charter schools to stay open. Staying in business required Todays Fresh Start to keep moving from one authorizer to another. In 2009, the Parkers persuaded the Inglewood Unified School District to let them operate a school under its oversight. With the help of a nearly $20-million facilities grant from the state, the couple built a large, boldly colored school building on a stretch of Imperial Highway known for prostitution. Inglewood proved to be unequipped to oversee a charter school. In 2012, with its finances in complete disarray, the district was taken over by the state Department of Education. Overwhelmed and subjected to a rotating cast of state-appointed leaders, it paid little attention to the districts charters. Asked for copies of charter oversight and inspection reports dating back to when it first authorized Todays Fresh Start, the district said it had none. Oversight in Inglewood was so lax that in 2015, when the Parkers asked to have their charter renewed, district officials sat on the request, blowing a 60-day deadline. As a result, Todays Fresh Starts Inglewood charter was automatically renewed until 2020. State Administrator Thelma Melendez, who was chosen in 2017 to lead the district, said that Inglewood doesnt have the staff to oversee its charters as rigorously as a large district such as L.A. Unified. Like many small districts, it cant afford to devote even one employee to the task full time. There are signs, however, that Melendez is paying more attention than her predecessors. Earlier this month, she sent Jeanette Parker a letter expressing concern over the charters test scores and asking for a detailed plan for their improvement. Inglewood gave the Parkers a secure foothold, but it was only a partial answer to their problems. Jeanette Parker had never stopped fighting the countys decision to revoke her charter even though the State Board of Education had taken over the countys supervisory duties. In 2015, when the California Supreme Court upheld the revocation, and other regulatory changes took effect, Todays Fresh Start could no longer operate its schools in South L.A. and Compton under the state boards oversight. The Parkers, looking for a lifeline, turned to the two districts in which the schools were located: L.A. Unified and Compton Unified. Officials in L.A. took a hard look at Todays Fresh Start and saw how the Parkers schools had become more entangled with their financial interests. After five years under state oversight, they were still using public money to rent buildings they owned. Clark Parker was no longer on the board of Todays Fresh Start he was on the payroll. Board minutes showed that his wifes schools had hired him to manage construction of the Inglewood school. His initial contract was for $575,000. In a strongly worded report to the school board, L.A. Unified officials wrote that the Parkers had potentially broken Californias conflict-of-interest laws. They were also concerned about the charters academics. Although officials found Todays Fresh Starts test scores acceptable, they wrote that the charter was struggling with English learners. These students made up 30% of the charters population, yet over a two-year period, not a single one had been reclassified as English-proficient. The Parkers denied any wrongdoing. In a speech to the board, Clark Parker said that Todays Fresh Start should be judged on how much it had raised its students test scores, not on other issues. The schools were trouble-free, he said, not one incident of any problem at all. Clark Parkers wifes charter schools hired him to manage construction of a new site in Inglewood. Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times The couples lawyer argued that L.A. Unified was unfairly holding them to a stricter conflict-of-interest law that applied to district-run schools. The law that applied to charters was different. The L.A. school board rejected Todays Fresh Starts petition. If the charter schools were going to stay open, the Parkers would need to find another authorizing body. In July 2015, Todays Fresh Start became the first charter approved by Compton Unified, a district that had been struggling under a cloud of mismanagement and corruption for decades. Compton assumed responsibility for overseeing two of the groups sites one in Compton and one in South L.A. In response to questions from The Times, district Supt. Darin Brawley said that he had visited the schools twice, most recently in 2017. But when asked for records from these visits, district officials said they had none. Nor did they have any of the financial records, such as bank statements, annual tax filings, contracts or lease agreements, that vigilant authorizers use to monitor charter schools. The Parkers became major donors to the political campaigns of two Compton Unified board members. Compton school board races are often small-time affairs. With unions picking up the cost of mailers and phone banking, candidates have raised less than $10,000 and still won. The Parkers wrote large checks over the course of the last several years, they have given more than $21,000 to Compton Unified board President Micah Ali and Vice President Satra Zurita. Neither Ali nor Zurita responded to requests for comment. In late 2017, as Compton was considering whether to renew Todays Fresh Start, district staff prepared a report listing some of the charter petitions deficiencies. They noted that Jeanette Parker had not disclosed who was on her organizations board or whom her charter was doing business with. Please note that the petition is generally vague and inconsistent regarding the details of the programs outlined in the petition, the report said. Still, district officials recommended renewal. They had been assured, Brawley said, that the deficiencies identified in the petition would be rectified. When the charters renewal came up in December, Compton school board members did not discuss the charters academic performance. They did not question the Parkers, who sat before them in the audience. What they did was a foregone conclusion. The board took less than a minute to vote unanimously to renew Todays Fresh Start until June 2023. Zahira Torres, a former Times staff writer, contributed to this report. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. anna.phillips@latimes.com Twitter: @annamphillips Cholera cases in cyclone-hit Mozambique have risen above 1,400, government officials said Tuesday, as hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses arrived in an attempt to limit the rapid spread of the disease. Authorities announced a second death from cholera, which causes acute diarrhea and is spread by contaminated food and water conditions that some 128,000 displaced cyclone survivors now risk daily while living in temporary, often crowded, shelters. Cholera can kill within hours if not treated. The cholera outbreak has grown swiftly since it was declared last week with five confirmed cases. Now there are 1,428, most of them in the hard-hit port city of Beira, which has been the hub of relief efforts since Cyclone Idai roared in on March 14. The city of a half-million residents is most at risk from cholera but the disease also is reported in outlying communities in central Mozambique. The new death was in Dondo, government officials said. Advertisement Mondays count of cholera cases had been 1,052. That figure was already more than double the 500 beds that are now open in seven cholera treatment centers across the region, though the World Health Organization said it plans to boost the capacity significantly. Authorities on Tuesday also said the overall death toll in Mozambique from the cyclone had risen to 598. The number has been called very preliminary and the real toll may never be known, with some people quickly buried or washed away. Some 900,000 oral cholera vaccines arrived in Beira for the expected launch of a vaccination campaign on Wednesday. The next few weeks are crucial and speed is of the essence if we are to save lives and limit suffering, WHOs regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said in a statement. Cyclone Idai also killed at least 259 people in neighboring Zimbabwe and at least 56 in Malawi. It damaged or destroyed 54 health centers across central Mozambique, further challenging efforts to contain cholera and other waterborne diseases such as malaria. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Taliban besieged an Afghan government and army compound in a remote western province for a second day Friday, killing at least 12 more troops, according to local officials who issued a dramatic warning, saying those inside the compound were running out of ammunition. The latest fatalities brought the overall death toll for the assault in Badghis province to at least 32 Afghan soldiers and policemen. Many more have been wounded and the area is cut off, said Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial councilmember. Nazari said that according to soldiers inside the base in the district of Bala Murghab, roughly 2,000 Taliban fighters are involved in the attack, with about 600 Afghan troops and members of the security forces inside. They are running out of everything ammunition, water and food, said Nazari. Advertisement Abdul Waris Sherzad, a district chief, said local officials and residents were disappointed that NATO forces and the Afghan government have not helped. But Defense Ministry spokesman Qais Mangal denied that, saying reinforcements and supplies have been airlifted to Badghis the previous day and that more would be dispatched on Friday. The brazen Taliban attack first began before dawn on Thursday, when the insurgents stormed all the security posts around the government compound and killed at least 20 soldiers and policemen. Fighting continued throughout the day and overnight and into Friday, Nazari said. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to the media. It was the latest attack by the Taliban who target Afghan forces on a daily basis even as they hold talks with U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Khalilzad was in Islamabad on Friday and met with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other Pakistani officials. He had visited Kabul earlier this week where he lobbied for intra-Afghan dialogue talks that would encompass prominent Afghan figures, government representatives and the opposition, as well as the Taliban. According to the foreign ministry, Qureshi assured Khalilzad of Islamabads continued support for the ongoing Afghan peace process. Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with the Taliban, most recently last month in Qatar where both sides said progress has been made. But despite the talks, the Taliban still inflict staggering casualties on Afghan forces and now hold sway over half of the country. The insurgents refuse to talk directly with the government in Kabul, considering it a U.S. puppet. Washington wants Islamabad to encourage the Taliban to hold direct talks with Kabul but the insurgents have shown no flexibility on that stance. Khalilzad was also to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan who last month stirred controversy by calling for the formation of an interim Afghan government with the Taliban. It angered Kabul, which recalled its envoy temporarily in protest, but Islamabad later said that Khan had been misquoted. ___ Associated Press Writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Belgian government has apologized for the countrys role in kidnapping thousands of mixed-race babies from their African mothers during colonial times. Thousands of children in what are now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi were taken away and raised in Belgian institutions. Prime Minister Charles Michel said in a statement Thursday that on behalf of the federal government, I present our apologies to the mixed-race children born from Belgian colonization and their families for the injustice and suffering they were subjected to. He expressed compassion for the African mothers, whose children were torn away from them, and concern for the emotional stresses the children went through. Advertisement Michel said he hoped the government recognition would be a step toward a collective national reckoning of Belgiums colonial past and in fighting racism today. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Germany has asked the European Union to find a safe port where a German humanitarian ship carrying 64 migrants in the Mediterranean can dock, following appeals from the aid group and the refusal by Italy or Malta to let them land. Berlin has asked the European Commission, the EUs executive body, to coordinate the search for a safe port, said Stefan Ruwwe-Gloesenkamp, the spokesman for Germanys Interior Ministry. He said Friday that Germany trusts a large number of member states will be prepared to take in migrants and Berlin is ready to do its part. EU spokeswoman Tove Ernst said the commission had initiated contacts among willing states, but said the renewed standoff illustrated the urgent need for predictable arrangements for disembarkation. Advertisement The German humanitarian group Sea-Eye rescued the migrants off Libya on Wednesday when it could not reach the Libyan coast guard. It said the ship does not have enough room, food or water for the migrants and appealed to Berlin to use diplomatic channels to find a safe port. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said his ministry sent a letter Thursday to the German government telling them the ship cannot dock in Italy and asking them to intervene. On Friday afternoon, however, Italy offered to evacuate two children and their mothers, but the women rejected the offer because they dont want to leave their husbands. The agreement with the federal Government was that the families would be evacuated, the Sea-Eye said in a tweet. We will not be actively separating families! This is an emotional torture and endangers the best Interests of the children. Salvini reacted to the news saying in a tweet that at this point we can just wish them a good trip to Berlin. The Italian minister, speaking Friday at a G-7 ministers meeting in France, reaffirmed his anti-migrant stance, saying that clearly not all NGOs, but some of them, are accomplices in human trafficking. Sea-Eye spokesman Carlotta Weibl said Friday that the rescue boat Alan Kurdi remains in international waters off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa and will not approach it until it has permission. Conditions on board were worsening and a storm was approaching, she said. Malta and Italy have been refusing to open their ports to humanitarian rescue ships, saying that the repeated rescues of migrants at sea encourages smugglers to pack them into unseaworthy rubber dinghies before they head out for Europe. Salvini said Sea-Eye put the migrants lives at risk by traveling north toward Europe after rescuing them 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Libyan coast. However, international standards on sea rescues require that migrants be brought to a safe port. The European Union and aid groups have declared that Libya does not meet the definition of a safe port due to ongoing lawlessness and reports of abuse, rape and torture inside migrant detention centers. Militias in western Libya vowed Friday to confront a rival army commanders attempt to seize the capital, Tripoli, raising fears of renewed civil war in the oil-rich North African nation. The U.N. Security Council was holding an emergency closed-door meeting Friday on the renewed fighting in Libya. ____ Moulson contributed from Berlin and Zampano from Rome. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Munich prosecutors say they have charged a nurse with murder on allegations he killed six patients in his care with injections of insulin that they didnt medically need. Prosecutors said the 37-year-old man also faces counts of attempted murder for injecting three other patients who survived, the dpa news agency reported Monday. Prosecutors say the suspect, whose name wasnt given for privacy reasons, admits giving the insulin shots but denies intending to kill anyone. Investigators have been looking into the case since February 2018 when they were looking into the death of an 87-year-old man from near Munich, and an autopsy revealed fresh needle marks. Advertisement He also faces charges of robbery and fraud. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Days after celebrating the anniversary of the military coup that led to Brazils last dictatorship, the government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is pushing for a revision of the history curriculum for the countrys schools. Education Minister Ricardo Velez Rodriguez says he will introduce changes in school textbooks so children will get a true idea of that era, describing the de facto government that took over after the coup as a democratic regime of force. Brazilian history shows that March 31, 1964, was a sovereign decision of the Brazilian society. It wasnt the barracks that put Castelo Branco at the presidency, Velez Rodriguez said in an interview published Thursday in the newspaper daily Valor. Repeating Bolsonaros interpretation of those times, the minister denied it was a coup that removed democratically elected President Joao Goulart, saying the military acted with the support of Congress in installing Marshal Castelo Branco, head of the army, as the countrys leader. Advertisement The armed forces then shut down Congress and held power for 21 years with a regime marked by censorship, political persecution, torture and death. Velez Rodriguez argued that Brazil adopted a democratic regime of force because it was necessary at the time to block the rise of communism. The administration of Bolsonaro, a former army captain who is a fervent anti-leftist, also reaffirmed its controversial reading of Brazils past to the United Nations in a telegram, which The Associated Press had access to. It was sent in response to a comment by Fabian Salvioli, the U.N. special investigator on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, who described the commemorations of the coup as inadmissible. The governments telegram said there was not a coup detat but a legitimate political movement that was supported by a majority of Brazilians to deal with the growing threat of a communist takeover and terrorist organizations. In his interview, Velez Rodriguez said there will be progressive changes in school material to rescue a broader version of history. Carlos Fico, a history professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University who specializes in Latin American dictatorships, said the governments initiative is a purely ideological denial attempt that will fail. In the field of historiography there is no doubt, there is no debate of this kind. No one is denying that there was a coup and a dictatorship because it would be considered ridiculous, Fico said. The governments weekend commemoration of the coup angered many Brazilians, and protests were held in cities across Brazil. The National Truth Commission, which investigated the crimes of Brazils dictatorship, has said at least 434 people were disappeared and there were more than 30,000 illegal detentions and cases of torture. But no one has ever been tried in Brazil for the regimes abuses, unlike in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, which have tried people associated with their dictatorships of the same era. In denying history, the government tries to devalue all the struggles of Brazilian workers for their rights and wipe out the gains they still have, said Cesar Cordaro, a former Sao Paulo prosecutor who is a member of the Paulista Committee for Memory, Truth and Justice. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. As the Trump administrations zero tolerance policy hits its anniversary, the promise to criminally prosecute everyone who crosses the Mexico border illegally has been forced to evolve. Today the reality is families come first. A surge in family arrivals, largely from Guatemala and Honduras, has led Border Patrol agents to shift attention from preparing criminal cases to caring for children in detention facilities, driving families to border stations and performing hospital watch on the growing number of migrants who require medical attention. We are spending so much time and effort and money to care for families, Border Patrol spokesman Ross Wilkin said. The numbers are through the roof. Caring for children traveling alone is also taxing resources, as is a new administration policy to return asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. immigration courts, Wilkin said. Advertisement The effects can be seen in the diminishing impact of one of the Trump administrations hallmark immigration policies. In San Diego, just seven migrants filed into the jury box of a wood-paneled courtroom Wednesday in the clothes they wore a day earlier. Thats when agents found some of them hiding in a large drainage pipe and thick brush in a rugged, remote area. It was a stark contrast to September, when up to 40 went through the jury box every day, 20 at a time. Court was canceled in San Diego on March 27 for the first time since zero tolerance was introduced in California in July, several months after it was announced nationally, because prosecutors did not file any cases, said Jami Ferrara, who represents defense attorneys on a court panel to address the policy. In McAllen, Texas, only two people were sentenced at a hearing Monday, according to a person familiar with courthouse operations who was not authorized to speak with the media and spoke on condition of anonymity. That persons account was confirmed by attorney Efren Olivares of the Texas Civil Rights Project. Last year, during the peak of family separations caused by zero tolerance, judges sentenced dozens at a single hearing. Customs and Border Protection referred 8,998 cases for criminal prosecution along the Mexican border in February, down 12% from 10,252 in January and 23% from 11,652 in October, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Prosecution referrals plunged 35% in the Southern District of California from October to February and 34% in the Southern District of Texas, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, which includes McAllen. Numbers for March were unavailable, but the drop may be even larger. Olivares and the person familiar with the McAllen courthouse estimated that prosecutions for illegal entry there dropped from around 500 a week in February to about 100 a week in March. Zero tolerance was announced April 6, 2018, by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who vowed to prosecute first-time offenders who enter the country illegally with crimes punishable with up to six months in jail, though typically the sentences were only a few days. Data on whether the strategy deters people from crossing is limited and inconclusive, with figures from 2012 showing 10% of migrants arrested for misdemeanor illegal entry had been caught in the previous year. The policy backfired when thousands of children were separated from their parents and the government lacked tracking systems to quickly reunite them. Trump retreated in June amid an international uproar, six days before a federal judge ruled that families could be split only in limited circumstances, like child safety concerns. Since then, the policy has applied only to single adults. While families and children traveling alone account for more than six of 10 Border Patrol arrests, more single adults are also coming. There were 23,451 single-adult arrests in February, up 7% from 21,918 in October. Prosecutions have held relatively steady in El Paso, Texas, which has suddenly emerged as the borders second-busiest area for illegal crossings. On Wednesday, seven women and 18 men stood in front of a judge wearing blue or green prison jumpsuits and orange foam shoes. The women stood handcuffed, the men with chains around their waists and shackles between their feet. One by one, all pleaded guilty to illegal entry, and within 10 minutes of the beginning of the hearing the judge was turning to sentencing. Prosecutions have dropped in Arizona and New Mexico, though not nearly to the extent of California and South Texas. In downtown Tucson, the court recently introduced Friday hearings for illegal entry cases. On most days, about 70 people are prosecuted, with only about 30 on Fridays. Prosecutions in McAllen, the epicenter of last years family separations, fell dramatically on March 11, said Olivares, who questioned whether the surge in families was entirely to blame and suggested it helps bolster the administrations narrative of a border spinning out of control. He has closely monitored the courthouse over the last year. The government declared a national emergency, and there were no facts to support that, he said. Rick Barlow, a former Border Patrol sector chief in San Diego, said it typically takes an arresting agent a couple of hours to prepare a case for criminal prosecution. Additional agents are assigned to a prosecutions unit. Its not a simple processing piece, he said. Its quite time-consuming. ___ Merchant reported from Houston. Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio in El Paso, Texas, and Astrid Galvan in Phoenix also contributed to this report. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A man who masterminded a $100 million Ponzi scheme and escaped from a federal prison in California may have fled to South America and federal officials have named his boyfriend as a person of interest in the case, according to court records reviewed by The Associated Press on Thursday. Frederick Darren Berg was serving an 18-year prison sentence when he walked away from the federal prison camp in Atwater, California, in December 2017. Since then, investigators have been focusing their attention on his boyfriend, Darrell Ray Blankenship, a flight attendant who authorities say may have had access to a private jet and frequently traveled to Chile, according to court documents. Earlier this week, federal agents sought a search warrant for his electronics and communication and they suspect hes been talking to Berg since his escape, the records said. Advertisement Blankenship has not been charged with a crime or formally accused of wrongdoing. He did not immediately respond to a message left Thursday at a cellphone number listed in court papers. In a statement, the U.S. Marshals Service said Berg was responsible for the largest fraud scheme ever prosecuted in the Western District of Washington and has more than 10 years left on his sentence. While we cannot discuss an active and open investigation, we still encourage the public to report any tips or sightings to us, Deputy U.S. Marshal Michael A. Garcia said, referring tipsters to the agencys website . A few weeks after Bergs escape in the first three weeks of 2018 Blankenship posted several photos that investigators believe were taken at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including one that showed three men sitting on a lounge chair and one of them had the same hairline as Berg, court records said. During that same time, Blankenship also sent a message to Bergs mother with a note that read, hello from Rio, according to the documents. Investigators also obtained a message that Blankenship allegedly sent to a tarot card reader in February 2018 that was signed Darrell and Darren. Months later, deputy U.S. marshals tracked down a tipster a mutual friend of Berg and Blankenship who showed them Instagram messages he received from Blankenship. One of the messages said Blankenship had just heard from Darren and that he was fine. Berg pleaded guilty in 2012 to wire fraud, money laundering and bankruptcy fraud charges for scamming hundreds of people. Federal prosecutors in Washington state alleged that Berg began the nearly decade-long scam in 2001 and used investors funds to sign contracts, buy real estate and make loans, all while promising there would be profits to repay the investors. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Abandoning his threat to immediately seal the southern border, President Donald Trump warned instead that hed slap tariffs on cars coming to the U.S. from Mexico unless the Mexicans do more to stop the flow of migrants and drugs to the U.S. In his latest backtrack in recent days, Trump told reporters Thursday he would try the less drastic measure before resorting to his standing border-closure threat. Mexico understands that were going to close the border or Im going to tariff the cars. Ill do one or the other. And probably start off with the tariffs, Trump said. He added later: I dont think well ever have to close the border because the penalty of tariffs on cars coming into the United States from Mexico, at 25 percent, will be massive. It was the latest, seemingly sudden attempt at new leverage by a president struggling to solve what his administration has called a border crisis. And it was a dramatic departure for Trump, who last week tweeted that he would close the border or large swaths of it this week unless Mexico immediately halted ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States a seemingly impossible task. Advertisement Trump said at the time that he was not kidding around, and his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said in a television interview Sunday that it would take something dramatic for Trump not to close down the crossings. Since then, however, White House advisers, border city leaders and U.S. economists have warned that such a move would have enormous economic consequences on both sides of the border, interrupting supply chains and boosting U.S. consumer prices on everything from avocadoes to autos. Trump in recent days has also backtracked on his push for Republicans to again take on health care and surprised his own education secretary by reversing a plan to ax federal aid for the Special Olympics . Those actions have only added to longstanding concerns about whether Trumps words can be trusted. Trump, who has long said his unpredictability is one of his greatest negotiating assets, has also followed through with some of his most bombastic threats, including forcing the countrys longest-ever government shutdown over border funding. Trump had already appeared to be easing off his border threat earlier this week. Though he said Tuesday all options remained on the table, he shifted his goal posts, calling on Congress to pass immigration legislation to avert a closure and praising the Mexican government for doing more to apprehend migrants traveling through the country from Central America though its unclear anything has changed. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexicos foreign relations secretary, said Tuesday his government had not changed its policies. And on Thursday, Mexicos ambassador to the U.S. Martha Barcena told The Associated Press the country was working to make its own border more orderly but migration will never be stopped. Jesus Seade, the Mexican undersecretary for North America, also brushed off the threat of new tariffs, saying officials were not concerned and noting the tariffs are not part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement that the countries have agreed to but not yet ratified. On Thursday, Trump also threatened tariffs if Mexico doesnt halt the flow of illegal drugs across the border, saying hed give the country a one year warning to comply. But if in a year from now drugs continue to pour in, were going to put tariffs on, he said, adding: I dont play games. As for concerns his actions might interfere with the trade deal he fought for, Trump said the border was more important to me than the USMCA. Trump has wide-ranging power to impose tariffs on national security grounds, which he has repeatedly used as leverage against other countries. But the USMCA was worded to protect Mexico against auto tariffs based on national security concerns, and trade lawyer Daniel D. Ujczo said those provisions are already in effect under a side letter. In short, this is the exact scenario that the Mexican negotiating team predicted and secured protections from in the USMCA, he said. Mexico Trump-and-Tweet-proofed its auto sector, and the White House would need to get very creative to impose auto tariffs on Mexico. In addition, despite what Trump suggests, Mexico, China and other American trading partners dont pay U.S. tariffs directly. American importers pay the tariffs at the border and then must decide how much of the higher cost they can pass along to U.S. customers. Tariffs do squeeze the manufacturers who export to the U.S. from foreign countries by making their products more expensive in the United States. But there again, that can hit U.S. companies, such as General Motors, which is a major car-maker in Mexico. Trump has been increasingly exasperated at his inability to halt the swelling number of migrants entering the U.S., including thousands who have being released after arriving because border officials have no space for them. Arrests along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months and border agents were on track to make 100,000 arrests or denials of entry in March, a 12-year high. More than half of those are families with children, who require extra care. The presidents pretty frustrated, said Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who spoke with Trump this week and offered to work with the administration to try to come up with some more targeted ideas, including changes for remittances to Mexico. Trump suggested he work with the Treasury secretary on the idea, Cornyn said. Trump has invoked other executive powers, including declaring a national emergency in an effort to secure more money for his long-promised border wall. Congress voted to block the emergency declaration, but Trump vetoed that measure. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats would file a lawsuit aimed at preventing Trump from stealing billions from federal programs and diverting the money to building barriers along the border. Administration officials had been studying ways to minimize the economic impact of a potential border closure in case Trump went through with his threat, including keeping trucking lanes open or closing only certain ports. But even absent that extraordinary step, delays at border stations have been mounting after some 2,000 border officers were reassigned from checking vehicles to deal with migrant crowds. ___ Associated Press writers Paul Wiseman, Darlene Superville and Luis Alonso Lugo in Washington and Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. People with rare cancers have been out of luck not only do most lack good treatments but drug companies also dont pursue them because of small potential sales. Now, a federal study that pools these folks gives them strength in numbers and new options. The first results from this novel effort were revealed at an American Association for Cancer Research conference in Atlanta on Sunday. They suggest that for people with one of these unusual diseases, there seems to be a way to predict who will benefit from a drug combo that boosts the immune system and who will not. For the patients that it works for, its phenomenal, its life-changing ... but its not for everybody, said one study leader, Dr. Sandip Patel of the University of California, San Diegos Moores Cancer Center. Brigitte Sagasser, 54, of San Marcos, California, is one study participant who seems to be benefiting. Her tumors have been shrinking since starting the treatment a year ago for a rare type of ovarian cancer that defied surgeries, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Advertisement Ive tried all kinds of stuff before and nothing really helped in the long run, she said. I felt like I was kind of out of choices on what could be done. Rare cancers individually affect fewer than 6 in 100,000 people a year, but collectively make up 22% of all cancer cases. They include tumors in the brain, blood, glands, bones, and skin, and theres often not even a study that patients can join to test an experimental drug or therapy. Were trying to fill that gap by funding the federal study, said Dr. Elad Sharon of the National Cancer Institute. It has enrolled more than 550 patients in the U.S. and Canada since it started in 2017. Currently, its testing a combo of two immunotherapy drugs, Opdivo and Yervoy in people grouped into buckets according to their tumor type. The drugs maker, Bristol-Myers Squibb, is donating them for the study. One of these buckets just reached critical mass to yield results neuroendocrine tumors, which can form many places in the body but often in the lungs or digestive tract. Biopsies when the disease is diagnosed classify the cases as high, low or intermediate grade according to how aggressively the cells seem to be growing. In the study of 32 patients, the drug combo only worked for high-grade tumors. Eight of the 18 patients saw their tumors significantly shrink. None of the others did. In the high-grade group, survival at six months without worsening disease was 31% better than the 10% that doctors historically have seen for such patients, said Patel, who has been a paid adviser to Bristol-Myers and several other companies. It gives us a glimpse into what can happen, said another study leader, Dr. Razelle Kurzrock at the San Diego cancer center. If we get it right, maybe we can get it to work in more patients. About one-quarter of all patients had symptoms typical of immune system therapies effects on the liver, fatigue, nausea and 6% had colitis, gut inflammation. But side effects were manageable and not severe, Patel said. Identifying which patients are likely to benefit from these drugs spares others these side effects, expense and false hope. Sagasser developed a problem from Yervoy, but continues to get Opdivo every two weeks. She is looking forward to next year, when it will be 20 years since she was first diagnosed. It will be a party next year, believe me, she said. I expect to be cancer-free by then and for good. ___ Marilynn Marchione can be followed at https://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A group of suburban Chicago police chiefs said Thursday that they have no confidence in Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx and called on her to resign. Some 30 police chiefs attended a news conference with Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham to support that call, saying the dismissal of charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett was a factor in their position. Foxx later fired back at the police chiefs. She said their stance is an excuse to justify their resistance to her prioritizing prosecutions for violent crime. I was elected by the people of Cook County to pursue community safety, prevent harm, and uphold the values of fairness and equal justice, Foxx said in a statement. Im proud of my record in doing that, and I plan to do so through the end of my term and, if the people so will it, into the future. Advertisement Steven Stelter of the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association said it wasnt only about her handling of Smolletts case. He also pointed to broader Foxx policies to not prosecute many lower-level felonies. He said residents needed to know Foxx is letting them down. Foxx has faced heavy criticism since her office dismissed charges against Smollett, who was accused of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself in Chicago. Foxx previously said she welcomes an outside review into how her office handled the case. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Thursday that the police chiefs are entitled to their opinions, but noted there was no chance Smollett was going to prison for his alleged actions and its time to move on. Since (Foxx) has been states attorney, weve had a great relationship, Johnson told Chicago public television station WTTW. Since taking office, Foxx has moved to deprioritize certain nonviolent crimes like shoplifting, and halted prosecutions of people accused of driving on licenses suspended or revoked for financial reasons, such as failure to pay tolls or parking tickets. In a letter sent to Foxx, Park Ridge Police Chief Duane Mellema, who also heads the North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, expressed concern over prosecutors refusal to file felony charges in certain crimes. The abrupt dropping of the 16 indictments against Empire actor Jussie Smollett during an unannounced court hearing on March 26, 2019, is the latest and most egregious example of the failure by you and your staff to hold offenders accountable, Mellema wrote. Chicagos Fraternal Order of Police paid for the defense of Officer Jason Van Dyke, who was found guilty earlier this year of the 2014 murder of Laquan McDonald. The union also praised the career of disgraced police commander Jon Burge upon his death last year. Burges torture of black suspects, which he was sent to federal prison for lying about, have cost the city close to $100 million in legal settlements and fees over the years. Asked why there were no African-American police chiefs at the event, Graham only said that all county police chiefs had been invited. Cook County includes Chicago and more than 130 other communities. Harvey Police Chief Gregory Thomas distanced himself from the no-confidence sentiment expressed by his counterparts, including other members of the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police. As police we carry investigations as far as we can and once we turn them over to the states attorney we dont have a say so in the outcome . whether or not we agree with it, he said. And that was the standard long before Foxx, so I question the timing here. ___ Check out the APs complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Republican candidate in the still-unresolved November race for sheriff in a North Carolina county was ineligible because he didnt live in the county as required by law, the countys election board says. News outlets report the Columbus County board voted 3-2 on Thursday that Jody Greene wasnt a county resident one year before the election or on Election Day. State law says a sheriffs candidate is ineligible if the person has not resided in the county in which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election. Such residency hearings often focus on whether a persons domicile comports with that definition. The State Board of Elections will meet next to review the decision. The county board ruled at the close of a two-day hearing in which members visited Greenes recreational vehicle located on property in Cerro Gordo, within the county. Greene was sworn in after a recount showed him 37 votes ahead of Democratic incumbent Lewis Hatcher. The state board wouldnt authorize the election outcome because appeals had not been exhausted when he took the oath of office. Neither candidate runs day-to-day sheriffs department operations while awaiting a final result. Advertisement The county boards three Democratic members who voted for Greene being ineligible focused on the RV, pointing out it was still registered in South Carolina. They also cited issues they had with the changing electricity bill amounts for the RV and the RVs sewage disposal. Greene testified that the RV isnt connected to a septic system or sewer and he travels to a campground once a month to dispose of waste. The two Republican board members voted no on the ineligibility question. Greene testified that he considered the Cerro Gordo property to be his domicile since purchasing it in 2012. He said damage to his wifes business during Hurricane Matthew and other matters had delayed home construction there. The county board voted unanimously to dismiss an initial election protest by a Democratic voter alleging election irregularities. The state board is also made up of five members three registered Democrats and two Republicans. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The New York Police Department is investigating sexual assault allegations against magician David Blaine, authorities confirmed on Monday. Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea told reporters at an unrelated news conference that Blaine is under investigation. He declined to discuss any details, including whether police had sought to interview Blaine. Shea was responding to a report by the Daily Beast website that the NYPD had taken statements from two women accusing Blaine of sexual assault. Citing unnamed sources, the report said one of the alleged victims claims she was attacked by Blaine inside his Manhattan apartment in 1998. The Daily Beast had previously reported that a former model alleged Blaine raped her in London in 2004, an allegation he denied. Scotland Yard detectives later declined to take further action after investigating her claim, the website said. Advertisement The 45-year-old Blaine is known for stunts like being buried underground for seven days without food or water in New York in 1999. He also stayed in a plexiglass case suspended 30 feet (9 meters) above the Thames Rivers in London for more than 40 days in 2003. Phone and email messages requesting comment were sent to his lawyer on Monday. According to his website, he is to begin a tour in the United Kingdom and Irleand in June. In a separate statement about the New York City case on Monday, the NYPD said it takes sexual assault and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. One morning last fall, 4-year-old Joey Wilcox woke up with the left side of his face drooping. It was the first sign of an unfolding nightmare. Three days later, Joey was in a hospital intensive care unit, unable to move his arms or legs or sit up. Spinal taps and other tests failed to find a cause. Doctors worried he was about to lose the ability to breathe. Its devastating, said his father, Jeremy Wilcox, of Herndon, Virginia. Your healthy child can catch a cold and then become paralyzed. Advertisement Joey, who survived but still suffers some of the effects, was one of 228 confirmed victims in the U.S. last year of acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, a rare, mysterious and sometimes deadly paralyzing illness that seems to ebb and flow on an every-other-year cycle and is beginning to alarm public health officials because it is striking more and more children. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it may bear similarities to polio, which smoldered among humans for centuries before it exploded into fearsome epidemics in the 19th and 20th centuries. Fauci, who published a report about the disease Tuesday in the medical journal mBio, said it is unlikely AFM will become as bad as polio, which struck tens of thousands of U.S. children annually before a vaccine became available in the 1950s. But he warned: Dont assume that its going to stay at a couple of hundred cases every other year. While other countries have reported cases, including Canada, France, Britain and Norway, the size and pattern of the U.S. outbreaks have been more pronounced. More than 550 Americans have been struck this decade. The oldest was 32. More than 90% were children, most around 4, 5 or 6 years old. Most had a cold-like illness and fever, seemed to get over it, then descended into paralysis. In some cases it started in small ways for example, a thumb that suddenly wouldnt move. Some went on to lose the ability to eat or draw breath. Many families say their children have regained at least some movement in affected limbs, but stories of complete recovery are unusual. Health officials cannot say how many recovered completely, partly or not at all, or how many have died, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says deaths are rare. Scientists suspect the illness is being caused chiefly by a certain virus that was identified more than 55 years ago and may have mutated to become more dangerous. But they have yet to prove that. And while doctors have deployed a number of treatments singly or in combination steroids, antiviral medications, antibiotics, a blood-cleansing process the CDC says there is no clear evidence they work. Many parents say that when they first brought their child to the emergency room, they quickly realized to their horror that the doctors were at sea, too. Everyone is desperate for some magical thing, said Rachel Scott, a Tomball, Texas, woman whose son Braden developed AFM in 2016 and has recovered somewhat after intensive physical therapy but still cannot move his right arm and has trouble swallowing and moving his neck. A growing number of experts agree that physical therapy makes a difference. These kids can continue to recover very slowly, year over year. ... Its driven by how much therapy they do, said Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, one of the nations foremost experts on the condition. Wilcox, Joeys father, said his son made huge improvements that way. Joey can run and use his arms. Still, muscle tone is weak in his right leg and shoulder, and he still has left-side facial paralysis. He cant completely smile, his dad said. Other stories are more tragic. Katie Bustamantes son Alex developed AFM in 2016. The suburban Sacramento, California, mother realized something was wrong when she asked the boy, then 5, why he wasnt eating his yogurt. Alex replied that his thumb had stopped working and he couldnt hold his spoon. That morning was the start of 17 months of hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, and struggles with doctors and insurers to find a way to restore his ability to breathe. It ended one morning last May, when Alex died of complications. Government officials need to step up, Bustamante said. I want them to research it and find the cause, and I want them to find a way to prevent it, she said. This is growing. This shouldnt be happening. More and more experts feel certain the main culprit is an enterovirus called EV-D68, based on the way waves of AFM have coincided with spikes of respiratory illnesses caused by EV-D68. Enteroviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which, such as polio, can damage the central nervous system, while many others cause mild symptoms or none at all. In the U.S., doctors began reporting respiratory illnesses tied to EV-D68 in 1987, though usually no more than a dozen in any given year. Then, in what may have been one of the first signs of the AFM waves to come, a 5-year-old boy in New Hampshire died in 2008 after developing neck tenderness and fever, then weakened arms and deadened legs. The boy had EV-D68, and in a report published in an obscure medical journal, researchers attributed his death to the virus. The first real burst of AFM cases hit in 2014, when 120 were confirmed, with the largest concentrations in California and Colorado. What ensued was an even-year, odd-year pattern: Cases dropped to 22 in 2015, jumped to 149 in 2016, and fell again, to 35 in 2017. Last year they reached 228, a number that may grow because scores of illnesses are still being investigated. In keeping with the cyclical pattern, just four cases have been confirmed this year so far. CDC officials consider an illness AFM based on scans and other evidence showing a certain kind of damage to the spinal cord. Proof of an enterovirus infection is not required for a case to be counted, mainly because such evidence has been hard to come by. So far, CDC investigators have been able to find evidence of enteroviruses in the spinal fluid of only four of 558 confirmed cases. Scientists are using more sensitive spinal-fluid tests in hopes of establishing the connection between AFM and EV-D68 more firmly. That, in turn, could spur more focused work on treatments and maybe even a vaccine. Meanwhile, Faucis agency has put out a call for researchers to apply for federal funds, and is tapping a University of Alabama-anchored network of pediatric research centers to work on the illness. The CDC is pledging a greater focus, too. Parents have accused the agency of doing little more than counting cases and have complained that when they tried to contact CDC, they encountered only automated phone trees and form responses. CDC officials have begun holding meetings and calls with families, set up a scientific task force and working to monitor cases more closely. Fauci suggested it would be a mistake to assume that surges will take place every other year forever. The next one may be in 2019, for all we know, he said. ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ This version corrects the spelling of Tomball, Texas, and corrects some references to the virus to make it EV-D68. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Joe Biden appeared before a friendly union audience in Washington on Friday, burdened with baggage from an old-fashioned style of politicking, and sought to use humor not an apology to defuse a controversy that has threatened his as-yet-undeclared presidential campaign. As he did so, declared presidential candidates in the Democratic field gathered in an entirely different political universe a civil rights conference hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton in New York. The juxtaposition of the two produced a split screen of the partys new guard versus old. Whos running for president and whos not The Biden scene spooled out at a meeting of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers the first union to endorse Biden when he first ran for Senate more than four decades ago. After being introduced by union President Lonnie Stephenson, Biden joked, I want you to know I had permission to hug Lonnie. Advertisement Later, he put his arm around a child on the stage and said: He gave me permission to touch him. The mostly white, male crowd laughed and applauded. But even some Biden defenders cringed as accounts of the meeting circulated. The audience and setting put Biden back in his political comfort zone after a week of being buffeted by the politics of #MeToo. Several women in recent days have stepped forward to say that Biden touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable. Afterward, Biden, alert to the perception that he was making jokes at the expense of those women, made an unscheduled stop to talk to reporters. It wasnt my intent to make light of anyones discomfort, he said. I realize my responsibility is to not invade the space of anyone who is uncomfortable in that regard, and I hope it wasnt taken that way. But he also made clear that although hes listening to criticism, he doesnt intend to apologize for past conduct. If I made anyone uncomfortable, I feel badly about that, he said. Im sorry I didnt understand more. Im not sorry for any of my intentions. Im not sorry for anything I have ever done. Ive never been disrespectful intentionally, to a man or a woman. In New York, some of the activists, mostly black, who were assembled for Sharptons conference near Times Square expressed irritation that Biden wasnt there. Policies were being unveiled, visions presented, and praise being heaped on candidates by Sharpton. Though the former vice president is popular among black voters, many of those interviewed cautioned that their enthusiastic support for the Obama administration would not necessarily translate to a vote for Obamas vice president. Still, several said they remained open to supporting Biden, but only if he can show an ability to adapt his behavior toward women to the times. I dont believe he meant any harm by it, but it is an issue, said Myrtle Faulkner, a city employee. She said she will be watching to see how Biden acts in the future. Dianna Myers, who works in national security, said she was concerned Biden is being judged too harshly, but that she is also looking for him to show hes not a throwback in his outlook on women. She said her concern was how adaptive is he to the changes there have been? The audience in New York heard from candidates eager to push the party in a new direction. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren talked of doing away with the Senate filibuster should she win the White House, so that Democrats could finally enact universal child care. California Sen. Kamala Harris unveiled her plan to double the size of the civil rights enforcement division of the Justice Department and promoted her vision for having the federal government step in to boost teacher pay nationwide. Were taking on everybody, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders shouted, vowing to target Wall Street, pharmaceutical companies, billionaires and the fossil fuel industry. Sharpton asked most of the candidates whether they would give full backing to a congressional measure pursuing reparations for descendants of slaves. Each of the candidates promised unequivocally that they would sign the bill should they be elevated to the Oval Office. The simultaneous events Friday underscored a challenge Biden faces as he prepares to launch his presidential campaign in the coming weeks. He will probably be the last major candidate to enter the field, and he will enter with the most unimpeachable establishment pedigree and the longest resume of government experience. Those credentials provide a great asset he is the top choice in most polls of Democratic primary voters at this point, testimony in part to the power of older voters who skew heavily in his favor. But Bidens long record also presents political liabilities. His political style and some of his past positions mark him as a man of another political era at a time when many in the party are clamoring for younger leaders and fresh faces. The focus this week on his tendency to hug, kiss or generally put his hands on people he meets in public a widely known hallmark of his backslapping style could reinforce that image of being out of touch with the times. Many Biden supporters, however, dismiss the issue, saying he had no need to apologize because his behavior was a well-intentioned gesture from an emotional and caring man. Some at the union meeting said Biden was being held to an absurdly high standard when President Trump has engaged in much more offensive behavior. At least hes not on the record saying he grabbed a womans crotch, said Kimberly LHeureux, president of a Detroit local of the electrical workers union, referring to a tape of Trump making crude comments that was released in 2016. I think its just an anti-Biden campaign of negativity. Hook reported from Washington and Halper from New York. 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. VN3.01/13 is the next project of VN3.01/09 the first cooperation project of its kind between the EU and Vietnam on providing technical assistance for improving the legal framework for nuclear safety and strengthening the capabilities of the VARANS and its Technical Support Organisation (TSO). Through three years of implementing the project, set activities have been conducted as scheduled. Its initial outcomes have contributed to completing the compilation of many important legal documents on nuclear safety, nuclear inspection, and incident response. It also helps build an integrated management system in accordance with international standards and human resources development plans suitable with the State management function of the VARANS. Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh said the cooperative relations between Vietnam and the EU have been developing strongly in recent years, especially after the two sides signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on June 27, 2012. The signing marked an important milestone in the bilateral cooperation and created a legal foundation to bring the Vietnam-EU relations to a new period with deeper-and-wider collaboration, he said. Following the success of the VN3.01/09 project, the Vietnamese Prime Minister approved the VN3.01/13. The VARANS and the EU coordinated to adjust some contents of the project suitable with the new situation, focusing on safety research reactor, preparation for and response to incidents, radioactive waste management policies and strategies. Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the EU delegation to Vietnam, highlighted the sound relations between the two sides in various fields, not only in nuclear, but also in trade, energy, investment and defence security. TORONTO, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Profound Medical Corp. (TSX:PRN; OTCQX:PRFMF) (Profound or the Company), the only company to provide customizable, incision-free therapies which combine real-time Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI), thermal ultrasound and closed-loop temperature feedback control for the radiation-free ablation of diseased tissue, today announced positive topline results from the TACT (TULSA-PRO Ablation Clinical Trial) pivotal study designed to support its application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 510(k) clearance to market TULSA-PRO in the United States. TACT, a prospective, open-label, single-arm pivotal clinical study, enrolled 115 patients with biopsy-proven, organ-confined prostate cancer across 13 research sites in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Primary and key secondary endpoints are determined at 12 months post-treatment, but patient quality of life and disease control will be followed per-protocol to 5 years. The median age of enrolled patients was 65 years and the median Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) level was 6.3 ng/ml. The study focused on a clinically significant prostate cancer population, where 67.0% (77 out of 115) had NCCN intermediate-risk disease, and 62.6% (72 out of 115) had Grade Group 2 (GG2) or Gleason Score 7 (GS7) disease. Of the 43 patients with GG1 or GS6 disease, 60.5% (26 out of 43) had high-volume disease ( 3 cores positive, or 50% cancer core length). Treatment intent was whole-gland ablation with sparing of the urethra and urinary sphincter. Median targeted prostate volume was 40 cc with treatment delivery time of 51 minutes. A median of 97.6% of the prescribed target volume was heated to ablative temperatures with spatial ablation precision of 1.4 mm measured on MRI thermometry during treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint of TACT is the proportion of patients achieving a post-treatment PSA reduction 75% of their pre-treatment baseline value. The FDA-approved protocols pre-established performance goal for the success proportion was 50% of patients. In the TACT trial, the median PSA reduction was 94.9% (nadir 0.34 ng/ml), and 95.7% of patients (110 out of 115) achieved the PSA reduction endpoint. Secondary efficacy endpoints include prostate volume reduction on 12-month MRI and histological response on 12-month 10-core prostate biopsy. The median perfused prostate volume of patients in TACT decreased from 41 cc to 4 cc, based on assessment from the local research sites, pending review by a central radiology core lab. Of the 115 patients enrolled in the study, only 4 (3.5%) did not undergo follow-up biopsy, in all cases due to patient refusal. Among 68 men with pre-treatment intermediate-risk GG2 disease, 54 (79.4%) were free of GG2 disease on one-year biopsy. Among 94 men with pre-treatment GG2 or high-volume GG1 disease, 72 (76.6%) were free of GG2 or high-volume GG1 disease on follow-up biopsy. Of the 111 men with one-year biopsy data, 72 (64.9%) had a complete histological response with no evidence of any cancer, and 16 (14.4%) had low-volume GG1 disease which has virtually no potential for metastases or cancer-related mortality1,2. The 20.6% rate of residual clinically significant prostate cancer in an intermediate-risk patient population is similar or better than that reported in prospective studies of modern external beam radiation therapy and other ablation technologies3,4. In addition, the TACT patients remain amenable to re-treatment with TULSA-PRO or standard of care therapies. The primary safety endpoint of TACT is the frequency and severity of adverse events graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, or CTCAE. The rate and nature of attributable adverse events were similar to the favorable safety profile reported in the Phase I Safety & Feasibility Study5 of TULSA-PRO. In the TACT study, attributable serious adverse events occurred in 7.0% of patients, including 4.3% genitourinary infection, 0.9% urinary retention, 0.9% urinoma, 0.9% ileus (related to urinary catheter), 0.9% deep vein thrombosis, and 0.9% urethral stricture, all resolved. Similarly, 7.8% of patients experienced an attributable severe (Grade 3) adverse event, all resolved. There was no rectal injury or fistula, and no attributable Grade 4 adverse events. Additional secondary endpoints of TACT focus on functional side effects commonly associated with current prostate cancer therapies, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. At 12 months, 23.5% of patients had moderate erectile dysfunction (surgeon assessed Grade 2 adverse event, intervention such as medication indicated) and no patient experienced severe erectile dysfunction (Grade 3, intervention such as medication not helpful). Erectile function was also evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Patient-Reported Questionnaire. The median change in IIEF-5 was a decrease in 3 points, less than the minimal clinically important difference in erectile function6. At 12 months, 75.0% (69 out of 92) of previously potent patients were able to maintain erections sufficient for penetration (IIEF question 2 2). With respect to urinary function, 2.6% of patients had moderate urinary incontinence (surgeon assessed Grade 2 adverse event, pads indicated) at 12 months. Urinary function was also evaluated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) Patient-Reported Questionnaire. At 12 months, there was 99.1% (111 out of 112) preservation of urinary continence (1 pad/day), and a 96.2% rate of leak-free continence (leak <1 time/day). Detailed results from TACT will be shared as a late-breaking abstract presentation during the American Urological Associations (AUA) 2019 Annual Meeting Plenary Program being held May 3-6, 2019 in Chicago, IL. Profound will also be exhibiting at booth #4831. Positive outcomes from TACT are very encouraging for this population with organ-confined prostate cancer, said Dr. Scott Eggener, Chief Investigator of the TACT study, and Director of the Prostate Cancer Program at the University of Chicago. The TACT study easily met its primary endpoint of PSA reduction in 96% of patients, with low rates of severe toxicity and residual clinically significant GG2 disease. These findings are meaningful since the majority of patients enrolled had intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Given these positive TACT results and the ability to customize treatment based on real-time MR images, I believe there is a significant population of men with prostate cancer who may be well-suited for treatment with TULSA-PRO. I am looking forward to presenting the complete 12-month TACT data at this years AUA annual meeting in Chicago. I have been investigating MRI-guided TULSA for the ablation of prostate cancer for over ten years, since its early development at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, said Dr. Laurence Klotz, Chair of Prostate Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center. I am delighted to be part of the TACT study and experience first-hand, through my patients, the favorable safety profile offered by TULSA and its low impact on patient quality of life. Considering the high sampling density of the follow-up biopsy in such small prostates, the rate of residual GG2 cancer is impressive and reflects a key benefit for intermediate-risk patients. Of the positive biopsies after TULSA, about 40% were non-metastasizing low-volume GG1, which we know lack most molecular hallmarks of cancer. This is similar to the pre-treatment setting, where these concepts were central to developing active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer patients. The TACT study demonstrated that treatment with TULSA-PRO provides safe and effective prostate tissue ablation, with little impact on mens functional ability compared to well-established treatment modalities such as radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy, said Dr. Christian Pavlovich, Director of Urologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The study also demonstrated a superior risk-benefit profile compared to other ablative approaches, including whole-gland HIFU and cryotherapy. Twelve months after TULSA, my patients are all doing well, are delighted with their quality of life, and do not have any residual GG2 or worse disease. I believe that based on these positive TACT results and the inherent flexibility of TULSA-PRO as a surgical tool, should clearance in the United States be obtained from the FDA, TULSA-PRO has the potential for quick acceptance and adoption by urologists. MRI is transforming the continuum of care in prostate cancer, from tumor visualization and improved diagnostics, to image-guided therapy and post-treatment follow-up, said Dr. Katarzyna Macura, Assistant Director of the Johns Hopkins ICTR Imaging Translational Program and Director of Prostate MR Imaging. MRI-guided TULSA exemplifies the interdisciplinary synergy possible in todays precision management of localized prostate cancer. The resolution and detail offered by real-time MRI and the TULSA-PRO allowed the creation of customized treatment plans that have truly benefited the patients, with outcomes that are reflected in the TACT study data. We are pleased to announce these positive topline results from TACT contemporaneously with the abstract being published online by the AUA, commented Arun Menawat, Profounds CEO. We look forward to the presentation of the full TACT data at AUA 2019, and plan to file the 510(k) application with the FDA for TULSA-PRO by the end of the second quarter. References* 1 Ross et al., The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2012, 36(9):1346-52. 2 Eggener et al., The Journal of Urology, 2011, 185(3):869-75. 3 Meta-analysis of prospective biopsy outcomes obtained at least two years following external beam radiation therapy as primary treatment for localized prostate cancer, delivered according to 2018 NCCN guidelines. 4 FDA DEN150011 and K153023. 5 Chin et al., European Urology, 2016, 70(3):447-55. 6 Rosen et al., European Urology, 2011, 60(5):1010-6. *Additional supporting analysis is available on the Companys website here . About Profound Medical Corp. Profound develops and markets customizable, incision-free therapies for the ablation of diseased tissue. Profound is commercializing TULSA-PRO, a novel technology that combines real-time MRI, robotically-driven transurethral ultrasound and closed-loop temperature feedback control. TULSA-PRO is designed to provide customizable and predictable radiation-free ablation of a surgeon-defined prostate volume while actively protecting the urethra and rectum to help preserve the patients natural functional abilities. TULSA-PRO is CE marked and commercially launched in key European and other CE mark jurisdictions. TULSA-PRO is demonstrating to be a flexible technology in customizable prostate ablation, including intermediate stage cancer, localized radio-recurrent cancer, retention and hematuria palliation in locally advanced prostate cancer, and the transition zone in large volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Profound has completed enrollment and 12-month follow-up in a multicenter, prospective clinical trial, TACT, which is expected to support its application to the U.S. FDA for approval to market TULSA-PRO in the United States. Profound is also commercializing Sonalleve, an innovative therapeutic platform that is CE marked for the treatment of uterine fibroids and palliative pain treatment of bone metastases. Sonalleve has also been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration for the non-invasive treatment of uterine fibroids. The Company is in the early stages of exploring additional potential treatment markets for Sonalleve where the technology has been shown to have clinical application, such as non-invasive ablation of abdominal cancers and hyperthermia for cancer therapy. Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Profound and its business which may include, but is not limited to, the expectations regarding the efficacy of Profounds technology in the treatment of prostate cancer, uterine fibroids and palliative pain treatment. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "is expected", "expects", "scheduled", "intends", "contemplates", "anticipates", "believes", "proposes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Profound. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, including risks regarding the pharmaceutical industry, economic factors, the equity markets generally and risks associated with growth and competition. Although Profound 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Profound undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, other than as required by law. For further information, please contact: TORONTO, April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Camrova Resources Inc. (Camrova or the Company) (TSX-V: CAV; OTC: BAJFF; SSE :CAVCL.CAV US$ - Chile) announces that it has closed $53,800 in the first tranche of the previously announced private placement ("Private Placement") of units ("Units") of the Company. Each Unit consists of one common share of Camrova and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable into one common share for a period of two years at a price of $0.10 per share. The Company has issued 896,667 common shares and 896,667 Warrants. Mr. Tom Ogryzlo, a director and interim chief executive officer of the Company, subscribed for 416,667 Units, which constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of Units to an insider is exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration of the shares issued to the related parties did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days before this first closing of the private placement because the Company wished to complete the private placement in a timely manner. The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of such securities. The second tranche of the Private Placement is expected to close in late April. About Camrova Resources Inc. Camrova is a Canadian mining company whose common shares are listed on the TSX-V. Camrova owns a 7.24% interest in the Boleo copper-cobalt-zinc mine located in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information contact: Camrova Resources Inc. Tom Ogryzlo Interim Chief Executive Officer Tel: 416-271-0879 Email: info@camrovaresources.com Kris Misir Chief Financial Officer Tel: 647-632-3444 Email: kris.misir@camrovaresources.com 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 Camrovas current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the ability of the Company to complete the maximum amount of the Offering. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the ability of the Company to successfully close the balance of the Private Placement. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Camrova. Although such statements are based on managements reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the proposed transactions will occur, or that if the proposed transactions do occur, will be completed on the terms described above. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and Camrova 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. This announcement does not constitute an offer, invitation or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this announcement nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States, unless the securities have been registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. This document may not be distributed or released in the United States or through U.S. Newswire Services. You are probably applying sunscreen wrong and you didnt even know it. New research took a look at how people apply sunscreen and found most people are either missing their faces entirely or forgetting one crucial part. How You Are Applying Sunscreen Wrong Scientists at the University of Liverpool conducted a study involving 84 participants. The researchers wanted to see specifically how people were applying SPF to their faces. What they found was that most people were applying sunscreen and SPF moisturizers incorrectly. Each of the participants was told to apply sunscreen and SPF moisturizers as they normally would. Afterward, they were exposed to UV radiation and had photos taken with a UV-sensitive camera. While most participants felt they applied sunscreen correctly, they missed a crucial part: their eyelids (and sometimes their face entirely). The comparison between sunscreen and SPF moisturizer, according to the study, revealed participants missed greater areas when they applied moisturizer. People were applying cream (and) going out in the sun thinking they were protected, Austin McCormick, one of the studys authors, said. And yet one of the most vulnerable areas was left unprotected. Eleven percent of participants missed their entire face when applying sunscreen. Nearly 17 percent missed their face using the moisturizer. Of those using moisturizer, 21 percent missed their eyelids, a crucial and commonly missed area of the face. How You SHOULD Apply Sunscreen These findings are especially important because the face (and eyelids) are high-risk areas for skin cancer. Some sun exposure is good for you but, if you are applying SPF, you are probably spending an extended period of time outdoors. So, it is important to know how to correctly apply the product. Most adults need one ounce of sunscreen to completely cover their body. Thats about enough to fill a shot glass. Be sure you rub the sunscreen into your skin thoroughly (you really shouldnt still see white marks). Apply your sunscreen to all bare parts of your skin. Dont forget areas like your eyelids, ears, top of your feet and hands, and the back of your neck. Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before you plan on heading out. Re-apply the same amount of sunscreen every two hours while youre in the sun. It is also recommended you use UV-filtered sunglasses, hats, and other items to protect you from the suns harmful rays. If you are concerned about your skins health, watch out for changes in your skin. Anyone who notices a bump or lesion around their eyelids should be examined by a doctor. Skin cancer is usually detected late because many patients arent looking at their eyelids and other prone areas. However, if you take note of the guidelines above, youll seriously reduce your risk! If youre wondering about what sunscreen brand is best for your needs, check out our article Whats the Best Sunscreen for the Summer? Read More Get confetti ready Give 4 Garnet set for April 10 Theres still plenty of confetti on hand for year two of Give 4 Garnet: A Day of Giving, set for Wednesday (April 10). But this years giving day is putting the spotlight on donors instead of dollars, with a goal of 6,500 donors making gifts during the daylong campaign. The University of South Carolinas Give 4 Garnet also will feature a special initiative dedicated to retiring President Harris Pastides. Among the 22 different Give 4 Garnet options for donor support is one that will pay tribute to Pastides longtime leadership by naming the university Alumni Center in his honor. An anonymous donor has agreed to match up to $1 million in donations to this campaign. Give 4 Garnets online giving campaign begins at 5:59 a.m. and ends at midnight on Wednesday. The events confetti theme and tagline, Every little piece makes a big impact, showcase the collective power of thousands of South Carolina alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff members to expand opportunities at the university. In its first year, Give 4 Garnet drew more than 4,200 donors from across the globe, with an average online gift of $126, raising more than $3.7 million for an array of university programs. Promoted largely on social media, the systemwide event garnered more than 17 million social media impressions. Last year, we were thrilled to see how those gifts turned ideas into realities like our new Social Media Insights Lab at the College of Information and Communications, said Jancy Houck, South Carolina vice president for development. We look forward to even more participation this year." More than $200,000 was raised to outfit the College of Information and Communications new social media monitoring and analytics classroom and research lab during Give 4 Garnet last year. The cutting-edge space will serve as the hub of social media activity for this years giving day. Give 4 Garnet campaigns for the universitys schools, colleges and programs seek donors for a variety of needs, including student scholarships, career-building internships, research opportunities and special learning initiatives, as well as university projects that meet needs in the community and state. Details of each are on the Give 4 Garnet website, where donors can direct gifts to the programs that mean the most to them. The giving day time span of 18 hours and one minute is a reference to South Carolinas founding in 1801. Last year, we were thrilled to see how those gifts turned ideas into realitieslike our new Social Media Insights Lab at the College of Information and Communications. Jancy Houck, vice president for development On campus, Give 4 Garnet will feature activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Russell House University Union on Greene Street. Attractions will include a life-size confetti globe for selfies, games, food, giveaway items and opportunities for photos with university celebrities, including this years Give 4 Garnet co-chairs, South Carolina director of player development Marcus Lattimore and Nephron Pharmaceuticals CEO Lou Kennedy. Gamecock Pantry and Carolina Closet will be accepting donations of canned goods and clothing. Follow the Give 4 Garnet conversation on social media at #Give4Garnet. Share this Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Birds, fish and bacteria often gather into groups or swarms. This so-called collective behaviour requires all group members to continuously and reciprocally adapt their movements. It can be a challenging task, however, for researchers to ascertain the specific environmental stimuli that individuals respond to within the context of their group; in addition to optical and acoustic information, flow resistances or chemical messengers can also play a role. By designing experiments with artificial microswimmers, physicists at the University of Konstanz were able to show that the formation of stable groups requires only few skills: forward visual perception over large distances and regulation of the speed according to the number of perceived individuals. In addition to providing more insight into collective phenomena, their findings can also be used for research on autonomous systems. The results of their study were published in the current issue of the journal Science. The ability to gather into compact swarms or groups is an effective skill that allows individuals to evade predators, find food or efficiently travel long distances. To begin to understand how swarms form, the following questions must be answered: What information does an individual perceive within its environment? And how does this individual then adapt its movement in response to such environmental stimuli? The so-called Vicsek model proposes that individual group members adjust their movement direction to that of the surrounding individuals. Additionally, there must be an attraction between the group members. If one of these two conditions (orientation or attraction) is not met, the swarm becomes unstable and disperses. A more simple and robust rule As a result of their recent experiments, Clemens Bechinger, professor at the Department of Physics at the University of Konstanz, and his colleagues have discovered a much simpler and remarkably robust rule with which individuals spontaneously form a stable group: It only requires that individuals have a forward and long range vision, a basic ability of many living organisms. Each individual determines the number of peers visible in its own filed of view. If this number reaches a certain threshold value, the particle begins to swim forward; otherwise its movements are entirely random. Here, it is not necessary for the individual to identify the exact locations of its neighbours. It must simply perceive them within its field of vision. Instead of working with living organisms, the physicists use artificial microswimmers suspended in a liquid. These consist of glass beads with diameters of a few micrometers coated on one side with a thin layer of carbon. By illuminating them with a focused laser spot, the carbon absorbs the light, causing the beads to heat up unevenly. The temperature gradient generates a fluid flow at the surface of the bead, which starts swimming like a bacterium. This situation is comparable to a rotating ship propeller, which pushes water away, thus moving the vessel forwards. To equip these microswimmers with a field of vision, the researchers use a trick: With the help of a computer, the positions and orientations of all glass particles are continuously monitored. This allows the researchers to determine the number of a particle's neighbours within a fixed angular range, which corresponds to the particle's field of vision. If this number exceeds a prescribed threshold value, a focused laser beam briefly illuminates the respective particle, causing it to perform a swimming motion. If, however, the number of particles remains below the threshold value, the corresponding particle is not illuminated by a laser beam, allowing the particle to undergo undirected and diffusive movements. Since this process is carried out several times a second, each microswimmer is induced to dynamically and continuously react to the slightest changes in its environment, just like a fish within its school. Using this procedure, the researchers observed that the particles spontaneously formed an artificial swarm. Perceived information can be controlled in a precise manner By adapting these "artificial organisms" for their research purposes, the physicists are not only able to precisely determine the information that individual group members perceive within their environment, they can also observe how changes in perception affect their collective behaviour. Modifying either their field of vision or perception threshold changes the respective level of group formation and cohesion. The physicists thus created particles with the broad field of view of herbivores and found that they stay together only by lowering their threshold of reaction. On other words, herbivores need to keep a close eye at each other in order to stay within their protective group. With their simple model, it is also explained how the narrow vision of predators is an advantage to detect the presence of preys over long distances. Another important research finding is that gregarious individuals, in principle, do not have to adapt their velocity direction or gather information about the speed of their neighbours. From a control system point of view, this is extremely advantageous since minimal sensory and cognitive resources are required for such behaviour. This aspect might also prove useful for future applications, where, for example, millions of autonomous microrobots with limited computing capacity are expected to perform complex tasks. To ensure that such tasks are successfully carried out, they must be able to organise themselves and coordinate their behaviour. These abilities will also ensure that groups can master unforeseen situations, such as when schools of fish successfully evade an attacker. Clemens Bechinger' s research is funded by an Advanced Grant of the European Research Council. The physicist is also a principal investigator within the Cluster of Excellence "Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour," which receives funding through the German Excellence Strategy. Veterinary professionals have sounded the alarm in this week's Vet Record after treating the first UK case of a dog with the potentially fatal infection, leishmaniosis, that is thought to have been passed on by another dog, rather than by travel to an area where the infection is endemic. Canine leishmaniosis is caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum, carried by the female sand fly and transmitted in its bite. It is zoonotic, so can be passed on to people. Dogs have been known to pick up the infection after being bitten or wounded by another infected dog. But up to now, this has not been reported in the UK, where cases to date have been associated with blood transfusion, breeding programmes, or overseas travel. But a 3 year old neutered male shih tzu cross, which had been with its owner since a puppy and had none of the known risk factors for infection, was nevertheless diagnosed with leishmaniosis in Hertfordshire. Dog to dog transmission is the most likely explanation, suggest the authors, because another dog in the household that had been imported from Spain, had had to be put down six months earlier after developing severe leishmaniosis. "To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of leishmaniosis in the UK in a dog without a history of travel to an endemic area," they write, adding that extra vigilance is now needed to guard against the spread of the infection. advertisement "In an era of increased foreign travel of dogs and increased importation of dogs to the UK, it is likely that the number of dogs seropositive for L infantum will continue to increase," they warn. "Leishmania-infected dogs may present an infection risk to other dogs, even in the absence of natural vectors, as direct transmission between dogs is possible," they add. A second case of canine leishmaniosis in a dog with no obvious risk factors has now also come to light in a different part of the UK. In a recently published letter in Vet Record, vets describe the case of a 3-year-old fully vaccinated male neutered English pointer that was eventually diagnosed with leishmaniosis. The dog had never travelled outside of the UK, or beyond the borders of Essex, where it lived. But its owners had lived in Spain and travelled to the Jalon Valley (between Alicante and Valencia) without their pet in the summer of 2018. advertisement Unlike the first case, this dog was not living, or in regular contact with another infected dog, and it may be that infected sand flies were inadvertently brought back in the owners' transport, luggage, or clothing, suggest the authors. "However, the increased importation of infected dogs into the UK also makes incidental socialising with infected dogs increasingly likely," they point out. The case also "serves as a reminder that we should not be complacent about the risk of Leishmania infantum establishing in the UK, even in the current absence of the sand fly vector," they warn. Junior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), Daniella Dos Santos, comments: "The increase in cases of non-endemic diseases such as leishmaniasis is extremely concerning, with more than a quarter of vets surveyed by BVA last year mentioning seeing cases of this rare disease in practice. "Leishmaniasis is mainly associated with pets who have recently travelled outside of the UK or 'trojan' rescue dogs from abroad with unknown health histories, which is why we have called on the government to strengthen existing pet travel legislation and its enforcement for the sake of animal and human health in the UK." She advises pet owners planning on overseas travel with their dog to seek advice from a vet first, while those who already own an imported rescue dog, should contact their local vet for advice on testing and treatment for any underlying conditions. "Anyone looking to get a dog should consider adopting from a UK rehoming charity or welfare organisation instead of rescuing from abroad," she recommends, "as the unintended consequences from trojan dogs can be severe for the health and welfare of UK's pets and, in some cases, humans too." The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a new spacecraft heading towards the sun, bearing the most daring quest to get closer to the giant star - a feat that has never been done before until now. A report from BBC UK revealed that the US space agency has just recently fired up a car-sized spacecraft dubbed as the Parker Solar Probe. The probe satellite, which flew on top of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Florida on Sunday. Named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, 91, the Parker Solar Probe is slated to make 24 close encounters with the sun over the course of seven years. Using the most-advanced instrumentations capable of receiving remote and direct control from NASA, the probe should be able to lend scientists here on land a much closer look into the physics of the sun's corona. This particular part of the sun is considered to be the center of solar activity which directly affects the Earth. The project, which costs the US government a hefty USD$1.5 billion, will head straight through the corona of the sun, or the star's outer atmosphere. The closest it can get is 6 million kilometers from the sun's scorching hot surface. Despite the extreme heat and radiation from the giant ball of fire, the probe is still deemed capable of maintaining just well above its operational temperature. This was made possible through NASA's latest breakthrough in heat shield technology. According to China Daily, the Parker Solar Probe is mounted with the NASA's proprietary Thermal Protection System, which is composed primarily of new carbon components. Andy Driesman, head of the Parker Solar Probe project at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, said that the thermal system is the main aspect which "allows the spacecraft to operate at about room temperature." Other than the carbon-carbon composite heat shield, the satellite is installed with other space-tech wonders such as a solar array cooling system and an onboard fault management system. The spacecraft is scheduled to fly by past Venus this coming October and will officially establish its first solar encounter by November. About Eugene Parker The 91-year-old scientist was the first to propose the existence of solar-wind six decades ago. In his findings, he stipulated that solar winds are the supersonic stream of particles blowing off from the sun at a steady rate. Parker was there during the launching of the spacecraft. French English PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS FOR THE COMBINED SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING OF 22 MAY 2019 Paris, France, Friday 5 Avril 2019 Nexity's shareholders are informed that the Combined Shareholders' Meeting (ordinary and extraordinary) will be held on Wednesday 22 May 2019 at 10 :00 am at Pavillon Gabriel, 5 avenue Gabriel 75008 Paris (France). The preliminary notice of meeting (Avis de reunion valant avis de convocation), including in particular the agenda of the Meeting, the draft resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors and the instructions for attending, voting and relating to the exercise of shareholder voting rights, has been published today in the legal gazette "Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires", as well as on the company's website (https://www.nexity.fr/en/group) under Finance/Shareholders/Shareholders' meetings. The documents concerning this Meeting as well as the voting forms (by post or by proxy) can be requested in accordance with applicable timing, legal and regulatory provisions. To foster shareholders' participation to the Meeting, shareholders can to give their voting instructions, appoint or revoke the voting agent, through internet, before the meeting by using the VOTACCESS website, in accordance with the preliminary notice of meeting published today in the legal gazette "Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires". The documents and information referred to in Article R.225-83 of the French Commercial Code will be available to the shareholders at the Company's registered office in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory provisions of Article R.225-89 of the French Commercial Code. Shareholders may also request, in accordance with applicable timing period, legal and regulatory provisions of Article R.225-88 of the French Commercial Code, that the documents referred to in Articles R.225-81 and R.225-83 of the French Commercial Code should be sent to them under the following conditions: Company's registered office, 19, rue de Vienne - TSA 50029 - 75801 PARIS Cedex 08, France by request from the Legal Department; or CACEIS Corporate Trust - Service Assemblees - 14 rue Rouget de Lisle - 92862 Issy les Moulineaux Cedex 09, France ; phone : +33 (0)1.57.78.34.44. The documents and information referred to in Article R.225-73-1 of the French Commercial Code will be available on the Company's website (https://www.nexity.fr/en/group) under Finance/Shareholders/Shareholders' meetings, under the conditions referred to in this same Article. Lithuanian English INVL Baltic Real Estate (hereinafter INVL Baltic Real Estate or the Company) informs that the Dividend payment policy of the Company was approved during the General Shareholders Meeting held on 29th December 2017. The policy states to allocate EUR 0.13 dividend per share unless, if there will be need of investments, also taking account the Company's net flow adequacy, the general financial situation or negative market trends, the payment of dividends could make negative effect to the Company's operations. The Companys Investment Committee acting on behalf of INVL Asset Management, the Management Company of INVL Baltic Real Estate, on 4th April 2019 decided propose to allocate a dividend of EUR 0.13 per share for the year 2018, during the General Shareholders meeting of the Company to be held on 26th April 2019 (the total amount of dividends allocation would amount to EUR 1.71 million). Also, the investment Committee of the Company decided to propose to approve the amendments of the Articles of Association of the Company and the project of the new version of the Articles of Association during the General Shareholders meeting of the Company. The Articles of Association would be changed after the permission from the Bank of Lithuania would be received. The person authorized to provide additional information: Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company Vytautas Baksinskas E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com English Lithuanian On the initiative and decision of the Management company of INVL Baltic Real Estate the Ordinary General Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Real Estate (identification code 152105644, the registered address Gyneju str. 14 Vilnius, Lithuania) is to be held on 26 April 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in the premises located in Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius). Registration of the shareholders will start at 8:30 a.m. The total amount of the shares of the Company and the amount of shares granting voting rights during the Ordinary General Shareholders Meeting is the same and amounts to 13,150,000. ISIN code of the shares of the Company is LT0000127151. Persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of the General Shareholders Meeting accounting day, i.e. 18 April 2019, will have a right to participate and vote at the General Shareholders Meeting personally or by proxy, or to be represented by the person with whom an agreement on the transfer of voting rights is concluded. The day of accounting of rights is 13 May 2019. The agenda of the Ordinary General Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Real Estate includes: Presentation of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate consolidated annual report for 2018 Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2018 of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate Resolution regarding profit distribution of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate Resolution regarding the change of the Articles of Association and approval of the new wording of the Articles of Association of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate Resolution regarding purchase of own shares of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate Resolution regarding approval of the Amendment of the Depository Services Agreement of special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate with AB SEB bankas Draft resolutions of the Ordinary General Shareholders meeting of INVL Baltic Real Estate: Presentation of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate consolidated annual report for 2018 Shareholders of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate are presented with the consolidated annual report of Baltic Real Estate for 2018 (there is no voting on this issue of agenda). Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate. Shareholders of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate are presented with the independent auditor's report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of INVL Baltic Real Estate (there is no voting on this issue of agenda). Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2018 of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate. To approve the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2018 of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate. Resolution regarding profit distribution of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate. To distribute profit of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate as follows: Article (thousand EUR) Retained earnings (loss) at the beginning of the financial year of the reporting period 6,415 Net profit (loss) for the financial year 3,372 Profit (loss) not recognized in the income statement of the reporting financial year - Transfers from reserves - Shareholders contributions to cover loss - Distributable profit (loss) in total 9,787 Profit distribution: (2,583) - Profit transfers to the legal reserves (169) -Profit transfers to the reserves for own shares acquisition (704) - Profit transfers to other reserves - - Profit to be paid as dividends* (1,710) - Profit to be paid as annual payments (bonus) and for other purposes - Retained earnings (loss) at the end of the financial year 7,204 *0.13 EUR is paid per share. Resolution regarding the change of the Articles of Association and approval of the new wording of the Articles of Association of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate 5.1. In accordance with the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Collective Investment Undertakings, to approve the new wording of Articles of Association of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate (attached), replacing the entire text of the Articles of Association (without separately approving the amendment of each clause of the Articles of Association). 5.2. Taking into account that provisions of a part 5 of the Article 76 of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Collective Investment Undertakings permits to register the amendments to the Articles of Association of the closed-end investment companies at the Register of Legal Entities only after they are approved by the supervisory authority, to instruct the management company to apply to the Bank of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts for approval of the amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company. In case the Bank of Lithuania does not approve a part of the amendments made in the Articles of Association of the Company, to instruct the Management Company to amend the wording of the Articles of Association approved by the decision of this General Shareholders Meeting, leaving both the provisions of the old version of the Articles of Association in force, the approval of which wasnt received by the Bank of Lithuania, and provisions of the new wording that has been approved by the Bank of Lithuania. 5.3. To authorise Vytautas Baksinskas, the real estate fund manager of UAB INVL Asset Management, to sign the new wording of the Articles of Association or the Management Companys amended version of the Articles of Association of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate. Resolution regarding purchase of own shares of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate Taking into account the decisions of this General Shareholders Meeting on the item 4 of the agenda, to authorise the Management Company to use the formed reserve (or the part of it) for the purchase of own shares and to purchase shares in the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate by the rules mentioned below: The goal for the purchase of own shares - discount reduction between the net asset value and the market share price of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate and the possibility to sell its shares to the shareholders; The maximum number of shares to be acquired could not exceed 1/10 of the authorised capital of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate or 1,315,000 units of shares in the Company; The period during which the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate may purchase its own shares is 18 months from the day of this resolution; The maximum and minimal shares acquisition price of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate: the maximum one share acquisition price the last announced net asset value per share, the minimal one share acquisition price - EUR 1.00; The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and minimal sale price: the acquired own shares may be annulled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or sold by the decision of the Management Company on condition the minimum sale price of own shares shall be equal to the price at which they were acquired and the procedure of selling the shares shall ensure equal opportunities for all shareholders to acquire the said shares; The Management Company is delegated on the basis of this resolution and the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania to organise purchase and sale of own shares, to organise purchase and selling procedure of own shares and to determine an order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares. 7. Regarding approval of the Amendment of the Depository Services Agreement of special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate with AB SEB bankas Seeking to determine a clearer agreement between the depositary service provider and the management company on the implementing of the sharing functions related to money laundering and terrorist financing prevention, to approve the Amendment of the Depository Services Agreement of special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate with AB SEB bankas. The Board of UAB INVL Asset Management, the Management Company of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate, based on the 100th and 101st clauses of the current version of the Articles of Association of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate, confirms that changes made in the Company's founding documents submitted for this General Shareholders Meeting are not essential (enclosed). The Investment Committee of the special closed-ended type real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate, acting on behalf of the Management Company, in accordance with Clause 123 of the Company's Articles of Association, presents its recommendations and indicates the consequences of the respective decision to the General Shareholders Meeting (enclosed). The documents related to the agenda, draft resolutions on every item of agenda, documents what have to be submitted to the General Shareholders Meeting and other information related to realization of shareholders rights are available at the office of INVL Baltic Real Estate (Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius) during working hours. The shareholders are entitled: (i) to propose to supplement the agenda of the General Shareholders Meeting submitting draft resolution on every additional item of agenda or, than there is no need to make a decision - explanation of the shareholder (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes). Proposal to supplement the agenda is submitted in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius, Lithuania, or delivered in person to the representative of the Company or by sending proposal to the Company by email breinfo@invl.com. The agenda is supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the General Shareholders Meeting; (ii) to propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the General Shareholders Meeting at any time prior to the date of the General Shareholders meeting (in writing, sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius, Lithuania, or delivered in person to the representative of the Company or by sending proposal to the Company by email breinfo@invl.com) or in writing during the General Shareholders Meeting (this right is granted to shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes); (iii) to submit questions to the Company related to the issues of agenda of the General Shareholders Meeting in advance but no later than 3 business days prior to the General Shareholders Meeting in writing sending the proposal by registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius, Lithuania, or delivered in person to the representative of the Company or by sending proposal to the Company by email breinfo@invl.com. The company reserves the right to answer to those shareholders of the Company who can be identified and whose questions are not related to the company's confidential information or commercial secrets. Shareholder participating at the General Shareholders Meeting and having the right to vote, must submit documents confirming personal identity. Each shareholder may authorize either a natural or a legal person to participate and to vote on the shareholder's behalf at the General Shareholders Meeting. A power of attorney issued by a natural person must be certified by a notary. The representative has the same rights as his represented shareholder at the General Shareholders Meeting. The authorized persons must have documents confirming their personal identity and power of attorney approved in the manner specified by law which must be submitted to the Company no later than before the commencement of registration for the General Shareholders Meeting. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by law. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. Shareholder is entitled to issue power of attorney by means of electronic communications for legal or natural persons to participate and to vote on its behalf at the General Shareholders Meeting. No notarisation of such authorization is required. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication means must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through the means of electronic communication by e-mail breinfo@invl.com not later than on the last business day before the General Shareholders Meeting. The power of attorney and notification must be issued in writing and could be sent to the Company by electronic communication means, if the transmitted information is secured and the shareholder's identity can be identified. The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the General Shareholders Meeting through electronic means of communication. Shareholder or its representative may vote in writing by filling general voting bulletin, in such a case the requirement to deliver a personal identity document does not apply. The form of general voting bulletin is presented at the Company's webpage www.invlbalticrealestate.com section For Investors. If shareholder requests, the Company shall send the general voting bulletin to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person against signature no later than 10 days prior to the General Shareholders Meeting free of charge. The filled general voting bulletin must be signed by the shareholder or its authorized representative. Document confirming the right to vote must be added to the general voting bulletin if an authorized person is voting. The filled general voting bulletin must be sent by the registered mail to the Company at Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius, Lithuania, or delivered in person to the representative of the Company no later than the day before of the General Shareholders Meeting. The person authorized to provide additional information: Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company Vytautas Baksinskas E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com Attachments Company to host earnings conference call on same day Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Holzgerlingen, Germany, April 5, 2019, 08:00 am CET - Curetis N.V. (the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Curetis"), a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, today announced that it will publish its full-year 2018 financial results on April 11, 2019. In addition, the Company will host a public earnings conference call and webcast on April 11, 2019, at 03:00 pm CET / 09:00 am EDT to present the financial results of 2018, highlight the most important events in 2018 and provide an outlook for 2019. The full annual financial report 2018 will be available as of April 11, 2019, at: https://curetis.com/investors/#financial-reports For participating in the earnings conference call, please access the presentation at: https://webcasts.eqs.com/curetis20190411/no-audio To access the call, please dial the following numbers: Belgium: +3224019516 Germany: +4969201744220 The Netherlands: +31207168020 UK: +442030092470 US: +18774230830 When instructed, please use the passcode 46052411# For further international dial-in numbers, please open the following link: http://events.arkadin.com/ev/docs/International%20Access%20Numbers_%20UKFELBRI1_SU7.pdf The conference webcast can be accessed after completion of the call at: https://curetis.com/investors/#financial-reports ### About Curetis Curetis N.V.s (Euronext: CURE) goal is to become a leading provider of innovative solutions for molecular microbiology diagnostics designed to address the global challenge of detecting severe infectious diseases and identifying antibiotic resistances in hospitalized patients. Curetis Unyvero System is a versatile, fast and highly automated molecular diagnostic platform for easy-to-use, cartridge-based solutions for the comprehensive and rapid detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers in a range of severe infectious disease indications. Results are available within hours, a process that can take days or even weeks if performed with standard diagnostic procedures, thereby facilitating improved patient outcomes, stringent antibiotic stewardship and health-economic benefits. Unyvero in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products are marketed in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the U.S. Curetis wholly owned subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH is developing next-generation solutions for infectious disease diagnostics and therapeutics. The ARES Technology Platform combines the presumably most comprehensive database worldwide on the genetics of antimicrobial resistances, ARESdb, with advanced bioinformatics and artificial intelligence. For further information, please visit www.curetis.com and www.ares-genetics.com. Legal Disclaimer This document constitutes neither an offer to buy nor to subscribe securities and neither this document nor any part of it should form the basis of any investment decision in Curetis. The information contained in this press release has been carefully prepared. However, Curetis bears and assumes no liability of whatever kind for the correctness and completeness of the information provided herein. Curetis does not assume an obligation of whatever kind to update or correct information contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or for other reasons. This press release includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms believes, estimates, anticipates, expects, intends, may, will, or should, and include statements Curetis makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Curetis actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Curetis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Contact Details Curetis GmbH Max-Eyth-Str. 42 71088 Holzgerlingen, Germany Tel. +49 7031 49195-10 pr@curetis.com or ir@curetis.com www.curetis.com Curetis International Media & Investor Inquiries akampion Dr. Ludger Wess / Ines-Regina Buth Managing Partners info@akampion.com Tel. +49 40 88 16 59 64 Tel. +49 30 23 63 27 68 Attachment The reason for correction: attachments correction. As initiated and decided by the Board of Directors of AB Amber Grid (legal entity code 303090867, office address Savanoriu pr. 28, LT-03116 Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania), the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid will be convened at 10.00 a.m., 23 April 2019, at the Company's head office (address: Savanoriu pr. 28, Vilnius). Draft Agenda of the Meeting: Annual Report of AB Amber Grid for 2018 Auditors report on AB Amber Grid financial statements for 2018 and AB Amber Grid Annual Report 2018 Approval of AB Amber Grid financial statements for 2018 Approval of AB Amber Grid Profit (Loss) Allocation for 2018 Amendment of remuneration of Independent board members of AB Amber Grid Approval of standard contract terms (standard contract forms) of AB Amber Grid Board members (without remuneration; with remuneration) Shareholder registration will commence at 9.15 a.m., 23 April 2019. Shareholder registration will be closed at 9.45 a.m., 23 April 2019. The Record Date of the General Meeting of Shareholders: 16 April 2019. To be entitled to attend and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders, persons must be registered shareholders of the Company at the end of the Record Date of the General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders' Rights Record Date shall be 8 May 2019. Persons entitled to receive the dividend shall be the ones who will be shareholders of AB Amber Grid as of the end of the Shareholders' Rights Record Date. To be entitled to participate and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders, persons must provide their identification documents. Persons who are not shareholders of AB Amber Grid, shall in addition to the aforesaid documents present documents certifying their right to vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders. A possibility of participating and voting in the General Meeting of Shareholders by electronic means of communication shall not be provided. On 28 March 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the draft agenda and draft decisions of the General Meeting of Shareholders (explanations if decision is not required): 1) Annual Report of AB Amber Grid for 2018 Submitted explanation: Decision of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders is not required. The Board submits Annual Report of the Company for 2018 to take account of (added). (Annex 1) 2) Auditors report on AB Amber Grid financial statements for 2018 and AB Amber Grid Annual Report 2018 Submitted explanation: Decision of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders is not required. When taking decisions regarding approval of AB Amber Grid financial statements for 2018, to take note of the opinion presented in the Independent auditors report to the shareholders of AB Amber Grid (added). (Annex 1) 3) Approval of AB Amber Grid financial statements for 2018 Draft decision: To approve AB Amber Grid financial statements for 2018 (added). (Annex 1) 4) Approval of AB Amber Grid Profit (Loss) Allocation for 2018 Draft decision: To approve of AB Amber Grid Profit (Loss) Allocation for 2018 (added). (Annex 2) 5) Amendment of remuneration of Independent Board members of AB Amber Grid Draft decision: From 1 April 2019 to set an hourly fee of 60 (sixty) euros (before tax) for an Independent board member of the company's board, up to a maximum amount of 1,200 (one thousand two hundred) euros per month (before tax). In case that an Independent board member would be elected the Chairman of the Board, set a maximum amount of 1,560 (one thousand five hundred sixty) euros per month (before tax). 6) Approval of standard contract terms (standard contract forms) of AB Amber Grid Board members (without remuneration; with remuneration) Draft decision: To approve the terms and conditions of the standard contracts of the members of the Board (standard forms of contracts) (without remuneration; with remuneration) (attached) The shareholders may familiarise themselves with the Draft Resolutions of the General Meeting of Shareholders and supplementary material thereof, also with the implementation of the shareholders rights on working days from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. (on Fridays until 3.15 p.m.) from 1 April 2019 at the office of AB Amber Grid at Savanoriu pr. 28, LT-03116 Vilnius, tel. +370 5 2360855 These documents are also presented on the Central Database of Regulated Information www.crib.lt and at Companys website www.ambergrid.lt. The shareholders of AB Amber Grid, whose shares are entitled to at least 1/20 of the total number of votes, shall have the right to supplement the agenda for the General Meeting of Shareholders. The proposal to supplement the agenda shall be submitted in writing and sent by registered mail or delivered to the head office of the Company to the address: Savanoriu pr. 28, LT-03116 Vilnius (hereinafter the Head Office). Draft Resolutions on the proposed issues or, when it is not mandatory to adopt resolutions, explanatory notes on each proposed issue of the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders must be presented alongside with the proposal. The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than on 8 April 2019. The shareholders entitled to at least 1/20 of the total number of votes shall have the right, at any time before the General Meeting of Shareholders or during the Meeting, to propose in writing new draft resolutions on the items put on the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders. Such a proposals must be executed in writing and sent to the Company by registered mail or delivered to the Head Office of the Company. The proposal submitted during the course of the Meeting must be executed in writing and handed over to the Secretary of the General Meeting of Shareholders. The shareholders shall have the right to submit questions to the Company in advance, but not later than till 17 April 2019, in relation to the issues on the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 24 April 2019. Questions must be executed in writing and delivered to the Company by registered mail or to the Head Office of the Company. The Company will not present any answer to the question submitted by a shareholder personally to him in the case relevant information is available on the Companys website. Any shareholder shall be entitled to authorise a natural or legal person to participate and vote in his name at the General Meeting of Shareholders. The proxy of the shareholder must present the document confirming the persons identity and the certified power of attorney as provided for by law, which must be delivered to the Head Office not later than before the end of the registration of the attendees of the General Meeting of Shareholders. During the General Meeting of Shareholders, the proxy exercises the same rights as the shareholder he is representing should. The form of the Power of Attorney to represent at the General Meeting of Shareholders is available on the website of the Company: www.ambergrid.lt . On the issues on the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders, the Shareholders may vote in writing by filling in a General Ballot Paper. On the shareholders request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the day of the General Meeting of Shareholders, will send a General Ballot Paper by registered mail free of charge or submit it in person against signature to the shareholder. The shareholder or his proxy must undersign the filled in General Ballot Paper. If the General Ballot Paper is signed by a person who is not a shareholder, a document certifying his right to vote must be appended to the filled in Ballot Paper. The duly filled in General Ballot Paper must be delivered to the Company by registered mail or submitted against signature at the Head Office not later than before the end of registration of the attendees of the General Meeting of Shareholders. The form of the General Ballot Paper is available on the website of the Company: www.ambergrid.lt . On the day of convocation of the General Meeting of the Shareholders the total number of shares was 178 382 514. All these shares grant voting right. Information referred to in Article 262 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania shall be available on the website of the Company: www.ambergrid.lt . Information about the additions to the agenda, as well as decisions made by the general meeting shall be also available on the Central Database of Regulated Information www.crib.lt Annexes: AB Amber Grid audited financial statements for 2018, including Annual Report of AB Amber Grid for 2018, submitted together with the Corporate Governance Report form. Allocation of 2018 AB Amber Grid Profit (draft). Standard terms and conditions (forms) of the Board members of AB Amber Grid. AB Amber Grid Power of Attorney Form. AB Amber Grid Shareholder Ballot. Confirmation of Responsible Persons. Report of Audit Committee of UAB EPSO-G. The individual authorised by AB Amber Grid (the issuer) to provide additional information on the material event: Giedre Osinaite Head of Legal Division tel. +370 5 2327733 fax +370 5 236 0850 e-mail: g.osinaite@ambergrid.lt Attachments Corinne Woods was a community advocate for San Franciscos eastern waterfront and Mission Bay neighborhood for four decades. She was a volunteer who attended hundreds of community meetings dating back to 1983 and shaped some of the citys biggest projects. From her houseboat on Mission Creek which she preferred to call a floating home she was the neighbor of both South of Market and Mission Bay, which both transformed starting in the 1990s. Woods died last Monday on her houseboat, where she lived with her husband, Peter Snider. She was 72. The creek has lost its rudder and its conscience, said Philip DeAndrade, president of the Mission Creek Harbor Association, who had known Woods since the 1980s. She was a fierce advocate for the things she believed in and the community in which she lived. Woods was a key community voice in the redevelopment of Mission Bay, an area once marked by railroad tracks and vacant lots. Today, it is a sprawling 303-acre, $4 billion development that includes the UCSF medical campus and more than 6,000 planned housing units. Woods was the chairwoman of the Mission Bay Citizen Advisory Committee and a member of community groups that worked with UCSF, the Port of San Francisco and developers. She had a voice in the design of the San Francisco Giants ballpark, which opened in 2000, and the new Golden State Warriors arena, currently under construction in Mission Bay. Unlike some activists, Woods did not oppose growth and change, but wanted to shape development to fit with the existing community, DeAndrade said. Woods fought unsuccessfully against Proposition B, the 2014 ballot measure that requires voter approval of waterfront projects that would exceed the citys building heights. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2009 DeAndrade said her view was, San Francisco is a city for everybody. You cannot fight change and development. All you can do is get yourself a seat at the table and guide development. We fought this and we fought that, and they learned to love her, he said. She was essentially our secretary of state and liaison with the world. Woods could be critical of projects, but was always respectful, said Jack Bair, general counsel of the San Francisco Giants. She could be very blunt and straightforward. If she was upset with a city agency or with us, shed let you know it, but in a way that always came off as very sincere, said Bair, who worked with Woods on both whats now Oracle Park and the Mission Rock development. Woods was equally respected at UCSF, where she pushed officials to make the universitys Mission Bay campus design more accessible to the public, said Barbara French, UCSF vice chancellor for strategic communications and university relations. That was not always a natural fit given the inwardly focused nature of medical care and medical research, French said. Woods feedback led to a public plaza at Fourth Street and changes in Childrens Hospitals design to make it better fit in with the neighborhood. We are grieving. We will sorely miss her, French said. When Corinne was in the room, you knew you would get stuff done. Woods told The Chronicle in February that Mission Bay needs more transit service and that ongoing construction remains a huge hurdle. Courtesy Michael Ohta I think both the Warriors and the Giants need to do more, she said. I think it is really important that more transit be added. Woods was born in Waltham, Mass. Her father worked in the foreign service, and the family lived all over, DeAndrade said. Woods graduated from high school in Bethesda, Md., and attended Georgetown University. 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. She worked as an insurance account executive and moved to San Francisco in 1969. In 1983, she and neighbors created the Mission Bay Conservancy in an effort to clean up Mission Creek, DeAndrade said. The creek which has 20 floating homes today was filled with sewage, and the toxic conditions sparked Woods interest in activism. She soon became a full-time volunteer for the neighborhood. Corinne didnt like living in the middle of this polluted environment, DeAndrade said. She simply never stopped attending meetings. Until her last day, Woods was sending emails to neighbors about upcoming weekend events and expected traffic disruptions, he said. Woods was a meticulous reader and writer who kept piles of plans and documents at home, and she remembered details, said David Beaupre, a Port of San Francisco senior waterfront planner who met Woods in 2001. The Port Commission plans to honor Woods at its meeting Tuesday. Shes one of those people that really makes the city what it is in positive ways and often times goes unrecognized, French said. Theres just no way to repay and thank someone enough who volunteered her time and her passion. Woods is survived by her husband and a stepdaughter, Gypsy Snider. Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf Toronto, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today the long-awaited eight-part documentary series Our Planet, voiced by Sir David Attenborough, becomes available globally on Netflix. This series, created in collaboration with WWF and produced by Silverback Films, focuses on the breadth of diversity of habitats around the world and what can be done to protect remaining habitats and wildlife. Media availability: World Wildlife Fund Canada experts will be available to talk about the state of wildlife loss in Canada as well as iconic Canadian species featured in the series. Megan Leslie (Toronto, ON), president and CEO James Snider (Toronto, ON), vice-president, science, research and innovation Sophie Paradis (Montreal, QC), director, Quebec Emily Giles (Toronto, ON), senior species specialist Brandon Laforest (Iqaluit, NU), senior specialist, Arctic species and ecosystems Simon Mitchell (Fredericton, NB) lead specialist, freshwater About the state of wildlife in Canada Canadian wildlife are not exempt from this global biodiversity crisis. WWFs recent Living Planet Report Canada found that half of monitored vertebrate species in this country are declining, and of those, the decline is 83 per cent. This report also found that federally protected at-risk species have continued to decline since the Species at Risk Act became law. 90 per cent of the global narwhal population - the most vulnerable of all Arctic marine mammals to the threats posed by climate change - call Canada home. population - the most vulnerable of all Arctic marine mammals to the threats posed by climate change - call Canada home. Threatened barren-ground caribou have experienced dramatic declines, some up to more than 90 per cent of their peak numbers. have experienced dramatic declines, some up to more than 90 per cent of their peak numbers. Two thirds of the world's polar bear population live in Canada. They are threatened by loss of sea ice habitat through rapid climate change, reduced prey (as reduced sea ice and snow cover impacts seal health and abundance), increased industrial activities (primarily oil and gas exploration and development, which can disturb denning females). About the Netflix Our Planet series The series launches on April 5, 2019. From the creator of Planet Earth, Silverback Films and in collaboration with WWF, the eight-part series features never-before-seen footage of wildlife and their habitats while also revealing why the natural world matters to us all and what steps must be taken to preserve it. The ambitious four-year Our Planet project has been filmed in 50 countries across all the continents of the world, with over 600 members of crew capturing more than 3,500 filming days, and will focus on the breadth of the diversity of habitats around the world, from the remote Arctic wilderness and mysterious deep oceans to the vast landscapes of Africa and diverse jungles of South America. In the first episode, One Planet, viewers will travel from the Brazilian rainforest to Norways Svalbard archipelago, discovering how each fragile habitat is connected and why they are all essential for life to thrive on this planet. Subsequent episodes capture Earths key biomes, or habitats: the icy frozen worlds, jungles, coastal seas, deserts and grasslands, high seas, freshwater regions and forests. Thanks to an extensive team that includes some of the worlds best wildlife cinematographers, researchers and scientists and the latest in 4K camera technology each episode features several stunning sequences that have never been filmed before. Our Planet is produced by Silverback Films, Ltd. Series producers are Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey. The series is live on Netflix, go to Netflix.com/OurPlanet. The series promotes the shared responsibility we all have to protect the health of our home, highlighting that we may be the last generation that has the chance to address the challenges humankind has created. About World Wildlife Fund Canada WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca. For interviews with WWF-Canada experts Rebecca Spring, senior communications specialist, rspring@wwfcanada.org, +1 647-338-6274 Four San Jose police officers who incorrectly believed they were chasing a shooting suspect when they unloaded nearly 40 rounds in the fatal Christmas Day shooting of 25-year-old Jennifer Vazquez will not face charges, the Santa Clara County district attorneys office said Friday. A 62-page report by Deputy District Attorney David Boyd ruled that all four officers were justified in the use of force that killed Vazquez, who was mistakenly thought to be a suspect in two shootings. The case drew controversy from critics questioning whether deadly force was acceptable when Vazquez turned out to have no connection to those crimes. On Friday, Boyd said the mistaken identity had no bearing on the district attorneys analysis, because Vazquez repeatedly attempted to flee from police while also striking a police cruiser with her vehicle. If they were wrong and they knew they were wrong, thatd be a different issue, but reasonable mistakes are still just that, Boyd said. Now Playing: The Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office released this footage of SJPD shooting of Jennifer Vasquez, which occurred on Dec. 25, 2018. Video: San Francisco Chronicle Officers responded at 2 a.m. on Dec. 25 to a report of a shooting near Story Road and Clemence Avenue, where a person flagged down police and pointed down Clemence Avenue toward a white car turning onto Owsley Avenue. The officer relayed that information in a radio call, according to the report. San Jose police officer Jorge Mercado followed Vazquezs Toyota Camry, believing the vehicle to be the same one reported in the call, Boyd said. A license plate check revealed the car was stolen. After a chase on surface streets, Interstate 280 and Highway 17, the Toyota crashed into a chain link fence at Leigh and Fruitdale avenues. Police told the district attorneys office they tried to get Vazquez and her passenger, 28-year-old Linda Carmona-Bruno, to come out of the car by shouting commands. Instead, Vazquez tried to free the car and hit a tree, fence poles and police cars in the process. Nineteen minutes after the initial 911 call, she manages to break away from the fence and drive toward a San Jose patrol car, according to body camera footage released by the district attorneys office. That was when Mercado and fellow officers Eliseo Anaya, Mitchell Stinson and Mark Koska fired 37 shots at the vehicle, killing Vazquez and injuring Carmona-Bruno, Fridays report said. The Santa Clara County coroners office said Vazquez was shot fourteen times, six of which were head wounds. San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia defended his officers tactics in a December press conference. A supervisor advised over the radio that this shooting was possibly related to an earlier shooting in another part of the city in which similar shotgun shells were found at the scene, he said. Officers followed the suspected shooting suspects in the stolen Toyota and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Investigators found methamphetamine and a metal rod on Vazquezs body, according to Fridays report, which also detailed Vazquezs criminal history, including auto theft and drug convictions. Carmona-Bruno told investigators that she was headed to her boyfriends house with Vazquez when they saw the police, and Vazquez knew she was going to be pulled over, according to the report. Carmona-Bruno said she asked Vazquez if she would stop the car, but Vazquez did not answer. She said I cant go anywhere cause they are going to shoot, Vazquez allegedly told Carmona-Bruno after they crashed. 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. Carmona-Bruno said she did not hear commands for the two to stop driving, and in an interview with investigators she said police should have grabbed or tased Vazquez instead of shooting her. Although the officers mistakenly believed Vazquez was the shooting suspect, police had no way of knowing at the time they had the wrong person, Boyd said. The facts show, as sad as it is, that the driver, Ms. Vazquez, she either didnt do anything to dispel that or she did many things to increase that belief, he said. The San Jose Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu A fierce battle by Berkeley firefighters to prevent a gas-tank explosion succeeded in averting a potential disaster this week but an apparently deadly aftereffect is that hundreds of fish were killed when water and retardant foam from the firefight flowed into a nearby stream. The blaze that set everything off erupted Wednesday in a garbage truck in North Berkeley. When flames began licking two hydraulic pressurized propane tanks on the rig, fire crews hit it with huge amounts of foam and water, said Berkeley Fire Battalion Chief Brian Harryman, to prevent an explosion that could have destroyed nearby houses and parts of a school. By Thursday, however, fish apparently steelhead trout began turning up dead in large numbers in Codornices Creek, a waterway that flows to the Berkeley-Albany border. Environmental advocates estimate the fish kill runs into the hundreds and spreads across a couple of miles. The creek, which originates in the Berkeley hills and ends in a salt marsh along the shoreline of the bay, has been restored for fish and wildlife use over the past two decades at a cost of millions of local and state dollars. More restoration work is expected this summer. Ann Riley, co-founder of the California Urban Streams Partnership advocacy nonprofit, called the contamination irresponsible. There have been 19 years of restoring steelhead to that creek, and the damage looks very serious to me, said Riley, who lives in Berkeley. The Fire Department should be putting down mats over the storm drains during an incident like this to prevent the water, much less the foam, from going into the creeks. She pointed out that chloramine, a disinfectant used in Bay Area water, is deadly to fish as are huge amounts of firefighting foam. Investigators from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were examining the scene Thursday but hadnt come to conclusions yet, said department spokesman Peter Tira. Fire Battalion Chief Harryman said the fish deaths were regrettable, but staving off a possible catastrophe required action too fast for the usual precautions. Even after the propane tank explosions were prevented, the garbage fire stubbornly refused to go out quickly. Public works crews came to help with the cleanup once the flames were snuffed, he said, but by then it was too late. A lot of people are asking, Why didnt you dam or block up the storm drains, but when theres an imminent life-safety threat, our priority is property and life, and we had to fight the fire, Harryman said. In a perfect world, of course, we would have liked to dam up the storm drains and in standard day-to-day operations we absolutely would have done that. But in this instance it wasnt possible. Martin Luther King Jr. (school) was close by, its a residential area we probably would have lost some houses if we hadnt moved so fast. Ben Eichenberg, a staff attorney for San Francisco Baykeeper, said he is staggered by the size of this fish kill. 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. He said that when he investigated Thursday, he counted at least 40 dead fish in a two-block stretch near Eighth Street. His organization believes there are hundreds more, he said. Eichenberg, who lives in Berkeley near the creek, said he was appreciative of the Fire Departments firefighting efforts, but they can do better. There should be precautions they took and they didnt. Its so hard to get a functioning ecosystem where fish can survive, and to see them wiped out like this is sad, he said. Chronicle staff writer Michael Cabanatuan contributed to this report. Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinChron The slaying of a San Jose woman in her home, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant with prior arrests, has become a test of Santa Clara Countys sanctuary policy, throwing into question how far local leaders should go with such measures and at what cost. Politicians and local law enforcement officials frustrated with a county policy that says police should not notify federal immigration authorities when an undocumented immigrant is released from jail are pressuring county leadership to loosen these restrictions in order to apprehend violent criminals like the man accused of killing 59-year-old Bambi Larson in late February. But immigration advocates say amending the policy would allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to target undocumented immigrants without criminal convictions. They fear the proposal plays into the hands of President Trump, who has seized on similar cases to paint immigrants in a poor light as he seeks a border wall with Mexico and greater deportation powers. On Friday, Trump visited Calexico (Imperial County) after backing off threats that he would shut the border down to stop Central American migrants from entering the country. He later threatened to impose a 25% auto tariff on Mexico if it didnt crack down on the drugs being smuggled across the border. Like the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle on the Embarcadero in San Francisco nearly four years ago, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant who was ultimately cleared of her slaying, Larsons death has become a focal point of the debate on local sanctuary policies, which sometimes offer more protections than SB54, the states sanctuary law. Following Larsons killing, police have criticized the county policy requiring them to ignore requests by ICE to hold inmates past their release dates until theyre picked up by immigration officials. The states sanctuary law, known as the California Values Act, also prohibits police cooperation with ICE, with the exception of undocumented immigrants who have committed serious or violent felonies. But the county has blamed ICE for not issuing a warrant for Larsons suspected killer, which they say they would have honored, as the current policy allows. ICE, however, has said it doesnt need a warrant for such arrests. That debate will come to a head Tuesday, with the Board of Supervisors poised to consider amending the current policy. Supervisor Dave Cortese will ask county officials to work with law enforcement agencies and community leaders to craft policy amendments in which ICE would be notified of inmates convicted of violent felonies and have sufficient time to obtain arrest warrants before a serious offender is released from jail. It would also improve the release process for mentally ill inmates in danger of harming themselves or others. Cortese said officials need to take a top-to-bottom look at the current policy to figure out how they can go after dangerous felons who pose a threat to public safety, without comprising the safety of the countys roughly 120,000 undocumented immigrants. Were going to have to be much more surgical in our approach, Cortese said. We have to see whats right for our county, and that takes time. In the past, before Santa Clara County implemented its sanctuary policy, law enforcement would reach out to ICE to pick up inmates after their release. But there were times that ICE agents wouldnt show, according to Cortese. Carlos Eduardo Arevalo-Carranza, 24, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, is charged with stabbing Larson to death in her San Jose home. Arevalo-Carranza, whom San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia called a transient and self-admitted gang member, was convicted of more than 10 crimes in the past three years, including burglary, battery of an officer, prowling and trespassing, and possession of methamphetamine. Yet he evaded immigration authorities in Los Angeles and Santa Clara County who sought to detain him several times. Local law enforcement should have nothing to do with federal immigration enforcement, but we should not be shielding criminals from deportation after they are convicted of the significant crimes outlined in the California Values Act, Garcia said in a statement Friday. We are asking for common sense adjustments to the county policy, only then can we truly say we tried everything in our power to avoid future tragedies. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said local law enforcement agencies shouldnt engage in enforcing federal immigration law, but that there should be exceptions for dangerous criminals like Arevalo-Carranza. The rationale for that approach runs out when youre dealing with a violent criminal and youre faced with the decision of whether to release him into the community, Liccardo said Friday. Were simply looking for a very small procedural change. Were looking to ensure that there is a phone call thats placed to enable a clean handoff (to ICE). 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. Immigration detainers requests by ICE to a local jail or law enforcement agency to detain an undocumented immigrant arrested on criminal charges for an additional 48 hours after his or her release have been the focus of intense debate for several years. Advocacy groups argue that the practice is unconstitutional and allows ICE to detain people without due process, often without any pending charges. South Bay activists closely watching the debate fear a stricter policy would entrap marginalized immigrants and play into Trumps hard-line stance on illegal immigration. We completely understand the tragedy of losing a life, said Cecilia Chavez of Silicon Valley De-Bug, an advocacy organization in San Jose that helps families navigate the criminal justice system. But we cannot create a policy based on one incident. Santa Clara University School of Law professor Pratheepan Gulasekaram said high-profile cases like the Larson and Steinle killings always raise questions about local public policies because they have the ability to capture the publics imagination. But an effort to change these policies wont necessarily make communities safer, he said. When you look at the data, noncitizens commit fewer crimes than native-born residents, he said. If youre concerned about public safety, changes to Santa Clara Countys policy so that officials are mindful of detainers isnt going to produce a difference in public safety. A 2017 report by the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy institute in Washington, D.C., found sanctuary counties have significantly lower crime rates. Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @tatianaysanchez. San Francisco appears all but certain to oppose a divisive state bill that would allow denser housing to be built around transit hubs and job centers, a measure that has again exposed the volatility of land use politics in a city straining to confront a critical housing shortage. A resolution by Supervisor Gordon Mar opposing the bill, SB50, has support from an eight-member supermajority on the board, dealing a symbolic but notable blow to the measures author, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco. The Government Audit and Oversight Committee, which Mar chairs, voted 2-1 Thursday to send a resolution opposing SB50 to the full Board of Supervisors next week. The dissenting vote was from Supervisor Vallie Brown, who expressed some reservations about the bill, but said it would be better for the city to be at the table with Sacramento legislators, rather than foreclose on the measure altogether. We need bold proposals, and not just here. We need to have the rest of the Bay Area and California get into gear around housing, she said. Mars resolution rebuffs SB50 in its current form, but he didnt preclude the possibility that, with some amendments, he could come around to the measure. The bill cleared the Senate Housing Committee on Tuesday, and Mar said it is important for the city to register its opposition as the bill moved through the legislative process. The legislation is similar to an ill-fated bill Wiener introduced last year, one that also was rejected by the supervisors after an intense debate. But the mounting pressures of the states housing crisis appear to be shifting attitudes toward the measure statewide, if not among San Franciscos supervisors. In a recent state-of-the-city poll commissioned by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 74 percent of the surveys 500 respondents said theyd support the bill, which many proponents see as critical to addressing Californias housing drought. The bill has also been endorsed by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, and the mayors of Los Angeles, Stockton and Sacramento. Its also backed by the BART Board of Directors and the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council. Mars resolution, however, echoes the deep-seated concerns of many of SB50s critics. Few dispute the need to build more housing, particularly around public transit corridors to reduce car commuting. But the bills opponents believe SB50 doesnt do enough to protect neighborhoods from displacement brought on by possible construction booms. Many also blanch at the prospect of ceding local control over the citys development to a state law. We should increase density, especially near transit, and we should update our zoning to allow this. But we should do this through a robust, community-led process ... not mandates handed down from Sacramento, Mar said. The question isnt whether we should build more housing or not we must. Its about what we build, how and for whom. SB50 has also drawn opposition from several San Francisco tenant advocacy groups, who anticipate a mushrooming of luxury housing development squeezing out low-income communities if the bill passes. Many believe SB50 does not do nearly enough to exact greater concessions from developers in return for clearing the way for them to build in more places. The problem is it starts from the wrong place, said Deepa Varma, executive director of the San Francisco Tenants Union. It doesnt start from a place of, We need to build affordable housing and keep people in their homes. It starts from a place of how do we incentivize development and reward developers. Wieners bill is complex, but its intent is simple: prevent local zoning laws from blocking housing construction near public transit and job centers. The legislation would keep cities from restricting density within a half-mile of a rail station and a quarter-mile of a high-frequency bus stop. It also raises height limits to roughly four stories within a half-mile of fixed-rail stops and about five stories within a quarter-mile of them. The city would retain the ability to conduct environmental, design and other reviews and would keep in place its rules around affordable housing rates for new developments. A spokesman for Wiener said the senator was waiting for the full boards vote to weigh in on the resolution. But in a public exchange of correspondence between Wiener and Mar in recent days, Wiener said that if the Board of Supervisors were to adopt your resolution and oppose SB50, San Francisco would be aligning itself with some of the wealthiest and most housing-resistant communities in California that are opposing the bill. 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. He also said places like the Mission, Chinatown, South of Market and the Tenderloin would be minimally impacted, if at all, because those neighborhoods are already zoned as densely or more densely than his bill would require. Historically, low income communities have disproportionately been zoned for density, while wealthier communities have not, he said. Some of SB50s backers also see opposition to the bill as a way to launder an aversion to denser development particularly in places populated with single-family homes, which in San Francisco have become a symbol of wealth and exclusion to many pro-housing advocates. Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, who represents the Richmond District, rejected that notion. Come and see who lives in my neighborhood, she said in an emotional delivery during the committee meeting. Talk to me about the seniors who are living under the federal poverty line who are eating cat food for dinner. Fewer said she supported Mars resolution rejecting SB50 because she doesnt believe that simply building more housing, without the right tenant protections, would benefit the city. Its not just about production. Its about preservation, and its about protection, she said. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa San Francisco State Universitys business school will benefit from a huge new donation of $25 million though no check is in the mail. On Thursday, campus officials announced they had received the nations largest gift ever made to a university in cryptocurrency. The donation from investor Chris Larsen, an alumnus; his wife, Lyna Lam; and their nonprofit, Rippleworks amounted to about 56 million XRP tokens in November when it arrived on campus. Today, those 56 million XRP buy 18 percent fewer dollars than in the fall, thanks to wildly fluctuating values for digital money. But San Francisco State and its business school can rest easy. The full $25 million will arrive. Chris, bless his soul, said, Look, Ill guarantee this, campus President Les Wong told The Chronicle. It will transform the College of Business, without a doubt, by letting the school greatly expand the financial education it provides to students. The gift will pay for an endowed chair in financial technology and another in entrepreneurship, each for $8 million. The remaining $9 million will initiate the Lam-Larsen Fund for Global Innovation. As university officials announced the donation at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, Larsen surprised his wife with the news that the school will be renamed the Lam Family College of Business. Lams sisters and other relatives graduated from San Francisco State. Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle The process of accepting cryptocurrency is not for the faint of heart, university officials acknowledged. To make it happen, theyve had to convert the digital dough into actual dough at a pace slow enough to avoid flooding the market with millions of XRPs. Not only did they have questions about the loss of value, they worried about hackers gaining access to the gift and causing the whole thing to backfire. Even though the earliest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, is 10 years old, and XRP is three years younger, ethereal cash systems are so new to universities across the country that many wonder why a well-worn checkbook and a scribbled signature wont do just as well. Chris Larsen explained, saying his crypto-gift offers San Francisco State something beyond just the cash: Students will learn about cryptocurrency and other new forms of global finance. We want to make sure that San Francisco State is at the cutting edge of financial technology, Larsen said. He described cryptocurrency as like a second internet rather than moving data around as the traditional web does, the parallel internet for finance moves value. Thats a really big deal, he said. San Francisco State officials needed to gain their own education in financial technology to accept the gift. They became such good students that other universities now ask their advice. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges has invited San Francisco State to give a talk about how to accept crypto-gifts, and Presidency, the magazine of the American Council on Education, has commissioned an article. Yet when university officials learned of the gift offer last fall, they hesitated. The concern we had was around security, said Venesia Thompson-Ramsay, interim vice president for university advancement. So they spoke with their lawyers and experts in cryptocurrency. They discovered the need to slowly liquidate the tokens a process that has continued since November and they absorbed a new vocabulary: market maker (the expert who converts the tokens to dollars), cold wallet (a hacker-proof place for holding cryptocurrency apart from the internet) and hot wallet (a storage place for crypto-cash connected to the internet). We had to learn it, and teach ourselves, Thompson-Ramsay said. 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. Wong, the campus president, said that by accepting the gift, San Francisco State positioned itself at the forefront of a trend in philanthropy across the planet. This is the largest gift of this kind in U.S. higher education but I dont think its the last one. I think its the new frontier. Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle Larsen, 58, grew up in 1960s Silicon Valley before it was Silicon Valley. His father was a United Airlines mechanic, and his mother was an illustrator. Today, Forbes lists Larsens net worth at $1.9 billion, No. 1,227 on its list of billionaires. He co-founded Ripple, a global payments company that leverages XRP, in 2012 and remains executive chairman of its board. Earlier, Larsen co-founded Prosper Marketplace in San Francisco, which lets people lend to and borrow money from one another without involving a bank. Hes said the concept came from a similar Vietnamese approach to lending called hui, practiced by Lams Cambodian family. Larsen earned his bachelors degree from San Francisco State in 1984 and was named alumnus of the year in 2004 after making earlier donations. His new cybergift is part of a campus campaign to raise $150 million, and is second in size only to a $26.8 million gift last fall from alumni donors George and Judy Marcus. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov In a city with an annual budget of more than $11 billion, small homes selling for $1.5 million and Help Wanted signs in every other window, its clear that San Franciscos economy is booming. But its also obvious the prosperity is leaving many residents behind. A reader emailed me a photo the other day of a homeless man slumped in a Muni bus shelter on Howard Street next to an ad for the San Francisco Giants Friday home opener with the teams slogan, It doesnt get more S.F. These days, it seems it doesnt get more S.F. than stark displays of the very rich and the very poor as the middle-class gets squeezed out entirely. Thats why I always look forward to reading reports from the Brookings Institution, a policy research center in Washington, D.C., because they show in hard numbers what we see every day. Its latest, Metro Monitor 2019, looks at how cities around the country are prospering but not bringing everybody along for the wild ride. The San Francisco metropolitan area, which includes Oakland and Hayward, has seen a remarkable 16.9 percent increase in the number of jobs from 2007 to 2017, the most recent data available. The average annual wage was up 20.2 percent. The gross metropolitan product the regional version of gross domestic product was up a whopping 34.2 percent. The standard of living, the gross metropolitan product divided by the total population, shot up 18.7%. When you look at growth and prosperity, its not a stretch to say that metro San Francisco is probably the envy of the nation, said Chad Shearer, senior research associate at the Brookings Institution. But when it comes to inclusion, its a different story. A lot of people are not benefiting from the tremendous gains the region is making, and thats especially true for people of color. Thats where the statistics arent so rosy in fact, theyre anything but. San Francisco ranks a miserable 84th out of 100 regions in the country for economic inclusion. Specifically, its dinged because of the widening gap over the past decade between the median earnings of white residents versus residents of color. In 2017, earnings for white residents were $70,200, while for people of color, they were $41,500. That gap continues to widen, growing by $2,588 in 2017 alone. And frankly, that doesnt begin to tell the whole picture. Thats just earnings on the job and doesnt count the difference in real estate holdings, stocks, savings and other wealth. By the way, a different report from Brookings found that San Francisco has the sixth-highest level of income inequality in the country, but only because its lowest-paid people earn more than they do in other cities. Residents at the 20th percentile of earnings make $31,840 per household each year. Those at the 95th percentile bring in $507,824 per household, by far the highest in the country. And that means 1 out of every 20 households in San Francisco brings in even more than that. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Happy reunions: Ever wonder what happens to all those emptied backpacks, wallets and purses car break-in thieves discard as they whisk the good stuff to Seventh and Market streets to be fenced? If the victims are lucky, the items fall into the hands of Janet Moyer and Mike Hofman. The married landscape architects live near the base of Twin Peaks and walk up to the top of the popular tourist site three times a week. For years, theyve been finding the remnants of car break-ins and attempting to return them to their owners. They emailed the other day with some especially happy news. They found a discarded backpack with clearly important paperwork inside relating to the adoption of a child from El Salvador. They found the owner, a lawyer in Modesto, and returned it. They sent me a picture of the thank-you note from the clearly relieved and appreciative attorney. Hofman said the break-ins arent as frequent as they were a few years ago. Police make more regular sweeps, and there are now security cameras in place. But on their Sunday morning walks, they still regularly find discarded items, the leftovers of Saturday night crime sprees. They used to take the items to the police station, but they realized officers were merely storing them in case somebody came by looking for them, and not actively trying to return them. So they now play detective instead. I would say weve probably found 50 passports, Hofman said. One time we found a backpack from a family in Indonesia with four passports and four medical cards. They returned that backpack to the consulate. Theyve also used social media to find people, and use business cards to track them down at their offices. Theyve found Kaiser medical cards and called Kaiser to contact the owner. They once found a phone and called the Mom entry to talk to her about getting the phone back to her son. Another time they tracked a woman down at her home to return her purse. She came to the door with a towel out of the shower, Moyer said with a laugh. They once got $40 in appreciation and another time a bottle of wine. But usually theres nothing concrete other than some tears of relief and words of thanks. 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. First of all, theyre in shock because they lost the item, and second of all theyre in shock because its, Oh my God, I actually got this back! Hofman said. The couple have a good idea: a website where those seeking lost items and those whove found lost items can post messages and photos. Surely some creative San Franciscan could make that a reality. Stone justice: The squabble over Hillsboroughs Flintstone House continues. Angela Alioto, attorney for owner Florence Fang, now says the city has sued the wrong party. As youll recall, Fang bought the famous house in 2017, made a lot of changes including installing 15-foot dinosaur lawn ornaments in the backyard, and has been sued by the city for not obtaining the proper permits. The city sued Fang herself, but Alioto says it should have sued Flintstone House LLP, which holds the title to the house. I think it made them uncomfortable to sue the Flintstones, Alioto said. Mark Hudak, assistant city attorney for Hillsborough, said Fang merely transferred the title to that name after being sued. And no, he said, that doesnt get her out of hot water the city will just amend the suit. Meanwhile, a pro-Fang reader has an idea. She should blast the old cartoons theme song Flintstones, meet the Flintstones, theyre theyre modern stone-age fam-i-lyyyy... out of loudspeakers at the house until the city drops the suit. Its not the neighborly thing to do, but it sure would be fun. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf The next chief executive of PG&E Corp. has spent the better part of three decades working for large electric companies, so he comes to his new job with a wealth of experience and baggage that is already generating criticism in California. In his most recent role as CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Bill Johnsons advocates have credited him with slashing debt, reducing operating expenses and achieving strong safety records. But detractors say Johnson, 65, lacked a sufficient commitment to renewable energy, allowed lavish spending on aircraft and poorly handled the ongoing fallout from a major coal ash spill that happened before he arrived. At the Tennessee utility, Johnson was the nations highest-paid federal government employee, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, with total compensation of $8.1 million for the 2018 fiscal year. He may be best known for a different part of his resume: serving as CEO of North Carolinas Duke Energy Corp. for less than one day after the company merged with another utility he led, a flash-in-the-pan tenure that reportedly earned him severance of $44 million. Experts reactions to Johnsons recent hiring at PG&E, Californias largest and most challenged utility, have been mixed. One analyst told The Chronicle after Johnsons new role was announced Wednesday that he was a safe choice given his extensive background. But Travis Miller, a utilities analyst for Morningstar Research Services, was a bit surprised given Johnsons lack of California experience. PG&E has a lot of stakeholders to win over, and this selection doesnt seem to check the boxes that many stakeholders were hoping for, Miller said. Certainly theres no doubt that Bill Johnson has proven to be a good utility operator and a good financial steward. Mark Humphrey / Associated Press 2017 The Tennessee utility and PG&E said Johnson was not available for an interview. In a statement when his appointment was announced, he said he was humbled to take on this new challenge and am dedicated to meeting the high expectations that our customers, regulators and legislators have for PG&E. When he takes the reins at PG&E, expected later this month, Johnson will have the challenge of leading the utility through its reorganization in Bankruptcy Court, where it sought protection three months ago because of its mounting wildfire liabilities. Johnson will also be running the huge California energy company, which has 24,000 employees and serves 16 million people, as it tries to avoid being blamed for causing any more major disasters. Some of the companys toughest critics question whether PG&E can make the necessary safety improvements now when Johnsons predecessors were unable to stop the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, many of the 2017 Wine Country wildfires and, most likely, the 2018 Camp Fire from implicating the company. Anythings possible, dont get me wrong, said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, a statewide utilities watchdog. But its hard to have a lot of confidence when his ... predecessors have failed. Johnson started his career in law and moved into the utility sector when he joined Progress Energy Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., in 1992. He had various roles at Progress, eventually working his way up to CEO in 2007. When Progress merged with Duke Energy, another North Carolina utility, in 2012, Johnson was set to be the CEO of the combined company, and he was very briefly. Hours after Johnson assumed the Duke Energy role, the board ousted him because he wasnt right for the job, the Wall Street Journal reported days later. While Johnson was CEO at Progress, the utility botched an attempted repair of a nuclear power plant in Florida, according to various news reports. Johnsons replacement at Duke Energy later indicated the nuclear plant fiasco was one reason the board pushed him out, the Tampa Bay Times reported in 2012. Johnson left Duke Energy with a $44 million severance package, according to the Times. Duke Energy declined to comment to The Chronicle on Thursday. Months after his employment ended in North Carolina, Johnson was hired to run the Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal agency that provides electricity to businesses and local power companies serving 10 million people in seven states. At the authority, he helped reduce operating and maintenance costs by $800 million annually and cut billions of dollars in debt, according to spokesman Jim Hopson. Hopson described Johnson as a very inclusive leader who excels at motivating companies while explaining those motivations to employees, especially when the hard decisions have to be made. He is not bashful about making difficult choices, Hopson said. But he is very sensitive to the fact that those choices impact individuals, both inside and outside the organization. He really understands that. Yet Johnson faced a fair amount of scrutiny in Tennessee, too. High-priced corporate aircraft purchased by the agency on his watch prompted calls for Johnsons resignation in 2018 amid claims he was out of touch with mandates to spend taxpayer money responsibly, according to a report in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Additionally, a contractor for the Tennessee Valley Authority has been accused of letting workers involved in the cleanup from a 2008 coal ash spill be poisoned. Though the spill happened years before Johnson came to the agency, critics said he mishandled the still-unfolding fallout. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said Johnson should have aggressively held the contractor responsible and work(ed) with the people who have suffered the hardship, but did not. After Johnson announced in 2018 that he would retire from the Tennessee utility, a Knoxville News Sentinel columnist said he has not spoken to the failures of TVA to monitor the contractor working on the cleanup. Hopson defended Johnson and the Tennessee utility against the critiques. He described the aircraft spending as appropriate for the agencys work in a service territory that includes parts of seven states, and an audit did not find that the uses of the aircraft were inconsistent with federal rules, he said. The agency is not directly part of the coal-ash cleanup lawsuit and is concerned about the workers claims but believes they should be heard in court, Hopson said. Hopson also sought to distance the controversy from Johnson, noting he did not join the company until several years after the cleanup started. Some clean energy advocates have been worried about the prospect of Johnson running PG&E since they first got wind that he was the companys leading candidate for the CEO position. After the appointment was confirmed by PG&E, the executive director of Vote Solar quickly released a statement calling the Tennessee Valley Authority a renewable energy laggard under Johnsons leadership. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes In naming Johnson as the incoming CEO, PG&E said he had led retirement of more than half of the Tennessee utilitys coal generation, allowing for a similar decline in carbon emissions. But much of that appears to be due to an expansion in nuclear power generation that occurred during Johnsons tenure solar and wind remain a relatively small source of power at the agency. Hopson said thats because solar and wind are difficult to use as power sources on a large scale in the region. But Smith, of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, dismissed that explanation. The notion that, somehow or another, solar doesnt work in the Tennessee Valley is a joke, Smith said. That is completely not true. Other Southern utilities situated in similar environments have far better renewable profiles, and before Johnson became CEO, the Tennessee utility was a leader in the region, Smith said. It was under Johnsons leadership that that all got throttled and pulled back, he said. He either does not understand the technology or does not believe in it. ... Its not that theres something unique about the Tennessee Valley. Theres a lack of vision by Bill Johnson. PG&E, which is also overhauling its board of directors, has not shown any concern about Johnsons renewable energy record. The utility is expected to be a key player in helping California meet its ambitious climate change goals. We believe that Mr. Johnson, along with the newly constituted board, will help PG&E address Californias evolving energy challenges and deliver what our customers expect from their energy company, PG&E spokesman James Noonan said in an email. PG&E has also said that the Tennessee agency earned its best safety records with Johnson in charge, and has been a perennial top decile safety performer in the utility industry. Johnson is eligible for a $12.8 million retirement package, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Some of that was included in his $8.1 million total compensation for the 2018 fiscal year, Hopson said. PG&E did not reveal how much it will compensate Johnson, saying the details will be disclosed in public documents at a later date. More than half of Johnsons incentive pay will be directly tied to safety performance and metrics, Noonan said, an arrangement that the company believes significantly exceeds industry standards. Total compensation for Johnsons former CEO Geisha Williams, was about $8.6 million in 2017, the most recent year for which information is publicly available. Williams left the company in January, just before PG&E announced it would file for bankruptcy protection later that month. The CEO role has been filled on an interim basis since then by John Simon, who was previously PG&Es general counsel. In light of the companys decision to hire Johnson, Simons immediate focus will be to ensure a seamless management transition, Noonan said in an email. PG&E expects to disclose more about Simons future in the coming weeks, he said. As he steps into his new position, its not clear how PG&E will restructure in the coming years or if it will be able to win over skeptics who distrust the company after its involvement in several disasters over the last decade. The burden of proof is on him, TURN Executive Director Toney said. Hes coming into a bad situation that has been bad for a long time, and people are going to look at him to win back their trust from scratch. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris The economy may be booming, but the trade wars with China are not over. And some companies are braced for more pain. Williams-Sonoma is among the firms moving supply chains out of China as it anticipates tariffs that may soon rise on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Last month, the San Francisco home-goods company said it was looking at other manufacturing partners as it moves some production out of China. It also plans to negotiate better pricing with suppliers and bring its upholstery work to the U.S. Between all these moves and also some mix shifts and some selective price increases, were prepared for the worst, CEO Laura Alber said on a call with investors last month. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Saying it was moving to protect American intellectual property, the Trump administration levied a 25% tariff in June on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, including machinery and equipment. Consumer goods were mostly spared. China retaliated with a list of its own tariffs targeting the U.S. agricultural sector. The Trump administration responded in September, coming up with another list affecting $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, many of them consumer products like food, textiles including yarn and wool, and toys. It imposed a 10% tariff and threatened to raise it to 25%. After the 10% tariff took effect, a survey by business consulting firm Ernst & Young found that about 84% of businesses were reviewing their supply chains and 51% said they have already made changes. More than half say they expect tariffs to remain in place until 2020 or beyond. Experts say the move by Williams-Sonoma makes sense. The job of corporate management is to address business risk, said Matt Nakachi, an international trade law attorney at Junker & Nakachi in San Francisco. If the trade war gets worse, Williams-Sonoma will not be impacted as badly. And if the duties with China remain in place, they will seek to avoid them by sourcing outside of China. Williams-Sonoma gets 65% of what it sells from outside the U.S. The company declined to comment on how much it imports from China. It has 13 offices in 11 countries dedicated to overseas production and said its not too worried about supply chain shifts. We have developed the extensive network and long-standing, trusted relationships with our vendors such that we believe we are better positioned to shift production out of China, Elise Wang, vice president and head of investor relations, said in an email. Plans include moving production to other countries with new vendors or to manufacturing plants owned by existing vendors in other countries whatever makes the most economic sense, Wang said. Williams-Sonoma also plans to produce more upholstery, used on its couches, chairs and bed headboards, at its factories in North Carolina. It also added a new plant in Tupelo, Miss., at the end of 2018. But the moves also come as the company which runs the Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, Mark and Graham, and Rejuvenation brands, and operates a combined 579 stores in the U.S. saw only single-digit sales growth last year. Retail is an increasingly competitive environment, said Jonathan Matuszewski, equity analyst at Jefferies, a financial services company in New York. Overall performance (for Williams-Sonoma) has been mixed. The company reported $5.7 billion in revenue last year, up 7.2% from $5.3 billion in 2017, with more than half coming from online sales. The West Elm line saw more than 11% growth in revenue in the last quarter of 2018, while revenue at Williams-Sonoma stores was flat. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Other companies that have announced manufacturing moves out of China in light of the tariffs include camera maker GoPro in San Mateo, furniture maker La-Z-Boy and vacuum cleaner company Bissell Inc., both in Michigan. One San Francisco company that hasnt taken production out of China but is considering it is Tortuga Backpacks. Fred Perrotta, co-founder and chief executive, said while the company has prepared for a shift, were holding for a final resolution on U.S. and China trade talks. Still, tariffs have impacted Tortuga, whose products include travel bags and accessories. Perrotta said the duties he pays for goods from China have risen to 27.6% from 17.6%. Hes trying out factories in Vietnam. The rise to 25% from 10% in tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods had been set to take effect on March 2 but was postponed as the U.S. and China continued negotiations. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a decision on increasing or or even repealing the Trump tariffs could come by the end of the month. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika After 85 years in San Francisco, the Wine Institute has decided to move its headquarters to Sacramento to be closer to lawmakers and save money. The institute is a public policy and regulatory advocacy association representing about 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses. It also supports international market development, scientific research and education programs. The board made the decision at its March 12 meeting and plans to make the move within the next 12 months, the institute said Thursday. The institute has about 40 people, including 20 in San Francisco. After the move, it will be co-headquartered in Sacramento and Washington, where it has existing offices. Consolidating its San Francisco and Sacramento offices will save money, but the main reason for moving is wanting to be closer to elected officials, said Hank Wetzel, the boards vice chairman and managing member at Alexander Valley Vineyards in Healdsburg. The cost of doing business in San Francisco and the growing difficulty of getting into the city for meetings were other reasons, he said. Getting to Sacramento will be easier for members in Napa Valley, San Joaquin Valley and even the Central Coast. Wetzel said legislators have been fairly responsive to the industry, but the portion of the legislature in Southern California is not as educated about what we do and the role the industry plays in Northern California. We want to make sure they know about that. About 100 bills were introduced this year and last that could affect the industry, he said. Major topics include sustainable groundwater, excise taxes and farm policies. It will be sad to leave San Francisco, which has been the institutes home since it was founded in 1934, said Suzanne Groth, the boards treasurer and president of Grothe Vineyard and Winery in Napa Valley. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes But there is no iconic building here, she added. We all belong to wonderful marketing organizations for local issues and marketing issues. This is an organization that is really about politics. She said the board voted unanimously to make the move: It made so much sense. Board members said the institute is looking to sublease its space at 425 Market St. Robert Koch, the institutes president and chief executive, did not return a request for comment. Other companies and organizations that have moved or plan to move their headquarters out of San Francisco in recent years include McKesson, Bechtel, Sierra Club and Blue Shield. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender Dublin, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Denim Jeans - Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2016 through 2024. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Denim Jeans in US$ Million and Million Pairs. The report profiles 159 companies including many key and niche players such as: 7 For All Mankind (USA) Aarvee Denims & Exports Ltd. (India) Arvind Limited (India) Black Peony (Group) Co., Ltd. (China) Diesel S.p.A (Italy) Edwin Co. Ltd. (Japan) Gap Inc. (USA) Levi Strauss & Co. (USA) Mavi Jeans (Turkey) Nien Hsing Textile Co. Ltd. (Taiwan) Orta Anadolu (Turkey) Raymond Group (India) True Religion Apparel Inc. (USA) VF Corporation (USA) Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS Study Reliability and Reporting Limitations Data Interpretation & Reporting Level Quantitative Techniques & Analytics Product Definitions and Scope of Study 2. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW Denim Jeans - A Fashion Quintessential Global Denim Industry - Key Facts Leading Denim and Jeans Markets North America - Single Largest Denim Jeans Market Developing Countries Offer Significant Growth Opportunities China - Leading Denim Weaver Growing Popularity of Denim in Developing Countries A Review of the Latest Denim Innovations Denims - A Review of the Latest Trends Strong Growth in Demand from Emerging Markets Export - Import Statistics 2009 - International Year of Natural Fibers Background Denim Industry after the End of Quota System Multi-fiber Arrangement 3. DENIM JEANS INDUSTRY AND MACRO DRIVERS Demand for Apparel and Textile Mirrors GDP Growth Ballooning Middle Class Population Offers Steady Growth Opportunities Expanding Urban Population Spurs Consumption Growth Global Apparel Market - A Macro Perspective Growing Demand for Clothing and Fabrics Bodes Well for the Market Cotton, Key Raw Material for Denim - An Overview Consumption to Remain Stable Cotton Trade 4. MARKET TRENDS, GROWTH DRIVERS AND ISSUES Denim - an Expression of Unique Personal Style World Denim Jeans Market Ranked by Most Popular Jeans Available Distressed Jeans Increasingly in Vogue Denim Consumption Largely Dependent on Street Fashions and Celebrity Styles Denim Jeans Making Inroads into Work Wear/Corporate Wear Growing Fashion Consciousness among Women Drives Growth High-end Premium Denim Jeans to Register Impressive Growth World Premium Jeans Market Ranked by Most Expensive Jeans Available Competition in High-End Denim Jeans Market Growth in Premium Jeans Category Hampered - A Recent Past Recollection Generating Interest in Young Generation - A Challenging Trail to Tread Denim Jeans Face Threat from Substitutes Functional Denim: The Next Big Thing Shapewear Giant Spanx Enters into the Denim Jeans Market Acid Washes on Denim Jeans Gain Popularity Distressed Jeans and Jeggings now in Vogue Athleisure Remains Strong, Providing Competition to Denim Innovations Drive Market Dynamism New Eco-friendly Denim Collection from Patagonia Skinny vs Boyfriend - The Bestselling Styles Hunt for the Right Fit Continues Eco-conscious Consumers Drift towards Natural and Organic Denims Bioindigo: A Greener Way to Dye Denims Levi's Goes Green' Hemp Jeans - A Lighter and Sustainable Alternative Recycled Cotton - A Step towards Sustainability Bangladesh - A Key Denim Jeans Producer India Emerges as an Important Denim Resource for Global Giants Spike in Online Apparel Sales Growing E-commerce Prospects Key Market Players Distribution Channels Disorganized Retail Understates Sales Specialty Stores Continue to Dominate Women's Jeans Sales 5. INNOVATIVE TRENDS Innovation Key to Market Performance in Premium Segment Emerging Innovations in Denim and Jeans Market Fabric Blends Athleisure Trend Drives Growth of Jeans Market Other Select Emerging Trends New Designs and Technologies Keep the Denim Marketing Ticking Key Innovations in the Global Denim Sector Selvedge Denim Jeans Sun-Faded Denim Flared Jeans Cropped Flare Jeans Wide Leg Jeans Two-Tone Jeans Slim and Straight Jeans Black Denims Raw Hem Jeans Deeply Distressed Jeans Black Skinny Jeans Boyfriend Jeans Stretch Jeans Straight-Leg Jeans Embellished Denim Jackets Longer Denim Jackets Bold Colors Acynetic Lycra Hybrid VSEP Technology Sculpt Denim Contrasting Blue Denim Super Soft Denim Jeans Curved Denim Jeans Stain Repelling Denim Jeans in White Stretch Denim Jeans Designer Denim Jeans Skinny Jeans Boyfriend Denim Jeans Curve-Friendly Denim Jeans Maternity Jeans Body Contouring Denim Jeans Eco-Friendly Denim Jeans Novel Denim Fabric Washes Colored Denim Jeans New Designs and Innovations in Preparation of Denim Fabric New Dyeing Technology to Save Water Levi Strauss Launches Project F.L.X. to Automate Denim Finishing Arvind Offers Innovative and Sustainable Denim Range Ikat Denim Zero Numero Uno Makes a Mark in Terms of Sustainability Scented Jeans Antimicrobial Jeans Moisturizing Jeans Yoga Jeans Stain Repellent Jeans 6. PRODUCT OVERVIEW Introduction to Denim Fabrics Types of Fabric Classification of Denim Alternatives to Denim Fabrics Dry Denim Selvage Denim Color Denim Denim Jeans: The Primary Application of Denim History of Denim Jeans 7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE An Insight into Competition in the Global Market Space Leading Brands in Select Markets Worldwide 7.1 Focus on Select Players 7.2 Product Launches/Introductions Baldwin Launched 2018 Collection Helmut Lang Jeans Introduces a Re-Designed Denim Collection GUESS and ORTA Anadolu Join Hands to Created New Jeans for Women Samuel Ku Launches New Denim Line, Cqy GUESS Jeans Unveils Fall '18 Collection Madewell Forays into Menswear with Denim American Giant Launches Denim Jeans Manufactured in the US Levi's and Liverpool FC Launch New Jeans Collection Outerknow Launches S.E.A. Brand of Jeans Madewell Introduces Eco Collection Boulder Denim Introduces Denim 2.0 Gap Introduces Limited Edition Sarah Jessica Parker Collection G-Star RAW Unveils Renewed Denim 2.0 Mother Denim Launches Men's Collection Carmar Denim Launches Extreme Cut-Out Jeans Jeanswest Launches Jeans in Collaboration with Orta Anadolu Jack & Jones to Launch Sustainable Jeans Good American Launches Maternity Denim Range 7 FOR ALL MANKIND Unveils Spring 2018 Collection Revtown Introduces Hand-Crafted Premium Jeans Madewell Unveils Spring 2018 Denim Collection Revtown Launches New Line of Men's Jeans NEIGHBORHOOD Unveils Fall/Winter 2017 Collection with Japanese Imprints Reformation Launches Sustainable Jeans Collection Gap Unveils Compression-Based Denim Stuarts London Unveils Special Edition Jeans to Commemorate Golden Jubilee AYR Introduces Extended Size Denim for Fall 2017 Edwin Jeans Relaunches Brand in North America Forever 21 Introduces '12x12' Denim Line LiCC Jeaneration Introduces Waterproof Jeans, LiCC Libert Need Supply Introduces "NEED 1996" Denim Collection Tommy Hilfiger Introduces Spring 2017 Tommy Jeans Collection H&M Launches Unisex Denim Collection Edwin Launches ED-30 Atelier GARDEUR Introduces SUPERFLEX Denim Line for Men Wrangler Launches Latest Range of Innovative Traveler Jeans in New Colours Calvin Klein Unveils Denim Silhouette Levi's Re-launches its Most Iconic 505 Jean Sears Launches its Popular Roebuck & Co. Denim Lines for Boys and Girls 7 For All Mankind Launches Bair Denim Diesel Launches First Denim Garment Made with Lightest Microfiber, Dryarn Tommy Hilfiger Launches Tommy Jeans Collection Revisiting the 90s Nostalgia Siwy Denim Launches Range of Jeans for Women in New Spring 2016 Collection 7.3 Recent Industry Activity VF Corporation to Spin-Off Business into Two New Entities Lion Capital Acquires Majority Stake in Paige Denim Milwaukee Denim Co. Established Roo Hsing and JD United Merge Wrangler and Mount Vernon Partner for New Line of Jeans Hudson Jeans Partners with Fashion Data Company, Fitcode Berlin-based brand INAN Partners Lee for a Makeover Levi Strauss and Aquafill, a Nylon Manufacturer, Partner to Manufacture Men's Collection from Waste Materials 8. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE 9. REGIONAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE 9.1 The United States A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis An Overview Brief Review of US Jeans Market Major Factors Driving Purchases of New Denim Jeans among Americans The US Apparel Market - A Macro Perspective Market Trends and Drivers Denim Jeans: Wardrobe Staple Brand Craze Declines American Consumers Extremely Quality Conscious Retailers Grow Weary of New Brands Shift to Skinny Jeans and Jeggings to Add to Price Pressure Women's Denim Wear Market Women of All Age Groups Wear Jeans Premium Denim Wear - A Niche Market Factors Influencing Purchase Decisions: Fit Overrules Price Younger Men Steer Sales Premium Denim Jeans - A Brief Denim Industry and Millennials Typical Customers of Premium Denim Jeans Factors Influencing Purchase Decisions of Premium and Non-Premium Customers US Shifts Sourcing Bases Overseas Import-Export Scenario Distribution Channels Challenges Confronting the US Denim Jeans Market Competition from Other Apparel Categories Performance Issues B. Market Analytics 9.2 Canada A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis Canadian Apparel Market - An Overview Denim Market - Select Statistical Data B. Market Analytics 9.3 Japan A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis Market Snapshots Consumer Profile for Apparel Select Statistical Data B. Market Analytics 9.4 Europe A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis The Legacy of Denims Overview of European Jeans Market Denim Sales Linked to Penchant for Cotton Replacements Driving Men's Denim Jeans Market Own Label Denims Alter Market Structure Distribution Channels Export - Import Statistics Denim Woven Fabric Denim Jeans Imports into the EU - A Historic Perspective B. Market Analytics 9.4.1 France A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis Apparel - A Macro Perspective B. Market Analytics 9.4.2 Germany Market Analysis 9.4.3 Italy Market Analysis 9.4.4 The United Kingdom A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis Denim Faces Competition from Other Categories Premium Denim Makes a Comeback Current Trends A Glance at UK Denim Jeans Market Branded Denims on Rough Waters Growth of Private Labels Emergence of Dresses as New Fashion Fad for Women Economic Pressures Initiatives of Denim Brands B. Market Analytics 9.5 Asia-Pacific A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis An Overview of the Denim Market India and China Dominate Denim Jeans Market in Asia-Pacific A Peek into the Competitive Landscape in Asia B. Market Analytics 9.5.1 China A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis Favorable Demographics Drive the Denim Jeans Market Chinese Apparel Market - An Overview Leading Apparel Brands by Category Denim Market Chinese Denim Market Registers Fast Paced Growth Chinese Retail Sector Turns Sophisticated B. Market Analytics 9.5.2 India A. Market Analysis Current and Future Analysis Shift from Traditional Wear to Western Wear Augurs Well for Indian Denim Jeans Market Robust and Steady Growth of Denim in India Strong Momentum in Domestic Market for Denim Enticing New Players Growth Story Continues Apparel Industry in India - An Overview Expanding Textile and Apparel Demand Spells Opportunities for the Market Factors Driving Growth in the Indian Denim Jeans Market Growth Drivers in the Indian Denim Market - Factors Ranked on Scale of 1 to 10 (10 being Highest and 1 being Lowest) SWOT Analysis of Indian Denim Industry Young India Presents Plenty of Opportunities for Denim Jeans Manufacturers Stretch Jeans Gain Popularity among Men Specialized Denims Offer Stiff Competition to Conventional Blues Tier II and Tier III Cities Demonstrate Robust Growth Denim Giants Continue to Prosper Denim Brands Market in India: An Overview Top Ranking Popular Denim Brands in North India, South India and East India Top Ranking Popular Denim Brands in India for Women, Men, and Children by Popularity Denim Production Denim Manufacturers Unite to Battle Higher Costs B. Market Analytics 9.5.3 Rest of Asia-Pacific A. Market Analysis Current & Future Analysis Overview of Select Asia-Pacific Markets Bangladesh Denim Industry Eyeing International Market Going Green in Denim: The Bangladeshi Way Pakistan Challenges for Denim Makers in Pakistan Thailand - Key Statistics B. Market Analytics 9.6 Latin America 10. COMPANY PROFILES Total Companies Profiled: 159 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries - 163) The United States (72) Canada (5) Japan (5) Europe (41) France (2) Germany (7) Italy (11) The United Kingdom (5) Spain (3) Rest of Europe (13) Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) (38) Latin America (2) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dw2xpp/global_denim?w=12 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Homelessness and the price of housing are undeniable problems in 2019 San Francisco. But this isnt the citys first such crisis, or its most acute: The earthquake and fire of April 18, 1906, destroyed more than 28,000 buildings and left nearly half the population of 450,000 homeless. In response to the unprecedented disaster, San Francisco launched two remarkable housing programs, the first attempts in the United States to provide permanent housing for poor and working-class people. The initiatives were far ahead of their time. The first relief efforts consisted of simply trying to meet refugees basic needs. But by summer, the emphasis shifted to the more ambitious goal of rehabilitation helping people return to the standard of living they enjoyed before the disaster. The concept of rehabilitation was relatively new. In the most comprehensive study of the relief efforts, the San Francisco Relief Survey of 1913, the researchers who compiled reports on the disaster recovery wrote, In the field of relief we are discounting mere almsgiving and are fighting for constructive treatment and permanent betterment, which often involve larger relief expenditures. Rehabilitation was the new, enlightened goal, the modern philosophy of charity. Post-disaster San Francisco was the first large rehabilitation effort in the United States. The main relief agency was the San Francisco Relief and Red Cross, a combined city-Red Cross project that dispensed $9 million in donations from around the country. It identified four types of people to help. First were those who owned property in the burned area. This group received bonuses of one-third the costs of construction to rebuild. As the 1913 report acknowledged, many recipients of the bonus plan were wealthy business owners who didnt really need the help. The second were chronic dependents, whom the report said the city should accept as permanent charges. The bulk of those who were helped fell between these two extremes of the economic spectrum. The third category of aid recipients consisted of working-class people who didnt own property but were resourceful; they were given grants or loans that allowed them to become homeowners. The fourth group consisted of the poorest working San Franciscans renters who consumed each day the daily wage and thus were unlikely to make wise use of a grant for the erection of a permanent home. Instead of a cash grant or loan, they were provided with free cottages, to protect them from the coming winter rains, which they had the right to own. Over two years, the relief agency built more than 5,000 of these two- and three-room cottages, which cost about $150 apiece to erect; they became known as earthquake shacks. The agency also constructed hundreds of other residential structures, including 19 tenement buildings in South Park, which was considered too small to accommodate a cottage camp. All told, the agencys housing program cost $2 million. Chris Stewart / SFC 2004 Of the two programs aimed at helping working-class people the grants and loans and the cottage program the first went far more smoothly. This wasnt surprising: It attracted people with more resources, and their economic status was far more stable. A total of 1,572 parties, mostly families, received grants and loans, most of which totaled about $300. Many received both a grant and a loan. The money was put toward the average $544 cost of construction plus another $146 or so if recipients wanted plumbing. (Thirty-two didnt.) A followup report on 896 of the grant and loan recipients found that most were married couples. There were 127 widows and deserted wives, making up 14 percent of the group, compared with 31 percent among the poorer pre-disaster renters who received cottages. Yet the grant and loan recipients were far from well-off. Half were immigrants, and only 66 men included in the follow-up report had owned a business before the earthquake and fire. Just three were classified as professionals. More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. Most were skilled and unskilled wage earners, working in 31 different trades, making between $25 and $100 a month. Only 10 percent owned the houses in which they lived before the disaster, and just 18 percent reported that they had enough savings to enable them to rebuild. Most had been paying between $10 and $20 a month in rent. In short, grant and loan recipients represented a solid cross-section of working- and middle-class San Franciscans the 1906 equivalent of city residents who today make $50,000 to $100,000 a year. They were a worthy group of aid recipients, and the grant and loan program seems by any measure to have been a ringing success. The authors of the San Francisco Relief Survey wrote that the majority of those it helped were wage-earners who had carried but little insurance, accumulated small savings, and had but few friends and family to extend help. The cottage program targeted an equally worthy, but much poorer, group of San Franciscans, and it had a much rockier ride. Its story will be told in the next Portals. Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals. For more features from 150 years of The Chronicles archives, go to sfchronicle.com/vault. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com A man accused of slashing another man with a sword after having his Make America Great Again hat knocked off his head last weekend in San Francisco appeared in court Friday to face charges in the attack. Leor Bergland, 30, was defiant as he stood in his orange jail-issued clothing for an initial appearance in San Francisco Superior Court. He was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempted murder, mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon. You just basically implied that I did it, Bergland said as prosecutors argued for him to be held in jail without bail. Why are you telling me to be quiet? Bergland then said to his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Eric Quandt. I can defend myself. Bergland, whose messy brown hair covered his eyes, did not enter a plea during the brief appearance in which Judge Donna Little set his bail at $250,000. The attack took place around 9:45 p.m. on March 29 outside a roller rink at 554 Fillmore St., prosecutors said. The victim, 27-year-old Gabriel Gaucin, passed under construction scaffolding near the scene and saw a man walking toward him in a red flannel shirt and red Make America Great Again hat that was popularized by President Trump during his 2016 run for president. The victim swatted the hat off Berglands head, prosecutors said. Thats when Bergland suddenly reached back, as if to punch the victim, but instead quickly brought his hand down, holding what the victim thought was an umbrella or nightstick, prosecutors wrote in court papers filed Friday. Gaucins hand was partially severed in what prosecutors in court Friday described as one of the most gruesome photos of an assault Ive ever seen. He was treated at San Francisco General Hospital and had emergency hand surgery. A witness at the scene chased the assailant, who disappeared into nearby Alamo Square Park, officials said. Police seized the red hat and a beer bottle the suspect had been seen drinking at the scene. Two days later, a security guard found a sword wrapped in a red plaid vest protruding from some garbage cans at 1175 Pierce St. and called 911, prosecutors said. 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. Police matched a fingerprint on the beer bottle to Bergland and arrested him Wednesday inside a restaurant on Eddy Street, officials said. The defendant told police he was home at the time of the incident and stated, What do you have on me, nothing cause I didnt do it, prosecutors said. No one has a right to strike someone with a sword because their hat was knocked off their head, said Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorneys office. Those are the allegations in this case and those things will be figured out in court. Quandt argued that the case calls for restorative justice and that both sides should sit down together and try to work it out. His client, he said, didnt instigate the altercation. What the reports seem to suggest is that this defendant reacted to being either attacked, or a hat thrown off his head, or something along those lines, Quandt said. We will find out much more in the coming weeks. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky The most San Francisco story of 2019 began on March 4, when Mayor London Breed signed off on a plan to build the citys largest Navigation Center to date on Seawall Lot 330 along the Embarcadero. Seawall Lot 330 is a 2.3-acre parcel thats currently being used as a parking lot. In other words, its exactly the kind of site that should be used for a higher purpose. But the Lord left this town a long time ago. Seawall Lot 330 abuts South Beach. If youre not familiar with the kind of neighborhood South Beach is these days, in 2016 the IRS collected 7,020 returns from ZIP code 94105, and 2,180 of them were from households earning an adjusted gross income exceeding $200,000 a year. Since March 13, these households have been packing public meetings in opposition to the plan. This week they shouted down the mayor. Their complaints have been the usual NIMBY-ish stuff about how visible poors need to go somewhere else. After years of housing crisis, there is a growing sense in California that this kind of rhetoric wont help us solve our problems. Thats probably why the residents decided they needed insurance in the form of litigation. On March 20, Wallace Lee created a GoFundMe campaign called Safe Embarcadero for All to collect lawyers fees for a fight against the city. Lee lives near many senior technology executives, Stanford professors, human resources VPs and others who have been eager to throw money at the problem of being forced to see unhoused people on a daily basis. As of Friday afternoon, the fundraiser had collected $94,500. My clients are certain this is not the right spot for this, Andrew Zacks, the residents lawyer, told me. My clients feel like they should bear some of the citys problems, but to put 200 beds on this site and not have plans for other locations for other parts of town is wrong. Lees fundraiser also caught the eye of an Outer Richmond resident named William Fitzgerald. A former Google public policy and communications staffer, Fitzgerald is fluent in both San Franciscos passive-aggressive doublespeak as well as the language of internet trolling. He was perfectly prepared for this incident. A legal fund to stop people from getting shelter just seemed crazy, Fitzgerald told me. I thought it would be a way to show that San Francisco is not this terrible place where people are just spending money to prevent other people from getting their basic human rights. Fitzgerald launched his own GoFundMe fundraiser, called SAFER Embarcadero for All, on March 28. When I asked him why the proceeds are going to the Coalition on Homelessness, Fitzgerald said it is because theyll continue to spend this money to fight for housing for everybody in San Francisco. Already, we were at Defcon Three for San Franciscos current readiness condition: wealthy, progressively minded San Franciscans claiming they supported homeless efforts everywhere but their own neighborhoods; unreasonable demands for the democratic process; the use of technology to inflict unseen violence on ones neighbors and a fundraiser as meme generator. Then Big Tech jumped in. GoFundMe decided to support Fitzgeralds campaign with a $5,000 donation. San Franciscos favorite billionaire son, Salesforce founder Marc Benioff, weighed in with $10,000. Benioff opened the floodgates, bringing Twilio co-founder Jeff Lawson and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey along with him. The national media started pontificating, and we are now at Defcon Two the point at which a heated local spat becomes A Battle for San Franciscos Soul. A well-worn tale is comforting. But there are a few wrinkles in this one. The first change is the fact that Big Tech is taking part in politics at all. Its happening under duress, of course. Just last year, Dorsey was campaigning against Proposition C, the homeless services tax. But everywhere you go, lawmakers are turning on tech, whether its Facebook bracing for global regulations or the Board of Supervisors seeming loath to renew the Twitter tax break. Tech leaders are wising up and realizing that the best way to seem responsible is to look charitable for the right causes. That brings us to the second change: Building homeless shelters in wealthy neighborhoods now looks like the right cause. The South Beach residents are absolutely correct about the fact that for too long, San Francisco has forced just a few neighborhoods to bear the burden of providing the city with not just homeless services but also new housing and office space and all the growing pains that come with them. Fitzgeralds neighborhood, for example, has no Navigation Center. His supervisor, Sandra Fewer, has no plans to welcome one. Thats unfair, and it has to change. But its also true that well-heeled South Beach residents have never imagined theyd be responsible for accommodating others. Now, its not just the citys government but their own peers saying they must. Thats a huge difference, and its one that the rest of the citys residents are clearly relishing. Fitzgeralds fundraiser is at $167,875 and counting. Caille Millner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cmillner@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@caillemillner The food boom in and around Oaklands Jack London Square continues this month with Town Square Eats, a new restaurant operating within the same 2,800-square-foot space as Crooked City Cider Taproom on Broadway. And while Town Square Eats also provides food for the taproom, which originally opened in February, the restaurant exists as a separate entity with its own owners, its own branding and, notably, is available for delivery. For the last few weeks, its been in a soft open phase with scaled back hours and a limited menu. Full service will be rolled out on April 17. Led by Rob Lam and Helen Chandra of Oaklands Perle Wine Bar and James and Lea Yu of Berkeleys Great China, the restaurant caters to the Crooked City Cider Taproom customer base by serving elevated bar food think truffle potato chips with caviar ($14.50), mochi donut holes ($7), pepperoni pizza ($8) and an onion dip Impossible burger ($15). (See the full menu here) Katie Rummel As for the pedigree behind the project, James and Lea Yu also run Great China in Berkeley, an East Bay destination with multiple James Beard nominations for Outstanding Wine Program. Meanwhile, Lam operated Butterfly on San Franciscos Embarcadero for 15 years before it closed in 2017. Now, hes in Oaklands Montclair Village with Perle, yet another place known for its wine options. When Crooked City Cider opened in February, founder Dana Bushouse reached out to Yu about possibly providing food for the space. Yu said he and Lam are longtime friends who often discussed finding ways to work together. Crooked City Cider just seemed like a logical step, he said. So after looking at the space and the numbers, we decided it was worth taking seriously, Yu said. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. We liked the location of Crooked City Cider and envisioned how we could use an online delivery platform to get our food to offices and the working crowd around downtown Oakland, he said. We also like to frequent drinking establishments that have decent food and a great place to hang out and just have fun so it all pointed toward this project. Earlier this month, word came that a 40,000-square-foot market hall was heading to Jack London Square. It joins a wave of new food businesses and retail on the Jack London Square grounds. Town Square Eats: 206 Broadway, Oakland; Regular hours beginning April 17 will be Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with delivery and catering available soon through Caviar. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips It took less than 10 minutes for Mike and Donna Fritts to lose everything. From the moment Donna opened the garage door of their house in Concow (Butte County), just over the ridge from Paradise, only to spot treetop-high flames flowing down the ridge, they knew the fire was coming for them, and fast. Mike and Donna grabbed a few legal documents from their small home. They called Mikes son to warn him to get out of town, crammed three large dogs into their Subaru and ripped out onto Concow Road. Ten minutes was too fast to warn their neighbors. Too fast to hose down the house and grounds. Too fast, even, to grab the remaining stock of Mike Fritts teas, which represented eight years of labor. By the time the Frittses drove into Oroville, 25 miles south of their house, the Camp Fire had inhaled Californias first commercial tea farm. At least as far as they knew. Growing tea hadnt just been a hobby or a profession for Mike Fritts, 63. It was a sort of cure, he says. Before the day in 2010 when Fritts started hallucinating, he had spent most of his life the majority of it in the Sierra Foothills working with plants as an independent horticulturalist and landscaper. The work had made him wiry and strong, turned his hands into blocks of stone-hard skin and burnished his face. So he wasnt sure why he woke up woozy. Things were wavy. I couldnt see straight, he says. So I laid down. I was nauseous. He had trouble getting up. Eventually, the doctor traced the sickness to a tick bite, perhaps a series of them. Mike tested positive for Lyme disease as well as a few co-infections. It had colonized his brain as well as his body. Lyme left him so addled and weak that he was forced to quit his job working out of Mendons Nursery in Paradise to focus on getting better. He and Donna, who had married that year, lived on a 1-acre plot in a sort of rural subdivision in Concow called Camelot Park, surrounded by wood-frame houses and mobile homes on similar-size plots. A stream divided a sunny western strip of pasture from the other four-fifths of the Fritts property, which was shaded by tall Ponderosa pines, cedars and oaks. The neighborhood was far from prosperous. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle But the area had good soil, decomposed granite and forest humus, and ample water. A forest fire had clambered through the development in 2008, clearing a jagged path, so the couple, like their neighbors, kept the underbrush cleared. Fritts chafed at the way his illness kept him inside. While shuttling from doctor to naturopath in 2010, he stopped by his old nursery and noticed that rows of small Camellia sinensis sinensis cuttings tea plants were on sale. Mendons had purchased them from a Southern California nursery famous for its camellias. Fritts knew that his land had acidic soil, which camellias love, and he was curious whether these might flourish on his property. I had to find something else to do, and tea plants were giving me a reason to go outdoors, he says. I started researching deeply into the tea, and finding the history of the tea and its medicinal benefits and what I can do to heal naturally from Lyme. So he planted the cuttings alongside the house and lavished his decades of experience on his tiny plantation. He fed them a little organic fertilizer from time to time any amount of poison in tea is not pure tea, he says of pesticides and irrigated them parsimoniously so their tap roots would plunge deep to seek out groundwater. He pruned each bush enough so that it fleshed out as it grew. He calls his approach to farming pre-industrial. I have kind of a druid mind-set with the land, Fritts says. I want to protect the trees, I want to protect the earth, the bugs and everything that is part of nature before we came in and started moving it around. After three years, the first of his tea bushes were about a foot and a half tall, dense with small leaves, and ready to pick. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Fritts has this theory which hes unable to substantiate until he submits his tea plants for genetic testing that his plants are the direct descendants of the very first crop brought over from Japan. In 1869, a group of Japanese settlers seeking respite from political turmoil arrived in California, led by a Prussian diplomat named John Henry Schnell, who had married into a samurai family. The group brought mulberry saplings, silkworms and tea seeds, and bought 200 acres near Placerville (El Dorado County) to establish the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony, the first Japanese settlement on the U.S. mainland. The next year, the colonists displayed tea seedlings in Sacramento, and Fritts says he has found documentation that Schnell sold tea plants in the Bay Area, though all his research was consumed in the fire. According to the American River Conservatory, which maintains Wakamatsu as a landmark farm, all of the colonys known tea plants died soon after 1870, killed by irrigation water contaminated by nearby mining operations. The docents have scoured the property and surrounding land for any remaining Camellia sinensis. They have spied a few old mulberry trees in the region. But tea plants have yet to be found. Just two decades before the Wakamatsu settlers landed in San Francisco, British botanist and horticultural spy Robert Fortune smuggled tea seeds and seedlings from China, where the species originates, to the highlands of India. From there, tea plantations most of which produce mass-market black tea spread to Africa and Central Asia. A few plants made their way to Charleston, S.C., in 1888, but with the exception of one plantation, now owned by Bigelow, tea cultivation never took hold in North America. If you look at highlands of Sri Lanka or South India, tea tends to have the highest quality where its high elevation, usually between the tropics, because tea doesnt withstand frost, needs 50 inches of rain a year, and prefers an acid soil, says Peter Goggi, president of the Tea Association of the USA. The actual best places for growing tea in the United States as compared to those terroirs is kind of difficult to come by. Smaller efforts, barely a few steps above the hobbyist level, have appeared since the turn of the millennium. Hawaii, with its tropical climate and strong Asian American presence, sees the most activity, but there are decade-old farms in Oregon and Washington state. Roy Fong, owner of the Imperial Tea Court, has planted several acres in Yolo County, although his farm, beset by troubles, has not yet produced a commercial crop. What Mike Fritts didnt know in 2010 what almost everyone had forgotten, in fact was that the UC Extension Service planted Californias first modern test plot of Camellia sinensis in Fresno in the 1960s, when it partnered with Lipton. Jacquelyn Gervay Hague, a chemist at UC Davis who conducts studies of tea-growing in Taiwan and is active in the universitys Global Tea Initiative, said she learned about the plots just a few years ago when the director of UC Extensions Fresno office gave her a call. It blew my mind, Hague says. She pored over the records, which covered 1963 to the early 1980s, when Lipton pulled out of the study. It was concluded that we could grow tea very well, she said. We decided after reading all the information that we should try this again, she added. Its now the 21st century and things are different. She began collecting cultivars from around the country to plant in Fresno, including a few from Mike Fritts. When she visited Fritts farm, Hague was struck by how much the Sierra foothills around his house reminded her of Taiwans top plantations: the earth, the rain, the elevation. Its really a prime area for growing tea, she says. The other cause for her excitement: tasting Golden Feathers tea. Russell Yip / The Chronicle In 2014, Joachim Hansen, a former Blue Bottle barista who had just taken on coffee service for Lazy Bear as the restaurant opened in the Mission District, was searching online for U.S. teas to add to the restaurants menu. He spotted a mention of Golden Feather Tea in the comments section of the Global Tea Initiatives website. Hansen did some deep Googling, came up with a phone number and drove up to Concow to meet Fritts, who had just begun to harvest enough tea to sell. Hansen drove back to his boss, chef-owner David Barzelay, with a pitch that was almost ludicrous. Theres this fantastically expensive tea thats being grown up in the Sierras, Barzelay remembers Hansen telling him. We have to drive up there to get it. He wont ship it. Not only that, they would have to buy all of Fritts stock a pound or two, max, a year and it would cost them several thousand dollars up front. Barzelay rolled his eyes at the story of Golden Feathers 19th century samurai origins, but he loved the idea of serving the only tea on the market grown in California, as far as any of them knew. What a story to share with guests! Barzelay says. That is how, five years after planting a few bushes, Mike Fritts found himself the exclusive tea supplier to a Michelin-starred restaurant. What is remarkable about Fritts rapid success isnt just that he had taught himself from books and websites to grow tea plants, figuring out on his own when to pick the new leaves as the bushes flushed, starting in the late spring and going through the fall. Even more improbable, Fritts read a few online instructions on how to make oolong teas withering, rolling and drying the leaves in a complex series of steps and gave it a go, with no idea he had settled on the most technically difficult style of tea to make, a process that takes Chinese and Taiwanese tea masters decades to perfect. No, whats remarkable about Golden Feather Tea was that that this tea was good. It reminded me of the Sierras. Its got that forest floor-ness. In terms of flavor profile, this really sweet squash, along with forest floor and fall earthy notes to it, Hansen says. Golden Feathers tea is more like a lighter white tea than a Taiwanese high mountain oolong, he clarifies. But theres a depth of flavor and a balance to it that I think everyone was really struck by. Nami Thompson, owner of the Tea Cozy in Sacramento, which obtained a small amount of Golden Feather Teas oolong and sells it for $200 an ounce, echoes Hansens comments. It absorbs the aroma and taste of pine, and its a little peppery tasting, she says. It was different from anything I had had before. This isnt going to be very scientific, says UC Davis scientist Hague, but I think Michael makes Michaels tea special because he cares so much for his plants. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle By 2018, Golden Feather Tea hadnt just saved Mike Fritts life his Lyme disease was largely in remission, though he was still beset by the occasional attack. Tea had become his future. He bought more cuttings, and the curving rows in the tiny plantation soon stretched back toward the hills. More plants filled in the former pasture land across the creek. Eight hundred in all. At the same time, Fritts attended meetings at the Global Tea Initiative and the U.S. League of Tea Growers. For the first time in his life, he had started using a computer and set up a Facebook page. I was very fortunate to get where I am and get involved with a lot of people around the world in the tea industry, he says. I want to say its a movement. Its kind of a soft movement, because its passionate about the culture around tea. The Northern California tea community is small and thirsty for company. Strangers found his Facebook page and asked if they could visit most of the American-born enthusiasts had never seen tea plants in the ground before. Fritts met farmers from China and India. From tea lovers, the savant also learned how to brew and taste his teas in new ways, and how to compare them to others. In 2017, he built a small barn in which to process his teas and host gongfu-style tastings, referring to the Chinese and Taiwanese manner of brewing tea in many quick infusions to reveal its complexities. Wed be sitting there and, before we knew it, five hours had come and gone, he says. Thats the way tea is. You start meditating on tea and friendship. Tea unites people. Fritts pitched people on the idea of investing in the company and expanding Golden Feather Tea. Barzelay turned him down, but a few neighbors showed interest in planting tea on their property, and Fritts cultivated seedlings to sell to them. He fantasized about passing his 1-acre property on to a younger farmer and moving someplace more remote, farther from his neighbors. Then the fire came through, and Mike Fritts had to leave it all behind. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Mike and Donna Fritts spent a week and a half sleeping in their Subaru with their three dogs before friends of Mikes daughter let the couple move into their cabin in Feather Falls, one hour away. They filed an insurance claim, and learned that they were fortunate: They were fully covered. Then, banned from visiting their property because of safety concerns, they waited to see what had become of it. In the meantime, James Erb, who runs a small tea company called American Gongfu, came across a news story about the loss of Golden Feathers farm. Though he had never met Fritts in person, he reached out to the farmer, then to Northern California vendors, to set up a benefit auction. Some donated expensive teas, others tea wares. Barzelay donated dinner for two at Lazy Bear. Nami Thompson offered up a tasting of a few remaining grams of Golden Feather oolong. The tea community, the gongfu people, is a tight-knit community and a generous community, Erb says. The auction raised a couple thousand dollars, but just as significantly, it put the word out on social media: Californias first commercial tea farm was gone. It took a month for the state to allow residents of Camelot Park to return to their land. The Frittses drove around hills once covered in pine where now machines were chewing up thick trunks and spitting out shavings. A burned-out car marked the entrance to their road. Their front fence was intact, but most of the structures behind it had been leveled. The house: gone. The tea barn: gone. The chicken coop: Well, the fire had swerved around that. All of Fritts beautiful tea plants were charred, their trunks cooked. But when he began trimming off the dead branches, green appeared. Some even sprouted white flowers. He eventually determined 200 had survived the fire. Within the week, the deer discovered the tea plants, though, and nibbled away most of the remaining leaves. Mike and Donna started a new routine: They return to their land to clear away some of the muck and tend to what is left. They bring food for the deer every day, and not just because it will keep the animals away from the plants. Members of the tea community have organized work parties to help fertilize the remaining plants. Im grateful that I can get up here every day because I just cant see sitting around, idle, he says. Early in March, the state gave them the final clearance to demolish the remaining foundation and rebuild. Now hes just waiting for the spring flush to see which plants the winter rains have brought back to life. Despite the fact that three-fourths of his plantation might be gone, the fire set Golden Feathers plans back only three to five years. Mike and Donna plan to build a tiny house on the property. This time, though, they will not connect to the power grid Mike refuses to give PG&E any of his money, or even to say the companys name. The Frittses dont think many of their neighbors will return. Camelot Park may become a back-to-the-land paradise. I look at the fire as a purification of the environment, he says. In fact, Mike Fritts property has been cleansed by two fires in a decade, and yet hes certain that means it wont happen again for years. Its hard to know whether his optimism is stubborn, or naive, or born of his intimacy with the land around him. The land is perfect and prime, he says, and ready for planting tea. Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com. Twitter/Instagram: @jonkauffman English Danish The Annual General Meeting of Monberg & Thorsen A/S was held today, with agenda as dated and sent to the Companys registered shareholders on 7 March 2019. Referring to the Companys annual report for 2018, Henriette Holmgren Thorsen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presented a verbal report on the development in the 2018 financial year, the main highlights for Monberg & Thorsen and the outlook for 2019. The Board of Directors outlook for 2019 as set out in the published annual report for 2018 is reaffirmed. Under items 2 and 3 of the agenda, the Chairman presented the financial statements for 2018 and the Board of Directors proposal for the application of the result for the year. The Board of Directors recommended to the shareholders that dividend of DKK 0 per DKK 20 share be paid to the shareholders. The shareholders at the Annual General Meeting then adopted the report and the annual report as well as the Board of Directors proposal for the application of the result. The resolution to merges proposed by the Board of Directors under item 4 of the agenda was adopted. Under item 5 of the agenda, the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting re-elected Henriette Holmgreen Thorsen, Ander Heine Jensen and Christine Thorsen. Ernst & Young Godkendt Revisionspartnerselskab were re-appointed as the Companys auditors. Questions relating to this announcement should be directed to Morten Pedersen on telephone +45 2186 7254. The quarterly announcement is also available at www.monthor.com This announcement is available in Danish and English. In case of doubt, the Danish version shall prevail. MONBERG & THORSEN A/S CVR 12 61 79 17 LEI 529900NA1V21KR5S7498 Ringager 4C, 2nd Floor, Right DK - 2605 Brndby Attachment Sigma will host an investor call Wednesday April 10th 2019 at 11 a.m. (EST). Conference Link: https://sigmalithium.clickmeeting.com/investor-call Dial in: Participant Code: 142378# Sao Paulo: +55 (11) 3230-2305 New York: +1 (917) 338-1451 Toronto: +1 (647) 497-7729 London: +44 (20) 7048-4146 Dial-in from other locations: https://account-panel.clickmeeting.com/dialplan VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SIGMA Lithium Resources Corporation (Sigma) (TSX-V: SGMA) (OTC-QB: SGMLF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding heads of agreement (the Agreement) for a strategic transaction (Transaction) with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. of Japan (Mitsui) for a significant portion of the funding required for the capital expenditures and construction of Sigmas commercial production plant at its Grota do Cirilo lithium project in Brazil. Sigma is also pleased to announce that it has received the initial tranche payment as per the Agreement. Pursuant to the Agreement, Mitsui and Sigma have agreed as follows: Production Pre-Payment : Mitsui will pre-pay Sigma the amount of US$30,000,000 ( Pre-Payment ) for battery-grade lithium concentrate ( Products ) supply of up to 55,000 tonnes annually over six years, extendable for five years. The initial tranche payment of US$3,000,000 has been received by Sigma, while the disbursements of the remaining tranches are subject to customary conditions. : Mitsui will pre-pay Sigma the amount of US$30,000,000 ( ) for battery-grade lithium concentrate ( ) supply of up to 55,000 tonnes annually over six years, extendable for five years. The initial tranche payment of US$3,000,000 has been received by Sigma, while the disbursements of the remaining tranches are subject to customary conditions. Offtake Rights : Mitsui has the right to annually buy from Sigma, at then-prevailing market prices, a supplementary amount of 25,000 tonnes of Products over a period of six years, extendable for five years. : Mitsui has the right to annually buy from Sigma, at then-prevailing market prices, a supplementary amount of 25,000 tonnes of Products over a period of six years, extendable for five years. Advancement of Deposit for Long-Lead Items : Mitsui will support Sigma in meeting its construction timetable by negotiating the terms of a disbursement of up to US$7,000,000 that will be used for the deposits required to purchase long lead items for the construction of the commercial production plant. Such payments are subject to Mitsuis approval and will be deducted from the overall Pre-Payment. : Mitsui will support Sigma in meeting its construction timetable by negotiating the terms of a disbursement of up to US$7,000,000 that will be used for the deposits required to purchase long lead items for the construction of the commercial production plant. Such payments are subject to Mitsuis approval and will be deducted from the overall Pre-Payment. Strategic Collaboration : Mitsuis and Sigmas technical, logistics and marketing teams will leverage Mitsuis considerable global logistics and battery materials marketing expertise, whereby Sigma grants to Mitsui logistics, transportation and certain additional marketing and distribution rights to the Products. Both companies have also agreed to continue their current discussions regarding additional funding for further exploration and development of Sigmas vast mineral properties. : Mitsuis and Sigmas technical, logistics and marketing teams will leverage Mitsuis considerable global logistics and battery materials marketing expertise, whereby Sigma grants to Mitsui logistics, transportation and certain additional marketing and distribution rights to the Products. Both companies have also agreed to continue their current discussions regarding additional funding for further exploration and development of Sigmas vast mineral properties. Mitsuis Participation in Sigmas Future Capital Expenditure Financings and Offtake Rights for Production Expansion: As more fully described below, Mitsui will have the right to purchase a portion of future production expansion at the Grota de Cirilo project if it provides a relevant portion of the capital expenditure funding for the expansion. Sigma Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Calvyn Gardner says: We are very pleased to welcome Mitsui as our new strategic offtake and funding partner to accelerate the development of our Grota do Cirilo project. Both of our companies share the same vision regarding the growth in the battery metals value chain as well as commitment to supply the world with clean energy. We look forward to working closely with Mitsui and we will be exploring other opportunities to join forces in the future. Furthermore, we have long believed that the right partnerships bring critically important benefits to the local communities of the Jequitinhonha Valley in Minas Gerais and to our shareholders. There are many opportunities to enhance and grow our project for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders. Mitsuis Right to Participate in Sigmas Future Capital Expenditure Financings for Production Expansion Based on the initial design being considered under Sigmas ongoing feasibility study (FS), the lithium concentration plant will have an initial processing capacity of 1,500,000 tonnes of spodumene ore per year. That plant design currently contemplates a capacity of 220,000 tonnes of battery-grade spodumene concentrate annually. Sigma believes that there is significant potential to economically expand production capacity based on the preliminary metallurgical analysis of the Barreiro deposit and the magnitude of its measured and indicated resources. If the ongoing FS suggests doing so, it would be Sigmas intention to carry out a further feasibility study to include the Barreiro deposit as a first step towards increasing the projects production capacity to 440,000 tonnes per year in the future (the Production Expansion). Subject to the parties agreeing to a financing proposal, whereby Mitsui provides a relevant portion of the second stage financing, Mitsui would receive the rights to purchase a portion of the Production Expansion. Sigma Chief Strategy Officer Ana Cabral says: The production pre-payment is a hybrid financing instrument that strengthens Sigmas capital structure. It is classified by most rating agencies as an equity-like-instrument due to its settlement structure in products. As a result, it represents the ideal funding facility as it does not impact the leverage ratios of Sigma and does not dilute its shareholders. The pre-payment provides Sigma with significant flexibility to fund the remaining portion of its capex with debt instruments. Sigmas ability to secure a pre-payment of this magnitude for its future production demonstrates the confidence that Mitsui, one of the largest trading companies in the world, has in Sigmas ability to timely produce and deliver high-quality lithium products. INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED PERSON The technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Antoine Laporte, P.Geo., M. Sc., of SGS Canada Inc. Mr. Laporte is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is independent of Sigma. ABOUT SIGMA LITHIUM Sigma is developing a leading lithium hard-rock deposit with exceptional mineralogy at its Grota do Cirilo project in Brazil. Sigma started to produce battery-grade lithium concentrate on a pilot scale in 2018, shipping bulk samples to potential customers from its Phase I Production Plant. Based on the initial design being considered under the FS, a larger scale lithium concentration plant will contemplate a capacity of 220,000 tonnes of battery-grade spodumene concentrate annually. If recommended in the FS and required funding is obtained, Sigma would seek to begin construction by the end of the second quarter of 2019 and to become a fully-operational sustainable lithium producer in 2020. Sigmas lithium minerals output is destined for the fast-growing lithium-ion battery market, which is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide. Our corporate mission is to execute our strategy while embracing best in class environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Sigmas shareholders include some of the largest ESG-focused institutional investors in the world. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Sigma Lithium Resources Corporation www.sigmalithiumresources.com Company Contact: Ana Cabral Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Investor Relations 55 11 2985-0089 ana.cabral@sigmaca.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to Sigmas objectives, the potential for increased resources, concentration plant construction and expected production levels, achieving sustainable production and other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, the availability of project financing on reasonable terms, investor interest in the business and future prospects of Sigma and the settlement of definitive off-take and other commercial agreements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Sigma disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, Sigma undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. The key risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or the material factors and assumptions applied in preparing forward-looking information to differ materially from predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions are discussed in the Risk Factors section of Sigmas Filing Statement dated April 25, 2018. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ from current expectations, please refer to our public filings available at www.sedar.com Norwegian English The Annual General Meeting in Hofseth BioCare ASA will be held in Havnegata 11, Alesund on 26 April 2019, 11:00CET. The agenda, notice of attendance and proxy forms are enclosed. The attachments are also available on the company website www.hofsethbiocare.no For further information, please contact: Jon Olav degard, CFO of Hofseth BioCare ASA Mob: +47 93632966 E-mail: joo@hofsethbiocare.no About Hofseth BioCare ASA: HBC is a Norwegian biotech company that offers high-value ingredients and finished products for humans and pets. The company is founded on the core values of sustainability, traceability and optimal utilization of natural resources. Through an innovative hydrolysis technology, HBC is able to preserve the quality of salmon oil, proteins and calcium, prepared of fresh salmon off-cuts. HBC's objective is to contribute to the efficient use of marine resources and deliver quality products for ingredients and finished consumer products in the nutrition market. Hofseth BioCare's headquarters are located in Alesund, Norway with branches in Oslo, Chicago, Palo Alto, Mumbai and Tokyo. HBC is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange Axess list with ticker "HBC". More information about Hofseth BioCare at www.hofsethbiocare.com and www.facebook.com/hofsethbiocare This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment Dublin, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "International health insurance 2019: 3 Volume Bundle Offer" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This bundle includes 3 volumes: Volume 1 Overview - April 2019 (230 pages) Volume 2 Companies - Available in July 2019 - 133 company profiles (over 500 pages) Volume 3 Countries - Available in September 2019 - 180 country profiles (over 600 pages) International Health Insurance for Expats, Third Country Nationals, Domestic Nationals and Global Nomads There are more opportunities than ever for insurers and brokers to sell health insurance globally to locals and internationals. The global demand for health insurance is rising fast There are opportunities for health insurers and brokers The numbers of expatriates are rising and will increase IPMI and PMI are no longer separate Locals, students and NGO workers need cover Many more countries are making health insurance compulsory Healthcare and health insurance are becoming intertwined Top up cover and micro health have massive potential Technology will change how insurers, brokers and customers interact There are more opportunities than ever for insurers and brokers to sell health insurance globally to locals and internationals. International private medical insurance is flourishing. There are more globally mobile individuals than ever before - and employers are building businesses in more diverse countries. IPMI was traditionally considered an exclusive health insurance plan for expatriates. Now, the definition of an expatriate is obsolete because more people, including local nationals and expats, regularly travel internationally, due to their lifestyle, income and careers. These people need international medical insurance irrespective of their national status or residency. Local nationals, expats, and global nomads are driving demand for IPMI products well beyond any residency classification. The globally mobile population has grown dramatically along with the increased global business. There are 66 million expatriates, and by 2020 this will be 87.5 million. 260 million people now live away from their country of birth and within a decade the total number of expatriate workers and international students will be 100 million. IPMI as health insurance without borders is the future of health insurance for all people irrespective of their country of nationality, residence or current domicile. The domestic health insurance market is changing and expanding in many markets around the world. Technology, innovation in health treatment and digitisation of processes are also powerful shapers of the future of health insurance. Compulsory insurance, voluntary top-up covers, differences between what you can sell to locals and expatriates, rules on overseas investors, compulsory local partnerships, economic sanctions, and even local politics are all things that insurers and brokers must understand- as are newer factors of controls on insurance and healthcare prices, and recent compulsory health insurance rules for travellers or students. There have been several new entrants to the global healthcare insurance and ancillary services market, long dominated by a small handful of existing insurance companies. Regional insurers and brokers are active in the sector. The focus on wellness and the proactive approach of keeping customers healthy is a key change. The focus is health insurance, not just illness insurance and, proactively engaging with customers to help them lead long and healthy lives. Technology is changing the market, with access to information and care through mobile applications and innovations such as virtual health, telemedicine and virtual GP services. Data will also drive more accurate underwriting and wellness solutions at an individual customer level. The days of the fully personalised cover are not far off. IPMI must comply with local laws and regulations and local needs that differ considerably from country to country. The researcher has been analysing the sector and writing reports on IPMI for 30 years, so can insight beyond reports that take everything at face value. He still gets surprised at the rate of change and new directions IPMI is moving into. Country profiles in Volume 3 look at: Healthcare, healthcare reforms and price controls State health insurance and planned reform Compulsory health and travel health insurance and planned reforms Private health insurance and supplementary covers Health insurance regulation and planned reform Health insurance price regulation and planned reform Specific data and requirements for expats Please Note: Volume 2 will be available in July 2019 and Volume 3 will be available in September 2019. Key Topics Covered: VOLUME 1: Introduction: Overview Growth of need for IPM Health insurance definitions Expatriate definitions Voluntary health insurance Why IPMI and PMI are no longer separate Social and technological disruption Duty of care Why insurers are moving into PMI/IPMI The changing insurance ecosystem Customer centricity Blockchain Emerging markets Belt and Road initiative Middle East and North Africa Asia IPMI must cover more than insurance The future International health insurance numbers: Global premium figures Onshoring and offshoring Premium retention in countries Premiums and local taxes Local partnerships Muddying the waters It is not health insurance Health insurance: Compulsory health insurance Health insurance market potential Global medical price trends Health insurance pricing trends Global health insurance price and trends Health insurance and universal healthcare Global benefits Digital transformation Healthcare: Health at a Glance Europe 2018 Global healthcare International health insurance market: Buying the market overseas Distribution Healthcare or health insurance History Market potential Hospitals offering health insurance Numbers of insurers Insurance companies Latin American healthcare potential Lloyd's of London Lloyds' brokers Managing general agents Third party administrators Insurance brokers Financial advisors Insurance agents Banks Health insurance trade bodies Health insurance comparison sites Micro insurance Mobile devices Self- insurance Smart phones Social media Videos International health insurance products: Cover International insurance versus domestic insurance IPMI in 2019 Expatriate numbers: Expatriate figures Global number of expatriates Global population Expatriates, migrants and refugees Global mobility Expatriate population as % of the worldwide population Expatriate or international migrant Refugees and expatriates International students Migrant workers Cross border workers Diasporas Migration and health Customers: Target markets for insurers What is an expatriate? Expatriate characteristics Expatriate salaries and benefits Buyers Dependants Emerging markets middle class Generation Y More than one product High net worth How people choose international health insurance Indian companies Maritime Mining Music industry NGOs Need Oil and gas Overseas employees need support Questions potential customers ask Retirees Self-employed Short assignments Short-term cover Singles Students Target ages Teachers Wealthy expatriates Who can be covered? Why companies buy it Why individuals buy it Why needs are changing Why not just buy cover locally Women The product: Addiction treatment Admitted policies Apps Big data Budget covers Cancer Chatbots Choice of cover or set packages Claims Compliance with local law Co-payments Critical illness Currency Danger zones Diabetes treatment Diaspora insurance Duty of care Emergency assistance Emergency Evacuation European Air Medical Institute Fertility treatment Fraud Funeral plans Global cover Helplines Income protection Insurers rethink of health insurance International medical accreditation Medical evacuation and repatriation Medical tourism and insurance Medical travel insurance Mental health Micro health insurance Obesity treatment Organ transplants Passive war Political risks Pricing Price regulation Pricing on group schemes Private repatriation Risk management Second medical opinion Security and travel advice Takaful Takaful health Telehealth Term life Top up covers Travel insurance Underwriting Virtual doctors War risks Wearables For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hu4fay Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. The algorithms of Google and Facebook have become dominant gatekeepers of the news that most Americans receive and the effect of this duopoly has been devastating to the quality and quantity of original journalism being produced in this nation. The two tech giants not only command nearly 60 percent all digital advertising, but they also can pretty much call the shots about how and when news stories show up on their platforms, how much of the resulting revenue they will share and who will control and capitalize on the data they collect about news consumers. The playing field is anything but level. And the result is devastating for publishers who are becoming increasingly dependent on a digital audience as print circulation continues its decline. You know its serious when elected officials are expressing concern about the accelerating loss of watchdogs from City Hall to the U.S. Capitol. I think theres enough members here who acknowledge despite some of the things that get written that we dont want to get written that the absence of any real reporting makes it difficult for democracy to exist, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, told me. DeSaulnier is a primary co-sponsor of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, by Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., introduced on Wednesday. The act (HR2054) would provide a safe harbor from antitrust laws to allow news publishers to collectively negotiate with online platforms such as Google and Facebook. What happens now is the platforms pick you off one by one ... they never want to talk to you together, said David Chavern, president and CEO of the News Media Alliance, representing 2,000 news publishers. If HR2054 were to pass, news publishers would have newfound leverage in negotiating with the tech giants over ad-revenue sharing or content licensing. Other areas of frustration under the current imbalance of power include brand suppression and data collection. As Chavern put it, they hog all the data about our readers, which is invaluable in building readership and advertising. Then there is the issue he calls algorithm stability a particular point of vulnerability for news organizations. For example, Facebooks move last year to prioritize posts from friends, family and groups over content from media organizations led to a precipitous decline in traffic on news sites. We need to have some input, or at least some warning when algorithms change, Chavern said. Effects of the Facebook-Google duopoly: a serious threat to journalism 60% Facebook-Google share of digital advertising - and 90% of ad growth. 71,640 Reporters and editors at U.S. newspapers in 2004 39,210 Reporters and editors at U.S. newspapers in 2017 1,800 Local newspapers that have closed or merged since 2004 $16.5 billion Newspaper ad revenue in 2017, compared with $49 billion in 2006. 3 in 4 Americans now get news from Google and Facebook Get involved Encourage your member of Congress to co-sponsor HR2054. You can find his or her name and contact information by typing in your ZIP code in the box at www.house.gov . See More Collapse In introducing HR2054, Cicilline said the bill would provide a much-needed lifeline to local publishers who have been crushed by Google and Facebook. It would allow publishers to band together for 48 months to negotiate with the dominant online platforms and would be tailored narrowly to limit the antitrust exemption to issues that benefit the entire industry and are directly related to the quality, accuracy, attribution or branding, or interoperability of news. There is no question that we have reached a tipping point, Cicilline said on the House floor on the eve of introducing HR2054. If this trend continues, we risk permanently compromising the news organizations that are essential to uncovering corruption, holding the government and powerful corporations accountable and sustaining our democracy. In recent months, especially after the debacle of Russians and others pouring disinformation into his social network, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been trying to recast Facebook as a promoter of reliable news content. He has pledged to commit $300 million into a three-year venture that could include hiring editors to showcase high-quality news and to possibly pay news publishers to include their articles in Facebooks news section. Details on Facebooks intentions are a bit sketchy at this point. While Zuckerbergs awakening to the struggles of the news industry is welcome, albeit overdue, the process of newsgathering itself does not need reinvention. It requires shoe-leather reporting and careful editing by journalists in touch with their communities. What is lacking is the lifeblood of the business model: advertising. Facebook and Google are now grabbing 90 percent of new digital ad growth. Despite record levels of online readership, news publishers have seen a steep decline in revenue during the rise of these technology giants, Cicilline said on the House floor. This bottleneck is bleeding publishers dry. This phenomenon is not a matter of the free market working, of nimble newcomers outwitting and outperforming so-called legacy media. Upstart online publishers are at a similar disadvantage against the Google-Facebook duopoly. The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act will not cure all of the challenges facing the news business. Most American newspapers, including this one, are trying mightily to serve two constituencies at once: readers who savor the print edition, with its considerable costs of production and delivery, and the growing legion of readers who want their news on their computers, tablets or smartphones. But this bill at least gives news publishers a fair shot at getting a return on investment in their digital content. A similar bill went nowhere last year in the Republican-controlled Congress. But Cicilline and DeSaulnier are determined to make this a bipartisan effort. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, is a co-sponsor. There is not a lot of bipartisanship happening on the House Judiciary Committee Right now, said Chavern of the News Media Alliance. This is one of them. ... If local publishers go away, who would fill the void and would it be responsible people or would it be garbage? John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle San Francisco is getting a hard look at its angry, ugly self. Mayor London Breed showed up at a seething meeting on a proposed homeless center and was shouted down for her troubles. It was a harsh glimpse of the citys intolerant side. This was no simple disagreement over the still-brewing plan for a needed Navigation Center. It was a flat out rebuke, not just of the mayor but the idea of shared responsibility for treating homelessness. Take it somewhere else was one shouted remark. The first strike on the Senates famous filibuster was, at least within the Beltway, regarded as so monumental that it was called the nuclear option. Six years later, the custom is being slowly but steadily degraded with the parliamentary equivalent of a BB gun. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took the latest shot Wednesday, sharply curtailing the time allotted to debate presidential nominations to district courts and sub-Cabinet executive branch positions. In 2013, Harry Reids Democrats effectively ended the 60-vote threshold required to confirm circuit court judges; Republicans extended the simple majority to Supreme Court justices. The latest volley was in the service not of some consequential high court jurist but rather an assistant commerce secretary. More broadly, it made the Senate tradition of unlimited debate look more doomed than ever. The ensuing preemptive obituaries for the hoary custom dating to Aaron Burr, replete with obligatory references to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, ranged in tone from pall-bearing to grave-dancing. The filibuster empowers minorities, whoever they are, so its virtues and vices depend on what the majority of the moment wants. It has delayed civil rights laws and, more recently, helped preserve health care coverage for millions. The consistent effect of the three-fifths threshold has been to force bipartisan consensus. If the filibuster is finished off, future legislation will be more like current nominations increasingly partisan, extreme and divisive. If power continues to change hands frequently, that could entail disruptive shifts from one agenda to another. That wont be good for the country, but the Senate meltdown is an effect rather than a cause. Take the bitter back-and-forth that preceded this weeks maneuver, which had McConnell insisting of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., He started it. This is the way the filibuster ends, not with a bang but a bicker. 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. The proposal to build a 225-bed Navigation Center on San Franciscos Embarcadero has proved quite divisive, pitting directly affected residents against people who live in other parts of the city. Those who live near the proposed site believe the decision-making process has left them without a way to voice their concerns about safety and quality-of-life issues. Other city residents believe this is another example of NIMBYism and that the burden of homelessness should be borne by all city residents. If the process for siting Navigation Centers and establishing who will reside there remains unchanged, then further conflict, including potential litigation, can be expected for the Embarcadero and other planned Navigation Center sites. It does not have to be this way. The process for making these decisions can be fact-based, transparent and fair to all, and the mayor can achieve her objective of adding 1,000 homeless beds throughout the city by 2020. We can design this process by taking a page out of the federal governments approach to closing surplus military bases after the Cold War ended in the late 1980s. While everyone essentially agreed that closures were necessary to produce the peace dividend the nation expected, no member of Congress would agree to closing bases in his or her district. To work around this political issue, a law was passed that created an independent base closure commission. Its mandate was to make closure recommendations after analyzing data, visiting communities with bases and holding public hearings to obtain testimony from both experts and ordinary citizens. The commissions recommendations were sent to the president for his approval. He was then required to forward them to Congress which, in turn, had 45 days to reject the closure list in its entirety without change or let the recommendations automatically became final. This process has been used to close more than 100 bases across the country. San Francisco similarly could adopt legislation for dealing with the homeless problem, with the mayor taking the presidents role and the supervisors acting like Congress. The city could form an independent commission to address various issues associated with navigation centers. Navigation Centers would be: Sized to house between 90 and 110 homeless residents; Sited in each of the citys 11 supervisorial districts (producing 1,000 new beds for homeless individuals) before opening any new Navigation Center; Using uniform criteria for residency across all 11 Navigation Centers unless the character of a site was so overwhelmingly different that other criteria was more appropriate; and Mandated to make public the metrics used for siting it and establishing residency standards. This approach would accomplish the mayors stated objectives in one fell swoop. It would also address some of the most significant flaws in the Embarcadero Navigation Center proposal. That is, Key decisions were made without input from the most-affected citizens; No site selection criteria were publicly articulated; No distinctions were made between those who could not afford housing and those with serious underlying problems such as drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness or a history of criminal behavior, all of which could reasonably affect the siting decision; and No consideration was given to the adverse effects the Navigation Center might have on nearby residents, tourists and others. Such an approach would give subsequent decisions great legitimacy and convince people that everyone in San Francisco is doing their part to address the homeless situation. Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle It is not too late for our political leaders, with the encouragement of the public, to take this bold step, beginning by terminating the proposed Embarcadero Navigation Center so this new process can be installed without community rancor and remove the threat of litigation. While this process may take a bit longer to get it right, it will allow the mayor to achieve her overall goal more quickly. William Glasgow is a resident of the South Beach neighborhood in San Francisco. Joe Biden still doesnt get it, said longtime womens rights activist Shaunna Thomas. After offering three explanations in a week in response to at least three women who said he invaded their personal space, and promising to be more mindful, Biden made light of the situation Friday during a speech to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. After embracing union President Lonnie Stephenson, Biden told the audience, I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie. The audience laughed. Minutes later, he invited a group of children onstage, put his arm around one boy and said, He gave me permission to touch him. More laughter. Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a 1.2 million-member womens organization that was at the forefront of gender battles long before the #MeToo movement started, was appalled. Biden doesnt get it and thats been the problem from the start, Thomas said. Its why he refuses to apologize. What he did today was prove he doesnt get it and undermine every other statement hes made to date about listening and learning. Her reaction could be a preview of the main critique that 76-year-old Biden will face from fellow Democrats when he launches his putative presidential campaign: He is a man out of time. Thomas is disappointed that Biden hasnt apologized to former Nevada state legislator Lucy Flores, who said last week that Biden smelled her hair and kissed her head before she took the stage at a 2014 fundraiser. Nor did Biden apologize to two other women who told the New York Times that the former vice president invaded their personal space with unwanted touching. Honestly, I just have a question: Why not apologize? Thomas said. Flores tweeted Friday after Bidens performance at the union event, Its clear @JoeBiden hasnt reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable. To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have. Flores isnt saying that Biden sexually assaulted or harassed her. And Thomas and other progressives say Bidens conduct pales in comparison to how President Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women on the Access Hollywood tape that surfaced during the 2016 campaign. Nineteen women have accused Trump of sexually assaulting or harassing them. But not boasting about grabbing womens private parts is a low bar. Heres what Thomas would like to hear Biden say: I consider myself a champion for women. But Im horrified that I caused harm to someone. I want to be a champion for fixing this broken culture. I apologize. Biden, whose career has spanned nearly five decades, is clearly struggling to explain his way out of conduct that is well away from Harvey Weinstein territory, but also violates rules that many women would argue always existed they just werent always voiced. After two statements issued in his name, Biden launched his main attempt at damage control with a direct-to-the-camera talk this week. To Thomas, it failed because it was more about Biden than Flores or the other women who have complained about his conduct. Although he insisted that I get it, Biden focused on the purity of his intentions. He alluded to how people connect to him because of the litany of personal tragedies in his life losing his first wife and young daughter in a car crash in 1972 soon after being elected to the Senate; his son Beau dying of brain cancer in 2015. Over the years, knowing what Ive been through, the things that Ive faced, I found that scores, if not hundreds, of people have come up to me and reached out for solace and comfort something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy theyre going through, he said. Its just who I am. Ive never thought of politics as cold and antiseptic. By saying, Its just who I am, Biden missed a chance to be a leader in changing the culture Thomas said. Hes very concerned with his intentions. Its a completely ego-driven frame, Thomas said. Hes saying, If I didnt intend it to be like that, then I shouldnt be held accountable for this. Thats exactly the wrong message we should be sending our children about what healthy relationships look like, she said. Nor did he apologize Friday after his speech at the union event. The fact of the matter is I made it clear: if I made you feel uncomfortable, I feel badly about that. It was never my intention. Ever, Biden said. Biden has his defenders. Former Democratic National Committee chair Ed Rendell told Fox News that Bidens behavior didnt disqualify him from running and that the allegations were part of a political hit job. The vast majority of the American people are sick of this stuff, Rendell said. They know whats real and what isnt real. This isnt real. Perhaps thats one reason Biden hasnt apologized. Longtime Democratic operative Jennifer Palmieri, who worked for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, said on MSNBC that getting a politician to apologize is a big deal. When it comes to apologizing, Palmieri said, some politicians say, Where does it end? Some dont want to admit that it was wrong because then, when does it ever stop? Thats a bigger hurdle than some people appreciate. But, Thomas said, not apologizing for old-era conduct is bad politics in these times. Its a political instinct that I dont think will serve him well politically, she said. Its all about him. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Most Bay Area museums offer free admission days throughout the year, but this coming Saturday and Sunday, no fewer than eight institutions will open their doors to the public sans admission fee. Like most free things in this world, there's a catch. The free admission offer only applies to card-carrying members of Bank of America, Merrill Lynch or U.S. Trust. There's another catch for San Franciscans, even those who aren't card-carrying members of BofA: Both the de Young and Legion of Honor will be free to San Francisco residents every Saturday of the year, starting April 6. To get in, all you have to show is a photo ID verifying residence. Free Saturdays will include "engaging art experiences for the entire family," including gallery guides, discussion groups and family art making, according to the de Young website. Because of the new initiative, the museum's Friday Nights programming is currently on hold. ALSO: How SF grew into a world-class museum town Those in the South Bay need not miss out on free days. San Jose Museum of Art offers free admission every first Friday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m., in addition to being free the first Saturday of the month for BofA members. Free admission will be offered Saturday at the following Bay Area museums for BofA cardholders: de Young Museum, San Francisco (also free this Saturday to SF residents) Legion of Honor, San Francisco (also free this Saturday to SF residents) Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Computer History Museum, Mountain View San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose Napa Valley Museum Yountville, Yountville You can view the complete list of participating national museums here. Museum hours vary. For free entry, simply present your Bank of America, Merrill Lynch or U.S. Trust credit or debit card and a photo ID. The perk is limited to the cardholder only, and does not include special exhibitions or ticketed shows. If you miss the free days this weekend, don't fret: We've compiled all the free admission days at San Francisco museums not just for BofA cardholders and verified residents in the above gallery. 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. At least 25 prominent artificial-intelligence researchers, including experts at Google, Facebook, Microsoft and a recent winner of the prestigious Turing Award, have signed a letter calling on Amazon to stop selling its facial-recognition technology to law enforcement agencies because it is biased against women and people of color. The letter, which was publicly released Wednesday, reflects growing concern in academia and the tech industry that bias in facial-recognition technology is a systemic problem. Some researchers and even some companies are arguing the technology cannot be properly controlled without government regulation. Amazon sells a product called Rekognition through its cloud-computing division, Amazon Web Services. The company said last year that early customers included the Orlando Police Department and the Washington County Sheriffs Office in Oregon. In January, two researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published a peer-reviewed study showing that Amazon Rekognition had more trouble identifying the gender of female and darker-skinned faces in photos than similar services from IBM and Microsoft. It mistook women for men 19 percent of the time, the study showed, and misidentified darker-skinned women for men 31 percent of the time. Before publishing their findings on Amazon Rekognition, the MIT researchers released a similar study examining services from IBM, Microsoft and Megvii, an AI company in China. All three updated their services to address concerns raised by the researchers. In separate blog posts from Amazon executives Matthew Wood and Michael Punke, the company disputed the study and a Jan. 24 article in the New York Times describing it. The answer to anxieties over new technology is not to run tests inconsistent with how the service is designed to be used, and to amplify the tests false and misleading conclusions through the news media, Wood wrote. Amazon did not directly engage with the MIT researchers. The letter released Wednesday was signed by Google researchers Margaret Mitchell, Andrea Frome and Timnit Gebru; Facebook researcher Georgia Gkioxari; William Isaac, a researcher at DeepMind, the London lab owned by Googles parent company, Alphabet; and Yoshua Bengio, one of the worlds most important AI researchers. Last week, Bengio was one of three people to receive the Turing Award often called the Nobel Prize of computing for his work with neural networks, which underpin modern facial recognition services. There are no laws or required standards to ensure that Rekognition is used in a manner that does not infringe on civil liberties, the AI researchers wrote. We call on Amazon to stop selling Rekognition to law enforcement. The researchers added that Wood and Punke misrepresented the technical details of the MIT study and modern facial-recognition technology. Amazon declined to comment on the letter on Wednesday. Microsoft, by contrast, improved the accuracy of its facial recognition last year after an earlier MIT study reported that its system was better at identifying the gender of lighter-skinned men in a photo database than darker-skinned women. During a February talk at the Cornell Tech graduate school in New York, Brad Smith, Microsofts president and chief legal officer, said the company had participated in the market for law enforcement in the United States, but had also turned down sales when there was concern it could unreasonably infringe on peoples rights. In February, Microsoft backed a bill in Washington state that would require notices to be posted in public places using facial-recognition tech and ensure that government agencies obtain a court order when looking for specific people. The bill is still pending. But the company did not back other legislation that provides much stronger protections. Punke wrote in his February blog post that Amazon also supported regulation of facial-recognition technology and called for law enforcement agencies to be transparent in how they use facial-recognition technology. But Amazon has declined to disclose how police or intelligence agencies are using its system and whether the company restricts its use. Amazon has said that it has not received any reports of Rekognition misuse by law enforcement, and a company policy prohibits customers from using its services in ways that violate laws. Cade Metz and Natasha Singer are New York Times writers. SEATTLE, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- CFN Media Group (CFN Media), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the North American cannabis industry announces publication of an article and video interview discussing Gabriellas Kitchen Inc. (CSE:GABY) (OTCBB:GABLF). GABY recently completed the acquisition of a prominent California cannabis brand distributor, Sonoma Pacific Distribution Inc. (Sonoma Pacific). The time for promise and a good story is over in the cannabis industry. Potential production has been replaced with actual sales, and companies are distinguishing themselves with real revenue growth and clear paths to profitability. There is certainly much to be written in the ever-evolving story of cannabis, but the best companies are executing on sales and marketing strategies to establish a presence in key legal markets while the rest of the world catches up. To put a highlight on the value of distribution and branding, one need only look at the recent acquisition of Origin House by Cresco Labs, for the price tag of about $850 million. Origin House has a well-established distribution network throughout California where Cresco is looking to establish its brand. By leveraging Origins existing operation, Cresco is able to accelerate its own entry into the state. Gabriellas Kitchen Inc. (CSE:GABY) sees the opportunity in California as well. GABYs broad lineup of cannabis-infused products is built on its foundation as a consumer packaged goods company and its experience launching healthy food brands. GABY recently completed the acquisition of a prominent California cannabis brand distributor, Sonoma Pacific Distribution Inc. (Sonoma Pacific). The move brings growing revenues of Sonoma Pac to GABYs coffers while adding extensive distribution capabilities for its retail brands throughout California, the worlds largest legal cannabis market. CFN Media recently sat down with GABY Founder/CEO Margot Micallef and President/COO Jamie Fay to discuss the Sonoma Pacific acquisition and GABY's strategy moving forward. *To see the full video interview please click here* Sonoma Pacific Acquisition and Attributes It is significant to note what Founder/CEO Margot Micallef says, that GABY is neither a manufacturing company nor a distribution company, despite owning licenses to do both. Rather, GABY acquired these licenses to ensure the quality of its brands and to get its brands to market quickly. Sonoma Pacific is GABYs fast-track to market. Sonoma Pacific holds annual cannabis distribution licenses from the County of Sonoma and the California Bureau of Cannabis Control. Sonoma Pacific distributes its proprietary and third party cannabis products to dispensaries across the State of California. GABY has additional infrastructure in other channels, and will also sell its proprietary and third party health and wellness-oriented CBD products to outlets like co-ops, grocers, and health food stores across the United States using its existing relationships it has cultivated with over 3,400 mainstream retailers, brokers and distributors. This hybrid network of mainstream and licensed channel infrastructure provides an ideal platform for the sales of GABYs healthy food brands, its CBD Brands and its cannabis-infused products. In addition, Sonoma Pacifics wide range of cannabis and cannabis-derived products on the market , with name recognition and branding already in place, gives GABY a further foundation upon which to bring additional products to market. Management of Sonoma Pacific estimates its unaudited Q1 2019 revenues, for the period ending March 31, 2019, will be about CDN$8 million. Compared to Q1 2018, that number represents growth of about 1,200% in one year. The companies expect the synergies created by the combination of the two organizations to stimulate even further revenue growth. With the acquisition, Sonoma Pacific executive Aaron Browe was appointed as GABYs Executive Vice-President and General Manager of cannabis operation. For further details and reader advisory, readers should refer to GABY's press release dated April 1, 2019. "While the operational synergies we will realize with GABY significantly improve Sonoma Pacific's growth trajectory, I also believe that the completion of this Acquisition will be equally impactful for the entire California market," said Mr. Browe. "With GABY's foundation and expertise in innovation, brand development and consumer satisfaction, combined with Sonoma Pacific's ability to reach consumers, we believe GABY is well positioned to reshape the California cannabis landscape as we currently know it." GABY President/COO Jamie Fay says the next step is either to acquire or apply for a direct to consumer license to increase household penetration and continue to expand market share. The company plans to acquire and organically develop additional brands (especially around edibles and confectionary), and continue the furtherance of partnerships and opportunities to collaborate outside of California without losing focus or slowing down growth in California. GABY will be showcasing its brands, expertise, and management team at the upcoming Hall of Flowers event in Santa Rosa, California on April 30/May 1, 2019. Hall of Flowers is a business to business cannabis trade show, highlighting the best and brightest offerings in the world of cannabis. California, Extracts, and the Future of Cannabis As cannabis markets become more mature, history shows that consumers move away from smoked flower to alternative delivery methods such as edibles, oils, tinctures, and creams. Recent analysis of the first full year of legal recreational sales in California show about $2 billion of revenues, including medical marijuana. Across the state, flower accounted for about 44% of all sales. As more derived products are introduced, look for the market share to swing even further away from smoked flower. That $2 billion overall sales number for California is a bit lower than analysts expected, due in large part to the chunky permitting process and resulting uncertainty in the legal market. As the state irons out these issues and further squeezes out the persistent black market, those numbers should rise considerably. In the article linked above, Matt Karnes from GreenWave Advisors stated, As the state works through its growing pains with respect to licensing procedures and as final regulations are implemented, we expect an acceleration in revenue growth for 2019 and beyond to reach its full potential of $6.5 billion by 2022. As a reference, Statistics Canada reports that adult-use revenues in the country for the first 4 months of legal sales totaled about US$154 million. The Upshot GABY is solidly positioned in Californias cannabis and wellness markets. Not only are those markets really large, but the state is known for its ability to set trends and influence consumer brand choices the world over. Building a successful brand there can lead to much greater success in other markets throughout North America and beyond. Strategically, GABY couldnt be in a better place. On top of that, the company offers products in the highest growth and highest margin sectors of the industry - extracted and infused products. Keep an eye on GABY as it executes over the coming quarters on its plan to expand its powerful house of brands. Please follow the link to read the full article and see the video interview: https://www.cannabisfn.com/exclusive-interview-gabriellas-kitchen-cements-the-foundation-upon-which-to-build-its-california-cannabis-house-of-brands/ About CFN Media CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis. We help marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed. Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/featuredcompany Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8 Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com Disclaimer CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on http://www.cannabisfn.com (the Site) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies. We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news. The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/ Frank Lane 206-369-7050 Flane@cannabisfn.com Carlos Ghosn, the embattled former chief of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi auto alliance, was arrested for a fourth time on Thursday as he faces accusations of using company funds for his personal ends. Prosecutors took Ghosn from his apartment in Tokyo early in the morning, according to the state broadcaster NHK, which reported that the arrest was on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust related to payments to a Nissan distributor in Oman. In an arrest document, the prosecutors office described a scheme by which Ghosn allegedly used a Nissan subsidiary to send millions of dollars of payments to a business partner of the company abroad, which then sent money to a third company Ghosn controlled. The actions were taken for the purpose of obtaining a personal profit, the document said. The document did not name the business partner. Prosecutors accused Ghosn of using the method on three occasions from December 2015 to July 2018, resulting in a total of $5 million in losses to Nissan. In a statement released after the arrest, Ghosn said he was innocent of the charges, calling the action outrageous and arbitrary. The arrest, he said, was part of an attempt by some individuals at Nissan to silence me by misleading the prosecutors. Nevertheless, he said, he would still tell his story. The prosecutors have denied me that opportunity for now, but I am confident the truth will come out, the statement said. A spokesman for Ghosn said Thursday that his family was concerned that prosecutors intended to return Ghosn to detention in an attempt to force him to confess to the charges. The arrest came just one day after Ghosn announced on Twitter that he would hold his first news conference next week to discuss the charges against him. Ghosn has been living in Tokyo, where he was released on bail last month more than 100 days after his first arrests on charges related to his management of the alliance among Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi. Ghosn and his lawyers have denied any wrongdoing. Japanese authorities first arrested Ghosn in November on charges of underreporting his compensation. He was later rearrested on related charges and then a third time on suspicion that he had shifted his personal financial losses onto Nissans books. Prosecutors fought to keep Ghosn in detention, arguing that he could tamper with evidence or witnesses if he were free, but he was released in early March after paying an almost $9 million bail. Last week, a special panel appointed by Nissan to suggest improvements for governance at the company said it had found evidence suggesting that Ghosn had broken the law. Ben Dooley is a New York Times writer. Police are asking the public for information on three men suspected of stealing from the Berkeley Apple Store. The men allegedly struck the store four times in under a week, including twice in a single day. Police say the thefts occurred on March 28 at 10:05 a.m. and 3:16 p.m., April 1 at 7:33 p.m. and April 2 at 11:33 a.m. At least three laptops and $21,200 worth of merchandise were taken. Police believe the same three suspects are connected with the thefts based on video surveillance footage. In the footage, one man wears what appears to be a blue zip jacket with red and white stripes on the arms, black jeans and sneakers; another is dressed in a black-and-orange zip jacket, torn jeans and black sneakers; and the third wears a matching sweatsuit decorated with shark jaws, a blue-and-white bucket hat and blue sneakers. Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact the Berkeley Police Department's Property Crimes Unit at 510-981-5737. Theft has been an ongoing issue for Bay Area Apple Stores. In August and September, six Apple Stores in the area were blitzed and robbed nine times in a single month, with at least $281,000 worth of merchandise being pilfered in the process. READ MORE about last year's Apple Store robberies here The majority of those robberies were conducted "mob-style." The operation usually goes something like this: A handful of hooded individuals storm an Apple Store. They unplug and gather as much merchandise as they can in a few seconds, then run to a getaway vehicle idling out front as customers and security guards look on. The bright open floor plan and wide entryways of Apple stores, which are designed to entice potential customers, may tempt thieves to steal with the promise of few obstacles. Likewise, many offenders seem to be aware of the "hands-off" policy for store security. An Apple spokesperson said the company does not comment on store security matters. ALSO: Inquest on Mendocino cliff deaths of Hart family reveals disturbing details Experts have long speculated about the company's store security plan. Matthew Green, an associate professor of information security at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told The Chronicle last year that Apple likely makes it difficult to use stolen demo products. The company controls the activation process required to make the products work, he said, and could ostensibly track down stolen gear. The blog 9to5Mac said devices contain a software "kill switch" that disables the demo gadgets as soon as they leave the range of the store wi-fi. Apple has not confirmed these rumors. Even if the phones are disabled, they could be dismantled for their parts or used without cellular service, Neil Broom, the owner of Technical Resource Center, a computer forensics firm in Huntington Beach, told The Chronicle. 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. Police are asking for help identifying a large dog that bit two San Francisco middle school students on Wednesday. The dog, described as "large and white with black and gray-colored spots," allegedly bit the children while they were running for a physical education assignment at Joe DiMaggio Playground in North Beach. Not for distribution in the U.S. or to U.S. Newswires VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blissco Cannabis Corp. ( CSE: BLIS ) ( OTCQB: HSTRF ) ( FRA: GQ4B ), (Blissco) or the (Company) is a Canadian cannabis brand based in British Columbia, a licensed processor, and producer of premium dried cannabis and cannabis oil and a licensed distributor of dried cannabis products. The Company is pleased to announce that Blisscos premium cannabis products are now available to be purchased in British Columbia online via BC Cannabis Stores and available for wholesale purchase by provincially licensed private retailers through the BC Liquor Distribution Branchs (BCLDB) cannabis wholesale portal. As well, Blissco is pleased to share that it has shipped its second order to the LDB. This new order contains both whole flower and pre-rolled products that include the strains: AC/DC from the Blissco EASE Collection; a CBD dominant, evenly balanced Sativa and Indica hybrid pre-roll, with a Pinene and Caryophyllene terpene profile from the Blissco EASE Collection; a CBD dominant, evenly balanced Sativa and Indica hybrid pre-roll, with a Pinene and Caryophyllene terpene profile Green Cush, from the Blissco GO Collection; a THC dominant, Sativa hybrid whole flower and pre-roll, with a well-balanced Pinene and Caryophyllene terpene profile from the Blissco GO Collection; a THC dominant, Sativa hybrid whole flower and pre-roll, with a well-balanced Pinene and Caryophyllene terpene profile Cold Creek Kush, from the Blissco EASE Collection; a THC dominant, Indica hybrid whole flower and pre-roll, with a Pinene dominant terpene profile "Blissco is gaining significant momentum with regards to revenue, and we are delighted to have Blisscos premium cannabis products for sale in our home province. We will also soon be shipping products to Alberta, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan as per our supply and distribution agreements in those provinces," said Damian Kettlewell, Blissco CEO. About Blissco Cannabis Corp. Blissco Cannabis Corp. (CSE: BLIS) (OTCQB: HSTRF) (FRA: GQ4B) is a Canadian cannabis brand based in British Columbia and a multi-licensed processor, cultivator, and distributor of premium cannabis. Blissco owns and operates an 18,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility located in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia with extraction, processing and cultivation and rooms. Blissco is supplying premium cannabis and Reserve whole flower and dried flower pre-rolls to the Canadian market with supply agreements in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. In support of Blisscos global distribution strategy, the company has initiated its EU GMP certification process and has completed its first inspection by German authorities. With a licence to process cannabis oil earned in August 2018, Blisscos extraction lab is also in operation preparing a line of full spectrum oils for distribution in 2019. Learn more at blissco.com . On Behalf of the Board of Directors BLISSCO CANNABIS CORP. Damian Kettlewell, CEO, Founder & Chair For further information please contact: 1 604 484-9119 investors@blissco.com Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively forward-looking statements). The use of any of the word will and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. This news release contains forward-looking statements and assumptions pertaining to the following: the ability to execute on our strategic plans and the impact on our future operations, capital expenditures, receipt of a cannabis oil licence and a licence to sell dried cannabis and other objectives. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. ALBUQUERQUE Former CIA operative, author and activist Valerie Plame said Friday she is considering a 2020 run for an open U.S. congressional seat in New Mexico. Plame told the Associated Press she is spending time with residents and will make a decision soon. The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, who is stepping down to run for U.S. Senate. Right now, I am going around and meeting with people, said Plame, a Democrat. I have a lot to learn and I would like another opportunity to serve my country. Plame became a national figure after her identity as a CIA operative was leaked by an official in President George W. Bushs administration in 2003 in an effort to discredit her then-husband Joe Wilson. Wilson is a former diplomat who criticized Bushs decision to invade Iraq. Plame left the agency in 2005. Plame says shed be honored to represent the sprawling district, which covers all of northern New Mexico, parts of the Navajo Nation and a large portion of states east side. She would face several Democratic contenders if she decides to run. State Rep. Joseph Sanchez and businessman Mark McDonald already have announced they are candidates and Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna is considering a bid. I. Lewis Scooter Libby, a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of lying to investigators and obstruction of justice following the 2003 leak. President Trump issued a full pardon to Libby last year. In 2017, the Wilsons launched an unsuccessful crowdfunding effort to buy Twitter so Trump couldnt use it. At the time, Plame said if she didnt get enough to purchase a majority of shares, she would explore options to buy a significant stake and champion the proposal at Twitters annual shareholder meeting. Plame and Wilson divorced later that year. Plame is the author of the memoir Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House. The book was made into a 2010 movie starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. Russell Contreras is an Associated Press writer. CINCINNATI A 23-year-old ex-convict accused of pulling a cruel hoax by pretending to be a long-missing Illinois boy was charged Friday with making false statements to federal authorities. The FBI said Brian Rini had made false claims twice before, portraying himself as a juvenile sex-trafficking victim. The Medina, Ohio, man was jailed in Cincinnati on Thursday, a day after telling authorities he was 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in 2011 at age 6. The FBI declared Rinis story a hoax after performing a DNA test. The charge should send a message about the damage such false claims can do, said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman. Its not OK to do it because of the harm that it causes, the pain, for the family of that missing child, Glassman said. Rinis story had briefly raised hope among Timmothys relatives that the youngsters disappearance had finally been solved after eight long years. But those hopes were dashed when the test results came back. Its devastating. Its like reliving that day all over again, said Timmothys aunt Kara Jacobs. Rini was jailed for a bail hearing on Tuesday. His public defender did not immediately return a message. Rini could get up to eight years in prison. Rini was found wandering the streets on Wednesday and told authorities he had just escaped his captors after years of abuse, officials said. He claimed he had been forced to have sex with men, according to the FBI. When confronted with the DNA results, Rini acknowledged his identity, saying he had watched a story about Timmothy on ABCs 20/20 and wanted to get away from his own family, the FBI said. Rini said he wished he had a father like Timmothys because if he went missing, his father would just keep drinking, the FBI said in court papers. A message left with Rinis father for comment was not immediately returned. Glassman said authorities were skeptical early on of Rinis claim because he refused to be fingerprinted, though he did agree to a DNA swab. Rini also looks older than 14, but Glassman said investigators wanted to make sure there was no opportunity missed to actually find Timmothy Pitzen. Rinis DNA was already on file because of his criminal record. He was released from prison less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism. He twice portrayed himself in Ohio as a juvenile victim of sex trafficking, and in each case was identified after being fingerprinted, authorities said. In 2017, Rini was treated at an Ohio center for people with mental health or substance abuse problems, according to court papers. Timmothy, of Aurora, Ill., vanished after his mother pulled him out of kindergarten, took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, and then killed herself at a hotel. She left a note saying that her son was safe with people who would love and care for him, and added: You will never find him. After Rinis account was pronounced a hoax, Timmothys grandmother Alana Anderson said: Its been awful. Weve been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. Its just been exhausting. She added, I feel so sorry for the young man whos obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else. Dan Sewell and Don Babwin are Associated Press writers. ALEXANDRIA, Va. A federal judge says he will rule in the near future on the constitutionality of a government watch list that includes more than 1 million people the FBI considers to be known or suspected terrorists. The Council on American-Islamic Relations sued in 2016 to challenge the watch list on behalf of Muslim Americans who say they were wrongly placed on it and suffered negative consequences as a result. The plaintiffs argued Thursday at a hearing in Alexandria that the list is disseminated so broadly that those listed face not only travel woes at airports and border crossings but also difficulty completing financial transactions and interacting with police. They also say the standard for inclusion is overbroad and innocent Muslims are routinely listed by mistake. Government lawyers say the list is a necessary tool to fight terrorism and that plaintiffs exaggerate the consequences of inclusion. The watch list, also known as the Terrorist Screening Database, is maintained by the FBI and shared with a variety of federal agencies. Customs officers have access to the list to check people coming into the country at border crossings, and aviation officials use the database to help form the governments no-fly list. The watch list has grown significantly in size over the years. As of June 2017, approximately 1.16 million people were included on the watch list, according to government documents filed in the lawsuit. In 2013, the number was only 680,000. The vast majority are foreigners, but according to the government, there are roughly 4,600 U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents on the watch list as well as of 2017. CAIR lawyer Gadeir Abbas said the intrusions imposed on those listed are all for naught; he argued that the list is worthless in terms of preventing terrorism. He noted that Omar Mateen, the man who shot and killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, was at one time on the list but was later removed from it. Others who have committed terrorist acts have never even been included on the watch list. The government cannot know who among the innocent will become a terrorist in the future, Abbas said. Because the government has no good standard for inclusion on the list, it falls back to stereotypes and routinely imposes the burden of watch listing on innocent Muslims. Justice department lawyer Amy Powell disputed Abbas analysis and said its impossible to know what types of terrorist attacks might have been foiled by placing those on the watch list under greater scrutiny. She also said that some of the consequences described by plaintiffs in the case, including being handcuffed at border crossings in front of family and having police approach them with guns drawn, may be frightening but are not so serious as to merit judicial intervention. She said border agents have the right to take precautions when presented with a potential danger because they have no idea whats coming over the border. One of the plaintiffs, Hassan Shibly, who works in CAIRs Florida chapter, said he has been searched dozens of times because of his watch list status and was once handcuffed in front of his grandmother at a border crossing in Detroit. Its humiliating, he said. The government lawyers could never make the arguments they made in court today if they had personally faced the same treatment weve faced, Shibly said after the hearing. DALLAS Texas prisons will no longer allow clergy in the death chamber after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the scheduled execution of a man who argued his religious freedom would be violated if his Buddhist spiritual adviser couldnt accompany him. Effective immediately, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice will permit only prison security staff into the execution chamber, a spokesman said this week. The policy change comes in response to the high courts ruling staying the execution of Patrick Murphy, a member of the Texas 7 gang of escaped prisoners. Texas previously allowed state-employed clergy to accompany inmates into the room where theyd be executed, but its prison staff included only Christian and Muslim clerics. In light of this policy, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Texas couldnt move forward with Murphys punishment unless his Buddhist adviser or another Buddhist reverend of the states choosing accompanied him. One of Murphys lawyers, David Dow, said the policy change does not address their full legal argument and mistakes the main thrust of the courts decision. Their arbitrary and, at least for now, hostile response to all religion reveals a real need for close judicial oversight of the execution protocol, Dow said Murphys attorneys told the high court that executing him without his spiritual adviser in the room would violate the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. The 57-year-old who was among a group of inmates who escaped from a Texas prison in 2000 and then committed numerous robberies, including one where a police officer was fatally shot became a Buddhist while in prison nearly a decade ago. In his concurring opinion, the courts newest justice, Brett Kavanaugh, wrote that Texas had two options going forward: allow all inmates to have a religious adviser of their religion in the execution room, or allow religious advisers only in the viewing room, not the execution room. Kristin Houle, executive director of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, called the new policy cruel and unusual, and urged the department to reconsider. Prison chaplains will still be able to observe executions from a witness room and meet with inmates on death row beforehand. Jake Bleiberg is an Associated Press writer. Salt Lake City, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lice Clinics of America, the worlds largest network of professional urgent care head lice treatment centers, announced that the company has reached the milestone of 500,000 successful head lice treatments using heated air, with a success rate better than 99 percent. The company has seen explosive growth since forming the Lice Clinics of America brand in 2014 and now boasts 330 clinics in 36 countries, with new clinics opening every month. The secret to the firms success is its revolutionary technology in the form of AirAlle, an FDA-cleared medical device proven to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs in an hour-long treatment using heated air to dehydrate lice and nits. Reaching this milestone is a testimony to our incredible technology and to the incredible service that our clinics and their owners and staff deliver, said Claire Roberts, CEO of Lice Clinics of America. Parents and children alike are overjoyed when they are lice-free in an hour, and when they are treated with a smile and with respect. One in four children under 13 years of age get head lice, and that number is growing as traditional lice shampoos are increasingly ineffective. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that 98 percent of lice in the United States are now resistant to the pesticides the products use. These immune lice are often referred to as super lice, and families can unwittingly try and fail multiple times to get lice out of their lives. The AirAlle device kills lice and super lice without the use of pesticides or chemicals. Lice Clinics of America also offers a complete line of pesticide-free home treatment and prevention products. # # # About Lice Clinics of America With 330 clinics worldwide in 36 countries, Lice Clinics of America (www.LiceClinicsOfAmerica.com) is the largest network of professional head lice treatment centers in the world. Its patented heated-air device, AirAlle, has effectively performed more than 500,000 head lice treatments. Lice Clinics of America and AirAlle (www.airalle.com) are brands owned by Larada Sciences, Inc., which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. CALEXICO, Imperial County Eager to make border security a central campaign issue, President Trump consulted with immigration agents in a California border city Friday while insisting that the nations immigration system was overburdened and declaring that our country is full. The political battle over the border ignited again just as Air Force One touched down in Calexico, not far from Mexico, as California and 19 other states that are suing Trump over his declaration requested a court order to stop money from being diverted to fund the project. But Trump, who has placed hard-line immigration policy at the heart of his administration, declared that his move, which included vetoing a congressional vote and some opposition from his own party, was necessary. There is indeed an emergency on our southern border, Trump said at a border security briefing, adding that there has been a sharp increase in illegal crossings. Its a colossal surge, and its overwhelming our immigration system. We cant take you anymore. Our country is full. Although the wall his signature campaign promise remains unbuilt, Trump declared that at least 400 miles of the border barrier would be erected over the next two years. The crisis is a direct result of the obstruction by Democrats, the president claimed. Trump also denied that he changed his mind about shutting down the border with Mexico, a threat he backed off on Thursday. Trump said he reversed course because he saw Mexico get tougher in stopping an influx of immigrants from moving north. Mexico has been absolutely terrific for the last four days, the president said. I never changed my mind at all. I may shut it down at some point. Though Trump, who has pulled a series of about-faces in recent days, walked away from his threat to close the border, he went ahead and highlighted the conditions at the boundary with Mexico. The fence that Trump toured is a 2-mile section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trumps name and those of top homeland security officials. As Trump landed in California, the states governor ripped the presidents push for Congress to pass legislation that would tighten asylum rules. Since our founding, this country has been a place of refuge a safe haven for people fleeing tyranny, oppression and violence. His words show a total disregard of the Constitution, our justice system, and what it means to be an American, said Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Zeke Miller and Jonathan Lemire are Associated Press writers. OMAHA, Neb. Several communities along the Missouri River continue to struggle to restore drinking water service weeks after massive flooding swept through the area. People who live in the affected Nebraska and Iowa towns have had to adjust to boiling water before drinking it or relying on bottled water while officials work to repair the damage. The challenges each town faces after last months flooding differ, but they share the goal of restoring safe drinking water service quickly. Last months flooding caused more than $3 billion in damage in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri when spring rain and melting snow combined to overwhelm area rivers and inundate towns and land. The damage is still being tallied. In Glenwood, Iowa, officials used a boat this week to reach one of their three wells inside the water treatment plant and make repairs, while the other two wells remain submerged. But getting a well up and running is only part of the process. Glenwood City Administrator Angie Winquist said the citys water pipes and towers need to be flushed and refilled before the water can be tested. It will be at least a couple more weeks, but thats better than a couple months, Winquist said. Restoring drinking water is so time consuming, in part, because of all the steps required to ensure the water is safe. Once damage has been repaired and the system refilled, the water must test clean several times on different days. Glenwood will continue trucking in 6,000-gallon tanks of water to provide the roughly 275,000 gallons its residents are using each day. Across the Missouri River in Plattsmouth, Neb., officials said it could be six months before they get their water treatment plant operating again. Fortunately, that Omaha-area city was able to connect to a nearby rural water system, but it doesnt have the same capacity, meaning residents must continue conserving water. About 50 miles further south, the flooding forced Peru State College to close for two days. Students were able to return because the campus itself wasnt flooded, but the citys water still isnt drinkable. Peru State spokesman Jason Hogue said more than 900,000 gallons of bottled water has been donated to the school since the flooding began. The city has been trucking water in from two nearby cities because its water plant remains flooded, but the water has to be boiled before it can be consumed. Josh Funk is an Associated Press writer. Lithuanian English The Board approved financial statements for the year 2018 and convokes the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders On 5 April 2019 the Board of Vilkyskiu pienine AB (hereinafter Vilkyskiu pienine AB or the Company) decided: - To approve the Companys annual report for the year 2018, prepared by the Company and assessed by the auditors, and to propose to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve Companys consolidated annual report. - To approve the draft of the audited separated and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year 2018 and to propose to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve the draft of the Companys separate and consolidated financial statements for the year 2018. In 2018, Vilkyskiu pienine AB Group sales revenue amounted to mEUR 103.2 down by 9.5 percent from mEUR 113.9 in 2017. In 2018, the net loss mEUR 1.2, decrease by mEUR 7.9 comparing to the last year (in 2017, the net profit was mEUR 6.7) To approve the allocation project of the Companys audited net profit (loss) under IAS for the year 2018 and to propose it to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve. Resolution: To approve the audited net profit (loss) allocation under IAS for the year 2018 as follows: thousand EUR 1) Non-appropriated profit (loss) at the end of the year 2017 21,727 2) Approved by shareholders dividends of the year 2017 (1,672) 3) Transfers from the reserve to purchase own shares 2,508 4) Non-appropriated profit (loss) at the beginning of the current financial year after dividends payout and transfer from reserves 22,563 5) Net profit (loss) of the reporting period (2,028) 6) Transfers from reserves 129 7) Net profit to be appropriated at the end of the current financial year 20,664 8) Total profit (loss) to be appropriated: portion of the profit allocated to the legal reserve - portion of the profit allocated for payment of the dividends - portion of the profit allocated to the other reserves - 9) Non-appropriated profit (loss) at the end of the current financial year carried forward to next financial year 20,664 - To convoke the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at the office of Vilkyskiu pienine AB (P.Lukosaicio g. 14, Vilkyskiai, LT-99254 Pagegiu sav., Lithuania), at 15.00 on 26 April 2019, and to propose to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders the following draft agenda: 1) Approval of the Company's annual report for the year 2018. 2) The Company's auditor's report of separated and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year 2018. 3) Approval of Company's separate and consolidated financial statements for the year 2018. 4) Net Profit appropriation of the year 2018. Vilija Milaseviciute Economics and Finance Director phone +370 441 55102 Attachments DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. (NYSE American: CTO) (the Company) today announced that it plans to release its first quarter 2019 operating results after the market closes on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. A conference call to present the operating results is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. eastern time (the Earnings Call). The Company plans to release its first quarter 2019 investor presentation in advance of the Earnings Call. Shareholders and interested parties may access the Earnings Call via teleconference or webcast: Teleconference: USA (Toll Free) 1-888-317-6003 International 1-412-317-6061 Canada (Toll Free) 1-866-284-3684 To access the conference call, enter 5412999 when prompted. To participate via teleconference, please dial-in at least 10 - 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time of the Earnings Call. To access the webcast, log on to the web address noted above or go to http://www.ctlc.com and log in at the investor relations section. Please log in to the webcast at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled time of the Earnings Call. A replay of the Earnings Call will be archived and available online through the Investor Relations section of http://www.ctlc.com . About Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. is a Florida-based publicly traded real estate company, which owns over 2.3 million square feet of income properties in diversified markets in the United States, as well as approximately 5,400 acres of land in the Daytona Beach area. Visit our website at www.ctlc.com . We encourage you to review our most recent investor presentations which are available on our website at www.ctlc.com . SAFE HARBOR Certain statements contained in this press release (other than statements of historical fact) are forward-looking statements. Words such as believe, estimate, expect, intend, anticipate, will, could, may, should, plan, potential, predict, forecast, project, and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they were made, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. Although forward-looking statements are made based upon managements expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon the Company, a number of factors could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Such factors may include the completion of 1031 exchange transactions, the availability of investment properties that meet the Companys investment goals and criteria, the modification of terms of certain land sales agreements, uncertainties associated with obtaining required governmental permits and satisfying other closing conditions for planned acquisitions and sales, as well as the uncertainties and risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with managements expectations or that the effect of future developments on the Company will be those anticipated by management. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. PHILADELPHIA, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International (NYSE:HIL), the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today it was selected to provide owner authorized representative (OAR) services for multiple facilities for The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace). Aerospace is a national nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center that supports military, civil, and commercial programs across the space enterprise. Hill will participate in Aerospaces projects during project planning, design, construction, commissioning, move-in, and closeout for Aerospaces campuses in Colorado Springs, CO, and Chantilly, VA. Work at both campuses will occur while adjacent facilities remain operational. The projects support Aerospaces work in providing technical analyses and assessments for a variety of government, civil, and commercial customers. In Colorado Springs, the existing buildings first floor will be renovated, while a new, approximately 80,000 SF building will be designed and constructed. In Chantilly, a new, 10-story, 264,000 SF South Tower is being designed and built. The facility will include office space and light duty/computational laboratories. In addition, the existing parking campus garage will have a three-story, above-grade addition built over the current three levels below grade to provide more than 400 additional parking stalls. As a new client, there is nothing more gratifying than being selected by Aerospace to help deliver these two facilities, said John Skoury, PE, Hill Senior Vice President & Deputy Regional Manager. In both Colorado and Virginia, the Aerospace Corporation is entrusting Hill to provide on-time, on-budget, and high-quality services for two major initiatives, and we are excited to get those projects underway. About Hill International Hill International, with approximately 2,700 professionals in more than 50 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the eighth-largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com . Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any statements of belief or intent, any statements concerning our plans, strategies, and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates, and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely impact our business, our backlog may not be fully realized as revenue, and our expenses may be higher than anticipated. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. Hill International, Inc. Elizabeth J. Zipf, LEED AP BD+C Senior Vice President Hill International, Inc. One Commerce Square 2005 Market Street, 17th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 309-7707 elizabethzipf@hillintl.com Dignitaries attending the Vesak celebrations in Vietnam will include politicians, government officials and Buddhist leaders from countries and territories with strong Buddhist traditions. Key activities, including the opening and closing ceremonies, will be held in Tam Chuc Temple, a Buddhist complex in the northern province of Ha Nam. According to the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha, there will be five conferences on the Buddhist approaches to global leadership, sustainable peace, harmonious families, education in ethics, the fourth industrial revolution and responsible consumption. As part of the celebrations, Buddhist rites such as a lantern release, exhibitions, art performances and tour programmes will also be held. This is the third time that Vietnam will host the event, with the 2019 edition scheduled to take place from May 12-14, under the theme Buddhist Approach to Global Leadership & Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies. Vietnam hosted the UN Day of Vesak for the first time in 2008 at the My Dinh National Convention Centre in Hanoi and for the second time in 2014 at the Bai Dinh Temple in Ninh Binh province. TORONTO, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Credit Suisse Securities (Canada), Inc. (CSSC) announces that it acquired 480,000 trust units (Units) of Crius Energy Trust (the Issuer) on April 4, 2019 at an average price of CDN$8.6236 per Unit, representing an aggregate price of CDN$4,139,328, which represents approximately 0.85% of the issued and outstanding Units of the Issuer. Immediately before the acquisition, CSSC held 5,186,200 Units, which represent approximately 9.16% of the issued and outstanding Units of the Issuer. Immediately following the acquisition, CSSC held 5,666,200 Units of the Issuer, which represent approximately 10.01% of the issued and outstanding Units of the Issuer. CSSC acquired the Units through the Toronto Stock Exchange for hedging and other investment purposes in the normal course of its business and not with the purpose of influencing the control or direction of the Issuer. CSSC holds the Units as principal and is the sole beneficial owner of the Units. Additionally, the decision on whether/how to vote the Units is made solely by CSSC (i.e., there is no influence from, nor any solicitation of the voting preferences of, third parties). CSSC may in the future, subject to market conditions, make additional investments in or dispositions of the Issuers securities for hedging and other investment purposes. However, CSSC does not intend to acquire 20% or more of the outstanding securities of the Issuer. This news release is issued by CSSC pursuant to the requirements of National Instrument 62103 The Early Warning System and Related TakeOver Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. Further details regarding the acquisition of the Units described above and a copy of the early warning report filed under applicable Canadian securities laws in connection with the acquisition are available on the Issuers profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or to obtain a copy of the early warning report filed in conjunction with this news release, please contact Karina Byrne. Credit Suisse Securities (Canada), Inc. 1 First Canadian Place Suite 2900, P.O. Box 301 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5X 1C9 Press Contact Karina Byrne, Credit Suisse AG, telephone +1 212 538 8361, karina.byrne@credit-suisse.com Credit Suisse AG Credit Suisse AG is one of the world's leading financial services providers and is part of the Credit Suisse group of companies (referred to here as 'Credit Suisse'). Our strategy builds on Credit Suisse's core strengths: its position as a leading wealth manager, its specialist investment banking capabilities and its strong presence in our home market of Switzerland. We seek to follow a balanced approach to wealth management, aiming to capitalize on both the large pool of wealth within mature markets as well as the significant growth in wealth in Asia Pacific and other emerging markets, while also serving key developed markets with an emphasis on Switzerland. Credit Suisse employs approximately 45680 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse AG's parent company, Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com. Copyright 2019, CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. SAN JOSE (BCN) A 14-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday in connection with the violent assault and carjacking of a 72-year-old man in East San Jose. The victim was taking groceries out of his Nissan Sentra in the 3200 block of Coldwater Drive at 10:06 a.m. when the boy allegedly approached him with a gun, forcibly took the victim's keys and got into the car. The victim tried to pull the boy out of the car, but was punched multiple times. The boy then drove away in the car, according to police. The man's injuries were not life-threatening. About 10 minutes later, officers were called to a hit-and-run crash at Story Road and McGinness Avenue. The carjacking suspect ran a red light and crashed into a Dodge Challenger, then fled from the car. He also brandished a gun at a witness who tried to chase him down, police said. The Dodge Challenger driver and passenger were not seriously injured, but the driver was taken to a hospital. Police located and arrested the boy at his home at 8:30 p.m. He was booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of carjacking, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and elder abuse. His identity will not be released because he is a minor. 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 ROSA (BCN) A fire that broke out Thursday night at an apartment complex in Santa Rosa has temporarily displaced approximately 140 residents, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department. The fire was first reported Thursday at 6:52 p.m. at the Nueva Vista Apartments at 1333 West Steele Lane. Firefighters responded to the scene to find fire coming from apartments on the second and third floors of the building and people trying to escape the smoke and flames by evacuating onto balconies and carport roofs. Firefighters were able to assist in evacuating the residents from the building as additional crews began fighting the blaze. Crews were able to put out the fire in about 40 minutes. An apartment on the second floor, where the fire is believed to have started, and an apartment on the third floor sustained major fire damage. There was heavy smoke damage to the second and third floors of the building. Firefighters reported Thursday night there were a few minor injuries due to the fire, but no one was transported to the hospital. There were no fatalities. The utilities were shut off to two buildings at the complex due to the fire. The damage due to the fire is estimated to be approximately $500,000. The caused of the fire is still under investigation. The American Red Cross is assisting in helping some of the displaced residence find temporary shelter. 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 Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder is opening the summit of Mt. Diablo to couples for destination weddings on one day only at the end of May. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 24, the clerk will offer a total of 16 appointments, and county staff say that last year's event booked up quickly. Weddings will be performed on the observation deck, from which San Francisco and the Sierra foothills can be seen on a clear day. "We're excited to once again offer this opportunity for couples to be married at this historic and beautiful location," Clerk-Recorder Joe Canciamilla said Thursday in a news release. "Couples can experience their special day with a spectacular view of the entire Bay Area." For more information about how to book an appointment, people can go to https://www.ccclerkrec.us/destination-weddings. The fee for the marriage ceremony is $60 and a marriage license can be obtained for $86. 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. FAIRFIELD (BCN) The Solano County coroner's office has identified the man who died after he was hit by a train Wednesday afternoon as Naftali Harrison, 47, of Fairfield. Harrison was struck by an Amtrak Capitol Corridor train heading from Sacramento to San Jose around 4:25 p.m., Amtrak spokeswoman Beth Toll said. The collision happened near Cordelia and Orehr roads, Solano County Sheriff's spokesman Deputy Daniel Pratt said. None of the 175 people on the train were injured, and they were taken to San Jose by another train, Toll said. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Police arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly punching an elderly man Wednesday in San Francisco's Excelsior District, leaving him with life-threatening injuries, police said. Officers responded to the scene at Geneva Avenue and London Street around 12:15 p.m. Officers learned that the suspect punched the 71-year-old victim, causing the victim to fall onto the pavement. The injured victim was taken to the hospital. Officers then arrested the suspect. His name has not been released. More details about the case, including what may have led up to the physical altercation, were not immediately available from police. 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 Santa Clara County District Attorney cleared San Jose police officers of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jennifer Vazquez on Christmas Day in a report released Friday. Police mistakenly identified Vazquez as an armed felon in a shooting that morning and pursued her vehicle until she crashed into a chain-link fence at Fruitdale and Leigh avenues. Officers said she was using the stolen vehicle as a weapon to ram officers when they shot at her 37 times, hitting her 14 times in the head, chest, arm and shoulder. The intersection bloomed into a memorial by the next morning, where her family and friends came together to remember Vazquez, a woman who they said embodied several other young, Latino girls growing up in San Jose. Vazquez had a difficult past, they said, but was on a path to bettering her life when she ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The District Attorney's Office, which notified the family before releasing the report, maintains that her behavior made police officers fear for their lives, even though she was not the correct suspect. "Nothing Jennifer Vazquez did on December 25, 2018, dispelled the reasonable suspicion that she was exactly who the police were looking for, an armed fleeing felon who had just shot two people and may have shot a third two hours earlier," prosecutor David Boyd said in the 62-page report. Police have not reported if they ever arrested the correct suspects in the shooting. Lidia Jimenez, a mentor for Vazquez, said Friday morning that the family was discussing the report and preparing a statement. Family and friends demonstrated outside the District Attorney's office in late February, demanding that the office address unanswered questions in the shooting for Vazquez's parents, Maria Elena Vazquez and Jose De Jesus Ramos. A fire at Cal Fire's fleet maintenance facility in St. Helena caused $2 million damage Thursday night, a Cal Fire spokesman said. The fire at 3535 St. Helena Way destroyed four fire apparatus, damaged four others and totally destroyed the maintenance building that contained offices and the equipment, Cal Fire spokesman Will Powers said. The maintenance facility was staffed when the fire was reported around 8:50 p.m. There were no injuries and the cause is under investigation, Powers said. Forty-four personnel responded to the fire at Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit fleet facility. Officers are looking for three men who robbed an Apple retail store four times over the span of six days, according to Berkeley police. The men, who hit the store twice on March 28 and once on Monday and Tuesday this week, made off with thousands of dollars worth of electronics, said police spokesman Officer Byron White. "It's one of those things that's been an off and on issue, not just with Apple but also with other electronic stores," White said. "We see it at coffee shops and outside eateries where they have outside eating. The snatch and grabs." Witnesses said the men came into the store, picked out what they wanted to steal and then used brute force to grab the items from where they were secured to display cases. The suspects were able to make off with cell phones and laptops and on Monday took $15,000 worth of merchandise, according to Berkeley police. Anyone in a store during such a robbery should avoid intervening but make a mental note of any suspect's description, any vehicle they might use to make their escape and, if possible, that vehicle's license plate number, White said. Police released images of the suspects and are asking anyone who might recognize them or have any information to call investigators at (510) 981-5737. Police in Vallejo have identified the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred Sunday as 20-year-old Arneal Jamari Austin of Vallejo. Officers with the Vallejo Police Department responded Sunday at 10:23 p.m. to a report of a shooting in the 400 block of Corcoran Avenue, where they found a shooting victim inside a vehicle. The victim, identified as Austin, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police are continuing to investigate the shooting and detectives are following up on leads. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Cpl. Jason Scott at (707) 648-4531 or Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533. The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder is opening the summit of Mt. Diablo to couples for destination weddings on one day only at the end of May. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 24, the clerk will offer a total of 16 appointments, and county staff say that last year's event booked up quickly. Weddings will be performed on the observation deck, from which San Francisco and the Sierra foothills can be seen on a clear day. "We're excited to once again offer this opportunity for couples to be married at this historic and beautiful location," Clerk-Recorder Joe Canciamilla said Thursday in a news release. "Couples can experience their special day with a spectacular view of the entire Bay Area." For more information about how to book an appointment, people can go to https://www.ccclerkrec.us/destination-weddings. The fee for the marriage ceremony is $60 and a marriage license can be obtained for $86. A Santa Rosa man pleaded no contest Friday in Sonoma County Superior Court to marijuana-related DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Isidro Anthony Moya, 20, faces up to 13 years and eight months in prison when he is sentenced on June 3, Deputy District Attorney Scott Uemura said. Moya was driving a 2007 Infiniti at a high rate of speed east on Valley Ford Road in unincorporated west Sonoma County on May 4 when the car drifted to the right, according to the California Highway Patrol. Moya was under the influence of marijuana and he lost control of the Infinity when he turned left and collided with a westbound 2012 Lexus, the CHP said. David Bradley Etling, 18, of Petaluma, the right front passenger in the Infinity, was killed in the collision. An elderly couple in the Lexus and an 18-year-old man in the back seat of the Infinity suffered major injuries in the collision, the CHP said. Moya also was charged with causing great bodily injury to the three injured crash survivors. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday, and he pleaded no contest to all the charges against him including possession of concentrated cannabis, driving without a license and crossing a solid double yellow line. McConnell said he will ask for probation for Moya at the June sentencing. Moya has no previous criminal record, and he is devastated about the collision that killed his best friend and seriously injured three people, McConnell said. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Toronto, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Each year, Financial Executives International Canada (FEI Canada) recognizes a member or members who have made significant contributions to advocating and improving FEI Canada. We are pleased to announce that Debbie Stein of the Calgary Chapter and Dr. Howard Johnson of the Southern Golden Horseshoe (SGH) Chapter, are our two recipients of this years prestigious award. Debbie Stein has had an esteemed career as former CFO of AltaGas and as a Director on many external Boards. Debbie has been an extremely active volunteer at FEI Canada for numerous years, having held many of the most senior positions across the association. Debbies FEI Canada resume is nothing short of remarkable. Debbie is a former Chair of the Chapter Leadership Committee, Chair of the FEI Canada National Board, Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and Chair of the Board of Directors, amongst many other roles. Debbie was also instrumental in working with FEI Canadas CEO and other Executives in Residence to build the CFO Leadership Beyond Finance program into a successful, high quality program. Our second recipient, Dr. Howard Johnson, has held a variety of key positions in FEI Canada during his time with the association. As a former President of the SGH Chapter (at the time known as the Hamilton Chapter), Howard made a significant and historical impact on the direction of the Chapter. Through his connections and business acquaintances, Howard was instrumental in membership growth of this chapter, and FEI Canada as a whole. Howards astute leadership, tenacity, vision and dedication was best evidenced in his decision to expand the, then, Hamilton chapter to Oakville and Mississauga, with a full, chapter-wide rebrand into, what is now, the Southern Golden Horseshoe (SGH) chapter. Howard was also a founding Board member of CFERF, FEI Canadas research arm. Howard was instrumental in building CFERF into one of the most prominent research foundations for senior financial executives across Canada today. Howard has also been a regular presenter at FEI Canada Conferences and his presentations always exemplify the quality and excellence FEI Canada has built its reputation. FEI Canada sends a heartfelt thank you to Debbie and Howard for their service to the association. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The California Supreme Court ruled in San Francisco Thursday that cities have a right to regulate the placement of wireless telephone equipment on utility poles to accommodate aesthetic concerns. The seven-member court unanimously upheld a 2011 San Francisco law that requires telephone companies to obtain a permit before placing equipment on utility poles on public streets and sidewalks. The city ordinance requires a heightened consideration of aesthetic factors in certain areas, including residential districts, historic districts and scenic streets, before a permit can be granted. T-Mobile West Corp. and two other wireless companies that challenged the ordinance argued it violated a state law that allows telephone companies to construct lines and install equipment along public roads. The state law says the installation must be done in ways and in locations that do not "incommode the public use of the road." T-Mobile argued that the measure allowed restrictions only when needed to prevent installations from impeding traffic. But the high court said the word "incommode" includes having a negative effect on peaceful enjoyment of public roads and sidewalks, and that San Francisco therefore had a right to consider visual effects. Justice Carol Corrigan wrote, "The city has inherent local police power to determine the appropriate uses of land within its jurisdiction. That power includes the authority to establish aesthetic conditions for land use." San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a statement, "Private companies don't have free rein when it comes to using a public resource. San Francisco doesn't prohibit this equipment from being installed. We're simply requiring companies to take reasonable steps to minimize the obtrusiveness of their installations. A T-Mobile spokesman said the company has no comment. 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 JOSE (BCN) The Santa Clara County District Attorney cleared San Jose police officers of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jennifer Vazquez on Christmas Day in a report released Friday. Police mistakenly identified Vazquez as an armed felon in a shooting that morning and pursued her vehicle until she crashed into a chain-link fence at Fruitdale and Leigh avenues. Officers said she was using the stolen vehicle as a weapon to ram officers when they shot at her 37 times, hitting her 14 times in the head, chest, arm and shoulder. The intersection bloomed into a memorial by the next morning, where her family and friends came together to remember Vazquez, a woman who they said embodied several other young, Latino girls growing up in San Jose. Vazquez had a difficult past, they said, but was on a path to bettering her life when she ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The District Attorney's Office, which notified the family before releasing the report, maintains that her behavior made police officers fear for their lives, even though she was not the correct suspect. "Nothing Jennifer Vazquez did on December 25, 2018, dispelled the reasonable suspicion that she was exactly who the police were looking for, an armed fleeing felon who had just shot two people and may have shot a third two hours earlier," prosecutor David Boyd said in the 62-page report. Police have not reported if they ever arrested the correct suspects in the shooting. Lidia Jimenez, a mentor for Vazquez, said Friday morning that the family was discussing the report and preparing a statement. Family and friends demonstrated outside the District Attorney's office in late February, demanding that the office address unanswered questions in the shooting for Vazquez's parents, Maria Elena Vazquez and Jose De Jesus Ramos. Officers responded to the area of Clemence Avenue and Story Road at 2:09 a.m. on Dec. 25 and found two adults suffering from at least one gunshot wound each. Witnesses pointed out a white Toyota Camry on Clemence, and said "That way, they shot!" An officer later saw Vazquez's vehicle going west on Owsley Avenue from Clemence and broadcast the description to officers, who eventually pursued the vehicle in a high-speed, 9-mile chase. The chase ended with Officers Marco Mercado, Eliseo Anaya, Mitchell Stimson and Mark Koska shooting Vazquez when she "tried to smash a stolen car out of a phalanx of police cars, endangering the officers and the community," the District Attorney's Office said. Officers later determined Vazquez had not been involved in the early morning drive-by shooting. Body camera footage released with the report shows Vazquez rocking the vehicle back and forth in the fence in an effort to free her car. Officers begin shooting after the vehicle hits a police car once, after which point the car stops moving. On Friday, the District Attorney's office also ruled officers acted legally when they shot and injured Vazquez's passenger, 28-year-old Linda Carmona-Bruno, who did not suffer life-threatening injuries. In interviews with police, Carmona-Bruno said she and Vazquez had been shopping for Christmas presents the night before the shooting. Their original plan was to visit Vazquez's mother for Christmas, but Carmona-Bruno was late in picking her up from Los Banos in Merced County, where Vazquez was living at the time. They later unknowingly borrowed the stolen car from a friend, according to Carmona-Bruno, and had been passing by the intersection of the shooting investigation when the chase began. Vazquez knew she had a warrant out for her arrest for methamphetamine possession, and sped away from the area to avoid being arrested. The chase reached up to 100 mph, as Vazquez ripped down surface streets and U.S. Highway 280, driving the wrong way on roads at times. When the car finally crashed into the fence, Vazquez worried that police would shoot her, but continued trying to extract the car from the fence. Body-worn camera footage from this moment shows Officer Mercado getting out of his police car with a gun and yelling, "Stay in the fucking car! Do you want to be shot? Keep your hands out!" He then asks other officers if they have 40mm less-lethal ammunition. Inside the car, Carmona-Bruno said Vazquez wouldn't stop the vehicle, and wouldn't listen when she told her to stop. Carmona-Bruno said she didn't hear police say they would shoot, and that Vazquez was "just doing her own thing." Footage shows a gap between police cars where Vazquez may have been attempting to maneuver her vehicle. She eventually rams into a police car to the left of Mercado, and video footage shows dozens of shots fire into her vehicle. The vehicle then comes to a stop. "Under the facts, circumstances, and applicable law in this matter, the use of deadly force by Officers Marco Mercado, Eliseo Anaya, Mark Koska, and Mitchell Stimson was a lawful response to an apparent armed fleeing felon who reasonable appeared to pose a great threat to public safety if not immediately arrested, as well as an apparent and immediate threat of great bodily injury or death to the officers themselves at the time shots were fired," the report concludes. 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) Residents, community leaders, faith leaders and members of the San Francisco Police Department held a vigil Thursday afternoon in the city's Bayview neighborhood for victims of gun violence in the area. The prayer vigil was held at Third Street and Quesada Avenue, the scene of the neighborhood's latest deadly shooting, which happened Saturday night and killed Terrell Blay, 26, and also injured a 21-year-old man. Earlier in the month, on March 11, a 25-year-old man was shot in the leg in the 2000 block of Jerrold Avenue, and before that, on March 4, a 31-year-old man was shot while walking near Third Street and Evans Avenue. "Considering all of the stuff going on in our community, it's important to come together because we believe there's power in prayer and prayer can change things," said Minister Damonn White with Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. "Today is not the end of a beginning. Today is the beginning of an end where we are going to have a partnership with the church community, partnership amongst clergy within the Bayview-Hunter's Point communities and we want to bring unity amongst the Black and Brown communities in San Francisco," he said. Bayview Police Station Capt. Valerie Matthews said during the vigil, "Today is about the community, it's about working together. It's about changing what has been in the past and starting fresh. "We have to change things. This is an amazing neighborhood ... and there's a place for everyone to be in this community and it's important that everyone feels safe. There are some amazing businesses that have popped up, there are some great restaurants with good food and we want people to feel welcomed and say that this is a great community. We are going to change the stigma that has been associated with this community," she said. "Our crime in the Bayview has dropped tremendously, so this is not the Bayview of years past, but moving forward we're going to make it better than it's been." Tiffany Sutton, director of SFPD's crime strategies unit, helped conceive of the idea to work alongside the faith-based community to hold monthly prayer vigils. "Traditionally in the African American community, our church, our religion, our faith, our beliefs have always been the cornerstone, the pillar of our community and so I thought let's bring the churches back out, let's bring the churches on the street," she said. "If we do this on a monthly basis -- at a regular time, a regular place -- I have faith and I know and believe the community will come out and support prayer," she said. "The idea is to bring the community together to pray over these hot spots, where our young individuals are being killed so that we can save lives." 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) Police in San Francisco are asking for the public's help in finding a dog involved in a biting incident at Joe DiMaggio Playground on Wednesday. On Wednesday at 12 p.m., two middle school students were running at the playground for a school physical education assignment when the students were bitten by a dog at the corner of Mason and Lombard streets. Both victims suffered bite wounds to their legs and were treated and released from the hospital. Witnesses described the dog as large and white with black and gray colored spots. The owner of the dog is described as a white woman in her 30s. She was wearing a black shirt and a purple vest. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department's Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit at (415) 553-9182 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. OAKLAND (BCN) A KPIX-TV news crew was robbed in Oakland's Lower Dimond neighborhood on Thursday, police said. Officers who responded to 3250 Lakeshore Ave. at about 12:15 p.m. to investigate a report of a robbery were told by the KPIX news crew that a short time earlier they had been robbed and their camera had been taken while they were in the area of Fruitvale Avenue and Harold Street, according to police. The news crew said a vehicle was driven up to them and a masked suspect who said he had a gun approached them demanding their camera and they complied, police said. However, crew members said they didn't see a weapon, according to police. The suspect fled the scene with the camera but at about 2:15 p.m. Oakland police officers who collaborated with San Francisco police detained two suspects in San Francisco and recovered the news camera, police said. In February, two men and a woman were charged with multiple felonies in connection with the robbery of a KPIX news crew and the shooting of their security guard outside the Oakland Public Library's 81st Avenue branch at 1021 81st Ave. in East Oakland. The crew was reporting on activities related to the Oakland teacher strike at the time. 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. Danderyd April 5, 2019 Thanks to the recent Closing of the Viscaria Acquisition and several other processes being executed in parallel, Copperstone Annual Report (in Swedish) will be extended to also include New Copperstone and be published April 23, 2019, instead of earlier announced April 12. The Q1 2019/Annual General Meeting will still be announced/held May 14, 2019. Copperstone Updated Financial Calendar: April 23, 2019 Annual Report (in Swedish) published and available. May 14, 2019 - Annual General Meeting and First quarterly report 2019. August 28, 2019 - Second quarterly report 2019. November 21, 2019 - Third quarterly report 2019. February 20, 2020 - Year-end Report 2019. For further information, please contact CEO Michael Mattsson, +46 705 739 777, michael.mattsson@copperstone.se, info@copperstone.se or visit www.copperstone.se This information was submitted for publication, through the above contact persons agency, 16:15 CEST on April 5, 2019. About Copperstone Copperstone is a public company trading as COPP B on NASDAQ First North (Stockholm). The Certified Adviser is Augment Partners AB, info@augment.se, +46 8 505 65 172. The Company is focused on base and precious metal exploration in the vicinity of the internationally recognized mining districts of Kiruna and the Skellefte-field in northern Sweden. In addition, the Company also owns an exploitation concession and an exploration permit in the Bergslagen mining region, in central Sweden. Attachment English French The Extended Service Program increases the service life of the robust Dash 8-100 turboprop from 80,000 to 120,000 flight cycles TORONTO, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that Wideres Flyveselskap AS of Norway has signed an agreement to apply the Extended Service Program (ESP) to another four Dash 8-100 aircraft operated by the Norwegian airline. The Dash 8-100 aircraft is a valued member of our fleet and we are delighted to once again collaborate with Bombardier to extend the economic life of another four aircraft, said Sture Pedersen, Director Technical Operations, Wideres Flyveselskap. We worked with Bombardier in 2009 to launch the Dash 8-100 Extended Service Program and since that time, some 16 of our 22 Dash 8-100 aircraft have benefitted from the Program. These robust aircraft continue to provide reliable, cost-effective service to Widere, and to support our operations as the largest regional airline in Scandinavia. Our Extended Service Program allows operators to take further advantage of the Dash 8-100 aircrafts economic and operational value, said Todd Young, Vice President and General Manager, Head of the Q Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. The ESP increases the service life of our Dash 8-100 aircraft from 80,000 to 120,000 flight cycles, providing our customers with an extension of approximately 10-12 years for the operation of the aircraft. The ESP is the result of several structural and engineering analyses that utilized fatigue and test data accumulated on Dash 8-100 aircraft. The ESP is initiated through a Service Bulletin that makes reference to a new Maintenance Program Supplement. Widere will incorporate the Service Bulletin and Maintenance Program Supplement and arrange for the replacement of some structural and systems components as identified by the Service Bulletin. In 2015, Bombardier also successfully launched an Extended Service Program for the Dash 8-300 aircraft with Chorus Aviation Inc. and Jazz Aviation LP (Jazz) as the launch customer and operator. About Dash 8/Q Series Aircraft The original de Havilland Dash 8-100/200/300 aircraft, delivered from 1984 through the mid 1990's, established themselves as rugged and reliable turboprop aircraft. Capable of outstanding take-off and landing performance, even on unprepared airstrips, these aircraft are ideal for use by airlines operating in the high-frequency, short-haul regional airline environment. Subsequent deliveries of Dash 8/Q Series aircraft provided operators further refinements that included the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system for jet-like comfort. The original Dash 8 aircraft has grown into a family of 37- to 90-seat Dash 8/Q Series aircraft that offers models including the technologically advanced Q400 turboprop to profitably fit any regional airline mission. The flexibility of the aircraft has also resulted in their adaptation for a wide variety of non-airline roles such as cargo operations, medical evacuation, corporate transport, airways and navigation aid calibration, navigator training, maritime patrol and aerial firefighting. With more than 1,250 aircraft delivered, Dash 8/Q Series turboprops continue to provide exceptional operating costs coupled with the benefits of commonality within the Q Series aircraft family. About Bombardier With over 68,000 employees across four business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in 28 countries across the segments of Transportation, Business Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft and Aerostructures and Engineering Services. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, Bombardier posted revenues of $16.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. Notes to Editors An image of a Dash 8-100 aircraft in Wideres livery is posted with this press release at www.bombardier.com For more information on the Q series/Dash 8 aircraft, visit http://news.commercialaircraft.bombardier.com/ Follow @BBD_Aircraft on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. To receive our press releases, please visit the RSS Feed section of Bombardiers website. Bombardier, Dash 8, de Havilland, Extended Service Program, Q100, Q200, Q300, Q400 and Q Series are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. For Information Nathalie Scott Bombardier Commercial Aircraft +1-416-375-3030 nathalie.scott@aero.bombardier.com www.bombardier.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61390ddf-6e7b-4cf0-923a-ba2fa1fb128c Bermuda, 5 April 2019. Avance Gas Holding Ltd ("Avance Gas" or the "Company") announces that Christian Andersen will step down as President of the Company. The Board would like to thank Mr. Andersen for his significant contribution to the Company since inception. Peder Simonsen (CFO) will serve as interim CEO until a permanent successor is appointed. For further queries, please contact: Peder C. G. Simonsen, Tel: +47 22 00 48 15, E-mail: p.simonsen@avancegas.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. EDISON, N.J., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opengear ( www.opengear.com ), a leading provider of solutions that deliver secure, resilient network access and automation to critical IT infrastructure, today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has given Opengear a 5-Star rating in its 2019 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide identifies the strongest and most successful partner programs in the channel today, offered by the top technology suppliers for IT products and services. The 5-Star rating recognizes an elite subset of companies that offer solution providers the best partnering elements in their channel programs. To determine the 2019 5-Star ratings, The Channel Companys research team assessed each suppliers partner program based on investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. Opengear has introduced a number of enhancements to its partner program over the past year designed to further streamline its partner onboarding process, provide more sales tools and marketing content that enable partners to more easily sell Opengear solutions, and forge deeper strategic relationships with partners. Among these key initiatives is the addition of online training modules within Opengears Partner Portal , which more efficiently and thoroughly engages and trains partners sales reps. Opengear has also invested in ensuring its partners understand the advantages of Opengears cellular out-of-band connectivity solutions in SD-WAN deployments highlighting a particularly fast-growing use case for Opengear products that is creating a new revenue source for partners. These changes have come in tandem with growth to the Opengear partner program and the leadership team supporting it. Most recently, Opengears channel business which has seen 30% year-over-year revenue growth in the Americas signed a new distribution agreement with Westcon-Comstor Americas to expand distribution of Opengear products into Latin America . It also recently added Keith Hansen as the channel-dedicated Sales Engineer and has expanded channel sales coverage with a Channel Sales Manager overseeing each of the West, Central, and East regions. With new technologies emerging every year, evaluating which IT vendors to partner with grows increasingly more complex for solution providers, said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. We are proud the CRN Partner Program Guide has become the trusted resource to identify the most rewarding partner programs and provides crucial insight into their strengths and benefits for the channel. Our channel partners are essential to enabling organizations across the world and across industries to meet their requirements for the network resilience and automation solutions Opengear delivers, Bryan Keepers, Director Channel Sales Americas, Opengear. We continue to invest in our channel program and our relationships, and the results continue to show how mutually beneficial these engagements can be. Were proud to again be recognized for our commitment to the channel with the 5-Star rating in CRNs Partner Program Guide, and look forward to continuing to grow and deepen our relationships with our valued partners throughout the world. The 2019 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg . About Opengear Opengear delivers secure, resilient access and automation to critical IT infrastructure, even when the primary network is down. Provisioning, orchestration and remote management of network devices through innovative software and appliances, enables NetOps teams to manage their data centers and remote network locations reliably and efficiently. Opengears business continuity solutions are trusted by global organizations across financial, digital communications, retail and manufacturing industries. The company is headquartered in New Jersey, with R&D centers in Silicon Valley and Brisbane, Australia. For more information please visit www.opengear.com . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook Copyright 2019. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The new Vbeam Prima platform takes Candelas gold standard 595 nm Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) to the next level PALM DESERT, Calif., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Ken H. Jesser of Vein Specialists Institute in Palm Desert, California announces the acquisition of the Vbeam Prima laser system by Candela, an advanced 595 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL). With the addition of a 1064 nm wavelength and a number of other new features, the Vbeam Prima device will effectively treat a broad range of skin conditions, including rosacea, port wine stains, acne, facial, leg and spider veins, scars, benign pigmented lesions and wrinkles, warts, stretch marks and photo aging. In a clinical study1 using the Vbeam Prima laser system, facial redness and rosacea symptoms were significantly reduced from moderate to mild after four treatments, said Dr. Jesser. I am extremely excited about the new enhancements, especially the 50% greater power enabling a 15 mm spot size, both contact and spray cooling, once-a-day calibration and extended dye life thanks to a complete re-design, Dr. Jesser added. The Vbeam device is a highly efficient PDL used by healthcare providers all over the world to treat a variety of indications for both face and body with high patient tolerability and a low incidence of side effects. The Vbeam laser has been long considered the gold standard for the device based treatment of rosacea, and has also been successfully used for the treatment of port wine stains and vascular anomalies in infants, as well as adults. It is currently used in nearly 700 universities and hospitals worldwide, and has been included in hundreds of medical publications. The new Vbeam Prima laser system builds on that legacy of success by offering advanced features that will help physicians and their patients achieve better results, along with an improved treatment experience. Dr. Jesser will begin treating clients using the Vbeam Prima laser system in April 2019. To schedule a consultation, please contact Vein Specialists Institute at (760)341-7563 or info@ezveins.com. For more information about Dr. Ken Jesser, please visit www.ezveins.com . For more information about the Vbeam Prima laser system, please visit https://syneron-candela.com/na/prima Dr. Kenneth H. Jesser The staff at Vein Specialists Institute is dedicated to providing safe, effective, and affordable nonsurgical solutions for patients with vein problems. Kenneth Jesser, M.D., a graduate of Johns Hopkins Medical School, has practiced continuously in the desert since 1988. A double board-certified internist and emergency physician, he is also a board-certified vein specialist by the American Board of Phlebology. In addition to vein treatments, we also specialize in skin and body procedures utilizing state-of-the-art lasers, light-based therapies, and radio-frequency lasers to treat: wrinkles, brown spots, sun damage, rosacea, melasma, acne scars, as well as loose skin, cellulite and excess fat on the body. In addition, we offer various cosmetic injectables. Candela Candela is a leading global medical aesthetic device company with an extensive product portfolio and a global distribution footprint. The Company's technology enables physicians to provide advanced solutions for a broad range of medical aesthetic applications including hair removal, wrinkle reduction, tattoo removal, women's health treatments, facial resurfacing, traumatic and surgical scar treatments, body contouring, improving the skin's appearance through the treatment of benign vascular and pigmented lesions, and the treatment of acne, leg veins and cellulite. Candela has a wide portfolio of trusted, leading products, including Vbeam, the Gentle Family, CO2RE, CO2RE Intima, Profound, elos Plus, PicoWay, UltraShape, VelaShape, Nordlys, and other laser-based platforms. Acquired by Apax Partners in July 2017, the Company markets, services and supports its products in 86 countries. It has offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom and many international distributors. 1. Bernstein EF, Schomacker K, Paranjape A, Jones CJ. Pulsed dye laser treatment of rosacea using a novel 15 mm diameter treatment beam. Lasers Surg Med. 2018;doi:10.1002/lsm.22819 Media Contact: Loni Buckley-Patient Coordinator/Administrator P: (760) 341-7563 | E: loni@ezveins.com English Lithuanian Upon initiative of the Board of Directors of Rokiskio suris AB and the resolution approved on 05/04/2019, on April 30, 2019, at 12:00 hrs it shall be summoned a General Meeting of Shareholders of Rokiskio suris AB (company code 173057512, registered address Pramones str. 3, Rokiskis) to be held in the companys head office (Pramones str. 3, Rokiskis). Registration starts at 11:00 hrs and lasts until 11:45 hrs. Accounting day of the general meeting of shareholders April 23, 2019. Record day May 15, 2019. Draft Agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders: 1. Auditors findings regarding the consolidated financial reports and annual report. 2. The Audit Committee report. 3. The Companys consolidated annual report for the year 2018. 4. Approval of the consolidated and companys financial accounting for the year 2018. 5. Allocation of the profit (loss) of the Company of 2018. 6. Regarding purchase of own shares. 7. Election of the Companys auditor and establishment of payment conditions. The general meeting of shareholders may be attended and voted by the persons who were shareholders at the end of the meeting accounting date (April 23, 2019) or other persons authorized by actual shareholders, or the persons with whom the voting transference agreement was made. Participants of the general meeting of shareholders with the voting right should have a document proving their identity. The person, who is not a shareholder, in addition should present a document proving his/her right to vote on the general meeting of shareholders. Each shareholder shall have a right, in the manner established by the Law, to authorise another (natural or legal) person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders. The authorised person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by the Law. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by the Law. At the General Meeting of Shareholders, an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. The right of shareholder to participate at the general meeting of shareholders also means the right to question. A shareholder or a person authorised by him/her shall have a right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. The General Voting Ballot shall be placed on the companys website not later than 21 day before the General meeting http://www.rokiskio.com at the heading Investor Relations. Upon a shareholder's request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the General Meeting, shall send the General Voting Ballot by registered mail free of charge. The filled in General Voting Ballot and the document confirming the voting right (if any) must be submitted to the Company in writing not later than on the last business day before the General Meeting of Shareholders by sending it by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150. The Company keeps the right to not account a shareholders General Voting Ballot if the General Voting Ballot does not comply with the requirement set by the Law on Joint Stock Companies Article 30 parts 3 and 4, or the ballot is filled misleadingly and it is impossible to read the shareholders will for one or another item. The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders through electronic means of communication. Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders. Draft decisions on the proposed issues shall be submitted together with the proposal or, if the decisions do not need to be approved, explanations on each proposed issue of the General Meeting of Shareholders shall be presented. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented in writing by sending it by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150, Lithuania, or by e-mail rokiskio.suris@rokiskio.com. The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing draft resolutions on the issues already included in the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders, as well as to nominate additional candidates to the companys management bodies. The proposed draft decisions must be presented in writing by sending them by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150, Lithuania, or by e-mail rokiskio.suris@rokiskio.com. The shareholders shall also be entitled to propose draft resolutions on the agenda issues of the General Meeting of Shareholders during the Meeting. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the General Meeting of Shareholders to the Company in advance in writing. The questions should be sent by e.mail address rokiskio.suris@rokiskio.com not later than 3 business days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder if the respective information is posted on the Company's website. The Company may refuse to respond to the questions of a shareholder if they are related with the commercial (manufacturing) secret, confidential information, then the shareholder will be informed unless the identity of questioner cannot be identified. The shareholders could get familiarised with the documents possessed by the Company related to the agenda of the Meeting, including draft resolutions, and other documents to be submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders as well as to get information regarding execution of the shareholders' rights at the headquarters of AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150, Lithuania, or on the companys website www.rokiskio.com under the heading Investor Relations'. The total number of shares is 35,867,970 ordinary registered shares. Nominal value of the shares is EUR 0.29 each. ISIN of the Companys shares is LT000100372. Number of the shares with voting right 35,061,653. The Company has purchased 806,317 treasury shares. Dalius Trumpa Company Manager +370 458 55200 Attachments Houston, TX, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PipelineDeals, the most adopted CRM among small and midsize businesses, announced it will be sponsoring the Industrial Supply Association (ISA) Conference in Houston. Were proud to support the ISA and have a presence at the annual convention which focuses on the changing needs of its members and the markets they serve, said JP Werlin, CEO and Co-Founder of PipelineDeals. We enable IMRs and manufacturers to keep ahead of the competition by providing CRM software to improve the sales process, boost customer retention, and expand business opportunities. Its an exciting industry to foster change and business growth. The 2019 ISA Convention will take place at the Hilton Americas-Houston from April 6 to April 8. The event is the largest tradeshow and networking convention for distributors, independent manufacturing representatives (IMRs), suppliers and manufacturers in the maintenance, repair, operations and production (MROP) supply industry. This year, the ISA will be introducing a new industry award called the Innovation Impact Award: Peoples Choice to celebrate innovation within the industrials space. During the event, PipelineDeals is sponsoring the Innovation Hall where nominees will be showcasing their products and services. Its fantastic to have Service Providers like PipelineDeals take part in the ISA Convention. They bring innovative software and services to the Industrial MROP channel so the ISA can continue to be a driver of change in both industrial manufacturing and distribution, said Ed Gerber, President and CEO of the ISA. The convention is one of our biggest events to help lead the channel forward as we look ahead to the launch of the industrys first-ever sales process standard. About ISA The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) is the association for the industrial maintenance, repair, operations, and production supply (MROP) channel. The ISA helps its members develop and advance their companies and careers. Established in 1916, the ISA remains committed to bringing channel partners together and fostering an environment that allows for a free flow of communication to better understand the needs of both manufacturers and distributors. For more information, please visit: https://www.isapartners.org About PipelineDeals Founded in 2006, PipelineDeals is the most adopted CRM for small and midsize businesses, empowering sales teams across a breadth of industries to build game changing relationships. PipelineDeals is built around an easy-to-use and customizable user experience, sales focused features, and leading customer support and service. Today more than 18,000 users in 100 countries use PipelineDeals to gain visibility into their sales pipeline to accelerate opportunities and close more deals. Headquartered in Seattle, WA, PipelineDeals has made the annual Inc. 5000 list since 2014, recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. Try PipelineDeals by signing up for a 14-day free trial or engage with PipelineDeals on Twitter. Attachment Many liberals turned to alcohol on election night 2016 to cope with Donald Trump's stunning victory over Hillary Clinton, but Sen. Kamala Harris turned to Doritos. During a Thursday night appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the 2020 presidential candidate reflected on a "bittersweet" night in which she was elected to the Senate, but Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton for the presidency. "It was extremely bittersweet, and I tore up all the notes I had prepared to read and I just took the stage and said, 'We will fight, we will fight,'" Harris said of her planned Senate victory speech. "And then I went home and I sat on the couch with a family-sized bag of [nacho cheese flavored] Doritos and I did not share one chip with anybody," she laughed. "I just watched the TV with utter shock and dismay." MORE HARRIS: Harris tells Nevada Democrats 2020 election is fight for soul of country "Well I think there were very few stores that had Doritos left by the following morning," Meyers joked. Harris, who announced her presidential campaign in January, also discussed her proposal to give every teacher in the United States a raise of around $13,500. "Frankly, I think you can judge a society based on the way it treats its children," she said. "One of the greatest expressions of love that a society can give to its children is to invest in their education, and by extension that means investing in teachers, who are right now working two and three jobs to pay the bills." The plan is estimated to cost $315 billion. RELATED: Hollywood power elite hosting Kamala Harris fundraiser Harris also discussed the Mueller report, running against some of her Senate colleagues in the Democratic primaries, and her record as a prosecutor. You can watch her full appearance in the videos above. Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eric.ting@sfgate.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. It was during the peak of the Department of Motor Vehicles high-wait-times crisis last summer that news emerged of a secret DMV office in Sacramento purportedly used by lawmakers and political bigwigs wanting to sidestep the quagmire of lines that the lay-masses had to wait in. No signs mark the existence of the office, which sits at the end of a hallway in the Legislative Office Building across the street from the Capitol. It lies behind an often-locked door distinguished only by a lone peep-hole. As average wait times surged close to the 3-hour mark last summer, many people were not happy to learn of the existence of the office, where appointments could only be made by lawmakers or those referred by them. ALSO: Thousands of people are paying a startup $94 to wait in line at the DMV for them Now, a GOP lawmaker is trying to shut down the secret office with a bill, AB 862, that would forbid the DMV from operating offices that aren't open to the public. "There's a secret DMV across from the state Capitol with streamlined service that's only available to members of the Legislature and a select group of political insiders," Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, R-Granite Bay, told the Sacramento Bee this week. "This is supposed to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people, not an oligarchy where a gilded political class enjoys privileges that aren't available to the people that we represent." He's not the first assemblyman to criticize the office; Another Republican, Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, had some harsh words about its existence last summer. MORE: 'Secret' DMV office serves California lawmakers Defenders of the office say the situation is not what it appears to be. DMV officials told KCRA in August that the bulk of the 10,000 requests handled by the office's few staffers are related to consumer problems that lawmakers have brought to their attention. They say 90 percent of the work done at the office is to solve problems of regular Californians who have asked lawmakers for help with their DMV-related issues. Kiley has said that function would be better served by transferring the employees to the DMV's Sacramento headquarters, shutting down the field-office functions that occur in Room 121, the "secret office." Even if the long-shot proposal is successful, though, politicians still have a workaround to avoid the DMV's gnarly lines -- they can make a "manager's appointment," that allows them to skip the worst of the lines, reports the Sacramento Bee. San Francisco, CA, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Fundbox, a leading Fintech company dedicated to simplifying the way businesses pay and get paid, announced the opening of a new Dallas-area office to support the companys rapid expansion. Fundbox will have a temporary office located at 7250 Dallas Pkwy, Plano, TX until the final office location is selected. The new office will initially support sales, customer success, customer support, and collections but will grow over time to support additional core functions. We are truly excited to welcome Fundbox into the Plano business community, said Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, Mayor of Plano, Texas. The new Fundbox is a company on the cutting edge of technology and their office in our city further validates Plano as the City of Excellence and Innovation. We look forward to seeing Fundbox grow and wish the company our very best! Leading the evolution in small-to-medium (SMB) business payments and credit, the award-winning Fundbox has built the first machine learning-enabled business capital platform, purposefully designed to accelerate small business payments and credit at scale. Fundbox provides a convenient credit solution that seamlessly integrates credit-as-a-service within the existing workflows of other B2B-focused platforms, portals and/or marketplaces. Applying for Fundbox is both convenient and fast. Interested business owners looking to access the companys business capital platform simply complete a short application form and then connect a business data source of their choice with just a few clicks. Within minutes, proprietary machine learning models can deliver a credit decision and, for those approved businesses, Fundbox provides access up to $100,000 in a revolving business line of credit. To date, Fundbox has facilitated over $1 Billion in credit for growing small businesses. Fundbox has received numerous awards for Fintech innovation including the prestigious Forbes Fintech 50, Forbes Billion Dollar Startup To Watch, Fintech Breakthrough Awards for Best B2B Payments Platform and, the Atlas Award for Best Israeli Startup just to name a few. After considering more than 30 cities across the U.S., we selected the Dallas area and, specifically Plano, because of the concentration of banking institutions and, for the incredible workforce talent located there, said Abbie McBride, Vice President of Sales and Operations for Fundbox. As Fundbox continues to grow, our Dallas area office will become an important catalyst for our accelerated growth. Looking forward two years from now, our plan is to have as many as 75 to 100 fulltime employees if not more for this new office. About Fundbox Fundbox is a leading technology platform focused on disrupting the $21 trillion B2B commerce market by building the worlds first B2B payment and credit network. With Fundbox, sellers (of all sizes) can quickly increase average order volumes (AOV) and improve close rates by offering more competitive net terms and payment plans to their SMB buyers. With heavy investments in machine learning and the ability to quickly analyze the transactional data of SMBs, Fundbox is reimaging B2B payments and credit products in new category-defining ways. Since the companys founding in 2013, Fundbox has raised $150 million from a blue-chip group of investors led by Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, Spark Growth Capital and Jeff Bezos, and is currently experiencing incredible growth momentum. Twitter: @fundbox. For more information about Fundbox, please visit www.fundbox.com Alastair Grant / Associated Press LONDON British police stationed armed officers outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London on Friday after tweets from WikiLeaks quoted what it said were high-level sources saying that Julian Assange could be kicked out of the building within hours to days. The red-brick embassy building with white window frames and balconies was quiet, though a few protesters gathered outside. No embassy official commented on the WikiLeaks founders status, while British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Assange is a free man and can leave the embassy whenever he chooses. JERUSALEM In a tight race for re-election, Israels prime minister has gotten a welcome lift from his friend in the White House. Benjamin Netanyahus campaign speeches, billboards and social media videos have all heavily featured President Trumps image, statements and pro-Israel actions as endorsements of the long-seated prime minister. Drawing inspiration from Trump, Netanyahu has dismissed a corruption case against him as a witch hunt and his Likud party has launched a weekly webcast to counter what it claims is fake news broadcast by mainstream media. For Netanyahu, the close ties with Trump are a welcome change after eight frosty years with the Obama administration, which repeatedly clashed with the prime minister over his policies toward the Palestinians and his opposition to the nuclear agreement with Iran. Upon taking office two years ago, Trump quickly reversed course and established a tight relationship with Netanyahu. This has yielded benefits for Netanyahu on the campaign trail. In the run-up to Tuesdays vote, Netanyahu has hosted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, visited Trump in the White House and received American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war. The April 9 election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahus decadelong rule, and his campaign is using the relationship with Trump to portray him as a respected statesman with personal ties to world leaders. On Thursday, Netanyahu paid a surprise visit to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin announced his countrys instrumental role in recovering the remains of an Israeli soldier who went missing in action in Lebanon in 1982. With less than a week to go, opinion polls give Netanyahu a slight edge in the race. But he faces major opposition from his former army chief of staff, Benny Gantz. Sounding much like Trump, Netanyahu has attacked the press, branded Gantz and other opponents as leftists and questioned Gantzs mental health. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians thronged the perimeter fence between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Friday as the weekly, bloody demonstrations rolled into their second year. Dozens approached the barrier, setting tires ablaze and hurling rocks and makeshift explosives at the fence. Israeli troops responded with tear gas and live bullets. Gazas health officials reported that 83 Palestinians were injured, one critically. It did not provide a breakdown of how the injuries were inflicted. Ilan Ben Zion is an Associated Press writer. BENGHAZI, Libya Militias in western Libya fought forces under rival army commander Khalifa Hifter on Friday, capturing 100 of his soldiers and waging an air strike on one of his positions a day after he declared an offensive to seize Tripoli, the capital of the oil-rich nation. The violence came as U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres wrapped up a rare visit Friday aimed at avoiding an expanded conflict and said he left with a heavy heart and deep concern. The escalation comes after forces commanded by Hifter, who runs the self-styled Libya National Army based in the countrys east, pushed westward. He brought his troops closer to Tripoli, which is controlled by the U.N.-backed Presidential Council and Government of National Accord and supporting militias. A well-informed U.N. diplomat said late Friday that Hifters forces were reported to be on the outskirts of Tripoli. So were militias from the western city of Misrata who now control everything from the eastern edges of the capital to Libyas western border, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. A showdown between Hifters army and the militias could plunge Libya into another spasm of violence, possibly the worst since the 2011 civil war that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Khadafy. It would also put at risk upcoming peace talks between rivals brokered by the U.N. and aimed at drawing a road map for new elections. Those talks are scheduled for April 14-16. Since Khadafys ouster, Libya has been split between rival governments in the east and the west and an array of militias fighting over power and oil fields. Hifter has recently seized much of southern Libya without fighting. Rami Musa is an Associated Press writer. KABUL The Taliban besieged an Afghan government and army compound in a remote western province for a second day Friday, killing at least 12 more troops, according to local officials who issued a dramatic warning, saying those inside the compound were running out of ammunition. The latest fatalities brought the overall death toll for the assault in Badghis province to at least 32 Afghan soldiers and police. Many more have been wounded and the area is cut off, said Mohammad Nasir Nazari, a provincial council member. Nazari said that according to soldiers inside the base in the district of Bala Murghab, roughly 2,000 Taliban fighters are involved in the attack, with about 600 Afghan troops and members of the security forces inside. They are running out of everything ammunition, water and food, said Nazari. Abdul Waris Sherzad, a district chief, said local officials and residents were disappointed that NATO forces and the Afghan government have not helped. But Defense Ministry spokesman Qais Mangal denied that, saying reinforcements and supplies have been airlifted to Badghis the previous day and that more would be dispatched on Friday. The brazen Taliban attack first began before dawn on Thursday, when the insurgents stormed all the security posts around the government compound and killed at least 20 soldiers and policemen. Fighting continued throughout the day and overnight and into Friday, Nazari said. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to the media. It was the latest attack by the Taliban who target Afghan forces on a daily basis even as they hold talks with U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Khalilzad was in Islamabad on Friday and met with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other Pakistani officials. He had visited Kabul earlier this week where he lobbied for intra-Afghan dialogue talks that would encompass prominent Afghan figures, government representatives and the opposition, as well as the Taliban. According to the foreign ministry, Qureshi assured Khalilzad of Islamabads continued support for the ongoing Afghan peace process. Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with the Taliban, most recently last month in Qatar where both sides said progress has been made. But despite the talks, the Taliban still inflict staggering casualties on Afghan forces and now hold sway over half of the country. The insurgents refuse to talk directly with the government in Kabul, considering it a U.S. puppet. Washington wants Islamabad to encourage the Taliban to hold direct talks with Kabul but the insurgents have shown no flexibility on that stance. Amir Shah is an Associated Press writer. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This includes cookies from third party social media websites and ad networks. Such third party cookies may track your use on Sharedots sites for better rendering. Our partners use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on Sharedots website. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time. Learn more The annual events, hosted by Phu Tho provincial authorities, are being observed at the Hung Kings temple historical site and neighbouring communes and wards. This years events also draw the participation of Can Tho city, Nghe An and Son La provinces. A range of ceremonies are scheduled for the events, including a ritual commemorating death anniversary of the nations Great Father Lac Long Quan, incense offering to Great Mother Au Co and Hung Kings, and a palanquin procession, among others. There will also be a hive of cultural and sporting events, such as an expo showcasing typical products of Phu Tho, a folk singing festival, a display of flowers and ornamental plants, a book festival, a boat race on Lo River, and a competition in making chung (square) and day (round) cakes. On April 14, further marking the occasion, the Vietnam Ancestral Global Day will be celebrated simultaneously in Laos, Thailand, Japan, Canada and Poland by the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese in coordination with Vietnamese embassies, overseas Vietnamese associations and communities in the host countries. This is the second time the Day has been observed by OV communities, providing the OVs with an opportunity to pay homage to their home country. It will feature cultural events, seminars and workshops about Vietnamese culture. TORONTO and BOSTON, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cotinga Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX Venture: COT; OTCQB: COTQF) (Cotinga or the Company), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer, reported its financial and operating results today for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2019. Recent highlights include: Advanced the clinical development of COTI-2: Cotinga announced the initiation of dosing patients in the combination therapy trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center evaluating COTI-2 and cisplatin in a wide spectrum of cancers; The Company announced that it has entered into a research partnership with St. Vincents University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland with the intent to evaluate COTI-2 in combination with eribulin in patients with triple negative metastatic breast cancer (TNBC). We were thrilled to announce this fiscal quarter the dosing of patients in our Phase 1b/2a trial at MD Anderson of COTI-2 plus cisplatin in patients with solid tumors, as well as announce our collaboration with St. Vincents Hospital to begin work in TNBC, said Alison Silva, President & Chief Executive Officer. We look forward to continuing to provide updates at critical milestones as we advance COTI-2 through clinical development. Upcoming Milestones COTI-2: Continue the dose escalation Phase 1b/2a combination therapy trial evaluating the effect of COTI-2 plus cisplatin in patients with solid tumors; Contingent on the raising of necessary funds, initiate the TNBC trial with COTI-2 plus eribulin. Corporate: Strengthen the balance sheet; Opportunistically pursue regional or co-development partnerships for COTI-2, pipeline programs and other technologies. Financial Results The Companys operational activities during the quarter were primarily focused on advancing the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of COTI-2. For the three months ended January 31, 2019, the Company incurred a net loss of $0.280 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.278 million, or $0.08 per share, for the three months ended January 31, 2018. The decrease in net loss during the three-month period is primarily due to decreases in Research and Development (R&D) expense and General and Administrative (G&A) expense. For the nine months ended January 31, 2019, the Company incurred a net loss of $1.756 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.301 million, or $0.21 per share, for the nine months ended January 31, 2018. The decrease in net loss during the period is primarily due to decreases in R&D, Sales and Marketing (S&M) expense and G&A expense, offset by changes in fair value warrant liability. There was no revenue for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2019 or in the comparative periods in the prior year. R&D expense in the three-month period ended January 31, 2019 decreased by $0.424 million over the same period in the prior year. The decrease in R&D expense in the three-month period is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and benefits due to lower headcount and preclinical testing as Cotinga continues to work to initiate an expanded protocol for its ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of COTI-2. For the nine months ended January 31, 2019, R&D expense decreased by $1.568 million over the same period in the year prior. S&M expense in the three-month period ended January 31, 2019 decreased by $0.063 million over the same period in the year prior. The decrease in S&M expense in the three-month period is primarily due to rebranding undertaken during the three months ended January 31, 2018. For the nine months ended January 31, 2019, S&M expense decreased by $0.085 million over the same period in the prior year due to cost reductions implemented last financial year and rebranding undertaken during the Q3 2018. G&A expense in the three-month period ended January 31, 2019 decreased by $0.496 million over the same period in the year prior. The decrease in G&A expense in the three-month period is primarily due to a decrease in salaries due to lower head count; streamlining of corporate operations and lower professional fees and share-based compensation. For the nine months ended January 31, 2019, G&A expense decreased by $1.174 million over the same period in the prior year. Fair value of warrant liability for the nine months ended January 31, 2019, decreased by $1.389 million over the same period in the year prior. Detailed operating and financial results can be found in the Companys Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2019, which can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on the Companys website at www.cotingapharma.com . About Cotinga Pharmaceuticals Inc. Cotinga Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that uses proprietary artificial intelligence technologies to pursue a targeted and transformational approach to treating cancer and other unmet medical needs. Cotingas CHEMSAS technology is intended to accelerate the discovery and development of novel drug therapies, allowing the Company to build a pipeline of potential drug candidates faster and with a higher probability of success than traditional methods. The Companys lead compound, COTI-2, has a novel p53-dependent mechanism of action with selective and potent anti-cancer activity. P53 mutations occur in over 50% of all cancers. COTI-2 is initially being evaluated in combination with various standard of care chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of a wide spectrum of cancers in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. The Company has secured orphan drug status in the United States for COTI2 for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Preclinical data suggests that COTI-2 could dramatically improve the treatment of cancers with mutations in the p53 gene. The Companys second lead compound, COTI-219, is a novel oral small molecule compound targeting the mutant forms of KRAS without inhibiting normal KRAS function. KRAS mutations occur in up to 30% of all cancers and represent a tremendous unmet clinical need and a desirable drug target. COTI-219 is undergoing IND-enabling studies to support a regulatory submission. Follow @CotingaPharma on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CotingaPharma . 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. For more information, visit http://www.cotingapharma.com/ or contact: Alison Silva President and CEO Tel: 1-800-798-6860 Email: asilva@cotingapharma.com Notice to Readers: Information contained in this press release may contain certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined under applicable securities laws. Forwardlooking statements by their nature are not guarantees of future performance and are based upon managements current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. For example, statements in the Upcoming Milestones section are forward-looking statements. Cotinga operates in a highly competitive environment that involves significant risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forwardlooking statements. Management of Cotinga considers the assumptions on which these forwardlooking statements are based to be reasonable, but as a result of the many risk factors, cautions the reader that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Information in this press release should be considered accurate only as of the date of the release and may be superseded by more recent information disclosed in later press releases, filings with the securities regulatory authorities or otherwise. Except as required by law, Cotinga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions change. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Jeanine Cammaratas estranged husband and his girlfriend were arrested Friday and charged with murder in connection with the Staten Island teachers disappearance last week. Here is a look at how the case has unfolded. SATURDAY, MARCH 30 Cammarata was last seen at around 9 p.m. Saturday in the vicinity of Denker Place and McVeigh Avenue in New Springville, police said. Cammaratas boyfriend, Aaron, later told the Advance that he last saw her Saturday night when she dropped him off after a shopping trip. According to Aaron, Cammarata told him she was going to pick her children from her estranged husband, Michael Cammarata, at the 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George. But Cammarata never went to the stationhouse, according to Michael Cammaratas girlfriend, Ayisha Egea, who said Jeanine went to their home in Queens, where they had a brief conversation. P.S. 29 teacher Jeanine Cammarata didn't show up for work Tuesday, and missed an important court date Monday, sources told the Advance. no cred SUNDAY, MARCH 31 Friends received a few texts and Facebook messages within the first 24 hours after Jeanine Cammarata went missing, indicating that she was OK, but some friends questioned whether she really sent the messages. I [typed], call me right now, call me right now, call me right now," said childhood friend Jessica Pobega. Ive been her friend for 25 years. The minute I said, Im calling the cops,' she wouldve called me. Theres no reason to avoid me. MONDAY, APRIL 1 Cammarata is believed to have texted her female roommate at about 5:32 p.m., according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. "Im OK, just need a break from everything, the source quoted the text as saying. TUESDAY, APRIL 2 Cammaratas boyfriend, Aaron, called police and reported her missing. Cammarata, a first-grade teacher at PS 29 in Castleton Corners, didnt show up to work and missed a court date the day before. Police started searching for Cammarata at the school, sources told the Advance, and were later seen at her home in Cassidy Place. Pobega also started asking for help on social media. Please share this.. If anyone has heard from her (confirmed that you saw or actually HEARD her voice in the last 48... Posted by Jessica Pobega on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Michael Cammarata, 42, was taken into police custody at the 120th Precinct, according to multiple sources. While being questioned by police, he said that he met Jeanine Cammarata on Saturday night in Queens and that he hit her, sources told the New York Daily News. He is charged with several misdemeanor counts, including assault, stemming from previous incidents involving his estranged wife, police said. Michael Cammarata, right, of Queens was held overnight at the 120th Precinct stationhouse in St. George, sources said. Cammarata allegedly struck Jeanine Cammarata and made unwanted contact on multiple occasions. A former co-worker at PS 18 in West Brighton recalled altercations between the former couple before she relocated to a new school. I know that at school, he would show up and he would be childish. Standing in front of the door and harassing her, and she would be crying, he said. According to friends and law enforcement sources, Jeanine and Michael Cammarata were going through divorce proceedings when she disappeared. On Thursday, Michael Cammarata was served with divorce papers, according to Jeanines lawyer, Eric Gansberg. Mondays court date was a divorce-and-child-custody hearing over their two children, Gansberg said. She also has another child from a previous relationship. Cammaratas co-workers at her second job at a Grant City Dollar Tree store described her as a very nice and likable person. BREAKING: Human remains found, believed to be missing Staten Island teacher Jeanine Cammarata Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, April 4, 2019 THURSDAY, APRIL 4 Police found charred human remains in a storage facility in Arden Heights. NYPD K-9 dogs helped lead investigators to the remains in Extra Space Storage at 7 Arden Ave., according to a law enforcement source. Police armed with a search warrant arrived at the storage facility around midnight. Officers did not find any employees on duty, the source said. A K-9 dog trained to detect cadavers sensed something, or hit, on a door leading to one of the units, according to the source. After police opened the unit, they found a plastic storage bin covered with a lid, the source said. When officers opened the bin, they found a bag containing what appeared to be the charred remains of a woman, the source added. The bin did not appear large enough to hold an entire body, the source said, but the remains were not touched in order to not contaminate the evidence. Air fresheners meant to hide the smell were found in the area, according to the New York Daily News. BREAKING: Burnt body remains found, NYPD holds press conference Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, April 4, 2019 NYPD Assistant Chief William Aubry said the remains were too charred to identify. While the medical examiner would determine the identity of the remains, a source familiar with the investigation said they were suspected to be Jeanine Cammarata. With the discovery of these human remains, the investigation has taken a turn into a murder investigation," Aubry said at a briefing. While Michael Cammarata had not been charged in connection with it, he was a primary suspect, Aubry said. "Were working with the Staten Island D.A. to establish probable cause and justification to charge him with murder, he said. Aubry added that no one else was in custody in connection with the case. Meanwhile, friends and family braced for the worst and set up a memorial in front of her home in New Brighton with flowers and pictures of Jeanine. Were just waiting for confirmation now, Jasmine Terrone said of her longtime friend. Today has been the longest day ever. FRIDAY, APRIL 5 It was reported by the New York Post that Jeanine Cammaratas white 2017 Chevy Cruze, which police are searching for in hopes it will shed light into the teachers disappearance, was spotted driving to Staten Island on Sunday night. A license-plate reader recorded Cammaratas car entering the borough at 9:34 p.m. Sunday, sources told the Post. A gray 2016 Chrysler Town & Country minivan allegedly owned by Michael Cammarata was spotted following the Chevy Cruze about 10 minutes behind it, the report said. The minivan returned to Queens around 4:30 a.m. Monday, according to the report. It was uncertain who was driving the vehicles. A source with knowledge of the investigation told the Advance that Michael Cammaratas vehicle was in police custody on Staten Island. On Friday afternoon, police announced that Cammarata and his current girlfriend had been arrested in connection with Jeanine Cammaratas death. Cammarata and Egea, 41, have been charged with second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence, police said. Cammarata and Egea were expected to be arraigned in Criminal Court on Friday, sources said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced Friday afternoon that the remains found were Jeanine Cammarata "with a positive identification made through dental records. The medical examiners office said that her cause of death is still pending. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Numerous furry pets are up for adoption this weekend. The devoted volunteer groups listed below have dozens of animals in their care just waiting for forever families like you to rescue them. But its not all about cute pups and kitties: There are senior and disabled pets who really need your love and attention, too. Upcoming pet events are listed below. Click through the photos above to meet the adorable dogs and cats up for adoption at events in and around the borough this weekend. APRIL 6 ACC of NYC, located at 3139 Veterans Road West. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Louies Legacy will be at PetSmart, 1525 Forest Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mama Chris Animal Rescue. Adoptable pets can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the new Petco in Bricktown Commons, 165 Bricktown Way, Suite 1C, across from Michaels and Ulta. P.L.U.T.O. will be at the new Petco in Bricktown Commons, 165 Bricktown Way, Suite 1C, across from Michaels and Ulta, from noon to 3 p.m. with adoptable pets. SICAW will be at Petsmart Adoption Center, 1525 Forest Ave., with cats from 2 to 5 p.m. APRIL 7 ACC of NYC, located at 3139 Veterans Road West. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Happy Homes Animal Rescues adoptable cats and kittens can be seen at PetSmart, 1525 Forest Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Louies Legacy will on the North Shore Animal League Mobile Adoption Center at Petco, 2795 Richmond Ave., from noon to 3 p.m. Mama Chris Animal Rescue. Adoptable pets can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Petco in Bricktown Commons, 165 Bricktown Way, Suite 1C, across from Michaels and Ulta. SICAW will be at the Petco in Bricktown Commons, 165 Bricktown Way, Suite 1C, across from Michaels and Ulta, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. APRIL 6 A Neighborhood Cats TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) Workshop will take place at the St. George Library Center, 5 Central Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Become TNR certified, get access to free spay/neuter, and free trap loans. Advance registration is required. Please plan on arriving 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start time. Visit neighborhoodcats.org/tnr-in-nyc/workshops to register. For more information regarding Neighborhood Cats, call 212-662-5761. Note: Use of library space for this program does not indicate endorsement by the New York Public Library. APRIL 13 Easter egg hunt and adoption event hosted by Fur Friends in Need at Coffee Corral, 177 Drs James Parker Blvd., Red Bank, N.J., from noon to 3 p.m. (the rain date is Sunday, April 14). Meet adoptable dogs and sip coffee while children hunt for Easter eggs. Theres something for everyone. For more information, visit facebook.com/FurFriendsinNeed/. APRIL 27 Fur Friends in Need fundraiser Painting with a Purpose at Painting With A Twist, 2145 NJ Route 35 in Kohls Plaza, intersection of Union Avenue, Holmdel, N.J. The cost is $50 per seat and youll paint on an extra long canvas, 10-inch-by-30-inch. Arrive by 6:30 p.m.; painting is from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call Joe at 732-226-2665. For reservations, visit Facebook.com/FurFriendsinNeed/. APRIL 30 The seventh annual NYC Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo is a one-of-a-kind boutique trade show. Pet professionals or those in the pet industry will be in attendance from 1 to 6 p.m. The event will feature new products for 2019 and is hosted by Nancy Hassel of American Pet Professionals and Dana Humphrey of Whitegate PR. If you are not a pet professional or not in the pet industry, your hours to attend with a paid ticket are from 4 to 6 p.m. Pet parents will be able to shop and attend the panel session about CBD and holistic pet products at Home Studios Inc., 873 Broadway, near Union Square Park at 18th Street in Manhattan. Well-behaved pets in strollers or with six-foot non-retractable leashes are welcome. You will also need to sign a waiver when arriving with your pet. Vendors will showcase the latest and greatest innovative pet products. They also will celebrate National Pets Month and Week at the event. Pet celebrities will be in attendance as well as retailers from Boston, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York City and Long Island to see and shop for products for their stores. For more information about the expo, to purchase tickets or to become a vendor, visit RetailsandSalesPetExpo.com. MAY 5 Walk with your best furry friend during the Gateway Rotary Club Foundations fourth annual dog walk in memory of New Dorp resident SSG. Michael Ollis, who sacrificed his life in Afghanistan. The half-mile or one-mile leashed-dog walk starts at 9:30 a.m. in Wolfes Pond Park, 420 Cornelia Ave. It will benefit Americas VetDogs, a not-for-profit that provides guide and service dogs to disabled veterans at no cost, as well as other Staten Island charities. Fun dog contests will follow the walk. The online early discounted registration is $15 for one dog and $25 for two dogs. Race-day registration starts at 8 a.m. and the fee is $20 for one dog and $30 for two dogs. Theres a limit of two dogs per walker/handler and all dogs should be well-behaved, sociable and non-aggressive. Per city Parks Department, leashes that are no longer than six feet and non-retractable are required. For more info, visit www.eventbrite.com/d/ny--new-york/dog-events/. MAY 19 Would you like to see hometown heroes, police officers, firefighters, active/retired military and other community leaders escort adorable, adoptable rescue dogs down a 25-foot runway in the hopes of landing them a forever home? Then join Mr. Bones & Co. at its seventh annual Rescue the Runway event in the famed beer hall, Bergn, 899 Bergen St., Brooklyn. VIP doors open at 1:30 p.m. with general admission at 2 p.m. This unique, interactive animal welfare event benefits One Lucky Pup rescue rehabilitation and adoption program, as well as Brooklyn Badass Animal Rescue, Rebound Hounds and one more organization to be announced. Guests will enjoy a premium bar, tasting selections from three resident food vendors, VIP runway show seating, a large silent auction, fun raffles, prize wheel, a pit bull kissing booth and more. The event ends at 5 p.m. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit mrbonesandco.org. JUNE 1 and 2 Mark your calendars for the World Dog Expo. This dog-friendly event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 1 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2 in the Meadowlands Exposition Center, 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, N.J. Admission varies; tickets start at $15. This weekend event will celebrate dogs everywhere in a large-scale, cutting-edge multimedia format. With multiple stages attendees will enjoy events such as dock diving, disc dog, lure coursing, weight pulling and schutzhund to name a few. The World Dog Experience will provide opportunities for dogs and their owner to participate together in sports, education, training and other bonding experiences. Also, the show will work to promote dog rescue, fostering and adoption. The main attraction of World Dog Expo will be the notable trade show event, featuring a huge array of dog-centered products. Attendees will be able to find the newest and best products for their canine companions. Participating vendors will benefit from the unprecedented exposure created for the event. For more info, visit worldexpo.dog. JUNE 22 NYC Parks invites you to the pet-friendly Pawz & Clawz Adoption and Information Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Midland Beach Splaza, Capodanno Boulevard and Seaview Avenue. The event includes pet adoption opportunities, local veterinarians, obedience trainers, groomers and more. Interested organizations can register online at ceanbreezenyc.org/2019PawzClawz. For accessibility and event information, contact Kate Rzucidlo at Kate.Rzucidlo@parks.nyc.gov or 718-351-7923. Remember: NYC Parks requires all animals be on a six-foot leash while in the parks. They ask that all participants bringing a pet to please abide by these rules and regulations. HOW TO CONTACT LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS Animal Care Centers of NYC; 212-788-4000, nycacc.org ; located at 3139 Veterans Road West. Adoption hours: Monday-Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. furfriendsinneed.com. Fur Friends in Need, New Jersey-based group with Staten Island members and adoption events on the Island; 732-829-1426, imavegge@aol.com happyhomesinc.org. Happy Homes Animal Rescue, New Jersey-based group with Staten Island adoption events; 914-393-8292, elaine@ happyhomesinc.org, tinad225@gmail.com; louieslegacy.org. Louies Legacy; 646-397-LLAR (5527), newyork@louieslegacy.org mamachrisrescue.org. Mama Chris Animal Rescue Inc.; 347-983-2240, mamachrisrescue@gmail.com nybullycrew.org. New York Bully Crew; 844-633-NYBC (6922), nybcapp@gmail.com, plutorescue.org. P.L.U.T.O. Rescue of Staten Island; 718-227-0553, plutorescue@aol.com Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare (SICAW); 718-948-5623, sicaw.petfinder.com Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue; info@statenislandhoperescue.org statenislandhopeanimalrescue.org , 800-477-9168. victory4thevoicelessanimalrescue.com. Victory for the Voiceless Animal Rescue; 718-442-1625, AdoptVictory4theVoiceless@gmail.com PET STORES RELOCATED 1. Petco is at Bricktown Commons, 165 Bricktown Way, Suite 1C (across from Michaels and Ulta). It was previously located at 2752 Veterans Road West. 2. PetSmart is at 1525 Forest Ave. It was previously located at 1520 Forest Ave. PET POISON HELPLINES If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, contact the Pet Poison hotline at 855-764-7661 or petpoisonhelpline.com, or contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or aspca.org. TO REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY To report an incident of animal abuse, call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION To contact an environmental conservation police officer or report suspected violations, contact the DEC Law Enforcement Dispatch Center at 844-DEC-ECOs (844-332-3267) or dec.ny.gov/. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A new cast member has joined the upcoming Judd Apatow film about Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidsons life growing up on Staten Island. Variety broke the news Thursday that Bill Burr, a comedian best known for his Monday Morning Podcast, has joined the cast of the untitled project. The film is set to be released June 19, 2020, according to Variety. Apatows vision for the film has been compared to Amy Schumers Trainwreck," giving Davidson a chance to play a version of himself to tell his story through dramatized experiences. Hes got quite the story to tell: Davidsons hero father, Scott Davidson, a firefighter, fell victim to the 9/11 attacks. Along with a very public break up with Ariana Grande, Davidson has openly battled with depression and mental illness for years. Apatow and Davidson made their way to Staten Island in February to scout film locations. The comedian was seen in Elm Park, where residents reportedly received letters stating the neighborhood is an area of interest for a new film project." The letter included a timeline for the project: Shoot dates are TBD Summer. We are expecting production to last 1-2 months. Depending on the final script, we would be looking to shoot on your property for approximately 1-3 weeks. The New York Mets sent Noah Syndergaard to the mound Thursday for their home opener against the Washington Nationals. At this point, its hard to tell what is the bigger storyline: his pitching or his hair. Syndergaard has not given up a hit through four innings. UPDATE: Syndergaard has a no-hitter through five innings, with six strikeouts and two walks, but is losing 1-0, when Washington pushed a run across the plate in the top of the second inning. Stephen Strasburg had been almost as impressive for the Nationals, not allowing a hit through four innings while striking out five and walking one. The Mets got their first hit of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth inning when catcher Wilson Ramos singled to left field. The Mets would put two runners on base in the fifth, but Syndergaard struck out to end the inning, with New York down, 1-0. Syndergaard lost the no-hitter in the top of the sixth inning, when Washington center fielder Victor Robles hit a solo home run to left field to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Syndergaards pitch count is closing in on 100 (he was at 98 through six innings), so it seems likely that his afternoon could be coming to an end in the near future. But ... the hair. As you can see below, he was rocking a man-bun/ponytail. And if theres anyone who can pull off the look, its Thor. upon closer inspection it appears to be just a Very Bad Bun Where You Just Don't Pull The Hair All The Way Through, the proto-bun that makes everyone look like a blacksmith apprentice pic.twitter.com/ggkBKeKKZ6 Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) April 4, 2019 how is there short hair NEXT to the ponytail part? pic.twitter.com/7bVFdQ9gfo Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) April 4, 2019 What in Gods name is up with @Noahsyndergaard hair today? THOR doesnt have a ponytail @Mets @SNYtv Topher Kohan (@Topheratl) April 4, 2019 @Noahsyndergaard sweetie we gotta fix your game day hair #notalook Josie Novak (@josienovakk) April 4, 2019 Not sure how I feel about @Noahsyndergaards Paul Revere ponytail. #LGM J.D. (@_JeraldD) April 4, 2019 Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Brooklyn man who was among a group of four which mugged a victim near the Clifton train station last year wont return home for a while. Dimitre Thomas, 24, was sentenced Thursday to 42 months in prison and 30 months post-release supervision for his role in the April 2, 2018 robbery. Thomas and three accomplices accosted the 25-year-old victim around 11:40 p.m. at Norwood Avenue and Bay Street, said a criminal complaint. The victim was walking home from the train station, said court papers. One of the suspects showed the man what appeared to be a gun and put it to the back of his head, while another held a knife to the victims chest, according to the complaint and court records. "Give me all your s--t or we're going to shoot you," the complaint quotes one suspect as saying. The thieves snatched the victim's cell phone, his wallet containing a debit card, and a book bag, said the complaint. Two weeks ago, Thomas pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted first-degree robbery to resolve the case against him. A co-defendant, Taiheen Shuler, 18, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty then to first-degree robbery. In exchange, Shuler will be sentenced April 11 to 16 months to four years behind bars. He will be sentenced as a youthful offender, meaning the conviction wont go on his record and his court file will be sealed. Attorney Eugene Lamb represented Thomas. Thomas Reilly is Shulers lawyer. Assistant District Attorney Travis Atkinson is prosecuting the case. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The estranged husband of missing teacher Jeanine Cammarata and his current girlfriend have been arrested in connection with the 37-year-old womans death, the NYPD announced Friday. Michael Cammarata, 42, and Ayisha Egea, 41, both of whom live in the same apartment on Beach 56th Place in Queens, have been charged with second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence, police said. The arrests come a day after charred human remains were found at an Arden Heights storage facility. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced Friday afternoon that the remains found were Jeanine Cammarata "with a positive identification made through dental records. The medical examiners office said that her cause of death is still pending. The investigation into the disappearance of Jeanine Cammarata is now officially a murder investigation, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said Friday. DEVELOPING: Michael Cammarata and his girlfriend Ayisha Egea charged with murder of Jeanine Cammarata, mother of three. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Friday, April 5, 2019 Michael Cammarata and Egea were expected to be arraigned in Criminal Court on Friday, sources said. Jeanine Cammarata, of Cassidy Place in New Brighton, was last seen Saturday in New Springville, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. However, Egea told an Advance reporter the teacher showed up at their home in Queens late Saturday night before disappearing. REMAINS FOUND On Thursday, NYPD K-9 dogs helped lead investigators to the charred remains of a woman in Extra Space Storage at 7 Arden Ave. in Arden Heights, according to a law enforcement source. Police armed with a search warrant arrived at the storage facility around midnight. Officers did not find any employees on duty, the source said. A K-9 dog trained to detect cadavers sensed something, or hit, on a door leading to one of the units, according to the source. After police opened the unit, they found a plastic storage bin covered with a lid, the source said. When officers opened the bin, they found a bag containing what appeared to be the charred remains of a woman, the source added. The bin did not appear large enough to hold an entire body, the source said, but the remains were not touched in order to not contaminate the evidence. Air fresheners meant to hide the smell were found in the area, according to the New York Daily News. DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS Cammaratas disappearance came less than two days after Michael Cammarata was served with divorce papers, according to Jeanines lawyer, Eric Gansberg. She was preparing for a Monday divorce-and-child-custody hearing over their two children when she vanished, he said. She also has another child from a previous relationship. All I could think about was the kids, and my heart broke, he said. Jeanine Cammaratas current boyfriend said she looked forward to the court date. Shes spent thousands of dollars getting a lawyer and getting him served, said her boyfriend, Aaron. This weekend he finally agreed to let her see the kids, and she goes missing that night. Michael and Jeanine Cammaratas relationship was tumultuous and at times frightening, said fellow teacher Jose Perez, who recalls the drama interfering with her work as a teacher at PS 18 in West Brighton before she went to work at PS 29 in Castleton Corners. I know that at school, he would show up and he would be childish. Standing in front of the door and harassing her, and she would be crying, said Perez. I said to him, Dude, you cant do that. The woman is teaching.'" Shes a very nice person," Perez said, "and an excellent teacher, too. Jeanine Cammarata had been an employee of the Department of Education (DOE) since 2005, a DOE spokesman said. Friends say that she had been a first-grade teacher at PS 29 in Castleton Corners since October. Tristan Delawrence, an employee located at the Grant City Dollar Tree store where Cammarata had a second job, said she always had a smile on her face at work. I love her and I love her children," Delawrence said. "Shes a great person. COMPLETE COVERAGE STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One person was taken to the hospital following a motorcycle crash Friday morning on the New Jersey-bound side of the West Shore Expressway near Arthur Kill Road. The incident was reported around 10:45 a.m., according to a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS. During the emergency response, all New Jersey-bound lanes were blocked in the vicinity of Arthur Kill Road, which created delays. The expressway was cleared around 11:30 a.m. According to the FDNY/EMS spokesman, one person was taken to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze. The spokesman was unable to provide the persons condition. More information will be posted when it becomes available. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ending a week of mystery and speculation, the estranged husband of slain teacher Jeanine Cammarata and his pregnant girlfriend were arrested and arraigned Friday on charges accusing them of murdering the victim and trying to conceal her corpse. Michael Cammarata, 42, and Ayisha Egea, 41, stood silently next to their lawyers during the brief proceeding in Criminal Court. Egea, who, according to her lawyer, Mark J. Fonte, is six months pregnant, had her reddish-brown hair pulled back in a bun. She was garbed in a teal-colored blouse, black pants with stars running down the side and a black jacket with thin white piping. Cammarata wore a white jumpsuit. According to separate criminal complaints, the events charged occurred between March 30 and Monday at 7 Arden Ave. in Arden Heights, the address of Extra Space Storage. Jeanine Cammarata had been reported missing since March 30. Michael Cammarata slew his wife and then attempted to conceal and alter the corpse to prevent its discovery, said the complaint. Egea acted in concert with her boyfriend throughout those actions, the complaint alleges. Prosecutors provided no specific details on the killing during the arraignment. The defendants were each charged with second-degree murder, concealing a human corpse, and two counts of evidence tampering, all felonies. In addition to the alleged murder, Cammarata was accused of stalking and harassing the victim between March 1 and 5 around 2320 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp. That is the address of the 122nd Precinct stationhouse. A separate criminal complaint alleges Cammarata acted in a manner that caused his wife to reasonably fear physical injury or death by repeatedly calling her, sending her text messages, leaving voice mails and following her. DEVELOPING: Michael Cammarata and his girlfriend Ayisha Egea charged with murder of Jeanine Cammarata, mother of three. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Friday, April 5, 2019 Judge Raja Rajeswari ordered the defendants held without bail on the murder case pending their next court date Thursday. She set bail at $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash for Cammarata on the stalking case. Mark J. Fonte, Egeas lawyer, and Joshua Stevens, Cammaratas attorney, each reserved making a bail application. Fonte asked for medical treatment for Egea. Both defendants were taken into custody Tuesday and held for parts of four days, their lawyers said. They were arrested Friday at noon, Assistant District Attorney Timothy Richard told the court. During the arraignment and outside court afterward, Fonte contended Egea had repeatedly asked for a lawyer, but police ignored those requests. She was not free to leave and was isolated from her family and her attorney. These actions violated a plethora of her constitutional rights, said Fonte, who accused the NYPDs Staten Island Homicide Squad of playing fast and loose, which they are known to do. Shes glad that her isolation is finally over, and she now has the ability to consult with counsel, said Fonte. Stevens declined comment. Police said Michael Cammarata and Egea live in the same apartment on the 100 block of Beach 56th Place in Rockaway, Queens. The couple was arrested a day after charred human remains were found at the storage facility Thursday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced Friday afternoon those remains were Jeanine Cammaratas. Positive identification was made through dental records," the medical examiners office said, adding the cause of death is still pending. The victim, a New Brighton resident, was last seen March 30 in New Springville, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. However, Egea told an Advance reporter the teacher showed up at their home in Queens late that night before disappearing. On Thursday, NYPD K-9 dogs helped lead investigators to the charred remains of a woman in Extra Space Storage, said a law enforcement source. Armed with a search warrant, police arrived at the storage facility around midnight. Officers did not find any employees on duty, the source said. A K-9 dog trained to detect cadavers sensed something, or hit, on a door leading to one of the units, according to the source. After police opened the unit, they found a plastic storage bin covered with a lid, the source said. When officers opened the bin, they found a bag containing what appeared to be the charred remains of a woman, the source added. The bin did not appear large enough to hold an entire body, the source said, but the remains were not touched in order to not contaminate the evidence. Air fresheners meant to hide the smell were found in the area, according to the New York Daily News. The victim disappeared less than two days after Michael Cammarata was served with divorce papers, according to Jeanines lawyer, Eric Gansberg. She was preparing for a Monday divorce-and-child-custody hearing over their two children when she vanished, he said. She also has another child from a previous relationship. All I could think about was the kids, and my heart broke, Gansberg said. Jeanine Cammaratas current boyfriend said she looked forward to the court date. Shes spent thousands of dollars getting a lawyer and getting him served, said her boyfriend, Aaron. [Last] weekend he finally agreed to let her see the kids, and she goes missing that night. Michael and Jeanine Cammaratas relationship was tumultuous and at times frightening, said fellow teacher Jose Perez. He said the drama interfered with her work as a teacher at PS 18 in West Brighton before she went to work at PS 29 in Castleton Corners. I know that at school, he would show up and he would be childish. Standing in front of the door and harassing her, and she would be crying, said Perez. I said to him, Dude, you cant do that. The woman is teaching.'" Shes a very nice person," Perez said, "And an excellent teacher, too. Jeanine Cammarata had been an employee of the Department of Education (DOE) since 2005, a DOE spokesman said. Friends say that she had been a first-grade teacher at PS 29 in Castleton Corners since October. Tristan Delawrence, an employee at the Grant City Dollar Tree store where Cammarata worked a second job, said she always had a smile on her face. I love her, and I love her children," Delawrence said. "Shes a great person. Egea, meanwhile, had a brush with the law 12 years ago in Florida. According to a report in Ocala.com, she was arrested in June 2007 after a prisoner who escaped from a halfway house in Ocala was found hiding in her attic. Egea, who worked as a secretary at the facility, told her supervisor the man was not in her home, said the report. Egea was charged with aiding prison escape, the report said. Prosecutors ultimately declined to prosecute her. COMPLETE COVERAGE Paris , France, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DELSEY Paris, the iconic luggage brand with over 70 years of innovation, timeless quality and audacious design, has just revealed the MONTROUGE collection in time for Mothers Day! Designed for women, DELSEY MONTROUGE merges innovation and esthetics in a collection so complete it can take women anywhere. With Mothers Day just around the corner, everyone is looking for the perfect way to honor the one who has loved and cared for them their entire lives. And there is no better way to do that than with a gift that will be used year after year, helping the most exigent Moms stay organized! DELSEY MONTROUGE is designed to accompany women on lifes adventures, so that they can travel seamlessly with an open heart and peace of mind. Elegant, functional and lightweight, MONTROUGE showcases the DELSEY savoir faire in a sophisticated style that includes a supple soft-side exterior balanced with gold metal and vegan leather accents for a refined, distinctly feminine look. Understanding her diverse needs, DELSEY created options for every mother: For the Mom who loves to fly: DELSEY MONTROUGE carry-on, a lightweight upright with a place for everything. For the Mom who wants it all: DELSEY MONTROUGE checked bag, a larger upright designed to fit everything and be checked in at the airport or stored in the trunk of a car, for endless road trips. For the Mom who wants a weekend getaway: DELSEY MONTROUGE carry-on duffle bag, filled with exterior and interior pockets, perfect for an overnight trip. For the Mom who needs to be hands-free: DELSEY MONTROUGE back-pack can go anywhere, from the gym to the library and the mall! With a padded lap-top sleeve and three exterior pockets, its easy to stay organized on the go. For the Mom who wants her beauty gear: DELSEY MONTROUGE beauty case is designed for make-up, creams and toiletries galore! With elastic straps to hold bottles, and a built-in mirror, the beauty case will be Moms new BFF! In line with DELSEYs desire to make Moms life easier, the duffle bag, back-pack and beauty case include a smart band to slide over the tubes of a rolling luggage. The MONTROUGE carry-on duffle and backpack offer a wide-mouth opening making it easy to access everything. And the soft-side collection offers a non-stop array of pockets and places to pack. Understanding the way women pack, DELSEY designed the MONTROUGE checked bag to keep her items organized. It opens in a unique 50/50 clam-shell style, previously limited to hard-side cases, with two distinct packing compartments making it easy to separate clothes from shoes and outerwear. Each side also offers the DELSEY-exclusive removable zip-lining, to keep the bag clean and fresh, year after year! DELSEY is dedicated to keeping precious items safe so that travelers can embark on each adventure with an open heart and peace of mind. The MONTROUGE collection includes a TSA combination lock as well as the DELSEY patented SECURITECH technology which is 3 times more break-in resistant than a standard zipper. The elegant trolley system includes an anti-slip handle while four double-spinner wheels ensure smooth movement while dashing across the airport from check-in to gate! Already available in black, DELSEY MONTROUGE will be available in sage green this May. Travelers can purchase them directly at www.shop.delsey.com. ABOUT DELSEY: An iconic brand, DELSEY is a French company and a creator of baggage since 1946. For more than 70 years DELSEY has offered consumers cases which bring together quality and audacious design. DELSEY creates ingenious baggage designed to accompany travellers wherever they go and to adapt to all types of journey, both professional and personal. Its strength grounded in its expertise, the brand is behind numerous innovations recognised by important prizes in the design world. DELSEY brings together style and functionality to create products that reflects the personality of each consumer. Today DELSEY is present on five continents and in more than 110 countries. A DELSEY bag is sold every 10 seconds. Attachment UPDATE: ESTRANGED HUSBAND, HIS GIRLFRIEND, CHARGED STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Multiple sources said Michael Cammarata, the estranged husband of a missing and presumed dead Staten Island teacher, would not be arraigned Thursday on misdemeanor assault and other charges stemming from previous incidents allegedly involving her. Cammarata, 42, of Queens, has been in police custody at the 120th Precinct since Tuesday, according to sources. His estranged wife, Jeanine Cammarata, 37, of New Brighton, was reported missing early Tuesday morning by her boyfriend. However, at a press briefing Thursday afternoon, police said Jeanine Cammarata is believed dead, and her death is now being pursued as a murder investigation. COMPLETE COVERAGE Police said charred human remains were found early Thursday morning in a storage facility on Arden Avenue near Arthur Kill Road in Arden Heights. While Michael Cammarata has not been charged in connection with his wifes death, he is a primary suspect, said Assistant Chief William Aubry at the briefing. The mother of three children, Jeanine Cammarata was last seen Saturday in New Springville, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The discovered remains were unrecognizable," and an autopsy will be performed to determine the identity and the cause of death, said police. The medical examiners office said Thursday it does not have a time frame for when autopsy results might be available. A source has said the remains are suspected to be those of Jeanine Cammarata. Mark J. Fonte, a St. George criminal defense lawyer who is not involved in the case, said he isnt necessarily surprised Michael Cammarata has yet to be arraigned on the assault charges. Its unusual for a simple misdemeanor, but this is not a run-of-the mill misdemeanor case, Fonte said. Hes a prime suspect in a homicide, and its a common police tactic to arrest him on anything possible and hold him while theyre investigating the more serious matter, said Fonte. It serves several purposes, including preventing him from fleeing [and also lets police] attempt to monitor his phone calls and attempt to obtain his DNA while awaiting court on the lesser charge. On Wednesday, Cammarata was charged with several misdemeanor counts, including third-degree assault, stemming from previous incidents allegedly involving his estranged wife, police said. He allegedly struck Jeanine Cammarata multiple times in the body on a previous date and made unwanted contact on multiple occasions, a police spokeswoman said. The exact dates of those incidents are not currently available. It was initially thought Michael Cammarata would be arraigned at Criminal Court sometime Thursday on the misdemeanor case. But later in the afternoon multiple source said the arraignment would not happen Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether Cammarata will be arraigned Friday. With respect to the remains, a source they were found at the storage facility inside a bin wrapped in a black bag, which was tied. The bag was located in a room within the facility, the source added. Citing an ongoing investigation, Aubry declined to say who owned that storage unit. According to surveillance video acquired by police, Michael Cammarata was seen leaving his apartment with a large bag, then later showed up at the storage facility, the New York Daily News reported. The former couple was embroiled in ongoing divorce proceedings and a custody battle at the time of Jeanine Cammaratas disappearance, according to friends and law enforcement sources. Cammaratas disappearance came less than two days after Michael Cammarata was served with divorce papers, according to Jeanines lawyer, Eric Gansberg. She was preparing for a Monday divorce-and-child-custody hearing over their 3-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter when she vanished, he said. She also has another child from a previous relationship. All I could think about was the kids, and my heart broke, he said. Jeanine Cammarata was last seen Saturday night on the 200 block of McVeigh Avenue in New Springville, police said. Friends, fearing the worst, frantically tried to reach her by phone and social media since then, the Advance previously reported. However, Michael Cammaratas girlfriend said the teacher showed up at their house in Queens late Saturday night before disappearing. Jeanine Cammarata has been an employee of the Department of Education (DOE) since 2005, a DOE spokesman said. (Island Government is a periodic roundup of Staten Island political and civic events.) STATEN ISLAND -- Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) will hold a salary negotiation workshop for women Saturday April 6 to mark Equal Pay Day. The workshop will be held at the Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor Culture Center from 1 to 3 p.m. The workshop will train women to gain confidence in their salary negotiation style through discussion and role-play learn. It is unconscionable that in 2019, women have to work more than 15 months to earn what men earn in 12 months, Rose said. For women of color, the gap is much, much wider. Black women have to work 20 months, Native American women 21 months, and Latina women 23 months. Over a lifetime, this adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. We deserve fair wages and dignity throughout our working lives. LANZA TO HOST VIETNAM VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) will hold a Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration. Lanza will join veterans and elected officials at the event which will take place at Tottenville High School at 2 p.m. on Saturday April 6. The event will recognize the sacrifices of those who served in Vietnam on the 46th anniversary of their return. MAX ROSE SEEKS ART ENTRIES Congressman Max Rose (D-Staten Island) is asking high school students in the 11th Congressional District to submit artwork for the 2019 Congressional Art Competition. Winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and artwork from runners up will be displayed in Roses offices. Students must submit their artwork by Monday, April 15th, to Roses District Office at 265 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, NY 10306. One of the best parts of my job is being able to go down to Washington and share stories of the incredible people who call Staten Island and South Brooklyn home, Rose said. I mean it when I say that this is the best district in the entire country, so I cant wait for the opportunity to show off our students talents in the halls of Congressalthough I know picking a winner wont be easy! Artwork must be two-dimensional, and can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. Accepted mediums include: Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc. Drawings: Colored pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal Collages: must be two-dimensional Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc. Computer-generated art Photographs MATTEO, STATEN ISLAND MALL GENERAL MANAGER UNVEIL PLAQUE HONORING VETERANS Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) and Staten Island Mall General Manager Jim Easley unveiled a new plaque to honor veterans at the Staten Island Mall Thursday night. The plaque is now permanently displayed at the malls new food district and holds the insignias of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard and is inscribed with the dedication: To the brave men and women of our armed forces, past, present and future. The fact is our brave veterans heeded the call to serve, protect, and defend our nation. Last nights event was a small token of our appreciation, and the plaque will serve to remind people of their service and sacrifice, Matteo said. Personally, I cannot thank them enough and will always fight for them. MAX ROSE SUPPORT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING TRUMP ADMINISTRATIONS SUIT AGAINST HEALTH CARE LAW Reo. Max Rose voted earlier this week in support of a resolution condemning the White Houses participation in the Texas v. U.S. health care lawsuit, which seeks to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the entirety of the Affordable Care Act. At what point will people in D.C. get it through their heads: stop trying to take away peoples healthcare and protections for those with pre-existing conditions, Rose said. The American people have been loud and clear, make healthcare cheaper and more accessible enough with the gimmicks and catch phrases. Lets fix whats broken. On March 25, the administration of President Donald Trump went after the healthcare law by asking the court in Texas v. U.S. not only to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions, but to eliminate every provision of the ACA. In January, Rose voted to authorize the counsel of the House of Representatives to throw its full legal weight against the suit. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Judges dont often reference a hit TV series when sentencing a defendant convicted of violent crimes. But Justice Mario F. Mattei did just that Friday, citing a notable and particularly bloody Game of Thrones episode to chastise Victor Gutierrez, who was convicted of forcing his way into his girlfriends familys Mariners Harbor apartment and stabbing several of her kin. He turned a Sunday family dinner almost into a scene like the Red Wedding in the Game of Thrones,' said Mattei at the defendants sentencing. Mr. Gutierrez went to that apartment with malice on his mind. He brought a knife to that apartment. He went into that apartment to wreak as much havoc as he could. This is all so senseless. In the so-called Red Wedding episode, members of the Stark family, including Robb Stark, their head, are betrayed and massacred during a marriage ceremony. While Gutierrez, 47, emerged from the sentencing physically unscathed, Mattei delivered him a crippling blow: The judge sentenced the Stapleton resident to 35 years in prison. The stocky, bespectacled Gutierrez, who had declined to make a statement, lowered his head as the judge imposed sentence. Christina Paliogiannis, one of his lawyers, put her hand on Gutierrezs back to console him. In December, a jury in state Supreme Court, St. George, convicted Gutierrez of two counts of first-degree burglary and one count each of first- and second-degree assault, third-degree criminal weapon possession and resisting arrest stemming from an Oct. 2, 2016, melee in which three people were injured. Jurors acquitted the defendant of attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault. The assault and attempted-murder charges pertained to different individuals allegedly attacked. In her opening statement on Nov. 28, Assistant District Attorney Marina Tricorico said Gutierrez was waiting in the hallway when his girlfriend, who was estranged from her family, was kicked out of the apartment during an argument. That, in turn, prompted Gutierrez to attack his girlfriends father, James Windham Sr., and Jonathan Etienne, another family member, shortly thereafter as the two men left the apartment to go to a store, said Tricorico. The prosecutor described a scene of blood and mayhem in which Windham Sr.s wife frantically called 911 pleading for help. In the ensuing melee, Gutierrez forced his way into the apartment and stabbed and wounded three people -- Windham Sr., Etienne and Shantasia Monroe, another family member -- said Tricorico. The elder Windham was stabbed in the torso and Etienne was slashed on the hand. Monroe suffered the worst injuries, including a punctured lung, which required a six-day hospital stay, Tricorico said. Mattei said Friday that Monroe had nothing to do with any hostilities between Windham Sr. and Gutierrez, which had apparently stemmed from a prior phone call. In her opening statement, Paliogiannis maintained Gutierrez was the victim and had acted in self-defense. She said all hell broke loose after his girlfriend left the apartment, and the family rushed the defendant who was standing outside. It was complete and utter chaos, said Paliogiannis. That entire family started attacking Mr. Gutierrez. They were throwing things at him. It was five on one, six on one. Paliogiannis, who along with attorney John Poppe represented Gutierrez, said cops had jumped to conclusions. They just assumed he was the person that caused those injuries. [But] he was the victim. He was being attacked, she told jurors. Jurors, however, didnt agree with the defense theory, and convicted Gutierrez. Citing Gutierrezs long and violent criminal history, which includes convictions for robbery and rape, Darren Albanese, who also prosecuted the case, asked Mattei to impose the maximum 25-year sentences on the first-degree burglary and first-degree assault counts. He also recommended 28 months to seven years for the weapon-possession conviction and a year for resisting arrest, with all those sentences to run concurrently. Albanese also asked Mattei to impose a consecutive sentence of seven years in prison on an unrelated assault conviction stemming from a Feb. 25, 2017, incident, making the total period of incarceration 32 years. Poppe, the defense lawyer, asked for the minimum of five years. He pointed to Gutierrezs age and respectful demeanor while in custody and in court, and said the defense viewed the trial as a close case. Mattei sentenced Gutierrez to a total of 35 years behind bars with some counts running consecutively and others concurrently. The judge also sentenced the defendant to a concurrent two-year prison term for the 2017 incident. Gutierrezs lawyers have indicated he will appeal the verdict and sentences. They previously said they were shocked that jurors had found prosecutors proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. This defendant led a violent and unprovoked rampage against his girlfriends family members, viciously stabbing and injuring several of them inside of their home, said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. The significant sentence handed down today by the judge ensures that the defendant remains behind bars for the carnage he caused. I would like to commend Assistant District Attorneys Darren Albanese and Marina Tricorico for their tireless efforts in prosecuting this case, holding domestic violence abusers accountable and making Staten Island a safer place, said McMahon. UPDATE: ESTRANGED HUSBAND, AND HIS CURRENT GIRLFRIEND, ARRESTED IN MURDER OF MISSING TEACHER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Friends and co-workers of the missing Staten Island teacher now feared dead say the mother of three suffered through romantic tragedy and alleged abuse in the years leading up to her disappearance. Jeanine Cammarata, 37, vanished Saturday night after, according to her current boyfriend, she was headed to meet up with her estranged husband and children. The children were living with their father in Queens, but attending school on Staten Island. The husband, Michael Cammarata, was arrested Tuesday for an incident prior to Jeanines disappearance in which he allegedly assaulted and harassed her, police said. COMPLETE COVERAGE Prior to her marriage, Jeanine Cammarata was in a long-term relationship with a man described by close friends as her true love, who died in his sleep due to a medical condition. That relationship was preceded by her first marriage to a man who has custody of their eldest child on Long Island. Friends said the two remain friendly and the arrangement with the child was mutual. The stepmother of the that child told the New York Post he does not know his mother is missing. Were trying to shelter him as much as possible until we know a little bit more information. Were not prepared for this at all. Clearly, who can be? Daniella Gubitosi said. Cammarata, of Cassidy Place in New Brighton, was last seen Saturday in New Springville. Sources say police believe charred human remains found at an Arden Heights storage facility Thursday are the missing teacher. Jeanine has two children with Michael, ages 7 and 3, in a relationship that was tumultuous and at times frightening, said fellow teacher Jose Perez, who recalls the drama interfering with her work as a teacher at PS 18 in West Brighton before she went to work at PS 29 in Castleton Corners. I know that at school, he would show up and he would be childish. Standing in front of the door and harassing her, and she would be crying, said Perez. I said to him, Dude, you cant do that. The woman is teaching.'" Perez said Tuesday his only hope was that Cammarata would turn up safe. Shes a very nice person, and an excellent teacher, too. BREAKING: Burnt body remains found, NYPD holds press conference Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, April 4, 2019 Co-workers at a Grant City Dollar Tree store where Cammarata had a second job said she always had a smile on her face. I love her and I love her children," Tristan Delawrence said. Cammarata reportedly moved out of the home she shared with Michael in 2017 and into an apartment in New Brighton because of alleged abuse, according to her divorce attorney, Eric Gansberg. She didnt fight for custody of the children at first though, because she did not have a steady residence to bring the children to, and out of fear of her husband, Gansberg said. When Michael moved out of the home to an apartment in Queens months later, she became serious about pursuing a divorce and custody of the children, he added. Her current boyfriend said she looked forward to the court date. Shes spent thousands of dollars getting a lawyer and getting him served, said her boyfriend, Aaron. This weekend he finally agreed to let her see the kids, and she goes missing that night. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in locating a 16-year-old Clifton girl who was last seen on Sunday. Zyann Mcfarlane, 16, a resident of the 100 block of Tompkins Avenue, was last seen at approximately 6:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner for Public Information. Mcfarlane is described as a Black female, 5-feet-4-inches tall and 250 pounds. She was last seen wearing all dark clothing, according to police. Anyone with information in regard to this missing person is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police engagement with the East Shore community helped officers bust a man suspected in a string of commercial burglaries that started Tuesday. Frank Mandella was taken into custody Wednesday night at Bocelli Ristorante after he allegedly broke into the Grasmere eatery, commanding officer of the 122nd Precinct Capt. Melissa Eger said Friday. They apprehended him on a live burglary, Eger said. Within 48 hours, we solved this three-burglary crime pattern. Mandellas alleged spree began Tuesday morning around 5:45 a.m. with a break-in at Flowers by Bernard in Dongan Hills. Then he allegedly broke into a Grasmere real estate agency on Hylan Boulevard Wednesday afternoon. The accused burglar was allegedly caught on camera kicking in the back door to the Hylan Boulevard flower shop. Before his final alleged break-in, police identified Mandella as a person of interest in the burglary pattern, and, through the work of the neighborhood coordination officers (NCOs) assigned to the South Beach NYCHA complex, determined he was staying there. The NCOs are part of the NYPDs push to improve neighborhood policing strategies. Eger said the 122 NCOs close ties with people in the area were a major part of why Mandella was apprehended so quickly. The 39-year-old man, who Eger said has ties to South Beach, was released from prison in March and is currently on parole. Police said he has a long list of prior arrests, and state records indicate he has three prior convictions for burglary. In 2013, the Advance profiled one of his victims, who owned a computer store on Hylan Boulevard, and was repeatedly victimized by Mandella that summer. He is facing nearly two dozen charges in relation to the alleged burglary pattern and is being held on $75,000 bond, or $50,000 cash, according to online court records. His declined to comment Friday night. UPDATE: ESTRANGED HUSBAND, AND HIS CURRENT GIRLFRIEND, ARRESTED IN MURDER OF MISSING TEACHER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Jeanine Cammaratas white 2017 Chevy Cruze, which police are searching for in hopes it will shed light into the teachers disappearance, was spotted driving to Staten Island on Sunday night, according to the New York Post. A license-plate reader recorded Cammaratas car entering the borough at 9:34 p.m. Sunday, sources told the Post. Police have asked the public for tips in finding the vehicle, which has a New York state license plate number HSK8417. A gray 2016 Chrysler Town & Country minivan allegedly owned by her estranged husband, Michael Cammarata, was spotted following the Chevy Cruze about 10 minutes behind it, the report said. The minivan returned to Queens around 4:30 a.m. Monday, according to the report. It was uncertain who was driving the vehicles. A source with knowledge of the investigation told the Advance that Michael Cammaratas vehicle is in police custody on Staten Island. A spokesman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said Friday morning that there were no new developments in the case of the 37-year-old New Brighton mother of three children. Police said she was last seen Saturday in New Springville. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday morning that there were no autopsy results yet in connection with the unrecognizable charred human remains found Thursday at Extra Space Storage in Arden Heights. A source familiar with the investigation said the remains are suspected to be Cammarata. Im depressed and distraught," Cammaratas mother, Ann Marie Ross, 62, told the New York Daily News. "There are no words. I may have lost my daughter. Im overwhelmed," she added. "The bad news doesnt stop. Cammaratas disappearance is being pursued as a murder investigation, and while her estranged husband has not been charged in connection with it, he is a primary suspect, police said. Michael Cammarata, 42, of Queens is being held at the 120th Precinct on an unrelated assault and stalking charge. Were working with the Staten Island D.A. to establish probable cause and justification to charge him with murder, NYPD Assistant Chief William Aubry said Thursday. COMPLETE COVERAGE 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! EDMONTON, Alberta, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Changes to overtime rules proposed by the UCP would have a substantial impact on many Alberta workers. By allowing employers to pay banked hours out at regular pay instead of time-and-a-half, workers will see their premium for working extra hours essentially eliminated. Overtime premiums are designed to compensate workers for extra time away from their families and their lives. Theyre also designed to encourage employers to hire more people when they have more work to be done, instead of working existing employees to death, says Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan. The NDP brought Alberta in line with all other provinces by guaranteeing that all banked overtime would be calculated on a time-and-a-half basis instead of a straight-time basis, whether it was taken as cash or time off. Jason Kenney wants to revoke that guarantee and give employers the ability to go to straight time for overtime. This is a big blow for the thousands and thousands of Albertans who work overtime each week. Albertans work some of the longest hours in Canada, and accumulate the most overtime hours. Across all industries the weekly average overtime hours of employees working paid overtime is 9.6 hours, in oil & gas the average is 12.4 hours, and in construction the average is 11.1 hours. Albertans work these long overtime hours on the understanding that they will be paid fairly for those extra hours spent away from their families. 17.8% of Albertan workers work overtime every week, thats 407, 068 workers across the province. 27.4% of oil & gas workers work overtime every week, or 38,442 workers. For an oil & gas worker making the industry average wage, being paid for overtime hours at straight pay will cost them $264 each week or 6 hours if they take the overtime in the form of time off at straight time. 23.4% of construction workers, or 56,394 work overtime every week. For a construction worker making the industry average wage, being paid for overtime hours at straight pay will cost them $251.45 each week or 6.5 hours if they take the time in lieu. If someone was working 50 hours per week under a banked overtime agreement, they would be losing 3 hours of time off in lieu per week if the banked rate changed back (6 hours overtime *1.5= 9; *1=6). Thats 156 hours over the course of a work year (3*2 weeks*26 pay periods in a year) or 19.5 days off a year if their work day is 8 hours. If employers were not required to pay those hours at 1.5x per hour worked after the bank period expired and the person made $15 dollars per hour thats $2,340.00 per year lost wages for someone making minimum wage and hoping to use overtime to increase their wages. The change proposed by the UCP would make Alberta an outlier among Canadian provinces and it would provide a big financial incentive for employers to use banked overtime to deal with overtime rather than paying it out, said McGowan, Employers that dont currently have a banked overtime policy will almost certainly introduce them in order to avoid paying time-and-a-half. MEDIA CONTACT: Ramona Franson, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour at 780.483.3021 or via e-mail rfranson@afl.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f7f4978-7b59-4a08-b565-8e83a6f7dc63 A preliminary finding that the pilots of last month's fatal Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 flight initially correctly followed emergency procedures has heightened scrutiny of Boeing and the process for certifying its best-selling new aircraft. The Ethiopian crash on March 10, in which 157 people died, came just months after another 737 MAX 8 crashed in Indonesia, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board. Rescuers work at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines flight, outside Addis Ababa. Credit:AP A new flight control system that forces the plane's nose down if it detects an imminent mid-air stall has been implicated in both crashes, but Boeing has always maintained that pilots can override the system by following a standard list of procedures. The first official report into the Ethiopian crash, released late on Thursday, found that faulty sensor readings triggered the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) seconds after it took off from Addis Ababa on March 10. THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (87 minutes) PG Orson Welles wrote, directed and starred in this 1948 thriller, as an Irish sailor led astray by a woman of mystery (Rita Hayworth). It's an astonishing wreck of a movie, mingling grotesque comedy with delirious romantic fatalism. The hall-of-mirrors shootout is the most famous set-piece. Digitally projected. Astor, Sunday, April 7, 4pm. Max Cullen in a scene from Sunday Too Far Away (1982). A SHOT IN THE DARK (102 minutes) M The 1964 second instalment of the Pink Panther saga sees the accident-prone Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) investigating a murder at a country house, a scenario that gives full scope to his knack for causing chaos. As usual a degree of unease accompanies the laughs, especially given the rapidly rising body count. Digitally projected. Astor, Sunday, April 7, 7pm. Double feature with The Pink Panther. HIGH LIFE (111 minutes) MA This confounding English-language science-fiction drama is outwardly a departure for French director Claire Denis (Beau Travail) but when has she ever been predictable? It's an unusual sort of prison drama, set on a spaceship carrying its condemned crew (including Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche) further and further from home. Screens as part of the French Film Festival. Palace Balwyn, Saturday, April 6, 8.40pm and Kino, Sunday, April 7, 9.45pm. SUNDAY TOO FAR AWAY (94 minutes) M Set in the mid-1950s, Ken Hannam's 1975 shearing drama has a blend of nostalgia and tough clarity that marks it as one of the peaks of the Australian New Wave. Jack Thompson stars as Foley, a "gun shearer" battling to maintain his alpha-male reputation for at least one more year. Newly restored version, digitally projected. ACMI, Sunday, April 7, 3pm. SHE'S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE'S ANGRY (92 minutes) Unrated 18+ The notorious paedophile last month found again to have abused young boys will remain in the nursing home where he lives with debilitating and irreversible dementia and Parkinson's disease. Justice David Mossop on Friday said neither the prosecution nor the defence said it would be appropriate for 87-year-old John "Kostka" Chute to be taken into custody. John William Chute (centre), also known as Brother Kostka, leaves court in 2008. Credit:Marina Neil The judge also said custody would not be appropriate given his age, health and personal circumstances, as well as the absence of any risk to the community. Chute, also known as Brother Kostka, faced 16 charges as against six victims between 1979 and 1986. It was a proud moment for Canberra's Rolfe family when Zach Rolfe this week received the Royal Humane Society's highest bravery award for rescuing two tourists from a flood-swollen river in the Northern Territory more than two years ago. Constable Rolfe, who was only one week into his job with the Northern Territory police at the time of the rescues in December 2016, received the 2018 Clarke Medal from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Government House in Canberra on Thursday. Former Canberra boy Constable Zach Rolfe, now with the Northern Territory police, with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove. Constable Rolfe is the son of well-known Canberra businesspeople and philanthropists Debbie and Richard Rolfe. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia presents the Clarke Medal for the most outstanding case of bravery considered during the year. Might they, in subsequent years, decide that they want to return to the distortion of Islam which attracted their parents? It would be hoped that this would not be the case, but it is a dilemma with which the Australian government must grapple. And it is a problem not initiated by the government, which is now being called upon to resolve someone else's mess. - Derrick Mason, Boorowa They should come home. No excuses. They are children. I only wish that Australia had the heart to offer a home to all orphaned children in those wretched camps. - Genevieve Milton, Newtown I'm happy for the IS refugees to be evacuated from Syria, but only as replacements for refugees from Manus and Nauru, who should be brought here as soon as possible. Just let them get to the end of the queue. - Don Leayr, Albury Cancer pledge will fall short Bill Shorten's announcement to fund millions of medical scans and specialist consultations over four years for cancer patients would be a huge boost to our medical services. Politicians, however, are famous for making promises they can't keep ("Labor pledges to cut cancer costs", April 5). With only 350 MRI machines in the country covered by Medicare, it is very doubtful that Shorten will get anywhere near achieving these goals. The resources just don't exist. - Frank Adshead, Mona Vale Shorten invoked the memory of Gough Whitlam by opening his budget reply speech with the line "women and men of Australia", a line identical to that used by the then opposition leader when he opened his successful 1972 campaign ("Shorten to scrap $143b of tax cuts", April 5). In so doing, he has clearly drawn the battle lines for the next six weeks, emphasising that Labor seeks a fairer more compassionate society and that government does have a role to play in establishing and maintaining such a society. - Ian De Landelles, Murrays Beach Shorten's essential role as leader of the parliamentary Labor Party is to guide the formulation and implementation of ALP policies for the good of the nation. To be universally loved may be desirable but is not essential. Vote for the policies not the personality. - David Warburton, Maclean Shorten certainly knows how to woo the electorate based upon his supposition that there will be a surplus to help him indulge in a spend-a-thon. The promised move to a surplus budget offered by the Coalition is still in the making. So where will Shorten get his funds? As usual he will borrow them and not be concerned for the effect on the budget. - Mike Budden, Springwood Lamenting ferries loss The double-ended Freshwaters, launched in 1982, are set to be replaced by Transdev. Credit:James Alcock Keats wrote "a thing of beauty is a joy forever". The most memorable vision of Haberfield is its Federation Houses, of Randwick its old fig trees, of a trip to Manly the Freshwater-class ferries ("'Symbol of our city': Manly ferries facing retirement", April 5). The ugly face of neo-liberalism only sees the money. - Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park Stool relief I was so relieved to read that Ben Folds' implement of choice was just a piece of furniture ("Harvey all class after my stool smash on his piano", April 5). - Adrian Connelly, Springwood Birthday nonsense Me too; I do not want a birthday card from politicians (Letters, April 5). I wish to celebrate free from politics. Political advisers of all parties take note give the money saved to a charity. What stuff and nonsense. - Bea Hodgson, Gerringong Double take Has anyone every seen Ray Hadley and Eddie McGuire in the same room ("Hadley hit by further claims of bullying", April 5)? - Lou Collier, Surry Hills Perfect party After reading all the letters to the Herald recently, it is clear that we need a new political party to be called the Herald Readers Party. The obvious leader should be Jacinta Ardern and, after her brilliant reply to Josh Frydenbergs budget, the treasurer would be Jessica Irvine. I leave other nominations to Herald readers with the only stipulation that half of the cabinet be women. - Peter Nash, Fairlight Parliament to end, leaving nation uninspired With Scott Morrison's 220 fill-in days coming to an end and with Bill Shorten being kept in protective custody until after election day, what long-sighted, big visions have been outlined by our political leaders and their parties ("Date with destiny", April 5)? What kind of nation do they envisage as we hurtle along this 21st century? All are so very uninspiring. Farewell to a very weird and sad Parliament indeed. - James Laukka, Epping I look forward to the day when our politicians no longer refer to "tax relief" implying that taxes are a bad things which always need to be reduced. Instead, I will be happy when they attempt to convince us that a reasonable level of taxation is required to have a reasonable level of services. - Colin Gauld, Berry Pyne was out of the box I've always had a love-hate attitude to the retiring, South Australian Liberal MP Christopher Pyne ("Pyne opines: I'll miss the stage the despatch box gives you"', April 5). I watched his final speech in the House of Representatives and was almost moved to tears by his emotional remarks. His remark: "I don't have a log cabin story like so many people in this place ... although I once did have to get my own lemon for a gin and tonic." Is this not typical of the Federal Liberal Party as evidenced in Tuesday's budget speech? Pyne does not get that having to find his own lemon for a gin and tonic is a very small problem. A problem most in Australian society could not relate to. I'll miss his humour and I congratulate him on his 26 years of public service. But I won't miss the "silver spoon". - Ross Pulbrook, Wyong Who would enter politics at the age of 25 years and thrive for another 26 years? Only that very rare creature a career politician. The member for Sturt in South Australia made an impact in the cold climate of Canberra and managed to retain a sense of humour along the way. You are one of a kind, Christopher Pyne. Relish your next challenge. - Pam Connor, Mollymook Beach As a non-Liberal voter I'll miss Christopher Pyne. He has a sense of humour and an authenticity that is always enjoyable. It's interesting though that in his valedictory speech he listed his proudest achievements as large government programs in defence, mental health, education and so on. Wouldn't a conservative, in keeping with their creed, list as their proudest achievements the winding back of government programs? - Matthew Flattery, Willoughby Electric car freedom You never need wait to charge an electric car (Letters, April 5). You plug it in when you get home, and in the morning it's full. How wonderful to be freed from that quaint custom of standing by your car, holding a hose as it issues dangerous volatile liquid. - Greg Gibbon, Newcastle East There are many options for charging electric cars: at home overnight, at the workplace or in a shopping centre car park (such a facility already exists at Westfield Chatswood). Both the Hume and Pacific highways are well supplied with rest stops where charging stations could be installed and perhaps powered by adjacent solar panels. We need to think and plan "outside the box " to save this planet . - Stephanie Edwards, Roseville Why the mean-spirited response in the Letters page to electric cars? I rate the electrification of transport as possibly the greatest win for the planet and humanity we will see in our lifetimes. No more noxious exhaust fumes or boorish rev-head behaviour. No more gouging on price by suppliers and retailers on a trapped populace. And if the source of the electricity is renewable then another major contributor to greenhouse gas bites the dust. - Jim Lavis, Raglan Tax key to factory closures Kimberley-Clarke recently announced the Australian production of nappies will cease in late July as they will be moving production to Asian countries including China and South Korea (Letters, April 5). The sacking of staff has the union calling for government intervention to save jobs. Apart from perhaps lower production costs, corporate tax in China and Korea does not exceed 25 per cent. This compares with Australian tax at 30 per cent. Unions should perhaps approach the Labor Party to address the tax issue in relation to curbing closures of factories in Australia. - Tony Moo, North Sydney ANSTOs nuclear facility at Lucas Heights. PM close to nuclear The ANSTO facility at Lucas Heights was the site of the most dangerous nuclear incident in the world in 2017, yet the federal government has failed to fund necessary safety upgrades ("Federal budget leaves 'urgent' rebuild of Sydney nuclear facility up in air", April 5). Would someone please tap Scott Morrison on the shoulder and remind him that his seat of Cook lies only a few kilometres to the east of Lucas Heights? - James Deli, Oatley Facebook's good and bad Your correspondent narrowly characterises social media as "only carriage services for private communications" and therefore shouldn't be expected to look out for terrorist activity (Letters, April 5). The trouble with this argument is that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself claims a far bigger role, which does come with grave responsibilities. He took credit for Facebook helping to organise the #MeToo movement, the March for our Lives and Hurricane Harvey relief. There's a conspicuous double standard around the internet. When it does good, it's said to be a transformative power for progress and equality. But when it does bad facilitating terrorism, hatred and exploitation the internet is "just a carriage service". Facebook is one of richest, most powerful companies in history. It can't have it both ways. - Steve Wilson, Five Dock Anning's ambitions "Senator Fraser Anning will run candidates in most lower-house seats": the problem with this is that no part of the lower house is low enough for Anning and his associates ("Anning's new party to run in 'most' seats", April 5). - Sally Morris, Leichhardt Anning's starting his own political party. In the interest of democracy we should all egg him on. - John Collins, Loftus Initially telling The idea by your correspondent that the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party should reorder their name to the Farmers, Fishers and Shooters party to present a friendlier title on their ballot cards also provides the convenient acronym of FFS. - Brett Bates, Thirroul Guarding no one Gives a whole new meaning to being on Christmas holidays ("Extra staff at centre despite no refuges being there", April 5). - Jenny Coote, Woonona More than 100 guards are guarding nobody on Christmas Island. Reminds me of the British sitcom Yes Minister where a hospital without any patients was being superbly run by a full administration. The government assures taxpayers this is $180 million well spent. It is enough to make a person weep. - Ian Arthur, Sawtell Postscript Last September Joan Brown, of Orange, shared with readers the experience of caring for her husband Rodger as he battled Alzheimer's disease. Recently Joan quoted a sign in the dementia wing of his nursing home:: "The resident is not giving you a hard time. The resident is having a hard day." This week Joan's brother, Warren Scanlon of Ballina, advised us of Rodger's death. "I am sure those many readers who have come to know Joan through her writing will wish her well," Warren wrote. We editors can only add ourselves to their ranks and offer our best wishes to everyone affected by this cruel disease. Another Letters regular, Rosemary O'Brien, of Georges Hall, is in a similar predicament as she cares for her husband Lloyd. There is laughter amid the despair but, first and foremost, the experience has made her a firm advocate for increased resources to battle the disease. "Alzheimer's has been with us for decades, yet is one of the few debilitating, and ultimately fatal, diseases whose march towards a cure, or even symptom mitigation, stalled way back at the crawling stage," Rosemary observes. "The current method for dealing with it revolves around keeping its sufferers, wherever possible, in their homes, which raises problems and anguish not entirely confined to the sufferer. There seems little progress, and any convincing suggestions around a long-term cure, or even symptom mitigation, are thin on the ground. Old, frail and mentally stranded people are on the increase and the situation cries out for a truckload of government funding and support, yet officialdom, while endlessly sympathetic, still seems streets away from the growing magnitude of the problem." TORONTO, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspiration Mining Corporation (the Corporation) (CSE: ISM) is pleased to announce that Silk Energy AS (Silk) entered into an investment agreement (the Agreement) with Global Emerging Markets (GEM), an investment group based in Luxembourg. GEM (www.gemny.com) was founded in 1991 and is a USD $3.4 billion investment group having completed 375 transactions in 75 countries. The firm is an alternative investment group that manages a diverse set of investment vehicles across the world. The Agreement is for an aggregate amount of $50 million (the Facility). The Agreement expires on the earlier of (i) three (3) years or (ii) on GEM subscribing for securities in the capital of Silk with an aggregate value of $50 million. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, GEM is obliged, upon the submission of a draw down notice by Silk, to purchase securities in the capital of Silk. GEM is restricted from purchasing securities in the capital of Silk if such purchase will result in GEM holding 10% or more of the issued and outstanding securities in the capital of Silk. Silk is able draw down on the Facility after ten (10) consecutive trading days after the completion of the acquisition of Silk by the Corporation. After the first draw down, Silk will be able to continue to draw down on the Facility every fifteen (15) business days, subject to the share ownership restriction placed on GEM. In addition, Silk may use the Agreement as security, with the consent of GEM, in order to secure additional debt facilities. In addition, Silk is required to pay GEM a commitment fee of $1 million (the Fee), which is 2% of the aggregate amount of the Facility. The Fee is payable in either cash and/or securities in the capital of Silk. In addition to the Fee, GEM is entitled to such number of warrants (the Warrants) that equal to 10% of the securities in the capital of Silk on a fully diluted basis. Upon the closing of the proposed acquisition of Silk by the Corporation, the obligations of Silk under the Agreement will be assigned to the Corporation. As such, the requirements to issue the Warrants and/or the shares under the Agreement will be assigned to the Corporation. The issuance price of the shares and the exercise price of the Warrants will be done in accordance with the rules and regulations of the CSE. The GEM Facility will provide Silk with access to the necessary capital to continue the exploration and development on its Ustyurt licenses in Kazakhstan, said Steve Kappella, Chief Executive of Silk. "With this agreement, Silk is on its way to funding its exploration program and will be drilling three shallow exploration wells in 2019 and a further deeper well in 2020. For additional information on the acquisition of Silk, please refer to the Corporations press releases of August 14th 2018, January 1st 2019 and March 5th 2019. About Silk Energy AS Silk is a new oil Exploration and Production Company with a proven experienced management team, operating in Kazakhstan in an area known for giant oilfields. It will list on the Canadian Securities Exchange following an AGM on the 17th April to formalize the approval of a Reverse Takeover by shell company Inspiration Mining. The Company has 50% of the Ustyurt lease, covering 6,500 square kilometers of prime exploration ground adjacent to the Caspian Sea in partnership with KazMunaiGas NC the State Oil Company in Kazakhstan. The license area is less than 100 kilometers from Kashagan and Tengiz, two of the largest oilfields in the world with reserves of over 22 billion barrels. For further information, please contact Randy Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, at647.256.1973, www.inspirationmining.com The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and managements best estimates of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are detailed from time to time in the Corporations periodic reports filed with the Ontario Securities Commission and other regulatory authorities. The Corporation has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Former champion surfer Jodie Cooper, who was allegedly held under water during a surf rage attack by surfboard shaper Mark Thomson, pretended to drown as she feared for her life, a court has heard. Ms Cooper, 54, was surfing at Lennox Head on August 22 last year with a crowd of about 100 when she took off on a wave and was cut off by Mr Thomson riding a surf mat, police say. Jodie Cooper outside Ballina Local Court on Friday. Credit:Jason O'Brien "He was dropping in on me, nearly on top of me. He was aggressively cutting back into me and felt like trying to provoke me off the wave," Ms Cooper, who was a stunt double in the cult 1991 film Point Break, said. Mr Thomson then allegedly grabbed Ms Cooper, and held her head under the water. The driver accused of hitting a doctor out on his early-morning jog in a Brisbane suburb, recognised the victim and deliberately ran him down, police allege. Dr Peter Dunne, who died from the injuries he suffered in an alleged hit and run in February. Credit:Facebook - PCRG Detectives will allege Dr Peter Dunne, 53, was the victim of a hit and run, committed by an unlicensed driver, about 4am on February 18, 2019, in Strathfield Street, Tarragindi. On Thursday, 32-year-old Tarragindi local Thomas Hill was charged with murder, driving a vehicle failing to remain at an incident and assist an injured person showing callous disregard and unlicensed driving. Danny Walker, who had been a patient of Dr Dunne's for seven years, said the Brisbane GP had run many major marathons across the globe and had even completed some twice. A worker remains in hospital with serious burns after he was engulfed by flames when a Campbellfield factory exploded into a toxic blaze. Vignesh Varatharaja was pumping a chemical drum when it exploded into flames during the Friday morning fire that sent a huge toxic pall of thick, black smoke billowing across Melbourne's north. The fire is continuing to smoulder with more than 30 firefighters still on scene on Saturday morning, where they are using heavy machinery to extinguish hot spots throughout the building. Australian Workers' Union secretary Ben Davis said a co-worker unsuccessfully tried to use a faulty nearby fire hose to extinguish the flames on Mr Varatharaja's body. Mr Varatharaja was then rushed to The Alfred hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Police in Kalgoorlie have seized eight kilograms of methamphetamine after a traffic stop last weekend. A 33-year-old man from South Australia has been charged over the bust. The packages seized by police. Credit:WA Police Kalgoorlie Detectives and police stopped the man about 10.40am in his Holden Captiva last Saturday. The vehicle was searched and it will be alleged eight one-kilogram packages of what is believed to be methamphetamine was found. The man wanted in relation to the assault. Credit:WA Police A man has been hospitalised after a violent attack in North Perth, believed to have stemmed from a road rage incident. Police believe at 11.23pm on March 28, a man was returning to a car parked outside a North Perth liquor outlet. He had been a passenger in the vehicle and was about to get back in when he was confronted by an unknown man. The offender challenged him about his previous driving [before] launching into an assault, a police spokesperson said. The political associations of former ACT Chief Justice Terence Higgins 30 years ago should not have disqualified him from the role of ACT Integrity Commissioner, Chief Minister Andrew Barr has said. Mr Barr slammed the Canberra Liberals for delaying the process of appointing a commissioner after they said they could not support the former Chief Justice in the role. ACT Supreme Court chief justice Terence Higgins was to be the ACT's integrity commissioner. Credit:Rohan Thomson Mr Higgins was selected to head the commission after a month-long search, but the Canberra Liberals told Speaker Joy Burch they could not support the appointment because the former Chief Justice used to be a member of the Labor party. "That he was a member of a political party 30 years ago shouldn't count," Mr Barr told ABC radio on Friday. Even at the very end of this desolate 45th parliament, with an election about to burst upon the nation, Prime Minister Scott Morrison took to his courtyard to announce with a tear in his eye another of those big moments he had appeared to resist until it was forced upon him. In the dying days of last years cheerless parliamentary sessions, on December 4, Morrisons Coalition senators were instructed to vote against a proposal for a royal commission into the abuse and neglect of the disabled. Moved to tears: The Prime Minister at Parliament House yesterday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer In the first week of Parliament this year, on February 14, they got exactly the same direction. And why? The idea came from the Greens. Specifically, WA Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, a man who is disabled himself. Hifter urged his forces to enter the city peacefully and only raise their weapons "in the face of those who seek injustice and prefer confrontation and fighting." He also urged his forces not to open fire on any civilians or those who are unarmed. "Those who lay down their weapons are safe, and those who raise the white banner are safe," he said. Secretary-General Guterres not only urged a halt to military movements but appealed for "containment, calm" and "military and political and verbal de-escalation and the recognition that ... there is no military solution for the problems in Libya." He told a news conference in Tripoli shortly after Hifter announced the Tripoli offensive that a resumption of dialogue is essential, stressing that "the solution must be political." Libyan military officials meeting with their Russian counterparts in November last year. Credit:AP Hifter's message, which was posted on the Facebook page of the army's media office, comes a day after his forces edged closer to Tripoli and took over the town of Gharyan, 50 kilometres from Tripoli, without much fighting. "I am sipping coffee now in Gharyan," Hifter's top aide Abdel-Salam al-Hassi told The Associated Press over the phone. "God willing, we will enter the rest of the cities without clashes." Skirmishes were reported overnight in the mountain district of al-Assabaah, near Gharyan, in which two people a resident and a militiaman were killed, according to the media office of Hifter's forces. The announcement of Hifter's intention to march on Tripoli comes days before the April 14-16 UN-brokered conference aimed at bridging the gap among Libya's factions and draw a road map for new elections and end the country's split. Guterres is scheduled to meet Hifter in Benghazi on Friday and said his message will include that everyone in Libya must recognise the need for a political solution. "And it is clear for me that we absolutely need to avoid the drama of what would be a major confrontation namely a major confrontation in Tripoli," he said. It is clear for me that we absolutely need to avoid the drama of what would be a major confrontation ... in Tripoli. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres When the secretary-general was asked about postponing the national conference he said the U.N. wants to make sure the military movements end and calm is re-established, which will be important for the meetings to be successful. "It is difficult to have a National Conference in an environment of global confrontation, so it is very important to de-escalate and to have a situation of restraint and calm." Guterres is the second UN chief to visit Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled Gadhafi. Ban Ki-moon visited in October 2014. Libya, the oil-rich North African country, fell in series of civil wars in different towns and cities, where heavily armed militias fought over power and oil. Hifter's spokesman, Ahmed al-Mesmari, said LNA forces will give the militiamen in control of the capital the option of surrendering or staying home. "You choose between staying home, handing over your weapons, or raising the white banner," he said, addressing the militias in control of Tripoli. He said there will be no dialogue with the militias, whom he described as "terrorists," adding that the "game is over" and the "rifle, the artillery, and the jet are the ones speaking now". He also vowed to protect the upcoming peace conference saying the military movement is a separate track from politics. "The army has nothing to do with politics or with political movement by the United Nations," he said. The European Union's mission to Libya on Thursday also expressed concern over "the military buildup underway in Libya and the escalatory rhetoric which seriously risks leading to an uncontrollable confrontation." Hifter's army has spread its footprint from eastern Libya where it first battled mostly Islamic militias and Islamist groups, starting in 2014. The campaign then extended southward as Hifter's forces took control of key towns and border crossings earlier this year and now is pushing west, toward Tripoli. Hifter, who is backed by Egypt and Gulf Arab nations such as the United Arab Emirates, has labeled his rivals as "terrorists" and said in more than one occasion that "liberating" Tripoli is his ultimate goal. Since Gaddafi's ouster and killing, Libya has descended into chaos, with two rival administrations and an array of militias fighting over power and oil fields. Jakarta: An election run by a junta that delivered victory to a military strong man. A new set of laws allegedly to target fake news, but which allow the government to issue "corrections". Death by stoning for extra-marital or gay sex. A job ad for "moral" hangmen. And statues of topless mermaids covered up - after 15 years on display - to respect "eastern norms". Welcome to south-east Asia, where almost every day it seems another example emerges of the erosion of either the political and civil rights of individual citizens, or the diminution of democratic institutions. Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha casts a vote for himself. Credit:AP The examples above refer, respectively, to Thailand's questionable recent election, which looks set to keep former general Prayut Chan-o-cha in power; proposed laws in Singapore that would allow a minister to order a "correction" to content hosted anywhere in the world if it is deemed "false"; the introduction of Sharia law in Brunei; Sri Lanka's decision to revive the death penalty for drug smuggling after 40 years; and a decision by a Jakarta theme park that was taken during an election campaign in which conservative Islamic forces are playing an increasingly assertive role. These are just the recent examples. CALGARY, Alberta, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Utilities Limited (TSX: CU, CU.X) Canadian Utilities Limited (Canadian Utilities) will release its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 on Thursday, April 25, 2019. The news release will be distributed via www.globenewswire.com and the results, including Financial Statements and Managements Discussion & Analysis, will be posted on www.canadianutilities.com . Canadian Utilities will hold a live teleconference and webcast to discuss our first quarter 2019 financial results. Dennis DeChamplain, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss first quarter 2019 financial results and recent developments at 8:00 am Mountain Time (10:00 am Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 1-800-319-4610. No pass code is required. Opening remarks will be followed by a question and answer period with investment analysts. Participants are asked to please dial-in 10 minutes prior to the start and request to join the Canadian Utilities teleconference. Management invites interested parties to listen via live webcast at: http://www.canadianutilities.com/Investors/Events-and-Presentations/ A replay of the teleconference will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call until May 25, 2019. Please call 1-800-319-6413 and enter pass code 3124. An archive of the webcast will be available on April 25, 2019 and a transcript of the call will be posted on http://www.canadianutilities.com/Investors/Events-and-Presentations/ within a few business days. With approximately 5,000 employees and assets of $22 billion, Canadian Utilities Limited is an ATCO company. Canadian Utilities Limited is a diversified global energy infrastructure corporation delivering service excellence and innovative business solutions in Electricity (electricity generation, transmission and distribution), Pipelines & Liquids (natural gas transmission, distribution and infrastructure development; and energy storage and industrial water solutions) and Retail Energy (electricity and natural gas retail sales). More information can be found at www.canadianutilities.com . Investor Inquiries: D.A. (Dennis) DeChamplain Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 403 292 7502 Media Inquiries: Donna Pincott Director, Corporate Communications 587 224 7684 Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, plan, estimate, expect, may, will, intend, should, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Companys expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. 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, except as required by applicable securities legislation. PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/590d104b-6003-4fd3-a573-a18a28951489 Brussels: Belgium has apologised for kidnapping thousands of mixed-race children from Congo between 1959 and 1962, in a move to address the legacy of its often brutal 80 years of African colonisation. The apology on Thursday (local time) was the first time Belgium has officially acknowledged responsibility for the policy of segregation under which 'metis' children were abducted from Congo and put in schools and orphanages in Belgium run by the Catholic Church. "In the name of the federal government, I present my apologies to the metis of the Belgian colonial era and their families for the injustices and the sufferings they have endured," Prime Minister Charles Michel told Parliament as dozens of former abductees looked on. Beligan PM Charles Michel. Credit:AP "I hope that this solemn moment will be an additional step towards an awareness and knowledge of this part of our national history." Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Qamishli, Syria: The small Australian enclave in al-Hawl camp in northern Syria lies on the edge of a giant sea of white-and-blue refugee tents. This is a city without infrastructure, where 73,000 women and children from all around the world - Russia and the Caucasus, South-east Asia, the Middle East, Africa - are sheltering after the collapse of the so-called Islamic State. It is a rough place. Guards have fired warning shots in the air in recent days because of growing tensions. Many of the 4000 women who were aligned with IS remain wedded to their hardline vision of Islam and have been brutalising others. Without exception, women in the camp wear the Saudi-style full black dress and niqab face covering. A woman from Trinidad told a visiting journalist this week she had been beaten up for removing hers. Foreign IS wives and children line up near the foreign section of al-Hawl camp to be taken to the shops. Credit:Kate Geraghty There have been reports of women murdered and of IS wives acting as the camps morality police, bullying in particular women who are there simply as refugees. It's in these circumstances, in the cluster of tents inhabited by Australians, that young women such as the children of notorious terrorist Khaled Sharrouf are now living. They want to come home, and their wishes are putting the Morrison government in a bind. This sprawling human mess is one of the legacies of the collapse of the IS "caliphate". In the five years since a small gang of Iraqis who cut their teeth in al-Qaedas fight against the US-installed government in Baghdad seized on the chaos of the Syrian civil war to establish a power base there, the caliphate has swelled to territory nearly half the size of Britain and then been ground back down to nothing. Advertisement These hellish five years, as well as tearing yet another hole in the Arab world, has left a festering set of problems after the final military and territorial defeat of IS in the small Syrian town of Baghouz in the Euphrates Valley. As well as the 12,000 women and children whove emerged from the darkness of IS rule, there are more than 1000 male foreign fighters and enthusiasts whove been captured and placed in Kurdish jails. Loading The Kurdish administration that is left clutching this tinderbox has uncertain political prospects, with its nemesis Turkey on one side and the hostile Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad on the other. It says it needs the burden of IS's human legacy lifted. In its favour it uses the moral argument that its men and women did most of the fighting and dying on the ground. Pockets of IS resistance remain, meanwhile, around Baghouz, and Kurdish officials talk of sleeper cells in Sunni Arab areas, portending a lengthy counter-insurgency comparable to those in Afghanistan and Iraq, for which they will need help from the US and its allies. This is what happens when you demolish a proto-state based on an apocalyptic ideology that drew violent extremists from around the world. Advertisement 'We are still at war' From less gentlemanly lips, Abdul-Karim Omars words might come across as a veiled threat. Omar is the Syrian Kurdish administrations top foreign affairs official and is widely regarded as a decent and straight politician. We are still at war. There are threats against this area from Turkey and other sides. Attacks will happen against this area and also disorder, anarchy will happen, he said this week. The Kurdish administration in north-east Syrias foreign affairs spokesman, Dr Abdul-Karim Omar, in his office in Hassaka, northern Syria. Credit:Kate Geraghty That will create an opportunity for the Islamic State fighters to be able to escape from the prisons. They will become a danger to us and also will be a danger to the international community. The Kurdish administration in north-eastern Syria and its military form the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which defeated IS on the ground. They have been supported by the international coalition and in particular the US, which has special forces soldiers serving as advisers. The Kurds want that support to continue, both on the military side but also in the form of reconstruction aid and an international court, established in Kurdish-held territory, to impose justice on captured IS members. They have thrown this up as an alternative to countries taking back their foreign fighters for prosecution - a previous plea that fell on deaf ears, including in Canberra. Advertisement They also want countries including Australia to take back the women and children. Loading We dont have any arrangements for returning women and kids. The countries should initiate dialogue with us, Omar said. There is nothing we can do on our own because most of the people dont have any documents. When they contact us, we will organise the permits to send them back and those countries can repatriate the women and kids. Unfortunately so far, its been every country for itself, aside from a handful of French and Russian orphans that have been repatriated. The Morrison governments position is that it wont risk Australian officials safety by sending them to northern Syria to collect people, nor risk Australians at home by bringing back potential terrorists, whom there may not be sufficient evidence to prosecute. On the outside looking in: a child peeks through the flap of a tent in the foreign section of al-Hawl camp in Syria. Credit:Kate Geraghty In remarks that are unlikely to reassure Australians, Omar said most of the children over eight years old had been indoctrinated by IS and given military training as so-called cubs of the caliphate. Advertisement We are doing our best to encourage the international community to take responsibility, he said. If we dont rehabilitate those kids, they will become time bombs and will go back to their countries as terrorists who carry out attacks. The Australians who joined IS or lived in its territory and have spoken to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age this week in Syria say that not everyone associated with the group is equally culpable. The sheer barbarity of IS has created a mythology that has clung to it, which the group itself eagerly cultivated by spreading images of mass executions, human heads on spikes, the throwing of gay men from rooftops and the trade in sex slaves drawn from minority groups, as if it were trying to provoke the greatest possible revulsion. A woman and two boys push a cart near the fence line of the foreign section of al-Hawl camp. Credit:Kate Geraghty But the gradations of culpability are easily captured by the examples of families such as the Sharroufs or the Assaads. Khaled Sharrouf was a violent terrorist who allegedly kept young women from Iraqs Yazidi minority as sex slaves and gave his eldest daughter Zaynab to his friend and fellow terrorist, Mohamed Elomar, for marriage when she was just 13. Zaynabs younger sister Hoda Sharrouf, 16, asked this week when interviewed by the Herald and Age why Australians like her, dragged to Syria against their will by their parents, should be abandoned. Advertisement Loading He nodded at the end when Justice Cameron Mander told him he would be remanded in custody. He has not yet entered pleas to the 89 charges, and police are still considering whether to lay further charges. The name of one woman originally said to be among the dead - but who later turned out to be alive and well - has been substituted for Khalid Alhaj-Mustafa. The names of the 39 alleged attempted murder victims have been temporarily suppressed. Loading In a note released ahead of the hearing, Mander said one purpose was to learn if the alleged killer wanted a lawyer or if he will represent himself - something he earlier signalled he would do. However on Thursday night, barristers Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson said they had agreed to act for the man. Tait told the court he would seek a psychiatric assessment of his client, which could take up to three months. "I can appreciate the court's concern of delay, but there are more pressing concerns of fair trial," he said. The judge ordered two preliminary mental health reports in the interim to speed up proceedings. "Despite Mr Tait's reservations to that initiative ... it's an appropriate step to take at this point to prevent delay." Whether Tarrant enters pleas to the charges at his next appearance on June 14 will depend on the result of the mental health reports. The judge said such assessments were normal procedure, and ordered that images of the suspect's face should be pixelated until further order of the court. Emotional day for victims' families Following the hearing, several families described it as an "emotional day". Tofazzal Alam, who was in the Linwood Mosque during the shooting, said he attended court because so many of his friends had been killed. Haji-Daoud Nabi died at the Al Noor Mosque. Alam said he was struck by the accused's apparent apathy. "I didn't see any emotion on his face. It was very upsetting." Yama Nabi, said he attended the hearing to see the face of the man accused of killing his 71-year-old father, Haji-Daoud Nabi, who was among the worshippers at the Al Noor Mosque. Asked what he thought when he saw him, Nabi replied: "Coward." "My mum, the family, the rest of the family, they're not here, because they don't want to go through this ... they've already got heartbroken, they don't want to see it any more." Nabi said he wanted New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to intervene and make a decision to "just finish it off". The legal process would take a long time, would be a waste of taxpayers' money, and would only hurt the families more, he said. His brother, Omar, said he attended Friday's hearing to be sure he was looking at the "right person" and ensure there was no cover-up. But the outcome was not what he expected or wanted to hear. PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM):--- From May 26 until May 29, Europeans elect a new European Parliament. Although the European Union (EU) might seem far away, the EU is important for Sint Maarten, the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary said on Thursday. With Brexit around the corner, these elections will prove to be very important for those territories associated with the EU. Every Dutch national living in Sint Maarten is eligible to vote but needs to register before April 11. In the lead up to the elections, the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary aims to organize an event on the European elections. Preparations, in collaboration with het Huis van Europa in The Hague are currently underway. In 2014, only 178 Dutch nationals living in St. Maarten registered to vote. Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite expresses hope that more Sint Maarteners will register this time around. Every vote counts. The people of Sint Maarten have the opportunity to vote and I hope they do register, as these elections will prove to be very important. Adults holding the Dutch nationality are eligible to vote, but they have to register with the municipality of The Hague before April 11. A registration form can be filled out at: https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/verkiezingen/kiezers-buiten-nederland/stemmen-voor-inwoners-van-sint-maarten-aruba-of-curacao.htmand can be sent in by email or post. Sint Maarten holds the status of OCT (Overseas Countries and Territories), as do the other Caribbean countries and special municipalities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. OCTs enjoy a special relationship with the EU. This means for example that Sint Maarten can benefit from special trade agreements and from funds from the European Development Fund (EDF). This amounts to around 1.5 million euro on a yearly basis. The upcoming European Parliamentary elections are very important for the OCTs. The United Kingdom will leave the EU, which means that twelve out of twenty-five OCTs, among which are Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands will no longer be part of the association with the EU. For the remaining OCTs, it is of crucial importance that the new members of European Parliament are aware of the position of the OCTs, and of their historical and special relationship with the EU. This will become even more relevant in the upcoming period, as the European Parliament will vote on regulations on financial support for the OCTs. PHILIPSBURG:--- Three male suspects identified with initials B.S. (19), D.A.R.S. (20) en I.I. (24) were arrested by police on Friday April 5th at approximately 03.25 A.M. on the Airport road after they were seen by the security officer on duty driving very suspiciously in a Hyundai Accent with license-plate M-12014 in Jordan Village in Cupe Coy. The security officer immediately notified police when the suspects left the area at high speed after been seen. The suspects were stopped by police on the Airport Boulevard for control. None of the suspects could properly identify themselves. The suspects could also not give an acceptable account of what they were doing in Jordan Village at the time. While controlling the vehicle the investigating officers found two onboard computers for cars and a vehicle master-key which are used for the stealing of cars. Also in the vehicles were a number of tools used to commit car theft. All suspects were arrested on the spot and taken to the Police Head Quarters where they are held for questioning. The Hyundai Accent with license-plate M-12014 and items found in the vehicle were all confiscated for further investigation. KPSM Press Release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW. VANCOUVER, British Columbia and CALGARY, Alberta, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Makena Resources Inc. (Makena) (CSE: MKNA), BioCan Technologies Inc. (BioCan) and Epimeron Inc. (Epimeron) announce that BioCan and Epimeron obtained an amendment to the interim order (the Interim Order) from the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta authorizing BioCan to set April 12, 2019 for the date of the meeting of shareholders of BioCan (the BioCan Meeting) under which BioCan will seek approval of, among other things, the business combination of Makena, BioCan and Epimeron pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the Transaction). The Interim Order was also amended to change the notice of intention to appear deadline to April 5, 2019. The shareholders of Epimeron have executed a written resolution approving the Transaction. The Transaction is expected to be completed on or about April 12, 2019, subject to certain conditions, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE), final approval of the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta, approval of the requisite majority of the shareholders of BioCan, the disposition of all of Makenas mining assets and certain other customary conditions. Following completion of the Transaction, the resulting issuer, which will be named Willow Biosciences Inc. (Willow), intends to focus its business on cannabinoid biosynthetic production. Details of the Transaction are disclosed in a joint information circular of BioCan and Makena which has been filed under Makenas profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Additional Information Additional information regarding the Transaction, BioCan, Epimeron and Willow will be made publicly available by Makena in due course, including pursuant to the listing statement to be filed on SEDAR in connection with the Transaction at www.sedar.com. Willows work program and other information regarding BioCan, Epimeron and Willow has been submitted to the CSE for their review. For further information regarding the Transaction, please contact: Trevor Peters T: (403) 669-4848 E: t.peters@biocantechnologies.com Joseph Tucker, PhD T: (508) 627-0485 E: jtucker@epimeron.com 202, 1201 - 5th Street SW Calgary, AB T2R 0Y6 For further information regarding Makena and its mining assets, please contact: Spencer Smyl T: (604) 687-2580 E: spencer@asiaasset.net Reader Advisory Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, the acceptance of the CSE, Court approval and shareholder approval. The Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the listing statement prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Makena should be considered highly speculative. This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) and applicable U.S. state securities laws. Makena will not make any public offering of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words expect, anticipate, continue, estimate, objective, ongoing, may, will, project, should, believe, plans, intends and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly, and without limitation, this news release contains forward looking statements and information concerning the application to the CSE in respect of the Transaction, the completion and timing of the Transaction, the change of name of Makena, Willows corporate strategy and the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, and statements relating to Willows business, strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Makena, including expectations and assumptions concerning: Makena, BioCan, Epimeron and Willow; the Transaction, including CSE, Court and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement in respect of the Transaction; the future operations of, and transactions completed by, Willow; the availability of sufficient capital; the availability of and access to qualified personnel; Willows ability to protect its intellectual property; the expected growth in the cannabis market, including demand for cultured cannabinoids; expectations regarding the regulatory framework for cultured cannabinoids; the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis; the securities markets and the general economy; the legalization of the use of cannabis for medical and/or adult use in jurisdictions outside of Canada; and applicable laws not changing in a manner that is unfavorable to Willow. In addition, Makena has assumed that it will be able to dispose of its mining assets in a timely manner on terms that are favourable to Makena. Although Makena believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements and information because Makena can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include: the parties being unable to obtain the required CSE, Court and shareholder approvals; the failure to complete the Transaction on satisfactory terms, risks associated with the cannabis industry in general, infringement on intellectual property, failure to benefit from partnerships or successfully integrate acquisitions, actions and initiatives of federal and provincial governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies, import/export and research restrictions for cannabinoid-based operations, the size of the medical-use and adult-use cannabis market, competition from other industry participants, adverse U.S., Canadian and global economic conditions, failure to comply with certain regulations and departure of key management personnel or inability to attract and retain talent. There is also the risk that Makena will not be able to dispose of its mining assets in a timely manner, and that such disposition if it occurs will not be on terms favourable to Makena. Makena undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) (Teck) will release its first quarter 2019 earnings results on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 before market open. The company will hold an investor conference call to discuss the first quarter 2019 earnings results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time / 8:00 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. The conference call dial-in is 647.794.4605 or toll free 800.239.9838, no pass code required. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis. A live audio webcast of the conference call, together with supporting presentation slides, will be available on Teck's website at www.teck.com . The recording of the live audio webcast will be available from 10:00 a.m. Pacific time April 23, 2019 on Tecks website at www.teck.com . About Teck Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources. Investor Contact: Ellen Lai Coordinator, Investor Relations 604.699.4257 ellen.lai@teck.com MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corporation (NYSE:FHN) has been named by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) as one of 70 companies on the 2019 NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women list. First Horizon takes great pride in our long history of supporting and promoting the success of women and we are honored to be recognized for the eighth consecutive year on NAFEs Top Companies for Executive Women list, said John Daniel, Chief Human Resources Officer. We are proud of our progress and will continue to work to advocate and promote the success of women in our organization. This list honors U.S. corporations that demonstrate a strong focus in moving women to senior ranks, including mentoring, sponsorship, involvement in employee resource groups and leadership development training. Other factors used to identify the top companies include benefits, flexibility, corporate culture, and CEO involvement in advancing women. The 2019 NAFE Top Companies continue to tell a progressive story about what organizations are doing to move women up into executive positions, says Subha V. Barry, president of Working Mother Media. While the results are encouraging, there is still much work to do." First Horizon Highlights: Women make up 63% of our companys workforce Our executive team comprises 32% women Our senior managers are 25% women Females represent 77% of manager roles New mothers receive an average of eight weeks of fully paid leave Individuals who adopt receive four weeks of fully paid leave and up to $15,000 in adoption reimbursement assistance, doubled from the previous year About First Horizon First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) provides financial services through its Capital Bank, First Tennessee Bank, FTB Advisors, and FTN Financial businesses. The banking subsidiary was founded in 1864, has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country and the largest deposit market share in Tennessee. The company operates more than 250 bank locations across the Southeast and 28 FTN Financial offices across the U.S. FTB Advisors wealth management group has more than 300 financial professionals and about $4.8 billion in assets under management. FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. The company has been ranked by American Banker magazine among the Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. banks and as one of the nations best employers by the National Association for Female Executives and Fortune magazine. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com. About NAFE The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, serves members with networking, tools, and solutions to strengthen and grow their careers and businesses. Working Mother magazine publishes the annual NAFE Top Companies list. NAFE.com provides up-to-date information, a community for women in business, and access to member benefits. NAFE is a division of Working Mother Media, owned by Bonnier Corporation. FHN-G CONTACT: Silvia Alvarez, 901-523-4465, SAlvarez@firsttennessee.com I'm sure that many are familiar with the proverb "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Certainly this is a commentary on the weather, although we could also say there is some astronomical connotation to this adage as well. As darkness falls on the first day of March, low in the eastern sky we can see Leo, the Lion crouching in an upward position from above the eastern horizon. But on the final day of March, as evening twilight fades, we find, looking low toward the east-northeast, that Leo has been replaced by the constellation of Bootes, the Herdsman. Now what is the definition of a "herdsman?" Related: Best Night Sky Events of April (Stargazing Maps) In doing a little research I found that a person with such a title is the owner or keeper of a herd of domestic animals, a sort of jack-of-all trades: a stockman, cattleman, cowboy ... or even a shepherd or sheep rancher. And since it is only during the springtime that shepherds and sheep ranchers will spend nights in their fields when lambs are being born, we might say that for stargazing, March indeed comes in with a lion and goes out with a lamb. For American stargazers, Bootes holds another occupation: Bear Driver, an allusion to the way he follows Ursa Major (the Great Bear) around the sky. To those living in the United Kingdom he is the Ploughman, since he follows their version of a Plough (the Big Dipper) in the sky. A few authors even refer to him as a hunter or warrior, but I believe those titles should be reserved solely for Orion. Glorious Arcturus Bootes is most noteworthy for its brightest star, Arcturus , one of the most brilliant stars in our night sky. The name comes from the ancient Greek, Arktouros, meaning "Guardian of the Bear." Of all the stars in our sky there are few so bright and colorful. Arcturus is the fourth brightest star in the sky and the brightest that shines north of the celestial equator. It glows with a distinct golden-orange color. Arcturus is approximately 25 times larger than our sun and about 170 times more luminous. There is a well-known stargazer's saying: "Follow the arc to Arcturus." The "arc" refers to the broad curve that is made by following an imaginary line along the bend of the Big Dipper's handle, until you arrive at Arcturus. That certainly is a handy way to find it, although in the same terms that I recently noted for the night sky's brightest luminary, Sirius, you hardly need to use the Dipper's handle to "find" Arcturus! Just step outside after it gets dark anytime this week and look east-northeast and Arcturus will immediately grab your attention. It's that bright. Kite, cone or boot? The other stars of Bootes form what looks to be a long, kite-shaped figure. That's somewhat appropriate since March and April days can sometimes be rather windy, providing great weather for flying a kite. Extending from Arcturus we can even see a short appendage of stars that might serve as the kite's tail. April also marks the return, in many neighborhoods, of the ice cream man who would come down the street in the late afternoon, ring his bell and attract kids with a variety of frozen specialties, most notably ice cream cones. When I'm giving a sky show at New York's Hayden Planetarium, I'll tell my audience that if they don't particularly care for envisioning Bootes as a longish kite, they could turn him into an ice cream cone as well. Of course, what kid has ever had a cone and not at one time or another bitten off the bottom tip? This gives us a clue as to what flavor is contained in our cone in the sky. The bottom of the cone is marked by Arcturus, so think of that as a "bloplet" of orange sherbet! Finally, when I was in grammar school and just started getting interested in astronomy, I found Bootes in one of my first constellation books, Robert H. Baker's "When the Stars Come Out" (Viking Press, 1934). The "long kite" figure is shown, but because of its sideways orientation in the early-evening spring sky it looked to me much more like a boot or shoe. So I automatically assumed that the name Bootes meant "the Boot." Bootes is thus unusual in that it's a star pattern whose very name and appearance suggests something it isn't. Most of you probably would pronounce the name as Boo-teez, but that is incorrect. Have you noticed the two dots above the second o? That's called a "diaeresis," a mark placed over a vowel to indicate that it is sounded in a separate syllable. So the correct pronunciation is Bo-oh-teez. "Arky" lights the World's Fair Arcturus made headlines in 1933, when it was used to turn on the lights at the opening of the Chicago World's Fair on the night of May 27. Four different observatories (Yerkes, Illinois, Harvard and Allegheny) were employed to trap the star's rays by photoelectric cells, then amplify them and relay them to the master switch at the fair. At 10:14:30 p.m. Central Time, the switch was closed and the myriad lights at the "Century of Progress Exposition" were illuminated. So popular and successful was this venture that the process was repeated by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. every night of the fair. Why Arcturus (which was known at the fair by the nickname "Arky")? The previous world's fair in Chicago had been in 1893, and in 1933, the best estimates for the distance of Arcturus was 40 light-years. So it was widely promoted that the light rays from this star that started on their way to Earth at the time of the 1893 fair were now reaching Earth in time to help illuminate the 1933 fair. Today we know that Arcturus is actually 37 light-years away, not 40. But what's 3 light-years (or 17.63 trillion miles) among friends? Shaheed Alhafed, March 29, 2019 (SPS) - The Ministry of Information on Friday celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Sahrawi News Agency, Sahara Press Service (SPS), on March 29, in the presence of members of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, government, journalists of the Ministry of Information, and relevant bodies. The event witnessed organistion of a discussion table on the performance of the Agency since its establishment in 1999. Minister of Information, Hamada Selma, stressed that the human element remains the real guarantee of any work, especially in the media field, pointing to the need to establish an information portal for the Sahrawi state. The event concluded by organizing a solidarity stand with the Sahrawi people in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, southern Morocco and the Moroccan university sites, as well as the Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, during which they chanted slogans demanding their release and guaranteeing the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA By: Deich Mohamed Saleh The long-standing problem of Western Sahara seems to reach its end as the new Special Envoy of the UNSG, H.E. Hurst Kohler, the Germany's former president, was able to get back on track the negotiations on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara after six years of breakdown. Under his auspices, on 5 and 6 of December last year in Geneva, a roundtable held between both parties of the conflict, the Polisario Front and the kingdom of Morocco, besides to Algeria and Mauritania as observers. Kohler said after the roundtable that "From our discussions, it is clear to me that nobody wins from maintaining the status quo." The two parties were optimistic about the results of the roundtable, therefore, they agreed to meet again in the first quarter of this year. Kohler's success is due to the new tendency of the UNSC which has started since April 2018, when the U.S.A reduced the mandate of MINURSO (the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) from one year to six months. The UNSC engagement reflected awareness and new spirit in dealing with the question of Western Sahara. Therefore, in its recent resolution 2440 of 31 October 2018, the Council called upon the parties to demonstrate political will and engage constructively in talks without preconditions in order to advance the negotiations, emphasizing the importance of an enduring political solution based on compromise and the need to provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in a manner consistent with the Charter of the United Nations. The right to self-determination The decolonization process of Western Sahara was subjected to a plot in 1975 aiming to deprive its People of its right to self-determination, when Spain evaded its responsibility as administrating power by withdrawing from territory after almost a century of colonization and allowing Morocco and Mauritania to invade it in violation of the UN Charter and resolutions. In consequence of the departure of Spain, the Polisario front (Frente Popular para la Liberation de Saguia el Hamra y Rio de Oro), the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara, proclaimed the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. Western Sahara is a non-self-Governing territory on the UN agenda since 1963 following the transmission of information by Spain under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations (A/5514, annex III). In its resolution 2229 (XXI) 1966, the U.N. General Assembly reaffirmed the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and requested Spain to establish immediate procedures "for the holding of a referendum under United Nations auspices with a view to enabling the indigenous population of the Territory to exercise freely its right to self-determination." The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 1975 left no doubt when dismissed the Moroccan and Mauritania claims over the territories and called for the application of the General Assembly's resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960 in the decolonization of Western Sahara through a free and genuine expression of the will of the people of the territory. The ICJ ruling was reinforced by the Advisory Opinion of Under-Secretary General for Legal Affairs of 2002, on request by the UNSC, which concluded the illegal exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of the territory without the consent of its people. The European Court of Justice from its side said that" no sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara" in its rulings of December 2016, February and July 2018 to unmask the explicit implication of members states of the EU in plundering the natural resources of the territory. The Polisario front, which was founded in May 1973, was recognized by the UNGA Resolution 34/37 0f 1979 as the legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara. It has been leading the negotiation process, fighting for the inalienable right of self-determination and independence, with Spain to reach a truce pending the organization of a referendum, then with Mauritania 1979 to renounce its claim of the territory and recognize the SADR and now with Morocco. In 1991, the UN-OAU (now AU) reached a compromise on settlement plan for a ceasefire between the Polisario front and the Kingdom of Morocco following by a UN-sponsored-referendum of self-determination in 1992, which has not yet taken place. United Nations peacekeepers are on the ground under the mandate of MINURSO. Morocco brought tens of thousands of Moroccan citizens in attempt to manipulate the electorate, but they did not meet the criteria, thus the UN provisional voter list of 2000 would have likely led to independence. When the new King Mohammed VI took over the throne in Morocco, he began to reject any solution that could lead to independence, which put Morocco in controversy with the UN and international law. The plight of the Saharawi people A minefield-and-barbed-wired defensive wall (berm) of 2700 km-long was built by Morocco to divide the territory of Western Sahara into two parts and to separate families. The majority of the population live in the west part controlled by Morocco, whereas around 200.000 in the eastern part (The liberated territories) or in exile in camps in the south-west of Algeria - both controlled by the Saharawi Republic. Many other Saharawis also lived in diaspora. The part of the population living in the west of the Berm is subjected to repression and daily intimidation. The Moroccan occupant authorities have committed crimes against humanity in Western Sahara; homicide, jail, torture, including genocide. Morocco holds the occupied territories with an iron fist, wherefore it brought hundreds of thousands of police forces to impede the increasing protests calling for self-determination and the departure of Moroccan occupier. In October 2010, Moroccan police forces intervened brutally against a peaceful and civic protest camp of Gdeim Izik set near the capital El Aaiun, where the intervention resulted (in the) death and injuries among the protesters, and 27 members of the movement's leadership were arrested, illegally jailed and sentenced between 20 years to life imprisonment. The Saharawis, who fled from the persecution of the Moroccan military, live in five camps in harsh condition where the temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius during the summer months. They fled their homes following the Moroccan invasion of Western Sahara in 1975. They heavily depend on international assistance and their opportunities for economic and employment are limited. Coexistence of the Saharawi Republic and Kingdom of Morocco in the AU The AU has dealt with the question of Western Sahara as a decolonization issue and its resolution comes through the respect of its people's right to self-determination and independence. This position is reflected in the recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic as a full member and founder of The Bloc. The Africa Unity admitted the Kingdom of Morocco in January 2017 with condition to sign and respect the Constitutive Act of the Bloc, including accepting the Saharawi republic as a full member and founder. All the AU summits have maintained the African firm collective position toward decolonization of Western Sahara, calling on the two member states, the Sahrawi Republic and the Kingdom of Morocco, to enter in direct and prompt negotiations to resolve their border conflict. Based on this point of view, the AU has set a roadmap for a future solution to this conflict aimed at the withdrawal of the kingdom of Morocco from the part it occupies of the territories of the Saharawi Republic. Africa integration is fundamental for the AU to move forward to a potential bloc, but peace and stability are indispensable to achieve this goal. The 31st Summit of the AU Heads of State and Government of July 2018 set up "an African mechanism including the AU Troika (made up of outgoing, current and incoming Presidents) and the President of the AU Commission to provide an effective support to the UN efforts while encouraging both sides to be more flexible and to mobilize greater support for the efforts made by the UN." Such decision would revitalize the AU's key role, as a fully-committed partner for the United Nations. The open door policy of the Saharawi Republic In its first proclamation on 27 February 1976 after Spain abandoned Western Sahara, the Government of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic expressed its "commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Organization of African Unity, in particular those concerned with human rights, territorial integrity and established frontiers, as a guarantee of African and international peace and security." The Constitution, which was adopted by 14th General Congress of the Polisario Front, declares to adhere to" the principles of justice and democracy contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (of 10 December 1948), the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (of 28 June 1981)." It believes that" human freedom and dignity is possible only in a society that enshrines the rule of law and creates conditions for social growth in accordance with its values." It also determines" to build democratic institutions that guarantee human rights and freedoms, political freedoms, economic and social rights, and family rights." The location of Western Sahara - rich in resources- makes the Saharawi Republic play an important role in geopolitical policy and international relations. The Constitution adheres "to work for the integration of the Maghreb, unity of the Africa and the Arab world and to establish international relations based on cooperation, harmony, mutual respect and peace and the world stability." It recognizes "free market as well as public, private and foreign investment." The Polisario Front's perspective, from the beginning, is offering example in governing and society in exile during the process of decolonization. However, the Saharawi Republic is a model of state that was able to guaranty education, health and the minimum socioeconomic services. Women play major role in the camps, including Member of the leadership, Ministers and Governors. The momentum of Kohler's approach Mr. Kohler, appointed in July 2017 as the UNSG Special Envoy to Western Sahara, was aware that the key of his success in breaking the impasse is to bring the two parties again to the table of negotiations. To achieve this goal, he had to mobilize the international community, however, in his evaluation trips, Kohler had consultations with the Africa Unity and the European Union as well as with the states member of the UNSC. Morocco, which had rejected sitting with the Polisario Front, was forced to attend this round table without conditions. The UNSC's interest in resolving the conflict of Western Sahara comes in fierce competing of the great nations, which is emerging on in the region of North Africa after the USA's dissatisfaction about China and Russia's wide presence in Africa. France, which feels that its influence in Africa is shrinking, does not feel comfortable about the USA actual direct participation in resolving the issue of Western Sahara. However, it has to involve the EU to back Morocco by including Western Sahara in their accords to preserve its interests. The powers States members of the UNSC such as USA, Russia, UK and China, have demonstrated explicit support to accelerate the political solution, emphasizing that it has to "provide the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara." France, which defends the Moroccan position, lobbied inside the UNSC and the Secretariat in attempt to maintain one year for MINURSO mandate, but the USA insisted to keep it six months. The USA said that it would cut its fund for MINURSO if there is no progress in the political solution process. The US position was reaffirmed during an event at the Heritage foundation in December last year on Trump Administration's new Africa strategy, by the new National Security Advisor ambassador John Bolton, who expressed "frustration" over the stalemate of the Sahrawi question. It was clear that since his appointment in March 2018 , Bolton has played an important role in getting the two parties to the table. Responding to a question by the Journalist Nicolas Niarchos of the New Yorker in article published on 29 December last year, Bolton said " I think there should be intense pressure on everybody involved to see if they can't work it out." Bolton knows well the obstacles getting in front of the conflict as he worked with Mr. James Baker while he was the UNSG Special Envoy to Western Sahara. He perceives Morocco's tactics when he told the same journalist that " Morocco is in possession of almost all of the Western Sahara, happy to keep it that way and expecting that de facto control will morph into de jure control over time." Bolton reiterated his commitment to the Referendum when he said to the New Yorker journalists that " All we want to do is hold a referendum for seventy thousand voters. It's twenty-seven years later-the status of the territory is still unresolved." The position of the United States towards a just solution to the question of Western Sahara based on self-determination of the people of the territory was explicitly confirmed during a visit to the Saharawi Camps on 24 February of a US Congress delegation of 17 personalities, led by James Inhofe, the Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, accompanied by Enzi Michael Bradley, the Chairman of the finance committee. In a declaration to the media after receiving by the President of the Saharawi Republic Ibrahim Ghali , the Senator James Inhofe reaffirmed the Trump's commitment to the freedom of the Saharawi people " ... We love this people and we are committed to their freedom ... the President Trump is absolutely committed to the people here and to their freedom ... we believe it will happen ... " He underlined the importance of the March meeting between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco "... In March there is an important meeting and we want to be here to give encouragement to those who have been in a dilemma that they have been living under for the last thirty years ... it would be our hope that we have a positive effect on the meeting that will take place in March ..." He assured the Saharawi people of the full support by the members of the delegation to their struggle for freedom "...you have six members who are elected by the American people who are very strongly in your position seeking freedom that you have lost many years ago..." The region is living a change in the balance of power which is in favor to the international legitimacy represented in self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Therefore, Kohler has received enough international support to make him launch his plan for a solution and increase the chance of success. In the last month hearing of the UNSC with the Special Envoy, a strong determination by the states members was noted to tackle the difficulties preventing from positive results and creating atmosphere for the next round table, including: confidence-building measures to free the detainees, allow human rights observers to visit the occupied territories and stop the looting of natural resources. Conclusion After decades of suffering and long deprivation of a people's right to self-determination and independence, a breakthrough was made to find solution to Africa's last colony. Therefore, the new Special Envoy of the UNSG to Western Sahara, H.E. Hurst Kohler, Germany's former president, could bring again the two parties of the conflict, the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco, to the negotiating table on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The Geneva roundtable of 5-6 of December last year marked a good start that would lead to concrete results while the stakeholders have the will to tackle the obstacles impeding the mandate of the UN Mission to Western Sahara. Kohler has been receiving the full support of the UNSC, the AU and the EU, which all have demonstrated their engagement to achieve durable peace and stability for the North-Africa region. The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, backed by the AU, has proved its capacity to represent the people's right to self-determination. Thus, any solution which would not take in account this reality will not lead to peace and stability. "We in the United states, many years ago, went through a hardship. It is very similar to what you have gone through for many decades. We love these people and we are committed to their freedom. With me are members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and we have now a president, President Trump, who is absolutely committed to the people here and their freedoms. We believe that will happen, not because we back with regularity anyway, but in March there is an important meeting and we want to be here to give encouragements to those who have been in a dilemma that they have been living under for the last thirty years. It is our hope we have a positive effect on the meeting that will take place in March, you have six members who are elected by American people who are very strongly in your position (towards) seeking freedom that you have lost many years ago." Deich Mohamed was the Office's Chief of late President Mohamed Abelaziz and former Ambassador to Zimbabwe. (SPS) 062/SPS/PRAVDA http://www.pravdareport.com/news/world/142334-self_determination_saharawi/ STAMFORD A Norwalk bank robber and his experienced accomplice from Stamford both pleaded guilty this week to a string of bank robberies. Joseph Boccuzzi, 36, of Norwalk, appeared in court Thursday and pleaded guilty to committing a total of four bank robberies a repeat, twofer bank robbery in Stamford as well as bank robberies in Norwalk and Wilton in late 2016 and early 2017. His bank robbing mentor and inspiration according to what Boccuzzi told police Spero Moschos, 37, pleaded guilty the day before to conspiracy to commit two bank robberies with his pal Boccuzzi. Moschos, of Stamford, made the pleas under the Alford Doctrine, meaning he disagreed with the states facts of the case, but realized if he went to trial he would probably be convicted. On Thursday during his court hearing, Boccuzzi almost did not get through his guilty pleas to the four robberies, as well as a charge of second-degree larceny, after he hedged on the question of whether he was satisfied with the representation of his public defender Howard Ehring. But Judge Gary White shut Boccuzzi down and told him Ehring had done a fantastic job for him. The judge said he would be happy to take the pleas back and send Boccuzzis case to trial. If found guilty Boccuzzi could have been sentenced to much more time behind bars. White told him in no uncertain terms that after pulling off four bank robberies, the seven-year jail sentence he was about to accept was pretty light and he was thinking of lengthening it. When White asked him if he was pleading guilty because he was guilty, Boccuzzi said, Yes, your honor. According to the prosecutor on the case, Assistant States Attorney Michelle Manning, Boccuzzi fully confessed to all of the robberies, including Moschos involvement in them. Ehring pointed out that while Boccuzzi is getting seven years in jail and seven years special parole for four robberies, Moschos was sentenced to five years behind bars and eight years special parole simply for sitting in the get-away car when Boccuzzi pulled off two of the heists. According to his arrest affidavit, Moschos, who in 2009 pleaded guilty to 12 bank robberies and after being released from prison landed a job with the City of Stamfords Highway Department, pressured Boccuzzi into a repeat robbery of a bank in Stamfords Springdale neighborhood to get a cut of the proceeds. He sent Boccuzzi to First County Bank on Hope Street three times on Feb. 3, 2017 after Boccuzzi already had hit the bank months earlier but Boccuzzi turned back each time because there were too many people in the facility to successfully pull off a heist, according to the court document. After the third time, Boccuzzi went into the bank wearing a Scream mask and walked up to a teller and said, Trick or Treat. The teller gave him $12,000 in cash. Police said Moschos was paid with cash and bundles of heroin for his bank robbing advice and being a lookout to at least two bank robberies. Moschos attorney, Mike Riley, decline to comment. Boccuzzi will be sentenced officially on June 6. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com Police in South Carolina have announced a break in the decades-old murder of an infant known as Julie Valentine. Chief Ken Miller said Brook Graham, 53, was charged with homicide by neglect after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Graham is being held without bond. Miller called the crime an "unfortunate and terrible murder of a defenseless infant," and credited advancements in technology for the arrest. In February 1990, the baby's body was found in a vacuum cleaner box off of Verdae Boulevard, on Hilton Street, Miller said. The box was packed with newspapers and bedding material, driven to a field not far from where Graham lived and found in a pile of debris, Miller said. An autopsy revealed the child was breathing outside the womb, but there were no other signs of trauma, Miller said. Through DNA technology, investigators were able to identify the baby's father. The man said Graham had to be the infant's mother because she was the only person he was having sexual relations with at the time. Graham was arrested Wednesday. A news release said Greenville police continue to use new technologies including forensic genealogy investigations. The same testing was used to identify the man responsible for the death of Jenny Zitricki, the news release said. Deputies collected DNA from Graham that will be processed through the State Law Enforcement Division lab in Columbia, Miller said. Criminal history records show that since 1986, Graham was arrested several times, most arrests in connection to charges of writing fraudulent checks, breach of trust and forgery. The police chief says investigators wanted to give the infant a sense of identity, and named her Julie Valentine. The Julie Valentine Center, a nonprofit in Greenville dedicated to helping victims of abuse and sexual assault, is named after her. Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper faced questions from New Hampshire voters on the economy, climate change and taxes from New Hampshire voters. His first job was as a geologist, but after losing that job, he opened a brewpub in Denver. He was elected mayor of Denver in 2003, elected governor in 2010 and re-elected governor in 2014. While Hickenlooper finds himself in a Democratic presidential field with staunch progressives, he rejects ideological labels. Voters didn't waste any time asking Hickenlooper, 67, how he would defeat President Donald Trump. "The question of the day," Hickenlooper said. "Well, the first thing I'll say is that defeating Donald Trump, in my opinion, is absolutely essential. But it is not sufficient, because in the end, he's a symptom of what I call the 'crisis of division.'" The two-term Democratic governor and entrepreneur was elected against the headwind of Republican-leaning elections in 2010 and 2014. He said he believes he's a leader who can end the crisis of division and win back swing states that voted for Trump in 2016. "People in Michigan and Wisconsin and these Midwestern states, they're going to want to see someone who understands business and jobs," he said. Hickenlooper is also touting his record of actions over words on climate change. "We have to make this the highest urgency we possibly can, and in Colorado, we were the first state to actually get the environmental community to sit down with the oil and gas industry and negotiate methane regulations," he said. "Methane is 25 to 40 times more destructive to climate than carbon dioxide." Another priority for Hickenlooper is using tax policy to incentivize rural entrepreneurs to start new businesses. "They don't pay any tax of any kind to the state of Colorado for five years, nor do their employees pay any tax of any kind for the first five years," he said. "As we get the economy going again, we have to make sure that we don't leave parts of this country behind. This is one country. United we stand and divided we fall." Hickenlooper opposed legalizing marijuana in his home state, but when the voters passed a ballot measure legalizing it in 2012, he saw to it that it was implemented as smoothly as possible. Now, he says the federal government should get out of the way and allow states to follow Colorados lead if they choose. I was worried about teenage consumption spiking. I was worried about people driving while high, Hickenlooper said, explaining his opposition. We havent seen that." Soon after Colorado voted to legalize marijuana in 2012, Hickenlooper signed a proclamation that placed the measure in the state constitution. Our voters very clearly said they thought this was a step forward, he said at the time. I think our job now is to do the very best job we can to respect the will of those voters and to make that step forward as thoughtful and constructive as we possibly can. He signed an executive order creating a task force on implementation and later signed a bill that created the countrys first state-level banking system to service marijuana companies. He also signed legislation into law to invest $9 million to fund research into medical marijuana. He said that since he signed the marijuana legalization proclamation, We still have problems. Im not saying its a perfect system. But its much better than the old system, where we sent millions of kids to prisons. Not only did they go to prison, but we made them felons. As president, Id let states make the decision, but Id change the federal rules and regulations so that the federal government isnt blocking states from successfully making this transition to a different system," he said. Right now, the federal government says its illegal to do any banking connected with cannabis. Thats crazy. If you want to guarantee that a new industry is going to be corrupt and full of racketeering, make it cash. We dont want to do that. INDIANA, Pa., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF) announced today that it will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The call will be hosted by T. Michael Price, President and Chief Executive Officer. He will be joined by James R. Reske, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. First Commonwealth will issue a press release reporting its First Quarter 2019 financial results before 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Conference Call Information What: First Commonwealth Financial Corporation First Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call When: 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Where: www.fcbanking.com/investorrelations How: Live and replay webcast over the Internet or Live by Phone: 1-844-792-3645 (U.S. toll free) or 1-412-902-6636 (international toll) Replay by Phone: 1-877-344-7529 Replay Access Code: 10130417 To listen to the conference call, either dial the phone number above or go to First Commonwealth's Investor Relations webpage at www.fcbanking.com/investorrelations , click on the "First Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call" link and follow the instructions. After the live presentation, the webcast will be archived on this website for at least 30 days. In addition, a replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by dialing the replay number and entering the access code listed above. There is no charge to access this event. To Ask Questions Participants can e-mail their questions to investorrelations@fcbanking.com . Questions submitted via e-mail will be accepted beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, until the conclusion of the presentation. First Quarter 2019 Earnings Release The First Commonwealth Financial Corporation First Quarter 2019 earnings press release can be accessed after 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at w ww.fcbanking.com/investorrelations . Click on "News," which can be found under the News & Market Data section. About First Commonwealth Financial Corporation First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF), headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a financial services company with 137 community banking offices in 22 counties throughout western and central Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as corporate banking centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. The company also operates mortgage offices in Wexford, Pennsylvania, as well as Hudson and Dublin, Ohio. First Commonwealth provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management and insurance products and services through its subsidiaries First Commonwealth Bank and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency. For more information about First Commonwealth or to open an account today, please visit www.fcbanking.com . Media Relations Jonathan E. Longwill Vice President / Communications and Media Relations Phone: 724-463-6806 JLongwill@fcbanking.com Investor Relations A mazon CEO Jeff Bezos has just purchased a luxury mansion penthouse in New York, according to reports. And whilst the $80 million (63 million) price tag may seem eye-watering for us regular folk, its probably a drop in the ocean for Bezos, who holds the title of worlds richest man. Located in the upmarket neighbourhood of Flatiron, Manhattan, the three-story property boasts a 24-hour concierge, golf simulator, fitness centre, screening room and game room. Despite the 17,000 square-foot space, the billionaire will most likely be moving into his new abode alone, since announcing his divorce from wife Mackenzie in January. In April, the pair released separate statements announcing they had finished the process of dissolving their marriage. Shortly after their divorce was announced, it emerged that Mr Bezos was dating TV presenter Lauren Sanchez, although sources persist that the relationship did not start until their marriages had ended. Heres everything you need to know about the man behind one of the worlds most successful companies: What is Jeff Bezos' net worth? The couple made the announcement on Twitter / AFP/Getty Images In July 2018, Bezos was worth $150 (118.2) billion making him the richest man on earth since at least 1982, when Forbes first began their billionaire list. His net worth then soared to $160 (126) billion in February 2019 after Amazon surpassed Microsoft to become Wall Streets most valuable company. Whilst his net worth was expected to decrease post-divorce, Forbes latest estimate values Bezos at $143.4 (113) billion. This still makes Bezos the worlds richest man, surpassing Bill Gates whose net worth is an estimated $101.1 (79.6) billion, according to Forbes. How did Jeff Bezos make his money? Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 when it began as an online bookshop before selling a variety of different products, and it ended-up taking on established retail giants such as Walmart. The company has since continued to diversify and grow, through acquisitions such as Whole Foods and services such as Amazon Web Services. The Richest People in the World - In Pictures 1 /46 The Richest People in the World - In Pictures 1. Jeff Bezos The Amazon founder has a reported net worth of over $122.9 billion following his divorce from philanthropist MacKenzie Bezos. *Information taken from Forbes Billionaire List as of 25 February 2020. Getty Images 2. Bill Gates Despite selling off much of his Microsoft stock and his major charitable donations, Gates continues to enjoy a comfortable $111.1 billion fortune. Getty Images 3. Bernard Arnault and family LVMH founder Arnault is worth $100.1 billion, thanks to the vast collection of brands under LVMH's umbrella including Louis Vuitton, Sephora and Rihanna's new luxury label Fenty. AFP/Getty Images 4. Warren Buffett The so-called 'Oracle of Omaha' made $87.5 billion through his company Berkshire Hathaway, which invests in a number of companies including Geico and Duracell. REUTERS 5. Mark Zuckerberg Facebook CEO Zuckerberg has become a household name with a net worth of $74.4 billion. AFP/Getty Images 6. Amancio Ortega Ortega's impressive fashion empire Inditex has netted him a fortune of $72.3 billion. Getty Images 7. Larry Ellison Tech entrepreneur Ellison made his $66.4 billion with his company Oracle. Getty Images 8. Carlos Slim Helu Known as the richest man in Mexico, Carlos Slim Helu has a net worth of $65.6 billion thanks to his mobile telecom firm America Movil. Getty Images 9. Larry Page The Google co-founder and head of Alphabet is worth $64 billion 10. Michael Bloomberg Media magnate Michael Bloomberg has a net worth of $61.9 billion. Getty Images for Whitney Museum 11. Steve Ballmer Former Microsoft CEO Ballmer is worth $61.7 billion. Getty Images for The New York Ti 12. Sergey Brin The president of Alphabet is worth $61.7 billion. Getty Images for Breakthrough Pr 13. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and family Bettencourt Meyers is the richest woman in the world and heiress of the L'Oreal empire, with a net worth of $54.8 billion. AFP/Getty Images 14. Mukesh Ambani Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani runs Reliance Industries and is worth $54.6 billion. AFP/Getty Images 15. Jim Walton As the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Jim is worth of $52.2 billion. Getty Images 16. Alice Walton The only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Alice leads a comfortable life as an art curator with $52 billion to her name. Getty Images 17. Rob Walton Another Walmart sibling on the list, Rob took over the role of Walmart chairman in 1992 and stepped down - amassing a net worth of $51.9 billion. Getty Images 18. Ma Huateng Huateng's TenCent Holdings is behind Chinese messaging app WeChat and he is valued at $45 billion. AFP/Getty Images 19. Jack Ma The co-founder of ecommerce site Alibaba is worth $42.2 billion. Getty Images 20. Charles Koch The CEO and chairman of Koch Industries is worth $42.1 billion. The Washington Post/Getty Images 21. Julia Koch and family As with his brother, David Koch's vast $42.1 billion net worth stems from his assets in Koch Industries. After he died last year, his wife Julia inherited the fortune. 22. Elon Musk The Tesla and SpaceX founder has been nicknamed the real life Tony Stark and is worth $41.2 billion. Getty Images 23. MacKenzie Bezos (pictured with ex-husband Jeff Bezos) MacKenzie Bezos became the fourth richest woman in the world after her divorce from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and has since signed the Giving Pledge, vowing to give away half of her fortune to charity over her lifetime. Getty Images 24. David Thomson and family Thomson and his family have a net worth of $39.4 billion thanks to their publishing empire, which includes Thomson Reuters. Norm Betts/REX/Shutterstock 25. Phil Knight and family Nike founder Phil Night is worth $38.2 billion. Getty Images 26. Sheldon Adelson Casino magnate Adelson is worth $37.1 billion thanks to his company Las Vegas Sands. Getty Images 27. Francois Pinault and family The Pinault family (who include Salma Hayek's husband Francois Pinault) are worth $33.8 billion thanks to their luxury group Kering, which owns Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Gucci. Getty Images for Copenhagen Fash 28. Beate Heister and Karl Albrecht Jr. The elusive heirs to the Aldi retail fortune both have a net worth of $32.9 billion. Getty Images 29. Jacqueline Mars Candy queen Mars inherited her family company Mars and is valued at $30.8 billion. Getty Images 30. John Mars John, who is the sister of Jacqueline Mars, owns a third of the Mars company and is worth $30.8 billion. Getty Images 31. Michael Dell Dell is the CEO of Dell Technologies and is estimated to be worth $30.3 billion. AFP/Getty Images 32. Lee Shau Kee Another Hong Kong real estate mogul on the list, Lee Shau Kee is worth $29.7 billion. Imagine China/REX/Shutterstock 33. Hui Ka Yan Real estate developer Hui Ka Yan is worth $29.5 billion. Imagine China/REX/Shutterstock 34. Vladimir Potanin Potanin, who co-founded Onexim Bank and has multiple stakes in various businesses, has a net worth of $27.7 billion. Getty Images 35. Li Ka-shing Real estate tycoon and businessman Li Ka-shing is worth $27.6 billion. Getty Images Under Bezos, Amazon also launched the Kindle e-reader and revolutionized the way books are distributed and read. The company has also been a pioneer in cloud computing. At the end of 2015, the e-commerce company announced 304 million active member accounts. In 2018, Amazon's stock soared by 60% and had a market value of more than $890 billion. Bezos is the largest shareholder with a 16% stake in the company. He also personally owns the Washington Post and Blue Origin, a space exploration company. Who is his wife, Mackenzie Bezos? Jeff Bezos and former wife Mackenzie Bezos (Getty) / Getty Images Novelist Mackenzie Bezos married Jeff in 1993 before they both quit their jobs and relocated to Seattle to found Amazon. Mackenzie, 48, grew up in San Francisco and attended Princeton University, before she met her husband when interviewing for a job at a New York hedge fund. She was one of the first ever Amazon employees, doing the accounting for the company in the first year. Her husband would later comment that her support was instrumental in founding the company. He said of Mackenzie: I think my wife is resourceful, smart, brainy and hot, but I had the good fortune of having seen her resume before I met her, so I knew exactly what her SATs were. The couple have four children together and are the 25th largest landowners in the US. Mackenzie became one of the richest people in the world following her divorce from Bezos, with her personal fortune now worth an estimated $36.6 (28.8) billion. Just months after her divorce, she promised to give at least half of her fortune to charity. She said in a statement announcing her decision: I have a disproportionate amount of money to share. My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I wont wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty. Bezos praised his former wifes decision. Mackenzie is going to be amazing and thoughtful and effective at philanthropy, and Im proud of her, he said on Twitter. Why did the couple divorce? According to the Twitter statement, the couple decided to divorce after a long period of "living exploration" and "trial separation". Bezos wrote: "We want to make people aware of a development in our lives. "As our family and close friends know, after a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends. "We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again. A s the global superpowers appear ever more insular in their policy-making, one man is flying the flag as a true citizen of the world. American Mark Mobius has just flown in from Singapore when we meet at the Office Groups site in Eccleston Square (essentially a WeWork with a gym) in Victoria. Hell be off Stateside for the weekend. When I ask why the shaven-headed veteran investor isnt retired with his feet up at 82, he snaps back: This is my life. Its a challenge. Its an understatement for Mobius, whos never been married and has spent his career watching out for corruption and regime changes in emerging markets. Weve met at the digs for his latest venture, Mobius Investment Trust. It raised 100 million when it floated last October, and the shares have trod water at around 100p since. Although he doesnt look too impressed with the office space, the risky markets specialist has done business in much tighter spots. Most fund managers choose every word carefully, like lawyers desperately worried that even the tiniest slip-up will come back to haunt them. Not Mobius, hes a straight-shooter. Born in New York to a Puerto Rican mother and German father, he is best known for his 30 years at fund giant Franklin Templeton, where he successfully put ordinary investors money to work in countries like Turkey, Brazil and the Far East long before it was the norm. Over those years he was averaging returns of 12% per annum, putting him up there alongside Warren Buffett, George Soros and Bill Gross. Yet despite his achievements he admits to being a late developer, having spent a long time as a mature student at MIT not knowing what to do with himself. He says: My mother said you gotta be a doctor or a teacher. I didnt have a clue what I wanted to do, I was a professional student. It got alarming to me at the end and I went to a counsellor in Boston and he said write down the 10 things that make you the happiest. He said to me you like to learn, you gotta get yourself into something where you are constantly changing and moving. A trip to Japan appeased his need for knowledge and that was when he realised travelling while working was the thing for him. In 1967 he took a job as a market researcher with agrochemicals giant Monsanto in Hong Kong. But it wasnt until legendary investor John Templeton approached him at the age of 50 with the idea to start an emerging markets fund that his career really took off. He says: Before the term emerging markets, these countries were known as the poor, the less developed, the underdeveloped. At first it was a tough sell to get the ordinary American punter to invest because many immigrants had come from these countries and were their harshest critics. He says: When we started we had $100 million and only six markets where we could invest. Everything else was closed. A lot of Americans were from these countries and they didnt like it, it was the reason why they left. I was in a cab in New York and the driver was Russian and I told him Ive just come back from Moscow where Im investing. He said you just come back from that lousy country, are you crazy? Mobius adds that even the big institutions were nervous because they were worried about the fluctuating currencies. Id have to explain its good, we have an exporter and a weak currency is good for exporters. Despite a tough first year when the fund lost a third of its value in the October 1987 stock-market crash, over the next 30 years Mobius enjoyed success aided by the use of the Templeton private jet. He was known to scan the globe at least three times a year looking for investable companies with bombed-out share prices. Mobius isnt keen to discuss his big winners, finding more to discuss in the calamities and corruption that have pockmarked his investment career. He tells me at one point he had an investment in Brazilian department stores giant Mesbla, which got into severe financial difficulties in the Nineties. It was eventually taken over by businessman Ricardo Mansur, of whom Mobius was critical in the press. He invited me to breakfast in London and he had a beautiful house in Knightsbridge, marble stairs and a butler. He said its not a good idea for you to make too much noise, it may not be good for your health. He ended up in jail. Another time he had an investment in Turkeys largest bank Akbank and Mobius found out the Sabanci family, who set it up, had been using the bank to lend to their other businesses. When he confronted the family, tycoon Erol Sabanci told him: He said yeah, theyre the companies I know the best, I can trust them. Mobius says these issues are part and parcel of emerging markets investing, adding that when he comes across it he immediately sells the stock. Nevertheless he believes countries have improved largely because of the work the International Monetary Fund has done ordering developing nations to privatise their companies in return for loans. But he says theres nothing a fund manager can do if a leader like Venezuelas Hugo Chavez comes along. When Chavez was elected president in 1999 Templeton had an investment in an electricity firm called Electricidad de Caracas but immediately sold it to Americas AES Corporation. As soon as he came in I started listening to what he was saying, I thought hes gonna take over everything. I dont know what AES were thinking. They sold out a number of years later at a big loss. Mobius also warns on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has publicly stated he wants to nationalise rail and energy in the UK, while he has no time for US Democrat and social media star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Its frightening, theyre talking about communism. It scares any investor. One politician Mobius does have sympathy for is President Donald Trump, particularly when it comes to his hardline stance on China. He believes China demands too much of Westerners trying to do business in the country, adding that Trump is trying to level the playing field. Trump is saying what should have been said a long time ago. At Franklin Templeton we wanted to manage money in China but theyd say no, youve got to have a joint venture, youve got to transfer your technology. This is not fair as then theyre competing. He says the trade war between the two superpowers will damage global growth but remains an optimist. He hopes the Mobius Investment Trust can grow to become a $2 billion fund. It is 75% invested in firms including retailer PT Matahari Department Store in Indonesia, Russian internet company Mail.Ru and Brazilian car parts maker Iochpe-Maxion. Mobius is still on the lookout and is searching for companies in Romania, which he says is one of the fastest growing economies in eastern Europe, but he has lost faith in Turkey under president Recep Erdogan. When it comes to investing youve got to go global because no one country or company is the best-performing year after year, so youve got to diversify. T o those of you just getting to grips with our parliamentary jargon, wait until we get to the European Parliament elections. A quick guide: Alde is not a keenly priced supermarket (its an alliance of liberals and democrats in Europe); terrible things to do not happen to the Spitzenkandidat (a lead party candidate) over a roaring fire. Manfred Weber is not an Eighties German rock star and The Power of We is not a chart-topping song but the name of his campaign to be Jean-Claude Junckers successor. Pay attention, because as the threat of a no-deal Brexit fades, the threat of a full-on EU election rises. Should we be scared? No. Should we run towards it with open arms, embrace every MEP candidate and develop strongly held opinions about Spitzenkandidaten that we have only just heard of? Of course. Our Prime Minister is determined not to have these European elections. My desire to have them might be just to annoy her. But it might also be to see what happens. As Left-Right polarities buckle, the EP elections are the perfect place for upstart parties. Ukip cleaned up in 2014, with more seats than the Tories and Labour. Having gone through eight leaders in the past few months, or thereabouts, four of them Farage, they arent looking quite the same force. Farage will have another go with his own party. I forget its name. Their avengers might well be the latest start-up: Change UK, led by arch-Remainers Heidi Allen and Chuka Umunna. Our collective fury does need to be funnelled into something and the ballot box is best. There, devoted Remainers and tub-thumping Leavers can put an angry X in a box that represents their pure views. None of this sludgy compromise. Yes, it will be a quasi-second referendum but, for a Prime Minister so beholden to a democratic vote, whats wrong with another? But the best reason to have them is that this country loves Eurovision, so lets make a TV fest of it: Euroelections. At least we cant get nul points. All eyes are on this water birth How to switch off from London life? Get a duck pond, and wait for ducks. Thats what I do at the weekends in my bolt hole in the country. Hours are spent watching a loving drake and mallard as they waddle in for lunch and then flap themselves back to the patch of bracken and brambles in which I assume the hard-shelled fruits of their love, a nest of eggs, sits. Much of the UK may be awaiting the arrival of the next royal baby, but Im on duckwatch, waiting for the ducklings. You will get a picture exclusive when they arrive. Women writers locked out of non-fiction Catherine Mayer / Matt Writtle I had a phone conversation with Catherine Mayer, the author and co-founder of the Womens Equality Party, yesterday, and the Primadonna literary festival came up. Its mission is to give more prominence to women. Why do they need it? Because the market is skewed. Books by women are priced about 45 per cent lower than mens, and theres a 25 per cent pay gap. Women do well in fiction. My bugbear is with non-fiction. Try going through the history or economics lists on Amazon and count the books until you get to one by a woman. Shortly after speaking to Catherine I had coffee with a friend who had wanted to write a book about tech. She recounted how she had met a literary agent who suggested she write about tech for families. But I just want to write about tech, she protested to me. She didnt get signed. I guess shed have an easier time writing a novel about tech. The little book of Tusk sayings Publishers searching for the next book of aphorisms, look to Donald Tusk. This tweet arrived this week: Even if, after today, we dont know what the end result will be, let us be patient. #brexit. Its Confucius, no? In January he asked this gentle question: If a deal is impossible, and no one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is? A h, cmon guys, lets cut Donald Trump some slack. Which one of us hasnt falsified basic family history for financial gain, political advantage, or just for fun? My father is German, was German, the US President told Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg in a White House meeting this week, disregarding the fact that his dad, Fred, was born in New York. Freds father, Friedrich, was indeed German, but left for America aged 16. Was Trump shamelessly buttering up his European allies in the hope they would lower their guard before he socked them with a demand for increased defence contributions? Was he doubling down on the lie about his dads Teutonic nativity, having previously uttered it at a Nato summit in Brussels last year? Or was he just seeing how far he could warp the contours of reality and credulity, an ongoing work of performance art that has already seen him claim to be the champion of the working man, a victim of the deep state and most recently and most audaciously at his delayed State of the Nation address a feminist. I prefer to think the Donald was just indulging in the sort of familial myth-making, history-massaging and backstory-bending that we all go in for from time to time. My mother-in-law, a talented actress, was a mistress of this art. She once claimed to have been watching the news of John F Kennedys assassination while pregnant with my wife. When we pointed out that the dates didnt marry up, she replied, without pausing: Thats right, it was the Aberfan disaster. Those dates didnt fit either, but it served my mother-in-laws belief that her daughters birth should be accompanied by an earth-shaking drama of some sort. I have a friend who, Trumpishly, claims to be Irish or Welsh depending on the company he finds himself in (he was born in Sussex). Another friend and I, both thoroughgoing metropolitan ponces, used to lay claim to working-class heritage based on family heirlooms. Mine was a knuckleduster supposedly taken off a crook by a policeman great-uncle in Burton-on-Trent. His was a work lamp belonging to his grandfather, a northern coal miner. But the knuckleduster turned out to have been made by my grandfather to show his brass-turning skills. And my friends grandad turned out to be a mine inspector. Positively bourgeois. Ive never worked out where these myths came from, but their existence reminds me that we should keep talking to our nearest and dearest. Id always believed that my brass-turning grandfather had spent his life working as a brewers assistant in Burton. Only in later years did my dad reveal hed been wounded as a young man in the First World War; since my grandfather never spoke of it, my dad didnt either. I nternal Labour memo to Jeremy Corbyn from his advisers, as imagined by Jonathan Powell... Confidential and Personal From: Head Of Strategy (SM) To: Leader Of Opposition (JC) Negotiations On Brexit With The Prime Minister Our objective on Brexit remains the same as it has been for the past three years. We want to avoid being blamed for enabling Brexit by our pro-European party members, and at the same time ensure we cannot be held responsible for blocking it by Brexit-supporting, working-class Labour voters. And you, of course, share the views of your close advisers that the best thing we can do is get out of the European Union but be in a position to blame the shambles that will ensue on a Tory Brexit we opposed. We had no choice but to engage in negotiations once the Government offered. The polls show a substantial majority in favour of the two parties co-operating. And we have to make it look as though we are ready to compromise, even if in reality we are not hence our public insistence that we have no red lines. The past two days have gone well. We have managed to throw up a smokescreen by appointing a negotiating team, holding hours of meetings facilitated by Cabinet Office civil servants and appearing to take the process seriously with press statements about the talks being productive. Luckily Theresa May has left it far too late to look serious herself in pursuing a cross-party consensus. She is just going through the motions, having run out of other options and needing to demonstrate to the EU that she has tried everything. And she is so patently partisan and dedicated to keeping the Tory party together at all costs that she will probably take the blame when the talks collapse, whatever we do. But we do have to guard against the embrace of a drowning woman. What if she makes public the written offer she gives us today? We do not want to fall into the trap of supporting her deal and becoming co-responsible for her Brexit. We cant in any case be sure her successor will stick to any agreement she reaches, which would only be implemented after she quits as Prime Minister. This will require some clever footwork. Our first line of defence is to concentrate on our demand for continued membership of the customs union. This has been a cornerstone of our position from the beginning and is opposed by a majority of the Tory party because it would prevent the UK negotiating its own trade agreements once we leave the EU. But we cannot absolutely rely on May continuing to oppose the customs union. She may try to slip one past us by proposing a customs union this is the notion dreamt up by civil servants that replicates many of the aspects of the customs union without actually being it. You must continue to insist on membership of the customs union, like Turkey, whatever May proposes. If that doesnt work and the Europhile David Lidington, who has taken over the negotiations, accepts continued membership of the customs union, we will need to fall back on our original six conditions. These were modelled on Ed Balls five economic tests for joining the euro set out in 1997 simultaneously meaningless and absolutely impossible to meet which he used to bamboozle Tony Blair. The condition we should particularly emphasise is our insistence, quoting David Davis, the Brexit Secretary at the time, that any deal delivers the exact same benefits as our membership of the single market and the customs union. Since that is logically impossible, we should be able to keep stonewalling up to the EU deadline next week. One major problem we have is the obsession of most of our backbench MPs with a Peoples Vote. Even Emily Thornberry is now insisting on the Kyle-Wilson amendment offering a referendum on whatever deal is agreed by Parliament. The idea has even been endorsed by the Chancellor. This is tricky given the decision at conference. Luckily, May is even more opposed to a new referendum than she is to the customs union, so we are probably safe just claiming we have mentioned it without actually having to push it. Of course, there is the danger that if we are found out to have refused to accept a Peoples Vote we will face a major split in the party. But frankly, you and I agree that we are much better off without most of those MPs anyway. A confirmatory referendum would let the Tories off the hook on Brexit and draw a line under the issue. That must not happen and you should under no circumstances agree to this. Luckily for us, given your inexperience at negotiation, May has painfully demonstrated her claim to be the worlds worst negotiator over the past three years. She spent more than three quarters of that period engaged in internal negotiations within her party, and we will probably be able to deflect her for the few days left to us, while of course appearing earnest. We must also resist any government attempt to bind us into a parliamentary process to resolve the way forward if the two of us cannot agree. That would be the worst of all worlds. We wouldnt have any control and we would be responsible for whatever is agreed by Parliament. That is why we have made it clear from the beginning that we rule this option out. Finally, we will need to be the first to get out and brief the media when the negotiations break down, just as May did after this weeks Cabinet meeting. In that way we can make sure our account of the negotiation prevails: the Government was unreasonable and refused to compromise, while we were completely flexible. If we manage to carry off this plan, we will probably end up with the EU agreeing a one-year extension. That will almost certainly lead to a Tory leadership election followed by a general election. Best of all worlds. SAN MATEO, Calif., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Friday, April 26, 2019 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Franklin Resources, Inc. (the Company) [NYSE:BEN] will release its second quarter 2019 operating results. A written commentary on the results by Chairman and CEO Greg Johnson and CFO and Executive Vice President Ken Lewis will also be available via investors.franklinresources.com at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. In addition, Johnson and Lewis will lead a live teleconference at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to answer questions of a material nature. Access to the teleconference will be available via investors.franklinresources.com or by dialing (877) 407-8293 in the U.S. and Canada or (201) 689-8349 internationally. A replay of the teleconference can also be accessed by calling (877) 660-6853 in the U.S. and Canada or (201) 612-7415 internationally using access code 13689373, after 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 26, 2019 through May 26, 2019. Analysts and investors are encouraged to review the Companys recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and to contact Investor Relations at (650) 312-4091 before the live teleconference for any clarifications or questions related to the earnings release or written commentary. Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management to retail, institutional and sovereign wealth clients in over 170 countries. Through specialized teams, the Company has expertise across all asset classesincluding equity, fixed income, alternative and custom solutions. The Companys more than 600 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With offices in more than 30 countries, the Californiabased company has more than 70 years of investment experience and over $714 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2019. For more information, please visit investors.franklinresources.com. Franklin Resources, Inc. Investor Relations: Brian Sevilla (650) 312-4091 Media Relations: Matt Walsh (650) 312-2245 investors.franklinresources.com It's customary for brides to walk down the aisle wearing a sweeping white dress and matching veil. Well, it was. Now, modern brides are switching up the wedding day style rules, banishing traditional wedding dresses for jumpsuits, capes and colour, as well as ditching veils for flower crowns or bedazzled headbands. And, the sartorial alternatives just keep on coming. From sleek white fedoras to floppy straw styles, bridal hats are the new 'it' wedding accessory pinned to the top of the modern bride-to-be's Pinterest board. The Most Curious Wedding Fair, which took place earlier this month, further confirmed the rise of bridal hats. The ensemble consisted of a 120 mustard suit from high-street shop Zara and a wide-brim black fedora hat adorned with a mini veil. Millie Mackintosh quickly followed suit, opting for a similar bridal ensemble when she wed Hugo Taylor in August 2018. But, the 29-year-old managed to put a tradition spin on the suit and hat combination, sticking to an all-white colour scheme. The 'gram has also been filled with fashion-forward brides rocking the new must-have accessory. For ultimate inspo check out fashion influencer and hat enthusiast, Quigley Goode, who serves up numerous perfect bridal looks featuring extra large panama hats. If you're feeling brave, you could make a real show-stopping entrance in an extra large straw hat like Danish model Emma Leth, who paired a Jacquemus headgear with a see-through wedding dress in June last year. E dvard Munch's The Scream is one of the most famous paintings in the world, but the artist's other works might not be as familiar as you'd expect. A new exhibition at the British Museum shows the Norwegian painters talent for capturing emotion in a single piece be it anxiety, love, isolation or despair. Edvard Munch: Love and Angst showcases 83 artworks, including a black and white lithographic print of The Scream, and will pay close attention to the artist's printmaking the medium that brought about his fame. To mark the British Museums exhibition, weve rounded up some of our favourite Edvard Munch works, covering all forms. The Scream, 1893 ( CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) / CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images This 1893 painting is undoubtedly Munch's most famous and is still an iconic image more than 120 years on, spawning endless pop culture references, from Halloween masks to movies. The androgynous individual in the painting is clearly overcome with horror. Munch created four main versions of this work, two pastels and two paintings, but a number of other lithographs and sketches are also associated with it. The popularity of this piece has resulted in it being the target of a number of high-profile art thefts. In 1994, the National Gallery in Oslo fell victim to this crime and had its version stolen thankfully it was recovered three months later. Vampire, 1893 Vampire, 191618, Edvard Munch (Munch Museum ) / The Munch Museum Vampire was not the original title of this work in fact Munch called it Love and Pain. The revised name was picked up later on, in reference to the vampire-like embrace of the woman, over the man. Munch maintained, however, that it was simply a woman kissing a man and remained ambiguous regarding any deeper meaning. Vampire, along with a number of Munch's other works, was banned in Nazi Germany for being morally "degenerate" but thankfully most of his art survived the Second World War. Angst, 1894 Angst, 1894, Edvard Munch / The Munch Museum You might get a strong sense of deja vu looking at this work thats because it bears comparison to Munchs The Scream. The background recalls the familiar scene as Munch repeats the jetty, the two boats and the red and orange-hued sky. Angst, however, showcases a kind of collective despair from the multiple people in the painting, whereas The Scream focuses on individual agony. Many people have argued that Munch, much like fellow Norwegian creatives such as Ibsen, captured his country's political anxieties of the time. Puberty, 1894 Puberty, 1894, Edvard Munch (Munch Museum) / The Munch Museum Munch used the theme of puberty to form part of a series when he was an established artist in Berlin. This artwork, which depicts a young naked girl sitting on a bed, is another one of his controversial images due to its sexual connotations. Some critics suggest the overbearing shadow that lurks behind her symbolises her anxieties around growing up. Madonna, 18951902 Madonna, 1895/1902. Edvard Munch (1863-1944), ( Munchmuseet) / Munchmuseet As with many of his artworks, Munch created several versions of this piece, including this lithographic print which includes swimming sperm around the edge and a foetus in the corner. Some critics have suggested that the sperm represents male desire framing the canvas, while others view the Madonna as a femme fatale figure. The combination of religion and eroticism meant that the artwork was met with controversy when it was first released. The Kiss, 1897 The Kiss, 1897, Edvard Munch / The Munch Museum Munch's The Frieze of Life series was a collection that focused on love, sex, death, anxiety and jealousy, and included this piece alongside The Scream painting. The dark, secluded nature of the piece suggests the relationship is private and perhaps secretive, and the faces are fused together, which could reflect the couples unity. Munch never married and many believe The Kiss reflects the artists ambivalent attitudes towards romance. The Lonely Ones, 1899 The Lonely Ones, 1899.Edvard Munch(1863-1944),Munchmuseet / The Lonely Ones, 1899.Edvard Munch(1863-1944),Munchmuseet, Courtesy of the British Museum Munch was a fan of using the same motif across numerous mediums, such as painting, printmaking and drawing, so often one given piece will have a number of different versions this print is one of eight for The Lonely Ones. In the work, two figures can be seen staring out to sea and, despite being next to each other, both appear to be isolated. The piece is another great example of how Munch captures such strong human emotion in just one image. The Girls On The Bridge, 1899 CARL COURT/AFP/GettyImages This painting, created in 1899, marks a new era of Munchs art. The colours are clearer and brighter than his paintings from the late 19th century, but his signature swirling style can still be seen in this work, and the elongated pier somewhat echoes The Scream. It also appears to venture into more harmonious and picturesque territory compared to his earlier anxiety-fuelled pieces. Jealousy, 193335 Jealousy, 193335, Edvard Munch / Munchmuseet Jealousy, with its 11 versions, is another example of Munch revisiting a painting. On the whole, its thought the motif refers to the relationship Munch had with the wife of his poet friend Stainislaw Przybyszewski. This particular version has biblical imagery in the background, such as the apple and the naked Eve-like woman, alluding to ideas of temptation. The Sick Child, 1925 The Sick Child, 1925, Edvard Munch, / The Munch Museum Munch had a tough childhood and this 1907 painting recalls a particular haunting memory the death of his fifteen-year-old sister, Sophie, who passed away from tuberculosis. This particularly personal project took him more than 40 years to complete, resulting in six different works. Some critics suggest the rapid brushwork reflects him recalling the painful and traumatic memory. G oogles latest doodle honours German physicist Hedwig Kohn on what would have been her 132nd birthday. A pioneer of her field, Kohn became one of only three women to hold a university teaching position in Germany prior to World War Two. Born in Breslau, which is now Wroclaw, Poland on 5 April 1887, Kohn was awarded her doctorate in 1913 before moving on to teaching. In 1933, during the era of Nazi Germany, she was dismissed from her position at the University of Breslau because she was Jewish. Struggling to get a work visa, Kohn would remain in the country until 1940, when she fled to the US. She pursued her passion for teaching in the states, holding positions at the Womens College of the University of North Carolina and Wellesley College in Massachusetts. An early sketching of Hedwig Kohn's Google Doodle drawn by Carolin Lobbert (Google ) / Google Alongside teaching, she worked tirelessly in her basement lab, honing her expertise on electromagnetic radiation and molecular spectroscopy, before taking on a research position at Duke University. At the end of her career, Kohn published more than 20 journals and her work on radiometry was written into hundreds of textbook pages. Google Doodle art director Matt Cruickshank's favourite Doodles 1 /26 Google Doodle art director Matt Cruickshank's favourite Doodles The doodle marking the 155th anniversary of the London Underground Google The doodle celebrating the 255th anniversary of the British Museum Google The doodle marking India's Republic Day in 2013 Google The doodle marking the 160th anniversary of the first Indian passenger train Google The doodle marking Earth Day 2018 with Jane Goodall Google The doodle marking when the NASA Juno probe reached Jupiter The doodle marking when the NASA Juno probe reached Jupiter Google The doodle marking Hannah Glasse's 310th birthday, the creator of the Yorkshire Pudding Google The doodle celebrating Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak, who died in 2013 Google One of Matt Cruickshank's doodles, marking the 93rd birthday of Saul Bass, the American graphic designer and Oscar-winning film maker Google The doodle marking Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka's 120th birthday Google The doodle marking Shakespeare's 400th birthday, which also takes place on the same day as St George's Day Google The doodle celebrating the Japanese poet, Kobayashi Issa Google The doodle marking marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Louise Carson on her 107th birthday Google The doodle marking Columbian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 91st birthday, Google The doodle marking Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's 95th anniversary Google An amalgamation of all the different Google Doodle gifs marking 100 years since the completion of the Trans-Siberian railway Google The background for the doodle game celebrating Doctor Who's 50th anniversary Google The doodle celebrating Doctor Who's 50th anniversary Google The doodle marking 155 years of the Pony Express - when horseback riders would deliver letters between California and Missouri Google Kohn died in 1964 at the age of 77. G reece, with its endless beaches and chilled-out way of life, has long been a drawcard for Brits booking a summer holiday. Yet, if youre heading to mainland Greece or one of the Greek Islands this year, you may find queues at the airport coming home are a bit longer than theyve been in previous years. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have recently issued new advice stating that as of April 7, 2019 the Hellenic Police will begin implementing systematic passport control checks for all European citizens travelling to/from destinations outside the Schengen area. The UK is not included in the Schengen area an area which is made up on 26 European nations, including the Netherlands, France and Germany which means if you hold a British passport, you could face increased waiting times at passport control on departure and arrival into Greece. What this means is that you will have to make sure you allow yourself extra time to get to the airport and get through custom control when leaving the country, and allow yourself extra time if youve booked a shuttle or mode of transport to take you to your accommodation once in Greece. O ne of the victims of the Edmonton stabbings has been left paralysed after their spinal cord was severed in the attack, a court heard today. Five people were injured in a series of assaults between Saturday and Tuesday. Three of them remain in hospital. All are said to be stable although one, thought to be a 45-year-old woman who was the first victim of the attacks, has suffered life-changing paralysis. Today a man appeared in court in connection with the stabbings. Jason Kakaire, 29, of Edmonton is facing five charges of attempted murder and five of possessing an offensive weapon, and appeared in custody at Highbury Corner magistrates court this morning. He stood with his head bowed and spoke only to confirm his age, address and British nationality. Harika Yuksel, prosecuting, said the victims were of varying ethnicities and all lived locally. Police forensics officers on Aberdeen Road in north London / PA She said: None of the victims had any possessions taken. The sole intention was to kill them. All the victims were defenceless and approached from behind and stabbed in the back. She said the most severely injured person had a severed spinal cord causing paralysis. District Judge Julia Newton told Kakaire: These matters are now being sent to the central criminal court where you will appear on May 3. Kakaire was arrested within hours of the last attack in Fairfield Road on Tuesday when a man, 36, was stabbed. The victim managed to stagger to a police cordon in Aberdeen Road, the scene of an earlier stabbing. Today police said the victim remained in hospital, along with a 23-year-old man stabbed in Fore Street on Sunday. The first victim, a 45-year-old woman, was stabbed in Aberdeen Road on Saturday. A man, 52, stabbed in Park Avenue on Saturday and a 29-year-old knifed in Brettenham Road on Sunday have been released from hospital. A man has been charged with five counts of attempted murder following a spate of knife attacks in north London. Five people were stabbed between Saturday, March 30 and Tuesday this week in the Edmonton area. Jason Kakaire, 29, of Cameron Close in Edmonton, was charged with five counts of attempted murder in the early hours of Friday. He was set to appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court later today. "Officers are not seeking anyone else in connection with this investigation, Scotland Yard said in statement. A frustrated London teacher has slammed the Government for its handling of the knife crime crisis as she accused them of shirking responsibility on Question Time. The audience member addressed Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright in Dulwich, in south London, telling him that she has taught children who have been killed or have killed. She hit out at cuts to early intervention measures and said that the disregard the Government has for people on the ground, such as nurses and teachers, is disgraceful. What this is really about is the Government shirking responsibility for why we are where we are, the teacher of 15 years told Mr Wright during Thursday evenings show. A frustrated teacher hit out at the Government during Question Time / BBC Children that I have taught have been killed, children that I have taught have killed. The reason why we are where we are is because we have had millions of pounds worth of cuts to preventative early intervention services that are vital for young people in this country." Accusing Mr Wright of shrugging while she spoke, she added: You can shrug your shoulders, and thats the point isnt it that we have got people in Government who shrug their shoulders. They tell us what reality is for us, for people who are doing the jobs, and they come out with soundbites like teachers and nurses can identify people who are at risk and if not you will be accountable. Its disgraceful, this is why the Government is not fit for purpose anymore. The teacher slammed the Government's cuts to early intervention services / BBC Her comments come after Sajid Javid floated the idea of a public health duty in a bid to help pinpoint warning signs that a youngster could be in danger, such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury. Responding to the Home Secretarys remarks, the teacher added: The fact that Sajid Javid said that this week - it was on April the 1st, I thought it was an April Fools joke. The disregard that our Government has for people who are on the ground doing this work who know why we are where we are to suggest that teachers and nurses who already do all of this anyway could be in some way further responsible for the fact that children are killing each other because there is nothing left for many of those children in society is disgraceful. It comes four days after Theresa May opened an emergency knife crime summit at Downing Street to tackle the knife crime epidemic following a spate of fatal stabbings. A young man has been stabbed in broad daylight outside a busy train station in east London. The man, believed to be in his 20s, was knifed in Cranbrook Road, outside Ilford station, at about 3.30pm on Friday. Photos posted on social media show police cars and ambulances at the scene as a crowd of onlookers gathered. Paramedics were pictured working on the victim inside the station. An air ambulance also landed nearby before the man was rushed to hospital. It comes after a 20-year-old man was knifed to death outside the same station in February. Medics and bystanders including schoolchildren battled to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A Met Police spokeswoman said: We were called at 3.29pm today to reports of a stabbing. Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service. A man believed to be in 20s was stabbed. He has been taken to hospital." Police later said the man's injuries were not life threatening. No arrests have been made. A woman who was jailed for killing her husband in a hammer attack has been freed on bail after her conviction was overturned. Sally Challen, whose real name is Georgina, was granted conditional bail at the Old Bailey as she awaits a fresh trial accused of murdering her husband Richard. Mr Justice Edis said the 65-year-old should be released from custody on Saturday from midday. Challen pleaded not guilty to her husband's murder but admitted to manslaughter on Friday in her first appearance at the Old Bailey since her original conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal. She killed the 61-year-old in August 2010 after 40 years of being controlled and humiliated by him. Sally and Richard Challen Challen was jailed for life for the murder of the former car dealer following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in 2011. But her conviction was quashed and a retrial ordered at the Court of Appeal in London in February, in light of new evidence which was not available at the time of her first trial. The Court of Appeal heard evidence relating to Challen's state of mind at the time of the killing and the issue of "coercive control". Sally Challen will be freed on conditional bail / PA Challen, who has been held at HMP Bronzefield, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link on Friday. Wearing a black blouse, she spoke only to confirm her identity and enter her plea. Supporters of Georgina Challen outside the Court of Appeal in February / PA Mr Justice Edis confirmed the trial would be transferred to the Old Bailey as he set a timetable for the case. Prosecutor Joel Smith pointed out the size of the public gallery in Court One, saying it was a better venue "given the attention this matter has attracted so far". Mr Justice Edis set a further hearing for June 7 and a trial on July 1 "if necessary". Sally Challen's son David outside court last month / PA Challen, a former Police Federation worker, has been supported by her sons David and James Challen. In February, David said his mum's murder conviction being overturned was an amazing moment and said he and his brother never felt the abuse their mother faced was recognised properly. A woman who was jailed for killing her husband in a hammer attack has been freed on bail and released from custody after her conviction was overturned. Sally Challen, whose real name is Georgina, was granted conditional bail at the Old Bailey as she awaits a fresh trial accused of murdering her husband Richard. Mr Justice Edis said the 65-year-old should be released from custody on Saturday from midday. But her son David Challen said on Friday night that she had been released early. In response to a message from Spice Girls star Mel B who had sent well-wishes, he tweeted: "We just picked her up! She's in the car with me right now!!!" He added: "Everyone at HMP Bronzefield has been so lovely to us." Challen pleaded not guilty to her husband's murder but admitted to manslaughter on Friday in her first appearance at the Old Bailey since her original conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal. She killed the 61-year-old in August 2010 after 40 years of being controlled and humiliated by him. Sally and Richard Challen Challen was jailed for life for the murder of the former car dealer following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in 2011. But her conviction was quashed and a retrial ordered at the Court of Appeal in London in February, in light of new evidence which was not available at the time of her first trial. The Court of Appeal heard evidence relating to Challen's state of mind at the time of the killing and the issue of "coercive control". Sally Challen will be freed on conditional bail / PA Challen, who has been held at HMP Bronzefield, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link on Friday. Wearing a black blouse, she spoke only to confirm her identity and enter her plea. Supporters of Georgina Challen outside the Court of Appeal in February / PA Mr Justice Edis confirmed the trial would be transferred to the Old Bailey as he set a timetable for the case. Prosecutor Joel Smith pointed out the size of the public gallery in Court One, saying it was a better venue "given the attention this matter has attracted so far". Mr Justice Edis set a further hearing for June 7 and a trial on July 1 "if necessary". Sally Challen's son David outside court last month / PA Challen, a former Police Federation worker, has been supported by her sons David and James Challen. In February, David said his mum's murder conviction being overturned was an amazing moment and said he and his brother never felt the abuse their mother faced was recognised properly. The WLIN Global Forum is an annual event organised by the Women Leaders International Networking (WLIN), under the direction of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and with the companion of Pro Image academy run by Nam Huong Media & Event. During the past five years, the forum has laid positive effects among the local and international business communities, affirming the vision of women in the new era which is that women can rise and assert themselves in the role of leaders. The programme has received a warm response and participation of numerous female leaders from all over the world, as well as experts in various fields. The issues mentioned in the forum are analysed and discussed in multiple perspectives, thereby bringing a comprehensive picture of various topics, such as womens leadership in business, young female leaders - successes and challenges and leadership without borders. In Vietnam, the forum takes place from April 4 to 7 in Hanoi, Da Nang, Quang Ngai and Quang Nam. In addition to key figures in Vietnam, the WLIN Global Forum 2019 has expanded its global reach with the participation of guests from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong (China), Kenya, USA, Bosnia and Australia, including Thai Princess Mom Luang Rajadarasri Jayankura, Aurora Aquino from the Consultative Status of Economic Council of United Nations, VCCI Chairman Dr. Vu Tien Loc, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Trong Thua, Chairwoman of Vietnam Women Entrepreneur Council Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, and Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama. In mid-March, the WLIN Global had official engagements with iCareBase to accompany a global health care project targeting cancer prevention to offer new knowledge contributing to raising public awareness about preventive medicine, healthcare and timely methods of detecting and treating cancer. At the WLIN Global Forum 2019, iCareBase signed agreements with WLIN representatives in countries where WLIN Global develops, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kenya and USA, turning WLIN Global members into ambassadors to convey positive messages to the community to help change and raise public awareness on healthcare and cancer prevention. In addition, the programme also features a ceremony to honour the winner of the Top 50 Women Leaders International Awards 2019 and The Best Brands in Global Award 2019 the prestigious awards for female leaders and businesses worldwide. The female leaders honoured in the Top 50 Women Leaders International Awards 2019 are innovative, with initiatives in connecting and working without borders to bring the image of women to a new height. They are also the typical female leaders in 2018-2019 with a positive contribution in the process of confirming the image and position of female leaders in the new era. NEW YORK, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: INF) and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: RA) (each, a Fund, and collectively, the Funds) today announced that their Boards of Directors declared their monthly distributions for April, May and June 2019. Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. Month Record Date Ex Date Payable Date Amount per Share April 2019 April 17, 2019 April 16, 2019 April 25, 2019 $0.0817 May 2019 May 15, 2019 May 14, 2019 May 23, 2019 $0.0817 June 2019 June 12, 2019 June 11, 2019 June 20, 2019 $0.0817 Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. Month Record Date Ex Date Payable Date Amount per Share April 2019 April 17, 2019 April 16, 2019 April 25, 2019 $0.1990 May 2019 May 15, 2019 May 14, 2019 May 23, 2019 $0.1990 June 2019 June 12, 2019 June 11, 2019 June 20, 2019 $0.1990 Shares purchased on or after the ex-distribution date will not receive the distribution discussed above. Please contact your financial advisor with any questions. Distributions may include net investment income, capital gains and/or return of capital. Any portion of a Funds distributions that is a return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. The tax status of distributions will be determined at the end of the taxable year. Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG) is an SEC-registered investment adviser that represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., providing global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, energy infrastructure equities, multi-strategy real asset solutions and real asset debt. With more than $18 billion of assets under management as of February 28, 2019, PSG manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and individual investors. PSG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., a leading global alternative asset manager with over $350 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2018. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com. Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. are managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC. The Funds use their website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Funds are routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfield.com . S hane O'Brien, who was one of Britain's most wanted fugitives, has returned to the country. O'Brien, 31, arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7.30pm on Friday and is now in custody at a police station in London. O'Brien is suspected of murdering 21-year-old Josh Hanson in west London in October 2015. Mr Hanson was stabbed to death in a bar in Eastcote, Hillingdon. O'Brien was subject to a European Arrest Warrant and was arrested in Romania last month. Dramatic footage shows arrest of 'Britain's most wanted' man Shane O'Brien in Romania over 2015 murder of Josh Hanson in Hillingdon bar He is thought to have left the UK shortly after Mr Hanson's death, flying on a private jet from Biggin Hill Airport in south-east London and landing in Germany. It is believed he spent time in the Netherlands, Dubai and at least seven months in Prague. Josh Hanson, 21, was knifed to death. Police photos showed how he had changed his appearance, having longer hair and a beard, with a new large tattoo of an owl holding a skull that covers a large portion of his back. It covered a distinctive tattoo he had previously, which read "Shannon 15-04-06". Mr Hanson's mother, who has long campaigned for help tracking down O'Brien, thanked lead investigator Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh in the wake of the arrest. A murder investigation has been launched after a 60-year-old man was beaten in an east London street and died from a head injury. The man was attacked in Hoe Street, near Walthamstow Central Tube station, on Tuesday morning at 6.45am, police said. He was rushed to hospital after officers found him suffering from a head injury. He died on Wednesday. Police said his next of kin have been informed. Scotland Yard said a 44-year-old man was arrested in Dagenham the following day at 10.50pm on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody at an east London police station. In a statement, police said: Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. Detectives from the Mets Homicide and Major Crime Command are leading the investigation and arrested a 44-year-old man in Dagenham at about 22:50hrs on Thursday, 4 April on suspicion of murder. He has been taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody. Enquiries continue. A TRAINEE barrister today told how Londons polluted air forced her to abandon hope of working in the capital. Fern Bowkett, 25, studied law at Royal Holloway but was advised by a doctor to leave for the countryside after a series of critical asthma attacks. She hopes that the ultra low emission zone, which Mayor Sadiq Khan says will cut pollution by 45 per cent, could one day allow her to pursue her career in the capital. Ms Bowkett, who quit London in 2017 for Hereford, said: I wanted to stay in London to do my post-graduate course. Its good he is doing this [Ulez] now but it should have been done a long time ago. She wants other cities to introduce similar restrictions on polluting vehicles. She was diagnosed with asthma at 13 and was on medication to keep it under control. But within two weeks of arriving in London in 2013, she collapsed and was taken to hospital after suffering an attack. Over the next three years she was hospitalised eight times. Once, in Rome, she had to be put in an induced coma. Dr Samantha Walker, director of research at Asthma UK, welcomed the Ulez, saying it could pave the way to safer air for people with asthma. She added: Air pollution affects around 3.3 million people with asthma and can leave them coughing, wheezing and at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. There is evidence of a link between nitrogen oxides, the harmful gases found in exhaust fumes, and an increased risk of children getting asthma.@RossLydall T he location of spy agency GCHQs London base has been revealed after being unknown to the public for more than 65 years. The whereabouts of the site, sandwiched between a Starbucks and a pub near St Jamess Park Tube station, was until now top secret. GCHQ, known as Britain's listening post, has successfully worked to protect the coordinates of the base since 1953. But the location of the site, in Palmer Street, has now been unmasked after the organisation moved elsewhere. Director of GCHQ Jeremy Fleming said: "As we depart our Palmer Street site after 66 years, we look back on a history full of amazing intelligence, world-leading innovation, and the ingenious people who passed through those secret doors. The former base was top secret for many years / PA "Then, as now, it's a history defined by the belief that with the right mix of minds, anything is possible." GCHQ was established on November 1 1919 as a peacetime "cryptanalytic" unit made up from staff from the Admiralty's Room 40 and the War Office's MI1(b). During the Second World War, GCHQ personnel moved to Bletchley Park where they decrypted German messages, most famously by breaking Enigma communications. In the early 1950s, the service moved its headquarters from the London suburbs of Eastcote to Cheltenham, meaning a suitable location was needed in the centre of the capital for the handling of secret paperwork and as a regular base for its director. GCHQ has revealed its former offices were behind this door in Palmer street, Westminster / PA After a search, the Ministry of Works provided a newly built, Government-leased building on Palmer Street. GCHQ moved into its secret London home in the spring of 1953, housing a range of different teams there over the following decades. The agency said: "The Palmer Street hub has played its part in significant events over the years, such as the 2012 London Olympics, working with our partners, MI6, MI5 and the Metropolitan Police to counter terrorist activities and serious and organised crime whilst keeping ministers up to date with security briefings." The future plans for the building, which has been sold privately, are not known. While no longer operating from the Palmer Street site, GCHQ will maintain a London presence. As well as its Cheltenham HQ, the agency has offices in Bude in Cornwall, Scarborough, Lincolnshire and Harrogate. Later this year, it will open a new secure facility in Manchester. T heresa May is to write to European Council president Donald Tusk today with the UK's request for a further delay to Brexit, a Downing Street source said. The Prime Minister has not yet secured caabinet support for a long delay to Brexit to prevent the UK from crashing out of the EU without a deal. But she will send a letter today to EU Council President Donald Tusk to ask for an extension beyond April 12. No10 has declined to say whether the cabinet will be consulted before the letter is sent. EU leaders will then meet to decide whether to give Britain the extension and how long it could be. Fury at Tory peers' bid to thwart Commons Bill delaying Brexit Yvette Coopers no-deal Brexit bill was last night being considered in the House of Lords after pro-Brexit peers failed in a filibustering attempt to thwart it. The bill, which attempts to avoid no-deal by legally binding Mrs May into seeking an extension to Brexit, was subject to seven hours of procedural wrangling. It cleared the Commons in a single day on Wednesday and its consideration in the House of Lords is expected to continue at the start of next week. In a tweet, Labour peer Andrew Adonis said: "House of Lords just adjourned after 12 hours on the Yvette Cooper bill, 7 hours of it a filibuster by Brexiters. "We complete consideration on Monday, well in time for next weeks crucial European Council to agree a long extension of [Article 50]." It comes as Downing Street said talks between the Government and Labour aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock have so far been productive. Mrs May and Jeremy Corbyn's negotiating teams met for four-and-a-half hours in the Cabinet Office on Thursday for "detailed" talks. Brexit deadlock: Jeremy Corbyn was in talks with the PM / PA The talks are aimed at finding a consensus Brexit position ahead of a crunch summit of European Union leaders in Brussels on April 10. David Lidington, effectively the deputy prime minister, led the Government's negotiating team with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, Chief Whip Julian Smith, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Theresa May's chief of staff Gavin Barwell. On the other side of the table were shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey along with senior Labour officials. Angela Merkel in Dublin: We will do 'everything' to avoid no-deal Brexit A Downing Street spokesman said the "detailed and productive technical talks" were supported by civil servants. "The Government and the Opposition hope to meet again tomorrow for further work to find a way forward to deliver on the referendum, mindful of the need to make progress ahead of the forthcoming European Council," the spokesman said. Any decision on an extension to Brexit in order to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU on April 12 will be taken by EU leaders at that summit. House of Lords peers debate the cross-party bill aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit / PA German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was still hopeful that a no-deal Brexit could be avoided as "where there's a will there's a way". Speaking in Dublin alongside Irish premier Leo Varadkar, she said: "We will simply have to be able to do this. We have to be successful and we hope for a solution that we can agree together with Britain." Mr Varadkar said: "Matters continue to play out in London and I think we need to be patient and understanding of the predicament that they are in. "But of course, any further extension must require and must have a credible and realistic way forward." Theresa May and Cabinet ministers in the Commons / EPA The talks in Westminster between the Government and Opposition have highlighted divisions within both the Tory and Labour ranks. Backbench Labour MPs have issued a warning to Mr Corbyn not to include a second Brexit referendum in any compromise deal thrashed out with Mrs May. Arriving for the talks in Whitehall, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir confirmed that a "confirmatory" referendum was among the ideas on the table for discussion. But a group of 25 Labour MPs wrote to Mr Corbyn warning that a second public vote would "divide the country further and add uncertainty for business". Speaker John Bercow speaking during a debate on the second reading of the European Union Withdrawal bill / EPA They warned: "A second referendum would be exploited by the far right, damage the trust of many core Labour voters and reduce our chances of winning a general election," they warned. Signatories included veteran backbenchers Sir Kevin Barron, Dennis Skinner and Ronnie Campbell, former minister Caroline Flint and MPs for Leave-voting areas of the North and Midlands including Gloria De Piero, Sarah Champion and Gareth Snell. TODO: define component type apester They said the policy adopted at Labour's autumn conference made clear there was no need for a public vote if the party secures its preferred customs union deal, which was now "within reach". The letter reflects deep fissures within Labour over whether to demand a confirmatory vote as part of any compromise. The Brexit delay bill was passed in the Commons with a majority of just one vote / EPA Deputy leader Tom Watson has said: "I don't think our party would forgive us if we were to sign off on a Tory Brexit without that kind of concession." And referendum-supporting Labour MP Rupa Huq met the Prime Minister to make the point that potentially hundreds of Opposition MPs could be prepared to back a Brexit deal if it was subject to a public vote. Brexit poll reveals all of England and Wales now favour no deal - except London Meanwhile, a string of Cabinet ministers signalled that Tories could be prepared to compromise on Labour's key demand of a customs union arrangement with the EU - an idea loathed by Brexiteers. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said avoiding a customs union was not an "article of faith", while Chancellor Philip Hammond said Tories should be ready to look at it Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he preferred Mrs May's deal to a customs union, but added: "I have spoken about the problems of a customs union and I don't think it's as good for the country. But I also want to deliver Brexit." With time running out before Mrs May must inform European Council president Donald Tusk of the UK's proposal, Downing Street appeared to indicate that it may not be necessary for MPs to approve any consensus deal ahead of the summit. T heresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk asking for an extension to Article 50 of three months to June 30, 2019. The development came as EU sources said European Council President Donald Tusk was preparing to offer the UK a year-long "flexible" extension to Brexit. Mrs May has proposed that the UK should leave before European Parliamentary elections on May 23, if UK MPs agree a withdrawal deal in time. But she said the UK would prepare to field candidates in case they do not reach an agreement. Theresa May is to write to Donald Tusk today asking for an extension to Brexit / AFP/Getty Images Tusk's plan would allow the UK until March 31 2020 to ratify a Brexit deal, with the option to leave sooner if a deal is reached beforehand. The plan will need to be agreed by EU leaders next week at a summit. AP Theresa May's existing Brexit deal has been rejected by MPs three times already and she has done a deal with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to reach a compromise in order to break the deadlock. Theresa May has written to European Council president Donald Tusk asking for an extension to Article 50 to June 30, 2019. AP But the Prime Minister has not yet secured cabinet support for the delay to Brexit to prevent the UK from crashing out of the EU without a deal. AP Earlier this week Mrs May said she would seek a delay that is "as short as possible" to the current Brexit date of April 12. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told BBC that if the talks between UK's Conservative and Labour parties fail, the delay is "likely to be a long one" Yvette Coopers no-deal Brexit bill was last night being considered in the House of Lords after pro-Brexit peers failed in a filibustering attempt to thwart it. Flexible deal: Donald Tusk / REUTERS The bill, which attempts to avoid no-deal by legally binding Mrs May into seeking an extension to Brexit, was subject to seven hours of procedural wrangling. It cleared the Commons in a single day on Wednesday and its consideration in the House of Lords is expected to continue at the start of next week. In a tweet, Labour peer Andrew Adonis said: "House of Lords just adjourned after 12 hours on the Yvette Cooper bill, 7 hours of it a filibuster by Brexiters. TODO: define component type apester "We complete consideration on Monday, well in time for next weeks crucial European Council to agree a long extension of [Article 50]." Talks between the Government and Labour aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock have so far been described as productive by Downing Street. Mrs May and Jeremy Corbyn's negotiating teams met for four-and-a-half hours in the Cabinet Office on Thursday for "detailed" talks. The talks are aimed at finding a consensus Brexit position ahead of a crunch summit of European Union leaders in Brussels on April 10. David Lidington, effectively the deputy prime minister, led the Government's negotiating team with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, Chief Whip Julian Smith, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Theresa May's chief of staff Gavin Barwell. On the other side of the table were shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey along with senior Labour officials. A Downing Street spokesman said the "detailed and productive technical talks" were supported by civil servants. Flextension: Theresa May and Donald Tusk / PA "The Government and the Opposition hope to meet again tomorrow for further work to find a way forward to deliver on the referendum, mindful of the need to make progress ahead of the forthcoming European Council," the spokesman said. Any decision on an extension to Brexit in order to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU on April 12 will be taken by EU leaders at that summit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was still hopeful that a no-deal Brexit could be avoided as "where there's a will there's a way". Speaking in Dublin alongside Irish premier Leo Varadkar, she said: "We will simply have to be able to do this. We have to be successful and we hope for a solution that we can agree together with Britain." Mr Varadkar said: "Matters continue to play out in London and I think we need to be patient and understanding of the predicament that they are in. "But of course, any further extension must require and must have a credible and realistic way forward." The talks in Westminster between the Government and Opposition have highlighted divisions within both the Tory and Labour ranks. Backbench Labour MPs have issued a warning to Mr Corbyn not to include a second Brexit referendum in any compromise deal thrashed out with Mrs May. Arriving for the talks in Whitehall, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir confirmed that a "confirmatory" referendum was among the ideas on the table for discussion. But a group of 25 Labour MPs wrote to Mr Corbyn warning that a second public vote would "divide the country further and add uncertainty for business". They warned: "A second referendum would be exploited by the far right, damage the trust of many core Labour voters and reduce our chances of winning a general election," they warned. A leading Labour MP today said she would back revoking the Brexit process to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal. Backbencher Lisa Nandy said no deal was such a damaging prospect she would vote to cancel Article 50 if those were the only remaining options. Theresa May had pinned her hopes on Labour MPs such as Ms Nandy, whose Wigan constituency voted overwhelmingly Leave in the referendum, to get her withdrawal agreement through the Commons. Ms Nandy previously said she was keen to try find a way to support Mrs Mays deal. But in an interview with the Standard, she said: The prospect of damage of no deal is so serious that there is no question in my mind that I would vote to revoke Article 50. She also warned that a second referendum could set fire to our democracy if the choice on the ballot paper is unpopular. Labour today won a by-election in Newport West, held for more than 30 years by its MP Paul Flynn, until his death in February. His successor Ruth Joness majority of 1,951 was well down from Mr Flynns 5,658 majority at the 2017 election. The turnout was down to 37.1 per cent, from 67.5 per cent. Former Tory MP turned Ukip candidate Neil Hamilton came third with 2,023 votes as Ukip increased its vote share by 6.1 per cent. Plaid Cymru, the Lib Dems and the Greens also saw small increases in their share of the vote. L isa Nandy was returning to her office in Portcullis House last Friday, weaving through the crowds of Leave protesters with their banners and flags, when she caught the attention of a group from The Red Lion pub. Oi! they shouted, realising she was an MP. Oi! They moved unsteadily towards her, a picture of undisguised menace. Close up, she could feel the heat of their anger. F***ing traitor, they shouted in her face. She pauses. Theres only one thing you do to traitors, she says. While she was being accosted, armed Westminster police at Derby Gate stood by. She doesnt blame individual officers, who had been given instructions not to intervene, she says. Its the instructions that need to be reviewed. She managed to punch in her pin code and squeeze through the security barriers and into Parliament, but she was shaken. It was really aggressive and threatening, she says. A horrible experience. Those in charge dont understand the threat faced by female MPs. It isnt taken seriously enough. Nandys point is this: in the intensifying Brexit debate there is a deliberate targeting of female MPs. Most female MPs will say they have been struggling for the past year or so to get anyone in authority to do much or take much notice of whats happening. The response to her complaint on Friday was typical. They say they are logging it but it doesnt meet the threshold for intervention. And move on. What they are missing, she says, is the fact that its part of a deliberate strategy to change the way we [women] vote. The people who are standing outside shouting traitor are trying to change the outcome of votes. Its not working, but it is threatening. Of course, the irony is that Nandy is trying to get Brexit across the line out of respect for her Leave-voting constituents in Wigan. She is one of a number of Labour MPs in Leave seats including Caroline Flint and Gloria De Piero whom Theresa May has been courting for support of her withdrawal agreement. As a result, Nandy is attacked by both extremes of the Brexit debate. She describes those running the Peoples Vote campaign as patronising and bullying. The centre is shrinking. The longer this goes on, the more difficult it becomes to refind common ground. Whats happening in Parliament is a reflection of whats happening in the country: attitudes hardening on both sides, the centre drowned out by extremes. Of particular concern are far-Right groups, which prey on the emotions bound up in the Brexit debate. Tommy Robinsons army of Islamophobic nationalist thugs were out in force last Friday. But Nandy has noticed an uptick in support of groups such as the North West Infidels a modern-day Combat 18. This is the most active Ive seen these groups since growing up in the Eighties. North West Infidels are trying to get a foothold in Wigan. They are having public meetings, recruiting, grooming people online. Their new strategy is threatening MPs. "All over the country, attitudes are hardening on both sides, the centre drowned out by extremes " This week Labours Rosie Cooper spoke for the first time about the plot to kill her by a neo-Nazi. Coopers constituency, West Lancashire, is next door to Nandys. I am a target, says Nandy. All Northern female Labour MPs are targets. They mention her ethnicity (her father was born in Calcutta) but they dont make that the focus. They say you want to block Brexit. Threats arrive by email. There are messages on her social media and by post. Its for this reason too that Nandy was so enraged by Theresa Mays speech two weeks ago in which she pitched Parliament against the people. At a time when MPs are carrying panic buttons and afraid for their physical safety, that was such a dangerous and irresponsible thing to do. It has cost her any remaining trust and goodwill. She says the public want politicians to take collective blame for the impasse. At this moment of national fracture, the parties have become more tribal. [It] has left us paralysed, unable to see a way through. MPs such as Nick Boles have her respect for trying to do the right thing, at the probable price of never being elected to Parliament again. Frankly, if its the last thing we all do, we need to get it right. This is not about who gets to have a top career later, this is about whether the country breaks apart. The dilemma for Nandy is that although she wants to honour Brexit, she is passionately opposed to no deal. I am opposed to a second referendum and I abstained on the Kyle/Wilson proposal... We dont have the option of ruling out options at this stage and we have to vote for anything we can live with, really. Now that needs to be balanced against the economic harm of leaving with no deal. The damage of no deal is so serious that I would vote to revoke Article 50. Ive always been clear with my constituents, a third of them voted Remain. Im their MP too and they have to have a stake in the country. I wont allow us to go off down a hard-Brexit route that completely ignores their views and concerns. A second referendum would continue this ongoing war. Today were in Nandys bright office. Theres a pair of heels by her desk, ready to slip into, photos of her four-year-old son, a magnetic wall tacked with articles, a photograph of naturally Wigan pier. Chuka Umunnas office is opposite. Shes right, it does feel like school: Like a public school, she clarifies. Nandy was state-educated in Manchester, although not quite the good working- class lass Len McCluskey once introduced at a Labour event. Her father was a Marxist academic who set up the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination and ended up writing the 1976 Race Relations Act with Roy Jenkins. Her mother was a producer at Granada who worked on World in Action, and her grandfather was a Liberal MP. She first came to Westminster as a researcher aged 21, working for a friend of Jeremy Corbyn. Jeremy would amble into our office every now and again, she says. He was always friendly to staff. Which you notice about MPs when youre not one. And he always had his own interests. He used to talk about his allotment, even then. She laughs. The thing about Jeremy is that if hes set himself on a course of action, he will stick to it. If his course of action is that hes going to his allotment for an hour in the afternoon, then that is what hes doing. He wont be talked out of it. It must drive John [McDonnell] mad sometimes. She gets on with Corbyn, despite the fact that she helped run Owen Smiths campaign when he challenged for the leadership. I did it because hes a friend. She also wanted to end the infighting. Still, the Labour Party needs hard work done on what we stand for, what sort of country we want to build, she says. Theres a view that somebody will come along and save us. Its ideas and movements that change the world, not an individual with a bit of charisma. After her early stint in the Commons, Nandy spent 10 years in the voluntary sector (at Centrepoint). Returning to Parliament, she was chosen by Tessa Jowell to be her PPS. There was absolutely no reason why she should have fished an awkward Left-winger off the back benches. But she gave me the chance to see how a major national project was built from the inside. She was generous and non-tribal. Jowell, who called her darling, echoed Nandys mothers view that it was important to listen to other traditions. For instance: Im a socialist and a liberal. But theres something to be learned from one-nation conservatism. Nandys parents split when she was seven. She watched her mum battling to protect her from the prevailing prejudices of the day about single mums. We were always the smartest turned-out at school. We had to demonstrate that we were a decent family. She discovered her mother would put her and her sister to bed before returning to work while they were left with a childminder. Nandy was shadow energy minister when her baby was three months old. Jan Royall, who was our leader in the Lords, had a big office and at night she would turn it into a creche so Catherine McKinnell and I could park our babies there to sleep. After the referendum she set up a think-tank to evaluate why towns like hers have remained relatively depressed compared to cities. She says it is possible for communities to heal. I voted Remain, she laughs. Most of my street voted Leave. We are not trying to thump each other. My neighbour still puts my bins out when Im down here. T heresa May triggered fury and disdain today by begging for a further Brexit delay and conceding that the UK might have to hold European Parliament elections almost three years after Britain voted to leave the bloc. In a humiliating landmark, the Prime Minister wrote to European Council president Donald Tusk formally requesting an extension of Article 50 to June 30. Breaking a commitment to avoid holding new elections to the Strasbourg parliament, which could provide a springboard for hard-Right parties in the UK, her letter accepted a legal obligation to hold them. Mrs May wrote: The Government is therefore undertaking the lawful and responsible preparations for this contingency, including by making the order that sets the date of the poll. Delays: British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Union Council President Donald Tusk / EPA The news caused anger among Eurosceptics. Nigel Evans, an executive member of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, said: This comes from a PM who has revised everything she has said at the dispatch box. "We now cannot believe with certainty anything the Prime Minister says in relation to Brexit at all. To spend 100 million on fighting European elections three years after the referendum shows total failure of leadership. Mrs Mays letter also confirmed she will try to break the deadlock in Parliament with a series of votes on different options designed to produce a result. This appeared to confirm the Evening Standards revelation that Cabinet discussed staging votes using the Alternative Vote method, in which options are ranked by preference. Such a system would force a result to emerge, avoiding another deadlock. Mrs May wrote: This impasse cannot be allowed to continue. However, Labour said it had not so far agreed to such a process. Mrs Mays problems deepened as EU leaders showed signs they would dismiss her preferred date when they hold a summit next Wednesday and insist on a much longer extension to next year. Her letter was pre-empted by Mr Tusk who briefed a proposal for a year-long Brexit delay, with a break clause on July 1 if Parliament has ratified the divorce deal. His flextension plan appeared to be designed to reassure MPs that they could leave earlier if they succeeded in making a decision, which has so far been stalled. But it was less helpful than Mrs Mays request, which was for a break clause on any date, even allowing her to cancel holding the European elections at the 11th hour. This was scorned by some EU sources who pointed out that the European Parliament plans to share out the UK seats among other countries if Brexit happens on time, creating a chaotic situation if the UK cannot make up its mind. Mrs May said only last month: As Prime Minister, I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30 June. European leaders were said to be rolling their eyes at Mrs Mays request for an extension. The European Commission appeared to slap down Mr Tusks flextension idea by saying that the only game in town was the summit on Wednesday. France dismissed Mr Tusks proposals as premature. A source close to French President Emmanuel Macron criticised as clumsy comments by an EU official mentioning a flexible extension of the dates. Mr Macron believes a further uncertain delay to Brexit is now a greater risk to the EU, and plans to reform it, than a no-deal departure. European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt highlighted a threat by Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg to cause disruption in the EU, with a tweet warning those backing an extension: Be careful what you wish for. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC it was not optimal to delay Brexit. We still hope to leave the EU in the next couple of months, he said, but added: If we cant find a way through with Parliament then we have no choice. TODO: define component type apester The official No 10 spokesman said: We dont intend to participate in the EU elections. But he went on: As a responsible government we are making contingency for the fact that the EU elections may have to take place. Polling expert Sir John Curtice highlighted a new YouGov poll which showed 25 per cent of Leave voters would now back either Ukip or Nigel Farages Brexit Party, which will fuel Tory and Labour concerns that they will suffer defeats at his hands or the hard-Right in the European elections. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve told the Standard: I do not see how the problems that we have can be resolved by June 30. There is absolutely no point in asking for an extension just to push a cliff edge back. Its going to appear again very quickly if we cant reach agreement. Former universities minister Sam Gyimah said: Its time the Prime Minister faced up to the reality of the situation rather than trying to play chicken with Parliament and the EU. She knows she is going to get rejected. It undermines our credibility as a negotiating partner and does not serve our national interest. A botched warning call by the IRA caused or contributed to the deaths of 21 people killed in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, an inquest jury at the city's civil court has concluded. 11 jurors sitting at the inquest into the deaths of the 21 people killed in the 1974 IRA Birmingham pub bombings delivered their verdicts today after days of deliberations. Two massive detonations caused what one witness described as "pure carnage", ripping apart the packed Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs on the night of November 21, killing 21 and injuring 220 more. The 11-member jury panel, which sat for almost six weeks and deliberated for almost five hours, unanimously determined that an inadequate warning call by the Provisional IRA, which carried out the attacks, cost the stretched police vital minutes. They also found there were no failings, errors or omissions by West Midlands Police's response to the bomb warning call, and further concluded there was no tip-off to the force, giving advanced warning the blasts were going to happen. The six female and five male jurors concluded all the victims were unlawfully killed, following a direction from coroner Sir Peter Thornton QC. They sat through almost six weeks of evidence and were tasked with completing a questionnaire, listing their narrative findings. Sir Peter spent all of Wednesday and part of Thursday summing up evidence which has included testimony from a convicted ex-IRA bomber, the police on duty that night, rescuers, and survivors. He paid tribute to the "many who were very brave volunteers that night" helping the emergency services. There was a dramatic twist towards the end of evidence at the hearings, when a former IRA member named four of the men he claimed were involved in the bombings as Seamus McLoughlin, Mick Murray, Michael Hayes and James Francis Gavin. The man, identified in court only as "Witness O", said he had been authorised to give those names by the current head of the IRA in Dublin. Murray, who died in 1999, is said to have called in the bomb warning at 8.11pm to newspaper telephonist Ian Cropper, giving the code word "Double X". However, jurors heard that the warning had only given the locations as the landmark Rotunda building and the nearby Tax Office in New Street, making no mention of pubs. In his evidence to the inquests, the then IRA head of intelligence in Ireland, Kieran Conway, described the victims' deaths as "accidental", in an "IRA operation that went badly wrong". Former MP Chris Mullin was also called a "disgrace" by Julie Hambleton, the sister of one victim, when he refused to name any of the still-living bombers during his evidence. The hearings have been held as Article 2 inquests, examining whether the British State or its agents failed to adequately protect the victims. Jurors heard that Birmingham city centre had been "denuded" of police after officers were pulled away to bolster security for IRA bomber James McDade's funeral procession in Coventry. Responding to the warning call, officers sent to the Rotunda made no attempts to evacuate the Mulberry Bush, located in the base of the famous building, or set up an area cordon, the jury was told. It also emerged from officers' testimony that police responding to such bomb threats were not routinely told if the warnings had been called in with agreed IRA codewords. The inquests heard evidence of possible forewarnings of the bombings, including a conversation about a forthcoming attack between IRA inmates allegedly overheard in prison, and another in a pub where a customer heard men with Irish accents discussing "bangs". Ex-IRA man Witness O also claimed that, while still a prisoner, he told to detectives, a day or after the bombings, that McLoughlin had planned the attacks, but heard nothing more. McLoughlin died in 2014. Jurors have heard that key evidence is missing or was never collected. The third unexploded bomb has been misplaced and West Midlands Police's force control room call tapes from the night were recorded over. Only limited written records still exist of the police's response on the night, including just three 999 logs, despite witness statements referring to "numerous" calls being made. CCTV from the lobby of the Rotunda, which may have shown the bombers passing by, was never collected or even viewed by police, according to evidence from the former building manager. The inquests, which are being held at the civil courts building in Birmingham, came about after years of campaigning by relatives of the dead for a full account into the circumstances of what happened that night. MONTREAL, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LGC Capital Ltd. (the Corporation or LGC) (TSXV:LG) (OTCQB:LGGCF) announces that it has granted stock options to purchase a total of 6,100,000 common shares of the Corporation to certain new executive officers. All of these options are exercisable at a price of $0.13 per share and have a term of five years. The options are subject in all respects to the terms of LGCs stock option plan, the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange and shareholder approval. About LGC Capital LGC is a leading cannabis investment firm with a focus on the Legal Global Cannabis market. Through its growing portfolio investment companies, LGC is building a vertically integrated system of interconnected legal cannabis companies with cultivation, processing and distribution in Australia, Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy, and Canada serving domestic and export markets. LGC is a Canadian incorporated public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Through its partners and assuming pending transactions under review by the TSXV are approved, LGC presently will have interests in over 450,000 square feet of planted cannabis in Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy, and Australia. That is expected to increase to over 2,100,000 square feet by 2021, as its portfolio companies execute their expansion plans, in addition to the anticipated licensing of Tricho-Meds operations in Quebec, Canada. LGC partners currently sell cannabis products in over 1,000 points of sale across Switzerland and Italy under the ONE Premium Cannabis and EasyJoint brands as well as medical cannabis oils in Australia under the Little Green Pharma brand. LGCs partners branded products are available in a variety of formats including dry cannabis flower, tinctures, oils, seeds, and beverages. For further information please contact: CEO, Mazen Haddad, +33-687-059-870, mazen@lgc-capital.com President, John McMullen, +1-416-803-0698, john@lgc-capital.com Investor Relations, Dave Burwell, +1-403-221-0915, dave@howardgroupinc.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. O ne alcoholic drink a day could raise the chance of having a stroke, a study claims. Having one or two drinks a day raises the chances of having increased blood pressure and suffering from a stroke, according to a large genetic study in The Lancet. Researchers from Oxford University, Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences looked at more than 160,000 men and women in China as part of the study. The group were asked about their alcohol intake and followed up for 10 years. Genetic variation in East Asian populations means some people are less tolerant to alcohol, finding it causes an unpleasant flushing reaction. They are therefore predisposed to drink less. However other factors such as educational background and levels of physical activity do not differ across these different genetic groups. This allowed the scientists to compare the risk of stroke in population groups with different alcohol intakes, but with other similar risk factors. They found that, among men, genetics that decreased alcohol intake also reduced blood pressure and stroke risk. They concluded that alcohol increases the risk of having a stroke by around a third (35 per cent) for every four additional drinks consumed per day, compared to non-drinkers. Moderate drinkers, consuming one or two drinks per day, were at a 10 per cent to 15 per cent higher risk. Professor Zhengming Chen, co-author from the Nuffield Department of Population Health, at the University of Oxford, said: "There are no protective effects of moderate alcohol intake against stroke. "Even moderate alcohol consumption increases the chances of having a stroke. "The findings for heart attack were less clear-cut, so we plan to collect more evidence." Professor Sir Richard Peto, from the University of Oxford, said: "This is for the first time reliable evidence as to what really is the cause and effect relationship." The authors believe the findings apply to both men and women, and to populations across the world. Dr Kate Holmes, assistant director of research at the Stroke Association said: "This study helps to bust the myth that moderate drinking reduces your risk of having a stroke. "Alcohol not only increases blood pressure but can also cause weight gain, irregular heartbeat, diabetes and liver damage. Our advice is always to try and find ways to cut down on your drinking." P arliament has become a boiling pot of mental ill health, senior MPs have warned. Education Committee chair Rob Halfon said Brexit madness has seized stressed ministers and pushed them to the verge of collapse. It feels like the Commons is having a collective breakdown - a cross between Lord of the Flies and One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, Mr Halfon, a former Tory minister, told the Sun. People are behaving in ways that were unimaginable even just a year ago, whether they be Remainers, Leavers or in-betweens. The Brexit madness has affected us all. Robert Halfon is the Conservative MP for Harlow (Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament ) / Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament The UK is caught in a political deadlock as ministers argue out the terms of Britains exit from the EU, which has been delayed from the original exit date of March 29. His comments follow an email sent by Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to all MPs, in which he encouraged his colleagues to access the support that is available and to look after each other. Members of Parliament, Parliamentary staff and House employees are all human and it is vital that in times of heightened stress in the workplace we can access the necessary health and well being support, Mr Lindsay wrote in his message on Thursday. Members of Parliament and staff are resilient but Brexit has meant we are all working very long hours for extended periods of time whilst facing extraordinary pressure. In order to fulfil our duties and do our work on behalf of constituents we must take care of our health and well being, he added, reminding MPs of Westminsters mental health services, including a confidential 24 hour counselling phone line. A male MP was allegedly reduced to tears after finding out he won't be able to go home to see his children next week, due to the impending cancellation of the Easter recess. Speaking of his distress, a female MP told the Sun:This place is a boiling pot of mental ill health. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said MPs need to unite "across tribal divisions" / Getty Images Attorney General Geoffrey Cox also discussed MPs struggle to cope during the crisis. It frays tempers particularly at a time when we need to come together to discuss problems cross party and across tribal divisions and its undesirable to have as many Members of Parliament who look so tired as they are, he told BBC Radio 4s Political Thinking podcast. T he United Nations torture investigator has urged Ecuador not to expel Julian Assange from its London embassy out of fear he could face mistreatment in the United States. A British friend said the Wikileaks founder was "prepared" for expulsion from the building he has lived in for nearly seven years, after Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said he had "repeatedly violated" the terms of his asylum. Nils Melzer, UN special rapporteur on torture, voiced concern that Assange's health was in "serious decline" and that, if he were expelled, he was likely to be arrested by British authorities and extradited to the United States. "Such a response could expose him to a real risk of serious violations of his human rights, including his freedom of expression, his right to a fair trial and the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," he said. "I therefore urge the Government of Ecuador to abstain from ...ceasing or suspending his political asylum until such time as the full protection of his human rights can be guaranteed." Unfortunate choices: Julian Assange / Jack Taylor/Getty Images Vaughan Smith, who hosted Assange at his country mansion for a year during his failed legal battle against extradition, said after visiting the Australian inside the embassy that the situation was "very tense". "Julian doesnt know for sure but hes pretty convinced that at any moment he could be thrown out and hes prepared for it, Mr Smith told reporters. Meanwhile, Britains foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said Assange is a free man who can leave the embassy whenever he wants. "Julian Assange is a free man, he can leave that embassy whenever he wants to, so we want the situation resolved as quickly as possible." Ecuadors President Lenin Moreno continued to blame WikiLeaks for recent allegations of corruption / AFP/Getty Images Asked how likely that was, the foreign secretary said it is "up to him", adding: "Well, he's a free man, he can decide what he wants to do." Supporters arrived at the embassy throughout Friday morning, holding up posters and signs calling for Mr Assange to be allowed to leave without fear of being arrested. On Tuesday, Mr Moreno blamed WikiLeaks for recent allegations of offshore corruption that appeared in local media outlets and the publication of family photos to social media. Mr Moreno accused WikiLeaks of intercepting phone calls and private conversations as well as "photos of my bedroom, what I eat, and how my wife and daughters and friends dance". Media gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London / PA He provided no evidence, and WikiLeaks has denied any involvement. WikiLeaks in a statement called Mr Moreno's charges "completely bogus", saying it reported on the accusations of corruption against the president only after Ecuador's legislature investigated the issue. WikiLeaks said its sources in Ecuador had revealed Mr Assange could be removed from the building "within hours to days". It is understood the source was regarded as credible by the anti-secrecy organisation. D onald Trump has said he has got better things to do than attend the boring and negative White House Correspondents' dinner. The US president said he will hold one of his signature political rallies as counter-programming to the glitzy April 27 dinner, skipping the event for the third year in a row. "The dinner is so boring and so negative that we're going to hold a very positive rally instead," Mr Trump said. Presidents and first ladies have traditionally attended the event, a fundraiser for college scholarships where politicians, journalists and celebrities mix. A number of reporting awards also are distributed at the dinner. Comedian Michelle Wolf performs at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner / REUTERS Mr Trump has not attended the dinner since he took office, but had suggested he might appear this year after organizers scrapped the usual format featuring a comedian and instead invited Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow to speak. Association President Olivier Knox said in a statement: "We're looking forward to an enjoyable evening of celebrating the First Amendment and great journalists past, present, and future." Mr Trump, who has long had an adversarial relationship with the news media, also held rallies on the same night as the dinner in 2017 and 2018. Throughout his presidency, he has criticised the "fake media" and "dishonest" reporters, singling out specific journalists and news outlets. Mr Trump said his team has yet to settle on a location for his April 27 rally, but stressed: "It'll be a big one." Unimpressed: Sarah Huckabee Sanders attends the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner / Getty Images The association decided to shift to a featured speaker instead of a comic after a sharply anti-Trump performance last year by comedian Michelle Wolf that some thought was too pointed against White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other White House staff. Mr Chernow, a biographer of presidents and statesmen including George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, is expected to speak about the importance of the First Amendment. Like many of his fellow historians, he strongly opposed Mr Trump's candidacy in 2016 and labeled him a "demagogue." While Trump has not attended the dinner as president, he has gone in the past. T he Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared never-before-seen photos of their 2017 trip to Botswana where they marked their first year together and Meghan's 36th birthday. Three pictures and a video were posted on the couples new official Instagram account last night to illustrate their joint commitment to the protecting wildlife and the environment. One of the images shows the pair attaching a satellite collar to a bull elephant, as they assisted Dr Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders. The photos were posted on the Instagram account, just after Prince Harry had just attended the premiere of David Attenborough documentary Our Planet. The ambitious eight-part Netflix series examines the impacts of climate change across the world. As president of @africanparksnetwork, The Duke of Sussex continues to advocate for the communities and wildlife that coexist in some of the most vulnerable environments around the world, the Instagram caption reads. Harry during the trip to Botswana in 2017 / Instagram / Duke and Duchess of Sussex Be it human wildlife conflict or natural disasters, these communities (park rangers, school children, families) are on the frontline of conservation and we must do more to help them as we also work to safeguard the animals and landscapes that are in critical danger. The caption goes on to introduce the photos, saying they offer a glimpse into the work he and The Duchess of Sussex did in 2017. Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Canada House ahead of spring due date 1 /36 Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Canada House ahead of spring due date The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House in London PA The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) Getty Images Reuters Getty Images The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House Getty Images The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) Getty Images The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) Getty Images The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) Getty Images Getty Images The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) Getty Images The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House, where they meet young people who demonstrate a Canadian spring tradition of making maple taffy (maple syrup cooled on snow to make sweets) Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Reuters Getty Images Getty Images Reuters Reuters Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Getty Images Reuters The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Canada House in London after a Commonwealth Day youth event celebrating the diverse community of young Canadians living in London and around the UK. PA The Duchess of Sussex receives a bouquet of flowers as she and her husband, the Duke of Sussex, leave Canada House in London after a Commonwealth Day youth event celebrating the diverse community of young Canadians living in London and around the UK PA Prince Harry and Meghan travelled to Botswana just a few weeks after they first met in 2016. He said the trip was crucial to the couple getting to know each other. J ulian Assange is to be expelled from the Ecuadorian embassy in London within hours or days, according to a "high level source quoted by WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks claimed in a tweet that the Ecuadorian state has an agreement with UK authorities for its founders arrest when he is removed from the embassy. Assange has been in Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 after he sought refuge there when a British judge ruled he should be extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations. A tweet from WikiLeaks on Thursday night read: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext--and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest. Its comes after Ecuadors President Lenin Moreno said Assange has "repeatedly violated" the terms of his asylum in the London embassy, where he has lived for nearly seven years. Ecuadors President Lenin Moreno / AFP/Getty Images Interviewed by the Ecuadorean Radio Broadcasters' Association, he said Assange does not have the right to "hack private accounts or phones" and cannot intervene in the politics of other countries, especially those that have friendly relations with Ecuador. Assange has violated the agreement we reached with him and his legal counsel too many times," Moreno said in the interview in the city of Guayaquil. "It is not that he cannot speak and express himself freely, but he cannot lie, nor much less hack private accounts or phones." Moreno did not at the time say whether or not the government would take steps to remove Assange from the embassy "If President Moreno wants to illegally terminate a refugee publisher's asylum to cover up an offshore corruption scandal, history will not be kind," WikiLeaks said. Assange took refuge in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where authorities wanted to question him as part of a sexual assault investigation. That probe was later dropped, but Assange fears he could be extradited to face charges in the United States, where federal prosecutors are investigating WikiLeaks. Ecuador last year established new rules for Assange's behaviour while in the embassy, which required him to pay his medical bills and clean up after his pet cat. He challenged the rules in local and international tribunals, arguing they violated his human rights. Both courts ruled against him. A timeline of all the key dates so far Mr Assange came under intense scrutiny after the whistle-blowing website began releasing hundreds of thousands classified US diplomatic cables. Here is a timeline of the key dates in his case. - 2010 August: An arrest warrant is issued for Mr Assange for two separate allegations - one of rape and one of molestation - after he visits Sweden for a speaking trip. He is questioned by police in Stockholm and denies the allegations. November: Stockholm District Court approves a request to detain the WikiLeaks founder for questioning on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. An international arrest warrant is issued by Swedish police through Interpol. December: Mr Assange presents himself to London police and appears at an extradition hearing where he is remanded in custody. At a later hearing, he is granted conditional bail but is kept behind bars after Swedish authorities challenge the decision. Mr Assange is granted conditional bail at the High Court in London after his supporters pay 240,000 in cash and sureties. - 2011 February: District Judge Howard Riddle rules that Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden and denies this would breach his human rights. Mr Assange vows to fight the decision. November: Mr Assange loses a High Court appeal against the decision to extradite him. - 2012 May: The UK Supreme Court upholds the High Court decision in the case, ruling that extradition is lawful and can go ahead. The Supreme Court later rejects a move by Mr Assange to reopen his appeal against his extradition, saying it is "without merit". June 19: Mr Assange enters the Ecuadorian embassy in London, requesting political asylum. A day later, Scotland Yard confirms he will be subject to arrest for breaching his bail conditions. August 16: Mr Assange is granted political asylum by Ecuador. August 19: Mr Assange makes his first public appearance in two months on the Ecuadorian embassy's balcony and calls for the US government to "renounce its witch-hunt" against WikiLeaks. November: Ecuador's ambassador to the UK, Ana Alban, says Mr Assange is suffering a chronic lung condition after spending months inside a one-room office at the embassy. The Ecuadorian government later plays down the health fears and says Mr Assange "does not have an urgent medical condition". December: Mr Assange marks the six-month anniversary inside the embassy by making a rare public appearance on balcony to say the "door is open" for talks to break the deadlock over his campaign to avoid extradition to Sweden. - 2013 June: Mr Assange tells a group of journalists he will not leave the embassy even if sex charges against him are dropped, because he fears moves are already under way to extradite him to the United States. - 2014 July: Mr Assange loses a legal bid to have an arrest warrant issued in Sweden against him cancelled. A judge in Stockholm decided to uphold the warrant against him for alleged sexual offences against two women. August: Mr Assange tells a press conference he will be leaving the embassy soon following speculation that he is seeking hospital treatment for heart and lung problems. He later brushes off reports that he is about to give up his fight against extradition to Sweden. November: Mr Assange loses a legal move in a Swedish appeal court aimed at revoking his arrest warrant. December: Mr Assange appears on the embassy's balcony to greet Noam Chomsky, the US philosopher and activist. Hollywood actor John Cusack also visits the WikiLeaks founder later in the month. - 2015 March: Swedish prosecutors ask to question Mr Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. June: Mr Assange claims the Swedish prosecutor has cancelled an appointment to interview him at the embassy. August 13: Swedish prosecutors drop investigations into some of the sex allegations against Mr Assange due to time restrictions. The investigation into suspected rape remains active. August 16: Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire said Ecuador's decision to harbour Mr Assange in its embassy had prevented the proper course of justice. He said the UK continued to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden, where he remained suspected of a sexual offence. October 12: Metropolitan Police end their 24-hour guard outside the Ecuadorian Embassy. It breaks a three-year police operation which is estimated to have cost more than 12 million. - 2016 February 5: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says Mr Assange is being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and calls on authorities to end his "deprivation of liberty". The report is branded "frankly ridiculous" by then foreign secretary Philip Hammond - a response which Mr Assange described as "insulting". February 9: Swedish prosecutors say they are working on a renewed request to interview Mr Assange at the embassy. February 22: Lawyers for Mr Assange submit papers to a Swedish court, asking for his arrest warrant to be overturned. March 24: The Government formally asks a UN Working Group to review its finding that Mr Assange was subject to arbitrary detention, saying the opinion was "deeply flawed". March 25: A Swedish court refuses to drop an arrest warrant against Mr Assange. June 20: Ecuador reveals it has received a formal request from the Swedish authorities to interview Mr Assange. August 9: Mr Assange files an appeal at Sweden's Court of Appeal of Svea, arguing the country must comply with the UN working group's findings that his deprivation of liberty was unlawful. August 11: Ecuador announces that Mr Assange will be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in the embassy in London. September 16: Sweden's Court of Appeal rejects a bid by Mr Assange to have his sex assault warrant dropped, saying no new information has emerged. November 14: Mr Assange is questioned over the sex allegation at the Ecuadorian Embassy in the presence of Sweden's assistant prosecutor Ingrid Isgren and police inspector Cecilia Redell. The interview spans two days. November 30: The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rejects a request by the UK Government to review the case of Mr Assange. - 2017 January 17: Barack Obama's decision to free whistleblower Chelsea Manning prompts speculation Mr Assange will end his self-imposed exile. WikiLeaks tweeted prior to the decision: "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ (Department of Justice) case." January 19: Mr Assange tells a press conference that he stands by his offer to go to the US, provided his rights are respected. March 9: Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage is spotted leaving the embassy where Mr Assange is being held. April 21: America's attorney general Jeff Sessions says Mr Assange's arrest is a "priority" for the United States. May 19: An investigation into a sex allegation against Mr Assange is suddenly dropped by Sweden's Director of Public Prosecution. June 16: Mr Assange calls off a pre-planned speech from the embassy balcony to mark the fifth anniversary of his arrival there, following news of an "imminent meeting" with British authorities. - 2018 January 11: The UK Foreign Office turns down a request from the Ecuadorian government to grant Mr Assange diplomatic status. Ecuador confirms it has granted citizenship to Mr Assange in December after he made a request in September. January 26: Lawyers for Mr Assange tell a court the UK arrest warrant against him has "lost its purpose and its function". February 6: Westminster Magistrates' Court says that the UK arrest warrant is still valid. Mr Assange vows to continue his legal fight. He later claims a package containing a "threat" and white substance was sent to him at the Ecuadorian Embassy. February 7: Visits to Mr Assange from Pamela Anderson and Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel are reported. February 13: Westminster Magistrates' Court upholds the warrant for the arrest of Mr Assange for skipping bail, in a judgment by Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot. She urges him to show the "courage" to appear in court. March 28: The Ecuadorian Embassy suspends Mr Assange's internet access. The Ecuador Government says: "The measure was adopted due to Assange not complying with a written promise which he made with the government in late 2017, by which he was obliged not to send messages which entailed interference in relation to other states." Supporters, including actress Pamela Anderson, musician Brian Eno, fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood and former Greek minister Yanis Varoufaki, urge Ecuador to reverse the ban. June 7: Mr Assange receives a visit from officials from the Australian High Commission. June 19: Vigils in several countries mark six years since Mr Assange entered the Ecuadorian Embassy. July 30: Dame Vivienne Westwood designs a new T-shirt in support of the WikiLeaks founder, with a slogan which reads: "I fought the law". August 9: The United States Senate committee asks to interview Mr Assange as part of their investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. September 27: Mr Assange steps down as editor of WikiLeaks. October 19: Mr Assange reveals he is to launch legal action against the government of Ecuador, accusing it of violating his "fundamental rights and freedoms". November 16: The US Department of Justice inadvertently names Mr Assange in a court document which suggests the WikiLeaks founder may have been charged in secret. December 20: Mr Assange's father calls for the end to his son's "torment", following a visit to the embassy. - 2019 January 10: A legal defence fund is launched for Mr Assange amid fears that the WikiLeaks founder is under "increasingly serious threat". The Courage Foundation, which offers legal support for whistleblowers and journalists, said Mr Assange had become "isolated" inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, with "severe restrictions" on his communications and visitors. January 23: Lawyers for Mr Assange say they are taking action aimed at making President Donald Trump's administration reveal charges "secretly filed" against the WikiLeaks founder. T he man accused of killing 50 people in a gun attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, has been ordered to undergo mental health tests. Brenton Tarrant, 28, will be assessed by experts to determine whether he is fit to enter pleas and stand trial, high court judge Cameron Mander said. The order was made on Friday during a hearing in which Tarrant, and Australian, appeared via video link from a prison room as family members and victims watched. Judge Mander said nothing should be read into his order, as it was a normal step in such a case. A armed police officer stands guard outside the entrance to the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand / AP The courtroom was filled with more than two dozen reporters and 60 members of the public. Tarrant, who showed little emotion, was wearing handcuffs and a grey-coloured sweater. He made no comments. The suspect faces 50 murder charges and 39 for attempted murder. He was not required to enter a plea. People gathering at mosques around the world after New Zealand attack 1 /24 People gathering at mosques around the world after New Zealand attack Bangladeshi Muslims protest after two mosques have been attacked in New Zealand following Friday prayers, in Dhaka. AFP/Getty Images Female Kashmiri supporters shout slogans during a protest march in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. EPA People gather at a vigil for Christchurch shootings victims at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, Australia. Tayyab Hameed via Reuters UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn pays a visit to Finsbury Park Mosque in north London. PA Kashmiri Muslims shout slogans as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (unseen), delivers a sermon inside Jamia Masjid mosque in Srinagar. AFP/Getty Images Bangladeshi Muslims offer Friday prayers after protesting in Dhaka. AFP/Getty Images Kashmiri supporters of Mirwaiz assembled after the culmination of congregational Friday prayers outside Jamia Masjid, Kashmir's main mosque. EPA Worshipers leave the Great Mosque after the Friday Muslim prayer in Paris. EPA A paramilitary soldier stands guard during Muslims Friday congregational prayers as security has been intensified in Quetta, Pakistan. EPA Muslims shout slogan as they condemn Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand, after Friday prayers at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reuters Turkish people hold placards reading 'say stop to global terror' and ' the crusader barbarity in New Zealand' and shout slogans during a demonstration. EPA Palestinian Muslim worshipers take part in the Friday noon prayer next to the Gold Gate or Gate of Mercy inside the Al-Aqsa mosques compound in Jerusalem's Old City. AFP/Getty Images A demonstrator hangs banners from multi-faith group 'Turn to Love' during a vigil at New Zealand House in London. AP Bangladeshi activists shout slogans during a protest in front of Baitul Mukkaram National Mosque. AP Worshipers pray for victims and families during an evening vigil a the Lakemba Mosque in Wakemba, New South Wales, Australia. AP A young demonstrator holds a banner from multi-faith group 'Turn to Love' during a vigil at New Zealand House in London. AP A demonstrator holding a placard that reads in Turkish: 'Say 'Stop' to Global Terror' in Istanbul. AP Pakistanis protest to condemn the New Zealand mosque shooting in Karachi, Pakistan. AP Outside the courtroom, Yama Nabi, whose father died in the attacks, said he felt helpless watching. "We just have to sit in the court and listen," Nabi said. "What can we do? We can't do nothing. Just leave it to the justice of New Zealand and the prime minister." Tofazzal Alam, 25, said he was worshipping at the Linwood mosque when the gunman attacked. He felt it was important to attend the hearing because so many of his friends were killed. Alam said he felt upset seeing Tarrant. "It seems he don't care what has been done. He has no emotion. He looks all right," Alam said. "I feel sorry. Sorry for myself. Sorry for my friends who have been killed. And for him." Tarrant was arrested on March 15 following the shootings at the Al Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, both located in Christchurch. T his summer, let your kids make a splash in fashionable yet functional swimwear. When it comes to shopping for your kids holiday essentials, there are a few important things to consider. Your little ones skin is more sensitive and fragile to sun exposure and needs extra protection. So for babies and toddlers, their swimwear should cover as much skin as possible by pairing shorts or bikini bottoms with a rash guard or opting all-in-one pieces. Look out for stretchy and flexible fabrics so your kids can explore, swim, or paddle without their swimsuits holding them back, especially for little ones and water babies who love splashing around in the pool or at the beach. There are an extensive range of brands on the market at all price points who offer unisex, colourful and fun designs with lively prints. There are also labels who provide sustainable and innovative swimwear like pieces that contain UV protection in the fabric or are quick-drying to help prevent water rashes. Get prepared for your summer break with our favourite swimwear brands that are offering shorts, rash vests, bikinis, float suits and more for kids of all ages. Frugi Ages: 1 month - 10 years If you are on the hunt for super soft swimwear for your little one's delicate skin, Frugi is the brand for you. The pieces also have vibrant designs with fun appliques and are composed of Oeko-Tex approved and UPF 50+ fabrics. They also offer a range of quick drying board shorts that are made from recycled plastic bottles for a double win in both style and the environment. With all the talk of sustainability, Frugi really walks the walk certified by the Soil Association and the Global Organic Cotton Standards (GOTS) as well as donating 1 per cent of its turnover to charity each year. Oh and we might add that everything is completely adorable and very kid friendly comfy. Sunuva Ages: 3 months - 14 years Sunuva create high quality functional swimwear with fun and playful designs. The range includes sun tops, dresses, kaftans and playsuits as well as swimwear composed of a UPF 50+ fabric and embellished with vibrant and bold patterns inspired by classic Sicilian motifs and Peruvian-inspired stitching. With validation by the British Skin Foundation, the pieces are offered for ages three months to 14 years with new prints every season. Stella McCartney Ages: 3 months - 14+ years Using UV 50+ fabric, the British designer has created thoughtfully-designed swimwear for kids in a whole host of brightly coloured fun designs. The cool tropical prints will have them begging to to throw these on even when it's not suit season. Rachel Riley Ages: 6 months - 10 years Already a favourite with the Duchess of Cambridge, Rachel Riley captures both retro and traditional styles with creative original designs. The designer's swimwear collection is embellished with playful sailboat prints and vibrant tropical designs in a stretchy, easily manoeuvrable fabric. We're in love with this range and several little testers we know are big fans too. Mini Rodini Ages: 1 month - 10 years This Swedish childrenswear brand was created by illustrator Cassandra Rhodin and is packed with striking and playful designs. The sustainable label also considers environmental and ethical aspects through the use of recycled materials. It's a contemporary collection with fantastical designs and bold colour combinations. 39 | Alex and Alexa | Buy it now 45 | Alex and Alexa | Buy it now JoJo Maman Bebe Ages: 1 month - 11 years Maternity and chlidrenswear clothing specialists JoJo Maman Bebe provide swimwear, wetsuits, towels, rash vests, float suits and more for kids from 0 to six years old. The retailer has its own brand as well as pieces from Slipfree and Splash About with designs that take inspiration from animal and nautical themes. There are also matching mummy and me looks and cleverly designed shorts fitted with an inconspicuous nappy inside. Cute and clever. 15 | JoJo Maman Bebe | Buy it now 18 | JoJo Maman Bebe | Buy it now Boden Ages: 1 month - 14 years For an easy solution to pre-holiday shopping woes, head to Boden. Unique ruffles, polka dots, and floral designs as well as the under the sea and wave-inspired options take centre stage for swimwear with major style points. The brand designs bikinis, swimsuits, poolside shorts, rash vets, towelling dresses, wetsuits and more for kids from just a month to 16 years old. We particularly like the all-in-one suits that provide more protection, and the dinosaur suit with 3D spikes UPF 40+ fabric is just plain awesome. H&M Ages: 2 months - 14+ years The swimwear range at H&M should not be underestimated. The high street hero has stylish designs for affordable prices that include swimsuits with UPF 50 and collaborations with Nathalie Lete and swimwear inspired by some of your kids' favourite characters from Paw Patrol, Black Panther, and Despicable Me's Minions. For little ones of two months to 14+ years, there are swimsuits, bikinis and more with stripes, hearts, tie-dye, unicorn and leopard prints as well as more demure colour block designs. Next Ages: 2 months - 14 years Next provide swimwear for younger and older boys and girls as well as a whole host of unisex items. Expect pieces featuring floral, stripe, fruit, animal, and graphic prints as well as those with embroidered detailing and sporty styles. There's also Marvel, and Batman options and innovative sunsafe suits. The swimwear is offered for kids three months to 16 years so big kids won't miss out either. Tu Ages: 9 months - 14 years The varied swimwear at Tu takes inspiration from Disney, Peter Rabbit and more fan favourite designs. Sainsbury's in-house label offers multi-coloured and fun designs for kids 0 to 14 years as swimsuits and sunsafe sets. Speedo Ages: 1 month - 6 years Designed particularly for performance, Speedo has partnered up with Star Wars and Disney to create a range of interesting designs that take inspiration from the characters and typography. The pieces are durable and chlorine-resistant. For kids from six months to six years, the collection included swimsuits, bikinis, rash vests and knee-length options all with Speedo's innovative swim tech construction ie: built to last. Verdict: S ir Mick Jagger has said that he is on the mend before thanking hospital staff for doing a superb job after reportedly undergoing heart surgery. Thank you everyone for all your messages of support, Im feeling much better now and on the mend, the 75-year-old wrote. Also a huge thank you to all the hospital staff for doing a superb job. Earlier in the week, it had been reported that Jagger was to undergo surgery in New York to place a stent. A spokesperson for the British band in London declined to comment on the reports at the time. On the mend: Mick Jagger / Getty Images On Saturday, Jagger said he was devastated to announce the band had postponed their planned gigs in North America under doctors orders. The rocker said in a statement: 'Im so sorry to all our fans in America & Canada with tickets. I really hate letting you down like this. Rolling Stones No Filter 2018 Tour: London Stadium - In pictures 1 /21 Rolling Stones No Filter 2018 Tour: London Stadium - In pictures EPA EPA PA EPA EPA EPA EPA EPA EPA EPA EPA EPA Liam Gallagher performs as support act to The Rolling Stones during the 'Stones - No Filter' tour at London Stadium Reuters Liam Gallagher performs as support act to The Rolling Stones during the 'Stones - No Filter' tour at London Stadium EPA Liam Gallagher performs as support act to The Rolling Stones during the 'Stones - No Filter' tour at London Stadium EPA Liam Gallagher performs as support act to The Rolling Stones during the 'Stones - No Filter' tour at London Stadium EPA "I'm devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can. The band added: Unfortunately today the Rolling Stones have had to announce the postponement of their upcoming US/Canada tour dates [] "Mick has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time, as he needs medical treatment. "The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible." TORONTO, April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuuhubb Inc. (Kuuhubb or the Company) (TSXV: KUU) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the detailed voting results for the election of its Board of Directors, which took place at the Company's Annual General Meeting held on April 4, 2019 (the "Meeting"). The nominees listed in the management information circular dated March 6, 2019 were elected as directors of the Company at the Meeting. Detailed results of the vote are set out below: Jouni Keranen, CEO of Kuuhubb commented, We are delighted to have added Elmer Kim and Andre Ludi to the Board of Directors, following the most recent addition of Garner Bornstein. Our new Board of Directors is now finally comprised of a seasoned team with extensive mobile gaming, technology and capital markets experience that will be invaluable in executing Kuuhubbs growth strategy. MATTER VOTED UPON(1) VOTED FOR(2) VOTED AGAINST WITHHELD(2) 1. Election of Jouni Keranen as a director 31,630,303 % Voted: 99.019% N/A 313,499 % Withheld: 0.981% 2. Election of Christian Kolster as a director 31,630,303 % Voted: 99.019% N/A 313,499 % Withheld: 0.981% 3. Election of Garner Bornstein as a director 31,630,303 % Voted: 99.019% N/A 313,499 % Withheld: 0.981% 4. Election of Andre Ludi as a director 31,630,303 % Voted: 99.019% N/A 313,499 % Withheld: 0.981% 5. Election of Elmer Kim as a director 31,630,303 % Voted: 99.019% N/A 313,499 % Withheld: 0.981% 6. Appointment of MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditors of the Corporation until the close of the next annual meeting 31,943,802 % Voted: 100.00% N/A 0 % Withheld: 0.00% Notes: (1) All matters were approved on a show of hands by more than a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders at the Meeting. (2) Percentages are based on the number of Shares represented and voted at the Meeting. The Company is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Elmer Kim and Mr. Andre Ludi to the Board of Directors, to serve as Directors of the Corporation effective April 4, 2019. Mr. Garner Bornstein was also appointed to the Board of Directors effective February 26, 2019. Mr. Bornstein is the founder and CEO of Breethe, a meditation lifestyle app, which has grown to several million users. Mr. Bornstein is a serial entrepreneur with a track record of creating successful companies in the world of disruptive technology. Mr. Bornstein previously co-founded Airborne Mobile, one of North-Americas first mobile content developers and publishers. Airborne was sold in 2005 to Cybird Co. Ltd., a publicly traded Japanese mobile content publisher. Mr. Kim is an accomplished private equity, family office and investment management executive with over 25 years of investment and technology industry experience. Mr. Kim is currently the Chief Investment Officer of the Hyatt Bangia Family Office in Toronto. He is also the President of Uclid Inc., a privately held investment and consulting company. Prior to his current roles, Mr. Kim was Vice President of Growth Equity at the Business Development Bank of Canada from 2016 to 2017. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Kim was the Managing Director of Roynat Equity Partners, an operating division of Roynat Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Mr. Kim has held a variety of progressive investing and financial executive roles with Whitecastle Investments Limited between 1995 and 2011 and was the Co-Founder of Whitecastle Private Equity Partners in 2004. Mr Ludi has over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, both in investment and private banking. Mr Ludi is currently a Senior Partner and Board Member of ACT Asset Management AG, Zurich. In 2006, Mr. Ludi founded an asset management company that he operated as a managing partner and was also a member of the Aquila Group. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Ludi advised high net worth clients in Scandinavia as a wealth manager at UBS AG and VP Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. Mr. Ludi completed his banking apprenticeship in 1982 at Swiss Bank Corporation (SBC) in Basel and then worked as a precious metals and foreign exchange trader for different banks in Basel, Geneva and Toronto until 1996. About Kuuhubb Kuuhubb is a publicly listed mobile game development and publishing company, targeting the female audience with bespoke mobile gaming experiences. Our strategy is to become a top player in the underserved female mobile game space by identifying new lifestyle trends, partnering with select developers and consumer brands, and creating innovative mobile game apps for our user community to enjoy. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Kuuhubb has a global presence with a strong focus on developing U.S. brand collaborations and Asian partnerships. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements 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 relating to future revenue and products and the development and growth of the Companys business) are forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, risks related to the growth strategy of the Company, the possibility that results from the Companys growth and development plans will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, the early stage of the Company's development, competition from companies in a number of industries, the ability of the Company to manage expansion and integrate acquisitions into its business, future business development of the Company and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated November 8, 2018 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. 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 Bill Mitoulas Investor Relations bill@kuuhubb.com Office: +1 (416) 479-9547 A nt McPartlin welled up after a child contestant on Britain's Got Talent told him that she missed him during his brief hiatus from TV. McPartlin stepped back from his work commitments early last year, leaving Declan Donnelly to present the BGT live shows alone, as he concentrated on his recovery from addiction after a short stay in rehab and an arrest for drink-driving. After performing with her classmates, a little girl in a green spotted dress jumped into McPartlins arms and told him: I missed you. Wrapping his arms around her, McPartlin replied I missed you too before saying bye to her and putting her down to join the rest of her act. Act: The little girl had just finished performing with her school before running to Ant McPartlin / Syco / Thames Love you lots. See you again, McPartlin added as he cooed over the sweet moment backstage. Series 13 marks the first time the duo have worked together in nearly a year, with judge David Walliams branding it emotional as they reunited at the auditions earlier this year. Britain's Got Talent Series 13 Trailer He said: It was lovely to see when they stepped back on the stage together in London. How excited people were to see them together. It was really emotional and I was pleased for them. It was just how it always was. Fellow judge Amanda Holden also rejoiced at having McPartlin back, saying it was not the same without him on stage last year. Elsewhere in the first episode, Simon Cowell was left cowering behind his hands as the Vardanyan Brothers popped in for a spot of sword balancing. The terrifying duo, who live in Russia, wowed the audience with their topless balancing act but had everyone on the edge of their seats when it looked like their dangerous act was about to go very, very wrong. Mercifully, they had a second attempt and managed to execute the routine perfectly, but poor Cowell was left feeling his heartbeat through his chest as he branded the act the most dangerous on a Britain's Got Talent show. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly return to Britain's Got Talent 2019 1 /16 Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly return to Britain's Got Talent 2019 Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly arrive at Britain's Got Talent auditions at the London Palladium PA The pair posted a selfie ahead of their arrival Ant and Dec/Twitter PA Jeremy Selwyn PA SplashNews.com SplashNews.com SplashNews.com PA PA PA PA A n electric penny farthing has been unveiled in London as the next generation of foldable bike. Cyclopic features a large front and small rear wheel without spokes, which swing around to snap inside one another. Its creators, South Bank University graduates Alan Rallings and Rishi Haraniya, say it is the worlds first spokeless electric bike and can be folded up in five seconds. They presented their design at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders conference in Westminster yesterday. Its grey aluminium frame sits on two puncture-proof solid tyres and weighs about 11lb around half the weight of the average pedal bike. The different sized wheels on the bike swing around to snap inside one another / Cyclopic The six-speed bike is powered by an electric drive system, which also controls the brakes and steering as there is no front axle. Cyclopic has a 15.5mph top speed and can be set to assisted mode, the current UK legal standard, which sends charge back to the battery, or full electric. Power is provided by an electric motor housed in a casing over the rear wheel. An LCD display on the front shows metrics including distance travelled and heart rate. An LCD display shows metrics including distance and heart rate / Cyclopic Mr Rallings, a former British Aerospace engineer, said he hoped the bike will sell for about 2,000. It is designed to be stored on train and bus overhead racks. They are also stackable, with four able to fit in a car boot. Prototyping, including trying to reduce the weight, is due for completion this summer. E E has become the first operator to launch its highly anticipated 5G network in the UK. The provider upgraded its network to 5G in five major UK cities, with more expected to follow before the end of the year. Vodafone also announced it will launch 5G across 7 cities in the UK on July 3. Several handsets from Samsung, OnePlus, LG, HTC and Oppo are currently certified for 5G usage. However, EE confirmed it will be suspending sales of 5G handsets from Huawei following ongoing tensions between the US and the Chinese tech giant. EEs chief executive Marc Allera said during a press conference: Until we get the information and confidence that gives us the long term surety that our customers, when they buy those devices, are going to be supported for the lifetime theyve got the device with usweve put those devices on pause. 5G has been heralded as the next stage in mobile technology, with the ability to power businesses, improve our homes and spearhead advances such as driverless cars. But what is 5G and why does it have the capacity to change so much? What is 5G technology? The power of 5G will herald in the smart cities of the future / AFP/Getty Images 5G technology is the next generation in mobile networks. Like 3G and 4G before it, 5G is expected to be better and more powerful than what were used to. The new technology will use higher frequencies than the likes of 4G, offering more speed and higher bandwidth. If all goes well, 5G could potentially spell the end of Wi-Fi, particularly in public places, as the network will be strong enough to facilitate all the mobile internet browsing you could possibly want, from watching shows on Netflix to being able to scroll Instagram without interference. As well, because the network will have a bigger capacity than 4G, it means that thousands of devices in a small area can be connected at the same time. Ever been in a big crowd, say at a festival, and unable to use WhatsApp? 5G should lead to the end of those offline periods. Which networks will allow 5G technology? PA EE became the first company to roll out its 5G coverage on Thursday 30 May and hopes to achieve full distribution by 2022. The first cities to receive 5G coverage under EE include London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. However, it is going to take a while until we see full 5G coverage, with EE hoping to achieve full distribution by 2022. O2 has said four test cities, London, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, will get 5G in 2019, with other areas of the country receiving coverage from next year. As Vodafone won the largest block of spectrum in the 5G auction last year, it has been holding trials in several different cities, including Birmingham New Street Station, creating the UKs first 5G train station. Earlier this year, Theresa May granted Huawei permission to use their equipment in the UKs 5G network, despite long-standing concerns over the potential security risk the firm poses. However, the Prime Ministers recent resignation announcement means things are now less clear. Are there any 5G phones yet? At this year's Mobile World Congress, every smartphone maker had some form of 5G phone on display. Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G a week earlier, though the company was keen to show off the new device. Conor Pierce, corporate VP for Samsung UK and Ireland, told the Standard: I think when you have common ground and reliable connection to 5G, I think that will allow us to engage in different ways - it's the beginning of a new era for the way we live our lives. So far, OnePlus, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei have all unveiled their respective versions of 5G smartphones. In general, these devices are slightly bigger than their 4G counterparts in order to accommodate the new modems that will enable them to connect to 5G networks. The Huawei Mate 20 X 5G and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G - the first 5G smartphones from the two tech giants As well, Samsung's 5G phone, in particular, has a bigger battery that will enable people to watch content and play all the games they want on the go thanks to those fast 5G speeds. The other benefits 5G will bring With all these powerful internet connections around, its likely there will be even more internet of things (IoT) devices taking advantage of this. Driverless cars is one area where we could really see the benefit of better internet. According to the World Economic Forum: By making driving, mapping and video data available in real-time, 5G will extend the ability of vehicles to perceive their environment beyond line of site, though robust vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure connectivity to coordinate to improve traffic safety, efficiency, and flow. Furthermore, 5G could even power things such as drones being used to deliver medical supplies. BT said 5G speeds can help with "advanced disaster recovery services using drones, such as delivery of equipment, medicine, food, water and blood." There are also some more general things 5G will improve in our day-to-day lives. According to O2s smart cities report, 5G could save households up to 450 a year on bills ranging from energy to food and council. Description GIS - 05 April, 2019: The Acting President of the Republic, Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory, urged the laureates, after completion of their tertiary education, to come back to Mauritius and serve the country with positive changes as they are the elites and future leaders of the country. The Acting President of the Republic, Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory, urged the laureates, after completion of their tertiary education, to come back to Mauritius and serve the country with positive changes as they are the elites and future leaders of the country. Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory, was speaking yesterday at a reception in honour of the 2018 Higher School Certificate laureates at the State House, Reduit which has now become an annual feature of the State to celebrate the achievement of students. The reception was held in presence of the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, and other personalities, families of the laureates and the rectors. The Acting President further called upon the laureates to adopt the development of personality, skills, character building, in addition to their academic studies which he qualified as the prerequisites of future leaders. He encouraged the laureates to pursue further studies with focus on the latest emerging technologies namely blockchain and artificial intelligence. For his part, the Prime Minister lauded the laureates for their success and commended them to find ways to contribute to the well-being of the society through volunteering to community service. He further highlighted that as ambassadors of education for the country, they have the responsibility of carrying the Mauritian banner very high in their quest for knowledge and also rise up to the challenges. Prime Minister Jugnauth further encouraged the laureates to be entrepreneurial in nature as well as innovative in their ideas as the world is heading towards a decade of unprecedented progress in technology. He expressed his confidence that they shall harness the tools of ICT in the fields of research while contributing to the progress of the country. He further dwelt on investing in the youth which, he said, is the most important investment in human capital while recalling the incentives granted to students namely: extended scholarships to disabled, masters scholarship in digital technologies including artificial intelligence and blockchain in addition to free access to tertiary education to undergraduate students in public universities. Our objective, the PM said, is to fully engage the economy in the fourth industry evolution that is sweeping the world adding that the budget presented, last year, has set the stage for transforming Mauritius into a digital economy and environment. To enhance employability of youth he also spoke of the opening of academics and vocational institutions to all students irrespective of their social backgrounds and exhorted youths to become key drivers of change. The Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, for her part, while congratulating the laureates paid a special mention to laureates of the Marechal College in Rodrigues. According to her talent and intelligence are never confined geographically and not restricted to specific institutions. What is needed, she added, is the opening up of opportunities and possibilities so that the next cohort of laureates include first timers in other secondary institutions. She also urged laureates to come back and serve the country as an act of faith. Description GIS - 05 April, 2019: The Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) seized Crystal Meth, Cannabis and Cannabis Resin having market value of nearly Rs 1.3 million at the Parcel Post Office on 03 April 2019. The drugs, sent from United Kingdom, France and Germany, were concealed in unclaimed envelopes, wrapped in plastic sachets and aluminium foil, and addressed to inhabitants of Camp de Masque, Quatre Bornes, Poste La Fayette, Beau Bassin and Trou aux Biches. They were tagged by CANS officers for examination. The newly-acquired MRA Sniffer Dog, Nacre, was deployed and he reacted positively to the envelopes. The envelopes, unclaimed by the addressees, were opened in the presence of officials of the Mauritius Post and the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU). The following drugs were secured: Crystal Meth weighing 56.5 grams and worth Rs 847 500; Cannabis weighing 77.5 grams and worth Rs 46 500; and Cannabis Resin weighing 158.2 grams and worth Rs 474 600 . The suspected drugs were handed over to ADSU for further investigation. A field test for synthetic drugs was carried out and the result was positive. It is recalled that the MRA is committed to the fight against drugs and illicit trade in Mauritius. Its Stop Drug Platform remains open to members of the public who may report suspected drug and illicit activities. 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 Fernando Alonso says he will not think about his plans for 2020 until July. Having quit F1, the two-time champion is currently preparing for the Indy 500 and Le Mans. But he tested for McLaren in Bahrain last week and is not ruling out a 2020 return to F1 if he has a title-winning car. "At the moment I am focusing on Spa, Indianapolis and Le Mans and until July I will not consider anything about the future," Alonso told Spanish media. But he hinted that no matter what he decides for 2020, it will not be as mixed a bag of different cars and series as at present. "The idea is not to change around so many times, because you lose the perfection you need to succeed in a great specialty," said Alonso. But he says he does not regret quitting McLaren at the end of last year, even though the 2019 car is better. "It's better to be in Q3 and to score points, but I do not feel like racing in F1 this year," said Alonso. "Well, if Carlos (Sainz) wins two or three races before Abu Dhabi, maybe yes," he smiled. (GMM) Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (309) Minister of National Defense Gabriel Les participated on Thursday and Friday in the B9 Defence Ministers' Meeting in Warsaw, advocating on this occasion for a coherent and comprehensive NATO approach in the long run in relation to the Black Sea region, given the persistence of the security challenges and threats in this area, informs a press release issued by the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) sent to AGERPRES on Friday. Read also: Andreea Chitu wins Antalya Grand Prix Judo tournament The Romanian official chaired one of the sessions of the meeting focusing on the support of the B9 countries for implementing the EU's Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy, with an emphasis on the harmonization of EU security and defense initiatives alongside NATO efforts, says MApN. On this occasion, the Romanian Defense Minister reiterated the need for B9 partners to develop concrete projects, thus proposing enhanced cooperation in the field of military mobility. Also, the B9 states will explore the opportunities for a common approach within the framework of PESCO, the quoted source further shows. In the context of his visit to Warsaw for the B9 meeting, Gabriel Les met with the Romanian soldiers of the Anti-aircraft Defense Detachment "Blue Scorpions", deployed on the territory of Poland, within the NATO Battle Group. AGERPRES . On 02.04.2019, prosecutors within the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism Central Structure indicted and brought to trial the case regarding the defendants SZANTO AURELIAN-MIHAI, PANTICS ATTILA-CSABA and PANTICS LEVENTE. They are accused of creation of an organised criminal group, failure to observe the law on firearms and ammunition, and giving false information, offences provided in and punished by art. 367 par. 1 Criminal Code, art. 47 in relation to art. 342 par. 1 Criminal Code and art. 48 in relation to art. 404 Criminal Code, all together with the application of art. 38 par. 1 Criminal Code. The initial criminal file was split, and it was opened a new file regarding the suspects R. S. R., S. C. S. and S. J., British citizens, accused of creation of an organized criminal group and giving false information, offences provided in and punished by art. 367 par. 1, and art. 404 Criminal Code. According to the writ of summons, the defendants SZANTO AURELIAN-MIHAI, PANTICS ATTILA-CSABA, PANTICS LEVENTE (persons holding double citizenship, Romanian and Hungarian) and the suspects R. S. R., S. C. S. and S. J. (British citizens) initiated and created an organized criminal group with the intent to commit the offences of giving false information and failure to observe the law on firearms and ammunition. The alleged offences were committed in June 2016, in Romania, being initiated/devised in April 2016, in United Kingdom, by several journalists and employees of a British TV network when preparing to carry out in Romania a journalistic investigation on illegal military firearms trafficking that allegedly was a normal activity, tolerated and somehow protected by the Romanian national authorities. The script of the so-called journalistic investigation, the directing and filming were talked over and established with the support and direct participation of the three Romanian citizens, sent to court in this case. Their presence, involvement and support of the idea presented by the British journalists were crucial in the latters endeavour to present in the international media of fake news/data/information that affect Romanias national security and undermine the efforts of the Romanian law enforcement agencies and undergoing diplomatic activity to present Romania within EU and on international level as a responsible member/loyal partner committed to tackle terrorism, as well as other kinds of crimes, as part of a collective effort to ensure a world security in general, and especially the EUs security. From 07.08.2016, domestic and international media broadcasted a video footage (journalistic investigation) presented by a British TV network (with a big audience in UK, as well as worldwide) and delivered by the suspect R.S.R., journalist, British citizen. The video falsely presented as news the information that on the Romanian territory, under the protection of the legal authorities, gun traffickers carry out illegal activities and sell guns even to terrorist organizations. The journalistic investigation presents a so-called negotiation over the course of several months with the gun traffickers. The team travelled to a remote area in Romania and met with them to negotiate a deal for buying guns. Aiming to make it more realistic, in the video footage was mentioned that the British journalists met the gun traffickers on a road, and followed their indications to a remote area in the forest, without GSM coverage. Then, two of the traffickers, wearing military clothes and balaclavas, asked the journalists to step out of their vehicle, body searched them, checked their equipment and turned off their mobile phones in the car. After this, the traffickers took off several weapons from the trunk of a SUV with no license plates (rifles, AKMs, sniper rifles, guns) and presented them to the journalists. During their discussion, revealed during the criminal investigation as being staged, it turned out that the weapons presented by the traffickers were just samples of the type of guns that they were allegedly able to purchase and resell, in large quantities, to anyone interested from Western Europe and Middle East. Among the weapons presented, there were identified a sniper rifle Steyr Mannlicher, a semi-automatic shotgun pellet, and an assault rifle that resembled to a Kalashnikov military gun. To make the footage more realistic, the journalists stated in their video that the video was presented to several NCA (National Crime Agency from UK) officers, who confirmed that the type of weapons presented by the traffickers, the region/area where the meeting took place and the negotiated prices are similar with the information that NCA held in connection to gun smuggling. It is to be noted that the aim of broadcasting this alleged journalistic investigation was not to show a simple gun trafficking case in Romania, parts of the video being edited and alternated on high impact key moments (presenting the guns; a clear confirmation from the traffickers that they sell guns even to terrorists etc.) with video footage showing Charlie Hebdo Paris terrorist attacks from 7-9 January 2015, Bataclan (13 November 2015), attacks that resulted in over 145 casualties. Hence, the clear message of the British journalists was that Romania is a vulnerable and unstable country, not only in ensuring state border security, but also in securing the EU Eastern borders, where gun traffickers smuggle weapons in the open, taking advantage of the lack of reaction / connivance of the national authorities. The footage questioned the reality of the commitments assumed by Romania at international level, and the determination of the Romanian state to be a loyal and responsible member of the European Union. During the investigation it was ascertained beyond any reasonable doubt that the suspects (British subjects) activities, who had premeditated with the Romanian defendants to stage a fake footage, were not aimed at a fair public presentation of the facts, but at deliberately misinforming the public, presenting Romania as a fertile ground for international gun trafficking, hence a huge vulnerability for the other EU countries. All these elements are considered constituent elements of the offence provided in and punished by art. 404 Criminal Code. It was reiterated the fundamental legal principle according to which no one can invoke in their defence the ignorance of the law (nemo censetur ignorare legem). It is obvious that any person with legal capacity was aware that, staging, making credible and presenting as real, information aimed to show a NATO and EU Member State as a fertile land for international gun trafficking, is a conduct that severely breaches criminal legislation. The defendants and suspects modus operandi show without a doubt their intent to start an international scandal and denigrate Romania, with serious/unpredictable consequences for it as an EU and NATO Member State, and candidate country to the Schengen Area. The candidate status brings duties in ensuring national security, and responsibilities in joining the common effort to ensure international security in general, and especially EU security. Evoking public order considerations, the negative answer received from the British authorities, when asked to assist Romanian authorities efforts by an international legal assistance request in criminal matters, necessary in continuing the investigations regarding the suspects R.S.R., S.C.S and S.J. shed a new light over the British journalists endeavours to impact on Romanias national security. Also, the endeavours that both the Romanian Embassy to the United Kingdom and National Council of Audio-Visual (CAN) to Office of Communication in the UK (OFCOM) regarding the content of the video Criminal Gang Selling Military Weapons showing alleged Romanian gun traffickers, resulted in the releasing the statement that the TV network did not falsified nor staged the information presented, as such did not breach the British regulations. Moreover, the British TV network publicly and unconditionally supported the documentary regarding the alleged gun traffickers from Romania, repeatedly broadcasting during several days the so-called journalistic investigation made by the suspect S.R., claiming that S.R. and his team produced a solid journalistic material on gun trafficking in Romania, and the TV network fully endorses this material. Precautionary measures have been taken in the case. The file was sent to Bucharest Court of Appeal for trial. Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu attended on Wednesday and Thursday the NATO ministerial meeting, which took place in Washington in order to mark 70 years since the establishment of the North Atlantic Alliance. In this regard, a Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) release informs that on Wednesday evening an official ceremony was held, hosted by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in the place where, 70 years ago, the Washington Treaty was signed by the 12 founding allied states. At the same time, on the occasion of the meeting, substantial discussions regarding the main topics which are currently included on the NATO agenda were carried out, in the preparation of the future NATO Summit, scheduled to take place in December 2019, in London. Thus, the ministerial meeting schedule included two sessions and a lunch at the allies level, held on Thursday.The first working session was dedicated to recent developments, with an emphasis on the Eastern Neighborhood. According to the MAE, the allies exchanged views on the security situation and discussed about NATO's role in the current context, taking into account that Russia maintains its aggressive posture and actions, and further breaches the provisions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Also tackled were both the measures regarding the strengthening of NATO's deterrence and defence posture and the ones regarding the support granted to partner states, in view of consolidating their national defence capabilities and increasing internal resilience. It was decided to strengthen the existing measures in the Black Sea region and grant additional support to Georgia and Ukraine."The firm commitment of all member states was reiterated regarding the continuation of a comprehensive role of NATO in order to efficiently respond to both conventional-type threats and challenges and those of hybrid nature. Minister Melescanu mentioned that, in the context of these concerning security developments, the Alliance should continue the efforts to fully implement the agreed measures, including in the Black Sea region, in a coherent and unitary manner, in view of ensuring an efficient response to the complex threats and challenges which the Alliance is confronted with," the quoted source mentions.The talks within the second session were dedicated to the strategic developments at international level, with an emphasis on the demarches in terms of combating terrorism. The Ministers reviewed the efforts, materialised in operational commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq, the support granted to the International Coalition against ISIL, but also the assistance provided to partners in the South Neighborhood. The head of the Romanian diplomacy underscored our country's active participation in all these efforts. He especially highlighted the significant contribution to the mission in Afghanistan, welcoming the progresses recorded so far. He also underscored the importance of Afghanistan continuing to strengthen the positive results achieved in recent years.The foreign affairs ministers' meeting concluded with a working lunch in an ally format. On this occasion, there were discussed the progresses recorded in terms of the fair burden-sharing of responsibilities, the allies' determination to continue in this regard being reconfirmed, in the sense of fulfilling the commitment taken on at the NATO Summit in Wales in 2014 on the three major coordinates: budget allocations, capabilities and contributions to missions and operations. On this occasion, the importance given by the member states to ensuring the necessary resources to meet NATO's objectives in the current international context was highlighted. The strong commitment of the member states to a solid transatlantic relationship, the foundation of a strong and united Alliance was also reiterated.At the end of the ministerial meeting, the heads of allied diplomacy adopted a joint statement to mark NATO's 70th anniversary.On the sidelines of the meeting, the Romanian diplomacy head carried out a meeting with his Georgian counterpart. They discussed aspects related to the bilateral relation, as well as regarding Georgia's cooperation with the EU and NATO. The Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister reconfirmed our country's firm commitment for the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Georgia, welcoming the important progresses obtained by the authorities in Tbilisi in the internal reform process and the significant contributions to ensuring regional and international security. President Klaus Iohannis expressed his appreciation on Friday for the work carried out by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in our country on welcoming a delegation of this body, led by President Werner Hoyer, at Cotroceni Presidential Palace, a statement of the Presidential Administration sent to Agerpres informs. Read also: PSD's Dragnea: 'Gv't respects rule of law, Timmermans should campaign in Netherlands, not here' Discussion topics were related to the files relevant to the work of the European Investment Bank managed by the Romanian Presidency at the Council of the EU and the priorities of the EIB's activity. As for Romania's presidency of the Council of the EU, the head of state said that the Sibiu Summit, to be held on 9 May, will be an excellent opportunity for European leaders to define the strategic priorities of the Union for the next five years. In this context, President Iohannis pronounced the emphasis on strategic planning and the identification of solutions connected to economic realities. In his turn, Werner Hoyer voiced appreciation for the way Romania has handled files related to the EIB's work, some of them being successfully completed and others being in an advanced stage of negotiations, the quoted source specifies. During the discussions, the results of the economic cooperation between Romania and the EIB were assessed and the future orientations of the EIB Group's activities were mentioned, especially with regard to sustainable economic and social development. In this context, President Klaus Iohannis emphasized the need to attract the private sector in the fight process against climate change. At the same time, Iohannis stressed the importance of EIB support to various sectors of activity, expressing his interest in backing the private sector in the field of education. The Brexit process was also discussed during the meeting, the EIB's President pointing out that Britain's withdrawal from the EU will have a strong impact on the European Investment Bank's activity. Chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea said the Bucharest Government respects the rule of law and stated that "it would be good" for the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans to deal with the electoral campaign in the Netherlands and not in Romania. Read also: Electoral registry has 18,949,141 citizens with voting rights "The Government respects the rule of law, I see it is scolded for what it does not do. It would be good for Mr Timmermans to deal with the share of the party he represents in the Netherlands or the party he is a member of in the Netherlands. I think it would be more interesting for him to campaign for election in the Netherlands and not here though," Liviu Dragnea said on Friday when asked about the fact that Frans Timmermans warned with the exclusion of PSD from the ESP if the Government and PSD do not respect the rule of law. The PSD leader made the statement at the end of his visit to Calarasi County to an irrigation system. AGERPRES . Mattia Binotto has succeeded in easing the pressure on the shoulders of those at Ferrari. That is the claim from within the fabled Italian team, with long-time tester Marc Gene telling the Dutch publication Formule 1: "You always feel pressure at Ferrari. "But you can feel that pressure less strongly than before." That is despite the fact that after a strong winter season, Ferrari encountered pace problems in Australia before a technical fault spoiled Charles Leclerc's bid for a first win in Bahrain. Gene says the response from Binotto has been different compared to what would have happened in the Maurizio Arrivabene era. "A thorough analysis was made as to why it went wrong, adjustments were made and now the car is now back to the level of the tests in Barcelona," he said. Former racing driver and now Sky Italia analyst Davide Valsecchi agrees that Arrivabene was "hard and sometimes aggressive", while Binotto is "much more flexible". "He has taken all the politics out of the team," he said. And in that environment, Leclerc is now tipped to thrive. "He will fight for the title this year, for sure," Valsecchi said. "He is already at least equal to Vettel in terms of speed. "And he can handle the pressure of Ferrari." Gene agrees that it was the "right decision" to replace Kimi Raikkonen with the "younger" Leclerc. (GMM) Chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea said on Friday he will not be going to next week's talks with President Klaus Iohannis on the situation in Justice, but said a delegation from PSD will go. Read also: Euro trades at 4.7508 lei He added that he would talk with the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE, minor at rule, ed.n.), Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, whether a joint PSD-ALDE delegation will go to Cotroceni Presidential Palace. "I will certainly not go, but we will send some people from our party," Dragnea said during a visit to Calarasi. Dragnea reaffirmed that PSD supports the topics proposed by the head of state for the 26 May referendum. "The topics, I support them totally without any problems. (...) They even seem to me very good topics. I do not recommend anything to anyone. I transmit our supporters the following: we do not agree to cutting the minimum wage, freezing pensions and wages, as PNL and USR intend, freezing the National Local Development Program, and we will continue to support our programs in the governing program so that the Romanians live better. (...) That is what I recommend. It is also related to the fact that we want to be patriots in Europe," the PSD leader said. On Friday, President Klaus Iohannis sent a letter to the presidents of the parliamentary parties inviting them to Cotroceni Presidential Palace next Thursday and Friday to discuss the situation in Justice, the Presidential Administration informed. AGERPRES . Strengthening the security and defense dimension of the EU, the strategic partnership between Romania and Poland and their joint contribution to strengthening the NATO forward presence were the main topics of discussion between Romania's Defence Minister Gabriel Les and his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak. The two officials had talks on the side-lines of the B9 Defence Ministers' Meeting in Warsaw. "The two ministers highlighted the positive developments in the strategic partnership between Romania and Poland, as well as the prospects for intensifying defence co-operation as essential elements for security and stability in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea," according to a press statement released by the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN) on Friday.Les highlighted the major role of Romania and Poland as promoters of the B9 Initiative in getting coalesced a consistent and unitary position of the Eastern NATO allies to be promoted jointly on NATO's agenda."At the same time, the Romanian official highlighted the achievements made by the incumbent Romanian presidency of the EU Council, with emphasis on promoting European security and defence initiatives - the Permanent Structured Co-operation and the European Defence Fund," according to MApN. The government must cease "this endless talk" on the emergency ordinances referring to the Criminal Codes, and Parliament should complete the procedure it has started in this sense, on Friday said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Liviu Dragnea, the main ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader, adding that Justice Minister Tudorel Toader "cannot go on like this". Read also: PSD's Dragnea, not going to consultations on Justice at Cotroceni, there will be delegation from the party "As for the ordinance, let me tell you, truly on Wednesday I amused myself: I was watching something like a cheap play. I was watching some people from Brussels who were shouting and yelling and making threats. (...) What were all these theatrics for? Mr. Toader must understand he cannot go on like this, he must cease with this attitude. Many colleagues are telling me that in fact his intention ever since this January was to raise these topics in a debate and talk for three months not about what we have to do in the real Romania - not in the imaginary Romania - and he kept on announcing that he will give some emergency ordinances which in fact were not given, and he does not intend to give, ever," Dragnea asserted in southeastern city of Calarasi. The PSD leader demanded the gov't to cease this talking about the Criminal Codes and at the same time stressed that Parliament must finalise the procedure it has started regarding these codes. "So, I urge the gov't to put an end to this endless discussion. Parliament had kicked off a procedure to finalise the vote on the Criminal Codes, after the verification with the Constitutional Court (CCR). It was a mistake for PSD to trust some people who said they will give these codes by Emergency Ordinances (OUG) to finally end up humbly going to Brussels, as far as I understood it, with some 7 - 8 articles. Therefore, as regards the Criminal Codes and the relevant legislation, Parliament must pursue its course it had started. Be they passed in this session or in the following session, when they are passed, these laws must be finalised because they are supervised by the CCR. The gov't must take serious charge of the ruling programme, when it has in mind to adopt something they should announce it today and adopt it within one week, we cannot allow for parasitic topics to be discussed for months on end. And here the Prime minister must make a decision, it is up to her," the PSD leader concluded. AGERPRES . The Embassy of the United States of America in Romania unequivocally condemns the recent vandalism carried out against the Jewish cemetery in Husi and demands that those responsible for this attack be brought to justice, a Friday release informs. Read also: DIICOT indicted and brought to trial the case regarding a fake journalistic investigation "The destruction of dozens of Jewish graves is not only an attack against the Jewish community, but also an attack against the diversity of the entire Romanian society. We stand together with the Jewish families whose loved ones' graves were desecrated and call for those responsible for this attack to be brought to justice," the Embassy said. On April 4 Vaslui County police officers announced they were investigating the circumstances of the destruction of several funerary monuments in the Jewish Cemetery in Husi. "Following a complaint about the destruction of 73 funerary monuments in the Husi Jewish Cemetery, we started investigations into grave desecration," said spokesman of the Vaslui County Police Inspectorate Bogdan Gheorghita. AGERPRES . Dr Helmut Marko has denied that Red Bull needs a 'B' car in 2019. The Red Bull official says team designer Adrian Newey was "deep in thought" after the extent of the 2019 car's aerodynamic issues became clear in Bahrain. "That means he has recognised the problem," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "We have an aerodynamic problem." When asked if Newey has a solution, Marko answered: "I hope." But team boss Christian Horner acknowledged that with the current problems, "it will be difficult to keep pace with Ferrari and Mercedes". Marko, though, told the Dutch publication Formule 1: "There will be no new car." Instead, Red Bull will bring improvements to China next weekend, before a bigger upgrade is rolled out in Barcelona in May. (GMM) The substitution of Russia as an enemy in place of the Soviet Union does not quite hold the same propaganda cachet, but nonetheless that is why Moscow continues to be designated the official enemy in order to justify the existence of NATO. When the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created 70 years ago in 1949 it was formed as a blatant military instrument for waging the Cold War, a war that the US, Britain and other European allies had newly embarked on. NATOs public relations cant about peace and security is but Orwellian rhetoric. The supposed allies of the Soviet Union hastily went from an ostensible joint purpose of defeating Nazi Germany during the Second World War to initiating hostility towards Moscow. Already in 1946, British war-time leader Winston Churchill was fulminating about an Iron Curtain descending across Europe, in language adapted from Third Reich propaganda maestro Joseph Goebbels. The ensuing Cold War would last for nearly half a century until the Soviet Union collapsed from its internal political and economic stresses. NATOs first secretary general, Britains Lord Ismay, was candid in the mission of the military alliance. Its objective, he said, was to, Keep Russia out, the Americans in, and Germany down. Of course, Western propaganda always portrayed the Soviet Union as the aggressor, alleging that the so-called Red Menace had designs on conquering all of Europe. Not much has changed when one listens to Western contemporary claims of Russia being an aggressor. As in the past, present innuendo casting Moscow as a demonic force has a decidedly hollow quality, at least for those willing to be critical about Western state and media information. Lord Ismay, perhaps unwittingly, let the cat out of the bag in his statement all those years ago. The purpose of NATO was to serve as a means of dividing and ruling over Europe for Washington and its always closely aligned, servile British partner. If countering Soviet aggression was the real purpose of NATO, as officially claimed, then one must ask why is this organization still in existence some 30 years after the alleged evil communist empire dissolved? NATO is a military monster desperately in search of a purpose. The substitution of Russia as an enemy in place of the Soviet Union doesnt quite hold the same propaganda cachet, but nonetheless that is why Moscow continues to be designated the official enemy in order to justify the existence of NATO. The US-led military bloc needs enemies like a junkie needs a narcotic fix. NATOs real function is at least three-fold. First, it gives the US an excuse to justify its enormous military presence in Europe. Instead of appearing as an occupying force, which it is, the Americans claim to be a protector of allies against malign Russia, or formerly the Soviet Union. This allows Washington to exert political control over its so-called European allies, and specifically to prevent any normalized relations with Russia. US vice president Mike Pence this week scolded Germany and fellow NATO member Turkey for daring to continue relations with Moscow, in the form of the Nord Stream 2 gas project and Ankaras purchase of Russian S-400 air defense system. Pence inferred treasonous conduct on the part of Berlin and Ankara just because these two nominally independent countries have chosen to do business with Russia. Pence was thus demonstrating the classic NATO purpose of dividing Europe from Moscow. A second function of NATO is to serve as an extension of the US military-industrial complex and, in turn, an important buttress for American corporate capitalism, which is totally dependent on military spending. When President Donald Trump castigates European allies, like Germany, for not spending enough on military and NATO, his real concern is for European nations to buy more American weaponry, such as the vastly over-priced and over-rated F-35 fighter jet. If NATO were to be disbanded as it should from its obsolete objective purpose then US capitalism would suffer a major withdrawal of European subsidy in the form of decreased weapons purchases. The irony here is that Trump has previously denigrated NATO as obsolete. In his irascibility, he is more correct than he seems to realize. But Trump has despite superficial griping still continued to boost NATO for the purpose of hiking European military spending. What Trump means by obsolete is that the past financial tribute from the Europeans to the US militarized economy must henceforth be significantly increased. The outrageous demands by Trump are inciting tensions within NATO. At a time of massive civilian social needs across Europe being neglected due to fiscal constraints, the American ultimatums for more military spending are bound to be seen by the wider European populace as an intolerable dictate. A third function of NATO for its American leadership is that it gives a pseudo legal cover of multinationalism to what would otherwise be seen as blatant US imperialist aggression all over the globe. NATO forces have assisted US illegal wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, among other interventions. This by an organization that self-declares itself a bastion of security and peace. It was 20 years ago that US-led forces under the cover of NATO bombed Serbia and its capital Belgrade. That marked a watershed assault on international law, and the unleashing of US global violence with impunity. Washington could not carry out its aggression without the political and legal cover of NATO. Jens Stoltenberg, the present NATO secretary general, was in Washington this week calling for more aggression towards Russia. The Norwegian figurehead is a shameless warmonger who is violating the UN Charter for the sake of feathering his career as an American puppet. It is all the more disturbing that this week in Washington, foreign ministers of the 30 member states belonging to NATO deferred to the US calls for naval forces to be deployed to the Black Sea in defense of Ukraine and Georgia from Russian aggression. These two countries have done everything possible to provoke Russia. They are cats paws for their NATO master, and are reckless enough to instigate a full-on war. Washington and its NATO minions have the audacity, or intelligence deficit, to call such an explosive situation as defense against Russia. NATO, or rather the US, is giving itself a green light to mount even more aggression against Russia than it already has done over the past 30 years. In that period, NATO membership has almost doubled with the result that the military bloc is now on Russias border and at the same time claiming with Orwellian double-think that it is defending Europe from Russian aggression. As Russian wit would have it: Russia has had the temerity to move its border towards NATO offensive forces. Global security and peace is too serious for jokes. The maintenance of NATO, with its original aggressive objective against Moscow still intact, is a grotesque joke. A joke sickeningly played on the people of Europe who could benefit greatly from halting the squandering of billions of dollars each year on military budgets. NATOs gratuitous belligerence towards Russia based on trumped-up, ridiculous propaganda is an obscenity. This organization is a dinosaur that somehow outlived its Cold War environment because those powers who control it from Washington and London want it to live on for their own selfish, ideological, economic reasons. For the sake of world peace, the citizens of North America and Europe should demand that NATO be liquidated. Thirty years too late. Why Russiagate Is the Same as WMD in Iraq to Americas Mainstream Media All of Russiagate is based on very dubious evidence. This means that the timeline, in the Mueller Report, lists some events that did not happen, and some events that were not involved in the 2016 Presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Americas Democratic Party news-media are now defending themselves against charges that they had trumpeted false allegations against Donald Trump regarding Russiagate. Republican Party news-media are strutting because they didnt. But in the lead-up to Americas invasion and destruction of Iraq (and heres How the US Destroyed Iraq), the mainstream news-reporting was just as bad then as now, only with the partisan sides switched. The chief difference between then and now is only that the media now have been fictitiously demonizing Putin and Trump by means of lies, whereas back in 2002 and 2003, they were fictitiously demonizing Saddam Hussein by means of lies. In that prior instance (lies about Iraq), the Republican media were the worse of the two Party-propaganda-lines. Republican Party followers were the more-deceived back then, just as Democratic Party followers are the more-deceived today. Whereas, in 2003, increased exposure to news, about what had led up to the invasion of Iraq, produced, for Democrats, higher scores on a test of knowledge about that matter; for Republicans, it actually produced lower scores about that matter. For Republicans, at that time, the news-reporting decreased, rather than increased, a historically accurate understanding of the lead-up to (and into) Iraq-invasion events. By contrast, now in 2019, when the evidence has finally become clear that the Russiagate accusations against Trump were intensely politically motivated, it is Democratic Party followers who are the more-deceived today. In fact, whereas, back in January of this year, 83% of Republicans said that the reason for the Russiagate investigation was politically motivated, 84% of Democrats said that it was not. The more that Democrats had become influenced by Democratic-Party news-media, the more inaccurate their understandings of the events were. On this matter, Democrats were oblivious about the reality, just swamped by their own Partys propaganda just like had happened to Republicans regarding the invasion of Iraq. In both of these two instances (both Democratic news-media now, and Republican news-media then), all of Americas major media actually hid and continue to hide the key facts, from the public (even 16 years, now, after the invasion of Iraq). On the deeper-level issues concerning Governmental policies, there is bipartisan deceit against the American public. These are issues on which all of the billionaires were and are united, against the American public (and especially against the 40.6% million people in poverty the neediest instead of the richest who are themselves, those billionaires), and they therefore benefit from the publics ignorance and misconceptions about such matters (so that the Government will continue serving chiefly themselves). These super-rich are determined to continue controlling Government-policies, for their own benefits, like increased defense spending to buy increased products from their corporations such as Lockheed Martin, and for increased access to raw materials by their firms such as ExxonMobil. Its all according to their propaganda-media, in defense of freedom and democracy and human rights. Thats always the billionaires line. Its always Trust us! Our Government is democratic a democracy, not a dictatorship [by us]! So, the message from them is: invade Iraq! And: oppose any US President who would meet privately to negotiate with Russias President! Americas billionaires fear peace abroad. They thrive on conquest (their coups and invasions) abroad. For example, this is the reason why, consistently in Gallups findings, The military (which is actually the most corrupt of all American institutions) scores, by far, at the very top of the 17 listed Institutions in American society way above (for examples) the Supreme Court, or The church or organized religion, or The public schools. The billionaires shape the culture, and this is how theyve managed to get the US to spend about half of the entire worlds total military expenses all to be paid for by the taxes and governmental debts that the public (and their descendants), and not merely those billionaires (the actual beneficiaries) pay, and will be paying in the future. This is the way that a global empire is built, and maintained for peace and freedom and democracy and human rights around the world. The two Parties disagree with each other, but each Party represents only a different faction among the billionaires (not among the public) regarding what they want the public to believe. The billionaires and their corporations contribute the vast majority of the money to the major candidates, and control the think tanks and news-media that enables each winning national US politician to become and remain a winning national US politician and thus to become and be the President, or member of Congress. So, these few extremely wealthy individuals are Americas real, behind-the-scenes, government the Deep State thats represented by the top levels at CIA, Britains MI6, Wall Street, etc. (all servants a few of whom are billionaires themselves of Americas billionaires, and of their allied foreign billionaires). No faction within Americas 585 billionaires actually represents the American public neither group of billionaires (Democrats or Republicans) represents the public of either Party. Each of them represents only him-or-her-self and the property (and employees and other agents) which that individual controls. (Of course, thats millions of people, who are hired and promoted and demoted by the billionaires.) But because billionaires wealth is so extremely concentrated within this tiny number of people (585), and is so huge, and because their corruption reigns, these few individuals effectively control the Government. Especially Americas foreign policies (including, in 2002, toward Iraq; and, in 2016-18, Russiagate, toward Russia and Trump) represent only the interests of billionaires, not of the American people, who are mainly interested in domestic affairs, such as health care, education, crimes, etc. Right now, the billionaires are (via their media-proxies) battling each other over whom to blame for Russiagate: if not Trump, then whom? But thats only a Democrat-versus-Republican issue. It appeals to the partisans on each side. Its more of the same, so that the billionaires control over Americas Government continues to face no challenge. Whenever American billionaires desires contradict the publics needs, the latter have a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy, and this has been scientifically proven to have been true since at least 1981. Though its true regarding any field of public policy, it is the most true regarding international policies, because those are the ones on which deceiving the public is the easiest to do. Furthermore, the controlling owners of international corporations (and these are billionaires) are vastly more concerned about foreign affairs than the general public is. Whereas domestic affairs interest everyone, foreign affairs receive far less attention from most people but not from billionaires, who are, if anything, often even more interested in those matters. Donald Trump represents one faction of Americas billionaires; Barack Obama represented another faction of them; but each President (at least since 1981) has been representing only them (Americas billionaires). Furthermore, the 2016 Presidential contest was no exception to this rule; and, so, American democracy has been destroyed by Americas own billionaires, and not by any foreign country. Russia didnt do this to us. Not even Israel (which interferes in American national elections vastly more than does Russia, and which also has officially the fourth-largest of all foreign nations lobbies in the US Congress) did. Americas billionaires did (and do) it. Overwhelmingly, it is they who actually control Americas foreign policies. (Moreover, on international matters, there appears to be virtual unanimity amongst the aristocracies of Britain, Israel, and US; and, on 15 February 2009, Britains Guardian reported that The pro-Israel lobbys contributions reach a majority of US politicians. In 2018, it spent money on 269 representatives and 57 senators campaigns, and gave to Democrats at a two to one ratio. So: its not only the Republican Party thats fronting for Israel. To front for Israel is also to front for Americas billionaires even for the roughly 70% of Americas non-Jewish billionaires. But to front for Russia is traitorous while to front for Israel is not and yet Russia never attacked and slaughtered Americans, whereas Israel did, and so did another US ally, Saudi Arabia. (Yet, Americas aristocracy is closely allied with both Israels and Saudi Arabias not just with Britains.) All of these assertions will be further documented and exemplified in what follows. The two examples to be focused upon here will be Americas successful rape of Iraq in 2003, and the Democratic Partys unsuccessful effort, which started in 2016, to delegitimize the Republican President Donald Trump as being some type of Russian agent. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 Heres Robert Mueller testifying to Congress about WMD (weapons of mass destruction) in Iraq, before we invaded and destroyed Iraq: On 11 February 2003, the then-FBI Director Mueller testified, to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, that: Secretary Powell presented evidence last week that Baghdad has failed to disarm its weapons of mass destruction, willfully attempting to evade and deceive the international community. Our particular concern is that Saddam may supply al-Qaeda with biological, chemical, or radiological material. He just reiterated the Presidents lies (and he credited Colin Powells supposed naivete in having spouted them for which deception Powell subsequently apologized, but Mueller never did). Muellers concern wasnt to raise any question about the lies that led to the Iraq-invasion, but was simply to reinforce these lies. He didnt work for the public. He worked for the President. As I said 16 September 2016: On 7 September 2002, US President George W. Bush blatantly lied to concoct a new report by the IAEA about Saddam Husseins weapons of mass destruction program, and the US news-media reported the statement but hid that it was a lie. He said (and CNN and others quoted it): a report came out of the Atomic the IAEA that they were six months away from developing a weapon. I dont know what more evidence we need, when he was asked at a press conference, Mr. President, can you tell us what conclusive evidence of any nuclear new evidence you have of nuclear weapons capabilities of Saddam Hussein? Immediately, the IAEA said then that there was no such new report, and that the last they were able to find, there was nothing left of WMD in Iraq. The American news-media simply ignored the IAEAs denial, and we invaded Iraq, almost six months after that boldfaced lie, a lie the press refused to expose, at all ever. They still havent exposed it, even to the present day; and instead there remains a debate as to whether George W. Bush lied or was instead merely misled by defective US intelligence. In this particular instance, he wasnt even citing US intelligence, but instead citing the IAEA, and they immediately denied it, but the press failed to report that fact; so, really, the President was simply lying, and the press just continue to lie by saying he had only been misled by the CIA (which he actually controlled; but he didnt control the IAEA). The American press hide the fact that the American President lied his nation into invading Iraq. The press lie that it was only bad intelligence, no lying President. (Because of the news-medias ignoring the IAEAs denial of the Presidents statement, the author of the IAEAs denial, Mark Gwozdecky, spoke three weeks later, by phone, with the only journalist who was interested, Joseph Curl of the Washington Times, who headlined on 27 September 2002, Agency Disavows Report on Iraq Arms perhaps that should instead have been President Lied About Saddams WMD and Curl quoted Gwozdecky: Theres never been a report like that [which Bush alleged] issued from this agency. When we left in December 98 we had concluded that we had neutralized their nuclear-weapons program. We had confiscated their fissile material. We had destroyed all their key buildings and equipment. Other news-media failed to pick up Curls article. And, even in that article, there was no clear statement that the President had, in fact, lied cooked up an IAEA report that never actually existed and that he never corrected his false allegation; that he compounded his lie by not correcting it.) This is hardly the only instance where the US news-media cover for the Presidents lies about foreign affairs, by merely stenographically reporting what he says, while hiding the truth that his statement was a baldfaced lie. For example, how many times have you read in the newspapers, or in a magazine, or seen on TV, or heard on the radio (all of which are supposed to report these things), that in February 2014, the Obama Administration perpetrated a bloody coup detat that overthrew the democratically elected President of Ukraine, and replaced his government with a racist-fascist, or anti-Russian nazi, government, so that Ukraine, which had been at peace for decades, was now suddenly torn by a racist bloody civil war a war of ethnic cleansing? Oh? You were instead told that democracy started (instead of ended) when Ukraines President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown then, in a revolution, not in any US coup? The very next day, on 8 September 2002, the New York Times bannered THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE IRAQIS; US SAYS HUSSEIN INTENSIFIES QUEST FOR A-BOMB PARTS, and reported that, In the last 14 months, Iraq has sought to buy thousands of specially designed aluminum tubes, which American officials believe were intended as components of centrifuges to enrich uranium. That, too, turned out to be fiction, which the news-media stenographically reported to be reality, as any propaganda-agency is paid or otherwise rewarded to do. Also on September 8th, Bushs National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said on CNN, We dont want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud. On 9 September 2002, the IAEA denied the existence of the new report that Bush (seconded by British Prime Minister Tony Blair) had just said was proof that Saddam was within six months of having a nuclear bomb. Neither the NYT nor other news-media reported that the President had lied on September 7th. So, Gwozdecky of IAEA tried again, on September 27th, but the NYT and all the others continued to ignore them. That (the US Presidents deceiving this nation into an invasion) wasnt included to report wasnt even buried (like on an inside page) in All the News Thats Fit to Print. Did the NYT (and WP and CNN, etc,) lose subscribers, and go out of business, for that serial-deceit of the public? The opposite: they thrived. And, now, they accuse smaller news-media (which had had had nothing to do with deceiving Americans into invading Iraq) of providing fake news. And the standards of American journalism are just as poor today as they were back in 2002 and 2003. Then, on 8 October 2002, President Bush delivered, to the nation, his major address on why we needed to invade Iraq very soon. He said: Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun, that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. Condoleezza Rices fictitious mushroom cloud was now exactly a month later President Bushs, too. On 18 March 2003, President Bush ordered the UNs weapons-inspectors out of Iraq by telling them that if they wouldnt be gone within 48 hours theyd be under US bombing there. Hans Blix and his team rushed out, to meet that deadline. The Iraqi people couldnt do any such thing Bushs warning simply spelt doom for them. Nobody in the mainstream press, at the time, or afterward, reported that the IAEA had actually issued no such new report. It didnt exist, at all. The American public didnt know that Bush was lying through his teeth and that this invasion was 100% a blatant international war-crime. They didnt know, because the billionaires American news-media hid that fact. All of these news lies are stenographic reporting, and its endemic in all of Americas mainstream news-media, all of which are controlled by billionaires, via ownership and/or their corporations advertising. Stenographic news-reporting is still as acceptable to them as it was to them then, when we invaded and destroyed Iraq, on the basis of those stenographically reported lies from the Government and its agents. Thats Americas mainstream. Many in alternative, smaller, news-media had reported over and over and over and over and over and over and even Rupert Murdochs own London Times had reported as early as 26 November 2009 (after the Republican President Bush was no longer in office and had been replaced by a Democrat) that all of the insiders had known that Iraq didnt have weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). What all of the mainstream news-media were publishing, back in 2003, were merely lies from the Government. What should have been the first question, then, on 9 September 2002 when the IAEA said that there wasnt any new report from them, about the matter such as the US President had alleged? The questions were never asked, much less followed up immediately to expose the response to be yet another lie. This is how Bush and his team got away with mass-murder abroad. There was no resistance, in any of the mainstream (the billionaire-controlled) media. Not even in the Democratic-Party news-media. This was bipartisan evil (by the billionaires) and ignorance (by the public). On 22 January 2018, CNN reported that, George W. Bushs favorable rating has grown from 33% to 61% since he left office. Most of Bushs climb back to popularity came from Democrats and independents. His favorability mark among Democrats has soared from only 11% in February 2009 to a majority 54% now. Maybe thats because of news-media such as CNN, continuing to trumpet ongoing official deceits as if those were instead established truths. The US Government can lie as much as it wants, because theres nothing to stop it from lying. There is no accountability in an aristocracy, but only in a democracy (and the US is an aristocracy). The media-mainstream, and its supporters, refuse to become honest. Mainstreamers think that theyre terrific as they are, and certainly shouldnt be put out of business for the mass-murdering lies theyve pumped. The Russiagate fraud is the latest example of this. If it had succeeded, then not only would US defense-spending soar even more and the Governments domestic spending plunge, but World War III against Russia would suddenly become enormously more likely. Russiagate-Trump On 23 March 2019, main conclusions from the Mueller Report the report from US Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III became published. Democratic Party politicians and news-media were shocked and stunned that Muellers report asserted: [T]he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities. One needs to see the complete sentence, there, not just part of it (which is all that was released); but, if this quotation from the Report isnt out-of-context, then the entire investigation was pursuing a Democratic Party lie and found it to be a lie. On 24 March 2019, Michael Calderone at Politico said that while fair-minded criticism can be beneficial to the news media, there are likely to also be bad faith attempts to delegitimize journalism. He said there journalism, instead of propaganda. He was writing propaganda for Americas Democratic-Party news-media. Calderone was happy to report that Some journalists have already pushed back on the weekend criticism. Given the issues, stakes, and seriousness with which special counsel treated all of this, the medias coverage of Russia-Trump connection and possible obstruction over the last two years was somewhere between about right and not quite aggressive enough, tweeted Esquires Ryan Lizza. On the same day, Paul Farhi of the Washington Post headlined Conclusion of Mueller probe raises anew criticisms of coverage and reported that Among the theories commentators advanced was one by New York magazine writer Jonathan Chait, who speculated in a cover story in July about whether the dark crevices of the Russia scandal run not just a little deeper but a lot deeper. In a statement Sunday night, Chait stood by his article. That story relied on reports in credible public sources. None of those reports have been refuted. Thats rabidly false, though the top editors at both the Washington Post and the New York Times were quoted there as making similar false assertions. Farhi continued: In fact, revelations by the Times and The Washington Post about contacts between Russian agents and Trumps campaign advisers in 2016 helped prompt the inquiry that the special counsel took over in May 2017. The two newspapers shared a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the issue that year. He seemed to be actually bragging about his very successful and severely failed news-paper and its main competitor. On March 25th, Amy Chozick in the New York Times bannered After Mueller Report, News Media Leaders Defend Their Work, and she reported that, Jeff Zucker, president of CNN, said he was entirely comfortable with the networks coverage. We are not investigators. We are journalists, and our role is to report the facts as we know them, which is exactly what we did, Mr. Zucker said in an email. Furthermore: Ben Smith, the editor in chief of BuzzFeed News, defended coverage of the Russian investigation, including the decision to publish a dossier put together by British intelligence officer Christopher Steele full of tantalizing (and unsubstantiated) reports about Russian efforts to blackmail Mr. Trump. Its pretty hard to imagine a scenario in which people were aware of its existence but not allowed to see it, Mr. Smith said of the dossier. Smith took seriously the unsubstantiated dossier that the DNC had hired for creating the myth that the cause of Clintons loss was Putin and Russia, instead of herself, and her profoundly corrupt Party (no different, basically, from the Republican Party). On March 26th, The Hill headlined Media have account to settle with American people over Mueller investigation coverage, and a journalism professor said that the news industry had been stumbling around unsuccessfully in the dark trying to find fact nuggets on which to build the Mueller story. Two days later, he told Wisconsin Public Radio that The media did underperform over the last couple of years. The problem was just blunders, and underperformance (instead of its long-proven-normal performance) not the entire corrupt system of journalism in America, where the people who do the hiring are answerable ultimately to the same billionaires who effectively control the Government. No not that not at all (according to him). As I have pointed out and documented (via links to solid ultimate sources, sometimes in the linked-to sources in linked-to articles, but all ultimate sources having been very carefully verified by this reporter as being true, and those sources remaining solid), All US Govt. Accusations Against Russias Govt. Are Lies. Thats right: all of Russiagate is based on very dubious evidence. This means that the time-line, in the Mueller Report, lists some events that did not happen, and some events that were not partisanly involved in the 2016 Presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And Robert Mueller himself has a very bad record, but how widely has that been reported? South Korea is having a problem with its troops that serve with American units. NCOs (sergeants) who provide some supervision for those South Korea troops have developed some bad habits. In addition to some NCOs extracting bribes from subordinates others also take advantage of the loose supervision they receive from the South Korean Army. A recent example of this was five KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army) NCOs who were prosecuted for going AWOL (absent without leave) for up to a month. There have been increasing complaints from former KATUSA soldiers about how their NCOs were getting away with all manner of misbehavior. Over half the troops in the South Korean military are conscripts and the most prized assignment for conscripts is as part of the KATUSA force. Most of these English speaking troops are integrated into American units and daily supervision is provided by American NCOs and officers. But these KATUSAs are still part of the South Korean army, are paid by the South Korean military and have NCOs who are assigned to deal with them on matters related to the South Korean military (pay, discipline and so on). The complaint has long been that no one really supervises these KATUSA NCOs and the army always avoided the issue because of cost and possible problems with the Americans (who are satisfied with the performance of the conscript KATUSAs). What finally triggered some serious attention to the KATUSA problems was a fundamental change in attitudes by conscripts and their parents. Theyare increasingly vocal about how conscripts are treated, including living conditions, supervision and pay. This translated into political pressure because the parents vote and eventually the conscripts will. Another problem is the rapidly declining birthrate which means the military will either have to shrink or convince more conscripts to make the military a career. This will also involve getting politicians to accept the fact that this will cost a lot more. South Korea has had universal, and strictly enforced, conscription since 1957. Since then most adult males have served 20-24 months in uniform. This is followed by six years in the active reserves (with some training each year). In addition to the brutality, military life is regimented 24/7. Living conditions are not all that great, and pay is minimal for conscripts. For years there have been suggestions from veterans that South Korea adopt practices similar to the Americans. This is because, since the Korean War, over half a million South Korean soldiers have served in American units as KATUSAs. South Korean conscripts who speak passable English are eligible for this, and it is a much sought after assignment. During the Korean War over 6,000 KATUSAs died while serving with American units. There are still over 3,000 KATUSAs assigned to U.S. units. The KATUSAs remain part of the South Korean army, but report to American units and are given a job that would otherwise have to be performed by an American soldier. The KATUSAs are treated just like the American troops, living in the same barracks, eating in the same mess halls and getting the same medical care. However, there are South Korean officers and NCOs available for any disciplinary problems, and to administer pay and other personnel matters (like leave). There are few disciplinary problems and the KATUSA NCOs are expected to keep it that way. The KATUSAs are usually smarter than the average 18 year old conscript and see service in an American unit as an excellent opportunity to improve their English skills and learn more about Americans. This helps later on for getting into college and/or getting a good job. As a bonus the living conditions are much better and the work generally more interesting. On the downside, KATUSAs come to their American units right out of basic training, without any specialized training. So KATUSAs generally don't get any high tech jobs and have to be trained for whatever work they do get assigned. But since most of the KATUSAs are good students to begin with, and ambitious, there are often opportunities to train them for some pretty complex jobs. This has changed in the last few decades as education levels among draft age South Koreans increased and now many KATUSAs perform skilled jobs. All this was part of an evolution of the South Korean military to one more similar to those found in the West. South Korea began equipping its troops like their American counterparts in the 1990s, but often using high-tech weapons and equipment developed and made in South Korea. Naturally South Koreans looked to their American allies, who were also using such equipment, for insight on how to get the most out of all this new gear. Putting an American and South Korean combat brigade in the same division was not such a radical idea when you consider that both brigades use similar (and sometimes identical) equipment and often use it the same way. This greater cultural understanding between South Korea and American commanders was one of the aftereffects of all those South Korean conscripts serving in American units. For a decade now the United States has sought to reorganize its remaining forces in South Korea to take advantage of the growing effectiveness of South Korean forces. In 2015 this involved expanding the only remaining U.S. Army division (the 2nd Infantry) with the addition of a South Korean mechanized infantry brigade. This gave the division two combat brigades, the other one being American. South Korean officers and troops were also added to division headquarters. The division was still be commanded by an American and the South Korean brigade still belonged to the South Korean Army but served as part of an American division rather than a South Korean one. This form of cooperation is actually part of a trend that has been underway for over 60 years. One aspect of the American reorganization, began in 2010, was to make it easier to move American forces into, and out of, South Korea in a hurry. The idea is to make American and South Korea units more effective in working together. The main army headquarters for American forces in South Korea, the Eighth Army, was upgraded with staff and support personnel so that it could quickly command twelve or more combat brigades and all the support forces needed for that many combat troops. Since the 1990s the U.S. has been working to transfer supreme military command in South Korea to the South Koreans. However, as North Korea developed nuclear weapons, built more long-range ballistic missiles and threatened to use chemical weapons, South Korea sought more potential help from the U.S. So while U.S. troop levels in South Korea are at record lows, preparations are being made to increase them, a lot, in a short period of time. American troops have been in South Korea continuously since 1950 and the U.S. has always said it would stand by its South Korean ally. But the numbers tell a different tale. At the end of the Korean War, in 1953, there were over 350,000 U.S. troops in South Korea. Within a year, that shrank to 223,000, and by 1955 it was only 85,000. By the mid-60s it was 63,000 and a decade later there were only 42,000. There it stayed for over two decades. Then came September 11, 2001, and the war on terror. By 2004 the U.S. forces in South Korea were down to 37,000. In 2006 that dropped to 30,000, and about 28,000 in 2008. After that, the number of troops has stayed about the same with some fluctuations. Since 2008 the U.S. has been moving its forces away from the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) that forms the border between North and South Korea. This makes it possible to let troops bring their families with them. That means troops will stay for three years when assigned to South Korea, instead of the previous 12 month unaccompanied (by family) tour of duty. By keeping troops around for three years, they get to know about South Korea and their counterparts in the South Korean military. Meanwhile, the South Korea Army was undergoing changes. While South Koreans do not like the Japanese, South Korean military traditions were largely inherited from the Japanese, who, before World War II, had a rather brutal attitude about how soldiers were handled. During World War II, many Koreans were allowed to join the Japanese army as support troops and were subjected to the brutal Japanese discipline. Sergeants were allowed to use physical violence freely, and soldiers who had been in longer, even a few months longer, got away with similar abuse of the more recent recruits. American soldiers who saw South Koreans do this after World War II, and many did (as U.S. and South Korean units were often based close together), were appalled. The KATUSAs saw that troops could be effective without the iron discipline. After a few decades, this attitude got wider acceptance among South Koreans. That led to better (less corrupt and brutal) treatment of troops, especially newly inducted conscripts. Pay was eventually increased and living conditions much improved. The conscripts responded as several generations of KATUSA veterans had predicted. So now, after nearly 70 years of operating together the South Korea and American forces are very similar in weapons, equipment, training, leadership and attitudes towards military service. The KATUSAs were always seen, at least by the American troops the KATUSAs served with, as a vast cultural exchange program and after several generations the cultural impact for South Koreans, in general, was considerable but little noticed because it happened so gradually over a long time. Sudanese security forces in the capital (Khartoum) fired tear gas at demonstrators chanting what has become the protestor mantra, Freedom! Peace! Justice! Protests took place in the next largest city (Omdurman) and riot police there also used tear gas. The protests began December 19, 2018. Initially, public anger at government reductions in food and fuel subsidies sparked the unrest but Sudans weak economy and president-for-life Bashirs misrule (especially corruption) are the real sources of disgust. The economy has suffered considerably because of the loss of revenue from South Sudans oil fields (courtesy of South Sudans independence). Some protestors have focused on the Bashirs huge spending on the military and security services while neglecting basic government services. President Bashir also faces indictments by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide in Darfur. Little wonder removing Bashir has become the demonstrators principal demand. Protests continue throughout the country. Their intensity increases then ebbs, then increases again. The protests appear to have support from nearly all ethnic groups and economic sectors of Sudanese society. Since January 1, the government has arrested several hundred protestors (one source estimates 1,000). Many of these individuals have been released but there are reports that several dozen protestors have not been released and the government offers no information about their detention. These are accusations but this has happened in the past. April 4, 2019: Sudan rejected allegations by Eritrea that Sudan had conspired with Qatar and Turkey to overthrow Eritrean president Isaias Afewerki. Eritrea claimed that these nations are backing a radical group called the Eritrean Scholars League. April 4, 2019: South Sudans SPLM-IO rebels have asked IGAD (East African Intergovernmental Authority on Development) to release rebel leader Riek Machar from protective confinement in Sudan. IGAD sent Machar to the Sudan capital to protect him until South Sudans transitional unity government was in place. South Sudans transitional unity government is supposed to coalesce by May 2019. However, one of the major benchmarks has yet to happen: unification of the national army. President Kiir and long-time rival Machar are still arguing over shared security control of the capital (Juba), which is one reason IGAD sent Machar to Sudan. Diplomats from several nations are arguing for a third-party protection force to protect opposition leaders like Machar. April 3, 20189: In South Sudan, members of the committee preparing for implementing the transitional government indicate that progress is being made by Independent Boundaries Commission (IBC). If so, its incremental. The IBC is tasked with determining tribal boundaries (always dicey) and then settling on the number of states in South Sudan. In 2014 the president Kiir unilaterally carved up South Sudans ten states and created new states. This was one of the factors that caused former vice president Machar to lead a rebellion. April 1, 2019: In South Sudan, NGOs operating in the country issued new estimates on civil war casualties. At least 400,000 died and four million people are currently displaced. March 31, 2019: In Sudan, President Bashir admitted protestors had legitimate economic demands though he deplored protestors who use unlawful ways and have destroyed national properties. Bashir acknowledged The economic crisis has impacted a wide section of our people. Thats a huge comedown for the dictator who seized power in a military coup in 1989. He also promised to boost the National Dialogue initiative, which is his supposed national reconciliation program. March 26, 2019: East of the South Sudan capital (Juba), disputes over land rights left at least 27 dead and a dozen injured. Apparently, a similar battle occurred in the area on or around March 18 in a dispute over grazing rights and water rights that left 18 dead. March 24, 2019: In southern South Sudan (Yei River state), rebels led by a rogue general (Thomas Cirillo) fought with soldiers. Cirillo claims to lead an insurgency and he is not part of the peace process. March 21, 2019: Sudan protested Egypt's call for oil and gas exploration bids in the Red Sea offshore from the disputed Halayeb triangle. Both countries claim Halayeb which is currently under Egyptian control. March 18, 2019: Russia announced it will continue to support Sudanese president Bashir. March 17, 2019: In South Sudan, if it looks corrupt it probably is. Accusations that the state-owned oil company (Nile Petroleum) has paid government officials a salary continue. It isn't a salary, it is graft. Those accusations first appeared in early 2018. Now the UN says theres evidence the state-owned oil company is funding the National Security Service (which runs the federal police, special police and special security forces.) March 14, 2019: In Sudan, opposition politicians and foreign NGOs openly support the nationwide protests against the government. They argue that the longer the government delays political and economic reform the more likely Sudan will experience greater instability and slide closer to civil war. A low-grade civil war already exists in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. March 13, 2019: In Sudan, several foreign NGOs protested the governments harsh crackdown on street protestors, journalists and opposition political leaders. The rights groups characterized the government treatment of its critics as violent. American officials are using similar language. The United States accused Sudan of using official violence to break up peaceful protests and intimidate peaceful protestors. In February Sudan declared a state of emergency. Critics of Sudan claim that violent repression has increased since the state of emergency went into effect. >>> Vietnam, Thailand enhance financial cooperation in ASEAN framework The one-day event has attracted almost 300 delegates from 10 ASEAN member states, and several East Asian, American and European nations. In his opening remarks, Thai Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong stressed that to achieve targets in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025, ASEAN states should cooperate to create positive changes for the worlds economy. He expressed his belief that when the countries intensify collaboration, their common desires for a connected, sustainable and self-reliant ASEAN would be fulfilled. Participating ministers highlighted cooperation in using local currencies in investment, handling trade conflicts and supervising digital assets and cyber security in financial transactions. They are expected to discuss financial, payment and service connectivity so as to facilitate intra-bloc e-payment. Cyber security was also put on table for discussion to solve threats to the financial sector. After the meeting, relevant parties are expected to sign a Protocol to implement the Eighth Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services. On the same day, the 5th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (AFMGM 5) also takes place in Chiang Rai. The Ministry of Social Development has declared a labour shortage in the Bay of Plenty. The shortage is for a six-week period between April 15 and May 27. Declaring the shortage allows visitor visa holders to apply for a variation of conditions and enable people to work in the respective regions. MSD group general manager client service delivery Kay Read says seasonal labour efforts involve industry, local and central government agencies working closely together. We recognise an improved commitment by the horticulture and viticulture sectors to better manage their workforce requirements. Our focus remains on connecting New Zealanders to sustainable work and seasonal work is a step towards achieving this. We will continue to refer jobseekers to available vacancies across all industry sectors, says Kay. Declaring or extending a labour shortage is a last resort measure and something thats done once all other levers to find enough workers has been exhausted. A declaration also has the effect of highlighting to New Zealanders, who may be willing and able, that there are job opportunities available for them. Forecasts expect the peak harvest season for the kiwifruit industry to run until around May 2019 and there is currently a worker shortage of about 3800 people. MSD Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Mike Bryant says there are a number of MSD initiatives partnering with the industry to help prepare and place jobseekers into seasonal work. We have a dedicated horticulture employment team of MSD work brokers who liaise year-round with employers in the sector and understand the industry needs. They support employers and workers with training, transport, accommodation, equipment and more. Since July 2018, MSD has placed more than 1000 people into jobs in the local kiwifruit industry, nearly 500 of them since January 2019, with many more prepared to start work once the main picking period is underway. These roles are an opportunity for people seeking to get back into the workforce and can open the door to other things. Many seasonal workers experience a variety of work in a range of locations and are able to stay employed year round using their diverse skills. New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated supports the Ministry of Social Developments declaration of a labour shortage for the kiwifruit industry in the Bay of Plenty. There is a current shortfall of over 1400 vacancies in the Bay of Plentys kiwifruit industry which is expected to increase to 3800 at harvests peak around mid-April. There was a shortfall of 1200 vacancies at the peak of harvest in 2018. The industry has been working hard to attract labour for this years harvest, says NZKGI CEO Nikki Johnson. NZKGI has been running a media campaign to promote work in our sector and early signals indicate that this has gone some way in reducing the number of vacancies. However, it is vital to our industry that there is enough seasonal labour for harvest, and we currently dont have enough people to pick and pack the intended crop. So it is entirely prudent and good risk management for MSD to take this step in support of our campaign. We would encourage people kiwis and visitors to come and enjoy working in an industry that exports an iconic piece of kiwiana overseas. Kiwifruit industry employers have been working closely with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to place New Zealanders in vacant roles. Between January and April 2019, MSD has placed nearly 500 job seekers into the kiwifruit industry. Despite this more workers are still needed. The declaration of a seasonal labour shortage allows overseas visitors who already hold visitor visas to apply to vary the conditions of their visas for working in kiwifruit in the Bay of Plenty. Overseas visitors are encouraged to visit the New Zealand Immigration website where detailed information about varying the conditions of a visa can be found. To date over 90 percent of this seasons total kiwifruit crop is yet to be harvested. It is forecast that a similar amount of fruit is required to be packed this year in comparison to last year. This includes an increase of 12 percent of SunGold kiwifruit which requires packing in a short period of time. Nikki says NZKGI seeks to employ New Zealanders as a first priority, especially kiwis who live in regions with orchards and packhouses. Work and Income has given help to people that need transport from other parts of BOP and other Work and Income clients who would like to access this should contact their local office for support. Because of the low unemployment rate this is not always possible, and other sources of workers, such as those from the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme and backpackers, are also required. She says the industry continues to have robust discussions with Government around increasing the number of workers available under the RSE scheme, as well as other avenues to meet demand during harvest. NZKGI has recently secured co-funding and employed a labour coordinator to connect employers with workers over harvest and analyse current and future labour demands of the kiwifruit industry, and will use this information to deal with industry growth projections. A University of Waikato report forecasts that the kiwifruit industry contribution to the Bay of Plentys GDP will increase 135 per cent by 2030 to $2.04 billion and require 14,329 new kiwifruit jobs. The kiwifruit industry is an important contributor to the local Bay of Plenty economy, currently contributing $867 million to the regions GDP and employing 10,762 FTE in the year 2015/2016. The last declaration of a labour shortage for the kiwifruit industry was made in 2018 when the unemployment rate in the Bay of Plenty was 5.9 per cent. The current unemployment rate is 4.8 per cent. Bay of Plenty We are looking for a storeman with an OSH forklift license. You will need to be physically for as the job is about 70% forklift... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz It was a delicate operation, weather dependent, and done in the dead of night. A new pedestrian bridge across State highway 36 to Tauranga Crossing was hoisted in place on Wednesday night. It required the closing of a four-lane arterial highway, a couple of cranes, lots of lights and two things that could not be pre-ordained little or no rain and wind. The $4.1 million walking and cycling bridge project was jointly funded by the Tauranga City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency. The 38.3-metre steel zig-zag, or truss design span was eased into position about 11pm on Wednesday night, creating a vital piece of infrastructure linking Taurangas newest suburb, The Lakes, with the Tauriko business estate. The 28.4 tonne steel structure of the bridge was pre-fabricated in Napier and trucked to Tauranga over two days. But the lift weight, including the concrete deck was about 80 tonnes. It was slung into place in less than hour at 11pm on Wednesday night, with a single lift using a mobile 400 tonne crane. The bridge installation coincides with the opening of another stage of the Tauranga Crossing mega-mall - 45 new stores, 17 new eateries and an 800-seat cinema in a $150 million development. A thousand people will be employed in retail and food and beverage outlets. The bridge will give the people of The Lakes residential area a new and safe travel alternative across SH36 between Lakes Boulevard and Kennedy Road to the Tauranga Crossing shopping complex. Tauranga City Councils acting general manager of infrastructure likes the new span. It is a stunning bridge in this fastest growing part of our city, says Martin Parkes. It creates a safe connection for walkers and people on bikes between parts of the city that were previously disconnected. While the new overbridge is now in place, it is not yet open to people traffic. There will be another month of finishing work, including minor earthworks, landscaping, fencing and the installation of steel furniture. Martin says the bridge is a significant addition to Taurangas transport network. It follows the installation of the Wharepaewaka overbridge that was built last year over SH29 (Takitimu Drive) linking Bethlehem and Gate Pa. The new overbridge on SH36 is due to officially open in the middle of next month. The New Zealand Transport Agency are advising motorists there will be overnight resurfacing work starting on SH29A between Takitimu Drive and Barkes Corner this Sunday April 7. Bay of Plenty system manager Rob Campbell says this road is due to be resurfaced as part of the Transport Agencys normal safety and maintenance programme and should take around eight days to complete. While these works are relatively minor, we are mindful that there is a lot going on in this area at the moment, including the Tauranga Crossing State 2 having just opened and a stormwater upgrade along Pyes Pa Road. Were doing the work at night between 6pm and 6am, to help minimise disruption as much as possible to travellers during the day, however there may still be some minor delays, particularly during the peak morning and afternoon hours. We ask motorists if possible to consider travelling outside of peak hours, says Rob. A 50kmph temporary speed limit will be in place for the duration of the work and traffic will be operating under a stop/go management. There will be periods of time when the metering lights at Barkes Corner roundabout will not be working. We remind drivers that during these periods they should continue to obey normal give way rules at the roundabout and drive carefully and considerately, says Rob. Residents of Cheyenne County communities are invited to attend a Severe Weather Spotter Training co-sponsored by Cheyenne County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service (NWS). The training session is slated for Wednesday, April 10 at Sidney High School. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last about an hour and a half. Everyone is invited. If you are a current weather spotter, firefighter, law enforcement specialist, land management employee, emergency services technician, transportation operator, outdoor recreationalist, or just purely a weather enthusiast, this tr... SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- More than 50 people, including former Democratic candidate for Congress Dana Balter, rallied for the release of special counsel Robert Muellers report on the Russia investigation in front of the federal building on Thursday night. Balter was among those who spoke at the rally. We still dont know what the Mueller report is, she said to those gathered. She encouraged attendees to hold Rep. John Katko accountable to make sure the report is released in full. Several attendees brought signs that read #ReleaseTheReport and Release the FULL report. Attorney General William Barr has said the full report could be released in mid-April. Two days after Mueller finished his investigation and submitted the report, Barr wrote a four-page summary letter to Congress that detailed Muellers principal conclusions. Barr wrote: Mueller didnt find that the Trump campaign coordinated or conspired with Russia Mueller didnt reach a conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decided Muellers evidence was insufficient to find that the president committed obstruction of justice On Wednesday, the New York Times and Washington Post reported investigators who worked on the report and members of Muellers team complained that the evidence they found on obstruction was significant. The group in front of the federal building rallied for just more than 30 minutes. WEEDSPORT, NY -- A small Cayuga County brewery that recently won a stack of medals for its beers has some big expansion plans this spring and summer. Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing is moving from its home at 8920 N. Seneca St. (Route 24) in Weedsport to a new and larger spot just down the street. The new location, at 8931 N. Seneca, will have double the space, to accomodate a larger brewhouse area and tasting room, and the addition of a wood-fired pizza oven. Derric Slocum, who co-owns the brewery with his wife, Kristin Lunkenheimer Slocum, said he hopes to have the new space open in June. The brewery may be able to expand its hours and add a canning line for its beers, Slocum said. It will continue to operate a relatively small 5-barrel brewhouse, but will add fermentation tanks to expand its production. Its also planning to expand distribution in Onondaga County, through the Party Source Beverage Center in Syracuse, Slocum said. (Beers including a Blood Orange Kolsch shoukld be showing up in the Syracuse market next week, Slocum said.) The Slocums have been working on the expansion for some time. It was important for them to find space in Weedsport, Derric Slocum said. Were kind of small brewery, in a small town, but the community here has always supported us and we want to support them, he said. Weedsport has been a major part of our success. Thats not all: Lunkenheimer also plans to open a second taproom at the south end of Sodus Bay by Memorial Day. That space is at 9648 Ridge Road in Huron, Wayne County, near the Sodus Bay Bridge. It will serve Lunkenheimers beer, along with other New York state craft beverages, but will not have its own brewhouse. Wayne County currently is one of just four counties in the state with no breweries. The Slocums opened Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing in 2014. In March, Lunkenheimer was one of three breweries to take home three medals in the 2019 New York State Beer Competition, which judged 813 separate beers entered by 160 different New York state breweries. Lunkenheimers medals were gold in the non-Belgian Strong Ale category for its Barleywine 2018; bronze in the non-sour Fruit and Spice Beer category for its Toasted Coconut Porter, and gold in the category for New York State Beer. The criteria for that category was beer that uses at least 20 percent New York state-grown or produced hops, malt and other ingredients. That category had 353 entries. Lunkenheimer was joined in winning three medals by another Cayuga County brewery -- Prison City Pub & Brewery in Auburn. Prison City, which won the Governors Cup for the best beer in New York, a sweet Imperial Stout made with toasted coconut, is also undertaking an expansion. It will open a larger production brewing facility, with a tap room and kitchen, at 197-199 North St., near the corner of Standart Ave. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him atdcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Federal and state authorities announced steps this week to rein in for-profit stem cell clinics from New York to Florida, ramping up efforts to rein in a booming industry that critics say are offering unapproved and expensive treatments that have harmed a growing number of patients. New York state's attorney general filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Manhattan clinic called Park Avenue Stem Cell - accusing it of "fraudulent and illegal advertising regarding its stem cell procedures." A day earlier, the Food and Drug Administration sent 20 letters to stem cell companies, telling them to stop selling unapproved products in violation of federal laws. The FDA also sent a more formal letter of warning to a Altamonte Springs, Florida. company, called Cord for Life, that has sold umbilical cord blood products to stem cell companies, accusing it of legal and safety violations. The actions are part of a growing attempt by government officials to regulate a burgeoning industrythat critics say has injured at least two dozen patients in recent years and cheated thousands more. Hundreds of clinics have popped up selling stem cell procedures - not covered by insurance, unproven by science and unauthorized by the government - that the clinics claim can treat ailments ranging from creaky knees to Alzheimer's, Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis. Such clinics are "misleading vulnerable consumers who are desperate to find a treatment for serious and painful medical conditions," said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who called such behavior "unacceptable, unlawful, and immoral." The New York lawsuit - seeking an injunction to stop Park Avenue Stem Cell's from marketing its treatments - is one of the first instances in which a state has filed a lawsuit against a stem cell company. The lawsuit accuses Park Avenue Stem Cell of misleading patients by telling them without proof that its treatment can treat conditions like erectile dysfunction, neurological diseases and cardiac problems. The treatments start at $4,000, and some patients paid for multiple sessions, state authorities said. Park Avenue Stem Cell did not respond to calls or emails for comment. At the federal level, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has stepped up threats against clinics, asserting their products are illegal drugs and vowing to take stronger enforcement action against them, such as the letters sent on Wednesday. Scientists believe stem cell research may someday lead to solutions to complex and intractable diseases. But scientific societies, medical associations and leading researchers have issued warnings against for-profit clinics and compared them to snake-oil salesmen. At least five patients have suffered severe vision loss after having treatments injected into their eyes. This year, a Washington Post article documented at least 17 people hospitalized with severe bacterial infections after being injected with a stem cell products made from umbilical cord blood, a little-known but fast-growing segment of the industry. Some critics, however, question whether Gottlieb's efforts have had much effect. "It's not that these letters are inconsequential," said Leigh Turner, a University of Minnesota bioethicist who has documented the industry's growth. "But if you're trying to tackle this one business at a time, you're not going to make a dent. We're talking about one new warning letter when there are now hundreds of clinics out there . . . Why not send out 50 warning letters? 100 warning letters?" FDA officials said the agency has sent out five warning letters in the past two years, including Wednesday's. In an interview,Gottlieb acknowledged that FDA was slow in the industry's early years to respond, but contended it has picked up the pace. "We can't just write warning letters like speeding tickets," he said, noting each requires inspections and intense documentation, so that if the company ignores the letter, the government can sue them. But in recent years, such lawsuits have been rare, with the government going after only a handful of companies in court. Some stem cell experts said they remain hopeful Gottlieb's efforts may have an effect. "The unmistakable message is that the firms' time to come into compliance is rapidly running out," said Paul Knoepfler, a stem cell biologist at the University of California at Davis and frequent critic of the for-profit stem cell industry. The FDA's new warning letter to Cord for Life, a Florida-based cord banking company, cites the company for safety lapses,such as not following specific sterility procedures or properly documenting its tests and equipment. Cord for Life general manager Donald Hudspeth said he believes his company - which he said has operated for 25 years without major compliance issues - came under federal scrutiny because of its brief involvement with Liveyon, a company whose umbilical cord-blood-derived product led to the hospitalization of 15 patients last year with severe bacterial infections.Those infections happened before Liveyon started using Cord for Life as a supplier, however. Hudspeth said his company has already taken action to address the safety issues raised by FDA. Wynn Resorts spied on Central New York native Steve Wynns ex-wife, an employee said in a Massachusetts Gaming Commission hearing Thursday. The Boston Herald reports James Stern, a former FBI agent and current executive vice president of corporate security for Wynn Resorts, testified he hired two other former FBI agents with Wynn Resorts funds to surveil employees including co-founder Elaine Wynn, who was married to Steve Wynn from 1991 to 2010. Stern said he believed she was meeting with co-founder Kazuo Okada, a Japanese billionaire suspected of working with organized crime. They were surveilled internally, they werent surveilled outside the company, Stern said. They were watched. When she was with Okada, they were followed to make sure there was no connections to Japanese organized crime. I did turn it over to the FBI. I talked to the FBI before anything was initiated. A spokeswoman told the newspaper that Elaine Wynn, who remains a major shareholder, said she never met with Okada. CBS reports Wynn also testified that she had no idea she was being watched. According to the Herald, Wynn Resorts CEO Matthew Maddox said he didnt know Elaine Wynn was being spied on, but he did admit to authorizing surveillance of another former employee who was allegedly saying "lies... a lot of really negative things about Wynn and that Wynn was going to go down. Earlier this week, the gaming commission released a 200-page investigative report accusing Wynn Resorts of concealing and failing to act on allegations of sexual abuse by its former CEO, Steve Wynn. The commission is determining whether to keep a gambling license for a new Wynn Resorts location near Boston. The Nevada Gaming Commission fined the company a record $20 million in February or failing to properly investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against Wynn, but allowed it to keep its license. Wynn allegedly had a child with a woman he raped and was part of a $7.5 million settlement in another sexual assault case. In a statement, Wynn Resorts admitted it fell short ... in perhaps one of the most important areas for an employer focusing on its employees. Wynn, 77, has denied all wrongdoing but said the avalanche of negative publicity made it impossible for the billionaire casino mogul to continue as head of the company when he resigned in January 2018. He also stepped down as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee amid the scandal. According to MassLive.com, Elaine Wynn testified that she didnt know anything about the allegations until their divorce proceedings began in 2005. He denied that anything of a sexual nature took place. He explained that he was being extorted by this individual, it was not true, she said. She also described Steve Wynn as bully-ish and said I do believe that I was starting to be referred to as a bitter, cynical, ex-wife." Wynn grew up in Utica and is a 1959 graduate of The Manlius School, which later merged with Manlius Pebble Hill School. He co-founded Wynn Resorts, a Las Vegas-based casino and hotel operator, in 2002. Australia Toughens Tax Rules For Procurement Bids by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong 05 April 2019 The Australian Government is to implement a new government procurement process that will require the tenderer's tax record to be taken into account. As of July 1, 2019, Australian and foreign businesses seeking to tender for Australian government procurement contracts over AUD4m (USD2.9m) will have to obtain a statement from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to show that they have a satisfactory tax record. The ATO explained that for a statement of tax record (STR) to be issued, a business must be correctly registered for an Australian business number (ABN), goods and services tax (GST), and tax file number (TFN). The business must have lodged at least 90 percent of their relevant income tax, business activity statement (BAS), and fringe benefits tax (FBT) lodgements that were due in the last four years of operation from the date of the request for an STR. The business must not have AUD10,000 or more in outstanding undisputed debt due, or have a payment plan in place with the ATO. Where a business has an Australian tax record of less than four years for example, if they are a new Australian business or new foreign tenderer they must meet additional conditions to obtain a satisfactory STR. This includes making statements relating to: being a non-resident with no tax residence or a tax record of less than four years in Australia; compliance and payment of Australian and foreign tax obligations; and no tax-related convictions in the last four years. Businesses and their agents can apply for an STR online from June 1. When a request is submitted, a receipt number will be provided as confirmation. An STR receipt can be submitted as part of the tender documents, but a satisfactory STR will be required no later than four business days from the close of a tender and before the awarding of the contract. An STR will be valid for a period of 12 months from the time of issue in the case of businesses with an Australian tax record of four or more years, and for a period of six months for businesses with a tax record of less than four years. Denmark Seeking To Modernize Labor Tax Rules by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels 05 April 2019 On March 25, 2019, the Danish Tax Ministry announced that it is studying ways in which the tax system can be adapted to new forms of employment and ways of working, with an emphasis on technological developments. In particular, the Government is attempting to identify income tax and value-added tax challenges for those workers who fall between the definitions of employed and self-employed persons. According to the Tax Ministry, there are around 300,000 people in Denmark who can be included in this third category of workers. The ministry said that such workers face challenges with regards to fulfilling their income tax and VAT obligations, as well as administrative problems when attempting to correctly pay tax and VAT. In addition to those starting up new businesses, people earning money from activities such as blogging and streaming content are often considered neither employed or self-employed for tax purposes, the ministry noted. The Tax and Customs Administration has been tasked with submitting a report with recommendations on how such tax challenges can be overcome during 2019. Hungary Defends Decision To Pursue Low Direct Taxes by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels 05 April 2019 The Hungarian Government has issued a statement in defense of recent tax cuts in response to what it described as "attacks" on its tax policies by the European Union. In an article published on the economy ministry's website, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Andras Tallai, told the state news agency MTI that Hungary has experienced some of the largest tax cuts in the EU in recent years, and that this has helped to boost investment and create employment. Summarizing the content of the interview, the ministry said: "The fact that the Hungary has been among the top-ten investment destinations proves the competitiveness of Hungary's taxation regime." "Brussels, however, instead of seeing Hungary's competitive taxation regime as a good example, appears to be rather interested in tax hikes and the elimination of tax incentives and exemptions, and the transformation of the current business-friendly system." According to the EU's statistical agency Eurostat, Hungary recorded the largest tax-to-GDP ratio decrease in the EU in 2017, with the ratio falling from 39.3 percent in 2016 to 38.4 percent in 2017. Hungary also reduced its corporate tax rate from 19 to nine percent on January 1, 2017. This is the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU. Furthermore, in February 2019, Hungary's Prime Minister announced plans to ensure that women who have four or more children do not have to pay income tax. Tallai's comments echoed those made by Norbert Izer, Hungary's State Secretary for Tax Affairs, who told local media in January 2019 that the Government is committed to establishing a tax system with low direct tax rates, funded by high taxes on consumption, such as VAT. He told Hungarian daily Vilaggazdasag that the Government is focused on reducing the tax burden on capital- and work-related income, funded by increases in value-added tax-type taxes. He rejected calls for a reduction in the value-added tax burden, with Hungary featuring Europe's highest VAT rate at 27 percent, noting that the country having a very low corporate tax burden attracts significant investment. UK Sets Out Upcoming VAT Reform Initiatives by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London 05 April 2019 The UK's Chancellor, Philip Hammond, delivering the Spring Statement earlier this month, announced a number of upcoming VAT reform projects. He announced that in the coming months the UK Government will release a policy paper that will explore a potential reform to VAT refund rules for central government, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens and improving public sector productivity. Further, it will launch a call for evidence on simplification and improvement of the VAT Partial Exemption regime, which deals with input tax recovery for businesses that make exempt and taxable supplies, and the Capital Goods Scheme. This will seek to ensure they are as simple and efficient for taxpayers as possible. This follows on from the recommendations of the Office of Tax Simplification, which have looked in detail at the UK's VAT system and possible areas for improvement. Finally, the UK Government will release HM Treasury's findings and recommendations following a review of VAT administration in the Isle of Man after the Paradise Paper allegations. The Isle of Man operates a regime equivalent to the UK and shares revenue but it was alleged, following the leak of Appleby's confidential files, that the Isle of Man was facilitating VAT avoidance on aircraft leasing. The allegations were made by media associated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, who broke the "Paradise Papers" story, and center on the importation of business jets via the Isle of Man into the EU. Ill cut to the chase: TP-Links Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer (model HS220) is an in-wall switch that looks good and works well. Lets start with the good looks, as I must say I really like what TP-Link has done to the face of this devicer. A large rocker switch occupies the bulk of the real estate. A quick tap turns the light on or off, gradually brightening or dimming the connected bulbs. A tap-and-hold immediately takes the bulb to your preset maximum brightness or quickly shuts it off. Two smaller buttons above this rocker can be set to the aforementioned maximum brightness, and they can be used to manually brighten or dim the bulb when its turned on. A row of LEDs above these buttons gives you a visual indicator of that brightness setting, so you dont need to eyeball it by gauging the brightness of the light fixture directly. Another LED placed inside the paddle itself offers color-coded information about the switchs Wi-Fi status. Christopher Null / IDG The monstrous switch plate is tough to get aligned on the wall, and even tougher to tweak. While the switch itself is well designed, I was less enamored with the wall plate. Its larger than usualmeasuring 5 x 3.25 inches, compared to a standard 4.5 x 2.75 inchesand while that might not sound much bigger, it makes a significant difference to the eye (in fact, its 31-percent larger by surface area). As well, like most smart switch plates, it simply snaps on top of the base unit to hold it in place. But getting the base unit adjusted just so, in order to get it straight and level with the plane of the wall, is tricky. Get it wrong and the wall plate will stick out on one side, and since its so big, this is particularly noticeable. You have but one chance to get this right: Once you snap the wall plate on, its seemingly on for good. My first alignment wasnt perfect, but when I tried to remove the plate to try again, it bent wildly without letting go. I eventually gave up, certain that the plate would break before releasing its hold. The electrical design is also somewhat unusual. Most in-wall smart switches have screw terminals that you wrap your from-the-wall wires around (sometimes accompanied by back stabs that you can push your solid copper wires into, instead), or they have wire pigtails that you join to your in-wall wires using wire nuts. The TP-Link HS220 uses both terminals and pigtails. Youll connect your line and load wires to terminals on the side of the device, and connect your neutral (required) and ground wires to the switchs pigtails using wire nuts. Its not a bad design decision, as it helps reduce the number of wire nuts that consume precious space inside the junction box. Christopher Null Status LEDs on the top of the dimmer give you a quick indication of your brightness level. Though the switch does not actually carry Kasa branding, it does require TP-Links Kasa app to run. And as with TP-Links other smart switches, outlets, and smart bulbs, the app sets up easy and works without complaint. Setup involves the usual temporary Wi-Fi access point connection, after which the Kasa app takes over. Things here are pretty simple, letting you power on/off, set brightness level, and assign preset levels on the fly. A simple scheduling and timer system gives you access to easy vacation controls. Christopher Null / IDG You can easily brighten or dim the lights with a flick of your fingertip. The switch can also be grouped with other Kasa family devices to streamline much of this, and support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, and IFTTT are all included. I had zero trouble with any of the switchs operations or interactions. With a street price around $45, the HS220 is less expensive than many smart dimmers, including the $75 C by GE C-Start (which has an onboard motion sensor), the $60 Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer, (which supports Apples HomeKit technology, where the Kasa HS220 does not), and the $55 Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch (which also supports HomeKit, but requires a Wi-Fi bridge for smart home integration). One of the other features that these competitors offer, however, is the ability to work on three-way circuits: The Kasa HS220 is strictly for single-pole setups. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is not healing after it experienced a series of severe coral bleaching induced by global warming. According to a new study, the back-to-back bleaching events that devastated the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 and 2017 has affected its ability to recruit new corals. The findings suggest that the largest collection of coral reefs in the world unlikely to fully recover anytime soon. New Coral Recruitment Down In 2018 Scientists at the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies monitored the death and birth of corals in the Great Barrier Reef after the 2016 and 2017 bleaching events. The team revealed in the study published in the journal Nature that new coral recruitment in 2018, a year after the second bleaching event, was 89 percent lower than historical levels. "We never thought we would see disturbance on a scale to affect recruitment to this extent," stated Andrew Baird, co-author of the study. The Great Barrier Reef located off the north-east coast of Australia is dubbed as the biggest living structure on Earth. It covers 344,400 square kilometers and is home to a wide variety of marine plants and animals, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The site has only experienced four mass bleaching events recorded in history and all of them happened in the past two decades. The back-to-back disasters in 2016 and 2017 caused many adult corals to die. While coral reefs can survive bleaching events, it would take years for them to recover. Scientists estimate that the production of baby corals to return to normal in about five to 10 years, but only if there will not be another bleaching event in the next decade. The fate of the Great Barrier Reef is looking grim. The UNESCO's climate models predict that bleaching events will become more frequent if the high emission of excess greenhouse gases continues. They warn that bleaching events will occur at least twice in every decade beginning in 2035. Corals Are Becoming Resilient The scientists also shared some good news. Evidence suggests that some species of coral are growing more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The team reported that it took much greater heat exposure for the coral reefs to show the same level of damage during the second bleaching event between 2016 and 2017. "So the reef is now moving rapidly to a new configuration, with a greater proportion of the species that are resistant to bleaching, or that are capable of bouncing back the fastest," added Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Center for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. The diversity, however, would be lost. A number of species will be gone if the trend continues. The study already found that the population of Acropora declined 93 percent in 2018. The branching coral provides most of the reef habitat in the Great Barrier Reef, supporting thousands of other species like clownfish and triggerfish. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cigna is rolling out a new program that will cap the out-of-pocket cost of a 30-day prescription of insulin at $25. The health insurance company said that the Patient Assurance Program will benefit around 700,000 members who have diabetes. The announcement was made after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had vowed to bring competition to the insulin market, with an objective to lower its prices and make the drug more accessible to the public. Cigna Announces Patient Assurance Program "For people with diabetes, insulin can be as essential as air. We need to ensure these individuals feel secure in their ability to afford every fill so they don't miss one dose, which can be dangerous for their health," said Steve Miller, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Cigna. "Together, Cigna and Express Scripts are now able to give people who rely on insulin greater affordability and cost predictability so they can focus on what matters most: their well-being." The new program is available to non-government funded pharmacy plans for employers, unions, and individuals. However, as of this writing, the $25 cap is not applied to Cigna-administered Medicare and Medicaid government plans. The $25 out-of-pocket cost cap is a 40 percent reduction. Last year, patients who have diabetes had to pay $41.50 a month for insulin, which is necessary to manage the blood sugar level. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 30.3 million American adults or 9.4 percent of the population have type 1 or type 2 diabetes as of 2015. However, a study from Yale University published in 2018 found that about one-quarter of these patients underuse insulin because of cost-related reasons. Cheaper Medicines For Americans The new program adheres to U.S. President Donald J. Trump's campaign promise to lower drug prices. Last year, his administration released a blueprint aimed to provide affordable medicine to the public. Senator Chuck Grassley commended the move by Cigna but questioned why the program is only rolled out now. "Why couldn't this have been done years ago?" he asked. "It shouldn't take bad press and congressional scrutiny to get health plans, their pharmacy benefit managers and pharmaceutical companies to arrive at a fair price for a drug that's been on the market for nearly a century." The senator heads an investigation into the high cost of insulin. Cigna executives have been invited to a Senate Finance Committee hearing next week alongside other industry leaders. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A British engineer reveals that he made Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin put a British flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. The engineer wanted to incorporate some Britishness to the mission. Thus, he made sure that the astronauts brought something to the moon, which will "give Brits a bit of credit." Sneaky Move Makes History In an interview with the BBC One's The One Show, Keith Wright from Nottingham details how he made it happen. "We were working on the experiments that the astronauts were going to put on the lunar surface," Wright recalls. Armstrong and Aldrin came in to do some test runs with him. Wright explains that there were two supporting devices that held the solar panels folded during the transit to the moon. The three of them signed their names on it, and Wright thought of putting "UK." Ultimately, he added a little Union Flag drawing. Wright recalls Armstrong to be very relaxed and even a little comical. They were so focused on their work that things just seemed normal back then. Thinking about it afterward made him realized that he did get the astronauts' signatures. Who Is Wright? Wright hails from England and worked at the de Havilland engine company. In there, he was tasked to work on the Blue Streak rocket. In 1967, he and his young family moved to the United States. He got a job as an engineer at the Kennedy Space Center, where he worked on the 1969 Apollo space missions. The Apollo 11 mission was watched by approximately 500 million people. Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon's surface, particularly on the Sea of Tranquility, followed by Buzz Aldrin. The duo planted the United States flag and subsequently set up the device that contained the British flag doodle. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is reportedly going to be available from Verizon, which has exclusive rights to the phone for the first few months, starting on May 16. This comes hot on the heels of the South Korean brand announcing its rollout in its home country on April 5. US Galaxy S10 5G According to a report from Bloomberg, the Big Red is getting ready to launch the Galaxy S10 5G, which will become the first 5G-capable smartphone in the U.S. market. The carrier is said to start taking preorders as early as April 18. Before this development, notable leakster Evan Blass already hinted at a May 16 release date for the Galaxy S10 5G in a tweet. In other words, at least two reliable sources are agreeing on the said launch date. Availability through other carriers such as AT&T are expected sometime this year. In the Galaxy S10 lineup, the 5G variant is the biggest out of them all, sporting a 6.7-inch Quad HD+ curved dynamic AMOLED display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. It's powered by an octa-core processor and 8 GB of RAM and provides 256 GB of internal storage. Battery is 4,500 mAh, which should keep the lights on for a long time. It's also coming in with four cameras on the back 12-megapixel telephoto, 12-megapixel wide-angle, 16-megapixel ultra-wide, time-of-flight camera and a 10-megapixel front snapper coupled with a ToF camera. It's unclear how much it's going to cost, but if its South Korean pricing is anything to go by, it could be available for $1,231, a rough estimate based on its 1.39 million won price tag. Verizon's 5G Initially, the carrier's 5G network was expected to go live on April 11 in Chicago and Minneapolis, but it activated it earlier in certain parts of the two cities. It's aiming to provide 5G connectivity to more than 30 cities by the end of 2019. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For years now, California legislators have been trying for years to pry cellphones from motorists' hands any way they can. First, they said we couldn't talk on them while driving. Then, we could no longer text while driving. Eventually, new laws banned us from holding them in our hand, even at traffic stops. Now, the state is being pressured to enact the Mother of All Talking-on-Phone-While-Driving Prohibitions: Don't you dare even open your mouth while behind the wheel. California officials were urged last week by federal officials to become the first state to ban even hands-free use of electronic devices by motorists. At a kickoff event in Sacramento last week for Distracted Driving Awareness Month and California Teen Safe Driving Week, the head of safety recommendations for the National Transportation Safety Board urged the Golden State's lawmakers to pass just such a groundbreaking ban. Nicholas Worrell, who heads up the NTSB's Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications, called the practice of talking while driving a "battle of self-defense" for young people. So far, no state has followed up on the feds' recommendation of a ban for all hand-held and hands-free portable electronic devices. "If California will lead," Worrell said, "the NTSB stands ready to support them." Calls for such bans on hands-free chatting while driving have become louder. But states have been slow to act on prohibiting the behavior because it's become the new normal, and because it seems so safe and innocuous compared with doing banned things like texting or talking into the phone while behind the wheel. California is often the national trendsetter in legislation, whether it's for privacy laws, carbon offsets or immigration reform. Now, eight years after the NTSB first recommended no hands-free talking while driving, the agency is continuing its push to get California to take the lead forward. The most recent California cellphone law, which was enacted in 2017, bans drivers from holding cellphones at all. New technology inside cars may actually be contributing to an increase in distracted driving, some say. Because newer vehicles often feature touchscreens instead of knobs and buttons with specific functions, drivers have to take their eyes off the road more often to do things like change the radio station or the temperature. (c)2019 the San Jose Mercury News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The city-parish has begun quietly implementing some cost-saving recommendations seven months into an ongoing efficiency study commissioned by Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. Researchers expect all their recommendations, if implemented, would equate into millions of dollars in savings for city-parish government. And while some suggestions are being lauded by Metro Council members who've met with the administration to review the preliminary findings of the $300,000 study, Councilmen Dwight Hudson said Thursday it's still too early for him to tell if the study is living up to his expectations. "Something I wanted added to the scope of work was a look at the city-parish's retirement system, and that piece hasn't been done yet," Hudson said. "Until we really start implementing a lot of these changes, the taxpayers don't realize the savings." Baton Rouge Council passes 9-figure 2019 budget -- but there's more work to be done East Baton Rouge is looking at changing the way it handles employee retirement benefits, upping fines and fees for services and other potentia But Hudson added he's generally pleased with the early results of the study Cincinnati-based Management Partners began in September. The firm has projected up to $7 million in potential savings for the city-parish through streamlining certain departments and services, increasing fees for permits, rotating out unnecessary equipment and vehicles from the city-parish's fleet, and competitively bidding for healthcare benefits for employees. Representatives from Management Partners have also been guiding city directors on how to implement the proposed cost-saving measures; that guidance, Chief Administrative Officer Darryl Gissel said, elevates the usefulness of the study. "They've been meeting with us once or twice a month since they began," Gissel said. "It's still a workflow in progress, but each department has a tight business plan of what we want them to examine now." So far, Gissel said, the city-parish is working on a proposal to increase permit fees and prepared a request for proposals seeking bids from providers of employee health insurance. Obtaining health insurance for employees through the bid process, expanding the wellness program for employees and increasing pharmacy rebates could potentially save between $3 million to $4 million annually for the city-parish, according to preliminary results of the study. 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 study also says the city-parish could generate up to $1.2 million in new revenue if permit and development fees are increased coupled with service improvements for residents. +2 Baton Rouge wants to spend surplus on 'grocery gap' while other priorities notably absent City Hall wants to pump money into incentives to build grocery stores in pockets of Baton Rouge, an efficiency study to find cost savings in l The firm also found that more than 200 of the city-parish's fleet of 3,500 vehicles could be removed. That could equate to $600,000 in annual savings for maintenance, repair and fuel, with an estimated one-time initial savings of $1.1 million. The preliminary results document says the city-parish must address employee pay rates, which have crippled the parish's ability to recruit and retain employees, consider going paperless to save time and costs, and improve cost recovery for certain services, like cleaning overgrown lots for landowners. Gissel added the city-parish could also save an additional $400,000 annually just by re-configuring the city-parish's phone system. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said the work Management Partners has already done moved the needle in helping the city-parish meet her goal of "impact and outcome." "I believe a study like this was past due," Broome said. "They're really giving us the blueprint on how to maximize our dollars. And it has taken our administration to an enhanced level of professional development." Some of the recommendations outlined in the study will require the approval from the Metro Council. Gissel expects the study to be completed by early summer, at which time the final results will be presented to council members. The administration has already met with several council members, including Hudson and Barbara Freiberg, who said she is pleased with what she's seen so far. "I think they've identified some low-hanging fruit all of us have felt were concerns," Freiberg said. "In the long run, I think it will be money well spent." LIVINGSTON The Livingston Parish School Board got a thank you from the head of a parish teacher's union Thursday night after voting to give employees a $750 "13th check" and endorsing a resolution supporting a pay increase for them in the Louisiana Legislature. "I want to thank you for standing behind our teachers and our employees," said Tamara Cupit, a ninth grade teacher at Denham Springs Freshman High School and president of the parish chapter of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Cupit asked the board members to contact the parish's legislative representatives, as well, to advocate for the annual pay raise from the state. "That's what's driving this," she said. A key school board committee last week had approved a proposal from Superintendent Rick Wentzel to give teachers and support staff a "13th check" for the first time in several years. Livingston teachers, support staff get first nod for additional $750 paycheck by key committee LIVINGSTON A key Livingston Parish School Board committee on Thursday recommended an additional $750 paycheck for school system employees. Wentzel has said the additional check will cost the school district $3.2 million and be distributed to employees in mid-May. It will be funded with $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 will 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 resolution passed by the school board with respect to the annual pay raises asks the state Legislature to increase annual salaries for teachers by at least $1,000 and salaries for support staff by $500. The resolution also requests the state to increase the Minimum Foundation Program per-pupil funding to school districts from $3,961 a year to $4,015 a year. The state last increased MFP funding, the primary source of state support for local education, in 2013. "The Livingston Parish School Board has been absorbing ever increasing operational costs, from health insurance, to technology, to security of students, to curriculum to align with the state standards, and increasing demands of the state accountability system, without increase in state funding," the resolution says. School Board President Buddy Mincey Jr. also announced that interviews for the candidates who applied to succeed Wentzel as superintendent will be held April 15. Five people applied for the job, and interviews will last one hour each. Mincey said the interviews will be held in the following order: C. Michael Robinson Jr., 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Jody Purvis, 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.; Bruce Chaffin, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Elizabeth Swinford, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Alan "Joe" Murphy, 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The board is expected to vote April 18. With some misgivings, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday gave Superintendent Warren Drake tentative approval to lay off employees, if necessary, to balance the school systems books. The move comes as Drake looks for a way to trim $20 million to $30 million in school spending in advance of the 2019-20 fiscal year, which starts July 1. The School Board plans a final vote April 18 on allowing the superintendent to invoke the school systems Reduction in Force, or RIF, policy. If approved, a RIF letter would be sent out the next day notifying school system employees. +2 Layoffs might be in store for Baton Rouge public schools; Supt. Warren Drake explains why For the first time since he took over as superintendent in 2015, Warren Drake is asking the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to give him a Board action doesnt necessarily mean there would actually be employee layoffs, but it increases the possibility. In an effort to cut the budget without resorting to layoffs, Drake for nearly a year has been leaving jobs unfilled as positions opened. The vote Thursday night was 6-2. School Board members Tramelle Howard and Dadrius Lanus voted no, while board member Dawn Collins abstained. We should be looking at the people making the big zeros on their paycheck, not the people doing the hard work in the classroom, said board member Tramelle Howard. Lanus said hes worried that a RIF letter, even if not implemented, would lead current teachers to look for other jobs or hurt hiring for next year. He said the school system needs to communicate better whats happening. Yes, we understand these things, but the public does not understand these things, he said. Collins noted that standardized testing began on Monday in some schools and continues through April. I know that we are having major budgetary issues, but the timing of this is absolutely terrible, she said. Board President Mike Gaudet defended the timing, saying the school system couldnt make a move earlier because it didnt yet have good information on things like property tax collections, which dont occur until the early months of the year. We have never had a budget in January for the next year, Gaudet said. It just doesnt work like that. Drake every year in his four-year tenure has done ample budget-cutting without having to resort to layoffs. However, the budget hole he's facing in 2019-20 could well be his biggest. Declining enrollment and increased spending on charter schools are two big factors. 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 superintendent sent an email to school employees Tuesday informing them of the possible layoffs. He hopes to avoid layoffs via attrition and other cuts, saying that about 200 to 300 employees leave at the end of each school year, but said he cant make that call until after May 18. On Thursday, Drake said hes still looking at contracts and other places for ways to trim spending. Were not starting with teachers, he said. Thats the last place were looking. Prior to Drakes arrival, it was not uncommon for RIF letters to go out each spring, though the school system rarely ended up laying off very many employees. In some cases, they were able to bring them back later. Layoffs used to be largely based on seniority, but the Legislature in 2012 told school districts they could no longer use seniority for laying off educators, although non-educators can still be judged by seniority. Now, East Baton Rouge Parishs RIF policy calls for laying off educators based solely upon demand, performance, and effectiveness, with a lot of weight given to how employees score on annual employee evaluations. Several representatives from local teacher organizations urged the board to look outside the classroom for cuts and to work with their groups to help find those trims. At the same time, these same groups are lobbying state and local officials for pay raises. Tia Mills, president of the East Baton Rouge Association of Educators, said Tuesdays email prompted many alarmed calls to her from school employees, many of whom would make more by moving elsewhere. She said she knows a teacher who is moving to Georgia, where educators are getting a big pay raise. You could tell she did not want to leave, but she did because she had to do what she had to do, Mills said. East Baton Rouge School Board debates closing two middle schools, zone changes at other schools Plans to close Broadmoor and North Banks middle schools in May sparked debate Tuesday, with some East Baton Rouge Parish School Board members Debate gets hot over proposed mergers of alternative schools in Baton Rouge A proposal to shrink the number of alternative schools for students with academic or disciplinary problems sparked heated debate Thursday from Louisiana's trucking industry is pushing for a state moratorium on new highway billboards, in part because truckers are angry about trial attorney road signs that "demonize" truckers over injury claims. The proposals, Senate Bill 211 and House Concurrent Resolution 4, are mostly being touted as a way to make highways more scenic and trim driver distractions cited in thousands of accidents. The state has about 7,000 billboards, which backers of the bills say account for a hefty percentage of the total nationwide. "They are visual clutter," said state Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie and sponsor of the Senate measure. "When you see billboard after billboard after billboard it is not good. It is ugly." The 'Secret Coast'? Mississippi's new tourism slogan headed to Louisiana billboards GULFPORT The crowd applauded and even cheered when the new tourism slogan and brand for South Mississippi was announced Monday after a year Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro and sponsor of the House measure, said voters are fed up. "If you listen to my constituents they are tired of seeing all these billboards pop up," McFarland said. "Everyone agrees that you can't go 500 feet without seeing a billboard now." A resolution, while different from a state law, can have an impact on government operations. Both bills face uphill battles, largely because they will run up against Lamar Advertising Co., a 117-year-old international firm based in Baton Rouge and one of the largest of its kind. "We are concerned about the impact," said Hal Kilshaw, vice president of governmental relations for Lamar. The proposals are awaiting action in the Senate and House transportation committees. The two-month legislative session starts Monday. The group behind the push is the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, which has set up a website takebackourhighways.com that encourages viewers to urge House and Senate members to back the bills. The association represents about 350 trucking firms and has a visible presence in the Legislature, as does Lamar. Chance McNeely, executive director of the group, said putting a cap on the number of billboards will make highways safer. "They are inherently distracting," McNeely said. "They exist to distract." Lamar has annual revenue of about $1.6 billion. Kilshaw said the company accounts for about 80 percent to 90 percent of the state's billboards, with trial attorneys responsible for nearly 1,000 of them. He said he has heard that the bills may be aimed in part at advertising by trial attorneys, who often target big trucks. Dan Fagan: Lawsuits out of control in Louisiana Is Louisiana the judicial hellhole some claim it is? Consider this: Our state leads the nation in auto liability lawsuits. In Louisianas most The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Obviously we are not going to attribute any motives to the sponsors," Kilshaw said. Kilshaw also said billboards offer a path, cheaper than radio or TV, for firms to get their message out, and that company surveys show motorists are not bothered by the displays. "They appreciate the local advertising on the billboards," Kilshaw said. Using the bills to zero in on injury attorneys is an unofficial part of the campaign, and not the pitch used by the bill sponsors. "I personally don't care a hoot about their content," Appel said. "I think billboards are probably worse than litter on our highways because not only do they scream that we don't take pride in our state but they also cause accidents." Accidents involving big trucks are part of the pitches used by high-profile attorneys in Baton Rouge and elsewhere. "You need an attorney who isn't afraid to fight the big truck companies," Gordon McKernan's website says. +7 Gordon McKernan, E. Eric Guirard settle Baton Rouge legal feud -- but not their differences The bitter feud between Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers Gordon McKernan and E. Eric Guirard is done playing out publicly over television a Spencer Calahan, another attorney, says on his website that collisions involving 18-wheelers and dump trucks "nearly always mean catastrophic injuries and massive vehicle damage for the drivers of passenger vehicles and motorcycles." In an email, Calahan said his firm has no billboards and that he does not care for them. "I can understand why the trucking industry would be upset," he said. Officials of McKernan's firm did not respond to a request for comment. Local injury attorney McKernan buys Jefferson Highway building for satellite office Local personal injury attorney Gordon McKernan is adding to his real estate holdings with the purchase of a building on Jefferson Highway that Permits cost $20. Truckers say the billboard industry pays the state about $145,000 per year, which is not even enough to cover administrative costs. McFarland's resolution would increase costs of the permits. It would require billboards to be 2,000 feet apart, double the current rule, and be placed within 3 miles of the establishment it is advertising, a major sticking point for opponents. He said the state has ample authority to regulate the billboard industry through the state Department of Transportation and Development. "What I am saying is no more," McFarland said. "We have 7,000. Let's stop." Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission If youve wondered how Hollywood megaproducer Harvey Weinstein was able to act like a disgusting pig for decades before he was reined in, I can sum the reason up for you in two words: nondisclosure agreement. Employees at The Weinstein Co. signed legal paperwork agreeing not to talk about what happened at work. The silence extended to sexual assaults. Proposed anti-sexual harassment policy would extend protections to lobbyists, others working in Capitol The panel charged with updating anti-sexual harassment policies in state government has finished its final piece of recommended changes: A pro A nondisclosure agreement is known in legal circles as an NDA. It was designed to protect trade secrets, like the design for the newest iPhone or the recipe for Popeyes buttermilk biscuits. Now its being called into service to protect people who send dirty text messages, grope their employees, place threatening phone calls and tie their workers job security to sexual favors. Whats disturbing to me is that government is imitating Hollywood by using nondisclosure agreements to silence victims who are sexually harassed on public property by public employees. Youre not allowed to know about the bad behavior even though your tax dollars often are used to pay settlements to the victims. These agreements protect sexual predators and rob victims of their voice. Sometimes theyre signed as a condition of employment. Other times, theyre included as part of a legal settlement. The goal is clear: If something bad happens to you in the workplace, youre not allowed to talk about it, regardless of whether youre an intern, a secretary or a supervisor. Im filing a bill, the Stop Silencing Victims Act, to protect sexual harassment victims by prohibiting government employees both federal and state from hiding behind nondisclosure agreements. This is no country for creepy old men. Sadly, sexual harassment is a problem across government. Louisiana Spotlight: Sexual harassment policies draw legislative focus As they work on policies to combat sexual harassment, Louisiana state lawmakers are grappling with questions of what's appropriate in a state Gov. John Bel Edwards then-deputy chief of staff, Johnny Anderson, resigned in 2017 amid allegations that he groped an employee during a job interview, asked her to send him photos of herself naked, masturbated in her presence and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Because she needed her job, the employee stayed silent. When she finally spoke up, Andersons attorney criticized her for violating a portion of the settlement agreement that prohibited the parties from making disparaging remarks about one another. It wasnt the first time Anderson found himself at the wrong end of a sexual harassment complaint. In 2006, six employees at Southern University accused him of sexual harassment. At the time, he was working for then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco and chairing the Southern University Board of Supervisors. These problems arent limited to Democrats. Last year, I called on a fellow Republican, Secretary of State Tom Schedler, to resign after he admitted to a sexual relationship with an employee. Tom crossed a line that he shouldnt have. As part of the settlement agreement, neither Tom nor the employee could talk about the case publicly. Between 2010 and 2017, the state of Louisiana paid $5 million in legal expenses connected to sexual harassment claims against a multitude of employees. Dozens of those claims were within the University of Louisiana system and the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Theres little clarity on how much the federal government is paying to settle sexual harassment claims. Under the No FEAR Act, federal agencies are supposed to provide data on discrimination allegations. However, the information usually lacks key details, including the amount spent on settlements. After #MeToo movement hits Louisiana government, sexual harassment policies under review A task force charged with tracking the states efforts to discourage sexual harassment held its first meeting Tuesday, with officials vowing to The No FEAR Act reports do indicate theres a problem in the federal workplace. At the Department of Interior, for example, 8 percent of employees complained about sexual harassment. I have no doubt that many sexual harassment victims agree to a nondisclosure agreement because they have little choice. They sign on the dotted line because they need money to restart their lives after fleeing a hostile work environment. Theyre victimized yet again by being silenced into submission. Meanwhile, the vermin who harassed them are free to prey on someone else because there are only muffled whispers about what happened. Nondisclosure agreements create a country of creepy old men. They protect sexual predators. Its time to banish them from the government workplace. John Kennedy is one of Louisiana's U.S. senators. Three historic African-American churches in St. Landry Parish recently burned down over a 10-day period. The news, which I learned about from a friend, got my attention as I was savoring some quiet time. Edward Pratt: A morning at the cemetery affirms the wonder of life Several of my high school buddies and I decided at the last minute to join a group cleaning up the historic Lutheran Benevolent Society Cemete Were we going back to the 1960s? It was a sickening thought. While I'm in pain for the devastated congregations, I hope those fires were coincidences and not set intentionally by anyone. The timing of these fires is extra troubling since it is happening so close to the 51st anniversary (April 4, 1968) of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Is someone trying to make some kind of racist statement? I pray not. As of this writing, all of the fires were still under investigation. Back to the reason for the quiet time. I was trying my best not to watch the news, especially the stuff about the Mueller report, and all things related. Thats really enough to cause concern. But then you get blindsided. The president of the United States, whose believers embrace him even more when he lies or rails against something inane, got a twofer this week. They must have been giddy. But the news is troubling for most folks to think about. For no apparent reason, President Donald Trump decided to lie about where his father was born. He told God and country that his dad was born in Germany. Well, its a fact that Daddy Trump was born in New York, USA. You could look it up. His supporters are probably saying: Oh hes just playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Hes smart. Nope, hes just lying. And it would be even worse for the country if he cant remember his fathers birthplace. Even I would feel bad for him then. Well, maybe. But lying is so natural for him, he may not know hes doing it. His supporters love it, but of course they would not accept it from anyone whose name is not Trump. The second of the two-fer was the president attacking wind energy. The president proclaimed that the windmills used to produce energy were also causing cancer. There is no scientific evidence to support that bizarre claim. Why would the leader of the free world stoop so low? You have to wonder how the rest of world is viewing this country. After consuming those head-scratchers, something else was on my mental plate. There was an explosion of sadness that stretched from the streets of Baton Rouge to Los Angeles in response to the murder of West Coast rap star Nipsey Hussle. I saw a lot of local people on social media extolling the value of Hussles music and what he was doing to improve his community. Everyone applauds that. But there is a crying need for our local folks to be up in arms to show our displeasure with the almost daily shootings and the killings right down the street. The African-American community should be acutely aware and outraged at what is happening. Instead, we fall into the trap: Oh, he lived over there. They do that. We accept that. Thats just how it goes. We take their deaths in stride, like it is inevitable. The need to look inward was crystallized in a statement by a mother in another state whose adult son was killed by a teenager as part of his gang initiation. The black community doesnt like to discuss gun violence in our communities, especially black-on-black crime, because they feel like it is another thing that people in the white communities or the government can use against us. But we cant deny the facts, she told the San Francisco Chronicle. Thanks to my friend, my quiet time of nothingness was disrupted and my mind drifted back to this stuff. Some of this was heavy stuff, some of it mundane. In the end, I appreciated the call. And, I know, unfortunately, she will call with more bad news again. Email Edward Pratt, a former newspaperman who writes a weekly Advocate column, at epratt1972@yahoo.com. An architect's rendering of the exterior of the proposed new Wahconah Regional High School. Wahconah Regional School Project Goes to Voters Saturday DALTON, Mass. The co-chairman of the Central Berkshire Regional School District said this week that he believes voters in the seven-town district will back a proposal to build a new Wahconah Regional High School. "My level of confidence on the Saturday vote is more positive than not," Tom Callahan, a Dalton resident, said. "Our committee understands the differing opinions and financial capabilities in the CBRSD. When all is said and done, speaking for myself, I believe the voters will opt for a new high school." Voters in all seven Central Berkshire towns head to the polls on Saturday to decide whether to embark on a $72 million project. The vote is the culmination of years of efforts by school officials and would keep the district in line for an estimated $31 million in state aid. It would allow the district to replace a building that forces teachers and students to "work around" its deficiencies with a structure that will meet the needs of 21st-century education, according to the district's superintendent. But the building project is not without its detractors, including all five members of the Finance Committee in Dalton, by far the district's largest community, who last month voted against recommending the project to voters. Town boards in the district have split on the issue. The Dalton Select Board, for example, voted 4-1 in favor of the project. The voters will have the ultimate say, in the first of what could be a two-stage vote in the member towns. A positive vote on Saturday will commit the district to the new Wahconah, with an estimated local price tag of about $42 million, after the Massachusetts School Building Authority determines its ultimate level of participation. If a majority of the district's voters favor the project, the individual towns later will have the option to hold a separate debt exclusion vote to allow tax increases above the 2.5 percent limit allowed by 1980's Proposition 2 1/2. Unlike 2 1/2, the debt exclusion is specific to borrowing for the school project and will end when the debt is paid. Wahconah could be the latest in a recent spate of high school building projects in the county over the last decade, starting with Cheshire's Hoosac Valley in 2011 and continuing with Taconic in Pittsfield and Mount Greylock in Williamstown, each of which opened the doors to new facilities in the fall of 2018. Another proposed building project, in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District (Monument Mountain) was defeated by the voters in 2014. Of the three successful projects, Wahconah's proposal is most like Taconic's in that it would be entirely a new build. Hoosac Valley was a full renovation; Mount Greylock went the route of an addition/renovation project that preserved parts of its 1960 building while constructing a new three-story academic wing. At Wahconah, officials are looking to build a two-story school that will offer more academic space with a reduced footprint, Superintendent Laurie Casna told the Dalton Finance Committee at its March 20 meeting. That panel peppered Casna and other district officials with questions about the building plan before ultimately voting, one night later, that a projected $1 million annual capital cost for 30 years is more than Dalton's taxpayers can incur. "I've run some rough numbers, and a $210,000 home will pay somewhere around $4,700 a year in taxes [if district builds a new high school]," Dalton Fin Comm Chair William Drosehn said in a meeting viewable on the Dalton Community Television Youtube channel. "They're presently paying just under $4,000 a year right now. It's a sizable amount of money. "I think a new school is a great idea. Unfortunately, considering the climate we're in, I don't think the timing is very good at this point being fiscally responsible. I'm the chairman of the Finance Committee, and I guess the town voters have charged me with being fiscally responsible." Advocates for a new high school counter that it would be nearly as expensive for the district to not build a new building. CBRSD Assistant Superintendent Melissa Falkowski told the Dalton Finance Committee the estimated cost for base repairs to the current Wahconah would total about $45.6 million. A new roof and HVAC system alone are estimated to cost about $9 million. And the base repair approach would leave the district with a building that still does not meet Wahconah's academic needs, Falkowski and Casna told the Finance Committee. One Fin Comm member asked whether the district could fund its base repairs through the MSBA's accelerated repairs program, a separate track than the building project program in which the district currently participates. The school officials said that such a grant for repairs is theoretically possible but unlikely. "What we've been advised by our project manager and design team is: When [MSBA has] identified a building as in need of full repair, you're not their favorite candidate for accelerated repair," Casna said. "The building has been flagged as a full-repair building," Falkowski continued. "The MSBA is not going to take tax dollars and put it into a building that's not going to withstand the life of a roof or the life of a building." The MSBA is funded by 1 cent of the commonwealth's 6.25 percent sales tax. The authority funds building projects and repairs with school districts throughout Massachusetts. Prior to the Dalton Fin Comm's March 21 vote against recommending the Wahconah building project to voters, Drosehn suggested that the MSBA's reimbursement rate to Pittsfield for the Taconic project was higher than the rate anticipated in Central Berkshire because Taconic's project was more urgent than the one proposed at Wahconah. "Part of the reason Taconic did so well first off, it was the kind of community," Drosehn said. "And the other, as I understand it, there were structural problems with that school. The school was literally sinking. So there was a real problem. And I'm kind of thinking maybe Wahconah doesn't have those kinds of problems. There's a level of urgency, and I think MSBA takes that into account. "I'm kind of thinking that's where the MSBA is coming from. When you put that kind of spin on it I wouldn't blame them for coming from that viewpoint. There are a lot of other schools with a lot bigger problems. [Wahconah] needs work. There's no denying Wahconah needs some repairs. I know we're going to have to spend money on it, I get it." In fact, the MSBA website cites Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 70B, Section 10, which lays out three factors the authority can use in adjusting reimbursement: the community's per capita income, the community's equalized property valuations and the community's proportion of low-income students (typically measured by students on free and reduced lunch). In other words, MSBA's reimbursement level is based on economic conditions of the municipality (or municipalities, in the case of a multi-town district like CBRSD). There is no mention of the condition of existing buildings factoring into the equation. And school officials say the problems at Wahconah go beyond the need for "some repairs." The school needs to be replaced, they say, because the current building's design does not meet the educational needs of the district. Casna, the superintendent, began her presentation to the Finance Committee by talking not about finances but about the pedagogical concerns that drive the district's design for a new building. "One of the driving factors was a visioning session that took place over the course of two days last winter," she said. "What does the building need to do for our children and, as a result, what does it need to look like? MSBA requires that you submit that education plan, have it approved and have it drive everything you do. Our education plan is supported by the building that has been brought forward. "The feeling right now is that there's a lot of effort that goes into working around the [old] building. This [proposed new Wahconah] is a building that facilitates the work." Reports of localized street flooding in several New Orleans neighborhoods poured in Thursday amid a line of heavy showers that soaked much of south Louisiana and prompted city officials to barricade streets and lift parking restrictions. Between four and five inches of rain fell by Thursday afternoon in areas of Orleans and Jefferson parishes, according to weather stations tracked by Weather Underground. The downpours extended across Lake Pontchartrain and also impacted the Baton Rouge area. Low-lying streets and neighborhoods in several parts of the city saw rising water that made travel difficult and threatened some homes and businesses. But a break in the rain by midafternoon gave the city's pumping system a chance to bring down water levels. Officials with the Sewerage & Water Board said 115 of the city's 120 pumps were in service on Thursday. In a prepared statement, the S&WB assured residents that the pumps in service left them with enough "self-generated power to effectively move stormwater to Lake Pontchartrain." Still, travel was disrupted after the city barricaded 14 intersections along Interstate 10, Interstate 610, Generalle DeGaulle Drive and other vulnerable areas. NOLAReady, the city's emergency preparedness campaign managed by the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, said residents could park on sidewalks and neutral grounds without being ticketed until 10 a.m. Friday. 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 The flooding never rose to the levels seen last May, when a violent thunderstorm shut down the annual Bayou Boogaloo Festival as it pelted parts of Metairie and Lakeview with hail, cut power to more than 11,000 residents and snarled traffic in Mid City. But residents have remained on edge when faced with heavy rain events since the August 2017 storms that left portions of Mid City flooded and revealed a sorry state of operations within the S&WB's pumping and drainage systems. In Jefferson Parish, officials also reported localized street flooding in the early afternoon, but said all pump stations were operational. The weather was due to a warm front that stalled along the I-10 corridor, forecasters said. Laura Badeaux, director of the Louisiana Center for Women in Government and Business, discussed the Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy during a recent meeting of the Republican Women's Club of Jefferson Parish. "Light the Torch and Lead" will be the theme for the 2019 Leadership Academy, which will be June 9-12 at Nicholls State University. Academy topics will include communication, situational leadership, public service and responsible citizenship, and current issues in Louisiana public policy. Participants pay only a registration fee, with the remainder of the costs covered by LCWGB and its partners. For information about the academy, call (985) 448 4770 or email laura.badeaux@nicholls.edu. Republican Women's Club members also heard from Judge Scott Schlegel, of the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish. For information about the club, call (504) 710-5504. Backed by prominent company director, philanthropist and Rich Lister Carol Schwartz, the erstwhile digs of one of the countrys most militant unions is being transformed into a purpose built hub for not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises. Formerly housing burly CFMEU officials, the building at 552 Victoria Street in North Melbourne has been renovated with an emphasis on gender friendly, socially inclusive and collaborative co-working space and renamed Our Community House. Our Community chair and investor Carol Schwartz in front of a mural by street artist David Lee Pereira commissioned for Our Community House. Credit:Lindsay Goldberg Ms Schwartzs family company Trawalla Group last May acquired the 2765 square metre building for around $15 million, at least $2 million above the reserve. On the corner of Curzon St, the double-storey building previously sold for $6.289 million in April 2009. Following their initial move to Dairy Road, Fyshwick in July 2018, Digital 61 has now committed to additional space to accommodate the growth of their business, servicing both public and private sector clients. The group has 394 sq m at Building 5, 1 Dairy Road for between $300-$350 per sq m on a lease term of five years plus a five-year option from the Molonglo Group. Aaron Bruce, and Michael Ceacis, Colliers International. MATRAVILLE Kumon Australia & New Zealand has leased a 1052 sq m office & warehouse at Unit 5, 1 Military Road for $190 sqm net from a private investor. The lease term is five years. Tom Barnier, Colliers International. ROSEBERY Response Team/ Ashton Repairs has leased a 1350 sq m office & warehouse at Building B, 1-5 Hayes Road for $150 sq m gross from Goodman Funds Management Australia Ltd. The lease term is six months. Tom Barnier, Colliers International. CHATSWOOD Grand Cru Coffee Pty Ltd has leased a 198 sq m site at 25 Gibbes Street from Hal Pty Ltd for $260 sq m gross. The lease term is two years. Haran Paheerathan, Taylor Nicholas North Shore. SALES ARTARMON Cabo Time has sold a 244 sq m warehouse at 5/76 Reserve Road to Lin Wu for $1.36 million. Brad Sutton, Sutton Anderson. The Mechanics Institute, 167 Auburn Street, Goulburn, NSW Credit: 2018 Mark Merton Photography GOULBURN The Mechanic Institute in the heart of Goulburn in regional NSW has been sold for $4.8 million. The 1213 sq m commercial site went under the hammer to a local private investor, achieving a sale price well in excess of its written reserve. The site was being offered to the market for the first time since 1993, at which time Goulburn City Council sold it for $657,000. The site, located at 167-173 Auburn Street was fully refurbished in 1994 and was awarded the Goulburn Post award for contribution to the streetscape upon completion. The site was sold fully leased to a number of long-standing tenants, including NAB, NSW Police and the NSW government. Ryan Cross and Anthony Bray, Cushman and Wakefield managed the sale process on behalf of the long-term owners, alongside auctioneer Damien Cooley from Cooley Auctions. REDFERN Formerly known as The Elmowy Lebanese Sweet Shop and formerly a mechanic workshop, the site on 235 sq m of land at 20 and 20a Cooper Street has just sold for $2.8 million to an owner-occupier. It comprises a shop, preparation room and five-bedroom residence plus two garages. Phillip Elmowy and Anthony Vella of Ray White Commercial South Sydney. ARTARMON Vegetables, vitamins and Vegemite are taking a hit as consumers rein in spending amid weakening economic growth in Australia. The sharemarket is feeling the pinch too. Consumer staples are the nation's worst-performing shares this year after a disappointing earnings season. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index is up only 5.7 per cent, about half as much as Australia's benchmark index, and the outlook isn't all that rosy as households spend less. Even Vegemite is feeling the pinch, with its owner Bega Cheese posting disappointing results. Credit:Eddie Jim "Weakness in housing markets is causing consumers to feel less confident and defer spending," said Natalie Tam, investment director for Australian equities at Aberdeen Standard Investments. As consumer spending waned -- it accounts for almost 60 per cent of the nation's gross domestic product -- the economy experienced its weakest six-month expansion since the global financial crisis. Alyx Stewart started Kee Moh Snacks after contracting breast cancer and struggling to eat during her treatment. "Immediately after my first chemo I wasn't able to hold anything down and I was vomiting straight away, and in that first week or two I dropped over 10 kilograms," she said. "I was admitted to hospital but the treatment given was for nausea, there wasn't any advice on food." Alyx Stewart is the founder of Kee Moh Snacks. The 49-year-old sells food that is palatable for patients undergoing cancer treatment and says her business, which turned over about $40,000 last year, is likely to get a boost if Labor's $2.3 billion pledge on cancer funding outlined in Bill Shorten's budget reply speech on Thursday night is legislated. Labor's policy will fund up to 6 million free medical scans and 3 million specialist consultations over four years with no out-of-pocket costs for existing and future cancer patients. One of the most positive series of meetings Ive had was with senior executives of a major Australian company. Their feedback was so emphatically positive that, in the final meeting, they went as far as to confirm dates, times, goals and costs for a number of programs I would deliver for them. All that remained was for me to send an invoice. But as I was walked to the elevator, I was casually asked: So, James, whats your story? Are you married? Do you have kids? Is there a glass ceiling for gay men when it comes to senior management roles? No, I replied, Im gay and in a long-term relationship. And that was it. That was the last time I heard from them. Emails unreturned. Voicemails unreturned. Of course, there might have been absolutely no connection between the two, but Im pretty sure there was. Staff from the Elizabeth Freeman Center organized the event to raise awareness of domestic violence and the resources available to victims. Freeman Center Rally Raises Awareness of Domestic Violence Each flag represents a new victim of sexual or domestic assault in the Berkshires. PITTSFIELD, Mass. There were 345 flags in Park Square on Thursday, with each one representing a new local victim of domestic and sexual violence. The Elizabeth Freeman Center placed one flag per new disclosure of sexual or domestic violence in 2018. And those are only the victims that received services from the organization. The flags, coupled with a rally in the city's center, were intended to demonstrate the issue and the services the center provides. "April is sexual assault awareness month so each year we put out flags for our survivors that we served the previous year. There are 345 flags out this year and we are just doing a rally to provide some support and knowledge about our services," said Heather Marshall, who runs the homelessness response program for the Elizabeth Freeman Center. The rally has been an annual thing and Marshall hopes that it raises awareness of the services the non-profit provides. "We are located in Great Barrington, Pittsfield, and North Adams. We provide services throughout Berkshire County. Our services are all free and confidential. We provide anything from emergency shelter to counseling and support services, financial advocacy, we've got a disability justice advocate now, we provide services for children who are exposed to domestic violence," Marshall said. "There is really there not a part of the community we do not touch because sexual and domestic violence is so prevalent and hits anybody and everyone." The organization is also flying 345 flags on the front lawn of its headquarters for the entire month. Marshall said the issue is a big one for the county that has included murders in recent years and added that no one is immune from domestic or sexual violence. "We see trends with different movements like the 'Me Too' movement and things just around the world that happen kind of spark up and downs. But I think it is just something that needs to be talked about so much. We need to normalize the fact that it could happen to anyone at any time and that our services are here to provide support for anybody who needs it," Marshall said. When it does happen, many don't know how to best approach a victim and speak to them, according to Lisa McCue. McCue serves as the Berkshire County district attorney's director of the victim-witness unit. She said her goal is to raise awareness of how to understand a victim. The attendance at the rally ebbed and flowed but those from the Freeman Center stayed throughout the two-hour rally. "It is always a challenge to educate the community on how to respond to victims in a trauma-informed way, particularly domestic violence and sexual assault victims. That is really important to us moving forward and we are hoping to connect with the community and educate them about what a trauma-informed response looks like," McCue said. McCue hopes to raise more awareness of what the experience is like for a victim in all areas of the community. She and many others from the district attorney's office joined the rally on a windy day to show support. "We appreciate our partnership with the Elizabeth Freeman Center and we wanted to come out and support them, help them raise awareness," McCue said. The district attorney's office has partnerships with a number of service organizations. McCue said it is her job to work with the victims, make them aware of the "victim's bill of rights," connect them with the services they need, and help them navigate the criminal justice system. McCue has been in the business for 12 years and only recently moved up to the director's role. "I really wanted to be able to help other victims heal and understand the criminal justice system. That's why I am here. I love my job and I love helping victims through the system," McCue said. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a national campaign with events throughout the entire nation. In the relative isolation of Aotearoa New Zealand, the ta moko developed its unique pictorial language and paraphernalia such as the korere (feeding funnels) through which food could be administered to swollen lips of those receiving the ta moko and oko vessels in which the pigments were stored. Ta moko is a form of tattooing practised in the Western and Eastern Pacific, where instead of the use of a needle that leaves a smooth surface on the skin, an uhi (chisel) made from albatross bone and inserted into a handle is employed. This is struck with a small mallet, known as a ta, to pierce the skin. The uhi is dipped in the awheto (vegetable caterpillar fungus) for the body colour and ngarehu (charcoal mixed with oil) for the blacker colour. In contrast to the more usual tattoo, ta moko is a form of scarification with deep grooved furrows dyed with dark pigments. This unusual and pioneering exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia, curated by Crispin Howarth, explores and documents the ta moko over the past 250 years. Much of the material is drawn from the National Library of Australia and the collection of New Zealand-born Rex Nan Kivell, which the library acquired through gift and donation in 1959. If 20 years ago, the term ta moko would see most people reach for an anthropological dictionary, today most are aware that it is a popular Maori art form used in the marking of the face and other parts of the body. Moko in Maori society designated status, identity and ancestry. Some of the designs, such as the spiral elements on the nose, cheek and lower jaw, and the curvilinear rays on the forehead and radiating from the nose to the mouth are widespread and universal; others may be peculiar to the individual. There was a way of reading the Mataora the living face like a diary of identity. Joseph Jenner Merrett, Maori girl in cloak, 1845, pencil, watercolour, National Library of Australia, Canberra, Rex Nan Kivell Collection. Ta moko had legendary origins; a chief called Mataora had brought it from the underworld. The applying of the moko was a highly ritualised and sacred activity and was carried out by very skilled and valued experts. The moko itself was linked to a persons status, prestige and authority. With European settlement and the activities of missionaries, the practice was discouraged until made illegal in 1907 and heads with the moko were sold as souvenirs and collectors items that ended up in overseas museums. Some Maori with moko were murdered and their heads sold as souvenirs. In more recent times there has been a process of repatriating these heads from museums back to their homeland. Maori men generally ceased wearing the moko by the 1920s, but women continued to receive ta moko on their chin and lips as a sign of beauty into the mid 20th century. It was in the 1980s with the strong movement to revive the Maori identity that the ta moko was revived, originally employing the needle of the tattoo and more recently through the recovered ancient techniques. Now ta moko is accepted in mainstream New Zealand society and is increasingly explored for its cultural, historic and aesthetic purposes. This exhibition is as much about Maori identity as it is about Maori body art. Captain James Cook in 1769 famously described the ta moko: The marks in general are spirals drawn with great nicety and even elegance. One side corresponds with the other. The marks on the body resemble foliage in old chased ornaments, convolutions of filigree work, but in these they have such a luxury of forms that of a hundred which at first appeared exactly the same no two were formed alike on close examination. Many of the exhibits are colonial drawn and painted specimens that record the exotic nature of these markings. Subsequently, many of these records are being freshly re-examined as sources employed in the contemporary revival of the ta moko. Goldsmith has set her story in the 1980s, when Gorbachev came to power and people in the West were hopeful for change, but many Russians were too battered by history to be anything but cynical. At that time, Soviet Union Jews were allowed to leave the country as long as they weren't important Jews, Goldsmith says: and under the Hawke government, Australia opened its doors. She doubts Australia would be so welcoming today. Goldsmith wandered Melbourne streets and imagined how Galina might feel, alone and adrift, superimposing her memories of Leningrad on the unfamiliar city. But she's an ensemble writer and she needed a larger cast of characters: "It means I can explore an idea from many different points of view. That view might be politically really off but hey, it belongs to my character. I can get away with almost anything." Enter the Morrow family: a young man, Andrew, whom Galina met briefly in Leningrad, and his parents, Leonard and Sylvie. Andrew and Galina become friends, but is there any chance of romance between them, given Andrew's crippling shyness? What about his parents, is their marriage really as idyllic as it seems? As Goldsmith explored, her notion of exile broadened: "Everyone experiences what it's like to be an outsider, to founder and find it difficult to find your feet." And another idea surfaced: the "invented lives" of the title. "We all invent ourselves," she says. "We're different with family than with work colleagues, and so on." But if we rely too much on invention, do we lose any notion of our true self? Goldsmith thinks about this. "We think the true self is there to be found. But it's much more complex than that. You're not one thing or the other. You're one thing, and another, and another." Goldsmith delves into the oppressions, hardships and dangers of living under the Soviets and how they affected Galina's family, particularly because they were Jewish. But although 1980s Melbourne is a much freer and more affluent place to live, it has its own more subtle oppressions. So Galina and the Morrows all live with an uneasy balance of invented selves, some public, some secret. It's tied up to the paths they have taken in life, and particularly their occupations. "I spend a lot of time working out what my characters are going to do," Goldsmith says. "Even if they have a fairly prosaic job, I've got to find an interesting way in." So Andrew is a mosaicist, Leonard has buried his ambitions as a poet in order to run a company supplying libraries, and Galina eventually becomes a writer and illustrator of a children's book comparing Leningrad to Melbourne ("It's a brilliant idea and some publisher should pick it up and pay me royalties!"). The only person without a job is Sylvie, who is restless in her role as traditional housewife and mother. "Sylvie changed hugely in the last two or three drafts. She became much stronger." Sylvie is typical of Goldsmith's mother's generation, "one of those bright women born at the wrong time. If she'd been a boy, her family would have scraped up the money to send her to university. It's such a waste with a pretty girl, she'll just get married. The only acceptable way of leaving home was to marry." But Sylvie finds a secret occupation: collecting and reading other peoples' letters. Goldsmith has never been guilty of that herself, but she loves an old-fashioned written letter. "There's something clandestine about that singular voice, and it's utterly intimate. The letters are a way for Sylvie to stretch the boundaries of a very narrow life. It's that quiet private solitude that allows the imagination just to burst." Her publisher, Scribe, asked her to send letters to selected independent bookshops to support the new novel, and she responded with handwritten letters on beautiful paper. Like many other aspects of life in the 1980s, the handwritten letter is a threatened art form for today's readers, whose main experience of communication is digital. "One of the beauties of setting a book in the recent past is that it shines a beam on how we are now. We don't reflect on the pleasures we have let go and perhaps forgotten. "It's not nostalgia I love what the internet provides. But I can choose. I will never use an online dictionary. As I'm leafing through my Shorter Oxford, I'll find words that might become favourites." One curious aspect of Galina's move to Melbourne is that she chooses her destination on a whim. It's because her mother has just died, Goldsmith says. "Grief suffocates reason. My experience is that when grief is at that absolute high octane stage, you feel paralysed, but you must act. Then you can do some really stupid things and they are often huge. "After Dot died, I gathered up all of our LPs and gave them to the Salvos. I was mindless. I believe with Galina her life was in pieces, she wasn't thinking straight, if she'd seen a poster for Timbuktu she'd have gone there." This seems a good point to ask about her life with Porter, how it seems now in retrospect. She thinks for a moment. "I'm just enormously grateful that I had it," she says softly. Her last book, The Memory Trap, was an exploration of memory partly inspired by her feelings following Porter's death. But now it's important to her that Invented Lives is "not about Dot I want it to go out into the world without her." And we can pick and choose what we remember, she adds. She loves cooking and having people to dinner, and does it frequently, but it didn't happen so often with Porter, who used to ask how to get rid of guests when they were boring. So now Goldsmith relaxes and enjoys the company: "My guests know when they come, at some point I will stand up and say 'time to go'. And off they go. And it's fun." Lawrence Ferlinghetti celebrated his 100th birthday on March 24. In San Francisco, where the radical poet has lived since 1950 and is seen as something of a living patron saint, the day was an official holiday. The following day, the mayor planted an olive tree on a street named in his honour, Via Ferlinghetti "a former haunt of undertakers and bootleggers", as the poet is fond of pointing out. But Ferlinghetti is not resting on his laurels. Just last week he published the American edition of his latest memoir-cum-novel, Little Boy, the fruit of two decades' work. Though his health has deteriorated he is mostly blind and struggles with phone calls, so his answers come via email it's clear his revolutionary passion is undimmed. Lawrence Ferlinghetti sits next to his painting, "Monkey on Back", at his studio in San Francisco, aged 97. Credit:BRIAN FLAHERTY "There's less and less room for political dissent in America today than ever in the history of the country," he tells me. "Because the great god Mamon rules everything." How does he pass the time? "I spent the weekend dreaming of the overthrow of the capital system and the installation of a people's republic not dominated by the military-industrial complex of America." When I ask how he would like to be remembered, he replies: "Do I have to be remembered?" He does. Even if he weren't one of America's most popular poets his 1958 debut A Coney Island State of Mind sold a million copies Ferlinghetti would still be known for his role in a censorship trial that changed the course of history. On June 7, 1957, the San Francisco Chronicle ran an intriguing headline on page two: "Bookshop Owner Surrenders." A warrant had been put out for Ferlinghetti's arrest, for printing and selling "obscene" materials. In particular, a volume by a young, unknown poet Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg. Trash is always a personal poison. You can't push your own taste in genre fiction with the moral imperative of aesthetic realisation, but for my money Kovacic and her sleuthing, up-against-it art dealer are an enchanting way to slum it. Yes, Kovacic's plots can be a bit slender. Yes, the list of potential villains in Painting in the Shadows is not huge or various, nor does it have the ambiguous gleam of the classiest variety of red herring, but who cares? It seemed a pity that this utterly attractive trio should have been hunkered down over a historical crime and it was clear they should be let loose among the dark-cornered perfidies of the artworld. Now they have been and Painting in the Shadows is the upshot. It was only a year ago that I reviewed Gideon Haigh's book about the unsolved murder in 1930 of Molly Dean, a young woman who had moved in Melbourne artistic circles. I groaned because the commission included the whodunnit, fictional version of this story, The Portrait of Molly Dean, by Katherine Kovacic. Well, I was wrong to do so. Kovacic's debut detective story featuring the art-dealing heroine, Alex Clayton, her best friend and fellow artsworlder, John Porter, and her huge Irish wolfhound, Hogarth, was an absolute winner. Painting in the Shadows. By Katherine Kovacic. The colour red is certainly vibrant here because at the centre of this book is the mystery of a possible red Brett Whiteley that surprise, surprise might involve forgery. And if all you can think of is the power of that ultramarine ecstasy of evocation of the Pacific, think of Whiteley in his Francis Bacon days working in London, obsessed with the crimes of John Christie in 10 Rillington Place. Kovacic is a bit like one of my favourite detective story writers, Michael Innes the pseudonym of J.I.M Stewart, former professor at Adelaide and Oxford universities. As Innes, however, he wrote in nearly parodically orotund sentences redolent of Henry James, and his detective John (later Sir John) Appleby was always happy to spice up a line of inquiry with a quote from Shakespeare or Milton if not Aeschylus in the original Greek. Clayton provides a comparable mainlining of aesthetic pretension and compulsion, only this time it's painterly. In Painting in the Shadows, MIMA, the name by which she fictionalises the National Gallery of Victoria, is housing an exhibition of Victorian British art. One of the exhibits, Edwin Landseer's Man Proposes God Disposes the one with the ferocious polar bears and Sir John Franklin's doomed expedition in the Arctic gets damaged and then a conservator dies in the process of fixing it up. Murder, suicide or stuff up? Alex and John, who are on the just-bearable edge of being in love without acknowledging it, set to work to find out the truth and hit on the sinister enigma that there seem to be Whiteleys no one knows lurking in the gallery as lures to the grandest kind of swindle. There's a pretty blonde girl whose eyes get shiny at the mention of John Porter, whom she's assisting with the restoration. There's a grand older woman academic all crisp cutting-edge authority who wants to redress a massive injustice done to Alex Clayton early in her career. There are jerks with ponytails whose private-school vowels get down and dirty under pressure. There are gallery directors with the steely authority of the Viscontis of Milan. There are fluty and fruity heads of sections. In short there is a colourful and credible version of a world we can feel a bit of proximity to. I've always been a bit sceptical about writers' retreats. They sound so self-indulgent. All that food and wine and yoga and wellbeing in gorgeous surroundings. Aren't you supposed to just get on with it, in your garret or at the kitchen table, surrounded by people? It was good enough for Jane Austen, why isn't it good enough for you? Yet these retreats are flourishing, and they seem to get more and more lavish and luxurious. Perhaps the first haven for Australian writers was Eleanor Dark's house, Varuna, in the Blue Mountains, and it's still going strong. You can win a residency or pay for your stay, and you can either work away quietly or get feedback from editors and publishers through the various mentoring programs on offer. US author Karen Joy Fowler. Credit:Agence Opale / Alamy Stock Photo Now Varuna has been joined by several other retreats. Sophie Nicholas on Junkee lists The Burrow in Victoria, for writers who want to work on their own; and four more that offer workshops as well as residencies Tess Woods' writing retreat in the Perth region; the Sunshine writers' retreat on the Gold Coast; Fiona McIntosh's Master Class in commercial fiction in South Australia; and most exotic and enticing of all, Wide Open Writing in the Italian countryside. Over the years I've had three very enjoyable and valuable stays at Varuna and I've attended various workshops, but I've never done a residential writing workshop. My habitual caution finally gave way to the temptation offered by a new creative writing retreat program at Springfield Farm, near Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands. A senior staffer at Sydney radio station 2GB has lodged a new complaint against powerful shock jock Ray Hadley, sparking the second investigation in as many weeks. The complaint, from one of the station's most experienced staff, was lodged to management of 2GB on Thursday. The first complaint, by a more junior staff member, was made in late March, and a third from a separate individual is a strong possibility. Two official complaints have been lodged against radio personality Ray Hadley by 2GB staff. Credit:Peter Rae The Herald has chosen not to name any of Hadley's latest accusers, who believed their complaints would be handled confidentially and fear repercussions if identified. Hadley declined to comment on Friday. He has been broadcasting out of the station's Queensland studios this week. In separate and independent accounts, the complainants accuse Hadley of bullying, calling them names and demeaning them, with some reduced to tears on almost a daily basis. The man charged with killing rapper Nipsey Hussle was ordered held on $US5 million ($7 million) bail after pleading not guilty Thursday to murder and attempted murder charges. Eric Holder, 29, making his first court appearance after Sunday's shooting and subsequent two-day manhunt, spoke only to say "yeah" to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teresa Sullivan's questions. Eric Holder, the suspect in the killing of rapper Nipsey Hussle, with his attorney Christopher Darden. Credit:AP His attorney, Christopher Darden, did not dispute the bail amount, which the prosecution requested. Darden declined comment after the hearing. Holder is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the attack outside Hussle's The Marathon clothing store on Sunday that left the rapper dead and two other men wounded. Australia is under pressure to ban textured breast implants as France, Canada and the Netherlands move to outlaw the popular implants linked to a rare form of cancer. The Australian regulatory body for therapeutic goods, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), will convene an urgent meeting next week after French medical regulator - National Agency for the Safety of Medicine and Health Products (ANSM) - banned seven brands of macro-textured and polyurethane implants to reduce the risk of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). The textured implants have been associated with an elevated risk of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Canada and the Netherlands are poised to enact similar bans. On Thursday, a TGA spokesperson said an expert panel advised there was insufficient evidence to warrant regulatory action. KATHLEEN: After we met, I didn't want to be away from Nick. He oozed this humble confidence, and was just so easy to talk to. From then on, we would fly to see each other in Melbourne or Sydney between shifts, and after a few months I got a transfer to Melbourne and we moved in together straight away. He proposed on a cruise from Sydney to Melbourne, and we were married in late 2017, 16 months after we first met, in front of 22 people. I definitely wasn't a bridezilla. My dress cost a few hundred dollars and I sold it a week later. We bought a birthday cake for the wedding cake, so we wouldn't have to pay extra. I wore Kmart shoes not Target that cost $20, because no one was going to see them under the dress anyway. For the honeymoon we had four weeks off, and Nick planned it all. He's more adventurous than me. We have this National Geographic scratch map on the wall in our room at home, and we scratch off all the countries we've been to together. We've already been to 11 countries together, with a 12th Canada coming in May. I love looking at it and thinking, "I need to scratch more map." We're both second officers, so we can't fly alone together on the flight deck, but maybe one day we'll get to the right ranks on the same fleet. We've talked about juggling two careers and having kids, and I think it can be done, if one or both of us goes part-time. I couldn't stay away from flying for years on end, but Nick would be happy to stop and come back to it later, which is great. He doesn't care about traditional gender roles. Nick's very good at listening to the things I tell him about gender equality, and what it's like to be in the minority in your profession; the subtle sexism. So many people are surprised when you tell them what you do "Oh, you're the pilot?" and not in a nice way. They'll say, "You're quite young," but I doubt they would say that to a man. Nick's very organised. Before him, I just believed I would remember all the things I need to remember, but he's got lists for absolutely everything. If I'm going overseas, or interstate, I can jump on my iPad now and find one of the lists he's made and tick everything off as I pack. I would never have thought to do that. The director of the Australian War Memorial has made a forthright defence of the way the institution is partly funded by companies which make weapons. Brendan Nelson said he would personally give critics a guided tour alongside veterans to convince the nay-sayers that the corporate money was tastefully spent. Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Many of the defence contractors see support for the Australian War Memorial as a way of supporting veterans," Dr Nelson said. He said he'd had a bereaved mother weeping freely on his shoulder as she viewed equipment which her dead son had used. Only those exhibitions at the Australian War Memorial which displayed hardware like helicopters, he said, were funded by defence companies. Enjoy 14 different art shows featuring work by more than two dozen accomplished regional and student artists in Pittsfield's bustling Upstreet Cultural District during the , and all month long! In most venues, artists will be present from 5-8 p.m. Three specialists want to provide Canberrans with a lifesaving and time critical stroke service, but health has instead organised to send patients to Sydney. They want to offer endovascular clot retrieval at all hours in Canberra - one of the biggest developments in stroke treatment in the past 20 years. It's a time-critical treatment and can greatly improve acute stroke patients' chance of survival and recovery. But internal emails obtained by The Canberra Times through freedom of information laws show specialists are frustrated by the failure of Canberra Hospital to set up an out of hours service. At present, it is only available during business hours at Canberra Hospital, with pathways recently introduced to send patients to Sydney out of hours. The ACT government has decided "It's Time" to expand cat containment in Canberra, bringing a Kerr's purr to the future suburb of Whitlam. The expansion of cat-containment policy in the Molonglo Valley came as the government released a new draft plan on cat management in Canberra for the next 10 years. Cat containment is being expanded into Whitlam in the Molonglo Valley. Credit:Karleen Minney The draft plan would expand mandatory cat-containment measures into established suburbs, as well as newer suburbs backing onto bushland areas. Whitlam has become the 17th suburb in Canberra where cat containment is enforced, with it already in place in suburbs including Gungahlin, Coombs, Crace, Lawson and Forde. Childcare workers, aged-care nurses and residents who know and love Queanbeyan's Wangchuk family joined a rally outside Parliament House on Friday to protest the family's threatened deportation and condemn immigration laws which treated people with disabilities as a "burden" on society. Chanting "say it loud and say it clear, Kinley's family's welcome here" and "immigrants are welcome, racists are not", the rally called on Immigration Minister David Coleman to use his ministerial discretion to allow the Bhutanese family to stay in Australia. Jangchu Wangchuk is hugged by a supporter at the rally outside Parliament House on Friday. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos The family's visa is due to expire next week after their application for permanent residency was rejected because their son Kinley, who is deaf, did not meet the health requirements set out by immigration laws. The requirement assesses whether someone's condition is likely to result in "significant costs to the Australian community or prejudice the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to services in short supply". If Sandra Newmans 3300-word piece has some of the qualities of a news story it is because the Shakespeare subject is eternally newsworthy. Shakespeare is a loose-knit industry, a multifarious one. New ideas (some scholarly, some daft) about Shakespeare appear all the time and then attract bubbly, newsy arguments. I sometimes think that, when I grow up (I am only a pubescent 73) I will put aside my childish obsession with the froth and bubble of political news, news of inconsequential Pauline Hanson (1954 - ) and concentrate instead on everyday breaking news of profoundly important William Shakespeare (1664-1616). Newman may or may not be right. But Shakespeare wrote so insightfully about the ways in which being madly, throbbingly in love turns us all (irrespective of rank and sex) into fools and drongos (Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyces career-ruining passion for his staffer is classically Shakespearean) that I choose to believe he, Shakespeare, had personal experience of being deranged by passions for both sexes. There is suddenly much spirited discussion of what our attitude to Michael Jackson and his music should be now. There have been allegations in the Leaving Neverland documentary that Jackson sexually abused children. Many broadcasters have leapt to ban Jacksons recordings and videos. Should the accusations mean that Jacksons recordings should no longer be publicly played? This very week I was a little disconcerted to have him warbling Dont stop till you get enough! at me, as if nothing had happened, from my supermarkets hidden, politically incorrect speakers. For thinking, arts-appreciating folk this dilemma is as old as the hills. One is not long into discussion of it before up come the names of the anti-Semitic composer Richard Wagner and of the painter Paul Gauguin, a syphilitic paedophile. Is it wrong to allow oneself to see and hear and swoon over the flawed mens dazzling creations? The doctors' original solution had been for six of them to quit their day jobs and form a private company contracted to supply INR services in NSW. But after three years of negotiations with the department, the chief executives of the local health districts baulked at the $20 million price tag. Dr Teresa Anderson, CEO of Sydney Local Health District. Credit:James Brickwood Now the doctors were smarting. Two had not even turned up to the meeting, a fact remarked upon by Anderson. Meanwhile, the system that had emerged was not serving patients. INR Rodney Allan, a neurosurgeon at RPA, says the private company contract included millions of dollars worth of equipment and clear arrangements for patient transfers. Its collapse left doctors rudderless. "It would be naive to say money wasn't a part of it, but I actually earn more from neurosurgery than I would have done doing this," he says. INR Jason Wenderoth works at Prince of Wales and Liverpool Hospital. Credit:Spectrum Interventional Radiology South of the border, the system was operating efficiently. Two Melbourne hospitals had been endowed with extra resources to provide an around-the-clock clot retrieval service and doctors shared the on-call roster. But the mafioso-style clinician culture in Victoria (one neurologist is actually nicknamed "the Don") meant doctors accepted the pre-eminence of certain hospitals. In NSW, when plans for the private company were dashed, so too was the concept of teamwork. The INRs fell into factions around their own hospitals and nobody wanted to see empire building elsewhere. Jason Wenderoth, a radiologist who operates at Liverpool Hospital and Prince of Wales, feared that Anderson wanted to funnel all the work to her own hospital at RPA. "It was pretty obvious to anyone from the INR side that the meetings weren't set up to find solutions, they were set up to make the whole thing collapse," he said recently. "All just hot air and no real solutions." A polarising figure, at the end of that meeting he spoke for everyone: "This is a waste of time." Anderson declined to comment for this story. The procedure Endovascular clot retrieval is the process of extracting a blood clot in the brain through a catheter inserted at the groin. A study by Royal Melbourne Hospital neurologist Bruce Campbell in 2015 found that it gave patients a 70 per cent chance of recovery compared to 40 per cent among those administered traditional clot-busting drugs. "We presented those results in February at the International Stroke Conference and everybody was basically doing it from then on," Campbell says. In 2011-12, the clot retrieval was performed 47 times in NSW. Last year, 485 patients were treated. The scan shows regions of the brain already affected by stroke (pink) and those that remain at risk (green). Credit:Ischemaview It was, says Wenderoth, the "biggest change in medicine since penicillin". "Its huge," he says. "This is taking stroke patients who have an 80 per cent chance of being disabled and enabling them to go back to work." Radiologists' first instinct was to feel threatened. Ischemic stroke treatment had been their bread-and-butter for decades while other specialists shunned it in favour of better paying conditions such as aneurysm. The risk now was that neurologists and neurosurgeons, who had the advantage of patient referrals unlike radiologists who were technicians, would seize all the work. It was a pattern radiologists had seen previously in heart and vascular disease, and they were determined that it would not happen again. "The radiologists were pretty clever about that and headed it off at the pass," Wenderoth says. He feared that untrained doctors would attempt the procedure and leave the patients worse off. "The evidence repeatedly shows that operators with high volumes and centres with high volumes have better outcomes for patients." The first step was to establish a professional body, the CCINR, overseen by the colleges, that would set standards and supervise training - and restrict entry to the profession. New entrants would need to perform a minimum number of cases under certain supervision criteria to qualify as INRs, which are common preconditions to fellowship of a medical college. Doctors training to become INRs at the time suspected that the bar was being set more to control clinician numbers than case numbers. Those who inquired about training positions were often told by the existing INRs that there were no jobs available. Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick. Credit:AAP "If I were in your position, I would be looking for a place to practise before looking for a training job," one hopeful INR was told in an email seen by the Herald. "However, we would consider taking on an overseas trainee in 2016." Other doctors, who had completed the minimum two years training were informed at the end of that period that there were technical deficiencies associated with their training sites. Their applications were declined on these grounds despite meeting individual training requirements. In most cases, their training was only recognised after months of contesting, appeals or even complaints. Allan, the chair of the CCINR, says the only reason people were not approved was because they had not met the criteria. The criteria are pretty simple. You just have to get a certain number of cases in a certain period of time. Next, Wenderoth and his colleagues at Prince of Wales and Liverpool set up a centralised call service and distributed it to hospital emergency departments around NSW to feed them stroke patients. They also set up web-based referral, devised protocols and organised the system for patients to be transferred to their sites. Victims of their own success Loading The Prince of Wales/Liverpool team had now positioned themselves in the box seat for patient referrals, but were becoming victims of their own success. Although clot retrieval was useful in drawing patients who might also need elective procedures, unless NSW Health could be persuaded to give them a financial incentive they were barely worth the crippling on-call demands. When called out after hours, INRs receive $200 per hour for public patients, or more than $5000 for private patients. At each hospital where the procedure was performed, the INRs lobbied their managers for the nurses, anaesthetists, theatres and software they needed to run the service. At Prince of Wales, Wenderoth found it to be an exercise in "buck passing". The chief executive would say that the money was the general manager's to allocate, while the general manager would argue there was not enough funding to allocate. The radiology nurse manager at Prince of Wales - a dominant personality and fierce protector of her staff's working rights - had enough. She refused to roster nursing staff for the procedure after 8pm. When the issue came to the attention of the media, the then health minister Jillian Skinner was forced to declare that the service was available 24 hours, and the doctors and nurses who worked in INR at Prince of Wales were hauled into a meeting. "The minister said we are 24/7 so unless we are 24/7 heads will roll," they were told. They have been running a 24-hour service ever since. The INRs who worked across Royal North Shore and Westmead hospitals took a hardline approach. Until the procedure was properly resourced, they would only do clot retrieval within the hours of 8am and 3pm on weekdays, or 10am to 3pm on weekends. "The North Shore guys will hold out until all the resources come that everyone else has been pushing for," Wenderoth says. "It's a tactical manouevre. So far ours hasn't worked." Only at RPA, where Anderson made it her mission to build the service, have resources been forthcoming. But in many cases her efforts served to stoke existing divisions. She guaranteed that no patient suitable for clot retrieval would be turned away, but this meant that those who arrived for other treatments had to be transferred to other hospitals, creating unrest among clinicians. She created favourable contracts and working conditions that allowed her to employ four new INRs - bringing the total number in NSW to 14 including new hires at Prince of Wales and John Hunter - but some of them are under-deployed, even while there is no after-hours service at Royal North Shore or Westmead. The neurologists, neurosurgeons and radiologists who work at RPA suspect each other of hoarding resources and cases. "There is quite a spectrum of personalities in medicine," one INR says. "We are all very separate," says another. 'We could all co-operate ...' More recently, Wenderoth approached the RPA administration to sound out a quid pro quo arrangement where the Prince of Wales/Liverpool INRs could share the after-hours roster with RPA on some nights of the week. "We were asking for a few concessions on their part to make it palatable for us ... ICU beds, being paid properly to do it, teams to do it," Wenderoth says. He heard nothing back. Now he says he plans to quit as soon as it's financially possible to do so. He says theyre receiving the same pay for three times the work and its completely changed our life-work balance. "Were up all night every night without fail, getting calls from everywhere. If we get sick the system will fall over." Last week he got a speeding fine for doing 51km/hour on the on-ramp to the emergency department at 3am. That clot retrieval will end up costing him $80. INRs and administrators agree that most people are getting serviced, but the workforce is so poorly distributed that many are getting delayed care. Allan says if he were in charge of health in NSW, he would concentrate stroke services at three sites in Sydney with all INRs sharing the after-hours roster. But this would mean neurologists who worked at the hospitals where stroke services were stripped would lose patients, and chief executives would lose the cachet and funding that comes with a comprehensive stroke centre. "There's no real co-ordinated stroke care in NSW," Allan says. "We could all work co-operatively, that would be an answer. But I don't think that's going to happen once you get chief executives involved, with the exception of Teresa Anderson." An election is coming, and not a moment too soon. Theres something not right with our politics right now. Its become stranger, uglier, and increasingly disorienting. Maybe its because extreme voices are getting a more prominent hearing: think Fraser Anning, Pauline Hanson and her One Nation crew of conspirators. Prime Minister Scott Morrison - and Borat joke maker - in question time on Wednesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer But this is about more than the fringe. Parts of the political mainstream seem disturbingly unmoored. Take, for example, how many in the Coalition have publicly suggested the Greens pose an equivalent extremist threat to One Nation. Some in the media fervently believe that reformist environmentalism is as evil as white nationalism. Consider as well the shifting ideological ground over climate change. Its a strange world when the supposedly pro-market Liberals are backing state subsidies for coal investment, and when its now left to the Greens to back a carbon price as the best response to climate change. The operator of the Campbellfield warehouse that erupted into an industrial blaze in Melbourne's north is linked to four other warehouses stockpiled with toxic chemical waste. The Age can reveal that waste disposal company Bradbury Industrial Services controls illicit stockpiles of chemicals found at three warehouses in Craigieburn and another in Campbellfield in March by authorities. The revelation comes after 175 firefighters battled the highly toxic fire that broke out at Bradburys facility on Thornycroft Street early on Friday morning. Buildings and vehicles were turned into fireballs and chemical drums sent soaring high above the warehouse as the inferno raged for hours. Musician Oscar Villagrana was visiting Australia to play a couple of jazz gigs, but ended up in a Melbourne hospital suffering massive head injuries after a violent assault. The 32-year-old Californian man was the victim of the random attack last week after getting off a night-time tram in Preston, in the city's north. American musician Oscar Villagrana who was bashed after stepping off a Melbourne tram. Surgeons have had to extract excess blood from his brain, seal his fractured skull with metal plates and he will be left with a scar covering half his head. The blocs eight country partners attended the event, including Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the US. Participants reviewed the reports of ADSOM+ working groups and the ASEAN Secretariat on the associations development over recent times. The contents will be submitted to the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), which is scheduled to be held in Thailand at the years end. They spent a significant amount of time updating all on the ADMM+ experts working groups results over the past three years from 2016 to 2018 in the fields of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, navigation security, military medicine, anti-terrorism, peacekeeping, and cyber security. The ADMM+ experts working group on humanitarian mine action co-chaired by Laos and Russia spoke highly of the outcomes of Vietnam-India working group in the previous period, which laid a good foundation for the next group to complete the set targets. As planned, the ADMM+ will take place at the end of this year to talk about action groups for the 2020-2023 period. Vietnam and Japan are due to co-chair the experts action group on peacekeeping. At the ADSOM+, senior officials discussed the draft joint statement of the ADMM+ on promoting cooperation for sustainable security. ADMM+ members are expected to reiterate their commitments to peace, security, and stability in the region by respecting internationally-recognised principles and enhancing collaboration for mutual benefits. At the ADSOM+, Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh shared Vietnams plan to organise the ADMM+ in Hanoi in 2020, a special occasion in celebration of the 10th founding anniversary of ADMM+. He said that Vietnam plans to submit to ASEAN defence ministers a draft strategic vision on Asia-Pacific security towards peace and cooperation, as well as several initiatives of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries. Vietnam also plans to organise a workshop orienting the future operations of ADMM+ to ensure pragmatic operational efficiency, he added. As Chair of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam will do its best in preparations for defence conferences, he stated. Fanfare to Israel The Fellowship | April 5, 2019 Paul Ben-Haim Lived: July 5, 1897 January 14, 1984 Why you should know him: An Israel Prize winning composer, he championed a Jewish national music for the Jewish state. Born to a Jewish family in Munich, Germany, Ben-Haim was assistant conductor under Bruno Walter one of the greatest conductors of the century, and also a German Jew who would be threatened by the Nazis before making aliyah (immigrating to the Holy Land) in 1933, after Hitler took power. Ben-Haim lived in Tel Aviv and became an Israeli citizen once Israel gained her independence in 1948. Composing a variety of works chamber music, choral music, and pieces for both orchestra and soloists Ben-Haim championed a Jewish national music for the new Jewish state. For his works, he was awarded the Israel Prize in 1957. Above, enjoy Paul Ben-Haims Symphony No. 1, Fanfare to Israel, the first symphony to be composed and premiered in the Jewish state by a Jewish composer. He has beaten me up, punched me in the stomach, kicked me and spat at me. I have to restrain him but I struggle. It breaks my heart. Matt slapped his brother so hard the toddler was left with a red handprint on his back. Within the first eight weeks of this term, the Year 3 student has been at school just 10 days and was suspended after attacking the deputy principal and two education assistants. Just this year Matt has been taken to Rockingham Hospital twice, Fiona Stanley Hospital once and the Perth Childrens Hospital three times. Most recently the young boy ended up in the psychiatric ward at PCH after trying to kill himself outside Rockingham Hospital. On March 19, after seeing a private paediatrician at Rockingham, staff tried taking Matts blood to have it tested, but he refused and ended up spitting at the nurses and threw his shoes at them. He then ran outside in front of cars trying to kill himself and I couldnt catch up to him, Rachel said. He was saying he wanted to die. It was scary. An off-duty paramedic saw Matt bolt in front of cars and grabbed the boy from harm's way before getting him in to his mothers car. Matt (8) with mum Rachel. Credit:Lauren Pilat Matt jumped out of the car and made another run for it, at which point Rachel rang police in fear her son would be hit by oncoming traffic. Rachel said it took six police officers to catch and restrain the boy, pinning him to the ground before taking him back to Rockingham Hospital. The police said their hands were tied because he was eight, but had he been 10 he would have been arrested for assault for the way he was attacking and spitting at them, she said. He was put in a paddy wagon and taken up to Rockingham Hospital where we were put in a room with security guards to make sure he didnt get out. They ended up having to sedate him and gave him two needles to knock him out. Matt was later transferred to PCH and admitted to the psych ward where he spent a week after Rachel expressed concerns her son had bipolar. Theres a strong family link of bipolar on his dads side and he definitely has traits of the disorder, which was confirmed when we went to the Complex Attention and Hyperactivity Disorder Service at Murdoch University last year, but he hasnt been diagnosed with it, she said. "There's also family history of substance abuse and depression, I believe his mental health concerns are greater than what he's been diagnosed for. It was hard and sad having to leave my child at the psych ward every day, Ive never left him with anyone else other than my mum." If he doesnt get the help he needs, something tragic will happen and I do not want to bury my little boy. Matt's mother Rachel Matt left PCH on March 26, with his discharge summary stating throughout his admission he consistently demonstrated poor frustration tolerance, with rapid escalation of anger including threatening behaviours when his perceived needs were not met. On admission, Matt was taking prescribed antidepressants which were stopped once in PCH. He hasnt been on any medication since leaving PCH, but at one point in Matts life Rachel said he was taking five different prescribed tablets a day to calm his behaviour. Nothing seemed to work. During his violent outbursts, Matt has vandalised his family home, including punching holes in the walls. I dont want the labels just to be an excuse for his behaviour, there is something more going on with him that needs to be addressed," his mother said. Counselling at Anglicare in Rockingham has seemed to be one of the only things weve tried that has helped, but those appointments are once a fortnight. Medication is my absolute last option, and for me to say he needs to go back on medication now is a big thing, we just have to get the right diagnosis and dosage of medicine to make sure things improve. Rachel is desperate to get the help her son needs to ensure her nightmare of losing a son wont end up a reality. Im absolutely desperate to get the correct help he urgently requires if he doesnt get the help he needs, something tragic will happen and I do not want to bury my little boy. According to the 2015 Report on the Second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, about one in seven (13.9 per cent) four to 17-year-olds had mental disorders. ADHD was the most common disorder reported, followed by anxiety, major depressive disorder and conduct disorder. Murdoch Psychology Child Clinic director Dr Renita Almeida said based on that same report, about one in 13 (7.5 per cent) 12-17-year-olds had seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months, and one in 20 had made a plan. Loading The report excluded children under 12 who had considered suicide. Do Masri and the other Australians have a right to return home? Yes. Both Australian and international laws stipulate that someone who is a citizen of Australia cannot be barred from returning to the country. In response to the rise of IS, the United Nations has passed two Security Council resolutions making it clear that a key part of fighting the spread of terrorism and terrorist ideologies globally is for countries to repatriate and prosecute their citizens. At the same time, the Australian government has sought new legal powers to strip people of citizenship, though these powers are highly controversial. Loading What is our government's position? It's unclear. The Morrison Government is determined to deal with these people as far from our shores as possible, said a spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton recently. At other times, he has said they would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis". On Friday, Scott Morrison said of children, specifically, that once they are identified and their citizenship checked, "we would follow the normal processes for issuing of travel documents". (Presumably he means the children will be checked for eligibility for citizenship, as children born to an Australian parent overseas need to be registered.) He made no comment on adults, but said, "I'm not going to put any Australian life at risk" to retrieve them. He said the government was working with the Red Cross, which declined to elaborate. The government has proposed new laws, though they would not pass until after the coming election, if at all. The Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) Bill includes measures to strip convicted terrorists of citizenship provided they have citizenship elsewhere (as it's against international law to render a person stateless). It also proposes "temporarily excluding" for two years fighters wanting to return to Australia although the minister would be able to issue "an indefinite series" of these two-year orders for the same person. Meanwhile, a number of Australians who took up arms in the Syrian-Iraqi conflict and in South Sudan have already returned to Australia. And despite then-prime minister Tony Abbott's declaration that "a crime is a crime is a crime", those men, including a number who travelled to Syria to fight against IS for Kurdish and Christian militias, have returned without being prosecuted. Is it different for women and children? Foreign ISIS wives and children at the fence line of the Foreign section of al-Hawl camp. Credit:Kate Geraghty There is no obvious reason for a distinction to be made in the case of women who travelled to live under IS rule. However, if they travelled with children, or had children subsequently, this complicates matters, as Australia is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, under which a child has the right "to acquire a nationality and as far as possible ... to know and be cared for by his or her parents". Could children be returned to Australia without their parents? In December, a Belgian court ruled that this would infringe on the children's human rights. But the Belgian government successfully appealed that ruling. If they returned, some children may even face prosecution. Under Australian law, a child under 10 and, in some cases, up to the age of 14 cannot be held criminally responsible for their acts. Over 14, though, they could be tried. What other options does a child have in this situation? A child can be an Iraqi citizen by birth only if one of its parents is an Iraqi citizen; a child can be a Syrian citizen by birth only if its father is a Syrian citizen. However, IS supporters and their families would be reviled in both countries. Mohammed Noor Masri's three children, and others born under IS to Australian citizens, are eligible for Australian citizenship. Khaled Sharrouf and his sons on social media in 2014. Kurdish authorities insist they will only release a country's citizens if they are contacted by the government of that country. Do foreign fighters remain Australian citizens? Yes, mostly. Sydney IS recruit Khaled Sharrouf, a dual citizen, was stripped of his Australian citizenship in absentia before being killed in an airstrike in Syria (he had Lebanese citizenship to fall back on, so was not left stateless). The government has since tried to strip IS propaganda figurehead Neil Prakash of his citizenship, arguing, controversially, that he could obtain Fijian citizenship. Are IS supporters who went to Syria criminals? Masri went to Raqqa in Syria in 2015. Australians who have travelled to IS territory in Raqqa or Mosul in northern Iraq after these places were made "declared areas" under the Criminal Code Act (in 2014 and 2015, respectively) have committed a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years in jail, regardless of what else they did or did not do. The case of children is more complicated but the proposed Temporary Exclusion Orders would apply to citizens as young as 14, so it is clear that minors could be at risk of prosecution. How do we know what fighters and their wives did in Syria and/or Iraq? In many cases, we don't. IS gave supporters such as Prakash, Sharrouf and doctor Tareq Kamleh a high profile but in the case of others, such as Masri, we are heavily reliant on witness testimony, since the West's intelligence services had almost no assets in IS territory. We know that IS embraced slavery, that it dealt out draconian corporal punishments and massacred those who did not meet its stringent definition of Islam, that it requisitioned property and even fined people over issues of personal grooming or dress. It was a regime built on violence as a means of social participation. What do other countries do? Very few Western countries have so far expressed a desire to repatriate these people, despite Donald Trump urging European nations and Canada to do so. France is beginning to repatriate some foreign fighters with a view to trial; Canada says it is not a priority; Russia has repatriated children but will probably seek to have adults tried under Syrian or Iraqi law. Britain and the US have both sought to prevent repatriations, which in the US case could mean that IS detainees end up in Guantanamo Bay. Britain has revoked the citizenship of Shamima Begum, the former schoolgirl from Bethnal Green who married a Dutch IS fighter in Syria, arguing that she is entitled to citizenship in Bangladesh. Are there jihadists in Australian jails because they tried to go to Syria? Yes. Both jihadist organisers Hamdi Alqudsi and Amin Mohammed were charged with trying to go and helping others to go. Both are in jail. So what's most likely to happen? Prime Minister Scott Morrison has launched a $527 million royal commission into the abuse and neglect of disabled Australians in an emotional announcement of an inquiry to run for at least three years. The commission will be led by former Federal Court judge Ronald Sackville and include another five commissioners to examine conditions and experiences "in all settings" including schools, institutions, workplaces and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Mr Morrison came close to tears when he dedicated the royal commission to disabled Australians including his brother-in-law, Garry Warren, who has multiple sclerosis. Mr Morrison said he wanted the royal commission to make sure disabled Australians could be "all that they can be" and experience the richness of life in Australia. Tony Abbott brought the Indigenous affairs bureaucracy into PM&C as a symbol of his personal attention and dedication to the physical, spiritual and moral improvement of Aboriginal people, but experience has demonstrated no discernible benefit to Aboriginal people, whether from the meddling but sporadic enthusiasms of Abbott, or the general indifference of Turnbull and Morrison. The agency has become almost invisible. Outcomes particularly, but not exclusively, measured by Closing the Gap statistics are worse than before. Waterford's Law actually a postulation, if yet to be disproved after 50 years is that each successive minister for Indigenous affairs is worse than the immediate predecessor. This has remained true, with the achievements of Nigel Scullion being behind, if only by a short half head, those of Jenny Macklin, previously the champion non-achiever. Both Scullion and Macklin are leaving the national stage with this election perhaps by itself a rare red-letter moment for Aboriginal affairs. I have high hopes for Pat Dodson, who will probably be minister if a Shorten government is elected, but a very early test of his leadership will turn on re-energising local Aboriginal organisation, politics and service delivery. That almost certainly involves decentralising power, abolishing "engagement" for real consultation, increasing rather than reducing local autonomy and solutions, and reducing the white cronyism and rent-seeking that has characterised the present administration. At the moment it is doubtful that 10 per cent of all expenditure notionally on Indigenous affairs ends up as income for, or net transfer of goods to, Aboriginal people. Again, a Shorten government would have significant ambitions with climate change, with water management in the eastern states, with TAFE and early childhood education, and with its plans to reduce out-of-pocket costs for cancer diagnosis and treatment - but the machinery-of-government changes these involve are not substantial. In general, the bureaucracy has the capacity and imagination to do what is necessary, provided the political will persists. None of the "challenges" in these involve anything much that is innovative, nimble, flexible, "disruptive" or resilient. The Hayne royal commission, and a number of similar inquiries, have re-established the need to bolster the quantity and quality of regulation, particularly, but not exclusively, in commerce, banking and the financial system. Likewise, Shorten has committed himself to more measures to attack fraud and corruption, as well as, it is to be hoped, criminal investigation and the prosecution process. If Shorten has any sense, he will not allow the Attorney-General's department to be the lead agency in this process, because it has been shown over the years to have its own institutional interests against reforms of this type, quite apart from its recent experience of obeying a minister in playing a dead bat to anything smacking of accountability or transparency. Public servants preparing the red and the blue books the briefing materials prepared during the caretaker period either for new ministers after a change of government, or new ministers in a continuing government have the advantage that the present Labor administration has probably prepared and published more policy material outlining, particularly, its economic objectives, but also policies in health, education and welfare than anyone since Dr John Hewson published Fightback in 1992 for the 1993 election. (And before that, one would have to go to Whitlam in 1969 and 1972.) Strictly, I am a firm believer in the continuity of the public administration through a change of government. I think the public service was damaged by the Night of the Long Knives, by which the Howard government dispatched half a dozen secretaries in 1996, and when Tony Abbott removed other secretaries including the Secretary of Treasury, Martin Parkinson, in 2013. Parkinson was an object of suspicion among the ideological warriors surrounding Abbott because he had been detached from Treasury in 2007 by Kevin Rudd to head a department of climate change which, as these warriors knew, did not exist. The Abbott government's antipathy to anyone in any sort of public post carrying the stain of having been appointed by a Labor administration extended widely into the vast array of boards, commissions and other patronage jobs filled, as terms expired, by the incumbent ministers. Although there is always a sprinkling of party hacks and retired insiders in such statutory and independent bodies, the overwhelming proportion of those appointed used to be appointed for expertise and experience, rather than political pedigree. Indeed Senator John Faulkner, as "minister for integrity" in the Rudd government, established protocols by which most boards were appointed through a public-service merit process. This seems to have gone by the way, with recent Coalition governments opting for barefaced patronage, the conscious stacking of boards with cultural and ideological warriors, as well as party friends, relatives and donors. Under successive Coalition attorneys-general, this has extended to appointments to quasi-judicial posts, such as immigration and administrative appeals tribunals. John Howard and Tony Abbott operated on the principle that the government of the day has a right to fill such posts with people more than sympathetic to their aims and outlook. They did not hesitate to put pressure to resign on people appointed by earlier governments, and showed themselves increasingly without shame in putting their own partisans on boards and committees, even when (as in the case of ABC commissioners) there was supposedly a legislated system by which board members were proposed by an independent committee. Turnbull and Morrison continued that approach. Does this mean that an incoming Shorten government would be entitled to ask the patronage members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to resign, on the basis of its "right" to have the "independent" "second look" at decisions carried out by people broadly sympathetic to the new government's views? Of course it could do this as a virtue in its own right, choosing instead from among nominees put forward for their background, knowledge and independence. That might be justifiable given the patent unsuitability of some chosen in recent times. It would be possible for a take-no-prisoners new ministry to choose from among its own mates, cronies, party donors, and friends and relations. Would this be a good thing? Some would identify this with the Washington system, by which an incoming administration can place in most of the senior executive positions people of its choice. Under Donald Trump, the system is acquiring another flourish the right to appoint someone to an office includes the right not to make any appointment with the result that there are whole areas in the American administration with no one in charge, to the general satisfaction of limited-government zealots and people hostile to the idea of government surveillance of environmental protection and human rights abuses. Until the Abbott government there was a general convention that governments did not have access to the papers of previous governments, nor conduct inquiries into their sins of thought, word and deed. Thus, for example, Kevin Rudd did not pursue into government clear signs of Coalition collusion with the Iraqi wheat-for-arms rorts. Bob Hawke in 1983 did not pursue National Party links with the meat-substitution scandals, and in 1977 then attorney-general Bob Ellicott was effectively forced to resign by Malcolm Fraser because of Ellicott's determination to pursue inquiries into the Overseas Loans Affair. I would never make such a convention an absolute rule, if only because I believe that nemesis - or an ICAC - as well as the prison system should eventually catch up with corrupt politicians. But there are good reasons for caution about turning new governments into standing commissions of inquiry into old governments, as well as the politics of payback. That might be demonstrated by the Abbott government's unsuccessful attempts to smear Julia Gillard and Bill Shorten via a royal commission into trade unions, and to fix on Kevin Rudd the moral and perhaps criminal responsibility for the fact that several Queensland labourers died while installing home insulation. Whether with stacking boards, commissions and tribunals, or with setting up partisan royal commissions (perhaps into discretions for au pairs, leaks about police raids on union offices, or the giving of indecent sums of money to miners so as to save the Great Barrier Reef), there are good arguments that the new government should be principled and adhere to the old conventions. That is certainly what I would recommend. Yet the Labor warrior is surely entitled to ask why one side of politics should be allowed to trash settled convention, debase and corrupt important public institutions and abuse the processes of law while the other is expected to be virtuous and decent. It is not as if the establishment whether it is the political establishment, or the collective (and generally conservative) good men and women of the institutions, or the electorate at large punish clear abuses of power and principle. As often as not, these days, some sections of the media are cheering on the tearing of the national fabric, even as they aver or imply that the wicked socialists are tearing up the rule book. State Solicitor Nicholas Egan has told a parliamentary inquiry he is very concerned the Public Transport Authority did not seek legal advice from his office about a $206 million contract with controversial Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. Mr Egan was giving evidence about government procurement processes when he revealed the PTA did not seek advice from the State Solicitor's Office until after the contract, to build a mobile data network for Perth's trains, was signed and made public. WA Solicitor General Nicholas Egan tells a parliamentary committee he was "very concerned" his office was not consulted on the government's $206 million Huawei deal. Credit:WA Parliament Under questioning from Nationals MP Vince Catania, he referred to the Huawei contract as an instance where an agency didn't seek advice from his office. "There are certain contracts, however, which are procured by departments or agencies themselves where we don't get asked to be involved and a good example of that might be, for instance, the Huawei contract," Mr Egan said. The Prime Minister (Mr. Menzies) opened the cable for the first official telephone call by throwing a switch at a ceremonial luncheon at Canberra. State and Federal ministers listen to the first telephone call between Melbourne and Sydney on the coaxial cable system. Canberra, 1962. Credit:Staff photographer Canberra The 5 million Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne coaxial cable which will carry, simultaneously television programmes and hundreds of telephone conversation was officially opened today. The Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne, at similar luncheons in the two cities, were immediately connected for a light-hearted but historic conversation. More than 150 political, civic and business leaders who attended the luncheons "tapped" the line for the Lord Mayors' conversation. Until the Prime Minister opened the coaxial cable, guests at each of the three luncheons heard proceedings at the other two functions relayed through loudspeakers connected to the old inter-State land-line. All Listened Then, when Mr. Menzies connected Cr. Nathan in Melbourne and Alderman Jensen in Sydney, each of the guests was able to listen in on a white handset telephone set before him on the luncheon table. London, Quito: WikiLeaks is claiming that founder Julian Assange will be expelled from the Ecuadorian embassy, where he has been since 2012. In a post on Twitter on Friday, WikiLeaks said "a high-level source within the Ecuadorian state" told the organisation that Assange would be expelled within "hours to days" from the embassy in London. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Credit:AP The Australian-born founder of the organisation has had asylum from the Ecuadorian government since 2012, when he sought to avoid extradition to the US after breaching bail terms on unrelated sexual assault charges in Sweden. Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno has accused Assange of "repeatedly" violating the terms of his asylum in the embassy. London: The Chair of UK Parliament's foreign affairs committee says he is concerned that allowing Huawei to build the country's 5G network could compromise the UK's role in the Five Eyes intelligence club. Separately, MPs on the committee said there were "considerable grounds for concern" about Huaweis involvement in the UKs 5G infrastructure. Theresa May's cabinet is due to make a decision soon, with a major government review expected any day. Tom Tugendhat, a rising Tory MP, wrote to Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt saying he was worried the government was not asking the right questions about Huwaei's potential involvement. While Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia is willing to allow the orphaned children of Australia's most infamous terrorist to return home, he is not going to send any Australians over to assist - a potential roadblock for their return. Hoda Sharrouf, the 16-year-old daughter of Khaled Sharrouf, has begged for her and her siblings to be allowed to return home, saying she is worried about the health of her pregnant sister. Hoda, right, has begged to be allowed back into Australia. While Mr Morrison said he would cooperate with the process to return the Australian women and children to Australia, he would not risk more Australians to do it. "I'm not going to put any Australian life at risk to extract people from these conflict zones," he said. A Steinbach antique hunter who stumbled upon a rare First World War letter will hand-deliver it to a memorial ceremony in France next Tuesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Steinbach antique hunter who stumbled upon a rare First World War letter will hand-deliver it to a memorial ceremony in France next Tuesday. "I feel so honoured. It leaves me almost speechless," said Amanda Kehler. The Prairie Pickers Cafe owner discovered the letter on Feb. 12 while sifting through a stack of old newspapers purchased at auction for $1. Sent from Liverpool, England on May 3, 1917, the letters author, Earl Sorel, informs a Selkirk woman that her late brother, Gordon Rochford, saved Sorels life at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Sorel survived the war and returned to Manitoba, dying in 1969. Kehler contacted descendants of the two men, who agreed the letter should be sent to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, where preparations are underway to mark Vimy Ridge Day on Apr. 9. Last month, a French organization called Les Amis du Vimy offered to pay Kehlers airfare to France so she could present the letter in person. Rochfords great-niece, who resides in Toronto, will also attend. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I was blown away," Kehler said. "It feels very surreal." She and her husband, Calvin, depart today with the letter tucked safely inside their carry-on luggage. They will attend the commemorative service and receive a private historical tour arranged by the organization. "I dont think it could have been written any better," Kehler said. She noted the ceremonys date holds special significance. Rochford was killed in action on Apr. 9, 1917, the day the Battle of Vimy Ridge began. Sorels letter will be displayed in France for a year before finding a permanent home at the Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg. The Alabama State Capitol building. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images Alabama just got one step closer to making abortion a felony in the state, which could soon become the harshest ban in the country. On May 9, the Alabama House passed the draconian Human Life Protection Act, which would make performing abortions at any point during a womans pregnancy a felony in nearly all circumstances. The legislation simply criminalizes abortions, said Alabama representative Terri Collins, who proposed the bill on April 2. In its original form, the legislation only allowed one exception in cases where refusing medical intervention would pose a a serious health risk to the unborn childs mother which House Democrats attempted to amend to include pregnancies caused by rape or incest. (On April 29, Alabamas House of Representatives voted 74 to 3.) While House Democrats were unsuccessful, lawmakers in the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee adopted the amendment on May 8, to the disappointment of Collins. Now, the bill moves on to governor Kay Ivey, who anti-abortion activists expect to sign. VIDEO: Chaos in the Alabama Senate. @willainsworthAL just gaveled down the amendments creating rape and incest exceptions, during abortion bill debate. #Alpolitics pic.twitter.com/TGpHpVkTu4 Reshad Hudson (@ReshadHudson) May 9, 2019 Under the legislation, known as HB314, abortion would be banned once the fetus was in utero; were a doctor to perform the procedure, they would be hit with a Class A felony, which carries a prison sentence of 10 to 99 years. The bill also contains a chain of outrageous anti-abortion talking points, comparing abortion to the Holocaust and other genocides. It bewails that more than 50 million babies have been aborted in the United States since the Roe decision in 1973, more than three times the number who were killed in German death camps, Chinese purges, Stalins gulags, Cambodian killing fields, and the Rwandan genocide combined. With 65 Alabama legislators out of the 105-member House of Representatives signed on as co-sponsors, the bill is a chilling addition to the growing list of extreme anti-abortion legislation being introduced in the South. In just the past year, two states have passed six-week abortion bans a trend which Georgia will likely soon join, and potentially other states in the near future. Of course, HB314 will instantly be met with legal challenges if it passes, given that it blatantly violates the precedent set in Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S. Even before the bill was introduced, when reports that the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition would be pushing a bill that criminalized abortion, the ACLU of Alabama declared that it was prepared to sue. And, aside from the bills egregious infringement on womens reproductive rights, the executive director of the ACLU of Alabama slammed lawmakers for passing a bill that will potentially cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover the bills legal fees. These lawsuits are a part of a plan to overturn Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court, Randall Marshall said in a statement. They know they will not win in federal, district, or appeals courts because these bills are flagrantly unconstitutional. However, if a state loses in lower courts, appeals to the Supreme Court and is denied review, then they will owe potentially hundreds of thousands of taxpayer money in attorney fees. None of these states including Alabama can afford to throw money away like that. This post has been updated. Stay in touch. Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. 20,000 Pounds of Meat Patties Recalled After Purple Plastic Found Inside More than 20,000 pounds of ready-to-eat beef patties, some of which were distributed to schools, are being recalled because of purple plastic found inside some of them, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday. Oklahoma-based AdvancePierre Foods, Inc., was forced to recall the patties after the problem was discovered Monday, according to a press release from the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service. Two consumers complained after finding the plastic in the product. There have not been any reports of adverse reactions for anyone who consumed the product. The USDA tells anyone concerned they might be ill after consumption of the product should contact a health care provider. In addition, more of the patties could still be in freezers and should not be served but instead thrown away or returned to location of purchase. Tuesdays recall pales in comparison to a more than 90,000-pound recall of ground turkey meat issued days before Thanksgiving in November 2018. Dozens of people fell sick. By Evie Fordham | Politics and Health Care Reporter Follow Evie on Twitter @eviefordham. 3 Dead, Including Pregnant Woman After 16-hour Standoff at Georgia Home Police found a pregnant woman and her 16-year-old son dead in their Georgia home, along with the gunman who had earlier shot two police officers before finally turning the gun on himself after a 16-hour standoff. The gunman barricaded himself in the home in Henry County, near Atlanta, with the 16-year-old who was considered a hostage, reported WSBTV. The standoff finally ended when the gunman went quiet, and officers entered the home at around 3 a.m. Friday morning, to find him dead along with a 16-year-old and the gunmans partner, who was eight months pregnant. Our gunman, it appears, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Henry County police Capt. Joey Smith. said, reported the Atlanta Journal Courier. That was confirmed by the (Georgia State Patrol) SWAT entry team. Sister of murdered pregnant victim and mother of teen killed says shooter had no history of violence. She described finding her body at the home Thursday morning before the standoff. Says she was due to have a son on April 23rd and the baby shower would have been tomorrow pic.twitter.com/tSYDobU0GT Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) April 5, 2019 The victims have been named as Sandra White, 39, and her son Arkeyvion White, 16, according to media reports, and the alleged gunman is named as 47-year-old Anthony Bailey Jr. Whites sister told CBS46 she had called 911 after seeing her sisters body in the garage at around 11 a.m. Officers forced their way into the home on arrival and were shot. They did not return fire, according to police. @WilkersonCBS46 just obtained this picture of the pregnant Henry county mother and her 16 year old son who were killed in a hostage situation in Stockbridge. A live report @cbs46 morning news 5-7am. @HardingCBS46 @SchrammCBS46 @HarrisCBS46 pic.twitter.com/JFz6EMou0a Karyn Greer (@karyngreer) April 5, 2019 One officer was hit in the hand and was able to help the other officerwho had been hit in the torso and hipto get out of the house. Their conditions were described as serious by an earlier police statement, but according to later reports, they are expected to recover. The shooting of the two officers sparked a long standoff between the gunman and police. The sister of the woman who was killed, Anetria White, told CBS46 that she got a text from the alleged gunman Bailey, saying I got Kevy. Dont come in. Her sister pleaded with him to let him go but never received a response. Two Georgia officers shot by gunman holding teen hostage Henry County police are still negotiating for the 16-year-old boy to be released, authorities said.https://t.co/zTRkIl73mq https://t.co/xS7lSZk2aV News Asia (@Asian_News__) April 5, 2019 I dont know what to say. If you come over to your sisters house and you see her dead in the garage and then you wait from 11 oclock in the morning until now you find out all three of them are gone, she said. Whites family said her sister had been unhappy with her partner for years. They said she had served him eviction papers in March, but he wouldnt leavesomething confirmed by court documents cited by WSBTV. The family said Bailey, Jr. was the father of the unborn child. The couple had planned to name the child Antonio. We probably have to plan a double funeral for a mother and her child, she told CSB46. I dont think that parents should have to bury their children, Anetria said. This will be my dads third child that he buries. Hybrid wheat will be ready to harvest by mid-June at the bio-technology company Syngenta's research farm near Junction City, Kansas, U.S. on May 4, 2017. (Dave Kaup/Reuters) Biotech Crops Among Sticking Points in US-China Trade Deal WASHINGTON Chinas lengthy approval process for genetically modified crops remains a sticking point in talks to end the trade war between China and the United States, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks. Beijing has taken years to approve new strains of GM crops, which U.S. companies and farmers have complained stalls trade by restricting the sales of new products from companies such as DowDuPont Inc, Bayer AG, and Syngenta AG. The issue is one of a host of U.S. complaints that the administration of President Donald Trump is demanding China to address if it wants to end trade disputes. Trump on April 4 said the two sides were getting very close to a deal that could be announced in about four weeks, though there were still differences to be bridged. GM crops and the approval process are still a big issue in the discussions, said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The issue has been a source of tension between the two countries for years. China is the biggest buyer of U.S. soybeans, the bulk of which are genetically modified. If it does not approve new strains, then farmers in the United States cannot plant them because China may reject shipments that include them. Seed companies cannot fully commercialize sales of new strains without those approvals. The two sides had appeared to make some progress on the issue in January, when China approved a handful of GMO crops for import. They were the first in about 18 months. The move did not address the core U.S. concerns over delays to the process. A spokeswoman from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, who is leading the Washington team in the discussions, did not respond immediately to request for confirmation or comment. Chinas Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not immediately respond to faxed questions on Friday, which was a public holiday in China. It is unclear what differences on the issue remain. The United States wants China to accelerate its approval process and make it more similar to Washingtons. Beijing allows imports of GMO soybeans and corn for use in animal feed, even though it does not permit planting of them. China bought about 60 percent of U.S. soy exports, worth about $12 billion, before the ongoing U.S.-China trade war and could reject shipments of unapproved varieties. Beijing promised to speed up its review of applications during previous trade talks with the United States in 2017. In the past, Beijing has held back approvals of imported GMO products amid concerns about anti-GMO sentiment in China. The trade deal, should it be agreed, is expected to include a six-year time frame for purchases of more than $1 trillion in U.S. goods, including commodity products. By Chris Prentice Boeing CEO Sorry for Lives Lost in 737 MAX Accidents The pilots on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 battled the planes automated flight control systems for almost the entire duration of the six-minute flight, according to a preliminary report into the crash obtained by CNN on Thursday, April 4. The captain and the first officer struggled as the Boeing 737 Max 8s systems, designed to prevent the plane stalling, repeatedly forced the nose of the plane down. For nearly six minutes, the report shows, the pilots worked through a series of procedures to try to regain control of the plane. The problems on board the Ethiopian Airlines jet mirror those encountered on the doomed Lion Air Flight 610which operated the same 737 Max 8 model and crashed in Octoberin what could be a significant blow to Boeing as it struggles to get the aircraft back in service. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg on Thursday afternoon said the company was sorry for the lives lost in the 737 Max crashes. These tragedies continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, and we extend our sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, he said in a statement. The Ethiopian Airlines captain had called out pull up three times to tell the first officer to raise the nose, according to the preliminary crash report. Both pilots tried to pull the nose up together to keep the plane flying, but they were unable to regain control. In total, the anti-stall system pushed the nose down four times during the flight. In the end, after the pilots had turned back to Addis Ababa, the automated system pitched the plane into a steep dive from which it was impossible to recover, and it crashed into the ground. All 157 people on board were killed. The report on the Ethiopian Airlines crash does not specifically name the Max 8s planes anti-stall systemcalled the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS)which is suspected to have contributed to the Lion Air disaster. But its findings make it likely that the MCAS system pushed the plane into a dive fueled by erroneous angle of attack sensor readings. The MCAS system automatically lowers the nose of the plane when it receives information from its external angle of attack sensors that the aircraft is flying too slowly or steeply, and at risk of stalling. Boeing is working on a change to the systems software. The company recognized the similarities between the two crashes and acknowledged the role of the MCAS system in an earlier statement on Thursday. The preliminary report contains flight data recorder information indicating the airplane had an erroneous angle of attack sensor input that activated the MCAS function during the flight, as it had during the Lion Air 610 flight, the statement said. To ensure unintended MCAS activation will not occur again, Boeing has developed and is planning to release a software update to MCAS and an associated comprehensive pilot training and supplementary education program for the 737 Max. In his apology on Thursday afternoon, Muilenburg said, The history of our industry shows most accidents are caused by a chain of events. This again is the case here, and we know we can break one of those chain links in these two accidents. Muilenburg acknowledged the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished. He said erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment for pilots. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk, he said. We own it and we know how to do it. Speaking before the release of the report, Ethiopian Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges suggested that Boeing review the aircraft flight control system related to the flight controllability. She told reporters in Addis Ababa that her agency would recommend that aviation authorities verify that Boeing has adequately addressed flight control issues before release of the aircraft to operations. The preliminary report, which has not yet been publicly released, does not specify a cause for the crash. A final report could take as long as a year to produce. Struggle Began Just after Takeoff The timeline of the flight, detailed in the preliminary report, reveals that the pilots struggle to control the plane began moments after the plane took off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, en route to Nairobi. Just after takeoff, one of the angle of attack sensors on board the aircraft began providing faulty information to the aircrafts systems, indicating an imminent stall to the flight crew. A stick shakeranother system intended to warn a pilot of an imminent stall began shaking the pilots yoke. Incorrectly sensing a stall, the aircrafts system tried to force the nose down. Recognizing a problem with the automatic trim, the pilots followed emergency procedures and turned off the system. Instead, the pilots tried to use the backup manual trim wheel to adjust the trim, but the airplane was traveling too fast and the manual trim wheel would have been physically impossible to operate, according to a 737 pilot who spoke with CNN. In the final minute of the flight, the pilot told his first officer that they had to pull up together. Thirty-two seconds before the crash, both pilots tried to trim the nose up, and for a brief moment, the aircrafts stabilizer, controlled by the trim, made the corresponding change, But five seconds later, the aircrafts automated systems once again trimmed the nose down, pitching the nose down even further, steepening the dive. The plane was angled 40 degrees nose down, hurtling towards the ground at 575 miles per hour as it crashed. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has told CNN that it was too early to say whether the remedial actions being taken by Boeing would be sufficient. He added that the preliminary report proved all the speculators with false allegations wrong, referring to criticism and doubts over the pilots qualifications. The airline had always been confident of its pilots, he said. Representatives of U.S. pilots gave a cautious welcome to the report. The initial findings of the Ethiopian investigation confirm for us that an MCAS malfunction is a serious emergency and not a benign event, said Captain Jason Goldberg, a spokesman for the American Pilots Association. We remain cautious and hopeful that the potential fix will be thoroughly vetted and not hurried or fast tracked. The APA will remain actively engaged to ensure that the 737 Max will fly again only when all stakeholders are satisfied the aircraft is ready. Fabjan Alameti, 21, is seen is in a booking photo taken on April 4, 2019. (Missoula County Sheriff's Office via AP) Bronx Man Who Wanted to Join ISIS and Attack Random People Arrested in Montana A former Bronx man of Albanian nationality has been arrested in Montana after revealing to an FBI informant his plans to join ISIS and avenge the Christchurch mosque shootings. Fabjan Alameti, 21, was taken into custody at a gun range in Bozeman on April 3, according to the Department of Justice, after he allegedly took possession of an M1A rifle he had rented. His arrest took place without incident, the DOJ said in a statement. Fabjan Alameti recently moved to Bozeman from another state, said Paul Haertel, special agent in charge of the FBIs Salt Lake City Field Office. We want to make it absolutely clear that Mr. Alameti has no known ties to Montana or any affiliation with the Muslim community in Bozeman, he said. Alameti faces gun possession and drug charges. He was also charged with making false statements involving international terrorism. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch ordered him detained for further proceedings. If found guilty on the most serious charge, Alameti faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. I Will Attack Random People FBI Special Agent Matthew Duermeier, whose sworn statement filed with the court was cited by the Associated Press, provided details of the investigation into Alametis alleged links to ISIS and terrorist intent. Alameti reportedly made pro-ISIS statements on Facebook, according to Duermeier. The suspect also told an informant in January that he wanted to fight with ISIS in Iraq and Syria and to carry out an attack in the US against a military facility, recruitment center, government building, gay club or Jewish temple, according to the FBI. Duermeirer added that Alameti later said he would not actually carry out an attack in the United States because America had granted him citizenship. After shootings at two mosques in Christchurch left 50 people dead, Alameti allegedly told the informant, I will attack random people to avenge their blood. Accused gunman Brenton Harrison Tarrant of Australia faces 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges for the March 15 massacre in two New Zealand mosques. According to The Associated Press, another federal informant recorded Alameti saying that he wanted to shoot up a hotel on American soil. On Wednesday, Alameti showed up at the firing range, paid $35 to rent an M1A rifle and was arrested when he took possession of it, Deurmeier said. Alameti also reportedly told an FBI informant he moved from his home in the Bronx to Bozeman last month because he hated his life in New York City. Jihadi Recruit Osama bin Bieber Killed by ISIS Meanwhile, a teenage ISIS recruit nicknamed Osama bin Bieber for his youthful appearance has reportedly been executed by the terror group for allegedly being a spy. Mohammed Ismail was 18 when he left the British city of Coventry to join the jihadi terror cult in March 2014. Ismail was killed by his fellow jihadis supposedly for giving away the movements of Nasser Muthana, a high-profile ISIS recruiter and propagandist, according to the Sunday Times. Muthana was killed in a precision air strike in the Iraqi city of Mosul, a former ISIS stronghold. According to the report, ISIS operatives were convinced Muthana was successfully targeted due to Ismails espionage. The jihadi recruits last moments alive were recorded on video, in which he apologized, according to the newspaper. His execution is believed to be the first known ISIS killing of a suspected British spy. No information was immediately available as to how Ismail was killed. Cartels Seek to Overwhelm Southern Border, Threaten AmericansRep. Michael Cloud With President Donald Trump talking about closing the U.S.-Mexico border, what is the current state of the crisis there? What role do violent cartels play in this crisis, and how do they exploit loopholes in Americas border security? And how does all of this affect everyday Americans living near the border? On this episode of American Thought Leaders, Epoch Times senior editor Jan Jekielek talks with Rep. Michael Cloud, who represents the 27th District in southern Texas. Jan Jekielek: So, lets dive right in and talk about the border. Your district is one of the southernmost districts in Texas. And recently, weve been talking about these almost extreme-sounding measures like actually closing the Mexican border. What are your thoughts on this? Rep. Michael Cloud: Well, we definitely have a critical situation at the border. We knew that months agothose of us who live in south Texas actually have known that for yearsbut its only escalated. Who would have thought that wed have 100,000 migrants in a month come across the border last month80,000 the month before that. Were just not set up for that: Were not staffed for that, we dont have the resources for that. Its a very critical situation that needs our attention here in Congress. Mr. Jekielek: Lets talk about your district specifically. Its kind of interesting. Its north-south; its a very long district relative to its width. And I understand its a corridor of sorts. Ive heard the term fatal funnel. Can you expand on that? Rep. Cloud: Theres a couple of highways, basically, that come from the Mexican border that travel through our district on their way to Houston where drugs, and kids, have been trafficked; unfortunately, the sex slaves often are dispersed throughout the nation. And thats kind of the trade corridor. The sheriffs in our district deal with that on a daily basis. I spoke with a rancher at the border a few weeks ago, who said, I find dead bodies on my land all the time. And so these cartels have been pushing this. They work almost as travel agents in a sense, going throughout the world recruiting people to come to the United Statesselling them on the idea that, Oh, just come across the border. Itll be a nice, quick 30-minute to an hour walk, then youll be good and set to go. And, of course, its not like that at all. Many of them die in the Texas heat [while] many of them are abused by the cartels on the way here. Once they get here, [theyre] held for ransom. Its just unconscionable that weve let this go on for so long. Mr. Jekielek: Tell me about what youve learned about this sort of motivation of the cartels. Obviously, theres some sort of financial arrangement to get people across, but theres other issues as well, right, why theyre doing this. Rep. Cloud: Its about control, its about influence, its about money. To them, people who come across the border are dollar figures. They dont care about individuals. Just a couple of weeks ago, Customs and Border Patrol released a video where cartel members dropped a couple of young ladies into razor wire at the border so that our Border Patrol would leave their post and go there to care for them. Our Customs and Border Patrol always prioritize life, and so whenever there is a situation where [a persons] life is in danger, they always go to that. But the cartels take advantage of that. And so, theyll call in fake 911 calls in some areas because the only first responders there are Customs and Border Patrol and then send drugs up the other way. And this is a case where again, they dropped a couple of young ladies into razor wire and then once they left their posts, [were free to] filter humans and drugs through. This is what our inaction has caused to happen on the border. https://www.theepochtimes.com/smuggler-drops-girls-into-concertina-wire-as-decoy-to-help-10-people-cross-u-s-border-illegally_2837770.html Mr. Jekielek: It seems like this crisis is growing monthly, and why is it now that theres arguments that this is somehow made up or not really a crisis? And from what youre saying, its extremely serious. How do we make sense of all this? Rep. Cloud: If we went there a few months ago, people who actually understand the situation who go there and who are honest about the situation know that its a crisis and were completely overwhelmed at the border. I sat down with Border Patrol. We were going through just whats happening. You have slide after slide of beheadings, bodies found in rivers wrapped in bubble wrap. You know, these horrendous things cartels are doing. And I asked him, Whats the next stage for a win? And they said the next win for us would be situational awareness. Were not to the point [where] were even trying to mitigate the problem, stop the problem. Were just trying to get aware, an understanding, and not have enough resources to understand what the cartels are doing so we can have situational awareness. And this was when the caravans were only 10,000 people a month. And then its only escalated since then. We dont have the immigration judges, we dont have the beds, we dont have the forces on the ground to deal with the situation. And so theyre taking advantage of it. Theyre renting and buying buses and bringing people across Mexico to our border. Mr. Jekielek: Is that part of the cartel pitch? Were overwhelming the border, so if you get through, youre probably going to get released. Rep. Cloud: For them, its a numbers game. Well say, Hey, we caught so much fentanyl or we caught so much drugs, or we found these many people in a certain situation. And for them, its the cost of doing business. They know were going to catch some of the drugs, they know. But, whether its a 3-to-1 or 10-to-1 ratio, we dont know how much were not catching. We do know were probably not getting even half of it. Mr. Jekielek: So you mentioned one example from your district. Do you have some other recent scenarios that you could tell us about what people have faced? Rep. Cloud: We had a couple of people from our district in our office yesterday. They came here for a completely different issue. But as they were leaving, they just said, Whats the situation on the border? We had one of our clients there. Their daughter and son-in-law were taken by cartels and held for $50,000 ransomand beaten up before they were returned. I talked to another one. They are like, Yeah, a member of our family has some land on the border, and theyve been told by the cartels, You might want to stay off your land. Were using it. And so this is happening in the United States of America. You know, peoples property is Mr. Jekielek: And thats even north of the border. Rep. Cloud: This is north of the borderour side of the border. Were about three to four hours from the border. Mr. Jekielek: Youre saying theyre basically operating as far as four hours north of the border and so forth to do these things? Rep. Cloud: They control the southern side of the border, and then theyre working their way into controlling as much as they can to get these horrendous things. Recently, there was enough fentanyl caught to kill millions of people in the United States. Thats what we caught. Were [also] seeing diseases that have pretty much been eradicated in the United States spring up again here [because of] the situation at the border. So its a national security crisis, its a health crisis, its a humanitarian crisis. It needs to be addressed, and ultimately, weve got to think through how to heal the world. We cannot immigrate half the worlds population that lives in poverty to solve the worlds problems. We cant. I wish we could, but the thing we can do is be that shining city on the hill that our founders talked about. [We can] let people know that if you live by the same principles that this nation was founded on, you can have the same prosperity that this nation was founded on. And I just imagine, what if 10,000 [or] 20,000 people marched on the capitol in their nation? They can enact the kind of change in their nation that would last for generations. So, our hearts go out to people who are looking for economic prosperity, but thats not what our asylum laws are for. Theres people who are really being persecuted throughout the world. Mr. Jekielek: I dont know the updated numbers when it comes to how many asylum cases actually turn out to be legitimate asylum cases. The vast majority arent? Rep. Cloud: The vast majority, over 80 to 90 percent, are not. And we dont have the immigration judges to deal with the situation to process them. So, from the cartels perspective, the plan is to overwhelm the system. And we havent had the political will to get it done. Mr. Jekielek: Theres this term being brandished around: sanctuary cities, basically places where folks who get in know they can go and basically be safe from removal. How does that work in Texas? Is there any sort of reality like that in Texas? Rep. Cloud: In our last session, the state House banned sanctuary cities in a sense. But that doesnt mean that there are people there who still arent working with it. Mr. Jekielek: How does that work? Rep. Cloud: They outlawed it, but that doesnt mean that sheriffs in certain towns arent turning a blind eye or not being helpful in this kind of situations. But, you know, anyone who raises their hand and says, Im going to uphold the law of the land in the Constitution, should do that. We cant expect the people that elect us, the people who are in our citizenry, to follow the law if we cant expect our elected officials to follow the law. Its extremely important that people take that seriously. Mr. Jekielek: A number of law enforcement officials have been explaining to you some of the harsh realities that theyre facing, but you also mention other law enforcement officials that seem to be turning a blind eye. That seems odd to me. How does that work? Rep. Cloud: The vast majority of Texas law enforcement understand the situation. Theyre dealing with it every single day. And its not just law enforcement: Its hospitals that are overwhelmed, school districts that are overwhelmed, counties that have to bury the bodies of migrants who are found; theres a lot of coordination and a lot of collaboration. Youve mentioned sanctuary cities, and there are a few individuals who are trying to exert their political will over whats best for the state of Texas and whats best for our country. Mr. Jekielek: Excellent. So any final words with respect to what you would hope to see happen at the border most immediately? Rep. Cloud: We have to recognize this is a situation that Congress should have taken care of a long time ago. We promised it to the American people. We really need to take action here in Congress. I dont know if were going to see that political will happen, unfortunately, so this is why the president has declared an emergency declaration. And so, we need to see real action at the border to mitigate this crisis, and understand that it is seriously a crisis. The news [media] isnt even covering half the situation and the atrocities that are happening at the border. Its really, really sad. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. American Thought Leaders is a new Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. David Stringer Said I Dont Like to Demonize Child Sex Trafficking: Report Arizona ethics investigators say two Prescott women allege former Arizona Rep. David Stringer made disturbing comments relating to the trafficking and abuse of children. Statements attributed to Stringer, who resigned last week over sex crimes allegations dating back to the 1980s, include reluctance to condemn child sex trafficking and the claim that sexual abuse of children is benign in its impact on victims. The Arizona Republic reported that Stringers alleged statements have been recorded in notes taken by members of the House Ethics Committee during conversations with the two women. The state House of Representatives released the notes on April 3. Dont Like to Demonize It One case relates to an alleged conversation between Stringer and Merissa Hamilton, a child sex trafficking victim and activist. Hamilton told House Ethics Committee investigators that she and Stringer were sitting together at an event that she recorded on video, which has since been published on YouTube. In the video, Hamilton and a person alleged to be Stringer can be heard discussing what issue he should ask the speaker about, and she suggests raising the issue of child sex trafficking. The man responds by saying that he thinks concerns about child sex trafficking are demagoguery and I dont like to demonize it. The male voice attributed to Stringer is also heard saying that while he doesnt think there is much child sex trafficking, there are a lot of 15-year-old prostitutes. Stringer in a comment on Facebook on April 4 responded to Hamiltons claims by saying, It has come to my attention that one of my former campaign supporters has jumped on the bandwagon denouncing me for things I have never said and dont believe. Merissa Hamilton, the former 2016 Libertarian candidate for the US Senate, claims to have left the Libertarian party because it was infiltrated by pedophiles. At an RWOP luncheon last May she brought up the subject of child sex trafficking, claiming it was a crisis. Apparently, I wasnt sufficiently enthusiastic to suit Ms. Hamilton. She now claims to be alarmed at my skepticism about finding child rape harnesses in the desert and pedophile rings under every rock. Hamilton also told House Ethics Committee investigators that after the event at which Stringer seemed to play down the problem of child sex trafficking, he allegedly defended child sex abuse during an exchange the two had outside the venue. The Arizona Republic reported Hamilton told investigators that Stringer said he didnt think there was any damage from child sex trafficking. It is alleged Stringer said to Hamilton, If an uncle takes his niece or nephew to a playground, and they go on the merry-go-round and have some ice cream, and then do their thing, thats just part of the experience. Stringer responded to Hamiltons allegations in a statement, I cant account for the statements she has attributed to me. But for the record I have never minimized the problem of sex trafficking or specifically child sex trafficking across our southern border. As an attorney, Ive handled child sex cases, representing both victims and the accused. They are serious cases. I Like Being a Daddy Figure The second case of disturbing comments newly attributed to Stringer relates to comments he allegedly made to school administrators in Prescott, the Arizona Republic reported. Rosemary Agneessens, a leader with the Prescott Education Advocacy Council, was cited in the ethics committee notes as saying that Stringer made disturbing comments in context of an alleged internship where he helped elementary school-aged children learn English. Agneessens claims Stringer said, I like being a daddy figure for the little girls when they sit on my lap. She said Stringers comments related to an internship he claimed to have had with the Arizona State University Preparatory Academy in Phoenix. Arizona State University spokesman Bret Hovell told the Arizona Republic theres no record of him being at ASU Prep. We dont have him as an intern, as a teacher, as a student teacher. Stringers Resignation Stringer, a Republican from Prescott, unexpectedly resigned from the Arizona Legislature on March 27, just an hour before a deadline for him to respond to a subpoena requesting records related to sex charges dating back about 35 years. The House Ethics Committee had been investigating Stringer over charges that include child pornography and having sex with boys as young as 13. The sex crimes revelations came to light only recently as records had been expunged due to an alleged plea deal that saw Stringer sentenced to five years of supervised probation, according to the Phoenix New Times. Claims of Stringers culpability are disputed by his attorney, Carmen Chenal. The allegations are false and Mr. Stringer denies them all, Chenal said, the Arizona Republic reported. He never committed a crime. He was never convicted. In a Facebook post on March 27, Stringer criticized the chairman of the Ethics Committee, State Representative T.J. Shope, accusing him of denying me due process, denying me access to speak to my accusers, and trying to force me to disclose court-sealed documents. Minority Co-Whip Reginald Bolding (D-Phoenix) decried Stringers refusal to turn over records relating to his sex charges. The evidence that he was trying to withhold from the Ethics Committee must be damning since he chose to quit rather than comply with a subpoena, Reginald Bolding, D-Phoenix said in a press statement. It makes myself and my colleagues believe that the information was so damning, Bolding said in a phone interview with the New York Times, that he would prefer to resign. Salacious Allegations With No Basis in Fact Stringer has responded to the sex crimes claims in a statement: Some 35 years ago when I lived in Maryland, I faced salacious allegations of sexual improprieties that had no basis in fact. 35 years ago those charges were false but they threatened me personally and put my professional life as an attorney at risk. My attorney did an excellent job breaking down the accusations piece by piece until the prosecution chose to offer a plea deal to two 4th degree petty offenses. Instead of having to go to trial and risk everything, I accepted a disposition that did not require me to plead guilty or result in a conviction. The charges were eventually dismissed and expunged from record. I took the deal, maintained my innocence and was never tried on any of the false charges. 35 years later, political opponents have dug those charges back up to drive me from politics because they disagree with my views. The media, as you might expect, is treating accusations like they are convictions, and they are setting out to destroy my reputation. Of course they all want me to go on their TV channels and give them interviews to entice an audience with a salacious story. But I know there is zero chance of getting a fair shake from them. So I wont try to use the fake media to tell you what happened. What I will say is that the charges I faced in 1983 are as false today as they were 35 years ago. I regret that sensationalized allegations from 35 years ago have forced me to resign my office. The actions of the leadership of our state legislature in forcing me from office are deeply and shamefully offensive to free elections and democratic governance. We Have a Job To Do On Wednesday, April 3, former state Senate President Steve Pierce, a Prescott Republican, was sworn in to replace Stringer in the House. Taking the oath of office, Pierce was cited by Fox10 as saying, We have a job to do for the people of Arizona, and for my constituents. Pierce will serve out Stringers remaining term. At least two workers from Full Potential Child Development Center in Arkansas have been fired after allegedly giving children gummies laced with melatonin and failing to initially report it. (Screenshot via Google Maps) Daycare Employees Fired After Children Allegedly Given Melatonin Gummies Before Naptime At least two daycare workers have been fired after allegations that one of the employees gave out gummies laced with melatonin to children to get them to nap, according to reports. The executive director of Full Potential Child Development Center located at Little Rock, Arkansas, confirmed the incident with Fox 16 and said the two employees were fired on the same day the allegations were made. The daycare also said they reported the incident to the child abuse hotline, to their child care licensing agency, and the parents of the children involved. The daycare's executive director says two workers were fired the same day the allegations were made, and a report was also filed with the Child Abuse Hotline. Posted by FOX16 News on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 According to a statement issued by the daycare, the incident first surfaced when a daycare staff member reported she witnessed another worker give out melatonin gummies to the children before naptime on one occasion, reported the news station. The daycare management investigated the report and the accused worker denied the allegations, insisting that she had only given out candy. Moreover, management did not find evidence of melatonin during a search. During further investigation, another employee that worked in the classroom said it did happen on one occasion but denied involvement. The daycare subsequently fired the staff member that gave out the gummies and the staff member who initially failed to report the incident. Kerri Miller, one of the parents whose 2-year-old son was allegedly given a gummy, expressed disbelief by the incident. We thought it was a pretty good establishment, Miller told the news station. Were a good family. We dont abuse our kids. The last thing we want is for someone else to abuse our kids. Miller added that the staff members may have passed a background test but it is hard to really tell whats in their hearts. This is not the first time a daycare has come under scrutiny for handing out melatonin to their children. In Chicago, three daycare workers from Kiddie Junction Daycare Center were arrested and accused of handing out melatonin gummies to a group of 2-year-old children at nap time, reported CBS News. The manager at the daycare told police that three of its teachers were handing out the gummies without parent consent. The workers were identified as 32-year-old Kristen Lauletta, 19-year-old Jessica Heyse, and 25-year-old Ashley Helfenbein. The trio each faced two counts of child endangerment and two counts of battery. Kristen Lauletta, Jessica Heyse and Ashley Helfenbein each face two counts of child endangerment and two counts of battery. Posted by CBS News on Monday, March 5, 2018 Allegedly, this was done in an effort to calm them down before nap time, police said, reported the news station, citing a statement. The daycare facility was previously cited for violations during the states Department of Human Services on-site visit. During the latest visit in June 2018, the facility had five violations cited. According to Mayo Clinic, melatonin is a hormone in the body that helps a person go to sleep and are available as a supplement to help with sleep disorders, usually in pill form. Some side effects of taking melatonin include headache, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness. The website said short-lasting feelings of depression, mild tremor, mild anxiety, abdominal cramps, irritability, reduced alertness, confusion or disorientation, and abnormally low blood pressure are less common side effects of the tablet. A still image from a video posted by the Taliban on social media on December 19, 2016 shows American Caitlan Coleman (L) speaking next to her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their two sons. (Courtesy Taliban/Social media via Reuters) Defence Lawyer Suggests Joshua Boyles Wife Lied About an Alleged Assault OTTAWAA lawyer for Joshua Boyle is suggesting his wife made up a story that he struck her in the face at their Ottawa apartment in the months after the couple were freed from captivity in Afghanistan. Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon is dissecting Caitlan Colemans allegations that Boyle repeatedly assaulted her before she fled their home in late 2017. Boyle, 35, has pleaded not guilty to offences against Coleman including assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement. The Crown witnesses who testified Thursday painted a picture of Boyle as a self-absorbed man who exerted obvious control over his wife. Unger remembered Coleman as a quiet person who did not make a lot of eye contact. Coleman and Boyle would speak to each other, she recalled. But she would look to him for, I would say, cues. Defence lawyer suggests Joshua Boyles wife lied about an alleged assault https://t.co/qZIFyjAlpW pic.twitter.com/uw9hfKMNoy CTV News (@CTVNews) April 3, 2019 Often, Boyle would use hand gestures to direct his wifes actions, she said. During cross-examination today, Greenspon quizzed Coleman about a December 2017 incident in which she says Boyle hit her in the face following an argument in the dining room. After pressing her for details of the argument, the number of times he struck her and how she reacted, Greenspon suggested the incident did not occura conclusion Coleman quickly and flatly rejected. Coleman and Boyle were seized by extremists in Afghanistan during a 2012 backpacking trip and rescued five years later by Pakistani forces. Deputy Cites Woman for Disorderly Conduct After Her Young Son Urinates in Parking Lot A Georgia mother said she was charged with disorderly conduct after allowing her 3-year-old son to urinate in a parking lot. Brooke Johns, of South Carolina, said she is also pregnant with her third child, WRDW reported on April 4. She said she was driving to Augusta, Georgia, when her 3-year-old boy, Cohen, said he had to go to the bathroom. A Georgia mom was cited for disorderly conduct for letting her young son urinate in a gas station parking lot. She faces Posted by Magic 96.5 on Friday, April 5, 2019 Hes like, Mom, Ive got to pee. Ive got to pee! I was like, Well, hold on, and hes like, No! Ive GOT to pee! Ive got to REALLY pee. And Im like, Baby, theres nowhere for me to go, and he says, Momma, Im about to pee in my pants! she said. Johns, who was told by her doctor not to pick her 3-year-old up because shes eight months pregnant, added that they couldnt make it inside a gas station after pulling over in the parking lot. I cant pick him up, Brooke told the news outlet. You know, Im not supposed to lift him. SAY WHAT? This (very pregnant) Beech Island mother recently got a ticket for disorderly conduct after she says her little boy had to pee in a parking lot. SOUND-OFF: Do you think the deputy went too far? Posted by News 12 NBC 26 on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Thats when she allowed her son to relieve himself in the parking lot, adding that obviously he had to go, Johns said. A Richmond County deputy arrived and told her to take him into the bathroom. Accidents happen. And he was like, Take him in the bathroom. What if I would have ran in the bathroom and someone had been in there? What I was going to let him do? Pee on the floor of the gas station? Brooke told WRDW. PARENTS: We've all had potty-training emergencies, but this one is NEXT LEVEL.This (very pregnant) Beech Island mother Posted by Meredith Anderson WRDW on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Instead, the deputy cited her with a disorderly conduct charge. She allowed her male child to urinate in the parking lot. I observed the urination. Public restrooms are offered at the location, the ticket said. Im going to court April 30, Brooke said. Several days before I am due. Yeah, I could extend it, but I would rather deal with it when Im pregnant. Not when I have a newborn. According to Yahoo News, she posted a photo on Facebook, saying she was covering him up when he went to the bathroom. Johns said that she didnt post the picture on Facebook to criticize the police. The point of this isnt to bash the cops it is to make a stand for what I did and why and yes I got rude but I didnt get rude until after I was accused numerous times of showing my sons [genitalia] which was impossible. The only thing that was visible are his legs and his pee hitting the ground, she said. A person who said they worked as a police officer thought the charge was excessive. Im a cop. There is letter of the law and spirit of the law. I pulled a woman over with a $5,000 warrant. She had her two kids In the car. Low-income neighborhood. I told her about the warrant and let her go, he said. The kids would have to go to some sort of foster home, even if its for the night until we get in touch with family and do that process. She would go to jail and also have to pay for the car being towed and everything. Sometimes you have to make the humane call. Drug Smuggler Attempts to Avoid Airport Security by Not Washing Feet for a Month A man, supposedly acting as a drug mule, was arrested for smuggling a form of methamphetamine in his shoes in an airport in Jiangsu Province, China, Chinese media Litchi News reported on April 3. The man, given the false surname Yang, attempted to avoid airport security. To avoid being caught with the drugs, he didnt wash his feet for one month. The police who made the arrest said that they could smell the odor of Yangs feet from about 10 feet away. Yang was arrested on February 20. The police found that Yang had stashed 10 bags of a drug called Yaba, a tablet that is a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine common in Southeast Asia. The word Yaba is from the Thai language, which translates as mad drug. The report said that Yang had accrued several thousand dollars in debt while gambling in a neighboring country. A drug trafficker offered Yang payment in exchange for transporting the drugs. The man to whom Yang was delivering the drugs was arrested on April 1. No further information was given about that man nor his arrest. The Smelly Smuggler Police were given a tip about a drug smuggler coming from Yunnan Province by plane to the city of Nanjing. When Yang arrived, he had to go through a security check point. His odorous plan seemed effective, as the woman inspecting him let him through. According to police, Yang said he stopped washing his feet a month before boarding the airplane. He said every time that he wore shoes, he wouldnt wear socks, and that he naturally had sweaty feet. With this in mind, he anticipated that the inspectors would not check his feet. A surveillance camera watched Yang as he walked away from the inspection point. Yang was then surrounded by the police. They said they noticed the stench from his feet from about 10 feet away. Yang was handcuffed, and searched. An X-ray scan revealed nothing on his body, so the police took him to a back room. There, they cut open his shoes with scissors, and found Yangs secret. Inside the soles of the shoes were 20 packets of Yaba, totaling 500 grams (about 17 oz.) of the drug. Yang has been arrested for illegal drug possession. Yang then explained how he had incurred debt abroad. A drug trafficker offered Yang $450 to smuggle the Yaba into China. The drugs were bound for the eastern province of Shandong. Yangs home province, Yunnan, borders Vietnam, Laos, and Burma (Myanmar)situated near the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle, which consists of Thailand, Laos and Burma, was the area of highest heroin production in the world. More recently, the production in these areas has shifted to Yaba and other types of methamphetamine. File photo of a pet pig called Jacinto, seen walking with a leash at a park in Mexico City on Jan. 4, 2018. A runaway pet pig in California was found recently and butchered by an area man. (Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images) Escaped Pet Pig Slaughtered by Helpful Neighbor in California A California familys missing pet pig was found but while police went to get the animals owners, someone slaughtered their beloved pet. Princess the piga 400-pound sowhad escaped her enclosure at owner Carrie Hogans mothers house in Arcata, California, on March 23, according to MailOnline. The pig wandered around the neighborhood and was spotted by locals. Humboldt Paws Cause, a lost and found pets service in Humboldt County, California, posted photos of the missing pig on its Facebook page. UPDATE:Owner found"It was one of our students. Its under control. Thanks everyone"KellyLOOSE AND WANDERINGFickle Posted by Humboldt Paws Cause on Saturday, March 23, 2019 Found a massive pig in our yard this morning up Fickle Hill, Humboldt Paws Cause wrote, citing an individual named Brianne. A lively discussion ensued about animals on the loose and whether the missing animal was a pot-bellied pig or someones 4H/FFA youth development project. Thats not a potbelly thats a Hampshire/ mix probably for FAA or 4H it looks pretty young. Hope it finds its home!! wrote Anna Marie. Buffalo on the highways and a piggy strolling around Arcata! Lol only in Humboldt!! Yee haw!! commented Susan Wentworth. It seemed all was settled when commenter Kelly Miller confirmed It was one of our students. Its under control. Thanks everyone, and Humboldt Paws Cause updated its post, Piggy is now in custody of APD. Please contact them if this is your pig! A Really Bizarre Case The story, however, took an unexpected turn. Its just a really bizarre case, said Arcata Police Lt. Todd Dockweiler, according to SF Gate. According to the Lost Coast Outpost, an Arcata Police Department deputy responded to a sighting of Princess in someones yard. The officer asked the property owner if he wouldnt mind keeping the pig in his yard until the police tracked down the animals owner. The individual obliged. When the officer returned about an hour later to retrieve Princess, however, the animal had already been butchered. Obviously that was a bit of a shock to everyone involved. Given the stage of the butchering process he was in, he must have slaughtered the pig very shortly after the officer left, Dockweiler said, SF Gate reported. The police told SF Gate that the man who slaughtered the pig was not the neighbor they had come to an arrangement with, but someone else who was on the mans property with his permission. APD Chief Brian Ahearn said its hard to believe what happened. We were totally shocked and surprised to learn that the pig had been slaughtered, Ahearn said, adding, there was no reason to believe that that individual was going to do that. Carrie Hogan, the pigs owner, was horrified Princess had been butchered. The Hogan family had raised the animal since it was a piglet. Chief Ahearn said prosecutors at the Humboldt County District Attorneys Office would determine whether Princesss killing amounts to a punishable crime. Were evaluating whether there was a crime. We believe there was, he said. The Reactions When Humboldt Paws Cause posted the sad update, people responded with shock. Kim Cromwell wrote: What the heck happened? Where does someone take it upon himself to kill someone elses pet/family member? Why didnt the police hold on to it or get ahold of the owners? Could have called someone in the 4 H group or the FFA people!!! Someone mentioned earlier that it belonged to one of their students and it was under control. The officer who placed the pig into that mans so-called care and the man who killed the pig, should both be punished. Krystal Lynn Tronboll commented: Im following this case, and looking forward to his name being released. I hope hes charged with more than just theft of livestock. Id like to see him used to set a precedence of pig abusers being punished as severely as cat and dog abusers. If anyone sees updates, please tag me, or contact me directly. Frank March wrote: This is sad. Pig Princess looks like she was such a fine porker and loving family pet. Pigs are among the smartest animals that God created and mankind has treated its pigs with great cruelty and this is part of the great pattern of cruelty toward these intelligent and loving creatures. This particular pig was a pet and family member. Its slaughter is no less than murder. The person who did this should be subjected to an appropriate level of scorn and ridicule. Hogan is now fighting to retrieve Princesss meat, according to MailOnline. I think that the hardest part of this is knowing that theres somebody out there thats this kind of savage, she said. China's Premier Li Keqiang (2nd R) looks over to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (C) as they attend the China-EU Business Roundtable at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 16, 2018. (Ng Han Guan /AFP/Getty Images) EU, China Stumble Over Trade, Human Rights Ahead of Summit BRUSSELS Tensions over trade, investments and minority rights are preventing China and the EU from agreeing a joint declaration at a summit next week, multiple sources in Brussels said on April 5, sapping a European push for greater access to Chinese markets. Alarmed by potential Chinese dominance of strategic European industries, EU leaders last month sought to prepare for the April 9 summit by agreeing what they said was a more assertive stance toward Beijing. By diplomatic convention, joint statements are issued at the conclusion of high-profile bilateral summits to formalize policy. Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council, has recommended rejecting the statement as it stands, according to an EU source. China had not met EU hopes that it would open its markets, nor seriously committed to reforms of global trade rules. According to an early draft put forward by the European Union and seen by Reuters, Beijing would be bound into completing talks on an investment agreement and committing to remove what the EU says are unfair barriers to trade. But Chinese officials have removed or changed many of those references, the EU diplomats said, raising the embarrassing probability of no communique at all after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk have met. Envoys for EU nations including Britain, Germany and France said they could not back the communique on the basis of Chinas changes, an EU official said. Other EU references to reassure Europeans that China is committed to confronting attacks by computer hackers and improving religious freedoms for the Muslim Uyghur minority are also proving very difficult, the diplomats said. We wanted to be clear on how we want to work with China, not issue a meaningless document, a senior EU diplomat said. Another said there would be no statement without a change in stance from Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment. Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao told reporters this week that both sides were working to reach a consensus. Negotiations with the Chinese would continue until Tuesday. Re-Evaluation The intensification of EU diplomacy since March reflects frustration over Chinas reluctance to allow foreign companies to set up there without restrictions while taking full advantage of the EUs openness, EU diplomats say. A surge of Chinese takeovers in critical sectors in Europe and an impression in Brussels that Beijing has not kept its promise to stand up for free trade and globalization have given the April meeting new urgency. The EU-China relationship, which is bound by 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) in daily trade, has survived previous spats, notably in 2016 and 2017 when differences over the South China Sea and trade meant there were no communiques. However, after a collective re-evaluation of Chinese policy by EU leaders on March 21, the six-page April 9 statement was meant to coax Beijing into making good on trade promises. By Robin Emmott & Philip Blenkinsop Father Arrested for Allegedly Throwing 6-Year-Old Daughter Down Stairs Warning: Content might be disturbing to some viewers A father of four was arrested after a camera apparently caught him pushing his daughter down a flight of steps because she argued with [her] brother, according to reports. The father, identified only as Artem from Ukraine, was questioned by officials after the video footage appeared on Facebook, reported The Daily Mail. Local reports said she only received bruises in the incident. In the video (which can be accessed at the bottom of the article), Artem is seen pulling the girl out of a supermarket in Rivne Oblast, Ukraine. According to the child's grandmother, the man is 'a good father' but 'had a little nervous breakdown' at a supermarket Posted by MEAWW on Monday, April 1, 2019 Later, he drags the girl by the arm before throwing her down the steps. According to the Mail, Artem said his daughter lost her grip and fell down. However, shopworkers said that he threw the girl down the steps. The video drew the attention of the police after being posted on Facebook, Police spokeswoman Zoriana Melnyk told the news outlet. Thanks to the local residents, the man was quickly identified. The police visited the mans family and his wife recognized him and their daughter in the video. The girl can be seen walking back into the store. However, none of the passersby intervene to assist her. Artem said that his daughter and 3-year-old brother began to argue over who could push a shopping cart, and when he failed to calm them down, he got angry before grabbing the girl. I just wanted to take her aside but when we were on the porch she pulled her arm out and fell, he claimed. On YouTube, where the video was posted, a number of people said they dont believe his claims that she fell down. In the video you clearly see him throw her down the stairs, one woman wrote. HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERIOUSLY HARM HIS KIDS, another person exclaimed. If he does that in public what does he do in private, asked another. Father is arrested for throwing daughter, six, down flight of steps https://t.co/XS7fFsGI7f Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) April 1, 2019 The father was charged with neglect and is now facing a trial, according to the Mail. If found guilty, he could face up to one year of penal labor. The girl will be registered as a child who experienced abuse from her parent and her living conditions are going to be monitored by social service workers, said Alla Ilyina, the head of Child Protective Service in the region, was quoted by the Mail as saying. The girls grandmother and Artems mother, Galyna Stonogova, said he is a good father but suffered a little nervous breakdown. His [Artems] wife was in hospital for a week and he had to deal with four little children on his own, she said. I do not say that he was right but I think he did it because of tiredness and exhaustion. He is a good father but everybody can have a little nervous breakdown. And another woman, his neighbor, said she doesnt believe he is capable of such a thing. I have often seen him playing with his children. I could not believe he had done such a thing until I saw the video, she was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying. The video can be seen here (WARNING: Disturbing footage). Vendors sell preserved food at a market January 23, 2005 in Chengdu of Sichuan Province, China. China made pork products were detected African swine fever virus in several countries. (China Photos/Getty Images) First African Swine Fever Outbreaks in Cambodia, While Japan Detects Active Virus Japan has detected its first cases of active African swine fever (ASF) virus in two sausages brought into the country by two travelers returning from China, according to local media reports. At the same time, Cambodia reported its first ASF outbreak, which has killed 500 pigs. Taiwan has found the 36th meat product, all from China, infected with the ASF virus. However, the virus was de-active in all cases. ASF is a highly contagious and deadly disease affecting pigs and wild boars; theres no cure or vaccine. However, the disease has no known harmful effect on humans, even if infected pork products are consumed. First Outbreak in Cambodia The World Organization for Animal Health sent out a notification to global hog business-related organizations on April 3, in which it announced the first ASF outbreak in Cambodia. The notification said 400 pigs died from the disease and another 100 pigs were culled. The outbreak is in the northeastern-most Rattanakiri province, which borders Vietnam. Vietnamese authorities in turn reported its first ASF case on Feb. 19. The country is bordered by China in the north; most of its 556 cases of ASF outbreak has occurred in this northern area. Some Vietnamese officials have said the virus may have entered the country via people who brought infected pigs from China, or from China-made hog feed. According the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, since Feb. 19, 23 out of Vietnams 58 provinces have reported outbreaks, with more than 89,600 pigs culled. Since the ASF outbreak swept through China, its northern neighbor Mongolia has also detected ASF, which had not seen the disease prior to Chinas outbreak. According to FAO, at least 3,115 pigs have died from the disease or have been culled, which is about 10 percent of the total pig population in Mongolia. First Active ASF Virus in Japan Japans Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced on April 2 that found the ASF virus at an infectious stage in two homemade sausages that was brought into Japan by two travelers. Since last summer, Japan had continuously detected ASF-infected meat products brought in by travelers from China, but this is the first time authorities have found an active ASF virus. Asahi Shimbun reported that a male and female passenger took different flights from Chinas Shanghai and Qingdao cities respectively, and arrived at the Chubu airport near Nagoya City on Jan. 12. The passengers did not know each other. Customs officials discovered their sausages, which both said were purchased souvenirs from China. Japans National Agriculture and Food Research Organization tested the sausages and found active ASF viruses which can spread the disease among hogs. Japan Times reported that the country prohibits people from bringing unauthorized animal products, with a punishable fine of up to one million yen ($8,964) or imprisonment for up to three years. However, authorities had only punished serious violators such as those who import products for sale. Asahi Shimbun reported that authorities will now take more stronger action against violators beginning on April 22. Other Asian Countries To keep the disease out, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and other countries have launched strict procedures at their ports of entry since the first ASF outbreak in China in August last year. In December 2018, Taiwan set up an ASF Central Disaster Response Center to coordinate disease control. On April 2, the Taiwan center said it found two new cases of ASF-infected meat. One was dried pork that was mailed from Chinas Jiangsu Province. The other was pork sausage made in Chinas Heilongjiang Province that a Chinese traveler brought from Hong Kong. The center found its first infected product in October 2018. It has urged people not to bring any unauthorized animal and plant products to Taiwan, and or mail them to Taiwan. Meanwhile, in China, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs confirmed in a statement on April 4 that the outbreak has spread to Xinjiang, the 29th region out of Chinas 31, to have ASF. The disease killed 15 pigs, while the other 200 pigs on the pig farm were culled. This leaves only Tibet, at the most western region of China, and the island province of Hainan, as ASF-free. German Court Rejects Damages for Prolonging Patients Life A German federal court has rejected a mans claim for compensation for what he argued was the needless suffering doctors caused his sick father by keeping him alive. The mans father, who suffered from severe dementia and other problems, was fed by a gastric tube from 2006 until his death five years later. The plaintiff argued that, by early 2010, that constituted a senseless extension of the patients suffering. A lower court awarded 40,000 euros ($45,000) in damages, finding the doctor should have consulted to a greater extent on whether the patient should still be fed. The Federal Court of Justice overturned that ruling April 2, finding there were no grounds for compensation. It said, Human life is a top-ranking legally protected right and absolutely worthy of preservation. Background to the Case The plaintiff, in this case, lives in the United States and he sued a doctor in Munich, where his father died due to dementia in 2011, reported the Deutsche Welle (DW). The father suffered from dementia and was unable to move. In 2006, doctors inserted a gastric tube and kept him alive for many years, although his condition only worsened. There was no chance he would improve and the man had neither written a will nor expressed his preference for prolonging his life. The son argued that the doctors decision to insert a gastric tube made his fathers life before death only miserable. German court rejects damages for prolonging patients life https://t.co/Q2RqylRW5z Q World News (@QWorldNews1) April 2, 2019 He sued the doctor for pain and suffering damages to the tune of $199,605 and $68,286 to recover the cost of treatment from 2010, until the fathers death in 2011. The case first went to a lower court that ruled in favor of the doctor. It then went to a regional higher court in Munich in 2017 that ruled the doctor needed to pay damages of $52,528. This ruling was appealed at the Federal Court of Justice. The higher court said it cannot judge if the doctor failed in his duties as it was about the value of prolonging a patients life. No third party is entitled to judge the value of a life, presiding Judge Vera von Pentz said, according to DW. The higher courts decision was welcomed by the German Medical Association. If prolonging someones life could be qualified as harm, then a decision about when a life is worth living and when it represents harm would have to be taken separately from the patients will, association President Frank Ulrich Montgomery told news agency KNA, according to DW. That is not a humane approach, he added. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Greek Island Campaign to Offer Relief to Abused Donkeys The Greek government, a British animal welfare charity, and the cruise-line industry are kicking off a campaign to raise awareness for the ill-treated donkeys and mules at Greeces popular island destination, Santorini. On April 2, the Mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, said the campaign would start soon, according to The Guardian. The Donkey Sanctuary and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are key collaborators in the effort to sensitize tourists and locals to the abuse inflicted on donkeys and muleswhich are being used to transport tourists, sometimes overweight, and heavy luggage up the 520 zigzagging steps to Fira, Santorinis capital. Donkeys have traditionally been used to ferry people from the islands port to Fira, which sits more than 1,200 feet above sea level. The rides are popular among holidaymakers seeking the real Greek experience. But as Santorinis popularity grew and tourists increased over the yearsnow reaching as many as 17,000 cruise ship passengers a day during summerthe number of equines suffering from spinal injuries, saddle sores, and exhaustion has reached record highs. A chart from TradingEconomics.com shows the number of tourists arriving in Greece each year between 2009 and 2019. Images of overweight tourists and overburdened donkeys spread on social media, raising awareness of the problem. Over the course of two years, an online petition decrying the plight of these donkeys and mules had gathered more than 108,000 signatures by the end of summer 2018. It culminated in the Greek government publishing a new set of regulations in late 2018 designed to prevent owners from overloading their animals with more than 220 pounds, or one-fifth of their body weight. It also implemented other rules related to the care and treatment of the animals. The new campaign comes on the heels of these new regulations, and right before the next peak tourist season begins. Zorzos told The Guardian the government plans to distribute information leaflets targeting donkey owners. Our mules and donkeys are part of our tradition, Zorzos said. Younger owners, especially, have understood that they need to be looked after. CLIA, which represents more than two-thirds of European cruise companies docking at Santorini, will screen an educational video called In Their Hooves on their ships as part of this campaign. Tom Boardley, secretary general at CLIA Europe, said they have received feedback from tourists about the issue: Over recent years we have had several complaints from cruise passengers about the way donkeys were being treated on islands such as Santorini: for example, where rides are offered on donkeys and mules that have been tethered for hours on end in the hot sun unable to access water, he said in a statement published by The Donkey Sanctuary. We fully support The Donkey Sanctuarys In Their Hooves Campaign and hope it will go some way to reassure our passengers that we care about animal welfare in destinations on our members cruises, Boardley said. Maria Deligianni, CLIAs representative for the eastern Mediterranean region, told The Guardian that Santorinis donkeys are an iconic feature of the island and helping raise awareness of their plight is an important aspect of their destination sustainability plan for Santorini. The video urges tourists to pause and consider before they hitch a ride on the donkeys up to Fira. It suggests holidaymakers consider whether donkeys and mules are being treated humanely, have enough shade and water, as well as whether loads they are being asked to carry are suitable, Catherine Rice, PR officer at The Donkey Sanctuary, told The Guardian. If not, other options, such as walking or taking a cable car, might be a more responsible mode of transport. CLIA has also consented to limit the number of passengers who disembark from their cruise ships at Santorini. Zorzos told The Guardian the measure will be enforced this year, with no more than 8,000 people, spaced out over the course of a day, to be permitted ashore. A woman holds her baby in front of riot police as migrants and refugees, who say that they seek to travel onward to northern Europe, walk away from a camp near the town of Diavata in northern Greece, on April 5, 2019. (Alexandros Avramidis/Reuters) Greek Police Fire Tear Gas at Migrants as Border Convoy Grows ATHENS/DIAVATA, GreeceGreek police fired tear gas on April 5 to disperse migrants who had gathered in a field near the countrys border with Northern Macedonia in the hope of making their way illegally up through the Balkans toward northern Europe. Hundreds have made their way to the field in the village of Diavata since Thursday, galvanized by reports on social media of plans for an organized movement to cross Greeces northwest border with Albania in early April. Greek riot police and migrants clash at the border with North Macedonia in the hopes of heading north. Hundreds of migrants gathered after a rumour spread on social media that a border crossing was open. pic.twitter.com/IzFnwZ6Jci euronews (@euronews) April 5, 2019 Separately, migrants holed up in Turkey were heading toward that countrys border with Greece following false rumors that Ankara had opened its border gate. Turkish authorities have detained nearly 1,200 migrants there, Turkish media reported. By Friday morning migrants had set up more than 100 tents in the field at Diavata. A crowd trying to make its way towards the Greek border scuffled with police who responded with tear gas. TV footage showed shrubs burning nearby. Its a lie that the borders will open, Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas told Greek state television, urging migrants to return to their accommodation centers. The Greek police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of refugees and migrants, including families with women and children, as they gathered near Thessaloniki, in hopes of crossing the border with North Macedonia.https://t.co/e6hVuzMRP7 Balkan Insight (@BalkanInsight) April 5, 2019 In Athens, a group of about 50 migrants squatted on the tracks of the capitals main railway station shouting Germany! and Open the borders. Several more were at the station under heavy police presence. Services from the station were suspended. We want to go to Thessaloniki and then to the borders, said Amin Omar, a 27-year-old Iraqi Kurd sitting on the tracks. We dont know if they are open. Greek police scuffled with hundreds of migrants who gathered near northern city of Thessaloniki hoping to enter North Macedonia Trouble erupted at Diavata, after a rumour spread on social media suggesting that a border crossing would be opened BBC News https://t.co/yey8BlK9Iv pic.twitter.com/IyPSMSJk2T George Roussos (@baphometx) April 5, 2019 Balkan Route Blocked The situation revived memories of the 2015 migrant crisis, when more than one million people, mostly fleeing conflicts and poverty in the Middle East and beyond, traveled via Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans toward wealthy western Europe. Turkey drastically curtailed that exodus in 2016 under a deal with the European Union. Soon after, Balkan countries shut their borders, blocking the main passageway to northern Europe and stranding tens of thousands in Greece. Miltiadis Klapas, a Greek migration ministry official, said the latest movement toward the border was the result of completely unfounded information that there will be a mass gathering on the borders and that they will open. The borders are closed because of initiatives by other countries, he said. Turkish police have detained 496 people in Edirne, the province bordering European Union member states Greece and Bulgaria after migrants flocked there in the hope of crossing the border, state-owned Anadolu news agency said. The migrants, mostly Afghan, Iranian or Pakistani, referred to themselves as the Convoy of Hope, it said. Some 700 migrants were also caught in the neighboring province of Tekirdag after police were positioned on the highway in the direction of Edirne, Demiroren News Agency said. Authorities were not immediately available to confirm the reports. Reuters Television footage shot on Wednesday showed Turkish policemen in plain clothes chasing migrants around train tracks and putting them on to buses. Another group, who were sent back to Turkey after illegally crossing into Greece, anxiously waited to be sent to a repatriation center. A Huawei logo in front of the Chinese Communist Party flag. National security experts warn of the security risks associated with Huawei in a panel event on March 21, 2019. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Huawei: A Pressing Problem That Demands Serious Work National-security experts warn that letting Chinese telecom giant Huawei dominate the global 5G market poses major security threats, and believe that spelling out the facts will serve as a global wake-up call. Huawei is at the forefront of developing 5G technologythe next generation of lightning-speed wireless communications, and has been aggressively expanding its 5G business, boasting contracts with 30 countries as of late February. The company claims to be the industrys only vendor able to provide end-to-end 5G solutionscovering devices, networks, and data centers. While there are other telecom companies offering 5Gsuch as Finlands Nokia and South Koreas SamsungHuawei has been doing everything possible to make their offer difficult to resist, including offering bargain pricing, flexible state-backed financing, and one-stop shopping for states to upgrade to 5G. They literally have a 5G network in a box, Klon Kitchen, a national security research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said at the China, Huawei and the Challenge of 5G panel in Washington on March 21. In addition, Huawei has been spending lavishly on PR, marketing, and brand-building campaigns. Part of the Packaging But Huaweis appealing package comes at a cost. According to Chinese law, all Chinese organizations must support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts, and they shall protect national intelligence work secrets they are aware of. The Chinese government comes to you [a Chinese firm] and requests your information, requests your data, requests access to your pipelines and your networks; the only choice you have is to comply, Kitchen said. @klonkitchen: Huawei is closely aligned with Beijing and required by law to quote support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts. Theres no out. Theres no alternative. Theres no passChinese govt also can *legally* hack into any Chinese co. they want. pic.twitter.com/rm10S36HSn Jeff M. Smith (@Cold_Peace_) April 2, 2019 Before founding Huawei, Ren Zhengfei was a former officer at the Ministry of Security and a director in the Chinese armys Information Engineering Academy, which is responsible for telecom research. The United States has barred the use of Huawei equipment in the Pentagon, government agencies, and military bases, and cautioned allies to do the same. It seems Huawei is very good at being a tool of the Chinese state and in a sense, it is part of the packaging, said John Hemmings, director of Asia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Centre. For example, on Jan. 16, a federal grand jury in Seattle indicted Huawei for stealing trade secrets from phone carrier T-Mobile. Court documents show that Huawei implemented a company-wide reward program encouraging employees to steal intelligence from U.S. competitors. Under the policy, [Huawei] established a formal schedule for rewarding employees for stealing information from competitors based upon the confidential value of the information obtained, the indictment states. From 2012 to 2017, Huaweis servers at the African Unions headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were found to be transferring data to Shanghai every night from around midnight to 2 a.m., according to an investigation published in January 2018 by the French newspaper Le Monde. Countries that have issued sanctions against Huawei include Australia, New Zealand, and Japan; while the Czech Republic issued a warning designating Huawei as a threat to the national infrastructure. It doesnt matter whether they have been caught or notare they going to do it anyway because of the context? Hemmings said. The Role of Big Data According to Mike Rogers, a former Republican representative from Michigan and former chairman of the House intelligence committee, 5G technology will give China a major leg up in developing artificial intelligence, a key technology in which it seeks dominance. China already has an advantage in the number of pure, potential sources of data, sheer numbers of people [and] the unconstrained freedom to collect the data, Rogers said. 5G technology will allow them to get that data, process that data, and exploit that data in ways currently unheard of. In addition to 5G, Huawei has developed surveillance systems now widely used in China. In Xinjiang Province, where Uyghur Muslims are being persecuted by the Chinese regime, authorities can monitor millions of residents in real time and flag any so-called suspicious behavior, using technology that Huawei has developed. The same technology has been implemented in more than 500 cities in China, to track residents faces and voices, purchasing habits, conversations, and every movement in public. Huawei is also a key player in creating the Social Credit System, a high-tech database that allows the Communist Party to police citizens social behavior by imposing rewards and penalties according to their rating. Huaweis surveillance platform, titled the Smart City initiative, has been exported to at least 18 countries. In June 2018, Duisburg, Germany, announced cooperation with Huawei on a smart city program. Our products and solutions, will help simplify daily living of citizens and visitors in Duisburg, and to increase security, said Wang Yonggang, CFO of Huaweis Enterprise Business Group. Deploying Huaweis technology can also lead a nation to become dependent on foreign infrastructure. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson recently criticized Huawei for blocking countries from switching carriers, essentially locking in those already using Huaweis 4G systems. It really is about to what level of tolerance will we allow our data to be in the hands of a government that is proven over and over and over again to use that data against its own citizens, for international intellectual property theft, for disruption activities, said Rogers. Precaution, Rather Than Prevention Despite U.S. warnings of security concerns around Huawei, many European allies are going forward with the Chinese company. While Germany and France are both considering imposing tougher security compliance rules, they still allow Huawei to run their 5G networks. Thailand, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, and at least 18 other European countries have signed contracts with Huawei. The question that security experts are looking at is whether scrutiny and oversight are enough. In its annual report issued in March, the British National Cyber Security Centre (the UKs equivalent to the NSA) noted vulnerabilities with Huawei products, citing potential discrepancies between the source code submitted by Huawei for testing and whats actually being used in the UK telecom network. The oversight board concluded it can give only limited assurance of mitigating national security risks in the long term. They have this whole government center whose sole purpose is to try to prevent Huawei from enabling espionage from their system. Okay, I know one better way: Dont have them in the first place, said Rogers. Citing an acquaintance from German intelligence, Rogers said it can take up to 24 months to patch a vulnerability identified in the system that exposes critical intelligence information to foreign services such as China in plain view. The Chinese counterintelligence threat is more deep, diverse, more challenging, more comprehensive and more concerning than any intelligence threat to think of, Hemmings said. He also cautioned that theres more to Chinese espionage than meets the eye, since a lot of evidence is not made public for security concerns. I would urge us not to be lulled into a type of passivity just because we are inundated with innovation talk all the time, but instead to understand that this action is actually a pressing problem that demands serious work, Kitchen said. Miguel Martinez, 44, faces numerous charges including production of pornography involving a juvenile under 13, sexual battery of a juvenile, and 100 counts of possession of pornography involving a juvenile. (Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office) Illegal Alien Arrested on Over 100 Counts of Child Sex Crimes An illegal alien and convicted sex offender has been arrested in Louisiana on over 100 counts of child sex crimes. Miguel Martinez, 44, who had been deported from the United States in 2005 and is a registered sex offender in the state of California, was arrested after investigators found him in possession of over 100 images and videos of child porn. Martinez was arrested in Harvey, where he was residing illegally, according to a statement by the Louisiana Attorney Generals office. He faces 100 counts of possession of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13 years, one count of production under the age of 13, and one count of sexual battery of a juvenile under the age of 13. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the arrest on Tuesday, April 2. Internet crimes against children continuously inflict damage, Landry said in the statement. This arrest should serve as a wake-up call to Congress, Landry continued.By not securing our borders and properly vetting those coming into our nation, we have seen lives lost and destroyed. Illegal immigration has real-life consequencescountless numbers of needless crime victims, including too many Louisiana families and children. For their sakeI again urge Congress to realize the national emergency we have at our southern border, support President Trump, build the wall, and help us make our communities safer. The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) Cyber Crime Unit, LBI Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, and Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office worked jointly to bring in the suspect. Martinez was booked into the Jefferson Parish Jail. Officials said more charges may be brought against him. Landry later issued a statement on Twitter, which he punctuated with an appeal for greater border security: Its time to join @POTUS in demanding action on our Southern Border. #BuildTheWall #IllegalImmigration has real-life consequences countless numbers of needless crime victims, including too many #Louisiana families and children. #BuildTheWall https://t.co/9AMCwlbXtf AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) April 3, 2019 New Border Wall Construction in Texas Construction is underway on a new, 13-mile stretch of border infrastructure in the Rio Grande Valley, southeast Texas, on April 4, according to an Epoch Times report citing a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statement. The Rio Grande Valley Sector is the nations busiest sector, accounting for more than 40 percent of all Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal aliens. It also accounts for more than 43 percent of marijuana seized at the southwest border for the fiscal year to date, and is second busiest sector for seized cocaine. The majority of the sectors illicit traffic occurs in areas of limited infrastructure, access and mobility, and technology, according to CBP. Rio Grande Valley Deputy Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said so far this fiscal year, Border Patrol has apprehended more than 120,000 illegal border-crossers in the sector. A further 25,000 illegal aliens have evaded Border Patrol, according to earlier Epoch Times reports. We actually dont know who they are, Ortiz said March 22. 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. Ortiz also said Border Patrol is only able to seize up to 10 percent of the drugs that cartels are trafficking across the border because resources are stretched so thin. Epoch Times reporter Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report. Doctors performing an organ transplant in China as seen in the film Harvested Alive: 10 Years of Investigations. (Screenshot/"Harvested Alive: 10 Years of Investigations") Incriminating Phone Calls: Doctors Admit to Live Harvesting of Falun Gong Adherents Organs in China When investigators in Canada began looking into allegations of forced organ harvesting on a mass scale in China, one of the ways they gathered information was making phone calls to the hospitals involved posing as patients needing an organ. It was back in 2006 that former secretary of state David Kilgour and human rights lawyer David Matas uncovered evidence that Falun Gong prisoners of conscience were being killed on demand to supply Chinas organ transplant industry. Their subsequent report, titled Bloody Harvest: The Killing of Falun Gong for Their Organs, concluded that imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners were indeed being used to service a lucrative and burgeoning transplant industry. One of the many methods the researchers used in their investigation was to call the hospitals in China where organ harvesting takes place and speak to medical professionals, assuming the identity of a transplant patient or the relative of someone in need of an organ. In many cases, those they spoke to admitted that they were sourcing organs for transplant from Falun Gong practitioners. The following is a transcript of some of the recorded calls (translated from Mandarin) documented in the 2006 and 2016 reports as well as from the China Organ Harvest Research Center. This Thing is Just Like A Supply Line Zhongshan Hospital Organ Transplant Clinic, Shanghai, March 16, 2006: Investigator: So how long do I have to wait [for organ transplant surgery]? Doctor: About a week after you come Investigator: Is there the kind of organs that come from Falun Gong? I heard that they are very good. Doctor: All of ours are those types. Chen Qiang, a kidney source liaison at the Peoples Liberation Army Hospital No. 307 in Fengtai, Beijing, April 10, 2007: Investigator: By the way, how can you be so sure [the source] will be a Falun Gong practitioner? Can you find out for sure? Chen: How to identify a Falun Gong practitioner? Well, when the time comes, then our side, our boss will have people showing you information. You can be sure. We have connections with government officials. There are connections to high-ranking officials. I will show you such material even if you dont ask me for it. Investigator: You know that several years ago, they secretly detained many Falun Gong practitioners who went to appeal but did not provide their names. There were no records, no registrations. Chen: Yes, this is quite normal. If Falun Gong practitioners did not give their names, they would be given a code. If their names couldnt be identified, there would be their code numbers. Also, one can be tracked by fingerprints. Like our boss, like the connections to the detention centers, I cannot say casually. We have close relationships with them. Since we are engaging in this business, we have our people in each and every department. How can you get things done if we dont have our connections? This thing is just like a supply line, you know? Chief Physician Xu, Air Force Hospital of Chendu City, April 29, 2006: Investigator: The patient emphasizes that he wants the organ of the young and healthy. The best is from those who practice Falun Gong. Will he have this kind of chance? Xu: Yes. Investigator: Yes ? Xu: He will have this opportunity. Investigator: It should be from the young and healthy, who practice Falun Gong! Xu: No Problem. Director Song, Oriental Organ Transplant Center, Tianjin City, March 15, 2006: Investigator: Her doctor told her that the kidney is quite good because [the supplier] practises Falun Gong. Song: Of course. We have all those who breathe and with a heartbeat. Up until now, for this year, we have had more than ten kidneys, more than ten such kidneys. Investigator: More than ten of this kind of kidneys? You mean live bodies? Song: Yes, it is so. Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Oct. 25, 2006: Investigator: Do you use live kidneys [for transplant]? Doctor: Yes. Investigator: Well, we have a relative in Shenyang, he said that it seemed that there were fairly larger numbers of kidneys used over there and they were better in quality. He refers to that kind from Falun Gong, right? Do you use this kind as well. Doctor: Yes. Investigator: Wow, you use that kind as well. Doctor: Every hospital is the same. Official at the Wuhan City Tongji Hospital, March 2006: Investigator: We hope the kidney suppliers are alive. Were looking for live organ transplants from prisoners, for example, using living bodies from prisoners who practise Falun Gong. Is it possible? Official: Its not a problem. Dr. Li, Mishan City Detention Centre, Heilongjiang Province, June 8, 2006: Investigator: Do you have Falun Gong [organ] suppliers? Dr. Li: We used to have, yes. Investigator: What about now? Dr. Li: Yes. Investigator: How many [Falun Gong suppliers] under age 40 do you have? Dr. Li: Quite a few. Investigator: Are they male or female? Dr. Li: Male. Investigator: What about the price? Dr. Li: Well discuss after you come. Qianfoshan City Liver Transplant Hospital, Shandong Province, March 16, 2006: Investigator: The supply of livers the ones from Falun Gong, I want to ask if you have those types? Doctor: It is okay if you come here. Investigator: So that means you have them? Doctor: In April, there will be more of these kinds of suppliers now, gradually, we have more and more. Investigator: Why will there be more in April? Doctor: This I cant explain to you. Shen Zhenya, director of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, said in answer to an inquiry about the availability of organs in May 2014: Shen: We have [organ transplants] every month. Once you come, I think you should be able to find an organ donor in a little over two weeks. The donors who practice Falun Gong we have too. Dr. Cui, Ren De Hospital, Weifang City, Shandong Province (date unknown): Dr. Cui: Dont underestimate this small hospital. We dedicate ourselves to specializing in this [organ transplantation]. I believe we have the largest source of kidneys in Shandong Province and perform the most [transplants]. We obtain our kidneys from sources throughout the country. The kidneys leave the [donors] body in less than 24 hours. The quality is absolutely assured. Our hospital president obtains the [kidneys] himself and performs the surgeries personally. Report excerpts with more admissions: A doctor at Shanghais Zhongshan hospital in mid-March of 2006 said that all of his organs come from Falun Gong practitioners. A doctor at Qianfoshan hospital in Shandong in March implied that he then had organs from Falun Gong practitioners and added that in April there would be more of these kinds of bodies. In May, Dr. Lu of the Minzu hospital in Nanning city said organs from Falun Gong practitioners were not available at his institution and suggested the caller call Guangzhou to get them. He also admitted that he earlier went to prisons to select healthy Falun Gong persons in their 30s to provide their organs. In mid-March of 2006, Dr. Wang of Zhengzhou Medical University in Henan province agreed that we pick all the young and healthy kidneys. Dr. Zhu of the Guangzhou Military region hospital in April of 2006 said he then had some type B kidneys from Falun Gong, but would have several batches before May 1 and perhaps no more until May 20 or later. In early June, 2006, an official at the Mishan city detention center told a telephone caller that the center then had at least five or six male Falun Gong prisoners under 40 years of age available as organ suppliers. An official at the first detention centre in Qinhuangdao city in Liaoning province told a caller in mid-May 2006 that she should call the Intermediate Peoples court to obtain Falun Gong kidneys. The same day, an official at that court said they had no Falun Gong live kidneys, but had had them in the past, specifically in 2001. Finally, the First Criminal Bureau of the Jinzhou peoples court in May of 2006 told the caller that access to Falun Gong kidneys currently depended on qualifications. Caller M. called about 80 some hospitals. When calling hospitals in some cases, M. asked for specific doctors in the called hospitals, and was able to speak to transplant doctors. Ten hospitals admitted they use Falun Gong practitioners as organ suppliers. M. also called back to talk to the doctors. Five hospitals said they can obtain Falun Gong practitioners as organ suppliers. Fourteen hospitals admitted they use live organs from prisoners. Ten hospitals said the source of organs is a secret and they could not reveal it over the phone. Caller N. made calls to close to 40 hospitals in China, out of which 5 admitted to using Falun Gong practitioner organs. N also called back to talk to the doctors who made these admissions. They were still reachable at the hospitals. N. also made calls to 36 various detention centers and the Courts in China, out of which 4 admitted to using Falun Gong practitioner organs. Brenton Tarrant, charged for murder in relation to the mosque attacks, is led into the dock for his appearance in the Christchurch District Court, New Zealand, on March 16, 2019. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald/Pool via Reuters) Judge Orders Mental Health Tests for Accused Mosque Shooter CHRISTCHURCH, New ZealandA New Zealand judge on Friday, April 5, ordered that the man accused of killing 50 people at two Christchurch mosques undergo two mental health assessments to determine if hes fit to stand trial. High Court judge Cameron Mander made the order during a hearing in which 28-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared via video link from a small room at the maximum security Paremoremo prison in Auckland. Tarrant was wearing handcuffs and a gray-colored sweater when he appeared on a large screen inside the Christchurch courtroom, which was packed with family members and victims of the shooting, some in wheelchairs and hospital gowns and still recovering from gunshot wounds. Tarrant had stubble and close-cropped hair. He showed no emotion during the hearing. At times he looked around the room or cocked his head, seemingly to better hear what was being said. The judge explained that from his end, Tarrant could see the judge and lawyers but not those in the public gallery. Tarrant spoke only once to confirm to the judge he was seated, although his voice didnt come through because the sound was muted. It wasnt immediately clear if his link had been deliberately or inadvertently muted. Mander said nothing should be read into his order for the mental health assessments, as it was a normal step in such a case. Lawyers said it could take two or three months to complete. The courtroom was filled with more than two dozen reporters and about 60 members of the public. A court registrar greeted people in Arabic and English as the hearing got underway. Some of those watching got emotional and wept. The judge said Tarrant was charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 counts of attempted murder. Police initially filed a single, representative murder charge before filing the additional charges this week. In the March 15 attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and one more person died later. The day after the attacks, Tarrant dismissed an appointed lawyer, saying he wanted to represent himself. But he has now hired two Auckland lawyers to represent him, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson. The next court hearing was scheduled for June 14, and the mental health findings would determine whether he is required to enter a plea then. Outside the courtroom, Yama Nabi, whose father died in the attacks, said he felt helpless watching. We just have to sit in the court and listen, Nabi said. What can we do? We cant do nothing. Just leave it to the justice of New Zealand and the prime minister. Tofazzal Alam, 25, said he was at the Linwood mosque when the gunman attacked. He felt it was important to attend the hearing because so many of his friends were killed. Alam said he felt upset seeing Tarrant. It seems he dont care what has been done. He has no emotion. He looks all right, Alam said. I feel sorry. Sorry for myself. Sorry for my friends who have been killed. And for him. By Nick Perry Some of the Hart family at the annual celebration of "The Goonies" movie in Astoria, Ore., in June 2014. (Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian via AP) Jury Finds Family of 8 Died by Murder-Suicide in Cliff Crash SAN FRANCISCOA special coroners jury in California ruled the deaths of two women and their six adopted children was a murder-suicide after hearing testimony that one of the women had searched death by drowning online and the other deliberately stepped on the gas, sending their SUV plunging off a cliff. Jurors deliberated for about an hour on April 4 before returning the unanimous verdicts that Jennifer and Sarah Hart killed themselves on March 26, 2018, in Mendocino County. The jury decided the six children, 12 to 19, died at the hands of another and not by accident. Authorities had indicated they believed the crash was deliberate but wanted a jury to make official findings. A coroners inquest is generally used in cases involving in-custody deaths or officer-involved shootings where public interest is high and the need for transparency critical, said Mendocino County sheriffs Capt. Gregory L. Van Patten. The deaths drew national attention, partly because the women were alleged to have abused their children. The body of Devonte Hart, 15, who had gained attention when he was photographed in tears while hugging a police officer during a 2014 protest in Portland, Oregon, has not been recovered. Jurors were instructed to choose from four manners of death for each of the eight people: natural causes, suicide, accident or an intentional act by another. They sat through nearly two full days of testimony. It is my belief that both Jennifer and Sarah succumbed to a lot of pressure, sheriffs Lt. Shannon Barney said Thursday. Just a lot of stuff going on in their lives, to the point where they made this conscious decision to end their lives this way and take their childrens lives. The crash happened days after authorities in Washington state opened an investigation into allegations of neglect. The bodies of both women were found in the vehicle, which landed below a cliff located more than 160 miles north of San Francisco. The Hart family had fled their Woodland, Washington, home March 23 after a visit from social workers that day. Jennifer Hart searched suicide, drowning, Benadryl dosages and overdose methods on the internet throughout the drive to California, said California Highway Patrol investigator Jake Slates. She also queried whether death by drowning would be painful. Authorities recovered the deleted searches from her phone. They both decided that this was going to be the end, Slates said. That if they cant have their kids that nobody was going to have those kids. The bodies of siblings Markis, Jeremiah and Abigail were found the same day near the car. Weeks later, the body of Ciera Hart was pulled from the Pacific Ocean. Hannah Hart was eventually identified through a DNA match. Grisly details emerge about the deaths of a family whose SUV plunged off a California cliff https://t.co/0tSBq3Q1JN Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) April 4, 2019 Slates said that Jennifer Hart, who rarely drank, had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and may have been drinking to build up her courage. Sarah Hart had 42 doses of generic Benadryl in her system and the children also had high amounts of the sleep-inducing drug in their bodies, he said. A neighbor of the Harts had filed a complaint with the state, saying the children were apparently being deprived of food as punishment. No one answered when social workers went to the familys home. A witness who was camping by their vehicle says he heard their car rev up and peal out around 3 a.m. March 26. Sarah Hart pleaded guilty in 2011 to a domestic assault charge in Minnesota over what she said was a spanking given to one of her children. Oregon child welfare officials also investigated the couple in 2013, but closed the case without taking any action. By Jane Har A small 4-foot by 96-foot strip of land is on sale for nearly $18,000 in Long Beach, California. (Google Maps) Less Than 0.01 Acre of Land on Sale in California For Nearly $18,000 A tiny lot of land is on sale in Long Beach, Californiafor nearly $18,000. The narrow strip of land measures 4 feet wide by approximately 90 feet long, making it 360 square feet, or less than 0.01 acres. The minuscule piece of land is on sale for a whopping $17, 995. Its located in the citys Bixby Knolls neighborhood, about ten minutes away from downtown Long Beach and the water. Sandwiched between the driveway of an office building and the parking lot of a martial arts center, the strip stretches from the fence on the left to the parking lot on its right, and the back wall to the street on the other, as can be seen in the below picture. The listing, posted by real-estate Tova Oren of ERA North Orange Count, says the plot of land can be used for storage, a food stand, or parking carts, bikes, etc, and utilities are available. The listing also mentions that theres a fence along part of the land, and additional fencing could be built to close it completely. However, according to the New York Post, there is a major caveat: about two thirds of the land is steeply sloped, which would make it difficult, if not impossible, to put some kind of structure there. The owner doesnt seem to be in a rush to sell the place, which was first listed over 500 days ago on Nov. 8, 2017. When he bought it, he thought it was a different lot and then Googled it and found that he didnt own what he thought he was buying, and so now hes just hoping that one day a builder will come and put up a shopping centre, Oren told the Long Beach Post. She also said that her client is adamant about the price, even though shes received offers from $1000 to $15,000. High Cost of Living Buyer demand in the Los Angeles region has cooled recently, along with higher real-estate inventory numbers, according to real-estate database company Zillow. However, Long Beach has been experiencing an increase in home values. Zillow also reported that listing times for Long Beach real-estate have on average have gone up since last summer, when they were at their lowest. The high cost of housing in the Los Angeles region has made it more difficult for businesses to recruit and retain workers, according to a survey from the Los Angeles Business Council. Los Angeles, just an hour away from Long Beach, was considered one of the top ten most severely unaffordable major housing markets in the world in 2018, according to a recent Demographia survey. It came in sixth, while Hong Kong retained the title of worlds most unaffordable housing market. Two other California cities made the top ten list: San Jose came in fifth while San Francisco came in eighth. The survey covered 309 metropolitan housing markets in eight countriesAustralia, Canada, China (Hong Kong only), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United Statesfrom October to December 2018. Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Shooting Woman in the Head in Her Home An Ontario man who shot a woman in the head several times in her apartment and left her body to decompose there has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. James Scordino was found guilty last month of first-degree murder in the death of Angela Skorulski, a woman he knew from working in the elevator business and who was also his co-defendant in a lawsuit. An Ontario man who shot a woman in the head several times in her apartment and left her body to decompose there has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.https://t.co/qK78igMHA6 TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) April 3, 2019 First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with 25 years of parole ineligibility. A sentencing hearing was held last week. In his written decision on sentencing, Ontario Superior Court Justice Clayton Conlan said Scordino took steps to conceal the brutal killing, which took place roughly two years ago. But though Skorulskis body wasnt found for weeks, Conlan said police eventually uncovered what had happened with the help of forensic technology. Scordino is also facing a lifetime firearms ban and must submit a DNA sample. Court documents say little is known about Scordino or the nature of his relationship with Skorulski, but the two were being sued by the University of Toronto. Crown attorneys argued at trial that Scordino murdered Skorulski in part because he was angry that she had asked him to take full responsibility for the lawsuit, documents say. On Feb. 13, 2017, Scordino went to Skorulskis apartment in Oakville, Ont., the documents say. He was captured on security video alone in the parking garage, then with Skorulski in the lobby and in the hall near her apartment. He was also seen on surveillance footage after the murder, the documents say. Evidence from a forensic pathologist showed Skorulski was shot in the head four times, with the final shot delivered with the gun pressed against the back of her head, they say. After he killed the victim, Scordino went back to his usual life, Conlan wrote. He continued to work. He took a leisure trip out of the country. He continued to reside in Fort Erie. He continued to have contact with his girlfriend. Scordino tried to cover up his crime, however, by hiding ammunition in the unfinished basement ceiling of his home and putting the murder weapona handgun registered to his grandfatherin the finished ceiling of an office at his work, court documents say. He disposed of the clothes he had been wearing during the murder by placing them in a garbage bag at his work, they say. The defence did not present any evidence but, prior to the trial, had filed an application to raise the possibility of an alternate suspectanother man who was the sole beneficiary and executor of Skorulskis estate. But the court dismissed the application, saying that while the man may appear to have a strong financial motive to kill Skorulski, there otherwise was a complete absence of anything connecting him to the crime. Conlan said Skorulskis death has had a devastating effect on her family and friends. To lose a loved one is a very challenging thing to endure. To have someone with many more years to live ripped from you at the hands of another person, knowing that her body was left there for weeks, alone, to decompose, must be excruciating, the judge wrote. I hope that this final chapter will bring some modicum of peace to those who mourn the loss of Ms. Skorulski. by Paola Loriggio The U.S. military installs concertina wire on the existing levee wall behind Granjeno, Hidalgo County, Texas, just north of the U.S.Mexico border on Nov. 7, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) New Border Wall Construction Starts in Texas WASHINGTONConstruction is underway on a new, 13-mile stretch of border infrastructure in the Rio Grande Valley, southeast Texas, on April 4. Part of the construction is a continuation of a levee wall in Hidalgo County, which will double as flood protection for local towns and agriculture. The levee will sit about a mile from the Rio Grande, which is the U.S.Mexico international border. The levee wall system will be very similar to that constructed in the area during 2008, but will also include all-weather roads, lighting, enforcement cameras, and other related technology, according to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statement. A CBP official told media in January that a wall isnt a magic bullet to stop illegal border crossingsbut the critical factor is that it slows illegal incursions and buys agents time to respond. The Rio Grande Valley Sector is the nations busiest sector, accounting for more than 40 percent of all Border Patrol apprehensions of illegal aliens. It also accounts for more than 43 percent of marijuana seized at the southwest border for the fiscal year to date, and is second busiest sector for seized cocaine. The sector has 320 miles of the countrys 2,000-mile international boundary with Mexico. In total, 654 miles of the border has some type of fence. The majority of the sectors illicit traffic occurs in areas of limited infrastructure, access and mobility, and technology, according to CBP. Rio Grande Valley Deputy Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said so far this fiscal year, Border Patrol has apprehended more than 120,000 illegal border-crossers in the sector. And a further 25,000 illegal aliens have evaded Border Patrol. We actually dont know who they are, Ortiz said March 22. 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. Ortiz also said Border Patrol is only able to seize up to 10 percent of the drugs that cartels are trafficking across the border because resources are stretched so thin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded two contracts totaling $312 million to SLSCO Ltd. for two other sections of levee wall system in 2018, also in Hidalgo County. The fiscal 2018 funding included $1.375 billion for an expected 80 miles of barriersincluding the brand new barrier in the Rio Grande Valley. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu greets U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Foreign Ministers at the State Department in Washington, U.S., April 4, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts Pompeo Calls on NATO to Adapt to New Threats From Russia, China WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 4 called on NATO allies to adapt to confront emerging threats, including Russias military interventions in places such as Venezuela, Chinese strategic competition and cyber threats. Pompeo issued the warning during a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization foreign ministers in Washington marking the transatlantic military alliances 70th anniversary. We must adapt our alliance to confront emerging threats whether thats Russian aggression, uncontrolled migration, cyber attacks, threats to energy security, Chinese strategic competition, including technology and 5G, and many other issues, Pompeo said. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Pompeo said NATO members had agreed Russian troops needed to withdraw from Venezuela, where they were deployed in support of regime leader Nicolas Maduro, who is under pressure from a coalition of more than 50 countries, including the United States, to step down. Pompeo said Venezuela was raised during discussions on ways to respond to Moscows increased foreign military activity in places such as the Black Sea, where Russia seized three Ukrainian naval vessels last November. Venezuelas deputy foreign minister, Ivan Gil, said on April 4 that Russian forces would stay in Venezuela as long as needed and did not rule out the possibility more could be added, Interfax news agency reported. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called on Moscow to release the Ukrainian vessels and their crews. He said the NATO allies had agreed on a package of measures to step up support for Ukraine and Georgia that included increased surveillance drills and training of maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises, and sharing information. Ukraine and Georgia, which like Ukraine is a Russian neighbor and part of the former Soviet Union, are not NATO members. Pattern of Misbehavior Stoltenberg said Russias breach of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was part of a pattern of destabilizing behavior. Washington has said it will withdraw from the treaty this summer unless Moscow ends its alleged violations of the pact, which rid Europe of land-based nuclear missiles. Stoltenberg said NATOs response would be measured and coordinated and not mirror what Russia is doing. We have no intention of deploying ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe, he said. Pompeo said NATO should also confront increased cyber warfare, including from China and Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies, which is under scrutiny from Western intelligence agencies for its perceived ties to Chinas government and the possibility its equipment could be used for espionage. Washington has warned it will not partner with countries that adopt Huawei systems but has been at odds on the issue with the European Union, which has shunned U.S. calls to ban the company across the bloc. The bulk of NATO members are EU countries. Pompeo warned that neither NATO nor the United States would be able to fully share information with allies if there were Chinese systems in their security networks. We have made clear that if the risks exceed the threshold for the United States, we simply wont be able to share that information any longer, he said. Sharing Costs The United States has also been at odds with European countries over the failure of many of them to meet NATO defense spending guidelines of 2 percent of gross domestic product. U.S. President Donald Trump has called on NATO countries to pay even more than 2 percent of their GDP for defense and has singled out Germany for not doing enough. Stoltenberg said Germany was now making progress, but all allies needed to do more. All NATO allies made a pledge to invest more in defense to improve burden sharing in our alliance, and I expect all allies, including Germany, of course, to make good on the pledge we made together, he said. We didnt make this pledge to please the United States. We made it because we live in a more unpredictable and uncertain world. The meeting was overshadowed by tensions between the United States and Turkey over Ankaras plan to go ahead with the purchase of S-400 missile defense systems from Russia. Washington says Turkeys purchase of the system would compromise the security of F-35 fighter jets, which are built by Lockheed Martin Corp. and use stealth technology. Vice President Mike Pence warned on April 3 that Turkey could risk its membership in NATO if it went ahead with buying the S-400. The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the F-35 to Turkey over its S-400 plans. Pompeo said the United States was confident of a path forward to resolve the issue after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on April 3 although Cavusoglu reiterated on April 4 that the purchase was a done deal that could not be canceled. By Lesley Wroughton & David Brunnstrom Scottish Woman Wakes Up With Surprise Baby Bump, Gives Birth an Hour Later A Scottish woman who had no idea she was pregnant woke up with a baby bump and gave birth just 45 minutes later, according to local reports. Nineteen-year-old Emmalouise Leggate gave birth to her daughter, weighing 7 pounds, 12ounces, in a Glasgow hospital car park. She told the Scottish Daily Record she had gone to bed with a flat stomach the night before. I hadnt taken a pregnancy test, I had no symptoms, nothing, she said. The doctors couldnt explain why I didnt have a bump. They just told me that she must have been sitting in my lower back and that it is quite common. People tend to find out around their 20-week scan once the baby starts to kick, but Ciara never kicked. I never felt her do it. Caira, who was born on July 17 last year and is Leggates second child. But unlike her first pregnancy, none of the tell-tale signs were there. She puts her absent periods down to being on the pill. I had no bump, she said, according to the Metro. I had put on a bit of weight, so my mum was suggesting we go out walking and do different things to burn it off because I kept going on about my weight. The weight was across my full body, more in my arms, legs, and face than anywhere else. My stomach never grew. She told the Daily Record that her bump popped up out of the blue that one morning. I had woken up and you could tell it was a bump. It was dead high up. Emmalouise had been on the pill, and says she had no idea she was pregnant. Posted by Metro on Friday, April 5, 2019 She called up her grandmother, who rushed round and then drove her granddaughter to the hospital. My Nanna kept saying Its definitely a baby but I dont think youre ready to give birth just now because of how high up you are.' By the time I got in the car the contractions were coming every two minutes and then my water broke. We had just parked up outside the hospital and my nanna was saying, wait five minutes, can you not just wait five minutes? and I just couldnt. Emmalouise and her partner describe Caira the best thing that could have happened, reported the Metro. Emmalouise woke up with a baby bump and was rushed to hospital, but ended up giving birth in the car park. Posted by LADbible on Thursday, April 4, 2019 Last month a Bangladeshi woman who had no clue she was pregnant gave birth to twins just 26 days after giving birth to her last baby. The Bangladeshi woman had no idea she was carrying twins in a second uterus until doctors performed a scan when she was rushed to the hospital on March 22 suffering stomach pains. Arifa Sultana Iti, 20, had given birth to a premature baby on Feb 25, according to local reports. But during the pregnancy, she never had the ultrasound that would have revealed a rare second uterus, let alone the fact that inside it twins were growing. She didnt realize she was still pregnant with the twins. Her water broke again 26 days after the first baby was born and she rushed to us, Sheila Poddar, a gynecologist who treated the woman, told AFP. She was rushed to the Ad-din Hospital in Jessore District where doctors delivered twins by emergency caesarian sectiona boy and a girlafter scans revealed two wombs. Having two uteruses is not as rare as some people think, Singapore gynecologist Christopher Ng told the BBC, and would usually be picked up easily during pregnancy. If you go for a scan beforehand it would be very obvious to see two sets of uteruses. But obviously, they are from a more rural area [and might not have access to ultrasound scanning], he said. A still frame from closed circuit television surveillance footage shows a US tourist and his attacker in Melbourne, Australia, on March 27, 2019. (Courtesy of Victoria Police) Tourist Injured in Random Attack in Australia Speaks From Hospital A talented American jazz musician is recovering in hospital from serious head injuries after a random Melbourne street attack. Musician Oscar E Villagrana was visiting Australia to play a couple of jazz gigs, but ended up in a Melbourne hospital suffering massive head injuries after a violent assault. A traveling musician from Cathedral City was brutally attacked last week in Australia. 32-year-old Oscar Villagrana suffered bleeding in the brain and a broken jaw in what police believe is a random attack. https://t.co/lop4ClUtKV KESQ News Channel 3 (@KESQ) April 5, 2019 The 32-year-old Californian man was the victim of a random attack last week after alighting a night-time tram at Preston. Surgeons have had to extract excess blood from his brain, seal his fractured skull with metal plates and he will be left with a scar covering half his head. The ukulele and trumpet players jaw was broken and had to be screwed back into place, and nerves in his jaw were also damaged. Despite horrific injuries, Villagrana has a positive outlook. I have progressed a lot this week at the hospital and am very happy to be putting all my energy into the current rehabilitation process, he told AAP from his hospital bed. The professional musician had been to Australia several times and performed in Melbourne with a jazz collective he helped form. World on Fire at Dizzys Jazz Club Oscar Villagrana and Julien Wilson https://t.co/Q3dlgYYepE pic.twitter.com/UQOHk6ePg7 Kevin Peterson (@kevpet40) May 28, 2018 He was due to fly home to the United States three days after the assault but instead faces a prolonged period in hospital. Villagrana doesnt remember much of the attack but managed to walk to a nearby pub afterwards and get help. CCTV footage showed a shocking chain of events, including him being chased around a car park before being struck and falling to the ground where the assault continued. After attending a concert with friends Villagrana caught a tram, and while on board first came into contact with his alleged attacker, who got off at the same stop. He bothered me with questions and I avoided him and continued getting away. Unfortunately he did not let me get away. Enea Myrteza, a 27-year-old homeless man, faced court on Friday charged with intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, intentionally causing serious injury to the musician and committing an indictable offence while on bail. Myrteza did not apply for bail and will reappear in court on June 24 for a committal case conference. I believe I was targeted for no specific reason at all, Villagrana said. His father is making the trip from the United States to support his son, and other people have banded together to help raise money for the musicians medical costs and rehabilitation. Theres a $10,000 goal and people can donate by visiting gofundme.com/us-muso-attacked-in-melbourne Villagrana is no stranger to Melbourne. For the full year of 2017 I made a living in Melbourne playing ukulele, singing songs on the streets and as a freelance trumpet musician, he said. On the day of the attack, he had gone to Monash University to investigate enrolling in a music masters program. He hopes to play again alongside his fellow Melbourne musicians. By Caroline Schelle President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters on Capitol Hill in Wash., on March 26, 2019. (Leah Millis via Reuters) Trump Responds to Barbara Bush Criticism: Look at What I Did to Her Sons President Donald Trump reacted to statements made by former first lady Barbara Bush, who died a year ago, after she criticized his candidacy and presidency. I have heard that she was nasty to me, but she should be. Look what I did to her sons, Trump told the Washington Times. His remarks came after Bush described Trump as a symbol of greed in biography, The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of a Dynasty, penned by Susan Page. Trump now means greed, selfishness and ugly. So sad, she wrote in a diary, according to the book. She became increasingly critical of Trump after he criticized former President George W. Bush for his decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and former Gov. Jeb Bush, whom Trump famously disparaged as low energy as they contended for the 2016 presidency. Look, shes the mother of somebody that I competed against, Trump told the newspaper. Most people thought he [Jeb Bush] was going to win and he was quickly out. Jeb Bush dropped out of the presidential race in South Carolina. I hit him very hard in South Carolina, Trump told the Times. Remember? He was supposed to win South Carolina and I won it in a landslide. I hit him so hard. Thats when his brother came to make the first speech for him, Trump added, referring to former President Bush. And I said, What took you so long? Pages book noted that Bushs scorn for Trump apparently went back decades. Following the death of former President George H.W. Bush, Trump met with George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush. A sweet visit during this somber week, Laura Bush said in December. Thanks to Mrs. Trump for inviting our family to the White House to see the Christmas decorations and our old friends, the residence staff. Weighing Mexico Penalties Meanwhile, on April 5, Trump said he is weighing an economic penalty in addition to tariffs to counter the smuggling of drugs from Mexico into the United States. Likewise I am looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border, he wrote on Twitter. Trump is slated to leave the White House for a trip along the U.S.-Mexico border. If for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesnt work, which it will, I will close the Border, Trump also wrote on April 5. This will supersede USMCA. President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with China's Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. on April 4, 2019. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Trump Says US-China Trade Deal May Be Reached in Four Weeks WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said on April 4 the United States and China were close to a trade deal that could be announced within four weeks, while warning Beijing that it would be difficult to allow trade to continue without a pact. The two countries are engaged in intense negotiations to end a months-long trade war, but hopes of a resolution soared after both sides expressed optimism following talks in Beijing last week. Speaking to reporters at the White House at the start of a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, Trump said some of the tougher points of a deal had been agreed but there were still differences to be bridged. Were getting very close to making a deal. That doesnt mean a deal is made, because its not, but were certainly getting a lot closer, Trump said in the Oval Office. And I would think with, oh, within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more, whatever it takes, something very monumental could be announced. Trump said he would hold a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if there were a deal. Xi assured Trump that text of the China-U.S. trade could be finalized soon, in a message conveyed by Liu He. According to state-run news agency Xinhua, Liu He told Trump that Xi believed under his and Trumps leadership, China-U.S. relations will make new and greater progress. Xi said that in the past month or more, the two sides trade teams had maintained close contact and achieved new and substantive progress on issues in the text of two countries trade agreement. I hope the two sides trade teams can continue working in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit to resolve each others concerns, and finish negotiations on the text of the China-U.S. trade agreement soon, Xi said to Trump through Liu. Keeping Leverage Trump declined to say what would happen to U.S. tariffs on $250 billion worth of goods as part of a deal. China wants the tariffs lifted, while U.S. officials are wary of giving up that leverage, at least for now. Asked about the benefits of an agreement for China, Trump said: Its going to be great for China, in that China will continue to trade with the United States. I mean, otherwise, it would be very tough for us to allow that to happen. Goods trade between the United States and China, the worlds two largest economies, totaled $660 billion last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, consisting of imports of $540 billion from China and $120 billion in exports to China. On Chinas behalf, Liu cited great progress in the talks because of Trumps direct involvement and expressed hope that the talks would lead to a good result. U.S. Seeks Sweeping Changes Trump has previously threatened to impose punitive tariffs on all imports from China, more than a half-trillion dollars worth of products. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who is leading the talks for the Trump administration, said there were still some major, major issues to resolve and praised Lius commitment to reform in China. Asked about the remaining sticking points, Trump mentioned tariffs and intellectual property theft. He said he would discuss tariffs with Liu in their meeting. Some of the toughest things have been agreed to, Trump said. He later said that an enforcement plan for a deal remained a sticking point as well. We have to make sure theres enforcement. I think well get that done. Weve discussed it at length, he said. Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are holding talks in Washington with a Chinese delegation this week after meeting together in Beijing last week. The current round of talks is scheduled to go through Friday and possibly longer. Hopes that the talks were moving in a positive direction have cheered financial markets in recent weeks. The United States is seeking reforms to Chinese practices that it says result in the theft of U.S. intellectual property and the forced transfer of technology from U.S. companies to Chinese firms. Administration officials initially envisioned a summit between Trump and Xi potentially taking place in March, but some U.S. lawmakers and lobbying groups have said recently they were told that the administration was now aiming for a deal in late April. Outstanding Issues White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said last week that the talks were not time dependent and could be extended for weeks or even months longer. While some reform pledges by Beijing are largely set, including an agreement to avoid currency manipulation, an enforcement mechanism to ensure that China keeps its pledges and the status of U.S. tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods must be resolved. China has been very clear, publicly and privately, that they would like to see all the tariffs removed, U.S. Chamber of Commerce international affairs chief Myron Brilliant told reporters on Tuesday. The (Trump) administration has been equally clear that they want to keep some of the tariffs in place as a way to have leverage over China fulfilling its obligations under whatever final package is reached. By Jeff Mason & David Lawder President Donald Trump speaks prior to awarding a posthumous Medal of Honor for US Army Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on March 27, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) Trump to Skip White House Press Dinner for Third Year in a Row President Donald Trump told reporters on April 5 that he would skip the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner scheduled for later this month. Trumps comments confirm that he wont attend the event for the third year in a row. As he was leaving the White House on his trip to the southern border in California, he told reporters that the event wasnt to his liking. Instead, he said he would hold one of his MAGA-style rallies as a counter-program to the April 27 press dinner. The presidents rallies often gather tens of thousands of supporters. At a recent rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Trump drew 14,000 supporters who filled the Van Andel Arena stadium to capacity, with nearly 20,000 outside. The dinner is so boring and so negative that were going to hold a very positive rally instead, he said. Presidents and first ladies traditionally attend the event, and a number of reporting awards also are distributed at the dinner. Trump hasnt been to the dinner since he took office, but had suggested he might appear this year after organizers scrapped the usual format featuring a comedian and instead invited Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow to speak. Trump became the first president since Ronald Reagan to skip the dinner. Reagan didnt attend in 1981 because he was recovering from an assassination attempt. The association this year decided to shift to a featured speaker instead of a comic after a sharply anti-Trump performance last year by comedian Michelle Wolf that some thought was too pointed against White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other White House staff. Chernow, a biographer of presidents and statesmen including George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, is expected to speak about the importance of the First Amendment. The president, who often refers to the media as fake news for their coverage of his presidency, recently ramped up his criticisms on Twitter. Previously, he has criticized The New York Times, CNN, ABC, and NBC for their coverage. The press is doing everything within their power to fight the magnificence of the phrase, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! he wrote on April 5. They cant stand the fact that this Administration has done more than virtually any other Administration in its first 2yrs. They are truly the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Trump said his team has yet to settle on a location for his April 27 rally, but stressed: Itll be a big one. The press is doing everything within their power to fight the magnificence of the phrase, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! They cant stand the fact that this Administration has done more than virtually any other Administration in its first 2yrs. They are truly the ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019 They Have to Be Accountable At the Michigan rally, Trumps first one since special counsel Robert Mueller wrapped up his nearly two-year-long investigation, the president returned to familiar groundthe campaign trailwhere he put those behind the investigation in the spotlight. After three years of lies and smears and slander, the Russia hoax is finally dead. The collusion delusion is over, Trump told supporters at the Van Andel Arena. The stage was set with a giant American flag as a backdrop, flanked with banners reading Jobs Jobs Jobs!a different tone from Trumps opening rally of the year in El Paso, Texas, which read Finish the Wall. Donald Trump Jr., who spoke right before his father struck a victorious tone: Its not just our vindication, its your vindication Because you stuck by us. The first thing the president addressed was his vindication via the Mueller report, which concluded that he and his campaign associates didnt collude or coordinate with Russia in efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election. The president also made reference to the so-called Steele dossier, which was at the heart of the allegations that he colluded with Russia. All of the current and former officials who paid for, promoted, and perpetuated the single greatest hoax in the history of politics in our country, they have to be accountable, Trump said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Dreamliner 787-10 arriving from Los Angeles pulls up to a gate in Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., on Jan. 7, 2019. (Seth Wenig/File Photo via AP) United Airlines Plane Diverted to Dallas Airport After Cockpit Screens Go Blank A United Express flight was forced to divert to the Dallas International Airport after its cockpit screens went dark. The cockpit crew told passengers that the aircraft lost its cockpit screens, warning that it would lose all of the screens if the plane kept traveling. So you may be able to see we lost two of our screens, a crew member is heard saying in a video of the incident, ABC News reported. The crew member continued: Now, if we kept flying, wed lose them all, eventually, because theres not enough cooling. There is tremendous heat behind those screens. My parents are on United Flight 4390, something is on fire in the plane. They just landed in #Dallas from #Knoxville original destination was #Houston Rodney D. Giles (@rodneygiles) April 5, 2019 If the plane kept going, they would be flying blind. The crew member added, So, thats why we are in Dallas right now. It is unlikely this aircraft is going anywhere tonight. The plane landed without incident on the tarmac and passengers were reallocated to different flights. United 4390 lost their screens in the cockpit pic.twitter.com/vliOVotLWW Rodney D. Giles (@rodneygiles) April 5, 2019 Flight 4390 departed from Knoxville, Tennessee, and was heading to Houston, Texas, when the cockpit screens went blank. A representative for United Airlines told Fox News that it was caused by a mechanical issue. ExpressJet Airlines flight 4390, operating as United Express from Knoxville to Houston, diverted to Dallas and landed safely following a mechanical issue, a spokesperson said on April 5. Customers deplaned normally and we are working to get our customers on their way to their destination as soon as possible, the statement added. The aircraft is being inspected by a maintenance team. It shouldnt impact other flights, but we always encourage our customers to check the status of their flight on united.com or the app for the latest updates, a spokesperson was quoted by KHOU as saying. Flight en route to Houston diverts after planes cockpit screens go out https://t.co/wZRwRGHil9 KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) April 5, 2019 Other details are not clear. Boeing Readies 737 MAX Fix Boeing Co. will provide airlines that have bought the 737 MAX with free software upgrades, the U.S. manufacturer said on Monday, as Ethiopian Airlines told Reuters it expected a preliminary crash report this week or next. Any fixes to the MAX software, the focus of investigations in two crashes that have prompted worldwide groundings of the aircraft, must still get approval from governments around the world, Reuters reported. The U.S. Transportation Department said Monday it is forming an outside panel to review the Federal Aviation Administrations aircraft certification program amid growing concerns after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes since October. Despite the tragedy, Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines will continue to be linked well into the future, Tewolde said on Monday. Ethiopian Airlines believes in Boeing. They have been a partner of ours for many years. The causes of separate Lion Air and Ethiopian Airline crashes are also still unknown, though Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam said he trusts Boeing. University of Kansas Is Offering Angry White Male Studies Class The University of Kansas will offer an Angry White Male Studies course aimed at investigating the emotional state of Caucasian males throughout history. The public university in Lawrence, Kansas, will offer the course in fall 2019, Campus Reform reported Wednesday. This course charts the rise of the angry white male in America and Britain since the 1950s, exploring the deeper sources of this emotional state while evaluating recent manifestations of male anger, according to a description of the class posted on KUs Humanities Program website. The universitys Humanities and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies departments will jointly offer the course. The 300-level class will employ interdisciplinary perspectives and examine how both dominant and subordinate masculinities are represented and experienced in cultures undergoing periods of rapid change connected to modernity as well as to rights-based movements of women, people of color, homosexuals and trans individuals, according to the course description. The Humanities Program will also offer Sex in History, Being Human in the Workplace, The Refugee Experience and American Indian and White Relations to 1865, according to its upcoming course curriculum. Republican Kansas Rep. Ron Estes tweeted Wednesday about the course and criticized the universitys decision to offer a class that may do more to divide than unite students. Instead of a course to unite people and empower women, KU has decided to offer a class that divides the student population and could pose a Title IX violation by creating a hostile campus environment based on gender. #ksleg https://t.co/XhUNfpFUcW Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) April 3, 2019 University of Kansas students have mixed reactions to the upcoming course. We have a lot of different classes that kind of like related to this that you wouldnt think would be on college campuses, KU student Kody Ross said, according to KCTV5 News. (RELATED: University Offers Program Of Whiteness Class, Again) Some students are asking if its a joke or not, said KU student Emily Hiegert, KCTV reported. I think it could be interesting, but I dont really know why we have it exactly. The university did not respond to The Daily Caller News Foundations request for comment. By Grace Carr | Reporter Follow Grace on Twitter Dr Michael Adams with his wife enjoyed Shen Yun at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, on April 4, 2019. (Sunny Chen/The Epoch Times) SEATTLEDr. Michael Adams, President of Faith International University, a college and seminary, has seen many performances from different parts of the world. But he found Shen Yun Performing Arts to be an entirely unique experienceit both captivated the eyes and recharged the soul. [Its] visually stunning and in many ways, good for the soul. Its invigorating. It revitalizes, he said. [Theres] nothing quite like it! The college president saw the performance for the first time at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, on April 4. New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts is the leading classical Chinese dance company, currently touring the world to share 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture to modern audiences. Its two-hour program consists of classical Chinese dance vignettes, musical soloists, and stories told through dance. Sensory Wonder Adams was blown away by the colors and spectacle of the performance, describing the performance as a sensory wonder. The performance was so visually captivating that it got Adams thinking of the Earth, and the beauty of creation, and the beauty of the earth, and all the colors we see. Not only was the the show visually stimulating, the college president also felt an energy coming from the performers on stage. Im certainly invigorated by it, he said. How could you not be? Really? How could you not be invigorated by the show? Its powerful. And to think that what humanity can do; the way humanity can move, with such grace, with such beauty, with such strength, sometimes its just power. And, but to see it all, so under control, Adams said, in awe of the artists. Shen Yuns performers are world-class dancers, experts in classical Chinese dance, and Chinese ethnic and folk dance styles. Classical Chinese dance not only require the perfection of a system of physical forms, including difficult tumbling techniques, it also emphasizes the cultivation of the metaphysical in the form of bearing known as yun. Through yun, dancers can transmit their inner world through the expression of their outward movements. For many Shen Yun performers this means the focusing on maintaining their character, such that a positive inner spirit may shine through in their dancing. The dancers discipline impressed Adams. [The] professionalism is rather stunning, and the fact that everybody is so in sync, its sort of that discipline you would expect from the culture, he said. We especially love to see it because its theres nothing about it thats distracting. Its all very fluid and a oneness, which is powerful. Restoring Culture The college president was drawn to Shen Yuns mission to restore traditional Chinese culture, which to a large extent has been lost due to its systematic destruction over the course of seven decades of communist rule in China. Adams said it was wonderful to see Chinas traditions expressed so faithfully in the performance, uncorrupted by modern developments and trends. I think its always a vital thing to do, to always remember culture, to never forget it, and certain cultural practices need to stay with us forever, he said. They need to be passed down from generation to generation. The president said there was a uniqueness to this culture that he hasnt seen before, leaving a distinct impression on him. Asked whether he would recommend the performance to his friends, Adams replied, Of course, without question. With reporting by Sunny Chen. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. A China Coast Guard vessel attempts to block a Philippine government vessel as the latter tries to enter the China Second Thomas Disputed Shoals, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, to orate Philippine troops and resupply provisions on March 29, 2014. (Bullit Marquez/AP) US Envoy Says China Activities Near Philippines Of Concern BANGKOKThe presence of large numbers of Chinese vessels near islands and islets occupied by the Philippines is a concern, a senior U.S. defense official said on April 5. The Philippine government protested the Chinese ship movements Thursday after its military monitored more than 200 Chinese vessels from January-March in a disputed area named Sandy Cay, which is near the Philippine-occupied island of Pag-asa. Asked about the situation while on a visit to Bangkok, Joseph Felter, deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, told reporters that the United States is troubled by any aggressive activity by any country in the South China Sea, in this case China. We see that as of concern. In this case, Chinas activities are of concern. It seems to be somewhat aggressive and provocative and we feel that theyre unnecessary and unwarranted, said Felter, who was in Thailand to attend a meeting of defense officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. He noted that the United States does not take a stance on various conflicting claims in the South China Sea. But the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region involves working with allies and partners to keep the seas free and open and ensure that no countrys sovereignty is undermined, he said. We expect every country to be able to sail, fly and operate wherever international law allows. The Philippines regards a chain of islands and islets, nine of which it occupies, in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea as a municipality it calls Kalayaan under its western province of Palawan. That claim conflicts with the larger territorial claims of China, Vietnam, and three other governments in a long-simmering Asian dispute. Over the last few years, China has stepped up its territorial claims by turning seven made-man islands it controls into military installations, drawing rebukes from other claimants as well as Washington. Chinese boats have swarmed around Sandy Cay, a chain of three sandbars between Pag-asa and a Chinese man-made island called Subi, since 2017. Such practice could be meant to pressure other governments into abandoning their islands. A 2002 accord between China and the 10-nation ASEAN aims to prevent armed confrontation in the busy waterway, where much of Asias oil and trade transits. Felter said the meetings he attended also addressed the lingering threat from the extremism and the Islamic State group in Southeast Asia and the United States looks forward to working with regional partners on counterterrorism. Its a threat. Weve degraded ISIS in the Middle East significantly as far as its territory but importantly, its still able to recruit and inspire individuals to participate in attacks, which weve seen recently and sadly we probably havent seen the last of this, he said. Relations with Thailand cooled somewhat after a coup in May 2014 and Felter said the United States was looking forward to seeing a transparent process and working with a new government after a March 24 general election. Despite some restrictions on dealings with Thailands military government, which remains in power pending the announcement of final results of the election next month, the United States has logged $469 million in arms sales since 2014, Felter said. Well continue to support Thailand as a close treaty ally and we want to help it build its defense capabilities, he said. On the military side its a healthy relationship and we look forward to it continuing. By Elaine Kurtenbach A warning was issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about the Fisher-Price Rock N Play seat after reports of infant deaths. (CPSC) Warning Issued After 10 Babies Die Using Fisher-Price Rock N Play A warning was issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) about the Fisher-Price Rock N Play seat after reports of infant deaths. The CPSC issued the alert on April 5, saying that death may occur when infants roll over in the product. At least one Rock N Play model was manufactured in China. The agency said it is aware of 10 infant deaths in the Rock N Play since at least 2015. After the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side, while unrestrained, is when the deaths took place, according to the agency. The infants were aged 3 months or older. The CPSC is now advising consumers to stop using the product by three years of age or as soon as the infant is able to roll over. The agency said it has has previously warned consumers to use restraints in infant inclined sleep products. ATTENTION PARENTS: Fisher-Price has issued a warning after reports of death when infants roll over while using their Rock 'N Play. There have been 10 infant deaths already involved. Posted by 10TV WBNS on Friday, April 5, 2019 Fisher-Price warns consumers to stop using the product when infants can roll over, but the reported deaths show that some consumers are still using the product when infants are capable of rolling and without using the three-point harness restraint, according to the agency. Parents are advised to create a safe environment for infants when they are using a crib, play yard, bassinet, or another sleeper. Meanwhile, parents should not add stuffed toys, pillows, blankets, and other items to the sleeping area as they can pose a hazard, the agency said. The agency was created to guard the public against risks of injury or death associated with a variety of products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard, according to the agency. It issues warnings and recalls to on items like toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals, adding that doing so has led to a decline in overall deaths. Recent Recalls Avocados A California-based firm said it is recalling California-grown avocados over possible listeria contamination. In a news release on March 24 on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) website, the Henry Avocado Corporation said it is recalling the product as a precaution after tests for Listeria monocytogenes came back positive. The tests were done as part of a routine government inspection at its packing facility in California, the company said. We are voluntarily recalling our products and taking every action possible to ensure the safety of consumers who eat our avocados, said Phil Henry, the president of Henry Avocado. Baby Cough Syrup The FDA also issued a recall was issued for a brand of baby cough syrup sold by Dollar General stores across the United States. The reason for the recall is that the product has the potential to be contaminated by a form of bacteria that could be deadly, according to a notice published on the health agencys website. Vomiting and diarrhea are the symptoms of the bacterial infection, but, according to the FDA, it could be fatal in serious cases. According to the March 20 notice, the product was found to have the potential for contamination with Bacillus cereus and Bacillus circulans bacteria. Bacillus cereus in food products has the potential to produce two forms of gastrointestinal illness, one being a syndrome primarily of vomiting, and the other of diarrhea, said the agency. Most often, illnesses are mild and self-limiting, although more serious and even lethal cases have occurred. A Wisconsin man discovered about 40 Amazon shipping boxes in front of his home, on April 1, 2019. (Courtesy of Maureen Pritchard/Facebook) Wife Says I Got Him Good After Filming Husbands Reaction to April Fools Prank A Wisconsin man came home on April 1 to see dozens of Amazon shipping boxes lined up on his doorstep. Rob Pritchard came home after a busy day to discover dozens of Amazon boxes stacked up in front of his Green Bay home. A video that captured his reaction has since gone viral. The footage shows him pulling into the driveway, exiting the car, and staring straight into the camera as if he was asking why there are so many boxes outside the house. In a second video, Rob is seen walking towards the front door, curious as to why there are so many boxes before quickly changing direction, and shaking his head in confusion. His wife, Maureen Pritchard, revealed it was actually an April Fools Day joke. When he saw me recording out the window, I thought he realized that it was a joke but when he came inside he kept asking, What is all that?!' she said in a Facebook post dated April 1. I got him good! I wish I would have continued to record right away when he came in the house. Ive been planning an April Fools joke to play on Rob for MONTHS!! I got him good! I wish I would have continued to Posted by Maureen Pritchard on Monday, April 1, 2019 Maureen said that the boxes were empty and not actually part of a big spending splurge. From the angle of the camera, there seemed to be a total of about 40 boxes. I had to explain that it was six months of saved boxes from us, my parents, and my sister, Maureen said. Ive been planning an April Fools joke to play on Rob for months. The Best April Fools Prank Brought To You By Empty Amazon Boxes https://t.co/G0kR6BxXsy ALT 98.7 (@ALT987fm) April 3, 2019 Many people from the neighborhood were also surprised to see so many boxes lined up outside the Pritchard home. You have no idea how many people slowed down or stopped in front of our house all day today, Maureen said. Since the boxes have now served their purpose, Maureen is offering to give the boxes to anyone who needs them. Anyone need any boxes? she asked. Anyone need any boxes?!? A woman pranked her husband, an avid online shopper, by piling dozens of Amazon boxes outside their front door on April Fools Day. https://t.co/szhcYtFc0E KDKA (@KDKA) April 4, 2019 The post has been shared more than 3,300 times, and many people commented they were surprised that none of the boxes had gone missing. You should have left them out there, I bet someone would have been happy to steal them all from you, Jan Pouncey said. Surprised no one tried to steal the boxes, Heidi Hampton said. Here in Florida they would have stolen all your boxes. Im surprised porch pirates didnt find this, Danielle Rae said. OMG so funny. Some felt a bit like they were looking at the home of someone they know who loves shopping online. Alyssa Jennings this u? Sam Montgomery said. Sam Montgomery they have started leaving my packages in the leasing office and Im embarrassed, Jennings said. Others thought the volume of boxes was enough to qualify for a customer loyalty reward. Maureen, I hope Amazon gives you lifetime Prime membership for free, Kelly Lemmer said. What a genius idea and great public relations for them too. If Amazon.com doesnt send you a lifetime Prime membership, theyre dead to me, Josh Scott said. Maureen responded to many of the comments and seems to be enjoying her moment of fame. This is incredibly fun we are going on 54 hours of fame, she said. I already know it is spilling over into tomorrow as I have a live phone interview with a station in Phoenix in the morning, and I answered questions for a news station in Australia tonight. Im literally cracking up. Woman Might Have Saved Little Girls Life By Posting Photos Of Her Dad in Walmart Viral photos showed a Texas man dragging a girl by her hair, prompting an investigation by child welfare officials and police. But police and the woman who captured the images say that its a reminder for witnesses to speak up when it comes to child abuse. The man was apparently dragging along his daughter in a Walmart in Cleveland, Texas. The scene was captured by shopper, Erika Burch, it was reported. Please stop! I promise I wont do it again! Please stop! Burch said of what the 5-year-old girl was pleading to her father, KHOU reported. She told him to let her go, and he told Burch to mind her own business. He is a sick, sick , sick animal is what he is, Burch told KHOU. Burch then contacted a police officer, who called his sergeant. He has the right to discipline his children, Burch said the sergeant told her, KHOU reported. Now this baby had to go home with this monster thinking that nobody cared about her and its okay for this animal to pull her by the hair of her head, Burch said. Viral photos show father dragging girl by hair through Walmart https://t.co/LzZxMe1iev pic.twitter.com/iPQwlrzI3T CBS News (@CBSNews) September 22, 2016 She then posted the photos on social media, and many said the dad should be locked up, according to local reports. No charges were filed. Its not OK for anyone to drag you by the hair on your head, Burch told local outlets, adding that she thinks others should have done something. An investigation was launched, CBS reported. Of course, that old saying, if you see something, say something, Cleveland Police Chief Daniel Broussard told CBS. In this case, I have to applaud those witnesses who attempted to intervene for the safety of the child. The shopper at a Cleveland Walmart said she heard the girl crying and begging the man to let go of her hair. Posted by Chron.com from the Houston Chronicle on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Not a Unique Scenario According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (pdf), approximately 3.5 million children nationwide in 2016 were the subjects of at least one maltreatment report to authorities. Child abuse is one of the nations most serious concerns, the authors wrote in the introduction. About 17 percent of those reports were substantiated; the department said that there were an estimated 676,000 victims of child abuse and neglect, or 9.1 victims per 1,000 children. Children in their first year of life had the highest rate of victimization at 24.8 per 1,000 children of the same age in the national population. About three-quarters of the cases were neglect while about 18 percent were physical abuse. Some children suffered from multiple forms of maltreatment. Of the perpetrators of the abuse, more than four-fifths were between the ages of 18 and 44 and more than half were women. To elaborate on the problem, Childhelp.org says, Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children). And each year, referrals to state child protective services involve 6.6 million children, and around 3.2 million of those children are subject to an investigated report. Emmanuel Itier enjoyed Shen Yun at The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, on March 31, 2019. (NTD Television) SANTA BARBARA, Calif.Emmanuel Itier, award-winning film producer and director, said he loved Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Granada Theatre on March 31. It was fantastic, mesmerizing, enchanting. It really is a journey for the soul, for the mind, for the divine, he said. Itier has produced more than 20 short and full-length films, including the documentary The Invocation in 2012, narrated by Sharon Stone and staring Desmond Tutu, The Dalai Lama, and Deepak Chopra. Hes also a journalist for magazines and French television, and he was on the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Film Festival for 10 years. New York-based Shen Yun is the worlds top Chinese cultural music and dance company, with six groups touring the world simultaneously showcasing a brand-new program every year. Really, really breathtaking, said Itier. A lot of grace, a lot of charm. Its a very poetic journey. The performance focuses on classical Chinese dance, with story-based dances, ethnic dances, a live orchestra with both Eastern and Western sounds, an interactive digital backdrop, vibrant costumes, and musical soloists to round out the program. Itier was especially impressed with the coordination of the orchestra with the large group of dancers on the stage. It was was superb, really inspiring, really perfectly synchronized, amazing job, he said. The Shen Yun orchestra includes traditional Chinese instruments, such as the pipa, gong, erhu, and others, creating a unique sound. I loved the fusion of the West and the East, he said. Its really what the world needs more than ever, [a] bridge between all of our civilizations for the world to come together. Itier also appreciated the vocal soloists, who sang in Chinese in the Western operatic bel canto style, with the poetic lyrics projected onto the background screen. Itier found it was very interesting and fresh and invigorating. He said while watching Shen Yun, he closed his eyes, and he could feel a divine energy emanating from stage, encompassing the deep artistry and spirituality of the performance. It gives you chills. It makes you feel alive. It makes you feel whole again, which is great. Thats where music plays such an important role about waking up all your cells and your mind and your body, he said. As a filmmaker, he felt the overall structure of Shen Yun was very well done, and the experience took the audience to a place they had never been before. It really takes you by the hand, he said. Its a journey for ages, for culture, for the world. I think a show like this opens your mind, opens the possibilities, and its for you to keep going on your own journey. He hoped many other people would have the opportunity to come to see Shen Yun. You have to see it. Its unique. Its one incredible, unique experience. Come and see it. With reporting by NTD Television. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Many of the best hiking trails in West Virginia lead to some of the most scenic vistas on the East Coast. Here are the 5 Best Hikes in West Virginia for Amazing Views... Spring has arrived, and I am ready to break free of this serious case of cabin fever that I have and get back out there on the hiking trails! Hiking is something that I decided to take up a few years back as part of my journey to a healthier lifestyle . Hiking also happened to come with the bonus perk of becoming a great way for my then teenage son & I to connect & bond over our shared love for nature & outdoor photography. With so many great hiking trails within a 3 hour drive of us, it can be hard to narrow down our list of must-do hikes each spring. summer, & fall. But one thing I always look for is the reward of completing our hike. Sometimes that reward is a cascading waterfall. Or maybe some out of the way, abandoned ruins. But my favorite reward after a long or challenging hike is a breathtaking view. And when it comes to hiking trails that lead to the best views, you just can't beat West Virginia hiking . In fact, many of the best hiking trails in West Virginia lead to some of the most amazing scenic vistas on the East Coast. Views that are most definitely worth breaking out the panoramic mode on your camera for... 1. The Endless Wall Trail- New River Gorge Hugging the rim of the New River Gorge for about 2 miles, the Endless Wall Trail provides hikers with breathtaking vistas by way of its many rocky overlooks and steep cliffs. The Endless Wall Trail is about 2 1/2 miles long total if you do the entire loop. But some hikers opt to make it into a moderate in and out 2 mile hike from the Fern Creek or Nutall Trailhead parking lots to the Diamond Point Overlook and back. Not only is the Endless Wall Trail used by hikers, but it is also frequented by rock climbers for easier access to the steep cliffs and rock faces that line the trail. There are a handful of secondary trails off from the main trail that are marked specifically for climbing access. Hikers are definitely welcome to explore these trails, but be on the outlook for rock climbers below. The Diamond Point Overlook arguably gives you the best views of the New River and its white water rapids below. Though the overlook is by far the most trafficked part of the trail, it is definitely worth stopping at and spending a little time exploring. On the other side of the overlook, you can see the New River Gorge Bridge in the near distance as it spans over 3,000 feet across the New River below. 2. Lindy Point- Blackwater Falls State Park The Lindy Point trail in Tucker County is the perfect hiking trail for beginner hikers or non-hikers. It is just a short 1/2 mile walk from the parking area on Canyon Loop Road to the actual overlook. I do caution to wear waterproof shoes though if it has rained recently in the area. This trail can get quite muddy at times as we happened to find out the hard way. This short trail leads to some pretty big views of the Blackwater Canyon below. One of the best times to visit this trail would be in the fall during peak foliage. We made our way to this trail just a tad too early last fall as you can tell from the photos. The leaves were just starting to change when we were there. Read more about this trail by CLICKING HERE 3. Maryland Heights Trail- Harpers Ferry The Maryland Heights Trail , an 4 mile round trip hike just off from the Appalachian Trail, is a challenging hike that ends in rewarding views of Harpers Ferry and the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers below. It also happens to be one of two hiking trails on this list that begins in West Virginia & ends in Maryland. The initial mile or so of the hike is a steady gradual climb with few obstacles in the path. At almost a mile in, the trail forks. Take the Overlook Cliff Trail to the right (red blaze) for the most breathtaking views of Harpers Ferry and the Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers. The trail to Overlook Cliff does get pretty rocky and steep in some spots. Be sure to bring a camera to capture amazing panoramic views of the Lower Town of historic Harpers Ferry and of the expansive Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers. ( CLICK HERE to see a live Facebook video I took from Overlook Cliff.) Be sure to check out my full post on this hiking trail complete with tips & pointers! 4. Maryland High Point Trail- Hoye-Crest The best way to reach the highest point in the state of Maryland (aka, Hoye-Crest) is to first begin in West Virginia. Right off of U.S. Route 219 just south of Silver Lake, you will find the trail head for Maryland High Point. This hiking trail is only about 2 miles round trip, but don't let the short length of this trail fool you! The first mile of this trail is a steep incline with an elevation of gain of around 700 feet. Was this moderately difficult climb worth it? My definitive answer: Yes! (Even if I was huffing & puffing & cussing under my breath most of the way up. ;) ) The trail ends at Hoye-Crest, the highest point in Maryland with an elevation of 3360 feet. Your hard work will be well rewarded with breathtaking views of the rolling hills of Maryland below. Please note that sections of Backbone Mountain are located on private property with ATV trails. We did encounter a few ATV riders are on way up to the high point, so keep an eye out for them if you do decide to take on this hiking trail. Read more about this hiking trail by CLICKING HERE . 5. Seneca Rocks Trail- Monongahela National Forest Easily one of the most well recognizable & iconic rock formations in West Virginia, Seneca Rocks has been attracting hikers & rock climbers to the area for decades. The Seneca Rocks Hiking Trail is a little over 2 1/2 miles long with an elevation gain of 700+ feet. The climb is made easier thanks to a series of switchbacks & steps. The trail ends at an overlook platform that provides hikers with spectacular views of the Potomac & Seneca Valleys below. If you happen to be feeling a tad more adventurous, you can climb the rocks above the warning sign to enjoy even more amazing views of both valleys. You might even catch a glimpse of some of the rock climbers scaling the pinnacles. Just proceed with caution and watch your footing if you do venture past the sign above the overlook platform. Find out more about this hiking trail by CLICKING HERE Have you hiked any of these West Virginia trails before? Which hiking trail in West Virginia do you think has the most amazing views? If you loved this post about West Virginia hiking, then you might also like these posts from West Virginia Tourism... And be sure to check out all of my posts on hiking by CLICKING HERE. HARTFORD On the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr., a group of advocates and clergy asked lawmakers from both parties to deliver a state budget that honors his legacy. We urge you to pass a budget that calls upon the wealthiest individuals and large profitable corporations to pay their fair share, the letter from faith, labor and advocacy groups said. At a gathering at the Legislative Office Building Thursday, the group said Democratic Gov. Ned Lamonts budget leaves the wealthy and large corporations untouched, but they worry about what will happen if the General Assembly reduces the revenue increases that are part of his budget proposal. Lamonts budget leaves the social safety net intact even though it maintains budget cuts from past years. Sheldon Toubman, a legal aid attorney who was speaking on behalf of the Cross Disability Alliance, said the governors budget imposes an asset test of the Medicare Savings Program, requires Medicaid patients to get prior authorizations for certain treatments, and blocks access to essential drugs unless Medicaid enrollees try and fail on other cheaper drugs. Many of the revenue proposals in the governors budget are not going to pass, Toubman said. He doesnt believe Lamonts attempt at broadening the sales tax base will work for all the revenue hes seeking to raise. If we believe in economic justice as preached by Dr. King and we expect those who most benefit under our economic system to pay their fair share, the only option is for the legislature and the governor to make those who can afford to do so pay a little more, Toubman said. He said they could look at raising the income tax on the wealthiest one percent and gain about $227.4 million. Or they could look at increasing the capital gains rate for the top tax bracket and see $113.7 million in revenue. Toubman described capital gains tax as the money you earn from doing nothing. He said Lamont is in a special place to be able to call on the wealthy to pay a little bit more because he himself is in that privileged group. The governor uniquely asked his peers, who we all know can pay a little more, to step up, Toubman said. So poor and disabled folks dont have to suffer under this budget. Lamont was tasked with closing a $1.5 billion deficit in the first year, and a $2.3 billion deficit in the second year of the two-year budget he presented on Feb. 20. The General Assembly and its two budget writing committees are still working on their response to that proposal, which isnt due until the beginning of April. Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, said Connecticut needs to figure out what the revenue looks like and where the equity is in it because the middle class is disappearing. We continue to balance this budget on the backs of the poor people and the working people and the unions, Porter said. She said Lamont is better positioned to speak some truth to his wealthy peers and ask them to contribute a little more. But at the moment what hes proposing is nothing new. She said people who work seven days a week should not qualify for government programs, but the reality is they do. Thats just not fair, she added. The Rev. Josh Pawelek said hes sick of the pernicious lie that paying someone $15 an hour, which isnt even a living wage, is bad for business. We are tired of hearing that a robust safety net for people with disabilities in the state of Connecticut is bad for business somehow, Pawelek said. And we are tired of hearing that a robust safety net for our elders in the state of Connecticut is bad for business. We are tired of hearing that a healthcare system that actually prioritizes the delivery of healthcare as opposed to profits for corporations is somehow bad for business. He said affordable housing and equitable funding for education is not bad for business. When poverty is on the rise, when stress is on the rise, and when sickness untreated is on the rise, thats bad for business, Pawelek said. And solving these problems is good for business. Pawelek said hes not talking about class warfare, were talking about what is fair and what is essential for our state to thrive. The Rev. John Selders said this is not a left or right issue. This is about whats right and whats wrong. The one way to right historic wrongs is through legislative action, Selders said. Selders led the group to Senate Republican and Senate Democratic offices on the third floor of the Legislative Office Building to drop off letters Thursday. No lawmakers were there to accept them, but staff said they would pass them along. REDDING By the time Boy Scouts of America officially allowed girls to have a troop, about 10 girls in Redding had already earned badges, gone camping and defeated 19 male troops in an outdoor skills challenge. Troop 306 named after the address of the West Redding Fire Department, its charter organization is one of the first female troops in the country. To be one of the first girls to start the troop in Redding and to be one of the first girls to be an Eagle Scout would be so fulfilling, said Emma Cedusky, 17, the senior patrol leader. On Feb. 1, Boy Scouts changed its name to Scouts BSA and opened up to girls between the ages of 11 and 17. Interested girls, though, were told they could start acting like a troop before then. Troop 306 began doing activities last May, holding weekly meetings and going on camping and canoe troops. That allowed us to have a real running start, said Kevin Blackwell, Troop 306s Scoutmaster. Troop 306 was among 12 troops to start on Feb. 1 in the Connecticut Yankee Council, which covers Fairfield and New Haven counties. That number is now at 17 with 121 girls participating. A few more troops are expected to form by the end of the year bringing the total number of girls to about 200, said Jay Lubin, vice president of membership for the council. The councils troops account for 1 percent of all of the countrys female troops and 5 percent of the female troops in the Northeast, Lubin said, adding he hopes to eventually have at least one troop in every town. Thats an enormous number, he said. Its very exciting. Its been a long time coming. The troop will check another thing off its list and host its first fundraiser with a community breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the fire station. Adult tickets are $12 and children and seniors tickets are $10. Cedusky knew she wanted to be in Boy Scouts as soon as the announcement was made. Her dad is an Eagle Scout and she had been going to her brothers Scouting events. She and Kevin Blackwells daughter, Clara, expressed their interest and gathered other girls who also wanted to do it. From there it just grew, Kevin Blackwell said. He said girls ask friends who share similar interests, such as being outdoors or even because they are also Girl Scouts. Some of the girls will get their Gold Award and be Eagle Scouts; I have no doubt, Blackwell said. Among them might be Ava Racett, who is a Girl Scout and in Troop 306. Racett, 11, said she decided to join Troop 306 because of the outdoor opportunities and training. She said she plans to stay in both because she is learning a lot of different things in each organization and is able to help others. I thought it would be good to join something to have that balance, she said. She said she first thought Scouts BSA was just camping, but has since learned there are a lot of opportunities available. She has been introduced to new hobbies since joining. I fell in love with it, Racett said. I love my troop and we all work so well together. Her favorite part was the Klondike challenge this winter where they were tested on their outdoor skills in freezing temperatures, competing against 21 other troops all but one of which were male. Cedusky said her favorite component of Scouts so far has been the National Youth Leadership Training because she was able to work with Scouts her age and her patrol excelled in every task. She said it gave her confidence to speak in front of others and the skills needed to lead Troop 306. She said she usually only gets questions about why she joined Boy Scouts from adults and those outside of Scouting. A lot of guys involved with it are very supportive, Cedusky said. Its a great community. Its hard to feel left out when everyones so inviting. Blackwell, who was scoutmaster for Reddings male troop, said the two troops havent done much together but suspects that will change soon. The boys from Troop 15 will help with the breakfast on Saturday and the girls will help with the boys spaghetti dinner in May. Cedusky, who leaves for college next year, said she hopes the troop lasts and other girls join so they too can learn leadership and important skills, such as first aid and survival skills. I want them to be able to be proud of it because its such a great program, she said. MILFORD A sex offender accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Shelton girl was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison. Miguel Feliciano, 28, had pleaded guilty under the Alford doctrine to second-degree sexual assault on Dec. 23, 2018. Under Alford, a defendant doesnt agree with all of the prosecutions accusations but concedes that a conviction is likely if the case went to trial. Feliciano has been behind bars since his August 2017 arrest in the case. According to an arrest warrant, Feliciano gave the girl Xanax and sexually assaulted her several times in a New Street home over the course of a weekend that May. In court Thursday, Felicianos lawyer, Peter Tsimbidaros, said Feliciano didnt know the girl was a minor. My client was not aware that she was under the legal age, Tsimbidaros said. According to the warrant, the victim told police Feliciano thought she was 16, but that she wanted him to go to jail. The warrant quoted the girl as saying I mean, it wasnt OK, but it was, I OKed it. It wasnt OK with the law, but it was OK with me. But he wanted to and was telling me dont tell anyone. During the investigation, police said they discovered Feliciano is a registered sex offender who had failed to verify his address with the state, as required by law. According to the states sex offender registry, Feliciano had a previous address in Ansonia. He was convicted in 2007 of having illegal sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl and was sentenced to serve three years behind bars. Judge Peter Brown said Thursday in court that the plea deal was appropriate given the allegations and Felicianos record. He then sentenced Feliciano to a 12-year prison sentence to be suspended after five years, followed by 10 years of probation. The judge ordered Feliciano to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and initiate no contact with minors while on probation. He also signed a protective order barring Feliciano from contacting the victim for the next 50 years. ethan.fry@hearstmediact.com NORWALK Meeker Court off Rowayton Avenue was known as a tranquil, private community, tucked away from many of the busier streets, according to its homeowners. Meeker Court was you walk down that road, it was quiet, it was peaceful, Patrick Sikorski, who lives on the street, said. The neighborhood was peaceful, tranquil, largely unknown, nobody really came down the road, kids were running around the street, just a really peaceful quiet place, like a little sanctuary. For almost four years, however, both those who live there and city officials have had to deal with ongoing issues due to construction on the small dead-end street. It was a very private place. Now, its a war zone, Sikorski said. Approval of construction Back in November 2015, a four-lot subdivision, which allowed four homes to be built on Meeker Court, was approved by the citys Planning Commission. The property, known in city documents as 35 Meeker Court, spans almost all of one side of the street, which was previously a wooded area. F&G Construction has been the contractor to build the homes, according to city documents, but the process to build the homes has taken longer than expected. They are very slow in the construction of these homes, said Michael Wrinn, the citys assistant director of planning and zoning. If youre looking at a typical builder, we probably would have been out of here and it would have been done, we would have had the drainage in and we would have been fine. Throughout the past few years, however, the site has not been fine, according to neighbors who live there and officials who have been called out to the site routinely. When F&G started to clear this lot, what they did was, they were bringing materials in and they were using it as a contractors yard so we (Planning and Zoning) got involved cease and desist stop work orders and that type of thing, Wrinn said. While the city was able to step in and enforce that issue, many residents said they wish the city would have been stricter with the development from the start and avoided some of these issues. I think its been a disappointment from the get-go basically because of the Norwalk planning and zoning policies that in a residential neighborhood like ours, this kind of environmental destruction should not be allowed, said Lynn Massey, who lives in the house behind the construction work. After the city handled the contractor yard issue, storms in fall 2018 revealed that the site did not have the proper erosion plans in place to deal with water and runoff. (Were) living between two hills and behind all of our properties is a wetlands, Sikorski explained. Wheres the water run? It runs downhill. Somebody takes away the root system on the side where the building is, youre screwed. Wrinn said the city was alerted to the problem in the fall of 2018, which is why it held public hearings at the Planning Commission to get updates from those involved with the site itself and the residents about the conditions of the property. Flooding issues In November 2018, Wrinn told the commission that there were many problems with drainage, sedimentation and erosion control at the property. Attorney Liz Suchy, who was representing the site, said that F&G was finding problems that should not have been there. Suchy declined to comment further, stating that planning commission matter was resolved. Wrinn said they met after that and put together an erosion plan for each phase of the project so that every time a house was built, there would still be a way to control water coming off the site. The plan was put in place between the November and December meetings. The builder created a berm at the end of the property, Wrinn said, that will not allow water to pass through onto the street. They also added six-foot deep detention basins on the site to help catch water running down the hill. Anything that comes down is going to settle out in those, so we dont have that water mitigating anywhere else, he said. Were not having anything go down across the property into the roadway now. Wrinn added that this was a huge step up from where the property was in October through December. Concerns over potential flooding and erosion issues on the property, however, date back to at least 2014, according to official city minutes. In October 2014, Michael Greene who was the former planning and zoning director, told the Subdivision Committee of the Planning Commission that the application for Meeker Court had to be postponed because the applicant had not given the staff the necessary information, especially about drainage. Frank Strauch, a site planner, told the subdivision committee in August 2015 that a different version of this application had previously been filed in 2013 but the commissioners had denied it. Sikorski said he and the neighbors had raised these concerns from the start. This is an old oak forest of old deeply rooted oak trees that supported the entire hills environment, Sikorski said. The original proposals by me and others was build the properties behind the oak trees. They support the root systems of the hillside, and dont destroy them they did. What happens? The water is running onto the road. Wrinn said that the city has been out to the site at least twice a week to monitor ongoing activity. Hes also providing status updates to the Planning Commission monthly. At the end of the day, do I think theres going to be a drainage problem? No, Wrinn said. Theyve got a licensed engineer, our public works department has reviewed it. When all of that goes in, well be fine, its just the interim between now and then. Noise Concerns In that interim, however, neighbors of Meeker Court said theyve been dealing with the effects left by the flooding earlier in the year and the ongoing noise from the construction site itself. Massey said that she believed the construction workers were mostly following the citys code, but that needed to be updated because it wasnt helping neighbors like her. I think the Norwalk noise ordinance is detrimental to human health and animals, she said. You cant have a pile driver going from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and have any quality of life ... There are different kinds of noises theres basic construction noise, which is dump trucks I can deal with that. You can close your door and basically drown it out, but a pile driver. She added, you have length of noise and its been going on for months the pile driving, the constructions been going on for years. Theres no official end date given for the entire project. So far the first house has been completed, and work has begun on the second home, according to Wrinn. The neighbors say this just means more of the same quality of life issues impacting them that theyve dealt with for the past few years. Its just endless, theres no end in site, Sikorski said, stating he blamed the citys Planning and Zoning Department for even allowing this in the first place. Massey said she believed the citys codes had to be updated to prevent something like this from happening to other neighborhoods, because their group had been proactive. We came to every meeting and we laid out all our anticipated problems and they all came true and theres no excuse for that, she said. kelly.kultys@hearstmediact.com NORWALK Critics say data is the ruin of education. It takes creativity out of teaching. Its often used as a hammer to beat teachers and kids into conformity. But what if, instead, its used as a flashlight, a tool that sheds light? Principal Zakkiyah Baker and the staff at Kendall Elementary School are doing just that. So often we focus on what the kids dont know and dont have, she said. Instead, as a team, we listened to what the data was telling us. We created a vision that plays to their strengths of problem-solving, listening, and creativity. The result? Using the extra 30 minutes that has been added to the elementary school day, the staff designed Enhanced Curriculum, a weekly course that is like Academically Talented for everyone, using project-based learning. We believe that all students should have access to exploration and creativity, said Baker. On a recent Friday morning, a fifth-grade class was in the library working on blueprints and cost analyses for a redesign of the library. Enhanced Curriculum teacher Randall Austin reviewed the goals for the next few classes: finish measuring the floor, find the area of the room, measure the walls, find the area of the walls, pick out a paint color, calculate how much paint will be needed and how much it will cost. Later, the students will pick out furniture and decor from catalogues, create a budget, and present their ideas to the principal. The walls are different heights in different parts of the room, so you have to measure all the walls, he explained. Holding up two pails of paint, he said, This gallon covers 400 square feet and this quart covers 100 square feet. Dont forget you need two coats. He reminded them that a spreadsheet on Google Classroom lists the costs of different kinds of paint. The fifth-graders went to work. Each group grabbed an iPad and held it up to the QVR code that was displayed on the Smartboard. The scanned code logged them into the blueprint app. They measured the floor, pointing the iPad to the floor and carefully walking the length or width of the room as numbers popped up on their screens. Because it was an oddly-shaped room, they had to measure a number of different areas and then add up the numbers. One area was a triangle. After they measured, the members of one group went to their cluster of white desks to figure out the area of that triangle. Turns out the top of the desks were actually whiteboards. Grabbing markers, the kids wrote their calculations on the top of the desks. How did you calculate the area of the triangle, asked Austin. Multiply the width times height and then divide by two, said Anthony Luna, who confided he wants to be an architect. Austin said that he aligns the standards that each grade must learn and turns them into a project in the Enhanced Curriculum course. He asks the classroom teachers, What are you guys struggling with? What can I do to support the students? Fifth-grader Luna sees the connection clearly: We learned how to find the square footage in math class because it connects to the standards, he said. One girl wrote A=1/2 BxH (Area = 1/2 Base x Height). When I said that she knew the formula, she responded, That was actually one of our vocabulary words! Austin said that classroom teachers appreciate the support. A third-grade teacher told him, Thank you for teaching them to multiply fractions. Now they have a leg up on their learning in fourth grade. Kendall has been named one of 160 Schools of Distinction in the State of Connecticut because of a big increase in English/Language Arts academic growth by high needs students. That is no small achievement since 80 percent of Kendall students are classified as high needs students English Language Learners, Special Education, and those qualified for free and reduced lunch. In fact, said Baker, when you look at individual growth in achievement, Kendall was in the top 10 percent of the state. Baker says that the key to their improvement is consistency, leadership, and collaboration. She said that she challenges the staff to look at the data and create a vision: Who are we? What is our vision for our kids? What is the vision for each classroom? Assistant Principal Sarah Carmody added, We are consistent with expectations in the school. We all work together and have the same goals. And leadership is not confined to the two administrators: theres a literacy team, a school leadership team, a data team, all led by teachers. Everyone has to been involved to support our kids, said Baker. Parents want to know how they can help at home. And the school turns to other schools for help. Teams of teachers visited Columbus to witness Monday meetings, Rowayton to see how they teach reading, and Tracey to see Enrichment Clusters. Were not stopping, Baker said. Teachers say they want the freedom to do project-based learning in their classrooms more often, and plans are under way to create classrooms that utilize that kind of teaching. In project-based learning, kids do most of the work, said Austin. When I provide the structure, skills and resources, its amazing how far they can go. NORWALK About 30 people gathered along the Stroffolino Bridge on Thursday, calling on the Attorney General to release the full report put together by special counsel and former FBI director Robert Mueller. We want the full Mueller report to be made public, organizer Andrea Chase, of Weston, said. We want transparency and we believe in the rule of law. At least five counter-protestors were also there to advocate on President Donald Trumps behalf, including two masked men who drove back and forth with a #MAGA sign on their truck. The counterprotestors also had signs that read, CNN is Fake News, and repeatedly chanted in support of the president and against Democratic figures, like the Obamas and the Clintons. The event was one of many organized across the country through the liberal group, MoveOn, as a part of a #ReleaseTheReport day of action. This is a nationwide call to make the full Mueller report and all supporting material public and a response to Attorney General William Barrs failure to do so, a statement from the organization reads. This is so important, despite and because of Barrs announcement that he will release a redacted version of the report in the next few weeks. The American people and Congress demand the full report now. Barr should not be given the benefit of the doubt before it is submitted to Congress, and his announcement is only a weak pledge for a partial report, heavily redacted, at some time in the future. We demand full transparency today, not partial news later. Mueller officially ended his investigation in March and Barr released a four-page letter to Congress, in which he laid out Muellers principal conclusions. Barrs letter stated that Mueller found that President Donald Trumps campaign did not coordinate or conspire with Russia, but he did not reach a conclusion on whether or not the president obstructured justice. The full report is described as nearly 400 pages long. Those in attendance held signs along the roadway, calling for the reports release, which included those that read Not above the law, #Releasethereport and Resist. I hope we are showing public pressure, Holly Grey, of Norwalk, said. Grey said they were showing their faces and showing their support for pressuing Barr to release the full version of the report. Bobbie Stoll, of Norwalk, said she came to try to influence the release of the report and get others to join their cause. Ideally it would make people rethink the issues, she said about what she hoped their presence could accomplish. Across the street, Paul Juchniewich, known as Pastor Paul, said he was there to show some opposition. He and a few others said the report exonerated the president and that the people gathered to protest its release looked foolish. Let the report come out, he said. We dont care. The groups engaged in back and forth chants, with Trumps not above the law and Hillarys not above the law, before it ended after about 50 minutes. kelly.kultys@hearstmediact.com NORWALK Questions surrounding the Walk Bridge project have resurfaced after Gov. Ned Lamont said he would take a look at the railroad bridge replacement at a Norwalk Chamber of Commerce dinner. I havent made up my mind on that, I really havent. Its an important bridge to keep rail moving fast and to upgrade our transportation system, but I share a lot of the same distress that you do that this is not the way to run a railroad, Lamont said in response to a question asked by Jason Milligan, a local commercial real estate developer. Lamont made the comments at the event on Tuesday that was videotaped and uploaded by local online news site, NancyonNorwalk. Mayor Harry Rilling said on Thursday that he understood Lamont wanting to take a look, but was concerned over any potential delays. Its understandable and expected that Gov. Lamont would want to discuss and review this project with his team, which includes a new Department of Transportation Commissioner, Rilling said. I hope there is no delay to this project. What I have communicated to him is that if this project has to be done, it has to be done as soon as possible. It cannot be dragged out. I am concerned starting over with a new design will increase disruption in Norwalk from five years to a decade or more. Colleen Flanagan, senior adviser to the governor, said on Thursday that Lamont wanted to make sure the project was done properly. The Governor is committed to working with the DOT and the City to ensure this important project is fully vetted and implemented in a way that is most cost effective and least impactful to the City, its residents, businesses and visitors, she said in a statement. Lamonts comments come as final designs for the planned $511 million replacement bridge are expected by this summer with construction beginning in the fall. The existing Walk Bridge, a swing-span structure built in 1896, has failed to close properly on numerous occasions, which can affect the New Haven Metro-North line. The structure has outlived its 100-year life span and must be replaced, Department of Transportation The bridge carries roughly 200 trains across the Norwalk River each day, according to the DOT. The states Department of Transportation said that it plans to replace the existing swing-span bridge with a 240-foot span, vertical-lift bridge. The lift bridges towers are described as 150 feet above the level of the railroad tracks, according to a description of the project. The overall project, which includes infrastructure projects up and down the line is slated to cost about $1.2 billion. It is estimated to take four to five years to construct. Rilling had voiced his support for the project in an op-ed in March 2019, stating that he believed a movable bridge is the most effective and least disruptive option. Still, Lamonts remarks were applauded by those who are against the current plans for the 122-year-old bridge. I would be eternally grateful if he would re-examine this, Lisa Brinton, independent mayoral candidate, said on Thursday. Brinton has argued that there are more cost-effective and less disruptive options to the replacement bridge, including fixing the current one in place. Lamont said earlier in his speech that investing in transportation was key and important to the states economic development. Right now these trains slow to a crawl over these 90-year-old bridges, Lamont said to applause in the crowd. We can do an awful lot better than that and we can do it now. That prompted Milligan to question Lamont over the bridge project in Norwalk. You mention bridges. Theres a bridge in town that people refer to as a billion dollar boondoggle bridge, Milligan said. It was set up under the previous administration, is that a closed case? Is it done? Lamont said that hes talked to Rilling about the bridge and its cost. Its a lift bridge, (a) lift bridge adds a lot of cost as far as I can figure out to the cost of that bridge and Im told theres an occasional sailboat that goes by there, so all of which are reasons to say this is crazy, this is the type of boondoggle that makes people really cynical about government, he said. The river currently has a federal designation of navigable waterway, which is at the heart of the states justification of a vertical lift design, according to a September 2016 environmental assessment report. The report found that low- and mid-level fixed bridge options would meet nine of the projects 10 stated needs, while also costing less to build when compared to a lift bridge. Lamont said, however, that after talking with the federal secretary of transportation, he learned it could take delay the project 3-5 years to go through the Coast Guard, which is tasked with determining whether a proposed structure would affect waterway navigability. Rilling wrote in the op-ed that he believed keeping the federal designation was beneficial for the city. I believe a movable bridge and a federally designated navigable waterway is essential for our city, Rilling said. Having a fixed bridge, and thus removing that designation would be shortsighted and restrict a prime area of Norwalk from future opportunities. The waterfront is a defining characteristic of Norwalk, which is desirable to residents, businesses, and tourists. Brinton said that she believed the planned structure would be both a source of disruption and an eyesore. I believe its over-engineered, she said. It will disrupt East and South Norwalk. It will disrupt the environment. It will define our city. Brinton said that she believed a replacement could be done cheaper and less disruptive. She also stated that she believed the city was not properly being compensated properly for the impact it would have. I believe city hall let us down, she said. We were let down by the mayors and our representatives. Rilling said he believed that it was important the city be involved in any and all conversations, as they have been throughout the process. We have been involved at every stage - from the design of the bridge to planning detour routes all in order to limit the impact on Norwalk residents and businesses, he said. I have met with Governor Lamont and have shared the concerns of residents and businesses. There is an unprecedented amount of state projects happening now and planned in the coming months and years in Norwalk, and it is important this work be done quickly. kelly.kultys@hearstmediact.com WESTPORT More change is coming to Westport schools according to the agenda items for Mondays Board of Education meeting, which include separation agreement regarding Superintendent of Schools and Appointment of Acting Superintendent of Schools. Westport schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer announced her resignation from the district on March 14, at which time she said she planned to retire effective Aug. 1. New Delhi, Apr 5 (IBNS): Indian Air Force on Friday said it had proof of shooting down a Pakistani F-16 aircraft in February, refuting claims made otherwise in a US journal report. A report in the US news publication Foreign Policy had said on Thursday: "Two senior US defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told Foreign Policy that U.S. personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none missing." Reacting to it, the Indian Air Force today said: "The Indian Forces have confirmed sighting ejections at two different places on that day. The two sightings were at places separated by at least 8-10 km. One was an IAF MiG 21 Bison and other a PAF aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate that the PAF aircraft was a F-16." IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was the pilot ejecting from the IAF MiG 21 Bison. He had been captured and later released by Pakistan. On February 28, the IAF had furnished to the media pieces of the AMRAAM missile fired by a Pakistani F-16. However, the missile did not prove whether the fighter aircraft was actually shot down. The Foreign Policy report said Pakistan had invited US officials to physically count its F-16s after the incident. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," the report said. "It is possible that in the heat of combat, Varthaman, flying a vintage MiG-21 Bison, got a lock on the Pakistani F-16, fired, and genuinely believed he scored a hit. But the count, conducted by U.S. authorities on the ground in Pakistan, sheds doubt on New Delhi's version of events, suggesting that Indian authorities may have misled the international community about what happened that day," says Foreign Policy. Alex von Kleydorff Its an age-old story. Its virtually everyones story, whether we go back one generation or 12: An immigrant comes to America in search of a better life. He does not know the language. He has neither money nor work. What he does have is a name someone from home whos been here longer, who helps him find a bed in a crowded apartment, and a job washing dishes at a diner. Its far from his apartment and it pays next to nothing, but he can eat there. Its a start. He catches a break: The other dishwasher quits, so now he can work double shifts. Still, theres only so far he can go without English. He learns a few words, not enough. Then someone tells him about English as a Second Language. The classroom is far from both home and work, but he goes. Hes getting by on four hours sleep and one meal a day, but hes learning English now. Hes on his way. With nearly all of the ballots counted, Zelensky garnered 30.24 percent of the vote, while Poroshenko gained 15.95 percent in the first round of the elections held on March 31, the CEC website showed. Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the opposition Fatherland party, is ranked third with the support of 13.40 percent voters. She is followed by Yuriy Boyko, representative of an oppositional platform "For Life," and Anatoly Hrytsenko, leader of "Civil Position" party, with 11.67 percent and 6.91 percent of the vote, respectively. A total of 62.8 percent of 29.8 million Ukrainian eligible voters cast their ballots in the first round of the election. The second round will take place on April 21. Final results are set to be released by May 4, and the new president is expected to take office no later than June 3. As the nations opioid crisis claims more than 40,000 lives each year, lawsuits against opioid producers are piling up and getting complicated. The biggest player in these lawsuits is Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma, which has no affiliation with Purdue University. As of August 2018, 27 states filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, creator of OxyContin, alleging the privately held opioid manufacturer has done misleading marketing campaigns since the 1990s to push doctors to prescribe stronger opioids that the company said were less addictive. The company already pleaded guilty in 2007 to federal charges related to the misbranding of OxyContin and paid $634.5 million in penalties. Lawsuits from state and local governments allege Purdue Pharma knowingly downplayed the risk of addiction to OxyContin, which came out in 1996 and is about 50 percent stronger than morphine. Along with other states that have sued the company, Massachusetts has sued individual members of the Sackler family, who own and controls Purdue Pharma. Purdue Pharma settled with the state of Oklahoma on March 26 for $270 million, which will fund addiction research and treatment in the state and pay for legal fees. Around 1,600 lawsuits have been consolidated in a federal court in Ohio. The judge in that case has pushed for a settlement before the first trial scheduled for October. Purdue Pharma is reportedly considering filing for bankruptcy, a common move by companies facing mounting litigation to stop lawsuits and negotiate with plaintiffs in one federal court proceeding. In February, an unredacted lawsuit accused the company of considering selling an anti-addiction drug to an attractive market. That would mean Purdue Pharma, which profited from an opioid crisis it helped create, would then circle back through the wreckage and profit again by selling a cure. Thats the general allegation against other opioid producers and distributors that they downplayed the risk of addiction and pushed doctors to overprescribe. Other opioid producers coming under fire include Johnson & Johnson, which Kentucky sued in April 2018. The state accused Johnson & Johnson, along with two subsidiaries, of using a deceptive marketing scheme to push opioids. The Cherokee Nation in April 2017 sued drug distributors and pharmacies including Wal-Mart, Walgreens and CVS Health alleging that the companies profited by flooding its communities in Oklahoma with opioids that led to the deaths of hundreds of trial members. Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. EDWARDSVILLE Less than one of every nine registered Madison County voters came out Tuesday to cast ballots in the consolidated election. Madison County Clerk Debra Ming-Mendoza knew it was going to be a low turnout, but didnt quite expect it to be this bad, calling it disappointing. The voter turnout was 11.81 percent according to unofficial poll results. Of the 183,278 registered voters only 21,640 went to the polls. In comparable elections, the voter turnout was 15.36 in 2015, and 21.49 percent in 2011. She said the most common reason for not voting she and others in her office heard was that there were no real races of interest. Theyre all important, she said of the contests. If somebody doesnt have opposition, still go and voice your opinion on that issue. The election covered municipal and school boards, as well as library, township and water districts. There were also three referendums on the ballot, including a 1 percent sales tax in Wood River. These folks touch your life on a daily basis, she said. Its just disappointing. She said there were some spikes in voter turnout, including Godfrey, Collinsville and Highland, but not enough to move the needle on total turnout. Its a shame, she said. We had precincts where the total number of votes all day long was less than 30. Ming-Mendoza noted that the workload for the County Clerks Office was the same regardless of how many voted, or didnt vote. Theres no slacking off, the process and the routine is the same whether its a presidential or a consolidated, she said. In several contests write-in candidates have made it difficult to determine the unofficial winners. In Glen Carbon Bob Marcus was the only candidate on the ballot seeking three four-year terms. He received 777 votes, according to the unofficial tally. However, six people ran as write-ins. In the Roxana School Board race incumbents Sherry Keller and Clyde Butch McGill, and challenger Steve Palen were on the ballot for three open seats, but incumbent Karen McKinzie was running as a write-in after being kicked off the ballot on a technicality. Keller received 718 votes, McGill 755 and Palen 524 in unofficial results. There were xxx write-in ballots cast, but they will have to be examined to determine if they are valid. Hopefully these candidates had folks in the polls gathering these numbers, but there is nothing I can tell them officially, Ming-Mendoza said. Part of the reason is they are still waiting for mail-in ballots, which are due by April 16. That would be the last day that ballots could be accepted, as long as they are postmarked by April 2, she said. The canvass, where vote totals become officials and the write-ins will be fully counted, must be held by April 23. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. SPRINGFIELD Dick Durbin wants to scrap the Electoral College system of electing the countrys president. Durbin, one of Illinois two U.S. senators, joined fellow Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Dianne Feinstein of California, and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York in announcing the push for a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College. The amendment takes the form of a Senate Joint Resolution, which needs two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate to be sent to states, where approval from three-quarters of legislatures is required for ratification. The amendment would scrap the Electoral College, which the senators call undemocratic, in favor of direct election of the U.S. president by popular vote. The Electoral College is a relic from a shameful period in our nations history, Durbin wrote in a news release, and allows some votes to carry greater weight than others. A handful of states now determine the leader for all 50 states, regardless of each candidates final vote tally. Durbin mentioned the two times in the past 20 years that a president won the popular vote but lost the election. Both losing candidates were Democrats Al Gore in 2000 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. A federal constitutional amendment eliminating the Electoral College is but one way Illinois is looking to change the way to elect a president. Another plan would bypass, rather than eliminate, the Electoral College through a multi-state compact, which Illinois joined in 2008 under former Gov. Rod Blagojevichs administration. Each state in the compact would award all of its Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote. But for the compact to take effect, enough states must join to push their cumulative Electoral College voting power over the 270-vote threshold required to win the presidency. In March, Democratic Gov. John Carney made Delaware the 13th state along with Washington, D.C., to join the national popular vote compact, pushing the groups total voting power to 184. In Tuesdays news release, Durbin referenced the compact as another method of getting rid of the Electoral College. A ZIP code should not silence some voters while amplifying others, the release said. This constitutional amendment would address this inequality by abolishing the outdated Electoral College system. Some Illinois lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction. In February, state GOP Rep. Tim Butler, of Springfield, introduced legislation to change the system so that all the states Electoral College votes do not go to the same candidate. That bill was sent back to committee, however, and is unlikely to receive further consideration. A president losing the national popular vote but winning the presidency has happened only three other times in U.S. history: John Quincy Adams in 1824, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, and Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Xiao Qian (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 12:17 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8732343f5 3 Opinion Belt-road-initiative,China-Indonesia,partnership,bilateral-cooperation,China,geopolitics,Jokowi,Jokowi-administration,infrastructure-development,infrastructure Free It was here in Indonesia in 2013 that the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative was first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Indonesia. To achieve national rejuvenation of China and Indonesia, President Xi and President Joko Jokowi Widodo have reached the important consensus on promoting synergy between Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Indonesias Global Maritime Fulcrum Vision. Since then, China-Indonesia relations have entered the fast track of development for mutual benefit and win-win results. Southeast Asias first high speed rail, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail is the signature project of the first phase of synergizing strategies. Construction has begun on over 50 work sites including several bridges and tunnels. The tunnel boring machine has been installed and commissioned. Concrete-pouring of the first box beam was completed. We hope the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail will be completed at an early date. By then, the 3 to 5 hour or more commuting time by car between the two cities will be shortened to under 40 minutes, which will form an economic corridor along the route. During Premier Li Keqiangs visit to Indonesia last May, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridors, the signature project of the second phase of synergizing development strategies between China and Indonesia. A few days ago, the first meeting of the Corridors joint steering committee was held in Bali. This project will greatly stimulate growth in the outlying islands and reinvigorate alignment of development strategies. The positive trend of China-Indonesia cooperation is the epitome of Chinas BRI cooperation. More and more countries have aligned their respective strategies with the BRI which unleashed cooperation potentials and generated new drivers for the global economy. The BRI principle of joint consultation and collaboration for shared benefits has been incorporated into the outcome documents of major international mechanisms including the United Nations. To date, over 140 countries and international organizations have signed BRI agreements with China. Trade between China and the BRI partner countries has exceeded US$6 trillion. The more than $80 billion of Chinese investment in these countries has created over 240,000 local jobs. Apart from being a grand vision for cooperation, the BRI also aims to improve peoples livelihoods, enabling ordinary families and people to realize their dreams. There is a young woman from Surabaya, who works for the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Rail project, after graduating from the Engineering Department of Yellow River Conservancy Technical Institute, Henan province, in 2016. She joined the project as a translator and now has become a white-collar employee. Three months after joining the company, she bought her mother a car, her dream since childhood. Now, her biggest dream is that one day the high-speed rail would not only be completed at a early date, but also extended to her hometown in Surabaya. Within the past five years, the Qingshan Morowali Industrial Park in Sulawesi has reached the annual production target of 3 million tons of stainless steel, making Indonesia the worlds second-largest stainless steel producer. A 27-year-old local young man became a crane driver in the industrial park after months of training. His monthly salary has risen to Rp 8 million ($564.08). More than 28,000 local employees work in the park, and the number keeps growing. Another example is Huawei. Starting with only five employees in 2000, Huawei Indonesia now has over 2,500 staff, and locals make up 87 percent of the workforce. The company indirectly generates more than 20,000 jobs each year. In 2017, Huawei launched the Smart Generation Program in collaboration with eight Indonesian universities to share the latest technologies and applications. It has provided internships and job opportunities for over 3,000 outstanding local university students. In 2018, in response to President Jokowis call for developing vocational education, Huawei provided free information and communications technology training for thousands of students from 12 local vocational schools, to help Indonesia cultivate its own engineers. Huawei has invited more than 100 Indonesian students to study communications in China. If we look back at the past five years of BRI cooperation and ask what it has brought to Indonesia, I believe the above stories have answered the question. It has stimulated investment and cooperation, created opportunities and dreams, advanced growth and progress, and brought hope and aspiration. Nonetheless, people still criticize China for disregarding other countries liabilities and solvency when issuing loans, and adding to the debt of some countries, in an attempt to gain control over projects. Such accusation is groundless. China always sticks to an economic benefit-oriented approach, extending loans based on the real conditions of the relevant countries, supporting project construction and avoiding creating more debt risks or increasing fiscal burdens of the host countries. To ensure sustainable financing, 27 countries, including China, have formulated the Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the Belt and Road, which aims to foster a transparent, friendly, non-discriminatory and foreseeable financing environment with equal consideration to debt sustainability, to ensure steady and sustained progress in building the BRI. Regions along the BRI have long faced significant financing gaps, the chronic bottleneck restricting regional development. According to the Asian Development Bank, by 2030, Asia will need $1.7 trillion infrastructure investment per year. Currently, it can receive over $800 billion annually, only filling half the gap. The African Development Bank also reported Africa will need up to $170 billion worth of infrastructure investment each year. Yet, the current annual investment meets barely one third of the demand. The BRI projects bring effective investment, valuable assets and much-needed development funds to the relevant countries, and help promote local economic growth and improve livelihoods. As President Xi remarked, the BRI may be Chinas idea, but its opportunities and outcomes are going to benefit the world; China has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and imposes no business deals on others. Over the past five years, reality shows no attachment of political strings to BRI cooperation or any attempt to seek selfish political gains. Instead, the BRI is committed to further improve global supply, value and industry chains by strengthening connectivity. Mounting protectionism and unilateralism particularly hurts the growth environment of developing countries. The BRI cooperation thus plays an increasingly positive role. China stands ready to work with all countries including Indonesia with joint consultation and collaboration for shared benefits, further synergize development strategies, and jointly contribute to development and lasting prosperity of the region and beyond. This month, Beijing is to host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. We look forward to more fruitful results that will deliver more opportunities and benefits to Indonesia and other countries and regions along the BRI. *** The writer is Chinas Ambassador to Indonesia. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Course Detail Practical Mineral Processing and Extraction Workshop provide a concise and thorough overview of extractive metallurgy as it is applied in industry today. It provides an overview of the processing and extraction challenges and provides answers to these challenges. The primary objective of this workshop is to discuss current techniques and future trends in the area of mineral processing and metal extraction. This is an important and growing area, yet there are few practical and up-to-date workshops that devoted to this purpose. This workshop not only discusses the different techniques available for mineral processing and metal extraction, but it also provides attendees sound information on plant optimisation and cost reduction. Venue Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Evi Mariani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 09:25 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87315ca85 1 Opinion #commentary,#2019GeneralElections,#2019PresidentialElection,2019-presidential-election,sexual-violence-bill Free Less than two weeks ahead of the general election, online discussion groups have been abuzz with heated, ugly debates about nonvoters. In the end, the debates are essentially about the presidential race, while the legislative election has been so far untouched by these political commentators. The arguments against nonvoters, at least among my circle of friends and acquaintances, mostly highlight the achievements of incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo and the hazards of choosing his rival, Prabowo Subianto. Some even put forward a grandiose argument, saying that choosing Jokowi will save the nation. Although choosing the right legislative candidate might not be equal to saving the whole nation, it can help us advance our interests regarding one important bill. For women and men who believe in the eradication of sexual abuse against women (or men) and who believe in humanity, we should make sure that we choose a legislative candidate who will support the sexual violence eradication bill. Initiated by the House of Representatives, this bill has been on the legislation table for years, and now it has been the subject of debate between parties in the House. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) says the bill is promoting liberal values. A conservative Muslim activist, Maimon Herawati, started a petition against the bill, calling it pro-adultery and pro-LGBT, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The deliberation will commence again after the election and we cannot know for sure when it will end. It may continue after the House inaugurates new legislators in October. However, there are legislators who have been supporting the bill and there are parties who initiated it. So as voters, we should carefully select candidates in our respective electoral districts. Make sure you research the background of the candidate you choose. If necessary, find the candidates social media account or contact number, and ask him or her about how strong his or her commitment to support the bill is. Also read the news about the Houses debate on this subject, and identify legislators who have supported the bill. Who knows, these people might run again in your electoral district. I have checked the names of candidates running in my electoral district in South Tangerang, Banten, and have spent and will spend these next few days checking their track record. One way to do this, if the candidate has served as a legislator, is to check their profile on WikiDPR.id, a website dedicated to monitoring legislators. If your candidates are new, I suggest you track their social media accounts, and perhaps send them a private message asking them where they stand on the bill. I am aware that choosing a candidate on the basis of only one bill could be a disadvantage. First, you could end up with a candidate from a party you do not exactly prefer. This party, perhaps, has a track record of corrupt politicians. Second, this might feel shortsighted and narrow-minded for some people because Indonesia has so many problems, so why think only about one bill? Im not saying it will save the nation or that it is the only one that is important for us to care about. But I believe this bill is among the most important ones the nation has ever deliberated. The Jakarta Post has collaborated with media outlets Tirto.id and VICE Indonesia to uncover sexual abuse on campuses. As we found from online testimony we shared with readers, cases are widespread. Gadjah Mada University (UGM) might be on top of peoples minds when we talk about sexual abuse on campuses, but it is just one institution that happens to have brave victims that spoke up and reported their cases. We found fresh cases at Diponegoro University in Semarang, past cases at Padjadjaran University in Bandung and a recent case at a private university in Bali. And we have received testimonies from many places, including state and private universities. And we have not even talked about sexual abuse in schools, workplaces, public spaces and families. Cases of fathers raping their own daughters have surfaced several times recently. Teachers molested children and friends assaulted friends. And I am sure that what has come to the surface is only a fraction of what has been going on under the radar. We have also found that most victims are afraid to speak out. We are glad that we can talk to the brave ones. They are scared for a valid reason: perpetrators impunity. I believe the bill on the eradication of sexual violence will help victims speak out because it has stipulations that protect them. With more victims speaking out, the bill will help end perpetrators impunity and will make us, as a society, better. And the bills passing will surely make this nation better therefore it is important that we use our one vote on April 17 for this single objective. So whatever you decide to do with regards to the presidential election, please choose a legislative candidate who will support the eradication of sexual violence against our fellow citizens. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Duncan Graham (The Jakarta Post) Malang, East Java Fri, April 5, 2019 09:05 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873159d9d 1 Lifestyle #bytheway,#Indonesia,#election,#Elections,#PresidentialDebate,#Jokowi,#Prabowo,#politics,#PoliticalParties Free Look here, glance there: Just gaze at my face on these huge posters and linger; youll instinctively understand that Im the right candidate for you in the upcoming election. My generous smile says Ill make a fine politician able to accomplish much during my first term. Yes, its true, I did have sunspots, worry lines, birthmarks and blemishes, but all are erased by the clever Photoshop people. They said imperfections repelled voters; as Im going to represent you and other interests in the highest debating forums in the republic, I must look perfect. Which I am. Obviously, youll want to know about my faith. I cant be specific because that might turn off some electors who think politics should be secular, so Ill send hidden messages. That means covering or uncovering my hair, or including a symbol on a necklace. And to ensure this remains gender-neutral, lets be frank. Or rather, Frank. Should I wear a peci, the rimless black Javanese cap, to signal that Im a true red and white nationalist? Or would a kopiah skullcap be enough to suggest I know where Mecca is located? The experts tell me that you dupes, sorry, canny folks in voterland, want to know whether I go to a mosque, church or temple, though I dont think it should matter, to be honest. Hey, isnt that a funny word? Dont hear it much nowadays. Actually, I dont worship much outside my mirror, as Im a bit of a freethinker, as they say in Singapore, where I have several bank accounts and two apartments. Of course that information isnt on my poster; do you think Im stupid? Forget that question. When youve been number one all your life its sometimes difficult to be meek and humble. Thank goodness itll soon be April 17 so I can return to my normal self. Well, for five years anyway. Youll never know any of this, unless some muckraking journalist does a bit of digging and reveals all. Im not worried. Ill say its fake news. It works for the US president, so thats OK. Thats what my appointed advisor suggests. I call him my dalang its a joke because he says hes not a puppet master but a professional psephologist. Hes studied techniques used in those overseas centers of democracy and stability. Places like Australia, which I read somewhere, has had seven leaders in the past decade, while weve just had two. Ive been there a few times to catch up with my kids at university, so Ive learned a bit about the folks Down Under. Do you know they have compulsory voting? If not, maybe no one would bother. Can you imagine most prefer the beach to malls. Here were free to shop or stay home, like 25 percent did during the last election, or head to the polling booth. Heres my advice: Only make the journey if youre going to put a nail through my name. Otherwise take it easy. Check the supermarket specials its a holiday. So what else should I have on my poster? Theres no space for the policies of the party Ive recently joined. I must keep repeating its name suppose I had a slip of the tongue and mentioned the one I favored until they found a candidate with more money? I know a list of the academic qualifications Ive bought, I mean earned, through years of diligent study. Do you know what the title BS means? Neither do I, but it sounds impressive. They gave me that award when I spoke in Australia apparently something to do with bovine digestive systems, so possibly an agricultural degree. Someone said it meant poppycock, but thats horticulture. What do I fear? Well, losing obviously, though weve spent huge sums to make sure that doesnt happen. My real concern is the other candidates. Im told some pitching for the 20,000 seats are serious and want to be elected so they can make the country better and improve the lives of the poor. That made me laugh. We never thought politics was for altruists when Pak Soeharto ran the show. Ah, those were the days. Maybe the general will bring them back. (ste) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dan Whitcomb (Reuters) Los Angeles Fri, April 5, 2019 15:02 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87316f94e 2 People Jussie-Smollett,hate-crime,hoax Free Chicago will sue actor Jussie Smollett for the costs of police overtime spent investigating his claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, which prosecutors say were false, a city lawyer said on Thursday. The lawsuit was being prepared after Smollett, 36, refused a demand by the city for $130,000, said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Department of Law. "Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019, McCaffrey said. "The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook Country." Smollett, who is black and gay, touched off a social media fire storm by telling police on Jan. 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. But the actor, best known for his role as a gay musician on the Fox Television hip-hop drama Empire, was charged in February with staging the incident himself and filing a false police report. Last week prosecutors dropped all charges against Smollett, infuriating police and outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The case file was sealed by a Chicago judge, which critics suggested was evidence of a cover-up. The actor's criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos, could not be reached for comment. Read also: Case dropped against US actor Jussie Smollett accused of hate attack hoax On Monday, some 300 people, including off-duty Chicago police officers, took to the streets to protest, calling on Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to resign over her handling of the case. Foxx, who recused herself from the case before charges were filed, citing conversations she had with one of his relatives, has defended her actions and those of her prosecutors. Smollett was written out of the final two episodes of "Empire" this season after he was charged with staging the hate crime. Fox executives have not said if he will return should the show be renewed for another year. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Josa Lukman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 17:44 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873178075 1 Entertainment Movie,film-festival,Europe-on-Screen,Europe,Indonesia Free Danish award-winning thriller Den skyldige (The Guilty) and lighthearted Austrian drama Womit haben wir das verdient? (What Have We Done To Deserve This?) are among 101 titles to be screened at the upcoming Europe on Screen (EOS), which is among the longest running international film festivals in Indonesia. Running from April 18 to 30, the 19th edition of EOS marks its expansion to Bekasi and Tangerang. Just like last year, the festival will continue to screen contemporary films from 27 European countries in Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Denpasar, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Danish thriller Den skyldige, which won accolades at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, will open EOS. The film centers on a demoted police officer who is drawn into a potential kidnapping case and is tempted to bend, or break, the law to secure the safe return of a woman who called him on the emergency line. The festival will also feature special segments based on various topics. For this years Retrospective segment, the festival will highlight the centenary founding of Bauhaus, the German school of art and design, with a screening of documentary Bauhaus Spirit. An invitation-only screening will be held on April 19, with public screenings on April 21, 22, and 24. Also in the spotlight are the works of esteemed Italian film director Bernardo Bertolucci, who passed away in November 2018. Three of Bertoluccis films Il Conformista (1970), The Dreamers (2003), and The Last Emperor (1987) will be screened at the Italian Cultural Institute and Kineforum. Continuing from last years #OurOcean, this years environmentally-minded theme will be #OurLand, comprising six feature-length documentaries and four shorts centering on issues such as population, biodiversity and waste management. Festival co-director Nauval Yazid said the lineup of documentaries was curated carefully to counter the image of being heavy and serious. The documentaries vary in subject, ranging from refugees (Eldorado), family (Bezness as Usual) to fashion (We Margiela). Wed like to show that documentaries can also be easily accessible, easily watchable and populist as well, Nauval said. Foreign movies are not all that there is to EOS, as the festival will also hold discussions with European filmmakers and practitioners. A Belgian graphic designer will visit Binus University to discuss the creation of film posters, while Den skyldige producer Lina Flint and scriptwriter Emil Nygaard Albertsen will talk about their experiences making the movie at Media Nusantara University and Binus University, respectively. Two Indonesian movies, Ismail Basbeths Arini and Hanung Bramantyos The Gift, will also be featured in a segment called On Location, with the unifying trait being their filming location of Europe. The filmmakers will be present during the screenings to share their experiences. More Indonesian content will be available with the screening of Bangkis and Lasagna, two of the three short films that received partial funding from the Short Film Pitching Project held during EOS 2018. The program makes a return this year and nine finalists selected out of a total of 110 submissions will be judged by a panel on April 30 to determine the three winners. This year, EOS introduces a membership system to provide a seamless cinematic experience. With the card system, we are trying to better manage the flow of visitors, as the moviegoers only need to present their card or a picture of it to the committee, of course after waiting in line, festival co-director Meninaputri Wismurti explained, adding that the system eliminated the need to fill out individual forms for each screening. Moviegoers can obtain a card for free at Jakarta venues by coming one hour before the screening. The card will also be good for a 10 percent discount at the festivals partners, Kemala Home Living and vegetarian restaurant Burgreens. Meninaputri said the membership card system was the festivals attempt at crowd management, anticipating a large number of moviegoers like during EOS 2018, which drew 24,000 visitors. In light of the festivals ever-increasing viewership and lineup, European Union Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Guerend underlined that organizers had maintained the central principle that every screening be free of charge. There have been discussions in the past whether or not we should ask for an entry fee, even symbolic, but we kept the principle of free entrance. I think its important to give free access to the viewing, Guerend said. EOS 2019 will close with Austrian comedy Womit haben wir das verdient?, a lighthearted romp about an atheist feminist woman who finds that her teenage daughter converted to Islam and that her ex-husband is an expectant father. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 11:08 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873163317 1 Entertainment pet-sematary,Stephen-King,death,film-review,Movie Free Stephen Kings Pet Sematary was first adapted for the big screen in 1989. A second adaption of the classic horror novel has recently been released and carries the same tagline: Sometimes dead is better. Directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer, 2019s Pet Sematary is set in the town of Ludlow in Maine, the United States. Traveling from Boston, Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) moves to the town so he can spend more time with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and children, Ellie (Jete Laurence) and Gage (Hugo Lavoie and Lucas Lavoie). The family also bring along their cat, Church, which is very much loved by Ellie. Accompanied by his neighbor Jud (John Lithgow, right), Louis (Jason Clarke, left) buries the family's dead cat on a misty hill. (Paramount Pictures/Kerry Hayes) Working as a doctor at a university hospital, one day Louis is unable to save his patient, Victor Pascow (Obssa Ahmed), who suffered severe injuries from an accident. Louis life then changes, as Victors spirit often shows up in his dreams and warns him about an area in his backyard. Meanwhile, Ellie discovers a place called the Pet Sematary behind her home, which appears to be where locals bury their deceased pets. As Ellie strolls on, she is stopped by Jud (John Lithgow), a widower who lives near her house. Jud soon becomes a friend of the family. Read also: Stephen King announces 'good vs. evil' novel 'The Institute' One day Church is found dead after being hit by a truck. Believing that Ellie will be devastated when she finds out, Jud suggests that Louis bury Church on a misty hill a short distance from the Creeds house. Church suddenly reappears in the house, but seems different from the cat the family knew, leading to horrifying incidents that will haunt the Creeds and Jud. The family's dead cat, Church, suddenly reappears in the house, but seems different from the cat the family knew, leading to horrifying incidents that will haunt the Creeds and Jud. (Paramount Pictures/Kerry Hayes) Those who have watched the 1989 film may spot a stark difference in the 2019 remake. Kolsch and Widmyer set a gloomy tone from the opening scene and both should be applauded for building a good amount of suspense; however, sometimes their jump-scares are rather predictable. Pet Sematary starts rather slow, but picks up pace toward the ending. The actors were all able to convey the transformation from being warm people to troubled ones. The characters have their own perceptions of death, as they are still suffering from the deaths of their close relatives. Though it may be more savage than the 1989 version, 2019s Pet Sematary is still worth a watch. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Will Dunham (Reuters) Fri, April 5, 2019 20:06 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87317e51d 2 Science & Tech Terracotta-Warriors,China,Science,research Free For decades, scientists have been perplexed by the marvelous preservation of bronze weapons associated with China's famed Terracotta Warriors, retaining shiny, almost pristine surfaces and sharp blades after being buried for more than two millennia. Research by an international team of scientists published on Thursday may solve the mystery while putting to rest an intriguing hypothesis: that ancient Chinese artisans employed an unexpectedly advanced preservation method using the metal chromium. The fine preservation of weapons including swords, lances and halberds was due to serendipity - factors such as the bronze's high tin content and favorable soil composition, the scientists decided after examining 464 bronze weapons and parts. Chromium found on the bronze surfaces, they determined, was simply contamination from chromium-rich lacquer applied by the artisans to the terracotta figures and weapons parts. Chromium played no role in their preservation. The Terracotta Army consists of thousands of life-sized ceramic warriors and horses alongside bronze chariots and weapons, part of the vast 3rd century BC mausoleum near the city of Xi'an for Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of a unified China. Found in 1974, it represents one of the 20th century's greatest archaeological discoveries. Read also: China's Terracotta Warriors propel Liverpool museum to England's most visited outside London Scientific analyses almost four decades ago detected chromium on the surface of some of the weapons, spurring the hypothesis that the weapon-makers used a chromium-based treatment to prevent corrosion. Chromium-conversion coating, a technology discovered in the early 20th century, is used to treat metals to render them more corrosion resistant. It involves dipping metal in a solution containing chromium salts. A chromium oxide layer is deposited on the metal's surface, providing a barrier against rust. "The lacquer was applied to the Terracotta Army as a primer before they were painted with colors, and we think it's quite likely it was also applied to the now-decayed wooden parts such as handles and shafts," said University of Cambridge archaeological scientist Marcos Martinon-Torres, who led the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. Ancient bronzes often have poor states of preservation, with porous, pitted surfaces showing green or dark colors. "In essence, we show that, yes, the Terracotta Army weapons generally show a very good state of preservation, but there is currently no indication that this is anything other than the result of chance," added Martinon-Torres, who participated in the research while at University College London and in collaboration with the Terracotta Army Museum. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Laurent Banguet (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States Fri, April 5, 2019 14:32 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87316eceb 2 Science & Tech Snapchat,game,technology,united-states Free Messaging app Snapchat, which is widely popular among younger users but has struggled to turn a profit since its creation in 2011, on Thursday unveiled new features including an integrated gaming platform, an expansion of its original series and new partnerships with developers. "Friendship is more than just the things you chat about," said Will Wu, the director of product at Snapchat as he unveiled Snap Games at a Partner Summit in Los Angeles to highlight the new features for creators and app developers. "Friendship is also about experience you have together." The six made-for-Snapchat games, including "Bitmoji Party", "Alphabear Hustle" and "Zombie Rescue Squad", will be part of a global gaming industry that saw $77 billion in revenue last year, Wu said. "We wanted to build something that makes us feel like we're playing a board game with family over a long holiday weekend, something that makes us feel like we're sitting with friends, controllers in hand," he said. "Unfortunately, these games are hard to find on mobile (...) it's hard to get everybody to install the same game, and it's hard to chat." The six games will be directly accessible from Snapchat's popular messaging feature Chat, offering users the possibility to play while at the same time exchanging messages. "Bitmoji Party", developed by Snapchat parent Snap and inspired by Nintendo's "Wii Party", for example features players, brought to life with 3D Bitmojis, as they compete across four fast-paced mini-games. "You can launch Bitmoji Party right from the chat bar, allowing you and your friends to instantly play together, no install required," Wu said. "Alphabear Hustle" is described as a fast-paced word game in which players work together to spell words, collect cute bears and build their own personal bear village. "Zombie Rescue Squad" deals with a zombie apocalypse that calls on players to "rescue survivors from the hungry hordes and gather as many supplies as you can. "But if you miss the helicopter to safety, you'll be left behind!" Outside developer partners of these games will be able to earn money through video advertising. Read also: Snapchat weighs what was once unthinkable - permanent snaps Mobile to overtake TV In a bid to enrich its content and widen its network, Snapchat also announced it was partnering with outside developers that will be able to integrate Snapchat features into their apps. For example, Fitbit smartwatch users will be able to access Bitmojis and a Netflix subscriber will be able to directly publish a message on Snapchat about a favorite series. Users of mobile dating app Tinder for their part will be able to publish their Snapchat "story" on their profile. Snapchat said it also plans to expand on its new original series for the messaging app that were launched in October. The shows, which run three to five minutes each, are designed for Snapchat and are shot in vertical form for smartphone viewing. They include graphics and split screens. "We're navigating a profound transformation in storytelling," said Sean Mills, the head of original content at Snap. "Mobile is now the dominant medium for telling stories and consuming. "In 2019, mobile will surpass television in time spent for US adults." The series explore various issues, including teen love, race relations or sports. Snapchat has nearly 190 million daily active users but has struggled to boost revenue from young users. It has lost money every year since it was launched in 2011 and has even said it may never turn a profit. In the United States, Snapchat reaches nearly 75 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 34, and 90 percent of those between the ages of 13 and 24, said Evan Spiegel, the head of Snapchat. "In fact, we reach more 13-24 year-olds than Facebook or Instagram in the United States, the UK, France, Canada and Australia," he added. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Sat, April 6, 2019 03:03 983 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87318156b 2 Art & Culture united-states,television,Egypt,sarcophagus,discovery Free A sarcophagus believed to contain an Egyptian nobleman will be opened on live TV during a special broadcast by the American channel Discovery. The two-hour "Expedition Unknown: Egypt Live" will air Sunday night (0000 GMT Monday) from the site outside Minya, which is along the Nile River south of Cairo and its Giza pyramids. Egypt has sought to promote archeological discoveries across the country in a bid to revive tourism hit by turmoil after the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak. The country's Supreme Council of Antiquities declined to comment, even though Discovery announced that council head Mostafa Waziri would be present for the event. The site containing the sarcophagus was discovered in February last year, and a Discovery spokesman told AFP that the project was set up in collaboration with Egypt's antiquities ministry. Archeologists at the site recently discovered a network of vertical shafts leading to a network of tunnels and tombs containing 40 mummies "believed to be part of the noble elite". In one of those, a limestone sarcophagus holding a 3,000-year-old mummy is to be opened during the show. Discovery declined to disclose the identity of the mummy prior to the broadcast. Prominent Egyptian archaeologist and former antiquities minister Zahi Hawass will also participate, Discovery previously announced. Asked by AFP about a possible financial deal between the channel and the Egyptian state for permission to film and open the grave, the spokesman for Discovery refused all comment. "It's a media spectacle in the end -- but it could make people love antiquities and is a good promotional opportunity for tourism, if done right," an Egyptian archeologist who asked to remain anonymous told AFP. Read also: Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus opened in Alexandria She said the broadcasters should not open the tomb without providing solid archeological context, but "the main problem" is something else. "If money is being paid by a major channel to the ministry to show antiquities, where is it going to end up?" the archeologist asked. "Will it go in the state's purse-strings or end up elsewhere? We need more transparency on where the money is going." Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has overseen a crackdown on dissent, banning protests and jailing Islamists as well as liberal and secular activists. He regularly evokes political stability to draw foreign investment. The tourism sector has begun to return, with arrivals reaching 8.3 million in 2017, according to government figures. That still falls far short of the 14.7 million tourists in 2010. Discovery's broadcast also comes with global interest in Egyptian archeology generated by a "once in a generation" exhibition about the pharaoh Tutankhamun, which opened in Paris last month and will tour the world. In Washington, a separate exhibition has opened focusing on the "Queens of Egypt". Discovery said that its broadcast will be simulcast on the Travel and Science channels. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 18:28 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87317acad 4 City Aedes-aegypti,chikungunya,mosquito,Depok,Depok-administration,health Free Officials in Depok, West Java, have urged residents to keep their neighborhoods clean after 17 residents of Ratujaya subdistrict became infected with the chikungunya virus. We urge residents to conduct mosquito nest-eradication programs to cut the chain of the chikungunya virus spread, Depok Health Agency secretary Rani said on Friday as reported by kompas.com. She said prevention efforts for chikungunya were similar to dengue fever, using the burying-draining-covering method commonly known as 3M to remove any standing water that mosquitoes could lay eggs in. Although chikungunya is a different virus from dengue, the two mosquito-borne viral diseases are both caused by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos. The diseases have different symptoms. In order to raise awareness, the health agency has boosted promotion of chikungunya virus-prevention efforts, Rani said. She added that the 3M method needed to be carried out continuously, not only during the rainy season, to prevent mosquitos breeding. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Canberra Fri, April 5, 2019 11:17 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873163a9f 2 World Australia,Syria,Islamic-State,children,orphans,asylum-seekers Free Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday he was open to allowing the return of orphaned children of an Australian jihadist in a Syrian refugee camp following their desperate plea for help. Morrison said his government was working with the Red Cross so the children could leave the Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria and Australian officials could assess them. "Where they might be in a position to return to Australia, we will cooperate with that process," Morrison told reporters in Canberra. "Where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation, particularly as innocent children, we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf." The PM added that he would not put "any Australian life at risk to extract people from these conflict zones", a stance he has taken in recent weeks despite pleas from their grandmother Karen Nettleton. Morrison's comments came as Hoda Sharrouf -- the 16-year-old daughter of Australian Islamic State fighter Khaled Sharrouf -- said she was worried about her siblings' health, including 17-year-old sister Zaynab who is seven months pregnant and "very sick". "What about the children? What about the people that didn't want to come here? What about the people that are stuck here and never wanted to be here in the first place? They don't deserve this kind of treatment," she told The Sydney Morning Herald from the camp. "We're Australians too. Australia needs to do something about it. They need to step up," she said in an interview published Friday. The Sydney Morning Herald said there were five children in the family seeking help -- Hoda, Zaynab, their eight-year-old brother Hamzeh, and Zaynab's two young children -- Ayesha, 3, and Fatima, 2. Sharrouf -- the first Australian to have his citizenship stripped under anti-terrorism laws -- left the country for Syria in 2013 with his wife Tara Nettleton, two daughters and three sons. He made international headlines in 2014 when he posted an image on Twitter of another son holding a severed head. He is believed to have died in a 2017 American air strike alongside his then pre-teen sons, while Nettleton reportedly died in 2015. The fate of foreign fighters and their families has become a significant problem for governments as the conflict against IS draws to a close. Foreigners at the camp are from some 30 to 40 countries. The Red Cross said Wednesday it wanted hundreds of children of foreign fighters living in the camp to be allowed to return home. France last month took in five orphans and is dealing with returns on a case-by-case basis. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rachmadea Aisyah (The Jakarta Post) Depok, West Java Fri, April 5, 2019 13:47 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87316c022 1 Business Bayer,pharmaceutical-industry,Trade,exports,industry,industry-ministry,Germany,Airlangga-Hartarto,drugs Free The Germany-based Bayer pharmaceutical company is optimistic it would be able to boost its exports this year given the achievements it has recorded in the last few years. Bayer Indonesia president director Angel-Michael Evangelista said the company aims to boost its monthly exports to 65 containers on average, a 30 percent increase from the current 50 containers per month. The health products are manufactured at Bayers Cimanggis plant in Depok, West Java, the companys only health product factory in the Asia-Pacific region and one of its 12 production plants worldwide. Our international-standard plant in Cimanggis produces 80 percent of our [health product] exports to more than 32 countries worldwide, Evangelista said at a press conference recently. Aside from the Cimanggis plant, Bayer operates two agrochemical plants in Tangerang, Banten, and Surabaya, East Java. Both plants also export their products to several countries, he said. Bayer recently celebrated the shipment of its 3,000th export container of health products to Europe. That rounds up the Rp 3.9 trillion (US$273.9 million) in export revenues the company had earned in the past four years. Evangelista said products from Bayers Cimanggis plant had managed to penetrate markets with strict pharmaceutical standards, such as Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. Its exports also grew exponentially from the past decade when it exported to fewer than 10 countries, which was made possible through a Rp 1.6 trillion investment the company had disbursed between 2017 and 2019, he said. However, Bayer is not planning to invest more in the near future. Where we want to focus right now is to celebrate the several years [worth of] investments we have made in Indonesia that allows us to export to these 32 companies, Evangelista said. Senior Bayer representative at the ASEAN region, Ernst Coppens, said Bayers export and investment achievements are testaments to the companys steadfast commitment to Indonesia, a country whose president has said that exports and investments are keys to economic growth. Indonesia is the largest economy in the region and that makes it very attractive to us to invest in, Coppens said during the export launch. "We believe our investment can affirm Indonesia as a leading pharmaceutical producing country in the world." He acknowledged the local pharmaceutical industry still relied heavily on imported materials because of a lack of upstream and intermediary industries that could provide domestic ingredients. According to the Industry Ministry, Indonesias trade balance involving pharmaceuticals showed a deficit of $1.13 billion in 2018. Its imports of drug ingredients were worth $4 billion, whereas imports of finished products were worth $800 million. It is not [the regulations or incentives] in Indonesia that determine our investments but rather the markets in Indonesia and surrounding countries, Coppens said. Our growth and investments will follow the demands and the market. Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the government sought to encourage the upstream sector to develop, including those much needed in the pharmaceutical sector, through a super deductible tax policy for up to 200 percent for vocational programs and up to 300 percent for research and innovation development. The pharmaceutical sector, he said, is one of the prime movers of Indonesias manufacturing, which contributed 2.78 percent to gross domestic product and had grown by 4.46 percent last year. We have 217 million subscribers on our National Health Insurance [JKN] and this is a great opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to develop their industries in addition to boosting their production for export purposes, Airlangga said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Xiao Qian (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5 2019 It was here in Indonesia in 2013 that the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative was first proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Indonesia. To achieve national rejuvenation of China and Indonesia, President Xi and President Joko Jokowi Widodo have reached the important consensus on promoting synergy between Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Indonesias Global Maritime Fulcrum Vision. Since then, China-Indonesia relations have entered the fast track of development for mutual benefit and win-win results. Southeast Asias first high speed rail, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail is the signature project of the first phase of synergizing strategies. 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 Douglas Gillison, Chris Stein, and Fran Blandy (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States/ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia/ Nairobi, Kenya Fri, April 5, 2019 08:38 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8731590e2 2 Business #aviation,Boeing,safety,Boeing-737-Max8,Crash Free Embattled US aviation giant Boeing on Thursday insisted on the "fundamental safety" of its 737 MAX aircraft but pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure the jets' airworthiness. The statements came hours after Ethiopian officials said pilots of a doomed plane had followed the company's recommended procedures prior to a crash that left 157 people dead. The preliminary findings released Thursday by transportation authorities in Addis Ababa put the American aircraft giant under even greater pressure to restore public trust, with nearly 350 people dead in crashes involving its formerly top-selling 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months, amid mounting signs the company's onboard anti-stall system was at least partly at fault. "We remain confident in the fundamental safety of the 737 MAX," CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement, adding that impending software fixes would make the aircraft "among the safest airplanes ever to fly." Muilenburg also expressed grief at the loss of life in the recent crashes. He acknowledged, however, that an "erroneous activation" of Boeing's so-called Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) had occurred in both recent crashes. The system is designed to prevent stalls but may have sent the Ethiopian and Indonesian jets hurtling uncontrollably into the ground. In an earlier statement, the head of the company's commercial aircraft division had said Boeing was ready to perform "any and all additional steps" to enhance the safety of the 737 MAX. The Washington Post reported Thursday that US regulators had ordered Boeing to fix a second flight-control problem, not related to MCAS, but which officials nevertheless deemed critical to flight safety. As a result, the timeline the company gave last week for returning the 737 MAX, which is now grounded around the world, to service had been delayed, the newspaper said. "We are taking steps to thoroughly address this relatively minor issue and already have the solution in work to do that," Boeing said in a statement. Earlier this week, US regulators demanded further improvements to a proposed MCAS fix before it could be submitted for review and announced a review of the certification of the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX. A report by Ethiopian investigators on Thursday said the crew of the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last month repeatedly followed procedures recommended by Boeing, but were unable to regain control of the jet. Ethiopian authorities' full report has not been publicly released, but according to a draft copy seen by AFP, shortly after take-off a sensor began transmitting faulty data, prompting the autopilot system to point the nose downwards. "The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft," said Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges. - 'Not survivable' - The report recommends "the aircraft flight control system shall be reviewed by the manufacturer," Dagmawit said. "Aviation authorities shall verify that the review of the aircraft flight control system has been adequately addressed by the manufacturer before the release of the aircraft for operations," she added. Boeing now says it plans to release a software fix to the anti-stall system used aboard the 737 MAX aircraft in the coming weeks. The Ethiopian Airlines flight was headed to Nairobi on a clear morning on March 10 when so-called angle of attack sensors on either side of the nose of the plane began sending conflicting information to the autopilot system shortly after take-off. According to the report seen by AFP, the nose of the plane pointed down four times without pilot input. The autopilot was switched off at some point and the captain called out "pull up" three times to his first officer as the pair battled to gain control. Three minutes after takeoff and three minutes before the crash, the captain asked the first officer to try the manual trim system, which changes the level of the plane. He replied that it was not working. They asked to turn back, but it was too late. The plane pitched down at a 40-degree angle, smashing into a field outside Addis Ababa at about 500 knots (920 kilometers/575 miles) per hour. Both engines were buried at a depth of 10 meters (32 feet), in a crater 28 meters wide and 40 meters long, with fragments of debris found within a radius of about 300 meters. "This accident was not survivable," said the report. People from more than 30 countries were onboard. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 13:40 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87316b195 4 National bandung,terrorism,police,West-Java Free Four police officers were caught off guard when a terror suspect they arrested stabbed them with a machete in Batujajar, west Bandung, West Java, on Thursday. The suspect, identified as SHS, was arrested at his home in Cibungur, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said. Four officers were injured during the arrest," Dedi was quoted as saying by kompas.com. Police were able to take down SHS following the surprise attack. Dedi said the wounded officers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Along with SHS, police also apprehended several other suspects. (ami/dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara, Jon Afrizal and Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Jambi/Jakarta/Medan Fri, April 5 2019 All alone: A man fishes on Limboto Lake in Gorontalo on Wednesday. With large areas of the lake covered by water hyacinth, it has been identified as one of 15 critical lakes that will be the focus of restoration projects.(Antara/Adiwinata Solihin) In bygone days, fishermen at Lake Kerinci in Jambi could take home 50 kilograms of fish every day. But over the past five years, their catches have steadily dwindled and now they each catch only 3 kg of fish a day. Nowadays their catches contain more trash and plastic waste than fish. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 08:08 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8731587f4 4 Business Garuda-Indonesia,profit,2018 Free Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia booked US$809,846 in 2018 after it recorded a loss of $216.58 million the previous year, according to a company report to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The report says the companys revenue increased to $4.37 billion in 2018 from $4.17 billion in 2017. The scheduled flights of the airline contributed $3.53 billion to the revenue, unscheduled flights contributed $266.86 million and other income contributed $567.93 million. The asset value of the airline increased to $4.37 billion in 2018 from $3.76 billion the previous year, according to kontan.co.id. In 2014, the company recorded losses of $370 million, in 2015 it booked a profit of $76.5 million and in 2016, its net profit decreased to $8.1 million. Previously, Garuda Indonesia president director Ari Askhara revealed that the company had been able to address the loss since the third quarter of 2018. He told the press on Dec. 21, 2018 that the company had managed to book a meager profit during the year. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rachmadea Aisyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 Indonesia has committed to slashing the export volume of its natural rubber, along with Malaysia and Thailand as the members of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC), in an attempt to stabilize the global rubber price. Over a period of four months that started Monday, Indonesia is to slash rubber exports by 98,160 tons. Malaysia started on the same date and plans to cut 15,600 tons, whereas Thailand, the worlds largest rubber producer, will cut 126,240 tons of rubber exports starting May 20. Trade Ministry trade assessment and development agency head Kasan Muhri said the move was part of the ITRCs sixth Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme (AETS), which in total would cut rubber exports by 240,000 tons this year. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 17:53 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873178933 1 Politics 2019-elections,tolerance,campaign,Singkawang Free The Singkawang Interfaith Communication Forum, the police and public figures in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, have signed an agreement to bar campaign activities at houses of worship. The accord aims to prevent any potential unease among residents ahead of the general election, said deputy Singkawang Police chief Comr. Joko Sulistiono, as quoted by Antara. He expressed the hope that the managements of houses of worship, be they mosques, churches or other holy places, would deny permission to candidates looking to hold campaign events on their premises. Forum head Baharuddin expressed his appreciation for the initiative designed to boost interfaith tolerance. According to a 2018 Setara Institute report, Singkawang is currently the most tolerant city in Indonesia. The commander of the Singkawang Regional Military Command, Lt. Col. Victor Jacob Lucas, said his personnel would maintain their guard for any threat. The local security forces will need to prepare concrete steps to prevent any problems occurring in Singkawang, Victor said. (mai) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 18:19 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87317a272 4 City anies-baswedan,Jakarta-administration,school,meals,breakfast Free The Jakarta administration has rolled out a program to provide extra meals for schoolchildren in order to boost nutrition among children in the capital. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the program was introduced over concerns about children who went to school without eating breakfast. There were studies last year revealing that more than 30 percent of children dont have breakfast before school, he said during a visit to elementary schools in West Jakarta to introduce the program on Friday, as reported by kompas.com. The program provides meals every morning for free to schools in poor areas in the city based on a 2019 gubernatorial decree on the provision of extra meal at schools. It aims to increase nutritional adequacy among schoolchildren. The regulation increases the types of meal offered to children from two to 29 this year. We have prepared a variety of meals taking nutrients, taste and local wisdom into consideration, Anies added. During his visit, the governor also showed how the food was cooked directly by students parents in the schools kitchen. The city deliberately involves parent participation to support the meal program and to provide healthy meals for students. The city administration has allocated Rp 324 billion (US$22.89 million) for the program, will be disbursed for 144,000 students in 459 schools in 53 subdistricts across the capital. Anies hopes that in the future, the meal program will cover all schools in Jakarta. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5 2019 Both President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan have repeatedly said they hope the MRT would change the transportation culture in Indonesia following its inauguration on March 24. Many people are now heeding that call, leaving their cars at home and taking the MRT to work, especially during its first week of operation. Rika, who lives in Ciputat, South Tangerang, said she had stopped driving to her workplace in Central Jakarta after finding out that taking the MRT was much faster and cheaper. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 19:05 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87317bd17 1 Politics KPU,Oesman-Sapta-Odang,MK,Pratikno Free The State Palace has sent a letter to the General Elections Commission (KPU) requesting the latter to allow Hanura Party chairman Oesman Sapta Odang to run for a seat in the 2019-2024 Regional Representatives Council. Signed by State Secretary Pratikno, the letter is dated March 22 but was only announced on Thursday. In the letter, President Joko Jokowi Widodo orders Pratikno to call on the KPU to adhere to a recent Jakarta State Administrative Court ruling that annulled a previous decree stating that Oesman did not fulfill the criteria for nomination. KPU commissioner Hasyim Asyari told kompas.com on Thursday that his team had already responded to the letter. In its reply, the KPU reportedly refused to acknowledge Oesmans candidacy, adhering to a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that bars any political party committee member from running as a Regional Representatives Council candidate. Its not a matter of ballots [that have already been printed with Oesmans name], but it is about [complying] with the Constitutional Courts ruling, Hasyim said. (mai) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 The final stretch of the election campaign season has been marked by a plethora of polls measuring the electability of the two presidential tickets, and the differences between them have raised questions about the reliability of surveys and the objectivity of polling organizations. Both camps have used the different results to spin a narrative around their candidates. While all major polls put President Joko Jokowi Widodo with a double-digit lead over Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, they have differed in the exact size of the incumbents advantage. A survey released by Kompas on March 18 created a stir by putting Jokowis electability rate at 49.2 percent, the lowest among previous major polls that had put him between 52 and 58 percent. 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 (Reuters) Dubai Fri, April 5, 2019 16:44 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873174fee 2 World #SaudiArabia,#HumanRightsAbuse,US,citizens,activists,arrested Free Saudi Arabia has arrested at least eight people, including two dual US-Saudi citizens, in an apparent crackdown on supporters of women activists whose trial has drawn condemnation from abroad, an associate and a rights group said on Friday. The 11 women on trial had campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom's male guardianship system. Their case has intensified Western criticism of Saudi Arabia's rights record, already in the spotlight after last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. The US nationals are journalist Salah al-Haidar, whose mother Aziza al-Yousef is among those on trial, and Bader al-Ibrahim, a doctor and author of a book about Shi'ite Muslim politics, the associate and London-based Saudi rights group ALQST said. Those newly detained are not frontline activists but have expressed support online of women's rights and other reforms in the conservative kingdom. They were picked up on Thursday, according to ALQST and the associate, who was speaking on condition of anonymity. Several other people close to the women have also been placed on travel ban since February, they added. The Saudi government communications office and the US Embassy in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alan Levin, Julie Johnsson and Mary Schlangenstein (Bloomberg) Washington, United States Fri, April 5, 2019 19:55 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87317d572 2 World Ethiopian-Airlines-ET-302,Crash,Boeing-737-Max8,Lion-Air-JT610,investigation-preliminary-report Free The alarms started sounding just seconds after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 took off on March 10 from Addis Ababa with 157 people on board. As speed and altitude readings started going haywire, a device known as a stick shaker activated on the left side of the cockpit, where the captain sits. The mechanism makes a loud noise and rattles a pilots control column to warn of an impending aerodynamic stall. But the Boeing 737 Max wasnt about to stall. Instead, a computer was getting erroneous readings from a sensor mounted like a weather vane on the jets nose. The malfunction triggered an anti-stall feature that forced the plane into a dive -- the same system that was implicated in a crash less than five months before in Indonesia that killed 189 people. In pieces: American civil aviation and Boeing investigators search through debris at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, on Tuesday. (Reuters/Baz Ratner) To counteract it, the Ethiopian Airlines pilots responded with at least some of the steps that Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration recommended after the first accident. But amid a chorus of confusing alarms, they also made a critical oversight as they struggled for control, according to three pilots with experience in accident investigations: They left the engines set nearly to maximum. The thrust was full bore the whole way, said Roger Cox, a former accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, who flew earlier models of the 737 while working as an airline pilot. That is extremely curious. Ethiopian transport minister Dagmawit Moges addresses a news conference on the preliminary report to the Ethiopian Airlines ET 302 plane crash in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia April 4, 2019. (Reuters/Tiksa Negeri) Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said in a press conference Thursday that the pilots followed proper procedures issued after the October crash of a Lion Air jet. She recommended that Boeing review its flight-control system. Aviation authorities should verify that the issues have been adequately addressed before the release of the aircraft to operations, she said. In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam defended the pilots, saying the report proved the crew of EA 302 did more than what they were expected to do. Today was a day for us to prove wrong all the speculators with false allegations, he said, adding that the airline will remain partners with Boeing. Ethiopian safety officials stopped short of saying the plane needs a redesign. That helped boost Boeings shares 2.9 percent to $395.86 at the close in New York, paring the decline since last months crash to 6.3 percent. Still, the two disasters in five months have pushed Boeing into one of the biggest crises in its century-long history. The crash in Ethiopia resulted in the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max, the revamped version of a plane model that accounts for a third of Boeings operating profit. The accidents also prompted multiple investigations and reviews -- including a criminal probe led by the US Justice Department -- of how US regulators certified the flawed anti-stall system, known as MCAS. The groundings are piling pressure on Boeing to come up with a fix that will keep pilots from having to make such complicated, split-second decisions to keep the 737 Max aloft. The company is redesigning its software and expects to complete the work within weeks. Among other changes, the update will keep the safety system from kicking in when only one of the sensors detects a stall. We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 Max accidents, CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a video. The Chicago-based planemaker blamed the accident on a chain of events and acknowledged the sensor malfunction. Near-Maximum Thrust At near-maximum thrust, the plane became more difficult to fly, multiplying the problems created by the flaw in the 737 Maxs software, according to pilots who reviewed a preliminary report issued Thursday by Ethiopias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. High speed also made it impossible to recover in the final seconds when the planes nose pointed downward into their final, high-speed dive. They exacerbated it, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, the former director of the FAAs Accident Investigation Division. The Ethiopian report clearly showed that MCAS -- the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a safety measure added to the new plane to prevent it from dangerous stalls -- had activated multiple times. That was similar to the Lion Air crash. Sensors in the aircraft that report how high its nose is pointed relative to oncoming air varied by almost 60 degrees. One of the angle-of-attack gauges read 15.3 degrees, likely an accurate reading for a plane taking off. The other erroneously read 74.5 degrees -- which would suggest a plane pointing almost straight skyward. Lost Control Even though pilots took at least some of the steps recommended by Boeing and the FAA to counteract MCAS, they were confused and ultimately lost control, according to the report. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment, Muilenburg said in his statement. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it. Antistall system: The angle of attack sensor, at bottom center, is seen on a 737 MAX aircraft at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, US, on Wednesday. Boeing says it has developed software fixes to prevent failures of the automated flight control system. (Reuters/Lindsey Wasson ) Every plane crash typically involves multiple contributors, and the detailed Ethiopian report chronicles many factors that occurred over a matter of minutes leading to the accident. Everyone can talk about it from a desk, but when you see it happening its another thing, said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines. What steps were taken, what steps were missed? Those are all things were going to be looking at for several weeks. Excess Speed Pilots interviewed by Bloomberg didnt agree completely about the factors. Some took issue with Ethiopias transport minister, saying the Ethiopian Airlines pilots had actually failed to properly follow the procedures. Other pilots said the flight crews actions were understandable given the chaotic situation. But they all agreed that the speed was critical. The plane took off at 94 percent of full power, according to the report. That is normal for liftoff, but pilots then typically pull back the power soon afterward. Even though the captain called for setting the speed at 238 knots, or 274 miles per hour, about a minute after takeoff, the engine thrust remained at the same level for the entire short flight, according to the report. Before it picked up speed in its final dive, the plane was flying as fast as 365 knots, or 420 miles an hour -- almost twice the usual top speed at that low altitude. In addition to the multiple warnings prompted by the MCAS failure, the pilots were also getting audible alerts indicating they had exceeded the safe flying speed, according to the report. The Ethiopian crew followed one important step required to deal with an MCAS failure when they shut off power to the motor the system uses to automatically drive down the nose, according to the report. However, at the high speed at which they were flying, it became much harder to adjust the planes pitch manually, said John Cox, president of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot. Control Column For more than two minutes during the flight with the trim system powered off, the crew had to apply strong pressure to their control column to continue flying, according to the report. Normally, pilots would adjust the wing at the tail of the plane to make the nose point upwards and reduce that pressure. During that time, the captain asked the copilot to try making adjustments -- known as trimming -- manually. The first officer replied that it is not working, according to the report. The two wheels that pilots turn by hand to trim would have been very hard to move or impossible at that speed, John Cox said. While its not clear from the report exactly what steps the pilots took, their struggles to keep the plane climbing apparently led them to switch power back on to the trim system. About 30 seconds before they crashed, it was activated by the pilots to slightly raise the nose. Five seconds later, MCAS engaged again, once more pushing down the nose. At that speed, they couldnt overcome the dive using their control column alone, according to John Cox and Guzzetti. For reasons that havent been explained, they didnt try to also trim the plane using switches on their control yokes. The plane eventually pointed down by 40 degrees and the plane reached speeds of 575 miles per hour. You cant read the transcript and not put yourself in the cockpit, Tajer, of the Allied Pilots Association, said. Every honest pilot says, I could see me right there, doing that, even if it was not a good thing, or saying, yeah that makes sense. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, April 5, 2019 12:46 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873167bb4 1 Business Tokopedia,Bukalapak,artificial-intelligence,AI,digital,digital-economy,University-of-Indonesia,William-Tanuwijaya,Achmad-Zaky Free Leading e-commerce platform Tokopedia has become the latest company to join in the efforts to tackle the country's shortage of digital talents by launching its first artificial intelligence (AI) center in collaboration with the University of Indonesia. Tokopedia and UI have jointly launched the AI Center of Excellence at the universitys computer science building in Depok, West Java. The research center, the first in Indonesia to be equipped with deep-learning super computer technology NVIDIA DGX-1, serves as an AI-development platform for the universitys academics and researchers. Tokopedia and UI officials expressed hope that the center would help develop a highly skilled workforce for Indonesias rapidly growing digital industry a concern raised by industry players and the government. Tokopedia CEO and founder William Tanuwijaya said it was hard to find digital talents in Indonesia, which has seen its first generation of digital technology companies in recent years. UI School of Computer Science dean Mirna Adriani said she expected the center to produce professionals who were ready to make contributions in the field of AI. Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia would need at least 17 million digital talents to help the country become an e-commerce powerhouse by 2030. William said collaboration with universities to tackle the shortage of a highly skilled workforce was necessary, adding that his company would build similar research centers at other universities, including those located outside Java. We will certainly enter other regions, as Tokopedias goal is to help ensure economic equity throughout Indonesia by using digital means, he told reporters on the sidelines of the launch ceremony. Hence, the talents will not only come from Java or Jakarta only. He said his company would allocate a big portion of funds secured from various sources to develop its human resources, in addition to investing in technology infrastructure, especially in AI. Tokopedia, for example, secured US$1.1 billion in its financing round last December led by the SoftBank Vision Fund and Alibaba Group with the participation of Softbank Ventures Korea and other existing investors. Tokopedia is one of Indonesias four unicorns (startups valued at more than $1 billion), alongside marketplace rival Bukalapak, ride-hailing provider Go-Jek and online booking service Traveloka. Various reports predict the countrys start-up sector will continue to grow despite rising concerns of a shortage of skilled digital talents. To tackle the problem, start-up companies are cooperating with educational institutions and the government. Bukalapak, for example, recently established a research and development center in Surabaya, East Java, and an AI and cloud computing innovation center at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Bandung, West Java. "Our challenge now is to discover talents in the field of technology and AI who can contribute to Indonesia," Bukalapak founder and CEO Achmad Zaky said during last months ITB innovation center launch, citing a lack of AI experts in the country. He said the center would provide knowledge transfer with the help of 200 engineers from its main research and development center in Bandung, aside from facilities such as servers for research purposes. In addition to its Bandung research and development center, Bukalapak launched its second center earlier this month in East Javas capital of Surabaya, a region it says has a large pool of potential digital talents. Last year, Google Indonesia pledged to train 100,000 information technology developers until 2020, while Alibaba founder Jack Ma vowed to train 1,000 every year over the next 10 years. The two tech giants pledges support the Communications and Information Ministrys vow last year to provide $9 million for over 20 local colleges in producing 20,000 digital talents in Indonesia by this year. Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said recently the program would develop talented students skills in the latest technologies such as AI, robotics and cloud computing. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Yangon, Myanmar Fri, April 5, 2019 21:39 984 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87317e96b 2 SE Asia #Myanmar,#rebel,Rohingya,killed,Arakan-Army Free The Myanmar army said Friday that six Rohingya killed by helicopter gunfire in restive Rakhine state were working with a rebel group, the latest escalation in violence that the UN says "may constitute war crimes". Ethnic and religious tensions divide western Rakhine state, where the army forced out some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims in 2017 in a brutal crackdown. UN investigators have called for the prosecution of top generals for genocide and crimes against humanity. Now the military is waging war against the Arakan Army (AA), which claims to represent ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and has killed 22 members of the army and police since early January. The conflict has spread across the state, displacing more than 20,000 civilians of various ethnicities, according to UN figures. The latest skirmish on Wednesday was in Buthidaung township, according to a report from the army chief's website. "While combatting AA terrorist insurgents ... six Bengali who were together with insurgents ... were killed and nine others injured," the website reported Friday, using a derogatory term for the Rohingya which falsely implies they are newcomers from Bangladesh. But an AA spokesman denied there was any fighting on April 3 between his group and the military, which "just shot randomly from two helicopters". "Some Bengalis who were cutting bamboo were killed and injured because of their shooting," AA spokesman Khine Thu Kha told AFP. Condemning the "indiscriminate attacks" against civilians, the UN refugee agency said they were "deeply disturbed" by the escalation in violence across the state. According to their sources on the ground, "at least seven civilians" were killed while 18 others were injured, said spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani in Geneva. "The Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians -- attacks which may constitute war crimes," said Shamdasani. "The consequences of impunity will continue to be deadly." Authorities have vowed to crush the AA rebellion, which has simmered since the group's formation in 2009. The rebels enjoy widespread support from ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, who have felt marginalised for decades in one of the country's poorest states. Much of Rakhine is in strict lockdown and information is difficult to verify independently. Big companies make strategic hires all the time, and sometimes that means adding new hires from competing brands. In this case, Apple is adding one Ian Goodfellow, formerly one of Googles leading artificial intelligence engineers, to its roster. CNBC has the report on Thursday. Apple has hired Goodfellow to be parts of its Special Projects Group, where he will be leading the team as the director of machine learning. Goodfellow is known as the father of general adversarial networks, or GANs, which is explained as such: Goodfellow is the father of an AI approach known as general adversarial networks, or GANs. The approach draws on two networks, one known as a generative network and the other known as a discriminative network, and can be used to come up with unusual and creative outputs in the form of audio, video and text. GAN systems have been used to generate deepfake fake media content. According to Goodfellows LinkedIn profile page, he left Google and joined Apple last month. And before enlisting with Google, he was working at OpenAI. This is not Apples first major hire from Google. Back in April of last year, Apple brought on John Giannandrea, who was previously leading Googles Search & AI efforts. And, most recently, Giannandrea was promoted to run the CoreML, Siri, and machine learning teams at Apple. What, exactly, Goodfellow will be doing at Apple remains to be seen. Our Take This is another huge hire for Apple, and one that will more than likely have a huge impact on the company moving forward. Of course, what that means moving forward for consumer products remains to be seen. Either way, its a big win for Apple as far as new hires are concerned. We Want To Hear From You What do you think of Apples newest addition? [via CNBC A report from earlier this week claimed that Intel was lagging behind in its 5G modem development and that this had put Apples plan of launching a 5G iPhone in 2020 in jeopardy. Despite the legal battle between the two companies, Qualcomms president says that it is ready to supply 5G modem to Apple for 2020 iPhones. Qualcomms President Cristiano Amon said that while cant really comment on what Apple is doing, though he noted that the longer any company waits to release a 5G product, the higher will be the bar for them to match. Were still in San Diego, they have our phone number, he said. If they call, well support them, Qualcomms President Cristiano Amon told Axios. Apple last sourced modem from Qualcomm for the 2017 iPhone variants sold in some parts of the world. For its 2018 iPhone lineup, the Cupertino company entirely switched to Intels modem. Due to the ongoing legal issues between Apple and Qualcomm, the former is expected to source 5G modem for future iPhones from Intel only. However, as per reports, Intel is failing to meet the development deadlines which has put Apple in a fix. If Apple does not get sample chips by the second half of this year, it wont be possible for the company to launch a 5G iPhone in 2020. Apple itself is working on designing its own modem but that chip is still at least 2-3 years away from turning into a reality. Our Take It is unlikely that Apple will go back to Qualcomm for its 5G modem requirement. The company can very well delay the release of its 5G iPhone by a year but wont source 5G modems from Qualcomm. Plus, 5G networks are still in nascent stages and they still have a long way to go in terms of adoption and coverage before the lack of 5G connectivity on iPhones will become an issue. [Via Axios One of the longest running marketing efforts from Apple is definitely its Shot on iPhone campaign, which has been going strong for years. In the latest entry, Apple dives into the surfing community in Cuba, thanks to the iPhone XS. Apple on Friday launched a pair of videos to its YouTube channel. The first is the video itself, entitled Ola Cubana, which is a short film that comes in at five minutes in length. Apple explores the new era within the island nation and the surfing community. The film takes a look at not only the beginnings of the hobby in Cuba, but also how it has been growing in popularity: A glimpse into the Cuban surf community and a new era within the island nation. The film explores the humble beginnings of the movement and how interest in surfing is building in the country. Here is the short film: The film was commissioned by Apple, and it was shot on both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. It was directed by Nick Woytuk and shot by Zak Noyle. Apple also added a complementary behind-the-scenes video, showing how things were put together and how they were shot for the short film. Heres how Apple describes it: Behind the making of the short film Ola Cubana, which gives us a glimpse into the Cuban surf community and a new era within the island nation. The film explores the humble beginnings of the movement and how interest in surfing is building in the country. And heres the behind-the-scenes video: While the majority of the Shot on iPhone ad campaign has been about photos, and, sometimes, short videos caught in the wild, there has been short films in the past as well. Back in January, for instance, Apple released a short film under the Shot on iPhone marketing arm to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Our Take Theres no doubt that smartphone cameras are fantastic from a variety of companies that arent Apple, but that doesnt take away from the cameras abilities in the iPhone. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have a great camera system, and these marketing efforts from Apple continue to show that. We Want To Hear From You What do you think of Apples latest short film? Body of man washed off rocks while fishing washes ashore at Nai Harn Beach PHUKET: The body of a man who fell into the sea while fishing on rocks near the windmill at Phromthep Cape early yesterday morning was recovered from floating offshore at Nai Harn Beach later yesterday (Apr 4). deathpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 5 April 2019, 01:16PM Th e mans body was pulled ashore at Nai harn Beach yesterday morning (Apr 4). Photo: Supawatkan Kulnaraksana Lt Sakkarin Sangjaroen of the Chalong Police was notified at 10am that a beach vendor had seen a body floating just offshore. The beach vendor had notified lifeguards, who responded quickly and recovered the man, reported Capt Suthichai Kongkangwankietkul of the Chalong Police, who investigated the scene. The man was later identified as Anuchit Palumpol, 27. Police estimated that he had died at least six hours earlier. As is standard procedure, Mr Anuchits body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for post-mortem examination. Mr Anuchit and friends went fishing near windmill viewpoint at 1am, one of the friends told police. Anuchit went down onto the rocks, despite us telling him not to, the friend said. At that time the waves were very strong, and Anuchit was hit by a wave and fell into the sea, he said. We tried to reach him to pull him out, but we couldnt and he disappeared into the waves, the friend added. Election Commission orders six election re-runs BANGKOK: The Election Commission (EC) has ordered election re-runs at six polling stations in five provinces including Bangkok, and the recounting of votes at two stations in Khon Kaen province. politics By Bangkok Post Friday 5 April 2019, 08:57AM A young woman holds her ballot paper as she waits to vote in Watthana district of Bangkok on March 24. Photo: Bangkok Post The rerun and recounted polling stations involve four Pheu Thai and two Palang Pracharath runners-up. Sawaeng Boonmee, deputy secretary-general of the EC, revealed the commissions decision after a meeting on Thursday (Apr 4). Voting will be re-run at six polling stations in Bangkok, Lampang, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok and Yasothon provinces because the number of voters who turned up did not match the number of marked ballot papers. Mr Sawaeng said recounts were needed for two polling booths in Constituency 3 in Nam Phong district of Khon Kaen because the first counts were inconsistent with the number of voters and marked ballots. He said the recounts could be done at once, and dates for election re-runs at the stations would be set after the Songkran holiday in mid-April. The number of votes counted at booths that will have re-runs have now been nullified, and the number of party-list MPs will be re-calculated after the re-runs, Mr Sawaeng said. According to unofficial results released by the EC, Thitipat Chotedechachainan, a Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) candidate, is the winner in Bangkoks Constituency 13, bagging 27,489 votes. Treerat Sirichantharophas of Pheu Thai came second with 23,912, followed by Nicha Boonlue of the Future Forward Party (23,707). Mr Treerat said having re-runs at a few polling booths would not fix the problem because there were alleged irregularities at more than 22 stations in Constituency 13, in Bang Kapi district alone. Ms Thitipat said she was not worried about the re-run because she beat the runner-up by over 3,000 votes, while there are only about 700 eligible voters at the polling station ordered by the EC to hold a re-run. She welcomed the ECs decision so that any suspicions could be laid to rest. Buddhipongse Punnakanta, the PPRPs chief election strategist for Bangkok, said the re-vote would not affect its candidates victory in the constituency. The number of eligible voters at the polling booth was low while the partys candidate beat the runner-up by a margin of more than 3,000 votes, Mr Buddhipongse said. Previously, the Pheu Thai and Future Forward candidates running in Bangkoks Constituency 13 filed complaints with the EC asking it to recount the votes at some polling stations. The candidates complained there were irregularities such as the number of voters who cast ballots being fewer than the number of ballots cast, and there was not enough light when some of the votes were counted at some station. Parit Wacharasindhu, a New Dem who came fourth in Bangkoks Constituency 13 (17,958 votes), said he was ready to hit the campaign trail after the EC sets a date for the re-run. Mr Parit, a nephew of former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, said people who voted on March 24 may now have had a change of heart over their choice of election candidate for the re-run. He said this re-run must be treated with as much gravity as the original poll as every vote counts, and they will be used to calculate the number of party-list MPs each party gets. Read original story here. Phuket Governor: Make Songkran safe PHUKET: Phuket Governor Phakkaphong Tavipatana has called on the heads of the main government offices and major businesses on the island to make safety the top priority during the upcoming Songkran festivities, to be celebrated nationwide April 11-17. transportaccidentsdeathmarineSafety By The Phuket News Friday 5 April 2019, 03:47PM Phuket Governor Phakkaphong Tavipatana delivered his Songkran safety message at a meeting yesterday (Apr 4). Photo: PR Dept The week of festivities, from April 11-17, has also been designated as the Seven Days of Danger period for this years Songkran. The week-long period is among the most dangerous times of the year for Thailand, with hundreds of people dying in road accidents alone during the seven days of holidays. Governor Phakkaphong delivered his Songkran safety message at a meeting yesterday (Apr 4), attended by all three Phuket Vice Governors Thanyawat Chanpinit, Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai and Prakob Wongmaneerung as well as the heads of the main government offices in Phuket and representatives from the local businesses. Road and marine transport safety are to be specifically targetted, Governor Phakaphong said. Drunk drivers at to get special attention and police must ramp up their efforts at key police checkpoints across the island in order to reduce the likelihood of road accidents, the Governor added. Police must stop drunk drivers. This will be reduce the risk of road accidents, he said. For drivers who do not allow police check them for alcohol, police must force them by the law, Gov Phakaphong ordered. Moreover police and other officials must be strict on operating unsafe or illegally modified motorcycles, the wearing of seatbelts, driving without a licence, speeding, drunk driving, ignoring traffic signals, ghost driving (driving opposite traffic flow), people not wearing helmets, people driving dangerously in traffic, and using mobile phones while driving." he added. Governor Phakkaphong also delivered his orders on enforcing water safety during the upcoming holidays. A water safety center must be set up, and all CCTV cameras must be in working order at various points of piers and the relevant agencies will monitor the safety of passenger boats, Gov Phakaphong said. "Official must check boats, namely the life-saving equipment on board such as life jackets, light signals and other equipment. Everything must be ready before the upcoming Songkran holidays, Governor Phakkaphong said. Last year Phuket suffered 47 accidents reported during the Songkran Seven Days campaign with one person killed and 49 people injured, as follows Phuket City: 27 accidents, 29 people injured; Kathu: 14 accidents, 1 death, 14 people injured; Thalang: 6 accidents, 6 people injured. In 2017, Phuket suffered 67 accidents during the Songkran holidays with four people killed and 70 people injured. (See story here.) Taxi causes nine-vehicle carnage on Patong Hill PHUKET: A taxi driver carrying tourists from the UAE was involved in a multi-vehicle crash yesterday morning (Apr 4) on Patong Hill. accidentspolicetransporttourismpatong By Waranya Prompinpiras Friday 5 April 2019, 06:45PM Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality The Toyota Alphard Vellfire taxi that caused the multi-vehicle accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Nine vehicles were involved in the accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality The Toyota Alphard Vellfire taxi that caused the multi-vehicle accident on Patong Hill on Thursday (Apr 4). Photo: Patong Municipality Patong Police Chief Col Anotai Jindamanee told The Phuket News today (Apr 5), The accident happened at about 10am in front of the Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort and caused major traffic on the hill. The accident was caused by a white Toyota Alphard Vellfire taxi which was carrying a family of tourists from Dubai, he explained. The taxi was heading to Patong from Kathu and when it got near Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort, the driver was unable to stop and hit a car in front. It then swerved to the right and hit another car, causing collisions with several other vehicles, Col Anotai said. In total, five cars were were damaged as well as four motorbikes which were parked at the side of the road. A young girl from Dubai who was in the taxi had a minor injury on her nose and was taken to Patong Hospital. She left hospital later that night and the family are scheduled to return to Dubai tonight, Col Anotai told The Phuket News. Police are still investigating the incident, and once complete, will decide on the relevant charges to be filed, he added. Tourist Police officer flips pickup truck in Thalang PHUKET: A Krabi Tourist Police officer has escaped with minor injuries after he lost control and flipped his pickup truck in Thalang in the early hours of this morning (Apr 5). accidentstransportpolicetourism By The Phuket News Friday 5 April 2019, 11:49AM The accident happened outside the PTT petrol station in Muang Mai, Thalang. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The accident happened outside the PTT petrol station in Muang Mai, Thalang. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The accident happened outside the PTT petrol station in Muang Mai, Thalang. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck flipped over when Pol Cpl Sarawut Songmuang lost control in Thalang on Friday morning (Apr 5). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck flipped over when Pol Cpl Sarawut Songmuang lost control in Thalang on Friday morning (Apr 5). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Lt Col Kitiphum Thinthalang of Thalang Police was notified of the accident at about 2:50am. Thalang Police officers and Kusoldharm Foundation rescue volunteers arrived at the scene near the PTT petrol station, Muang Mai branch on Thepkasattri Rd, north Thalang, to find a badly damaged Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck at the side of the road. Police explained that the driver, 30-year-old Pol Cpl Sarawut Songmuang of Krabi Tourist Police, was driving from Krabi to Phuket and lost control on the wet road, falling into a ditch and hitting a wall causing the truck to flip over. Cpl Sarawut managed to escape with only shoulder and chest pains and was taken to Thalang Hospital for treatment. The truck was severely damaged, particularly on the right side. Police had it taken to Thalang Police Station. Asked if Cpl Sarawut was tested for alcohol, Col Kitiphum told The Phuket News that he was not tested as he did not appear drunk. Urgent works to start after officials humiliated online over Phuket Town roads PHUKET: Emergency temporary repairs to roads in Phuket Town will begin tonight after local officials suffered a heavy public backlash spurred by a series of comical alter images posted online yesterday (Apr 4). transportconstructionSafety By Waranya Prompinpiras Friday 5 April 2019, 10:58AM Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee Emergency repairs will start tonight (Apr 5) after a public backlash spurred by the series of photos posted online. Photo: Thawat Chaisalee The photos, posted online by Phuket Town resident Thawat Chaisalee, showed large tracts of ugly and dangerous sections of unsurfaced road along the sides of Rassada Rd and Phang Nga Rd. Let pictures tell the story. I just wanted to show how the Phuket Government does its work, Mr Thawat told The Phuket News. This has been annoying for a long time. They dug up the road in front of my house, then they just left it incomplete for a long time. I asked Phuket City Municipality about it, but no one gave an answer. So I thought that I had to use pictures like this to get them to take action. I want everyone to see the pictures, and I hope this can make a change for the better for tourists and the good image of Phuket. Mr Thawat said. Somruay Raksakul, Head of Construction Control under the Engineering Division at Phuket City Municipality, explained to The Phuket News that the unfinished and slipshod roads were the result of delays in burying the communications cables underground. I know about this problem, and Mr Tawee is working on it, he said. Currently, Phuket City Municipality has a budget of B166 million from the Phuket office of the Public Works and Town Planning and Country Planning Department (DPT-Phuket) to install the power and communications cables along Rassada Rd and Phang Nga Rd underground. Worker must do this two parts. First, they must install the power cables underground, which has been done, but they have encountered problems with the communications cables, he said. We need to change the pipe that will contain the communications cables. After that new footpaths will be made along Rassada Rd and Phang Nga Rd, the footpaths will be the same as already made along Thalang Rd, Mr Somruay said. DPT-Phuket Chief Tawee Homhuan told The Phuket News yesterday that the problem related to the ongoing project to install power lines and communications cables underground throughout the Old Town area. I already know about the suffering of the local people, and I saw the pictures posted on Facebook, Mr Tawee said. First, staff will make temporary repairs to the roads at night on Apr 5-6, he said yesterday. Next I will present to Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatan a new plan to install the communications cables along these roads and also to make new footpaths and repair these roads properly, Mr Tawee added. However, the plan will not be presented to the Governor until after the Songkran holidays, he noted. And the repairs will take about four months, Mr Twaee added. Column: What Would George Washington Say to Pelosi and Trump Today? Ineligible to serve as firefighter. A mandatory/automatic penalty with an indefinite duration for conviction of violent crimes. Ineligible for educational support services grant. A mandatory/automatic penalty of indefinite duration for conviction of crimes involving fraud, dishonesty, misrepresentation or money-laundering. Housing/Family Rights Terminate parental rights. A discretionary penalty, of an indefinite duration, for conviction of a violent crime. Deny child custody rights. A discretionary penalty, of an indefinite duration, for conviction of controlled substance, motor vehicle or sex offenses and crimes of violence. Ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance payments. A mandatory/automatic, but time-limited, penalty for conviction of crimes involving fraud, dishonesty, misrepresentation or money-laundering. Occupational Licenses With the release of the Queen biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' last year, Queen's music is as popular as ever, bringing it to a whole new generation of fans. As a result, the 'We Will Rock You' musical by Queen and Ben Elton will be returning to stages around the US, starting on September 3rd. Tickets are on sale now from the official website. The announcement of the musical tour says: "While We Will Rock You is a quirky, eccentric and heartfelt story of outsiders, its also a creative cautionary tale for the cyberage. It reflects the scale and spectacle that marked Queens live performances and earned the band its pinnacle position in rock history." Jeff Parry, President of Annerin Productions, said: "This is a show I have wanted to produce since I first saw it in London. I thought that Queens musical was for everyone and not just the typical Broadway crowd, therefore were producing it in a way that can accommodate most buildings and audiences that want to experience the music of Queen in a uniquely theatrical manner." You can watch a trailer for an early production to get a taster below. Brand Canada is taking a beating, according to the heads of the nations two biggest banks. Toronto-Dominion Bank chief executive officer Bharat Masrani and Royal Bank of Canada CEO David McKay flagged Canadian weaknesses during their respective annual investors meetings including competitiveness, stalled infrastructure, lack of housing supply, trade barriers and red tape. While Canada also has strengths Masrani cited innovation and technology the bank heads said there are clearly problems to fix. Weve lost a bit of our brand value over the past few years, Masrani said during a BNN Bloomberg TV interview. At one point we were the darling of the world, this was where everybody wanted to invest, so weve lost a bit of that. Royal Banks McKay who told investors Thursday at the banks annual meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that Canada is at a critical time in its history, after losing some of its momentum from past achievements. We need to be honest with ourselves about our economic growth and our ability to compete globally in an era of disruption, McKay said. When I travel overseas, I often hear concerns from investors about Canadas falling position in the world. McKay said the numbers back up this sentiment:Since 2005, the stock of foreign investment in Canada has grown by 5 per cent a year, lagging the 8 per cent for all OECD nationsExports of nonenergy goods have been stagnant for a decadeProductivity growth has dropped by nearly half over the last 20 yearsCanada lost C$100 billion ($75 billion) in energy projects in the last two yearsOur competitiveness is challenged, McKay said. Our capacity to grow and advance our economy is stalling. McKay called for four major steps to boost competitiveness and reinvigorate Brand Canada building smart infrastructure and investing in ports, pipelines and energy; thinking globally; creating a national data policy that encourages innovation and protects privacy; and more work-integrated learning. Yellow peas are joining canola as a big concern for Canadian farmers amid an ongoing trade spat with China. After India placed tariffs on various agricultural commodities last year, China stepped up as the top buyer of Canadas yellow peas, used to make vermicelli noodles, a popular Asian food. But since March, the price of peas has declined by 7 per cent, similar to the fall seen with canola, Canadas top crop export. The drop is significant following a year when Canada shipped 1,389,500 metric tons of peas to China, an 84 per cent rise in just one year. The Asian giant suddenly represented a $717.9 million (Canadian) market for Canada. We have grown to be incredibly dependent on the Chinese market for peas as well, so if you tamper with that market even it be just a fear factor that matters to the price, said Marlene Boersch, analyst at Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. in Winnipeg, in a phone interview. India started placing import tariffs on pulse crops in late 2017, with exports dropping 83 per cent last crop year to 325,700 tons. Spot yellow pea prices in parts of Saskatchewan slipped about 7 per cent in March, according to data from Farmers Advanced Risk Management Co. Yellow peas are challenging in the new crop year, said Dale McManus, a broker with Johnstons Grain in Welwyn, Saskatchewan, by phone. Theyre a very easy crop to grow and easy to store, but with Indias and Chinas regulations against them right now, the price has probably dropped 50 to 75 cents. The pet food market, which has became a larger buyer of Canadian peas, is full and not buying currently, factoring into the price drop. Read more about: While she was working for a bank through a temporary worker agency, Elaine Edwards learned a fellow temp was making $21 to her $17 even though she had been working in the banking sector for 20 years, and he was fresh out of school. Shortly after she raised the issue with the temp agency, Edwards says, her contract was terminated. It put me in a financial bind to be let go five months before the contract was supposed to end. I was unable to find another job for nearly eight months, the Toronto resident said. Refusing unsafe work and demanding fair pay should not be a reason to fire anyone. Currently, Ontario employment laws offer no protection against discipline or termination for asking about salary information. That was something the provinces Pay Transparency Act, which was passed last year, took aim at. The logic: Since Ontarios gender wage gap sits at 29.3 per cent (based on annual earnings), lack of protection for those seeking compensation information could disproportionately harm women. The acts provisions were meant to come into force in January. They were delayed while the Ministry of Labour held further stakeholder consultations, which are due to wrap up Friday. So what does pay transparency do exactly? And what does the evidence say about its effectiveness? Ontario employment laws already prohibited paying women less than men for doing the same job first, in legislation that was introduced in the 1950s, and then in human rights legislation that specified hiring and pay in the province was to be free from discrimination. In 1987, the Pay Equity Act placed a proactive obligation on employers to ensure female-dominated work was not being undervalued relative to male-dominated jobs of equal worth. Pay transparency reform layers on top of all three of those pieces of legislation, and says to employers, You have had a legal obligation to pay non-discriminatory wages for almost 75 years. Theres still a pay gap. Times up, said Fay Faraday, co-chair of the Equal Pay Coalition. As its currently written, the Pay Transparency Act contains anti-reprisal protections, and would require employers with 100 or more workers to submit a pay transparency report to government. It would also ban employers from asking for workers salary histories, and require them to include compensation ranges in job postings. Faraday says those kinds of measures are important because if women are underpaid in their first jobs, inequities could follow them to subsequent ones if salaries are based on prior compensation. According to Ashley Challinor, the Ontario Chamber of Commerces vice-president of policy, the pay gap remains a challenge, but the provinces transparency laws were passed quickly and with little consultation. The legislation was drafted and passed following a yearlong consultation conducted by the Gender Wage Gap Strategy Steering Committee which, among other things, recommended that government encourage businesses to develop pay transparency and consider anti-reprisal legislation. Our concern is that this legislation does not interact with the Pay Equity Act, the existing legislation that seeks to address the pay gap, Challinor added in an emailed statement. This is, unfortunately, an example of layering on of regulation instead of modernizing and streamlining it which negatively impacts compliance and the effectiveness of the regulation. Faraday says the whole point of pay transparency is that it works alongside existing measures that address discrimination in different ways. There are currently three different pieces of legislation which are aimed at closing the gender pay gap and they address different elements of what drives the pay gap. Theres not one single driver, theres multiple drivers, she said. So you need multiple tools to close the gap. In the past few years, jurisdictions including Iceland and Australia have adopted this approach. The European Commission has also recommended that all member states adopt pay transparency measures domestically. The United Kingdom did so in 2016, passing legislation requiring workplaces with 250 or more employees to quantify and report their gender pay gaps. Its purpose, said then-prime minister David Cameron, was to cast sunlight on the discrepancies and create the pressure we need for change, driving womens wages up. With around two years of data available, its hard to tell whether transparency is actually driving down pay gaps. What the data does so far suggest, though, is a significant shift in perspective on the issue. In 2015, fewer than half of large employers surveyed by the Trade Union Congress supported pay transparency measures. But when U.K.-based progressive think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) conducted a poll after the legislations implementation, 80 per cent of employers said gender pay reporting should stay. And following the reforms, four out of five large employers considered, or took further action, to narrow their internal pay gap, the IPPR found. The legislation has a 100 per cent compliance rate. The high compliance sort of indicates that it was doable, for employers, said IPPR researcher Lesley Ranking. Its also driven employer action. Earlier this year, the U.K. concluded consultations on going even further by introducing similar provisions for ethnicity-based pay gaps, noting the government had seen the power of transparency in gender pay gap reporting. The IPPR has also recommended living wage and disability pay gap reporting. In the 2018 round of debate on Ontarios pay transparency legislation, the Ontario Chamber of Commerces warned of burdensome reporting obligations such policies pose for employers. Jan Borowy, a co-chair of the Equal Pay Coalition, says its data that employers already have on hand. You have to have this data for the (Canada Revenue Agency). This is data that is reported on your T4s, she said. What most parties seem to agree on is that transparency alone is not the answer. While data collection has value, reporting alone is not the solution to pay inequity. Proper analysis of compensation data would ensure that we do not merely identify a wage gap, but reveal insights into its causes, the Chambers April 2018 submission to government on pay transparency notes. The gender pay gap has lots of different causes, said Ranking. Its everything from discrimination and bias to occupational segregation, where women are concentrated in lower-paying sectors. John Honderich, chair of the Stars parent company Torstar Corp., and known for investing in journalism beyond his own backyard will be the recipient of the Canadian Journalism Foundations lifetime achievement award in 2019. The award is in recognition of a long and distinguished career committed to excellence and integrity in journalism and advocating for its importance as part of civil society, according to a release issued Wednesday by the CJF. Honderich began his career in 1973, when he gave up the law profession to work as a copy boy at the Ottawa Citizen. He went on to work at the Toronto Stars Ottawa bureau, later becoming its chief, and then led the papers Washington bureau before returning to Toronto as deputy city editor, then business editor and editorial page editor. In 1988, Honderich became the Stars editor-in-chief, a position he held until 1994. He then served as publisher for the next decade. Since 2009, hes been the chair of the Torstar Corp., making him the publisher of more than 80 newspapers. John Boynton, the president and CEO of Torstar Corp. and publisher of the Star, said he wasnt surprised to hear Honderich would be recognized with the lifetime achievement award. If you think of all of his accomplishments as a reporter, as an editor, as a publisher, as a chairman, hes had quite a career. Boynton said Honderich has also played an integral part of the Torstar Corp. Johns fingerprint is all over the history of our products, our news, our brand, our company. I think we wouldnt be anywhere close to where we are today if John wasnt at the helm, he said. When you think of the purpose and the mission of the Star, you could almost see his picture right there and think of him when you read those words. But Boynton recognizes Honderichs impact is far-reaching and goes well beyond Torstar. When I think of this award, I think of what hes done for the company and the brand and the Toronto Star newsroom, but I also think of how hes elevated journalism and been such a big component of why people think its important, he said. And so beyond just his own backyard, I think hes been a very important factor in the industry overall. Former governor general and journalist Adrienne Clarkson, also a jury member at the CJF, described Honderich as a journalist who never forgot he was a journalist even after becoming a manager. She said Honderich was the ideal choice for the award, describing him as a a brilliant mind, a curious intelligence, and someone filled with scintillating good humour. His total dedication to journalism not only in Canada, but in emerging countries, is unrivalled. Honderich was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2004 and the Order of Ontario in 2006 for his advocacy of journalism and extensive community service. He also served as a special ambassador for the mayor of Toronto on urban issues and then special adviser to the premier of Ontario on the future of the Greater Toronto Area. He helped lead the campaign to secure assistance for journalism announced in the last federal budget. One of his proudest achievements was visiting all 40-plus national parks, including those in extremely remote Arctic regions, during the Canadian sesquicentennial. Honderich will be honoured at the annual CJF Awards on June 13 in Toronto. Premila DSa is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @premila_dsa OTTAWAFormer Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle was angry and domineering in the days following his release from captivity, witnesses told his assault trial Thursday. Boyle and his wife, Caitlan Coleman, were seized by extremists during a 2012 backpacking trip to Central Asia and rescued five years later by Pakistani forces. Janice Unger, a Global Affairs Canada official who accompanied them on a plane back to Canada in October 2017, told the court that at one point during the flight Boyle abruptly ordered her and a colleague to stop talking and go back to their seats. Colemans sister, JoAnn Rotenberry, visited the couple shortly after their return and recalled that Boyle always seemed angry and frustrated and would speak in a demeaning way to his wife. Coleman has testified her husband spanked, punched and slapped her during their time as hostages, and that his violent ways resumed shortly following their arrival in Canada. Boyle was arrested in Ottawa in the early hours of Dec. 31, 2017, after Coleman told police he had assaulted her on numerous occasions. Boyle, 35, has pleaded not guilty in Ontario court to offences against Coleman including assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement. Read more: Defence lawyer suggests Joshua Boyles wife lied about an alleged assault Caitlan Coleman details night she fled from estranged husband Joshua Boyle Caitlan Coleman likens husbands abuse, forced sex to hostage ordeal The Crown witnesses who testified Thursday painted a picture of Boyle as a self-absorbed man who exerted obvious control over his wife. Unger remembered Coleman as a quiet person who did not make a lot of eye contact. Coleman and Boyle would speak to each other, she recalled. But she would look to him for, I would say, cues. Often, Boyle would use hand gestures to direct his wifes actions, she said. Rotenberry travelled to Ottawa from the United States to visit Coleman, who had fallen ill, in hospital. She looked very tired, Rotenberry said Thursday. She was frail, skinny. Although his wife was sick, Boyle expected her to care for their three children, who were present at the hospital, Rotenberry told the court. He would talk demeaningly towards her, she recalled. He would say to her, Why dont you keep the kids quiet? Rotenberry had expected Coleman would be stronger and do more to stand up for herself. She would sit meekly, she would have her head down. Her tone of voice was demure, she said. To me, she just accepted everything that Josh said. Rotenberry said Coleman told her: I make some of the decisions, but he makes the majority of them. The sisters kept in touch by text and email after Rotenberry returned to the U.S., sharing messages during one stretch of several days because Coleman needed to vent, she said. Rotenberry became so concerned for Coleman at one point that she alerted the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, telling an officer some sort of safety net was needed to protect her sister. Shortly thereafter, Rotenberry said, she was cut off completely and her texts and emails to Coleman went unanswered. Rotenberry tried again, sending Coleman an email inquiring whether she had taken offence at something. To Rotenberrys surprise, Boyle wrote back to say his wife had not replied because she had been very busy. Read more about: TRURO, N.S.The young filly could have been a contender. An adjudicator says Putnams Snowstorm had the right bloodlines and the speed to potentially be a winning harness racer. But a mysterious fluke pregnancy diverted the yearling standardbred filly off the track and landed three Nova Scotia horsemen in small claims court. A ruling released this week said Emmons MacKay and Paul Smith bought Putnams Snowstorm for $10,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale in Crapaud, P.E.I., in October 2017. (They) had selected this particular filly because her bloodlines suggested that she could be a contender ... they began training her with the intention of racing her in the 2018 racing season in the Atlantic provinces, said adjudicator Eric Slone. The training went well and she began to run some times that were close to what would have been indicative of a contender. But six or seven months later, her racing times deteriorated and she began showing signs of pregnancy. A vet soon confirmed it: Putnams Snowstorm was pregnant. A foal was born not long afterwards. While an additional horse might in some situations be considered a plus, this particular colt has no commercial value because it is not a standardbred, said Slone. MacKay and Smith did the math and realized the horse would have been two months pregnant when they bought her, but the seller, Shawn Putnam, hadnt told them. Putnam, however, said he was shocked by the pregnancy, according to Slones ruling. Putnams Snowstorm had been separated from any male horses before she would have been considered fertile. Except, that is, for one day when she was about 13 months old. He testified that there was an occasion where Putnams Snowstorm had managed to escape her enclosure and was found hanging around with a couple of his males. He did not know how this happened, Slone said in his ruling. He testified that he thought she was too young to breed, and that there were no signs that anything had happened, such as unusual energy or agitation on her part or that of the colts. He believed at the time that it was an innocent encounter and only tracing back after the pregnancy was discovered, did he put two and two together and conclude that this must have been the time that she was impregnated. Putnam was apologetic and said he felt morally responsible, but he and MacKay and Smith could not come to an agreement on a fair compensation. The two buyers claimed the small claims courts maximum of $25,000 for breach of contract and negligence, although they said their losses exceeded $99,000, including $57,513 in lost race earnings. The filly was unable to race for most of the 2018 harness racing season. Putnams Snowstorm was able to resume training late in the 2018 season, and raced in a few events, but the results were poor and no prize money was won, said Slone. She is training to race in 2019 but is obviously ineligible to race in events limited to two-year-olds. Putnam argued Putnams Snowstorm still has a great potential future as a racehorse and he said she could have had a better 2018 had MacKay and Smith started training her more quickly after she gave birth. Also, he said, buying racehorses is simply a high risk endeavour. In his ruling, Slone said the purchase had come with a seven-day warranty period and had she been returned during that period, MacKay and Smith would have had a right to a refund. They could have had the horse checked by a vet, he said. He said Putnam acted honestly, and was as shocked as anybody by the pregnancy. The event that occurred was a fluke, which took all parties by complete surprise, he said. He dismissed the claim. Read more about: Millions of Canadians had to adjust to higher gas prices this week as the federal carbon tax came into play in four holdout provinces and B.C.s 11-year-old tax climbed even higher. The federal tax adds 4.4 cents per litre to the cost of gas in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In B.C. the provinces carbon tax just increased to 8.89 cents per litre at the pump. It may have been a shock to the pocketbook, but experts say a price on carbon can help wrestle dangerous greenhouse gas emissions, which fuel climate change, lower than they otherwise would be. Canada is already warming at twice the global average due to climate change with dramatic consequences. In B.C., the carbon tax is doing its job, said Werner Antweiler, a professor at the University of British Columbias business school. B.C. became the first jurisdiction in North America to establish an economy-wide carbon tax on greenhouse gas emissions in 2008. Read more: Opinion | Heather Scoffield: All eyes on Conservatives for alternatives to carbon tax Albertas carbon tax: What is it and what happens if its scrapped? New carbon tax starts coming in for four provinces that fought the federal plan By 2015 emissions had dropped by almost five per cent and GDP had grown by 17. As people faced higher prices, the use of natural gas for home heating declined. In the last few years, the provinces overall emissions have crept upwards but thats due to B.C.s booming economy and population growth, Antweiler said. Greenhouse gas emissions per person have gone down compared to 2007. The tax has been a very strong incentive for people to drive less, use public transit, or switch to a more fuel-efficient car, Antweiler explained. Jock Finlayson, the chief policy officer at the Businesss Council of British Columbia, says the carbon tax has been a wash in a macroeconomic sense. But there have been winners and losers. The tax hurt the industries that rely heavily on fossil fuels and compete in a global market, such as mining, pulp and paper, oil and gas, he said. Meanwhile, the high-tech sector, domestic service industries, and others werent paying high carbon taxes and benefited from a net reduction in income taxes meant to balance out the overall tax burden. The new federal carbon tax applies in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan provinces that opted not to set a price on carbon themselves. All four are challenging the federal tax in court. If their challenge fails, the Alberta experience suggests they may be better off shaping their own carbon pricing system. But Finlayson worries the patchwork approach may create friction in the national market. In Alberta, introducing a carbon tax of its own rather than having one imposed by the federal government has led to two main benefits: greater autonomy over the revenue it produces and the ability to temporarily exempt certain sectors in order to provide a transition period. According to a March 2019 report by the Pembina Institute, Alberta raised $1.05 billion from the carbon tax in the 2017-18 fiscal year, and a further $246 million from the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation, which puts a price on carbon for large emitters and has existed since 2007. Of the total revenue, 40 per cent covered rebates for low- and middle-income households ($306 million of total revenue) and a small business tax cut of 33 per cent ($180 million). About half a billion dollars was reinvested in innovation and technology, major green infrastructure projects, and efforts to phase out coal. Most of that money wouldnt exist without the economy-wide carbon tax, explained Julia-Maria Becker, Pembina Institutes director of clean economy program and author of the March 2019 report. Its not just about households its also about businesses reducing their operational costs. So there are a lot of initiatives that probably would not be able to get financed (otherwise), Becker said. Since Alberta has its own carbon tax system, it has more control over how much money it wants to invest back into the economy or rebate directly back to households. In contrast, the federal government formula means 90 per cent of total revenue is automatically returned to households as rebates, with just 10 per cent left for provincial government initiatives. That means its the federal government controlling the rebates to large emitters and the rebates to households, said Jennifer Winter, an assistant professor and scientific director of energy and environmental policy at the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy. The province (would lose) the ability to regulate emissions in those parts of the economy, she added, because they lose the ability to incent companies and consumers to reduce emissions. Another advantage Alberta receives from complying with federal carbon tax regulations is it can provide exemptions to certain sectors that could be disproportionally affected by the carbon tax. That gives them an opportunity to adjust to what they know is coming without facing the direct costs right now, Winter said. Because Albertas economy-wide carbon tax has only been in place for two years, its hard to measure the tangible impact it has had on emissions and consumer behaviour. Albertas Climate Leadership Plan is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the province by 20 million tonnes by 2020. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: York Regional Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of a third suspect identified in the armed kidnapping of 22-year-old international student Wanzhen Lu last month in Markham. Lu was forcibly abducted just before 6 p.m. on March 23 from the underground parking garage of a condo building at 15 Water Walk Dr., located near Hwy. 7 and Birchmount Rd, police said. He was with a female friend when three hooded men one armed with a Taser jumped out of a van and grabbed Lu, police said. According to police, Lu was then shocked with the Taser and forced into the van. His kidnappers fled, leaving Lus friend behind unharmed. Three days later shortly before 9 p.m., Lu was found at a residence in Gravenhurst, several hours north of Markham, after a homeowner noticed him at the end of his laneway and called police. Police said Lu had suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. He has since been reunited with his family. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for the arrest of Muzamil Addow, 28, of Toronto. He is wanted for kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault, assault with a weapon and three counts of failing to comply with recognizance. Three of the four suspects have now been identified by police. Abdullahi Adan, 37, of Toronto, was identified as one of the suspects in the kidnapping, and a Canada-wide warrant was put out for his arrest on Monday. He then turned himself in overnight. Adan is expected to appear in a Newmarket court on Friday for a bail hearing. Thirty-three-year-old Hashim Abdullahi, of Brampton, was also arrested in connection with the kidnapping after a search warrant was executed at a Brampton home, police said. He will appear in a Newmarket court on April 8. Police have yet to identify one remaining suspect and said they are considered armed and dangerous. The suspect is described as a masked man wearing blue pants and a black jacket. Police say anyone should call 911 immediately if one of the suspects is spotted. We strongly recommend that the suspects involved in this kidnapping seek legal counsel and turn themselves in, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact York Regional Police Major Crimes Bureau immediately at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7865. Toronto police have arrested a 39-year-old man for allegedly accessing, possessing and distributing child pornography. On Wednesday, officers executed a search warrant in the area of Gerrard St. E. and Broadview Ave., police said in a news release. Police allege that a man chatted online using a social media application and distributed, possessed and accessed child sexual abuse material. The man goes by the names Julia Cole and Cole Raby online. Nicholas Cooper, 39, of Toronto, has been charged with five counts of distributing child pornography, five counts of possessing child pornography, five counts of accessing child pornography and one count of possessing schedule I substance for trafficking. He is scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-8500 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be sent to Canadas National Tipline for Reporting the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children at www.cybertip.ca. For more than a month, Francisco Urbina Contreras shared an infested house in Barrie with 30 other Mexican men and women who were drawn to Canada by the promise of jobs. The former small business owner from northern Mexico could live with the bedbugs underneath his foam mattress, the unheated attic he shared with four others and the long wait for one of two bathrooms at the Dunlop St. home. What he couldnt put up with was the meagre $113 in cash he said he was handed for two full weeks of work cleaning toilets, vacuuming carpets and making beds at Simcoe County hotels. Instead of the $800 he was expecting from the temp agency that had recruited him and put him up in the rooming house, he said his take-home pay had been whittled down by hefty deductions: $5 for each trip to a work site, $17 for daily job placement and $400 a month for rent. We felt we were in jail because we were too afraid to leave the house. We got picked up to the hotels and dropped off at the house. We only went out for groceries, the 41-year-old man told the Star through an interpreter. This is not what we came to this country for, to live and work like animals, with no dignity. Contreras was one of 60 foreign workers allegedly exploited in what police have described as a case of modern-day slavery. At a news conference in February, Barrie police revealed that a joint investigation with the Ontario Provincial Police and Canada Border Services Agency had uncovered a labour trafficking operation that housed and hired people from Mexico who had been lured by promises of jobs, work visas and possible permanent residency. The news conference came just a week after pre-dawn police raids at several houses in Simcoe County. At the time, officials rescued 43 people, ranging in age from 20 to 46, from squalid conditions. Since then, some 20 more people have come forward to police with stories of having recently worked for the recruiter. The Star reached out to the owners of the temp agency but, through their lawyer Bruce Daley, they declined to comment on the allegations. Police say the investigation is ongoing and no one has been charged to date. Contreras was not among those freed in the sweep; he had already escaped, he says, from the horrible situation last December with help from a stranger he met on a Facebook page group for Mexicans in Toronto, who offered to give him shelter. The workers caught up in the raid were transported to a church and later to an area hotel for temporary shelter before they were issued temporary residence in Canada to assist the investigation. They were advised by police not to speak with the media. I have dreamed to be many things in my life, but not a slave, said Contreras, who is now trying to obtain temporary residence in Canada while working in construction in Toronto to support himself. Human trafficking has exploded in Canada: Between 2010 and 2016, the annual number of cases has increased 11 fold, according to a parliamentary report published in December. The majority of incidents 66 per cent happened in Ontario, with 14 per cent in Quebec, 8 per cent in Alberta, and the rest spread across Canada. In total, 1,099 incidents were reported during the period, with 32 per cent involving foreign nationals being brought into the country. Although Statistics Canada does not differentiate between sex trafficking and labour trafficking data, the report said the majority of reported incidents involved women being forced into the sex trade. Migrants advocates say Canadas growing reliance on foreign workers the number of temporary foreign workers has almost doubled in the past decade, to 300,000 in 2017 has greatly contributed to the surge of labour trafficking because precarious immigration status makes people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. With poor English, little money and threats by traffickers, workers are reluctant to come forward out of fear for the safety of loved ones back home and their own possible deportation from Canada, making investigation and prosecution difficult for officials, said the advocates, who believe labour trafficking is grossly under-reported for those reasons. Foreign workers are recruited overseas and often tied to the people who bring them here. They have no permanent status and are ineligible for community services, said Loly Rico of Torontos FCJ Refugee Centre, which is part of the Toronto Counter Human Trafficking Network, a six-year-old grassroots umbrella group that meets regularly to share information on trafficking and advocate for victims. These workers do jobs that most Canadians do not want to do. They are just cheap labour and dont get the same attention as victims of sex trafficking. Februarys rescue operation was among the largest labour trafficking raids in Ontario. Investigation officials collaborated with advocates to take a victims-first approach, making the safety and well-being of the migrant workers a priority over arrests of suspects. Since the raids, the rescued workers were sheltered at no costs at the Living Water Resort in Collingwood, which also hired some of them full time. Living Water owner Larry Law said the community has come together to help the workers by organizing English classes and Spanish church services, while the town has offered them two months of free public transit. So far, half of the workers are working at Living Water while the rest have moved out after taking jobs offered outside of the community. We are just so happy to see them turning over a new leaf in Canada, said Law. Authorities said complaints by the workers in Barrie first surfaced in 2015. In addition to Contreras, the Star tracked down two other workers who had lived in the houses arranged by the temp agency. Their stories share common threads: promised jobs, betrayals, desperation, debts and threats. Rodrigo Jesus Vazquez Medina ran a small garage in Merida, a city off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. After he fell behind on a loan to purchase equipment for his shop, an acquaintance in Mexico gave him the phone number of the recruiter in Canada who offers lots of jobs. Medina borrowed $3,000 from family for his trip to Canada. I was making $300 a month in Mexico, and I was told I could earn as much as $1,000 every two weeks here, at $13 an hour. Thats good money. They said I wouldnt need a visa and they could find me jobs once Im here, recalled Medina, 31, who has two teenage children back home. Upon arriving at Pearson airport last November, he waited hours to be interviewed by immigration. I was told by the recruiter to tell them that I wanted to come here to see the CN Tower, Niagara Falls and the (Ripleys) aquarium, he recalled. They even made a fake hotel reservation for me. After leaving customs at midnight, he called a number he was given by the recruiter. A driver picked up Medina and another worker who was on the same flight, and dropped them off at the Dunlop St. house, charging each $150 for the trip. Medina said he slept on a couch in the living room that night. When he got up the next morning, he was shocked by what he saw. We had about 30 people living there, some staying in the attic, some sleeping in the hallways. People put their mattresses on top of used tires, cardboard and forklift wood platforms because its too cold on the floor, said Medina. It wasnt what I had expected. Work placements and other communication by the recruiters were arranged through the group messaging tool WhatsApp. On Medinas fourth day in the house, he was finally assigned to work at one of six hotels, including Nottawasaga Inn, Hockley Valley and Living Water resorts, according to work schedules sent to them by the recruiter on the app. Police have said the hotels were not aware of the alleged human trafficking operation. Nottawasaga and Hockley Valley did not return the Stars repeated requests for comment. Medina said he and his housemates didnt work every day, but sometimes shifts were 12 hours long. Due to his background in mechanics, Medina said he was also sometimes sent to do light construction jobs. He said he was paid about $400 in cash for two weeks of work. I wasnt making any money at all. I had no money to pay off my debt or send to my kids. I was just making enough to stay in this horrible house, Medina said. Iran Yesmin Lazeano Cabrera, who fled from a Livingstone St. residence operated by the same Barrie recruiter, shared a similar experience. The 42-year-old mother of three said coming to Canada was her esa era mi ultima carta my last card after her husband left her with three children and a huge debt to a Colombian loan shark that she couldnt repay. Last fall, her sister heard about a lawyer in the Mexican port city of Veracruz who could help people find jobs in Canada. They went to the storefront law office and were asked to pay almost $2,100 to start the process money that her sister paid by selling her car. I sat my children down over our dining table. I told them I tried everything to pay off the debt and I needed to take a gamble. This is our last card. This is our only way out, recalled Cabrera, who arrived Toronto from Puebla last November. My eldest one, only 17, said she would look after the two little ones, she recalled, sobbing. My kids were expecting to come and join me once I got a steady job and settled. When Cabrera arrived at Pearson, a pre-arranged driver took her to the three-bedroom house on Livingstone St. in Barrie, where she immediately had to hand over $400 rent. There were already 13 tenants there, all from Mexico. I just remembered seeing a lot of men in the house. There was one bedroom for the women, but there was just one bed. I asked them where my bed was. They told me they would buy me a mattress and it would be deducted from my paycheque, said Cabrera, who was left with just $50 in her pocket after paying the driver and the rent. The next morning she met with the recruiter. The recruiter said only hard workers could stay and my future depended on my behaviour. She told me that I work for her but I cant tell anyone, said Cabrera, who was later taken shopping to get a blanket, a foam mattress and two black T-shirts as uniforms the costs of which were all to be deducted from her pay. Three days later, she says she was placed at a job and moved to another house in Wasaga Beach, which she shared with six men and one woman. Theres no Wi-Fi at the house and I couldnt talk to my children. I started to feel really bad. I was depressed and anxious. There were other workers coming and going. I did not feel safe there, said Cabrera, who at that point had yet to be paid and only had $3 left. I borrowed another workers phone and called the driver who picked me up at the airport. I told her I needed to leave. She came to get me and I ended up staying with her. It just felt like a very bad dream, said Cabrera, who had tried unsuccessfully to retrieve her owed wages. (She says the recruiter told her that, after deductions that included a $175 fine for abandoning her job, there was nothing left). I came here for work. If I had known its going to be like this, theres no way I would have come to Canada. But its too late. I have no money. I have a debt to pay in Mexico. I cant go back to my kids with nothing. Contreras, a native from Tabasco who met Medina at the Dunlop St. house, said the two decided to leave Barrie when they went eight days without a work assignment. When they posted on a Facebook page for Mexicans in Toronto looking for jobs in the city, they were offered temporary shelter. After doing day labour jobs in demolition and renovation, a Mexican man hired them for a month to clear snow on construction sites in Muskoka, and offered them room and board. It was the first time in Canada where I could sleep in a real bed, with sheets and pillows, said a smiling Contreras, who ran a small business in Mexico making and installing awnings to support his daughter through university. People treat us differently because we have no (immigration) paper. We have no English and others take advantage of us. Both men have recently found jobs in construction in Toronto, with Contreras working on insulation and Medina as a welder. Like Cabrera, the pair are hoping to obtain a temporary residence permit to stay and work in Canada until they save up enough money to return home. Read more about: Ontarios provincial police watchdog is telling its employees its creating a plan to identify potential efficiencies during a time of severe financial restraint, according to internal note sent to employees in advance of next weeks provincial budget. In a note sent Thursday to employees of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the units executive officer William Curtis says the watchdog has been told its budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year will be $6.9 million. According to the note, thats down from $9.2 million in spending in 2016-17, $11 million in spending in 2017-18, and more than $10 million for 2018-2019 current year. Together with the ongoing hiring and discretionary spending freezes, these cuts will bring serious fiscal pressures to every aspect of the Units operations, Curtis wrote. But in a late-night email sent to the Star Friday by Jesse Robichaud, a spokesperson for the Ontario Attorney General, claims the SIU budget was $7.17 million in 2017-2018, and $7.06 million in 2018-2019. The Ministry of the Attorney General has not communicated the 2019-2020 budget allocation to the Special Investigations Unit. The agency will be informed of its budget allocation for 2019-2020 once the governments budget is announced on April 11, Robichaud said in a statement. The Special Investigations Unit is a valued and trusted partner in creating a safer Ontario along with the police and the people. The government will ensure it is properly resourced to continue carrying out its important mandate with diligence and professionalism, Robichaud said. According to Curtis note, in the past, the SIU has had an informal arrangement with the Ministry of the Attorney General that allowed for any over-expenditures to be absorbed by the ministry, but this will no longer be the case, the note said. We wish to assure all staff that the unit remains committed to the vigorous discharge of all facets of its mandate, and that we will continue to press our case for a budgetary allocation that is commensurate with the important work that we do, Curtis wrote. Read more: Whats changing in Fords new police oversight law and why it matters Ontarios Special Investigations Unit searching for new director as Tony Loparco steps down A rare case of an Ontario cop charged with attempted murder for shooting a fellow police officer An arms-length civilian agency, the SIU probes deaths, serious injuries and allegations of sexual assault involving police across Ontario. It has the power to lay criminal charges stemming from its investigations. The budget cut comes just weeks after Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government passed new policing and civilian police oversight legislation called the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services (COPS) Act. The law establishes new, resource-intensive expectations, including that SIU investigations be completed within a 120-day period and that the watchdog produce detailed public reports on cases where no charges were laid. In a letter to the provinces standing committee on justice policy last month, former SIU director Tony Loparco was already raising concerns about the SIUs ability to meet the new requirements. With expanding obligations and with the government speaking of further significant cuts to the SIUs budget, this (120-day) benchmark will be exceeded in almost every case and reduce public confidence in the SIU, wrote Loparco, who left the SIU last week, after a five-year term. No other law enforcement agency has a deadline to complete investigations, he added, or the obligation to prepare a public report when no charges are laid. Given the statutory obligations on the SIU and the lack of resources to meet those obligations, a 120 (day) deadline is simply unrealistic and is setting the unit up for failure, Loparco wrote. SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon said in an email Friday that the watchdog would not speculate on details of the provincial budget, or their impact on the SIU, before its release next week. Even before the anticipated cuts, the SIU budget was a small expense compared to much larger sums spent on policing in the province, said Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Toronto. In Toronto, the municipal government has spent around $1 billion annually on policing in recent years. Pointing to the Ford governments recent announcement that it would invest $10-million into horse racing, Owusu-Bempah said there were other areas where money could have been saved. I think this sends the message to police agencies, and to people who support a law-and-order agenda, that we are lessening the ability of an important police oversight agency to fulfil its mandate, he said. The SIU is incident driven, meaning its workload depends on how many calls come in from across Ontario. While the agency has not had to decline to conduct probes because it ran out of money, maybe they will have to (do) that in future, said Ian Scott, a Toronto lawyer and a former SIU director. The watchdogs director technically has the discretion not to conduct an investigation that would otherwise be its responsibility, but that flies in the face of why we have the SIU in the first place, Scott said. The reason its there is for independent, transparent and thorough investigations. Well, if they run out of money, theyre not going to be doing any of those things. The new PC government legislation reduces the circumstances under which the SIU gets called in to investigate. For example, police are no longer expected to contact the SIU when a police officer is present at a suicide or a heart attack, provided the chief is certain that police actions did not contribute to the death or injury. That change will mean the SIU opens fewer investigations. But Scott says the law also includes a new expectation that the watchdog be called in when a police officer fires a gun at a person, regardless of whether anyone was injured. Although Scott says he doesnt know how many such investigations that will prompt, he nonetheless expects it will increase the workload. Patrick Watson, a criminologist who teaches at Wilfrid Laurier University, notes that a substantial budget cut may have an impact on the SIUs ability to invest in the training necessary to keep investigators skills up to date. He pointed to errors that have come to light in the ongoing criminal trial of Ottawa police Const. Daniel Montsion, who is charged with manslaughter, assault with a weapon and aggravated assault in the death of Abdirahman Abdi. An SIU investigators mishandling of video of the interaction could mean that key piece of evidence may be excluded from trial, or the case may be tossed. Court has heard the investigator was inexperienced using proprietary video software, and that the video was corrupted, among other errors. Watson questioned whether the SIU could be able to invest in training if the budget is cut. The provincial budget will be released April 11. Ontarios government recently proposed and passed the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act to restore accountability, transparency and trust in a police oversight system that left the people of Ontario and the police in the dark for far too long, said Robichaud. Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis Read more about: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump is showing surprising deference to his top political adversary, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as he feels pressure to fulfil a signature election promise approval of a revised trade deal with Mexico and Canada. In many ways, Trump has no choice, as the president and his allies scramble to notch a policy victory before the 2020 election. Only Pelosi can decide whether the pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement comes up for a vote in the Democratic-controlled House. Advocates hope that will happen before the House goes on recess in August and the 2020 campaign kicks into high gear, all but destroying chances to pass the deal in Congress for the rest of Trumps term. So far, Trump and Pelosi have not met to discuss the pacts future. But Trumps top negotiators have been unusually conciliatory taking pains to avoid confrontation, praising Pelosi for her openness, considering her suggestions and thanking her for letting them make direct pitches to moderate and freshman Democratic lawmakers whose support is critical. Speaker Pelosi has been very co-operative with (U.S. Trade Rep.) Bob Lighthizer, very helpful in allowing him access to her conference, Larry Kudlow, Trumps top economic adviser, told reporters. He spoke to the whole Democratic conference, which is very cool. Trump, always the biggest unknown and at times the greatest threat to his own administrations strategy, has refrained from attacking Pelosi personally thus far, making her a rare exception for a powerful opponent. Its uncertain whether he can continue that restraint. On other issues that Democrats have blocked, such as the border wall and an Obamacare repeal, Trump has not held back his attacks. Read more: An intruder brought malware to Mar-a-Lago, which experts have warned was vulnerable U.S. eyes renegotiating border agreement with Canada Republicans maintain that they are working on a plan to replace Obamacare Some in the White House are arguing to put more pressure on Pelosi from the outside, believing she will not hand Trump a victory on a top political issue unless forced to by moderate Democrats representing closely divided House districts. Others argue that Pelosi could be enticed by offering her a legislative accomplishment, such as lifting caps on certain domestic spending programs, which the White House opposes. Pelosi on Thursday said she wouldnt use the trade deal as a bargaining chip. It will stand on its own, she said. The outcome holds major consequences for the U.S. economy. Trump has threatened to pull out of NAFTA if Congress fails to approve the updated version, dubbed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Trump could be bluffing, as he has on other legislative threats, and there are legal questions about whether he has the power to do so. But complete withdrawal could have devastating consequences for a variety of businesses led by agriculture and manufacturing that it is feared could plunge the rest of the economy into free fall. Trade among the three countries surpassed $1.2 trillion (U.S.) last year, thanks to zero tariffs for almost all goods crossing one anothers borders and deeply integrated supply chains formed since NAFTA took effect in 1994. I know the Democrats have trouble with labour, environment and enforcement. Whatever we can do short of reopening negotiations, I want to help, said Sen. Charles E. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. But with every move, he said, he sees one person as the key: Youve got to think, Whats Pelosi think of all of this? Pelosi has been intentionally vague, hoping to maintain leverage and deferring to her rank and file, many of whom want a deal but are demanding policy changes. There are significant risks for her and her members, particularly the freshmen: They dont want to come off as obstructionists or get blamed for torpedoing a trade deal. Pelosi on Tuesday said at a Politico panel that she was inclined to see if we cant improve on NAFTA but warned that Democrats concerns about the enforcement of labour rules for all three countries is key. Enforcement has to be in the treaty, not in the implementing legislation, Pelosi said, seemingly calling for the deal to be renegotiated, but leaving some wiggle room. Reopening negotiations on the pact entirely could destroy it, since it took more than a year to complete, and Canada and Mexico would need to approve the same document in their respective legislative bodies. But modifications to the text or side agreements can be hatched to address deficiencies Pelosi and other Democrats have voiced, especially over enforcement of labour standards. Mexico is also under pressure to enact changes to its own labour laws that could alleviate concerns of unions and other groups that blame NAFTA for shifting many American jobs to low-wage Mexico. With enforceable labour, we will help pass it, said Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, although he viewed it as unlikely that it would happen by the end of summer. Opposition from labour groups who have so far remained neutral but like key parts of the deal would likely kill widespread Democratic support in the House. So far, Pelosi has signalled to the White House that they can make their case directly to her members. She allowed Lighthizer to meet with rank-and-file members late last month, and he huddled with freshman Democrats this week. But shell also allow in labour and environmental advocates, along with opponents of the pharmaceutical industry, all of whom have voiced suspicions about the deal, according to an aide. Lighthizer, a trade negotiator for President Ronald Reagan and one-time Senate staffer, is well known on Capitol Hill and considered a pivotal figure in winning Democratic support. Rep. Richard E. Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat who leads the Ways and Means Committee, said Lighthizer has shown flexibility, and he suggested the deal would be approved. He struck me as being very, very open to discussion, Neal said. I think if you can do some tweaking here to get (the deal) done where you can get broad Democratic support. Eric Miller, a trade consultant and global fellow at the think tank Wilson Center, attributes the administrations conciliatory tone to one lesson learned from the recent partial government shutdown, in which Trump eventually backed down after a standoff with Pelosi and the Democratic leadership. The experience of the 35-day shutdown is: Pelosi wont get rolled, Miller said. They realize that confrontation is not going to win the day. Theyre going to have to make nice. The administration is very much aware that if it becomes a partisan issue, passage is fairly remote. Democrats representing moderate districts particularly those with manufacturing or agricultural bases may decide they need to work with Trump, or at least avoid appearing obstructionist. While many newer Democrats won because of Trumps low popularity, some also promised to rise above partisanship. With the House controlled by Democrats and the Senate controlled by Republicans, they are unlikely to have many legislative accomplishments to run on besides possibly the trade deal. Democrats are going to have to show that they can do more than just oversight, said David Tamasi, a lobbyist and Trump ally. Whats more, analysts say many of the Democratic newcomers appear to be more accepting of increasing trade than senior members of the party, who had become more skeptical of trade agreements after the initial NAFTA deal. Some outside groups supporting the trade pact are hoping to appeal to the partys freshmen and moderates. Trade Works for America, a political organization made up of industries that support the trade agreement, estimates it will spend $15 million to $20 million on ads and advocacy efforts targeting 50 lawmakers, most of them Democrats. There are a lot of freshman Democrats in competitive or Republican-leaning districts who I think are going to be supportive of the policy, but are going to want to know that back home this is good politics, said Phil Cox, the Trade Works for America national co-chair. Some in the White House want to put an even sharper edge on that effort by sending administration officials to those districts, according to one official who declined to be identified. Barry Bennett, a lobbyist and former political adviser to Trump, said Republicans were trying to figure out whether Pelosi has good-faith demands that can be met, or will never be satisfied as long as Trump is president. One you can overcome, he said. The other one, you just have to politically make her pay for that. So far, officials have been wary of doing anything that would annoy Pelosi. But they cant control the president. And if Trump becomes personally involved in pressuring or attacking Democrats, it could backfire, given his low standing among many Democrats and swing voters. The more the president gets involved, said Daniel Ujczo, a trade expert at the law firm Dickinson Wright, thats worse for USMCA. Read more about: ALGIERS, Algeria - Masses of Algerians whose pro-democracy movement forced out longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sang and celebrated their victory Friday and demanded that other top figures leave too. Huge crowds surged through Algiers boulevards and marched toward the central post office, key symbol of a peaceful movement that has upended this energy-rich North African country in just weeks. The crowd appeared the largest yet over seven straight Fridays of protests against a power structure seen as corrupt and repressive, according to an Associated Press reporter who has covered each one. Despite being crammed shoulder to shoulder at some points in the hours-long demonstration, protesters remained good-spirited, with palpable joy at Bouteflikas resignation. It was their first protest since Bouteflika resigned this week under pressure from protesters and the powerful army. Bouteflika, 82 and ailing since a 2013 stroke, had been president since 1999 . Game Over read some signs, or The Streets Wont be Silenced! Until an interim leader is named, no one is technically in charge of this country thats a key player in the fight against terrorism and important source of Europes gas and oil . Security was higher than usual at Fridays protest, with roadblocks preventing buses of protesters from entering the capital. One group said they walked 20 kilometres after their bus was stopped at a roadblock from the Kabylie region east of Algiers. But the crowds kept coming, including people from around Africas biggest country. Its a little victory, but others should leave too, said Salim Mehdi, a 40-year-old protester from the town of Bouira. Mehdi still lives with his parents and hasnt married because hes never found a solid job and one reason hes protesting is the limited economic opportunity for those outside the political elite. However, he said hes mainly protesting to show his frustration at a corrupt, rotten system where the same faces have been in charge for too long. The protesters now want the departure of the men who head Algerias three branches of power: the prime minister, the upper house of parliaments chief and the president of the constitutional court. Some brandished signs calling for the exit of the three Bs Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, constitutional Council President Tayeb Belaiz, and upper house of parliament president Abdelkader Bensalah. With the president gone, Bensalah a Bouteflika ally is expected to take over as interim leader while Algeria organizes elections. But first both houses of parliament must convene to appoint him, expected sometime next week. Its unclear what would happen if the three Bs were really to leave. The movement hasnt coalesced around a single alternative candidate or plan to govern Algeria. Some of Fridays protesters suggested appointing a government of technocrats not including any of the current political leadership while new elections are organized. Under Fridays spring sun, protesters dangled banners from balconies and roofs. Police stood nearby, watching but not intervening. Parents carried babies in slings and schoolchildren on shoulders. Protesters cleared the way in tightly packed streets for people in wheelchairs. Algerian flags were used as capes, bandanas and belts the unifying symbol of a movement with no single political view. For the first time, I dont feel like leaving my Algeria, read a sign held by one protester. The movement has been driven by Algerias youth, many of whom leave for Europe to study or seek work. Protests were also held around the country, from Tamanrasset and oil-rich Ouargla deep in the Sahara to the Mediterranean port city of Skikda, according to website TSA. The military chief of staff, Ahmed Gaid Salah, played a key role in pushing Bouteflika toward the door and is considered the guarantor of Algerias security. But many protesters disagreed with his strategy and are mixed about what role he should play in the political transition. Among posters at Fridays demonstration was one reading: No to a transition imposed by the army. The head of Algerias intelligence service, Athmane Tartag, quietly submitted his resignation after Bouteflikas departure, a security official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to be publicly named. Algerian news reports said the intelligence service, DSS, will now report to the Defence Ministry instead of the presidents office. ___ Charlton reported from Paris. China's State Council said on March 31 that the country would continue to suspend additional tariffs on US vehicles and auto parts after March 31, in a goodwill gesture following a US decision to delay tariff hikes on Chinese imports. China said in December it would suspend additional 25 percent tariffs on US-made vehicles and auto parts for three months, following a truce in a trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. The two parties discussed related texts of an agreement, and achieved new progress in the eighth round of China-US high-level economic and trade consultations held in Beijing, which created favorable conditions for the ongoing ninth round of talks in Washington. The Chinese negotiation team are willing to keep making joint efforts with the US counterpart to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' top leaders during a meeting in Argentina in December, Gao said. RIO DE JANEIRO - Days after celebrating the anniversary of the military coup that led to Brazils last dictatorship, the government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is pushing for a revision of the history curriculum for the countrys schools. Education Minister Ricardo Velez Rodriguez says he will introduce changes in school textbooks so children will get a true idea of that era, describing the de facto government that took over after the coup as a democratic regime of force. Brazilian history shows that March 31, 1964, was a sovereign decision of the Brazilian society. It wasnt the barracks that put Castelo Branco at the presidency, Velez Rodriguez said in an interview published Thursday in the newspaper daily Valor. Repeating Bolsonaros interpretation of those times, the minister denied it was a coup that removed democratically elected President Joao Goulart, saying the military acted with the support of Congress in installing Marshal Castelo Branco, head of the army, as the countrys leader. The armed forces then shut down Congress and held power for 21 years with a regime marked by censorship, political persecution, torture and death. Velez Rodriguez argued that Brazil adopted a democratic regime of force because it was necessary at the time to block the rise of communism. The administration of Bolsonaro, a former army captain who is a fervent anti-leftist, also reaffirmed its controversial reading of Brazils past to the United Nations in a telegram, which The Associated Press had access to. It was sent in response to a comment by Fabian Salvioli, the U.N. special investigator on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, who described the commemorations of the coup as inadmissible. The governments telegram said there was not a coup detat but a legitimate political movement that was supported by a majority of Brazilians to deal with the growing threat of a communist takeover and terrorist organizations. In his interview, Velez Rodriguez said there will be progressive changes in school material to rescue a broader version of history. Carlos Fico, a history professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University who specializes in Latin American dictatorships, said the governments initiative is a purely ideological denial attempt that will fail. In the field of historiography there is no doubt, there is no debate of this kind. No one is denying that there was a coup and a dictatorship because it would be considered ridiculous, Fico said. The governments weekend commemoration of the coup angered many Brazilians, and protests were held in cities across Brazil. The National Truth Commission, which investigated the crimes of Brazils dictatorship, has said at least 434 people were disappeared and there were more than 30,000 illegal detentions and cases of torture. But no one has ever been tried in Brazil for the regimes abuses, unlike in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, which have tried people associated with their dictatorships of the same era. In denying history, the government tries to devalue all the struggles of Brazilian workers for their rights and wipe out the gains they still have, said Cesar Cordaro, a former Sao Paulo prosecutor who is a member of the Paulista Committee for Memory, Truth and Justice. MEXICO CITY - The wife of convicted drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman has launched an appeal to fashion designers to propose designs for a clothing line named after her husband. Emma Coronel posted a message on her Instagram account this week saying I invite clothing designers who are starting out and who want to join the project, to work with me. Coronel has dubbed the line El Chapo Guzman: JGL, but she has had a little trouble registering her husbands name as a trademark. Authorities say the fact that its the name of a criminal violates public order, morality and good manners. She has also struggled with exactly what contribution to fashion could be made by a short, stocky man who was best known for fleeing through sewers in a filthy tank-top T-shirt. Coronel wrote that my goal is to project my style and Joaquins, but to please everybody. Coronel urged aspiring designers to write to Mariel Colon Miro, her designated representative for the undertaking. Colon Miro wrote Thursday that we have received a lot of responses from designers who are interested in forming part of the project. We are very happy with the response. We are still not going to give out details about the look, because we want it to be a surprise, Colon Miro wrote. The line will be offered online for the moment, so that people around the world can buy it. El Chapo was found guilty in February of murder conspiracy charges, drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms possession. Hes awaiting sentencing and could spend the rest of his life in prison. Ecuador plans to expel WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from its London embassy and has an agreement in place with Britain for his arrest, WikiLeaks said citing a source within the Ecuadorian government. A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within hours to days, WikiLeaks said on Twitter. Ecuadors government did not respond to calls made after office hours, but the Associated Press reported that no decision has yet been made, citing an unidentified government official. Jennifer Robinson, a lawyer for Assange, declined to immediately comment. The WikiLeaks founder sought the protection of Ecuador in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced rape allegations, or the U.S., where he could be punished for publishing secret government documents. Swedish prosecutors have since dropped the charges against Assange but he failed in an attempt last year to have the U.K. arrest warrant against him dropped. U.S. prosecutors in court filings last year may have inadvertently revealed that Assange has been charged in America. In an unrelated case, federal prosecutors in Virginia, said that no other procedure is likely to keep confidential the fact that Assange has been charged. The U.K. has said Assange, who is wanted for skipping bail, will be arrested when he leaves the embassy. If the U.S. puts in an extradition request, a London court will review the matter in a process that could last months. Read more: Ecuador denies decision made to expel Wikileaks founder Ecuador president blames WikiLeaks for leak of private data WikiLeaks cited the unidentified person as saying the planned expulsion is a response to the organizations recent tweet linking to a website that alleged money laundering and corruption during Ecuadorian President Lenin Morenos time as United Nations special envoy for the disabled in Geneva. Foreign Minister Jose Valencia said last month that the government was very surprised by that and other actions by Assange and his lawyers. The website in question also linked to emails and phone screen captures tying Moreno to the corruption scandal. Moreno, speaking in a nationwide broadcast Feb. 27, denied any wrongdoing. Ecuador last year introduced rules governing Assanges life in its London embassy. The protocol, which warned that it could expel him if he should violate its terms, addressed public statements that could damage the host government. Assange, who was granted asylum by Ecuador in 2012, lost local and international legal challenges against the protocol. Read more about: MEXICO CITY - Mexicos president says an active-duty military officer is going to lead the countrys new militarized anti-crime force, known as the National Guard. The announcement comes as a disappointment for human rights activists, who had wanted a civilian command for the new force. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday he will announce the appointment next week. The countrys National Human Rights Commission had recommended a civilian head the force, which will be made up of mainly of military and federal police. But Lopez Obrador said, We need a member of this institution (army), with experience, discipline, rectitude, honesty, professionalism. Mexicos armed forces have been implicated in rights abuses, and critics say they are not trained for civilian law enforcement work. CANBERRA, Australia - Australias prime minister said on Friday his government was working with international aid workers to repatriate three orphaned Australian children of a convicted terrorist from a Syrian refugee camp. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would only help the children of extremists not adults return from the war zones of Syria and Iraq. Where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation, particularly as innocent children, then we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf, Morrison told reporters. The government has previously refused to help Australians who have joined Islamic State fighters in the Middle East then changed their minds. The three survivors of former Islamic State group fighter Khaled Sharroufs five children who were brought by their mother Tara Nettleton to Syria in 2014 contacted their Sydney grandmother Karen Nettleton last month, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The grandmother immediately travelled to the crowded al-Hawl refugee camp in northeast Syria where 17-year-old Zaynab, Hoda, 16, and Humzeh, 8, have been since they fled the Islamic State fighters last stand in the Syrian village of Baghouz. Zaynab is heavily pregnant and has her own two children with her, Ayesha, 3, and Fatima, 2. Both Zaynab and Hoda have shrapnel wounds, ABC reported. Morrison said his government is working with the Red Cross to get the children out of Syria to a country with an Australian diplomatic post. Once the children have been identified and their citizenships confirmed, they would be issued with travel documents to Australia, Morrison said. Karen Nettleton was negotiating with Kurdish authorities who control the camp to get them out, ABC reported. The grandmother said she feared that her eldest granddaughter and her unborn baby might not survive if she gives birth in the camp. Theyre just kids. Theyre Australian children. Theyre orphan children. Theyre my children. Theyre not going to be a risk to anyone, Nettleton told ABC. The siblings father in 2017 became the first dual national to be stripped of Australian citizenship for actions contrary to his allegiance to Australia. Sydney-born Sharrouf slipped out of Australia in 2013 on his brothers passport because his own had been cancelled because of a conviction for his part in a thwarted terrorist attack plot in Australia. He was left with Lebanese citizenship. Sharrouf horrified the world in 2014 when he posted on social media a photograph of his young son clutching the severed head of a Syrian soldier. Then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry described that image as one of the most disturbing, stomach-turning, grotesque photographs ever displayed. Sharroufs wife died in Syria of medical complications a year after she arrived in Islamic State territory with their children. Sharrouf and his two eldest sons Abdullah, 12, and Zarqawi, 11, were killed in an air strike near Raqqa, the Islamic State-groups stronghold in Syria, in August 2017, the ABC reported. BERLINSwastikas daubed on a Jewish cemetery in France. An anti-Semitic political campaign by Hungarys far-right government. Labour lawmakers in Britain quitting their party and citing ingrained anti-Semitism. A Belgian carnival float caricaturing Orthodox Jews sitting on bags of money. And that was just the past few months. The accumulated incidents in Europe and the United States have highlighted how an ancient prejudice is surging in the 21st century in both familiar and mutant ways, fusing ideologies that otherwise would have little overlap. The spike is taking place in a context of rising global economic uncertainty, an emphasis on race and national identity, and a deepening polarization between the political left and right in Europe and the United States over the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Theres an ideological pattern that is common, said Gunther Jikeli, an expert on European anti-Semitism at Indiana University. The world is seen as in a bad shape, and what hinders it becoming a better place are the Jews. Anti-Semitism has become a section of todays political Venn diagram where the far right can intersect with parts of the far left, Europes radical Islamist fringe, and even politicians from Americas two main parties. Read more: Opinion | Dow Marmur: Anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism Editorial | With anti-Semitism and hate crimes on the rise, U.S. voters must check Trumps power Attack on Argentine chief rabbi raises fear of anti-Semitism That confluence is new, experts say, as is the emergence of an Israeli government that has sidled up to far-right allies who praise Israel even as they peddle anti-Semitic prejudice at home. It creates a landscape that is very confusing and where things are more blurry than in the past, said Samuel Ghiles-Meilhac, an expert on Jewish history at the Institut dHistoire du Temps Present, a government-funded research group in France. Polling suggests that anti-Semitic attitudes may be no more widespread than in the past, particularly in Western Europe, where Holocaust remembrance has become a ritual for most governments. Despite this, bigots have seemingly become more brazen, creating a climate that has made anti-Semitism far more permissible and dangerous. In recent decades, Western anti-Semitism has tended to trace the contours of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, spiking and ebbing in correlation with spasms of violence between the two sides. But since the 2014 war in Gaza, researchers say, anti-Semitic incidents have remained at high levels. And thats kind of worrying because it means it has become normal to act in anti-Semitic ways, Jikeli said. Those include acts of violence. In 2018, France reported a 74 per cent spike over the previous year in anti-Semitic incidents, with more than 500 attacks, including the slaying of a Holocaust survivor in her own home. President Emmanuel Macron called it the worst level of anti-Semitism since World War II. In Germany over the same period, violent anti-Semitic attacks 62 of them rose by 60 per cent, while all anti-Semitic crimes rose almost 10 per cent to 1,646, according to government statistics. Around Europe, where the popularity of the far right has been boosted by economic uncertainty and fears over migration, almost 90 per cent of Jews believe that anti-Semitism has increased in their country in the last five years, according to surveys by the European Union. For decades after World War II and the Holocaust, anti-Semitism was mostly consigned to the political fringes, which is no longer the case. It is now more widely harnessed for political ends, experts say. Today, mainstream European and North American politicians, even presidents, premiers and prime ministers, dont hesitate to flirt with or embrace overtly anti-Semitic messages and memes, said David Nirenberg, dean of the Divinity School at the University of Chicago and an expert on Jewish history. This electoral utility of anti-Semitism feels new to me, newly flexible, and therefore newly dangerous, Nirenberg added. Far-right parties often portray Jews as a cosmopolitan threat to national identity, especially in regions where the stereotype has been used historically. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been able to present Jewish billionaire George Soros as a secret instigator of Muslim immigration. In Poland last month, a far-right newspaper sold inside the Parliament ran a front-page headline saying How to spot a Jew, alongside a condemnation of a historian who researches Polish complicity in the Holocaust. On the far left, some politicians have associated Jews with the failings of capitalism and conspiracies about supposed control over the global economy. Those complaints are now heard on the fringes of the yellow vest movement in France. U.S. President Donald Trump embodies the contradictions of the moment. Trump has openly courted white nationalists, saying they include some very fine people, even as they marched in the style of the Ku Klux Klan, gave stiff-armed Nazi salutes and chanted slogans like Jews will not replace us. During his campaign, he attacked Hillary Clinton with a Twitter post that included her image, a Jewish star, and a pile of money. At the same time, the president has boasted close relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and offered full-throated support to Israel, including moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, even absent progress toward a settlement with the Palestinians. It is unsurprising to find a resurgence of anti-Semitism at a time of prolonged political and economic instability, historians and analysts say, when citizens from many different political and cultural traditions are grasping for easy explanations for sudden and complex injustices. Just as Jews were a ready-made scapegoat during previous eras of anxiety about the pace of social change or global economic trauma, so are they again today, said Stefanie Schuler-Springorum, head of the Center for anti-Semitism Research in Berlin. The increasingly hard-right Israeli government led by Netanyahu is a point of divergence for the different strands of contemporary anti-Semitism. Far-right political figures like Orban have drawn close to Israel, while leftist anti-Semites revile it. But both do so for the same reason: They perceive Israel as a country that has done its best to preserve its ethnic and religious character at the expense of a Muslim minority. The main difference is that Orban, the prime minister of another small country fighting to preserve its ethnic identity, sees this as a virtue, whereas leftist critics of Israel, such as the supporters of the British Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, largely do not. Both left and right have the same image of Israel, said David Hirsh, a sociologist at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and a critic of Corbyn who campaigns against the academic boycott of Israel. Corbyn says that Israel is a uniquely belligerent human-rights-abusing state that defends its purity at all costs against Muslims, he said. And I suspect that people on the far-right have exactly the same picture of Israel that it is a belligerent country that defends itself against Muslims. For critics of Netanyahu, this also explains why the leader of the worlds only Jewish state might find common cause with a far-right leader like Orban, despite the latters anti-Semitic leanings. Netanyahu and Orban share an approach to domestic politics: an antipathy for liberal voices, a discomfort with Muslim minorities and a willingness to work with the far right. Like Orban in Hungary, Netanyahu has introduced legislation that targets civil society organizations that receive significant funding from overseas. His government has forbidden non-Jews to exercise the right to self-determination, and removed Arabic as an official Israeli language. Recently, Netanyahu engineered an electoral pact with a racist party from the far-right fringe who could help him retain power in a general election later this year. I dont believe that Netanyahu really wants a State of Israel with no Arabs, but I believe he does want a State of Israel where the position of Jews is so dominant and secure that it would never have to consider having to be a Western-style liberal democracy without an ethno-religious character, said Derek Penslar, a professor of Jewish history at Harvard University. There is an aspiration for ethnocracy, added Penslar. It doesnt mean there are no other ethnic groups but only one group truly rules. Read more about: ATHENS, Greece - Greeces bailout creditors have backed a payout worth $1 billion to Greece as part of a debt relief package after the eurozone country carried out a series of reforms. Mario Centeno, who heads the group of 19 eurozone finance ministers, told reporters after a meeting in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday, that the debt relief measures were worth some 970 million euros ($1 billion) and came mostly from the profits of Greek government bonds held by eurozone central banks. Greece is keen to qualify for debt relief after years of recession and three successive international bailouts left its national debt at around 180% of gross domestic product. The government has pushed through reforms including speeding up privatization projects and easing pressure on Greek banks from a huge volume of non-performing loans. ATHENS, Greece - Greek authorities said Friday they have arrested and charged a Bulgarian man over the suspected contract killing of a Greek Australian who was fatally shot outside his home in an Athens seaside suburb last year. The suspects brother is also wanted on suspicion of having helped plan the murder of John Macris, 46, and driving the killers getaway car. The 33-year-old brother is believed to be in Bulgaria. Police spokeswoman Ioanna Rotziokou said the suspects, whose names were not made public, spent nearly three weeks allegedly planning the murder. We have strong indications that ... it was a contract killing, she said. They carefully organized the murder plan keeping the suspect under surveillance and using various rented vehicles. It was unclear who had ordered the murder in the Voula suburb. Macris, who was shot from close range outside his home as he left in his car, had earlier been the target of an alleged murder plot in Sydney. Police said the brothers fled to Bulgaria a day after the Oct. 31 shooting, but the suspected murderer, aged 31, returned to Athens possibly for another contract killing. He was identified with the help of footage from cameras near the murder scene and arrested Tuesday after trying to escape a police blockade in southern Athens, during which he allegedly rammed a patrol car with his vehicle. The man was charged with murder. His lawyer, Apostolos Lytras, said his client denied any wrongdoing. Authorities say Macris had run-ins with Australian and Greek police in the past. PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered a government study into the countrys role in Rwanda before and during its 1994 genocide. Macron met Friday with victims of the genocide, and a Rwandan group working to teach future generations about it. Rwanda is this weekend marking the 25th anniversary of the start of the ethnic slaughter of some 800,000 people, mainly ethnic Tutsis. Macron ordered a commission of researchers and historians to scour archives to analyze the role and involvement of France in Rwanda from 1990-1994. It is to produce conclusions within two years. Critics say France was too supportive of Rwandas Hutu-led government whose supporters carried out the genocide, and that France turned a blind eye for too long. France denies complicity, but has launched several investigations in recent years. MILAN - The Latest on migrants and asylum-seekers in Europe (all times local): 5:05 p.m. Frances interior minister says some aid groups operating in the Mediterranean Sea sometimes act like accomplices to human traffickers. Minister Christophe Castaner pointed at a real collusion between smugglers and some NGOs, including through phone contacts to facilitate the migrants departure from Libyan coasts in appalling conditions. The comments at a G-7 meeting in Paris are similar to those of his Italian counterpart, Matteo Salvini, who reaffirmed his hard-line stance on immigration. Castaner, a member of French President Emmanuel Macrons pro-European government, said he has clear political differences with Salvini, the leader of Italys anti-migrant League party, but stressed that both countries were now co-operating on migration issues. ___ 1:25 p.m. Germany says it has asked the European Commission to find a safe port for a German humanitarian groups boat carrying 64 rescued migrants. Berlin says it is willing to take some of them in but expects European partners to do so as well. The group, Sea-Eye, asked Berlin to use diplomatic channels to find a port for the migrants on the Alan Kurdi ship. Malta and Italy have refused to open ports to humanitarian rescue ships, saying their activities encourage smugglers. German Interior Ministry spokesman Stefan Ruwwe-Gloesenkamp said Berlin has asked the European Unions executive Commission to co-ordinate the search for a safe port. He said Germany trusts that a large number of member states will be prepared to take in migrants and Berlin is ready to do its part. ___ 1:20 p.m. Protesting migrants in Greece have blocked Athens main train station and disrupted rail services, apparently prompted by false reports on social media that restrictions on travel to northern Europe had been lifted. Police said about 300 protesters gathered Friday at Larissis Station near central Athens, with many sitting on the tracks in front of trains. Authorities did not immediately intervene to disperse the demonstrators, while officials from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, were trying to persuade them to leave voluntarily. The protest occurred a day after clashes broke out near a camp for refugees and migrants in northern Greece, after protesters tried to break through a police cordon and reach the border with North Macedonia, which has been fenced off and heavily policed for the past three years. ___ 11:40 a.m. The German humanitarian group Sea-Eye says it is asking Berlin to use diplomatic channels to find a safe port for the 64 migrants it rescued off Libya earlier this week. Sea-Watch spokesman Carlotta Weibl said Friday that the rescue boat Alan Kurdi remains in international waters off Lampedusa and will not approach Italys southernmost island until it has permission. She said conditions on board were worsening and that a storm was approaching. She said a request has been made to the German foreign ministry to find a solution. Malta and Italy have refused to open ports to humanitarian rescue ships, saying their activities encourage smugglers to pack unseaworthy rubber dinghies with migrants looking for sanctuary in Europe. LONDON - The Latest on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (all times local): 4:20 p.m. Britains foreign secretary says Julian Assange is a free man and can leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London whenever he chooses. On Thursday, tweets from WikiLeaks quoted what it said were high-level sources saying that Julian Assange could be kicked out of the building within hours to days. Ecuadors foreign ministry issued a statement saying it wouldnt comment on what it called rumours, theories or conjectures. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Assange can leave that embassy whenever he wants to, so we want the situation resolved as quickly as possible. Assange hasnt left the embassy since August 2012. ___ 11:10 a.m. Media are assembled outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after tweets from WikiLeaks quoted sources saying that Julian Assange could be kicked out of the building within hours to days. The red-brick embassy building with white window frames and balconies was quiet Friday, but armed British police officers were stationed outside. No embassy official or any British authorities have commented. Assange hasnt left the embassy since August 2012, fearing if he steps off Ecuadors diplomatic soil he will be arrested and extradited to the U.S. for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables through WikiLeaks. Ecuadors foreign ministry issued a statement late Thursday saying it wouldnt comment on what it called rumours, theories or conjectures. Later, a senior official told The Associated Press that no decision had been taken to expel Assange from the embassy. ___ 5 a.m. A senior Ecuadorian official says no decision has been made to expel Julian Assange from the countrys London embassy despite tweets from Wikileaks that sources had told it he could be kicked out within hours to days. A small group of protesters and supporters of Wikileaks founder gathered Thursday outside the embassy in London where Assange has been holed up since August 2012. Earlier, Wikileaks tweeted: BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within hours to days. Another tweet said it had received a second confirmation. A top Ecuadorian official denied WikiLeaks claim and said no decision had been taken to expel Assange. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to discuss the matter. PARIS - The Latest on the Group of Seven meeting (all times local): 8:25 p.m. A top American diplomat has pledged U.S. commitment to the Group of Seven developed top economies, despite the absence of his boss, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, at G-7 meetings in France. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan spoke to The Associated Press at the G-7s two-day foreign ministers meeting in the Atlantic resort of Dinard. He says the G-7, given developments over the last decade or so, is more relevant than ever. Were like-minded democracies. The upbeat tone marked a pointed contrast to President Donald Trump, who has made no secret of his disdain for the G-7. Sullivan also says the U.S. is looking forward to taking over the groups presidency from France next year. Key issues that will be discussed in France include trafficking in Africas troubled Sahel region, cybercrime and the fight against the Islamic State group. ___ 2:15 p.m. Interior ministers of the Group of Seven most advanced economies have adopted joint commitments on the worlds top security issues. In a final written statement at a meeting in Paris, the G-7 countries agreed Friday to reinforce tools to combat the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking. They stressed the need for facilitating access to asylum for refugees and implementing the forced return of migrants who are not entitled to stay. Ministers also discussed how to handle foreign fighters who joined the Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq yet still have different views on the issue. The U.S. wants countries to take back their citizens but some Western countries, including France, have largely refused and want them to face trials where they committed their crimes. French Interior minister Christophe Castaner called the meeting a success and said while some of us have different views, we were able ... to lay down concrete guidelines on key security issues. ___ 1:05 p.m. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched a media freedom campaign alongside international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney from the sidelines of the Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in the French Atlantic resort of Dinard. Hunt said Friday the issue was of global prominence following the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October during the deadliest year on record for journalists with 99 killed. Hunt said democratic countries need to stand together to make it an international taboo ... to murder, arrest or detain journalists for doing their job. Clooney will be Hunts Media Freedom special envoy and chair a panel of legal experts that will offer advice to governments who want to strengthen journalists rights. ___ 9:40 a.m. The worlds security challenges are at the top of the agenda of foreign and interior ministers of the Group of Seven countries who are gathering in France. Interior ministers in Paris are focusing Friday on environmental crime, including reckless deforestation, waste trafficking and protection of lands and wildlife. They will then detail joint commitments on fighting terrorism and human trafficking in a news conference. Meanwhile, foreign ministers will kick off their two-day meeting in the Atlantic resort of Dinard. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen stayed at home because of domestic duties. Washington sent lower-ranking officials instead. In addition to the U.S., the G-7 includes France, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and the U.K. JERUSALEM - In a tight race for re-election, Israels prime minister has gotten a welcome lift from his friend in the White House. Benjamin Netanyahus campaign speeches, billboards and social media videos have all heavily featured President Donald Trumps image, statements and pro-Israel actions as endorsements of the long-seated prime minister. Drawing inspiration from Trump, Netanyahu has dismissed a corruption case against him as a witch hunt and his Likud party has launched a weekly webcast to counter what it claims is fake news broadcast by mainstream media. For Netanyahu, the close ties with Trump are a welcome change after eight frosty years with the Obama administration, which repeatedly clashed with the prime minister over his policies toward the Palestinians and his opposition to the nuclear agreement with Iran. Upon taking office two years ago, Trump quickly reversed course and established a tight relationship with Netanyahu. This has yielded benefits for Netanyahu on the campaign trail. In the run-up to Tuesdays vote, Netanyahu has hosted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, visited Trump in the White House and received American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war. Those moves are seen as an unspoken U.S. endorsement of Netanyahu, and in Israel, having close ties with whoever occupies the White House is seen as a major asset. Trump enjoys strong support among Israelis, 69% of whom expressed confidence in the presidents ability to do the right thing regarding world affairs, according to a Pew Research Center poll published in October. That support largely springs from Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and the opening of the U.S. Embassy there. Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his decision to slash U.S. aid to the Palestinians are also popular among Israelis. A YouTube ad published April 1 strings together Trump statements from recent years extolling Netanyahus leadership as a great prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu, theres nobody like him, Trump says in a clip taken from a 2013 video. Building-sized billboards in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv show the two leaders shaking hands. A poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 63% of Israelis believe that Netanyahus standing in the current election campaign will be strengthened by the U.S. recognition of the annexation of the Golan Heights. The survey interviewed 603 people and had a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points. While the gambit has played well domestically, Netanyahus close ties with Trump risk undermining bipartisan support for Israel among Americans, and Israels relationship with traditionally liberal American Jews. More than 70 per cent of American Jews voted against Trump, and many express unease about U.S.-Israel relations becoming too closely associated with the friendship between two polarizing leaders. The April 9 election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahus decade-long rule, and his campaign is using the relationship with Trump to portray him as a respected statesman with personal ties to world leaders. In an Instagram video posted Wednesday, Netanyahu touts his administrations unprecedented diplomatic advancements, foremost among them strengthening relations with the United States, but also closer ties with Russia, China, India, Japan and Brazil. On Thursday, Netanyahu paid a surprise visit to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin announced his countrys instrumental role in recovering the remains of an Israeli soldier who went missing in action in Lebanon in 1982. The return of the soldiers remains, along with a visit this week by Brazils president, Jair Bolsonaro, has given Netanyahu another diplomatic victory late in the campaign. Netanyahu seeks a fourth consecutive term in office as Israels leader. If re-elected, he will become the countrys longest serving prime minister, outstripping its founding father, David Ben Gurion. The prime ministers campaign has steamed ahead despite Attorney General Avichai Mandelblits recommendation last month that Netanyahu be indicted for a series of corruption charges. With less than a week to go, opinion polls give Netanyahu a slight edge in the race. But he faces major opposition from his former army chief of staff, Benny Gantz. Sounding much like Trump, Netanyahu has attacked the press, branded Gantz and other opponents as leftists and questioned Gantzs mental health . A video released by Netanyahu in late March said members of Gantzs party signed a petition to boycott a 2015 meeting with Trump, the president who moved the embassy to Jerusalem, recognized the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, and left the nuclear agreement with Iran. Shame! Gantz is running along with two other former army chiefs of staff, which gives their Blue and White party security chops to rival those of Netanyahu. Reuven Hazan, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the Blue and White partys unassailable military credentials have forced Netanyahu to stump on his foreign policy accomplishments rather than in his traditional role as Mr. Security. We are a tiny, tiny country but our leader is on very good terms with the president of the United States, the president of Russia, and the president of Brazil, Hazan said. In other words, hes using his relative advantage to say if you dont elect me, whoever replaces me will not be able to play in the international league that I have raised Israel to and we will drop significantly, Hazan said. ___ Follow Ilan Ben Zion on Twitter at www.twitter.com/IlanBenZion NEW YORK - Attorneys for Michael Cohen are asking members of Congress to help keep him out of prison. In a letter sent to lawmakers Thursday, Cohens legal team said he is still sorting through documents in his personal files that might be of interest to House Democrats investigating President Donald Trump, including emails, voice recordings, images and other documents on a hard drive. To date, Mr. Cohen has located several documents that we believe have significant value to the various congressional oversight and investigation committees, wrote the attorneys, Lanny Davis, Michael Monico and Carly Chocron. They said Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and fixer, has been going through the documents alone, without any help, and if he reports to prison May 6 as scheduled, he wont be able to finish reviewing the material. They asked the lawmakers to write letters saying that Cohen was co-operating and that the substantial trove of new information, documents, recordings, and other evidence he can provide requires substantial time with him and ready access to him by congressional committees and staff to complete their investigations and to fulfil their oversight responsibilities. If any lawmakers were to write such a letter, it could be useful if Cohen petitioned the court to delay his prison report date. The letter was sent to U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Maxine Waters and Elijah Cummings Cohen, who pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion, fraud, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations, has already received one short delay on medical grounds while he recovered from shoulder surgery. In their letter to lawmakers, Cohens lawyers said they were still holding out hope that federal prosecutors in New York would not only back another delay in the start of his prison term, but agree to reopen his case and advocate for a lighter sentence. He has been sentenced to a three-year term. It is our hope that the authorities in the Southern District of New York will consider this total picture of co-operation by Mr. Cohen, verified by your letter and the important new evidence he has made available or could make available to assist the government, and the particular facts involved here to grant Mr. Cohen a reduced term following the rules and procedures of the Southern District of New York. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Manhattan declined to comment. New York prosecutors previously advocated for a tough sentence, saying the crimes were serious and that the help Cohen had provided to ongoing investigations wasnt as valuable or as complete as Cohen had claimed. SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Democratic presidential candidate Beto ORourke is comparing the rhetoric used by President Donald Trump to describe immigrants to the rhetoric used in Nazi Germany. At a town hall in Iowa on Thursday, ORourke called out the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals but as animals and an infestation, in response to a question on how he would address attacks from Republicans. The former congressman from Texas says, Now, I might expect someone to describe another human being as an infestation in the Third Reich. I would not expect that in the United States of America. ORourke says he will avoid using similar rhetoric because if we descend into that pettiness and meanness and those personal attacks, Im not sure that we can win. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Latest on a former Ohio vice officer charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter (all times local): 7:25 p.m. A defence attorney says a former vice squad officer in Ohio will plead not guilty to murder and voluntary manslaughter charges brought after the officer fatally shot a woman who was sitting in his unmarked police vehicle. Columbus police say officer Andrew Mitchell shot and killed 23-year-old Donna Castleberry in 2018 after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation. A grand jury on Thursday charged Mitchell with murder and voluntary manslaughter. Mark Collins, Mitchells attorney, said Thursday the burden on prosecutors is to prove Mitchell wasnt acting in self-defence. Collins also says an internal Columbus police review determined the shooting was a proper use of force. ___ 6 p.m. A former vice squad officer in Ohio has been charged with fatally shooting a woman who was sitting in his unmarked police vehicle in what the man says was an act of self-defence. Columbus police say officer Andrew Mitchell shot and killed 23-year-old Donna Castleberry in 2018 after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation. A grand jury on Thursday charged Mitchell with murder and involuntary manslaughter. Mitchells attorney has defended his actions, saying it was a proper use of force. Mitchell is also facing federal charges of forcing women to have sex with him under threat of an arrest, pressuring others to cover up crimes and lying to the FBI by saying hed never had sex with prostitutes. He has pleaded not guilty. ___ Follow Andrew Welsh-Huggins on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/awhcolumbus. SAN FRANCISCO - The Latest on a coroners inquest into the deaths of a family whose SUV went off a Northern California cliff (all times local): 5:05 p.m. A coroners jury ruled Thursday that two women killed themselves and their six adopted children when they drove off a Northern California cliff last year. The Mendocino County jury deliberated for about an hour before delivering the unanimous verdicts after nearly two full days of testimony. The crash happened days after authorities in Washington state opened an investigation following allegations the children, ages 12 to 19, were being neglected by Jennifer and Sarah Hart. The bodies of the women were found in the vehicle, which landed upside down below a cliff more than 160 miles (250 kilometres) north of San Francisco. The bodies of four children were recovered and a fifth was matched to remains found in a shoe. The remains of 15-year-old Devonte Hart have not been found. ___ 3:15 p.m. An investigator says that soon before her wife drove their family off a cliff, Sarah Hart researched whether it was relatively painless to die by drowning. The California Highway Patrol investigator testified about the searches Thursday in Mendocino County. A special coroners jury is trying to determine whether the March 2018 deaths of the couple and their six adopted children were murder-suicide or accidental. Authorities have called the deaths intentional, but want a jury to decide. Jake Slates said at the inquest that Jennifer Hart, who rarely drank, was extremely intoxicated and may have been drinking to build up her courage. Sarah Hart and the children had high amounts of Benadryl in their systems. The crash happened days after Washington state authorities began investigating whether the children were being neglected. BILLINGS, Mont. - The Trump administration has scaled back its fight against oil and gas leases on land considered sacred to Native American tribes in Montana and Canada. The leases are in the nearly 10-square-mile (26-square-kilometre) Badger-Two Medicine area bordering Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Reservation. The Obama administration had cancelled the leases following longstanding opposition from the Blackfoot tribes, but a judge overturned the cancellations in September. On Wednesday, the administration withdrew its appeal of the decision on one of the disputed leases, held by W.A. Moncrief, Jr., court papers show. Then on Thursday, government attorneys pressed forward with the administrations legal challenge to the second lease, held by Solenex LLC of Louisiana. Former U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke had said it would be inappropriate to allow drilling in the area a sentiment echoed in the governments arguments against reinstating the Solenex lease. It remains unclear why opposition to the other lease was dropped. Interior spokeswoman Molly Block said the agency wasnt commenting on the cases. Government attorneys said in their court fillings that the factual and procedural setting of the Solenex case was different than the Moncrief case, but gave no further explanation. Solenex has a permit to drill on its lease, while Moncrief does not. John Murray with the Blackfeet Pikuni Traditionalist Association, which intervened in both cases, said the tribe has entered negotiations with Moncrief in hopes that drilling in the Badger-Two Medicine area still can be avoided. The tribe is willing to offer up tracts of land on the reservation to drill for potential oil and gas, Murray said. The door is open to talk. An attorney for Moncrief, Tim McCrum, said he was pleased with the move to drop the appeal, but declined to comment on whether a drilling permit will be pursued. Well be looking at all reasonable options related to the lease, McCrum said. JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy told President Donald Trump that the state is open to the idea of receiving Medicaid funding through fixed amounts annually. The block grant approach could allow the state more flexibility in how it spends Medicaid funding, Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow told Alaska Public Media. The Republican governor wrote to the president last month that Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, had urged the state to become the first receive the federal funding this way. He noted that Alaska is eager to do it. The overall message here that we sent to the president is that were open and willing to take flexible measures that can help improve savings and efficiencies within the government, Shuckerow said. The federal government currently pays an agreed-upon percentage of each states Medicaid costs. The government program provides health care to people with lower incomes. More than a quarter of the states population is covered by it. The funding change idea concerned Becky Hultberg, president and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association. The concept could conflict with legal requirements and lead to reduced funding, she said. We need to transform care, and block grants just put less money into the existing system, Hultberg said. Thats not something we want to be first in. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Senate voted Friday to prohibit cities from refusing to co-operate with federal immigration authorities and threatening to cut off their funding if they adopt sanctuary policies, even though no city in the state has done so. The majority-Republican Senate voted 24-5 for the bill, which would also prohibit cities from preventing local law enforcement from asking about someones immigration or citizenship status. Under the measure, a city would be ineligible for discretionary funds or grants administered by the state if the attorney general determines it is an illegal sanctuary city. The bill now heads to the majority-Republican House. The Arkansas Municipal League, which opposes the measure, has said it doesnt know of any city that has adopted sanctuary policies or is moving toward doing so. The Republican behind the measure said the penalties are needed to prevent any sanctuary cities from operating in the state. This is more a proactive measure to ward off something, some city in Arkansas saying, hey, were going to set ourselves up as a sanctuary city, Sen. Gary Stubblefield said after the vote. You do that and you do it at your own peril. Arkansas is among several states where Republicans have pushed for legislation banning sanctuary cities, which have also been targeted by President Donald Trump. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam last month vetoed similar legislation, and another measure is being considered by Florida lawmakers. Neighboring Texas enacted a wide-reaching ban two years ago that was upheld by a federal appeals court last year. Opponents have said the ban could sow distrust between the immigrant community and law enforcement. Democratic Sen. Will Bond, who opposed the bill, noted it would require the attorney general to investigate any complaint about a sanctuary city and would keep the records of that probe closed to the public. Bond also said the measure would take away the Legislatures power by allowing the attorney general to determine whether cities are eligible to receive funds. I personally dont see how thats constitutional, Bond said. A spokesman for Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the Republican planned to review the measure over the weekend. Hutchinson had spoken out against a similar proposal targeting sanctuary colleges and universities that failed before a legislative panel two years ago. The bill advanced the same day lawmakers sent Hutchinson legislation that would allow state colleges and universities to charge in-state tuition to students in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs implemented during President Barack Obamas administration that allows young immigrants living in the country illegally to remain in the U.S. To be eligible for the in-state rate, they must have lived in the state three years prior to admission and had graduated from high school or received a general equivalency diploma in the state. The measure would also apply to immigrants from the Marshall Islands and children of immigrants on temporary work visas. Hutchinson plans to sign the measure into law. A large concentration of Marshallese immigrants live in northwest Arkansas. That bill won support after past efforts to extent in-state tuition to immigrants who came to the country illegally as children had failed in the Legislature. ___ Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo SAVANNAH, Ga. - Federal prosecutors say a man from El Salvador who was twice deported from the U.S. tried to return by stowing away aboard a cargo ship. U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine of the Southern District of Georgia said in a news release Friday that 35-year-old Jaime Dagoberto Chavez-Guevara was arrested by U.S. Customs agents on a ship at the Port of Savannah. He was charged with illegal entry into the U.S. Prosecutors said Chavez-Guevara used a boat to reach the ship while it was anchored in Panama, then climbed up the anchor chain. The crew later discovered and detained him. Christines office said Chavez-Guevara was previously deported from Texas in 2017 and from Arizona in 2018. An attorney listed for Chavez-Guevara in court records did not immediately return a phone message. SIOUX CITY, IOWADemocratic White House hopeful Beto ORouke said Thursday that some of President Donald Trumps inflammatory remarks on immigration are reminiscent of language used in Nazi Germany. Speaking at a town-hall meeting at a college here in a heavily conservative enclave in the far western corner of Iowa, ORourke criticized the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals but as animals and an infestation. Now, I might expect someone to describe another human being as an infestation in the Third Reich. I would not expect it in the United States of America, the former congressman from Texas added, drawing an enthusiastic response from a crowd of about 150 people, including dozens of young people. In his presidential announcement speech in 2015, Trump famously referred to some Mexicans crossing the U.S. border as rapists and as bringing crime. At a White House event last year, Trump described immigrants as animals, later clarifying that he was referring to members of the MS-13 gang, most of whose members are from Central America. Trump also went on Twitter last year to decry what he termed an infestation of certain parts of the United States by MS-13. And he later tweeted that Democrats want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13. Read more: ORourke fundraising remains strong, with $9.4M in 18 days ORourke tackles racial issues in first South Carolina visit Centrist or liberal? Beto ORourkes political splits Speaking to reporters here after the event, ORourke doubled down on his comparison of Trumps rhetoric to Nazi Germany when asked if it was consistent with his call to elevate the dialogue in the campaign. If we dont call out racism, certainly at the highest levels of power, in this position of trust that the president enjoys, then we are going to continue to get its consequences, ORourke said. Silence is complicity in what this administration is doing, so lets call it out. Lets also define a better future for this country, and thats what Ive been trying to do in this campaign. In his remarks to reporters, ORourke also criticized the Trump administrations policy of family separations at the southern border and its travel ban aimed at several majority-Muslim countries, as well as Trumps comments following a white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017. In the aftermath of a deadly clash between attendees and protesters, Trump said that there were some very fine people on both sides. You draw your own conclusions, but this is not something that I expected to hear the president of the United States of America ever say, ORourke said. On the campaign trail, ORourke rarely criticizes Trump by name, but he frequently criticizes his immigration policies and the language he uses to talk about the issue. Read more about: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Former CIA operative, author and activist Valerie Plame said Friday she is considering a 2020 run for an open U.S. congressional seat in New Mexico. Plame told The Associated Press she is spending time with residents and will make a decision soon. The seat is currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, who is stepping down to run for U.S. Senate. Right now, I am going around and meeting with people, said Plame, a Democrat. I have a lot to learn and I would like another opportunity to serve my country. Plame had previously told media outlets she was considering the U.S. House seat or a bid for the U.S. Senate but told The AP on Friday she is looking at the House to continue Ben Rays legacy. Plame became a national figure after her identity as a CIA operative was leaked by an official in President George W. Bushs administration in 2003 in an effort to discredit her then-husband Joe Wilson. Wilson is a former diplomat who criticized Bushs decision to invade Iraq. Plame left the agency in 2005. Plame said shed be honoured to represent the sprawling district, which covers all of northern New Mexico, parts of the Navajo Nation and a large portion of the states east side. She would face several Democratic contenders if she decides to run. State Rep. Joseph Sanchez, businessman Mark McDonald, and former Navajo Nation presidential and vice-presidential candidate Dineh Benally have already announced they are candidates and Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna is considering a bid. I. Lewis Scooter Libby, a former top aide to Vice-President Dick Cheney was convicted of lying to investigators and obstruction of justice following the 2003 leak. President Donald Trump issued a full pardon to Libby last year. In 2017, the Wilsons launched an unsuccessful crowdfunding effort to buy Twitter so Trump couldnt use it. At the time, Plame said if she didnt get enough funding to purchase a majority of shares, she would explore options to buy a significant stake and champion the proposal at Twitters annual shareholder meeting. Plame and Wilson divorced later that year. Plame is the author of the memoir Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House. The book was made into a 2010 movie starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. ___ This story has corrected the spelling of Ben Ray Lujan. ___ Follow Russell Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras BOSTON - Harvards longtime fencing coach sold his suburban Boston home for nearly double its assessed value to a man whose son was later admitted to the school and joined the team a transaction now under review by the university. The coach, Peter Brand, received nearly $1 million in 2016 for the three-bedroom house on a quarter-acre in Needham, which was assessed at the time at $549,300, The Boston Globe reported. The buyer, Jie Zhao, whose older son and wife also attended Harvard, never lived in the home and sold it for a steep loss 17 months later. The sale appears unrelated to the recent college admissions scandal in which wealthy parents have been charged with bribing coaches and helping rig test scores to get their children into some of the nations most selective schools, said Claudine Gay, Harvards dean of the faculty of arts and sciences. One of those parents, lawyer Gordon Caplan, of Greenwich, Connecticut, on Friday became the second one to announce plans to plead guilty. He is accused of paying $75,000 to get a test supervisor to correct answers on his daughters ACT exam after she took it. Harvard and other schools have not been implicated in the admissions probe. Zhao told The Globe in an interview that he purchased the home as an investment and as a favour to Brand and denied it was done to help his son get into the prestigious university. Brand did not return The Globes messages seeking comment. The Associated Press also left a message seeking comment from him. In a statement, Harvard said it retained outside counsel to review the circumstances around the transaction after being made aware of it Monday. The Chinese-born Zhao is a Maryland resident who became a U.S. citizen in 1995 and co-founded a telecommunications business in 2003. Zhao and his partners sold a majority stake in the company for $80 million in 2012, the Globe reported. Zhao said he has been a prominent supporter of fencing since his sons took up the sport as children, and donated $1 million to the non-profit National Fencing Foundation in 2013. He said he became friendly with Brand after his older son was admitted to Harvard and began fencing. His younger son, Zhao said, was a strong fencer and had outstanding grades and test scores that likely would have earned him admission to the university in any case. Brand never asked him to buy the home, Zhao added. I want to help Peter Brand because I feel so sorry he has to travel so much to go to fencing practice, he told the newspaper. Brands former home in Needham was about a 12-mile commute to the university. Harvard maintains that it has a rigorous admissions policy and that applications from recruited student-athletes are reviewed and voted on by a 40-member committee. We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our recruitment practices, spokeswoman Rachael Dane said. Caplan, the lawyer charged in the college admissions scandal, said in a statement Friday that he is deeply ashamed of what he did. I apologize not only to my family, friends, colleagues and the legal Bar, but also to students everywhere who have been accepted to college through their own hard work, Caplan said, adding that his daughter, a high school junior who hasnt applied to any colleges yet, did not know about his actions. Caplan is a former partner at the international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, based in New York. The firm placed him on a leave of absence after his arrest, but said in a statement Friday that he was no longer a partner and his departure was a result of the college admissions scandal. California entrepreneur Peter Jan Sartorio on Wednesday became the first parent in the broad scandal agreeing to plead guilty. Three people have pleaded guilty so far, including the admissions consultant, Rick Singer, and the former womens soccer coach at Yale, Rudy Meredith. The case is the largest college admissions scheme ever prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department. Among those arrested are Hollywood actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin and Loughlins fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli. AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas gun rights advocate drove to the homes of three Republican legislators he blamed for scuttling a proposal to carry firearms without a permit, prompting state troopers to monitor the House speakers family residence. The episode rattled the firearm-friendly lawmakers in Texas, which already has some of the most permissive gun laws in the U.S. It also recalled a heated confrontation in 2015 between gun rights supporters and a Democratic lawmaker in the Texas Capitol, which led to the installation of panic buttons in the offices of some legislators. Chris McNutt, leader of a group called Texas Gun Rights, drove to the neighbourhoods of the lawmakers last week. On Friday, he was rebuked by the author of the bill after reports of his visits emerged. Republican state Rep. Jonathan Stickland called the visits some of the most concerning behaviour I have witnessed in my time as a legislator. Calling, writing, protesting, even showing up at the Capitol is something I strongly encourage, Stickland said in a video posted on Facebook. It is never OK to target their homes or personal businesses when you know they are not in town. McNutt did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Friday. Among the neighbourhoods McNutt visited was that of GOP House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, who McNutt repeatedly accused of blocking the gun bill in a Facebook video. McNutt also posted videos of himself in the neighbourhoods of two other Republican lawmakers. Bonnen said in an emailed statement he could no longer watch as lawmakers and their families are incessantly harassed by fanatical gun rights activists who think laws preventing criminals from carrying a gun should be repealed. One fringe organizations leader disturbingly travelled over 700 miles in 24 hours just to visit the homes of lawmakers knowing full well that Members were hundreds of miles away in our Capitol while wives and children were alone, Bonnen said. These gutless intimidation tactics only embolden the Texas House to continue strengthening the rights of law abiding gun owners and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. The Houston Chronicle reported that Kim Bonnen, the speakers wife, said McNutt wore a shirt with a picture of an assault rifle when he came to their neighbourhood in Angleton, about 60 miles south of Houston. McNutt was met by state troopers who had been waiting for him, the newspaper reported. Dennis Bonnen was in Austin, where the House was voting on a new state budget. Kim Bonnen also said that McNutts visit was freaking me out ... This cannot become how we advocate. Democratic state Rep. Poncho Nevarez, who chairs the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, said Friday that he had previously planned to hold a hearing for the gun bill. Now he said he wont. I think its incumbent upon me not to reward bad behaviour or make them believe that somehow this harassment led to me giving them a hearing, Nevarez said. Nevarez, who is from town of Eagle Pass on the U.S.-Mexico border, said he believes the bill might not be a bad idea with a few tweaks. But he said the measures language as filed allows any felon to carry a weapon because law enforcement wouldnt be able to stop them and ask for a permit. Nevarez was also the lawmaker who got into the confrontation with gun rights advocates in 2015. A video at the time showed Nevarez asking the group to leave his office while being called a tyrant to the Constitution for not supporting a bill to overturn Texas ban against the open-carry of handguns. PHOENIX - A relative of a California woman kidnapped while on a safari in Uganda said Friday he wants to see the U.S. send in Navy SEALS to locate and rescue her if thats what it takes. Phoenix resident Rich Endicott said Friday he hasnt spoken with his cousin since a family reunion several years ago, but he is working every angle to try to see she is rescued. The woman from Costa Mesa, California, has a small skin care shop, is in her late 50s and has a daughter and granddaughter. U.S. Rep. Harley Rouda, who represents Costa Mesa, said in a statement Friday that he has communicated with people close to Kimberlys family and the State Department, which is working to get Endicott released. The State Department said in a Friday statement that the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad is its highest priority. Whenever a U.S. citizen is taken captive abroad, we work tirelessly - in partnership with local authorities - to secure their release and get them home safely, the statement said. Ugandan security forces launched a search for Kim Endicott and the local driver after they were abducted in a wildlife park on Tuesday. They were ambushed by four gunmen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a protected area near the porous border with Congo, according to Ugandan police and a government spokesman. Police identified the woman as 35 and misspelled her name as Kimbley Sue Endecott, but Rich Endicott said she is actually in her late 50s and everyone calls her Kim. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a Tuesday event for families of U.S. citizens held captive overseas that he understands some people want to do anything to get their loved ones back but paying ransom would just lead to more kidnappings. Please remember that any payment to a terrorist or a terrorist regime gives money so that they can seize more of our people, Pompeo said. Even a small payment to a group in, say, Africa can facilitate the killing or seizure of tens or even hundreds of others, including Americans or foreign nationals in that region. Rich Endicott, a 62-year-old banker, said he accepts that rationale. I heard our Secretary of State get on there and say we dont pay ransom. OK, fine, Endicott said. Then get the Navy SEALS, get them on a plane and go save her. Dont pay ransom, Im good with that. But he didnt say any of those things, and maybe theyre doing those things, but who knows. Endicott said his son is about to join the Navy, he just buried his Korean War veteran father-in-law, and he has paid taxes since he was 16. The family has done whats been asked of them to do, he said. I think its the governments time to help us. JUNEAU, Alaska - An Alaska lawmaker said Friday that he wants to hear more about why Gov. Mike Dunleavys pick to lead the state Department of Public Safety left former Gov. Bill Walkers administration. Rep. Zack Fields said the House State Affairs Committee, which he co-chairs, has yet to hear from former Walker chief of staff Scott Kendall about Amanda Price, whom Dunleavy tapped to be Public Safety commissioner. Price was an adviser to Walker and for a period worked with Kendall. Fields said hes weighing options, including a subpoena, to get Kendall to testify. Price is among the Dunleavy appointees whose position is subject to legislative confirmation. The Legislature has yet to meet in joint session to vote on his picks. Kendall, in a letter to Fields, said he would testify without a subpoena if Price waived confidentiality. Kendall wrote that the Department of Law concluded information about Prices employment isnt specifically covered by the state personnel act because of the type of position she held but he said out of an abundance of caution he was treating his experience and knowledge about Price as though it were. Fields said Friday that the committee is reviewing its options for hearing from Kendall. I think its important to get a perspective from the people who worked with her, including her supervisor when she departed, Fields said. Kendall told The Associated Press he would have to comply with a subpoena if he received one. Short of that, he said he would have to sort it out internally, because its my crisis of conscience between information I have and the duty I feel I owe Ms. Price about her employment circumstances. During a Thursday confirmation hearing, Price said Kendall didnt need her permission to speak. She encouraged lawmakers to ask her questions while they had her in front of them. During the hearing, Price was questioned about the departments work, her background and her work for Walker. Price has not worked in law enforcement but her resume says she worked as an advocate for victims of sexual violence before joining Walkers administration in 2015, where she was a senior adviser on crime policy and prevention. She left the administration two years later, her resume states. Fields pressed Price on why she left the administration and if she did so of her own volition. Im gonna say no, she said, adding that she answered that way because it was clear that it wasnt working. She said earlier in the hearing that she and Walker werent in lockstep on public safety policy, which caused a rub. She said Kendall, who was chief of staff near the end of her tenure, asked her how she thought things were going, she said not well and that she agreed when he said he and Walker felt it was time to part ways. I asked at that point if there was anything specific that he wished to discuss with me, any specific concerns. He said no, she said. Fields asked if her departure was because she didnt share Walkers vision or matters of work ethic or performance. She said no one with the Walker administration ever raised such issues with her. He also asked if shed ever passed off others work as her own. To the best of my ability to answer that question, no, she said. Ive never plagiarized anything, Price said after the meeting. I would also point out, never, not one time, during my employment with the governors office was I ever addressed by the governor, by either chief of staff, by any deputy chief of staff, by any member of his staff regarding this topic or any personnel performance or work ethic-related issues, ever. Kendalls predecessor Jim Whitaker, and Marcia Davis, a one-time Walker deputy chief of staff, have provided testimony to lawmakers praising her appointment as commissioner. FAIRBANKS, Alaska - A jury has found a 31-year-old man guilty in the fatal shooting of a Fairbanks police officer. Anthony Jenkins-Alexie was convicted Thursday of first- and second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder in the death of Sgt. Allen Brandt, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported . Authorities say Jenkins-Alexie shot Brandt early on Oct. 16, 2016, when the officer responded to reports of shots fired near a hotel. Brandt died 12 days later after surgery to remove shrapnel that penetrated an eye during the shooting. The prosecutor argued Jenkins-Alexie planned the attack as revenge for a friend who was previously shot by police. Jenkins-Alexies attorney contended Jenkins was too intoxicated the night of the shooting to form intent to kill Brandt. The jury began deliberations Wednesday after six days of testimony. Besides the murder charges, Jenkins-Alexie also was convicted of assault, vehicle theft, weapons misconduct and tampering with physical evidence. A special verdict also was reached in the first-degree murder charge, finding that Brandt was a uniformed officer engaged in official law enforcement duties when he was shot. The mandatory sentence for intentionally killing a law enforcement officer is 99 years with no possibility of parole. Fairbanks Police Chief Eric Jewkes told reporters the verdict was just, right, and represented what happened. But he noted that it was not a happy occasion. Its been a long process. Its been 2 1/2 years and its been very difficult for the department and for everyone here, he said. Were very thankful for the jury. They lived through our nightmare, and we appreciate the expense and human toll it takes on them. ___ Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com HAMMOND, Ind. - A man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for sending a pipe bomb that exploded at a northwestern Indiana post office, injuring a worker. Eric Krieg of Munster, Indiana, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in December to making an unregistered destructive device and other charges. Defence lawyer Kevin Milner said his client had previously lived a model life with a family and children. Krieg declined to elaborate in court on his lawyers remarks. In an earlier court filing, Krieg said he mailed the pipe bomb Sept. 6, 2017. It was addressed to an attorney who was representing a client who filed a lawsuit against Krieg. The bomb exploded at the East Chicago post office, injuring a worker. LONGS, S.C. - A man who disappeared after escaping from a Connecticut prison 29 years ago has been arrested in South Carolina. WPDE-TV reports the U.S. Marshals Office took Ted Lee Livingston into custody Wednesday in Longs, near the South Carolina coast. Livingston was wanted in Connecticut on an escape charge dating from 1990. Horry County Police say Livingston had changed details about his birthday and other identifying information on his South Carolina drivers license to evade capture. Livingston is being held in the J. Reuben Long Detention Center while he awaits extradition back to Connecticut. The Hartford Courant reports the 49-year-old Livingston was convicted of sale of a controlled substance and sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison in January 1990. It was not immediately clear whether hes represented by an attorney. ___ Information from: WPDE-TV, http://www.carolinalive.com/ New York faces a challenge: How does it fix a disintegrating highway that serves as a critical traffic artery while preserving the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a park beloved for its cinematic views of the Manhattan skyline? Built in in the 1950s, the promenade makes up the top deck of a 1.5-mile stretch of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, a triple cantilevered highway built into a bluff, with a neighbourhood of elegant townhouses on one side and a thrilling vista across the East River on the other. Tourists, New Yorkers and television and film producers have been drawn for decades to the elevated esplanade, which in evenings, especially, is one of the most romantic spots in the city, despite the rumbling of traffic on two highway decks hidden beneath the park. The problem is that the whole structure, now 65 years old, is falling apart. And, until this week, the citys favoured proposal had been to build a temporary highway on top of the promenade that would operate for at least six years while the expressway was rehabilitated. Howls of protest from neighbourhood residents led Mayor Bill de Blasio to back off that $3.5 billion plan this week. Wednesday, he announced he had assembled an expert panel of urban planners, architects, engineers and civic leaders to come up with new concepts for the artery, which threads through the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. We will be engaging in a transparent, collaborative process to find the best solution for one of the most critical transportation corridors in the nation, the mayor said in a statement. The pressure is on because the six-lane expressway wont be drivable within a decade, said Carlo Scissura, the head of the New York Building Congress, which is working with the city on coming up with a replacement plan. Conceived by Robert Moses, a public planner known as the legendary master builder of 20th-century New York, the cantilevered section of the expressway was intended to carry about 50,000 vehicles a day when it opened in 1954, not the 150,000 that roll over it now, including heavy trucks, whose weight is a destructive burden over time. Polly Trottenberg, the city transportation commissioner, said steel rods inside concrete parts of the structure are corroding from decades of road salt seeping in through cracks. We dont have all the time in the world because the BQE is deteriorating. Its a substandard structure with a lot of vibration, volume of traffic and weight that was not envisioned when it was built, says Trottenberg, adding, We feel an urgency about this. And rebuilding it wont be easy, given both its unusual location and the fact that turning off the traffic flow could create chaos. It is a critical highway, and cars and trucks seeking an alternative route could find themselves navigating neighbourhood side streets also teeming with pedestrians and cyclists. Experts all over the world agree on the level of complexity of this project one of the hardest on the planet, Trottenberg said. She wants de Blasios 16-member panel to be on an aggressive schedule, meeting at least once a week. Options under discussion include reconstructing the highway one lane at a time, which could double the length of construction, or reimagining the project entirely. The Bjarke Ingels Group, a design and architecture firm, offered a proposal this week that would involve creating a new six-lane highway at ground level, covered over with decks of parkland, with the promenade preserved on top. Were hosting meetings, talking to experts, putting together ideas, figuring out what we can build, Scissura said. Were wide open, were listening, well work with anybody whos interested. The city has earmarked money for about half the cost and is asking the state and federal government to help with the rest. Any work wont start till at least two years from now, Trottenberg said. HOUSTON - Vice-President Mike Pence said Friday during a visit to Texas that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro must go because of the suffering he has brought to the people of that country. The struggle in Venezuela is between dictatorship and democracy, but freedom has the momentum. Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power, and Nicolas Maduro must go, Pence said at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston, named for former Secretary of State James Baker. Houston is home to a large Venezuelan immigrant community, as well as the corporate headquarters of CITGO, a subsidiary of Venezuelas state-run oil giant PDVSA. Pence earlier this week called for the release of six CITGO executives whove been jailed in Venezuela for more than a year without trial. Pence has said the five American citizens and one legal permanent U.S. resident , all with roots in Texas and Louisiana, are being illegally detained. Pence said some of their relatives were at his speech Friday in Houston. The U.S. and about 50 other countries contend Maduros election last year was illegitimate and that support opposition leader Juan Guaidos claim to the presidency. Pence Friday said that for far too long the people of Venezuela have suffered under the heavy hand of oppression. He noted theres been a mass exodus from the country, with more than 3 million abandoning it so far. He said that for those who stay behind, it is a society of lawlessness, corruption, crime and violence. The U.S. on Friday added two oil-sector companies and 34 vessels to a sanctions list aimed at forcing Maduro to step down. A Treasury Department announcement said the companies and vessels are being used to ship fuel to Cuba or in other aspects of the oil industry and help support the Maduro government. Pence said the only way Maduro clings to power is with the help of Cuba. All options are on the table, Pence said. We will not stand idly by while the Venezuelan people suffer under dictatorship and oppression. And Nicolas Maduro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America. Earlier Pence made a stop in Houston to thank U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for their service. Hes set later Friday to head to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Center in College Station where hell participate in a discussion on the American vice presidency with former vice-presidents Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle. LINDEN, Ala. - An Alabama newspaperman who drew widespread condemnation after a recent editorial embracing the Ku Klux Klan says he has sold his little weekly paper but the new owners identity and maybe even the sale itself are shrouded in doubt. The Democrat-Reporter, whose longtime editor and publisher Goodloe Sutton once won praise from Oprah Winfrey for exposing local corruption, has published two differing stories about the deal, in which Sutton said no money has changed hands. But he also says he cant recall if hes even met the buyer in person. My brain doesnt remember like it ought to remember sometimes, Sutton, 80, said Tuesday in the newspapers tiny office. Ive talked to a lot of people. Sutton says he could wind up working weeks or months longer because the new, out-of-town owner has no newspaper experience. In Linden Mayor Charles Moores opinion, the sale is questionable since Suttons car is parked outside the paper almost daily, just as it always has been. Moore said he hasnt met any new owner and doesnt know what to make of it all. I wish them luck, thats all I can say about it, said Moore. The people initially introduced as the new owners in a front page story, C.T. Harless and Sabrina McMahan, havent commented publicly. Questions have arisen about whether Harless is himself connected to the Ku Klux Klan, but Sutton said he doesnt care one way or the other. You know, there are worse things than Baptists and Klansmen, said Sutton. Once hailed as a crusading Southern newspaper editor, Sutton won accolades along with his late wife Jean for covering local corruption involving a former Marengo County sheriff, Roger Davis, in the 1990s. The sheriff and two deputies were imprisoned for crimes that the paper uncovered including bribery, thefts and money that was missing from a department drug fund. Their work was featured in stories in The New York Times and Readers Digest, and the couple appeared on a segment of Winfreys show about people who did the right thing in 1998. The woman everyone in town called Miss Jean died in 2003, and Sutton began trying to sell the paper soon after. No one bit, and the papers circulation fell. Sutton worked in virtual obscurity until Valentines Day, when he wrote and published an editorial that began: Time for the Ku Klux Klan to night ride again. Democrats and Democrats in the Republican Party are plotting to raise taxes in Alabama, it said, so the Klan should raid the gated communities where they live. Condemnation was swift once Suttons words hit social media and got past the city limits of Linden, population 1,900. Auburn University and the University of Southern Mississippi, Suttons alma mater, both rescinded past awards, and the Alabama Press Association censured Sutton and suspended the Democrat-Reporters membership. Sutton announced within days he was turning over control of the paper to a black employee, Elecia Dexter, but she quit after accusing Sutton of sneaking a story into the paper criticizing the Montgomery Advertiser for is coverage of the KKK debacle. On March 28, the paper carried a front-page story written in Suttons style saying the Democrat-Reporter had been sold to Harless, who would work as editor and publisher, and McMahan, who would be the marketing and distribution manager. The front-page photo of Harless published with that story bore a striking resemblance to Chuck Harless, an Indiana native who has previously identified himself as a Klan leader in media accounts and a YouTube video. An Alabama-based website, the Alabama Political Reporter, published a story questioning whether the new owner actually was the KKK member. The next day, Sutton told The Associated Press that McMahan, not Harless, would own the paper going forward. He said the new owner didnt pay up front for the paper but would instead provide him a percentage of the newspapers gross income. The pay comes for the rest of my life, Sutton said. A person who responded to text messages sent to a contact phone number published by the newspaper refused comment on Harless identity, and a story published Thursday gave no reason for the ownership change, saying that Harless had been removed from his position and a deal was completed this week in Florida. Neither McMahan nor Harless returned messages seeking comment. Sutton said he doesnt know how much longer he will keep working, but he said hes now just a consultant at the paper. He also indicated the sale may not be final. Dont you want to buy a good weekly newspaper? he asked at the end of an interview with AP. If you got a couple million dollars I can wiggle out of that deal. NEW YORK - A preliminary report released Thursday on the Ethiopian Airlines crash last month found that pilots followed all recommended procedures issued by Boeing, ratcheting up pressure on the plane maker that critics say has put profits before safety. The findings from the Ethiopian government provide the clearest link yet to a similar crash involving the same Boeing model plane in the waters off Indonesia in October. All 346 on board the two flights died. The report raises questions about whether Boeing did enough to alert pilots after the Indonesian crash and whether the Federal Aviation Administration should have grounded the 737 MAX planes earlier and not waited until the second crash on March 10. Still, the report is only a first draft and raised some questions left unanswered, such as why the crew turned back on a faulty anti-stall system a half-minute before the plane slammed into the ground. A final Ethiopian report with those details is not expected for months. The Indonesian final report could take until August or September and so attention will now likely turn to other government and regulatory probes. A rundown of what we know so far about the crashes and what to expect next from ongoing investigations: WHAT DID THE ETHIOPIAN REPORT FIND? The Ethiopian government said a false reading from a key sensor on the side of the Boeing 737 Max set off a series of events that caused the pilots to lose control of the plane. That is a significant discovery because faulty sensor readings are suspected behind the Lion Air 737 Max that crashed into the Java Sea on October 29. In that crash, investigators found a sensor activated an automated anti-stall system that repeatedly pushed the nose of the plane down. The Ethiopian report also raises questions about assertions by Boeing and U.S. regulators since the Lion Air crash. They said that pilots could regain control in some emergencies by following steps that include turning off the anti-stall system, known by its acronym, MCAS. The preliminary report appeared to contradict that. It said the Ethiopian Airlines crew turned off the system and followed other prescribed steps but still couldnt save the plane. The pilots did re-engage MCAS in the last seconds of the flight. WHAT IS BOEINGS RESPONSE? The airplane maker acknowledged in a statement that faulty data from the sensor triggered the MCAS system and vowed to make sure it doesnt happen again. Its our responsibility to eliminate this risk, said CEO Dennis Muilenburg in a video address. We own it and we know how to do it. Boeing said a software update in the works will add additional layers of protection and prevent bad data from activating the MCAS system. It also said it is will offer new training for Max pilots. Investors in Boeing appeared to take Thursdays report in stride. Its stock rose nearly 3% but fell nearly 1% on Friday. WHATS NEXT? Boeing is under investigation on multiple fronts. The Justice Department is looking into possible criminal violations involving certification that the 737 Max introduced in 2017 was safe. Congressional committees are also investigating the crashes and questioning a program under which the FAA delegates many safety checks for planes to Boeing and other manufacturers to save money. A Senate committee will also look into whistleblower complaints about the training and credentials of federal inspectors who evaluated a Boeing jet involved in the two deadly crashes. The Transportation Department inspector general is also probing the FAA to see why it was the last safety regulator in the world to ground the Boeing Max after the second crash. The FAA, which must certify the 737 Max is safe before it can go back into the air, said in a statement that its own investigation into the crashes is still in its early stages. As we learn more about the accident and findings become available, we will take appropriate action, the agency said. WHAT ABOUT LAWSUITS? Boeing is facing several suits from families of victims in the two crashes alleging the automated anti-stall system was defective and that plane maker failed to warn airlines about it or fully train pilots. The latest, filed on the heels of the Ethiopian report on Thursday, was by a family of a 24 -year-old American on the Ethiopian Airlines flight. Blinded by its greed, Boeing haphazardly rushed the 737 MAX8 to market and actively concealed the nature of the automated system defects, the lawsuit alleges, demonstrating a conscious disregard for the lives of others. Other defendants in the suit include Ethiopian Airlines and Rosemount Aerospace, the sensor manufacturer. CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Scientists have completed the most detailed map yet of one of North Americas most spectacular geologic faults with the hope of providing a better understanding of the earthquake risk at a popular vacation destination. Millions of tourists visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming, every year to sightsee, hike or ski the Teton Range, which was formed by the Teton fault. Upward slippage of the faults western edge has pushed the mountains to their present height of some 7,000 feet (2,130 metres) above Jackson Hole in Grand Teton National Park. The fault ranks among the fastest moving in the Rocky Mountain region. Scientists think it could produce an earthquake as powerful as magnitude 7.5, which would cause serious damage. Research shows the Teton fault last ruptured more than 5,000 years ago. Whether the fault is overdue for a big quake is unknown, geologists said Friday. Were always speaking in geologic time, which is thousands of years or hundreds of thousands of years, Wyoming State Geologist Erin Campbell said. Earthquakes are common in the region. In 1959, a magnitude-7.3 quake in a different fault area west of Yellowstone National Park in Montana killed 28 people, many of them buried by a landslide that blocked the Madison River. The Wyoming State Geological Survey released the new map of the Teton fault this week. Copies may be downloaded for free or purchased online for $25. Researchers created the map with equipment that involves using laser pulses to measure distances precisely. Aircraft with the equipment flew up and down the Teton fault to create precise images of the terrain, helping geologists pinpoint the faults location. Geologists who study the fault often focus on scarps revealing the fault line at the foot of the mountains. There, theyve dug trenches to look closely at how the fault has moved since the last glacial period ended 15,000 years ago. Landslides and lakes cover the fault in places but scarps up to 125 feet (38 metres) high make its exact location obvious in others. It almost appears like a wall in the forest in some spots, said the maps lead author, Mark Zellman, of earth sciences consulting firm BGC Engineering Inc. U.S. Geological Survey research geologist Christopher DuRoss and Idaho State University geology professor Glenn Thackray also helped create the map, which extends the fault about six miles (10 kilometres) farther south than was previously known. Seth Wittke of the Wyoming State Geological Survey and others reviewed the work and went to the field to check its accuracy. This is a good kind of starting point in defining the fault itself, and some work thats been done along it, for future research, Wittke said. ___ Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver OKLAHOMA CITY - Authorities say two people sought on Oklahoma murder warrants have been arrested at the Mexican border in southwest Texas. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Brook Arbeitman said Friday that 32-year-old Coker Barker and 27-year-old Anastacia Little, both of Seminole, were arrested Thursday as they tried to cross the border at Laredo. Both are in custody in Webb County, Texas, pending extradition. Investigators say the two are wanted in the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Mickel Kelough of Seminole. His body was found Tuesday in the front seat of his vehicle in Seminole County. Online court records do not show that formal charges have been filed against either Barker or Little. Jail records show both remain in custody and do not list an attorney to speak on their behalf. MINNEAPOLIS - The Latest on the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman in 2017 (all times local): 5 p.m. Attorneys for a former Minneapolis police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed woman have joined the medias challenge to a judges restrictions on what video evidence may be seen by the public during the trial. Hennepin County District Judge Kathryn Quaintance heard a request from a media coalition to allow the public and media to view graphic evidence presented to the jury at the trial of Mohamed Noor. The media coalition is led by the Star Tribune and includes The Associated Press. Noor is charged with murder in the 2017 death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. The dual Australian-U.S. citizen was shot when she approached Noors squad car after reporting a possible rape near her home. The judge ruled last week that body camera footage recorded after the shooting will be shown only to the jury, attorneys and herself. She said she is trying to protect Damond. Media attorney Leita Walker argued its important for the public to see how jurors react in real time to seeing the evidence. The judge took the motion under advisement. ___ 11:50 a.m. The attorney for a former Minneapolis police officer charged in the shooting death of an unarmed woman is quizzing potential jurors about decision-making in high-stress situations. Mohamed Noor is charged with murder in the 2017 death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. Noor shot the dual Australian-U.S. citizen when she approached his squad car minutes after calling 911 to report a possible assault near her home. Attorney Thomas Plunkett sought to ask prospective jurors Friday whether they had heard of police officers being ambushed. After prosecutors objected, Plunkett shifted to questions about handling stressful situations. Plunkett also asked how the potential jurors felt upon seeing Noor, a Somali American whos also Muslim. Some responded that they initially thought the suit-wearing Noor was on the defence team. Jury selection is in its fifth day. MANDAN, N.D. - The Latest on bodies found at a business in Mandan, North Dakota (all times local): 4:55 p.m. The co-owner of a North Dakota property management business where four employees were killed has delivered an emotional tribute to the victims, including her husband. Jackie Fakler spoke in the lobby of the RJR Maintenance and Management building in Mandan on Friday. Pictures of Robert Fakler, Adam Fuehrer and married co-workers Lois Cobb and William Cobb were shown on a screen behind her. Earlier Friday, 44-year-old Chad Isaak appeared in court on murder charges in Mondays slayings. Jackie Fakler told stories about the four workers, at times drawing laughter. She said Robert Fakler would be telling everybody to suck it up and not waste time on him. She said they will truly be missed. Jackie Fakler did not take questions from reporters. ___ 2:10 p.m. A judge has set $1 million cash bond for a North Dakota man accused of killing four people, citing the heinous nature of the crimes. Chad Isaak, a 44-year-old chiropractor and Navy veteran, faces four murder charges in the slayings Monday in the city of Mandan. The victims bodies were found at the property management company where they worked. Three of the four had been stabbed and shot, and the fourth had been stabbed. Morton County Judge James Hill said he agreed with prosecutors request for the $1 million bond. Assistant Morton County States Attorney Gabrielle Goter said Isaak carefully planned the killings and tried to hide them. She said that raised concerns about the safety of witnesses and other employees at the property management company if hes free on bond. ___ 12:40 p.m. A criminal complaint and affidavit accuses a North Dakota man of trying to deceive surveillance video and then bleaching weapons and his clothing after killing four people. Chad Isaak is charged with four counts of murder in Mondays attack at RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, a town near the capital of Bismarck. All four slain were RJR employees. Investigators say surveillance video shows Isaak entering RJR wearing brightly colored clothing, then leaving in dark clothing after the slayings. They say a search of his home found a knife with bent blade tip, parts of a handgun and clothing all bearing traces of chlorine bleach. The complaint also says nine bullet casings were found at his house. The victims were believed to have been shot nine times. The victims were also stabbed. The complaint doesnt give a possible motive. ___ 11:10 a.m. The owner of a mobile home park where a man arrested in the slayings four people in North Dakota lived says the suspect never attracted any attention. Forty-four-year-old Chad Isaak is due in court Friday, a day after his arrest on suspicion of killing the business owner and three employees at the business that managed the mobile home park. Police say he shot and stabbed the victims, but they dont yet have a motive for the slayings. Rolf Eggers says he bought the mobile home park in Washburn last fall and Isaak came with the park. Eggers says that he didnt know Isaak. He says neighbours never complained about him. The mobile home park is in Washburn, about 35 miles (56 kilometres) from the Mandan management company, RJR Maintenance and Management. Eggers says he hasnt been contacted by law enforcement. ___ 9:25 a.m. A chiropractor suspected of killing four people at a property management business in North Dakota is due in court. Forty-four-year-old Chad Isaak is jailed after his arrest Thursday on suspicion of killing the business owner and three employees in Mandan. Authorities say he shot and stabbed the victims. Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler said authorities do not yet have a motive, but that Isaak lived on property managed by the company, RJR Maintenance and Management. Police found the bodies on Monday. Isaak was expected to appear in court Friday afternoon. Hes not yet been formally charged. He lives in Washburn, which is 35 miles (56 kilometres) north of Mandan. PHOENIX - The Latest on an arrest in the road rage shooting death of a 10-year-old Arizona girl (all times local): 3:30 p.m. A man charged with fatally shooting a 10-year-old girl in Phoenix in an act of road rage has been ordered held on $1 million bond. A court commissioner ordered the cash-only bond for 20-year-old Joshua Gonzalez during his initial appearance Friday afternoon. Gonzalez is facing charges including first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evidence tampering. His appointed public defender, Clare Schum, declined to comment when reached by telephone. Police arrested Gonzalez on Thursday, a day after Summerbell Brown was gunned down in the driveway of her familys home. The family says another driver followed them after a traffic dispute and started shooting. Police say preliminary forensic evidence ties a truck and handgun found with Gonzalez to the killing. ___ 1:30 p.m. The parents of a 10-year-old girl who died in a road-rage shooting outside their Phoenix home say they are thankful police have made an arrest. Taniesha and Dharquintium Brown spoke Friday in their driveway, where a gunman opened fire two days earlier, killing their daughter, Summerbell. They also said nothing will bring back their daughter, and Taniesha Brown says she will never heal from her pain. Police say 20-year-old Joshua Gonzalez followed the familys vehicle Wednesday to their home after a traffic dispute and began shooting when Dharquintium Brown went to confront him. Gonzalez has been arrested. Summerbell, who was seated in the back of the car, was wounded and pronounced dead at a hospital. ___ 10 a.m. Phoenix police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a 10-year-old girl that investigators say was motivated by road rage. Police Chief Jeri Williams said Friday that 20-year-old Joshua Gonzalez was booked into jail on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of Summerbell Brown and three counts of aggravated assault. Authorities say a driver followed Summerbell and her family to their home Wednesday after their vehicle had cut him off. The girls father pulled into their driveway and got out to confront the suspect when he opened fire. Summerbell was wounded and later pronounced dead at a hospital. Her father was shot, suffering non-life-threatening injuries. Her mother and sister were in the car but escaped injury. Williams says tips from the public were crucial for Gonzalez arrest. WASHINGTON - The Latest on President Donald Trump and the border (all times local): 11:25 p.m. President Donald Trump has made a dramatic appearance at his privately owned golf club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Trump landed in Marine One, making an unannounced visit to his Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, as guests and members took photos and videos of his arrival. The White House says that Trump is having a private dinner at the club, but is not providing any other details. Trump did not divest his business holdings upon taking office, and continues to profit from his real estate holdings, including his golf courses. The visit comes as Trump is facing a new showdown with congressional Democrats, who are seeking his tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service, as they look to examine the presidents finances. ___ 10:50 p.m. President Donald Trump is still thinking about winning heavily Democratic California in 2020. Trump lost the state to Hillary Clinton by over 4 million votes in the 2016 election. But he told a crowd at a private Beverly Hills fundraiser Friday that he thinks he can pull off a win next year. Thats according to Republican National Committeeman Shawn Steel, who attended the event, where photos with the president were going for $50,000. Steel says Trump told the crowd its a bad time to be a socialist in Americas thriving economy, an obvious dig at his potential Democratic rivals. And Trump got a big round of applause talking about his administrations decision to recognize Israels sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Steel says. __ 8:40 p.m. President Donald Trump is attending a roundtable and fundraiser for his re-election Friday evening in Beverly Hills. The Republican National Committee says 170 people are at the event at the home of health care executive and GOP donor Lee Samson. The fundraiser benefits the RNCs Trump Victory joint account with Trumps campaign. The RNC is not disclosing the amount raised at the event. According to Federal Aviation Administration flight restrictions, Trump will then pay a visit to his private golf club outside Los Angeles in Palos Verdes, California. He is then travelling late Friday to Las Vegas, where he will speak at the Republican Jewish Coalitions annual meeting Saturday. __ 5:30 p.m. House Democrats have filed a lawsuit aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from spending more money than Congress has approved to erect barriers along the southwestern border. Democrats say Trumps attempt to transfer billions of dollars from several programs to wall construction violates the Constitution, which gives Congress control over spending. The 45-page complaint was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls Trumps act a brazen assault on the Constitution. Congress approved just under $1.4 billion for work on border barricades. Trump has asserted he can use his powers as chief executive to transfer another $6.7 billion to wall construction. Attorneys general from 20 states, plus environmental and progressive groups, have filed other lawsuits aimed at blocking the transfers. __ 5 p.m. President Donald Trump is showcasing a section of border wall that separates the United States and Mexico. Trump visited the section of fencing in Calexico, California, on Friday and declared that it looks great and was better, faster, less expensive than other barrier options. The fence Trump is touring is a 2-mile (3.2-kilometre) section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trumps name and those of top homeland security officials. The new 30-foot-tall, 2.25-mile-long barrier replaced fencing that was made of hrlicopter landing mats from the Vietnam War. __ 4:15 p.m. President Donald Trump is downplaying the claims of people seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump says: I look at some of these asylum people. Theyre gang members. Theyre not afraid of anything. Trump is also comparing some efforts to seek asylum to special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. Trump says: Its a scam, its a hoax. I know about hoaxes. I just went through a hoax. Trump travelled Friday to Southern California to meet with local law enforcement officials and to tour a section of recently rebuilt fencing along the border with Mexico. __ 3:50 p.m. President Donald Trump says his administration is ensuring the country knows this is an actual emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump travelled Friday to Southern California to meet with local law enforcement officials and tour a section of recently rebuilt fencing he cites as the answer to a surge of migrant families coming to the U.S. in recent months. Trump says the administration is making progress in building a border wall and says he expects close to 400 miles to be completed within the next two years. The fence that Trump is touring in Calexico is a two-mile section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. Trump says of the border wall, Weve done a lot, weve renovated a lot. __ 3:20 p.m. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has denounced President Donald Trumps comments about getting rid of the asylum system. The governor issued the strong criticism in a statement Friday as the president arrived in California to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. Newsom says that since its founding, the United States has been a refuge and safe haven for people fleeing tyranny, oppression and violence. The governor says the presidents rhetoric disregards the Constitution, the justice system and what it means to be an American. In comments at the White House as he left for California, Trump urged Congress to get rid of the whole asylum system because it doesnt work. Trumps administration has been pushing Congress to pass legislation that would tighten asylum rules. __ 2:46 p.m. President Donald Trump is in California to meet with local law enforcement officials at a border patrol station and to tour a section of recently rebuilt fencing he cites as the answer to stop migrant families coming to the U.S. The fence that Trump is touring in Calexico is a two-mile section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trumps name and those of top homeland security officials. The visit comes after Trump sparked confusion with a threat to seal the southern border. Trump said Thursday he wouldnt act for a year, and issued a fresh threat to place tariffs on autos manufactured in Mexico. __ 8:52 a.m. President Donald Trump is ramping up his attacks on Democrats as he looks to make border security an issue for the 2020 re-election campaign. Trumps campaign released a new video attacking 2020 Democrats for dismissing what Trump calls a crisis at the border. Trump travels Friday to Southern California to meet with local law enforcement officials and to tour a section of recently rebuilt fencing he cites as the answer to stop a surge of migrant families coming to the U.S. in recent months. The fence that Trump is touring is a two-mile section that was a long-planned replacement for an older barrier, rather than new wall. The White House says the barrier is marked with a plaque bearing Trumps name and those of top homeland security officials. PHOENIX - The White House has touted a two-mile stretch of fencing President Donald Trump is visiting Friday as the first section of his proposed border wall to be built. In reality, the newly fortified structure commemorated with a plaque bearing his name and those of top immigration and homeland security officials was a long-planned replacement for an old barrier. It is one of a handful of projects that total $1 billion to replace existing barriers and build new ones across the border. As Trump promotes his signature campaign promise as the solution to the recent surge of migrant families crossing the border, here are questions and answers about the various barriers along the border and those that are in the works. WHATS ALREADY THERE? The southern border is nearly 2,000 miles long and already has about 650 miles of different types of barriers, including short vehicle barricades and tall, steel fences that go up to 30 feet high. Most of the fencing was built during the administration of George W. Bush, and there have been updates and maintenance throughout other administrations. WHAT HAS TRUMP DONE? Trump has yet to complete any new mileage of fencing or other barriers anywhere on the border. His administration has only replaced existing fencing, including the section he is touring Friday. Construction for that small chunk of fencing cost about $18 million, began in February 2018 and was completed in October. Plans to replace that fence date back to 2009, during the beginning of former President Barack Obamas tenure. Contractors have been doing site and preparation work for 13 miles of barriers in the Rio Grande Valley that will be Trumps first new fencing. The administration said construction could begin as early as this week. The administration is also in the process of replacing 14 miles of fencing around San Diego. The wall is under construction, by the way, large sections. Were going to be meeting, I think on Friday, at a piece of the wall that weve completed, a big piece, a lot of its being built right now, he told reporters Thursday. Its moving along very nicely. But we need the wall. WHAT ABOUT THOSE PROTOTYPES? Early in his term, Trump called for prototypes of border walls that were built in the San Diego area at a cost of about $300,000 to $500,000 each. Eight prototypes went up, and Trump travelled to the border to inspect them last year. But they were demolished in February. The nearly $3 billion that Congress provided for barriers during the first half of Trumps term requires the money be spent on designs that were in place before May 2017, which meant the prototypes couldnt be used. The prototypes became a spectacle at various times since Trump took office, drawing tourists, protesters and artists who projected light shows on the walls from Mexico. WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY? Trump shut down the federal government for more than a month the longest shutdown in U.S. history and later declared a national emergency to free up billions of dollars to build his wall. Congress had voted to block the emergency declaration but Trump vetoed the measure. Several organizations brought lawsuits over the declaration, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats also planned on suing to prevent Trump from stealing money from federal programs and diverting the money to build a wall. But the national emergency money has not yet been spent in part because the government has to first spend existing border wall funding. A lawsuit could eventually derail the plan. Still, various plans for more border barriers are moving along. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security requested that the defence department build 57 miles of 18-foot fencing near Yuma, Arizona and El Paso, Texas, which have seen enormous increases in the number of border crossers, especially families. WASHINGTON - David Malpass, the Treasury official nominated by President Donald Trump to head the 189-nation World Bank, was elected to the job on Friday. Malpass was approved unanimously by the banks 25-member executive board. He will begin a five-year term next Tuesday succeeding Jim Yong Kim, an Obama administration pick who stepped down earlier this year, three years before his term was to end. Malpass was serving in the Trump administration as Treasurys under secretary of international affairs. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and a White House adviser, both praised the choice. I look forward to continuing our work to economically empower women globally and further the banks core mission of ending poverty, said Ivanka Trump, who had worked on those issues with Kim. Mnuchin praised Malpass for pushing reforms at the World Bank during his time at Treasury. Malpass has been a longtime critic of the World Bank and its sister lending organization, the International Monetary Fund. He has complained that the bank was lending too much money to China at the expense of poorer nations that do not have the same access to global capital markets as China. However, in his Treasury post, Malpass helped win support last year for a $13 billion funding increase for the bank. Malpass, 63, will be the 13th president of the World Bank. Americans have always headed the World Bank, while a European has always headed the IMF since both institutions were created in the mid-1940s. Critics have said this tradition was no longer valid in a new era with the growing clout of emerging economics such as China. However, no other country put forward a candidate to challenge Malpass. In a note to World Bank employees after his selection Friday, Malpass said that more than 700 million people remain in extreme poverty in the world. Too many people are not seeing an advance in their living standards, with the poorest nations facing the steepest challenges, he said. Faced with these challenges, our twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and achieving shared prosperity are more relevant than ever, Malpass said. The Bank Group is strong financially and well equipped with the tools and talent to achieve measurable successes. His candidacy was backed by a global lobbying effort led by Mnuchin, who promoted Malpass in discussions with foreign finance officials. The World Bank board had said last month that it would interview Malpass and expected to make its selection before the World Bank and IMF spring meetings that will be held in Washington next week. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is renewing calls for Moscow to withdraw its military personnel from Venezuela, where they are helping prop up embattled President Nicolas Maduro (nee-koh-LAHS mah-DOO-roh). Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox & Friends on Friday that hes seen no signs the Russian personnel were leaving and that Moscows involvement might get worse before it gets better. The U.S. and several dozen other nations have recognized Venezuelas opposition leader as interim president, while Russia and China have staunchly backed Maduro. The Kremlin has rejected U.S. calls for Moscow to withdraw, saying U.S. troops are in many parts of the world and no one is telling America where it should or shouldnt be. PUTNEY, Vt. - Volunteers are searching for a new owner for what is considered the oldest continuously operating general store in Vermont. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the Putney Historical Society is seeking $120,000 for the Putney General Store, which includes the entire inventory. The society is planning to rent the building at about $3,600 a month. The store opened in 1796 and survived two fires, one in 2008 and another in 2009. It includes a popular deli and sells groceries and basic hardware. Volunteers Betsy MacIsaac and Lyssa Papazian have been running the store for the past two years. The women say they are eager to return to their careers, but they dont plan to abandon the general store. MacIsaac says they want to preserve the integrity of the downtown area. ___ Information from: Brattleboro Reformer, http://www.reformer.com/ OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state Republican Sen. Doug Ericksen has registered as a foreign agent in order to consult and lobby for the country of Cambodia. Under documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, Ericksen signed an agreement between PacRim Bridges LLC a company he formed in 2017 and the Kingdom of Cambodia on March 25. Under the contract, first reported by Politico, PacRim will receive $500,000 a year to provide consulting services and to work to support legislation that is positive for Cambodia. Among the services offered by PacRim will be arranging for cultural exchanges and visits by Cambodian delegations. Ericksen is CEO of PacRim, and former Republican Rep. Jay Rodne serves as general counsel and chief legal officer. Ericksen said Friday that while he didnt think he was required to file with the federal government, he did so because I wanted to make sure everything was transparent and clear. He said that while the contract includes language on supporting legislation beneficial to Cambodia as part of the work, his work will focus more on improving the image of a country that he sees as an emerging economy. Our goal is to advise and consult with the people of Cambodia to improve relations with the United States, Ericksen said. Because the Washington Legislature does not run year-round, many lawmakers hold outside employment. Administrators in the House and Senate were not aware of any other lawmakers who have registered as a foreign agent while serving in the Legislature. According to Jennifer Strus, attorney for the Legislative Ethics Board, nothing in the state Ethics in Public Service Act prohibits it. As with any member with outside employment, he may not lobby the Washington state legislature on behalf of his employer, Strus wrote in an email. Ericksen was elected to his third term in the Senate in November, winning by just 46 votes. He previously served six terms in the House. In 2017, he temporarily served as communications director for the Environmental Protection Agency transition team following President Donald Trumps election. He had received criticism for previous trips to Cambodia, including one to observe the countrys July 29 elections that the White House had said were neither free nor fair and failed to represent the will of the Cambodian people. It its 2018 human rights report on Cambodia, the State Department cited several areas of concern in the country, including unlawful or arbitrary killings carried out by the government or on its behalf; forced disappearance carried out by the government; torture by the government; arbitrary arrests by the government. Ericksen said he doesnt dispute the human rights findings, but he said his trips there paint a different picture. He said that his interest in the country developed following a meeting with a Cambodian delegation at the state capitol in the spring of 2016, followed by his first trip to the country with his family that summer. Talks following his trip to observe the elections led to this new role. Ericksen said he did his research to make sure it wouldnt run afoul of any laws or rules. People talk about the optics, but nothing about the reality of a conflict of interest, because there is none, he said. Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a non-profit group that works to limit money in politics, said that while there may not be any legal or ethical questions, I find it highly unusual for a country to hire a state senator to be a lobbyist. I would certainly want to know what the Cambodian government thought they were getting, he said. Ericksen said he believes the relationships he has forged in Cambodia will help the two countries work together on issues ranging from anti-terrorism to combating human trafficking. I think its a really unique opportunity to actually help people, he said. NEW YORK - A woman who pushed a commuter to her death in front of a New York City subway train just days after being released from a psychiatric facility was sentenced Friday to 20 years to life in prison. Melanie Liverpool, 33, admitted shoving 49-year-old Connie Watton off a subway platform at the Times Square station in 2016 a harrowing crime that made headlines and tapped into a common fear of New Yorkers. Liverpool was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to her attorney, Aaron Wallenstein, and had been released from a psychiatric facility just five days before the killing. She pleaded guilty to murder last month. The Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., condemned the killing as an unconscionable crime. Now, thanks to the NYPD and my offices prosecutors, she will serve significant prison time for this horrific act of violence, Vance said in a statement. Wallenstein told The Associated Press that his client is remorseful but intends to appeal the sentence. He called the case a tragedy, no matter how you look at it. A woman lost her life and Ms. Liverpool took responsibility, Wallenstein said. She led an exemplary life until she had these illnesses and issues. The attack was witnessed by several commuters, including one who followed Liverpool and pointed her out to police officers. When officers asked her what happened, prosecutors said, Liverpool told them she had pushed a person onto the tracks. The authorities said that Liverpool, before being admitted to the psychiatric ward, falsely claimed to have pushed another woman to her death in front of an oncoming train at Union Square station. Police deemed that womans death a suicide, but prosecutors argued in court papers that Liverpools false claim demonstrated a motive or reason to commit this otherwise senseless and purposeless crime. The suicide Liverpool witnessed helped put in her mind the ideas and thoughts that led to Wattons killing, Assistant District Attorney David Drucker wrote in a court filing. Three weeks ago, young people took to the streets across Canada and around the world. They have never known a world without the threat of climate change, without intensifying storms, deadly heatwaves, and raging wildfires. They look at their future, at the world they will be inheriting from us, and are challenging governments to do more. We know the problem: we have too much pollution. If its free to pollute, there will be more pollution. It is already costing Canadians. Last year, extreme weather caused $1.9 billion of insured damage in Canada. Thats up almost 500 per cent in two decades. By 2050 the bill could be as much as $43 billion a year. Doing nothing is not an option. Thats why were making sure it is no longer free to pollute in Canada. Most provinces and all territories have designed ways to price pollution that works for them. But Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Manitoba all led by Conservative premiers chose not to because they think it should be free to pollute. So we stepped up. Under the federal system, by law, the money from pricing pollution will be returned to Canadians in those provinces 90 per cent is going directly back to people through the Climate Action Incentive rebate when they file their taxes this year. Many Canadians I speak to want action on climate change, but they also want life to be affordable. Under our plan, most families will actually be better off. People can save even more with practical solutions like a smart thermostat, LED light bulbs or taking public transit when they can. With the other 10 per cent, we will provide support for small businesses, schools, hospitals, colleges, and Indigenous communities to save energy and cut pollution. Since day one, our government has taken action on climate change, resetting the agenda after 10 years of inaction under the Conservatives. Scientists and economists have been telling us for years that climate change is an issue for our health and our planet and an opportunity for our economy. Yet some Conservative politicians deny this. Its easier for them to politicize and polarize than to step up and act. Instead of fighting climate change, they fight in courts. Canada has a practical, effective and affordable plan to fight climate change. Its phasing out coal because it generates 9 per cent of Canadas electricity but 72 per cent of the sectors emissions. Its investing in renewables to power Canada on 90 per cent clean energy by 2030. Its building 1,200 public transit projects across the country to get people where they need to be in a faster, cleaner and cheaper way. And its putting a price on pollution, because thats the right thing to do. I have one question for Conservative politicians like Doug Ford, Andrew Scheer and Scott Moe: When farmers lose their crops like they did this summer, when your neighbours basements are flooded because of quicker snowmelts and more rain, when jobs start to leave because our economies havent kept up with the clean demand will you have a plan then? Catherine McKenna is the federal minister of environment and climate change. Read more about: How to lose your job with bridge-burning tenacity, Opinion, April 3 Justin Trudeaus comments after he had kicked Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott off the team were an exercise in the most arrogant reframing of the truth we have seen in a long while. But it was a reframing of a truth that Trudeau clearly feels entitled to. I assume his pedigree has given him, since his youth, an understanding of how the wheels of power turn. His carefully crafted indignation during his remarks yesterday was much more about how the taping of JWRs phone call with Michael Wernick exposed his backside and that of his inner circle, than the concerning content of what was said. As I watched Trudeaus speech to caucus, I shook my head at the absolute disingenuousness, smugness even, of his explanation for jettisoning his two strongest ministers. And when he said, Canadians are counting on us, I was actually angry that his attempt to implicate us all in his self-interest was delivered with that practised smile. Was he between a rock and a hard place? Sure, but one of his own making and he should have owned it. Barb Brown, Waterloo Firms conviction may not prevent bids, April 4 When I read Tonda MacCharles article in the Star, I lost it! The Liberal Justice Department could invoke a public interest exception that would allow SNC-Lavalin to avoid a 10-year federal contract ban even if SNC is criminally convicted. How far will Justin Trudeau go to protect that company? Do people not know that, just recently, SNC paid an official a $10,000,000 bribe to secure a contract with Montreals McGill University Health Centre? The bribing is not just done internationally, its also done right here in Canada. Trudeau and his bunch of gutless cronies need to step down right now and make room for ethical politicians to run this country by the rule of law. Barbara Jean-Venne, Mississauga Read more about: In my teen years, when I stayed home from school sick with the flu, I watched Judge Judy. I did not read up on provincial politics and plan a government protest. But Im not Roya Haidari, a Grade 11 student at Richmond Hill High School who has the impressive ability to choose civic engagement over daytime TV. Last month, Haidari was sick at home, scrolling through Instagram, when she read about the Ontario Conservatives controversial proposed changes to education changes that include, among other things, increased class sizes and mandatory e-learning. Knowing, however, that Instagram can be iffy, Haidari researched the governments proposal more extensively online. What she read bothered her deeply. With these cuts, they think its going to help resiliency but its not, she told me over the phone earlier this week. The only thing that will happen is the withdrawal of students. Students will feel like they are not as important in the teachers eye. Her friend Arianna Balouchi, also a Grade 11 student at the school, agrees. I believe they said larger class size will build resilience, Balouchi told me during a conference call with Haidari. But were not like cockroaches. Cockroaches, she explained, can adapt to their environment. Her point: Students neglected by overworked teachers cannot. When Haidari returned to school after being sick, she, Balouchi, and a group of like-minded peers got together and made a formal commitment to participate in the school walkouts planned for Thursday April 4 at hundreds of public schools across the province. At 1:15 p.m., theyd leave their desks, exit the school doors and exercise their right to peaceful protest. And thats exactly what they did. This week, on a brisk, sunny Thursday afternoon, I watched roughly two hundred teens pour out of Richmond Hill High School and gather on a muddy patch of grass across the driveway. There, Balouchi, Haidari and a few other students (including a university student and a Richmond Hill High alumnus who returned to help out) spoke to the very noisy crowd via megaphone. They didnt have a podium so, like teenage prophets, they stood on rocks. And they chanted: Hey. Hey. Ho. Ho. Doug Ford has got to go/The students united/will never be defeated And so on. It was at times, a tough crowd. There were plenty of passionate attendees presentpolitically engaged students who held up some truly great homemade posters. (My personal favourite: This sine wood be bettor butt your cutting our educashin.) But there were also plenty of st disturbers too for example rowdy dudes who turned out exclusively for the complimentary iced tea. And I wont be able to scrub from my mind the scrawny agitator who tried to drown out the events legitimate speakers with chants of I love Doug Ford and I believe in pollution! The protests most interesting adversaries though were two young women wearing I kid you not matching Conservative Party branded windbreaker jackets. It was like Grease, Tory style. They declined to give me their names. But they did give me their thoughts. They told me they were frustrated that some of their peers appeared not to understand the policies they were protesting. One of them said: This is my personal guess from what Ive seen. I think the only people who care about whats happening are the ten people up there holding posters and chanting. Everyone else is out here to skip class and drink apple juice. The other chimed in: Its the dream life. They were funny but they were ultimately, wrong. I spoke with many kids throughout the protest who were genuinely disturbed by the Ford governments actions. As the group finally made its journey around the block waving signs and cheering for drivers of cars who honked their support, a student named Michael told me he (Doug Ford) has made decisions that really hurt students. He cant hurt us just because he wants to. A 16-year-old named Katia said shes concerned about bigger class sizes, and that teachers may lose their jobs. Haidari and Balouchi reiterated that they arent protesting only for themselves, but for their younger siblings who have several years left in the public education system. These issues, in other words, affect them personally. No one I spoke with was motivated by politics or outwardly partisan. In Haidaris words, A lot of our members do not have the same political views. One of us could support Conservatives, one of us could support Liberals, one of us NDP. What they dont support is a government that cuts corners at the expense of their education. Read more about: How can the provincial government just step in and grab Torontos subway system, overturn plans carefully crafted and consulted on, rip up proposals, and re-engineer the wishes and desires of the commuting public? Yes, the province has the legal authority to do so. But does it have the moral authority, the community credibility, the defensible reasons to take such action? It depends, as often is the case, on politics. And the essence of politics is what the public will bear. The ruler can only impose what the electorate allows. And more often than not, the citizen allows what the citizen is conditioned to expect and tolerate. On the critical matter of transit in the GTA, the public has been so routinely abused often by the very people entitled and empowered to inform and protect that Citizen Carl and Carla are now susceptible to any charlatan masquerading as saviour. Once upon a time premiers David Peterson, Bob Rae and Mike Harris took us on a 20-year roller-coaster of transit plans, landing us with dug subway tunnels filled in and the Sheppard Stubway where a subway should be. A fourth premier Dalton McGuinty got the University line extended, after his deputy pushed it into his riding in Vaughan. Through it all, the TTC and Toronto city council went along for the ride, hopping on and off as directed by the provincial conductor purporting to care about Toronto. Mel Lastman raised a ruckus or two, but our political leaders did little to build a city consensus on our needs as we know them. And even when city council voted a direction, citizens rarely were led to own the plan. No ownership, no investment, no embrace, no understanding even, of what is being considered. One mayor devised a brilliant made-in-Toronto plan called Transit City, a network of LRT lines, built at the provinces expense, which would now be ferrying passengers. David Millers undoing was the lack of public buzz and chatter and buy-in and sense of, This is ours. This is what we want. This will improve our commuting lives. Our leader assumed that once we saw it, we would understand what he knew in his bones. We never got to see it. The current premier arrived at city hall with his brother as mayor and immediately scrapped Transit City. If they could have, they would have ripped out the streetcar lines on King, Queen, College, Dundas, Spadina and St. Clair. The Fords blasted the St. Clair streetcar rebuild. The disaster on St. Clair became a mantra. Subways, subways, subways rang from their ample throats. And now that he is premier, Doug Ford, perpetuates the lie that transit solutions lie with subways, not surface routes. And that Toronto is doing nothing about fixing transit. How does he sell it? By taking an observable truth and exaggerate and blow it up so out of proportion that the observer is almost destabilized. Soldiers know how to toss in a grenade and immediately pounce while the target is disoriented. So, on transit, everyone is frustrated at the slow pace of improvements and construction. Pollsters will tell you that voters are fed up and just want to build something, anything. Enter Doug Ford: Nothing is happening with transit in Toronto. No mayor can build anything. They talk and talk and talk while the cost of transit projects double before our eyes. I know how to fix this. Leave it to me, he says. But Sir, you and your mayor brother were in charge of this file at city hall just a few years ago, and you ripped up existing plans already paid for and replaced them with plans for which you had to impose extra transit taxes for 40 years, and that very project you pushed has doubled in cost and moved further away from completion. And now youd take it over, add cost and a longer wait time. And we are supposed to buy that? The confused electorate doesnt know what to think. But, starved for transit, and caught in a weird psychological space approaching the Stockholm syndrome, the only option is to cling to the one with a stated way out even if this person is your captor. The ability to think and fight and retaliate with facts and reasoned arguments on transit has been so compromised that voters close their eyes dizzy as the political pendulum takes them on wild swings. Does Mayor John Tory have an answer? Not when he became part of the problem by peddling false hopes (transit relief in seven years, not 17) and burying reasonable concerns about his own transit visions called (not-so) SmartTrack. Under Tory, the city took over transit building from the TTC. The result is more politics and less transit wisdom. Citizens watch costs escalate, progress falter and so, befuddled, sit on their hands as one of the main sources of the problem the premier of Ontario rides in with half-baked solutions that are demonstrably unworkable. Pity Toronto commuters. Royson James is a former Star reporter who is a current freelance columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @roysonjames Read more about: OTTAWAIt has been described as the issue that might best illustrate how Quebec is distinct from the rest of Canada. Secularism, or laicite, the separation of religion from government, has preoccupied politicians in the province for more than a decade, while elsewhere in the country, you arent likely to encounter it in the mainstream conversation at all unless the debate in Quebec flares up enough for other Canadians to notice. Well, consider it flared. On March 27, in the latest bid to legislate a vision of secularism in the province, the Coalition Avenir Quebec government tabled Bill 21, An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State. The legislation will ban public servants in a list of jobs from wearing religious symbols at work. This would include schoolteachers and principals, cops, judges, prison guards, Crown lawyers, bankruptcy registrars, the Speaker of the National Assembly, members of bodies like the labour tribunal, public inquiry commissioners, the provincial justice minister, and more. The province has tried to travel this road before. The charter of values proposed by Pauline Maroiss Parti Quebecois government was seen by some as an intolerant effort to regulate hijabs and burkas worn by some Muslim women. The PQs Liberal successors pushed secularism legislation, too, with a bill that barred Quebecers from receiving and delivering public services, including when doing things like boarding city buses, with faces covered. It was passed but suspended in 2017 by a provincial court amid questions about how it would be carried out. Now Premier Francois Legault is taking a crack at it. His CAQ party won a majority last fall, promising to settle the question of laicite. With Bill 21, Legault has invoked the Constitutions notwithstanding clause to protect laws from being struck down by judges for violating the charter of rights. He has trumpeted a compromise: it allows people in these jobs who wear hijabs, turbans or other religious symbols to keep wearing them at work, and only extends the ban to new hires. The National Assembly also voted unanimously to remove the large crucifix from behind the Speakers chair once Bill 21 is passed. But that hasnt satisfied critics inside and outside Quebec. The English-language school board in Montreal says it wont obey the law. Religious leaders and protesters have slammed it as discriminatory for forcing Muslim women and Sikh men, for example, to choose between their careers and faith. And federal politicians have criticized the bill, including perhaps most forcefully Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said: it is unthinkable to me that in a free society we would legitimize discrimination against citizens based on their religion. Yet Legault and defenders of the bill underscore that it doesnt single out any religion. Like their predecessors in power, the CAQ has positioned laicite as the next step in the emergence of modern Quebec, a project that began with the reforms and uncoupling of the Catholic Church from public institutions during the 1960s. That period, known as the Quiet Revolution, is remembered in part for the awakening of a modern national consciousness in Quebec. Beneath the surface, experts on Quebec history and culture say theres a lot to consider in this fight over balancing rights of religious minorities with the desire for legislated secularism. This links back to this decades-old issue of Quebec asserting itself as a distinct society from the rest of Canada and the rest of North America, said Bruce Maxwell, an ethicist and professor of education at the Universite de Quebec a Trois-Rivieres. It cannot be understood outside of that context. An ongoing debate The recent debate over secularism in Quebec is often traced back to 2006. Thats when the Supreme Court of Canada overruled a Quebec judicial decision that allowed a Montreal education board to bar a Sikh student from wearing a ceremonial kirpan dagger to school. A media storm about reasonable accommodations for minority religious practices followed, including a much-publicized request from Orthodox Jews in Montreal for a YMCA to frost over windows where women could be seen exercising. Facing this, Quebecs Liberal government created a commission led by prominent intellectuals Gerard Bouchard and Charles Taylor. Their 2008 report dealt with sensitive questions about how immigrants can or should integrate with Quebec society, and how to accommodate religious practices while preserving an ideal of secularism. It recommended removing the legislatures crucifix, abandoning prayers before municipal council meetings, and barring civil servants in positions of authority like judges, police officers and prosecutors from wearing religious symbols at work. It said students should be allowed to wear religious attire like the hijab and turban to school, and that teachers, nurses and other public servants should be able to wear them, too. The political debate on secularism has raged in the province ever since, and Bill 21 is the latest attempt to respond to this report. Every political party (in Quebec) has had a hand in trying to understand or reconceptualize secularism in Quebec, said Melanie Adrian, an associate professor of law at Carleton University. Its a part of searching for that Quebec national identity, and understanding Quebec within Canada and the struggle for independence. But as Adrian pointed out, Bill 21 differs from previous legislation. It spells out exactly which professions would be restricted from wearing religious symbols, and invokes the notwithstanding clause to protect it from being struck down by courts for violating the Canadian and Quebec charters of rights. It also goes further than the Bouchard-Taylor recommendations by banning teachers, principals and others from wearing religious garb. For Adrian, this brings up the bills main problem: it seeks to enforce a vision of society on individuals from minority communities, while potentially restricting Muslim women who wear burkas or hijabs from entering or advancing in public service careers. To what extent is it appropriate to use the coercive power of the state to limit what people are wearing? she asked. Bill 21 is insidious because it targets the advancement of people who choose to manifest their religious faith. Others argue that characterization is based on a misunderstanding of different conceptions of human rights in Quebec and English Canada. Its there where we see the basic difference in culture the idea of individual rights and liberties, and its reconciliation with collective rights and liberties, said Yvan Lamonde, a professor of history and literature at McGill University. We (in Quebec) have a very different tradition. And I think that the basic challenge for someone in Toronto, lets say, is to accept that there is such a difference. As Maxwell explained, this tradition is linked with the influence of Frances intellectual culture in the province. Going back to the French Revolution in 1789, which heralded republican government in the country, there have been prominent arguments in French culture for the importance of ensuring the state is free from religion, Maxwell said. In French intellectual culture predominantly, it means keeping religion away from the state protecting the republic, he said. So any kind of encroachment, including the presence of religious symbols in public institutions, is viewed as a threat to the republic From that point of view, secularism is kind of a defensive stance. This differs from what Maxwell called the Anglo-Saxon conception of secularism, which prioritizes individual rights like freedom of expression and religion. Like Lamonde, Maxwell said this difference is key to understanding Quebecs debate: some people, inside and outside the province, will argue that individual rights trump any majority desire to purge religion from public institutions; others will say secularism is important enough to infringe on individual rights. The debate over secularism is probably the clearest example of the clash of these two intellectual cultures, said Maxwell. Then theres the history of Quebec itself. A particular history From the time of Samuel de Champlain, the Catholic Church loomed over Quebec society. It ran schools, hospitals and social programs even influenced bedrooms. Priests would drop in on country kitchens to encourage families to keep making babies, said Maxwell, reciting a frequently heard anecdote. All that changed during the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, when a progressive liberation from the church began in earnest at least, according to the widely accepted narrative, said McMaster University historian Michael Gauvreau. Its a bit of a caricature of Quebec history, but its a very powerful one, he said. Part of the mythology and most of the history thats taught in schools is that all the good stuff begins in 1960. That year, Jean Lesages Liberals won power in Quebec, bringing in major changes.The voting age was lowered to 18, new public utilities companies were created, and the government changed the law so that married women no longer had the legal status of children. This coincided with a generational shift away from the Catholicism that held sway for years. Events on the ground undermined the whole logic of keeping Catholicism in the public sphere, said Gauvreau, author of the 2005 book The Catholic Origins of Quebecs Quiet Revolution. People stopped going to church a massive emptying out and loss of faith in Catholic institutions. In 1964, the seminal Parent Report recommended the creation of a public school system to replace the one run by the church. This was one of the changes that marked a drift away from Catholic authority, and the beginning of a serious debate around secular education that continued until denominational schools were severed from the publicly funded system in the 1990s, said Lamonde, the McGill professor. That debate was reactivated by the Bouchard-Taylor commission in 2008, he said. With their past religious experience, French-speaking Quebecers realized finally what was the cost of the confusion between politics and religion. Another aspect involves how multiculturalism is perceived in Quebec, unlike the rest of Canada, said Gauvreau. This dates to the Pierre Trudeau era, which coincides with the birth of the separatist movement, when the Liberal prime minister asserted a now-familiar vision for Canadian society that involved a mosaic of equally legitimate cultures comprising the same nation. The concept never gained the same level of acceptance in Quebec, said Gauvreau, in part because of perceptions that multiculturalism diminished French Canadas standing as a founding nation. Their idea was that Trudeau was putting this forward to head off claims for greater equality and autonomy for Quebec within the federal system, he said. Instead, a variation took shape in Quebec called interculturalism. This means that, while there are many cultures in the province, there is a dominant culture that lies at the core of the society that other cultures are in reference to, Gauvreau said. The concept was also outlined in the Bouchard-Taylor report, which said interculturalism in Quebec emphasizes French as the common language of cultural interaction while being pluralistic and highly sensitive to the protection of rights. Gauvreau argued that since that report, the secularism debate has become linked with the Quebec identity for many. Its a sense of that Quebec distinctiveness was once based around this Catholic identity, he said. Now its based around this secularist identity. So whats next? Bill 21 now sits in the Quebec National Assembly, almost certain to be passed into law. It also contains a reference to the notwithstanding clause, the rarely used instrument that allows governments to pass laws even if they are found in courts to violate peoples charter rights. Bill 21 might have been open to challenges for breaching the right to religious expression. But some legal experts say there are still avenues to prevent it from coming into effect. Kerri Froc, an assistant law professor at the University of New Brunswick, argues its susceptible to being struck down on grounds of sex discrimination, rather than religious discrimination. Its very clear that the target is Muslim women, Froc said, pointing to comments by Status of Women Minister Isabelle Charest, who in February called headscarves worn by some Muslim women a sign of oppression. The argument in court would have to be that Bill 21 is especially discriminatory toward women, because it specifically bans some religious symbols that arent worn by men, Froc said. And if you establish the bill is discriminatory towards women, the notwithstanding clause cant protect it, because the Constitution doesnt allow it in cases of sex discrimination. Regardless of what happens to Bill 21, the laicite debate brings up questions relevant to people in the rest of Canada as well, said Adrian, the Carleton law professor. The rhetoric around minorities in Quebec is different from the rest of Canada and is wrapped up in the history of a minority in Canada thinking about its own status, she said. Its about how we want to understand each other How do we regulate diversity? Bill 21, for all its contentiousness, is one way to answer that question. Read more about: Education Minister Lisa Thompson continued to insist Friday that no teachers will lose their jobs as a result of the Progressive Conservative governments cuts. In her first public comment since the Star revealed Thursday night that 3,475 teaching jobs would be eliminated over four years in order to save $851 million, Thompson defended the changes. We have proposed an attrition-based approach to restoring balance and sustainability by not filling a total of 3,475 teacher vacancies that occur when teachers quit or retire, she said. Most importantly, our plan ensures that ... no teachers will be laid off. But teachers unions and school board officials say the governments math doesnt add up, and believe more jobs will be eliminated, particularly because of proposed increases to average class sizes. We have good reason to believe that (3,475 eliminated jobs) is an under-projection, said Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF). Were still talking about, one way or another, the loss of thousands of teaching positions in the province, increased class sizes that go with that, and the loss of course options for students. Those kinds of concerns are why the OSSTF and four other unions are planning a rally in support of public education outside Queens Park on Saturday, beginning at noon. On Thursday, more than 100,000 students walked out of schools across Ontario to protest larger class sizes. Like Premier Doug Ford, Thompson blamed the education unions for the student-led action. Since coming to office, we asked Ontarios teachers unions to join us in a good faith partnership in resolving these real challenges. The fact is that there is a lot of work to do, she said. Our government wants to work co-operatively with union partners on the real challenges facing our provinces education system, but we will not be distracted by union tactics designed to preserve their control over the education budget. Thompson charged that the previous Liberal governments of Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty effectively ceded the system to unions, whose priority has not been student success. The fact is that, Ontarios teacher unions have been handed control of the education system for the past 15 years, she said. Over the last decade and a half, Ontario has added 13,000 more teachers and more than 9,700 early childhood education workers. That 11 per cent increase in hiring happened at the same time as enrolment was declining by almost one per cent, she added. Ontario has a much lower student-to-teacher ratio than most of the country and, year over year, teachers salaries and benefits have increased while students continue to fall behind in important subjects like math. NDP MPP Marit Stiles (Davenport) warned Ontarios graduation rates are at risk because students wont get the attention they need thanks to Fords spending reduction scheme. School boards have been warning us for weeks now that Doug Fords deep cuts to education are going to take thousands of teachers out of schools, said Stiles. Cramming more students into every classroom and having fewer adults in every school is going to hurt kids. By taking away thousands of teachers, Ford is taking away one-on-one help when students need it, she said. Stiles said Fords moves will take away courses like band, technology and trades classes. Hes taking away opportunity and Ontarios students deserve more opportunity, not less. (On Thursday), students made it clear they know these callous cuts will hurt them, and adults should listen, she said. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the premiers cuts are a direct threat to quality education in Ontario. Our students will pay the price for the premiers cuts, and I admire them for walking out of class (Thursday) to defend their education. I encourage the premier to listen and keep his promise not to cut jobs, he said. During last Junes election campaign, Ford said not one public-service job would be lost if he took power. My heart goes out to teachers across the province who are receiving layoff notices. Clearly, the education minister was misleading us when she continuously denied reports of job losses, Schreiner said. According to a leaked ministry of education memo first disclosed by the Star, 1,558 full-time teaching jobs will be gone by this fall. That number rises to 2,177 by 2020-21, and 2,915 by 2021-22, topping out at 3,475 by 2022-23. In Ontario, there are currently about 115,000 full-time teachers in permanent positions. High schools will see the brunt of the cuts, but some elementary positions will also be lost as the government moves to increase class sizes by an average of one student from Grades 4 to 8, and an average of six students in secondary school. That will see the average high school class jump in size to 28 students from 22. The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association estimates a loss of up 5,000 teaching positions for its members over the next four years, in part because of the new teacher-to-student ratios. Were very curious to see how (the government) arrived at that number (3,475), said president Liz Stuart. We have some serious reservations . The math just does not add up at all. Were certainly eager, and always have been, to sit with the ministry and have them walk us through, so that we can all understand what math theyre using, she said. This government appears to prefer to confuse, rather than actually hold conversations. Also surprised was Maria Rizzo, chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. The numbers dont add up from what weve received from the government. Theyre the ones who should be taking the math course, said Rizzo. She says TCDSB staff believe the provinces estimate to be low. At the TCDSB, staff project a reduction of about 350 teachers over the next four years. The Toronto District School Board expects the number of teaching positions lost over the same period will be between 800 and 1,000. We can only provide a range at this time as we are still working with the government with regards to our collective agreement responsibilities and the governments expectations, which currently dont match, said TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird. We remain committed to honouring our collective agreements and are working with the government to fund this commitment. Annie Kidder, executive director of the research and advocacy group People for Education, says school boards will have a better understanding of what kinds of job losses to expect after receiving their annual grants for student needs, which is funding based on student population. That should happen later this month. Really, the public and school boards will only begin to know when they get their actual grants from the province, Kidder said. Read more: Ontario government to cut 3,475 teaching positions, provincial memos say Teen organizers of Ontarios student walkout on why theyre fighting Fords education cuts Thursdays anti-Ford government walkout is part of a surge in student activism Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: VANCOUVERMaxime Berniers newly minted smart populist party may be crumbling in British Columbia amid allegations of racism, xenophobia and an infiltration of the radical far-right. Through numerous interviews with current and former members, the Star has learned of an exodus of original Peoples Party of Canada (PPC) provincial organizers and followers. They suggest original party faithful are disillusioned and leaving by the dozen. An online petition by PPC members is also calling for the removal of the partys national co-ordinator. Two former co-ordinators Daniel Joseph and Angelo Isidorou have publicly resigned online. I cant stand idly by and be associated with a party that fosters these kinds of people, Isidorou told Star Vancouver on Monday. The party that existed just a few months ago is not the same party now. Isidorou, 22, was the Electoral District Association (EDA) president for Vancouver-Quadra and the temporary campaign manager for the PPCs unsuccessful candidate in Februarys Burnaby South byelection. He also serves as director of UBCs Free Speech Club, which has faced visceral public outrage for bringing in controversial speakers that critics have called white nationalists. Isidorou announced his resignation from the party in a March 29 online post, writing the PPC is an utter free-for-all and has been hijacked by egomaniacs. Read more: How Canadian populism is playing out in the Burnaby South byelection Maxime Bernier fails to gain momentum in Conservative territory Maxime Berniers alt-right problem The party will not comment on any of the allegations. Bernier did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Isidorou left the Conservative Party of Canada and joined the PPC after its inception last year, enamoured with Berniers fiscally conservative principles. Now, he is considering rejoining the Conservatives. Quebec MP Bernier launched the PPC after a messy split with the Conservative Party last year, following his loss in its leadership race. Since announcing the party, a Star investigation found that Bernier has been fending off the far-right movement in Canada, which hopes to bring its message into the mainstream. Bernier has promised to run candidates in all 338 federal ridings. By December, Isidorou said members had done the groundwork to set up EDAs in all 42 B.C. ridings. EDAs must register with Elections Canada to perform financial tasks such as accepting campaign contributions or transferring funds. Members make up a board and, at times, can be responsible for candidate selection. But problems began in late February, when the executive board of the PPC changed over and several organizers were told they would no longer be in their positions. Then, headquarters allegedly went silent after these co-ordinators expressed their concerns, Isidorou explained. Glen Walushka was appointed B.C.s regional co-ordinator a move up from his position as EDA president of North Okanagan-Shuswap while Johanne Mennie, a former volunteer, became the partys executive director. Mennie is also now the director of national communications for the party. Despite repeated attempts to contact Walushka and Mennie after Monday, they did not respond: The reasons for the executive changeover are unclear. Laura-Lynn Thompson, an anti-abortion advocate, was the PPC candidate in Februarys Burnaby South byelection. She faced criticism for her comments on refugees and immigration but gained roughly 11 per cent of the vote. Thompson told the Star that it became quite clear early on that Isidorou didnt have the experience to do the job, adding there was no validity to either his or Josephs claims. Asked why Bernier and headquarters would not comment, Thompson said the party leader is up to his eyeballs in a national news crisis and that none of the allegations can be substantiated. This is their way to get 10 seconds worth after not being put forward the way they wanted to in the party because theres issues, she said. Whats really going on is that we are organizing and preparing for the election. Since early March, Isidorou claimed, the party headquarters has been radio silent. According to him, Mennie appointed a new national co-ordinator named Caleb Voskamp. The Star attempted to reach Voskamp multiple times but he did not respond. Three weeks ago, an online petition was launched by PPC members who claim to be established EDA members, financial contributors and sweat equity volunteers from across Canada addressed to Bernier. They are calling for Voskamps removal, alleging he is undermining the core values of the PPC. It says the party has annulled at least 12 EDAs in B.C. without reason. The Star was unable to verify how many have shut down. Our faith in the party is dwindling, and we are prepared to withdraw any and all support if this clear message falls on deaf ears, it reads. The petition had 59 signatures as of Thursday morning. On the same day Isidorou posted online, Joseph, EDA president for Kelowna-Lake Country, announced his resignation via a Facebook video, claiming the party has taken on hateful overtones. The video currently has more than 12,000 views. In it, Joseph said he joined the party because Bernier wanted to do politics differently. However, he continued, it was with a heavy heart he wanted to call out racist, homophobic, xenophobic and hateful influences within the party. Racists and bigots that spew hatred and play divisive, political games to tear this party up from the inside out need to be called out, he said. Max Bernier, you talk about strong leadership. Its time to get your ship in shape before the election. In the video, Joseph named Walushka as part of the hateful contingent within the PPC. The Star reached out to him on Monday. Walushka initially responded via email saying the allegations were baseless, inaccurate, without merit and the lowest form of political subterfuge. He promised further comments by end of day but has not responded since. The next day, Mennie said the party would not comment. A Twitter account attached to Mennies name was active on Monday but deleted by Tuesday morning. Walushka helped found Albertas fledgling Wildrose party before moving back to B.C. in 2011. He is a former BC Conservative, a party not officially affiliated with the federal Conservatives which has moved to the fringe, commanding an average of only 2.5 per cent of the vote over the last three elections. Mennie is a former civil servant. Two days after his original post, Joseph shared additional comments online. He claimed Walushkas promotion was the final straw. The message from party officials was clear they were going to embrace this hateful far-right rhetoric and I felt like not only was there no longer a place for me in the party but that Canadian politics doesnt need a party that strays so far from our democratic institutions, Joseph wrote. Shannon Kewley was the PPCs provincial co-ordinator, who was appointed in September. Her job was to set up the 42 EDAs as well as work on candidate selection. Kewley said using social media specifically Facebook made the job fairly easy. But in January, after the executive director position was vacated, Kewley said she knew something was wrong. She has since criticized the party for its lack of transparency and decision not to create a national executive body or constitution which are standard among political parties. Though its expected roles may change as a party grows, Kewley questioned why Bernier and headquarters have remained silent. She eventually stepped down in late February and told the Star members are owed an answer. All of our threads are just why, why, why? Nobody knows, she said. The members are getting no information in any form across the country and theyre getting angry Its some of the peoples party now, not the Peoples Party. Theres been a variety of reactions from members from vastly different political leanings, she explained. Some dont know who they will vote for, some will hang on and others have turned into warriors for Scheer because theyre so upset. Jacob Burdge, 18, started as the PPC Vancouver Island regional organizer in late September. He was responsible for setting up the seven EDAs on the island as well as holding Bernier rallies in Nanaimo, Victoria and Courtenay. Burdge told the Star he was happy to do it because everyone believed in the cause. While he acknowledged there were extreme racist elements in the party early on, Burdge said it was swiftly dealt with and would not comment on the new team. In early March, Burdge said, an email sent to other members stated he had been replaced. Burdge said he was never sent the email and immediately called Bernier but received no answer. I didnt receive any real explanation from the party for any of this, he said, noting all over the country organizers have been kicked out or resigned. Its not a very transparent party. Burdge said the lack of transparency, constitution and national executive, combined with the manner in which headquarters has rid itself of organizers without prior warning, has left him disheartened. I dont think this party is a viable option anymore, he said. Im very proud to be joining the Conservative party. I believe they are a viable option to beat Justin Trudeau. Correction April 5, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that said BC Conservative party is affiliated with the federal Conservatives. In fact, it is not officially affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada. Read more about: WASHINGTON - An attorney for President Donald Trump on Friday told the Treasury Department it should not turn over the president's tax returns until it receives a legal opinion from the Justice Department, calling on the Treasury to deny Democrats' demands for six years of the president's records. William Consovoy, the attorney, attacked the request from Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, as a "gross abuse of power," arguing that it risks encroaching on taxpayers' privacy. On Wednesday, Neal formally requested that the IRS, which is part of the Treasury Department, turn over six years of Trump's personal and business tax returns. A 1924 law cited by Neal states that the treasury secretary "shall furnish . . . any return or return information specified" in a request from the head of the House or Senate tax-writing committees. But Trump has for months signaled that he would resist attempts to compel him to turn over his taxes. The letter from his attorney, addressed to Treasury General Counsel Brent McIntosh, echoes arguments made for months by congressional Republicans. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has said he would consult with his attorneys before making a decision about a request to turn over the returns. The fight is expected to be settled by the courts. "The Tax Code zealously guards taxpayer privacy," Consovoy says in his letter. ". . . It would be a gross abuse of power for the majority party to use tax returns as a weapon to attack, harass, and intimidate their political opponents." The White House has moved to block the release of the president's tax returns, which have been the source of significant speculation since Trump refused to release them when he was a candidate in the 2016 presidential campaign. Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for Trump, said he would not turn over "a single thing" to congressional Democrats, arguing that they were simply aiming to embarrass the president. Neal has said he is aiming to conduct oversight and debate legislative proposals over how federal tax laws are enforced against a U.S. president. "They'll be in court for two or three years on those taxes. It's pure harassment," Giuliani said in an interview. "They want his tax returns so they can find something even if nothing is there." Tim O'Brien, a financial journalist who has seen Trump's tax returns but is under court order not to disclose details, said Trump's main concerns are what kind of income he receives, what his philanthropic activities might have been, and whether he is compromised related to certain countries. "This is something he is going to fight tooth and nail. It opens a vein," O'Brien, who saw the tax returns as part of a lawsuit, said. "He's the most financially conflicted president of the modern era. The tax returns are both emblematic of that and a potential roadmap of what his conflicts might look like." O'Brien said he was opposed vociferously by Trump at every turn when he sought to see what the real estate mogul was really worth. "The first return we got from them was so redacted that it looked like a crossword puzzle," O'Brien said. "Our lawyers ended up having to fight tooth and nail for them. He definitely didn't want to go there." Trump has recently repeated the assertion that he cannot release his tax returns because they are under audit, although numerous independent experts have said that does not prevent him from releasing the taxes. The letter from Consovoy states that the IRS should wait for a "formal legal opinion" from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel before divulging the returns. Some critics are less impressed by that argument. "It's a stalling tactic, which is key to all of this," said Steve Rosenthal, a tax policy expert at the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank. "The strategy here is to delay this beyond the election." The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty By Susan Page Twelve. 418 pp. $32.50 --- My one and only meeting with first lady Barbara Bush came just six months before she died. The occasion was the 20th anniversary celebration of her husband's presidential library at Texas A&M University. As I sat in the green room, preparing to go on stage for a panel on President George H.W. Bush, his wife suddenly appeared at the door in her electric scooter. I approached to introduce myself, thinking that our shared first name might offer an instant connection. When none was forthcoming, I offered, "At UVA's Miller Center I worked on your husband's oral history." Still no response. Before flop sweat overtook me, I retreated to my standard but heartfelt line, reserved for all who have made it to the White House: "Thank you for your service to our country." The first lady trained her steely blue-gray eyes on me and snapped, "Baloney!" In my brief encounter with her, I was exposed to the full Barbara Bush treatment. This well-known side of the first lady's vinegary personality appears frequently in Susan Page's new biography, "The Matriarch." But Page, the Washington bureau chief of USA Today, has written a more complete and highly readable portrait of the wife of the 41st president and mother of the 43rd. Only the second first lady to hold that distinction, as a wife and mother of presidents (Abigail Adams was the other), Bush must rank among the premier political matriarchs in American history, along with Rose Kennedy. Unlike the Kennedys, however, the Bushes eschew the dynastic label, believing that it makes them seem entitled. And yet entitled they were. George H.W. Bush was born into privilege, and his future wife lived a comfortable upper-middle-class childhood in Rye, N.Y. What makes Page's biography such a notable contribution to our understanding of Barbara Bush is the access she gave the author to private diaries dating to 1948 and five interviews she granted in the months before her death. The narrative also benefits considerably from conversations Page conducted with Bush 41 and 43; President Bill Clinton; and more than 100 Bush family members, friends and former aides. We learn that Barbara Pierce, born in 1925, adored her father, Marvin, a successful businessman who would become publisher of McCall's magazine, but she had a fraught relationship with her difficult mother, Pauline, that contributed to Barbara's harder edges. Caught in the pre-World War II expectations that young society girls attended prep school and "finished" at women's colleges, Barbara had no plans to pursue a career outside the home. Swept off her feet at age 16 by a dashing Andover student, "Poppy" Bush, at a 1941 Christmas dance, she dropped out of Smith after her freshman year to await the return of her beau from the South Pacific, where he had become a decorated war hero for surviving Japanese fire that crashed his fighter plane. Page begins her book with a chapter on the crucible that shaped the marriage of George and Barbara Bush, the well-known tragedy of their daughter Robin's death from leukemia at age 3 in 1953. Before that trauma, the couple seemed to have it all as they started a new life in the rough-and-tumble Texas oil country, far from the ease of Northeastern high society. But then they lost their young daughter. They would never stop missing Robin or pining for her presence. A most revealing passage about Bush's policy positions as a political wife reveals how holding her dying daughter and feeling the little girl's soul dissipate shaped her posture toward abortion. In a 1980 diary entry, she explained that life begins at birth, when the soul enters the body. She concluded that "abortion is personal, between mother fathers and Dr." and "not [underlined twice] a Presidential issue." Much like the Kennedys, tragedy haunted the Bushes. After Robin's death, Barbara lost her mother in a car accident and suffered a miscarriage while her husband was away on business in the early 1960s. As his career in oil and then politics soared, she was left to govern an eventual brood of four rambunctious sons and one adored daughter. Approaching mid-life, she fell into a deep depression and even contemplated suicide. Also like the Kennedy women, Bush had to endure the humiliation of rumors that her husband maintained a romantic relationship with a younger woman. The trust that Page developed with Bar, as the Bushes nicknamed her (after a horse at the family compound in Kennebunkport!), did not stop the author from addressing inconvenient truths. Bush was no Eleanor Roosevelt in terms of policy impact, but Page masterfully proves her point that simply by having the ear of two presidents (and one presidential candidate) in careers that spanned from Reagan to Trump offered her the opportunity to influence policy and political strategy. Bush was more than an acid-tongued truth-teller or white-haired grandmotherly figure. From HIV/AIDS to Cold War diplomacy to the 2003 Iraq invasion to political score-keeping to character-judging, the first lady held forth with her husband, sons, senior government officials and foreign dignitaries. Like the arc of her life itself, she created a bridge for first ladies that reached from traditional feminine pursuits to modern feminism. This definitive biography is a welcome contribution to our understanding of the complex role of presidential spouses. --- Perry, the Gerald L. Baliles professor and Presidential Studies Director at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, is the author of "Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier" and "Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch." WASHINGTON - What the heck does Steve King do all day? Shunned by his party's leadership, bounced from congressional hearings, removed from key parts of the legislative process, and serving in the House minority - the Republican from Iowa has less to do than any congressman in recent history. But he still must do something, right? Does anyone know? "I'm not sure what he's been up to," said Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the minority whip and man in charge of knowing what other Republicans are up to. In January, House Republicans decided that King - a longtime promoter of white supremacy - had finally gone too far. "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization - how did that language become offensive?" he asked in a cringe-filled interview with the New York Times. Those words brought punishment and King was stripped of his committee assignments; making him a congressman minus responsibility. "From my point of view he used to be contributing negatively - but at least he was contributing," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, one of King's former committee assignments. Today, King has less goodwill and more free time than ever. One thing he's doing today is avoiding discussing what he's doing. "I'm done talking," King said, waiting for an elevator outside of his Capitol Hill office, after this reporter stuck a recorder in his face. King tapped his foot impatiently and scratched at his comb-over. He looked up with his glacial blue eyes to watch the floor numbers change, the air gently whistled through his nose hairs. A silent Steve King was once a rare thing. He's known to speak his mind, and to do so with just about anyone who will listen. The gabbing used to be a big part of his schedule, but now he's operating under what he called "new rules." "Let's just end this so you don't have to go through any more frustration," he said. "And I can pay attention to what I'm doing." Which, again, is what, exactly? - - - To spend the better part of a week figuring out what Steve King does all day is to be confronted with a bigger, existential question: What do any of these people do all day? For the most part, the successful members of Congress wake up early for some fundraising over breakfast, commute to work (while fundraising), meet with some lobbyists and constituents in their office, yuk it up with colleagues during votes on bills that rarely become laws, then it's off to happy hour for some quick fundraising before finally settling down with some of their closest donors for dinner, dessert and fundraising. (Or, as King was spotted doing on a cold evening earlier this winter, visiting a Capitol Hill liquor store in a suit and sandals and talking about how the Irish make the best booze). Oh yes, and for almost all members of Congress, some time needs to be set aside for crafting legislation and preparing for (and attending) committee hearings. Almost all members, that is, other than King, and his two compatriots, Rep. Chris Collins of New York and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, both of whom are under federal indictment and were booted from their committees. "It sucks," said Collins, who noted that he plans to fill his time with caucus meetings - caucuses that include: the Toy Caucus, the Propane Caucus, the Battery Storage Caucus, and, for some reason, the Morocco Caucus. Last week the House judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties held a hearing on presidential pardon power. It was a heady conversation about a topical issue ("The possibility of the pardon power being used for corrupt purposes is no longer a mere academic exercise," one witness testified). King used to chair this subcommittee. But now that he's barred from participating, he had other meetings to attend. Meetings like this one: "His grandmother is my aunt," said Ray Harm after exiting King's office. Harm was in from California to see the cherry blossoms and had decided that he would call the office of his distant relative and see whether the congressman might have some time to catch up. He did. "We were trying to remember all of my aunts and uncles and my brother and where they fit in," Harm said. They spoke for more than half an hour. King met with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, even though he no longer sits on the Agriculture Committee. He met with a woman representing Easterseals, a nonprofit organization that provides services to disabled Americans, and later representatives from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, where they talked about efforts to save the bald eagle. He was "warm and welcoming" to the Save the Children Action Network, telling them he would look over and be supportive of early-childhood education but couldn't offer specifically what he could do for them. Those who sat with him described him as chatty and in high spirits - though one attendee of a meeting said before King launched into a "tirade" about how silly it is that his critics are "perpetually offended" by everything he says. Those critics, however, have been bipartisan. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said King should "find another line of work"; Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-most-powerful Republican in the House, called King's comments "absolutely abhorrent"; and just last week Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, had this to say: "I have no idea what Steve King does all day. I just know that every now and then he makes a very racist statement." - - - Over the years, King has had plenty of time for such statements. There was the time he compared immigrants to "bird dogs," or warned about the ones with "calves the size of cantaloupes" who bring marijuana "across the desert." Even after being stripped of his committees, King hasn't fully put the lid on it: tweeting out a meme about how Southern states, with all their stockpiled bullets, would win if there were to be a second Civil War or disparaging Hurricane Katrina victims as overly government-dependent at a recent town hall. In the meantime, King has drawn competitive Republican primary opponents back home. His fundraising - never the most pressing concern in his ruby-red district - has been down every cycle since 2012. He faced his closest reelection campaign of his career last year, and because of that has made himself much more visible at home: hosting more town halls than ever, sitting in on more constituent meetings than he used to. But in Washington, many Republicans don't seem all that concerned about his prospects. "Congressman Steve King's recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate," Rep. Steve Stivers, the then-leader of the National Republican Congressional Committee, wrote shortly after King's interview with the Times. "We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior." So, Steve King has been shunned. But really, it's a light shunning. He's still allowed to attend the weekly Republican conference meeting, which he does, though quietly. "There are a few people who are always at the microphones, and he isn't one of them," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. "Not that that's a bad thing." He hasn't been disinvited from the semiregular Iowa delegation breakfast that Sen. Joni Ernst organizes (though he did skip the last one), and he's the host of his own breakfast series, the Conservative Opportunity Society breakfast, featuring guest speakers such as former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka. And at a recent vote series, while King stood in the back of the chamber, texting and muttering quietly to himself, he was approached by Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., and they two laughed and laughed about who knows what. "Oh, Steve's doing good," Yoho said, coming off the House floor. "He's resilient. I think he'll get put back on committees." Yoho, a large-animal veterinarian by training, once said he would not be intimidated by Congress because: "Intimidating is going up to a growling Rottweiler and having to squeeze his anal glands. . . . I think I can handle Congress." But now, he's frustrated by the place, and the King situation hasn't helped. It's "hypocrisy" at its finest, he said, that King would be punished for his comments by Republicans when, say, Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, has been able to maintain her committee assignments despite comments perceived as anti-Semitic. "It's like raising kids," he said. "You can't treat them separately for doing something bad." - - - It was the end of the day, back in the waiting room of King's congressional office. A shelf near the ceiling overflowed with eagle busts, hard hats and elephant statues. "It's bearable, we're getting through it," said Garrett Elmy, King's staff assistant. In the other room, King meets with his communications director, John Kennedy, explaining how he had eschewed the media for another day. "I told him, John Kennedy is my gatekeeper," King said, his voice sounding particularly nasal from behind a closed door. "That's all I said." He seemed content on avoiding the media and seeing whether he could wait out the outrage. In a post-shame society, it's seemed to work for plenty of other politicians (see: Northam, Ralph and Trump, President). King's days may be numbered in Congress, but who knows how big that number is? Moments later King emerged into the hallway to scurry to the last votes of the evening. He stepped into an elevator designated "members only" and disappeared into the bowels of Congress. Where, apparently, he still belongs. - - - The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis and Travis Andrews contributed to this report. For a Brown County teen who spent two years mentoring an elementary school girl, the experience was an opportunity to help someone younger than her. Marissa Cowan, a 2018 graduate of Brown County High School, spent two years mentoring a little girl through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois program, providing a listening ear and sharing her experiences with the younger girl. I got to help a child be more comfortable with people, Cowan said. My little would get really excited to hang out with me and hear about high school things. Unfortunately, such relationships will not be fostered through Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois anymore after the organization announced it will end its mentoring program this month and close completely later this year after failing to reach minimum funding standards set by the national organization. The mentoring program helped connect students with older mentors and created activities for area youth, including pool parties, ice cream socials, themed parties, field trips and craft projects. The west-central Illinois organization has been providing its program in the region for 58 years. It served 218 children in seven counties this year. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois will close their mentoring services April 15, due to lack of funding, the organization said in a news release. The decision came after Big Brothers Big Sisters of America set criteria for funding. After area requests for donations last fall fell short, the agency had a funding shortage for mentoring programs this year. Mentoring an elementary school student was an amazing experienc, Cowan said. I think without this program, there will be a lot of disconnect between high school students and younger kids, Cowan said. The mentoring program will end April 15 and the Jacksonville office will close by June. The program has had a lack of funding for several years. Cindy Denby, an executive director for the organization in 2018, told the Journal-Courier in April 2018 that the organization was struggling to raise funds after an Illinois-based corporation stopped funding the program in 2015. Since then, the organization has been relying on donations and local fundraising efforts to fund its programs. This was a major blow to our organization, a setback from which we have not yet recovered, Denby said, according to an April 22, 2018, article. One-fourth of our operating revenue came from that corporation. That financial strain is preventing us from providing mentoring to all the children who need us. The organization raised funds through events such as Bowl for Kids Sake and received donations from organizations such as the United Way. The organization will continue in other regions of the state and through the country. Data show that the Big Brothers Big Sisters model is highly effective and makes a positive impact in the lives of children, giving them a chance with positive role models, the organization said. Unfortunately we see the funds dropping, and it is a service that Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois can no longer financially continue in West Central Illinois. A representative from Big Brothers Big Sisters was not available for comment Thursday. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-243-2718, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha. EDWARDSVILLE Providing great childhoods free from abuse and neglect is important, and everybody plays a role was the message Friday during a kick-off event in Edwardsville for Child Abuse Prevention Month. About 100 people gathered in the atrium of the Madison County Administration Building for the event, one of several occurring throughout the state this week. The event was sponsored by the Third Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In addition to the speakers, there were representatives from a number of child advocacy groups or agencies providing literature and speaking to people. The entire lobby was lined with pink and blue cut-outs of children, each symbolizing a child that has been interviewed by the Madison County Child Advocacy Center because of some kind of allegation of abuse. Also on display were pieces from the Oasis Womens Centers Clothesline Project. It features a clothesline hung with T-shirts that have been decorated by victims of domestic violence, many of whom are children, and their supporters. Both the cut-outs and the Clothesline Project will remain for the rest of the month. Our children are our greatest asset, said Associate Judge Maureen Schuette, supervising judge of the Family Division, who emceed the event. Every single child has right to a safe childhood free of violence. She said teamwork is important. Together, we can promote awareness about the dangers of child abuse, and we can also take steps to prevent child abuse in our community, she said. Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler read a proclamation, then Chief Circuit Judge David Hylla introduced Fitz, the countys new courthouse dog. A big use of Fitz will be to assist our children, he said. Unfortunately, children who are abused many times have to come to court. A courthouse is a terrifying place, but especially for children. Tarra Winters of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois said although the topic can be dark, the event is a time to celebrate the good things our communities do to promote healthy child development and help prevent child abuse and neglect. All children deserve great childhoods and we all have a role to play in preventing abuse and neglect, she said. Preventing abuse and neglect is about keeping children safe. Safe in their homes, safe in their schools and safe in their communities. That safety must be our main concern and that safety must stretch throughout their infancy, their childhood, their teen years and into their adulthood. According to Winters, if a child experiences abuse and neglect, there can be life-long consequences. She noted there are a number of issues parents need to learn about creating safe sleeping environments, shaken baby issues, and sexual abuse. She also said that while most parents say they need help sometimes, few will seek it out. Parenting can be one of the hardest jobs we do. We dont hesitate to reach out for help when our car breaks down, so we shouldnt hesitate to reach out when we need help being a good parent. She also said that law enforcement, the media and the community also play a role. All children deserve great childhoods, and we all have a role to play, she said. Hope Carbonaro, regional administrator with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, noted that to truly help a child, we have to help the family. She said they are bringing out a more robust process to surround the family with support. We know the problems within our society are great, and the challenges they face are difficult, she said, noting that early engagement is ever so important to families. Steve Nonn, Madison County coroner and chair of Southern Illinois Child Investigation Task Force talked about what the task force does and emphasized the importance of safe sleeping for infants. He said the task force, created in 2010, works like the Major Case Squad and covers 34 counties in southern Illinois. The primary function of the task force is to assist local law enforcement with child death or serious abuse investigations, he said, adding the group has been activated 179 deaths. He said many of those instances involve the failure of parents to use safe sleeping methods. A list of recommendations is available at the American Association of Pediatrics website, www.AAP. These tragic deaths are avoidable if parents would just utilize safe sleeping methods, he said. In 2018 the task force investigated 14 infant deaths where co-sleeping (infants sleeping with adults) were the cause. Ten of those were in Madison County. The sadness is almost every one of these 179 deaths the task force has investigated were preventable, he said. Nonn concluded by saying as coroner he gives voice to those who cannot speak. Today, the voices of those little ones who have fallen speak loudly and clearly as one, he said. They cry out as they wish they would have had their safe space, a place to rest and sleep, awakening to the joy of each day. Today and beyond we must hear what they say, advocate for what they said, and never ever let their tragic deaths be in vain because of the absence of a lesson learned, he added. Associate Judge Ryan Jumper was the last speaker, thanking the participants for all that they do for the children. He noted that 30 million children are exposed to some kind of abuse or neglect, and the most important factor in dealing with that is a consistent, supportive, loving adult. What that tells me is that I am surrounded by superheroes, he said. You answer the call when no one else will, and you go to the places no one else wants to go. The work you do is important, the work you do is changing lives, saving lives, and transforming your community for the better, he said. To report suspected abuse or neglect, call the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873), or local law enforcement. For more information about Child Abuse Prevention Month visit www.preventchildabuseillinois.org. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Greene County Sheriff Javen E. Woolsey, 37, of Jerseyville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 5:50 a.m. Thursday on a possession of a controlled substance charge. Gregory D. Williams Jr., 26, of Carrollton was booked into the Greene County Jail at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday on charges of driving under the influence and driving while license is suspended. Richard D. Price Jr., 35, of Quincy was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:56 p.m. Tuesday on a possession of a controlled substance charge. Leigh A. Crowley, 40, of Jacksonville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 10 p.m. Sunday on charges of speeding, driving under the influence, improper lane use, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver. Dustin E. McDonald, 18, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 8:04 p.m. Sunday on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing a peace officer. Thad D. Roberts, 23, of Carlinville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 2:15 a.m. Sunday on charges of speeding, driving under the influence and improper lane use. Phillip M. Quenn, 51, of Patterson was booked into the Greene County Jail at 9 p.m. March 26 on a charge of failing to register as a child sex offender. Greenfield Police Eric S. Pritchard, 34, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 5:26 p.m. Monday on a charge of driving while license is suspended. Kelsie A. Manley, 21, of Jacksonville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 4:12 p.m. Sunday on a retail theft charge. Roodhouse Police Toriano A. Rice, 29, of St. Louis was booked into the Greene County Jail at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of driving while license is suspended. White Hall Police John C. Turley, 35, of Jacksonville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 9:14 a.m. Tuesday on a driving while license is revoked charge and on a Morgan County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court. Calhoun County Sheriff Robert W. Reed, 38, of Hardin was booked into the Greene County Jail at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday on a Calhoun County arrest warrant accusing him of burglary. Ashley J. Fulmer, 22, of Kampsville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 7:59 p.m. Tuesday on a disorderly conduct charge. Jeffery R. Manda, 41, of Hardin was booked into the Greene County Jail at 2:30 a.m. Sunday on a charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer EDWARDSVILLE Local Law Enforcement will be serving Culvers customers from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16 to raise money for Special Olympics. Attendees can meet a Special Olympics athlete while supporting the cause at Culvers, 6724 Old Troy Road, and all tips collected will be donated to Special Olympics Illinois. EDWARDSVILLE The Edwardsville High School Interact Club collected over 1,500 pounds of plastic to dedicate three park benches in the local community. One bench, sponsored by Arrow Insurance Specialists, was placed in the Edwardsville City Hall. This will be a temporary location until it is later placed at the completed Plummer Park. JERUSALEM - When Israel's top satire show launched its recent election special, it depicted an impersonator of Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu breaking out of chains in a Houdini like-feat. With a smirk he turns to exit, before realizing his foot is still shackled. Netanyahu has escaped many a peril in the quarter of a century that he has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics, including 13 years as prime minister. There was the first "Bibigate," when he dramatically confessed an extramarital affair to the Israeli public and the second when he was investigated during his very first year in office on allegations of influence peddling. More investigations would follow over the years as stories of extravagant spending allegedly at the taxpayer's expense filled Israeli papers. There was the $1,600 bill for his hair styling and another $1,750 for makeup on a 2015 New York trip. There was the $127,000 spent on installing a double bed on an El Al plane for a five-hour flight to London and a $2,700 ice cream budget. And still, he has survived, denying all accusations of wrongdoing, staying put when others might have resigned and winning a pair of elections in which he was widely written off. But the latest corruption cases, which involved allegations of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, have overshadowed this year's election campaign and left Israelis wondering whether he could be caught in that last shackle. Just days before Israelis vote on Tuesday, polls suggest the prime minister is in a dead heat with his main rival. If he prevails and stays in office through mid-July, Netanyahu would become Israel's longest serving prime minister, surpassing the country's founding father David Ben-Gurion. But the question remains: Will his legal troubles catch up with him or can he escape them once more? "The guy has the best staying power in politics," said Eyal Arad, an Israeli political strategist who was an adviser to Netanyahu in the 1980s and 1990s. "He falls, he recuperates, but then he goes on to the next battle." That, in part, he said, comes from his unshakable belief in himself. "He believes that he is the only one who is capable to lead Israel," Arad said. "He absolutely believes that." That self-belief has only grown over the years, former advisers say, as he has defied the odds to stay in power. Last time around, in the 2015 election, Netanyahu had been widely expected to lose. Aron Shaviv, his campaign adviser, recalls how five days before the vote, defeat seemed imminent. "We were staring down the barrel of a five or six percent loss," Shaviv said. But Netanyahu remained "cool and calculated," he said. "Straight away we got down to business to work through all the options of this serious problem." With a relentless work ethic, Netanyahu would call him throughout the night. If Shaviv screened the calls on his cellphone, Netanyahu would call on the house phone and keep ringing until Shaviv picked up. "My wife always used to joke that she felt like she was in bed with him," he said. "He has such a deep voice, she could still hear him through the phone." To win, Netanyahu had to do something that did not come naturally: admit he was likely to lose. Campaign research showed that right-wing Israelis were leaning toward smaller parties instead of Netanyahu's Likud party, confident that Netanyahu would still be the prime minister. He was not quick to heed the warnings. "Bibi being Bibi said, 'I don't trust you, but I do trust the data so prove it to me,'" Shaviv said. He watched five hours of focus group videos before he was convinced. Shaviv said Netanyahu immediately went out to do what he does best: conduct more than 40 interviews to warn supporters he was about to lose - and that the left would win. Then, on Election Day, his campaign released a last-minute video declaring Israeli Arabs were flocking to the polls, potentially threatening to thwart his reelection. The video, which was condemned by many Israelis as racist but may have succeeded in spurring his supporters to vote, was entirely the prime minister's call, Shaviv recalled. It worked, and Netanyahu ultimately won. "He felt that almost with his bare hands, he managed to win," said Aviv Bushinsky, another former adviser and chief of staff to the prime minister. Netanyahu's decision to release that video fits a long pattern of divisive politics, critics say, and early on those politics almost tripped him up. When Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by an ultranationalist Israeli in 1995, Netanyahu as leader of the opposition was blamed by some Israelis, including members of Rabin's family, for stirring up an atmosphere of hate and fear. Many political observers thought he was too tarnished to defeat Rabin's successor, Labour Party leader Shimon Peres, in the election a year later. "After Rabin's assassination, everyone thought it would be a walk in the park for Peres," recalled Nahum Barnea, a veteran Israeli journalist. "Nobody believed Netanyahu had a chance." But when Palestinian suicide bombers began blowing up buses and restaurants in Israel, the shine came off the peace process championed by Rabin and Peres. Public opinion swung toward Netanyahu. Barnea said Netanyahu's skills as a public speaker also helped him turn the campaign around. Shortly before the election, Netanyahu participated in a debate, which was prerecorded at the Labour Party headquarters in Tel Aviv. Barnea watched the session live with about a dozen other journalists. They thought Netanyahu performed well. Then, when Barnea reviewed the recording on television, Peres came off even worse, he said. "I ran from the studio to our office," Barnea said. "I went to the editor in chief and said Bibi won the debate." Netanyahu would go on to win the election with a razor-thin majority. Netanyahu was not originally tapped to be the star of his family, growing up in the shadow of his older brother Yonotan, or Yoni, who he idolized. But Yoni was killed, the lone Israeli casualty in an operation to rescue more than 100 Israeli passengers and a flight crew held hostage at Uganda's Entebbe Airport after their plane was hijacked. If Yoni had lived, Netanyahu might have stayed in the United States - where he was partially raised and attended Harvard and MIT - and never entered politics. But he did and despite that privileged upbringing, he went on to find a fierce following among Israel's blue-collar voters. Painting himself as a repeated underdog who's been unfairly targeted by the elitist establishment, Netanyahu has tapped into the resentment of Israel's Mizrahi Jews, whose roots mostly lie in other Middle Eastern and North African countries and long felt shut out of power by Ashkenazi Jews of European ancestry. While Netanyahu is also of Ashkenazi stock, his family felt alienated from Israel's Zionist establishment. Netanyahu's father Benzion had been a follower of the revisionist leader Binyamin Zeev Jabotinsky, a rival of left-leaning socialists who dominated the early Zionist movement. Netanyahu has survived in part by telling his political base that it is us against them, right versus the weak, dangerous and Arab-loving left. "Netanyahu's greatest achievement is keeping his base disgruntled and dissatisfied and angry despite Likud having been in power for three quarters of the last four decades," said Anshel Pfeffer, author of "Bibi: The turbulent life and times of Benjamin Netanyahu." "Netanayhu's biggest political asset is that he knows how to latch on to his voters' phobias and keep them alive." Yet despite presenting himself as a candidate of the people, he has a love for the high life, which biographers say is his Achilles' heel. Over the years, Israeli newspapers have highlighted his penchant for leaving restaurants without picking up the bill and reported scintillating details of the extravagant habits of the Netanyahus. Two months ago, the Israeli attorney general decided to charge him in three criminal cases, pending a hearing in which he can present his defense. One of those cases centers on allegations that he and his wife, Sara, received gifts of cigars and jewelry worth around $280,000 in exchange for political favors. But Netanyahu, who strongly denies all charges, has built a loyal base that supports him no matter what and can deliver enough votes to keep him atop Israel's fragmented politics. "He just needs to keep his right-wing base voting for him, which he's done very effectively," said Arad. The personal stakes for Netanyahu are higher in this election than ever before. "He understands that the only good way, from his perspective, to fight his legal battles is from power," said Bushinsky. Others might have resigned already. Rabin stepped aside in his first term when it emerged that he still had a U.S. bank account several years after working at the Israeli embassy in Washington, in contravention of Israeli currency regulations. Netanyahu's most recent predecessor Ehud Olmert, who stepped down when he was indicted, was sentenced to eight months in jail for corruption in 2015. But Netanyahu is cut from different cloth and has vowed to stay in office even if he is indicted. Bushinksy said if Netanyahu is in power, he is in a stronger position to influence the time-frame of the corruption investigations and could even push for legislation to prevent charges being pursued against a sitting prime minister. He has beaten the legal rap each since the first criminal investigation back in 1997. At the time, police recommended he be indicted after he was accused of appointing an attorney general who, in return for political support, agreed to be lenient in a pursuing an extortion case against one of the prime minister's political allies. In an April 29, 1997 editorial, The Washington Post asked, "Can Mr. Netanyahu hang on?" The editorial noted that less than a year into office he was already "hip-deep" in controversy. But already, he had a reputation as a survivor, if not an escape artist. "The prudent expectation must be that Mr. Netanyahu will somehow come through . . .," The Post editorial said. Lying flat on his back, not able to move and with a drain in his head, jazz musician Lee Roth, of St. Louis, asked the hospital chaplain for what he believed would assist in his healing. Upon receiving the boombox, Roth tuned the dial to Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound. When youre sick and in the intensive care unit, its extremely stressful, recalled Roth. I was in ICU for four days and could not move. I wanted to listen to music, which I do almost all of my waking hours. I listen to WSIE in the car, and when Im at home. I love the station. Roth had surgery on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at Saint Louis University Hospital to alleviate a brain bleed in his head. The surgery and procedure drained two and a half cups of blood from his brain. Listening to WSIE in the ICU improved my attitude and demeanor significantly, said Roth. I felt I had something to focus on. That was all I needed. It became a very comforting and great experience. I also introduced my nurse to jazz and the station. We are amazed by Roths story and are proud to have been an essential part of his recovery, said Jason Church, WSIE general manager. I have loved jazz my whole life and always thought it was life-affirming. This brings a whole new meaning to the importance of the music I have dedicated my life to promoting. Roth, who plays the vibes and has played in jazz bands across the country, moved back to his native city of St. Louis in 2016. The musician started noticing some awkwardness in his movements on January 15 of this year. I started being clumsy with my left hand, spilling coffee and things, confessed Roth. I thought I was being careless. A couple of days later, my left leg started feeling badly. My doctor told me to go to the hospital, because it could be the beginning of a stroke. I thought it would warrant a simple solution, he continued. I was lying in a CAT scan and heard one of the doctors say, brain bleed. It was not where the musician thought he would end up. His life and music career had taken him across the world to such places as Chicago, New York, Paris, London and New Zealand. During Roths travels, he also crossed paths with such jazz greats as Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. Roth also met the widow of The Father of the Blues W.C. Handy. When I lived in New York, I worked for Hertz. Part of my job included picking up customers, and one of our customers was Mrs. W.C. Handy, explained Roth. I picked her brain about her experiences with her husband and learned a lot. One day, Mrs. W.C. Handy had me pick her up and take her to Duke Ellingtons home. She asked me if I wanted to come in, and I said of course. I met him, his wife and his two children, Roth reminisced. He was outrageously fantastic, gracious, attentive and wonderful. I will never forget it. While Roth has enjoyed the role music has played in his life, he is thankful to be able to relish it even more. Today, Roths health is greatly improved. Im doing well, smiled Roth. Im living a normal life, but Im different. Im a more grateful man. Im a lucky man. April is recognized as Jazz Appreciation Month, fondly known as JAM. The month was created to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April. WOOD RIVER Madison County Emergency Management Agency held a flood outlook briefing earlier this week to discuss how different agencies work together. Emergency managers and safety officials from throughout the county attended the event Wednesday, which included representatives from the National Weather Service (NWS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The event was aimed at helping communities prepare for flooding and the role of the countys EMA. Chairman Kurt Prenzler, who attended the event, said he was impressed with the discussions. It was great that everyone came together and shared information and we learned quite a bit, Prenzler said. Dozens of fire department, law enforcement, sanitary sewer and levee district, public works, county and elected officials discussed everything from sandbagging to documenting the costs associated with flooding. We are here to help you, EMA Deputy Director Mary Kate Brown said. EMA Director Todd Fulton credited Brown with putting together the event to discuss not just the rising floodwaters of the Mississippi River, but the role of emergency management during natural disasters and other emergencies. Were here to provide you the resources you need, Fulton said. EMA Logistic Coordinator Tony Falconio said the county could provide use of its sandbagging machine, which Alton used in preparation for flooding. Currently, Alton is experiencing moderate flooding along its riverfront, downtown and east on the Great River Road toward Godfrey. Although floodwaters expect to drop some in the near future, Mark Fuchs, a service hydrologist with the NWS, said the main driver to the areas outlook for flooding is rain events. He said that throughout April there would be an above normal precipitation. Fuchs said that with the Mississippi River staying above flood stage, rains could cause interior flooding. He said the water would not have anywhere to go. The tributaries [creeks and streams] in Missouri and Illinois are still high, he said. Tracey Kelsey, program manager with the Corps, said the Corps role in assisting emergency management during floods is two phases. She said the first phase flood engineers contact local levee sponsors and the second; it deploys teams to local levee areas for technical assistance. The Corps also provides post-flood recovery. Costs associated with flooding are reimbursable if the state declares it a disaster and the threshold for a federal disaster declaration is met. As flood waters begin receding, emergency management will collect damage information from affected people and units of local government. That information is forwarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), where it will be reviewed to develop a picture of the overall impact on people and local governments and if a state should make a disaster declaration. Alton Fire Chief Bernie Sebold said people should not go into thinking there will be a declaration. I want to make a public service announcement for other communities out there, Sebold said. Report, report, reportthe man hours and expenses you are using on flooding and the more communities that report throughout the state, the more likely we are to get a declaration and the more likely we are to get some reimbursement. Sebold said Alton alone had more than $1 million in flooding costs in December 2015 and the declaration did not meet the state threshold for reimbursement. He said reaching out to smaller counties like Jersey, Green and Macoupin counties to let them know to report costs associated with flooding could help meet the state threshold, which is around $19 million. They are not reporting, he said. Brown also noted that towns within Madison County were not reporting. We need everyones help to get those reporting numbers in, Sebold said. Agencies should keep track of all flood-related activity to include volunteer hours, food costs for flood workers, materials purchased, etc. The costs include interior flooding as well. For officials not sure what to document, EMA can provide the information and examples. Falconio reminded everyone there should also be pictures of areas before its flooded. Go out now and take pictures, he said. Document what things look like. If they are going to pay for it they are going to want to know what it looks like pre-disaster. Prenzler said he was impressed by the ideas and collaboration between everyone. He said he also learned a great deal more about the countys role and how everyone works together. He commended EMA for putting on the event. It was a great turnout with great participation, he said. Not a day went by between the end of Bill Johnson's tenure as president of the Tennessee Valley Authority and Thursday's naming of Johnson as the new chief executive of Pacific Gas & Electric, the troubled California utility that has been reeling from two seasons of destructive wildfires sparked in part by its own equpment. PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, saying it couldn't afford the tens of billions of dollars in wildfire costs. And the company said that the appointment of Johnson along with installation of ten new board members from the world of finance, utilities and federal regulation would help the utility "address California's evolving energy challenges." Johnson, 65, whose $6 million compensation package made him the federal government's highest-paid employee, brings with him extensive experience in a highly political management job, which will be needed in his new job, too. More than half of Johnson's incentive pay will be tied to safety performance. At TVA, he has cut expenses and reduced the agency's debt by $3.5 billion, in part by eliminating 3,000 jobs. He has presided over the continued phase-out of coal from the TVA fleet, and defended the agency's decision to retire an aging coal plant even after President Donald Trump, in a tweet, urged TVA to keep it open. An advocate for nuclear power, Johnson is also a defender of the authority of a state like California to set its own goals. "I've spent six years at TVA, one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's experiment from the New Deal," Johnson said last week in an interview with The Washington Post. "Most people remember it from school but don't really know what it does." Like the Green New Deal, which Johnson called "aspirational," the original version was woven together with the economic agenda. "The old New Deal came at a different time," Johnson said, "when the country was on the brink of disaster. His idea was to put the country back to work. His objectives were more concrete and achievable - dams, parks, highways." He paused, "maybe they're similar." Johnson's tenure at TVA has been as much about dismantling as building. The agency, which serves customers in seven states, relied on coal for 60 percent of its electricity generation in 2005 and will rely on it for just 17 percent by the end of this year. Johnson said it was a simple matter of costs and that the agency's aging coal plants should be closed even if one or two newer ones remain. He said the new TVA plan for the future set goals of retiring more coal plants, buidling utility scale solar plants, and build new natural gas-fired plants that can quickly come on line if needed to help intermittant solar plants. Johnson has overseen the addition of one gigawatt of solar and 1,400 of wind. The TVA's carbon emissions fell about 50 percent over the past decade, much of that during Johnson's time. TVA's reliance on coal at all was because "we have put a lot of money in those plants and they have all the modern equipment. But the future is big solar backed with gas," he said. "I am in the camp saying we need to do something about climate change," he said. "I think the question is how long that transition will take from gas to the next thing. I don't think it's a decade. I think everything is moving in right direction but I think the question is whether it is fast enough." He noted that California does not tax carbon dioxide emissions, but has made those costs part of electric rates. "I live in the south," Johnson, who earlier was chief executive of Progress Energy, said. "I am a states' rights person. I think if you live in a state that wants to do that, that's what you should do." PG&E, which has 24,000 employees and 16 customers, faces legal and operational challenges. The state wants to utility to continue to meet ambitious renewable portfolio standards that would boost the use of solar and wind. Yet some of the contracts California utilities have signed are above the free market levels and a bankruptcy judge might order a renegotiation. While California has launched a plan to shut down its two nuclear reactors, Johnson said he is a fan of nuclear power - though he said companies must learn to build reactors on budget. "I'm a long-time pro-nuke person. I'm actually pro-consumer and pro-environment, which leads me to be pro-nuke. If you really think climate is an issue, you can't get there without nuclear." But given enormous cost overruns and the shelving of two reactor projects in South Carolina, Johnson said "you'd have to be a very brave person." Even the half-finished nuclear reactor TVA completed and put into service cost $4.7 billion, way beyond the $2.5 billion estimate. "We don't do enough engineering before we get in the field," he said. "So we tend to run into problems when constructing. In this country we have lost a lot of our ability to build major projects. Could this country build the Hoover Dam today? I don't think we could. We've lost a lot of that capability." A Regional Coordinator from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse Whites Organ/Tissue Donor Program will be at the Glen Carbon Centennial Library on Monday, April 29 to provide information about the states Organ/Tissue Donor Registry and advocate for those in attendance to become part of this life-changing program. The drive will be held from 6 - 7 p.m. Currently, there are approximately 4,700 people in Illinois who are waiting for life-saving transplants. Nationally, more than 114,000 people are on the waiting list. A total of 300 Illinoisans die each year due to a shortage of organs. One organ donor can help improve the quality of life for up to 25 individuals. The alarms started sounding just seconds after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 took off on March 10 from Addis Ababa with 157 people on board. As speed and altitude readings started going haywire, a device known as a stick shaker activated on the left side of the cockpit, where the captain sits. The mechanism makes a loud noise and rattles a pilot's control column to warn of an impending aerodynamic stall. But the Boeing Co. 737 Max wasn't about to stall. Instead, a computer was getting erroneous readings from a sensor mounted like a weather vane on the jet's nose. The malfunction triggered an anti-stall feature that forced the plane into a dive -- the same system that was implicated in a crash less than five months before in Indonesia that killed 189 people. To counteract it, the Ethiopian Airlines pilots responded with at least some of the steps that Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recommended after the first accident. But amid a chorus of confusing alarms, they also made a critical oversight as they struggled for control, according to three pilots with experience in accident investigations: They left the engines set nearly to maximum. "The thrust was full bore the whole way," said Roger Cox, a former accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, who flew earlier models of the 737 while working as an airline pilot. "That is extremely curious." Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said in a press conference Thursday that the pilots followed proper procedures issued after the October crash of a Lion Air jet. She recommended that Boeing review its flight-control system. Aviation authorities should verify that the issues have been adequately addressed "before the release of the aircraft to operations," she said. In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam defended the pilots, saying the report proved the crew of EA 302 did more than what they were expected to do. "Today was a day for us to prove wrong all the speculators with false allegations," he said, adding that the airline will remain partners with Boeing. Ethiopian safety officials stopped short of saying the plane needs a redesign. That helped boost Boeing's shares 2.9 percent to $395.86 at the close in New York, paring the decline since last month's crash to 6.3 percent. Still, the two disasters in five months have pushed Boeing into one of the biggest crises in its century-long history. The crash in Ethiopia resulted in the worldwide grounding of the 737 Max, the revamped version of a plane model that accounts for a third of Boeing's operating profit. The accidents also prompted multiple investigations and reviews -- including a criminal probe led by the U.S. Justice Department -- of how U.S. regulators certified the flawed anti-stall system, known as MCAS. The groundings are piling pressure on Boeing to come up with a fix that will keep pilots from having to make such complicated, split-second decisions to keep the 737 Max aloft. The company is redesigning its software and expects to complete the work within weeks. Among other changes, the update will keep the safety system from kicking in when only one of the sensors detects a stall. "We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 Max accidents," CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a video. The Chicago-based planemaker blamed the accident on "a chain of events" and acknowledged the sensor malfunction. At near-maximum thrust, the plane became more difficult to fly, multiplying the problems created by the flaw in the 737 Max's software, according to pilots who reviewed a preliminary report issued Thursday by Ethiopia's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. High speed also made it impossible to recover in the final seconds when the plane's nose pointed downward into their final, high-speed dive. "They exacerbated it," said Jeffrey Guzzetti, the former director of the FAA's Accident Investigation Division. The Ethiopian report clearly showed that MCAS -- the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a safety measure added to the new plane to prevent it from dangerous stalls -- had activated multiple times. That was similar to the Lion Air crash. Sensors in the aircraft that report how high its nose is pointed relative to oncoming air varied by almost 60 degrees. One of the "angle-of-attack" gauges read 15.3 degrees, likely an accurate reading for a plane taking off. The other erroneously read 74.5 degrees -- which would suggest a plane pointing almost straight skyward. Even though pilots took at least some of the steps recommended by Boeing and the FAA to counteract MCAS, they were confused and ultimately lost control, according to the report. "As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment," Muilenburg said in his statement. "It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it." Every plane crash typically involves multiple contributors, and the detailed Ethiopian report chronicles many factors that occurred over a matter of minutes leading to the accident. "Everyone can talk about it from a desk, but when you see it happening it's another thing," said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines. "What steps were taken, what steps were missed? Those are all things we're going to be looking at for several weeks." "Boeing may have to pay about $1 billion to settle the multiple wrongful-death lawsuits filed against it on behalf of victims of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 crashes," said Holly Froum, litigation analyst. Pilots interviewed by Bloomberg didn't agree completely about the factors. Some took issue with Ethiopia's transport minister, saying the Ethiopian Airlines pilots had actually failed to properly follow the procedures. Other pilots said the flight crew's actions were understandable given the chaotic situation. But they all agreed that the speed was critical. The plane took off at 94 percent of full power, according to the report. That is normal for liftoff, but pilots then typically pull back the power soon afterward. Even though the captain called for setting the speed at 238 knots, or 274 miles per hour, about a minute after takeoff, the engine thrust remained at the same level for the entire short flight, according to the report. Before it picked up speed in its final dive, the plane was flying as fast as 365 knots, or 420 miles an hour -- almost twice the usual top speed at that low altitude. In addition to the multiple warnings prompted by the MCAS failure, the pilots were also getting audible alerts indicating they had exceeded the safe flying speed, according to the report. The Ethiopian crew followed one important step required to deal with an MCAS failure when they shut off power to the motor the system uses to automatically drive down the nose, according to the report. However, at the high speed at which they were flying, it became much harder to adjust the plane's pitch manually, said John Cox, president of Safety Operating Systems and a former airline pilot. For more than two minutes during the flight with the trim system powered off, the crew had to apply strong pressure to their control column to continue flying, according to the report. Normally, pilots would adjust the wing at the tail of the plane to make the nose point upwards and reduce that pressure. During that time, the captain asked the copilot to try making adjustments -- known as trimming -- manually. "The first officer replied that it is not working," according to the report. The two wheels that pilots turn by hand to trim would have been "very hard to move or impossible" at that speed, John Cox said. While it's not clear from the report exactly what steps the pilots took, their struggles to keep the plane climbing apparently led them to switch power back on to the trim system. About 30 seconds before they crashed, it was activated by the pilots to slightly raise the nose. Five seconds later, MCAS engaged again, once more pushing down the nose. At that speed, they couldn't overcome the dive using their control column alone, according to John Cox and Guzzetti. For reasons that haven't been explained, they didn't try to also trim the plane using switches on their control yokes. The plane eventually pointed down by 40 degrees and the plane reached speeds of 575 miles per hour. "You can't read the transcript and not put yourself in the cockpit," Tajer, of the Allied Pilots Association, said. "Every honest pilot says, I could see me right there, doing that, even if it was not a good thing, or saying, yeah that makes sense." --- Bloomberg's Nizar Manek, Todd Shields and Lucca de Paoli contributed to this report. EDITORS NOTE: This is a weekly column provided by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau that discusses the impact of tourism on our region. The mighty Mississippi River is not the only thing on the rise these days. I continue to be inspired and in awe of the leaders of our communities and tourism industry partners that are aligning with our efforts to bring more greatness to this region. As a bureau, Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is quite committed to improving the quality of life for us all, making this one of the best places to visit and live along Route 66 and the Mississippi River. We continue to get international interest in our region. And, also from the home front as we recently met with Troy and Maryville to continue our collaboration. We have also started the process to work with Greene and Montgomery counties. The Great Rivers & Routes region is all working together as todays traveler searches for more authenticity and excitement from a destination. Our mission is to make it easier for travelers to find us, visit with us and be aware of all the gems we have to offer. In some of our recent gatherings of storytelling to the travelers, we showcased some things like one of a kind eats from a Japanese Pancake at Cleveland-Heath to a King Louie Burger and Root Beer or even the savory taste of Taylor Made Chili. We also get to showcase the many trails we have, but not just hiking. We have the makings of a caffeine trail with wonderful coffee spots and of course a freshly grown trail to highlight our native produce. And, get your taste buds ready for the Great Rivers & Routes Craft Beer Week coming on May 10 through the 17. One thing is for certain, we are doing our research and preparing for a revolution of tourism in this region to support us all. And our communities and industry continue to rally alongside this movement. Over the next six months, you will continue to see progress with new digital strategies, promotions and group sales efforts bringing more and more visitors to our region to have some fun! Please keep the momentum going for tourism by signing up for our e-newsletter, checking our website at www.riversandtoutes.com and following us on social media @riversandroutes. If you are interested in helping out in other ways, drop into the Alton Visitor Center to volunteer or explore more. The Rivers & Routes region combines the nostalgia this place with the natural beauty that has shaped it. What are you waiting for? Join the bandwagon of Great Rivers & Routes and get out there to explore all of the possibilities. Stawar is president and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, which works for the vested interests of hospitality partners in Madison, Jersey, Greene, Calhoun, Montgomery and Macoupin counties. This is a weekly columnprovided by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau that discusses the impact of tourism on our region. United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney, left to right, Alberta Liberal Party leader David Khan, Alberta New Democrat Party leader and incumbent premier Rachel Notley and Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel greet each before the start of the 2019 Alberta Leaders Debate in Edmonton, Alta., on Thursday, April 4, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan ABC/Lorenzo BevilaquaOn Thursday, the city Chicago threatened to file a civil lawsuit to force Jussie Smollett to repay the money police spent investigating his alleged attack. Now, the Empire actor's lawyer is calling the threat unconstitutional." In a letter to the City of Chicago Department of Law obtained by ABC News,, Smollett's attorney Mark Geragos writes, Your unprecedented attempt to file a civil lawsuit against Mr. Smollett charging him...for 'repayment of investigation costs' is unconstitutional. He adds, Your letter constitutes part of a course of conduct intended to harass and irreparably injure Mr. Smollett...[he] will not be intimated into paying the demanded sum." That sum, by the way, is $130,000. Noting that all criminal charges against the actor have been dismissed and the record sealed, the letter notes, "Your claim that Mr. Smollett filed a false police report and orchestrated his own attack is false and defamatory." Any further prosecution of Mr. Smollett for making allegedly false statements about the January 29, 2019 attack would violate the federal and state ban against double jeopardy, Geragos concludes. Smollett claimed he was attacked by two men who beat him and put a noose around his neck while shouting racist epithets. Police said they had evidence that Smollett himself staged the attack, but prosecutors dropped the charges in exchange for Smollett forfeiting 10% of his bond and repaying the $130,000. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the City of Chicago Department of Law, said in a statement, "Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019. The statement added, The Law Department will file the suit in the near future...[and] will pursue the full measure of damages allowed under the ordinance." 21st Century Fox which produces Empire is now a part of Disney, ABCs parent company. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan (C, back), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends a conference on deepening reforms of vocational education in Beijing, capital of China, April 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Premier Li Keqiang Thursday called on the vocational education sector to train more talent in order to aid the country's development. In an instruction to a national meeting on vocational education reform, Li said this year China planned to increase the number of students engaged in vocational education by a million. "Vocational education should try to cater to the demands of the high-end manufacturing and service sectors as well as those the market needs the most," he said. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attended and addressed the meeting, where she vowed to implement Li's instructions and push forward reforms in the sector. Sun urged local governments to improve the training of teachers in vocational schools, update teaching materials and methods, and support cooperation between schools and enterprises. "The government will encourage enterprises and the private sector to engage in vocational education." Rarely has a single word created so much buzz as the recent revival of court-packing. It refers to the notion of expanding the size of the Supreme Court so that its composition, and its decisions on key issues, will quickly change. There is no valid reason to expand the Supreme Court, and this invalid one has been rejected before court-packing would destroy the independence of the judicial branch. Presidents have always appointed judges guided by a view of the power and proper role of the judiciary in our system of government. The opportunity to do so, however, depends largely on attrition, that is, on judges choosing to leave their life-tenured positions. The ordinary course of attrition-and-appointment can have a big impact. When President Barack Obama took office, for example, 10 of the 13 U.S. Court of Appeals circuits had a majority of Republican appointees and two others were evenly split. When he left, nine of those circuits had Democratic-appointed majorities. Beyond attrition, vacancies also arise when Congress creates new judgeships. In the past, Congress has done so when caseloads become too heavy. The goal is to increase the capacity of the judiciary, often based on recommendations from the Judicial Conference. Court-packing is different. The Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869. Today, it hears half as many arguments, and decides half as many cases, as it did in the 1980s. There is no capacity problem. Those who urge expanding the size of the Supreme Court seek not to increase its capacity but to change its output: they want to alter the actual decisions the court makes. Weve been here before. President Franklin Roosevelt was first elected in 1932, promising that the federal government would lead America out of its economic desert. The Supreme Court, however, stood in the way of his plans. Based on a traditional view of the federal governments constitutional authority, the court repeatedly struck down New Deal legislation. The 1936 election not only gave Roosevelt a landslide victory it gave him overwhelmingly Democratic majorities in the Senate and House. On Feb. 5, 1937, just two weeks after taking his second oath of office, Roosevelt recommended legislation to add a new judgeship where there are incumbent judges of retirement age who do not choose to retire or to resign. That retirement age was 70. Not surprisingly, the Supreme Courts Four Horsemen who had consistently opposed Roosevelts economic legislation were each more than 70 years old. The Judiciary Committee, dominated by Democrats, issued its report on S.1392 on June 7, 1937, with the recommendation that it do not pass. Everyone knew that the object of this legislation was a change in the decisions of the Court, to increase the number of Justices for the express purpose of neutralizing the views of some of the present members. But dont presidents appoint Supreme Court justices with the hope that they will take a particular approach to deciding cases? Yes, but not only does that gamble not always pay off, but the president can do nothing once that judicial life-tenure begins. The suggestion that Congress might, at any time, retaliate against certain judicial appointments or decisions by manipulating the structure of the judiciary itself is a radically different proposition. It is, the Judiciary Committee said, nothing more than the declaration that when the Court stands in the way of a legislative enactment, the Congress may reverse the ruling by enlarging the Court. The Judiciary Committee had the answer in 1937: Even if every charge brought against the so-called reactionary members of this Court be true, it is far better that we await orderly but inevitable change of personnel than that we impatiently overwhelm them with new members. Exhibiting this restraint, thus demonstrating our faith in the American system, we shall set an example that will protect the independent American judiciary from attack as long as this Government stands. We should follow that example today. The committee argued that preserving the American system of three independent branches is immeasurably more important than any current political objective. In other words, the ends do not justify the means. Thomas L. Jipping is a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation and deputy director of the think tanks Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Last week the House of Representatives sought to override President Donald Trumps veto of their resolution to terminate his declaration of anemergency at the southern border. The ayes ticked up, from 245 to 248. The nays slipped by one, from 182 to 181. Well done, House. The House is still 42 Republican votes shy of defending the prerogatives of the first branch of government - the legislature - from executive overreach. In six months, the House can bring another vote to override the presidents veto, and it should. Why? Because this battle provides an opportunity for the single most important civics lesson this country has had in a long time. Congress should fight inch by inch to restore its prerogatives, using each battle to remind the American people of some lessons from our founding. For example: Lesson 1. The legislature is the first branch of government. Its prerogatives are those defended first in the Declaration of Independence. The legislature is treated in the first article of the Constitution; the executive, not until the second. When the Federalist Papers scrutinize the powers and responsibilities assigned to each branch of government, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay also start, in Paper 52, with the legislative branch. The job of the executive - namely, the president - is simply that, to execute, and in particular to execute the will of the people. Lesson 2. Why is the legislature the first branch of government? Because it and only it has the job of expressing the will of the people. In the direct democracy of ancient Athens, the full body of citizens could gather and choose their common direction; then they delegated its execution to their generals and administrators. Our countrys founding generation designed the instrument of representation to permit the voters of a mass democracy who could not all gather in one place to express their common will. This achievement of scale was not the only purpose of representation. The founding generation also believed it would help stabilize the political system, making it less susceptible to whimsical changes of direction. With the mechanism of representation, they hoped to create a body in which the widely varying views of the population could be filtered and synthesized. Only Congress has this job of generating the will of the people out of a process of deliberation. Only the House of Representatives proportionally represents the full people. It is the centralinstrument of our self-government and the fundamental ground of the legitimacy of republican political institutions. Only Congress knits our country together - at least in theory. When Congresss job approval rating sank in 2013 to its all-time low of 9 percent, we the people were communicating that our system of representation lacked integrity. Our votes did not convert into political will we could endorse. Our senators and representatives have a lot to do to clean up their methods of governance, but Congress can act to express our will if and only if it continues to be the font of power in our government. In modern words, Congress will have no chance to do a good job if it has no power. In Federalist 47, Madison wrote: The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. Were the federal Constitution, therefore, really chargeable with the accumulation of power, or with a mixture of powers, having a dangerous tendency to such an accumulation, no further arguments would be necessary to inspire a universal reprobation of the system. Because Trumps emergency declaration followed an express act of deliberation on part of Congress that yielded, in the form of legislation, an articulation of the will of the people, and because his declaration proposes to redirect funds appropriated by legislation, it strips the legislative body of its most fundamental powers. The fourth article of the Constitution guarantees to every state a republican form of government. We might infer from that guarantee an equal responsibility on the part of our federal elected officials to preserve for us a republican form of government at the national level. The vote to override the presidents veto pursues that constitutional guarantee to preserve our republican form of government. Admittedly, it is a fresh take to see Democrats vocally fighting to defend our founding document. But so it is. These are unusual times, and it ought to be all hands on deck for the Constitution. All who care about liberty and equality, who treasure the opportunity to share in self-government in a body of free and equal citizens, should vote for, endorse or otherwise affirm the veto override. Heres my slogan: #FreeCongress. - - - Allen is a political theorist at Harvard University and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. Susan Kootnekoff is a lawyer with Inspire Law. Phone: 250-764-7710. Email: info@inspirelaw.ca. On the web: inspirelaw.ca. The content of this column is intended to provide general thoughts and general information, not to provide legal advice. This column appears Fridays in The Daily Courier. United NationsCapital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UNs capital investment agency for theworlds least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor peopleand their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investmentcapital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia andthe Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict orcrisis. It provides seed capital grants and loans and technicalsupport to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and smallbusinesses, and local governments finance the capital investments watersystems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes that will improve poorpeoples lives. Serco boss Rupert Soames was handed 4.5m overall in 2018 including a 255,000 cash pension contribution Serco is the latest company to defy investors over lucrative pension payments. The outsourcers boss Rupert Soames was handed 4.5million overall in 2018, including a 255,000 cash pension contribution. The pension payment was worth 30 per cent of his 850,000 base salary putting the business in breach of tough new guidelines from investors groups. Soames, a grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, will also receive this amount in 2019, according to the Serco annual report published yesterday. But the payments put the firm on a collision course with the influential Investment Association, which represents big City investors. Amid growing concern that cash pension contributions are being used to supplement boardroom pay, the association has warned companies it will target those that hand bosses 25 per cent or more of their salaries. Serco has partly backed down in the row, saying executives recruited in future will get 20 per cent. But its decision to continue paying Soames and finance chief Angus Cockburn 30 per cent contributions could spark a shareholder rebellion at the AGM. Soames, 59, is largely credited with turning around the outsourcer after taking over as chief executive in 2014, when it was on the verge of going bust. Inmarsat plc provides mobile satellite communications services on land, at sea, and in the air worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Maritime, U.S. Government, Global Government, Aviation, and Enterprise. It offers voice and data broadband services; global maritime distress and safety system services; mobile and fixed voice services; a portfolio of machine-to-machine services that provide two-way data connectivity for messaging, tracking, and monitoring of fixed or mobile assets; maritime satellite services, including very small aperture terminals and television receive only antenna services; and Global Xpress, a high-speed broadband service that offer seamless connectivity for advanced data services on land, at sea, and in the air. The company also offers in-flight voice, data, safety, and cabin connectivity services for business and commercial air transport. It owns and operates 13 satellites. The company serves the aviation, government, enterprise, and maritime sectors. Inmarsat plc was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More CMC Markets plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online retail financial services to retail, professional, stockbroking, and institutional clients in Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company provides its clients with the ability to trade contracts for difference and financial spread betting on a range of underlying shares, indices, foreign currencies, commodities, and treasuries through its trading platform. It also offers Australian clients the opportunity to trade Australian and selected international instruments, including shares, options, managed funds, warrants, and exchange traded funds. In addition, the company provides its clients a range of education opportunities through weekly and monthly webinars and seminars, as well as Trader Development programme, which provides a range of in-platform, on-demand education, and tailored market commentary. CMC Markets plc was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More HDFC Bank Ltd. engages in the provision of banking and financial services, including commercial banking and treasury operations. The firm also provides financial services to upper and middle income individuals and corporations in India. It operates through the following segments: Treasury, Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking and Other Banking Operations. The Treasury segment consists of bank's investment portfolio, money market borrowing and lending, investment operations and trading in foreign exchange and derivative contracts. The Retail Banking segment provides loans and other services to customers through a branch network and other delivery channels. The Wholesale Banking segment provides loans, non-fund facilities and transaction services to large corporates, emerging corporates, public sector units, government bodies, financial institutions, and medium scale enterprises. The Other Banking Business segment includes income from para banking activities such as credit cards, debit cards, third party product distribution, primary dealership business, and the associated costs. The company was founded by Aditya Tapishwar Puri in August 1994 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India. Read More ElringKlinger AG develops, manufactures, and distributes technical and chemical products for the automotive sector and the general manufacturing industry in Germany and internationally. It operates through four segments: Original Equipment, Aftermarket, Engineered Plastics, and Other. The Original Equipment segment is involved in the development, manufacture, and sale of products and assemblies, such as metal sealing systems and drive train components; thermoplastics for drivetrains, body, and underbody applications; hybrid technologies; thermal, acoustic, and aerodynamic shielding systems; cylinder-head and specialty gaskets; battery and fuel cell components and systems; electric drive units; and exhaust gas purification. This segment serves passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. The Aftermarket segment offers a range of gaskets, gasket sets, and service parts for the repair of engines, transmissions, exhaust systems, and auxiliary units in cars and commercial vehicles under the Elring A- Das Original brand. This segment serves a network of wholesalers and purchasing organizations. The Engineered Plastics segment develops, manufactures, and markets customized products made from various plastics for the mechanical engineering sector, as well as in medical, chemical, energy, and vehicle industries. The Other segment operates engine test benches and measuring equipment for testing engines, transmissions, and exhaust systems for vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers; and offers logistics and catering services. The company was founded in 1879 and is headquartered in Dettingen an der Erms, Germany. Read More Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 61F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Colonie Federal officials are poised to absolve General Electric from potential legal liability for the controversial Hudson River PCB cleanup over objections from New York, state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said Thursday. Speaking with editors at the Albany Times Union, Seggos said his office has been in contact with the Environmental Protection Agency over a potential finding that GE's 7-year, $1.7 billion cleanup of the river satisfies a 2002 agreement between EPA and GE. The agreement is called a "certificate of completion," which could absolve GE of further liability for remaining PCBs in the river. But Seggos, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, local officials and numerous environmental groups believe that PCB levels remain too high and want the EPA to require GE to resume work. Seggos said state findings indicate that PCB levels in fish, a measure of the cleanup's effectiveness, remain elevated, and are likely to remain so for decades to come. "This should be a significant barrier to EPA issuing this finding to GE," said Seggos. GE dredged PCB-tainted sediments from about 40 miles of river bottom from Fort Edward to Troy after years of resisting the work as unnecessary. That amounted to about 310,000 pounds, or 72 percent of what is now known to be in the river. That means about 120,000 pounds still remain along the bottom. EPA has yet to issue a long-awaited final report on the project's effectiveness. EPA has been studying that for more than two years and issued a tentative report in June 2017 that projected PCB-tainted river fish might not be safe to eat for five decades or even longer. Advocates of a continued cleanup said the draft report shows the cleanup did not go far enough. Seggos said EPA may issue its completion finding at the same time it issues its final report on the cleanup's effectiveness. Federal officials have not decided on the completion ruling, according to EPA spokesman Elias Rodriguez. "We hope to come to some conclusions in the near term," he added. After initially intending to reach such a conclusion in January 2018, he said, the agency held back to "ensure that we had the most detailed and robust understanding of the performance of the upper Hudson cleanup following dredging." Regardless of the completion finding, Rodriguez said, EPA will require GE to "continue monitoring and sampling the upper Hudson for decades to come with the understanding that if, at any time, it is shown that the remedy is not protective of human health or the environment, GE remains obligated to take additional action." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The head of an environmental group that has been pushing for an expanded PCB cleanup of the river urged that EPA not find GE has complied with the goals of the original agreement. "It appears that EPA may have made up its mind," said Ned Sullivan, president of Poughkeepsie-based Scenic Hudson, "but I am hoping that influence of the Natural Resources Damages Trustees and the White House could lead to another outcome." The trustees include DEC, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In February 2018, those three agencies reported that PCB levels in the river as recently as 2014 remained well above federal safety guidelines, as well as above state standards meant to protect humans and animals that eat river fish. Sullivan said a completion finding would preclude EPA from suing GE to compel it to resume a cleanup and "allow GE to walk away." Such an agreement would allow the agency to only consider information developed subsequent to the completion finding, he added. "That is crazy. What agency would willingly want to give up years of data and trends," said Sullivan. GE spokesman Mark Behan said he had "no information" on the potential settlement finding. The company has steadfastly maintained that it has met EPA requirements under the 2002 agreement to perform the project. NASSAU A man whose name is synonymous with the county's worst toxic landfill apparently was dumping those same chemicals where he lived. Acting on a tip, federal investigators last month found PCBs, carcinogenic industrial solvents and other chemicals contaminating the family property of Dewey Loeffel, who ran a nearby landfill during the 1950s and '60s that still leaks dangerous toxins. The discoveries by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the Loeffel property at 5525 County Route 203 included a buried 10,000-gallon chemical tank as well as a PCB-tainted pond and trichloroethylene (TCE), a human carcinogen, in ground water. According to town assessment records, the 8.8-acre property near Sweets Crossing Road, which includes the Loeffel home, is owned by Carol Loeffel, the 79-year-old daughter-in-law of Dewey Loeffel. When a reporter tried calling a telephone number listed for the residence, the line would ring and then disconnect. In additional to the family home, the property includes several maintenance buildings used by Loeffel to runs his trucking firm as part of his landfill operation, which was in business between 1952 and 1968. "This is where Mr. Loeffel would rinse out his trucks," said Nassau Supervisor David Fleming on Thursday. "I guess this disproves the old country saying that a pig doesn't crap where it sleeps." As complaints mounted from neighbors about dead fish and cattle near the landfill, the state ordered the 19-acre dump closed 1970. It was sealed by the state in 1984, but continued to leak dangerous chemicals into nearby Valatie Kill and Kinderhook Lake. EPA officials went to the Loeffel family property acting on a tip received last summer, according to agency spokesman Elias Rodriguez. Investigators went to the Loeffel property last month. Ground-penetrating radar revealed the buried chemical tank. "The pond is a mess with PCBs, and there are volatile organic compounds all over the place," Fleming said. A drinking water well was found to be contaminated with TCE, Fleming said. He said tests of water wells for more than a dozen neighboring homes on Rudat Road, Maple View Avenue, and Brookside Drive found water there was safe to drink. A grassroots activist who has been demanding for years that the landfill be excavated and disposed of said she was not surprised by EPA's findings at the Loeffel residence. "This is something that was raised to the state Department of Environmental Conservation many years ago. Guess they never found anything," said Kelly Travers-Main, a member of founder of UNCAGED, a grassroots advocacy group formed in 2000 to push for a dump cleanup and an accounting of potential health risks to people who live or lived nearby. She credited Fleming for "keeping this thing moving" and EPA officials for finally locating pollution on the Loeffel property. Fleming said there will be "months of investigation" at the new Loeffel site to determine the extent and location of pollution, including soil sampling, and testing of wetlands and drainage. "We have to ask how many more such sites there might be like this." Over 16 years, Loeffel buried about 46,000 tons of industrial waste in his unlined landfill off Mead Road, about five miles from his home. Since the landfill had no liner system, it allowed chemicals to leak into the ground unchecked. Most of the waste came from General Electric, but Schenectady Chemical and the Bendix Co. also dumped there. The dump has been a persistent environmental headache. Its cleanup was first ordered by the state in 1968 to be done by Loeffel. After a dozen fruitless years, the state took over the project in 1980 after striking a deal with GE known as "Seven Sites" agreement. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Under the agreement, which covered Loeffel and six other PCB-tainted sites upstate, GE put up $30 million to handle all cleanup costs, and the state agreed that the company would not have to come up with any more cash ever. Part of that money paid for the cap placed over the Loeffel dump in 1984. Three decades later, with the dump still leaking chemicals, EPA assumed control and installed a treatment system for rainwater passing into the ground and through the dump. Many millions of dollars have been spent by the state and federal government on the landfill beyond what the Seven Sites agreement provided. While Loeffel made few, if any public comments about his dump, he was sued in 1991 by a housing developer who said the dump had made his nearby property worthless. While testifying under oath, Loeffel said he could not recall details of his operation of the dump and of contact from Rensselaer County and state health officials who were concerned over the safety of dump operations. Fleming said the town wants the dump dug out and the chemicals properly disposed of. "Otherwise, this will be leaking forever," he said. PCB and other pollution has spread to nearby Valatie Kill, Nassau Lake and Kinderhook Lake in Columbia County. PCB-tainted fish from those bodies of water have been listed by the state as unsafe to eat since 1980. Fleming said 26 private wells were tested in the area of the new contamination, and the preliminary results found none have dangerous levels of chemicals such as PCBs, which was the contamination found at the Route 203 site. Three wells were found to have the chemical TCE present, but levels were low enough for safe human consumption. Rensselaer County provided bottled water to residents when testing began March 18, as well as backup water supplies at the Nassau ambulance facility. Tokyo Tokyo prosecutors arrested Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn on Thursday for a fourth time, on fresh allegations that cut short his brief time outside detention. Early in the morning, Ghosn was taken from his apartment in Tokyo to the prosecutors' office and then sent to the Tokyo Detention Center, the same facility where he spent more than three months following his arrest in November. He had been released on bail just a month earlier. It's unclear how long Ghosn may be detained under the latest arrest, which involves what prosecutors said was a new alleged crime. "My arrest this morning is outrageous and arbitrary," Ghosn said in a statement issued Thursday. "It is part of another attempt by some individuals at Nissan to silence me by misleading the prosecutors. Why arrest me except to try to break me? I will not be broken. I am innocent of the groundless charges and accusations against me." The prosecutors defended the move, saying the latest allegations are a new case requiring precautions to prevent Ghosn from destroying evidence. They allege $5 million in funds sent by a Nissan subsidiary to an overseas dealership were diverted to a company controlled by Ghosn. "We now have a totally different case, and we are only doing what we think is right," Shin Kukimoto, deputy chief prosecutor at the Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office, told reporters. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "As a result of our investigation, we have a new case in which he must be detained, and we have appropriately obtained an arrest warrant from the court," he said. Ghosn, 65, was first arrested on Nov. 19 on charges of under-reporting his compensation. He was rearrested twice in December, including on breach of trust charges. The multiple arrests prolong detentions without trial and are an oft-criticized prosecution tactic in Japan's criminal justice system. The allegations in the most recent arrest cover three money transfers from 2015 through last year, according to the prosecutors. Apparently you don't have to be a big-name actor or a high-powered producer to have entree in Hollywood. In 2013, the Israeli choreographer Danielle Agami moved her 1-year-old Seattle-based company named Ate9 to Los Angeles in order "to expand opportunities" (to quote the company's website). Since then, the troupe has had a string of successful appearances at a variety of Southern California venues, including the Hollywood Bowl. Agami has found opportunities not just with bookings but also with high-wattage collaborators. Jon Hamm, the star of TV drama "Mad Men," joins Agami and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche in a new work-in-process piece titled "Fishing." Performances are Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., where the three artists have been developing the piece all week. Agami and Hamm met unexpectedly three and a half years ago at a Los Angeles dinner party the night before the 2015 Emmys. Hamm had been nominated eight times as best featured actor in a drama series and that year he finally won. "We were sitting across from each other for like three hours. I was shocked," says Agami, who was an avid watcher of his show. "We talked a lot about 'Mad Men,' which had already wrapped. It was a fun night in anticipation of the Emmys." Agami recalls that Hamm was smoking during much of the dinner. Though she's not a smoker, watching him made it seem like a fine idea. "In the moment with Jon you want to join in. That's the thing, he's funny and alluring," she says. About a year later they met again backstage at a Wilco concert. They're both fans of the alternative rock band and also friends with Kotche, the percussionist and composer who performed an original score with Agami's company in 2017. This time, the choreographer didn't let the time with Hamm pass her by. She invited him to dinner where she broached a collaboration, something she'd had in mind since their first meeting. "He's a powerful presence, which is why I wanted him on the stage," says Agami. "People see him on a screen but I wanted to see him live." Hamm was receptive to Agami's pitch. It just took some years for their schedules to fully align. The piece was supposed to premiere last December, but Hamm got pulled away to shoot the sequel to "Top Gun" (due in theaters summer 2020). Hamm and Agami's first studio time together took place during the early fall in L.A. Kotche was in touch primarily online from his base in Chicago. Also part of the collaborative team are set designer Amir Raveh and writer Nadav Heyman. Speaking a couple of weeks before opening night of "Fishing," Agami remained somewhat vague about what's actually going to happen onstage. "The story talks about a woman who is having a career as a performer and she is struggling with decisions about what is her passion and how to balance domestic life and professional life. John is her partner, dealing with his own place in her life." She described the piece as "a symbiotic experiment between three disciplines dance, theater and music. ... We have a narrative and a story but the core is how the elements reflect on each other." Agami projected a confident professionalism. She allowed that there would probably be room for improvisation, especially in the musical score played by Kotche. But it sounded like when the team of artists arrived at MASS MoCA at the beginning of this week, they still had a lot to figure out. "We are each one in his lane enough to be able to take some freedom," states Agami. That being said, Hamm will not likely be dancing and she'll certainly dance but probably not talk. She articulates the essence of the show in the form of a question: "How can we layer those disciplines and create a groovy, interesting and beautiful moment?" Agami said she identifies with audiences' desire for something tangible, not that she's making any promises they'll get it from "Fishing." "Often we want a resolution or some advice. I want advice on how to do things differently or how to find love or get rich or chose where to live. I look for signals and inspiration on how to make my next move," she says. "I don't know this piece can send you home with a resolution but it will open questions. It will wake you up." Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy. It takes a lot of guts to quit your well-paying day job especially one with one of the most respected high-tech companies in the world to jump head-first into the hard-charging and often risky world of real estate. But that is exactly what Wesley Sherow has done in the last several months, and he's not looking back. Up until the end of 2018, Sherow was working as an engineer at Tokyo Electron, the Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment company that has its U.S. research and development operations headquartered at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany. He was traveling the world for Tokyo Electron to places like Belgium and Japan and was working on the most cutting-edge computer chip development work at SUNY Poly, perhaps the top university-based semiconductor research center in the world. But Sherow has always had an entrepreneurial streak, having co-founded two startups previously. His real estate career started out in a small way last year when he started renting out an apartment he owned on Ontario Street through Airbnb. "It was the dream job," Sherow said of his time at Tokyo Electron. "But I [moved onto real estate] because I prefer to do my own thing." Sherow discovered he could make steady money through short-term rentals, although he didn't have the capital to buy up other apartments to rent them out. After a few months, he was making $2,000 a month on his Ontario Street property, double what he would earn through leasing out the property on an annual basis. But there are plenty of other people who own property and are interested in renting them out, and so Sherow created Obsidian Towers, a real estate management company involved in various aspects of short-term rentals, including a cleaning business and a hospitality brand, Copper Club. Sherow now manages short-term rentals in Albany and Jersey City and he is looking to expand into the Philadelphia area. He makes $30,000 in monthly revenue now half of it comes from the Albany properties, and the other half from Jersey City although most of that usually goes to paying his workers and other costs so that his employees can also share in the company's growth. "I'm bootstrapping," Sherow said. "I feel an obligation to them first." In Albany, Sherow mostly manages apartments that other people own because he can't afford to buy up multiple properties. "I'm a 24-year-old, I don't have the credit or a lot of money to do that," Sherow said. With his Jersey City properties, Sherow does "arbitrage," meaning he rents the properties from their owners, and then subdivides them into short-term rentals that he then manages. Although he lists properties on Airbnb, Sherow has created his own listing platform so he can rent directly to customers, though right now Sherow says he doesn't plan to migrate away from Airbnb anytime soon. The key, he said, is keeping rooms full and keeping busy. "My No. 1 goal is just to grow," Sherow said. "It's hospitality. It's like running a hotel." Sherow says there is a huge market for what he does because large institutional real estate owners are putting a portion of their properties into the short-term rental market, and so they look to property managers to take on that business. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Sherow said he moved into the Jersey City market because he has a friend there who is involved in a real estate syndicate. Jersey City is popular, he said, because it allows short-term rentals unlike New York City, which requires that owners occupy the properties they rent out. Sherow says he leans on a lot of people to make his business run efficiently and keep customers happy. Those he works with include Ariana McConneaughey, a former U.S. Military Academy cadet who joined Sherow in October to do interior design and handle communication. "Just like me, she works 12- to 16-hour days to make this business succeed," Sherow said. Another one of his employees is Koucha Misaki, who manages all of the daily operations, cleaners and quality control for Sherow. She also speaks Spanish and Japanese, and Sherow says she will be key to helping him with a plan to get into the short-term rental market in Japan ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Sherow also works with Diana Elkayam, a real estate broker who also specializes in interior design and staging properties. "She has an instinctive eye and her designs are truly one of a kind," Sherow said. One of Sherow's most important mentors has been Clair Bee, owner of Acre Real Estate Associates, who passed on advice and industry insights to Sherow during early morning drives around Albany. "He was my introduction into real estate," Sherow said. "It was essentially my minor in real estate over the course of three to four months." lrulison@timesunion-.com - 518-454-5504 - @larryrulison The Little Red School House is bursting with life. Look at the students on their way to school some cheerful, some crabby. See the parents. The teacher ringing the bell. The basket of apples. The kid hauling wood to a pot-bellied stove, sticking her tongue out at her adult taskmaster as if to say: YOU'RE MAKING ME CARRY FIREWOOD. All of them are tiny, colorful and fastidiously crafted. And all of them are eggheads. Literally. "Here's a kid crying. And then there's another kid happily carrying her little book bag. And another one who's crying. Here's the little outhouse," says Joe Heyman, leaning over and pointing inside the wee structure. "And then you look carefully: A Montgomery Ward catalogue is the toilet paper." Welcome to the Land of Eggs or, more officially, the Schoharie Easter Egg Museum, a massive collection inside a modest yellow building that houses thousands of eggs in dozens of brightly crafted settings. Open over the next three weekends for the first time in five years the collection is the lifelong passion and magnum opus of the late Mildred Vrooman, a Schoharie librarian and folk artist who died in late 2012 at the age of 103. "I appreciate what she's done," says Heyman, who owns the collection with his wife, Berna. "The personalities she's put into it. The work, the talent and the imagination." Opening the house for a sneak peek on a chilly Monday, the couple toured the tables crowded with Vrooman's diminutive creations. In all, the collection features more than 3,000 decorated eggs previously estimated at 5,000, but Joe actually counted them arranged in 33 elaborate scenarios, some from history, some from storybooks, some from the Bible. There's a circus scene. An Easter wedding, complete with choir. The old woman who lived in a shoe and judging from the way she's spanking a redheaded boy, she's pretty darned angry. The First Thanksgiving. The Last Supper, with Judas another redhead sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a very chill-looking Jesus. On the other side of Judas is an apostle bearing a strong resemblance to John Lennon. And over there, egg-centric busts of U.S. presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. Like all the other characters peopling the museum, they're an eccentric bunch, their faces distinct and filled with expression. Look at the variations in coifs and facial hair Jackson's puffy pompadour, Lincoln's fulsome beard. "You come in here, and you see all of these, and it's almost overwhelming to see so many diversified things," Berna says. "And the beauty of it is concentrating on one small area and noticing the detail of the differences in the faces, and all the different kinds of materials that she used. ... She used fur. Real fur. She used canvas. She used " "Sequins," Joe says. "Lace," Berna continues. "She used velvet. She made hair. She started out with just yarn, and then she got more sophisticated in later years, and she basically sculpted it. She started out with hands that were pipe cleaners, and then she bought hands" little plastic doll parts. The first time he laid eyes on the collection, Joe says, "I looked at this and said, 'Oh my gosh, so much stuff,'" he recalled. "And then you start looking at any one thing. ... how she did the hat, how she did the little collars. Then you go to the next one and you see the similarities, the differences, the detail that she put in. And it's just like, holy mackerel! This woman was obsessed with eggs!" Vrooman was working as a Schoharie librarian when, in 1951, children's artist-illustrator Katherine Milhous won a Caldecott Medal for "The Egg Tree." Vrooman, inspired, started creating her own egg trees. Then she started creating scenarios, aided by her friend Elizabeth Warner. And they kept at it. And at it. And at it. The resulting collection bounced from one location to another, including the Old Stone Fort Museum represented in one of her eggy scenarios, using the exact same stone and the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association. Then in 2001, Joe says, "Miss Mildred Vrooman bought the house next to her. Had it knocked down. And built this building to house the museum." The Heymans she a retired dean of libraries at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., he a photographer and retired NASA scientist acquired the 2,400-foot structure when they purchased the neighboring house and property in 2013. Though they knew of the egg collection, they didn't realize, at first, that the oviform artworks were included in the sale. "We bought a house," Berna says. "And got a museum." If you go Schoharie Easter Egg Museum Where: 106 Covered Bridge Lane (intersection of routes 30 and 443), Schoharie. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on three weekends: April 5-7; April 12-14; and April 19-21 (opening on Easter at noon); also open by appointment during the week for groups. Admission: $5 adult, $2 youth up to age 18, or $10 for a family of four or fewer Info: facebook.com/SchoharieEasterEggMuseum Contact: schoharie.easteregg@gmail.com Book: "An Egg-straordinary Folk Art Museum: the Amazing Creations of Mildred Vrooman," by Joe Heyman. $49.95. See More Collapse A year later, the Heymans opened the collection as a fundraiser for the Schoharie Free Library. Back then they were raising money to help with recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. This time, they're trying to give back to the community in the wake of the October limo crash that left 20 people dead, deeply affecting those who live in the tightly knit area. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The hoped-for result, aside from money for the library: some measure of healing. "What it really provides is a way for the community to get together and get behind something that is positive, and fun, and supports our community, supports our local businesses, supports our restaurants and other organizations," says Laura Rosenthal, a member of the library board and the Heymans' daughter. Vrooman's handiwork includes chicken eggs, turkey eggs, goose eggs, ostrich eggs. There are rabbits made of Easter eggs painting their own Easter eggs (meta!). There are proud ladies in smashing gowns and a "Wizard Oz" scene featuring a Tin Man, his tin hat a repurposed screw-on cap. The artist used Avon containers. Seed pods. Paper towel rolls. In a "Dutch Life" scene, little wooden clogs carved from dowels. "She probably went to all of her friends and said, 'Never throw anything out. Give it to me," Joe says. In an effort to document her work, the Heymans have published a thick hardcover featuring Joe's many photographs of the egg collection "so that history knows what this woman did and it's not just lost," he says. A portion of the proceeds will go to the library. The Heymans aren't sure what the future holds for their egg repository. No, they say, they have no plans to open it permanently. Yes, they would like to secure its future possibly in some nearby museum, ideally with the help of a private benefactor who would keep it in Schoharie and accessible to the public. "You never know if the next people that own this property would have the recognition that this is something that's important and needs to be protected," Joe says. "So we'd like to see it happen during our tutelage." But for now, at least, the Land of the Eggs lives on. Six and a half years after Vrooman's death, her richly imagined menageries remain frozen in time. Its occupants never change. The Heymans never move them. Or do they? "No," Joe says. Berna, laughing, points to herself. "I do," she whispers conspiratorially from behind her husband's shoulder. "Just a little bit." abiancolli@timesunion.com 518-454-5439 @AmyBiancolli NEW YORK Albany's LaSalle School is the target of an expected lawsuit made possible by the recent passage of the Child Victims Act, a new state law that extends the statute of limitations for victims of decades-old child sexual abuse. Steven Narbon, a former teenage orphan, says Rev. Joseph Romano repeatedly abused him while volunteering at the school for troubled youth run by the Christian Brothers, a Catholic religious order. "It's a struggle for me not to kill myself," Narbon said in an interview. "You feel worthless. You feel damaged." The Christian Brothers declined to answer specific questions about Romano, but Philip De Rita, a spokesman for the order, stressed that Romano was not a member of the Christian Brothers, but rather a diocesan priest who was assigned to work with troubled youth at the LaSalle school between 1981 and 1984. (Albany's LaSalle School is not affiliated with the La Salle Institute, a private Catholic prep school in North Greenbush.) Watch NBC New York's video. "We are deeply concerned with any misconduct that could involve one of our sponsored ministries no matter the circumstances or how long ago the abuse may have taken place," De Rita said. Mary DeTurris Poust, a spokeswoman for the Albany Diocese, noted that Romano was permanently removed from ministry in 2003 by then-Bishop Howard J. Hubbard following two credible allegations of sexual abuse received in 2002 and 2003. Romano's name appears on the diocese's online list of clergy credibly accused of sexual contact with a minor. Both of those allegations stemmed from conduct alleged to have occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, around the same time Narbon attended LaSalle. DeTurris Poust declined to address Narbon's abuse accusation, citing his plans to file a lawsuit. She also declined to say where Romano currently lives, or whether he is still alive. A 2003 press release issued by the Albany Diocese at the time of his suspension noted that Romano strongly denied the abuse allegations. David A. Wallace, the LaSalle School's executive director, called Narbon's allegations "extremely serious and troubling." "We only recently learned of this matter; however, we will not dismiss them, but rather will pursue the facts of this 40-year-old matter," Wallace said in a statement. "We will examine the allegation and remain committed to all the youth that are and have been part of our campus and community." Narbon's suit is one of two currently planned by Michael Pfau, a Seattle-based lawyer who has represented scores of clergy abuse survivors. There are more than 170 religious orders operating in New York State many of them have their national or regional headquarters here. "I think religious orders, for whatever reason, have flown under the radar especially in New York state," Pfau said. According to data compiled at Georgetown University, almost a third of Catholic priests are non-diocesan, meaning they answer to their own superiors in religious orders. Pfau is also planning legal action against the Franciscan Friars in relation to alleged abuse committed by Father Luke Rutter, a Franciscan priest who worked at St. Francis High School in Erie County. Rutter was accused of molesting Scott Heldwein, a student who lived in the school's freshman and sophomore dormitories in the 1980s. Rutter "would take me to dinners at nice restaurants and all that," Heldwein said. "The abuse always happened when I don't know if he slipped something in my drink or whatever but it always happened when alcohol and marijuana was involved." Rutter died in 2000. Father Michael Heine, a spokesman for the Franciscan Friars, declined to say if there had been other abuse claims against Rutter. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Heine said no current official at St. Francis High School was on staff at the time of the alleged molestation of Heldwein, but once the accusation was brought forward, the Franciscans provided several years of counseling and treatment for the former student. "The safety and well-being of young people and all vulnerable persons is a paramount goal and responsibility for all friars and collaborators of our Province," Heine said. "Our hearts go out to all victims of abuse, and we pray for their healing and peace." The Child Victims Act, signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in February, allows victims up until age 28 to press charges for felony abuse, and up to age 26 to file charges for misdemeanor sexual abuse crimes. For civil cases, the statute of limitations has been extended from age 28 to age 50. The law includes a "look-back window" that grants past victims of abuse a year to bring decades-old claims in civil court against their alleged abusers. That provision, which drew strong opposition from religious and educational institutions, cleared the way for Narbon and Heldwein's planned lawsuits. Pfau said that legal actions brought under the Child Victims Act could push some religious groups into financial collapse. In 2011, the North American branch of the Christian Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection after a series of multi-million dollar abuse cases in the Seattle area. Many of those claims were filed by Pfau. "Some of the religious orders are small and they may not have the assets to fully fund the settlements," Pfau said. "Also, bankruptcy in the Catholic context is often a strategy used by a diocese or religious order to stop bleeding, and more importantly to stop the flow of information." But Pfau believes religious order bankruptcies ultimately do little to protect Catholic assets from lawsuits. That's because religious orders often work in close collaboration with local dioceses, such as making joint decisions in clergy assignments. That means victims of religious order clergy can generally seek compensation from the diocese, as well. "Every religious order in New York state falls under the supervision or the purview of one of the Catholic dioceses in New York state," Pfau said. "The dioceses are always involved on some level and sometimes very, very involved." Chris Glorioso (Twitter: @glorioso4ny) is an investigative reporter with NBC New York. See more of his work at www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations. ALBANY Activists gathered in West Capitol Park in Albany on Thursday as part of a nationwide action organized by MoveOn.org to call for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to release Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full Russia report. The so-called "rapid action response" was organized over social media after the New York Times reported Wednesday night that the investigation's findings about Russian involvement with the presidential campaign of Donald Trump were more damaging than Barr recently stated in his four-page letter to Congress about the matter. NEW YORK Disgraced former government consultant and Albany insider Todd Howe, whose cooperation with federal prosecutors helped them convict a top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the founder of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, won't be joining them in federal prison. Howe, 58, was sentenced Friday to five years of probation by Judge Valerie Caproni in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to eight felonies, including wire fraud, tax fraud, extortion and bribery. In her remarks, Caproni described Howe as someone who "knew how to get into the good graces of Andrew Cuomo," but fell into his spiral of corruption to support an opulent lifestyle. During his own statement, Howe said he "did things I shouldn't have done. It was a tough environment to be in, but I did the things I had to do to be relevant." Howe was at the center of the scandals that led to the convictions of his former friend Joe Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary, and Alain Kaloyeros, the founder and former president of SUNY Poly. While the federal probation office had recommended Howe receive three years of supervised release, Caproni opted for the five years of probation. He was also ordered to forfeit $2.8 million and pay restitution of $1.7 million. Howe will also have to perform 150 hours of community service and attend outpatient mental health treatment. He'll have to alert his probation officer whenever he makes a transaction involving a sum of more than $1,000, excluding housing costs. The Rensselaer County native began his career as an aide to the late Gov. Mario Cuomo and later served his son when Andrew Cuomo was federal housing secretary. Since his fall from the heights of the influence industry, Howe has been living in Ketchum, Idaho, where he works at a golf and ski resort. A number of people wrote to the judge to plead for leniency, from Howe's wife to former Lt. Gov. Stanley Lundine and fellow inmates who spent time with Howe while he was locked up in Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. "If I were a religious sort then I'd be convinced that he was put into my life as some kind of divine intervention," wrote David Hattersly, a convicted bank robber and career criminal who praised Howe for his selflessness during his time in MCC. Hattersly said he was proud to call Howe a friend. On Friday, Howe said his time in the federal lockup "made me realize all the things I had lost." Howe also has admitted to embezzling more than $1.7 million from his former employer, the Albany-based legal and lobbying firm of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna. Howe ran a Washington, D.C., subsidiary of the firm until federal agents raided his Maryland home in April 2016. Howe's cooperation and testimony helped U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman's office convict Percoco of taking more than $300,000 in bribes funneled through payments to his wife. The bribe-payers were Steven Aiello, the top executive at COR Development in Syracuse, and Peter Galbraith Kelly, a former vice president of Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company. Both were convicted Aiello at trial, Kelly in a guilty plea after a mistrial. Before Caproni announced Howe's sentence, prosecutor Janis Echenberg said Howe was "precisely the type of person they wanted and they needed to execute their bribery and fraud schemes." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Nevertheless, she said, he had been "immensely helpful" over his 20 months of cooperation with the government. Howe was taken into custody in the middle of Percoco's trial after a defense attorney alleged he had attempted to bilk his credit card company for the cost of a night's stay at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan while he was in town to meet with prosecutors. That episode, which Howe's attorneys attributed to his confusion over dates, led to his incarceration in MCC for five months. On Friday, Caproni said that there was no evidence the Waldorf incident violated Howe's agreement with prosecutors. "Mr. Howe, you now know what prison is like," Caproni said, hoping that it will be a lasting reminder of what awaits him if he commits future crimes. "If you've really turned the corner, that's irrelevant because I'll never see you again," Caproni said, reminding him of the grave consequences of crossing the line during his probation. The government did not call Howe to testify last year at the subsequent bid-rigging trial of Kaloyeros, who was convicted of all fraud charges along with his three co-defendants: Aiello as well as Louis Ciminelli, the former president of LPCiminelli in Buffalo, and COR former general counsel Joseph Gerardi. Gerardi was acquitted at the earlier Percoco trial. Jurors determined Kaloyeros and the defendants rigged $855 million in bids for projects that were part of the governor's "Buffalo Billion" initiative to improve the economies of central and western New York. Percoco was sentenced to six years in prison and reported last month. Kaloyeros received a sentence of three and a half years. Greenfield Saratoga Polo Association, which is undergoing foreclosure proceedings, will likely be sold to a New York City investor. Jim Rossi, co-owner of the club with Michael Bucci, said the club is finalizing details of the sale and expects to resolve its issues with Pioneer Saving Bank, which initiated foreclosure proceedings on the club after it defaulted on a $3.2 million loan. "In the meantime," Rossi, who is the managing partner, wrote in a text message, "plans for the upcoming polo season and events continue and we expect no interruption of operations." Rossi said that the new owner "is committed to carrying on with polo activities and plans to implement some improvements to the facility in order to grow our fairly robust wedding and event schedule in 2019 and beyond." Rossi did not elaborate on how the Pioneer Savings Bank's foreclosure proceedings, which were filed in Saratoga County on March 22, will affect the deal with investors. He said, however, he and Bucci will remain involved in the club's activities including the 2019 season of medium-goal polo. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In recent decades, the 121-year-old polo club has undergone improvements including upgrades to its Whitney Field. It also erected a field-side clubhouse to serve its membership. The majority of polo spectators, however, sit on the opposite side of the field where tailgating is ubiquitous. Tickets are available for the upcoming season which will run from July 5 to Sept. 2 with matches set for 5:30 p.m. Fridays and Sundays. ALBANY New York lawmakers are moving forward with plans to conduct a hearing addressing limousine safety following the inclusion of new regulations in the recently enacted state budget. State Sen. Tim Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat who chairs the chamber's transportation committee, is taking steps to convene the hearing in the Capital Region, according to his office. Concerns about limousine safety emerged following the October crash of a stretch limousine in Schoharie that killed 20 people. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled new precautions in his state budget, including a ban on stretch limousines that was subsequently dropped from the final budget deal. State lawmakers did sign off on a new $85 state inspection fee, tougher penalties for illegal limo operators who circumvent state oversight, and broad powers to remove license plates from stretch limousines that fail inspections or do not have state certification to operate. Kennedy's spokesman, Adam Fogel, said the families of the victims of the Schoharie crash and industry interests "would like to see more conversation" on limousine safety. "They understand there were some elements included in the budget, and we're committed to doing more," Fogel said. The budget resolution approved in March by Senate Democrats initially rejected the governor's safety proposals, saying they should first be discussed in a "hearing to incorporate stakeholders' input to ensure that passenger motor carrier safety is properly regulated while enabling the industry to function." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Upstate limousine operators are wary of the new $85 fee tied to semi-annual state inspections, and warn about the potential for insurance carriers to increase premiums out of fear they will run afoul of the new regulations. Fogel added that the hearing will also touch on Cuomo's proposal requiring adults to wear seatbelts in the rear of cars. The language advanced by the governor was removed from the final budget agreement, but Kennedy backs the requirement. A time and location has not been set for the future hearing. David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87 TROY The city is suing its largest police union for the second time this year to block a case from going before an arbitrator. Both cases filed in Rensselaer County State Supreme Court involve Police Benevolent Association grievances seeking back pay that the union says the city owes to a controversial officer who resigned and to three sergeants after the city declined to promote one of them to captain. The city is attempting to union-bust us plain and simple, said Officer Nick Laviano, the PBA president, in reference to the filing of the city's second lawsuit. Better people have tried in the past and were unsuccessful, Laviano said Thursday. "We wish the mayor luck." In response to questions about the lawsuits and the citys strategy for avoiding arbitration, Mayor Patrick Maddens spokesman John Salka declined to comment, city the pending litigation. The citys latest lawsuit, filed in late March, seeks to avoid arbitration on whether former Officer Dominick Comitale should be paid for accrued vacation time, compensatory time and personal time he was due when he resigned from the police department on Jan. 2. It's unclear how much Comitale is seeking. The officer resigned in advance of a hearing in which the city was seeking to fire him as a result of an Sept. 8 incident when he allegedly elbowed Twin Town Little League vice president Darren Ayotte and pressed his police badge into Ayotte's forehead after pushing him against a car. Prior to that off-duty incident, the city had paid more than $174,000 since 2011 to resolve four allegations of excessive force filed against Comitale. When he resigned, Comitale was under indictment for misdemeanor assault and harassment charges. The indictment, brought by former District Attorney Joel E. Abelove in December, was dismissed for failing to meet the states 90-day speedy trial deadline. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "We are not seeking to get Dominick's job back," Laviano said. "He is not seeking to get his job back." Laviano said the city offered Comitale $5,000 "to go away. If they didn't think Dominick was entitled to his payout, why would they offer him anything at all?" The earlier lawsuit, filed in January, seeks to block the PBAs demand that the city either promote one of three sergeants: Randall French, Stephen Seney or Salvatore Carello. As an alternative, the union asked the city to pay each of the candidates a captain's salary of $93,188, compared to $77,288 for a sergeant. The city didnt promote any of the three until it could get a new civil service list to fill its vacant captain's post. French and Seney are among the top three, with Sgt. Steven M. Barker displacing Carello. The department has started its interview process. French is again the top-ranked candidate, but has been passed over since his fatal shooting of DWI suspect Edson Thevenin in April 2016. That incident is the subject of a pending federal civil rights lawsuit. The injuries to Bobby Ryan's body were not caused by debris falling on the skeleton when gardai removed the concrete lid covering the tank in which the body was found, a senior garda has told the Central Criminal Court. The trial of Patrick Quirke also heard that the accused man has no previous convictions and is not suspected of any other crimes. Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes has been answering questions in relation to the investigation from when Mr Ryan went missing in 2011 to the discovery of his body in 2013 and the opening of the murder trial in January 2019. Farmer Patrick Quirke (50) of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Mr Ryan went missing on June 3, 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home at about 6.30am. His body was found in an underground run-off tank on the farm owned by Ms Lowry and leased by the accused at Fawnagown, Tipperary 22 months later in April 2013. The prosecution has claimed Mr Quirke murdered Mr Ryan so he could rekindle an affair with Ms Lowry (52). In wide ranging cross examination Chief Supt Hayes told defence counsel Lorcan Staines SC that Mary Lowry told gardai that she gave the accused a cheque for 50,000 but when gardai investigated they discovered the cheque was for 20,000. He also agreed that gardai investigated whether Mr Quirke went to the Heritage Hotel in Laois on June 3, 2011, the day Mr Ryan went missing. They found that both Mr Quirke and his wife Imelda arrived at the hotel and stayed there for two nights, spending over 600. Mr Quirke's phone records showed that his phone pinged off masts in Portlaoise from 13.56 on June 3 until 16.50 on June 5, 2011. Mr Quirke, he further agreed, has no previous convictions and is not suspected of involvement in any crime. He was previously charged with two burglaries of Mary Lowry's home and with possession of a key but the DPP directed that gardai withdraw the charges. Going through the investigation Chief Supt Hayes also agreed that gardai discovered that the last time Bobby Ryan's phone pinged a mast was at 10.19am on the day of his disappearance. In July 2011 the investigation team requested a technical examination of Mary Lowry's home but the job was not done until after the body was discovered. Mr Staines suggested this was a "systems failure" but Chief Supt Hayes said there may have been no reason to do it. When Bobby Ryan's body was discovered the chief superintendent went to the scene and looked into the tank. From his view he thought the body was clothed and was surprised when he was later told that it was naked but for a wrist watch. Mr Staines asked him if, given the same scenario tomorrow, he would have consulted an entomologist at the scene when he saw flies on the body. He said he wouldn't and added that would be a matter for a pathologist. He said he doesn't know of any entomologist working in Ireland. Mr Staines asked if gardai had been "badly let down" by then Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber who did not go to the scene despite being requested. Chief Supt Hayes said the pathologist not being present had no negative impact on the examination of the scene. He said it is more the exception than the rule for pathologists to attend scenes and the best person to assist in removing the body was Detective Garda John Grant of the Scenes of Crime Unit who advised throughout the process. The investigation team decided that before removing the body they would have to remove a concrete slab that covered most of the tank. They did so with a mechanical digger. Chief Supt Hayes was present for that process and told Mr Staines that while "minor debris" fell when the slab broke, no large pieces of debris or concrete fell on Mr Ryan. When Mr Staines asked him why he didn't mention any of this in his statement he said it is not possible to anticipate questions that may arise during a prosecution. He said he was sure Mr Ryan's body was not injured during the removal other than the fact that his arm was detached when the body was lifted onto a sheet on the ground. He said again that no injuries occurred due to the lid being removed and added that it was "testament to the manner of the removal" that the detachment of the arm was the only damage done to the body. Pointing to a photo of the scene taken following the removal he said the lid sat on a sheet of corrugated iron and was reinforced with steel bars which, he said, "prohibits pieces of large debris falling on Mr Ryan." Mr Staines suggested there was another systems failure when fingerprints taken from Mr Ryan's van in 2011 were not tested against the accused man's prints or those of the Ryan family until earlier this year. Chief Supt Hayes said those prints should have been tested and responsibility for that lies with the fingerprint section at Garda headquarters. Mr Staines also asked the chief superintendent about Mary Lowry's phone which was examined in 2011 but gardai were unable to download its contents and so it was given back to her. Mr Staines asked if, with hindsight, it would be of assistance to the jury to see the contents of text messages between Mary Lowry and Bobby Ryan in the lead up to his disappearance. The witness said he is uneducated in information technology and is not in a position to answer the question. The chief superintendent agreed that it is "not ideal" that people who searched the farm at Fawnagowan in 2011 as part of the missing person investigation did not make statements about the search until 2013, after the body was recovered. Mr Staines will continue cross examining the witness on Friday in front of Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of six men and six women. [April 05, 2019] David Moradi Forms Sero Capital David Moradi, founder, investor and advisor to numerous market-leading technology companies, announced today the formation of Sero Capital, LLC (Sero), a private investment firm that focuses on growth opportunities in the technology sector. Mr. Moradi will serve as Managing Partner of the new firm. Sero will be based in Miami Beach, Florida and can be found at www.serocapital.com. Sero has already made a handful of investments so far in the technology space. Future investment activities for Sero will include: Founding and advising early stage companies Early to late stage venture capital Distressed/turnaround situations "We are thrilled to announce the launch of Sero, along with our new corporate website," said Mr. Moradi. "Through our unique entrepreneurial approach to investing we build upon 20 years of founding and developing successful companies and management teams. As we start this new chapter, the team at Sero is excited to leverage our public and private market expertise, identifying opportunities where underlying growth can be unlocked or accelerated by principals with industry experience." In August, 201, Mr. Moradi announced the formation of the David Moradi Foundation, a charitable foundation whose mission is to enable others to overcome barriers in their lives and pursue their dreams. The David Moradi Foundation will initially fund programs that focus on the underserved and underprivileged members of our community. The Foundation's two focus areas, established as funding priorities for strategic grant making, include Education and support for Military Veterans. For more information please visit https://www.davidmoradifoundation.com/. About Sero Capital, LLC Sero Capital is a private investment firm. Sero strategically partners with entrepreneurs, founders, and management teams to accelerate growth and improve operational execution. Since its inception, Sero has primarily focused on growth opportunities in the technology sector and has made significant financial investments in VR, SaaS (News - Alert), Education, and Enterprise Software. Sero's capital consists entirely of principal capital which allows for a long term approach to investing. The Sero Capital team is based in Miami Beach, FL. For more information please visit www.serocapital.com. About the David Moradi Foundation The mission of the David Moradi Foundation is to enable others to overcome barriers in their lives and pursue their dreams. Our current initiatives focus on the underserved and underprivileged members of our community, both in promoting access to education for all children and in assisting military veterans in their desire to lead fulfilling lives as civilians after their time of selfless service. For more information, please visit www.davidmoradifoundation.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005022/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 04, 2019] Nok Nok Labs Announces Successful Deployment of Biometric Authentication for Insurance Customers of Aflac Japan First Japanese cancer insurance provider partners with Fujitsu to deploy the Nok Nok S3 Authentication Suite SAN JOSE, California, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nok Nok Labs (Nok Nok), the trusted leader in next-generation authentication today announced that its partner Fujitsu Limited , has successfully deployed the Nok Nok S3 Authentication Suite (NNL S3 Suite) at Aflac Japan. Aflac Japan, which services over 15 million customers, was the first insurance provider to offer cancer insurance in Japan. Starting in December 2018, Aflac Japan customers have been able to utilize biometric authentication on their mobile devices to request "immediate payment service" for their cancer treatments, significantly reducing the time and efforts involved in the submission of paperwork required to prove their identity. Patients can now easily and securely log in and process insurance claims using any biometric authentication method of their choice, such as fingerprint or face recognition. The Aflac mobile application provides a fast, frictionless user experience paired with strong security that leverages FIDO global authentication standards. "Aflac is the first Japanese insurance provider to deploy a FIDO-certified solution, and we would like to continue collaborating with Nok Nok Labs to introduce it to banks, insurance industry and other industries," said Michihiko Ejiri, VP, Head of Portal Service Division, Service Technology Unit, Fujitsu Limited. Biometrics Research Group, Inc. estimates that the entire global marketplace for biometric solutions in the healthcare market will reach approximately US$5 billion by 2020. While adoption of biometric authentication is still in its infancy n the InsureTech field, recent deployments, including from Aflac, show the need for next generation authentication applied to insurance payments a service that requires both ease of use and security for end users and service providers. As has been seen from next generation authentication adoption in the e-commerce, online payments and banking verticals, these initial use cases will lead to broader adoption across all insurance segments as well. With the NNL S3 Suite, Fujitsu has provided Aflac customers with strong authentication to their mobile insurance payment application using any biometrics on their iOS and Android devices. The NNL S3 Suite also provides Fujitsu and their customers with a scalable method to authenticate users that is interoperable with their existing security environments and reduces or eliminates the reliance on usernames and passwords. "Insurance claim systems contain vital information that need to be secure, yet easily accessible for patients. We are pleased that Aflac chose to utilize the Nok Nok Labs technology through our partner Fujitsu, to enable strong and easy to use authentication that allows patients to process their claims with robust security, but with less burden to the end user," said Nok Nok Labs' CEO Phillip Dunkelberger. "Fujitsu should be commended for this very successful deployment with Aflac." To learn more or to try a free demo of the NNL S3 Suite, please visit https://www.noknok.com/products/s3-authentication-suite/. About Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. In November 1974, founded as a Japanese branch of a US life insurance company, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, launched the first cancer insurance. Currently, Aflac Japan has more than 24 million contracts from more than 15 million customers. On April 2018, changed from Japanese branch to Japanese corporation (Corporation), and took a new step as Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. please see www.aflac.co.jp . About Fujitsu Limited Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 140,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.1 trillion yen (US $39 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com . About Nok Nok Labs (Nok Nok) Nok Nok is the trusted leader in next-generation authentication providing simple, secure, scalable methods to authenticate users and devices. Delivering the most innovative authentication solutions in the market today, Nok Nok empowers global organizations to improve the user experience to access digital services, while meeting the most advanced privacy and regulatory requirements. The Nok Nok S3 Authentication Suite integrates into existing security environments to deliver a cost-effective, future-proof and standards-based authentication solution. Founded in Palo Alto, CA in 2012, the company has delivered unique inventions and innovations that are protected by an extensive US and global patent portfolio. As a founder of the FIDO Alliance and inventor of FIDO specifications, Nok Nok is the expert in deploying next generation standards-based authentication, and its industry leading customers and partners include DDS, Inc., Ericsson, Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi, Intuit, Lenovo, NTT DATA, NTT DOCOMO, OneSpan, SoftBank, T-Mobile, and ThreatMetrix. For more information, visit www.noknok.com. SOURCE Nok Nok Labs [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 04, 2019] Quality management according to ISO 9001 and the advantages for small and medium-sized companies COLOGNE, Germany, April 5, 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 ] [April 05, 2019] Bangalore to Host Education New Zealand's Official 'Study In New Zealand' Education Fair BENGALURU, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives From 20+ Institutes To Offer Students Free One on One Guidance Regarding Courses, Careers and Opportunities in New Zealand Estero New Zealand, an Education New Zealand recognised agent, is hosting the New Zealand Education Fair at Taj MG Road, Bangalore on April 7th. Navigus, an ed-tech company based out of Bangalore is also onboard as the technology partners for the event. Bangalore has emerged as a global tech hub and there is a huge demand for new age skills like data science, AR, VR & animation that can stand the test of global expectations. New Zealand universities require committed and driven students who can build upon the excellent infrastructure and world-class facilities they offer. Bangalore offers the most qualified and dedicated young student crowd fit. New Zealand was ranked Number 1 study abroad destination (education.com), Number 1 for preparing students for the future(The Economist) and number 2 least corrupt country in the world. These coupled with easy entry requirements, immigrant-friendly population and affordable costs make New Zealand one of the most sought after stuy destinations of 2019. The fair is unique as officials from ALL of the public and private universities from NZ are in attendance, along with officials from Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Education New Zealand, who will be present to interact with students and parents. This includes 8 NZ Universities (ranked among QS World 500 Universities), 9 Institutes of Technology and 7 Vocational Providers. Students gain information on various study options, higher education opportunities in New Zealand and what it is like to be an international student in New Zealand. "This fair provides a unique opportunity for students to come and interact with the representative directly from New Zealand, get the opportunity for on spot offers, scholarships, seminars and a whole lot more," says Kshitij Garg, Managing Director, Estero New Zealand. "Although pre-registrations are mandatory, it is completely free of cost. There are no restrictions but I would recommend students to carry 2 copies of their academic records and passport as a lot of universities are offering on-spot admissions and scholarships," added Garg, when asked what should students keep in mind before attending the fair. Students who plan to study overseas can take this opportunity to register for the event sending NZ7 to 56161. For more information, please visit : https://www.estero.co.nz/enzra-fair https://www.navigus.in/enzra About Us Navigus is an ed-tech startup based out of Bangalore with a major presence in North America, EU, South East Asia and Australia. Founded in 2016 by Shivansh, who is also an angel investor and first team member in Mobstac, an Accel portfolio technology company, in the field of IoT, Proximity marketing and Mobile Publishing, the holding company has already booked sales upwards of $1.8m and has 20,000+ users onboard. Navigus was awarded Best B2C EdTech Company of the year by EdTech Review 2019. Navigus is the official technology partner of the ENZRA fair. Media Contact Aditya Chaturvedi [email protected] +91-7411025266 Operations Manager Navigus [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Janus Henderson to Report First Quarter 2019 Results Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE/ASX: JHG) will announce its first quarter 2019 results on Thursday 2 May 2019 at 4am EDT, 9am BST, 6pm AEST. A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will be held at 8am EDT, 1pm BST, 10pm AEST. Those wishing to participate should call: From: United Kingdom 0800 358 6377 (toll free) US and Canada 800 239 9838 (toll free) Australia 1 800 573 793 (toll free) All other countries +1 323 794 2551 (this is not a toll free number) Conference ID 6246882 Access to the webcast and accompanying slides will be available via the investor relations section of Janus Henderson's website (www.janushenderson.com/ir). A webcast replay will be available for a period of at least seven days following the call. About Janus Henderson Janus Henderson Group (JHG) is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping investors achieve long-term financial goals through a broad range of investment solutions, including equities, fixed income, quantitative equities, multi-asset and alternative asset class strategies. Janus Henderson has approximately US$329 billion in assets under management (at 31 December 2018), more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 28 cities worldwide. Headquartered in London, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005016/en/ [April 05, 2019] TRX and Vistex Offer Rights Integration for TV Distributors Partnership allows sellers to send content avails direct to TRX platform LONDON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Vistex, the leading provider of rights and royalty software solutions, is pleased to announce its integration with TRX, the world's TV rights market solutions provider. With complete compatibility between Vistex and TRX, the solutions allow distributors to send up-to-date TV rights availability data from Vistex to the TRX platform. UK-based Jetpack Distribution was the first to utilize this new service, making their rights available on the TRX platform from the point of contract entry into their Vistex rights management software. Dominic Gardiner, CEO of global content producer and distributor Jetpack Distribution, said, "We have been clients of both TRX and Vistex for over 18 months, and this combined initiative allows our catalogue to be made available at literally the click of a buton. Having our catalogue on as many platforms is vital for us to invest in our content. The time-saving element is not to be understated." Phil Bird, head of sales at Vistex, elaborated, "Vistex and TRX have had a close working relationship for over two years. We have integrated two of our solutions with TRX. This has provided enormous confidence to companies such as the BBC, Jetpack, Lightning, Insight and Gusto, knowing that any rights information passing through from Vistex to TRX is accurate and up to date, which is the essence of good avails. Matt, Dan and the team at TRX were also a breeze to work with." Matthew Frank, CEO of TRX, added, "Being able to check instant avails online is a key feature of TRX, and this integration means that TRX is always displaying the correct rights picture to our 1000+ buyers. Working with Vistex has been quick and easy, and we look forward to integrating with many more Vistex clients in the future." At MIPTV April 8-11, Vistex will be exhibiting at Booths #P-1.B60/#P-1.C61. For more information, or to arrange a meeting at MIPTV, please contact: [email protected] About TRX TRX is an online software tool that enables TV rights buyers and sellers to connect and close deals in a highly efficient and cost-effective way. On TRX, licensing deals can be processed securely online from discovering and screening content, checking avails to negotiating rights and price through TRX's unique deal grid all the way through to signing a contract. TRX makes available thousands of hours of quality programming previously either difficult or impossible to access for many broadcasters. For sellers, TRX maximizes the value in their catalogues. For both buyers and sellers, TRX streamlines the whole deal-making process. TRX has been developed by experts from the worlds of TV distribution and technology and is a proprietary cloud-based software solution. TRX's customers include BBC Worldwide, Sky Vision, All3Media, Lionsgate, Studio Canal, Beta Films and Discovery. Executive chairman David Frank and CEO Matthew Frank were the founders of RDF Media and former CEOs of Zodiak Media and Zodiak Rights, respectively. Launched in 2016, TRX is a 100% owned subsidiary of Dial Square 86, a holding company established in 2015, and has raised 14m in funding to date. Further information can be found at www.trx.tv. About Vistex Vistex is a global enterprise software company headquartered in Chicago. The company is a pioneer in enabling organizations to better deploy their products and services through Go-to-Market programs. The software and services provided by Vistex help companies increase revenue and reduce costs with their business partners by managing trade, channel and vendor programs, pricing, performance incentives and rights & royalties. Optimized by industry and deployed on premise or in the cloud, enterprises are empowered with unprecedented visibility into the full life cycle of program performance through strategy, software, implementation, execution and analytics services. For more information, visit www.vistex.com. For more information, press only: Alex Dehnert, 847-490-0420, [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/510323/Vistex_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Superior Plus Announces April 2019 Cash Dividend and Upcoming Events Superior Plus Corp.: April 2019 Cash Dividend - $0.06 per share Superior Plus Corp. ("Superior") (TSX:SPB) today announced its cash dividend for the month of April 2019 of $0.06 per share payable on May 15, 2019. The record date is April 30, 2019 and the ex-dividend date will be April 29, 2019. Superior's annualized cash dividend rate is currently $0.72 per share. This dividend is an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes. Superior Plus 2019 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders Superior's Annual and Special Meeting of shareholders will be held at the Melinda Gallery, One King West Hotel & Residence, 1 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1A1 on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 12:00 PM EDT. A live audio webcast of the meeting, including a corporate presentation will be accessible from Superior's website at www.superiorplus.com under the webcasts section. About the Corporation Superior consists of two primary operating businesses: Energy Distribution includes the distribution of propane and distillates, and supply portfolio management; and Specialty Chemicals includes the manufacture and sale of specialty chemicals. For further information about Superior, please visit our website at: www.superiorplus.com. Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements that are based on Superior's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. In this news release, such forward-looking information and statements can be identified by terminology such as "to be", "expects", "annualized", and similar expressions. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to: future dividends which may be declared on Superior's common shares, the dividend payment, the tax treatment thereof, and the receipt of cash dividends. These forward-looking statements are being made by Superior based on certain assumptions that Superior has made in respect thereof as at the date of this news release, regarding, among other things: the success of Superior's operations; prevailing commodity prices, margins, volumes and exchange rates; that Superior's future results of operations will be consistent with past performance and management expectations in relation thereto; the continued availability of capital at attractive prices to fund future capital requirements; future operating costs; that any required commercial agreements can be reached; that all required regulatory and environmental approvals can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: the regulatory environment and decisions; non-performance of agreements in accordance with their terms; the impact of competitive entities and pricing; reliance on key industry partners and agreements; actions by governmental or regulatory authorities including changes in tax laws and treatment, or increased environmental regulation; adverse general economic and market conditions in Canada, North America and elsewhere; fluctuations in operating results; labour and material shortages; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Superior's public disclosure documents including, among other things, those detailed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Superior's management's discussion and analysis and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2018, which can be found at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted, forecasted or projected. Such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the above statements. Superior does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements or information contained herein, except as required by applicable laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005034/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] The World's First EV Solid-State Battery Pack Solution Won the Gold of the Edison Awards TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Edison Awards Ceremony, one of the biggest annual events for the innovative technology industry, was held on April 4th at the World Trade Center in New York, USA, where the technology giants gathered. Among the participants, the solid-state battery pack developed by ProLogium, a unicorn company specialized in solid-state battery, won the Gold for the category and became the only gold winner of exiting energy in Asia in the past 3 years, while DowDuPont won silver and Axalta won bronze. The founder of ProLogium, Vincent Yang and the Executive Managing Partner of SBCVC, Chauncey Shey attended the Award Ceremony. The Edison Awards, known as the "Oscar Award in Innovative Technology", has been around for 33 years. Every year, the judging panel of the Edison Awards selects and praises outstanding scientific research achievements of the year that exhibit the spirit of innovation, making the Awards one of the highest honors in the innovative technology industry around the world. Technology leaders like Apple, Tesla, GE, Lockheed Martin, etc. have been granted with the Awards. With battery being a fundamental science technology, it has significant impact on the whole vehicle performance, such as safety and mileage, thus next-generation battery tech is crucial to EV industry. Therefore, the focus of this industry is to create a safer battery with high energy density. And this is why ProLogium, the only company in the world with the capability of mass production of solid state lithium ceramic battery, becomes the industrial benchmark and the hot topic of investment sector. On top of that, in addition t successful mass production of solid state battery, ProLogium is the first company to integrate the battery pack with BiPolar+ technology and the mechanism tailor made for solid-state battery, thus creating a solution that has greatly simplified the cooling system, BMS system, and protection mechanism of battery pack to increase the space utilization rate of battery cell (assembly efficiency) to 75%, which is 35% higher than conventional battery pack. As a result, the volume of battery pack is reduced to 50% of conventional battery pack, weight is reduced by 30%, and the cost is reduced by 30% as well. This means that the driving distance of electric vehicle could be multiplied, EV can be a better replacement for gasoline car. Currently the samples of ProLogium's solid-state battery have been sent to first-tier car makers in the world and tested for the planning of cooperation. The sample car will be introduced in Q4 this year. This ambitious corporate doesn't stop here. ProLogium is opening up technology license to auto companies, battery makers and other related enterprises interested in investing in solid-state battery, aims to build the "Solid-State Lithium Ceramic Battery Alliance", approaching the highly competitive automotive battery market in short time by generating powers from licensee worldwide. In the end of March, ProLogium has signed an advanced licensing agreement with China's leading energy storage system manufacturer Narada Power Source, short-term goal is building 1Giga Wh plant. During the Ceremony, Vincent Yang said at the scene: "The BiPolar+ battery pack has gathered ProLogium's achievements in solid-state battery R&D over the past 12 years as well as the mechanism design created based on the characteristics of solid-state batteries. Our effort aims to improve the efficiency of battery pack through optimizing the stability and safety of solid-state battery. Currently, our proposed solution has been tested by several first-tier companies worldwide. The recognition from the judging panel of the Edison Awards further strengthened ProLogium's belief that our R&D achievements are disruptive and EV pack solution has high potential in commercialization. The Executive Managing Partner of SBCVC, Chauncey Shey, said in an interview: "In the field of new energy, most of the innovative technology R&D was led by national research institutions or laboratories. Now, startup companies like ProLogium who have led the industry in terms of battery technology, mass production and business operation are very rare. Therefore, we are hoping that ProLogium can be a leader in innovation not only for the solid-state battery industry, but also for the entire new energy industry." When talking about the entrepreneurial process, Vincent Yang mentioned that: "It is very difficult to make solid-state batteries. In the past few years, many people doubt that we can be successful. However, I know that we are on the right path. Even if I was laughed by 99% of people, I still have to move on. Now, as a startup company, ProLogium Corporation's technology and products have been recognized and won Gold Awards with these top industrial giants. Our next step is to keep going, realizing the industrialization and commercialization of solid-state battery." Contact: Abby +886-3-4521991#18803 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-worlds-first-ev-solid-state-battery-pack-solution-won-the-gold-of-the-edison-awards-300825345.html SOURCE ProLogium Technology [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Rainforest QA Appoints Allison Pickens to Board of Directors Rainforest QA, the leader in on-demand quality assurance (QA) solutions, today announced the appointment of Allison Pickens to its board of directors. Pickens, who currently serves as COO at SaaS (News - Alert) customer success company Gainsight, brings her years of experience helping companies develop industry-leading customer initiatives and success programs, and will support Rainforest through its next stage of growth. "The strides Allison has made through building up Gainsight's sales and customer success organizations through the years makes her a perfect fit for Rainforest as we continue putting the satisfaction of our customers first," said Fred Stevens-Smith, co-founder and CEO of Rainforest. "In the last three years, we've grown 3,000 percent and signed on more than 130 customers. We don't plan to slow down anytime soon, and customer retention is one crucial aspect to continue on this path. We look forward to Alison's contributions." Pickens' appointment follows a year of momentum for Rainforest, as the company scales to meet the demands of today's software delivery. In 2018, Rainforest raised $25 million in Series B funding, bringing the company's total raised funding to $41.2 million. Concurrently, the company expanded its core executive bench with appointments across IT, sales and marketing. "Rainforest is poised for big things," said Pickens. "Nearly every company today is a software company, and Rainforest's milestones prove its value in a market where companies need to rapidly to release new products and features without flaws." With her passion for helping SaaS companies during instrumenal stages of growth, Pickens also currently serves on the board of eCompliance and is a growth operating partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. Pickens has been a primary builder at Gainsight for the past five years, while also serving as chief customer officer to support customer efforts on teams across departments. Pickens started her career in management consulting for Fortune 500 companies while working at BCG, and later worked in private equity investing at Bain Capital. Pickens earned a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford University. Resources Rainforest QA: https://www.rainforestqa.com/ Twitter (News - Alert): https://twitter.com/rainforestqa LinkedIn (News - Alert): https://www.linkedin.com/company/rainforest YouTube (News - Alert): https://www.youtube.com/user/Rainforestapp Rainforest QA is hiring: https://www.rainforestqa.com/careers/ About Rainforest Rainforest is changing the way QA is done in an era of continuous delivery. Our on-demand QA solution improves the customer experience by enabling development teams to discover significantly more problems before code hits production. Hundreds of companies including Adobe (News - Alert), Oracle, and Solarwinds use Rainforest to automate their QA testing process and easily integrate it with their development workflow via a simple API. Headquartered in San Francisco, Rainforest is a 2012 Y Combinator graduate funded by Bessemer Venture Partners and SVB Capital among others. For more information, visit https://www.rainforestqa.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005048/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Bank of America Accelerates Financial Center Expansion and Modernization Efforts Bank of America continues to make significant investments to modernize more than half of its financial centers nationwide, along with its entire ATM network. The company also continues to expand its retail banking and small business services in new and existing markets. Financial center modernization - Bank of America has modernized more than 1,000 financial centers over the last three years, and today announced that an additional 1,500 will be modernized over the next three years - including 500 in 2019 - bringing its total to more than 2,500 modernized centers. The centers are being renovated with new technology and layouts that create a more interactive, inviting and comfortable atmosphere for clients whose needs often go beyond routine transactions. - Bank of America has modernized more than 1,000 financial centers over the last three years, and today announced that an additional 1,500 will be modernized over the next three years - including 500 in 2019 - bringing its total to more than 2,500 modernized centers. The centers are being renovated with new technology and layouts that create a more interactive, inviting and comfortable atmosphere for clients whose needs often go beyond routine transactions. Expansion in new and existing markets - Last year, Bank of America announced plans underway to open more than 500 new financial centers across its nationwide network. As part of this commitment, the company has opened 150 new centers over the last three years, and will open more than 350 over the next three years, including 90 this year, with many in new markets. - Last year, Bank of America announced plans underway to open more than 500 new financial centers across its nationwide network. As part of this commitment, the company has opened 150 new centers over the last three years, and will open more than 350 over the next three years, including 90 this year, with many in new markets. ATM enhancements and expansion - Today, the company also announced plans to add more than 2,700 enhanced ATMs to its network over the next three years. This year, the company will complete a multiyear effort to upgrade its current network of more than 16,000 ATMs, which feature the latest technology to help clients perform more types of transactions, such as choosing their preferred mix of bills when withdrawing cash, making credit card payments, and cardless access to accounts using a mobile device. "Designing the best client experience is a continuous process, and we've made great progress these last few years," said Dean Athanasia, president of Consumer and Small Business at Bank of America. "Although more clients are using our digital banking capabilities, many still visit our centers for in-person conversations about some of their more complex financial needs. Our redesigned centers make it easy for them to access banking, lending, small business and investing professionals for tailored solutions and advice on their life priorities and financial goals." Expanding in new and existing markets In addition to growing its retail banking presence in well-established markets, Bank of America is committed to expanding into new markets. Since 2016, the company has entered and continues to grow its presence in five states - Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Utah: Denver - Bank of America first brought retail banking services to this market more than five years ago and has since opened 20 centers, with another 12 set to open by 2021. Minnepolis - the company's first center was opened here in 2015, and since then, it has continued to grow its presence, expanding to 21 centers with another seven expected to open over the next two years. Indianapolis - having already opened nine centers in this new retail banking market since November 2017, the company plans to open as many as eight more locations over the next two years. Pittsburgh - Bank of America brought retail banking services to new and existing clients in this area last fall, and last month announced plans to expand its network with 13 financial centers open or set to open over the next two years. Salt Lake City - In January, the company further expanded its retail banking services with the opening of its first financial center in Salt Lake City, where it has a long history of serving clients - with plans to open at least 10 additional centers in this area over the next two years. "In order to be there when and where our clients need us, we've created a high-tech, high-touch experience across all channels, including our financial centers and state-of-the-art ATM network," said David Tyrie, head of Consumer Advanced Solutions and Digital Banking. "Adding to and enhancing our nationwide presence - a network that will soon cover more than 90 percent of the U.S. population - not only enables us to serve our clients in these areas more efficiently, but also helps drive local employment." Community financial centers connect with LMI neighborhoods Another important part of the bank's retail strategy is helping clients in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities meet the unique challenges in managing day-to-day finances, improving credit and building financial wellness. With approximately one-third of its financial centers and ATMs located in LMI neighborhoods, Bank of America has designated about 650 locations across the country as community financial centers. In addition to retail banking services, community financial centers offer access to tailored financial education, expert professionals, job opportunities, affordable homeownership solutions, and potential capital for small businesses. Community financial centers are equipped with free Wi-Fi for clients so they can access their mobile banking app without using their own data plan, and many offer access to lending officers and small business bankers. Many community financial centers also include enhancements such as local art and cultural exhibits prominently featured in the lobby; kiosks with interactive, self-guided financial education content; and conference rooms where clients can attend Better Money Habits financial education seminars in English and Spanish. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, including approximately 1,800 lending centers, 2,200 Merrill investment centers and 1,500 business centers; approximately 16,300 ATMs; and award-winning digital banking with more than 36 million active users, including over 26 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom. Click here to register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005212/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Customer Intelligence Can Help Bridge the Gaps in Your Customer Experience | Infiniti Research's Latest Blog Explains How A well-known customer intelligence solutions provider, Infiniti Research, has announced the completion of their recent free downloadable resource on bridging the gaps in customer experience through customer intelligence. This supplement provides detailed insights into customer intelligence and how companies can leverage it to enhance their customer experience, customer loyalty, and overall brand image. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005174/en/ Key metrics in customer intelligence. (Graphic: Business Wire) Increasing digitization has empowered both businesses and customers to interact with each other at multiple touch points. This also makes it easy to resolve the queries and grievances with ease and efficacy. As modern businesses are highly focused on identifying customer needs and enhancing customer experiences to outdo competitors, customers are now being placed at the crux of business strategies. Furthermore, social media and online review platforms have empowered the customers to share their views, opinions and experiences with a company or product. Any negative comment or experience could hamper the brand image of the company. Getting ready to know your customers better may prove to be a daunting task. Request Free Brochure to know how our customer intelligence solutions can help. Key customer intelligence metrics Sentiment Analysis: During customer interactions, it is essential for companies to understand the emotional state and behavior of the customer. Sentiment analysis involves analyzing the information that is usually in text format. This provides insights into customer opinions, demands, and emotional state. Through sentiment analysis businesses can assess customer reactions or emotions and provide immediate assistance, if necessary. Voice of Customer (VoC) Voice of the customer refers to the collective opinion of customers about a brand's product/ service. Brands can judge the success/ failure of their product or service by looking at whether customers are buying it or not. But that doesn't give a complete picture especially on factors such as improvements to be made to the current offering. Bringing VoC into the mixture and understanding their experiences and behavior, both qualitatively and quantitatively will give more insights about the brand's offerings and customer perceptions. Due to the dynamic market conditions, companies often face difficulties in gathering customer data. It becomes easier to track changing customer demands and expectations with an experienced market intelligence partner. Gain more insights into our service portfolio. Request a free proposal. Overall Satisfaction Rating Customer satisfaction should be assessed to identify if the products/services are successful in meeting customer expectations. For a product or service, the quality can be assessed easily based on the previous ratings of the customer. Public Shoutout Index There is a rapid increase in platforms where customers can share their views and opinions. It is also imperative to track social and online review channels to identify such customers who can have great impact on the business. Request for more information and know how we can help you leverage robust customer intelligence solutions that can tap into the market requirements and meet customer needs. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005174/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Saab to Deliver Radars for Royal Canadian Navy's Joint Support Ships Saab has received an order for delivery of Sea Giraffe AMB naval radars supporting the Royal Canadian Navy's new Joint Support Ships. Lockheed Martin Canada has placed the order. OTTAWA, Ontario, April 5, 2019 /CNW/ -- Lockheed Martin Canada, selected by prime contractor Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. is providing the command management system and integration for the Protecteur-class Joint Support Ships. Sea Giraffe AMB will form part of the command management system for the new ships. Saab will undertake the work in Gothenburg, Sweden and Halifax, Canada with deliveries between 2020 and 2022. "Sea Giraffe AMB is a highly capable and efficient radar platform that can be easily adapted and evolved to meet the specific operational needs of the Royal Canadian Navy customer; now and in the future," says Simon Carroll, President of Saab Canada. The Protecteur-class ships are a key part of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy and will be a flexible, multi-role, globally deployable and combat capable military platform able to conduct missions in both open-ocean and littoral environments. They will provide re-supply of fuel, ammunition, spare parts and other supplies between ships at sea and will be capable of transporting cargo, supporting operations ashore, and responding to threats in uncertain security environments. Saab has previously delivered naval radars to the Canadian Halifax-class frigates. www.saab.com www.saabgroup.com/YouTube Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defense and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers' changing needs. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/saab-to-deliver-radars-for-royal-canadian-navys-joint-support-ships-300825357.html SOURCE Saab [April 05, 2019] HiBid.com Hosting April 15th Estate Auction Featuring High-Value Asian Art, Collectibles & More OCALA, Fla., April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HiBid.com is hosting a webcast estate auction this month featuring 366 unique items, including high-value Asian artwork, paintings, sculptures, statues, antiques, and miscellaneous collectibles such as bowls, vases, and figurines. Ontario-based A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals will hold the live webcast auction on April 15th at 7 p.m. (EDT), and accept online bids from bidders registered through HiBid.com as well as live, in-person bids. Bidders can browse the online catalog for this auction to view all of the lots for sale. Auction Highlights Three Chinese Painted Fans featuring landscapes, flowers, birds, and calligraphy Two Framed Chinese Pith Painting Triptychs with Chinese New Year theme from the 19th century Tibetan Copper Monk's Hat Ewer (jug) from the 19th century Two Chinese Silvered & Enamelled Birds including statue depicting cranes and another depicting a cockatoo with jadeite and pearl flowers Persian Silver Kashkul Beggar's Bowl featuring birds, deer, trees, flowers, and vines Indo-Persian Khanjar Knife with Horn Handles and leather-covered wooden guard Thai Silver Ceremonial Bowl Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Planter featuring dragons, pearls, white cranes, and plants Japanese Bronze Okimono Figure of a Painter holding sterling silver brush Group of Six Yixing Clay Teapots with various designs and calligraphy engravings Bidders interested in attending the auction in person are invited to a public preview from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 14th, and from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 15th, at the auctioneer's main gallery on 1 William Morgan Drive in Toronto. Interested in receiving updates from HiBid? Sign up to receive newsletter emails, and follow HiBid Auctions on Facebook and LinkedIn. About HiBid & Auction Flex Auction Flex is the market-leader in auction software for live auctions, with capabilities that include cataloging, clerking, cashiering, accounting, mailing list management, inventory management, multi-parcel, and more. Auction Flex also provides a seamless solution that enables auction houses to upload auction catalogs online and accept internet absentee bids, conduct internet-only auctions, or offer webcast live internet bidding through its integrated web service and internet bidding solutionHiBid (both a private-label solution and a portal). Auction Flex and HiBid were built from the ground up to function together seamlessly. Contact Auction Flex (352) 414-1947 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hibidcom-hosting-april-15th-estate-auction-featuring-high-value-asian-art-collectibles--more-300825405.html SOURCE HiBid & Auction Flex [April 05, 2019] University of Texas Pharmacy Student Ryan Hoffart Wins Scholarship to Attend PCCA ACT Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. PCCA has selected University of Texas pharmacy student Ryan Hoffart as the 2019 recipient of its ACT Legislative Conference Scholarship for pharmacy students. The scholarship provides Hoffart with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference from April 9-10. PCCA also recognized Gerald Kamta, a student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy - Bradenton Campus, as the runner up. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005253/en/ University of Texas pharmacy student Ryan Hoffart wins scholarship to attend the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., April 9-10. (Photo: Business Wire) The winning essay, titled "Understanding the Importance of Compounding," was chosen from among 20 finalists. Hoffart wrote, "Without compounding pharmacists, many patients would lack the care or customized medications they desperately needMy passion and desire to protect our profession makes the ACT conference a great chance for a student pharmacist to make n impact on future legislation." PCCA President Jim Smith said, "Ryan shares our passion for patient access to personalized medications that make a difference in patients' lives. We're honored to have Ryan as our guest at the conference, and I look forward to watching him connect with legislators and our PCCA members." Hoffart is a first-year pharmacy student at the University of Texas at Austin. He completed his pre-pharmacy coursework at UT Austin before being accepted into pharmacy school. He has worked at an independent pharmacy since the age of 16 and continues to follow his dream of becoming a pharmacy owner. Hoffart is a member of the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) and the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), where he has been heavily involved in state and federal legislation. During the conference, Hoffart will be recognized before more than 50 ACT attendees and will have the opportunity to meet with lawmakers about the compounding profession, while learning how the current legislative and regulatory climate is impacting compounding and patients. In its inaugural year, the ACT Legislative Conference Scholarship Essay Contest was created and sponsored by PCCA Institute to encourage pharmacy students to engage in protecting patient access to compounded medications. PCCA Institute provides high-quality compounding training for pharmacy students around the country and promotes compounding as a fulfilling career path. ABOUT THE PCCA ACT LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE ACT stands for Action, Commitment, Time - which is what we need our member pharmacists to do to help protect the profession of pharmacy compounding. This is their opportunity to talk directly with lawmakers about our profession, and explain how the legislative and regulatory climate is impacting their pharmacy and patients. This year, more than 50 compounding industry representatives are expected to attend the event from April 9-10 in Washington, D.C. ABOUT PCCA PCCA helps pharmacists and prescribers create personalized medicine that makes a difference in patients' lives. As a complete resource for independent compounding pharmacists, PCCA provides high-quality products, education and support to more than 3,000 pharmacy members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. Incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists, PCCA has supported pharmacy compounding for more than 38 years. Learn more at www.pccarx.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005253/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] UnitedHealthcare to Continue Serving Arizonans Statewide Through the Department of Economic Security Division of Developmental Disabilities Health Plan The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) has selected UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona as one of the contractors to administer the DDD Health Plan for its members effective Oct. 1, 2019. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona offers comprehensive physical and behavioral health coverage - including preventive care, primary care, hospitalization, prescriptions and other services - often at low or no cost. Currently, the Community Plan of Arizona serves more than 18,000 people under the existing contract with the Department of Economic Security's Division of Developmental Disabilities. More than 34,000 Arizonans are eligible for this program. "For more than 35 years, UnitedHealthcare has provided quality health care coverage to Arizonans," said Joseph Gaudio, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona. "We appreciate the department's rigorous proposal process and look forward to continuing to serve the needs of our existing and new Medicaid plan participants statewide." In addition to 450,000 Medicaid and Medicare Dual Special Needs Plan beneficiaries, UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 1.9 million Arizonans enrolled in employer-sponored, individual and Medicare health plans. For more information, call 1-877-542-9238, TTY: 711, or visit uhccommunityplan.com/az. 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). Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005054/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] The Rite Aid Foundation Launches New Prescription Drug Safety Initiative in Portland-Area High Schools In an effort to help combat teen drug abuse and misuse in Oregon state, The Rite Aid Foundation is bringing the Prescription Drug Safety program, an innovative digital course about prescription drug abuse prevention, to Portland-area high schools. The program, developed by EVERFI, the nation's leading education technology innovator used in one in seven schools nationwide, will be made available to high schools in Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties at no cost. Representatives of The Rite Aid Foundation, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer and Centennial School District officials announced the launch of the new program today during a press conference and demonstration at Centennial High School. "The rise of prescription drug misuse and abuse is one of the fastest-growing drug problems in the United States, and it's having an adverse effect on the physical and mental health of our nation's young people," said Tracy Henderson, director of The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives. "We are proud to bring this important prevention program to Oregon students to educate them on the risks of prescription drug misuse and abuse and help combat this growing epidemic." According to an Oregon state audit completed in December 2018 by Secretary of State Dennis Richardson (News - Alert), Oregon ranks sixth for teen opioid drug use. This misuse or abuse of prescription drugs can lead to abuse of illicit drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. The Prescription Drug Safety program uses an evidence-based, public health approach to empower high school students with the skills and knowledge they need to make safe and healthy decisions about prescription drugs. Through interactive scenarios and self-guided activities, students learn the facts about drugs, how to properly use and dispose of them, and how to step in when faced with a situation involving misuse. The course is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Education Standards and state academic standards. According to the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon has one of the highest rates of prescription opioids misuse in the nation. Additionally, on average, five Oregonians die from opioid overdoses every week. While prescription opioid overdoses are declining, opioid overdose hospitalizations have slightly increased. "The opioid crisis continues to harm communities large and small across America," said U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), a member of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Health. "Every day that we delay addressing this epidemic, communities decline, families unravel, and lives are lost. We need to help our children understand prescription drug abuse and misuse in order to prevent it before it starts." Centennial High School is implementing the six-lesson online Prescription Drug Safety program as part of the health education program. Centennial is one of the first Portland-area schools to integrate the program into its curriculum. Over the next year, at least 20 high schools in the areaare expected to launch the program. "Educating our students must include addressing the challenges and real-world issues they face in their daily lives as members of our community, including prescription drug abuse and misuse," said Dr. Paul Coakley, superintendent of Centennial Public Schools. "This innovative, new program will enable us to prepare our students to make smart, healthy decisions about prescription drugs and empower them to be part of the solution to combatting this epidemic." In addition to the activation in Portland-area high schools, as part of its commitment to creating safe and healthy environments for children and teens, The Rite Aid Foundation, through its KidCents program, will also fund the introduction of the Prescription Drug Safety program to high schools in Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Washington and Ohio. In all, The Rite Aid Foundation made a $1.7 million commitment to the Prescription Drug Safety program, which is expected to reach more than 400 high schools. Through the KidCents program, members of Rite Aid's loyalty program, wellness+ rewards, can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and donate their change to KidCents. Members can also choose to direct their change to a specific KidCents charity by visiting www.kidcents.com. Through KidCents' Step Up Fund, The Rite Aid Foundation provides a matching donation of $500 for every $500 a charity raises in contributions through the wellness+ rewards program, up to a maximum of $5,000. For more information, visit www.kidcents.com. Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded more than $52 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $92 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994. Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with fiscal 2018 annual revenues of $21.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com. The Centennial School District builds authentic relationships with our diverse community that equitably engages and honors all voices. We intentionally implement rigorous, culturally relevant, and evidence-based practices to cultivate academic excellence for each student. EVERFI is the leading education technology innovator that provides learners of all ages education for the real world through scalable digital learning platforms. Founded in 2008, EVERFI is fueled by its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) subscription model and has certified over 25 million learners with more than 3,500 partners across 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. EVERFI is an industry convener that builds Networks that tackle the toughest social issues. These Networks include the Prescription Drug Safety Network, Campus Prevention Network, and the Financial Capability Network. Some of America's leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EVERFI investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Twitter founder Evan Williams (News - Alert), TPG Growth, The Rise Fund, Advance Publications, Rethink Education and Rethink Impact. To learn more about EVERFI visit www.everfi.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter @EVERFI. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005252/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Czech Animation, VFX & Games Report 2019: $163 Million Industry Strategies, Trends & Opportunities 2018-2020 DUBLIN, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Czech Animation, VFX & Games Industry: Strategies, Trends & Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Czech VFX and post-production industries have benefited from the country's film incentive program, which continues to lure major film and TV projects. Prague-based Universal Production Partners (UPP) is the country's leading post-production and VFX house. UPP has handled VFX services for shows such as Tyrant, The Musketeers, Marco Polo, Gods of Egypt and The Walk. Other studios such as Progressive FX have recently worked on productions such as Admiral and Best Offer. Animation studio Maur Film co-produced the experimental short Superbia, and The Tree by Lucie Sunkova. Sunkova's productions are based on a unique paint-on-glass technique, which is very labor intensive. Recent popular animation productions include Zoo Story by Veronika Zacharova, Happy End by Jan Saska, Jan Balej's Little From the Fish Shop. The Czech animation industry and television channels are dominated by American cartoons. This dominance has been a feature since the Disney productions, came to the Czech Republic. Disney films still have a dominant position in Czech children's culture. Consequently, locally produced Czech animation seems to be affected by the impact of external media markets and subsequent media saturation. American animated films have global reach as against European animation that always appeared somewhat independent and perhaps unconventional due to its thought-provoking content. Czech animation explores themes and contains sub-texts relative to national and political commentaries, which do not translate as readily to a global audience. The total value of the Czech games industry was US$ 163 million in 201 and is projected to reach US$ 197 million by 2020. Mobile & hand-held games are the fastest growing segment, followed by Console games. The PC games segment is the slowest growing segment. Key Topics Covered: European Animation Industry DEMAND FOR TV CONTENT Feature Film Industry in Europe MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING Trends in Europe COLLABORATION AMONG EUROPEAN STUDIOS DRIVERS FOR SUCCESS ANIMATION COST STRUCTURES IN EUROPE Animation Movie Budgets in Europe Strategies and Models for Animation financing in Europe ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES CENTRALISED ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES IN EUROPE Television Series Development in Europe PITCHING TELEVISION SERIES TO BROADCASTERS Copyright Chain in Europe Co-Production Strategies in Europe CONTRACTUAL ISSUES KEY RIGHTS IN CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENTS CO-PRODUCTIONS AND OUTSOURCING Distribution Strategies in Europe PRODUCER-DISTRIBUTOR CO-FINANCING PATTERNS 3D Market in Europe ADVANTAGES OF 3D DISADVANTAGES OF 3D Industry Constraints and Challenges Market size of European Animation, VFX & Games industry Animation Content demand by TV Channels in Europe European Animation & VFX industry Market Size European Games industry Market Size Animation, VFX & Games Industry in Czech Republic Industry evolution and key Animation Productions SUCCESSFUL CZECH ANIMATIONS Animation Film market in Czech Republic Recent Movie Trends in Czech Republic Key Animation Production Companies in Czech Republic Industry Drivers, Challenges & Opportunities Strategies for Animation Studios in Czech Republic Animation Funding in Czech Republic Value of Animation Industry in the Czech Republic Size of Animation Industry in Czech Republic Key statistics about Animation industry in Czech Republic Games Industry in Czech Republic KEY TRENDS IN THE CZECH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY VIDEO GAME BUSINESS MODELS IN CZECH REPUBLIC ONLINE VIDEO GAMING BUSINESS MODELS IN CZECH REPUBLIC Key Opportunities & Strategies for Czech Video Games Industry Video Games Market Segments MOBILE VIDEO GAMES SEGMENTS & GENRES Czech Video Games Market Size & Opportunity Companies Mentioned Disney Maur Film Sunkova For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vk6r6j/czech_animation?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/czech-animation-vfx--games-report-2019-163-million-industry-strategies-trends--opportunities-2018-2020-300825411.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] NASA Highlights Science on Next Northrop Grumman Mission to Space Station WASHINGTON, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 10, to discuss select science investigations and technology demonstrations launching on the next Northrop Grumman commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live online at: http://www.nasa.gov/live Northrop Grumman is targeting Wednesday, April 17, for the launch of its Cygnus spacecraft on an Antares rocket from pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. Pete Hasbrook, associate program scientist for the International Space Station Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and Patrick O'Neill, senior manager of marketing and communications for the station's National Lab, will provide an overview of the research and technology aboard Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft. Also participating in Wednesday's briefing are: Richard L. Hughson , Schlegel Research Chair in Vascular Aging and Brain Health and senior director of research at the University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, will discuss the Vascular Aging investigation, which analyzes ultrasounds of the arteries and wearable sensors of the space station crew members. , Schlegel Research Chair in Vascular Aging and Brain Health and senior director of research at the Research Institute for Aging, will discuss the Vascular Aging investigation, which analyzes ultrasounds of the arteries and wearable sensors of the space station crew members. Roberto Piazza , professor of condensed matter physics, Polytechnic University of Milan , will discuss the Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-10 (ACE-T-10) investigation, which tests gels in a microgravity environment. Knowledge gained from this investigation can be applied in efforts to grow increasingly complex materials used to build new materials and equipment in space. , professor of condensed matter physics, Polytechnic University of , will discuss the Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-10 (ACE-T-10) investigation, which tests gels in a microgravity environment. Knowledge gained from this investigation can be applied in efforts to grow increasingly complex materials used to build new materials and equipment in space. Trevor Castor , President and CEO of Aphios Corporation, will discuss Targeted Nanoparticles for Orphan and Chronic Diseases in a Microgravity Environment Using Green SuperFluids Technology (STaARS BioScience-11) investigation. Nanosomes or nanoparticle delivery systems are being studied for use in targeting chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer's and HIV. Nanoparticles created in microgravity are much smaller, enhancing drug uptake and delivery. This approach potentially reduces the required dose per treatment and decreases cost per dose. , President and CEO of Aphios Corporation, will discuss Targeted Nanoparticles for Orphan and Chronic Diseases in a Microgravity Environment Using Green SuperFluids Technology (STaARS BioScience-11) investigation. Nanosomes or nanoparticle delivery systems are being studied for use in targeting chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer's and HIV. Nanoparticles created in microgravity are much smaller, enhancing drug uptake and delivery. This approach potentially reduces the required dose per treatment and decreases cost per dose. Laura Shaw , International Space Station Program Lead for Exploration Life Support Systems, and John Garr , Exploration Life Support System Integrator, will discuss the Thermal Amine Scrubber, a technology that tests a method to remove carbon dioxide from air aboard the orbiting outpost. NASA will use the station as the testbed to evolve the station's life support system into an evolved system for use on Gateway to support missions to the Moon and eventually for Mars missions. , International Space Station Program Lead for Exploration Life Support Systems, and , Exploration Life Support System Integrator, will discuss the Thermal Amine Scrubber, a technology that tests a method to remove carbon dioxide from air aboard the orbiting outpost. NASA will use the station as the testbed to evolve the station's life support system into an evolved system for use on Gateway to support missions to the Moon and eventually for Mars missions. Brian Banker , Seeker deputy project manager, will discuss Seeker, a flying robot prototype to be used outside spacecraft to perform inspections. This investigation will take place after the Cygnus resupply spacecraft leaves the space station and will fly the robot on basic maneuvers to take high-resolution images of Cygnus. Gina Anderson at 202-358-1100 or [email protected] by 10 a.m. Tuesday , for dial-in information. The Cygnus spacecraft will carry crew supplies, scientific research and hardware to the orbiting laboratory to support the Expedition 59 and 60 crews for the 11th contracted mission by Northrop Grumman under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract. For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-highlights-science-on-next-northrop-grumman-mission-to-space-station-300825529.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of Nokia Corporation Investors (NOK) Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces an investigation on behalf of Nokia (News - Alert) Corporation ("Nokia" or the "Company") (NYSE: NOK) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. 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 888-73-9224, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. On March 21, 2019, the Company disclosed that it had been "made aware of certain practices relating to compliance issues at the former Alcatel Lucent business [acquired by Nokia November 2016] that have raised concerns." Nokia then advised investors that it had initiated an internal investigation and that it was cooperating with regulatory authorities to resolve the matter. On this news, shares of Nokia fell $0.38 per share, or over 6%, to close at $5.88 on March 22, 2019, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Nokia securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and the 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/20190405005412/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of First Choice Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Investors (FCHS) Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces an investigation on behalf of First Choice Healthcare Solutions, Inc. ("First Choice" or the "Company") (OTC: FCHS) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. 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 November 14, 2018, both a criminal indictment and civil action were filed by the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission respectively against then-Chief Executive Officer, President, and Board Chairman Christian Romandetti, Sr., along with other alleged co-conspirators. Romandetti was charged regarding his connections with the arrangement of a multimillion-dollar pump-and-dump scheme in which the price and volume of First Choice shares was falsely controlled through artificial generation of trading volume and price movements as well as materially false representations and omissions in communications with investors. On this news, shares of First Choice fell $0.66 per share, or over 65%, to close at $0.35 on November 15, 2018, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased First Choice securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and the 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/20190405005416/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Unified Products and Services Announces an Agreement with iSIGN Media Corp IRVINE, Calif., April 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unified Products and Services, a leader in cloud-based notification platforms that monetize guest Wi-Fi architectures, is pleased to announce it has signed a three-year agreement to be a reseller of iSIGN Media Corp. (TSX-V: ISD) (OTC: ISDSF) and their emergency notification and marketing technologies. Unified currently provides Wi-Fi advertising and push notifications platforms for the retail, hospitality, municipality sectors to deliver mobile device and website marketing. Unified's platforms allow for proximity and Wi-Fi messaging to mobile devices while continuing the customer link to the website with permission-based desktop notifications. "The iSIGN Media architecture will allow us to extend our customer service buy, adding a valuable layer to our proximity marketing platform, while opening up a completely new service opportunity with emergency notification capability, that iSIGN Media calls SAM (Security Alert Messaging). iSIGN's ability to notify on-premise patrons of an active emergency situation goes far beyond the value of marketing efforts that will come from the system," according to Kevin Dailey, CEO of Unified Products and Services. Unified has already identifed domestic and international opportunities in a variety of facilities that include, malls, schools, and governments. One such opportunity includes a national emergency notification platform that would represent a first-of-its-kind implementation. "Marketing is important to any growing business but it pales in comparison to assist in life-saving efforts in areas subject to rapid climate events and terrorist threats. iSIGN has developed a platform flexible enough to accommodate both applications without sacrificing market-leading performance. Its value proposition is quickly absorbed by end-users and that can lead to shorter sales cycles." Unified Products and Services, founded in 2009, is a leader in cloud-based notification platforms that monetize guest Wi-Fi architectures and is located in Irvine, California. www.unified.ph iSIGN media, based in Toronto, Canada, is a data-focused, software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that is a pioneer in gathering point of sale data and mobile shopper preferences to generate actionable data and reveal valuable consumer insights. iSIGN has leveraged its technological expertise to become the leading provider of interactive, mobile advertising and public security alert solutions. Partners include IBM, Keyser Retail Solutions, Baylor University, Verizon Wireless, TELUS, Mtrex Network Solutions, Conservaco, and Hi-Tek Media www.isignmedia.c om For Unified Products and Services Media Inquiries: Kevin Dailey Phone: 855-855-9804 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The 2019 Year of Tourism for China Pacific Island Countries have been launched in Apia, capital of Samoa, to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties. Mr. Luo Shugang, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, attended the event, calling for closer cultural and personnel exchanges. The Deputy Prime Minister Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa stated in the opening speech that China Pacific Tourism Year is a milestone achievement benefited from the attendance of South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) in a high-level dialogue of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, 2017. It offers a great opportunity for Pacific island countries to showcase their stunning natural landscapes, sandy beaches, unique culture and friendly people to the Chinese tourist market. Ms. Mataafa acknowledged Chinas role as the 7th largest tourism source market of Pacific Island countries with more than 125, 000 Chinese visitors a year, China remains an important target for tourism growth in the Pacific over the coming years gave its numbers and spending power of the Chinese travellers, she said. Christopher Cocker, who is the Chief Executive Officer of SPTO, points out the Pacific island nations welcome Chinese tourists. Nineteen member countries are trying to find their own unique selling points and the unique culture to attract Chinese tourists. Samoan Tourism Authority (STA) Chief Executive Officer Papalii Sonja Hunter also said in an interview that the launch of tourism year marks an important chapter in Samoas tourism calendar as it officially categorized the country as a tourism destination for Chinese visitors. We, as Samoans, have DNA connections with China as some Samoans have blood relationship with Chinese. We are ready and welcome them to visit our beautiful country, she said. [April 05, 2019] First BanCorp to Announce 1Q 2019 Results on April 24, 2019 First BanCorp. (the "Corporation") (NYSE: FBP), the bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico, announced today that it expects to report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, before the market opens on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. First BanCorp will hold a conference call and live webcast to discuss the financial results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. The call and webcast will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the investor relations section of the Corporation's website: www.1firstbank.com. p> Listeners are recommended to go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary software. The call may also be accessed through a dial-in telephone number 877-506-6537 or 412-380-2001 for international callers. Following the webcast presentation, a question and answer session will be made available to research analysts and institutional investors. A replay of the webcast will be archived in First BanCorp's website until April 24, 2020. A telephone replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call through May 24, 2019 at 877-344-7529 or 412-317-0088 for international callers. The replay access code is 10130506. About First BanCorp First BanCorp. is the parent corporation of FirstBank Puerto Rico, a state-chartered commercial bank with operations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Florida, and of FirstBank Insurance Agency, LLC. Among the subsidiaries of FirstBank Puerto Rico are First Federal Finance Limited Liability Company and First Express, Inc., both small loan companies, and FirstBank Puerto Rico Securities Corp., a broker-dealer subsidiary. First BanCorp's shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FBP." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005447/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Finland Animation, VFX & Games Industry Report 2019: $322 Million Strategies, Trends & Opportunities Report 2019 DUBLIN, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Finland Animation, VFX & Games Industry: Strategies, Trends & Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The animation industry in Finland is vibrant with several active smaller production companies and independent filmmakers, many combining the production of independent as well as commissioned productions. Finnish animation industry has adopted new digital animation technologies and the industry's output is diverse with productions targeted at television, cinema, games, mobile phones and the internet. There is a wide spectrum of animation makers, studios and projects which form part of the Finnish animation industry. Half of the work force work in mid-large size animation studios and the rest of the half work with small animation companies or on a freelance basis. There are numerous active game production companies and independent filmmakers, who combine producing independent films and commissioned work. Several animators are actively working on collaborations with international co-productions. Finnish animation has many talented young artists with several animation students graduating from the art academies every year. The Finnish animation industry has several animation productions in production and development. The industry is actively exploiting animation IP across games, books, toys, soft drinks, apparel, and educational applications, which is opening up new global audiences and markets. The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has established Finnanimation, a non-profit association formed by Finnish animation producers in 2005 which carries out various promotional and cultural export activities globally. Finnanimation, the network of Finnish animation prodcers, has played a key role in spreading the awareness of Finnish animation globally over the last ten years including Mifa, Asia TV Forum (Singapore), Rio Content Market, Kidscreen and Sichuan TV Festival. The total value of the Finnish games industry was US$ 266 million in 2017 and is projected to reach US$ 322 million by 2020. Mobile & hand-held games are the fastest growing segment, followed by Console games. The PC games segment is the slowest growing segment. Key Topics Covered: European Animation Industry DEMAND FOR TV CONTENT Feature Film Industry in Europe MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING Trends in Europe COLLABORATION AMONG EUROPEAN STUDIOS DRIVERS FOR SUCCESS ANIMATION COST STRUCTURES IN EUROPE Animation Movie Budgets in Europe Strategies and Models for Animation financing in Europe ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES CENTRALISED ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES IN EUROPE Television Series Development in Europe PITCHING TELEVISION SERIES TO BROADCASTERS Copyright Chain in Europe Co-Production Strategies in Europe CONTRACTUAL ISSUES KEY RIGHTS IN CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENTS CO-PRODUCTIONS AND OUTSOURCING Distribution Strategies in Europe PRODUCER-DISTRIBUTOR CO-FINANCING PATTERNS 3D Market in Europe ADVANTAGES OF 3D DISADVANTAGES OF 3D Industry Constraints and Challenges Market size of European Animation, VFX & Games industry Animation Content demand by TV Channels in Europe European Animation & VFX industry Market Size European Games industry Market Size Animation, VFX & Games industry in Finland Recent Movie Trends in Finland Industry evolution and key Animation productions Globally successful Finnish animations Government Support Games Industry in Finland KEY TRENDS IN THE FINNISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY VIDEO GAME BUSINESS MODELS IN FINLAND ONLINE VIDEO GAMING BUSINESS MODELS IN FINLAND Key Opportunities & Strategies for Finnish Video Games Industry Video Games Market Segments MOBILE VIDEO GAMES SEGMENTS & GENRES Finnish Video Games Market Size & Opportunity For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xhvf3w/finland?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/finland-animation-vfx--games-industry-report-2019-322-million-strategies-trends--opportunities-report-2019-300825467.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Avii, Provider of Avii Workspace Practice Management Platform, Announces Advisory Board Avii (www.Avii.com), a fast-growing provider of Avii Workspace, the first true SaaS (News - Alert) Hub platform for tax, audit, advisory, management consulting and compliance practices, is pleased to announce the formation of its formal Advisory Board. At present, the board includes eight industry leaders and changemakers who are supporting Avii's leadership through strategic analysis and consultation on market research, product development, sales, channel expansion and growth funding. The founding members of the board include the following: Kent Thomas - Retired; Board member; Advisor; Former CPA and President of the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants (UACPA); Founder and former CEO of Advanced CFO, a leading outsourced financial and accounting provider for small to medium businesses that has served more than 900 businesses and participated in raising more than $1.5B in equity, debt and lease financing; Notable clients included Ancestry.com, SkullCandy, SimplyMac, Stance, Control4. Jan Newman - Partner of SageCreek Partners, consulting solar, software and technology firms with expertise in all aspects of starting and directing high-growth businesses including strategic direction, fund raising, mergers and acquisitions. Jan's executive career began with his role of Executive Vice President for Novell (News - Alert) during the company's highest years of growth from 1990-1994. Since Novell, Jan has been founder or a significant contributor to multiple high-tech companies, including KeyLabs, Altiris (News - Alert), Vivint Solar, AviaCode, CentralLogic, AboutTime Technologies, IMSAR and Workfront. Greg Butterfield - Founder and Managing Partner of SageCreek Partners, a consulting organization that helps amazing companies reach their potential. Greg is a renowned serial entrepreneur with a direct role in Vinca, Altiris, Symantec, Omniture, Domo, Vivint Solar, Workfront, Venafi, Cybage and LGCY Power. He was invited to the 2006 World Economic Forum as an industry pioneer and named winner of the 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Jeff Bickel - CPA; Managing Partner of Tanner LLC, a top 150 public accounting firm that specializes in audit, tax and other consulting services including transaction advisory, leadership consulting and cybersecurity services. Jeff specializes in tax advisory services to public and private companies in industries including technology, hospitality, manufacturing, medical device, pharmaceutical and services. Jeff was named one of Accounting Today's Managing Partner Elite in 2017. Cheryl Snapp Conner - Founder and CEO of SnappConner PR (News - Alert). Cheryl is an expert in high-impact communications and thought leadership who has provided strategy counsel and led communications programs for a myriad of executives and companies that include many of the technology industry's best-known executive leaders and leading technology companies, including Novell, Altiris, Lexmark, Nearmap, Veriato and InsideSales.com. Ken Knapton - Senior Vice President and CIO at Merrick Bank; Founder and Principal of Rocky Mountain CIO advisory. Ken is recognized for evangelizing the strategic alignment between an organization's long-term business goals and their Information Systems and Technology implementations. He has significant expertise and federal government level experience in data security, transfer, storage and forensics. Ken holds dual degrees including an MBA from BYU and a Masters of Information Technology from Walden University, where he is currently a doctoral candidate. Ken holds three U.S. patents for his early work on enterprise security applications. He brings more than 20 years of experience consulting with companies of all sizes as either a fulltime or outsourced CIO. Galen Murdock - Founder and Chairman of Veracity Solutions, a software development consulting company for clients including Ancestry, Microsoft, Logitech, GE Healthcare and Lumeris. Galen significantly contributed to the evolution of the Agile (News - Alert) development process, and to the growth of the software industry in Silicon Valley and Silicon Slopes. With more than 25 years of experience building world-class teams, innovative products and profitable companies across healthcare, finance and education, Galen has helped create more than 500 products for more than 200 companies. He also holds a personal vision of making radical improvements to healthcare within the U.S. Brad Hansen - Founder and Principal of Hansen Management Consulting, a business growth consultancy specializing in transforming high growth companies into a sustainable business model and culture. Former CEO of GoEngineer during the company's highest years of growth from 2010-2018, during which revenues soared from $18M to $100M. Brad is recognized as a highly effective driver of successful cultures, growth acceleration and enterprise stabilization. "I am pleased to formally introduce our board of industry experts," said Lyle Ball, Avii co-founder and CEO. "The impact of these leaders is already at play in our progress and expansion. With their insight and assistance, we have delivered a strong foundational platform to our clients and look forward to achieving our innovative vision for Avii in 2019 and beyond." About Avii Avii provides tax, audit, advisory, management consulting and compliance organizations with an integrated suite of most-required practice management resources. Avii Workspace is the first true SaaS Hub, an end-to-end practice management platform that provides native functionality; interconnects required or preferred SaaS and internal systems that allow API connectivity; and eliminates redundant SaaS products with their associated logins, passwords and additional costs. Avii Workspace gives consultants and clients a single portal and a unified workspace for the functions that drive consistent workflow, business intelligence and communication to propel business success. For more information about the Avii Workspace platform, visit www.Avii.com. Avii is headquartered in Silicon Slopes. Avii, Avii Workspace, the Avii logo and SaaS Hub are copyrighted as the exclusive intellectual property of Avii. #PracticeManagementPlatform #CloudERP #AppliedAI #BigData #SaaSHub #tax #audit #advisory #compliance #siliconslopes #techsummit View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005474/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Denmark Animation, VFX & Games Markets, 2018-2020 DUBLIN, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Denmark Animation, VFX & Games Industry: Strategies, Trends & Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The first Danish animated full-length feature film Fyrtjet (The Magic Tinderbox) was produced in 1942. In 2002, the animated feature Drengen der ville gore det Umulige (The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Bear) opened in 100 French cinemas. It received a special mention of the jury at Berlin Film Festival, praising it as a masterpiece of animation, powerful, unique and of simple beauty. Animation Workshop has been a vital part in the process of developing the Danish animation Industry. Over the past several years the 2-4 semester Course in Classical Animation has been the training ground for hundreds of animation professionals. The animation Workshop exerts a continuous effort to supply the Northern European animation businesses with vocational training possibilities, by arranging seminars and events focused on highly specialised skills. Denmark places a very high importance on the development of children and the youth and nurtures a child's right to experience art. Danish film policy has been formed with the objective of developing a film culture for children. Since the year 1982, the Danish Film Act has earmarked 25% of all government film subsidies to films for children and youth. This policy has boosted the quantum content creation for children and youth and has resulted in high quality content. This has also resulted in the creation of content which is of the form of storytelling for children using original stories from everyday life. The Danish games market is growing at a fast pace and revenues touched US$ 275 million in 2018 and is projected to reach US$ 332 million by 2020. Mobile & hand held games is the fastest growing segment, followed by PC and Console games. Key Topics Covered: European Animation Industry DEMAND FOR TV CONTENT Feature Film Industry in Europe MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING Trends in Europe COLLABORATION AMONG EUROPEAN STUDIOS DRIVERS FOR SUCCESS ANIMATION COST STRUCTURES IN EUROPE Animation Movie Budgets in Europe Strategies and Models for Animation financing in Europe ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES CENTRALISED ANIMATION FUNDING AGENCIES IN EUROPE Television Series Development in Europe PITCHING TELEVISION SERIES TO BROADCASTERS Copyright Chain in Europe Co-Production Strategies in Europe CONTRACTUAL ISSUES KEY RIGHTS IN CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENTS CO-PRODUCTIONS AND OUTSOURCING Distribution Strategies in Europe PRODUCER-DISTRIBUTOR CO-FINANCING PATTERNS 3D Market in Europe ADVANTAGES OF 3D DISADVANTAGES OF 3D Industry Constraints and Challenges Market size of European Animation, VFX & Games industry Animation Content demand by TV Channels in Europe European Animation & VFX industry Market Size European Games industry Market Size Animation, VFX & Games industry in Denmark Recent Movie Trends in Denmark Challenges Strategies for Animation Studios in Denmark Value of Animation Industry in Denmark Size of Animation Industry in Denmark Animation Co-Production in Denmark Animation Funding in Denmark Animation Studios in Denmark Video Games Industry in Denmark KEY TRENDS IN THE DANISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY DANISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY STRUCTURE VIDEO GAME BUSINESS MODELS IN DENMARK ONLINE VIDEO GAMING BUSINESS MODELS IN DENMARK DANISH VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN MOBILE GAMES INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN IN DENMARK Key Opportunities & Strategies for Danish Video Games Industry Video Games Market Segments in Denmark MOBILE VIDEO GAMES SEGMENTS & GENRES IN DENMARK Danish Video Games Market Size & Opportunity For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ksrtq3/denmark?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/denmark-animation-vfx--games-markets-2018-2020-300825496.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 05, 2019] Global Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences Market to 2024 - Rising Adoption Of AI In The Field Of R&D & Increasing Demand for AI in Drug Discovery DUBLIN, April 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Artificial Intelligence in Life Sciences Market was valued at USD 902.1 million is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 21.1% during the forecast period (2019-2024). Although artificial intelligence has been in the market in the late 1950s, the technology has become commercially accessible in the past few years. The primary reason for this accelerated growth in recent years is the massive availability of data in the life sciences sector. As AI operates on large sets of data, the availability of such data becomes a key factor for establishing a suitable environment for the growth of AI-based solutions. With innovations in mobile technology and sensors, even the present day's wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers, have enough computing power to generate and process vast amounts of data. In fact, according to the recent estimates of Consumer Technology Association, a prominent standard and trade organization for the consumer electronics industry based in the United States, health and fitness trackers accounted for more than 47% of the wearables devices sold in 2017. This scenario coupled with several medical devices used in healthcare sector generates huge sets of data that could make use of AI to derive useful results. AI is increasingly becoming popular in drug discovery, personalized medicine, biotechnology, and clinical trials. With increasing healthcare spending in almost all parts of the world, the pharmaceutical industry has been involved in extreme R&D activities in the past few years. Scope of the Report Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a highly data-driven technology. In the life sciences sector, it is generally employed to make meaningful relations from loosely coupled data. With the advent of the third wave of AI, it is estimated that advanced AI solutions in the current market scenario can learn and evolve as they are being used. Key Market Trends Clinical Trails to Hold Significant Share Clinical trials are one of the most data-intensive tasks in the life sciences industry. They generate vast sets of data every day monitoring several variables of a patient under observation. Subjecting these data sets to intelligent AI algorithms can help the researchers to screen meaningful correlation even between loosely coupled data. This is encouraging many pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations to invest in technologies, like artificial intelligence. In the current market scenario, rapid adoption of AI is widely seen in the pharmaceutical sector, who are responsible for almost 50% of the clinical trials conducted globally every year. Novaris claims that the deployment of QuantamBlack's solutions has reduced patient enrolment times by 10-15%. Additionally, as of March 2018, the company has entered a partnership with IBM to make use of IBMs AI platform, IBM-Watson, to improve clinical trial recruitment, and make use of intelligent AI algorithms to predict medication efficacy. Such initiatives are encouraging many companies to invest in AI solutions tailor-made for clinical trials. Many prominent companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Pfizer Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, and Genentech among others, are investing in AI-based clinical trails startups and solutions to make clinical trials more affordable. India to Exhibit Highest Growth India , the third-largest pharmaceutical market in Asia , is increasingly gaining much-needed government focus on expanding affordable health care. As part of the Union Budget FY19, the government announced the world's largest National Health Protection Scheme, for which the government set aside an investment worth USD 307.6 million , to provide coverage of up to USD 7,690 per year, to 500 million people belonging to financially vulnerable households, for the treatment of serious ailments. Simultaneously, AI and machine learning have already started penetrating various industries across India , with healthcare being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI revolution. According to a report by CIS India published in 2018, AI could help add USD 957 billion to the Indian economy by 2035. In the July- September 2017 quarter, around 16 Indian healthcare IT companies received funding. The adoption of AI in life sciences in India is being driven by the likes of Microsoft, and a slew of health-tech startups. Competitive Landscape The artificial intelligence in the life sciences market has been gaining a competitive edge in recent years. In terms of market share, few of the major players currently dominate the market. These major players with a prominent share in the market are focusing on expanding their customer base across foreign countries. These companies are leveraging on strategic collaborative initiatives to increase their market share and increase their profitability. In Oct 2018 , Lifegraph launched their new app on the Google Play Store. It uses AI in the core to forecast the state of patient health. The app named Lifegraph - AI technology for migraine management, was launched to help track changes in the behavior and weather throughout the day and, using machine learning, predicts an imminent attack for actionable self-care. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Introduction to Market Drivers and Restraints 4.3 Market Drivers 4.3.1 Rising Adoption Of Ai In The Field Of R&D 4.3.2 High Emphasis On The Development Of Precision Medicine And Personalized Drugs 4.3.3 Increasing Demand For AI In Drug Discovery 4.4 Market Restraints 4.4.1 High Initial Costs And Concerns Over The Replacement Of Human Workforce 4.5 Technology Snapshot 4.6 Industry Attractiveness Porters Five Force Analysis 4.6.1 Threat of New Entrants 4.6.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers 4.6.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.6.4 Threat of Substitute Products 4.6.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 By Application 5.1.1 Drug Discovery 5.1.2 Medical Diagnosis 5.1.3 Biotechnology 5.1.4 Clinical Trails 5.1.5 Precision and Personalized Medicine 5.1.6 Patient Monitoring 5.2 Geography 5.2.1 North America 5.2.1.1 US 5.2.1.2 Canada 5.2.2 Europe 5.2.2.1 Germany 5.2.2.2 UK 5.2.2.3 France 5.2.2.4 Rest of Europe 5.2.3 Asia Pacific 5.2.3.1 China 5.2.3.2 Japan 5.2.3.3 India 5.2.3.4 South Korea 5.2.3.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific 5.2.4 Rest of the World 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 IBM Corporation 6.1.2 NuMedii Inc. 6.1.3 Atomwise Inc 6.1.4 Lifegraph 6.1.5 Cyrcadia Health Inc. 6.1.6 Numerate Inc. 6.1.7 Sensely Inc. 6.1.8 Sophia Genetics SA 6.1.9 Insilico Medicine Inc. 6.1.10 Enlitic Inc. 6.1.11 APIXIO Inc. 6.1.12 Zebra Medical Vision 6.1.13 Lifegraph Limited 6.1.14 twoXAR Inc. 6.1.15 AiCure LLC 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS 7.1 Investment Scenario For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/t5jjc9/global_artificial?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 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-artificial-intelligence-in-life-sciences-market-to-2024---rising-adoption-of-ai-in-the-field-of-rd--increasing-demand-for-ai-in-drug-discovery-300825497.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In the race to build 5G networks, T-Mobile 5G has raced to the head of the pack, with a nationwide reach and improving speeds as it integrates former rival Sprint into its network. Other carriers may have beaten T-Mobile to the punch with launching 5G two years ago, but T-Mobile was the first to throw the switch on a 5G network that stretched across the country. It's only expanded coverage since then, while adding more 5G-ready phones to its inventory. T-Mobiles 5G plans were well underway before the Sprint-T-Mobile merger became official during 2020, but adding Sprints 5G to its own network has certainly aided T-Mobiles effort to enhance 5G performance, as it uses Sprint's mid-band spectrum to speed up its own 5G performance. That's helped T-Mobile boost its unlimited data plans, offering truly unlimited data with its most expensive plan while also offering 5G through one of the cheaper plans out there. Heres a closer look at what you can expect from T-Mobile 5G and what the carrier is planning going forward. T-Mobile 5G bands: How they work T-Mobile is using what it calls a layer cake approach to 5G, turning to different technologies to build out a far-reaching network with improved speeds and latency. Thus far, the focus has been on using sub-6GHz spectrum, which has an extensive reach, but only modestly faster speeds than LTE. This approach has formed the backbone of the nationwide 5G coverage T-Mobile launched in late 2019. (More on that below.) T-Mobile calls this coverage Extended Range 5G. After its long-delayed merger with Sprint finally closed in 2020, T-Mobile began repurposing Sprints mid-band spectrum into its own network. Thats improving 5G performance in some of the cities that T-Mobile covers. "Together with Sprint, we're the only ones who can build 5G with breadth and depth," now-CEO Mike Sievert said at a November 2019 event detailing 5G initiatives under the new T-Mobile. This faster coverage is known as Ultra Capacity 5G. (Image credit: T-Mobile) T-Mobile also is eyeing millimeter wave (mmWave) technology to build out its 5G network, with some coverage in a handful of cities. Thats a stark contrast to rival Verizon, which made mmWave-based 5G the center of its initial 5G rollout efforts. As a result, Verizons 5G speeds were much faster during the last, but its initial network didn't reach as far as T-Mobiles. (That's changed somewhat, after Verizon launched nationwide 5G coverage of its own in the fall of 2019.) As fast as mmWave is, it cant penetrate obstacles like walls and windows that means T-Mobiles slower network can reach indoors while Verizons has a more difficult time. (Image credit: OpenSignal) Its no surprise, then, that T-Mobile leads other carriers in 5G availability. As of April 2021, testing firm Opensignal says that T-Mobile's 5G availability has reached 33.1%. That's up from 22.5% in June 2020. More important, it's ahead of T-Mobile's rivals. T-Mobile 5G coverage map After flipping on some mmWave-based coverage in a half-dozen cities by mid-2019, T-Mobile turned its focus to using its sub-6 GHz spectrum to create a nationwide network. In December 2019, that network launched covering 5,000 cities and 200 million people. (Image credit: T-Mobile) T-Mobiles 5G coverage has only expanded since then, thanks in no small part to to its Sprint acquisition. These days, T-Mobile says its 5G signal reaches more than 8,300 cities and towns, covering 287million people. That makes T-Mobiles 5G network the largest, as Verizon says its nationwide coverage reaches 230 million people. You can see if T-Mobile 5G extends to your part of the U.S. by checking out the carriers 5G coverage map . Around a year ago, T-Mobile added Sprint's mid-band spectrum to its 5G service in Philadelphia and New York, broadening coverage depth while also boosting speed in those two cities. The New York expansion is particularly significant because that city was already served by T-Mobile's low-band and millimeter wave-based service. That means New York City is now served by all types of 5G through T-Mobile. After those first two cities, T-Mobile added mid-band 5G coverage in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. By the end of September 2020, T-Mobile said this Ultra Capacity 5G coverage was live in 210 cities and towns, giving them a 7.5x improvement over LTE speeds on average. After the first three months of this year, T-Mobile said its Ultra Capacity 5G coverage reached 125 million people, with plans to go nationwide by the time 2021 draws to a close. T-Mobile 5G speed When T-Mobile turned on its nationwide network in 2019, we had a chance to test the service in Maui. At the time, the Uncarrier was promising a 20% boost on download speeds over its existing LTE coverage, which is roughly what we saw when testing T-Mobile 5G with a OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren . In some instances, 5G was much faster than T-Mobile LTE, though in a few spots, performance was actually worse. One encouraging test we ran at time involved downloading The Irishman off of Netflix. That three-hour-plus movie took 3 minutes to download over 5G; we stopped trying after 10 minutes over LTE. Just as important as the time was the fact that we ran this test indoors, something you really cant do over faster mmWave-based 5G. Testing T-Mobile's 5G network using a OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we havent had the opportunity to go out and see how T-Mobile expansion in New York and other cities has improved its 5G performance. However, Ookla went out and did some testing, reporting a 25% jump in mean download speeds for New York between January and mid-May 2020. As of the end of September 2020, T-Mobile said the addition of Sprint's midband spectrum had boosted its average 5G download speeds to 300 Mbps. These days, if you're living in a place where T-Mobile has incorporated Sprint's mid-band spectrum, your speeds can range between 300 Mbps and 1 Gbps, T-Mobile says. For what it's worth, OpenSignal's April 2021 report says T-Mobile has the fastest 5G speed the testing firm says T-Mobile has an average 5G download speed of 71.3 Mbps. While that may not seem as fast as what you'd expect from 5G, it's ahead of the averages for AT&T (54.9 Mbps) and Verizon (47.7 Mbps). Ookla says T-Mobile is the fastest, too, having inched ahead of previous 5G speed champ AT&T. RootMetrics said T-Mobile ended 2020 with the largest 5G footprint of any carrier, but described the carrier's 5G speeds as "similar to its speeds on 4G LTE." T-Mobile 5G phones All the major flagship phones with 5G connectivity namely, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Note 20 phones are available through T-Mobile, and the iPhone 12 models have landed at the Uncarrier, too. Outside of Samsung and Apple, you'll find 5G phones from the likes of Google, LG and OnePlus. Many of the 5G phones on sale at T-Mobile are still pretty pricey, but you'll find more affordable options like the Galaxy A52 5G and Motorola One 5G Ace. These days, T-Mobile will even offer you a free Galaxy A32 5G when you trade-in your current phone. Here's a round-up of T-Mobile's featured 5G handsets: T-Mobile 5G network plans and costs If youve got a compatible phone thats capable of connecting to 5G, any one of T-Mobiles current data plans will include 5G coverage at no additional cost. And T-Mobile's plans are now a lot more attractive if you've got a 5G device. The carrier's new $85-a-month Magenta Max plan, which replaces the similarly priced Magenta Plus plan, and removes any cap on high-speed data. All unlimited data plans aren't actually unlimited carriers have a cap on the amount of data you can use each month before they slow down your speeds. T-Mobile's Magenta Max eliminates that cap completely while offering additional perks like the ability to stream videos in 4K when using Netflix. Magenta Max users also enjoy 40GB of mobile hotspot data. The $70 Magenta plan remains, and includes 5G coverage. T-Mobile has doubled the cap on that plan from 50GB a month to 100GB before you might see speeds slowed. Hotspot data has been bumped to 5GB on this plan. Cheaper plans like the $60-a-month T-Mobile Essentials Plan and $15-a-month T-Mobile Connect plan can access 5G, too (though that latter plan is a tiered data offering). T-Mobile is something of a trailblazer when it comes to not charging extra for 5G support and making it available to all plans. AT&T originally limited 5G coverage to its most expensive unlimited data plans before extending that service to its cheapest unlimited plan last August. Verizon continues to charge $10 a month for its Start Unlimited plan on top of that plans regular monthly rate if customers want to access 5G, though 5G coverage is included with Verizons three other unlimited plans. T-Mobile 5G home internet T-Mobile has made no secret of its interest in using 5G to deliver home internet service. During the Sprint merger hearings, the carrier vowed to deliver high-speed wireless broadband to 90% of the country by 2024, and 5G figures heavily into that effort. And that home internet service is now live, capable of reaching 30 million homes. T-Mobile Home Internet costs $60 a month, and speeds top 100 Mbps using the carrier's existing wireless towers. Check your eligibility at T-Mobile's ISP website. T-Mobile 5G hotspot T-Mobiles unlimited plans include hotspot data, but its either at LTE speed (5GB for the Magenta plan, 40GB for Magenta Max) or 3G. The carrier also sells a 5G mobile hotspot the Inseego 5G MiFi M2000. That hotspot can support up to 30 devices, and T-Mobile's standalone hotspot plans start at $20 a month for 5GB of data. You can see how the MiFi M2000 compares to other hotspot options at our best mobile hotspots page. T-Mobile 5G network: Whats next T-Mobile has big plans for the rest of 2021 continue to build out its 5G network, leveraging Sprints spectrum and maintain its lead over other carriers. With the iPhone 12 out since last fall, we can also expect the Uncarrier to add more 5G-ready devices something it's already done in 2021 with the arrival of multiple Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9 models. T-Mobile has done a good job bringing its 5G network to the most people in the last year. Its focus going forward will be to improve overall performance, as it looks to make the case that 5G is a leap forward over LTE. Kansas City Fire Safety And Prevention Effort Hits Streets Boy's death in fire prompts KCFD to canvass neighborhood with smoke detectors YOU HAD A FATALITY FIRE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A FEW DAYS BACK AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS IN YOUR HOMES. MATT: FIREFIGHTERS HANDED OUT A HUNDRED AND 50 FLYERS. THEY INSTALLED FREE SMOKE DETECTORS. Everybody Against Prez Trump Every Democrat and Their Mother Is Running for President | National Review Making the click-through worthwhile: Three more Democratic officials are getting ready to run for president. No, that's not a joke. Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington continue to hope that the Mueller report includes something significant that Attorney General Barr forgot to mention, and progressives start to openly discuss why the Obama era disappointed them. Meet New Friends Trump's DHS Releases More than 17K Illegal Aliens into U.S. in 12 Days JOHN BINDER According to newly obtained data by Breitbart News, DHS released about 17,065 border crossers and illegal aliens into the interior of the U.S. between March 21 and April 1, a mere 12-day period. Since December 21, 2018, DHS has released about 125,565 border crossers and illegal aliens into the interior of the country. Meth Town Gunfire Drama Resolved Show-Me Frat Reform University of Missouri announces changes in Greek system COLUMBIA, MO (AP) - University of Missouri officials are planning changes designed to reform its troubled fraternities and sororities. The reforms unveiled Thursday come two years after a consultant found ineffective policies and risky behavior - including hazing - in the university's Greek system. Rock Chalk Life Saver?!?! Health leaders urge Kansas Medicaid move ATCHISON, Kan. - For years, Kansas has appeared to be always the bridesmaid and never the bride on Medicaid expansion. A bill passed in 2017 nearly made it, but got vetoed. The issue occupied a front-and-center position in the 2018 gubernatorial race, with Democratic Gov. Show-Me Voter Check Debate Missouri Secretary Of State Says Let Me Investigate Voter Fraud Or Leave Me Out Of It Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was growing frustrated with the limits of his office when it came to investigating voter fraud or election law violations. So, he gave lawmakers a choice. More Deets On Good Deeds Kansas Woman Buys Out Payless Store to Donate Shoes to Nebraska Flood Victims Tritt ended up grabbing 204 pairs of shoes, but did not have the money to pay the large bill. She negotiated with a manager, who eventually gave her all of the shoes for $100. According to CBS News, the shoes were worth around $6,000 altogether. Guv Takes Billionaire Lunch Date Sinquefield lunches with Parson at governor's mansion JEFFERSON CITY * The man who financed much of the early work behind a campaign to merge St. Louis and St. Louis County lunched with Gov. Mike Parson at the governor's mansion Thursday. Former KCK School Dude Accusation Suspended school resource officer charged with child sex Authorities say a school resource officer in Kansas City, Kansas, has been charged with child sex crimes.The Kansas City Star reports that 30-year-old Mark Scheetz, of Lansing, faces two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy. The Kansas Attorney General's Office filed the charges last week in Norton County District Court. Tragedy Aftermath Resonates With Newbie Missouri Senator Hawley proposes duck boat safety bill KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has introduced a bill in Congress that would enact stronger safety measures after a duck boat sank and killed 17 people near Branson, Missouri, last summer. Hawley's proposal would require the use of life jackets on duck boats. New Home For KC Boat KC's Arabia Steamboat could move to proposed $100M museum in Jefferson City KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- David Hawley beams with enthusiasm when he discusses the plans for a new museum for his vast collection of artifacts from the shipwreck of the Arabia Steamboat. "It would be unlike anything that exists," Hawley said. Acting Out Or Maintaining Innocence??? Jussie Smollett To Be Sued By Chicago After Repayment Deadline Passes; 'Empire' Co-Star Says Actor Returning Jussie Smollett may have seen the felony charges against him dropped by state prosecutors last week and Taraji P. Henson is predicting he will return to but the actor's legal troubles in Chicago are far from over. Don't Discount Workers Target raising its minimum wage to $13 an hour NEW YORK (AP) - Target is raising the minimum hourly wage for its workers for the third time in less than two years. The discounter said Thursday it plans to raise the hourly starting wage to $13 from $12 in June. Silence From Former Prez Obama is quiet as Biden comes under attack As Joe Biden Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama Obama is quiet as Biden comes under attack Reparations bill wins new momentum in Congress Obama celebrates Lori Lightfoot's victory: 'Chicago's best days are still ahead' MORE . Border Back Down And/Or Mexican Standoff Gone Wrong For The White House?!?! Trump backs off threat to close border, capping a week of retreats President Trump backed away from his threat to shut down the country's southern border, but vowed to impose additional tariffs on automobiles in a year - if Mexico doesn't do more to stop the flow of drugs and immigrants. Show-Me Old School Respite Missouri bill would excuse those 75 and older from jury duty Would you like to receive local news notifications on your desktop? Police Scam Advice Union head: Don't fall for crooks who claim to raise money for Fraternal Order of Police Scam artists are using the goodwill of people who care about fallen police officers in a scheme to make a fast buck.Swindlers are calling people on both sides of the state line, claiming that they are raising money for a Fraternal Order of Police charity softball tournament. Fishy Story Man accused of abandoning pet fish faces animal cruelty charges NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A New Hanover County man was arrested on animal cruelty charges after he allegedly failed to provide fresh water and food to his pet fish and abandoned it after he was evicted from his home last month. Kansas City Foodie Lesson Plan Right now we want to start the day with a quick news overview and a bevy of news items from across the metro that are important but might not inspire debate.Additionally, we've added in just a few national links that captured our interest as well . . .MIDDLELASTAnd this is thefor right now . . . Daily Mail: Rihanna flaunts her incredible curves in sexy pink bra and sheer yellow twinset as she models her new Savage x Fenty lingerie line Kansas City In The Street For Peace Dozens walk for peace amid growing violence in Kansas City Organizers of the Peace Walk to Stand Against Violent Crime in KC say they are tired of lives being lost to violence. Weekend Started Last Night Drunk driver slams through KCK convenience store Kansas City, Kansas police say a drunk driver slammed through a convenience store late Thursday night. First Friday Grudge Match Exhibit With America As His Muse, Kansas Painter Roger Shimomura Gives People Something 'Stirring' Roger Shimomura says he's found "the deeper meaning of life in Pop Art." Shimomura is one of the area's most esteemed painters. He taught for decades at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and his work is in the permanent collections of more than 100 museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian. Fox4 Jailhouse Chatter Justin Rey tells FOX4's Kathy Quinn why he thinks he's innocent in jailhouse conversation OLATHE, Kan. -- Lenexa police arrested Justin Rey at a storage unit in October of 2017 with his wife's dismembered body. Just days before he goes back to court to demand a new judge, Rey reached out exclusively to FOX4's Kathy Quinn -- this time to share shocking new details he claims will prove his innocence. Kansas City Turnaround: Local Biz On The Plaza For A Change?!?!? McGonigle's Market seeks to expand with cafe on Plaza KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri, staple is planning to expand with a new restaurant on the Country Club Plaza. McGonigle's Market is exploring the possibility of opening a cafe in Unity Temple, 707 W. 47th St., in the space formerly occupied by the vegetarian restaurant Eden Alley Cafe. Rock Chalk Name Check Priests 'The Seduction of Kansas' Album Stream Priests' new album The Seduction of Kansas is now available in full. Announced back in January, the DC post-punk quartet have already released three singles: " Jesus' Son," "Good Time Charlie," and "The Seduction of Kansas. Announced with the album was an upcoming international tour, with dates in North America and Europe until late this summer. Kansas City Off-Season Agenda Arrowheadlines: The Chiefs' "biggest red flag" headed into April Every NFL Team's Biggest Red Flag Heading into April | Bleacher Report Kansas City Chiefs: Edge-Rusher The Chiefs haven't done much to replace Ford and Houston, either. Kansas City's most prominent free-agent signing in that regard was Alex Okafor, who hasn't had even five sacks in a season since 2014. Quick glimpse at the expanding panty game that's now selling social justice at a tidy profit . . .Closer to home, these news links inspire our morning . . .is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . Its no secret that were completely smitten by the Bugatti Chiron, the French brands latest and greatest uber sports car. But, while the Chirons 1,479 horsepower and a 261-mph top speed are very impressive, the super coupe isnt exactly a long-term product solution for Bugatti . Now, with an industry-wide shift towards EVs and growing demand for practical sport utility vehicles, Bugatti has expressed interest in adding a second model to its lineup, most likely with a new all-electric SUV. All-electric motivation and a greater emphasis on comfort could take the brand in a new direction LISTEN 10:53 Now Is The Right Time For A New Bugatti Model It even has active suspension Note: Rolls-Royce Cullinan pictured here. Year after year, the number of millionaires and billionaires continues to grow, and in response, the worlds top marques are ramping up their product portfolios to meet increasing demand for ultra-expensive automobiles. Thus we see the emergence of the ultra-luxury SUV segment, and automakers like Rolls-Royce and Bentley are already duking it out with models like the Cullinan and Bentayga, respectively. With that in mind, the time is ripe for Bugatti to enter the fray. However, since its resurrection in the late 80s, Bugatti has only offered one model at a time, starting with the EB110, followed by the Veyron, and headed by the current Chiron. And, considering just how successful the Chiron has been thus far (production allotments for both the standard Chiron and the various Chiron special editions quickly sell out, sometimes even prior to the cars debut), theres no doubt a new Bugatti SUV would arrive as a complement to the supercar, rather than as a replacement. Note: 2009 Bugatti 16C Galibier concept pictured here. The rumor that Bugatti might expand its lineup is nothing new. In 2009, Bugatti unveiled the 16C Galibier four-door sedan concept, leading to speculation that the brand was prepping something fresh for the well-heeled public. Whats more, Bugatti president Stephan Winkelmann has expressed interest in building a second model on numerous occasions since his appointment in early 2018. Now, it sounds as though Winkelmann and Bugatti are honing in on the specifics of a new up-and-coming model line, and if the rumors prove correct, we could see it in the metal in just four years. Starting From Scratch Note: TopSpeed rendering of the 2022 Bugatti SUV pictured here. According to a recent report from our friends at Autocar, Winkelmann has said he wants a new model with a body style thats more usable on an everyday basis. The new model would slot in below the Chiron, but be disconnected from it, most likely in terms of price and segment. Winkelmann also said that the new model would need to be a real Bugatti in the segment, or create one and that it needs to be a reference for other manufacturers. To achieve these goals, Winkelmann believes Bugatti needs to start from scratch, rather than pull an existing platform from the VAG lineup: For a brand like ours, we would not share platforms, as I see our next car will be a stand-alone car, Winkelmann told the Australian outlet CarAdvice. While this is good for our customers and the future of the brand, its also more expensive. Note: TopSpeed rendering of the 2022 Bugatti SUV pictured here. Indeed, while a new platform outside the current Volkswagen lineup would be far more expensive to build, it would also make for a more seductive product overall. Exclusivity is paramount in this space, and if the new Bugatti uses the same platform as the Volkswagen Touareg, it might sully the overall image. Granted, there are many high-end SUVs out there that use a standard VW platform, including the Bentayga, the Porsche Cayenne, and the Lamborghini Urus. But thats half the point - Winkelmann wants something entirely new, something to represent the Bugatti brand without any kind of association with an existing product. To that end, Winkelmann also says production should take place in a dedicated factory in France, rather than in a VW factory among some other VW products. Electrifying Performance While the Chirons quad-turbo 8.0-liter W-16 engine is indeed monumentally impressive, it really isnt a long-term solution. Big cities like Paris and London are already implementing new rules to help curb emissions, and for now, it looks as though electric vehicle technology will become the new standard, even among high-end brands like Bugatti. As such, Winklemann appears to favor electrons over gasoline for the brands future. But that preference goes far deeper than simply conforming to regulation - it could also speak to Bugattis core values, if implemented properly. I would see us doing a battery electric vehicle. There, the balance between performance and comfort is much more important, and its about daily usability, Winkelmann told Bloomberg. Thanks to characteristics like silent running, less drivetrain vibration, instant torque, and breath-taking acceleration, all-electric vehicles play quite nicely in the high-end automobile segment. But there are a number of setbacks as well, namely slow recharge times and limited range, both of which could kill a new Bugatti model before it even arrives. Electrification is a big challenge but we have to decide what to do next, Winkelmann told the Australian outlet CarAdvice. Its not important for us to be the first or the last but it is important to be there at the right time when people are not only ready for the technology but also the the technology is ready for Bugatti. Still, Winkelmann seems bullish on the idea. This technology will be in our reach, he toldAutocar. One way in which EVs could become far more commonplace would be through the development of solid-state battery technology, which offers recharge times and range-per-charge thats on par with conventional internal-combustion powertrains. When Autocar asked whether Bugatti would offer solid-state battery powertrains in the future, Winkelmann responded by saying You have to create a car thats flexible and can be adapted to the latest technology. There will be an acceptance of electrification now the first cars are coming, he added. Indeed, it appears as though Bugatti is considering all options. And with the success of SUVs like the Tesla Model X, it seems as though the tech does have the potential to draw in high-end SUV buyers. Plus, with models like the Porsche Taycan on the way, Bugatti should have a good deal of know-how to source its own EV powertrain developments. Thats all well and good, but what about a hybrid? After all, hybrid tech is already well-established and highly developed, both in terms of performance and efficiency. However, Winkelmann seems less enthusiastic about hybrids than he does pure EVs. Hybridization is good for the time being but it adds 250 kg and returns a range of just 50 km, Winkelmann told Car Advice. You have to remove a lot of weight from a car that is already as light as you can make it and then you need to find space for the battery. This is not a long-term solution. Which raises another point - materials technology. Bugatti is already a leader in this space, as evidenced by the Chiron, which means that a forthcoming all-electric Bugatti would likely offer the same carbon-tastic influences as its supercar sibling. And thats good news for fans of EVs, as the combination of large battery packs and loads of luxury can make for some rather eye-raising curb weights. Finally, despite an overarching focus on comfort and usability, a potential all-electric Bugatti SUV would still likely offer some very impressive performance specs. Wed argue that around 600 to 800 horsepower feels about right for such a vehicle, with a 0-to-60 mph time somewhere in the low-3-second range. Thats quick, no doubt about it, but its still slower than the 1,500-horsepower Chiron, which can hit the same benchmark in just 2.5 seconds. Should an all-electric Bugatti SUV ever hit the market, it would have the performance needed to compete against nameplates like the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga. Will Bugattis Second Model Be An SUV or a Sedan? With the 16C Galibier fastback concept already on the books, its entirely possible Bugattis second model could end up being some kind of sedan. After all, Bugatti has made sedans in the past, and while most of the world is moving away from the segment, ultra-high-end limos and cruisers are still quite popular. Still, an SUV seems like the safer choice, as the body style is a better fit when it comes to usability. In addition to superlative comfort and luxury, an SUV would have the option to add in an extra dose of practicality too, possibly with seating past the five-passenger mark, plus loads of cargo room to boot. The dimensions of an SUV also make for a more drivable platform compared to a stretched-out super sedan. Throw in a slew of high-end materials, the very latest infotainment technology, and endless customizability, and the Bugatti SUV starts to take shape. A new SUV could also provide a fantastic opportunity for autonomous tech to make its debut under the Bugatti banner. Nothing screams luxury like a self-driving luxury apartment on wheels, and with Volkswagen spending huge sums of money to develop the technology, Bugatti could reap the benefits in a big way. Even if its absurdly expensive, self-driving tech would be right at home in a Bugatti SUV. Looking Ahead While its fun to speculate, were still many years away from seeing a new Bugatti, assuming it gets the go-ahead in the first place. If the project does move forward, we probably wont see it until 2022 at the earliest. As for pricing, a figure around $500,000 to $1 million makes sense. Thats a lot of money, and certainly stretches the imagination of what makes for a daily driver, buts its still well below the $3 million starting price tagged to the Chiron. For now, Bugatti busies itself making one-off versions of the Chiron, including the La Voiture Noire. But Winkelmann seems eager to get going all the same. Im ready. Weve worked a lot, we want a second model. There is no pressure; there is such high demand from brands in the group. Lets see, he told Autocar. While Winkelmann is obvious gung-ho on the idea of a second Bugatti, there are still many hurdles to overcome - namely the Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG). VAG acquired the Bugatti brand in 1998, and has to give the final go ahead before development can really gain traction. And, as Winkelmann points out, its far more difficult to add a new model to the Bugatti lineup than it was to replace an existing model. The brand is ready for a second car, Winkelmann told Autocar, but its not me to decide. Assuming Volkswagen green-lights a new Bugatti model, what would you like to see from it, dear reader? Do you want an SUV, or some other kind of body style? Is electric power a good fit? Let us know in the comments section below. Further Reading Read our full speculative review on the 2022 Bugatti SUV. Read our full review on the 2019 Bugatti La Voiture Noire. Read our full review on the 2019 Bugatti Divo. Read our full review on the 2018 Bugatti Chiron. Read our full review on the 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport. Read our full review on the 2010 Bugatti 16C Galibier. Which is what makes all-whee-drive possible Read our full review on the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Read our full review on the 2017 Bentley Bentayga. Source: Autocar Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Mythos Palace Resort & Spa won two important accolades at the Greek Hospitality Awards 2019: the Best Greek All Inclusive Resort (Silver Award) and the Best Greek Beach Resort (Silver Award), thus standing out among the hotel businesses in Greece. (TRAVPR.COM) GREECE - April 5th, 2019 - Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Hellenic Hotel Federation, the General Panhellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises, and TIF-Helexpo, the awards ceremony took place at the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso in Vouliagmeni. Mr. Sotiris Manolitsas received the two awards on behalf of the hotels management team. Greek Hospitality Awards, an event that aims to reward the best practices in Greeces tourism sector, were organized for the fifth consecutive year. The awards reward excellence in the sector of Greek Hotels through a fair process, in which a Judging Committee consisting of esteemed members, as well as the audience, participate with a 60/40 voting ratio. About Mythos Palace Resort & Spa Mythos Palace Resort & Spa is a luxury fully-renovated 5* resort in the magnificent location of Kournas Beach, Chania, on the island of Crete. Its modern facilities offer moments of absolute calm and relaxation. Additionally, the hotel offers a variety of luxury rooms that will satisfy even the most demanding guests. ### editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 4 The rural police have seized a Spain-made pistol and 171 live cartridges which two motorcycle-borne persons threw into the Beas after being signalled to stop by the police at around 11.50 pm last night. The bikers managed to escape. Later, the police team found the bag, using search lights, which had fallen on the elephant grass of the river. Had it fallen into the river, we couldnt have recovered it, said investigating officer Parambir Singh. He said that the pistol was made in Spain. The 171 live cartridges recovered from bag are of INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle, used by the Army, while nine of them are of SLR (Self Loading Rifle). According to the police, 162 rounds were of KF 5.56 calibre and nine rounds were of 7.62 calibre. The police have registered a case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act in this connection. The accused are yet to be arrested. Parampal Singh, SSP, Amritsar rural, said, We are taking the recovery of weapon and huge number of cartridges very seriously. We are trying to identify the suspects and the source of the weapon. Four days ago, the rural police had confiscated a .32 bore pistol from Gurpal Singh of Rahimabad in Gurdaspur. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Chandigarh, April 4 Three persons, including a 27-year-old graduate, have been arrested by the crime branch of the UT police for drug peddling in the city. The suspects were arrested from different parts of the city with a total of 70.20 gm of heroin. According to the police, one of the suspects has been identified as Ajay Kumar (27), a resident of Gayasri in Bhagatpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The police said Ajay was a graduate. He started selling drugs to make easy money. Crime branch sleuths nabbed him from Raipur Khurd village on April 3. The police said the suspect used to purchase heroin from Delhi and supply it in Chandigarh. A gm of heroin was sold for around Rs 2,500 to customers, said a police official. The police said the suspect had been visiting the city for quite some time to supply drugs. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against the suspect at the Mauli Jagran police station. In another case, crime branch sleuths nabbed 26-year-old Vinod from near the lake in Sector 42 today with 10 gm of heroin. The police had a tip-off that Vinod, a resident of Hallo Majra, was possessing drugs. A case has been registered against him at the Sector 36 police station. The third suspect, Opender, alias Upain (27), a resident of Zirakpur, was arrested from an area under the Industrial Area police station today with 10 gm of heroin. The accused has been arrested in a case under the NDPS Act. TNS vermaajay1968@gmail.com Kaveesha Kohli Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 4 The police are exploring several angles in Neha Shorees murder and it is too early to rule out any theory, including the possibility of the involvement of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) or that of the drug mafia, Ropar Inspector General V Neeraja, who is heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT), has said. At present, everyone is a suspect, she said. Neeraja said the SIT was now focusing on all details regarding Shorees work, including the licences she had cancelled in the course of her career, what she was working on at the time of her murder and all of her past work as well. According to Neeraja, the SIT is also in the process of collecting all documents related to Balwinder Singh, the accused, from the FDA. We have been informed that Balwinder had re-applied for the licence. So we are collecting those documents from the FDA. It is taking some time because the department has to get the documents in order and send them to us, she said. Neeraja reiterated that while the initial police investigation centred on figuring out Balwinders background and old connection with Shoree, now the probe was being extended to find out the possibility of the involvement of the FDA, the drug mafia or a more recent connection between the two behind the murder. If we are talking about the drug mafia, we have to establish how to define it, she said. Neeraja maintained that the police were also collecting all phone, technical and scientific records. She had also met Shorees husband and father on Sunday. The family, meanwhile, has claimed that the police have not kept them in the loop regarding the developments. The police and the SIT have not been providing us regular information. We want to know who killed our daughter and what was her fault? There is no point in spending crores of rupees on law enforcement if they cant give us these answers, said Capt KK Shoree, Nehas father. Meanwhile, officials of the FDA have maintained that the department has nothing to do with the murder. Shorees father, who had written to the PMO, has received a reply in which the matter has been directed to an officer, Krishan Kumar, posted in the office of Removal of Grievances, Punjab Civil Secretariat. Despite repeatedly calling the number provided in the reply, Capt Shoree has not been able to get in touch with him. MK Bhadrakumar MK Bhadrakumar Former ambassador The Congress manifesto for the upcoming elections has come like the rhapsody of raindrops on a parched land a reformist manifesto that promises growth and welfare expansions alike and the pledge of a minimum guaranteed income for the poor that has stolen the BJPs thunder. Equally, the portions relating to foreign policy are notable for several bold constructive ideas. As curtain comes down on the Modi government, the remains of the day in the foreign policy arena convey an overpowering feeling of barrenness. Succinctly put, Indian diplomacy over the past five years prioritised the extrapolation of PM Modis own political persona on the countrys foreign policy. What ensued was a systematic marginalisation of the foreign policy establishment and its wanton break-up by the PMO into transactional relationships and event management. Nothing brings home more vividly the surrealism than Modis address to the nation on the ASAT test recently when a defence capability that existed for many years already was reclaimed as achievement in the immediate run-up to the election. These past five years have been one of those extraordinary periods in modern history when the tectonic plates of the established world order began shifting, necessitating adjustments. But during this transformative period, India lurked in the shade. The leadership was preoccupied in excursions with eye on its core constituency. Thus, the reaffirmation of guiding principles of foreign policy in the Congress manifesto comes as a road map to get things back on track firm belief in the continued relevance of the policy of friendship, peaceful coexistence, non-alignment, independence of thought and action, and increased bilateral engagement in its relations with other countries of the world. Without doubt, the catchwords are non-alignment and independence of thought and action, which enable India to optimally safeguard its national interests in an international environment of growing polycentrism. This is where the proposed advisory body, the National Council on Foreign Policy, is needed to resume an inclusive national discourse. Again, the manifesto differentiates Indias relentless fight against terrorism from the practical need to engage Pakistan on pressing bilateral concerns. It highlights Indias special relations with SAARC countries. In systematic terms, two striking ideas appear in the Congress manifesto that have a bearing on foreign policy one, giving the National Security Council as well as the post of National Security Adviser a statutory basis, and two, resuscitating the moribund National Security Advisory Board and providing a statutory basis to it as well, so that it becomes a permanent, professional advisory body advising the NSC and the government. These initiatives can be expected to make the three entities accountable to Parliament. Such underpinnings not only enhance the quality of decision making, but also ensure that intellectual resources and expertise are optimally utilised. Above all, the governments decisions become fully accountable. For instance, the country has a right to know what really happened in Pulwama and in the Balakot attack that followed under a nuclear overhang. But all weve got instead is the PM and associates in the government whipping up jingoism from public platforms, with anonymous government sources planting self-serving versions through media leaks. However, arguably, the most profound contribution that the manifesto makes is in regard of the approach to the grave situation in J&K. On Modis watch, the cauterised Kashmir wound has become gangrenous and has come to haunt diplomacy, which in turn makes foreign policy more Pakistan-centric. Therefore, it is of critical importance that the Congress manifesto summarily rejects the path of state repression adopted by the Modi government, which proved futile and has only driven more youth to join insurgency. Meanwhile, there is also growing international concern over the prevailing situation in J&K, as apparent in the first-ever rights report by the UN last year calling for international probe. As the J&K situation deteriorates, the sword of Damocles is hanging over Indias head with the prospect of the Kashmir file reopening after several decades in the UN. Therefore, the manifesto comes like a rescue mission. While waging the fight against terrorism, the door will open for dialogue and reconciliation in a spirit of absolute fairness in dealing with the demands of the people as part of a project of inclusiveness. Importantly, the manifesto proposes the appointment of interlocutors to facilitate talks, changes in the pattern of deployment of forces with focus on border security and stoppage of infiltration completely, and review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in their present form. Equally, the manifesto pledges that state Assembly elections in J&K will be held immediately. For the Indian diplomacy vis-a-vis cross-border terrorism and tensions with Pakistan or while countering the Pakistani campaign on the Kashmir problem, our most convincing narrative is always that there is a genuine democratic process at work in J&K. Fundamentally, the manifesto seeks to reverse the militarisation of foreign policy in the past few years. The Congress is under no compulsion to prove its credentials to take tough decisions. But it can afford to be self-assured that soft power is Indias DNA as well as its strategic asset. On the contrary, the BJP, which thrives on the politics of polarisation, cannot comprehend that it is not only feasible, but only natural for the elected government in Delhi to hold talks without pre-conditions with the alienated people in the Valley. rchopra@tribunemail.com New York, April 5 An Indian journal publisher and his companies have been fined over USD 50 million in the US for making deceptive claims to academics about the nature of their work and taking millions of dollars from aspiring researchers and writers. Srinubabu Gedela of Andhra Pradesh and his companies OMICS Group Inc, iMedPub LLC, Conference Series LLC, have been ordered by the US District Court for the District of Nevada to pay the amount to resolve the charges brought against them by Americas consumer protection agency--Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These publishing companies lied about their academic journals and took millions of dollars from aspiring researchers and writers, said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. Were pleased with the courts strong order holding these companies and its owner responsible for the damage they caused, Smith said. The court issued the summary judgment order on March 29. In its 2016 complaint, the FTC alleged that OMICS, iMedPub, Conference Series and their owner Gedela advertised hundreds of online academic journals and international conferences for scientists and medical professionals, and deceptively claimed that their journals provided authors with rigorous peer review and had editorial boards made up of prominent academics. In reality, many articles were published with little to no peer review, and many individuals represented to be editors had not agreed to be affiliated with the journals, the FTC said in a statement. The FTC further alleged that the defendants represented that their journals had been accepted by prominent academic indexing services such as the National Institute of Health (NIH)s PubMed Central. In fact, the NIH had refused to index the defendants journals and demanded that they cease representing that the defendants journals were associated with PubMed. An article in The New York Times quoted Gedelas attorney Kishore Vattikoti as saying in an email response to the court order that Its quite surprising for us that the court has passed an order against defendants in this case without calling for a trial which is unjustifiable and violation of natural justice. Vattikoti said the publisher would appeal, the report said. The FTC also alleged that Gedela and his companies failed to properly tell authors who submitted papers for consideration that they would charge the authors significant publishing fees. They also failed to allow authors to withdraw their articles from submission, making their research ineligible for publication in other journals. Finally, the complaint alleged that to promote their scientific conferences, the defendants deceptively used the names of prominent researchers as conference presenters when in fact many of those researchers had not agreed to participate in the events. In November 2017, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction requested by the FTC, temporarily halting the deceptive practices of these academic journal publishers. In the summary judgment decision, the court found that the defendants violated the FTC Act by making deceptive claims regarding their academic journals and scientific conferences, and by failing to adequately disclose their publishing fees. The resulting final order prohibits Gedela and his companies from making misrepresentations regarding their academic journals and conferences, including that specific persons are editors of their journals or have agreed to participate in their conferences, that their journals engage in peer review, that their journals are included in any academic journal indexing service, or the extent to which their journals are cited. It also requires that the defendants clearly and conspicuously disclose all costs associated with submitting or publishing articles in their journals. The order also requires the defendants to obtain express written consent from any person the defendants represent to be associated with their academic journals or scientific conferences. PTI editorial@tribune.com Una, April 4 BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti today said the party high command would soon take a final call on the fate of Power Minister Anil Sharma. The latter has refused to campaign for BJP candidate from Mandi, from where his sons name has been finalised by the Congress as its official candidate. Addressing mediapersons here, Satti said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had detailed discussions with Anil Sharma and the latter had said he would not campaign in Mandi, but was ready to campaign in favour of the BJP candidates in the remaining three Lok Sabha segments. Satti said the Chief Minister and the state party organisation had submitted their reports to the BJP high command on the issue. He said it could be a family affair for Anil Sharma, but as a Cabinet minister in the BJP government, he could not shirk his responsibility. Referring to speculations of former BJP MP Suresh Chandel being given a nod from Hamirpur by the Congress, Satti said the BJP was a cadre-based organisation and would only work for the candidate having the official party symbol. Taking on the Opposition, the state BJP chief said the condition of the Congress, which ruled the country for more than half a century was so bad today that it was unable to find candidates. editorial@tribune.com Dipender Manta Tribune News Service Mandi, April 4 Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has hinted at the ouster of Power Minister Anil Sharma from his Cabinet if he is found campaigning for his son Ashray Sharma, who is a Congress candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat. The Chief Minister today once again asked Anil Sharma to campaign for BJP candidate Ramswaroop Sharma in the Mandi parliamentary constituency to ensure the victory of the BJP candidate. Anil Sharma is a BJP MLA from the Mandi Sadar seat and the Power Minister in my Cabinet. The BJP needs his services and he should do campaigning for the BJP candidate from Mandi. He should decide soon, the Chief Minister said. If the Power Minister is found campaigning for his son or against the BJP, he will be stripped of his post with immediate effect without waiting for him to tender his resignation. The BJP has made its stand over the issue clear so that Anil Sharma should work for the party in the Mandi parliamentary constituency, the Chief Minister clarified. Political uncertainty looms over Anil Sharma after his son joined the Congress. The minister is in a quandary for the past couple of days over the issue. The BJP is trying to mount pressure on the Power Minister to resign. As of now, Anil Sharma is firm in his decision that he will not campaign for the BJP candidate in Mandi. He had skipped the BJP programme Mein Bhi Hun Chowkidar at Sarkaghat on March 31. He also did not join the roadshow of his son Ashray in Mandi town on April 2. The Chief Minister was here in the Seraj Assembly segment of Mandi district on Thursday to seek the support of the people for BJP candidate Ramswaroop Sharma. He criticized the Congress manifesto in which the party has declared to remove sedition Act 124A and AFSPA (Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts) if it comes to power. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Solan, April 4 BJP candidate from Shimla Suresh Kashyap on Thursday lashed out at the Congress for promising to scrap the law of sedition, which the party has mentioned in its recently released manifesto. Addressing a convention of the Mahila Morcha, he said the Congress had insulted Bharat Mata. He said women played an important role in uplift of society. A woman is known for her compassion, sympathy and love, but if need be, she can also acquire a ferocious status to tackle her enemies, said Suresh Kashyap. He said the women of the country would never tolerate the insult of Bharat Mata and would give a befitting reply to the Congress in the Lok Sabha poll. He said the Congress would have to pay the price for its anti-India mentality. Kashyap, who is contesting his maiden Lok Sabha elections, sought the support of women to serve the nation and said the nation needed a strong government and a strong Prime Minister. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proved in his five-year stint that the country was safe in his hands. He said the one-year tenure of the state government had been applauded by the people of the state and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had been rated as the second best Chief Minister in the country. He urged women to support him in the poll. Various leaders of the BJP Mahila Morcha were present on the occasion. gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, April 5 The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zahur Haider Zaidi, an accused in the case related to the custodial death of a man who was among those arrested on charge of gang-raping a minor school girl in Kotkhai in Shimla district in 2017. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, while granting bail to Zaidi, said that it would later deal with the aspect of transferring the trial to Delhi from a court in Himachal Pradesh. The apex court had in November last year sought responses from Zaidi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Theog) Manoj Joshi and six other Himachal Pradesh policemen as to why the trial against them not be transferred to a Delhi court from Shimla. The CBI had earlier told the court that though the charge sheet has been filed, the trial in the case has not seen the light of the day and hence, the case be transferred to a Delhi court for expeditious disposal. The probe agency had said that Zaidi, being the former IGP, may influence the witnesses in the case and, moreover, other accused are also policemen. The top court had suggested that let the trial continue in a Shimla court and in the meantime, it would grant bail to the former IGP and restrain him from going to Himachal Pradesh except for attending the court proceedings there. Earlier, it had granted interim bail for a week to Zaidi, who had moved the apex court against the Himachal Pradesh High Court order refusing to grant him bail in the case. Zaidi had sought interim bail on the grounds that he had to attend the post-death rituals (Chhehalum) of his mother from November 6 to 8, 2018 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The high court had dismissed Zaidis bail plea, saying it would not be appropriate to release him on bail at this stage as the alleged crime was of serious nature and a detailed investigation was required in the case. Zaidi and seven others were arrested in the custodial death case of Suraj, who was found dead at the Kotkhai police station on July 18. The CBI has already filed the charge sheet against the accused. A 16-year-old girl had gone missing in Kotkhai on July 4 last year and her body was found from the Halaila forests on July 6. The post-mortem report had confirmed rape and murder and a case was registered. Amid a huge public outcry in the state, an SIT headed by Zaidi was constituted by the then Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government. The SIT arrested six persons, one of whom died in police station, following which the high court handed over the investigations of both cases to the CBI on July 19. The CBI had arrested Zaidi, DCP Joshi and the other policemen with regard to the custodial death. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Dharamsala, April 4 Senior Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, former ministers GS Bali and Chander Kumar, former HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu and party in charge Rajni Patil, were absent from the event organised by the party for Pawan Kajal, nominee from Kangra parliamentary constituency, today. Though the leaders had their reasons, their absence had an effect on the gathering and morale of party cadres. Sources said Virbhadra was absent as he had a court hearing in Delhi and Bali was not feeling well. However, the absence of Chander Kumar, former MP and minister and prominent OBC leader from Kangra district, and his son Neeraj Bharti, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, raised the eyebrows of his supporters. Many sitting and former MLAs of the Congress were also absent. Those present in the event were HPCC president Kuldeep Rathore, CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri, former minister Sudhir Sharma and party candidate Pawan Kajal. Agnihotri tried to allay fears regarding the absence of senior leaders. He said Virbhadra would campaign for Kajal. Agnihotri said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had ignored Kangra and Chamba regions. Many projects from the area had been shifted to Mandi. Pawan Kajal, along with other leaders of Kangra, arrived at the Gaggal airport around 4 pm. He was accorded a warm welcome by workers. He was brought in a cavalcade of vehicles to Matour village. Kajals supporters had arranged a rally in the backyard of his house. Kajal, addressing the rally, thanked party president Rahul Gandhi for reposing faith in him and selecting him as party candidate from Kangra. I have been given a chance as I am young leader and will deliver. BJP leaders have been making false promises of setting up a potato factory for farmers. However, if I am elected, the factory will come up in Kangra, he said. Sudhir Sharma attacked BJP candidate Kishan Kapoor. He said Kapoor won the last Assembly election, claiming that it was his last election. Now he was saying that it would be his last parliamentary elections. A leader who was in retirement mode could not deliver, he said. Workers morale hit The leaders had their reasons, their absence had an effect on the gathering and morale of party cadres Virbhadra was reportedly absent as he had a court hearing in Delhi and Bali was not feeling well. The absence of Chander Kumar, former MP, minister and prominent OBC leader from Kangra district, and his son Neeraj Bharti, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, raised the eyebrows of his supporters Many sitting and former MLAs of the Congress were also absent Mismanaged show The Congress show in Kangra was unorganised. Mediapersons were given the impression that manifesto for Himachal would be released before the rally. However, the leaders went directly to the rally without releasing the manifesto. The leaders did not come for a press conference even after the completion of rally. It was later learnt that they wanted to distribute the copies of the national manifesto that had been released by Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, April 4 While the world has known General Dyer as Butcher of Amritsar, the Old Cottonian Association of Bishop Cotton School (BCS), where General Dyer studied with his three brothers, has known him as The Evil Cottonian, the one who spurned the core of school ethos of overcoming evil with good. It was with the intention of educating his children at Bishop Cotton School that Dyers father Edward Abraham Dyer set up a brewery here, primarily an extension of the units he owned in Kasauli and Solan. As per the information on the Old Cottonian Association website, it was in 1873, while Dr Slater was headmaster, that Dyer was given admission in school as an eight-year-old boy. He was in school for barely seven months as a day scholar while his three elder brothers were boarders. Apart from the entry of his name in the admission register, we know nothing of his time at BCS. At the age of 11, he was sent to a school in Ireland. Going by whatever remains of the admission register, he spent only a year at BCS, is the brief reference of the man on the website. There is hardly any mention of General Dyer, and if at all he is remembered it is as one who let his school down, making every Cottonian ashamed of the fact that he was an alumnus, says historian and eminent writer Raaja Bhasin. With information in the school record not carrying many details, the website also mentions that many school records were destroyed or damaged in a fire in 1905 it it is entirely possible that Dyer remained there till he left for Middleton College, Ireland. Major Vijai Singh Mankotia (retd), a former minister, is candid in admitting that undoubtedly the very mention of General Dyer brings discomfiture to every Cottonian. While in school, we were not aware of the fact but later when I joined the Army, I learnt that Gen Dyer was a Cottonian. Nothing could be more demeaning that coming from a school which instilled in us a spirit of brotherhood and harmony, he indulged in an act of hatred, he says. A renowned school, that has produced some of the most valiant officers, who rose to top positions and defended the nation in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, and which takes pride in its alumni of the likes of Ruskin Bond, Ratan Tata, Fali Nariman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Jeev Milkha Singh, the very mention of Dyer brings discomfiture to anyone associated with it. Tomorrow The family where no bride wears red choora, 100 years on ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Arun Joshi Tribune News Service Jammu, April 4 National Conference president and five-time CM Farooq Abdullah today termed the high-pitched exchange between the BJP and PDP over the deadline for abrogation of Article 35A and that of the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India as mere election-time rhetoric. Firmly maintaining that Delhi should start talking to J&K on restoration of autonomy, as agreed under Article 370, and the states accession to the country in 1947, he asked those calling for secession of the state, If not India, where do we go, Pakistan or China? Or we become independent. He was reflecting on the PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Muftis threat that 2020 would be the deadline for separation of the state from India in response to BJP national president Amit Shahs declaration that Article 35A would be removed by 2020. This election-time rhetoric has vitiated the atmosphere and it could have serious implications in the times to come. Elections may be won or lost, but the dignity of the discourse should be maintained, he told The Tribune in an interview. Autonomy granted to J&K is the inalienable right of the state as ensured in the terms of accession of the state. The autonomy determines the relationship. It cannot be compromised, he maintained. Article 35A grants exclusive rights to permanent residents of J&K on immovable property, jobs and scholarships. The NC leader asserted that the Article, that accords special status to the state, was negotiated to respect the Muslim majority character and diversity of the state. This, he said, was owing to the negotiations that his father Sheikh Abdullah had held with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The terms were very clear: Jammu and Kashmir will have full sovereignty over all matters, barring foreign affairs, defence and communications. The only way to keep Kashmir in the Indian Union is that the Centre should start talking of autonomy (for J&K), he emphasised. The former CM, who has seen many elections and ups and downs vis-a-vis Delhi and Kashmir, recalled: "It was a temporary Article till plebiscite was held to enable the people of the state to choose between India and Pakistan. When reminded the whole thing was superseded by the Sheikh Abdullah-Indira Gandhi accord in 1975 when the former disbanded the Plebiscite Front and accepted chief ministership, he said his father had written to Indira, saying that "the accord is the first step towards restoration of the pre-1953 autonomous status. When pointed out that he had rejected the restoration of the titles of Sadr-e-Riyasat (Head of State) and Prime Minister (as head of government) in December 1995 when PV Narasimha Rao was PM, he replied : We wanted full autonomy, not just the titles. And that is precisely what (his son and also a former CM) Omar Abdullah has been insisting on." Why close the highway? Srinagar: The Jammu-Kashmir highway was not closed even during the Kargil war when intelligence reports suggested suicide attackers were at large, former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said a day after the government decided to block the road lifeline for two days a week. "What is happening for god's sake. Are you trying to make Kashmir a colony of the British?" an anguished Abdullah asked, terming the decision as interference with the citizens' fundamental rights. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, April 4 Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said Article 370, which guarantees special status to the state, had been there for the last 70 years and it would continue to stay. He said, Article 370 was given by the Government of India. The state had not asked for it. Addressing a press conference to release the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, Azad said, The Congress recognises under what conditions the state acceded to the Indian Union in 1947. Article 370 was introduced after that and the party will not allow its dilution. For the last seven decades, the Congress has worked for the development of the state and will continue to follow this policy. Talking about the Congress manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir, the former Chief Minister said dialogue was the only solution for all problems faced by the state. Our party, if it comes to power after the Lok Sabha elections, will follow two-pronged strategy in Jammu and Kashmir. There will be no compromise on borders and infiltration will be firmly dealt with. Secondly, we will start a dialogue process with all stakeholders in the state without any pre-condition, said Azad who is on a campaign trail for party candidates. Raman Bhalla, party candidate from the Jammu-Poonch constituency, and Vikramaditya Singh, candidate from the Kathua-Udhampur seat, was also present at the press conference. We will review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Disturbed Areas Act and the deployment of para-military forces and the Army. Internal security will be looked into by the state police, he said. Campaigns in Doda Azad also started campaigning for Udhampur-Doda seat candidate Vikramaditya Singh in the Chenab valley. Lashing out at the Modi government for betraying people, Azad said, Its a historic election. In 2014, the BJP fooled the country with bogus promises but now the people have realised it and have rejected the party in the Hindu belts of MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. They have chosen the Congress instead. Those who speak less work more. This has been proved by Manmohan Singh during the Congress regime, Azad added. Manifesto divisive: BJP shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com New York, April 5 Veteran actor Anupam Kher met Ranbir Kapoor, whom he has termed as "India's finest" actor and said the two talked about films, life and life's lessons. Anupam took to Twitter and shared a photograph with Ranbir. The 36-year-old actor is visiting his father and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who undergoing a treatment here. It is always delightful to meet one of Indias finest & my most favourite actor & person #RanbirKapoor. He is affectionate, loving, respectful, compassionate & hugely talented. It was nice walking with him on the streets of NYC and talking about films, life & lifes lessons. pic.twitter.com/txDyTpflPP Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) 5 April 2019 "It is always delightful to meet one of India's finest and my most favourite actor and person Ranbir Kapoor. He is affectionate, loving, respectful, compassionate and hugely talented. It was nice walking with him on the streets of New York City and talking about films, life and life's lessons," Anupam captioned the image. Ranbir and Anupam have shared screen space together in the film Wake Up Sid. In September last year, Rishi announced on Twitter that he was flying to the US as he needed medical care for all the years of "wear and tear at the movies". On the work front, Ranbir is currently busy with his upcoming film Brahmastra, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Alia Bhatt. IANS editorial@tribune.com Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 4 A Nepalese servant, who was employed just four days ago by a hosiery trader at Tagore Nagar, fled with the owners Polo car and other valuables this evening. The house owner, Navneet Gupta, along with his family, has been in Dubai since yesterday. Of his two servants Raju and Krishan, the latter committed the crime. Senior police officials, including ADCP Gurpreet Kaur, ACP Mandeep Singh and CIA Inspector Avtar Singh, reached the spot. However, none of the officers was ready to speak about the incident. The ACP Mandeep Singh, who had remained inside the house for two hours, said: Even I dont know what has happened. If any of you know, please let me know. The ADCP, too, did not come out to answer the media queries. Guddi, a resident of Chuharpur Road, who was the first person to enter the house around 4 pm after the theft, found Raju lying semi-conscious. When she went upstairs, she was shocked to find the room ransacked. When I came today, I found the main gate open and Raju lying semi-conscious. A room on the first floor was ransacked. I came down and asked Raju what had happened, but he was not in a position to say something. I then went to the house of a relative of the house owner, who informed the police, she told The Tribune. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gill said two servants were in the house today. It seemed one of them served food laced with sedatives to the other. The servant, who was employed just four days ago, ransacked the entire house. It seemed he struggled hard to break the main safe but failed. The servant then fled with the owners car, and may be with other valuables. We have traced the person who employed that servant. The entire incident might have been caught on the CCTV cameras installed in the house. Footage is being scanned. The exact time of the incident can be known after a perusal of the footage, said Dr Gill. rajivbhatia82@gmail.com Nonika Singh In a time when a whole lot of us, Bollywood very much included, are wearing jingoism as a badge of honour up our sleeves let it be said that Romeo Akbar Walter does not scream patriotism in loud tones. It sure is about dedicating your life for the nation. Only the voice is muted, even understated as it tells us the story of a patriot, in short an undercover agent, who you guessed itgoes by three different names. The setting is the same as Raazi, the background is 1971 when India Pakistan clashed and Bangladesh was born. And yes, like Raazi it does not demonise Pakistan or its countrymen. Wars, tells us the head of RAW Srikant (Jackie Shroff), are won by information. And to get information we need spies. So, Romeo Ali (John Abraham) is disguised as Akbar and sent to Pakistan- occupied Kashmir from where he is conveniently patronised by a Pakistani arms supplier. The relationship he builds with Pakistani nationals is reminiscent of the warm ties of Raazi as well. Only unlike the Alia Bhatt-starrer where we had many heart in the mouth moments, here the pace is so placid that it could put you to sleep. There is little tension or biting edge and that for an espionage film is a real downer. Even when it attempts to whip up the adrenalin rush, the tropes are familiar. The last minute glitches, which could blow our agents cover, are by now so regular and passe. What is different here is that there is no unwarranted action, again both a plus and a minus. Romance too is fleeting, only Mouni Roy is wasted. Though in the second half the director does try to pad up her part and gives her some meat, yet in the end she is almost inconsequential to the storyline and the film. Shroff as RAW chief, however, is impressive and so is Sikander Kher as Pakistani army officer with a peculiar accent. Detailing too is on the mark and the climax throws in a decent surprise. But how, where and why did it all transpire, as a viewer you find it impossible to connect the dots. For a film that actually doesnt take your intelligence for granted, then has to hand held you and take you back in time to make you privy to what was going on in the writer-directors mind. Abrahams impassive face too doesnt give away much, neither to his adversaries whom he hoodwinks time and again, nor to the viewers who remain untouched by his peerless sacrifice. There is emotion, however, in Shroffs voice as he says in the end, He chose motherland over mother. Sadly the precious thought of how there are so many unsung heroes working tirelessly and selflessly for no reward or award seeps in far too late. By that time our cover to enthuse enthusiasm is blown. Check it out if all shades of patriotism work for you. nonikasingh@tribunemail.com rchopra@tribunemail.com Colombo, April 5 The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested at least 18 Indian fishermen and seized three dhows (vessels) for allegedly poaching in the countrys territorial waters. The Navy arrested the fishermen in the seas 16 nautical miles west of Point Pedro during a naval patrol. Eighteen Indian fishermen were arrested from Tamil Nadu for allegedly breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters, the Navy said. Three dhows used by them were also impounded and brought to SLNS Uttara in Jaffna, Colombo Page reported. After a medical test, the fishermen would be handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for further investigation, the Navy Media Unit said. In January 2018, Sri Lanka increased by over 100 times the fine on foreign vessels to deter them from fishing in its waters, amid the dispute over the frequent entry of Indian fishing trawlers into the countrys maritime territory. The main aim of the move is to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the countrys coastal belt. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Muzaffarnagar, April 5 A court here has sentenced three highway robbers to life imprisonment for murdering a man after looting him. Additional District Sessions Judge Gaurav Kumar Shrivastava also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 each on the accused, Gulfam, Narender Sharma and Suleman, after holding them guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 394 (committing robbery) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the Indian Penal Code. According to government lawyer Jitender Tyagi, Rashid was shot dead while his motorcycle and other valuables were taken away by the trio when he was going to Khatauli from his village under Kakrouli police station on June 27, 2015. Later, the police arrested the three robbers and recovered the looted items from them, he said. PTI editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Amethi, April 4 BJP stalwart and Textile Minister Smriti Irani today launched her election campaign from the Gandhi pocket borough of Amethi, terming sitting MP Rahul Gandhi a missing parliamentarian who had now proceeded to con the people of Kerala. A ballistic Irani credited people of Amethi for driving the Congress chief out of UP to Kerala to contest a second seat and said Amethi would celebrate Diwali on May 23, the day its exile will end. Moments after Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad today, Irani arrived at a local school here to address a public meeting where visitors donned Mai Bhi Chowkidar caps and saffron hues dominated the spaces. Lord Ram was banished into exile for 14 years but Amethis exile has extended beyond 15 years. This segment will celebrate Diwali on May 23, the Diwali of development. May 23 will be the day of reckoning for Amethi, which will punish those who did nothing for its people in 15 long years, Irani said to a predominantly farmers gathering. She rushed to rub in the reality of Gandhi running away to another seat and told voters: Today, the missing MP was in Kerala to file his nomination. I want to ask him if he couldnt get the people of Amethi one rag of urea in 15 years as MP, what he will do in Kerala except cheating people. Irani further hammered the point of Gandhis inapproachability and said: After the 2014 results, farming families regretted that they could not make me win the election and didnt know how to seek help. But I told them that I have made a promise and will keep it, not because I could not win Amethi but despite it. She reminded people how she worked with the Union Agriculture Ministry to help Amethi farmers get access to urea through consignments that were dropped at the Gauriganj train station in Amethi. She said the Gandhis had held the LS seat for 55 years without returning anything to the segment. She also flagged the Congress manifesto, saying it backed anti-national forces by committing itself to the abolition of sedition law. Guj Cong MLA quits editorial@tribune.com Jitendra K Shrivastava Tribune News Service Patna, April 4 Bihar is likely to witness a close contest between the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Votes of economically backward classes (EBCs) and Dalits will be the deciding factor, sources believe. In the past, Muslim-Yadav electors (about 31% of total voters in the state) were often seen reposing faith in the grand alliance, particularly RJD chief Lalu Prasad; while the BJP-led NDA bagged upper caste Koiri-Kurmi votes (around 27% of total votes). Any shift in the EBC and Dalit votes (26% of total electors) has the potential to tilt the balance in favour of either the NDA or the grand alliance. This time around, these voters appear divided between the NDA and the grand alliance. PM Narendra Modis clean image and his endeavour to clamp down on corruption have apparently made these voters take note of the NDA rule, especially in the light of allegations of corruption and misrule against grand alliance leaders. PM Modi has a clean image and his efforts to control corruption have been commendable. Rural areas in Bihar have witnessed large-scale electrification, besides improved road connectivity under Nitish Kumar. The law and order has also improved. All these factors have the potential to gravitate voters towards the NDA. However, issues relating to falling standard of education, health care, jobs and social justice may go against it, said Prabhat P Ghose, Director, Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), Patna. Corruption allegations are likely to work against the grand alliance, while factors such as social justice and social equation may benefit it, he said. Gaya resident Pankaj Manjhi said: Remote villages have witnessed electrification, construction of roads and toilets. Modi ji has also been able to instil confidence among the people by taking some strong decisions, including Balakot air strikes. There has also been a check on terror incidents across the country. These reasons are sufficient enough to vote for the NDA in spite of Jitan Ram Manjhis popularity and his clean image. MAHAGATHBANDHAN VS NDA editorial@tribune.com New Delhi/Lucknow, April 4 In a boost for the BJP in UP, the Nishad Party today announced an alliance with it and Praveen Nishad, who won the Gorakphur Lok Sabha bypoll last year on the SP ticket, joined the saffron party. Hours later, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav termed it a ghaate wala sauda, or loss-making deal, for the BJP and also alleged that money had changed hands. Nishad, whose father Sanjay Nishad is the head of the Nishad Party, won from UP CM Yogi Adityanaths home turf after the SP and the BSP joined hands there to take on the BJP. Akhilesh said by inducting Nishad, the BJP was entering into a loss-making deal, not realising that the people in Gorakhpur had voted for the SP-BSP alliance and not for the candidate. In a series of tweets in Hindi, Akhilesh also mocked the BJP for not coming out with its manifesto yet, asking if it planned to release it only when the elections are over. Will the PMs achhe din (good times) manifesto come after the elections? he tweeted in Hindi. He insinuated that Nishad switched over to the BJP in return for a bag of prasad (cash) from the mathadheesh of Gorakhnath temple, referring to Adityanath. He, however, did not substantiate the allegation. Ahead of the LS poll, the Nishad Party joined the SP-BSP-RLD alliance on March 26. Three days later, it quit. It was keen to contest on its own symbol this time, but Akhilesh apparently wanted it to contest on the SP ticket again. On Thursday, Nishad joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of Union minister JP Nadda. Nadda said the Gorakhnath MP had joined BJP due to his faith in the policies of the Modi government. The Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad Party) was formed in 2016. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Raipur, April 5 A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed and another injured in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh on Friday, police said. The skirmish took place in the forest near Chameda village in Dhamtari district when a joint team of CRPFs 211 battalion and District Force (DF) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a police official told PTI. He said the patrolling team, comprising around 50 personnel of the CRPF and 10 of the DF, had launched the operation on April 3 in the interiors of Khallari and Borai police station areas. On Friday morning, when security forces were advancing through Chameda, around 150 km from Raipur, a group of Naxals opened fire on them, leading to a gunfight, the official said. He said the Naxals fled when security forces retaliated. Head Constable Harish Chand was killed in the incident while Sudhir Kumar got injured, the official said. Reinforcement had been rushed to the spot and efforts were on to evacuate the body and the injured personnel, he added. The incident occurred a day after the Naxals ambushed a team of security forces, killing four BSF personnel and injuring two others in Kanker district of the state. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Amaravati, April 5 The Election Commission on Friday removed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha from the post and appointed senior-most IAS officer L V Subrahmanyam of the 1983 batch in his place. The EC stated this in a communication to the Andhra Pradesh Government. Earlier, the EC had removed two top bureaucrats from their posts during election time. The EC also directed that Punetha, scheduled to retire from service May-end, be posted to a non-election position. Punetha had filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court on March 27 challenging the EC order, transferring the Director General of Intelligence A B Venkateswara Rao. He contended that the EC did not have any untrammelled powers to interfere with the course of administration that is unconnected to polling. The EC cannot engage in unchecked, arbitrary and un-canalised exercise of power. The EC order suffers from the vice of lack of jurisdiction, suffers from being a colourable exercise of power and is based on alien purposes or oblique motives which have nothing to do with the conduct of polling duties, state Political Secretary (General Administration Department) N Srikant had said in the petition, filed on behalf of the Chief Secretary. Punetha had complied with the EC order on Tuesday midnight and transferred the Intelligence DG, along with two district SPs, but cancelled the Intelligence chiefs transfer order Wednesday morning, after the chief minister allegedly raised a hue and cry. The High Court had rejected the Chief Secretarys petition last Friday, forcing him to issue an order shifting the DG intelligence. Reacting to the removal of the Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrabau Naidu dared the Centre to arrest him and demanded that the Election Commission give reasons for the removal of the chief secretary. First they (ECI) transferred a district Collector. Then the Intelligence DG and two district SPs and now the CS. Why? They did not give any reasons, he said, addressing a road show in Visakhapatnam. Naidu went to add that he too might be arrested. They may also arrest me tomorrow or day after. I am prepared to go to jail. I will fight from there itself, he said. Meanwhile, BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao said the Chief Secretary became a scapegoat of Chandrababu Naidu. PTI editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, April 4 The Enforcement Directorate told a Delhi court today that Christian Michel, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, and other accused received 42 million euros (nearly Rs 325 crore) as kickbacks in the deal. The probe agency, in its 3,000-page supplementary chargesheet, also named David Syms, Michels alleged business partner, and two firms owned by them Global Trade and Commerce Ltd and Global Services FZE as accused. In its first chargesheet, filed against Michel in June 2016, the ED had alleged that Michel and others received 30 million (about Rs225 crore) from AgustaWestland. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he would decide on whether to take cognisance of the EDs supplementary chargesheet and to summon the accused on April 6. EDs special public prosecutors DP Singh and NK Matta told the court that British nationals Syms and Michel through their firms had received the money without undertaking any work against the receipt of such amount. The money was received by the firms to execute the 12 helicopters deal but no helicopters were bought, ED said. The money was paid by Westland Group companies to these two firms. The money was then routed to different companies and individuals. This was done through these two firms in which both (Michel and Syms) of them are directors... Syms bank statement records showed that substantial amount has been credited to it, ED said. The agency said this money trail completed the missing link in the total 70 million trail of the AgustaWestland deal, which was being investigated by it. PTI shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Mumbai, April 5 The CISF seized gold bars worth more than Rs 11 lakh from a passenger who had arrived from Bahrain at the airport here, an official said on Friday. The passenger had concealed the gold bars in his slippers which were detected during security check on Thursday, he said. The passeneger, Rahat Ali, who had arrived from Bahrain, was found to have hidden the gold bars weighing about 381 grams in his slippers, the official said. The seized yellow metal was worth Rs 11,12,139, he said, adding Ali was handed over to Customs for further probe. PTI shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Kolkata, April 5 The Special Task Force of Kolkata Police arrested seven members connected to an illegal arms racket from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunitions, including 90 semi-finished pistols, police said on Friday. Five of the seven booked under the Arm's Act, were residents of Bihar's Munger, the police said. Based on intelligence inputs on Thursday, the STF personnel arrested four persons from Rajarhat with 30 semi-finished 9mm pistols. "On interrogationg they revealed details, based on which the STF and Bidhannagar Police personnel conducted a joint raid in Rajarhat's Donnagar area and unearthed the arms factory," the STF officer said. The factory has been sealed. "Three more persons including the house owner were arrested and 60 more semi finished 90mm pistols, bullets, arms making machineries and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) of Rs 88,000 face value were seized," he said. IANS pardeepdhull@gmail.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 5 Reacting to claims from a US based news magazine, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday evening said during the engagement (the air-duel on Feb 27) a MiG-21 Bison of the IAF shot down one F-16 in the Nowshera sector. US magazine Foreign Policy had said a count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are "missing" and all the fighter planes were "present and accounted for". The finding by the US on the ground in Pakistan "directly contradicted" India's claim that its air force shot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial dogfight on February 27. Read: US findings contradict India's claim that it shot down Paks jet on Feb 27 Responding to this, the IAF in a statement on Friday said: There were two separate ejections (of pilots): one was the IAF MiG 21 Bison and the other a Pakistan Air Force aircraft. Electronic signatures gathered by us indicate that the PAF aircraft was an F-16. The downed IAF plane was piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had ejected over Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and was returned to India on March 1. The IAF on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. On April 1, the Director General of Pakistans Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement issued tonight said: No Pakistani F16 was hit by IAF. It had for the first time Pakistan admitted that the F-16 was used saying: India can assume any type of their choice, even F-16. Pakistan retains the right to use anything and everything in its legitimate self-defence. According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan invited the United States to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Pune, April 5 Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday reiterated his love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also berated him for humiliating BJP veteran L K Advani. Interacting with students in Pune, Gandhi said he loves Modi but begets anger from the latter. I love PM Modi. Genuinely, I have no hatred or anger towards the man, but he (Modi) has anger towards me, he said. I genuinely do not have anger towards him, he added. Addressing a poll rally at Chandrapur later, Gandhi said Modi had humiliated Advani, adding disrespecting ones guru is not Hindu culture. Gandhis swipe at Modi over the treatment meted out to Advani follows the BJP patriarchs blog published Thursday where he said his party never considered political adversaries as anti-national. The BJP talks of Hinduism. In Hinduism, guru is supreme. It talks of guru-shishya tradition. Who is Modis guru? Advani. Modi just kicked Advani out (Joota marke stage se utara), Gandhi said. The remark was a veiled reference to Advani not getting Lok Sabha poll ticket from Gandhinagar, from where BJP has fielded party president Amit Shah instead. During his interaction with students, Gandhi said his partys manifesto was an expression of the people of India and ruled out burdening the middle class to fund the anti-poverty scheme Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay). The Opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a surgical strike on poverty. Gandhi said, 2019 (polls) is a battle of ideologies and the Congress ideology of brotherhood, love and harmony will win against Modis hate, anger and divisive ideology. The Congress chief also said he was not bothered by the criticism of the Nyay minimum income scheme promised in the party manifesto. Gandhi said he was inspired by the prime ministers false promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in every Indians bank account. I felt direct bank transfer was a good idea. Only the Rs 15 lakh promise was false and I am giving you a true number; Rs 72,000 per year will be deposited in the bank accounts of poor people, he said. Rs 15 lakh in bank account could not have happened since the economy would collapse. But Nyay can be implemented, he said. If bank loans of a few rich can be waived, loans of farmers and the needy can also be waived, Gandhi said. Targeting industrialist Anil Ambani over the Rafale offset contract, he said, A person who is not able to make even paper planes bagged the biggest defence contract with Rs 30,000 crore going directly to him. The entire budget of MNERGA scheme was given to a single person. Gandhi said the Congress poll manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where Rs 72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of poor people every year if the party is voted to power, he said. The Nyay minimum income guarantee scheme is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. The BJP, which has criticised the scheme, has sought to know how it will be funded. Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram has also said the middle class wont bear the burden for implementation of the Nyay scheme. I have already said in press conference and various interviews: there will be no increase in the tax burden of the middle class. This is our promise, Chidambaram tweeted. Asked about sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadras twitter post calling him courageous, Gandhi replied, I am persistent, I stand up for people who are weak. He said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures. Gandhi described demonetisation as a disastrous idea, which had a terrible impact on the economy. He said the exercise, announced in 2016, caused two per cent fall in GDP growth and led to loss of millions of jobs. He said erstwhile Planning Commission was a strategic institution, while its successor Niti Ayaog only talks about implementation and tactics. We need institutions to strategically think what should be done at the national level. Implementation and tactics can be done by the states, he said, responding to a question on the Congress manifesto promise of scrapping Niti Ayaog, the think-tank set up by the Modi government. On being asked who should take credit for the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said, The (Indian) Air Force should take credit. It is Important that people know they cant mess around with India. The Congress leader said he was against politicisation of the air strike. I feel uncomfortable that the PM does that. But it is his choice, Gandhi said. PTI editorial@tribune.com Kalpetta (Kerala), April 4 With sister Priyanka Gandhi by his side, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination papers from Wayanad in Kerala and said he was fighting the Lok Sabha polls from a second seat in the South besides the party bastion Amethi in the North to send a message of unity and that India is one. In a bid to reach out to the Left, Gandhi, 48, also said he wouldnt say a word against the states CPM-led LDF government during his campaign and that he would absorb all its criticisms with happiness. The Left is miffed with Gandhis candidature from Wayanad. Wayanad will witness a triangular contest with Left Front constituent CPIs PP Suneer and BJP-backed NDA candidate Thushar Vellappally also in the fray. Gandhi, who was also accompanied by senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik, submitted the papers before district collector AR Ajayakumar at Wayanad district headquarters in Kalpetta. Hundreds of workers of the Congress and other allies in the party-led UDF assembled outside the district collectorate as Gandhi filed the papers. Wayanad, a scenic hill area in the Western Ghats, has a presence of various ethnic tribal groups. It is a Congress stronghold in South India. After completing the procedures, Rahul along with Priyanka and senior leaders of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala held a roadshow to greet the voters of the constituency. Talking to reporters after filing his papers, Rahul said he was fighting the polls from South to send a message that India was one. There is a feeling in South India that the way the Narendra Modi government is functioning, their (South) culture, language, history all are being attacked. So I wanted to give a message that I will fight from North and South, the Congress chief said, in response to his main opponent in Amethi, Union minister Smriti Irani, who had alleged that his decision to fight from Wayanad was an insult to the people of Amethi. Priyanka appealed to people of Wayanad to take care of her brother and assured he would not let them down. My brother, my truest friend, and by far the most courageous man I know. Take care of him Wayanad, he wont let you down, she tweeted after the roadshow. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 5 A day after patriarch LK Advani penned his feelings on the eve of his partys foundation day, businessman Robert Vadra slammed the BJP for not giving him the ticket to the general election. Taking to social media, Vadra said it is sad that such an important leader of the party had been forgotten. The most important pillar of the party--long lost and forgotten. The true leaders with ethics and statesmanship should be rewarded and not ignored, he wrote. Meanwhile, the BJP chose to downplay the veteran leaders criticism with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying: Advani Ji perfectly sums up the true essence of BJP, most notably the guiding Mantra of Nation First, Party Next, Self Last. Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani Ji have strengthened it, Modi said. While Vadra may be playing to the political gallery on the eve of the election, not long ago the BJP veteran was seen as the original Hindutva poster boy, someone who laid the foundation for the rise of his party with his Somnath to Ayodhya journey, laying the first seeds of Hindu polarising politics the new BJP under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is often accused of. The Rath Yatra, a political and religious rally, was held in September-October 1990. Organised by the BJP and other Hindu nationalist affiliates of the RSS, it was led by then party president Advani. The purpose of the yatra was to support the agitation, led by affiliates of the Sangh Parivar like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, to construct the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Many wonder if Advani had not pushed the BJP into associating with the Ram temple movement through a presidential resolution at the national executive meeting in Palampur and embarked upon the the first-of-its-kind political mobilisation for a religious cause, the BJP would have reached the place where it is today. Advanis Rath Yatra was timed to cover 10,000 km to reach Ayodhya to coincide with the BJPs proposed kar sewa, and the rest, as they say, is history. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, April 5 The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea challenging the grant of 5 per cent quota to Gujjars and four other castes in jobs and educational institutions in Rajasthan through a law amendment in February. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the appeal filed by one Arvind Sharma against an order of the Rajsthan High Court refusing to grant an interim relief on the petition challenging the quota to Gujjars and others, treating them as socially and economically backward classes. It was argued that the reservation would breach the 50 per cent ceiling on total quantum of quota. The plea for relief is already pending in high court, therefore, we are not inclined to entertain it, said the Bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna. The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by the Rajasthan Assembly on February 13. The Bill passed by the newly formed Congress government in the state provides 5 per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutes to the Gujjars and four other communitiesBanjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadarias. The Congress government had passed the bill amid protests in the state led by Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla for reservation for the community. A petition, filed in the Rajasthan High Court, by Arvind Sharma and Badal Verma, had challenged the reservation alleging that it was beyond the ordinary upper limit of 50 per cent and was already denied by the Rajasthan High Court. It alleged that the five communities were granted reservation based on the proportionality of their population and not on backwardness in education or public employment. The plea had also alleged that the actual reason behind granting reservation to Gujjars and the other communities was the agitation, which took the entire state to ransom. The members of Gujjar and four other communities had called off their eight-day agitation, blocking railways tracks and highways in Rajasthan, on February 16, after getting a written assurance from the state government that it will stand by them if the bill faces legal hurdles. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 5 The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Delhi High Court order to the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) -- publisher of Congress mouth piece National Herald --to vacate the Herald House building in the national capital. While staying the February 28 order of the Delhi High Court, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi also issued notice to the Centre's Land and Development Office (L&DO) on AJL's petition. The top court asked the Centre and L&DO to respond to AJL's petition in four weeks. AJL had on March 11 moved the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order dismissing its plea to restrain the Centre from taking coercive steps to vacate Herald House in the national capital. In its appeal filed in the top court, AJL alleged that the BJP and its coalition at the Centre harboured a "pathological animus" to the ideas of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. "The eviction proceedings have been initiated for the purposes of scuttling the voice of democratic dissent of the Congress Party. It is a clear affront to the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and a deliberate attempt to suppress and destroy the legacy of the first Prime Minister of the country i.e. Jawaharlal Nehru, who was the guiding light for the publications of the petitioner-company," it said. AJL requested the court to set aside the Centre's October 30, 2018 order ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises on the grounds that no printing or publishing activity was going on and that the building was being used only for commercial purposes. A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court had on February 28 dismissed AJLs plea against the Centre's order to vacate the premises, holding that there had been "misuse" of lease conditions by AJL. It had upheld a single judge's December 2018 order dismissing AJL's plea against the Centre's eviction order and had directed it to vacate Herald House in two weeks. The High Court had held that the entire transaction of transferring shares of AJL to Young Indian (YI) company -- in which Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are majority shareholders -- was a "clandestine and surreptitious transfer of the lucrative interest in the premises" to YI. The Centre and Land and Development Office (L&DO) had said in their eviction order that no press had been functioning on the premises for at least past 10 years and it was being used only for commercial purposes in violation of the lease deed. The high court had agreed with the Centre's submission that the breach of lease condition had been continuing from 2008 till commencement of the digital publication of the newspaper on November 14, 2016. Denying all these allegations, AJL urged the top court to restrain the Centre from taking "any coercive steps qua the demised premises or from pursuing any remedy available under the Public Premises Act during the pendency of the instant Special Leave Petition" as an interim relief. The L&DO had ended the lease, entered into with the AJL on August 2, 1962 and made perpetual on January 10, 1967, asking the company to hand over the possession by November 15, 2018. AJL had said the digital versions of English newspaper National Herald, Hindi's Navjivan and Urdu's Qaumi Awaz have commenced from 2016-17. The weekly newspaper 'National Herald on Sunday' resumed on September 24, 2017, and the place of publication was the ITO premises, the AJL said, adding the Hindi weekly newspaper Sunday Navjivan was being published since October last year from the same premises. Describing the high courts order as biased and mala fide, AJL contended its publication espoused the ideology of Congress party -- the largest opposition party in India. rchopra@tribunemail.com Amroha (UP), April 5 Some people lost their sleep when India hit back at terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Friday while launching a broadside against opposition parties who, he claimed, were putting the lives and future of the people in danger. Addressing a rally in this Uttar Pradesh town ahead of the general election beginning April 11, the Prime Minister said some people did not like the fact that terrorists were being given a reply in their own language. After the terrorist attack, should I have remained silent or attacked, he asked the gathering, referring to the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama. Terrorists are being given a reply in their own language...this is not liked by some people who lose their sleep when India hits back, he said. When Pakistan is exposed in front of the world, these people start speaking in its favour and there is competition among them to become its (Pakistans) hero, Modi said. Be it the Congress, the SP or the BSP, they have put your life and future in danger, the Prime Minister told the crowd gathered in the town with a sizeable Muslim population. The PM said, When there was Congress government at the Centre and the governments of SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh, bombs used to explode in Lucknow, there used to be blasts in Ramlala, Kashi and attack on CRPF camp in Rampur. The governments of Bua (Mayawati) and Babua (Akhilesh Yadav) released terror accused and were kind to them, Modi alleged. The links of these attacks go very far and when our security agencies nabbed the accused, due to vote bank politics, the Bua and Babua governments used to set them free and were kind to them, he said. Asserting that such blasts and deaths of innocent people had stopped in the past five years as there is a chowkidar at the Centre, Modi said, I will find terrorists even from pataal (deep inside the earth). Modi does not weigh terrorism for vote bank. Those responsible for terrorism are in jail. Some forces are dividing the country and creating fissures on the basis of caste. The people of UP have given a befitting reply to such forces in 2014 and 2017. The Congress even tried to humiliate Baba Saheb Ambedkar and tried every trick to defeat him in elections. He said the Congress had started taking Ambdekars name due to the compulsion of vote bank. Otherwise, the same party did not let even his photographs be installed in Parliament. Can their sins be pardoned? Modi said. He alleged that leaders like Yogendra Nath Mandal and Babu Jagjivan Ram were also ignored by the Congress which did not treat them well. The Prime Minister said he had not let the country hang its head in shame in the five years he had been in power, stressing that the countrys reputation was higher than it had ever been. I would like to thank the government and people of the UAE for honouring me with the Zayed medal...this is not an award given to Modi but to the Indian people, he said. He said that on Thursday he accepted the prestigious Order of Zayed conferred on him by the United Arab Emirates with utmost humility. A wave, which is found in the country, is also seen in Amroha. I bow before you for the way in which you helped this chowkidar, he said. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, April 5 A US count of the F-16s with Pakistan has found that none of them are "missing" and all the fighter planes were "present and accounted for", according to a report in a prominent American magazine. The finding by the US on the ground in Pakistan "directly contradicts" India's claim that its air force shot down an F-16 fighter jet during an aerial dogfight on February 27. The Indian Air Force on February 28 displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile, fired by a Pakistani F-16, as evidence to "conclusively" prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir. Pakistan had categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by the IAF. According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan invited the United States to physically count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised. "A US count of Pakistan's F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India's claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash," Lara Seligman of the magazine reported on Thursday. The count of the F-16 fighter planes in Pakistan has been completed, and "all aircraft were present and accounted for," an unnamed defence official was quoted as saying by the magazine. The Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a question on its count of F-16 fighter jets in Pakistan. As details come out, it looks worse and worse for the Indians," MIT professor Vipin Narang told Foreign Policy magazine. "It looks increasingly like India failed to impose significant costs on Pakistan, but lost a plane and a helicopter of its own in the process," he said. Generally, in such agreements, the US requires the receiving country to allow its officials to inspect the equipment regularly to ensure it is accounted for and protected, the news report said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the suicide bomber of JeM killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, April 5 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that the views expressed by its veteran leader LK Advani in his blog have always been its policy, even as it asserted that its stand on the issue of not giving election tickets to leaders above 75 years is "very clear". "What Advani ji has said has been the BJP's clear policy. We never considered (rivals) anti-nationals. When Venkaiya ji, Rajnath ji and Advani ji were (party) president, this statement was given time and again," senior party leader Arun Jaitley told reporters. He was referring to Advani's statement that the BJP never considered those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-national" or "enemies" but only as adversaries. The party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level, he had added. His remarks posted in a blog were construed by many political watchers as a veiled criticism of the party leadership which has often likened its rivals to enemy like Pakistan and accused them of abetting anti-national elements. To a question about Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan not contesting polls, Jaitley said the party's decision on the issue is very clear, an indication of its stand that it will not give tickets to those above 75 years of age. Mahajan, an eight-term BJP MP from Indore, on Friday opted out of contesting the general elections saying she has freed the party to make its choice. BJP president Amit Shah had said in an interview that that it was his party's decision not to give Lok Sabha poll tickets to those above 75 years of age, leading to the likes of Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and many others being replaced with younger faces. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Tribune Web Desk Chandigarh, April 6 A UK court has jailed an Irish national human rights lawyer for six months for spitting at a flight attendant during a foul-mouthed racist tirade after she was refused more wine. 50-year-old Simone Burns was served three bottles of wine but declared I am working for all your people. The f*****g Rohingyas, the f*****g people of all Asia, for you, an international criminal lawyer. Dont get any money for it. But you cant even give me a f*****g glass of wine, is that correct? when she was denied more on an Air India flight from Mumbai to London in November. She also called staff Indian money-grabbing c***s and smoked in the lavatories. Judge Nicholas Wood, sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court, told Burns: The experience of a drunk and irrational person in the confines of an aircraft is frightening, not least on a long-haul flight and poses a potential risk to safety, reported The Guardian. The judge said: Such offences are often committed by people of impeccable character. Although the aircraft was not at risk by Burnss behaviour, the judge said, For the luckless and unfortunate passengers and crew there is no escape at 30,000ft. He added: Spitting straight into a crew members face at close range is a particularly insulting and upsetting act. The sentences are to be served concurrently after she previously pleaded guilty to the charges. Burns was also ordered to pay 300 compensation to the crew member who was assaulted. The nine-hour flight took off at 4.10am as Burns sat in business class with 17 other passengers. After breakfast was served Burns was asking for alcohol and being very obnoxious, the court said. editorial@tribune.com Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ludhiana, April 4 The police today filed a chargesheet containing more than 700 pages supported by 54 witnesses against five accused in the case of gangrape of a 21-year-old near Issewal village here on February 22. The chargesheet was submitted in less than 60 days of the incident before the court of Judicial Magistrate Ankit Airi this afternoon. The accused are Sadiq Ali of Mukandpur, Nawanshahr; Jagroop Singh alias Rupi of Jaspal Bangar village; Surmo of Khanpur village, Dehlon; Saif Ali of Dehlon; and Ajay alias Lalan of Jassad Paddi village in Ludhiana. SSP Jagraon Varinder Singh Brar claimed that the investigation was carried out in a scientific manner to ensure that the guilty get punished as per law. Voice samples of telephonic conversation between one of the accused and a friend of the victim were matched in the CFSL lab at Mohali & DNA tests of the accused were also conducted with the permission of the court. Additional public prosecutor BD Gupta has been designated as special public prosecutor. The police claimed to have recovered several incriminating evidences from the accused, including the stolen amplifier of the car belonging to the victims friend. The chargesheet against the juvenile is likely to be filed tomorrow before the Juvenile Justice Board. The woman was gangraped on Feburary 8 near Issewal village on the banks of Sidwan canal, about 15 km from Ludhiana. The identification parade of the accused was conducted, wherein the victim identified all the accused. Crime that shook Ludhiana editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 4 The SAD-BJP kickstarted their campaigning from Attari by organising a political rally here today. Addressing the gathering, party president Sukhbir Badal alleged that the Congress was using empty coffers excuse to cover its ineptitude, non-performance and an absence of political will. Highlighting Panthic concerns, he asked people whether they would vote for a party which had always acted against the Panth. Farmers, Dalits, small traders, shopkeepers, students and unemployed youth have been hit hard by this non-performing government, he said. He reminded people of various social security schemes like pension, Shagun, Atta Dal and bicycles for girls scheme initiated by the previous government and alleged that the Congress had stopped all of these. While addressing the gathering, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik urged the state government to declare financial emergency. Also demanding a resolution in the Assembly in this regard, Malik asked Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal to resign from the Cabinet. Showing a letter of the Finance Department, he alleged that the Congress had proven detrimental for the future of the state. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as babbar sher, he said the choice was between a majboot and a majboor government. rchopra@tribunemail.com Gurdaspur, April 5 The 16-year wait to cast her vote in Indias general election is almost over and Tahira Maqbool, who came from Pakistan in 2003 when she got married to an Indian citizen, is counting each day. The 37-year-old will exercise her right to franchise in the 2019 general election from the Gurdaspur constituency, which goes to the polls on May 19. Its a moment that has been 16 years in the making, said Tahira, who will be voting in a parliamentary election for the first time in her life. I could never vote in Pakistan due to its rigid and inconsiderate government policies. This ended in India after a long wait of 13 years when I first cast my vote in the Punjab Assembly elections in 2017. Now, I will exercise my franchise for the first time in the general election, an excited Tahira said. This is my right; I will definitely cast my vote for the candidate who is capable of taking India to greater heights, she said. Tahira came to India from Faisalabad in Pakistan in December 2003 and settled in Qadian, a small town in Gurdaspur district, after getting married to Indian resident Maqbool Ahmad, a writer by profession. Now an Indian citizen, she remembers vividly the many difficulties she faced after she got married. I got an Indian visa after almost eight months and it was later extended 13 times in 13 years. It was a big challenge as I had to follow many restrictions, including limited access to cities and taking permission to go up to Amritsar, the mother of three said. Tahira took an oath of loyalty to the Indian Constitution and completed all the legal formalities in 2011. It was not until April 2016, five years later, that she was enrolled as a voter after getting Indian citizenship. Its been a tumultuous time, said her husband. Relations between the two countries nosedived after the 2001 attack on Parliament. Maqbool couldnt go to Pakistan to marry her and Tahira couldnt come here either. It was only in 2003 that Tahira got an Indian visa and the couple got married. Voting is a big moment for Tahira and for her husband too. Finally, the time has come. After 16 years of waiting, I will go to a polling station with my wife to vote in the worlds biggest election, said Maqbool. He appealed to the Union government to relax the norms so that Pakistani women married to Indian citizens didnt have to wait for so long to get citizenship. The couple has daughters Shumala and Soofiya besides son Maghoor Ahmad. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, April 5 A local leader belonging to the Hindu Shiv Sena (Thackeray) was shot dead allegedly by three people at Puranshala, about 6 km from Gurdaspur, on Friday evening. Ajay Thakur (25), vice president of the Hindu Shiv Sena (Thackeray), was shot dead when he was about to board a bus from near the bus stand. SSP Swarandeep Singh and a team of senior officers reached the spot. A dog squad was also requisitioned. The SSP said the suspects who shot dead Thakur have been identified as Deep, Prince and Meeta. An officer claimed that all the three are known bad characters of the city. Thakur was accompanied by his partys district president Varinder Singh Munna when one of the accused pulled out a firearm and shot Thakur dead from point blank range. The accused were riding a motorcycle. Heavy police deployment was made in almost all parts of the city. Munna claimed that 15 days ago he had met the SSP and submitted a representation that he and other members of his party apprehended an attack on some of his party leaders. The SSP, however, denied that he had given a representation pertaining to an attack. Munna never gave an application seeking any type of attack or had sought police protection. He actually gave a representation claiming that the anecdotes of Kashmiri students staying in the city should be checked, said the SSP. In April 2015, Harvinder Soni, another member of Hindu Shiv Sena (Thakeray), was attacked in the crowded Fish Park. Immediately after the assault, the Punjab Police gave protection to many Hindu leaders. In Gurdaspur itself, security was provided to as many as four top Hindu leaders. The SSP denied that Thakurs murder was related to the forthcoming polls. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the incident in no way is related to the polls. I have formed five teams, all which are working under my direct supervision. We have definite information about the whereabouts of all the three accused and hope to arrest them tonight, he said. About 15 minutes after the incident, a dozen check posts were set up by the police. Senior officers were asked to supervise checking of vehicles. Security was particularly stringent in and around Hanuman Chowk, bus stand, railway station and the Gurdaspur-Pathankot and Gurdaspur-Amritsar national highways. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 4 There seems to be a curious link between the businesses of Father Anthony Madasserry and Bishop of Jalandhar Diocese Franco Mulakkal. Of the five companies being run by the Jalandhar priest, two were registered in New Delhi at the time when Mulakkal was Auxiliary Bishop in the Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi. The website of Registrar of Companies (ROC) suggests that Ashok Vihar-based company Words Worth Educational Aid Pvt Ltd, with Father Anthony as one of its two directors, was registered on November 10, 2009. Another company, Eduzone Multimedia Pvt Ltd, based at Suraj Nagar in Azadpur was started on April 6, 2011. Franco took over as Auxiliary Bishop in Delhi in January 2009 and joined the Jalandhar Diocese in June 2013. Father Anthony is an aide of Bishop Franco, who is facing allegations in a nun rape case. After Bishop Franco moved to Jalandhar, Father Anthony started spreading his business empire, starting Sahodhaya Partnership Firm in 2014. This firm, being run by three other priests Father Paul, Father Jose and Father Shine is engaged in selling books and stationery besides providing construction and securities services and has a Rs 40-crore turnover. This was revealed after the Khanna police raid and subsequent Income Tax investigations in Jalandhar last Friday. Father Anthony, Father Paul and Nakodar-based priest Father Jose, who claim to be doing charity out of the profits earned from book selling, are all directors of a finance company too. This Jalandhar-based company is registered with the ROC since May 2016 as Navjeevan Nidhi Ltd. Father Paul is registered in this company as Babu Kizhakkinedath Joseph, Father Jose as Father Jose Kuzha Pala and Father Anthony as Anthony FR Madasser. Though mandated by the government, the income tax returns of this company have never been posted on the ROC website. Father Anthonys NGO Navjeevan Charitable Society for Integral Development is located next to his finance company office in Karol Bagh. Wary pastors get armour for cars Jalandhar: With polls round the corner, Christian pastors in the region have been getting their vehicles armoured fearing a security threat. Sanchit Sobti, Director of Laggar Industries, a firm engaged in the business, says many pastors have approached them for bullet-proofing. Pastors of churches in Khambra, Tajpur, Khojewal, Nakodar and Kartarpur are among those who have got their vehicles retrofitted. It costs around Rs 7 lakh to armour a vehicle like Fortuner, Endeavour or Scorpio, which are reinforced with cast iron plates and 42 mm-thick glass. Vicar, transporter, financier... Father Anthony Madasserry, under I-T Dept scanner, has fit himself into many roles. Besides being a priest, he is a school director, a vicar and secretary of charitable trust, a financier, a transporter, a book-seller and director of a securities firm and a construction company monicakchauhan@gmail.com Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 5 With elections round the corner, more than politicians and businessmen, it is Christian pastors in the region who have been getting their vehicles armoured fearing a security threat. The employees of Laggar Industries, the regions top industry engaged in bullet-proofing of the vehicles, told The Tribune, Since the recent emergence and growth of Pentecostal churches are on the lines of thriving dera culture, many pastors of the region are making a beeline to the company's factory on Pathankot road here. The pastors of various popular churches in Khambra, Tajpur, Khojewal, Nakodar and Kartarpur have their SUVs armoured. All of them have also engaged private security men with them, who are often spotted on the stages for their religious programmes and sermons. It is learnt that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had all vehicles taking him from his room to the satsang hall within his Sirsa dera armoured. The employees shared that since the life of an armoured vehicle was much less owing to an additional 700-kg weight in it because of heavy steel plates fitted on its entire body, the customers often had to return after every five years. Ahead of elections, the pastors and dera heads were all getting their new vehicles refurbished with bullet-proof material. Sanchit Sobti, Director of the company, said: Just ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, we have rolled about 20 cars, which included those of politicians and VVIPs from UP, Jharkhand and Bihar. Demand from Punjab-based politicians was less. Unlike previous years, the demand from Haryana was much higher this time, adding that since the Pulwama attack, the demand from Army, CRPF and police in Srinagar and Delhi had also increased for getting their buses, trucks, gypsies and sentry-posts armoured. The cost of armouring a vehicle like Fortuner, Endeavour or Scorpio comes out to nearly Rs 7 lakh as the entire body has to be strengthened with specially cast plates and replacement of the glass panes is done with 42 mm thick glass. The glass on the windows of an armoured vehicle is so heavy that it cannot be rolled down. It is fixed. Even the tyres are run-fed wherein a ring-like material is fixed inside the tube around the rim that can take a vehicle to a safer location even if the tyre goes flat because of bullet shot. Even the body of the oil tanker is strengthened. Some additions and deletions are made as per the need and demand of the customer, explained a mechanic at the site. rchopra@tribunemail.com Washington, April 5 President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States and China are close to entering into a trade agreement and something very monumental could be announced in the next four weeks. He said a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping would take place only if a deal is finalised. Top Chinese and US officials are meeting here to reach an agreement after the worlds two biggest economies entered into a trade war and imposed tariffs on more than USD360 billion in two-way trade. Trump has been accusing China of indulging in unfair trade practices, like the theft of US technology and massive state intervention in markets, contributing to the huge trade deficit amounting to USD 375 billion. Last week, negotiators from both the countries met in Beijing. The deal is coming along really well. Well probably know over the next four weeks. It may take two weeks after that to get it papered, but I really think that over the next fairly short period of time, were going to know, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House during his meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. Its looking very good. A lot of really good things have been negotiated and agreed to. I would really say, and I say it again, a lot of the most difficult points that we didnt think we could ever do or we wouldnt agree to, on both sides have been agreed to, he said. The two sides, he said, had negotiated some of the toughest points, but there are still some ways to go. I think we have a very good chance of getting there. Responding to a question if he was looking forward to meeting Xi, Trump said the summit would take place only if the trade deal is finalised. I look forward to seeing President Xi. It will be here. If we have a deal, then were going to have a summit. If we dont have a deal, were not going to have a summit. But theres a very good chance that well have the summit, said the US President. When asked what is coming in the way of the deal, he said, It is enforcement. We have to make sure theres enforcement. I think well get that done. Weve discussed it at length. I think were going to get that done. Were getting very close to making a deal. That doesnt mean a deal is made, because its not, but were certainly getting a lot closer. I would think within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more--whatever it takes-- something very monumental could be announced, the US President said. Chinese Vice Premier Liu said the two countries had made great progress. I do think that because we got direct guidance by President Xi and President Trump, he said. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden in a statement asked for a strong trade deal with China. Weve had nearly two decades of broken promises from China. Any deal that fails to address the core trade cheating by China--theft of intellectual property, forced tech transfer and state-owned enterprises--will be a loser for American workers. Donald Trump must not settle for a short-term political deal that doesnt include real, enforceable ways to hold China accountable for its promises, he demanded. Senator Lamar Alexander said Trump deserved great credit for asking Xi to control all forms of fentanyl. Fentanyl is an opioid used as a pain medication and together with other medications for anesthesia. It is also used as a recreational drug, often mixed with heroin or cocaine. Chinas decision to control all forms of fentanyl is the single-most important thing that could be done to reduce flow of fentanyl in the US, he said. Chinese regulators have announced that a wider range of fentanyl derivatives would be declared controlled substances in China on May 1. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com Wellington, April 4 The man accused of carrying out the Christchurch mosque attacks will face 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges when he makes his second court appearance, the New Zealand police said on Thursday. The police had earlier filed a single, representative murder charge against 28-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant. He is due to appear via video link during a brief hearing on Friday, and wont be required to enter a plea. Fifty persons died in the March 15 attacks on two mosques and another 50 were injured. The police said in a brief statement that they were considering filing more charges against Tarrant but couldnt comment further as the case was before the court. Tarrants first appearance was on the day after the attacks in the Christchurch District Court. His case has now been moved to the High Court due to the seriousness of the charges. Tarrant has reportedly been moved to a high-security prison in Auckland, which is why hell appear via video link. During the scheduled court hearing, media photographs wont be allowed and reporting on the proceedings will be severely restricted under New Zealand law. The intent of the law is to avoid the possibility the reporting and images would taint the views of potential jurors before they hear evidence in court. AP monicakchauhan@gmail.com London, April 5 British Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday asking to delay Brexit until June 30 to allow divided British lawmakers to agree a withdrawal deal. "The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019," May said in the letter. May said that if an agreement was reached before this date, then Britain proposed that the extension should be ended early. "The government will want to agree a timetable for ratification that allows the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and therefore cancel the European Parliament elections, but will continue to make responsible preparations to hold the elections should this not prove possible," she said. Reuters THE man accused of killing his wife and two children was expressionless when he appeared bef China's poverty-relief achievements have contributed more than 70 percent to global poverty alleviation in the past four decades, a feat acknowledged by the United Nations and the World Bank. China lifted 740 million people in rural areas out of poverty between 1978 and 2017, or about 19 million people each year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The country had another 30 million people to lift out of abject poverty, according to the figures. In 2018, official data showed that 13.86 million people were lifted out of poverty. The government aims to help another 20 million people in the next two years, in order to eradicate poverty in the country. No other country in the world has managed to improve the living conditions of so many people over such a relatively short period. How did China do it? In 1978, the leadership embarked on reform and opening-up to take the country forward. "Poverty is not socialism," late leader Deng Xiaoping once said, and the country has since followed a comprehensive approach to fight poverty. The gradual opening-up of the economy to external investments for export production provided vast numbers of jobs for people from rural villages. These workers gained new skills and sent money home. The government constructed transportation, logistics and communication networks that made China the "factory of the world". This part of the story is probably the best known outside China. What should not be overlooked is not only China's unswerving attention to poverty eradication over the decades, but also its host of less well-known, complementary policies to improve the well-being of the poor. Examining those policies shows the true magnitude of China's efforts and achievements in that regard. First, what does "poverty" mean in China today? People whose annual net income was less than 200 yuan ($30) were defined as living below the poverty line in China in 1985. The line was raised to less than 2,300 yuan by 2011. Second, how are policies designed to help the poorest people? Chinese policies aim to give the poor a roof over their heads, guarantee food, clothing and basic medical services, and provide their children with nine years of compulsory education. Funds and resources have been made available for agricultural subsidies and cheap loans to rural farmers. Funds also went into rural revitalization, to integrate regional development and build infrastructure connecting villages to markets so that farmers could sell their products more easily. Villagers have been encouraged to be innovative, with incentives and loans for them to become self-employed and to set up micro-businesses. Moreover, teams of officials have been traveling to faraway and isolated rural areas to help individuals and families with individualized plans that target specific problems, such as whether there is illness or disability in the household. In other words, China has not taken a "one-size-fits-all" approach for the tough cases. Third, there is a serious focus on education overall. Over the past five years, China has built or expanded 260,000 primary and secondary schools, added 1.7 million teachers and increased the student body by 27.3 million. The Ministry of Education committed more resources last year to poverty-stricken areas to ensure every child is able to attend school by 2020. Beyond easing dire poverty in rural areas, China has an ongoing parallel policy to build a moderately prosperous society by 2020, a crucial aspect of which is setting up a basic social security system. This has been done progressively since the 1980s. China also has had several social insurance programs since the 1990s, covering unemployment, employment injury, maternity, medical care and pension. The country subsequently embarked on a new and successful phase of social security development to provide healthcare benefits to rural and nonworking urban residents. Thus, another feather in China's cap is its establishment of a comprehensive social security system in record time. Having set up the foundation, it can now focus on targeted improvements. For example, in 2017, China provided special funds for pre-pregnancy and other medical checkups for women, benefiting 12 million women, or 91.7 percent of the target group. The country's modernization could not have occurred without the people increasing their capabilities. Beyond general education for the population, the government has increased the knowledge and experience of officials to be at the forefront of solving problems. Specialist schools and academies have been set up in multiple fields, including a national social security school in Beijing to build the capacity of social security officers across the nation. It is the totality of the Chinese experience over the past four decades, in rebuilding the country in so many ways, that has become an inspiration for other countries. China has been a diligent student learning from others. Today, it also has many experiences to share with the world. The author is a former undersecretary for the environment of the Hong Kong Special EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. Officials from East Greenbush Central School District and Siena College signed an Early Assurance Program agreement, to establish a pathway for Columbia High School students to matriculate to Siena on pace to earn a B.S. and MBA in four years. The agreement will allow eligible Columbia students to apply for admission to this innovative program as early as the tenth grade. After meeting the required course requirements at Columbia, students will have the opportunity to enroll at Siena on pace to earn a bachelor of science in business degree, then a master of business administration, all within four years. There will also be an accelerated track for students to earn both degrees at Siena in three years. The agreement was signed by Jeffrey Simons, superintendent of schools for the East Greenbush Central School District, and Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., PhD, president of Siena College. This new partnership with Siena College provides just what weve been looking for and what our students need, Simons said. This arrangement provides a seamless pathway that begins in high school and leads to a Masters Degree from an exceptional college and an exciting career in business. This is a win-win for our district, the college, our students and our families! Simons added. Other representatives at the signing event included Michael Buono, president of the East Greenbush Central School District Board of Education, James McHugh, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at East Greenbush Central School District, Columbia principal Michael Harkin, Columbia business faculty and students and John Bond, an admissions counselor for Siena College, who is also a Columbia High School graduate. With our recent introduction of our MBA program, and the way in which weve organized our business curriculum in particular, it really becomes an incredible pathway for you, Br. Ed Coughlin told Columbia students in attendance. Eligible students may apply for the program during their sophomore or junior year at Columbia based on their past and projected academic performance. Students will need to submit an application, essay and transcript to Siena, and must be on track to complete a required number of academic units in English, social studies, mathematics, laboratory science and language. Students who are accepted to the early assurance business program will not be required to enroll at Siena or to forgo application to other schools; rather they will be able to secure their admission and reserve a place at Siena. Sienas School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). Fewer than five percent of business schools worldwide have earned AACSB accreditation. This agreement with Siena follows East Greenbush Central School Districts emphasized focus on college and career preparation. The district has added more college-level courses in recent years, now totaling 22 college-level courses. It also added a new diploma certificate program in Business Administration last summer and formed a new Business Advisory Council with local colleges, businesses and industry leaders to review employment trends, examine skills needed for success and develop strategies to inform students and parents of post-graduation opportunities. The board is pleased to be able to support our districts partnership with Siena College and this new opportunity for our students, Buono commented. It continues our districts goals of maintaining academic excellence and continuing to build educational and strategic partnerships. I want to thank Siena College and our district staff for all their work in bringing this together! Buono added. Do you want to get quality education from one of the best institutions in Kenya? If your answer is yes then consider studying at African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institutes in Kenya. The ICT field has always been dynamic and quickly changing towards an unpredictable future. A fulfilling job opportunity is assured in the uncultivated area that is open to innovation, creativity and new working methodologies. AFRALTI is an institute set to provide ample opportunities for people working at senior levels in highly technical and managerial positions. These opportunities are provided to enable staff to receive progressive level specialised training. AFRALTI is an inter-governmental organisation that is based in Nairobi, and it serves the ICT sector in the African regions. Image: Twitter.com, @AFRALTI (modified by author) Source: UGC African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) is an inter-governmental institute established in 1993 to spearhead and supplement ICT development efforts mainly in English-speaking countries in Africa. Currently the member states that have ratified the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) include Kenya, Swaziland, Uganda, Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Mozambique, out of the 23 eligible members. African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute gives training on various fields such as telecommunication network, operations and management, telecommunication policy, regulation as well as computer technologies. Their main responsibility is to make available human resource capacity building. This is achieved through quality training, consultancy services as well as advisory services. AFRALTI mainly puts their focus on the personnel working at the information and communication and technology sector in Kenya. The institute has entered into collaborative relationships with various local and global organisations. This has, as a result, enabled it to become a centre of excellence in the International Telecommunication Unions project. READ ALSO: Best TVET courses in Kenya in 2019 Core values of AFRALTI The following core values govern the institution. Being professional Good corporate governance Teamwork Equal opportunities Creativity and innovation Quality and excellence Training areas in AFRALTI Some of AFRALTI courses offered in Kenya include: CISA CompTIA HUAWEI ICDL Cisco and IT CCNP Security DT and MIS- Digital Technologies and Management Information Systems Cisco Certified Network Associate Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Cisco Certified Network Professional Linux Administration-LPI 1 Engineering Broadband Optical Access - DWDM, GPON, and Design and Characteristics Intellectual Property for Innovators IT Essentials: Computer hardware and software (A+) Spectrum Management Training (Advanced Certificate) Fiber optic courses offered Certified Premises Cable Technician (CPCT) Certified Fiber Optics Technician (CFOT) Certified Fiber Optic Network Design Specialist (CFOS/D) Masters degrees available at AFRALTI eMCM (Master of Communications Management by e-Learning) eLLM in ICT Law (Master of Laws in Information and Communications Technology Law by e-Learning) Some of the course such as AFRALTI CISA takes four months and classes are always on Saturday between 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Conferencing and accommodation services at AFRALTI The facility is located in a tranquil and calm environment suitable for holding conferences, training workshops, seminars, team building activities and many more. It is situated in Westland, Nairobi along Waiyaki Way. The staff at the institutes hostel and restaurant offer custom made services and attention equal to a three-star hotel. The guest rooms include eighty deluxe single self-contained rooms. Proficient cookery staff available at the main restaurant will ensure that you enjoy great cuisines. The conferencing halls also contain rooms for those willing to train privately or smaller groups. Among the facilities that one can enjoy there include: A spacious meeting hall that can accommodate a maximum of 150 people. A smaller conference room with a sitting capacity of 30-60 people. A guest house with eighty self-contained rooms. One cafeteria that provides proficient cookery services. Computer labs that have been networked and hotspot with a fast Internet connection. An open space that can be used for outdoor activities. Ample secure parking space. READ ALSO: Best business courses and institutions offering them in Kenya AFRALTI Kenya contacts Telephone: +254-710-207061, +254-20-2655011/2 or +254-20-4440633 Technology department (CISCO &DT-MIS): +254 20 4440633 Business development: +254 20 4449728 Email address: training@afralti.org or info@afralti.org Facebook: Twitter: @AFRALTI Website: AFRALTI Kenya AFRALTI Town campus Kimathi House, 3rd Floor, room 305, Nairobi CBD, Telephone number: 0776 231141 Physical address African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI ) Main campus Waiyaki Way, Adj. to CAK (Communication Authority of Kenya) P. O Box 58902-00200 City Square Nairobi, Kenya. AFRALTI is inviting all the interested individuals to undertake AFRALTI courses 2019 such as Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) to take place from 11th to 15th of April. The course has been designed for those with interest in becoming a Certified Fiber Optic Technician. It brings together theories and hands-on activities. The course also gives an introduction to industry standards that govern outside firms and premises fibre networks. Anyone who completes this course is guaranteed of international recognition by major clients as well as installers. More details about this course and many more can be obtained by contacting them through training@afralti.org. To get to AFRALTI College from the city centre, pick a matatu, number 22 or 23 at Odeon and alight at the Extelecoms bus stop. The institute is located just opposite the bus stop. READ ALSO: Kenya School of Government courses Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - The study was published in the Journal of Reproductive Immunology by scientists at Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands - The scientists found women having regular miscarriages were giving their partners significantly less oral sex - They argued semen contains hormones and proteins from the man's body - The two are useful for the mother to build up a tolerance to antigens such as human leukocyte antigens A new study claims to have found women who give oral sex to their partners and swallow the sperms are more likely not to suffer recurrent miscarriages. While this might sound like a fabricated tale, researchers believe swallowing semen strengthens a pregnant woman's immune system. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Today in History: Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated The report further indicated although semen may be better absorbed in the gut, vaginal exposure to semen could also play an important role in a couple trying to conceive. Photo: Baby Center Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kirinyaga University students riot after colleague is stabbed to death According to a report in the Journal of Reproductive Immunology, scientists at Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands noted this in turn makes fetuses more likely to grow healthily. They argued semen contains hormones and proteins from the man's body which are useful for the mother to build up a tolerance to antigens such as human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This study suggests a possible protective role of oral sex in the occurrence of recurrent miscarriage in a proportion of the cases, the study authors said. READ ALSO: High Court suspends ban on non-woven shopping bags "Our results suggest an association between less oral sex and the occurrence of recurrent miscarriage," they added. By building up the mother's tolerance to substances from the man's body, the parents could give a foetus half-made of the father's DNA a better chance of thriving. This could, the theory explains, make the mother's immune system less likely to reject the baby and lead to its death. READ ALSO: City lawyer Assa Nyakundi's son laid to rest at Nairobi's Lang'ata cemetery The report further indicated although semen may be better absorbed in the gut, vaginal exposure to semen could also play an important role in a couple trying to conceive. The researchers tested their theory comparing the pregnancy history and oral sex habits of 234 women. They, however, acknowledged the study was small and did not provide evidence that swallowing sperm was leading to the lower miscarriage rate. READ ALSO: Man reinstates father's land 23 years after taking law degree to protect the property But they believe their results are strong enough to suggest a link between the two and warrant more research. Of the 234, some 97 of the women had suffered from recurrent miscarriage and were also giving their men low oral sex. While 73% of women in the non-miscarriage group regularly gave oral sex, only 57% of those in the miscarriage group did. Do you have a life-changing story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Should Deputy President William Ruto be impeached? - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News - The US stayed true to its threats to revoke visas of ICC officials involved in war probes involving the country - Bensouda's entry visa was revoked for investigating war crimes committed by US in Afghanistan - Her office said she will however continue working without fear or favour - The US said she can only visit the country while on duty to brief the UN security council on cases refereed to the Hague The United States has revoked the entry visa of the International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. Her office said on Thursday, April 4, this was a response to her investigations into possible war crimes by US forces and their allies in Afghanistan. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Preschool teacher seen smacking sick children in viral video arrested Bensouda has been investigating alleged war crimes by all parties in the conflict in Afghanistan since November 2017. Photo: New York Times. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Nollywood actor John Okafor slams reports he is down with stroke A report by BBC indicated the move will not impact Bensoudas travel to the US to meet her United Nations obligations although the ICC is not a UN court. We can confirm that the US authorities have revoked the prosecutors visa for entry into the US, Bensoudas office said in an e-mail. The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had warned the America might deny or revoke visas to any ICC staff involved in such probes, BBC reported. READ ALSO: Annoyed woman urinates in bank's hallway "If you're responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan, you should not assume that you will still have or get a visa, or that you will be permitted to enter the United States," said Pampeo. The US which has been critical of the ICC since it's formation, had also vowed to take additional steps, including economic sanctions if it did not change its course. This was after a 2016 report from the international court said there was a reasonable basis to believe the US military had committed torture at secret detention sites in Afghanistan operated by the CIA. READ ALSO: State of Nation Address: Uhuru says he won't sack corruption suspects out of pressure The report further indicated the Afghan government and the Taliban had committed war crimes. Bensouda is reported to travel regularly to brief the UN Security Council on cases referred to The Hague by the body and her office confirmed that she would exercise her duties without fear. She has been investigating alleged war crimes by all parties in the conflict in Afghanistan since November 2017. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Twist that Tongue a little bit Source: Tuko Newspaper In Parliament today, there was an exchange of words between an Opposition MP and the Health By Dong Sun-hwa Korean rapper KK, who was paralyzed in a diving accident in Thailand, will return to Korea on Saturday. He asked people for money on Instagram, Wednesday, to pay his medical bills and transfer cost. Only a day later, reports said he would be back here and receive intensive care. It is unknown whether he got the money from the fundraising. On Wednesday, his wife uploaded an online post on his behalf. He has been paralyzed since breaking his neck in a diving accident at a swimming pool in Chiang Mai, according to the post. "I broke my fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae (neck bone) diving into the pool at my accommodation," the post reads. "I am now living from day to day at the intensive care unit at a hospital in Chiang Mai. I am feeling helpless about unaffordable medical bills here." He has been hospitalized for about 10 days and the medical cost is over 60 million won ($53,000), according to the post. He said he also needed 10 million won to be transferred back to Korea. "I am ashamed to say this, but I beg for your help for the first and the last time." His bank account number was revealed in the post. KK, also known as KEIKEI, appeared on Mnet's hip-hop competition show "Show Me The Money 6" in 2017. He lost hearing in his left ear due to an infection when he was six. Tottenham Hotspur will host the first European game in their new stadium on 9 April and visitors Manchester City will also be hoping for a new experience in the all-English UEFA Champions League quarter-final. The tie will be the sixth at this stage of the competition between two Premier League clubs, and the second in a row for City, after going out to Liverpool at the same point 12 months ago. That meant that City had lost all four of their matches against English opposition in Europe, following home and away defeats by Chelsea in the 1971 European Cup Winners' Cup semis. Tottenham won the first UEFA Cup in 1972 over two legs against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but eight seasons earlier had been eliminated by Manchester United in the European Cup Winners' Cup second round. It was United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool who, as the Premier League's so-called 'big four' of the time, helped England dominate the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League between 2004 and 2011 and produce most of the Premier League 'derbies' in Europe. We chart the previous all-English ties in European competition, and how far the eventual winners went. UEFA Champions League/European Cup 2008: all-English final 1978/79 first round Nottingham Forest v Liverpool: 2-0, 0-0 (agg: 2-0) Forest won final 2003/04 quarter-final Chelsea v Arsenal: 1-1, 2-1 (agg: 3-2) Chelsea lost in semi-final 2004/05 semi-final Chelsea v Liverpool: 0-0, 0-1 (agg: 0-1) Liverpool won final 2005/06 group stage Liverpool v Chelsea: 0-0, 0-0 (Liverpool finished 1st, Chelsea 2nd) Both teams lost in round of 16 2007/08 quarter-final Arsenal v Liverpool: 1-1, 2-4 (agg: 3-5) 2007/08 semi-final Liverpool v Chelsea: 1-1, 2-3 (agg: 3-4) 2007/08 final Moscow Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United (United won 6-5 on penalties) 2008/09 quarter-final Liverpool v Chelsea: 1-3, 4-4 (agg: 5-7) Chelsea lost in semi-final 2008/09 semi-final Manchester United v Arsenal: 1-0, 3-1 (agg: 4-1) United lost in final 2010/11 quarter-final Chelsea v Manchester United 0-1, 1-2 (agg: 1-3) United lost in final 2017/18 quarter-final Liverpool v Manchester City 3-0, 2-1 (agg: 5-1) Liverpool lost in final UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup 1971/72 final Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur: 1-2, 1-1 (agg: 2-3) 2016: Watch Liverpool knock out United 2015/16 round of 16 Liverpool v Manchester United 2-0, 1-1 (agg: 3-1) Liverpool lost in final European Cup Winners' Cup 1963/64 second round Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United: 2-0, 1-4 (agg: 3-4) United lost in quarter-final 1970/71 semi-final Chelsea v Manchester City: 1-0, 1-0 (agg: 2-0) Chelsea won final Overall record (knockout ties) Last season: Liverpool beat City Arsenal W0 L3 Chelsea W4 L3 Liverpool W4 L3 Manchester City W0 L2 Manchester United W4 L1 Nottingham Forest W1 L0 Tottenham Hotspur W1 L1 Wolverhampton Wanderers L0 W1 Overall record (matches, not counting shoot-outs) Arsenal P6 W0 D2 L4 F6 A12 Chelsea P14 W5 D6 L3 F17 A14 Liverpool P16 W6 D7 L3 F22 A18 Manchester City P4 W0 D0 L4 F1 A7 Manchester United P9 W5 D2 L2 F13 A9 Nottingham Forest P2 W1 D1 L0 F2 A0 Tottenham Hotspur P4 W2 D1 L1 F6 A6 Wolverhampton Wanderers P2 W0 D1 L1 F2 A3 The 2022 UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship finals will be staged by Bosnia and Herzegovina from 3 to 15 May in Mostar and Sarajevo. It is the first time Bosnia and Herzegovina has hosted a UEFA final tournament. The hosts will be the first team from Bosnia and Herzegovina to play in a UEFA women's final tournament. They will be joined by seven teams progressing from Round 2 of the new format for the finals, which will act as UEFA's qualifier for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India from 11 to 30 October 2022. The security situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile despite the latest recommitment to cease fire, beginning on March 8. Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, stated this in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on April 4. He said that that mines and unexploded ordnance, combined with a fluctuating number of ceasefire violations, caused 20 civilian casualties this year. In addition, he noted that 16 mostly elderly people crossing the contact line had died of natural causes since the start of winter. Ertugrul Apakan called for full adherence to the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons, adding that recent lives lost had underlined also the urgent need for humanitarian mine action. The Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM also added that the SMM would continue to focus on people, especially the most vulnerable. He stressed the need to repair the bridge at Stanytsia Luhanska, saying such essential humanitarian measures should be expedited. iy NATO Allies agreed a package of measures to support Ukraine and Georgia in the Black Sea amid Russian aggression with the aim of enhancing security in the region. The measures will include training of maritime forces, port visits and sharing information, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Thursday. We discussed what more we can do to enhance our security in the Black Sea region. We agreed a package of measures to improve our situational awareness. And to step up our support for both Georgia and Ukraine, Stoltenberg said. He noted that the measures concern the training of maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises and sharing information. As the NATO Secretary General stressed, this will build on already close cooperation. At the same time he informed that right now, one of NATOs naval groups is on patrol in the Black Sea. And today, it is exercising with Ukrainian and Georgian ships. So we will maintain our focus, and our presence in this vital region, Stoltenberg underscored. Moreover, he called on Moscow to release Ukrainian sailors. We call on Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized last year near the Sea of Azov, the NATO Secretary General underscored. ol Canada aims to eliminate landmines in the territory of Ukraine until 2025. On International Mine Awareness Day, Canada reaffirms its commitment to eliminate landmines through initiatives in Iraq, Ukraine, Colombia, Cambodia and Laos, working toward a mine-free world for 2025, the Global Affairs Canada posted on Twitter. As a reminder, the United Nations' General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year to be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. On this day, a large number of activities are held around the world to spread awareness about the elimination of landmines and explosive remnants of war. Canada helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine to carry out mine clearance on the territories, where the armed hostilities have been taking place. ol Ukraine has called on Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the implementation of the peace plan in eastern Ukraine, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, to pay more attention to the issue on the release of Ukrainian political prisoners illegally convicted in Russia. Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, stated this during a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on April 4, own Ukrinform correspondent reported. "We urge to pay special attention and to ensure discussion within the TCG and its humanitarian working group in a trilateral format of the issue on the exchange of Ukrainian citizens illegally detained in Russia and Russian citizens convicted in Ukraine for committing serious crimes against the state and sovereignty," Prokopchuk said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council. The Ukrainian diplomat noted that there is an urgent need to change the negative tendency of many previous months regarding the constant increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens illegally held in Russia. He also stressed that the Russian side continues to block access, including for the ICRC, to Ukrainian citizens who are illegally detained in Russian-occupied territories in Donbas. iy Venezuelan refugees and migrants trek across the border to reach Cucuta, Colombia. UNHCR/Vincent Tremeau Despite Venezuela having officially closed its land borders with neighbouring Colombia and Brazil as of 23 February, thousands of people are still leaving the country daily. Many are risking their lives in the process, either wading across torrential rivers or risking exploitation and abuse by armed groups controlling treacherous irregular paths. On Tuesday, security forces on both sides of the border struggled to control the situation as some 46,000 desperate people forced their way across the Simon Bolivar International Bridge between the Venezuelan town of San Antonio de Tachira and the Colombian city of Cucuta. People were moving in both directions. At one point crowd-barriers were overturned. In the melee, crying babies, distressed small children, exhausted pregnant women, elderly people and people with disabilities were at risk of being crushed or trampled by the crowd. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The crowds we have seen this week are a result of the Tachira River swelling, which in turn is making crossings by foot even more dangerous than usual. Since 23 February, when the Venezuelan authorities imposed restrictions on crossing the border, pedestrian traffic at the bridge had dwindled. People instead resorted to using muddy footpaths known as trochas and wading across the Tachira River to get to Cucuta where they work, study, receive medical attention or go to obtain food or medicines unavailable at home. In addition, thousands of Venezuelan refugees and migrants enter Colombia every day to stay or to continue their journeys to other Latin American countries. With heavy rain having swollen the river and flooded many of the footpaths, the only viable option for most Venezuelans was the bridge. The situation illustrates the dangers of irregular cross-border movements by people who are desperate. Although by Wednesday the current of the Tachira River had temporarily subsided, the onset of the rainy season means crossings will continue to be highly dangerous. UNHCR recognizes the efforts of Colombia and other Latin American countries in hosting millions of Venezuelans, and the commitment of the Colombian authorities to promote access to their territory, legal residence and other basic rights for them. In 2018, UNHCR supported the Government of Colombias administrative registration of over 440,000 Venezuelans. UNHCR works closely with the Colombian authorities, intervening on behalf of individuals with specific protections needs, including women, children and adolescents, the elderly, persons with disabilities, indigenous people and LGBTI groups, and providing specialized services and humanitarian assistance to them. At all the main border crossings UNHCR provides information and legal counselling on how to access refugee status and alternative forms of stay. We also coordinate with other organizations to distribute drinking water, hygiene kits, blankets and light meals to refugees and migrants, and refers the sick to health centres and hospitals. UNHCR also gives technical assistance to relevant authorities to develop an effective coordination and prepare local response plans. For more information on this topic, please contact: Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung, front row fifth from left, and Heo Seong-joo, fourth from left, director of Seoul National University Dental Hospital, pose with their volunteer teams at the hospital, Friday. Shinhan and the hospital will dispatch their teams to provide dental services to children in Uzbekistan from April 14 to 22. Courtesy of Shinhan Financial Group Stepping along a narrow, winding pathway formed by sandbags reinforced by cement, Anwar, a 25-year-old father of two, points out areas of land around Chakmarkul refugee settlement where monsoon rains opened up cracks in hillsides packed with shelters. I remember one house after a big storm. The storm was so strong that the house collapsed and washed away in a landslide, he says, recalling the first monsoon season Rohingya refugees spent in Bangladesh since fleeing Myanmar in massive numbers in August 2017. Two people were half-buried in the earth and couldnt move because they were trapped. The crowd were trying to use axes to cut them free and pull them out but it was very dangerous, he says. We told them to stop and went in ourselves. We were wearing protective gloves, boots and clothing, and pulled the earth away. We pulled them free. We helped to save their lives and Im very proud of that. The monsoon rains fall between April and September each year. The role played by Anwar, and other refugee volunteers during the last years rains was crucial in helping to keep the community safe. One of 50 Safety Unit Volunteers working in the settlement, Anwar received three months of training, including workshops on first aid, dealing with fires and cyclone preparations. That training proved invaluable. I volunteered to serve the Rohingya people." Chakmarkul is a relatively small refugee site, sheltering fewer than 13,000 individuals. But fellow volunteer Khalida Begum, a widow and mother of five, said that more than 200 shelters in Chakmarkul alone were damaged or destroyed in landslides last year and that the volunteer teams helped people to safety. I volunteered to serve the Rohingya people to protect our community and save lives. We know the dangers, but we feel prepared because weve learnt rescue techniques and how to save lives, she says. The monsoon reaches a peak in July and August in southeast Bangladesh, frequently dumping huge amounts of water in heavy cloudbursts. In just one 24-hour period last year, more than 40 centimetres of rain fell. A Site Maintenance Engineering Project team stabilises slopes at Chakmarkul settlement, home to some 13,000 Rohingya refugees living on steep hills. UNHCR/Caroline Gluck Ayesha, 25, receives fire safety training by the Bangladesh Fire Service at Kutupalong refugee camp where she has lived for seven months since her husband was killed in Myanmar. UNHCR/Patrick Brown Bangladesh's monsoon season runs April to September. In 2018, reports commissioned by UNHCR estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 Rohingya would be at risk from the monsoons. UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo Community health worker and Rohingya refugee Shokat Ali, 26, left, walks down a paved footpath in Camp 4, Kutupalong Expansion Site for Rohingya refugees, Ukhia, Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh. UNHCR/David Azia More than 740,000 Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh since 2017 are sheltered in Coxs Bazar district, joining more than 168,000 who fled earlier cycles of violence. For the refugees, experiencing their first wet season in flimsy bamboo shelters, and for the humanitarian agencies, working in support of the Government of Bangladesh, the last wet season proved a big test. The speed of the refugee influx meant that families had built shelters wherever they could find available space, often on steep slopes or floodplains. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, working in close cooperation with its partners and the refugee community, focused on improving the fragile and densely crowded refugee settlements, building kilometre after kilometre of roads, as well as steps and bridges. The concerted drive installed drainage systems and upgraded shelters, and also gave families tie-down kits and plastic tarpaulins. Teams pre-positioned emergency items and expanded water and sanitation facilities. Much emphasis was also placed on training and empowering the refugee communities as first responders. And while humanitarian agencies continue to strengthen essential infrastructure and pre-position relief items in the settlements, the shift in emergency planning this year is towards a community-centred approach. In addition to Safety Unit Volunteers, volunteer Community Outreach Members continue to go house to house, spreading information and awareness about how families can better protect themselves and their shelters. Volunteer Community Health Workers focus on preventing the spread of disease and volunteer Community Groups for men, women and youth also play a role in providing practical assistance to affected families and rebuilding damaged community structures. Refugee volunteers might also be asked to work as community mobilisers with the Protection Emergency Response Units, which are ready to assist in helping unite families with children after any emergency, as well as providing basic counselling and assistance where necessary to vulnerable individuals. Overall conditions in the camps have vastly improved since last year, though life-threatening monsoon and cyclone hazards remain, said UNHCRs senior field coordinator in Coxs Bazar, Oscar Sanchez Pineiro. This year, in addition to putting in place the necessary hardware, the emergency plan places communities at the centre of the response building on their capacities to prepare and respond to disaster, alongside support from our teams. Refugees demonstrated high levels of solidarity and self-reliance last year and we will continue to provide more training to build their capacity not only as first responders, but to help with infrastructure repairs, counselling, basic first aid and temporary evacuation, as well as helping to report incidents, he added. Having dealt with challenges in 2018, refugees have some experience and feel better prepared to face the weather dangers this year. Even so, many worry what will happen if a cyclone hits which could have the capacity to destroy the majority of shelters in the settlements. Were prepared but were nervous." Were prepared but were nervous, said Kasim, a volunteer with the Mens Group in Chakmarkul, which meets regularly to discuss and address community issues through service projects designed and organized by the refugees themselves. The group went into full gear during the monsoons last year, helping families affected by landslides, digging out mud from homes and working to repair damaged shelters. The shelters are not strong. Also, the earth is soft and loose. There has been a massive cutting of trees to make way for shelters and firewood. Because of the deforestation, were in a more vulnerable state and we could face more danger. We need to be vigilant, to keep our eyes and ears open, Kasim continued. We all need to work together to save houses and lives. One person cant do much on their own. We all need to be together to face the dangers and respond, he added noting the strong community spirit that had grown in the settlement. If I die, it will be one life lost. If I save others, there will be many lives saved. Ukraine loses transit dispute with Russia in WTO media Kyiv challenged the political ban imposed by Russia, which broke the shortest path of Ukrainian goods to Central Asia's markets. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Klitschko remarked the work is carried out beyond the buffer zone of the St. Sophia Cathedral as a world heritage site. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has met in Paris with Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Mechtild Rossler. Together with Deputy Mayor Oleksandr Spasybko and Executive Director of ICOMOS Ukraine Olena Serdyuk, he briefed the UNESCO experts on plans for a major tourist route in the heart of Kyiv. Construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, which will become an important part of the route, stringing together Volodymyrska Hirka and the Friendship of Nations Monument, is already underway, according to the mayor's press service. Read alsoKyiv to get funds from national budget for construction of bridge, subway line Klitschko remarked the work is carried out beyond the buffer zone of the St. Sophia Cathedral as a world heritage site. The boundaries of the buffer zone were defined by Ukraine's Ministry of Culture in 2017. The construction work does not in any way violate the legislation since the city authorities have obtained all corresponding permits. According to Klitschko, the city administration has also sought the expert advice of the Ukraine's National Committee of International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Ukraine) on the bridge construction project. "ICOMOS Ukraine confirmed that the construction of the pedestrian bridge will not in any way affect and damage the world heritage site," stressed Klitschko. "It is of vital importance for us to preserve the universal value of the objects, which are part of the world heritage and this principle guided our project work. This bridge will encourage a higher attendance of global heritage sites in Kyiv by residents and visitors, as well as smarten area around these monuments," he said. Klitschko also remarked the city closely works with UNESCO and is ready for further expert consultations. The Advisory mission is expected to visit Kyiv in the second half of April. After hearing the prosecutors' indictment, the court adjourned until April 15th. Prosecutors have accused Kirill Vyshinsky, the head of Russia's state-run RIA Novosti's office in Ukraine, of publishing "anti-Ukrainian" articles and materials at the beginning of his treason trial in a Kyiv court. The Podil District Court began the trial on April 4, almost a year after the 52-year-old was detained by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) amid accusations that RIA Novosti Ukraine was participating in a "hybrid information war" waged by Russia against Ukraine, RFE/RL reported. After hearing the prosecutors' indictment, the court adjourned until April 15th. Read alsoRussia will seek return of chief of RIA Novosti's Kyiv office through international channels SBU officials have said Vyshinsky, who at the moment of his arrest had dual Russian-Ukrainian citizenship, received financial support from Russia via other media companies registered in Ukraine in order to disguise links between RIA Novosti Ukraine and Russian state media giant Rossia Segodnya. They also said he was receiving some 53,000 euros (about $60,000) a month from Russian sources for his work, and that the money was sent to him through Serbia. According to the SBU, Vyshinsky was preparing reports at Moscow's request that sought to justify the seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula by Russia in 2014. Weeks after his arrest, Vyshinsky announced that he had given up his Ukrainian citizenship, called his arrest a "political order," and suggested that he had been arrested in order to use him in a swap with Moscow for a Ukrainian being held in Russia. Vyshinsky faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of the charges against him. Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv have risen sharply since Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and threw its support behind separatists in eastern Ukraine, helping start a war that has killed some 13,000 people. Ukraine's pro-Western government is wary of Russian media outlets, claiming Moscow is distributing disinformation aimed at sowing tension and destabilizing the country. Kyiv has banned more than a dozen Russian television channels since 2014, accusing them of spreading propaganda. There are sufficient rapid reaction government forces to curb any of radical groups, if needed, the minister stressed. Radical nationalist organizations are unable to destabilize Ukraine ahead of the presidential election runoff, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, said. "I dont see any threats coming neither from 'National Squads' neither from 'National Corps'. [Leader of National Corps, people's deputy Andriy] Biletskiy's position is clear; we held a meeting with him, including on ensuring that the elections are held without pressure. And I dont think that the C14 organization has enough strength or will to destabilize the situation. These are small radical groups, for each of which there are sufficient rapid reaction government forces of influence. I believe you'll see there won't be a single incident in the second round," Avakov told a panel show on 1+1 TV channel Thursday. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine has processed 100% of the votes cast in the first round of presidential elections held March 31. A total of 30.24% of the voters supported Volodymyr Zelensky, and 15.95% votes were cast for Petro Poroshenko. On April 3, Zelensky declared his readiness to come to the debate with Poroshenko ahead of the runoff, however, he voiced a number of conditions. In particular, he said, the debates should be held at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, "before the people of Ukraine", and with all TV channels being able to air the event live, while both candidates must undergo a medical exam and prove to the people that there are "no alcoholics or drug addicts" among them. Poroshenko agreed to hold the debate with Zelensky at the stadium. On Thursday, April 4, Zelensky posted another video where he proposed that the leader of the Batkivshchyna Party,Yulia Tymoshenko, who stopped short of the runoff, gaining the third largest number of votes in the first round, be a moderator at the debate. Overnight Friday, Petro Poroshenko, via a video address, appealed to Volodymyr Zelensky, proposing that he stop putting forward conditions for participation in the public debate ahead of the election runoff. He didn't elaborate on the date though, only assuring this will happen ahead of the second round. Advisor to Volodymyr Zelensky Ruslan Riaboshapka assured the public that the presidential candidate's action plan for the first 100 days in offce, in case he wins the runoff, will be presented before the election's second round. "If there is such public demand and there really is such demand to learn about Volodymyr Zelensky and his team's program and concrete action plan, and who are the people who will be implementing action plan then, of course, people will have this information before the second round," Ryaboshapka told a TV panel show Pravo na Vladu (Right to Power), according to Ukrayinska Pravda. "Volodymyr will present both his team and the action plan for the first 100 days," the advisor said. He did not mention the date when this would happen, but he assured that "it will definitely be until the second round." Read alsoZelensky undergoes medical exam (Photo) "There is no specific date now. Volodymyr Zelensky will announce it personally. My only message is that this will be done in advance, before the vote," said Riaboshapka. Voters expect Zelensky to name specific people who will join his team if he becomes head of state, and to unequivocally determine his position on Russian aggression in Ukraine and on the country's foreign policy. As UNIAN reported earlier, Team Zelensky's political consultant Dmytro Razumkov said that presidential candidate Zelensky would pass blood tests at a private lab EuroLab on April 5. According to Razumkov, Team Zelensky do not trust the medical facility at the Olimpiyskiy since the site is state-owned. At the same time, he claimed there were "independent" facilities that could be trusted. No traces of psychoactive substances have been revealed. Chief doctor at the Kyiv City Narcological Hospital "Sociotherapy" Volodymyr Yary has announced no traces of psychoactive substances, that is alcohol or drugs, have been found in the body of Presidential candidate and incumbent Head of State Petro Poroshenko. Samples of Poroshenko's blood, urine, and hair have been examined, he told a briefing at Kyiv's Olimpiyskiy Stadium on April 5. Hair and hair follicle test results could come as late as in two weeks, while Yary says he hopes the results will be ready earlier. Read alsoI'm waiting: Poroshenko passes blood tests, addresses Zelensky (Photo) As UNIAN reported earlier, on April 3, Zelensky declared his readiness to come to the debate with Poroshenko ahead of the runoff, however, he voiced a number of conditions. In particular, he said, the debates should be held at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, "before the people of Ukraine", and with all TV channels being able to air the event live, while both candidates must undergo a medical exam and prove to the people that there are "no alcoholics or drug addicts" among them. Poroshenko agreed to hold the debate with Zelensky at the stadium. On April 4, speaker of the election headquarters of incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Oleh Medvedev, said that Poroshenko had invited Zelensky at the Olimpiyskiy health center to pass the relevant tests. Read alsoZelensky undergoes medical exam (Photo) In turn, Zelensky's headquarters rejected a proposal to take a blood test at the health center and announced he would come to a private lab. On Friday morning, April 5, Zelensky passed blood tests at a private clinic Eurolab. Presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko passed the relevant tests at the Olimpiyskiy health center. The envoy says he is not sure Russia's attempts to manipulate the election runoff will have any impact. U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations Kurt Volker said in an interview with PBS News Hour said Russia will keep testing whoever becomes president in Ukraine. "I think we can assume, based on Russia's behavior up to now, that they will continue to test whoever is the president of Ukraine," Volker told PBS News Hour. He recalled that Russia had invaded Ukraine and taken part of its territory. "They keep the fighting going. You see all kinds of propaganda, R.T., Sputnik, cyber-attacks. The whole the whole toolbox is on display in Ukraine," Volker said. Read alsoVolker: U.S. working to strengthen Ukraine's resilience, deter further Russian aggression Asked if Russians are manipulating the Ukraine election, the Ambassador said: "They're trying to." Volker added that "like in a lot of countries, "the Russians are involved." "But, at the same time, it's very hard to mess with people's own sense of their own interests," the diplomat stressed. "And I'm not sure they had an impact in the first round." "I'm not sure they will have an impact in the second round," he stated. Poroshenko believes it would be best to hold the debates in several stages. Presidential candidate and incumbent President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says that ahead of the election runoff, he would like to participate in three-stage public debates with his rival Volodymyr Zelensky. "I firmly believe that he [Zelensky] will have the courage to arrive here [Kyiv's NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium], and the debates will take place, especially since this is a requirement of the Ukrainian law," he said on April 5, having passed the relevant tests on psychoactive substances at the Olimpiyskiy health center. Poroshenko believes it would be best if debates were held in several stages: on the candidates' position regarding their key powers as supreme commander and the program to strengthen defense and security; on foreign policy; and on protection of Ukrainian citizens' constitutional rights and freedoms. Read alsoPoroshenko sharply responds to Zelensky's proposal to have Tymoshenko as debate moderator As UNIAN reported earlier, on April 3, Zelensky declared his readiness to come to the debate with Poroshenko ahead of the runoff, however, he voiced a number of conditions. In particular, he said, the debates should be held at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, "before the people of Ukraine", and with all TV channels being able to air the event live, while both candidates must undergo a medical exam and prove to the people that there are "no alcoholics or drug addicts" among them. Poroshenko agreed to hold the debate with Zelensky at the stadium. On April 4, speaker of the election headquarters of incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Oleh Medvedev, said that Poroshenko had invited Zelensky at the Olimpiyskiy health center to pass the relevant tests. In turn, Zelensky's headquarters rejected a proposal to take a blood test at the health center and announced he would come to a private lab. On Friday morning, April 5, Zelensky passed blood tests at a private clinic Eurolab. Presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko passed the relevant tests at the Olimpiyskiy health center. The scenario of the exercise is fictitious and aims at planning and conducting a Crisis Response Operation under the mandate of a UNSC Resolution, in the context of a security environment characterized by symmetric and asymmetric threats. The Black Sea's largest multinational naval exercise - SEA SHIELD 19 has been launched, set to be held from April 5 to April 13, involving Ukraine and NATO Allies. The exercises will involve 14 Romanian warships and six warships from Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Netherlands, and Turkey, with the participation of approximately 2,200 troops, who will exercise joint combat procedures against underwater, surface and air defense threats, adapted to the types of threats emerging in the Black Sea Region, according to Ukraine's Mission to NATO. The scenario of the exercise is fictitious and aims at planning and conducting a Crisis Response Operation (CRO), under the mandate of a Resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in the context of a security environment characterized by symmetric and asymmetric threats. As UNIAN reported earlier, on April 4, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed a package of measures to improve NATO's situational awareness in the Black Sea region and strengthen support for partners Georgia and Ukraine. Read alsoAir surveillance, more ships: NATO preparing package of measures against Russia in Black Sea At a meeting in Washington D.C. on Thursday, Ministers also reiterated their call on Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships seized near the Sea of Azov, according to the NATO's official website. "We will be measured and coordinated in our response, and we have no intention of deploying ground-launched nuclear missiles in Europe," said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, adding: "at the same time, NATO will continue to maintain credible and effective deterrence and defense." Shinhan Bank CEO Jin Ok-dong By Lee Kyung-min The CEOs of Korea's top five commercial banks are increasing efforts to achieve digital transformation, a forward-looking initiative among many global financial services firms. Shinhan Bank CEO Jin Ok-dong, who took the helm in late March, said he will hire digitally creative employees and consider removing IT departments. He thinks the new workers employed to have direct contact with customers will be required to maintain a level of acuity to promptly identify customers' needs and follow up with the necessary service using digital tools. Working in a "nomadic" manner will be highly appreciated, he said, as people with such qualities will be able to adapt to new surroundings and circumstances that ultimately will help the bank maintain new and fresh perspectives. KEB Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo Similarly, digital transformation is one of the top two priorities for KEB Hana Bank CEO Ji Sung-kyoo, alongside globalization. He said at his inauguration ceremony in March that the bank will change its identity from a commercial bank to an information-based entity, which he said was a fundamentally different approach from other banks that mostly consider the transformation a tool to help advance their other business objectives. To help the bank become a leading, competent entity in the rapidly changing market, more future growth boosters will be identified, such as the Global Loyalty Network (GLN) digital platform. The blockchain-based technology enables customers to make digital transactions regardless of their location via the decentralized system, mostly sharing digital commodities such as card points and mileage. Closer cooperation with ICT firms and social media will be pursued to achieve a success similar to that of LINE, a key driver of the firm's popularity in Indonesia. LINE is expected to foster digital banking, fully capitalizing on its strong brand recognition, user-heavy platform and rich content in Indonesia. NongHyup Bank CEO Lee Dae-hoon Similarly, NongHyup Bank CEO Lee Dae-hoon will continue helping budding fintech firms gain a foothold in the industry known to have high barriers to entry. Under the policy "Challenge Plus," 33 such firms are offered consultation on landing investors, as well as overall company management including legal, accounting and public relations. The target-specific support is in addition to ongoing efforts to redefine itself as a bank with strength in data management capabilities. The bank operates Robotics Process Automation (RPA), an automated program that manages household lending, corporate lending and credit card transactions at the bank's headquarters in Seoul. This is in line with the holding company's initiative to hire jobseekers with "digital capabilities." The NongHyup Financial Group said it revised hiring requirements to value qualities such as digital communication. The measure seeks to appreciate learning, teaching and assessment as research and innovation through digital platforms and resources. The group considers the new requirement will help the bank become more agile, by boosting capabilities to better respond to digitally challenging situations. By 2020, the group also aims to hire 1,000 data scientists to develop a "total data platform," intended for access by all of its subsidiaries so they can better provide tightly integrated, customer-oriented services. KB Kookmin Bank CEO Hur Yin KB Kookmin Bank CEO Hur Yin declared last year a "new beginning," where it redefined its identity as the leader in digital transformation. At an event that celebrated the 17th anniversary of the bank's establishment, at its headquarters on Yeouido in Seoul, Nov. 1, he said by 2025 a 2 trillion won investment will be made to foster projects related to enhancing digital transformation and hiring 4,000 digitally savvy people. Woori Bank CEO Sohn Tae-seung is expected to push for similar efforts. He said a new system will be implemented to train digital specialists by having selected workers gain in-depth experience in related departments. This is to change the previous practice whereby employees are frequently moved to other departments before fully understanding the work there. Woori Bank CEO Sohn Tae-seung The foreign minister said that no one will be asking Russia what measures Ukraine and NATO may jointly carry out in the Black Sea. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin says the package of measures agreed upon by NATO foreign ministers to support Ukraine in the Black Sea region contains confidential provisions. "It's very important to me since we've been discussed this with NATO for four months. NATO won't be asking Russia what we should do together and what we should do in the Black Sea. We will just do it. No one will be asking and telling: this you can do, and this you can't," Klimkin told journalists in Kyiv on April 5. Klimkin recalled that the adopted package of NATO measures to support Ukraine in the Black Sea provides for the surveillance, military presence, as well as support for the Ukrainian Navy and coastal defense. Read alsoNATO Foreign Ministers agree to enhance security in Black Sea region "Crimea is Ukraine. So, the passage through the Kerch Strait must be free, while navigation in the Sea of Azov shall be carried out in line with the principles of international law. That is, no one will be asking [to allow] observation from the sea, air and space. Nobody will be asking about strengthening military presence and the planned drills. No one will be asking about the bigger presence of NATO naval forces. And nobody will be asking Russia regarding the development of the coastal defense and info exchange," he said. "There are, of course, some confidential issues that I won't be talking about. But this is a very important package because it is substantial. These are not just political statements about supporting us," Klimkin added. Read alsoKremlin concerned about NATO's Black Sea package statement As UNIAN reported earlier, on April 4 in Washington D.C, Alliance member states agreed on measures to enhance security in the Black Sea region. NATO will continue to assist Ukraine and Georgia in the preparation of naval and coast guard forces. "We agreed a package of measures to improve our situational awareness. And to step up our support for both Georgia and Ukraine. In areas such as the training of maritime forces and coast guards. Port visits and exercises. And sharing information. This will build on our already close cooperation," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. The role of the debate moderator will be offered to "any other." Leader of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia Tymoshenko has refused to become an independent moderator in the debates between presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky and incumbent President Petro Poroshenko ahead of the second round of the elections. "She would be an independent moderator because she would criticize both candidates. If she agreed, 60% of the votes would be represented at the stadium. That is, it would be a representation of more than half of the country. But it happened as it happened," political scientist and Ukrainian election frontrunner Volodymyr Zelensky's headquarters speaker Dmytro Razumkov told the Novoye Vremya Radio. Read alsoPoroshenko issues statement on debates with Zelensky According to him, the role of the debate moderator will be offered to "any other." "It should be an independent referee who will be equidistant from two teams," Razumkov said. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Central Election Commission processed 100% of the protocols of the precinct election commissions in the first round of presidential elections in Ukraine. Data posted on the CEC website say showman Volodymyr Zelensky is confidently leading with 30.24% of the votes. At the same time, 15.95% of voters cast their ballots in favor of incumbent President Petro Poroshenko. Zelensky said on Wednesday, April 3, he was ready to hold debates with Poroshenko pending the second round of the presidential elections but named a number of conditions. In particular, the event should take place at Kyiv's Olympiyskiy Stadium, in front of the people of Ukraine. Moreover, all channels should be able to broadcast it live. Zelensky gave Poroshenko 24 hours for decision-making. In turn, Poroshenko agreed to hold debates with Zelensky at the Olympiyskiy Stadium. In turn, Poroshenko agreed to hold debates with Zelensky at the Olympiyskiy Stadium. On April 4, Zelensky invited leader of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia Tymoshenko to become an independent moderator in his debates with incumbent President Petro Poroshenko ahead of the second round of the elections. Ukrainian authorities have been pushing for the correct spelling of the capital city by air carriers and airport operators across the world. Manchester Airport has turned down the long-obsolete spelling of the capital of Ukraine that was derived from Russian, switching to a correct spelling, that is, "Kyiv." Read alsoKyiv not Kiev: Ukraine envoy praises switch by Bucharest Airport "In response to #CorrectUA campaign, Manchester Airport has just informed that starting from today it will be using the correct spelling 'Kyiv' to denote the capital city of #Ukraine. Enjoy direct flights from Manchester to #KyivNotKiev. Thank you Manchester Airport," the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK wrote on Facebook on April 4, 2019. UNIAN memo. When Ukraine was as part of the USSR, the name of its capital in the English-language media was delivered in a manner that corresponded to the Russian pronunciation, that is, Kiev. The Ukrainian authorities now insist that the name of the city be spelled the Ukrainian way, that is, Kyiv. On October 2, 2018, the Foreign Ministry, together with StratCom Ukraine Center for Strategic Communications, launched the "#CorrectUA" campaign, within which the team turn to foreign media to correct the spelling of Kiev (#KyivNotKiev). The preventive measure will last for 60 days, until June 1. An ankle monitor has been again put on Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger who is suspected of ordering an assassination of local activist Kateryna Handziuk. "According to the decision of Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky district court, our employees again put an ankle monitor on Vladyslav Manger at the premises of the Dniprovskiy regional police department of the city of Kherson on April 5," Head of Communications Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kherson region Iryna Atamanenko told UNIAN. Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky district court on Wednesday, April 3, again ruled to put an ankle monitor on Manger. The court also ordered him to hand over his travel documents. The preventive measure will last for 60 days, until June 1. Read alsoWashington honors memory of Kateryna Handziuk at International Women of Courage ceremony As UNIAN reported earlier, on February 15, a court decided to arrest Manger until March 3, simultaneously setting UAH 2.5 million bail (about US$92,000). Manger was released on bail on the same day. The Prosecutor General's Office appealed against the court's ruling. Since February 20, Manger had been wearing an ankle monitor, restricted in his movement within Kherson city borders, requiring an SBU detective's permission to travel outside the city. On March 6, Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky district court suspended Manger from the post of chairman of Kherson Regional Council for one month. On the same day, the law enforcers removed an ankle monitor from Manger and returned his foreign passport. UNIAN memo. Kherson activist, adviser to the Mayor of Kherson and acting manager of affairs at Kherson City Council's executive committee Kateryna Handziuk, 33, on July 31, 2018, survived an act of acid throwing. She suffered burns to more than 35% of her body and underwent 11 operations in Kyiv to treat her horrific injuries. Handziuk died on November 4, 2018. The immediate cause of her death was given as a severed blood clot resulting from the acid attack. Police originally qualified the attack as an attempted murder committed with extreme cruelty, then its status was changed to completed murder. Six suspects were detained, one of whom, Mykola Novikov, was later released from custody as charges against him were dropped. The alleged participant in the assassination, Serhiy Torbin, and Mykyta Hrabchuk, another suspect in the case, are in custody. Three other suspects Vyacheslav Vishnevsky, Volodymyr Vasyanovych, and Viktor Horbunov were placed under house arrest. On November 5, the media reported that Torbin had allegedly received money for the attack on Handziuk from Ihor Pavlovsky, an assistant to Member of Parliament from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction Mykola Palamarchuk. Palamarchuk in turn dismissed any accusations of his possible involvement in the assassination attempt on the activist. He also said he had dismissed Pavlovsky. On November 12, a court ruled to detain Pavlovsky. According to the SBU Security Service, he is suspected of complicity in the Handziuk murder. Chief Prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko announced on December 3 that the investigators had identified all the individuals who had ordered the assassination. He also named Oleksiy Levin (his real second name is Moskalenko) who later was placed on the international wanted list on December 10, 2018, on suspicion of involvement in the Handziuk assassination. On January 31, 2019, Chairman of Kherson Regional Council Vladyslav Manger announced the suspension of his membership in Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna Party for the period of the investigation of the Handziuk murder case. On February 11, Manger was served with charge papers as an organizer of the assassination of Kherson activist Kateryna Handziuk. A Ukrainian soldier was injured as a result of the shelling. Russian occupation forces in Donbas over the past 24 hours ten times opened fire at Joint Forces' positions, including eight times with the use of weapons proscribed by the Minsk Agreements. In the zone of responsibility of the Skhid [East] Operational-Tactical Grouping, invaders fired their 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, and heavy machine guns near Lebedynske, the JFO HQ press service reported Friday morning. In the Avdiyivka area, Ukrainian positions came under fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, and small arms. Read alsoOSCE: Russian-led forces fire at two schools in Donbas Outside Pisky, terrorists fired on Ukrainian military using man-portable anti-tank grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms. In the Talakivka area, militants employed heavy anti-tank grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms. Ukrainian positions near Pavlopil were fired upon from grenade launchers of various systems, while those near Novoselivka from an anti-tank missile system. In the zone of responsibility of the Pivnich [North] Operational-Tactical Grouping, the enemy fired 152mm artillery systems, attacking a platoon stronghold of the Joint Forces unit in the Novotoshkivske area. A Ukrainian soldier was injured in the shelling. According to intelligence data, over the past day, Ukrainian military returned fire and eliminated four invaders, injuring another two. Also, a unit of military hardware of Russian occupation forces was destroyed. From day-start on Friday, April 5, no attacks on the Ukrainian positions were recorded. The captive is a private with the 100th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (military unit 08826), whose full name has not yet been disclosed. Ukrainian troops have captured in the Donbas warzone a militant of the Russian occupation forces, according to the Joint Forces Operation press service. It is noted that around 01:00 overnight Friday, the enemy reconnaissance group made an attempt to penetrate defense lines into the rear of the JF positions in Donetsk direction. "During a short battle, the enemy retreated, while our soldiers captured a militant of the Russian occupation forces," the statement reads. Read alsoDonbas warzone update: Ukrainian troops eliminate four invaders The captive is a private with the 100th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (military unit 08826), whose full name has not yet been disclosed. According to the headquarters, security officials are now interrogating the detainee. Apakan stressed the situation in the east of Ukraine remains volatile. Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan says 16 mostly elderly people crossing the contact line in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, have died of natural causes since the start of winter. "Civilians are still paying a heavy price, Ambassador Apakan said in his briefing to representatives of the OSCE's participating States and Partners for Co-operation, with mines and unexploded ordnance, combined with a fluctuating number of ceasefire violations, already claiming 20 civilian casualties this year. In addition, he noted that 16 mostly elderly people crossing the contact line had died of natural causes since the start of winter, a stark reminder of the wider hardship they have been forced to endure for five years now," reads a statement published on the OSCE website. Apakan stressed the situation in the east of Ukraine remains volatile. Read alsoRussian invaders increasing pressure on Ukrainian nationals in Donbas intel The Ambassador called for full adherence to the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons. He added that recent lives lost had also underlined the urgent need for humanitarian mine action. In line with the Chairmanship's priorities, he said the SMM would continue to focus on people, especially the most vulnerable. As UNIAN reported earlier, the OSCE SMM observers spotted Russian advanced weapons systems in the occupied territory of Donbas. The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted eight attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas on April 5, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action. Read alsoUkrainian troops boast of another successful strike destroying enemy hardware in Donbas (Video) "Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded from 00:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time. Information on the enemy's losses is being clarified," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook. The enemy opened fire from 120mm mortars, weapons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, heavy machine guns, and sniper and small arms at the Ukrainian positions near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Vodiane, Lebedynske, Pavlopil, Novotroyitske, Novo-Oleksandrivka, and Pivdenne. The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. Under the U.S. Antiterrorism Act, the Schansman family are suing Sberbank of Russia, VTB Bank, Western Union Co and Western Union Financial Services, MoneyGram International Inc and MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc for providing services to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The family of an American killed when a Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 filed a lawsuit on Thursday against U.S.-based money transfer companies and two Russian banks they accuse of providing services to the group they blame for striking Flight MH17. MH17 was brought down over territory held by pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine as it flew from Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board. About two-thirds of the passengers were Dutch. American Quinn Lucas Schansman, 18, was aboard MH17 on his way to meet his parents for a family vacation, as reported by Reuters. Read alsoReuters: Australia, Netherlands start talks with Russia over MH17 downing "We realize that we will never get our son back. But we are committed to shedding light on and holding accountable all who participated in his murder," his father Thomas Schansman said in a statement. Under the U.S. Antiterrorism Act, the Schansman family are suing Sberbank of Russia, VTB Bank, Western Union Co and Western Union Financial Services, MoneyGram International Inc and MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc for providing services to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). "Defendants' provision of material support to the DPR was a substantial factor in the DPR's ability to launch a missile from territory it controlled an attack that killed Quinn and 297 other innocent victims," according to the lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York. Western Union said it took its regulatory and compliance responsibilities seriously, adding: "While we don't comment on the details of pending litigation, we believe the claims asserted in this complaint are without merit." VTB Bank said it had not received the complaint and was unable to comment on it, but added: "We'd like to firmly emphasize that VTB has never been or is in any way involved in financing of the Donetsk People's Republic." MoneyGram and Sberbank of Russia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Fighting broke out in 2014 between separatist forces in eastern Ukraine backed by Moscow the DPR and forces loyal to the pro-Western Ukrainian government in Kyiv. The Ukrainian government has designated the DPR a terrorist group. "The DPR systematically and openly solicited financial support from individuals around the world to help it procure weapons, ammunition, and lethal equipment," said David Pressman, of law firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, which is representing the Schansman family. "The money poured in with the reliable assistance of U.S.-based money-transfer services and Russian banks," said Pressman, who was deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations between 2014 and 2016. A team of international investigators, which is attempting to identify perpetrators to be tried under Dutch law, said in May last year a "Buk" missile system used to bring down the passenger plane came from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade, based in the western Russian city of Kursk. The Netherlands and Australia, which lost 38 people, said they hold Russia legally responsible and pushed Moscow to cooperate. Russia has always denied any involvement, and said none of its missile launchers had ever entered Ukraine. However, Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said last week that Dutch and Australian government officials had met their Russian counterparts to discuss who is responsible. Australia has said it will seek financial damages for victims' families. In 2015, Russia vetoed a proposal by Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ukraine for the United Nations Security Council to set up an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of downing the aircraft. "The men who launched the missile may never be hauled before a court to answer for their crimes, but all of those who participated in arming them and supporting them must be," Pressman said. The base near Molkino was a transit point for Wagner PMC fighters before their Syria deployment. Barracks in the village of Molkino in Russia's Krasnodar Area, where mercenaries fighting for Russia's private military companies are housed, were constructed as a children's vacation camp, by a company affiliated with Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin aka "Putin's chef", the journliastic investigation revealed. The three barrack buildings stand behind the perimeter of a defense ministry base, and two witnesses say they have seen private fighters being billeted there before they are dispatched to fight in Syria for President Bashar al-Assad, Reuters wrote in its exclusive report. Yet on paper, the barracks have nothing to do with the Russian defense ministry: court documents list them as a childrens vacation camp, the investigation says. And the construction of the buildings was commissioned by an obscure private company, Megalain, without the publicly available paper trail that is legally required for projects funded by public money. Megalain is a firm linked to Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has appeared on a U.S. sanctions blacklist for his dealings with the Russian defense ministry. Read alsoReuters Exclusive: Russian civilians helping Assad use military base back home witnesses Reuters was unable to establish Prigozhins role, if any, in the construction project and could not determine how Megalain was selected to build the facility or who paid for it. But the secrecy surrounding the purpose of the buildings erected on defense ministry land is an example of how companies involved in the covert campaign in Syria, where private fighters support Russias military, camouflage their activities. The barracks near the village of Molkino in southern Russia were a staging post for Wagner PMC fighters, according to one person close to them who stayed in the buildings, and a second person who visited the site. Read alsoWagner PMC part of Russian military intel, IDs of "mercenaries" confirm Ukraine security chief Concord Management and Consulting, Prigozhins main business, said questions submitted by Reuters have no relation to reality. We consider the agency itself to be a biased media outlet, it said. Reuters has documented over several years how private combatants are fighting and dying in Syria, and that they are using logistical support and infrastructure provided by the Russian defense ministry. Read alsoSBU refutes fake report on "Ukrainian PMC" operating in Syria Russian officials have previously denied that these fighters have any connection to the state. They have said any Russians fighting in Syria on the government side are private citizens who are there as volunteers. As UNIAN reported earlier, multiple reports claim Yevgeny Prigozhin has been financing the notorious "Troll Factory" massively spreading fake news, disinformation and propaganda in favor of the Kremlin. He is also believed to be a sponsor of Wagner Private Military Company. The businessman had denied any involvement with mercenaries. Wagner troops have earlier been spotted in Ukraine, Syria, and other countries. Book presents rosy prospect for sanctions-free North Korea By Kang Hyun-kyung What would North Korea be like if the layered sanctions which were imposed on the country for past provocative actions and now make it harder to improve the impoverished economy were lifted? Will it be a "tremendous economic power" as U.S. President Donald Trump described during his summit with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February in Hanoi, Vietnam? These are not easy questions to answer, partly because few people outside the "Hermit Kingdom" are knowledgeable enough to judge whether or not it has a sufficient infrastructure to drive its economy forward. Predicting the fate of a sanctions-free North Korea appears to be meaningless at the moment too, because as we saw in the breakdown of the Trump-Kim talks in February, there is still a deep perception gap between North Korea and the rest of the world regarding the dismantlement of the North's nuclear program. Despite the gloomy prospect for a nuclear-free North Korea, lawyer Chung Min-kyu encourages investors, as well as jobseekers, to be prepared for the post-sanctions North Korea and be the early entrants in the market. "Time to Invest in North Korea" by Chung Min-kyu The documents obtained by investigative journalists provide an insight into so-called "active measures" Russian attempts to influence Western politics. A German politician could become an "absolutely controlled" MP in the Bundestag, according to Russian documents seen by BBC Newsnight. The politician, Markus Frohnmaier, is a member of the German parliament from the far-right AfD party, the BBC reports. The documents date back to April 2017, when Mr Frohnmaier was a candidate for election to the Bundestag. He was subsequently elected in September 2017. Mr Frohnmaier has frequently spoken out against EU sanctions on Russia, and made trips to Crimea, the Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, as well as parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian proxy forces. The documents obtained by the Dossier Centre, were jointly investigated by the BBC, the German magazine Der Spiegel, the German TV channel ZDF, and the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Read alsoGerman spy agency probes Russia links to right-wing parties report They provide an insight into so-called "active measures" Russian attempts to influence Western politics. The main document, written in Russian, appears to be a strategy paper detailing general attempts to influence public opinion and decision-makers across the EU on topics such as Crimea, Ukraine and EU sanctions against Russia. But right at the end, there is something more specific. Under the heading "elections to the Bundestag", the document names one candidate: Markus Frohnmaier. It goes on: "Chances of being elected to the Bundestag: high." "Required: support in the election campaign." There follows an assessment of Mr Frohnmaier's potential value to Moscow if elected to the German parliament: "Result: We will have our own absolutely controlled MP in the Bundestag." The document was attached in an email, also seen by the BBC. The email was sent by Petr Premyak, a former naval counterintelligence officer and a former member of the upper house of the Russian parliament. Mr Premyak confirmed to a reporter from ZDF that he wrote the email, but said he was not the author of the attached strategy document. The recipient was Sergei Sokolov - a senior official in President Putin's administration. It is not clear whether the Kremlin acted on the recommendations in the document, and there is no evidence that Russia provided any "material support" to Mr Frohnmaier's campaign. Separately, the BBC obtained another document, also from April 2017, that appears to be a request for help written on behalf of Mr Frohnmaier's campaign. Read alsoRussia to "test" whoever is Ukrainian president: Volker This document is written in occasionally faulty English, and is entitled: "Frohnmaier election campaign/action plan (draft)". "For the election campaign we urgently would need some support," the letter states. "Besides material support we would need media support as well [] any type of interviews, reports and opportunities to appear in the Russian media is helpful for us." During the campaign, the document promised, Mr Frohnmaier would focus on topics including "Good relations with the Russian Federation: Sanctions, EU interference in Russian domestic politics." And if elected, Mr Frohmaier would "immediately start operating in the foreign policy field". Mr Frohnmaier told the BBC he had no knowledge of the Russian document obtained by the Dossier Centre, nor of document apparently written on behalf of his campaign. "I think that's a fake document," he said. Asked whether he could explain how the authors of the Russian document came to the conclusion that he would be an "absolutely controlled MP", Mr Frohnmaier said, in a statement from his lawyers: "Our client emphasizes that he was never under the control of any third party. "Our client has not requested or received financial support [] directly or through third parties." As UNIAN reported earlier, a Polish man accused of involvement in the firebombing of a Hungarian cultural center in western Ukraine last year aimed to tar Ukrainian nationalists says he received instructions on the attack from a German journalist who has worked as a consultant for a German parliament deputy with the Russia-supported Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. That journliast was Manuel Ochsenreiter. And that deputy was Markus Frohnmaier. By Lee Min-hyung North Korean leader Kim Jong-un North Korea is possibly building a new submarine that can fire ballistic missiles, according to South Korean and U.S. defense officials, Friday. This could be a serious security threat to the United States as the submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) may reach as far as the U.S. mainland. "[SLBM technology] changes the defense equation in terms of where the origin could be," U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood said Wednesday (local time) in a Senate hearing. The SLBMs are considered more threatening weapons than intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), as they are harder to detect and increase the regime's strike capabilities in a more secretive manner. According to recent Google Earth satellite images, components presumed to be used for developing a submarine capable of launching missiles have been detected near the North's shipyard in Sinpo. The materials were not detected in images taken last year. The South Korean military said it is closely monitoring the regime's recent movements in the region. A new study has shed insight on the risks associated with mesothelioma, indicating that various factors could impact whether one contracts the disease in the decades following their exposure to harmful asbestos. The public health researchers from Italy published their findings in an effort to avert the risk of laborers dying from mesothelioma after being housed or employed in asbestos-filled facilities. According to the findings of the recent study, the risk of contracting and dying from mesothelioma following asbestos-contact rises and falls in the subsequent decades of life. The risk from dying from peritoneal Mesothelioma remains high across the subsequent decades, for instance, whereas the risk of death from pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer begins to drop off sharply after a certain point in time. Nearly all mesothelioma cases are derived from contact with asbestos, but the disease can still technically develop without such contact. Ailments such as peritoneal mesothelioma can cause serious injury or even death, leading to tumor growth on the lining of the abdomen which can prove fatal. Analyzing the different cases in the patient data set they utilized, researchers noted that the risk of dying from peritoneal mesothelioma plateaued after 20 years and remained the same, meaning the risk of death didn't decrease over time. Similarly, the risk of contracting lung cancer remained high over that time period as well. The risk of dying from pleural mesothelioma peaked between 20 and 29 years after contact with asbestos, though, before declining in a hopeful sign for the long-term health of patients. The Italian researchers stressed that more data should be studied in the future to strengthen their findings. According to data published by the CDC, malignant mesothelioma was responsible for the death of 27,284 Americans between 2005-2014, the most recent year for which data was available. Asbestos, a group of minerals that occurs naturally as bundles of tiny fibers, is usually found in soil deposits throughout the known world. The inclusion of asbestos in building materials has plagued public health for decades, with tremendous legal campaigns having occurred in an effort to sue those responsible for including it in public housing and commercial building sites. As reporting from the Wall Street Journal indicates, millions of dollars have been paid out in asbestos-related lawsuits over the past few decades. When inhaled, coughed up, or swallowed, asbestos can cause harmful effects, leading to liability amongst construction companies and real estate firms that sell or rent asbestos-laden properties. Workers at the Tesla auto plant spent more than twice as many days out of work due to work-related illnesses and injuries in 2018 as compared to 2017, a new report from Bloomberg revealed. This is based on Tesla's own annual report filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to the report, factory employees at Tesla's plant in Fremont, California spent a total of 22,454 days absent from work in 2018 compared to 'only' 7,619 days in 2017. The report also showed that the rate of injuries per hour worked remained the same, even though the number of total injuries increased by 28%. In response to this, a representative from Tesla clarified in a statement to Business Insider that "the number of days an employee spends away from work due to injury does not correspond to the injury's severity". The electric car maker also told Bloomberg that its overall rate of injury is still "a little lower" than those of other carmakers in the industry. Despite this, the rising number of injury statistics is still raising questions and concerns regarding the way that Tesla handles work safety at its factories. While the auto industry does follow safety protocols and guidelines stricter than most, it's still inevitable for workers to get into a few accidents here and there. But why do workers keep getting injured at the Tesla's auto plant? After all, this isn't the first time that Tesla is getting heat for its questionable work conditions and apparent treatment of workers. Last year, the automaker was also involved in a related controversy about its supposed underreporting of work-related injuries. An article published by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting suggested that Tesla did not report injuries on purpose, even severe ones, in order to hide the real number of work-related injuries in the auto plant. In the article, Reveal said, "An investigation by Reveal in April showed that Tesla prioritized style and speed over safety, undercounted injuries and ignored the concerns of its own safety professionals." The team interviewed several former employees at Tesla and asked them about their experiences at the plant. Some said in the report that "workers with chest pain, breathing problems or extreme headaches have been dismissed as having issues unrelated to their work, without being fully evaluated or having workplace exposures considered." Tesla's own clinic reportedly refused to treat temp workers who were suffering from a work related injury on Tesla's assembly lines, in order to avoid adding them to the injured list. Medical assistants at the plant were also left alone during night shifts, leaving them unprepared to take care of all the injuries that occurred during their shift. "The goal of the clinic was to keep as many patients off of the books as possible," said a former physician assistant who worked for Tesla for three weeks. "Every company that I've worked at is motivated to keep things not recordable. But I've never seen anybody do it at the expense of treating the patient." This time, though, it seems like Tesla is a lot more careful about how it comes across to the media. Tesla's vice president of environmental health and safety, Laurie Shelby, explained a few things that apparently could have contributed to the additional number of injuries in 2018. "It was a big ramp year for Model 3, so there were a lot more hours worked, more production staff and more potential for incidents," Shelby explained. "We really focused on making sure we had our safety team out in the area as we ramped." Shelby also pointed out to Business Insider that two out of three injuries at the Fremont plant were considered as "aggregate trauma caused by repetitive stress to the back, neck, wrists, hands, and shoulders." This means that the injuries were not exactly caused by a one time incident, but rather by a buildup that happened over time. Whether or not that's a good thing is still debatable, though. But in terms of further improvements, Tesla says it will be introducing new initiatives in the future that will allow injured workers to "return to work in altered roles", which could potentially lessen their time out of work even if they're injured. "The most important metric is fatalities, and our number is zero," Shelby said. 'All-or-nothing policy toward NK will result in nothing' By Yi Whan-woo South Korea's proposal for a "good enough deal" with North Korea to advance the now-stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington is apparently gaining ground among U.S. officials and experts. Cheong Wa Dae recently proposed a "good enough deal" as a possible alternative solution to both U.S. President Donald Trump's "all-or-nothing" strategy and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's "small deal" approach. Some U.S. experts have proposed "a phased approach" to break the stalemate ahead of a summit between Moon and Trump in Washington, D.C., scheduled from April 10 to 11. The "good enough deal" assumes complete denuclearization, as outlined in Trump's "all-or-nothing" strategy, is unrealistic. It instead proposes a "couple of stages deal," under which the U.S. and the North move onto the next stage and continue developing negotiations, as long as they find an agreement in the previous phase that was "good enough." It is also different from Kim's tactics of a series of small deals criticized by U.S. hawks as a mere repetition of its previous "salami tactics." This demands compensation from the U.S. in return for nuclear disarmament measure taken at each step of the negotiations. "At this point, any realistic policy must begin with accepting the reality that complete and fully verifiable denuclearization is not a realistic prospect any time soon," Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Hass wrote in a contribution to Project Syndicate magazine. "It need not and should not be abandoned as a long-term goal, but it cannot dominate near-term policy. An all-or-nothing policy toward North Korea will result in nothing." Hass said this is why it "makes sense to explore a phased approach." He proposed that Pyongyang freeze its testing and production of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, while receiving a "sort of substantial sanctions relief" as Kim demanded during his summit with Trump in Hanoi late February. The possible relief may include a formal end to the Korean War and the establishment of a liaison office in Washington, D.C. Almost 2.3 tonnes of Russian wheat have been delivered to North Korea as part of Russia's humanitarian aid to Pyongyang withing the framework of the World Food Program (WFO), the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said on Friday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th April, 2019) Almost 2.3 tonnes of Russian wheat have been delivered to North Korea as part of Russia's humanitarian aid to Pyongyang withing the framework of the World food Program (WFO), the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said on Friday. On Thursday, the Korean Central news Agency reported that the wheat donated by the Russian government through the WFP had arrived at North Korea's eastern port of Hungnam on Tuesday. "On April 2, 2,298 tonnes of Russian wheat, which we had sent to the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [North Korea's official name] as humanitarian aid, were unloaded at Hungnam port. The cargo was delivered alongside our annual obligatory contributions to the budget of the World Food Program," the embassy wrote on Facebook. In mid-February, the head of the Russian upper house's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, said that Moscow was working on the delivery of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to North Korea at Pyongyang's request, free of charge. The humanitarian situation in North Korea has been aggravated both by numerous international sanctions, which restrict the import of goods in the country, notably fuel, necessary for operating agricultural equipment, and by last year's drought. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, around 10 million people in North Korea roughly 40 percent of the country's population required humanitarian assistance as of last summer. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th April, 2019) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredow signed an intergovernmental agreement in the sphere of information security, Lavrov said on Friday. Earlier the day, the Russian foreign minister hosted the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regular meeting which touches upon urgent regional and international issues. "On the margins of today's meeting, Rashid Meredow and I signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan in the field of international information security," Lavrov stated. According to Lavrov, this is the first such agreement between Russia and the countries of Central Asia. The next such meeting is expected in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital, October 10, according to Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergey Lebedev. Russian mine clearance specialists are set to complete their demining tasks in Laos on March 15 and hand over all equipment and personal protective gear to their Lao partners, the Russian Defense Ministry said MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th March, 2019) Russian mine clearance specialists are set to complete their demining tasks in Laos on March 15 and hand over all equipment and personal protective gear to their Lao partners, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The Russian military personnel will carry out their last mine clearance tasks on March 13, the ministry said in a statement. "On March 15, a solemn ceremony dedicated to the completion of the Russian military's tasks in Laos, which will be attended by representatives of the senior staff of the Lao Defense Ministry, will be held," the ministry added. The Russian military's mine clearance operation in Laos was launched in October 2018 and is aimed at helping the Lao People's Armed Forces clear the country's territory of bombs dropped by the United States during the Vietnam War in 1964-1973 on the arms supply routes of what was then North Vietnam. An estimated 260 million bombs were dropped by US aircraft during the war. Over the course of their five-month operation, Russian specialists cleared around 100 hectares (247 acres) of land and located more than 300 explosive devices. By David Tizzard Late Woo Il-sung In some ways, the radiation oncology workforce is changing to look more like the patients we treat. The modest but noticeable increases in the number of women and racial/ethnic minorities, for example, indicate that our field is moving toward more equity, said Claire Y. Fung, MD, Chair of the ASTRO Workforce Subcommittee, which conducted the study, and a radiation oncologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The shifts in employment patterns and the movement from rural practices to urban hubs, however, point to possible areas of disparity in access to care. Studies such as this one help ASTRO and other health care groups recognize these threats and address them proactively. San Francisco, CA (UroToday.com) -- The newest study of Americas radiation oncology workforce finds that gender and race gaps have narrowed slightly, although persistent and growing geographic disparities point to a need for more equity in access to radiation therapy care. The survey, which drew responses from more than 1,100 physicians across the country, finds that fewer radiation oncologists are practicing in rural communities and that these doctors are more likely to retire in the coming years.Results of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2017 Radiation Oncologist Workforce Studyare published in the March issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (Red Journal), and an infographic summarizing the results is also available.1. Shift from rural to suburban and urban locations: Nearly nine in 10 radiation oncologists work in urban or suburban communities (47% and 41%, respectively). Since the previous workforce survey in 2012, the proportion of rural radiation oncologists declined from 16 to 13 percent, indicating that rural access to radiation therapy services may be under threat.The trend may be exacerbated by disproportionately more physicians leaving the rural workforce and fewer new physicians taking positions in these communities. Nearly 30 percent of radiation oncologists in rural communities plan to retire or reduce hours in the next five years, compared to 18 percent of urban/suburban physicians. Moreover, surveysof recent radiation oncology graduates point to growing demand for jobs in major cities coupled with waning demand for those in smaller cities.In response to this trend, ASTRO launched an initiative in early 2019 focusing on rural access to radiation oncology care. A group of physicians led by former ASTRO Chair David Beyer, MD, FASTRO, will explore factors behind the shift, as well as strategies to protect and bolster access.One in five Americans about 60 million people live in rural communities, and most of these people want their medical care close to home. For many patients, access is the difference between being treated or not being treated, and so we are trying to understand what are the obstacles that keep a lack of access from being their reality? said Dr. Beyer. Unfortunately, this trend is not unique to radiation oncology and is a problem across health care. In the rural Arizona community where I practice, for example, there is a shortage of primary care physicians. There is a shortage of surgeons. There are many shortages.2. Movement toward gender equity: The number of female radiation oncologists edged up 3 percent from the previous survey, from 26 to 29 percent. Women also are more common in newer cohorts within the workforce; female physicians were 33 percent of radiation oncologists under age 40, 30 percent of those in their 40s and 50s, and 22 percent of those age 60 and up3. Shift from private practice to academic hubs: Radiation oncologists also are shifting from working primarily in private practice to treating patients at academic centers and hospitals. The 2017 survey marks the first time that fewer than half of these doctors work in private practice (38%), with 41 percent practicing at academic/university centers and 17 percent at non-academic hospitals.4. Widespread adoption of new technology: 95 percent of practices offer shortened, or hypofractionated, radiation therapy, providing their patients a more convenient treatment option without increasing the risk of side effects or the cancer returning. The most common tumors for hypofractionation include breast tumors (94% of practices), bone metastases (92%) and brain metastases (74%). Clinics also increased adoption of advanced technologies and techniques for providing radiation therapy treatments, such as stereotactic radiation and real-time image guidance.ASTRO conducts workforce studies to identify trends in provider demographics, employment and technology use, and to assess the profession's ability to meet patient needs. The 2017 survey was conducted online, and findings reflect responses from 1,174 radiation oncologists representing 726 practices (31% response rate).References:1. Clair F. Fung et al. "The American Society for Radiation Oncology 2017 Radiation Oncologist Workforce Study." International Journal of Radiation Oncology 103, 3 (Mar 2019): 547556 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.10.020 2. Mudit Chowdhary, et al."The Impact of Graduates' Job Preferences on the Current Radiation Oncology Job Market," International Journal of Radiation Oncology Article in Press DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.12.026 Hwang Ha-na, the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy Products founder Hong Du-yeong, being taken into the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, after being apprehended for illegal drug use, Thursday. Yonhap By Kim Hyun-bin A series of drug use allegations have been made recently involving scions of big conglomerates or other affluent families, including SK Group, Hyundai Group and Namyang Dairy Products. These wealthy individuals had a common link: They all studied abroad and first experienced the use of drugs during their overseas stay. Many experts believe they were able to so because it can be easier to obtain drugs such as marijuana overseas, especially because some countries have recently legalized the recreational use of cannabis as well as a few states in the U.S. As such, some try and continue to use drugs when they return to Korea. The grandson of SK Group founder Chey Jong-gun, who was recently arrested for the use of marijuana, graduated from a U.S. university; and according to police, was able to obtain liquid marijuana cartridges from a 27-year-old dealer, identified by his surname Lee, who also studied in the U.S. While questioning Lee, the police also discovered that a grandson of Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung had purchased the same marijuana products from him. Lee told police that he met Chung first when studying abroad, and they smoked marijuana together. Pope Francis devotes the General Audience to his recent visit to Morocco. Drawing on the theme of the trip, "Servant of Hope, he tells the faithful in St Peters Square that to serve hope in our day is to build bridges between cultures. The General Audience on Wednesday gave Pope Francis the opportunity to give thanks for his Apostolic visit to Morocco last weekend. In particular, he expressed his gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his warm welcome. Above all, he thanked the Lord for allowing me to take another step along the road of dialogue and encounter with our Muslim brothers and sisters, as a Servant of hope in todays world. Building bridges between cultures The Pope went on to say that, To serve hope in our day is to build bridges between cultures, and it was a joy and honour for me to be able to do this in the noble Kingdom of Morocco, meeting both its people and its political leaders. He recalled that both he and King Mohammed reiterated the essential role religions have in defending human dignity, promoting peace and justice, and in caring for creation, our common home. Migration Another theme of great importance, said the Pontiff, was the question of migration. He noted the Church in Moroccos commitment towards migrant persons and he remarked that many who have testified have said that life for those who emigrate changes and returns to being human when they find a community that welcomes them as a person. This is fundamental, he added. Continuing on the theme of migration, Pope Francis called to mind the "Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration" which was ratified in Marrakech, Morocco, last December. As the Holy See, the Pope commented, we have offered our contribution which is summarized in four verbs: welcome migrants, protect migrants, promote migrants and integrate migrants. It is not a matter of dropping welfare programs from on high, he said, but of making a path together through these four actions, to build cities and countries that, while preserving their respective cultural and religious identities, are open to differences and know how to value them in a sign of human brotherhood. Why so many religions? In off the cuff remarks, the Pope said that some may wonder why I go to see Muslims and not just Catholics? Why are there so many religions?" He answered these questions saying, "with Muslims, we are descendants of the same father, Abraham. Pope Francis explained that God permits many religions because of his permissive will; He wanted to allow this reality: there are so many religions, some born from culture, but they always look towards the sky, look to God, he said. World Day of Sport for Peace and Development At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Pope recalled that April 3rd marks the VI United Nations World Day of Sport for Peace and Development. Pope Francis emphasized that Sport is a universal language that embraces all peoples and helps to overcome conflicts and unite people. Sport is also a source of joy and great emotion, he said, and it is a school where virtues are forged for the human and social growth of individuals and communities. I wish you all the best in both life and sport. Pope Francis expresses his solidarity to the people of Nepal following a recent storm that left at least 28 dead and caused widespread damage. By Lydia OKane Pope Francis on Friday expressed his closeness to all those who have been affected by the recent storm to hit Southern Nepal which left dozens of people dead and caused extensive damage to homes. In a telegramme, signed on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis conveys his solidarity with all affected by this disaster and assures those grieving for deceased and injured family members of his prayers at this difficult time. He also offers his prayers "especially for the victims and encourages the emergency personnel as they continue to aid those in need." The storm hit the district of Bara and surrounding areas last Sunday leaving destruction in its wake. Many of the deaths were caused by walls that collapsed in on homes. The injured were brought to local hospitals and the more serious cases were airlifted to the capital Kathmandu for treatment. Caritas Nepal providing relief Laxmi Joshi is Programme Manager with Caritas Nepal. He told Vatican News the race is on to provide shelter and basic needs to those affected ahead of the coming monsoon rains. Although many lives are claimed by landslides and floods during Nepal's monsoon season, storms causing such high casualties at this time of year have been described as rare. As relief efforts continue, the provincial government has announced 2,725 dollars in financial aid for the families of each of the dead. Vegas Weddings, Las Vegas premier wedding chapel, announces the brand new Viva Vegas Pop-Up wedding package, giving couples the opportunity to get married at various Las Vegas landmarks. Couples will have the opportunity to say I do at a variety of locations, including the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, anywhere on the Las Vegas Strip, the historic Fremont Street, and even the Lyft Art Park located in Downtown Las Vegas. For those looking for a more intimate experience, Vegas Weddings is also able to perform ceremonies in hotel rooms. The Viva Vegas Pop-Up can be booked at any time and includes an officiant, limousine transportation, fresh floral, professional photography, and a wedding toast. Couples come to Vegas looking for unique ways to tie-the-knot, said Vegas Weddings Executive Director Melody Williams. Whether they are looking for something more eclectic, intimate, or fun, Vegas Weddings is dedicated to providing couples with an unforgettable happily ever after, while taking in the sights of our beautiful city. To celebrate the launch of the Viva Vegas Pop-Up, Vegas Weddings will host a social media giveaway with one lucky couple winning a complimentary pop-up wedding (a $777 value) at a location of their choice, a two-night stay at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, and dinner with a view at Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro. To enter, interested couples need to follow Vegas Weddings on Facebook and leave a photo or video in the comments section, telling their story and why the pop-up wedding is perfect for them. [fbvideo link=[fbvideo link=https://www.facebook.com/VegasWeddings/videos/1602160293251150/ width=588 height=700 onlyvideo=1] The contest ends on April 18 at 5 p.m. PST, and the winner will be announced on April 20. The comment with the most likes wins. When Zhao Xueming, a middle school math teacher in Beijing, knew he had late-stage liver cancer in February last year, he felt despair. "I was scared to the soul, and I thought about death every day," he said. By then, Zhao, who was 36 at the time, had received various treatments at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital for four months. However, he believed he had some other liver disease, since his parents, in order to avoid frightening him, never told him the truth. "The treatments didn't work well," he said. "At last my doctor decided to have a liver transplant surgery for me to save my life." Zhao was lucky. He waited for just around two weeks for an available organ, which was distributed through a national computerized organ sharing system, and had an operation that lasted for more than 10 hours in March last year. He later learned that the organ donor was a young person who died in a car accident in Hubei province, more than 1,000 kilometers away, but he doesn't know further details. In March, a year after the surgery, Zhao enrolled to become an organ donor at an organ-donation promotional event held at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital. "I am a beneficiary of organ donation, and know clearly what it feels like to be a patient in need of transplant surgery and eagerly waiting for an organ, since such organs are scarce," he said. "I want to do the same to save others." With the number of registered organ donors increasing rapidly in China, it is expected that more patients with terminal illness in need of organ transplants will be fortunate, like Zhao, and not have to wait very long. By the end of February, the number of registered organ donors in China exceeded 1.05 million, compared with 1,087 in 2010, the year China began to pilot organ donations, according to the China Organ Donation Administrative Center. More than 64,000 organs have been donated since then, the center added. The turning point came in 2015, when China banned the use of organs harvested from executed prisoners, which made voluntary donations the only legitimate source of organs. Since then, the number of organ donations and the number of organ donors have continued to increase rapidly, according to data from health authorities. In 2016, the number of newly registered organ donors exceeded 104,000 - more than three times the number for 2015, according to the center. Last year, 6,302 people donated organs after death in China, an increase of 22 percent compared with 2017. About 20,200 transplant surgeries were completed last year, an increase of 21 percent compared with 2017, ranking the second in the world after the United States, according to the National Health Commission. On average, 6.8 of every 1 million people donated organs after death or while alive for their relatives in China last year, a record high, according to the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee. Guo Yanhong, deputy chief for medical administration and supervision at the National Health Commission, said that with an increasing number of organ transplant surgeries performed, Chinese physicians are also making progress in organ transplant technologies, and a number of world-class centers in transplant surgeries, covering major organs such as livers, kidneys, hearts and lungs, have been established in China. With an increasing number of donations and surgeries performed every year, authorities have also established a computerized supervision system that covers the entire sector, including organ donation, retrieval, distribution and transplant, so they are under the supervision of health authorities, she said. Despite the increase in the number of donors, a shortage of organs is still severe in China, considering the number of patients in need of transplant surgeries. Every year about 300,000 patients with terminal diseases need transplants in China, but only about 20,000 surgeries can be done, according to Huang Jiefu, former-vice-minister of health and now chairman of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee. Chen Xinguo, director of the organ transplant center at Armed Police Force General Hospital, said that since people's traditional beliefs are still a major obstacle to organ donations, more education is required. Zhao, the middle school teacher in Beijing, said that although he donated organs, many of his friends would not register as donors, since the traditional belief still exists that the body should be kept intact after death. "I think more education and publicity should be made at colleges to promote the awareness of students, who accept the idea more easily," he said. Chen, the transplant center director, said more efforts should be made to ensure the quality of harvested organs, especially those harvested at smaller hospitals or clinics. "No doctor would dare to use substandard organs, since that may cost lives," he said. "We hope all organs distributed are equally up to standard." Huang, chairman of the donation and transplantation committee, said there are 182 hospitals certified in organ transplant surgeries around the country. Fan Jing, an official at the National Health Commission, said China will revise its regulation to improve oversight of organ donations and transplants to ensure safety and quality of services. Speaking at a conference on organ donation and transplantation held in February in Wuhan, Hubei province, she said the revised rules will specify the legal responsibilities of various parties in the sector, including medical institutions, organ procurement organizations and medical staff. Violators of laws or regulations will more effectively be held accountable, she added. The South Korean government declared a state of national disaster Friday over the massive blaze that has engulfed five cities and counties along the northeastern coast. The announcement came after Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said he had recommended that President Moon Jae-in take the measure. "The government will also decide whether to designate the affected areas as special disaster zones, after examining the extent of the damage," an official at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said. The inferno, which started on a mountain near the northeastern coast, has killed one man and destroyed woodland and buildings, with the damage piling up to what authorities have described as "an unprecedented extent." Meanwhile, President Moon made a second visit Friday to the state emergency control center to check on ongoing efforts to contain the blaze. The president had a teleconference with his interior minister, Kim Boo-kyum, to be briefed on the current conditions at the site, according to Ko Min-jung, a vice spokesperson for the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. Nearly 900 fire engines and 13,000 firefighters from all parts of the country have been mobilized after the president ordered the government to put in every available resource to contain the fire. Already, local authorities are calling the fire an "unprecedented disaster." More than 380 hectares of land are estimated to have been devastated, with at least 300 houses and buildings destroyed. Earlier in the day, the government declared a state of national disaster, a move aimed at enabling faster mobilization of necessary resources to contain the fire. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has said the government may also consider designating the affected areas as natural disaster zones, which would entitle the areas and their residents to special government support. A view of Suoi Cam Lake in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. The province is calling for investors to develop the third phase of the Suoi Cam tourism project, expected to cost more than VND1.74 trillion (US$75 million).-VNA/VNS Photo Chi Tuong A delegation from the ministry led by Minister Tran Tuan Anh met with agencies in Binh Phuoc Province on Wednesday to discuss work on cooperative programmes, including solar power and rural electrification. The province has asked the Government and the MoIT for approval of 39 solar energy projects with total capacity of 3.506MWp. Of the 39, five have been approved by the central government and one by the MoIT with total capacity of 850MWp. Construction of the section of the 220kV Binh Long Tay Ninh transmission line is scheduled to be completed in 2019. In addition, the Peoples Committee of Binh Phuoc has approved funds of VND75.5 billion (nearly US$3.3 million) for rural electrification from the national power grid in Binh Phuoc Province in the 2013-2020 period. During a meeting with a delegation from the MoIT, Nguyen Van Loi, secretary of the Binh Phuoc Provinces Party Committee, noted the problems facing the province, which include incomplete re-structuring of the industrial sector; underdeveloped supporting industries; low added value, and the competitiveness of industries in the province. Loi said most of the provinces goods were semi-processed products, and the volume of hi-tech products remained low. Trade was being promoted well, but Binh Phuoc faced challenges in production, manufacturing and consumption, said Loi. E-commerce has yet to be developed in the province, he added. The provinces exports have faced challenges as importers have issued strict regulations on the provinces major exports including cashew nuts, rubber and pepper. Loi said Binh Phuoc had taken measures to mobilise investments in infrastructure development for industrial parks and complexes, energy and commercial facilities. The province will speed up re-structuring of its industrial production with a focus on processing industries, reducing exports of raw materials, and promoting major industries which use local raw materials. Binh Phuoc has also made efforts to enhance its production capacity by promoting the production of raw materials and machinery and equipment to replace imported products. Minister Tuan Anh said the MoIT would work with Binh Phuoc Province to create a cooperative programme to help the province attract investment and build brand names for its products, including cashew nuts, pepper, rubber and energy. The MoIT will also work with the province to develop industries that have potential in Binh Phuoc, Anh said. Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (R) and Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Anne Paul, Ha Noi, April 4, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh The Government leader made the point on April 4 in Hanoi while hosting a reception for Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Anne Paul. The host leader congratulated the newly appointed Ambassador in Vietnam. He was convinced that with her extensive experience, the Ambassador would contribute to cementing and deepening the relations in both bilateral and multilateral scopes. Deputy PM Minh assessed that the bilateral ties have been flourished especially following the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in November 2017 during the official visit of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to Vietnam on the occasion of the APEC Summit Week. He also lauded the prospects of the bilateral ties, calling upon the two sides to boost exchanges of delegations especially high-ranking ones; promote trade ties in 2019 in the context that Vietnam and Canada are CPTPP members and Vietnam is Canadas largest trade partner in ASEAN. Regarding investment, Canada ranked 14th out of countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 174 projects worth over US$ 5 billion. However, the host leader also recommended Canada diversify its investment domains in Vietnam as over 90% of the investment inflows chiefly focus on real estate. On this occasion, Deputy PM Minh expressed his gratitude and hoped to receive more ODA in favor of sustainable growth especially in social field. In reply, Ambassador Deborah Anne Paul expressed her impression of Viet Nams development achievements and the countrys role and positions in the region and the world. Canada, said the new Ambassador, highly values Vietnams responsibility in international issues. Canada also promises to continue supporting Vietnams bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 period. The guest also voiced her support for Vietnam as the Chairman of ASEAN 2020. An exhibition of Cuban goods held at a conference to facilitate trade between HCM City and Cuban businesses on Thursday. - VNS Photo Viet Dung The conference was held by the city's Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and Cuban consulate to mark a visit by a business delegation led by the Cuban Chamber of Commerce general secretary Omar de Jesus Fernandez Menendez. Cuba is striving for economic reform, with more open policies, and is pushing for more trade and exports of goods and services such as functional foods, hi-tech agriculture, rum, cigars and medical services. It also wants to import from HCM City consumer goods and garments and textiles. Indira Lopez Arguelles, the Cuban consul in the city, said besides its traditional and well-known agriculture industry, Cuba is also developing other industries such as bio-technology, tourism, health, beverages and professional services. There are some struggles, like geographical distance, the American blockade, the lack of knowledge between us, but our presence here and your attention is the most important way to start fostering the business relationship and overcome hardships. Menendez said HCM City is the economic centre of Vietnam, and businesses interested in improving trade with the country should look at the city. It excels in trade, tourism and investment, and has great potential to work with Cuba in areas like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food production, textile and garment, footwear, and consumer goods, he said. He invited HCM City businesses to take part in the 37th International Fair in the Cuban capital Havana from November 4 to 8 this year. Businesses from 65 countries and 3,000 visitors would be at the event, he said. Pham Thiet Hoa, director of the ITPC, said the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba is growing nicely, and a visit by a delegation of city's senior officials to Cuba led by Peoples Committee chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong last year showed the citys strong commitment to fostering economic and trading ties. Tran Ngoc Thuan, general director of Thai Binh Corporation, which has been exporting garments, footwear, consumer goods and construction materials to Cuba since 1998, said Cubans have a preference for Vietnamese goods and an affinity for Vietnamese people, due to the two countries long friendship. An exhibition was also held for the visiting Cuban businesses to network with their Vietnamese counterparts and promote their goods such as beverages, cigars and bio-technology products. Vietnam is Cubas main Asian investor, with several Vietnamese businesses having a high profile in that country, especially in construction, tourism and renewable energy. Vietnam is Cubas second largest trading partner in the Asia Pacific, and the two countries signed a trade agreement last year. Britons will be able to enjoy visa-free EU holidays even if there is no Brexit deal. (Photo: AFP/Pascal Pochard-Casabianca) The law means British visitors making trips of fewer than 90 days to the Schengen passport-free zone will not need visas, even if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal in place. The parliament approved the measure by 502 votes to 81, with 29 abstentions, paving the way for millions of British holidaymakers to flock to the beaches of the Mediterranean this summer regardless of the outcome of Brexit. Implementation will depend on Britain granting EU citizens the same rights in return, but London has said it will do so and the principle of the law has broad support. But the text of legislation itself triggered a bitter row in Brussels, after member states - at Spain's urging - referred in a footnote to the draft to Gibraltar as a "colony of the British crown". The United Nations does legally list Gibraltar as a "non-self-governing territory", but Britain insists it is part of "the UK family" and that its citizens freely voted to remain British. Britain's decision to leave the EU has revived controversy over Spain's long-standing claim on the territory, against the backdrop of Spanish elections. Customers make bank transactions at Construction Bank branch in Ha Noi.- Photo courtesy of the bank M&As in the banking industry had remained quiet for the past two years after witnessing a record from 2011-16. However, Hieu said things were warming up this year as the Government wanted to speed up the restructuring of ailing banks while small banks also had to increase capital to meet the SBVs Basel II regulations by 2020. The Vietnamese financial market holds a lot of potential, but license applications to establish a bank are very difficult, so purchasing shares in local banks or acquiring a 100 per cent stake in ailing institutions are the best options for foreign investors, Hieu told Viet Nam News. Last week, Japanese-based J Trust Corp expressed an interest in acquiring a stake in the Construction Bank (CB) - one of three weakest State-owned banks under the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) - took over for zero Vietnamese dong in 2015 to prevent a systematic collapse of the banking system due to its inability to settle soaring bad debts. During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue on Friday, Nobiru Adachi, Senior Managing Director of J Trust, said his group wanted to be involved in the restructuring of CB. Besides the capital contribution, J Trust would also support CB in terms of technology and financial operations, Adachi said, expressing his hope that the Vietnamese Government and the SBV would create favourable conditions for the success of its negotiations and the transaction. According to Hue, the Vietnamese government provides every possible support for domestic and foreign investors, especially those with strong financial and governance capacity as well as experience in banking, to take part in restructuring poorly-performing Vietnamese banks. Although the Vietnamese Government has no plans to establish more wholly foreign-owned banks in the country, it encourages foreign investors to participate in restructuring weak banks and then become an entity holding 100 per cent of capital in line with domestic legal regulations. Hue asked Adachi and collaborators to continue discussing their offer to submit to the Vietnamese government and the Prime Minister for consideration. Apart from CBBank, Hue also welcomed the involvement of J Trust, which successfully revived several financial-consumption companies and restructured weak banks in the Republic of Korea and Indonesia, in restructuring other credit organisations in Viet Nam. On the same day, Richard F.Chandler, chairman of the Singapore-based Clermont Group, also expressed his desire to invest in Vietnamese banks during a meeting with SBV Governor Le Minh Hung. With experience in bank restructuring and bad debt settlement in Brazil, Russia, Japan and India, he said his group wanted to take part in the restructuring of Vietnamese banks, noting that the group wished to make more contributions to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Clermont Group invested in the Hoan My Medical Corporation in 2013. From six hospitals at that time, Hoan My now comprises 15 hospitals and six clinics, where more than 4,000 employees serve 3.7 million patients annually. SBV representatives also announced a potential foreign investor was willing to acquire OceanBank - another bank acquired by the SBV for zero dong. The Department of Construction of HCM City plans to tear down 15 grade-D apartment buildings in the city by 2020 to ensure safety for residents. - VNA/VNS Photo The department plans to relocate more than 1,000 households living in the 15 buildings, which are in a serious state of disrepair. This year the city has completed relocation of households in three grade-D apartment buildings at 128 Hai Ba Trung Street and 23 Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1 and 6 bis Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4. Households in two grade-D apartment buildings on 119B Tan Hoa Dong Street in District 6 and 11 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3 are in the process of relocation. In addition, District 1 has evaluated building E of an apartment complex on 518 Vo Van Kiet Street. It is leaning 45cm and could collapse at any time. Thirty-eight families living in the building have been relocated to apartments in districts 1, 4 and Binh Chanh. The department has urged units and contractors to tear down two grade-D buildings at Hai Ba Trung and Vo Van Tan streets to build new ones near the location of the old buildings so that former residents can be relocated there. The city Peoples Committee has assigned the Peoples Committees in the affected districts to perform tasks related to investment procedures, tear down old apartment buildings, and build new ones near the location of the old ones. Of the 15 grade-D apartment buildings that need to be demolished, only four have an investor and only two are in the process of calling for investors. Nguyen Van Duc, member of the executive board of the Viet Nam Construction Association, said the relocation and demolition delays were due to a lack of investment. According to experts, these kinds of projects do not bring high returns to investors, so interest is limited. The District 3 Peoples Committee has asked the city Peoples Committee for permission to dismantle Grade-D apartment buildings and replace them with buildings that can be used for commercial and service facilities. The residents would then be relocated to another residential area. Last year, the city moved 188 households from three Grade-D apartment buildings in disrepair and from one grade-C apartment building. In addition, the city last year also completed the dismantling of two apartment buildings to build new ones. Through the Jio Health app, patients can access healthcare advice and arrange an appointment with qualified doctors According to the plan, Jio Health will use the capital to extend the list of its services and enlist more staff in order to achieve it's initially planned revenue growth. Introduced in June 2017 in Vietnam, Jio Health offers 24/7 free healthcare advice and information anywhere in the world from web-enabled phones or tablets. Jio Health helps users arrange a consultation with a qualified doctor. Instead of having to get themselves to a clinic or hospital, they need only open the Jio Health app, select an available doctor, and choose a suitable time and location. Before Jio Health, in July 2016, Vicare, a website providing information about clinics and doctors in Vietnam and online health consultancy, secured its second funding round from Japan's CyberAgent Ventures and Singapore's Pix Vine Capital. Earlier in March, Vicare received the first funding round from private investors in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The online healthcare service in Vietnam has great potential to develop. According to Jio Health research, Vietnams annual out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure is about $5 billion and accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the total. The countrys population also has a very high rate of smartphone usage at over 50 per cent, an overcrowded and unreliable healthcare system, and the fastest-growing middle class in Southeast Asia, all of which are in the companys favour. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (right) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo open a NATO session in Washington on its 70th anniversary on Apr 4, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Mandel Ngan) Despite rifts between the United States with allies Germany and Turkey, foreign ministers from the Western alliance were looking to show a united front on NATO's core concern - Russia. After years of focusing on more faraway challenges such as Afghanistan, NATO allies in recent years have increasingly voiced worry about the trajectory of Russia under President Vladimir Putin. Russia in 2014 seized the Crimean peninsula and has backed separatists in both Georgia and Ukraine, besides seeking to influence Western elections and being suspected in a poisoning attack in England. "We will agree on new measures of support for our close partners Georgia and Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of Thursday's session. He said that NATO would also address "the aggressive actions of Russia" in the Black Sea. Russia - which has resented NATO's eastward expansion - in November fired on and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels, capturing two dozen sailors, near the Kerch Strait off Crimea. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the US ambassador to NATO, earlier said that the alliance was preparing a package to "assure that there is safe passage for Ukrainian vessels through the Kerch Strait." She said that NATO allies would send more ships to the area to ensure that "countries in and around the Black Sea are safe from Russian meddling." Russia has criticised the plan, with deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko saying that it would only lead to "increased military risks" in the region. RUSSIA AND 'EMERGING THREATS' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, opening a session with the ministers, said NATO needed to confront "Russian aggression." But he also called for NATO to address "emerging threats" including the rise of China as well as Iran. The United States has enjoyed less support over those two issues, with all of its NATO allies backing an international accord on ending Iran's nuclear program from which President Donald Trump withdrew. Pompeo has also been seeking with limited success to persuade US allies not to choose Chinese telecom giant Huawei for their fifth-generation networks, warning that the company poses risks to security and personal privacy. The Trump administration has been livid at Germany, Europe's largest economy, for its budgetary plans that do not come close to the NATO goal of spending two per cent on defence spending. "Now is not the time to repeat tired excuses that our citizens don't support increased defence or security spending. Each nation has the duty to make the case to our people," Pompeo said. NATO allies have also seen rising friction with Turkey, which has been clamping down on dissent and has defiantly insisted on buying a major missile defence system from Russia, even after the United States suspended its participation in the F-35 fighter-jet program. But the NATO meeting is also witnessing the end to one long-running standoff with the participation of the foreign minister of North Macedonia. The former Yugoslav republic had been in limbo for years, with Greece objecting to the name of Macedonia, which is historically tied to Hellenic rather than Slavic civilisation. Greece's left-wing prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, brokered a deal to welcome the country after it changed its name to North Macedonia and it is expected to enter NATO as its 30th member later this year. Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Katrougalos, speaking at a forum in Washington on Wednesday, said the deal can be a "blueprint" for resolving conflicts as leaders need not see "history as a prison." Violations in transparency and information disclosure are still rampant on the stock market and remain a problem to market members, public companies and auditors. Photo cafef.vn The statement was made by Tran Van Dung, chairman of the State Securities Commission (SSC), at a talk show held by the business and economics site ndh.vn yesterday. In 2018, SSC issued nearly 400 sanction decisions, more than half were related to information disclosure, Dung revealed. In addition, regarding the quality of corporate governance, Viet Nam is currently the lowest ranked nation in the ASEAN 6, after Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, Dung said. Phan Le Thanh Long, Director of the Australian Institute of Certified Management Accountants, said Viet Nam is among the 12 countries in the world that do not follow international financial reporting standards, This, Long said, made the listed companies face difficulties in the publication of financial statements. In the US every year, the Securities and Exchange Commission required some 300 cases to re-present their financial statements, while in Viet Nam, there is no such system, Long said. It is also rare that management agencies empower other bodies or individuals to monitor and supervise the market and the quality of information disclosure, he said. Tran Dinh Cuong, General Director of consultant firm Ernst and Young Viet Nam, attributed the high rate of non-compliance to the low self-consciousness of Vietnamese enterprises. They prepare reports if they have to, not for their self-awareness and responsibility, Cuong said. A company is obliged to present and explain the use of the capital it received from the shareholders and how the capital has been ultilised," Cuong said. Chairman of Saigon Securities Inc, Nguyen Duy Hung, said the key and decisive element for this problem is the whole machine and not just the model. Machine here means the human factor, if the machine runs good, everything will be transparent. But if the machine does not run smoothly, no model can help, Hung said. To enhance the quality of information disclosure on the market, SSC chairman Dung said there needed to be concerted efforts from many parties, including auditing companies, organisations like the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the listed companies themselves, Dung said. Businesses must be more self-aware to improve their transparency and become more resilience to crisis. The management agency needed to improve the legal framework and promote market inspection and supervision, Dung said. SSC's statistics showed that in 2018, there were 397 violations of 129 organisations and 268 individuals. Nine individuals were sanctioned for the acts of manipulating stock prices, creating fake supply and demand. Hwang Hyun-sook, deputy director at the Seoul Women Workers Association, speaks at her office in Seoul, Feb. 20. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon By Kim Jae-heun Hwang Hyun-sook, deputy director at the Seoul Women Workers Association (SWWA), says big changes have been made in Korean society and women are no longer reluctant to report crimes related to the sexual harassment or assault they experience, but companies are still far from protecting their female employees. "An act on equal employment for both sexes was amended last May and all companies have to take immediate action when an employee reports sexual violence," Hwang said during a phone interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday. "However, it is hard to raise an issue to one's boss in Korean corporate culture. Also, many senior workers think it is part of the job to experience what they call 'hardship.'" Hwang said the Ministry of Employment and Labor is the sole competent authority in this circumstance and it needs to take a more active part in supervising private companies. According to Hwang, reports of sexual harassment in the workplace skyrocketed 68.1 percent between 2016 and 2018. The #MeToo movement, which started in Korea after female prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun's disclosure in January last year, has encouraged many female workers to step forward about their own experiences. "Now, the movement has developed to another stage in which the Seoul Metropolitan Government started the #WithUproject," Hwang said. The #WithUproject is aimed at preventing sexual harassment and assault at companies by providing education on sexual violence to employees at the employers' request. Along with the project, Seoul City expanded its committee reviewing sexual harassment reports involving staff of the city government or affiliated organizations, and Hwang is working as a co-head of the committee. According to the SWWA, 46.8 percent of workplace sexual harassment cases occurred at companies with fewer than 30 employees. However, the law becomes softer with small businesses, and at companies with fewer than 10 workers, the employers only have to provide written information about how to prevent sex crimes, without proper education given by a lecturer. "This, too, is not carried out well, often because employers are either uninterested in or uneducated about sex crimes themselves," Hwang said. "In this sense, the ministry has to strictly supervise private companies, and companies also have to improve the working environment to ensure offenders are immediately punished when they get caught." Hwang also hopes sexual violence victims will utilize the legal services provided by lawyers at the city government. "Not many people know about this service," she said. "We have 95 lawyers ready to help victims but only 28 people have used the service so far. I hope people will start to take advantage of the city government's support." This article originated in VOA's Persian Service. Exiled Iranian opposition activists say Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has fired on protesters who tried to stop it from diverting floodwaters in a southwestern town, resulting in a protester's death. The activists said the protester died after being shot by IRGC forces in Wednesday's predawn confrontation in the Dasht-e-Azadegan district of Khuzestan province. They said minority Iranian Arab residents of the area, also known as Ahwazis, were trying to stop the IRGC from destroying a dyke and diverting floodwaters into their farmland. The Iran National Council for Free Elections opposition group said the IRCG forces wanted to divert floodwaters to prevent them from entering IRCG-controlled oil installations in the neighboring town of Susangerd. In a Wednesday Instagram post, the group said one protester was killed and several were wounded by IRGC fire. In a series of tweets posted Thursday, London-based Ahwazi activist Karim Dahimi identified the dead protester as Aboud Jalizi and posted images of the man's body. Washington-based rights group Abdorrahman Boroumand Center shared Dahimi's reports about Jalizi on its Twitter feed and told VOA Persian that it considered Dahimi to be a reliable source. However, there was no official confirmation of the protester's death in Iranian state media. In a nighttime video of the confrontation received by VOA Persian from an audience member in Iran, bursts of gunfire can be heard. A Wednesday report by Iran's IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency confirmed that shots were fired in the incident and said two policemen and a villager were injured. Fars said authorities tried to persuade the villagers to evacuate their homes and allow the destruction of the dyke in return for compensation. It also said the dyke was removed later in the day. Earlier Wednesday, Iranian state-backed news agency ISNA quoted IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Ramezan Sharif as denying what he called "rumors disseminated by hostile media" about IRGC units confronting residents in Khuzestan. In a report published Thursday, Fars cited Iranian emergency services spokesman Mojtaba Khalidi as saying the death toll from a series of flash floods that began affecting Iran on March 19 has risen to 70, with hundreds of people injured. Iranian leaders have drawn a torrent of criticism on social media for their perceived slow response to the disaster, which also has caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to agriculture and transportation networks around the country. European Council President Donald Tusk wants Britain to have until next April to come up with a viable plan for its exit from from the European Union. EU leaders would have to approve the extension which gives Britain the option of leaving the group earlier if parliament approves an exit deal. British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to write Tusk a letter Friday formally requesting another extension, until June 30. Britain was originally due to leave the bloc by March 29, but May got approval from the EU for a short extension to give her government more time to find a solution parliament could support. While the process dragged on, parliament sought its own path forward, but in a series of votes Monday lawmakers struck down four possible paths forward. The closest that came to passing was a proposal to have Britain withdraw from the EU, but remain in a customs union. The latest deadline set by the European Union was April 12, but no withdrawal plans have been approved by British lawmakers. The delays mean Britain is beginning preparations to vote for it's representatives to the European parliament on May 23. Cameroon officials say the number of people displaced by the separatist war in the English-speaking regions has plummeted, indicating the government is winning the conflict. However, nongovernmental organizations say the number has remained steady at a half-million, with a huge majority living in desperate conditions. At the Cathedral Hall of the Roman Catholic Church in Bamenda, Christians sing as they receive 35 people who fled clashes last Monday between the military and separatist fighters in the town of Kumbo. "We were caught inside the crossfire," Joseph Mussa told VOA. He says he escaped with his wife and six children after they had counted 11 corpses within a week.. "Luckily for us we know some bush roads, bush tracks. We had to find our way across the bush and streams, even spending some nights in the bush, and we find ourselves in Bamenda where we are crowded in small narrow room," he said. Last week, the Catholic diocese of Kumbo said it had documented evidence that 385 civilians were killed and 750 houses torched within seven months in Kumbo alone, and young people had deserted most villages, leaving only the very old. Paul Atanga Nji, Cameroon's territorial administration minister, says the situation in the northwest and southwest regions has improved greatly, and the number of internally displaced people has dropped 70 percent from its peak of 500,000 early last year. "Statistics from administrative authorities and NGOs working in close collaboration with the government show there are about 152,000 internally displaced in the two regions," he said. "Inflating the number presents another danger which can even jeopardize the sovereignty of the state." Atanga Nji said the government has supplied humanitarian aid to 100,000 of the displaced and will eventually reach the other 50,000 living in hard-to-access areas. He dismissed as unfounded local media reports that the aid cannot reach everyone in need because of continued clashes between the military and English-speaking separatists who seek to break away from Cameroon and its French-speaking majority. But NGOs have contested the government's figures. "We have 600,000 and above, and the U.N. says it is 500,000 and above, and all credible organizations are above the 500,000 mark, and these are professional organizations, which have a history of doing such a job [gathering statistics]," said lawyer Agbor Balla, founder and executive director of the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa. "But being as it may, the focus is to ensure that the necessary aid, food and non-food items are provided to those who are internally displaced." He says Atanga Nji's figures are politically motivated, and designed to show the government is resolving the crisis. China is withholding details on the boundaries of its vast claims to a resource-rich sea contested by five other governments because it distrusts international law and wants to ensure control over tracts of water that it considers crucial, maritime scholars say. Exactly what Beijing claims in the South China Sea surfaced as in issue March 7, when Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called on the Communist leadership to define its so-called ownership. Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan contest all or parts Chinas sovereignty claims over the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea. China today uses a nine-dash line to define its claims to about 90 percent of the sea that stretches from Hong Kong to Borneo. It has upset other claimants over the past decade by creating artificial islands for military use within that line and passing coast guard vessels through foreign exclusive economic zones. To be more specific would let international organizations or other countries set boundaries for China, a threat to any design to expand at sea, political analysts say. China has had this calculated ambiguity for years. They claim all the land features in their adjacent waters, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Thats not a legal term, he added. Chinas a permanent presence everywhere. Quest for clarity Malaysia among others wants to know Chinas endgame because Chinese coast guard vessels ply the seas Spratly Islands where all six claimant governments hold tiny islets. China keeps a permanent watch near Malaysian-held Laconia Shoal and challenges the movements of vessels sent by the Malaysian state-owned energy corporation PETRONAS, Thayer said. In 2012 China took control of a shoal in the Philippine ocean exclusive economic zone, angering Manila. Two years later the placement of a Chinese oil rig in a tract claimed by Vietnam touched off deadly anti-China riots near Ho Chi Minh City. For countries such as Malaysia, theres a kind of fear that one day you wake up and find China has landed to help set up a thatched hut for fishermen, Thayer said. China had been pressed for details of its claims before Mahathir asked. The U.S. State Department said in 2014, for example, that a position paper from China that year had failed to clarify the nine-dash line. One point of contention is control of waters inside the line but overlapping another countrys 370-mile-wide exclusive economic zone. Chinas authority between the dashes causes confusion, too. In August, Vietnamese oil exploration firm PetroVietnam joined two foreign partners to develop natural gas blocks under the sea near the line, a zone that Chinese officials might consider their own. Chinas view The Beijing government has never defined what the nine-dash line included or excluded, Zheng Zhihua, director of the Joint Institute for Maritime Law and History at East China University of Political Science and Law, wrote in a 2015 study. China in some cases disputes international standards for meting out maritime rights, Zheng said. The country often cites historic records to show long-term Chinese use of the sea, supporting its claims over most of the seas tiny islands. China backs its nine-dash line with survey expeditions, fishing activities and naval patrols as far back as the fifteenth century, clashing with United Nations convention boundaries enforced since 1994, the think tank Council on Foreign Relations says. Neighbor relations China sees no urgency to discuss the details of its maritime claim now because no one else in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is asking at the moment, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate with the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, D.C. Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines are among the members. In 2017 China started negotiating with the group to establish a code of conduct that would spell out how to avoid mishaps -- but without touching on sovereignty issues. I dont think China will do anything. The Chinese know they have a pretty good claim. They say well, we are negotiating the code of conduct with ASEAN, so anything other than the (code of conduct) isn't going to be on Chinas top agenda, Sun said. Mahathir may follow up his request by making more public comments, Thayer said. Poking at China helps him distance himself from his predecessor Najib Razak, whose coalition lost parliamentary elections last year to the Mahathirs camp, some analysts say. Najib seldom criticized China, instead accepting Chinese funding for domestic infrastructure projects. Much of what Mahathir could be talking about is in large part likely designed for domestic consumption than anything else, said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. I think I would prefer to see what Malaysia is doing (in) actions. U.S. representatives and activists are calling for the U.S. to do more to protect the Uighurs, a Muslim minority in China who live primarily in the northwest autonomous region of Xinjiang. Activists have accused Beijing of putting more than a million Uighurs in detention camps with a goal of destroying their ethnic identity. China has said the camps are vocational education centers aimed at stopping the spread of religious extremism. Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said the Chinese government's actions against the Uighurs amount to a war with faith which, he added, China will not win. Brownback made his comments at a reception on Monday and called on Congress to protect international religious freedom and the human rights of Uighurs. He said he had seen reports that China may have put legal residents of the United States in detention camps in the province-like Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Media reports of such detentions have not been confirmed. The ambassador told VOA's Mandarin Service that the United States has a great deal at stake, whether legal U.S. residents are being detained or not. "You've got, really, an aggressive police state that the Chinese have put in place with ubiquitous cameras, with artificial intelligence systems behind it, with people being locked up in internment camps," Brownback said. "This is, in and of itself, enough, but if they're also United States legal residents there, it raises the stakes even further," he said. "What the Chinese government is doing is wrong. They should not do it. They're at war with faith. It is a war they will not win. And we're going to press back hard against that taking place." The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to requests for comment. Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier, co-chair of the Congressional Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus, told VOA the U.S. government needs to do more to push the Chinese government to change its behavior. "This whole issue has got to be addressed on the highest levels of the U.S. government," Speier said. "I feel that we have really not done our job in terms of highlighting what's going on with the Uighur population in China," she said. "It's time for us to speak loudly and clearly about how this has all the makings of yet another genocide." Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the United States should raise the issue on a bilateral basis. "I think that the Chinese government is engaging in massive persecution of this Muslim community. And I believe that we have to speak up now for their rights and their dignity and their freedoms," Krishnamoorthi said. The reception was part of the annual "Day on the Hill" event for Ahmadiyya Muslims in the United States. Every year, the community chooses a day to summon Ahmadiyya Muslim volunteers from all over the U.S. to meet lawmakers on Capitol Hill, calling on them to protect international religious freedom for all people. Amjad Mahmood Khan, national director of public affairs for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, said this year's event focused on the human rights situation of Muslims in Xinjiang, with 125 volunteers and Uighur Muslims from more than 30 states visiting the offices of more than 200 U.S. lawmakers. "We feel that we should be very clear that all people should have basic minimum human rights, the right to have freedom of conscience, not to be deprived of their conscience, not to be detained unfairly, the right to a free trial. And these things are really causing problems for Uighurs in China," Khan said. Rushan Abbas, director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, a human rights group, said she has relatives being held in detention camps by the Chinese government. She hopes the U.S. government will take action to help the detained Uighurs. "The United States government should take action, and using the Global Magnitsky Act, should sanction the Chinese officials who are responsible for this atrocity," Abbas said. The act "allows the executive branch to impose visa bans and targeted sanctions on individuals anywhere in the world responsible for committing human rights violations or acts of significant corruption," according to Human Rights Watch. The U.S. president and the vice premier of China confirmed on Thursday that while significant progress has been made, there is no new trade agreement yet between the world's two largest economies. "We're certainly getting a lot closer," Trump said sitting at his desk in the Oval Office with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He alongside him. Announcement of a deal could come in "the next four weeks, maybe less, maybe more" and at that time, something "monumental could be announced," he said, adding, "We are rounding the turn. We've made a lot of progress." Liu, speaking in English, praised the direct guidance of Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding: "Hopefully, we'll get a good result." Trump said if a deal can be reached, then he will hold a summit with Xi. "If we have a deal, there will be a summit," he said. "I look forward to seeing President Xi. It'll be here." Intellectual property protection, as well as certain tariffs remain under discussion, Trump confirmed. "Some of the toughest things have been agreed to," he added. Asked to make a comment by the president about the status of the negotiations, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was more cautious, replying, "We've made a lot of headway. We're working very hard," but "there are still some major, major issues left." Responding to questions from reporters, Trump said, "We've never done a deal like this with China," predicting the agreement could be "the granddaddy of them all" and "a tremendous thing for the world." He also described it as potentially "epic" and "historic." The two countries had originally hoped to reach an agreement by March 1, but negotiations have extended well beyond that date. "The relationship with China is very strong, probably the strongest it's ever been," Trump declared. Liu had met Wednesday in Washington with Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. For months, the economic superpowers have engaged in a reciprocal tariff war, with both countries imposing levies on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of each other's exports, which could be eased or ended with a deal. Officials familiar with their negotiations say an agreement could give Beijing until 2025 to meet its commitment on U.S. commodity purchases and allow U.S. companies to wholly own businesses in China. "Nobody thought these talks would be easy, but as they enter these final stages, we're encouraged by the continued progress towards detailed text on both structural and enforcement issues," said Linda Dempsey, National Association of Manufacturers vice president of International Economic Affairs, following Thursday's Trump-Liu meeting. "Manufacturers in the United States have long been harmed by China's unfair trade practices. That is why we believe negotiations must result in an innovative, enforceable bilateral trade agreement that levels the playing field for manufacturers in the United States," Dempsey added. Trump's meeting with Liu came just days after a Chinese woman, Yujing Zhang, was arrested trying to enter the U.S. president's Atlantic oceanfront retreat in Florida, and detained after she entered the compound claiming she was there for what turned out to be a non-existent event. She was charged with illegal entering and lying to U.S. agents. The U.S. Secret Service, which protects Trump and his family, said she was carrying four cellphones, a laptop computer, an external hard drive, thumb drive containing computer malware and two Chinese passports. Iacopo Luzi and Laura Sepulveda from VOA's LATAM service and White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. WASHINGTON This week U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico or close its border with the United States entirely "if the drugs don't stop or largely stop." The Trump administration has made strengthening border security a centerpiece of its domestic policy, even though public opinion polls show Americans are roughly split over substantially expanding a wall along the border. In El Paso, Texas, a border town across the U.S.-Mexico border from Ciudad Juarez, many residents also express mixed feelings about a border closure that would directly impact their lives more than those of most Americans. Last year, 7 million pedestrians crossed the U.S. border at the El Paso international bridges to either work or study, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Vehicles with passengers reached the 22 million mark. Cars, classes and tourists For graphic design student Paula Lopez, who goes to school in El Paso but lives in Ciudad Juarez, shutting down the pedestrian crossing could affect her education. "If they close the border, I will have to miss my classes and I am allowed a maximum of five absences," Lopez said. Oscar Lira, an intensive care nurse at a medical center in El Paso, says a potential closure would affect people's health and job security. "In fact, the treatments would be worse for everyone," Lira said, adding that a lot of health workers in El Paso live in Ciudad Juarez, which means if they can't come to work, the extra services would fall to those on the U.S. side. Even local Republican supporters of the president have expressed concerns. Adolpho Telles, El Paso County Republican Party chairman, was "very concerned" that even a partial closure of the border could hurt the Texas border town. "People keep joking that we're going to run out of avocados here in a couple weeks ... but that's not the important part. They [people living across the border] make wire harnesses, component parts for vehicles. They come over here. They ship them east, and then on the East Coast to use, to finish the manufacturing cycle," Telles said. For years, American businesses have restructured their manufacturing so that many products are made on both sides of the border. Border closures could have far-reaching impacts on a wide range of businesses. Roger Noriega of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington-based policy research group, said the president's closure threat sows doubt among regional partners and businesses. And he says it remains unclear how it would work. "If it were absolutely dire emergencies, conceivably, you could say that people can enter ... [but] "you need people moving across that border for commercial reasons for tourism, really, in both directions," Noriega said. Telles, however, still agrees "there's going to have to be some closures in certain areas." He notes U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are "stretched thin," and that closures in certain areas could mean reassigning some officers "so they can get better control of the areas and control [of] the people that are trying to come across the border." Former CIA operative, author and activist Valerie Plame said Friday she is considering a 2020 run for an open U.S. congressional seat in New Mexico. Plame told The Associated Press she is spending time with residents and will make a decision soon. The seat is currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Rey Lujan, who is stepping down to run for U.S. Senate. "Right now, I am going around and meeting with people," said Plame, a Democrat. "I have a lot to learn and I would like another opportunity to serve my country." Plame became a national figure after her identity as a CIA operative was leaked by an official in President George W. Bush's administration in 2003 in an effort to discredit her then-husband Joe Wilson. Wilson is a former diplomat who criticized Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Plame left the agency in 2005. Plame says she'd be honored to represent the sprawling district, which covers all of northern New Mexico, parts of the Navajo Nation and a large portion of state's east side. She would face several Democratic contenders if she decides to run. State Rep. Joseph Sanchez and businessman Mark McDonald have already announced they are candidates and Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna is considering a bid. I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, however, was convicted of lying to investigators and obstruction of justice following the 2003 leak. President Donald Trump issued a full pardon to Libby last year. In 2017, the Wilsons launched an unsuccessful crowdfunding effort to buy Twitter so Trump couldn't use it. At the time, Plame said if she didn't get enough to purchase a majority of shares, she would explore options to buy "a significant stake" and champion the proposal at Twitter's annual shareholder meeting. Plame and Wilson divorced later that year. Plame is the author of the memoir "Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House." The book was made into a 2010 movie starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have dinner at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Feb. 27, as part of their two-day-long summit in the Vietnamese capital. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will never give up nuclear weapons as the regime is seeking to reach some "vague" agreements with the United States apparently for sanctions relief, according to some experts. It has been more than a year since the North expressed its willingness for denuclearization and peace on the peninsula. Following the pledge made earlier last year, the regime has held rounds of discussions with Washington and Seoul to fine-tune details over the drive. Despite the outward gesture for peace, Washington and Pyongyang have recently hit a snag in their ongoing denuclearization talks in the wake of the failure of their second summit last month. With the mood for reconciliation showing no signs of progress between the two sides, skeptical voices are being raised here and abroad over the sincerity of the North's pledge for denuclearization. "The North has never reached detailed agreements with the South and the U.S. on the denuclearization of the peninsula, and only demanded a lifting of sanctions in exchange for its phased steps towards nuclear disarmament," Shin Beom-chul, a senior director at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said. Last year alone, Kim Jong-un held three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for talks on denuclearization and peace between the two Koreas. Last April, they signed the Panmunjeom Declaration in the first meeting. But the agreement came with no details, with both sides only pledging to enhance relations in a way to continue their reconciliatory momentum and ease military tension on the peninsula. They came to more detailed terms during their most recent meeting last September in Pyongyang, but the so-called inter-Korean "Pyongyang Declaration" also did not include a detailed timeline or more specific approach to denuclearization on the peninsula. "For example, if the North really wanted to prove its determination for denuclearization, the regime could have included very specific terms of agreement in the declaration, such as its promise to rejoin the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and give up all its nuclear weapons," Shin said. But the North has never taken such a step, and this continues raising pessimism on the North's denuclearization, he said. Kim Yeol-soo, head of the security research office at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, also said the North will not sign the so-called "one shot big deal" with the U.S., as the regime is aware that its phased approach will help it gain the upper hand in upcoming nuclear negotiations with Washington. "The North is afraid of losing critical negotiating cards if it signs the big deal with the U.S.," he said. Following the breakdown of the Hanoi summit, it became more apparent that Washington and Pyongyang will not make any concessions for each other in their approach to denuclearization, he said. "Despite the gloomy outlook, it is the worst-case scenario for Washington and Pyongyang to come to a halt in their rare momentum for dialogue due to the summit fiasco," the analyst pointed out. He also said South Korea needs to play a more active part in reviving hopes for denuclearization here. "What the South Korean government needs to do is to be more agile in bringing Kim Jong-un to the dialogue table before he makes a decision contrary to the recent mood for peace here," he said. "My suggestion is that Moon and Kim should have a one-on-one meeting as soon as possible at the truce village of Panmunjeom and seek breakthrough in their stalled nuclear talks," he said. Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also remained pessimistic in his views on the North's actual denuclearization. He said in a recent forum in Seoul that there is little chance for Kim Jong-un to abandon its nuclear arms program, as the young dictator must have thought the phased denuclearization will help the regime evade economic sanctions while at the same time maintaining tension with the U.S. in their nuclear talks. "Pyongyang appears to have thought it could evade economic crisis by receiving sanctions relief after agreeing to achieve complete denuclearization the definition of which is vague," Ban said in the forum hosted by the Kwanhun Club, Tuesday. Critics here and abroad have voiced similar concerns, urging Washington and Seoul not to be deceived by such a strategy from Pyongyang. "[The South and the U.S.] need to brace for possible provocations from the North which is likely to take a hardline approach over the nuclear talks for the time being," Ban said. Last week, the regime withdrew its officials from the inter-Korean liaison office in the North's border city of Gaeseong, in an apparent gesture of discontent over its nuclear negotiations with the U.S. "It is true that the Hanoi summit ended up generating a disappointing outcome, but the event was not necessarily a disappointing event in the long term in that the summit made Kim Jong-un's intentions more clear over denuclearization on the peninsula," said the South Korean former diplomat. Ban also called on the government not to be in a hurry for denuclearization of the peninsula, and care more for the U.S. as the most important defense ally. "South Korea fell short of closely communicating with the U.S. in pushing for denuclearization here," he pointed out. "We should not regard the U.S. as one of them." He added the government should pay more attention to voices from the international community before carrying out inter-Korean projects, such as the resumption of now-closed Gaeseong Industrial Complex and tours to Mount Geumgang "It is not proper for the South to push ahead with projects on its own. Korea needs to consult closely with the U.S. and major European countries by taking a closer look at U.N. regulations," he said. Hong Kong took its first steps this week toward allowing extraditions to China, prompting warnings from across the political, legal and economic sectors that it could have significant legal and economic repercussions for the autonomous Chinese city. A bill introduced before the semi-democratic Legislative Council this week will allow Hong Kong to extradite to countries, including China, on a case by case basis. The bill is opposed by the citys democratic lawmakers who say Beijing could use any number of crimes to extradite activists, journalists and other political troublemakers despite assurances from Secretary for Justice John Lee. The fundamental bit is we have no trust and no confidence in the judicial and legal system on the mainland and if they want to play ugly, dirty whatever they can name anyone you or me for any packaged any coated politically coated crime and extradite you back to the mainland, said democratic legislator Claudia Mo. Hong Kong vs China Hong Kong, a former British colony, has one of the most respected legal systems in Asia while China is regularly criticized by rights groups and Western governments for its poor legal track record. Lee recently told reporters that Hong Kong would not extradite for crimes linked to political opinion, religion, nationality or ethnicity. Crimes must also be punishable by at least three years in prison for them to be considered for extradition, he said. Beijing, however, often uses charges like tax evasion and other economic crimes to prosecute human rights lawyers and activists. It has also not shied away from prosecuting foreigners on politically motivated charges. Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, detained in December, are currently facing spying charges in what is widely seen as retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver. International reputation Hong Kong is the Asia headquarters for dozens of multinational firms as well as media outlets, but its international reputation could be damaged if the extradition agreement proceeds, according to groups like the American Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Hong Kong Journalists Association. Hong Kongs Security Bureau removed nine economic crimes from an original list of 46 extraditable offenses following negative feedback from the business community. But even these changes have failed to assuage fears. It seems to me the concerns reflect the anxiety about the actual criminal justice system in the mainland and how adequate this is to protect people who have fallen afoul of it, said Philip Dykes, chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association. Weve had many complaints of prosecutions that are sometimes influenced by political motives, that the judiciary is not independent, that defense lawyers are hard to get by, et cetera. If those are the concerns [for economic crimes] then logically they should be concerns for other offenses too. De Facto law The Bar Association has also questioned whether the bills case by case approach to extradition would become the de facto law between Hong Kong and China, sidestepping input from the legislature that would be required in a long-term agreement. While Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, it deliberately did not sign a long-term agreement with Beijing at the time because of the fundamentally different criminal justice system operating in the mainland, according to the Bar Association. Changes to Hong Kongs extradition laws, however, were motivated by a dramatic murder case last year when a Hong Kong man allegedly killed his pregnant girlfriend while on holiday in Taiwan. Taiwan, an island democracy that Beijing considers to be a renegade province, also does not share an extradition agreement with Hong Kong, prompting the government to take action as it was unable to prosecute him for murder. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided a Texas cellphone repair company Wednesday, in what Homeland Security officials are calling the largest work site raid in the country in more than a decade. ICE arrested 280 employees of CVE Technology Group Inc. on immigration charges. The company is in the Texas city of Allen, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Dallas. The investigation started after special agents with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division (HSI) received tips CVE was hiring undocumented people. ICE said some of those employed by the tech company were using fake documents. A business that knowingly hires undocumented workers "creates an unfair advantage over their competing businesses," HSI Special Agent Katrina W. Berger said in a statement. HSI began an audit of CVE's hiring practices in January 2019. The audit confirmed numerous hiring irregularities. Berger also said the practice creates "an atmosphere poised for exploiting their illegal workforce." CVE's website is down. VOA could not reach the company for comment. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in a statement to reporters said the organization is working non-stop to help undocumented workers arrested Wednesday. Domingo Garcia, LULAC's national president, said the operation was tragic and unnecessary. "Mothers were separated from their children, husbands and parents. All they were doing, when ICE agents swooped down on them with guns and badges, was standing at assembly lines working on making cellphones," he added. According to media reports, the raid did not take place quietly. CVE employee Yessenia Ponce told NPR that it was "crazy," and people were working like it was a "normal day" when ICE agents conducted the raid. "We just heard screaming, you know, people screaming and stuff. We went out and an officer just said, 'Follow my voice, follow my voice,'" Ponce said. Hotline for relatives Those arrested Wednesday are expected to be interviewed by ICE staff to record and note any medical, sole-caregiver or other humanitarian situations. "Based on these interviews, ICE will determine if those arrested remain in custody or are considered for humanitarian release. In all cases, all illegal aliens encountered will be fingerprinted and processed for removal from the United States," according to an official statement. A 24-hour, toll-free detainee locator hotline is available. Relatives who call (888) 351-4024 can find people's detention location and status, and the removal process. This hotline operates in English and Spanish. HSI said the operation was an effort from federal, state and local officials, including the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. In Afghanistan, fighting between Islamic State militants and Taliban insurgents has displaced over 20,000 people in eastern Kunar province recently, according to U.N. officials. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Thursday that 3,000 families fled their homes, and warned the situation could escalate as the warring sides mobilize more fighters. "Sporadic clashes continue to be reported in several areas of the (Chapa Dara) district, with indications that both sides are reinforcing positions and continuing to mobilize, while the frontlines remain unchanged," OCHA reported. The report warns that efforts by the Afghan National Security Forces could spark renewed fighting as the government tries to push both Islamic State and the Taliban out of the area. Meanwhile, provincial government officials are working to help displaced families. "As our survey is still under way, the number of displaced families recorded up until now is around 2,500. Humanitarian aid has already been distributed," Abdul Ghani Musamim, a spokesperson for the Kunar provincial government, told VOA. The displaced families, mostly women and children, sought refuge in nearby districts and villages. According to local residents, fighting forced most residents out of three villages Digal, Korangal and Manar in Chapa Dara district. "Only a few families remained in those villages. During the past few days, the area is calm, but people are afraid to return," Shoaib Gahrwal, a civil activist in eastern Kunar province, told VOA. Dire situation Local officials say most of the displaced families are living with relatives, some in makeshift tents. "We are nine families living in one house now. We fled our home at night. We have received a little aid. The government should pave the path for our safe return to our homes," Gul Rasool, a local displaced civilian, told VOA. Twelve-year-old Shafiqa told a VOA reporter that she and her family walked for hours before reaching safety. "We escaped in the middle of the night. I walked for two hours with my cow until I reached [a relative's house]," she said. The disruption brought by the fighting also means thousands of children cannot attend school. "I miss my school," said Jawed, a third-grader. The child was with his family from an internally displaced people's camp in the province. Military operation Afghan security forces have an operation under way to clear the areas of Taliban insurgents and IS militants, according to Musamim. "Afghan Army forces will continue their operations in eastern Afghanistan, including Kunar and Nuristan province, to provide security and prevent further displacements," Col. Qais Mangal, a spokesperson for the ministry, told VOA. Clashes between the Taliban, IS and the Afghan security forces are a continuing issue in eastern Afghanistan, particularly in Nangarhar province. The province is the traditional stronghold of the IS Khorasan branch that emerged in the country in 2015 and has since made inroads to other parts of the country. U.S. health officials say that between January and March, 387 cases of measles have been reported in 15 states, exceeding the count for all of last year. In 2018, 372 cases were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health authorities worry about outbreaks in communities where vaccination rates are low, fueled by a growing movement of people who view the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella as dangerous. The measles component of the vaccine has been in widespread use since the 1960s, and medical experts say the MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective. We have growing pockets of susceptibility, said epidemiologist Arthur Reingold of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, as the virus is carried from regions where measles is more widespread. When we do have someone travel from New York to Israel or from Europe to Disneyland or whatever you envision, we have the opportunity for much larger outbreaks. Measles deaths declined worldwide from 550,000 in 2000 to 110,000 in 2017. Public health officials say the vaccine is the reason. The World Health Organization says measles immunizations prevented 21 million deaths between 2000 and 2017. The organization says more than 95 percent of such deaths occur in countries with low per capita incomes and poor health infrastructure. In 2017, however, 20 million infants did not receive at least one of the recommended two doses of the measles vaccine, putting their communities at risk. India, Pakistan and Nigeria are among the countries with large concentrations of unvaccinated children. In the United States, where the inoculations are widely available, anti-vaccine sentiment has led to children at risk of contracting measles. The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. The anti-vaccine movement gained momentum when a 1998 study which was later retracted linked autism, a developmental disability, to the MMR vaccine that inoculates against measles, mumps and rubella. Repeated studies have shown no link between vaccines and autism, says infectious disease expert Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. The scientific community responded with studies involving hundreds of thousands of children, he said. And weve clearly shown that children who get the MMR vaccine are no more likely to get autism than children who dont. He added that children with autism were no more likely to have received the vaccine than those without the condition. This issue is personal for Hotez, whose grown daughter has autism. He has laid out his evidence in the book "Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachels Autism." Critics are unconvinced. Nobody can scientifically say whether the MMR is actually causing more harm than measles, mumps and rubella, maintains Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an activist attorney. The reason for that is, like other vaccines, he said, its not required to be safety tested. It is true that vaccines have not been subjected to double-blind tests, medical experts say, tracking children who have received the vaccine against others who have not, with parents unaware of which children were vaccinated. The experts say that in the United States, measles typically kills one in 1,000 who contract it, and mortality is far higher in the developing world, so a controlled trial would put many children at risk. Major medical groups and public health agencies agree, says epidemiologist Arthur Reingold. The "CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) or ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), WHO or the American Academy of Pediatrics are all in total agreement about the benefits of vaccination against measles and other diseases radically outweighing any conceivable risks, he said. The CDC says that study after study has verified the safety of the measles vaccine, and that the risk of severe allergic reaction is one in a million. Growing numbers of unvaccinated children have given measles a foothold in the United States and Europe, however. Vulnerable communities include tightly knit or isolated groups, for example, of the Amish in Ohio, Orthodox Jews in New York, and eastern European immigrants in Washington State. California, Mississippi and West Virginia have responded by refusing exemptions from vaccination, except for medical reasons. Forty-seven states allow broader exemptions. Of those 47, Hotez said, there are 18 that also allow non-medical exemptions for reasons of personal or philosophical belief, and thats where the battleground is. He says misinformation about vaccine safety is spread on the web and through books sold on Amazon, while medical experts face more difficulty in having their message heard. Were looking at over 500 anti-vaccine websites that are out there, he said, adding that each of them is "amplified on Facebook and other forms of social media. Hotez says vaccine opponents tailor their message by region. So with Texas, they see the soft underbelly being the far political right, the Tea Party, and they use Tea Party language, he said. Up in the Pacific Northwest, in Washington State or Oregon, they might use language of the far left. Kennedy says the CDC works hand in hand with the industry and hides the risks. The parents should know more about whats good for that child than corrupted regulatory agencies and big pharmaceutical companies, he said. Medical experts worldwide say the MMR vaccine is essential for public health because measles is highly contagious and potentially deadly, and one infected person may infect three others. Then, each of those three people might infect three other people, said Arthur Reingold. "And then another generation after that. Each of those people might infect some other people, and we could end up having sustained transmission. Health experts say that could bring a return to conditions of decades ago, when measles killed millions of children each year around the world. The chair of the House Judiciary Committee wants Attorney General William Barr to release any summaries of special counsel Robert Mueller's report that were prepared by Mueller's own team. Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler sent a letter to Barr after media reports said Muellers team was unhappy with Barr's own summary because, the reports say, Mueller's probe was more damaging to Trump than Barr led Congress and the public to believe. "If these recent reports are accurate...then those summaries should be publicly released as soon as possible," Nadler wrote. "You have already provided an interpretation of the Special Counsels conclusions in a fashion that appears to minimize the implications of the report as to the president. Releasing the summaries without delay would begin to allow the American people to judge the facts for themselves." According to Barr's four-page summary of a more than 300-page report, Mueller concluded that neither Trump nor his campaign colluded with Russia in trying to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. According to Barr, while Muellers report did not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him. Barr also wrote he and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, could not find evidence that Trump committed a crime by allegedly trying to derail the investigation. While Trump insists the Mueller report, based on Barr's summary, totally exonerates him and some Republicans say it's time to move on, many Democrats are not satisfied -- especially when Mueller said he cannot exonerate Trump. The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Wednesday to authorize Nadler to issue subpoenas for the entire Mueller report, as well as all the evidence he used. Barr on Thursday defended his handling of Mueller's report. He has promised to release as much of the report as possible, adding that the document contains confidential grand jury materials. The Justice Department said it is working with the Mueller team to determine what the public can see. Trump had called the Mueller investigation a witch hunt. He has also said the whole report should be released and called Mueller "honorable." Thursday, he lashed out at Democrats. "According to polling, few people seem to care about the Russian Collusion Hoax, but some Democrats are fighting hard to keep the Witch Hunt alive," he tweeted. "They should focus on legislation or, even better, an investigation of how the ridiculous Collusion Delusion got started - so illegal!" But several courts have upheld Mueller's appointment as special counsel. Some European countries could soon find themselves cut off from U.S. intelligence and other critical information if they continue to cultivate relationships with Chinese technology firms. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued the warning Thursday, following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Washington. "We've done our risk analysis," Pompeo said. "We have now shared that with our NATO partners, with countries all around the world. We've made clear that if the risk exceeds the threshold for the United States, we simply won't be able to share that information any longer." U.S. defense and intelligence officials have warned repeatedly in recent years of a growing threat that information shared over Chinese-built networks or Chinese-made devices could be stolen or copied and shared with the Chinese government. More recently, concerns have focused on China's Huawei and ZTE, which have been offering to build advanced, high-speed 5G for mobile devices across Europe. A report issued earlier this week by the U.S. Defense Innovation Board, which advises the Pentagon, raised the possibility Huawei already is building so-called "backdoors," or security vulnerabilities, into its software and products. "Many of these seem to be related to requirements from the Chinese intelligence community pressuring companies to exfiltrate information about domestic users," the report said, citing the example of Xiongmai, a Chinese security camera maker that was using Huawei code to allow unauthorized access to millions of cameras. While some European countries have acknowledged U.S. concerns, the European Union has rejected calls for a blanket ban on Huawei, in particular. NATO response As for NATO, some officials, including Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, have called for more consultations and have suggested the need for a more nuanced response, given there are currently few alternatives in Europe to Huawei's 5G technology. "We're just in the preliminary stages," NATO analyst and consultant Benedetta Berti said earlier this week in Washington. "We need to take stock of our critical vulnerabilities, of the impact of external investments on our critical infrastructure," she said. "We will come to a common strategic understanding." U.S. urgency But U.S. officials are pushing for greater urgency. "It is as important for NATO as it is for us," State Department Director of Policy Planning Kiron Skinner told reporters this week. "How European countries address China's involvement across all of their sectors is central to American security," he added. "When a nation shows up and offers you goods that are well below market, one ought to ask what else is at play," Pompeo said Thursday, calling the offers from Chinese technology companies "literally too good to be true." "There is undoubtedly the risk that NATO or the United States will not be able to share information in the same way it could if there were not Chinese systems inside of those networks, inside of those capabilities," he said. WATCH: US, China, NATO Pakistan's agreement with the United States does not prevent it from using F-16 fighter jets in a conflict with India, and Indian claims of shooting down a Pakistani aircraft in a recent dogfight between the two nations is untrue, according to an influential U.S.-based publication. Foreign Policy magazine quoted two senior U.S. defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation as saying American personnel recently counted Islamabad's F-16s and found none missing. It did not identify the officers. The personnel were invited by Pakistan to count its F-16 planes after the incident. "The findings directly contradict the account of Indian Air Force officials, who said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own [MiG21] plane was downed by a Pakistani missile," said the report published Thursday. The Indian pilot took a missile hit during the Feb. 27 aerial battle over the disputed Kashmir region and ejected safely into Pakistani territory. He was captured by Pakistani troops and freed two days later, effectively bringing the two countries back from the brink of another full-scale war. The two nations previously have fought four wars, in 1947, 1965, 1971 and a limited conflict in 1999. The magazine noted "the count, conducted by U.S. authorities on the ground in Pakistan, sheds doubt on New Delhi's version of events, suggesting that Indian authorities may have misled the international community about what happened that day." There was no Indian or U.S. official reaction to the report. The Pakistan military has consistently maintained it did not lose any aircraft and instead asserts the dogfight destroyed two Indian fighter jets claims New Delhi rejected. A military spokesman Friday hailed the findings by Foreign Policy, saying the "truth always prevails." "Time for India to speak truth about false claims & actual losses on their side including the second aircraft shot down by Pakistan," tweeted Major-General Asif Ghafoor. The dogfight occurred a day after Indian jets crossed deep into Pakistan territory and allegedly destroyed the suspected training camp of an anti-India militant group. Pakistani officials rejected Indian claims of hitting any camp or killing a large number of militants before undertaking the retaliatory military action the following day. Foreign media reports from the site, backed by satellite images, also contradicted Indian claims the Feb. 26 counterterrorism cross-border strike had damaged any structure or killed militant casualties. "When the incident occurred, India asked the U.S. government to investigate whether Pakistan's use of the F-16 against India violated the terms of the foreign military sale agreements," according to Foreign Policy magazine. However, "the agreement did not involve any terms limiting the use of the F-16s," the magazine quoted the second U.S. defense official as saying. "It would be incredibly naive for us to believe that we could sell some type of equipment to Pakistan that they would not intend to use in a fight," the official said. General Ghafoor tweeted a picture Friday of what he said were four unused Indian missiles mounted on the downed MiG-2 to support assertions that no Pakistani aircraft got hit in the dogfight. "All 4 missile seeker heads recovered intact from the wreckage & held. Pakistan and its professional armed forces staying humble by not drum beating. We have more truth on this to share," Ghafoor said. The reported revelations are seen as a fresh blow to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, heading into an election next week that observers anticipate will be a tight contest. Indian media and opposition politicians have been demanding that Modi offer proof to support claims the airstrikes hit terrorists in Pakistan's Balokot region. They insist the Indian leader orchestrated the military action merely to achieve political gains ahead of the polls. "Another blow delivered to India," observed Michael Kugelman of the Washington-based Wilson Center in a series of tweets. "There could be some deleterious political implications there, just days before the election." The cross-border counterterrorism airstrike has been a top campaigning issue during Modi's election rallies, underscoring that he's tough on national security, especially with regard to Pakistan if BJP returns to power. Indian officials said the air raid had struck a camp allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group, which reportedly had claimed responsibility for the Feb. 14 suicide car bombing in Kashmir's Pulwama district that killed more than 40 Indian security personnel. Islamabad had denied any role in the violence and offered New Delhi cooperation to investigate it and bring perpetrators to justice. Cindy Saine at the State Department and Edward Yeranian in Cairo contributed to this report. Saudi Arabia has arrested at least eight writers and activists, including two who hold dual U.S.-Saudi citizenship, in the latest crackdown on supporters of female activists. Rights workers say the detained have all expressed support for a group of Saudi women activists, now on trial for allegedly defaming the kingdom over its treatment of women. The U.S. State Department has confirmed the arrest of two Americans. A spokesperson said the State Department is working "to provide all appropriate consular assistance and seek access to the citizens without delay." ALQST, a London-based human rights group, says all those arrested were "writers and social media bloggers previously engaged in public discourse on reforms." Most of the detainees were arrested Thursday. Two Americans Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, is one of the two U.S.-Saudi nationals arrested. The other American detainee is Salah al-Haidar, the son of Aziza al-Yousef, an activist who was temporarily released last week but remains on trial along with other female campaigners. The activists have been imprisoned for nearly a year and have allegedly been subjected to torture and sexual abuse. Women's rights The women on trial had campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom's male guardianship system. Egyptian political sociologist Said Sadek tells VOA that charges of human rights abuses are common in the Middle East, but much of the time it does not lead to a change in bilateral relations. "The issue about human rights has always been a problem all over the area, but what is to be done? It has been raised a lot, and I don't see that it has been affecting any bilateral relations, just noise and nothing happens," he said. The arrests coincide with a vote Thursday by the U.S. Congress to cut American support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to indicate if he will veto the bill. Several analysts in the Arab media tied Friday's arrest of Saudi activists to the vote by the U.S. Congress. Khashoggi factor Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, says the Saudis accuse the arrested activists of activities that would damage the security of the country, which is a theme one hears frequently in the Middle East. More importantly, though, relations between the U.S. media, Congress and Riyadh have turned sour, creating a climate of mistrust that instead is pushing Riyadh to strengthen ties with Moscow. Abou Diab points out that Riyadh has been threatening, along with Russia, to stop using the dollar as the base of oil trade conducted by OPEC member-states. Saudi activist Ali Shihabi tweeted Friday it is unlikely that Riyadh would ditch the dollar, but noted that such a move would weaken Washingtons clout in global trade, if it were to happen. Giorgio Cafiero, who heads Gulf State Analytics in Washington, tells VOA, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman [MBS] has been suffering from an extremely tarnished reputation in Washington and other Western capitals ... [since] the killing of [Saudi journalist] Jamal Khashoggi [in October, in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul]. Without a doubt, he insisted, the new detentions [of rights activists] illustrate MBS determination to resist pressure created by global outcries over human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. Low-level xenophobic violence is a continuous reality in South Africa and appears to peak as elections approach. Last week, a mob in the coastal city of Durban attacked a group of largely undocumented Malawians, killing at least two people. But for three Malawian brothers in gritty Johannesburg, the violence is less worrying than the prospect of hunger and joblessness back home. Anita Powell reports from Johannesburg. The U.N. Human Rights Office says more than 20,000 civilians in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State have been forced to flee their homes in recent weeks in the face of escalating fighting between the Myanmar military and the ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army. The U.N. condemns what appear to be indiscriminate attacks against civilians by the military, as well as violence perpetrated by armed fighters in Rakhine state. It says it has received credible reports of the killing of civilians, burning of houses, arbitrary arrests, abductions and other forms of abuse. U.N. Human Rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said that on April 3 two military helicopters fired on civilians tending cows and paddy fields. She said at least seven civilians were killed and 18 others injured in the incident. As the international community is taking steps towards accountability for crimes against civilians in previous years, the Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians - attacks which may constitute war crimes. The consequences of impunity will continue to be deadly, she said. Shamdasani said all victims in this weeks attack were Rohingya Muslims. But she noted civilians of various ethnicities have come under fire in Rakhine and neighboring Chin state. She told VOA the Rakhine Arakan Army that is fighting the Myanmar military recruits mainly from among the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist community. She said the group and its issues are distinct from the Rohingya Muslim community. This is an armed group that was formed, I believe, almost a decade ago and they have got their own grievances about the lack of proper governance, consultation by the central government with these communities. They have economic grievances - all sorts of gripes with the government about injustice that they have been suffering through the years, Shamdasani said. The U.N. spokeswoman said their complaints are quite different from those of the Rohingya Muslims in the same region, who are suffering from systematic discrimination. The U.N. rights office is calling on the warring groups to immediately stop their hostilities, to ensure civilians are protected and to grant humanitarian access to all areas of northern Rakhine. A plenary session is underway at the National Assembly, Friday. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung The National Assembly ratified Friday the administration's recent one-year deal with the United States to share costs for the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea, despite lingering controversies. The deal was endorsed in a plenary session, a day after the Assembly's committee for diplomacy and unification approved the deal as signed, considering the "importance of the alliance with the U.S." The opposition parties did not object to the amount to be paid. Under the 2019 Special Measures Agreement (SMA), the government will pay 1.04 trillion won ($915 million), up 8.2 percent from the previous year, for the upkeep of the 28,500 members of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) here. The two countries signed the provisional contract on Feb. 8 and it went into effect Friday after lawmakers passed the deal in a 139-33 vote. This year's SMA was the first that the two countries had renewed since Donald Trump became president in 2017. Previous defense cost-sharing deals were signed every five years. VOA bureau chief Bill Ide in Beijing contributed to this report. Chinese authorities are refusing to discuss the sentencing of a dissident who stands to become the longest-serving Tibetan political prisoner, maintaining that details of his case are a "state secret." Members of the Tibetan parliament in exile called international attention last month to the case of Lodoe Gyamtso, 57. Exiles say the man, also known as Sogkhar Lodoe Gyamtso, had already served a total of 23 years in prison for two previous convictions before receiving a new sentence of 18 years. But when asked to confirm details of the sentence, an official at People's Middle Court in Nagchu prefecture, Tibetan Autonomous Region, declined. "This is something that is a state secret," he told VOA. "Even if I knew about this case, I would not be able to tell you about it because this is something that is a state secret." Tibetan exile groups say Lodoe Gyamtso was arrested after protesting in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa on Jan. 28, 2018. On the same day, he released a video message through social media in which he declared he was starting a "campaign for world peace." Wife sentenced The exact date of the new sentencing is not known but came to light last month. His wife, Gakyi, was sentenced to two years, according to the exile groups. Ngawang Tharpa, a member of the Tibetan parliament in exile who says Lodoe Gyamtso is his uncle, told VOA that he learned from two sources the verdict was handed down late last year, probably in October or November. Ngawang Tharpa, who now lives in India, said he was told the latest sentence was for 18 years. Lodoe Gyamtso had previously been released in 2013 after serving 21 years in prison in Lhasa. In 2015 he was reportedly detained for two years for staging another protest. A rights lawyer in China who spoke to VOA on condition he not be identified said he was aware of the case. He said a relative of Lodoe Gyamtso had contacted him in August or September of last year and talked about hiring him to represent the dissident, but had not followed through. The lawyer said it was not unusual for the verdict to be announced only to the dissident and his family members or his lawyer. "I think an 18-year sentence would be too much and quite a surprise to me," he said. "But I don't know why they didn't hire me to defend him. They might have been under heavy pressure." Heavy sentences for dissidents in Tibetan areas are not uncommon, however. Lodoe Gyamtso's home area of Sog County is one of most restricted parts of the Tibetan Autonomous Region and phone lines are often blocked, according to Tibetans in exile. VOA tried repeatedly to place phone calls to Sog County but received only a busy signal. U.S. President Donald Trump has visited the U.S. Border Patrol Calexico Station, a crossing point between the United States and Mexico. In a room full of Border Patrol agents, congressmen and members of his administration, Trump praised the progress made keeping people out of the country by way of the border wall in the area. "The system is full," Trump said of the nation's immigration system. "We have to say, 'We're sorry, we can't take you.' We're going to look at that and look at it very, very strongly." The president said people want to enter the U.S. for one of two reasons. "Part of it is because of the fact that the country is doing so well, and part of it's just a scam," he said. "People want to come in and they shouldn't be coming in. Gang members, lots of others." Trump also reiterated his willingness to close the border with Mexico if Mexico does not block immigrants at its southern border. "But Mexico in the last four days has done more than they've ever done at their southern border," he said. Earlier Friday, Trump denied that he changed his mind about closing the U.S.-Mexico border, one day after apparently backtracking on the threat if Mexico does not act to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs from entering the U.S. "I never changed my mind at all," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House for a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. "I may shut it down at some point." WATCH: Trump at US-Mexico Border: 'System is Full' During Trump's visit, he was also expected to participate in a roundtable discussion on immigration and border security before touring a section of recently installed fence. His administration has described the fence as a "newly completed section of the promised border wall." The fencing in Calexico, which had been planned since 2009 and completed last year, is a replacement of a crumbling barrier that was constructed decades ago. A metal plaque with Trump's name on it is attached to the nine-meter-high fence Trump inspected. The plaque asserts the fencing is the first section of Trump's border wall. Trump had threatened for nearly two weeks to close the border, arguing Mexico was not doing enough to stop illegal immigrants and illicit drugs from entering the U.S. The president backed off those threats after advisers and some Republican senators urged him to do so, warning the effects could be economically devastating. Trump instead imposed a one-year deadline on Mexico to stem the flow of immigrants and drugs into the U.S. or face a 25% tariff on cars it exports to the U.S. Trump delivered another threat to Mexico on Friday via Twitter, warning he is "looking at an economic penalty for the 500 Billion Dollars in illegal DRUGS that are shipped and smuggled through Mexico and across our Southern Border." Economists outside the government also predicted a border closure would have a dire economic impact. "A full shutdown of the U.S.-Mexican border of more than several weeks would be the fodder for recessions in both Mexico and the U.S.," Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi said. The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, meantime, will sue to prevent Trump's transfer of money to pay for the wall, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday. Trump declared a national emergency at the border in February to secure funds Congress refused to give him. The president vetoed House-passed legislation to terminate the emergency declaration, prompting the lawsuit. "The President's action clearly violates the Appropriations Clause by stealing from appropriated funds, an action that was not authorized by constitutional or statutory authority," Pelosi said in a statement. Fighting erupted Friday around the Libyan capital, Tripoli, shortly after the departure of the U.N. secretary-general, who had been in the country for nearly three days and called for a de-escalation. "I leave Libya with a deep concern and a heavy heart," Antonio Guterres said as he left Benghazi. "I still hope it will be possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli." Forces under the command of Gen. Khalifa Haftar, who holds sway in the country's east, have moved toward the capital, which is controlled by the U.N.-backed Presidential Council and Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. If they enter Tripoli, they could be confronted by militias protecting the city. 'Libyans deserve peace' The U.N. chief said the organization is committed to finding a political solution for the country. "Libyans deserve peace, security, prosperity and the respect of their human rights," Guterres said. In New York, the U.N. Security Council met late Friday afternoon at Britain's request, for a private briefing from Guterres' top man in Libya, Ghassan Salame, who accompanied Guterres to his meetings in Tripoli, Tobruk and Benghazi. After listening to Salame via a videoconference from Libya, the often-divided Security Council issued a united appeal to Haftar's forces to halt their advance. "The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at the military activity near Tripoli which risks Libyan stability and prospects for U.N. mediation and a comprehensive political solution to the crisis," said the council president for April, German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen. "They called on LNA forces [Haftar's Libyan National Army] to halt all military movements. They also called on all forces to de-escalate and halt military activity." Heusgen reiterated that there can be no military solution to the conflict, and that the council intends to "hold those responsible for further conflict accountable." Council diplomats said Haftar did not appear to be backing down, despite having met under U.N. auspices at the end of February with Sarraj in Abu Dhabi and agreeing to hold general elections. Haftar has received support from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia in the past, but Moscow joined the call for restraint on Friday. The United States joined France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Britain on Thursday to strongly oppose any military action and to call on all parties "to immediately de-escalate tensions, which are hindering prospects for U.N. political mediation." In a joint statement, the five countries warned, "At this sensitive moment in Libya's transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos." The potential for a battle over control of the capital could spark another cycle of violence in the country, which has been mired in civil war since the violent ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. It could also scuttle plans for a U.N.-facilitated national conference due to start on April 14 that aims to lay out the path to new elections. The U.N. Childrens Fund says climate change in Bangladesh is threatening the lives and futures of 19 million children or one-third of all children under age 18 in the country. The report forecasts a grim future for millions of children who live in Bangladeshs flood- and drought-prone lowlands in the countrys north and in the storm-ravaged coastline along the Bay of Bengal. They are the areas most likely to be devastated by floods, cyclones and other environmental disasters. Included among the 19.4 million vulnerable children are nearly one-half-million Rohingya refugee children. They and their parents fled to Bangladesh's Coxs Bazar area to escape violence and persecution in Myanmar. They are living in fragile bamboo and plastic shelters, which will not be able to withstand a climatic disaster. The report's author, Simon Ingram, says climate change will have direct implications on childrens lives, especially the poor, who are most at risk from its devastating impacts. He says more than 6 million climate change refugees have migrated from rural to urban areas. He warns many of the children who end up in Dhaka and other large cities are forced to fend for themselves. Many children being pushed into very hazardous forms of child labor. Many girls who end up being pushed into taking early marriages because their families can no longer look after them, Ingram said. And, there are other girls who also end up in what is clearly a flourishing and expanding sex trade in the cities. Girls who are left with simply no other outcome available to them. Despite the magnitude of the problems ahead, Ingram says the children he met during a visit to Bangladesh are not fatalistic. He tells VOA they are very resilient and determined to take their future into their hands. He says more and more youth activists are coming to the fore and becoming agents of change. In the report, you can read about one particular network down in the south of the country where there are something like 1,500 activists who go out to communities helping people understand the risks that face them; helping them basically to get ready for whatever might be around the corner in terms of a climatic shock, Ingram continued. Ingram says this sort of work is expanding and getting the recognition it deserves. He says Bangladesh as a whole is pulling together to meet the climatic challenge. The report is calling on the international community to support the government in implementing a range of initiatives aimed at shielding children from the effects of climate change. It says children must be put at the center of any response. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) says new information reveals a woman and child were killed last year in a U.S. airstrike in Somalia, the first civilian casualties acknowledged in the U.S. military's war against Islamist militants there. The AFRICOM director of operations, Marine Major General Gregg Olson, said Friday that an ongoing review uncovered the civilian deaths, which went unreported for nearly a year. "We follow the law of armed conflict and regret that this incident resulted in the loss of two innocent lives," Olson told reporters in a teleconference. "AFRICOM is committed to transparency, and we have a solemn obligation to the Somali people we're trying to protect." Olson said AFRICOM is working with the U.S. embassy in Somalia on a way forward to potentially provide restitution for the family of the woman and child. Targeting al-Shabab On April 1, 2018, a U.S. drone strike near the town of El Burr in central Somalia killed what U.S. officials initially said were five al-Shabab militants in a vehicle. The command received an allegation of civilian casualties at the time, but determined that it was not credible. About a week later, an "AFRICOM subordinate unit conducting counterterrorism operation in Somalia" received new information, Olson said, which prompted the team to open up its investigation. That investigation concluded that the strike 12 months ago had actually killed the woman and child along with four al-Shabab militants. AFRICOM said it was only informed of the new information, investigation, and discovery of civilian casualties last week, after the commander of AFRICOM, Marine General Thomas Waldhauser, launched an audit of all U.S. airstrikes in Somalia since 2017. Officials say the audit was prompted by a report by Amnesty International, which alleged that five U.S. strikes in Somalia killed at least 14 civilians, along with questions from Congress. The command strongly rejected the rights group's conclusions in the report. U.S. Africa Command at the time said it looked at the five Amnesty allegations and concluded there were no civilian casualties in four of them. AFRICOM said it did not even conduct a strike at the time and place of one of the locations referenced in the report. The strike that killed the woman and child was not one of those detailed by Amnesty International. The United States has conducted airstrikes against al-Shabab since 2011 in support of Somalia's government. Daphne Eviatar, the director of the Security with Human Rights program at Amnesty International USA, Friday said, "AFRICOM's acknowledgement of civilian casualties is an important step forward from their previous denials of any civilian deaths or injuries from U.S. airstrikes in Somalia." Cindy Saine at the State Department and Margaret Besheer at the United Nations contributed to this report. The United States has revoked the visa of the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, over a possible investigation of U.S. soldiers' actions in Afghanistan. Bensouda's office said Friday that U.S. authorities revoked the prosecutor's visa for entry into the United States, and a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed the action. The spokesperson said Friday, "The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people from unjust investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court [ICC]." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that the United States would revoke or deny visas to ICC staff investigating possible war crimes by U.S. forces. The United States in not a member of the ICC, along with Russia and China. Bensouda's office said that Bensouda, a Gambian national, would exercise her duties as ICC prosecutor "without fear or favor." It said the U.S. decision was not expected to impact Bensouda's travels to the United Nations in New York where she gives regular briefings to the U.N. Security Council. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "We very much hope [the United States] will honor the agreement" for ICC staff members to travel to the United Nations. Bensouda is expected to brief the U.N. Security Council next month about her investigations in Libya. ICC judges have been reviewing materials on possible war crimes committed by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, but have yet to make a decision on whether to open a formal investigation into the matter. The ICC, located in The Hague, prosecutes crimes only when other nations are unwilling or unable to bring suspects to justice. Xu Ning from VOA Mandarin and reporter Rob Garver contributed to this report. STATE DEPARTMENT The United States is acknowledging that many countries are not heeding warnings about the possible security risks in allowing Chinese tech giant Huawei to build the next generation of high-speech wireless networks known as 5G. The trend is particularly clear in Southeast Asia, where even U.S. allies are racing ahead to partner with Huawei and launch 5G networks in the coming years. In February, Thailand launched a Huawei 5G test network in Chonburi. Thai authorities indicated that the affordability of Huawei's 5G services offset potential concerns over cybersecurity. In the Philippines, its Globe Telecom is rolling out the nation's 5G network in partnership with Huawei. In Malaysia, the country's leading communications and digital services company Maxis signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to cooperate and accelerate 5G development. This week, six former top U.S. military officials, including two who were commanders for the U.S. Pacific Command, issued a blunt warning of a future where a Chinese-developed 5G network could be widely adopted among American allies. "There is reason for concern that in the future the U.S. will not be able to use networks that rely on Chinese technology for military operations in the territories of traditional U.S. allies or emerging partners in Europe, Asia and beyond," said the former military leaders in a statement. "The immense bandwidth and access potential inherent in commercial 5G systems means effective military operations in the future could benefit from military data being pushed over these networks," they added. And U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday warned some European countries could soon find themselves cut off from U.S. intelligence and other critical information if they continue to cultivate relationships with Chinese technology firms. "We've done our risk analysis," Pompeo said, following a NATO ministerial meeting in Washington. "We have now shared that with our NATO partners, with countries all around the world. We've made clear that if the risk exceeds the threshold for the United States, we simply won't be able to share that information any longer." For U.S. officials, the threat posed by a Chinese-built communication network could not be clearer. "Huawei is not a state-owned enterprise. But Huawei is a Chinese company and what we do know is several things. One, broadly speaking, Chinese companies will respond to requests for demands from the Chinese government. Telecommunications is a vital part of national backbones. It has military security implications. It has financial and economic implications," said Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow of Washington-based Heritage Foundation. Cheap. Fast. Secure? Huawei insists that it would not turn information over to Chinese authorities if they demanded it, but few outside analysts believe any Chinese company would stand up the country's authoritarian government. U.S. officials are even more direct. "What we do is in our national interests, we see with companies like Huawei that are supported, if not directed, by central authorities in China. We see challenges and potential threats to the sanctity, the security of our systems in our networks, and the best we can do with our friends and partners and allies, is to share our information, share our experience," Patrick Murphy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told VOA at a recent seminar at the U.S. Institute of Peace. That message clearly has had a mixed reception, especially after years when the United States' vast electronic eavesdropping capabilities have drawn criticism. Richard Kramer, founder of Arete, a technology research firm based in London, said leaks from U.S. security agencies in recent years have revealed close cooperation between the federal government and U.S. telecoms and tech firms around intelligence gathering. The U.S. position, he said, seems to be: "We don't want China to spy on us, but we want to be able to spy on them." Will pressure backfire? Even in countries where there are open political concerns over the growing power of Chinese influence, too much U.S. pressure could backfire, said Anthony Nelson, Director of the East Asia and Pacific practice at the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global business strategy firm. "Southeast Asian countries that are looking to balance their military relationships with the U.S. and China are not motivated by Washington's security concerns, with the notable exception of Vietnam," Nelson said. Vietnam has had tensions with China in recent years over disputed territory and trade issues. Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S., Ha Kim Ngoc, told VOA that all companies operating in the country need to respect Vietnam's sovereignty. "We have one principle: They need to respect our sovereignty, national sovereignty," said the ambassador at the recent USIP event. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced new sanctions Friday on 34 vessels of Venezuela's state oil company and two companies that ship crude oil to Cuba. Pence made the announcement while in Texas, during a speech at Rice University. "Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people," he said. Venezuela is undergoing a humanitarian crisis, with skyrocketing inflation and shortages of food, water, and power. The new sanctions are part of the U.S. effort to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, making way for opposition leader Juan Gauido, which the United States and 50 other countries support as Venezuela's rightful leader. Pence's announcement preceded a formal statement from the U.S. Treasury about the sanctions. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, "The United States remains committed to a transition to democracy in Venezuela and to holding the Cuban regime accountable for its direct involvement in Venezuela's demise." Mnuchin said the shipments to Cuba are "providing a lifeline to keep the illegitimate Maduro regime afloat." Earlier Friday, the United States and Switzerland reached agreement for the central European country to represent U.S. interests in Venezuela, now that the two countries are estranged. In order for the mandate to be effective, it must first be endorsed by Venezuela which severed diplomatic ties with the U.S. after the U.S. recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate interim president. The agreement was signed in the Swiss capital of Bern by U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Ed McMullen and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. "The mandate provides Switzerland the opportunity to contribute to de-escalating tensions between the two countries and thus play a constructive role on behalf of regional stability," the Swiss government said in a statement. Included in the agreement are so-called protecting power mandates that allow Switzerland, a neutral country, to intervene as an intermediary, providing consular services or undertaking diplomatic initiatives. Switzerland also represents U.S. interests in Iran and has previously done so in Cuba. In addition to the U.S., some 50 other countries have recognized Guaido instead of President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier this week, the U.S. completed the withdrawal of all diplomatic personnel from Venezuela after a Jan. 24 decision to withdraw dependents and cut embassy staff. Humanitarian crisis Venezuela's economy has been battered for years by hyperinflation, creating a humanitarian crisis that has forced millions to flee to other countries. UNICEF says an estimated 1.1 million Venezuelan children are going to need "protection and access to basic services across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2019." That number includes children who have been uprooted from Venezuela as well as returnees and those living in host and transit communities. That projection, the U.N. children's agency said in a statement Friday, is in addition to the nearly half a million children currently in need of "essential services like protection, healthcare, and education in host and transit countries" that are already feeling the strain of the additional children. UNICEF said its regional humanitarian partners Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago estimate as many as 4.9 million adults and children will need assistance this year because of the political and economic upheavals in Venezuela that are forcing the country's citizens to flee. The agency has appealed for $69.5 million to meet the needs of the uprooted Venezuelan children who are living in the region. Maria Cristina Perceval, the UNICEF regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said "UNICEF is encouraged by governments' efforts to jointly seek regional solutions to the challenges posed by large-scale migration that are in line with international standards and national laws, such as the protocol adopted by Ecuador to protect uprooted children." UNICEF said, however, that it is "particularly concerned about reports of xenophobia, discrimination and violence perpetrated against Venezuelan children and families in host communities." Burundi will continue to block broadcasts from two international media organizations and expand restrictions on their operations, the government announced Friday. At a meeting in Bujumbura, the president of the National Council of Communication, Nestor Bankumukunzi, said the British Broadcasting Corp. and the Voice of America are no longer allowed to broadcast, effective immediately. The ban is indefinite and extends to journalists, both foreign and domestic, who provide information to either broadcaster. We are alarmed that reporters in Burundi are now forbidden to communicate with VOA and believe these continuing threats to our journalists undermine press freedom in the country, VOA Director Amanda Bennett said. We stand with the people of Burundi against those who are restricting their access to accurate and reliable news and information. The BBC condemned the decision, calling it a serious blow against media freedom. Last May, the Burundi government suspended both news organizations for six months, a week before holding a referendum on a new constitution. The outlets have been off the air since. Rachel Nicholson, a researcher for Amnesty International, said Burundis government is angry at the broadcasters for different reasons. The government was upset by a documentary the BBC broadcast last year, she said, about members of Burundis intelligence service operating secret sites where dissidents are detained and tortured. Burundi has accused VOA of employing a journalist who opposes the government, Nicholson added. Patrick Nduwimana, the former director of Bonesha FM Radio in Burundi, is wanted for participating in deadly violence that preceded the May attempted coup, the National Council of Communications wrote in Fridays statement. "I think its really worrying to see the government personalize attacks on radio stations. They have such an important role to play, particularly BBC and VOA, particularly in the absence of independent Burundian radio stations operating from within the country, Amnestys Nicholson said. The BBC and VOA have such an important role to play in sharing information with people in Burundi. In a phone interview with VOA, Willy Nyamitwe, senior adviser to Burundis president, Pierre Nkurunziza, said the news organizations were banned for spreading falsehoods. Some international media are biased. Everybody knows some reports were fake reports, fake news, Nyamitwe said. So if people cannot even try to speak the truth, but if some people are using some media outlets only to spread lies, what other comments do I have to do? Nyamitwe also said that Burundi has an open media landscape and that all countries have the right to ban news organizations that spread lies. There are thousands of journalists in the country. There are tens of media houses, radio stations, TV stations, newspapers, media online. "So I think people are exaggerating thinking that theres no media houses in the country, he said. I do know that even in the United States there are some media houses that have been called biased or fake news media houses. In its 2018 press freedom report, Reporters Without Borders ranked Burundi 159th out of 180 countries worldwide. It said security forces routinely harass journalists and pointed to the unsolved 2016 disappearance of journalist Jean Bigirimana as evidence of intimidation and violence against reporters. The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross is urging countries with citizens in a Syrian camp for foreign fighters' families not to abandon them and to work toward a viable solution. Peter Maurer spoke with VOA U.N. Thousands of women and children have been abandoned. By Park Ji-won The Bareunmirae Party's Ethics Committee has recommended the party suspend the membership of Rep. Lee Un-ju for one year for her recent defamatory remarks made against Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu. The conservative party's Supreme Council is expected to soon impose the punitive measure on Lee as recommended. Lee may leave the party because the suspension means she cannot run in the general election in April next year as a Bareunmirae Party (BMP) candidate. "Even if I am bound and gagged, I will continue to do what I believe is good for the people." Lee wrote on Facebook after the ethics committee's decision, Friday. Lee openly criticized Sohn in a YouTube clip released March 20 over his campaign strategy for a by-election in Seongsan-gu in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. "He is so stubborn that anyone talking to him may feel like they're talking to a wall," she said. "He is acting like a loser." There have been rumors that Lee, an ardent critic of President Moon Jae-in, may defect to the larger conservative Liberty Korea Party. In the last few months, the Trump administration has been expressing confidence that the Maduro regime in Venezuela is collapsing. But with the increasing Russian military presence in the nation, experts say the crisis could drag on and turn into a proxy conflict between Washington and Moscow. Surprise gift: Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, left, holds a portrait from Guangdong Province governor Ma Xingrui at Seoul City Hall, Friday. The portrait turned out to be that of Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province, not Park. From the look on Park's face, he didn't realize what went wrong. Yonhap By Oh Young-jin If somebody believes that Guangdong Province is being groomed to rival Silicon Valley and is ready to plunk money into it, think again. The Chinese rise may not be as promising as thought. The Chinese province governor Ma Xingrui, airspace engineer, handed over a portrait as gift during his meeting with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Friday. But it turned out not to be of Park but of Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province. It may be passed off as honest mistake but what made it a farce was the Chinese kept this portrait a secret, telling Seoul city that it had a "surprise" gift. The exchange of gifts was originally scheduled for Thursday but was delayed at the request of the Chinese. It proved a surprise but of the wrong kind. At first, Park apparently didn't know the portrait belonged to Lee, his potential political rival for the 2022 presidential election, holding it with the Guangdong governor for photographers. Seoul city officials said the Chinese apologized and took the portrait back. They said Guangdong Province gave Lee's photo to the painter, mistakenly believing it was Park's. So with the portrait taken back, Park was left giftless. The Chinese delegation is now scheduled to meet Gov. Lee of Gyeonggi Province. It is said the Chinese have prepared some craftwork for him. What if the delegation gave the portrait to Lee? It would make for a double surprise for Park and Lee as the Chinese saying goes, "Kill two birds with one stone" for achieving two goals with one effective move. Then, there is another Chinese saying: One question reveals 10 secrets. In other words, this "happening" reveals the competence of one of the powers that be, once Chinese leader Xi Jinping's "one belt, one road" initiative gets off the ground. By the way, would Xi laugh about it, if he heard about it? President Moon Jae-in on Friday made a surprise visit to the eastern city of Goseong, where more than 10,000 firefighters and military personnel have gathered to put out a massive fire that started the day before. Moon's trip to the site of the fire came hours after he ordered the government to consider designating Goseong and other affected places as special disaster zones, which would entitle the areas and their residents to special government support. The government earlier declared a national state of emergency, a move aimed at ensuring faster mobilization of government resources necessary to fight what local authorities have called an "unprecedented disaster." The move came after the blaze engulfed vast areas in five cities and counties along the eastern coast. More than 800 fire engines and 13,000 firefighters and rescue workers, including ones from the military, have been mobilized from around the entire nation. Still, one person has been confirmed killed and 11 others injured after initial efforts to contain the fire were frustrated by strong gusts of wind spreading it to other areas in the heavily forested region in Gangwon Province. The fire that began in Goseong, 160 kilometers east of Seoul, has since spread to four other nearby cities and counties, including two famous resort cities of Sokcho and Gangneung, according to earlier reports. More than 380 hectares of land are estimated to have been devastated and 300 houses and buildings destroyed by the fire that broke out shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday. (Yonhap) A third federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census, ruling Friday that it poses a "substantial risk" of undercounting Hispanics and non-citizens. U.S. District Judge George Hazel in Maryland also concluded that a citizenship question is "arbitrary and capricious" and violates the Constitution and the federal Administrative Procedure Act. Federal judges in New York and California previously barred the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the census for the first time since 1950. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments April 23 for the Justice Department's appeal of the New York judge's decision. Hazel heard six days of trial testimony in January before ruling. "Overwhelming evidence supports the Court's finding that a citizenship question will cause a differential decline in Census participation among noncitizen and Hispanic households," he wrote in his 119-page decision. The Justice Department is "disappointed by this ruling," spokeswoman Kelly Laco said in a statement. "Our government is legally entitled to include a citizenship question on the census and people in the United States have a legal obligation to answer," she added. The Supreme Court justices are expected to rule by late June, which the Trump administration said is soon enough to allow printing and distribution of census forms next April. Because of the tight timeframe for printing census forms, the high court granted unusually quick review of the first decision that went against the administration. That ruling, from a federal judge in New York, held that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' decision to have the census ask about citizenship was "arbitrary and capricious" under federal law. The second ruling, from a court in California, also found that asking about citizenship would violate the Constitution, which calls for a count of all people, not just citizens. Former U.S. Census Bureau director John Thompson, the first plaintiffs' witness for the bench trial in Maryland, testified Ross disregarded "long established" Census Bureau protocols in adding the citizenship question. Thompson, who oversaw the bureau from 2013 through June 2017, said he doesn't think officials properly tested the question for the 2020 census. "It's very problematic for me," Thompson said of Ross' decision. In a court filing, plaintiffs' attorneys said Ross communicated with former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other administration officials before issuing the March 2018 directive "to further the unconstitutional goal of diluting the political power of non-white immigrant communities." The Census Bureau began collecting citizenship data through the annual American Community Survey in 2005. Government lawyers said in a court filing that Ross decided to use the same wording from that "well-tested question" on the ACS for the citizenship question on the 2020 census. Hazel said the evidence he considered includes several statements by Trump "demonstrating his animus toward immigrants" and expressing concern about "the political power that undocumented immigrants may wield." But the judge said nothing in the record shows Ross considered or adopted the president's statements before deciding to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. "Without more evidence demonstrating (Ross) was actually persuaded to make his decision based on discriminatory animus, a finding that, more likely than not, (Ross') real motivation was to depress immigrant response rates cannot be made. Ultimately, Secretary Ross' original rationale remains, to some extent, a mystery," the judge wrote. The plaintiffs for the Maryland case include residents of Texas, Arizona, Washington state, New Jersey, South Dakota, Nevada and Florida. Attorneys from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund also sued on behalf of more than two dozen organizations and individuals. The court agreed to consolidate the claims in December. Plaintiffs' attorneys had urged Hazel to proceed with the Maryland trial as scheduled since the judge's ruling in the New York case could be reversed on appeal. ___ Associated Press writer Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report. By Adam Borowski Parents, teachers, and students. The ultimate drama triangle waiting to happen. Each group wants English to be taught in a particular manner. Speaking excellent English is a must in the globalized and competitive milieu. While there's a consensus between the groups regarding the goal the strategy to achieve English fluency can differ vastly. There's nothing wrong with a mother wanting to show off her daughter's English language skills at parties as long as the daughter understands this isn't the only reason to learn English. No clear strategy leads to numerous English classroom crises with apathetic students, frustrated parents, and teachers who blame everyone around them for the ensuing chaos. Students usually have no say in the matter. Their job is to adjust to whatever English language teaching style is prevalent in a particular school. No questioning of authority is tolerated. Discipline in the classroom is crucial. Disputing this fact would be the height of naivete. Unfortunately, there are teachers who enjoy their carrot and stick mind games a little too much. That's when the classroom climate turns cancerous. This is the worst case scenario, particularly in the case of gifted students. The gifted have incisive intellects. What if a gifted student thinks that learning English is linguistic imperialism? A smart teacher would try to understand the student's reasoning. The gifted student would most likely appreciate it. Highly intelligent students won't respect teachers they deem intellectually inferior. Advanced economies ought to invest in giftedness. Without giftedness, there's no progress, and consequently no economic prosperity. Hierarchy enforcement at all times equals ignored innovative ideas, which leads to social stagnation. How so? Let's say there's a brilliant student who happens to be a bit arrogant. He keeps asking all sorts of difficult questions. He doesn't respect authority. Yes, the student can be punished, which is probably going to cause psychological problems. The student's potential is wasted, all in the name of maintaining the social hierarchy. If the student hadn't been mistreated, he would've established a profitable company, employing thousands of people. Individuals at the top of the hierarchy shouldn't ignore brilliant ideas, just because it threatens their sense of pride and seniority. The same principle applies in the classroom. That's why English teachers must be lateral thinkers. There's a Polish saying loosely translated that one should be adept at praying the rosary and dancing. One should be versatile. There are two kinds of knowledge explicit and tacit. Explicit knowledge is easily accessed. Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is a result of your accumulated life experience. It's personal. Which one is more valuable? The tacit kind, of course. You can't just look it up on the Internet. English language teaching isn't just about the grades and grammar it's also about the transfer of tacit knowledge. In various regimes around the world, English really is the language of the elite. The masses have no access to the global information stream. Appreciate the freedom you have to learn whatever you want. Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator, and a business English teacher. He worked in China. By Trudy Rubin How do you lead a fight for human rights in a world where mass slaughter of civilians goes unpunished, where populists and autocrats are rising and where the United States no longer leads a global pushback against human rights crimes? This is what I asked Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, a most unusual man who recently stepped down from four years as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (a separate office from the controversial U.N. Human Rights Council). A Jordanian prince whose father is Arab and mother European, a Muslim who has visited Auschwitz and bicycled around Israel, he is a fervent believer in "the human rights of each individual, everywhere." A soft-spoken man who talks with hard-edged eloquence, he took on an impossible job, challenging violators on all sides, whether American, Russian, Chinese, African, Arab, Israeli, or other. And doing it publicly. He is reflecting on those difficult years as a Distinguished Global Leader-in-Residence at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House, where he shared some of his thoughts. What surprised him most about the U.N. post? "I think I knew there would be strong pushback from governments," he replied, "but I didn't anticipate the degree of human suffering, the feeling of inadequacy. I could give speeches, do reports and press conferences, but it was not equal to the need to alleviate the suffering." So Zeid (as the prince is referred to) decided he had to "just come out swinging," contrary to the U.N.'s keep-your-head-down culture. Those whom he criticized pushed back harshly. His arrival on the job "coincided with the horrific beheadings that ISIS put online, and the sheer viciousness in Syria and Iraq was in full flower. There was the (civil war violence in) Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, then Myanmar and Yemen." What worried him most was the absence of any constraints on human rights violations. "You see the severest degradation. Bombs hit schools, hospitals, marketplaces, and law seems not to matter at all. All rules of war were cast aside." The massive slaughter, suffering, and displacement of civilians breeds bitterness that has future implications, Zeid warns. "Today's human rights violations will become tomorrow's conflicts." Those concerns are especially troubling, he says, as a crop of nationalist populist leaders emerges in the USA and Europe who stoke ethnic and racial divisions. He says President Trump's embrace of populist themes and autocrats has had a negative impact on human rights worldwide. "It seems President Trump is drawn by authoritarian leadership that shows little respect for human rights. This feeds the perspective that the U.S. doesn't care. When he attacks the U.S. media as 'enemies of the people,' two days later (an autocrat like) Cambodia's Hun Sen uses the same language." Moreover, the U.S. withdrawal from its longtime bipartisan role as human rights defender gives autocratic regimes more leeway to repress with impunity, even on issues Washington cares about. Zeid relates an episode in March 2018 where he was supposed to brief the U.N. Council on human rights outrages in Syria. When the United States supports such a briefing, as it did here, this used to guarantee the necessary votes for it to go forward. But given Washington's current indifference to most human rights concerns, third-world council members felt comfortable abstaining or voting no. "This was a huge signpost of what has happened to U.S. influence on human rights," says Zeid. The occasional U.S. interest in particular human rights cases, such as Venezuela, has less impact because of its inconsistency. The former UN official criticized U.S. human rights violations wherever he saw them. "It's not like we gave a pass to the Obama administration," he notes, mentioning Guantanamo, torture, and killing of Afghan civilians. "But we were able to talk to the U.S. administration under Obama. This doesn't apply to the Trump administration." Zeid was as hard on violations by Arab states as those by Israelis. While he criticized Israeli killing of civilians in Gaza, he earned the ire of his own government with human rights critiques (despite being a former Jordanian ambassador to the United Nations and Washington). Now he worries the world is drifting back to the complacency of the early 20th century, an age of globalization that was roiled by terrorism, populist nationalism, and a slow descent into unforeseen catastrophe. A student of the Holocaust ("I felt as an Arab I needed to understand it better"), he fears the rise of populism could produce similar horrors with different victims. As the U.S. withdraws, international institutions like the United Nations, can't cope with human rights issues. Nor do smaller countries have the clout. Zeid sees the burden passing to individuals and civic organizations. He cites the students (including his daughter) who joined worldwide protests for climate change, begun by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg. "This country," he says of America, "has a rich tradition of civic action. This is the untapped power of the human rights movement." That may be the best hope as we pass through turbulent times. Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her commentary was istributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A list of more than 900 companies that contribute to the 737 Max was included in a settlement that Indonesian airline Lion Air offered to families of the victims of the October 2018 crash, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post. The airline offered about $91,000 in exchange for waiving the right to sue any of those firms, which included Boeing, engine-makers GE and Safran, and smaller makers of parts like LED lights and electromechanical switches. The prospectus gives us a point in time, Molchanov said. We know what todays production capacity is. We dont know the trajectory of that number. Whats the outlook? How is that number expected to track into the foreseeable future? If and when Aramco goes public, these are issues that have to be answered in considerably more detail. This is something he is going to fight tooth and nail. It opens a vein, OBrien, who saw the tax returns as part of a lawsuit, said. Hes the most financially conflicted president of the modern era. The tax returns are both emblematic of that and a potential road map of what his conflicts might look like. As bad as the Trump administrations posture and policies are on climate change or support for refugees, Mr. Malpass now seems to recognize that he is accountable to a diversity of governments and shareholders not just one. But saying he understands the multilateral goals of the bank is one thing, and embracing the agenda is something else, Morris said. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will visit Europe next week for the 21st China-EU leaders' meeting in Brussels, and the eighth leaders' meeting of China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) in Croatia. He will also pay an official visit to Croatia. It will be the Chinese Premiers first visit to the country since the establishment of a comprehensive partnership between China and Croatia in 2005. Croatia is located in Central and Eastern Europe and is an essential link for the Belt and Road Initiative as well as China-EU cooperation. During President Xi Jinpings visit to Europe this year, he pointed out that cooperation is the mainstream in China-Europe relations and even if there is competition, it should be benign. He said that we must trust each other and walk side by side. China attaches value to the strategic position and role of Europe. China and the EU are vital forces for maintaining a multilateral trading system and should guide globalization toward healthier development. Croatian foreign policy-makers are sticking with the principle of multilateralism to reap benefits emanating from mutual cooperation. The 16+1 Cooperation Mechanism and bilateral relations between China and Croatia offer more opportunity on the part of Croatian policy-makers, for example in climate change and tourism. Croatia is one of the first countries in Central and Eastern Europe to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Under the framework of the Belt and Road, the cooperation between China and Croatia is becoming closer. In 2017, China and Croatia celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Chinas investment has increased by more than 100 times, and the number of tourists has increased by nearly 60 percent. Since 2018, China-Croatia relations have achieved a series of breakthroughs. A Chinese company successfully won the bid for the largest infrastructure project in Croatia - Peljesac Bridge, which represents Croatia's trust in China. In Nov. 2018, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic attended the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) and signed cooperation projects worth more than 30 million yuan. Coordination and specialization in the domain of tourism would be a welcome step forward. The two sides also signed an MOU on tourism cooperation and launched the China-Croatia Culture and Tourism Year in 2019. During his stay in China, Plenkovic held formal talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. It marked the first visit to China by the Prime Minister of Croatia in 13 years, opening a new chapter for the relationship between the two countries. Currently, the cooperation between China and Croatia still has excellent potential. For example, Chinas territory is approximately 170 times the size of Croatia, and Chinas population is more than 300 times that of Croatia. Therefore, cooperation between two countries with large differences also requires understanding. Other necessary steps include improved coordination and exchange of information with Croatia, to lower transaction costs and entry barriers for exporters to China. Including the Belt and Road Initiative, the 16+1 Cooperation Mechanism and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), China and Croatia should work together to seek common ground while keeping their individuality, which creates favorable conditions for the economic and social development of both sides and maintains regional peace and stability. Croatian economic diplomacy should leverage renewed Chinese interest in CEE countries to the benefit of Croatias economy. Bilateral economic relations between Croatia and China could progress on an even better footing with enhanced trade and economic cooperation. The signing of a bilateral currency swap agreement and the sealing of several high-profile infrastructure projects would be a clear signal that both sides are highly committed to the type of cooperation that implies mutual benefits. With President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiangs visit to Europe, China-Croatia and China-Europe relationships will inevitably move in a more stable direction. The author is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of European Studies in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. By Andrew Hammond NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was buoyed on Wednesday by bipartisan U.S. support for his joint address in Congress. Legislators gave several standing ovations in a pointed rebuke to Donald Trump who threatened last year to pull out of the military alliance. In a stirring defense of the alliance, on the 70th anniversary of its founding charter being signed in Washington, Stoltenberg rallied U.S. support. This success was so striking after a meeting of mixed signals with Trump on Tuesday. While the president has been relatively quiet about NATO in recent months, few have forgotten the extraordinary scenes last year when he put the alliance's annual summit in disarray by threatening to pull the United States out. His antics, coming so swiftly after the previous month's G7 debacle in Canada, underlined the growing tensions within the West under his presidency. Trump's behavior confirmed pre-summit anxiety and led to cancellations of a series of press conferences and bilateral meetings. What had been particularly feared, as indeed happened, was that he would criticize NATO colleagues, and then go on in the days that followed to have a cordial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, undermining confidence in the transatlantic alliance. This coming week's charm offensive from Stoltenberg, which also saw NATO move its annual summit of foreign ministers this week from Brussels, has underlined the continuing relevance to Washington of the alliance of countries with a collective population of around 1 billion. For all its weaknesses, NATO remains one of the world's most successful ever military alliances, and has helped underpin the longest period of sustained peace in the West's modern history. Stoltenberg has stressed to U.S. decision makers how the alliance is reforming to meet new challenges and opportunities as it recalibrates its strategic direction in a rapidly changing security environment. At last year's summit, for instance, modernisation measures announced included launching a new training mission in Iraq, and extending funding for the Afghan military, underpinned by a new military command structure, and increased force readiness. Looking ahead to the 2020s and beyond, one of the key areas that the Trump team is reportedly encouraging NATO to address is potential security threats from China. What is perceived as Beijing's growing global assertiveness is a rising concern in Washington, and numerous Trump officials see the nation as a near-peer competitor. As well as focusing on the new, the old (Russia) has also been a key topic this week, especially around Ukraine. Following Moscow's annexation of Crimea, and the wider destabilization of Ukraine, NATO's relationship with Russia is at one of its lowest points since the end of the Cold War. And there remains alarm in certain quarters about the West's capability to respond to what is perceived as a significantly enhanced Russian security threat. Whereas Russia is estimated to have increased defense spending by some 80 percent between 2008 and 2014, the counterpart figure for NATO countries collectively was a decrease of around 20 percent, although there have been some increases in defence spending since then in numerous European states, and Canada, and a significant rise in the United States. This burden sharing issue, which Trump has seized upon, has long been a sore spot for the United States, which accounts for around two thirds of total NATO defense spending. For instance, Barack Obama had previously urged allies during his own presidency to meet the 2 percent of GDP spending targets on defense. At last year's summit, the US president claimed a political victory over NATO allies on the issue. Yet, while he claims that alliance members agreed to reach spending of 2% of GDP on the military faster than previously planned, the reality is that he received no significant concessions in this area. Numerous NATO states before last year's summit have been pushing ahead with increases in defense spending, including a cross section of the EU-28 under a new European Defense Action Plan, approved last year, that advocates greater military cooperation between the union. Here it is a combination of Russian military assertiveness, instability in the Middle East and Africa, not just Trump's apparently uncertain commitment to Europe's security, that has driven this spending move. One of the key areas of NATO activity which Trump appears to wholeheartedly approve of is the so-called campaign against terrorism. As a presidential candidate in 2016, he asserted that the alliance "is going to have to be either readjusted to take care of terrorism or we're going to have to set up a new coalition, a new group of countries to handle terrorism because it is out of control." Trump was therefore pleased with the announcements about Afghanistan and Iraq last year. These build on measures in 2017 that allow NATO to assume a stronger status in tacking terrorism in the Middle East. Taken overall, this week's NATO charm offensive is an attempted antidote to last year's summit which saw Trump's disruptive diplomacy in full force. Stoltenberg is well aware that Trump, who could yet be re-elected next year, appears to have significant continued concerns about the whether the alliance is fit for purpose as it moves into its eighth decade. Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. Madeleine McCann: An ID Murder Mystery (ID at 9) Learn more about the case of the 3-year-old girl who was taken from her bedroom at a resort in Portugal where she was on vacation with her family. Ronald Vitiello testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Nov. 15, 2018. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Trump said Friday that he wants someone tougher to lead the countrys top immigration enforcement agency, unexpectedly dumping his own nominee for the job to cap a week during which he repeatedly threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border amid soaring numbers of illegal crossings. Ronald Vitiello, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol and currently the top official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would have been Trumps first Senate-confirmed director of ICE, an agency with a deportation and detention role that is central to the presidents promises to crack down on illegal immigration. Vitiello was to have joined Trump for a visit to the border in California on Friday, but he was left off the trip at the last minute, hours after the White House notified Congress that the president had rescinded his nomination. Rons a good man, Trump told reporters as he left for the trip. But were going in a tougher direction. We want to go in a tougher direction. The decision to ditch Vitiello stupefied Homeland Security officials and lawmakers. Some ICE officials and Senate aides were so taken aback, they told reporters they thought the White House had made a clerical error. But Trump had vacillated on Vitiello for several months after hearing complaints from senior adviser Stephen Miller, ICE union boss Chris Crane and others, according to White House aides who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. U.S. Border Patrol agents presented President Trump with a piece of the new southern border wall on April 5 to thank him for his support. (The Washington Post) Trumps immigration frustrations boiled over again during the past week as unauthorized border crossings have soared to their highest levels in more than a decade. The migrant surge has been driven by Central American families arriving in record numbers, and they have been overwhelming U.S. agents and detention space. [U.S. has hit breaking point, top border official says in El Paso] Vitiello has advocated for the presidents policies, but he has been relatively restrained in public statements about enforcement matters and does not make bombastic statements. Vitiello could not be reached for comment, but a senior administration official who spoke to him said Vitiello was blindsided by Trumps decision to withdraw his nomination. During Trumps appearances in the city of Calexico, Calif., whose name is a synthesis of California and Mexico, Trump did not provide additional rationale for rescinding Vitiellos nomination. He visited a stretch of recently replaced steel fencing, where his administration has installed a plaque that touts it as the first section of President Trumps border wall. In fact, the fencing replacement project had been planned years before Trump took office and is where border barriers long have separated the U.S. city from the metropolis of Mexicali. Motorists wait in line to cross the border into Calexico, Calif., from Mexicali, Mexico, on April 1, 2019. (Sandy Huffaker/AFP/Getty Images) Democratic lawmakers Friday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accused of stealing funds from other federal programs to pay for new fencing, in violation of congressional authorizations. Trump did not address the lawsuit, but at an appearance with Border Patrol agents, ICE officials and others in Calexico, the president said the United States doesnt have the ability to accept any more migrants and should turn them all away. Our country is full, Trump said. Im sorry . . . thats the way it is. [Calexico, a small California city across from a Mexican metropolis, draws a visit from Trump amid border debate] Trump also advised border agents to deny entry to asylum-seeking families, apparently urging them to make use of a U.S. pilot program that requires Central Americans to wait in Mexico while their claims are reviewed by U.S. courts. You go back to Mexico and Mexico will take them back into their country, the president said. U.S. officials say nearly 100,000 migrants arrived at the U.S. border in March, many of them surrendering to U.S. agents in areas where the United States already has tall steel fencing in place. Six administration officials said Friday that the decision to jettison Vitiello was a sign of the expanding influence that Miller now wields over immigration matters in the White House, particularly as Trump lashes out at Mexico and Central American nations as well as Homeland Security officials and aides who express doubts about the legality of his ideas. In a recent Oval Office meeting, Trump told Miller he would be in charge of handling all immigration and border affairs, according to officials familiar with the meeting. Miller, who was a policy aide to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) before joining the Trump presidential campaign, will play a key role in picking Trumps third nominee to lead ICE, aides said. Miller has encouraged the president to take harder stances with Mexico than Jared Kushner, who has sought instead to deepen cooperation with the Mexican government. Miller affirms and encourages the presidents most hard-line instincts, such as the proposal to shut down the entire border, a measure White House economic advisers and GOP lawmakers warned would be a catastrophe for U.S. companies. [If you close the border, Eagle Pass will die. ] Miller has pushed for someone to take over the ICE role who would be more receptive to his policy ideas. He also is particularly adept, one administration official said, at placing blame on others in the White House when ideas he promotes do not work. Miller, who was traveling with Trump on Friday, did not respond to requests for comment. The sudden withdrawal of Vitiellos nomination surprised Republicans who thought he was on track to be confirmed soon. His nomination cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last month and was likely to get a vote in the Judiciary Committee which also oversees the ICE position next week. Yeah, I dont know what happened, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, said in a phone interview Friday. I thought we had addressed what issues we had in our committee, and he got bipartisan support in our committee. I will freely admit that I was completely surprised by this, Johnson said, adding that committee staffers were trying to figure out what happened to make the White House withdraw Vitiellos nomination. Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) supported Vitiello in the committee vote, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the sole GOP member to oppose him. Vehicles wait in lines in Mexicali, Mexico, to cross the border into Calexico, Calif., on April 4, 2019. (Carlos Jasso/Reuters) The presidents previous nominee to lead ICE, Tom Homan, languished without confirmation for months until finally stepping down in frustration. The White House picked Vitiello, who had been serving as chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, as its nominee in August. With more than 20,000 staffers and a $6 billion budget, ICE is the U.S. agency responsible for immigration detention and deportations, and its homeland security investigations unit combats drug smuggling, human trafficking and other cross-border crimes, with agents deployed around the world. Other administration officials said Friday they could not fathom why the president would pull his ICE nominee at a moment when Homeland Security officials say the nations immigration enforcement system is at breaking point. During Trumps first year in office, ICE arrests in the U.S. interior rose, and Homan, the agencys then-acting director, was a frequent and forceful proponent of the presidents strategy, praising him for taking the shackles off his agents. But the most recent ICE statistics indicate that interior arrests have declined in recent months, as more agents are sent to cope with the surge of border crossings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, and ICE, have resorted to quickly processing and releasing thousands of migrants into the United States because they lack space to detain them, and waits for court hearings can last months or years. Johnson declined to respond to Trumps insinuation that Vitiello was not tough enough for the enforcement position, saying: I thought he was a very dedicated public servant, was certainly very knowledgeable, had a lot of experience with his background. . . . I thought he wouldve done a fine job in his new position. Vitiellos nomination had been opposed by Crane, the head of the pro-Trump union that represents ICE agents. Crane, head of the National ICE Council, sent a letter to senators in February urging them to reject Vitiello, citing social media posts and other public comments. During the 2016 presidential campaign, on Twitter, Vitiello compared Trump to the cartoon character Dennis the Menace and in another post likened Democrats to the Ku Klux Klan. During his confirmation hearing, Vitiello apologized for the tweets and said they were meant as jokes. In recent months, as unauthorized border crossings have soared to their highest levels in more than a decade, Miller has been criticizing Vitiello to the president and looking for an opportunity to cut him loose, according to a senior administration official who works on immigration enforcement matters. President Trump backed down April 4 from his threat to close the southern border immediately and gave Mexico a one-year warning before taking action. (The Washington Post) Trump has imbued Miller with more authority over border security and immigration matters than ever before, according to two senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss fissures in the administration made worse by the surprise move against Vitiello. Ron Vitiello has spent as much time defending our nations borders as Stephen Miller has been alive, one official said of Miller, who is 33. One senior official said: This is part of an increasingly desperate effort by Stephen to throw people under the bus when the policies he has advocated are not effective. Once it becomes clear that Stephens policies arent working, he tells the president, Theyre not the right people. The White House did not respond to requests for comment or provide further explanation about what Trump meant by seeking someone tougher. Vitiello faced pointed questions from Democrats over his previous social media posts but was able to win support from Carper. They just got him passed out of committee a few weeks ago, after a furious lobbying campaign, a senior administration official said. You had Thomas R. Carper, a Democratic senator, take a tough vote to confirm the head of ICE and support someone who is qualified and capable. Now were getting emails from Senate staffers saying: Whats wrong with you? What are you doing? the official said. Rons decency and rational nature imperiled his time at ICE in this administration. Kim reported from Las Vegas. In late 2017, the organization investigated a complaint from a female employee about Deess behavior after a fundraising event in Atlanta. Dees said that at a social gathering, he approached the woman, put his hand on her shoulder and asked her about a visible tattoo on her arm. He said that, after she asked if he had any tattoos, he pointed to the front of his clothed right thigh, where he said he had one. The Post was unable to reach the woman or others who attended the event to learn their accounts. For the most part, the successful members of Congress wake up early for some fundraising over breakfast, commute to work (while fundraising), meet with some lobbyists and constituents in their office, yuk it up with colleagues during votes on bills that rarely become laws, then its off to happy hour for some quick fundraising before finally settling down with some of their closest donors for dinner, dessert and fundraising. (Or, as King was spotted doing on a cold evening this past winter, visiting a Capitol Hill liquor store in a suit and sandals and talking about how the Irish make the best booze.) A spokesman for Council member Brandon T. Todd (D-Ward 4), who has oversight over the mayors office and Serve D.C. as chairman of the Committee on Government Operations, said he plans to write a letter to Serve D.C. asking officials to explain how this happened and what steps they are taking to ensure it never happens again. Potter told his workers to remove the apartment buildings window frames intact so the asbestos would not break into smaller pieces and become airborne. But the scrapers they used on the window frames did disturb the caulk and glaze, and Potter acknowledged in court filings that he did not tell his workers to take any measures to keep asbestos from getting into the air. Series of mistakes undermine Korea's diplomacy The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become a source of embarrassment for Koreans due to a series of careless mistakes it has made in various diplomatic settings. The latest is the controversy over the damaged national flag that was used during the first Korea-Spain strategic meeting at the ministry's headquarters Thursday led by the two countries' vice ministers. The national flag was heavily creased, unlike the Spanish flag used alongside it. It is alarming that officials preparing the event did not check the condition of the flag until the last minute and tried to iron it right before the meeting began. It could seem like a minor mistake, but still it was enough to catch the attention of the media as the latest in series of embarrassing blunders by the ministry. This is not the only time the ministry has left many Koreans feeling ashamed. Recently, it confused Baltic and Balkan in a press release, triggering anger from the diplomatic community here. The ministry later fixed it after receiving complaints, but such mistakes lead many to ask what is wrong with the foreign ministry. The ministry's carelessness has also played a part in damaging some of President Moon Jae-in's overseas trips. Last month, Moon was criticized for using the wrong greeting during a press conference alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. During a visit to the Czech Republic last year, the President's official twitter referred to the country as Czechoslovakia. During an ASEM summit in October 2018, Moon failed to make it to the photo session with other leaders. All of these incidents show that the protocol teams in the ministry and Cheong Wa Dae are not in sync with one another. This can cause real problems in Korea's diplomacy efforts and hamper Korea's relations with other countries. The diplomatic blunders are not just an embarrassment, they also undermine the people's confidence in the President's diplomatic capacity. Already many Koreans are concerned about the Korea-U.S. alliance under the Moon administration, which has focused on improving relations with North Korea despite U.S. concerns about the speed of South-North reconciliation and economic cooperation. Also, Moon has been unable to significantly improve ties with either China or Japan while continuing to nominate people who are not sufficiently experienced for ambassador posts. The series of diplomatic mishaps emerged as a hot topic during an interpellation session at the National Assembly, Thursday. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha apologized for the mistakes. Now she needs to install measures to tighten the work ethic among ministry officials and apply strict disciplinary measures when necessary. Patel in court papers acknowledged instructing a subordinate to send her directions on how to install the copy, and steering the Agriculture Department inspector generals office to using the commercial version instead of the free government version. In June 2016, her plea statement said, she handed two DVDs with copied data to Co-Conspirator 1 on the side of the road before the latter boarded a flight from Dulles International Airport to meet with software developers in India. According to the indictment, Sabino helped steer millions of dollars in contracts to the Turkish company, which is unnamed in the indictment, between 2012 and 2016. During the same period, he paid down his debts with more than half a million dollars in cash and withdrew $239,300 directly from the owner of the Turkish companys bank account, prosecutors said. A judge on Thursday delayed the trial of a man charged with killing five people at a Maryland newspaper office until November. Also, a deadline for attorneys to change his plea to not criminally responsible by reason of insanity was extended again, as the defense evaluates what an attorney described as his clients bizarre behavior and a history of mental illness. The House amended the bill to include raises for school counselors and psychologists. The Senate bill also included the creation of an Office of the Inspector General to address complaints of waste, fraud and abuse while the House offered that the inspector general be appointed jointly by the governor, treasurer and comptroller. The final legislation calls for the Office of the Inspector General, a priority of Hogans, to only be created if the governor releases $225 million for fiscal 2020 to pay for the initial down payment of the plan. The Baltimore Sun reported that Kaiser Permanente paid Pugh more than $100,000 for copies of Healthy Holly at the same time it was seeking a $48 million contract from a city board controlled by the mayor; CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield said it donated $14,500 to Associated Black Charities to buy 2,000 books; the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund gave a $7,500 donation when Pugh was a state lawmaker sponsoring legislation it favored. Also in the Senate, Miller, who announced on the second day of session that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, gave an update on his health. He told his colleagues on Thursday that he got kicked in the rear end when he learned of his diagnosis but his issue is holding steady. Dr. Flynn, a resident of Great Falls, Va., was born in Hartford, Conn., and joined the Navy in 1967. He was assigned to the Washington area in 1973, and he retired as a captain in 1994. He served another 17 years as a civilian Navy physician. As a medical safety officer, he was instrumental in the deep-sea dives that resulted in the raising of the Monitor, the Navy ship that was sunk off the North Carolina coast during the Civil War. Young Sydneys first home was in the back of his fathers shoe shop, two rooms he remembered smelling perpetually of leather. The public library became a haven, and it was there he found The Science of Life, the book that first turned him on to biology. Too poor to buy his own copy, he reported the book missing to the library instead and accepted a small fine. The attorney general could, were he so inclined, seek permission from the court under existing statutes to release unredacted portions of the grand-jury transcripts, said Jeffrey Fagan, a Columbia Law School professor. The issue isnt carving out new exceptions or writing new rules but being crafty in how he makes the request to the court under the current rules. The existing rules should be enough for a judge to rule on release. Customers wait in line to purchase Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S10 5G smartphones at an SK Telecom retail shop in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom By Baek Byung-yeul Korean telecom firms SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus and U.S. carrier Verizon are battling for the title of the world's first commercial fifth-generation (5G) network. Korean carriers were originally scheduled to begin their service Friday but moved the date up to Wednesday night about two hours earlier than Verizon following speculation that the U.S. carrier would launch its service Thursday. Though Korean firms claimed they turned on their 5G networks earlier, Verizon downplayed the three firms' launching event saying they just gave their 5G devices away to celebrities and not actual customers. Korean telecom firms began officially selling Samsung's Galaxy S10 5G, the only 5G-enabled smartphone here, starting Friday morning. "They gave phones to six celebrities and they're trying to say that constitutes a network launch?! That's a PR stunt," Kevin King, director of corporate communications at Verizon, was quoted as saying to the Nikkei Asian Review. "We launched a network and made 5G devices available for any customers that wanted them. We had devices in stores in Chicago and Minneapolis, and available for purchase online." An official from the telecom industry here downplayed Verizon's 5G services saying the network does not comply with the latest third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G New Radio (NR) standard. For its 5G services, Verizon uses fixed wireless access (FWA) technology, which uses a fixed antenna to communicate with nearby cells that provide wireless access to the internet. "While Korean telecom firms came up with their 5G services complying with the 3GPP standards, Verizon uses fixed wireless access technology for what it calls 5G services. Korea's 5G services are fully optimized for mobility as their services rely on mobile networks to deliver 5G," the official said. In comparison to coverage, Korea has wider 5G coverage while the U.S. carrier only covers two cities Chicago and Minneapolis. Despite the dispute over the world's first 5G network title, Korean consumers have shown a keen interest in 5G. KT, the second largest carrier here, said it had attracted more than 10,000 subscribers for its 5G services as of 2:25 p.m. Friday. The firm said over 90 percent of the 5G service subscribers chose to use unlimited data plans which are priced at 80,000 won ($70.40), 100,000 won and 130,000 won. The super-fast network services were especially welcomed by young customers as those between the ages of 20 and 30 accounted for 60 percent of the subscribers. Also on Wednesday, two Montgomery County officers on motorcycles suffered minor injuries after a crash on northbound Interstate 270, north of Clarksburg, Md., during an escort training exercise. One officer had a problem and put the motorcycle down, officials said, and the second officer had tried to avoid the crash. Northbound I-270 was closed for about an hour. GMU said that the threats allegedly made by Darwich on March 20 were initially not credible, given that he was living in Morocco. The police department also said in a statement that Darwich is known by law enforcement to make false and irrational statements. Fairfax County police said Matthew Watson, 36, was found unresponsive in his apartment on Tower Drive in Alexandria on Feb. 21. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and died on Feb. 27. Police said they charged Jones in the shooting of Mark Mosley, of Northwest, who was found dead shortly after 10 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the 600 block of 46th Place SE, in the Benning Ridge neighborhood. We dont know a motive right now, Newsham said. Well see if there are any cameras in the area or if there are any folks who may have witnessed something up here in the area. Although three district judges have ruled, the case comes to the high court in an unusual posture: No appeals court has reviewed any of the decisions, which is usually a prerequisite for Supreme Court consideration. Both sides agreed there was no time for that because the forms must be sent to the printer and the issue of adding the citizenship question must be decided by the end of June, when the Supreme Courts term ends. By Kwak Yeon-soo Hyundai Motor has launched its innovation hub CRADLE in Berlin to lead future technology advancements in the European region, the company said Friday. CRADLE is Hyundai Motor Group's corporate venturing and open innovation business that partners with and invests in promising global startups to accelerate the development of future technologies, including mobility services, smart cities and eco-friendly technologies. This is the fourth CRADLE office worldwide, following bases in Seoul, Silicon Valley in the U.S. and Tel Aviv, Israel. The company expects the Berlin branch will lead the regional market operation and discover startups and partners that focus on "disruptive innovation" across Europe. "Germany has been traditionally known for its manufacturing, design and excellence in quality," said Edvin Eriksen, head of Hyundai CRADLE Berlin. "Berlin is a dynamic hub with an international reputation for digital innovation and brings additional value to these historical strengths. "As a strategic investor, we are exploring disruptive tech and business ideas and are going to support European research and technology development at a regional level. With this in mind, we have already started some interesting partnerships in various European cities and will continue growing." CRADLE has already partnered with several European ventures and innovation platforms based in Germany, France, Switzerland and the U.K., including Earlybird, WayRay AG and NUMA. Eriksen recently joined Hyundai CRADLE Berlin after spending six years in Silicon Valley spearheading partnerships and investments for various automotive industry leaders. Before that, he spent over 12 years in Germany, working on open innovation projects in the mobile and automotive sphere. Hyundai Motor is also planning to launch another innovation center in Beijing as part of its mission to make new mobility platforms. "Our mission is to accelerate transformation as a global leader in mobility," a Hyundai Motor official said. "We will take this opportunity to create an ecosystem for innovation." Johnsons tenure at the TVA has been as much about dismantling as building. The agency, which serves customers in seven states, relied on coal for 60 percent of its electricity generation in 2005 and will rely on it for just 17 percent by the end of this year. Johnson said it was a simple matter of costs and the agencys aging coal plants should be closed even if one or two newer ones remain. Brian Michael Rini, who had recently been released from prison in Ohio, gave multiple false details to authorities about his identity and alleged abduction, including that he had been physically and sexually abused, according to an affidavit filed Friday in federal court in Ohio. Rini had been found on a street corner in Newport, Ky., this week and told authorities he was Timmothy Pitzen, who has been missing since 2011. According to this latest study, the 2020 growth of Mindfulness Meditation Application will have significant change from previous year. By the most conservative estimates of global Mindfulness The change comes less than a week after the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution of Patrick Murphy, 57, a member of the Texas 7 group of prison escapees who was placed on death row in 2003. The court ruled that not allowing an inmates choice of religious adviser in the death chamber would be discriminatory. None of this should be news to Alabama officials, because the states prison system has been miserable for decades. Alabama is deliberately indifferent to that harm or serious risk of harm and it has failed to correct known systemic deficiencies that contribute to the violence, investigators concluded. The state has engaged in a pattern or practice of violations of prisoners Eighth Amendment right to be free of cruel or unusual punishment, the report alleges. Taiwan is a stronghold for defending our shared core values, as President Tsai Ing-wen reiterated. Twenty-three million Taiwanese people on the island are proud of their hard-earned freedom, human rights and way of life. We will continue to work with the United States and all other like-minded partners in the region to resist coercion, intimidation and expansionism from a bullying Communist China. As Winston Churchill stated during World War II, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. With President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi visiting Washington later this month, its a good time to think about projects like this that can help the Egyptian people, rather than the military and the regime. Theres a trust gap with the Egyptian public: The United States has alienated nearly every segment of the population here since 2011 by jettisoning pro-Western President Hosni Mubarak that year, then looking the other way during Sissis 2013 coup against Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, and then shunning Sissi. Despite the rhetoric around it, legal immigration in the United States is actually not that high. Before he became chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Kevin Hassett published a piece in National Review ranking wealthy countries on their ratio of new immigrants to total population in 2010. The United States had the third-lowest figure, higher only than Japan and France. Canada and Germany had more than twice as many new immigrants as a share of the population, and Norway and Switzerland had more than four times. Jefferson Countys karst topography is prone to sinkholes, which means that the limestone underpinning Rockwools factory is fragile and easily fragments. Rockwools process would result in tens of thousands of gallons of wastewater per day released into the soil; the corporation plans to use millions of tons of salt to chemically mitigate this waste. According to the Potomac Conservancy, the salt content of the Potomac River is already increasing, mostly as a result from winter road salt. With Rockwool, our rivers and the Chesapeake Bay will become even more contaminated. The governments of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador cannot provide for the safety and well-being of their nationals. These individuals thus make their way to the U.S. border. While Americans have a natural empathy for these migrants, the United States is under no legal obligation to grant them entry. Entry to and residency in the United States is to be afforded only to the very few of the migrants at issue who qualify as refugees or may be granted asylum. Trump has floundered since Barrs reprieve. This is because he defines himself by what he is against and organizes his presidency accordingly. For nearly two years, he has been against Mueller and the phony hoax rigged WITCH HUNT by angry Democrats(!!!). Now with this (ostensibly) behind him, he has a hard time figuring out what he is for, rather than just what he opposes. He struggles in the absence of an adversary. In reality, most whistleblowers are motivated by a deep sense of loyalty to their employers and are exercising both a high degree of professional ethics and a belief that their employers will address the problem. While many employees who witness wrongdoing in the workplace stay silent, fearing reprisal or futility, those who do raise concerns and again, most do so internally first demonstrate faith that their employers are committed to compliance and that they can make a difference. Whistleblowers who report externally typically do so because the problem is significant and their employers have failed to address it or engaged in reprisal (or both). At this point, government whistleblowers may decide that their loyalty is to the Constitution they swore to uphold; others may feel impelled by loyalty to professional ethics codes or to their own moral compass. It was around 5 a.m. on June 2, 1982, when from over a hill about 100 soldiers began marching into Pambach. Dressed in green fatigues, rifles in their hands, they went house to house in the community of about 300 people. According to several survivors I interviewed, as well as witness interviews taken by the FAFG, they herded men and older boys to fields where they told them to lie down, face first. Women and young children were locked inside a church and ordered to the floor. One woman, who had six children with her and was seven months pregnant, told me that when she said she couldnt lie down face first, a soldier rammed the butt of his rifle into her head. As blood poured down her face, she got on the floor. If we dont call out racism, certainly at the highest levels of power, in this position of trust that the president enjoys, then we are going to continue to get its consequences, ORourke said. Silence is complicity in what this administration is doing, so lets call it out. Lets also define a better future for this country, and thats what Ive been trying to do in this campaign. Additionally, Cummings said Wednesday that Trumps New York-based accounting firm will respond to a request for 10 years worth of records from the firms work with Trump if it receives a congressional subpoena. His committee had asked the company, Mazars USA, for copies of statements of financial condition and audits prepared for Trump and several of his companies, including the one that owns the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, who is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House, announced this week that he is running for the U.S. Senate, leaving his House seat open. The district, which covers northern New Mexico, is reliably Democratic, so whoever emerges from the primary is likely to be its next representative in Washington. There is no doubt that Mr. Cohens testimony, both public and private, has contributed substantially, with documents and other evidence, to triggering additional areas for investigation by law enforcement authorities and the Congress, the lawyers wrote. He has done so despite intense personal pressures and stresses he faces for himself and his family. However, with 30 days left before he surrenders to prison, time is no longer a luxury he is capable of. Given the extraordinary public interest in the matter, the Attorney General decided to release the reports bottom-line findings and his conclusions immediately without attempting to summarize the report with the understanding that the report itself would be released after the redaction process, she said. . . . He does not believe the report should be released in serial or piecemeal fashion. The Department continues to work with the Special Counsel on appropriate redactions to the report so that it can be released to the Congress and the public. Trump made his comments a day after he tweeted out a parody of the video Biden put out this week in which he vowed to be more respectful of peoples personal space. The parody shows a second Biden approaching himself from behind, putting his hands on his shoulders and appearing to smell his hair past actions by Biden that several women have described in recent days as making them uncomfortable. The group has historically been Rwandas poorest. Only a generation ago, the Twa were hunter-gatherers who subsisted off meat and honey from Rwandas rain forests. After the opening of national parks, all of them were evicted from their ancestral hunting grounds, and Twa activists say that more than 90 percent of the community is now landless. Even though Rwandas economy is one of Africas fastest-growing, most Twa live in abject poverty. The topsy-turvy spectacle comes in response to a demand by the remaining E.U. leaders. E.U. treaties require that Britain fulfill all its membership duties so long as it is part of the club. And the other countries fear that any law passed by the new European Parliament could be challenged if Britain were not represented in it. Some British politicians further rationalize that as long as they are in the E.U., they want a say. Flooding in Iowa, the reaction after a Pittsburgh officer was acquitted in Antwon Roses shooting, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, baseballs Opening Day and more images from around the world. He has beaten the legal rap each time since the first criminal investigation back in 1997. At the time, police recommended he be indicted after he was accused of appointing an attorney general who, in return for political support, agreed to be lenient in pursuing an extortion case against one of the prime ministers political allies. It also would deepen the chaos and lawlessness that has turned Libya into a hub for smuggling migrants to Europe and at one time allowed the Islamic State to establish a foothold in the coastal city of Sirte. Increased insecurity could allow the militants to regroup and set off a new rush of people fleeing to neighboring countries or over dangerous sea routes in the Mediterranean. Haidar, Ibrahim and others arrested were part of a loose-knit group of writers and activists who have been supportive of the womens rights movement and have written about other political issues, but were not considered to be especially visible or outspoken. Ibrahim had written extensively on Saudi Arabias Shiite Muslim minority. Another detainee, Abdullah al-Duhailan, is a journalist and novelist who has advocated for Palestinian rights, according to Amnesty International. Fahad Abalkhail had supported the campaign to lift the female driving ban, the group said. Instead, Bouteflikas departure appears to be only the start of a struggle whose outcome is far from certain. Protesters are more emboldened in seeking a dismissal of the remaining vestiges of the political order that has governed the country since it won independence from France in 1962 and that is now widely derided for its cronyism and corruption. At first, he said, there was no reaction from Columbia. I was told they were taking note of what we said and would examine the situation. Later on, we learned from friends in the Turkish American community that the event was postponed. Not canceled. Having lost the political fight over funds to construct the wall, the House declared, the Administration took the extraordinary step of announcing that it would nevertheless spend up to $8.1 billion on wall construction. In doing so, the Administration flouted fundamental separation-of-powers principles and usurped for itself legislative power specifically vested by the Constitution in Congress. Even the monarchs of England long ago lost the power to raise and spend money without the approval of parliament, it said. How sad is it that base politics and hatred have been allowed to creep into even this sphere of our national activity? he wrote in the letter, which was first published by the Washington Examiner and confirmed by the State Department. The safe recovery of Americans held hostage overseas should be beyond politics and must enjoy the support of all Americans. I regret that pressure of such a cynical and abominable nature was brought to bear on you and John. A state-owned Chinese company on Thursday signed an agreement for improvement of Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur Road to a 4-Lane highway in Dhaka, Bangladesh. China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited, signed the official contract with the Bangladeshi government's Roads and Highways Department here. The highway improvement comes under the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Project-II which is funded by the Asian Development Bank. The Bangladeshi government has taken up the 190.40 km highway upgradation project in view of its importance in connectivity in Bangladesh. According to project document, the Chinese company will be engaged in implementing several other parts of the project in different phases. Ebne Alam Hasan, chief engineer of Bangladesh's Roads and Highways Department and Xu Jichao, authorized representative of South Asia Branch of China Construction Seventh Engineering Division Corporation Limited, inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides. Medical services group Healius has emerged as a big winner from the federal election, no matter who wins at the polls next month. The stock recorded a double digit gain for the week, closing at $2.61 on Friday, after Labor's proposal to boost public funding for cancer treatments followed on from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's favourable budget for the health sector on Tuesday. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has earmarked more than $80 billion in spending for healthcare. Credit:AAP The Morrison government's budget included a significant boost to primary care funding and imaging - areas which favour Healius's business. "Health is front of mind for all Australians, and this year the government will spend more than $80 billion on healthcare," Mr Frydenberg said in his budget speech. Wang says the daigou market is still strong, with around 100,000 individuals in Australia, but there is a broader opportunity. Loading "We believe this is a trend as consumers need to rely on someone they can trust," she says. "This is not a phenomenon. It is consumers to consumers talking." Wang was born in Taiwan and came to Australia to study public relations at university. "I don't think any so-called entrepreneur was born thinking 'I want to have a dream and my dream is to be an entrepreneur'," she says. "I didn't think about that, I wanted to be a PR specialist." She met her husband, Sean Yao, when she was working as a waitress at a cafe he ran and the pair started a hospitality business running four venues until Wang spotted a gap in the market to export Australian products to China. "Around five to six years ago, I said to my family 'I think there is opportunity to leverage in the exportation market'," she says. "E-commerce platforms, social media, all these new things I thought were interesting and I thought with my background I could do something different." Livia Wang previously focused on connecting personal shoppers with Australian brands. Credit:Penny Stephens Wang says she started with "very limited resources" with the only staff herself and Yao, but she now has almost 100 employees. "It has certainly been a great journey for myself," she says. "We look at the consumer's need and use the right story to transfer the information. I love to represent any great brands globally and get their story told." Livia Wang employs a staff of almost 100. Credit:Nick Moir Plans for Napoleon Perdis Wang says if Kuba gains control of Napoleon Perdis, she will try to shore up the cosmetic brand in Australia and eventually look to expand to other markets including China. She believes Napoleon Perdis' collapse can be attributed to its rapid expansion. "I do believe there were a lot of stores expanding too quickly, so certainly the cash flow of the business needs to be in place to make a business successful," Wang says. Administrator Simon Cathro of Worrells says creditors are owed $22.8 million but the proposed DOCA and creditors trust will result in a better return for creditors of "this prominent and iconic Australian brand" than would result if Napoleon Perdis were liquidated. "Critically, the DOCA includes an immediate and certain payment from the outset," he says. "Its structure also extinguishes some vulnerabilities that are borne by other retailers in the industry and were identified during the business restructuring." Cathro declined to comment on Wang and Kuba's plans for Napoleon Perdis. "Voluntary administration is founded on business rehabilitation, and by working with the directors we could implement the agility required in todays market, and specifically to the Napoleon Perdis brand, he says. Wang says the Napoleon Perdis brand is strong despite the troubles the business has experienced and there is a benefit to buying an established brand rather than creating a new one from scratch. "I am in love with the brand," Wang says. "I want to have a strong cosmetics brand. I think a brand is hard to build. Napoleon Perdis is an iconic brand over 23 years, like any entrepreneurial journey there will be an upside and a downside, sometimes they will make bad decisions and be in trouble." Ms Wang plans to keep Mr Perdis on as a creative consultant. Credit:Dean Sewell Worrells has closed 28 of Napoleon Perdis' 56 stores but Wang says she has no plans to make more cuts. "We are good business operators, I think we can add good value to Napoleon Perdis and to creditors and consumers," she says. "We think they are ready to grow, they just need more cash flow to grow and we will do that." Wang plans to keep Perdis and his wife, Soula-Marie Perdis, on as creative consultants. "I really love the creativity from both of them and we don't want to change that part," she says. Retail challenges Wang says there are still opportunities in the retail sector, which has struggled in recent years with a string of Australian retailers closing or collapsing, including Marcs, Roger David, Pumpkin Patch and Payless Shoes. "I think retail is actually very important exposure for a brand but saying that I think the way to manage retail space has to be changed, it has to be tighter and it has to align to the online environment," she says. Loading "The retailer has to be somewhere welcoming and that is important for customers otherwise they can just buy online. We need to put the customers in the middle of that space." Wang says she has not faced any barriers as a female Chinese entrepreneur in Australia. "I actually forget I am a female," she says. "I have an advantage as a female entrepreneur as I can sell a lot of products to give women what they need." Nor has she experienced any racism. Not enough time, not enough sleep: that's life with a three-year-old, says Keira Knightly, but she bounces into our interview as eager, articulate and blithely sweary as ever. We're talking about the Aftermath, a torn-between-two-lovers melodrama set during the British occupation of post-war Germany. "When they sent it to us, I thought: 'F---, I don't want to do another World War II film. Do we need another World War II film?" she says. "And then I read it. The questions that arise from it, like: 'how on earth do you forgive?' , 'How on earth do you move on and rebuild after something so utterly catastrophic?': I'd never asked those question before." Like it or not, Keira Knightley is a shoo-in for a World War II film for any film, actually, requiring the heroine to wear structured underwear. There is that fine-boned face, exactly like a Victorian cameo when you see her in profile; there is the ringing, precise voice that doesn't seem to bear the mark of any particular period or region; there is that mix of lady-like manners and tomboy energy that makes her the perfect match for literary heroines such as Colette, Anna Karenina and Elizabeth Bennet. James Kent, who directs the Aftermath, remembers seeing the young Knightley in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice in 2005. "There is something about her face and something about the fact the way she wears these clothes so naturally," he says. Anyway, he adds, the best roles for women are to be found in films set in the past. Rachael in the Aftermath is the wife of a British army officer, Lewis Morgan, (Jason Clarke) who is sent to Hamburg as part of the post-war Allied occupation force charged with getting the devastated city back into some kind of working order. Two years earlier, the Morgans lost their only child in an air raid, a calamity that has sliced their marriage in two. Lewis has been able to submerge his pain in duty; Clarke's damaged but decent chap recalls Trevor Howard in films of the time. Meanwhile, Rachael has drifted along in a fog of grief, anger with her buttoned-up husband and a seething hatred of Germans and all things German. Even so, she finds herself drawn to the owner of the grand house where the Morgans have been billeted, Stephan Lubert (Alexander Skarsgard). Lubert is an architect; he is rich, cultivated and, of course, was never a Nazi. A year earlier, he lost his wife. Their affair begins with aggressive sex, but becomes tender and hopeful as they bond over bereavement and Lubert's excellent piano. A university graduate who was being paid $25 per hour as part of a well-organised Vietnamese crime gang operating cannabis grow houses across Perth has been jailed. Ho Yeon Kim, 25, played the role of a 'crop-sitter' in the crime syndicate, the WA District Court was told on Friday. Major cannabis crops like these have been found across Perth and WA in the past 18 months. Credit:WA Police Kim was first arrested in 2017 after police found him at a home in Beckenham where there was a large cannabis crop inside. He was released on bail soon after his arrest and then went on the run for six months. Police have arrested and charged a man with committing an indecent act near a Perth primary school. The man, 31, was seen on March 14 close by the Atwell Primary School oval. The man, also believed to be from Atwell, will appear in court next month, Credit:Google Maps About 2.50pm, close to the schools final bell, the man was seen performing an indecent act on Lydon Boulevard. Witnesses reported the man to local police. Algiers, Algeria: Thousands of Algerians poured into the streets after Friday prayers demanding a transition toward democracy and the ouster of key allies of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika who resigned this week after 20 years in power. The protests were the starkest indicator yet that Bouteflika's ouster, at the insistence of the country's powerful military, has failed to satisfy the tens of thousands Algerians who have staged massive street anti-government protests nationwide over that past six weeks in this vast North African country. Rather, Bouteflika's departure appears to be only the start of a struggle whose ultimate denouement is far from certain. Protesters are now more emboldened in seeking a dismissal of the remaining vestiges of the political order that has governed the country since winning independence from France in 1962 - and is now widely derided for its cronyism and corruption. A circle of Bouteflika allies - the influential lawmakers, relatives and business executives known as the "pouvoir" or power - remain in control of the levers of the nation. They have become the protesters' new targets. Most of the children of Islamic State members who are over eight years old had already been indoctrinated and given military training to become "cubs of the caliphate", according to the Kurdish authorities in Syria. The warning comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison appears to soften his stance when it comes to the children of Australians living under IS, saying he is willing to allow the orphaned children of Australia's most infamous terrorist to return home. Australian woman Shayma Assaad, 19, and her three sons in her tent at the al-Hawl camp in north-eastern Syria. She is the wife of Mohammed Noor Masri, another Australian who went to live with Islamic State and is now detained separately from his wife. Credit:David Wroe "Where there are Australians who are caught up in this situation particularly as innocent children, we will do what I think Australians would expect us to do on their behalf," the Prime Minister said on Friday. The head of foreign affairs for the Kurdish administration, Abdulkarim Omar, told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in Syria this week that his group was "doing our best to encourage the international community to take responsibility for the thousands of children of foreign IS fighters. Entertainment The Boat Race 2019 live stream from London The Boat Race live 05.04.2019 08:38:38 - Watch the Oxford vs Cambridge University boat race live streaming from the River Thames. Varsity boat race live stream. (live-PR.com) - The boat race on the River Thames between the crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities has been taking place for well over 100 years now, and with men's and women's events is as popular as ever. To watch the live stream of the 2019 Boat race online: www.myworldevents.com/sports/varsity-boat-race.html Race background The light and dark blues of Cambridge and Oxford Universities will be pitting their - The boat race on the River Thames between the crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities has been taking place for well over 100 years now, and with men's and women's events is as popular as ever.To watch the live stream of the 2019 Boat race online:Race backgroundThe light and dark blues of Cambridge and Oxford Universities will be pitting their wits against each other once again this weekend in this iconic annual spectacle. The Boat Race is an annual rowing race between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between men's and women's open-weight eights on the River Thames in London, England. It is also known as the University Boat Race and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The men's race was first held in 1829 and has been held annually since 1856, except during the First and Second World Wars. The first women's event was in 1927 and the race has been held annually since 1964. Since 2015, the Women's race has taken place on the same day and course, the combined event of two races becoming known as "The Boat Races". In 2018, the combined event became known as simply "The Boat Race" with a men's and women's race, or by a title that includes the name of its official charity, '"The Cancer Research UK Boat Race", BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management having donated their sponsorship to the charity.[ The coxes can be men or women in either race. In the 2018 race, which took place on Saturday 24 March 2018, Cambridge won the men's and women's races and both reserve races. The course covers a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of the Thames in West London, from Putney to Mortlake. Members of both teams are traditionally known as blues and each boat as a "Blue Boat", with Cambridge in light blue and Oxford dark blue. As of 2018, Cambridge has won the men's race 83 times and Oxford 80 times, with one dead heat. Cambridge has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1930. In the women's race, Cambridge have won the race 43 times and Oxford 30 times. Cambridge has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1966. A reserve boat race has been held since 1965 for the men and 1966 for the women. Over 250,000 people watch the race from the banks of the river each year. In 2009, a record 270,000 people watched the race live. A further 15 million or more watch it on television. The tradition was started in 1829 by Charles Merivale, a student at St John's College, Cambridge, and his Old Harrovian school friend Charles Wordsworth who was studying at Christ Church, Oxford. The University of Cambridge challenged the University of Oxford to a race at Henley-on-Thames but lost easily. Oxford raced in dark blue because five members of the crew, including the stroke, were from Christ Church, then Head of the River, whose colours were dark blue. There is a dispute as to the source of the colour chosen by Cambridge. wits against each other once again this weekend in this iconic annual spectacle.The Boat Race is an annual rowing race between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between men's and women's open-weight eights on the River Thames in London, England. It is also known as the University Boat Race and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.The men's race was first held in 1829 and has been held annually since 1856, except during the First and Second World Wars. The first women's event was in 1927 and the race has been held annually since 1964. Since 2015, the Women's race has taken place on the same day and course, the combined event of two races becoming known as "The Boat Races". In 2018, the combined event became known as simply "The Boat Race" with a men's and women's race, or by a title that includes the name of its official charity, '"The Cancer Research UK Boat Race", BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management having donated their sponsorship to the charity.[ The coxes can be men or women in either race. In the 2018 race, which took place on Saturday 24 March 2018, Cambridge won the men's and women's races and both reserve races.The course covers a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of the Thames in West London, from Putney to Mortlake. Members of both teams are traditionally known as blues and each boat as a "Blue Boat", with Cambridge in light blue and Oxford dark blue. As of 2018, Cambridge has won the men's race 83 times and Oxford 80 times, with one dead heat. Cambridge has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1930. In the women's race, Cambridge have won the race 43 times and Oxford 30 times. Cambridge has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1966. A reserve boat race has been held since 1965 for the men and 1966 for the women.Over 250,000 people watch the race from the banks of the river each year. In 2009, a record 270,000 people watched the race live. A further 15 million or more watch it on television. The tradition was started in 1829 by Charles Merivale, a student at St John's College, Cambridge, and his Old Harrovian school friend Charles Wordsworth who was studying at Christ Church, Oxford. The University of Cambridge challenged the University of Oxford to a race at Henley-on-Thames but lost easily. Oxford raced in dark blue because five members of the crew, including the stroke, were from Christ Church, then Head of the River, whose colours were dark blue. There is a dispute as to the source of the colour chosen by Cambridge. Author: Martin Kerrigan e-mail Web: http://www.myworldevents.com Phone: 0035799813173 05.04.2019 08:38:38 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. State Police is investigating a high-speed chase that ended in a fiery crash killing a 5-year-old girl and seriously injuring an 8-year-old boy and woman. The crash happened in Sussex County Wednesday afternoon. The crash was the result of a 6-minute high-speed chase that crossed county lines. According to CBS-affiliate WTVR, family members identified the girl as 5-year-old Christina Parham. She was transported to VCU Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries, officials said. Additionally, an 8-year-old boy was flown by Virginia State Police to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police say the incident began at 8:09 a.m. when police noticed a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze speeding, going 39 mph in a 25 mph zone, along Rt. 618/Halligan Park Road in Dinwiddie County. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. The Chevrolet Cruze pulled over and came to a halt on the side of the road, but as the trooper approached, the Cruze sped off initiating a pursuit. "The trooper lost sight of the Cruze, which was traveling in excess of 100 mph. As the trooper searched the area for the suspect vehicle, at approximately 8:15 a.m. he came upon a traffic crash on Route 681/Concord Sappony Road," Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller said. The Cruze had struck a 2018 Chevrolet Impala head-on. The impact of the crash caused the Chevrolet Cruze to catch fire. The trooper pulled the pursuit suspect from his burning vehicle. The suspect was the only occupant in the Cruze. He suffered serious, but non-life threatening, injuries and is being treated at VCU Medical Center in Richmond. The driver of the Impala, Latonya S. Chandler, of Stony Creek, Va., is being treated for serious, but non-life threatening, injuries at a Petersburg medical center. Police have since charged Toriando B. Smith, 29, of Petersburg, Va., with involuntary manslaughter, one felony count of eluding police and for driving on a revoked license. Police say additional charges are pending. Full story by WTVR. Many workers and retirees are turning to the gig economy as a source of supplementary income, and those in the health and wellness sector are no exception. With that in mind, BMO and Toronto-based health technology company MediSeen have launched a collaboration to help such professionals. Aside from giving healthcare industry professionals a chance to deliver care more flexibly, the gig economy also offers them the potential for greater control over how they work. Under the new collaboration, BMO will work through MediSeens mobile-care practice management software to provide health and wellness professionals with a comprehensive suite of financial products and services that address their practice and personal needs. "At MediSeen, we're here to make a difference and drive change in Canada's healthcare system," MediSeen founder and CEO Daniel Warner said in a statement. "Part of bringing about that change is ensuring that the health and wellness providers on our platform have the tools and resources they need to fully function as the CEOs of their own mobile practices. STRATFORD An unresponsive male was pulled out of the water under the Sikorsky Bridge on Thursday afternoon, according to Connecticut State Police. Sgt. Dwight Washington, of the Connecticut State Police Public Information Office, said U.S. Coast Guard was en route to the scene around 3:05 p.m. to help with what was initially a search for a person who jumped from the bridge into the Housatonic River. SEYMOUR A 15-year-old Seymour High School student was charged by police Thursday for bringing a vape pen to school and sharing it with other students, sending several students to the hospital for medical evaluation. A teen girl was charged with risk of injury to a minor, possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal distribution of marijuana. Deputy Police Chief Roberto Rinaldi said Seymour police got a call from the high school Thursday morning informing police that a student fell ill after vaping while in school. A vape pen is often used to consume marijuana and cannabis products. Medics and police responded, and while en route learned that several other students had become ill from the vape, Rinaldi said. On scene, emergency personnel were able to determine that several students became ill due to the vaping and (they were) sent to the hospital for medical evaluation, Rinaldi said. The liquid in the vape pen was tested and the liquid did test positive for THC. A parent group posted a message from Principal Jim Freund on Facebook after the incident unfolded. Today we went into a Stay Put because of a situation that involved multiple students sharing a vape pen, Freunds message said. One of the students who shared the pen became ill. To ensure the safety of our students, the Seymour Police Department and Emergency Medical Services were called in to help assess the situation. A police dog was brought into the school to search for illegal substances. As you are aware, student safety is our number one priority, Freund wrote. In partnership with Seymour Police Department we share in the mission to provide a safe and secure learning environment for our students at all times. If you would like to discuss this further please contact me. 3 1 of 3 Robert Marchant / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google map Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GREENWICH Fairfield Road in Greenwich is closed Friday between Old Church Road and Hillside Road due to a water main break and downed utility pole, police said. The road had been closed since an accident Thursday evening and was still closed Friday afternoon. NEW HAVEN Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven will be hosting the 18th Annual 2019 New Haven/Valley Scrabble Challenge at the JCC of Greater New Haven, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge, April 10, 5:30-8 p.m. Proceeds support free adult tutoring in English for Speakers of Other Languages and Basic Literacy classes in Greater New Haven and the Valley. Teams of four players are needed. Prizes will be awarded for the team with the best literacy themed costume, the winning Scrabble team, and a light dinner will be served. For more than 40 years Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, Meriden/Wallingford, The Valley (LVAGNH) has been Empowering Adults Through Literacy. We have made a significant impact on the lives of over 1,500 adults last year by providing free classes in reading, writing, English conversation, basic math and computer skills, members said in a statement. Students come from 67 different countries, including the U.S. With improved literacy, many have gone on to higher paying jobs, better health, US Citizenship, gained the skills to read to their children and help them in school, or went on to further their own education. For more information on how to register a team to participate in 2019 New Haven/Valley Scrabble Challenge or for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.lvagnh.org or call 203-776-5899. Camera club offers weekend events NORTH HAVEN Judy Host, a respected photographer, lecturer and portrait specialist, will lead a photography presentation and workshops the weekend of April 27-28 at the Whitney Center, 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden, presented by North Haven Camera Club. The Saturday presentation will be held from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., with a 1.5-hour lunch break, and the Sunday workshop choices are 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., or 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays topics include: Branding your style with lighting, creating art in the camera, understanding lens perspective, and creating movement and drama. The Sunday workshops will cover lighting techniques. The Saturday presentation cost is $50, the Sunday workshop fee is $65, those paying at teh door pay an extra $5. North Haven Camera Club members receive membership discounts. To register and pay online, go to the North Haven Camera Club special events page at NorthHavenCameraClub.com/special-events. For information, email northhavencameraclub@gmail.com. Plant sale is district fundraiser WESTBROOK The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation Districts 28th annual plant sale AND fundraiser will be held Friday and Saturday, April 26-27, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Westbrook Outlets. Shoppers can take advantage of a wide variety of CT native shrubs, ground covers, evergreen tree seedlings, flowering perennials, ferns, grasses, and culinary herbs offered in the 2019 sale. This years list features some new plants, including New Jersey Tea, Meadowsweet, a dwarf selection of River Birch, Golden Raspberries, Balsam Fir seedlings, Wild Ginger, Chocolate Joe Pye Weed, and Pennsylvania Sedge; and we are offering flowering perennial landscape plugs for the first time. The district is also offering its popular Collins Organic Compost. The webstore is now open for shopping at www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal, or download a copy of the 2019 brochure and order form online and find photos and more detailed information about our extensive selection of plants. The online store has a larger assortment of perennials than the printed brochure. Quantities of certain plants are limited. Orders are due April 5. There will also be plants available the days of the sale. For information or to receive a hard copy of the brochure and order form, contact the district office at 860-346-3282. To learn more about programs and services, visit www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal Groups to march for peace, ending NATO A gathering of international peace groups is organizing a mobilization, calling for an end to NATO, war, and racism, March 31, 1 p.m. in Washington, D.C. at Lafayette Park, across from the White House, followed by a march past the World Bank and IMF. A rally with noted anti-war activists will follow. This year marks the 70th anniversary of NATO, an arm of U.S. global military aggression. Other related events are Sunday, March 31, with a concert at 1 p.m. at Franklin Square Park, and a World Peace Council event at St. Stephen Church at 3 p.m. April 3, No to NATO, Yes to Peace Disarmament Counter-Summit is scheduled, with details at WorldBeyondWar.org/. On April 4, a Black Alliance for Peace celebration is planned. A bus departs from the Long Wharf parking lot, 222 Sargent Drive, in New Haven, March 30 at 5 a.m., returning the same day. Cost is $10 per person; registe ron eventbrite. For information, call 617-522-6626 or see No2NATO2019/HopeOutLoud.org/ for updates. The local sponsor is the Greater New Haven Peace Council. LiveStrong program offered to cancer patients CHESHIRE Whether in treatment, in remission, or have beaten it, those diagnosed with cancer are eligible to participate in the Livestrong at the YMCA program. The Cheshire Community YMCA is seeking participants for the next session. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free, 12-week, small group program designed for adults affected by cancer, conducted in the Wellness Center at the Y by staff trained in elements of cancer exercise, and supportive cancer care. Each participant will have a program customized to fit their specific needs. The program goals are to help cancer survivors enhance their functional ability to complete everyday tasks, improve energy levels, strength, flexibility, endurance, reduce the severity of side effects from treatment, help prevent weight changes, and to gain support from other cancer survivors, YMCA staff and members, and to learn about resources available in our community. The class will meet twice a week for 12 weeks. A full YMCA membership is included during the program. The Spring Session of LIVESTRONG at the YMCA will be held on Monday and Friday mornings from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., beginning in early May. The actual start date will be determined based on registrations. For more information contact John Phillips at 203-272-3150 ex511. Evaluation Officer, Washington Organization: The World Bank Country: United States City: Washington, United States Office: World Bank HQ Washington Closing date: Friday, 19 April 2019 Evaluation Officer Job #: req2469 Organization: World Bank Sector: Environment Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Spanish, French (desirable) Closing Date: 4/19/2019 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description About the World Bank Group: Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the worlds largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally. The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The World Bank is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions and thirteen Global Practices to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a financial mechanism that provides grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and activities to protect the global environment. The governance structure of the GEF includes an Assembly, a Council, a Secretariat, a Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel and an Independent Evaluation Office (IEO). Projects financed by the GEF are managed by 18 GEF Agencies. The IEO is functionally independent of, but administratively supported by, the World Bank. It is independent from the CEO of the GEF and reports directly to the GEF Council. The GEF Council decides on evaluation policies, discusses four year rolling work plans, approves annual budgets and receives all evaluation reports. The IEO has the central role of ensuring the independent evaluation function within the GEF; of setting minimum requirements for evaluation; of ensuring oversight of the quality of evaluation systems on program and project level and of sharing evaluative evidence within the GEF. A consultative process with relevant GEF partners is in place to ensure the quality of the work undertaken and to prevent overlap and duplication. The IEO has the responsibility for undertaking independent evaluations which involve a set of projects from more than one GEF Agency. These evaluations are typically on a strategic level, or on focal areas, or on cross-cutting themes. Evaluations may be highly complex when undertaken jointly with other evaluation offices of Agencies in the GEF. The GEF Council has approved the work program for the IEO for FY2019-2022. Several thematic evaluations have been planned to assess the outcomes of GEF project/program interventions, including an assessment of strategic country cluster evaluations, scaling up, the Annual Performance Report with special themes on transportation, and the Seventh Comprehensive Evaluation. This Evaluation Officer position will require knowledge and experience in geospatial tools and analysis as applied to environmental programs. The Evaluation Officer will contribute to the IEOs work program by participating in, and/or leading evaluations that are impartial, independent, credible and meet professional standards to ensure that the evaluations are useful and that evaluation findings and recommendations are endorsed and implemented. The Evaluation Officer will participate in all aspects of the evaluation process: research, review of program and project documents, application of quantitative and qualitative analyses, synthesis of findings, preparation of report and data for internal and external dissemination and follow up to implementation of recommendations. This position will require knowledge of advanced statistical techniques as well as remote sensing and the use of geospatial data sets and analysis. The Evaluation Officer will be supervised by Senior Evaluation officers and the Chief Evaluation Officer of the IEO. Diplomats and governance experts stressed the positive influence of conducting governance research on development in Africa on Thursday during the annual methodology forum of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). APRM is a specialised agency of the African Union that focuses on good governance in Africa. More than 150 people are currently attending the forum in the Red Sea city, including representatives of APRM, representatives of the AU Commission and governance experts from institutions that partner APRM in research projects. The list of attendees also includes Egyptian government officials, parliamentarians, academics, university students and journalists. In his opening speech, Ashraf Rashed, head of the APRMs National Governance Council, said the research done on governance in Africa by APRM aims to help the countries in the continent to achieve reform and development without being enforced to implement any plans by external actors. Todays forum is an important step to develop APRM, which is a purely African tool for observing governance, noted Rashed. Stressing the commitment of the Egyptian government to the objectives of APRM, Rashed praised the efforts and readiness of Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the government to jointly work with African states, adding that the events that Egypt is hosting today and tomorrow is the greatest proof for this matter. He concluded that Cairo is committed to APRMs goals not only by virtue of its membership of the AU, but also due to its keenness to have an effective governance experience and transfer it to other African states. The APRM forum comes in light of the unanimous election of Egypt as the chair of the AU in 2019 during the AU summit in Ethiopias capital Addis Ababa in January 2018. Egypt has never before been elected head of the AU. The AU was created in 2002, following the disbanding of the Organisation of African Unity, counts all 55 African countries as members and holds an annual summit in Ethiopia. Eddy Maloka, CEO of the APRM continental secretariat, stated that the methodology forum is an annual project, and last year we had it in Kigali, explaining the fact that it is based on a questionnaire. During the 2018 APRM methodology forum in Kigali, one of the final recommendations was to revise the APRM questionnaire and introduce targeted reviews due to the need to review its format, reduce items and refocus the instrument and improve accessibility and user-friendliness for all stakeholders. We will look on how to harness the advances of technology to make our work efficiently and effectively, said Maloka. The South African scholar urged the need for APRM to expand our tools beyond the country review mission, which is the flagship tool of research for the agency as we want other options that countries can have to be able to test themselves in other areas while preparing themselves for the flagship review. He encouraged member states to conduct reviews on annual basis in order to develop their governance plans. Maloka said that, despite APRM being a multilateral organisation, the agency should be autonomous. Although admitting that APRM needs the support of states on several issues, including budgeting, Maloka praised the opportunities that governments offer to the agency by allowing its representatives to come to their countries and do their work independently. Khayar Oumar Defallah, chairperson of the APRM Committee of Focal Points, argued that APRM is a consultative platform that help Africa in facing its governance challenges and those related to social and economic development, as well as achieve the African goals of sustainable development. The previous forums in Kigali and Johannesburg were successful and met their objectives, said Defallah. We need specific answers for our problems in Africa, especially that in this continent all of them are always urgent. In this room, we have governance experts who can help us in doing so, asserted Defallah. Ibrahim Gambari, chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, announced that he met with El-Sisi for an hour in Cairo, saying that he is proud of him because of his commitment to the APRM process. Gambari said the review process is at the heart of the APRM mechanism, and developing and extending it is very important. He called on for revising the country review methodology to increase both its effectiveness and impact. Gambari believed that the support of the public and private sector in Africa will serve the work of APRM, while praising the academic network of universities that are cooperating with the agency, especially those involved in developing the questionnaire process. All these contributions will help the continent at a time when leaders of Africa are ready to support the APRM processes and African tools to improve good governance and implement goals of Tracking Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030, he said. On 6 April, the Egyptian government and the APRM will jointly commemorate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the organisation at the 1st Forum on Governance and Development in Africa, which will also be attended by government officials and representatives, and other participants. In July 2002, the process towards founding APRM started with the Declaration on the Implementation of the New Partnership for Africas Development, adopted by the inaugural session of the assembly of the African Union in Durban, South Africa. The declaration "establishes the APRM as a country-self assessment and peer review mechanism, conceived and led by Africans to undertake governance assessments. Those assessments involve areas of democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance and sustainable socio-economic development. Search Keywords: Short link: Indigenous fish harvesters on Lake Winnipeg could disappear faster than the fish the province says its trying to save with regulation changes, First Nation fishers say. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Indigenous fish harvesters on Lake Winnipeg could disappear faster than the fish the province says its trying to save with regulation changes, First Nation fishers say. About 15 commercial fishers took their opposition to the legislature on Thursday to protest the provinces plans. Larry Kusch / Winnipeg Free Press Gerald Valiquette says commercial fishing is the only source of income in his community. Among them was Gerald Valiquette, who fishes from Poplar River First Nation on the east side of Lake Winnipegs north basin, which has 46 commercial fish harvesters. "Our community depends on the fishery for a living. Its the only source of income in that area," Valiquette said. The province has implemented a quota buyback program to remove commercial pressure on the lakes fish stocks. But Valiquette worries many fishers will look at the short-term profit from selling their quota, not what the absence of fishing will mean to them and the community in the long term. "A lot of fishers are not aware that if they sell their quota, its gone for good," he said. Production could become so scarce that it becomes no longer viable to collect fish from the packing station at Poplar River, he said. During open-water season, a vessel picks up fish three times a week from Poplar River. "We have to have a certain amount of production to operate," Valiquette said. Val Disbrowe, representing commercial fishers at Berens River, is also trying to discourage fish harvesters in her area from selling their quota. Disbrowe, a longtime commercial fisher, now retired, represents a group of 60 commercial fishers at Berens, south of Poplar River. "The buyback is going to have a long-term effect. For generations to come, there will be no work for them," Disbrowe said in a telephone interview. An estimated 85 to 90 per cent of commercial fish harvesters on Lake Winnipeg are Indigenous or Metis. In the south basin, fish harvester Wesley Moneyas said the Pallister governments changes "could be the last nail in the coffin for the aboriginal fishery." About 20 of the 73 quota holders in his community are interested in selling their quota, Moneyas said in a telephone interview. "A lot of the fishermen are struggling. Its a dilemma right now," he said. Many quota holders fish for part of the year and collect employment insurance payments. "Thats the whole purpose for some of us is to get that extra money (from employment insurance) to get us through the rest of the year, " said Moneyas, who sits on the Lake Winnipeg Fishery Co-Management Board. The province would not say how the quota buyback program is going, but a spokesman said information will be made available soon. As well, the province wants to increase the mesh size on fishing nets in the south basin up to 33/4 inches. It is currently three inches for winter fishing and 31/4 inches during open-water season. The prospect of having to replace all their nets is helping to push First Nation fish harvesters to sell their quota to the government, Moneyas said. The fishers at the legislature on Thursday asked to speak to Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires, but she wasnt available. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. They maintain her rule changes are to appease the sport fishing sector, which brings in much more revenue to the provincial coffers than commercial fishing. The fishers also want to obtain the scientific data the province says proves Lake Winnipegs fish stocks are threatened under current commercial fishing rules, but have not been able to see it. NDP MLA Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley), who met with the fishers, said the scientific proof should be made available to fishers. He said he will file a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act request to see the scientific data. "One of the biggest concerns is just the process by which this is being done," Altemeyer said. He maintained the government failed to abide by Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, whereby the government is required to consult before passing legislation that affects First Nations people. bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca TOKYO - A Japanese court on Friday approved the detention of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn through April 14 after his latest arrest over financial misconduct allegations, a move that has raised questions among legal experts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TOKYO - A Japanese court on Friday approved the detention of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn through April 14 after his latest arrest over financial misconduct allegations, a move that has raised questions among legal experts. The former star executive was taken into custody Thursday over new allegations that $5 million sent by a Nissan Motor Co. subsidiary and meant for an Oman dealership was diverted to a company effectively controlled by Ghosn. In this April 3, 2019 photo, former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn in a car leaves his lawyer's office in Tokyo. Japanese prosecutors took Ghosn for questioning Thursday, April 4, 2019, barely a month after he was released on bail ahead of his trial on financial misconduct charges. (Takuya Inaba/Kyodo News via AP) Ghosn spent nearly four months in detention and was just released last month after meeting stringent bail conditions while he awaits trial over earlier allegations that he understated his compensation in financial documents, had Nissan shoulder his personal investment losses and made dubious payments to a Saudi businessman. The Tokyo District Court on Friday approved the initial 10-day detention request from prosecutors, who can seek another 10-day extension before needing to file charges against Ghosn, release him or accuse him of new misconduct that needs investigating. Stringing out a suspect's arrest for the full 20 days and then raising new accusations is common in Japan, where it is known as a "rearrest." Critics say it allows suspects to be grilled by the authorities, resulting in some signing confessions to crimes they never committed. But it is rare for a suspect to receive bail and then be taken back into custody. Ghosn's legal team an appeal with the court Friday, arguing against the detention. The court later rejected that. Ghosn, 65, was first arrested Nov. 19 and released March 6 on 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) bail, after two previous rearrests. He says he is innocent of all allegations. Prosecutors argue the latest accusations are different from the previous ones, but his legal team says they are part of the same scenario of wrongdoing. In demanding the latest detention, prosecutors argued Ghosn may tamper with evidence related to the new allegations. Prosecutors had earlier fought against bail for Ghosn, a citizen of France, Brazil and Lebanon, arguing he was a flight risk. Ghosn's lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, pointed out that prosecutors have already raided Ghosn's property and taken everything, leaving little to tamper with. He accused prosecutors of trying to silence Ghosn, who had tweeted he was planning a news conference next week to tell "the truth about what was happening." Stephen Givens, an American who practices law in Japan, said the latest accusations are more serious than the previous charges because they imply Ghosn pocketed the money, while the earlier charges were technical offences that didn't harm Nissan or lead to personal gain. Nevertheless, Givens noted there were no grounds for detaining Ghosn again, as he had already satisfied a court that he won't flee or tamper with evidence or witnesses. Mark Levin, professor of law at the University of Hawaii, said he was worried about Japan's international image, noting the nation's appeal with future global business talent may suffer. The arrest "has the plain look of an attempt to muzzle his ability to present his case to the public," he said. Ghosn's case and the extended detention without a conviction are drawing scrutiny of Japan's criminal justice system, long criticized as "hostage justice." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Legal experts say Ghosn's previous release on bail came relatively quickly, and many defendants endure months, in extreme cases more than a year, of incarceration while they await trial. Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades before his downfall, said he wasn't giving up. "I will not be broken. I am innocent of the groundless charges and accusations against me," he said in a statement Thursday. ___ Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en OTTAWA - The fallout from Saudi Arabia's move to punish Canadian companies was felt within a month of the countries' sudden diplomatic feud last summer, leading to visa rejections, a government ban on food from Canada and a blockage of shipments at the kingdom's ports. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A bird sits by a Saudi Arabia's flag on the roof top of Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. The fallout from Saudi Arabia's move to punish Canadian companies was felt within a month of the countries' sudden diplomatic feud last summer, leading to visa rejections, a government ban on food from Canada and a blockage of shipments at the kingdom's ports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Petros Giannakouris OTTAWA - The fallout from Saudi Arabia's move to punish Canadian companies was felt within a month of the countries' sudden diplomatic feud last summer, leading to visa rejections, a government ban on food from Canada and a blockage of shipments at the kingdom's ports. A newly released federal document provides a close look at Saudi Arabia's retaliation against Canada, following criticism by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland on Twitter of the regime's arrest of women's rights activists. Angered by the public condemnation, Saudi Arabia suspended diplomatic ties with Canada last August, expelled the Canadian ambassador and recalled its own envoy from Ottawa. The kingdom also stopped future trade and investment deals, cancelled grain imports and said it would shut down lucrative scholarships for its citizens to study in Canada. The Saudi central bank and state pension funds started selling their Canadian holdings. A briefing note to International Trade Minister Jim Carr offers more detail on how events were unfolding on the ground about a month after the start of the dispute. "It is important to note that over the last few days Global Affairs Canada has been learning of concrete actions taken by Saudi Arabia against Canadian companies across various sectors," reads the memo, released this week to The Canadian Press under access-to-information law. The document went on to list numerous measures, including: Requests for existing contracts to be replaced by new contracts with non-Canadian suppliers. Denial of access to military bases. Payment delays. Re-routing of flights for product supplies. Prevention of a Canadian company from importing and selling medication. Government ministries issuing orders to ban food and medication from Canada. Various shipments from Canada being completely stopped at Saudi ports. The note was created last September for Carr in preparation for his meeting with members of the Canada Arab Business Council, who have interests in the kingdom. The additional details of the dispute with Saudi Arabia emerge as Canada tries to manage other, bigger trade-related challenges with its two largest partners, the United States and China. Saudi Arabia has previously been a key partner for Canada in the Middle East and, according to a separate internal briefing note, the countries had more than $4 billion worth of trade in 2017. That year, Saudi Arabia had $1.28 billion worth of direct investment in Canada, said the memo prepared for Finance Minister Bill Morneau after the crisis broke out. Scott Jolliffe, the president of the Canada Arab Business Council, said in an interview that Saudi investment in Canada ground to a halt last August. He also said Canadian firms have been restricted from bidding on new projects in the kingdom. On the other hand, he said things have mostly carried on as usual for those of his members who already had business in the country. Jolliffe also said he hadn't heard of any visa refusals. He said he would like to see the impasse resolved because Saudi Arabia and the region offer billions of dollars' worth of potential business for Canadian companies and possible alternatives to the U.S. There's a deep need there, he added, for the expertise Canada offers in areas like infrastructure, telecommunications and engineering. "At the moment, it doesn't appear as if there is much going on to strengthen and rebuild the relationship," said Jolliffe, who's had meetings with Carr about the issue. The feud has had an impact on agriculture. Feed-barley producers, for instance, have been shut out of the Saudi market. "Any country we lose, even if it's temporary, hurts us," said Dave Bishop, a farmer and chair of Alberta Barley. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. He said Canada had been shipping about 122,000 tonnes of feed barley to Saudi Arabia every year amounts that can sometimes reach 10 per cent of all Canadian exports of the product. This year, the industry has been lucky that feed barley is in short supply worldwide and extra demand from markets like China has helped make up for being shut out of Saudi Arabia, Bishop added. The memo to Carr last September said Freeland and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, in an effort to resolve the conflict, "have been discussing ideas to de-escalate ... including an incremental approach which could include a series of steps." Asked about the status of Saudi-Canadian relations now, Carr's office provided a statement that said he's still disappointed with the kingdom's response to Canada's human-rights concerns. A few weeks after Carr received the memo, the kingdom's relationship with Canada came under further strain as did its relations with many countries as details emerged about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Adam Austen, a spokesman for Freeland, said Thursday that Saudi Arabia's explanations for the killing have been inadequate and that Canada has called for a thorough, credible and independent international investigation. OTTAWA - Malign foreign actors will likely try to meddle in the Canadian federal election in October, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland warned Friday, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed the finger at Russia as the most likely culprit. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, talks with an aide at the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Foreign Ministers' Session 2 at the US State Department in Washington, Thursday, April 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) OTTAWA - Malign foreign actors will likely try to meddle in the Canadian federal election in October, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland warned Friday, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed the finger at Russia as the most likely culprit. Freeland sounded the alarm over election interference at a G7 foreign ministers' gathering in France. At a parallel G7 meeting of interior ministers, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the bloc wants the world's big internet companies Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft to do more to stop their platforms from being exploited. The dual G7 ministerial mirrored a similar joint meeting in Toronto almost one year ago that unfolded against the backdrop of a van attack on Yonge Street that left 10 people dead. A year later, their meetings occurred just weeks after 50 people were killed in two attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Canada's upcoming federal election also attracted interest, sparking a question to Freeland about the likelihood of Russian interference. "We are very concerned," the minister replied. "I think our judgment is interference is very likely and we think there has probably already been efforts by malign foreign actors to disrupt our democracy." While Freeland did not specifically mention Russia, Trudeau unloaded on the country when asked about the issue at an event in Toronto. "We have seen over the past number of years an increase in the interference or the implication of foreign actors in democratic processes. We saw very clearly that countries like Russia are behind a lot of the divisive campaigns, a lot of the divisive social media," the prime minister said. Trudeau and Freeland talked about Canada's creation of a "critical election protocol," including a group of five senior public servants who will decide whether a malign act of interference in this October's federal election warrants going public about a fundamental threat to the vote in the middle of the campaign. "The election that's coming up in six months will be decided by Canadians," Trudeau said. "We're going to work very hard with all the intelligence communities and our partners around the world to ensure that our democracies stay strong for all the different voices that express themselves within it." The G7 is seized with the issue of foreign intrusions in democratic countries and Freeland made the issue a top priority when Canada hosted the bloc last year. Goodale also pushed a G7 initiative last year to hold the major internet companies to account for malign and disruptive material on their platforms. His assessment one year later: They need to do a better job of fighting terrorism, extremism, child exploitation, and fake news that can undermine democracy. "The message was very clear to the service providers: the G7 countries are grateful for the steps they have taken over the past three or four years, but more steps are necessary," Goodale said in an interview. "They need to have better technology, they need to be able to move faster, they need to assist the smaller companies that may not have the technical wherewithal of the big four or five." Freeland said malign actors aren't trying to necessarily influence who wins elections. "The effort is to make our societies more polarized and to make us, as citizens of democracies, more cynical about the very idea that democracy exists and that it can work." Canada has learned important lessons from countries like Ukraine, which is seen as a veritable laboratory for malign Russian cybermeddling and disinformation following its recent presidential election, Freeland said. "Probably the most important and most powerful defence is an aware citizenry," she said. Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, hate, and misogyny are being propagated through various internet platforms, said Goodale. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "This is an evil that we have to combat effectively, and we will use all the tools of our criminal laws, our national security and intelligence laws to deal with this vile phenomenon, which is obviously very dangerous and has cost lives around the world." Freeland and her British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, and the international human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney also discussed a joint Canada-British summit on media freedom in London this summer. Both ministers promoted the need to protect freedom of the press as a core tenet of keeping liberal democracies strong in the face of unprecedented threats. "The U.K. together with Canada has decided that democratic countries need to stand together to make it an international taboo of the highest order to murder, arrest or detain journalists," said Hunt. Clooney, whose clients include two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, praised Canada and Britain for shining an international spotlight on media freedom. "Those with a pen in their hand should not feel a noose around their neck," she said. Three criminal defence lawyers who focus on cannabis cases say they're dismayed at the 10-month jail sentence recently imposed by a Manitoba judge on a man caught with 86.3 grams of marijuana. This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Three criminal defence lawyers who focus on cannabis cases say they're dismayed at the 10-month jail sentence recently imposed by a Manitoba judge on a man caught with 86.3 grams of marijuana. Rodney Clayton Felix, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution a new offence under the federal Cannabis Act that took effect last October. The Manitoba provincial courthouse in downtown Winnipeg. (Ruth Bonneville/Winnipeg Free Press) "Ten months is a very long time for a non-violent drug offence, especially given that the particular drug has just been legalized," said Caryma Sa'd, who practices law in Toronto. Sa'd is worried the sentence from provincial court Judge Dale Schille "sets the bar very high" for future convictions. "Past judgments affect future decisions... If this sentence isn't appealed, it's going to be a reference point for future cases," she said Wednesday. Toronto cannabis lawyer Jack Lloyd isn't convinced the case is the first criminal conviction and sentence under the new marijuana law, as asserted by a recent article in a Canadian cannabis law blog. "But what I can tell you is that 86 grams of cannabis resulting in a prison sentence of that duration is shocking," he said. Under the federal rules that came in effect Oct. 17, 2018, set a personal public possession limit of 30 grams. Related Items Click to Expand Articles Apr 3, 2019: Spectre of 'double standard' looms in post-legalization pot cases: lawyer Katie May Provincial court sentencing decisions aren't binding on other judges, Lloyd said. Still, he worries other judges might look to Schille's sentence for guidance. "For other judges that simply don't like cannabis, it'll be very persuasive," he said. "They'll use it to put more people in jail for cannabis." The prosecutor in Felix's case asked for 15 months imprisonment. His lawyer, Scott Paler, had countered with a fine, and later raised the spectre of punishment in cannabis cases becoming a "class issue." "Violent, dangerous criminals in this country do not get as much jail as that guy got, so I'm very curious as to how on earth he got that sentence. It's incredibly unjust," Lloyd said. Paul Lewin, another Toronto attorney who practices cannabis criminal law, agreed the sentence appears harsher than sentences for the equivalent crime before marijuana legalization. 'Violent, dangerous criminals in this country do not get as much jail as that guy got, so I'm very curious as to how on earth he got that sentence. It's incredibly unjust' Toronto cannabis lawyer Jack Lloyd "It's just mind-boggling, and it's completely contrary to what this whole thing was supposed to be about, with these heavy-handed, prohibition-era, (former prime minister Stephen) Harper-era sentences," said Lewin. All three lawyers emphasized they weren't privy to all the details of Felix's case. However, aggravating factors may have contributed to the 10-month sentence, according to Paler, an attorney with Legal Aid Manitoba. Felix already had two past convictions for similar offences, Paler said. In addition, the charge for which Felix was sentenced April 2 was his second under the Cannabis Act since legalization. At the time of his arrest in November 2018, Felix was out on bail, with another pending charge for possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution although Paler said prosecutors stayed that charge. Paler also believes the judge's sentence reflected the fact Felix had a knife in his bag when he was arrested. (Felix didn't plead guilty to that charge, he added.) Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Gladue Principle requires courts to make special considerations when sentencing Indigenous people. Paler said he did "did outline some Gladue considerations for the judge to consider," but didn't order a formal report for the court. Those reports can take weeks, he said, and "Mr. Felix wanted to resolve his matters as soon as possible, and we were hoping for a different outcome." At this point, Paler doesn't believe Felix will appeal his sentence. He is expected to be released from custody in June. "Manitoba has a fairly conservative judiciary, and we have some of the more serious sentences in terms of drug offences in this province, relative to other jurisdictions," Paler said. solomon.israel@theleafnews.com Twitter: @sol_israel At least eight senior citizens living with dementia at a personal care home on Henderson Highway were robbed of jewelry by a facility employee who then sold some of the items, Winnipeg police say. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2019 (983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. At least eight senior citizens living with dementia at a personal care home on Henderson Highway were robbed of jewelry by a facility employee who then sold some of the items, Winnipeg police say. The thefts happened in February and March at Kildonan Long Term Care Home. Some of the victims all aged 78 to 100 years could not speak and some were unconscious, police said Friday at a media conference. Investigators were able to recover some, but not all, of the jewelry from local pawn shops and gold buyers. A 37-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday and is facing multiple theft charges. "You're dealing with people who, not only are they vulnerable and they have memory issues and they're living with dementia, they also not able to defend themselves," Winnipeg Police Service Const. Tammy Skrabek said. "The lack of respect of somebody who works in that environment and is charged with taking care of that person is what's most disturbing." Some items, such as rings, were forcibly removed from the victims, however no injuries were reported, she said. "It's difficult to get information from the actual victims in terms of whether or not at the time they thought they were injured or if they felt it at all. We do know that some of the people were sedated at times, so it's a bit difficult," she said. The investigation began in March after the daughter of a resident reported her 93-year-old mother was missing a wedding ring and an engagement ring, and she was incapable of removing them by herself, police said. "Officers immediately approached the business, told them what was happening and the business reacted very quickly. They started to go through time lines and books to find out who was working and when, who would have had access to these vulnerable people, and provide us a list of employees. They fully co-operated," Skrabek said. The care home at 1970 Henderson Highway is owned and operated by Mississauga, Ont.,-based Revera Inc. It bills itself on its website as "one of North Americas leading and most trusted providers of seniors accommodation, care and services since 1961." A request for an interview was not granted, but the company instead sent an emailed statement. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "An employee was arrested by the Winnipeg Police Service at Kildonan Long Term Care Home on April 2 and charged with theft. At Revera, the safety and security of our residents and staff is our top priority and we are grateful to the police for resolving the situation so quickly. It would not be appropriate to comment further on a matter that is under investigation by the police," the statement read. It did not state whether the accused remains an employee or if she has been terminated. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority assigns clients to Kildonan centre under a service purchase agreement with Revera. "These allegations, and the arrest of an individual in connection with these allegations, have been brought to our attention. We have been in touch with Revera about the incident, and we will be fully co-operating with the police investigation, in whatever capacity we may be asked to do so," the WRHA said in an emailed statement Friday. The suspect, whose name police did not release, is charged with eight counts of theft under $5,000. She was released on a promise to appear. ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA The federal NDP fears that leaks about Manitoba judges could enflame regional and racial tensions, as the privacy commissioner investigates whether Ottawa violated the judges' rights to confidentiality. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The federal NDP fears that leaks about Manitoba judges could enflame regional and racial tensions, as the privacy commissioner investigates whether Ottawa violated the judges' rights to confidentiality. Privacy czar has limited reign OTTAWA The federal NDP and Tories want the Liberals to investigate leaks about Manitoba judges, because of the privacy commisioner's limited legislated scope. This is a serious leak undermining the independence of the judiciary for purely a partisan interest," NDP MP Charlie Angus said Thursday. "There has to be an accountability mechanism some place. click to read more OTTAWA The federal NDP and Tories want the Liberals to investigate leaks about Manitoba judges, because of the privacy commisioner's limited legislated scope. This is a serious leak undermining the independence of the judiciary for purely a partisan interest," NDP MP Charlie Angus said Thursday. "There has to be an accountability mechanism some place. The commissioner can only probe departments, not ministers offices nor the Prime Minsiter's Office, despite pushing for such powers for years. In any case, Angus says that having the privacy commissioner clear Justice Canada and the Privy Council of leaking the info would narrow the possible sources of the leak. The only remaining bodies that would seem to have knowledge would be Trudeau's office or the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, which few would suspect of leaking. Angus said that would all but confirm the information came from the PMO. We have to take these elaborate steps because we have a Prime Minister's Office who doesn't seem to think that they have an obligation to the rule of law," he said. Neither Angus nor Conservative MP Peter Keny have asked the commisioner to look into leaks regarding Manitoba provincial justice Ken Champagne. Because none of the leaks suggested Champagne had actually applied for any federal position, its unlikely any Privacy Act breach occurred in his case. Concerns about the privacy commisioners' limited scope echo those about the ethic commissioner's probe into the SNC-Lavalin scandal, because he can only investigate breaches of certain rules and laws. Dylan Robertson Close "Whoever ordered this leak is playing with real cultural fire," northern Ontario MP Charlie Angus told the Free Press. This week, Angus and a Conservative MP called on privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien to look into whether Ottawa breached its own laws about confidential information regarding Glenn Joyal, the chief justice of Manitobas Court of Queens Bench. On March 26, CTV News and The Canadian Press reported that Joyal had applied to be named to the Supreme Court. Appointments are made through a confidential process, where even the fact someone has submitted an application is protected under the Privacy Act. The reports alleged that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began to doubt the judgment of his attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, in 2017 over her apparent preference to put Joyal on the Supreme Court bench, and also have him lead the highest court in the land. DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Former Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. On the day the leak was reported, Joyal said he had withdrawn his application in 2017, citing his wife's health. He wrote that he felt the leak occurred "to further an agenda unrelated to the appointment process." The same day as the Joyal leaks, The Globe and Mail reported that Wilson-Raybould wanted provincial court Judge Ken Champagne, who is Metis, to replace Joyal as chief justice in the Manitoba Court of Queens Bench. Like Angus, Tory MP Peter Kent also sent his own request to the privacy commissioner, whose office confirmed it will investigate. The Conservatives have continually raised the issue of the leaks about Joyal and Champagne in question period, including during a heated exchange on Thursday. "The Liberal government's corrupt practices know no bounds. It did not hesitate to drag the good name of Manitoba's chief justice through the mud," Selkirk-area MP James Bezan alleged. Both opposition parties urged Justice Minister David Lametti, who replaced Wilson-Raybould, to conduct his own probe into the leaks, because the commissioner can't probe political offices. Lametti instead said hed "ensure it wont happen again" and said hed discussed the integrity of the appointment process Thursday in a regular meeting of judges from across Canada. He said it was "unfair" the judges had been named in the reports. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Judge Ken Champagne, left, pictured with Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal, was reported to be Wilson-Raybould's choice for replacement of Joyal as chief justice. Last week, Wilson-Raybould told the Free Press she favoured "some sort of investigation as to the source" of the leaks, which she insisted she wasnt part of. Angus said he was also "disturbed" that both reports inferred that Joyal was homophobic, which he said plays into stereotypes about the Prairies. The reports cited a January 2017 speech in which Joyal argued judges broad interpretations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms had overstepped into social issues on which Parliament should decide. The articles then claimed Trudeau had concerns that this meant Joyal would help roll back gay rights and access to abortion. "It certainly struck me as disturbing that the voice speaking on background really painted this judge as some kind of regional Manitoba extremist," Angus said. "We have not seen any evidence that the judge merits that kind of abuse." The Manitoba Bar Association called those insinuations "entirely improper, and indeed false" given Joyals rulings on minority rights. SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien was called upon to look into whether Ottawa breached its own laws regarding Glenn Joyal's rights to confidentiality. Legal experts have said they were "appalled" by the leaks because they could lead the public to question judges commitment to their jobs and make quality candidates wary of putting their names forward. Citing unnamed sources, the Globe claimed Wilson-Raybould wanted to make Champagne the first Indigenous head of any superior court in Canada. Angus found it "very concerning" that this characterization could give the impression that Champagne would be promoted to fill a diversity quota, instead of on the basis of his own merits. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "In a country like Canada where we are moving forward, these sensitivities and these tensions are still there." The Free Press could not reach Joyal or Champagne on Thursday. Meanwhile, Angus said the media should be cautious about the almost daily leaks that contain "smears" against Wilson-Raybould and former Treasury Board president Jane Philpott, which "are getting ridiculous" and distracting from the issue of whether Trudeau inappropriately pressured his former attorney general. "We seem to get further and further down the rabbit hole," he said, again accusing the Liberals of leaking the information. "Theyre literally outraged that this story won't die, but every morning they feed another leak that drives the story further." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca This newspaper has been here a long time, you know. Long enough for our memories to be called history and our name to grow old, and when I was just a girl the Free Press felt woven into the very fabric of the city. Its existence was reassuring and familiar, as indivisible from Winnipegs landscape as the railroads and rivers. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. This newspaper has been here a long time, you know. Long enough for our memories to be called history and our name to grow old, and when I was just a girl the Free Press felt woven into the very fabric of the city. Its existence was reassuring and familiar, as indivisible from Winnipegs landscape as the railroads and rivers. Yet nothing lasts forever and sometimes, its nice to be remembered. So on Thursday night, when the Manitoba Museum honoured the Free Press at its 2019 tribute gala, that recognition mattered. And yes, its always a little awkward to pause and pat oneself on the back, so forgive this indulgence; but this isnt just about that. At its heart, this is a story about belonging. In a way, Free Press editor Paul Samyn pointed out at the gala, being lauded at the museum was just bringing that story full circle: the very first Free Press office, little more than a clapboard shack on Main Street, sat on the same patch of land the Manitoba Museum occupies today. "There are ghosts among us, and those ghosts smell of printers ink," Free Press publisher Bob Cox said, on stage. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Free Press Editor Paul Samyn (left), co-owner Bob Silver, co-owner Ron Stern, and publisher Bob Cox pose for a picture at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg on Thursday. The connection between museum and newspaper runs deeper than place. In a way, we do the same work. We put light on our communitys stories, knowing it is only through memories that we can know who we are; and whether saved behind glass in a gallery, or by ink in the paper, the stories we hold spring from the same source. A headline becomes an artifact the moment its made. What is news in our city today, is history by tomorrow. And the histories of this province and paper are inextricably connected, so close in age that one never really knew a time without the other. When Manitoba was born in 1870, emerging from the spirit of Metis resistance, the paper was not far behind: next year, the province will turn 150 years old. The paper is just two years younger. So the two grew up together, bound by the same tribulations, weathering the same storms of nature and culture and politics. The Free Press witnessed Winnipeg be born and rise as a city; it was there when the first train rolled into town. Every time the Red River Valley flooded, our reporters were out in the water, boots sinking into the muck. And we belong to this province, in ways that go beyond stories. In an era where newspapers are being sucked up by hedge funds and massive corporations, the Free Press is one of the few to escape the trend of amalgamation. We remain independently owned. Every decision that shapes our coverage is made by, and for, Manitobans. The Manitoba Museum honours the Winnipeg Free Press The Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg on Thursday. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Editor Paul Samyn (left), co-owner Bob Silver, co-owner Ron Stern, and publisher Bob Cox at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press on Thursday. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS News hawker Brian Baird (left) and Free Press editor Paul Samyn act out a skit in support of the Access for All Community Initiative at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg on Thursday. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Diane Gray, chair of the Tribute 2019 Honourary Committee, speaks at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jeoff Chipman, chair of the museums Bringing Our Stories Forward Capital & Endowment Campaign, speaks at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Free Press editor Paul Samyn speaks at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Publisher Bob Cox (centre) laughs with faith reporter John Longhurst (left) and columnist Doug Speirs at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS James Cohen, board chair, speaks at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Co-owner Bob Silver mingles at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Co-owner Bob Silver speaks at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gala attendees walk through the 1919 strike exhibit at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Newsie Kaitlin Aiello interacts with a gala attendee at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Newsie Kaitlin Aiello hawks papers in the 1919 strike gallery at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press . - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Free Press editor Paul Samyn speaks at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Museum executive director and CEO Claudette Leclerc (left), co-owners Ron Stern and Bob Silver, and chair of the board of governors James Cohen pose for a photo at the Manitoba Museum Tribute Gala honouring the Winnipeg Free Press. - MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS But that story, like all stories, may not last forever. Once, not long ago, it was hard to imagine a Manitoba that did not include the Free Press. It would have been even stranger to envision a day that the paper would stand only behind glass at the museum, and not in the hands of our readers. Not so hard to imagine, anymore. The times are changing, and now the twinned history of paper and province are fraying, threatened to come apart. So as the glittering crowd filed into the museum Thursday night to pay tribute to the Free Presss history, it was also a time to think about what the future could look like. Everyone knows the media is battered. The reasons are both complex and simple: the rise of digital media shattered revenue models that once enabled regional newspapers such as ours to thrive. Nearly two decades into this steady decline, few outlets not named the Washington Post or the New York Times have found a solution. So every year, despite strong and rising readership online, newspaper revenue falls, and the critical social infrastructure North American journalism shrinks a little further. Nearly every print media outlet on the continent has suffered from devastating layoffs, budget cuts and dwindling resources; the Free Press is no exception. "We have never faced more challenging times," Cox told the gala crowd. "At no time in our history have we faced a more uncertain future, yet at no time has there been a greater need for the journalism that we do, for a reliable set of facts that enables this community to be in conversation with itself." That has, after all, always been our mission. From the earliest days of the paper, when two men named W.F. Luxton and John A. Kenny brought a printing press to Main Street and endeavoured to, in Coxs words, "help build this tiny community by telling it about itself, and about the outside world," we have always known where we belong. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Now, as the Free Press fights to survive in an economic landscape that has already claimed too many newspaper victims, we find our foundation in that belonging. The paper has always been as tenacious as the wider province around us, the one we call home, the one whose every story was documented by our own. Weve walked a long road together, Manitoba and the Free Press. Weve tumbled through the years, growing and changing, but some things stay the same. This is where the paper was born, where we belong and where, with the commitment of our staff and our readers, we will remain. Were not history yet. Proceeds from the gala went to the museums Access for All program, which helps ensure youth from across Manitoba have a chance to visit. Past honourees have included the Chipman family, The Winnipeg Foundation and philanthropists Abdo and Samira el Tassi. melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca Manitoba's health minister faced a barrage of questions Thursday about why two government requests for proposal meant to improve health-care outcomes have yet to turn up successful bids or, in one case, even be issued. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba's health minister faced a barrage of questions Thursday about why two government requests for proposal meant to improve health-care outcomes have yet to turn up successful bids or, in one case, even be issued. According to freedom of information results obtained by the Manitoba NDP, about $4.1 million in federal addictions treatment funding available through a one-time Emergency Treatment Fund that flowed in December has not been used by the province. Health Minister Cameron Friesen said the money was set aside from a bilateral deal signed with Ottawa in December to pay for flexible-length treatment beds for those with addictions to opioids and methamphetamine. The RFP for those treatment beds has not been issued yet due to "complications," Friesen said, but he hoped it would still be posted this spring, as previously announced. "I became aware a few weeks ago that there was a delay on going to the RFP. Im not pleased at all with that," the minister said, adding later: "Its complex work. Were talking about treating methamphetamine (addictions) in a new and flexible way... That takes planning. It takes time, it takes physical space and it takes planning in order to deliver that work." Dr. Ginette Poulin, an addictions specialist, confirmed setting up meth-related treatment options in Manitoba will be difficult. "When it comes to methamphetamine use, it is a challenge because we dont have an antidote or treatment per se, in terms of pharmacology," she said. "Theres not a specific treatment... (and) thats not unique to here in Canada or here in Manitoba. And we are seeing those very acute effects (of meth usage), certainly with our congenital syphilis (rates) and other outcomes that are not seen elsewhere right now in the world... Were learning about how we can advance our treatment and better meet those needs as we move forward with that." Friesen also faced questioning about another RFP an external review of CancerCare that hasn't been awarded. The province issued it Oct. 29, 2018, looking for consultants to review the "overall operational efficiency and fiscal performance of (CancerCare Manitoba) by benchmarking with similar cancer organizations in Canada." On Thursday, the minister wouldn't say how many bids the province received, but noted the government didn't get any appropriate offers. "I can say that we were not able to, at this time, return a proponent to deliver the work in the way that it had been originally described. And therefore, were going to try again," Friesen said, adding he's directed government officials to go back to the drawing board in terms of reviewing the qualifications for the RFP. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Friesen wouldn't say how it may be changed to encourage more bids. He didn't want to "prejudice the process going forward." The province also announced Thursday it will give Manitobans easier access to two medications meant to suppress alcohol cravings. Naltrexone and acamprosate will be moved from a Part 3 exception drug status benefit on the provincial formulary, to a Part 1 "open benefit" listing. This means physicians prescribing the medication no longer need to wait for prior approval from the Manitoba Pharmacare Program. The move was recommended in last year's Virgo report on mental health and addictions, Friesen pointed out. jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu Premier Brian Pallister has denied suggestions he would be in a conflict of interest if he were to participate in discussions between the government and Manitoba Public Insurance on the thorny issue of online services. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Brian Pallister has denied suggestions he would be in a conflict of interest if he were to participate in discussions between the government and Manitoba Public Insurance on the thorny issue of online services. NDP MLA Tom Lindsey raised the issue in the legislature Thursday, saying "the potential for conflict is real" because the premier earns income from an insurance business and his company sells accident insurance. "Will the premier tell this house whether he has removed himself from all discussions regarding MPI?" Lindsey asked. Pallister didn't answer the question, but said he has never "placed a general insurance contract in my life" and hasn't had shares in a general insurance business in more than 25 years. "My company, the company I was active in, wasn't involved in MPI in any way, shape or form," the premier told the legislature. "The company that I used to be involved in did do accident insurance but it was, not for cars... it was for people." Pallister made his fortune selling life insurance and providing financial and succession planning services. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. According to his latest conflict-of-interest disclosure form, filed with the clerk of the Legislative Assembly, the premier says he owns preferred shares in Pallister Insurance Agency Ltd. The Free Press reported last month the Pallister government has been at loggerheads with MPI's Tory-appointed board of directors over the Crown corporation's plans to allow customers to perform basic transactions, such as renewing a driver's licence or an auto insurance policy online. Insurance brokers, who fear a loss of business, oppose the plans. The government has been sympathetic to their concerns. The Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba has taken the position that even online transactions by MPI customers should go through an insurance broker. MPI's board is so concerned about government pushback against the online service plans that it solicited an outside legal opinion to clarify its role and responsibilities. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca The provincial government has approved an environmental licence for the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project, after about five years worth of consultations. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The provincial government has approved an environmental licence for the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Project, after about five years worth of consultations. Manitoba Hydro is ready to start construction on the 500-kilovolt power line as soon as it gets federal approval. Hydro spokesperson Bruce Owen said by email the Crown corporation expects a federal decision on or prior to May 16. "In the interim, weve planned for an accelerated construction schedule for some time, and weve selected two contractors to work on different sections of the line as soon as all licences are received and conditions of approval are satisfied," Owen said. Hydro expects the transmission line to be in service by June 2020. The Manitoba-Minnesota line will double Hydro's energy import capacity in case of power emergencies. Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires noted it will also displace 1.5 megatonnes of carbon emissions in favour of renewable energy. "So after five years and four extensive review processes, we have reviewed all the material and Manitoba feels very confident in issuing the licence," Squires said, adding: "And we believe that our consultations with Indigenous groups have been meaningful and consistent with the honour of the Crown." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Manitoba Metis Federation has taken the province to court over it axing a $67.5-million agreement to compensate Metis people for the planned construction of Hydro projects, including the Manitoba-Minnesota line. The preliminary hearing is set for April 12 in the Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg. Squires said she doesn't believe the court proceedings will affect the federal licensing approval process. She pointed out the National Energy Board recommended in November the federal cabinet approve the project by the beginning of 2019. The minister said she and her cabinet predecessor (Cathy Cox) had "extensive conversations" with the MMF about the transmission project, as well as 15 other First Nations groups in Manitoba and Ontario. jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu Extended coffee, cigarette and lunch breaks that eat away hours of the day. Personal shopping, errands and chores on company time. Employees slipping away early, effectively cutting shifts in half. Little to no work done while on the taxpayers' dime. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 4/4/2019 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Extended coffee, cigarette and lunch breaks that eat away hours of the day. Personal shopping, errands and chores on company time. Employees slipping away early, effectively cutting shifts in half. Little to no work done while on the taxpayers' dime. Those are the findings of a recent surveillance operation carried out by a local private investigation firm into the activity of City of Winnipeg inspectors with the planning, property and development department. The investigation firm was hired by a group of more than a dozen Winnipeggers homeowners, business owners and construction contractors whove had negative experiences with the department. Those experiences ranging from alleged long wait times for inspections to poor, unprofessional treatment at the hands of staff led the group to spend $18,000 to have investigators take a closer look at the departments activities. Surveillance footage of City of Winnipeg planning, property and development department employees. In total, 17 inspectors were placed under surveillance over the course of 28 days. Based on the latest City of Winnipeg compensation disclosure, they have annual salaries ranging from $69,000 to $91,000. The investigators say only one staff member placed under surveillance appeared to be putting in an honest days work. On average, its alleged the PPD inspectors put in less than three hours of work each shift. Instead, they were documented filling their days with lengthy group coffee breaks at Tim Hortons; long lunches at greasy spoons, Bar Italia and Hooters; shopping at Costco, Salvation Army thrift stores and other businesses; and taking care of chores such as clearing their driveway of snow or working on a personal rental property. The results of the investigation documented in video, photos and notes that have been shared with the Free Press for review shocked the investigators and their clients. "The way things go in that department is absolutely appalling. Based on our experiences, we figured they were overworked and understaffed. Well, we were totally surprised. Theyre just running wild," said a group spokesman. "Meanwhile, some of us are waiting nine months for electrical work and still havent gotten a final inspection yet. These guys have a stranglehold on this city. Its about time someone woke them up and let them know they are city workers." The Free Press has agreed not to name the group spokesman since he fears speaking out will negatively impact future dealings with the department. The firm hired by the group was Wilson Investigations, which is fully licensed by the Province of Manitoba. The city declined to make PPD director John Kiernan available for an interview Thursday. A city spokesman asked the Free Press to send documents from the investigation to the city for review. That request was declined. Instead, the Free Press sent a summary of the investigation's findings. "There are concerns with the allegations as presented, however the city won't draw any conclusions based on a summary of claims. There are situations where individuals will work extended, flexible or modified hours, which are agreed to with their manager or director," the spokesman said in a written statement. "At the end of the day, the city maintains the expectation that its officials conduct their work effectively and with integrity." Long wait times for PPD inspections have been a frequent complaint among Winnipeg homeowners and contractors for years. In 2018, there were more than 96,000 residential and 47,000 commercial inspections conducted, according to statistics provided by the city. The PPD department employs 57 inspectors and five zoning field officers who engage in site inspections. Their duties include, but are not limited to, proactive and complaint-driven inspections to ensure compliance with building, plumbing and electrical codes, as well as building and zoning bylaws. Surveillance footage of City of Winnipeg planning, property and development department employees shopping at a thrift shop. Members of the group who describe it as a loose collection of concerned taxpayers said they previously took their negative experiences with PPD directly to the city. However, they felt their concerns fell on deaf ears, so they decided to take matters into their own hands. At first, they believed the investigation would confirm their suspicions the department was understaffed. "Our concern was primarily the wait times, although there were some concerns about the attitude as well. Overall, we were just wondering, What the heck is going on? When we got our findings, we were dumbfounded and disappointed," the group's spokesman said. "This wasnt a personal attack on anybody. This was a fact-finding mission. Why are we waiting months and months and months for someone to come out and inspect some electrical work or get a permit for a deck?" A spokesman for Wilson Investigations said the people working on the file all have more than a decades worth of field experience. The surveillance began Jan. 11 and ended March 29, over a total of 28 days during that period. Statement from the City of Winnipeg Click to Expand "The City of Winnipeg is accountable to its citizens. Its important that concerns are received and responded to when presented to the city. While the city provides 24-hour access to services and information through 311, a citizen can also file a report anonymously through the fraud & waste hotline, which is overseen by an independent auditor. "This hotline linked on the citys main webpage... provides citizens with a convenient and confidential way to report incidents of wrongdoing, as well as other issues and concerns. Information in reports can only be accessed by the city auditors office. "The city auditor will review each reported case and, if necessary, launch an investigation. They will ensure an appropriate, objective and impartial investigation is conducted, regardless of the alleged wrongdoer's position, title, and length of service or the relationship with the city of any party who might be involved in such an investigation." While investigators initially focused on only a handful of inspectors, they eventually branched out to look at more department employees in an effort to see how widespread the behaviour was. "It was pretty consistent, different variations of the same," the group spokesman said. "One guy would go to Costco for an hour. One guy would go to a thrift store for an hour. On any given day they would link up with each other for coffees with the other guys. "The only thing I noticed is they would change the location of the Tim Hortons they would go to. There were no measures taken to disguise what they were doing. It appeared to be a group effort. It appeared to be a known thing among all of them to do very little." In addition to the inspectors shopping and running personal errands, there is documented evidence of group lunches that lasted, in some cases, more than two hours. One employee was seen going home during the middle of a shift to clear his driveway with a snowblower. Another is alleged to have spent five hours working on a personal rental property. Cutting shifts short was also common. Two employees, in particular, went home early in the afternoon on multiple occasions; a resident of Anola located 24 kilometres east of Winnipeg was seen arriving home by 1 p.m. "When theyd attend what I believed to be work visits, buildings under construction, places like that, they would go in and out of a building in five minutes. It was very quick, five minutes, 10 minutes or less," one investigator said. "Its all right there. The proof is in the pudding. If youre not including driving time, I would say three hours of work would be pretty generous." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The group spokesman said he hopes the results of the investigation lead to significant changes in the department. He alleges many other Winnipeggers outside the group have had similar negative experiences with PPD. However, he said its disappointing they had to raise $18,000 of their own money to bring to light how their tax dollars were being misspent, particularly when theyd previously tried to raise their concerns with the city. "Something has to be done with that department. Its not hard to do investigation work when theyre just sitting ducks," he said. "Under surveillance or not, thats a very improper use of a workday." ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe The following companies are subsidiares of Iron Mountain: AB Archyvu Centras, AB Archyvu Sistemos, AB Archyvu Sistemos Estonia Branch, AS Archivu Serviss, Accutrac Software Inc, ArchivesOne, Archyvu sistemos, Arhiv-Trezor d.o.o., Ausdoc Group Pty Limited, Ausdoc Holdings Pty Limited, Bonded Services (International) B.V., Bonded Services Acquisition Ltd., Bonded Services Group, Bonded Services Group Limited, Bonded Services International Limited, Bonded Services Limited, Box Butler, Britannia Data Management Limited, Capital Vision Holdings SAS, Capital Vision SAS, Connected Corporation, Cornerstone Records Management, Crozier Fine Arts, Crozier Schweiz Ag, Custodia S.O.S. SA, DBJ Limited, DMS Storage s.r.o., DigiGuard, Disaster Recovery Services Limited, Docscan Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docscan Proprietary Limited, Docu-File JHB Proprietary Limited, DocuTar Iratrendezo es Tarolo Szolgaltato Kft., DocuVault, Docufile (Pty) Ltd, EAC Invest, Eurospags Investments ApS, EvoSwitch, F.T.S. (Freight Forwarders) Limited, F.T.S. (Great Britain) Limited, F.T.S. (Road Transport) Limited, FTS Bonded Limited, Fairfield Fine Art, File Express Limited, Film Media Services Limited, First International Records Management AG, First International Records Management LLC, Fleet Freight Limited, Fontis International GmbH, Fortrust, G4S Secure Data Solutions Colombia, Glenbeign Records Mangement (GRM) DWC-LLC, Global Logistics Worldwide Limited, Haworth Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Haworth Group Limited, Hays IMS, Helcom Limited, IG2 Data Security, IM Mortgage Solutions LLC, IMI Investments Two Ltd, IMSA Peru SRL, IO.com, Information Storage Consolidation Co, Iron Mountain (Deutschland) Service GmbH, Iron Mountain (Espana) Services S.L, Iron Mountain (Gibraltar) Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (Ireland) Services Limited, Iron Mountain (Nederland) Data Centre B.V., Iron Mountain (Nederland) Data Centre Holdings B.V., Iron Mountain (Nederland) Data Centre Services B.V., Iron Mountain (Nederland) Services BV, Iron Mountain (Schweiz) AG, Iron Mountain (UK) Data Centre Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) EES Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) PLC, Iron Mountain (UK) Services Limited, Iron Mountain A/S, Iron Mountain Acquisition Holdings Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Argentina S.A., Iron Mountain Arsivleme Hizmetleri A.S., Iron Mountain Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Asia Pte Limited, Iron Mountain Australia Group Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Group Services Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd, Iron Mountain Austria Archivierung Gmbh, Iron Mountain BPM SPRL, Iron Mountain Belgium NV, Iron Mountain Bulgaria, Iron Mountain Canada Operations ULC, Iron Mountain Ceska Republika S.R.O., Iron Mountain Chile S.A., Iron Mountain Chile Servicios S.A., Iron Mountain Cloud LLC, Iron Mountain Colombia S.A.S., Iron Mountain Cyprus Limited, Iron Mountain DIMS Limited, Iron Mountain Data Centers LLC, Iron Mountain Data Centers Services LLC, Iron Mountain Data Centre Pte. Limited, Iron Mountain Data Management (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain Data Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain Deutschland GmbH, Iron Mountain Do Brasil Ltda, Iron Mountain Document Holdings Sweden AB, Iron Mountain Document Storage Services LLC, Iron Mountain EES Holdings Ltd., Iron Mountain Enterprises Sdn. Bhd., Iron Mountain Espana SA, Iron Mountain Eswatini (Pty) Ltd, Iron Mountain Europe (Group) Limited, Iron Mountain Europe Ltd., Iron Mountain FZ-LLC, Iron Mountain Finland OY, Iron Mountain France S.A.S., Iron Mountain Fulfillment Services Inc., Iron Mountain Global Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Global LLC, Iron Mountain Group (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Hellas SA, Iron Mountain Holdings (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Holdings (France) SNC, Iron Mountain Holdings Sweden AB, Iron Mountain Hong Kong Ltd., Iron Mountain Incorporated, Iron Mountain India Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Information Management LLC, Iron Mountain Information Management Services Canada Inc., Iron Mountain Information Management Services Inc., Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management Inc., Iron Mountain International (Holdings) Ltd, Iron Mountain International Holdings BV, Iron Mountain Ireland Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Ireland Limited, Iron Mountain Korea Limited, Iron Mountain Latin America Holdings Sociedad Limitada, Iron Mountain Lesotho (Proprietry) Limited, Iron Mountain Luxembourg Sarl, Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain MDM Limited, Iron Mountain Macau Limited, Iron Mountain Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft., Iron Mountain Management Services GmbH, Iron Mountain Mayflower Limited, Iron Mountain Mexico Holding S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Iron Mountain Mexico Servicios S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance Holdings LLC, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance I LLC, Iron Mountain Nederland B.V., Iron Mountain Nederland Holdings B.V., Iron Mountain New Zealand Limited, Iron Mountain Norge AS, Iron Mountain Participations SA, Iron Mountain Peru S.A., Iron Mountain Philippines Inc., Iron Mountain Poland Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Polska Services Sp z.o.o., Iron Mountain Polska Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Receivables QRS LLC, Iron Mountain Receivables TRS LLC, Iron Mountain Records Management (Puerto Rico) Inc, Iron Mountain Records Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain SRL, Iron Mountain Sdn. Bhd., Iron Mountain Secure Shredding (Pty) Ltd, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Canada Inc., Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Inc., Iron Mountain Services Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Services S.A.S., Iron Mountain Shanghai Co Ltd, Iron Mountain Singapore Pte. Ltd., Iron Mountain Slovakia s.r.o., Iron Mountain South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Iron Mountain South Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Iron Mountain South Africa Information Management (Pty) Ltd, Iron Mountain South Africa Records Management (Pty) Ltd, Iron Mountain South America Sarl, Iron Mountain Southeast Asia Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Sweden AB, Iron Mountain Taiwan Ltd., Iron Mountain UK Services (Holdings) Ltd, Iron Mountain US Holdings Inc, Iron Mountain Vietnam Company Limited, Iron Mountain d.o.o. Novi Banovci, Jigsaw Freight Limited, Jigsaw Pieces Limited, Jin Shan Limited, KDM Spectrumdata Pty Ltd, KH Data Capital Development Land LLC, Lane Archives Technologies Corporation, Livevault, Marshgate Morangis Sarl, Mimosa Systems, Nettlebed Acquisition Corp., Novo Group Limited, Novo Holdings Limited, Novo Overseas Limited, NxtGen Data Center & Cloud Services, OEC Records Management Company Private Limited, OSG Records Management (Europe) Limited, OSG Records Management Center LLC, OSG Records Management Centre LLC, OSG Records Management Crypto LLC, OSG Records Management Foreign LLC, OSG Records Management LLC, OSG Records Management LLC (Ukraine), OSG Records Management LLP, OSG Services sp. zoo, Oda International Management Corporation NV, Osrecki d.o.o., PT Iron Mountain Indonesia, Preferred Media Ltd, Prism Integrated Sdn Bhd, Recall, Recall (London) Limited, Recall (Shanghai) Ltd., Recall Europe Finance Ltd., Recall Europe Limited, Recall GQ Ltd, Recall Holdings, Recall Holdings Limited, Recall India Information Management Pvt. Ltd., Recall International Pty Limited, Recall Italy SRL, Recall Limited, Recall Overseas Holdings Pty Limited, Recall Shredding Limited, Recall Technology Pty. Ltd., Recall Total Information Management India Pvt. Ltd., Record Data Limited, Royal Seal S.R.O., SIA RIATech, Saracen Datastore Limited, Shanghai Iron Mountain Data Storage Co. Ltd., Shuttle SRL, Startify, Superior Storage Limited, UAB Confidento, and Xepa Digital. The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. Canadian Dollar May Be Setting Up For An Upside Breakout Our researchers, at Technical Traders Ltd., believe a current pennant/flag formation in the Canadian Dollar is suggesting an upside breakout move may be setting up over the next 5~7+ days. Recently, the Canadian Dollar has weakened from 0.76875 to lows near 0.74375. Current price rotation is almost perfectly aligned with Fibonacci Price theory suggesting that the recent failure to establish any new lower price level (highlighted on this chart in MAGENTA), suggests a tightening price range as the current pennant/flag formation completes over the next 5~7+ days. It is our belief that as long as the current price level stays above the 0.74375 level throughout the completed pennant apex, an upside price break is very likely. Skilled traders may look at this opportunity for an incredible 200+ pip upside price swing. We believe the current downward price trend will be the last opportunity to target lower prices before the upside breakout occurs. The next 3~5 days will likely see prices move a bit lower, targeting the lower support channel before the breakout rally begins. Interestingly enough, this move in the Canadian Dollar aligns with our Gold/Silver research suggesting an April 21~24 date as a major bottom/basing date. Could it be that some currency fluctuation or global market event will drive bigger moves in many of the major currencies while pushing traders into the precious metals markets at the same time? Well know more as we get closer to the April 21~24 date, but right now we believe all the tea leaves are aligning for some type of bigger move in later April and skilled traders should begin positioning their trades accordingly. If you want to learn how valuable a team of dedicated researchers and traders can be to your bottom line, visit www.TheTechnicalTraders.com to learn how we can help you find and profit from these moves. We believe you wont find anything like our proprietary research and trading triggers anywhere else on the planet. Do yourself a favor and read some of our recent research posts to see just how valuable we can be to your future then consider supporting our team and effort to assist you. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Axel Springer SE operates as a publishing company primarily in Europe and the United States. The company operates through three segments: Classifieds Media, News Media, and Marketing Media. The Classifieds Media segment operates a portfolio of online classified portals in the areas of real estate, jobs, cars, and general. This segment operates SeLoger, Immoweb, and Immowelt/Immonet real estate portals; Totaljobs, Jobsite, and Saongroup job portals; meinestadt.de, a regional portal; and car and general classified ad portals, including LaCentrale and Yad2. The News Media segment offers newspapers primarily under the BILD and WELT brands in Berlin, as well as the FAKT name in Poland; automotive, computer, and sports magazines under the AUTO BILD, COMPUTER BILD, and SPORT BILD brand names; and a tabloid under the BLIKK name in Hungary. This segment also operates Internet portals, such as Onet.pl and azet.sk; profession.hu, a job portal; WELT, a news channel; BILD.de, a news and entertainment portal; WELT.de, a news portal; Upday, a mobile news portal; businessinsider.com; and Autobild.de, a digital appearances of the magazine. Its digital offerings also comprise analytics, studies, and digital market data for companies and institutions. The Marketing Media segment provides advertising services on performance or reach based marketing. The company distributes its print media primarily through press wholesale companies, station book trade, and press import companies; and digital products principally through its webpages or download platforms, including the app stores of Apple and Google. Axel Springer SE was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Read More BNP Paribas SA provides a range of banking and financial services in France and internationally. It operates through two divisions, Retail Banking and Services, and Corporate and Institutional Banking. The company offers long-term corporate vehicle leasing, and rental and other financing solutions; and digital banking and investment services, cash management, and factoring services to corporate clients, as well as wealth management services. It also provides credit solutions for individuals under the Cetelem, Cofinoga, Findomestic, AlphaCredit, and Opel Vauxhall brands; savings and protection solutions, including insuring individuals, and their personal projects and assets; and asset management, private banking, and real estate services. In addition, the company offers global market services, including investment, hedging, financing, research, and market intellingence across asset classes; security services comprising clearing, custody, and asset and fund services, as well as corporate trust, and market and financing services; and corporate trade and treasury, debt financing, specialized financing, strategic advisory, mergers and acquisition, and equity capital market services for institutional and corporate clients. The company was formerly known as Banque Nationale de Paris and changed its name to BNP Paribas SA in May 2000. BNP Paribas SA was founded in 1848 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Read More First Data Corporation provides commerce enabled technology and solutions for merchants, financial institutions, and card issuers in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through three segments: Global Business Solutions, Global Financial Solutions, and Network & Security Solutions. The Global Business Solutions segment provides solutions to merchants, such as retail point of sale merchant acquiring, e-commerce, and mobile payment services, as well as cloud based point of sale operating system that include a marketplace for proprietary and third party applications. The Global Finance Solutions segment provides technology solutions for bank and non-bank issuers, such as credit, retail private label, commercial card, and loan processing, as well as licensed financial software systems; suite of account services that include card personalization and embossing, customer communications, and professional services; and call center solutions and back office processing. The Network & Security Solutions segment offers EFT network, stored value network, and security and fraud solutions, as well as other value added solutions to its clients in GBS and GFS segments, smaller financial institutions, and other enterprise clients. First Data Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Read More The McClatchy Company publishes newspapers and news Websites in the United States. Its publications include the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, The (Raleigh) News and Observer, and The (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram. It also provides niche publications and community newspapers, as well as other print and digital direct marketing services. The company distributes content, including video products, through its owned and operated Websites and mobile applications, third-party search and ad exchanges, social media platforms, and electronic editions of its daily newspapers, as well as its printed daily newspapers. The McClatchy Company was founded in 1857 and is headquartered in Sacramento, California. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Sonic Automotive: AM GA LLC, AM Realty GA LLC, AnTrev LLC, Arngar Inc., Autobahn Inc., Avalon Ford Inc., Car Cash of North Carolina Inc., Cornerstone Acceptance Corporation, ECHOPARK: AM GA LLC, ECHOPARK: AM Realty GA LLC, ECHOPARK: EP Realty NC LLC, ECHOPARK: EP Realty SC LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark AZ LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark CA LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark Driver Education LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark FL LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark NC LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark Realty TX LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark SC LLC, ECHOPARK: EchoPark TX LLC, ECHOPARK: Echopark Automotive Inc., ECHOPARK: SAI DS LLC, ECHOPARK: SAI DS Realty TX LLC, ECHOPARK: SAI Vehicle Subscription Inc., ECHOPARK: TT Denver LLC, ECHOPARK: TTRE CO 1 LLC, FAA Beverly Hills Inc., FAA Capitol N Inc., FAA Concord H Inc., FAA Concord T Inc., FAA Dublin N Inc., FAA Dublin VWD Inc., FAA Holding Corp., FAA Las Vegas H Inc., FAA Poway H Inc., FAA Poway T Inc., FAA San Bruno Inc., FAA Santa Monica V Inc., FAA Serramonte H Inc., FAA Serramonte Inc., FAA Serramonte L Inc., FAA Stevens Creek Inc., FAA Torrance CPJ Inc., FirstAmerica Automotive Inc., Fort Mill Ford Inc., Franciscan Motors Inc., Frontier Oldsmobile-Cadillac Inc., Kramer Motors Incorporated, L Dealership Group Inc., Marcus David Corporation, Massey Cadillac Inc. (TN-MI), Mountain States Motors Co. Inc., North Point Imports LLC, Ontario L LLC, Philpott Motors Ltd., SAI AL HC1 Inc., SAI AL HC2 Inc., SAI Ann Arbor Imports LLC, SAI Atlanta B LLC, SAI Broken Arrow C LLC, SAI Calabasas A LLC, SAI Chamblee V LLC, SAI Charlotte M LLC, SAI Chattanooga N LLC, SAI Clearwater T LLC, SAI Cleveland N LLC, SAI Columbus Motors LLC, SAI Columbus T LLC, SAI Columbus VWK LLC, SAI Conroe N LLC, SAI Denver B Inc., SAI Denver C Inc., SAI Denver M Inc., SAI FL HC1 Inc., SAI FL HC2 Inc., SAI FL HC3 Inc., SAI FL HC4 Inc., SAI FL HC7 Inc., SAI Fairfax B LLC, SAI Fort Myers B LLC, SAI Fort Myers H LLC, SAI Fort Myers M LLC, SAI Fort Myers VW LLC, SAI GA HC1 LLC, SAI Irondale Imports LLC, SAI Irondale L LLC, SAI Long Beach B Inc., SAI MD HC1 Inc., SAI McKinney M LLC, SAI Monrovia B Inc., SAI Montgomery B LLC, SAI Montgomery BCH LLC, SAI Montgomery CH LLC, SAI Nashville CSH LLC, SAI Nashville H LLC, SAI Nashville M LLC, SAI Nashville Motors LLC, SAI OK HC1 Inc., SAI Oklahoma City C LLC, SAI Oklahoma City H LLC, SAI Oklahoma City T LLC, SAI Orlando CS LLC, SAI Peachtree LLC, SAI Pensacola A LLC, SAI Philpott T LLC, SAI Riverside C LLC, SAI Roaring Fork LR Inc., SAI Rockville Imports LLC, SAI Rockville L LLC, SAI S. Atlanta JLR LLC, SAI SIC Inc., SAI Santa Clara K Inc., SAI Stone Mountain T LLC, SAI TN HC1 LLC, SAI TN HC2 LLC, SAI TN HC3 LLC, SAI Tulsa N LLC, SAI Tulsa T LLC, SAI Tysons Corner H LLC, SAI Tysons Corner I LLC, SAI VA HC1 Inc., SAI VS GA LLC, SAI VS TX LLC, SAI Vehicle Subscription Inc., SAI West Houston B LLC, SRE Alabama 2 LLC, SRE Alabama 5 LLC, SRE Alabama 6 LLC, SRE California 10 LBB LLC, SRE California 11 PH LLC, SRE California 1 LLC, SRE California 2 LLC, SRE California 3 LLC, SRE California 4 LLC, SRE California 5 LLC, SRE California 6 LLC, SRE California 7 SCB LLC, SRE California 8 SCH LLC, SRE California 9 BHB LLC, SRE Colorado 1 LLC, SRE Colorado 2 LLC, SRE Colorado 3 LLC, SRE Colorado 4 RF LLC, SRE Colorado 5 CC LLC, SRE Florida 1 LLC, SRE Florida 2 LLC, SRE Georgia 4 LLC, SRE Georgia 5 LLC, SRE Georgia 6 LLC, SRE Holding LLC, SRE Maryland 1 LLC, SRE Nevada 2 LLC, SRE North Carolina 2 LLC, SRE North Carolina 3 LLC, SRE Ohio 1 LLC, SRE Ohio 2 LLC, SRE Oklahoma 1 LLC, SRE Oklahoma 2 LLC, SRE Oklahoma 5 LLC, SRE South Carolina 2 LLC, SRE South Carolina 3 LLC, SRE South Carolina 4 LLC, SRE Tennessee 6 LLC, SRE Tennessee 7 LLC, SRE Tennessee 1 LLC, SRE Tennessee 2 LLC, SRE Tennessee 3 LLC, SRE Tennessee 4 LLC, SRE Tennessee 5 LLC, SRE Texas 10 LLC, SRE Texas 11 LLC, SRE Texas 12 LLC, SRE Texas 13 LLC, SRE Texas 14 LLC, SRE Texas 15 LLC, SRE Texas 16 LLC, SRE Texas 9 LLC, SRE Texas 1 LP, SRE Texas 2 LP, SRE Texas 3 LP, SRE Texas 4 LP, SRE Texas 5 LP, SRE Texas 6 LP, SRE Texas 7 LP, SRE Texas 8 LP, SRE Virginia - 1 LLC, SRE Virginia 2 LLC, SRM Assurance Ltd., Santa Clara Imported Cars Inc., Sonic 2185 Chapman Rd. Chattanooga LLC, Sonic Advantage PA LP, Sonic Automotive - 1720 Mason Ave. DB LLC, Sonic Automotive 2424 Laurens Rd. Greenville Inc., Sonic Automotive 2752 Laurens Rd. Greenville Inc., Sonic Automotive Aviation LLC, Sonic Automotive F&I LLC, Sonic Automotive Support LLC, Sonic Automotive West LLC, Sonic Automotive of Chattanooga LLC, Sonic Automotive of Nashville LLC, Sonic Automotive of Nevada Inc., Sonic Automotive of Texas LP, Sonic Automotive 1495 Automall Drive Columbus Inc., Sonic Automotive 1720 Mason Ave. DB Inc., Sonic Automotive 2490 South Lee Highway LLC, Sonic Automotive 3401 N. Main TX LP, Sonic Automotive 4701 I-10 East TX LP, Sonic Automotive 6008 N. Dale Mabry FL Inc., Sonic Automotive 9103 E. Independence NC LLC, Sonic Calabasas M Inc., Sonic Development LLC, Sonic Divisional Operations LLC, Sonic FFC 1 Inc., Sonic FFC 2 Inc., Sonic FFC 3 Inc., Sonic Fremont Inc., Sonic Houston JLR LP, Sonic Houston LR LP, Sonic Momentum B LP, Sonic Momentum JVP LP, Sonic Momentum VWA LP, Sonic Resources Inc., Sonic Santa Monica M Inc., Sonic Santa Monica S Inc., Sonic Walnut Creek M Inc., Sonic Wilshire Cadillac Inc., Sonic eStore Inc., Sonic of Texas Inc., Sonic Buena Park H Inc., Sonic Cadillac D LP, Sonic Calabasas A Inc., Sonic Calabasas V Inc., Sonic Camp Ford LP, Sonic Capitol Cadillac Inc., Sonic Capitol Imports Inc., Sonic Carrollton V LP, Sonic Carson F Inc., Sonic Carson LM Inc., Sonic Clear Lake N LP, Sonic Clear Lake Volkswagen LP, Sonic Denver T Inc., Sonic Downey Cadillac Inc., Sonic Fort Mill Chrysler Jeep Inc., Sonic Fort Mill Dodge Inc., Sonic Fort Worth T LP, Sonic Frank Parra Autoplex LP, Sonic Harbor City H Inc., Sonic Houston V LP, Sonic Integrity Dodge LV LLC, Sonic Jersey Village Volkswagen LP, Sonic LS Chevrolet LP, Sonic LS LLC, Sonic Lake Norman Chrysler Jeep LLC, Sonic Las Vegas C West LLC, Sonic Lloyd Nissan Inc., Sonic Lloyd Pontiac Cadillac Inc., Sonic Lone Tree Cadillac Inc., Sonic Lute Riley LP, Sonic Massey Cadillac LP, Sonic Massey Chevrolet Inc., Sonic Mesquite Hyundai LP, Sonic Newsome Chevrolet World Inc., Sonic Newsome of Florence Inc., Sonic North Charleston Dodge Inc., Sonic North Charleston Inc., Sonic Plymouth Cadillac Inc., Sonic Richardson F LP, Sonic Sanford Cadillac Inc., Sonic Shottenkirk Inc., Sonic Stevens Creek B Inc., Sonic Volvo LV LLC, Sonic West Covina T Inc., Sonic Williams Cadillac Inc., Stevens Creek Cadillac Inc., The Sonic Automotive Family Emergency Fund (SAFE), Town and Country Ford Incorporated, and Windward Inc.. From 29-31 March, over 80 workers and youth gathered in Gothenburg to discuss the national and global political developments erupting across the world. Quantitatively, this was the largest congress for the Swedish section of the IMT; and qualitatively, this was a milestone for the section. Political discussions were sharp and thorough, and a high level of enthusiasm to build the forces of Marxism in Sweden was evident during the entire weekend. Read the original in Swedish at Revolution | The meeting opened on Friday, with a discussion on the perspectives for the world revolution. Niklas Albin Svensson who introduced the session explained that since the crisis of 2008, none of the underlying conflicts have been solved, rather, we are charging towards a new international crisis. Global debts are historically high and the underlying problem of overproduction has only been exacerbated. All around the world, capitalists attack workers wages and conditions in an attempt to make the working class pay for the crises. This has led to extreme social and political instability. Brexit is one of the many expressions of the fragmentation of the ruling class in multiple countries. In countries such as France, the UK, and Algeria, years of austerity and crisis have brought to the surface social anxiety, political ferment, and class struggle. 80 workers and youth gathered in Gothenburg to discuss the national and global political developments erupting across the world / Image: Christofer Bengtsson/Revolution We are well into the most turbulent period in the history of capitalism. In this process, workers and youth will draw more and more revolutionary conclusions since there is no alternative on a capitalist basis. Marxists must join the struggle and offer the only possible solution: for the working class to seize power in a socialist revolution. The situation in Sweden Saturday opened with a discussion on the situation in Sweden. Editor of Revolution, Stefan Kangas, opened the discussion on the turbulent political and economic crisis in Sweden. Stefan explained that over 30 years of austerity has led to an overall dissatisfaction within the working class, which is shown through the historically low confidence for the Social Democrats as well the traditional bourgeois parties. This is what led to the split between the right-wing parties and the four months that went by after the election before the Social Democrats were able to scramble together a government. Editor of Revolution, Stefan Kangas, opened the discussion on the turbulent political and economic crisis in Sweden / Image: Anna Quiroga Hallstig/Revolution In an attempt to make the Swedish working class pay for the crisis, the workers are forced to work harder for the same pay. In the discussions, several examples were highlighted showing the increased pressure in the workplace and several of the attendees gave examples from their own jobs. Workers from Volvo, Husqvarna, and Nya Karolinska Hospital described how their working conditions are deteriorating. The increased pressure has led to stress and deteriorating mental health, and the situation is especially difficult for young people who often have insecure employment. A young service worker and member of the organisation portrayed how she and her colleagues live in constant fear of not being able to afford their rent at the end of the month. She has also witnessed a growing discontent in her workplace. Amongst young people, we see a growing radicalisation, which is expressed through the recent climate strikes and the student strike to stop deportations of refugees / Image Anna Quiroga Hallstig/Revolution The level of membership in the Swedish labour organisations is amongst the highest in the world and the Swedish unions are a powerful weapon in the class struggle. But despite the vast discontent under the surface, Sweden has one of the lowest number of strike days in the last 10 years worldwide. In Norway and Finland we have witnessed major strikes these past years, but not in Sweden. Despite seeing examples of working-class militancy, such as the striking garbage collectors, nurses struggles for higher pay, and the struggle against the closure of the maternity ward in Solleftea, there has been no initiative to unite the struggles by the different unions. The problem is that the union leadership restrains and refuses to lead the struggle, and instead seeks to compromise with the capitalists at the top. Amongst young people, we also see a growing radicalisation, which is expressed through the recent climate strikes and, previously, the student strike to stop deportations of refugees. Again, the problem is that the labour movement offers no leadership, but leaves it up to the youth to take the struggle against all the different expressions of capitalist decay. But sooner or later, mass struggle will break out, not just isolated struggles but national mass movements. The main conservative party, Moderaterna, recently explained in Dagens Industri (15 August) that Sweden risks cuts of 330 billion SEK if there is a new, big crisis. Such massive cuts would lead to explosions of class struggle, just like in other countries. Faced with such movements labour leaders will be either be forced to act by the pressure from below, or the struggle will spontaneously break out from below and move outside of the traditional labour organisations, as we have seen in France with the yellow vest movement. Sweden may seem calm on the surface. But sooner or later, mass struggle will break out, not just isolated struggles but national mass movements / Image: Anna Quiroga Hallstig/Revolution Sweden might still appear to be calm, but beneath the surface strong tides are moving. In the coming period we will see in Sweden, as we have seen in other countries, eruptions of class struggle and a deep economic crisis, with big attacks against the working class. And that will send shockwaves around the world. This will be a big refutation to those who, like Bernie Sanders in the US, try to point to the Swedish welfare state as an example of how it is possible to have capitalism with a human face. The way forward for the Swedish Marxists During Saturday and Sunday, we received several reports and important lessons from the past years work of building the forces of Marxism in Sweden. We notice a growing interest among the youth and high school students in the Marxist Students and the Young Marxists. We have also noticed an increased interest in Marxist ideas amongst workers. This has been observed in the growing sales of newspapers and of Marxist literature from our publishing house Stormklockan. During the meeting, book sales raised a total of 14,461 SEK / Image: Lotta Angantyr/Revolution On Saturday evening, a collection took place for the International Marxist Tendency, resulting in total of 95,511 SEK, clearly displaying the enthusiasm amongst the Swedish Marxists towards building the organisation, as well as their understanding of the importance of revolutionary self-financing. Revolutionary theory is crucial when building our forces. During the meeting, book sales raised a total of 14,461 SEK, and our organisation is distinguished by an unparalleled attention to revolutionary theory and political training. The discussions over the weekend covered a wide variety of topics. The environment, economy, culture, and art are only a few examples of the topics that were touched upon. Wherever you turn, it is obvious that capitalism cannot offer any solutions to the worlds problems. We are facing climate catastrophe, which cannot be prevented with anything other than a socialist revolution. A collection for the IMT resulted in total of 95,511 SEK / Image: Anna Quiroga Hallstig/Revolution A deep economic crisis and an intensification of the class struggle is imminent. Capitalism has reached the end of the road and it is our task to make sure that it does not bring down civilization and humanity with it. The determination and enthusiasm going into the patient work of building Marxist forces inspires hope in realising our rallying cry of socialism in our lifetime! The following companies are subsidiares of SK Telecom Co.,Ltd: ADT CAPS Co. Ltd., ADT Caps, Atlas Investment, CAPSTEC Co. Ltd., Cyworld, DongGuan Iriver Electronics Co. Ltd., Dreamus Company, Eleven Street Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Hungary) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Vietnam Company Limited, Hana Card, Hanaro Telecom, Happy Hanool Co. Ltd., Home & Service Co. Ltd., ID Quantique, Id Quantique LLC, Incross Co. Ltd., Infra Communications Co. Ltd., Iriver China Co. Ltd., Iriver Enterprise Ltd., K-net Culture and Contents Venture Fund, Korea Thrunet, LG HelloVision, Life & Security Holdings Co. Ltd., Life Design Company Inc., Mindknock Co. Ltd., Onestore Co. Ltd., PS&Marketing Co. Ltd., Panasia Semiconductor Materials LLC, Quantum Innovation Fund I, SK Broadband, SK Broadband Co. Ltd., SK Communications Co. Ltd., SK Global Healthcare Business Group Ltd., SK Infosec Co. Ltd., SK M&Service Co. Ltd., SK O&S Co. Ltd., SK Planet Co. Ltd., SK Planet Global Holdings Pte. Ltd., SK Planet Japan K. K., SK Telecom China Fund I L.P., SK Telecom China Holdings Co. Ltd., SK Telecom Innovation Fund L.P., SK Telecom TMT Investment Corp., SK Telink Co. Ltd., SK stoa Co. Ltd., SK telecom Japan Inc., SKP America LLC, SKT Americas Inc., SKinfosec Information Technology (wuxi) Co. Ltd., Service Ace Co. Ltd., Service Top Co. Ltd., Shopkick, Tbroad Nowon Broadcasting Co. Ltd., YTK Investment Ltd., iRiver Ltd, and id Quantique Ltd.. easyJet has been the subject of 6 research reports in the past 90 days, demonstrating strong analyst interest in this stock. According to analysts' consensus price target of $358.00, easyJet has a forecasted upside of 5,351.5% from its current price of $6.57. easyJet has received a consensus rating of Buy. The company's average rating score is 2.88, and is based on 7 buy ratings, 1 hold rating, and no sell ratings. 4.3 Community Rank Outperform Votes easyJet has received 192 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes easyJet has received 109 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment easyJet has received 63.79% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about easyJet and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EJTTF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EJTTF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Barclays: Adler Toy Holding Sarl, Aequor Investments Limited, Alymere Investments Limited, Alynore Investments Limited Partnership, Analog Analytics, Analog Analytics Inc, Analytical Trade Holdings LLC, Analytical Trade Investments LLC, Analytical Trade UK Limited, Archstone Equity Holdings Inc, Ardencroft Investments Limited, B D & B Investments Limited, B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited, BB Client Nominees Limited, BBAIL SAS, BCAP LLC, BIFML PTC Limited, BMBF (No.24) Limited, BMI (No.9) Limited, BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda, BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG GP LLP, BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership, BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl, BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited, BNRI Scots GP LLP, BPB Holdings SA, BVP Galvani Global S.A.U., Barafor Limited, Barclay Leasing Limited, Barclaycard Funding PLC, Barclaycard International Payments Limited, Barclays (Barley) Limited, Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited, Barclays Alzin Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Asia Limited, Barclays Asset Management Limited, Barclays BR Investments S.a r.l., Barclays BWA Inc., Barclays Bank (Suisse) S.A., Barclays Bank Delaware, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company, Barclays Bank Mexico S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bayard Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bedivere Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bordang Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda., Barclays CCP Funding LLC, Barclays Cantal Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Limited, Barclays Capital Canada Inc., Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V., Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC, Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH, Barclays Capital Energy Inc., Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP, Barclays Capital Finance Limited, Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees Limited, Barclays Capital Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc., Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership, Barclays Claudas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) Limited, Barclays Corporation Limited, Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC, Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc., Barclays Equity Holdings Limited, Barclays Equity Index Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited, Barclays Financial LLC, Barclays Financial Planning Nominee Company Limited, Barclays Funds Investments Limited, Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited, Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited, Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Group Operations Limited, Barclays Group US Inc., Barclays Index Finance Trust, Barclays Industrial Development Limited, Barclays Industrial Investments Limited, Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited, Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited, Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc., Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Investment Management Limited, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Limited, Barclays Korea GP Limited, Barclays Lamorak Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited, Barclays Leto Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Long Island Limited, Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.a r.l, Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC B, Barclays Marlist Limited, Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited, Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited, Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd., Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited, Barclays Oversight Management Inc., Barclays Payment Solutions Inc., Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited Partnership, Barclays Pelleas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, Barclays Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) S.A.M, Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Barclays Receivables LLC, Barclays SAMS Limited, Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited, Barclays Securities Japan Limited, Barclays Security Trustee Limited, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Barclays Services Corporation, Barclays Services Jersey Limited, Barclays Services LLC, Barclays Services Limited, Barclays Shea Limited, Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Switzerland Services SA, Barclays Tenedora De Immuebles SL., Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability Partnership, Barclays UK Investments Limited, Barclays US CCP Funding LLC, Barclays US Funding LLC, Barclays US GPF Inc., Barclays US Investments Inc., Barclays US LLC, Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited, Barclays Unquoted Property Investments Limited, Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited, Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited, Barclays Wealth Services Limited, Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private Limited, Barclayshare Nominees Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited, Barcosec Limited, Barsec Nominees Limited, Blossom Finance General Partnership, Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited, Braven Investments No.1 Limited, CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited, CP Newco 1 Limited, CP Newco2 Limited, CP Newco3 Limited, CP Propco 1 Limited, CP Propco 2 Limited, CP Topco Limited, CPIA Canada Holdings, CPIA England 2008 Limited Partnership, CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership, CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, CPIA Investments No.1 Limited, CPIA Investments No.2 Limited, CRE Diversified Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe LLC, Calthorpe Investments Limited, Capton Investments Limited, Carnegie Holdings Limited, Central Platte Valley Management LLC, Chapelcrest Investments Limited, Charles Schwab Europe, Claudas Investments Limited, Claudas Investments Two Limited, Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, Cobalt Investments Limited, Compania Regional del Sur S.A., Compania Sudamerica S.A., Condor No.1 Limited Partnership, Cornwall Homes Loans Limited, Crescent Crown Land Holding SPV LLC, Crescent Legacy LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential L.P., Crescent Plaza Residential LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential LP LLC, Crescent Real Estate Member LLC, Crescent Resort Development LLC, Crescent TRS Holdings LLC, Crescent Tower Residences GP LLC, Crescent Tower Residences L.P., Curve Investments GP, DBL Texas Holdings LLC, DMW Realty Limited, Desert Mountain Development LLC, Desert Mountain Properties Limited Partnership, Develop Training Group Limited, Dorset Home Loans Limited, Durlacher Nominees Limited, EWRD Summit LLC, Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) Limited, East West Resort Development V L.P. L.L.L.P., East West Resort Development VII LLC, Equity Limited Partnership, Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited, Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited, Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited, Expobank, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited, Finpart Nominees Limited, First Assurance, Foltus Investments Limited, Full House Holdings Limited, Gallen Investments Limited, Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private, Globe Nominees Limited, Gracechurch Services Corporation, Grays Station LLC, Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hawkins Funding Limited, Heraldglen Limited, Holding Stuttgarter Strae GmbH, Hurley Investments No.1 Limited, Imalivest Mineral Resources LP, Investors In Infrastructure Limited, J.V. Estates Limited, JV Assets Limited, Kirsche Investments Limited, LTDL Holdings LLC, La Torretta Beverages LLC, La Torretta Hospitality LLC, La Torretta Operations LLC, Lagalla Investments LLC, Leonis Investments LLP, Liability Partnership, Long Island Assets Limited, Long Island Holding A LLC, Long Island Holding B Limited, MK Opportunities GP Ltd, MK Opportunities LP, MVWP Investors LLC, Maloney Investments Limited, Marbury Holdings LLC, Menlo Investments Limited, Mercantile Credit Company Limited, Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) Limited, Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation, Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited, Mira Vista Development LLC, Mira Vista Golf Club L.C., Mountainside Partners LLC, Murray House Investment Management Limited, Naxos Investments Limited, Nile Bank, North Colonnade Investments Limited, Northstar Mountain Properties LLC, Northstar Trailside Townhomes LLC, Northstar Village Townhomes LLC, Northwharf Investments Limited, Northwharf Nominees Limited, OGP Leasing Limited, Oakes Millers Ltd, Ownership Trustee Limited, PIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, Palomino Limited, Pecan Aggregator LP, Pelleas Investments Limited, Pelleas Investments Two Limited, Pippin Island Investments Limited, Preferred Liquidity LLC, Preferred Liquidity Limited Partnership, Procella Investments LLC, Procella Investments No.1 LLC, Procella Investments No.2 LLC, Procella Investments No.3 LLC, Protium Finance I LLC, Protium Master Grantor Trust, Protium Master Mortgage LP, Protium REO I LP, R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited, RVH Limited, RVT CLO Investments LLP, Razzoli Investments Limited, Real Estate Participation Management Limited, Real Estate Participation Services Limited, Relative Value Holdings LLC, Relative Value Investments UK Limited, Relative Value Trading Limited, Roder Investments No. 1 Limited, Roder Investments No. 2 Limited, Ruthenium Investments Limited, SPM GP Limited, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC, Servicios Barclays S.A. de C.V., Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 Avenue de la Costa, Solution Personal Finance Limited, Southern Peaks Mining LP, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surety Trust Limited, Surrey Funding Corporation, Sussex Purchasing Corporation, Sutton Funding LLC, Swan Lane Investments Limited, TPLL LLC, TPProperty LLC, Tahoe Club Company LLC, Tahoe Club Employee Company, The Logic Group Enterprises Limited, The Logic Group Holdings Limited, Third Energy Holdings Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No. 2 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited, US Secured Investments LLC, Union Center LLC, United Counties Bank, Verain Investments LLC, Walbrook Group Ltd, Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited, Wessex Investments Limited, Westferry Investments Limited, Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC, Woolwich Homes Limited, Woolwich Plan Managers Limited, Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share, Woolwich Surveying Services Limited, Woori BC Pegasus Securitization Specialty Co. Limited, and Zeban Nominees Limited. Enbridge Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company operates through five segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services. The Liquids Pipelines segment operates pipelines and related terminals to transport various grades of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in Canada and the United States. The Gas Transmission and Midstream segment invests in natural gas pipelines, and gathering and processing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Gas Distribution and Storage segment is involved in natural gas utility operations serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ontario, as well as natural gas distribution and energy transportation activities in Quebec. The Renewable Power Generation segment operates power generating assets, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery facilities; and transmission assets in North America and Europe. The Energy Services segment provides energy marketing services to refiners, producers, and other customers; and physical commodity marketing and logistical services in Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Fraport AG operates airports in Germany, rest of Europe, Asia, and the United States. The company primarily focuses on the operation of Frankfurt Main airport. It operates through four segments: Aviation, Retail & Real Estate, Ground Handling, and International Activities & Services. The Aviation segment operates landside and airside infrastructure, which covers the area of airport charges. The Retail & Real Estate segment engages in retail activities, including marketing of real estate properties and land. This segment also manages buildings and facilities, and parking and retail areas; and rents advertising space. The Ground Handling segment provides loading, baggage, and passenger services through airmail and luggage transport to freight handling. The International Activities & Services segment acquires, operates, maintains, develops, and expands airports and infrastructure facilities. This segment also offers integrated facility and corporate infrastructure management, airport expansion south, and information and telecommunication services. Fraport AG was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Read More Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. It firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Wealth & Investment Management, and Other. The Community Banking segment offers complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and automobile, student, and small business lending. The Wholesale Banking segment provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally. The Wealth and Investment Management segment includes personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses. The Other segment refers to the products of WIM customers served through community banking distribution channels. The company was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo on March 18, 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More Intu owns and manages some of the best shopping centres, in some of the strongest locations, in the UK and Spain. Our UK portfolio is made up of 17 centres, including eight of the top-20, and in Spain we own three of the country's top-10 centres, with advanced plans to build a fourth. We are passionate about creating compelling experiences, in centre and online, that make our customers smile and help our retailers flourish. We attract around 400 million customer visits and 26 million website visits a year offering a multichannel approach that truly supports retail strategies. Our strategic focus on prime, high-footfall flagship destinations, combined with the strength and popularity of our brand, means that intu offers enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty. This helps our tenants flourish, driving occupancy and income growth. We are committed to our local communities, with our centres supporting nearly 130,000 jobs (representing about 3 per cent of the total UK retail workforce), and to operating with environmental responsibility. We have already met or exceeded a significant number of our 2020 environmental targets. Read More Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA provides dialysis care and related dialysis care services in Germany, North America, and internationally. It offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure. The company also develops, manufactures, and distributes dialysis products, including polysulfone dialyzers, hemodialysis machines, peritoneal dialysis cyclers, peritoneal dialysis solutions, hemodialysis concentrates, solutions and granulates, bloodlines, renal pharmaceuticals, and systems for water treatment; and non-dialysis products, such as acute cardiopulmonary and apheresis products. In addition, it develops, acquires, and in-licenses renal pharmaceuticals; offers renal medications and supplies to patients at homes or to dialysis clinics; and provides vascular, cardiovascular, endovascular specialty, vascular care ambulatory surgery center, and physician nephrology and cardiology services. The company sells its products to dialysis clinics, hospitals, and specialized treatment clinics directly, as well as through local sales forces, independent distributors, dealers, and sales agents. As of December 31, 2020, it operated 4,092 outpatient dialysis clinics in approximately 150 countries. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany. Read More GRC International Group plc, through its subsidiaries, provides various products and services to address the information technology (IT) governance, risk management, and compliance requirements of organizations in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the United States, Australia, and internationally. The company provides instructor-led and self-paced training courses on data protection, cyber security, ISO 27001 certification, and business continuity. It also offers on-site and remote support services to design and implement cyber security, data protection and privacy policies, procedures and practices, penetration testing, payment card industry data security standard, SoC2 compliance and cyber essentials certification and consultancy, privacy by design, privacy as a service, and GDPR compliance. In addition, publishes and distributes books, toolkit documentation templates, and software; and software solutions including a range of software-as-a service products, such as e-learning, risk assessment and data flow mapping tools, data seeding, and data watermarking solutions. GRC International Group plc is headquartered in Ely, the United Kingdom. Read More Stantec Inc. provides professional consulting services in the area of infrastructure and facilities in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company provides consulting services in engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics. It also offers water, transportation, and public works; transportation planning and traffic engineering; and resource assessment, mine development, reclamation, hydrology, and geotechnical and infrastructure engineering services, as well as urban planning, traffic assessments and optimization, environmental impact assessments, and public consultation services. In addition, the company provides structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and hydraulics engineering services. It serves urban regeneration, infrastructure, education, public and private sector, tourism and leisure, and waste and water sectors, as well as office and commercial, residential, and retail and town centers. The company was formerly known as Stanley Technology Group Inc. and changed its name to Stantec Inc. in October 1998. Stantec Inc. was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 211 E. Russell Road LLC, Air-Relief, Belliss & Morcom Brasil, Belliss and Morcom, Boardwalk Enterprises, Charm Merger Sub Inc., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Canada, CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir Holman Ltd, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., CompAir UK Ltd, CompAir USA, Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Emco Wheaton, Emco Wheaton GmbH Branch, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton UK, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Propriety Limited (South Africa), GD Aria Holdings #2 Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First UK Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings, GD Global Holdings II, GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SA, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Services Ltd, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Hoffman, Gardner Denver Holdings, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica, Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd. Branch, Gardner Denver International, Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Intl Ltd Middle East Regional Rep Office, Gardner Denver Investments, Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan, Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd South Africa, Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd. Branch (Ireland), Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co, Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oberdorfer Pumps, Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Petroleum Pumps, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia, Gardner Denver SudAmerica S.r.l., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas, Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver UK, Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, Indonesia Foreign Trade Representative Office, LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MP Pumps Inc., Mako Compressors, Nash, Nash Elmo, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Robuschi, Rotary Compression Technologies, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Syltone, TCM Investments, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, TODO AB, Tamrotor Marine Compressors AS, Thomas Industries, Thomas Industries Inc., Tri-Continent Scientific, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, and Zinsser NA. INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Invesco Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in reasonably priced growth (GARP) stocks of small and mid cap companies. It employs fundamental analysis focusing on factors like anticipated market strength, financial strength, and competitive advantages to create its portfolio. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Numis Smaller Companies Index (excluding Investment Companies). INVESCO Perpetual UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc was formed on Mar 1, 1988 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom. Read More Kibo Energy PLC, together with its subsidiaries, explores for and develops energy projects in Sub Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom. The company holds a 100% interest in the Mbeya Coal to Power project located in Songwe Regio, Tanzania. It also holds an 85% interest in the Mabesekwa Coal Independent Power Project located in Botswana; and 65% interest in the Benga Power Plant Project located in the Tete province of Mozambique. In addition, the company owns a 100% interest in the Bordersley power plant located near Birmingham. Further, it engages in power generation and treasury businesses. Kibo Energy PLC has a collaboration agreement with ESS Tech Inc. to develop energy storage solutions. The company was formerly known as Kibo Mining Plc and changed its name to Kibo Energy PLC in July 2018. Kibo Energy PLC was founded in 2008 and is based in Galway, Ireland. Read More The Williams Cos., Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company, which explores, produces, transports, sells and processes natural gas and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Transmission and Gulf of Mexico; Northeast G&P; and West. The Transmission and Gulf of Mexico segment comprises of interstate natural gas pipelines, Transco and Northwest Pipeline, as well as natural gas gathering and processing and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region. The Northeast G&P segment includes midstream gathering, processing, and fractionation businesses in the Marcellus Shale region primarily in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio. The West segment consists of gas gathering, processing, and treating operations in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming, the Barnett Shale region of north-central Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale region of south Texas, the Haynesville Shale region of northwest Louisiana, and the Mid-Continent region which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, and Permian basins. The company was founded by David Williams and Miller Williams in 1908 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Read More SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Read More There is not enough analysis data for MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund has received 79 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund has received 25 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund has received 75.96% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about MainStay MacKay DefinedTerm Municipal Opportunities Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe MMD will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe MMD will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Manitou Gold Inc. acquires, explores for, and develops mineral property interests located in the Gold Rock District of Northwestern Ontario and in the Goudreau-Localsh area of Northern Ontario, Canada. The company explores for gold properties. Its principal mineral assets include a 100% interest in the Kenwest property that holds 32 patented mining claims and 10 mining licenses of occupation covering 599 hectares located in the Boyer Lake area; and the Goudreau property covering 22,500 hectares located in north of Wawa, Ontario. Manitou Gold Inc. is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Novan, Inc., a clinical development-stage biotechnology company, provides nitric oxide-based therapies to treat dermatological and oncovirus-mediated diseases. Its clinical stage dermatology drug candidates include SB204, a topical monotherapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris; SB206, a topical anti-viral gel for the treatment of viral skin infections; SB208, a topical broad-spectrum anti-fungal gel for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin and nails, including athlete's foot and fungal nail infections; and SB414, a topical cream-based gel product candidate for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. The company also develops SB207, an anti-viral product candidate for the treatment of external genital warts; WH602, a nitric oxide-containing intravaginal gel to treat high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV); WH504, a non-gel formulation product candidate to treat high-risk HPV; and SB019 for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Novan, Inc. has a license agreement with Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; and a strategic alliance with Orion Corporation. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. Read More Egypt has expressed deep concern over the clashes which broke out on Thursday morning in a number of Libyan regions, and is calling on all sides to maintain self-restraint and avoid escalation, a foreign ministry statement said on Thursday. The statement stressed Egypt's firm stance in support of the efforts of the United Nations and its adherence to a political solution as the sole option to preserve Libyas safety, territorial integrity and the interests of the Libyan people. It also highlighted the necessity of combating terrorism and eradicating all its forms from all Libyan territory. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday of the potential for clashes in Libya, where eastern military forces have moved west and skirmished with rival forces south of the capital. Guterres is flying on Friday to eastern Libya to meet Commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces a day earlier began an offensive to take control of the capital currently held by an internationally recognised government. He will be also flying to Tobruk, another city in the east and home to Libyas parliament - also internationally recognised - which backs Haftar, he said on Twitter. Search Keywords: Short link: Dunelm Group plc engages in the retail of homewares in the United Kingdom. The company offers furniture for bedroom, living room, dining room, and office; sofas and chairs; bean bags; bed frames, mattresses, divan beds and bases, and headboards, as well as kids beds; and bedding products, such as bed linens, duvets, pillows, protectors, and baby and kids beddings. It also provides curtains, and poles and tracks; blinds; rugs, runners, and door mats; mirrors; cushion pads, covers; throws; seat pads; pictures and frames, wallpapers, and accessories; lighting products, including ceiling and wall lights, lamp shades, floor and table lamps, and outdoor lights; kitchen products, such as cooking, dining, utility, and electrical products; and storage products for home, clothes, and kitchen, as well as travel and luggage products. In addition, the company offers towels and bathmats, bathroom accessories, and bathroom furniture; kids accessories and toys, and nursery furniture and products, as well as travel, safety, and wellbeing products; garden furniture and storage, and garden dAcor products; and Christmas trees and lights, wreaths and garlands, baubles and tree decoration, and novelty products. It operates 173 superstores and 2 distribution centers, as well as sells its products through an online store at dunelm.com. Dunelm Group plc was founded in 1979 and is based in Syston, the United Kingdom. Read More There is not enough analysis data for POET Technologies. 4.8 Community Rank Outperform Votes POET Technologies has received 184 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes POET Technologies has received 69 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment POET Technologies has received 72.73% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about POET Technologies and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe POETF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe POETF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE). There is not enough analysis data for Revolution Bars Group. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes Revolution Bars Group has received 285 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Revolution Bars Group has received 83 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Revolution Bars Group has received 77.45% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Revolution Bars Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe RBG will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe RBG will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next There is not enough analysis data for Samsung Electronics. 4.1 Community Rank Outperform Votes Samsung Electronics has received 130 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Samsung Electronics has received 77 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Samsung Electronics has received 62.80% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Samsung Electronics and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe SSNLF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe SSNLF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of BlackRock: Acero Cooperatief U.A., Acero Holdings I B.V., Amethyst Merger Sub LLC, AnalytX Hosting LLC, AnalytX LLC, AnalytX Software LLC, Aperio, Aperio, Aquila Heywood, Asia-Pacific Private Credit Opportunities Fund I (GenPar) Ltd., BAA Holdings LLC, BFM Holdco LLC, BLK (Gallatin) Holdings LLC, BLK SMI LLC, BR Acquisition Mexico S.A. de C.V., BR Jersey International Holdings L.P., Beijing eFront Software Company Limited, BlackRock (Barbados) Finco 1 SRL, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Limited, BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco II Pte. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Limited, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, BlackRock AP Investment Holdco LLC, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte. Limited, BlackRock Alternative Advisors GP Holdings LLC, BlackRock Alternatives Management LLC, BlackRock Argentina Asesorias Ltda., BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., BlackRock Asset Management Investor Services Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG, BlackRock Asset Management UK Limited, BlackRock Australia Holdco Pty. Ltd., BlackRock Brasil Gestora de Investimentos Ltda., BlackRock Cal 1 Investor LLC, BlackRock Canada Holdings LP, BlackRock Canada Holdings ULC, BlackRock Capital Holdings Inc., BlackRock Capital Investment Advisors LLC, BlackRock Capital Management Inc., BlackRock Cayco Limited, BlackRock Cayman 1 LP, BlackRock Cayman Capital Holdings Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 3 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited, BlackRock Cayman Z Limited, BlackRock Channel Islands Holdco Limited, BlackRock Chile Asesorias Limitada, BlackRock Colombia Holdco LLC, BlackRock Colombia Infraestructura S.A.S., BlackRock Colombia SAS, BlackRock Company Secretarial Services (UK) Limited, BlackRock Corporation US Inc., BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc., BlackRock Enterprise Management Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Europe Development Management Limited, BlackRock Execution Services, BlackRock Finance Europe Limited, BlackRock Financial Management Inc., BlackRock Finco LLC, BlackRock Finco UK Ltd., BlackRock First Partner Limited, BlackRock France SAS, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Fund Management Company S.A., BlackRock Fund Managers Limited, BlackRock Funding International Ltd., BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC, BlackRock Germany GmBH, BlackRock Group Limited, BlackRock HK Holdco Limited, BlackRock Holdco 2 Inc., BlackRock Holdco 3 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 4 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 5 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 6 LLC, BlackRock Hungary Kft, BlackRock Index Services LLC, BlackRock Infrastructure Management I LLC, BlackRock Institutional Services Inc., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company National Association, BlackRock International Holdings Inc., BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Dublin) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Korea) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Investment Management (Taiwan) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management Ireland Holdings Limited, BlackRock Investment Management LLC, BlackRock Investments LLC, BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd., BlackRock Japan Holdings GK, BlackRock Jersey Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Latin America Holdco LLC, BlackRock Latin American Holdings B.V., BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Lux Finco S.a r.l., BlackRock Luxembourg Holdco S.a r.l., BlackRock Mexican Holdco B.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura I S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager S de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Operadora S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, BlackRock Mortgage Ventures LLC, BlackRock Niagara LLC, BlackRock Operations (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., BlackRock Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock PC Holdings LLC, BlackRock Pensions Limited, BlackRock Peru Asesorias S.A., BlackRock Property Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Property France S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Lux S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., BlackRock Realty Advisors Inc., BlackRock Saudi Arabia, BlackRock Scale Holdings LLC, BlackRock Services India Private Limited, BlackRock Singapore III Pte. Ltd., BlackRock Slovakia s.r.o., BlackRock Strategic Investors GP LLC, BlackRock Strategic Investors LP, BlackRock Trident Holding Company Limited, BlackRock UK (Alpha) Limited, BlackRock UK (Beta) Limited, BlackRock UK (Delta) LP, BlackRock UK (Gamma) Limited, BlackRock UK (Sigma) Limited, BlackRock UK 2 LLP, BlackRock UK 3 LLP, BlackRock UK 4 LLP, BlackRock UK A LLP, BlackRock UK Holdco 2 Limited, BlackRock UK Holdco Limited, Blackhawk Investment Holding LLC, CIE Automotive, Cachematrix Holdings, Cachematrix Holdings LLC, Cachematrix Integrations Private Limited, Cachematrix Software Solutions LLC, Cachematrix UK Limited, FutureAdvisor Inc., Glass Mountain Pipeline, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Advisors LLC, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure II Advisors LLC, Grosvenor Alternate Partner Limited, Grosvenor Ventures Limited, HLX Financial Holdings LLC, MGPA (Bermuda) Limited, MGPA (Exec) Limited, MGPA Limited, Mercury Carry Company Ltd., Mercury Private Equity MUST 3 (Jersey) Limited, Object Capital Technology Inc., Phoenix Acquisition B.V., Phoenix Acquisitions Holdings LLC, Portfolio Administration & Management Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios Integrales BlackRock Mexico S.A. de C.V., SVOF/MM LLC, St. Albans House Nominees (Jersey) Ltd., State Street Research & Management, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tlali Acero S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Trident Merger LLC, eFront, eFront, eFront (Jersey) Limited, eFront DMLT Holdings LLC, eFront DMLT Holdings S.R.L, eFront DR S.R.L, eFront Do Brasil Solucoes Informaticas Para Sistemas Financeiros Ltda., eFront FZ-LLC, eFront Financial Solutions Inc., eFront GmbH, eFront Holding II SAS, eFront Holdings SAS, eFront Hong Kong Limited, eFront II SAS, eFront Kabushiki Kaisha, eFront Ltd, eFront SAS, eFront Singapore Pte. Ltd, eFront Software Luxembourg S.a r.l., eFront Solutions Financeieres Inc., eFront d.o.o. Beograd, iShares (DE) I Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, and iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Valero Energy: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. The following companies are subsidiares of Yum China: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. The following companies are subsidiares of Brinker International: BI INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LLC, BI MEXICO HOLDING CORPORATION, BIPC GLOBAL PAYROLL COMPANY LLC, BIPC INVESTMENTS LLC, BIPC MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER AIRPORTS LLC, BRINKER ALABAMA INC., BRINKER ARKANSAS INC., BRINKER ASIA INC., BRINKER BRAZIL LLC, BRINKER CANADIAN HOLDING CO. ULC, BRINKER CANADIAN RESTAURANT CO. ULC, BRINKER CB LP, BRINKER CB MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER FHC B.V., BRINKER FLORIDA INC., BRINKER FREEHOLD INC., BRINKER GEORGIA INC., BRINKER INTERNATIONAL PAYROLL COMPANY L.P., BRINKER LOUISIANA INC., BRINKER MICHIGAN INC., BRINKER MISSISSIPPI INC., BRINKER MISSOURI INC., BRINKER NEVADA INC., BRINKER NEW JERSEY INC., BRINKER NORTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER OF BALTIMORE COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CARROLL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CECIL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OKLAHOMA INC., BRINKER OPCO LLC, BRINKER PENN TRUST, BRINKER PROPCO FLORIDA INC., BRINKER PROPERTY CORPORATION, BRINKER PURCHASING INC., BRINKER RESTAURANT CORPORATION, BRINKER RHODE ISLAND INC., BRINKER SERVICES CORPORATION, BRINKER SOUTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER TEXAS INC., BRINKER VIRGINIA INC., CHILIS BEVERAGE COMPANY INC., CHILIS INC. a Delaware corporation, CHILIS INC. a Tennessee corporation, CHILIS INTERNATIONAL BASES B.V., CHILIS OF BEL AIR INC., CHILIS OF KANSAS INC., CHILIS OF MARYLAND INC., CHILIS OF WEST VIRGINIA INC., Grady's Inc., MAGGIANO'S OF ANNAPOLIS INC., MAGGIANO'S OF HOWARD COUNTY INC., MAGGIANO'S OF KANSAS INC., MAGGIANOS BEVERAGE COMPANY, MAGGIANOS HOLDING CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS INC., MAGGIANOS OF TYSONS INC., MAGGIANOS PROPERTY CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS TEXAS INC., PEPPER DINING HOLDING CORP., PEPPER DINING Inc., and PEPPER DINING VERMONT INC.. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, an energy and chemical company, engages in oil and gas, and chemical operations in the People's Republic of China. It operates through five segments: Exploration and Production, Refining, Marketing and Distribution, Chemicals, and Corporate and Others. The company explores for and develops oil fields; produces crude oil and natural gas; processes and purifies crude oil; and manufactures and sells petroleum products. It also owns and operates oil depots and service stations; and distributes and sells refined petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel through wholesale and retail sales networks. In addition, the company manufactures and sells petrochemical and derivative petrochemical products; and other chemical products, such as basic organic chemicals, synthetic resins, synthetic fiber monomers and polymers, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, and chemical fertilizers. Further, it is involved in the pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; production, sale, storage, and transportation of refinery, petrochemical, and coal chemical products; import and export of petroleum products, natural gas, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; research, development, and application of technologies and information; production and sale of catalyst products, lubricant base oil, polyester chips and fibers, plastics, and intermediate petrochemical products; research, development, production, and sale of ethylene and downstream byproducts; provision of geophysical and drilling services, as well as well testing and measurement services; manufacturing production equipment; and coal chemical industry investment management activities. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation. Read More Timmothy Pitzen's family believed their 8-year-long search for him was over when a man claiming to be the missing boy was found roaming a Kentucky neighborhood. But that hope didn't last long. DNA results revealed that the person who told authorities on Wednesday he was the missing boy from Aurora, Illinois, was not Timmothy, the FBI said Thursday. Police in Newport, Kentucky, identified that man as 23-year-old Brian Michael Rini of Medina, Ohio. The news brought heartbreak all over again to Timmothy's family and neighbors who were waiting for his return. "It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again," Kara Jacobs, Timmothy's aunt, told reporters. "Timmothy's father is devastated once again." 'I feel empty right now' Yamii Grande, a neighbor a few years older than Timmothy, said her family kept his black Mongoose bike with orange wheels in their basement. She recalled him telling her she was his "big sister." His "future girlfriend," too. "I feel empty right now. I feel like there's a part of me missing still, and I haven't found it," Grande, now 18, said in an interview with CNN. "We really thought he was going to be back into our arms, and for him not to be back into our arms just hurts a little." Pedro Melendez, who bought Timmothy's home six years ago from the boy's father, kept something for him, too. Melendez cut out a block of cement with an impression of Timmothy's hand and footprint when he renovated the patio of his American Craftsman style home, according to CNN affiliate WLS. The impression was signed "Tim," and appears to have been made in 2009, the station reported. "If he knows that it's there, he can come back and see it," said Melendez, who had preserved part of the backyard when he learned of the boy's disappearance. On Wednesday, someone knocked on Melendez's door to tell them that Timmothy may have been found alive, WLS reported. His wife almost fainted. A unique case In May 2011, Amy Fry-Pitzen checked her then 6-year-old son out of his elementary school. They went on a road trip, stopping at a zoo and a water park. Three days later, her body was found in a hotel room in Rockford, Illinois, about 73 miles northwest of Aurora. She had died by suicide, leaving behind a note that said her son was with people who love him. "You'll never find him," the note said. The image of Timmothy running off to class after he dropped his son off at school for the last time has haunted Jim Pitzen. "That's pretty much the last image I have in my mind of him," he told CNN in 2015. Timmothy was last seen at a water park in Wisconsin in 2011, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Angeline Hartmann, a spokeswoman for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the case is unique. "We've had cases where children think they may be a missing child. They call in and it doesn't pan out,"she said. "We haven't had one with intentional deception." Sharon Hall, who had spotted Rini in her Newport neighborhood near the Ohio-Kentucky border, said she was devastated to learn Timmothy was still missing. "I really in my heart thought it was him," she said. The investigation into Timmothy's disappearance is now again a missing youth investigation, said Sgt. Bill Rowley, a spokesman for Aurora police. "We hope our tragedy will help to shed some light on the horrific problems of suicide and missing children in our country," Timmothy's aunt, Kara Jacobs, told reporters. Holding out hope Alana Anderson, who stood with Jacobs, said she and her grandson were close. He declared she was "the best grandma in the whole wide world," when he crawled into her bed during one of their last times together. Jacobs embraced Anderson as she talked about her hopes for her grandson's return. "My prayer has always been that when he was old enough, he would find us if we couldn't find him," she said. Anderson hoped that Timmothy was living with a loving family, she said. "As happy as he can be, and that whoever has him, is taking good care of him," Anderson said. "All we can do is hope," Jacobs said. UTICA, N.Y. -- A fatal stabbing, almost eight months ago, in the Bronx, brings New York City police to New Hartford to arrest their suspect. The United States Marshal's Regional Fugitive Task Force got a tip that Keith Clarkson was hiding out in the Utica area. He was arrested at a home on Oxford Road. The 25-year-old is already back in the Bronx Friday night and formally charged with murder and attempted murder. Clarkson is accused of stabbing two people multiple times in September. One of the stabbing victims died. The U.S. Marshal's Office called him a danger to society no matter what town he's in. UTICA, N.Y.-- The Utica Police Department and State Police will no longer release mugshots to the public or news media outlets, after state lawmakers voted to ban the photos during the executive budget. Gov. Andrew Cuomo told WAMC in January that the goal of the ban is to prevent companies from publishing the photos online and charging a fee to have the photo removed. The Utica Police Department has been releasing mugshots through Facebook for years, but will not continue to do so. "We had an internal discussions about it" said Mark Williams, police chief of the Utica Police Department. "The reason why we're going to start to practice now is that based on the intent of the law and the fact that there's going to be signed into law very shortly it's good that we started out and get ready for it rather than enact later on." But Williams said the department will still release mugshots for specific cases. "It will be done on a case-by-case basis as long as it's investigative in nature," he said. "I think will be all right releasing that booking photograph in those instances." Leland McCormac, Oneida County public defender, said everyone has their right to privacy. "A person's privacy needs to be protected and especially when there's not been a conviction," he said. "Remember there is a presumption of innocence that attaches to every single defendant, that's accused of a crime. We want to make sure that our clients rights are protected at all stages in proceeding, not only at the beginning, during the preceding itself, but also and how that might affect the individual after the proceedings concluded." But the New York State Broadcasters Association released a statement concerning transparency. "We are concerned the proposal will have a chilling effect on the release of information that is essential to the public interest. This information involves police activity and is a matter of public record. Communities have a right to know about those who have been accused of criminal activity. To avoid "secret arrests," families and friends of those arrested should have access to this information." The association said that other states, such as California, have addressed the the issue of companies exploitating people by enacting laws that make it a crime to demand money in exchange for removing a mugshot. The bill must still be signed by Cuomo before it can go into effect. NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - The Newton County Sheriff's Office has arrested 21-year-old Garrett K. Kirts of Lebanon for the alleged murder of Nicole Bowen. As News 18 previously reported Bowen's body was found just north of Kentland on Saturday, March 30th. The FBI assisted in identifying her body. Kirts has been charged with murder and is currently being held in the Newton County Jail without bond. He was also arrested on a Jasper County charge of resisting law enforcement on April 1st. Several others were also arrested in connection to the crime. 34-year-old Jasmine Parker of Kentland and 26-year-old Ashley Garth of Delphi were charged for assisting a criminal, which is a level five felony. A warrant has been issued for Christopher Channing Mathis, a 27-year-old from Kentland for assisting a criminal. Anyone with information as to Mathis whereabouts should call the Newton County Sheriffs Office 219-474-5661. Im extremely pleased with the timely resolution in this case and very proud of the dedication shown by our deputies," said Newton County Sheriff Thomas VanVleet said. "I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the assisting agencies for their involvement and aid in this investigation. FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI) Demolition crews received the go-ahead to start tearing down a burned building. As we previously reported, in January a line of business were burned due to a fire that started in a garage on the side of T & R Pet Grooming. No cause was ever determined. The businesses on 50 to 54 West Washington Street had to be cleared by an asbestos inspector and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. A Frankfort news release says the street will be reopened as soon as the risk to pedestrians and drivers has been eliminated. LEBANON, Ind. (WLFI) - Vice President Mike Pence came back home to Indiana on Thursday to speak on the benefits of a potential new trade agreement with our neighboring countries in North America. Air Force 2 touched down at the Indianapolis International Airport around 3:30 p.m. Second Lady Karen Pence accompanied him on the trip. A crowd of guests greeted them on the tarmac. "It was really cool when they first landed there was a military guy out on the tarmac, that was really cool just to see him standing there and watch the plane land," said Aaron Smith, who said he has a friend who works on the Vice President's staff and invited him to be part of the greeting crowd. "I just love the pomp and circumstance that comes with it all." The event was coordinated by the Indiana Farm Bureau. He spoke at Lamb Farms in Boone County. The trade agreement V.P. Pence promoted is called the United States Mexico Canada Agreement. It is the potential new trade deal that would replace NAFTA. Wally Tyner is an Agriculture Economist at Purdue. He broke down what this trade agreement is. He said that since NAFTA began in 1995, Mexico and Canada have become some of our biggest trading partners, and that NAFTA has been a good thing for U.S. farmers. President Donald Trump has threatened to pull out completely from NAFATA. Tyner said USMCA brings some small improvements to the existing agreement and that the U.S. would gain about $450 million more per year with USMCA compared to NAFTA. However he said Canada and Mexico have instilled "retaliatory tariffs" on the U.S. because the U.S. has put tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum products. USMCA does not get rid of the steel and aluminum tariffs. Tyner said that the U.S. will lose $1.8 billion dollars a year because of the retaliatory tariffs, which essentially negates the profit mentioned above. And finally, USMCA still has to be ratified by Congress. If the legislature does not pass USMCA, and President Trump keeps his word about pulling out of NAFTA leaving the U.S. with no trade agreement at all, the U.S. would lose $9.4 billion per year. And to cap it all off, Tyner said all the important gains made between the countries over the past 23 years would be lost. Click here to learn more about the changes USMCA will bring. Several who got to see the Vice President today said they are in support of his message and the new agreement. "He's very concerned about commodity prices, he's very concerned about the exports, the trade agreements, he's very concerned about the financial well-being of the American farmer," said Dennis Carrell, who was a guest at the private event at Lamb Farms. "We really like the policies that are coming out of the office and I think that it is really reflective of what people in Indiana feel like," said Smith. "We're glad to have him home." Nevada is bordered by Arizona to the southeast, Utah to the east, California to the west, and to the north by Idaho and Oregon. The state is the 7thlargest and among the most sparsely populated states in the US. The state joined the union on October 31, 1864, as the 36th state. Arizona The border between the state of Nevada and Arizona in the year 1863 was the 37th parallel. It was also the border when Arizona had not yet been carved out of the New Mexico territory. The area Longitude 37 degrees west of Washington, north, and west of the Colorado River was later attached to Nevada in 1866 by Congress. The decision had been as a result of agitation which began in 1865 by Senators from Nevada to move Nevada's eastern border by one additional degree. The proposed bill passed in the Senate but failed to get consideration in the House as the session had already ended. The initial bill, however, did not include the area south of the 37th parallel. The bill was later revived the following year with an additional provision to add territory to the South of Nevada by continuing the eastern boundary south of the 37th parallel all the way to the Colorado River and then along the river to the border with California. The Bill managed to pass despite protests from delegates from Utah and Arizona. The reason behind granting Nevada the additional territory is not known, but experts reckon that the decision was driven by the consideration that Nevada was mainly arid and would thus need a larger area to meet the needs of its population. The land lost by Arizona to Nevada is greatly felt today as the area would later experience rapid development due to the rise of Las Vegas. Oregon The establishment of the border with Idaho and Oregon was quite straight forward. In 1819, the Adams-Onis treaty signed by Spain and the US established the border at the 42nd parallel. The border remained as such for thirty-one years until the creation of the Territory of Utah in 1850. A section of the boundary was firmly settled when Oregon joined the union in 1859 with its southern border at the 42nd parallel. In 1880, Nevada was suffering severe economic problems. Its legislature, therefore, asked the Congress to grant it a territory on the southern part of Idaho which was known to have silver mines. The bill was passed by Congress in 1887 but was rejected by President Grover Cleveland following a protest by politicians from Idaho. Utah Southeastern Idaho was part of the larger Provincial state of Deseret between 1849 and 1850, which had been established by the Mormons. The Mormon territory was not favorable to Congress and was thus chipped away giving some of its portions of the proposed state to Idaho and present-day Utah. The southern border with the state of Nevada was established through a treaty between Spain and the United States in 1819. Nevada territory was created in 1861 after the Southern state which had been in opposition to the idea seceded between 1860 and 1861. Nevadas initial eastern border was set as the 39th meridian to the west of Washington. Congress added an additional degree of Longitude the following year to the territory to Nevada from the territory of Utah. Nevada gained statehood in 1864. In 1866, the new state of Nevada was granted territory from Utah through an additional line on longitude along the eastern border. The new border was set at the 37th degree to the west of Washington. Nevada was granted the additional territory because it wanted to take up the Pahranagat, a rich mining area. Efforts to gain the additional area were aided by the states political clout, the need to compensate Nevada for the unsuccessful bid to get additional territory from California in 1862, and the strained ties between the Mormons and the Federal government. California Following the discovery of silver and gold mines near Virginia City, residents of California wanted the area annexed as opposed to having the area under the Territory of Utah. The proposal by representatives of California was to move the border to the 118th meridian from the 120th Meridian west of the Greenwich, from the 42nd parallel to the intersection with Californias diagonal eastern border. Congress, however, decided to create the territory of Nevada. Nevada wanted to have its western border at the crest of the Sierra Nevada. California at the time (1850) was already a state, and Congress could not change the borders arbitrarily as was possible with territories. Nevada, therefore, sent its representatives west in 1862 to try and convince California to cede its territory to the east of Sierra Nevada. The idea to move the border seemed logical as the Sierra Nevada formed a natural border. However, the efforts by Nevada were unsuccessful as California was not willing to cede any of its lands. The idea was hard to sell because most of the borders to the west of the country were determined along the lines of latitude and longitude. Following the unsuccessful negotiations, Congress granted Nevada territories from Utah and Arizona territory. Nevada also tried to convince California to move the border in 1871 but once again it was unsuccessful. WikiLeaks today issued a warning that its founder, Julian Assange, faces imminent eviction from Ecuadors London embassy, where he sought political asylum in 2012. The publishing organisation indicated that he would then be arrested by the British police. A post by the official WikiLeaks Twitter account at around 5:30 p.m., US Eastern Standard Time, stated: BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within hours to days using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretextand that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest. Julian Assange In a reply to CNN, Ecuadors foreign ministry refused to deny WikiLeaks allegations. We do not respond to rumors, hypotheses or conjectures that do not have documentary support. If there is official information, we will share it at an opportune moment, the ministry stated. WikiLeaks warning must sound the alarm for all defenders of democratic rights. In the heart of London, an advanced conspiracy is underway to abrogate the political asylum of a journalist and publisher, whose only crime has been to expose the illegal wars, diplomatic conspiracies and mass surveillance operations of the US, Britain and the other major powers. If the Ecuadorian government carries out its repeated threats to expel Assange from the embassy, it will forever be viewed by world public opinion as a vassal state that violated the right of asylum to curry favor with the US government, intelligence agencies and Wall Street banks. As WikiLeaks told the Associated Press earlier this week, if Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno wants to illegally terminate a refugee publishers asylum history will not be kind. A British arrest of Assange would be no less illegal. For years, Assange has been vindictively pursued by British authorities over trumped-up bail charges. As legal experts have noted, the alleged offences were effectively resolved years ago, when Assange forfeited bail money. Moreover, he has spent more time illegally detained in the embassy, as a result of the British arrest threats, than would stem from any conviction on the minor bail charges. The transparent purpose of the British detention of Assange would be to facilitate proceedings for his extradition to the US. Late last year, US prosecutors revealed, apparently by mistake, that the American government has already laid charges against the WikiLeaks founder. Over the past month, the US pursuit of Assange has dramatically escalated. On March 8, Chelsea Manning, who in 2010 leaked US army war logs and diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks, was arrested and jailed indefinitely for refusing to testify at a closed-door grand jury hearing aimed at concocting charges against Assange. The Trump administrations detention of the courageous whistleblower has been backed by the Democrats and the corporate press, who have done nothing to oppose her imprisonment. Mannings arrest confirms that US charges against Assange would be over WikiLeaks publications exposing mass civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the extrajudicial assassination of journalists and children, and US diplomatic intrigues affecting virtually every country in the world. Assange would likely face conspiracy or espionage charges carrying a sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty. Over the same period that Washington has ramped-up its campaign against Assange, the Ecuadorian regime, doubtless in collaboration with the US government, has sought to manufacture a pretext to carry out its long-standing plans to expel the WikiLeaks founder from the embassy. Since it came to office in 2017, the Moreno regime has sought to reverse the decision of the previous government to grant Assange asylum, slanderously denouncing him as a hacker and our inherited problem. Moreno has dramatically expanded relations with the US and has been accused by WikiLeaks of spying on Assange on behalf of the US intelligence agencies. Moreno ordered the shutting-off of Assanges internet access in March last year and severely curtailed his right to receive visitors. In October, his government issued a protocol, stipulating that Assanges asylum was conditional on him remaining silent on all political issues, including his own plight. Last week, senior officials began claiming that Assange had violated the draconian protocol. On Tuesday, Moreno declared in an interview with Ecuadorian state radio that Assange was to blame for a corruption scandal currently engulfing his government. Moreno accused Assange of hacking the contents of his gmail account and mobile phone, which were sent to an opposition lawmaker last February. The material, along with related documents dubbed the INA Papers, implicate Moreno, and his closest associates, including his brother, in fraud, corruption and perjury. The Ecuadorian government is well aware that its unsubstantiated accusations are bogus. They know Assange does not have internet access, because they terminated it in March last year. The only evidence of WikiLeaks ties to the INA papers is that the organisations Twitter account tweeted reports about the revelations. The dirty intrigues involving the Ecuadorian, British and US governments have only been able to proceed because of the support of all of the official parties, in those countries, and in Assanges native Australia, for his persecution. The political establishment in every country views the campaign against Assange as the spearhead of a broader drive to internet censorship and authoritarian forms of rule. They are pursuing the WikiLeaks founder, to set a precedent for the suppression of mass opposition to war, austerity and dictatorship, amid seething popular discontent around the world and an upsurge of the class struggle. If Assange is expelled from the embassy and taken into British custody, it will set into motion a protracted legal battle for his freedom. Any application by the Trump administration for Assanges extradition to the US would be bitterly contested by WikiLeaks legal representatives. The jailing of Manning, in a desperate attempt to force her to give perjured testimony against the WikiLeaks founder, indicates that the US case against Assange cannot withstand serious judicial scrutiny. Manning has, courageously and at great personal cost, refused to comply with this legal travesty. As legal experts and defenders of democratic rights have repeatedly stressed, any attempt to prosecute Assange in the US for his publishing activities would violate centuries of legal precedent. It would represent nothing less than an attempt to overturn the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects free speech and freedom of the press. If the United States attempts to extradite Assange through extralegal means, it will only cement its status as a criminal regime operating entirely outside the framework of international law. The Australian government, which, like its predecessors, has collaborated in the attacks on Assange, has an undeniable responsibility to defend the Australian citizen and journalist. It must use its legal discretion and diplomatic powers to compel the British government to allow Assange to leave the country, and return to Australia, with a guarantee against extradition to the US. While the legal defence of Assange will be critical, the fight to mobilise workers, students and young people for his freedom will be decisive. In workplaces, university campuses and neighbourhoods, workers and young people must be apprised of Assanges plight, warned that the attacks against him are aimed at eviscerating their own democratic rights, and rallied in his defence. The WSWS and Socialist Equality Parties around the world, which held powerful demonstrations in Australia and the US last month demanding Assanges freedom, will step-up the fight for his liberty. The broadest political campaign, involving all defenders of democratic rights, must be organised, including through the calling of meetings, protests and demonstrations over the coming days and weeks. On Thursday, Ethiopias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) released a preliminary report on the March 10 crash of a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft which killed all 157 people on board. The findings in the AIB report show that faulty readings from a malfunctioning angle-of-attack (AOA) sensor on the Boeing plane was behind the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. The report also reveals that efforts by the flight crew to follow safety procedures provided by Boeing did not stop the aircraft from making a fatal nosedive less than six minutes after takeoff. The AIB worked with a team of international investigators to analyze information from the recovered digital flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder and reconstruct a timeline of events during the doomed flight. The timeline shows that less than a minute into the flight, the measurements of the left AOA sensor changed suddenly and were dramatically at odds with the measurements of the right AOA sensor. At two minutes, the pilot described flight control problems and the automated system known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS)designed to overcome the tendency of the 737 Max 8 to stallbegan rapidly pushing the nose of the plane down. The pilots took measures to override the actions of the MCAS, but the automated system continued to force a nose-down orientation. The crews then followed the emergency check list provided by Boeing and cut the electrical power to the entire stabilization system and attempted to manually right the plane. At about four minutes into the flight, the first officer said the manual override is not working. They then turned the electrical system back on, and the MCAS reengaged. With the plane at over 5,000 feet by this time, it was pushed back into a final nose dive from which it never recovered. Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges presented the AIB report on the crash and said, The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft. The AIB report confirms the analysis of aviation experts who had pointed to the AOA sensors and the intervention of the MCAS as the likely cause of the Ethiopian crash. Similar malfunctions were involved in the Lion Air Flight 610 crash of the same exact Boeing aircraft on October 29, 2018, which killed all 189 passengers and crew. In response to the preliminary AIB report, Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg issued a statement that continued to avoid acknowledging that faulty airline equipment was the cause of both crashes. Instead, Muilenburg said the accidents were caused when MCAS was activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information. He refused to acknowledge that erroneous information came from a malfunctioning AOA sensor. In a further effort to deflect blame for the crashes onto the pilots, Muilenburg claimed that erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. Muilenburg said nothing about the fact that his companys documented safety procedures did not save the aircraft and instead insisted, We remain confident in the fundamental safety of the 737 MAX. The latest Boeing response is in keeping with everything the corporation, the Trump administration and the FAA have done since the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 went down. They are fully aware that the decisions they have made are likely directly responsible for the death of 346 people. Local councils across Britain are selling off assets in property and land to the private sector on a huge scale. More than 9 billion in assets has been sold in just over the last five years. This was revealed by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), which, working with news website Huffington Post UK, conducted its largest ever investigation. It sent Freedom of Information requests to each of Englands 353 local authorities, many of which refused to fully cooperate. The findings exposed the previously hidden impact of austerity on communities across the country, as the councils have sold billions of pounds in assets they used to own. This is part of the wholesale transfer of social wealth from the working class to the financial aristocracy carried out by politicians of all political stripes in recent decades. TBIJ is a London-based, non-profit organisation founded in 2010. Funded by donations, it comprises over 900 journalists, academics and members of the public to conduct public-interest journalism. They have won awards for their coverage of topics such as imperialist war crimes in the Middle East, government corruption and financial criminality. The mass selloff of public assets has been ramped up due to severe austerity measures imposed by central government in the wake of the 2008 financial crash. Since 2014, over 12,000 publicly-owned assets with a total value of over 9.1 billion have been sold off, including libraries, health clinics, youth centres and public spaces. Analysis of the data found that 381 million of the proceeds of these sales was used to facilitate further budget cuts by councils, with one third of this sum (115 million) used to finance redundancy payments. Since 2010, more than 1 million jobs have gone in the public sector. TBIJ have produced an interactive map detailing the privatisation made in each local area. Although some councils withheld their information, the data from various parts of the country demonstrates the scale of the process. In London, Haringey Borough Councilnow controlled by supporters of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbynsold off 30 properties to raise 35.7 million between 2014 and 2018, including two community centres to a property developer. In another Labour council, Tower Hamlets, the council raised 72.7 million through the sale of 22 properties. Bexley council sold 11 public spaces between 2014 and 2016 for a total of 10.8 millionthe biggest being Hill View cemetery for 6.4 million. Other councils listed include: Birmingham City Council, in the period from April 2016 to July 2018, sold off 167 buildings or plots of land. The Labour-run council, the largest single local authority in the UK, has utilised 49 million from asset sales to assist in trying to balance its books. Since 2010, the council has imposed 12,000 redundancies. According to the Birmingham Mail, at least 35 million has gone to fund redundancies at the council. Along with new cuts being imposed by the council in this years budget, six community centres have either already been sold or are earmarked for sale. The Birmingham Mail reported last month, The council plans to make another 1,095 people redundant in the coming year, further decimating frontline services. It has also confirmed it intends to plough on with plans to sell off public assets to raise the necessary finances. It has set aside another 12.1 million next year from capital receipts to pay for redundancies. Since 2010, the council has imposed 12,000 redundancies. According to the Birmingham Mail, at least 35 million has gone to fund redundancies at the council. Along with new cuts being imposed by the council in this years budget, six community centres have either already been sold or are earmarked for sale. The Birmingham Mail reported last month, The council plans to make another 1,095 people redundant in the coming year, further decimating frontline services. It has also confirmed it intends to plough on with plans to sell off public assets to raise the necessary finances. It has set aside another 12.1 million next year from capital receipts to pay for redundancies. Labour-controlled Middlesbrough council raised 155 million through the sale of 222 properties, including Acklam Hall, the towns only grade I listed building. Manchester City Council, also Labour, sold 707 public assets worth 42.9 million, including valuable inner-city land. Sheffields Labour council sold 313 public spaces for a total of 36.4 million, including several sites of former schools. Bradfords Labour council sold off 22.7 million in assets between 2014 and 2018 in 318 separate sales, including nearly 1.2 million for the former site of the Shirley Manor primary school and 0.7 million for the Whetley Hill Resource Centre, an assisted living facility for the disabled. Many of the sales were council houses and schools that have been transferred to privately-controlled academy trusts as part of the creeping privatisation of the education system. Many of the details of the sales have not been made public and involved amounts below their real market value. Rather than these properties being regenerated in the spirit of free enterprise, studies have found that the occupancy rate in the private sector is generally lower than that for public buildings. An April 2016 regulation change gave councils more freedom to dispose of their property assets if the proceeds contribute towards ongoing savings. This enabled councils to use the money raised by selling off their assets to finance large-scale redundancies. Bristol council increased its redundancy rate by a factor of ten, from 39 to 401 following the changes, according to TBIJ. Haringey council spent 8 million of these proceeds on job losses, which increased by 70 percent after the regulations changed. Local councils face a desperate financial squeeze, with some beginning to collapse financially. Local authorities have seen their budgets reduced by 60 percent since 2010, according to official figures, as part of the austerity agenda of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat 2010/2015 coalition and Theresa Mays government that followed. Despite Mays announcement last October at the Conservative Party conference that austerity is over, further budget reductions of 36 percent are due next year as the central government grant to local authorities is slashed further. Other councils have used the money to reorganise their activities, hiring expensive management consultancies, and commission outsourcing companies paying lower wages. This is part of the broader reduction in the bureaucracy of central government oversight over local authorities that aims to facilitate the privatization of social services. A recent milestone in this process was the Localism Act 2011, which devolved decision making powers to local councils and increased their financial room for manoeuvre. The loss of these assets will be to the detriment of working class communities for years to come, with the removal of facilities upon which essential social services rely hitting vulnerable social layers hardest. The report details the effect of these cuts to youth clubs, community care centres, libraries, etc. The sell-offs also increase financial barriers to establishing new facilities in the future due to a shortage of properties. It was recently revealed that councils are paying huge sums to private landlords for housing stock that was formerly public property. The sell-offs undermine basic democratic rights as they reduce the availability of public spaces to meet, organise and hold protests, such as in town centres. The report sheds light on social reality in Britain, which is dominated by the social gulf between the financial oligarchy and the mass of the working population. According to official figures, the top wealthiest 10 percent of households have five times more wealth than the bottom half of the population combined. There has been no organised opposition to these cuts, which are being imposed by Conservative, Labour and Liberal local councils at the diktat of central government. Ever since he was elected Labour leader, Corbyn has urged Labour councils to enforce legal budgets i.e. collaborate with central government austerity measures. The trade unions have worked hand-in-glove with their Labour partners to isolate and dissipate all resistance to cuts and lay-offs. Many Labour members are becoming disillusioned with the partys complicity in austerity. Workers and young people seeking to oppose cuts to public services and the mass selloff of public assets built up and maintained by working people over decades must seek a new path of struggle. Public sector workers must make common cause with those in the private sector in Britain and internationally, as part of a resurgence of the international class struggle, in rebellion against the labour and trade union bureaucracy. Central to this is the development of a unified movement against austerity based on the formation of rank-and-file committees in workplaces and local communities. The Socialist Equality Party (US) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) are holding a major meeting series across the US, The Threat of Fascism and How to Fight It. The meetings will feature special guest speaker Christoph Vandreier, deputy national secretary of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) and author of the newly released book Why are They Back? Historical Falsification, Political Conspiracy and the Return of Fascism in Germany. David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US), will be speaking alongside Vandreier in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan; Cambridge, Massachusetts and New York City. SEP (US) National Secretary Joseph Kishore will speak with Vandreier at the meetings in California at San Diego and Berkeley. This speaking tour is a significant political event for workers and youth in the US. It is taking place against the backdrop of a global promotion of far-right politics by bourgeois parties around the world, from Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and President Donald Trump in the United States, to the fascistic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany. IYSSE clubs throughout the country spoke to students and young people this week about the importance of the upcoming meetings series and received a strong response. Christine, a fine arts student at Wayne State University While campaigning at Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, IYSSE members spoke to Christine, an 18-year-old freshman. Christine said she was looking forward to attending the meeting because she thinks the issues involved are important for workers and youth. I dont consider myself especially political. I study fine arts. But I think everyone has something to contribute. Art can play an important role in reaching people. The IYSSE spoke to Christine about the cover of Vandreiers book, which features an anti-fascist photomontage by John Heartfield. Christine had not heard of Heartfield but thought the work was powerful. Christine told us that she is very concerned about state of life for masses of people: In the US, the Trump administration is doing some things that are hard to believe, the attacks on immigrants especially and just the stuff he says every day. It seems to me that everything that the political parties do, on both sides, is meant to divide us. But I think its important people remember that we arent that different from each other. Another student, Lydia, who studies Digital Art at Wayne State University, told IYSSE members, All of these issues are connectedthe rise of the Nazis, inequality, democratic rights and other things. Lydia, a digital art student at Wayne State University Lydia said she doesnt think either party is capable of fighting the rise of the far right in the US. The Republicans and Democrats only address things on the surface level. They dont really do anything in the interests of ordinary people. They really just want the same thing: a strong imperial America with a big military. Its important that we go way beyond the surface level. It sounds like this meeting will do that, and so it will be important. Pablo, a sophomore at UC Berkeley, took great interest in the IYSSEs table which featured material on the Russian Revolution. Its surreal, he told members, that the same social forces behind the Nazis are on the rise today. And this is not confined to Germany but is happening in the US and in South America too. Pablo, a student at UC Berkeley Like many students who spoke with the IYSSE across the country, Pablo said he was very interested in learning about the history of revolutionary struggles, Its necessary to learn from the past for the struggles today. Eliseo, a political science major at UC Berkeley, also expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming lecture. These far-right organizations are able to grow because everyone hates the political establishment, he said. The extreme right and Trump blame immigrants as a scapegoat to the real social problems going on. Eliseo and the IYSSE spoke about the breakdown of capitalism, and the anti-working class role of the unions in the era of globalization. Nonprofits and unions used to be interested in helping and defending workers, but now they are all about making money. He expressed disgust about Norwood Jewell, the UAW executive charged for bribery. These people dont defend the working class. Before heading to class, Eliseo added: Im excited for this meeting, this is an extremely important topic that needs to be discussed. Eliseo, a political science major at UC Berkeley The IYSSE in New York City has been campaigning at schools across the city for the New York University meeting, the final stop in the tour. Antonio, a liberal arts student at NYU, said that he felt that the far-right shift in global politics has many expressions: There is a danger of fascism now and you, can see that in so many examples. The use of emergency powers by Trump to build a wall is one instance. You can make the case that the reemergence of fascism is capital sensing a threat and attempting to reassert its powers. You could also say it is a misguided attempt by some so assert control. I say misguided because you can see that some of the people supporting these moves are those most affected by globalization. It is like their entire lives were just swept away by the economic changes. The IYSSEs around the country have found overwhelming support among students for the meeting series. There is no shortage of outrage over the policies of the Trump administration and concern over the rise of far-right movements around the world. What is lacking most among students and young people is an understanding of the political, theoretical and historical lessons needed to fight back. Jayshawn, a student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) in New York City, explained, People are sitting around feeling stuck in these parties. The Republicans have failed us, and the Democrats in many ways have failed us too. It is hard to push your own agenda when the politicians in office just do whatever they want. Gabriel, a political science major at NYU Another NYU student, Gabriel, said, I am looking at the rise of fascist leaders in the history books now. There is such a focus on how it could be prevented in what we are all reading, but then you dont see anyone doing anything. It is like people just feel powerless, but we need to teach them what to do in order to fight. The IYSSE and SEP urge all students, youth, and workers who are looking for a way to build a mass working class movement capable of preventing the disaster of Nazism from taking place on an even greater scale today to attend a meeting in your area and join the IYSSE. If there is not a meeting close by, contact us to get involved in your area. A new wave of factory and shop closures indicates a deepening slump in Australia, accompanied by greater casualisation of the workforce which Liberal-National and Labor governments alike have enforced for decades. This week alone, Kimberly-Clark said it would eliminate 220 jobs by closing the Ingleburn plant in southwest Sydney that makes Huggies nappies. The US corporation plans to shift production to Asia by July as part of a global restructuring program. Retail giant Woolworths also confirmed the closure of 30 Big W stores, as well as two distribution centres. The store closures, the locations of which have not yet been announced, represent about 16 percent of its 183-strong network, threatening thousands of jobs. Officially, unemployment in February fell 0.1 percentage points to 4.9 percent. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) employment surveys, however, understate the real level of joblessness by counting anyone who has worked for one hour a week as employed. For the same month, the number of people in full-time work fell for the third time in four months, dropping by 7,300, while part-time workers increased by 11,300. The participation rate also slipped to 65.6 percent in February, from 65.7 percent the previous month, as more people gave up actively looking for work. A more reliable jobs survey conducted by Roy Morgan research put unemployment for February at 9.6 percent, almost twice the official rate. Under-employmentpeople in part-time work and looking for more workstood at 8.6 percent. That means around 2.5 million workers, or 18.2 percent of the workforce, are either jobless or under-employed. The jobs situation for young people, even on official figures, is chronic. Unemployment for 15- to 24-year olds stood at 11.1 percent in February, more than double the overall ABS unemployment rate. According to a survey by the charity group the Brotherhood of St Laurence, around a quarter of a million young people are without work. Youth joblessness was particularly high in regional areas, such as in Bendigo and Shepparton in Victoria, where the rate was 18.3 percent and 17.5 percent respectively. In the Coffs Harbour and Grafton region in New South Wales, the rate was 23 percent, while outback Queensland, which includes Mt Isa, Cape York and Longreach, had a rate of 25.7 percent. Job vacancies are falling. The ANZ Job Ads Index dropped in February, for the fourth consecutive month, by a further 0.9 percent in seasonally-adjusted terms. The index was down 4.3 percent over the past year. An ANZ bank spokesman said the result pointed to a more challenging period for employment growth in the year ahead. Further job losses are expected across the construction industry. In February, activity fell in all key sectors, with house and apartment construction declining for an 11th consecutive month. The overall decline continued the trend from the last quarter of 2018, which was down 2.6 percent from the same period in 2017. A National Bank of Australia (NAB) economist warned that the forecast decline in dwelling investment would of itself likely lead directly to a plunge in employment of anywhere between 50,000 to 150,000, depending on how protracted the decline becomes. The slump also is hitting jobs in industries supplying the residential construction sector, including importers, manufacturers, hardware-suppliers and related services such as developers, the real estate industry, finance and plant hire. Major companies across a range of sectors continue to shed jobs in the drive to slash labour costs amid forecasts of a worsening global slowdown, particularly in China, Australias largest single export market. In telecommunications, Telstra, Australias largest company, announced in January the axing of 750 jobs in the second tranche of its T22 restructure plan to shed 9,500 positions over the next three years. From June to December 2018, the company destroyed 3,200 jobs in the first tranche. In the banking and finance sector, Westpac bank announced in March it would divest its financial advice business arm, cutting 900 full-time jobs in the process. Rival NAB announced it would axe 900 jobs after handing over some of the banks financial advice customers to Viridian Advisory. Analysts have warned of further job losses in retail, with a growing list of bankruptcies and store closures. According to Business Insider, more than 4,000 store closures have been announced this year, led by Payless, Gymboree, Shopko, Performance Bicycle and Charlotte Russe. All filed for bankruptcy and announced full or partial liquidations. Clothing retailer Ed Harry will close all its 87 outlets, shedding nearly 500 jobs. Department store chain Myer announced it would axe 50 jobs, mainly in marketing. Retailer Coogan is to close its store in Tasmania by the end of June at the cost of 35 jobs. Qantas announced it will send its Boeing 717 fleet offshore for heavy maintenance, cutting 40 aircraft engineering jobs. Ford Australia is to axe more than 205 jobs, including powertrain and chassis design engineers, as part of a global restructure. By 2017, Ford, GM Holden and Toyota had ended all vehicle production in Australia, costing thousands of jobs. On February 19, the Bahro family, which fled the Syrian war in 2017 and ultimately settled in the suburb of Spryfield on the outskirts of Halifax, was decimated by a devastating fire. The fire destroyed the Bahro residence, took the lives of the familys seven children and seriously injured the father, leaving the mother in a state of emotional shock. A wave of sympathy for the grieving parents has spread across Nova Scotia and indeed all of Canada. Local fire departments began receiving calls alerting them to the fire at 12:41 AM, shortly after it erupted, and firefighters arrived about six minutes later. Despite the speed of the first responders, none of the seven children, including the four oldest, aged 8 to 15, managed to escape the flames. Although the fire was quickly contained, neighbours and firefighters have attested to the speed and intensity of the fire. The Halifax Fire Department's investigation is ongoing, but the rapid spread of the blaze throughout the two-story house reflects a type of fire that is becoming more and more frequent, particularly for relatively new homes. The Bahro residence was built in 2014. Vince Mackenzie, Fire Chief of Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and a member of the Maritime Fire Chiefs' Board of Directors, said that due to the construction materials that are now commonly used, as well as the abundance of plastic objects, fires can burn 8 to 9 times faster than when he started his career 35 years ago. For Mackenzie and many firefighter associations, such as the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, the installation of automated sprinklers should be mandatory in all homes as sprinklers have consistently been shown to save lives. Many recommendations have been made in recent years to require this and other changes to the building code, but havent been acted on because they conflict with the profit interests of big business. Phil Rizcallah, Director of Research and Development for the Construction Sector at the National Research Council of Canada, raised the possibility of changes to the building code following the Spryfield tragedy. But he made clear that the priority should remain the huge profits of construction contractors. Referring to sprinklers, Rizcallah said: It isnt safety at all costs, adding that its must be safety at a reasonable cost, because you can make it so that it's unaffordable, ... [I]f nobody can actually afford a home then you've missed the boat. Such a statement is intended to mislead the public in a context where house prices in Canada have soared in recent years. In Canada the median price of a two-story house, although lower in a small-city suburb like Spryfield, is $715,000. According to Mackenzie, the addition of automated sprinklers would cost 1 to 2 per cent of the price of a new construction and 5 per cent in an existing home, yet they are not being added because building contractors and the financial institutions that lend to them don't want to reduce their profit margins. Similar profit motives are defended by companies and the powers that be in the choice of materials and design of houses. They are looking to use materials that reduce installation time or purchasing costs. Fire resistance is at best an afterthought. Fire departments throughout the country are aware that new houses are made of materials that facilitate the rapid spread of fire. According to Halifax Fire Chief Dave Meldrum, "New homes are built with lightweight construction materials. Once fire barriers are penetrated, rapid fire spread is possible in new construction." For example, contractors use inferior quality lumber or composite materials such as chipboard instead of plywood. For interiors, gypsum sheets that are heavy and more difficult to handle have been replaced by less expensive and lighter pre-finished panels. At the structural level, the easier to handle and more practical I-beams have replaced the solid wooden columns and beams of the past, which had a longer resistance to flames. Even in plumbing, plastic PVC pipes are replacing metal pipes and one could extrapolate for each of the trades from exterior cladding to electricity. The furniture industry also uses more flammable materials in its products. In terms of design, houses traditionally had many rooms, separated by doors. Instead, new homes have many open areas, which facilitates the spread of flames. The Bahro residence included several of the materials named above and was designed with wide open areas. The Spryfield tragedy resembles a series of other horrific fires in recent years that also had a direct link to inadequate safety standards or non-compliance with them. In 2014, 32 people lost their lives in a seniors' residence in Isle-Verte, Quebec. The residence had a newer section with sprinklers and an older section that did not. While the section equipped with sprinklers was largely spared from the flames, the residents in the other section were unable to escape in time. Another infamous case is the Grenfell Tower fire in the United Kingdom, which killed at least 72 people. The exterior cladding of the high-rise, which was the main cause of the blazes very rapid spread, had been chosen to save 5000 Euros and didnt even meet the already insufficient requirements of the British building code. In all these cases, the deaths were avoidable and unnecessary. There is ample technical knowledge and material means to prevent fires and slow their spread when they occur. Based on this knowledge, the building code could be greatly strengthened to place the safety of occupants first. But this is impossible under capitalism. Current construction norms are a consequence of the ongoing deregulation demanded by large corporations and implemented by the authorities. Moreover, the resulting problems are compounded by cuts to fire safety and other public services. Thus, it is working people who are once again paying the price for a system that subordinates their basic needsincluding access to safe and affordable housingto the profits of a super-rich minority. It is now over two-and-a-half months since Juan Guaido, a barely known figure in the right-wing, US-funded Voluntad Popular party, proclaimed himself the interim president of Venezuela and was immediately recognized by Washington as the legitimate head of the countrys government. A month later, Washington, working with the right-wing government of Colombia and the US-backed right-wing Venezuelan opposition, attempted to stage a cynical provocation, sending trucks, supposedly loaded with US-supplied aid, in an attempt to crash the Venezuelan-Colombian border. Guaido and his backers had cast the stunt as the end of the government of President Nicolas Maduro, predicting that Venezuelan security forces would disintegrate in the face of a handful of rations offered by the USAID. Nothing of the kind transpired, and in the intervening weeks the ability of Guaido and his US handlers to mount anti-regime demonstrations has visibly waned, while there has been no discernable crack in the countrys armed forces. The New York Times, which has served as a propaganda mouthpiece for the US-orchestrated regime change operation from its outset, published a perplexed editorial Thursday titled As the crisis in Venezuela grows, the options narrow. The newspapers editorial board offered a lament over the failure of the CIA and its Venezuelan assets to swiftly topple the Venezuelan government. But despite threats of intervention, calls on the military to rebel, economic sanctions, promises of aid for the long-suffering Venezuelans and long power failures, Mr. Maduro remains defiantly entrenched in the presidential palace, his corrupt generals at his side and his Russian and Cuban backers behind him, the editorial states. It continues, In effect, what was intended as a swift operation to pry out a nasty despot has turned into a stalemate while Venezuela further disintegrates Just a day before, the Times had posted an editorial video by one Joanna Hausmann, who bills herself as a comedian, titled What My Fellow Liberals Dont Get About Venezuela. The piece, with its lame attempts at humor, defended regime change and vilified any opposition to US imperialisms role in the country, insisting that anyone demanding Hands off Venezuela would have blood on their hands. What the Times neglected to tell its readers is that Ms. Hausmann, the presenter of this propaganda piece, is the daughter of Ricardo Hausmann, a neo-liberal economist who was a minister under the Venezuelan presidency of Carlos Andres Perez, which oversaw the implementation of IMF austerity measures that triggered the caracazo, the mass uprising of Venezuelan workers and poor in which as many as 3,000 people were massacred by security forces. This is the type of democracy that Washington seeks to restore in Caracas. Hausmann is now a prominent figure in the US regime change operation, who became the center of a provocation that ended up scuttling a meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank scheduled last month in China after Beijing refused to grant him a visa as the representative of Washingtons anointed legitimate president Guaido, who controls absolutely nothing in Venezuela. The Times editorial cites uncritically statements by Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, invoking the hoary principles of the Monroe Doctrine, used countless times to justify US invasions, coups and the installation of fascist-military dictatorships in Latin America to ward off the threat of revolution. It similarly quotes Trumps declarations that all options are on the table. It concludes that Trump is confronting his own red line moment, comparing it to Obamas failure to launch a full-scale US war to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The reality is that Mr. Trump has no real option but to wait, the Times concludes. The Times editorial board, headed by James Bennet (a man with the closest ties to the US state, with a brother who is a right-wing Democratic senator from Colorado and a father who was a top State Department official who headed the Agency for International Development, a frequent conduit for CIA operations), knows that this is a lie. The CIA and the Pentagon are unquestionably carrying out a wide array of operations aimed at destabilizing Venezuela and provoking a fissure within the countrys military that could result in a full-scale civil war. The Times is a valued partner in these operations, with a long record of service to the US military and intelligence apparatus, from its promotion of the weapons of mass destruction lies in Iraq to its support for the humanitarian intervention that laid waste to Libya. In Venezuela, the newspaper rushed in 2002 to salute a supposedly democratic coup that briefly installed Pedro Carmona, the head of the Venezuelan Chambers of Commerce, as interim president, while Hugo Chavez, who had been elected president with some 60 percent of the vote, was kidnapped and facing summary execution. Venezuelan democracy is no longer threatened by a would-be dictator, the Times declared, turning reality inside out, in order to promote the drive by US imperialism to impose a puppet regime that would ensure unfettered access by the US energy conglomerates to the exploitation of Venezuelas oil reserves, the largest on the planet. The Times ended up with egg on its face as this Made in USA democracy proved extremely short-lived after masses of working class Venezuelans took to the streets in struggle against the US-backed coup. If the latest attempt to restore democracy on behalf of Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips has faltered, it is not because of Cuban or Russian support for Maduro, as the Times suggest, reprising similar conspiracy theories that have been discredited within the US itself. As much as the masses of Venezuelan workers are hostile to the Maduro government, which has defended capitalist interests, diverted vital social resources to meet debt payments to world finance capital and promoted the enrichment of a corrupt ruling clique of financial speculators, top government officials and military commanders, they recognize in the forces backing Guaido the representatives of US imperialism and its long-time enemies in the Venezuelan capitalist oligarchy that will only offer further immiseration and bloodbaths like the caracazo of 1989. The lies of the Times cannot conceal the fact that the only progressive way out of the crisis gripping Venezuela and the threat of imperialist intervention and economic strangulation is through the independent political mobilization of the Venezuelan working class in a struggle to overthrow the capitalist system, take power into its own hands and extend its revolutionary struggle throughout the Americas. The talks on an alternative Brexit deal between UK Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn decisively refute all claims that his election as leader of the Labour Party offered a way forward for working people. British imperialism is in the midst of the greatest crisis it has faced in the post-war period. The Tory government is staggering on the brink of collapse. Political and social tensions are at breaking point. And the response of the ruling class is to look to Corbyn for political salvation. On Tuesday, he responded by immediately abandoning his demand for a general election and agreed to Mays desperate appeal for national unity to deliver the national interest. He would assume his responsibility to represent the people that supported Labour in the last election and the people who didnt support Labour. For more than three years, Corbyn has insisted to the thousands of workers and young people who joined the Labour Party in response to his election victory that they must not demand the driving out of the Blairite right wing and implement socialist policies because party unity was essential to defeat the Tories. Now party unity has been replaced by national unity as he pledges to reserve any no confidence motion in the government until a definitive failure to secure a Brexit deal with the European Union. Corbyns rise to the party leadership in 2015 was due to a groundswell of social and political opposition in the working class after decades in which Tory, New Labour and Tory/Liberal Democrat governments carried out a massive transfer of social wealth to big business. It was an attempt to fight back by workers and young people, which escalated to the point where, in 2017when May tried to shore up her position by calling a snap general electionthe Tories were reduced to a minority government after the biggest swing to Labour since Clement Attlee in 1945. Rather than press home this advantage, Corbyn shifted from appeasing the partys right wing piecemeal to a rout. The 2018 Labour conference saw him oppose demands for the mandatory reselection of MPs, as he allowed his own closest supporters to be witch-hunted and expelled and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell toured the City of London to pledge Labours loyalty. Today, Blairite Tom Watson might as well be party leader rather than Corbyns deputy. When Watson told Prospect magazine he was ready to take part in a government of national unity with pro-Remain Tories, Corbyns office denounced plans for an establishment stitch-up. Three days later, Corbyn assumed his part in an actual stitch-up aimed at preventing a general election that Tory MP Johnny Mercer said would see his party wiped out. The last thing Corbyn would contemplate is to come to power as a result of a movement of the working class he might not be able to control. He wants only to serve British imperialism and continue the efforts to suppress the class struggle that have characterised his leadership. Mays overture is confirmation that the ruling class has Corbyns real measure as an essential ally against the working class. These are strategic experiences for the working class in Britain, Europe and internationally. Corbyn has been held up as a model to be emulated by pseudo-left formations the world over. But before Corbyn, the same service was provided for Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, the Left Bloc in Portugal and Bernie Sanders in the USalways with the same disastrous impact. From the outset, the Socialist Equality Party warned: Corbyn represents the last desperate effort to resuscitate a policy that has failed time and time again and has played a crucial role for the bourgeoisie in stemming a revolutionary development in the working classthe policy of attempting to push Labour to the left. We drew particular attention to how, when Syriza came to power in January 2015 as a result of its pledges to oppose EU-backed austerity measures, this was hailed by pseudo-left organizations everywhere as a transformative event that would change the trajectory of European politics. Instead, Syriza spent months pleading with the EU for paltry concessions on the terms for imposing EU austerity measures before repudiating the landslide vote against further austerity in the July [2015] referendum and agreeing to impose even harsher spending cuts than its predecessors. The claims of the pseudo-left are in tatters. This week, the Socialist Party writes of a screaming silence from the trade union leaders, who have failed to articulate the desperate situation in working class communities, and the faint, hardly audible, voice of Jeremy Corbynwithout even mentioning his talks with May. The Socialist Workers Party describes the talks as a trap for Labour and a cover for delivering the bosses' interests. The missing element is an independent working class intervention into the crisis. That is why the government has not collapsed, they conclude, without ever criticising Corbyn. The impasse over Brexit is rooted in a global eruption of inter-imperialist antagonisms provoked by the bitter competition between rival powers for control of the worlds markets. Under Donald Trump, the US has turned sharply towards protectionism, trade war and stepped up threats of war. Europes major powers respond by seeking to reinforce the EU as a protectionist trade bloc with its own military capabilityeven as the antagonisms between them threaten its break-up. Everywhere the growth of national tensions finds political expression in a lurch to the right by all the major parties and imperialist governments. To remain globally competitive means an endless assault on the jobs, wages and conditions of the working class, which in turn demands authoritarian forms of rule. In Europe, this has spurred the growth of far-right and fascistic movements that exploit popular hostility to the EUs austerity policies and benefit from the scapegoating of migrants and refugees. They are already in government in Italy, Hungary, Austria and Poland and are major opposition parties in France, Germany and the Netherlandspromoted by the media and the state apparatus as a shock force against the working class. Continued support for Corbyn and Labour facilitates this dangerous development. The election of Trump, the rise of Marine Le Pen in France and the Alternative for Germany entering the Bundestag were all made possible by the venal role played by the official left parties and trade unions and their pseudo-left apologists. The conditions are now emerging for the working class to mount a counter-offensive. The political exposure of Corbyn and the pseudo-left takes place under conditions of an escalating wave of strikes and protests internationally, after decades of suppression of the class struggle by the old social democratic and Stalinist parties and the trade unions. The Yellow Vest protesters in France have been joined by a national teachers strike. A strike wave is ongoing in Portugal and Hungary, and there are mass protests against the far right in Italy. Strikes in the US are at their highest level since 1986. Mass strikes and protests have erupted in Algeria and Sudan, threatening the downfall of their governments. Workers in Britain must base themselves consciously on this emerging movement of global class struggle. For this, a new programme and leadership are required. The answer to Brexit and the nationalist fracturing of the continent is a unified movement of the British and European working class for the United Socialist States of Europe. The SEP and our sister parties in France and Germany dedicate ourselves to building sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International throughout Europe to lead this strategic political turn. Mike Leighs Peterloo is opening in New York City and Los Angeles on April 5, and more widely on April 12. This is an event of some importance. The film was inspired by important ideas and created with great seriousness and artistry. The Peterloo Massacre took place on August 16, 1819, in Manchester, England when cavalry with sabers drawn charged into a crowd estimated at anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 people protesting their lack of political representation and the dire economic conditions. The official death toll was 15 men, women and children killed, with an additional 400 to 700 wounded. The actual death toll was likely much higher. Mike Leigh's Peterloo The circumstances that produced the Peterloo event (so named, darkly and ironically, because it occurred on St. Peters Field in Manchester and resembled the Waterloo battlefield of 1815 located in present-day Belgium) are complex and have lengthy historical roots. The end of the Napoleonic wars, at Waterloo, in 1815 was followed by a severe economic slump in England, with chronic unemployment and hunger for many, particularly among textile workers in the north of the country. The Manchester area, often described as the first industrial center in the world, had 60 factories in 1815 employing some 24,000 workers. Over 90 percent of the factories were spinning mills. The notorious and unpopular Corn Laws, which restricted the importation of foreign corn until the price of home-grown wheat reached a certain price, benefited the landowners and large farmers and produced famine that, in the words of one historian, hung over the whole period like a carrion crow. The lack of representation in parliament was an accompanying issue that outraged reformers and working class radicals. Manchester, the second largest city in England, had no member of parliament at all. Rural areas of the country returned dozens of members while industrial cities went virtually unrepresented. Wages were falling steadily, the factory owners were ruthless and the government was entirely indifferent to the suffering of the working population. The defeat of Napoleon and his forces and the restoration of various monarchies across Europe, codified by the Congress of Vienna, were supposed to have put an end to the threat represented by the French Revolution. But political subversion was raising its head in England itself and gaining strength within the nascent working class. Leighs film opens on the bloody battlefield at Waterloo. A young, evidently shell-shocked British soldier (David Moorst) plays a few wretched notes on a bugle amid the horrific carnage. He makes his way home, on his own, to Manchester. He falls sobbing into the arms of his kindhearted mother, Nellie (Maxine Peake). The family of textile workers that receives him unexpectedly home again is suffering from falling wages and the lack of work. Maxine Peake in Peterloo Meanwhile, parliament bestows 750,000 pounds (the equivalent of more than 60 million pounds today) on the Duke of Wellington, the victor at Waterloo. But all is not well in the country. The home secretary, Lord Sidmouth (Karl Johnson), warns of seditious activity in the North of England (In Manchester and the surrounding towns of Lancashire, there is a sickness. A dangerous threat of rampant insurrection) and accordingly puts a network of spies and provocateurs to work. Officials routinely intercept and read the correspondence of radical leaders. Sidmouth also orders General Sir John Byng (Alastair Mackenzie) to prepare himself for whatever actions may be necessary to suppress political opposition. At public meetings in Manchester, speakers denounce the corrupt political system and appeal to the Bill of Rights of 1689, demanding fair, proper and full representationfor all Englishmen. The male members of Nellies family, her husband Joshua (Pearce Quigley) and son Robert (Tom Meredith), are in attendance. They listen quietly and sympathize. But the practical Nellie thinks it may all be a lot of words. (Talk. Talk. Talk Less talk, more action. Any road, theyll never give us tvote.) The brutality of class rule finds expression in the courts. A woman is ordered to be whipped for public drunkenness, another is transported to Australia for 14 years over a purloined watch (Our Lord God owns everything upon this earth, and when you steal, you rob from him), a third is sentenced to be hanged for stealing a coat from his master (I didnt steal it. I took it. He had two, I needed one. Hes got one. Ive got one). The local magistrates, many of them clergymen, respond to unrest by awing the rabble into submission and wielding the iron hand of the law. The magistrate Rev. Charles Wicksted Ethelston (Vincent Franklin), a real figure who aspired to be a poet and who told two Radical Reformers who appeared before him in 1819, Some of you reformers ought to be hanged, and some of you are sure to be hangedthe rope is already around your necks, positively swoons at his own blood-curdling rhetoric. A potato thrown at the carriage of the Prince Regent (Tim McInnerny)the future George IV, officially in power since 1811 owing to the madness of his father, George IIIprovides the government the pretext to suspend habeas corpus in 1817. George IV, prince regent while his father was mentally incapacitated Henry Orator Hunt (Rory Kinnear) speaks to a London meeting attended by two representatives of reformers in the North, Samuel Bamford (Neil Bell) and the irrepressible Dr. Joseph Healey (Ian Mercer). Their generally favorable impression of his oratorical skills and personality suffers a blow when he rudely rejects their invitation for a friendly drink. More radical leaders in the northsome, like John Bagguley, a Manchester apprentice, as young as 19remind their listeners at a semi-clandestine outdoor meeting (observed by government agents) of what our French brethren have done to their monarch and aristocracy: We must punish our mad king and his gluttonous offspring by taking off their heads! The watchword is Liberty or death! The radicals are seized by police thugs and beaten in jail. An assembly of women takes place, presided over by middle class reformers, one of whom uses somewhat turgid language: And in order to accelerate the emancipation of our suffering nation, we do declare that we will assist the male union formed in this town, with all the might and energy that we possess, in obtaining the object of our common solicitude. One working woman, angry and excited, shouts out that she doesnt understand a word youre saying. Preparations for a great protest meeting in Manchester, which Hunt will address, are set in motion. It will be held on a workday. Hunt insists that no one bear arms of any kind. Bamford warns him the Yeomanry will be armed (A large body of men are signed up, and weapons have been widely distributed amongst them), but Hunt is adamant. Protesters gathering in Peterloo The situation of Nellie and her family has worsened. Should they participate in the meeting? It will mean losing a days wage and perhaps more. On the eve of the event, in one of the films most poignant scenes, Nellie and Joshua are in bed, in the same room as their small daughter. Little angel I were just thinking, in 1900, shell be eighty five. I hope its a better world for her. The day of the massacre itself occupies a significant portion of Leighs film. Workers and their families show up, for the most part in a holiday mood, dressed in their finery. A huge, peaceful crowd gathers. The Yeomanry and the magistrates work themselves into a paranoid frenzy (It is our Christian duty to bring the axe down on this riotous mob! Well said, sir! Well said!). The Riot Act is readied. The pompous Hunt begins to speak, although much of the crowd cant even hear him. The Yeomanry, followed by the military, charges into the defenseless crowd. Soldiers attacking crowd in Peterloo Leighs film works at a high artistic and social level. He has been making films since the 1970s, most famously High Hopes (1988), Naked (1993), Secrets & Lies (1996), Career Girls (1997), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) and Mr. Turner (2014), but this is the first time he has directly treated a historical or political event. As he told his audience after a public screening of Peterloo at the Toronto film festival in September 2018, and repeated to me in a conversation , the current state of the world pushed him in that direction. The filmmaker works directly and thoroughly with every performer, planning and preparing each sequence. Improvisations within an initial outline help create a script. Every actor has a definite purpose and a conception of what he or she is doing. While there are obviously heightened and dramatic turning points, each distinct, individual moment is treated with considerable importance and conscientiousness. This is the opposite of sloppy or careless work, although the end result is often uneven and lively, like life. The scenes of the public meetings and rallies are memorable, and the language and ideas are accurately and passionately reproduced, but small moments may also stand out: The nervous young serving maid (Byrony Miller) asked by Hunt, busy having his portrait painted, to hold down some of his important pages, but who is loathe to do so because Me ands are dirty. In the crowd at the mass meeting, a plump, innocent brother and sister have come all the way from Wigan, a healthy walk (You must have been up with the lark. Aye, set off at six). But theyve brought along no food (We didnt think to). Nellie wont have that and offers them bread to eat. Hunt grandly asks his hostess in Manchester, Mrs. Johnson (Lizzie Frain), to bring him a light repast. The unfortunate, harried woman whispers desperately to anyone within hearing, Whats that? The scene, noted above, in which the parents consider what the future holds for their young daughter. Leigh told an interviewer, It was about a week away from the birth of my first grandchild and I was thinking aboutwhat will this world be like in 2100? The drama is historically and psychologically realistic. The Prince Regent and the authorities are portrayed as monstrous beings. They were monstrous beings, and this was before the hypocrisies of modern-day parliamentary democracy, worn incredibly thin by this point, had fully worked their way into everyday life. The ruling class brazenly and unashamedly defended repression and violence in defense of its wealth and property. In the face of the mass murder of defenseless civilians, Lord Sidmouth, the home secretary, responded by explaining that he was gratified equally by the deliberate, spirited manner in which the magistrates discharged their arduous and important duty on that occasion. I do not fail to appreciate most highly the merits of the two companies of Yeomanry cavalry and other troops employed on this service. The government introduced new repressive measures, the Six Acts, to suppress radical meetings. Working class political opponents were thrown into jail en masse . Leigh has captured the essence of the historical moment and its enduring significance. As he said to me, and as he told other interviewers, the film, he believes, is prescienti.e., this history points toward the future. Historical truth, in Trotskys words, the highest truth of life, here corresponds with artistic truth. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) released a 56-page report Wednesday systematically outlining the unchecked violence and sexual abuse which is the outcome of the degrading and subhuman conditions in the state of Alabamas prison system. The report serves as a damning indictment of Americas entire criminal justice system, the largest in the world, which currently holding 2.3 million people in prisons and jails across the country in nearly identical conditions. The report exposes appalling violations of constitutional protections for the approximately 25,000 men locked up in facilities operated by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), concluding that an excessive amount of violence, sexual abuse, and prisoner deaths occur within Alabamas prisons on a regular basis. These conclusions were the outcome of a more than two-year federal investigation which was sparked by a class action lawsuit filed by the Equal Justice Initiative on behalf of men imprisoned in the St. Clair Correctional Facility, among the most notorious prisons in the state. The suit presented evidence of rampant abuse by Alabama prison officials. Investigators were tasked with determining whether the ADOC was providing inmates with adequate protection from physical and sexual assault from fellow prisoners and from guards as well as guaranteeing safe and sanitary living conditions. Beginning under the Obama administration and continuing through the Trump administration, including under the oversight of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former US Senator from Alabama, the investigation revealed conditions so horrifying that they could not simply be swept under the rug. While the DoJs investigation only scratched the surface, the report notes that many assaults, rapes and deaths go unreported or are misclassified by prison officials, and serves as a confirmation that conditions in Alabamas prison system, and the US as a whole, criminally and flagrantly exceed the Eighth amendments proscriptions on cruel and unusual punishment. The violations are severe, systemic, the reports authors note, and exacerbated by serious deficiencies in staffing and supervision; overcrowding; ineffective housing and classification protocols; inadequate incident reporting; inability to control the flow of contraband into and within the prisons, including illegal drugs and weapons; ineffective prison management and training; insufficient maintenance and cleaning of facilities; the use of segregation and solitary confinement to both punish and protect victims of violence and/or sexual abuse; and a high level of violence that is too common, cruel, of an unusual nature, and pervasive. Investigators conducted interviews with more than 270 prisoners and reviewed hundreds of letters and emails from inmates and their family members to establish a picture of life in Alabamas prisons. Illustrating the brutal experience of inmates, the report outlines a dozen violent assaults and murders which occurred within one single week in September 2017. There were beatings, stabbings, drug overdoses and rapes recorded on every day of the week across the states penal system. Three days before the arrival of DoJ investigators, a prisoner was stabbed to death by fellow inmates in the Hot Bay housing unit of Bibb Correctional Facility. Prisoners had to bang on the doors of the housing unit to get the attention of guards who rarely kept watch over the men held in the segregated unit. When guards finally arrived, the victim had dragged himself to the front doors, bleeding to death from a grievous chest wound. The New York Times published an article prior to the reports release noting that it had received from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) over 2,000 photos depicting abuse at St. Clair prison. While the pictures constitute a powerful exposure of the nightmare confronting prisoners, the Times claimed most of them were too shocking or lacking proper context to publish. Only a handful have been posted, including one which shows a solitary confinement cell where a prisoner had cut himself with razor blades and scrawled in blood on the walls, Im dprest [sic], Mental Health wont help. Another picture shows a prisoner on a medical table, his white shoes and white uniform stained with blood. I dont think there is any dispute that the conditions in Alabama prisons are desperate. They are the worst Ive seen in 35 years. There is an immediate need for reform, Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative told the Associated Press on Wednesday. People are being murdered on a regular basis. Despite the shocking nature of the revelations and the urgent need of prisoners for protection, there is little to indicate that anything will change for the better in Alabamas prisons. The Trump administration will leave the decision on what, if any, reforms to implement up to Republican Governor Kay Ivey and the Republican-controlled state legislature without even the fig leaf of federal oversight. Ivey is proposing to spend more than $1 billion to build three new prisons for men, while Republican legislators are considering a proposal by the ADOC to hire 500 additional prison guards. US District Judge Myron Thompson ruled in 2017 in a lawsuit brought against the ADOC by the SPLC that Alabama prisons provided horrendously inadequate mental health care to inmates and required changes to remedy the situation. However, after the prison system recorded 15 suicides over the last 15 months, Thompson is once again hearing testimony on how to implement preventive measures and put a stop to what prisoners attorneys have described as an ultra-emergency. Inmates should not expect any relief from the Supreme Court, which ruled Monday in Bucklew v. Precythe, by a 5-4 vote, that the execution by lethal injection of a prisoner with a rare form of cancer, which would result in him suffering severe pain, did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Justice Neil Gorsuch, author of the opinion, engaged in an extensive discussion of the forms of execution which would have been considered cruel and unusual at the time the Eighth amendment was adopted in 1791, ruling out only hanging, drawing and quartering, dragging through the streets, and being burned at the stake. Applying this same logic, the conditions confronted by prisoners across the United States could only be considered cruel and unusual if officials decided to bring back mutilation, branding, the stocks, or penal transportation, as forms of punishment. Since a factional battle broke out between Democratic and Republican parties last weekend, the US Senate has failed to pass a disaster relief bill that allocates federal money to recovery projects in all areas of the country recently affected by fires, floods, tropical storms and other natural disasters. The failure to approve this funding has left more than a million Puerto Ricans with drastically-reduced food stamp payments, one year and seven months after Hurricanes Maria and Irma struck the US territory. The island has faced a severe economic and social crisis for decades, especially after the 2008 recession. However, Hurricane Maria exacerbated the issues by shattering basic infrastructure like the electrical grid, hospitals, homes, highways and schools. An estimated 5,000 individuals died from the direct physical and social impacts of the storm, although the politicians in San Juan and Washington along with their media outlets accepted the ludicrously low initial death count of 64 for months. For many residents, 43.5 percent of whom live below the federal poverty line, daily life can still be a struggle, with power outages, health issues, and difficulty securing a job and education. The slow progress is a direct result of the insufficient and stalled response of the US government, which has left the fate of the islands working class to the policies of the ultra-right Trump administration and the bitter conflicts in Congress over scraps they have left for urgent social needs. As a result of the initial dispute over disaster relief that arose when the House passed the first Democratic Party-sponsored bill in January, the Trump administration and Puerto Rican officials slashed funding for food stamp programs, which initially affected 43 percent of recipients but have slowly spread to all recipients. By early March, benefits fell by as much as 50 percent for the 1.4 million people out of a total 3.4 million residents who receive food stamp benefits, 300,000 of whom signed up after Hurricane Maria. For those affected, that reduction means living off $200 a month instead of $400 a month. According to data collection by Professor Hector Cordero-Guzman at the City University of New York, 55 percent of those who saw their benefits cut are children, the elderly and the disabled. Further, 42 percent are looking for work, 15 percent are working and another 17 percent cannot work due to school or family-related obligations. Statistics on federal health coverage programs run parallel to food programs, with 1.3 million residents currently covered by Medicaid. The restoration of food assistance depends on the disaster relief bill currently in the US Senate, which voted down both the Democratic House bill and the Republican Senate bill on Monday, April 1. Each bill proposes over $10 billion in aid to Puerto Rico and additional states that have been devastated by natural disasters over the previous year, including floods throughout the Midwest, California wildfires, Hurricane Florence on the East Coast and Hurricane Michael on the Gulf Coast. Democrats blocked the Senate Republican version by a 4449 vote, as it requires a minimum of 60 votes to pass. This version would have allocated a total of $13.5 billion, with $600 million going to Puerto Rico solely for nutritional assistance. Under the bills conditions, no funds were assigned for flood protection and energy grid projects, which are essential for the islands recovery. Senate Democrats led the opposition to the Republican bill due to insufficient aid assigned to Puerto Rico, while Republicans have defended their proposals through racist condemnations of the US territory as essentially a second-class portion of America. President Trump has led the right-wing attacks on the island, suggesting in personal statements that it should not receive any aid due to poor mismanagement of resources by the local government. Puerto Rico got far more money than Texas & Florida combined, Trump said in a Twitter tirade on Monday, yet their government cant do anything right, the place is a messnothing works. He defended his position that any government aid to the island should be limited to food stamps. With his usual nationalist rhetoric and ignorance, Trump made clear that the needs of US states come before Puerto Rico, referring to the island as a place that Democrats are prioritizing, decisions that are taking dollars away from our Farmers and those affected by disasters on the US mainland. These statements, backed by many Republican senators and congressmen, are intended to mobilize the most backward, racist elements of the partys base on the mainland against the foreign, Spanish-speaking population of the US territory. For their part, the Democrats have sought to shift all the blame for the lack of attention and resources to Puerto Rico to the Republican Party. In an opinion piece for the New York Daily News on March 31 headlined, What Trump owes Puerto Rico, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed Senate Republicans and President Trump for being cruel and nasty as they prevent American children and families from having every resource needed to fully recover and rebuild their lives and communities. However, the House Democrats version of the bill only offers around $700 million more in relief aid for Puerto Rico. Further, they have focused their faux outrage on the nearly $20 billion that has yet to be disbursed a year and a half after congressional approval, an amount that is completely inadequate to mitigate one of the worst natural disasters in US history. In 2018 the Puerto Rican Government estimated the total cost for a full recovery would be $139 billion, twelve times more than the $11.2 billion it has received so far. The Trump administration has technically allocated $41 billion to distribute over the life of the disaster, but this ambiguous time stamp serves as a cover for the US government to issue minimal funds to the island without promising that they will ever pay the full amount, which is already inadequate to cover the full costs of repairs and preventative measures. The aid proposals from both right-wing parties of the American ruling class propose mere fractions of what will be required to fully restore the island and drastically improve the social and material infrastructure to prevent future disasters. The assault on Puerto Rico began, first and foremost, with the Obama administrations Promise Actalso known as PROMESA (Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act)which imposed an economic dictatorship over the island. It established a non-elected Financial Oversight and Management Board that imposed severe austerity measures even before Hurricane Maria hit the island, as a solution to the islands budget crisis. In the interests of the financial elite on Wall Street, the PROMESA oversight bodies made the Puerto Rican workers pay the full burden of the local governments nearly $72 billion debt, and later controlled the financial response to the hurricane. Whatever their public pretensions, the Democratic Party has actively supported the US governments depriving Puerto Rico of its resources and autonomy. For their part, Puerto Rican politicians and financial executives are cooperative with the US governments brutal assaults on the working class, or else dont put up much of a fight against it. Though Governor Ricardo Rossello and other prominent political figures often criticize the openly ignorant and criminal statements of Washington politicians, they agree with the basic ruling-class drive to open the workers and youth of Puerto Rico to the predatory exploitation of finance capital. Natural disasters expose the problems inherent to the capitalist system, as the poor and working class is disproportionately burdened with the severe social crisis and loss of life, while the ruling class sees in this crisis an opportunity to exploit the population more ruthlessly. The working class of both Puerto Rico and the American mainland must reject the lies that there are no resources to rebuild every region impacted by natural disasters, not when trillions rest in the hands of corporations, banks and the stock markets. Bill Shorten, the Australian Labor Party leader, made a cynical pitch of fairness in his budget reply speech in parliament last night, combined with assurances to big business that a Labor government would take the hard decisions needed to deal with worsening global shocks. Acutely aware of seething working class discontent towards the entire political establishment, Shorten sought to promote the illusion that the same corporate profit system that has produced unprecedented levels of social inequality can be reformed to make it less brutal. With the Liberal-National Coalition government about to call an election, Shorten used the word fairness no less than 16 times in his half-hour presentation, capped off by labelling Labors policies a Fair Go Action Plan. Based on the same, completely unreal, 10-year economic projections as the Coalition, Shorten made bogus promises that Labor would not only outspend the Coalition on every social program, from health and education to disability services, but would also cut income taxes and boost wages for working class households. At the same time, however, Shorten committed a Labor government to producing bigger budget surpluses than the Coalition because of the foreboding we see in the global environment. He referred to just some of the crises wracking world capitalism: Brexit, trade wars, the write-downs in global growth, the massive increase in global debt, the drop in the 10-year bond yields. This is a warning. Once the election is out of the way, whichever party heads the next government will unleash a new wave of austerity and profit-boosting measures to make the working people pay for the developing slump. Feigning concern for the poorest members of society, Shorten offered to extend the Coalitions token income tax cuts to the 2.9 million workers earning less than $40,000 a year. For most it will amount to about $7 a week, barely enough for a cup of coffee. It will do nothing to reverse the impact of the soaring cost of living, falling real wages, insecure casualised employment and plunging house values. For all the rhetoric about fairness, Labor matched the governments callous policy toward welfare recipients, particularly the 700,000 unemployed workers trying to live on the sub-poverty Newstart allowance. Like the government, Labor has refused to increase the rate of less than $40 a day, which is intended to coerce jobless and under-employed workers into cheap labour. Nor did Shorten oppose the governments plan to gouge $2.1 billion out of welfare recipients over the next five years by yet another Centrelink data matching crackdown on people trying to augment their pitiful benefits by working in low-paid casual, temporary or part-time jobs. Most of Shortens promises simply recycled, in slightly expanded terms, programs implemented by the last Labor government of 2007 to 2013, in which he served as a senior minister and powerbroker. After bailing out the banks and finance houses during the 2008-09 global financial crisis, that government presided over deteriorating schools, hospitals, social housing and other basic services. Shorten cynically sought to exploit the suffering of disabled people and their carers under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that the last Labor government introduced. By denying or delaying access to assistance packages, the NDIS underspent about $3 billion this financial year and will do the same next yearalmost totalling the governments projected $7.1 billion surplus for 201920. Shorten made no promise of extra funding to reverse this cut, however. Instead, he offered to lift a cap on NDIS staffing, as if that were the only problem. Labor would get the NDIS back on track, he declared. But the NDIS itself, for which Shorten was the first minister in 2007, is based on privatising and outsourcing disability services to profit-driven companies and NGOs, which are desperately competing for government contracts by offering lower costs. No less cynical was Shortens Medicare Cancer Plan to allocate $2.3 billion over four years to supposedly slash out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients. This deliberately vague pledge includes an undertaking to extend Medicare cover from 200 MRI scanning machines to 600. This is reminiscent of similar empty promises made by the last Labor government. Just as fraudulent is Labors bid to make the election a referendum on wages. Real wages have fallen since 2012, while corporate profits and the fortunes of the billionaires have soared. Shorten spoke about restoring weekend penalty pay rates for hospitality workers, ending sham contracting and changing the minimum wage to an unspecified living wage. But he assured the corporate elite that Labor would consult with employers and other stakeholders before making any move. Shorten was careful to include in his speech Labors pledge to increase military spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product. This is in line with commitments made to Washington to bolster Australias readiness for a war against China or any other power that threatens US global hegemony. Already, the annual military budget has risen to almost $40 billion, nearly double the money spent on Medicare. The key to understanding Shortens dual pitch to business and workers lies in the anxious appeal that he and other Labor and trade union leaders issued at last Decembers Labor Party conference. They warned of explosive political disaffection that went far deeper than the disintegration of Prime Minister Scott Morrisons faction-wracked government. At that conference, Shorten declared: Our deeper opponents are distrust and disengagement, scepticism and cynicism. Labor had to restore meaning to the fair go in order to breathe new life into the idea that government has the power to bring meaningful progress into peoples lives. Labor had to hold out the hope of reducing the worsening inequality, job destruction and social devastation that millions of working people have experienced for decades. Only a Labor government, Shorten warned, could deliver the unity and discipline that the existing social order would need to survive the coming global shocks and economic uncertainty. Shorten repeated this message, almost word for word, in his budget reply. With the Liberal and National parties in turmoil, significant sections of the ruling class are moving toward backing a Labor government to stifle and suppress the brewing unrest in the working class. At last nights Labor Business Forum budget reply night function, more than 500 corporate executives and lobbyists paid up to $1,700 to have dinner with Shorten and the shadow ministry or join the post-speech festivities at Canberras Convention Centre. Among those represented were the Australian Banking Association, the Australian Hotels Association, Virgin Australia, Johnson & Johnson, Amex, Carlton & United Breweries, Ola and Blackmores. In a recent interview with the Australian, Shorten specifically invoked the record of the Hawke and Keating Labor governments of 1983 to 1996. Working closely with the trade unions, these governments spearheaded the imposition of the global corporate agenda of de-regulation, privatisation and destruction of full-time jobs and working conditions. Shorten praised Bob Hawkes consensus and connection with the electorate and Paul Keatings forensic advocacy of policy. This won praise from the newspaper, whose editorial hailed Hawke and Keating as excellent models of action. The praise is not surprising given that the Hawke and Keating governments presided over the largest redistribution of wealth in history to the richest layers of society. Far from delivering a mythical fair go, a Shorten Labor government backed by the unions would continue the assault on the social position of the working class. The author also recommends: Australian Labor Party leaders warn of rising popular discontent? [17 December 2018] Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided an Allen, Texas business on Wednesday morning and arrested 280 undocumented workers. The business, CVE technology, employs 2,100 workers who repair cell phones and other electronic devices. The business is the third largest employer in that city. Some 200 law enforcement officers participated in the raid, rounding up the entire workforce and separating them into groups based on immigration status. Agents then forced workers to wear wristbands, labeling employees in green if they had legal status and yellow if they were suspected of being undocumented. Yessenia Ponce, an employee of CVE, described the raid to NPR: Man, it was crazy, she said. We were working like a normal day. ... We just heard screaming, you know, people screaming and stuff. We went out and an officer just said 'follow my voice, follow my voice.' Those deemed by ICE to be undocumented were then transported to detention centers in four busses as helicopters flew overhead and local police patrolled the area. All of those arrested now face deportation. Many will also face indefinite detention, including those with a prior criminal conviction. The US Supreme officially recognized this authoritarian rule in a recent 5-4 decision. Protestors gathered outside of CVE to defend the immigrant workers as news spread of the police action. According to the Dallas Morning News, at least 100 people, including some relatives and friends of those arrested, gathered to demand the workers release. Workers inside the facility began frantically calling and texting their family members as the raid unfolded, fearful of being separated from their loved ones forever. Edgar Arrubala was among the worried family members. A US citizen originally from Colombia, he said that his fiance was among those detained. He told Bizjournals.com, I was at home and she called me from somebody else's cell phone, She's probably going to be detained and they're going to try to deport her. I'm feeling really sad. I'm scared to think what's going to happen to her. Hilda Ramirez Duarte, a representative from the League of United Latin American Citizens, described the conditions under which immigrant workers at CVE labor to the local NBC affiliate: Some of these people have family members that have been working here for 10 and 15 years. So, these are not people who have not just arrived. These are people who have been with this company for years and have been in this country for years. It's sad because I understand that most of the people here are women and they are leaving behind their children I talked to a young lady who is a teenager and she says, 'My mom is leaving myself, my brother, and two younger babies.' She's the only breadwinner in the household, so what's going to become of this family of four? We have similar situations all across the board. Wendy Armas, a worker from Guatemala, was among those detained but was later release. She told NBC, These are hardworking people. These are not criminals, rapists or anything of that nature. They are hardworking people earning a living. The hardest thing was when the bus started taking off. It reversed out and then there was a long moment of silence, people crying, people saying, 'I'm going to leave this country and go back to my own.' One protestor, 19-year-old Luis Martinez, who was holding a sign saying No human is illegal, told the Dallas Morning News, Its just something drastic, something you don't see every day in Allen, in Collin County. According to media reports, ICE had been tipped off that CVE employed some workers with fraudulent I-9 documents. Over the course of the past year, the agency had been auditing the companys files to search for irregularities. The mass arrest of workers on Wednesday by ICE is the largest of its kind since a 2008 raid by that agency on an Iowa slaughterhouse that resulted in 398 arrests. It also follows a similar raid in the northeastern Texas city of Sumner at a trailer manufacturing plant in August of 2018 that saw 159 immigrant workers arrested. A January 2019 ICE statement bragged that mass roundups of immigrant workers is the new normal. The WSWS reported in March, The number of businesses targeted for worksite investigations has increased by over 300 percent in the last year alone. In 2018, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) opened 6,848 worksite investigations compared to 1,691 in 2017, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release. Newsweek reported that since 2016, there has been a 650 percent surge in workplace arrests by ICE. The latest terror operation by ICE marks an escalation of the Trump administrations assault on the immigrant population. In February of this year, 77,000 people were detained attempting to cross the southern border, the most in any month since 2009. Most of those detained were from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, including many unaccompanied minors. Immigrant workers detained by ICE will face imprisonment without due process, deportation to countries devastated by US imperialism and ruled by criminal regimes, the separation of children from their parents, concentration camp style detention centers, abusive guards, and other arbitrary forms of punishment. This horror show is carried out with the support of both Democrats and Republicans. Last week, President Trump cut off foreign aid to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala in retaliation for the supposed failure of those countries to stem the tide of immigration to the US. This was followed by a threat to close the US border with Mexico. The Trump administration is whipping up anti-immigrant xenophobia to fuel his far-right base, including in the police and military. These far-right forces are being mobilized to take the police state infrastructure that has been erected to terrorize the immigrant population and turn it upon the working class as workers increasingly enter into struggle against the capitalism. US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used the presence of Turkeys foreign minister in Washington this week for a NATO foreign ministers meeting and events marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the trans-Atlantic imperialist alliance to ratchet up US threats against Turkey. In a public address Wednesday, Pence delivered an ultimatum to Ankara. Washington, he vowed, will not stand idly by while Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, threatens the very cohesion of this alliance by buying the Russian S-400 air defence system. Spelling out that Washington will dramatically downgrade the US-Turkey military-strategic partnership, if not ultimately move to expel Turkey from NATO, unless Ankara bows to Washingtons diktats, Pence declared: Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance? For his part, Pompeo, according to a US State Department readout of their meeting, told Turkish Foreign Minister Melvet Cavusoglu that Turkey faced potentially devastating consequences if it expanded its military incursion in Syria against the Kurdish YPG, without Washingtons blessing. The readout did not say what those consequences would be. But the Washington military-security establishment has insisted the US continue to deploy military personnel alongside its Kurdish YPG allies in northern Syria, at least in part as a warning to Ankara that should it attack them it could find itself in a military clash with the US. President Trump, it should also be recalled, threatened in January that the US would devastate Turkey economically if it attacked the Pentagons Kurdish allies. In the readout, State Department spokesperson Robert Palladino, also demanded Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) drop their challenge, under the provisions of the countrys electoral laws, to the initial vote-count of last Sundays mayoral elections in Ankara and Istanbul. Acceptance of legitimate election results are essential for any democracy, wrote Palladino. With delivery of the first S-400 batteries to Turkey slated for June and Ankara spurning a US offer to instead buy its Patriot missile system, Washington has already begun to take retaliatory action. Reuters reported Monday that the US has suspended delivery to the Turkish military of parts and equipment related to the deployment of the F-35 stealth-fighter. Other US actions, according to State Department officials, could include removing Turkish companies from the F-35 production chain, halting other US arms transfers to Turkey, and making Ankara a target of the draconian anti-Russia 2017 Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act. The latter contains a quiver of measures, escalating from travel bans and asset freezes targeting select individuals to punishing trade sanctions. Apart from the invocation of the Countering Americas Adversaries Act, US officials have not revived, at least publicly, Trumps threat of damaging Turkey economically. However, there is no doubt that the Turkish economy, now mired in recession for the first time in a decade, is highly vulnerable. The Turkish lira plummeted last August when Trump doubled US tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to force the release of an American pastor accused of participating in the failed July 2016 military coup. The US threats notwithstanding, Turkey is adamant that the S-400 purchase is irreversible. In response to Pences ultimatum, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay tweeted that it is the US not Turkey that now confronts a choice: Does it want to remain Turkeys ally or risk our friendship by joining forces with terrorists to undermine its NATO allys defense against its enemies? Terrorists is the term Ankara uses to refer to the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdish nationalist PKK against which it has fought a brutal counterinsurgency war in southeast Turkey for the past 35 years. Officially, NATO does not have a position on Turkeys plans to buy the S-400, as military purchases are the purview of the member states. But the US is adamant that Turkey is jeopardizing both US-Turkish relations and NATO with the purchase, and has rebuffed Turkeys appeals for the setting up of a technical working group to ensure that the Russian-made defence system does not threaten NATOs operations and weapons systems in Turkey. Undoubtedly, there are significant military and economic issues bound up with US-Turkey clash over Ankaras plans to purchase the S-400. But it is a flashpoint for even larger geopolitical conflicts arising from Washingtons three decades of ruinous wars in the Middle Eastwars that have blown up whole societies and set the regions imperialist-imposed state system ablazeand its ensuing turn to strategic conflict with Russia and China. The Turkish bourgeoisie, including under the AKP, has sought to profit from the US-led and fomented wars. But it has repeatedly found that what it considers its core strategic interests have been ignored and damaged by the actions of the US and European imperialist powers. This is above all true in regards to maintaining the integrity and unchallenged dominance of the Turkish ruling elite over the Turkish Republic and preventing the strengthening of the geopolitical position of its Kurdish bourgeois rivals within any of the adjacent states. Erdogan eagerly supported the US regime-change war in Syria. However, to Ankaras dismay, the US responded to the failure of its first proxy army, the Islamist rebels, by partnering with the PKK-aligned YPG. Ankaras overriding objective is to establish a buffer zone between the YPG-controlled enclave and Turkey, and ultimately destroy the proto-Kurdish state. Washington, on the other hand, is determined to maintain the enclave as a territorial base for continuing its bloody drive to unseat the Assad regime, to break the shaky alliance of convenience Erdogan has struck with Russia and Iran to roll back US influence in Syria, and to prevent Ankara from being drawn closer into the orbit of China, which in recent years has emerged as a major economic partner of Turkey. Further enflaming tensions with AKP-ruled Ankara are the repeated US attempts to cut Erdogan down to size, if not remove him. These include Washingtons backing of the abortive July 2016 coup, the doubling of the aluminum and steel tariffs, and now alongside Pence and Pompeos threats, the brandishing of the election issuewhich, whatever the immediate outcome, indicates it is plotting to make Erdogans bourgeois rivals the front for a US-orchestrated regime-change campaign. Turkey, meanwhile, continues to insist that it wants to maintain close ties with the US. Toward that end it has supported a slate of aggressive new US actions against Russia. Like the rest of NATO, Ankara has backed Washingtons repudiation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and the provocative naval exercise NATO has vowed it will mount in the Kerch Strait, the passageway between Crimea and the Russian mainland separating the Black and Azov Seas. Speaking after Pence at the same meeting marking NATOs founding, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu insisted Turkey remains committed to the US-led war alliance. He condemned Russias annexation of Crimea and its aggression in the Black Sea, a reference to last years clash with Ukrainian naval vessels. We have been working with Russia, said Cavusoglu, but it doesnt mean that we are undermining the alliance and we agree with Russia on everything. There is no shift on our foreign policy. Ankara is hoping it can counteract or at least reduce the impact of US belligerence, by strengthening ties with Europe, especially Germany. Not coincidentally, Germany was also denounced by Pence in his Wednesday speech, for partnering with Russia in the Nord Stream Two natural gas pipeline project. Turkey and Germany have just announced plans to strengthen economic ties, with a top German official declaring, It is in Germanys interest to see that Turkeys economy is doing well. Significantly, the very day that Washington demanded Erdogan forego any legal challenge to the election of opposition mayors in Ankara and Istanbul, the New York Times published an editorial hailing last Sundays nationwide local elections as proof that Turkeys political oppositionled by the CHP (the Republican Peoples Party) and the Kurdish nationalist HDP (Peoples Democratic Party (HDP)has shown it is alive and capable of pushing back. The Times, like the pseudo-left in Turkey itself, is promoting the CHP-led, HDP-supported Nation Alliance as the democratic opposition to the authoritarian Islamist Erdogan. That Erdogan is a vicious enemy of the working class is indisputable. But the principal difference between the AKP and its bourgeois opponents is the latters even more pronounced orientation to the US and European imperialist powers. The traditional party of the Kemalist elite that ruled Turkey for eight decades ending only during the first decade of the current century, the CHP is implicated in all its crimes. These include four bloody coups, the sponsoring of fascist violence against the working class and the left in the 1970s, and the brutal repression of the Kurdish population. True to its history, the CHP backed the failed 2016 coup. Yesterday, the prospective CHP mayors of Ankara and Istanbul, respectively, Mansur Yavas and Ekrem Imamoglu, showed their true democratic colours by making tweets honouring the death anniversary of the colonel who founded the fascist MHP (Nationalist Movement Party). The author also recommends: US threatened Turkey over Russian S-400 air defence purchase [28 March 2019] Ruling AKP retains majority, loses large cities in Turkish local elections [1 April 2019] Le Secretariat a informe les Membres que le nouveau site Web et la nouvelle base de donnees etaient en train d'etre finalises a partir des notifications des Membres et du travail realise par le Comite des licences d'importation depuis 1995. Des profils ont deja ete elabores et mis en ligne pour 138 des 164 Membres de l'OMC; le travail est en cours pour 12 Membres supplementaires. Aucune notification n'a ete presentee par les 14 Membres restants. Les Membres etaient encourages a examiner et a verifier le contenu de leur profil individuel afin d'assurer l'exactitude des renseignements figurant sur le site Web avant sa mise en ligne publique. Cela permettra egalement aux Membres de mettre leurs donnees a jour si necessaire. Il etait propose de fixer au lundi 30 septembre la date limite a laquelle les Membres devaient communiquer les renseignements exiges, afin d'assurer un lancement officiel du site Web dans les delais prevus. Le Secretariat a souligne les principes qui sous-tendent ce projet: les notifications doivent etre transparentes afin que tous les Membres aient connaissance des lois et des procedures, nouvelles ou actualisees, en matiere de licences d'importation; tout retour d'information recu par le Secretariat constituera une confirmation officielle fournie par l'autorite competente; et la tracabilite des changements notifies doit etre assuree afin que toute modification du contenu existant puisse etre aisement visualisee par les autres Membres. S'agissant de l'amelioration des modeles de notification, les Membres ont fourni au Comite des renseignements actualises sur leur utilisation du nouveau formulaire volontaire qui permet de presenter les notifications de facon simple et rationnelle sans compromettre leurs obligations au titre de l'Accord sur les procedures de licences d'importation. Certains Membres tels que le Japon, Hong Kong, Chine, la Suisse, l'Ukraine, le Myanmar, le Taipei chinois, l'Indonesie et le Costa Rica ont deja utilise ce formulaire pour notifier leurs nouvelles lois et procedures en matiere de licences d'importation, ou les modifications apportees aux lois existantes. Certains de ces Membres ont pris la parole pour souligner que le nouveau format augmenterait considerablement l'efficacite des notifications et aiderait les Membres a s'acquitter de leurs obligations. Le Comite a examine 25 nouvelles notifications presentees par des Membres de l'OMC depuis la derniere reunion organisee le 22 octobre 2018. La Presidente, Mme Lorena Rivera Orjuela (Colombie), a felicite le Myanmar d'avoir presente pour la premiere fois ses notifications au Comite, ainsi que pour les efforts deployes pour les elaborer de maniere tres detaillee, ameliorant ainsi fortement la transparence du regime de politique commerciale du Myanmar. Le Myanmar a declare avoir apprecie le soutien technique apporte par le Secretariat de l'OMC, ce qui lui a permis de surmonter les contraintes de capacite associees au travail de notification. La Presidente a informe le Comite que 14 Membres n'avaient presente aucune notification concernant les licences d'importation depuis leur accession a l'OMC, tandis que 24 Membres n'avaient pas encore soumis de notification sur leurs lois et reglementations. La Presidente a encourage les Membres concernes a presenter leurs notifications des que possible et les a invites a demander un soutien technique au Secretariat si necessaire. Nouvelles preoccupations commerciales specifiques L'Union europeenne et les Etats-Unis se sont dits preoccupes par la decision prise par la Tunisie en novembre 2018 d'imposer des mesures d'autorisation des importations pour une longue liste de produits, y compris des produits agricoles et agroalimentaires, des produits textiles, des vetements, des cosmetiques, des articles en cuir, des chaussures, des jouets et des appareils electriques. Ces Membres ont indique que ces autorisations devraient en theorie reposer sur des specifications techniques, mais qu'au lieu de cela, les autorites tunisiennes evaluaient les demandes d'importation et prenaient leur decision au cas par cas sans criteres objectifs, tout en appliquant egalement des restrictions quantitatives. La Tunisie a repondu que son Ministere du commerce evaluait actuellement cette decision et s'est dite prete a engager un dialogue bilateral avec l'UE et les Etats-Unis pour resoudre cette question. Les Etats-Unis ont demande a la Republique dominicaine des precisions concernant ses procedures en matiere de licences d'importation pour les produits agricoles. Les Etats-Unis se sont dits preoccupes par ce qui semble etre un systeme de licences d'importation n'ayant pas ete notifie au Comite et qui semble restreindre le commerce des produits agricoles, y compris les haricots secs, la volaille, les produits laitiers, les ufs a couver et les pommes de terre. La Republique dominicaine a indique qu'elle appliquait une loi de 1958 aux termes de laquelle toutes les importations de plantes devaient s'accompagner d'un certificat de non-objection phytosanitaire delivre par le Ministere de l'agriculture, et elle a conseille de ne pas confondre cette mesure avec une licence d'importation car le certificat constituait exclusivement un controle sanitaire des importations de plantes et etait fonde sur une evaluation scientifique du risque. S'agissant des produits carnes, la Republique dominicaine a souligne que la loi de 1955 qui prevoyait une protection sanitaire des produits d'origine animale etait actuellement en cours de mise a jour et qu'elle serait remplacee par un projet de loi sur la protection de la sante animale qui avait deja ete notifie a l'OMC. Les Etats-Unis ont egalement souleve des preoccupations concernant les procedures et les permis d'importation du Ghana concernant la volaille. Les Etats-Unis ont dit qu'il semblait que le Ghana mettait en uvre un regime de licences d'importation non automatiques en vertu duquel les importations de produits avicoles etaient limitees a 25 000 tonnes metriques par mois, ce qui entravait le commerce legitime. Le Ghana a indique qu'il etait ouvert aux discussions bilaterales et qu'il avait espere que les Etats-Unis etudieraient la possibilite d'engager de telles discussions pour regler cette question avant de la porter a l'attention du Comite. Autres preoccupations commerciales Les Membres ont aborde d'autres questions soulevees precedemment, et notamment: le regime de licences d'importation de l'Indonesie visant les telephones portables, ordinateurs de poche et tablettes; les prescriptions en matiere de licences d'importation de l'Inde pour l'acide borique; les licences d'importation du Viet Nam pour les produits lies a la cybersecurite; et les modifications apportees par la Chine aux licences d'importation pour certaines matieres recuperables. Prochaine reunion La Presidente a indique que la prochaine reunion du Comite etait fixee provisoirement au 4 octobre 2019. Durante su visita, el Director General intervino en el Senado mexicano y pronuncio una conferencia magistral en el Ministerio de Economia titulada: "La OMC en la encrucijada: hacia un sistema multilateral de comercio con reglas fortalecidas?". En su discurso en el Ministerio de Economia, el Director General dijo La ultima vez que visite Mexico fue en 2014. Me impresiono el afan del pais por integrarse en la economia mundial y su apoyo decidido a la OMC. He podido constatar ese apoyo durante mi reunion con el Presidente Lopez Obrador. Es un placer estar aqui de nuevo y ver que el comercio y la OMC siguen ocupando un lugar central en la estrategia economica de Mexico. Mexico es uno de los principales exportadores de productos manufacturados del mundo. El pais necesita estar conectado con los mercados mundiales y, para ello, la estabilidad y previsibilidad que proporciona la OMC son fundamentales. Todos necesitamos que el comercio mundial funcione bien. No obstante, las nuevas cifras comerciales publicadas esta semana muestran que el comercio aumento un 3% en 2018, frente a un 4,6% en 2017. Se preve que el crecimiento sera todavia mas modesto en 2019, tan solo del 2,6%. El crecimiento se ha desacelerado por diversos motivos, incluidas las tensiones comerciales. Esta situacion merece nuestra atencion. El comercio no puede desempenar plenamente su funcion de impulsor del crecimiento y el desarrollo cuando hay niveles tan elevados de incertidumbre. No cabe duda de que debemos reaccionar frente a esta situacion. Los Miembros estan considerando la manera de fortalecer la OMC y asegurarse de que funcione mejor y sea mas abierta. El mundo necesita que el sistema de comercio funcione bien. Durante su visita, el Director General tambien se reunio con la Secretaria de Economia, Graciela Marquez Colin, la Subsecretaria de Comercio Exterior, Luz Maria de la Mora Sanchez, y con representantes del Consejo Mexicano de Comercio Exterior (COMCE) y el Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (COMEXI). El discurso pronunciado por el Director General en el Ministerio de Economia se puede consultar aqui. La intervencion del Director General en el Senado mexicano se puede consultar aqui. Richard Hayden Black, a Republican member of the Virginia State Senate, affirmed that the 30 June 2013 revolution in Egypt cannot be referred to as a coup, as 30 million protesters took to the streets against former president Mohamed Morsi, sending a clear message that it was time for him to leave. Blacks remarks came during a discussion session held by the Pulse of America Foundation for Public Relations and Media Production in the US Congress to discuss Egyptian-American relations. The session was moderated by Michael Morgan, a political researcher at the London Center for Policy Research (LCPR) in Washington. In his comments during the session, Black described Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as one of the most important leaders in the region. He said that Egyptian political will and leadership is against any kind of discrimination between Muslims and Christians and is keen on equality among all Egyptian citizens, despite some sectarian confrontations. Morgan said that the United We Stand" series of conferences began in 2014 to develop the common goals of the war against terrorism and strengthening Egyptian-American relations, which went into a state of stagnation under the administration of former US president Barack Obama. Morgan referred to the conferences demands that the US designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, during their meeting with the office of senator Ted Cruz. Morgan also noted the remarkable development in Egyptian-American relations under the United We Stand conference, to reach the level of strategic planning between both countries. Eli Gold, senior vice president of LCPR praised Egyptian efforts to maintain stability and peace in the region, in his comments during the session. Search Keywords: Short link: CASPER Federal workers at the Bureau of Land Management approved 74 oil and gas drilling permits in Wyoming during the 35-day government shutdown earlier this year, according to a public records request submitted by a western environmental group. A partial shutdown shuttered some federal agencies in late December as Congress and President Donald Trump bickered over the White Houses desire to fund a $5 billion wall along the countrys southern border with Mexico. An estimated 800,000 workers were affected, with many banned from work until Congress agreed on funding that reopened the government. It was the longest shutdown in U.S. history. But about half way through the partial shutdown, someBLM employees were brought back to work in western field offices in order to process drilling permit applications for oil and gas companies, in particular at the Carlsbad field office in New Mexico, which processes permit applications for part of the Permian Basin, most of which is in West Texas. In total the BLM continued processing drilling permit applications in six states. The largest chunk in New Mexico, where 100 applications for permits to drill were processed during the shutdown. The second largest number of approved drilling permits, one quarter of the 267 APDs processed during the shutdown, was in Wyoming, an Interior Department spokeswoman said in an email. Wyoming Bureau of Land Management approved 68 drilling permits during the shutdown, said spokesman Bradford Purdy. Purdy said some field offices reported their APDs a little late, so the 74 approvals reported by the Star-Tribune, from the FOIA records, was not unreasonable. The FOIA notes 74 APD approvals between Jan. 14 and Jan 24, for companies such as EOG Resources, BP America, Devon Energy and Jonah Energy. A limited return of Wyoming employees to address state drilling permit applications as well as sundries approvals needed when oil and gas firms want to make adjustments to approved drilling plants began on Jan. 14, according to the bureau. Molly Block, spokeswoman for the Interior, said that the drilling permit process was not shortened or truncated due to the limited processing during the shutdown and all appropriate laws regarding public comment and environmental review were followed with each application. Industry had pushed for the some allowances for its operations to continue, arguing that the shutdown was hobbling its activities, from drilling permit approvals to the more mundane daily operations that require BLM oversight on public lands. The Center for Western Priorities, which directed the public records request, had sought information that would unveil what activities were prioritized during the partial government closure given that public parks were left open but unstaffed, said policy director Jesse Prentice-Dunn. Western groups had expressed frustration over the environmental damages committed in national parks while the government was in shutdown and park employees on furlough. National Geographic reported in January that the damages from leaving facilities unattended could take years to repair, in addition to an existing $11 billion maintenance backlog. Prentice-Dunn said the allowance of the oil and gas bureaucracy to continue during the shutdown was reflective of the BLMs energy-centric approach under Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, a former energy lobbyist who shepherded controversial changes to sage grouse management plans in Wyoming as deputy interior secretary. It speaks volumes that he sent folks back to work during the shutdown, specifically to process drilling permits, Prentice-Dunn said. That has nothing to do with maintaining the safety of drilling operations; its simply to speed along more drilling applications. Environmental groups have become increasingly critical of Bernhardt since former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke stepped down in early January, and it appeared likely that the acting secretary would take Zinkes place. Bernhardt is from a small town in Western Colorado and spent part of his childhood at his grandparents ranch in southwest Wyoming, according to his recent testimony during his confirmation hearing before Congress. The acting secretary noted the multiple uses of western lands agriculture, outdoor recreation and energy during the speech. Bernhardt has been a behind-the-scenes voice in crucial Wyoming management decisions under the Trump administration. He was in contact with Gov. Matt Meads office during the Interiors work to revise sage grouse management plans and has made quiet trips to visit local officials in the state. Block, the spokeswoman for the Interior Department, said the continued operations when agencies were unfunded was intended to reduce the impact of the shutdown. Our overarching priority was to minimize the impacts of this lapse, to the greatest extent possible under the law, on our employees and the communities and public we serve, Block wrote in an email Tuesday. She noted that some renewable projects were also worked on during the shutdown, such as archaeological work in the California Desert District for a solar project. What employees and activities were allowed in the recent shutdown depended on what qualified as exempt, Block wrote, noting that the BLMers working on permit applications were exempt, funded from previous year appropriations and/or non-appropriated permanent funds. For groups like Western Priorities this is a new direction for the BLM during the shutdowns that have become habitual parts of the U.S. budgeting process over the last decade. The BLMs recently-updated shutdown protocol, made effective in January, solidifies the exempted employees approach that would leave APD processing in motion should Congress fail to fund the agency, Prentice-Dunn said. I think this is a really clear distillation of the Interior Department under David Bernhardt, he said. HSC agencies seek comment extension from Wyo. DEQ THERMOPOLIS Concerned Thermopolis resident and former Hot Springs County planner Lee Campbell sought support from local officials to get comments extended for a proposed Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality permit. Campbell said when he read a WyoFile.com story regarding the proposed renewal by Aethon Energy Operating LLC for Permit Number WY0002062, he couldnt believe it. The project needs to go ahead, but its a question of water treatment and how you minimize the environmental damage, Campbell said. According to the WyoFile.com story by Angus M. Thuermer Jr., the permit would authorize operators of the Moneta Divide oil and gas field, which is expected to expand to 4,250 wells, to discharge 8.27 million gallons a day of produced water from the field. Some 25-acre feet a day could flow from the wells north of Shoshoni into Alkali and Badwater creeks that would carry the contaminants 40 miles downstream to Boysen Reservoir to be diluted. Operators led by Aethon Energy would be permitted to discharge up to 2,161 tons a month of total dissolved solids in the flow, including more than 1,000 tons each of sodium and sulfate. Those flows would mix with purer water in the reservoir, according to the draft permit. The diluted stream would then be released into the Wind River below the Boysen Dam just above Wind River Canyon, a 12-mile reach with Wyomings highest water quality designation Class 1. Campbell said in an interview Monday, The Wind River Canyon is a Class 1 designation where no degradation is allowed. The Town of Thermopolis depends on that. We get our water from the river. He said he also has concerns about the increased concentration of pollutants making their way to irrigated fields. The Wyoming Outdoor Council and Powder River Basin Resource Council has requested a 60-day extension of the comment period. Campbell said he attended the Hot Springs County commissioners meeting Tuesday and they had a letter prepared to seek an extension and informational meetings. He found the same thing when he attended the town council meeting. The Town of Thermopolis is seeking a 120-day extenstion to the comment period, noting that they were just now hearing about a 30-day comment period that ends April 17. The bottom line is we dont know enough to comment, Campbell said. The public has a right to know whats being proposed. Right now there have been no public comment or public information meetings. Regarding protecting Thermopolis water source, Campbell said, Our protection in Thermopolis is the fact that the Wind River Canyon is Class 1 that no degradation is allowed. We only have one chance to get it right. According to the letter from the WOC and Powder River Basin Resource Council to Kevin Frederick, DEQ administrator, We are writing on behalf of our respective memberships to request a 60-day extension of the public comment period for the above-referenced permit renewal. In addition, given the growing public interest in this matter and potential impacts to recreation and aquatic uses, as well as to downstream communities and irrigators, we request that the Water Quality Division schedule public meetings and/or hearings in the affected communities including Lander, Riverton, Thermopolis, Worland, along with Wind River Reservation communities. Aethons proposal to expand the Moneta Divide oil and natural gas development project by adding 4,250 wells would substantially increase the volume of produced water entering Boysen Reservoir and the Wind River below the dam, a DEQ Class 1 surface water. According to information provided in the DEQ/WQDs Statement of Basis, the renewed permit would increase the maximum allowable discharge volume of produced water to 8.27 million gallons per day and would authorize the discharge of 2,161 tons/month of total dissolved solids (TDS), along with 719 tons/month of chloride into Boysen Reservoir. As noted above, these and other pollutants discharged from this facility would enter Boysen Reservoir, a popular public recreation area and main feature of Boysen State Park and the Wind River, an outstanding cold water fishery whose whitewater rapids are enjoyed by throngs of visitors each summer. We have reason to believe that the discharge may also include flow back water containing chemicals utilized in drilling and well completion activities, yet the proposed permit contains no information regarding the potential presence of these chemicals in the waste stream nor does it discuss pollution controls that should be implemented to minimize the adverse effects of such chemicals, some of which may include known endocrine disrupters. Due to the complexities of this permit and the potential for significant environmental and public health and safety impacts, the standard 30-day comment period ordinarily provided by DEQ does not allow sufficient time for members of the public to perform a careful and thorough review of this complex permit and associated documents and reports. For these reasons, we respectfully request a 60-day extension of the comment period. We believe an extension of this duration is both reasonable and appropriate, particularly in light of the fact that this permit (and/or various iterations) has been under internal agency review for at least a year, if not longer. As noted above, we also request that you schedule public meetings/hearings in the affected communities so that interested members of the public can learn more about the implications of this permit. Dan Helig of the WOC informed Campbell via email that Frederick should make a decision regarding the extension by Friday, April 5. Public comments are being sought by April 17. According to the WyoFile.com story, another public comment period will begin after the draft environmental impact study is released. Commercial television channel TV2 announced Wednesday that its CEO, Dirk Gerkens, is leaving the station by mutual agreement, according to a report by news site index.hu. Gerkens is to be replaced by Miklos Vaszily. Having previously worked as head of the channels competitor, RTL Klub, for 14 years, Gerkens has filled operative positions at TV2 for some 40 months. "Thanks to our strategy constructed in the past years, real competition came into being between commercial television channels," noted Vaszily. "Our duty now is continuing the work started by Dirk Gerkens and his team, and to keep on working for the trust of the viewers." Vaszily said he plans further reorganization and structural changes at the channel with the aim of maintaining TV2s leading position on the market and boosting financial results. Gerkens has worked in the Hungarian media market for more than 20 years, index.hu noted. According to the report, Gerkens fate was sealed with the death of Hungarian-American media mogul and Hollywood producer Andy Vajna, former owner of the TV2 Group, before it was taken over by Vaszily, whom index.hu describes as an ally of pro-government oligarch Lorinc Meszaros. Vajna supported Gerkens as CEO due to his expertise in the commercial television business, the report notes. MTI Photo: Beliczay Laszlo The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) accused the government of laying the groundwork for censoring Facebook, citing a paper published on the website of the Szazadveg Foundation, a think-tank that DK says is close to the ruling Fidesz party. The leftist partys spokesman Sandor Ronai said social media was the last platform in Hungary free from government control. Szazadveg, which the DK politician referred to as the governments cash register, now proposed several measures to curb activities on Facebook. Szazadveg published a document on April 3 that suggested that nation states should extend state jurisdiction and constitutional rules to cover social media, which should be categorised as traditional mass media and regulated accordingly, Ronai said. The foundation also proposed firmer legal steps against self-appointed censors who aim to curb the freedom of speech and opinion, he added. Should the government try to curb the social media sites activities, demonstrations on the scale of the 2014 protests against the internet tax could ensue, Ronai insisted. The Szazadveg essay authored by Gabor Megadja, Zoltan Balazs Beky and Jozsef Gyorgy Horvath is entitled Szazadvegs proposals against Facebook censorship. Szazadveg cites an op-ed in The Washington Post by Facebooks founder and head, Mark Zuckerberg, as saying that governments should regulate and control the internet because monitoring and filtering malicious content was too onerous a task for Facebook alone. It further noted that the Szazadveg Foundation had been investigating the issue of Facebook censorship and freedom of expression in general. At first glance, Zuckerberg was exhibiting naive goodwill, Szazadvegs paper said, adding that the foundation was proposing various measures that would genuinely guarantee freedom protections. California Family Fighting to Get Their Dog Back After Pet Runs Away and Is Adopted By New Owners A family in Southern California is desperately hoping that their dog will be returned after he was unknowingly taken in by an animal shelter and adopted by new owners. Earlier this month, Josette Psofimis left her dog Olympus with a family member while she went out of town to attend her sons funeral, KTLA reports. When Psofimis returned home, the pooch had a new family. The 4-year-old Labrador retriever, whom Psofimis said she owned since he was a puppy, had been taken in by an Orange County animal shelter for several days and when no one claimed him was put up for adoption. The Anaheim native first left Olympus with family on March 5. Before Psofimis had even boarded the plane, her pet had reportedly escaped, Fox 5 said. Olympus got loose and ran nine miles to try to find me, she told the outlet, adding that her family neglected to immediately tell her about Olympus running away for fear that she would be too emotional with her sons funeral. RELATED: Energetic Pup Is Returned to Shelter 5 Times Before Finding Calling as Police Dog The dog was quickly discovered and taken in by Orange County Animal Care, but employees at the shelter did not find any identification or microchips on the pup something they consistently check for with animals they find. Because there was no proper identification on Olympus indicating that he was already owned by someone, the shelter placed him on a three-day hold in the hopes someone would claim him. If the dog had had a microchip, even if no one came, he would have been on a much longer hold. As a standard, we always scan for a microchip and identification, Mike Kaviani, the Orange County Animal Care Director, told Fox 5. Olympus is a very friendly, highly-adoptable dog. Hes a young, friendly, yellow Labrador retriever, so its uncommon for a dog of that makeup to be an animal shelter for that long, Kaviani added to the outlet. Story continues RELATED: Dog Returned to Arizona Animal Shelter for Being Too Good, Internet Gets Angry When Psofimis returned from the funeral on March 13, she learned that Olympus gone and under the ownership of a new family. Because that family is now technically the new legal guardian of the pup, the shelter said its up to them as to whether or not they want to give Olympus back to Psofimis. We can all agree how this just tugs at your heart and what both families have experienced and the dog in the middle of it, Kaviani said to Fox 5. RELATED VIDEO: Dog Missing For Over Two Weeks Reunites With Owner Orange County Animal Care did, however, agree to help Psofimis write a letter to Olympus new owners in hopes that they will return her beloved pet. In the meantime, Psofimis and her family, including her granddaughter Olivia Gonzalez, said they wont stop trying until Olympus is back in their possession. He was ours and will always be ours, Gonzalez told Fox 5. Im not going to stop fighting [to get him back. PET SEMATARY, Jason Clarke, 2019. ph: Kerry Hayes / Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection Warning: spooky spoilers for Pet Sematary ahead! Stephen King's Pet Sematary has returned to the big screen, and the 2019 reboot of the terrifying story - which King originally published in 1983 and was also adapted in a 1989 film - makes a few big updates to its source material. But for the most part, it's a faithful retelling of the core story, down to the chilling inclusion of an ancient creature known as the Wendigo. If you're familiar with King's book or the new horror film, then you know that the story follows the Creed family as they move from Boston to a big farmhouse on a sprawling, 50-acre piece of land in the small town of Ludlow. Unfortunately their property includes the cursed "pet sematary," where kids from Ludlow perform creepy burial rites for their deceased pets (they wear animal masks, beat a drum, and a ton of other stuff that will make you never want to procreate). Related: Does the Daughter Ellie Die in Pet Sematary? The Pet Sematary Reboot Includes a Startling Change to Stephen King's Original Story As the patriarch of the Creeds, Louis (Jason Clarke) is tasked with burying his daughter Ellie's beloved cat, Church, after it gets hit by a tractor trailer just beyond their driveway. His neighbor Jud (John Lithgow), a lifelong Ludlow resident, takes him aside and fills him in on a little nugget of eerie history about the Creeds's new property: if you walk into the woods beyond the pet sematary and bury your dead pet in a certain plot of land, the animal will return. (It will be an extremely f*cked up, angry, mean version of your pet, which Jud conveniently neglects to tell Louis.) So, what fuels the dark magic of the land? According to Jud, Native Americans used to occupy the land but eventually fled to escape the hellish presence of the Wendigo. In both Pet Sematary and in The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, King features the primal demon as an antagonist, of sorts, and explains that it haunted the Algonquian tribe, as well as the Micmacs and others. It's also responsible for cursing the land that now brings things back from the dead. Story continues The Origins of the Wendigo The Wendigo hails from legends of the Algonquin-speaking peoples: the Ojibwe, the Saulteaux, the Cree, the Naskapi, and the Innu. It's sometimes depicted in legends as a tall, hunched over, moose or deer-like creature with huge antlers that stands on two feet. Sometimes its body is rotted away, exposing its bones and innards, and other times it's seen as more of a blurry black shadow. It is also said to appear as a monster with humanoid characteristics, or merely as a spirit that possesses an actual human and makes them engage in similarly evil, monstrous behavior. The mythical creature would devour humans and animals, and was native to the northeastern forests of North America, stretching all the way up from the United States into Canada. The Wendigo is historically associated with traits and themes like murder, overwhelming greed, cannibalism, and environmental destruction. PET SEMATARY, 2019. ph: Kerry Hayes / Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection What Does the Wendigo Have to Do With Pet Sematary? As legend has it, the Wendigo inhabited the north east all the way up to Canada, and was able to command any living creature in its domain (or at least have a strong influence over it). In King's stories, the creature eventually encountered the Micmac burial ground in Maine, which would eventually become part of the town of Ludlow. In Pet Sematary, it's explained that the Wendigo cursed the Micmac burial ground that the Creeds eventually live on, making sure that any corpse laid to rest in the soil there would reanimate within a day as a murderous, evil shell of their former self. (And sometimes, they'd become cannibals.) Unsurprisingly, the Micmac tribe abandoned Ludlow. The burial ground full of necromantic power is able to revive animals such as bulls, cats (RIP Church!), and dogs. Jud mentions that his childhood dog Biffer (who was "a hell of a sniffer") was buried there, but came back far meaner and more aggressive than he was before, leading to his father putting him down (again). In King's novel, a soldier named Timmy Baterman is buried in the Micmac cemetery by his grieving father, and comes back possessed by the Wendigo. Jud and other townspeople beg Timmy's father to kill his reanimated son, which he eventually does before taking his own life. In the 2019 remake, the Wendigo isn't featured as prominently as in the book. It's mentioned briefly by Jud during a chat with Louis as they page through a book about Native American legends around their part of Maine, and can be heard roaring in the woods as they take Church's body to the burial ground. It roars again when Louis carries his daughter's dead body there, too, and he stares through the woods and seems to glimpse a shadow of the creature. It never fully appears onscreen in the flesh, though. PET SEMATARY, John Lithgow, 2019. Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection The Wendigo in Other Pieces of Pop Culture The Wendigo is a well-known legend, and thus has inspired fear in writers and artists all over the world. For instance, the demon appears in Marvel comics written by Steve Englehart (drawn by artist Herb Trimpe), and is seen as the twisted result of a curse that attaches itself to cannibals. It even goes head-to-head with the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk #162, as well as Wolverine. On screen, creatures based on the Wendigo legend have appeared in films like Dark Was the Night and Ravenous. TV series that have a supernatural bent have also made use of its infamy, like Grimm, Charmed, and Supernatural. Notably the character of Will Graham sees it in a number of dreams in the TV adaptation of Hannibal, where the Wendigo symbolizes the cannibalistic habits of the show's titular character. Track by Track is a new music feature in which we offer an artist the chance to dig deep into each track on their latest record, one at a time. Brooklyn indie songwriter Aly Spaltro, better known as Lady Lamb, has released her new album, Even in the Tremor. Its available to stream in full below via Apple Music or Spotify. Due out via Ba Da Bing Records, the 11-track effort serves as her third overall following 2015s After. The LP, however, marks Spaltros first employing the talents of an outside co-producer. (Read: The 10 Most Anticipated Indie Rock Albums of 2019) After meeting with a number of industry veterans who told her that her arrangements needed rewriting, Spaltro eventually moved forward with a less established producer in Erin Tonkon (Tony Visconti, David Bowies Blackstar). Recording sessions took place at Brooklyns Figure 8 Studios, with Spaltro recruiting frequent collaborator bassist/pianist Benjamin Lazar Davis (Cuddle Magic, Kimbra, Okkervil River) and drummer Jeremy Gustin (David Byrne, Albert Hammond Jr.). In support of Even in the Tremor, Spaltro will kick off her 34-date Deep Love Tour across North America next week. Grab your tickets here. For more on the album, which she considers her most intimate and honest to date, Spaltro broke it down Track by Track from the title track to early single and one of our favorite songs of the week, Deep Love. Little Flaws: Little Flaws was inspired by being in love and the point in a relationship when you realize neither one of you is perfect youre actually a little obnoxious but you have the same goal of accepting one another. Deep Love: Deep Love poured out of me one afternoon when I was feeling lost and nihilistic. I walked by my neighbors sharing a sweet moment with their animals and went right home and picked up my guitar to try to tap into my own gratitude. Story continues Even in the Tremor: Even in the Tremor is the push and pull between obsessing over the past and stressing about the future while having the awareness that the power to choose to be present is in your own hands. Its a self sabotage: the past will kill the present if I let it. Untitled Soul: Untitled Soul was built around a dream I had where my mom was holding me as a baby and handed her to me to help stop her crying. The song around it is a longing to be understood. lady lamb even in the tremor album cover artwork Strange Maneuvers: Strange Maneuvers came out of a time when I was walking around the city all day and thinking a lot about mistakes I felt Id made. It took my friend Kurt to distract me from that negative thinking on a phone call to get me to change perspective and that simple gesture inspired the seeds of the lyrics. Without a Name: Without A Name was written when I was about 19 and reimagined and retitled for this record. My band and I jammed on it past the written version in the studio and decided to keep that take as the instrumental outro. Young Disciple: Young Disciple is a song Ive been wanting to write for probably a decade. It may answer the question for why so many religious references make it into my songs stemming from my parents going through a born-again phase when I was five and first telling me about death in a fast food spot. Prayer of Love: Prayer of Love was written while I was recording Tender Warriors Club EP in Sweden. I recorded it solo and decided to sit on the song for Even in the Tremor so I could reimagine it with a full band. July Was Mundane: July Was Mundane is about some different relationships Ive made mistakes in and trying to take accountability while forgiving myself for them. It reflects on the challenge it is to make the choice to pull oneself out of self-loathing and regret. Oh My Violence: Oh My Violence is a part II to July was Mundane in a sense because its a continuation of the themes of self-sabotage and the difficulties of staying present. The lyrics were inspired by my time traveling the US alone and observing peoples lives and reflecting on my own. Emily: Emily is a special song because it was written by accident in the studio while recording Even in the Tremor. I had these lyrics I was bummed I couldnt fit in, and my bass player Benjamin Lazar Davis had this riff. On 10-minute breaks wed sneak away to put the two together and were able to record the song on our last night in the studio. Interpol's Top 5 Music Videos St. Vincent's Top Songs Arctic Monkeys' Top 5 Songs Arcade Fire's Best Songs The Strokes' Top 5 Songs The person who claimed he was the six-year-old boy who went missing in 2011 has been identified by authorities as a man in his early twenties. Thomas Collins, the Chief of Police in Newport, Kentucky, confirmed that the man who was found Wednesday on a Kentucky street, claiming to be 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen is actually 23-year-old Brian Michael Rini, ABC 7 Chicago, Fox 8 Cleveland, and WLWT5 reports. The Medina, Ohio native reportedly has a history of legal trouble and documented mental health issues, according to authorities. Medina Police Chief Ed Kinney told ABC 7 that Rini had interacted with officials up to 60 times during his extensive criminal history with Medina police. Kinney also noted that Rini, who is regarded as a known schemer, has been in and out of jail on a wide range of charges, including passing bad checks, making false alarms, theft, falsification, and most recently, burglary and vandalism, according to WLWT5. At this time, it is unclear if Rini will face any charges or if he has retained legal counsel to speak on his behalf. Brian Rini and Timmothy Pitzen | Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction; Timmothy James Pitzen - Little Boy Lost/Facebook In 2017, Brunswick Hills Township Police said that Rini convinced a realtor to give him a showing of an expensive home and later that night, snuck back into the property to throw a party and trashed the place, according to WLWT5. Rini was charged with burglary and vandalism and served an 18-month prison sentence but was recently released from Belmont Correctional Institute last month, according to the outlet. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. After police confirmed that Rini was not who he claimed to be, Timmothys aunt Kara Jacobs and maternal grandmother Alana Anderson spoke out and expressed their sympathy for the man who claimed to be their nephew and grandson. I dont think that anything involving a child is a hoax and I would reserve all judgment and pray for the young man involved, Jacobs told reporters during a press conference. Story continues Added Anderson: [The past 24 hours have] been awful. Weve been on tenterhooks Its just been exhausting. As Kara said, I feel so sorry for the young man who had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was someone else and hope that they can find his family. Timmothy James Pitzen Rinis estranged brother Jonathan also spoke out, noting to Fox 8 and WLWT5 that he was not surprised that his sibling would do this. Hes been doing stupid stuff, not this serious, but hes been doing stupid stuff for as long as I can remember, he said, according to Fox 8. He was receiving treatment, but then he stopped and started getting in more trouble he recently just got out of prison. I havent talked to him in four years, Jonathan added to WLWT5. Im not surprised. I mean, hes nuts. Timmothy James Pitzen RELATED: A Fathers Desperate Search for His Son: Maybe Ill See Him Tomorrow Timmothy was last seen at a water park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, with his mother. He would have been 14 on Wednesday. His mother Amy, 42, picked up her son from his elementary school on May 11, 2011. Three days later, she was found dead in a motel room in Rockford, Illinois. Nearby was what police characterized as a suicide note. In it, Amy wrote that Timmothy was safe with others who would love and care for him. She added, You will never find him. The boys father, Jim Pitzen, has vowed not to rest until Timmothy who he described to PEOPLE in 2015 as a little mini-me was found safe. Timmothy Pitzen and his mom | Timmothy James Pitzen - Little Boy Lost/Facebook On Wednesday, the person found wandering the streets of Newport, Kentucky, identified himself to neighbors and police as Timmothy. A Sharonville police report states the man told officers he was Timmothy Pitzen, and that he was being held by two men. Timmothy described the two kidnappers as two male, whites, body-builder type build, reads the report. One had black curly hair, Mt. Dew shirt and jeans, and has a spider web tattoo on his neck. The other was short in stature and had a snake tattoo on his arms. He told police hed been staying with the men in a Red Roof Inn and had escaped them by running across an Ohio River bridge into nearby Kentucky. RELATED: DNA Proves Boy Claiming to Be Missing Illinois Child Is Not Timmothy Pitzen On Thursday, however, authorities were able to conclude through DNA that this was not Timmothy. At 4:37 pm EST, FBI Louisville tweeted, DNA results have been returned indicating the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen. In a follow-up tweet, the agency stated: To be clear, law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today. Talk about a Prime delivery! A Wisconsin womans hilarious April Fools Day prank went viral this week, with two videos racking up over 800,000 combined views on Facebook as of Thursday. Maureen Pritchard, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, spent six months saving Amazon boxes to pull the ultimate prank on her husband. On Monday, Pritchard stacked up dozens of the empty Amazon boxes outside of her house, just in time for her husband, Rob, to arrive home. In one video posted to her Facebook page, Pritchard films from inside as Rob pulls up in his car and gets out, looking shocked at all the boxes as he gestures to his wife inside. After he walks into the house, a second video shows his reaction: Rob silently shakes his head and walks away, again looking stunned by the number of boxes. RELATED: 20 of the Best Celebrity Pranks Ever Ive been planning an April Fools joke to play on Rob for MONTHS!! Pritchard wrote in a Facebook post. I got him good! I wish I would have continued to record right away when he came in the house. When he saw me recording out the window I thought he realized that it was a joke, but when he came inside he kept asking, What IS all that?!? I had to explain that it was 6 months of saved boxes, from us, my parents and my sister! Pritchard continued, writing jokingly, Anyone need any boxes?!? You have no idea how many people slowed down or stopped in front of our house all day today! RELATED: We Wish the US Opens Puppy-Filled April Fools Day Prank Was Real Facebook users loved Pritchards creative prank. Priceless!!! one user wrote on her post, while another chimed in, I would love to try this on my husbandbut he has a fit if just one package comes. Id be afraid hed have a real heart attack! Gabrielle Union, Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling, Michael K. Williams and more talk new film 'The Public' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Emilio Estevez, who made a name for himself in classics like "The Breakfast Club," "St. Elmo's Fire" and "The Outsiders," is back with a new kind of project. Estevez wrote, directed and stars in "The Public," a film out today that focuses on highlighting the plight of the homeless and other marginalized communities. The drama, which features an all-star cast including Gabrielle Union, Taylor Schilling, Alec Baldwin and Michael K. Williams, shines a unique light on the role of libraries for the homeless. (MORE: Meet the couple who created mobile showers for the homeless community) A group of homeless patrons stages a sit-in at a downtown public library when a bitterly cold night hits Cincinnati with no other options for finding shelter overnight. A standoff with the police ensues, as law enforcement officials work to end the illegal demonstration. Estevez has been working on this project for several years after reading an essay about the role of libraries in helping the homeless survive by Chip Ward, the former assistant director of the Salt Lake City Public Library. "Although the public may not have caught on, ask any urban library administrator in the nation where the chronically homeless go during the day and he or she will tell you about the struggles of America's public librarians to cope with their unwanted and unappreciated role as the daytime guardians of the down and out," Ward wrote. "In our public libraries, the outcasts are inside." Estevez said he was incredibly moved by the piece. "I began to do research into what it would look like if on a particularly cold night, if the patrons, many of whom are homeless and mentally ill, marginalized and poor, staged an old fashion 1960s-like sit-in," he said in an interview with "Good Morning America." Story continues "What would that look like?" he added. "How would law enforcement react? How would the media spin it? And how would politicians use it? Maybe change the narrative of what was happening for their own political gain?" PHOTO: Michael Kenneth Williams as Jackson and Emilio Estevez as Stuart Goodson in the 2019 film, 'The Public.' (Universal Pictures) Estevez believes the movie is relevant now more than ever, as it reflects the realities of many underrepresented communities across the United States, like those dealing with mental illness and living on the streets. There are reportedly 552,830 people who experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night last year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. "Over the years, of course, weve seen this story play out in real time, which was frustrating to me as a storyteller, as a filmmaker, because I kept saying this movie needs to get made," Estevez said about the plot of the film. "After every passing year, it looked like I was kind of an opportunist as a filmmaker because these were playing out in real time." (MORE: Teen sidelined for being homeless takes field again) In the film, Estevez plays Stuart Goodson, a librarian who has built many personal relationships with the homeless patrons and allows them to stage the sit-in. Emmy-nominated actress Taylor Schilling, known for "Orange Is the New Black," plays Goodson's friend, Angela, who is communicating with him inside the library in an effort to get the truth out about the demonstration the homeless patrons are enacting. The media's misrepresentation of the sit-in, reporting incorrectly that there is a hostage situation when it's really a peaceful demonstration to enact social change is occurring, is another message seen in the film. "Right now one of the things that Ive noticed and I think has been a theme of the past several years is theres, in addition to the amount of injustice and outrage thats happening, an upswell of activism and active seeking for truth and active desire to participate," Schilling said. "I think that what my characters doing in the film, sort of seeking the truth in a desire to get into the center of the story and let the narrative swim outside of whats actually happening is something a lot of people can relate to," Schilling continued. "I really appreciate her resilience and the desire to keep trying and to seek out answers." PHOTO: Gabrielle Union as Rebecca Parks and Taylor Schilling as Angela in the 2019 film, 'The Public.' (Universal Pictures) Union, who plays reporter Rebecca Parks, said her role is an accurate representation of how some outlets cover news today. "I think we see it play out every single day on any of our news stations...theres the truth and then theres what we actually report on, and those two things are nowadays rarely the same," she said. "Homelessness as a global issue is enough of a story to report it accurately," she added. "Humanizing these people that we have wholeheartedly just turned into a thing that we have to get past somehow, as opposed to embracing them as our brothers and sisters just showing peoples humanity." "But thats the truth, and its not always a sexy enough headline to get people to click in reporting on the truth," she added. "I represent the reality of media, unfortunately." Michael K. Williams, who plays Jackson, one of the homeless patrons staging the sit-in at the library, echoed the desire to humanize the homeless. "These people are human beings," he said. "The biggest thing that you can give a homeless person, if you see them in the street, from my opinion, is a pair of socks and a smile and look them in their eye and genuinely ask them 'Whats your name?' and 'Hows your day going?'" "Just ask them. Just acknowledge them. Dont just throw money in their cup," he added. "That was my experience after making this and taking this journey with Emilio and the rest of the cast members. I dont just walk by and act like theyre not there or they belong there. And I dont just throw money in the cup to appease my whatever the hell thats appeasing." "Sometimes just getting in their eye level and acknowledging them and saying hello it's the biggest thing you can do," he said. PHOTO: Michael Kenneth Williams as Jackson in the 2019 film, 'The Public.' (Universal Pictures) The story was "extremely personal" for Williams while he was shooting the film, as he had someone very close to him affected by homelessness. "They would come to my home, and you know, at a certain time they had to meet curfew because they would lose their bed. Theyd have to go back," he said. "That was my relationship; that was this persons reality at the time when I was filming. It was a humbling chance to jump at the opportunity to humanize my family member." Baldwin, who plays Detective Bill Ramsted, a character working to shut down the sit-in in the library, said that the film will show people that these safe, warm spaces are invaluable for the homeless. "The nerve I think [Estevez] touched on is that weve completely underestimated the importance of libraries in communities, even in the digital age where you think everybody's home with a device in their hand. A lot of people dont have that," he said. "They go to the library in order to enrich themselves and what happens there is more important than we ever realized." "The Public" hits theaters April 5. On Wednesday, April 3, Britney Spears shared an Instagram quote graphic that read, Fall in love with taking care of yourself, mind, body, spirit. She captioned the post: We all need to take time for a little me time. :) In this day and age, more and more of us are getting wise to the necessity of taking time for self-care during difficult moments. Likewise, theres a growing consensus that it isnt cool to speculate over another persons mental health proof that we, as a society, have done at least some much-needed growing in the last decade and change. But the insight weve been given on the circumstances of Spears retreat, from the artist herself, brings to light a common struggle that can be difficult for many of us to talk about, or even to address: the mental health impact of family illness. Britney Spears announced an indefinite work hiatus in January. Her team separately told People magazine in a statement that Spears father, 66-year-old Jamie Spears suffered a spontaneous colon rupture in November 2018, after which he spent 28 days in the hospital and nearly died. In light of her fathers health crisis, Spears decided to cancel her new Las Vegas show, Domination, to focus on her family. Were all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him, she wrote in an Instagram post. Theres a lot of research on what the mental health community calls the spillover effect of sickness on relatives. The most discussed and studied example of the spillover effect is known as the caregiver burden, which accounts for the array of psychological and economic challenges that can confront individuals responsible for taking care of a loved one whos seriously unwell. Less discussed, but still very real, is the psychological spillover effect of family illness on non-caregiver relatives. Story continues In a report of 2012 survey results, researchers from the US Department of Health and Human Services noted that, while we generally recognize that the spillover effects of family illness can be substantial, its important to look at the experience of non-caregiving relatives too. The struggles of these family members are, in turn, noted to exist but may not be fully recognized. Having a loved one with a chronic or life-threatening health condition will affect different people in different ways, depending on the nature of the loved ones health condition or the relationship itself. A 2009 HHS study found that the spillover effect was even greater, on average, among adults whose parents were sick with certain conditions (like arthritis and depression) than among adults whose spouses were sick with those same conditions. For Britney and Jamie Spears, the sick-parent/adult-child relationship dynamic is more complicated than most. Since 2008, Britney has been under the legal conservatorship of her father (in addition to a lawyer, until he reportedly quit last month). From Britneys finances to her career, Jamie gets the last word. Though the Spears situation is distinct, everyones relationships with different family members are unique and nuanced. For this reason, its impossible to make assessments about what kind of an emotional reaction is normal for a non-caregiving relative of a sick person to have. And yet, it can be difficult to feel entitled to psychological distress when others in the family appear to be suffering even more, or even if it just seems like they should be. So much of mental illness stigma boils down to this: a lie that vulnerability must be earned. In truth, mental wellness demands emotional honesty in the face of expectations both from the world around us and the self-judgmental crannies inside our own heads. We shouldnt need Britney Spears to remind us that its okay to take a little time for ourselves in order to better support the people around us. But it cant hurt. RELATED: Britney Spears Is Taking an Indefinite Work Hiatus After Her Fathers Life-Threatening Health Scare (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Former Wisconsin congressman and majority leader Paul Ryan officially left political office when his term ended last January, but he'd already been checked out for a while. An Ayn Randloving ideologue, he accomplished his biggest goal by helping to push through the deeply unpopular Republican tax cuts for the richest Americans. With his own popularity waning, Ryan left to become a board member for Fox News's parent company. Despite all that, when he met Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez late last year, after she won her New York election to become the youngest member of the House of Representatives, Ryan still felt compelled to give her advice. According to The Hill: "I talked to her, AOCeverybody calls her AOC... She's the youngest person now there. I gave her just a few little tips on just being a good member of Congress, new. I don't think she really listened to a thing I said," Ryan said, to laughter from the audience. "Take it easy, just watch things for a while, don't ruffle anysee how it works first," he added of the advice he gave to Ocasio-Cortez. But he's not the only conservative dude who's been vying for Ocasio-Cortez's attention. Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire and noted debate fetishist, has demanded that Ocasio-Cortez publicly debate him numerous times on Twitter, even dangling a charitable donation to the cause of her choice in exchangeall she has to do is give him her time, her attention, and all the legitimacy and prestige of her hard-won reputation. And Fox News pundits have talked about her so much that Ocasio-Cortez rhetorically asked in an interview with Seth Meyers, "Why are so many grown men just obsessed with this, like, 29-year-old?" Since joining Congress, Ocasio-Cortez has done exactly the opposite of what Ryan advised her to do, demonstrating that she's a sharp questioner in hearings and that she's willing to call out her colleagues. Just four months into office, Ocasio-Cortez has already surpassed Ryan in Twitter followers (3.8 million to his 3.6 million), partnered with Massachusetts senator Ed Markey on legislation for a Green New Deal, and pushed presidential candidates to adopt policies, such as the GND, she has championed. So yeah, Ryan's probably right, she didn't pay much mind to his hot tips. UPDATE 4/4/19 8:50 PM The jury returned verdicts in the Hart case on Thursday, ruling that the mothers died by suicide and all six children died by homicide. Each decision was unanimous and the deliberations took just one hour. The manner of death will now be entered by the county onto each one of their official death certificates. The four options presented to the jury were: natural, suicide, accident, and "at the hands of another, other than by accident," which the sheriff clarified is homicide. In some of the final testimony of the day, California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Slates said, "Ultimately, I feel that based on Sarah and Jen's history, the pattern of alleged abuse, that this was just another case where they ran." Slates believes the women had not yet totally decided on the suicide plan while Googling about methods on Saturday or while they were buying groceries at Safeway or toiletries at Dollar Tree on Sunday morning. At some point, Slates says, while driving along the coast in their final day, they decided to commit to the plan. That "if they couldn't have those kids, then nobody was going to have those kids." Mendocino County Sheriff Lt. Shannon Barney echoed Slates' conclusion on the stand: "It is my belief that both Jennifer and Sarah succumbed to a lot of pressure ... to the point they made a conscious decision to end their lives and to take the children with them." ORIGINAL STORY: Last September Glamour reported on the tragic story of the Hartsmothers Jennifer and Sarah Hart and their six adopted children. On social media Jen Hart portrayed the image of a happy, postracial American family, but what was going on inside their Woodland, Washington, home turned out to be something very different. Jen, Sarah, and their children Markis, 19, Hannah, 16, Devonte, 15, Abigail, 14, Jeremiah, 14, and Sierra, 12 (two sets of black biological siblings) were often referred to as the Hart Tribe. But on March 26, 2018, their car was found at the bottom of a cliff off California's Highway 1. Story continues In the coroners inquest today at the Willitts Justice Center in Willitts, California, investigators have revealed the timeline of what happened in the familys final hours. Among the new details revealed in testimony today was exactly what was in the system of each family member when the Yukon plummeted off the cliff. Evidence presented showed that many members of the family were most likely heavily sedated, with Sarah, who investigators say was in the passenger seat, having the equivalent of 42 single doses of diphenhydramine, a Benadryl-like drug, in her system. Jennifer was drivingand was legally drunkbut didnt show signs of having taken diphenhydramine. Investigators revealed that the family had purchased an Equate-branded version at a Walmart in Washington State shortly after leaving their house on March 23, 2018, before continuing down the Pacific coast. Both liquid and pill versions of the drug were found in the familys car. California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Slates, the lead investigator on the case, testified that by his calculations Markis had taken the equivalent of more than 19 doses, Abigail had taken 14 doses, and Jeremiah had taken more than eight single doses. Slates said that Sarah would have likely been intoxicated by the amount she had taken, and the kids would more than likely be unconscious or asleep. The body of Devonte, the teen featured in a photo hugging a cop that went viral, is still missing, though he was officially pronounced dead in a California court in March. Investigators also concluded that no one had been wearing a seat belt and that Jen had accelerated the car before going off the cliff. Early after the accident the county sheriff said he suspected criminal intent. "I'm to the point where I no longer am calling this as an accident," he said at the time. "I'm calling it a crime." The mystery of what happened to the Harts, the possible warning signs that alerted some of their neighbors, and the ongoing investigation by law enforcement are documented in the Glamour podcast Broken Harts. At the inquest, a jury of 14 will decide the manner of death for each family member. "Theres one question that nobody will ever answerthats 'why,'" Mendocino County Sheriff-Coroner Tom Allman told Glamour. Why Jen drove over that cliff, why Jen and Sarah made the decisions that led up to that day and that moment. "We can tell you what, almost when, where; we can tell you who. But as an adult whose brother committed suicide many years ago, Ive learned that sometimes the question why can never be answered. We can give people reason to find their own answer, but there wont be any black-and-white answer to why." While authorities did not disclose some evidence over the past several months as they investigated the crash, that's no longer the case: "There is no reason for one percent of what we know to be withheld," Allman said. "Everything we know we're throwing out there. Glamour will release a special bonus episode of Broken Harts on April 12, with more information about everything that is revealed in the inquest, which is expected to conclude tomorrow. But here's what we've learned so far from the evidence presented. (Warning: Some of the details below are graphic in nature.) Sarah was googling suicide methods. Starting around 12:30 A.M. on March 24hours after they had left home and about the time they reached the Washington-Oregon borderSarah began googling suicide methods. "Can 500 mg of Benadryl kill an 120-pound woman?" "Is death by drowning relatively painless?" "How long does it take to die by hypothermia?" and "How easily can you overdose on over-the-counter medication or Benadryl?" were some of the searches she typed into her phone. The searches continued until 6:30 P.M. that day, around the time the family reached the California border. The abuse may have continued until the children's final days. The autopsy report found that Abigail's body had bruising on her buttocks and legs. Slate asked medical examiners whether they were caused by the crash, and was told the bruises were old but recentand not a result of the accident. Devonte Hart has been pronounced legally dead. Fifteen-year-old Devonte's remains were never recovered, and some had held out hope that he somehow survived the crash or ran away prior to its occurrence. Mendocino Sheriff's Lieutenant Shannon Barney stated in a court filing that "it is more probable than not that Devonte Hart is deceased, and died along with his siblings and parents in the vehicle crash." Barney referenced that no sightings of Devonte or a child matching his description had been reported since the crash. Then a California judge certified Devonte as dead. Someone may have survived the crash. Testimony revealed there was an Alaskan couple camping at the pullout where the crash occurred. They saw a vehicle that matches the description of the Yukon park in the pull-out at around 11:00 P.M. The man said he was later awakened around 3 A.M. by hearing a vehicle engine rev and then bottom out, Slates, the lead investigator, said. The man looked outside, and since the car was gone, he assumed the vehicle had continued on down the highway. He stepped out of his camper, looked over the cliff, and saw nothing. (There are no road lights in this area.) He heard what he thought was an animala seal, perhaps. It wasn't until he heard the news of what had happened and realized the noises may have been a cry for help, meaning someone might have been alive down there. Jen Hart's body was unidentifiable at first. At the hearing Mendocino Sheriff Deputy Robert Julian revealed that in the attempt to pull the Harts' car up onto the cliffs, Jen's body tumbled out, and as a result it was more difficult for authorities to positively make an identification. Greg Pizzaro, M.D., a forensic pathologist, testified about the autopsies of the parents and four of the children. He determined that they all died almost instantly from injuries sustained in the crash. However, the body of the youngest Hart daughter, Sierra, was not recovered until two weeks later and was too decomposed to determine a conclusive cause of death. Jen Hart typically was a seat belt Nazi. Slates testified that witnesses close to the family claimed that Jen typically was a seat belt Nazi and refused to drive until all the kids had been strapped in. That made it all more significant that investigators concluded no member was wearing a seat belt during the crash. The women apparently didn't want to be found. Slates revealed that Jen and Sarah used only cash for all their transactions after they left their home in Washingtonuntil Jen used a Safeway club card in Fort Bragg, California. They also turned off their GPS once they got to Fort Bragg at 7:19 P.M. on March 24, the first time they had done so in nine years. After Sarah texted her coworker early Saturday morning saying she was sick and couldn't make it into work, Sarah and Jen did not text or call anyone else. Investigators were still able to approximate the familys final route by the pings on their cell phones. The Hart mothers had used Benadryl in the past on road trips. Slates testified hed heard from family and friends of the Harts that the women had used Benadryl-like medicine on past road trips to help the kids sleep. The family was stopping for breaks as they went down the coast. Investigators were able to recover the precise movements of the Yukon via the Garmin GPS device that had been mounted to the dash, recording the cars trips since 2010. After washing ashore long after the crash, the device confirmed that the family left their house at 8:30 P.M. on March 23, the day that a CPS worker had visited the familys home in response to a neighbors report of the Hart mothers alleged abuse toward their six adopted kids. They stopped at a beach for a half hour and drove south down U.S. Highway 101. The route means that the Harts would have seen the cliff theyd eventually plummet from as they drove south to Fort Bragg. They lingered in a campground area and at the Russian Gulch area south of Fort Bragg, before once again turning north up to the cliff site. The last ping was at 9:00 P.M. as they traveled north on 101. This post will be updated as more evidence is presented during the inquest today. Testimony is expected to conclude Thursday afternoon, and the jury will be sent to deliberate. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The number of children who are affected by the Venezuelan crisis and who will need humanitarian aid this year is expected to more than double to reach 1.1 million, up from nearly 500,000, the UN children's agency said Thursday. The figure includes children uprooted from Venezuela, those who have returned and others in host and transit communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, said a UNICEF statement. The latest estimate highlighted expectations among aid agencies that the political crisis in Venezuela will worsen in the coming months, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation of children and families. UNICEF called on governments in the region to uphold the rights of children and ensure they have access to essential services. An internal UN report seen by AFP last week said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care. President Nicolas Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela's economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault. Guaido is recognized by the United States and around 50 other governments. The UN Security Council is expected to meet next week at the request of the United States to discuss Venezuela's humanitarian crisis. Algiers (AFP) - A vast crowd of protesters pushing for reforms flooded the streets of Algiers Friday, while mass rallies were held across Algeria for the first time since ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned. Activists chanted slogans demanding key Bouteflika loyalists follow his lead and quit, after social media calls for "joyful demonstrations" to "peacefully bring down a dictatorial regime". No official figures were immediately available on the size of the rally, but it was at least as big as those held on previous Fridays leading up to Bouteflika's departure, said AFP journalists at the scene. Rallies took place in 41 of the country's 48 provinces, according to the official APS news agency which in a first published slogans highly hostile to those in power. Opponents of the old regime had called for a massive turnout, targeting a triumvirate they dub the "3B" -- Senate speaker Abdelkader Bensalah, head of the constitutional council Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. The veteran Bouteflika loyalists have been entrusted with overseeing the political transition after the president finally stepped down at the age of 82. Bouteflika resigned late on Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations triggered by his bid for a fifth term in office. After two decades in power, he had lost the backing of key supporters including armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah. - 'Mistakes made' - Bensalah, speaker of the upper house of parliament for 16 years, is to take the reins as interim president for three months until elections are organised. Belaiz, a minister for 16 years, was named by Bouteflika as head of the Constitutional Council which will regulate the elections. Before his appointment as prime minister, Bedoui had served as interior minister -- or "chief engineer of electoral fraud" according to the El Watan newspaper Opponents say all three are tarnished by their long years of service under Bouteflika and should follow his lead and resign. Story continues Meanwhile the country's intelligence services chief Athmane Tartag has been sacked and his duties handed to the defence ministry, the official APS news agency reported Friday. Informed sources confirmed the move to AFP that the CSS chief had been removed from office. Even hours before the rally started, several hundred demonstrators had gathered outside the main post office in central Algiers, which has been the epicentre of the protest movement. Some shouted "we will not forgive!" in reference to an open letter Bouteflika issued after his resignation, apologising to the Algerian people for "mistakes made". Said Wafi, a bank worker from the nearby city of Boumerdes, had arrived at 5:00 am in the hope of being "the first demonstrator against the system". "Bouteflika leaving means nothing if his men continue to run the country," the 42-year-old said. - 'Victory is partial' - One of the leading voices of the protest movement, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, has called for the demonstrations to continue "until they have all gone". "Our victory is partial," he said in a video posted online. "Algerians will not accept that symbols of the regime... lead the interim period and organise the next elections." But protestors expressed hope that the system would see real change. Zoubir Challal, who like many young unemployed Algerians had considered a dangerous Mediterranean crossing to seek a better life in Europe, carried a sign bearing the slogan: "For the first time, I don't want to leave you, my country." The huge rally in Algiers concluded early evening, with protesters dispersing peacefulyl as on previous Fridays. Demonstrators are calling for new transitional institutions to be set up to implement reforms and organise free elections. Hamza Meddeb, an independent analyst in Tunisia, said Algeria was entering "a very delicate phase, because the street and the institutions are at risk of diverging". The army's intentions are a key question, according to analysts. Despite abandoning his patron Bouteflika, who named him army chief in 2004, General Gaid Salah is still seen by protesters as a key defender of the "system". But protestors on Friday chanted: "The army and the people are brothers!" Said Zeroual, 75, said he hoped Algeria would regain "our freedom and our sovereignty". "I hope to live long enough to see democracy in my country," he said. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Six Balkan countries have signed a European Union-backed agreement to abolish roaming charges by 2021 as part of efforts to boost cooperation in the region. The agreement was signed Thursday by Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo during a summit on digital technology in Belgrade. It envisages a gradual reduction of roaming prices by 27 percent from July 1 and the eventual establishment of a roaming-free zone. The deal comes amid ongoing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008 but whose statehood Belgrade refuses to recognize. Serbia and Kosovo must normalize relations to advance their bids to join the EU. The two sides have blamed each other for a halt in EU-mediated talks on solving the decades-long dispute. William Barr testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing to be U.S. attorney general on Jan. 15, 2019. Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi / NLJ U.S. Attorney General William Barr is considering Claire Murray, a former White House lawyer who recently joined his staff, for a top Justice Department role overseeing civil litigation, including the defense of Trump administration policies, according to three people familiar with the matter. Murray, among a small group of Barr advisers who previously worked in the Trump White House counsels office, is expected to succeed Jesse Panuccio as the principal deputy associate attorney general, a role that has taken on new prominence as the Trump administration has struggled to fill the third-ranking Justice Department position. Indeed, the Justice Department has been without a Senate-confirmed associate attorney general since Rachel Brand resigned in February 2018 to become a top lawyer at Walmart. Panuccio, a former partner at Foley & Lardner in Miami who was previously a lawyer for Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential campaign, served as acting associate attorney general in early 2017 as Brand awaited confirmation. He later reprised the role in the months after her resignation. As acting associate attorney general, Panuccio oversaw the departments antitrust, civil rights, civil and tax divisions, among other components. It is unclear whether Panuccio would leave the Justice Department if Murray moves into the principal deputy position. Although Panuccio is seen as likely to leave Main Justice, sources said Barr is pleased with his work and that it is possible he would remain at the department in a different position. A Justice Department representative declined to comment Thursday. Panuccio and Murray did not respond to messages seeking comment. The anticipated maneuvering comes just weeks after Murray joined Barrs staff as an adviser in his front office, capping a two-year tenure in the Trump White House. Before joining the Trump administration, she had been a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm where Barr worked up until his nomination in December to lead the Justice Department. Murray had previously clerked for Justice Samuel Alito and for now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. At the White House, Murray helped guide Kavanaugh through his bitter confirmation fight. The Trump administration has been frustrated in its quest to install a new associate attorney general. Story continues Jessie Liu Jessie Liu, U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., speaking at Main Justice in 2017. Credit: Bloomberg Jessie Liu, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, withdrew from consideration last week after Sen. Mike Lee, the Utah Republican, questioned her past affiliation with the National Association of Women Lawyers. Lius links to the lawyers' group raised questions among Republicans about her stance on abortion rights and conservative bona fides, according to people familiar with the scuttled nomination. As her nomination came under threat, Liu sought to distance herself from the group. She denied having a role in a letter the group sent in 2006 opposing Alitos nomination to the Supreme Court and noted that she had, in fact, joined with fellow Yale Law School alumni in backing his confirmation. Barr, in an 11th-hour push to salvage Liu's nomination, spoke on the phone with Lee, a former Alito clerk, in a conversation that grew heated, according to people familiar with the call. It is unclear how quickly the Trump administration will return to searching for a nominee to fill the associate attorney general slot. Several people close to the administration said in interviews that the length and scrutiny of the Senate confirmation processcombined with a presidential election next yearwould complicate any search process. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Helgi Walker had been approached informally after Brands resignation about the associate attorney general role, but she said she was not interested in the nomination at that time, according to people familiar with the search process. Following Barrs nomination in December, Walker, a former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas and now co-leader of Gibson Dunns administrative law and regulatory practice group, was again approached about becoming associate attorney general, the sources said. But her answer was the same. The Trump administration didn't look far to fill the deputy attorney general slot, choosing Jeffrey Rosen, a former Kirkland & Ellis partner in Washington who has been deputy secretary at the U.S. Transportation Department since 2017. Rosen was confirmed 56-42 for his current post. Rosen's confirmation hearing for deputy attorney general hasn't been set. Read more: Women Lawyers' Group Stands Up for Jessie Liu After DOJ Nomination Scuttled William Barr Fills Front Office With Trump White House Lawyers Ex-Kirkland & Ellis Lawyers, Now at White House, Receive Ethics Waivers 'Who Checks the Fact-Checker?' Meet Jeff Rosen, Trumps Deputy AG Nominee Kirkland's William Barr Reports $1.2M Firm Income on Financial Disclosure Moscow (AFP) - The body of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon War has been found by the Russian and Syrian armies, President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu visited Putin in Moscow five days before he is to seek a fifth term in office in a difficult election. "Our military together with Syrian partners found the place of his burial," Putin said, referring to Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel. "We are very happy that he will be able to receive the right military honours in his homeland," Putin said, adding that Russia would send the remains to Israel. Netanyahu said Baumel would be laid to rest in Israel Thursday evening. "There will be a very moving ceremony tonight," he said. "Zachary's friends and family will take part." Putin's statement contradicted an earlier report by the Israeli army which announced Wednesday that the body had been recovered and returned to the country. Neither Putin nor Israel gave details on how the remains were found. "The remains are with us and, in accordance to military tradition, we will send them to Israel with your participation," the Russian leader said. "As far as I know, all the necessary genetic tests have been completed," he added. "For the group of special forces that was working on this, it was not easy," Putin said. Baumel's case is highly sensitive for Israelis. Baumel had been missing since what is known as the Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The battle between Israeli soldiers and Syrian forces took place in a Lebanese village near the Syrian border. In comments translated into Russian, Netanyahu said he asked Putin two years ago to "help in the search of the remains of our soldiers, including the Sergeant (Baumel)." "You personally responded and gave the order to help in this holy deed," he said at the Kremlin, thanking the Russian leader. In a televised address on Wednesday, Netanyahu said the operation was "the result of major diplomatic efforts that we will speak about one day." The 69-year-old is running in the April 9 vote despite facing potential corruption charges. London (AFP) - Prime Minister Theresa May asked the European Union on Friday to delay Britain's departure from the bloc until June 30, with the extension ending earlier if parliament approves her Brexit deal. "The United Kingdom proposes that (the extension) should end on June 30 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the government proposes that the period should be terminated earlier," May wrote in a letter to EU Council president Donald Tusk. Downing Street released May's letter moments after a senior EU official told AFP that Tusk was proposing to postpone Brexit day by up to a year, also pending parliament's approval of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Prime Minister Theresa May asked the European Union on Friday to delay Britain's departure from the bloc until June 30, with the extension ending earlier if parliament approves her Brexit deal. May also told EU Council president Donald Tusk in a formal letter that Britain would start preparing for its participation in European Parliament elections in case it is still a member of the bloc when they begin on May 23. "The United Kingdom proposes that (the extension) should end on June 30 2019. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the government proposes that the period should be terminated earlier," May's letter said. Downing Street released May's request moments after a senior EU official told AFP that Tusk was proposing to postpone Brexit day by up to a year, also pending parliament's approval of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. The current deadline is April 12, which has already been pushed back once from March 29 because of the UK parliament's failure on three occasions to back the deal May signed with the other 27 EU leaders in December. In her letter, May said she wanted to make sure that Britain left the bloc after 46 years in an orderly manner, with an agreement that could help unwind intricate political, security, diplomatic and economic ties. Story continues "The government's policy has always been and remains to leave the European Union in an orderly way, and without undue delay," May wrote. "The government agrees that leaving with a deal is the best outcome," she said. - European elections - May is racing against the clock in a desperate bid to get her deal approved in time for an EU leaders' summit in Brussels on Wednesday, when a formal decision on any extension will be made. EU nations must give unanimous backing to any new deadline. Some, like French President Emmanuel Macron, have said they want to hear a clear reason from May as to why Brexit should be delayed yet again -- a move that would add to uncertainties weighing on business across the bloc. May's team is currently holding negotiations with leaders from Britain's main opposition Labour Party in a bid to secure enough votes to push through her deal on a fourth attempt. But the talks so far have failed to clinch a breakthrough. "I don't think we are quite at the point where the government can indicate where their concessionary strategy might apply," deputy Labour leader Tom Watson told BBC radio. May's letter said that should she fail to find a compromise with Labour, the two sides "would instead look to establish a consensus on a small number of clear options on the future relationship to be put to (parliament) for a series of votes to determine which course to pursue". But she conceded that this process could take time and will probably force Britain to take part in European Parliament elections at the end of May, nearly three years after UK voters opted to leave the bloc. If Britain "were still a member state of the European Union on May 23 2019, it would be under a legal obligation to hold the elections," May wrote. "The government is therefore undertaking the lawful and responsible preparations for this contingency." By Byron Kaye and Tom Allard SYDNEY (Reuters) - From its clubhouses in Melbourne and Sydney, the Lads Society promotes drug-free living and exercise, as well as "white resistance" and Islamophobia, according to online statements and interviews with two of its leaders. One of Australia's most high profile extremist groups, its members last year infiltrated the youth arm of the National Party, part of the ruling coalition government, before being exposed and ejected due to their far right views. Now, the group has come to prominence again and to the attention of security agencies after a gunman shot 50 people dead at two New Zealand mosques. In the hours after the shootings, the Lads Society's private Facebook page lit up as its members discussed the attack and the man arrested and charged with murder, 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant, according to five screenshots of the Facebook messages which were provided by a person with access to the group and reviewed by Reuters. "He had been on the scene for a while," said Tom Sewell, founder of the Lads Society, according to the previously undisclosed messages on the Lads Society's Facebook page. "He made heaps on Bitcoin and paid for his own holidays, I spoke to him back in 2017 when he was donating money to everyone," added Sewell. In a later public statement, Sewell said he and Lads Society leaders were interviewed about the Christchurch attacks by the Australia Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the country's domestic spy agency. ASIO said it does not comment on specific individuals, intelligence or operational matters but was alert to the threat from people with "extreme right-wing ideologies". The Australian Federal Police also declined to comment when asked about any ties Tarrant had to the Lads Society. Sewell declined to comment on Tarrant or whether he knew him, and his messages provided no further details. Tarrant, who is now in custody and has said he plans to represent himself, was not available for comment. The Lads Society's page was shut down after Facebook targeted white nationalists in the wake of the Christchurch massacre. Reuters was unable to verify the claims on the since-deleted Facebook page. However, Sewell's messages to the private group on the Lads Society Facebook page, which carried the same profile photo as a photo posted on Sewell's Instagram account, add to evidence Tarrant was engaged with Australia's far right. On the 8Chan message board minutes before the attack, Tarrant posted links to a livestream video of the attack and said: "You are all top blokes and the best bunch of cobbers a man could ask for." Cobber is Australian slang for friend, and a term popular among Australian white nationalists. As Australia confronts the uncomfortable truth that Tarrant was one of its own, the country has been gripped by acrimonious debate about both its past race policies and whether recent political discourse about immigration and Islam had any role to play in his radicalization. In the space of a few minutes outside a Sydney mosque the day after the Christchurch shootings, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison encapsulated the country's contradictory identity. "We are a tolerant, multicultural society, the most successful immigration country on the planet," he said, before pivoting to a darker undercurrent. "These white supremacist, white separatist views, are not new. I mean, these sentiments have sadly existed in Australia for hundreds of years." OFF THE RADAR Tarrant grew up in the small Australian city of Grafton, where he worked as a gym instructor and developed a passion for gaming and computers, according to local media reports citing the gym owner and his grandmother. In a "manifesto" distributed online just before the attack, Tarrant said he formed his racist beliefs on the internet and downplayed his links to Australia, saying he was radicalized abroad. He acted alone, the manifesto said, although he said he had donated to far-right groups from an inheritance and a cryptocurrency windfall. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz last week confirmed his country's far-right Identitarian Movement had received 1,500 euros ($1,690) from Tarrant. Most of his past nine years was spent traveling across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Tarrant was "on nobody's radar, anywhere," said Morrison, spending only 45 days in the past three years in Australia. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, citing archives of the deleted Facebook account of the United Patriots Front (UPF), another Australian far-right group, Tarrant described one of that group's leaders, Blair Cottrell, as "Emperor". Reuters was unable to independently verify that detail. Cottrell - a muscle-bound, blond-haired carpenter - founded the UPF alongside Sewell. Sewell later started Lads Society in 2017, with Cottrell's promotional support. Cottrell, described by sources as the movement's main figurehead in Australia, still heads UPF and appears in Lads Society photos and videos but holds no formal position in that group. Cottrell told Reuters that, as best he could tell, Tarrant had donated only once to groups he was associated with - A$50 to the UPF. "I don't believe I influenced Tarrant much at all. Maybe three years ago, he was in support of our specific opposition to that mosque development in Bendigo." In 2017, Cottrell and two other UPF members were found guilty of inciting contempt of Muslims after they filmed a mock beheading outside council offices to protest a mosque development in the small Victorian city. GOING MAINSTREAM White extremists gained momentum in 2014 after an Islamist gunman took a group of hostages in a Sydney cafe, analysts and members of the movement say. The following year, thousands of people attended rallies arranged by anti-Islam group Reclaim Australia, and some far-right politicians spoke at the events. Suspicions about the presence of Lads Society members in the youth wing of the National Party first emerged after officials of the rural-based party noted an influx of new members from cities. After ties to the Lads Society were revealed in local media, the National Party expelled 19 people, saying in a statement in November it "would not rest until every last one of these extremists have been identified and removed." In Australia's latest census, about 90 percent nominated their ancestry as Australian or European, while 2.5 percent were recorded as Muslims. Just under a quarter of Australians have a "negative attitude" to Muslims, according to a 2018 report from the Scanlon Foundation, a group that tracks social cohesion. FAR-RIGHT SENATOR In the wake of the Christchurch attacks, Australia's Islamophobes flooded social media with memes and messages in support of Fraser Anning, the Australian senator who blamed the bloodshed on "an immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand". In an interview with Reuters, Anning said he was "completely opposed" to the attacks in Christchurch. However, he echoed the "replacement theory" embraced by Tarrant and the global white supremacist movement. Muslims, he said, "are going to outbreed us very quickly". Anning has picked up 28,600 Facebook followers in the past four weeks, data provided by his office shows, and now has more than 122,000 followers. Sewell and Cottrell in statements and interviews with Reuters and other media, also said they were appalled by the attacks on the mosques. "Politically motivated violence is not in the interest of our organization or our community," Sewell said in his since-deleted Facebook statement on March 20. In his interview with Reuters, Sewell said further that Tarrant's violence had caused governments to become "extremely reactionary", passing legislation "without thinking it through". New Zealand moved swiftly to ban the kinds of semi-automatic weapons used in the attacks. "We have a new level of totalitarian thought crime legislation across New Zealand and shortly here in Australia too," Sewell added. (Reporting by Byron Kaye, Tom Allard and Jonathan Barrett. Editing by John Chalmers and Lincoln Feast.) The Hague (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May's request to delay Brexit until June 30 "doesn't answer" the EU's key questions about London's plans, Dutch premier Mark Rutte said on Friday. Rutte said May's letter seeking the extension "raises many questions" and there will have to be "intense discussions" ahead of a crucial summit of European leaders next Wednesday that will decide on the issue. "The plan was that the British would explain what they wanted from the EU," Rutte told a weekly press conference. "A letter was sent today which, as far as I am concerned, doesn't answer this request (from the EU for more information). I hope it will be possible to give the answers to these questions." Rutte -- who has been one of the most outspoken EU leaders on Brexit as his country faces the risk of an econmic shock if Britain leaves without a deal -- said the letter had "no full plan, there was only part of a plan." "We hope London will provide more clarity before Wednesday," he said, adding that there would now have to be "intense discussions on the telephone in coming days, and at the European Council (summit)." "The ball is not here in The Netherlands, or in Paris or Berlin. The ball really is in London." His comments echoed those of France, which said the British request was "premature" and a "clumsy trial balloon", and Germany, whose foreign minister said "many questions" remained. Photo credit: YouTube / WSBT - TV From Delish Elkhart Community Schools, a K-12 school district in Elkhart, Indiana, is teaming with a local nonprofit to make sure that kids are able to eat when they're at home over the weekend, WSBT 22 reports. Cultivate, a South Bend-based nonprofit, "rescues" unused food. Jim Conklin, president and co-founder of the organization, told WSBT, "Mostly, we rescue food that's been made but never served by catering companies [and] large food service businesses, like the school system. Over-preparing is just part of what happens. We take well-prepared food, combine it with other food and make individual frozen meals out of it." Natalie Bickel, the supervisor of student services for Elkhart Community Schools, told CNN the pilot program had to "start a little small," because they weren't sure they'd have enough food. Twenty students from Woodland Elementary left school on Friday with an insulated backpack filled with eight individual frozen meals to last them through the weekend. "The kids were thrilled, staff were crying, kids were so excited," she said. Bickel told CNN that "64% of the more than 12,000 students in the district are eligible for free and reduced price lunch." Cultivate prepares the meals, each including a protein, vegetable, and starch. The food rescue group goes to five school production kitchens three times a week to collect the food that was prepared, but not served. Cultivate's co-founder, Randy Z, shared that this type of collaboration with schools has been a "long-term mission" for himself. "I was the kid who went home with no food and didn't eat on the weekends when I was younger." Cultivate combines the schools' leftover food with other food it has rescued from various chefs, local caterers, hospitals, and businesses. "A meal could consist of a vegetable from the school, protein from the University of Notre Dame, and a starch from the Four Winds Casino," Z told CNN. Story continues Bickel said that she would love to expand the program, which is just getting started, to all 21 schools in the district. ('You Might Also Like',) Dinard (France) (AFP) - Foreign ministers from the world's seven most developed nations met on Friday in northern France to push the fight against global inequality and cyber-crime despite the conspicuous absence of US top diplomat Mike Pompeo. The two-day Group of Seven (G7) meeting took place under cloudy skies in the Breton resort of Dinard against the background of a litany of global troubles ranging from Libya to Brexit. But the ministers from Britain, Canada France, Germany, Italy and Japan will not be joined by their US counterpart Secretary of State Pompeo, who is sitting out the meeting in what analysts see as yet another sign of American suspicion towards multilateralism. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan is representing Washington at the meeting. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, who like her counterparts had met Pompeo at a NATO meeting earlier this week, expressed regret he was not attending. "I think we all regret that Mike is not here with us, but his very able deputy is here with us," adding Pompeo was "very engaged" at the NATO meeting. Britain's top diplomat Jeremy Hunt, before leaving for France, said that "what we will be talking about are the threats to democracy" including "cyber attacks, interference in democratic processes from hostile states." "We don't have a proper strategy to deter those attacks," he added. France, whose President Emmanuel Macron will host a summit of G7 leaders in Biarritz in late August, is pushing the fight against inequality as the central theme of its year-long presidency. Macron is desperate to avoid a repeat of the fiasco of the last G7 summit in Canada last year, which ended in acrimony when US President Donald Trump refused to sign the final communique in a bitter spat over trade. The G7 was founded in the 1970s under the presidency of former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, but analysts say its clout may have dwindled with the creation of the G20 in the late 1990s. Joe Trippi (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Joe Trippi is mostly confident that Democrats will do the right thing in 2020. Hes not overly worried that the massive field headed toward 20 candidates will mix with a proportional primary and a restless grassroots to spark a civil war in the party that extends all the way through their convention. The 62-year old Democratic consultant believes his party will produce a nominee to run against President Trump on a hopeful, uniting message. But, he allowed, We could blow this. Were a party thats totally capable of making the path easier for [Trump], particularly if we fall into the traps he tends to set, Trippi said in an interview on the Yahoo News podcast The Long Game. But, Trippi said, he thinks two things will keep Democrats away from a fractious internal battle. Primary voters, he said, will be pragmatic and clear-eyed because of how badly they want to beat Trump. And second, the field will naturally get smaller after the first few primaries. Trippi said even some Democratic campaigns are underestimating the way the Iowa caucuses will cull the field by starving many candidates of attention and resources as media coverage zooms in on a handful of frontrunners. I know what the rumble is out of that place, Tripp said of Iowa. Some of these people think, Hey, I can take fifth in Iowa, but Ill still be around. ... My first win might be in South Carolina. I think a lot of these teams are underestimating just how strong the impulse will be among the media and voters to cut the field down after Iowa and New Hampshire, the second primary contest, he said. Its kind of a law of gravity. The press and all of us cannot follow 18 people. ... We cant do it. Trippi, 62, rose to fame in the Democratic Party in 2004, when he took Vermont Gov. Howard Dean from renegade to frontrunner status in that years presidential primary, until Dean screamed his way out of the race after losing in Iowa. Most recently, he was a senior adviser to Sen. Doug Jones during his shocking 2017 win in Alabama, becoming the first Democratic senator from the state in 20 years. Story continues Trippi has worked in some capacity, usually as a senior adviser, on six of the last 10 presidential campaigns, going back to his first in 1980. During the Jones campaign, Trippi said, he saw that there were three groups in the Republican Party that are seriously considering voting for a Democrat for the first time in their life suburban women, younger voters, and the college educated. Because of that openness, Trippi said, he thinks the Democratic nominee in 2020 can take cues from Joness approach in Alabama. I do not think this is ideological, I think it's tone, Trippi said. In other words, there was something about Doug Jones tone that wasn't angry, wasn't, You guys don't get what I'm talking about, so it's my way or the highway, Trippi said. Also its, Hey, we need to start listening to each other and find some common ground. If the Democratic nominee gets into a mud fight with Trump, a contest of who can be angrier and who can be meaner and who can be tougher on the other side, Trippi said, then traditional Republican voters who might detest Trump will likely revert to their tribal identity. But Trippi said he definitely thinks Democrats will nominate a more positive candidate who strikes a welcoming tone to all voters. Every cycle starts out where the purity on the left and the idealism tends to take hold and those players always do very well in the beginning and then as we start moving closer to the vote, to actual votes being cast, in Iowa, New Hampshire, Super Tuesday and beyond, there's a certain pragmatism in our party that starts to take hold, particularly in years where there's a Republican president seeking reelection, he said. Accordingly, Trippi didnt sound too impressed with former Rep. Beto ORourkes candidacy. He's interesting, but I think in the end, I don't see Trippi stopped himself from going too far, and changed directions. It's way too early to know whether they're connecting beyond their initial surge, right? One of the things I think that people don't realize is how easy it is to raise 10 million dollars now, Trippi said, referring to ORourkes $9.4 million fundraising total during his first three weeks as a candidate. On Sen. Bernie Sanders, Trippi was more circumspect. Not that Bernie's a divider, I just think his style ... has some anger in it, Trippi said. If he can somehow be more of a happy warrior, I mean a warrior, but sort of a happier warrior I think there's a little bit of the angry guy ... saying, Get off my lawn, that hurts him in that fight. I think he's doing better at that. I do. I think he's doing better. There is one person Trippi said many were underestimating. There are a lot of people discounting [former vice president] Joe Biden when they shouldn't be, he said. He then added: There are a lot of people discounting Beto or Bernie Sanders when they shouldn't be. But Trippi went into detail on how a Biden candidacy would change the dynamics of the race. The minute Joe Biden gets in the race he's got 100 press people covering him, he said. That means every day there's coverage of that. ... Who else gets that? Does Bernie get it? Maybe. Does Beto get it? Maybe. Does [Sen. Kamala] Harris get it? I'm not sure [Sen.] Elizabeth Warren does now, he said of that scenario. The one thing Trippi was certain of? That the next 12 to 18 months is going to be a wild ride. I do think none of the candidates save Bernie and Biden, if he gets in have a clue what they've gotten themselves into, and I think that most of their teams don't know what they've gotten themselves into because we don't have 18 national campaign managers, Trippi said. They will after this. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on President Donald Trump's tax returns (all times local): 6:50 p.m. President Donald Trump says he "would not be inclined" to provide his tax returns in response to a request from a House committee chairman. Rep. Richard Neal, the Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Wednesday formally requested six years of Trump's personal and business tax returns from the IRS. Trump was asked about the request during a White House meeting with military leaders. "Is that all?" he said when he heard it was for six years of returns. "Usually it's 10, so I guess they're giving up." Trump says: "We're under audit despite what people said. We're working that out." The president says he's been under audit for many years "because the numbers are big and I guess when you have a name, you're audited." __ 6:35 p.m. A House committee chairman has formally requested the IRS provide six years of President Donald Trump's personal and business tax returns as Democrats try to shed light on his complex financial dealings and potential conflicts of interest. The request Wednesday by Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, who heads the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, is the first such demand for a sitting president's tax information in 45 years. The unprecedented move is likely to set off a huge legal battle between Democrats controlling the House and the Trump administration. Neal made the request in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, asking for Trump's personal and business returns for 2013 through 2018. New research has found were missing our eyelids when applying SPF moisturiser [Photo: Getty] When it comes to protecting our face from sunburn we know were supposed to slather on the SPF moisturiser. But, turns out were missing an essential part and it could be putting us at risk of skin cancer. SPF facial moisturisers can be effective in blocking the suns dangerous ultraviolet rays, but only if you use them correctly. And a new study published Wednesday in PLOS One, has found that people are significantly less careful about achieving full coverage using SPF moisturisers than they are with sunscreen, exposing vulnerable patches of skin to UV rays. Researchers found were scrimping on sun protection around the eyelids when were using SPF moisturiser. But unfortunately this region is where the skin is thinner and more vulnerable to burning. READ MORE: SPF cream during the winter: Should we be wearing it? The research team at the University of Liverpool studied how 84 people (62 women and 22 men) put on both SPF moisturiser and sunscreen, then took photos with a UV-sensitive camera showing how well they had covered their faces. The researchers found that nearly 17% of the face was missed out with SPF moisturiser compared with 11% for sunscreen. There was 21% lower coverage of the area around the eyelids with moisturiser and 14% with sunscreen. The eyelid skin is very thin and this puts it at risk of UV damage, explained Austin McCormick, study author and consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon, from Aintree University Hospital Trust. The area around the eyelashes and between the eyelids and the nose is least likely to be covered. Sunglasses could help protect eyelids that have been missed with the SPF [Photo: Getty] Mr McCormick said that eyelid cancers accounted for 10% of all basal cell carcinomas in the UK, the most common type of skin cancer, so people should pay particular attention to the eyelid area when putting on any SPF cream. The team suggested that sunglasses with UV filters can help protect missed areas, while protective clothing could also help. A good way to avoid problems such as sunburn in areas missed when applying sun protection is to make use of protective clothing such as sun hats and sunglasses, as well as reapplying regularly, Holly Barber, from the British Association of Dermatologists told BBC. Story continues READ MORE: What does the number on your SPF cream actually mean? Your eyelids isnt the only part of your face vulnerable to sunburn. Last year actress Busy Philipps opened up about the fact that she had been diagnosed with photokeratitis, or sunburn in her actual eyes. According to Mr Sanjay Mantry, consultant ophthalmologist at BMI Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow photokeratitis is an extremely painful condition that is caused when the surface layer of the eye the clear cornea is exposed to UV light. This can be from natural sources, such as direct sun rays or sun rays reflected on sand, water, ice or snow, and also from man-made sources of UV light like tanning lamps and arc welders, Dr Mantry told Yahoo UK. According to AXA PPP Healthcare overexposing your eyes to UV rays can lead to cataracts and rare types of eye cancer. (Reuters) - The person who claimed to be Illinois teen Timmothy Pitzen, who went missing eight years ago, is a grown man with a criminal record, according to the FBI and state records. Brian Michael Rini, 23, told police in the Kentucky town of Newport that he had escaped kidnappers and was Timmothy, who would now be 14 years old, briefly raising hope the long-lost boy had been found, FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said. Timmothy was last seen after his mother pulled him out of school in Aurora, Illinois, a far-west suburb of Chicago, and then committed suicide. Lindgren, of the agency's Cincinnati bureau, said on Thursday that DNA tests conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital showed that the person who claimed to be Timmothy was in fact Rini. The story that Timmothy might have been found spread quickly online Wednesday, as users weighed in to say they prayed for the child's safe return. Police, however, were cautious throughout the investigation, refusing to discuss the case until DNA results came back. "Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family," the FBI said after the tests. "Unfortunately, that day will not be today." Speaking at a news conference posted online, Timmothy's aunt, Karla Jacobs, urged compassion for Rini. "We know you are out there somewhere Tim and we will never stop looking for you, praying for you and loving you," she said. "We hope that everyone will join us in praying for the young man who claims to be Timmothy Pitzen." A public records search in Ohio showed Rini was released from the Belmont Correctional Institution on March 7, where he had been serving 14 months for burglary and vandalism. Timmothy Pitzen disappeared in May 2011 at the age of 6, after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of school and took him on a trip to a zoo and a water park. She committed suicide soon afterward in a motel room, leaving a note that local media said made the boy's whereabouts a mystery. "Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him," she wrote in the note, according to reports by ABC7 Chicago. "You will never find him." (Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York and Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney) By Ju-min Park and Kenneth Li SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's three mobile carriers and top U.S. telco Verizon Communications commercially launched 5G services on Wednesday, ahead of their initial schedules, as they rushed for first spot in the race to roll out the latest wireless technology. SK Telecom and two smaller carriers had planned to initially launch 5G in South Korea on Friday with Samsung Electronics' new 5G-enabled smartphone Galaxy S10. Verizon was due to roll out the technology in Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11, and said last month customers could use 5G on Motorola's Z3 and a "Moto Mod", a physical magnet-like attachment for the phone. Countries including South Korea, United States, China and Japan are racing to market 5G, hoping the technology will spur breakthrough in fields such as smart cities and autonomous cars. The technology can offer 20-times faster data speeds than 4G long-term evolution (LTE) networks and better support for artificial intelligence and virtual reality with low latency. Sometimes it can offer 100-times faster speeds. South Korea claimed to be the first country to launch 5G, but that was disputed by U.S. carriers who say they rolled out 5G in limited areas as early as last year. U.S. telco AT&T Inc said it was the first to launch a "commercial and standards-based" 5G network in December 2018. The service, however, was made available to mobile hotspot devices but is not yet on phones. SK Telecom spokeswoman Irene Kim told Reuters the company had internal discussions and decided to launch the 5G service early as the company had networks and customers ready. South Korean carriers started offering 5G services at 11 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday. FANFARE In South Korea, telcos and smartphone makers are pulling out all stops to market 5G services and devices. On Wednesday, SK Telecom showed off K-pop stars and an Olympic gold medallist as its first 5G customers. Story continues The company said it was working with its memory-chip making affiliate SK Hynix to build a highly digitised and connected factory powered by 5G technology. Smaller rival KT Corp said it will offer cheaper 5G plans than its LTE service, with unlimited data and four-year instalments to buy 5G devices. Samsung was the first to unwrap a 5G phone in February when it unveiled the Galaxy S10 5G and a nearly $2,000 folding smartphone, putting the world's top smartphone maker by volume in pole position in the 5G race, some analysts say. LG Electronics Inc plans to release its 5G smartphone in South Korea later this month. SECURITY CONCERNS While security concerns over 5G networks using telecom equipment made by China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd have marred the buildup to the release of these services, South Korean telcos have tried to shrug them off. "I don't think we have a security issue in South Korea," Park Jin-hyo, head of SK Telecom's information and communication tech research centre, told reporters. He added the company uses advanced technology to block eavesdropping or hacking into 5G networks. Among South Korea's three operators, SK Telecom and KT Corp do not use Huawei equipment for 5G. Smaller carrier LG Uplus Corp uses Huawei gear. But SK Telecom officials said it was likely there will be an open auction for network equipment makers including Huawei if South Korea needs more base stations for higher frequencies. The country has one of the world's top smartphone penetration rates. ($1 = 1,135.5600 won) (Reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul and Kenneth Li in New York; Editing by Diane Craft, Sayantani Ghosh and Himani Sarkar) MADRID (AP) A Madrid court has released a 70-year-old man who admitted to helping his 61-year-old wife end her life, a case that has reignited a debate about assisted suicide in Spain, where it remains illegal. Angel Hernandez said his wife, Maria Jose Carrasco, was diagnosed 30 years ago with multiple sclerosis and had for years asked him to help her die. He made a video of his wife's last days. "I recounted (to the judge) everything I did for my wife," Hernandez said after leaving court late Thursday, a day after his arrest and his wife's death. The court released Hernandez after a preliminary hearing. The judge said in a statement that Carrasco was in a terminal phase of illness and said Hernandez admitted helping his wife commit suicide. It did not explain the motive for his release from custody. A judicial investigation into the case is continuing Right-to-die groups supported Hernandez's choice. Fernando Marin, vice president of the Right to Die with Dignity association, said Carrasco was in pain and despaired of waiting for a euthanasia law to be passed. Left-of-center parties have tried on a dozen occasions to pass legislation to facilitate assisted dying since 1997. "Many people are waiting for regulations on their right to die to come out, and not getting on with it is irresponsible," Marin said of the parliamentary process, according to Spanish private news agency Europa Press. The Spanish Bishops' Conference reiterated its opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia, though its spokesman Luis Arguello urged support for people in despair. "I'm not saying anyone in this case should go to prison," he told a news conference. "What I'm saying is we have to provide support for all options other than the view that death is the solution." The case has rippled through the campaign for Spain's April 28 general election. Government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa said Friday that the outgoing socialist government had been trying to bring a legislative proposal on euthanasia for debate in parliament since last year, but that it was repeatedly postponed. The main opposition and conservative Popular Party has long opposed any relaxation of the law. Albert Rivera, leader of the pro-business Citizens party, said if he was elected he would try to build political consensus around a proposal for rules on euthanasia. U.K. leader Theresa May and opposition leader Jerermy Corbyn are trying to thrash out a Brexit deal. The political rivals have now met for three straight days. Britain is now due to leave the European Union on April 22. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and the leader of the main opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn, meet on Friday for the third consecutive day of talks in a bid to break the current Brexit deadlock. The two leaders, who have fought bitterly for months over Britain's future, are now trying to agree a deal that can then be negotiated with the rest of the EU. Earlier this week, May outlined to Parliament the terms for the talks, promising to support the final outcome and take it to Brussels. "If we cannot agree on a single unified approach, then we would instead agree a number of options for the Future Relationship that we could put to the House (of Commons) in a series of votes to determine which course to pursue," she said. "Crucially, the government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House. But to make this process work, the opposition would need to agree to this too." Unlike in the U.S., the party that controls the legislature (Parliament) in the United Kingdom also controls the executive (government). Therefore, for Corbyn to be engaged in days of talks with May to resolve an issue is yet another example of how Brexit has shaken British politics. The problem for May, and the reason why she has been forced into talks, is that she cannot rely on the unanimous support of members of her own Conservative Party who are split between different versions of Brexit, and even no Brexit at all. Corbyn and Labour have the same issue of division. Many of Labour's lawmakers in the north of England secured their seats in Parliament in areas which voted to leave the European Union. Many southern seats won by Labour, especially those in London, voted to remain. Customs union One big area of contention between the two leaders is whether the U.K. should remain a member of the customs union. This arrangement allows for members of the European Union to set common tariffs on goods moving within the trading bloc. Story continues It's considered a barrier for setting up new trade deals with countries outside the EU and May has previously deemed it a "red line" issue for her, stating the U.K. must leave the arrangement. The Labour leadership, however, wishes to remain in the customs union, arguing it would protect U.K. businesses and jobs. For any deal to emerge from the talks, May would likely have to break this previous promise and add the customs union to her withdrawal deal. If agreed, such a deal would put pressure on Corbyn too. It would end freedom of movement into the U.K. from continental Europe and of course from the U.K to the EU member states. Many within the Labour party argue that stopping migration would simply be helping Downing Street to deliver a "Tory Brexit." More pressure is also being placed on Corbyn to attach a second referendum to any cross-party arrangement. His own deputy, Tom Watson, is spearheading a public drive to put any agreed deal up against the choice of not leaving the EU at all. Corbyn has publicly pressured May to state that she would support the will of Parliament on Brexit, suggesting that he himself would also support what lawmakers can find a majority on. Deal far from certain But while a deal cooked up between Britain's two biggest parties may sound like sensible politics, many consider the chances of May and Corbyn emerging hand-in-hand as slim to none. May, while often inscrutable, has the voting record of a center-right politician that supports private enterprise and seeks toughness on immigration and crime. At the other end of the political spectrum, Corbyn is viewed as a hard-left unionist who would take key businesses and sectors into state control and raise taxes on corporations and high earners. Additionally, many Labour supporters also suspect May has no real interest in compromise and has reached out to Corbyn in a bid to "dip his hands in the blood" of her party's Brexit mess. If agreeing a deal looks tricky enough, then passing it through their own lawmakers is also far from guaranteed. Although there are 650 seats in the House of Commons, seven lawmakers from the Northern Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein do not attend, and by convention the house speaker and his three deputies do not vote. This means that the government needs 320 votes for a simple majority. The Financial Times reported Thursday that only around 185 Conservatives and 145 Labour lawmakers are thought likely to vote with their leaders. Based on those numbers, a majority of 10 ten votes is achieved. But if such a slim mandate can be achieved, May would then head to Brussels hoping to convince European leaders that Britain's terms of leaving Europe were now in place. Now watch: Enrico Letta: More countries will want to leave European Union soon More From CNBC SEOUL (Reuters) - A wildfire in South Korea killed one person and forced more than 4,000 people to flee their homes, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. The fire broke out in eastern Gangwon Province on Thursday evening and spread to the seaside holiday city of Sokcho, burning about 385 hectares (950 acres) of land and 310 homes, warehouses and other buildings, Yonhap reported citing the government. About 4,230 citizens had been evacuated to gymnasiums and schools, and 52 schools would be closed on Friday. President Moon Jae-in has ordered the use of all available resources to extinguish the forest fire, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a statement. The government has deployed about 45 helicopters, 77 firefighting vehicles and 13,000 personnel from around the country to contain the fire, Yonhap said. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Stephen Coates) By Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose tariffs on car imports from Mexico unless it does more to stop illegal migrants and drug trafficking, his latest warning to America's southern neighbor to tighten border security. After backing away from a threat this week to immediately shut the border to stop a surge of migrants from Central America, Trump raised the specter of a 25-percent tariff on cars as a possible tool he could use to force Mexico to halt illegal immigration and drugs. "Before we close the border we'll put the tariffs on the cars. I don't think we'll ever have to close the border because the penalty of tariffs on cars coming into the United States from Mexico at 25 percent will be massive," Trump told reporters at the White House. Earlier, Trump said he would give Mexico "a one-year warning" to stop drug trafficking, or face tariffs. But he held out the possibility that the measure could be used sooner to address migration issues. Trump made stopping illegal immigration a centerpiece of his 2016 run for the White House, pledging to build a wall on the border to stop migrants. When Congress refused to give him the money to pay for the wall, he declared a national emergency to divert funds from other projects. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives will sue to block Trump from "stealing from appropriated funds," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday. Trump, who plans to visit the border at Calexico, California to view a border wall project, said that media coverage this week had prompted Mexico to act to curb the flow of immigrants to the United States and take other action to ease the pressure on U.S. ports of entry. "A lot of good things are happening with Mexico. Mexico understands that we're going to close the border, or I'm going to tariff the cars," he said. TRADE DISRUPTIONS Trump prompted panic among business leaders last Friday with his border closing threat. U.S. border officials have estimated that some 100,000 migrants were apprehended or encountered at the border in March, the highest level in a decade. Most are Central American families seeking asylum. The Department of Homeland Security has transferred 750 border agents from commercial to immigration duties, triggering long delays for cross-border trade. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it welcomed Trump's decision not to close the border, but said Congress needed to do more. "Congress should also ensure Customs and Border Protection officials receive the resources they need to reduce the excessive wait times affecting legitimate trade and travel across the border," said Neil Bradley, a top official with the Chamber in a statement. Mexican exporters are looking into sending their goods to the United States by air freight to avoid a five-mile (8-km)-long line of trucks at the border caused by the Trump administration moving federal agents away from customs checks to immigration duties. Auto parts and medical equipment makers were among the Mexican companies considering the more expensive air cargo to avoid incurring penalties for late delivery to U.S. clients or factory closures, Luis Aguirre, the president of Mexico's manufacturing industry chamber INDEX, said late on Wednesday. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Yeganeh Torbati and David Alexander in Washington and Lewis Krauskopf in New York; Editing by Howard Goller and Alistair Bell) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the strongman of Turkish politics and a former mayor of Istanbul, has lost Istanbul. In the March 31 municipal elections, he and his party also lost Ankara, the countrys capital, and several other sizable cities. Erdogan was rebuked thanks to a sharp economic slowdown brought on by mismanagement. His party, which has won every national election in Turkey since 2002, now faces a less certain future, and he may be forced to turn to the hated International Monetary Fund for assistance. Its not that Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) has collapsed. In fact, its overall vote share in cities across the country suffered only a marginal decline. With its ultranationalist ally, the MHP, the AKP still won more than 51% of the vote nationwide, a fall of just 2% from its performance in last Junes elections. Erdogan remains in command of the strong presidential system he created via referendum in 2017. But the opposition CHP now controls cities responsible for more than 60% of Turkeys gross domestic product, and Erdogans losses are made more embarrassing by the built-in advantages he has and by the way he campaigned. First, Turkeys media is controlled almost entirely by the government, which for the past three years has jailed more journalists than any other country. Despite Erdogans power to shape the news the public consumes, half the voting population opposes the President and his party. Second, Erdogan did his best to frame this election as a fight for Turkeys survival against an opposition alliance he claims is controlled by subversives, foreigners and terrorists. He promoted conspiracy theories that Americans and Europeans have sabotaged Turkeys economy. He stoked controversy on the campaign trail by repeatedly showing video footage of the Christchurch, New Zealand, terrorist attack in which 50 Muslims were murdered inside two mosques. When the governments of Australia and New Zealand protested, Erdogan railed against the fact that troops from those nations were sent to fight the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Story continues He has continued to antagonize the U.S., in part because he accuses Washington of harboring Fethullah Gulen, a political rival who Erdogan claims has repeatedly conspired to bring down his government. Donald Trump, like Barack Obama, has refused to extradite Gulen to Turkey from his home in Pennsylvania for lack of evidence that Gulen has done anything more than oppose Erdogans government. Erdogans accomplishments are real. He presided over a period of sharp economic growth in the first decade of this century, in part by empowering politicians and business leaders in the countrys heartland to challenge the stranglehold that the major citiesIstanbul, Ankara and Izmirheld over political and economic life. He also beat back threats from the military, which has a long history of undermining elected governments to protect its political and commercial privileges. The July 2016 coup that nearly brought down his government gave Erdogan a powerful argument that his conspiracy theories were not just fantasies. In recent years his bid to accumulate more power and to repress dissent has brought comparisons to Vladimir Putin. Voters in Turkey have again reminded their government, and the world, that Turkey is not Russia. For now, competitive multiparty democracy will continue in their country whether President Erdogan likes it or not. Yakima City Councilwoman Kay Funk said Thursday she thinks a decision to remove her from city committees for six months was an attempt to prevent her from bringing troubling information about the city's new police chief to light. A motion, introduced Tuesday night by Councilman Brad Hill, alleged that Funk consistently acted in an embarrassing, inappropriate, insensitive, combative and contradictory manner as a publicly elected official and that she should be barred from all city boards, commissions, and committees for six months. The motion passed 5-2, with Funk and Councilman Jason White dissenting. Motion to bar Funk Yakima City Councilman Brad Hill's motion to strip Councilwoman Kay Funk of her committee assignments, which the council approved on a 5-2 vot Funk said the allegations were not specific enough to warrant such a severe sanction. Funk also said she felt the censure was triggered by a March 29 press conference where Denver Police Lt. Matt Murray was announced as Yakimas new police chief. Funk used an open-comment period following the announcement to mention a nearly two-year Denver Police Department investigation of Murray, prompted by allegations that he knowingly violated open records rules to withhold information critical of his oversight of an internal probe When the department investigation opened, in March 2017, Murray was deputy chief. In early November, investigators cleared Murray of misconduct, The Denver Post reported. But last summer, when Paul Pazen became Denver police chief, Murray was demoted two ranks to lieutenant. That press conference was not a tea party or a retirement ceremony, Funk said. It was not about everyone being on the same page. When I asked the question, my main object was to give this information to the public. That is my duty as an elected official. Funk said she was not elected by the people to please the feelings of the other council members or City Manager Cliff Moore. She said her question showed that other people in that room were concealing information. The boards are not the issue, she said. The real focus is the suppression of the documents and investigations from the Denver police chief. And I stand behind my decision to call that out. Suppression of information In an email Wednesday, Hill wrote that the Council's decision was mainly about her acting in a "rude, reckless, or disrespectful manner on a regular basis, and wasn't an attempt to keep her from asking questions about Murray. "Her judgment and demeanor to protest Mr. Murrays selection at the media event last week was certainly one factor but it is simply the latest in a string of instances in which Kay failed to represent her seat mates appropriately or failed to explicitly state she is speaking for herself, not representative of the council consensus," he wrote. "She routinely makes judgments about timing, messaging and delivery which create problems for the rest of the council not to mention any substantive or accuracy issues with information/opinions she shares publicly." Funk said Thursday that the barring of her from boards was an attempt to prevent her from up the investigation involving Murray. First and foremost, I stand with the concerns of the police department with regard to the police chief, Funk said. I have been sharing, and I would like for everyone to read, the 25-page conduct review about Murray from the Denver police department. Its open public record. Motion repercussions Funk chaired the councils Healthy Communities and Neighborhood Building Committee, was a member of the Public Safety Committee, and served as a council representative on the Yakima County Emergency Management Services Board, the Yakima/Kittitas Counties Dispute Resolution Centers Community Response Team, the Yakima Parks Commission, the county Board of Health and the Solid Waste Advisory Board. City spokesman Randy Beehler said the councils vote removes Funk from all those posts for six months. Funk said the allegations raised by Hill in his motion had no connection to her professionalism while serving on those boards and did not warrant her removal from them. There is no connection, she said. And the work on the boards is important. Funk said she had been doing significant research on homelessness and affordable housing for the Healthy Communities board. She brought her professional experience of more than 30 years as a family medicine physician to the Board of Health. My work on affordable housing is not scary. My work on homelessness is not scary, Funk said. Theres not a lot of controversy that comes with the Board of Health, and Im the only doctor on it. Only one of the allegations that Funk made completely inappropriate comments about the mental health of a city resident during the March 14 Healthy Communities and Neighborhood Building Committee meeting includes a direct reference to one of the boards, committees or commissions on which she served. I was surprised that it was not more specific and detailed, Funk said. Some of the details that are there dont seem specific enough to warrant such a severe sanction. One of the allegations referenced numerous online comments on various news articles making statements inconsistent with the majority of council. Funk said the specific comments were not identified. Another allegation, about a statement she made about Yakima not being a glamorous town, was taken out of context, Funk added. Following the March 29 press conference, The Herald asked Funk why she had brought up the investigation from Murrays past. Because Yakima is not a glamorous community, we have a higher percentage of people who are not competitive, or that have failed in other places," she said. "It doesnt seem too far of a stretch to say that people investigated and demoted elsewhere should not be at the top of our list. We should be looking for the best. Funk said she was not condemning Yakima as a place to live but rather acknowledging the difficulties in recruiting qualified applicants to central Washington in general, compared to more popular destinations in the country. If Mr. Hill wanted to accuse me of hating Yakima, he should have put that in his text, Funk said. Funk, who joined the City Council in early 2018, moved with her husband to District 4 in 1983. The couple's twin sons graduated from Davis High School and were Downtown Yakima Rotary Scholars. Funk retired from her medical practice in 2015 after 25 years of serving Yakima Valley residents but continues to be an active member in the Yakima County Medical Society. She also volunteers at Davis High School, according to her profile on the Yakima City Council website. Council rules Funk said the lack of specificity required to bar a council member from boards, committees and commissions was a point of concern for her in July 2018, when the City Council was discussing a council code of ethics and principles of conduct. The additional adopted measures including that council members should be committed to acting with integrity and impartiality and should work with city officials and staff in a conscientious manner, should maintain decorum and endeavor not to disgrace or embarrass the city while acting in an official capacity. In a memo she wrote at the time, Funk called the additional points counterproductive. She said that existing rules for reprimand and public censure covered the bases. Funk's memo from 2018 Yakima City Councilwoman Kay Funk's July 2018 memo about a proposed city council code of ethics. Suppression of opinion of elected officials would seem to have little place here, particularly because Council members have no independent executive authority, so damage from their actions is limited, Funk wrote in the memo. If an elected official chooses to act offensively or foolishly, such acts have their own negative consequences and, hopefully, are self-limited. Funk said the lack of specificity on points that could be interpreted widely did not lead to good government a view she still holds. It requires no specificity at all, Funk said. It just requires five votes. Thats not a good way to conduct government. What happens next City spokesman Randy Beehler said the City Council will be discussing in the near future how to proceed regarding the board, committee and commission positions Funk has been barred from filling. Beehler said that alternates already exist for some of the positions. Council members listed as alternates, who will take over Funks former positions: Hill will serve on the Healthy Communities and Neighborhood Building Committee. White will serve on the Public Safety Committee. Councilwoman Carmen Mendez will serve on the Yakima County Emergency Management Services Board. Beehler said there are not alternates to the Yakima County Board of Health, the Yakima County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, or the Yakima Parks Commission. So, the Council will be deciding what steps to take to ensure Council representation to those bodies is preserved, Beehler wrote in an email Thursday. Two major disputes have hampered Israels relationship with the Jewish Diaspora and characterized the current Israeli parliament - the law of conversion and the egalitarian prayer plaza at the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter American Jews number a little less than Israeli Jews (roughly five million in the US and six million in Israel) and are the biggest and most prominent Jewish Diaspora; they give billions to the Jewish state, and work tirelessly to lobby for it in the US government. Reform Jews praying together at the Western Wall Still, the two communities are vastly different, especially in regards to religious practice with the majority of American Jews practicing Reform, Conservative or non-denomination Judaism and only about 10 percent practicing Orthodox Judaism Israels official version of Jewish practice overseen by the ultra-Orthodox rabbinate. Differences between the two communities became more and more evident in recent years, leading to a growing rift between the two accentuated by political moves Israel has taken during the previous and the outgoing parliaments (known in Israel and the 19th and 20th Knessets). It was the 19th Knesset that determined that any Orthodox rabbi in Israel will be allowed to perform conversions. This decision came to serve hundreds of thousands Israelis who struggle with being considered non-Jewish under Jewish law (Halacha), despite being eligible to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return. A conversion ceremony in Israel (File Photo) This large group of people, the majority of whom arrived in Israel after the fall of the Soviet Union, are not able to marry in Israel because of their status. So far, they have had undergo a slow grueling conversion process, due to the monopoly the Rabbinate has over the procedure. The new law was supposed to create competition in the conversions marketplace and speed up the process of becoming a Jew, but it only lasted only a while, as ultra-Orthodox lawmakers had it cancelled a few months after the 2015 elections for the 20th Knesset. This cancellation did not stand up in court, and a March 2016 Supreme Court ruling determined that privately performed Orthodox conversions must be honored by the state. But Shas and United Torah Judaism, two Haredi parties that were part of the coalition, were not ready to back off, and demanded that the government push for a bill that bypassed the Supreme Court ruling. The Haredi parties wished to seal up the crack that the law made in the Rabbinates authority, and claimed that the court ruling violated the deal they had made with the government to keep the status quo between state and religion. Therefore, they argued, the government had to restore the conversions system back to its former status of being under Rabbinate control. A protest in Jerusalem over cancellation of both the egalitarian prayer area at the Western Wall and the new conversion law (Photo: Amitai Shabi) A protest in Jerusalem against cancelling the egalitarian prayer area at the Western Wall and the change to the conversion law (Photo: Amit Shabi) Meanwhile, a petition to the Supreme Court that demands the recognition of Conservative and Reform conversions remains unaddressed. It has now been stagnant for more than 13 years. In June 2017, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill stating that only the Rabbinate has the authority to practice conversions and declare someone as Jewish as the Haredi parties desired. However, the decision was soon shelved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who worried about the American Jewish community being outraged. Fearing the crisis could destabilize his coalition, Netanyahu ordered that a new committee be established to examine the affair and tries to find a compromise. Former Likud minister Moshe Nissim headed the committee, which handed its conclusions to the government last May. Nissims committee offered that formal conversions remain Orthodox, but operate outside the Rabbinate. They suggested a state authority, to include Reform and Conservative representatives, that would choose Rabbinical judges to perform conversions. The conclusions were vehemently rejected by Haredi parties and chief rabbis, and were set aside. The second issue that loomed over Netanyahus coalition, deeming it unstable, was the debacle over the Western Wall egalitarian prayer area. For over 30 years, the Women of the Wall, a multi-denominational feminist organization, struggled to hold egalitarian prayers in the Western Wall Plaza. In 2016, a historical compromise was finally reached between denominations: a new, pluralist plaza would be established at the Western Wall, in which all would be free to pray according to their costume including joint prayer of men and women. Women of the Wall praying at the Western Wall plaza (Photo: Daniel Sheetrit) When the offer made its way to the governments table, Shas and United Torah Judaism voted against it, but it was nonetheless approved. The Orthodox parties initially decided they would turn a blind eye when the decision was implemented despite their position, but when pressured by their public caved and demanded the decision be cancelled. For a year and half, the issue remained stagnant. The new prayer plaza wasnt built and all appeals to the High Court of Justice regarding the implementation of the compromise remain unaddressed until this day. And then in June 2017, Netanyahu surrendered to Haredi pressure and officially shelved the historic compromise. The decision, which coincided with the legislation committees rule about the conversion law, was widely criticized by Jewish American organizations. There were even threats from these organizations to stop their support for Israel. Netanyahu had to make statements belittling his own decision, calling it a mere formality, and promised the new plaza would be renovated and enlarged but due to bureaucratic, legislative and political power struggles, the decision was never implemented either. New research shows that American Jewish funding to Israeli state institutions is slowly drying up, as US Jews begin to transfer their attention to social, pluralistic and liberal NGOs in Israel and within their own communities. Whether this changes when (or if) the attitudes of the Israeli government change remains to be seen. They came to Israel after long and exhausting experiences, to build a country from scratch: cities, infrastructure, a society and a state. They have worked their entire lives, raised families, paid their taxes and today are facing a different kind of battle. They are trying to support themselves with pitiful old age pensions, fighting to receive basic services such as health care and social services and are spending their final years feeling they are a burden on society, on the state and on their families. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According a poverty report conducted by the Latet (To Give) NGO, there are 1million elderly people in Israel, 175,000 of who are living below the poverty line. By 2035, they are expected to be 13.7% of the population and the burden will be much heavier. Basic old age pensions in Israel are NIS1,035 ($426) per month per person and NIS 2307 ($640) per couple, an increase of only NIS 6 ($1.6) in the past year. The outgoing government proposed a law increasing old age pensions but the legislation was dropped. The study, conducted among the recipients of aid from the Latet NGO who do not receive any retirement pensions at all, found 88% of them cannot afford home care, and two thirds of them cannot pay their medical bills. They cut down on food, eat less healthily, struggle to adapt their living conditions to their needs and rely entirely on the over-burdened public health sector. Almost 80% of those asked, describe themselves as lonely. Their story will be ours one day. Our mission is to preserve their honor, if only so as to preserve our own. Hana Adar, aged 88: Once a day I dress up, put on my make-up and jewels and go to the senior's day care center in Raanana to chat with my girlfriends. The rest of the time I am home, crying. Since my husband passed away I live alone. Anyone who comes in, jokes about the mess, the dirt. It is not funny. Hana Hadar (Photo: Tzvika Tishler) Adela Chokler, 89: I buy four pieces of meat, four tomatoes and four cucumbers. When the money runs out I don't buy anything and make do I postpone crucial repairs at home. I had to fix the bathroom faucet which cost 1000 shekels ($277) which meant I had to forgo other things including food. When the hot water heater broke I could not shower for a month. I couldn't afford the cost of repair. I cannot sleep in my bedroom for the mold. Adela Chokler (Photo: Elad Gershgoren) Rivka Shmilowitz: Every year I change, I get sicker. Age takes its toll. No one looks at us and there is no one to count on. This feeling that I am unimportant and people are just waiting for me to be gone is putting me in the ground. I am old but have feelings like the young. Leon and Rikvka Shmilowitz (Photo: Tzvika Tishler) All those asked reported a sense of isolation. They spend most hours of the day at home. In a study conducted by Social Finance Israel, a non-profit organization advocating innovative social solutions, reveals the sense of isolation effects the health of senior citizens in Israel and proper treatment of it can significantly reduce direct and in-direct cost to different national institutions. Seniors living alone seek medical care and are admitted to hospital more often. Diseases like diabetes, dementia and depression are directly linked to loneliness and elderly people living alone rely more heavily on care givers. Of the population over 65, 27% suffer from chronic loneliness. That is nearly a third of seniors. Emanuel Buchbut of SFI says that as the population grows older it is also becoming more individualist and therefore lonelier. The UK for example has created a ministry for loneliness tasked with taking on this problem. A video showing a young woman throwing a tomato (or perhaps a red pepper) at the prime minister during his tour of Tel Aviv's Hatikva Market was bad public relations for Benjamin Netanyahu and his election campaign. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter It was so bad that Netanyahu's Likud Party rushed out a message suggesting that the rival Blue and White Party was at least behind the distribution of the video, if not directly involved in the incident itself. A young woman throwing a red vegetable at the prime minister in Hatikva Market (Screenshot) Likud did not like the publication of the video or that it went viral both on social and mainstream media. They apparently fear a crack in the wall of the "us versus them" mentality that the prime minister and his people are so busy promoting. The video may reflect a reality different from the one that Netanyahu and his people are working to create in the minds of Israelis. That's also why senior Likud Party members do not want to be interviewed about the video. If it were up to them, they would have erased the whole event from memory. Netanyahu's tactic in all recent elections is to divide Israeli society into two distinct camps: "us" versus "them." The people who work and shop in the markets are an integral part of Netanyahu's camp - the "us". They are an essential component of his base. Benjamin Netanyahu visits Hatikvah Market (Photo: AP) Therefore when he tours the markets, Netanyahu must be met with nothing less than 100 percent support and sympathy. Market people are also the essential part of the struggle against "them" namely, the media and academic elites, the liberal left and the ideological secular camp. The market people who are part of the struggle against every group that threatens the continued rule of the right-wing, the "us," the right-wing-traditional-religious-Mizrahi etc. There are two distinct camps here and very single person is either for us or against us. This is the spirit of the struggle and what keeps them united. The spirit of struggle is necessary because, among other things, the "us" is not actually a distinct group, but rather a diverse coalition of different streams whose sole connection is the struggle. After all, there is not necessarily a natural link between the vendors of a market in Tel Aviv and the settlers of the West Bank hilltops. Nor is there an obvious connection between the residents of a development town, the Likud supporters of the free market and the members of the right-wing conservative intellectual elite, who on Tuesday evening held a very large conference which Netanyahu attended directly from the market. These are disparate groups by nature and makes them a cohesive force is the struggle against "them." Menachem Begin (Photo: Courtesy of Kan) This tactic not invented by Netanyahu, but rather by the first Likud prime minister, Menachem Begin. It was a speech by Begin at a 1981 election rally following a derogatory remark ("chachachim") about Israelis of Arab descent by comedian Dudu Topaz (clearly a member of the "them" camp) that until this day remains the founding moment of this alliance. And it is fear that this division will end that worries Netanyahu, as it would create a crack in the edifice of his joint front. This is why Netanyahu keeps repeating again and again the messages that warn against complacency by the "us" camp. This is not your regular eve-of-elections campaigning the fear is real. When the "mob" hurled a tomato was thrown at Shimon Peres (Begin's 1981 opponent and a member of "them"), he consolidated his camp behind him. But what Peres referred to as "mob" is for Netanyahu is an essential part of the "us." And next week it will be clear whether this "us" has led him to victory once again. According to a report in the Lebanese daily al-Ahbar, US President Donald Trump plans to reach an understanding with Jordan for it to resettle a million Palestinian refugees in a multi-step plan. Two towns in Victoria, Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove, continue to buck the softening trend in the capitals markets, according to an article published on realestate.com.au. The early parts of this year recorded a flattening in prices, but Bellarine Property agent Ben Roberts told the Open House podcast that he did not believe prices would decline because demand continues to be strong. Ocean Grove posted a 9% annual price growth with a median price of $695,000. Barwon Heads, meanwhile, logged a 2% yearly decrease and a median house price of $900,000, according to CoreLogics data. Barwon Heads appears to be a more unstable market due to lower sales volume and the number of top-end properties. The time on market, though, is a sign that the demand in the town is robust, with houses selling on average in about 37 days 10 less than across the river. Theres a big difference to, say, Melbourne and Sydney, where theres been a market change; we havent seen it. Weve probably seen a few less buyers, and some urgency was taken out for a period of time, but now what weve seen is things are still transacting, people are still buying and still have some confidence to buy here, Roberts said. Roberts said that a property player from Melbourne who is selling for $2 million could come to the town and buy for $1 million or less. Results in Barwon Heads earlier this month [defy] all logic, Roberts said. We just sold a property last week that we sold less than 18 months ago in Barwon Heads on 300 square meters of land for $1.32 million and weve just re-sold it. It was above 20% growth basically in 14 months, 15 months time, he said. Buyers become attracted to the area because it is landlocked. Youve got exclusive streets that people will keep outbidding (each other) to be in, Roberts said. Latest News Washington, DC - The Presidential Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service System (Task Force) convened its first meeting on April 4, 2019, at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The President announced the formation of the Task Force in March, less than two weeks ago, and charged it with examining institutional and systemic problems that may have failed to prevent the predatory abuse of Native American children in the care of the Indian Health Service (IHS). The Task Force will develop and recommend policies, protocols, and best practices to protect Native American children in the IHS system and seek to prevent such abuses from happening ever again. The Task Force is led by co-chairs Joseph Grogan, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, and Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. The Task Force relies on the expertise and experiences of Task Force members; draws on additional Federal employees and Federal resources; and seeks the perspective of and engagement with tribal leaders and Native Americans. In todays inaugural meeting, the Task Force discussed its mission, expectations, and goals, including seeking the perspective of Native Americans on the IHS system. The Task Force met with Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd. Principal Chief Floyd is the chief executive of the tribe, with 28 years of Federal service that includes the management of Veterans Affairs facilities in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Utah. The Task Force also heard from Dr. Mark Butterbrodt, a former pediatrician at Pine Ridge reservation, and Inspector Curt Muller, Office of the Inspector General for Health and Human Services (HHS). The Task Force explored issues relating to the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, including continuing education requirements and reporting protocols. The Task Force also discussed existing relationships among healthcare providers with Federal, State, local, and tribal authorities, and additional social, community, and cultural topics of relevance. The Task Force focused on lessons learned from other medical institutions, tribal histories, and Federal, State, local, and individual experiences. Upon completion of its initial deliverables, the Task Force will convene again for meetings, including in South Dakota and Montana. Today Sunny early then partly cloudy and windy this afternoon. High 71F. S winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tonight Windy with a few showers early then clear overnight. Low around 45F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tomorrow Mainly sunny. High 62F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Sharing is caring! 14 shares Share 8 Tweet Pin 6 Ive made it no secret, I love rural New Zealand. Thriving pastoral scenes are abundant in this country, with little lambs frolicking on perfect green hills; idyllic farms disappearing into the distance. Honestly, is it surprising at all that Peter Jackson imagined the Hamilton Waikato region of New Zealand as the perfect place to film the Shire in the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings? With Hobbiton just up the road, perhaps the other most popular attraction in the area is Waitomo, home to the world famous glowworm caves. For many, Waitomo is synonymous with glowworm caves. Beneath the idyllic pastures and rolling green hills of rural Waikato, youll find a complex and elaborate system of caves, tunnels, sinkholes and underground rivers that have been drawing adventurers and explorers for more than a century to this part of the world. A few hours from Auckland, this is the perfect area to escape to for a weekend getaway if youre looking for a bit of relaxing fun in a beautiful setting. I could have stayed for a week! While many tourists just pass through on a day trip, Waitomo is actually a great place to spend some time to get to know it better. There are plenty of things to do in the area and its a great base for some epic North Island adventures. While it can be really touristy, it is definitely a very good taste of real rural New Zealand. Waitomo is famous for their caves, especially their glowworm caves. Ive visited a few times over the years, though nothing quite so memorable as partaking in their amazing black water rafting trip way back when in 2013 on the Black Abyss tour. Pulling on a wetsuit, blackwater rafting is classic kiwi experience. Youll explore the caves by swimming, crawling and climbing through tunnels and caverns, and even floating beneath the twinkling glowworms on an inner tube, tourism has really grown in the area, making for a unique getaway. The first time I saw glowworms in New Zealand was over 5 years ago on an action packed trip with the Legendary Black Water Rafting Co in the Waitomo Caves. Gazing upwards, it felt like I was looking at a universe of blue stars, how divine, right? As it turns out I was looking at a ceiling of bright shiny maggots! I love Mother Nature! Maori call the glowworms here titiwai, which refers to lights reflected in water. Glowworms are carnivorous glowing larvae that drip down a long sticky thread in dark damp environments that entangle insects they attract with their glowing lights! Too cool! This time around we skipped the wetsuits and opted to explore the stunning caves on the Waitomo Caves Tour first, the highlight is riding in a boat through a glowworm grotto, silently drifting in the dark beneath a sky teeming with blue starry-like glowworms. The viewing in here is just epic, and definitely a must-do trip for anyone hoping for a taste of the Waitomo glowworm caves. Its such an incredible experience exploring the world beneath us in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand. There are many ways to experience the glowworm caves, there are options for everyone. If I had to chose a favorite cave, it would probably be the Ruakuri Cave, where you can do a long walking tour and photos are allowed. The Ruakuri Cave is New Zealands longest guided underground walking tour in a cave. Here you get to marvel at enormous caverns and take in the twinkling blue glowworms. As you meander along you can hear thundering underground waterfalls and the soft drop drip from the incredible stalactite formations. After a long day of adventures in another world beneath the ground, you feel a great sense of wonder emerging back into the sunlight. I definitely recommend sticking around the area; this part of New Zealand has a lot to offer. We decided to stay the night near Waitomo at the Free Range Farmstay, a super cute Airbnb on a local family farm. Staying on a small farm like this really gives you a taste for what rural life in New Zealand is like. Youll wake up to the sounds of birdcalls and sheep baah-ing in the distance, and you can even go for walks around the property. Its so peaceful, and of course Megan and Logan give you a great welcome plus cookies! For me, the best time to visit is spring when the little lambs are frolicking and are out and about being adorable (spring in New Zealand is around October and November FYI). The Free Range Farmstay is truly delightful, and the perfect spot in between popular tourist attractions on the North Island. Trust me, if youre doing a big road trip around New Zealand, you need a few chill days to unwind and this is the spot. About half an hours drive from the caves, the farmstay is the perfect place to retire to for the night. I also highly recommend staying on a farm as a couple because you might learn things about your partner you never knew. For example, I was with my ex, and while we were strolling around the land in the morning, I learned he is actually terrified of cows and refused to walk by a few that had slipped out of their paddock! It was hilarious! Im sure hell murder me if he ever reads this, but I couldnt resist sharing. Book in for a hearty dinner at Huhu Cafe nearby to soothe your appetite after a big day of caving, and dont skip the pumpkin and cheddar risotto balls as a starter. OMG so good! This place is super cute and a popular spot, and their food is divine, and if youre like me, youll definitely be over-ordering. Its a great place to indulge in some popular kiwi dishes, like slow-cooked lamb, salmon, and of course, fish and chips. Perched above the town, you have great views of the rolling Waitomo hills, and its the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and chat about all of your incredible adventures. Near Waitomo and the Free Range Farmstay, is one of my favorite modern kiwi cafes What The Food that Megan recommended. Ive become obsessed with modern, Australian style healthy and minimalist eateries, where the food looks amazing on Instagram. The brainchild of Jorja Tarrant, a 25-year-old anorexia survivor, is a dream world of the most incredible unprocessed sweets, all of which are all gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and vegan. Presented beautifully and absolutely delicious (coming from someone who doesnt love vegans all that much), what makes this space even more delightful is how the Te Awamutu community really rallied behind Jorja in making her dream come true. What a place! I definitely recommend getting at least one smoothie bowl here for breakfast. Have you been to the Waitomo Caves? Is seeing glowworms on your bucketlist? Share! Many thanks to Waitomo for hosting me in the Glowworm Caves, like always Im keeping it real, all opinions are my own, like you can expect less from me! A US airstrike in Somalia killed two civilians in 2018, U.S. Africa Command said in a press release on Friday, adding that it believed it to be an isolated occurrence. The April 1 strike near El Burr, Somalia, killed two civilians and four militants, not five militants as the U.S. military had originally reported, a commander-directed review triggered by pressure from Congress and Amnesty International found. The command has carried out 28 airstrikes in Somalia in 2019, compared with 47 in 2018 and 35 in 2017. Most publicized strikes are followed with a statement on the number of militants believed killed. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: The Election Commission Friday removed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha from the post and appointed senior-most IAS officer L V Subrahmanyam of the 1983 batch in the place of the former. Earlier, the EC had removed two top bureaucrats from their positions during election time. Also, the EC directed that Punetha, scheduled to retire from service May-end, be posted to a 'non-election' position.' Punetha had filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court on March 27 challenging the EC order transferring the Director General of Intelligence AB Venkateswara Rao. In the petition, he contended that the EC did not have any 'untrammelled powers' to interfere with the course of administration that is unconnected to polling. ''The EC cannot engage in unchecked, arbitrary and uncanalised exercise of power. The EC order suffers from the vice of lack of jurisdiction, suffers from being a colourable exercise of power and is based on alien purposes or oblique motives which have nothing to do with the conduct of polling duties, state Political Secretary (General Administration Department) N Srikant had said in the petition filed on behalf of the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary, in fact, had complied with the EC order on Tuesday midnight and transferred the Intelligence DG, along with two district SPs, but he cancelled the Intelligence chiefs transfer order Wednesday morning after the Chief Minister allegedly raised a hue and cry. The High Court had rejected the Chief Secretarys petition last Friday, forcing him to issue an order shifting the DG intelligence. Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday announced that it will release 360 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, this month in four phases, as a "goodwill gesture" amidst tensions between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack. Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said the process of releasing the Indian fishermen will start on April 8 when 100 prisoners will be released. In the second phase on April 5, another 100 will be released. In the third phase on April 22, another 100 will be released and in the fourth and last phase on April 29, the remaining 60 prisoners will be released. "We are doing it as goodwill gesture and hope that India will reciprocate it," Faisal said while addressing his weekly briefing to the media in Islamabad. The spokesperson said currently there are 347 Pakistani prisoners in India and 537 Indian prisoners in Pakistan. "Pakistan will release 360 Indian prisoners, of which 355 are fishermen and 5 are civilians," he said. The fishermen will be taken from Karachi to Lahore and handed over to Indian officials at the Wagah border. Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman of Edhi welfare organisation, which helps the released fishermen with clothes and food, told PTI from Karachi that the process of releasing the fishermen will start from Sunday. "First a group of 100 fishermen will be taken from Karachi to Lahore on Allama Iqbal Express on Sunday," he said. They are likely to be handed over to India on Monday at Wagah. They spent months and sometimes years before repatriated. Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen as there is no clear demarcation of the maritime border in the Arabian Sea and these fishermen do not have boats equipped with the technology to know their precise location. Owing to lengthy and slow bureaucratic and legal procedures, the fishermen usually remain in jail for several months and sometimes years. Pakistan's announcement to release the fishermen came amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday criticised the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government for not maintaining the law and order situation in the state and said that it looks like `Rakshas Raj` has come to Bihar. His statement comes after Bihar Police arrested four men in connection with the abduction and murder of a class seven student here. The victim was the son of a former JDU leader Surendra Patel. "The former DGP of Bihar earlier said that the SP does not listen to him. The Bihar Home Ministry comes under the Chief Minister. It is his duty. They say that law and order situation is normal, but it does not look like this. It looks like 'Rakshas raj' has come. One engine of this government is in crime and the other in doing corruption. This is a painful incident. An investigation should be done on this," Tejashwi told media here. The victim's body was recovered in the early hours of Thursday morning from the Mufassil area. New Delhi: After a long waiting period, Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan has started shooting for the sequel of 2017 hit Hindi Medium. The sequel is titled as 'Angrezi Medium' and will reportedly have a new storyline. Noted film critic and trade analyst took to Twitter and shared the news. He wrote, Irrfan Khan resumes work... #AngreziMedium shooting begins in #Udaipur today [5 April 2019]... Directed by Homi Adajania... Produced by Dinesh Vijan... Will be shot in #Udaipur and #London... #AngreziMedium is the sequel to the smash hit #HindiMedium, but with a new story. Check out his Twitter post here: Irrfan Khan resumes work... #AngreziMedium shooting begins in #Udaipur today [5 April 2019]... Directed by Homi Adajania... Produced by Dinesh Vijan... Will be shot in #Udaipur and #London... #AngreziMedium is the sequel to the smash hit #HindiMedium, but with a new story. pic.twitter.com/NWVkYfp0Vt taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) April 5, 2019 The female lead of the film has not yet been revealed but it is being reported that actress Kareena Kapoor Khan will star along with Irrfan. 'Angrezi Medium' marks Irrfan's comeback into Bollywood as the actor was on a break from the filmy scene after being diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour a rare form of cancer. It was in 2018 that Irrfan shared the news of his illness, leaving us all in shock. It is indeed a relief to see the actor in good health and getting back to work. He returned to Mumbai recently after seeking treatment in London. After returning to the city, Irrfan thanked all his fans for their love and support by writing a heartfelt note on Twitter. Here is wishing all the very best to the actor for his future endeavors! New Delhi: The government has sold enemy shares worth around Rs 1,150 crore in IT major Wipro to Life Insurance Corporation and two other state-owned insurers. The Custodian of Enemy Property for India offloaded more than 4.43 crore shares of the company at a price of Rs 258.90 apiece, according to block deal data available with stock exchange BSE. Apart from Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), General Insurance Corporation and The New India Assurance Corporation have bought the shares. At the price of Rs 258.90 per share, the the total value of the stocks sold amounts to nearly Rs 1,150 crore, as per the data that was available on the exchange on Thursday. The proceeds would add to the government's disinvestment kitty. More than 3.86 crore enemy shares were purchased by LIC. Generally, enemy property refers to the assets left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan or China and are no longer citizens of India. The Custodian of Enemy Property for India is an entity of the central government which looks after enemy property and shares. Last November, the government approved a mechanism for sale of enemy shares in companies. The sale would help in monetisation of movable enemy property lying dormant for decades and the proceeds would be used for development and social welfare programmes, an official statement had said in November 2018. According to Enemy Property Act, 1968, "enemy property" refers to any property belonging to, held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm. "Sale proceeds are to be deposited as disinvestment proceeds in the government account maintained by the Ministry of Finance," the statement had said. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management has been authorised to sell the shares.The decision, taken by the Union Cabinet, will lead to monetisation of movable enemy property lying dormant for decades and the proceeds will be used for development and social welfare programmes, an official statement said. New Delhi: Two brothers arrested earlier this week by the Delhi Police for robbing valuables from cars after diverting the attention of the drivers were involved in similar cases in the past, officials said Thursday. P Silva and P Chandru, both in their early twenties and alleged members of 'thak-thak' gang, were arrested Tuesday while they were going to sell stolen items, they said. One of the brothers would distract car drivers and trick them into stepping outside the vehicle on some false pretext. Once the driver stepped out, the other would sneak in, steal valuables lying in the car and flee from the spot, police said. They did it so deftly that the motorist would not even get a hint of it, the officials said. "They were involved in two such cases in south Delhi," the police said. One sharp-edged weapon, one engine oil bottle, one catapult and five laptops were seized from them, they added. New Delhi: A man in his late 20s allegedly drowned in the Yamuna river here while collecting coins and other articles on Thursday, police said. The man has been identified as Parkash, aged about 27-28 and a resident of Joga Bhai Extension, they added. The Jamia Nagar police station was informed at around 7.40 pm that a man had drowned in the Yamuna river under the DND bridge, the police said. The fire department said they received a call at about 6.25 pm and a fire tender was rushed to the spot. The vehicle returned at around 11.10 pm. However, the missing person could not be traced. On reaching the spot, the police found a man called Sharif, a resident of Jamia Nagar. He stated that at about 7 pm, Parkash, who was collecting coins and other articles thrown into the river, drowned accidentally, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said. A team of five divers and a fire tender were rushed to the spot, but the man could not be traced, he added. The local police stations adjoining the river were alerted, the DCP said. Hyderabad: Sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday apprehended a professor of the state-run Osmania Medical College here for allegedly demanding a bribe from students to pass them in the examination. Based on a complaint lodged by students, a case was registered and on Thursday, searches were conducted at the office and residence of B Balaji, head of the General Medicine Department at the Osmania Medical College. The ACB sleuths found documents pertaining to the collection of money from students. They also found some documents related to properties registered in the name of Balaji and his family members were also found. On March 2, Balaji told a few students that their exams did not go well and they are at risk of failing in the examination, an ACB release said here. Next day when the students met him, he took their hall tickets and contact numbers and told them that he is taking a risk to pass them in exams for which he demanded Rs 50,000 from each student, it said. Through WhatsApp, he forwarded a photograph of a cheque of a bank account in the name of R Srinu and asked them to send screenshots of the transaction details, the release said. The students transferred Rs 75,000 into Shrinu's account and also lodged a complaint with the ACB, it said. The Bihar State Education Board (BSEB) will announce Class 10 Result 2019 by April 15 on its official website bsebinteredu.in, sources told Zee News. The Bihar Board already declared the Intermediate or Class 12 examination results last week. Over 16 lakh candidates appeared for Bihar Board Matric examinations this year. The exams ended on February 28. How to check Bihar BSEB Class 10 Result 2019: 1. Visit biharboardonline.in/Result or other official websites 2. Candidates need to enter Roll Code and Roll Number or Student Name. 3. Hit the search button. 4. On the fresh page, look for your Roll Number, Name and Father's Name. On the right side, click on 'Get Result'. 5. The marks sheet will be displayed on the screen. This year students will also get the opportunity to download a softcopy or PDF copy of their scorecard. Bihar Intermediate examination or Class 12 results witnessed a pass percentage of 79.76 per cent, up from 52.71 per cent last year. Girls have topped the science and arts stream of the Bihar Intermediate examination (Class 12). CBSE Class 10th, 12th results 2019: At least 3,500 teachers failed to turn up to evaluate answer sheets of Class 10 and 12 examinations. While the evaluation of answer sheets began on March 14, with the absence of such a large number of teachers, over 1.7 crore copies remain to be evaluated. Nearly 7.5 lakh copies are evaluated daily. The board had initially targetted April 15 as the deadline of completing the evaluation. But the deadline is now likely to be pushed back. The Central Board of Secondary Education has issued show cause notices to these schools and who may have to shell out a fine of Rs 50,000. The board also recommended disciplinary action against 200 government school teachers and issued five disaffiliation notes to schools for repeated violations, said CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi. "In some cases, the schools do not relieve the evaluators, while in some cases the evaluators do not turn up due to their own reasons. In cases where there are genuine issues, the principals of the schools have to recommend the names of other evaluators," Tripathi told news agency PTI. Tripathi further confirmed that the results will be declared in the third week of May. Sources claimed that the board will announce the results of Class 12 between May 13 to 17 and that of Class 10 in the next three days. In previous years, 30% to 40% teachers failed to turn up for evaluation. However, this year, due to strict measures undertaken, the numbers have come down considerably. In Delhi alone, few schools recorded a 100 per cent turnout of evaluators. Over 31 lakh students appeared in the board examinations this year across 5,000 centres in the country and abroad. The CBSE Class 12 exams began on February 15 and ended on April 3 while the Class 10 exams began on February 21 and ended on Friday. A total of 1827472 registered for Class 10 examination while 12,87,359 registered for class 12. This includes 18,19,077 male candidates and 12,95,754 female candidates, 28 transgender candidates, and 7,288 children with special needs. New Delhi: The Indian Air Force on Friday listed out a number of evidence which prove that the jet shot down by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in February was an F-16 jet of the Pakistan Air Force. Reacting to questions raised by a certain section of the US media, the IAF said that Wing Commander had shot down a PAF F-16 jet seven to eight kilometres inside Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. News agency ANI, quoting IAF sources, reported that radio communication of Pakistan Air Force intercepted confirms that one of the F-16s that attacked India on February 27 did not return to its base. The IAF also reportedly said that Indian forces had confirmed the sighting of ejections at two different places on the same day - one of an IAF MiG 21 Bison and the other of a PAF jet. It is reported further that electronic signatures gathered indicate that the PAF jet was a F-16. Even as Pakistan remains in denial mode and claims that none of its F-16 jets were mobilised against India, hard evidence points to the opposite. The armed forces, on February 28, had also presented parts of an AMRAAM air-to-air missile which can only be fitted on to a F-16 jet among all jets with PAF. Earlier this week, news agency PTI even reported that Pakistan has indicated it may have used F-16 against India after all. "As regard Pakistan Air Force (PAF) action for strikes across Line of Control, it was done by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace," said Pakistan's military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor. "Whether it was F-16 or JF-17 which shot down 2 Indian aircraft is immaterial." An American news publication called Foreign Policy had, however, raised questions against IAF's claims, only for IAF to reply with proof. Meanwhile, Pakistan has flipped and flopped over the issue with its Prime Minister - Imran Khan - initially saying two Indian pilots had been captured on February 28. He would later retract to say only one Indian pilot was in his country's custody, never revealing much on the status of the other pilot. In the second incident in a day, Pakistan on Friday resorted to ceasefire violation in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The firing took place in Nowshera sector of the district. Earlier in the morning, Pakistan had violated ceasefire in Poonch district injuring at least two civilians. There was heavy firing by the Pakistani army in Degwar Tarwan and Karmara sector in the district. The Indian soldiers retaliated with full strength. The two villagers have been identified as Kamal Din and Nasim Akhtar, residents of Nakker Kot (Degwar Tarwan). The injured people have been admitted to Raja Sukhdev Singh Hospital in Poonch where they are being treated. District Development Commissioner, Rahul Yadav and SSP Poonch asked the condition of the injured people and also extended help. New Delhi/ Islamabad: Pakistan will be releasing 360 Indians in its custody this month with the first batch of 100 Indians being released on Monday. Most of them are fishermen who are from Gujarat while some are from Uttar Pradesh. The next batch of 100 will be released on the 15th, followed by 100 on 22nd April and 60 on 29th April. The development comes in the backdrop of New Delhi sending a note verbale to Pakistan high commission on Tuesday calling for the release of the 385 Indian fishermen who have completed their sentences. 503 Indian fishermen are believed to be in Pakistan's custody, of which Pakistan has acknowledged the custody of 483 fishermen who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians in their jails. Since 2014, the Indian government has been able to secure the release of 1749 Indian prisoners, including 1725 fishermen along with 57 boats. In December of 2018, Pakistan released Indian citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari after six years in jail. Hamid Nehal was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2012 after he was found with a fake passport. He had gone to Pakistan via Afghanistan on a fake passport to meet a girl he befriended on Facebook. It was followed by the release of two Pakistani nationals by India - Imran Warsi and Abdullah Shah. Imran Warsi had come to India in 2004 on a valid visa but overstayed after marrying an Indian girl. He was caught after trying to make a fake passport in Bhopal and released in 2018, after 10 years in jail. Shah, an autistic from SWAT, crossed over to India to meet actor Shah Rukh Khan in 2017. In October 2017, India had suggested that the two sides could work together for the release and repatriation of elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners on humanitarian grounds and had proposed to revive the mechanism of Joint Judicial Committee. In the past six months, the Ministry of External Affairs via 3 note verbale - one on 1 January, the other in December and November - had called on Islamabad to organise an early visit of Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan but it has got no response. New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir administration withdrew security cover of 919 persons since Governor's Rule was imposed in the state, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles. The move follows a strict stance by the Center on inappropriate use of scarce police resources in the state. The security review meeting took the decision as it was felt that providing security to separatists and undeserving persons is a waste of scarce state resources which could be better utilized elsewhere. The decision was taken after Center recently directed that a case-by-case in-depth review may be taken on merit. After the review, 2,768 police personnel from 919 undeserving persons were withdrawn and also from those who were having security cover in excess of their entitlement. A total of 389 vehicles were also withdrawn. The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn includes 22 separatist leaders, giving a clear message to those who are involved in anti-national activities. Among the separatists whose security has been withdrawn are SAS Geelani, Syed Mosvi, Maulvi Abbas Ansari, Yaseen Malik, Shahid ul Islam, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Mukhtar Ahmad, and many more. After the dastardly Pulwama attack, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the state to review the security situation in the Valley. After reviewing the security situation in Kashmir, Rajnath Singh had said that security given to people being funded by Pakistan and the ISI should be reviewed. New Delhi: Tejas, India's indigenous supersonic Light Combat Aircraft, has evinced keen interest in Malaysia as the country looks to replace an ageing fleet of fighters with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The Indian Air Force (IAF) had in late March taken two Tejas fighters of the No. 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2019 (Lima) Exhibition in Malaysia. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactured Tejas along with the Russian YAK-130, Sino-Pakistani's JF-17 jet Pakistan and Korea Aerospace Industry's FA-50 Golden Eagle are considered the frontrunners to replace the RMAF fighters. Malaysia has 18 Sukhoi SU-30MKM, eight Boeing F/A-18D Hornet and about 20 BAE Hawks in its arsenal but the deteriorating economy has led to issues of serviceability. The RMAF is able to fly just a handful of fighters at any given point of time due to the high cost involved in maintaining the aircraft. So, the Malaysian government is looking at a lighter and cheaper aircraft for its air force. What gives the Tejas and other Asian fighter aircraft an edge is Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's comment that his country "will think of buying airplanes from China or any other country" after the European Union proposed plan to end the use of palm oil in biofuels. Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil with the commodity and in 2017 had 29 per cent share of the export market valued at $9.7 billion. Following Mahathir Mohamad's statement, the major European fighters - BAE System's Typhoon, Dassault Aviation's Rafale and Saab's Gripen are no longer in the running to equip the RMAF. During Lima 2019, Malaysian news agency Bernama spoke to HAL Chairman and Managing Director R Madhavan who sounded confident that Tejas is a fighter which will be able to fulfil the requirements of the RMAF. "I do think we can offer a good package for Malaysia. We are the largest manufacturing company in this part of the world for aeronautics and aerospace and we have a range of products which we can provide Malaysia. Indian Air Force has been using Tejas since 2016 and we have also received over 120 proposals to replace their old jets, pending orders from them," he told Bernama on March 30. On March 25, 2019, the HAL announced that it was able to produce the 16th Tejas in the initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration for the IAF before the March 31 deadline. Two days after the Election Commission of India stopped Karnataka Chief Minister's Range Rover and his convoy for checks, HD Kumaraswamy accused the poll panel of harassing his family. Election Commission and Income Tax Department are literally harassing me and my family. Let the EC officials perform their duties, but dont harass us on mere suspicion, said the Chief Minister, reports news agency ANI. The Static Surveillance team of the EC Wednesday stopped the Chief Minister's SUV on the highway while he was on his way to Hassan. An IANS report states that nothing incriminating was found during the vehicle search. "It was a routine search at the Channarayapatna check-post on the Bengaluru-Hassan highway. We daily check vehicles of all political parties, their leaders and candidates to ensure they observe the Model Code of Conduct, said Election Commission official NS Darshan. Besides Kumaraswamy`s Range Rover, the EC team also searched 14 other vehicles which were part of the convoy going to Hassan to campaign for Prajwal Gowda of the ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), who is contesting from the key constituency. Prajwal is the grandson of Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda and son of state PWD Minster H.D. Ravenna. He is Kumaraswamy`s nephew. "We stopped the vehicle and checked its dicky and open spaces. As we found nothing in it, we allowed it to cross the check-post," said Darshan. Kumaraswamy had earlier sought the Election Commission's intervention to end the Income Tax department raids on persons allegedly associated with the ruling Janata Dal -Secular and Congress. The IT department in a statement said that it has seized Rs 1.66 crore cash in raids across Karnataka. A total of 24 premises were searched. It also said that no MP, MLA or minister has so far been covered in the searches, which are underway. In another development, the Election Commission Thursday transferred the superintendent of police of Hassan and changed an election observer in Mandya the two sensitive constituencies from where former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's grandsons are contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Hassan SP A N Prakash Gowda has been transferred and Chethan Singh Rathor has come in his place, while Mandya election observer Ranjit Kumar has also been changed, a senior electoral officer said. The BJP had alleged misuse of official machinery and had requested the Election Commission to transfer the two officers to conduct free and fair elections in Hassan. Koppa, Karnataka: Known for getting rather emotional while addressing people at large, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on Friday resorted to pleading to sway voters away from the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of Lok Sabha 2019 election. Speaking at a rally here, Kumaraswamy accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been lying to people. "I'm pleading with you don't believe PM's colorful words," he said, before going on to add that he is building a fiction regarding action against Pakistan. "Why should we have enmity with neighbouring countries? Two years ago, a military officer told me that PM will build a story before election to get votes. They don't ask for votes on development work." While Kumaraswamy claimed he was informed about PM 'building a story' before election, he did not provide any evidence to support his statement. Instead, the Karnataka CM implored people to reject BJP - apparently by believing his words. While PM Modi and other BJP leaders have cited strong action against Pakistan and Pakistan-based terrorist organisations during election rallies, several rival political leaders have raised questions on these actions. This has been seen as casting aspersions on the integrity of India's armed forces. General VK Singh, BJP candidate from Ghaziabad, had previously told Zee Media at the India Ka DNA conclave that questioning military action against Pakistan is a new low in Indian politics. His views were supported by Union Minister Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore at the same conclave. " In 2019, all the good are on one side and the other side is full of parties with a negative mindset. If they can question our armed forces, they can question economic data and our government's reports," he had said. New Delhi: After a barrage of allegations against him from Narendra Modi over alleged involvement in the AgustaWestland chopper deal scam, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tried to return fire by saying the Prime Minister was indulging in 'gutter-level politics'. PM Modi, at a rally in Dehradun on Friday, had launched a scathing attack on the Gandhi family and Patel over the AgustaWestland chopper deal scam. "I saw in the media that one of the people who had asked for kickbacks in the chopper scam is 'AP' and the other is 'FAM'. The same charge sheet states that 'AP' means Ahmed Patel and 'FAM' means family. Now, you tell me which family Ahmed Patel is close to?" he had said. Reacting to the frontal assault, Patel sought to question the level of politics at play. "Everyone knows Narendra Modi, he does gutter-level politics. His politics is like politics at the village or municipality level. If I am guilty, take action against me," he told news agency ANI. #WATCH: Ahmed Patel reacts on PM's remark 'Issi chargesheet mein kaha gaya hai 'AP' ka matlab hai 'Ahmed Patel'... Says "Narendra Modi ko sab jante hain, gutter level politics karte hain. Jaise village mukhiya bol raha ho, jaise dehat mein koi municipality politics kar raha ho.." pic.twitter.com/NrhvpOSxD1 ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2019 The AgustaWestland chopper deal scam has become a major point of friction between BJP and Congress in the election season. While the BJP has said the extradition of Christian Michel - the alleged middleman - will reveal the names of Congress leaders in the scam, Congress has maintained that it is only an electoral stunt. The scam itself pertains to the UPA government's decision to purchase 12 AgustaWestland helicopters from Italian firm Finmeccanica in 2010 but scrapped it in 2014 amid bribe allegations. Aligarh Lok Sabha Constituency is one of the eighty Lok Sabha constituencies in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was formed before the 1952 elections and has five Vidhan Sabha segments. The city witnessed The Battle of Aligarh of the Second Anglo-Maratha War. It is nearly 140 km away from New Delhi. It has a population of about 13,00,000 with 52% male majority. About 62% of the population is Hindu with Muslims and Jains also living here. The city has a sex ratio of 861 females per 1,000 males. The electors in the Aligarh Lok Sabha Constituency will cast their votes on April 18 in the second phase of 2019 Lok Sabha election. Aligarh Lok Sabha Constituency of Uttar Pradesh: Full list of candidates, polling dates The combined results of the seven-phased 2019 Lok Sabha election will be declared on May 23. Satish Kumar of BJP is the sitting Member of Parliament from the Aligarh Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, BJP's Satish Kumar decimated Dr Arvind Kumar Singh of the BSP to win this seat. The BJP candidate got 514,622 votes in his favour as compared to his BSP rival who got 227,886 votes. In the last parliamentary polls, there were a total number of 1,793,126 electors out of which 1,064,357 cast their votes. The voter turnout recorded here was 59.36 % according to the ECI data. Lok Sabha Election 2019: All You Need To Know For the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has fielded Satish Kumar Gautam from the Aligarh Lok Sabha seat, while BSP has declared Ajit Baliyan as its candidate from here. The seven-phased General Election 2019 will be held throughout the country beginning April 11 till May 19, 2019. The combined results of the 2019 Lok Sabha election will be declared on May 23, 2019. Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu will sit on a protest Friday against the Income Tax department raids on party members over the past few days. Naidu, along with other TDP candidates and leaders, will hold the protest at Ambedkar Statue, near Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada. Andhra Pradesh CM had earlier claimed that special teams consisting of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and IT officials have been created to raid. "Today I don`t know which place officials of Income Tax Dept are going to raid. In Karnataka, same thing happened. During polls, a minister`s house is raided. Special teams have been created to raid opposition party leaders through ED and IT," Naidu said while referring to I-T raids conducted across Karnataka on Thursday. Reacting to EC's orders to transfer three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in Andhra Pradesh following YSR Congress Party's accusation of them favouring Naidu-led TDP, the Chief Minister said, When he (YS Jaganmohan Reddy) complained to the EC, within 24 hours they are acting by transferring DGP, SPs everybody. When we are complaining, no action is taken. They are delaying. Even as the Chief Minister, I don`t have any say even to do good for people or fair elections." The ECI transferred Intelligence Director General AB Venkateswara Rao, Kadapa Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Dev Sharma and Srikakulam SP Venkata Ratnam after YSRCP accused them of favoring TDP. EC also directed the three officers to not take-up any election-related duty. The election to 175-member AP will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election on April 11. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. Nagpur: Predicting that the voters of the country will go beyond choosing between Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mayawati said on Friday at a rally here that both parties have been blind to the plight of farmers, poor and the marginalised. Citing examples from the past, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief accused previous Congress governments of making lofty promises but delivering little. "Congress is paying the price at the center and at state levels for its wrong policies. There have been scandals galore even as the common man has paid the price all these years," she said. "BJP is not much better. If Congress was involved in the Bofors scam, there is the Rafale scam now. Both parties have been silent on implementing Mandal Commission recommendations (reservation for OBCs). They are not interested in uplifting people in the country although they make plenty of promises in the election season." Mayawati has been extremely critical of both BJP and Congress, and has tied up with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) for Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh. While she chose not to contest the election herself, she has been leading the charge for BSP and its candidates. She has also accused the Narendra Modi government of disregarding democracy while predicting a favourable result in Uttar Pradesh. "The NDA government has misused Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigations. Many people were adversely affected by decisions like demonetisation and GST. It is time that people vent their anger. We are going to win an astonishing number of seats in UP. We do not believe in giving charity to the poor but in providing them with jobs. You have to decide what you want," she said. While Congress had been wooing Mayawati in the run-up to the election, the BSP supremo eventually rejected the hand of friendship. At the time, she had said that while Rahul Gandhi and Sonia are leaders with decent dreams for the country, several other leaders within Congress are making the party lean the wrong way. Her alliance with nemesis Akhilesh may well turn out to be a masterstroke with political analysts saying both have nothing to lose from teaming up. Elsewhere in the county, it may well be a different story for BSP. There was hide 'n' seek the whole day. Bagdogra airport was filled with police officials since Thursday morning as Gurung aides claimed that Gurung will arrive here on Thursday at 1 pm. But at the end of the day, he did not turn up. AE 2637 arrived at Bagdogra Airport at around 2.30pm. The passengers' list had the names of Gurung, Roshan and another 7 aides of Gurung. But only Yogendra Pradhan and Rohan Rai landed and were immediately arrested by West Bengal Police and were taken to the police station. Sources claim Gurung may have changed the plan at last moment. Another source claims they might have travelled to a 'friendly' state in the northeast. When contacted, Roshan did not want to comment. It all started on Wednesday when spokesperson GJM(Gurung) BP Bajgain released a video message announcing that Gurung will arrive at Bagdogra on Thursday afternoon. He also appealed to all Gorkha people to be there for a 'political message'. Later, Roshan Giri also confirmed to Zee Media that they will be arriving at Bagdogra following the SC order. On Wednesday, SC had disposed off their appeal for immunity during Lok Sabha election and directed them to go to High Court within 4 days. The apex court had also ordered that no coercive action can be taken against Gurung and Roshan till that time. Gurung, desperate to be back to the hills after more than one and half years, tried to utilize that window period. He is on exile since the 2017 Hill unrest. Hundreds of cases have been slapped against him including UAPA. Once the uncrowned king of Darjeeling, he is out of the hills since that time. In this time, hill politics has changed a lot. Gurung's deputy, Binay Tamang, has been picked by Chief Minister of West Bengal as GTA chief. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership is in Tamang and Aneet Thapas' hand. They have already extended support to TMC and their MLA Amar Rai On the other hand, BJP is also desperate to retain the seat. They have fielded Raju Bisht, a young entrepreneur. Gurung and GNLF joined hand to support the BJP candidate. After almost one and half years Jai Bimal slogan returned to the hills recently along with Bisht. Bagdogra was all set to see the return of Gurung. But it was not meant to be. BJP is trying to ignite the Gorkha sentiment ahead of polls, keeping Gurung in the forefront. Gurung is also desperate to return - physically - to the hill politics. He fears this is his last chance to be relevant once again. The ruling party is, on the other hand, determined to bar him from entering. Mamata Banerjee herself has been visiting Darjeeling frequently and emphasizing upon the development here. Who will have the last laugh? Only time will answer. Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Shaina N C Thursday said she was "upset and appalled" as most of the leading political parties, including her own, have not given enough representation to women in the Lok Sabha elections. Praising West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for giving 41 and 33 per cent to women candidates respectively, she said all other parties need to "wake up" as they only pay "lip service" to women's causes. Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, only 13 women fielded by prominent parties are in the fray. In a statement issued here, Shaina said, "Ability requires opportunity. Talent needs to be showcased." "Leadership across the board need to give more women politicians a chance for us to prove our electoral competence. All parties need to wake up," she said. The BJP has fielded seven women candidates this time, Congress three, NCP and Shiv Sena one each. Independent MLA Ravi Rana's wife, Navneet, is contesting from Amravati as an ally of NCP. BJP candidate for Nandurbar seat, Heena Gavit, is the daughter of former NCP minister Vijaykumar Gavit, while the party's Raver nominee Raksha Khadse is the daughter-in-law of BJP leader Eknath Khadse. Similarly, Bharati Pawar (Dindori) is the daughter-in-law of NCP leader late A T Pawar, Poonam Mahajan (Mumbai North Central) is daughter of BJP leader late Pramod Mahajan, Pritam Munde (Beed) is daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde and Kanchan Kul (Baramati) is the wife of RSP MLA Rahul Kul. MLC Smita Wagh is BJP's candidate from Jalgaon. Gavit, Khadse, Munde, Mahajan are seeking a second term. They had been elected for the first time in 2014. Congress has fielded Charulata Tokas (Wardha), who is the daughter of party leader late Prabha Rau. Priya Dutt, who is contesting from Mumbai North Central, is the daughter of late actor and politician Sunil Dutt. Actor Urmila Matondkar, who joined the Congress recently, is contesting from Mumbai North constituency. Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule is seeking a re-election from Baramati for the third time, while Navneet Rana is contesting from Amravati as an ally of NCP. Shiv Sena MP Bhavana Gawli is seeking a re-election from Yavatmal-Washim for the fourth time. "Women are 50 per cent of the electorate. Upset and appalled to know that other than Mamata Banerjee, who has given 41 per cent and Navin Patnaik, who has given 33 per cent to women candidates, all other parties only pay lip service to our cause. "What is worrisome is that we are still having dialogues and discussions on the most basic rights that any human being should be entitled to. That's why a 33 per cent reservation must be a collective, concerted, conscious effort of all women in public life," she said. She vowed to champion the cause of reservation and said she will do it even if she has to fight the male chauvinistic mindset in her own party and all other parties. "Here on, I will champion the cause of reservation even if I have to fight the male chauvinistic mindset in my parties in all other parties too," she said. "Requesting all women to speak up and demand all parties to give 33 per cent tickets to women as part of their manifesto of their individual party irrespective of legislation in Parliament for reservation," Shaina said. Amaravati: TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Friday attacked the Narendra Modi government over LK Advani's blog titled 'Nation First, Party Next, Self Last' and said that the BJP veteran's words seemed to be directed against the Prime Minister. Lashing out at PM Modi, Naidu said that PM Modi does not know the democratic values and hence the democracy is at stake. "Political Veteran Shri LK Advani ji's words seem to be directed against Narendra Modi. While Narendra Modi betrayed Andhra Pradesh, hatching conspiracies against us, he is destroying his party and the country for his self-interests. Democracy is at stake in someone's hands who doesn't know democratic values. I have been telling this. Advani ji told the same thing in a soft tone," the Andhra Chief Minister said. He added, "Country first. Party next. Later comes individual for me. Freedom of speech, diversity and unity in diversity are hereditary roots of our Indian society." Chandrababu Naidu further said, "One should look forward to the future while learning from the past. Nationalism is about protecting our diversity, having freedom of expression and strengthening democratic foundations. It's not about seeing enemies in people who have differences with us or our opponents and naming them anti-nationals." Advani, in his blog, said that right from its inception, the party "never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our 'enemies', but only as our adversaries". The 91-year-old BJP leader added that the political adversaries were not anti-nationals. The BJP patriarch's blog was posted just two days before the saffron party's foundation day and a week ahead of the high-pitched Lok Sabha election. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed on Friday morning and another sustained injuries during an encounter with Naxals in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. The CRPF personnel are from the 211 battalion. The martyr has been identified as Harish Chandra Pal, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal. 44-year-old Pal was from the G/211 battalion. The health condition of the injured, identified as Sudhir Kumar, is said to be stable. He suffered a bullet injury in his left leg. The incident took place in the forests of Saleghat area in the district in the early hours at around 6 am. The forces have inflicted heavy loss to the Naxals. The incident comes in less than 24 hours after four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and two others injured on Thursday in an encounter with Naxals in Kanker district. A joint team of BSF's 114th battalion and the district force of police were out on an 'area domination' operation around noon in a dense forest near Mahla village when they were attacked, Deputy Inspector General of Police (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P told news agency PTI. The deceased were identified as BSF's Assistant Sub- Inspector Bipul Borah, who hailed from Assam, constables Silam Ramkrishna from Andhra Pradesh, Ishrar Khan from Jharkhand, and Tumeshwar from Dongargaon in Chhattisgarh. BSF's Assistant Commandant Gopu Kumar and Inspector Gopal Rang sustained injuries in the exchange of fire. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot and a search operation was also launched in the area. According to a BSF official, the patrolling team, comprising 42 personnel of the BSF, had launched the operation from Mahla camp of the 'A' company of the BSF 114th Battalion, around 250 km from Raipur. When the security men were advancing through a forest near Mahla, a large group of Naxals opened fire. After a brief gun-battle, the Maoists fled the spot. The bodies and the injured personnel were brought to the Mahla camp and airlifted to Raipur. Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over the death of the BSF personnel. Baghel directed officials to provide all necessary medical facilities to the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery, an official statement said. The incidents come on the heels of the first phase of Lok Sabha election in the state on April 11. The Naxals have have given a call for the boycott of the election. Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha Constituency is one of the 80 parliamentary constituencies of the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was formed after the Presidential notification of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies of 2008. The Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha Constituency has five Vidhan Sabha segments of which one is reserved for the SC category. The city of Fatehpur Sikri is located in the Agra District at the southwestern border of the state and has 52 Village Panchayats under it. Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha Constituency of Uttar Pradesh: Full list of candidates, polling dates It is at a distance of 39 km from Agra and used to be the Mughal capital from the year 1571 to 1585. The National Capital, New Delhi is about 210 km away. The electors in the Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha Constituency will cast their votes on April 18 in the second phase of 2019 Lok Sabha election. The combined results of the seven-phased 2019 Lok Sabha election will be declared on May 23. Babulal of BJP is the current sitting Member of Parliament from the Fatehpur Sikri parliamentary constituency. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP candidate Babulal was elected from this Lok Sabha seat. Babulal defeated Seema Upadhyay of the Bahujan Samaj Party in 2014 polls in the Lok Sabha seat. Rani Pakshalika Singh of the Samajwadi Party ended up at the third place. Babulal got 426,589 votes in his favour as against his BSP rival Seema Upadhyay who got 253,483 votes. There were a total number of 1,580,582 electors here last time out of which 967,968 cast their votes. The voter turnout recorded here was 61.24 %. For the 2019 Lok Sabha election, major political parties have declared their candidates from the seat and there are independent candidates fighting from the seat too. BJP has fielded Raj Kumar Chaher from this seat this time, while the INC has declared actor-politician Raj Babbar as its candidate from this seat. BSP has given ticket to Rajveer Singh. The seven-phased General Election 2019 will be held throughout the country beginning April 11 till May 19, 2019. The combined results of the 2019 Lok Sabha election will be declared on May 23, 2019. Lucknow: The Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) led by former Uttar Pradesh minister Shivpal Singh Yadav on Friday released its manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha polls. Releasing the manifesto at a press conference here, Yadav said his party will work for the welfare of all sections of society after coming to power. "We will emerge as kingmaker in the coming polls," he said. The manifesto promises setting up a commission for farmers, industrial reforms and working for the security and honour of the minorities, among others. New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker and sitting BJP MP from Indore Sumitra Mahajan on Friday confirmed that she will not contest the 2019 general election. In an official release, Mahajan said that the party has been delaying the announcement of the candidate's name from Indore which led her to assume that the BJP has hesitation in naming her its candidate from the parliamentary constituency of Indore. The 75-year-old BJP veteran asserted that she had earlier spoken to senior party leaders, adding that the party can now feel free to name the candidate of its choice from Indore constituency. There has been suspense over Mahajan getting the ticket for the Lok Sabha poll as she would turn 76 this month. Sumitra Mahajan has been an eight-time MP from Indore. BJP recently decided to set an age limit for its candidates due to which party veterans like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were sidelined. Mahajan has been consistently bagging the Indore seat since 1989. She had registered a massive victory against former chief minister and senior Congressman Prakash Chandra Sethi. Mamata Banerjee on Friday appealed to voters in Assam to reject divisive politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that the government under Narendra Modi was out to turn people into foreigners in their own country. Speaking at a rally in Dhubri, the Trinamool Congress chief took digs galore at the BJP and said that the Citizenship Amendment Bill is against the will of the common man. "In Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will be a foreigner for 6 yrs, then you will be given citizenship, why? What will you do in the 6 yrs? What about your job, school & every essential thing. This is nothing but a conspiracy," she said. "Give us your vote and we will raise your voice in the Parliament. We are contesting for the first time (in Assam). Assam and Bengal have always shared a close bond." While Mamata highlighted the Bangla-Assam bond, she accused BJP of dividing people. "When NRC list came out, I saw 40 lac people are out. It hurt me and I sent my people to Assam immediately but they (BJP) stopped them. Now, they need central forces in every booth. They have destroyed the country and now want to come back to power. You have never voted for us and yet we have protected your interests. Vote for us and we will protect you." Mamata has repeatedly attacked BJP over the Citizenship Amendment Bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014. A large number of people in Assam have protested against it, asserting that the existence of Assamese and other ethnic people in the state is under threat. Understandably then, it has become a major point of debate in the run-up to Lok Sabha 2019 election as Mamata and BJP leaders trade accusations over it. (With inputs from Kamalika Sengupta/Zee Media) Mathura Lok Sabha Constituency is one of the 80 parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. The Mathura Parliamentary constituency was formed prior to 1951 constituency elections. Mathura Lok Sabha constituency comprises of five Vidhan Sabha segments one of which one is reserved for the SC category. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, famous for being the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The electors in the Mathura Lok Sabha Constituency will cast their votes on April 18 in the second phase of 2019 Lok Sabha election. Mathura Lok Sabha Constituency of Uttar Pradesh: Full list of candidates, polling dates The combined results of the seven-phased 2019 Lok Sabha election will be declared on May 23. Majority of the population is Hindu while Muslims, Buddhists, Jains and Christians also reside here. 15.61% of the population is under the age of six. Actor-politician Hema Malini Dharmendra of the BJP is the sitting Member of Parliament from the Mathura Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Hema Malini of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected from this seat. She defeated Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Yogesh Kumar Dwivedi of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who stood at the third place in the electoral battle here. Hema Malini got 574,633 as against Jayant Chaudhary who got 243,890 votes in 2014 polls. Lok Sabha Election 2019: All You Need To Know There were a total number of 1,682,260 electors here last time out of which 1,076,868 cast their votes. The voter turnout recorded here was 64.01 %. For the 2019 Lok Sabha election, major political parties have declared their candidates from the seat and there are independent candidates fighting from the seat too. This time too, the BJP has fielded Hema Malini from the Mathura Lok Sabha seat. The seven-phased General Election 2019 will be held throughout the country beginning April 11 till May 19, 2019. The combined results of the 2019 Lok Sabha election will be declared on May 23, 2019. The Mathura city lies 50 km from Agra and 145 km from Delhi. It has a population of over 441,000 with 54% male majority. It has a sex ratio of 858 females per 1000 males. Hindi is the official and the most widely spoken language while English and Urdu are prevalent as well. Bulandshahr: With less than a week to go for Lok Sabha election 2019, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh stepped up the attack on Opposition Congress on Thursday. Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya & Mehul Choksi didn't leave India till Congress government was here, said Singh while addressing a rally, reported news agency ANI. When they saw that this government has gone out of power and a new 'chowkidaar' (watchman) has come, a 'chokkana' (alert) chowkidar, they fled away from India to other countries, he added. "The Congress alleges that Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya left the country after the BJP came to power, that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped them escape.... But listen to this carefully, Rs 18 lakh crore were given as loans to the public from 1947 to 2008. But during Congress' rule, Rs 52 lakh crore were given in loans from 2008 till 2014 only on instructions from them (Congress) to people who left this country," he told the gathering, reported news agency PTI. Later addressing traders meeting at Lucknow's Atal Bihari Vajpayee Convention Centre, he took another dig on Congress over their election manifesto promise to scrap the sedition law. "Someone threatens to destroy India, and action will not be initiated? How is it possible? I feel ashamed of people who speak these things," he said. He said that the country was safe because of its brave soldiers and anyone trying to harm India would get a befitting reply. It is because of the brave jawans of the country that we are safe. If there is any danger to them, each and every citizen of the country will unite and be ready to protect the brave jawans. "Pakistan is our neighbour. We want that our ties with it are better. But, if someone casts an evil eye on India, then there will be a befitting reply. "When the terrorists were attacked in Pakistan, adequate caution was exercised by our jawans so that no innocent (in Pakistan) falls in the ambit of attack," he added. Coming out in support of his father and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav said that the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had indeed tried to return to Bihar's mahagathbandhan (grand alliance). I say this with full responsibility, Nitish Kumar made many attempts to get back and ally with us, he tried many different approaches, that also within six months of returning to NDA, said RJD leader and younger son of Lalu. His comments come ahead publication of Lalu's memoir, penned along with journalist-turned-teacher Nalin Verma. Titled "Gopalganj to Raisina", the memoir will release on April 6. The book is a recollection of the journey of India's "most colourful" political leader and navigates his humble origins in Phulwaria village to his remarkable rise as the Railway Minister, said publisher Rupa in a statement. Lalu also looks at his relationship with friend-turned-foe Nitish Kumar in the book and reportedly claims that the Janata Dal (United) chief has tried to realign with Bihar's mahagathbandhan after joining the National Democratic Alliance. JDU vice-president Prashant Kishor on Friday rebuffed RJD supremo the claims, calling it 'bogus'. "The claims made by Laluji as reported are BOGUS. This is nothing but a poor attempt seeking relevance by a leader whose best days are behind him. Yes, we did meet many times before I joined JDU, but if I were to tell what all was discussed then he would be quite embarrassed," he wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Friday said it will hear on April 10 a plea of Lalu Prasad seeking bail in three cases related to the multi-crore-rupee fodder scam, in which he has been convicted. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to file a reply by April 9 and said Yadav's bail plea will be taken up for hearing next Wednesday. Congress president Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi constituency, his traditional stronghold, for the Lok Sabha election on April 10. He will also contest a second seat from Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, in addition to Amethi. The Congress chief filed his nomination from Kerala's Wayanad on Thursday. The 48-year-old Congress leader is pitted against Union Textile Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani from the seat. This will be Irani's second attempt to wrest Amethi from the Congress. In 2014, she lost the seat to Rahul by a margin of over one lakh votes. Rahul held the seat for the longest period, from 2004 to present. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will file nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli on April 11. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to accompany them. Sonia Gandhi has been representing Raebareli in the Lok Sabha since 2004. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named former Congress leader Dinesh Pratap Singh as the candidate against Sonia Gandhi. Singh, former Congress MLC and resident of Raebareli, had joined the BJP a year ago. On Thursday, Smriti Irani had attacked the Congress president, saying his decision to contest from Wayanad in Kerala was an 'insult' to Amethi. Irani told a gathering in Parsadepur in Amethi, "This is a coincidence, a sign from God that 'didi' arrived here and the missing MP reached Kerala. I have come to seek (people's) blessings and he rejected the blessings. While the BJP workers are working with devotion to make the country capable and strong... The missing MP files his nomination from another place with the blessing of those who want to divide the country," she had said. On her arrival in Lucknow enroute Amethi for a two-day visit, Irani had claimed Lord Ram's "vanavas" (exile) was for 14 years and the people of Amethi was experiencing the same for the last 15 years. "The people of Amethi had to bear with the missing MP for 15 years. A person who rode on the shoulder of Amethi and enjoyed power for the past 15 years, has decided to leave his supporters and file nominations from another seat because Congress workers know he does not have support," she had told reporters at the Chowdhury Charan Singh Airport in Lucknow, hours before Gandhi filed his nomination in Wayanad. Wayanad: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has assets worth over 15.88 crore, according to the affidavit filed by him on Thursday while submitting his nomination papers for Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. In the 2014 elections, he had declared the value of his total assets as Rs 9.4 crore. The affidavit shows that Rahul Gandhi does not own a car and has a total liability of Rs 72 lakh as loans from various banks and other financial institutions. Gandhi has declared movable assets to the tune of Rs 5,80,58,799 and immovable assets worth Rs 10,08,18,284, with his total assets being worth Rs 15,88,77,083. The Congress president, who is also contesting from Amethi seat, has declared in his affidavit that there were five cases pending against him. Two of the cases against him are registered in Maharashtra and one each in Jharkhand, Assam and New Delhi, according to the affidavit. While the Congress chief has Rs 40,000 as cash-in-hand, he has Rs 17.93 lakh as deposits in various banks. Gandhi also has investments worth Rs 5.19 crore in bonds, debentures and shares in various companies in mutual funds. The assets also include 333.3 grams of gold. He continues to own a share in the inherited farm in Sultanpur Village in Delhi. The affidavit also shows that Gandhi owns two office spaces in Gurugram. The affidavit shows that the total income for the year 2017-18 was Rs 1,11,85,570. Gandhi has declared that his source of income was MP's salary, Royalty income, rental income, interest from bonds, dividends and capital gain from mutual funds. The Congress chief has said that his education qualification was M.Phil (Development Studies) from Trinity College, the University of Cambridge in 1995. The affidavit shows that Rahul Gandhi does not own a car and as an SPG protectee, he is required to travel in an SPG vehicle for security reasons. LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav Friday released the party manifesto ahead of Lok Sabha election 2019. Terming it vision document for party leaders and workers, Akhilesh said that the manifesto will be utilised to answer the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party made a slew of promises in the manifesto including reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, women empowerment, making India prosperous, and work towards the betterment of farmers and waiving off farm loans. Attacking the BJP government in the Centre and the state, Yadav said, Government talks of giving money but have snatched it from people. BJP is making rich people more richer and poor people poorer through their policies like GST. UP has given many prime ministers. I would be happy to have a PM this time too, he added. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati had earlier hinted at her prime ministerial ambition, stating that she would use the experience gained as UP chief minister to give the "best government" at the Centre "if we get an opportunity". In February, Akhilesh and Mayawati announced the allocation of seats to each partner with SP contesting on 37 seats and BSP on 38 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Two seats - Amethi and Rae Bareli have been left for the Congress. Two seats were initially allocated to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) but now SP has given one more seat from its quota to Ajit Singh's party. New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Friday transferred Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh in view of the poll preparedness. The EC posted Rajesh Kumar, presently posted as ADG, West Bengal Pollution Control Board as the new Kolkata Police Commissioner. Natarajan Ramesh Babu, the ADG and IG, Operations, has been appointed as the new Bidhannagar Police Commissioner. Interestingly, Sharma and Singh were reportedly seen sharing the dharna spot of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while protesting against the CBI trying to investigate the former Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar. Opposition parties on several occasions levelled concerns over Sharma and Singh being directly involved in the electoral process after they were reportedly seen at the dharna. This apart, two other officers were also transferred. Selva Murugan was transferred from the post of SP Diamond Harbour Police district. Avvaru Ravindranath was posted as the SP Diamond Harbour. Shrihari Pandey was posted as SP Diamond Harbour replacing the former SP Shyam Singh. The notification issued by the secretary, ECI reads, The direction of the Commission be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of joining of above officers be sent within 24 hours. The present incumbent officers being shifted not to be involved by the state government in any election-related duties. PATNA: Days after launching the Lalu-Rabri Morcha, Tej Pratap Yadav elder son of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad and brother of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed to have received death threats from a anonymous caller. He has requested security cover from the state. In a complaint to the police, Tej Pratap said his personal assistant Srijan Swaraj got a call from an unknown person, who identified self as an RJD student wing leader. The caller threatened to kill both Tej Pratap and Swaraj. My personal assistant Srijan Swaraj received a phone call on his number, the unknown caller has threatened to kill me and Srijan. He was claiming to be RJD`s student wing leader. This is very sensitive and the case is about the security. Srijan has the recording of that call," Tej Pratap stated in his letter to in-charge of Secretariat police station asking him to register an FIR, reported news agency ANI. Janata Dal (United) speaker Dr Sunil said, This is a matter of security. The government is aware and wants every person to be safe. If Tej Pratap complains on the matter, then the state will definitely look into it on priority and take action. Reacting on the matter, Patna RJD's National Vice-President Shivanand Tiwari said, If Tej Pratap is receiving threats then he should ask for security cover from the government. I received all information through media. Tej Pratap has requested a formal investigation into the matter. An FIR has been lodged. After resigning from RJD's student wing over being sidelined by his family, Tej Pratap on Sunday announced that he will contest he upcoming Lok Polls against from a new political front Lalu-Rabri Morcha. The former Bihar health minister said he will contest the elections against Chandrika Rai, his father-in-law and RJD candidate from Saran. However, Tejashwi downplayed his brother`s announcement saying that the matter will be resolved within the family. Party sources said on Friday that Tej Pratap Rai was named the RJD nominee from Saran, a seat which was won by their father Lalu Prasad four times. "Tej Pratap felt insulted and humiliated over the party`s decision to field Rai from Saran. He will contest the polls against him as an Independent candidate," a party leader said. A ruckus took place in Mumbai, Maharashtra when a police team was assaulted late on Thursday night by local hawkers and hooligans in the Juhu area after they had gone there to conduct a drive against illegal encroachment. Reacting to the incident, Senior Police Inspector Parmeshwar said that during a major fire incident in 2016 at Wafa Medicals in the locality, fire brigades were unable to reach the spot because of illegal hawkers narrowing the route. This resulted in nine deaths in the incident. So thereafter officials of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai police have been conducting regular drive in the area. However, the hawkers keep on re-occupying it. On Thursday, when a team comprising of the Mumbai police and BMC staff, went there at least four people surrounded an inspector and thrashed him. A video has surfaced where a police team including Inspector Parmeshwar can be seen thrashing hawkers in Juhu. Reacting to it, the officer said that the hawkers had attacked the team after which they had to take action. A case has also been registered against the hawkers. The case has been lodged against the miscreants under section 353 (deterring public servant from performing duty), 332 IPC (criminal force and assault on public servant). The video was shot during the detention of accused. New Delhi: Markets staged a good come-back on Friday on positive global cues with the NSE Nifty regaining 11,600 level at closing trade. The BSE Sensex jumped 177.51 points or 0.46 percent to 38,862.23 while the NSE Nifty edged higher by 67.95 points or 0.59 percent to 11,665.95. Major gainers in the Sensex pack werer Tata Steel, Vedanta, Bajaj Finance, TCS, IndusInd Bank, Infosys, ONGC, HDFC Bank, Kotak Bank, HDFC, M&M and ITC, rising upto 3.55 percent. Meanwhile, stocks of Maruti, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Asian Paint, Yes Bank, HCL, HUL, Sun Pharma, NTPC, Heromotocorp, Powergrid and SBI fell upto 1.46 percent. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold stocks to the tune of Rs 226.19 crore while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of shares worth Rs 1,206.16 crore, BSE provisional data showed. New Delhi: The gorgeous Kareena Kapoor Khan was recently clicked with her son Taimur Ali Khan in Bandra. Looks like bebo went to pick Baby Tim from his school when paps clicked the mother-son duo. Kareena was dressed casually in a white shirt and olive green pants, while Tai Tai wore a red T-shirt and beige shorts. However, what caught our attention is the drawing of a Sun in Taimur's hand. Zooming in, it's not just a drawing but it also has something written on it. The message on the drawing says, Mom, you are my sunshine!' Aww! Now isn't that adorbs? We can't stop gushing over the cutesy message and the pictures. Check them out here: (Pic Courtesy: Yogen Shah) Taimur was born to Kareena and Saif Ali Khan on December 20, 2016. His first pictures went viral on the internet and since then we can't get enough of baby Tim! The toddler is now 2 years old and is often spotted in Bandra along with his nanny. He even recognises the media and acknowledges them by smiling and waving at them. Coming to Kareena, the actress will be seen along with Akshay Kumar, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani in 'Good News'. The film marks Akshay and Kareena's on-screen reunion after a gap of nine years. The two were last seen together in 'Kambakkht Ishq'. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi is an avid social media user with a huge fan following. She has over 3.9 million followers on Instagram and knows how to keep her fans engaged by regularly sharing updates from her life. A couple of days back, Nora's pic in a black body-hugging gown went viral. The actress has now shared yet another pic in which she can be seen chilling by the pool. The location is marked as Saadiyat Beach Club and Nora can be seen wearing a white off-shoulder top with denim shorts. Her picture will give you major TGIF feels! Check it out here: Nora is known for her terrific dance moves in Bollywood and shot to fame when her song 'Dilbar' from the film 'Satyameva Jayate' went viral for all the right reasons. The actress's killer dance moves pulled people to theatres and the film got a grand opening. The actress has several interesting projects lined up. She will soon be seen in Salman Khan- Katrina Kaif's 'Bharat' which is slated to release on June 5 this year. The film is one of the biggest releases of the year. Nora also has Vaurn Dhawan starrer 'Street Dancer 3D' and John Abraham's 'Batla House' in the pipeline. New Delhi: Pakistan will release at least 100 Indian fishermen from its custody on Monday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 385 Indian fishermen are currently in the custody of Pakistan. The development comes at the backdrop of New Delhi sending a note verbale to Pakistan High Commission on Tuesday calling for the release of the fishermen who have completed their sentences. Since 2014, India has been able to secure the release of 1,749 Indian prisoners, including 1,725 fishermen along with 57 boats. In December 2018, Pakistan released Indian citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari after six years in jail. Nehal was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2012 after he was found with a fake passport. He had gone to Pakistan via Afghanistan on a fake passport to meet a girl he befriended on social media platform, Facebook. It was followed by the release of two Pakistani nationals by India--Imran Warsi and Abdullah Shah. Warsi had come to India in 2004 on a valid visa but overstayed after marrying an Indian girl whom he loved. He was caught after trying to make a fake passport in Bhopal and released in 2018 after he served ten years in jail. Shah, an autistic from Swat, had crossed over to India to meet Shahrukh Khan in 2017. In October 2017, India had suggested Pakistan that the two sides could work together for the release and repatriation of elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners on humanitarian grounds and proposed to revive the mechanism of Joint Judicial Committee. In the past six months, the Ministry of External Affairs via three note verbale, one on January 1, another in December and November-- had called on Islamabad to organise an early visit of Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan but it didn't get any response. HERAT: Hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed a district in Afghanistan`s western Badghis province, with both Afghan government forces and the insurgent group suffering dozens of casualties, provincial officials said. The district of Bala Murghab has been a recurring hotspot of fighting in the past two months, and officials have previously warned that it could fall to the Taliban without reinforcements. Fighting in Afghanistan has escalated ahead of the usual spring season, as both sides seek to increase leverage in talks on a peace settlement. The Taliban killed 36 members of the government forces and captured several security checkpoints in attacks that began on Wednesday night, Waris Sherzad, district governor of Bala Murghab, said late on Thursday. Fighting was ongoing, he said. More than 30 Taliban were also killed, said Jamshed Shahabi spokesman for Badghis` provincial governor. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said it attacked from four directions, capturing five checkpoints. Afghanistan`s defense ministry, in a series of tweets, said its forces chose to "tactically retreat" from the checkpoints to prevent civilian casualties. The ministry said it called in multiple air strikes on Taliban positions. On Friday, the defense ministry said Afghan forces had forced the Taliban to retreat from some checkpoints and that all key areas remained under its control. The conflict in Badghis has been particularly intense along with northern Kunduz province and Helmand province in the south in recent weeks. Both sides took heavy casualties in Badghis last month, and at one point 50 members of Afghan security forces surrendered to the Taliban. Fighting between militant groups has also intensified. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement on Thursday that Islamic State attacks on Taliban positions on March 23 resulted in 21,000 people being displaced in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The latest round of peace talks between U.S. and Taliban officials wrapped up last month, with both sides citing progress. Meanwhile, severe flooding hit Badghis province on Thursday, killing an unknown number of people and sweeping away houses, farmland and schools, aid organization World Vision said. The floods took Afghans by surprise, coming about a week after previous floods, and were triggered by only moderate rains, the organization said in a statement. The country has little infrastructure, such as ditches and sewers, to manage water run-off. World Vision added that it does not yet have an estimate of the number of people affected. ANKARA: Turkey`s purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems, which has raised tensions with Washington, is a "done deal" and cannot be cancelled, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. The United States and Turkey have been at loggerheads over Ankara`s decision to purchase the S-400s, which are not compatible with NATO systems. Washington has warned that going forward with the deal could result in US sanctions. Washington has urged Turkey to purchase Raytheon Co Patriot defence systems instead of the S-400s, but Ankara has said that, even though it would like to make such a deal, it would only be possible if the right terms were agreed upon. Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of a visit to the United States, Cavusoglu said Turkey would like to purchase the Patriot systems, but it would not back out of its deal with Russia. "We have told them I don`t know how many months ago or years ago that it`s a done deal, so we cannot cancel it," Cavusoglu said. He said Turkey had received a new offer for the Patriot systems from the United States, which included prices and delivery dates, but added that they would negotiate. However, Cavusoglu said the United States could not guarantee it would be able to sell the Patriot systems to Ankara due to an impasse in the US Congress. "The real problem is this: even today, the United States cannot give guarantees about selling the Patriots to Turkey. Can they give them tomorrow? They cant guarantee it. Then who will meet my needs?" he said. On Wednesday, Cavusoglu said Turkey had proposed forming a working group with the US administration to ensure that the S-400 poses no threat to US or NATO military equipment. He added that both the administration and Turkey should explain to the Congress why Turkey bought the S-400s. Cavusoglu also said Turkey`s relations with Russia were not an alternative to its alliances with NATO or its partnerships and ambitions with the European Union. "We made our choice a long time ago, and now we need to have good relations with everybody and we have to balance that," he said. "We don`t have to choose between this and that, but we have already made out decision and became a NATO ally." A Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighter jet for Turkey arrived on Wednesday at a military training facility in Arizona, an Air Force official said on Thursday, amid a dispute over Ankara`s planned purchase of a Russian missile defence system. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the United States halted delivery of equipment related to the stealth F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey because of concern the NATO allys planned purchase of the Russian system would compromise the security of the jet, the most advanced U.S. fighter aircraft. A second jet is scheduled to arrive at Luke Air Force Base on Friday, the Air Force official said. Two Turkish F-35 jets are already at the base. Pentagon spokesman Charlie Summers told reporters on Thursday: "The training (for pilots) will continue at Luke Air Force Base." Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has refused to back down from Ankara`s planned purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defence system. The United States and other NATO allies that own F-35s fear the radar on the system will learn how to spot and track the jet, making it less able to evade Russian weapons. In an attempt to persuade Turkey to drop its plans to buy the S-400, the United States offered the pricier American-made Patriot anti-missile system in a discounted deal that expired at the end of March. Turkey has shown interest in the Patriot system, but not at the expense of abandoning the S-400. Turkey has engaged with U.S. negotiators in recent days about buying the Patriot system, a person familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The system is made by Raytheon Co. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday that Turkey had proposed to the United States that they form a working group to determine that Russian S-400 missile defence systems do not pose a threat to U.S. or NATO military equipment. On Thursday, the Pentagon said it was not considering a technical working group and that it was not necessary at this stage. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter Search This Blog WHO ARE THE MIDNIGHT FREEMASONS? RWB Robert H. Johnson RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", The Masters Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self Annotated Edition and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way. WB Darin A. Lahners WB Darin A. Lahners is our Co-Managing Editor. He is a host and producer of the "Meet, Act and Part" podcast. He is currently serving the Grand Lodge of Illinois Ancient Free and Accepted Masons as the Area Education Officer for the Eastern Masonic Area. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. Hes a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, and a member of the Salt Fork Shrine Club under the Ansar Shrine. You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com. Todd E. Creason, 33 Todd E. Creason, 33 is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog, and an award-winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. Todd started the Midnight Freemason blog in 2006, and in 2012 he opened it up as a contributor blog The Midnight Freemasons (plural). Todd has written more than 1,000 pieces for the blog since it began. He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) where he currently serves as Secretary. He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is a Past EHP. He currently serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. as Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee and State Education Officer. You can contact him at webmaster@toddcreason.org Gregory J. Knott, 33 WB Gregory J. Knott is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. Hes a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. Greg is very involved in Boy Scoutsan Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters. Bro. Steve Harrison, 33 Bro. Steve Harrison, 33, is Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri. He is also a Fellow and Past Master of the Missouri Lodge of Research. Among his other Masonic memberships is the St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite bodies, and Moila Shrine. He is also a member and Past Dean of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. Brother Harrison is a regular contributor to the Midnight Freemasons blog as well as several other Masonic publications. Brother Steve was Editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine for a decade and is a regular contributor to the Whence Came You podcast. Born in Indiana, he has a Master's Degree from Indiana University and is retired from a 35-year career in information technology. Steve and his wife Carolyn reside in northwest Missouri. He is the author of dozens of magazine articles and three books: Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, Freemasons Tales From the Craft and Freemasons at Oak Island. WB Bill Hosler WB Bill Hosler was made a Master Mason in 2002 in Three Rivers Lodge #733 in Indiana. He served as Worshipful Master in 2007 and became a member of the internet committee for Indiana's Grand Lodge. Bill is currently a member of Roff Lodge No. 169 in Roff Oklahoma and Lebanon Lodge No. 837 in Frisco, Texas. Bill is also a member of the Valley of Fort Wayne Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Indiana. A typical active Freemason, Bill also served as the High Priest of Fort Wayne's Chapter of the York Rite No. 19 and was commander of the Fort Wayne Commandery No. 4 of the Knight Templar. During all this, he also served as the webmaster and magazine editor for the Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne Indiana. WB Chris Hathaway WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal Masonic Lodge #673 as well as Bloomington Lodge #43, where he is a Past Master. He belongs to the Valley of Danville, AASR where he is the Most Wise Master of the George E. Burow Chapter of Rose Croix and Membership Chairman. He is the Oriental Guide in the Divan for the Mohammed Shiners, and the 1st Vice President of the Bloomington Shrine Club. Other appendant bodies include the Gao Grotto and the Illinois Lodge of Research. Outside of the lodge, he enjoys spending time with his wife Taylor and cheering on the Fighting Illini and Chicago Cubs. Bro. Randy Sanders Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy. Ken JP Stuczynski Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski is a member of West Seneca Lodge No.1111 and recently served as Master of Ken-Ton Lodge No.1186. As webmaster for NYMasons.Org he is on the Communications and Technology Committees for the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He is also a Royal Arch Mason and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, serving his second term as Sovereign Prince of Palmoni Council in the Valley of Buffalo, NMJ. He also coordinates a Downtown Square Club monthly lunch in Buffalo, NY. He and his wife served as Patron and Matron of Pond Chapter No.853 Order of the Eastern Star and considered himself a Masonic Feminist. Blog Archive